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New Collaboration with Green Dot Enables Cash Deposits at Over 7,500 CVS Pharmacy Locations AUSTIN, Texas and SAN FRANCISCO , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Varo Bank , the first all-digital nationally chartered bank in the U.S., today announced a collaboration with Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT) and CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) to enable deposits for no fee for millions of Varo Bank customers at over 7,500 participating CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide. 1 Utilizing Green Dot's embedded finance platform (Arc) and expansive money movement network, the "Green Dot Network," Varo customers can now deposit cash at participating CVS Pharmacy locations 2 with zero fees. For customers who deposit cash regularly, this means saving $120 or more per year. Traditional banks often charge fees unless customers maintain specified minimum balances in their accounts or meet monthly direct deposit requirements. In addition, unlike fintech companies that must work through partner banks to set their fee policies, Varo's charter enables the bank to offer preferential fees and products to its customers. "As an all-digital bank, Varo is creating low-cost financial solutions designed specifically for the needs of everyday Americans," said Colin Walsh , Chief Executive Officer at Varo Bank. "This Green Dot collaboration at participating CVS Pharmacy locations eliminates cash deposit fees, making basic banking more convenient and affordable." Varo customers have access to a suite of primary banking products that support their financial stability and wellness, including: "We are thrilled to work with Varo and CVS Pharmacy to make banking accessible to millions of American consumers," said Crystal Bryant-Minter , SVP, Money Movement at Green Dot. "With more than 20 years' experience delivering seamless banking and payment solutions to consumers and businesses, Arc by Green Dot powers some of the world's most trusted brands and thousands of other businesses at all stages of growth with seamless, secure and useful financial tools and experiences." About Varo Bank Varo Bank is a new kind of bank - the first nationally chartered consumer tech bank in the U.S., built from the ground up with a focus on the needs of Americans striving to get ahead. From credit building to savings to faster payments, Varo has a complete solution to help everyday Americans make progress in their financial lives. Varo combines the capabilities and nimbleness of a technology company with the security and oversight of a regulated financial institution, enabling agile product design that provides technology-first solutions such as Varo Believe, a secured card to help build credit; Varo Advance, to help stretch hard-earned dollars between paychecks; and a high-yield savings account, offering one of the nation's highest APYs. Varo has been named as one of the Inc. 5000 2023 fastest growth companies in the U.S., CNBC's 2023 list of the World's Top Fintech Companies, one of Forbes' World's Best Banks, and Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies. For more information on Varo Advance, Varo Believe, and other offerings such as Perks, visit www.varomoney.com , like Varo Bank on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @varobank. ©2024 Varo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. About Arc by Green Dot Arc is the embedded finance platform of services featuring all of Green Dot's secure banking and money processing capabilities designed to fuel value, loyalty and growth for consumers and businesses. Arc by Green Dot powers some of the world's most trusted brands and thousands of other businesses with seamless, secure and useful financial tools and experiences. Integrated with Green Dot Bank 3 Arc provides partners with leading FDIC-insured banking products and tools, plus regulatory and compliance expertise, oversight and support. The Arc platform is cloud-based, modular and scalable by design – configurable to meet a wide range of business needs and goals, and flexible to adapt as our partners grow. Arc's end-to-end banking services are powered by enterprise-grade APIs and offer partners access to comprehensive customer support, fraud protection, the largest retail deposit and ATM network in the U.S., and much more. For more information, visit greendot.com/arc . Media Contact Audrey Jacobson , for Varo Bank: varobank@consortpartners.com 1 Fees for optional service may apply 2 Cash deposit is available at all stand-alone CVS locations (through Green Dot Network®) with a cashier in the U.S. except those located within hospitals, on military bases, or in Target. You can deposit between $20 - $500 per transaction. A fee may apply for depositing cash at other Green Dot Network® locations. 3 Green Dot Bank also operates under the following registered trade names: GO2bank, GoBank and Bonneville Bank . All of these registered trade names are used by, and refer to, a single FDIC-insured bank, Green Dot Bank. Deposits under any of these trade names are deposits with Green Dot Bank and are aggregated for deposit insurance coverage up to the allowable limits. Green Dot Corporation NMLS #914924; Green Dot Bank NMLS #908739. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/varo-bank-introduces-zero-fee-cash-deposits-at-participating-cvs-locations-302337565.html SOURCE Varo BankLevel Up Your Life: The Tech That Blew Us Away in 2024TORONTO, Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firan Technology Group Corporation (TSX: FTG) (OTCQX: FTGFF) ("FTG” or the "Corporation”) is pleased to announce the completion of the previously announced plan of arrangement (the "Transaction”) under the Canada Business Corporations Act pursuant to which FTG has acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares ("FLYHT Shares”) of FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. ("FLYHT”). FLYHT is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of FTG. The Transaction was approved at a special meeting held by holders of FLYHT Shares ("FLYHT Shareholders”) on December 16, 2024 by approximately 97.9% of the votes cast by FLYHT Shareholders. Final approval for the Transaction was obtained from the Court of King's Bench of Alberta on December 18, 2024. Under the terms of the Transaction, FLYHT Shareholders were able to elect to receive, in exchange for each FLYHT Share held, (i) CAD$0.1103 in cash and 0.0333 of a common share of FTG (each whole such share, an "FTG Share”), (ii) CAD$0.3379 in cash (the "All-Cash Consideration”) or (iii) 0.0495 FTG Shares (the "All-Share Consideration”), subject to pro-ration (collectively, the "Consideration”). The Consideration is subject to a total maximum cash consideration of CAD$4.3 million and a total maximum share consideration of 1.3 million FTG Shares. As a result of the elections made by FLYHT Shareholders, all FLYHT Shareholders who made an election will receive the following pro-ration: Brad Bourne, President and CEO, FTG stated, "We are thrilled to have successfully completed the acquisition of FLYHT and we are confident that FLYHT will be an important part of FTG's future. As we had previously announced, FLYHT increases our presence in the commercial aerospace aftermarket, and FLYHT's SATCOM product increases our presence on Airbus aircraft, via a licensing arrangement and both of these are strategic priorities for FTG. Going forward we see a path to ramping up sales of FLYHT's product lines and insourcing manufacturing of their product to other FTG sites. We have lots to do, but with the teams at FLYHT and FTG I know we can achieve our goals and create value for our shareholders.” Immediately prior to the effective date of the Transaction, FTG and its subsidiaries did not own any FLYHT Shares. Under the terms of the arrangement, FTG acquired 38,997,650 FLYHT Shares, being all of the issued and outstanding FLYHT Shares. The aggregate consideration to be paid for the FLYHT Shares is approximately CAD$4.3 million and 1.3 million FTG Shares. The closing trading price of an FTG Share on the Toronto Stock Exchange on December 19, 2024, the date immediately prior to the effective date of the Transaction, was CAD$7.28. An early warning report will be filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under FLYHT's profile. In order to obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact Jamie Crichton, FTG's Vice President and CFO at: (416) 299-4000, ext. 264. ABOUT FIRAN TECHNOLOGY GROUP CORPORATION FTG is an aerospace and defense electronics product and subsystem supplier to customers around the globe. FTG has two operating units: FTG Circuits is a manufacturer of high technology, high reliability printed circuit boards. Our customers are leaders in the aviation, defense, and high technology industries. FTG Circuits has operations in Toronto, Ontario, Chatsworth, California, Fredericksburg, Virginia, Minnetonka, Minnesota, Haverhill, Massachusetts and a joint venture in Tianjin, China. FTG Aerospace designs, certifies, manufactures and provides in-service support for illuminated cockpit products and electronic assemblies for original equipment manufacturers and operators of aerospace and defense equipment. FTG Aerospace has operations in Toronto, Ontario, Calgary, Alberta, Chatsworth, California and Tianjin, China. The Corporation's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol FTG, and on the OTCQX Exchange under the symbol FTGFF. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are related to, but not limited to, expectations regarding the potential benefits and synergies of the Transaction for FTG, delisting of the FLYHT Shares from the TSX Venture Exchange and FTG's intention to cause FLYHT to cease to be a reporting issuer. Forward-looking information typically contains words such as "anticipate”, "believe”, "expect”, "plan” or similar words suggesting future outcomes. Such statements are based on the current expectations of management of the Corporation and inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors and the Corporation's industry, generally. The preceding list is not exhaustive of all possible factors. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by the Corporation. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to the Corporation and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Other than as may be required by law, FTG disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
JANESVILLE — Rock County Board Chair Kevin Leavy is seeking applicants interested in serving on Rock County’s Transportation Coordinating Committee. The committee seeks to improve transportation services throughout Rock County. Committee members can assist in developing and maintaining community partnerships. Committee members should have an interest in evaluating, promoting, planning, and advocating for and on behalf of seniors and those with disabilities for improved transportation services. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.
The Twitter Wrapped 2024 trend is gripping the world and has now become a classic example of how AI bots can beautifully analyze your data and give you a summary of how well your X posts have been doing throughout the year. Every X user would like to know how their posts were perceived, and the Twitter Wrapped 2024 tool can help you achieve just that. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for Twitter Wrapped 2024 trend explained Twitter Wrapped is a brand new trend on X, which has been initiated by Exa AI Labs , that offers X users a tool that can summarize all of their social media activity on the particular platform, and give an insight about which posts did the best, and how well the account has been maintained over the year. It also pulls up X users' followers data, and shows how much they likes, or to an extent, disliked your post. It also shows the user's key strength while posting a content, and which kind of posts of theirs have been doing well on the platform. How can I use Twitter Wrapped? You can drop in a simple Google Search for the Twitter Wrapped tool by Exa AI labs, or visit the organization's X handle and proceed to the link that is present there in order to visit the Twitter Wrapped tool. Remember to maintain caution and not click on any unsafe links or give away your private information while undergoing the process. Once you put down your profile in the Exa AI's Twitter Wrapped tool, it gives you a summary with a minute, which you can then proceed to share on your account and tell your followers how you spent 2024 with them on X. 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Yes, Twitter Wrapped 2024 is an AI tool that summarizes your X handle's data and gives you insights about your content. What is Twitter Wrapped 2024? Twitter Wrapped 2024 is a viral trend, that talks about an interesting AI tool available for summarizing your social media content's details. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Will Utah State or Boise State forfeit vs. San Jose State in the Mountain West semifinals?
A TikToker who went viral teaching science videos predicts short-form video will make its way into the national curriculum after 2024 saw him publish a new book and win a TikTok award. Emanuel Wallace, 27, from east London, is better known as Big Manny by his 1.9 million followers on TikTok, where he shares videos explaining various science experiments from his back garden while using Jamaican Patois phrases and London slang. In early December, Mr Wallace won the Education Creator of the Year award at the TikTok Awards ceremony, which he said is a “symbol that anything that you put your mind to you can achieve”. The content creator began making videos during the coronavirus pandemic when schools turned to online learning but has since expanded his teaching from videos to paper after releasing his debut book Science Is Lit in August. He believes his “unconventional” teaching methods help to make his content relatable for younger audiences by using slang deriving from his Jamaican and British heritage. “The language that I use, it’s a combination between Jamaican Patois and London slang because I have Jamaican heritage,” the TikToker, who holds a bachelors and masters degree in biomedical science, told the PA news agency. “That’s why in my videos sometimes I might say things like ‘Wagwan’ or ‘you dun know’. I just want to connect with the young people more, so I speak in the same way that they speak. “The words that I use, the way that I deliver the lesson as well, I would say that my method of teaching is quite unconventional. I speak in a way that is quite conversational.” Examples of his videos include lithium batteries catching fire after being sandwiched inside a raw chicken breast, as well as mixing gold with gallium to create blue gold, earning millions of views. Mr Wallace hopes his content will help make the science industry more diverse, saying “the scientists that I was taught about, none of them look like me”. “Now me being a scientist is showing young people that they can become one as well, regardless of the background that they come from, the upbringing that they’ve had,” he said. “I just want to make it seem more attainable and possible for them because if I can do it, and I come from the same place as you, there’s no reason why you can’t do it as well.” The TikToker has seen a shift in more young people turning to the app as a learning resource and feels short-form videos will soon become a part of the national curriculum in schools. “I’m seeing (young people) using that a lot more – social media as a resource for education – and I feel like in the future, it’s going to become more and more popular as well,” he said. “I get a lot of comments from students saying that my teacher showed my video in the classroom as a resource, so I feel like these short form videos are going to be integrated within the national curriculum at some point in the near future.” He also uses his platform to raise awareness of different social issues, which he said is “extremely important”. One of his videos highlighted an anti-knife campaign backed by actor Idris Elba, which earned more than 39 million views, while his clip about the banning of disposable vapes was viewed more than 4.6 million times. He said there is some pressure being a teacher with a large following online but hopes he can be a role model for young people. “I’m aware that I am in the public eye and there’s a lot of young people watching me,” he said. “Young people can be impressionable, so I make sure that I conduct myself appropriately, so that I can be a role model. “I always have the same message for young people, specifically. I tell them to stay curious. Always ask questions and look a little bit deeper into things.” His plans for 2025 include publishing a second Science Is Lit book and expanding his teaching to television where he soon hopes to create his own science show. We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.
Couple charged in ring suspected of stealing $1 million in Lululemon clothesNORTHAMPTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 20, 2024-- High-speed internet provider Gateway Fiber connected its first Northampton home internet customers this week, marking a significant step forward in expanding reliable, high-speed internet access across underserved communities in western MA and beyond. “We are thrilled to bring Northampton into the Gateway Fiber family and light our first home internet customer in the area, so they can experience the revolution of truly high-speed internet,” said Gateway Fiber CEO Chris Surdo. “In today’s internet-dependent world, having reliable high-speed internet is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity. And we’re proud to bring that level of connection to Northampton.” With symmetrical internet speeds up to 2 gigabits per second (Gbps), Gateway Fiber’s fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service is designed for seamless video streaming, online gaming, remote work, and quick upload and download for cloud services. This new fiber service offers residents and businesses in Northampton a welcome alternative to traditional cable. Gateway Fiber’s fast and reliable network enhances productivity, supports smart home technology, and ensures a smooth online experience for multiple users and devices. “Gateway Fiber is a revelation,” said Northampton resident and new Gateway Fiber customer Will A. “Their customer support is great, and their technicians were skilled, thorough, and conscientious during installation. They brought their own disposable shoe covers to avoid tracking mud into the house, and that alone says a lot about the kind of company they are. Oh, and the internet is blazing fast! Our previous internet was marketed as the same speed (300mbps), but in reality, Gateway Fiber got us way faster speeds for a cheaper price. There's no comparison. Gateway Fiber is the best internet and the best internet company in Northampton.” Gateway Fiber not only provides incredible high-speed internet to both homes and businesses, but the company is also investing heavily in the Northampton community and surrounding area by hiring local team members and opening an office in nearby Chicopee. “Our commitment to the area goes much deeper than just providing fast internet,” said Sarah Lang, Gateway Fiber’s GM of Massachusetts. “By building a robust fiber optic network starting in Northampton, we not only support the local economy but also empower residents and businesses to achieve more with a service that is built to meet their needs, today and moving forward.” For more information about Gateway Fiber internet, visit gatewayfiber.com or @gatewayfiber on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Looking for a career in fiber? Check out the Gateway Fiber career page: gatewayfiber.com/careers About Gateway Fiber Gateway Fiber is on a mission to positively impact communities through a better internet. As data requirements for residences and businesses continue to expand, Gateway is creating a leading, national fiber-to-the-home platform to serve this critical unmet need. Gateway provides faster, more reliable internet with a simple pricing model and industry-leading customer service. For more information, visit gatewayfiber.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241220667267/en/ CONTACT: For more information, press only: David Workman PR & Communications Manager 314-265-8974 David.Workman@gatewayfiber.com KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: NETWORKS INTERNET TECHNOLOGY CARRIERS AND SERVICES TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOURCE: Gateway Fiber Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/20/2024 01:25 PM/DISC: 12/20/2024 01:26 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241220667267/en
Quest Partners LLC Purchases New Shares in Globus Medical, Inc. (NYSE:GMED)The UCLA women’s basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press women’s basketball poll for the first time in program history. The Bruins beat defending national champion South Carolina , the previous top team in the polls, on Sunday afternoon to rise from the No. 5 spot. The Gamecocks are now No. 4. UCLA is out to a 5-0 start this season and took down South Carolina 77-62 in a sold-out Pauley Pavilion. The accomplishment marked the first time in program history that the Bruins beat a No. 1 team. It’s the first time South Carolina lost a game in 602 days after a 43-game winning streak and it was the largest loss for South Carolina since March 2019 (15 points). “This means a lot because of the respect we have (for South Carolina),” UCLA head coach Cori Close said after the game. “That being said, we expected to win.” Bruins center Lauren Betts made the Big Ten Basketball Weekly Honor Roll after recording a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds in Sunday’s game. Londynn Jones led UCLA with 15 points and went a perfect 5-for-5 on 3-pointers. UCLA next heads to Honolulu for the Rainbow Wahine Showdown, which begins on Friday against UT Martin. Big Ten Conference play begins on Dec. 8 at Washington.
Government plans to introduce ceremonies for people wanting to become UK citizens had the potential to “damage community and race relations in Northern Ireland”, a Stormont official warned in 2003. The official said the proposal to have “low-key” citizenship ceremonies at Hillsborough, Co Down, was a “tacit admission” of this and instead suggested allowing a “block exemption” from compulsory attendance in the region. Tony Blair’s Labour government introduced the ceremonies for those seeking UK citizenship, with the first ceremonies taking place in 2004, involving participants singing the national anthem and swearing allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II. Tony Blair’s Labour government introduced the citizenship ceremonies (Liam McBurney/PA) Devolved power sharing institutions in Northern Ireland were suspended at the time. Newly declassified files show Ken Fraser, a civil servant at the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), sent an internal email to official Linda Devlin setting out his “worries” about the plan. In the email, he said the exclusion of Irish from a list of languages that applicants would be required to have some knowledge of was “puzzling” and seemed “difficult to justify”. “It seems unlikely, however, that the same could be said of Northern Ireland. “UK national symbols and national anthem – which are proposed as an integral part of the ceremony – are associated primarily, if not exclusively with the Unionist community, as is much of the language proposed for the ceremony. “The proposed use of the Union flag and national anthem would appear to be at odds with the sustained attempt – by Government and others – to remove emblems from the political arena within NI.” Mr Fraser said the proposed ceremonies were a “new, and public, institution”. He added: “It is difficult to see how the ceremony itself (which is intended to be compulsory) and the use of symbols and emblems as proposed in the consultation document will promote mutual respect. “I understand, however....that the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has agreed that such ceremonies will only occur in Hillsborough and have agreed that Registrars from England will perform the task. “This de facto acknowledgement that circumstances are different in Northern Ireland – and not just in respect of local government structures – is to be welcomed. “NIO’s wish to keep citizenship ceremonies in NI low-key is understandable, given the segregated nature of NI society, but the arrangements that they propose for NI seem to be entirely at odds with the proposals which are explicitly aimed at making the citizenship ceremony a ‘community occasion’.” Mr Fraser said a proposed pledge in the ceremony to give loyalty to the UK “would not be acceptable to a significant proportion of the current ‘citizens’ of Northern Ireland”. “The proposals in the consultation document have the potential to damage community and race relations in NI. “It is difficult to see the NIO’s/Home Office’s agreement that ceremonies will only occur in Hillsborough and that Registrars from England will perform the task as amounting to anything other than a tacit acknowledgement of this.” Mr Fraser said the consultation indicated people could be exempt from the ceremony in “exceptional circumstances”. He added: “It might be better all round if there was acknowledgement that exceptional circumstances prevail in Northern Ireland and to allow a block exemption from compulsory attendance.” In response, Ms Devlin said the main thrust of the consultation document was to encourage ideas and suggestions how the ceremonies could be tailored to suit local circumstances and said she would pass on his remarks to the NIO and Home Office.‘It’s now a safety and fire hazard’: Shopper goes to Joann Fabrics. She can’t even walk through the aislesUSRA Mourns the Loss of Dr. Berrien Moore III, a Distinguished Member of the Board of Trustees
A plan by Advance Auto Parts to stem deepening losses by closing hundreds of stores will result “in a complete exit of certain markets on the West Coast” as the company shutters California locations, its chief executive said. The national auto supply chain plans to close more than 725 locations around the country as well as four distribution centers on the West Coast, Chief Executive Shane O’Kelly said in an earnings call last week. Although he didn’t specify which stores would close, O’Kelly signaled that the downsizing would focus heavily on California and the Pacific Northwest, saying that stores supplied by the four distribution centers marked for closure will also be shut down. “Our four distribution centers on the West Coast serve a lower concentration of stores,” O’Kelly said in the earnings call. “We believe that investing in other core areas of the business will help deliver stronger profitability.” Advance Auto Parts currently has 139 locations in California, according to its website. The North Carolina-based company operates about 4,700 stores along with 1,100 independently operated locations, which are primarily in the U.S. but also in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean islands. Operations in Canada will not be affected, O’Kelly said. The automotive aftermarket is about a $300 million annual industry, said Bret Jordan, a research analyst at Jeffries. Supply chain efficiency is key for auto part retailers, he said, something Advance Auto Parts has struggled with. While Advance Auto generally receives shipments from distribution centers about once a week, competitor O’Reilly Auto Parts gets shipments once a day, Jordan said. “What they’re doing on the West Coast is getting out of regional markets where they don’t have an effective supply chain or the density to build an effective supply chain,” he said. “They’re trying to improve company wide profitability by cutting out the least profitable regions.” The reduction in its footprint is part of the company’s “strategic plan to improve business performance,” according to a statement released as part of its recent quarterly earnings report . The company also plans to increase the pace of new store openings in higher-performing regions, the release said. The car parts seller, which stocks batteries, motor oil and more, posted underwhelming third-quarter results this month, reporting a net loss of $6 million on revenue of $2.1 billion. The figures marked an improvement compared with the $62-million loss it posted for the same period last year on $2.2 billion in revenue. The company’s stock closed Thursday at $38.69, down more than 37% this year. Advance Auto Parts closed a $1.5-billion sale of Worldpac, its car parts wholesale distribution business, to investment firm Carlyle this month. O’Kelly did not comment on the number of employees expected to be affected.To try to counteract the impact their pollution has on the climate, Google and other big companies have bought into a plan to trap carbon dioxide using rocks. They recently announced multimillion dollar deals with a Sheryl Sandberg-backed startup called Terradot. Google, H&M Group, and Salesforce are among a gaggle of companies that collectively to remove 90,000 tons carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The deals were brokered by Frontier, a led by Stripe, Google, Shopify, and McKinsey Sustainability. Separately, Google its own deal to purchase an additional 200,000 tons of carbon removal from Terradot. Both companies declined to say how much that deal is worth. If the cost is similar to the Frontier agreement — roughly $300 per ton of CO2 captured — it could add up to $60 million, although Google says it expects the price to come down over time for this larger deal. “It’s a big deal.” Google says it’s the biggest purchase yet of carbon removal through enhanced rock weathering (ERW), the strategy Terradot uses to try to slow climate change. It’s a relatively low-tech tactic for taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere that now has significant backing from some big names. “I mean, it’s a big deal, says Oliver Jagoutz, a professor of geology at MIT. “I think it should go a little out of the academic world into the industrial world. And I wish these guys all the best.” Terradot grew out of a research project at Stanford, where CEO James Kanoff and CPO Sasankh Munukutla were undergraduate students at the time. Shortly before graduating in 2022, they co-founded the company along with Kanoff’s former professor, Scott Fendorf, who is now Terradot’s chief scientist and technical advisor. Before starting that research project, Kanoff had briefly dropped out of Stanford during the covid pandemic to co-found a nonprofit called the Farmlink Project that connects food banks to farms with excess produce. Kanoff met Sandberg through that initiative, which is how he was able to get the former Facebook COO’s support for Terradot as an investor. “I’ve known James, the CEO, since long before this company started,” Sandberg said in a . “These are proven leaders, which is rare to find in an early-stage company. They have the drive, the right technology and a strong focus on execution to succeed.” Carbon dioxide removal encompasses a suite of strategies to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. These technologies could potentially help slow climate change by trapping some of the pollution fossil fuels have already released over the years. There are still concerns about its , , and potential to from fossil fuels to carbon pollution-free energy. Experts say carbon removal is no substitute for preventing greenhouse gas emissions in the first place. attempts to speed up a that might otherwise take thousands of years. Rainfall naturally “weathers” or breaks down rock, releasing calcium and magnesium and triggering a chemical reaction that traps CO2 in water as bicarbonate. Groundwater carrying that bicarbonate eventually makes its way to the ocean, which stores the carbon and keeps it out of the atmosphere. Accelerating the process, in theory, is simple: crush up rock and spread it out over a large area, increasing the surface area of exposed rock that reacts with CO2. Terradot has a 2029 deadline to make good on the 90,000-ton Frontier deal. It’s supposed to capture the additional 200,000 tons for Google by the early 2030s. Terradot takes basalt from quarries in southern Brazil to nearby farms. Farmers can use the finely-ground basalt to manage the pH of soil, and carbon removal is a bonus. Terradot struck up a partnership with Brazil’s agricultural research agency (EMBRAPA), allowing the startup to use this strategy on more than one million hectares (roughly 2,471,054 acres) of land. Another perk in Brazil is a hot, humid climate that also helps to speed up the weathering process. The tricky part will be trying to count how much CO2 Terradot actually manages to trap. Google admits this in its : Terradot says it’ll take soil samples to assess how much CO2 is captured based on how the rock degrades over time. But it’s harder to figure out how much calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate makes it to the ocean to permanently sequester CO2. Fertilizer in the soil can also through enhanced rock weathering. “How much they sequester is still the outstanding question,” Jagoutz says. But he doesn’t think that uncertainty needs to stop trials in the real world. “I also think, why not try? ... I don’t think we have the luxury to overthink it right now.” Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are already making heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, storms, and other climate disasters . And Google’s carbon footprint . The company has recently announced plans to help and with carbon pollution-free electricity. When it comes down to it, switching to clean energy is the only effective way to stop climate change. Carbon removal, at best, is just an attempt to counteract some of a company’s legacy of pollution while they make that energy transition. And even though Google says it signed the biggest ERW deal to date, 200,000 tons of carbon removal is still a small fraction of the of carbon dioxide pollution it was responsible for last year. “It’s very clear that this is not a substitute for emissions reductions at all ... we need both of these tools,” Kanoff says. “Any of the partners we’re even thinking about working with, they have some of the most aggressive emission reduction strategies of any of the companies really in the world. And those are the groups that we really want to partner with to advance carbon removal.” /
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The Philadelphia Phillies had a rather disappointing postseason after setting high expectations in the regular season. The team could look to make a splash in free agency in hopes of getting to the World Series in 2025. While making offseason predictions, theScore predicted that the Phillies would sign San Francisco Giants ace Blake Snell in free agency. "The Phillies haven't been afraid to spend in recent years, and they'll do it again this winter by luring two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell to Philadelphia," wrote theScore staff. "Adding Snell allows the reigning NL East champions to run out a top-tier starter every night." Spotrac projects Snell to sign a five-year, $131 million deal in free agency. He was an All-Star in 2018 and is a two-time Cy Young Award Winner. Last season he had a 3.12 ERA after signing late in the offseason and getting off to a shaky start. However, in 12 games after the All-Star Break, he had a 1.45 ERA and 103 strikeouts. He showed that he is still a true ace and one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. The Phillies already have Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez in the rotation for next season. Adding Snell would give them the best rotation in baseball. The Phillies have not been shy of handing out big contracts. Snell is the type of player who can get the Phillies over the top and back in the Fall Classic. More MLB: Phillies could dump Alec Bohm and sign $119 million All-Star to replace him
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Emanuel Wallace, 27, from east London, is better known as Big Manny by his 1.9 million followers on TikTok, where he shares videos explaining various science experiments from his back garden while using Jamaican Patois phrases and London slang. In early December, Mr Wallace won the Education Creator of the Year award at the TikTok Awards ceremony, which he said is a “symbol that anything that you put your mind to you can achieve”. The content creator began making videos during the coronavirus pandemic when schools turned to online learning but has since expanded his teaching from videos to paper after releasing his debut book Science Is Lit in August. He believes his “unconventional” teaching methods help to make his content relatable for younger audiences by using slang deriving from his Jamaican and British heritage. “The language that I use, it’s a combination between Jamaican Patois and London slang because I have Jamaican heritage,” the TikToker, who holds a bachelors and masters degree in biomedical science, told the PA news agency. “That’s why in my videos sometimes I might say things like ‘Wagwan’ or ‘you dun know’. I just want to connect with the young people more, so I speak in the same way that they speak. “The words that I use, the way that I deliver the lesson as well, I would say that my method of teaching is quite unconventional. I speak in a way that is quite conversational.” Examples of his videos include lithium batteries catching fire after being sandwiched inside a raw chicken breast, as well as mixing gold with gallium to create blue gold, earning millions of views. Mr Wallace hopes his content will help make the science industry more diverse, saying “the scientists that I was taught about, none of them look like me”. “Now me being a scientist is showing young people that they can become one as well, regardless of the background that they come from, the upbringing that they’ve had,” he said. “I just want to make it seem more attainable and possible for them because if I can do it, and I come from the same place as you, there’s no reason why you can’t do it as well.” The TikToker has seen a shift in more young people turning to the app as a learning resource and feels short-form videos will soon become a part of the national curriculum in schools. “I’m seeing (young people) using that a lot more – social media as a resource for education – and I feel like in the future, it’s going to become more and more popular as well,” he said. “I get a lot of comments from students saying that my teacher showed my video in the classroom as a resource, so I feel like these short form videos are going to be integrated within the national curriculum at some point in the near future.” He also uses his platform to raise awareness of different social issues, which he said is “extremely important”. One of his videos highlighted an anti-knife campaign backed by actor Idris Elba, which earned more than 39 million views, while his clip about the banning of disposable vapes was viewed more than 4.6 million times. He said there is some pressure being a teacher with a large following online but hopes he can be a role model for young people. “I’m aware that I am in the public eye and there’s a lot of young people watching me,” he said. “Young people can be impressionable, so I make sure that I conduct myself appropriately, so that I can be a role model. “I always have the same message for young people, specifically. I tell them to stay curious. Always ask questions and look a little bit deeper into things.” His plans for 2025 include publishing a second Science Is Lit book and expanding his teaching to television where he soon hopes to create his own science show.