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FG Trade Latin/E+ via Getty Images Overview Walmex ( OTCQX:WMMVY ) is the largest supermarket chain with 3065 stores in Mexico and 912 stores scattered across Central America. The business is split between the large Supercenters (similar to the U.S.), traditional supermarkets and Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of WMMVY either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Pursue Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN ) by 55.4% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 42,144 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock after acquiring an additional 15,027 shares during the period. Amazon.com comprises 4.3% of Pursue Wealth Partners LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest holding. Pursue Wealth Partners LLC’s holdings in Amazon.com were worth $7,853,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. PayPay Securities Corp raised its stake in Amazon.com by 64.6% during the second quarter. PayPay Securities Corp now owns 163 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. Hoese & Co LLP acquired a new position in Amazon.com during the third quarter worth $37,000. Bull Oak Capital LLC acquired a new position in Amazon.com during the third quarter worth $45,000. Values First Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Amazon.com during the third quarter worth $56,000. Finally, Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc raised its stake in Amazon.com by 650.0% during the second quarter. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc now owns 300 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $58,000 after acquiring an additional 260 shares in the last quarter. 72.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Amazon.com Stock Up 2.9 % Shares of Amazon.com stock opened at $227.03 on Friday. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $197.39 and its 200 day simple moving average is $188.12. Amazon.com, Inc. has a 52-week low of $143.64 and a 52-week high of $227.15. The firm has a market cap of $2.39 trillion, a PE ratio of 48.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.09. Insider Buying and Selling at Amazon.com In other Amazon.com news, CEO Douglas J. Herrington sold 3,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.00, for a total value of $735,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 524,567 shares in the company, valued at $110,159,070. This trade represents a 0.66 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, SVP David Zapolsky sold 2,190 shares of Amazon.com stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $195.00, for a total value of $427,050.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 62,420 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,171,900. This represents a 3.39 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 6,030,183 shares of company stock worth $1,252,883,795 over the last ninety days. 10.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Redburn Atlantic increased their price objective on Amazon.com from $225.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on Amazon.com from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Bank of America increased their target price on Amazon.com from $210.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Amazon.com from $210.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Benchmark increased their target price on Amazon.com from $200.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, forty-one have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Amazon.com has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $236.20. View Our Latest Research Report on Amazon.com Amazon.com Profile ( Free Report ) Amazon.com, Inc engages in the retail sale of consumer products, advertising, and subscriptions service through online and physical stores in North America and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). It also manufactures and sells electronic devices, including Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Echo, Ring, Blink, and eero; and develops and produces media content. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AMZN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Amazon.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Amazon.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Playing against his parent club Stuttgart in the Champions League, on-loan Red Star Belgrade forward Silas had just a low-key celebration for the goal he scored in a 5-1 win Wednesday. Silas played five years at Stuttgart before being loaned out to spend this season with the Serbian champion — a deal that went through after the Champions League fixtures were drawn and both parties to the loan were set to meet in the fifth of eight rounds. Red Star trailed 1-0 in the 12th minute when the Congo international ran through to shoot from the edge of the Stuttgart penalty area. Silas held up both hands in a gesture of apology to fans of his longtime former team. It was the platform for 1991 European Cup winner Red Star to deliver its best performance in the Champions League after four straight losses. The 26-year-old Silas made headlines in 2021 when he was revealed to be one year older than registered and playing under a false family name. His former agent was blamed for the visa issue after the player arrived in Europe as a teenager. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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RAMPANT Arsenal handed Sporting Lisbon a Champions League humbling – and even taunted their star striker Viktor Gyokeres by nicking his celebration. The Gunners produced one of their best European away-day displays in recent memory with three goals inside 45 minutes out in Lisbon via Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel. With Sporting on their knees, Brazilian defender Gabriel scored the third with a header on the brink of half-time before pulling out Gyokeres’ trademark ‘mask’ routine. The audacity. It is a sign of the confidence and the swagger running back through this Arsenal team, back at full-strength with injuries behind them, producing a performance that should make their rivals in this competition take note. Even when Sporting rallied with Goncalo Inacio’s 47th-minute header, Mikel Arteta’s men were ruthless in their response through Bukayo Saka’s 65th-minute penalty and Leandro Trossard's late addition . Gyokeres – a man who has been scouted by the North Londoners on numerous occasions – came into this contest as one of the continent’s most feared goal-getters - 24 in 17 so far this term for Sporting. Three of them came in a 4-1 battering of Manchester City under manager Ruben Amorim – now at Manchester United – at the Estadio Jose Alvalade earlier this month. But the 26-year-old comes away from this one with more questions than answers by his name. Up against centre-back duo William Saliba and Gabriel, it really was men against boys at times. Most read in Football FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS The Sporting fans showed off their impressive singing voices well into the opening minute of the match with their translated rendition of Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’. But those dulcet tones soon turned to jeers as Arsenal did things their way, piling on some early pressure and getting under the skins of the Sporting players. After a needless altercation that floored Havertz before a throw-in, Ousmane Diomande picked up a fourth-minute yellow card. And three minutes later, from another throw-in, the opener. It was a brilliantly intricate move, one that involved Martin Odegaard , Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber – the latter squaring it for Martinelli and the easiest of tap-ins. Arteta punched the air. The perfect start he craved from his team, one that had previously gone four European away days without finding the net. Sporting mounted a response, but big Swede Gyokeres was being marked superbly by the meat and two veg pairing of Saliba and Gabriel. He may be one of the most prolific marksmen on the continent right now, but in testing himself against a world-class defensive duo, Gyokeres was coming up severely short. Out-tought, out-muscled, dominated. He spent most of the first half skulking around like a stroppy youngster who had just had his ball nicked off him by the bigger boys. His mood worsened thanks to some more elegant Arsenal intricacy. Partey lofted a chipped pass over the Sporting back line for Saka to latch on to, poking through the legs of goalkeeper Franco Israel. Another empty-net finish, this time for Havertz, leaving Sporting stunned. A team who had won 17 of their opening 19 games in all competitions this term were being ripped to shreds. The Sporting fans then decided to use up the leftovers from Bonfire Night from the stands to give everyone within a five-mile radius the shock of a lifetime. It did little to wake up their beloved Sporting, however. A banner also emerged that read: "The Lion’s heart." This performance had very little of that. The visitors were the ones roaring. And the hosts had little to no answers for the onslaught Arsenal were consistently conjuring. Heading into the break, Arteta would have wanted another goal to show for their complete and utter control. He soon got it. Rice took his time in whipping in the corner, to the disgust of the whistling home end, but when he did, it was only ever destined for the head of Gabriel. When done right, that sort of routine is unstoppable, but Sporting’s marking was non-existent. Inside 45 minutes, Arsenal had doubled their Champions League campaign tally – while Gyokeres’ chances of adding to his five already in this competition looked bleak. After Gabriel cheekily used the Swedish international’s linked-finger celebration and the half-time whistle went, Gyokeres angrily launched the ball from his own half into an empty net. Less than two minutes into the second half, Sporting scored for real. David Raya was forced into his first meaningful save from a Hidemasa Morita strike, yet he was helpless to stop Inacio from flicking on from the resulting corner. Sporting fans cranked up the volume, only to watch Arsenal turn it back on with Diomande cutting down Odegaard in the box, getting Saka on the scoresheet from 12 yards. READ MORE SUN STORIES Two subs combined for the fifth - Mikel Merino's punt parried on to the head of Trossard. Five games and three wins down in this new format. Arsenal are rediscovering their form at just the right time.Note: Most subscribers have some, but not all, of the puzzles that correspond to the following set of solutions for their local newspaper. Play the USA TODAY . Play the USA TODAY . Answer: WHINNY ARCADE DOCTOR WOODEN FAMILY PICNICAfter the mountain climber started sneezing and coughing at the summit, he — CAME DOWN WITH A COLD IF A "WILL AND GRACE" ACTRESS WERE MAKING FISHNET STOCKINGS, WHAT WOULD THAT SITUATION BE? DEBRA MESHING. BED DESK SOFA CHAIR TABLE DRESSER RECLINER SLASH, HELEN, NAUSEA, AIDED, DRESSER AUSTIN CELEBRITY MOVIE VOYAGER EXCEPTIONAL ACCOLADE HEADLINER Get to the hospitalImagine getting booted off the school oval because Rob Valetini is about to play a Super Rugby game, or sidestepping Tom Wright and Len Ikitau on your way to the bus stop. Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue The ACT Brumbies will head back to school when they take a Super Rugby Pacific trial game to Marist College on February 7. The clash with the Western Force will be the Brumbies' last chance to blow out the cobwebs before they open their Super Rugby campaign in Fiji , with the Marist College clash set to be played on a Friday afternoon after the final school bell rings. The Brumbies have locked in two trial dates for next season, with the first coming against former coach Dan McKellar and his new-look NSW Waratahs - a squad bolstered by the likes of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Taniela Tupou - in Bowral on February 1. "There has been a lot of changes within rugby in Australia, with players from the disbanded Melbourne Rebels being distributed between the teams," Larkham said. "The Waratahs and the Force have picked up quite a few of those players, so we're really looking forward to these trials to see how those players integrate into their systems and how our team gels, off the back of what has so far been a very tough pre-season. "Marist is one of the big, rugby schools in Canberra and has a long history of bringing players through to the Brumbies and international duty, so it's great for us to connect to a school like that. Rob Valetini and the Brumbies will finalise 2025 preparations at a school. Picture by Keegan Carroll "They've always been very supportive of us and we're doing our best to support the rugby community in Canberra." Marist College has traditionally been a breeding ground for Brumbies stars, with the likes of Joe Roff, Tom Cusack, Rory Scott and Liam Bowron rising through the ranks of the Canberra school. The decision to play a trial game at a school - as opposed to Viking Park or another venue - is part of Larkham's bid to connect the club with the community . Brumbies players spent Thursday visiting kids in hospital, while Larkham has binned the traditional captain's run in favour of community visits in a push to rebuild support for Australia's most successful Super Rugby team. "Going back to Marist is going to be special. There are a lot of guys I know that played junior rugby there alongside me and ran out on that field every day," Bowron said. READ MORE SPORT : This Canberra star needed stitches, and the first thing she said will stun you 'Call it the Kyrgios Court instead of John Cain Arena': Nick's wild petition The audacious bid to turn this sport into Canberra's biggest summer spectacle "When I was young and looking up to the Brumbies, it was a fantastic feeling to see them at school. Going back there is going to be awesome, and we hope it drives people to play rugby, knowing there is a pathway in Canberra to follow as I did." Andy Friend's Brumbies women's side will play trials against the Queensland Reds [February 8 at Ballymore], NSW Waratahs [February 15 at Campbelltown Harlequins Rugby Club, and the Fijian Drua [February 22 at Canberra Stadium]. "We are excited about the opportunities to face both 2024 Super Rugby Women's finalists, and a very strong Queensland Reds program across our pre-season," Brumbies head of women's rugby James Erwin said. Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Caden Helmers Sports Writer Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times. Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times. 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Queens of the deal: These women reached the top of corporate Britain while raising children - so what are the secrets of their success? By ANNE ASHWORTH Updated: 17:26 EST, 11 December 2024 e-mail View comments Takeover mania has the stock market in its grip with two multi-billion pound bids sealed last week alone. Nothing so unusual about that, you might think – except that both were led by women. Amanda Blanc, the chief executive of insurance company Aviva, pursued smaller rival Direct Line, and Margherita Della Valle, the boss of telecoms giant Vodafone, pulled off a merger with Three. The duo follow Debbie Crosbie, at UK’s biggest building society Nationwide, who recently sealed a deal to buy Virgin Money. The City loves a takeover, where one company buys another, often accompanied by clashing egos, huge fees and bitter rows. For decades, bids have been a testosterone-fuelled macho preserve but this year high-flying women are Queens of the Deal. Deal-makers: For decades, takeovers have been a testosterone-fuelled macho preserve but this year it's high-flying women leading the way Crosbie, Blanc and Della Valle have presided over takeover bids collectively worth £20billion. All three are in their fifties and each has combined motherhood with a rise to the top of corporate Britain, where they earn multi-million-pound pay-packets. A major conference – Women, Money & Power – has been held in London this week. Are these Queens of the Deal role models for a new generation. And who are they? Amanda Blanc Job: Aviva chief executive Age: 57 Children: Two daughters Big Deal: £3.6billion takeover of Direct Line Pay: £6.6million Loves: Stilettos Hates: Sexists Bold move: Amanda Blanc, the chief exec of insurance company Aviva, has successfully pursued smaller rival Direct Line Blanc, 57, has been chief executive of the £13billion insurer Aviva since 2020. During that time, the share price has more than doubled – and she was made a Dame in the 2023 New Year’s Honours. Her ability to deliver for shareholders – in stark contrast to the men before her – has generated huge excitement. Her takeover of smaller rival Direct Line for £3.6billion, creating a motor insurance powerhouse, is her boldest yet. Direct Line has been haemorrhaging customers. Blanc’s purposeful pursuit is typical of her resolve and efficiency. When she arrived at Aviva, she rolled up her sleeves, sold overseas operations she considered not to be core to the business, cut costs and is now looking to increase market share. Anyone who has spent any time with Blanc will attest to her steely determination. One commented: ‘Your first thought is that you would not want to be on the wrong side of her.’ Amanda Fisher – Blanc is her married name – comes from Treherbert in the Rhondda Valley in south Wales. Both her grandfathers were miners. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next UK in slow lane to rate cuts: Bank of England's caution is... Sir Clive Cowdery set for bumper windfall on £8.3bn sale of... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account Blanc retains her south Wales accent, and its disarming qualities set Blanc apart from her largely posh male counterparts. She is unashamedly fond of structured dresses and coats and adores stiletto heels. And has been open about the sexism she has experienced. Early on at Aviva she came under pressure from activist Cevian to boost returns. In some quarters, this campaign was felt to have an undercurrent of opposition to a woman at the head of a FTSE 100 company. At Aviva’s 2022 annual meeting, sexist shareholders jibed she was ‘not the man for the job’. She also encountered homophobia and misogyny on the board of the Welsh Rugby Union, and resigned. The City loves her. Aviva’s current share price is 489p, but analysts are targeting 540p. If this comes to pass, will Blanc celebrate with another pair of sharp stilettos? Probably. Secrets of her success: Challenge the chauvinists. Work out what you want to achieve and how to do it. Dress for success: Blanc’s outfits embody femininity plus power. Debbie Crosbie Job: Nationwide boss Age: 53 Children: One daughter Big deal: £2.9billion takeover of Virgin Money Pay: £2.4million Loves: Dominic West Hates: Branch closures Banking coup: Debbie Crosbie, the woman in charge of the UK's biggest building society Nationwide, recently sealed a deal to buy Virgin Money Until this summer, Debbie Crosbie, 53, was the boss of Britain’s biggest building society, Nationwide. She is now the most powerful female banker in the country after she masterminded a £2.9billion takeover of Virgin Money. Crosbie, described by one observer as a ‘streetfighter’, is seen by her fans to have pulled off the banking coup of the year. Her aim is to create a mutual financial services business big enough to take on the High Street banks. Because Nationwide has no shareholders, she believes she can channel better interest rates and benefits to members. Born and raised in Glasgow, she is often described as ‘steely,’ ‘no nonsense’ and ‘what you see is what you get’. Would the same comments be made of a male executive with a direct manner? Her contention is that the merger will transform not only Nationwide, but the sector generally, by promoting mutuality. But mergers are by no means guaranteed to succeed. Nationwide has made a £2.3billion gain on the deal, because Virgin Money was under-valued. Now, she is running a much bigger operation following the takeover of Virgin Money, founded by Richard Branson and now the UK’s sixth-largest retail bank. Branson will net about £400million from a deal that is the pinnacle, so far, of Crosbie’s 25-year career. Before joining Nationwide in 2022, she was the boss of TSB. She is not afraid to take on the banking establishment and was behind Nationwide’s series of satirical TV adverts starring Dominic West as an arrogant and complacent manager intent on fleecing customers and aggrandizing himself – annoying rivals. In the year to April, Crosbie was paid £2.41million. She stands to earn £3.42million if her performance is outstanding. She might also spend some of it on shoes, since pictures of this Queen of the Deal show she shares Blanc’s penchant for a stylish heel. Crosbie says she has only ever impressed her daughter when, as acting chief executive of the Clydesdale Bank, she became the first woman to have her signature on a Scottish bank note. If she turns Nationwide and Virgin Money into a modern mutual powerhouse, she might impress her a second time. Secrets of her success: A sense of humour is a big asset – as the ads show, it’s possible to make serious points with a smile. Margherita Della Valle Job: Vodafone chief Age: 59 Children: Two sons Big deal: £16.5billion takeover of Three in the UK Pay: £4.38million Loves: Aubergine parmigiana Hates: Bad customer service Margherita Della Valle is known for grace under pressure. Telecoms takeover: Margherita Della Valle, the boss of Vodafone, pulled off an audacious merger with Three A City figure says: ‘She is a safe pair of hands. She is properly on top of stuff, having been at Vodafone for three decades. ‘There’s no ego in her manner, like some male CEOs I know. ’ Della Valle has just signed off the £16.5billion merger of her company’s UK arm with Three, the mobile operator owned by the Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison. The deal is a milestone in the UK telecoms industry. This married mother of two, whose English still bears the traces of her native Veneto region of Italy is more often to be seen wearing trainers than heels with her well-cut trousers and satin shirts. Among the challenges now facing her are concerns about job losses and higher prices in the wake of the deal. When she took over in April 2023, she declared that ‘everything has to change.’ She has a formidable task to overcome a host of problems at this £22.34billion business. The company has been beset with myriad issues in its international divisions and gaps in its coverage. The takeover of Three represents an opportunity to boost deplorably poor connectivity - Britain is 22 out of 25 European countries for 5G technology. Della Valle’s focus in the integration will be the technology, but with the customer in mind. In future, she will be serving no fewer than 29m of them. In this she will rely on what she perceives to be her superpower - being a woman. As she argues, this means ‘you bring a different perspective’ – particularly pertinent in male-dominated ‘telcos’. She is fanatical about customer service, believing it to be neglected. In her view, excellence in this field is a route to growth. Della Valle’s promotion stabilised the share price but it is 50pc down over five years at 72p. Experts at Goldman Sachs rate the shares a ‘buy’ targeting 100p. Secrets of her success: Master your business. Perseverance pays off. Build knowledge and experience. It may take women longer to climb the ladder than men, but that means they’re better equipped when they do. DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. 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MUMBAI: Shashi Ruia , cofounder of the metals-to-technology conglomerate Essar Group , passed away at the age of 81 in Mumbai late on Monday night. Ruia, a first-generation entrepreneur, co-founded Essar with his younger brother Ravi Ruia in 1969. It was a maiden venture to build a breakwater project at the Chennai Port, a first for an Indian company, and since then Essar has delivered infrastructure construction projects across India's major ports. In the following two decades the group moved into the energy sector , steel , power and telecommunications. It built one of India's largest telecom operator with Hutchison , a business that it later exited. Under Ruia's stewardship, Essar withstood significant challenges - when insolvency proceedings were initiated to recover unpaid loans. It sold some of its assets to clear debts and reinvented itself. The group currently manages assets worth $9.6 billion across a string of energy, infrastructure, and technology ventures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a message on social media platform X: "Shri Shashikant Ruia Ji was a colossal figure in the world of industry. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence transformed the business landscape of India. He also set high benchmarks for innovation and growth." Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Marketing Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Future of Marketing & Branding Masterclass By - Dr. David Aaker, Professor Emeritus at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, Author | Speaker | Thought Leader | Branding Consultant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By - Neil Patel, Co-Founder and Author at Neil Patel Digital Digital Marketing Guru View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Microsoft Word Mastery: From Beginner to Expert By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Office Productivity Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By - Study At Home, Quality Education Anytime, Anywhere View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Advanced Java Mastery: Object-Oriented Programming Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Denny Hamlin: Connor Zilisch is ‘probably a sure-fire thing’ in NASCAR Cup Series
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Published 4:58 pm Wednesday, November 27, 2024 By Data Skrive Three games on the Thursday college basketball schedule feature a ranked team, including the matchup between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Iowa State Cyclones. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Get the latest news sent to your inbox Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday passed a $895 billion measure that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military. The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization. It passed by a vote of 281-140 and next moves to the Senate, where lawmakers sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows. The Pentagon and the surrounding area is seen Jan. 26, 2020, from the air in Washington. Lawmakers are touting the bill's 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term. Lawmakers said service member pay failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing. "No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that's exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted," said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. "This bill goes a long way to fixing that." The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023 agreement that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation's borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators had wanted to increase defense spending some $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a "tremendous loss for our national defense," though he agreed with many provisions within the bill. "We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it," Wicker said. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks with reporters Nov. 21 on Capitol Hill in Washington. House Republicans don't want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many non-defense programs. They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a "very real problem." He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, have proven effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. "These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives," Smith said. "And in this bill, we decided we're going to bar service members' children from having access to that." Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson's office insisted on the ban and said the provision "taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation." Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, "I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates." Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, "and yet, here it is in this bill." Branden Marty, a Navy veteran who served for 13 years, said the loss of health coverage for transgender medical treatments could prompt some with valuable experience to leave the military, affecting national security because "we already struggle from a recruiting and retention standpoint." He also said the bill could regularly force service members into difficult choices financially. "It will be tough for a lot of them because of out-of-pocket expenses, especially enlisted members who we know already struggle with food insecurity," said Marty, the father of a transgender teenager. "They don't get paid very much, so they're going to be making a lot of choices on a day-to-day, tactical level." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., responds to reporters Dec. 6 during his weekly news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team did not tell Democrats how to vote on the bill. "There's a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well," Jeffries said. Overall, 81 Democrats voted for the bill and 124 against it. On the Republican side, 200 voted for the bill and 16 against it. "It's disappointing to see 124 of my Democrat colleagues vote against our brave men and women in uniform over policies that have nothing to do with their intended mission," Johnson, R-La., said. The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration requested about $10 billion. On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas. The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January. Rising threats from debt collectors against members of the U.S. armed forces are undermining national security, according to data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal watchdog that protects consumer rights. To manage the impact of financial stress on individual performance, the Defense Department dedicates precious resources to improving financial literacy, so service members know the dangers of notorious no-credit-check loans. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities,” said Andrew Cohen, the director of financial readiness in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. But debt collectors are gaining ground. Last quarter, debt collection complaints by U.S. military service members increased 24% , and attempts to collect on “debts not owed” surged 40%. Complaints by service members against debt collectors for deceptive practices ballooned from 1,360 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 1,833 in the first quarter of 2024. “There’s a connection between the financial readiness and the readiness of a service member to perform their duty,” said Jim Rice, Assistant Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Laws exist to protect the mission readiness of U.S. troops from being compromised by threats and intimidation, but debt collectors appear to be violating them at an alarming pace. “If they’re threatening to call your commander or get your security clearance revoked, that’s illegal,” says Deborah Olvera, financial readiness manager at Wounded Warriors Project, and a military spouse who’s been harassed herself by a collection agency that tried to extort money from her for a debt she didn’t owe. But after she requested the name of the original creditor, she never heard from them again. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities.” —Andrew Cohen, Director of Financial Readiness at the Pentagon Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it’s illegal for debt collectors to threaten to contact your boss or have you arrested because it violates your financial privacy. The FDCPA also prohibits debt collectors from making false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt, even for borrowers with bad credit scores. But according to the data, debt collectors are increasingly ignoring those rules. “Debt collection continues to be one of the top consumer complaint categories,” said a spokesperson at the Federal Trade Commission. The commission released a report earlier this year revealing that consumers were scammed $10 billion in 2023, a new benchmark for fraud losses. In his book Debt: The First 5,000 Years, David Graeber argues that debt often creates a relationship that can feel more oppressive than systems of hierarchy, like slavery or caste systems because it starts by presuming equality between the debtor and the creditor. When the debtor falls into arrears, that equality is then destroyed. This sense of betrayal and the subsequent imbalance of power leads to widespread resentment toward lenders. Photo Credit: Olena Yakobchuk / Shutterstock The debt collector reportedly harassing military service members most was Resurgent Capital Services, a subsidiary of collection giant Sherman Financial Group. The company tacks on accrued interest and junk fees and tries to collect on debts purchased for pennies on the dollar from cable companies, hospitals, and credit card companies, among others. Sherman Financial Group is run by billionaire Benjamin Navarro, who has a reported net worth of $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. Sherman Financial also owns subprime lender Credit One Bank and LVNV Funding, which outsource collections to Resurgent Capital. According to CFPB data, the second worst offender is CL Holdings, the parent company of debt-buyer Jefferson Capital Systems. The company has also been named in numerous complaints to the Better Business Bureau for alleged violations of the FDCPA, such as failing to properly validate debts or update credit reports with accurate information. Under the leadership of CEO David Burton, Jefferson Capital Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CompuCredit Corporation, which markets subprime credit cards under the names Aspire, Majestic, and others. The third most referenced debt collector is publicly traded Portfolio Recovery Associates [NASDAQ: PRAA], which was forced to pay $27 million in penalties for making false representations about debts, initiating lawsuits without proper documentation, and other violations. Portfolio Recovery Associates is run by CEO Vikram Atal. Fourth place for alleged worst offender goes to Encore Capital Group [NASDAQ ECPG], which was required to pay $42 million in consumer refunds and a $10 million penalty for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Encore collects under its subsidiary Midland Credit Management Group. These debt collectors all operate under a veritable shell game of company and brand names, almost none of which are disclosed on their websites, sending consumers on a wild goose chase to try and figure out how they’re related to each other. But despite their attempts to hide their tracks behind a smoke screen of subsidiaries, a leopard can’t change its spots, and the CFPB complaint database makes it harder for them to try. Photo Credit: Bumble Dee / Shutterstock Although widely considered a consumer-friendly state, complaints spiked most in California, which saw a 188% increase in complaints filed from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. California is home to 157,367 military personnel, making it the most populous state for active-duty service members. The second-largest increase in debt collection complaints was in Texas, which saw a 66% jump from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. The U.S. Department of Defense reports 111,005 service members stationed in the Lone Star State, which is the third-most populous state for active-duty military. The rising trends do not correlate to the number of military personnel by state. Complaints against debt collectors in Virginia, the second most populous state with 126,145 active duty personnel, decreased by 29% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. And complaints filed quarter-over-quarter in North Carolina, the fifth most populous state with 91,077 military personnel, decreased by 3% in the same period. The third largest percentage increase in debt collection complaints was from service members stationed in Maryland, where alleged harassment reports jumped 112% from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. Maryland ranks number 12 with just 28,059 active duty service members. Fourth place goes to Ohio – the 28th most populous active-duty state – where complaints doubled, followed by Arizona – the 15th most populous military state – where complaints were up 70% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. Photo Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock In 2007, Congress passed the Military Lending Act to cap the cost of credit to a 36% annual percentage rate, inclusive of junk fees and late charges, for active duty military service members. That rate is still considerably higher than average credit card rates, which range from 8% for borrowers with excellent credit scores to as high as 36% for borrowers with bad credit. But lenders still get hauled into court for violating the MLA. Don Hankey, the billionaire subprime auto lender who funded Donald Trump’s $175 million appeal bond , is among those violators. His company, Westlake Financial, which markets high-interest car loans for bad credit, has been sued twice by the Department of Justice for harassing military service members. In 2017, the DoJ alleged Hankey’s Westlake Financial illegally repossessed at least 70 vehicles owned by military service members. Westlake Financial paid $700,000 to settle the charges. In 2022, Westlake Financial paid $250,000 for allegedly cheating U.S. troops out of interest rates they were legally entitled to. Westlake Financial continues to receive complaints from military service members alleging abusive debt collection practices on its no-credit-check loans. A steady year-over-year increase in the number of complaints filed against Westlake Financial continued from 2020 to 2023. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data shows a 13% increase in the number of complaints against the company from 2020 to 2021, a 28% increase from 2021 to 2022, and a torrential 119% surge from 2022 to 2023. The numbers suggest systemic complaint-handling processes and inadequate customer service resources. Photo Credit: Cynthia Shirk / Shutterstock On May 16, 2024, a deceptively named predatory lending industry front group dubbed the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) lost a legal attempt to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In an effort to deprive Americans of essential consumer protections, the lobby group argued that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure was unconstitutional. But the Supreme Court denied its claim. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court held that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure is indeed constitutional. That means the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cannot be defunded, but it does not mean the agency cannot be defanged. The New York Times suggested that Hankey’s incentive to finance Trump’s $175 million bond could have been a reciprocity pledge to neuter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election. If Trump wins a second term, he could replace Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit Chopra, an American consumer advocate, with a predatory lending advocate. In 2020, the Trump Administration secured a Supreme Court ruling that made it easier for the president to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The ruling struck down previous restrictions on when a president can fire the bureau’s director. Like other federal agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also been confronted for overstepping its bounds, pushing too far, and acting unfairly against entities it regulates. Photo Credit: Lux Blue / Shutterstock Seasonality and rising interest rates do not explain the increase in debt collection complaints from service members. The surge in complaints is not tied to predictable seasonal fluctuations or changes in interest rates. The increase in debt collection complaints by service members may point to underlying systemic issues, such as aggressive and predatory debt collection practices that exploit the unique financial vulnerabilities of service members, who face frequent relocations and deployments. Debt Complaints by Service Members The 24% spike in debt collection complaints exhibits no correlation to fluctuations in interest rates. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Pandemic stimulus checks were also not a factor. COVID-19 relief benefit checks went through three major rounds during the pandemic. The final round of Economic Impact Payments went out in March 2021 . To better understand the rising trend of debt collection complaints, we calculated the increase in the total number of complaints and the percentage increase quarter-over-quarter. For example, New Jersey has the second largest percentage increase in complaints quarter-over-quarter, but the total number of complaints increased by just 16. The data for this study was sourced from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint database. The dataset specifically targeted complaints filed by U.S. military service members, identified using the tag “Servicemember” within Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. Readers can find the detailed research methodology underlying this news story in the accompanying section here . For complete results, see U.S. Troops Face Mounting Threats from Predatory Debt Collectors on BadCredit.org . Homelessness reached record levels in 2023, as rents and home prices continued to rise in most of the U.S. One group was particularly impacted: people who have served in the U.S. military. "This time last year, we knew the nation was facing a deadly public health crisis," Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said in a statement about the 2023 numbers. He said the latest homelessness estimates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development "confirms the depth of the crisis." At least 35,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness in 2023, according to HUD. While that's about half of what it was in 2009—when the organization began collecting data—things have plateaued in recent years despite active efforts to get that number to zero. Although they make up just 6.6% of the total homeless population, veterans are more likely to be at risk of homelessness than Americans overall. Of every 10,000 Americans, 20 were experiencing homelessness. Of veterans living in the United States, that number jumps to 22, HUD data shows. Complicated by bureaucracy, family dynamics, and prejudice, the path from serving in the military to homelessness is a long one. According to a 2022 study by Yale School of Medicine researchers, homelessness typically occurs within four years of leaving the military, as veterans must contend with the harsh reality of finding a job in a world where employers struggle to see how skills on the battlefield transfer to a corporate environment. These days, veterans also deal with historically high rent and home prices, which causes many to rely on family generosity while figuring out a game plan. Stacker examined academic studies, analyzed government data, and spoke with members of the Biden administration, experts, and former members of the armed forces to see the struggles members of the military face when leaving the armed forces. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers transition assistance to the roughly 250,000 service members who leave each year. However, those programs can be burdensome and complex to navigate, especially for those who don't have a plan for post-military life. Only a small portion of veterans have jobs lined up when they leave, according to 2019 Pew Research. Many also choose to live with relatives until they get on their feet, which can be longer than anticipated. Some former service members are unsure what kind of career they'd like to pursue and may have to get further education or training, Carl Castro, director of the Military and Veteran Programs at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California, told Stacker. "It takes years for that kind of transition," Castro said. Many have trouble finding a job after leaving the service, even if they are qualified. Some employers carry misconceptions about those who have served. A 2020 analysis from the journal Human Resource Management Review found that some veterans face hiring discrimination due to negative stereotypes that lead hiring managers to write them off as a poor culture fit. Underemployment, or working low-wage jobs below their skill level, is also an issue. While the unemployment rate for veterans was 3% in March 2024, a study released by Penn State at the end of 2023 found three years after leaving the service, 61% of veterans said they were underemployed because of perceived skill mismatches . This phenomenon can have long-term economic effects, and eventually, that frustration can boil over, strain relationships, and potentially lead to housing instability. Working, especially a low-wage job, is not protection against homelessness. A 2021 study from the University of Chicago found half of people living in homeless shelters and 2 in 5 unsheltered people were employed, full or part-time. High rents make it difficult to save up, even when applying for a VA loan—a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that typically has more favorable terms. While the VA does not require a downpayment, some lenders, who ultimately provide the loan, do. They're not entirely risk-free either, and veterans can still lose their homes if they are unable to keep up with their mortgages. In November 2023, the VA put a six-month pause on foreclosures when an NPR investigation found thousands of veterans were in danger of losing their homes after a COVID forbearance program ended. Biden officials pointed to high rents and the end of COVID-era housing restrictions like eviction moratoriums to explain the spike in Americans experiencing homelessness. In the last year, homelessness rose 12%—to more than 650,000 people—the highest level since data began being collected in 2007. Overall, more than half of people experiencing homelessness in 2023 live in states with high living costs. Most were in California, followed by New York and Florida. Western states, including Montana and Utah, experienced massive population growth during the pandemic, becoming hubs for remote workers who drove home prices and rents even further. For veterans, housing costs certainly play a role, but those who leave the military also face systemic barriers. "It's worrying there are people that continue to fall through the cracks," said Jeanette Yih Harvie, a research associate at Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Just under a quarter of adults experiencing homelessness have a severe mental illness , according to 2022 HUD survey data. They are also likely to have chronic illnesses but are unable to maintain preventative care, which only exacerbates these problems. Veterans facing homelessness are more likely to have experienced trauma , either before or after joining the military, according to Yale researchers who analyzed the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Childhood trauma was among the most significant commonalities among vets who become homeless. Substance use disorder is also widespread and can indicate an undiagnosed mental illness . Racial and ethnic disparities are at play, too. A 2023 study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research showed that Hispanic and Black veterans were more likely to screen positive for PTSD, and Hispanic veterans were more likely to report having suicidal ideation. Overall, access to mental health care has improved in the last decade or so. In December 2023, the VA announced it would open nine additional counseling centers. However, the stigma of getting help remains, especially after years of being conditioned to be self-reliant and pull oneself up by their bootstraps. That help, in the form of public policy, is slowly working to catch up to the need. In 2023, the Biden administration invested millions into research programs and studies on suicide prevention by the VA office in addition to a proposed $16 billion to improve quality and lower-cost mental health care services for veterans. And, in February of this year, HUD and the VA announced they would give up to $14 million in vouchers to public housing agencies for veterans experiencing homelessness. The program would also offer case management and other services. Still, with a culture that pushes people to keep going, it can be challenging for servicemembers to take advantage of these opportunities, Harvie said. "When you've been doing that for the last 15 or 20 years, it's difficult to stop and say, 'I'm the person that needs help.'" Story editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
ive Canadian news media companies have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. The companies alleged that OpenAI has been scraping large swaths of content to fuel its products. The 84-page legal filing seeks damages and a permanent injunction to prevent OpenAI from using their material without consent. Artificial intelligence is everywhere, shaping how we interact with technology. But behind its functionality lies a growing debate over the ethics of how AI companies use content. This concern is now at the heart of a legal battle in Canada, where five prominent news media companies have accused ChatGPT-maker OpenAI of copyright infringement. On Friday, Canadian news media companies Torstar, Postmedia, The Globe and Mail, The Canadian Press, and CBC/Radio-Canada filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. They claim that the AI company unlawfully used their journalism to train its AI systems without permission or payment. Also read: Accident or cover-up? OpenAI allegedly deletes potential evidence in copyright case In a joint statement, the companies alleged that OpenAI has been scraping large swaths of content to fuel its products. They criticised this practice, stating: “Journalism is in the public interest. OpenAI using other companies’ journalism for their own commercial gain is not. It’s illegal.” The media companies argue that OpenAI’s actions have harmed their intellectual property rights. The 84-page legal filing seeks damages and a permanent injunction to prevent OpenAI from using their material without consent. They also emphasised that OpenAI has never compensated them for using their work, reports Reuters. “Rather than seek to obtain the information legally, OpenAI has elected to brazenly misappropriate the News Media Companies’ valuable intellectual property and convert it for its own uses, including commercial uses, without consent or consideration,” the lawsuit claims. Also read: Is OpenAI violating copyright laws? Former company employee says YES OpenAI’s response OpenAI defended its practices, stating that its AI models rely on publicly available data and operate within fair use and international copyright laws. The company added that it collaborates with publishers and provides options to opt out. “We collaborate closely with news publishers, including in the display, attribution and links to their content in ChatGPT search, and offer them easy ways to opt out should they so desire,” a spokesperson said. This lawsuit is part of a global wave of legal actions targeting AI companies over their use of copyrighted material. While this case doesn’t involve OpenAI’s backer Microsoft, Elon Musk recently expanded a lawsuit against OpenAI to include Microsoft, alleging monopolistic practices in the AI industry. Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile