go slotvip BROOKFIELD, Conn., Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Photronics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLAB), a worldwide leader in photomask technologies and solutions, announced today the appointment of David Garcia to the company’s Board of Directors on December 12, 2024. This election expands Board membership to nine members, seven of whom are independent. Mr. Garcia is currently a strategic advisor and previously spent approximately 30 years practicing law, most recently at Holland & Hart after starting his career at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Venture Law Group. His extensive experience spans mergers & acquisitions, venture capital financing transactions and securities offerings. He has counseled both publicly and privately held companies in their corporate and governance affairs and has additional experience in structuring corporate partnering transactions and technology development, distribution and licensing arrangements. “We welcome David to the Photronics Board of Directors,” said Constantine (“Deno”) Macricostas, chairman. “His extensive experience in financings, M&A, and other securities transactions will be valuable as the company evaluates a variety of business development opportunities.” Mr. Garcia received an A.B. in Sociology with a concentration in organizational behavior from Stanford University in 1989, and a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1992. About Photronics Photronics is a leading worldwide manufacturer of integrated circuit (IC) and flat panel display (FPD) photomasks. High precision quartz plates that contain microscopic images of electronic circuits, photomasks are a key element in the IC and FPD manufacturing process. Founded in 1969, Photronics has been a trusted photomask supplier for over 50 years. The company operates 11 strategically located manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. Additional information on the company can be accessed at www.photronics.com . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” regarding our industry, our strategic position, and our financial and operating results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially. Please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 and other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents contain and identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release to conform these statements to actual results. For Further Information: Ted Moreau VP, Investor Relations 469.395.8175 tmoreau@photronics.comSNEF urges Govt to prioritize tax relief, workforce reskilling, and parental leave support in Budget 2025Football is for everyone: HE Sports MinisterNone

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Heat pumps are much more efficient than oil furnaces or gas boilers. They produce double or triple the heat per unit of energy. They cost more to purchase and install, but the savings allow them to pay for themselves after a few years. Most residential heat pumps are air source units, which means their performance is dependent on the temperature of the air outside. That means they must be optimized for the environment they operate in. There are heat pumps on the market today that provide heat just fine in sub-zero weather, but they may not be quite as good at making cold air in the summer when it is hot outside. By the same token, some heat pumps do a great job of cooling in the summer but struggle to make heat in the winter. Geothermal heat pumps solve that dilemma. The temperature of the Earth 50 to 200 feet below the surface remains quite constant all year long. That means a heat pump designed to operate at that temperature can work as efficiently as possible in all seasons. Call it Heat Pump 2.0 . As efficient as air source heat pumps are, ground source heat pumps are even more so. There is one problem. Getting a company to come to your house to drill a few holes in the Earth so you can send water down one pipe to be warmed or cooled by the Earth and then pipe it back to the surface is expensive. Google tried this with its Dandelion spinoff but the high cost made it a tough sell in the residential market. The added efficiency was a good thing, but the upfront investment was too much for most homeowners. But what if instead of drilling hundreds of holes for hundreds of homes, you drilled just a few and distributed the constant-temperature water to residences and commercial buildings just like the gas company in many cities distributes its gas? Better yet, what if the gas company, instead of fighting the idea, decided to install the pipes to distribute the water from those geothermal wells, thereby having a new product to offer its existing customers? That’s exactly what has happened in the Metro West city of Framingham, Massachusetts. In June, Eversource, the local gas and electric utility company, completed a geothermal system in Framingham that provides heating and cooling for an entire neighborhood, including public housing residents, by tapping low temperature thermal heat from underground wells. It is the first geothermal system ever built by a gas utility, but more than that, it serves as a demonstration project that could chart a new course for methane (natural gas) distribution companies to transitioning away from gas while preserving jobs. The job of installing and maintaining pipes is what utility companies do. They have the right equipment and the knowledge to do it well. Why not put that expertise to work to help communities lower their emissions while keeping the current workforce fully employed? On December 3, 2024, Massachusetts governor Maura Healey signed legislation allowing gas utilities to move beyond pilot projects by granting them permission to provide geothermal heating and cooling as an alternative to gas throughout their service areas. Seven other states have recently passed similar legislation, and countries across central Asia could soon build similar projects, according to Inside Climate News . “It’s taking root across the country, across the world,” Zayneb Magavi, 51, the executive director of HEET , a Boston nonprofit working to develop neighborhood-scale geothermal heating and cooling systems, said recently. “We have a once in many lifetimes opportunity to transform an industry, to build a better energy system and a more sustainable world. We just need to be brave enough to listen to the other side.” In 2016, Magavi, who is a physicist, and other activists attended a meeting with people from Eversource, including Bill Akley, who was president of gas operations for the company at that time. He assumed he was in for an earful. “My expectations were, it’s going to be a list of demands and a lot of poking at all the things we’re doing wrong,” he said recently. Prior to the meeting, the activists had “categorically attacked” the entire gas industry by calling out locations of hundreds of gas leaks across the city of Cambridge. The odds of the meeting being successful were slight. Magavi was focused primarily on how to address climate change by getting people to stop burning fossil fuels entirely. A climate law Massachusetts passed in 2021 effectively required as much by 2050. However, no one knew how to get homes off gas without laying off an entire industry of workers or leaving low-income ratepayers on the hook for maintaining a dwindling system of underground pipes. At the meeting in 2016, she said, “‘I have three children and I am worried about their future. I want to do something to help protect their future, because I feel it’s unethical for us not to act.” She told ICN there was a moment of uncomfortable silence before Akley looked at her and said, “Well, I have three kids too.” That, as it turns out, became the common ground the group needed to forge an alliance. Eversource ended up working with the groups who came to that meeting to find and plug the biggest gas leaks in Cambridge. In the summer of 2017, Magavi frequently worked alongside gas company work crews. Seeing them go down into trenches to address leaks from pipes, some of which dated back as far as the 1800s, made an impression. “I grew to have a lot of respect for them and a lot of appreciation for the risk they take to keep us safe,” she said. At one point, HEET and the utility company jointly developed a plan to address the biggest leaks and were preparing to make their case to state regulators for approval. To get it across the finish line with the Department of Public Utilities, the two groups intended to present the plan together. “There were these repeated moments where generosity was met with reciprocity and it built trust,” Magavi said. She is now a guest lecturer for Harvard University’s sustainability leadership program and Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management. When HEET decided to propose the idea of building a geothermal system in Framingham, that trust became an essential factor. When it was proposed to Akley and other gas company executives in late 2017, there were lots of questions but few blank stares. At the time, HEET and other advocacy groups were also meeting with state policymakers to redefine what it means to be a gas utility in Massachusetts. They were seeking a change in rules that would give gas utilities, which were only allowed to offer gas service, permission to offer thermal heat as an alternative. “The three of them were so smart, so impressive ... you kind of got sucked into their enthusiasm,” state Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem said of her first meeting with Magavi, Marilyn Ray Smith from the climate advocacy group Gas Leaks Allies (now Gas Transition Allies), and Audrey Schulman, the co-founder of HEET. “Even though it was like, ‘What are they talking about?’” She quickly got up to speed on networked geothermal heating and cooling and filed a bill in 2019 that would allow gas utilities to offer this service. When it didn’t pass, she kept trying. That’s the bill that Governor Healey signed to put the geothermal measures into law at a ceremony earlier this month. Utilities mark their infrastructure where it passes beneath city streets with color-coded spray paint — red for electric lines, blue for water mains, yellow for gas pipes. For networked geothermal, the color is purple. It’s a selection Magavi advocated for because the water that runs through these single-pipe systems is neither red hot nor ice cold, but somewhere in between. Magavi also liked it because it suggests an energy system that is nonpartisan. More than 20 geothermal pilot projects are currently being proposed nationwide, including two underway in Massachusetts by National Grid. Nikki Bruno, vice president for clean technologies at Eversource Energy, said the company is still assessing costs both for its initial project in Framingham and for the potential buildout of future systems. One of the biggest costs for the initial project was retrofitting and weatherizing the older buildings that already had other types of heating systems and poor insulation. She said the company plans to file requests with state regulators to build additional geothermal systems but will likely focus on new construction to avoid those extra costs. One exception will be an expansion of the Framingham geothermal system, pending state approval, thanks to a $7.8 million construction grant from the U.S. Department of Energy awarded to HEET, Eversource, and the city of Framingham on December 11, 2024. “It’s a beautiful development of the relationship over the years, and this feels like a continued upward path,” Bruno said of HEET’s leading role in the grant application. “We started talking about methane leaks on our gas distribution system, and now here we are together on a grant application to build what will be the first-in-the-nation utility expansion on a geothermal network.” For Magavi, there is no slowing down. Next month she plans to fly to Pakistan where she will meet with gas utility executives interested in building networked geothermal heating and cooling systems in that country. The trip is part of an initiative organized by the International Finance Corp, a member of the World Bank Group that lends to private companies. The IFC seeks to help finance the construction of such systems on a massive scale—enough to heat and cool the equivalent of tens of thousands of homes—in each of seven countries across the Middle East and Central Asia. The IFC project stemmed in part from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent interest in developing energy alternatives to gas. Magavi is an adviser on the project. “It is clean, it is renewable, so it is a friend to the environment, but also it is a friend to the wallet of the consumer,” Hela Cheikhrouhou, the IFC’s regional vice president for the Middle East, Central Asia, Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan, said, referring to the low operating costs of geothermal systems once they are built. Cheikhrouhou also pointed out that building geothermal networks is labor intensive. “That creates a lot of jobs in geographies where economic demographics are growing,” she said. “So if you want people to have good jobs, this is also a good solution.” CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook Bluesky Email RedditAI Breakthrough Sparks Industry Buzz! NVIDIA’s Surprising New Moves.

MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — A man is dead after a motorcycle crash Monday night in the West Valley. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said a motorcycle and a vehicle were involved in a collision reported near 107th and Southern avenues at about 8:30 p.m. The man on the motorcycle died at the scene and the car's driver was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, MCSO said. The man's identity was not disclosed. The crash remains under investigation. RELATED: Arizona woman still missing 1 year later, foul play suspected RELATED: 'He loved Christmas': Toy drive held in honor of murdered coach Watch 12News for free You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app! The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV . 12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. Roku : Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX." Amazon Fire TV : Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12+ app to add to your account , or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.

Enerpac Tool Group Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results

At least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank around the city of Tulkarem on Tuesday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, including three people it said were killed by Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a second somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of the war in Gaza, with most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent. Israel's bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in October 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage by Palestinian militants. Around 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza , although only two thirds are believed to still be alive. Here’s the latest: NUR SHAMS REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank — The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in and around the city of Tulkarem in the northern West Bank on Tuesday. The ministry reported three of the dead were killed by airstrikes. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. An Associated Press photojournalist captured images of Israeli forces detonating an explosive device planted by Palestinian militants during a raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp. Israel has carried out several large-scale raids in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. While airstrikes were once rare in the West Bank, they have grown more common since the outbreak of war as Israeli forces clamp down, saying they aim to prevent attacks on their citizens. Israeli fire has killed at least 800 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since October 2023, Palestinian health officials say. In that time, Palestinian militants have launched a number of attacks on soldiers at checkpoints and within Israel. SAYDNAYA, Syria — A large crowd of Syrians gathered near a historic monastery in Saydnaya on Christmas Eve to witness the lighting of a towering tree adorned with glowing green lights. Tuesday's celebration offered a rare moment of joy in a city scarred by over a decade of war and an infamous prison , where tens of thousands were held. Families and friends stood beneath the illuminated tree — some wearing Santa hats, others watching from rooftops — while a band played festive music and fireworks lit up the sky “This year is different, there’s happiness, victory and a new birth for Syria and a new birth for Christ,” said Houssam Saadeh, one attendee. Another, Joseph Khabbaz, expressed hope for unity across all sects and religions in Syria, dismissing recent Christmas tree vandalism as “isolated incidents.” Earlier in the afternoon, pilgrims visited the historic Our Lady of Saydnaya Monastery, one of the world’s oldest Christian monasteries, believed to be built in the sixth century. In Homs, a similarly grand Christmas tree was illuminated as security officers patrolled the area to ensure a safe and peaceful gathering, according to Syria’s state media. UNITED NATIONS -- Recent attacks on hospitals in North Gaza, where Israel is carrying out an offensive, are having a devastating impact on Palestinian civilians still in the area, the U.N. humanitarian office says. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs expressed deep concern at reports that the Israeli military entered the Indonesian Hospital on Tuesday, forcing its evacuation. The humanitarian office, known as OCHA, also expressed deep concern at attacks reported in recent days in and around the two other hospitals in North Gaza that are minimally functioning – Al Awda and Kamal Adwan. OCHA said the Israeli siege on Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia and parts of Jaballiya in North Gaza continued for a 79th day on Tuesday, and while the U.N. and its partners have made 52 attempts to coordinate humanitarian access to besieged areas in December 48 were rejected by Israel. While four missions were approved, OCHA said the U.N. and its partners faced impediments as a result of Israeli military operations and “none of the U.N.-coordinated attempts to access the area have been fully facilitated.” Throughout the Gaza Strip, OCHA said that Israeli authorities facilitated just 40% of requests for humanitarian movements requiring their approval in December. WASHINGTON — A leading global food crisis monitor says deaths from starvation will likely pass famine levels in north Gaza as soon as next month. The U.S.-created Famine Early Warning System Network says that’s because of a near-total Israeli blockade of food and other aid in that part of Gaza. The finding, however, appears to have exposed a rift within the Biden administration over the extent of starvation in northern Gaza. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, disputes part of the data used in reaching the conclusion and calls the intensified famine warning “irresponsible.” Northern Gaza has been one of the areas hardest-hit by fighting and Israel’s restrictions on aid throughout its 14-month war with Hamas militants. UNITED NATIONS — Israel’s foreign minister has requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to condemn recent missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and to condemn the group's Iranian allies for allegedly providing the group with weapons. Gideon Saar said in a letter Tuesday to Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of the United States, which holds the council presidency this month, that the Houthis are violating international law and council resolutions. “This Iranian-backed terrorist group continues to endanger Israel’s and other nations’ security, as well as the freedom of maritime navigation, in flagrant violation of international law,” Saar said. “All of this malign activity is done as part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region.” The U.S. Mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to an email asking when the council meeting will be held. The Houthis have said they launched attacks on shipping in the Red Sea – and on Israel -- with the aim of ending Israel’s devastating air and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli war in Gaza followed Hamas’ deadly October 2023 attacks in southern Israel. TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli military investigation has concluded that the presence of troops inadvertently contributed to the deaths of six hostages killed by their Hamas captors in Gaza. The hostages' bodies were discovered in a tunnel in late August, an event that shook Israel and sparked some of the largest anti-war protests since the war began. The investigation found that the six hostages were killed by multiple gunshots from their captors after surviving for nearly 330 days. The Israeli military’s “ground activities in the area, although gradual and cautious, had a circumstantial influence on the terrorists’ decision to murder the six hostages,” the report found. According to the investigation, the Israeli military began operating in the area where the hostages were being held in southern Gaza about two weeks before their discovery, under the assumption that the chances of hostages in the area was medium to low. On August 27, hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi was found alone in a tunnel , causing the Israeli military to halt operations for 24 hours to determine if there could be other hostages in the area. The military discovered the opening leading to the tunnel where the bodies of the six hostages were located on August 30. A pathological report estimated the six hostages were killed on August 29. The six hostages killed were Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino, and Hersh Goldberg-Polin , whose American-Israeli parents became some of the most recognized spokespeople pleading for the hostages’ release, including addressing the Democratic National Convention days before their son’s killing. “The investigation published tonight proves once again that the return of all hostages will only be possible through a deal,” the Hostages Families Forum said in response to the investigation. “Every passing moment puts the hostages’ lives in immediate danger.” JERUSALEM — The Israeli negotiating team working on a ceasefire returned from Qatar to Israel on Tuesday, the prime minister’s office said, after what it called “a significant week” of talks. After months of deadlock, the U.S., Qatar and Egypt resumed their mediation efforts in recent weeks and reported greater willingness by the warring sides to reach a deal. According to Egyptian and Hamas officials, the proposed agreement would take place in phases and include a halt in fighting, an exchange of captive Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a surge in aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel says Hamas is holding 100 hostages, over one-third of whom are believed to be dead. On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was “some progress” in efforts to reach a deal, but added he did not know how long it would take. CAIRO — Israeli soldiers took control of a hospital in isolated northern Gaza after forcing all the patients and most of the doctors to leave, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Tuesday. Some of the patients had to walk to another hospital while others were driven by paramedics, according to Health Ministry spokesperson Zaher al-Wahidi. He did not specify how many patients had evacuated. The Israeli military confirmed its troops had entered the Indonesian Hospital in the town of Jabaliya as part of an operation searching for Hamas fighters. The army later said its soldiers had left the hospital. The military said it had assisted with evacuating the patients and had not ordered the hospital closed. However, al-Wahidi said only one doctor and maintenance person were left behind. The Indonesian Hospital is one of three hospitals left largely inaccessible in the northernmost part of Gaza because Israel has imposed a tight siege there since launching an offensive in early October. The Israeli army said Tuesday’s operation at the Indonesian Hospital came after militants carried out attacks from the hospital for the past month, including launching anti-tank missiles and planting explosive devices in the surrounding area. The Health Ministry accused Israel of “besieging and directly targeting” the three hospitals in northern Gaza. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, said Israeli drones detonated explosives near the hospital and that 20 people were wounded, including five medical staff. The Israeli military declined to comment on the operation around the hospital. DAMASCUS — Scores of Syrian Christians protested in the capital Damascus on Tuesday, demanding greater protections for their religious minority after a Christmas tree was set on fire in the city of Hama a day earlier. Many of the insurgents who now rule Syria are jihadis, although Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the main rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and spent years depicting himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. It remains unclear who set the Christmas tree on fire Monday, which was condemned by a representative of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham who visited the town and addressed the community. “This act was committed by people who are not Syrian, and they will be punished beyond your expectations," the HTS representative said in a video widely shared on social media. "The Christmas tree will be fully restored by this evening.” On Tuesday, protesters marched through the streets of Bab Touma in Damascus, shouting slogans against foreign fighters and carrying large wooden crosses. “We demand that Syria be for all Syrians. We want a voice in the future of our country,” said Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church as he addressed the crowd in a church courtyard, assuring them of Christians’ rights in Syria. Since HTS led a swift offensive that overthrew President Bashar Assad earlier this month, Syria’s minority communities have been on edge, uncertain of how they will be treated under the emerging rebel-led government. “We are here to demand a democratic and free government for one people and one nation,” another protester said. “We stand united — Muslims and Christians. No to sectarianism.” DOHA — Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said that ceasefire negotiations to end the war in Gaza were ongoing in Doha in cooperation with Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediators. “We will not leave any door unopened in pursuit of reaching an agreement,” said Majid al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday. Al Ansari added that rumors the ceasefire would be reached before Christmas are “speculation.” The ceasefire negotiations come at a time when winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. Families of the approximately 100 hostages who have been held for 445 days in Gaza are also worried their loved ones will not survive another winter. In a press conference, al-Ansari also called on the international community to lift sanctions on Syria as quickly as possible on Tuesday. “The reason was the crimes of the previous regime, and that regime, with all of its authority, is no longer in place, therefor the causes for these sanctions no longer exist today,” he said. DAMASCUS, Syria — American journalist Austin Tice is believed to be still alive, according to the head of an international aid group. Nizar Zakka, who runs the Hostage Aid Worldwide organization, said there has never been any proof that Tice, who has been missing since 2012, is dead. Zakka told reporters in Damascus on Tuesday that Tice was alive in January and being held by the authorities of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad. He added that U.S. President Joe Biden said in August that Tice was alive. Zakka said he believes Tice was transferred between security agencies over the past 12 years, including in an area where Iranian-backed fighters were operating. Asked if it was possible Tice had been taken out of the country, Zakka said Assad most likely kept him in Syria as a potential bargaining chip. Biden said Dec. 8 that his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, although he also acknowledged that “we have no direct evidence” of his status. TEL AVIV, Israel — Hannah Katzir, an Israeli woman who was taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, and freed in a brief ceasefire last year, has died. She was 78. The Hostages Families Forum, a group representing the families of people taken captive, confirmed the death Tuesday but did not disclose the cause. Her daughter, Carmit Palty Katzir, said in a statement that her mother’s “heart could not withstand the terrible suffering since Oct. 7.” Katzir’s husband, Rami, was killed during the attack by militants who raided their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Her son Elad was also kidnapped and his body was recovered in April by the Israeli military, who said he had been killed in captivity. She spent 49 days in captivity and was freed in late November 2023. Shortly after Katzir was freed, her daughter told Israeli media that she had been hospitalized with heart issues attributed to “difficult conditions and starvation” while she was held captive. TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel's military said the projectile was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory, but it set off air raid sirens overnight in the country's populous central area, sending residents looking for cover. Israel’s rescue service Magen David Adom said a 60-year-old woman was seriously wounded after being hurt on her way to a protected space. There was no immediate comment from Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. It was the third time in a week that fire from Yemen set off sirens in Israel. On Saturday, a missile slammed into a playground in Tel Aviv, injuring 16, after Israel’s air defense system failed to intercept it. Earlier last week, Israeli jets struck Yemen’s rebel-held capital and a port city, killing nine. Israel said the strikes were in response to previous Houthi attacks.Proposal would end daylight saving timeMELVILLE, N.Y. and DAVIDSON, N.C. , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MSC Industrial Supply Co. (NYSE: MSM) , a premier distributor of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) products and services to industrial customers throughout North America , today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.85 per share. The $0.85 dividend is payable on January 29, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 15, 2025 . Contact Information Investors: Media: Ryan Mills, CFA Zivanai Mutize Head of Investor Relations Head of Corporate Communications Rmills@mscdirect.com Zivanai.mutize@mscdirect.com About MSC Industrial Supply Co. MSC Industrial Supply Co. (NYSE:MSM) is a leading North American distributor of a broad range of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products and services. We help our customers drive greater productivity, profitability and growth with approximately 2.4 million products, inventory management and other supply chain solutions, and deep expertise from more than 80 years of working with customers across industries. Our experienced team of more than 7,000 associates works with our customers to help drive results for their businesses - from keeping operations running efficiently today to continuously rethinking, retooling and optimizing for a more productive tomorrow. For more information on MSC Industrial, please visit mscdirect.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that MSC expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements about results of operations and financial condition, expected future results, expected benefits from our investment and strategic plans and other initiatives, and expected future growth, profitability and return on invested capital, are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "may," "believes," "anticipates," "thinks," "expects," "estimates," "plans," "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. In addition, statements which refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, statements involving a discussion of strategy, plans or intentions, statements about management's assumptions, projections or predictions of future events or market outlook and any other statement other than a statement of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. The inclusion of any statement in this press release does not constitute an admission by MSC or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material. In addition, new risks may emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict such risks or to assess the impact of such risks on our business or financial results. Accordingly, future results may differ materially from historical results or from those discussed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, the reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic conditions in the markets in which we operate; changing customer and product mixes; volatility in commodity, energy and labor prices, and the impact of prolonged periods of low, high or rapid inflation; competition, including the adoption by competitors of aggressive pricing strategies or sales methods; industry consolidation and other changes in the industrial distribution sector; the applicability of laws and regulations relating to our status as a supplier to the U.S. government and public sector; the credit risk of our customers; our ability to accurately forecast customer demands; customer cancellations or rescheduling of orders; interruptions in our ability to make deliveries to customers; supply chain disruptions; our ability to attract and retain sales and customer service personnel; the risk of loss of key suppliers or contractors or key brands; changes to trade policies or trade relationships; risks associated with opening or expanding our customer fulfillment centers; our ability to estimate the cost of healthcare claims incurred under our self-insurance plan; interruption of operations at our headquarters or customer fulfillment centers; products liability due to the nature of the products that we sell; impairments of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets; the impact of climate change; operating and financial restrictions imposed by the terms of our material debt instruments; our ability to access additional liquidity; our ability to realize the desired benefits from the reclassification of our Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock; the significant influence that our principal shareholders will continue to have over our decisions; our ability to execute on our E-commerce strategies and maintain our digital platforms; costs associated with maintaining our information technology ("IT") systems and complying with data privacy laws; our ability to remediate a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures in the future; disruptions or breaches of our IT systems or violations of data privacy laws, including such disruptions or breaches in connection with our E-commerce channels; risks related to online payment methods and other online transactions; the retention of key management personnel; litigation risk due to the nature of our business; failure to comply with environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations; and our ability to comply with, and the costs associated with, social and environmental responsibility policies. Additional information concerning these and other risks is described under "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, respectively, and in the other reports and documents that we file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/msc-industrial-supply-co-declares-regular-quarterly-dividend-302335377.html SOURCE MSC Industrial Supply Co.Colts Notebook: Richardson again delivers in clutch

Iran envoy pays tribute to Quaid-e-Azam

Ryan Reynolds doesn't consider Martha Stewart a close contact, or at least he didn't before she dissed his sense of humour. The Deadpool & Wolverine actor, 48, responded to the writer's viral comments about him "not being so funny in real life" in his recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter . "If you can’t take a punch in this business, you’re in trouble," Reynolds began with an introspection. "But why would people ever assume the way they see you on camera is how you’re going to be in real life? Right? You’re just a person," the actor added. "But I do it too. I’m a fan of people and I love certain people’s work, and I’m thinking when I meet them, I want to see little glimpses of that." Reynolds continued, "I don’t think what happened was designed to hurt anyone. That was just an incredibly valid observation that someone made." The Green Lantern star then subtly hit back saying he and Stewart, 83, had not really built rapport where he would be comfortable joking around with her in the first place. "Lots of people would say I’m very serious if they met me," explaining, "I can’t imagine entering any room in which I don’t intimately know the people, where I suddenly kind of turn on and perform." The award-winning actor went on to explain how his anxiety also plays a part in most interactions with strangers. "Always been much more shy around people that I don’t know unless I’m stepping out on a stage," Reynolds explained. "I’ve always been one to be very quiet, and part of that is anxiety I’ve carried with me since I was a kid," he went on. "And at times it’s very normal for anyone and everyone to experience anxiety. Some people’s anxiety, and I include mine, has a tendency to go down a slippery slope that needs to be managed to some degree." His response comes after Stewart was asked by Bilt Rewards CEO and founder Ankur Jain which celebrities she thought respondents had named as the most fun to hang out with as she made an appearance on game show Rent Free . "Ryan Reynolds, is he one of those?” she asked, before adding, “And you want to know something? He’s not so funny in real life. No, he’s not so funny. He’s very serious.” Stewart admitted she "would take Ryan off [the list], and I would put in somebody else." “He’s a good actor,” she said of Reynolds, a neighbour in Upstate New York. “He can act funny, but he isn’t funny. Maybe he can get to be funny again. I’m going to get in trouble." Reynolds later playfully responded on X, writing, "I’d disagree with her. But I tried that once. The woman is unexpectedly spry. She really closed the gap after a mile or so."

Bluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk's X, which they view as increasingly leaning too far to the right given its owner's support of President-elect Donald Trump, or wanting an alternative to Meta's Threads and its algorithms. The platform grew out of the company then known as Twitter, championed by its former CEO Jack Dorsey. Its decentralized approach to social networking was eventually intended to replace Twitter's core mechanic. That's unlikely now that the two companies have parted ways. But Bluesky's growth trajectory — with a user base that has more than doubled since October — could make it a serious competitor to other social platforms. But with growth comes growing pains. It's not just human users who've been flocking to Bluesky but also bots, including those designed to create partisan division or direct users to junk websites. The skyrocketing user base — now surpassing 25 million — is the biggest test yet for a relatively young platform that has branded itself as a social media alternative free of the problems plaguing its competitors. According to research firm Similarweb, Bluesky added 7.6 million monthly active app users on iOS and Android in November, an increase of 295.4% since October. It also saw 56.2 million desktop and mobile web visits, in the same period, up 189% from October. Besides the U.S. elections, Bluesky also got a boost when X was briefly banned in Brazil. “They got this spike in attention, they’ve crossed the threshold where it is now worth it for people to flood the platform with spam,” said Laura Edelson, an assistant professor of computer science at Northeastern University and a member of Issue One’s Council for Responsible Social Media. “But they don’t have the cash flow, they don’t have the established team that a larger platform would, so they have to do it all very, very quickly.” To manage growth for its tiny staff, Bluesky started as an invitation-only space until it opened to the public in February. That period gave the site time to build out moderation tools and other distinctive features to attract new users, such as “starter packs” that provide lists of topically curated feeds. Meta recently announced that it is testing a similar feature. Compared to the bigger players like Meta's platforms or X, Bluesky has a “quite different” value system, said Claire Wardle, a professor at Cornell University and an expert in misinformation. This includes giving users more control over their experience. “The first generation of social media platforms connected the world, but ended up consolidating power in the hands of a few corporations and their leaders,” Bluesky said on its blog in March. “Our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see. On an open social network like Bluesky, you can shape your experience for yourself.” Because of this mindset, Bluesky has achieved a scrappy underdog status that has attracted users who've grown tired of the big players. “People had this idea that it was going to be a different type of social network,” Wardle said. “But the truth is, when you get lots of people in a place and there are eyeballs, it means that it’s in other people’s interests to use bots to create, you know, information that aligns with their perspective.” Little data has emerged to help quantify the rise in impersonator accounts, artificial intelligence-fueled networks and other potentially harmful content on Bluesky. But in recent weeks, users have begun reporting large numbers of apparent AI bots following them, posting plagiarized articles or making seemingly automated divisive comments in replies. Lion Cassens, a Bluesky user and doctoral candidate in the Netherlands, found one such network by accident — a group of German-language accounts with similar bios and AI-generated profile pictures posting in replies to three German newspapers. “I noticed some weird replies under a news post by the German newspaper ‘Die Ziet,’” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “I have a lot of trust in the moderation mechanism on Bluesky, especially compared to Twitter since the layoffs and due to Musk’s more radical stance on freedom of speech. But AI bots are a big challenge, as they will only improve. I hope social media can keep up with that.” Cassens said the bots' messages have been relatively innocuous so far, but he was concerned about how they could be repurposed in the future to mislead. There are also signs that foreign disinformation narratives have made their way to Bluesky. The disinformation research group Alethea pointed to one low-traction post sharing a false claim about ABC News that had circulated on Russian Telegram channels. Copycat accounts are another challenge. In late November, Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security, Trust and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, found that of the top 100 most followed named individuals on Bluesky, 44% had at least one duplicate account posing as them. Two weeks later, Mantzarlis said Bluesky had removed around two-thirds of the duplicate accounts he’d initially detected — a sign the site was aware of the issue and attempting to address it. Bluesky posted earlier this month that it had quadrupled its moderation team to keep up with its growing user base. The company also announced it had introduced a new system to detect impersonation and was working to improve its Community Guidelines to provide more detail on what’s allowed. Because of the way the site is built, users also have the option to subscribe to third-party “Labelers” that outsource content moderation by tagging accounts with warnings and context. The company didn't respond to multiple requests for comment for this story. Even as its challenges aren’t yet at the scale other platforms face, Bluesky is at a “crossroads,” said Edward Perez, a board member at the nonpartisan nonprofit OSET Institute, who previously led Twitter’s civic integrity team. “Whether BlueSky likes it or not, it is being pulled into the real world,” Perez said, noting that it needs to quickly prioritize threats and work to mitigate them if it hopes to continue to grow. That said, disinformation and bots won't be Bluesky's only challenges in the months and years to come. As a text-based social network, its entire premise is falling out of favor with younger generations. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that only 17% of American teenagers used X, for instance, down from 23% in 2022. For teens and young adults, TikTok, Instagram and other visual-focused platforms are the places to be. Political polarization is also going against Bluesky ever reaching the size of TikTok, Instagram or even X. “Bluesky is not trying to be all things to all people,” Wardle said, adding that, likely, the days of a Facebook or Instagram emerging where they're “trying to keep everybody happy” are over. Social platforms are increasingly splintered along political lines and when they aren't — see Meta's platforms — the companies behind them are actively working to de-emphasize political content and news.No compromise on nuclear programme: PMIt’s looking more and more likely the Vikings will be without veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore for a second straight game. He hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring injury against the Arizona Cardinals a couple of weeks ago. ADVERTISEMENT Though he has an extra 24 hours to prepare this week with the Vikings set to host the Chicago Bears on Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium, the fact that Gilmore still hasn’t practiced in any capacity isn’t a good sign. After not participating in the walkthrough on Thursday afternoon at TCO Performance Center, Gilmore was listed as a non participant in practice on Friday afternoon. It would make sense for the Vikings to be cautious with Gilmore considering how important he’s been to the secondary this season. They want to make sure he’s back at 100 percent for the playoffs. In the absence of Gilmore, veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau has logged more playing time. There also has been more responsibility placed on fellow cornerbacks Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaq Griffin, with safety Josh Metellus also mixing in at nickel. ADVERTISEMENT It appears that edge rusher Pat Jones II is getting closer to making his return given that he was listed as a full participant in practice on Friday afternoon. He has been working through a knee injury and missed last Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Having Jones back would be a major boost for the Vikings on defense, as he has found a role as a situational pass rusher. He has a career high 7.0 sacks this season while showcasing the ability to apply pressure off the edge or up the middle. In response to his philanthropy near and far, safety Cam Bynum has been named the NFLPA Community MVP for Week 15. Not only has Bynum regularly used his platform in the NFL to help with natural disaster relief in the Philippines, he has continued to spread joy in and around the Twin Cities through charitable events hosted by his Bynum Faith Foundation. ADVERTISEMENT The NFLPA will donate $10,000 to his foundation or charity of choice. In turn, Bynum will take part in a special visit to a local school, children’s hospital, or community center. The recognition also makes Bynum eligible for the Alan Page Community Award, the NFLPA’s highest player honor, which includes an additional $100,000 donation to the winner’s charities. The rest of the injury report was good news for the Vikings as running back Aaron Jones (back), tight end Josh Oliver (wrist/ankle), and edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel (hip) were all listed as full participants. ADVERTISEMENT ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .From Noise To Clarity, Here’s An Empowering Way To Hearing Health

Photo credit: REBELDOGS HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- REBELDOGS , a new project based in Los Angeles, is developing the first Hollywood film where meme coins and cinema work hand in hand. The movie, featuring animated dogs voiced by popular influencers who each represent a cryptocurrency, is designed to make digital finance fun and approachable while helping real-world causes like dog shelters. Recognized with the prestigious 2024 Global Recognition Award, REBELDOGS is breaking new ground by combining Hollywood storytelling with cryptocurrency technology. The project is funded by the project owner through a separate company licensed to launch the REBELDOGS coins, marking them as the first digital movie merchandise. The project builds upon the remarkable success of earlier meme coins in the crypto space. Most notably, Dogecoin, launched in 2013 and supported by Elon Musk, reached a staggering $12 billion market cap based solely on a Shiba dog meme. REBELDOGS aims to take this proven concept further by being the first to blend the viral power of meme coins with mainstream entertainment, effectively writing a new chapter in both crypto and cinema history. "We're blending two global phenomena—cinema and cryptocurrency—into something entirely new, " explains Dirk Oerlemans, the founder of REBELDOGS. "Our goal is to make these technologies accessible while building a meaningful community that contributes to real-world causes." The film, which is planned for release in 2025, is already getting noticed. This creative approach lets audiences enjoy the movie while engaging with the meme coins tied to each dog character. Proceeds from these coins will support dog shelters worldwide. Building a Vibrant Online Community REBELDOGS has grown a strong online community through platforms like Telegram and Twitter. Its Telegram group now has over 15,000 followers, showing how quickly interest in the project spreads. Fans use these spaces to talk about the project, get updates, and participate in activities like script-writing contests where their ideas might make it into the film. "Our Telegram community is the backbone of this initiative, " says Oerlemans. "It's inspiring to see people rallying around both the crypto aspect and the real-world mission of supporting shelters. It's a perfect example of digital communities making tangible impacts." The team is also adding interactive tools, such as a chatbot that lets users "talk" to their favorite movie characters. These ideas are designed to keep fans engaged and excited as the movie comes together, and the meme coins are launched. Supporting Dog Shelters Worldwide One of REBELDOGS's most special parts is its commitment to helping dog shelters. A percentage of the money made from the meme coins will go to shelters worldwide. This funding will help cover the cost of food, medical care, and adoption services for rescued dogs. The inspiration for this mission comes from Oerlemans' personal story. He adopted his dog Rebel from a shelter, and the experience sparked the idea for this project. " Rebel's story inspired this entire project," he says. " Every coin and every character in the movie represents a chance to improve the lives of shelter dogs around the globe." The first coin, $REBELDOGE, will launch by the end of 2024, and more coins will be introduced monthly as the movie premiere approaches. This setup keeps the community engaged while ensuring steady support for shelters. Combining Crypto and Culture for a Bigger Impact After the movie is released, the company plans to build a space where fans of film, sports, music, and crypto can connect. This platform will allow users to turn their favorite icons into meme coins, creating more opportunities for ongoing engagement. "We're rewriting how films are marketed," e xplains Oerlemans. "By tying our project to meme coins, we're not only telling a story but also building a community that continues to thrive long after the movie premieres." Meme coins are all about being silly and cute—the driving force everybody understands. The movie is fully funded upfront by the founder, and a separate company is licensed for the launch of the REBELDOGS coins, making them the first digital movie merchandise. Oerlemans believes the project has a bigger purpose than just creating a movie. " The crypto super cycle is coming, so by integrating education into entertainment, we want to prepare people for that future in a way that's both fun and impactful by supporting dog shelters." Exploring the Future of Cinema and Crypto By blending blockchain, cinema, and charity, REBELDOGS is creating something fresh and meaningful. The project aims to bridge technology and culture while making a real difference for animals in need. As the release date approaches, REBELDOGS is already bringing together a global audience of movie lovers, crypto fans, and animal advocates. Whether it leads to a new way of doing business in the entertainment industry or stands as a one-of-a-kind idea, REBELDOGS is a project to watch. Contact Information: Name:Dirk Oerlemans Company: Haege Groep bv Website: www.rebeldogsmovie.com Email: info@westfieldmanagement.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/68ffa58b-d64e-49bc-b438-c9b07aa10a5f © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

AI chatbot usage and concepts Artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked transformative changes across industries, but its rapid evolution has also raised critical concerns about ownership, privacy, and control over creative expression. The centralized nature of most AI systems concentrates power in the hands of a few corporations, leaving copyright creators and owners vulnerable to exploitation. Companies like OpenAI recognize the legal limits of using unlicensed copyrighted materials to train ChatGPT tools. As reported by The Guardian , in a submission to the House of Lords communications and digital select committee , OpenAI said it could not train large language models such as its GPT-4 model – the technology behind ChatGPT – without access to copyrighted work. Interestingly, Open AI’s strategic partner Microsoft (that reportedly holds a 49% ownership stake in OpenAI, with rights to up to 75% of profits until it receives back its investment), is usually a strong proponent of robust copyright protection , to control the copying, distribution, adaptation and public performance or display of copyrighted materials it owns. Now, with at least eight newspaper publishers suing Microsoft and OpenAI for copyright infringement not excused by “fair use”, a legal doctrine that allows for the authorized use of copyrighted works, these data-dependent companies find themselves on the other side of the “information wants to be free” debate. Funny how copyright works. Enter decentralized AI. Decentralized AI (deAI) offers a new way forward, empowering individuals and communities with autonomy over their creativity while ensuring fair rewards for contributions. To understand why deAI matters, we must first explore its benefits, the role of emerging decentralized AI ecosystems like Bittensor and Ocean Protocol, and the broader implications for intellectual property rights. The Need for Decentralized AI At its core, decentralized AI leverages blockchain and distributed ledger technology to distribute the development, deployment, and governance of AI systems across a global network. Unlike centralized AI, which depends on proprietary data silos controlled by corporations, deAI systems enable open participation and transparency. This shift offers transformative benefits : Decentralized AI is not just a technological evolution; it is a societal imperative. By empowering individuals with tools to co-create the future of AI, deAI dismantles the monopolistic stronghold over creativity and innovation. The Fed’s ‘Biggest Nightmare’ Is Suddenly Coming True As Bitcoin Price Surges Elon Musk Xmail Teaser Poses New Threat For Billions Of Gmail Users Mystery Drones Saga: Rand Paul Blocks Expedited Drone Bill (Updated) The Intersection of AI and Copyright The rise of deAI comes amid growing scrutiny of how AI systems are trained. Many current AI models, including OpenAI’s GPT-4, rely heavily on copyrighted material for training. Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship, such as books, music, and software, from unauthorized use. However, copyright differs from trademark and patent protections: Copyright law allows for “ fair use,” a legal doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without the owner’s consent under certain conditions. AI companies often invoke fair use to justify their use of copyrighted works for training models, but this approach has sparked legal battles with creators who argue that their work is being exploited without fair compensation. Lawsuits, like those filed by the New York Times and authors such as George R.R. Martin , underscore the tension between innovation and intellectual property rights. While the centralized AI industry grapples with these challenges, deAI offers an alternative model—one where contributors’ rights are respected, and rewards are distributed equitably. Top Decentralized AI Projects to Watch in 2025 The future of AI will not be defined by monolithic corporations but by collaborative ecosystems that empower individuals. Here are five decentralized AI projects leading the charge: Bittensor Fetch.ai SingularityNET Ocean Protocol Numerai These projects exemplify how deAI can address the shortcomings of centralized AI, creating ecosystems where creativity and innovation thrive. Empowering Creativity Through Decentralization In an era where data is the lifeblood of innovation, centralized AI systems pose significant risks to autonomy and equity. The deAI movement seeks to dismantle these systems by redistributing power to the people. Ecosystems like Bittensor and Ocean Protocol not only enable individuals to contribute but also ensure they are rewarded fairly for their creativity and labor. More importantly, deAI aligns with the ethos of intellectual property protection by respecting the rights of creators and contributors. By offering transparency and traceability, decentralized networks foster trust—something sorely lacking in the centralized AI industry. The fight for creative autonomy is not just a legal or technological battle; it is a cultural shift toward a future where AI serves the many, not the few. Through decentralized systems, we can build a world where innovation flourishes on a foundation of equity, inclusion, and empowerment. The Future of AI is Decentralized Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, decentralized AI is emerging as more than just a technological advancement; it is reshaping how creativity, data ownership, and transparency are addressed in AI development. The breakneck development of closed AI tools, branded as "open," has relied heavily on harvesting free data to monetize their systems. This approach is awakening creators and copyright owners to the true value of their data and the importance of ownership. These new deAI ecosystems and projects highlight the potential for collaboration and fairness to drive innovation. As these platforms evolve, they offer a blueprint for how AI can be developed to better align with societal values, protect creators' rights, and foster more inclusive and equitable outcomes.

Only one more half stands between California and the victory they were favored to collect coming into this afternoon. Sitting on a score of 40-33, they have looked like the better team, but there's still one more half to play. If California keeps playing like this, they'll bump their record up to 5-1 in no time. On the other hand, Sacramento State will have to make due with a 1-4 record unless they turn things around (and fast). Sacramento State Hornets @ California Golden Bears Current Records: Sacramento State 1-3, California 4-1 When: Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 4 p.m. ET Where: Haas Pavilion -- Berkeley, California TV: ESPN Plus Follow: CBS Sports App Online Streaming: Catch select College Basketball matches on Fubo (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.) Ticket Cost: $9.00 Hornets fans better hope the squad plays one heck of a game on Sunday as the odds are decidedly against them. They will challenge the California Golden Bears at 4:00 p.m. ET at Haas Pavilion. The Hornets are limping into the contest on a three-game losing streak. Sacramento State will head out to face California after giving up their first home loss of the season last Saturday. Sacramento State took a 79-69 hit to the loss column at the hands of CSNorthridge. That's two games in a row now that the Hornets have lost by exactly ten points. Meanwhile, California beat Air Force 78-69 on Thursday. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Golden Bears. Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead California to victory, but perhaps none more so than Jeremiah Wilkinson, who went 8 for 12 en route to 23 points. Wilkinson's performance made up for a slower match against USC on Sunday. Another player making a difference was Rytis Petraitis, who posted 12 points along with five rebounds and four steals. Sacramento State's defeat dropped their record down to 1-3. As for California, their win was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 4-1. Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Sacramento State has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 38.2 rebounds per game. However, it's not like California struggles in that department as they've been averaging 37.4. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge. California is a big 16.5-point favorite against Sacramento State, according to the latest college basketball odds . The oddsmakers were right in line with the betting community on this one, as the game opened as a 16.5-point spread, and stayed right there. The over/under is 139.5 points. See college basketball picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now .