-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email The concept of a sociopolitical “ culture war ” has become so expansive that it feels, at times, reductive. It’s both broad enough to cover everything, from coffee chains to cookie commercials , yet predictable enough for the factions’ opinions to fall roughly along well-worn partisan lines. But now, a new kind of culture war is brewing among the creative class — one that cuts deeper into professional and personal identities. At its center is debate over the use of generative artificial intelligence , the technology behind tools like ChatGPT , DALL-E and MidJourney. While some hail AI as a breakthrough, enabling near click-of-the-button speed and innovation in industries ranging from marketing to medicine, many see it as a profound threat to creative industries. Related The cultured wars: Why lab-grown meat is inspiring bipartisan hate The debate over AI’s role in creative work has surfaced in unexpected ways over the past year and reached a fever pitch in recent months. Last fall, Zelda Williams, daughter of the late Robin Williams, denounced AI recreations of her father’s voice , calling them exploitative and made without consent. Over the summer, the Grammy-winning Tedeschi Trucks Band apologized to fans after discovering that one of their tour posters — sold as merchandise — had been generated by AI. In October, CNN reported on the rise of AI-powered virtual K-pop bands in South Korea, while some U.S.-based crowdfunding platforms introduced rules banning campaigns relying entirely on AI-generated content. Amid this growing divide, Coca-Cola entered the conversation with a bold move: the release of a new Christmas commercial created using generative AI , thrusting the global brand into the heart of this contentious debate. Festive flashpoint The Coca-Cola commercial in question, released earlier this month, features all the hallmarks of holiday nostalgia: families exchanging warm smiles, people in cozy knit scarves and gloves clutching the iconic glass bottles, big red trucks rumbling through snowy streets. The imagery is an unmistakable homage to the company’s 1995 “Holidays Are Coming” advertisement, which was made using human actors and real trucks. But this time, Coca-Cola’s commercial promising “real magic” wasn’t assembled on a set or a soundstage. Instead, it was conjured into existence by artificial intelligence and featured a few otherworldly touches, like a snowy village melting into a Coke bottle here, or a gingerbread house animating itself there. We need your help to stay independent Subscribe today to support Salon's progressive journalism According to Forbes , the video was a collaborative effort by three AI studios — Secret Level, Silverside AI and Wild Car — using four different generative AI models, a kind of technical choreography. Each studio created their own version of the ad (though Silverside’s AI developer, Chris Barber, has since clarified on X , formerly Twitter, the now-viral version of the advertisement wasn’t their studio’s contribution). The result is a perfectly polished holiday scene that looks as if it could have been plucked from any sentimental Coca-Cola commercial of years past. In a statement, a Coca-Cola spokesperson said, "The Coca-Cola Company has celebrated a long history of capturing the magic of the holidays in content, film, events and retail activations for decades around the globe.” “We are always exploring new ways to connect with consumers and experiment with different approaches,” the statement continued. “This year, we crafted films through a collaboration of human storytellers and the power of generative AI. Coca-Cola will always remain dedicated to creating the highest level of work at the intersection of human creativity and technology." However, many creators and customers were quick to criticize the campaign as being emblematic of a worrying trend of replacing human artistry with machine-generated substitutes. For instance, Alex Hirsch, the creator of the beloved Disney series “Gravity Falls,” joked online that Coca-Cola’s signature red color scheme was now “made from the blood of out-of-work artists,” while other social media commentators described the advertisement as “disastrous” and “dystopian.” “Coca-Cola just put out an ad and ruined Christmas,” Dylan Pearce, a TikTok user, said of the commercial . “To put out slop like this just ruins the Christmas spirit.” A broader battle The debate over Coca-Cola’s commercial is just the latest flashpoint in a growing culture war among the creative class. Similar tensions arose earlier this year when Apple faced backlash for an iPad Pro ad that depicted art supplies — brushes, paints, canvases, musical instruments, typewriters — being pulverized by a hydraulic press, a message many saw as a dismissal of traditional methods in favor of digital tools. Supporters of generative AI often liken this moment to past technological upheavals, such as the invention of photography or the rise of digital publishing. They argue that each disruption faced its own wave of skepticism before becoming a standard tool for creators. But critics say this comparison misses the mark. Generative AI doesn’t merely augment creativity — it fundamentally reshapes the economics of creative work. "Generative AI doesn’t merely augment creativity — it fundamentally reshapes the economics of creative work." While a traditional ad campaign might require weeks of brainstorming sessions, focus groups and meticulous production schedules, AI can spit out a ready-made storyboard in minutes. Coca-Cola’s ad crystallizes these fears, even though, as Shelly Palmer, a professor of advanced media in residence at Syracuse University, said in a recent blog post , it “truly sucks.” In an industry where holiday campaigns are major cultural touchpoints — think of the iconic Coca-Cola polar bears or the "Holidays Are Coming" truck — replacing traditional methods with AI feels, to some, like a betrayal. This is especially true after Pratik Thakar, a vice president of Coca-Cola and the company’s global head of generative A.I., touted the budgetary and speed advantages of the project in a recent conversation with Ad Age . So, for every artist who sees AI as a tool to expand their imagination, there’s another who views it as a threat to their livelihood. Coca-Cola’s Christmas ad, for all its shimmering visuals, is more than just a marketing campaign. It’s a litmus test for the future of creativity in an increasingly automated world. For the brand, the move was a calculated risk — and one they aren’t turning away from despite the divided viewer response. “The Coca-Cola Company has celebrated a long history of capturing the magic of the holidays in content, film, events and retail activations for decades around the globe,” a spokesman for the company said in a statement provided to The New York Times . “This year, we crafted films through a collaboration of human storytellers and the power of generative A.I.” In the meantime, the holidays — and the culture wars — roll on. Read more about this topic From "holy hype" to AI sentience, tech has a history of inflating its potential Artificial stupidity and me: If AI can do this to my book, what will it do in an actual war? AI chatbots are having their "tulip mania" moment By Ashlie D. Stevens Ashlie D. Stevens is Salon's food editor. She is also an award-winning radio producer, editor and features writer — with a special emphasis on food, culture and subculture.Her writing has appeared in and on The Atlantic, National Geographic’s “The Plate,” Eater, VICE, Slate, Salon, The Bitter Southerner and Chicago Magazine, while her audio work has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered and Here & Now, as well as APM’s Marketplace. She is based in Chicago. MORE FROM Ashlie D. Stevens Related Topics ------------------------------------------ Advertising Analysis Artificial Intelligence Christmas Coca-cola Related Articles Advertisement:
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Noam Chomsky, one of the world’s most famous and respected intellectuals, will be 96 years old on Dec. 7, 2024. For more than half a century, multitudes of people have read his works in a variety of languages, and many people have relied on his commentaries and interviews for insights about intellectual debates and current events. Chomsky suffered a stroke in June 2023 that has severely limited his movement, impaired his speech and impeded his ability to travel. His birthday provides an occasion to consider the tremendous corpus of works that he created over the years and to reflect on the many ways that his texts and recordings still critically engage with contemporary discussions all across disciplines and realms. Chomsky’s vast body of work includes scientific research focused on language, human nature and the mind, and political writings about U.S. imperialism, Israel and Palestine, Central America, the Vietnam War, coercive institutions, the media and the many ways in which people’s needs are subjugated in the interest of profit and control. As a scholar of humanities and law , I’ve engaged with Chomsky’s work from an array of perspectives and authored a biography called “ Noam Chomsky: A Life of Dissent ” and a book on Chomsky’s influence called “ The Chomsky Effect: A Radical Works Beyond the Ivory Tower .” One important theme in his broad corpus is his lifelong fascination with human creativity, which helps explain his vociferous attacks on those who seek to keep the rabble in line . Early days Avram Noam Chomsky was born on Dec. 7, 1928, in Philadelphia. He and his younger brother, David Chomsky , were raised in a lively household by Elsie Simonofsky and William (Zev) Chomsky , progressive educators who were deeply immersed in wide-ranging Jewish and Zionist cultural activities. Chomsky often dates his own interest in teaching and learning to his close readings of Hebrew works with his parents and to the lively educational experiences he enjoyed at the Oak Lane County Day School , an experimental school that subscribed to John Dewey’s approach to immersive learning and promoted individual creativity over competition with other students. A precocious learner, Chomsky at 12 years old read the proofs for his father’s book about a 13th-century Hebrew grammarian named David Kimhi . It was an auspicious beginning to a life immersed in philology , philosophy and the study of language and the mind . From very early on, he sought to understand innate human propensities for freedom, dignity and creativity, which inspired his interest in fostering those properties of human nature. While Chomsky’s parents were what he called normal Roosevelt Democrats, he was drawn to more radical approaches to society and to the promotion of noncoercive social structures . At age 10, he read about the Spanish Civil War, which inspired him to write an editorial about the fall of Barcelona for his school’s newspaper. This was an early harbinger of his public intellectual work and his vociferous challenges to systems of oppression and illegitimate authority. As a young man, Chomsky joined a socialist wing of the Zionist youth movement that opposed a Jewish state, and from his readings and discussions he came to favor Arab-Jewish class cooperation in a socialist Palestine. His deep knowledge of Palestine and Israel, bolstered by his ability to read and speak Arabic and Hebrew, helped inform his many vehement critiques of Israeli state power . Chomsky on John Dewey’s approach to education: how to produce free, creative, independent human beings. Radical pedagogy After an early education focused on self-discovery and free-ranging exploration, Chomsky was introduced in high school to rote learning, competition with other students and a mainstream system of values. In reaction, he began to make regular trips to New York City, where he explored bookstores. He also made regular visits with a relative who ran a newsstand on 72nd Street that served as a lively intellectual center for emigrés interested in more radical approaches to society. In 1944, Chomsky completed high school and enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania. Although he has expressed some dismay about the structures of conformity and status quo thinking he encountered there, he did find inspiration in courses with philosopher C. West Churchman , linguist Giorgio Levi Della Vida and, moreover, linguist Zellig Harris . Chomsky knew members of the Harris family because Zellig Harris’ father hosted Jewish services in the Harris home that the Chomsky family occasionally attended. Chomsky’s father’s approach to the study of language bore similarities to Zellig Harris’ work in Semitics , the study of Arabic, Hebrew and other Semitic languages. Harris invited Noam to read the proofs of his “ Methods in Structural Linguistics .” This highly anticipated book was rooted in the idea that the function and the meaning of linguistic elements are determined by their their relationship to other components that make up sentences. After working hard to understand Harris’ linguistics paradigm, Chomsky eventually abandoned it, but he remained fascinated by Harris’ political views and by the unstructured, lively and creative debates that he promoted. Chomsky met Carol Doris Schatz at the Hebrew School where her mother taught and Chomsky’s father was principal. Years later, when they were both students at the University of Pennsylvania, they started dating. They were married in 1949, and four years later they decided to move to an Israeli kibbutz, or communal agricultural settlement. They had expected to find a culture of creative free thinking there. Instead, they were deeply disappointed to find what Chomsky described as ideological conformity to Stalinist ideology. They returned to the U.S. after only six weeks. The young couple settled in Boston and started a family . Noam pursued graduate work, while Carol paused her own studies to raise the children. She later returned to research on language acquisition, which she eventually taught and researched at MIT and Harvard. Carol Chomsky died in 2008. Noam remarried in 2014, to the Brazilian translator Valeria Wasserman Chomsky . Chomskian revolution When Chomsky was a student, most academic psychologists described human language as a system of habits, skills or dispositions to act that are acquired through extensive training, induction, generalization and association. By this account, language grows incrementally with experience, reinforced by a system of rewards and punishments . This framework was at the heart of a structuralist paradigm , which analyzed the form and meaning of texts as different parts of the same thing. Any language, from this standpoint, restricts how phonemes and morphemes – the smallest units of sound and meaning in language – and other constituents are assembled and distributed. By this view, humans have the capacity to learn language in ways akin to how they acquire other kinds of knowledge . Chomsky’s Ph.D. work, the resulting 1957 book “ Syntactic Structures ” and his New York Review of Books review of B.F. Skinner’s “Verbal Behaviour” challenged this paradigm and heralded the Chomskian linguistics revolution. Chomsky’s theory of universal grammar in the history of how philosophers have viewed the human mind and language acquisition. Chomsky’s starting point was that humans are endowed with universal grammar , which is activated by exposure to natural language . Children gain proficiency in a language by building on innate knowledge. This means that the capacity for language quite literally grows in the mind in a manner akin to how organs develop in the body . Chomsky’s interest in innate human abilities draws in part from a range of philosophical treatises penned in the 17th and 18th centuries and associated with the Port Royal system of logic and Enlightenment philosophy , which emphasized science, individual liberty and the rule of law. He developed these ideas in a book called “ Cartesian Linguistics ,” which outlined his intellectual debt to the writings of, among others, Descartes , Kant, Rousseau and Wilhelm von Humboldt . By the early 1960s, Chomsky’s work had gained him recognition in linguistics, philosophy and psychology. His own research, and that conducted by the growing number of linguists who adopted his approach, led to significant advances in the study of syntax, generative grammar, language and the mind, semantics, form and the interpretation of language. His political engagement was documented in what I believe is a remarkable collection of interviews and books about U.S. imperialism, the Cold War, the Middle East, Central America and Southeast Asia, including “ Problems of Knowledge and Freedom ” and “ For Reasons of State .” Puzzled by Americans’ spirit of resigned consensus, he began to collaborate with Edward S. Herman on books including “ Counter-Revolutionary Violence ,” “ The Political Economy of Human Rights ” and “ Manufacturing Consent ,” which was turned into a popular film by the same name. Common thread The common thread connecting Chomsky’s many intellectual projects are four “problems” that were the focus of much of his life’s work. One is Plato’s problem , which considers why it is that humans, whose contact with the world is brief and limited, can come to know so much. The second is Orwell’s complementary problem , which asks how is it that human beings know so little given the amount of information to which they have access. The third is Descartes’ problem , which pertains to the human capacity to freely express thoughts in constantly novel ways over an infinite range by means that are appropriate to circumstances but not caused by them. Finally, there’s Humboldt’s problem, which focuses on what constitutes language . These problems are connected in different ways to how people learn, what impedes human development , and to speculations about the initial state of the language faculty, which he outlined in a range of texts, including “ Knowledge of Language: Its Nature, Origin, and Use ,” “ Language and Problems of Knowledge: The Managua Lectures ,” “ The Minimalist Program ” and “ Why Only Us? Language and Evolution ,” with Robert C. Berwick. Chomsky’s legacy ‘Manufacturing Consent’ is one of Noam Chomsky’s best-known political works. courtesy Penguin Random House Remarkably tenacious and active, Chomsky continued to publish and to speak out on contemporary issues into his mid-90s. His ideas evolved but were rooted in a series of deeply seated ideas about the nature of the human mind. He is one of the most cited intellectuals in history, and he was voted the leading living public intellectual in The 2005 Global Intellectuals Poll . Millions of people have watched his debates and discussions with William F. Buckley , Angela Davis , Alan Dershowitz , Michel Foucault , Howard Gardner , Christopher Hitchens , Richard Perle , Jean Piaget , Briahna Joy Gray and even Ali G . As the figure widely viewed as the founder of cognitive sciences, Chomsky has been critical of the hype surrounding big data , artificial intelligence and ChatGPT . As a voice for the downtrodden and the oppressed, he has spoken from the perspective of human rights, intellectual self-defense and the popular struggle through independent thinking against structures of power and subjugation. Chomsky’s extraordinary achievements resonate far and wide – and are likely to continue to do so into the future. Robert F. Barsky has received funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, The Guggenheim Foundation, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Fonds FCAR, and Vanderbilt University.
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The Peace Fund Committee for Victims of Insecurity, established by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has made a cash donation of N1 million each to the families of victims of insecurity in Enugu and Ebonyi States. This is in continuation of its mission of bringing relief to victims of insecurity in Nigeria. A statement by the Publicity Secretary of the Fund Committee, Sam Hart on Sunday stated that Enugu outreach event held at the Nigerian Police Officers Mess where the Chairman of the Fund, Chief Daniel Akwari, emphasized the initiative’s purpose. He explained that the Peace Fund, an arm of the Peace in the South-East Project (PISE-P), was created by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu to support families of security officers affected by Nigeria’s insecurity crisis, especially in the South-East. Akwari highlighted the Peace Fund’s commitment to non-kinetic solutions in addressing insecurity in the region. Similarly, the Secretary of the Fund Committee, Mary Ikoku, stressed that the mission goes beyond financial support to include psycho-social care, ensuring the emotional well-being of victims’ families. Representing the Enugu State Police Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Administration), Islani Okereke commended the Peace Fund Committee for the kind gestures. He described the mission as complementary to the Nigerian Police High Command’s efforts to support bereaved families, expressing deep gratitude to the Deputy Speaker and his team. In their responses, the beneficiaries in Enugu, including Nkasiobi Jennifer, Agnes Edet Essang, and Nwoga Blessing, expressed heartfelt appreciation, saying the initiative had wiped away their tears. The Committee also proceeded to Ebonyi State, where they were hosted at the Nigerian Police Command Headquarters in Abakaliki. Represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Mohammed, the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Anthonia Adaku Uche-Anya, welcomed the outreach, expressing gratitude to Kalu for helping to provide succour to the families. Beneficiaries such as Ekuma Blessing, Mrs. Ona Esther, and Egede Praise received financial aid and relief materials, expressing their profound gratitude. The Committee announced that Anambra State is the next destination for the outreach, with plans to extend the initiative to other regions of Nigeria severely impacted by insecurity. It will be recalled that in June this year, the Deputy Speaker inaugurated the seven-member Peace Fund Committee to raise financial assistance for victims of insecurity nationwide on the heels of the brutal murder of two military personnel in Aba, Abia State. Leading a condolence visit of PISE-P to the families of the soldiers killed at the 144 Battalion Headquarters in Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, Kalu subsequently made a personal donation of N10 million to start off the Fund. The Deputy Speaker later tasked the Committee on gathering accurate demographic data of affected families and engaging individuals, corporate organisations, and agencies to support the Fund. “Remembering the widows and family members of our fallen heroes in the security forces will make them proud that their husbands did not labor in vain and motivate those still serving to give their all,” Kalu said. It would be recalled that the Fund Committee penultimate week visited Abia and Imo states where a total of 24 families of slain policemen received financial aid and relief materials.
A windy day on St. Simons Island, Georgia, saw Maverick McNealy make his way to the top of the 2024 RSM Classic leaderboard. Navigating through the Seaside Course at Sea Island in a bogey-free fashion, the Stanford graduate tacked on six birdies and an eagle to sign for an 8-under 62 in the first round of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Fall finale. McNealy was caught by Michael Thorbjornsen in the late stages of the first round as the PGA Tour rookie carded an 8-under 64 on the more accessible Plantation Course. "I feel like we kind of did everything really well," McNealy said. "I drove it awesome, iron play was about as good as it's been all year. The last three tournaments it's really been great, and that's the part of my game I've wanted to improve the most. I chipped in today, got everything up and down and putted awesome today, too. There's really nothing weak out there today." Coming into the year playing on a major medical extension, McNealy made easy work of his early opportunities to regain full-time status. Now well inside the Aon Next 10, which qualifies for the first two signature events of 2025, the right hander seeks more than a spot in the fields at Pebble Beach and Riviera, and instead intends on securing a spot in the winner's circle. "I started the fall wanting to be in the top 60, and now that that's pretty much taken care of, Scott and I want to get to Kapalua," McNealy said. "That's our next box to tick, so good start today for that." McNealy takes to the Plantation Course on Friday, where Thorbjorsen was among the many to go low on Thursday. Just recently exiting the college ranks through PGA Tour University, McNealy's fellow Stanford product will persist across the next 54 holes just as he did this past summer when he finished runner-up at the John Deere Classic in what was his third start as a professional. The leaders T1. Maverick McNealy, Michael Thorbjornsen (-8) The good news for Thorbjornsen is that six of the last seven winners at the RSM Classic started on the Plantation Course. The bad news is he has gotten through the easier of the two golf courses and finds himself in a share of the lead with a player who still has a date with the Plantation Course. The 23-year-old should feel more than comfortable in this position despite this week representing his 11th start on Tour. Stating at the beginning of his professional career that he wished to replicate the success of Ludvig Åberg — who finished No. 1 in PGA Tour University the year prior — Thorbjornsen now has the opportunity to do just that. A win would secure starts at The Sentry, the Masters and the PGA Championship and completely open up his first full-time season on the PGA Tour. Other contenders 3. Andrew Novak (-7) T4. Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Chandler Phillips (-6) T6. Patrick Rodgers, Michael Kim, Kevin Yu, Kelly Kraft, Keith Mitchell, Harris English, Austin Eckroat (-5) A name many had circled coming into 2024 was that of Dumont de Chassart. The Belgian arrived on the PGA Tour fresh off a Rookie of the Year campaign on the Korn Ferry Tour, but outside of a couple quality starts in opposite field events, Dumont de Chassart struggled to get his feet underneath him for much of his rookie year. Collecting two top-25 finishes and 13 missed cuts in his first 23 starts, the 24-year-old found something in Bermuda, where he nabbed a podium finish and injected some life into his season. Moving inside the cut-off for conditional status with his play last week, Dumont de Chassart now eyes another quality result to push him inside the top 125 that secures full-time status. "It's been lots of learning this year, I'd say," Dumont de Chassart said. "You know, I'm glad it's working out. A little late maybe, but being a rookie, you get to play a new course every week. That's not easy. I made some changes early in the year, which was a little tough at first, especially when it came to my confidence. To know that I finished in the top three last week definitely gave me a boost, and coming out today and shooting a 6 under round is pretty solid in this wind." Bubble watch There is little movement when it comes to the Aon Next 10 as Novak and Yu are projected to move inside the top 60 following stellar first rounds. While they hope to play in the first two signature events next year, others just hope to play on the PGA Tour. With Dumont de Chassart and Thorbjornsen (who is secure no matter the result due to PGA Tour University) moving inside the top 125, Wesley Bryan and Joel Dahmen are among a handful of players moving out. T12 Dylan Wu 121 131 155 David Skinns 122 120 T4 Adrian Dumont de Chassart 124 142 T80 Sam Ryder 125 122 T34 Wesley Bryan 126 125 T80 Zac Blair 127 123 T101 Joel Dahmen 128 124 Åberg's return off to slow start In the early stages of the first round, the defending champion looked like he hadn't missed a beat coming off a two-month hiatus due to injury. Carding a birdie on No. 1, Åberg struggled from there and got himself into trouble off the tee on more than one occasion. Adding three bogeys to his scorecard before the turn, Åberg's biggest blemish came on the par-4 10th when he overcooked his drive and found the penalty area. Leading to a triple bogey, the Swede dropped to 5 over before battling back with a couple nice birdies to finish the day with a 73, his highest score since The Open. "It was hard, obviously it was a rough day," Åberg said. "It was a lot of rust I felt like, but I also felt like the good was pretty good but the bad was really bad. A little bit of everything today, but all in all, pretty happy to be back playing golf again." Back like he never left. Defending champ Ludvig Åberg is 1-under thru 1 @TheRSMClassic ! pic.twitter.com/slQ1ybVkvu 2024 RSM Classic updated odds and picks Golf betting odds below provided via DraftKings Sportsbook . Check out the latest DraftKings promo to get in the game. Maverick McNealy: 3-1 Andrew Novak: 9-1 Michael Thorbjornsen: 10-1 Patrick Rodgers: 12-1 Michael Kim: 16-1 Harris English: 18-1 Only Kim and English are PGA Tour winners listed below 20-1, so the confidence is not high with this bunch. Of the favorites, Novak draws the most interest fresh off a contention run in Bermuda and with both his iron play and putter in good form. If asked to look further down the board, Yu only three back at 55-1 seems more than fair having already won this fall.
U S Global Investors Inc. lowered its stake in Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN ) by 33.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 7,980 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock after selling 4,000 shares during the quarter. U S Global Investors Inc.’s holdings in Amazon.com were worth $1,487,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AMZN. PayPay Securities Corp raised its stake in Amazon.com by 64.6% in the 2nd quarter. PayPay Securities Corp now owns 163 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Hoese & Co LLP acquired a new stake in Amazon.com during the 3rd quarter worth $37,000. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc grew its holdings in shares of Amazon.com by 650.0% during the second quarter. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc now owns 300 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $58,000 after buying an additional 260 shares in the last quarter. Koesten Hirschmann & Crabtree INC. acquired a new stake in shares of Amazon.com in the first quarter valued at about $69,000. Finally, Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Amazon.com in the second quarter worth about $77,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.20% of the company’s stock. Amazon.com Trading Down 0.6 % Shares of NASDAQ:AMZN opened at $197.12 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $2.07 trillion, a PE ratio of 42.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.14. The company’s 50 day moving average is $193.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $186.31. Amazon.com, Inc. has a 52 week low of $142.81 and a 52 week high of $215.90. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Jonathan Rubinstein sold 5,004 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $199.85, for a total value of $1,000,049.40. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 99,396 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $19,864,290.60. This trade represents a 4.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, CEO Douglas J. Herrington sold 5,502 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $205.81, for a total transaction of $1,132,366.62. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 518,911 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $106,797,072.91. This trade represents a 1.05 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 6,011,423 shares of company stock worth $1,249,093,896 over the last 90 days. 10.80% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages recently commented on AMZN. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Amazon.com from $220.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Amazon.com from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Itau BBA Securities lowered shares of Amazon.com from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and set a $186.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Amazon.com from $225.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Amazon.com from $215.00 to $225.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, forty have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $235.77. View Our Latest Analysis on AMZN Amazon.com Profile ( Free Report ) Amazon.com, Inc engages in the retail sale of consumer products, advertising, and subscriptions service through online and physical stores in North America and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). It also manufactures and sells electronic devices, including Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Echo, Ring, Blink, and eero; and develops and produces media content. See Also Five stocks we like better than Amazon.com Technology Stocks Explained: Here’s What to Know About Tech Vertiv’s Cool Tech Makes Its Stock Red-Hot The 3 Best Fintech Stocks to Buy Now MarketBeat Week in Review – 11/18 – 11/22 Investing In Preferred Stock vs. Common Stock 2 Finance Stocks With Competitive Advantages You Can’t Ignore Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AMZN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Amazon.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Amazon.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Israeli attorney general orders probe into report that alleged Netanyahu's wife harassed opponents
VANCOUVER — The search and rescue organization for Metro Vancouver's North Shore mountains is warning people to do their research after international visitors became stranded in two separate incidents while relying on hiking apps to plan their routes. North Shore Rescue was called in on Nov. 28 to rescue a man from Norway who the organization said "seriously underestimated the difficulty" of a route marked in an online hiking app. Rescuers were back on a nearby mountain three nights later for a "virtually identical" operation, the group said in a social media post. Allan McMordie with North Shore Rescue managed the Sunday night rescue of a man at Goat Ridge, a backcountry area behind Grouse Mountain. He said the man from France told rescuers he had not been expecting snow, despite two of the local ski hills opening with fresh powder last month. "All you had to do was look at the top of the mountains from Vancouver and know there's snow up there," he said in an interview. "To be in running shoes and not even expecting any snow was pretty naive." The man had set out on a marked route, then decided to make his way through very rough, steep terrain to a separate trail at significantly higher elevation. "This is rugged backcountry," McMordie said. "It's almost impassable." McMordie could not confirm which apps the hikers in both recent rescues were using, but said a lack of any marked route or trail reports is a good indication to stop and turn around, and in any case, trip planning should involve multiple sources of information. If the man from France had done any research, McMordie said he would have discovered the backcountry area where he was rescued is closed for the winter. In both recent cases, he said there were signs at each trailhead with maps showing trails and topography, along with reminders about key steps in trip planning, he said. Both men were lucky to have been able to make 911 calls, McMordie added, as service is patchy in the area and their phone batteries had nearly run out. Above all, he said hikers should tell someone else where they're going and when they expect to return, so that person can alert local authorities if necessary. "Absolutely nobody knew where this person was and what he was doing that day," McMordie said of the man from France. "If he had not been able to get that (911) call out, he would still be there." North Shore Rescue said the course taken by the man from Norway was "barely a trail" in the summer and "nothing whatsoever" in the winter, making for "full mountaineering conditions" at this time of year. He called for help after hiking for eight hours that left him "tired, soaked (and) hypothermic" as the sun was setting," it said. It's doubtful the man would have survived the night in the Mount Seymour backcountry if he hadn't been able to make the call, the rescue group added. The man had been staying in a short-term accommodation and had taken an Uber to the trailhead. Only his girlfriend in Norway knew where he was, and he was not wearing or carrying adequate gear for the conditions, McMordie said. Vancouver-based Stephen Hui, the author of several B.C. hiking guidebooks, said the rough, mountainous terrain steps away from urban Metro Vancouver and the extent of the snowpack in winter is a surprise for many visiting hikers. Hui said online apps can be helpful and often provide commentary about trail conditions from other hikers, but it's crucial to look at additional sources of information, including complete maps and provincial and national park websites. He said local authorities and outdoor groups have some responsibility for people heading into the backcountry, and there is room for more signage and education. Ultimately, though, he said people must be responsible for themselves. "We can't handhold everybody," he said. "There's always going to be dangers in hiking." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Brenna Owen, The Canadian PressProspera Financial Services Inc Has $542,000 Stake in Universal Display Co. (NASDAQ:OLED)
Hutson has five assists, defending champ U.S. routs Germany 10-4 at world juniors
Tyler Huntley completed 22 of 26 passes for 225 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, and ran for another score to lead the Miami Dolphins to a 20-3 victory over the host Cleveland Browns on Sunday in Cleveland, Ohio. Huntley made his fourth start of the season, and did so in place of Dolphins' injured starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who sat out with a hip injury. With the win, the Dolphins (8-8) kept their playoff hopes alive heading into week 18. Miami must beat the New York Jets next week and needs the Denver Broncos to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in order to secure the AFC's final wild-card playoff berth. Cleveland (3-13) lost its fifth in a row and seventh in its past eight games. The Dolphins were also missing wide receiver Jaylen Waddle due to a wrist injury. But Tyreek Hill gave Huntley a reliable target in Miami's passing game as he caught all nine passes thrown his way for 105 yards as the Dolphins won for the sixth time in eight games. Leading 13-3 in the fourth quarter, the Dolphins sealed the outcome when Huntley connected with Jonnu Smith on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 3:38 to go. Smith tied the Dolphins' franchise record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end with his seventh of the year. Dorian Thompson-Robinson started for the Browns, but struggled and completed only 24 of 47 passes for 170 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. Jerry Jeudy led the Browns with a career-high 12 catches for 94 yards. Emanuel Ogbah's strip sack of Thompson-Robinson and fumble recovery by Da'Shawn Hand ended an advance into Dolphins' territory with 5:29 left in the third quarter. Trailing 13-3, Cleveland had a chance to make it a one score game early in the fourth quarter. But instead of attempting a field goal at the Dolphins' 3-yard line, the Browns went for it on fourth and goal and failed when Jalen Ramsey deflected a pass intended for Jeudy in the end zone. The Browns went 0 for 4 on fourth downs. Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead suffered a knee injury and was ruled out in the second half. Cleveland lost a key defender during the game when cornerback Denzel Ward left the game with a right shoulder injury and did not return. --Field Level MediaC3.ai ( AI 4.51% ) is gaining ground in Thursday's trading. The company's share price was up 4.7% as of 3:30 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 index was flat in the daily session, and the Nasdaq Composite index was up 0.1%. C3.ai stock is posting gains today in conjunction with bullish momentum for speculative artificial intelligence ( AI ) stocks. The company's share price could also be getting a lift from news that Palantir is aiming to form a consortium to challenge traditional players in the defense industry. C3.ai stock climbs higher on bullish AI momentum At its policy meeting last week, the Federal Reserve announced another 25 basis-point cut for interest rates -- a move that was largely in line with the market's expectations. But Fed Chair Jerome Powell also indicated that the central banking authority now expects to serve up only two rate cuts on that level next year -- down from its previous forecast suggesting four rate cuts of 25 basis points next year. While many growth-dependent and speculative AI stocks initially saw big sell-offs on the macroeconomic news, stocks in this category are now seeing some significant recovery. Investors have quickly become more tolerant of risk in the AI space, and C3.ai stock is climbing in conjunction with the trend. Will C3.ai benefit from Palantir's AI consortium? Late last week, the Financial Times reported that Palantir was teaming up with Anduril to form a consortium of companies aimed at disrupting the defense industry. With AI emerging as a key front in defense initiatives, the potential partnership could have dramatic implications. While C3.ai was not named by the Financial Times as a company that has been approached to join Palantir and Anduril's defense-industry alliance, some investors appear to be betting that the company will be a beneficiary of the proposed consortium. C3.ai has already won U.S. defense contracts and has recently signed a partnership with Microsoft , and its established relationships could help make it an attractive candidate for new contracts in the public and private sectors.New Delhi: The nation is mourning the loss of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away at the age of 92 on Thursday night. As news of his death broke, leaders from across the political spectrum paid their tributes, remembering him for his wisdom, integrity, and transformative contributions to India's economic reforms. President Droupadi Murmu said that Singh will always be remembered for his service to the nation, his unblemished political life, and his utmost humility. "His passing is a great loss to all of us. I pay my respectful homage to one of the greatest sons of Bharat and convey my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers," she said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that from being the Governor of the RBI to the Finance Minister and as the PM, Singh played an important role in the governance of the country. In a post on X, Shah prayed for peace to his soul and strength for his family to bear this grief. "The news of the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is extremely sad. From being the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to the Finance Minister of the country and as the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh played an important role in the governance of the country. I express my condolences to his family and supporters in this hour of grief. May Waheguru grant peace to his soul and give strength to his family to bear this grief," the Home Minister said. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his deepest and heartfelt condolences to Singh's family, friends, and countless admirers. In a post on X, Kharge said that with the passing of Singh, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. "Undoubtedly, history shall judge you kindly, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji! With the passing of the Former Prime Minister, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. His policy of Economic Liberalisation and Rights-based welfare paradigm profoundly transformed the lives of crores of Indians, virtually creating a Middle Class in India and lifting crores out of poverty," he wrote on X. The Congress chief called Singh a man of action rather than words saying that his immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history "I mourn the loss of a lifelong senior colleague, a gentle intellectual and a humble soul who embodied the aspirations of India, having risen through the ranks with unwavering dedication. I am proud to have been a part of his Cabinet as Labour Minister, Railway Minister and Social Welfare Minister. A man of action rather than words, his immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history," he said. "In this moment of sorrow, I extend my deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and countless admirers. May they get the strength to overcome this huge loss. His enduring legacy of ushering in India's growth, welfare, and policies of inclusivity will forever be cherished. May his soul rest in eternal peace," Kharge added. Congress leader and MP Priyanka Gandhi condoled the demise of Singh and called him a uniquely dignified and gentleman in the rough world of politics. "Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did. His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation despite being subjected to unfair and deeply personal attacks by his opponents. He was genuinely egalitarian, wise, strong-willed and courageous until the end. A uniquely dignified and gentleman in the rough world of politics," Priyanka wrote on X. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that the party is cancelling all their programmes and rushing back to Delhi from Belagavi in Karnataka. "It's very tragic. He was a great prime minister who served the nation. We are cancelling all our programmes and rushing back to Delhi," he said. Former Deputy National Security Adviser Pankaj Saran, who had worked with Singh during his prime ministerial tenure, said he was a man who symbolised humility and collegiate style of functioning. "He was a consensus builder. A very simple man who did not expect to become the prime minister," Saran told PTI. N N Vohra, who was appointed Governor of Jammu and Kashmir during Singh's tenure, said his death is the end of a "truly rare species of political leadership, which was marked by exceptional intellectual capability, honesty, transparency and unparalleled humility." "A man of very few words, he heard everyone, high and low, and tackled the most complex issues by taking his own decisions which best served the national interest," he said. Singh is the only PM who held prime minister's office without winning a popular vote. He ended his 33-year-long parliamentary innings in the Rajya Sabha on April 3. (with agency inputs)
Aiming to leave the relegation zone, Crawley Town welcome a Rotherham United side four places higher than them in the League One table in Saturday's gameweek 17 match at the Broadfield Stadium. Rob Elliot 's side are unbeaten in three and extending that run could see them leave the bottom four places against an opponent keen to avoid three consecutive away losses. © Imago Despite a rough start since Elliot replaced Scott Lindsey in October, Crawley's results are seemingly improving entering the final weeks of 2024. The new Red Devils boss oversaw three league losses on the trot against Wycombe Wanderers (0-1), Shrewsbury Town (3-5) and Reading (1-4), but the tide seems to be turning. Although the West Sussex side were defeated by Northampton Town 3-0 to close out October, the club have notched a 3-0 success against Lincoln City and secured draws against Burton Albion (0-0), Huddersfield Town (2-2) and Bristol Rovers (0-0). Despite firing blanks in two of their last three league outings, the 21st-placed club will be pleased by securing two clean sheets in that period, taking them to three in the previous five League One games. Crawley, whose only league shutout before the recent three came against Cambridge in mid-August, have tripled that number and aim to record a fourth at Rotherham's expense. Success for the hosts will be their second home triumph in three games as hosts in the competition, potentially taking them above Leyton Orient or Wigan, who sit one point ahead in the standings. © Imago Rotherham hope to prevent that outcome this weekend, keen to avoid getting sucked into the relegation battle with November drawing to a close. While Crawley have played one game more than the Millers, both sides are separated by four points entering this weekend's round, and defeat leaves Steve Evans ' team looking over their shoulder. Even though the form table shows that both sides have notched three points apiece in the previous four games, the away side have suffered three defeats to the hosts' zero, highlighting their ongoing struggles to avoid defeat. With consecutive road losses at Leyton Orient (0-1) and Barnsley (0-2), the travelling support aim to avoid a third on the spin on Saturday, a League Two experience not suffered since January 2007 when they lost to Tranmere Rovers (1-2), Millwall (0-4) and Doncaster Rovers (2-3). © Imago Ryan Sandford (ankle) is a long-term absentee for Crawley, while Dion Conroy and Eddie Beach have been out injured since July and September, respectively. Junior Quitirna , scorer of four goals for the Red Devils this term, aims to add to that tally for the relegation-threatened hosts. Although Rotherham have no reported absentees heading into Saturday, Evans could make alterations to the side to avoid a third consecutive road reverse. He hopes to count on the game-deciding expertise of Sam Nombe and Mallik Wilks , who seek to add to their three goals on Saturday. Crawley Town possible starting lineup: Wollacott; Mullarkey, Barker, Flint; Anderson, Ibrahim, Williams, Kelly; Quitirna, Darcy; Swan Rotherham United possible starting lineup: Dawson; Rafferty, Humphreys, Jules, Bramall; Odoffin, Tiehi, Powell; Nombe, Wilks, Hungbo While Crawley hope to capitalise on Rotherham's recent losing run on their travels, the club with the third-worst home record may have to settle for a point when the Millers visit East Sussex this weekend. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .Azincourt Energy (CVE:AAZ) Shares Up 50% – Here’s What HappenedMichigan 111, Long Beach St. 56
