wow888 casino

wow888 casino SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed his country will “invariably support” Russia’s war on Ukraine as he met Russia’s defense chief, the North’s state media reported Saturday. A Russia military delegation led by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday, amid growing international concern about the two countries’ expanding cooperation after North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia in October. The official Korean Central News Agency said that Kim and Belousov reached “a satisfactory consensus” on boosting strategic partnership and defending each country’s sovereignty, security interests and international justice in the face of the rapidly changing international security environments. Kim said that North Korea “will invariably support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity from the imperialists’ moves for hegemony,” the state media agency said. North Korea has supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling it a defensive response to what both Moscow and Pyongyang call NATO’s “reckless” eastward advance and U.S.-led moves to stamp out Russia’s position as a powerful state. Kim slammed a U.S. decision earlier in November to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russia with U.S.-supplied longer-range missiles as a direct intervention in the conflict. He called recent Russian strikes on Ukraine “a timely and effective measure” to demonstrate Russia’s resolve, KCNA said. According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia and some of them have already begun engaging in combat on the front lines. The U.S., South Korea and others say North Korea has also shipped artillery systems, missiles and other conventional weapons to replenish Russia’s exhausted weapons inventory. North Korea and Russia haven’t formally confirmed the North Korean troops’ movements, and have denied reports of weapons shipments. South Korea, the U.S. and their partners are concerned that Russia could give North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles. South Korean national security advisor Shin Wonsik recently said Seoul assessed that Russia has provided air defense missile systems to North Korea. He told a local SBS TV program that Russia also appeared to have given economic assistance to North Korea and various military technologies, including those needed for the North’s efforts to build a reliable space-based surveillance system. Belousov also met North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol on Friday. During a dinner banquet later the same day, Belousov said the two countries’ strategic partnership was crucial to defend their sovereignty from aggression and the arbitrary actions of imperialists, North Korean state media said. In June, Kim and Putin signed a treaty requiring both countries to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked . It’s considered the two countries’ biggest defense deal since the end of the Cold War. Kim writes for the Associated Press.

5 ways to tell if you’re on track for retirement — and 5 things to do if you need to catch up, according to experts

AP News Summary at 2:36 p.m. ESTBill Belichick didn't wait around for a call that he might not get from an NFL team. With no guarantees that another opportunity might come his way — only the Atlanta Falcons interviewed Belichick last offseason — and unsure whether he could find the right fit in the NFL, the 72-year-old future Hall of Fame coach decided to go back to school. Belichick took his eight Super Bowl rings to North Carolina on a mission to build a college program the way he constructed two dynasties during 24 seasons with the New England Patriots. It starts with doing things his way. The Patriot Way is legendary. Perhaps it'll translate into the Tar Heel way. That's to be determined. But Belichick is back doing what he loves: coaching. And, he's going to run the show with his guys around him. An NFL team giving Belichick full control the way he had in New England seemed unlikely. Success at North Carolina could change that thinking. For now, Belichick's quest to break Don Shula's all-time record for most wins in the NFL is on hold. He's 15 victories short but the buyout clause in his college contract — a $10 million fee if done before June 2025 and $1 million after that date — leaves the window open for a return to the league. If Belichick stays in college or retires without returning to the NFL, his legacy is already cemented. Winning at North Carolina will only enhance his reputation. Losing won't impact his NFL resume. "He's one of the all-time great coaches. What he's done for the NFL and the game, we all know where he'll end up — in the Hall of Fame with a gold jacket," Dallas Cowboys executive Stephen Jones said Wednesday shortly before Belichick agreed on a five-year deal with North Carolina that pays him $10 million in base and supplemental salary annually with up to $3.5 million in bonuses per year. Belichick has his detractors. There's no denying he couldn't win without Tom Brady. He was 29-39 and had no playoff wins without No. 12 in his final four seasons with the Patriots. Critics have labeled him a cheater because of the Spygate and Deflategate scandals. He overlooked Aaron Hernandez's issues. He was tough on players, even alienating Brady in the end and letting him walk him away in free agency in 2020 only to see him lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl in his first season there. But Belichick instilled in players the importance of doing their job and presided over an unprecedented two-decade run of dominance that withstood changing times, free agency, salary-cap restrictions and much more. Brady has always maintained how important Belichick was for his career, giving him credit for helping him become one of the best players in sports. Now, Belichick is onto Chapel Hill in a surprise twist after he spent most of the NFL season reinventing himself as an entertaining and engaging analyst. Belichick is a football genius and his knowledge came across on television. But he also displayed a fun personality, trading quips with the Mannings and cracking jokes with Pat McAffee. "College kind of came to me this year," Belichick said at his introductory news conference. "I didn't necessarily go and seek it out. I had many coaches, probably a couple dozen coaches, talk to me and say, 'Can we come down and talk to you about these things?' Let's call it the salary cap of pro football relative to college football. The headsets, the green dot, the two-minute warning, the tablets on the sideline. Those were all rules changes this year for college football that were either or the same or similar to what we had in the NFL. These coaches said, 'Hey coach can we talk to you about how you did this? How you did that? How did you use this?'. "As those conversations started and then the personnel conversations started relative to salary cap and how you spend whatever the allotment of money you have. I'd say that started to make me a lot more aware of it because the first thing I would have to do is learn about it. .... As you learn different things about different programs you start to put it all together. There is some common threads and there's some variables." How will he do as a college coach? Nobody knows yet. Three of Belichick's former players were skeptical before he took the job. "There's a lot of things he can do, and obviously he's tremendous, and even showing his personality. But getting out there on the recruiting trail and dealing with all these college kids, that would be ..." Brady said before trailing off during a conversation on Fox's NFL pregame show last Sunday. Fellow former Patriots Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman also wondered the same. "Can you imagine NIL, and all that nonsense?" Gronkowski said. Edelman added: "Can you imagine Bill on a couch recruiting an 18-year-old?" But Belichick doesn't have to recruit kids on visits. These are new times in college sports. The NIL has dramatically changed the landscape. Plus, Belichick's name is enough. Just like Deion Sanders at Colorado. "I think it could be great for this game, honestly, if he can find a way to make college football more like this in terms of what's being asked of the coaches, the recruiting staff, the personnel, the NIL, and all those different things," Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Cohen said. "If he can make it a little bit less demanding on some of the coaches and create a great atmosphere and have success, I think it's great for our game. It's pretty cool to see, actually." Time for Belichick to do his job. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

PayPal Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:PYPL – Get Free Report )’s share price dropped 0% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $87.26 and last traded at $88.24. Approximately 882,702 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 93% from the average daily volume of 12,916,177 shares. The stock had previously closed at $88.25. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have weighed in on PYPL shares. Phillip Securities reiterated an “accumulate” rating and issued a $90.00 price target (up from $80.00) on shares of PayPal in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Piper Sandler reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $88.00 target price on shares of PayPal in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of PayPal from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $107.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Susquehanna raised their price objective on shares of PayPal from $83.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on PayPal from $74.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 23rd. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, PayPal presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $88.42. Get Our Latest Research Report on PayPal PayPal Stock Down 1.5 % PayPal ( NASDAQ:PYPL – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The credit services provider reported $1.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $7.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.88 billion. PayPal had a net margin of 14.08% and a return on equity of 23.44%. The firm’s revenue was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.97 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that PayPal Holdings, Inc. will post 4.57 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On PayPal A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC increased its stake in PayPal by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 1,810 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $141,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. First United Bank & Trust raised its holdings in shares of PayPal by 6.4% during the third quarter. First United Bank & Trust now owns 2,395 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $187,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the period. Ritholtz Wealth Management lifted its position in PayPal by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 4,724 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $369,000 after acquiring an additional 152 shares in the last quarter. Laraway Financial Advisors Inc boosted its stake in PayPal by 3.8% in the 3rd quarter. Laraway Financial Advisors Inc now owns 4,228 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $330,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the period. Finally, SYSTM Wealth Solutions LLC increased its holdings in PayPal by 50.6% during the 2nd quarter. SYSTM Wealth Solutions LLC now owns 497 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.32% of the company’s stock. PayPal Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) PayPal Holdings, Inc operates a technology platform that enables digital payments on behalf of merchants and consumers worldwide. It operates a two-sided network at scale that connects merchants and consumers that enables its customers to connect, transact, and send and receive payments through online and in person, as well as transfer and withdraw funds using various funding sources, such as bank accounts, PayPal or Venmo account balance, PayPal and Venmo branded credit products comprising its installment products, credit and debit cards, and cryptocurrencies, as well as other stored value products, including gift cards and eligible rewards. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for PayPal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PayPal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Highly touted high school QB commits to Colorado, possible indicator Sanders is staying in BoulderWASHINGTON , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy and Nicola Fox , associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, will travel to Mexico City on Sunday, Nov. 24 , for a multi-day trip to build on previous engagements and advance scientific and technological collaboration between the United States and Mexico . This visit will focus on fostering partnerships in astronomy and astrophysics research, as well as highlighting opportunities for economic, educational, and science, technology, engineering, and math collaborations between the two nations. Melroy's trip will include high-level meetings with senior Mexican government officials, including the secretariat-designate for Science, Technology, Humanities, and Innovation. Melroy and Fox also will meet with leaders from academia, industry, and scientific institutions. These discussions will emphasize expanding cooperation in space science, with particular focus on Mexico's growing astronomy programs. This visit builds on Melroy's trip to Mexico City earlier this year and reflects NASA's commitment to advancing international cooperation in space and science for the benefit of all. For more information about NASA's international partnerships, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-leadership-to-visit-strengthen-cooperation-with-mexico-302314627.html SOURCE NASA

Fourteen years ago, Don Spicer opened a Twitter account. It was a useful tool in in his professional life. “When I was with public safety, I would engage with citizens,” said Spicer, a retired police officer who worked in media relations. Spicer also used Twitter to follow local news, but he eventually became less active on the social media platform, which was renamed X in 2023. “Over the last year or so I guess, it was getting increasingly negative, and I like to surround myself with more positivity,” said Spicer, who last week left X and switched to Bluesky, a platform that is new to the social media world and is now exploding in global popularity. “I found much of the content I went to Twitter for is starting to show up there, and I’m seeing more local flavour, and it’s more respectful.” Bluesky is billed as a platform where users can create custom content feeds, and control what they see while avoiding what they don't want to see. “We're always focused a lot on trust and safety, making sure that users have an ability to have an experience that's, you know, free from bots and harassment and spam,” said Bluesky CEO Jay Graber. Previous competitors have tried and failed to take a bite out of Twitter/X. Technology analyst Carmi Levy said it appears Bluesky has legitimate growth momentum in the U.S. and elsewhere, and could be a significant threat to X. "We are seeing some reports of about 100,000 accounts closing per day on X and we are seeing numbers from Bluesky, that traffic is up 500 per cent and they have doubled their size in the past two months,” said Levy. “They've just hit 21 million followers." The trends Levy cited are worldwide. No data specific to Canada was available, so information available to analysts is focused on global activity. According to Levy, the last two weeks have seen the largest exodus from X since Elon Musk purchased Twitter in 2023. Levy suggested Musk himself has also turned off some X users. “Elon Musk essentially used X as a giant megaphone for his views and those who follow his views essentially amplified that as well," said Levy. It should be noted, as Bluesky grows, X remains a very popular social media giant, with more than 500 million active accounts. Bluesky’s audience remains relatively small in comparison, The Associated Press reported last week. Digital anthropologist Giles Crouch told CTV National News that X’s future will come down to one thing. "Is it too big to fail? Absolutely not. The big judge of all this, as it is with any technology, is culture." Crouch said X will have to change some of its online negativity if it hopes to stop the recent exodus. "Twitter or X can survive, but it may become shell of itself," said Crouch, who added if that were to happen, it could lead to even more of an opportunity for Bluesky to continue to attract new members who are leaving X in large numbers.

Tarar for ‘acceptable to all’ AI regulatory framework Minister stresses need for using AI in combating climate change, bolstering economy and curbing misinformation ISTANBUL: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Friday made a passionate call at an international conference to work out a comprehensive and inclusive AI regulatory framework which is “acceptable to all”. “As the world is progressing with the AI advancement, we must come up with a regulatory framework that upholds ethical standards and works for collective good of humanity which has common goals and objectives,” said the minister while addressing the Startcom Summit 2024. “We must come together on common terms and make a regulatory framework which is acceptable to all,” he said while advocating encouraging the positive use of AI and discouraging the negative ones. “What I would like to achieve from AI...in the field of agri-tech, we would like to have more productivity and high yield crops through inducement of technology because we are a rice exporting country and we have the agriculture as a backbone of economy,” he said while underlining the need for AI advancement in education, skill development and fintech and healthtech sectors.” “With regard to education and skill development, we would like to see the AI advancement in distance learning so that those students who do not have access to good universities could gain higher education,” he said, adding AI should be used in increasing the children enrolment in schools, and eradicating diseases like hepatitis and polio. He stressed the need for using AI in combating the climate change, bolstering economy and curbing misinformation and disinformation. “We just need to make right policies and benefit our people,” he said while pointing out the biggest contemporary challenge in the form of misinformation and disinformation. He cited the World Economic Forum where most of the leaders called misinformation a greatest threat as it led to chaos and anarchy. The minister said international fora could be used to deal with this challenge and an international agreement could be reached or a task-force could be established to deal with this challenge that eventually leads to economic instability and security crises that caused destruction beyond imagination. He expressed reservation over the censorship of issues related to Gaza, Kashmir and Lebanon on social media. “AI is being used negatively there, and there is a selective judgement in this regard,” he added. He regretted that he was unable to mention the name of martyr Burhan Wani on social media and use his picture due to what he called “selective judgement”. He said people should be told about humanitarian crises in Gaza, Kashmir and other countries. “In Pakistan, we have 111 million Internet users, about 45 per cent of our population. Then, we have 71 million social media users, about 29 per cent of our population and mobile phone users are about 188 million,” he said while highlighting the young population of Pakistan. “We have an opportunity and challenge in the form of youths of this country. So we are trying to impart IT skills to the youth so they can not only be efficient in IT skills and AI at home but also abroad.” He mentioned three policies for digital advancement including the National Fiberization Policy which is aimed at providing Internet to the entire population in Pakistan. “Besides, we are moving towards 5G spectrum that is our next target, we hope to achieve that by mid next year.” In addition to that, he said the National Artificial Intelligence Policy was being worked out, which was in line with modern trends in the world and included the best ethical standards. “So to tackle misinformation, we have to develop large language models, we have to go to natural language processing. So LLMs and NLPs have to be developed in order to cope with this challenge of misinformation and disinformation the world over,” he stressed. “As far as our national AI policy is concerned, a big part of it going to focus on ethical part, there is accuracy of historical data and accuracy of facts,” he said, highlighting the Fact-check Forum created by the Ministry of Information that actually verified certain facts which had not only AI as integral part but also human intervention that oversaw that AI module. “In addition to that, we are running two more programmes. We have the Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications which monitored opinions and narratives the world over and within our own country and came up with a strategic communication policy for the government. “We are using our own AI engine for that to improve our strategic communication,” he said, adding that the government of Pakistan had also established a counter-violent extremism cell.

SoFi Technologies, Inc. ( NASDAQ:SOFI – Get Free Report )’s stock price was up 2.2% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $16.44 and last traded at $16.38. Approximately 8,949,219 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 81% from the average daily volume of 47,423,371 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.02. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades SOFI has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Bank of America reissued an “underperform” rating and issued a $12.00 target price on shares of SoFi Technologies in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on SoFi Technologies from $7.50 to $13.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on SoFi Technologies from $9.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. Needham & Company LLC increased their price target on shares of SoFi Technologies from $10.00 to $13.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of SoFi Technologies from $14.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $11.04. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on SOFI SoFi Technologies Price Performance SoFi Technologies ( NASDAQ:SOFI – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.04 by $0.01. SoFi Technologies had a return on equity of 3.71% and a net margin of 8.38%. The company had revenue of $697.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $631.59 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($0.03) EPS. SoFi Technologies’s revenue was up 29.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that SoFi Technologies, Inc. will post 0.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity at SoFi Technologies In related news, CTO Jeremy Rishel sold 64,991 shares of SoFi Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.72, for a total transaction of $1,021,658.52. Following the sale, the chief technology officer now directly owns 586,494 shares in the company, valued at $9,219,685.68. The trade was a 9.98 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, EVP Kelli Keough sold 9,590 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.56, for a total value of $139,630.40. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 142,613 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,076,445.28. The trade was a 6.30 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 26,009,264 shares of company stock worth $416,889,795 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 2.60% of the company’s stock. Institutional Trading of SoFi Technologies Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. World Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in SoFi Technologies by 6.5% during the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 21,745 shares of the company’s stock valued at $171,000 after acquiring an additional 1,336 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of SoFi Technologies during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,649,000. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of SoFi Technologies in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $93,000. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of SoFi Technologies by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 17,619,084 shares of the company’s stock worth $138,523,000 after buying an additional 358,806 shares during the last quarter. Finally, M&T Bank Corp raised its stake in SoFi Technologies by 5.4% during the third quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 45,582 shares of the company’s stock valued at $359,000 after buying an additional 2,332 shares during the last quarter. 38.43% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About SoFi Technologies ( Get Free Report ) SoFi Technologies, Inc provides various financial services in the United States, Latin America, and Canada. It operates through three segments: Lending, Technology Platform, and Financial Services. The company offers lending and financial services and products that allows its members to borrow, save, spend, invest, and protect money. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for SoFi Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SoFi Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Microsoft Warns Millions of Windows Users—Do Not Install This Update On Your PC

Published 3:41 pm Friday, December 13, 2024 By Staff Reports Here’s a peek at the injury report for the Minnesota Wild (19-6-4), which currently has five players listed, as the Wild prepare for their matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers (14-12-4) at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday, December 14 at 2:00 PM ET. Place your bets on any NHL matchup at BetMGM. Sign up today using our link. Watch 1,000+ out-of-market NHL games, ESPN+ Hockey Night & more streaming all season on ESPN+. Catch NHL action all season long on Fubo. Catch NHL action all season long on Max. Bet on this or any NHL matchup at BetMGM. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .SITE (Society for Incentive Travel Excellence) Nominates Creative Group Canada for Prestigious Crystal Award SCHAUMBURG, Ill. , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative Group, Inc., a full-service meeting, event, and incentive agency, was recently nominated for a Crystal Award in the category of Most Creative Solution Deployed to Overcome Adversity when war broke out in Israel . THE STORY In October 2023 , Israel was attacked just a month before Creative Group's client was to host their annual incentive program at the Intercontinental Hotel David in Tel Aviv . This, of course, derailed a year of meticulous program planning. With civil unrest making it impossible to operate that program, the team immediately began the search for an alternate destination that would not only preserve the essence of the incentive trip but deliver the same level of excitement and prestige for the winners. After careful consideration, the group's location was secured at the exceptional Corazon Cabo Resort and Spa in Los Cabos for a rescheduled event in early February 2024 . As the new destination was being sourced in a condensed 4-month period, the planning team was simultaneously managing the cancellation process with existing contracts in Israel and designing a new – and equally rewarding – program in Mexico . Janet Traphagen, President of Creative Group, said, "I am so proud of our internal associates and our client's collaboration – the way they quickly pivoted to a new solution during a time of crisis was nothing short of amazing." The client and the qualifiers were thrilled with the newly designed travel experience and the creative thinking involved in bringing this alternative solution to life in such a short timeframe. THE IMPACT 65% of attendees rated the experience a perfect 5/5 35% gave it a healthy 4/5 Eighty-seven percent of participants highlighted the app's effectiveness as a communication and engagement tool Attendee comments: "The trip was excellent given the short timeline to plan it. The planning team did a great job in arranging it under those circumstances." "For my wife and I, it was our first trip and we really enjoyed it." "I would never have guessed that this was pulled together on such short notice. A truly amazing experience. Thank you!" "To the whole team, I give you a 10! My wife and I appreciated it. Well done!" "I tip my hat to the organizers, FANTASTIC JOB." About Creative Group Creative Group is a full-service meeting, event, and incentive agency that delivers business results by inspiring people to thrive. An industry leader, Creative Group has been honored with numerous Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) awards and the CMI 25 Award, which recognizes the top 25 most influential meeting and incentive management companies in the U.S. Creative Group was founded in 1970, and has served clients in financial services, life sciences, insurance, manufacturing, retail, technology, automotive, and hospitality. Employing 220+ people, the company is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois , and maintains offices in San Francisco , Appleton, Wisconsin , and Toronto, Canada . For more information about Creative Group, visit http://www.creativegroupinc.com About the SITE Crystal Awards Recognition Program: Considered the highest honor in the incentive travel industry, the SITE Crystal Awards recognize creative, practical and truly memorable incentive programs that not only keep employees engaged but also drive business results and improve the bottom line. SOURCE Creative Group, Inc.

5 ways to tell if you’re on track for retirement — and 5 things to do if you need to catch up, according to expertsSmart homes might get more connected next year with new Shelly smart devices that feature an absolutely massive claimed range. The 11 devices are part of Shelly's line of Wave devices that support the Z-Wave Long Range specification and are supposed to release sometime in the first half of 2025. The Z-Wave specification is meant to extend the connectivity of smart home devices that are connected to your home Wi-Fi network without piggybacking off other devices like Amazon 's Sidewalk IoT network. It also is supposed to forgo pulling down too much cellular data. The technology is found in many of the best smart home devices and smart home hubs . According to Shelly, the ZWLR can support up to 4,000 devices on a single network and should "co-exist" on the same network as a Z-Wave node. The devices mostly appear to be entry and light-based, though it includes a smart plug. “With new devices featuring support for ZWLR, Shelly is helping break down smart home connectivity barriers, empowering homeowners, security installers, and commercial property owners and managers with unmatched range, scalability, and energy efficiency to redefine their automation experience,” said Leon Kralj, CTO of Shelly Group in a press release. ZWLR has existed since 2020, with more products coming slowly coming online in 2020. The certification is supposed to remove the need for a mesh network with multiple repeaters. Instead, everything connects directly to a central node. It has a line-of-sight wireless range of 1.5 miles (at full power). We have to imagine that is true in a wide-open plain, but in the city with obstructions it might be half of that. That's still a massive range for connectivity. Presumably that extended range could let you turn lights on or open blinds before entering your house. Shelly did not provide pricing for these Z-Wave products but it did note that these products are supposed to be compatible with older Z-Wave products and networks. However, a Z-Wave hub built on the Z-Wave 700 or 800 series platform is necessary to take advantage of the 1.5-mile range. More from Tom's GuideMost new technologies come with an element of surprise. It challenges age-old mindsets. It takes time for people to wrap their heads around a new paradigm, irrespective of the degree of benefit it introduces us to. And, in this interval, when people are getting accustomed to a new idea, there are a lot of myths floating around. Naysayers and advocates of the status quo spread these myths. The same is the case for Electric vehicles. The sales of Electric Vehicles have been growing exponentially . According to a report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Almost 14 million new electric cars were registered globally in 2023, bringing their total number on the roads to 40 million. Electric car sales in 2023 were 3.5 million higher than in 2022, a 35% year-on-year increase. This is more than six times higher than in 2018, just 5 years earlier. And with this momentous growth, a host of myths started floating around the nature of EVs. Many of these myths were based on anecdotes and single-user experiences and were not based on hard data. Many myths were also results of one-sided stories being used as a proxy for the whole. These stories did not take into account the stories of IC engine vehicles. In the coming segments, we dispel five such myths. 1. EV Batteries Don't Last Long One of the most common criticisms EV batteries frequently face is that they do not last long. However, this claim might be more fiction than fact . A new study has found that most EV batteries can likely outlast the vehicle's usable life. In mid-September, reports came from Canadian telematics company Geotab's recent update to its 2019 analysis on EV battery degradation, which incorporated fresh numbers from its latest new fleet data. In 2019, Geotab's report said EV batteries degraded at an average rate of 2.3 percent annually. Now, in 2024, after performing a new analysis, the fresh report says that EV batteries have undergone a significant improvement in these five years and now degrade at 1.8 percent per year on average. The summary conclusion of the Geotab report says that EV batteries could last 20 years at a new degradation rate. More specifically, the report said: “Numerous factors determine an electric vehicle battery's lifespan, but on average, EV batteries will outlast the useful life of their vehicle, especially if drivers follow charging and driving best practices.” When specifying the exact nature of the degradation, it appeared mostly linear. The batteries experienced an initial drop, and then the pace of decline was slower. The drop was again significant during the end-of-life. The longevity of the batteries – like any other equipment we use around us – was a function of many factors, such as climate, usage, and the kind of charging methods used. Another study that recently debunked the myth of EV batteries having a shorter life span was the study by the P3 group that claimed that most EV batteries retained more than 80% of their capacity even after 200,000 kilometers, in a show of resilience and long-term value. The study drew its data from more than 7,000 real-world vehicles. The study showed that many EV batteries – even after being removed from the vehicle – may still possess sufficient capacity for secondary uses, including stationary energy storage. Manufacturers are also becoming increasingly confident about the longevity of EV batteries. For instance, manufacturers like Lexus offer warranties of up to 10 years or 1 million kilometers. With both these studies combined, one can now say with confidence that it is a myth that EV batteries do not last long. The batteries have proved their mettle in their performance, resulting in an upgrade in their economic and commercial value. 2. EVs are Just As Polluting As Gas Cars Source: Union of Concerned Scientists There is no denying that EVs have a higher carbon footprint after production than ICE vehicles. The higher carbon footprint levels are due to EVs undergoing an energy-intensive battery pack manufacturing process. However, if we look at the greenhouse gas emissions over a lifetime, they are far less than those of ICE vehicles. In 2021, the International Council on Clean Transportation published a white paper on the global comparison of the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of combustion engines and electric passenger cars. The study looked separately – and as deeply as it could get – into the realities of the automobile markets in Europe, the United States, China, and India. These four markets combined account for nearly 70% of global new passenger car sales. It considered present and projected future GHG emissions attributable to every stage in the life cycles of vehicles and fuels, from extracting and processing raw materials through refining and manufacture to operation and eventual recycling or disposal. The results could easily debunk this myth that EVs are just as polluting as gas cars. More specifically, for cars registered in 2021, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) had by far the lowest life-cycle GHG emissions . It was lower than comparable gasoline cars by 66%–69% in Europe, 60%–68% in the United States, 37%–45% in China, and 19%–34% in India. Moreover, with the electricity mix continuing to decarbonize, the life-cycle emissions gap between BEVs and gasoline vehicles is expected to increase substantially when considering medium-size cars that are projected to be registered in 2030. Now, one could raise questions regarding the length of time that could be called a lifetime. It is important to note that the total carbon footprint of ICE vehicles quickly overtakes that of EVs after 15,000 miles (24,140 km) of driving. In other words, it takes a typical EV about one year to achieve “carbon parity” with an ICE vehicle . And from there onwards, the ICEs start moving ahead rapidly in their carbon footprint, becoming significantly more polluting than EVs. If the EV draws its power from grids that run on carbon-free sources, such as hydroelectricity, the catchup period is about six months only. Click here to learn how EVs may contribute to notable financial and health benefits. 3. EVs Are More Expensive Than Gas Cars Another myth that has followed EVs as a shadow for a long time is that they are vehicles for the wealthy and affluent and not for the economic middle class or the working class. Facts show that this presumption is also mere fiction, and the numbers tell the real story. A 2021 study looked into vehicles of multiple sizes and found that while the total cost of ownership over 15 years is similar between electric vehicles and their gas-powered counterparts, electric vehicles are slightly cheaper to operate per mile. More specifically, in the small SUV category, hybrid electric vehicles cost 45.08 cents per mile , while gas-powered, spark-ignition vehicles came in close behind at 47.27 cents per mile. It is a fact that EV owners had to incur a tad higher upfront cost of purchase. However, the gap between the cost of an EV and an ICE was also closing in significantly. For instance, according to a comparative study done by Cox Automotive (parent company of Kelley Blue Book), the average price paid for a new EV has fallen significantly over the years, and more than a year back, in September 2023, amounted to a cost of just $2,800 more than the average paid for a new gas-powered vehicle. The reduction in purchase price over a year was as significant as US$14,300. Moreover, an EV qualifies for tax incentives that offset its price. The federal EV tax credit offers up to $7,500 for new EVs and, for the first time, $4,000 for used EVs, too, for eligible buyers and EVs. Additionally, the US Department of Treasury has announced it will soon start allowing participating auto dealers to provide tax credits directly to consumers at the point of sale, making the incentives more visible and savings more immediate. EVs were also cheaper when it came to fueling the car. A 2021 Wall Street Journal Study compared the electricity and fuel costs of two comparable compact crossover SUVs, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 and the electric Ford Mustang Mach-E. The study looked into costs in 15 US cities based on 200 miles of driving per week and found that at-home charging was cheaper than buying gasoline across the board. In Spokane, WA, where gasoline is expensive but electricity is relatively cheap, the annual savings of a consumer amounted to US$899 by charging an EV at home rather than buying gas. However, in a city like New York, where gas and electricity were both relatively expensive, the savings came to $428, which is still cheaper to power an EV. Together, it is quite evident that EVs are not at all an option for the wealthy since purchase and refueling are both cheaper in the long run than comparable IC engine vehicles. 4. There Aren't Enough Charging Stations We talked about the cost benefits of charging EVs at home compared to refueling IC engine vehicles that run on gasoline. However, one of the most common charges leveled against the EV network is that it lacks adequate charging infrastructure, leading to a possibility that thousands and thousands of EV owners might end up stranded. However, the picture is not at all that grim. Rather, it is quite the opposite. The charging network is increasing at a significant pace. For instance, China had an estimated 14.1 million electric cars in use across the country in 2022. By 2023, the country had over 2.7 million publicly accessible electric vehicle chargers in 2023. In April 2024, the United States had over 168,300 charging outlets for plug-in electric vehicles (EVs), and by August 2024, the number had increased to 192,000. Reports suggested that the United States was adding 1,000 new public chargers every week. In August 2024, the Biden-Harris administration announced $521 million in grants to continue building out electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure across 29 states, eight Federally Recognized Tribes, and the District of Columbia, including the deployment of more than 9,200 EV charging ports. Apart from China and the United States, other countries are also racing ahead fast with their EV infrastructure, which receives significant backing from national governments and environmental protection departments. It is crucial to remember that the absolute number of EV charging stations in a country might not paint the full picture. It is the number of charging stations per capita that matters. With the highest market share in the world (80% of new cars are EVs), Norway has the highest number of charging stations per capita . The country aims to hit 500,000 total charging stations by 2030. Source: Roland Berger Another country that has done well in the distribution of charging stations is the Netherlands. The country has one of the highest density of public charging stations, with a ratio of one station for every five electric cars. The country aims to have 1.8 million public and private chargers by 2030. Sweden has gone one notch higher in delivering charging infrastructure. The country has the world's first permanent electric road being built . This two-kilometer stretch uses in-road rails to wirelessly charge electric trucks and buses as they drive . Sweden aims to eventually build a 3,000 km network of such charging infrastructure roads by 2035. As of 2023, South Korea had more than 200,000 chargers for around 357,000 electric cars. There are countries like Canada where the National Government has enacted programs like the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) that provides money for charger installation. Altogether, over a short period, the world and its major EV-adopting countries have made a point to ramp up their charging infrastructure. And that debunks the myth that there are not enough charging stations. 5. EVs Are Worse for Cold Climates Many European countries, as we have already seen in the segment above, have adopted Electric Vehicles enthusiastically. These countries have cold weather. Had the cold climate been a dealbreaker, EVs would not have had the success they've had in these countries. But, moving away from anecdotal evidence, let us look at hard numbers. Battery performance indeed reduces during winter. However, the decline in performance is even greater in gasoline cars. A study by the American Automobile Association found that at 20 degrees, an EV can lose as much as 12% of its range. However, the gas mileage of a conventional gasoline car is about 15% lower at 20 degrees than at 77 degrees , according to the US Department of Energy. The winter fuel economy is lower because engine and transmission friction increases in cold temperatures. This is due to the cold engine oil and other drive-line fluids. In EVs, however, downgrades in performance during cold climates can be mitigated by following a few simple steps: Essentially, EVs are more compatible with cold climates than gasoline automobiles. Concluding Words We must remember that change is always relative. One thing is better compared to the other. It would be wrong for us to judge the merit of EVs on a standalone basis. We would have to look into the relative advantages they've to offer compared to their predecessors, the gasoline vehicles and the IC Engine cars. They help protect the environment. And the value of a greener environment is also to be factored in when we judge the worth of EVs. Also, technology is emerging, and innovations are improving their standards with each passing day. There will come a day when the world will have EVs as one of the most desirable gifts we could have gifted to our planet and the generations to come. Click here for a list of top EV stocks.

Troy scores 21 points in less than 2 minutes in the fourth quarter to beat Southern Miss 52-20MFOI Award Instill Faith in People to Take Up Agriculture as a Profitable Business, Says Prof. Ramesh ChandALMOST 40 inmates at a prison collapsed in 24 hours after taking drugs — with one rushed to hospital. More than ten per cent of the jail’s population fell ill from a batch of fentanyl mixed with spice . Worried bosses then placed troubled Deerbolt prison in Co Durham on a two-day lockdown after the incident last month. Synthetic drug fentanyl can be 50 times more potent than heroin — and one inmate was feared to be dying from an overdose. A source said: “A prisoner was found collapsed in his cell, which was when the alarm was raised. “Shockingly, this was in the morning — and they got to him just in time. Read More on UK News “He was rushed to hospital, where they saved him. But he was in such a bad way that ‘death in custody’ paperwork was prepared in case the worst happened.” They added: “Word got round that loads of the prisoners had taken a mixture of fentanyl and spice. Others started collapsing over a period of hours — and there were a total of 38 cases.” “No one has ever known an outbreak of illness as big as this. The prison was put in to lockdown and a fleet of ambulances arrived. “A lot of the inmates were treated in the jail with an antidote, and it is a sad sign of the times that they know they need to stock it.” Most read in UK News The latest inspection report for Deerbolt — where most lags are under 21 — found more than one in four had substance abuse problems. The Prison Service said: “The new Government inherited a prison system in crisis and is determined to tackle supply and demand for drugs in our jails.”