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winner 777 casino login Saturday Night Live pulled out all the stops for Election Season this year. Maya Rudolph returned to play Kamala Harris alongside fellow series alum Andy Samberg, who played Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff. Another exciting surprise was Dana Carvey returning to the show to play a perfect Joe Biden, and SNL also utilized the impressionist to do other characters, with one being Elon Musk . Now, Carvey is sharing an honest take on his performance as the tech mogul, and one point he made could potentially resonate with Musk himself. In the post-election cold open , SNL kicked off with the cast glibly expressing their support for former President Trump after he was re-elected. Towards the end of the sketch, Dana Carvey came out as Elon Musk in his signature blazer with an ironic T-shirt under it and a MAGA hat. He started jumping around the stage, imitating Musk’s actions at a rally and doing his unmistakable voice. Carvey admitted that his impression isn't that solid and told David Spade on their Superfly podcast just why it's so challenging: I can't do Elon Musk very well. But I can do something that sounds not like anything. He has an incredible accent... South Africa via Canada, via Pennsylvania. It's almost like, it's a little bit of Australian in there, a little bit of British. But it’s not totally that. Due to the various places Elon Musk has lived, his accent is a mix of a bunch of different regions, making his voice very unique. He’s from South Africa, but his parents are from other areas as well, and Musk has lived in the States for a large part of his life. The Wayne's World alum noting the singular nature of Musk’s speaking voice and calling it “incredible” would likely flatter the famous billionaire, and it may not be the only point he'd agree with the comic on. As the Master of Disguise star mentioned, he can't impersonate the businessman "very well," and Musk disliked Carvey’s impression of him . In Musk's estimation, "Dana Carvey just sounds like Dana Carvey." Via another social media post, the Space X founder then insulted the late-night show for its inclusion of Kamala Harris herself on the pre-election installment. Given that, it's possible that Musk would co-sign the shortcomings of Carvey's impersonation. This can be included in the line of conflicts that the NBC mainstay has had with Musk over the years. For example, most recently, series cast member Bowen Yang claimed a guest host made some cast members cry. Sometime later, Chloe Fineman said it was Elon Musk who made her cry when hosted back in 2021. Musk didn’t deny the accusation and responded by saying the writing was not funny at the time. Despite the conflict surrounding Dana Carvey's impression, the bit seems to have been received well by a number of viewers, based on the social media reactions. While the accent may not have been spot on, one could argue that it was apparent what Carvey was going for. Given the comedian's latest thoughts, it's hard not to wonder tell whether the Tesla bigwig will feel compelled to weigh in. You can revisit Dana Carvey’s impression of Elon Musk by checking out Saturday Night Live 's post-election episode, which is now streamable with a Peacock subscription . The late night show is also bringing back more former cast members, as well as exciting hosts and musical guests for its 50th anniversary season . So make sure to check out new episodes when they air on NBC on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET. CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER Your Daily Blend of Entertainment NewsThe NBA’s seven-game lineup on Saturday is not one to miss. The matchups include the Memphis Grizzlies versus the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Looking for how to watch NBA basketball? All the games to watch on Saturday are here. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get access to games, live and on-demand, and more for the entire season and offseason. Watch ESPN originals, The Last Dance and more NBA content on ESPN+. Use our link to sign up for ESPN+ or the Disney bundle. 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 .

US to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves officeOklahoma had a chance to end a disappointing season on a high note with a Armed Forces Bowl victory over a solid Navy team. A quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter made that goal look like an inevitable reality. Instead, the Midshipmen stuck around and secured a 21-20 to finish 10-3 and send the Sooners to 6-7. Oklahoma nearly made it 21-0 in the second quarter but a crucial fourth-down stop in the red zone by Navy gave the Midshipmen some momentum. From their, Navy scored a touchdown in each of the remaining three quarters to take the lead while the defense held firm and limited the Sooners offense. Oklahoma would get a chance to tie it with a late touchdown but instead opted to go for two and failed to convert. Navy quarterback Blake Horvath went 7-of-12 for 92 yards in the air and had 18 carries for 155 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including a 95-yard rushing touchdown that set a program record. Running back Alex Tecza had 15 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown. Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. went 28-of-43 for 247 yards and two touchdown while also adding 17 carries for 61 yards on the ground. Running back Gavin Sawchuk had 13 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Zion Kearney had two catches for 66 yards and a touchdown and tight end Jake Roberts had the other touchdown. The flat effort caused Oklahoma to go below .500 for the second time in the last three seasons. Fans took to social media to blast head coach Will Venables for his coaching decisions, including the two-point decision, and debate his future with the program. Oklahoma falls to 22-17 in the Venables era, but did have significant opt-outs from the game. Still, the storied program's first season in the SEC ended sour, and many will hope that new transfer quarterback John Mateer can bring the Sooners back to a strong place.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team instead sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mount Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.

For those who are brave enough to ride during the winter, studded motorcycle tires often get discussed as a solution for harsh conditions. These tires have metal studs or spikes that improve traction on icy or snowy terrain. Studded tires are somewhat unusual because they're seldom used and they require specific conditions and riding surfaces to increase traction safely. Depending on state law and time of year, studded motorcycle tires can technically be used on the street during winter months, but you're more likely to find them off-road on icy trails or frozen lakes. Living in the harsh conditions of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, I had the pleasure of riding in some cold winter weather. I quickly learned that having the correct tires and gear is essential when temperatures plummet and conditions deteriorate. Even if studded motorcycle tires didn't exist, it's vital to pick the best tires possible because some brands rank better than others . Staying warm was also essential, and heated riding gear made winter riding more manageable. Some people chose to opt out of winter riding altogether and winterized their bikes for the cold months . With years of riding experience in adverse climates, I've learned how studded tires can be a valuable tool for winter riding. Let's take a closer look at how studded motorcycle tires work, how you can acquire them, their pros and cons, and some alternatives to consider. Studded motorcycle tires have lots of metal studs or pointy spikes embedded into the tire. The exact configuration and number of studs varies based on the tread pattern and type of stud used. The studs bite into ice or hard-packed snow, which helps to increase traction and reduces the likelihood of slipping. The studs also increase control when accelerating, braking, and turning. Think of studded motorcycle tires like an athletic cleat digging into a playing field to provide increased stability and directional control. It's difficult to find motorcycle tires directly from a manufacturer with the studs already installed. That's because studded motorcycle tires are a niche item, and well-known tire makers like Dunlop and Pirelli don't sell them directly to consumers. If you want a set, you'll probably have to buy pre-studded motorcycle tires from specialty motorcycle shops, have a professional mechanic install them, or install the studs yourself. You'll have to find a local shop or one that ships, and the tires might be from lesser-known manufacturers such as Mitas. Studding the tires yourself isn't the safest option, and it's recommended to have a professional mechanic install the studs for you. Assuming you have a bike capable of going off-road, and you're riding on snowy trails or frozen-over lakes, studded tires can be a great option. Studded tires excel in these conditions and can make winter riding more enjoyable while increasing handling and safety. If you're adventurous enough to brave winter riding, studded tires can extend your season year-round. You'll be riding in February while your friends are suffering from cabin fever. If you're primarily riding on the road during the winter months, studded tires might not be the best option for you. While they provide improved traction on roads covered in ice or heavily packed snow, problems arise when you encounter dry or wet bare pavement. The moment your studded tires come into contact with a bare patch of road, the metal spikes act like ball bearings, and the chances of losing traction increase. You might be okay in a car, but with only two wheels, it's a recipe for disaster. Aside from safety concerns, studded tires are more expensive than regular tires due to the extra labor of installing the studs. Finally, the studs can cause road damage, which can lead to costly repairs. Non-studded winter motorcycle tires with unique tread patterns, sipes (small grooves), and softer rubber compounds are a good alternative to studded tires. European tire manufacturer Mitas makes the MC-32 winter tire , designed for wet roads, snow, and slush. The MC-32's have pre-marked spaces to install studs for any extreme winter riding in icy conditions. Germany's Heidenau makes three non-studded motorcycle snow tires: the K 37S, K 58S, and K 62S. The 58 and 62 models use a proprietary rubber blend called Snowtex to increase traction in sub-zero conditions. Turkish tire maker Anlas also has three winter models: the Winter Grip Plus, Winter Grip 2 (SC-500), and the NR-50 WinterGrip. These models use winter tread patterns, advanced polymers, and activated silica technology to increase traction on cold, wet, and snowy roads. If you can't find these tires for any reason, you can always reduce your speed, increase braking distance, and be extra cautious when maneuvering during winter riding. Studded motorcycles are a niche item because they're usually only used in harsh climates and specific riding conditions. If you do a lot of off-road riding during the winter, they may be exactly what you're looking for. However, if you spend most of your time on the road, you might want to seriously consider the pros and cons before buying a set. If you conclude that you don't need studded winter tires but still want to ride on the road during the winter, there are some quality options available, but you'll need to figure out whether they ship to your location. Either way, it's important to slow down and be extra cautious any time you're riding in adverse weather conditions.

Lonzo Ball can’t help but wonder if LaVar’s Big Baller Brand sneakers caused career-derailing injuriesThis Indian space start-up is launching ₹500cr IPO next week

Former New Orleans priest convicted of raping teen boy dies while serving life sentenceIt was a story good enough for a Hallmark movie, and it came just in time for Christmas. Last week, space news site Payload Space told the heartwarming tale of a small Ukrainian company, "Promin," and its quixotic quest to build a new rocket by joining some of the best Soviet-era rocket scientists with American corporate know-how. Based in Dnipro, not far from the front lines in war-ravaged southeastern Ukraine, Promin was working toward its first rocket launch when Russia invaded in 2022. Putting those plans on hold, the company decided to try to set up shop in the United States instead, and finally opened its doors in Brunswick, Maine in December. There, the Maine Space Corporation has helped the Ukrainian start-up find U.S. partners -- including tech giant Alphabet ( GOOG 1.72% ) ( GOOGL 1.54% ) -- and establish a development and testing site at a former Naval Air Station. As Payload tells it, Promin plans to run project management and research and development out of Dnipro, while a team of U.S. engineers builds the company's first "Promin 1" rocket and conducts tests in Maine. There's just one problem: I think this project looks doomed from the start. Light that candle It's not (necessarily) technical issues that I see causing Promin to fail, although the company's plan is a bit on the esoteric side. Utilizing "autophagic technology," Promin plans to build a solid fuel rocket in which both fuel and fuel tank are made of the same combustible stuff. Thus, both tank and core will burn -- like a candle that consumes wick, wax, and holder all together. Disposing of the tank's weight in this manner should result in a lighter-than-usual rocket, enabling Promin to lift picosat and nanosat payloads of 3 kilograms into Low Earth Orbit for as little as $100,000 per launch. But dedicated space fans will spot the first problem right here: Even within the smallsat launch market, there's a clear trend of "small" satellites getting larger, as companies like Rocket Lab and Firefly Aerospace build more efficient launchers, with more boost to orbit. Promin's decision to go ultra-small on its own payloads appears to go against the grain of where the rest of the space launch market is moving. And from where I see it, that's not even Promin's biggest problem. Uncle Sam wants you ... to stay out of his business The biggest problem I fear Promin will encounter, as it attempts to build a business in the U.S., is that the U.S. government acts downright hostile to foreign rocket firms trying to do U.S. space work. In When the Heavens Went on Sale , space journalist Ashlee Vance described the skepticism with which the U.S. government viewed both Rocket Lab's and Firefly's initial attempts to marry foreign tech to U.S. rocket launches. Against all logic, the U.S. government worried that what these companies' New Zealand and Ukrainian (respectively) backers really wanted to do was steal U.S. rocket technology to sell it to terrorists. Rocket Lab ultimately won over its U.S. customers by signing contracts with NASA and the U.S. military, setting up multiple research, production, and launch locations across the U.S., and demonstrating strict adherence to U.S. export control regulations. But Firefly Aerospace failed -- spectacularly -- to allay U.S. concerns. As Vance describes it, the U.S. government repeatedly "passed over" Firefly for NASA and military launch contracts. Firefly wasn't just lagging established U.S. space firms like SpaceX and United Launch Alliance. Firefly was losing out to "mom-and-pop" start-ups, which received "tens of millions of dollars" of government support, while Firefly got zilch. Adding insult to financial injury, on visits to Vandenberg Air Force Base in late 2020, where Firefly was building a launch pad, its Ukrainian financier Max Polyakov was assigned "escort only" status -- only allowed on base with an Air Force minder. To ratchet up the pressure, the government then informed Firefly that unless its Ukrainian backer gave up his board seat and sold his controlling interest in Firefly to a "more acceptable" investor, the FAA would not grant Firefly a license to launch its Alpha rocket. (By this point, Polyakov had invested $200 million in funding Firefly's development.) Ultimately, Firefly had to bow to the government's demands. First, Polyakov sold his majority stake in the company to win a launch license in 2021. (The rocket launched, but did not reach orbit.) Then, Firefly was informed that it would not receive any further launch licenses, and would lose access to Vandenberg until its Ukrainian connection was completely severed. Polyakov sold his entire stake in the company and left Firefly completely in 2022. The lesson for investors Today, Firefly is doing just fine . Now under new management, it's actually gearing up for its sixth rocket launch, and preparing to send a spacecraft to the moon . But that's small consolation to the Ukrainian investor who got the company off the ground in the first place. I worry that investors in Ukrainian Promin will eventually face the same challenges that convinced Polyakov to divest his holdings in Firefly. Should this company undertake an IPO, or even simply attempt to attract private market investment among small investors thinking "if Google invests in it, it must be safe," think again. I wouldn't see it as a safe investment at all.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has categorically dismissed claims surrounding an alleged imaginary map created by certain individuals in Bangladesh, purportedly showing Assam as part of their territory. Addressing the matter, Sarma stated, “Some people in Bangladesh are making an imaginary map in which Assam is shown as a part of Bangladesh. But we are actually building semiconductor factories in Assam. Their fantasy does not matter to us.” Advertisement The Chief Minister underscored Assam’s rapid strides in infrastructure and economic development, asserting that such baseless claims have no impact on the state’s ambitions. Advertisement “Does Bangladesh have a semiconductor industry? We are propelling Assam so far ahead that even those in Bangladesh will be astonished when they visit. They will not be able to grasp or compete with our progress,” he added. Sarma pointed to the establishment of semiconductor factories as a landmark achievement in Assam’s industrial journey, positioning the state as a hub for technological innovation and a frontrunner in economic growth. AdvertisementMPS Loria Financial Planners LLC Sells 285 Shares of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)Mattern Wealth Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN – Free Report ) by 2.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 28,540 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock after selling 792 shares during the period. Amazon.com comprises 1.2% of Mattern Wealth Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Mattern Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Amazon.com were worth $5,318,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of AMZN. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Amazon.com by 31.6% in the 1st quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 182,359 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $32,894,000 after purchasing an additional 43,759 shares during the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Amazon.com by 3.3% during the first quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 33,729 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $6,084,000 after buying an additional 1,081 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Amazon.com by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 318,667 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $57,481,000 after acquiring an additional 11,133 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its position in Amazon.com by 10.4% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 519,213 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $93,656,000 after acquiring an additional 48,933 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Motive Wealth Advisors raised its position in Amazon.com by 74.7% in the 1st quarter. Motive Wealth Advisors now owns 8,224 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock valued at $1,483,000 after purchasing an additional 3,516 shares during the last quarter. 72.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently issued reports on AMZN shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Amazon.com from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Monness Crespi & Hardt boosted their price objective on shares of Amazon.com from $225.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on Amazon.com from $210.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. JMP Securities lifted their price objective on Amazon.com from $265.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Roth Mkm raised their target price on shares of Amazon.com from $210.00 to $215.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, forty have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $235.77. Amazon.com Price Performance Shares of AMZN opened at $197.12 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. Amazon.com, Inc. has a twelve month low of $142.81 and a twelve month high of $215.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.07 trillion, a P/E ratio of 42.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a 50 day moving average of $193.00 and a 200-day moving average of $186.31. Amazon.com ( NASDAQ:AMZN – Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The e-commerce giant reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.14 by $0.29. Amazon.com had a net margin of 8.04% and a return on equity of 22.41%. The business had revenue of $158.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $157.28 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.85 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Amazon.com, Inc. will post 5.27 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity at Amazon.com In other Amazon.com news, CEO Douglas J. Herrington sold 5,502 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $205.81, for a total value of $1,132,366.62. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 518,911 shares in the company, valued at $106,797,072.91. This trade represents a 1.05 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, Director Jonathan Rubinstein sold 5,004 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $199.85, for a total value of $1,000,049.40. Following the sale, the director now owns 99,396 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,864,290.60. This represents a 4.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 6,011,423 shares of company stock valued at $1,249,093,896. 10.80% of the stock is owned by insiders. About Amazon.com ( Free Report ) Amazon.com, Inc engages in the retail sale of consumer products, advertising, and subscriptions service through online and physical stores in North America and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). It also manufactures and sells electronic devices, including Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Echo, Ring, Blink, and eero; and develops and produces media content. Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Amazon.com The Significance of a Trillion-Dollar Market Cap Goes Beyond a Number Vertiv’s Cool Tech Makes Its Stock Red-Hot What is a Low P/E Ratio and What Does it Tell Investors? MarketBeat Week in Review – 11/18 – 11/22 Best of the list of Dividend Aristocrats: Build wealth with the aristocrat index 2 Finance Stocks With Competitive Advantages You Can’t Ignore Receive News & Ratings for Amazon.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Amazon.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Holiday stress can lead Alzheimer’s patients and those with dementia to go missingEquatic, a Los Angeles-based start-up, has developed an unprecedented technology that uses the ocean to address two of the world’s most pressing climate issues: carbon capture and green hydrogen production. However, though the innovation promises a dual solution, it has already caused a stir among scientists and environmental advocates. The ocean naturally absorbs at least a quarter of the CO2 emissions that people cause, acting as an important buffer against climate change. Equatic seeks to enhance this process by using its ocean-based carbon removal technology to store carbon in a stable, long-term form. According to the company, the captured carbon remains locked away for thousands of years, providing a reliable solution to reduce the atmospheric CO2 levels. Edward Sanders, CEO of Equatic, says, “We have a technology that does two things pretty well. One is we take CO2 out of the atmosphere and store it permanently. The second thing we do is produce green hydrogen.” Dual-Action Technology Equatic is the process involving pumping seawater into an electrolyzer powered by renewable energy resources such as wind or sun. The electrolyzer separates it into hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, and an alkaline slurry. In this process, the captured CO2 is converted in the slurry into stable carbonates and bicarbonates released back into the ocean. Unlike the traditional methods, the Equatic system does not produce harmful chlorine gas in the process, owing to the specially designed oxygen-selective anode. The captured CO2 is chemically immobilized, thus trapping it for millennia without releasing back into the atmosphere. In addition to removing CO2, Equatic produces green hydrogen—a clean energy source crucial for decarbonizing industries like shipping and aviation. Although the electrolyzer is less efficient in producing hydrogen compared to conventional models, it has a dual benefit: helping monetize the carbon capture process. Scaling Up: Ambitions And Challenges Equatic has already proven its technology in pilot plants in Los Angeles and Singapore, each removing 30–40 tonnes of CO2 annually. The company is now building a larger facility in Singapore that will capture 4,000 tonnes of CO2 and produce 100 tonnes of hydrogen yearly. A commercial-scale plant in Quebec will be able to remove 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. However, scaling up ocean-based carbon removal is not easy. The opponents raise the issue of energy consumption, environmental impact, and the potential for unforeseen effects in marine ecosystems. According to Mary Church of the Center for International Environmental Law, marine carbon removal can interfere with ocean chemistry and impact nutrient levels and populations of species. “At a scale to meaningfully impact the climate, marine CO2 removal would be inherently unpredictable and pose significant risks to ecosystems,” she says. Marine scientist James Kerry adds that the process of Equatic may necessitate the processing of enormous volumes of seawater, thus causing harm to marine life and disrupting food security. Equatic maintains that its process is safe and compliant with international environmental standards. The company neutralizes acidic waste streams before discharge and tracks its effects on marine ecosystems. According to Sanders, there is no alternative to doing nothing. “We have to remove legacy CO2 emissions from the atmosphere to decrease climate-related stress on our oceans,” he says. Next Steps For Ocean-Based Solutions While promising, experts maintain that ocean-based carbon removal must complement, not displace, emissions reductions. As Charlotte Levy of Carbon180 has said, “No removal solution later is as good as mitigation now.” Equatic aims to get the CO2 removal costs below $100 per tonne by 2030 and hopes its technology will be scaled enough to make a significant dent in global emissions by mid-2040s. Whether it can balance innovation with environmental stewardship is a critical question in this race to combat climate change. ALSO READ | Two Massive Asteroids Approaches Earth, Are They A Threat? Here’s WHAT NASA Says

As the world of digital payments evolves, crypto payments and stablecoins are emerging as twin engines driving innovation in consumer and business transactions across both Main Street and Wall Street. For consumers, the allure of cryptocurrencies lies in their ability to bypass traditional financial systems, providing faster, cheaper and more autonomous transactions. Businesses, on the other hand, gravitate toward stablecoins for their predictable value and compatibility with existing infrastructure. Despite these differences, both groups benefit from a shared underlying technology: blockchain. Its transparency, security and programmability create opportunities for innovation that bridges the gap between consumer and enterprise use cases. As adoption grows and regulations evolve, the line between consumer and business use cases may blur. Hybrid solutions — such as stablecoins that offer rewards programs or cryptocurrencies designed for low volatility — could further integrate these technologies into daily life. The Consumer Case for Crypto While Bitcoin’s price, as of reporting, stands at a value of around $104,000, the digital asset’s price topped $106,000 Monday (Dec. 16) on Donald Trump’s apparent plans for a bitcoin reserve. The world’s most popular cryptocurrency reached that new record as just the latest in a series of milestones in the wake of the pro-crypto president-elect’s victory last month. The price later broke $108,000. But with the surge in value has also come the need for a jump up in security. Revolut will reportedly offer new anti-fraud security measures to its cryptocurrency customers starting next year, news broke Tuesday (Dec. 17). Crypto-related convictions jumped an astonishing 267% last year , with law enforcement taking creative measures to catch scammers. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is seeking public comment on its plans to improve the transparency of the country’s cryptocurrency markets. The FCA recently found that 12% of U.K. adults own crypto, up from 10% in past findings. “We want to develop a crypto regime that is fair, balanced and proportionate for all,” the FCA said in a release on Monday. “We need input from the government, our international partners, industry and consumers to help us get the future rules right.” European cryptocurrency exchange WhiteBIT launched a debit card partnership with Visa in what the company described as “a major step in making cryptocurrency a practical choice for everyday transactions.” As for less practical and less every day purchases, upscale French luxury department store Printemps has announced a partnership with Binance and French FinTech company Lyzi to accept cryptocurrencies in its stores in France, becoming the first European department store to do so. Stablecoins Start Setting Up Camp Across U.S. Financial Ecosystem While consumers enjoy the speculative and flexible nature of cryptocurrencies, businesses prioritize stablecoins for their practical advantages. Stablecoin payments infrastructure firm BVNK is expanding to the U.S. after raising $50 million . As part of the funding round, the company is opening an office in San Francisco and “establishing a presence” in New York City, BVNK said in a news release. “Stablecoins are redefining how money moves across the world — faster, more cost-efficient and with fewer barriers,” said Jesse Hemson-Struthers , CEO of BVNK. “At BVNK, we’re building the infrastructure to make these new rails accessible to businesses everywhere, empowering them to operate at the speed of today’s economy. This funding marks the next step in our mission to transform payments for the modern world.” PYMNTS on Tuesday explored how , while artificial intelligence (AI) drives automation and analytics, blockchain brings a critical layer of trust and transparency to finance operations. We noted that digital assets like stablecoins can offer treasury teams the capability to optimize cross-border payments and provide alternative payment solutions, such as for complex commercial transactions or within regions with less stable fiat currencies. Blockchain firm Ripple announced on Monday (Dec. 16) the news that RLUSD, the organization’s USD-pegged stablecoin, had received approval from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). On Tuesday, the stablecoin became available for use across the world’s exchanges in the latest example of rising enthusiasm in the digital asset sector. Also on Tuesday, the payroll/HR platform Remote announced that its clients can now pay contract workers using stablecoins . The new offering, launching initially for businesses in the U.S., allows companies to pay contractors in 69 countries with the USDC stablecoin per the introduction of stablecoin payouts via Stripe .TEHRAN –Sharif University of Technology students have claimed the first top three positions in a programming contest known as the 25th International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) for the West Asia region. Hosted by Sharif University of Technology on December 19 and 20, the competition brought together some 250 students from 50 universities nationwide, IRNA reported. The ICPC is a prestigious international student programming Olympiad. It was founded in the 1970s in the USA and has since become a global competition that gathers the best teams of students from universities around the world to solve complex algorithmic problems. According to Mohammad-Amin Ahmadlou, an official with the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, “the contest aims to enhance technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork among students.” “Held in two sessions earlier this year, the course covers essential topics such as competitive programming fundamentals, data structures, string processing techniques, and basic graph algorithms,” he added. The official further noted that the educational initiatives are expected to significantly elevate students’ knowledge and skills and develop a new generation of skilled programmers for professional fields in information technology and artificial intelligence. This year, 80 teams composed of three students each competed against each other. Three participating teams from Sharif University of Technology namely Ballmer Peak, Big Dash and LP0 on Fire grabbed gold medals, and ranked the first to third, respectively. Two teams from University of Tehran ranked fourth and fifth. A team from Sharif University of Technology and a team from Amirkabir University of Technology were placed sixth and seventh. Being ranked first, Ballmer Peak team from Sharif University of Technology will participate in the ICPC world finals. Three more teams including SENSODYNE and KhasTeAm from University of Tehran, and another one named Argons from Amirkabir University of Technology will attend ICPC in West Asia to compete against other top teams and defeat them to be able to attend the ICPC world finals. In 2019, Iran was placed among top ten team in the world finals and grabbed the bronze medal. In 2024, students of Sharif University of Technology ranked first among West Asian countries at the 14th ICPC, which was held from September 15 to 20 in Astana, Kazakhstan, ISNA reported. The event was attended by 73,000 students from more than 100 countries representing leading universities in each country. The Iranian team was composed of Ali Safari, Alireza Keshavarz, and Amir-Mohammad Shahrezaei. Sharif University of Technology ranked 13 globally, sharing the position with Harvard University, St. Petersburg State University, University of Oxford, and University of Science and Technology of China, as well as other famous institutions receiving the highest honors. At the international level, ICPC was first held in 1977 in the USA, University of Michigan. Since then, the competition has been held annually in various countries such as the USA, Russia, the Netherlands, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Japan, Sweden, Poland, Thailand, Morocco, Egypt, Bangladesh and Portugal. The ICPC community’s purpose is to advance prospects for the next generation by bringing students together working collaboratively to solve algorithmically challenging problems, and preparing them to build dependable systems that benefit their neighbors with the support of universities, industry, and community leaders, globally. Volunteer coaches prepare their teams with intense training and instruction in algorithms, programming, and teamwork strategy. Teammates collaborate to rank the difficulty of the problems, deduce the requirements, design test beds, and build software systems that solve the problems. The team that solves the most problems in the fewest attempts in the least cumulative time is declared the winner. Iranian students won two silver medals at the International Innovation and Trade Expo (ITE 2024) which was held in London. Organized by Kingston University, the competition was held from September 25 to 27 either in person or virtually. One of the Iranian teams composed of Amir-Abbas Kavousi-Amin and Artin Salari designed a pair of smart glasses for the blind, IRNA reported. The other consisting of Ilia Rezazadeh and Padra Qazvinian designed a smart system for emotion recognition through facial expression analysis. The competition brought together many participants and inventions in diverse areas. Students of Iran University of Science and Technology managed to win first place in Eurasia Federation of International RoboSports Association (FIRA) Open competition 2024. The competition was held from November 6 to 9 in Van, Turkey, bringing together 130 teams from eight countries. Iran grabbed five gold medals and two special awards in the International Science and Invention Fair (ISIF) 2024, which was held in Indonesia from November 5 to 10. The competition brought together 1,980 teams from 24 countries competing in eight fields including technical- engineering, chemistry and nanotechnology, biotechnology and environment, energy engineering, physics and astronomy, artificial intelligence and technology, social sciences, education, and educational technologies, IRNA reported. A total of 18 students from Iran attended the 47th WorldSkills Competition, winning 9 medals including a silver medal and medallions for excellence. The competition was held from September 10 to 15 in Lyon, France. Some 1,500 competitors from more than 65 countries and regions around the world gathered in Lyon to compete in different skills. Hasan Mohammadi and Hamid-Reza Hamidi won the silver medal, IRIB reported MT/MGNATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russian attack with hypersonic missile