spin slots

spin slots Squirrels might look like adorable, nut-hoarding furballs, but some are ruthless predators that hunt, tear apart, and devour voles. That's the startling finding of a new study published Wednesday in the Journal of Ethology -- the first to document widespread carnivorous behavior in these seemingly innocent creatures. "There is always something new to learn and wild animals continue to surprise us," lead author Jennifer E. Smith, an associate professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire told AFP. "In a changing world with many technological advances, there is no replacement for direct observation of natural history, including watching the squirrels and birds that often visit our backyards." The observations were made this summer, during the 12th year of a long-term study conducted at Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County, California. Between June and July, researchers recorded 74 interactions involving California ground squirrels and voles, with 42 percent of them involving active hunting of their fellow rodents. Co-author Sonja Wild, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Davis, admitted she was initially skeptical of the reports brought to her by undergraduate students who first witnessed the behavior. "I could barely believe my eyes," said Wild. But "once we started looking, we saw it everywhere." It was previously known that as many as 30 species of squirrels opportunistically consume meat, ranging from small fish to birds. However, it was unclear whether this behavior stemmed from scavenging or active predation. The new study is the first to confirm that hunting is, in fact, a common behavior. Researchers observed squirrels crouching low to the ground before ambushing their prey, though more often, they chased voles, pounced, and delivered a neck bite followed by vigorous shaking. The study also found that the squirrels' carnivorous behavior peaked during the first two weeks of July, coinciding with a surge in vole populations reported by citizen scientists on the iNaturalist app. Other animals, such as raccoons, coyotes, and spotted hyenas, have been known to adapt their hunting strategies in response to human-induced changes in their environments. "In a changing world, it can be daunting to consider all of the challenges that human presence, habitat loss, and climate change impose on animals," said Smith. "Our study offers an exciting silver lining, demonstrating the incredible flexibility that some animals possess." Several questions still remain unanswered. Researchers hope to investigate how widespread hunting behavior is among squirrel species, whether it is passed down from parents to pups, and how it affects their broader ecosystems. ia/bjt Originally published as Cute carnivores: Bloodthirsty California squirrels go nuts for vole meat Breaking News Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. More related stories Breaking News Horror decision daughter was asked to make A dad who murdered his wife with an axe in front of their teen kids gave his daughters an unthinkable decision to make after the killing. Read more Breaking News Nightmare: Plea after alleged double murder The new tenant of a property previously rented by Sally Li and her husband Rex Chen has spoken of a nightmare ordeal and issued a desperate plea. Read more

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart's sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are revaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups in business. The changes announced by the world's biggest retailer followed a string of legal victories by conservative groups that have filed an onslaught of lawsuits challenging corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minority and women-owned businesses and employees. The risk associated with some of programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Trump's incoming deputy chief of policy will be his former adviser Stephen Miller , who leads a group called America First Legal that has aggressively challenged corporate DEI policies. “There has been a lot of reassessment of risk looking at programs that could be deemed to constitute reverse discrimination,” said Allan Schweyer, principal researcher the Human Capital Center at the Conference Board. “This is another domino to fall and it is a rather large domino,” he added. Among other changes, Walmart said it will no longer give priority treatment to suppliers owned by women or minorities. The company also will not renew a five-year commitment for a racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. And it pulled out of a prominent gay rights index . Schweyer said the biggest trigger for companies making such changes is simply a reassessment of their legal risk exposure, which began after U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2023 that ended affirmative action in college admissions. Since then, conservative groups using similar arguments have secured court victories against various diversity programs, especially those that steer contracts to minority or women-owned businesses. Most recently, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty won a victory in a case against the U.S. Department of Transportation over its use of a program that gives priority to minority-owned businesses when it awards contracts. Companies are seeing a big legal risk in continuing with DEI efforts, said Dan Lennington, a deputy counsel at the institute. His organization says it has identified more than 60 programs in the federal government that it considers discriminatory, he said. “We have a legal landscape within the entire federal government, all three branches -- the U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress and the President -- are all now firmly pointed in the direction towards equality of individuals and individualized treatment of all Americans, instead of diversity, equity and inclusion treating people as members of racial groups,” Lennington said. The Trump administration is also likely to take direct aim at DEI initiatives through executive orders and other policies that affect private companies, especially federal contractors. “The impact of the election on DEI policies is huge. It can’t be overstated,” said Jason Schwartz, co-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at law firm Gibson Dunn. With Miller returning to the White House, rolling back DEI initiatives is likely to be a priority, Schwartz said. “Companies are trying to strike the right balance to make clear they’ve got an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, and they want to get the best talent, while at the same time trying not to alienate various parts of their employees and customer base who might feel one way or the other. It’s a virtually impossible dilemma,” Schwartz said. A recent survey by Pew Research Center showed that workers are divided on the merits of DEI policies. While still broadly popular, the share of workers who said focusing on workplace diversity was mostly a good thing fell to 52% in the November survey, compared to 56% in a similar survey in February 2023. Rachel Minkin, a research associated at Pew called it a small but significant shift in short amount of time. There will be more companies pulling back from their DEI policies, but it likely won’t be a retreat across the board, said David Glasgow, executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at New York University. “There are vastly more companies that are sticking with DEI," Glasgow said. "The only reason you don’t hear about it is most of them are doing it by stealth. They’re putting their heads down and doing DEI work and hoping not to attract attention.” Glasgow advises organizations to stick to their own core values, because attitudes toward the topic can change quickly in the span of four years. “It’s going to leave them looking a little bit weak if there’s a kind of flip-flopping, depending on whichever direction the political winds are blowing,” he said. One reason DEI programs exist is because without those programs, companies may be vulnerable to lawsuits for traditional discrimination. “Really think carefully about the risks in all directions on this topic,” Glasgow said. Walmart confirmed will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when it offers supplier contracts. Last fiscal year, Walmart said it spent more than $13 billion on minority, women or veteran-owned good and service suppliers. It was unclear how its relationships with such business would change going forward. Organizations that that have partnered with Walmart on its diversity initiatives offered a cautious response. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, a non-profit that last year named Walmart one of America's top corporation for women-owned enterprises, said it was still evaluating the impact of Walmart's announcement. Pamela Prince-Eason, the president and CEO of the organization, said she hoped Walmart's need to cater to its diverse customer base will continue to drive contracts to women-owned suppliers even if the company no longer has explicit dollar goals. “I suspect Walmart will continue to have one of the most inclusive supply chains in the World,” Prince-Eason wrote. “Any retailer's ability to serve the communities they operate in will continue to value understanding their customers, (many of which are women), in order to better provide products and services desired and no one understands customers better than Walmart." Walmart's announcement came after the company spoke directly with conservative political commentator and activist Robby Starbuck, who has been going after corporate DEI policies, calling out individual companies on the social media platform X. Several of those companies have subsequently announced that they are pulling back their initiatives, including Ford , Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s and Tractor Supply . Walmart confirmed to The Associated Press that it will better monitor its third-party marketplace items to make sure they don’t feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors. The company also will stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. A Walmart spokesperson added that some of the changes were already in progress and not as a result of conversations that it had with Starbuck. RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, senior director of the HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program, said companies that “abandon” their commitments workplace inclusion policies “are shirking their responsibility to their employees, consumers, and shareholders.” She said the buying power of LGBTQ customers is powerful and noted that the index will have record participation of more than 1,400 companies in 2025.

LAFIA – Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, on Thursday awarded scholarship to 92 students of Phoenix University, Agwada in Kokona local government area of the state as the institution set to matriculate 260 first pioneer students Prof. Abdullahi Bala, the Vice Chancellor of the university, disclosed this at a press briefing held in the institution’s Senate building in Kokona LGA of the state Speaking on the activities line up for matriculation, the Vice chancellor explained that the university was allocated an admission portal of 500 for the 2024/2025 academic cycle, nothing that out of a total of three hundred and forty two candidates that applied for admission, about two hundred and sixty met all the requisites criteria for admission.and they were admitted accordingly. He, further explained that 38 students were admitted into the faculty of computing, 32 into the faculty of applied science and agriculture and 52 students are admitted into the faculty of social science and management science, saying that academic activities have since commenced. The VC, appreciate the governor’s kind gesture for awarding scholarship to 92 indigenous students across the 13 local government areas of the state, revealing that the governor has equally awarded the contract for the reconstruction and of 24-KM portion of the Kokona junction-Agwada road to easy free flow of movement of students and the hosting community. He then applauded his deep gratitude to the university’s Founder, visitor and chairman of the Board of Trustees, former senator representing Nasarawa West at the national assembly, Abdullahi Adamu for his leadership, unflinching support and relentless towards development of humanity.

My heart broke when we closed our shop in L.A. I’m beginning to see out the other end

In this article MU Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron Technology Inc., speaks during an interview with CNBC on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., April 26, 2024. Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters Micron shares plunged 13% in extended trading on Wednesday after the chipmaker issued weak second-quarter guidance despite an earnings beat for the latest period. Here's how the company did compared to analysts' expectations surveyed by LSEG: Earnings per share : $1.79, adjusted vs. $1.75 expected Revenue : $8.71 billion vs. $8.71 billion expected For the second quarter, Micron said it expects revenue of $7.9 billion, plus or minus $200 million, and adjusted earnings per share of $1.43, plus or minus 10 cents. Analysts were expecting revenue of $8.98 billion and EPS of $1.91, according to LSEG. The computer memory and storage company has seen its shares climb 22% year to date as of market close, trailing the Nasdaq's 29% gain. In the earnings report , Micron highlighted data centers and artificial intelligence ventures with Nvidia's processors as growth areas. "While consumer-oriented markets are weaker in the near term, we anticipate a return to growth in the second half of our fiscal year, said CEO Sanjay Mehrotra in a press release. "We continue to gain share in the highest margin and strategically important parts of the market and are exceptionally well positioned to leverage AI-driven growth to create substantial value for all stakeholders." WATCH : Micron shares continue to slip on guidance watch now VIDEO 3:01 03:01 Micron shares continue to slip on weaker-than-expected guidance Closing Bell: OvertimeHow Moeller IP empowers brand protection against counterfeiting in Latin America 11-26-2024 11:24 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Notorial Image: https://www.getnews.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1732637974.jpeg In today's global market, protecting your brand from counterfeiting is more crucial than ever. For businesses entering emerging markets like Latin America, the stakes are particularly high. Moeller IP, with over 90 years of expertise as a boutique Intellectual Property (IP) firm, is well-equipped to help companies secure their brands in key Latin American markets, including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. Counterfeiting Risks in Latin America Counterfeiting remains a significant challenge in Latin America, where evolving IP regulations create vulnerabilities for brands. Fake products range from luxury goods to pharmaceuticals, electronics, and food items, often posing serious health risks due to poor-quality materials and manufacturing practices. For international brands, partnering with a local expert like Moeller IP is a strategic move to mitigate these risks. Impact on Brand Reputation The impact of counterfeiting goes beyond lost revenue-it affects brand credibility and consumer trust. In industries like pharmaceuticals and electronics, counterfeit products pose safety risks, leading to legal liabilities and damaging a brand's standing. Moeller IP's expertise helps companies protect their reputation by implementing effective IP protection measures across Latin America, ensuring consumers can trust the authenticity and quality of their products. Moeller IP's Anti-Counterfeiting Strategies Moeller IP employs a comprehensive approach to combat counterfeiting, customized to the unique challenges in Latin America: * Product Authentication and Digital Monitoring: Moeller IP advises on integrating secure features, like holograms, watermarks, and QR codes, into product packaging. These features help consumers identify genuine products. Additionally, Moeller IP utilizes digital watermarking and monitoring software to detect unauthorized sales on social media and online marketplaces, tackling both physical and digital counterfeiting. * Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement: With Moeller IP's support, businesses can register trademarks and patents, providing legal grounds to challenge counterfeiters. Our local presence in countries like Brazil and Mexico enables swift action to protect IP rights, collaborating closely with local authorities to address counterfeit issues. * Collaborations with Law Enforcement: Moeller IP works with law enforcement agencies across Latin America to identify, seize, and halt the distribution of counterfeit goods. This minimizes the spread of fake products and strengthens brand protection in high-risk regions. Choosing Moeller IP for Brand Protection in Latin America Moeller IP stands out for its deep understanding of the IP landscape in Latin America and its commitment to ensuring international brands thrive in this dynamic market. With a localized presence and comprehensive coverage, Moeller IP offers a seamless experience for companies looking to protect their brands across multiple jurisdictions, all through a single point of contact. Explore Moeller IP's Brand Protection Services [ https://moellerip.com/our-service/anti-counterfeiting/ ] to learn more. If your company is expanding into Latin America, reach out to Moeller IP to discover how our anti-counterfeiting expertise can protect your brand and maintain consumer trust. Get in touch with Moeller IP [ https://moellerip.com/contact/ ] for tailored solutions. Looking to the Future: Strengthening Brand Protection in Emerging Markets As Latin America's IP regulations continue to evolve, the region presents growing opportunities for international brands. Moeller IP remains at the forefront of these developments, helping businesses establish a robust IP strategy that adapts to local market conditions. For more insights into our expertise across Latin America, visit our area of coverage [ https://moellerip.com/our-area-of-coverage/ ] to see how Moeller IP can help secure your brand. Media Contact Company Name: WEAPP Contact Person: Press Office Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=how-moeller-ip-empowers-brand-protection-against-counterfeiting-in-latin-america ] Country: United States Website: https://moellerip.com/our-service/anti-counterfeiting/ This release was published on openPR.

By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump loved to use tariffs on foreign goods during his first presidency. But their impact was barely noticeable in the overall economy, even if their aftershocks were clear in specific industries. The data show they never fully delivered on his promised factory jobs. Nor did they provoke the avalanche of inflation that critics feared. This time, though, his tariff threats might be different . The president-elect is talking about going much bigger — on a potential scale that creates more uncertainty about whether he’ll do what he says and what the consequences could be. “There’s going to be a lot more tariffs, I mean, he’s pretty clear,” said Michael Stumo, the CEO of Coalition for a Prosperous America, a group that has supported import taxes to help domestic manufacturing. The president-elect posted on social media Monday that on his first day in office he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada until those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. Those tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his initial term. Chinese imports would face additional tariffs of 10% until Beijing cracks down on the production of materials used in making fentanyl, Trump posted. Business groups were quick to warn about rapidly escalating inflation , while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would counter the move with tariffs on U.S. products. House Democrats put together legislation to strip a president’s ability to unilaterally apply tariffs this drastic, warning that they would likely lead to higher prices for autos, shoes, housing and groceries. Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.” “The economy department is preparing it,” Sheinbaum said. “If there are tariffs, Mexico would increase tariffs, it is a technical task about what would also benefit Mexico,” she said, suggesting her country would impose targeted import duties on U.S. goods in sensitive areas. House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a bill that would require congressional approval for a president to impose tariffs due to claims of a national emergency, a largely symbolic action given Republicans’ coming control of both the House and Senate. “This legislation would enable Congress to limit this sweeping emergency authority and put in place the necessary Congressional oversight before any president – Democrat or Republican – could indiscriminately raise costs on the American people through tariffs,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. But for Trump, tariffs are now a tested tool that seems less politically controversial even if the mandate he received in November’s election largely involved restraining inflation. The tariffs he imposed on China in his first term were continued by President Joe Biden, a Democrat who even expanded tariffs and restrictions on the world’s second largest economy. Biden administration officials looked at removing Trump’s tariffs in order to bring down inflationary pressures, only to find they were unlikely to help significantly. Tariffs were “so new and unique that it freaked everybody out in 2017,” said Stumo, but they were ultimately somewhat modest. Trump imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines at the start of 2018, moves that might have pushed up prices in those sectors even though they also overlapped with plans to open washing machine plants in Tennessee and South Carolina. His administration also levied tariffs on steel and aluminum, including against allies. He then increased tariffs on China, leading to a trade conflict and a limited 2020 agreement that failed to produce the promised Chinese purchases of U.S. goods. Still, the dispute changed relations with China as more U.S. companies looked for alternative suppliers in other countries. Economic research also found the United States may have sacrificed some of its “soft power” as the Chinese population began to watch fewer American movies. The Federal Reserve kept inflation roughly on target, but factory construction spending never jumped in a way that suggested a lasting gain in manufacturing jobs. Separate economic research found the tariff war with China did nothing economically for the communities hurt by offshoring, but it did help Trump and Republicans in those communities politically. When Trump first became president in 2017, the federal government collected $34.6 billion in customs, duties and fees. That sum more than doubled under Trump to $70.8 billion in 2019, according to Office of Management and Budget records. While that sum might seem meaningful, it was relatively small compared to the overall economy. America’s gross domestic product is now $29.3 trillion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The total tariffs collected in the United States would equal less than 0.3% of GDP. The new tariffs being floated by Trump now are dramatically larger and there could be far more significant impacts. If Mexico, Canada, and China faced the additional tariffs proposed by Trump on all goods imported to the United States, that could be roughly equal to $266 billion in tax collections, a number that does not assume any disruptions in trade or retaliatory moves by other countries. The cost of those taxes would likely be borne by U.S. families, importers and domestic and foreign companies in the form of higher prices or lower profits. Former Biden administration officials said they worried that companies could piggyback on Trump’s tariffs — if they’re imposed — as a rationale to raise their prices, just as many companies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 boosted food and energy costs and gave several major companies the space to raise prices, according to their own earnings calls with investors. But what Trump didn’t really spell out is what might cause him to back down on tariffs and declare a victory. What he is creating instead with his tariff threats is a sense of uncertainty as companies and countries await the details to figure out what all of this could mean. “We know the key economic policy priorities of the incoming Trump administration, but we don’t know how or when they will be addressed,” said Greg Daco, chief U.S. economist at EY-Parthenon. AP writer Mark Stevenson contributed to this report from Mexico City.

Jackpot Combine School wins 2 state STEM grantsNYC couple netted $2M in massive mob-style theft ring that targeted luxury brands: DAIreland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher enjoyed another night to remember at Anfield as his penalty save from Kylian Mbappe helped rampant Liverpool to a 2-0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League. Liverpool ended a 15-year wait for a win over Real Madrid as goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo put them on the brink of guaranteeing a place in the last 16 with a fifth successive win. "I was confident and thankfully went the right way again,” said Kelleher, speaking to TNT Sports after the win. "It is a big result. It is a massive result for us. We wanted to come out tonight and put on a performance and well done to the lads for doing that." The Cork-born stopper also looked ahead to the massive game against Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday as he added: "I think confidence is high in the whole squad. "Man City, we know they have had a tough few results but what a team. We expect a really tough test but this is good confidence for the team and we will go again." Liverpool manager Arne Slot saluted his biggest win yet as Liverpool manager, as he reflected on a stunning start to life as Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Anfield. "You know how special it is to play against a team that has won the Champions League so many times,” said the Dutchman. "They were a pain in the ass for Liverpool for many years too. It is a big week and it is pleasing to see. "I didn't have a schedule in terms of amount of points I wanted. You want to implement the playing style as soon as possible. That is not difficult because it wasn't that different to Jurgen's. " It is great to see not only the starters but the players coming on are doing as we expect. If before the season I had counted points for this point in the season I wouldn't have done as much as we have now. "Every time Real Madrid threatened us was from us. I think we can play with more intensity and better with the ball."OKLAHOMA CITY — This year saw many technological advancements in the AI space, and the industry is likely poised for another big year in 2025. AI experts anticipate recently emerging technologies will continue to reshape sectors like healthcare and finance next year, but increasing concerns about ethics and data privacy are also here to stay. Some of the world’s largest tech players rolled out AI tools in 2024. NVIDIA in March rolled out the Blackwell chip, which enables AI training, research and computing for Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft. The company is expected to see strong growth next year as demand increases for data centers. Apple Intelligence was released in October. The generative tool features a new Siri with a more natural-sounding voice and conversational skills, writing and summary tools, enhanced photo-editing capabilities and a clean up tool to remove unwanted objects from images. OpenAI, the creator of Chat GPT, one of the most popular generative AI applications, added a search function in October. Users can type in a query, and the program will choose to search the web based on that and provide links to sites that provide information on a search. It also released its text-to-video model, Sora, to the public on Dec. 9. The tool can create short video clips based on user prompts. It can also extend existing short videos. “These are increasingly hyper realistic videos that can do everything from create a fictitious video from a sentence to extend a video and make it seem like maybe something happened,” said Sam Gregory, executive director of the human rights organization Witness on CBS News Wednesday morning. Marci Rossell, former CNBC chief economist and host of Squawk Box, told Oklahoma business leaders earlier this month that AI is simply a tool that lowers the cost of cognition. Beyond privacy concerns, Rossell said AI has people worried about its effect on the workforce, particularly because technological advancements in the past have been around augmenting human labor in agriculture or factories like robotics does. Specifically, people are alarmed about labor replacement, she said. Robotics advancements have led to job losses in manufacturing, but will AI do the same across the board in the coming years? Rossell doesn’t think so. Her reasoning is that AI applications are highest in education, health care, consulting and computer programming, and those industries don’t face the same type of demand constraints that manufacturing and agriculture do. Rossell referenced a Harvard Business School and Boston Consulting Group study about the use of AI tools to increase worker productivity. The study revealed that consultants who used AI tools saw a 40% increase in the quality of their work, and it was done 20% faster than the group who didn’t utilize the technology. Rossell said AI closed the gap between the lowest and highest performers, alluding to untapped potential for workforce development. “It has big implications for how you take folks who maybe are beyond the point in their life where it’s easy for them to gain skill. You give them an AI tool that does it for them,” Rossell said. Additionally, Rossell said the solution to U.S. debt might be found in AI. “I’ve been watching the trajectory of the U.S. debt and deficit for many years, and I’ve always said the same thing: ‘I don’t worry about it, unless financial markets worry about it,’” Rossell said. “I think financial markets aren’t expecting a financial crisis because they’re expecting AI to solve the problem.”

The internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse?Jeopardy! priest Kevin Laskowski pulls off rare season 41 move and secures ToC spot after ‘botching’ pricey Daily Double

In today's world of escalating cyber threats, artificial intelligence is emerging as a transformative force in protecting digital assets. Poli Reddy Reddem , a cybersecurity expert currently working in the medical technology sector, explores groundbreaking developments in AI-powered security solutions . The Rising Cost of Digital Defense Data breach costs have reached alarming levels, hitting $4.45 million in 2024, representing a 15% increase over three years. This surge in financial impact has pushed organizations to seek advanced security measures. AI-powered security systems have emerged as a cost-effective solution, delivering impressive results in breach prevention and mitigation. Organizations implementing these intelligent systems report a dramatic 74.5% reduction in breach-related costs compared to those using traditional security methods. This significant cost difference stems from AI's ability to detect threats earlier, respond faster, and prevent more sophisticated attacks that often lead to costly data breaches. The technology's effectiveness in reducing financial impact while improving security posture has made it an essential investment for organizations aiming to protect their digital assets. Smart Systems Lead the Way The technology's ability to detect and respond to threats has become so crucial that 69% of organizations now acknowledge they cannot effectively address critical cybersecurity threats without AI support. These intelligent systems are revolutionizing traditional security approaches with unprecedented accuracy and speed. Advancing Threat Detection AI algorithms have revolutionized threat detection through advanced pattern recognition and real-time monitoring capabilities. These intelligent systems track network behavior, user activities, and resource usage to identify potential security risks. The technology demonstrates remarkable accuracy, successfully identifying 99.9% of known threats and achieving a 98.7% detection rate for new, previously unseen threats. This level of precision marks a significant advancement in cybersecurity defense mechanisms. The Power of Behavioral Analysis AI's capabilities extend to analyzing user behavior patterns, offering deep insights into potential security threats. By examining login attempts, file access behaviors, and communication patterns, these systems can detect insider threats and compromised accounts that might evade traditional security measures, reducing attacker detection time by 53%. Future Prospects The AI cybersecurity market is poised for remarkable growth, projecting an increase from $8.8 billion in 2019 to $38.2 billion by 2026. Predictive threat intelligence powered by AI is expected to reduce threat detection time by up to 12% while increasing prediction accuracy by 60% compared to traditional methods. Overcoming Implementation Hurdles The journey isn't without challenges. Organizations must address concerns about data bias, system transparency, and potential adversarial attacks. The industry also faces a significant skills gap, with only 12% of cybersecurity professionals possessing advanced AI/ML skills. Strategic Development Progress requires a balanced approach focusing on technological advancement while addressing ethical considerations. Organizations are prioritizing transparent and accountable AI systems, with 73% making it a key priority and 66% emphasizing data protection and privacy in their AI initiatives. Building Collaborative Solutions The evolution of AI cybersecurity requires collaborative efforts across multiple sectors. Strong partnerships between industry experts, educational institutions, and government bodies are driving innovation forward. This cooperation has led to expanded specialized training programs and enhanced public-private initiatives, helping bridge the critical skills gap in the field. In conclusion, the integration of AI in cybersecurity represents a pivotal shift in digital defense strategies. While implementing these advanced systems presents challenges, from data bias to skills gaps, their transformative potential cannot be ignored. As Poli Reddy Reddem illustrates, AI's ability to enhance threat detection, automate responses, and adapt to emerging threats makes it indispensable for modern cybersecurity. With continued technological advancement and responsible development practices, AI promises to build more resilient digital defenses for our interconnected future.Smart Card IC Market Set to Reach US$ 5.2 Billion by 2034: Industry Growth and Key Trends Shaping the Future

MELVILLE, N.Y. and DAVIDSON, N.C. , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MSC Industrial Supply Co. MSM , a premier distributor of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) products and services to industrial customers throughout North America , today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.85 per share. The $0.85 dividend is payable on January 29, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 15, 2025 . Contact Information Investors: Media: Ryan Mills, CFA Zivanai Mutize Head of Investor Relations Head of Corporate Communications Rmills@mscdirect.com Zivanai.mutize@mscdirect.com About MSC Industrial Supply Co. MSC Industrial Supply Co. MSM is a leading North American distributor of a broad range of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products and services. We help our customers drive greater productivity, profitability and growth with approximately 2.4 million products, inventory management and other supply chain solutions, and deep expertise from more than 80 years of working with customers across industries. Our experienced team of more than 7,000 associates works with our customers to help drive results for their businesses - from keeping operations running efficiently today to continuously rethinking, retooling and optimizing for a more productive tomorrow. For more information on MSC Industrial, please visit mscdirect.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that MSC expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements about results of operations and financial condition, expected future results, expected benefits from our investment and strategic plans and other initiatives, and expected future growth, profitability and return on invested capital, are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "may," "believes," "anticipates," "thinks," "expects," "estimates," "plans," "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. In addition, statements which refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, statements involving a discussion of strategy, plans or intentions, statements about management's assumptions, projections or predictions of future events or market outlook and any other statement other than a statement of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. The inclusion of any statement in this press release does not constitute an admission by MSC or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material. In addition, new risks may emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict such risks or to assess the impact of such risks on our business or financial results. Accordingly, future results may differ materially from historical results or from those discussed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, the reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic conditions in the markets in which we operate; changing customer and product mixes; volatility in commodity, energy and labor prices, and the impact of prolonged periods of low, high or rapid inflation; competition, including the adoption by competitors of aggressive pricing strategies or sales methods; industry consolidation and other changes in the industrial distribution sector; the applicability of laws and regulations relating to our status as a supplier to the U.S. government and public sector; the credit risk of our customers; our ability to accurately forecast customer demands; customer cancellations or rescheduling of orders; interruptions in our ability to make deliveries to customers; supply chain disruptions; our ability to attract and retain sales and customer service personnel; the risk of loss of key suppliers or contractors or key brands; changes to trade policies or trade relationships; risks associated with opening or expanding our customer fulfillment centers; our ability to estimate the cost of healthcare claims incurred under our self-insurance plan; interruption of operations at our headquarters or customer fulfillment centers; products liability due to the nature of the products that we sell; impairments of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets; the impact of climate change; operating and financial restrictions imposed by the terms of our material debt instruments; our ability to access additional liquidity; our ability to realize the desired benefits from the reclassification of our Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock; the significant influence that our principal shareholders will continue to have over our decisions; our ability to execute on our E-commerce strategies and maintain our digital platforms; costs associated with maintaining our information technology ("IT") systems and complying with data privacy laws; our ability to remediate a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures in the future; disruptions or breaches of our IT systems or violations of data privacy laws, including such disruptions or breaches in connection with our E-commerce channels; risks related to online payment methods and other online transactions; the retention of key management personnel; litigation risk due to the nature of our business; failure to comply with environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations; and our ability to comply with, and the costs associated with, social and environmental responsibility policies. Additional information concerning these and other risks is described under "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, respectively, and in the other reports and documents that we file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/msc-industrial-supply-co-declares-regular-quarterly-dividend-302335377.html SOURCE MSC Industrial Supply Co. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Former soldiers and members of the Assad regime were seen lining up in “settlement centers” opened up by Syria’s new transitional government in and Daraa, as similar centers have opened in . Footage posted by Mohanad Fares on Monday, December 23, shows men lined up at a reconciliation center in Daraa, which was opened on December 17. verified by Storyful shows former soldiers lining up to register and hand over their weapons at a center in Damascus. An official from the transitional government told (NPA) that at the Damascus center, “each person receives a document and a serial number upon registration. Their data, along with any standard-issue equipment they may still possess, is sent to the corresponding office. After review, the individual is informed of a specific date to return and receive their updated civil ID card.” NPA said the goal was “to integrate former regime members into the evolving political and military landscape of Syria.” In Hama, people who worked for the former government were able to receive new temporary ID cards confirming that they are no longer associated with Assad’s regime, the Abu Dhabi-based outlet The National . Similar centers have also been opened up in the Quneitra, Homs, and Deir ez-Zor governorates, according to . Credit: Mohanad Fares via Storyful Video Transcript . . . . . .