Palladyne AI's Red Cat Partnership: A Catalyst For Growth In Military RoboticsMurray – who retired after the summer Olympics at the age of 37 after finally admitting defeat in his battle against his body – will join the Serbian’s team in the off-season and coach him through the opening grand slam of 2025. It will see the Scot surprisingly join forces with the man who was his biggest nemesis during his long career, especially in Australia where he lost to Djokovic in four finals. Murray, who beat Djokovic to win the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013, says he wants to help the 24-time grand slam champion achieve his goals. He never liked retirement anyway. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ga4UlV2kQW — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 23, 2024 “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open, he said. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.” Djokovic, a week younger than his new coach, added: “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach. “Looking forward to start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.” In posting a teaser about the appointment on social media, Djokovic said: “He never liked retirement anyway.” He then added: “We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of pushing each other to our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in in our sport. They called us gamechangers, risk takers, history makers. “I thought our story may be over. Turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard coach, Andy Murray.” Djokovic beat Murray in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals while also losing in the French Open final in 2016. It was his pursuit of toppling Djokovic at the top of the rankings in 2016 which was a precursor to his 2017 hip injury which derailed Murray’s career. Djokovic, who split with coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year, hopes that adding Murray to his team will help him get back to the top of the game as he went through a calendar year without winning a grand slam for the first time since 2017. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have developed a stranglehold at the top of the men’s game and Djokovic, who has seen Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal all retire in recent years, is still hoping to move clear of the record 24 grand slams he shares with Margaret Court.
He is the man behind 3bn streams, a string of chart-topping artists – and Wetherspoon’s newest brand of tequila. Ask Michael Adex how he has achieved all this by the age of 28 and he gives some credit to his “immovable” will to make things happen. But the Manchester-raised entertainment mogul, who first tasted success as the talent manager behind rapper Aitch before founding a talent agency, record label and global music publishing business, is acutely aware that no matter how powerful the vision, or how good the idea, fledgling companies need cash to survive. The UK aims to be a leader in “deep tech”, the field of innovation that includes advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. But the pathway from bright idea to commercial success can be a fraught one, especially for black entrepreneurs. Research from Digital Catapult , which works with government, industry and academia to grow businesses through the use of deep tech, has found just 0.2% of overall investment in the UK goes to black-founded companies. Adex, who last year was named one of Forbes’ magazine’s “30 under 30”, is out to change that, acting as ambassador for Digital Catapult’s Black Founders programme, which is supporting 10 businesses on their commercial journey. Companies previously selected have gone into partnership with large corporates and attracted interest from angel investors. It caps a busy year of deal-making for Adex. Wetherspoon’s is stocking MODA, the tequila brand he founded, in more than 800 pubs, while Sypz, the bottled water brand Adex co-founded with Aitch, has been picked up by Iceland. Adex has also taken his entertainment agency, NQ, into partnership with Columbia Records UK, in a deal aimed at giving the label access to the hottest emerging music stars in the north of England. “Even with ambition ... if you want to get to certain levels, as I have done independently, you need resources to be able to grow,” Adex says. “That’s why programmes like [Black Founders] are so important – to give people the understanding of how to go about raising money and being able to articulate their vision.” The potential for deep tech to further the UK’s success in the creative industries can be seen in the startups Digital Capital has selected for the Black Founders programme. Each of the companies applies immersive technologies to fields including music production, gaming, storytelling and education. They include TwoShot, which uses voice detection technology to tackle copyright issues related to AI-generated music; Mismatch Studios, which creates digital clothing for virtual worlds, giving designers a sustainable way of prototyping designs; and Immersely, which uses biometrics and AI to create “hyper-personalised” games. Adex’s own journey to success in the music industry – NQ’s producers have worked with artists such as Central Cee, ArrDee, Tion Wayne, Bryson Tiller, Mist, Blanco and Anne-Marie – began when he was at school. “It was natural,” he says. “I had quite a lot of contacts and friends, I had family in London, every summer I would go and make connections. And from there I started making relationships and hanging out with artists. “Having loads of talent around me in Manchester , it made me want to put them on –because I was going to London and seeing so many opportunities and seeing, in Manchester, a lack of that.” “It’s important to show what things black entrepreneurs can get involved in,” Adex adds. “I never want anyone to feel as if they should limit themselves,” he says, on the importance of Black Founders. “I have always been strong-willed, I never looked at any barriers, thinking I couldn’t do something because of where I’m from, my background, or what I look like. But again, looking at it now, six or seven years down the line, and seeing what I have achieved, I almost look at it now with more disbelief.” Speaking of the Black Founders programme, Jessica Rushworth, the chief policy and strategy officer at Digital Catapult, said “breaking down barriers to successful scaling for underrepresented entrepreneurs” was “at the heart of it”, adding: “The new cohort’s innovative new solutions will undoubtedly unlock new opportunities to grow the UK’s creative economy.”Stocks fell in morning trading Friday as Wall Street closes out a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 1.4%, with more than 80% of stocks in the benchmark index losing ground. Still, the index is managing to hold onto a modest gain for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 402 points, or 0.9%, to 42,945 as of 10:41 a.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite fell 2%. Both the Dow and the Nasdaq are also holding on to weekly gains. Technology stocks were the biggest drag on the market Friday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slumped 3.2%. Its enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes. Other Big Tech stocks losing ground included Microsoft, with a 2.2% decline. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 2.2% and Best Buy slipped 1.9%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. Energy was the only sector within the S&P 500 rising. It gained 0.5% as crude oil prices rose 0.8%. Investors don't have much in the way of corporate or economic updates to review as the market moves closer to another standout annual finish. The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. Markets in Europe gained ground. Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury remained at 4.59% from late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury slipped to 4.32% from 4.33% late Thursday. Wall Street's main indexes opened lower, dampening an upbeat holiday-shortened week that started out looking like a classic "Santa Claus" rally was unfolding. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield was up slightly but hovered below a near-eight-month high reached Thursday, while shorter-term Treasury yields eased. The U.S. dollar was headed for an almost 7% annual gain while Japan's yen was set for a fourth consecutive year of losses on Friday, as traders anticipated robust U.S. growth, as well as tax cuts, tariffs and deregulation by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, would make the Federal Reserve cautious on rate-cutting well into 2025. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.56% lower after the open. The S&P 500 fell 0.65%, leaving Wall Street's benchmark on course for a 1% weekly gain. The Nasdaq Composite was down 0.79% in early trade. The Dow is up 14% in 2024, the S&P 500 is up 25% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq is up 30%. Analysts said stock markets could change direction as investors returned from holiday and reassessed the risks of elevated U.S. inflation under Trump for richly-valued Wall Street equities. MSCI's broad global share index was 0.32% lower on Friday to remain 1.07% higher for the week. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.12%, marking a 1.5% weekly rise, while Tokyo's Nikkei rose 1.8%. Europe's Stoxx 600 was 0.27% firmer on Friday and 0.7% higher for the week. The dollar index, which measures the currency against six other major currencies, eased 0.09%, looking at a small weekly gain, and to close 2024 with a more than six percent year-on-year gain. Dollar/yen was down 0.15%, but near levels last seen in July, while the greenback was also showing a 5.3% gain this month against the yen and a near 12% advance for 2024 against the weakened Japanese currency. The euro , up 0.09%, stayed close to two-year lows Fed Chair Jerome Powell said earlier this month that U.S. central bank officials "are going to be cautious about further cuts" after an as-expected quarter-point rate reduction. The U.S. economy also faces the impact of Donald Trump, who has proposed deregulation, tax cuts, tariff hikes and tighter immigration policies that economists view as both pro-growth and inflationary. Traders, meanwhile, anticipate the Bank of Japan will keep its monetary policy settings loose and the European Central Bank will deliver further rate cuts. Traders are pricing in 37 bps of U.S. rate cuts in 2025, with no reduction fully priced into money markets until June, by which time the ECB is expected to have lowered its deposit rate by a full percentage point to 2% as the euro zone economy slows. Higher U.S. rate expectations pulled the 10-year Treasury yield, which rises as the price of the fixed income security falls, to its highest since early May early on Thursday, at 4.641%. It was last up 1.4 basis points at 4.595%. The two-year Treasury yield, which tracks interest rate forecasts, traded around 4.32% off 1.2 bp since late Thursday. U.S. debt trends also sent euro zone yields higher, with Germany's benchmark 10-year bund yield rising 4.8 bp to 2.372% on Friday. Elsewhere in markets, gold prices dipped 0.84% to $2,612.20 per ounce, set for about a 27% rise for the year and the strongest yearly performance since 2011 as geopolitical and inflation concerns boosted the haven asset. Oil prices were also set for a weekly rise as investors awaited news of economic stimulus efforts in China, the world's biggest crude importer. Brent crude futures rose 1% on the day to $73.99 a barrel, 1.5% higher for the week.
Murray – who retired after the summer Olympics at the age of 37 after finally admitting defeat in his battle against his body – will join the Serbian’s team in the off-season and coach him through the opening grand slam of 2025. It will see the Scot surprisingly join forces with the man who was his biggest nemesis during his long career, especially in Australia where he lost to Djokovic in four finals. Murray, who beat Djokovic to win the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013, says he wants to help the 24-time grand slam champion achieve his goals. He never liked retirement anyway. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ga4UlV2kQW — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 23, 2024 “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open, he said. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.” Djokovic, a week younger than his new coach, added: “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach. “Looking forward to start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.” In posting a teaser about the appointment on social media, Djokovic said: “He never liked retirement anyway.” He then added: “We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of pushing each other to our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in in our sport. They called us gamechangers, risk takers, history makers. “I thought our story may be over. Turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard coach, Andy Murray.” Djokovic beat Murray in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals while also losing in the French Open final in 2016. It was his pursuit of toppling Djokovic at the top of the rankings in 2016 which was a precursor to his 2017 hip injury which derailed Murray’s career. Djokovic, who split with coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year, hopes that adding Murray to his team will help him get back to the top of the game as he went through a calendar year without winning a grand slam for the first time since 2017. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have developed a stranglehold at the top of the men’s game and Djokovic, who has seen Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal all retire in recent years, is still hoping to move clear of the record 24 grand slams he shares with Margaret Court.SS&C Signs Agreement with Insignia FinancialSamuelson’s Olympic marathon win was a game-changer for women’s sports
The amendments, gazetted on Friday as the BroadcastingServices Amendment Bill, will also compel social media broadcasterstransmitting national events to register with the Broadcasting Authority ofZimbabwe (BAZ). In addition, the amendments seek to prohibit insurancecompanies from selling motor vehicle insurance to individuals who do not holdvalid ZBC radio licenses, while subscription broadcasting service providerswill also be obligated to carry up to three channels from public broadcastersas part of the reforms. The proposed legislative changes aim to align theBroadcasting Services Act with the Constitution and the Public EntitiesCorporate Governance Act while supporting media diversity, enhancing localcontent production and fostering sectoral investment. Under the proposed law, foreign ownership in broadcastinglicenses will be capped at 40 percent, ensuring local majority ownership whileattracting foreign investment into the capital-intensive sector. The amendments, which are part of the Second Republic’songoing media reforms, are intended shift the role of BAZ from controlling toregulating and managing broadcasting service bands. The Bill’s memorandum highlights this strategic realignmentstating that: “The objective of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill, 2024,is principally to align the Broadcasting Services Act with the Constitution andalso with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act. “Clause 3 amends section 2A of the principal Act to providethat the role of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is to regulateand manage the broadcasting service bands for sustenance rather than controlbroadcasting service bands.” “The intention is to move away from a perception that thelegislation is intended to stifle the freedoms guaranteed by section 61 of theConstitution and instead to focus on necessary regulation of the airwaves.” These changes are designed to dispel perceptions that theAct stifles freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Section 61 of theConstitution and to align with international standards, including the AfricanCharter on Broadcasting and the International Covenant on Civil and PoliticalRights. “Clause 21 amends the Sixth Schedule to the principal Actby deleting paragraph 2(2) and substituting it with a new section 2(2) whichprovide that a licensee with a sports channel shall broadcast 50 percent localcontent in view of the fact that sporting events are universal andinternational sports may bring commercial value to licensees,” reads thememorandum. “Amendments to paragraph 2(2) are to provide that a publicbroadcaster providing multiple channels shall broadcast 75 percent localcontent on all channels to ensure that they reflect the identity of thenation.” Sunday News
Senior Congress leaders expressed their heartfelt condolences following the death of former Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna. The 92-year-old political stalwart passed away at his Bengaluru residence on Tuesday. Party Chief Mallikarjun Kharge praised Krishna as a true champion of development, highlighting his substantial contributions to Karnataka and the nation. S M Krishna was born on May 1, 1932, in Somanahalli, Mandya district, and began his electoral career by winning the Maddur assembly seat in 1962. His nearly 50-year association with Congress ended when he joined the BJP in 2017. His tenure as Chief Minister and contributions to sectors like IT and biotechnology gained him widespread respect. Rahul Gandhi also mourned the loss of a leader whose decades-long work transformed Bengaluru into a global technological hub. Condolences poured in from Congress members, acknowledging Krishna's impactful governance and his prowess in navigating the public life with grace. He retired from active politics last year due to age. (With inputs from agencies.)TURIN, Italy (AP) — New Zealand dominated Italy everywhere except the scoreboard in a tour-ending 29-11 win in autumn rugby on Saturday. The All Blacks wanted to sign off 2024 in style and send off departing stalwarts Sam Cane and TJ Perenara with a flourish after five weeks in Yokohama, London, Dublin, Paris and Turin. But Italy, humiliated by the All Blacks 96-17 last year at the Rugby World Cup, gave a passionate, committed effort to restrict New Zealand to its lowest score in this matchup in 15 years. “We talked a lot during the week about how important it would be not to give up even for a second,” Italy stand-in captain Juan Ignacio Brex said. “At the World Cup, every little mental switchoff brought the All Blacks under our posts, we couldn't allow that. We wanted to show our attack and our attitude, and we did it. Now we have to work on the technical parts.” New Zealand was held to 17-6 until the last 10 minutes when it conjured tries for backs Mark Tele'a and Beauden Barrett while Italy was down to 14 men. But those tries were split by Italy's one and only try, to Tommaso Menoncello served up by his center partner Brex. New Zealand carried for more than twice as many meters as Italy, beat 31 defenders, but suffered from 18 handling errors, only one more than Italy, 11 penalties and two yellow cards. Italy saved its best for last this autumn after being smashed by Argentina and struggling past Georgia just six days ago. The Italians, privileged to play the first non-football match in a sold-out Juventus Stadium, were on it from the outset, and Paolo Garbisi and Beauden Barrett traded penalties. Moments after All Blacks captain Scott Barrett was sin-binned for a dangerous clearout, scrumhalf Cam Roigard snuck through the middle of Italy's ruck defense for the first try in the 24th minute. Wing Monty Ioane typified Italy's defense when he made a try-saving tackle on Will Jordan from behind, got up, and made another try-saver on Wallace Sititi, forcing a forward pass. But fullback Will Jordan typified the All Blacks' class, as Italy ran out of defenders and his 38th try in 41 tests passed Jonah Lomu on their all-time try-scoring list. After the All Blacks survived Italy's siege of their try-line after halftime — though repeated fouls saw center Anton Lienert-Brown sin-binned — Italy then repelled 16 phases by New Zealand at the expense of replacement prop Simone Ferrari, also yellow-carded for too many fouls. Ferrari's absence helped the All Blacks, who also got a lift from their bench, notably from Perenara, who had led his last All Blacks haka. As he came on for Roigard, fellow World Cup winner Cane departed to wide applause after his 104th and last test. Italy's defense led by No. 8 Ross Vintcent with 21 tackles and Menoncello's 14 continued to swarm while a man down, but the All Blacks ruthlessly exploited the man advantage to give the scoreline a flattering look. ___ AP rugby: