your new home digital circus

Iran Vice President Shina Ansari leaves after speaking during a plenary session at the COP29 U.N. ... [+] Climate Summit, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) The United Nations climate summit in Azerbaijan is wrapping up, and world leaders have presented national plans for tackling the growing threats of climate change. The Islamic Republic of Iran, however, is among the countries without a strategy. Despite being a top greenhouse gas emitter and highly vulnerable to rising temperatures, its authorities have failed to outline a path for addressing the crisis facing their communities at home. Over the past year, Iranians have suffered through severe floods, droughts, dust storms, wildfires, and heat waves, endangering the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. Last summer, temperatures in some cities exceeded 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), sending thousands to hospitals with respiratory and heat-related illnesses. Shrinking rivers, lakes , wetlands, and widespread land subsidence have added to the challenges, straining public health systems and destabilizing local economies. In Iran, decades of poor water management have driven the environmental challenges that have been intensified by climate change. But hopes for a shift in Iran’s climate policy rested on Shina Ansari, the recently appointed head of the Department of Environment. With more than 20 years of experience and a doctorate in environmental management, Ansari is a seasoned environmental expert and one of the few women to hold this position. Elon Musk Apparently Just Became The No. 1 ‘Diablo 4’ Player In The World Stop Using Your Passwords—1Password And Google Warn Samsung’s Android 15 Decision—Bad News For Millions Of Galaxy S24, S23, S22 Owners Her nomination raised hope among local and international observers that Iran might take a more proactive approach to climate change. However, when Ansari spoke at COP29, her speech raised more questions than answered. While she acknowledged the urgent need for a cleaner energy transition and expressed aspirations to reduce Iran’s carbon emissions, her statement lacked detailed commitments, leaving her message vague. Ansari attributed Iran's inaction to U.S. sanctions, stating they have “restricted” access to the financial resources and advanced technologies required for impactful measures. She also criticized Western nations for “hypocrisy”, highlighting the environmental damage caused by the war in Gaza. At the end of her remarks, she emphasized that developed nations, as the “primary contributors” to global warming, have a “responsibility” to financially support developing ones in their transition to clean energy without “undermining” economic growth. What Ansari failed to mention was Iran’s troubling climate track record. The Climate Change Performance Index ranks Iran at the bottom of its list, below the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the country remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels with renewables making up less than 1% of its energy consumption. To make matters worse, Iran is one of the few remaining nations that have signed but not ratified the Paris Agreement—a landmark deal aimed at limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Ten years ago, Iran pledged its intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4% unconditionally or 12% if sanctions were lifted below business as usual by 2030. However, climate research groups have evaluated the targets as “critically insufficient,” noting that they are unlikly to be met. Historically, Iran has stuck to a familiar stance at the United Nations climate talks. At COP28 in the UAE, its delegation, led by the Energy Ministry, walked out in protest over Israel’s presence amid the ongoing war in Gaza. At COP27 in Egypt and COP26 in the United Kingdom, Iran blamed sanctions as the reason for its failed response to climate change. Notably, no Iranian president has ever attended a COP summit—a sharp contrast to other nations, where high-level participation signals a political willingness towards mitigating environmental challenges. This year, Masoud Pezeshkian, who was elected president in July after his predecessor was killed in a helicopter crash, was expected to travel to Baku for COP29, sparking optimism for a change in tone. However, his trip was reportedly canceled because of Israel’s participation and its close ties with the host country, Azerbaijan. The Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel view each other as “arch-enemies”, a relationship that has further deteriorated following recent missile and drone attacks on their territories. Back in Tehran, Pezeshkian has yet to unveil a concrete method for how his administration plans to prepare a population of 85 million people for consequences of environmental degradation. Meanwhile, Ansari told local media about the government’s intentions to improve the situation by introducing policies favoring renewable energy and publishing long-overdue greenhouse gas reports. As the world looks ahead to Brazil’s climate talks in 2025, Iran's lack of commitments leaves it increasingly vulnerable to the worsening impacts of climate change. Extreme heatwaves, disappearing ecosystems, water shortages, and the risk of conflict and forced migration are already causing serious issues in the Middle East. Experts warn that without quick and effective steps, Iran’s challenges will grow, endangering its people, increasing regional instability, and hurting global efforts to fight climate change. Whether these realities will lead to any substantial move is another story for another day.Patreon is one of the most popular public content creator funding platforms in the market. The company helped pioneer the content creator subscription services industry and remains a dominant force in the market. Today, Patreon has +8M active users, +279K content creators, and a growing number of strategic partnerships. All of these factors continue to drive demand for Patreon stocks. However, the company is privately held, meaning that pre-IPO shares are the best option for those seeking an ownership stake in the firm. Patreon's success, market positioning, and strong backing are all additional reasons why you should learn how to buy Patreon pre-IPO shares. Here's what you need to know. What is Patreon? Patreon is a public content creator funding application that enables creators to enhance their monetization efforts via subscription services and more. The company entered the market in 2013. It was founded by a developer named Sam Yam, and a musician named Jack Conte to provide creatives with additional revenue streams. Patreon’s launch was celebrated, and within the first 18 months, the platform secured 125,000 content creators. The platform had many unique characteristics that helped it create such a following. For one, it was free to start, meaning that content creators could focus their efforts on their art and offerings. Several features make Patreon a smart maneuver for creators. They can access a variety of tools designed specifically to help them build organic communities. For example, they can offer access to exclusive content and create and distribute digital assets, tickets, collaborations, contests, and even personalized messages. Creators can sell both digital and real-world merchandise while building up a subscription-based income from their community. For their effort, Patreon charges an 8-12% commission on their income and various payment processing fees. This simplistic and straightforward business model continues to bring success as the creator economy is now intertwined with Patreon on a new level. Today, Patreon remains a go-to option for content creators seeking to offset the demonetization or other methods used by big tech to reduce their revenue or censor their messages. This positioning adds to the overall perceived value that Patreon brings to the market and ensures that it will continue to see demand in the coming years. Historical Funding Rounds Summary of Patreon Funding: Funding Rounds Breakdown: Key Investors: Patreon has support from many prominent investors including Tiger Global Management, Woodline Partners, Wellington, Lone Pine Capital, New Enterprise Associates, DFJ Growth, New Enterprise Associates, Wellington, Glade Brook Capital, Thrive Capital, DFJ Growth, Index Ventures, Lone Pine Capital Glade Brook Capital, Index Ventures, Freestyle, Serj Tankian, Hannibal Burress, Initialized Capital, CRV, and more. Funding Data Sourced from Tracxn Why Invest in Patreon? There are multiple reasons why you might want to consider investing in Patreon Pre-IPO shares. For one, the company has a straightforward business model that continues to show profitability and potential. According to company documentation, Patreon’s economy is on the rise. Specifically, monthly payouts are up by 2.2% in 2024, pushing the total made by creators to +$8B. Patreon content creators now average around 60% more revenue compared to 2019. Another factor to consider is that Patreon remains In touch with the content creator community. For example, the management dropped adult-themed content support in 2017, broadening the appeal of the platform. At the time it reduced revenue but the losses were quickly recovered due to new clientele. There are several acquisitions that Patreon has made which enhanced its capabilities, and customer confidence. In 2015, the firm acquired the subscription platform Subbable and a year later, Memberful was acquired. These acquisitions provided the platform with additional features and technology. As a market leader and first mover, Patreon provides investors with a unique opportunity. The company hasn't posted any plans to host an IPO yet. However, if the company does signal intentions to go public, demand for its stock would increase significantly. How to Buy Patreon Pre-IPO Shares Patreon remains a privately held company, meaning that you will need to utilize a specialized approach to get access to shares. There are many analysts that believe the company may never hold public funding rounds and may instead decide to only host private funding. If so, here's what you need to consider. 1. Pre-IPO Secondary Marketplace Secondary markets are purpose-built exchanges that connect pre-IPO shareholders with potential investors. These marketplaces can offer these assets because they work closely with employees, early-stage investors, and venture capitalists, which are crucial to the company's pre-IPO growth. Investing in pre-IPO shares for Patreon could open the door for additional ROIs if the company's valuation is less than when its IPO launches. It's common for company valuations to increase following an IPO. As such, it makes sense to add pre-IPO shares to your portfolio before the firm announces plans to go public. Secondary marketplaces have many requirements. Here are some concerns you should be made aware of: Eligibility: Notably, this approach requires you to be an accredited investor, meaning you will have to show at least $1M in liquid assets to qualify. Liquidity : Pre-IPO shares can't be traded like regular shares. They often include some lockup restrictions that prevent you from trading them before the IPO. Some firms have permanent “no sell” clauses that prevent any transfer of the shares following your investment. Linqto is a reputable investment platform that connects accredited investors with pre-IPO shareholders in a secure manner. The network streamlines pre-IPO investing via an easy-to-navigate interface that provides access to all relevant data at a glance. Accredited investors seeking pre-IPO shares in Patreon should consider Linqto. Visit Linqto → 2. Private Equity Firms Private equity firms gain access to pre-IPO shares during investment rounds. They then offer these shares to high-net-worth accredited investors with a commission. Notably, private equity firms are known to have extra stipulations, including blocking the sale of shares for years in some cases. 3. Employee Equity Sales Many consider employee equity sales as the best way to acquire pre-IPO shares in Patreon. This method of acquiring pre-IPO shares requires you to connect with former employees. It's common for companies to issue shares as part of an incentive package. Notably, this profit-sharing method has become more popular, leading to more pre-IPO share opportunities for investors. Private Transactions : there are a lot of hoops you will need to jump through to complete a private pre-IPO transaction, including creating specific legal agreements, conducting valuations, and setting in place any limitations on the transfer of the asset. Brokerage : Brokers will take a lot of the confusion out of the pre-IPO process. These professionals can guide you through each step, ensuring full compliance and avoiding common errors untrained professionals make. There are several risks that you should consider before jumping into the pre-IPO shares investment arena. Here are the top concerns: Liquidity Risk If you are looking for an asset that you can sell right away, pre-IPO shares are not the best option. These investments can include sales and transfer clauses that prevent the transfer of the asset until certain criteria, such as the IPO's completion. It's even common for pre-IPO shares to require you to wait years before gaining the ability to sell your assets. Regulatory Risk The blockchain market has seen considerable scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers. While the technology is far better understood than in its early days, there are still many lawmakers who see it as a threat to the traditional financial system. As such, you need to always consider how new regulations could affect the value of your pre-IPO shares. Market Risk Purchasing pre-IPO shares in Patreon means that you stand behind the project and its team. The company has secured a reputation for excellence and has previously expressed a desire to go public. However, no concrete data has been provided yet. As such, it's vital to understand that the blockchain market is an active space that experiences strong fluctuations that could result in a different share value between now and any future IPO launch. Valuation of Patreon and Future IPO Patreon's valuation is $4B as of Apr 07, 2021. The company has achieved Unicorn status due to its pioneering efforts in the content creator markets. Patreon is seen by many as an essential tool to deal with increased censorship and demonetization from the tech giants including Meta, Youtube, Google, and more. Patreon continues to expand its community and features. The company has shown a willingness to adapt to the fast-changing market, enabling its users to take advantage of the latest and greatest options, including NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and more. All of these factors demonstrate why so many competitors have failed in their efforts to remove Patreaon from among the top options. It's likely that Patreon could decide to go public in the coming years. It already has strong backing from the investor community and the public. This decision could result in one of the largest and most anticipated IPOs to date. For now, the only option is pre-IPO shares. Conclusion Holding Patreon Pre-IPO shares opens the door for lots of upside potential. The company has proven to be reliable, secure, transparent, and capable of working with regulators when needed. All of these factors have cemented Patreon in the content creator community as a valuable resource to be protected. There are still several risks involved when investing in pre-IPO shares that you need to consider. There’s no guarantee that the value of your pre-IPO shares will increase or that the company will decide to go public. As such, you need to conduct in-depth research into Patreon's financials and business model prior to making any final decisions. You should consult a financial expert to ensure that Patreon Pre-IPO shares fall within your risk appetite. For those who complete their research and find the asset to be a smart maneuver, there’s lots of upside potential. Learn about Other Pre-IPO Opportunities Now Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Pre-IPO shares are typically available only to accredited investors and carry significant risk. Always perform thorough due diligence and consult a financial advisor or legal expert before making investment decisions.your new home digital circus 。

There is optimism among Southern California defense contractors that the incoming presidential administration’s plans and policies will inject adrenaline into the local economy and generate hundreds of new jobs, especially with talk of strengthening the U.S. military. President-elect Donald Trump has publicly vowed to strengthen the country’s military by making it more efficient and through that find better ways to develop more defense products utilizing technology innovation. He has also said he will build up a larger naval fleet to compete with China. Just after winning the presidential election, Trump named Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, founder of a pharmaceutical company, as co-leaders of a government efficiency initiative focused on cutting bureaucracy and waste in government. Many smaller tech firms, some of which have relationships with Musk’s Space X and Tesla, are hopeful the initiative could give them an edge over bigger defense companies with huge budgets. “The new administration is very passionate about countering China and they recognize the ability for the U.S. to outcompete China that manufacturing is probably the most important thing to counter that threat,” said Chris Power, CEO and founder of Hadrian Automation, a company based in Torrance that runs automated factories building defense products. “We haven’t been talking about reindustrializing the country in the last 10 years. Now, the vice president, a lot of the policymakers are hellbent on figuring out how to reindustrialize the U.S., both by investing in the country and also by creating an even playing field with China.” Power, an Australian who lives in Hermosa Beach and started his company just three years ago, was among hundreds who attended the 11th annual Regean National Defense Forum held over the weekend at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. The event is an opportunity for representatives of defense and technology companies to rub shoulders and exchange ideas with lawmakers, senior Department of Defense leadership, and foreign defense leaders in an environment away from the hubbub of the nation’s capital. Southern California is packed with hundreds of defense-oriented companies and continues to be a leader in military defense innovation. Commercial technology is also significant in the country’s national security approach. Because of that, the forum is also an opportunity for non-traditional companies to get a share of the spotlight and for startups like Hadrian Automation to get a chance to talk with people otherwise not in their sphere. This year’s forum, themed “Peace Through Strength in a Time of Transition,” included a day of back-to-back panel discussions. Key themes included what the new presidential administration would mean for defense, overcoming production and manufacturing constraints to build the future force, space capabilities and the space economy, modernizing defense capabilities, the next national defense strategy, and public opinion on national security after the election. During a discussion on force structure, resources and the next national defense strategy, panelists emphasized funding military needs going forward. Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, who serves on the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, pressed the importance of passing the appropriation bills that fund military spending. “We need to get these bills done and give certainty to the military that they have the resources available in the Trump administration,” he said. “I know it’s difficult in an era where we have significant national debt, but nonetheless, our national security is at risk, and we need to move forward.” The uncertainty of the government’s appropriations process makes it difficult for the defense industry, “from a development perspective and a production perspective,” said Lawrence Culp Jr., chairman and CEO of GE Aerospace. “Without that clarity, it’s very hard to keep someone at task with all these stops and starts and the policy uncertainty of late – it’s very hard.” The smaller companies further down the supply chain bear a lot of the weight of uncertainty, he added. “When you talk about the small and medium-sized businesses that are part of that supply chain, the small companies we rely on for input, one, two, three tiers away, they’re at the end of the whip and they can’t really handle that, either operationally or financially.” Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said at the forum that is where Trump needs to use his ability to generate enthusiasm among the public and make Americans aware of the nation’s dangers if it doesn’t have a strong military. “The American people really don’t understand how much of a threat we’re facing,” he said. “We have got to educate the American people on that. We haven’t had a president in the last years who has gone to the American people and gotten their support. It’s the only way you get leadership in Congress to pay attention and get the action you need.” The forum produces a survey each year on public perception of military defense, the last conducted just after the November election by a bipartisan research group. Of the 2,500 surveyed, 79% of respondents said they want the U.S. to spend more on national defense. At the same time, 61% said the military should be large enough to win two wars simultaneously; 49% said China poses the most significant threat, while 25% said Russia poses more of a threat. And, that’s where lawmakers such as Calvert think Southern California companies can have opportunities to become more successful. “Southern California is the intellectual capital of the world when it comes to national security innovation and manufacturing,” he said. “President Trump is committed to a strong military that is focused on the threats we face today and tomorrow. There’s no doubt in my mind that Southern California will continue to make a significant contribution to those important goals in the years ahead. There’s widespread agreement that we need to invest in our national security to remain the preeminent superpower in the world.” With a new administration coming in talking about cutting waste in government agencies while strengthening the country with a more targeted and effective military, local companies working with defense contractors and manufacturers are looking to the future with a hopeful eye. Brandon Tseng, a former Navy SEAL who co-founded Shield AI and attended the defense forum this year for the second time, said more government interest in smaller companies that produce military technology will help Shield AI create more jobs. The San Diego-based company, which employs 900 people, aims to protect service members and civilians with AI systems. It develops artificial intelligence-powered pilot systems, drones and technology for military operations. “I’m bullish on the defense tech ecosystem,” he said, adding that he’s excited about Trump’s inclusion in his administration of Musk, Ramaswamy and Stephen Feinberg, a private equity investor with interests in the defense industry, who Tseng calls problem-solvers. “What I’m optimistic about is that you have these operators who have run companies, been in the trenches, solved problems, and know what it means to walk the walk, not just talk the talk,” Tseng said. “The administration is bullish on doing things more efficiently, more effectively; that’s what technology is about. I think you’re going to see it will be very helpful for a lot of defense tech companies.” And, it’s exactly the idea of manufacturing parts quickly and efficiently that Power, of Hadrian Automation in Torrance, believes will help reinspire U.S. manufacturing, which he believes is the basis of a strong national defense. With his company, he hopes to inspire many young, smart people to want to get back into manufacturing – but in a more modern way that uses software to improve the manufacturing process and make it more efficient and effective. “U.S. power is based on the dollar,” he said. “The dollar is based on military might, which is really based on industrial power. We shot ourselves in the foot as a country by outsourcing our industrial power to China. That took away all the manufacturing skillsets, manufacturing technology, and a lot of jobs. For the last 25 years, we’ve treated China like a partner, but they have been subsidizing aggressively their manufacturing base specifically to gut our industrial power as a country.” At the same time the general public’s interest in manufacturing has dipped, he argued, with more people in the 1980s and ’90s choosing a four-year degree as the way to a successful future and a middle class that commands relatively high wages. “If you want manufacturing in America, the only way to do it is to build software factories that give the American workforce a productivity advantage so we can scale and use a new workforce instead of a legacy,” he said. “And if we want to be cost-competitive globally and efficient, we either have to pay everyone a very small amount or give the American workforce the 10x advantage with American software engineering and robotics.” Power sees Trump’s focus on empowering industrialization as having a huge impact on jobs. He plans to open two new facilities in the next year. “The faster we scale, the more jobs we provide,” he said. “And they’re better and more exciting jobs.”

By Ja'han Jones Happy Tuesday! Here’s your Tuesday Tech Drop, a curated collection of the past week’s top stories from the intersection of tech and politics. TikTok, in its current state, might be on its last legs in the United States. After a federal judge declined to block a law that would ban the app in the U.S. unless its Chinese owners sell it, TikTok’s legal team petitioned for injunctive relief, asking a federal court to suspend the law until Donald Trump’s administration — and the conservative-heavy Supreme Court — have a chance to look at it. This — paired with a Wall Street Journal report, citing anonymous sources, that TikTok CEO Shou Chew reached out to Elon Musk to make inroads with MAGA last month — suggests that TikTok’s leadership may be taking Trump at his word that he would “save” the app, which has become a hotbed of MAGA disinformation and propaganda in recent years. All this has me thinking about the perverse incentives that could potentially be in play for a social media platform that sees Trump and powerful conservatives as its last hope for survival. Read the Washington Post’s report on TikTok hanging its hopes on Trump and the Supreme Court. U.S. officials are working with officials from numerous other countries to devise ways to curb some of the more dangerous misuses of artificial intelligence technology ... and GOP Texas Sen. Ted Cruz isn’t happy about it. Read my report on Cruz’s letter to the attorney general here . Disinformation expert Kate Starbird, who has come under fire from right-wingers for her work , recently sat for an interview with the outlet Tech Policy to discuss “the differences between the left and right media ecosystems" in the United States and her team’s efforts to study the spread of baseless claims online. Check out the Tech Policy interview . Following an election that, unfortunately, saw candidates and voters turn to podcasters for their political news , the streaming platform Spotify is reportedly planning a podcaster celebration centered around Trump’s inauguration. Read more at Bloomberg . A new study out of the Center for Countering Digital Hate argues that YouTube’s algorithm can steer young girls to harmful content about eating disorders, including videos promoting extreme calorie restriction, emaciated bodies and “meanspo,” or bullying as a way to encourage weight loss. YouTube declined to comment to CBS News when asked about its algorithm’s recommendations, saying it “continually works with mental health experts to refine [its] approach to content recommendations for teens.” Read the Center for Countering Digital Hate’s report . Last week, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced that it intends to build a massive data center in Louisiana to help power its artificial intelligence project. The data center is meant to compete with another data center Elon Musk opened in Tennessee. The centers have raised local concerns over the potential environmental impact and whether the economic impact will benefit neighboring residents. Read The Associate d Press’ report . Trump has tapped right-wing tech oligarch and podcaster David Sacks to lead his administration’s artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency policy. There’s ample reason for concern about potential conflicts of interest. Read my blog to learn more about Sacks here . Federal officials said at least eight American telecommunications companies, including AT&T, Verizon and Lumen technologies, were hit by a Chinese hacking campaign that got access to call records and, in some cases, specific phone calls. The feds don’t think the hackers have been booted from these companies’ systems yet. Read NBC News’ report . Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian Schwab is suing Amazon over allegations the commerce platform and delivery company is excluding two largely Black zip codes from its Prime delivery service. Amazon called the claims “categorically false.” Read NBC’s Washington affiliate’s reporting . Ja'han Jones is The ReidOut Blog writer. He's a futurist and multimedia producer focused on culture and politics. His previous projects include "Black Hair Defined" and the "Black Obituary Project."

It was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”Syria is on the brink of a major political shift as opposition forces, spearheaded by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, have claimed significant victories across the country, most notably entering Damascus. This shocking advance marks the first time insurgents have reached the capital in five years. Reports indicate that President Bashar Assad has left Syria for an unknown destination, as the opposition continues its advances with little resistance from Syrian government forces. The rapid developments have triggered panic among Damascus residents, leading to widespread shortages and mass attempts to flee the country. The recent territorial gains by rebel forces have put Assad's regime in jeopardy and raised urgent calls for diplomatic talks. Foreign ministers from key nations, including Russia and Turkey, convened in Doha to explore potential avenues for a peaceful resolution to what has become a rapidly escalating conflict. (With inputs from agencies.)

Although managed to gain vital support among Latino voters—especially with Latino men, that surge was not represented equally across the electoral map. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution has that Latinos in Georgia supported the Democratic party about the same as they did in 2020. Per , Trump received with 45% of the national Latino vote—a record-high for a Republican presidential nominee. However, in Georgia the results were less drastic. NBC also noted that Kamala Harris’ received 56% of Georgia’s Latino electorate in 2024 (56%), which was just one percentage point less than President Joe Biden’s in 2020. Across the seven battleground states this election, Harris’ -1% differential compared to Biden among Latinos in Georgia was only outdone by her performance in Wisconsin (+1%). Despite Trump’s Latino gains, vote tallies in several Georgia counties banish the belief that that particular group in every state wholly backed the President-elect. According to , Harris won 57.7% of the vote, similar to Biden’s 58.3% back in 2020. According to the research firm Equis, which is studies Latino voters, Trump support across metro Atlanta precincts where over 20% of registered voters identified as Latino. Compared to this population on a national scale, it’s a meager shift. The Latino community in Georgia has arrived in the U.S. just recently. Per census data, more than 40% of Georgia Latinos in 2022 were out of the country. Obtaining citizenship status is a requirement to participate in government elections, though this doesn’t negate or minimize the Latino immigrant experience. In the 2024 election, Latinos cast nearly 180,000 ballots with 46.8% of registered Hispanic voters showing up per . Hispanic turnout as well as in 2016.SoundHound AI Inc. SOUN shares are trading higher Wednesday. The stock gained nearly 100% over the past month, driven by developments in its technology deployment, increased market enthusiasm for conversational AI and improved financial performance. Here’s what you need to know. What To Know: On Nov. 22, SoundHound announced the successful deployment of its conversational AI agent , Amelia, at Apivia Courtage, part of France's AEMA Group. The AI system handled over 100,000 customer calls in 2024, reducing the volume of human-managed inquiries by nearly 20%. The project aimed to improve operational efficiency and allowed employees to focus on higher-value tasks. In a separate announcement earlier on Nov.14, SoundHound highlighted its long-term partnership with Kia, which includes the integration of its voice AI technology in Kia vehicles in India. The system supports Hindi as a featured language, with plans to add 10 additional regional languages. This move reflects the company's expansion into localized, high-demand markets. SoundHound also reported strong third-quarter earnings at the beginning of November. Revenue increased 89% year-over-year to $25.1 million, beating analyst expectations of $23.02 million. The company also raised its full-year revenue outlook for 2024 and 2025, projecting $82-$85 million in 2024 and $155-$175 million in 2025. Short interest in SoundHound remains high, with 24.05% of its float sold short. Despite this, the stock has seen significant upward momentum, supported by strong performance metrics and investor optimism about the role of voice AI in emerging markets. SoundHound executives are set to participate in upcoming investor conferences in December, which could provide further insights into the company's growth strategy. The stock's recent performance potentially indicates continued interest from both retail and institutional investors. SOUN Price Action: SoundHound AI shares closed Wednesday up 14.30% at $10.15, according to Benzinga Pro. Read Next: PS VR2 Gets Controller-Free Hand Tracking Feature Photo: Shutterstock. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Trump selects longtime adviser Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and RussiaEDB leads Lankan automotive sector delegation to ThailandS M Krishna: Love-all politician served and volleyed quite well on political turfSKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — A political party in North Macedonia on Saturday demanded authorities ban social networks whose content incites violence and self-destructive behavior after several young people were seriously injured in connection with the popular “Superman challenge” on TikTok. Health authorities said at least 17 students, ages 10 to 17, were brought to hospitals in the capital Skopje and other towns over the past week with broken bones, contusions and bruises. The children were injured after being thrown into the air by their friends to fly like superheroes and get applause on the internet. The Liberal-Democratic Party, which was part of the left-led coalition that ruled the country from 2016 to earlier in 2024, issued a press statement Saturday strongly condemning “the irresponsible spread of dangerous content on social media, such as the latest TikTok 'challenge' known as ‘Superman,’ which has injured six children across (the country) in the past 24 hours.” “The lack of adequate control over the content of social media allows such ‘games’ to reach the most vulnerable users,” the party statement said. It demanded the “immediate introduction of measures to ban content that incites violence and self-destructive behavior, increase surveillance, and sanction platforms that enable dangerous trends.” North Macedonia’s education minister Vesna Janevska said students should focus on education, not TikTok challenges. “The ban on mobile phones in schools will not have an effect. Phones will be available to children in their homes, neighborhoods and other environments,” she said. Psychologists have warned that the desire to be “in” with the trends on social networks, combined with excessive use of mobile phones, is the main reason for the rise in risky behaviors among children. They urged parents and schools to talk with students.

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