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Blessed youngers who inspired with the wonder of the universe will never stand alone. In prosperous future of tomorrow with the pool of knowledge, initially the Leo Club of Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology launched their first and grand phase of project “Vidu hastha” on last December 2024 at the SLIIT premises itself with school student participation and guest speakers from Foundation of Astronomical studies and Exploration (FASE). Far more importantly, the project was mainly focused on the theme of Astronomy and Astrophysics under the category of Quality education and literacy via the students got to know about the practical knowledge in telescope making. Also, there was a rapid question round which was to test the students’ understanding of the theory behind the telescope making. The workshop concluded as its first phase not only with the knowledge but also with the passion that encourages students to engage in both leadership and extracurricular activities. Together with all, Leo Club of SLIIT now hopes to go beyond the tradition with their upcoming projects while unleashing new point of view.
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler birdied every hole but the par 3s on the front nine at Albany Golf Club on Friday and finished his bogey-free round with an 8-under 64 that gave him a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge. Two months off did nothing to slow the world's No. 1 player. Scheffler already has eight victories this year and is in position to get another before the end of the year. Scheffler was at 13-under 131, two ahead of Akshay Bhatia (66) and Justin Thomas (67), both of whom had to save par on the 18th hole to stay in range going into the weekend. Scheffler started with a lob wedge to 2 feet for birdie and never slowed until after he went out in 29 to seize control of the holiday tournament against a 20-man field. Scheffler cooled slightly on the back nine, except it didn't feel that way to him. “Front nine, just things were going my way. Back nine, maybe not as much,” Scheffler said. “A couple shots could end up closer to the hole, a couple putts go in, just little things.” Asked if he felt any frustration he didn't take it lower — he once shot 59 at the TPC Boston during the FedEx Cup playoffs — Scheffler sounded bemused. “I think in this game I think a lot of all y’all are looking for perfection out of us,” he said. “Today I shot 8 under on the golf course, not something I hang my head about. A lot of good things out there — clean card, bogey-free, eight birdies. Overall, I think I'm pretty pleased.” Thomas felt his 67 was stress-free, particularly the way he was driving the ball. The wind laid down again, rare for the Bahamas, though it is expected to pick up on the weekend. Thomas wasn't concerned to see Scheffler get off to a hot start, especially with three par 5s on the front nine and a short par 4 that at worst leaves a flip wedge to the green. “You literally can birdie every hole as soft as the greens are,” Thomas said. “He's a great player, a great wedge player, and you have a lot of birdie holes to start. I'm honestly surprised he only shot 8 under. It's a sneaky course because if you fall asleep on some shots, you can get out of position. But if you're on and focused and really in control of everything — like these last two days with no wind — you can just make so many birdies.” Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley had a 67 and was four shots behind. No matter how benign the conditions, it wasn't always easy. Cameron Young, who opened with a 64 for a two-shot lead, followed with a 75 despite making five birdies. That included a double bogey on the final hole when his approach tumbled down the bank into the rocks framing the lake that goes all the way down the 18th hole. Patrick Cantlay was trying to keep pace playing alongside Scheffler, but he had three bogeys over the final seven holes and fell seven shots behind with a 71. The tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods, is unofficial but offers world ranking points to all but the bottom three players because of the small field. It's the weakest field in 25 years, but Scheffler at No. 1 gives it enough cachet. He is the first player since Woods in 2009 to start and finish a year at No. 1 in the world. And even after a layoff — giving him time to tinker with a new putting stroke — it looks like it might be a while before anyone changes that. AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golfAmerican Express Co. stock rises Wednesday, still underperforms market
The BC SPCA Kamloops animal centre has recovered several adult cats and kittens from a property, and is getting ready to receive between 15 and 25 more cats from the same property over the next few weeks. The animals were prioritized for recovery, with a female cat, her four kittens, and five other adults in the first intake. Sadly, two of the adult cats needed to be euthanized, while the kittens tested positive for coccidia and one of the adult cats tested positive for giardia. All the cats immediately went into quarantine and were treated. “This happens all too often when a kind person feeds a stray cat,” says Daria Evans, manager of the BC SPCA’s Kamloops animal centre. “In this case the finders began feeding stray cats in their community during the pandemic, and in no time at all the number of cats in their home more than doubled. “They became overwhelmed and reached out to us, and we are currently in the process of bringing all the cats into our care.” Evans adds that it’s likely that all of the cats in the home will require treatment, so the Kamloops centre is preparing for that. Coccidia and giardia are parasitic infections of the intestinal tract and are typically treated with oral medications and intravenous fluids if required. Although quite common and very treatable, they are both contagious. Once the cats clear quarantine, they will be placed with a BC SPCA foster carer or — if they are ready — made available for adoption. “Our goal is to bring all these babies into our care and treat them as soon as possible,” says Evans. “The kittens are very playful and sweet. They were a little grumpy when we gave them their coccidia baths, but that is to be expected. They now seem to be much happier and content.” The adult cats appear to be a mixture of indoor and outdoor animals. Staff at the centre have been pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the cats are around people, even though some may not have had as much human socialization as others. “They are very affectionate and love it when staff comes around to feed and care for them," says Evans. She notes that this case is a reminder that people should reach out if there are stray cats in their area, and the earlier the better. “It is amazing how quickly a cat population can explode.” The cats and kittens currently in care will be available for adoption later in December. You can help them — and other animals in need at the BC SPCA — by making a donation at spca.bc.ca/donations-animal-emergency/ .None
The scope for collaboration between India, the world’s third largest energy consumer, and Kuwait, which holds 6.5% of global oil reserves, is immense and the two sides are set to transform their traditional buyer-seller relationship into a strategic partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. India’s rapidly growing petrochemical industry, which will be worth $300 billion by 2025, and Kuwait’s “Petrochemical Vision” under its Strategy 2040 can open the doors for joint investment, technology exchange and mutual growth, Modi said in an interview with state-run KUNA news agency as he began a two-day visit to the West Asian state. Kuwait is India’s sixth largest crude supplier and fourth largest LPG supplier, meeting 3% of the country’s energy needs, while investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceed $10 billion. India is among Kuwait’s top trading partners and two-way trade was worth $10.47 billion during 2023-24. Modi said energy is an important pillar of bilateral ties and it reflects the deep trust and mutual benefit underpinning the partnership between the two sides. “Indian companies actively engage in importing crude oil, LPG and petroleum products from Kuwait, while also exporting petroleum products to Kuwait,” he said. “As India emerges as the world’s third largest energy, oil and LPG consumer, and Kuwait holds around 6.5% of global oil reserves, the scope for further collaboration is immense,” he added. In addition to conventional hydrocarbons trade, there are new areas for cooperation such as an entire value chain of oil and gas, joint efforts in low-carbon solutions such as green hydrogen, biofuels and carbon capture technologies. Modi also referred to the bilateral energy partnership as a driver of diversified and sustainable growth and energy security. “Trade and commerce have been important pillars of our bilateral relationship. Our bilateral trade has been on an upswing. Our energy partnership adds a unique value to our bilateral trade,” Modi said. “We are happy to see ‘Made in India’ products, particularly in automobile, electrical and mechanical machinery and telecom segments making new inroads in Kuwait... Diversification to non-oil trade is key to achieving greater bilateral trade,” he added. There is potential to expand cooperation in the pharmaceutical, health, technology, digitalisation, innovation and textile sectors. Modi, who is set to hold talks with the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on Sunday, said: “Overall, bilateral ties are progressing well and...scaling new heights. I eagerly look forward to my talks with...the Amir to elevate our ties in various areas, including defence, trade, investment and energy.” He said India’s economic growth and pace of infrastructure development creates opportunities for investment across a range of areas, including expressways, railways, airports, ports, energy grids and digital connectivity. “Our political stability, policy predictability and reform-oriented business approach has made India a magnet for global investment, manufacturing and supply chains. The Indian growth story is attracting global manufacturers – from semiconductors, aircraft, drones to e-vehicles -- to set up shop in the country,” he said. At the same time, Modi pointed out, the “Kuwait Vision 2035” is focused on transforming the country by making it an economic and connectivity hub. He said there is synergy in the visions of both sides and the pace of economic activity in both countries opens up opportunities for the two governments and companies to collaborate. Modi thanked the Amir of Kuwait for looking after the welfare of the one million-strong Indian community, the largest expatriate group that includes doctors, businessmen, construction workers, engineers and nurses. “As we elevate the level of our relationship with Kuwait to a strategic partnership, I believe the role of the Indian community will only grow in importance,” he added. Modi also spoke on the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine and emphasised that solutions cannot be found on the battlefield. He underlined the importance of “sincere and practical engagement between stakeholders for bridging differences and achieving negotiated settlements”. He expressed willingness to support earnest efforts that can lead to the early restoration of peace, especially in Gaza and Ukraine. He reiterated India’s support for a negotiated two-state solution for the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine within secure and recognised borders.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited a labour camp here, a visit described by the External Affairs ministry as symbolic of the importance he attached to the welfare of Indian workers abroad. Modi is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His visit to Kuwait is the first for any Indian Prime Minister to this Gulf nation in 43 years. As the first programme of his visit to Kuwait, Modi visited a labour camp in Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait with a workforce of around 1,500 Indian nationals. He interacted with a cross-section of Indian workers from different states of India, enquired about their well-being, also sat at a table with some of them at the Gulf Spic Labour Camp when snacks served. On Modi's planned visit to the labour camp, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier said that the idea was to express "the amount of importance the government of India attaches to our workers. That is the prime purpose." Modi's visit comes months after over 45 Indians were killed in a devastating fire in a building housing foreign workers in southern Kuwait's Mangaf locality in June. 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In the last few years, the government has undertaken several technology-based initiatives such as e-Migrate portal, MADAD portal and upgraded Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana for the welfare of Indian workers abroad," an MEA statement said. "Modi interacted with Indian workers & enquired about their well-being. PM's first engagement of the day signifies the importance India attaches to the welfare of Indian workers abroad," the MEA posted on X along with the photos from the event. The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait. Indians constitute 21 per cent (1 million) of the total population of Kuwait and 30 per cent of its work-force (approx 9 lakh). Indian workers top the private sector as well as the domestic sector (DSW) work force list, according to Indian Embassy in Kuwait. The Gulf nation is among India's top trading partners, with bilateral trade valued at USD 10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24. Kuwait is India's sixth largest crude supplier, meeting three per cent of the country's energy needs. Indian exports to Kuwait reached USD 2 billion for the first time, while investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceed USD 10 billion. India and Kuwait have enjoyed traditionally friendly relations, with links dating back to pre-oil Kuwait when maritime trade with India was the backbone of its economy, the MEA had said ahead of Modi's visit. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
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. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. 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. “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time,” said a statement from OpenAI. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said “appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” The city's chief medical examiner's office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide. His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a “happy, smart and brave young man” who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends. Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT. “Suchir’s contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn’t have succeeded without him,” said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what made him such an exceptional engineer and scientist was his attention to detail and ability to notice subtle bugs or logical errors. “He had a knack for finding simple solutions and writing elegant code that worked,” Schulman wrote. “He’d think through the details of things carefully and rigorously.” Balaji later shifted to organizing the huge datasets of online writings and other media used to train GPT-4, the fourth generation of OpenAI's flagship large language model and a basis for the company's famous chatbot. It was that work that eventually caused Balaji to question the technology he helped build, especially after newspapers, novelists and others began suing OpenAI and other AI companies for copyright infringement. He first raised his concerns with The New York Times, which reported them in an October profile of Balaji . He later told The Associated Press he would “try to testify” in the strongest copyright infringement cases and considered a lawsuit brought by The New York Times last year to be the “most serious.” Times lawyers named him in a Nov. 18 court filing as someone who might have “unique and relevant documents” supporting allegations of OpenAI's willful copyright infringement. His records were also sought by lawyers in a separate case brought by book authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman, according to a court filing. “It doesn’t feel right to be training on people’s data and then competing with them in the marketplace,” Balaji told the AP in late October. “I don’t think you should be able to do that. I don’t think you are able to do that legally.” He told the AP that he gradually grew more disillusioned with OpenAI, especially after the internal turmoil that led its board of directors to fire and then rehire CEO Sam Altman last year. Balaji said he was broadly concerned about how its commercial products were rolling out, including their propensity for spouting false information known as hallucinations. But of the “bag of issues” he was concerned about, he said he was focusing on copyright as the one it was “actually possible to do something about.” He acknowledged that it was an unpopular opinion within the AI research community, which is accustomed to pulling data from the internet, but said “they will have to change and it’s a matter of time.” He had not been deposed and it’s unclear to what extent his revelations will be admitted as evidence in any legal cases after his death. He also published a personal blog post with his opinions about the topic. Schulman, who resigned from OpenAI in August, said he and Balaji coincidentally left on the same day and celebrated with fellow colleagues that night with dinner and drinks at a San Francisco bar. Another of Balaji’s mentors, co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, had left OpenAI several months earlier , which Balaji saw as another impetus to leave. Schulman said Balaji had told him earlier this year of his plans to leave OpenAI and that Balaji didn't think that better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence “was right around the corner, like the rest of the company seemed to believe.” The younger engineer expressed interest in getting a doctorate and exploring “some more off-the-beaten path ideas about how to build intelligence,” Schulman said. Balaji's family said a memorial is being planned for later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California, not far from his hometown of Cupertino. —————- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. —————-- The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives.Lionel Messi wins MLS MVP award, the latest trophy on a long list of honors for the Inter Miami star FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi is the MVP of Major League Soccer for 2024. The award comes after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina’s national team. He still factored into a league-high 36 goals by scoring 20 and assisting on 16 others. His 2.1 goal contributions per 90 minutes played is the best by any player in any season in MLS history. MLS revealed the voting results Friday. Messi edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández for the award, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members. NFL ends investigation into sexual assault allegations against Browns QB Deshaun Watson CLEVELAND (AP) — The NFL has closed an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. The league has been reviewing the case for months, trying to determine whether Watson should be punished. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email that "there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy.” Watson, who served an 11-game suspension in 2022, was accused of assault by a woman in September. She was seeking more than $1 million in damage before the sides reached a confidential settlement. Watson has played in just 19 games over three seasons for the Browns. NBA returning to China for pair of Suns-Nets preseason games in 2025 The NBA is returning to China next season. The league has struck a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned for Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Brooklyn and Phoenix will play games in China’s gambling hub of Macao on Oct. 10, 2025, and again two days later. There are more games planned for China in 2026, a source told The Associated Press. American ski racer Lindsey Vonn is picking up speed in her comeback bid at 40 years old COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — American ski racer Lindsey Vonn darted through the shadows on the speed course at Copper Mountain on a frigid morning. She was on the hill Friday as she tries to make a comeback to skiing nearly six years after her last race. Vonn plans to enter a series of lower-tier FIS downhill and super-G races this weekend at Copper Mountain, Colorado. It could be the first step toward seeing her on the World Cup circuit again. Scottie Scheffler goes on a run of birdies in the Bahamas and leads by 2 NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler used a big run of birdies to take a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Scheffler had seven birdies on the front nine for a 29. The world No. 1 added one birdie on the back nine to lead by two over Justin Thomas and Akshay Bhatia. Scheffler found no need to apologize for only one birdie on the back nine. He says it simply was a matter of the ball being a little closer to the hole and a few more putts going in. Scheffler already has eight victories this year, including Olympic gold. Hall of Famer Randy Moss is stepping away from ESPN for an extended time to deal with health issue Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is stepping away from his ESPN analyst role for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge, the network said in a statement. Moss revealed last week that he’s dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made his announcement on Instagram from the set of the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying any particular illness. No Bevo? SEC tells Texas there's no room for its 1,700-pound longhorn at title game vs. Georgia ATLANTA (AP) — The Southeastern Conference championship game will not feature another mascot showdown. The league says there's not enough space on the sideline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for No. 2 Texas to bring along its 1,700-pound longhorn Bevo XV for the game against No. 5 Georgia. The teams have two of college football’s most famous mascots. There should be enough sideline space for Georgia’s pure white English bulldog, Uga XI. Before the 2019 Sugar Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans, Bevo XV toppled his barrier and began to charge at Uga X. Texas handlers were able to pull Bevo back before any harm. The Big Ten and SEC are set to gobble up CFP bids. That could squeeze the ACC and other leagues The Big Ten and Southeastern conferences are set to gobble up the majority of the bids to the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. That could squeeze the Atlantic Coast Conference and other leagues trying to maintain their footing. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips told The Associated Press he wants clarity on the process that put two-loss Miami behind three-loss Alabama in the latest rankings. Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said she wouldn't support future changes for guaranteed numbers of bids to power conferences. The Mountain West is set to have its champion in the playoff as a Group of Five winner. NFL's next coaching cycle will feature an impressive list of candidates: Analysis The next NFL coaching cycle will feature an impressive list of candidates ranging from proven champions to up-and-coming coordinators. Six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick heads the list of recognizable names that includes 2021 AP Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Buccaneers OC Liam Cohen, Bills OC Joe Brady and Eagles OC Kellen Moore are among a lengthy list of young offensive-minded coaches who will garner plenty of interest. F1 champion Max Verstappen to become first-time father with girlfriend Kelly Piquet ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is set to become a father for the first time with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet. There’s racing heritage on both sides of the family. Verstappen secured his fourth F1 title last month and Kelly’s father Nelson Piquet was a three-time champion in the 1980s. Verstappen says on Instagram that "we couldn’t be happier with our little miracle.” Verstappen is aiming to win his 10th F1 race of the year at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. Practice gets underway later. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died‘Piano to Zanskar’ Conducts a Musical Journey Across the Himalayas on Documentary ShowcasePONTE VEDRA, Fla., Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. ("Treace" or the "Company") TMCI , a medical technology company driving a fundamental shift in the surgical treatment of bunions and related midfoot deformities through its flagship Lapiplasty® and Adductoplasty® Procedures, today announced the successful completion of the first cases combining IntelliGuideTM PSI technology with the Adductoplasty® System for a CT-based, patient specific correction personalized to the patient's unique midfoot deformity. IntelliGuideTM PSI, incorporating RedPointTM technology, is the first and only patient-specific cut guide system available for correction of bunion and/or midfoot deformities in the U.S. IntelliGuideTM PSI provides an AI-enabled software approach to convert a patient's CT-scan to a pre-operative surgical plan and produce a 3D-printed cut guide specific to the patient's deformity for efficient and personalized intra-operative guidance. It is estimated that midfoot deformities, such as metatarsus adductus, may occur in up to 30% of bunion patients. 1,2 Treace has now initiated a limited market release of IntelliGuideTM PSI for the Adductoplasty® Procedure and plans to expand surgeon access of IntelliGuideTM for both the Lapiplasty® and Adductoplasty® procedures progressively over the coming months with full market release expected within the first half of 2025. "IntelliGuideTM PSI further advances our market leadership position in the surgical management of bunion and midfoot deformities, extending the established benefits of PSI personalized approaches to our Lapiplasty® and Adductoplasty® Procedures," said John T. Treace, CEO, Founder and Board Member of Treace. "We look forward to further building out our ecosystem of enabling digital technologies as part of our strategy to provide a comprehensive portfolio of bunion and related midfoot solutions to address the evolving needs of our surgeon customers and patients." Eric Kuhlman, DPM of Center for Spine & Orthopedics in Denver, who performed an initial IntelliGuideTM Adductoplasty® case commented, "This technology is going to revolutionize the way that I approach treating patients with bunion and related midfoot deformities. The virtual planning process helped me fully visualize the complex three-dimensional metatarsus adductus midfoot correction before stepping foot in the OR and the 3D-printed cut guides added a new level of intra-operative precision, efficiency, and confidence to the procedure. Just as PSI has advanced other areas of orthopedics, I expect IntelliGuideTM PSI to rapidly expand our understanding and treatment of these common, yet challenging foot deformities." Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company's expectations of innovation, product commercialization, market performance, and growth. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect the Company's business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and actual results and other events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Factors that could cause actual results or other events to differ materially from those contemplated in this press release can be found in the Risk Factors section of Treace's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024, and its subsequent SEC filings. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of their date and, except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements, whether as a result of any new information, future developments or otherwise. Internet Posting of Information Treace routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the "Investor Relations" section of its website at www.treace.com . The Company encourages investors and potential investors to consult the Treace website regularly for important information about Treace. About Treace Medical Concepts Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. is a medical technology company with the goal of advancing the standard of care for the surgical management of bunion and related midfoot deformities. Bunions are complex 3-dimensional deformities that originate from an unstable joint in the middle of the foot and affect approximately 67 million Americans, of which Treace estimates 1.1 million are annual surgical candidates. Treace has pioneered and patented the Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® System – a combination of instruments, implants, and surgical methods designed to surgically correct all three planes of the bunion deformity and secure the unstable joint, addressing the root cause of the bunion and helping patients get back to their active lifestyles. To further support the needs of bunion patients, Treace has introduced its Adductoplasty® Midfoot Correction System, designed for reproducible surgical correction of midfoot deformities. The Company continues to expand its footprint in the foot and ankle market with the introduction of its SpeedPlateTM Rapid Compression Implants, an innovative fixation platform with broad versatility across Lapiplasty® and Adductoplasty® procedures, as well as other common bone fusion procedures of the foot. For more information, please visit www.treace.com . To learn more about Treace, connect with us on LinkedIn , X , Facebook and Instagram . 1. Aiyer AA, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2014; 35:1292-1297. 2. Gribbin CK, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2017; 38:14-19. Contacts : Treace Medical Concepts Mark L. Hair Chief Financial Officer mhair@treace.net (904) 373-5940 Investors : Gilmartin Group Vivian Cervantes IR@treace.net © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.LPGA announces gender-eligibilty policy update
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BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Si Javier Milei aplica la motosierra al gasto del Estado, su vicepresidenta convalida un aumento de salarios a funcionarios. Si el presidente argentino confronta a la oposición por obstaculizar sus medidas de ajuste, Victoria Villarruel mantiene un trato cordial con esos sectores. Aquella sociedad presidente-vicepresidenta, que se mostraba inseparable en campaña y fraguó un inesperado cambio político en Argentina, lleva ahora una tensa convivencia en la cúspide del poder. Se saludan de beso en la mejilla en actos oficiales, pero no se hablan más, como ocurrió días atrás en una condecoración de policías. Esta dinámica ha levantado suspicacias sobre las reales intenciones de la enigmática vicepresidenta, de 49 años, en un oficialismo que no controla el Congreso y teme por un juicio político al economista ultraliberal. Milei no oculta su fastidio y ha llegado a exponer públicamente la ruptura. “Ella no tiene ningún tipo de injerencia en la toma de decisiones”, declaró en una reciente entrevista. “Porque, además, ella en su visión muchas de las cosas de lo que nosotros hacemos, está mucho más cerca del círculo rojo y de lo que ella llama la alta política, que es lo que nosotros llamamos la casta”, apuntó en referencia al sistema político tradicional. RELATED COVERAGE AP Fotos: Las mejores fotos de la semana en América Latina La gran cantidad de problemas jurídicos que enfrenta el expresidente brasileño Jair Bolsonaro Primer ministro canadiense Trudeau suspenderá impuesto sobre la venta de diversos artículos El diálogo entre ellos, admitió Milei, se limita a “lo que se necesita institucionalmente para cumplir con nuestros roles”. Más centrada, sin experiencia partidaria previa, hábil para el debate mediático y experta en temas de seguridad, Villarruel funcionaba como el complemento ideal para el extrovertido dirigente libertario durante la campaña a la Presidencia. Pero había otro aspecto de la historia personal de Villarruel que le daba réditos al economista en su disputa electoral contra el progresismo. Hija de un teniente coronel que combatió a grupos insurgentes en los 70 y sobrina de un oficial de inteligencia acusado por crímenes de lesa humanidad durante la última dictadura (1976-1983), Villarruel se adhiere a una corriente de pensamiento que cuestiona el “Nunca más”, el paradigma dominante en política de derechos humanos tras el retorno de la democracia, que se enfoca en reconocer a las víctimas —los desaparecidos— de la represión militar. La vicepresidenta milita a favor de una “memoria completa” que busca poner en un plano de igualdad a las víctimas de los ataques perpetuados por la guerrilla izquierdista con los crímenes de lesa humanidad cometidos por las Fuerzas Armadas en la convulsionada década de 1970 en Argentina. AP solicitó varios pedidos de entrevista a Villarruel para este perfil, pero fueron rechazados por su equipo de prensa. ¿ENEMIGOS EN EL PODER? Durante la campaña a la presidencia, Milei había prometido que Villarruel tendría el control de la seguridad y la defensa de su gobierno por considerarla una experta en la temática. Se especializó en la lucha contra el terrorismo en el Centro de Estudios de Defensa Hemisférica William J. Perry en Washington. Tras asumir en diciembre, el mandatario designó en esas áreas a dirigentes de partidos políticos aliados y Villarruel quedó relegada a su función constitucional de presidenta del Senado, sin mayores explicaciones. Lo más cerca del Poder Ejecutivo que ha estado fue como reemplazo de Milei en sus viajes al exterior, tal como indica la Carta Magna. La vicepresidenta —que siempre luce distintos modelos de escarapelas albicelestes— buscó desde entonces diferenciarse del mandatario . “Si diseccionas los personajes con las ideologías, Milei y Villarruel no pegan ni con cola”, dijo a AP el periodista Juan Luis González, quien se ha especializado en la investigación del fenómeno de las nuevas derechas en Argentina y escribió el libro “El Loco”, en el que revela el recorrido de Milei y su entorno antes de asumir el poder en diciembre. “Milei es un libertario”, añadió. “Su punto cero ideológico es que el Estado es una imposición violenta, no tiene que existir. Villarruel es una nacionalista conservadora, católica y cree en la fortaleza del Estado”, acotó. González y la mayoría de sus colegas que cubren a diario los entretelones del gobierno también apuntan a la mala relación de Villarruel con la hermana del presidente y secretaria general de la presidencia, Karina Milei, quien al parecer desconfía de las ambiciones políticas de la vicepresidenta. En una encuesta realizada a fines de octubre por la consultora D’Alessio IROL / Berensztein, Villarruel tiene una imagen positiva del 43% frente al 41% del presidente, entre 1.118 encuestados. “Villarruel me representa, la noto muy preparada”, expresó Joanna Salcedo, una peluquera de 34 años. “Sabe de lo que habla. Me gusta su estilo, es cálida, la noto cercana a la gente. La votaría si se presenta a presidenta”. En la primera y única entrevista que dio en televisión tras ser elegida, Villarruel calificó a Milei de “pobre jamoncito” porque está en el medio entre ella y Karina. “Tiene mucho carácter y yo también. Es brava”, definió a su contrincante interna. Villarruel avaló un aumento de salarios en el Senado pese a la política de “motosierra” que lleva adelante Milei sobre los gastos del Estado . “Si a la motosierra le das y le das, después te comés un montón de juicios laborales”, justificó. También viajó al Vaticano a principios de octubre para una audiencia con el papa Francisco, a los pocos días de que el líder religioso lanzara filosas críticas contra el gobierno de Milei. A su vez, generó un contrapunto diplomático con Francia cuando lo tildó de “país colonialista” al salir en defensa de los jugadores de la selección de Argentina, en un escándalo por cánticos racistas durante la Copa América. El gobierno de Milei tuvo que pedir disculpas formales. Otro incidente en política exterior se dio con motivo de un reciente acuerdo con Gran Bretaña para retomar los vuelos mensuales entre Brasil y las islas Malvinas con una escala en la provincia argentina de Córdoba, pero sin reabrir la discusión sobre la soberanía del archipiélago, que los británicos tienen cancelada desde su victoria en la guerra de 1982. “Todos saben lo que representa Malvinas para mí y que ese es mi límite ”, expresó la Villarruel, hija de un excombatiente en sus redes sociales. “La propuesta de acuerdo anunciada con el Reino Unido es contraria a los intereses de nuestra Nación”. “Ella es una líder con pretensiones presidenciales. Eso la induce a diferenciarse parcialmente del presidente, un líder a quien naturalmente por sus características le gusta tomar riesgos, ir mas allá”, apuntó el analista político Sergio Berensztein. LA FAMILIA MILITAR Al igual que Milei, Villarruel no es una emergente de la política tradicional. Mientras el mandatario cobró notoriedad como columnista económico en programas de televisión, su segunda inició su militancia a principios de este siglo como miembro de agrupaciones de esposas, hijos, camaradas y abogados de militares detenidos de la última dictadura, considerada una de las más sangrientas de Latinoamérica. Estos grupos buscaban contrarrestar las posturas de los organismos de derechos humanos fundados por familiares de los desaparecidos, como Madres y Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, y también frenar los procesos judiciales. Alegaban que la represión se dio en el marco de una guerra contra la guerrilla y que si hubo abusos, estos debían ser juzgados por tribunales militares. Villarruel fundó en 2006 la asociación civil Centro de Estudios Legales sobre el Terrorismo y sus Víctimas (CELTYV) con el objetivo de investigar el accionar de las organizaciones armadas de izquierda, como ERP y Montoneros. Esto la llevó a tener trato frecuente en la cárcel con algunas de las figuras más relevantes de la dictadura, como el expresidente de facto Jorge Rafael Videla, fallecido en 2013, y tres exmarinos condenados por crímenes de lesa humanidad. Elegida diputada en 2021 y vicepresidenta dos años después, el ascenso político de Villarruel se da en el marco de “un crecimiento de los discursos relativistas y negacionistas ”, advirtió el Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), un organismo de derechos humanos fundado en 1979. “Este tipo de posiciones representan un daño mayúsculo a la construcción social, política e institucional que simboliza el ‘Nunca Más’ para la democracia, un piso común de acuerdo y convivencia al que se comprometieron todos los gobiernos previos, los tres poderes del Estado y el Ministerio Público Fiscal”, añadió. Si bien, antes de Villarruel, hubo otras voces dentro de la dirigencia política argentina que han puesto en duda la emblemática cifra de 30.000 desaparecidos y cuestionado la transparencia de las indemnizaciones que pagó el Estado a sus familias, ella es la primera que desde un alto cargo impulsa medidas concretas en línea con un revisionismo de los 70. Durante un acto en el Senado en homenaje a las víctimas de la guerrilla, prometió reabrir las causas judiciales contra sus responsables pese a la jurisprudencia que ha declarado prescritos esos delitos. “Mientras no haya justicia, verdad y reparación para las víctimas del terrorismo y se termine la impunidad de estos señores, no hay posibilidad de reconciliación”, argumentó. Días atrás logró que el Senado aprobara un proyecto de reparación económica para los herederos de una docena de soldados muertos durante un ataque de un comando de Montoneros –el brazo armado del peronismo de izquierda— a un regimiento militar de la provincia de Formosa. Entre la causa por la “memoria completa” y la convivencia con Milei, Villarruel también proyecta su futuro político más allá de 2027. En TikTok —la red social que elige para un contacto directo con sus partidarios— dijo que su anhelo cuando finalice el mandato como vicepresidenta es que “los argentinos me recuerden como parte de su familia”. “Tiene potencial porque es una figura fuerte, Argentina siempre busca caudillos o caudillas”, apuntó Berenzstein. “Es una mujer fuerte, típicas de la Argentina desde Evita (Perón) en adelante... Se inscribe dentro de esa tradición de mujeres argentinas que no llegaron para acompañar, no son mujeres ‘de’. Quieren poner su impronta”.
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Gasperini: ‘Atalanta deserved victory, Fonseca distracting from Milan’Feels like a ‘mini-India’: PM Modi at community programme in KuwaitJACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 4, 2024-- Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, surprised local customers by hosting pop-up giveaways throughout the Southeast following GivingTuesday. Today, on “WinningWednesday,” the grocer distributed $50,000 in gift cards, plus free private label products across five store locations to thank loyal customers for saving with its award-winning Rewards program. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204715076/en/ Southeastern Grocers brightened the holiday season today for its shoppers with festive freebies, including $100 gift cards and reusable tote bags stuffed with items from the grocer’s award-winning line of Own Brand products. The jolly giveaway spread holiday cheer across five Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket locations in the Southeast. (Photo: Business Wire) The first 100 customers that arrived at each of the designated Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie locations received a free $100 gift card and reusable tote bag stuffed with items from the grocer’s award-winning line of Own Brand products. The giveaway events delighted customers in Jacksonville, South Pasadena, Hallandale and Kenner, Louisiana, to help them fill their stockings – and their grocery carts – just in time for the holidays. Adam Kirk, Chief Customer & Digital Officer for Southeastern Grocers, said, “The holiday season brings abundant joy and celebration, but we know it can also present challenges for families navigating extra costs. That’s why we are proud to spread holiday cheer today, making the season brighter and budgets lighter for our valued customers. Year-round, we are committed to helping neighbors stretch every dollar further while putting delicious, nourishing meals on the table. With our Rewards program, customers can unwrap exclusive savings right at their fingertips – because at Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie, loyalty truly pays off!” Included in Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Loyalty Programs for the fourth consecutive year, the grocer’s Rewards program provides customers with exclusive digital coupons and personalized rewards, including a free birthday gift and special percent back offers. Accessible through the grocer’s mobile apps and online, the Rewards program also gives access to weekly deals and allows customers to earn points for every shopping trip, which can be redeemed for money off groceries. The average Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customer saves more than 19% by utilizing the grocer’s award-winning Rewards apps. 1 The Harveys and Winn-Dixie Rewards apps also provide additional benefits to plan ahead of time with the ability to view weekly ads, build shopping lists and view recipe inspiration. Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores also offer delivery and curbside pickup, making the grocery shopping experience simple and more convenient than ever. Customers can shop online with the same great deals and have their orders delivered right to their doors in as little as two hours, or opt for easy curbside pickup at participating stores. SEG is committed to helping neighbors save significantly more time and money on their grocery shopping, recognizing that every minute and dollar counts during the holiday season. For more details on the Harveys and Winn-Dixie Rewards programs and to sign up, visit www.harveyssupermarkets.com/rewards and www.winndixie.com/rewards . About Southeastern Grocers Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is an omnichannel retailer serving customers in brick-and-mortar grocery stores and liquor stores, as well as online with convenient grocery delivery and curbside pickup throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and caring associates and a strong commitment to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, visit www.harveyssupermarkets.com and www.winndixie.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204715076/en/ CONTACT: For SEG interviews or images contact: Meredith Hurley Senior Director, Communications and Community (904) 370-6029 media@segrocers.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA FLORIDA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY MEN RETAIL FOOD TECH FAMILY CONSUMER OTHER PHILANTHROPY PHILANTHROPY OTHER RETAIL SUPERMARKET FUND RAISING FOUNDATION WOMEN SENIORS SOURCE: Southeastern Grocers Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/04/2024 03:32 PM/DISC: 12/04/2024 03:32 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204715076/en