jili no.1
2025-01-10   

jili no.1 2027: No Automatic Tickets For Ekiti APC Lawmakers — FayemiBy Jarrell Dillard, Prashant Gopal and Maria Clara Cobo | Bloomberg Before Donald Trump’s election, Redfin Corp. projected mortgage rates would average 6.1% next year. But three days after the election, they revised their estimate upward to 6.8% – basically unchanged from today’s high levels. “The difference is Trump,” said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin. “The market seems to be pricing in that he’ll move forward with at least some of the tariffs, but it’s really hard to know what Trump is going to do.” It’s another hit for the housing market, which has been dealing with a rise in borrowing costs that’s pushed at least one measure of mortgage rates above 7%. Economists expecting higher-for-longer borrowing costs shows just how tough the market is likely to be for homebuyers trying to find affordable options. “There was a view that rates would gradually fall, but that no longer seems to be the case,” said Thomas Ryan, North America economist at Capital Economics. “As a result, the housing market is going to stay frozen — as it is — for longer than we and other economists had expected.” While the stock market rallied the day after Trump’s victory, the bond market has reacted with more trepidation given how tariffs and other policies might impact inflation. After the election, Barclays Plc economists raised their inflation projections for the next two years and lowered their outlook for economic growth, due to tariffs and potential immigration restrictions. Trump’s proposal for an up to 20% tariff on all imports, and an even higher 60% tariff on Chinese goods, is one of the major causes of uncertainty. Economists have said this could lead to inflation as companies would likely pass on those cost increases to consumers. If he also imposes tax cuts, that could lower fiscal revenue and drive up the US deficit, pushing long-term rates even higher. Some economists have also warned that Trump’s plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants could further exacerbate the nation’s housing shortage. If Trump’s policies lead to an even smaller labor force for the construction industry, it would make it difficult to build new homes and make costs even more expensive. “We need labor,” said Nadia Evangelou, senior economist at the National Association of Realtors. “Sometimes homebuilders are not able to deliver affordable homes, or the price point that people can afford to buy. And the reason is because of the labor shortage.” Trump’s impacts on the economy will likely influence how the Federal Reserve proceeds. And while the Fed’s decisions on short-term interest rates do not directly set mortgage rates, monetary policy does have some influence. Mortgage rates closely follow yields on 10-year Treasuries, and are affected by market expectations for inflation and economic growth. Capital Economics expects higher rates to be another “setback” for buyers and cause a home-sale recovery to be even shallower than expected. Mortgage rates will likely stay high around 7% in 2024 and drop only a quarter point by the end of 2025, according to Capital Economics’ Ryan. “There’s a general consensus that the net effect of Trump’s policies will be inflationary,” Ryan said. “That’s what’s driving changes in the bond market at the moment.” Other economists have also dialed back their mortgage-rate expectations. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, predicts 30-year fixed mortgage rates will now remain around 7%. “I don’t think I’d count on mortgage rates coming down anytime until next fall, later next year,” Zandi said. “And even then, I’m not sure. It really depends on what his policies are, how aggressively he pursues them.” For buyers, the picture remains a little uncertain. High borrowing costs have weighed on shoppers, fueling a drop in contracts to buy previously owned homes in October, according to Redfin. While prices held up in October, homes stayed a median of 41 days on the market, about a week longer than a year ago, according to Redfin. If higher borrowing costs slow the market even more, that could help spur more deals for buyers. For now, election uncertainty has cleared, giving some consumers more confidence to forge ahead. Erica Diaz, an agent with Homevest in Florida, said her business has seen a significant increase in both potential buyers and sellers since the election. Malvin Le, a real estate agent based in Orange County, California, said his phone lit up immediately after the election with a few buyers ready to go shopping again. “The day after the election, I got three or four calls from buyers who wanted to see a house that weekend,” Le said. “There are still buyers waiting to buy, they’re just waiting for a good deal.” Related Articles Housing | Criminal charges and jail time now part of predatory mortgage lending law in California Housing | 30-year mortgage hit highest level since July Housing | Mortgage refinancing, auto loans rejected at highest rate since 2013 Housing | US mortgage rates dip, but economists see volatility ahead Housing | Mortgage rates fell, then rose. What comes next?The recent developments in the conflict have been marked by significant changes in the balance of power among the anti-government armed groups. The emergence of new factions, the reorganization of existing alliances, and the influx of external support have all contributed to a complex and fluid situation. As different groups jockey for control of territory, resources, and influence, tensions are running high, and the potential for conflict within the anti-government camp is becoming increasingly apparent.

Since the advent of online gaming, there have been bad apples taking to their microphones and keyboards, spewing toxicity and harassment. Chances are that if you’ve played any major online game, competitive or not, you’ve been the target of some sort of harassment. Thankfully, companies like Modulate AI are hoping to address and mitigate the amount of online harassment that persists today. Harassment in gaming has sadly become synonymous with the online culture of the industry. Verbal abuse in all forms is demonstrated online every day. If you’re a player of colour, a female, or part of the LGBTQ2S+ community, these forms of harassment come in the form of slurs, sexism, and other hateful comments. Some of the most popular online games, like Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Call of Duty , etc., harbour some of the worst communities for abuse. Data sourced by Modulate AI shows that 67 percent of players say they would likely stop playing a game if another player exhibited toxic behaviour. Some studios have their own suite of enforcement and policies in place. However, Modulate AI is assisting many studios with holistic solutions to help protect players and foster a better experience online. Modulate AI began building ToxMod in 2020 . Modulate AI’s technology runs in the background of many popular games played by millions around the globe. Powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Modulate AI uses advanced machine learning technology to analyze in-game voice chats to flag bad and otherwise toxic behaviour. Using this technology, Modulate AI can monitor nuances of conversations that’ll better assist moderators in flagging such harassment and doling out strikes or bans appropriately. Speaking with Terry Chen, Modulate AI’s COO and Carter Huffman, company CTO, I discovered the hurdles in maintaining a database of harassment and toxic behaviours, flagging false positives, and localizing toxicity detection. Online harassment in games comes in all different forms. Unfortunately, for players who are trying to enjoy some time with friends or a few quick rounds in a competitive setting, slurs and other remarks have become commonplace. Modulate AI has built a database of phrases you’d expect to be there. However, the gaming populace is so diverse with age ranges just as wide. This, of course, raises some issues in identifying new dialects, slang, and other data points. “When you localize to a new language, you have to understand so many of the cultural nuances,” Chen explains. “A lot of the words seem innocuous but have many meanings or nefarious meanings. They’re sometimes playful because we like to detect positivity too. We actually work with child psychologists, linguists and social sociologists, within the respective languages that we work in. We currently support about 18 languages, but we’re working on developing a few more right now.” While ToxMod runs through Modulate AI’s technology first and foremost, the company does leverage third-party contractors to assist. With global dialects being taken into account, Modulate AI has to vet and ensure proper measures are being taken into account when flagging harmful content. Understanding various dialects and inflections means that Modulate AI can provide game developers like Riot Games , Infinity Ward, Rockstar Games, and Lucky VR with more accurate flags for online harassment and toxicity. In online games, it’s common for players to exchange swear words during moments of excitement. Understanding the context in which words are being used and the inflections can circumvent false positives being detected. “We have a team of data labelling contractors that we work with who we reach out to and train,” Huffman explains. “We look for speakers across the globe in the languages and dialects of those languages. As part of that kind of hiring or contracting process, part of that interview is like asking ‘What kinds of games are you familiar with? What kinds of dialects are you most familiar with?’ These kinds of things. We have kind of a whole group of people that we work with and look for, specifically distributed so they have that expertise that nobody on our team does.” “We couple that with having at the very least [a group] for each major language and major region. Mexico versus Spain, for example. having somebody on the team who’s at least fluid in some dialect in that region. [Someone] who will have a better ability to interface with the kind of contractors that we find to help us label data. That labelling of data is not only for our machine learning models but also for transcription for toxicity detection. We use that not only for training models but also for reference materials for like, moderators, training, etc.” Using machine learning technology, ToxMod can proactively pick up on harmful voice conversations as they occur within the game. The AI technology flags potentially harmful conversations for toxicity analysis. Developer studios can then proactively take action and clean up their online communities. The difficulty curve in this process is maintaining a bank of terms. It’s also essential that ToxMod properly analyzes the inflections and how certain words are used. “We consider it our responsibility to detect and escalate with the appropriate level of severity the different categories of behaviours that may be code of conduct violations,” Huffman tells me. “So you know, there’s a profundity and adult language category. We consider it our job to correctly escalate, and prevent profanity in adult language. Studios can customize that, right? If we show them our standard profanity category and the studios [disagree], there is room for opinion and customization. But we consider it our responsibility to be accurately estimating that stuff.” “So, when a new slur appears and becomes a part of the gamer lexicon, it’s our job to correctly escalate that. Studios can catch something if we miss it and say, ‘Hey, you know, we’re seeing some of this content, and you’re not flagging it,’ and then we’ll take that feedback. It’s not so much ‘We found this new terminology, and we think you should consider it.’ It’s our job to escalate that and give them the ability to deal with it if they need to.” One of the biggest success stories seen so far revolves around Call of Duty , which for a long time has been notorious for toxic voice-chat communities. As Modulate AI explains, the length of how long ToxMod is active dictates the level of decreasing toxicity in games. The company explains that toxicity decreases roughly 30 to 40 percent within the first week. That continues to barrel towards a 70 percent reduction. “It’s that exposure reduction that we have in really large scales that is tied directly to retention. Retention increases in new or returning players to a franchise. They come back, and they’re exposed to a less toxic environment than they remember, and they stick around longer.” “One studio that we worked with started out with pretty severe penalties for toxicity and either a very high level of confidence and high burden of proof. We were collaborating with them on different strategies for how else they could affect this behaviour and reduce toxicity without making such severe penalties. Even light touches like a message or being kicked from a match or a room and you can join again right away indicates that ‘Hey, you’re doing something that violates the code of conduct and just interrupts that flow.’ That can cut the amount of toxicity being admitted in a conversation by 80, 90 percent even, and that doesn’t require banning anybody.” With ToxMod, Modulate AI can work with specific development studios and advise them on how to improve their online communities. Each developer can choose how to enact actions against violations within their own online policies. Do they shadow-ban an account? Hard ban the player from the game after a certain amount of strikes? In some cases, developers even dole out IP bans, restricting players from creating a brand new account and re-joining the online community. There’s still an ample amount of work to be done within the gaming space to combat online toxicity. However, the work that’s being done by Modulate AI is indescribably important. For marginalized groups, younger players, and quite honestly, everyone, there’s no reason to log in to your favourite game and expect to be hit with harassment. ToxMod ships in a variety of plugins, ready for various game engines and voice infrastructures. It’s accessible to smaller development studios as well as large-scale projects. With services powered by AWS, data collected and analyzed is anonymized and protected by ISO 27001 standards, protecting players. This interview was edited for language and clarity. Image credit: Modulate AI

ABILENE, Texas (AP) — Leonardo Bettiol scored 22 points as Abilene Christian beat Texas Southern 69-65 on Saturday night. Bettiol added six rebounds for the Wildcats (8-5). Quion Williams added 21 points while shooting 8 of 15 from the field and 4 for 5 from the line while they also had 11 rebounds. Hunter Jack Madden went 4 of 15 from the field (1 for 10 from 3-point range) to finish with nine points. The Tigers (1-10) were led in scoring by Kavion McClain, who finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Texas Southern also got 17 points and three steals from Zaire Hayes. Kenny Hunter had 10 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Kirill Kaprizov misses Texas trip, listed as day-to-day

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vincerx Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: VINC), a biopharmaceutical company aspiring to address the unmet medical needs of patients with cancer through paradigm-shifting therapeutics, today announced that it has entered into a binding term sheet for a proposed merger with Oqory, Inc., a privately-held, clinical-stage company developing ADCs for the treatment of multiple oncology indications. Upon completion of the proposed merger, Oqory, Inc. will merge with Vincerx Pharma, Inc. Post-closing, Oqory equity holders are expected to own approximately 95% of the combined entity, while Vincerx equity holders will hold about 5%. The transaction includes a minimum fully diluted equity value of $13.66 million for existing Vincerx stockholders at closing and, as a condition to the closing of the merger, completion of a concurrent offering of Vincerx equity securities of at least $20 million. Additionally, Oqory-designated investors will provide interim financing to Vincerx of $1.5 million in two tranches, approximately $1,000,000 of which was funded today through the issuance of common stock and pre-funded warrants along with accompanying common stock warrants and approximately $500,000 of which will be funded on or prior to January 31, 2025. The merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including due diligence, regulatory approvals, negotiation of a definitive merger agreement, stockholder approval from both parties, completion of the minimum $20 million financing, and the continued listing of Vincerx's common stock on Nasdaq. Vincerx is also implementing additional streamlining and cost-control measures, including a workforce reduction, as it pursues due diligence and transaction-related work. As part of this workforce reduction, Dr. Ahmed Hamdy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), has stepped down as CEO but will remain as Chairman. Dr. Raquel Izumi has stepped down as President and Chief Operations Officer and taken over as Acting CEO in a consulting capacity. Alexander Seelenberger has stepped down as Chief Financial Officer, and Kevin Hass, the Company’s Vice President and Controller, has taken over as Acting Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Seelenberger has agreed to provide ongoing assistance in a consulting capacity to assist the Company as it pursues its strategic efforts. “This strategic transaction highlights Vincerx’s commitment to develop ADCs with improved safety profiles that allow patients to thrive on—rather than endure—their cancer therapies,” said Raquel Izumi, Ph.D., Acting Chief Executive Officer. “Oqory’s anti-TROP2 ADC has shown favorable efficacy and safety in the clinic. Among approximately 150 treated patients, results include an 83% overall response rate and 100% disease control rate in first-line triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC; n=30). Unlike other TROP2 ADCs in Phase 3, no cases of interstitial lung disease or Grade 3 and above stomatitis have been reported. Oqory’s Phase 3 studies of OQY-3258 are ongoing to confirm these promising findings.” About OQY-3258 (also known as ESG401) OQY-3258 is Oqory’s anti-TROP2 ADC with an optimized enzyme-dependent linker technology and an SN-38 payload with established efficacy and manageable side effect profile. OQY-3258 has completed Phase 1/2 development in over 150 patients with solid tumors, including metastatic HR+/HER2- and triple-negative breast cancer. OQY-3258 has shown efficacy in these patients, including reduction of brain metastasis and responses in heavily pretreated patients. To date, OQY-3258 has exhibited a differentiated safety profile vs. Trodelvy and other TROP2 ADCs in Phase 3 development. Notably, no interstitial lung disease or ocular surface events have been observed. Gastrointestinal effects have been mild and mainly Grade 1/2. Neutropenia and leukopenia have been the major AEs, which were manageable and did not result in discontinuation of study drug. OQY-3258 is being evaluated in a Phase 3 study as first-line treatment in patients with unresectable recurrent or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer ( NCT06732323 ) and in a Phase 3 study in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer ( NCT06383767 ). About Oqory, Inc. Oqory, Inc. is an innovator in the field of ADCs with expertise in advancing targeted cancer therapies. The Company’s pipeline includes multiple ADC programs, with two currently in clinical development and several next-generation ADCs in preclinical stages. These programs are designed to address critical unmet needs in indications such as breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, multiple myeloma, and other metastatic solid tumors. Powered by a proprietary ADC platform, Oqory is delivering therapies that have demonstrated promising efficacy and safety paving the way for improved patient outcomes. About Vincerx Pharma, Inc. Vincerx Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing differentiated and novel therapies to address the unmet medical needs of patients with cancer. Vincerx’s pipeline consists of a next-generation ADC, VIP943, currently in Phase 1; a small molecule drug conjugate, VIP236, which has completed its Phase 1 study; a CDK9 inhibitor, enitociclib, which has completed a Phase 1 monotherapy study; a preclinical ADC, VIP924; and VersAptxTM, a versatile, next-generation bioconjugation platform. Vincerx is based in Palo Alto, California, and has a research subsidiary in Monheim, Germany. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies, expectations and events, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “suggest,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “potential,” “on-target,” “on track,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” or other comparable terms. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the entry into a definitive merger agreement; the anticipated terms and closing of the merger, the $20 million equity investment, and the amount and timing of the interim financing; the expected ownership structure and value to Vincerx stockholders upon closing of the merger; the anticipated benefits of a merger transaction; and the clinical results of Oqory’s product candidates. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance or events. Instead, they are based only on current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding future business developments, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict, many of which are outside Vincerx’s control. Actual results, conditions, and events may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results, conditions, and events to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, Vincerx’s capital requirements, availability and sufficiency of capital, and cash runway; the ability of the parties to enter into a definitive merger agreement and the final terms thereof; the parties’ ability to satisfy the conditions precedent to the merger, including stockholder approval; the closing of the merger; the risk that any definitive agreement is terminated after it is entered into but before consummation of any proposed merger;; Vincerx’s reliance on receipt of interim funding; market acceptance of the combined company; risks associated with clinical development of the Vincerx and Oqory product candidates; general economic, financial, legal, political, and business conditions; and the risks and uncertainties set forth in Vincerx’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Vincerx. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and Vincerx disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. Vincerx and the Vincerx logo are trademarks of Vincerx. This press release also contains trademarks and trade names that are the property of their respective owners. Contacts: Gabriela Jairala Vincerx Pharma, Inc. gabriela.jairala@vincerx.com Totyana Simien Inizio Evoke Comms totyana.simien@inizioevoke.comNEW ORLEANS (AP) — A 93-year-old former Catholic priest sentenced to life in prison earlier this month for raping a teenage boy has died, Louisiana authorities and his lawyer confirmed Friday. Less than two weeks after being sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars, Lawrence Hecker died of natural causes at 3 a.m. Thursday at the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, according to Ken Pastorick, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections communications director. Hecker had pleaded guilty to charges including first-degree rape and aggravated kidnapping shortly before jury selection for his long-delayed trial had been scheduled to begin earlier this month, with other victims prepared to testify against him. The survivor of the assault to which Hecker pleaded guilty had said that Hecker raped him after offering to instruct him in wrestling moves ahead of tryouts for a school team in the mid-1970s. “The only prayer I can come up with I hope he spends eternity in hell after God's judgment of him,” the survivor said in a written statement provided by his attorney, Richard Trahant. “Now after his death I feel vindicated and free,” he said. The Associated Press does not identify those who say they have been sexually assaulted. Hecker's trial had been delayed for months partly because of questions around his mental competency. Hecker had suffered from dementia, his lawyer Bobby Hjortsberg said. Hecker had been ordained as an archdiocesan priest in 1958 and remained in this position even after facing an undisputed complaint of child molestation in the late 1980s, according to court records . Hecker left the ministry in 2002. Hecker's conviction occurred amid a wave of sexual abuse allegations against the Catholic church in New Orleans, many resurfacing from decades ago. The fallout has left the Archdiocese of New Orleans embroiled in bankruptcy negotiations. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96 This story has been updated to clarify that Hecker died at the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center. Authorities had previously stated he died at a Baton Rouge hospital.

Manoj Chaurasia is a senior political journalist having experience of working for top national and international media in a career spanning over 25 years. He loves writing political, offbeat and human-interest stories. Read More ​How to make Masala Chicken Curry at home​ 10 beautiful animals that are pink in colour 10 easy-to-care-for beautiful freshwater fish for home aquariums 9 vegetarian dishes shine in the ‘100 Best Dishes in the World’ list ​10 rare animals found only in Asia​ In pics: Sai Pallavi's vacation to Australia 8 books that will help develop discipline and good habits in 2025 Sanskrit names for baby boy that sound modern 18 stews and soups shine among the '100 Best Dishes in the World' 9 foods that provide over 30 grams of protein when cooked‘Holy Land’ leaders now hunted criminals

NATO chief discusses 'global security' with TrumpThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially waived DE Earnest Brown and LB Antonio Grier , per the NFL Transactions wire. Grier, 24, originally signed on with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas back in May. He was among Tampa Bay’s final roster cuts coming out of the preseason before being promoted in October. Tampa Bay cut him loose last month but quickly re-signed him. In 2024, Grier has appeared in seven games for the Buccaneers and recorded one tackle. This article first appeared on NFLTradeRumors.co and was syndicated with permission.

In conclusion, the ban on windshields for electric scooters serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of safety in the use of alternative modes of transportation. By implementing regulations, exploring alternative heating methods, and raising awareness about safety practices, traffic police authorities and riders can work together to create a safer environment for everyone on the road. Let us all take responsibility for our safety and make informed choices to protect ourselves and others while enjoying the convenience of electric scooters.

But as technology advanced at a rapid pace, our lives began to change in ways we never thought possible. The convenience of smartphones transformed the way we accessed information, allowing us to have the world at our fingertips literally. With the advent of apps, we could order food, book rides, and even find love with just a few taps on a screen.Corporate sector investments drive agricultural growth in Pakistan: report The representational image shows a farmer harvesting wheat at a field in the outskirts of Lahore, in Punjab province, May 16, 2013. — Reuters KARACHI: The corporate and financial sectors are increasingly investing in the agriculture sector, aiming to boost its growth and development. This insight was shared during the launch of The State of Pakistan’s Agriculture 2024 report by the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) and the Pakistan Agricultural Coalition (PAC), held at the National Foods Limited (NFL) Corporate Head Office. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); In his opening remarks, Ehsan Malik, CEO of the PBC, highlighted the agriculture sector’s immense potential to contribute to economic stability, food security and rural development. “This report shows how the corporate sector is playing a key role in advancing the agriculture industry,” Ehsan stated. Kazim Saeed, CEO of PAC, said that where international-level agriculture is found in Pakistan, there is often a leading corporate entity working directly with farmers. “This report documents how corporate and financial players are contributing capital, technology and expertise to the agricultural sector for its growth and prosperity,” Kazim explained. He added that many companies are adopting sustainable practices, such as regenerative agriculture, eco-friendly production methods and efficient resource usage. The event included presentations by companies whose initiatives were featured as case studies in the report. Global CEO of National Foods Limited (NFL) Abrar Hasan praised the efforts of the PBC, PAC and other corporate players driving growth in the agriculture sector. Speaking about NFL’s case study, he noted that the company is focused on self-sufficiency, increasing exports and digitising farming in Pakistan to maintain a strong value chain. “Our products and partnerships demonstrate the positive impact of technology. The ‘Seed to Table’ initiative reflects our commitment to growth beyond borders, expanding into international markets while supporting the national economy through exports,” said Abrar. He highlighted NFL’s success in developing the tomato value chain, which helped create import substitution for tomato paste, benefitting both the company and the country. “We can unlock export potential by developing the tomato paste value chain, as tomatoes have higher export potential compared to other crops,” he added, noting that NFL’s approach serves as an example of how to respond to the recent sharp depreciation of the rupee. Adil Sattar of K&N’s spoke about the company’s six-decade-long leadership in poultry breeding, introducing new technologies in poultry farming, processing and retailing for both domestic and international markets. He also mentioned their commitment to food safety and Halal certification, maintaining hand slaughtering methods instead of stunning, despite the additional cost and effort. Faraz Zafar, Investment Director at AlKaram, discussed plans for Pakistan’s largest shrimp farm, Al-Karam’s Dhabeji Aqua Foods. The farm, located in Sindh’s Thatta, will cover 400 acres and feature 300 half-acre ponds. AlKaram has also invested in companies focused on cultivation and drone-based services. Faisal Iftikhar, CEO of AquaHatch, shared the vision of Garibsons and Jaffer Group, who are investing in fish and shrimp seed businesses to support farmers across Pakistan. Taimur Malik from Drawdown Farm by Thal Industries highlighted the importance of regenerative agriculture in protecting Pakistan’s soil, water and biodiversity. Amer Aziz, CEO of HBL Zarai Services, discussed how the corporate sector can better serve farmers, while M Aminuddin, CEO of TPL Insurance, spoke about the role of crop insurance in safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods.Another possible scenario is a negotiated transition of power, possibly brokered by external actors such as the United Nations or regional powers like Turkey and Saudi Arabia. This could involve the formation of a transitional government that includes representatives from the regime, the opposition, and various minority groups, with the goal of organizing free and fair elections to determine the country's future leadership. While such a transition would undoubtedly face numerous challenges and obstacles, it could offer a peaceful path out of the current crisis.

The haunting vocals and ethereal music of "Ethereal" capture the essence of Xiao Qian and Ning Sheng's love, resonating with audiences on a deep and profound level. The song's evocative melody lingers in the hearts of listeners long after it ends, evoking a sense of longing and nostalgia for a love that transcends the boundaries of time and space.Needham & Company LLC Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW) Stock

Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78#trump asks the Supreme Court to let him rescue TikTok

HONG KONG — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told graduates and academics that "the age of AI has started" in a speech on Saturday, after receiving an honorary doctorate degree in engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The head of the world's leading maker of chips used for artificial intelligence (AI) applications received the award alongside actor Tony Leung, Nobel Prize for Chemistry winner Prof. Michael Levitt and Fields Medalist Prof. David Mumford. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG Acquires New Shares in Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO)Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78VANCOUVER — Vancouver-based bookkeeping service Bench Accounting has announced its sudden closure, potentially putting hundreds of staff out of work. The company that has described itself as North America's largest bookkeeping service for small businesses says on its website in a "notice of closure" dated Friday that the platform is "no longer accessible." The statement acknowledges that the closure is "abrupt and may cause disruption," and says the firm is committed to helping customers "navigate through the transition." Bench has previously said it had more than 600 employees and had received investor funding of US$113 million. It said it moved to Vancouver and changed its name to Bench in 2013, having started out in 2012 as 10sheet Inc in the U.S. Calls to Bench's Vancouver office went to voice mail and did not immediately receive a response. But the company's former CEO and co-founder Ian Crosby released a statement on social media on Friday, saying he was "very sad" about the closure. Crosby, who said he was ousted by the company's board about three years ago, said there was a lesson in the fate of the company. "I hope the story of Bench goes on to become a warning for VCs (venture capitalists) that think they can 'upgrade' a company by replacing the founder. It never works," he said. The University of British Columbia Sauder Business School alumni said he had been avoiding speaking publicly about Bench since his exit, but wanted to make a statement in light of the company's demise. He said that in 2021 he had been battling with some board members over their strategy for a "new direction" that he thought was a "very bad idea." " Rather than continuing to fight with me, they opted to just replace me, thinking that they could run the company better themselves," he said. "I was totally convinced that their approach would destroy the company. I opted to resign rather than fight." Other bookkeeping companies were quick to reach out to Bench's former clients, with rivals such as Acuity and Better Bookkeeping making reference to Bench's closure in social media pitches. A spokeswoman for B.C.'s jobs ministry said they were looking into a request for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024. The Canadian Press

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