Grand Opening of the Rees Jones "Woods" golf course announced at Boca Woods Country ClubLoras had the magic. It just ran out in the clutchest of moments. Kyndall Kells made a penalty kick save in the final round of the shootout, but Emory’s goalkeeper did the same as the Eagles ousted top-seeded Loras in the NCAA Division III tournament sectional semifinal on Saturday at the Rock Bowl. Emory won the shootout, 4-3, after the teams battled to a 1-1 draw through 110 minutes. Emory (13-3-4) advanced to play Amherst or Illinois Institute of Technology in Sunday’s sectional final at the Rock Bowl. Loras (20-0-2) was seeking its second trip to the Elite Eight and was in the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive season. “I’m so proud of the whole team, it’s an amazing accomplishment,” Loras coach Matt Pucci said. “We’re one of three teams in the country to be in four straight Sweet 16s and that’s not easy to do. Our seniors graduate with four losses in their career. That’s absurd. Four goals against all season. That’s absurd. “Credit to the whole team and the program before and after us as well because to do this year in and year out, I think it becomes white noise and it shouldn’t because this is an incredible accomplishment. I’ve said it before, there’s over 430 schools (in Division III) and four years in a row we’re in the top 16 and one of those years we’re in the top four, so credit to all our players.” Savannah Johnson, Sierra Morgano and Isabel Russmann scored in the shootout for Loras. Emerson Gasmann’s shootout attempt missed wide right and Reagan Lindsay’s shot in the fifth and final round was saved by Emory goalkeeper Sophia Garcia. “Penalties are tough,” Pucci said. “It’s a mental thing as much as a technical thing. We train it, we work hard and I have full faith in every one of the 10 that went up there. Credit to their keeper, she made a save in a big moment. Our keeper made a save in her big moment as well. It was just kind of indicative of what the game was like: back and forth and two good teams going at it.” The Eagles, who also defeated Loras in the 2012 Sweet 16, will be making their third appearance in the Elite Eight. They finished as national runners-up in 2012. “We’re sad about losing in the Sweet 16 (but) we hold our chin high with that,” Russmann said. “We get here every year and if this is the worst part of our season, I’ll take it. We work hard day in and day out and I think that coming into here, it wasn’t like this when we got here. Having four seasons in a row getting to the Sweet 16, getting to the Final Four, can’t ask for more. Johnson opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Lindsay sent a free kick into the box, but it eventually came back to her after a failed clearance attempt by the Emory defense. Lindsay sent it into the box again and Athena Sheets tapped it over to Johnson, who slotted it past a diving Garcia. It was Johnson’s 18th goal of the season and the 53rd of her career, which left her fourth on the program’s all-time list behind Ryleigh O’Brien (54), Katie Truesdale (58) and Michelle Wieser (87). “When she came in, we didn’t know we were getting a future All-American,” Pucci said. “She worked her butt to get to where she’s at and that’s just the mantra of who we are as a team. Everybody comes in and starts at a certain level and nowhere near their ceiling. I like to think that our seniors get to that ceiling by the end of their career. Savannah is another one just like the rest, you come in and see what’s it like and you can either raise the bar or stand still and she sure as heck didn’t stand still.” Johnson, a fifth-year senior, finishes with two entries on the program’s single-season goals chart. Her career-high 24 goals last year ranks third; her total from this season is tied with Wieser’s 2001 freshman season for seventh. It was also the first goal allowed in the tournament by Emory, which out had outscored its first two NCAA opponents, 7-0. The Eagles pulled even with just less than 25 minutes left in the match. Samantha Lim drove toward the corner before sending the ball back for Kaitlyn Nimmer to take a shot. Emily Woodall was in the perfect spot to redirect and used her head to deflect the shot past Loras goalkeeper Kyndal Kells. Kells, who has already shattered the program’s career record with 44 shutouts, finished with 11 saves, including a punch over the crossbar that denied Emory a potential-go-ahead goal with 9 minutes left in regulation.Omantel, the leading telecommunications service provider in the sultanate, has been recognised at the Business Today CXO Awards by Apex Media for its remarkable achievements in driving innovation, digital transformation, and technological advancement. The awards celebrated Omantel’s pivotal role in positioning the sultanate as a regional leader in the telecom industry. At the awards ceremony, Omantel’s Chief Executive Officer, Talal al Mamari and Chief Financial Officer, Ghassan al Hashar were individually honoured as CEO of The Year in Telecom Sector and CFO of The Year in Telecom Sector respectively, for their exceptional leadership, which has been instrumental in shaping Omantel’s transformational journey and its continued success. Under the visionary leadership of Mamari and the strategic financial stewardship of Hashar, Omantel has reached significant milestones that reflect its commitment to excellence and sustainable growth. Mamari’s leadership has guided Omantel through transformative projects, including the integration of fixed and mobile operations, the acquisition of a controlling stake in Kuwait’s Zain Group, and the creation of Zain Omantel International (ZOI), a joint venture serving over 55mn customers across eight markets. Hashar has been instrumental in optimising Omantel’s operations to support innovation and growth. His financial strategies have enabled key investments in cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure, ensuring that Omantel remains competitive and forward-looking in a dynamic market. Omantel’s achievements are further underscored by its partnerships with global technology leaders, including Huawei, AWS, and Google, which have accelerated advancements in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital transformation. These collaborations have enabled the company to deliver innovative solutions that empower businesses and enhance connectivity across Oman and beyond. A cornerstone of Omantel’s innovation strategy is its Innovation Labs, established in 2021 to support local startups and foster entrepreneurship. The Labs provide entrepreneurs with access to infrastructure, investment opportunities, and programmes to accelerate their growth. These efforts have driven the development of quality startups offering solutions that align with Omantel’s strategic goals, while contributing to Oman Vision 2040. Through the integration of its operations, processes, and extensive expertise in the field of communications and digital technology, Omantel has succeeded in establishing its position as a leading telecommunications company within Oman and beyond. The company’s innovative approaches have contributed to providing state-of-the-art solutions to various consumer and business sectors. Omantel aims to deliver an unparalleled, exceptional experience to its customers and strives always to exceed their expectations. To achieve the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, Omantel invests in emerging technologies and provides cutting-edge ICT solutions such as cloud solutions, AI, smart solutions, cybersecurity, and more, harnessing its technological capabilities to enhance innovation and leadership in new and advanced technologies.Wake Forest hires Washington State's Jake Dickert

PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 17, 2024-- Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 76 cents per share, a 15 percent increase over the previous dividend of 66 cents per share. The cash dividend will be paid on February 7, 2025 to holders of record of its Class A common stock and Class B common stock as of January 9, 2025. The Board of Directors also approved a new share repurchase program, authorizing the company to repurchase up to $12 billion of its Class A common stock. The new share repurchase program will become effective at the completion of the company’s previously announced $11 billion program (December 2023). As of December 13, 2024, the company had approximately $3.9 billion remaining under the current approved share repurchase program. About Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) , www.mastercard.com Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential. Forward Looking Statements Statements in this press release which are not historical facts are forward-looking and subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “believe”, “expect”, “could”, “may”, “would”, “will”, “trend” and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the manner and amount of purchases by Mastercard pursuant to its share repurchase program dependent upon price and market conditions, as well as Mastercard’s future prospects, developments and business strategies. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in the company’s expectations. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241217074044/en/ CONTACT: Mastercard Investor Relations Jud Staniar, 914-249-4565 investor.relations@mastercard.comMastercard Communications Seth Eisen, 914-249-3153 Seth.Eisen@mastercard.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: NETWORKS FINANCE BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Mastercard Investor Relations Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/17/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/17/2024 04:17 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241217074044/enTop 5 mistakes that could expose your financial data to cybercriminals

U.S. District Court Awards 10x Genomics Permanent Injunction in Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Bruker Corporation's GeoMx ProductsHarris Dickinson was nervous to approach Nicole Kidman . This would not necessarily be notable under normal circumstances, but the English actor had already been cast to star opposite her in the erotic drama “Babygirl,” as the intern who initiates an affair with Kidman's buttoned-up CEO. They’d had a zoom with the writer-director Halina Reijn, who was excited by their playful banter and sure that Dickinson would hold his own. And yet when he found himself at the same event as Kidman, shyness took over. He admitted as much to Margaret Qualley, who took things into her own hands and introduced them. “She helped me break the ice a bit,” Dickinson said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. On set would be an entirely different story. Dickinson might not be nearly as “puckishly audacious” as his character Samuel but in the making of “Babygirl,” he, Kidman and Reijn had no choice but to dive fearlessly into this exploration of sexual power dynamics, going to intimate, awkward, exhilarating and meme-able places. It’s made the film, in theaters Christmas Day, one of the year’s must-sees. “There was an unspoken thing that we adhered to,” Dickinson said. “We weren’t getting to know each other’s personal lives. When we were working and we were the characters, we didn’t veer away from the material. I never tried to attach all of the history of Nicole Kidman. Otherwise it probably would have been a bit of a mess.” His is a performance that reconfirms what many in the film world have suspected since his debut seven years ago as a Brooklyn tough questioning his sexuality in Eliza Hittman’s “Beach Rats” : Dickinson is one of the most exciting young talents around. Dickinson, 28, grew up in Leytonstone, in East London — the same neck of the woods as Alfred Hitchcock. Cinema was in his life, whether it was Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” films at the local multiplex or venturing into town to see the more social realist films of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach. “Working class cinema interested me,” he said. “People around me that represented my world.” Appropriately, his entry into making art started behind the camera, with a comedy web series he made as a kid, which he now describes as “really bad spoofs” of films and shows of the time. But things started to really click when he began acting in the local theater. “I remember feeling invigorated by it and accepted,” he said. “I felt myself for the first time and felt able to express myself in a way where I didn’t feel vulnerable and I felt alive and ignited by something.” At around 17, someone suggested that he should give acting a try professionally. He hadn’t even fully understood that it was a career possibility, but he started auditioning. At 20, he was cast in “Beach Rats” and, he said, just “kept going.” Since then, he’s gotten a wide range of opportunities in films both big, including “The King’s Man,” and small. He’s captivated as a male model in Ruben Östlund’s Cannes-winning “Triangle of Sadness,” an estranged father to a 12-year-old in Charlotte Regan’s “Scrapper,” an actor bringing an ex-boyfriend to life in Joanna Hogg’s “The Souvenir Part II,” the charismatic, tragic wrestler David Von Erich in Sean Durkin’s “The Iron Claw” and a soldier in Steve McQueen’s “Blitz.” But “Babygirl” would present new challenges and opportunities with a character who’s almost impossible to define. “He was confusing in a really interesting way. There wasn’t loads of specificity to it, which I enjoyed because it was a bit of a challenge to sort of pinpoint exactly what it was that drove him and made him tick,” Dickinson said. “There was a directness that unlocked a lot for me, like a fearlessness with the way he spoke, or a social unawareness in a way — like not fully realizing what he’s saying is affecting someone in a certain way. But I didn’t make too many rules for him.” Part of the allure of the film is the ever-shifting power dynamics between the two characters, which could change over the course of a scene. As Reijn said, “It’s a cautionary tale about what happens when you suppress your own desires.” She was especially in awe of Dickinson's ability to make everything feel improvised and the fact that he could look like a 12-year-old boy in one shot and a confident 45-year-old man in the next. Since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year, the film has led to some surprisingly direct conversations with audiences spanning generations. But that, Dickinson understood, was what Reijn wanted. “She really wanted to show the ugliness and the awkwardness of these things, of these relationships and sex,” he said. “That sort of fumbly version and the performative version of it is way more interesting, to me at least, than the kind of fantasized, romanticized, sexy thing that we’ve seen a lot.” Dickinson recently stepped behind the camera again, directing his first feature film under the banner of his newly formed production company. Set against the backdrop of homelessness in London, “Dream Space” is about a drifter trying to assimilate and understand his cyclical behavior. The film, which wrapped earlier this year, has given him a heightened appreciation for just how many people are indispensable in the making of a film. He’s also started to understand that “acting is just being able to relax.” “When you’re relaxed, you can do stuff that is truthful,” he said. “That only happens if you’ve got good people around you: The director that creates the good environment. The intimacy coordinator facilitating a safe space. A coworker in Nicole encouraging that kind of bravery and performance with what she’s doing.” Dickinson did eventually get to the point where he managed to ask Kidman questions about working with Stanley Kubrick and Lars Von Trier. But he also kept one shattering possibility between himself and his director. “There is a world in which Samuel doesn’t even exist. He’s just a sort of a device or a figment for her own story. And I like that because it kind of means you can take the character into a very unrealistic realm at times and be almost like a deity in the story,” Dickinson said. “We didn’t talk about it with Nicole.” Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has diedPLEASANTON, Calif. , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 10x Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TXG), a leader in single cell and spatial biology, announced today it had secured a permanent injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against the GeoMx products sold by Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR), which acquired the product line from NanoString Technologies. To minimize the risk of disruption to ongoing research, 10x Genomics requested a carve-out for GeoMx users who installed an instrument prior to the trial in November 2023 . The injunction, which the Court said it will enter in January 2025 , is expected to prohibit Bruker from making, using, selling or offering to sell in the United States its GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler and associated instruments, reagents and services for RNA and protein detection. At the request of 10x Genomics, the injunction will not block ongoing research by researchers who installed a GeoMx instrument prior to November 18, 2023 . Such customers can continue to purchase GeoMx reagents for use with existing GeoMx instruments for purposes of continuing their ongoing research. The Court found that making such an exception for ongoing research strikes a "workable balance between protecting the patentee's rights and protecting the public from the injunction's adverse effects." In addition, the Court affirmed the $31 million damages awarded by the November 2023 jury verdict, as well as supplemental damages and interest that will be added to the total damages when final judgment is entered. "Today's decision helps to safeguard our decade-long investment in innovation and ensures we can continue to develop groundbreaking technologies that help our customers revolutionize science," said Eric Whitaker , Chief Legal Officer at 10x Genomics. "10x exists to fuel scientific progress – not stifle it – and that is why we've done our utmost to ensure this injunction was structured to protect both our intellectual property and existing GeoMx customers' ongoing research." The Court recognized the harm NanoString's infringing conduct caused 10x when it wrote in its ruling, "Having been careful not to license its technology, 10x suffers when it proclaims itself as an innovator in spatial genomics but a competitor is using the same innovative, patented technology." Today's Court decision follows a November 2023 jury verdict that found that NanoString's GeoMx products willfully infringed seven patents exclusively licensed to 10x Genomics by Prognosys. During the trial, the jury heard testimony from the sole inventor of the patents, Illumina co-founder Mark Chee , and NanoString CEO Brad Gray and NanoString CSO Joe Beechem. After hearing all of the evidence, the jury determined that all seven patents had been infringed by NanoString, that each patent was valid, that NanoString willfully infringed those patents and that monetary damages were owed to 10x for the infringement of all seven patents. In affirming the jury's finding that NanoString willfully infringed, the Court relied on the evidence showing that NanoString knew or was willfully blind that its acts would cause infringement of 10x's rights. The asserted patents in Case No. 21-cv-653-MFK include (a) U.S. Patent No. 10,472,669; (b) U.S. Patent No. 10,961,566; (c) U.S. Patent No. 10,983,113; (d) U.S. Patent No. 10,996,219; (e) U.S. Patent No. 11,001,878; (f) U.S. Patent No. 11,008,607 and (g) U.S. Patent No. 11,293,917. About 10x Genomics 10x Genomics is a life science technology company building products to accelerate the mastery of biology and advance human health. Our integrated solutions include instruments, consumables and software for single cell and spatial biology, which help academic and translational researchers and biopharmaceutical companies understand biological systems at a resolution and scale that matches the complexity of biology. Our products are behind breakthroughs in oncology, immunology, neuroscience and more, fueling powerful discoveries that are transforming the world's understanding of health and disease. To learn more, visit 10xgenomics.com or connect with us on LinkedIn or X (Twitter) . Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. All statements included in this press release, other than statements of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "contemplate," "believe," "see," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "would," "likely," "seek" or "continue" or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding litigation and remedies as well as possible outcomes of litigation. These forward-looking statements do not reflect that our success will depend on our ability to obtain, maintain and protect our intellectual property rights, intellectual property litigation could be expensive, time-consuming, unsuccessful and could interfere with our ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize our products or technologies, litigation outcomes are unpredictable or there may be changes in our litigation strategy. These statements are based on management's current expectations, forecasts, beliefs, assumptions and information currently available to management. Actual outcomes and results could differ materially from these statements due to a number of factors and such statements should not be relied upon as representing 10x Genomics, Inc.'s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. 10x Genomics, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements provided to reflect any change in 10x Genomics' expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. The material risks and uncertainties that could affect 10x Genomics, Inc.'s financial and operating results and cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release include those discussed under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the company's most recently-filed 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and elsewhere in the documents 10x Genomics, Inc. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Disclosure Information 10x Genomics uses filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, our website ( www.10xgenomics.com ), press releases, public conference calls, public webcasts and our social media accounts as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Contacts Investors: investors@10xgenomics.com Media: media@10xgenomics.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-district-court-awards-10x-genomics-permanent-injunction-in-patent-infringement-lawsuit-against-bruker-corporations-geomx-products-302338627.html SOURCE 10x Genomics, Inc.

The Crucial T705 PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2 SSD features a monster heatsink. Get 18% off the Crucial T705 PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2 SSD this Black Friday, bringing the price down to $242. Crucial's T705 PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2 SSD has a premium price tag of $296. Delivers blazing fast performance, with option of heatsink version or bare SSD. It's expensive, and not everyone can benefit from the performance it offers. Over the years, I've observed a tendency among users to blame their PC's sluggishness on the CPU or RAM. However, more often than not, the real culprit lies in the storage. Many overlook the significant impact that storage performance can have on overall system speed, mistakenly attributing slowdowns to more familiar components like the processor or memory. The good news is that the performance of modern storage solutions is extraordinary, boasting read and write speeds that -- only a few years ago -- would have been dismissed as sheer fantasy. Today's storage systems are not only faster but also more reliable and offer much greater capacities, transforming what we expect from our devices and how we use them. Also: This pocket-sized SSD enclosure makes external drives exciting again This means that storage is now a key component to consider when you're exploring how to upgrade an existing system. Over the past couple of weeks I've been testing Crucial's new T705 PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2 SSD , which the company touts as the world's fastest SSD. And yes, it is blazingly fast -- if you have the hardware to handle it. Crucial T705 PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2 SSD The T705 is a follow-on to the T700, and brings the following improvements: 18% higher sequential reads, 8% higher sequential writes, 4% higher random reads, and 20% higher random writes. Crucial T705 Gen5 SSD specifications and highlights Micron LPDDR4 DRAM, 1GB per 1TB of NAND flash Sequential reads/writes up to 14,500/12,700MB/s Random read/write speeds up to 1,550K/1,800K IOPs Nearly 2x faster than the fastest PCIe Gen4 SSDs Available in premium fan-less heatsink and non-heatsink options Spacious capacity options: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB Microsoft DirectStorage optimized with Phison I/O+ technology Works with PCIe 5.0 desktops and workstations Backward compatible with PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 Built with Micron 232-layer 3D TLC NAND PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0 M.2 2280, double-sided Phison PS5026-E26 controller Built-in security with AES256 encryption, TCG OPAL 2.01 support, and digitally signed firmware for secure field updates Limited 5-year warranty Crucial T705 PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2 SSD Let's cut to the chase and look at what's important -- performance. The specs provided by Crucial suggest blistering performance by the fastest of the drives, which in this case is the 2TB drive. This SSD boasts an astonishing capability, with sequential read speeds that can reach up to 14,500 MB/s, setting a new benchmark for blistering performance. 1TB 2TB 4TB Sequential reads (MB/s) 13,600 14,500 14,100 Sequential writes (MB/s) 10,200 12,700 12,600 Random reads (K IOPS) 1,400 1,550 1,500 Random writes (K IOPS) 1,750 1,800 1,800 Endurance (TBW) 600 1,200 2,400 A year ago, Crucial unveiled the T700, boasting sequential read speeds of up to 12GB/s and securing the top spot in performance at the time. Since then, the market has evolved, with SSDs reaching speeds of up to 14GB/s. Despite this progress, the T705 distinguishes itself with a modest but significant boost of 0.5GB/s over its closest competitors, leading it to claim the title of the world's fastest SSD available. In my real-world testing with a Ryzen 9 7950X system on a Gigabyte B650 motherboard, the T705 delivered speeds that were within 5 percent of its advertised specifications. This performance not only confirms the impressive capabilities of the T705 but also establishes it as the world's fastest SSD. Also: I found the most secure way to carry data on your keychain The SSD is offered in three capacities -- 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB -- and is available in three variants to suit different user needs and preferences. These include a bare drive option for those who have their own heatsink; a version equipped with a heatsink for enhanced thermal management; and a limited edition model featuring a white heatsink, which is exclusively available in the 2TB capacity. The heatsink is particularly impressive. It's a substantial piece of metal designed to increase the surface area available for heat transfer from the chips, thereby facilitating more efficient heat dissipation and maintaining optimal performance. The heatsink on the T705 is huge. The heatsink is forged from premium aluminum and copper, and is designed to optimize airflow, eliminating the need for a fan. This design ensures silent operation and reduces the risk of fan-related malfunction. If using the non-heatsink version, a third-party heatsink must be installed to keep the drive cool. Another key difference between the T700 and the T705 is that this new drive is compatible with the PlayStation 5 game console , further broadening its appeal and functionality. Also: The top cloud storage services you can buy to protect your files Pricing begins at $240 for the 1TB bare drive version, with the cost rising to $730 for the 4TB model equipped with a heatsink. The special limited edition, featuring a white heatsink and available only in a 2TB capacity, will be priced at $484. ZDNET's buying advice There are two types of people who will be looking at the Crucial T705. First, professionals working with video and other huge files who want the maximum performance from their systems because time is money. Second, power users who want the world's fastest drive for bragging rights -- which is also a valid reason. Also: The best M.2 SSDs you can buy: Expert tested Whichever user you are, if you want to get the best out of this drive, you'll need -- at the very least -- an Intel Core 13th or 14th gen or AMD Ryzen 7000 CPU on a compatible motherboard with Gen5 M.2 slot. If speed is your top priority, this drive is the ultimate choice. It also offers the assurance of a limited 5-year warranty, although if you're truly driven by performance, it's likely you'll upgrade to a newer model well before the warranty period ends. When will these deals expire? Deals are subject to sell-out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on this deal, but don't fret -- we're constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com . One of the best QLED TVs I've tested isn't made by Samsung or Hisense (and it's $500 off) I finally found a wireless Android Auto adapter that's reliable, functional, and affordable This is the most bizarre portable power station I've tested - and it actually works One of the best cheap soundbars I've tested performs as well as models twice its priceNone

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C., Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- First Bank proudly continues its commitment to community with the successful completion of its 2nd annual companywide food drive. This year, employees, customers and friends from across the Carolinas and in over 110 First Bank locations joined forces to collect 21,750 pounds of food given to over 90 agencies and/or organizations for families in need throughout the community. In addition to addressing food insecurity, First Bank has awarded $319,229 in grants to local nonprofits and schools through the Power of Good Grants throughout 2024 with a total of over $640,000 in philanthropic giving, further solidifying its role as a vital partner in uplifting the communities it serves. The Power of Good Food Drive was held from November 1 – November 30 in honor of Sharon Shaw Adams, a First Bank associate, who passed away in January 2023. Sharon was a Service Excellence champion, the highest level of distinction in First Bank culture, for being an example employee that goes above and beyond. Sharon was a dedicated collector of food items and a relentless warrior against food insecurity. Her passion and commitment to alleviating hunger inspired us all. By organizing this food drive we not only remember her legacy but also carry forward her selfless spirit to combat this pressing issue. First Bank President, Adam Currie, said of the drive, "Sharon was a phenomenal associate and human. For our second year we are using this food drive to show our appreciation and admiration for her legacy, helping those in our communities. We are so proud to have increased our collections, year over year, and we hope this shows that First Bank is committed to caring for our communities in more ways than just providing banking." In the 4th Quarter, First Bank awarded its third set of grant funds in 2024 to 40 nonprofits or schools in order to help continue the excellent work they do, totaling $90,000. The recipients for this round include: Central NC Charlotte Area Western NC Elizabeth Cashwell Elementary School Claire's Army Inc. Asheville GreenWorks Scotland Family Counseling Center Community Care Clinic of Rowan County Brush Creek Elementary School TEAMWORKZ Community Foundations CDC, Inc. Harmony Methodist Church ESL Program Uwharrie Charter Academy Food for Days No Wrong Door for Support and Recovery Rowan Helping Ministries Saluda Pop-Up Pantry Thomasville Community Ministry Inc, dba Cooperative Community Ministry The Council on Aging for Henderson County Western NC Community Health Services Triangle Area Triad Area Florence, SC Area Designed for Joy Bold 2 B U Community Created to Serve Helping Education Growing the Distance, Inc Greater Florence Habitat for Humanity Holly Springs Food Cupboard Hopefulls, Inc Lydia's Bowels of Mercy Home, Inc Meals on Wheels Durham Sister Circle International The Farm at Florence The Joel Fund Upstate & Midlands SC Wilmington Area Eastern NC Center for Developmental Services (CDS) paws4people foundation Beaufort County Community College Foundation Coffee and Cupboard St.Jude's MCC Jacksonville Performing Arts Teen Outreach HOPE Missions of the Upstate The Carousel Center The Partnership for Children of Wayne County Upstate Warrior Solution Learn more about the GOOD being done in the community by First Bank at www.LocalFirstBank.com/Power-of-Good . About us: First Bank is the banking subsidiary of First Bancorp and is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $12.1 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 113 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina and a nationwide SBA platform. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to manage a home or business. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com . Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-bank-brings-communities-together-with-2nd-annual-food-drive-and-local-grant-support-302334091.html SOURCE First BankA body found in a creek bed more than four decades ago has been identified as a missing Nevada man, California deputies say. With help from new technologies , including forensic genetic genealogy, the body found in 1980 was identified as Donald Gene Horecka, 25, of Las Vegas, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office said in a Dec. 16 Facebook post. Body found in creek Deputies said they responded to a Benicia property on Feb. 2, 1980, after getting a report about a body being found in a creek bed. At the time, investigators determined the body belonged to a man, deputies said. They also learned he died from corrosive esophagitis, which is caused by “ingesting a chemical substance not meant for human consumption,” according to deputies. Despite investigating his death “for several months,” deputies said the man’s identity remained a mystery. He was eventually buried without a name, deputies said. Decades later, case reopened Then, decades later, deputies said they reopened the case and exhumed the man’s body in 2023 in hopes of finally identifying him. Since then, investigators have been searching for his identity using “facial reconstruction, new DNA testing and Forensic Genetic Genealogy,” deputies said. Genetic genealogy uses DNA testing coupled with “traditional genealogical methods” to create “family history profiles,” according to the Library of Congress. With genealogical DNA testing, researchers can determine if and how people are biologically related. The sheriff’s office partnered with Othram Inc ., a forensic genetic genealogy company, last year and sent a DNA sample to the company, Othram said in a Dec. 17 news release. There, scientists created “a comprehensive DNA profile” for the man, which was used in genealogy research, the company based in Texas said. This research provided new leads to law enforcement, which pointed investigators to the man’s potential relatives, according to Othram. The relatives provided a DNA sample, which confirmed the remains belonged to Horecka, Othram said. Horecka “went missing from Nevada sometime in the late 1970s to early 1980,” deputies said. Anyone with information about Horecka is asked to contact the coroner’s office at 707-784-7500. Benicia is about a 35-mile drive northeast from San Francisco. Mom of 2 died in 1992. Now, partner is accused of arranging her Massachusetts death These four cold cases sat unsolved — until now Woman who gave fake name before dying in 1999 identified, Arizona officials sayThe alleged perpetrator of the deadly car-ramming attack on a Christmas market in Germany had been contacted by police just weeks before the incident. The attack in the central city of Magdeburg on Friday evening, which killed five people including a nine-year-old boy, is believed to have been carried out by a Saudi national identified only as Taleb A according to German privacy laws. The number of people injured in the rampage has climbed to 235. The suspect has been living in Germany since 2006 and was granted political refugee status in 2016. He was most recently working as a doctor in the town of Bernburg, south of Magdeburg. Taleb A was detained at the scene and is being held in police custody, with investigators searching for a motive amid suggestions that authorities failed to heed warnings about the man. Tamara Zieschang, the interior minister of the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, told MPs in Magdeburg on Monday that police met the man twice - in September 2023 and October 2024 - to warn him about his behaviour. Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry of the northern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern said that Taleb A became known to authorities as a potential suspect in 2015. Regional authorities had informed the Federal Criminal Police Office at the Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre, which is supported by Germany's federal and regional government, about the man's possible intention to carry out an attack on February 6, 2015, it said. The report concerned threats to carry out actions that would attract international attention against a medical association in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in April 2013 and one year later against a local authority in the northern German city of Stralsund. The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern interior minister, Christian Pegel, said the 50-year-old suspect had lived in the state from 2011-16 and had completed parts of his specialist medical training in Stralsund. He said the man had been involved in a dispute with the medical association about the recognition of examination results and had later threatened the social services in Stralsund in an attempt to obtain assistance with living costs. A district court fined Taleb A for threatening the medical association, Pegel said. However, he added, the previous investigations had not revealed any evidence of real preparations for an attack or Islamist connections. The man was warned by the police and told that he would be monitored more closely but was not classified as a threat, Pegel said.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Germain Ifedi became the fourth left tackle to start this season for the Cleveland Browns, lining up Thursday night against the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. Ifedi moved up the depth chart and into the lineup after starter Dawand Jones broke his left leg last week at New Orleans and had surgery. He'll be responsible for blocking quarterback Jameis Winston's blindside. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.House Ethics report finds evidence Matt Gaetz paid thousands for sex and drugsChase Artopoeus has two TD passes, TD run as Chattanooga tops Austin Peay 24-17 in season finale

Arcadium Lithium Announces Shareholder Approval of Proposed Rio Tinto Transaction and Provides Regulatory Update