SILICON SLOPES, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 5, 2024-- (Nasdaq: DOMO) today announced results for its fiscal third quarter ended October 31, 2024. “Our focus on ecosystem-led growth, consumption-based contracts and AI innovation is paying off with promising momentum, as we see more demand for Domo as an anchor technology in customers’ data stacks,” said Josh James, founder and CEO, Domo. “The data and AI landscape is evolving to create new market opportunities for Domo, and we feel confident we’re in the right position to capitalize on this moment.” We believe the following announcements and recognition demonstrate our commitment to product innovation and customer value: Based on information available as of December 5, 2024, Domo is providing the following guidance for its fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 and full year fiscal 2025: Q4 Fiscal 2025 Full Year Fiscal 2025 We have not reconciled guidance for non-GAAP metrics to their most directly comparable GAAP measures because certain items that impact these measures are not within our control or cannot be reasonably predicted. Domo plans to host a conference call today to review its fiscal 2025 third quarter financial results and to discuss its financial outlook. The call is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. MT/ 5:00 p.m. ET. A live webcast of the event will be available on the Domo Investor Relations website at and a live dial-in is available at (877) 484-6065 or (201) 689-8846. A replay will be available at (877) 660-6853 or (201) 612-7415 with the access ID#13750075 following the completion of the conference call until 11:59 p.m. (ET) January 4, 2025. Domo puts data to work for everyone so they can multiply their impact on the business. Our cloud-native data experience platform goes beyond traditional business intelligence and analytics, making data visible and actionable with user-friendly dashboards and apps. Underpinned by AI, data science and a secure data foundation that connects with existing cloud and legacy systems, Domo helps companies optimize critical business processes at scale and in record time to spark the bold curiosity that powers exponential business results. For more information, visit . You can also follow Domo on , and . Domo investors and others should note that we announce material information to the public about our company, products and services, and other issues through a variety of means, including Domo’s website, press releases, filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), blogs and social media, in order to achieve broad, non-exclusionary distribution of information to the public. We intend to use the , the , the , the X account and the X account as a means of disclosing information about the Company and its services and for complying with the disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. The information we post through these social media channels may be deemed material. Accordingly, we encourage investors and others to monitor these social media channels in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. The social media channels that we intend to use as a means of disclosing the information described here may be updated from time to time as listed on our investor relations webpage. To supplement our condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (GAAP), we reference in this press release and the accompanying tables the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP subscription gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating loss, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net loss, non-GAAP net loss per share, billings, and adjusted free cash flow. In computing the measures other than billings and adjusted free cash flow, we exclude the effects of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of certain intangible assets, severance of executive officers who report to the Chief Executive Officer, loss on extinguishment of debt, and remeasurement of warrant liability. Billings is defined as total revenue plus the change in deferred revenue in a period. In computing adjusted free cash flow, we exclude the effects of proceeds from shares issued in connection with the employee stock purchase plan, purchases of property and equipment, and net change in short-term payable financing. As it relates to adjusted free cash flow, we add back amounts equal to the proceeds from shares issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan to reflect the non-cash nature of these transactions. Because no cash is exchanged in these transactions, showing proceeds in the financing section of the statement of cash flows as required by GAAP results in a corresponding decrease in the operating section, which management believes is not indicative of actual cash used in or provided by our operations. We also add back the net change to short-term payable financing to adjusted free cash flow. We believe that this non-GAAP cash metric is useful because it provides investors with the same information that management uses to consistently evaluate, forecast and measure the Company’s actual cash flows and its ability to achieve and maintain positive cash flows. We use these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Our management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance and liquidity by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of our ongoing core business operating results. We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when analyzing historical performance and liquidity and planning, forecasting, and analyzing future periods. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures, please see the tables captioned "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" included at the end of this release. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements of our Chief Executive Officer, statements regarding competitive positions, our financial outlook for our fourth fiscal quarter, and results for future periods. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and are based on potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted include, among others, those risks and uncertainties included under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2024 expected to be filed with the SEC on or about December 10, 2024. All information provided in this release and in the attachments is as of the date hereof, and we undertake no duty to update this information unless required by law. Domo is a registered trademark of Domo, Inc. $ 71,293 $ 71,113 $ 213,594 $ 214,144 8,382 8,651 25,211 24,130 79,675 79,764 238,805 238,274 11,523 13,334 33,588 39,410 7,253 6,627 22,847 21,389 18,776 19,961 56,435 60,799 60,899 59,803 182,370 177,475 40,262 37,194 124,464 116,040 19,729 21,264 63,931 65,952 12,130 12,429 35,509 42,504 72,121 70,887 223,904 224,496 (11,222 ) (11,084 ) (41,534 ) (47,021 ) - (1,850 ) - (1,850 ) (4,930 ) (5,622 ) (14,549 ) (14,805 ) (4,930 ) (7,472 ) (14,549 ) (16,655 ) (16,152 ) (18,556 ) (56,083 ) (63,676 ) 261 205 801 582 $ (16,413 ) $ (18,761 ) $ (56,884 ) $ (64,258 ) $ (0.45 ) $ (0.48 ) $ (1.59 ) $ (1.68 ) 36,310 38,832 35,812 38,243 $ 670 $ 784 $ 1,958 $ 2,389 359 295 1,311 942 6,364 4,754 19,260 15,238 4,621 4,038 14,214 12,529 4,174 3,080 10,642 12,075 181 210 516 603 $ 16,369 $ 13,161 $ 47,901 $ 43,776 $ 20 $ 142 $ 60 $ 426 $ - $ - $ 443 $ - - - 1,553 - $ - $ - $ 1,996 $ - $ - $ 455 $ - $ 33 $ 60,939 $ 40,925 67,197 57,177 16,006 15,288 9,602 7,083 153,744 120,473 27,003 27,937 11,746 10,108 19,542 17,420 2,740 2,267 9,478 9,478 1,407 2,528 $ 225,660 $ 190,211 $ 4,313 $ 8,403 43,430 58,392 4,807 5,506 185,250 153,919 237,800 226,220 11,135 8,125 2,736 3,311 14,001 8,151 113,534 115,574 379,206 361,381 37 39 1,252,200 1,298,596 (180 ) 56 (1,405,603 ) (1,469,861 ) (153,546 ) (171,170 ) $ 225,660 $ 190,211 $ (16,413 ) $ (18,761 ) $ (56,884 ) $ (64,258 ) 1,636 2,254 4,738 7,117 1,063 1,142 3,235 3,320 4,398 4,454 13,354 13,181 16,369 13,161 47,901 43,776 - 1,850 - 1,850 - 456 - 33 1,072 2,390 3,643 4,334 (3,022 ) (8,489 ) 23,750 10,020 (4,016 ) (4,524 ) (10,921 ) (10,328 ) 291 1,543 (173 ) 1,819 998 (11,655 ) (966 ) (152 ) (1,237 ) (1,392 ) (4,054 ) (4,000 ) (608 ) 10,238 (3,361 ) 6,073 (4,856 ) (6,368 ) (23,124 ) (30,756 ) (4,325 ) (13,701 ) (2,862 ) (17,971 ) (2,714 ) (2,515 ) (9,214 ) (7,245 ) - - (26 ) - (2,714 ) (2,515 ) (9,240 ) (7,245 ) - (402 ) - (402 ) 1,374 789 3,406 1,910 - (296 ) - (504 ) - 52,758 - 52,758 - (53,177 ) - (53,177 ) - 6,190 - 8,972 - (4,536 ) - (4,536 ) 62 - 65 - 1,436 1,326 3,471 5,021 (862 ) 111 (482 ) 181 (6,465 ) (14,779 ) (9,113 ) (20,014 ) 63,852 55,704 66,500 60,939 $ 57,387 $ 40,925 $ 57,387 $ 40,925 $ 71,293 $ 71,113 $ 213,594 $ 214,144 11,523 13,334 33,588 39,410 59,770 57,779 180,006 174,734 84 % 81 % 84 % 82 % 670 784 1,958 2,389 $ 60,440 $ 58,563 $ 181,964 $ 177,123 85 % 82 % 85 % 83 % $ 72,121 $ 70,887 $ 223,904 $ 224,496 (15,159 ) (11,872 ) (44,116 ) (39,842 ) (20 ) (142 ) (60 ) (426 ) - - (1,996 ) - $ 56,942 $ 58,873 $ 177,732 $ 184,228 $ (11,222 ) $ (11,084 ) $ (41,534 ) $ (47,021 ) 16,188 12,951 47,385 43,173 20 142 60 426 - - 1,996 - $ 4,986 $ 2,009 $ 7,907 $ (3,422 ) (14 )% (14 )% (17 )% (20 )% 20 17 19 19 - - 1 - 6 % 3 % 3 % (1 )% $ (16,413 ) $ (18,761 ) $ (56,884 ) $ (64,258 ) 16,369 13,161 47,901 43,776 20 142 60 426 - - 1,996 - - 1,850 - 1,850 - 455 - 33 $ (24 ) $ (3,153 ) $ (6,927 ) $ (18,173 ) $ (0.45 ) $ (0.48 ) $ (1.59 ) $ (1.68 ) 0.45 0.34 1.34 1.15 — — 0.06 — — 0.05 — 0.05 — 0.01 — — $ — $ (0.08 ) $ (0.19 ) $ (0.48 ) $ 79,675 $ 79,764 $ 238,805 $ 238,274 158,522 153,919 158,522 153,919 4,236 3,311 4,236 3,311 (164,882 ) (161,601 ) (182,273 ) (185,250 ) (2,732 ) (1,997 ) (3,609 ) (2,736 ) (4,856 ) (6,368 ) (23,124 ) (30,756 ) $ 74,819 $ 73,396 $ 215,681 $ 207,518 $ (4,325 ) $ (13,701 ) $ (2,862 ) $ (17,971 ) 1,374 789 3,406 1,910 (2,714 ) (2,515 ) (9,214 ) (7,245 ) - 6,190 - 8,972 - (4,536 ) - (4,536 ) $ (5,665 ) $ (13,773 ) $ (8,670 ) $ (18,870 ) View source version on : CONTACT: Media – Cynthia Cowen – Peter Lowry KEYWORD: UTAH UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DATA MANAGEMENT DATA ANALYTICS TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTERNET SOURCE: Domo, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/05/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/05/2024 04:06 PMEvery year, there's a must-have holiday toy that parents hope to surprise their children with. Some wait in lines, scour stores and cross their fingers in hopes of snagging the hottest toy before it sells out. Throughout the decades, these toys would leave a dent in parents' wallets. When Slip 'N Slide first hit the market in 1961, it retailed for $2.99. That might not sound outrageous, but adjusted for inflation, that's about $31.64 today for a simple plastic slide. A similar 16-foot slide can still be purchased today for $19.58. Meanwhile, one of 2024's trendy toys, the Hex Bot Wall Crawlers Gecko, is priced at $26.49. Pretty reasonable for a high-tech toy that can scale walls and perform spin tricks via a wireless remote control. Using the top holiday toy gift list compiled by experts at The Strong National Museum of Play and newspaper archives, Hearst Television revisited 24 must-have toys through the decades, stretching back to the 1950s. This nostalgic journey includes the price at which the toy debuted and what that price would be in today's dollars according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation calculator. CPI is an aggregate measure of common expenses a household would encounter, such as groceries, housing, transportation, consumer goods, etc. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' CPI inflation calculator uses that index to adjust a sum of money from one time period to another, giving us a clearer picture of what households were actually shelling out for an Easy-Bake Oven in the '60s. For consistency in inflation calculations, all values compare the toy's price for November of the year it was a top holiday item, not its release year, against its projected value in October 2024. Toy retail values were pulled from newspaper archival. Can't see the interactive toy graphics? Click here . Today, we know Mr. Potato Head for his silly plastic parts and iconic role in the "Toy Story" movies. However, when he debuted in 1952, his plastic attachments were paired with a real potato as the head. Due to complaints of rotting vegetables and new government regulation, manufacturers swapped the spud to plastic in 1964. Mr. Potato Head's debut sparked kids’ creativity by letting them craft silly faces on vegetables and fruits. For just 98 cents, the kit included eyes, a nose, lips, a mustache, ears and a hat. Given his everlasting status, Mr. Potato Head is still available for purchase for just $7.99 , or grab the whole family set for $19.99 on Amazon. Engineer James Wright accidentally created Silly Putty when he dropped boric acid into silicone oil. The reaction produced a stretchy, bouncy material that soared higher than a rubber ball. In 1955, an ounce of the stretchy material sold for $1. After being featured in a New Yorker magazine article, more than 250,000 units were ordered within a span of three days. Silly Putty is still available for $21.24 , about $9.22 more than its original price back in the day. Described as a "living doll, real grown-up fashion," and dressed in a black-and-white striped bathing suit, blonde hair and black heels, Mattel’s first Barbie doll made a splash in the toy market. Parents could buy this iconic doll for $3 in 1959. Now, a Barbie doll costs around $20.99 on Amazon. The first Easy-Bake Oven hit the shelves in yellow and turquoise options in 1963. Despite the toy's steep $15.95 price tag, more than half a million kids nationwide convinced their parents to buy them the toy, eventually selling out the toy during the holiday season. In 2006, Hasbro officially retired the light bulb design for a heating element and rebranded the toy as the “Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven." The Easy-Bake Oven continues to be a household name and the current version can be purchased for $95.99 on Amazon. The toy that let kids create glowing artwork on a plastic panel with small light-up pegs originally retailed for $7.98 Today, however, you can grab a Lite-Brite set for just $15.49 . Though the beginning of Lego can be traced back to 1932, the building blocks reached a new level of popularity in 1969. The start of the 1960s marked a new era for Lego as it began to expand themes, trying to become a versatile and innovative toy brand. Curiously, one of the best-performing sets of the '60s was a Quaker Oats cereal box set. Now, the Lego world is vast and diverse, including exciting sets from the world of Star Wars, Harry Potter, NASA missions, and much more. A bulk set of bricks without a specific theme starts around $24.99 , while other more intricate sets, like the international space station can go as high as $158.00 . A pet rock might be hard for today’s generation of kids to understand, but when the creator, Gary Dahl, introduced the toy, it was a smashing success. Despite its $4 price tag, the humorous manual that came with it convinced many to shell out for this trendsetter. Within the first year, more than one million Pet Rocks were sold, becoming the hottest Christmas gift of the year. If you want to experience the joys of a pet rock, it’s still available on Amazon for $19.99 . A year after the release of the first Star Wars movie, miniature action figures became the must-have Christmas gift for kids. Priced between $2.26 and $2.29, these figures were a hit. Many kids waited in anticipation during the holiday season of 1978, hoping to unwrap a Star Wars action figure. However, a backlog in the production of the figures caused many to be disappointed. Kenner’s Star Wars toys sold 40 million units within their first year, generating $100 million in revenue. You can find a set of three action figures on Amazon for $29.99 . It looks like a flying plastic saucer with four color panels. Simon was a quirky game that challenged players to test their memory by matching color sequences to musical tones. Inspired by the Atari arcade game Touch Me, inventors Ralph Baer and Howard J. Morrison were inspired to replicate a music sequence on a handheld device. The game was originally titled Follow Me but the name was changed before its launch to Simon after the game Simon Says. Players can still test their memory muscle with the toy for $19.68 on Amazon. It has six colors, some 3 billion combinations and just one solution. The Rubik’s Cube had many scratching their heads in 1980, leaving the store with a $7.49 cube to solve once they got home. The Rubik’s Cube can be found in almost any toy store and is available for $9.36 on Amazon. Who can forget the chaos caused by Cabbage Patch Kids when they debuted in 1983? Parents were willing to do almost anything to snag the $24.97 doll. Many even paid more to buy from resellers. If you missed your chance to own one in the 80s, you’re in luck, the dolls are still available on Amazon for $24.99 . After the Cabbage Patch Kids fiasco, parents vowed to never endure such chaos again – until Transformers hit the market the very next year. These small model cars and trucks that transformed into robots became the next must have toy. Ranging from $3 to $5, kids nationwide were hoping to find a Transformer toy under the Christmas tree. The toy is still available for $24.99 on Amazon. Super Soakers revolutionized water toys, letting kids drench their friends with buckets of water from 50 to 200 feet away! Originally priced between $14.99 and $19.99, depending on the model, this was the toy every kid hoped to stay cool with over the summer. Today's versions hold more water, shoot farther and are available for as low as $11.76 . Twelve years after the release of the Cabbage Patch Kids, Tickle Me Elmo sparked another chaotic holiday craze. Parents nationwide scoured stores for the $29.99 toy . Tyco, the manufacturer, shipped one million Tickle Me Elmos to the United States, but didn’t anticipate how quickly the toy would fly off the shelves. Desperate buyers turned to newspaper ads, where the toy was auctioned or sold at overinflated prices, reaching as high as $1,500! Currently, the toy retails for $39.99 on Amazon. Bandai first released Tamagotchi in Japan in 1996, selling four million units in the country during its first four months on the market, becoming an instant success. Tamagotchi made its way to America the following year, repeating the success it had in Japan. Many compared it to the pet rock — but virtual. Housed in a plastic egg-shaped device, this engaging virtual pet sold for $15 to $20. You can still feed, play and check on a Tamagotchi pet for $19.99 on Amazon. Often considered the "anti-Barbie," Bratz Dolls made their fashionable first appearance in 2001 for $14.99. Within a year, the dolls grossed $97 million in global sales. By the following year, the Toy Association crowned Bratz Dolls the Toy of the Year. The chic quartet — Cloe, Yasmin, Jade, and Sasha — are still strutting the latest fashion trends on Amazon for just $24.99 . Priced at $100, the 14-inch Robosapien featured 67 pre-programmed functions, including dancing, picking up objects, belching and more. Within its first year of releasing Robosapien, WowWee sold one and a half million units of the toy worldwide. It became the top holiday toy of 2004 and later won the title of Toy of the Year. A more modern and tech-savvy version of the robot can be purchased on Amazon for $20.99 . Robert Croak first introduced colorful rubber bands known as SillyBandz to American consumers in 2008. But these rubber bands weren't just any ordinary bands, they were shaped like animals, objects, numbers, letters and more. SillyBandz mania brought chaos to playgrounds in 2009, with young kids feverishly trading the neon bands, resulting in some schools banning them outright. A pack of six can be bought for $4.95 on Amazon. Following the success of the "Frozen" movie, many kids hoped to rip open a present with a "Frozen" princess doll inside. Whether it was Elsa or Anna, the dolls retailed for $10 and above. Miniature toys weren't a new concept when Shopkins Toys first hit stores in 2014. What made Shopkins unique was its collectability, affordability and surprise element. The blind basket left many to anticipate the mini everyday grocery item that awaited them inside. At first glance, WowWee's Fingerlings looks like an ordinary monkey that latches onto a finger. The robotic monkey, however, had the ability to respond to voices, movement and touch by babbling, blowing kisses and blinking. With the help of influencers and content creators, WowWee sold more than 100,000 units within their debut week. Fingerlings are still on the market for $14.99 . Note: "Today's Price" is based on what the toy would have cost in today's dollars according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic's Consumer Price Index inflation calculator. Interactive graphics created by Susie Webb.

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John Milligan-Whyte How can China achieve a breakthrough deal with the next US administration after Donald Trump assumes office on Jan 20 despite the wide expectation he would implement highly disruptive domestic and foreign policies? The best-case scenario would be the two countries holding discussions to negotiate and sign a concise but comprehensive “package deal” that better aligns with their economic needs and goals and is conducive to the peaceful coexistence of China and the United States. Such a breakthrough deal will be necessary to end the worldwide financial crisis that will be triggered by an escalating trade war, destabilizing the two largest economies which account for 41 percent of the global GDP. Unlike any other US president, Trump is an excellent business deal-maker who could happily sign a two-page agreement creating a new, mutually beneficial framework for Sino-US relations, if the agreement dramatically stimulates the US economy and creates millions of jobs in the US. The worst-case scenario is the US intensifying the tariff and trade wars, and triggering confrontation in the high-tech sector, in a bid to prevent the “Made in China 2025” plan from achieving success. The worst-case scenario was summarized by former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger: “Unless there is some basis for cooperative action the world will slide into a catastrophe comparable to World War I. Military technologies available today make such a crisis even more difficult to control.” In one of his last interviews, Kissinger sadly said a war between the US and China was “probable”. Trump’s reelection as US president has now made a catastrophic breakdown in US-China relations “probable”. But it has also made a constructive breakthrough possible either through an early agreement between the two countries or later through a sudden breakthrough deal essential for the benefit of the US economy and people. US trade wars can trigger a financial crisis and stop the functioning of the global credit and capital market. In such a situation, only a breakthrough agreement between the two countries will be able to restore business confidence and reinvigorate the capital and credit markets quickly enough to stop the collapse of the global financial, economic and trading systems. Trump’s reelection has created a unique opportunity for achieving a breakthrough in US-China relations, because only Trump can ignore the entrenched hostile views of China in the US’ traditional policy-making establishment, think tanks and bureaucracy. Trump realizes that traditional Sino-US economic relations can no longer meet the US’ growth and national security needs. That is why he is likely to make major changes in the US’ domestic and foreign policy. The Republican Party’s control of both the House of Representatives and Senate can make many of Trump’s radical policies clear and present dangers. However, Trump is a presidential deal maker who can overcome the key problems economist Larry Summers warned of in US policymaking. “Can the United States imagine a viable global economic system in 2050 in which its economy is half the size of the world’s largest? Could a political leader acknowledge that reality in a way that permits negotiation over what such a world would look like? While it might be unacceptable to the United States to be so greatly surpassed in economic scale, does it have the means to stop it? Can China be held down without inviting conflict?” Trump won a clear mandate because many American voters liked the economic policies he claimed he would implement as US president. The voters elected him to force change. Since his tariff war and trade policies that demanded unrealizable concessions from China failed during his first term, he has indicated to impose 60-100 percent tariffs on Chinese goods, which he unrealistically believes will force China to accept his demands. The failure of his first term’s tariff policies foreshadows the failure of his second term’s even more extreme trade war. The reality that will eventually prevent Trump from achieving his unrealizable demands is that neither the US nor China can win relentless zero-sum game competitions. Given that leaving behind a widely appreciated, successful breakthrough economic deal with China is better than causing a catastrophic economic confrontation, Trump’s legacy could be either achieving a breakthrough deal with China or causing the global financial system’s collapse.How Is The Landscape Of Power Generation Moving Toward Decarbonization?

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary body, on Thursday, directed the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSC&RD) to take action against the seed dealers and companies involved in selling misbranded and counterfeit rice seeds. The FSC&RD was recommended by the Sub-Committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, which met with MNA Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan in the chair to bind the seed distribution companies to deliver production technology details in the form of pamphlets along with seed bags to guide the farmers. The parliament body also asked FSC&RD to bind companies to mention the time of sowing or the appropriate time of sowing and other relevant information to bring awareness in farmers. The committee also decided that the representatives of the Ministry of Climate Change will be invited during the next meeting. The FSC&R also submitted a report of the inquiry committee constituted to probe the issues about the low yield of rice in the ongoing year. The members of the committee have visited rice-producing areas of Punjab such as Gujranwala, Sahiwal, and Khanewal. The technical committee were of the view that the decline in yield was due to early sowing and high temperature at the time of pollen shedding and pollination, the report said. It said that high temperatures above 35/25°C adversely affect panicle extrusion, flowering period and number of spikelet’s anthesis. The recommended time for rice nursery sowing is after May 20 and transplantation end of June, it said, adding that in recent years, farmers were practising growing rice during March/April to get two rice crops in a year. The report says that the cultivation of rice in March/April exposed to a high risk of heat stress during reproductive/ripening phases. Prolong heat wave in the country during the current year has resulted in sterility leading to poor grain formation or complete failure of early won rice crop, it says. The inquiry in its report says that action shall be taken under the provision of the Seed Act, 1976, amended in 2015 against seed companies involved in misbranding of enlisted varieties. The committee recommended that there should be a complete ban on the early sowing of paddy nurseries which may be started from the recommended date of May 20 or as per the recommendation of the provincial agriculture department. Strict action should be taken against the seed dealers and seed companies involved in selling misbranded and counterfeit seed, the committee recommended. The committee further recommended that agriculture research and the private sector should focus on the development of heat-resistant varieties. Variety evaluation committee should make a mandatory requirement and arrangements for testing varieties against heat stress during trial. MNA Kesoo Mal Kheal Das, Zulfiqar Ali Behan, officials of Ministry of National Food Security and Research, farmers, and representatives of seed companies attended the meeting. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024Anti-fraud efforts meet real-world test during ACA enrollment period

Nearly five years ago, most office workers in Canada went home to work. Office life as we knew it vanished in a pandemic instant. Remarkably, most of these workers didn’t skip a beat. Most people liked the flexibility and the work got done – comfortably from home. Now many employers want people to come back to the office. Some make it a requirement on set days, others let employees make their own schedules, but most have settled on some kind of hybrid in-person and remote work model. But many employees don’t want to go back, citing long commutes, traffic, crowded or inconvenient public transit, expensive parking and the impact on the environment. Plus, remote workers who moved far away just don’t see the point of coming in at all. However, recent studies, such as one led by Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom, report that fully remote work reduces productivity by 10 to 20 per cent , while hybrid work benefits companies and employees . Without an in-person requirement, employers are concerned about losing out on productivity, communication, creativity and a strong company culture. So, what works and how can employers make people feel good about commuting and coming into the office again? Linda Duxbury, the Chancellor’s professor of management at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University in Ottawa, says the key is to intentionally design the in-office experience, rather than just requiring people to show up without a clear purpose or plan. “One of the reasons people like coming into the office is to socialize with their colleagues – they enjoy the informality, team activities and discussions,” says Prof. Duxbury. “If employers want happier employees, then they have to manage the in-person days better than many do.” “Right now, it’s a dog’s breakfast. It can’t be just random, with people coming in and then spending all their time on video calls with co-workers who are at home. What works is requiring whole teams to come in on certain days to do activities that can’t be done remotely, maximizing collaboration, team building, coaching, mentoring, training and development.” At Universities Canada, a non-profit organization representing Canadian universities, all 108 full-time employees are required to work in-person for two days a week. Shortly after Gabriel Miller, president and chief executive officer, joined last June, the organization moved into new headquarters in downtown Ottawa, designed after surveying employees about what they wanted in their work environment. “The office has been thoughtfully designed with people in mind,” says Mr. Miller. “When you enter, there’s an open gathering space that connects to a big kitchen, where people can stop by for coffee or to eat lunch with everybody from the most senior employees to university interns.” “The office is full of green plants, which really humanizes the space and helps people feel at home. There’s a variety of work settings so people can choose what best suits their needs and a mix of meeting rooms equipped with seamless technology so it’s easy for people to access information, but also connect to people who aren’t present. What this office says to our people is that in every possible way, we want to support you being together as a team.” To minimize commuting woes, the new office is centrally located and well served by transit and includes lockers for employees who cycle to work. “We need to provide as many sustainable options as we can,” he says. “Being located in a place that our employees can get to with minimal inconvenience, whether by car, bike, bus or on foot is key. So far we’ve only allowed people to work remotely on a temporary basis, but overwhelmingly, we’ve held the line on [a minimum of two in-person days a week]. If you start chipping away at it, one person or project at a time, people would soon begin to doubt our commitment.” When people are together in the office, he stresses it’s important to have opportunities for them to connect and collaborate in ways that wouldn’t be possible to do from home. “I really believe you need to balance remote and in-person work to maintain productivity and relationships,” he says. “If you think back on your career, a lot of what we learned was the result of encounters and relationships that we built organically with the people around us. Especially for young people, in-person interactions are critical for mentorship and career development.” Toronto-based Accenture Canada takes a “one-size-doesn’t-fit-most” approach for its 6,500 employees, according to its chief human resources officer, Suehlan Yu. A 20-year veteran of the firm, she says remote/hybrid work isn’t new to the organization, as Accenture Canada has been doing it globally for decades, collaborating with clients, teams and people working remotely. “Our focus is on levelling the playing field, so that irrespective of where people are, they’re able to participate fully and bring their best to work,” says Ms. Yu. “We really started by listening to our people, and we do that through a robust listening framework that includes surveys, fireside chats and town halls. What the majority of our people say is that flexibility – when, where and how they work – is the top enabler for the successful future of work.” Ms. Yu says there’s no policy that requires everyone to be in the office on set days. Instead, leaders and teams work together to determine the unique mix of virtual and in-person work that’s best for them, guided by client needs, individual roles and responsibilities. “In-person connection is part of everyone’s role, but we don’t believe in being on-site for the sake of being on-site,” says Ms. Yu. “We like to make that purposeful for our people.” Offices at Accenture are designed with a focus on “we spaces” – collaborative areas with technology allowing remote employees to fully participate in meetings and team activities. There’s also a focus on friendly and accommodating workspaces to suit individual and diverse needs, as well as meditation rooms, mothers’ lactation rooms and wellness rooms equipped with yoga balls and table tennis. To encourage in-person socialization, the firm hosts a quarterly event that they call “stacked events” – a full-day at the office packed with engagement activities, panel discussions and learning sessions, ending with a social event. “People get to meet leaders, network with peers and maybe find their next staffing opportunity,” says Ms. Yu. “We also have Gen AI and industry and function learning days, lunch and learns, and employee resource group events constantly happening and encouraging people to come into the office. Everything’s available virtually as well, so people can be involved wherever they are at that time.” One caveat remote workers might consider is that many jobs that can be done at home may also be easily done by AI. That might inspire some to put in more office time. “There’s a recent article in Harvard Business Review that says AI is coming for remote tasks first,” says Prof. Duxbury. “That’s because much of the type of work that can be done at home is the kind of thing that has sequential structure, doesn’t require a lot of creativity, discussion with other people, negotiation or to be front-facing. So perfect for AI too.”

Garcia's 16 help McNeese beat Illinois State 76-68

New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Aaron Rodgers “absolutely” will remain the team's starting quarterback and start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Rodgers, who turns 41 next Monday, has been hampered at times during the Jets' 3-8 start by various injuries to his left leg, including a sore knee, sprained ankle and balky hamstring. Ulbrich said Monday the quarterback came back from the team's bye-week break ready to go. “All I can say, and you'd have to ask Aaron if he's fully healthy, but he's better off today than he's been as of late,” Ulbrich said. "So he's definitely feeling healthier than he has probably for the past month. A healthy Aaron Rodgers is the Aaron Rodgers we all love. “So, I'm excited about what that looks like.” NFL Network reported on Sunday that Rodgers, who missed all but four snaps last season with a torn left Achilles tendon, has declined having medical scans on his injured leg so he can continue to play. GM: The New York Jets are turning to one of their former general managers to help them find their next GM and head coach. The franchise announced Monday that The 33rd Team, a football media, analytics and consulting group founded by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, will assist team owner Woody Johnson in the searches. Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman, former GM of the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings, will be The 33rd Team's primary representatives in helping find replacements for former coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas. SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy took part in some light throwing on Monday after missing his first career game because of an injury and the 49ers are hoping he can return this week. Purdy hurt his throwing shoulder during a loss to Seattle on Nov. 17. Purdy underwent two MRIs last week that showed no structural damage. But Purdy he felt discomfort after making a few throws at practice on Thursday and was shut down for the game at Green Bay on Sunday that San Francisco lost 38-10. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Purdy made it through the session without pain and will rest on Tuesday and hopefully be able to return to practice on Wednesday as the Niners prepare to play at Buffalo this coming week. “We rested it throughout the weekend hoping that would help,” Shanahan said. “He threw lighter today to see if that rest helps and the rest did help him. So we’ll see again, going through the same things we did last week. We’re going to let him rest all the way up to Wednesday. We’ll see how it feels on Wednesday and then we’ll take the exact same course throughout the week. Hopefully it responds better this week than it did last week with the rest.” Brandon Allen went 17 for 29 for 199 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble in his first start since the 2021 season. Allen would play once again if Purdy is unable to go on Sunday at Buffalo. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The NFL removed New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers from the commissioner exempt list on Monday, making him eligible to participate in practice and play in the team’s games. Peppers missed seven games since being placed on the list on Oct. 9 after he was arrested and charged with shoving his girlfriend’s head into a wall and choking her. The league said its review is ongoing and is not affected by the change in Peppers’ roster status. Braintree, Massachusetts, police said they were called to a home for an altercation between two people on Oct. 7, and a woman told them Peppers choked her. Police said they found at the home a clear plastic bag containing a white powder, which later tested positive for cocaine. Peppers, 29, pleaded not guilty in Quincy District Court to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a Class “B” substance believed to be cocaine. At a court appearance last week a trial date was set for Jan. 22. HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew is out for the rest of the season with a broken collarbone, coach Antonio Pierce said Monday. Minshew was injured with 3:12 left in Sunday's 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos. Pierce will have to decide whether Aidan O'Connell or Desmond Ridder will start Friday's game at Kansas City. The Raiders, who have lost seven consecutive games to fall to 2-9, could use a spark. Minshew's grip on the starting job was tenuous even before he was injured. He threw 10 interceptions to just nine touchdown passes this season and Minshew also lost four fumbles. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will practice Monday and “we'll see where he's at from there,” coach Doug Pederson said. Lawrence missed the past two games, losses to Minnesota and Detroit, with a sprained left shoulder. Lawrence had extra time to rest during Jacksonville's bye week. The Jaguars (2-9) host AFC South-leading Houston (7-5) on Sunday and need a victory to avoid being eliminated from playoff contention. Pederson said Lawrence is “feeling better" and they will know more about his playing status following practice Wednesday. Lawrence took a hit to his left shoulder while scrambling at Philadelphia on Nov. 3. Instead of sliding, he chose to go head-first and got hammered by linebacker Zack Baun. Lawrence has practiced some in a limited role since, but was inactive for both games. BRIEFLY LIONS: Detroit wide receiver Jameson Williams won't be charged with a crime after he was found with a gun in a car driven by his brother in October. Prosecutor Kym Worthy says Michigan law is “far from clear” when applied to the 1 a.m. traffic stop in Detroit. Get local news delivered to your inbox!When rescue from modern slavery does not mean freedom: Research flags harsh reality of post-rescue life