a jollibee

Palantir Technologies ( PLTR 6.22% ) has witnessed a tremendous increase in its market value in 2024 thanks to a remarkable surge of 313% in the company's stock price so far this year. The company has a market cap of $162 billion as of this writing, up from around $35 billion at the beginning of the year. However, a closer look at Palantir's valuation indicates that it may have run ahead of itself. The software platform specialist has a price-to-sales ratio of a whopping 63, while its trailing earnings multiple stands at 345. Not surprisingly, Wall Street isn't expecting much upside from the stock over the next year. The 20 analysts covering Palantir have a 12-month median price target of $38, which would be a 46% drop from current levels. If that does indeed happen, its valuation could drop big time in the coming year. Of course, the company may be able to justify its expensive valuation thanks to the rapidly growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) software platforms, a market where it is the leading player. But if cracks emerge in Palantir's growth story, especially as stiff competition grows from bigger and smaller players in the enterprise AI software space, there is a good chance investors will start booking profits -- leading the stock to fall. This could pave the way for Arm Holdings ( ARM 2.13% ) and Applied Materials ( AMAT 0.57% ) to overtake Palantir's valuation in the next year. Let's see why these two companies may be worth more than Palantir in 2025. 1. Arm Holdings With a market cap of just under $148 billion, Arm Holdings isn't very far from Palantir's valuation. And Arm stock has delivered impressive returns of 87% in 2024 due to the important role the company plays in the global semiconductor market. Arm licenses its architecture and intellectual property (IP) to semiconductor companies and consumer electronics manufacturers so that they can develop different types of chips such as central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), and microprocessors, among other things. The company's chip architecture is used across multiple industries including smartphones, data centers, computers, and automaking. Arm enjoys a healthy market share in many verticals. For instance, in mobile applications, it has a market share of more than 99%. Its share of the consumer electronics chip market stands at 30%. Even better, it is gaining ground in fast-growing niches such as cloud computing and networking equipment, where it now commands 15% and 28% market shares, respectively, as compared to 9% and 23% a couple of years ago. And its share of the automotive chip market has increased to 47% from 43% in a couple of years. In all, Arm estimates that its architecture and IP control 47% of the global chip market's $214 billion value. The company expects to benefit from the growing complexity of chips deployed in its end markets thanks to the emergence of technologies such as AI. And that's why it has seen an increase in demand for its architecture licenses. It ended the second quarter of fiscal 2025 with 39 Arm Total Access licenses, up from 33 in the preceding quarter. The number of Arm Flexible Access licensees increased to 269 from 241 in the preceding quarter. This increase in the number of licenses it's selling bodes well because chips developed using these licenses will result in royalty revenue. The company already gets around 50% of its royalty revenue from chip architectures launched more than 10 years ago. Management expects its revenue in the current fiscal year to jump to $3.95 billion from $3.23 billion in fiscal 2024, an increase of 22%. Its earnings guidance of $1.55 per share would be a 22% increase from fiscal 2024 levels of $1.27 per share. The company's growth is expected to accelerate in the next fiscal year, with revenue predicted to jump 25% to $4.93 billion and earnings expected to increase by 32% to $2.05 per share. Analysts forecast this stronger growth will lead to more upside for the stock. The 12-month median price target of $160 would be a 14% jump from current levels. As such, there is a good chance that it could overtake Palantir's valuation next year, especially considering that Arm's earnings growth then is expected to be stronger than Palantir's estimated bottom-line growth of 25%. 2. Applied Materials Applied Materials hasn't set the stock market on fire in 2024, having gained just 13% so far this year, but 2025 could be much better for the company. Global spending on semiconductor equipment is expected to increase by a much faster pace of 24% in 2025 following a 4% increase this year, according to the industry association SEMI. Applied Materials sells manufacturing equipment and provides services and other software for the semiconductor and display industries. The company's revenue in fiscal 2024 (which ended on Oct. 27) increased just 2% to $27.1 billion. Its adjusted earnings, on the other hand, jumped 7% to $8.65 per share. Consensus estimates are projecting a 9% increase in its revenue in the current fiscal year to $29.6 billion, along with a 10% increase in earnings to $9.54 per share. And there is a good chance the company has stronger growth thanks to the rising demand for AI-related chipmaking equipment. Management said on its November earnings conference call that the booming demand for memory capacity in AI data centers led to a 60% increase in the company's sales of DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) equipment in fiscal 2024. This trend is likely to continue as the demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) that's deployed in AI data centers is expected to double next year. At the same time, Applied Materials is likely to benefit from the transition to more advanced chipmaking technology for tackling AI workloads, which should increase its addressable market substantially. All this tells us why analysts are upbeat about the company's prospects over the next year. The stock carries a 12-month median price target of $225, which would be a 23% increase. Given its current market cap of almost $151 billion, it won't be surprising to see it overtake Palantir's valuation over the next year. Applied Materials trades at just 19 times forward earnings. So, if the market decides to reward its stronger growth with a richer valuation, the stock could easily deliver stronger gains than analysts are estimating.a jollibee 。

Re: Liberals to offer GST break What a joke! Throw the dog a few table scraps! We are sick and tired of your phoney tricks and latest shell game — corruption, scams and scandals ongoing for the past nine years! Jagmeet, do the honourable thing. Put the people ahead of you pension. You are a flip flopping hypocrite. Quit selling Canadians out. We want an election now. Let the Canadian people decide. Greg Snider, Creston,WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — If last month's election wasn't painful enough for Florida Democrats, they're losing another state House seat after one of their members announced Monday that she's switching parties. State Rep. Susan Valdés, a former school board member who was reelected as a Democrat last month, said on X that she is “tired of being the party of protesting.” Valdés ran to be chairperson for her local county’s Democratic executive committee earlier this month. She won her current term by nearly 5 percentage points but can't run for reelection again because of term limits. Republicans have controlled the governor’s office and both branches of the Legislature since 1999. Valdés is serving her final two years before leaving office due to term limits. Republicans now have an 86-34 majority in the House. “I got into politics to be part of the party of progress,” Valdés wrote. “I know that I won’t agree with my fellow Republican House members on every issue, but I know that in their caucus, I will be welcomed and treated with respect.” House Speaker Daniel Perez reposted Valdés’ statement and welcomed her into the House, where Republicans have a supermajority of 86-34. House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said she was surprised and disappointed by Valdés’ announcement. “It is sad that she has elevated her own aspirations above the needs of her district,” Driskell wrote in a statement on X.Over the holiday season, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) in Leeds and Grenville is running their Giving Tree Campaign to provide kids in need with Christmas presents. BBBS matches kids with people who volunteer to support and mentor them. The non-profit organization is a nationwide charity, but Giving Tree is unique to BBBS Leeds and Grenville. "Every year, we work with businesses across Leeds and Grenville, to make sure that some of the financially vulnerable families in our community have what they need to have a happy sort of stress free holiday," said Bev Heuving, the executive director for the organization. This year, there are 36 businesses participating. BBBS provides a Christmas tree decorated with tags specifying an age or gender of a kid that will receive the gift. It's then all up to the customers of each business to donate the gifts. BBBS covers a large region, with businesses participating in eastern Ontario communities such as Kemptville, Athens, Mallorytown, Brockville and Prescott. "It really is amazing to see how our community comes together to support each other. I think that is one of the best parts of my job, is being able to have a front row seat to just all of the generosity and kindness," Heuving said. Harley Edgley, manager of JJ's Country Diner in Athens, said it was a no-brainer to sign up because she was a "Big Sister" herself. "I've worked with a local girl here in the village, and we've become kind of like family at this point," she said. "Our customers are amazing. Within a week, our tree was empty." In Mallorytown, Shannon Morrisson, owner of Skyward Active Health Centre, said their clientele is a big reason for their involvement. "We help a lot of young athletes so, lots of kids and we love to help any kids in need as well. So, this is one way that we can just give back to the community that way," she said. "Big Brothers Big Sisters is an amazing organization in our community, and so I always love to help them as much as we possibly can." While the spirit of the campaign is to provide gifts, BBBS also accepts cash donations. The Bar in downtown Brockville has been matching every cash donation so far, raising $824. "We do this every year," said bartender Dee Pierce. "We have our usuals that come in that like to donate, every year it seems to be a success." The Giving Tree Campaign began in mid November and will wrap up on Dec, 15 so staff can distribute the presents to all of the kids. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks Here Are All The Gift Wrapping Supplies You Should Order Before The Holidays 19 Practical Gifts That Anyone Would Love To Unwrap 23 Great Secret Santa Gifts Under $15 From Amazon Canada Home The Good Stuff: Our Favourite Christmas Lights For 2024 Our Guide To The Best Sectional Sofas You Can Get In Canada Our Guide To The Best Electric Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Gifts 26 Crowd-Pleasing Gifts For The Pickiest People On Your List The Best Gifts To Give Teachers Under $25 15 Amazon Canada Stocking Stuffers Under $10 That Everyone Will Love Beauty Our Guide To The Best Self Tanners You Can Get In Canada 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit Deals Black Friday May Be Over, But You Can Still Take Advantage Of These Amazing Sales On Amazon Canada It's Officially Travel Tuesday: Here Are The Best Deals On Flights, Hotels, And Vacations The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 40% Off For Cyber Monday Ottawa Top Stories RAINFALL WARNING | Ottawa could receive up to 40 mm of rain Tuesday and Wednesday Ashcroft Homes receives court-ordered protection as it deals with $284 million in debt 111 tickets issued in first 8 days of winter no-stopping restrictions on street near Ottawa Hospital General Campus Here is where you can get up close to live butterflies in Ottawa Small businesses giving back in Leeds and Grenville with Giving Tree Campaign Threat near Parliament Hill deemed not suspicious Police lay 19 charges against Ottawa tow truck drivers in compliance blitz Ottawa home prices jump 4.6 per cent in November, report shows CTVNews.ca Top Stories BREAKING | Flair Airlines CFO charged with involuntary manslaughter linked to fatal car crash in U.S. Flair Airlines' chief financial officer Sumanth Rao is facing involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with a fatal crash involving an underage driver who had been drinking at his Atlanta-area home. DEVELOPING | Luigi Mangione shouts as he is led into courthouse where he contests extradition to N.Y. The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggled with deputies and shouted Tuesday while arriving for a court appearance in Pennsylvania, a day after he was arrested at a McDonald’s and charged with murder. National rent prices decline year-over-year to 15-month low: report A new report says average asking rents fell nationally on a year-over-year basis to $2,139 in November, marking a 15-month low. Drugs, guns, stolen vehicles and inadmissible entries mark busy year at border: CBSA The Canada Border Services Agency says there’s been an increase in the confiscation of illegal items at border crossings, as well as a jump in inadmissible foreign nationals attempting to enter Canada from the U.S., this year compared to last. Some added sugar sources are worse than others for disease risk, study suggests Sugar isn’t helpful when looking to reduce heart disease risk –– but sweet drinks are the worst, according to a study. There are better sweet treats. Company ordered to refund B.C. Telus customer who accidentally sent it payments A B.C. Telus customer who mistakenly sent online banking payments to a company with a similar name will get refunded after a small claims decision handed down Monday. Legal experts sound alarm on Legault's threat to use notwithstanding clause to ban public prayer Legal experts say the increasing tendency of provincial premiers to use the notwithstanding clause is a worrying trend that disregards the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Meth wrapped as Christmas gifts seized from Vancouver passenger at New Zealand airport A woman travelling from Vancouver to New Zealand was arrested after a search of her carry-on duffel bag found methamphetamine wrapped as Christmas presents, according to authorities. 'Governor Justin Trudeau': Trump appears to mock PM in social media post Amid a looming tariff threat, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump appears to be mocking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, referring to him as 'Governor Justin Trudeau' in a post on Truth Social early Tuesday. Atlantic Freezing rain warning issued in New Brunswick; Rainy, windy weather expected Thursday A developing storm will move into Quebec late Wednesday into Thursday, bringing rain and strong southerly winds to the Maritimes. N.B. RCMP releases photo of 'vehicle of interest' in Chipman double-homicide case The New Brunswick RCMP has released a photo of a “vehicle of interest” in connection to the deaths of two people in Chipman last month. Fredericton creates new task force to address public safety concerns Fredericton is creating a new task force to address growing concerns about public safety in the city. Toronto 'We are a threat to the U.S.': Ford suggests reason for Trump's proposed tariffs Premier Doug Ford is touting the strength of Ontario’s manufacturing sector, suggesting that U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs may have something to do with him seeing the province as a “threat.” Police in York Region arrest 17 suspects allegedly part of criminal network involved in GTA home invasions Police in York Region have arrested 17 people and seized $14 million worth of drugs in connection with a 'criminal network' allegedly actively planning home invasions, armed robberies and drug trafficking. Ontario doctor sees licence revoked for sexually abusing patients: disciplinary tribunal A disciplinary panel has revoked the licence of a family doctor in Hamilton, Ont. after they found he sexually assaulted two patients and repeatedly disregarded an order not be alone with patients without a monitor present. Montreal Legal experts sound alarm on Legault's threat to use notwithstanding clause to ban public prayer Legal experts say the increasing tendency of provincial premiers to use the notwithstanding clause is a worrying trend that disregards the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. CTV News anchor Mutsumi Takahashi to be named Citizen of honour in Montreal Longtime CTV News anchor Mutsumi Takahashi is being named as a Citizen of honour by the City of Montreal. Former Just for Laughs employee testifies about alleged 1987 assault by Gilbert Rozon A second accuser is on the stand today at the civil trial involving allegations of sexual assault against former Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon. Northern Ontario Northern Ont. man on probation charged with intimate partner violence, firearms offences New details have emerged about a police standoff in northern Ontario that sent a school and day care into lockdown last month after police lay intimate partner violence-related charges. Sault suspect tied snowblower to truck bumper, arrested for impaired, weapons offences A suspended driver in Sault Ste. Marie has been charged with more than a dozen offences after someone reported a pickup truck driving around with a snowblower tied to the bumper. Two charged with assault following downtown Sudbury altercation Two people from Greater Sudbury have been charged with assault, weapons and several other offences following an incident Tuesday morning in downtown Sudbury. Windsor Charges dropped, pleas accepted, trial confirmed in murder of UWindsor student on Walpole Island Warning: This article contains details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader’s discretion is advised. Stretching holiday budgets: How shoppers at Devonshire Mall are navigating inflation Despite a challenging year marked by inflation and rising costs, holiday shoppers at Windsor's Devonshire Mall pressed on Tuesday, determined to check some items off their gift list. Police seeking suspects in home invasion and assault investigation The Windsor Police Service is searching for two suspects in relation to a home invasion and assault investigation. London A chilly dip for a good cause: gearing up for the New Year’s Huron Polar Plunge Residents of Huron County will start the new year with a chilly dip in Lake Huron to raise money for the Huron and Area Search and Rescue Team, and Huron Perth Alzheimer's Society. Fog advisory issued for London area, with snowsqualls on the way Environment Canada has issued a fog advisory for London, Parkhill, and eastern Middlesex County – that fog advisory sprawls through much of southern Ontario this afternoon and isn’t expected to let up anytime soon. 47-year-old charged in October collision that killed Sarnia pedestrian The man that struck and killed a pedestrian in a collision in Sarnia has been charged with careless driving causing death. Kitchener Waterloo Region mistakenly applied $13.7M discount to Amazon build in Blair The Region of Waterloo will not be able to demand $13.7 million from a developer after they said a discount was mistakenly issued for the development of an Amazon fulfillment centre. Petition seeks to save U of G greenhouse from demolition The fate of a historic greenhouse on the University of Guelph campus hangs in the balance. Canadian man sentenced to prison for embezzling US$1.4M U.S. authorities have sentenced a Canadian man to 20 months in prison for a US$1.4-million embezzlement scheme. Barrie Essa Twp. couple accused of human trafficking face new charges An Essa Township couple in the midst of a human trafficking trial have been arrested and charged again, this time with allegedly breaching their bail terms. Boy, 15, arrested after allegations of sexual assault in Barrie A young teen faces charges following an alleged assault involving two girls at a Barrie mall. 85-foot hydro pole snaps in ice storm Orangeville county roads are closed after a hydro pole snapped early Tuesday morning. Winnipeg Doctors Manitoba warns of emergency room closures over holidays Doctors Manitoba is warning Manitobans that emergency rooms in rural and northern parts of the province might not be open when they need them. Winnipeggers hopeful after fall of Assad regime in Syria Winnipeg’s Syrian community is brimming with hope and happiness following the fall of the country’s brutal dictatorship—ending a 13-year-long civil war. Colleen Bready's Forecast: The deep freeze is coming Another day, another round of snow is falling in southern Manitoba on Tuesday—all before the first sustained deep freeze of the season sets in tonight. Calgary Several guns seized during searches of Calgary homes, vehicles: police A Calgary man is facing charges after police seized multiple guns during searches of vehicles and homes in south Calgary. Wildlife rehab facilities running holiday fundraising campaigns amid rising demand for care The Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) and the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (Calgary Wildlife) say this is an important time of year to raise funds for their work in caring for injured and orphaned wildlife. Woman in life-threatening condition after being found on N.E. Calgary pathway A woman was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition after being found on the Nose Creek Pathway in northeast Calgary. Edmonton Alberta family doctor suspended for unprofessional conduct An Alberta family doctor and veterinarian has been suspended for unprofessional conduct. Memorial to be held by first responders for Edmonton security guard slain on the job A group that represents first responders in Alberta says it plans to honour a security guard who was killed on the job in Edmonton last week. Man convicted in 2013 beating death of Ivan Stamp Edward Steven Robinson, 34, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Tuesday – more than 11 years after he beat Ivan Stamp to death in 2013. Regina Second ammonia leak delays reopening of Weyburn's Crescent Point Place and arena The City of Weyburn has revealed that Crescent Point Place and the Tom Zandee Sports Arena will remain closed – following a second ammonia leak in the facility's ice plant chiller. 'Relationship building': Bison shoulder mount gifted to Saskatchewan's Legislature The Saskatchewan Legislative Building is home to many priceless and symbolic objects. On Dec. 3, a bison shoulder mount joined the list of prestigious symbols on the walls of the caucus meeting room. Regina firefighters rescue cats and dogs from burning duplex Crews from the Regina Fire and Protective Services (RFPS) were on scene of an incident at a multi-family building late Monday evening. Saskatoon Emergency crews searching the South Saskatchewan River for body of missing man Saskatoon police and firefighters have begun searching the South Saskatchewan River for the body of a 48-year-old man who went missing late last month. Sask. RCMP lay murder charge in fatal February shooting The Saskatchewan RCMP have charged a man with first-degree murder for a fatal February shooting in North Battleford. Sask. hockey player recovering after near fatal skate accident during game The Sask East Hockey League (SEHL) has released details of a near fatal accident at one of its games over the weekend – which saw a Churchbridge Imperials player suffer serious injuries after being struck with a skate. Vancouver Suspect in Vancouver 'sucker punch' incident also charged in 2 other random assaults, police say The suspect arrested last week for allegedly sucker-punching a stranger in downtown Vancouver has been charged in a total of three separate stranger assaults, police announced Tuesday. Thwarted taxi getaway leads to significant weapons seizure in northern B.C. The arrest of a man who allegedly set a stolen car on fire in front of police and tried to flee in a taxi led Mounties to properties in northern B.C. where multiple weapons were seized, according to authorities. Company ordered to refund B.C. Telus customer who accidentally sent it payments A B.C. Telus customer who mistakenly sent online banking payments to a company with a similar name will get refunded after a small claims decision handed down Monday. Vancouver Island Man in hospital, suspect at large after stabbing in Nanaimo, B.C. Mounties are investigating after a 50-year-old man was reportedly stabbed Tuesday morning at a park in Nanaimo, B.C. B.C. Lions' Teuhema suspended for two games after positive drug test The CFL suspended defensive lineman Sione Teuhema of the B.C. Lions for two games Tuesday after he tested positive for a banned substance. BREAKING | Flair Airlines CFO charged with involuntary manslaughter linked to fatal car crash in U.S. Flair Airlines' chief financial officer Sumanth Rao is facing involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with a fatal crash involving an underage driver who had been drinking at his Atlanta-area home. Kelowna Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026 The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday. 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Stay ConnectedLebawit Lily Girma | (TNS) Bloomberg News When winter rolls around, travelers predictably turn their attention to beaches. And this year, it’s the destination that comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean” that’s experiencing outsize demand from Americans planning a warm island vacation. Talk about trashing stereotypes. Related Articles Travel | Would you pay $700 a night to sleep under the stars at this Colorado resort? Travel | Thailand’s starring role in ‘The White Lotus’ is about to pay off Travel | 5 under-the-radar travel destinations the UN says you should visit Travel | Gift ideas for people planning their next trip Travel | Lights and decor, réveillon meals make Christmastime special in New Orleans Puerto Rico has recovered overseas visitors (excluding those from Canada and Mexico) faster than any U.S. state or territory — a staggering 85% increase over its 2019 overseas inbound visitor levels as of 2023, according to an October study from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office. There are now more daily flights from the U.S. West Coast, and hotel bookings are 6% higher so far in this last quarter of 2024 year-over-year. It’s a trifecta of tourism growth: more visitors, but also longer stays and a higher spend that reached a record $9.8 billion in 2023, boosting small businesses as well as major brands. “We don’t have a slow season in Puerto Rico anymore,” says Brad Dean, chief executive officer at Discover Puerto Rico. Even if they’re not booking, people are dreaming about “La Isla.” By tracking flight searches for trips between November 2024 and February 2025, a measure of “inspirational” demand, tourism intelligence company Mabrian Technologies reports Puerto Rico is up 9% compared with the same period last year and leads Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and the Bahamas in the Caribbean proper. Only Costa Rica ranked higher in the wider region. Dean attributes Puerto Rico’s ongoing tourism growth to a strategic effort to reposition the island’s brand as more than a sun-and-sea destination, starting back in 2018. That led to the Live Boricua campaign, which began in 2022 and leaned heavily on culture, history and cuisine and was, Dean says, “a pretty bold departure” in the way Puerto Rico was showcased to travelers. He adds that at least $2 billion in tourism spend is linked to this campaign. “We (also) haven’t shied away from actively embracing the LGBTQ+ community, and that has opened up Puerto Rico to audiences that may not have considered the Caribbean before,” Dean says. Hotels are preparing to meet this growing demand: A number of established boutique properties are undergoing upgrades valued between $4 million and more than $50 million, including Hotel El Convento; La Concha, which will join the Marriott Autograph Collection; Condado Vanderbilt Hotel; and the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar. That’s in addition to ultra-chic options that are coming online in 2025, including the adults-only Alma San Juan, with rooms overlooking Plaza Colón in the heart of Old San Juan, and the five-star Veranó boutique hotel in San Juan’s trendy Santurce neighborhood. The beachfront Ritz-Carlton San Juan in Isla Verde will also be reopening seven years after Hurricane Maria decimated the island. The travel industry’s success is helping boost employment on the island, to the tune of 101,000 leisure and hospitality jobs as of September 2024, a 26% increase over pre-pandemic levels, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Efforts to promote Puerto Rico’s provinces beyond the San Juan metro area — such as surfing hub Rincón on the west coast, historical Ponce on the south coast and Orocovis for nature and coffee haciendas in the central mountains —have spread the demand to small businesses previously ignored by the travel industry. Take Sheila Osorio, who leads workshops on Afro-Puerto Rican bomba music and dance at Taller Nzambi, in the town of Loíza, 15 miles east of San Juan; or Wanda Otero, founder of cheese-producing company Vaca Negra in Hatillo, an hour’s drive west of Old San Juan, where you can join a cheese-making workshop and indulge in artisanal cheese tastings. “The list of businesses involved in tourism has gone from 650 in 2018 to 6,100, many of which are artists and artisans,” Dean says. While New Yorkers and Miami residents have always been the largest visitor demographic, Dean says more mainland Americans now realize that going to Puerto Rico means passport-free travel to enjoy beaches, as well as opportunities to dine in Michelin-rated restaurants, hike the only rainforest in the U.S. and kayak in a bioluminescent bay. Visitors from Chicago and Dallas, for example, have increased by approximately 40% from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, compared with the same period in 2022-2023, and more travelers are expected from Denver now that United Airlines Holdings Inc. has kicked off its first nonstop service to San Juan, beginning on Oct. 29. Previously, beach destinations that were easy to reach on direct flights from Denver included Mexico, Belize and California, but now Puerto Rico joins that list with a 5.5-hour nonstop route that cuts more than two hours from the next-best option. Given United Airlines’ hub in San Francisco, it could mean more travelers from the Golden State in the near future, too. In December, U.S. airlines will have 3,000 more seats per day to the territory compared with the same period last year, for a total of 84,731 — surpassing even Mexico and the Dominican Republic in air capacity, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, the island’s primary gateway, is projecting a record volume of 13 million passengers by year’s end — far surpassing the 9.4 million it saw in 2019. As for Hinchcliffe’s “floating island of garbage” line, Dean says it was “a terribly insensitive attempt at humor” that transformed outrage into a marketing silver lining, with an outpouring of positive public sentiment and content on Puerto Rico all over social media. Success, as that old chestnut goes, may be the best revenge. “It was probably the most efficient influencer campaign we’ve ever had,” Dean says, “a groundswell of visitors who posted their photos and videos and said, ‘This is the Puerto Rico that I know.’” ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

ATIF Announces Plan to Change its Nasdaq Ticker Symbol to "ZBAI”France on Saturday prepared to throw open the doors of Notre Dame cathedral after a half-decade closure during a ceremony attended by dozens of world leaders celebrating the rebirth of the Paris landmark ravaged by a devastating fire. Held up as an example of French creativity and resilience by President Emmanuel Macron, Notre Dame’s renaissance so soon after a 2019 blaze comes at a difficult time for the country which is without a permanent government. ‘Source of pride’: Notre Dame restoration and re-opening The two-hour re-opening ceremony will officially begin when archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich knocks three times on the doors of the cathedral at 6pm GMT with a staff cut from one of the wooden roof beams that survived the inferno five years ago. Macron has scored a major coup by attracting US President-elect Donald Trump, on his first foreign trip since his re-election, for the ceremony along with some 40 other leaders, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and British heir to the throne, Prince William. It is “a cathedral like we have never seen before,” Philippe Jost, the head of the restoration project, told Franceinfo radio, saying he was proud to “show the whole world” a “great collective success and a source of pride for all of France”. Uninvited gusty guest In one last-minute hitch, harsh weather forced officials to move Macron’s planned speech indoors and pre-record a concert planned for after the ceremony, with forecasts for winds of up to 80 kilometres per hour. The service will feature prayer, organ music and hymns from the cathedral’s choir, followed by the televised concert — pre-recorded Friday night due to the weather — with performances by Chinese piano virtuoso Lang Lang, South African opera singer Pretty Yende and an orchestra conducted by Venezuelan maestro Gustavo Dudamel. US singer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams is also believed to have taken part. Notre Dame to re-open amid political turmoil in France The sense of national accomplishment in restoring a beloved symbol of Paris has been undercut by political turmoil that has left France without a proper government since last week when prime minister Michel Barnier lost a confidence vote. Macron is hoping the re-opening might provide a fleeting sense of national pride and unity — as the Paris Olympics did in July and August. The scale of the immense security operation also recalls the Olympics — with some 6,000 police officers and gendarmes mobilised. ‘Do the impossible’ – Macron The re-opening “is the proof that we know how to do grand things, we know how to do the impossible” Macron said Thursday. During a visit with TV cameras last week, he somewhat undermined the suspense behind the re-opening, revealing the cathedral’s freshly scrubbed limestone walls, new furniture and vaulted wooden roof cut from ancient oak trees selected from the finest forests of France. The reconstruction effort has cost around 700 million euros (about R13.3 billion), financed from donations, with the re-opening achieved within five years despite some initial predictions it could take decades and the Covid-19 pandemic. “This state-of-the-art restoration, the fruit of a worldwide collective effort and the use of many traditional French skills, has enabled this masterpiece to regain all its splendour,” said Audrey Azoulay, the head of the UN cultural agency UNESCO, describing the work as “dazzling”. Trump show? Trump accepted an invitation from Macron to attend earlier this week and hailed their “great” relationship as the two men met at the Elysee Palace ahead of the ceremony. “You were president at that time [of the fire] and I remember the solidarity and the immediate reaction,” Macron added, speaking in English. Zelensky joined them for a three-way meeting to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine before they head to the cathedral for a ceremony. They were to return to the Elysee for a glittering state dinner with all the world leaders. One surprising absentee will be Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, who is instead visiting the French island of Corsica. A message from Francis addressed to the French people will be read out to the congregation. Notre Dame inferno: Cause of 2019 blaze remains a mystery Parisians watched in horror in 2019 as flames ravaged Notre Dame, a landmark famed as the setting for Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame and one of the world’s most visited monuments. The apocalyptic images were seen by some as a sign of the demise of Western civilisation, with the 850-year-old wonder saved from complete collapse only by the heroic intervention of firefighters. The exact cause of the blaze has never been identified despite a forensic investigation by prosecutors, who believe an accident such as an electrical fault was the most likely reason. On Sunday, the first mass with 170 bishops and more than 100 Paris priests will take place, followed by a second service in the evening at 6.30pm which will be open to the public. — By © Agence France-Presse

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Bowen Hardman had 20 points in Akron's 101-48 victory NCAA-Division III-member SUNY-Brockport on Saturday. Hardman went 8 of 14 from the field (4 for 10 from 3-point range) for the Zips (6-2). James Okonkwo scored 12 points and added 16 rebounds. Nate Johnson shot 5 for 8, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points, while adding six rebounds. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week

Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children's hospitalStrands Help, Hints & Clues for Today, December 13 By If you’re having a tough time with the from December 13, don’t fret as we’re here to help you with . Once you uncover today’s theme, spotting words in the grid will be a breeze. Strands offers a fun and super engaging brain teaser mystery game for puzzle enthusiasts. It can be found on the NYT website as well as in the NYT Games app. Now, let’s jump right into the hints, theme, and solutions for the Strands edition for Thursday, December 13. Strands hint and theme for December 13 The NYT Strands theme today is Meanwhile, here’s the theme hint: These terms are connected to Taylor Swift and are easily identifiable by her fans. Additionally, the answer to the NYT Strands game today can be found horizontally under the spangram. For those trying to figure out how many answers there are to uncover, today features six themed words to discover, including one spangram. What are the Strands answers for today, December 13? After all the excitement and anticipation, players can analyze their answers for the NYT Strands for December 13, 2024, or check out the ones that they missed out on listed below: For the Strands game today, the spangram is “AlbumTitle.” Moreover, there isn’t a complex theme clue to decipher. This is mainly because everything revolves around Taylor Swift since it is her birthday today. Ayesha, an SEO Content Writer/Editor for Coming Soon. With a degree in Social work, she has been creating content as a Digital marketer for the last 3 years. Recently, Ayesha has taken up skincare as a hobby on Instagram, where she shares budget-friendly skincare routines along with quick and simple tips and tricks. To get in touch with her, make sure to follow her on Instagram. Share article

Kansas banking commissioner still not sold on Beneficient’s unusual business model