Kent Nishimura/Getty Images News The premature September cut The Fed started the easing cycle in September with the jumbo 50bpt cut, and followed with another 25bpt cut in November. The easing cycle started in response to the weak July Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial short position in the shares of SPX 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.CLEVELAND (AP) — Germain Ifedi became the fourth left tackle to start this season for the Cleveland Browns, lining up Thursday night against the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. Ifedi moved up the depth chart and into the lineup after starter Dawand Jones broke his left leg last week at New Orleans and had surgery. He'll be responsible for blocking quarterback Jameis Winston's blindside. Jedrick Wills Jr., who had lost his starting job to Jones, figured to start against the Steelers (8-2), but was ruled out Wednesday with a knee injury that has bothered him for weeks. A first-round pick in 2020, Wills recently caused a stir by saying he made a “business decision” to sit out a game on Oct. 27 against Baltimore because of his knee. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Wills used a “poor choice of words.” James Hudson started Cleveland's first two games at left tackle while the Browns (2-8) waited for Wills to recover from knee surgery in December. The first-place Steelers were without outside linebacker/edge rusher Alex Highsmith, who missed his second straight game with an ankle injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Insight Health System Appoints Dr. Maliha Hashmi as Global Ambassador

Sharks make roster moves ahead of game vs. L.A. Kings( ) and ( ) are two hot watchlist stocks in a bull market that's shown flashes of similarities to the dot-com era run-up in the late 1990s. But Leos Mikulka, a trader whose portfolio surged more than 900% in the first 11 months of 2024, says not every stock will win all the time. Market rotation is showing a different picture week by week. Speculative growth stocks dominated in November, but so far in December the money is notably shifting toward megacap tech stocks. "My wish is that we get some new fancy abbreviation, like Mag7 or FANG," Mikulka, a leading participant in the 2024 U.S. Investing Championship, told Investor's Business Daily's "Investing with IBD" podcast. "Maybe we get some new leaders coming up, and next year we'll be talking about a new group that nobody's heard of." In his hunt for the next crop of leading stocks, Mikula is focusing on two technology themes: quantum computing and generative AI. Audio Version Of Podcast Quantum Computing's Future Promise Quantum computing could usher in a new group of top growth stocks, Mikulka says. He points to IonQ, a company focused on developing quantum computing. IonQ stock has been on a tear over the last few months, with a gain of more than 140% in November alone. While it sounds like easy money on the surface, Mikulka says it could be difficult for traders to stay onboard the highflying stock for its entire uptrend. He points to IonQ's volatility as it recently undercut its short-term moving averages in a three-day drop of 21% earlier this week. On Dec. 11, Google parent ( ) announced . "I'd be carefully watching, going through a new year," he said. "I don't think there will be any actionable pivot anytime soon, but fundamentally I'm a big believer in quantum computing." GE Vernova Stock Gets AI Boost The shift to artificial intelligence is leading to a rise in AI-adjacent plays, like companies that are seen as suppliers of power generation for AI data centers. Take GE Vernova. "Traditionally it's coming from wind turbines and all this wind energy, but part of the subsidiary is nuclear," said Mikulka. He says GE Vernova stock is recently attracting attention for its nuclear power units, as well as being a key player in energy as generative artificial intelligence grows. "You need to get the power from somewhere," he said. GE Vernova is one of three spinoffs from the former conglomerate General Electric. Since its market debut this spring, GE Vernova stock is up nearly 153% year to date. The stock is ranked No. 1 in the Energy-Alternative group of stocks, according to IBD Research. GE Vernova has an IBD Composite Rating of 87. Mikulka is looking for a potential new setup in GE Vernova stock, which is consolidating below recent highs around 357. "It still needs now some sideways action, but I think it has ... very good potential to continue."Liminal Forecasts Third-Party Risk Management Solutions Market to Hit $19.9 Billion by 2030

( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Solar Artificial Intelligence Global market Report 2024 - Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2024-2033 The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-for a limited time only! LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 17, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-limited time only! The solar artificial intelligence market has seen substantial growth in the recent past. From a size of $0.8 billion in 2023, it is projected to reach $0.92 billion in 2024, marking an impressive compound annual growth rate CAGR of 14.8%. This strong growth during the historical period can be attributed to several factors including a growing need to cut electricity prices and reduce energy waste, increased investments in the solar industry, a push towards carbon reduction, and rising energy demand. What Is the Forecasted Growth For The Solar Artificial Intelligence Market? The solar artificial intelligence market size is predicted to see accelerated growth over the next few years. It is expected to rise to $1.6 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 15%. The forecast period's growth can be mainly attributed to an increase in the deployment of solar energy systems, growing focus on reducing carbon emissions, increased utilization of artificial intelligence, amplified focus on renewable energy sources, elevated need for sustainable energy solutions, and upsurging demand for solar power systems in agricultural activities. Enhance Your Business Strategies with a Detailed Sample Report: What Are The Driving Forces Behind The Solar Artificial Intelligence Market's Growth? A key growth driver for the solar artificial intelligence market is the increasing focus on renewable energy. Renewable energy sources like sunlight, wind, and water are naturally replenishable and thus crucial in efforts to combat climate change and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Enhanced by technological advancements and falling costs, renewable energy's appeal is surging. Solar artificial intelligence supports the renewable energy surge by optimizing energy production, enabling predictive maintenance and efficient grid management, and improving solar forecasting accuracy, thereby facilitating better integration into the energy grid. Make Your Business Future-Proof, Reserve Your Copy of the Full Report Now: Who Are The Key Industry Players In The Solar Artificial Intelligence Market? Major players in the solar artificial intelligence market include Nvidia Corporation, Trina Solar Limited, The AES Corporation, JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd., Enphase Energy Inc, SunPower Corporation, Heliogen Inc, SolarWinds AI, Waaree Energies Ltd, Suncast Corporation, Aurora Solar Inc, BrightSource Energy Inc, Tespack Ltd, TransitionZero, GreenMatch AG, Glint Solar AS, Scopito ApS, Absolar Solutions Ltd, Solarify GmbH, GetSolar LLC, Loggma Technologies Pvt Ltd, Omdena Inc., Raycatch Ltd., Smart Helio SA, Aigen Technologies Inc. What Are The Emerging Trends In The Solar Artificial Intelligence Market? Companies in the solar artificial intelligence market are now focusing on the development of advanced solutions, like AI-enabled solar installation robots, to enhance efficiency and curtail operational costs. The AI-enabled solar installation robots use artificial intelligence to automate and optimize the placement and installation of solar panels, thus enhancing efficiency and accuracy while reducing labor costs. How Is The Solar Artificial Intelligence Market Segmented? The solar artificial intelligence market can be classified into: 1 By Technology: Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, Computer vision, Other Technologies 2 By Application: Energy Management, Smart Grids, Energy Production, Smart Meters, Demand Forecasting, Other Applications 3 By End-Use: Residential, Commercial, Industrial What Are The Regional Insights Of The Solar Artificial Intelligence Market? Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the solar artificial intelligence market in 2023. This was due to the region's rapid industrialization, government initiatives promoting renewable energy, and advancements in artificial intelligence technology. Browse Through More Similar Reports By The Business Research Company: Solar Encapsulation Global Market Report 2024 Solar Energy Global Market Report 2024 Solar Electricity Global Market Report 2024 About The Business Research Company Learn More About The Business Research Company. With over 15000+ reports from 27 industries covering 60+ geographies, The Business Research Company has built a reputation for offering comprehensive, data-rich research and insights. Armed with 1,500,000 datasets, the optimistic contribution of in-depth secondary research, and unique insights from industry leaders, you can get the information you need to stay ahead in the game. Get In Touch With Us At: The Business Research Company: Americas +1 3156230293 Asia +44 2071930708 Europe +44 2071930708 For further information, do write to us at ... Stay updated with our latest reports and news by following us on: LinkedIn: YouTube: Global Market Model: global-market-model Oliver Guirdham The Business Research Company +44 20 7193 0708 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN16122024003118003196ID1108999700 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.MMBL-Pathfinder Group has entered into a strategic partnership with HCLTech, a leading global technology company, to introduce innovative IT training programs in Sri Lanka. This collaboration is set to be a game-changer, with the newly established Pathfinder EdTech Institute at its core, aimed at creating a skilled workforce ready for the digital age. By mapping the future of tech education, this partnership is set to transform IT upskilling in Sri Lanka by delivering world class, employment focused training programs through the Career Shaper platform, and is also designed to seamlessly connect academic learning with industry requirements. By incorporating HCLTech’s acclaimed training methods, expertly curated curriculum, and state-of-the-art tech tools, this initiative promises to equip individuals with practical, job-ready skills. The official launch of the Pathfinder EdTech will take place on Thursday 19 December at the Taj Samudra. High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha will be the Chief Guest, and Ministry of Digital Economy Acting Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala will be the Guest of Honour of the event. The program will debut with two training centres in Colombo and Jaffna, with plans to expand across the country. The first courses will cover essential topics such as Artificial Intelligence and cyber security, with more subjects to follow. The blended learning approach will combine tech-driven coursework, hands-on projects and internship opportunities, offering participants a comprehensive and immersive educational experience. “Our collaboration with MMBL-Pathfinder Group reinforces HCLTech’s commitment to empowering communities through transformative education. By bringing Career Shaper to Sri Lanka, we aim to nurture a generation of IT professionals ready to lead in the global digital economy,” said HCLTech CVP and Global Head of EdTech Srimathi Shivashankar. This initiative aligns with HCLTech’s vision of enabling accessible, high-quality tech education worldwide. Operating in over 59 countries, the company is a global leader in workforce transformation, leveraging emerging technologies to create impactful career pathways. Pathfinder EdTech Institute’s launch underscores Sri Lanka’s potential as a future hub for IT innovation. This partnership is poised to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the country, contributing to its aspirations of becoming a regional leader in digital excellence. “By investing in Sri Lanka’s talent, we are not just advancing education but also creating opportunities for economic growth and innovation,” said MMBL-Pathfinder Group of Companies Director/CEO Balasundaram. HCLTech has significantly expanded its presence in Sri Lanka since entering the market in 2020. The company opened its largest facility in 2021 at the Cinnamon Life complex, Colombo, underscoring its commitment to making Sri Lanka a global IT services delivery hub, providing services in digital applications, system integration, product development and infrastructure management.The 50 best albums of 2024

Trending in Telehealth highlights state legislative and regulatory developments that impact the healthcare providers, telehealth and digital health companies, pharmacists, and technology companies that deliver and facilitate the delivery of virtual care. Trending in the past two weeks: Behavioral and mental telehealth Coverage and payment parity A CLOSER LOOK Proposed Legislation & Rulemaking: In Illinois , HB 4475 gained another co-sponsor. If adopted, the bill would provide that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, or any third-party administrator administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer, must cover all out-of-network medically necessary mental health and substance use benefits and services (inpatient and outpatient) as if they were in-network for purposes of cost sharing for the insured. The bill specifically provides that the insured has the right to select the provider or facility of their choice and the modality, whether the care is provided via in-person visit or telehealth , for medically necessary care. To date, the proposed legislation has passed the house chamber and committee. In Washington , the Department of Health announced a proposed rule concerning certification standards for the new, voluntary certified peer specialist and trainee credentials created by passed SB 5555 (chapter 469, Laws of 2023) for behavioral health. The proposed rule would require a certified peer specialist who provides telehealth services to take the telehealth training as specified in WAC 246-929-340. Finalized Legislation & Rulemaking Activity: Missouri enacted several emergency rule amendments related to coverage under the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan, which provides coverage to employees and retirees of most state agencies, as well as public entities that have joined the plan. The amendments include revisions to coverage of virtual visits, non-network payments, the timing of other deposits to health savings accounts, and the right of the state plan to recoup certain deposits. Under the amendments, virtual visits offered through the vendor’s telehealth tool are covered at 100% after deductible is met unless Internal Revenue Service guidance permits them to be paid at 100% prior to deductible being met. Why it matters: Use of telehealth services for behavioral healthcare continues to grow. There has been a notable trend of telehealth modalities being adopted for mental health and substance abuse care. Legislative and regulatory activity is responding to this trend with increased access, as in the Illinois proposed legislation regarding telehealth coverage parity, and increased safeguards, such as the telehealth training requirements in the Washington proposed rule. This expansion of tele-behavioral health may increase access to mental health services for those in remote or underserved communities, and may increase convenience and flexibility, in turn promoting more consistent attendance and better treatment outcomes. States are assessing the extent of insurance coverage and payment rates for telehealth services. Telehealth services continue to inspire debate regarding coverage parity ( i.e. , covering telehealth services to the same extent as in-person services) and payment parity ( i.e. , mandating reimbursement at the same rate as equivalent in-person services). These debates center on balancing the benefits of increased access and convenience with the need to manage costs and ensure quality of care. The emergency rule amendments in Missouri endorse full coverage for virtual visits after the beneficiary’s deductible is met under the state’s health plan, and the Illinois proposed legislation would provide the insured with an equal choice between in-person care and telehealth care for medically necessary behavioral health care. Telehealth is an important development in care delivery, but the regulatory patchwork is complicated.KGMU launches fMRI services for brain patients

Bad actors are seeking cryptocurrency in almost every scheme tracked by the FBI. From fraudulent investments to tech support and romance scams, and most recently, a surge in employment scams. And as Bitcoin reaches record highs, Special Agent David Paniwozik with FBI Baltimore sees more people wanting to capitalize on cryptocurrency. “The fear of missing out. So, they want to get involved, try to make money, and it seems like a quick, easy way to do it,” said SA Paniwozik. But a major problem is this technology is still unfamiliar to investors, making them more susceptible to scams. “There is no cap on whether you want to move $1 to hundreds of millions or billions of dollars. You can just seamlessly move that from a wallet controlled in the United States to a wallet controlled overseas, in, you know, a matter of seconds,” SA Paniwozik warned. Scammers set up their own cryptocurrency exchanges, making you believe your investment has grown exponentially, or they say you must make cryptocurrency payments to “unlock work” that offers high payouts. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint issued an alert in June about this work-from-home scam. “It's this confusing compensation structure that the scammers try to tell them, and it looks like, hey, if I pay $10 to rate this product, I'll get $15 in return, so then once they do that round, the scammer says, okay, well, you need to deposit more money to get to the next round of work,” said SA Paniwozik. And when victims go to cash out, they’re told they can’t. SA Paniwozik has seen a huge spike in reports of employment scams involving cryptocurrency. Reported losses in Maryland went from $32,033 in 2023 to $3.8 million between January and October of this year. “So you're looking at about $15,000 to $20,000 per person on average that has fallen victim in Maryland alone to these scams,” said SA Paniwozik. Cryptocurrency is desired by scammers because transactions are instant and irrevocable, but that doesn’t mean they’re untraceable. “On the blockchain, we can look up those addresses, and then if we wanted to reverse trace it, we could find, let's say it's a certain exchange that paid into this wallet, we can then serve legal processes to say, hey, can you give us a list of all user accounts that paid into this address and possibly contact those victims live and say, hey, you're currently being the victim of one of these scams,” SA Paniwozik detailed. It’s a new proactive approach by the FBI as these scams become more prevalent and costly. According to the FBI’s 2023 Cryptocurrency Fraud Report , cryptocurrency-related complaints only made up around 10 percent of total financial fraud complaints, however, the stolen value accounted for almost 50 percent of total losses. Click here to see the other 12 Scams of Christmas. This story was originally published by Mallory Sofastaii at Scripps News Baltimore .Sales of $397.9 million in the fourth quarter and $1,330.1 million in fiscal 2024 Net loss of $9.9 million in the fourth quarter and $23.4 million in fiscal 2024 Adjusted EBITDA of $43.0 million in the fourth quarter and $108.7 million in fiscal 2024 Diluted earnings per share of $(0.05) in the fourth quarter and $(0.13) in fiscal 2024 Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.02 in the fourth quarter and $(0.01) in fiscal 2024 PHOENIX, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leslie's, Inc. (("Leslie's", "we", "our", "its", or "Company", NASDAQ: LESL ), the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2024. Jason McDonell, Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our fourth quarter results were in line with our revised expectations on the top-line, and we saw strong performance in our Pro segment with some continued softness in store traffic and larger-ticket and discretionary categories. Profitability was affected by deleverage from the sales decline and a one-time contract item, though we have remained disciplined on SG&A expenses." McDonell added, "While we continue to operate in a dynamic environment, which has been felt acutely across the pool industry for the last two years, I see a bright future and compelling opportunities for Leslie's. Since joining Leslie's in September, I've been in the market talking with customers, vendors, and associates and it's clear that Leslie's is a trusted brand with a rich legacy and a strong market leadership position. I see meaningful opportunities to enhance these attributes and build on our competitive advantages by putting the customer at the center of everything we do. With the customer as our north star, we are developing and beginning to execute on the strategy and initiatives to drive long-term profitable growth. I look forward to detailing our strategic roadmap in the coming quarters and thank all of our stakeholders for their support as we build a stronger future together." Fourth Quarter Highlights Sales were $397.9 million, a decrease of 8.0% compared to $432.4 million in the prior year period. Comparable sales decreased 8.3%. Non-comparable sales from acquisitions and new stores contributed $1.5 million in the period. Gross profit was $143.2 million, a decrease of 10.6% compared to $160.2 million in the prior year period. Gross margin was 36.0% compared to 37.0% in the prior year period. The decrease in gross margin rate was driven by deleverage on occupancy and distribution costs, as well as a one-time item of approximately $5 million related to rebates and warranties on a contract that has since been revised. Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") were $116.8 million, a decrease of 4.0% compared to $121.6 million in the prior year period. Operating income was $26.4 million compared to $38.5 million in the prior year period. Interest expense was $17.0 million compared to $17.2 million in the prior year period. A valuation allowance of approximately $11 million was established to provide an offset to the Company's deferred tax assets. This non-cash item is subject to change as the realization of future deferred tax assets changes over time. Net (loss) income was $(9.9) million compared to $16.5 million in the prior year period. Adjusted net income was $4.4 million compared to $25.7 million in the prior year period. Diluted earnings per share was $(0.05) compared to $0.09 in the prior year period. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.02 compared to $0.14 in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA was $43.0 million compared to $59.5 million in the prior year period. The decrease was primarily driven by lower sales volume during the period. Decreases in product rate and occupancy deleverage were largely offset by lower SG&A and a reduction in inventory adjustments. Fiscal 2024 Highlights Sales decreased 8.3% to $1,330.1 million compared to $1,451.2 million in the prior year. Comparable sales decreased 8.8%. Non-comparable sales including acquisitions and new stores contributed $7.9 million for the year. Gross profit decreased 13.0% to $476.8 million compared to $548.2 million in the prior year. Gross margin decreased to 35.8% from 37.8% in the prior year period. The decrease in gross margin was primarily driven by negative impacts of 121 basis points from a decreased product rate, 94 basis points from deleverage on occupancy costs, and 50 basis points from the expensing of previously capitalized distribution costs due to significant reductions in inventory during the year. These impacts were partially offset by a 72 basis point reduction in inventory adjustments and distribution costs. SG&A decreased $26.4 million to $419.7 million compared to $446.0 million in the prior year. Operating income was $57.1 million compared to $102.2 million in the prior year. Interest expense increased $5.0 million to $70.4 million compared to $65.4 million in the prior year. Net (loss) income was $(23.4) million compared to $27.2 million in the prior year. Adjusted net (loss) income was $(1.1) million compared to $51.1 million in the prior year. Diluted earnings per share was $(0.13) compared to $0.15 in the prior year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $(0.01) compared to $0.28 in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was $108.7 million compared to $168.1 million in the prior year. The decrease was primarily driven by lower sales volume during the period. Decreases in product rate and increases in occupancy and distribution costs were largely offset by lower SG&A and a reduction in inventory adjustments. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights Cash and cash equivalents totaled $108.5 million as of September 28, 2024, an increase of $53.1 million, compared to $55.4 million as of September 30, 2023. Inventories totaled $234.3 million as of September 28, 2024, a decrease of $77.5 million or 24.9%, compared to $311.8 million as of September 30, 2023. Funded debt was $783.7 million as of September 28, 2024 compared to $789.8 million as of September 30, 2023. There were no outstanding borrowings on our revolving credit facility as of September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023. The effective rate on our term loan during fiscal 2024 was 8.1% compared to 8.2% during fiscal 2023. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $107.5 million in fiscal 2024 compared to $6.5 million in fiscal 2023. Capital expenditures totaled $47.2 million in fiscal 2024 compared to $38.6 million in fiscal 2023. First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Outlook The Company expects the following for the first quarter of fiscal 2025: Sales $169 million to $176 million Gross profit $45 million to $48 million Net loss $(41) million to $(39) million Adjusted net loss $(39) million to $(37) million Adjusted EBITDA $(29) million to $(27) million Adjusted diluted loss per share $(0.21) to $(0.20) Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 185 million *Note: A reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort due to the uncertainty of expenses that may be incurred in the future, although it is important to note that these factors could be material to our results computed in accordance with GAAP. Conference Call Details A conference call to discuss the Company's financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2024 is scheduled for today, Monday, November 25, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 877-407-0784 (international callers please dial 1-201-689-8560) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at https://ir.lesliespool.com/ . A recorded replay of the conference call will be available within approximately three hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed online at https://ir.lesliespool.com/ for 90 days. About Leslie's Founded in 1963, Leslie's is the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry. The Company serves the aftermarket needs of residential and professional consumers with an extensive and largely exclusive assortment of essential pool and spa care products. The Company operates an integrated ecosystem of over 1,000 physical locations and a robust digital platform, enabling consumers to engage with Leslie's whenever, wherever, and however they prefer to shop. Its dedicated team of associates, pool and spa care experts, and experienced service technicians are passionate about empowering Leslie's consumers with the knowledge, products, and solutions necessary to confidently maintain and enjoy their pools and spas. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Operating Measures In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), we use certain non-GAAP financial measures and other operating measures, including comparable sales growth, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income (loss), and Adjusted diluted earnings per share, to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. These non-GAAP financial measures and other operating measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for our results as reported under GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures and other operating measures are not calculated in the same manner by all companies, and accordingly, are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies and may not be appropriate measures for performance relative to other companies. Comparable Sales Growth We measure comparable sales growth as the increase or decrease in sales recorded by the comparable base in any reporting period, compared to sales recorded by the comparable base in the prior reporting period. The comparable base includes sales through our locations and through our e-commerce websites and third-party marketplaces. Comparable sales growth is a key measure used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest (including amortization of debt issuance costs), taxes, depreciation and amortization, management fees, equity-based compensation expense, loss (gain) on debt extinguishment, loss (gain) on asset and contract dispositions, executive transition costs, severance, costs related to equity offerings, strategic project costs, merger and acquisition costs, and other non-recurring, non-cash or discrete items. Adjusted EBITDA is a key measure used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is also frequently used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry, when considered alongside other GAAP measures. We use Adjusted EBITDA to supplement GAAP measures of performance to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, and to compare our performance against that of other companies using similar measures. Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP but is used by some investors to determine a company's ability to service or incur indebtedness. Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated in the same manner by all companies, and accordingly, is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies and may not be an appropriate measure for performance relative to other companies. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an indicator of a company's operating performance in isolation from, or as a substitute for, net income (loss), cash flows from operations or cash flow data, all of which are prepared in accordance with GAAP. We have presented Adjusted EBITDA solely as supplemental disclosure because we believe it allows for a more complete analysis of results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent, and should not be considered more meaningful than, or as an alternative to, measures of operating performance as determined in accordance with GAAP. In the future, we may incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate Adjusted EBITDA. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by these items. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted diluted earnings per share are additional key measures used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted diluted earnings per share are also frequently used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry, when considered alongside other GAAP measures. Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) adjusted to exclude management fees, equity-based compensation expense, loss (gain) on debt extinguishment, loss (gain) on asset and contract dispositions, executive transition costs, severance, costs related to equity offerings, strategic project costs, merger and acquisition costs, and other non-recurring, non-cash, or discrete items. Adjusted diluted earnings per share is defined as Adjusted net income (loss) divided by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy, value proposition, legal proceedings, competitive advantages, market size, growth opportunities, industry expectations, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," or "would," or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Our actual results or outcomes could differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including, among others: our ability to execute on our growth strategies; supply disruptions; our ability to maintain favorable relationships with suppliers and manufacturers; competition from mass merchants and specialty retailers; impacts on our business from the sensitivity of our business to weather conditions, changes in the economy (including high interest rates, recession fears, and inflationary pressures), geopolitical events or conflicts, and the housing market; disruptions in the operations of our distribution centers; our ability to implement technology initiatives that deliver the anticipated benefits, without disrupting our operations; our ability to attract and retain senior management and other qualified personnel; regulatory changes and development affecting our current and future products, including evolving legal standards and regulations concerning environmental, social and governance ("ESG") matters; our ability to obtain additional capital to finance operations; commodity price inflation and deflation; impacts on our business from epidemics, pandemics, or natural disasters; impacts on our business from cyber incidents and other security threats or disruptions; our ability to remediate material weaknesses or other deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting or to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting; and other risks and uncertainties, including those listed in the section titled "Risk Factors" in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this press release primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, and operating results. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors described in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 2024 and in our other filings with the SEC. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time-to-time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The results, events, and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results or outcomes could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In addition, statements that "we believe" and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this press release, and while we believe that information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, that information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements. The forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on events or circumstances as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information, changed expectations, the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise, except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, outcomes or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments. Contact Matthew Skelly Vice President, Investor Relations Leslie's, Inc. investorrelations@lesl.com Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Year Ended September 28, 2024 September 30, 2023 September 28, 2024 September 30, 2023 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) Sales $ 397,859 $ 432,370 $ 1,330,121 $ 1,451,209 Cost of merchandise and services sold 254,645 272,209 853,331 902,986 Gross profit 143,214 160,161 476,790 548,223 Selling, general and administrative expenses 116,795 121,617 419,673 446,044 Operating income 26,419 38,544 57,117 102,179 Other expense: Interest expense 17,015 17,156 70,395 65,438 Total other expense 17,015 17,156 70,395 65,438 Income (loss) before taxes 9,404 21,388 (13,278 ) 36,741 Income tax expense 19,328 4,907 10,101 9,499 Net (loss) income $ (9,924 ) $ 16,481 $ (23,379 ) $ 27,242 Earnings per share: Basic $ (0.05 ) $ 0.09 $ (0.13 ) $ 0.15 Diluted $ (0.05 ) $ 0.09 $ (0.13 ) $ 0.15 Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 184,936 184,181 184,694 183,839 Diluted 184,936 184,782 184,694 184,716 Other Financial Data (1) (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Year Ended September 28, 2024 September 30, 2023 September 28, 2024 September 30, 2023 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) Adjusted EBITDA $ 42,972 $ 59,466 $ 108,744 $ 168,149 Adjusted net income (loss) $ 4,380 $ 25,743 $ (1,084 ) $ 51,113 Adjusted diluted earnings per share $ 0.02 $ 0.14 $ (0.01 ) $ 0.28 (1) See section titled "GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation." Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts) September 28, 2024 September 30, 2023 Assets (Unaudited) (Audited) Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 108,505 $ 55,420 Accounts and other receivables, net 45,467 29,396 Inventories 234,283 311,837 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 34,179 23,633 Total current assets 422,434 420,286 Property and equipment, net 98,447 90,285 Operating lease right-of-use assets 270,488 251,460 Goodwill and other intangibles, net 215,127 218,855 Deferred tax assets 4,168 7,598 Other assets 39,661 45,951 Total assets $ 1,050,325 $ 1,034,435 Liabilities and stockholders' deficit Current liabilities Accounts payable 67,622 58,556 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 106,712 90,598 Operating lease liabilities 63,357 62,794 Income taxes payable 1,519 5,782 Current portion of long-term debt 8,100 8,100 Total current liabilities 247,310 225,830 Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent 209,067 193,222 Long-term debt, net 769,065 773,276 Other long-term liabilities 2,032 3,469 Total liabilities 1,227,474 1,195,797 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' deficit Common stock, $0.001 par value, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized and 184,969,296 and 184,333,670 issued and outstanding as of September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. 185 184 Additional paid in capital 106,871 99,280 Retained deficit (284,205 ) (260,826 ) Total stockholders' deficit (177,149 ) (161,362 ) Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit $ 1,050,325 $ 1,034,435 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Amounts in thousands) Year Ended September 28, 2024 September 30, 2023 (Unaudited) (Audited) Operating Activities Net (loss) income $ (23,379 ) $ 27,242 Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 33,078 34,142 Equity-based compensation 8,589 11,703 Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts 2,191 2,100 Provision for doubtful accounts 1,466 193 Deferred income taxes 3,430 (6,330 ) Loss on asset and contract dispositions 464 6,396 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts and other receivables (18,684 ) 16,101 Inventories 85,879 54,331 Prepaid expenses and other current assets (1,019 ) (3,466 ) Other assets 6,861 (9,990 ) Accounts payable 1,889 (97,900 ) Accrued expenses 4,817 (22,148 ) Income taxes payable (4,263 ) (6,729 ) Operating lease assets and liabilities, net 6,147 825 Net cash provided by operating activities 107,466 6,470 Investing Activities Purchases of property and equipment (47,244 ) (38,577 ) Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired — (15,549 ) Proceeds from asset dispositions 81 1,587 Net cash used in investing activities (47,163 ) (52,539 ) Financing Activities Borrowings on Revolving Credit Facility 140,500 264,000 Payments on Revolving Credit Facility (140,500 ) (264,000 ) Repayment of long-term debt (6,075 ) (8,100 ) Payment on finance lease (145 ) — Payment of deferred financing costs — (347 ) Payments of employee tax withholdings related to restricted stock vesting (998 ) (2,357 ) Net cash used in financing activities (7,218 ) (10,804 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 53,085 (56,873 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 55,420 112,293 Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $ 108,505 $ 55,420 Supplemental Information: Interest $ 63,242 $ 63,059 Income taxes, net of refunds received 10,933 22,559 GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Year Ended September 28, 2024 September 30, 2023 September 28, 2024 September 30, 2023 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) Net (loss) income $ (9,924 ) $ 16,481 $ (23,379 ) $ 27,242 Interest expense 17,015 17,156 70,395 65,438 Income tax expense 19,328 4,907 10,101 9,499 Depreciation and amortization expense (1) 8,659 8,573 33,078 34,142 Equity-based compensation expense (2) 967 2,607 8,650 12,067 Strategic project costs (3) 1,025 241 2,083 3,004 Executive transition costs and other (4) 5,902 9,501 7,816 16,757 Adjusted EBITDA $ 42,972 $ 59,466 $ 108,744 $ 168,149 Three Months Ended Year Ended September 28, 2024 September 30, 2023 September 28, 2024 September 30, 2023 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) Net (loss) income $ (9,924 ) $ 16,481 $ (23,379 ) $ 27,242 Equity-based compensation expense (2) 967 2,607 8,650 12,067 Strategic project costs (3) 1,025 241 2,083 3,004 Executive transition costs and other (4) 5,902 9,501 7,816 16,757 Changes in valuation allowance ( 5 ) 11,177 — 11,177 — Tax effects of these adjustments ( 6 ) (4,767 ) (3,087 ) (7,431 ) (7,957 ) Adjusted net income (loss) $ 4,380 $ 25,743 $ (1,084 ) $ 51,113 Diluted earnings per share $ (0.05 ) $ 0.09 $ (0.13 ) $ 0.15 Adjusted diluted earnings per share $ 0.02 $ 0.18 $ (0.01 ) $ 0.28 Weighted average shares outstanding Basic 184,936 184,181 184,694 183,839 Diluted 184,954 184,782 184,694 184,716 (1) Includes depreciation related to our distribution centers and store locations, which is reported in cost of merchandise and services sold and SG&A in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. (2) Represents charges related to equity-based compensation and our related payroll tax expense, which are reported in SG&A in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. (3) Represents non-recurring costs, such as third-party consulting costs related to first-generation technology initiatives, replacements of systems that have been no longer supported by our vendors, investment in and development of new products outside of the course of continuing operations, or other discrete strategic projects that are infrequent or unusual in nature and potentially distortive to continuing operations. These items are reported in SG&A in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. (4) Includes certain senior executive transition costs and severance associated with completed corporate restructuring activities across the organization, losses (gains) on asset dispositions, merger and acquisition costs, and other non-recurring, non-cash, or discrete items as determined by management. Amounts are reported in SG&A in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. (5) Represents a change in valuation allowance for deferred taxes that management does not believe are indicative of our ongoing operations. This item is reported in income tax expense in our consolidated statements of operations and we note they may reoccur in the future. (6) Represents the tax effect of the total adjustments based on our combined U.S. federal and state statutory tax rates. Amounts are reported in income tax expense (benefit) in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Derby thump Portsmouth to end six-game winless runANOKA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 25, 2024-- Vista Outdoor Inc. (“Vista Outdoor”, the “Company”) (NYSE: VSTO) today announced that its stockholders voted to approve the sale of The Kinetic Group to Czechoslovak Group a.s. (“CSG”) (the “CSG Transaction”) at its special meeting of stockholders held earlier today. Vista Outdoor and CSG have received all regulatory approvals required under the merger agreement for the CSG Transaction and intend to close the CSG Transaction on November 27, 2024. Under the terms of the CSG Transaction, Vista Outdoor stockholders will receive $25.75 in cash and one share of Revelyst common stock for each share of Vista Outdoor common stock they hold. “We are thrilled to have received overwhelming support from our stockholders for the compelling transaction with CSG,” said Michael Callahan, Chairman of the Vista Outdoor Board of Directors. “The CSG transaction maximizes value for our stockholders, while also providing an ideal home for our leading ammunition brands and significant opportunities for our employees.” Based on the vote count from the special meeting of stockholders, approximately 97.89% of votes cast were in favor of the CSG Transaction, representing approximately 82.57% of all outstanding shares. The final voting results will be reported in a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Following the closing of the CSG Transaction, Revelyst will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “GEAR”. Subject to the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, funds managed by Strategic Value Partners, LLC (“SVP”) will subsequently acquire Revelyst in an all-cash transaction based on an enterprise value of $1.125 billion (the “SVP Transaction”), subject to a net cash adjustment. At the closing of the SVP Transaction, Revelyst stockholders will receive an estimated $19.25 in cash per share of Revelyst common stock 1. The SVP Transaction is on track to close by January 2025. No separate approval of the SVP Transaction by Vista Outdoor stockholders is required. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is acting as sole financial adviser to Vista Outdoor and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is acting as legal adviser to Vista Outdoor. Moelis & Company LLC is acting as sole financial adviser to the independent directors of Vista Outdoor and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is acting as legal adviser to the independent directors of Vista Outdoor. About Vista Outdoor Inc. Vista Outdoor (NYSE: VSTO) is the parent company of more than three dozen renowned brands that design, manufacture and market sporting and outdoor products. Brands include Bushnell, CamelBak, Bushnell Golf, Foresight Sports, Fox Racing, Bell Helmets, Camp Chef, Giro, Simms Fishing, QuietKat, Stone Glacier, Federal Ammunition, Remington Ammunition and more. Our reporting segments, Outdoor Products and Sporting Products, provide consumers with a wide range of performance-driven, high-quality and innovative outdoor and sporting products. For news and information, visit our website at www.vistaoutdoor.com Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements made and information contained in this press release, excluding historical information, are “forward-looking statements,” including those that discuss, among other things: Vista Outdoor Inc.’s (“Vista Outdoor”, “we”, “us” or “our”) plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; projections with respect to future revenues, income, earnings per share or other financial measures for Vista Outdoor; and the assumptions that underlie these matters. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “aim,” “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. To the extent that any such information is forward-looking, it is intended to fit within the safe harbor for forward-looking information provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations described in such forward-looking statements, including the following: risks related to the previously announced transaction among Vista Outdoor, Revelyst, Inc., CSG Elevate II Inc., CSG Elevate III Inc. and CZECHOSLOVAK GROUP a.s. (the “CSG Transaction”) and risks related to the previously announced transaction among Vista Outdoor, Revelyst, Olibre LLC and Cabin Ridge, Inc. (the “SVP Transaction”) including (i) the possibility that any or all of the various conditions to the consummation of the CSG Transaction or the SVP Transaction may not be satisfied or waived, including the failure to receive any required regulatory approvals from any applicable governmental entities (or any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on such approvals), (ii) the possibility that competing offers or acquisition proposals may be made, (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement relating to the CSG Transaction or the SVP Transaction, including in circumstances which would require Vista Outdoor or Revelyst, as applicable, to pay a termination fee, (iv) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the CSG Transaction or the SVP Transaction on our ability to attract, motivate or retain key executives and employees, our ability to maintain relationships with our customers, vendors, service providers and others with whom we do business, or our operating results and business generally, (v) risks related to the CSG Transaction or the SVP Transaction diverting management’s attention from our ongoing business operations, (vi) that the CSG Transaction or the SVP Transaction may not achieve some or all of any anticipated benefits with respect to either business segment and that the CSG Transaction or the SVP Transaction may not be completed in accordance with our expected plans or anticipated timelines, or at all, and (vii) that the consideration paid to Revelyst stockholders in connection with the SVP Transaction cannot be determined until the consummation of the SVP Transaction as it is subject to certain adjustments related to the net cash of Revelyst as of the closing of the SVP Transaction and the management team’s current estimate of the consideration may be higher or lower than the actual consideration paid to Revelyst stockholders in connection with the SVP Transaction due to the actual cash flows prior to the closing of the SVP Transaction or other factors; impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations, the operations of our customers and suppliers and general economic conditions; supplier capacity constraints, production or shipping disruptions or quality or price issues affecting our operating costs; the supply, availability and costs of raw materials and components; increases in commodity, energy, and production costs; seasonality and weather conditions; our ability to complete acquisitions, realize expected benefits from acquisitions and integrate acquired businesses; reductions in or unexpected changes in or our inability to accurately forecast demand for ammunition, accessories, or other outdoor sports and recreation products; disruption in the service or significant increase in the cost of our primary delivery and shipping services for our products and components or a significant disruption at shipping ports; risks associated with diversification into new international and commercial markets, including regulatory compliance; our ability to take advantage of growth opportunities in international and commercial markets; our ability to obtain and maintain licenses to third-party technology; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; disruptions caused by catastrophic events; risks associated with our sales to significant retail customers, including unexpected cancellations, delays, and other changes to purchase orders; our competitive environment; our ability to adapt our products to changes in technology, the marketplace and customer preferences, including our ability to respond to shifting preferences of the end consumer from brick and mortar retail to online retail; our ability to maintain and enhance brand recognition and reputation; our association with the firearms industry, others’ use of social media to disseminate negative commentary about us, our products, and boycotts; the outcome of contingencies, including with respect to litigation and other proceedings relating to intellectual property, product liability, warranty liability, personal injury, and environmental remediation; our ability to comply with extensive federal, state and international laws, rules and regulations; changes in laws, rules and regulations relating to our business, such as federal and state ammunition regulations; risks associated with cybersecurity and other industrial and physical security threats; interest rate risk; changes in the current tariff structures; changes in tax rules or pronouncements; capital market volatility and the availability of financing; our debt covenants may limit our ability to complete acquisitions, incur debt, make investments, sell assets, merge or complete other significant transactions; foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; general economic and business conditions in the United States and our markets outside the United States, including as a result of the war in Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions on Russia, the conflict in the Gaza strip, the COVID-19 pandemic or another pandemic, conditions affecting employment levels, consumer confidence and spending, conditions in the retail environment, and other economic conditions affecting demand for our products and the financial health of our customers. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements we make, which are based only on information currently available to us and speak only as of the date hereof. A more detailed description of risk factors that may affect our operating results can be found in Part 1, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2024, and in the filings we make with the SEC from time to time. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law. 1 Based on management estimates, including an assumption the SVP Transaction closes on December 31, 2024. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125635762/en/ CONTACT: Investor: Tyler Lindwall Phone: 612-704-0147 Email:investor.relations@vistaoutdoor.comMedia: Eric Smith Phone: 720-772-0877 Email:media.relations@vistaoutdoor.com KEYWORD: MINNESOTA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL OTHER CONSUMER CONSUMER OTHER RETAIL MANUFACTURING OTHER MANUFACTURING SOURCE: Vista Outdoor Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/25/2024 04:01 PM/DISC: 11/25/2024 04:01 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125635762/enU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday told Turkey it was "imperative" to work against a resurgence of the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad. The top U.S. diplomat also said he saw "encouraging signs" on reaching a ceasefire in the war-torn Gaza Strip. His remarks came on the second leg of a whirlwind regional tour following Bashar al-Assad's ouster in a lightning offensive spearheaded by Islamist-led HTS rebels, ending five decades of repressive rule by his clan. He flew to Turkey on Thursday evening where he met for more than an hour with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Ankara airport, a US official said. "Our country worked very hard and gave a lot over many years to ensure the elimination of the territorial caliphate of ISIS (IS), to ensure that threat doesn't rear its head again," Blinken said. "And it's imperative we keep at those efforts." In response, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Blinken Turkey was committed to ensuring stability in Syria "as soon as possible" and "preventing ISIS" jihadists from gaining a foothold there. On Thursday, Erdogan assured Blinken Turkey would never ease up in the fight against IS in Syria, despite its operations against Kurdish fighters seen as key to containing the extremists. "Turkey will never allow any weakness to arise in the fight against ISIS," Erdogan said while vowing not to let up in its pursuit of groups Ankara sees as a threat to its national security. Divisions over Kurdish-led SDF As the Islamist-led rebels marched on Damascus, Turkey and its proxies began their own offensive against the Kurdish-led SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces). Turkey sees the SDF as an extension of the banned PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) that has fought a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil. But Washington sees the force as a key ally for spearheading an offensive that defeated IS's self-declared caliphate in Syria in 2019, with Blinken saying Thursday the SDF was "critical" to preventing a jihadist resurgence there. The fighting between the two proxy forces has raised concern about the NATO allies' competing interests in Syria. Faik Bulut, an expert on the Kurdish question, told AFP Turkey was likely seeking "to take advantage of the vacuum to cleanse the region" of Kurdish fighters. That way Erdogan could "be in a position of strength" during talks with incoming US president Donald Trump, he assessed. With Turkey's own powerful military, control over its Syrian proxy forces and influence over the HTS rebels that ousted Assad, Erdogan could likely tell Trump: "'Hand this region to me and I will destroy ISIS. Give me responsibility and you'll see'," Balut said. 'Encouraging signs' of Gaza truce Blinken also said he saw "encouraging signs" of progress toward a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, urging Turkey to use its influence to encourage Hamas to accept. "We discussed Gaza, and we discussed I think the opportunity... to get a ceasefire in place. And what we've seen in the last couple of weeks are more encouraging signs that that is possible," Blinken said. Blinken, who leaves office next month following Trump's election victory, began his tour in Jordan on Thursday on his 12th visit to the Middle East since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war. "We talked about the imperative of Hamas saying 'yes' to the agreement that's possible, to finally help bring this to an end," he said. "We appreciate very much the role Turkey can play in using its voice with Hamas to try to bring this to conclusion." Turkey has long had close ties with Hamas, viewing it as a national liberation movement rather than a proscribed terror organisation like most Western nations. A blistering critic of Israel, Erdogan has frequently hosted Hamas' political leaders who have used Istanbul as one of their foreign bases during his two-decade rule. Published - December 14, 2024 01:24 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Syria / Turkey / USA

Electric Car Chargers Market is Booming Worldwide | Gaining Revolution In Eyes of Global Exposure( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Social Networking Global market Report 2024 - Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2024-2033 The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-for a limited time only! LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 17, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-limited time only! What does the future hold for the Global Social Networking Market? Notably, the social networking market size has seen exponential growth in recent years, escalating from a substantial $69.23 billion in 2023 to an expected $86.01 billion in 2024. This growth projection implies a compound annual growth rate CAGR of a significant 24.2%. Factors such as the proliferation of user-generated content, the evolution of social media algorithms, the integration of multimedia features, mobile application growth, and the expansion of broadband internet have significantly fueled this historic period's growth. Preview what you'd gain from the full report with this sample link: What are the Key Drivers Enhancing the Social Networking Market Growth? Increasing internet penetration is expected to be a major propellant of the social networking market's growth. Internet penetration refers to the degree of internet usage and accessibility among a population within a specific geographic area. It is often influenced by improved infrastructure, declining internet access, and device costs, and burgeoning digital literacy worldwide. Notably, social networking bolsters internet usage by encouraging online engagement and offering platforms that inspire people to connect and interact. As such, it significantly increases internet usage across various regions and demographics. According to the International Telecommunication Union, a Switzerland-based specialized agency, the number of individuals using the Internet jumped from 5.1 billion in 2022 to 5.4 billion in 2023. This surge in internet penetration is anticipated to significantly fuel the social networking market's growth. Get the full details on the future of the social networking market in this report link: Who are the Major Players in the Social Networking Market? Google LLC, Ebates Performance Marketing Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., Facebook Inc., Instagram LLC, YouTube LLC, ByteDance Ltd., LinkedIn Corporation, Twitter Inc., Snap Inc., Telegram Messenger Inc., WhatsApp, Pinterest Inc., Reddit Inc., Automattic Inc., Discord Inc., Nextdoor Holdings Inc., Meetup Inc., Myspace LLC, Tumblr Inc., Ello Inc., Caffeine Inc., Quora Inc., Tribe Social, MediaLab are some of the major industry players operating in the social networking market. What are the Emerging Trends in the Social Networking Market? In keeping with advancements in technology, major companies in the social networking market are focusing on developing innovative solutions, such as artificial intelligence AI tools to create social media posts. Take for instance, Hookle, a Finland-based AI-powered social media marketing platform that launched the AI-based social media posting app in March 2023. The app offers automated content generation, optimal posting time suggestions, and performance analytics to enhance user engagement. Moreover, it allows seamless multi-platform management, gracing users with the convenience to schedule and post content across various social media channels from a single interface. How is the Social Networking Market Segmented? The social networking market report specifically segments the market into: 1 By Type: Advertising, In-App Purchase, Paid Apps. 2 By User Type: Consumer, Enterprise. 3 By Store: Apple, Google. 4 By Distribution Channel: Desktop Computers, Mobile Devices. 5 By Application: Public Sector, Banking, Financial Services And Insurance BFSI, Telecom And Media, Retail Or Wholesale. What are the Regional Insights into the Social Networking Market? In 2023, North America was the largest contributor to the social networking market. However, Asia-Pacific is set to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. The report covers various regions including Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. Browse Through More Similar Reports By The Business Research Company: Social Robots Global Market Report 2024 Social Media Analytics Global Market Report 2024 Social Assistance Global Market Report 2024 About The Business Research Company Learn More About The Business Research Company. With over 15000+ reports from 27 industries covering 60+ geographies, The Business Research Company has built a reputation for offering comprehensive, data-rich research and insights. Armed with 1,500,000 datasets, the optimistic contribution of in-depth secondary research, and unique insights from industry leaders, you can get the information you need to stay ahead in the game. Contact us at: The Business Research Company: Americas +1 3156230293 Asia +44 2071930708 Europe +44 2071930708 Email us at ... 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LAS VEGAS -- After securing his fourth world championship at the age of just 27, has firmly entered 's greatest of all time debate. He is now in exalted company. Only Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and had won four championships. Verstappen's next goal is to join Fangio, Schumacher and Hamilton as a winner of five -- if he did it next year, he would emulate Schumacher in winning five consecutively. The Dutchman's record-breaking 2023 season had already firmly established this decade as the Verstappen Era, but his follow-up in 2024 was special for a number of reasons. Verstappen won seven of the first 10 races, seeming ready to cruise to his fourth title before Red Bull's campaign began to crumble, with an increasingly erratic car, and the rise of McLaren in the middle of the season. This was when Verstappen showed his mettle, though, extracting important performances from the car at every weekend and then in the pouring rain in the São Paulo Grand Prix to move himself to the brink. That Interlagos performance, which saw him race from 17th on the grid to victory, was a feather in the cap. F1's other candidates for the GOAT also have had career-defining performances in similar conditions: three-time world champion Ayrton Senna, considered by many to be F1's greatest ever, had Monaco 1984 and Donington 1992; Schumacher had Spain 1996; and Hamilton had Silverstone 2008. Verstappen's career now checks multiple boxes. A title against another all-time great, Hamilton, in 2021. Two dominant seasons in an unmatched car. And now a championship with a car that you can consider to have been inferior for much of the season. Few drivers can point to all three of those types of championship-winning campaigns, and that is why 2024 has been so significant to Verstappen's legacy. Dominant Formula 1 winners always have to deal with the suggestion that they are the benefactors of a great car. If that were the case, teams like Red Bull would pay average drivers a lot less money than they are paying Verstappen. There is a reason teams always want a superstar driver. This subject is something that has irked Verstappen recently. He took a playful (but clearly thought-out) jab at McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who earlier this year claimed seven or eight current drivers could win the title in the Dutchman's Red Bull. Verstappen went on to claim if he were driving Brown's McLaren, which doubled up as a dig at title rival . "Last year I had a dominant car but I always felt not everyone appreciated what we achieved as a team. Of course the car was dominant, but it wasn't as dominant as people thought it was," Verstappen said in Las Vegas. "I will always look back at it because, even if in places we didn't have the best setup in the races, we were still capable to win races because the car was quite strong. But I am also very proud of this season because for most of it -- I would say for 70% -- we didn't have the fastest car, but actually we still extended our lead, so that is something I am very proud of." Fans and pundits can get into the weeds of who had the best car where until the end of time, but Verstappen is right to say his car did not look like a title-winning one for much of the year. Norris has been criticised for failing to properly use the strength of his McLaren at various points in the season, and it was that contrast to Verstappen that proved most telling. Another mark of the new four-time world champion's greatness can be seen by looking at the other side of the Red Bull garage. Much has been made of 's abysmal form in the second RB20, but plenty within the team feel the car is likely somewhere between his and Verstappen's performances; there is a suggestion that one driver is overperforming and the other is underperforming. Verstappen's reputation as a teammate killer is well founded and is built on his incredible ability to drive just about anything beyond the limits of what other drivers might be able to. That's why 2024 felt like the cherry on top of his achievements so far: he wasn't just beating a teammate to the title, he was battling an erratic car against quickly improving rivals. At this stage, it's hard to imagine Verstappen retiring as just a four-time world champion. McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes will take renewed hope of challenging for the drivers' title in 2025, but this season has demonstrated that Verstappen is the driver to beat, regardless of where his car is in the competitive order. While at times this year -- something that was true of other GOAT candidates, including Senna and Schumacher -- it is difficult to find times when Verstappen has made unforced errors. Most worryingly of all for his rivals is that, in the decade since he made his debut as a 17-year-old, he appears to have gained the wisdom to settle for second, fourth or sixth when he needs to. Is Verstappen the GOAT? Assigning GOAT status to anyone is circumstantial and subjective and often suffers from recency bias. Some sports have obvious candidates for how they completely reshaped the game they played, like Michael Jordan. Some were utterly unmatched by their peers, like Serena Williams or Wayne Gretzky. Others, like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, divide opinion but stand alone in the argument. While it is always difficult and slightly unfair to compare different eras, with standards of play and professionalism improving with every decade that passes, Formula 1 has an added layer of complexity to it. The best example of this is to compare the greats of today with Fangio, the legend of the 1950s. The Argentine won five championships for four different teams in an era when a season would span fewer than 10 races -- the 2024 season will finish at 24. But there were more glaring differences as well. Fatality rates in F1 races during Fangio's day were awful, and that fact hung over drivers every time they stepped into the cockpit. That is not to say the same danger does not exist today, but safety standards have improved massively. The stats show that to be the case: 15 F1 drivers died in the 1950s, 14 in the 1960s, 12 in the 1970s, four in the 1980s and two in the 1990s. Jules Bianchi's death in 2015, from injuries sustained at the previous year's Japanese Grand Prix, remains the only one this millennium. Improved safety is not something to hold against modern drivers; it simply complicates trying to compare a Verstappen or Hamilton with someone of Fangio's era. There are many who saw Jim Clark race in the 1960s who felt he was the greatest ever. The Scot was killed in a Formula 2 race in 1968 as a two-time F1 champion but at the time of his death held the record for wins, pole positions and fastest laps. Enzo Ferrari considered Gilles Villeneuve, who died at the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix having not managed to win a title, as the best driver he ever saw race one of his famous cars. Senna is revered as one of the greatest, but his death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix stopped any chance of him adding to his three championships. The darker side of motor racing makes an easy debate on the topic difficult to have. It is not just the deaths, either. While the basic rules of a soccer game and the dimensions of a pitch have remained the same, Formula 1 is an ever-evolving championship. Rules change, cars change, safety standards change, even the circuits change. Technology's continued, rapid evolution is what allows the sport to change as often as it does. Senna, Prost and Schumacher raced in a time with limited data available to them. Drivers today have an almost-unbelievable amount of information at their fingertips: insights into their own performance and those of their teammates and rivals. You could use that to knock the modern generation, but there is a flip side to that. The modern batch of F1 racers compete in an era of significantly limited testing; gone are the days when Schumacher and Ferrari could travel home from a race and complete 300 laps the following day at the Fiorano test track in Maranello. The current budget cap has added another layer of difficulty drivers of old simply did not have to deal with: power units need to be managed to stretch over a long season, rather than dropping in a freshly built engine ahead of each grand prix, and crashes can now have a direct impact on what can be invested in development. The more you pull at the threads of different factors over the years, the more complicated it becomes to assign the "greatest" status to anyone. The outright greatest will always be subjective and often can be limited to whether you saw particular drivers competing at their best, but Verstappen is doing something few before him have done and is raising the bar every year he competes. There might even be greater talents on the horizon, but, like Schumacher and Hamilton before him, Verstappen continues to move the goalposts they'll be tasked with reaching Verstappen is also good enough that, in a few years, there might not even be a debate left to have. He has repeatedly spoken about not wanting to race into his late 30s, but in the here and now, he goes into 2025 as the favourite. Whether he is still racing with Red Bull in 2026 or beyond will be a fascinating narrative to follow in the coming seasons, and it is clear the best route to success for any team right now is to have Verstappen in the cockpit. That isn't going to change any time soon.Solis Mammography Announces Acquisition of Avestēe Women's Imaging Centers in San Antonio