Britain's economy contracted unexpectedly in October, according to data from the U.K.'s Office for National Statistics. GDP fell by 0.1%, the latest print showed, marking the second consecutive monthly downturn. The British pound was trading lower against the dollar Friday morning. The U.K. economy contracted unexpectedly in October, according to data from Britain's Office for National Statistics (ONS). > 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are Gross Domestic Product fell by an estimated 0.1% on a monthly basis, the ONS said Friday, with officials attributing the downturn to a decline in production output. Economists polled by news agency Reuters had projected a 0.1% rise in GDP in October. It marked the country's second consecutive economic downturn, following a 0.1% GDP decline in September . Real GDP is estimated to have grown 0.1% in the three months to October, the ONS said, compared to the previous three months ending in July. Sterling declined on the back of the disappointing print, trading 0.3% lower against the U.S. dollar at $1.2627 by 7:45 a.m. London time. In a statement on Friday, U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves conceded that the October figures were "disappointing," but defended the government's divisive economic strategies . Money Report CNBC Daily Open: Inflation's still high — but so is the stock market China signals readiness to mend ties with U.S. ahead of Trump inauguration This is a breaking news story. Please refresh for updates. Also on CNBC Wholesale prices rose 0.4% in November, more than expected If Trump wants to kill inflation, this is the first thing he needs to do Budget deficit swells in November, pushing fiscal 2025 shortfall 64% higher
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Beacon Healthcare Systems , is pleased to announce the appointment of Ayman Mohamed as its new Chief Technology Officer, effective November 18 , signaling a new direction in innovation and technology leadership. With over 20 years of senior leadership, strategic, and operational product management experience, Ayman brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role. Ayman Mohamed is a seasoned technology leader with a proven track record of launching innovative products in new and existing markets, generating significant revenue streams, and creating profitable enterprises. His passion for building high-quality products and commitment to servant leadership have earned him a reputation for building trust and fostering collaborative, high-performing teams. Throughout his career, Ayman has demonstrated a deep understanding of software architecture and broad hands-on technical skills. He has successfully helped organizations succeed, with experience spanning startups and larger companies in the San Francisco Bay and Washington DC metro areas. In his new role at Beacon Healthcare Systems, Ayman will lead engineering and delivery teams, develop a product roadmap, and lead technology development, testing, and implementation efforts. "We are thrilled to have Ayman join Beacon Healthcare Systems at this pivotal time. Our vision is to harness cutting-edge technologies to enhance our products, implementations, and continue to give our clients the level of quality they expect," said Todd Petersen , CEO. Ayman Mohamed's previous roles include leadership positions at Amazon Web Services, American Well, Avizia, Intersections Inc, Zumetrics, Moasis Global, and Ultra Zoom Technologies. His strategic and operational skills, combined with his ability to thrive in dynamic environments and his bias for action, make him an invaluable asset to Beacon Healthcare Systems. About Beacon Healthcare Systems. Beacon Healthcare Systems streamlines the business of healthcare through reliable innovative SaaS technology delivered by industry experts. With a focus on appeals and grievances, compliance, and analytics, Beacon HCS is the first place health plans turn when looking for a trusted, experienced partner that can help them reduce costs, grow revenue, and achieve their strategic goals. Founded in 2011, Beacon HCS is a privately held California -based company. Visit our website at www.beaconhcs.com Media Contact: 9048744189 | Dkroog@ beacon@beaconhcs.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/beacon-healthcare-systems-expands-leadership-team-with-addition-of-ayman-mohamed-as-chief-technology-officer-302313686.html SOURCE Beacon Healthcare Systems
Cowboys set to host Bengals under open roof after falling debris thwarted that plan against Texans
Michigan hockey’s second-leading scorer suspended for one gameMatvei Michkov making a difference as Flyers battle Golden KnightsThe new Karl Lagerfeld has arrived at Chanel. Here’s what to expectC$ unless otherwise stated TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945 TORONTO , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife has been notified of an unsolicited mini-tender offer made by New York Stock and Bond LLC (New York Stock and Bond) to purchase up to 50,000 Manulife common shares, or less than 0.003% of the common shares outstanding, at a price of USD$12.50 per share. Manulife is in no way associated with New York Stock and Bond and does not recommend or endorse acceptance of this unsolicited offer. Manulife cautions shareholders that the mini-tender offer has been made at a price below the current market price for Manulife shares. The offer represents a discount of approximately 60.76% and 60.80%, respectively, below the closing prices of Manulife common shares on the TSX and NYSE on November 27, 2024 , the last trading day before the mini-tender offer was commenced, and a discount of 61.43% and 61.42%, respectively, below the closing prices on the TSX and NYSE on December 6, 2024 . Mini-tender offers are designed to seek less than 5% of a company's outstanding shares, avoiding disclosure and procedural requirements applicable to most bids under Canadian and U.S. securities regulations. The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have expressed serious concerns about mini-tender offers, including the possibility that investors might tender to such offers without understanding the offer price relative to the actual market price of their securities. The SEC states that "bidders make mini-tender offers at below-market prices, hoping that they will catch investors off guard if the investors do not compare the offer price to the current market price." Shareholders should carefully review the New York Stock and Bond offer documents and current market price for Manulife shares, and consult their investment advisors regarding any offer they may receive and review with their advisors all options for their investment in Manulife shares. Manulife has stock transfer agents providing shareholder services in Canada , the United States , Hong Kong and the Philippines . These local agents provide services directly to our registered shareholders and can provide information on share account management, direct deposit of dividends, dividend reinvestment and share purchase plans. Please email manulifeinquiries@tmx.com for more information. Manulife requests that a copy of this news release be included in any distribution of materials relating to New York Stock and Bond's mini-tender offer for Manulife common shares. About Manulife Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada , we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada , Asia , and Europe , and primarily as John Hancock in the United States . Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2023, we had more than 38,000 employees, over 98,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 35 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto , New York , and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' in Hong Kong. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/manulife-cautions-investors-regarding-new-york-stock-and-bond-llc-offer-for-shares-302326646.html SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation
Detroit Red Wings (8-10-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. New York Islanders (8-8-5, in the Metropolitan Division) Elmont, New York; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The New York Islanders host the Detroit Red Wings after Kyle Palmieri scored two goals in the Islanders' 3-1 win against the St. Louis Blues. New York has an 8-8-5 record overall and a 3-3-2 record in home games. The Islanders have a 2-3-1 record when they commit more penalties than their opponent. Detroit is 8-10-2 overall and 4-5-1 on the road. The Red Wings have gone 3-3-2 in games their opponents serve fewer penalty minutes. The teams meet Monday for the third time this season. The Red Wings won the last meeting 2-1. TOP PERFORMERS: Bo Horvat has five goals and nine assists for the Islanders. Maxim Tsyplakov has over the last 10 games. Alex DeBrincat has eight goals and nine assists for the Red Wings. Albert Johansson has over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Islanders: 4-3-3, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.7 assists, 2.6 penalties and 5.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game. Red Wings: 4-5-1, averaging 2.2 goals, 3.5 assists, 2.2 penalties and 4.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game. INJURIES: Islanders: None listed. Red Wings: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Fonseca: ‘I have no signal’ Milan want to sack me and ‘fear nothing’Philadelphia takes on Vegas after overtime win
Already widespread before, climate despair has likely reached new levels following former President Donald Trump’s reelection. With good reason: Trump is committed to policies that are projected to kill tens of millions of people and unleash unprecedented chaos everywhere. But the climate war isn’t an all-or-nothing affair. Each fraction of a degree of heating that we can prevent will save many lives. Similarly, everything we do to build a more equitable world will provide some insulation against the heating that we fail to prevent. Furthermore, the fossil fuel industry is much more vulnerable than most people realize, its current profits notwithstanding. This was true in Trump’s first term and will remain true in his second. We can exploit its vulnerabilities. To do so, we need strategies that don’t require majority support at the national level. Though the United States public overwhelmingly supports environmental protections, clean energy and climate justice, most people don’t grasp the magnitude of the emergency and obviously don’t prioritize the climate when voting. What we do have is tens of millions of potential activists, including millions in many individual states. According to a 2024 Yale/George Mason University survey, large minorities say they feel angry (38 percent), fearful (38 percent) and anxious (36 percent) about the climate. In polls from the past five years, between 13 and 20 percent say they would definitely or probably “engage in nonviolent civil disobedience (e.g. sit-ins, blockades or trespassing) against corporate or government activities that make global warming worse” if someone they “like and respect” recruited them. About twice as many say they would visit politicians’ offices to pressure them. It’s these millions whom organizers should target. Drawing from the recent history of the climate movement, here’s a nonexhaustive list of ideas for organizers. My focus is on the U.S. since that’s the context I know best. None of the following require us to persuade a majority of voters or politicians at the national level. Public protests, from rallies to civil disobedience, are essential for generating public scrutiny of fossil fuel projects. Building large coalitions of stakeholders can increase their potency. Some confrontations, like the campaign against the Dakota Access Pipeline, can galvanize broader public consciousness and action. This is especially true when they intertwine with related fights for Indigenous sovereignty, racial equity and economic justice, which the climate movement has also prioritized in recent years. This type of protest is getting riskier almost everywhere, including in the United States. In the past decade 21 U.S. states have passed 56 new laws to criminalize or more harshly punish nonviolent protesters. Amid this authoritarian turn organizers must proceed carefully. In some cases, they will choose to defy those laws, and we should support them however possible. In other cases, they may choose disruptive forms of protest that are not (yet) illegal. Some of the most disruptive tactics are not very flashy. Leafletting against a company, if persistent and widespread, is potentially more disruptive than blockading a pipeline. Legal filings against companies or regulators can be highly disruptive. As industry spokespeople warn , more lawsuits can mean “further capital cost increases and longer overall pipeline approval and construction timelines.” A gas industry executive recently complained that “the number of lawsuits being filed to challenge pipeline construction” has added “costs and time to the development of a pipeline, which in some cases has just forced the pipelines to throw up their hands and walk away from projects.” Lawsuits against polluters for past damages are also important, both for the compensation they can deliver and for the potential long-term impact on the industry. The efficacy of litigation will partly depend on future legislative and judicial changes. Reforms to the permitting process , which could simultaneously facilitate fossil fuel infrastructure and renewables projects, would make it harder for the movement to obstruct polluters through the courts. Oil and gas companies may never reallocate their investments to other sectors, but financial institutions like banks, insurers and large institutional investors may. They could do so without jeopardizing their returns (fossil fuel financing comprises just over 1 percent of total assets at Bank of America, Chase and Citigroup), and their long-term financial stability would be more secure if they did. Public pension funds are potentially more vulnerable to our pressures, since they have a mandate to protect the long-term viability of their investments. These campaigns can take various forms. The most effective involve tying financial institutions to specific frontline struggles and getting institutions — city councils, universities, faith institutions, labor unions, and so on — to close their accounts or demand that their money managers reallocate investments. For instance, in 2017 the city of Seattle voted to close its $3 billion account with Wells Fargo due to the bank’s financing of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Divestment campaigns have traditionally targeted only stock holdings, but recent years have seen more action targeting banks, insurers and asset managers . Banks were also central targets in the South Africa divestment campaigns of the 1970s and 1980s. As always, polluters are finding ways to fight back. Some state governments have penalized financial institutions that “discriminate” against fossil fuels. This backlash only makes it more urgent that we build up a counterweight that imposes costs of our own on financial institutions. States have tremendous power to promote renewables, slash demand for fossil fuels, and even directly limit fossil fuel production. One climate expert estimates that “three-quarters of the country’s Paris Climate commitments can be achieved by state and local policy.” Recent state laws have mandated public investment in renewables , the phaseout of gas-powered vehicles , corporate pollution disclosures and “make-polluters-pay” penalties linked to climate disasters. All these laws stand to have powerful national impacts by altering corporate investments, as state legislation has often done . The prospects for building electoral coalitions around climate are far greater at the subnational levels. The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication provides detailed opinion data by county, state and congressional district . Since some of the most progressive states are also among the most important economically, reforms in those places can have outsized impacts at higher levels. A rare bright spot in the 2024 election was a referendum in Washington State, where 60 percent of voters rejected an effort to repeal the state’s climate legislation. That win followed a coalitional mobilization by almost 600 organizations. Also important are local-level laws that ban new gas hookups , improve energy efficiency standards, build community solar and otherwise cut fossil fuel demand. Those projects face challenges , particularly since this type of initiative is still new in the U.S. But they are clearly worrisome to gas companies for the signal they send investors about the industry’s long-term outlook. Predictably, polluters have directed their proxies in friendly courts and state governments to prohibit local restrictions on fossil fuels. For those who work, study, travel, or otherwise participate in institutions that consume lots of dirty energy, decarbonizing them is an important contribution to the climate fight. When universities replace gas boilers with heat pumps and solar panels, they deprive gas companies of some of their biggest customers. When school districts or local transportation authorities switch to electric buses, they do the same to the oil industry. Republicans will cut federal funding for many of these projects as soon as they can, so state, local and private sources of funding will become more important. Boycott campaigns could take various additional forms beyond divesting from dirty financiers and phasing out fossil fuel use. They might target specific companies that rely on sales to household consumers, such as a meat or dairy corporation linked to deforestation. They might involve the targeted punishment of companies that operate in political jurisdictions where governments allow polluters free rein, potentially including global penalties on U.S. companies. They might target businesses that operate in our towns and cities but oppose climate measures. (These municipal-level boycotts were another crucial piece of the South Africa campaign.) Any campaign with a national or global scope would need buy-in from major organizations. Serious boycotts campaigns are rare today but their potential remains great . We could muster the numbers necessary to win. Even without outreach, 26 percent of U.S. consumers already try to “punish” companies with the worst environmental records. An organized campaign by just 26 percent could wipe out many companies’ profit margins. In addition to investors and consumers, polluters need a workforce. As many progressive analysts have stressed, the movement needs to build bridges with fossil fuel workers, namely by fighting for reforms that properly compensate laid-off workers with money, retraining and/or new jobs. In the more immediate future, the movement could dedicate more energy to countering the recruitment of workers, particularly on college campuses. Companies’ fear of becoming less attractive to talented young graduates could become a significant force for internal change. Recent trends suggest the potential. Between 2017 and 2022, graduation from U.S. petroleum engineering programs plunged by 83 percent . This happened even as oil prices were rising, as Trump was trying to prop up the industry, and as other engineering programs were flourishing. Whether their concerns are moral or pragmatic, it appears few students see a future in the industry. More powerful, perhaps, would be a counterrecruitment campaign targeting one or more of the financial institutions that invest in fossil fuels. Again, those companies are more likely to abandon dirty energy than companies that specialize in it. There are growing hints of climate discontent among bank employees, which could be nurtured by organizers. Building a bigger, more combative labor movement is important to the climate struggle for at least two reasons. First, strikes are the most potent weapon for forcing the transformations we need. Climate strikes on a large scale aren’t yet plausible, but in the meantime, workers can fight for immediate workplace improvements like air-conditioning, water breaks and better ventilation. They can refuse to work in unsafe temperatures. This can be done by unionized and nonunionized workers alike, as recent workplace walkouts have shown. More ambitiously, they can force employers to reduce their own carbon pollution and to put pressure on dirty financial institutions. These actions also make employers more likely to demand policy reforms from government, including ones that restrain the fossil fuel industry. Second, labor organizing can also protect workers against the austerity and inflation that the ruling class will try to impose as the economic costs of climate destruction explode. Forcing capitalists to absorb more of those costs may also push them into political confrontation with the fossil fuel industry. The Hitlerian rhetoric of Trump’s 2024 campaign — undocumented immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country” — is but a glimpse of the cruelty we’ll see as more fossil fuel refugees flee unlivable tropics and coastlines. Racist scapegoating will be central to the effort to shield polluters from accountability. And it will find fertile ground: Thirty-four percent of U.S. residents explicitly agree with Trump’s statement about “poisoning,” and over half now say they want more restrictions on immigration (nearly double from just a few years ago). In addition to organizing sanctuary campaigns , we’ll have to work constantly to redirect popular hatred onto the capitalist culprits while cultivating empathy for their victims. Standing with refugees is part of the larger imperative of international solidarity. Stabilizing the climate is impossible unless the Global South gets the resources it needs to decarbonize and adapt. The rich countries, led by the United States, have refused to offer adequate compensation for their carbon pollution, a stance they reaffirmed at the November 2024 COP29 meeting in Azerbaijan. On this count U.S. public opinion is more sympathetic, with most respondents supporting “aid to developing nations” for those purposes. That support would be much stronger if the public knew the true gravity of the crisis or the miserly stance of the U.S. government. (The public drastically overestimates the generosity of U.S. foreign aid, but also supports far more aid than what the government actually gives.) Climate disasters are already a significant source of inflation, including for food . We’ll see more dramatic spikes as climate breakdown causes more crop failures. Developing sustainable local agriculture and mutual aid projects of all kinds can cushion the working class while also fostering stronger community cohesion. The movement should also demand that governments create international reserves of essential commodities like food. These “buffer stocks” would buy up goods when they’re available in excess and sell them off at noninflated prices in times of shortage, thereby cushioning both producers and consumers against price shocks. We have to talk about our climate reality much more, with everyone we know and meet. Biblical hurricanes, droughts and wildfires simply have not made the climate crisis a topic of daily conversation for most U.S. residents. Two-thirds “rarely or never” discuss climate with friends or family. While some people have severe climate anxiety, most aren’t nearly anxious enough : Only 28 percent are “alarmed” by the crisis. (The rest range from “concerned” to “dismissive.”) In this context politicians find it easier to ignore the emergency or label it just another “issue.” For the minority who suffer high anxiety about the unfolding crisis, offer them ideas for collective action. For the majority who aren’t freaked out enough, urge them to tune in, and show them how the solutions will benefit them and their children. Republicans will do whatever they can to crush resistance. Protesters will be met with greater state violence. Refugees will face new levels of state terror. Public officials and employees will be fired. New laws and regulations will further criminalize “discrimination” against fossil fuels by lower levels of government. Yet two reminders are in order. First, conditions won’t be one-tenth as bad for U.S. citizens as they have been for foreign peoples, from Vietnam to El Salvador to Palestine, who have heroically resisted (and sometimes defeated) U.S. empire. Second, Trump will remain subservient to capital, and capital depends on our labor, our consumption and our quiescence. That gives us power. We will continue to have power, in 2025 and beyond, if we organize ourselves and use it.Women are more likely to need walking sticks, wheelchairs and other mobility aids compared to men, but they are less likely to use them, according to a study. And single people are more likely to use mobility tools compared to those who are married, according to researchers from University College London (UCL) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Researchers looked at information from a group of more than 12,000 adults in England aged 50 to 89 who were tracked over a 13-year period. At the start of the study, 8,225 adults had no mobility difficulty and did not use mobility assistive products (MAPs). Some 2,480 were deemed to have “unmet need” and 1,375 were using mobility aids. During the follow-up period, there were 2,313 “transitions” where people went from having no mobility issues to needing some help with getting around. And 1,274 people started to use mobility aids. Compared with men, women were 49% more likely to transition from not needing mobility aids to needing to use them, according to the study which has been published in The Lancet Public Health. But were 21% less likely to go on to use mobility aids when they needed them. The authors said their study showed “barriers to access” for women. For both men and women, with every year that passed during the study period the need for mobility aids increased. People who were older, less educated, less wealthy or reported being disabled were more likely to “transition from no need to unmet need, and from unmet need to use”, the authors said, with this indicating a “higher prevalence of mobility limitations and MAP need overall among these groups”. They added: “Finally, marital or partnership status was not associated with transitioning to unmet need; however, single people were more likely to transition from unmet need to use compared with married or partnered people.” Jamie Danemayer, first author of the study from UCL Computer Science and UCL’s Global Disability Innovation Hub, said: “Our analysis suggests that there is a clear gender gap in access to mobility aids. “Though our data didn’t ascertain the reason why participants weren’t using mobility aids, other research tells us that women are often more likely than men to face obstacles such as cost barriers as a result of well-documented income disparities between genders. “Many mobility aids are designed for men rather than women, which we think may be a factor. “Using mobility aids can also make a disability visible, which can impact the safety and stigma experienced by women, in particular. “There’s a critical need for further research to identify and break down the barriers preventing women from accessing mobility aids that would improve their quality of life.” Professor Cathy Holloway, also from UCL, added: “Not having access to mobility aids when a person needs one can have a big impact on their independence, well-being and quality of life. “Our analysis suggests that women, in particular, regardless of other factors such as education and employment status, are not getting the support that they need.” Professor Shereen Hussein, senior author of the study and lead of the social care group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “The research provides compelling evidence of gender disparities in accessing assistive technology, suggesting that cost, design bias, and social stigma are likely to disproportionally affect women. “This underscores the need for inclusive, gender-sensitive approaches in the design, production and inclusivity of assistive technologies.”
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World Reacts To Life, Passing Of Former President Jimmy CarterWith the warmer weather and summer storms, I am finding my house is besieged by an influx of bugs, dust and grime. So my flatmates and I decided to invest in a Dyson vacuum cleaner and let me tell you, it has made a world of difference. If you want to transform the way you clean your home and your car, you’ll need to invest in this Dyson V8TM Extra Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today And it’s currently on sale on Amazon Australia for $399, normally $799. Whether you’re battling stubborn pet hair, dust bunnies, or the messiest corners, this powerful, versatile vacuum has got you covered. Say goodbye to tangled cords, low battery life, and weak suction, and say hello to a cleaner, fresher space with Dyson’s signature technology. One of the standout features of the Dyson V8TM Extra is its long-lasting battery life. With up to 40 minutes of fade-free power, you can clean your entire home without worrying about recharging. Its whole-machine filtration system captures dust, allergens, and pet hair, sealing in 99.99 per cent of particles as small as 0.3 microns. This means the air in your home stays cleaner, which is especially important for households with pets or small children. The “point and shoot” mechanism allows you to eject dirt and dust in one simple action without ever having to touch it. This feature ensures that the mess stays contained and minimises contact with allergens. Not only is the Dyson V8TM Extra powerful enough for your entire home, but it can also transformed into a handheld vacuum for smaller spaces or more detailed cleaning tasks. Plus it’s compact enough to reach into tight spots , such as between furniture or inside your car, but powerful enough to handle larger messes when needed. Shoppers on Amazon Australia have given the vacuum a 4.5-star rating on its website. “My new cordless Dyson is lightweight and easy to whip around furniture and clean my house like the professionals,” one person said. “This is a great little vacuum it’s light and suits all my needs,” another shopper added. “Such an impressive vacuum,” a third person said. To shop the Dyson Cordless Vacuum, head to Amazon Australia’s website here.
Polls close in Uruguay’s election, with ruling coalition and opposition headed for photo finish
A businessman described as a “close confidante” of the has lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the on national security grounds. The man, known only as H6, brought a case to the (SIAC) after then-home secretary said he should be excluded from the UK in March 2023. Judges were told that in a briefing for the home secretary in July 2023, officials claimed H6 had been in a position to generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials “that could be leveraged for political interference purposes”. They also said that H6 had downplayed his relationship with the Chinese state, which, combined with his relationship with Prince Andrew, represented a threat to national security. At a hearing in July, the specialist tribunal heard that the businessman was told by an adviser to the prince that he could act on the duke’s behalf when dealing with potential investors in China, and that H6 had been invited to Andrew’s birthday party in 2020. A letter referencing the birthday party from the adviser, Dominic Hampshire, was discovered on H6’s devices when he was stopped at a port in November 2021. The letter also said: “I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal and indeed his family. “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.” In a ruling on Thursday, Mr Justice Bourne, Judge Stephen Smith and Sir Stewart Eldon, dismissed the challenge. The judges said: “The Secretary of State was entitled to conclude that the applicant represented a risk to the national security of the United Kingdom, and that she was entitled to conclude that his exclusion was justified and proportionate.” The Home Office confirmed in July 2023 that H6 would be excluded from the UK as he was considered to have engaged in “covert and deceptive activity” on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and that he likely posed a threat to national security. The now-50-year-old former civil servant brought legal action for a review of the decision, arguing that it was unlawful. The tribunal in London heard that H6 had said he avoided getting involved in politics and only had limited links to the Chinese state. His lawyers also argued that there was evidence that it was difficult for a Chinese national involved in business to avoid any contact with the CCP and that material related to his relationship with the prince had to be read in the context of an advisor writing to someone who had been loyal to him in difficult times. However, Home Office lawyers argued that H6 had downplayed his links to an arm of the CCP and that his relationship with Andrew could be used for political interference. In their 53-page ruling, the judges said that Andrew could have been made “vulnerable” to the misuse of the influence H6 had. They said: “The applicant won a significant degree, one could say an unusual degree, of trust from a senior member of the Royal Family who was prepared to enter into business activities with him. “That occurred in a context where, as the contemporaneous documents record, the duke was under considerable pressure and could be expected to value the applicant’s loyal support. “It is obvious that the pressures on the duke could make him vulnerable to the misuse of that sort of influence. “That does not mean that the Home Secretary could be expected to exclude from the UK any Chinese businessman who formed a commercial relationship with the duke or with any other member of the Royal Family.” The three judges said that H6 had enjoyed a private life in the UK, which had been described as the businessman’s “second home”, adding: “He has settled status, a home and extensive business interests in the United Kingdom. He was regarded as a close confidant of the duke.” The judges continued the home secretary was “rationally entitled to decide” there was a potential to leverage the relationship, adding H6 was “not candid” about his links to the CCP. They concluded: “In our judgment it was open to the SSHD to take a reasonably precautionary approach to the risk, and to take action rationally aimed at neutralising it so far as possible. “Whilst excluding the applicant would not necessarily halt his activities, it would significantly hinder them. “Cultivating relationships with prominent UK individuals would logically be much more difficult if no meetings could take place in the UK.”NEW YORK , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To transform the landscape of algorithmic trading, global Fintech leader Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR), today announced the launch of an innovative AI-powered algorithm insights service for NYFIX. Driven by real-time liquidity mapping, the service is designed to empower asset managers, hedge funds, and other buy-side firms to achieve unprecedented accuracy, seamless workflow integration, and proven cost-efficiency. "Algo traders will now have a quantitative, data-driven service to power critical trading decisions," said George Rosenberger, Head of NYFIX, Broadridge Trading and Connectivity Solutions. "By harnessing the power of AI and historical insights, we're giving our clients the tools they need to navigate complex markets with greater precision and confidence. This innovative solution not only optimizes trading strategies, but also reduces costs, making it an invaluable asset for the buy-side." This is the first and only solution of its kind, using advanced AI to leverage public and private data to understand the liquidity landscape, particularly potential dark fill location. This approach identifies the ideal algorithmic execution for any given order, reducing outliers to improve overall trading costs. Traders benefit from real-time alerts and in-trade analysis, allowing for in-flight adjustments to stay aligned with their objectives, ensuring optimal strategy selection throughout the trading process. The NYFIX service was developed based on decades of proven research from Jeff Alexander and Linda Giordano , whose pioneering work at Babelfish Analytics established the standard for understanding routing dynamics, analyzing venue liquidity, and optimizing algorithm selection. This collaboration brings together unique and proprietary trader-focused insights with the trusted and transformational technological capabilities and extensive distribution capacity of Broadridge, creating a powerful service to enhance the trader's ability to improve performance. Available to NYFIX Order Routing customers in the U.S. equities market, the solution's framework is built to expand rapidly across other asset classes and regions, with future plans to extend access to clients on other Order Routing Networks. About Broadridge Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), is a global technology leader with the trusted expertise and transformative technology to help clients and the financial services industry operate, innovate, and grow. We power investing, governance, and communications for our clients – driving operational resiliency, elevating business performance, and transforming investor experiences. Our technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of more than $10 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work®, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500® Index, employing over 14,000 associates in 21 countries. For more information about us, please visit www.broadridge.com . Broadridge Contacts: Investors: Edings Thibault Head of Investor Relations, Broadridge broadridgeir@broadridge.com Media: Gregg Rosenberg Global Head of Corporate Communications Gregg.Rosenberg@broadridge.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/broadridge-announces-first-of-its-kind-ai-powered-algorithm-insights-service-302326596.html SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
Mayfield throws 5 TD passes and Bucs keep playoff, NFC South hopes alive with 48-14 rout of Panthers
Women are more likely to need walking sticks, wheelchairs and other mobility aids compared to men, but they are less likely to use them, according to a study. And single people are more likely to use mobility tools compared to those who are married, according to researchers from University College London (UCL) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Researchers looked at information from a group of more than 12,000 adults in England aged 50 to 89 who were tracked over a 13-year period. At the start of the study, 8,225 adults had no mobility difficulty and did not use mobility assistive products (MAPs). During the follow-up period, there were 2,313 “transitions” where people went from having no mobility issues to needing some help with getting around. And 1,274 people started to use mobility aids. Compared with men, women were 49% more likely to transition from not needing mobility aids to needing to use them, according to the study which has been published in The Lancet Public Health. The authors said their study showed “barriers to access” for women. For both men and women, with every year that passed during the study period the need for mobility aids increased. People who were older, less educated, less wealthy or reported being disabled were more likely to “transition from no need to unmet need, and from unmet need to use”, the authors said, with this indicating a “higher prevalence of mobility limitations and MAP need overall among these groups”. They added: “Finally, marital or partnership status was not associated with transitioning to unmet need; however, single people were more likely to transition from unmet need to use compared with married or partnered people.” Jamie Danemayer, first author of the study from UCL Computer Science and UCL’s Global Disability Innovation Hub, said: “Our analysis suggests that there is a clear gender gap in access to mobility aids. “Though our data didn’t ascertain the reason why participants weren’t using mobility aids, other research tells us that women are often more likely than men to face obstacles such as cost barriers as a result of well-documented income disparities between genders. “Many mobility aids are designed for men rather than women, which we think may be a factor. “Using mobility aids can also make a disability visible, which can impact the safety and stigma experienced by women, in particular. “There’s a critical need for further research to identify and break down the barriers preventing women from accessing mobility aids that would improve their quality of life.” Professor Cathy Holloway, also from UCL, added: “Not having access to mobility aids when a person needs one can have a big impact on their independence, well-being and quality of life. “Our analysis suggests that women, in particular, regardless of other factors such as education and employment status, are not getting the support that they need.” Professor Shereen Hussein, senior author of the study and lead of the social care group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “The research provides compelling evidence of gender disparities in accessing assistive technology, suggesting that cost, design bias, and social stigma are likely to disproportionally affect women. “This underscores the need for inclusive, gender-sensitive approaches in the design, production and inclusivity of assistive technologies.”Alpha Cognition Announces Voluntary Delisting from CSERocky Mountain Advisers LLC Has $532,000 Position in Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
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