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8 ji US lawmakers voted Wednesday after fraught negotiations to move forward with a contentious 2025 defense budget that raises troops' pay but blocks funding of gender-affirming care for some transgender children of service members. The centerpiece of the $884 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) -- which was green-lit by the Republican-led House of Representatives but still needs Senate approval -- is a 14.5 percent pay increase for junior enlisted service members and 4.5 percent for other personnel. But talks over the 1,800-page-plus text were complicated by a last-minute Republican intervention to prevent the military's health program from covering gender-affirming care for children of service members if it results in "sterilization." "Citizens don't want their tax dollars to go to this, and underaged people often regret these surgeries later in life," Nebraska Republican Don Bacon told CNN. "It's a bad hill to die on for Democrats." Gender-affirming health care for children is just one of multiple fronts in the so-called "culture wars" that polarize US politics and divide the country, with Republicans using the issue as a cudgel against Democrats in November's elections. The funding block angered progressives, and prompted the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee to come out against the legislation. "As I said a few days ago, blanketly denying health care to people who need it -- just because of a biased notion against transgender people -- is wrong," Adam Smith, who represents a district in Washington state, said in a statement. "The inclusion of this harmful provision puts the lives of children at risk and may force thousands of service members to make the choice of continuing their military service or leaving to ensure their child can get the health care they need." Smith slammed House Speaker Mike Johnson for pandering to "the most extreme elements of his party" by including the transgender provision. The must-pass NDAA -- a bill that Congress has sent to the president's desk without fail every year since 1961 -- cleared the chamber in a 281-140 vote and now moves to the Senate, with final passage expected next week. The topline figure is one percent above last year's total and, with funding from other sources, brings the total defense budget to just under $900 billion. Some foreign policy hawks on the Republican side of the Senate wanted $25 billion more for the Pentagon but they are still expected to support the bill. "The safety and security of the American people is our top priority, and this year's NDAA ensures our military has the resources and the capabilities needed to remain the most powerful fighting force on the planet," Johnson told reporters. ft/mlm

Elon Musk calls Trudeau ‘insufferable’ after remark on Kamala Harris defeatHurricanes’ Bobby and Robby Washington reportedly enter transfer portalEnergy Drink Company Curated Art Basel Rubbish, Selling Pieces of Art For A Good Cause MIAMI , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucky Energy , known for its full-flavor, deliciously refreshing energy drinks, kicked off its first-ever Art Basel appearance with an unforgettable activation that was as trashy as it was inspiring. Dubbed "Trashy Art," the activation featured models picking up garbage outside the Miami Beach Convention Center on days 1 and 2 of the art fair. The brand curated 30-40 pieces of this rubbish and sold them on ArtBaselTrash.com . All pieces went on sale for $13 - typically an unlucky number, but the brand finds that the most unlucky moments encourage us to "create our own luck." Proceeds of the sale will go towards DonorChoose. "Lucky Energy is a beverage and entertainment company that draws inspiration from pop art and fashion, so showing up in this format at Art Basel is an important milestone for us," said Lucky Energy Founder and CEO Richard Laver . Our "Talking Trash" initiative is a unique expression of our brand identity - it challenges conventional thinking and encourages deeper reflection. We believe it will resonate with our audience, who appreciate our delicious beverages, humor, and charm. Developed by Lucky Energy's in-house team, the website sold tickets to a Miami Heat Game, an unopened can of Lucky Energy Drink with lipstick on the rim, a long piece of black hair (rumored to belong to a famous sister that was once married to a rapper), an empty can of Redbull and more. "As the saying goes, 'art is art is art.' Art exists as its own entity, regardless of definition. With this insight, we ask, why can't trash fall into that category if everything is Art?" said Hamid Saify , CMO of Lucky Energy. "Our depiction of Art was designed to spark conversation and curiosity. As a brand, rethinking cultural norms is in our DNA. When told we can't or shouldn't, we are inspired to prove otherwise. We aim to instill that same 'can do' attitude and motivation in people, giving them the fuel they need to keep going. To make their own luck. This is why we are committed to supporting social causes, with the proceeds of "Trashy Art"' and an additional donation to funding a Miami -based kid's art program through DonorsChoose." Richard Laver founded Lucky Energy after experiencing tragic lows and dizzying heights; he launched the company to inspire people to persevere and keep going as he learned to do. He's the youngest survivor of the Delta 191 flight that killed his father and 136 others. After surviving the crash at just 12 years old, Laver suffered from depression and was homeless by 27. He eventually found the love of his life, Michelle, but during the premature birth of their first child, Kate, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and would need a feeding tube for nourishment. Through a medley of medical complications, he founded Kate Farms (now the #1 recommended plant-based tube-feeding formula) to save her life. In thinking about his next chapter, Laver landed on creating a cleaner alternative to the energy drinks on the market. To learn more about Lucky Energy and Trashy Art, visit www.luckybevco.com and follow @luckyenergyofficial on social media. Please contact Valeria Carrasco at valeria@hallettsconsulting.com with any questions. ABOUT Lucky Energy Drink Lucky Energy is a cleaner, better-for-you energy drink company founded by serial beverage entrepreneur Richard Laver . The brand creates high-quality products to motivate people to keep going . The product line features five flavors—with 5 super ingredients, including maca and beta-alanine, 0 sugar, 0 aftertaste, and only 5 calories. Products are available on Amazon. For more information, visit www.luckybevco.com and follow @luckyfckenergy on social media. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/talking-trash-lucky-energy-debuted-at-art-basel-302329542.html SOURCE Lucky Beverage Company

Pezeshkian made the comment during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, in reaction to the falling of the government of Bashar al-Assad in Damascus where armed groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of the capital Damascus earlier in the day. The Iranian president emphasized the importance of preserving unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Syria, as well as dialog among different Syrian groups to reach understanding over the situation in their country. He expressed hope that violence comes to an end in Syria as soon as possible so that people in that country can decide their fate without any worry or “destructive” external interference. Pezeshkian also stressed the need for protecting the security of Syrian citizens and other residents, holy sites as well as all diplomatic missions in accordance with international law. The Iranian president said that his country will continue diplomatic negotiations with relevant parties and the United Nations in order to help stabilize the situation and protect regional security and stability. Pezeshkian meanwhile strongly condemned the Zionist regime’s aggression on Syrian soil, calling on all Syrian parties as well as regional countries to be vigilant about the regime’s misuse of the situation to advance its illegal and expansionist policies towards regional nations. 4194Degrees were handed out to 391 graduates and undergraduates at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Friday at the UNK Health and Sport Center. Interim Chancellor Charlie Bicak conferred degrees. University of Nebraska System President Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold delivered the keynote address. Winter commencement exercises brought together graduates, their friends and families, UNK staff and more. The student speaker was Emily Conrad of Gretna, who graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a management emphasis. A Gretna native, Conrad was an active participant in the College of Business and Technology Living-Learning Community, serving as a mentor and leading community service events and business tours. The student speaker was Emily Conrad of Gretna, who graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a management emphasis. Also addressing the graduates was NU Board of Regents Vice Chair Paul Kenney. The national anthem was performed by Class of 2024 members Abbygail Marshall of North Platte and Megumi Sakamoto of Toyama, Japan, who both graduated magna cum laude. Interview of Carsyn McBride, a two-time tournament champion wrestler this season for Kearney High. Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.

While genAI has been a hot topic for the past couple of years, organizations have largely focused on experimentation. In 2025, that’s going to change. It’s the year organizations will move their AI initiatives into production and aim to achieve a return on investment (ROI). But first, they’ll need to overcome challenges around scale, governance, responsible AI, and use case prioritization. Here are five keys to addressing these issues for AI success in 2025. For organizations seeking productivity and innovation gains, a best practice is to prioritize use cases based on value, feasibility, and breadth. To determine value, ask yourself questions like: How strategic is this use case? Does it contribute to business outcomes such as revenue, sustainability, customer experience, or saving lives? To evaluate feasibility, ask: Do we have internal data and skills to support this? What are the associated risks and costs, including operational, reputational, and competitive? Finally, when evaluating scope or breadth, go broad when there’s competition for resources and narrow if there’s hesitation toward adoption. When thinking implementation, first consider how genAI can . Next, explore potential new workflows or processes that genAI can create to improve productivity, increase innovation, and/or provide competitive differentiation. For AI models to succeed, they must be fed high-quality data that’s accurate, up-to-date, secure, and complies with privacy regulations such as the Colorado Privacy Act, California Consumer Privacy Act, or General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Adhering to these practices also helps build trust in data. That said, watch for data bias. Put robust governance and security practices in place to enable responsible, secure AI that can scale across the organization. Like any new technology, organizations typically need to upskill existing talent or work with trusted technology partners to continuously tune and integrate their AI foundation models. The same holds true for genAI. Organizations should create a cross-functional team comprised of people who are already building, managing and governing existing AI initiatives in order to lay the foundation for genAI and select the appropriate AI solutions or models. Driving genAI adoption requires organizations to incorporate it into company culture and processes. Change management creates alignment across the enterprise through implementation training and support. Find a change champion and get business users involved from the beginning to build, pilot, test, and evaluate models. Ask for input on challenges and needed efficiencies and provide credit for employee contributions. GenAI operations and business automation teams must look at value and complexity against cost to determine which use cases provide the highest return for their investment. The goal should be to use lower-cost automation technologies and low-code platforms when possible, and genAI as needed. When it comes to performance, the KPIs for business processes are the same with AI-enhanced improvements. Some of these include: greater efficiencies and productivity around process improvements, faster cycle times, higher customer satisfaction, and market share gains through innovation. Many organizations struggle to ensure successful AI and genAI implementations. That can be due to a lack of skillsets, concerns about risks or integration complexity, or identifying the right use case that will deliver ROI. Turn to experts for guidance and support. Ask how you can customize genAI to meet organization’s needs and ensure business value. For example, Argano works with companies across industries to design and deploy AI and genAI solutions that streamline operations, increase agility, and drive sustainable growth. Consultants can help you develop and execute a genAI strategy that will fuel your success into 2025 and beyond.

ASML Investors Have Opportunity to Lead ASML Holding N.V. Securities Fraud Lawsuit

Share Tweet Share Share Email It’s official: Embedded payments are the fastest growing segment in embedded finance, expected to account for nearly 63% of the $800 billion embedded finance market by 2030. As demands for faster transactions and optimized customer experiences have reached a fever pitch, embedded payments have emerged as a critical solution for software platforms seeking to improve customer value and retention metrics while gaining a competitive edge in a crowded market. Forward-thinking software platforms are choosing white-label embedded payment solutions to offer seamless, branded payment experiences without the cost or complexity of developing the underpinning infrastructure themselves. In addition to bringing technical simplicity, payment facilitator (payfac) as a service offerings also shield software platforms from the operational and compliance issues that come with being a licensed provider and pave the way for optimized payment monetization and scalable global expansion. So, what does the future hold for embedded payments, and how can businesses capitalize on this rapidly growing market? Let’s take a closer look. Michael Misasi Embedded Payments: A Brief Primer The term embedded payments refers to the integration of payment processing capabilities directly into a company’s software or platform. There are two general approaches to embedding payments into your platform: Become a payment facilitator and manage every aspect of payments in-house or partner with a payment provider for white-label payments. Both approaches give platforms access to the benefits of embedding payments, including increased revenue from payment monetization, optimized customer experiences, greater control over the payments process and competitive advantages; however, becoming a payfac adds several layers of complexity and risk. Partnering with a third-party payment provider is a simpler solution , enabling software platforms to offer a branded payment experience without the burden of developing the technology, managing the operations and taking on the risk themselves. Additionally, white-label payments providers offer the global scalability needed to adapt to different markets and regulatory environments, empowering platforms to expand into new regions without the associated complexity of managing everything in-house. It’s little wonder that 89% of companies choose to partner with established payment providers rather than developing and maintaining these systems on their own. How to Optimize Embedded Payment Programs As embedded payments — whether developed in-house or powered by a partner — continue to gain traction, software platforms must pay close attention to emerging trends to stay ahead of the competition. Many platforms were reactive in developing their initial embedded payments offering — whether in response to competitors, customers or something else — and now, seeing the value of embedded payments, are looking to optimize their programs. Let’s take a look at three common scenarios platforms find themselves in and how they might optimize their embedded payments programs: They Embed Payments by Becoming a Payfac Software platforms are realizing that it doesn’t pay to become a payment facilitator when they can partner with providers to reap the benefits of monetizing payments. By January 2024, registered payfacs in North America saw a 6% annual attrition rate ; the EU and UK say a 14% annual attrition rate. It’s clear that while many platforms believed becoming a payfac was either the right or only path to embedding payments, they’re changing course after realizing the operational and financial burdens. By partnering with a provider to enable embedded payments, platforms enjoy the benefits of additional revenue, increased customer loyalty and greater value without the risks and overhead associated with becoming a payment facilitator. This approach will enable more platforms to add payments to their software at a more rapid pace. Any platform considering becoming a payment facilitator themselves should thoroughly research the associated costs — they are often higher than most platforms anticipate. Optimize by Choosing a Payments Provider That Can Be a True Partner The right payments partner should provide guidance and support in every aspect of growing a payments program, from merchant onboarding and monetization strategies to risk management and support. Payment providers should offer expertise and capabilities to help you deliver the experience you want for your customers. Don’t settle for a support team that only tells you what happened — insist on a team that can explain why something happened and offer a pragmatic recommendation for improvement. They Simply Added Payments as a Feature When many software platforms first got their start in payments, they responded to customer requests for improved billing and payment capabilities, not realizing payments can be a highly profitable business segment of its own. According to Bain & Co. , embedded B2B payments will reach $2.6 trillion by 2026, generating $6.7 billion in revenues for platforms and enablers. To stay competitive and reap the profits, platforms need to take another look at their payments offering to position themselves for maximum profitability. Optimize by Understanding Your Options and Potential for Payment Monetization Monetizing your payments is about designing a solution where software plus payments creates tangible value for your customers. Depending on the vertical, common areas of focus include improved authorization rates, accelerated cash flow, lower transaction risk, increased addressable market, easier reconciliation, and better compliance. Platforms that create value through a combination of software and payments can often charge more than standalone payments providers. Once you’ve identified your value proposition, consider all the ways you can monetize it, including higher SaaS fees, transaction fees, payer fees, or other new fees that directly relate to your value proposition. They Chose the Wrong Partner Many platforms knew partnering was the best option but didn’t have enough experience to know how to evaluate which payment provider was best suited for their company. Perhaps they chose the provider with the biggest name or whichever one appeared to offer the largest percentage of revenue share. Payments can be a risky business. Choosing the wrong payments partner can hinder your ability to grow, lose money for you and your clients, and even put your business at risk. Platforms need to consider their longer term embedded payments strategy and then choose the partner best positioned to help them achieve their goals. Optimize by Redefining What a Good Onboarding Experience Looks Like Embedded payments can succeed and fail based on your ability to quickly, efficiently, and compliantly onboard merchants. Look for a partner that can take care of AML and KYC for you without sacrificing speed to market for your clients. If you already have a portfolio of clients, choose a new partner that will migrate them for you, so your merchants don’t miss a beat. Preparing for the Future of Embedded Payments Is All About the Right Partnership Now is an exciting — and profitable — time for software platforms to reexamine or add embedded payments to their offering. Over the past few years, platforms have learned that white-label embedded payments have the highest return on investment. All you need to do is make sure you have the right payments partner. Related Items: Embedding , Embedding Payments , payments Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you UPay Crypto Card Review: Everything You Need to Know Sabeer Nelli’s Innovative Solution for Streamlined B2B Payments Tap Payments & Mastercard Launch World’s First ‘Click to Pay’ Service with Payment Passkey for eCommerce CommentsBabies at the NICU at the Bridgeport Campus of Yale New Haven Children's Hospital were dressed for the holiday today. In a post on social media, Bridgeport Hospital showed the newest bundles of joy tucked into some stockings, an apt look for Christmas Eve. In the social post, the hospital wrote, "The NICU staff knows this can be a hard time for families who aren't able to take their babies home, so they try to make it extra special for all." The hospital also said they babies got a visit from Santa in addition to their festive holiday "outfits."CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA's two stuck astronauts just got their space mission extended again. That means they won't be back on Earth until spring — 10 months after rocketing into orbit on Boeing's Starliner capsule. NASA announced the latest delay in Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' homecoming Tuesday. The two test pilots planned to be away just a week or so when they blasted off June 5 on Boeing's first astronaut flight to the International Space Station. Their mission grew from eight days to eight months after NASA decided to send the company's problem-plagued Starliner capsule back empty in September. FILE - This image made from a NASA live stream shows NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore during a press conference from the International Space Station on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (NASA via AP, File) Now the pair won't return until the end of March or even April because of a delay in launching their replacements, according to NASA. A fresh crew needs to launch before Wilmore and Williams can return and the next mission was bumped more than a month, according to the space agency. NASA's next crew of four was supposed to launch in February, followed by Wilmore and Williams' return home by the end of that month alongside two other astronauts. But SpaceX needs more time to prepare the new capsule for liftoff. That launch is now scheduled for no earlier than late March. NASA said it considered using a different SpaceX capsule to fly up the replacement crew in order to keep the flights on schedule. However, it decided the best option was to wait for the new capsule to transport the next crew. NASA prefers to have overlapping crews at the space station for a smoother transition, according to officials. Most space station missions last six months, with a few reaching a full year. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, left, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, gives a thumbs up as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to Launch Complex 40 for a mission to the International Space Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov leave the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) In this image from video provided by NASA, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, and astronaut Nick Hague travel inside a SpaceX capsule en route to the International Space Station after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (NASA via AP) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, talks to his family members as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov looks on after leaving the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Two astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Falcon 9's first stage booster returns to Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Get local news delivered to your inbox!