Patterson Cos. Going Private in $4.1B Deal After more than thirty years as a publicly traded company, Mendota Heights-based will be taken private under a deal announced Wednesday. , a California-based private equity firm targeting health care companies, has agreed to pay $31.35 in cash per share for the company. That amounts to about $4.1 billion in total. Patterson, which reported more than $6.5 billion in net sales in its 2024 fiscal year, is a maker of dental equipment and veterinary supplies. “While Patterson will become a private company after the completion of the transaction, it does not change our core values,” Patterson president and CEO Don Zurbay said in a note to employees this morning. “I am thrilled about the prospects for Patterson’s future. I believe in our strategic plan, employees, customers, and partners. We have a unique opportunity in front of us, and I hope you share our enthusiasm for the opportunities ahead.” Pending regulatory approval, the deal is slated to close sometime in April, when Patterson’s fiscal year ends. Terms of the deal state that the Minnesota company can search for a better offer over the next 40 days, though . If the deal goes through, Patterson will still keep its headquarters in Minnesota. In its 2024 fiscal year, Patterson reported total net income of $185.5 million, down slightly from $185.9 million in the prior year. As of April 2024, the company employed 7,600 full-time workers in total, with about 6,200 of those working in the United States, according to the company’s most recent annual report issued in June. Patterson’s animal health division has become the company’s biggest source of revenue over the years, despite the fact that the firm was founded nearly 150 years ago as a dental supply company. In its 2024 fiscal year, the animal health segment was responsible for about $4 billion in sales compared to nearly $2.5 billion in sales for its dental business. E-commerce, meanwhile, has become an “an integral part of dental and animal health supply and distribution relationships,” the company said in its most recent annual filing. “Our distribution business is characterized by rapid technological developments and intense competition. The continuing advancement of online commerce requires us to cost-effectively adapt to changing technologies, to enhance existing services and to develop and introduce a variety of new services to address the changing demands of consumers and our customers on a timely basis, particularly in response to competitive offerings.”GAITHERSBURG, Md. — An FBI agent charged in Maryland with sexually assaulting two women contacted his alleged victims through social media with a promise to give them free tattoos and modeling work, police said Tuesday as they encouraged other potential victims to come forward. Neither woman knew that their alleged assailant, Eduardo Valdivia, was an FBI agent, Montgomery County Assistant Police Chief Nicholas Augustine said during a news conference. Valdivia used aliases, including Lalo Brown and “El Boogie,” as he contacted the women through an Instagram account for a tattoo parlor in Gaithersburg, Maryland, according to police. Valdivia sexually assaulted the women — both of whom are in their 20s — during photo shoots at a tattoo studio and at a hotel, police said. Both women told police that they feared Valdivia would have caused them more harm if they tried to resist or leave, according to a police affidavit. Valdivia presented the women with modeling contracts and threatened to take legal action if they didn’t return to model for him, Augustine said. Police detectives suspect that Valdivia may have sexually assaulted other women under similar circumstances, according to the assistant chief. “I would like to thank the victims that did come forward. They have now stopped this contact going on in our community and being brave to come forward to notify the police about what was going on, which most likely saved other people from being victimized,” Augustine said. Defense attorney Robert Bonsib said Valdivia’s interactions with the women were consensual. “This conduct is not going to get you the first pew in the church,” Bonsib told reporters outside the courthouse. “You’ve got to be realistic about the nature of what was going on. This was not criminal conduct.” A state district court judge on Tuesday ordered Valdivia jailed without bond, deciding he poses a danger to the community and a flight risk. A prosecutor, Rachel Morris, said during the hearing that a third potential victim had come forward and was being interviewed by police “as we speak.” Valdivia has been suspended by the FBI pending the conclusion of the police investigation. “The FBI takes allegations of criminal violations and misconduct very seriously,” an FBI spokesperson said in a statement Monday. “Because this is an ongoing investigation, the FBI cannot comment further.” Valdivia, 40, of Gaithersburg, previously was charged and acquitted in 2022 of attempted second-degree murder and other charges stemming from an off-duty shooting aboard a moving Metro train near Washington, D.C. Online court records show Valdivia now faces felony and misdemeanor charges, including two counts of second-degree rape. The alleged offenses date to May 2024 and September 2024. Police began investigating in October. The women were initially reluctant to come forward because they felt “held back” by language in contracts they signed to do modeling work, Augustine said. “We don’t know how long the business had been open, but he has been doing tattoos at least since February,” Augustine said. During the bond hearing, Bonsib read aloud emails that he said the women sent to Valdivia. He pointed to the emails as evidence that the encounters were consensual. Bonsib acknowledged that Valdivia posed as a modeling agency operator named Dr. Tiffany Kim in sending emails to the women about modeling contracts. One of the women told police that she found a photo taken of her by Valdivia posted on an Instagram page. A mutual friend recognized a photo of the other alleged victim on the same page and arranged for the women to contact each other, the police affidavit says. Bonsib has said Valdivia joined the FBI in 2011 and was promoted to supervisory special agent at the FBI headquarters in 2019. On Dec. 15, 2020, a confrontation between Valdivia and an unarmed passenger swiftly escalated from a testy exchange of words to a shooting on a train approaching the Medical Center station in Bethesda, Maryland. Valdivia shot and wounded the man from a distance of roughly 2 to 3 feet after repeatedly telling the man to back up, county prosecutor Robert Hill said in court. The wounded man had part or all of his spleen, colon and pancreas removed during surgery after the shooting, Hill said. Bonsib has said Valdivia acted in self-defense as the man approached him at the rear of a train car.Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling
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By MICHELLE L. PRICE and ROB GILLIES NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Biden says he was ‘stupid’ not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that’s he’s preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect’s threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park.” Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn’t a trolling-free zone for Trump’s adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden’s spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump’s taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.DENVER (AP) — Travis Hunter made a pair of proclamations Thursday: He’s for sure entering the NFL draft after this season, but not until he sees Colorado all the way through the College Football Playoff — if the Buffaloes make it there. The first was already a given for the draft-eligible junior who plays both receiver and cornerback. The second is a risk-reward play for a projected high first-round pick who averages around 120 snaps a game. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.Thomas uses big drives and putts to hold lead in Bahamas
Joe Burrow's home broken into during Monday Night Football in latest pro-athlete home invasionSouth Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over martial law
Rape allegation against Jay-Z will not affect NFL relationship, says chiefWarner Bros. Discovery Sued For Misleading Investors On NBA Before Losing ItWASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to run the FBI, Kash Patel, has said he would wield the government as a weapon to “come after” Trump’s enemies. Senate Republicans, who will decide whether Patel gets the job, say he wouldn’t actually do what he said. “Sometimes people make statements in a political context that on further reflection they say, ‘Well, that was basically for public consumption,’” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told HuffPost last week. Patel previously worked on Capitol Hill as a Republican staffer and served in the first Trump administration, where he earned a reputation as a Trump loyalist. Last year, he published a book titled “Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy,” which included a list of “deep state” government officials who opposed Trump. During an interview last December promoting the book with Trump ally Steve Bannon, Bannon said he expected Patel to be named CIA director during Trump’s second term, and Patel described his vision for vengeance against Trump’s enemies. “We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in the government, but in the media,” Patel said. “Yes, we’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. We’re going to come after you. Whether it’s criminally or civilly, we’ll figure that out, but yeah, we’re putting you all on notice.” Patel has begun making the rounds on Capitol hill ahead of the confirmation process this year. Republican senators already indicated they won’t support one of Trump’s other nominees, former congressman Matt Gaetz, and there’s no guarantee Patel can get 50 votes, either. Cornyn said he met with Patel and suggested Patel confirmed his view that he wouldn’t vindictively prosecute Trump’s enemies. “I told him I thought the task ahead was to restore the FBI to its former reputation as a nonpartisan, no political institution, and he told me he agreed,” Cornyn said. “I think there’s a difference between the hyperbole and the reality.” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told HuffPost Patel told him he would prosecute violent criminals. “I don’t think you’re going to see the FBI going after journalists,” Hawley said. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) also said he didn’t expect partisan prosecutions from the second Trump administration. “He didn’t do it the first time. He’s not gonna do it this time,” Scott said. (Trump actually did press for prosecutions of his enemies during his first term, such as by publicly musing there should be probes of former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and he also pushed for a criminal investigation into a previous investigation of his 2016 campaign.) Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said he was skeptical of the descriptions of Patel vowing prosecutions before he was nominated and that he would ask him about the reports. “Everything I read on the internet’s not always true,” Lankford said. “I’ll take the opportunity to ask him what his thoughts are.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said if Patel didn’t actually mean what he said before, then that presents another problem. “If he’s not gonna do the things that he said he was going to do previously, how do we believe what he’s going to tell us now?” In a February interview with NBCNews , Patel claimed his words had been taken out of context. Still, he said there should be “some form of accountability” for journalists supposedly coordinating with government officials to put out a false narrative about Donald Trump. Republican senators generally seemed to agree that the Justice Department had been “weaponized” under President Joe Biden to target Trump, who faced two federal prosecutions for his attempt to undo the 2020 presidential election and for hoarding secret documents after he left office. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said it was “tendentious” to describe the list of “deep state” names in Patel’s book as an “enemies list,” but that Patel actually would do what he said. Don't let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America's future hangs in the balance. As other newsrooms bow to political pressure, HuffPost is not backing down. Would you help us keep our news free for all? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. “If you look at the weeping and gnashing of teeth, both from Democrats and from the corporate media about Kash Patel, it’s not that he’s going to be ineffective, but it is rather that they believe he’ll do exactly what he said he would do, which is root out that weaponization and politicization,” Cruz said. Related From Our Partner
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission . He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior . Ferguson is already one of the FTC’s five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Related Articles National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television National Politics | What will happen to Social Security under Trump’s tax plan? National Politics | Republican-led states are rolling out plans that could aid Trump’s mass deportation effort The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection divisions. “These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined,” wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, in a recent analysis . Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command. For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges halted the merger Tuesday night. The FTC had filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart. One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing. Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTC’s efforts to block the deal, some experts have said. And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump’s orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan’s scrutiny of Big Tech firms. In addition to Fergson, Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment.Unique among 'Person of the Year' designees, Donald Trump gets a fact-check from Time magazine
Stock market today: Wall Street slips at the end of a bumpy weekImpact Of the Growing Automobile Sector: A Key Driver Transforming the Liquid Synthetic Rubber Market 2024DALLAS (AP) — The Washington Nationals will have the No. 1 overall pick in the amateur draft for the first time since selecting a 17-year-old Bryce Harper in 2010. Washington got the top overall pick in next summer’s draft after winning a lottery in a drawing of ping-pong balls at the winter meetings on Tuesday, setting up the Nationals to make the first pick for the third time in franchise history. In 2009, they drafted pitcher Stephen Strasburg No. 1. Unlike last year, when the Nationals were ineligible after initially coming out with the top spot, they get to keep the first pick for the draft in July in Atlanta, the site of the All-Star Game. Washington was ineligible for a top-six pick last year because the collective bargaining agreement states a team that pays into the revenue-sharing plan cannot have a lottery selection in back-to-back years. The Nationals chose outfielder Dylan Crews with the No. 2 pick in 2023, right after Pittsburgh took his LSU teammate Paul Skenes , the hard-throwing pitcher who was this season’s National League Rookie of the Year. The Los Angeles Angels have the second pick for next summer. Seattle, Colorado, St. Louis and Pittsburgh round out the top six. RELATED COVERAGE Detroit Tigers sign RHP Alex Cobb to $15 million, 1-year contract Discussion with Mets about converting Clay Holmes into a starter began at GM meetings last month OF Mike Tauchman poised to join the Chicago White Sox Harper was the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year, hitting .270 with 22 homers during his big league debut. He played his first seven seasons in Washington before going to Philadelphia in free agency with a $330 million, 13-year contract after the 2018 season, the year before the Nationals won their only World Series title. Strasburg was the MVP in that 2019 World Series when he won both of his starts against Houston. A weighted lottery among the 18 teams that failed to make the playoffs this season determined the top six picks for the third year in a row. The Nationals went in with a 10.2% chance, the fourth-best odds, for getting the No. 1 pick. Colorado and Miami, both 100-loss teams, had the best odds at 22.45%, ahead of the Angels at 17.96%. Miami instead ended up with the seventh pick. “It’s something that’s a good lucky bounce for us,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. “There’s nobody you can’t have in the draft, which is important. ... We’ll pick the player that fits our organization the best and gives the most possibility for an impact.” Seattle got the No. 3 selection after having a 0.53% chance to get the No. 1 pick, the second-worst odds among 16 eligible teams. The 121-loss Chicago White Sox, who had the most losses of any major league club since 1900, were not eligible for the draft lottery since they had one of the top six picks last year (No. 5) and is a team that pays into the revenue-sharing plan. The CBA also doesn’t allow teams that receive money in revenue sharing to have lottery picks three years in a row. That made the Athletics (69-93) ineligible for the lottery — they picked fourth last year after having the No. 6 selection in 2023. Chicago instead got the 10th pick, one spot ahead of Oakland. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLBWesBanco, Inc. and Premier Financial Corp. Announce Shareholder Approvals of Merger Agreement
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:13 p.m. ESTNASSAU, Bahamas — Justin Thomas was long off the tee and made a few long putts on the back nine to overtake Scottie Scheffler with a 6-under 66 and build a one-shot lead Saturday over golf's best player going into the final round of the Hero World Challenge. Thomas is trying out a 46-inch driver — a little more than an inch longer than normal — that he previously used for practice at home to gain speed and length. He blasted a 361-yard drive to 8 feet on the par-4 seventh hole and led the field in driving distance. But it was a few long putts that put him ahead of Scheffler, who had a 69. Thomas was on the verge of falling two shots behind when he made an 18-foot par putt on the par-3 12th hole. On the reachable par-4 14th, he was in a nasty spot in a sandy area and could only splash it out to nearly 50 feet. He made that one for a most unlikely birdie, while behind him Scheffler muffed a chip on the 13th hole and made his lone bogey of a windy day. Scheffler never caught up to him, missing birdie chances on the reachable 14th and the par-5 15th. Thomas hit his approach to 3 feet for birdie on the 16th after a 343-yard drive. Scheffler made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 16th to close within one. Scheffler missed birdie chances on the last two holes from the 10-foot and 15-foot range, while Thomas missed an 8-foot birdie attempt at the last. "I had a stretch at 13, 14, 15 where I felt like I lost a shot or two there, but outside of that I did a lot of really good things today," Scheffler said. Thomas hasn't won since the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, and a victory at Albany Golf Club wouldn't count as an official win. But the two-time major champion has made steady progress toward getting his game back in order. "I'm driving it great. I've had a lot of confidence with it," Thomas said of his longer driver. "I feel like I've been able to put myself in some pretty good spots going into the green. I'm still not taking advantage of some of them as much as I would like, but that's golf and we're always going to say that." Thomas was at 17-under 199 and will be in the final group Sunday with Scheffler, who is trying to end his spectacular season with a ninth title. Tom Kim put himself in the mix, which he might not have imagined Thursday when he was 3 over through six holes of the holiday tournament. Kim got back in the game with a 65 on Friday, and then followed with 12 birdies for a 62. He had a shot at the course record — Rickie Fowler shot 61 in the final round when he won at Albany in 2017 — until Kim found a bunker and took two shots to reach the green in making a double bogey on the par-3 17th. Even so, he was only two shots behind. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (68) was four back. "Feel like I've been seeing signs of improvement, which is what you want and that's all I can do," Thomas said. "I can't control everybody else or what's going on, I've just got to keep playing as good as I possibly can and hope that it's enough come Sunday." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Companies from the United Kingdom (U.K.), Italy and Japan are set to collaborate on a new fighter jet. The Jet Under the agreement, Britain's BAE Systems, Italy's Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement (JAIEC) will each hold an equal one-third stake in the new joint venture, pending regulatory approval. The triangular-shaped jets will feature supersonic capabilities and state-of-the-art technology, including a digital cockpit equipped with virtual reality. Pilots will have key information displayed directly in front of them to enhance situational awareness. "This agreement is the result of an intensive journey made possible by pooling our mutual and shared experiences," Roberto Cingolani, Leonardo's chief executive, said. The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) will be headquartered in the U.K., with operations spread across all three partner nations. Under the agreement, the first chief executive will be appointed from Italy. "The new business will bring together the significant strengths and expertise of the companies involved to create an innovative organization that will lead the way in developing a next generation combat air system, creating long-term, high value and skilled jobs across the partner nations for decades to come," Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems' chief executive, said following the agreement. The goal is to have the jets in the skies by 2035. JAIEC President Kimito Nakae said that the path to creating the new aircraft "might not always be simple and straightforward" but noted that "through continuing the strong spirit of trilateral cooperation and collaboration that we have fostered up to this point, we will not only deliver the GCAP on time but also at a level that exceeds all of our expectations." New British Anti-Drone Laser In addition to the new fighter jet, the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MOD) announced this week that the British Army had successfully fired a "high-energy laser weapon" from "an armored vehicle for the first time." In a statement obtained by Newsweek , the MOD noted that the laser "successfully destroyed flying drones" and called the demonstration a show of "game-changing warfare technology." "It works by directing an intense beam of infra-red light in the form of energy towards its target using advanced sensors and tracking systems which maintain lock-on and accuracy in real time. Unlike conventional munitions, laser weapons are virtually limitless in terms of ammunition supply, which means they could represent a cost-effective alternative to some current in-service weapons," the U.K.'s MOD said. "The laser was integrated onto a Wolfhound—a protected troop-carrying vehicle—where soldiers from 16 Royal Artillery were able to track and down hovering targets at Radnor Range in mid-Wales." This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.
The Somali Digital Media Academy (SODMA) has won the Silver Award at the Digitally Fit – East Africa 2024 Awards, held in Nairobi, Kenya. The event brought together over 500 organizations from East African countries, including Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Burundi, to celebrate innovation and advancements in digital technology. Receiving the award on behalf of SODMA, Farhan Hussein Abdi, from the academy’s management, expressed his pride in this remarkable achievement, noting that the award reflects SODMA’s dedication to empowering Somali youth with advanced digital skills. During the event, Kenyan Senator Okiya Andrew Omtatah praised SODMA after reviewing its achievements. He remarked: “What SODMA is doing is a source of pride for all of us. Its role in training Somali youth in digital skills is a shining example of positive change. Its impact goes beyond Somalia, contributing to the growth of the entire region.” He added: “Initiatives like SODMA’s are investments in our shared future, showing how regional institutions can drive meaningful progress.” This recognition is a major milestone for both SODMA and Somalia, highlighting their role in advancing digital skills and creating opportunities for youth across East Africa.
Pune, Dec. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smart Warehousing Market Size Analysis: “ Based on SNS Insider's latest market research, the valuation for the Smart Warehousing Market was USD 22.7 billion in 2023 and it is expected to reach USD 75.7 billion by 2032 with a massive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.3% during the forecast period 2023-2032. ” The growth in e-commerce activities and the need for effective inventory management systems are the key drivers of the smart warehousing market. As the demand for faster, more precision-based, and competitive operations rises, automated solutions are replacing traditional warehousing systems. Smart warehouses that use robotics, IoT sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics, enable better operational efficiencies, decreased errors, and improved safety protocols. Leveraging IoT technologies enables warehouses to track inventory, equipment, and shipments in real time, providing invaluable information to warehouses to create insights into how well the supply chain performs. Furthermore, the transition to Industry 4.0 which is driven more by automation and data has driven the need for smart warehousing solutions to increase the speed of warehousing with better accuracy across different sectors. The need to improve labour costs and operational inefficiencies is pushing businesses towards automated solutions to warehouse operations. Furthermore, the requirement for interoperability between various components of the source chain is driving the rise of sophisticated warehousing systems. Smart warehouses provide visibility into inventory, warehouse operations, and customer demand at the right time to help businesses manage stock, reduce inventory holding costs, and improve the overall customer experience. Get a Sample Report of Smart Warehousing Market@ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/3579 Major Players Analysis Listed in this Report are: 3PL Central (3PL Warehouse Manager, 3PL Billing) Blue Jay Solutions (Blue Jay WMS, Blue Jay Transportation Management) Blue Yonder (Luminate Control Tower, Warehouse Management System) EasyEcom (EasyEcom WMS, EasyEcom Multichannel Inventory Management) Epicor (Epicor ERP, Epicor Advanced Warehouse Management) Foysonis (Foysonis WMS, Foysonis Inventory Management) Generix (Generix WMS, Generix Supply Chain Management) IBM (IBM Sterling Supply Chain Insights, IBM Maximo) Increff (Increff Warehouse Management System, Increff Inventory Management) Infor (Infor CloudSuite WMS, Infor Supply Chain Management) Korber (Korber Warehouse Management System, Korber Logistics Software) Locus Robotics (Locus Solution, Locus Fleet Management) Manhattan Associates (Manhattan WMS, Manhattan Active Omni) Mantis (Mantis WMS, Mantis Inventory Management) Microlistics (Microlistics WMS, Microlistics Inventory Control) Oracle (Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud, Oracle SCM Cloud) PSI Logistics (PSI Logistics Software, PSI WMS) ShipHero (ShipHero WMS, ShipHero Fulfillment) Softeon (Softeon WMS, Softeon Distributed Order Management) Tecsys (Tecsys WMS, Tecsys Supply Chain Management) Smart Warehousing Market Report Scope: Do you have any specific queries or need any customization research on Smart Warehousing Market , Make an Enquiry Now@ https://www.snsinsider.com/enquiry/3579 Segment Analysis By Component In 2023, the Solutions segment dominated the smart warehousing market with a share of approximately 45%, as reported by US News. This part encompasses hardware and software solutions that offer automation, data analytics, and real-time monitoring. Hardware solutions, such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs), robots, sensors, and conveyors, allow for faster and more efficient material handling. Software solutions, on the other hand, enable data analytics, predictive maintenance, inventory tracking, and enhanced decision-making processes, driving significant demand in the market. By Organization Size In 2023, the Large Enterprises segment dominated the smart warehousing market, holding a market share of approximately 60%. Large enterprises, particularly in industries like e-commerce, logistics, and manufacturing, have the capital and resources to invest in cutting-edge automation and warehousing technologies. The need for large-scale inventory management, efficient order fulfillment, and scalability has led to increased investments in smart warehousing solutions among these organizations. On the other hand, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are gradually adopting smart warehousing solutions as the costs associated with these technologies decrease and the availability of affordable solutions increases. As a result, the adoption of smart warehousing technologies among SMEs is expected to grow in the coming years, contributing to the market’s expansion. By End-Use Industry The Smart Warehousing market share is led by the Transportation and Logistics segment, which accounted for around 30% of the market in 2023. As the backbone of global supply chains, the transportation and logistics industry has recognized the significant value of smart warehousing solutions in improving efficiency, reducing lead times, and ensuring timely deliveries. As the demand for speedier shipping continues to skyrocket, and as omnichannel retail continues to grow, automation is becoming more important in warehouses equipped to handle large volumes of small orders turned around quickly. Smart Warehousing Market Segmentation: By Component Hardware Solutions Services By Deployment Mode On-Premises Cloud By Organization Size Small and Medium Enterprises Large Enterprises By Technology IoT and Analytics AI in Warehouse Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) RFID Blockchain in Warehouse Others By Application Transport Management Inventory Management Order Management Shipping Management Others By End-use Industry Transportation and Logistics Retail and E-commerce Food and Beverages Manufacturing Healthcare Others Regional Analysis In 2023, North America dominated the smart warehousing market, with a market share of around 40%. The U.S., in particular, has seen significant investment in automation and robotics technologies, making it a leader in the adoption of smart warehousing solutions. The presence of leading players like Amazon, Walmart, and FedEx, coupled with favorable government policies promoting automation and technological innovation, has further accelerated market growth in this region. The Europe region is also witnessing steady growth in the market, driven by technological advancements in automation and robotics. The adoption of smart warehousing solutions in countries like Germany, the UK, and France is expected to increase due to the growing demand for efficient logistics and inventory management systems. The Asia-Pacific region is projected to witness the fastest growth in the smart warehousing market over the forecast period from 2024 to 2032. The rising adoption of IoT, AI, and robotics in countries like China, India, and Japan, along with the increasing demand for efficient logistics solutions, is driving the rapid expansion of the smart warehousing market in the region. Moreover, the significant growth of e-commerce in Asia-Pacific, coupled with a booming manufacturing sector, creates ample opportunities for smart warehousing solutions to thrive. Buy an Enterprise-User PDF of Smart Warehousing Market Analysis & Outlook 2024-2032@ https://www.snsinsider.com/checkout/3579 Recent Developments In April 2023, Swisslog, a leading automation and robotics solutions provider, launched its next-generation automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) designed to enhance efficiency in warehouses by reducing labor requirements and optimizing space utilization. In June 2023, Zebra Technologies unveiled an advanced AI-powered warehouse management solution that provides real-time data analytics, predictive maintenance, and enhanced visibility for warehouse operations, helping businesses improve operational performance and reduce costs. Table of Contents – Major Key Points 1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Research Methodology 4. Market Dynamics Impact Analysis 5. Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting 6. Competitive Landscape 7. Smart Warehousing Market Segmentation, By Component 8. Smart Warehousing Market Segmentation, By Deployment Mode 9. Smart Warehousing Market Segmentation, By Organization Size 10. Smart Warehousing Market Segmentation, By Technology 11. Smart Warehousing Market Segmentation, By Application 12. Smart Warehousing Market Segmentation, By End-use Industry 13. Regional Analysis 14. Company Profile0s 15. Use Cases and Best Practices 16. Conclusion Access Complete Report Details of Smart Warehousing Market Analysis Report 2024-2032@ https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/smart-warehousing-market-3579 [For more information or need any customization research mail us at info@snsinsider.com] SNS Insider Offering/ Consulting Services: Go To Market Assessment Service Total Addressable Market (TAM) Assessment Competitive Benchmarking and Market Share Gain About Us: SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world.
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