Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Recently, I told the Corvallis Planning Commission that I resigned my seat because I needed to focus on an innovative affordable housing preservation model I pioneered up in Portland that I’d like to scale across the state. While this is certainly true, it is not the full truth: I resigned out of frustration. Many of the changes needed to give Corvallis more abundant and diverse housing options (as well as a more robust tax base) are battled at every step of the way by a short-sighted philosophy that permeates the current powers-that-be. Yes, things are changing, but not fast enough. Granted, the Planning Commission can’t change things: It just adjudicates on the rules already on the books. For example, the Planning Commission couldn’t help that the city recently arbitrarily charged $50,000 in system development charges on a start-up medical practice next door to other medical practices that didn’t have to pay these SDC charges. People are also reading... Two Albany residents killed in Linn County crash Oregon State celebrates Murphy's arrival while Washington State loses coach, quarterback Albany shelter faces federal lawsuit as whistleblower faces homelessness Group wants to make Corvallis downtown more sophisticated Group wants to make Corvallis downtown more sophisticated Oregon port contractor praises Hitler, uses slurs — and now officials face a quandary Family of hit-and-run victim seeks closure, clues that will lead to driver As I See It: The people of Benton County deserve leadership that promotes dialogue Oregon State men head to the beaches of Hawaii looking to keep momentum going Corvallis looks to drum up millions for facilities project Albany man indicted in attempted murder case Brownsville swears in new councilors, conservative sweep complete New Corvallis playground welcomes children with disabilities Albany police say sex offender tried enrolling in high school Albany man suspected of stealing flatbed trailer, crashing into minivan The argument was that these recovering cancer patients would increase road traffic, but now this “road traffic” (and revenue and tax base for the city) will travel to other cities. It isn’t the Planning Commission’s fault, for example, that my pilot project to preserve affordable housing had to be abandoned when the city insisted a change of use from apartments to affordable condos would require an innovative developer pay for street improvements that provide questionable benefits to residents, citizens, and taxpayers. (We even lined up down payment assistance from private sources for the tenants to become owners of their affordable condos.) Yet, a buyer who retains the same property as apartments and then doubles rents over the next few years? They are not required to make these costly changes. How is it possible that the 2021 Senate Bill 458, which allows lot divisions for middle housing, was pre-empted by mostly aesthetic street improvements of questionable value? Why did the “progressive” city single out the one buyer who had a vision for affordable housing? There is no “why.” This loss of naturally-occurring affordable housing was preventable, but I was powerless within the Planning Commission. Many great people in the city staff tried to help, but there are still some in the elected leadership of the city who “talk progressive,” but walk regressive by making Corvallis notoriously anti-development, which means working class folks cannot afford to live here. This is an elitist, privileged and regressive worldview. So, I resigned as a planning commissioner because it was easier for me to do my affordable housing pilot project in Portland than in my own hometown. There is a lack of leadership at the local level. But I also resigned from city politics because change will have to come from the top down. For example, the middle housing initiative at the state level forced municipalities across the entire state to abandon low-density residential zoning policies that were inefficient, unfair and not sustainable. What if our local leaders had a real conversation around housing abundance and affordability rather than doing the bare minimum to comply with state law? Sadly I’ve had to take my pioneering housing idea elsewhere, and I’ve had dozens of clients who have abandoned innovative and progressive projects in Corvallis. Everyone I know professionally has clients who have sadly had to take their ideas — and tax dollars — elsewhere, which ironically makes the progressive goals the city leadership claims to advocate harder to achieve. If you want progressive ideas, we must broaden the tax base and ensure diverse, abundant and affordable housing options. And to do that, “business as usual” must change. Bjorn Beer Bjorn Beer is a resident of Corvallis and a vice president at SVN - Imbrie Realty, specializing in affordable housing across the state. Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!wb777.ph 。

Slate Office REIT (TSE:SOT.UN) Shares Up 53.7% – Here’s What HappenedNew York, NY, Dec. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In an era where customer expectations are higher than ever and the need for quick, accurate information is paramount, Goldmarketer.com has taken a groundbreaking step in transforming the landscape of online financial services. The platform, a long-established leader in digital gold and financial derivatives, has unveiled the world's first 24-hour AI intelligent customer service, setting a new standard for how financial platforms can deliver efficient, personalized support to users worldwide. A Game-Changer for Financial Services Goldmarketer.com, a comprehensive internet-based financial platform, has long been a trusted name in the world of digital gold trading, foreign exchange (forex), cryptocurrency, stocks, ETFs, and other financial instruments. With years of experience and a wide range of advanced products, Goldmarketer has always been at the forefront of integrating cutting-edge technology into its operations. The launch of its 24-hour AI-powered customer service is a major milestone, not just for Goldmarketer but for the entire financial services industry. As digital platforms become increasingly integrated into daily financial management, the need for immediate, precise, and round-the-clock support is growing. Recognizing this shift, Goldmarketer.com has leveraged the power of artificial intelligence to ensure that users have access to real-time assistance, whenever they need it. Why AI-Powered Customer Service? Traditional customer support models in the financial industry, particularly those dealing with complex and diverse products like forex, crypto, and digital gold, often struggle to provide quick responses or address inquiries effectively. This can lead to frustration among users, especially during critical trading moments when every second counts. Goldmarketer.com's AI intelligent customer service is designed to tackle these challenges by using advanced algorithms and machine learning to handle a wide array of customer inquiries, from basic account-related questions to more complex financial transactions. The system can interpret user queries in real-time, offering highly relevant and accurate responses in a fraction of a second. Whether it's assisting with forex trading strategies, providing updates on cryptocurrency prices, or offering guidance on ETF investments, the AI system ensures that users receive precise, helpful support without delay. The Power of 24-Hour Availability In today's fast-paced financial environment, markets operate around the clock. Forex trading and cryptocurrency exchanges, for example, never sleep. For active traders, this means that support needs to be available at any time, regardless of time zone. Goldmarketer.com's AI-powered customer service is a game-changer because it operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Users can access help no matter where they are or what time it is, eliminating the need to wait for human agents to become available. The platform's AI is capable of handling a wide range of common queries automatically, but it also seamlessly escalates more complex issues to human agents when necessary. This hybrid approach ensures that users get both the speed and the personalized attention they need, while still benefiting from the efficiency of AI. How It Works Goldmarketer.com's AI-powered customer service is integrated directly into the platform, accessible via the website, mobile app, and other user interfaces. When users encounter an issue or have a question, they simply type or speak their query into the system. The AI then processes the request using natural language processing (NLP) to understand the intent behind the query, before providing an answer or taking action. In cases where the query requires a more nuanced response or specialized knowledge, the AI will prompt the user to either schedule a call with a human agent or continue the conversation in more detail. The AI system can handle inquiries in multiple languages, ensuring that Goldmarketer's global user base receives support in their native language, enhancing accessibility and user experience. Benefits for Users Instant Support: With AI handling requests around the clock, users no longer need to wait for business hours or deal with long response times. Enhanced Accuracy: Powered by machine learning, the AI continuously improves its ability to understand and address user needs, reducing the chances of human error. Scalable Assistance: Whether there's a spike in user activity or a steady stream of queries, the AI is designed to scale seamlessly, ensuring that every user gets the help they need without delay. Global Reach: The 24-hour availability and multilingual support mean that users across the world-no matter where they are-can receive expert guidance whenever they need it. Personalized Experience: The AI is not just a generic response tool; it's designed to learn from interactions, offering tailored recommendations and personalized insights based on a user's trading habits and preferences. Looking Ahead: The Future of Financial Platforms The integration of AI in customer service is just one of many ways Goldmarketer.com is embracing technological innovation to improve user experience. With the financial industry increasingly turning to automation and AI to streamline processes, Goldmarketer.com is leading the way with its smart customer service system. Looking ahead, the platform plans to expand the capabilities of its AI system to offer even more sophisticated tools for users, from automated trading insights to personalized portfolio management suggestions. By continually evolving its technology, Goldmarketer aims to remain at the forefront of the digital finance revolution. Conclusion Goldmarketer.com's launch of the world's first 24-hour AI intelligent customer service represents a significant step forward in the evolution of online financial platforms. As the demand for instantaneous, accurate, and round-the-clock support grows, this innovative feature positions Goldmarketer as not just a platform for digital gold and financial derivatives, but as a pioneer in the future of customer service in the financial industry. With AI at the helm, users can expect a smoother, more efficient experience-no matter the time of day or night. Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. CONTACT: Jack Levin support at goldmarketer.com

Italy's government has granted citizenship to Argentinian President Javier Milei on account of his Italian family roots, a source with knowledge of the matter said Friday, confirming earlier media reports. Milei is in Rome to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and to take part in her Brothers of Italy party's annual festival Saturday. The source declined to provide further details. The news on Italian media triggered an angry reaction from some politicians and on social media from people protesting at citizenship being given to Milei when it is hard to obtain for the children of migrants born in Italy. Italy's citizenship laws are based on blood ties, meaning that even distant descendants of an Italian national can obtain an Italian passport. Requirements for foreigners born in Italy or who migrate there, on the other hand, are much tougher. Pro-migrant groups have proposed a referendum to ease them, but Meloni's right-wing coalition is against any relaxation. Riccardo Magi, a lawmaker from the small opposition More Europa party, said granting citizenship to Milei was an act of "intolerable discrimination against so many young people who will only get it after many years." During a previous trip to Italy in February, Milei told a TV interview that he felt "75% Italian" since three of his grandparents had Italian origins, and that he has "an incredible passion for Italian Opera." Libertarian Milei and conservative Meloni have established a close relationship. When they met in Buenos Aires last month, the Argentine leader gave his Italian guest a statuette of himself wielding his trademark chainsaw.Manmohan Singh, The Finance Minister Who Rescued India From Economic Collapse: A Look Back

Several Union Ministers, CMs to join world leaders in Davos for WEF meet

Myles Rice scores 18 to lead Indiana to 77-68 victory over WinthropJEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — “My Driver and I” was supposed to be made in 2016, but was scuttled amid Saudi Arabia's decades-long cinema ban. Eight years later, the landscape for film in the kingdom looks much different — and the star of “My Driver and I” now has an award. Roula Dakheelallah was named the winner of the Chopard Emerging Saudi Talent award at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday. The award — and the glitzy festival itself — is a sign of Saudi Arabia's commitment to shaping a new film industry. “My heart is attached to cinema and art; I have always dreamed of a moment like this,” Dakheelallah, who still works a 9-5 job, told The Associated Press before the awards ceremony. “I used to work in voluntary films and help my friends in the field, but this is my first big role in a film.” The reopening of cinemas in 2018 marked a cultural turning point for Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy that had instituted the ban 35 years before, under the influence of ultraconservative religious authorities. It has since invested heavily in a native film industry by building theaters and launching programs to support local filmmakers through grants and training. The Red Sea International Film Festival was launched just a year later, part of an attempt to expand Saudi influence into films, gaming, sports and other cultural fields. Activists have decried the investments as whitewashing the kingdom’s human rights record as it tightly controls speech and remains one of the world’s top executioners. With FIFA awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia this week, Lina al-Hathloul, a Saudi activist with the London-based rights group ALQST, said Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman “has really managed to create this bubble where people only see entertainment and they don’t see the reality on the ground.” These efforts are part of Vision 2030, an ambitious reform plan unveiled in 2016 to ease the economy's dependence on oil. As part of it, Saudi Arabia plans to construct 350 cinemas with over 2,500 movie screens — by this past April, across 22 cities, it already had 66 cinemas showing movies from the local film industry, as well as Hollywood and Bollywood. (The Red Sea International Film Festival attracts a host of talent from the latter industries, with Viola Davis and Priyanka Chopra Jonas also picking up awards Thursday.) The country's General Entertainment Authority last month opened Al Hisn Studios on the outskirts of Riyadh. As one of the largest such production hubs in the Middle East, it not only includes several film studios but also a production village with workshops for carpentry, blacksmithing and fashion tailoring. “These facilities, when they exist, will stimulate filmmakers,” said Saudi actor Mohammed Elshehri. “Today, no writer or director has an excuse to imagine and say, ‘I cannot implement my imagination.’” The facilities are one part of the equation — the content itself is another. One of the major players in transforming Saudi filmmaking has been Telfaz11, a media company founded in 2011 that began as a YouTube channel and quickly became a trailblazer. Producing high-quality digital content such as short films, comedy sketches and series, Telfaz11 offered fresh perspectives on Saudi and regional issues. In 2020, Telfaz11 signed a partnership with Netflix to produce original content for the streaming giant. The result has been movies that demonstrate an evolution on the storytelling level, tackling topics that were once off-limits and sensitive to the public like secret nightlife in “Mandoob” (“Night Courier”) and changing social norms in “Naga.” “I think we tell our stories in a very simple way, and that’s what reaches the world,” Elshehri says of the changing shift. “When you tell your story in a natural way without any affectation, it will reach every person.” But the films were not without their critics, drawing mixed reaction. Social media discoursed ranged from pleasure that Saudi film were tackling such topics to anger over how the films reflected conservative society. As Hana Al-Omair, a Saudi writer and director, points out, there are still many stories left untold. “We certainly have a long time ahead of us before we can tell the Saudi narrative as it should be,” she said, acknowledging that there are still barriers and rampant censorship. “The Goat Life,” a Malayalam-language movie about an Indian man forced to work without pay in Saudi Arabia, is not available on Netflix's platform in the country. Movies that explore political topics or LGBTQ+ stories are essentially out of the question. Even “My Driver and I,” featured at the Red Sea festival alongside 11 other Saudi feature-length films, was initially too controversial. It centers on a Sudanese man in Jeddah, living away from his own daughter, who feels responsible for the girl he drives as her parents are absent. It was initially blocked from being made because of the relationship between the girl and the driver, filmmaker Ahd Kamel has said, even though it's not a romantic relationship. Now in 2024, the film is a success story — a symbol of the Saudi film industry's evolution as well as the growing role of women like Kamel behind the camera and Dakheelallah in front of it. “I see the change in Saudi cinema, a very beautiful change and it is moving at a wonderful speed. In my opinion, we do not need to rush,” Dakheelallah said. “We need to guide the truth of the artistic movement that is happening in Saudi Arabia.” Baraa Anwer, The Associated Press

Robbie Robertson on Jimmy Carter: ‘A Kind, Wonderful Human Being’

Left-hander Max Fried agrees to $218 million, 8-year contract with Yankees, AP source saysDonald Trump vows Republican push to scrap daylight saving time Trump says daylight saving time is inconvenient, and very costly to United States US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday criticised the practice of daylight saving time as "inconvenient and very costly to our nation" and announced that the Republican Party will prioritise efforts to abolish the practice. "The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn't!" Trump said on social media. "Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation." Daylight saving time - putting the clocks forward one hour during the summer half of the year to make the most of the longer evenings - has been in place in nearly all of the United States since the 1960s, but has been a topic of debate in recent years. Some lawmakers want to stay on standard time year-round, more are on record calling for remaining on daylight saving time all year, while others want to keep the status quo. President Joe Biden never took a public position on the issue. In March 2022, the US Senate voted unanimously to make daylight saving time permanent but the effort stalled in the House after lawmakers said they could not reach consensus. A bipartisan group of senators in March made a new push to make daylight saving time permanent. Supporters of remaining on daylight saving time argue it would lead to brighter afternoons and evenings and more economic activity during the winter months. Critics say it would force children to walk to school in darkness, since the measure would delay sunrise by an hour. Proponents of eliminating daylight saving time altogether say the twice-annual changing of clocks causes sleep disturbance and health issues. Congress has not held any new hearings on the issue for more than two years and the Senate would need to take up the issue again. Year-round daylight saving time was used during World War Two and adopted again in 1973 in a bid to reduce energy use because of an oil embargo, but was unpopular and was repealed a year later. Since 2015, about 30 states have introduced or passed legislation to end the twice-yearly changing of clocks, with some states proposing to do it only if neighbouring states do the same. Macron ally Francois Bayrou named new French prime minister Impeaching Yoon will restore order, says South Korea opposition leader US announces strategy to combat hate against Muslims, Arabs Biden grants clemency to nearly 1,500 people, most ever in a dayAP News Summary at 1:39 p.m. EST

Science and Technology Daily: Tech with Heart AI for Good AI with a Human Touch

By Katheryn Houghton and Arielle Zionts, KFF Health News (TNS) Tescha Hawley learned that hospital bills from her son’s birth had been sent to debt collectors only when she checked her credit score while attending a home-buying class. The new mom’s plans to buy a house stalled. Hawley said she didn’t owe those thousands of dollars in debts. The federal government did. Hawley, a citizen of the Gros Ventre Tribe, lives on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. The Indian Health Service is a federal agency that provides free health care to Native Americans, but its services are limited by a chronic shortage of funding and staff. Hawley’s local Indian Health Service hospital wasn’t equipped to deliver babies. But she said staff there agreed that the agency would pay for her care at a privately owned hospital more than an hour away. That arrangement came through the Purchased/Referred Care program, which pays for services Native Americans can’t get through an agency-funded clinic or hospital. Federal law stresses that patients approved for the program aren’t responsible for any of the costs. But tribal leaders, health officials, and a new federal report say patients are routinely billed anyway as a result of backlogs or mistakes from the Indian Health Service, financial middlemen, hospitals, and clinics. The financial consequences for patients can last years. Those sent to collections can face damaged credit scores, which can prevent them from securing loans or require them to pay higher interest rates. The December report , by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, found these long-standing problems contribute to people in Native American-majority communities being nearly twice as likely to have medical debt in collections compared with the national average. And their amount of medical debt is significantly higher. The report found the program is often late to pay bills. In some cases, hospitals or collection agencies hound tribal citizens for more money after bills are paid. Hawley’s son was born in 2003. She had to wait another year to buy a home, as she struggled to pay off the debt. It took seven years for it to drop from her credit report. “I don’t think a person ever recovers from debt,” Hawley said. Hawley, a cancer survivor, still must navigate the referral program. In 2024 alone, she received two notices from clinics about overdue bills. Frank White Clay, chairman of the Crow Tribe in Montana, testified about the impact of wrongful billing during a U.S. House committee hearing in April. He shared stories of veterans rejected for home loans, elders whose Social Security benefits were reduced, and students denied college loans and federal aid. “Some of the most vulnerable people are being harassed daily by debt collectors,” White Clay said. No one is immune from the risk. A high-ranking Indian Health Service official learned during her job’s background check that her credit report contained referred-care debt, the federal report found. Native Americans face disproportionately high rates of poverty and disease , which researchers link to limited access to health care and the ongoing impact of racist federal policies . White Clay is among many who say problems with the referred-care program are an example of the U.S. government violating treaties that promised to provide for the health and welfare of tribes in return for their land. The chairman’s testimony came during a hearing on the Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act, which would require the Indian Health Service to create a reimbursement process for patients who were wrongfully billed. Committee members approved the bill in November and sent it for consideration by the full House. A second federal bill, the Protecting Native Americans’ Credit Act , would prevent debt like Hawley’s from affecting patients’ credit scores. The bipartisan bill hadn’t had a hearing by mid-December. The exact number of people wrongfully billed isn’t clear, but the Indian Health Service has acknowledged it has work to do. The agency is developing a dashboard to help workers track referrals and to speed up bill processing, spokesperson Brendan White said. It’s also trying to hire more referred-care staff, to address vacancy rates of more than 30%. Officials say problems with the program also stem from outside health providers that don’t follow the rules. Melanie Egorin, an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said at the hearing that the proposed legislation doesn’t include consequences for “bad actors” — health facilities that repeatedly bill patients when they shouldn’t. “The lack of enforcement is definitely a challenge,” she said. But tribal leaders warned that penalties could backfire. Related Articles Health | How America lost control of the bird flu, setting the stage for another pandemic Health | How to kick back, relax and embrace a less-than-perfect holiday Health | New childhood leukemia protocol is ‘tremendous win’ Health | For some FSA dollars, it’s use it or lose it at year’s end Health | Norovirus is rampant. Blame oysters, cruise ships and holiday travel White Clay told lawmakers that some clinics already refuse to see patients if the Indian Health Service hasn’t paid for their previous appointments. He’s worried the threat of penalties would lead to more refusals. If that happens, White Clay said, Crow tribal members who already travel hours to access specialty treatment would have to go even farther. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report found clinics are already refusing to see any referred-care patients due to the program’s payment problems. The bureau and the Indian Health Service also recently published a letter urging health care providers and debt collectors not to hold patients accountable for program-approved care. White, the Indian Health Service spokesperson, said the agency recently updated the referred-care forms sent to outside hospitals and clinics to include billing instructions and to stress that patients aren’t liable for any out-of-pocket costs. And he said the staff can help patients get reimbursed if they have already paid for services that were supposed to be covered. Joe Bryant, an Indian Health Service official who oversees efforts to improve the referral program, said patients can ask credit bureaus to remove debt from their reports if the agency should have covered their bills. Leaders with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington state helped shape the proposed legislation after their citizens were repeatedly harmed by wrongful billing. Tribal Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson said problems began in 2017, when a regional Indian Health Service office took over the referred-care program from local staff. It “created a domino effect of negative outcomes,” Erickson wrote in a letter to Congress. He said some tribal members whose finances were damaged stopped using the Indian Health Service. Others avoided health care altogether. Responsibility for the Colville Reservation program transferred back to local staff in 2022. Staffers found the billing process hadn’t been completed for thousands of cases, worth an estimated $24 million in medical care, Erickson told lawmakers . Workers are making progress on the backlog and they have explained the rules to outside hospitals and clinics, Erickson said. But he said there are still cases of wrongful billing, such as a tribal member who was sent to collections after receiving a $17,000 bill for chemotherapy that the agency was supposed to pay for. Erickson said the tribe is in the process of taking over its health care facilities instead of having the Indian Health Service run them. He and others who work in Native American health said tribally managed units — which are still funded by the federal agency — tend to have fewer problems with their referred-care programs. For example, they have more oversight over staff and flexibility to create their own payment tracking systems. But some Native Americans oppose tribal management because they feel it releases the federal government from its obligations. Beyond wrongful billing, access to the referred-care program is limited because of underfunding from Congress. The $1 billion budget this year is $9 billion short of the need, according to a committee report by tribal health and government leaders. Donald Warne, a physician and member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, called the proposed legislation a “band-aid.” He said the ultimate solution is for Congress to fully fund the Indian Health Service, which would reduce the need for the referred-care program. Back in Montana, Hawley said she braces for a fight each time she gets a bill that the referral program was supposed to cover. “I’ve learned not to trust the process,” Hawley said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Stars arrive at the 2024 Royal Variety Performance after Queen pulls out

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a "tragic incident" following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people, but stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible. Putin's apology came as allegations mounted that Russian air defenses shot down the plane while attempting to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya. An official Kremlin statement issued Saturday said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny airport as the airliner "repeatedly" attempted to land there on Wednesday. It did not explicitly say one of these hit the plane. The statement said Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev "for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace." The readout said Russia has launched a criminal probe into the incident, and Azerbaijani state prosecutors have arrived in Grozny to participate. The Kremlin also said that "relevant services" from Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are jointly investigating the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, to Grozny when it turned toward Kazakhstan, hundreds of miles across the Caspian Sea from its intended destination, and crashed while attempting to land. There were 29 survivors. According to a readout of the call provided by Aliyev's press office, the Azerbaijani president told Putin that the plane was subject to "external physical and technical interference," though he also stopped short of blaming Russian air defenses. Aliyev noted the plane had holes in its fuselage and the occupants sustained injuries "due to foreign particles penetrating the cabin mid-flight." He said that a team of international experts began a probe of the incident at Azerbaijan's initiative, but provided no details. Earlier this week, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's office confirmed that investigators from Azerbaijan are working in Grozny. On Friday, a U.S. official and an Azerbaijani minister made separate statements blaming the crash on an external weapon, echoing those made by aviation experts who blamed the crash on Russian air defense systems responding to a Ukrainian attack. U.S. President Joe Biden, responding Saturday to a reporter asking whether he thought Putin should take responsibility for the crash, said: "Apparently he did but I haven't spoken to him." Biden made the comment after leaving church in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Passengers and crew members who survived the crash told Azerbaijani media they heard loud noises on the aircraft as it circled over Grozny. Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia's civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia, said Friday that as the plane was preparing to land in Grozny in deep fog, Ukrainian drones were targeting the city, prompting authorities to close the area to air traffic. Yadrov said after the captain made two unsuccessful attempts to land, he was offered other airports but decided to fly to Aktau. Earlier this past week, Rosaviatsia cited unspecified early evidence as showing that a bird strike led to an emergency on board. In the days following the crash, Azerbaijan Airlines blamed "physical and technical interference" and announced the suspension of flights to several Russian airports. It didn't say where the interference came from or provide any further details. If proven that the plane crashed after being hit by Russian fire, it would be the second deadly civil aviation accident linked to fighting in Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed with a Russian surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people aboard, as it flew over the area in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists in 2014. Russia denied responsibility but a Dutch court in 2022 convicted two Russians and a pro-Russia Ukrainian man for their role in downing the plane with an air defense system brought into Ukraine from a Russian military base. Following Wednesday's suspension of flights from Baku to Grozny and nearby Makhachkala, Azerbaijan Airlines announced Friday that it would also halt service to eight more Russian cities. Several other airlines made similar announcements since the crash. Kazakhstan's Qazaq Air on Friday said it would stop flying from Astana to the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains for a month. Turkmenistan Airlines, the Central Asian country's flagship carrier, on Saturday halted flights to Moscow for at least a month, citing safety concerns. Earlier this past week, Israel's El Al carrier suspended service from Tel Aviv to the Russian capital, citing "developments in Russia's airspace."

Wicked star Ariana Grande has said she and Cynthia Erivo were “insufferable” and “horrible” in the build-up to the film’s release. Grande, 31, also said her co-star was a “brilliant gift of a human being” while being interviewed by Gladiator star Paul Mescal for US news outlet Variety. Mescal told the singer and actor: “I’m watching you guys in the press tour. You’re obviously in love with each other.” To which she replied: “Insufferable. Yes. We’re horrible. It’s bad.” The 7 Rings singer plays Glinda, while her 37-year-old co-star plays Elphaba, in the film which is an adaption of the musical stage show of the same name and is set in The Land Of Oz before the events of The Wizard Of Oz. Their interviews for the film, which have seen the two being emotional towards one another and holding hands, have gone viral on social media. Speaking about Erivo, Grande said: “Cynthia is just an absolute brilliant gift of a human being. I think we tried to keep the pressure out of the room, obviously, as much as possible.” She also said she had not had any read throughs with her co-star before joining the cast. Grande said: “We never chemistry read together, it was three rounds for me, and I read with two different actresses. “I stayed for three and a half hours the final day, and I had cried so much. “We did Popular, Defying Gravity, (and) For Good (songs from the film), and I left my lashes on the mirror, because I left everything else in the room.” The film follows Elphaba, who is misunderstood because of her green skin, as she forges an unlikely friendship with Glinda, a student with a desire for popularity. Bullying of the green-skinned witch saw the movie, which also stars Peter Dinklage, Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey, given a PG rating by the British Board Of Film Classification (BBFC) for “discrimination”.

Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH) Short Interest UpdateThe Stock Market’s Most Unbelievable Rally This year, Palantir Technologies has captured the attention of investors with its meteoric rise, seeing its stock skyrocket by 360%. While this surge in value might seem like a golden opportunity, some experts warn it bears eerie similarities to another high-profile spike — Microsoft in the late 1990s. Riding the AI Wave Palantir has been riding a strong wave of enthusiasm due to its advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly its AI platform geared at both governmental and private sectors. Despite these promising developments, concerns are rising that its stock price has surged ahead of its fundamentals. This scenario reminds market insiders of Microsoft’s situation over two decades ago. A Look Back — Microsoft’s Lesson In the late 90s, Microsoft was a star in the stock market, primarily due to the phenomenal success of its Windows operating system. The company’s shares experienced an unprecedented run, leading to inflated valuations. At the peak of this frenzy, investors were paying a staggering 31 times the company’s revenue — a risky move that eventually resulted in a brutal collapse. Is History Repeating Itself? Fast forward to today, Palantir’s valuation metrics rival those of Microsoft in its heyday. With a market cap of $187 billion and revenues around $2.8 billion, Palantir’s numbers raise eyebrows. The excitement around AI might remind investors of past bubbles fueled by unchecked optimism. A Cautionary Tale Investors should heed the past. Much like Microsoft’s valuation took years to recover, Palantir’s soaring market performance might not guarantee steady returns. Although timing the market is nearly impossible, the lesson remains that extreme valuations often precede a fall. As euphoria dims, Palantir’s true value will eventually become clear. Is Palantir the Next Big Tech Bubble? In recent months, Palantir Technologies has been the topic of extensive discussion among investors, mainly due to its astounding 360% stock increase this year. This article delves deeper into the elements influencing this surge and draws parallels with historical stock market trends, especially focusing on Microsoft’s trajectory in the late 1990s. AI Innovations Fueling Growth Palantir has become synonymous with cutting-edge advancements in artificial intelligence. Its AI platform has gained significant traction among both government and private sector clients, setting the company apart in the tech sector. Enthusiasm for AI innovations substantially contributes to its skyrocketing stock value. However, some financial analysts warn against overlooking the company’s fundamentals, suggesting that Palantir’s current valuation may be an overestimation reminiscent of past market bubbles. Similarities to Microsoft’s Late 90s Surge Microsoft’s rise during the late 1990s, driven by the success of its Windows operating system, offers a cautionary precedent. Back then, Microsoft’s shares soared, resulting in seemingly irrational valuations based on investor mania rather than core financial performance. At one point, Microsoft’s stock traded at 31 times its revenue, which eventually led to a market correction. The comparisons with Palantir are becoming more pertinent as the company experiences similar hype around AI. Financial Metrics Under Scrutiny Examining Palantir’s financial indicators provides further context. With a staggering market cap of $187 billion and revenues of merely $2.8 billion, its valuation metrics are indeed under scrutiny. These figures prompt concerns among market insiders who view them through the lens of historical tech surges and subsequent collapses. The current optimism around AI echoes the same unchecked exuberance that has led to previous bubbles. Considering the Risks For potential investors, the story of Palantir serves as a reminder of inherent risks in stock market investments driven by high expectations and visionary innovation. Learning from Microsoft’s experience, it’s essential for investors to remain vigilant and consider the company’s intrinsic value rather than be swayed solely by market hype. Although predicting market movements with accuracy remains a challenge, paying attention to long-term fundamentals is prudent. Future Outlook and Predictions Whether Palantir follows Microsoft’s path of rapid ascension followed by correction remains open to speculation. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, the real test will be whether Palantir can substantiate its valuation with sustained revenue growth and comprehensive AI solutions. Investors and market watchers should keep an eye on updates in the AI domain and related market trends. Palantir’s journey forward carries profound implications for the stock market. As we analyze ongoing trends, it’s crucial to balance optimism in AI with careful financial evaluations. For the latest on tech industry advancements, check out Palantir’s official site .

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