
Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin An F-16 piloted by Alec Bulldog Spencer with Forbes writer Jim Clash in the backseat at Eglin AFB, near Destin, Florida, December 9, 2024. It was a half-century ago that the first F-16 rolled off of the General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) production line. Since then, more than 4,500 have been manufactured, and in many different configurations. The plane, a U.S. attack fighter jet, has seen combat too many times to count. The jets are also used by the famous Thunderbirds air show team, and, get this, are in operation now in some two dozen countries. To celebrate the plane’s 50-year anniversary, the U.S. Air Force decorated one with the same YF-16 colors that were painted on the first one. That aircraft, which resides at Shaw AFB in South Carolina, is a one-seater, so media folks and distinguished visitors can’t fly in the back. But at Eglin AFB near Destin, Florida, there are five two-seaters, sometimes used as trainers for burgeoning pilots. As part of this report on the F-16’s anniversary, I was privileged enough to ride in the back of one with the 40th Flight Test Squadron. Mind you, I’d been in an F-16 before, a few years back, out of Eielson AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska, but it was in uncomfortable, bulky cold-weather gear (see story at end). The extra clothing was protection if, say, we needed to eject over the Arctic and survive in the wild until a rescue party could find us. The Eglin flight, given the gentle Florida clime, would only require a standard flight suit, G-pants, helmet and oxygen mask. The official debut of the YF-16 Falcon, a prototype of the F-16. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) Still, anytime one flies supersonic in a fighter jet it’s serious business. The week started with a requisite physical exam at the base. Then it was on to intensive parachute, physiologic and egress training, the parachute part in a hanging harness and the bailout part in a mock ejection seat. Ejection is a last-ditch maneuver, of course, as you will pull up to 20 G’s in less than two seconds upon initiation, not to mention the tens of millions of taxpayers’ dollars that will be lost when the plane crashes. While my pilot, Col. Alec “Bulldog” Spencer, a 45-year-old with 2,300 hours in the F-16, and I were to be under the same canopy cockpit glass - he in front, me directly behind - we each had command of our own ejection seat. Test pilot Alec Bulldog Spencer instructs Forbes writer Jim Clash on the use of an ejection seat, Eglin AFB, December 4, 2024. The flight was scheduled for Thursday, December 5, but due to maintenance issues (an environmental control system part in our F-16 needed replacing), it was pushed back to Monday, December 9. So I hung around Destin over the weekend, scouring the pristine-white sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, and dining in places like quirky McGuire’s Irish Pub. Josh White, an Airman who hosts a podcast called HeroFront, usually has on as guests military standouts, but found me interesting for some reason, so we taped his show for a future episode. I also had time to think about what I was to do on Monday, and about the chances of anything going south. It would be the seventh - yes, seventh - separate plane I would fly supersonic in. Depending upon how you look at that, it’s either good or bad. On one hand, I had been lucky as far as not having a mishap. Viewed another way, how statisticians might look at it, the luck factor is misleading. The longer you do something risky, the more the odds stack up against you. Since 2010, 43 F-16s have required bailouts, and, of those, eight pilots were killed. Test pilot Alec Bulldog Spencer helps Forbes writer Jim Clash strap into an F-16 before their test flight, Eglin AFB, December 9, 2024. Monday morning dawned with iffy weather. My flight was to be part of a larger war-games exercise involving five other aircraft. Four F-15s were to chase down our plane and our wingman’s, another F-16, to see if - and how long it might take - to destroy us, electronically. Because of the complexity of the mission - tactical testing of new weapons - things like wind speed and direction, cloud cover and precipitation could have scrapped it. But the go decision was made, so we suited up and made our way out to the flight line. Once strapped into the plane, it was a long taxi out to the runway. Along the way, with Bulldog’s verbal okay via a radio installed in my helmet, I armed my ejection seat by pulling down a yellow-striped lever near my left leg. Test pilot Alec Bulldog Spencer and Forbes writer Jim Clash ready to taxi out to the runway in an F-16, Eglin AFB, December 9, 2024. Our takeoff was uneventful, and without afterburners. One objective was to run the plane up to Mach 1.6, its limit, and to achieve that meant saving as much fuel as possible. We gradually made our way up above 40,000 feet, through two layers of clouds. While waiting for the F-15s, Bulldog asked if I wanted to fly the plane for a bit. Sheepishly, I put my hand on the computerized control stick near my right leg. A slight pull to the left turned the plane left of horizontal. A slight push to the right turned it in that direction. A pull back put us into a climb, and a push forward pointed the plane’s nose toward the ground. The aircraft was incredibly responsive, like an Indy car at high speed. They say you don’t really get strapped into an F-16, but strap it on. They’re right. Bulldog then took the plane to 30,000 feet and began to climb - and accelerate: Mach 0.9...1.0...1.2...1.4. Eventually, at 40,000 feet, we hit Mach 1.6. Whoa. We were cruising at more than 1,200 mph! An F-16 piloted by Alec Bulldog Spencer with Forbes writer Jim Clash in the backseat takes off from Eglin AFB, December 9, 2024. Once the F-15s had had their way with us and moved on to their bombing target, we had some spare fuel to play with. First, it was a rapid descent to 200 feet above the Gulf to conduct some low passes. At more than 600 mph, the waves were rushing by frenetically. Then we abruptly pulled vertical and climbed up to 10,000 feet in less than a minute. The G’s on that maneuver got my attention. After an hour and 10 minutes in the air, we landed safely back at Eglin. I was stoked but tired, and my ears hurt. When we had reached apogee at 44,000 feet, Bulldog explained at our debrief, the cockpit was pressurized to only 19,000 feet. If not for the oxygen masks, we would have gone hypoxic in a couple of minutes. Pilot Alec Bulldog Spencer (right) and Forbes writer Jim Clash after their Mach 1.6 test flight in an F-16, Eglin AFB, December 9, 2024. I left Eglin with a better understanding of just how important the F-16 still is to the U.S. military. While only a fourth-generation fighter jet, its ongoing evolution puts its performance close to that of fifth-generation jets like the F-22 and F-35. In future stories, we will explore that idea. Stay tuned. [Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 in a series about the F-16 and Eglin AFB.] Editorial Standards Forbes Accolades Join The Conversation One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. Forbes Community Guidelines Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space. 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( MENAFN - GetNews) "Microsoft (US), google (US), AWS (US), IBM (US), Cisco (US), Dynatrace (US), Splunk (US), Solarwinds (US), Netscout (US), New Relic (US), Logic Monitor (US), Paessler AG (Germany), Netreo (US), ManageEngine (US), Idera (US), Sematext (US), Datadog (US), Icinga (Germany), Nagios (US), Zabbix (Latvia), Sentry (US), UptimeRobot (Malta), Atera (Israel)."Monitoring Tools market by Offering (Software (by Deployment) & Services), Type (Infrastructure Monitoring, Application Performance Monitoring, Security Monitoring and End User Experience Monitoring), Vertical and Region - Global Forecast to 2028. The Monitoring Tools market is projected to expand from USD 24.5 billion in 2023 to USD 63.7 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 21.1% during the forecast period. Monitoring tools, also referred to as network or performance monitoring solutions, are software systems designed to track the performance, health, and availability of various components across networks, systems, and applications. These tools gather data from multiple sources, including servers, network devices, applications, and databases, offering real-time insights and analysis to ensure seamless and efficient operations. Download PDF Brochure@ Healthcare & Lifesciences to account for higher CAGR during the forecast period The monitoring tools market in the Healthcare & Life Sciences vertical has witnessed significant growth and innovation in recent years. With the increasing complexity and demands of the healthcare industry, monitoring tools have become invaluable in ensuring the efficient delivery of patient care, optimizing processes, and enhancing overall operational effectiveness. Monitoring tools in this sector encompass a wide range of technologies and solutions designed to monitor various aspects of healthcare and life sciences, including patient health, medical devices, drug development, and clinical trials. In the healthcare industry, monitoring tools are used to track vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation, providing healthcare professionals with real-time data for accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions. These tools enable remote monitoring, allowing patients to be monitored from their homes, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits, and improving patient convenience. These tools play a vital role in improving healthcare outcomes, enhancing patient care, and ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical devices and treatments. As the industry continues to evolve, collaboration between healthcare providers, technology companies, and regulatory authorities will be crucial to address challenges and drive further innovation in monitoring tools for the healthcare and life sciences sector. Services Segment to account for higher CAGR during the forecast period The market for Monitoring tools is bifurcated based on offering into software and services. The CAGR of services is estimated to be highest during the forecast period. Professional and managed services have a significant impact on the monitoring tools market by offering a range of valuable services to businesses. Professional services providers assist with the implementation, configuration, and customization of monitoring tools, ensuring optimal functionality and alignment with specific business requirements. They provide consulting and advisory services, guiding organizations in selecting the right monitoring tools and developing effective monitoring strategies. These providers also offer training and educational programs, equipping businesses with the necessary knowledge and skills to utilize monitoring tools effectively. Managed services providers, on the other hand, offer ongoing monitoring and management of infrastructure and applications, relieving businesses of the burden of maintaining and optimizing their monitoring environment. They provide proactive monitoring, incident management, and performance optimization, ensuring efficient operations and minimizing downtime. These services enhance the effectiveness of monitoring solutions, allowing businesses to focus on their core activities while ensuring their monitoring needs are met by skilled providers. Asia Pacific to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period The CAGR of Asia Pacific is estimated to be highest during the forecast period. Monitoring tools is rapidly growing in Asia Pacific, which includes China, India, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, and ANZ (Australia and New Zealand). Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market for monitoring tools. In this region, monitoring tools technologies are utilized for rural and agricultural development. The region encompasses a diverse range of countries, including but not limited to China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Southeast Asian nations. The increasing adoption of digitalization and the growing importance of data-driven decision-making across various industries, such as IT, telecommunications, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, have been key drivers of the monitoring tools market in the region. Several factors have contributed to the rise in demand for monitoring tools in Asia Pacific. The surging number of internet users, mobile phone subscribers, and connected devices has created a vast pool of data that requires efficient monitoring and analysis. The escalating cybersecurity threats have prompted organizations to invest in advanced monitoring solutions to safeguard their networks, infrastructure, and sensitive information. The Asia Pacific region is witnessing a dynamic vendor landscape, with both local and international monitoring tool providers vying for market share. To gain a competitive edge, vendors are investing in product innovation, scalability, and ease of integration with existing systems. Request Sample Pages@ Unique Features in the Monitoring Tools Market Monitoring tools offer end-to-end tracking across diverse IT environments, including networks, servers, applications, and databases. This holistic approach ensures visibility into every critical component, enabling organizations to identify and address performance bottlenecks effectively. A standout feature of modern monitoring tools is their ability to provide real-time performance analytics. These tools collect and process data continuously, delivering instant insights into system health and alerting users to anomalies or potential issues before they escalate. Many monitoring tools now incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to predict potential failures and optimize system performance. These capabilities help organizations take proactive measures to prevent downtime and enhance operational efficiency. With businesses increasingly adopting hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures, monitoring tools are designed to integrate seamlessly across various environments. This feature ensures unified visibility and control, regardless of where the systems or applications are hosted. Modern monitoring solutions offer highly customizable dashboards and reporting capabilities, allowing users to tailor visualizations and metrics to their specific needs. This flexibility enables IT teams to focus on the most relevant data for decision-making. Monitoring tools are built to scale alongside an organization's growth. Whether managing a small network or a global enterprise infrastructure, these solutions can adapt to increasing data volumes and complexity without compromising performance. Major Highlights of the Monitoring Tools Market As organizations shift to multi-cloud and hybrid environments, monitoring tools are becoming essential to ensure seamless integration, unified visibility, and efficient management across diverse platforms. This trend is a key driver of market growth. Businesses are prioritizing proactive system management to minimize downtime and optimize performance. Monitoring tools equipped with real-time analytics and predictive capabilities are gaining traction for their ability to identify and mitigate issues before they impact operations. The incorporation of AI and ML technologies in monitoring tools is revolutionizing the market. These features enhance anomaly detection, predict potential failures, and enable automated incident management, making systems more resilient and efficient. The growing frequency of cyber threats has expanded the scope of monitoring tools to include security features. Organizations are increasingly leveraging these tools to detect vulnerabilities, monitor suspicious activities, and ensure compliance with regulations. Monitoring tools are witnessing widespread adoption in industries such as IT, healthcare, BFSI, and manufacturing. These sectors rely on these solutions to ensure the reliability and performance of critical systems, applications, and networks. The market's tools are designed to scale with organizational needs, accommodating everything from small networks to large, global infrastructures. This scalability is a significant factor driving their adoption in enterprises of all sizes. Inquire Before Buying@ Top Companies in the Monitoring Tools Market Major vendors in the global Monitoring tools market are Microsoft (US), Google (US), AWS (US), IBM (US), Cisco (US), Dynatrace (US), Splunk (US), Solarwinds (US), Netscout (US), New Relic (US), Logic Monitor (US), Paessler AG (Germany), Netreo (US), ManageEngine (US), Idera (US), Sematext (US), Datadog (US), Icinga (Germany), Nagios (US), Zabbix (Latvia), Sentry (US), UptimeRobot (Malta), Atera (Israel), Better Stack (Czech Republic), Sumo Logic (US), Checkmk (Germany), Exporise (US), ITRS (UK), Riverbed Technology (US), Nlyte Software (US). Microsoft (US) Microsoft Corporation is a multinational technology firm that provides consumers and organizations all over the world with a vast array of software, hardware, and services. Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing are the three primary business segments through which the corporation conducts its operations. Microsoft operates in over 190 countries worldwide, with its headquarters located in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft is a leading player in the Monitoring Tools market, offering a diverse range of solutions to cater to the evolving needs of businesses. One of Microsoft's flagship offerings in this space is Azure Monitor. Azure Monitor is a cloud-native monitoring and observability solution specifically designed for Azure resources and applications. Additionally, Microsoft offers System Center Operations Manager (SCOM), another prominent monitoring tool. SCOM provides businesses with a holistic view of their on-premises and hybrid cloud infrastructure. Microsoft's presence in the Monitoring Tools market extends beyond these specific offerings, as the company continues to invest in research and development to deliver innovative solutions. With a strong focus on cloud-native technologies and a commitment to meeting customer needs, Microsoft remains a trusted partner for businesses seeking robust monitoring tools to enhance their operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and deliver exceptional user experiences. Cisco (US) Cisco was founded in 1984 in San Francisco, US, by a small group of computer scientists from Stanford University. Cisco provides a wide range of service offerings, including technical support and advanced services. The company provides its technical products in routing and switching, home networking, IP telephony, optical networking, security, storage area networking, and wireless technology. The company caters to industries, such as cities and communities, education, financial services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, retail, sports and entertainment, transportation, and utilities. The company operates in 115+ countries and has global reach in the Americas, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific. Cisco's flagship monitoring tool, Cisco DNA Center, offers businesses a centralized platform for managing and monitoring their network infrastructure. With its intuitive interface and advanced analytics capabilities, Cisco DNA Center enables organizations to monitor network performance, track devices, detect anomalies, and troubleshoot issues efficiently. In addition to network monitoring, Cisco provides robust security monitoring solutions to protect against evolving threats. Cisco SecureX integrates with Cisco's security products, enabling businesses to consolidate security alerts, monitor security events, and respond to incidents effectively. Furthermore, Cisco offers network monitoring solutions for specific industries and use cases. Such as Cisco Meraki provides cloud-managed monitoring tools for networking and security in retail, healthcare, education, and other sectors. MENAFN16122024003238003268ID1108999895 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Sunday Snapshot: Democrats throw Trump's Cabinet picks a bone
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Wall Street stocks surged to fresh records, extending a post-election rally on optimism about more interest rate cuts and for an artificial intelligence boom after strong Salesforce results. All three major indices scored records, led by the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which finished above 45,000 for the first time. “The market at this point is looking for excuses to go up, and there’s not really anything that might work against that narrative,” said Steve Sosnick, of Interactive Brokers. “Over the last couple of days, it’s managed to ignore all sorts of inconvenient things,” Sosnick said of the market’s shrugging response to political upheaval in France and South Korea . The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.7% at 45,014.04.WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Saylor Poffenbarger had 17 points and 13 rebounds and Bri McDaniel scored 16 points off the bench to lead No. 7 Maryland women’s basketball to a 78-69 victory over Purdue on Saturday. Kaylene Smikle scored 13 points and Shyanne Sellers added 12 for Maryland (10-0, 1-0 Big Ten). Christina Dalce had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Rashunda Jones scored 17 points, Reagan Bass had 16 and Destini Lombard added 15 for the Boilermakers (5-4, 0-1). The Terps rallied after a slow start, hitting just 2 of 17 shots in the first quarter to fall behind 18-6. The Boilermakers led by as many as 16 points in the second quarter. Purdue shot 52% while holding Maryland to 29% to take a 38-29 lead at halftime. “Conference play in the best league in the country,” coach Brenda Frese said. “Anyone can beat anyone on any given night. ... I’ll never take a road win for granted, especially with our start.” McDaniel hit a pull-up jumper with 2:24 left in the third quarter to give the Terps their first lead at 48-46. That capped an 8-0 run for Maryland, which led 55-52 after three quarters. “I thought that Bri set the tone for us in that third quarter,” Frese said. Purdue tied it at 55 before the Terps went on a 6-0 run to take the lead for good. “It didn’t really surprise me because that’s Bri,” Poffenbarger said regarding McDaniel’s big second half. “Every day that she comes in, she shows up, she brings the energy, she’s going to give you everything she has.” Maryland: The Terps rebounded from a rough start to take control defensively. Purdue: After surrendering the lead in the third quarter, Purdue kept fighting until the final minutes. The Boilermakers hit 6 of 13 free throws while Maryland was 14 of 19 from the line. After Purdue’s Lombard tied the game at 55 on a 3-pointer, Poffenbarger started a 6-0 run with a second-chance basket. The Terps shot 63% in the second half. Maryland was 2 of 12 from 3-point range in the first half but improved to 6 of 21 in the second. UP NEXT William & Mary at No. 7 Maryland Thursday, Dec. 19, 11 a.m. Stream: Big Ten PlusTHE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF COSMETIC SURGERY (AACS) PRESENTS ITS 41st ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING, FEATURING GROUNDBREAKING EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS AND AN INNOVATIVE PRE-MEETING WORKSHOP
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As the nurses parted the five-eighth's short curls to fit the receptors, he thought about the impact of what he was about to do. Login or signup to continue reading In a little more than six minutes, and without ever saying a word, an image of how his brain deals with information would be taken and analysed. It would be some of the first scans of its kind taken in the region and would inform doctors about the effect of concussion in more detail than the Hunter has ever before had access to. At that moment, it might have been difficult for the players to conceive of a moment when they were hurt. They were young, at peak fitness, and at the height of their powers. But as the device - looking somewhat like a swimming cap with nodes attached - was fitted to Jayden Fox's head, he was thinking about his future. "It's keeping yourself safe," the Hunter Wildfire's five-eighth said. "Protecting your future. Footy isn't everything, I guess, and you have to protect yourself." The technology - a version of which was notably used to diagnose Knights star Kalyn Ponga after he suffered a string of concussions during the 2023 season - has made its way to the Hunter via neurologist Chris Levi, who consulted on Ponga's treatment and now co-owns a company, CXDX Connected Diagnostics, which aims to distribute the technology - called the NeuroCatch platform - in Australia. Lake Macquarie Private's emergency department is the first place in Australia to use it. It scans the low-voltage energy produced when the brain is at work and cross-references the data against another scan when a player suffers a suspected concussion. At the weekend, the Wildfires signed on en-mass for a baseline scan that would be used to diagnose concussions if the worst should happen on the field during the season. "When your brain works, it creates low voltage electricity. And that low voltage electricity can be detected through the scalp with the little electrodes in the headpiece," Professor Levi said on Saturday as he oversaw the team going through the testing at No. 2 Sportsground. "When you think about certain tasks, you produce certain waves." "What we see when someone has a concussion is that the waveform changes." Professor Levi said the technology - not only applicable to sports recovery but also to dementia patients and other brain function diagnoses - unveiled a radically new and precise understanding of how an individual player's brain responds to tasks, changing in the event of a concussion, and how long it took to recover. "There are all types of concussions in terms of mild, moderate and severe and at the moment, the guidelines are a one-size-fits-all approach," Professor Levi said. "This allows us to do precision medicine, personalising treatment to the player." The data would inform the severity and longevity of concussion events, he said, and with an immediacy that local players have not had access to before. The Wildfires operations manager, Rich Ley, said that more than the medical advancement for his players, the testing offered a sense of comfort and reassurance that the club was not just looking out for the players' health during their careers but well after. "The players have families and careers outside of here that they have to care for as well," he said. "We're doing the right thing here." Beau McKenzie, the Wildfires flanker, had suffered a few knocks in his career, and he said he felt unable to understand anything. Another player, as he waited for his turn in the testing room, remembered coming to with someone standing over him after his concussion last year. "A lot of the time, you're a bit out of it," he said. "Someone is standing over you, checking on you, and depending on what it is, you feel a bit dazed. It can be as bad as slurring your words." The benefit of the local tech, Lake Macquarie Private emergency department director Mark Lee said, was its immediacy. A nurse could fit the device and take the reading and, in less than 10 minutes, had a report that could inform them of the next steps of diagnosis. "That is why it's so exciting," he said. Simon McCarthy is a journalist with the Newcastle Herald and its sister publications in the Hunter region of New South Wales (NSW). He has contributed stories, photography, video and other multimedia to the pages of the Herald and its Saturday magazine, Weekender, since 2017. In 2020, he co-created the Toohey's News podcast, which he produced for four years with sports writer Barry Toohey until the show's indefinite hiatus. Since early 2023, he has served as the paper's Topics columnist and, more recently, returned to reporting with an interest in deep-dive stories that illustrate the issues shaping daily life in Newcastle and the region.McCarthy has reported for Australian Community Media (ACM) since 2013, first as a general news and sports writer for the Glen Innes Examiner and later as a group journalist and producer for the publisher's New England regional titles. He joined the Newcastle Herald newsroom as a digital producer in 2017 before returning to reporting in early 2023.He had previously worked for the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth.McCarthy was born in the New England region of NSW, where he grew up, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Cross University in 2012. He covers general news, culture and community issues, with a focus on the Herald Weekender.He is a member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and adheres to its codes of ethics for journalists.Contact: simon.mccarthy@newcastleherald.com.au Simon McCarthy is a journalist with the Newcastle Herald and its sister publications in the Hunter region of New South Wales (NSW). He has contributed stories, photography, video and other multimedia to the pages of the Herald and its Saturday magazine, Weekender, since 2017. In 2020, he co-created the Toohey's News podcast, which he produced for four years with sports writer Barry Toohey until the show's indefinite hiatus. Since early 2023, he has served as the paper's Topics columnist and, more recently, returned to reporting with an interest in deep-dive stories that illustrate the issues shaping daily life in Newcastle and the region.McCarthy has reported for Australian Community Media (ACM) since 2013, first as a general news and sports writer for the Glen Innes Examiner and later as a group journalist and producer for the publisher's New England regional titles. He joined the Newcastle Herald newsroom as a digital producer in 2017 before returning to reporting in early 2023.He had previously worked for the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth.McCarthy was born in the New England region of NSW, where he grew up, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Cross University in 2012. He covers general news, culture and community issues, with a focus on the Herald Weekender.He is a member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and adheres to its codes of ethics for journalists.Contact: simon.mccarthy@newcastleherald.com.au DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. 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US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday praised Japan's SoftBank for its decision to invest $100 billion in the United States and create 100,000 new jobs, a big win for his incoming administration. "This historic investment is a monumental demonstration of confidence in America's future," Trump said during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, flanked by SoftBank chief executive Masayoshi Son. "It will help ensure that artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and other industries of tomorrow are built, created and grown right here in the USA," added Trump, who takes office from US President Joe Biden next month. Speaking alongside Trump, Son confirmed the investment company's financial commitment, adding that Trump's victory had "tremendously increased" his confidence in the US economy. "I am truly excited to make this happen," added Son, 67. Son's announcement is around double the amount he committed SoftBank to in December 2016, shortly before Trump began his first term as president. The Japanese investment holding company ultimately parted with around $100 billion through its Vision Fund, with much of the money supplied by sovereign wealth funds in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. "President Trump is a double-down president," Son said on Monday, adding: "I'm going to have to double down." Son made his name with successful early investments in Chinese e-commerce titan Alibaba and internet pioneer Yahoo, but has also bet on catastrophic failures such as WeWork. He has repeatedly said that "artificial superintelligence" will arrive in a decade, bringing new inventions, new medicine, new knowledge and new ways to invest. The SoftBank Group posted a bumper second-quarter net profit last month, returning to the black after net losses in the first quarter and the previous financial year. The company indicated back in March that it had $26 billion ready to be deployed for new investments. Stephen Moore, an economic advisor to Donald Trump, said the announcement marked a "great day." "The importation of capital into the US is a huge leading indicator for jobs and prosperity to come," Moore, an economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, told AFP in a message. On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to boost the US economy by cutting red tape and fast-tracking investments, including into the oil and gas sector. US financial markets surged following his victory on November 5, with the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite index and the broad-based S&P 500 both hitting fresh records. Despite the enthusiasm in the markets, some analysts have voiced concern that Trump's proposals to implement new tariffs on US imports and deport millions of undocumented workers could end up hurting growth, and causing a spike in inflation. "The increased likelihood of substantial new tariffs on US imports would have the most consequential effect on economic growth," economists at Wells Fargo wrote in a recent note to clients, adding they had "bumped up" their inflation outlook and slightly cut their GDP forecast following Trump's win. Other analysts say the impact of Trump's tariff plans will largely depend on how they are actually implemented. "The impact on inflation need not be particularly significant for monetary policy," economists at Goldman Sachs wrote in a recent investor note. But, they added "this could change if the White House imposes a 10 percent universal tariff," referring to one of Trump's proposals on the campaign trail. Speaking in Mar-a-Lago on Monday, Trump insisted that, "properly used," tariffs would be positive for the US economy. "Our country right now loses to everybody," he said. "Almost nobody do we have a surplus with." "Tariffs will make our country rich," he added. da-tu/nroDA suggests unusual idea for halting Trump's hush money case while upholding conviction
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