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Farage: Badenoch must apologise for ‘crazy conspiracy theory’ on Reform numbersBrock Purdy and Nick Bosa are not available for the San Francisco 49ers when they enter Green Bay with designs on finding their finishing kick on Sunday afternoon. Purdy is out with a right shoulder injury and won't leave the sideline at Lambeau Field, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday, when he also declared Bosa out and confirmed journeyman Brandon Allen would make his 10th career start at quarterback. "Outside of here people haven't seen a lot of Brandon. But it's his second year (with the 49ers)," Shanahan said. "Obviously guys want Brock up, but guys are excited to see Brandon play." Shanahan said the 49ers are "a little surprised" Purdy experienced tightness and discomfort in his shoulder after an MRI exam on Monday that showed no long-term cause for concern. "The way it responded this week, it's really up in the air for next week," Shanahan said of Purdy's long-term prognosis. Allen's last NFL start on the road was with the Bengals at the Ravens in 2020. Allen completed 6 of 21 passes for 48 yards with two interceptions. He finished with a passer rating of 0.0 in a 38--3 loss. "It's definitely an opportunity for me to go out and play well and put our guys in a good position to win the game," Allen said Friday. "And obviously we want Brock back and healthy and all that, but for time being, it is an opportunity for me." Purdy took the practice field Thursday with the intent to participate. His shoulder tightened significantly, and the 49ers ushered him off the field to meet with trainers. Purdy beat the Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs at San Francisco in January, but Allen is familiar to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. LaFleur was an assistant coach with the Rams during Allen's two-year run in Los Angeles. Allen broke into the NFL in 2016 with the Jaguars and is 2-7 in nine career starts. He went 1-2 with the Broncos in 2019 and 1-5 in six starts over two years with the Bengals in 2020 and ‘21. A victory against the visiting 49ers on Sunday would bolster the Packers' playoff chances, send a conference rival below .500 and avenge a bitter playoff defeat. Those seemingly rank in no particular order for the Packers (8-3), although they don't shy from living at least partially in the past ahead of a Week 12 showdown. San Francisco eliminated Green Bay 24-21 in the NFC divisional playoffs last season, scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. "That's what you've got to sit with all offseason, is going back, watching the game, trying to see what you could have done better," Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. "What you could have done differently in that game. ... Just knowing that's the team that knocked us out, we're definitely hungry for this game." Ditto for San Francisco. The 49ers fell to 5-5 after last week's 20-17 home loss to Seattle, done in by Geno Smith's 13-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds to play. Still only a game behind NFC West-leading Arizona, the reigning conference champion 49ers are just 1-3 in division play and can ill afford to lose more ground. A visit to AFC East leader Buffalo awaits after the trip to Green Bay. While they're dealing with plenty of not-so-good news on the injury front, the 49ers do anticipate the return of other contributors. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who missed the past two games following the death of his 1-year-old daughter, practiced Wednesday. Tight end George Kittle also is eager to play after a nagging hamstring injury sidelined him against the Seahawks. "Very excited," Kittle said. "Can't pass up playing the Packers, so no, I will be out there for sure." Allen was a three-year starter at Arkansas but has been a journeyman backup since entering the NFL in 2016 as the 201st overall pick of the Jaguars. Shanahan and LaFleur have been fierce competitors since twice working together, first as low-level assistants with the Texans in 2008, then on the so-called "dream team" staff in Washington that also included Sean McVay, Mike McDaniel and Raheem Morris; and two seasons with the Falcons (2015, 2016) where LaFleur was quarterbacks coach and Shanahan called the plays. Shanahan scored the most recent win over LaFleur in January. Green Bay has won seven of the past eight regular-season meetings between the franchises. But the familiarity and shared-brain approach to offense that has the coaches completed each other's play calls has led to some tight games. The past three at Lambeau Field were all decided by three points. Green Bay, which hosts a home game on Thanksgiving next Thursday, is starting a run of three games in 12 days. They'll play back-to-back Thursday games. Their Week 14 game is at Detroit. That might make it good news for LaFleur that surprising contributors have emerged of late. Packers wideout Christian Watson had a career-best 150 receiving yards on only four catches during last week's 20-19 road win against the Chicago Bears. His diving 60-yard reception in the fourth quarter put the Packers in position for Love's go-ahead, 1-yard scoring run with 2:59 to play. Watson entered the game with eight catches for 83 yards over his previous three contests, but LaFleur assured Watson remains a "big part" of the attack. "He's a guy who's got every measurable known to man in terms of the size, the speed, and it's not like those were easy plays he was making," LaFleur said. "He was making tough, contested catches." San Francisco will aim to generate more pressure against Love than the Bears, who sacked him just once. The 49ers collected four sacks against the Seahawks, with Bosa and Leonard Floyd contributing 1.5 apiece. Recent regular-season history between the Packers and 49ers at Lambeau Field has favored Green Bay. The Packers have won seven of their past eight home games against the 49ers and are 22-11 versus San Francisco at home all-time. Green Bay leads the series 34-28-1. --Field Level MediaWASHINGTON (AP) — Carmelo Pacheco's 18 points helped Mount St. Mary's defeat Howard 79-75 on Saturday. Pacheco shot 6 for 8 from beyond the arc for the Mountaineers (5-2). Dallas Hobbs shot 5 of 16 from the field, including 1 for 8 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 7 from the line to add 17 points. Terrell Ard Jr. had 16 points and shot 4 of 6 from the field and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. Anwar Gill finished with 18 points for the Bison (3-5). Blake Harper added 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals for Howard. Joshua Strong also had 12 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Inspire Medical Systems: Getting Cheaper But Not There YetTORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 27, 2024 / SPETZ INC. (the "Company" or "Spetz") (CSE:SPTZ)(OTC Pink:DBKSF) is pleased to announce that it is arranging a private placement offering (the "Offering") of up to 5,000,000 Common Shares, at a price of $0.10 per share, for gross proceeds of up to $500,000. In addition, Spetz is proposing to settle an aggregate of $445,645.89 in accounts payable to arm's length parties by way of the issuance of 4,456,458 shares for debt at an issue price of 0.10 per share (the "Shares for Debt Transactions"), and is negotiating the restructuring of certain outstanding debt, in the aggregate principal amount of $1,017,673, consisting primarily of convertible debentures that have become due, as further described below (the "New Debentures"). The Company has been working on the foregoing initiatives for the past several weeks and believes that they are in the best interests of the Company. The Offering Spetz intends to close the Offering shortly. The proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital purposes and to seek additional business opportunities that will create value. Spetz does not anticipate any insider participation in the Offering, or the creation of a new insider or control person as a result of the closing of the Offering. No finder's fees or other compensation will be paid in connection with the Offering. Shares for Debt Transactions The Company is proposing to settle an aggregate of $445,645.89 of current payables to arm's length parties by the proposed issuance of a total of 4,456,458 shares, at an issue price of $0.10 per share. Spetz does not anticipate the creation of a new insider or control person as a result of the closing of the Shares for Debt Transactions. The closing of the Shares for Debt Transactions is anticipated to close concurrently with the Offering. New Debentures Spetz is working to issue new convertible debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $1,017,673, replacing primarily the principal amount of outstanding convertible debentures that have matured and are currently due and payable by Spetz. The principal amount of the new debentures would be convertible into units of the Company ("Units"), at a price per Unit of $0.20, with each Unit comprised of one (1) Common Share and one-half (1/2) of a common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each whole Warrant would be exercisable for one Common Share, at a price of $0.40 per share, for a period of 24 months following the issuance of the Warrants. The New Debentures would be outstanding for a minimum of 18 months following the closing in order to allow Spetz to execute its business. Otherwise, the New Debentures would be unsecured obligations of the Company and bear interest at a rate of 12% per annum. Assuming conversion of the entire principal amount of the New Debentures, the Company would issue an aggregate of up to 5,088,365 Common Shares and up to 2,544,182 Warrants. The Company believes that the Offering, the Shares for Debt Transactions and the New Debentures are in the best interests of the Company, and the foregoing have been approved by the independent directors of the Company as well due to the fact that the completion of the proposed transactions, taken as a whole, would result in the issuance of more than 100% of the currently issued and outstanding Common Shares of Spetz, on a fully-diluted basis. Accordingly, as a result of the potential significant dilution of the Common Shares, the Company intends to issue the securities contemplated in the Offering, the Shares for Debt Transactions and the New Debentures without securityholder approval in reliance on the exceptions outlined in Section 4.6(2)(b) of CSE Policy 4, as the Company is in serious financial difficulty. The Company has explored several avenues to secure additional funding in order to continue ongoing operations and to service its outstanding debt obligations. To date, the Company has been unable to secure any such funding due to challenging capital markets conditions for venture issuers and the Company's current debt obligations. The Company recently secured some interim relief (see press release dated November 29, 2024) wherein the board of directors waived their compensation and the current holders of the outstanding secured debentures agreed to extend the maturity date from October 31, 2024 to December 31, 2024. The Company currently does not have sufficient funding to continue as a going concern, and therefore, if the proposed Offering, the Shares for Debt Transactions and the New Debentures are not completed, and no alternative arrangements are secured, there is significant doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The Company's independent directors have also determined that the Offering, the Shares for Debt Transactions and the New Debentures are in the best interests of the Company and reasonable based on the Company's current financial circumstances in order keep the Company solvent. The Company's independent directors have determined that neither (i) seeking shareholder approval for the Offering, the Shares for Debt Transactions and the New Debentures nor (ii) a rights offering to existing securityholders on the same terms as the Offering would be feasible to complete, based on the Company's immediate liquidity requirements. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering, the Shares for Debt Transactions and the New Debentures will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after the closing of the Offering, the Shares for Debt Transactions and the New Debentures, respectively. Completion of the Offering, the Shares for Debt Transactions and the New Debentures is subject to a number of conditions, including, without limitation, receipt of all regulatory approvals, including approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. None of the securities issued in the Offering, the Shares for Debt Transactions or the New Debentures will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. About Spetz Inc. Spetz Inc. is a multinational technology company that operates Spetz, a global online, AI-powered marketplace platform that dynamically connects consumers to nearby top-rated service providers in around 30 seconds. Spetz is available in the USA, United Kingdom, Australia, and Israel. The Spetz vision is to reinvent how people around the world connect to services in their moment of need. Connecting them immediately with the top-matched service provider for any need, anytime, anywhere. Spetz Website: www.spetz.app Spetz Investor information: https://investor.spetz.app/ Company Contacts: Investor Relations Email: Investors@spetz.app Phone: 647-956-6033 NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE, NOR THEIR REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDERS HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements Certain information herein constitutes "forward-looking information" as defined under Canadian securities laws, which reflect management's expectations regarding objectives, plans, goals, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of the Company. The words "plans", "expects", "does not expect", "scheduled", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "projects", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements to the effect that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would", "might", "occur", "be achieved", or "continue" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. SOURCE: Spetz Inc. View the original on accesswire.com

Drivers know that Honda makes some of the most reliable cars on the road , but it deserves to be recognized for its leadership in safety technology, too. Honda's safety features are part of its commitment to creating what it calls a collision-free future. Their engineers design cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs that not only protect their occupants during accidents, but also help drivers to avoid crashes altogether. Since truly autonomous self-driving cars still lie at some point in the future, Honda hopes to accomplish the second-best thing by giving drivers a smart copilot. From computer-designed impact-absorbing frames to advanced driver-assist technology, Honda aims to be a world leader in safety. The carmaker's ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reflect their success in achieving this goal, year in and year out. For instance, in the IIHS 2024 ratings , nearly every Honda model received either a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award. The Civic hatchback, CR-V, and Odyssey were noted as Top Safety Picks, while the Civic sedan, Accord, HR-V, and Pilot all got the nod as Top Safety Pick+ winners. Both ratings are very similar, with the plus sign indicating good performance in an updated moderate overlap frontal collision test. Honda divides its safety systems into two broad groups — active safety systems and passive safety systems. Many active systems are part of the suite of Honda Sensing features, which several car models are equipped with across Honda's product range. These safety tools intervene to help the driver and make crashes less likely. By contrast, passive safety systems protect vehicle occupants in the unfortunate event that an accident does occur. This system intervenes to apply the brakes when it detects an imminent collision with either a vehicle or a pedestrian. It uses radar and a windshield-mounted camera to detect obstacles. According to Honda's video about the CMBS (see below), it kicks in between 3 mph and 62 mph if it detects a possible frontal impact. It also works at 18 mph or less if it detects a potential collision during left turns. The system gives audio alerts about potential crashes and shuts itself off if the driver uses the brakes and steering to avoid the impact. If the driver fails to respond and the threat of a collision increases, the CMBS begins to apply the brakes. If the situation worsens and the system determines that a crash is inevitable, it applies heavy braking to lessen the impact. Drivers can adjust the sensitivity of the alerts to tailor them to their comfort levels, or even turn them off. From the Home screen on the touch-screen on the dashboard, select Vehicle Settings, then select Driver Assist System Setup. From this screen, choose the options to select the collision warning distance or turn off the audio warning. The Road Departure Mitigation System uses your Honda's camera to monitor lane markings, the edge of the roadway, and oncoming vehicles. It works between 45 and 90 mph and shuts off when the turn signal is used. If it senses that the Honda is drifting toward the edge of its lane or an oncoming car, it flashes a warning on the dashboard and vibrates the steering wheel. If necessary, it will engage the electric power steering to guide the vehicle back into the center of its lane. Like the CMBS, this feature is customizable. From the Home screen on the center console menu, choose Settings. Choose the Road Departure Mitigation System from the settings menu, and then decide how sensitive you want the system to be — Narrow for minimal tolerance of lane drift, Normal for a middle level of sensitivity, or Wide for maximum tolerance. There's also a warning-only setting that disengages the system from steering. Designed for regular driving conditions, this system keeps the Honda centered in its lane, allowing the driver to focus on surrounding traffic. Unlike the Road Departure Mitigation tool, the LKAS is intended for normal, non-emergency situations like highway cruising. It uses its camera and the power steering to keep the vehicle in the middle of its lane. The driver can always steer to override the system and must always keep at least one hand on the steering wheel or the system will give a warning and disengage. The system is activated with a button on the steering wheel and works at speeds up to 90 mph as long as it can detect lane markings. When the LKAS is engaged, lines representing lane markers appear on the instrument panel. The lines turn green if the camera sees the lanes on the road. If the lane markers disappear or become obscured by dust or snow, the lines turn gray, and the system disengages. Honda's Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow (ACC) is a great tool to help you keep a safe following distance in traffic, as this system follows the vehicle ahead at a distance chosen by the driver. In stop-and-go traffic, the system can even bring the Honda to a complete stop and then resume following the car in front when it starts moving again. Controls for activating the ACC system and choosing a following distance are on the steering wheel, with indicators on the instrument panel displaying the set speed and following interval. Different models have different switches to activate and adjust this feature, so check the owner's manual for the controls for your Honda. The system disengages when the driver steps on the brake pedal and can be reactivated with the Resume button on the steering wheel. Another helpful tool included in your car's suite of Honda Sensing safety features is Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR). This system uses the vehicle's windshield-mounted camera to read speed limit signs and display them on the instrument panel as an icon that looks like a speed limit sign. As you reach or exceed the speed limit detected by the TSR, the icon blinks. When you make a signaled turn onto another road, the icon disappears until a speed limit sign on the new road is detected. TSR is customizable to the driver's preferences. The procedure varies slightly depending on which size center console screen the Honda is equipped with. On either display screen, navigate to the Settings screen, then to the Driver Assist Setup screen, and from there to the Traffic Sign Recognition screen. From here the system can be turned off completely, or the over-speed warning system can be turned off or adjusted to a higher threshold above the speed limit. In Hondas equipped with a multi-angle rearview camera, the Cross Traffic Monitor sounds an alert if a vehicle is approaching from either side. It also highlights the approaching hazard on the system's rearview monitor. It functions at speeds of 3 mph or less when the Honda is in reverse. It detects cross-traffic moving between 6 and 16 mph, so it's intended to warn of hazards moving at parking lot speeds rather than road traffic. In the event that something is detected by the Cross Traffic Monitor system, a beeper will alert the driver and an arrow on the backup camera touchscreen will indicate which direction the object is approaching from. It also doesn't detect traffic driving toward the vehicle from directly behind. Therefore, it won't detect if the car in the space across the row begins backing out of its space. The system serves mainly to aid in backing out of spaces with a limited view to either side, which means that the driver must remain alert to other hazards. The Auto High-Beam Headlights system monitors your forward surroundings at night using the windshield-mounted camera and automatically dims the high beams when it detects traffic ahead. To activate the system, the driver sets the headlight switch to the Auto position. To disengage it, all that you need to do is select the regular On position and then manually choose low beams or high beams. This also disengages the automatic on and off function for your headlights. If the driver does not want to switch off the auto high beams at the beginning of every night drive, it is possible to disable the feature completely. This is done by turning the car's power mode to On, putting the light switch in the Auto position, and then pulling the light switch lever back toward the driver for 40 seconds. The system will now be off by default. Repeating the procedure for 30 seconds will default back to the original setting. Three systems round out the list of active safety systems. The first is the Anti-Lock Braking System, or ABS, which is one of the automotive acronyms you should know . It's also one of the earliest modern safety systems, as Mercedes-Benz was the first to implement ABS way back in 1978. However, Honda continues to innovate and improve the technology. In an ABS-equipped model, sensors at each wheel electronically monitor wheel rotation, and if they detect lockup during braking, brake force is reduced until the wheel spins again. The system can pulse up to 100 times per second, providing more control so the driver can steer under braking to avoid obstacles. The second feature is Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control, which uses sensors to detect driving conditions and prevent loss of traction. The VSA system can brake each wheel individually while reducing the throttle until traction is restored. It also redirects power to the wheel that has traction during acceleration. A dashboard warning light will let you know the system is engaged. The third feature is the Blind Spot Information System (BSI). Under normal driving with the turn signals not in use, this system detects a passing vehicle in the driver's blind spot on either side and displays a lighted icon on the mirror on that side. When either turn signal is activated and there is a vehicle in the blind spot on that side, the mirror icon flashes, and an audible alert sounds from the dashboard. The driver can disable the audible alert in the Driver Assist Setup screen. Hondas also feature three main passive safety systems. The first is built right into each vehicle, as every Honda uses Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) to build body structures that dissipate the energy of a collision. Sophisticated computers and multi-directional crash tests help Honda design vehicles that can absorb the energy of crashes from any angle. Plus, Honda's 3DXCITE Real Impact software allows ultra-realistic modeling of crash results, saving time and enabling engineers to zero in on the most critical improvements. The next passive safety system consists of front seat belt pre-tensioners. When a Honda with this technology senses an impending front impact collision, it automatically tightens the seatbelts to protect the car's front seat occupants. The system also features load-limiting technology, which reduces the tension if it senses that the pressure on the seatbelt is enough to injure the wearer. This occurs in milliseconds, boosting safety in less than the blink of an eye. Finally, all Hondas come with front airbags and many also feature additional side airbags. Some models are equipped with award-winning three-chamber airbags designed to reduce brain injuries. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation bestowed its highest safety engineering award on Honda Engineer Eric Heitkamp for developing this unique system. Honda's website compares it to a catcher's mitt, cradling the occupant's head and preventing the rotation and violent deceleration that can cause traumatic injuries. This represents the kind of cutting-edge technology that keeps Honda in the lead in the realm of safety.

It’s certainly not everyday the lead vocalist of a rock band transitions into becoming one of the great movie composers of our time, but Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have done so with their careers in music. While the musicians initially gained fame for being Nine Inch Nails, since 2010, they’ve been scoring tons of movies, from The Social Network to two great 2024 movies , Challengers and Queer . While talking about their recent work, Reznor got honest about why he prefers making music for movies. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have managed to balance their work in Nine Inch Nails with their work in movies over nearly 15 years. Here’s what Reznor said about why he has a clear favorite between the music and movie industry: What we’re looking for [from film] is the collaborative experience with interesting people. We haven’t gotten that from the music world necessarily, for our own choice. You mentioned disillusionment with the music world? Yes. The culture of the music world sucks. That’s another conversation, but what technology has done to disrupt the music business in terms of not only how people listen to music but the value they place on it is defeating. I’m not saying that as an old man yelling at clouds, but as a music lover who grew up where music was the main thing. Music [now] feels largely relegated to something that happens in the background or while you’re doing something else. That’s a long, bitter story. While speaking to Reznor, IndieWire shared his frustration for the music industry, which has certainly changed quite a bit in the age of the internet and social media. The 59-year-old recalls a time when the music industry was centered on the art itself, but no longer feels that way anymore. While he ultimately deflected diving deeper into his thoughts on the topic, he clearly isn’t high on the state of things considering his flat-out “the music world sucks” comments. While Reznor may feel out of place in the music industry, his and Atticus Ross’ work in Hollywood has definitely paid off. They’ve become well-known for their unconventional movie scores , such as for The Social Network which won Best Original Score in 2011. Reznor and Ross also earned their second Oscar in the category for Soul in 2021. When it comes to their latest works, both in Luca Guadagnino films, Challengers is especially in conversation during awards season and could make for the team’s fourth nomination in the category of Best Original Score. When speaking about the making of it, Reznor said this: With Challengers, it was much more, right off the bat, he came to us and said, ‘I think music should be a character in the film. It should be unavoidable. It should be propelling. I want the audience to feel like they can dance in their seats to the whole thing like it’s a fucking rave. I want it to be aggressive. I want to make the movie fun.’ OK, let’s see what happens. By the time Challengers was brought to Reznor and Ross, the duo had worked with the director once before on 2022’s Bones And All . They said that along with Guadagnino wanting the movie’s bold music to be a character in the movie, he also directed them to club music out of Berlin to inform his vision. Considering our Challengers review and the score’s current momentum to go down as one of the best scores of 2024, we’d say it worked! Reznor and Ross’s latest collaboration with Luca Guadagnino has arrived, with the Queer release date now here. Check it out in theaters and stream Challengers with an Amazon Prime Video subscription . CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER Your Daily Blend of Entertainment NewsHurkacz adds Lendl and Massu to his coaching team ahead of 2025 campaign

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Article content Invest WindsorEssex has received $3.8 million in federal funding from Upskills Canada to launch the Battery Boost: Technical Training for Battery Manufacturing Careers program. The regional program will partner with Palette Skills, NextStar Energy and Virtualware to deliver technical training to equip workers with the skills to be employed in the battery manufacturing sector. “The Battery Boost program exemplifies the transformative potential of collaboration and innovation in workforce development,” said Invest WindsorEssex interim CEO Joe Goncalves. “By combining cutting-edge VR training technology with tailored industry expertise, we are equipping Windsor-Essex workers with the skills they need to thrive in the growing battery manufacturing sector. This initiative not only empowers individuals with meaningful career opportunities but also strengthens our region’s position as a leader in the electrification revolution.” The program will run from February 2025 to March 2026 and will provide training to over 400 participants. It will target laid-off workers or those seeking a career shift in hopes of transitioning into the battery industry. “In the Next Star Energy battery plant we delivered the single most important investment in the history of our community, and now our focus turns to delivering a historic training investment that will help make sure local workers of all ages and all backgrounds get their shot at working in Canada’s first ever battery plant,” Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk said. “This is a gamechanger for workers and families looking to build their future here in Windsor-Essex.” Training will be done at the Invest WindsorEssex Automobility and Innovation Centre using virtual reality and advanced training simulators. The specialized curriculum has been created in collaboration with NextStar Energy who will leverage proprietary information essential to the battery manufacturing process. “NextStar Energy is powered by local talent,” said NextStar Energy’s director of human resources Ed Novacco. “As we continue to grow, we’re excited to collaborate with Invest WindsorEssex to launch initiatives like the Battery Boost program, which will help prepare our workforce for new opportunities in the rapidly evolving field of EV battery manufacturing.” Participants who complete the program will be eligible to move into specific roles at NextStar Energy. Those who are selected for the program but do not successfully complete the training will still be provided with additional upskilling opportunities and job placement assistance within the Windsor-Essex EV supply chain. To learn more about the Battery Boost program or to submit an application visit the website for detailed information and resources. Twitter.com/winstarwaddellIMRIS (OTCMKTS:IMRSQ) vs. Integer (NYSE:ITGR) Head to Head SurveySam Darnold has played most of his football on either the East or West Coast. After staying home to play his college ball at Southern California, Darnold spent his first three NFL seasons with the New York Jets before stints in Carolina and San Francisco. Now that he's in the Upper Midwest, the veteran quarterback has a much better appreciation of the rivalry between his Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. The NFC North foes will battle Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. "It's the whole entire NFC North, man," Darnold said. "It's an incredible kind of rivalries or bitterness, I guess you could say. It's awesome to be able to run into Packers fans. I'm not going to lie, they're nice and everything, but when you start to talk about football, they're not shy about speaking their mind about who they think the better team is. "It's just fun, man. It makes everything more fun, makes the game more fun. That's the reason we play." Along with the traditional bragging rights between the border rivals, Sunday's matchup also holds significant playoff implications for the Vikings (13-2) and Packers (11-4), though both teams already have clinched a spot in the postseason. Minnesota is tied with the Detroit Lions for the top spot in the division with two games to play, though the Lions hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their 31-29 win at the Vikings in Week 7. Green Bay could end up with the No. 5, 6 or 7 seed as a wild-card team, and Sunday's outcome will go a long way toward determining its playoff positioning. "We're playing for something," said Packers running back Josh Jacobs, who leads Green Bay's ground attack with 1,216 yards and 13 scores. Jacobs ran for 69 yards and a touchdown in the Packers' 34-0 home win over New Orleans on Monday night. Quarterback Jordan Love threw for 182 yards and a score without committing a turnover for Green Bay in its second straight win. Love has passed for 3,135 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions over his 13 starts this season, good for a 97.8 passer rating. Jayden Reed has a team-high 52 catches for 803 yards and six touchdowns. Christian Watson is next with 29 catches for 620 yards and two TDs. "What's really cool is you are getting contributions from a lot of different people," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. "I think that is usually the mark of a good team. "You have to stay healthy and continue to build on what you've done. I love the energy of our group. Our guys show up ready to work, willing to work every day, and we have to continue to push one another to be at our best because this is the time when you need to be playing your best ball." Minnesota is going for its ninth straight win. The Vikings' only other loss besides Detroit came four days later, a 30-20 Thursday night setback at the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8. Darnold has powered Minnesota with 3,776 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 starts. He has posted a 105.4 passer rating in his first season with the team. Former Green Bay star Aaron Jones is Minnesota's top running back with 1,046 yards and five TDs. Justin Jefferson is Darnold's top target with 92 receptions for 1,387 yards and 10 touchdowns. No. 2 receiver Jordan Addison has 56 catches for 806 yards and eight scores. Packers top cornerback Jaire Alexander is dealing with a knee injury that could keep him out of Sunday's contest. While he may not match up against one of the league's premier defenders in Alexander, Jefferson remains motivated for the divisional clash. "I love any competition regardless of if it's Green Bay or I'm playing the No. 1 corner in the league," Jefferson said. "I'm always going to prepare to go out there and play my best regardless of who's out there. I always say I love these types of games, the games that you really need, the games that are exciting for everyone to watch." Alexander was limited in Green Bay's practice Thursday, as were safety Javon Bullard (ankle), tackle Andre Dillard (concussion), linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper (ankle) and tight ends Tucker Kraft (hip) and Luke Musgrave (ankle). Guard Elgton Jenkins (knee), linebacker Quay Walker (ankle), safety Evan Williams (quad) and Watson (knee) sat out Thursday's session. The Vikings were fully healthy for Thursday's practice aside from cornerback Fabian Moreau, who has not practiced all week due to a hip injury. This will be the final regular-season meeting between the rivals. Minnesota jumped ahead of host Green Bay 28-0 before holding on 31-29 on Sept. 29. --Field Level Media

AP News Summary at 4:20 p.m. ESTCelebrating Innovation: Logistics Technology Awards 2024

A Rare Chance to Buy This Winning Stock on SaleThree major technology companies reported revenue growth and expanded artificial intelligence offerings Wednesday, with Pure Storage rolling out enterprise AI tools, Box launching custom AI agents and Verint doubling profits on strong AI demand. Pure Storage announced partnerships with Nvidia and CoreWeave alongside its new GenAI Pod system, while Box introduced an AI Studio for custom development and Verint saw its AI-powered subscription revenue jump 19% as all three firms bet heavily on artificial intelligence adoption. Box Expands AI Tools Amid Q3 Growth Content management company Box Inc. launched new artificial intelligence features and reported third-quarter revenue growth of 5% to $275.9 million. The company introduced Box AI Studio to create custom AI agents and expanded its partnership with Amazon Web Services to integrate foundation models from Anthropic and Amazon into its platform. The new Enterprise Advanced suite includes AI-powered document processing and content analysis tools, alongside automated form creation capabilities. Box posted a record GAAP operating margin of 8.5% and raised its full-year revenue outlook to approximately $1.09 billion. Remaining performance obligations, a measure of future contracted revenue, grew 13% to $1.28 billion. “We unveiled the most transformational product line-up in Box history,” said CEO Aaron Levie, highlighting plans to help businesses leverage data from their files. The company also reported net income of $12.9 million, with earnings of $0.05 per share. Box’s non-GAAP operating margin reached a record 29.1%, reflecting what CFO Dylan Smith called “operational discipline built into the core of our company.” Pure Storage Expands AI Push With New Tech Deal Data storage company Pure Storage announced major artificial intelligence initiatives Wednesday, including partnerships with AI providers and a new storage solution for enterprise AI. The company’s FlashBlade//S500 system received certification with NVIDIA’s DGX SuperPOD, validating its capabilities for AI training environments. Pure Storage also launched its GenAI Pod, aimed at simplifying AI project deployment, and formed a strategic partnership with AI cloud provider CoreWeave. “Pure is driving the biggest shift in enterprise storage since Flash,” CEO Charles Giancarlo said in announcing the initiatives. The company reported $831.1 million in third-quarter revenue, up 9% from last year. Pure Storage expects full-year revenue of $3.15 billion as it expands its AI-focused offerings. Verint’s Q3 Profit Doubles as AI Demand Grows Customer service technology provider Verint Systems Inc. reported higher profits and revenue in its third quarter, driven by growing demand for AI-powered business tools. The company posted revenue of $224 million for the quarter ending Oct. 31, a 3% increase from the same period last year. Net income more than doubled to $29 million, or $0.39 per share, compared to $12.9 million, or $0.12 per share, in the previous year. Recurring revenue, which includes software subscriptions and support services, reached $179.9 million, representing 80.2% of total revenue. The company’s bundled software subscription revenue increased 19% year over year, while new software subscription contracts from new customers rose 37% year over year, excluding cloud conversion deals. “We saw strong demand for AI business outcomes and our bundled SaaS revenue growth accelerated,” CEO Dan Bodner said in a press release. He said customers are prioritizing AI projects over cloud conversion projects, leading to increased adoption of the company’s hybrid cloud model. The Melville, N.Y.-based firm maintained its previous guidance for the full fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2025, projecting revenue of $933 million. Gross profit margins improved by 70 basis points compared to the previous year. Looking ahead, Verint plans to host an investor day on Jan. 14 where it will showcase its AI capabilities and present its financial outlook for fiscal year 2026. The company also announced a new AI-powered chatbot as part of its customer experience platform.

Apple Cash: How to use it to send and receive moneyUnlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Unlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Unlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her health insurance covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. For Griffin, the hardest part of using the new drugs wasn’t access. It was finding out that the much-hyped medications didn’t really work for her. “I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds,” said Griffin, who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. “I’ve done everything right with no success. It’s discouraging.” In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were “nonresponders” who lost less than 5% of their body weight. Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not respond well to the medications. It’s a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results. “It’s all about explaining that different people have different responses,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital The drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight — and a person’s response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives. “This is a disease that stems from the brain,” said Stanford. “The dysfunction may not be the same” from patient to patient. Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge. “It can be devastating,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. “With such high expectations, there’s so much room for disappointment.” That was the case for Griffin, who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “You want it to work like it does for everybody else.” The medications are typically prescribed along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes. It’s usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesn’t happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think they’re out of options. “I tell them: It’s not game over,” Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. Griffin, who didn’t respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost 7 pounds. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “I’m hoping it’s slow and steady,” she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. “Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively,” she said. “If what we’re prescribing doesn’t work, we always have a backup plan.” ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Advertisement Advertisement

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