HE the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammed bin Ali bin Mohammed al-Mannai has hailed the anniversary of the founding of the State of Qatar by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani as an occasion that conveys patriotic meanings. In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE al-Mannai said the anniversary represents a pivotal moment in Qatar’s history when Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani showed a legacy of prudence and leadership that led to the establishment of a modern independent and unified state. Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani’s vision was the foundation for Qatar’s multi-sector renaissance, HE al-Mannai said, highlighting that Qatari people’s pride on this historic occasion is the result of their ancestors’ sacrifices for a sovereign state. This occasion reminds Qataris of a long history of hard work and dedication to build a single national identity through which all members of the Qatari people unite for a prosperous future. As marking this occasion prompts Qataris to reflect on Qatar’s achievements, it also boosts the need to preserve their national heritage and the values set by the Founder, he added. HE al-Mannai hailed the National Day as an opportunity for all nationals and residents to renew their pledge to the country and its wise leadership to press on accomplishments that elevate Qatar’s profile. Turning to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)’s achievements, al-Mannai highlighted the ministry’s future digital vision, primarily the launch of the Digital Agenda 2030 — a six-pillar strategy striving to foster public and private sectors to build a thriving digital economy aligning with the Third National Development Strategy (NDS-3) and Qatar National Vision 2030. In this respect, he spoke about the Fanar project — an Arab AI Project in collaboration with local and Arab agencies. A significant milestone underscoring Qatar’s dedication to elevating the Arabic language and culture in the AI era, Fanar is expected to generate accurate Arabic texts through original texts amounting to approximately 300bn words. Also among the MCIT’s accomplishments were the 2024 launch of the Qatar Digital Academy and TASMU project. The Qatar Digital Academy — an expansion of the Qatar Digital Government Training Program keeps a keen eye for enhancing digital competencies in Qatar, envisioning training 1,000 state employees annually. With a focus on many digital skills such as AI, cybersecurity and the Internet of Things, the academy also grants 250 employees international certificates annually to enhance their qualifications and keep pace with technological developments. The academy’s specialised training programmes aligning the needs of government institutions aim to build a qualified workforce that supports digital transformation in Qatar and overcome the future challenges. Tasmu — a project catalysing Qatars ICT ecosystem — unites global innovators with the needs of the local market to fuel Qatar’s digital transformation. The programme received 640 applications from 74 countries following a thrilling 2023 cycle, which garnered $36mn funding and over $100mn sales. HE the Minister also spoke about SafeSpace, a project set to be launched in 2025 with the aim of elevating awareness about digital safety. Related Story National Day reflects Qatari identityElectrical Contractors Congratulate Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer on Nomination as U.S. Secretary of Labor
LAS VEGAS — Southern California opened its season at Allegiant Stadium with a victory over LSU that set up the Trojans for early contention for the College Football Playoff, but instead will end the year where they started. Texas A&M also had high hopes for a playoff spot, and the Aggies went even deeper into the season before that dream ended with three defeats in their final four games. Now both teams face each other in Friday night’s Las Vegas Bowl, not the setting either side envisioned but a chance for both to finish the season on a positive note. “We’re all still competitors at heart,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “Any chance you get to come play a really good program, like we’re playing a really good team, you’ve got to relish that opportunity.” The Trojans (6-6) will try to avoid their first losing season since 2021 when they went 4-8 and coach Clay Helton was fired. Riley took over the program and immediately went 11-3 followed by an 8-5 record last season. People are also reading... USC appeared to be on the way back to prominence after opening this season with a 27-20 victory over then-No. 13 LSU. But the Trojans lost five games in which they led in the fourth quarter, which is why they’re back in Las Vegas and not potentially preparing for a playoff game. “You’ve just got to stay consistent all the way through and locked in the small things,” USC safety Bryson Shaw said of the lessons learned from the close calls. “We learned a lot this year. It’s been great for us in bowl preparation.” Texas A&M (8-4) also was coming off a victory over LSU when it looked as if the Aggies might even be playing for a national title. They were 7-1 after the 38-23 victory, and at 5-0 the only undefeated team in the Southeastern Conference. But then came the season-ending slide. “It obviously hurt,” Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York said. “Obviously, we wanted to be in the playoffs, but it’s not how our story ended this year. So, hopefully, it ends the right way with a win over USC.” The Aggies will be without defensive ends Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart, defensive tackle Shemar Turner and backup wide receiver Moose Muhammad III, who opted out to prepare for the NFL draft. “I think it was the right decision for each one of them, and the rest of our roster is here, so we’re excited,” Aggies coach Mike Elko said. “I think we’re in a really good place, and I’m happy with where we are moving forward.” Homecoming for Maiava USC sophomore quarterback Jayden Maiava was a high school star in Las Vegas, and last season as UNLV’s starting quarterback, he played at Allegiant Stadium. Then he left for USC, though initially as the backup to Miller Moss before claiming the starting job with three games left. Maiava went 2-1, passing for 840 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. “I’m really bullish on his future,” Riley said. “He’s a talented kid. I think he’s going to continue to get better and better.” QB change Part II Similar to the Trojans, Texas A&M also made an in-season quarterback change. Redshirt freshman dual threat Marcel Reed took over as the full-time starter after he replaced Conner Weigman in the victory over LSU. He has started seven games and has 1,572 yards and eight 12 touchdowns passing and 501 yards and six TDs rushing. “I think they’ve got to respect him on that run side,” Texas A&M wide receiver Noah Thomas said. “They might throw a couple of more people in the box, so I think that will open me up, too.” Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Breakthrough in treatment approach showing promise in the fight against glioblastoma December 16, 2024 Mayo Clinic Medical researchers have announced the results of an innovative treatment approach that may offer improvement in overall survival in older patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma while maintaining quality of life. Glioblastoma is the most lethal type of primary brain cancer due to its aggressive nature and its treatment-resistant characteristics. It is the most common form of primary brain cancer. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Mayo Clinic announces the results of an innovative treatment approach that may offer improvement in overall survival in older patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma while maintaining quality of life. Glioblastoma is the most lethal type of primary brain cancer due to its aggressive nature and its treatment-resistant characteristics. It is the most common form of primary brain cancer. Each year an estimated 14,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with the disease. Results of Mayo Clinic's phase 2, single-arm study are published in The Lancet Oncology . Sujay Vora, M.D., radiation oncologist at Mayo Clinic, led a team of researchers investigating the use of short-course hypofractionated proton beam therapy incorporating advanced imaging techniques in patients over the age of 65 with newly diagnosed World Health Organization (WHO) grade 4, malignant glioblastoma. Results showed that 56% of participants were alive after 12 months and the median overall survival was 13.1 months." As compared to prior phase 3 studies in an older population having a median survival of only six to nine months, these results are promising," says Dr. Vora. "In some cases, patients with tumors that have favorable genetics lived even longer, with a median survival of 22 months. We are very excited about these results." Glioblastoma is among the most challenging cancers to treat. The disease invades healthy brain tissue with hairlike tentacles, making surgical removal intricate. Surgeons must carefully balance removing as much of the tumor as possible while avoiding harm to critical areas of the brain responsible for essential functions such as movement and speech. Additionally, the tumor's cellular composition and its ability to evade therapies further challenge treatment efforts. Standard radiation therapy is commonly used to treat glioblastoma and can be effective. However, a limitation is that it also exposes healthy brain tissue to radiation, potentially causing collateral, unintended damage. For the Mayo Clinic study, investigators used one of the most innovative and advanced forms of radiation treatment, called proton beam therapy. The cutting-edge, nonsurgical form of radiation therapy destroys cancer cells with targeted precision while minimizing side effects to surrounding healthy tissue. Mayo investigators mapped the target area in the patient's brain by combining the advanced imaging technologies, including 18 F-DOPA PET and contrast-enhanced MRI. "Combining advanced imaging allowed us to determine the most metabolically active, or aggressive, regions of the glioblastoma," says Dr. Vora. Treatment was completed in one to two weeks instead of the traditional three to six weeks. "The advanced imaging along with the proton beam therapy allowed us to be more focused with radiation and protect surrounding healthy brain tissue from the effects of radiation. We were able to see that patients tolerated the treatments well and lived longer than we expected." According to Dr. Vora, the study at Mayo Clinic is the first clinical trial of its kind investigating the use of short-course hypofractionated proton beam therapy incorporating advanced imaging technology, including 18 F-DOPA PET and contrast-enhanced MRI targeting, for patients 65 and older with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. The study included patients from Arizona and Minnesota. One of the study participants, Richard Casper, lived nearly two years longer than his prognosis. "I feel great. If someone didn't tell me I had the glioblastoma, I wouldn't even know it," reported Casper after undergoing treatment. He succumbed to the disease in 2023. "We miss our dad dearly," says his daughter, Susan Casper. "We will forever be grateful for the extra time we had with our father. The time gave us a chance to make memories that will last us a lifetime. It was also important to my father to participate in this study in hopes of helping others fight glioblastoma." A larger, randomized clinical trial is now underway at Mayo Clinic. One of the study participants is Nadya El-Afandi, a wife and mother of four, who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2022. El-Afandi is now 15 months post-treatment with no sign of glioblastoma. "I feel wonderful," says El-Afandi. "I've had my fourth MRI, and we're not seeing any return of the glioblastoma." El-Afandi is back to her regular activities and just returned from a trip to Hawaii, where she spent time snorkeling and hiking. "We are living on the edge of medical miracles, and we are riding that tide. There's no cure for glioblastoma yet, but I've been able to take advantage of this medical opportunity, and it has given me a quality of life that is just outstanding," adds El-Afandi. While El-Afandi's results are encouraging, William Breen, M.D., radiation oncologist and principal investigator of the current study says it is too early to draw any conclusions about the safety and efficacy of the treatment until the study is complete. "Our goal is to transform the way we treat glioblastoma using shorter courses of radiation to minimize the burden on patients and their families and help them complete safe and effective treatment in a shorter amount of time." The clinical trial, known as SAGA, or stereotactic ablative radiation treatment for glioblastoma, includes patients from Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. "We are now adding another component that builds upon Dr. Vora's work to help us best visualize the tumor," says Dr. Breen. Meanwhile El-Afandi is focusing on living her life to the fullest. "I'm so grateful," says El-Afandi. "Every day is the best day, and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it." The study was funded by Mayo Clinic Marley Endowment Funds and the Lawrence W. and Marilyn W. Matteson Fund in Cancer Research. Story Source: Materials provided by Mayo Clinic . Original written by Marty Velasco Hames. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :
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Asia’s middle distillates market activity were slightly muted, with price fluctutations also minimal, though January refiner sales were ongoing. January discussions remained underway for some northeast Asia spot cargoes, with traders saying that buying interest remains mostly at discounted levels. More refiner spot sales could emerge in the next few trading sessions from northeast Asia, though trading activity is still likely to slow ahead of the holiday season. India refiners were the main sellers in action today, with both MRPL and Nayara Energy offering their January cargoes via sale tenders that close the next two days. Refining margins closed the trading session little changed at two-week high levels, slightly above $16 a barrel. Cash differentials dipped 11 cents from the previous session to 42 cents a barrel, a reflection of the narrower market backwardation and roll over in assessment months. Regrade for January widened back to a discount of 60 cents a barrel. – No deals for both markets – China’s refinery throughput in November recorded its first rise in eight months, official data showed on Monday, as Beijing’s stimulus underpinned manufacturing activities and oil demand. – China’s industrial output growth quickened slightly in November, while retail sales disappointed, keeping pressure on Beijing to ramp up stimulus for a fragile economy as it braces for more U.S. trade tariffs under a second Trump administration. – Fires that broke out in a number of reservoirs in Libya’s Zawiya refinery have been brought under control, Khaled Abulgasem Gulam, spokesperson for the country’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), said in a statement on Sunday. – Singapore’s ChemOne Group has delayed the start of its Pengerang Energy Complex (PEC) to the fourth quarter of 2028, with construction set to begin by mid-2025, it said on Monday, after securing more financing for the project. – China’s refined oil consumption peaked in 2023 at 399 million metric tons (7.98 million barrels per day) and is expected to fall 1.3% to 394 million tons in 2024, CNPC Economics & Technology Research Institute said on Friday. – Two Russian tankers that spilled oil into the Kerch Strait after sustaining serious damage during a heavy storm on Sunday were carrying 9,200 metric tons (62,000 barrels) of oil products at the time, the state TASS news agency reported. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Trixie Yap; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi)
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Warner Music Group ( NASDAQ:WMG – Get Free Report ) and Cedar Fair ( NYSE:FUN – Get Free Report ) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation and earnings. Profitability This table compares Warner Music Group and Cedar Fair’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Warner Music Group and Cedar Fair”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Dividends Warner Music Group pays an annual dividend of $0.72 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.3%. Cedar Fair pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.2%. Warner Music Group pays out 86.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Cedar Fair pays out -93.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Volatility & Risk Warner Music Group has a beta of 1.35, indicating that its share price is 35% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Cedar Fair has a beta of 1.58, indicating that its share price is 58% more volatile than the S&P 500. Institutional and Insider Ownership 96.9% of Warner Music Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 64.7% of Cedar Fair shares are owned by institutional investors. 73.3% of Warner Music Group shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.8% of Cedar Fair shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Warner Music Group and Cedar Fair, as reported by MarketBeat. Warner Music Group presently has a consensus target price of $35.67, indicating a potential upside of 13.41%. Cedar Fair has a consensus target price of $56.07, indicating a potential upside of 14.24%. Given Cedar Fair’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Cedar Fair is more favorable than Warner Music Group. Summary Warner Music Group beats Cedar Fair on 9 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About Warner Music Group ( Get Free Report ) Warner Music Group Corp. operates as a music entertainment company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through Recorded Music and Music Publishing segments. The Recorded Music segment is involved in the discovery and development of recording artists, as well as related marketing, promotion, distribution, sale, and licensing of music created by such recording artists; markets its music catalog through compilations and reissuances of previously released music and video titles, as well as previously unreleased materials; and conducts its operation primarily through a collection of record labels, such as Warner Records and Atlantic Records, as well as Asylum, Big Beat, Canvasback, East West, Erato, FFRR, Fueled by Ramen, Nonesuch, Parlophone, Reprise, Roadrunner, Sire, Spinnin’ Records, Warner Classics, and Warner Music Nashville. This segment markets, distributes, and sells music and video products to retailers and wholesale distributors; independent labels to retail and wholesale distributors; and various distribution centers and ventures, as well as retail outlets, online physical retailers, streaming services, and download services. The Music Publishing segment owns and acquires rights to approximately one million musical compositions comprising pop hits, American standards, folk songs, and motion picture and theatrical compositions. Its catalog includes approximately 150,000 songwriters and composers; and various genres, including pop, rock, jazz, classical, country, R&B, hip-hop, rap, reggae, Latin, folk, blues, symphonic, soul, Broadway, electronic, alternative, and gospel. This segment also administers the music and soundtracks of various third-party television and film producers and studios. The company was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in New York, New York. About Cedar Fair ( Get Free Report ) Cedar Fair, L.P. owns and operates amusement and water parks, as well as complementary resort facilities. Its amusement parks include Cedar Point located on Lake Erie between Cleveland and Toledo in Sandusky, Ohio; Knott's Berry Farm near Los Angeles, California; Canada's Wonderland near Toronto, Ontario; Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio; Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina; Kings Dominion situated near Richmond, Virginia; California's Great America located in Santa Clara, California; Dorney Park in Pennsylvania; Worlds of Fun located in Kansas City, Missouri; Valleyfair situated near Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Michigan's Adventure situated near Muskegon, Michigan; Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort New Braunfels in New Braunfels, Texas; and Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston in Galveston, Texas. The company also owns and operates the Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort, Hotel Breakers, Cedar Point's Express Hotel, and Sawmill Creek Resort. Cedar Fair, L.P. was founded in 1983 and is based in Sandusky, Ohio. 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