646jili01 Demand for AI skills is expected to grow in 2025, driven by tech and non-tech firms. Tech industry hiring could rebound after several slow years, driven by demand for AI skills . AI skills are often scarce, with high vacancy rates for roles like natural language processing. People and companies are placing big bets on artificial intelligence . One of the safer ones is that demand for workers with AI skills will continue to grow. Advertisement Labor market watchers told Business Insider that in 2025, as in 2024, many employers will likely be eager to hire people with skills in AI — like machine-learning specialists who train models, one of this year's most-talked-about roles — but also in wider areas that touch the technology. In the tech industry , which has experienced years of lackluster hiring following a pandemic-era surge, there are early signs of a rebound, Hannah Calhoon, VP of AI at Indeed, told BI. Advertisement If that continues, she said, hiring will likely include roles involving AI. Another area of demand, Calhoon said, could come from employers that aren't tech firms yet that need people skilled in incorporating off-the-shelf AI tools into their businesses and datasets. However, unlike the tech giants, these employers aren't likely to try to build their own AI platforms, she said. So, rather than trying to recruit data scientists and those machine-learning engineers, these companies might instead want workers who can help decide which AI instruments to use and how to incorporate them into their workflow. Advertisement "What they're going to be looking for is people who understand those systems and can help them implement those tools in their business," Calhoon said. That's likely to translate to increased demand in 2025 for roles involving AI implementation and transformation — jobs like applications administrators or solutions architects, she said. There are other signs that the demand for talent involving AI is picking up. Advertisement Last week, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said that the company is experiencing "a big hiring surge" and working to fill thousands of roles to help sell products, including those involving AI. Benioff said the company has 9,000 referrals for the 2,000 positions it's opened. Masayoshi Son, the CEO of SoftBank, likewise recently talked up AI's potential. At an event with President-elect Donald Trump last week, Son said that the Japanese conglomerate would invest $100 billion into the US over the next four years and create at least 100,000 jobs in AI and related areas. Already, other employers are looking to grow around AI. According to Indeed, job postings mentioning AI that saw the biggest growth in the first 11 months of 2024 were senior scientists, software engineering managers, research engineers, and researchers. Advertisement AI know-how is scarce for some roles The market may be growing, though it can be hard for employers to hire in some AI-related areas. The talent firm Randstad reports that it's twice as difficult to find and hire senior-level workers skilled in AI and automation as it is for other senior-level jobs in different industries. Related stories Vacancy rates for roles involving specialized AI skills, like developing natural-language processing models, are as high as 15%, Randstad found. That's about double the overall job vacancy rate in the US. Randstad's estimate on AI jobs is based on an assessment of some 10 million job postings and 136 million résumés in the third quarter of 2024. According to Randstad, employers worldwide are having the hardest time finding workers skilled in natural language processing, predictive modeling, and "stakeholder communication." The firm notes that this is partly because such abilities are specialized yet also in demand across industries. Advertisement In the US, Randstad said, the vacancy rate for jobs that require skills like natural language processing stands at 14%. Starting from a small base Indeed recently reported that, as of September, the share of US job postings that mention generative AI or related terminology was up 3.5 times year over year. Yet that doesn't mean that all employers are looking for GenAI whizzes. Indeed found that only 2% of employers globally included skills related to AI in their job descriptions. By comparison, more than 20% called for basic computer skills. Advertisement Nevertheless, Calhoon said, employers' demands for AI skills are only likely to grow. "Maybe not next year, but three or four years from now, in many roles, there will be an expectation that people will have basic fluency in being able to use some of these platforms," she said. That's likely in part because it's not only major employers that will expect workers to have AI skills. Advertisement Andy Schachtel, CEO of Sourcefit, an offshore staffing firm, told BI that businesses of all sizes are looking to AI to boost efficiency. The US Chamber of Commerce found in a mid-2024 survey of 1,100 small businesses that four in 10 reported using generative AI, up from 23% in 2023. About three-quarters of small businesses surveyed said they plan to adopt emerging tech like AI. That could add to the already surging demand for leaders who are experts in AI. According to a review of more than 35,000 public and private companies in the US by Altrata, a research firm focused on executive data, the number of people in the role of chief AI officer or its equivalent — a job many people may not have heard of until this year — was up 70% year-over-year through late October. Advertisement That demand is likely one reason that workers with AI skills or who possess capabilities working with AI tools are, on average, 34% more likely to change jobs, according to Randstad. Nicole Kyle, who researches the future of work, told BI that even for parts of a business where AI might be expected to take on a good share of the workload — like call centers —its adoption would likely increase demand for other roles. She said that in the case of call centers, for example, those added roles might include positions involving data governance and data cleaning, as well as customer experience. That's one reason Kyle, who's cofounder of CMP Research, said she remains optimistic about AI's impact on jobs. Advertisement "I do think net-net, it will create jobs the way other technological advancements have," Kyle said.Rays to Play 47 of First 59 Games in 2025 MLB Season at Home After Schedule Changes

Renovated pool in Pembroke, Ont. could reopen in early 2025SoundThinking to Present at the 27th Annual Needham Growth Conference on January 14, 2025

Cavendish Hydrogen ASA: Invitation to Q3 2024 results and live Q&A session The quarterly report and a pre-recording of the third quarter presentation will be made available on the company’s homepage, and Oslo Stock Exchange’s news site, at 07:00 CET. CEO Robert Borin and CFO Marcus Halland will host a live Q&A session 13:00 CET on the reporting day. Please register to join the session via Teams by following . Cavendish Hydrogen is a global leader in hydrogen fueling solutions for the mobility sector. Driven by the vision to end emission from mobility, Cavendish is committed to providing safe, competitive, and reliable hydrogen fueling solutions, offering the convenience of traditional fuels but with zero emissions. With a dedicated team across offices on three continents, the company covers the entire value chain from development and production to installation, commissioning, and maintenance. Through value creation and cutting-edge technology, Cavendish is setting new standards for fueling heavy-duty vehicles with reliable hydrogen solutions. Cavendish Hydrogen ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (CAVEN) and headquartered in Herning, Denmark. READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Cavendish Hydrogen ASA: Invitation to Q3 2024 results and live Q&A session, After provisional insolvency, Quantron’s business continues thanks to a core team of employees Constantin Graf Salm-Hoogstraeten from the restructuring law firm BBL, provisional insolvency administrator of Quantron... Five million euros for HydroPulse Stuttgart – hydrogen filling stations, fuel cell transporters and high-temperature fuel cells planned Stuttgart – Stadtwerke Stuttgart (SWS) is delighted to have received a further five... World Energy GH2 – Newfoundland wind-to-hydrogen company eyes data centre as international market lags A company hoping to build a multi-billion-dollar wind-to-hydrogen project in western Newfoundland is eyeing...Is there anything better than inputting a coupon code and watching the total in your cart decrease? If you want to save on already-discounted Amazon products, you can experience that feeling thanks to Woot's Black Friday coupon code. With the code DEVICE10 and while supplies last, you can save an additional $10 if you spend $25 on refurbished Amazon tech until Dec. 2 at 12 a.m. CT. Many refurbished Amazon devices are already discounted for Black Friday. To boost your home security, there is the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus for 75% off at $50 , the Ring Video Doorbell Elite for 43% off at $200 or the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus for 40% off at $90 . In addition to the doorbells, the certified refurbished Ring Alarm eight-piece kit (second-generation) is down to $100, a 53% discount . By buying refurbished Amazon devices, you're already saving money compared to regular list prices for new items. Even those refurbished devices that are not on sale start at just $12. You can get the Amazon Fire 7 tablet at $64 for 20% off . If you're in the market for a new TV, the Amazon Fire TV 2-Series HD Smart TV starts at $60 . For an alarm clock that does more than just wake you up in the morning, the Echo Spot Smart Alarm Clock with Alexa is $30 , while the second-generation Echo Plus is $55 . Why this deal matters If you're looking for a discount on Amazon devices, this is the place to start. In addition to getting refurbished technology that is already discounted, you can get an additional $10 off with the code DEVICE10 if you spend $25. We love it when you can stack deals. Plus, Amazon Prime members get free shipping, since Woot is owned by Amazon. For more, check out the best Amazon Black Friday deals out there.Long Island couple wants to ‘Make Christmas Great Again’ — with this giant 42-foot, $3K inflatable lawn Santa

Career in Jewellery DesignThe Dallas Cowboys emerged victorious in a hard-fought Week 12 battle, defeating the Washington Commanders 34-26 at Northwest Stadium. A dominant performance by linebacker Micah Parsons set the tone for Dallas , silencing speculation about the team’s future and emphasizing their fight for success. “I’m not done yet. I don’t plan on tanking. If the higher-ups are looking for a draft pick, I hope that’s ruined, because we got a lot of football left to play,” Parsons said post-game. “As long as I’m a part of this team, we’re always going to fight.” That is an admirable take for any player; it is what he must do. But that doesn't mean a franchise has to agree. "Tanking'' is a real thing, a real option. For the moment? Dallas is 4-7 and has three winnable games next up. Maybe Cowboys management will waffle on its view. In the end, the players can't run the team, but .... could Micah win an argument against any "tanking'' wishes of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the front office? Parsons certainly did some of his talking on the field on Sunday as he filled the stat sheet with eight tackles, two sacks, and two stuffs, consistently disrupting Washington’s offense. The Cowboys held the Commanders to four of 12 on third downs, with Parsons’ relentless pressure helping Dallas capitalize in crucial moments. Despite accumulating 411 yards of offense, the Commanders struggled to execute when it mattered most. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns while leading the team with 74 rushing yards and a score, but his efforts were overshadowed by costly errors, including two interceptions. The Cowboys’ offense found rhythm behind quarterback Cooper Rush, who completed 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. While Rico Dowdle added 86 rushing yards on the ground. The final minutes delivered fireworks, starting with KaVontae Turpin’s electrifying 99-yard kickoff return touchdown to push Dallas’ lead to 27-17. After the Commanders answered with an 86-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin, Cowboys’ Juanyeh Thomas sealed the game with a remarkable onside kick return touchdown, securing a dramatic 34-26 victory. “I’ve never been a part of something like that. Letting them get that touchdown at the end really bothered me. But that’s what I mean when I say we’re a good team. We’re slowly putting games together.” said Parsons, reflecting on the wacky finish. Related: Did Commanders 'Underestimate' Cowboys? Dallas now shifts its focus to a quick turnaround for their Thanksgiving matchup against the New York Giants. The Giants, coming off a demoralizing 30-7 loss in quarterback Tommy DeVito’s season debut after releasing Daniel Jones, will look to rebound. The Cowboys aim to capitalize on their momentum and improve their standing with another strong performance. ... Or, at least that's what Micah and the players will want to do. Related: What's Bothering Cowboys' Micah Parsons?JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports, while the World Health Organization's director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, with a crew member injured. “The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the social media platform X. He added that he and U.N. colleagues were safe. “We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave,” he said, without mentioning the source of the bombardment. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in the cities of Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, asserting they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel's military didn't immediately respond to questions about Tedros' post but issued a statement saying it had "capabilities to strike very far from Israel’s territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively.” The strikes came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad’s regime and others learned" as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Iran-backed Houthis' media outlet confirmed the strikes in a Telegram post but gave no immediate details. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. The United Nations has noted that the targeted ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014 . Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv . Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting Monday in response to an Israeli request that the council condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying weapons to the rebels. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight , the territory's Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said that all were militants posing as reporters. The strike hit a car outside Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The journalists were working for the local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller and more extreme ally of Hamas and took part in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel, which ignited the war. The Israeli military identified four of the men as combat propagandists and said that intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives found by soldiers in Gaza, had confirmed that all five were affiliated with the group. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian militant groups operate political, media and charitable operations in addition to their armed wings. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings visible on the back doors. Sobbing young men attended the funeral outside the hospital. The bodies were wrapped in shrouds, with blue press vests draped over them. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel hasn't allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel has banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accused six of its Gaza reporters of being militants . The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Separately, Israel's military said that a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza early Thursday. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation more than a year ago. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border in an attack on nearby army bases and farming communities. They killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead. Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities have been women and children, but doesn't say how many of the dead were fighters. Israel says it has killed more than 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The offensive has caused widespread destruction and driven around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Also Thursday, people mourned eight Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations in and around the city of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said that it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. A previous version of this story was corrected to show that the name of the local news outlet is Al-Quds Today, not the Quds News Network. Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — One of Colombia’s legendary drug lords and a key operator of the Medellin cartel has been deported back to the South American country, after serving 25 years of a 30-year prison sentence in the United States. A short while later, Fabio Ochoa was again a free man. Ochoa arrived in Bogota’s El Dorado airport on a deportation flight on Monday, wearing a grey sweatshirt and carrying his personal belongings in a plastic bag. After stepping out of the plane, the former cartel boss was met by immigration officials in bullet proof vests. There were no police on site to detain him. Colombia’s national immigration agency promptly posted a brief statement on the social media platform X, saying Ochoa was “freed so that he could join his family” after immigration officials took his fingerprints and confirmed through a database that he is not wanted by Colombian authorities. Ochoa, 67, and his older brothers amassed a fortune when cocaine started flooding the U.S. in the late 1970s and early 1980s, according to U.S. authorities, to the point that in 1987 they were included in the Forbes Magazine’s list of billionaires. Living in Miami, Ochoa ran a distribution center for the cocaine cartel once headed by Pablo Escobar . Escobar died in a shootout with authorities in Medellin in 1993. Ochoa was first indicted in the U.S. for his alleged role in the 1986 killing of Barry Seal, an American pilot who flew cocaine flights for the Medellin cartel, but became an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Along with his two older brothers, Juan David and Jorge Luis, Ochoa turned himself in to Colombian authorities in the early 1990s under a deal in which they avoided being extradited to the U.S. The three brothers were released from prison in 1996, but Ochoa was arrested again three years later for drug trafficking and was extradited to the U.S. in 2001 in response to an indictment in Miami naming him and more than 40 people as part of a drug smuggling conspiracy. He was the only suspect in that group who opted to go to trial, resulting in his conviction and a 30-year sentence. The other defendants got much lighter prison terms because most of them cooperated with the government. Ochoa’s name has faded from popular memory as Mexican drug traffickers take center stage in the global drug trade. But the former member of the Medellin cartel was recently depicted in the Netflix series Griselda, where he first fights the plucky businesswoman Griselda Blanco for control of Miami’s cocaine market, and then makes an alliance with the drug trafficker, played by Sofia Vergara. Ochoa is also depicted in the Netflix series Narcos, as the youngest son of an elite Medellin family that is into ranching and horse breeding and cuts a sharp contrast with Escobar, who came from more humble roots. Richard Gregorie, a retired assistant U.S. attorney who was on the prosecution team that convicted Ochoa, said authorities were never able to seize all of the Ochoa family’s illicit drug proceeds and he expects that the former mafia boss will have a welcome return home. “He won’t be retiring a poor man, that’s for sure,” Gregorie told The Associated Press earlier this month.Post Office scandal victims set compensation deadline ahead of legal action

TEHRAN - The value of Iranian exports to the Developing-8 (D-8), a group of eight developing Islamic nations, increased by over 24 percent in the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-November 20) compared to the same period last year, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA). During this period, Iran exported approximately 13.6 million tons of goods worth $6.317 billion to seven of the D-8 member countries. In terms of weight, exports grew by around 26 percent, IRIB reported. Turkey was the primary destination for Iranian exports, importing around 9.4 million tons of goods valued at over $4.4 billion. Pakistan and Indonesia followed as the second and third-largest importers, respectively. The D-8 group, established in 1997 by former Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, consists of Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, and Nigeria. The organization’s primary goals include fostering economic and trade cooperation, facilitating scientific collaboration, and promoting technology exchange among its members. Sheikh Attar, a former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, noted that the trade capacity of the D-8 has now surpassed $68 billion. In recent developments, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the 11th D-8 Summit held in Cairo, Egypt, marking the first visit by an Iranian president to Egypt in over a decade. During the summit, President Pezeshkian proposed the establishment of a D-8 development fund aimed at facilitating joint investments among member states. Additionally, Iran's Finance Minister Abdolnasser Hemmati met with the D-8 Secretary-General to discuss strategies for enhancing trade relations within the bloc, reiterating the target of achieving $500 billion in trade volume by 2030. These initiatives underscore Iran's commitment to strengthening economic ties within the D-8 framework, aiming to leverage collective potential for mutual growth and development. EF/MA( MENAFN - IANS) Kuwait City, Dec 22 (IANS) Agreeing to elevate the relations to a 'Strategic Partnership', India and Kuwait on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to institutionalize bilateral cooperation in the area of defence during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic two-day visit to the key Gulf nation. Recognising that defence is an important component of the strategic partnership, both countries maintain that the MoU will provide the required framework to further strengthen bilateral defence ties, including through joint military exercises, training of defence personnel, coastal defence, maritime safety, joint development and production of defence equipment. The two sides also "unequivocally condemned" terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism and called for disrupting of terrorism financing networks and safe havens, and dismantling of terror infrastructure. "Expressing appreciation of their ongoing bilateral cooperation in the area of security, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism operations, information and intelligence sharing, developing and exchanging experiences, best practices and technologies, capacity building and to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement, anti-money laundering, drug-trafficking and other transnational crimes," read the Joint Statement issued after the conclusion of PM Modi's visit. Discussions were also held to promote cooperation in cybersecurity, including prevention of use of cyberspace for terrorism, radicalisation and for disturbing social harmony. "The two sides expressed interest in pursuing deeper collaboration in the area of technology including emerging technologies, semiconductors and artificial intelligence. They discussed avenues to explore B2B cooperation, furthering e-Governance, and sharing best practices for facilitating industries/companies of both countries in the policies and regulation in the electronics and IT sector," the Joint Statement mentioned. The Kuwaiti side also expressed interest in cooperation with India to ensure its food-security. Both sides discussed various avenues for collaboration including investments by Kuwaiti companies in food parks in India. India welcomed Kuwait's decision to become a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), marking a significant step towards collaboration in developing and deploying low-carbon growth trajectories and fostering sustainable energy solutions. New Joint Working Groups (JWGs) have been set up in areas of trade, investments, education and skill development, science and technology, security and counter-terrorism, agriculture, and culture, in addition to the existing JWGs on health, manpower and hydrocarbons. Both sides emphasised on convening the meetings of the newly-formed Joint Commission on Cooperation (JCC) and the JWGs under it at an early date to further expand bilateral cooperation across various fields. Besides the MoU on defence, the executive programme on cooperation in the field of sports for 2025-2028 and the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for 2025-2029, were also signed. The CEP will facilitate greater cultural exchanges in art, music, dance, literature and theatre, cooperation in preservation of cultural heritage, research and development in the area of culture and organising of festivals. The executive programme, meanwhile, will strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of sports between India and Kuwait by promoting exchange of visits of sports leaders for experience sharing, participation in programmes and projects in the field of sports, exchange of expertise in sports medicine, sports management, sports media, sports science, among others. MENAFN22122024000231011071ID1109021460 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

Google's Gemini latest update allows users to ask questions about PDFs on mobileLet’s stand up in indignation against rampant corruptionMicrosoft Azure customers worldwide now gain access to Impartner's Partner Relationship Management (PRM) platform to take advantage of the scalability, reliability, and agility of Azure to drive partner program growth and enhance business strategies. SALT LAKE CITY , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Impartner , a leading provider of partner management and partner marketing automation solutions, today announced the availability of its Partnership Relationship Management (PRM) platform in Microsoft Azure Marketplace , an online store providing applications and services for use on Azure. Impartner customers can now take advantage of the productive and trusted Azure cloud platform, with streamlined deployment and management. Impartner PRM enables businesses to effectively manage and scale their partner ecosystems. By integrating seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Azure, the platform offers real-time data synchronization, scalable cloud infrastructure, and enterprise-grade security. Impartner's PRM leverages Dynamics 365 to provide bi-directional data synchronization, streamlining partner management and optimizing the sales pipeline. Customers benefit from improved partner engagement, increased scalability through Azure, and secure compliance with global standards. Impartner's PRM includes AI-powered tools, such as an AI-driven chatbot, that enhance resource accessibility and partner engagement with 24/7 support. By integrating with Dynamics 365 and Azure, Impartner ensures customers can scale their operations and benefit from a cloud infrastructure that supports growth, efficiency, and innovation. "We're excited to make Impartner's PRM available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, enabling businesses to manage and grow their partner ecosystems more effectively," said Ryan Knapp , Global Head of Partnerships at Impartner. "By combining our advanced platform with Microsoft cloud infrastructure, we're helping companies streamline operations, strengthen partnerships, and drive growth. This integration opens up new possibilities for businesses to scale efficiently and innovate with confidence." "Microsoft welcomes Impartner to Azure Marketplace, where global customers can find, try, and buy from among thousands of partner solutions," said Jake Zborowski , General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. "Azure Marketplace and trusted partners like Impartner help customers do more with less by increasing efficiency, buying confidently, and spending smarter." The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling cloud solutions certified to run on Azure. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use. About Impartner Impartner is the fastest-growing, most awarded provider of channel management technologies, including its flagship Partner Relationship Management (PRM) and Partner Marketing Automation solutions. These tools empower organizations worldwide to effectively manage partner relationships, drive demand through partners, and accelerate revenue via indirect sales channels. For more information, visit impartner.com . For more information, press only: Lola Phonpadith Impartner Lola.phonpadith@impartner.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/impartner-partner-relationship-management-platform-now-available-in-the-microsoft-azure-marketplace-302339325.html SOURCE ImpartnerDanny O'Brien has been announced as the new leader of the Victorian Nationals after Peter Walsh stepped down from the role. Mr O'Brien, who has been in parliament since March 2014, was elected to the position unopposed, a party statement on Tuesday said. The Gippsland South MP said it was "the greatest honour" to have been elected leader. "For over 100 years, The Nationals have served the interests of rural and regional Victoria. That will not change," Mr O'Brien said. "It remains our singular focus as the only party solely dedicated to serving the interests of the 25 per cent of the population who live outside the metropolitan area. "I entered politics because I have always believed rural and regional people get a raw deal. As leader of our great party, I will fight every day for country people to get a fair go." Mr O'Brien is the current shadow minister for casino, gaming and liquor regulation, and roads and road safety. Mr Walsh had been the Nationals leader for almost 10 years, after assuming the role in December 2014 following the Coalition's election defeat after one term in office. He "recently advised the party room he would step down", the party statement said. Lowan MP Emma Kealy will remain as deputy leader. "The Nationals have a formidable team of community champions in parliament and every day we stand side-by-side with our community to ensure their voice is heard," she said. "I look forward to continuing my role in leadership, working with Danny, our MPs and all our members and supporters who are fighting together for a fair deal for regional Victorians." The leadership changes at the mid point of the current parliamentary term, with the next state election to be held on November 28, 2026. Mr O'Brien will work alongside Liberal leader John Pesutto as part of the Victorian Coalition's leadership team.

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A step-by-step guide to renovating a neglected gardenPresident-elect Donald Trump’s self-professed affinity for revenge, vindictiveness and retribution might lead a cynic to presume that his plans for steep tariffs on Mexican, Chinese and Canadian imports are aimed at California. The state’s imports and exports exceeded $628 billion last year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Exports created nearly 600,000 jobs in 2021 , according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The freighters floating in and out of the Golden Gate carry roughly $10 billion worth of goods to the Port of San Francisco alone each year, according to estimates from the California Association of Port Authorities. Trump announced last week that on his first day in office he will impose a 25% tariff on all goods entering the U.S. from Mexico and Canada and add an additional 10% to existing tariffs on Chinese imports. China, Mexico and Canada were the state’s biggest, second-biggest and seventh-biggest source of imports in 2023, according to the federal commerce department. Many economists agree that all Americans could experience higher prices . Yet with the potential of retaliatory tariffs, port cities like San Francisco will pay a heavy price. Trump, who lost California by an average of more than 4 million votes in each of the past three elections, has repeatedly berated the state, lamenting when president that it was “going to hell.” It is hard to imagine that he is losing sleep over the price to be paid by those living in a state that has spurned him. Yet, like most assumptions about politics and economics, the reality is far more complicated. While California is home to the nation's busiest ports, the hardest-hit communities will be in the heart of MAGA country — small rural communities such as Fulton, Mississippi and Gibson County, Indiana, where residents voted overwhelmingly for Trump. Fulton, a town of less than 5,000 people in Itawamba County, is located on Mississippi-Alabama border. Trump received nearly 90% of the county’s vote in November. The city sits on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway which flows into the Gulf of Mexico 300 miles to its south and has been a trading center since the 1700s. Today, the region produces metal parts used globally in manufacturing refrigerators as well as piping and other products. More than half of Itawamba County’s economy was based on exports in 2017, according to a Pew Research Center analysis at the time. Only six counties in the nation relied more heavily on international trade at that time than Itawamba. A trade war would hurt San Francisco, which would need to rely even more heavily on economic contributions from tourists, conventioneers and high-tech entrepreneurs. Itawamba County doesn’t have as many options. A similar story could be told about Gibson County, Indiana, where Trump received about 75% of the vote. The county is home to a sprawling Toyota manufacturing plant, mostly for American consumption. However, it also ships thousands of vehicles to Mexico and Canada. Pew estimated in 2017 that more than 40% of its economy was based on foreign trade. None of this diminishes the threat Trump’s tariffs pose to California. From petroleum, automobiles and computer accessories flowing in, to the wine, nuts, rice and computer technology flowing out, trade has long been a pillar of the state’s economy. Some doubt that Trump is serious about imposing the tariffs, suggesting he put them out there only as a bargaining chip to sway countries to crack down on the flow of drugs and immigrants into the U.S. Yet it is hard to not take Trump’s pledge seriously when he repeatedly said on the campaign trail that “tariff’’ is his favorite word, as well as the most beautiful word , in the English language. Trump has shown no affection for California, whose immigration and environmental policies he vows to override, and whose governor he refers to as “Gavin Newscum.” However, as hard as California will feel the effects of his trade policies if enacted, his supporters in MAGA country will feel them even harder. Marc Sandalow is a senior faculty member at the University of California’s Washington Program. He has been writing about California politics from Washington for more than 30 years.

Chicago library discovers it holds largest example in existence of an extremely rare paper type

European stocks bounced around Monday while US equities shook off early weakness to push higher as investors waited to see if a so-called Santa Claus rally sweeps over the market. Global stock markets had a tumultuous time last week, spiraling lower after the US Federal Reserve signaled fewer interest rate cuts than had been expected for 2025. But it ended on a positive note as traders welcomed below-forecast US inflation data that raised hopes about the health of the world's biggest economy. That helped Asian markets move higher on Monday, but the positive trend faltered in Europe and stumbled initially in the United States. "Another up leg in US yields not only put pressure on stock indices but also drove the greenback higher," said IG analyst Axel Rudolph. But after a sluggish start, US stocks rose progressively in a quiet session with analysts pointing to low pre-holiday trading volumes. "Stocks didn't really have any direction in the morning, then we got this tech rally that just sort of drifted higher all day," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. Analysts view elevated Treasury bond yields as a threat to year-end gains in an historically strong period of the calendar. Known as a Santa Claus rally, there are various explanations for the phenomenon including seasonal optimism and end-of-year tax considerations. But there remains some trepidation among investors as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, pledging to cut taxes, slash regulations and impose tariffs on imports, which some economists warn could reignite inflation. "The initial response to the US election was positive as investors focused on the obvious tailwinds to profitability: lower corporate tax rates and less regulation," said Ronald Temple, chief market strategist at Lazard. "However, I expect much more dispersion within the equity market when the reality of a much-less-friendly trade environment sets in." In Europe, the FTSE 100 moved higher as the pound slid following data that showed that the UK economy stagnated in the third quarter, revised down from initial estimates of 0.1 percent growth. Official data out of Spain on Monday showed that the Spanish economy grew 0.8 percent in the third quarter as domestic consumption and exports increased, comfortably outstripping the European Union average. In company news, shares in crisis-hit German auto giant Volkswagen lost more than three percent on the back of news Friday that it plans to axe 35,000 jobs by 2030 in a drastic cost-cutting plan. Shares in Japanese auto giant Honda rose over three percent after it announced Monday an agreement to launch merger talks with struggling compatriot Nissan that could create the world's third largest automaker. - Key figures around 2130 GMT - New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 42,906.95 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.7 percent at 5,974.89 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.0 percent at 19,764.89 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 8,102.72 (close) Paris - CAC 40: FLAT at 7,272.32 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.2 percent at 19,848.77 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.2 percent at 39,161.34 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.8 percent at 19,883.13 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.5 percent at 3,351.26 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0408 from $1.0430 on Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2531 from $1.2570 Dollar/yen: UP at 157.14 yen from 156.31 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.03 pence from 82.97 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $69.24 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.4 percent at $72.63 per barrel burs-jmb/jgc

In the current market session, L3Harris Technologies Inc. LHX share price is at $213.79, after a 0.22% spike. Moreover, over the past month, the stock decreased by 13.18% , but in the past year, went up by 1.51% . Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. Comparing L3Harris Technologies P/E Against Its Peers The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. L3Harris Technologies has a lower P/E than the aggregate P/E of 71.42 of the Aerospace & Defense industry. Ideally, one might believe that the stock might perform worse than its peers, but it's also probable that the stock is undervalued. In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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BERLIN (AP) — Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel recalls Vladimir Putin's “power games” over the years, remembers contrasting meetings with Barack Obama and Donald Trump and says she asked herself whether she could have done more to prevent Brexit, in her memoirs published Tuesday. Merkel, 70, appears to have no significant doubts about the major decisions of her 16 years as German leader, whose major challenges included the global financial crisis, Europe’s debt crisis, the 2015-16 influx of refugees and the COVID-19 pandemic. True to form, her book — titled “Freedom” — offers a matter-of-fact account of her early life in communist East Germany and her later career in politics, laced with moments of dry wit. Merkel served alongside four U.S. presidents , four French presidents and five British prime ministers. But it is perhaps her dealings with Russian President Putin that have drawn the most scrutiny since she left office in late 2021. Putin's power games Merkel recalls being kept waiting by Putin at the Group of Eight summit she hosted in 2007 — “if there's one thing I can't stand, it's unpunctuality.” And she recounts a visit to the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi that year in which Putin's labrador appeared during a photo opportunity, although Putin knew she was afraid of dogs. Putin appeared to enjoy the situation, she writes, and she didn't bring it up — keeping as she often did to the motto “never explain, never complain.” The previous year, she recounts Putin pointing to wooden houses in Siberia and telling her poor people lived there who “could be easily seduced,” and that similar groups had been encouraged by money from the U.S. government to take part in Ukraine's “Orange Revolution” of 2004 against attempted election fraud. Putin, she says, added: “I will never allow something like that in Russia.” Merkel says she was irritated by Putin's “self-righteousness” in a 2007 speech in Munich in which he turned away from earlier attempts to develop closer ties with the U.S. She said that appearance showed Putin as she knew him, “as someone who was always on guard against being treated badly and ready to give out at any time, including power games with a dog and making other people wait for him.” “One could find this all childish and reprehensible, one could shake one's head over it — but that didn't make Russia disappear from the map,” she writes. As she has before, Merkel defends a much-criticized 2015 peace deal for eastern Ukraine that she helped broker and her government's decisions to buy large quantities of natural gas from Russia. And she argues it was right to keep up diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow until she left power, Obama and Trump Merkel concluded after first meeting then-Sen. Obama in 2008 that they could work well together. More than eight years later, during his last visit as president in Nov. 2016, she was one of the people with whom she discussed whether to seek a fourth term. Obama, she says, asked questions but held back with an opinion, and that in itself was helpful. He “said that Europe could still use me very well, but I should ultimately follow my feelings,” she writes. There was no such warmth with Trump, who had criticized Merkel and Germany in his 2016 campaign. Merkel says she had to seek an “adequate relationship ... without reacting to all the provocations.” In March 2017, there was an awkward moment when Merkel first visited the Trump White House. Photographers shouted “handshake!” and Merkel quietly asked Trump: “Do you want to have a handshake?” There was no response from Trump, who looked ahead with his hands clasped. Merkel faults her own reaction. “He wanted to create a topic of discussion with his behavior, while I had acted as if I were dealing with an interlocutor behaving normally,” she writes. She adds that Putin apparently “fascinated” Trump and, in the following years, she had the impression that “politicians with autocratic and dictatorial traits” beguiled him. Could Brexit have been avoided? Merkel says she tried to help then-Prime Minister David Cameron in the European Union as he faced pressure from British Euroskeptics, but there were limits to what she could do. And, pointing to Cameron's efforts over the years to assuage opponents of the EU, she says the road to Brexit is a textbook example of what can arise from a miscalculation. After Britons voted to leave the EU in 2016, an outcome she calls a “humiliation” for its other members, she says the question of whether she should have made more concessions to the U.K. “tortured me.” “I came to the conclusion that, in view of the political developments inside the country at the time, there would have been no acceptable possibility for me to prevent Britain's way out of the European Union from outside,” Merkel says. Giving up power Merkel was the first German chancellor to leave power at a time of her choosing. She announced in 2018 that she wouldn't seek a fifth term, and says she “let go at the right point.” She points to three 2019 incidents in which her body shook during public engagements as proof. Merkel says she had herself checked thoroughly and there were no neurological or other findings. An osteopath told her that her body was letting off the tension it had accumulated over years, she adds. “Freedom” runs to more than 700 pages in its original German edition, published by Kiepenheuer & Witsch. The English edition is being released simultaneously by St. Martin's Press. Geir Moulson, The Associated PressAmorim wants final say on Man United transfers