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MT. STERLING, Ohio , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WillowWood, a global leader in prosthetic solutions, is proud to announce its receipt of the prestigious Gold Anthem Award Honor in the Product and Innovation category for its 2024 rebrand. The award recognizes the transformative collaboration with DD.NYC that has redefined WillowWood's visual identity, emphasizing its mission to improve mobility, push the forefront of the prosthetic industry, and enhance the quality of life for individuals worldwide. The Anthem Awards is the largest and most comprehensive social impact award, recognizing work across five areas of impact including Awareness, Fundraising, Community Engagement, Product, Innovation & Service, and Team & Internal Initiatives, for seven causes: Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Education Art & Culture, Health, Human & Civil Rights, Humanitarian Action & Services, Responsible Technology, and Sustainability Climate & Environment. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their own communities. With over 2,300 submissions from 44 countries around the world, 10,000+ reviews from jurors, and over 33,000 supporters in the Anthem Community Voice, the 4th Annual Anthem Award Winners were announced on November 19, 2024 . WillowWood's rebrand stood out among this global competition, showcasing an unwavering commitment to empowering prosthetic users through advanced technology and compassionate care. "This recognition is a testament to the heart and soul of WillowWood's mission and DD.NYC's commitment to reimagining brands in a way that stays true to that heart and soul," said Mahesh Mansukhani , CEO of WillowWood. "Our partnership with Digital Design NYC allowed us to craft a brand identity that not only honors our legacy but also propels us into the future. The rebrand reflects our promise to provide innovative prosthetic solutions that enhance mobility and transform lives." The creative process was a seamless collaboration between WillowWood and DD.NYC. Together, the teams developed a rebrand strategy that blends contemporary design elements with an innovation-centered focus. Key features include a revitalized logo, a cohesive color palette inspired by movement and vitality, and a redesigned website offering an intuitive user experience for clinicians and prosthetic users alike. "From the outset, we sought to encapsulate the essence of WillowWood's dedication to improving lives through innovation," said Anjelika Kour , Creative Director at DD.NYC. "The resulting rebrand is both striking and meaningful, capturing the spirit of mobility and resilience that defines WillowWood." The Gold Anthem Award underscores the significant impact of WillowWood's reimagined brand, resonating with both the prosthetics community and broader audiences. As a leader in the industry, WillowWood continues to champion inclusivity, innovation, and hope. To explore the award-winning rebrand and learn more about WillowWood's mission and products, visit willowwood.com . To learn more about the many industry-changing projects and services of DD.NYC, visit dd.nyc . About WillowWood: Based in Mount Sterling, Ohio , WillowWood Global is an industry leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of prosthetic products, including liners, feet, vacuum systems and components. Recognized for its products' superior innovation, quality, and patient outcomes, WillowWood's portfolio includes the Alpha ® family of liners, including the first myoelectric Alpha ® Control Liner, the META ® family of feet, the LimbLogic ® vacuum system, and now the XtremityTT ® socket system. For over 117 years, WillowWood's prosthetic products have helped individuals with limb loss find comfort and functionality, remain active and live life to the fullest. About DD.NYC: DD.NYC® is an award-winning Manhattan -based creative agency specializing in branding, web design, packaging, and video storytelling. Since its founding in 2015, the agency has been recognized for its innovative approach and adaptability across industries, with a strong focus on the medical and healthcare sectors. About The Anthem Awards: Launched in 2021 by The Webby Awards, The Anthem Awards honors the purpose & mission-driven work of people, companies and organizations worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, we're defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their own communities. The Anthem Awards honors work across seven core causes: Diversity; Equity & Inclusion; Education; Art & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment & Climate. This season's partners include Ms. Magazine, The Female Quotient, Sustainable Brands, NationSwell, and TheFutureParty. The Awards were founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, Glaad, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, and XQ. About The Webby Awards: Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by The New York Times , The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites and Mobile Sites; Video; Advertising; Media & PR; Apps & Software; Social; Podcasts; Games and AI, Metaverse & Virtual. Established in 1996, The Webby Awards received nearly 13,000 entries from all 50 states and over 70 countries worldwide this year. The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include WP Engine, LinkedIn, Meltwater, NAACP, KPMG, Wall Street Journal, Vox Media, Deadline, AdAge, TechCrunch, The Hollywood Reporter, The Hustle, Morning Brew, Passionfruit, Embedded, Link in Bio, Creator Economy NYC, Creator Spotlight, AIGA, Vote Save America, and The Publish Press. Media contact: Marketing@willowwood.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/willowwood-rebrand-by-ddnyc-wins-gold-anthem-award-for-product-and-innovation-in-2024-rebrand-302337766.html SOURCE WillowWood GlobalNone
NoneThe Friday college basketball slate is stacked and Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB guarantees a 50% deposit bonus up to $1,000 to all new customers. Wager on college basketball props for all available games including: Simply register using our Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB , then make an initial deposit. That investment will be matched 50% of the way up to $1,000. Underdog Fantasy Promo Code BETFPB for college football: $1,000 deposit match for NCAAF player props & more If you seek an alternative to sportsbooks or you aren't in a legal betting state, Underdog is for you. It's widely available and offers the chance to combine multiple Higher or Lower (Over/Under) picks into a single entry, just like a parlay. Underdog also has live props throughout the game. Registering by clicking one of our links or entering Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB while signing up means qualifying for a bonus up to $1,000 once you register and make an initial deposit, which Underdog matches 50% of the way. Note: This Underdog Fantasy bonus is available in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MN, MS, NE, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WI, WY & All Canadian Provinces except ON. All new customers can earn up to $1,000 in bonuses to play with at Underdog. Follow the steps listed below to claim the promo: The bonus will land in your account within 72 hours and must be used within 60 days. This is a great way to test out the platform. Underdog Fantasy is available in over 30 states including many without legal sports betting. If you live in an eligible state, you can take full advantage of the platform and sign up to play fun daily fantasy contests. Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB for college basketball on Nov. 22 In the run up to Thanksgiving, the college basketball slate is packed with holiday tournaments and wall-to-wall action. As a result, there are several appetizing games every day and perhaps none more so than No. 17 Arizona vs. No. 12 Duke (10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2). The schedule includes: Duke is 3-1 but is playing its first game away from home while Arizona is 2-0 and remains in the friendly confines of the McKale Center for this one. Arizona is a slim 1.5-point favorite with the total at 161 points at DraftKings. Claim $1,000 deposit bonus from Underdog Fantasy Each game houses plenty of college football player props and for each one, bettors must choose Higher or Lower on the total set by Underdog. This includes points, rebounds, assists, stat combinations and more. From there, make between 2 and 8 selections to put into an entry, with the payouts increasing with each added selection. For entries of three selections or more, a 'flex' option is available that will pay out a portion of winnings even if one of your selections falls short. Please note that college football props may be limited to select states, so check your local listings on the Underdog app. Underdog Fantasy Promo Code BETFPB: How to play Underdog Fantasy There are a variety of contests that users can enter on the Underdog Fantasy platform. These are different game styles that let users test their knowledge in different ways. After you take advantage of the Underdog Fantasy promo bonus using the code BETFPB , you will see all of these different game types offered to you. There are two main contests that are used for contests at Underdog Fantasy. They are the Pick ‘Em contest and the Draft contest. They work as follows. You must be over 21 to play. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. 1-800 GAMBLER. Brian Sausa is a New York-based content creator for Catena Media with an extensive betting history and several years of iGaming industry experience. A journalism graduate with a ranging sports background, Brian’s previous employment includes the flagship sites for multiple professional leagues including the MLB and NHL. Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
The incoming Republican administration of Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico on the first day of his presidency — Jan. 20, 2025. Canada says it will continue to work with the United States on trade issues while Mexico has hinted at retaliation . The tariffs would be devastating to both the Canadian and Mexican economies, which depend heavily on trade with the U.S. for their economic well-being. The two targeted governments would in fact be forced to respond with retaliatory tariffs targeting American goods, creating economic carnage in all three countries. Would these tariffs be legal? “Are these tariffs legal?” is a natural question to ask. Simply put, no. In a typically hyperbolic, randomly capitalized post on his Truth Social platform, Trump writes that he will impose “a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) replacement that Canada, Mexico and the United States negotiated — under American duress six years ago — contains a clause stipulating that the deal doesn’t stop any of the three countries “from applying measures that it considers necessary for ... the protection of its own essential security interests.” But any attempt to invoke that clause would be so obviously a pretext that it’s laughable. As economist Paul Krugman notes , the U.S. Department of Commerce’s rules don’t allow for the clause to be used to coerce other countries into action; the tariffs have to be linked to an effect on a particular industry. So, no. The tariffs would not be legal. But the question itself is completely beside the point. It assumes that the North American relationship continues to be rooted in the rule of law and democratic norms that have underwritten North American politics for more than 80 years. Five years ago, the question would have made sense. Now, it’s the wrong question to ask. Shattered relationship In his first term, Trump repeatedly threatened tariffs (including the absurd assertion that Canadian aluminum imports represented a national security threat ) to browbeat Canada and Mexico on trade and immigration. Back then, we could still imagine that Trumpism was an aberration. Canada acted appropriately for the time. Threatened with tariffs, Canadian officials responded in kind . Read more: Trump tariffs: What the president-elect's rhetoric tells us about how Canada could be affected — again From this perspective, the lesson today for Canada seems clear: don’t panic, don’t be afraid to target vulnerable and politically important American industries and figure out what will make Trump happy. This approach might work in the short run. But it only makes sense in a specific context. In 2016, it was possible to hope that Trumpism would be fleeting, Democrats would return to power and equilibrium would be restored. The world can no longer make that assumption. Trumpism has been institutionalized in the Republican Party. Even if — and that’s assuming free and fair elections — the Democrats regain the White House in 2028, the two-party system in the U.S. means the Republicans will eventually regain power. Chronic, systemic instability in the U.S. is now the best the rest of the world can hope for. But it’s next to impossible to make solid plans on instability. Canada, for its part, can no longer rely on the rules and norms that have underpinned Canada-U.S. relations since the Second World War. Abandoning the rule of law As I’ve written previously , the United States-Mexico-Canada trade deal’s renegotiation clause, embraced by both Democrats and Republicans , deprives Canada and Mexico of the protection from coercion that trade agreements usually provide smaller countries. Such protection traditionally means the larger country cannot use access to its market (which Canada and Mexico depend upon) to force smaller countries to adopt their preferred policies. But the renegotiation clause of the current agreement keeps coercion on the table, moving North America away from a treaty-based rule-of-law approach to economic relations toward one focused more on raw power. Read more: Facing trade renegotiations, Canada can no longer count on free trade to protect it from U.S. power Trump’s bombastic threats turbo-charge the problem of institutionalized coercion. The trade deal may still be renegotiated as scheduled in 2026, but a treaty violated at will by one party is no treaty at all. Trump’s willingness to hold the Canadian and Mexican economies hostage for a deal on drug trafficking and migration also shatters another foundational norm. In a relationship as complex as Canada’s with the United States, there will always be problems. But these haven’t previously paralyzed the relationship because of a tacit commitment between both countries not to link unconnected issues, ensuring one party can’t strong-arm or blackmail the other. That norm provided Canada with significant protection from its much-larger neighbour. This norm, as well as formal trade rules, gave Canada a degree of autonomy in dealing with the U.S. Despite perennial problems like softwood lumber, it allowed the U.S. and Canada to come to reasonable arrangements supported by a commitment to domestic laws and international treaties. Few good options As the region’s dominant power, the U.S. can remake the broader North American relationship as it sees fit. This is the third American remaking of the continent in 40 years. The first was its embrace of a globalization-focused free-trade model in the late 1990s, resulting in NAFTA. Then, post-9/11, it unilaterally decided that border security, rather than continental economic integration , was its top priority. Post-2001, many pundits and analysts, fearful of what this new American focus on security would mean for Canada, claimed that Canada had no choice but to integrate more deeply with the U.S. in case the Americans, in the words of Canadian military historian Jack Granatstein , became “unhappy with us” and “bring our economy to a crashing halt.” In the end, these fears were overstated. The U.S. did not crash Canada’s economy once the Liberal government of the day opted against following it into Iraq or joining its Ballistic Missile Defence system, two of Granatstein’s imagined red lines. As I explored in my dissertation on the subject — eventually reworked in my book, Copyfight: The Global Politics of Digital Copyright Reform — Canada was protected by NAFTA and by shared norms regarding the non-linkage of unrelated issues, as well as the shared respect for the rule of law. Asset becomes a vulnerability Those arguing in favour of appeasement — that Canada must do whatever the U.S. wants to avoid retaliation — should not delude themselves that Canada would be integrating more deeply with a fellow democratic country, protected by shared norms and the rule of law. To integrate further with a country that has rejected the rule of law would be to surrender Canadian sovereignty. Deep integration with the U.S., once our greatest asset, is now Canada’s greatest vulnerability. Canada-U.S. relations experts know this relationship is fundamental to Canada’s prosperity and survival. Canada will find a way to manage this relationship because it has to. But it must do so within a context in which the question “is it legal?” no longer makes sense. Instead, the question confronting Canada is: “How can a liberal-democratic nation survive next to a much more powerful country with no respect for the rule of law?” The difference between these two questions is the distance between democracy and authoritarianism. It is here that Canada now finds itself.
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has been a target for investigations since his early days in office, and the swarm of cases since his failed reelection bid in 2022 has left him in ever-deeper legal jeopardy. In the latest indictment Thursday, he was accused of to keep himself in the presidency. In another case, the electoral court ruled the far-right leader ineligible to run for office until 2030. There are dozens of other probes that could produce criminal charges at low-level courts, where he could appeal any eventual conviction. But the country’s Supreme Court will have the final say regarding more than five in-depth investigations, including into the alleged coup attempt, which could land the former president behind bars or under house arrest. Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing in all of the cases, and his allies have alleged they are political persecution, while recognizing the severity of the legal risks on multiple fronts. Here’s a look at the biggest threats and where they stand: Coup Attempt Federal police on Thursday indicted and 36 others for allegedly attempting a coup to keep him in office after his defeat in the 2022 elections. The indictment is sealed, but among other things authorities had been investigating whether he in which his followers ransacked the Supreme Court and presidential palace in the capital of Brasilia. STATUS: Police sent their findings to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet. He will either formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation. Electoral Misdeeds Brazil’s that Bolsonaro used government communication channels in a meeting with diplomats to promote his reelection bid and sow distrust about the vote. The case focused on a meeting the prior year, during which Bolsonaro used government staffers, the state television channel and the presidential palace in Brasilia to tell foreign ambassadors that the country’s electronic voting system was rigged. The ruling rendered him ineligible for office until 2030, although he has insisted that he will run in the 2026 race. The court also found that Bolsonaro abused his power during Brazil’s Independence Day festivities, a month before the election. The ruling didn’t add years to Bolsonaro’s ineligibility, but made any appeal less likely to succeed. A third case is also pending at the court. STATUS: Bolsonaro’s appeal of the initial ruling was denied. Vaccination Fraud Bolsonaro has been indicted for directing an official to tamper with a public health database to make it appear as though he and his 12-year-old daughter had received the COVID-19 vaccine in order to bypass U.S. entry requirements. During the pandemic, he , characterized the choice to receive a shot as a matter of personal freedom and has repeatedly said he never did so. The Bolsonaro of criminal association and inserting false data into public records, which carry maximum penalties of 4 and 12 years in prison, respectively. It was his first indictment since leaving office. STATUS: Brazil’s Supreme Court sent the indictment to the prosecutor-general, who is weighing whether to use it to press charges. Local media reported that he was seeking to consult American authorities about whether Bolsonaro used the forged document to enter the country, and that having done so could result in U.S. legal action. Saudi Jewels Federal Police have probed whether Bolsonaro directed officials to from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, then acted to prevent them from being incorporated into the presidential collection and instead retain ownership for himself. Investigators summoned Bolsonaro for questioning in April and August of 2023. He has returned the jewelry in question. STATUS: The Federal Police indicted Bolsonaro for money laundering and criminal association, according to a source with knowledge of the accusations. A second source confirmed the indictment, although not for which specific crimes. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. Pandemic Sabotage Brazil’s Federal Police is investigating Bolsonaro for inciting crimes against public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, which include encouraging people not to wear masks and causing alarm about non-existent danger of . A Senate inquiry commission also spent months investigating his pandemic-era actions and decisions, and recommended nine criminal charges. Brazil’s former prosecutor-general Augusto Aras, widely seen as a Bolsonaro ally, decided not to file any charges based on the lawmakers’ findings. They have urged his Aras’ successor to reopen the case. STATUS: The investigation is ongoing. Fake News, Digital Militia Brazil’s Supreme Court in 2020 ordered an investigation into a network . The probe has yielded the imprisonment of lawmakers from the former president’s circle and raids of his supporters’ homes. In 2021, Bolsonaro was included as a target. As an offshoot of that probe, the Federal Police is also investigating whether a group operating inside Bolsonaro’s presidential palace produced social media content aimed at undermining the rule of law. The group, allegedly comprised of aides and Bolsonaro’s politician son, has been widely referred to as a digital militia and “the hate cabinet.” STATUS: Both investigations are ongoing. ___ Biller reported from Rio de JaneiroBetter AI Stock: Nvidia vs. Palantir?DALLAS , Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. NREF (the "Company") today announced a dividend for its 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock NREF of $0.53125 per share. The dividend will be payable on January 27, 2025 , to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 15, 2025 . About NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc., is a publicly traded REIT, with its common stock and Series A Preferred Stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NREF" and "NREF PRA," respectively, primarily focused on originating, structuring and investing in first-lien mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, convertible notes, multifamily properties and common equity investments, as well as multifamily and single-family rental commercial mortgage-backed securities securitizations, promissory notes and mortgage-backed securities. More information about the Company is available at nref.nexpoint.com . CONTACTS Investor Relations Kristen Griffith IR@nexpoint.com Media Relations Prosek Partners for NexPoint pro-nexpoint@prosek.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nexpoint-real-estate-finance-inc-announces-series-a-preferred-stock-dividend-302339003.html SOURCE NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Stock market today: Wall Street climbs as bitcoin bursts above $99,000
Harris has ‘no knowledge’ anyone tried to get RTE to take down viral clipJapan's education ministry has urged that school trips be planned for the off-season due to a recent labor shortage in transportation and accommodations amid a boom in inbound tourism, according to sources familiar with the matter. Schools tend to have their trips between May and June or from September to December, according to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Avoiding peak travel seasons would benefit schools as they would not need to suddenly change schedules due to the unavailability of charter buses or hotels. The ministry sent notices on Dec 12 to education boards and schools after the bus and travel industries requested its cooperation regarding the scheduling of school trips. "The recent acute labor shortage makes it difficult for schools to secure charter buses and accommodations," the ministry said in the notice, urging more flexible timing. The most popular travel season for junior high schools in fiscal 2023 was May, while that for high schools was October, according to a survey by the Japan School Tours Bureau, a nonprofit private organization. Many schools decide timing of their trips based on annual academic schedules and weather, with Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Okinawa prefectures among the favored destinations. There has been a shortage in bus driver availability since the government earlier this year restricted their working hours to improve conditions, with some schools opting for trains instead.WASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Doctor at the heart of Turkey's newborn baby deaths case says he was a 'trusted' physician
Dividend stocks come in many different shapes and sizes, but one incarnation stands head and shoulders above them all: The Dividend King. Dividend Kings have increased their dividends annually for 50 consecutive years, or longer. It's an elite pool from which to fish. Right now, Dividend Kings PepsiCo ( PEP 1.03% ) , Nucor ( NUE 1.29% ) , and Black Hills ( BKH 1.61% ) are all worth a closer look. That's true even if you already own them, as they could even be worth doubling up on. PepsiCo is a diversified food giant From a dividend perspective, PepsiCo ticks off a lot of important boxes. For example, it has increased its dividend annually for 52 consecutive years. That indicates a reliable business and a commitment to returning value to shareholders over time. The dividend yield is around 3.4% right now, which is up near levels last seen during the Great Recession . That suggests that PepsiCo is on the sale rack. However, the most compelling data point might be the annualized dividend growth rate of nearly 9% over the past decade, which is more than twice the historical growth rate of inflation. That's all backed by a large and industry-leading consumer staples maker. PepsiCo's namesake brand lives in its beverage division, which is the No. 2 player in that food niche. The Frito-Lay division, meanwhile, is the No. 1 player in the salty snacks space. Then there's Quaker Oats, which isn't a leader in the packaged food space, but competes well in the product categories within which it does compete. Overall, PepsiCo is one of the most diversified food makers you can buy and an important partner to retailers around the world. Given that the stock looks relatively cheap today, dividend investors might want to buy it, or even add to their positions if they already own it. Nucor's shares have fallen fast Dividend King Nucor has increased its dividend annually for 51 consecutive years. While PepsiCo's dividend streak is impressive, Nucor's is even more so because it operates in the highly cyclical steel industry. Indeed, commodity-driven steel markets tend to rise and fall along with economic activity, since steel is used to make long-lasting products, from buildings to appliances. Consumers and businesses usually pull back on buying big items when their finances are strained. That said, Nucor's stock has fallen around 25% from its 52-week high. That hints that right now is the time to start looking at this stock. Nucor is one of the most diversified North American steel companies you can buy. It has a long history of investing for growth, particularly when the steel industry is in a downturn. That ensures that Nucor gets the most bang for its buck on the spending front, and that it comes out of the downturn in a stronger position than when it entered it. With that background, long-term investors will be interested to know that earnings have fallen by about 50% year over year through the first three quarters of 2024, while the company's capital expenditures have increased by around 50%. It sounds like Nucor is, once again, using the playbook that has worked out so well historically. Nucor's yield is a bit miserly at 1.5% or so, but given the history of dividend growth, it's still worth a close look for investors willing to own cyclical fare . Black Hills is small but mighty Black Hills is probably the least exciting stock of this trio. It's a fairly typical regulated natural gas and electric utility , which benefits from having a monopoly in the regions it serves but has to get its rates and capital spending plans approved by the government. Slow and steady growth is the name of the game for this modestly sized utility (its market cap is just $4.5 billion or so). That said, it's one of just a small handful of utilities that have managed to achieve Dividend King status. While annualized dividend growth over the past decade is only around 5%, that's more than enough to grow the buying power of the dividend over time. Now add in a 4.1% dividend yield , near the highest yield levels over the past decade, and you can see why conservative income investors might want to double up on Black Hills today. Aside from the yield and dividend growth, conservative income investors will appreciate one other fact. The markets that Black Hills serves have seen population growth that's nearly three times that of the U.S. average. That's a very positive statistic to have on the company's side when it goes to regulators to ask for rate hikes and spending approvals. Essentially, more customers means more need for the capital investment in the systems supporting those customers. More customers and more spending both lead to more revenues. Sure, Black Hills is a tortoise of a company, but if you like boring dividend stocks, you'll probably be happy loading up on this one. Different and attractive dividend options Boring and reliable Black Hills will likely appeal to conservative income investors. Nucor will attract those willing to take a somewhat contrarian dividend investment approach. And PepsiCo will probably appeal most to dividend growth investors. But given where all three of these dividend stocks trade today, they are each worth a deep dive right now.
Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic will face conservative rival Dragan Primorac in an election run-off in two weeks' time after the incumbent narrowly missed out an outright victory on Sunday, official results showed. The results came after an exit poll, released immediately after the polling stations closed, showed that Milanovic, backed by the opposition left-wing Social Democrats, had scooped more than 50 percent of the first round vote and would thus avoid the January 12 run-off. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’
No. 22 Army faces unexpected foe La. Tech in Independence Bowl
WillowWood Rebrand by DD.NYC Wins Gold Anthem Award for Product and Innovation in 2024 RebrandPercentages: FG .431, FT .654. 3-Point Goals: 10-27, .370 (Vaughns 4-6, Holt 4-10, Neal 2-5, Nunn 0-1, Skytta 0-4). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 1 (Beatty). Turnovers: 11 (Skytta 5, Beatty 2, Holt, Nunn, Vaughns, Williams). Steals: 5 (Brewer 2, Holt, Neal, Vaughns). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .472, FT .667. 3-Point Goals: 7-26, .269 (Ola-Joseph 2-7, Mahoney 1-3, Petraitis 1-3, Tucker 1-3, Stojakovic 1-4, Wilkinson 1-6). Team Rebounds: 8. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 5 (Dort, Petraitis, Sissoko, Stojakovic, Wilkinson). Turnovers: 12 (Stojakovic 3, Wilkinson 3, Sissoko 2, Tucker 2, Ola-Joseph, Petraitis). Steals: 6 (Petraitis 3, Dort 2, Stojakovic). Technical Fouls: Sissoko, 00:26 second. .
When you conjure up an image of visiting Paris , there are likely a few scenes that flood your imagination. Maybe you think of visiting Notre Dame or driving past the Arc de Triomphe. Perhaps you imagine strolling around the Louvre or gazing at the twinkling Eiffel Tower at night. But at some point, you’re likely going to think about sitting outside a café, watching the world go by, while you sip on an espresso and indulge in a croissant. JUMP TO THE CROISSANTS Despite the fact that their origins are not actually French, croissants are undeniably synonymous with France. But you don’t have to go all the way to mainland Europe to enjoy this flaky, buttery pastry. While you fantasize about visiting the French capital, you can treat yourself to croissants in most places around the world. And now, there are plenty of dairy- and egg-free versions on offer. Here’s where to buy vegan croissants right now, but first: what actually is a vegan croissant? And where did the original pastry come from? L’Artisane Creative Bakery What is a vegan croissant? Croissants are flaky, crescent-shaped rolls. When they’re baked well, they are a little crunchy and crispy on the outside, and satisfyingly soft and moist on the inside. Traditionally, because they’re made with eggs, milk, and butter, croissants are not vegan. But vegan croissants do exist—and they’re just as delicious as the original. This recipe by Sarah Sullivan of Sarah’s Vegan Kitchen, for example, swaps out regular butter for a few sticks of vegan butter , and instead of the usual egg wash that is brushed over croissants, it calls for a mix of vegan milk and maple syrup. Sarah’s Vegan Kitchen RELATED: Vegan Cookies Near Me: 16 Bakeries to Check Out Now “These croissants may be vegan, but they are still so fluffy, flaky, buttery and delicious,” Sullivan writes in the blog post. “They taste amazing lightly toasted and spread with fruit preserves, but I have to admit my favorite way to eat them is to make breakfast sandwiches with Just Egg , vegan sausage , and cheddar.” Where did croissants come from? Now, croissants are a breakfast staple all over the world. As outlined by Sullivan, they can be savory or sweet, loaded with ingredients, or enjoyed with a simple spread (the latter is the most common in France, it’s worth noting). But their journey likely started a good few centuries ago, not in France, but in Austria. BECOME A VEGNEWS VIP : Get exclusive product deals, freebies, and perks galore! Croissants are descended from kipfel , a traditional Austrian bread roll also shaped like a crescent. The first documented mention of the latter was all the way back in the 1200s, but it likely made its way to France more recently, when 19th-century Viennese bakers started setting up shop in Paris. Here, the French put their own stamp on the baked treat. “The croissant began as the Austrian kipfel but became French the moment people began to make it with puffed pastry, which is a French innovation,” scholar Jim Chevallier told Smithsonian Magazine . “It has fully taken root in its adopted land.” Where to buy vegan croissants Thank goodness for kipfel, because without it, we wouldn’t have one of our favorite morning pick-me-ups. To stock up on flaky buttery goodness, here are some of the best places to buy vegan croissants right now. Whole Foods Market | Instagram 1 Whole Foods If you’re making a trip to Whole Foods anyway, then you don’t need to go out of your way to buy vegan croissants, because you can simply grab some in-store. Just like the original, Whole Foods’ vegan version is deliciously buttery and flaky and perfect with a light smattering of butter and jam. Find it Here Crossroads Kitchen 2 Crossroads Sweet Stop Angelenos flocked to Crossroads Kitchen when the beloved vegan restaurant announced it was launching Crossroads Sweet Stop, a weekend dessert pop-up based out of its Melrose location. With lines around the corner, the pop-up offered treats such as macarons, apple pie, banana pudding, and flaky croissants. Now officially operating the first Saturday of every month, Crossroads Sweet Stop is a must-try. find it here L’Artisane Creative Bakery 3 L’Artisane Creative Bakery As one of the first vegan French bakeries in the US , L’Artisane is a master of delicious, animal-free baked goods, and croissants are no exception. Treat yourself to one of the brand’s artisanal or gourmet boxes, which can be delivered nationwide and are packed full of delicious vegan croissants and pain au chocolat (which is essentially a chocolate croissant). Make sure you also stock up on espresso for the perfect European-style brunch. find it here Chaumont Vegan | Instagram 4 Chaumont Vegan An offshoot of much-loved Beverly Hills eatery Chaumont Bakery and Café, Chaumont Vegan specializes in delicious, animal-free offerings, including croissants. If you’re in the area, we recommend ordering one of everything. find it here @bakers.bench | Instagram 5 Baker’s Bench Chinatown hidden gem, Baker’s Bench is making some of the best vegan croissants in Los Angeles. Jennifer Yee, the mastermind behind the golden croissants utilized her professional baking background to make buttery, flaky, vegan croissants a reality. find it here @stephyoungren | Instagram 6 Clementine Bakery This Brooklyn-based vegan bakery is jam-packed with delicious treats, and croissants are key among them. The almond croissants and chocolate croissants are to die for and the added ambience of the cute bakery spot is just icing on the ... croissant. find it here Curious Cat Bakery 7 Curious Cat Bakery When Curious Cat Bakery’s founder Natalia Lima visited Paris, she fell in love with croissants. So now, alongside many other tasty baked goods, she specializes in making vegan versions for everyone to enjoy. As well as pain au chocolat, Curious Cat Bakery delivers its Traditional Vegan Butter Croissants and Everything Croissants to households near its base in St. Petersburg, FL. For a full list of locations, check out its website . Curious Cat Bakery is also known to offer nationwide shipping periodically. Join its waitlist to be notified when croissant delivery returns. find it here Sugarbloom Bakery 8 Sugarbloom Bakery Chef Sharon Wang’s sesame pretzel croissant—a whole wheat croissant topped with toasted white sesame seeds and Maldon sea salt—was always crave worthy and now there’s a vegan version you can buy online for local delivery or pickup! They also offer an everything bagel croissant, as well. find it here Frogs Bakery 9 Frogs Bakery California-based Frogs Bakery makes a wide range of French-style baked goods, including a flaky, plant-based croissant, featuring all-natural ingredients. But if you don’t live near Gardena, where the bakery is based, you can also find its baked goods at several farmers markets across Southern California. Additionally, you can order its treats online from the online delivery platform Farm Fresh to You . find it here Good Rebel 10 Good Rebel Canadian brand Good Rebel, which has both an online store and a brick-and-mortar in Toronto, has everything a vegan food lover’s heart desires. It stocks vegan meat, eggs, and cheese, and there are even dairy-free candy, cake, and chocolate treats. Plus, you can load up on frozen vegan croissants, too. When a craving hits, all you need to do is pop them in the oven to warm up and they’ll be ready for breakfast in just a few short minutes. find it here Bridor 11 Bridor As one of the leaders of top-quality baked goods in North America, Bridor, of course, offers croissants. Two of its options are totally vegan: the Straight Vegan Croissant and the Vegan Curved & Pinched Croissant. The brand supplies coffee shops, restaurants, and hotels all over the US. find it here Délifrance 12 Délifrance The clue is in the name, but Délifrance specializes in French-style baked goods, so of course, it offers croissants. But in 2017, it upped its baked goods game when it started offering vegan croissants. The US’ vegan version of the classic pastry is made with quinoa, spelt flour, and vegetable margarine. In the UK, Brits can also buy vegan citrus croissants, oat croissants, lemon and ginger croissants, and blueberry croissants from Délifrance. find it here Brioche Gourmet 13 Brioche Gourmet Available for purchase online and at some popular grocers like Sprouts and Whole Foods, Brioche Gourmet’s vegan croissants bring that bakery experience into the comfort of your own home. You can store them fresh or frozen, so a croissant is ready to go whenever the craving strikes. Find it here DON'T MISS OUT : Get breaking news, recipes, and our weekly vegan deal by signing up for our FREE VegNewsletter 15 Black-Owned Vegan Bakeries To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth The VegNews Guide to Making Any Pie Vegan Vegan Cookies Near Me: 16 Bakeries to Check Out Now JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Shop Sarah McLaughlin (@ sarahmclaughlin ) is the New Products Editor at VegNews and is always on the search for the newest innovations in plant-based food. Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast. Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.For some, AI fatigue is real. But clearly venture investors haven’t grown tired of the category. AI deals continued to dominate venture funding during the third quarter. AI companies raised $19 billion in Q3, according to Crunchbase data . That figure represents 28% of all venture funding. The fourth quarter of 2024 has been no less busy for these outsized rounds. Elon Musk’s xAI raised a behemoth $6 billion round, one of seven AI funding rounds over $1 billion in 2024, in November. That’s just months after OpenAI raised its $6.6 billion round. Here are the U.S.-based AI companies that raised $100 million or more so far in 2024: December Liquid AI , a foundation model startup, raised a sizable $250 million Series A round that values the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based startup at $2.35 billion. AMD Ventures led the round and was joined by Duke Capital Partners, The Pags Group, and OSS Capital. The round closed on December 13. Atlanta-based Tractian raised a $120 million Series C round that values the company at $720 million. The machine intelligence company raised money from Sapphire Ventures, NGP Capital and General Catalyst, among others. The round was announced on December 5. AI hardware company Tenstorrent nabbed a $2.7 billion valuation in its latest funding round. The San Francisco-based company raised a $693 million Series D round that closed on December 2. Samsung Securities and AFW Partners led the round with participation from Fidelity, Bezos Expeditions, and Hyundai Motor Group, among others. November Elon Musk’s xAI raised its second monster funding round this year: a $6 billion round from investors including Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, and the Qatar Investment Authority. The deal values the company at $50 billion. Enfabrica , an AI networking chip startup, raised a $115 million Series C round led by Spark Capital. Sutter Hill Ventures, Cisco Investments, and Valor Equity Partners, among others, participated, which was announced November 19. Full-stack generative AI platform Writer announced a $200 million Series C round on November 12. The round was led by Radical Ventures, Premji Invest, and Iconiq with participation from Salesforce Ventures, Insight Partners, and Vanguard, among others. The round values the startup at $1.9 billion. Physical Intelligence , a startup developing foundational software for robots, founded by notable names including Sergey Levine and Lachy Groom, raised a Series A round on November 4 that values the company at more than $2 billion. The $400 million round included Lux Capital, Sequoia and Jeff Bezos, among others. The company was founded in 2024. October Bret Taylor’s Sierra , which makes AI chatbots for enterprise customers, raised a $175 million round that values the company at nearly $4.5 billion. The round, which was announced on October 28, was led by Greenoaks with participation from Thrive Capital and Iconiq Capital. Autonomous warehouse robotics startup Nimble Robotics enters unicorn territory with its latest raise. The San Francisco-based company raised a $106 million Series C round on October 23 that valued the company at $1.1 billion. The round was co-led by FedEx and Cedar Pine. Lightmatter , a photonic computing startup, raised a sizable $400 million Series D round led by T. Rowe Price on October 16. The round values the Silicon Valley-based company at $4.4 billion. Lightmatter has raised more than $800 million in venture capital. Columbus, Ohio-based autonomous welding robots startup Path Robotics raised a $100 million Series D round that was announced on October 14. The round was led by Matter Venture Partners and Drive Capital with participation from Tiger Global and Addition, among others. EvenUp , an AI-powered legaltech company, raised a $135 million Series D round led by Bain Capital Ventures with participation from SignalFire and Lightspeed, among others. The October 8 round valued the startup at $1 billion. Berkeley-based KoBold Metals raised $491.5 million in a recent venture round . The investors aren’t disclosed, but in the past, the company raised from VCs including Bond and Andreessen Horowitz. AI-powered software development platform Poolside closed a $500 million Series B round on October 2. The round was led by Bain Capital Ventures with participation from Redpoint, StepStone, and Nvidia, among others. The round values the company at $3 billion. OpenAI announced its highly anticipated venture round on October 2. The $6.6 billion round was the largest venture round of all time and valued the company at $157 billion. Thrive Capital led the round and was joined by other investors, including Tiger Global and SoftBank. September Enterprise search startup Glean announced its second funding round of 2024 on September 10. The company raised a $260 million Series E round that valued it at $4.5 billion, marking an 87.5% increase in valuation since its February round. Safe Superintelligence , an AI research lab founded by former OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever and AI investor Daniel Gross. It announced a $1 billion raise at a $4 billion valuation on September 4. Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia and DST Global participated in the round, among others. August AI coding startup Magic raised its second mega-round of the year on August 29. The San Francisco-based company raised $320 million in a Series C round. CapitalG, Sequoia and Jane Street Capital participated in the round, among others. The company last raised a $117 million Series B in February. General Catalyst led the $150 million Series C round into Codeium , an AI-powered coding platform, that closed on August 29. The round also included Kleiner Perkins and Greenoaks and valued Codeium at $1.2 billion. DevRev , which makes AI support agents, garnered a $1.1 billion valuation after its sizable early-stage raise. The Silicon Valley-based company raised a $100 million Series A round that included investors like Khosla Ventures, Mayfield and Param Hansa Values. The company was founded in 2020. San Francisco-based Abnormal Security raised $250 million for its AI-driven email security company. This funding round was led by Wellington Management with participation from Menlo Ventures, Greylock and Insight Partners. The company is valued at more than $5 billion. Groq — not to be confused with Grok — announced a $640 million Series D round on August 5 led by BlackRock. The AI chip startup also received investment from Type One Ventures, Verdure Capital Management and Neuberger Berman, among others. The company is valued at more than $3 billion. July Renowned AI researcher Fei-Fei Li’s startup World Labs raised a $100 million round in July, sources told TechCrunch . The startup is already valued at more than $1 billion according to the Financial Times . World Labs is looking to build AI models that can accurately estimate the three-dimensional physicality of real-world objects. Legal tech company Harvey announced a $100 million Series C round on July 23. The round was led by Google Ventures, with participation from OpenAI, Kleiner Perkins and Sequoia. This round values the San Francisco-based company at $1.5 billion. Hebbia, $130 million: Andreessen Horowitz led the round for Hebbia that closed July 8 . The startup, which uses generative AI to search large documents, also raised money from Peter Thiel, Index Ventures and Google Ventures and garnered a $700 million valuation. Skild AI, $300 million: Pittsburgh-based Skild AI announced a $300 million Series A round on July 9 that valued the company at $1.5 billion. The round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Coatue and Jeff Bezos’ Bezos Expeditions with participation from Sequoia, Menlo Ventures and General Catalyst, among others. Skild AI builds tech to power robots. June Bright Machines, $106 million: BlackRock led a $106 million Series C round into Bright Machines that closed on June 25. Nvidia, Microsoft and Eclipse Ventures, among others, also participated. The startup makes both smart robotics and AI-driven software and has raised more than $437 million in total funding. Etched.ai, $120 million: San Francisco-based Etched.ai raised a $120 million Series A round on June 25. The round was led by Primary Venture Partners and Positive Sum with participation from Two Sigma Ventures, Peter Thiel and Kyle Vogt, among others. Etched.ai is working to make chips that can run AI models faster and cheaper than GPUs. EvolutionaryScale, $142 million: New York-based EvolutionaryScale is developing biological AI models for therapeutic design. It raised a $142 million seed round that closed on June 25. The round was led by Lux Capital, former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross, an angel investor and former head of AI at Y Combinator. The company was founded in 2023. AKASA, $120 million: Healthcare revenue cycle automation platform Akasa announced a $120 million round on June 18. The San Francisco-based startup has collected $205 million in total funding and has raised from investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Costanoa Ventures and Bond in prior rounds. AlphaSense, $650 million: New York-based AlphaSense raised a $650 million Series F round that was announced on June 11. The round was led by Viking Global Investors and BDT & MSD Partners with participation from CapitalG, SoftBank Vision Fund and Goldman Sachs, among others. AlphaSense is a market intelligence platform founded in 2008. The company has raised more than $1.4 billion in venture funding and was most recently valued at $4 billion. May xAI, $6 billion: Elon Musk’s xAI raised a jaw-dropping $6 billion Series B round on May 31 from investors, including Sequoia, Valor Equity Partners and Fidelity, among others. The startup is building an AI platform that will “accelerate human scientific discovery” and is valued at an equally stunning $24 billion. Scale AI, $1 billion: Scale AI, a startup that provides data-labeling services to companies for training AI models, raised $1 billion in May. The Series F round was led by Accel with participation from Tiger Global, Spark Capital and Amazon, among others. San Francisco-based Scale AI has raised more than $1.6 billion in total and is currently valued at nearly $14 billion. Suno, $125 million: AI-music creation platform Suno raised $125 million in a Series B round that closed on May 21. The round values the Cambridge, Massachusetts, startup at $500 million. Founder Collective, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Matrix participated in the round in addition to former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and former head of AI at Y Combinator Daniel Gross. Weka, $140 million: Silicon Valley-based Weka created an AI-native data platform and raised $140 million in a Series E round that closed on May 13. The funding was led by Valor Equity Partners with participation from Qualcomm Ventures, Nvidia and Hitachi Ventures, among others. The startup was valued at $1.6 billion. CoreWeave, $1.1 billion: New Jersey-based GPU infrastructure provider CoreWeave raised $1.1 billion in a Series C round that closed on May 1. Coatue led the round with participation from Fidelity, Altimeter Capital and Magnetar Capital, among others. CoreWeave was launched in 2017 and is valued at $19 billion. April Blaize, $106 million: AI computing platform company Blaize raised $106 million in a Series D round that was announced on April 29. The round had participation from investors, including Temasek, Franklin Templeton and Bess Ventures, among others. The company was founded in 2010 and has raised $242 million. Augment, $227 million: Palo Alto-based Augment raised $227 million for its AI coding assistance startup. The startup’s Series B round was announced on April 24. Lightspeed Venture Partners, Index Ventures and Sutter Hill Ventures participated in the round, which valued the startup just shy of $1 billion. Cognition, $175 million: Founders Fund led applied AI lab startup Cognition’s $175 million round that closed on April 24. This round came just about a month after the firm raised a $21 million Series A round in March from Founders Fund and numerous other investors, including Ramp co-founder Eric Glyman, Stripe co-founders Patrick and John Collison, and DoorDash co-founder Tony Xu. The company was founded in November 2023 and is already valued at nearly $2 billion. Xaira Therapeutics, $1 billion: San Francisco-based AI drug discovery startup Xaira Therapeutics raised a $1 billion Series A round . Foresite Capital and ARCH Venture Partners led the round that was announced on April 23. Sequoia, NEA and Lux Capital participated in the round, among many others. Cyera, $300 million: Coatue led the recent $300 million Series C round into AI-powered data security platform Cyera that closed on April 9. The round valued New York-based startup at $1.4 billion. Sequoia, Redpoint and Accel also participated in the round, among others. March Celestial AI, $175 million : Celestial AI, founded in 2020, is building an optical interconnect technology platform for data centers and AI solutions and raised a $175 million Series C round on March 27, which brought its total funding amount to $338 million. The round was led by Thomas Tull’s US Innovative Technology Fund with participation from M Ventures, Temasek and Tyche Partners, among others. FundGuard, $100 million: FundGuard is a New York-based startup offering an AI-powered investment accounting operating system that raised $100 million at a $400 million valuation . The Series C round closed on March 25 and was led by Key1 Capital with participation from Hamilton Lane, Blumberg Capital and Team8, among others. Together AI, $106 million: Salesforce Ventures led Together AI’s $106 million Series A round that valued the company at $1.2 billion. Together AI is a platform designed to help create infrastructure and open source generative AI for developing AI models. NEA, Kleiner Perkins and Lux Capital also participated in the round, among others. The round was announced on March 13. Zephyr AI, $111 million: Fairfax Station, Virginia-based Zephyr AI raised a $111 million Series A round that closed on March 13. Revolution Growth, Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, EPIQ Capital Group and investor Jeff Skoll all participated in the round. The startup, founded in 2020, uses AI to enhance drug discovery and precision medicine. It has raised $129.5 million total so far. February Glean, $203 million : AI-driven enterprise search startup Glean raised $203 million in a February 27 round that valued the startup at $2.2 billion. The Series D round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Kleiner Perkins with participation from Sequoia and Databricks Ventures, among others. The Silicon Valley-based startup has raised more than $350 million in venture funding and its founder, Arvind Jain, was recently interviewed on TechCrunch’s Found podcast. Figure, $675 million: Silicon Valley-based AI robotics startup Figure raised a $675 million Series B round that closed on February 24. The round valued the startup at nearly $2.7 billion. Nvidia, OpenAI and Microsoft participated in the round, among others. The startup was founded in 2022 and has raised more than $850 million. Abridge, $150 million : Pittsburgh-based Abridge, which uses AI to transcribe medical conversations, raised a $150 million Series C round that closed on February 23. The round was led by Redpoint and Lightspeed Venture Partners with participation from USV, IVP and Spark Capital, among others. This round brings the six-year-old company’s valuation to $850 million. Recogni, $102 million: The company designs high-output but low-power AI interface solutions, and it raised a $102 million Series C round on February 20. The round was led by GreatPoint Ventures and Celesta Capital. Pledge Ventures, Mayfield and DNS Capital also contributed to the round. Lambda, $320 million: San Francisco-based deep learning infrastructure company Lambda raised $320 million in a Series C round that was announced on February 15. The round was led by Thomas Tull’s US Innovative Technology Fund with participation from Gradient Ventures, Mercato Partners and T. Rowe Price, among others. Lambda has raised more than $900 million in venture capital and was most recently valued at $1.5 billion. Magic, $117 million: AI coding startup Magic raised a $117 million Series B round that closed on February 12. The round was led by NFDG Ventures with participation from CapitalG and angel investor Elad Gil. The San Francisco-based company has raised more than $145 million in total capital. January Kore.ai, $150 million: A startup building conversational AI for enterprises, Kore.ai raised a $150 million Series D round that was announced on January 30. FTV Capital led the round into the Orlando, Florida-based company. Nvidia, Vistara Growth, and NextEquity Partners participated as well, among others. Kore.ai was founded in 2013 and has raised more than $223 million in funding. This piece was originally published on July 13, 2024, and was updated on September 9, 2024, October 11, 2024, November 15, 2024 and December 20, 2024 to include more deals. This piece has been updated to correct Glean’s current valuation.