Celebrating the Strength of 5 | Fuji: A Opera returns for its Historic Fifth Edition this 2024!
South Punjab PTI workers show signs of distress to join Islamabad protestMilitary establishment distances itself from ongoing PTI-govt talks During his press conference in May, DGISPR was asked about possibility of deal with PTI and Imran Khan ISLAMABAD: The military establishment has made it clear that it has nothing to do with the ongoing reported behind the scene contacts between the PTI and the government. A source, associated with the establishment, while talking to The News on Friday categorically denied the impression, given or perceived by some people, as if these background contacts are either the consequence of the initiative of the security establishment or there is any interaction between the institution and the PTI. “Our position is clear that the Army will not talk to any political party. It is for the political parties to talk to each other,” the source said, adding that the Pakistan Army will not hold any dialogue with any political leader or political party. The source, while referring to the press conference addressed by the DGISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif in May this year, said that the institution stated position remains unchanged. During his press conference in May, the DGISPR was asked about the possibility of any deal with PTI and Imran Khan. He had stated that the Army has no political role. “The Army is apolitical and its relationship with every government is in accordance with the Constitution and law,” he had clarified. “All political parties are respectable for us. However, if any political group attacks its own army, no one will interact with it. The only way for such an anarchist group is to apologise to the nation, promise to shun the politics of hatred and do constructive politics,” he had said, and stressed, “In any case, such a dialogue should take place between political parties. It is not appropriate for the Army to be involved.” The News, while quoting a senior defence source, had also reported on November 2 that the military’s policy, as announced earlier, remains unchanged and if Imran Khan and the PTI want to seek any relief or concession, the only way forward for them is to talk to the political parties, including those representing the government, and not the army or its chief.AI Chip Demand Propels Growth Nvidia is gearing up for a potentially groundbreaking year in 2025, buoyed by an explosion in demand for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. After posting jaw-dropping stock gains of over 238% in 2023 and continued impressive growth this year, Nvidia is poised for further success. Its cutting-edge graphics processing units (GPUs) remain vital in driving forward AI development, especially in sectors focusing on large language models and sophisticated AI computations. The race among tech giants and startups to develop superior AI tools is intensifying the demand for Nvidia’s latest GPUs. Innovation Leads to Market Dominance While competition is fierce, Nvidia’s strategic advantage comes from its proprietary CUDA software platform. Initially designed for graphics processing tasks, CUDA has evolved into a standard toolkit for high-performance computing. Its ongoing development, particularly through domain-specific AI tools like CUDA X, cements Nvidia’s leadership. Despite facing competition from bespoke AI chips, Nvidia’s comprehensive and user-friendly AI solutions help maintain its advantage. Valuation and Future Outlook Despite past achievements, Nvidia’s stock valuation remains appealing for growth-focused investors, supported by metrics such as a forward P/E ratio around 30. Analysts foresee continued strength as the AI sector matures, suggesting Nvidia’s momentum is far from waning. Through relentless innovation and a strategic focus on diversified AI applications, Nvidia is not just maintaining its pace but poised to set new industry benchmarks as it heads toward 2025. As a result, Nvidia remains a vital player in the tech arena with a future teeming with potential. The Future of AI Chips: Why Nvidia is Leading the Charge Nvidia’s rise as a leader in AI technology is not only grounded in its groundbreaking GPUs but is also being propelled by several key innovations and trends shaping the industry. As the demand for artificial intelligence accelerates, particularly in preferences for large language models and advanced computational tasks, Nvidia remains at the forefront of delivering state-of-the-art solutions. Innovative Software: A Strategic Edge Nvidia’s proprietary CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) software is a pivotal element in its dominant market position. Originally intended for graphics, CUDA has transformed into an essential toolkit for high-performance computing. This strategy is reinforced by the development of domain-specific AI tools such as CUDA X, which offer tailored solutions for different industry needs. These advancements underscore how Nvidia is harnessing software as a complement to its hardware capabilities, ensuring comprehensive support for diverse AI applications. Security and Compatibility: Leading the Pack Security is an increasingly important aspect as AI technologies are integrated into critical applications. Nvidia is enhancing the security features of its GPUs, ensuring they can be used safely and reliably across sensitive applications, from healthcare to autonomous driving. Additionally, the compatibility of Nvidia’s GPUs with various AI frameworks makes them a preferred choice among developers who require seamless integration into existing workflows. Sustainability and Environmental Impact As the tech industry faces heightened scrutiny over environmental impacts, Nvidia is actively working on sustainability initiatives. These include developing energy-efficient chips that reduce power consumption while maintaining performance. Such efforts are vital in contributing to greener technology solutions as the demand for AI applications continues to rise. Market Predictions and Industry Analysis The AI chip market is expected to experience significant growth, with Nvidia predicted to maintain or even expand its market share. Analysts forecast the AI sector to mature rapidly over the next few years, presenting both opportunities and challenges for industry players. Nvidia’s robust technological infrastructure positions it well to navigate this evolving landscape. Investment Insights and Stock Valuation From an investment perspective, Nvidia’s stock continues to offer favorable valuations for growth-focused investors. With a forward P/E ratio of approximately 30, the company remains an attractive long-term investment, benefiting from sustained demand and strategic positioning in the AI arena. With its continual evolution and adaptive strategy, Nvidia sets the pace not just for itself, but for the entire AI industry as it looks toward a promising future in 2025 and beyond. For more information on Nvidia’s innovations, you can visit Nvidia’s official website .
The 76ers said George did not suffer any structural damage when he injured the same knee that he hyperextended during the preseason in Wednesday night's loss at Memphis. The game marked the first time this season the All-Star trio of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey started a game together. George will miss home games Friday against Brooklyn and Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers, his former team. A nine-time All-Star, the 34-year-old George will be evaluated again on Monday. Wednesday's 117-111 loss to the Grizzlies dropped the Sixers to 2-12, the worst record in the NBA headed into Thursday night's games. George signed a four-year, $212 million contract with Philadelphia after five seasons with the Clippers. He has averaged 14.9 points in eight games this season. Embiid has been out with injuries, load management rest and a suspension, while Maxey was sidelined with a hamstring injury. An expected contender in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers haven't won since an overtime victory against Charlotte on Nov. 10. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nbaCam Ward breaks Bernie Kosar's single-season Miami passing yards and completions records
BOULDER, Colo. — Travis Hunter is a throwback-type player — an elite receiver one moment, a lockdown cornerback the next — who rarely leaves the field and has a knack for making big plays all over it. The Colorado Buffaloes' two-way standout (see: unicorn) even celebrates at an elite level, unveiling imaginative dance moves following touchdowns and interceptions, some of which include the Heisman Trophy pose. It's one of the many awards he's in line to win. Hunter is the The Associated Press college football player of the year, receiving 26 of 43 votes Thursday from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. "Couldn't do what I do without my team," Hunter said in an email on a trip to Las Vegas for an awards ceremony. "So I view being up for these awards as team awards." A player with his particular set of skills doesn't come around that often. He's a flashback to the days of Charles Woodson at Michigan or Champ Bailey at Georgia. Or even his coach, Deion Sanders, a two-way star in the NFL. The prospect of significant playing time on both sides of the ball is what led Hunter to join Sanders at Jackson State and why he followed Sanders to Boulder. "Coach Prime was the only coach who would consider allowing me to do what I'm doing," said Hunter, who's expected to be a top-five pick next spring in the NFL draft, possibly even the No. 1 overall selection. "He did it and knows what it takes — how much you have to be ready on both sides of the ball." Want to fuel Hunter? Simply tell him he can't. "I'm motivated when people tell me I can't do something," Hunter said. "That I can't dominate on both sides of the ball. I want to be an example for others that anything is possible. Keep pursuing your dreams." Hunter helped the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record this season and a berth in the Alamo Bowl against No. 17 BYU (10-2) on Dec. 28. He played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the lone Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Hunter has already won a second straight Paul Hornung award as the game's most versatile player. He's up for the Walter Camp (player of the year), Maxwell (most outstanding player), the Biletnikoff (best receiver) and Bednarik (top defensive player) awards. And, of course, the Heisman, where he's the odds-on favorite to win over Jeanty this weekend. Hunter can join the late Rashaan Salaam as the only Colorado players to capture the Heisman. Salaam won it in 1994 after rushing for 2,055 yards. Hunter wasn't a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back. That drew the wrath of Sanders, who earned the award with Florida State in 1988 and vowed to give his trophy to Hunter. Hunter's high school coach, Lenny Gregory, knew he had a special player the summer of Hunter's freshman year. Gregory, then the coach at Collins Hill in Georgia, had a conditioning test for his players — run six 200-yard dashes with a minute rest in between. Defensive backs had to complete each in under 32 seconds. Hunter never even got winded. He played safety/cornerback and receiver as a freshman and helped Collins Hill to a state title his senior season. "I remember just talking to colleges the spring of his ninth-grade year and telling coaches that this kid's going to be the No. 1 player in the country," recounted Gregory, who's now the coach at Gordon Central High in Calhoun, Georgia. "They'd look at him and laugh at me, 'What are you talking about? This scrawny kid? He's not big enough.' I was like, 'Just watch. Just watch.'" Hunter finished the regular season with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced one crucial fumble, which secured an OT win over Baylor. Overall, Hunter had 92 receptions and allowed 22. He hauled in 14 receiving TDs and allowed just one. He was responsible for 53 first downs and gave up just six. He was targeted 119 times by Shedeur Sanders & Co. but only 39 times by opposing QBs. Hunter's likely final game in Boulder, a rout of Oklahoma State, was a three-touchdown, one-interception performance. "I'm used to seeing him do all this spectacular stuff," Shedeur Sanders said. "I'm used to all this stuff — you all are just now seeing it on national stage." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Military establishment distances itself from ongoing PTI-govt talks During his press conference in May, DGISPR was asked about possibility of deal with PTI and Imran Khan ISLAMABAD: The military establishment has made it clear that it has nothing to do with the ongoing reported behind the scene contacts between the PTI and the government. A source, associated with the establishment, while talking to The News on Friday categorically denied the impression, given or perceived by some people, as if these background contacts are either the consequence of the initiative of the security establishment or there is any interaction between the institution and the PTI. “Our position is clear that the Army will not talk to any political party. It is for the political parties to talk to each other,” the source said, adding that the Pakistan Army will not hold any dialogue with any political leader or political party. The source, while referring to the press conference addressed by the DGISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif in May this year, said that the institution stated position remains unchanged. During his press conference in May, the DGISPR was asked about the possibility of any deal with PTI and Imran Khan. He had stated that the Army has no political role. “The Army is apolitical and its relationship with every government is in accordance with the Constitution and law,” he had clarified. “All political parties are respectable for us. However, if any political group attacks its own army, no one will interact with it. The only way for such an anarchist group is to apologise to the nation, promise to shun the politics of hatred and do constructive politics,” he had said, and stressed, “In any case, such a dialogue should take place between political parties. It is not appropriate for the Army to be involved.” The News, while quoting a senior defence source, had also reported on November 2 that the military’s policy, as announced earlier, remains unchanged and if Imran Khan and the PTI want to seek any relief or concession, the only way forward for them is to talk to the political parties, including those representing the government, and not the army or its chief.COP29 – We have a deal
Party City to close its stores as company files for bankruptcy LOS ANGELES (AP) — Party City announced that it's going to “wind down” its retail and wholesale operations as it prepares to shutter nearly 700 stores nationwide. The company said Saturday it has also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection "to maximize value for the benefit of the company’s stakeholders.” The New Jersey-based retailer said it will keep more than 95% of its 12,000 employees to help with the process of closing down. Customers have flocked to Party City for Halloween costumes, favors for children’s birthday parties and decorations for New Year’s Eve celebrations for nearly 40 years. It has faced growing competition from Walmart and Target and from occasion-based pop-up stores such as Spirit Halloween. A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they and why now? Approximately 1 million taxpayers will automatically receive special payments of up to $1,400 from the IRS in the coming weeks. The money will be directly deposited into eligible people’s bank accounts or sent in the mail by a paper check. Most people shouldn't get their hopes up about receiving the cash. The IRS says it’s distributing about $2.4 billion to taxpayers who failed to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns after missing one of the COVID stimulus payments or receiving less than the full amount. The IRS says most taxpayers eligible for the federal stimulus payments received them. Bluesky finds with growth comes growing pains — and bots Bluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk’s X, or wanting an alternative to Meta’s Threads and its algorithms. The platform grew out of the company then known as Twitter and was eventually intended to replace it. While this is still very much a pie in the sky, Bluesky’s growth trajectory could make it a serious competitor to other social platforms. With growth, though, comes growing pains. It’s not just human users who’ve been flocking to Bluesky but also bots, including those designed to create partisan division or direct users to junk websites. 'Sonic 3' bests 'Mufasa: The Lion King' at the box office NEW YORK (AP) — In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sped past the Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” to take the top spot at the box office. The results came just ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters. According to studio estimates, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend. “Mufasa,” however, was humbled in its opening weekend, coming in notably shy of expectations. It returned just $35 million in domestic ticket sales. Amazon and Starbucks workers are on strike. Trump might have something to do with it Amazon delivery drivers and Starbucks baristas are on strike in a handful of U.S. cities as they seek to exert pressure on the two major companies to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet demands for an inaugural labor contract. Strikes during busy periods like the holidays can help unions exercise leverage during negotiations or garner support from sympathetic consumers. One expert says he thinks workers at both companies are “desperate” to make progress before President-elect Donald Trump can appoint a Republican majority to the National Labor Relations Board. Workers at Starbucks, Amazon and some other prominent consumer brands are fighting for their first contracts after several locations voted to unionize. Farmers are still reeling months after Hurricane Helene ravaged crops across the South LYONS, Ga. (AP) — Farmers in Georgia are still reeling more than two months after Hurricane Helene blew away cotton, destroyed ripened squash and cucumbers and uprooted pecan trees and timber. Agribusinesses in other Southern states saw costly damage as well. The University of Georgia estimates the September storm inflicted $5.5 billion in direct losses and indirect costs in Georgia alone. In rural Toombs County, Chris Hopkins just finished harvesting his ravaged cotton crop and figures he lost half of it, costing him about $430,000. Poultry grower Jeffrey Pridgen in Georgia's Coffee County had four of his 12 chicken houses destroyed and others badly damaged. Farmers say more government disaster assistance is needed. Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI’s strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. But he grew disillusioned with the company and told The Associated Press this fall he would “try to testify” in copyright infringement cases against it. Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge shows price pressures eased last month WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge that is closely watched by the Federal Reserve barely rose last month in a sign that price pressures cooled after two months of sharp gains. Prices rose just 0.1% from October to November. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, prices also ticked up just 0.1%, after two months of outsize 0.3% gains. The milder inflation figures arrived two days after Federal Reserve officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, rocked financial markets by revealing that they now expect to cut their key interest rate just two times in 2025, down from four in their previous estimate. Albania to close TikTok for a year blaming it for promoting violence among children TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s prime minister says the government will shut down video service TikTok for one year, blaming it for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children. Albanian authorities held 1,300 meetings with teachers and parents following the stabbing death of a teenager in mid-November by another teenager following a quarrel that started on TikTok. Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking at a meeting with teachers and parents, said TikTok “would be fully closed for all. ... There will be no TikTok in the Republic of Albania.” Rama says the ban will begin sometime next year. Albanian children comprise the largest group of TikTok users in the country, according to domestic researchers. Stock market today: Wall Street rises to turn a dismal week into just a bad one NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to turn what would have been one of the market’s worst weeks of the year into just a pretty bad one. The S&P 500 rallied 1.1% Friday to shave its loss for the week down to 2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped nearly 500 points, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. A report said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower last month than expected. It’s an encouraging signal after the Fed shocked markets Wednesday by saying worries about inflation could keep it from cutting interest rates in 2025 as much as earlier thought.ISSAQUAH, Wash., Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: COST) today announced its operating results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 (twelve weeks), ended November 24, 2024. Net sales for the first quarter increased 7.5 percent, to $60.99 billion from $56.72 billion last year. Comparable sales for the first quarter fiscal 2025 were as follows: *Excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange. Net income for the quarter was $1,798 million, $4.04 per diluted share, compared to $1,589 million, $3.58 per diluted share, last year. This year’s results included a tax benefit of $100 million, $0.22 per diluted share, related to stock-based compensation. Last year’s results included a tax benefit of $44 million, $0.10 per diluted share, also related to stock-based compensation. Costco currently operates 897 warehouses, including 617 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 109 in Canada, 41 in Mexico, 36 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 19 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, seven in China, five in Spain, two in France, and one each in Iceland, New Zealand and Sweden. Costco also operates e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Australia. A conference call to discuss these results is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (PT) today, December 12, 2024, and is available via a webcast on investor.costco.com (click “Events & Presentations”). Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For these purposes, forward-looking statements are statements that address activities, events, conditions or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, domestic and international economic conditions, including exchange rates, inflation or deflation, the effects of competition and regulation, uncertainties in the financial markets, consumer and small business spending patterns and debt levels, breaches of security or privacy of member or business information, conditions affecting the acquisition, development, ownership or use of real estate, capital spending, actions of vendors, rising costs associated with employees (generally including health-care costs and wages), workforce interruptions, energy and certain commodities, geopolitical conditions (including tariffs), the ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, regulatory and other impacts related to environmental and social matters, public-health related factors, and other risks identified from time to time in the Company’s public statements and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake to update these statements, except as required by law. Comparable sales and comparable sales excluding impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange are intended as supplemental information and are not a substitute for net sales presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. COST-Earn
Even with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weight