Synchrony Financial stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors
NoneThe success of the gig economy hinges on its underlying digital ecosystem, particularly APIs, which power real-time services like Uber and Fiverr . But APIs are vulnerable to misuse, with advanced threats such as scraping , account takeovers and fraud intensified by generative artificial intelligence , TechNative reported . Platforms face a variety of risks, including data theft, payment manipulation and business logic abuse. To combat these threats, businesses must implement API security strategies that detect and block AI-driven attacks, ensuring the integrity and trust of their platforms as the gig economy continues to grow. Gig Economy Growth and the Rising Need for Fraud Prevention The value of the gig economy is $556.7 billion, and that is expected to more than triple by 2032 to $1.847 trillion. As this sector grows, so does the need for fraud prevention. Prove Identity CEO Rodger Desai proposed using trust networks like those in the financial and telecom industries to combat fraud in the gig economy. A key solution involves phone-based verification systems, which would link identity tokens to users’ phone numbers while preserving anonymity. This system would increase trust by offering flexible verification and data-sharing options. “The challenge is that anyone can join these platforms ... therefore, the bad folks do as well,” Desai told PYMNTS in September. “Networks like Visa and Mastercard have done a great job of creating a circle of trust,” he added. “You and I can jump on a plane and go to Thailand and have lunch somewhere, and that merchant will know they’ll get paid in their currency ... in the same way, you can go anywhere in the world and make a phone call. The question is: ‘How do you apply that to the gig economy?’” AI Scraping Threats and Enhanced Digital Protections Ride-hailing platforms rely on APIs to match drivers with passengers in real time , the TechNative report said. Attackers can use AI to simulate fake customer requests, overwhelming the platform with bot-driven traffic and causing service disruptions Just as Visa and Mastercard create a seamless global transaction experience, companies now need secure systems to protect their digital content from automated extraction. As AI companies increase their web scraping efforts, businesses face growing challenges in protecting their online content. Web infrastructure company Cloudflare introduced a new tool designed to block unauthorized data scraping, potentially disrupting AI training processes that rely on massive amounts of web data. The tool uses advanced machine learning and behavioral analysis to distinguish between legitimate traffic and AI bots, offering a more targeted defense. Companies that generate content want to protect their intellectual property to maintain revenue streams. “When their information is scraped , especially in near real time, it can be summarized and posted by an AI over which they have no control, which in turn deprives the content creator of getting its own clicks — and the attendant revenue,” HP Newquist , executive director of The Relayer Group and author of “The Brain Makers,” told PYMNTS in July. While Cloudflare’s tool shows promise, the battle against web scraping remains complex and ongoing. Experts warn that AI companies may find ways to circumvent these protections, and new countermeasures are already emerging. To protect their digital assets, businesses are adopting multilayered strategies, such as using CAPTCHAs, rate limiting and altering website code. Despite these efforts, the conflict between content protectors and data scrapers is likely to continue, with implications for AI model development and the future of online content. Multilayered Defense Strategies Against Scraping Gig economy platforms need to implement more advanced security strategies, the TechNative report said. Real-time monitoring of API traffic and machine learning-powered behavioral analytics can help identify abnormal patterns that signal malicious activity. Effective strategies also include periodically altering HTML and CSS code to disrupt automated scraping tools, filtering user agents to block known bots, and setting up honeytrap pages to lure and identify malicious scrapers. “By restricting the rate at which requests can be made, you can reduce the impact of scraping bots that attempt to harvest large amounts of data quickly,” Ross Kernez , director of SEO at Mavis Tire , told PYMNTS in July. The growing need for enhanced digital protections extends beyond content scraping. As Desai said, trust and safety solutions are vital in the gig economy, particularly with the rise of AI-generated content and deepfakes. Ensuring the authenticity of users and content is essential to combatting fraud. “Over time, you’re probably only going to trust things that have been signed and verified,” Desai said. For all PYMNTS AI coverage, subscribe to the daily AI Newsletter .Join this golf club and you’ll get 7 ‘home’ courses across the US
California Pro-Migration Groups Request $15 Million Ahead of Trump Deportation PlansReform UK membership surpasses Tories, party saysThe Beechcraft Denali (Model 220) is a single-engine turboprop aircraft designed and developed by Textron Aviation. Launched at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015, the clean-sheet design is currently undergoing flight tests for regulatory certification. The aircraft performed its first flight in November 2021, and the two units produced have since been involved in the certification test campaign. Textron Aviation received the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Type Inspection Authorization earlier this year and anticipates the FAA certification in 2025. Designed to carry up to nine passengers, the aircraft will fly a range of approximately 1,600 NM at cruise speeds of 285 knots. The Beechcraft Denali Crew: 1-2 Capacity: 7-9 passengers/1,100 lb (500 kg) full fuel payload Length: 48 ft 9 in (14.86 m) Wingspan: 54 ft 3 in (16.54 m) Height: 15 ft 2 in (4.62 m) Cabin height: 58 in (150 cm) Cabin width: 63 in (160 cm) Cabin length: 16 ft 9 in (5.11 m) Powerplant: 1 × General Electric Catalyst Turboprop, 1,300 hp (970 kW) Propellers: 5-bladed McCauley, 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) diameter composite, fully feathering and reversible Cruise speed: 328 mph (528 km/h, 285 kn) maximum Range: 1,800 mi (3,000 km, 1,600 NM) 1 pilot, four passengers, high-speed cruise Service ceiling: 31,000 ft (9,400 m) Takeoff distance: 2,950 ft (900 m) Avionics: Garmin G3000 After the Beechcraft Denali’s announcement in 2015, GE Aerospace announced that the GE Catalyst turboprop engine will power the aircraft. In the early years of development, the type was named Cessna Denali. The aircraft is designed to compete with the nine-passenger Pilatus PC-12 as well as relatively smaller single-engine turboprops, including Daher TBM, Piper M700 Fury, and the Epic E1000. In 2017, Textron Aviation began building static and fatigue test articles, allowing a comprehensive review of the new design. The company targeted the maiden flight of the first prototype in the third quarter of 2018 and certification by mid-2019. The Beechcraft Denali is the latest Textron Aviation product that is currently in development. The Wichita, Kansas-based company hopes to certify this single-engine turboprop aircraft in 2025, next year. This aircraft is expected to reach a cruise speed of 285 knots (328 miles per hour) and a range of 1,600 nautical miles (1,800 miles). It also features a large cabin and a new, efficient turboprop engine built by General Electric.However, many aviation enthusiasts compare this aircraft to other existing single-engine turboprop aircraft, such as the Pilatus PC-12, which is one of the most flown general aviation aircraft in recent years, the Piper M-Class, or the TBM 900. These aircraft may have longer ranges, with the Piper M700 Fury reaching a higher cruise speed as well. The Denali also comes with a more expensive price tag. How do you think the Beechcraft Denali will fare in the single-engine turboprop market? Following numerous delays in the program, Textron Aviation began the assembly of the first prototype in February 2018. Despite the type’s first flight scheduled before the end of the year, delays to the GE Catalyst engine resulted in further shift of the maiden flight. On November 23, 2021, Beechcraft Denali performed its first flight, taking off from Textron Aviation’s facility in Wichita, Kansas. The design The Beechcraft Denali is a single-engine aircraft designed for superior jet-like performance with the simplicity and economics of a turboprop. The low-wing aircraft features a straight wing with metal bonding, making it more resistant to fuel leaks and minimizing maintenance. The fuselage features eight rounded windows (four on each side), adding to the comfort of its passengers. The spacious cabin features a flat floor and a wide cargo door that is larger than the Pilatus PC-12s door. According to Textron Aviation , “The Beechcraft® Denali® turboprop is a breath of fresh air; it's a brand-new, high-performance, single-engine turboprop that changes everything. Designed with more performance, more versatility, lower operating costs, smarter cabin space and a superior service network, the Beechcraft® Denali® turboprop is the culmination of 90 years of innovation.“ The cabin altitude at 31,000 ft (9,500 m) is set to just over 6,000 ft (1,850 m), making the ride truly comfortable with lower stress levels and jet lag. The aircraft's interior could include six executive seats with a refreshment bar or a nine-seat commuter configuration. The luxurious cabin is designed to give it a jet-like feeling, exceeding the customers' needs. The powerplant Digital FADEC: With more than 900 million hours of FADEC experience, the manufacturer introduces a highly simplified jet-like experience with the Catalyst engine. The powerplant, combined with Beechcraft Denali, will offer high performance and cost savings for customers. Advanced manufacturing: Additive technology and manufacturing with the use of advanced materials will result in high performance, efficiency, and durability. Innovation : From multi-stage single-crystal turbine blades to efficient cooling methodologies, the engine delivers superior efficiency, low emissions, and improved performance. Dispatch reliability: GE Aerospace built the GE Catalyst engine to meet the latest certification standards and to provide outstanding dispatch reliability to customers worldwide. Irrespective of the application, the engines are bound to exceed expectations. The aircraft is powered by a single GE Catalyst Turboprop, generating 1,300 shaft horsepower (970 kW) at takeoff. The fully feathering and reversible five-bladed propellers are constructed with composite materials. The engine features dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) technology, allowing greater redundancy and reliability. Beechcraft hopes to certify this aircraft in 2025. All critical components and systems of the engine function with two channels: an active channel and a standby channel. The two channels alternate at each startup, ensuring a balanced activity across the system. If a critical component on the active channel malfunctions, the data is transferred from the standby channel through the cross-link. If a critical system malfunctions, the channels automatically switch, and the standby (healthier) channel completely takes over. According to Textron Aviation, “The GE® Aerospace® Catalyst® powerplant features a dual channel FADEC and propeller control which provides easy jet-like power control in the flight deck as well as unrivaled operating efficiencies and engine protection.” Two additional prototypes were completed for the flight test campaign. By May 2023, the prototypes had completed over 500 flights, accumulating roughly 1,300 flight hours. The aircraft certification delays were furthered due to the delays in the GE catalyst engine. In May 2024, Textron Aviation reported that the test turboprop aircraft had surpassed several major milestones toward certification. The company builds many private jet models. The test campaign and certification milestones The Beechcraft Denali is undergoing a comprehensive flight test and certification campaign. The manufacturer is testing the aircraft’s strength, capability, and durability through the program. With the recent completion of the ground and flight testing of the avionics systems, the campaign is one step closer in achieving its certification target. After more than 830 flights, the three test aircraft have achieved nearly 2,000 flight test hours. According to the Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Flight Operations, Lannie O’Banniom, “The Denali’s advanced avionics take full advantage of state-of-the-art technology to ease pilot workload. Commencing certification flight testing on the aircraft marks a significant milestone for the program, and we are excited to get this aircraft into the hands of our eager customers.” The cockpit design The Beechcraft Denali turboprop's flight deck features the Garmin® G3000® touchscreen controls and optional wireless connectivity, enhancing the aircraft's safety and performance. The Garmin integrated autothrottle, and the Garmin® Emergency Autoland systems give pilots peace of mind during emergencies. Three 14" Widescreen LCD Displays Garmin® Emergency Autoland Garmin® Integrated Autothrottle Synthetic Vision Technology Two Touchscreen Control Panels Dual Garmin® FMS with Dual WAAS-enabled GPS Receivers for Navigation Weather Avoidance Radar Terrain Avoidance Warning System (TAWS-B) Garmin® Traffic Collision and Avoidance System (TCAS I) Dual Attitude Heading Reference System Dual Air Data Computers Digital Audio System According to Textron Aviation , "The cockpit features the Garmin G3000 intuitive avionics suite with high-resolution screens and touchscreen controllers. An integrated Garmin autothrottle interfaces with the Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) and Flight Management System (FMS) to provide easy speed control throughout all regimes of flight from takeoff to touchdown. The revolutionary Garmin Emergency Autoland system is also being implemented into the aircraft’s development and flight test program, and will be available as a standard feature at time of entry into service." Why Beechcraft decided to cancel the plans for the Beechcraft 34 Twin Quad, it's history and its implications for aviationScott Turner, President-elect Donald Trump choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development , is a former NFL player who ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term. Turner, 52, is the first Black person selected to be a member of the Republican's incoming cabinet. Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 Here are some things to know about Turner: From professional football to politics Turner grew up in a Dallas suburb, Richardson, and graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He was a defensive back and spent nine seasons in the NFL beginning in 1995, playing for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos. During offseasons, he worked as an intern then-Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. After Turner retired in 2004, he worked full time for the congressman. In 2006, Turner ran unsuccessfully as a Republican in California’s 50th Congressional District. Turner joined the Texas House in 2013 as part of a large crop of tea party-supported lawmakers. He tried unsuccessfully to become speaker before he finished his second term in 2016. He did not seek a third term. Motivational speaker and pastor Turner also worked for a software company in a position called “chief inspiration officer” and said he acted as a professional mentor, pastor, and councilor for the employees and executive team. He has also been a motivational speaker. He and his wife, Robin Turner, founded a nonprofit promoting initiatives to improve childhood literacy. His church, Prestonwood Baptist Church, lists him as an associate pastor. He is also chair of the center for education opportunity at America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers to lay the groundwork if he won a second term. Headed council in Trump's first term Trump introduced Turner in April 2019 as the head of the new White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Trump credited Turner with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” The mission of the council was to coordinate with various federal agencies to attract investment to so-called “Opportunity Zones," which were economically depressed areas eligible to be used for the federal tax incentives. The role of HUD HUD is responsible for addressing the nation’s housing needs. It also is charged with fair housing laws and oversees housing for the poorest Americans, sheltering more than 4.3 million low-income families through public housing, rental subsidy and voucher programs. The agency, with a budget of tens of billions of dollars, runs a multitude of programs that do everything from reducing homelessness to promoting homeownership. It also funds the construction of affordable housing and provides vouchers that allow low income families pay for housing in the private market. During the campaign, Trump focused mostly on the prices of housing, not public housing. He railed against the high cost of housing and said he could make it more affordable by cracking down on illegal immigration and reducing inflation. He also said he would work to reduce regulations on home construction and make some federal land available for residential construction.
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Arnab Neil Sengupta For years, the intertwined issues of climate change and decarbonization seemed sacrosanct, almost immune to scrutiny. Scientists, economists, and policymakers often toed the line, wary of being labeled climate skeptics. But the intensifying debate over the global bill for decarbonization — whether its distant benefits justify the staggering immediate costs — is a welcome reckoning. The complexity of the debate, reflecting economic, technological, environmental and equity concerns, is only now beginning to dawn on the world. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s remark that “Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe’s problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problems,” made in 2022 in the context of the Ukraine war, resonates strongly here. Climate change may be a politically popular issue in progressive cities and regions of Europe and the US, but it cannot dictate the priorities of the entire planet, especially when the projected global costs range from $3 trillion to $12 trillion annually. The US, of course, is poised for a dramatic policy shift. Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Chris Wright, a fossil fuel advocate, as energy secretary signals a pivot toward hydrocarbon exploration and production, potentially disrupting global climate agreements and inspiring other nations to challenge the conventional wisdom. “Climate activists, for the most part, do not dispute the hair-raising price tag; they simply consider the expense worthwhile when weighed against the catastrophic damage unchecked climate change is likely to inflict,” The Economist says in its latest issue in an article titled, “The energy transition will be much cheaper than you think.” But the jury is still out on whether the cost of decarbonizing the world economy is too high compared with the potential long-term savings and broader societal benefits. The Paris Agreement’s twin goals — limiting warming to “well below” 2°C and striving for 1.5°C by the end of this century — were adopted with laudable intent. Yet, the risk-reward calculus underpinning these targets looks tenuous when one considers the fact that economic modelers have a poor record of predicting technological advances. Critics and even advocates of decarbonization increasingly acknowledge the colossal upfront investments required, the risks to economic stability, and the disproportionate burdens placed on developing nations. The world’s reliance on fossil fuels is undeniable, with coal, oil, and gas responsible for over 75 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UN. Shifting from these energy sources to renewables is critical, but fraught with challenges. Wealthier nations may have the resources for a smooth transition, but the Global South lacks the means to achieve this without substantial financial assistance — assistance that many developed countries are reluctant to provide amid concerns over governance and corruption in aid-receiving nations. Moreover, breakthroughs in technology that are essential for decarbonizing heavy industry and aviation remain uncertain, even though these sectors face significant challenges in transitioning to clean energy. Whether such breakthroughs will materialize soon enough is an open question. While urban transportation worldwide may gradually embrace electric or hybrid solutions, innovations such as green hydrogen for energy-intensive sectors are still in their infancy. Renewable energy sources do promise energy security by reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports, yet this is not universally applicable. Not all nations enjoy abundant solar or wind resources, and nuclear energy — once heralded as a solution — has grown less competitive due to rising costs. Still, proponents highlight declining costs of renewables and the job-creation potential in green energy sectors as compelling incentives for decarbonization. In public health terms, transitioning to cleaner energy offers clear benefits. Northern India’s annual smog crisis, a health catastrophe exacerbated by vehicle emissions and the burning of crop stubble, underscores the urgency of clean energy adoption. Studies from institutions such as Oxford University project long-term economic savings from accelerated decarbonization. But skeptics counter that these savings hinge on speculative technological advances and policy consistency. What is certain is that rapid decarbonization raises risks to economic stability and job losses in traditional energy sectors, which are, in fact, capable of meeting the energy needs of the planet without requiring trillions of dollars of additional investments every year. Saudi Arabia has championed a pragmatic approach, as articulated by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at a recent G20 session in Rio de Janeiro. He emphasized equitable and inclusive transitions, highlighting the Kingdom’s investments in technologies that have lowered emissions intensity in oil and gas operations. Saudi Arabia’s example shows that balancing environmental goals with economic and developmental priorities is possible. In the final analysis, the decarbonization debate cannot be reduced to binary positions. It is less about whether the world should transition and more about how to achieve it equitably, pragmatically, and sustainably. Revisiting the costs and methods is not a rejection of climate action, but an overdue acknowledgment of its complexity. The true challenge lies in ensuring that this moment of introspection leads to a consensus that, instead of raising ambitions, aligns ambition with affordability, leaving no country behind in the pursuit of a livable planet. Courtesy: arabnewsThe month of November has seen major announcements from Spotify in the podcasting space. In mid-November Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek spoke at the Spotify campus in Los Angeles about initiatives for uninterrupted video podcasts, audience-driven payments, and the new Spotify for Creators platform. “We can provide an experience for your audience that is superior to any platform. And by giving you, the creators, another path to monetisation beyond ads, we’re freeing you up to spend more time doing what you love: creating,” said Ek. Creators are taking notice of the changes. Why? Spotify is one of the largest platforms in the world for creators, with more than 640 million users and more than 250 million subscribers. Video consumption is rapidly growing on Spotify. To find out a little more about the changes on the platform, Mediaweek spoke with Prithi Dey, podcast lead AUNZ at Spotify. Dey explained the platform is no stranger to video content. “We’re seeing a lot of engagement with video content on Spotify. We’ve had video podcasts since 2019.” “For audio-only podcasters, they are being an opportunity to grow via Spotify.” There’s good reason to consider adding video to audio-only content. More than 250 million users have watched a video podcast on Spotify, and nearly two-thirds of podcast listeners say they prefer podcasts with video. There are now more than 300,000 video podcast shows on Spotify Dey: “Our focus is really trying to give creators from all different backgrounds the opportunity to grow their audience, monetise their content and give them the tools they need to be able to engage with their audiences.” With no option for audio creators to offer subscriptions to podcasts on Spotify, their monetisation options were restricted. Now with the ability to share Spotify subscription revenue with creators, it provides a new revenue stream. “The reason we’re doing that is to basically have a creative, better user experience for the audience because they get an uninterrupted experience of being able to view video podcasts on Spotify,” said Dey. “We’re able to do this because we are going to be paying the video podcast creators the premium revenue from subscribers. “ It will also help video creators, like traditional YouTubers for example, decide if they want to bring their video content to Spotify because they will essentially have three revenue streams that they could leverage from the 2nd of January, 2025.” Prithi Dey “Spotify for Podcasters has been rebranded to Spotify for Creators,” explained Dey. “It’s an easy-to-use platform and the whole purpose of rebranding is to create a holistic ecosystem that is easy to use. It’s free to use, and those thinking about bringing their content onto Spotify can easily upload content through Spotify for Creators. “They can easily look at their analytics, they can easily distribute to all other platforms, and our job really is to support them on that process. We’re having multiple with creators and partners from all different places about how they can actually bring their video podcast onto Spotify and how to use Spotify for Creators. “We try to make it as easy for them as possible. We also have a help section on Spotify for Creators, which is easy to use and comprehensive. I often direct a lot of new creators there and all their questions are usually answered, and it’s a really easy process if they have that content.” Spotify has reacted to what its audience wants, explained Dey. “In 2021, 43% of podcast listeners said they prefer video podcasts. In 2024, just three years later, that number’s grown to 64%. We are seeing increased interest from audiences coming to Spotify to watch video content. “ In Australia, the number of podcast listeners engaging with video podcasts has surged around 25% year over year. This is why we are investing in this space a lot more.” See also: Every Thursday in Mediaweek’s Podcast Week When asked about what rates for Spotify users, Dey said: “ I don’t think there’ll be any major surprises if I say true crime is always popular. Entertainment in general, sport and comedy, too are the categories that we always see doing well. Given that we’ve got quite a young audience, entertainment skews towards younger demographics and sport is always really popular. “Long-form content is where we are going and what we’re encouraging creators to upload. When I say long form, we’re thinking 15 to 30 minutes. That’s something the audience can be consuming when commuting or maybe walking.” There is another initiative aimed at helping grow podcast audiences – podcast clips. These are basically short-form teasers that can be uploaded by creators. The purpose of the clips is to drive awareness to the long-form content.” For podcasters who have “baked-in ads”, including host reads, nothing changes. “That will not be impacted,” advised Dey. “If the podcaster or the video creator has those baked in ads, mayb sponsorships that they set up and manage directly. Those host reads and sponsorships will stay in the podcast or the video podcast. “Even if you’re a premium user and you don’t get those third party dynamic ads, the host reads will still be there. The creator gets a hundred percent of that revenue.” While Dey listens and watched a wide range of content for her work, she has a few regulars she doesn’t miss. “I’m watching more content now than I did previously because it’s actually a really good user experience when I can watch and listen to a podcast. It is easy to toggle between the two. “I recently started watching a new show called Swag on the Beat . They’re comedians, with a massive social following. They just launched a couple of weeks ago. “Also Relatables with Jake and Ottie, that’s a video show as well. So those are two local shows. In terms of audio podcasts, I like to listen to a lot of current affairs and I listen to the news. “I listen to Guardian podcasts and The Daily Aus . I love a good documentary series too. See also: Spotify’s Now Playing event: Uninterrupted Video Podcasts to roll out first in Australia Uninterrupted Video Podcasts: Beginning in January, Spotify Premium subscribers in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada can watch their favourite podcasts uninterrupted by dynamic ads. Spotify Partner Program: Beginning in January, this new program will give eligible creators access to a new monetisation system. The Spotify Partner Program has two components: Premium Video Revenue and Ads. With new Premium Video Revenue, creators in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia can earn revenue based on video consumption from Spotify Premium subscribers beginning in January. With Ads, enrolled creators earn a share of revenue every time a dynamic ad monetised by Spotify plays in their episodes both on and off Spotify. Eligible creators can apply today and learn more at creators.spotify.com Spotify for Creators: Spotify for Podcasters, Spotify’s free, all-in-one podcast hosting and analytics platform, is evolving to Spotify for Creators to serve the needs of multiformat creators with a more expansive and streamlined platform. The platform features a new mobile app experience, robust analytics, a suite of new monetisation options, tools to customise shows’ presence on Spotify, creator-fan interactivity features, and turnkey audio and video distribution. Podcast Clips: Eligible creators will also have the ability to upload short-form, vertical Podcast clips to promote their episodes, and select a custom thumbnail to represent their content on Spotify. Seamless Streaming: We’re delivering the best viewing experience for audiences by making it easy for fans to stream their favourite video content in the foreground or background without disrupting the experience – whether they are using Spotify Premium or Free. We’re giving fans more content they love and a best-in-class UX so they can easily switch between watching or listening. • More than 170m users have consumed a podcast on Spotify, up from 10m in 2019. • There are now more than 300,000 video podcast shows on Spotify. • More than 250M users have streamed a video podcast on Spotify (based on users who streamed video in background or foreground). • More than 70% of users consuming video podcasts watch them in the foreground. • On Spotify, more than 1 in 3 US podcast MAU engage with video, while more than 1 in 4 global podcast MAU engage with video. Video Podcast MAU globally has grown by 60% year on year. • Premium users listen more than twice as much as Ad-supported users. • In 2021, 43% of podcast listeners said they preferred video podcasts, and in 2024, that number has grown to more than 64%. • In 2020, average users were spending 30 hours a month on Spotify. Today it’s closer to 40. And younger subscribers are spending around 60 hours each month on Spotify. • The share of podcasts from Australian creators that publish video has grown by more than 60% YoY. • Video podcast consumption hours in Australia are up 11% YoY. • Video podcast monthly listeners in Australia are up more than 40% YoY. • The share of podcast listeners in Australia who watch video podcasts is up almost 25% YoY. • Australia is the top podcast market in APAC for Spotify (by consumption hours). • Podcast listeners in Australia are up 13% YoY. • Podcast consumption hours for local shows in Australia are up 8% YoY. • Politics & Current Events, Horror, Paranormal & Conspiracy Theories, Business & Technology are the fastest-growing podcast categories on Spotify in Australia.Valparaiso 87, N. Illinois 82
OneStream Announces Full Exercise of Underwriters' Option to Purchase Additional Shares in Secondary Offering of Class A Common Stock
Preparationshave been made for the treatment and examination of the plane crashvictims brought to Baku, the Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of HealthIlgar Gasimov told journalists, reports. He noted that seven individuals injured in the plane crash weretransported to Baku today. "Later in the day, the arrival of a second plane is alsoexpected, carrying another seven people who will be hospitalized.We are prepared for their examination and treatment. Among thosetransported, there are individuals whose health condition isassessed as moderate. Three people in critical condition remain inAktau, as their evacuation was deemed inadvisable. All thosebrought to Baku will be admitted to Yeni Klinika," said the DeputyMinister. Today, seven Azerbaijani citizens injured in the crash of anEmbraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, performingflight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, near the city of Aktau, havebeen transported to the country. A special aircraft from the Ministry of Emergency Situations,which brought the injured, landed at Heydar Aliyev InternationalAirport in Baku. The injured citizens were accompanied on board by a specializedmedical team. The tragedy occurred on December 25, when an Embraer 190 planeoperated by AZAL, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed just 3kilometers from Aktau Airport. The Embraer 190 was carrying 67 people, including 62 passengersand five crew members. In the aftermath of the crash, 27 people were hospitalized. Amongthem, 15 are citizens of Azerbaijan, eight are from Russia, andthree are from Kyrgyzstan. The identity of one individual remainsunknown. The crash claimed the lives of both pilots and a flightattendant. Two other crew members survived. December 26 has been declared a day of mourning inAzerbaijan.Michael Croley | (TNS) Bloomberg News In the old days of 2016, when golfers visited the Dormie Club in West End, North Carolina — 15 minutes from the hotbed of American golf, Pinehurst — they were greeted by a small, single-wide trailer and a rugged pine straw parking lot. That trailer is now long gone. A gate has been installed at the club’s entrance and a long driveway leads to a grand turnaround that sweeps you past a new modern clubhouse that’s all right angles, with floor-to-ceiling glass. Seconds after you exit your car, valets are zipping up in golf carts, taking your name, then your bags, handing you keys to your own golf cart, and then zipping off to drop your luggage in the four-bedroom cottage where you’ll stay. A short walk past an expansive putting green you’ll find the pro shop — and then you’ll see the club’s most elegant feature: its golf course. The changes have all come about because Dormie Club was acquired in 2017 by the Dormie Network, a national group that owns seven private golf facilities from Nebraska to New Jersey. (“Dormie” is a word for being ahead in golf — the names were coincidences.) A key to the network’s success has been its ability to find clubs ripe for acquisition, with outstanding golf courses and existing on-site lodging or the room to build it, says Zach Peed, president of the company and its driving force. After investing in Arbor Links Golf Club in Nebraska City, Nebraska, in late 2015, Peed believed he saw an opening in the golf market: a new model of hospitality for traveling professionals who wanted a pure golf experience that eschewed the pools and pickleball courts of their home clubs. His clubs would become dream golf-only getaways for avid players and their pals. “Dormie Network’s concept was sparked by having played competitive golf in college, combined with an element of experiencing and understanding hospitality,” says Peed. “It made sense to blend the two to create golf trips that had more value than just playing golf. We want genuine hospitality to help create unforgettable memories and new friendships.” Part of that formula has been in the lodging strategy; in North Carolina, 15 four-bedroom cottages now are a short golf cart ride from the main clubhouse. In each, golfers all have their own king-size bed and en suite bathroom. A large common room is dominated by a flatscreen television along with a well-stocked bar and snacks. That ability to be both social, or tucked away in your room, extends to the expansive new clubhouse, where a high-ceilinged bar area with blond wood creates an inviting space for dining and drinking, and several hideaway rooms allow for more private diners with just your group. So far, their commitment to hospitality has been helping them expand in both membership and club usage in the increasingly competitive market for traveling golfers. Major players such as Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst Resort, and the Cabot Collection have created — or renovated — a new paradigm where golfers get dining and lodging that’s as showcase-worthy as the courses they play. Comfortable sheets and options beyond pub food aren’t luxuries anymore, but staples for many group trips. Dormie has answered that call by focusing on both the big details and the small ones, like having the dew wiped off each golf cart at dawn outside guest cottages before the day begins or having a tray of cocktails delivered to golfers as their final putt falls on the 18th green. These touches may seem over-the-top, but they stand out in a world where golf travel is increasingly popular — and expensive — after the pandemic lockdowns. Since 2020 there has been an explosion in participation in the sport, with new golfers picking up the game and avid golfers playing more: According to the National Golf Foundation, a record 531 million rounds were played in 2023, surpassing the high of 529 million set in 2021. Supreme Golf, a public golf booking website, reports in its latest analysis that the average cost of a tee time has increased to $49 in 2024 from $38 in 2019, a 30% increase. Those cost increases are also on par (pun intended) with the costs of private clubs and initiation fees during that same period, where membership rosters that were dwindling pre-COVID now have waitlists 50 to 60 people deep, according to Jason Becker, co-founder and chief executive officer of Golf Life Navigators, which matches homebuyers with golf course communities. “There’s been an absolute run on private golf. If we use southwest Florida as an example, where there are 158 golf communities, this time last November, only five had memberships available,” he said. That inability to find a club close to home has pushed avid golfers to look farther afield, choosing national memberships at clubs that require traveling, usually via plane, to play. Dormie has capitalized on this growing segment, offering two types of memberships: First, a national membership, where members pay an initiation fee and monthly dues just as they would at a local club, but instead of one club they have access to seven. The second option is a signature membership for companies, “which allows businesses to use our properties for entertainment needs and requires a multiyear commitment,” Peed says. The network also offers a limited number of regional memberships for those living within a certain distance of one of its clubs. Dormie Network declined to provide the cost of memberships or monthly dues and wouldn’t give membership numbers, but the clubs are structured to lodge roughly 60 golfers, max, on-site at any given property at any time. The total number of beds across the network’s portfolio of properties has increased from 84 in 2019 to 432 today. It saw a jump from 10,000 room nights in 2019 to 48,000 in 2023. This September, Dormie opened GrayBull in Maxwell, in Nebraska’s, Sandhills region. Dormie Network tabbed David McLay Kidd to build the course, who also built the original course at Oregon’s famed Bandon Dunes. Kidd says of the property GrayBull sits on, “It’s like the Goldilocks thing: not too flat, not too steep. It’s kind of in a bowl that looks inwards, and there are no bad views.” That kind of remote destination, where the long-range views are only Mother Nature or other golf holes, is what drives many traveling golfers these days. Peed says his team leaned on years of knowledge from Dormie’s acquisitions as they built GrayBull, which started construction in 2022. “We had an understanding of how our members and guests use the clubs that allowed us to take a blank canvas in the Sandhills of Nebraska and combine all of the greatest aspects of each Dormie property into one.” ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Daniel Jones is reportedly getting closer to picking a new team after his New York Giants release last week. Per NFL insider Josina Anderson , Jones has "zeroed on a 'leading' choice" and a high-ranking league source said their understanding is that Jones "is telling teams tomorrow." Anderson also noted that the Las Vegas Raiders are interested in Jones after starting quarterback Gardner Minshew broke his collarbone on Sunday. Earlier this week, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported that 10 teams have reached out to Jones and one of those teams could give him a chance to be a starter, though he didn't name that team. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings "are two of the likeliest teams to land" Jones while also noting that Jones prefers to sign with a playoff contender. If a playoff contender is what Jones is looking for, he likely wouldn't opt to join the Raiders, who lost their seventh straight game on Sunday to drop to 2-9 on the year. While Las Vegas would likely give him the chance to go in and start immediately, the Raiders are far from the playoff team that Jones is looking for. The Vikings and Ravens are both playoff contenders, but Jones would almost certainly be the backup for either of those teams. Sam Darnold, who stepped up as Minnesota's starter after rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury before the season, has been solid. Lamar Jackson is once again in MVP form for Baltimore, so he's not losing his spot as the starter anytime soon. Jones threw for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions before being benched in New York. It has been far from his best season, but he put up solid numbers behind a bad offensive line. He's now looking to get a fresh start in his sixth season, and he could have his new team soon.
Philadelphia (9-2) at Baltimore (8-4) Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Ravens by 3. Against the spread: Eagles 7-4; Ravens 6-5-1. Series record: Baltimore leads 3-2-1. Last meeting: Ravens beat Eagles 30-28 at Philadelphia on Oct. 18, 2020. Last week: Eagles beat Rams 37-20; Ravens beat Chargers 30-23. Eagles offense: overall (3), rush (1), pass (25), scoring (7) Eagles defense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (3), scoring (6) Ravens offense: overall (1), rush (2), pass (3), scoring (2) Ravens defense: overall (24), rush (2), pass (31), scoring (10) Turnover differential: Eagles plus-3; Ravens plus-2. RB Saquon Barkley. Barkley has not only turned the Eagles into legitimate Super Bowl contenders, his numbers could make him the first non-QB to win MVP since Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson in 2012. He had a career-high 255 yards on 26 carries and two rushing TDs against the Rams. It was the ninth-best single-game rushing performance in NFL history. Barkley has only played against Baltimore once, and finished with 83 yards rushing and a touchdown in October 2022. RB Derrick Henry. Not to be outdone, Henry is close behind Barkley in the race for the NFL rushing title, trailing 1,392 yards to 1,325. His 15 total TDs lead the league. This is the first meeting between players with at least 1,300 yards rushing since Week 16 of 2012, when Peterson's Minnesota team faced Houston and Arian Foster. Baltimore's Lamar Jackson vs. Philadelphia's top-ranked defense. Jackson has been particularly good with ball security this season. He's thrown only three interceptions. The Eagles lead the league with 46 points off turnovers since Week 8. Eagles: Philadelphia lost the heart of the team when DE Brandon Graham announced after last week's game that he was out for the season with a torn triceps. He said previously this would be his final season. Graham has 3 1/2 sacks this season, his 15th with the Eagles. ... The Eagles should know closer to game day if CB Darius Slay (concussion) and WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) will play against the Ravens. Ravens: Star LB Roquan Smith (hamstring) did not play against the Chargers, but he was back at practice this week. The past three meetings between the teams have been decided by a combined four points. In fact, only one matchup in the series — Baltimore's 36-7 win in 2008 — has had a margin of more than five. ... The past two meetings came down to 2-point conversion attempts by Philadelphia near the end of the game, and both times the Eagles failed. ... John Harbaugh spent a decade on the Eagles' staff before becoming Baltimore's head coach in 2008. The Eagles have started 9-2 or better in three consecutive seasons. ... Nick Sirianni is the first Eagles head coach with winning seasons in each of his first four years with the team. ... Over the past 30 years, only five coaches have opened 9-2 or better in three straight years: Sirianni (2022-24 Eagles), Sean Payton (2018-20 Saints), Bill Belichick (2014-17 Patriots), Tony Dungy (2005-07 Colts) and Mike Shanahan (1996-98 Broncos). ... Philadelphia’s seven-game winning streak is tied for its third-longest stretch in a single season since 2004, trailing only the 2017 (nine) and 2022 (eight) seasons. ... The Eagles are second in the NFL with a .719 (23-9) road winning percentage since 2021, trailing only Kansas City (23-8) in that span. ... The Eagles have held opponents to fewer than 300 total yards for seven straight games, their longest streak since 2008. ... The Ravens have at least two sacks in 15 straight games. That's the longest active streak in the NFL. ... Jackson is 23-1 in games started against the NFC. ... Baltimore has scored TDs on 78.7% of its red zone trips, tops in the league. ... The Ravens are the first team in the Super Bowl era with at least 3,000 yards passing and 2,000 yards rushing through the first 12 games of a season. ... Jackson is the first player since 2020 (Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers) with at least 3,000 yards passing and a passer rating of at least 115 entering Week 13. ... Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy have eight sacks apiece for Baltimore. The Ravens, Texans and Vikings are the only teams with two players who have reached that total. ... Baltimore has gone three straight games without scoring in the first quarter. Ravens TE Mark Andrews has a TD catch in two of his past three games and appears to be Baltimore's top option at that position despite the presence of Isaiah Likely. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflDEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida, and the World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment occurred as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa, injuring a crew member. “The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X, adding that he and WHO colleagues were safe. “We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave.” He didn’t mention the source of the bombardment. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports at Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib along with power stations. It didn’t immediately respond to questions about Tedros’ statement. The latest strikes came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad’s regime and others learned.” Netanyahu monitored the new strikes along with military leaders, his government said. The Iran-backed Houthis’ media outlet confirmed the strikes in a Telegram post but gave no immediate details. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. The United Nations has noted that the ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in Tel Aviv . Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight, the territory’s Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said that all were militants posing as reporters. The strike hit a car outside Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The journalists were working for the local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller and more extreme ally of Hamas and took part in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel, which ignited the war. The Israeli military identified four of the men as combat propagandists and said that intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives found by soldiers in Gaza, had confirmed that all five were affiliated with the group. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian militant groups operate political, media and charitable operations in addition to their armed wings. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings visible on the back doors. Sobbing young men attended the funeral outside the hospital. The bodies were wrapped in shrouds, with blue press vests draped over them. The Committee to Protect Journalists says that more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel hasn’t allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel has banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accused six of its Gaza reporters of being militants. The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Separately, Israel’s military said that a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza early Thursday. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation more than a year ago. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border in an attack on nearby army bases and farming communities. They killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead. Israel’s air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities have been women and children, but doesn’t say how many of the dead were fighters. Israel says it has killed more than 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The offensive has caused widespread destruction and driven around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Also Thursday, people mourned eight Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations in and around the city of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said that it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid.