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metamorworks 1. Investment thesis Himax Technologies ( NASDAQ: HIMX ) is a leading semiconductor company from Taiwan which has a long track record of innovative products and adaptability to changing trends in its industry. A successful second quarter and third quarter were Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of HIMX either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Historical mysteries solved by science in 2024Horse racing tips: Templegate’s NAP won well at Ascot before and has loads more to comeThe Director-General, Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA), Oludolapo Eso-Ajanaku has affirmed the agency’s commitment towards taking proactive measures to stimulate economic growth in Oyo state. According to him, the agency remains committed to establishing a thriving, efficient, and organised signage ecosystem that aligns with the state’s broader economic and environmental development goals. Eso-Ajanaku said this while speaking with journalists in his office on Wednesday. He said “Looking ahead to 2025, OYSAA is poised to build on its achievements by intensifying its enforcement protocols to ensure regulatory compliance, further enhance revenue generation, and promote the aesthetic appeal of Oyo State through a well-organised Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising landscape. “These proactive measures are designed to foster collaboration, stimulate economic growth, and elevate the visual appeal of Oyo State. The agency remains committed to establishing a thriving, efficient, and organised signage ecosystem that aligns with the state’s broader economic and environmental development goals. “This accomplishment highlights the agency’s strategic internal reorganization, realignment of goals, and strengthened stakeholder engagement. The measures implemented in 2024 have positioned the agency for continued growth and success in 2025.” Speaking on the achievements of the agency in the year 2024, he noted that measures implemented by the agency in 2024 have positioned the agency for continued growth and success in 2025. He attributed the success of OYSAA in 2024 to the dedication of OYSAA’s management and staff while he also appreciated the Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde for his leadership and steadfast support in fostering an environment that has empowered the agency to maximise its potential and significantly enhance its contribution to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Oyo State. He said, “For the first time since 2021, the Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA) has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing its previous performance benchmarks. “I attributed this success to the unwavering dedication of OYSAA’s management and staff and His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, for your leadership and steadfast support.“ Eso-Ajanaku highlighted to journalists key initiatives driving the agency’s improved performance. He emphasised the pivotal role of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), he said “The GRM serves as a channel for resolving disputes, addressing concerns, and ensuring transparency with practitioners and the general public and the impending deployment of GAPLOG, an innovative Geographic Information System (GIS)-based advertising asset management technological tool developed in collaboration with Bytes and Barter under the State Action Business Enabling Reform (SABER). “These initiatives are designed to enhance the ease of doing business, optimize revenue generation, and solidify OYSAA’s commitment to operational excellence in Oyo State.” Eso-Ajanaku further stated that OYSAA will intensify enforcement efforts in 2025 to remove illegal, abandoned, dilapidated, and clustered advertising structures, as well as those belonging to practitioners and business owners indebted to the agency. He, however, urged third-party practitioners and business owners to settle outstanding debts promptly, upgrade the quality of their advertising infrastructures, and maintain the cleanliness and aesthetic appeal of their advertising environments. These measures, he affirmed, aim to foster a more organized, efficient, and visually appealing Out-Of-Home (OOH) ecosystem in Oyo State. ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Advert practitioners owing Oyo govt N650m – OYSAA boss
NIH Initiatives Will Enhance Generative AI Usage and Health Data Discoverability RESTON, Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ICF (NASDAQ:ICFI), a global consulting and digital services provider, has been awarded over $40 million in new and recompete contracts during the third quarter of 2024. The agreements span multiple National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutes and centers and will leverage ICF's cutting-edge technology and domain expertise to advance critical health programs. Under these contracts, ICF will integrate its health , technical and scientific expertise with cloud and automated technologies , including generative AI and advanced analytics. These efforts will support IT and data modernization, software design and development, digital engagement, and research initiatives that help ensure improved health outcomes. Key contract highlights include: "NIH plays a critical role in advancing medical research and driving innovations that lead to better health outcomes for people worldwide," said Jennifer Welham , ICF senior vice president for health, people and human services. "We are excited to bring our industry-leading health, technology and data science expertise to continue our longstanding partnership with NIH and drive meaningful improvements in health research, services and the collective body of scientific knowledge." For over 50 years, ICF has supported health initiatives for nearly all major federal agencies, including numerous agencies and programs within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The company's thousands of health professionals work hand in hand with thousands of technologists, data scientists and communicators to deliver mission-critical programs that improve health outcomes. At ICF Next, mission-driven strategists, marketers, technologists, communicators and data scientists help clients build next-level stakeholder engagement. About ICF ICF is a global consulting and technology services company with approximately 9,000 employees, but we are not your typical consultants. At ICF, business analysts and policy specialists work together with digital strategists, data scientists and creatives. We combine unmatched industry expertise with cutting-edge engagement capabilities to help organizations solve their most complex challenges. Since 1969, public and private sector clients have worked with ICF to navigate change and shape the future. Learn more at icf.com . Caution Concerning Forward-looking Statements Statements that are not historical facts and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may concern our current expectations about our future results, plans, operations and prospects and involve certain risks, including those related to the government contracting industry generally; our particular business, including our dependence on contracts with U.S. federal government agencies; our ability to acquire and successfully integrate businesses; and various risks and uncertainties related to health epidemics, pandemics, and similar outbreaks. These and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those indicated in forward-looking statements that are included in the "Risk Factors" section of our securities filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date hereof, and we specifically disclaim any obligation to update these statements in the future. Contact: Lauren Dyke , lauren.dyke@ICF.com , +1.571.373.5577 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/icf-awarded-over-40-million-in-contracts-to-drive-health-innovation-with-advanced-technology-302329241.html SOURCE ICF
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Hyderabad: Unable to bear harassment by man, degree student dies by suicideThe holidays will be here before we know it — which is why I'm using Black Friday as the perfect excuse to get all my holiday shopping done early. Over the past few weeks, I've made a mental check list of all the items I think my family and friends will love — and today, I'm here to share it with you! If you're interested in crossing a few loved ones off your holiday shopping list, you'll be pleased to learn that retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy are stocking their shelves with must-have gifts — which also happen to feature major discounts. From your favorite foodie to the fitness guru in your life, there's a little something for everyone on this list. Here are 35 Black Friday deals that make for great holidays gifts — many of which I'm adding to my own cart. Keep scrolling to check them out. Quick Links My Favorite Gifts Apparel Gifts Home Gifts Tech Gifts Sports and Fitness Gifts Foodie Gifts
Christmas day is coming to an end, which means Amazon's after-Christmas sale is officially live. That means you can cuddle up on the couch and browse for gifts you didn't get this year or spend an Amazon gift card you just received. The retailer's after-Christmas sale has thousands of deals on everything from TVs, iPads, and headphones to blenders, vacuums, and smart home devices. • Shop Amazon's full after-Christmas sale As TechRadar's deals editor, I've gone through Amazon's after-Christmas sale and hand-picked the 35 best deals worth buying. I selected the items based on price and popularity from brands like Apple, Ninja, Keurig, Fitbit, and Sony. Most of the deals are also on sale for the same or lower prices we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. A few highlights include Amazon's 50-inch Omni Series TV on sale for $299.99 , Apple's all-new AirPods 4 on sale for $119 , and the highly-rated Eufy Smart Scale on sale for $23.95 . Shop more of Amazon's best after-Christmas deals below and visit our main after-Christmas sales hub for more of today's top offers around the web. Keep in mind that today's sale might be your last opportunity of the year to grab a bargain before the next big holiday sale event. Amazon after-Christmas sale - quick links Amazon Devices : 54% off Kindle, Echo & TVs Apple : AirPods + iPads from $119 Beauty: 80% off toothbrushes & skincare Health & Wellness: Fitbit, vitamins & massage guns Headphones : $120 off Bose, Apple & Sony Health : electric toothbrushes from $24.99 Kitchen : 54% off Ninja, Nespresso & Keurig Laptops : record-low prices from $179 Tablets : iPads and Samsung from $54.99 Toys : 40% off Lego, scooters & Toniebox TVs : cheap TVs from $59.99 Vacuums : Shark, Bissell & Dyson from $81.99 Amazon after-Christmas sale - the 35 best deals Roku's most affordable streaming stick is quick, cheap, and easy to use, and it's a great way to get started in the world of streaming. This discount brings this device to under $20, which is a bargain for TV owners looking for a simple and effective way to add smart features to their display. Grab the handy Alexa-enabled Kasa Smart Plug for a record-low price of $18.99 at Amazon. Great for all your new appliances, the four-pack of smart plugs allows you to add voice control to any outlet, so you can turn on and off lights and appliances completely hands-free or with the compatible Kasa app. The handy Chamberlain smart garage control allows you to open and close your garage from anywhere, and the best part? It's on sale for $24.99. You can also set a schedule to make sure your garage is always closed at night and receive notifications anytime your garage door is opened or closed. The Fullstar vegetable chopper has over 100,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is on sale for $24. 97. With four interchangeable blades, you can chop your favorite veggies in a flash, julienne, chop, and slice them. The top-rated Eufy smart scale is on sale for its lowest price yet at Amazon right now. The Eufy Smart Scale C1 can measure your body's body fat ratio, BMI, bone mass, muscle mass, as well as your weight and gives you a more detailed way of checking in with your health and what that number on the scale actually means. As the name suggests, the Fire TV Stick 4K streams shows and movies on your TV in ultra-high-definition 4K resolution. It's a good offer for a solid streaming stick with access to all the major apps and supports voice controls through Alexa. Today's offer is a record-low price when you apply the code 4KHOLIDAYADD at checkout. Amazon's brand new Echo Spot pairs a 2.83-inch touch with a 1.73-inch front-firing speaker, which might make it the ideal smart alarm clock. With Alexa onboard, you can ask the assistant for the weather, play music, or even schedule alarms. Today's deal is a return to the record-low price. The viral Beckham Hotel Collection pillows are always a top seller during holiday sales, and the queen-size set is on sale for $47.99 when you apply the additional discount. The queen-size pillows have over 240,000 positive reviews and are the number-one best-selling pillow on Amazon's site. This compact personal blender is on sale for $49.99, only $10 more than the record-low price. It lets you drink directly from the lid, and TechRadar's Managing Editor of Lifestyle Josephine Watson said it was the device that finally sold her on personal blenders thanks to its ability to whip up a super smooth drink that you can enjoy with no pouring and no mess. This Black+Decker Dustbuster has over 100,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is on my wish list for a cleaner 2025. The handheld vacuum is lightweight, portable, easy to recharge, and has a crevice tool to clean hard-to-reach areas. It's also the perfect gift to yourself to get a head start on your New Year cleaning relations. This top-rated massage gun has over 50,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is on sale for only $49.99. The Toloco massage gun features 20 different speed levels and 15 replaceable massage heads to relieve pain on all parts of your body. Thanks to its compact size, this Keurig K-Mini coffee maker is a great choice for those working with a small kitchen space. It can brew a cup in minutes and is less than five inches wide. Today's deal from Amazon brings the price down to just $59.99 – just $10 more than the record-low price. The Apple AirTag is one of Apple's highly coveted gadgets and makes a great stocking stuffer. Today's deal from Amazon brings a four-pack down to $69.99 – a record-low price. If you tend to misplace your keys or wallet, attach the AirTag to anything you don't want to lose, and your iPhone will locate the item. The Beats Studio Buds have all the essentials you could need at this price. There’s a custom acoustic platform with powerful and balanced sound, along with a choice of ANC or a Transparency mode. The active noise cancellation may not be the strongest around but it does a good job for the price range. There’s also up to eight hours of listening time, while these are sweat and water-resistant so they’re a good option for taking to the gym or on runs. An air fryer allows you to enjoy your favorite fried foods with less oil, and this NInja Pro model is perfect for families. The 5-quart capacity drawer is enough to make meals for the whole family, and preset functions allow for easy air frying, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating. The compact design means it'll comfortably fit on your countertop, too. Get organized in 2025 with Amazon's latest Echo Show 8, which is on sale for $84.99 – $5 more than the record-low. The eight-inch display allows you to make calls, watch movies, check the weather, and control compatible smart home devices completely hands-free thanks to Alexa compatibility. Amazon has Apple's all-new AirPods 4 on sale for $119 – only $1 more than the lowest-ever price we saw over Black Friday. The AirPods 4 feature a new design for all-day comfort and pack Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation. You're also getting a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and supports USB-C for wireless charging. The Charge 6 includes updated HR sensors, making it one of Fitbit's best overall fitness trackers; plus, you're getting a comfortable band, a bright AMOLED screen, built-in GPS, and a Stress Management Score. Today's deal brings the price down to $137.50. The Nespresso Vertuo Pop Plus Deluxe by Breville is on sale for its cheapest price yet. This easy-to-use coffee maker supports multiple types of drinks and sizes, and you can brew these using dedicated recyclable Nespresso pods. The large removable water tank and compact size also add to its convenience. Amazon has Apple's best-selling 10.9 iPad on sale for $279 – the same record-low price we saw during Black Friday. In our iPad 10.9 (2022) review , we said Apple's latest base-level tablet is a big upgrade over the previous generation model, offering a larger Liquid Retina display, a new A14 Bionic chip, improved cameras, USB-C support, and a sleek design. Quite simply the best in Sony's class-leading wireless over-ear lineup. The older XM4 headphones were outstanding, the XM3 cans before it were excellent, and it'll come as little surprise to know that Sony's XM5 proposition is also incredibly hard to beat. Today's deal from Amazon is $20 more than the record-low price. Amazon's after-Christmas sale includes this Ninja Mega Kitchen blender for $149.99. You'll get an XL 72-oz. blender, two 16-oz Nutri Ninja Cups with to-go lids to take your smoothie on the go, and a 64-oz food processor bowl. The Eufy 11S Max can clean hard floors and medium carpets and features BoostIQ Technology, which automatically works harder when a spot needs a deeper cleaning. Today's after-Christmas deal from Amazon brings the price down to $149.99. If you're looking for Apple's cheapest smartwatch, you can get the Apple Watch SE on sale for only $189. While the Apple Watch SE lacks all the bells and whistles found on the Apple Watch 10, it still packs a fast processor, excellent battery life, and plenty of health and fitness features. Amazon has the best-selling Oura Ring 3 on sale, with prices starting at $299 depending on what size and color you buy. The Oura Ring Generation 3 is a discreet, accurate tracker with loads of features, and at this price, it's perhaps better value than the Oura Ring 4. The top-rated Tineco cordless wet-dry vacuum mop combo is on sale for $299.99, only $20 more than the record-low Black Friday price. The Tineco Floor One S5 vacuums and washes hard floors in one step, handling wet and dry messes in one sweep. Amazon's best-selling 43-inch 4-Series 4K smart TV is on sale for $209.99 with code FIRE43 at checkout- a new record-low price. It offers 4K HD resolution, smart capabilities with the Fire operating system, and a voice remote with hands-free Alexa, so you can use your voice to control your TV. Amazon's highly rated Omni Series TVs feature 4K resolution support, Dolby Vision, HDR 10, and hands-free TV with Alexa. So, you can control the volume and launch channels hands-free instead of using your remote. The 50-inch model is down to $299 when you apply the code 50OMNI at checkout - that's a new record-low price. Apple's all-new Apple Watch 10 is on sale for $379, which is only $20 more than the record-low price. The Apple Watch 10 includes upgrades such as Apple's new S10 chipset, sleep apnea detection, depth gauge, and a new design featuring the most advanced display. Please note that this deal is for the larger 46mm model. The LG C3 OLED TV is a best-seller here at TechRadar, and the 65-inch model is now on sale for $1,296.99. That's a whopping $1,200 discount and only $100 more than the record-low price on Black Friday. The stunning OLED display features a brilliant picture with bright colors and powerful contrast, thanks to LG's latest Alpha9 Gen6 chip. Plus, you're getting four HDMI 2.1 ports for the best gaming experience on next-gen consoles, a sleek, thin design, and an updated webOS experience. Amazon has LG's 65-inch C4 OLED TV on sale for $1,496.99 - that's a whopping $1,200 discount and just $100 more than the record-low price on Black Friday. Ranked in our best TV guide, the 2024 C4 features exceptional brightness, LG's latest Alpha 9 AI chip for improved performance, and impressive gaming features, including four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM support and 144Hz certification from Nvidia.
The failure of the Kroger-Albertsons merger has sparked concern among shoppers who are worried about rising prices and whether they will still be able to buy their favorite goods at the grocery stores. The U.S. Sun spoke to a number of financial and retail experts who explained the fallout from the merger’s breakdown and its potential impact on consumers . Kroger and Albertsons are now locked in a fierce legal battle . One day after a judge blocked the merger over concerns about market concentration, Albertsons announced it would sue Kroger. Albertsons is alleging Kroger violated its contract and did not follow through on commitments to help get the $25 billion deal approved. In a news release , Albertsons said Kroger broke its merger agreement “by repeatedly refusing to divest assets necessary for antitrust approval, ignoring regulators’ feedback, rejecting stronger divestiture buyers and failing to cooperate with Albertsons.” Read more on Kroger However, Kroger responded by calling the allegations “baseless and without merit.” The grocery giants had previously said a merger would help lower prices for shoppers by boosting their negotiating power with suppliers and better preparing them to compete with big-box retailers like Walmart and Costco. Alex Lubyansky, managing partner of Acquisition Stars, warned the failed merger has brought on many uncertainties around pricing, service quality, and innovation in the grocery industry. In what may be good news for shoppers, Lubyansky said the continued rivalry between the two major brands may bring down prices, allowing shoppers to access goods more cheaply. Most read in Money However, the expert warned that the ongoing legal conflicts between the firms may divert resources away from customer-centric initiatives. “Consumers will persist in gaining advantages from the rivalry between Kroger and Albertsons, which can result in improved prices and services,” he told The U.S. Sun. “However, the inability to merge may restrict the companies' capacity to invest in technological advancements and infrastructure enhancements that could enrich the shopping experience.” ALBERTSON'S TO STAY Lubyansky also noted the Albertsons brand would continue to exist now that the merger has been blocked. He said Albertsons may embark on a marketing strategy to strengthen its brand identity and customer loyalty programs. Another leading retail expert told The U.S. Sun that the Kroger merger could have potentially decreased the availability of products for consumers and increased the price of some goods. Swiftly CEO Alasdair James also expressed concern the merger would significantly impact smaller retailers who may be unable to compete within a highly concentrated market. “It is a classic example of wherever you get large retailers getting larger, it puts pressure on the smaller retailers who are left, whether that be Walmart or Amazon in the digital space or Kroger coming together with Albertson in a big merger,” James told The U.S. Sun. “All stores are going to have to compete with a combined Kroger, even upmarket stores.” James also said the merger would have allowed the two businesses to cut backend costs like marketing, advertising, and HR, meaning they could make more profit. These brands will have much more power to consolidate back office staff which will naturally drive higher profits The $24.6 billion deal was first announced in 2022 and immediately faced a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC has argued the merger would result in higher prices for consumers and reduce competition in the market. "Direct competition between Kroger and Albertsons has brought grocery prices down and the quality of grocery products and services up," the FTC noted. "The proposed acquisition would destroy this." The merger also faced opposition from consumers. The merger would have been the largest grocery chain consolidation in US history. Amid concern for how the merger could have impacted prices, James said prices may "creep up" given it may mean less competition between stores. However, the expert admitted that the retail industry was very competitive, with brands focused on keeping customers engaged and attracting business to drive profit. SOARING PRICES But some experts said the merger came at the wrong time when grocery prices were already soaring. According to research from The Food Industry Association, about 70% of consumers say they are “extremely” or “very concerned” about the cost of food at grocery stores. Kroger had insisted that their proposed partnership with Albertsons would help it compete with other retail giants such as Walmart, Amazon, Costco , and Aldi . The supermarket chain also claimed the merger would give the two companies the scale to keep prices low and stores open. If the merger had been successful, the new entity would have controlled 13% of the national grocery market and employed over 700,000 people. Read More on The US Sun Kroger, which is based in Cincinnati, has about 2,800 stores across 35 states. Albertsons, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, has approximately 2,273 stores in 34 states.Sportswatch Daily Listings
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria fallout
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