NEW YORK , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global insurtech market size is estimated to grow by USD 77.41 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 42.35% during the forecast period. Increasing need to improve business efficiency is driving market growth, with a trend towards investors collaborating with insurtech firms. However, high cost of investment poses a challenge. Key market players include Acko Technology and Services Pvt. Ltd., Allianz SE, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Charles Taylor Ltd., Cuvva Ltd., Cytora Ltd., DeadHappy Ltd., Flock Ltd., Friendsurance, Kin Insurance Technology Hub LLC, KYND Ltd., Laka Ltd., Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., Milvik AB, Nimbla Ltd., Quantemplate Technologies Inc., simplesurance GmbH, Slice Insurance Technologies Inc., Uinsure Ltd., Urban Jungle Services Ltd., Wrisk Ltd., ExtraCover Ltd., and F2X Group Ltd.. Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Market Driver InsurTech, the fusion of Insurance and Technology, is creating waves in the industry. This innovation is revolutionizing the creation, distribution, and administration of insurance products. From social insurance to life & health, auto, marine, liability, buildings, and commercial buildings insurance, InsurTech is transforming business lines and product lines. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are driving personalized solutions for niche customers. Real-time tracking and monitoring information enable better risk monitoring and decision making. Customer data is the new currency, with predictions based on purchase quantity and consumer needs. Cloud computing, blockchain, IoT, and digital solutions are the new norm. InsurTech is transforming insurance planning with big data, chatbots, and on-premise solutions. Insurance carriers are embracing digital transformation, leveraging technology to streamline operations and enhance customer experience. The future of InsurTech lies in continuous innovation and meeting evolving customer needs. Investors are showing heightened enthusiasm towards partnering with InsurTech firms, as evidenced by the recent conference where 1,500 investors, entrepreneurs, and insurance executives convened. The primary objective of the event was to explore how technology is revolutionizing the insurance sector. Technological advancements have significantly impacted the insurance value chain, streamlining costing processes, enhancing consumer experience, increasing transparency, reducing fraud through data analysis, and simplifying claims for customers. InsurTech companies are prioritizing the growing consumer demand for tailored insurance products and personalized services. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! Market Challenges The InsurTech market is revolutionizing the insurance industry by creating and distributing innovative insurance products using technology. Challenges in insurance creation and administration are being addressed through the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Social insurance and customer data analysis help insurers make accurate predictions and personalized decisions for insurance planning. Real-time tracking and monitoring information are crucial for risk monitoring and customer satisfaction. Insurance carriers are embracing digital solutions to meet consumer needs, including cloud computing, IoT, and blockchain. Business lines and product lines are catering to niche customers with specific risk profiles. Machine learning algorithms help insurers assess purchase quantity and make informed decisions. Big data and chatbots streamline customer interaction and improve decision-making processes. Solutions providers are leading the digital transformation in insurance, offering cloud-based and on-premise solutions for life & health, auto, marine, liability, buildings, and commercial buildings insurance. IoT devices provide real-time data for dwelling coverage, contents coverage, and risk monitoring. The integration of technology in insurance is a game-changer, enabling insurers to provide customized solutions and improve overall customer experience. Insurance firms are embracing the sale of products through the latest technology, known as InsurTech. However, this new approach necessitates specialized training for insurance staff to effectively use the technology and understand the insurance offerings. Retraining is essential to ensure that employees can provide clients with suitable insurance solutions. Many firms are integrating technology with banking and broking services, but managing these systems effectively requires technical expertise, which some firms may lack. Therefore, investing in trainers for staff and brokers is crucial for successful implementation of InsurTech solutions. Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! Segment Overview This insurtech market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Marketing and distribution 1.2 IT support 1.3 Claim management 1.4 Policy administration and management 1.5 Others 2.1 On-premises 2.2 Cloud 3.1 North America 3.2 Europe 3.3 APAC 3.4 Middle East and Africa 3.5 South America 1.1 Marketing and distribution- The InsurTech market's marketing and distribution segment is poised for significant growth during the forecast period. The widespread use of smartphones and easy internet access have fueled digital marketing and distribution of insurance policies through advanced technologies. Regulations mandating electronic promotion system certifications ensure security. Mobile point-of-sales in e-retail is gaining acceptance, providing insurance companies with opportunities to cater to busy customers. InsurTech platforms offer chatbots for live customer interaction and resolution of queries, enhancing the digital experience. Customer-centricity and high ROI are driving segment growth. InsurTech startups disrupt traditional financial services with increased access, transparency, and lower costs. Automation through pattern recognition algorithms and predictive coding reduce industry overheads and improve process efficiency. Deregulation of equity crowdfunding and private startup investments attract investors, further fueling market growth. Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics Research Analysis Insurance Technology, or InsurTech, refers to the use of technology to create, distribute, and administer insurance products. This innovative sector is revolutionizing the industry by enabling the creation of ultra-customized policies tailored to individual needs. Social insurance, life & health, auto, marine, liability, buildings, and commercial buildings insurance are just a few areas benefiting from InsurTech. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are key technologies driving personalized offerings. Customer data is analyzed to provide accurate risk assessments and pricing. Cloud computing and deployment models allow for flexible and scalable solutions. Blockchain ensures secure and transparent transactions. Business analytics and IoT devices provide real-time data for risk assessment and claims processing. InsurTech is transforming various insurance sectors, including life & health, auto, marine, liability, buildings, and home insurance. Dwelling coverage and contents coverage are now offered with greater precision and efficiency. The future of insurance is technology-driven, offering customized policies and improved customer experiences. Market Research Overview The InsurTech market refers to the use of technology to create, distribute, and administer insurance products. This includes social insurance, life & health, auto, marine, liability, buildings, and commercial buildings insurance. Customer data is a crucial element, with machine learning and artificial intelligence used for predictions based on consumer needs, purchase quantity, and decision making. Real-time tracking and monitoring information are essential for insured parties, and businesses are leveraging digital solutions to streamline insurance planning. Cloud computing, blockchain, IoT, and big data are transforming the industry, with solutions providers offering digital transformation through on-premise and cloud-based platforms. Chatbots and insurance carriers are also part of this landscape, enhancing customer experience and enabling efficient claim processing. Overall, InsurTech is revolutionizing the insurance industry by providing innovative digital solutions for various business lines and niche customers. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Application Marketing And Distribution IT Support Claim Management Policy Administration And Management Others Deployment On-premises Cloud Geography North America Europe APAC Middle East And Africa South America 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE TechnavioBill Maher, Neil deGrasse Tyson clash over transgender women in sports
Locals miss out again on hoisting RSM Classic trophyThe content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK. When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in. You're reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool's Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources , and more. Learn More . Is it realistic to dream of becoming a stock market millionaire? Even starting with zero, I think it is credible to aim for a million, although I think that takes a long-term approach to the stock market and also money to invest. But what is... Christopher RuaneLAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Tyrese Hunter scored 17 of his 26 points after halftime to lead Memphis to a 99-97 overtime win against two-time defending national champion and second-ranked UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational . Hunter shot 7 of 10 from 3-point range for the Tigers (5-0), who were 12 of 22 from beyond at the arc as a team. PJ Haggerty had 22 points and five assists, Colby Rogers had 19 points and Dain Dainja scored 14. Tarris Reed Jr. had 22 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Huskies (4-1). Alex Karaban had 19 points and six assists, and Jaylin Stewart scored 16. Memphis led by as many as 13 with about four minutes left in regulation, but UConn chipped away and eventually tied it on Solo Ball’s 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining. Memphis: The Tigers ranked second nationally in field goal percentage going into the game and shot it at a 54.7% clip. UConn: The Huskies saw their string of 17 consecutive wins dating back to February come to an end. The teams were tied at 92 with less than a minute remaining in overtime when UConn coach Dan Hurley was assessed a technical foul for his displeasure with an over-the-back call against Liam McNeeley. PJ Carter hit four straight free throws — two for the tech and the other pair for the personal foul — to give Memphis a 96-92 lead with 40.3 seconds to play. UConn had three players foul out. Memphis attempted 40 free throws and made 29 of them. Memphis will play the winner of Colorado-Michigan State on Tuesday in the second round of the invitational. UConn will play the loser of that game in the consolation bracket.
A woman stares back at me from a small painting, with soft eyes that never saw the age of 27. Her blue dress stands out gently against the teal background, a gold cross hanging from her neck, an engagement ring glittering on the hand resting at her side. The painting is Amy Sherald’s portrait of Breonna Taylor, commissioned for the cover of the September 2020 issue of Vanity Fair . Stylistically, the painting is entirely Sherald’s signature blend of minimalist figuration infused with hints of pop-surrealism, but it is in its cultural context that it delivers all the gravitas of religious painting. Taylor is a martyr. The portrait hangs alongside nearly 50 other paintings in Sherald’s first major museum survey, “American Sublime,” at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The exhibit runs through March 9, 2025. The show chronicles Sherald’s artistic development over the last decade-and-a-half: stylized portraits of Black people either posed casually or recreating historical images, all sharing the same desaturated gray skin tone, a hallmark she hit on around 2008 which harkens back to the Renaissance. Coincidentally, the timeframe of “American Sublime” also coincides a striking arc of American politics, from the election of the country’s first Black president to the defeat of the first Black woman to secure a major-party nomination for that same office, and with the Black Lives Matter movement and the Supreme Court’s reversal of affirmative action nested in between. In 2018, Sherald was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to create the official portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama . The resulting, regal likeness is sequestered in its own viewing space at SFMOMA, lending a reverence to the piece similar to the portrait of Taylor. Overall, overtly political associations aren’t ones Sherald or the curators announce directly, but they churn beneath the surface of the exhibition, creating a distinct tension around the artist’s vision of Black America. Maybe that schism is where the sublime comes into play. In art history, the “sublime” describes the indescribable — the overwhelming majesty of the natural landscape, incomprehensible to the human mind. But skew your perspective of American sublimity from Thomas Cole’s Hudson River landscape paintings and Ansel Adams’s photographs of Yosemite mountain ranges, and reapply the definition to the current moment in American politics. I think it could be perfectly described by an overwhelming sense of scale that outstrips my comprehension: the return of former President Donald Trump, now a convicted felon and found liable for sexual abuse , to the White House. “American Sublime” wasn’t mounted in response to, or necessarily in anticipation of, Trump’s victory. Certainly, it would be a different viewing experience if Kamala Harris had won the race . But Sherald offers both a revisionist history to our nation’s troubled past and a counternarrative to four more years of Trump’s America. One approach to this is the scale at which Sherald paints her subjects. Some paintings are life-sized or slightly smaller, lending to a personal rapport with the viewer. Others are larger than life, towering against the gallery walls. Both approaches create and hold space for the people and the vision they represent. Some of the paintings also reinterpret the past to reveal the uncelebrated Black and queer histories that are the bedrock of American history. “For Love, and For Country” samples Alfred Eisenstaedt’s iconic 1945 photograph of a sailor kissing a woman in Times square in celebration of the United States’ victory over the Japanese. Sherald’s version features two Black men playing out the scene, reinterpreting the image of nationalist celebration through a queer lens. “If You Surrendered to the Air” shows a solitary man straddles an I-beam, again playing with an historical image of white immigrant ironworkers breaking for lunch atop the skeletal frame of the Empire State Building by suggesting the role of Black Americans in building the nation. Both make use of the expansive blue background common across many of Sherald’s canvases. Perhaps this is a signifier of upward mobility or potential historically withheld. But the emptiness also helps to focus all attention on the central figure and when other elements come into play they are spare and carefully curated. Clothing is the most consistent contributor to the narrative of each painting, carefully individualizing each subject in bright colors and distinctive patterns. Elsewhere, Sherald incorporates elements of Americana iconography to further her character’s stories, from a John Deere tractor to picket fences and a rocket launch. The final gallery in the exhibition expands its bid for representation to include transgender and disabled characters. “Trans Forming Liberty” shows a trans woman striking the iconic pose of the Statue of Liberty, brandishing a bouquet of flowers in place of the typical torch and crowned with pink curls in place of the usual spiked halo. In “American Grit,” a legless boxer stares with stoic pride while perched on a ringside stool. “American Sublime” feels like an elegy for a recent possible version of America it now seems difficult to imagine. One that is diverse and inclusive and, in a word, human. It’s a version of the future that now seems like the relic of a distant, naïve past, subsumed by incumbent inhumanity. Perhaps it is in this reverence that Sherald’s paintings can help us remember the hope we had for a future we can one day return to. Max Blue is an art critic whose “State of the Arts” column appears monthly in The Examiner.Amazon is rolling out great deals on two of its latest Kindle e-readers which makes it the perfect time if you’re looking for a thoughtful gift for the holiday season. The all-new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and the Kindle Paperwhite are both available at record low prices , and showcase the best of what Amazon has to offer in e-reading technology. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is priced at $154, down from its list price of $199 (a 23% discount) . This model stands out as Amazon’s fastest Kindle yet with a generous 32 GB of storage so that you can to store thousands of books without worrying about running out of space. One of the most notable features of this edition is its auto-adjusting front light which optimizes brightness based on your environment. With weeks of battery life on a single charge, this Kindle is perfect for avid readers who enjoy long reading sessions without interruption. See Kindle Paperwhite Signature at Amazon On the other hand, the Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) is available for $129, reduced from $159 . This model also boasts impressive features including a 7-inch glare-free display that makes reading outdoors a breeze. The 16 GB storage capacity is ample for most users and allows you to carry an extensive library in your hands. Like the Signature Edition, this Kindle offers weeks of battery life and is designed with comfort in mind. See Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon Both models are part of Amazon’s commitment to providing readers with high-quality devices that enhance their reading experience. Moreover, Amazon offers a best price guarantee during this promotional period: if the price drops further after your purchase, they will refund you the difference. This means there’s no reason to wait—buying now ensures you get the best deal possible. Additionally, Amazon has extended its return policy until January 31, 2025, which is particularly advantageous for holiday shopping. This extended timeframe allows gift recipients ample opportunity to test their new e-readers and return them if necessary, providing peace of mind during the busy holiday season. Best in Class E-Readers While both models share some core features—such as exceptional battery life and glare-free displays—there are key differences that cater to different types of readers. The Signature Edition is ideal for those who want the best technology available and enjoy features like wireless charging and an adaptive front light that adjusts automatically. Conversely, the standard Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for those who want a high-quality reading experience without all the bells and whistles. It provides excellent functionality at a more accessible price point which is appreciated by casual readers or those new to e-readers. Its lighter weight and compact design make it easy to carry around, making it suitable for both commuting and leisure reading. With these record low prices and Amazon’s generous return policy during Black Friday , now is undoubtedly the best time to elevate your reading experience or surprise someone special with a thoughtful gift this holiday season. See Kindle Paperwhite Signature at Amazon See Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon
The Bull Market Keeps Growing: 3 Reasons to Buy Amazon Stock Like There's No Tomorrow
Here's how I'm using a £20k ISA to target £11k+ in income 30 years from nowNEW YORK — The brooding waltz was carefully composed on a sheet of music roughly the size of an index card. The brief, moody number also bore an intriguing name, written at the top in cursive: “Chopin.” A previously unknown work of music penned by the European master Frederic Chopin appears to have been found at the Morgan Library & Museum in Manhattan. The untitled and unsigned piece is on display this month at the opulently appointed institution, which had once been the private library of financier J.P. Morgan. A previously unknown musical manuscript, possibly by Frederic Chopin, is held in a display case after it was discovered at The Morgan Library & Museum on Nov. 13 in New York. Robinson McClellan, the museum curator who uncovered the manuscript, said it's the first new work associated with the Romantic era composer to be discovered in nearly a century. But McClellan concedes that it may never be known whether it is an original Chopin work or merely one written in his hand. The piece, set in the key of A minor, stands out for its “very stormy, brooding opening section” before transitioning to a melancholy melody more characteristic of Chopin, McClellan explained. “This is his style. This is his essence,” he said during a recent visit to the museum. “It really feels like him.” McClellan said he came across the work in May as he was going through a collection from the late Arthur Satz, a former president of the New York School of Interior Design. Satz acquired it from A. Sherrill Whiton Jr., an avid autograph collector who had been director of the school. McClellan then worked with experts to verify its authenticity. The paper was found to be consistent with what Chopin favored for manuscripts, and the ink matched a kind typical in the early 19th century when Chopin lived, according to the museum. But a handwriting analysis determined the name “Chopin” written at the top of the sheet was penned by someone else. Born in Poland, Chopin was considered a musical genius from an early age. He lived in Warsaw and Vienna before settling in Paris, where he died in 1849 at the age of 39, likely of tuberculosis. A previously unknown musical manuscript, possibly by Frederic Chopin, is seen in a display case after it was discovered at The Morgan Library & Museum, Nov. 13 in New York. He’s buried among a pantheon of artists at the city’s famed Père Lachaise Cemetery, but his heart, pickled in a jar of alcohol, is housed in a church in Warsaw, in keeping with his deathbed wish for the organ to return to his homeland. Artur Szklener, director of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute in Warsaw, the Polish capital city where the composer grew up, agreed that the document is consistent with the kinds of ink and paper Chopin used during his early years in Paris. Musically, the piece evokes the “brilliant style” that made Chopin a luminary in his time, but it also has features unusual for his compositions, Szklener said. “First of all, it is not a complete work, but rather a certain musical gesture, a theme laced with rather simple piano tricks alluding to a virtuoso style," Szklener explained in a lengthy statement released after the document was revealed last month. He and other experts conjecture the piece could have been a work in progress. It may have also been a copy of another's work, or even co-written with someone else, perhaps a student for a musical exercise. Jeffrey Kallberg, a University of Pennsylvania music professor and Chopin expert who helped authenticate the document, called the piece a “little gem” that Chopin likely intended as a gift for a friend or wealthy acquaintance. “Many of the pieces that he gave as gifts were short – kind of like ‘appetizers’ to a full-blown work,” Kallberg said in an email. “And we don’t know for sure whether he intended the piece to see the light of day because he often wrote out the same waltz more than once as a gift.” David Ludwig, dean of music at The Juilliard School, a performing arts conservatory in Manhattan, agreed the piece has many of the hallmarks of the composer’s style. “It has the Chopin character of something very lyrical and it has a little bit of darkness as well,” said Ludwig, who was not involved in authenticating the document. But Ludwig noted that, if it's authentic, the tightly composed score would be one of Chopin’s shortest known pieces. The waltz clocks in at under a minute long when played on piano, as many of Chopin’s works were intended. “In terms of the authenticity of it, in a way it doesn’t matter because it sparks our imaginations,” Ludwig said. “A discovery like this highlights the fact that classical music is very much a living art form.” The Chopin reveal comes after the Leipzig Municipal Libraries in Germany announced in September that it uncovered a previously unknown piece likely composed by a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in its collections. Christmas music has a long and storied history beginning centuries ago with pagan rituals. Those traditions evolved with St. Francis of Assisi’s Nativity plays in the 13th century, and survived Puritan rule when many Christmas traditions and celebrations were banned during part of the 17th century. Traveling minstrels spread original songs before the invention of the printing press in 1440 ushered in an era of texts that served as the foundation for some of the most beloved Christmas songs. These tunes would be shared in the form of poetry and hymns printed on broadsides . Today, Christmas music runs the gamut from silly to revolutionary. Songs range from grandmothers getting trampled by reindeer to those based on the work of a Romantic-period poet. Who knew that the catchy tune of Wenceslas, the king with the funny name, is a reverent song about the patron saint of the Czech Republic? Or perhaps it would surprise readers to discover that “Silent Night” was designated as an item of Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. These songs we know by heart and hear so often have rich histories rooted in things like war, religion, social reform, and slavery. Stacker compiled a list of Christmas songs released before 1920 and explored the origins of these pieces. This list includes Christmas carols, famous instrumentals, popular hymns, and spirituals from countries around the world. Many of these songs were created out of a chance collaboration between artists spanning time and space; a clergyman pens a hymn, and years later, a composer resurrects those words and sets them to a melody. It may come as no surprise, then, that what people consider to be Christmas classics are among the most-covered Christmas songs of all time . “Silent Night,” for example, had 137,315 recordings according to a 2017 Billboard report. Read on to learn about the rich histories of some of the most beloved Christmas songs that are more than a century old. You may also like: 71 years of Emmy history Written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857 and originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh,” “Jingle Bells” is one of the most beloved and ubiquitous Christmas carols in existence. In 1965, astronauts Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford made “Jingle Bells,” the first song heard from space as they orbited Earth aboard the Gemini 6. It may be surprising that this Christmas classic was written as a Thanksgiving song. This traditional English Christmas carol refers to the practice of wassailing, the definition of which has evolved over the years . In the song, wassailing is the practice of traveling door-to-door, wishing good health, and asking for a bit of hospitality and Christmas tidings in return, including a drink from a communal bowl filled with mulled cider or ale called wassail. Other familiar variants of the song include “Here We Come A-Caroling,” and “Here We Come A Christmasing.” Published by hymn writer John Mason Neale in 1853, this carol was based on the life of the virtuous ruler Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia . Wenceslaus I was revered for his piety, morality, and virtue. After his assassination, he was posthumously conferred as a king by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I, which is why people don’t sing of good Duke Wenceslaus. Wenceslaus was elevated to sainthood immediately after his death, and he's considered the patron saint of the Czech Republic. The version of “O Tannenbaum” most of us are familiar with today was written in 1824 by Ernst Anschütz, a well-known organist and composer from Leipzig, Germany. Anschütz’s version was one of many based on a 16th-century German folk song that pays homage to the steadfast nature of the "Tannenbaum," the German word for a fir tree. The song’s association with Christmas began with Anschütz even though no explicit mention of Christmas was made in his original lyrics. Furthermore, most Christmas trees are spruce, not fir. Readers may be more familiar with the song’s English title, “O Christmas Tree.” If you’ve ever wondered what “God rest you merry” means, you’re not alone. This carol’s title is often misinterpreted, mispunctuated, and widely debated. The phrase “rest you merry” is used in the same way we use “rest assured.” It is not an address to merry gentlemen but rather an imperative statement to all gentlemen to be happy, citing the birth of Christ. It’s even referenced in Charles Dickens' classic “A Christmas Carol.” The earliest known print edition of the carol dates back to 1760, but its author is unknown. You may also like: 30 celebrities you might not know are LGBTQ Originally titled “Three Kings of Orient,” this carol was written by journalist-turned-clergyman John Henry Hopkins in 1857 for a Christmas pageant and published six years later. The carol chronicles the Christian gospel of Matthew in which three biblical magi, commonly known as the three wise men, bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to honor the birth of Jesus. Edmund Sears—a Unitarian pastor in Wayland, Mass.—wrote a five-stanza poem titled “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” in 1849. It was adapted by American composer Richard Storrs Willis in 1850 and set to a melody called “Carol.” The words of this poem-turned-carol are regarded as an account of the issues at the time. Topics referred to in the song include the end of the Mexican-American war and a call for peace among men. Proudly rejoicing the nativity of Jesus, “Go Tell It on the Mountain” was an African-American spiritual dating back to 1865. John Wesley Work Jr. was a composer and ethnomusicologist who compiled hundreds of spirituals and even composed a few, including “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” in his work: “American Negro Songs and Spirituals; A Comprehensive Collection of 230 Folk Songs, Religious and Secular.” Written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865 and published in 1871, this carol explores what the shepherds present at the birth of Jesus must have been thinking when they encountered him. In gospel, hymns, and art, shepherds are central characters in the Nativity of Jesus. The song is set to the familiar melody of “Greensleeves,” a 16th-century English folk song. The exact origins of this popular carol are unknown, but it is most often credited to John Francis Wade. Originally written and printed in Latin as “Adeste Fideles,” it first appeared in Wade’s 1751 collection “Cantus Diversi.” You may also like: Exploring minority representation in the biggest box office winners ever What began in 1818 as a modest performance outside of St. Nicholas parish in Oberndorf, Austria, has become one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. Translated into over 300 languages, “Stille Nacht” was written by a priest named Joseph Mohr and composed by Franz Xaver Gruber in 1818. The song became popular among traveling folk singers, and before long, it could be heard around the world. The English version we know today called “Silent Night” was not written until 1863. “Stille Nacht” was named an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011 . “Carol of the Bells” is no doubt familiar to you, if not by name, then by melody. The carol was based on an Ukranian folk chant called "Shchedryk,” which was traditionally sung on New Year’s Eve as it spoke of good fortune for the upcoming year. American composer Peter J. Wilhousky adapted the lyrics "Shchedryk” into a Christmas song in 1919 using the original musical arrangement by Ukranian composer Mykola Leontovych. Many artists have covered the carol over the last century, and one of its more popular variants is “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo” by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. “In the Bleak Midwinter” was based on a poem of the same name written by English poet Christina Georgina Rossetti in 1872. English composer Gustav Holst first set the poem to music in 1906. This particular carol was published by Cecil Sharp, a famous conservator of English folk tradition, in 1911. The song is packed with symbolism that dates back to pagan rituals. Holly, representing males, and ivy, representing females, used to be burned together during the pagan festival of Beltane to encourage a fruitful spring. In Christianity, holly is symbolic of the crown of thorns Jesus wore during his crucifixion. With this rich history, evergreens like holly and ivy are viewed as symbols of rebirth and renewal, which are common themes celebrated at Christmas time. This carol was based on the poem "Christmas Bells," written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on Christmas Day in 1863. With an injured wife and a son who joined the union army against his father’s wishes, Longfellow lamented hearing bells on Christmas Day during the American Civil War. The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness when goodwill and peace on Earth seemed impossible. The poem was set to music in 1872 by English composer John Baptiste Calkin. You may also like: Mistakes from the 50 best movies of all time “O Holy Night” is based on a French poem titled "Minuit, Chrétiens," written by Placide Cappeau at the behest of a parish priest. Composer Adolphe Adam set the poem to music that same year, and it quickly gained popularity throughout France. When Cappeau denounced the Catholic Church to join the socialist movement, the church responded by denouncing his beloved carol. The song made a resurgence after it was translated into English and introduced in America by John Sullivan Dwight. After visiting Bethlehem in the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem , Phillips Brooks was inspired to write about his experiences. Brooks, an Episcopal priest, shared the poem he had written with Lewis Redner, his church’s organist, and asked him to create a melody for it so they could perform it at an upcoming Sunday school service. In a single evening, Redner composed the tune that we know today. Reflecting on the success of the carol, Redner stated : “Neither Mr. Brooks nor I ever thought the carol or the music to it would live beyond that Christmas of 1868.” Mistakenly attributed, for many years, to Martin Luther—the seminal figure of Europe’s Protestant Reformation in the 16th century—and even titling early versions of this piece “Luther’s Cradle Song,” “Away in a Manger” is a relatively simple carol with unknown origins. The first record of the text being set to music with the title “Away in a Manger” is found in the 1885 publication “Little Children's Book for Schools and Families.” The carol we know as “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” was originally titled "Hymn for Christmas-Day,” published in 1739 by Charles Wesley, leader of the Methodist movement and brother to John Wesley, the movement’s founder. But it was George Whitefield who adapted the text in 1753 to give us that familiar opener “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” The melody was composed by Felix Mendelssohn and later adapted by William H. Cummings in 1855 to create the song that's popular today. This numeric carol was originally published in England in 1780 in a children’s book called “Mirth Without Mischief.” It is believed to be a type of children's memory-and-forfeit game in which the singer must remember every verse or forfeit something if they make a mistake. You may also like: Best and worst Al Pacino movies Citing the gospel of Luke, this English carol is based on a French song called “Les Anges dans nos campagnes.” The lyrics were written by James Chadwick, a bishop in 1862. His words were set to the tune "Gloria," which was arranged by Edward Shippen Barnes. This Christmas ballad is believed to date back to the 15th century. Unlike many other carols that reference the gospels of Luke or Matthew, this story takes place sometime in between as Mary and Joseph journey to Bethlehem. It is one of the few depictions of Joseph struggling to accept Mary’s pregnancy, evidenced through lyrics such as “O then bespoke Joseph/ With words so unkind,/ Let him pluck thee a cherry/That brought thee with child.” The song was made popular again by Joan Baez’s rendition in 1961. The exact origins of this carol are unknown, but it is believed to be one of the oldest carols still sung today. Dating back to the 12th century, “The Friendly Beasts” is a traditional French carol about the animals present at the birth of Jesus and the gifts they bestowed on him. “Joy to the World” was originally written as a hymn by Isaac Watts. Watt’s adaptation of Psalm 98 interprets Christ as the king of the church and as the king of the world. “Joy to the World” is one of the most recorded Christmas songs of all time . Perhaps the darkest song on this list, “Coventry Carol,” depicts the biblical event “The Massacre of the Innocents” in which King Herod ordered the killing of all male babies under the age of two in Bethlehem. The song takes the form of a lullaby recited to the persecuted children. In Christianity, “The Massacre of the Innocents” is an important part of the broader Nativity story and thus a relevant story in the Christmas narrative. “Coventry Carol” was originally part of a medieval mystery play performed in England called “The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors.” You may also like: Best Grateful Dead albums of all time Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!
Tripadvisor Announces Participation at Upcoming ConferenceSANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Agora, Inc. (NASDAQ: API) (the "Company”), a pioneer and leader in real-time engagement technology, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. "Recently, we launched our Conversational AI SDK in collaboration with OpenAI's Realtime API to allow developers to bring voice-driven AI experiences to any app. We believe multimodal AI agents that can interact with human through natural voice will gain widespread adoption across many use cases such as customer support, education and wellness, and Agora is well positioned to become a key infrastructure provider for real-time conversational AI,” said Tony Zhao, founder, chairman and CEO of Agora. "To support this vision, we recently made some structural changes, aligning our organization to fully leverage the accelerating conversational AI opportunities, and operate in a faster, leaner, and more responsive fashion. These changes will help us build the next generation real-time engagement technology for the Generative AI era and strengthen our position as the leader in real-time engagement space.” Third Quarter 2024 Highlights Revenues Total revenues were $31.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 9.8% from $35.0 million in the same period last year. Revenues of Agora were $15.7 million in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 2.6% from $15.3 million in the same period last year, primarily due to our business expansion and usage growth in sectors such as live shopping. Revenues of Shengwang were RMB112.9 million ($15.9 million) in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 20.0% from RMB141.2 million ($19.7 million) in the same period last year, primarily due to a decrease in revenues of RMB 17.5 million ($2.4 million) due to the end-of-sale of certain products and reduced usage from customers in certain sectors such as social and entertainment as a result of challenging macroeconomic and regulatory environment. Cost of Revenues Cost of revenues was $10.5 million in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 16.4% from $12.6 million in the same period last year, primarily due to the end-of-sale of certain products and the decrease in bandwidth usage and costs, which was offset partially by severance expenses for customer support teams of $0.3 million. Gross Profit and Gross Margin Gross profit was $21.0 million in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 6.1% from $22.4 million in the same period last year. Gross margin was 66.7% in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 2.7% from 64.0% in the same period last year, mainly due to the end-of-sale of certain low-margin products, which was offset partially by higher severance expenses in the third quarter of 2024. Operating Expenses Operating expenses were $45.9 million in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 24.3% from $36.9 million in the same period last year, primarily due to the increase in restructuring and severance expenses in the third quarter of 2024, which included share-based compensation of $11.4 million as a result of the cancellation of certain employees' equity awards and immediate recognition of relevant remaining unrecognized compensation expenses, as well as severance expenses of $4.4 million. Loss from operations was $24.7 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $13.9 million in the same period last year. Interest Income Interest income was $3.9 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $4.9 million in the same period last year, primarily due to the decrease in the average balance of cash, cash equivalents, bank deposits and financial products issued by banks and the decrease in average interest rate realized. Losses from equity in affiliates Losses from equity in affiliates were $4.2 million in the third quarter of 2024, primarily due to an impairment loss on an investment in certain private company of $4.1 million. Net Loss Net loss was $24.2 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $22.5 million in the same period last year. Net Loss per American Depositary Share attributable to ordinary shareholders Net loss per American Depositary Share ("ADS”) 1 attributable to ordinary shareholders was $0.26 in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $0.23 in the same period last year. _____________ 1 One ADS represents four Class A ordinary shares. Share Repurchase Program During the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company repurchased approximately 6.8 million of its Class A ordinary shares (equivalent to approximately 1.7 million ADSs) for approximately US$3.9 million under its share repurchase program, representing 1.9% of its US$200 million share repurchase program. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had repurchased approximately 129.4 million of its Class A ordinary shares (equivalent to approximately 32.3 million ADSs) for approximately US$113.7 million under its share repurchase program, representing 57% of its US$200 million share repurchase program. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had 368.3 million ordinary shares (equivalent to approximately 92.1 million ADSs) outstanding, compared to 449.8 million ordinary shares (equivalent to approximately 112.5 million ADSs) outstanding as of January 31, 2022 before the share repurchase program commenced. The current share repurchase program will expire at the end of February 2025. Executive Leadership Update Today the Company announced that Chief Security Officer Roger Hale will be leaving the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Hale has served in this role for the past 2.5 years, during which he made significant contributions to enhancing the Company's security, compliance, and data protection protocols. Mr. Hale will work closely with senior leadership to ensure a smooth transition of his responsibilities. Moving forward, Patrick Ferriter and Robbin Liu will assume responsibility for security and compliance, reflecting the Company's commitment to maintaining a strong and effective security framework. Mr. Hale will continue to provide strategic advice as an advisor to the Company. "We are grateful for Roger's dedication and expertise over the past two and a half years. His leadership has been invaluable in strengthening our security & compliance foundation,” said Tony Zhao, founder, chairman and CEO of Agora. "Security and compliance remain top priorities for Agora, and we will continue to uphold the highest standards to protect our customers and stakeholders.” Financial Outlook Based on currently available information, the Company expects total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2024 to be between $34 million and $36 million, compared to $31.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, and $33.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 if revenues from certain end-of-sale low-margin products were excluded. The Company also expects significant improvement in net income / (loss) in the fourth quarter. This outlook reflects the Company's current and preliminary views on the market and operational conditions, which are subject to change. Earnings Call The Company will host a conference call to discuss the financial results at 5 p.m. Pacific Time / 8 p.m. Eastern Time on November 25, 2024. Details for the conference call are as follows: Event title: Agora, Inc. 3Q 2024 Financial Results The call will be available at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/wie28zvr Investors who want to hear the call should log on at least 15 minutes prior to the broadcast. Participants may register for the call with the link below. https://register.vevent.com/register/BIf58a0b6f500c4362b1a8c64f9fa4cea8 Please visit the Company's investor relations website at https://investor.agora.io on November 25, 2024 to view the earnings release and accompanying slides prior to the conference call. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures The Company has provided in this press release financial information that has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP”). The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing its financial results and believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors as an additional tool to evaluate ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing its financial results with other companies in its industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures. Besides free cash flow (as defined below), each of these non-GAAP financial measures represents the corresponding GAAP financial measure before share-based compensation expenses, acquisition related expenses, amortization expenses of acquired intangible assets, income tax related to acquired intangible assets and impairment of goodwill. The Company believes that such non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in its business that could otherwise be distorted by the effects of such share-based compensation expenses, acquisition related expenses, amortization expenses of acquired intangible assets, income tax related to acquired intangible assets and impairment of goodwill that it includes in its cost of revenues, total operating expenses and net income (loss). The Company believes that all such non-GAAP financial measures also provide useful information about its operating results, enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by its management in its financial and operational decision-making. Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures and should be read only in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of its historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures has been provided in the tables captioned "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures” included at the end of this press release, and investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation. Definitions of the Company's non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release are presented below. Non-GAAP Net Income (Loss) Non-GAAP net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expenses, acquisition related expenses, amortization expenses of acquired intangible assets, income tax related to acquired intangible assets and impairment of goodwill. Free Cash Flow Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment (excluding the acquisition of land use right and the payment for the headquarters project). The Company considers free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors regarding net cash provided by operating activities and cash used for investments in property and equipment required to maintain and grow the business. Operating Metrics The Company also uses other operating metrics included in this press release and defined below to assess the performance of its business. Active Customers An active customer at the end of any period is defined as an organization or individual developer from which the Company generated more than $100 of revenue during the preceding 12 months. Customers are counted based on unique customer account identifiers. Generally, one software application uses the same customer account identifier throughout its life cycle while one account may be used for multiple applications. Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate is calculated for a trailing 12-month period by first identifying all customers in the prior 12-month period, and then calculating the quotient from dividing the revenue generated from such customers in the trailing 12-month period by the revenue generated from the same group of customers in the prior 12-month period. As the vast majority of revenue generated from Agora's customers is denominated in U.S. dollars, while the vast majority of revenue generated from Shengwang's customers is denominated in Renminbi, Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate is calculated in U.S. dollars for Agora and in Renminbi for Shengwang, which has substantially removed the impact of foreign currency translations. Shengwang excluded the revenues from certain end-of-sale products, Easemob's CEC business and K12 academic tutoring sector. The Company believes Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate facilitates operating performance comparisons on a period-to-period basis. Safe Harbor Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the Company's financial outlook, beliefs and expectations. Forward-looking statements include statements containing words such as "expect,” "anticipate,” "believe,” "project,” "will” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Among other things, the Financial Outlook in this announcement contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to the growth of the RTE-PaaS market; the Company's ability to manage its growth and expand its operations; the continued impact of COVID-19 on global markets and the Company's business, operations and customers; the Company's ability to attract new developers and convert them into customers; the Company's ability to retain existing customers and expand their usage of its platform and products; the Company's ability to drive popularity of existing use cases and enable new use cases, including through quality enhancements and introduction of new products, features and functionalities; the Company's fluctuating operating results; competition; the effect of broader technological and market trends on the Company's business and prospects; general economic conditions and their impact on customer and end-user demand; and other risks and uncertainties included elsewhere in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC”), including, without limitation, the final prospectus related to the IPO filed with the SEC on June 26, 2020. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. About Agora, Inc. Agora, Inc. is the Cayman Islands holding company of two independent divisions, under Agora brand and Shengwang brand, respectively, whose businesses are conducted through separate entities. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Agora is a pioneer and global leader in Real-Time Engagement Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), providing developers with simple, flexible, and powerful application programming interfaces, or APIs, to embed real-time voice, video, interactive live-streaming, chat, whiteboard, and artificial intelligence capabilities into their applications. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, Shengwang is a pioneer and leading Real-Time Engagement PaaS provider in the China market. For more information on Agora, please visit: www.agora.io For more information on Shengwang, please visit: www.shengwang.cn Agora, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited, in US$ thousands) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited, in US$ thousands, except share and per ADS amounts)
NoneAfter earning much-needed wins earlier this week, the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers hope to build on those performances Thursday when they face off in Pennsylvania. Detroit snapped a season-high five-game losing streak Monday with a 6-5 victory against the Buffalo Sabres. The Red Wings trailed 5-3 with under 10 minutes left in regulation before tying things up and eventually prevailing in a shootout. "It was a massive win for us," said Detroit's Dylan Larkin, who had two assists in regulation before netting the decisive goal in the shootout. "... It was good for our hockey team to score some goals, to be down and come back and win like that." Andrew Copp added two goals for the Red Wings, while Lucas Raymond scored once in regulation and again in the shootout. The headliner for Detroit, however, was Sebastian Cossa, who relieved Ville Husso in net after the first period and went on to earn the win in his NHL debut. It's been a grueling stretch for the Red Wings, who have played 11 straight games decided by two goals or fewer. During their five-game losing streak, each of those defeats came by a single goal, including twice in overtime. "We needed one to go our way," Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said, adding that his team was "a little sloppy tonight, but we produced some offense. Give a lot of credit to the guys (for hanging) in there." The Red Wings' story actually sounds similar to what the Flyers have gone through in November. Philadelphia had lost three in a row prior to authoring a solid performance in Tuesday's 5-3 road victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Travis Konecny had two goals and Owen Tippett tallied for the fifth time in as many games for the Flyers, who play eight of their next 10 games on the road after Thursday's contest. "We needed that win," Konecny said. "We've been going in the wrong direction for a few games, so it was good to turn it around." Philadelphia, like Detroit, has had a long stretch of games decided by two goals or fewer -- nine in a row. "I felt it was an important game for us to get back to playing with energy," Flyers coach John Tortorella said. The Flyers and Red Wings have one other commonality in that they have not reached the postseason in several years. Detroit has missed the playoffs in each of the last eight seasons (and has an uphill battle to reach the postseason in 2025). Philadelphia, meanwhile, has a decent shot to end its four-year playoff drought. That said, the Flyers players are aiming to take things one game at a time. "I think it's still a little early to look at standings and movement and stuff, but, obviously, you know when the big games are, when you play in your conference and division," Tippett said. "Those are the points that matter coming down to the end." This is the first meeting of the season between the teams, who will face off again next week in Detroit and then once again in Philadelphia on Jan. 21. --Field Level Media
Andrej Stojakovic made 11 free throws to help craft a team-high 20 points, freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson had his second consecutive big game off the bench and Cal ran its winning streak to three with an 83-77 nonconference victory over Sacramento State on Sunday afternoon in Berkeley, Calif. Wilkinson finished with 16 points and Rytis Petraitis 13 for the Golden Bears (5-1), whose only loss this season was at Vanderbilt. Jacob Holt went for a season-high 25 points for the Hornets (1-4), who dropped their fourth straight after a season-opening win over Cal State Maritime. Seeking a fourth straight home win, Cal led by as many as 12 points in the first half and 40-33 at halftime before Sacramento State rallied. The Hornets used a 14-5 burst out of the gate following the intermission to grab a 47-45 lead. Julian Vaughns had a 3-pointer and three-point play in the run. But Cal dominated pretty much the rest of the game, taking the lead for good on a Petraitis 3-pointer with 14:50 remaining. Stojakovic, a transfer from rival Stanford, went 11-for-15 at the foul line en route to his third 20-point game of the young season. Cal outscored Sacramento State 26-17 on free throws to more than account for the margin of victory. Coming off a 23-point explosion in his first extended action of the season, Wilkinson hit five of his 10 shots Sunday. The Golden Bears outshot the Hornets 47.2 percent to 43.1 percent. Joshua Ola-Joseph contributed 10 points and six rebounds, Mady Sissoko also had 10 points and Petraitis found time for a team-high five assists. Holt complemented his 25 points with a game-high eight rebounds. He made four 3-pointers, as did Vaughns en route to 18 points, helping Sacramento State outscore Cal 30-21 from beyond the arc. EJ Neal added 16 points for the Hornets, while Emil Skytta tied for game-high assist honors with five to go with seven points. --Field Level MediaFive years ago, the U.S. women's national team were being feted in Washington, D.C., one of several celebratory events to commemorate their fourth Women's World Cup title. The trophy offered a fresh reminder that they are one of most established teams in the broader sports landscape – they remained the gold standard in women's soccer, as well as one of the most dominant teams in American sports. In attendance that day was the equally impressive, if lesser-known, Cognosante founder and CEO Michele Kang. An immigrant from South Korea who moved to the U.S. as a student, she achieved one particular version of the varied American dream – joining the nation's billionaire class. In a nation that Forbes reports has a record 813 billionaires , one can get away with building a successful medtech company but otherwise keeping a low profile. One of the things that deep pockets can afford you, though, is the opportunity to change your professional interests in short order. "Other than [a] brief stint in the elementary school days, I was not really aware," she said at a press conference in New York on Tuesday. "I was not really a fan, but once I got exposed to women's soccer right after the 2019 World Cup, when the players came back and there was a celebration, I learned about the presence of the professional league and actually, the team in the D.C. area, and I was blown away. As I started getting involved, I just saw an incredible potential and where it was vs. where it could be and I was really very surprised that there was just so little investment appreciating the potential. So just like what I did in my other professional career, when I believe in something, I just jump in, so I did with my head first." Tom Daschle, the former Democratic senator from South Dakota who served as the senate minority leader from 2001 to 2003, introduced Kang to Steve Baldwin, a tech executive who was the Spirit's managing owner. Baldwin set up a dinner between Kang and Spirit players Andi Sullivan and Aubrey Kingsbury and by Dec. 2020, Kang had a 35% stake in the Spirit. It was one of the first meaningful investments in an NWSL team since the 2019 World Cup, which serves as the origin story of many of the league's owners, around two-thirds of whom have come on board in the last three years. That moment is also the start of Kang's origin story in sports, joining the ranks of visible billionaire owners, a legacy she can add to on Saturday as the Spirit chase their second NWSL Championship against the Orlando Pride (8 p.m. ET, CBS , Paramount+ ). Kang is doing so, though, as the first women's soccer mogul, boasting a multi-million dollar global portfolio that's emblematic of the rapid rise of women's sports as a whole. The battle for the Spirit Kang's initial investment in the Spirit marked her first venture in sports, but her stint as an unknown quantity was fairly short-lived. Eight months after she joined the Spirit's ownership group, The Washington Post published the first of several reports detailing abusive behavior from then-head coach Richie Burke that Baldwin turned a blind eye towards. As the NWSL underwent a reckoning on abusive behavior across the league , Kang launched a bid to take control of the Spirit. "I became aware of some of these issues starting in April of this year, as many staff and players approached me to confidentially share their own stories that reflected how toxic our workplace culture had become," she wrote in a statement that September . "Over the past five months, I have worked very hard to convince my co-owners that fundamental changes were needed to provide a safe and professional workplace for our players. Those efforts were met with denial, evasion, and outright hostility. ... It is time for the Spirit to turn the page on this sad chapter in its history and bring in new leadership to chart a new path." Kang then became locked in a months-long battle to control the Spirit with Baldwin, who agreed to sell the club as part of the NWSL's investigation into Burke, but was dragging his feet doing so. He resigned as the Spirit's managing partner and CEO within days of Kang's statement, but the players called upon him to sell the club to Kang just hours after his announcement. "The person we trust is Michele," the players said in a statement . "She continuously puts players' needs and interests first. She listens. She believes this can be a profitable business. ... Please sell to Michele at a reasonable price." The power struggle continued as the Spirit won their first NWSL Championship in 2021 and through the winter. Baldwin tried to sell to billionaire Todd Boehly (yes, THAT Todd Boehly ) and retail executive Jennifer Tepper Mackesy, who reportedly bid $25 million to acquire the club, forcing Kang to increase her offer to $35 million. She then led what Baldwin described as a "coup" and Sports Business Journal called the deal of the year , converting non-voting, non-equity investors into full shareholders that formed a new majority ownership group that supported her campaign. By Feb. 2022, Baldwin agreed to sell to Kang, who became the first woman of color to serve as the majority owner of an NWSL club. It marked an impressive first impression from someone who was once an unknown quantity in women's soccer, which had long been a sport where players advocated for themselves but had few allies in leadership positions. Kang's leadership is one reason why the experiences of the Spirit's up-and-coming stars vary greatly from the squad's veterans, staying true to her promise about putting the players first three years ago. "I was actually talking about this to Brit [Ratcliffe] and Aubrey [Kingsbury] today, about how different things were when they were rookies – like, completely different," rookie Hal Hershfelt said on Thursday. "They were still living with host families. ... I feel like being a part of this club that pushes the agenda of how important women's sports should be and how much we should be rewarded for the work that we put in is just something so special and it's so cool that that's honestly all I know as a rookie. It kind of puts things into perspective that our older players, our veteran players didn't always have. That's what makes me feel extra grateful when we have an owner like this now – it's the reason that me, Croix [Bethune] and Makenna [Morris], all of our rookies, that's all we know right now." Kang has spent the years since living up to the beliefs the Spirit players said she had, including a transformative one – that women's soccer could be a profitable business. Kang's women's soccer empire Kang's first acts as the Spirit's majority owner focused on obvious upgrades like moving into the training facilities and stadium owned by MLS' D.C. United on a full-time basis, but the team continued to make splashes. They landed a front-of-jersey sponsorship deal with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2022 season, with Kang previously serving on the center's International Committee of the Arts. In May 2022, Trinity Rodman was rewarded for her rookie of the year campaign by becoming the first NWSL player to sign a contract worth $1 million. She took another bold step over the last year by landing UEFA Women's Champions League winner Jonatan Giraldez as the head coach, reportedly quintupling his Barcelona salary to get the deal done. "I first had to fly to Barcelona and I spent like, I don't know, six hours in Barcelona with, actually, my general manager [Mark Krikorian] and others," Kang told CBS Sports Golazo Network 's Morning Footy on Tuesday. "We started from the vision. We started from the day-to-day operations and we started on how we can do this together and why somebody like Jona, who's already so established and so successful, should come to the U.S. – very different, no family and all that. It was a very long process, but it took several months, it took visits and it took sharing and debating the vision and the future of women's sports and I'm just very grateful that he took the pledge. He had faith in us, not only just me but the club and the NWSL and the U.S. women's game." Kang's outlook on women's sports is unflinchingly ambitious, to the point where she's building a women's soccer empire at what feels like breakneck speed. Her big splashes over the last year and change include launching Kynisca Sports International, the first multi-team ownership group dedicated specifically to the women's game and includes France's Olympique Lyonnais and England's London City Lionesses. She launched an innovation hub in August that is dedicated to expanding sports science research on female athletes and has invested in the U.S.' Olympic bronze medal winning rugby team, women's athletic footwear brand IDA Sports and media company Just Women's Sports. Most recently, she made a $30 million donation to U.S. Soccer that is dedicated to fueling development for young female athletes, as well as resources for women in coaching, refereeing and technical staff roles. The billionaire's empire is a long list of first-of-its-kind investments but as much as Kang can be commended on her ingenuity, she is remarkably clear-eyed about how her plans just make plain business sense. "I think that at the end of the day, it's not any different from any other businesses, right?," Kang said at a press conference on Tuesday. "Any particular business or industry can't be successful just focusing on only one part of the value chain. There needs to be all the elements present, even though you may take up only part of the entire value chain. The other components of the value chain need to be there." A vision for the future Though Kang's empire is vast, it can be summarized quite simply. "What you see is what you get," U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone told CBS Sports on Tuesday. "This isn't a facade, this isn't a front. She truly cares and is so passionate about women's sports and specifically women's soccer." Kang has perfected the act of putting her money where her mouth is, as her commitment to the Spirit players in 2021 and her successful attempt to bring Girladez to the NWSL proves. The same is true for her recent gift to U.S. Soccer, which began with "what was supposed to be a short breakfast that turned into a very long breakfast" during the Paris Olympics, according to U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson. "We started talking about the need to invest in the ecosystem to invest in all of the things that pay off, long term, and we outlined our plans at U.S. Soccer to do those things and shared that's not where people traditionally give money," Batson told CBS Sports. "She's like, 'But that's the important stuff,' so that's how this all came to be." By Kang's own admission, investing in the women's soccer pipeline does not just make business sense on its own – it also protects the initial investment she made in the Spirit nearly four years ago. "As an owner on a day-to-day basis, I experience what's needed for the team and the league and so forth," Kang said. "[NWSL owners] came in specifically to invest and grow this sport and we have been doing that. So the results, I have to say, [are] pretty spectacular in terms of viewership growing, the attendance growing, sponsorship and all the above so this is all great but this is not going to be permanent unless the pyramid structure and ecosystem is there. "I get the question: 'You're in England, you're in France. How do you compare those countries' soccer systems vs. the U.S.?,' and I have to say, one of the major differences is actually the youth system – youth academies, youth development. There [are] a lot more structured and well thought out programs, everything in Europe relative to the U.S. so I felt there was some need there. Also even in the NWSL, we're talking a lot about expansion and we want to give more opportunities but we don't want to lower the quality by just expanding and right now, one of the limiting factors is not even the players. It's really the number of coaches, the number of referees, preferably also but not exclusively female coaches and referees and I felt that it's about time that we paid attention to it otherwise collectively, we're not going to be able to maintain this momentum, let alone improving and creating even bigger momentum for all of us." Kang also described the donation as "deeply personal" for her, not only because she's become the type of die-hard soccer fan who wants to be left alone even as people try to network with her in a stadium suite, choosing instead to watch every moment of every game. Her growing women's soccer empire offers Kang a chance to pay it forward. "I'm an immigrant to this country and I feel very grateful that this country has given me an opportunity to pursue and achieve my dream," Kang said. "There are so many young girls and women whose passions are playing soccer and playing the game for their country, the teams and I want to make sure and I want to give back whatever I can to help those young girls and women in this country and around the world to have a shot at achieving their dreams. Soccer happens to be where my passion is right now and I want to do everything I can to provide that environment so that they can go for and pursue their dreams." Kang may still be a relative newcomer to women's soccer, but she has seemingly breezed through any learning curves that come with the territory. Along the way, she has earned the plaudits of mainstays like Parlow Cone, a youth international who went on to win a World Cup and Olympic gold as a player and an NWSL Championship as a coach before becoming the federation's president. "If you would've told me five years ago that being in this position would enable me to work with this team, to go and do what we're doing right now, I would've thought you were crazy," Parlow Cone said. "To have Michele doing what she's done today, impacting the lives of women and girls – it's really even hard to put into words and imagine that I live it every single day in the ecosystem but to really think about the impact, not only today but for years to come, long after my presidency is done, is honestly mind-blowing." Sandra Herrera contributed to this report.
Thai sensation Jeeno Thitikul took the $4 million winner's prize in the season-ending LPGA CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Florida, courtesy of a sensational final round seven-under-par 65. The Tour title came down to the final putt on the last green for the 21-year-old, who finished in style with an eagle on 17, followed by holing a pressure-packed birdie putt at 18, having hit a beautiful approach shot into just a few feet.. "I really needed a birdie on 17 to give me a good chance, but having an eagle, it was more than I can ask for," Thitikul told reporters in her post-victory press conference. "Hitting a really good second shot on 18 and to hole the putt, it's like all the hard work that I've done has just paid off." Angel Yin takes the runners-up spoils Thitikul had shared the overnight lead with American Angel Yin on 15-under-par. However, an unforced error by Yin on the 17th green, missing a short putt under pressure, ultimately cost her the chance of a play-off tie. Instead, she walked away with $1m for finishing as the runner-up. 21-year-old Jeeno Thitikul is a Thai golf sensation The Tour Championship is Thitikul's second LPGA career title. She also won earlier this year at the Dow Championship with playing partner Ruoning Yin. Another top-five finish for LPGA Tour Player of the Year Nelly Korda LPGA Tour Player of the Year Nelly Kord a finished the tournament tied fifth, after posting a 15-under-par tournament total, concluding what has been a historic season. The 26-year-old won seven times on the LPGA Tour in 2024. An emotional goodbye from Lexi Thompson It was an emotional afternoon for several high-profile LPGA Tour players, including Lexi Thompson , playing in her last event as a full-time LPGA Tour player. Thompson announced her retirement from playing full-time golf at the start of 2024, stating that she wanted to take a step back from her career to focus on spending time with her family in 2025. $11 million purse to end the LPGA Tour season The CME Group Tour Championship saw the top-60 players in the LPGA Race to CME Globe battle for a share of $11 million. NEWS : Keep up-to-date with all the golf news from around the world.