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Two leading semiconductor companies square off in court With the end of testimony on day 3 of the Qualcomm/Arm trial, the only items remaining were the closing arguments, instructions for the jury and their deliberations. The jury didn’t reach a verdict after several hours, so deliberations will continue Friday. In addition, testimony for the countersuit about Arm’s use of Nuvia design suggestions was not completed and will continue after the holiday break, which would be on or after court resumes on January 3, 2025. If the jury does not reach a verdict today, while not confirmed, it is assumed that deliberations will continue on Jan. 3. So, I am taking this opportunity to cover the day 4 proceedings, as well as to reflect on some of the insights that have arisen through the trial. Disclosure: My company, Tirias Research, has consulted for Arm, Qualcomm and other companies mentioned in this article. The Jury Is Out Procedurally, Arm, the plaintiff, made its closing arguments, followed by Qualcomm, the defendant. An Arm rebuttal followed the closing arguments, and Qualcomm was allowed to provide a brief rebuttal because the third question being decided by the jury is related to Qualcomm’s counterclaim. The three statements the jury was instructed to rule on were (note that these are summarized): Arm’s closing argument focused on the Nuvia ALA agreement. Arm went line by line through several sections of the Nuvia ALA agreement and matched it with expert testimony, primarily from Qualcomm and Nuvia staff. Arm also made arguments against Qualcomm's claims made throughout the trial. FBI Warns Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail Users—Check 3 Things To Stop Attacks New Gmail Security Warning For 2.5 Billion—Second Attack Wave Incoming Mystery Drone Sightings: New York Adds Dozens Of Drone Bans After New Jersey (Updated) Qualcomm’s closing argument was a more impassioned argument about what Arm is requesting, the destruction of intellectual property (IP) that took considerable engineering effort to develop, and a timeline of events relative to the legal actions and the Nuvia and Qualcomm CPU designs. Qualcomm argued that the designs and information transferred to Qualcomm at the time of the transaction were Nuvia IP that only included only 1% of Arm IP, which were the opcodes that link the hardware microarchitecture to the Arm software instruction set architecture (ISA). Qualcomm also argued that these opcodes are regenerated regularly, and the original code was not included in the design at the time the termination notice was received or future Qualcomm CPU designs that began after the acquisition. Qualcomm also argued that the Qualcomm CPU designs are covered by the Qualcomm ALA, which is the basis of the counterclaim. Qualcomm also used testimony, primarily from Arm, to support its argument. Both sides also used very select testimony to try to undermine the credibility of some of the expert witnesses and demonstrate the opposing party's intent in their closing arguments. Immediately after closing arguments, the judge read the jury instructions, and the jury was sequestered under guard. As there is little to do while waiting for a verdict, this is a good time to highlight some of the insights that have arisen from the trial. Insights From The Trial The most interesting thing about a civil trial between two companies is the confidential information that is made public, and this case is no different. Some of the information brought into public view included details of Arm contracts, Qualcomm roadmaps and design information, and behind-the-scenes communication of the parties through letters, emails, internal presentations, and chats. The following are some of the insights gleaned from the testimony and documents: With the relationship between the two companies deteriorating, Qualcomm may have to consider using another architecture before its ALA expires in 2033. Even if Arm offers a new license, the terms are likely to be less favorable given the recent history between the two companies and the goals of Arm’s management. Note that Qualcomm does have a license to use the latest Armv9 architecture. Analyst Insights Thus far, I have sought to keep my own analyses and opinions out of my reports on the trial, but there are a few points worth making. Final Thoughts As a technologist, I can appreciate the challenge of this case. It is more than just about the terms of the contract, it is fundamentally tied to the related technology and chip designs. In this case, attorneys are presenting a case using technical experts and attempting to communicate their technical knowledge to a group of people that probably have little to no technical knowledge. As a result, both parties relied on analogies, Arm leveraged a piano analogy, and Qualcomm leveraged a building analogy. Neither was completely accurate or effective, but any analogy is subject to interpretation. As I have maintained, the outcome of this case will depend upon how the jury interprets the contract and the information presented, and it is impossible to predict it. However, regardless of how the scales of justice tip in this case, it is likely to impact technology license agreements going forward and cause concern throughout the broader Arm ecosystem about potential competition with Arm, especially for ALA licensees. It could also accelerate development of alternative ISA ecosystems such as RISC-V which are already starting to gain momentum.
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2024 has been a milestone year for data analytics company Palantir Technologies ( PLTR 4.87% ) . Perhaps most important event for the company was its addition to the S&P 500 earlier this year -- an achievement few thought was possible just four years ago when Palantir went public and was quickly written off as a glorified government contracting and consulting operation with no real technology capabilities. That narrative has come to an end. Over the last couple of years, Palantir has entered a new phase of growth thanks to the company's successful launch of a new software suite called the Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). All of these factors have contributed to notable interest in Palantir stock over the last several months. At the time of this writing, shares of Palantir have gained 283% year to date. With the stock hovering around an all-time high valuation, can it possibly keep climbing higher? In my eyes, I think Palantir stock is set to continue running. Below, I'll break down the company's latest announcement and point to why investors should have their eyes on Palantir stock on Nov. 26. Palantir's latest big announcement One thing that often goes overlooked with stocks is the exchange that they trade on. But, believe it or not, trading on the New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE ) versus the Nasdaq Stock Market can actually have some pretty big implications for a company. A few days ago, Palantir announced that it is moving its listing from the NYSE to the Nasdaq . Shares of Palantir are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq on Nov. 26. On the surface, this may seem like mundane news. But below I'm going to break down a number of examples of other companies that have switched to the Nasdaq and illustrate how their share prices moved following the transition. History is on Palantir's side Below, I've outlined two companies that have moved from their original stock exchange to the Nasdaq in recent years. Workday : On Sept. 1, 2017, software company Workday announced that it was switching from the NYSE to the Nasdaq. Shares of Workday began trading on the Nasdaq a couple of weeks later, on Sept. 20. Here is how Workday stock has moved since becoming a Nasdaq-traded security: Between Sept. 1, 2017, and Sept. 20, 2017, shares declined by a nominal 2%. Between Sept. 20, 2017, and Sept. 20, 2018, the stock gained more than 30%. Since becoming a member of the Nasdaq, the stock has increased 144%. PepsiCo : On Dec. 8, 2017, beverage and snack conglomerate PepsiCo announced that it was moving from the NYSE to the Nasdaq. PepsiCo began trading as a member of the Nasdaq on December 20, 2017. Between Dec. 8, 2017, and Dec. 20, 2017, shares rose by a nominal 2%. Between Dec. 20, 2017, and Dec. 20, 2018, the stock dropped roughly 7%. Since becoming a member on the Nasdaq, the stock has increased 33%. I think the decision to move to the Nasdaq benefited PepsiCo and Workday in a number of ways. First, the Nasdaq is often affiliated with technology, growth, and innovation. While PepsiCo is a consumer packaged goods empire, I think the move to the Nasdaq helped the company's perception as more of a growth stock and less of a mundane soda and snack business. In addition, both Workday and PepsiCo joined the Nasdaq-100 following their respective moves from the NYSE. Earning inclusion into the Nasdaq-100 index can help a company land on more investor radars. As such, increases in trading volume and buying can occur which positively influences stock prices. What I think will happen after Palantir's debut on the Nasdaq While the news about Palantir's change from the NYSE to the Nasdaq is interesting, you're probably wondering why a company would do this in the first place. To be honest, there are a lot of reasons that could influence a company's decision to move exchanges. Some of the more pedantic factors could be related to fees associated with different stock exchanges, for example. In my eyes, the cost structures among different exchanges isn't really a concern for Palantir. Rather, I think the move to the Nasdaq is rooted in branding. While the Nasdaq is home to companies in many different industries, it is most commonly affiliated with the technology sector. Given Palantir's success throughout the AI revolution, I think the notion of the company being a consulting business for the government has been erased. Palantir's close alliance with big tech cements the company as a strong force in the AI industry, and I think moving to the Nasdaq will help strengthen the company's image as a legitimate player in the technology realm. I previously predicted that Palantir's inclusion into the S&P 500 would help get the company on the radar of more institutional investors. I'm now doubling down on this stance, as becoming a member of the Nasdaq should help better position Palantir as an attractive growth stock in a sea of leading technology companies. Some analysts are already projecting that increased institutional buying in combination with the spotlight of the Nasdaq could propel Palantir into the coveted Nasdaq-100 index. Should that come to fruition, I think it's almost a certainty that the company's share price will continue soaring. While I can't say for certain what will happen, Palantir's stock price has already experienced some momentum following the news of the company's switch from the NYSE. I think trading on the Nasdaq will help Palantir become more widely recognized as a leading opportunity in AI and the technology arenas over time. For these reasons, I think the stock will follow the trends I outlined above and continue soaring after its move to the Nasdaq.
US House approves bill to avert shutdown
Newcastle slump to surprise defeat on frustrating night of firsts against West HamSEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks took a bumpy path to sole possession of first place in the NFC West. Sunday's 26-21 win over the Jets featured several special teams miscues, including a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by New York. On the flip side, the Seahawks got their second pick-6 in as many weeks and just enough production by Geno Smith and the offense. The Seahawks' uneven performance was characteristic of a season in which they started 3-0, then lost five of six before winning another three in a row to take command of their underachieving division. Seattle (7-5) leads Arizona by one game, with a matchup against the Cardinals looming next weekend. Zach Charbonnet gave Seattle its first lead of the day on an 8-yard touchdown run with 5:37 to go, and the Seahawks' defense capped another strong outing with a game-sealing stop on fourth down. After a sack by Leonard Williams gave the Jets a fourth-and-15 at the 34-yard line, Aaron Rodgers threw a desperation pass to Garrett Wilson that fell incomplete, giving Seattle the ball with 33 seconds left. What’s working Williams is on a tear. After losing out on NFC defensive player of the week honors last week to teammate Coby Bryant despite 2 1/2 sacks and four quarterback hits, “Big Cat” had an even better game. Williams finished with two sacks, three tackles for loss, a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown that was the longest pick-6 in NFL history by a defensive lineman, and a blocked extra point. The touchdown was the first of Williams’ career. He became the first player since 1982 with multiple sacks, an interception return for a touchdown and a blocked kick in a game. Maybe this week the league will agree he was the NFC's best defender. What needs help The special teams could not have been much worse in the first half. The Seahawks fumbled three kickoffs, losing two, and allowed Kene Nwangwu's 99-yard kickoff return for a TD. Dee Williams fumbled on a kickoff in the first quarter to give New York the ball at the 27-yard line, and four plays later, Rodgers hit Isaiah Davis for a touchdown to give the Jets a 14-0 lead. Laviska Shenault Jr. muffed two kicks and fumbled at the Seattle 38-yard line in the second quarter. Seattle also had an extra point blocked. Stock up Smith led his third game-winning drive of the season and his 11th since he became Seattle’s starting quarterback in 2022. Facing the team that drafted him in 2013, Smith went 20 of 31 for 206 yards and a touchdown. For the first time in five weeks, he was not intercepted. The Seahawks trailed by 14 points on two occasions, but Smith brought Seattle back while avoiding the untimely picks that dogged him recently. He threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Barner in the second quarter, and led the Seahawks on a go-ahead nine-play, 71-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. Stock down Coach Mike Macdonald and his staff have to address the problem with their kick returners, Shenault and Dee Williams. Two lost fumbles and several muffs could have easily cost Seattle the game. Injuries WR DK Metcalf left the game briefly with a knee issue but returned. ... P Michael Dickson was unavailable in the fourth quarter because of back spasms. Key number 38 — The Seahawks decided to go for it on fourth-and-6 at their own 33-yard line with 9:34 left in the game. A primary reason was that Dickson was unavailable to punt because of back spasms. The Jets were flagged for having 12 men on the field after sending a punt returner out, which gave Seattle fourth-and-1 at the 38. The Seahawks got a first down after Jets cornerback Quantez Stiggers was flagged for pass interference on Metcalf, and eight players later, Charbonnet scored to put Seattle ahead. Without going for it on fourth down from their own 38, the Seahawks likely would’ve lost. Up next The Seahawks will seek a season sweep of the Cardinals. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Shane Lantz, The Associated Press
UN nuclear watchdog board passes resolution chiding Iran
AP News Summary at 4:36 p.m. EST
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A proposed deal that would see three tobacco giants pay out billions to provinces and territories, as well as smokers across Canada, has been approved by the companies' creditors, a lawyer representing some of the creditors said Thursday, calling it an important milestone in a lengthy legal saga. The proposed $32.5-billion global settlement between the companies — JTI-Macdonald Corp., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. — and their creditors was announced in October after more than five years of negotiations. Representatives for the creditors, which include provincial governments seeking to recover smoking-related health-care costs as well as plaintiffs in two Quebec class-action lawsuits, voted on the plan in a virtual meeting Thursday afternoon. André Lespérance, who represents plaintiffs in one of the Quebec lawsuits, said creditors overwhelmingly supported the proposal. "We're not surprised, but we're glad the creditors are united right now to see this plan approved," he said in French. Before the plan can be implemented, it must obtain the approval of the court. A hearing has been scheduled for the end of January, and Lespérance said he's optimistic the proposed deal will clear that hurdle as well. "I think we're really close to the end," he said. Dominique Claveau, executive director of the Quebec Council on Tobacco and Health, which is part of the lawsuit, said they look forward to having the court "bring this long-fought battle for justice and truth to its conclusion." The proposed deal includes $24 billion for provinces and territories, $4 billion for tens of thousands of Quebec smokers and their heirs, and more than $2.5 billion for smokers in other provinces and territories. It also includes more than $1 billion for a foundation to help those affected by tobacco-related diseases. British Columbia Premier David Eby, whose province initiated legal action against the three tobacco companies in 1998, said the deal is "a critical step forward after 20 years of litigation." "Tobacco has harmed far too many people, and tobacco companies have avoided accountability for far too long," Eby said in a statement. "We urge tobacco companies to take responsibility for their deceptive actions and accept this plan." At least one of the companies has said it opposes the plan in its current form. The Canadian Cancer Society, which is a social stakeholder in the case, said Thursday it hopes the proposal will be amended before it's approved by the court. Rob Cunningham, the organization's lawyer, said the plan should include smoking-reduction measures and the release of confidential industry documents, similar to what was achieved in the United States decades ago. "There's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to better control the tobacco industry and to reduce tobacco use. We're never going to get this chance again," he said. The foundation funded through the proposed deal should also have its mandate expanded to include prevention of tobacco-related disease and public awareness efforts to help people quit smoking, said Manuel Arango, vice-president of policy and advocacy for Heart & Stroke. "We already have a lot of studies and a lot of knowledge about the treatment of tobacco-related disease," he said. "So it's really about looking forward and helping prevent tobacco-related disease in the future." The proposal is the culmination of a corporate restructuring process set off by a decades-long legal battle over the health effects of smoking. In 2015, a Quebec court ordered the three companies to pay about $15 billion in two class-action lawsuits involving smokers in the province who took up the habit between 1950 and 1998 and either fell ill or were addicted, or their heirs. Four years later, the landmark ruling was upheld by the province's Appeal Court. The companies then sought creditor protection in Ontario in order to negotiate a global settlement with their creditors. All of the legal proceedings against them were put on hold during the talks. That order has now been extended until Jan. 31, 2025. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. Paola Loriggio, The Canadian PressFox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Joe Biden ends his presidency with voters by a 30-point margin saying they have been hurt rather than helped by his economic policies. In addition, a new Fox News national survey finds that most voters not only have negative views of the economy (77% negative) and their personal financial situation (62% negative) — they also feel things are getting worse (64%). Three-quarters say inflation has caused them financial hardship over the last six months, including about one-third who call it a "serious" hardship, and those numbers have held steady for more than two years. Views on the economy are in negative territory by 54 points (23% positive, 77% negative). That is worse than at the beginning of Biden’s term by 14 points, and that increase in pessimism comes a touch more from Democrats (16 points) than Republicans (13) and independents (11). While few Democrats say Biden’s economic policies have hurt them (17%), only one-third say they helped (33%), with half saying his policies didn’t make a difference either way (50%). Overall, nearly three times as many say the president’s economic policies have hurt (47%) rather than helped them (17%), while one-third say no difference (35%). FOX NEWS VOTER ANALYSIS: HOW TRUMP REGAINED THE WHITE HOUSE Big picture, 68% are unhappy with the direction of the country (up 3 points since August). That small increase comes mainly from a 20-point jump in dissatisfaction among Democrats, which is mostly offset by fewer Republicans being dissatisfied by 15-points — presumably both shifts can be attributed to Trump’s re-election. On the whole, only 1 in 4 think history will consider Biden an above-average president. One in 3 says he will be remembered as one of the country’s worst presidents, which is a touch better than the 4 in 10 who said the same about Trump at the end of his first term. Yet, in 2020, three times as many said Trump (22%) would be remembered as "one of the country’s greatest presidents" as feel that way about Biden today (7%). Looking ahead, 39% think the economy will get better in 2025. That’s up from 22% who felt that way a year ago. There is a significant partisan gap in views on the economy’s future, as Republicans (63%) are more than three times as likely as Democrats (17%) to say it will be better next year. "The election post-mortems have emphasized the role of the economy in shaping the outcome, and it’s obvious that bad economic vibes hurt the incumbent party," says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who helps run the Fox News Poll along with Democrat Chris Anderson. "What we’re seeing is a predictable shift toward optimism among Republicans and independents. We’ll see if Trump can sustain and perhaps even expand on that momentum with policies that lower prices and decrease taxes." Biden leaves office with a 41% job approval rating, just one point above his record low. Fifty-eight percent disapprove, including about 1 in 5 Democrats and most independents (76%). Disapproval is at all-time highs among voters under age 45, Hispanics and urban voters. Biden’s 41% approval is lower than Trump’s 47% approval at the end of his first term, former President Barack Obama’s 57% when he left office and former President Bill Clinton’s 62% approval in 2000, but higher than former President George W. Bush’s 34% approval at the end of his presidency. Overall, the president received his record high of 56% approval in June 2021 — one of only five times more voters than not rated him positively. His approval rating hit a record low of 40% in July 2022, November 2023 and October 2024. FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS FEEL HOPEFUL POST-ELECTION, WANT TRUMP TO FOCUS ON INFLATION Biden ends his term with lopsided negative ratings on some key issues, as only about one-third approve of the job he’s doing on border security (31% approve-67% disapprove) and inflation (34%-64%). His marks on foreign policy are a bit better (37%-60%), but that is a record low, and he is still underwater by 23 points. Poll-pourri After repeatedly promising not to, Biden granted a presidential pardon to his son, Hunter, on Dec. 1 for multiple felony convictions. Sixty-three percent of voters disapprove of the pardon — about double the share who approve (32%). Six in 10 Democrats approve, while 7 in 10 independents and 9 in 10 Republicans disapprove. Overall, views are the same when voters are asked about Trump’s commitment to pardon people convicted for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol: 62% disapprove, 34% approve. The partisan dynamic here flips, as 9 in 10 Democrats and 7 in 10 Independents disapprove, while 6 in 10 Republicans approve. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Conducted Dec. 6-9 under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,015 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (125) and cellphones (699) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (191). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error associated with results among subgroup is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis and voter file data. CLICK HERE FOR TOPLINES AND CROSSTABS Fox News’ Victoria Balara contributed to this report. As head of the polling unit, Dana Blanton runs the Fox News Poll and oversees the Fox News Voter Analysis election survey.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The NFL removed New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers from the commissioner exempt list on Monday, making him eligible to participate in practice and play in the team’s games. Peppers missed seven games since being placed on the list on Oct. 9 after he was arrested and charged with shoving his girlfriend’s head into a wall and choking her. The league said its review is ongoing and is not affected by the change in Peppers’ roster status. Braintree, Massachusetts, police said they were called to a home for an altercation between two people on Oct. 7, and a woman told them Peppers choked her. Police said they found at the home a clear plastic bag containing a white powder, which later tested positive for cocaine. Peppers, 29, pleaded not guilty in Quincy District Court to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a Class “B” substance believed to be cocaine. At a court appearance last week a trial date was set for Jan. 22. “Any act of domestic violence is unacceptable for us,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said after the arrest. “With that being said, I do think that Jabrill has to go through the system, has to continue to go through due process. We’ll see how that works out.” A 2017 first-round draft choice by Cleveland, Peppers spent two seasons with the Browns and three with the New York Giants before coming to New England in 2022. He was signed to an extension this summer. He played in the first four games of the season and missed one with a shoulder injury before going on the exempt list, which allows NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to place a player on paid leave while reviewing his case. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Qatar-UK to ink significant pacts during upcoming state visit of Amir: UK envoy
Controversy Over Presidential Pardon: The Case of Hunter BidenATLANTA (AP) — Even the woeful NFC South, where no team has a winning record, can't hide the Atlanta Falcons' offensive shortcomings. Three straight setbacks, including an ugly 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, has left the Falcons 6-6 and feeling the pressure. Only a tiebreaker advantage over Tampa Bay has kept the Falcons atop the division. Now the Falcons must prepare to visit streaking Minnesota, which has won five straight . Veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett knows the Falcons must solve the flaws which have been exposed in the losing streak. “It’s now or never,” Jarrett said. “You have to flip the mindset fast.” Kirk Cousins threw four interceptions in the loss, matching his career high. Coach Raheem Morris said he didn't consider playing rookie Michael Penix Jr. against the Chargers and won't think about benching Cousins this week. Morris acknowledged the Falcons can't expect to win when turning the ball over four times. It was the latest example of Atlanta's offensive decline. In the three-game losing streak, Cousins has thrown six interceptions with no touchdowns. The Falcons were held under 20 points in each loss. If not for the rash of interceptions which has contributed to the scoring problems, more attention would be devoted to the surge of big plays on defense. The defense forced two fumbles and set a season high with five sacks, including two by Arnold Ebiketie. The Falcons ranked last in the league with only 10 sacks before finding success with their pass rush against Justin Herbert. Herbert was forced to hold the ball while looking for an open receiver, so some credit for the pass-rush success belongs to Atlanta's secondary. The Falcons gave up only two first downs in the second half and 187 yards for the game. Cousins, 36, was expected to be the reliable leader on offense after he signed a four-year, $180 million contract. The four interceptions were his most since 2014 with Washington. Cousins now will be in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons as he returns to Minnesota, his NFL home from 2018-23. Cousins has thrown 13 interceptions, one shy of his career high set in 2022. His passer rating of 90.8 is his lowest since his 86.4 mark as a part-time starter in 2014 with Washington. “Certainly when you haven’t played at the standard you want to a few weeks in a row, you know, you do want to change that, turn it around,” Cousins said. Running back Bijan Robinson had his busiest day of the season, perhaps in an attempt to take heat off Cousins. Robinson's 26 carries set a career high. He ran for 102 yards with a touchdown, his third 100-yard game of the season. He also was heavily involved as a receiver with six catches for 33 yards. With 135 yards from scrimmage, Robinson has eight games this season with more than 100 yards combined as a rusher and receiver, the second-most in the league. Tight end Kyle Pitts had no catches on only two targets. He has only six catches in the last four games after appearing to establish momentum for a big season with two seven-catch games in a span of three weeks in October. Morris noted the Falcons have “so many people that we've got to get the ball to” but noted he'd like to see Pitts more involved. Younghoe Koo's hip issues were such a concern that kicker Riley Patterson was signed to the practice squad on Friday and added to the active roster Saturday. Patterson was on the inactive list as Koo was good on two of three field goals, missing from 35 yards. Koo has made 21 of 29 attempts this season. He did not have more than five misses in any of his first five seasons with Atlanta. 70 — WR Drake London had nine receptions for 86 yards, giving him 70 catches for the season. London, a 2022 first-round draft pick, is the first player in team history with at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. While Ray-Ray McCloud III led the team with a career-best 95 yards on four catches against the Chargers and Darnell Mooney has had some big games, London has been the most consistent receiver. The Falcons face a difficult test Sunday in their visit to Minnesota (10-2), which has five straight wins and is 5-1 at home. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lument Finance Trust, Inc. (NYSE: LFT ) ("LFT" or the "Company") announced the declaration of a cash dividend of $0.08 per share of common stock with respect to the fourth quarter of 2024. The Company also announced the declaration of a one-time special cash dividend of $0.09 per share of common stock due to real estate investment trust tax considerations. These dividends are payable on January 15, 2025 , to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024 . The Company also announced the declaration of a cash dividend of $0.4921875 per share of 7.875% Cumulative Redeemable Series A Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on January 15, 2025 to preferred stockholders of record as of the close of business January 2, 2025 . About LFT LFT is a Maryland corporation focused on investing in, financing and managing a portfolio of commercial real estate debt investments. The Company primarily invests in transitional floating rate commercial mortgage loans with an emphasis on middle-market multi-family assets. LFT is externally managed and advised by Lument Investment Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. Additional Information and Where to Find It Investors, security holders and other interested persons may find additional information regarding the Company at the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov/ or the Company website www.lumentfinancetrust.com or by directing requests to: Lument Finance Trust, 230 Park Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10169, Attention: Investor Relations. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. You can identify forward-looking statements by use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "may," "will," "seek," "would," "could," or similar expressions or other comparable terms, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's beliefs, assumptions and expectations of its future performance, taking into account all information currently available to the Company on the date of this press release or the date on which such statements are first made. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this press release and should consider carefully the factors described in Part I, Item IA "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 , which is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov , and in other current or periodic filings with the SEC, when evaluating these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the Company's control. Except as required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lument-finance-trust-inc-declares-quarterly-cash-dividends-for-its-common-and-preferred-stock-and-announces-special-cash-dividend-distribution-302330846.html SOURCE Lument Finance Trust
NORAD's Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kidsAcross the northeastern United States, residents have reported an uptick in drone sightings that have bemused some and caused concerns of spying for others. Video above: Is that a drone or a plane? Expert helps explain the differences As national attention has caused people to look skyward now more than ever, here are some basic facts about drones, including federal regulations, how to spot a drone, and information about your rights when it comes to airspace. A drone, or unmanned aircraft system (UAS) is a remote-controlled, flying device capable of achieving high speeds and taking high-definition photos and video. Commercial drones have been around and available for more than a decade, and recent technology has allowed these incredible flying aircraft to be available and accessible to nearly everyone. While drones can come in all shapes and sizes, there are two main variations of these flying marvels to look out for. The most common is a quadcopter-style vehicle, which means a drone with four sets of rotors similar to those on a helicopter. These drones are capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and have incredibly high maneuverability, being able to change directions and elevation with ease. Quadcopter drones can range greatly in size, with the smallest weighing just a few ounces and fitting in the palm of your hand. More advanced and more sophisticated quadcopter-style drones can be several feet across and weigh up to 55 pounds. However, advances in technology for many commercially available devices have allowed these drones to be smaller and lighter in recent years. The second type of drone is a fixed-wing vehicle, in the style of a commercial airliner. These drones can be larger and require more skill to fly. They are similar to remote-controlled aircraft used by hobbyists. Fixed-wing craft are much less common and tend to be more expensive than their quadcopter cousins. Drones are not allowed to fly more than 100 mph, as per FAA regulations. The answer to this is complicated, as pricing depends greatly on what the drone is being used for and how advanced it is. Many stores and websites, including Target, Walmart, Best Buy and Amazon, sell small "toy" drones for prices as low as $30. These drones are much less sophisticated, have less advanced cameras and are marketed toward hobbyists and sometimes even children. There are several companies that sell professional-grade or "pro-sumer" drones that can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. These companies include DJI and Sony. Some of these drones are capable of shooting 8K video and incredibly high-quality photos. You will likely see these types of drones being used by licensed pilots. Commercially available drones are strictly monitored and regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, due to concerns around public safety and national security. No license is required for a person looking to fly a drone strictly for recreational use. There are size and weight restrictions around these drones. However, you are still required to complete a brief online course called TRUST through the FAA to fly recreationally. This test includes basic aeronautical knowledge and safety information to ensure that you can operate safely. Drone pilots who fly a drone for any purpose other than recreational use are required to obtain a Part 107 license, also known as a Remote Pilot License , from the FAA before flying. This license allows a pilot to fly a drone for work or business. Some use cases include real estate photography, construction site surveillance or even a monetized YouTube or TikTok account of nature photography. Law enforcement agencies also utilize licensed remote pilots for official police operations including search and rescue or surveillance operations. All drones that weigh more than 0.55 pounds, or 250 grams, must be registered with the FAA. You can see the current number of registered drones in the United States here . As of this writing, there are more than 1 million drones registered with the FAA nationwide. As of 2021, all drones operating after civil twilight are required to utilize flashing strobe lights for safety. That is why you may see a series of blinking lights on a drone flying after dark. The FAA rules and restrictions around drones are very complicated. All airspace in the United States has been mapped by the FAA and broken out into different classifications. A majority of the airspace in the United States either falls under Class G — Uncontrolled airspace — or Class E. Airspace around sensitive locations, including airports, is classified as either Class A, B, C or D. You can learn more about airspace classifications and regulations here . There are also rules around how high you can fly a drone. Drones cannot be flown higher than 400 feet AGL (Above Ground Level) with that ceiling lower in certain airspace classifications. This is done to prevent possible interference with manned aircraft. The short answer is no, you cannot shoot a drone out of the sky, even if it is hovering or flying over your property. This is a federal crime, as the FAA considers it shooting at an aircraft, according to Cornell Law School . Anyone who violates this rule could spend up to 20 years in prison. Remember, the FAA controls all airspace in the country, even the airspace above your property. If you are interested in learning more about drones and how to fly one, you can find more information on the FAA website . You can also see an extensive list of frequently asked questions here . Editor's note: Author Michael Cusanelli is a federally licensed UAS Pilot with a current Part 107 certificate. He is a member of sister station WPTZ's Sky 5 Drone Team and operates a drone for station events and news coverage.