Advertisement The DOJ proposed banning Google from paying for search distribution deals. Google's search dominance relies on distribution, not just technology. Investors worry Google's market share could drop if distribution deals end. The online search business is not about technology. It's about distribution. The US Department of Justice made that clear Wednesday when it proposed fixes for a judge's earth-shaking ruling that Google is an illegal monopolist. Advertisement The DOJ's remedies cut to the heart of how Google distributes its search engine and how that broad reach is key to the company's dominance of this crucial and lucrative market. The government's suggestion that Google be forced to sell Chrome initially grabbed the headlines. But, on Thursday, the potential crackdown on all distribution deals caught investors' attention. The US government's lawyers said Google should be banned from offering "anything of value for any form" of search distribution. That especially includes Apple, but also covers any other partner or company, with limited exceptions, according to the DOJ's executive summary . Advertisement ISI Evercore internet analyst Mark Mahaney called this distribution crackdown "draconian" and said investors were surprised by the severity of the proposals. Google shares dropped 5% on Thursday. The reason for this concern is that the online search business is not really about the quality of the technology. The edge comes from massive distribution and the huge volume of user queries that come with such a broad reach. When people use Google to search on the web, the company monitors what results they click on. It feeds these responses back into its search engine, and the product gets constantly better. For instance, if most people click on the third result for a particular query, Google's search engine will likely adjust and rank that result higher in the future. Advertisement This self-reinforcing system is very hard to compete against. This is how the DOJ put it on Wednesday: "Search engines rely on user data to improve search quality — an outcome that drives more users to a search engine. Users attract advertisers, and advertising dollars fund general search engines, creating a perpetual feedback loop that further entrenches Google." One of the few ways to compete is to get more distribution than Google and pull in the extra queries and click-behavior data. Advertisement For many years, Google has paid to lock down most major sources of distribution. The most famous deal is with Apple. Google pays the iPhone maker about $20 billion a year to be the default search engine on Apple's mobile devices. If the search business was actually about the quality of Google's technology, why does it have to pay Apple $20 billion a year? That question is at the heart of the DOJ's case, and Google has never been able to answer it properly. Because it keeps paying Apple . If Google search technology is so great, the company shouldn't have to pay for distribution. People would just flock to its search engine all by themselves. Advertisement We could soon see a real-world test of this. If the judge in this case agrees with the DOJ, then these payments will end — not just with Apple, but with any other third-party source of online distribution for Google's search engine. This may have freaked investors out on Thursday. They know that the search business is mainly about distribution, and Google may not be able to do this now. Advertisement In a worst-case scenario, Google could lose a material slice of the US search market, according to Mahaney. "We believe Google's default search placements via contractual agreements represent 50%+ of Google's US search queries," he estimated on Thursday. If half of Google's US search queries go away, that could threaten the self-reinforcing cycle of user click data improving its results. Advertisement Suddenly, Google Search may not be so uncatchable. Google's top lawyer, Kent Walker, said the DOJ's proposals would "break" the company's search engine and "deliberately hobble people's ability to access" the service. Google gets to propose its own remedies on December 20.
RTE star Sinead Kennedy has opened up on her Christmas plans and revealed the reason she doesn't share her kids on social media. The Today Show star and her husband Conor Kirwan share two kids together, daughter Indie and baby Theo. In a recent interview with RSVP Live , Sinead revealed her family's plans for the festive season. The Cork native said: " We are going to go home to Brussels before Christmas to get a few days at the Christmas markets. My in-laws will be there so it will be a lovely family time. " For actual Christmas Day and week, we will be in Ireland between Cork and Dublin. We used to split our time, so we would spend the morning together and then head to our families, but it is different when you have kids. " The 40-year-old also spoke about her sister's recent wedding and told how it has added to the chaos. She said: "My sister Aisling also got married a few weeks ago which has added to the chaos. I was the only bridesmaid, so there was fierce excitement. We had the most incredible time and she was sensational. "I think this Christmas, it will be nice to chill together as a family and chat about the wedding as she is only back from her honeymoon so we all need to decompress and re-live it." The popular presenter also revealed the reason herself and Conor have decided to keep their kids off social media. The mum-of-two explained: " Conor is so chilled and while we talk about everything, this was not something we discussed prior to having kids , it is just the way it is. Before I was pregnant, I finished a documentary about online child sexual abuse, so I had my mind long made up before I had the kids. "It just wasn’t for me, it was very obvious that I was never going to share them anywhere. I think their image and privacy is theirs. I want to safeguard that, and that’s my job. If they want to be all over social media when they’re of age, that’s completely within their right, and that’s their call. But as their parents, this is the decision we have made for them. I don’t even share them in WhatsApp groups – once it is out there, it is out of your control." For the Christmas week in work, Sinead and her co-host Daithi O Se got all dolled up to go out on air. The RTE stars were presenting special episodes for the festive season all week. On Monday's show, Daithi looked dapper wearing a black t-shirt, grey jeans and a brown suede blazer. While Sinead stunned in a sparkly silver sweater and a pair of metallic jeans. The Cork native took to Instagram after the programme to share her outfit details with fans. Sinead and Daithi posed for smiling selfie on set in the RTE studio with the incredible festive decorations behind them. The mum-of-two captioned her post: "Christmas week in work. The countdown is officially on!!" Sinead's friends and fans all loved her snap as they raced to the comment section with compliments. Michael said: "Sinead you are such fun on the Today show you honestly make it all worthwhile." Mary commented: "You're a little pocket rocket @imsineadkennedy and dah-hay as the other one calls Daithi."None
The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission has selected 210 individuals to receive North Carolina Teaching Fellows awards for the Class of 2025 during its early-decision window. The Teaching Fellows program is a competitive, merit-based forgivable loan program providing tuition assistance of up to $10,000 a year for qualified students committed to teaching elementary education, special education, science, technology, engineering, or math in a North Carolina public school. The purpose of the program is to recruit, prepare and support future teachers who attend institutions of higher education in North Carolina. The award winners may attend any of the program’s 10 partner institutions pending admission: Appalachian State University; East Carolina University; Elon University; Fayetteville State University; North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; NC State University; Meredith College; University of North Carolina at Charlotte; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and University of North Carolina at Pembroke. People are also reading... North Iredell Holiday Classic Basketball Schedule Rowan County shooting suspect apprehended at Statesville motel Foxy Roxy's Pizza prepares to bring pizza perfection to downtown Statesville, one slice at a time Mooresville duo leads list of Iredell's top football players in 2024 2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident, US military says 5 newsmakers in 2024: North Iredell football snaps drought, Mooresville coach remembered Cauthen, Statesville pull off road win in conference opener Initial realignment draft puts 5 Iredell schools in same 6A/7A conference What’s open and closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024? Pine Lake Prep's Ramanata leads list of 20 All-County honorees on the pitch Iredell Memorial Hospital named one of nation’s top hospitals Rudolph had a shiny nose and terrible name, former Statesville teacher writes West Iredell’s Moore, Lake Norman’s Dingman shine brightest in cross country From building glutes to shredding abs: The 4 hottest fitness trends for 2025 Chi-Chi’s is making a comeback 20 years after its last restaurant closed In the early-decision window, the NCTF commission received 307 completed and screened applications. The commission considered grade point average, leadership and experience, awards and honors, written essays, educator recommendations, and video submissions to offer the 210 awards. Standardized test scores from SAT/ACT were optional to align with admission standards from participating colleges and universities. Students who did not receive an early-decision award were deferred to the regular application period, which runs until Feb. 28, 2025. Any potential teachers in the areas of elementary, STEM, or special education are encouraged to apply at www.ncteachingfellows.org during the regular application window. The comprehensive list of the Class of 2025 Teaching Fellows awardees will be finalized in March 2025. “Congratulations to these deserving winners chosen during our early-decision process,” Bennett Jones, director of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program, said. “We look forward to their future careers in classrooms around the state. We are heartened by the continued growth of the program, and we are grateful for the support of lawmakers and education leaders as we continue to promote the teaching profession.” The 210 awards in the early-decision window represent a 61% increase in early-action awards from last year’s window. The early-decision awardees feature 134 high school seniors, 60 college transfer students and 16 licensure-only students. The early-award recipients hail from 126 different cities and towns representing 63 counties across the state. The early class of 2025 includes 30% minority recipients. Finally, 136 of the early-decision award winners intend to study elementary education, 45 are pursuing licensure in the areas of STEM education, and 29 are planning to be licensed in special education. The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission is comprised of four deans from educator preparation programs, a community college president, a beginning teacher, a principal, a member from business and industry, and a local school board member. The NC Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, Superintendent of the Year, Chair of the State Education Assistance Authority Board of Directors, and Director of the Teaching Fellows program all serve as ex-officio members of the commission. Concord — Julia-Madison Pacetti, Sydney Warren, Sydney Williams, and Sarah Wilson Granite Falls — Ava Aldrich and Emily Haas Hamptonville — Allie Reynolds and Mattie Tavano Hickory — Miriam Wood Lenoir — Emma Brown, Natalie Crump Lincolnton — Mary Franklin and Jadyn White Maiden — Madison Dellinger Mooresville — Sophie Baum, Isabel Gamble and Jovi Griffin Morganton — Laney Hodge Mount Pleasant — Ellie Shoe Olin — Stephanie Elkins Rutherfordton — Maytlin Bailey Statesville — Carter Kincaid, Taylorsville — Rebekah Winkler Troutman — Megan Macartney Valdese — Peter Skelton Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Author email {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — 2024 was a brutal year for the Amazon rainforest, with rampant wildfires and extreme drought ravaging large parts of a biome that’s a critical counterweight to climate change. A warming climate fed drought that in turn fed the worst year for fires since 2005. And those fires contributed to deforestation, with authorities suspecting some fires were set to more easily clear land to run cattle. The Amazon is twice the size of India and sprawls across eight countries and one territory, storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise warm the planet. It has about 20% of the world’s fresh water and astounding biodiversity, including 16,000 known tree species. But governments have historically viewed it as an area to be exploited, with little regard for sustainability or the rights of its Indigenous peoples, and experts say exploitation by individuals and organized crime is rising at alarming rates. “The fires and drought experienced in 2024 across the Amazon rainforest could be ominous indicators that we are reaching the long-feared ecological tipping point,” said Andrew Miller, advocacy director at Amazon Watch, an organization that works to protect the rainforest. “Humanity’s window of opportunity to reverse this trend is shrinking, but still open.” There were some bright spots. The level of Amazonian forest loss fell in both Brazil and Colombia. And nations gathered for the annual United Nations conference on biodiversity agreed to give Indigenous peoples more say in nature conservation decisions. “If the Amazon rainforest is to avoid the tipping point, Indigenous people will have been a determinant factor," Miller said. Forest loss in Brazil’s Amazon — home to the largest swath of this rainforest — dropped 30.6% compared to the previous year, the lowest level of destruction in nine years. The improvement under leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva contrasted with deforestation that hit a 15-year high under Lula's predecessor, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who prioritized agribusiness expansion over forest protection and weakened environmental agencies. In July, Colombia reported historic lows in deforestation in 2023, driven by a drop in environmental destruction. The country's environment minister Susana Muhamad warned that 2024's figures may not be as promising as a significant rise in deforestation had already been recorded by July due to dry weather caused by El Nino, a weather phenomenon that warms the central Pacific. Illegal economies continue to drive deforestation in the Andean nation. “It’s impossible to overlook the threat posed by organized crime and the economies they control to Amazon conservation,” said Bram Ebus, a consultant for Crisis Group in Latin America. “Illegal gold mining is expanding rapidly, driven by soaring global prices, and the revenues of illicit economies often surpass state budgets allocated to combat them.” In Brazil, large swaths of the rainforest were draped in smoke in August from fires raging across the Amazon, Cerrado savannah, Pantanal wetland and the state of Sao Paulo. Fires are traditionally used for deforestation and for managing pastures, and those man-made blazes were largely responsible for igniting the wildfires. For a second year, the Amazon River fell to desperate lows , leading some countries to declare a state of emergency and distribute food and water to struggling residents. The situation was most critical in Brazil, where one of the Amazon River's main tributaries dropped to its lowest level ever recorded. Cesar Ipenza, an environmental lawyer who lives in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, said he believes people are becoming increasingly aware of the Amazon's fundamental role “for the survival of society as a whole." But, like Miller, he worries about a “point of no return of Amazon destruction.” It was the worst year for Amazon fires since 2005, according to nonprofit Rainforest Foundation US. Between January and October, an area larger than the state of Iowa — 37.42 million acres, or about 15.1 million hectares of Brazil’s Amazon — burned. Bolivia had a record number of fires in the first ten months of the year. “Forest fires have become a constant, especially in the summer months and require particular attention from the authorities who don't how to deal with or respond to them,” Ipenza said. Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana also saw a surge in fires this year. The United Nations conference on biodiversity — this year known as COP16 — was hosted by Colombia. The meetings put the Amazon in the spotlight and a historic agreement was made to give Indigenous groups more of a voice on nature conservation decisions , a development that builds on a growing movement to recognize Indigenous people's role in protecting land and combating climate change. Both Ebus and Miller saw promise in the appointment of Martin von Hildebrand as the new secretary general for the Amazon Treaty Cooperation Organization, announced during COP16. “As an expert on Amazon communities, he will need to align governments for joint conservation efforts. If the political will is there, international backers will step forward to finance new strategies to protect the world’s largest tropical rainforest,” Ebus said. Ebus said Amazon countries need to cooperate more, whether in law enforcement, deploying joint emergency teams to combat forest fires, or providing health care in remote Amazon borderlands. But they need help from the wider world, he said. “The well-being of the Amazon is a shared global responsibility, as consumer demand worldwide fuels the trade in commodities that finance violence and environmental destruction,” he said. Next year marks a critical moment for the Amazon, as Belém do Pará in northern Brazil hosts the first United Nations COP in the region that will focus on climate. “Leaders from Amazon countries have a chance to showcase strategies and demand tangible support," Ebus said. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .
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Chances are if your favorite show felt different over the years, a showrunner shift occurred at some point behind the scenes. Law & Order: Organized Crime attempted to solidify itself as a successful spinoff of Law & Order: SVU but instead it has continued to make headlines for numerous showrunners exiting the series. The police procedural, which premiered in 2021 on NBC, stars Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler, reprising his role from SVU. By the time the show was renewed for its fifth season — and moved to Peacock — it had gone through seven showrunner changes. No official statement was made about the numerous swaps in the writers’ room. Meanwhile, The Handmaid’s Tale became a household name with Bruce Miller at the helm. The hit series then faced a shakeup right before its sixth and final season when Miller stepped down as showrunner. He remained a writer and executive producer but passed on his duties to executive producers Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang . “We are ending our show on our own creative terms,” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2022 before his departure. “Do I know what happens in season 6? Yes, I did think about the stuff that happens in season 6 for a while.” Keep scrolling for more shows with significant showrunner swaps: When Stabler got his own show in 2020, Matt Olmstead took on the role of showrunner but ultimately stepped down later that year. He was replaced by Ilene Chaiken , who remained on the show for one season before Barry O’Brien took over. Bryan Goluboff became the showrunner for season 3 but left after three months. He was replaced by Sean Jablonski , who left due to “creative differences” and David Graziano took over for the final episodes of the season. After Law & Order: Organized Crime was renewed for a fourth season, John Shiban was brought on as the newest showrunner but he didn’t stick around and Olmstead was brought back to finish up the scripts as an executive producer. When the show was first in development, Chaiken was meant to run the show but Showtime passed on the pilot. Miller became the official showrunner once Hulu picked up the series and remained at the helm until the final season. Miller stepped down in order to focus on adapting The Testaments and Tuchman and Chang were named co-showrunners for the sixth and final season. After Netflix announced a reimagined live-action remake of Avatar , creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko were named as showrunners. They departed the series in 2020 due to creative differences and Albert Kim came onboard instead. Kim stepped down after the show was renewed and Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani became showrunners for the second and third seasons. The Fox sitcom, which starred Mayim Bialik , hired Darlene Hunt as a showrunner, which lasted for one season until Alissa Neubauer took over. Jim Patterson and Maria Ferrari were announced as the new showrunners for the third season, which turned out to be the show’s last. Amy B. Harris was originally set to be the showrunner in 2016 but stepped down after Designated Survivor was officially picked up. Jon Harmon Feldman replaced Harris until Jeff Melvoin came on to supervise the second half of the first season. From there, writer Keith Eisner took over until the show was canceled on ABC. Netflix revived the series, which paved the way for Neal Baer to be named showrunner. The post-apocalyptic series premiered in 2010 with Frank Darabont at the helm. He departed after one season and Glen Mazzara took over until season 3. Scott M. Gimple was promoted to showrunner for four seasons until he became Chief Content Officer of the entire Walking Dead franchise and Angela Kang replaced him in the writers’ room. The political series was created by Aaron Sorkin in 1999 and he remained with the show until the fifth season. After his departure, John Wells remained the sole executive producer and showrunner until the 2006 series finale. Considering how long Grey’s Anatomy has been on the air , it makes sense that there have been some changes behind the scenes. Shonda Rhimes was the original showrunner for five seasons until Krista Vernoff joined her at the helm. One season later, Rhimes was began working alongside Tony Phelan and Joan Rater and the pair remained in charge when Rhimes stepped down to focus on other projects. From seasons 11 to 13, Stacy Mckee and William Harper were the showrunners before Mckee left and Vernoff returned. Vernoff was subsequently the sole showrunner from seasons 16 to 19 until Meg Marinis took over. Before Supernatural was picked up by The CW, creator Eric Kripke was developing the show for nearly 10 years. He remained as the showrunner until season 6, which is when Sera Gamble took over. Jeremy Carver was the sole showrunner from seasons 8 to 11 before turning control over to Robert Singer and Andrew Dabb for the remainder of its run. Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino were at the helm until failed contract negotiations caused them to leave after six seasons. David Rosenthal took over for the seventh and final season but ultimately it wasn’t the same. Sherman-Palladino ultimately returned for the four-part miniseries revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life . Greg Daniels developed the show and served as the showrunner for the first four seasons before leaving for Parks and Recreation . Paul Lieberstein and Jennifer Celotta were named the showrunners for season 5 but Celotta left the series one season later. Lieberstein stayed on for the following two seasons then briefly left to work on a potential spinoff. Daniels returned as showrunner for the ninth and final season. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News After basing the script on his experiences, Dan Harmon was the showrunner for four seasons. He was briefly replaced by writers David Guarascio and Moses Port before returning one year later. Created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David , Seinfeld was run by David for seven seasons. His exit led to Seinfeld — who also starred on the show — to take over for two more years until the 1998 series finale. Kevin Williamson left after the first season to focus on another show, which meant Alex Gansa became the new showrunner. A production shutdown — due to the cast’s frustration with the story lines — led to Gansa being replaced by Greg Berlanti in season 3.
Phillies add depth to bullpen with 1-year deal for reliever Joe RossMONTREAL — A childhood friend of the Quebec man killed in a Florida boat explosion Monday said one of the victim’s sisters was among the other six passengers injured in the blast. Thi Cam Nhung Lê said 41-year-old Sebastien Gauthier was celebrating the holidays with his family when the explosion occurred in Fort Lauderdale. Lê said Gauthier’s older sister was also on the boat when it erupted into flames, and she was taken to a hospital. “It’s unimaginable, incomprehensible,” Lê said Saturday, adding that Gauthier’s family and mutual friends informed her about his death. Lê, 40, said she first met Gauthier in her early adolescence and they grew up together in Quebec City. She remembers him as a globetrotter who always had a smile on his face. “He’s still my best friend. It’s always him I call if I need something, but he’s no longer with us,” she said. The last time the two friends saw each other face-to-face was about two years ago, Lê said, but she last messaged Gauthier on social media in the days before Monday’s explosion. And on Jan. 1, her birthday, she would have expected a call from him, just like every year. “I’m shocked, surprised, and feeling a little bit of regret,” she said. “You regret not having seen him more. I spent yesterday crying. You can’t believe your friend disappears from one day to the next.” Earlier this week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed that Gauthier died of his injuries in Broward County. The FWC said its preliminary investigation in Fort Lauderdale showed a 37-foot vessel exploded after its engines were started, injuring all seven passengers on board. Video posted on social media Monday showed the vessel engulfed in flames, with a thick column of black smoke billowing into the sky. However, Florida authorities have not provided The Canadian Press with more information about the investigation. Searching for an explanation has also left Lê angry. As she mourns the loss of her longtime friend, she said she’s still waiting for answers about what led to his unexpected death. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. Joe Bongiorno, The Canadian Press
Barclays PLC raised its stake in Orion S.A. ( NYSE:OEC – Free Report ) by 320.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 95,512 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock after purchasing an additional 72,793 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC owned approximately 0.17% of Orion worth $1,700,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Pzena Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Orion by 35.4% in the third quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 3,647,985 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $64,971,000 after buying an additional 954,398 shares in the last quarter. Foundry Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Orion during the third quarter worth approximately $4,620,000. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in Orion by 18.6% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,347,138 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $29,556,000 after purchasing an additional 210,990 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Orion by 20.2% in the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,179,181 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $21,001,000 after purchasing an additional 198,182 shares during the period. Finally, SIR Capital Management L.P. acquired a new position in Orion in the 2nd quarter valued at $3,992,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.33% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth OEC has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com lowered Orion from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Orion from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $20.00 to $21.00 in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Orion Price Performance Shares of OEC opened at $15.67 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. The business’s fifty day moving average is $16.91 and its 200 day moving average is $18.59. The stock has a market cap of $904.47 million, a P/E ratio of 29.57 and a beta of 1.51. Orion S.A. has a 12-month low of $14.94 and a 12-month high of $28.35. Orion ( NYSE:OEC – Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.53 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $463.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $489.01 million. Orion had a net margin of 1.67% and a return on equity of 18.97%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Orion S.A. will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Orion Company Profile ( Free Report ) Orion SA, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of carbon black products. It operates in two segments, Specialty Carbon Black and Rubber Carbon Black. The company offers post-treated specialty carbon black grades for coatings and printing applications; high purity carbon black grades for the fiber industry; and conductive carbon black grades for batteries, polymers, and coatings. Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Orion Utilities Stocks Explained – How and Why to Invest in Utilities S&P 500 ETFs: Expense Ratios That Can Boost Your Long-Term Gains Investing in the High PE Growth Stocks How AI Implementation Could Help MongoDB Roar Back in 2025 Trading Stocks: RSI and Why it’s Useful Hedge Funds Boost Oil Positions: Is a Major Rally on the Horizon? Receive News & Ratings for Orion Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Orion and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Investors looking for stocks to hold on to for a while might want to consider dividend-paying companies. Besides offering a regular stream of passive income, dividend stocks have generally outperformed their non-dividend peers over the long run. That's not surprising. Maintaining a growing dividend program through good times and bad requires a rock-solid business. Healthcare companies have an added advantage since they are in a defensive industry that performs comparatively better when the economy slows down. With that backdrop, let's consider two healthcare dividend stocks for investors focused on the long game: Merck ( MRK -0.44% ) and Medtronic ( MDT -0.15% ) . 1. Merck The market's forward-looking nature explains why Merck's shares are down by 10% this year. Investors are already focusing ahead to 2028, when the company's biggest moneymaker by far, the cancer drug Keytruda, will lose patent exclusivity in the U.S. And even before that, Keytruda could face competition from an investigational therapy called ivonescimab that is being developed to treat non-small cell lung cancer , among other diseases for which Keytruda has earned indications. Is there any way for Merck to get out of this bind? Yes, there is. First, the company has been working on a subcutaneous version of its crown jewel that should earn many of the same indications as the original and extend its patent life. Ivonescimab's challenge might be real, but the medicine won't earn approval in the U.S. for at least a couple of years or so. Furthermore, Merck is being proactive, as shown by its recent partnership with privately held China-based LaNova Medicines to develop LM-299, a bispecific antibody in the same class of medicines as ivonescimab. Something might come out of Merck's partnership with LaNova, or maybe it will be a bust. The important point is that Merck, a longtime leader in oncology, will seek to find ways to get around this new challenge. The company's success will also depend on products in other fields. That includes the newly approved Winrevair, a therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension; Merck's vaccine business; its animal health unit, and more. Its pipeline features more than 60 programs in phase 2 studies and more than 30 in phase 3 clinical trials. The company hasn't maintained its leadership in the pharmaceutical industry for decades by accident. Expect it to do the same for much longer. Meanwhile, its financial results remain solid. Third-quarter revenue grew by a decent 4% year over year to $16.7 billion. The company's adjusted earnings per share of $1.57 were down 26% compared to the year-ago period, but that was because of acquisition-related expenses. It's nothing to worry about for investors. Meanwhile, the dividend has increased by 80% in the past decade, and the company's forward yield tops 3.18%, compared to the S&P 500 's average of 1.32%. Despite its poor stock market performance this year, Merck can overcome its challenges and continue rewarding shareholders with payout increases. 2. Medtronic Medtronic, a medical device specialist, has struggled a bit in the past few years. Besides the pandemic severely disrupting its business, the company also dealt with slow revenue growth. The company had plans to shed some of its low-growth units, but it eventually went back on that decision (although it did exit the unprofitable ventilator business). Still, the stock is worth buying for long-term dividend investors for three reasons: Its solid position in its market, several exciting growth opportunities, and an incredible dividend track record. To the first point, Medtronic is one of the largest medical device companies in the world. Its portfolio has dozens of products, it routinely earns new approvals and indications, and it operates in over 150 countries. Medtronic has successfully navigated the healthcare industry for decades. That is no small feat in and of itself. Secondly, the company is looking at some exciting opportunities. One of them is its diabetes care segment, which has been its biggest growth driver for some time. In the second quarter of its fiscal 2025, ended Oct. 25, revenue increased by 5.3% year over year to $8.4 billion. That's pretty good. However, the company's diabetes care unit increased sales even faster, reporting revenue of $686 million, or 12.4% higher than the year-ago period. One of the business' most important products in this segment is its innovative MiniMed 780G insulin pump. Given the large addressable market in diabetes -- which affects more than a half-billion adults worldwide -- there is more work to be done here for Medtronic. The company is also developing a robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system, called Hugo, which is undergoing clinical trials in the U.S. The RAS market is severely underpenetrated. As Medtronic pointed out last year, less than 5% of procedures that can be performed robotically currently are. It could be another important long-term opportunity for the company. And the third reason to make Medtronic a long-term holding: It has increased its dividend for 47 consecutive years and offers a forward yield of 3.20%. The company could become a Dividend King pretty soon and maintain its payouts for many years thereafter. That makes it a top income stock to buy and hold for good.
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — 2024 was a brutal year for the Amazon rainforest, with rampant wildfires and extreme drought ravaging large parts of a biome that’s a critical counterweight to climate change. A warming climate fed drought that in turn fed the worst year for fires since 2005. And those fires contributed to deforestation, with authorities suspecting some fires were set to more easily clear land to run cattle. The Amazon is twice the size of India and sprawls across eight countries and one territory, storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise warm the planet. It has about 20% of the world’s fresh water and astounding biodiversity, including 16,000 known tree species. But governments have historically viewed it as an area to be exploited, with little regard for sustainability or the rights of its Indigenous peoples, and experts say exploitation by individuals and organized crime is rising at alarming rates. “The fires and drought experienced in 2024 across the Amazon rainforest could be ominous indicators that we are reaching the long-feared ecological tipping point,” said Andrew Miller, advocacy director at Amazon Watch, an organization that works to protect the rainforest. “Humanity’s window of opportunity to reverse this trend is shrinking, but still open.” There were some bright spots. The level of Amazonian forest loss fell in both Brazil and Colombia. And nations gathered for the annual United Nations conference on biodiversity agreed to give Indigenous peoples more say in nature conservation decisions. “If the Amazon rainforest is to avoid the tipping point, Indigenous people will have been a determinant factor,” Miller said. Wildfires and extreme drought Forest loss in Brazil’s Amazon — home to the largest swath of this rainforest — compared to the previous year, the lowest level of destruction in nine years. The improvement under leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva contrasted with deforestation that hit a 15-year high under Lula’s predecessor, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who prioritized agribusiness expansion over forest protection and weakened environmental agencies. In July, Colombia in deforestation in 2023, driven by a drop in environmental destruction. The country’s environment minister Susana Muhamad warned that 2024’s figures may not be as promising as a significant rise in deforestation had already been recorded by July due to dry weather caused by El Nino, a weather phenomenon that warms the central Pacific. Illegal economies continue to drive deforestation in the Andean nation. “It’s impossible to overlook the threat posed by organized crime and the economies they control to Amazon conservation,” said Bram Ebus, a consultant for Crisis Group in Latin America. “Illegal gold mining is expanding rapidly, driven by soaring global prices, and the revenues of illicit economies often surpass state budgets allocated to combat them.” In Brazil, large swaths of the rainforest were from fires raging across the Amazon, Cerrado savannah, Pantanal wetland and the state of Sao Paulo. Fires are traditionally used for deforestation and for managing pastures, and those man-made blazes were largely responsible for igniting the wildfires. For a second year, the , leading some countries to declare a state of emergency and distribute food and water to struggling residents. The situation was most critical in Brazil, where one of the Amazon River’s main tributaries Cesar Ipenza, an environmental lawyer who lives in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, said he believes people are becoming increasingly aware of the Amazon’s fundamental role “for the survival of society as a whole.” But, like Miller, he worries about a “point of no return of Amazon destruction.” It was the worst year for Amazon fires since 2005, according to nonprofit Rainforest Foundation US. Between January and October, an area larger than the state of Iowa — 37.42 million acres, or about 15.1 million hectares of Brazil’s Amazon — burned. Bolivia had a record number of fires in the first ten months of the year. “Forest fires have become a constant, especially in the summer months and require particular attention from the authorities who don’t how to deal with or respond to them,” Ipenza said. Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana also saw a surge in fires this year. Indigenous voices and rights made headway in 2024 The United Nations conference on biodiversity — this year known as COP16 — was hosted by Colombia. The meetings put the Amazon in the spotlight and a historic agreement was made to give Indigenous groups more of , a development that builds on a growing movement to recognize Indigenous people’s role in protecting land and combating climate change. Both Ebus and Miller saw promise in the appointment of Martin von Hildebrand as the new secretary general for the Amazon Treaty Cooperation Organization, announced during COP16. “As an expert on Amazon communities, he will need to align governments for joint conservation efforts. If the political will is there, international backers will step forward to finance new strategies to protect the world’s largest tropical rainforest,” Ebus said. Ebus said Amazon countries need to cooperate more, whether in law enforcement, deploying joint emergency teams to combat forest fires, or providing health care in remote Amazon borderlands. But they need help from the wider world, he said. “The well-being of the Amazon is a shared global responsibility, as consumer demand worldwide fuels the trade in commodities that finance violence and environmental destruction,” he said. Next year marks a critical moment for the Amazon, as Belém do Pará in northern Brazil hosts the first United Nations COP in the region that will focus on climate. “Leaders from Amazon countries have a chance to showcase strategies and demand tangible support,” Ebus said. ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at . Steven Grattan, The Associated PressLONDON (AP) — A suspected Chinese spy with business ties to Prince Andrew has been barred from the U.K. because of concerns he poses a threat to national security. A British immigration tribunal upheld the decision on Thursday in a ruling that revealed the Chinese national had developed such a close relationship with Andrew that he was invited to the prince’s birthday party. Government officials were concerned the man could have misused his influence because the prince was under “considerable pressure” at the time, according to the ruling. British authorities believe the Chinese national, whose name wasn’t released, was working on behalf of the United Front Work Department, an arm of the Chinese Communist Party that is used to influence foreign entities. The government determined that the businessman “was in a position to generate relationships between senior Chinese officials and prominent U.K. figures which could be leveraged for political interference purposes by the Chinese State,” according to the tribunal's decision. In a statement from his office, Andrew, also known as the Duke of York, said he accepted government advice and ceased all contact with the Chinese national as soon as concerns were raised. “The Duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed,′′ his office said. “He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.” Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, has been repeatedly criticized for his links to wealthy foreigners, raising concerns that those individuals are trying to buy access to the royal family. Andrew’s finances have been squeezed in recent years after he was forced to step away from royal duties and give up public funding amid concerns about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein , the American financier and convicted pedophile who committed suicide in prison in 2019. British intelligence chiefs have become increasingly concerned about China’s efforts to influence U.K. government policy. In 2022, Britain’s domestic intelligence service, known as MI5, warned politicians that a British-Chinese lawyer had been seeking to improperly influence members of Parliament for years. A parliamentary researcher was arrested in 2023 on suspicion of providing sensitive information to China. The 50-year-old Chinese national covered by this week’s ruling was described as a man who worked as a junior civil servant in China before he came to the U.K. as a student in 2002. He earned a master’s degree in public administration and public policy at the University of York before starting a business that advises U.K.-based companies on their operations in China. He was granted the right to live and work in the U.K. for an indefinite period in 2013. Although he didn’t make Britain his permanent home, the man told authorities that he spent one to two weeks a month in the country and considered it his “second home.” He was stopped while entering the U.K. on Nov. 6, 2021, and ordered to surrender his mobile phone and other digital devices on which authorities found a letter from a senior adviser to Andrew confirming that he was authorized to act on behalf of the prince in relation to potential partners and investors in China. The letter and other documents highlighted the strength of the relationship between Andrew, his adviser and the Chinese national. “I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal and indeed his family,” the adviser wrote. “You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship. Outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.” The letter went on to describe how they had found a way to work around former private secretaries to the prince and other people who weren’t completely trusted. “Under your guidance, we found a way to get the relevant people unnoticed in and out of the house in Windsor,” the adviser wrote. Andrew lives at the Royal Lodge, a historic country estate near Windsor Castle, west of London.
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more The Canada Goose Crofton Puffer delivers incredible warmth with a 750-fill power down and includes many features for city comfort. Shopping for a winter coat can be incredibly hard because you won't know how it'll perform until you actually wear it in ideal outdoor conditions. And by then, it's likely too late to return it if it doesn't live up to expectations. To let customers experience before buying, Canada Goose has installed the "Cold Room" in select stores that simulate cold-weather conditions and what it's like to wear its gear in cold weather — particularly useful if you're shopping during warmer seasons. Canada Goose assigns a Thermal Experience Index (TEI) rating to all of its products. The Cold Room lets shoppers put the ratings to the test, even at below-freezing temperatures. The company stands firmly behind the TEI, but considering how expensive Canada Goose apparel can be, the Cold Room is a way back up its claims. I visited the Cold Room at the Canada Goose store at the Mall in Short Hills, in New Jersey, to learn more about the TEI and what it's like to try out this store feature. What is Canada Goose's Thermal Experience Index? Fill power is a number that measures the amount of space one ounce of down will fill in cubic inches. Generally, higher fill power is an indication of higher quality down being used, making it a warmer garment for the wearer. While most winter coats have a fill power rating, people often struggle to understand what that means in terms of real-world use. Is a jacket with a 750-fill power rating really that much warmer than a jacket with a 700-fill power rating? Do I need a higher fill power if I'm only outside for a few minutes at a time during the winter? To help customers determine which garments suit their needs, Canada Goose developed its TEI rating, which outlines the different levels of warmth and best uses. Everything from raincoats and vests to hoodies and parkas gets its own TEI rating. When picking out a Canada Goose jacket to test, the TEI ratings definitely helped me make a decision. I went with the Crofton Puffer Jacket because it's lightweight, has a modern puffer design, has lots of versatile features for wearing in city environments, and features a TEI 4 rating. It's one step higher than the fundamental everyday warmth TEI 3 garments provide, yet not as extreme as TEI 5 garments designed for the coldest places on earth. What it's like inside a Canada Goose Cold Room The Cold Room is a small temperature-controlled, in-store facility designed to help you test cold-weather Canada Goose products before you buy them. The thermostat was set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, but it can be adjusted (at or below freezing) depending on the temperature you want to test your jacket. I casually stepped in with my Canada Goose Crofton Puffer unzipped but quickly realized that 0 degrees Fahrenheit is a lot colder than an average winter day in New Jersey. After putting the hood on and zipping up the jacket, the upper half of my body was completely warm. I stayed inside the Cold Room for about 10 minutes and could feel the freezing cold air ripping through my jeans, but I couldn't feel a bit of cold elsewhere with the Crofton Puffer on. After using the Canada Goose Crofton Puffer in the Cold Room and in the real world, it has become one of the best winter coats for men I've tested. Granted, you will end up wearing your jacket in real-world cold weather for much longer than 10 minutes at a time, but the Cold Room gave me the confidence to know that my jacket could handle it when the time came. Every time I wore my jacket in real-world cold weather, I was reminded of how effective the Cold Room test was. Although I used the Cold Room to test a winter jacket this past season, it's also a great way to gauge the performance of lighter-weight jackets and hoodies ideal for transitional spring weather or layering. The bottom line Although Canada Goose provided the jacket for the purpose of testing and reviewing, my experience in the Cold Room helped me understand why Canada Goose jackets are priced higher than many options on the market. Canada Goose is driven by performance and results, and its products directly reflect that. The jackets are made with the highest quality materials and lab- and field-tested technology that translates to real-world warmth. It's tough to justify spending so much on a jacket even if you can afford it, but Canada Goose's products live up to their cost. If there's a Canada Goose Cold Room near you, I recommend it as a way to experience the products' warmth for yourself. Men’s street fashion Footwear, including significant release dates, design history, construction, and materials Menswear staples, including workwear, casual clothes, underwear, T-shirts, and more Brand founder or designer interviews Men’s grooming and shaving products Prescription eyewearVibration Table Market Outlook and Future Projections for 2030 12-28-2024 11:52 AM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Vibration Table Market Outlook and Future Projections for 2030 The vibration table market represents a dynamic and continually evolving landscape, shaped by changing consumer demands and technological advancements. In this comprehensive report, we provide an in-depth exploration of the market, designed for a wide range of stakeholders including manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and investors. Our goal is to equip industry participants with essential insights that enable informed decision-making in an ever-changing market environment. This analysis not only examines the current state of the vibration table market but also forecasts its future trends. Scope and Purpose This report serves as an extensive resource, thoughtfully curated to deliver actionable intelligence to industry stakeholders. It covers critical elements such as market dynamics, competitive environments, growth opportunities, challenges, and regional differences. The insights provided go beyond mere descriptions, offering a valuable tool for stakeholders to refine their strategies and make informed choices in a competitive market. Request for Sample Report: https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Vibration-Table-Market/request-for-sample-report Comprehensive Market Analysis We are committed to providing a thorough analysis that explores every aspect of market growth, including shifts in consumer preferences and technological innovations driving demand for vibration table products. We also address the challenges faced by the industry, such as economic uncertainties and intense competition, offering insights to help stakeholders navigate these complexities. Key Players in the Vibration Table Market: Tarnos Humboldt Testronix Netter Vibration Star Trace India SE-Test India Magwell Industries Moog Servotest Instron MTS Systems Strategic Guidance for the Future This report invites stakeholders to delve into a detailed examination of the competitive landscape. By profiling key players in the vibration table market and analyzing their strategies, we offer crucial insights to help industry participants make informed strategic decisions. Whether it's about outpacing competitors or learning from successful approaches, our analysis is designed to guide stakeholders toward success. Anticipated Insights Understanding the diverse segments within the vibration table market is critical to success. Our report breaks down segment sizes, potential growth trajectories, and key trends, offering actionable insights that allow stakeholders to develop targeted strategies and optimize resource allocation. The knowledge provided empowers stakeholders to navigate the complexities of the vibration table market with clarity and confidence. Balancing Market Forces and Strategic Impact This report delivers a comprehensive analysis of the factors shaping the vibration table market. By evaluating both the drivers of market growth and the obstacles that could impede it, stakeholders gain a holistic understanding of the market's dynamics. For manufacturers, this analysis helps align innovation efforts with consumer demands and regulatory trends, while investors and decision-makers gain a deeper understanding of economic risks and supply chain vulnerabilities, allowing them to make more informed strategic choices. Our goal is to provide stakeholders with the knowledge needed to confidently and successfully navigate the vibration table market. Competitive Landscape Our in-depth examination of the vibration table market's competitive landscape highlights key players, scrutinizing their strategies and impacts on the industry. By analyzing the approaches of major companies, stakeholders gain a valuable understanding of market dynamics and can leverage these insights to identify growth opportunities, innovate, and make informed strategic decisions. Market Segmentation The report begins with a detailed analysis of the unique characteristics defining each segment within the vibration table market. Segmentation can occur across various dimensions, including product types, customer demographics, or specific use cases. Understanding these differences allows stakeholders to tailor their strategies, products, and marketing efforts to meet the specific needs of each segment, enhancing competitive positioning and maximizing opportunities for success. Market Segments: Product Type: Two-Dimensional Vibration Table Three-Dimensional Vibration Table Application: Construction Industry Industrial Laboratory Market Size and Segment Growth Potential A crucial part of the report focuses on understanding the size and significance of each market segment. We provide quantitative data that illustrates the market share and contribution of each segment, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation, strategic prioritization, and investment. This section offers insights into the growth potential of each segment, including factors driving future expansion, evolving consumer preferences, and technological adoption. Conclusion This report serves as a strategic guide for stakeholders in the vibration table market, offering comprehensive insights into market segmentation, competitive dynamics, and growth potential. By understanding the market's complexities and emerging opportunities, industry participants can make well-informed decisions that drive success and innovation in this rapidly evolving market. Other Reports PTMEG-650 Market https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/PTMEG-650-Market Biodegradable Petfood Packaging Market https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Biodegradable-Petfood-Packaging-Market Activated Carbon Market https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Activated-Carbon-Market Capacitive Coupling Plate Market https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Capacitive-Coupling-Plate-Market "Contact Us Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private Limited Contact No: +91 7580990088 Email Id: sales@dhirtekbusinessresearch.com" "About Us Dhirtek Business Research & Consulting Pvt Ltd is a global market research and consulting services provider headquartered in India. We offer our customers syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our objective is to enable our clientele to achieve transformational progress and help them to make better strategic business decisions and enhance their global presence. We serve numerous companies worldwide, mobilizing our seasoned workforce to help companies shape their development through proper channeling and execution. We offer our services to large enterprises, start-ups, non-profit organizations, universities, and government agencies. The renowned institutions of various countries and Fortune 500 businesses use our market research services to understand the business environment at the global, regional, and country levels. Our market research reports offer thousands of statistical information and analysis of various industries at a granular level." This release was published on openPR.
DOGE at Work: Whistleblower Alleges Federal Employee Moved to Florida, Continued to Receive Full D.C. PaycheckBurt, the huge crocodile that rose to fame with a cameo in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” and continued to impress visitors with his fiery temper and commanding presence, has died. Burt died over the weekend, the Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia , said. He was at least 90 years old. “Known for his independent nature, Burt was a confirmed bachelor — an attitude he made clear during his earlier years at a crocodile farm,” Crocosaurus Cove wrote in social media posts. “He wasn’t just a crocodile, he was a force of nature and a reminder of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures. While his personality could be challenging, it was also what made him so memorable and beloved by those who worked with him and the thousands who visited him over the years,” the aquarium wrote. A saltwater crocodile , Burt was estimated to be more than 5 meters (16 feet) long. He was captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River and became one of the most well-known crocodiles in the world, according to Crocosaurus Cove. The 1986 movie stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile before being saved by Dundee. Burt is briefly shown lunging out of the water. But the creature shown in more detail as Dundee saves the day is apparently something else. The Internet Movie Database says the movie goofed by depicting an American alligator, which has a blunter snout. The Australian aquarium where Burt had lived since 2008 features a “Cage of Death” which it says is the nation's only crocodile dive. It said it planned to honor Burt's legacy with a commemorative sign “celebrating his extraordinary life and the stories and interactions he shared throughout his time at the park.”Western Conference Scout Says Lakers Cannot Win With Austin Reaves As Their Third Best Player
Pay first, deliver later: Some women are being asked to prepay for their babyBillionToOne to Present at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare ConferenceOn Christmas, December 2023, Anna Jaques Hospital (AJH) in Massachusetts was grappling with a cyberattack that knocked out their EHR system and resulted in them having to divert ambulances to other area hospitals. On January 23, they posted a preliminary website notice ( archived ) about the attack. That notice was posted four days after threat actors known as Money Message had added AJH to their dark web leak site with a claim of having exfiltrated 600 GB of data. Money Message provided numerous screenshots of files with personal and protected health information, and on January 22, they gave the hospital a deadline of January 26 to pay. On January 26, the threat actors updated their listing by simply posting a new link to an onion URL for the data dump. Following AJH’s January 23 notice, there were no updates from AJH until now. On December 5, AJH notified the Maine Attorney General’s Office that a total of 316,342 people were affected by the breach. Their notice included a copy of their notification to patients. AJH also posted an updated notice on their website. The updated website notice repeats earlier information, including that the type of information impacted may vary per individual but could include demographic information, medical information, health insurance information, Social Security number, driver’s license number, financial information, and other personal or health information that the patient had provided Anna Jacques. A closer reading of the notification to patients raises a number of questions about the hospital’s transparency, however. The letter states: As part of the investigation, we engaged leading third-party cybersecurity experts experienced in handling these types of incidents. The investigation aimed to determine the extent of the activity, and whether individual personal information, if any, may have been accessed or acquired by an unauthorized third party. On November 5, 2024, the investigation determined certain files containing your information were potentially accessed by an unauthorized party. “Certain files containing your information were potentially accessed”? Why didn’t they tell patients that their files were not only actually accessed but were actually exfiltrated and leaked publicly? Why did they suggest that they were notifying patients out of an abundance of caution when notification was required by law and data with PHI had been leaked publicly? DataBreaches emailed Beth Israel Leahy Health’s media contact to ask a number of questions, including why AJH had not told patients that data had been leaked on the dark web. They did not reply. DataBreaches is not accusing AJH of violating any law or regulation. HIPAA does not seem to require full transparency about incidents that would include telling patients when their information was definitely acquired or leaked on the internet. It’s high time federal and state breach notification laws did require fuller transparency so that patients can more accurate gauge their risk.