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Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Catch the latest in OpinionDecember Pixel Drop Has Expressive Captions, More New Accessibility Features
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller sat for a long interview with the NCAA as it looked into concerns about unusual gambling activity, his lawyer said Friday amid reports a federal probe is now under way. “Hysier Miller fully cooperated with the NCAA’s investigation. He sat for a five-hour interview and answered every question the NCAA asked. He also produced every document the NCAA requested,” lawyer Jason Bologna said in a statement. “Hysier did these things because he wanted to play basketball this season, and he is devastated that he cannot.” Miller, a three-year starter from South Philadelphia, transferred to Virginia Tech this spring. However, the Hokies released him last month due to what the program called “circumstances prior to his enrollment at Virginia Tech.” Bologna declined to confirm that a federal investigation had been opened, as did spokespeople for both the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia. ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reported Thursday that authorities were investigating whether Miller bet on games he played in at Temple, and whether he adjusted his performance accordingly. “Hysier Miller has overcome more adversity in his 22 years than most people face in their lifetime. He will meet and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead," Bologna said. Miller scored eight points — about half his season average of 15.9 — in a 100-72 loss to UAB on March 7 that was later flagged for unusual betting activity. Temple said it has been aware of those allegations since they became public in March, and has been cooperative. “We have been fully responsive and cooperative with the NCAA since the moment we learned of the investigation,” Temple President John Fry said in a letter Thursday to the school community. However, Fry said Temple had not received any requests for information from state or federal law enforcement agencies. He vowed to cooperate fully if they did. “Coaches, student-athletes and staff members receive mandatory training on NCAA rules and regulations, including prohibitions on involvement in sports wagering," Fry said in the letter. The same week the Temple-UAB game raised concerns, Loyola (Maryland) said it had removed a person from its basketball program after it became aware of a gambling violation. Temple played UAB again on March 17, losing 85-69 in the finals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. League spokesman Tom Fenstermaker also declined comment on Friday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Officer fatally shot in a North Carolina supermarket, suspect in custody, police sayTop council leader quits over claims he sent refugees explicit messagesJonah Goldberg: What if most Americans aren't bitterly divided?
WINDSOR, Conn. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSNC) today announced an initial agreement with Insignia Financial (Insignia) to deliver superannuation member administration services. Insignia Financial supports around 1.1 million superannuation fund members through its wealth management offerings. Upon signing a final binding agreement, more than 1,000 team members in seven offices across Australia will transfer from Insignia to SS&C. The team will then leverage SS&C’s in-house technology to automate processes and streamline operations while providing top-notch service delivery to Insignia’s customers alongside SS&C’s experts. “As a leading global provider of retirement solutions, SS&C is a trusted partner with extensive expertise in fund administration. We anticipate the collaboration with SS&C will provide our more than 1.1 million members with an improved experience delivered by contemporary technology, our people with the opportunity to be part of a large global enterprise, and greater cost efficiencies,” said Insignia Financial’s CEO Scott Hartley . “We look forward to welcoming Insignia Financial staff to the team and working closely with our new colleagues,” said Bill Stone , Chairman and CEO. “Insignia Financial is one of the largest wealth management businesses in Australia and will be our largest client in Australia . This collaboration will put SS&C one step closer to becoming the leading superannuation administration provider in the region. As more funds look to partner with trusted external providers, we look forward to delivering the best technology and service to optimize superannuation administration for Australia’s investors.” About Insignia Financial Ltd. With origins dating back to 1846, today the Insignia Financial is a leading Australian wealth manager. Insignia Financial provides financial advice, superannuation, wrap platforms and asset management services to members, financial advisers and corporate employers. Further information about Insignia Financial can be found at www.insigniafinancial.com.au About SS&C SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut , and has offices around the world. Some 20,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world’s largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale and technology. Additional information about SS&C (Nasdaq: SSNC) is available at www.ssctech.com . Follow SS&C on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook . Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/692536/SSC_Logo.jpg View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/ssc-signs-agreement-with-insignia-financial-302326732.html SOURCE SS&C
Thanks to meme culture, a whole new generation is enjoying the beloved 2003 holiday movie, "Elf." Video above: Giant Buddy the Elf cutout looms over Vermont children's museum We are now learning the behind-the-scenes story about one particular scene that has gone viral. According to Mark Acheson, who played "Mailroom Guy" in the film, not only was much of his scene improvised, it almost didn't make it into the movie. "I called my agent and he said, 'Listen, they would like you to come and do one line with Will Ferrell. Would you like to do it?,'" Acheson told People magazine. "And I said, yeah, I'd be happy to do that. I was only supposed to say 'work release' and that was the end of it." Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf, sent to the mailroom at his father's office to stay occupied. "Elf" director Jon Favreau got Acheson to improvise with Ferrell. During the scene, Acheson's character tells Ferrell's character he's 26 years old but has "nothing to show for it." "You're young, you're so young," Ferrell's Buddy tells the "Mailroom Guy." But not everyone loved the banter, and Acheson said the improvised dialogue initially landed on the chopping block. "The producers wanted to axe the whole scene because of that. I think, 'Who is gonna believe this guy is 26?' I mean, seriously," Acheson said. "I believe I was 46 at the time and an older, 46 even at that. Because I never looked young in my life." Favreau fought to keep it in the movie. "He said that the joke, that's the funny part, right?" Acheson recalled. "He kept me in. They didn't want me, but he did and thank God for me because it changed my career quite a bit." The scene is now being shared all over social media.Shatel: Is Omaha big enough for two professional volleyball teams?
Portland Mayor-elect Keith Wilson blazed a path to victory last month as a political outsider keen on upending City Hall’s status quo and delivering faster, more effective results on homelessness and other serious challenges. For at least his first year in office, however, Wilson plans to keep a fixture of Portland’s oft-maligned bureaucracy at the center of power: Michael Jordan .The hotel Moxy Lower East Side, NYC Moxy Lower East Side NYC. Check-in “This is Where the Magic Happens” reads the pink neon sign near the reception desk. Ain’t that the truth. The fourth, and most recent, Moxy to open in Manhattan doubles down on the brand’s design and style trademarks – funky, quirky, whimsical and aimed at the young and young-at-heart. Just to the right of the 303-room hotel’s entrance are two spiral staircases that take you down to on-site restaurant Sake No Hana. Inside to the left is the door to piano lounge Silver Lining. And to the right is The Fix, the open-plan all-day cafe, nighttime bar, co-working space and general hangout. It’s all in keeping with the brand’s MO to get guests out of their rooms and mingling. The look Interior fitout is unique and funky. The hotel occupies an impressive box of black steel, concrete and glass right on the former skid row – and now achingly hip – Bowery. Even before you take the elevator to your room, you’ll be playing a game of spot-the-quirk, taking photos and posting them to Instagram. Numerous unique touches from interior designers Michaelis Boyd and Rockwell Group include a statue of a hula-hooping bear, a hanging birdcage seat, a vintage Ms Pacman machine, a shuffleboard table, and lolly dispensers from Lower East Side institution Economy Candy. The room A King City View Room, compact but not cramped. The property has 10 room types – as well as the Factory Loft suite, just in case you’re feeling like king/queen of the world and want a 50-square metre haven with its own terrace. My King City View Room is compact but not cramped and, as with all Moxy hotels, it uses clever space-saving hacks including a fold-away desk, storage hutches under the bed and pegs for hanging clothes. A large flatscreen TV includes complimentary streaming apps. The bathroom has a rain shower, terrazzo floors, a lava stone sink, MUK bath products and a mirror framed with bulbs, making you feel as if you’re backstage and about to go on. The on-site 24/7 fitness centre has a range of Pelotons and state-of-the-art equipment. Food + drink The crowning glory... The Highlight Room rooftop bar. There are five food and beverage destinations, so good luck dragging yourself outside. The Fix has complimentary filter coffee, juices, muffins, yoghurt and fruit every morning, and there’s also a small cafe with espresso machine, baked goods and sandwiches. As the sun sets, the same space becomes an atmospheric and buzzy cocktail bar. Sake No Hana... there’s no shortage of bar or dining options at the Moxy. Downstairs, modern Japanese restaurant Sake No Hana is a huge space decorated with big kimono-like tapestries and hot air balloon-style light fittings. Food is next level, with shareable dishes including chili crunch edamame, black truffle steak tartare, and inventive sushi and teppanyaki dishes. Silver Lining is a speakeasy-style piano lounge inspired by Andy Warhol’s Factory from the ’60s, thus the mural that includes Edie Sedgewick and the famous banana design for the first Velvet Underground album. Settle into blue velvet upholstered chairs, order the Warhol Margarita, and enjoy the solo pianists and combos who keep the room humming. The hotel’s crowning glory, The Highlight Room rooftop bar festooned with explosions of hanging plants, has magnificent views of the Empire State Building uptown and the Freedom Tower downtown. In the basement, reached in true Lower East Side style by an alleyway, is subterranean nightclub Loosie’s, with mirror balls on the ceiling and lights synched to the DJ’s music. Out + about Katz’s Delicatessen, a Lower East Side institution, is a near neighbour. Credit: Getty Images If you had to choose the ideal base for exploring downtown Manhattan, your pin would land dead on the Moxy. Lower East Side favourites such as Katz’s Delicatessen, the Tenement Museum and the buzzy nightlife of Orchard and Ludlow Streets are in the ’hood, while the hip cafes, galleries and boutiques of NoLiTa and SoHo are just to the west, Chinatown is an easy walk downtown, and the East Village is a 15-minute stroll, just north of Houston Street. The verdict If ever a hotel reflected the buzz, energy and street style of the Lower East Side, then this is it. The essentials From $US199 a night. There are 30 accessible rooms, including those for wheelchair access and the hearing impaired. Moxy Lower East Side, 145 Bowery, New York. Phone +1 212 245 6699. See moxylowereastside.com Our score out of five ★★★★1⁄2 Highlight The dining experience at Sake No Hana is so good that you should consider making a booking even if you’re not staying at the hotel. Lowlight There is a $US32 destination fee each night, the benefits of which were only fully explained on my second day at the hotel – ask for details at check-in to make use of them. They include daily credits for laundry, for food and beverage at The Fix, and a CitiBike pass. The writer stayed as a guest of Moxy Lower East Side.
( MENAFN - GetNews) In the face of an increasingly complex international financial market, Future Capital Group (FCG) focuses on comprehensive investment management services to help clients achieve asset appreciation. The group is dedicated to providing flexible and personalized solutions in diversified asset fields to address the challenges and changes of global markets. In terms of investment management in the U.S. and Hong Kong stock markets, Future Capital Group leverages its professional team's deep market insights and extensive experience to create tailored investment portfolios for clients. The group not only swiftly captures market trends but also flexibly adjusts strategies based on market dynamics, helping clients maintain an edge in the highly competitive capital markets and achieve stable returns. In the ETF fund sector, Future Capital Group continuously introduces innovative investment products. Using transparent and efficient index-based investment tools, it offers clients diversified asset allocation options. These products balance investors' risk preferences and return objectives, enabling them to explore more opportunities in the global market. For example, one of FCG's ETF funds achieved an average annual return of XX% over the past three years, making it a favored financial tool among many investors. Future Capital Group focuses not only on optimizing existing services but also on exploring new investment fields and market opportunities. By integrating resources, innovative technologies, and a global perspective, FCG has built a comprehensive investment management ecosystem to help clients navigate challenges and seize opportunities in an ever-changing market environment. Whether it's U.S. stocks, Hong Kong stocks, or ETF funds, Future Capital Group always prioritizes client needs, aiming to provide efficient and transparent asset management solutions. As an international financial asset management institution, FCG will continue to deepen its market presence, driving wealth growth and capital value enhancement for clients worldwide. 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. MENAFN20122024003238003268ID1109018482 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
10th anniversary of ABLE savings plans in W.Va. celebratedClement Nwoji The partnership between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), under the umbrella of the Bankers’ Committee, could not have been more effective than now when all the key drivers of the economy are being called upon to step up their games towards economic recovery. Since the inception of the present administration, precisely on 29th May, 2023, there is no doubt that the administration is confronted with the herculean task of economic recovery, having inherited a battered economy from the immediate past administration. In this much needed efforts towards salvaging the economy, the CBN has an indispensable role to play, taking into consideration that no nation thrives well, economically, without sound and focused monetary policies. Though a regulator, the CBN recognizes that it cannot do it alone, and this underscores the collaborative approach which, currently, defines its relationship with the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs).This is in recognition that the Deposit Money Banks, in Nigeria, are at the center of implementing the policies of the CBN across all touch points. Consequently, they bring the ‘cascade effect’ to bear on all policies of the CBN, particularly, in ensuring that the banking publics understand and appreciate the various monetary policy measures being introduced to turnaround the economic fortunes of Nigeria. In the early stage of this administration, the banks played a major role in the implementation of the continued use of both the redesigned and old naira notes. This was sequel to the Supreme Court ruling of November 29, 2023, which extended, indefinitely, the continuing use of the old naira denominations: N200, N500, and N1, 000 banknotes. The banks’ roles in making these notes available, significantly, moderated the pressures associated with the naira redesign policy.Given the preeminent role of banks in cash management, the CBN, on November 13, 2024 issued a circular on, “Mystery shopping and spot-checks on cash disbursement activities of DMBs.” The circular signed by the Ag. Director, Currency Operations Department, Solaja Mohammed Olayemi, is intended to achieve two objectives: One, “monitor and prevent practices that facilitate flow of mint notes to ‘hawkers’ of Naira cash, thereby discouraging abuse of Naira and two, to “ensure that DMBs support efficient and responsible cash disbursement to the public”.The Commercial, Merchant, and Non-Interest Banks (CMNIBs) are also at the forefront of driving financial inclusion through multiple deployment of Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) at strategic locations including hotels, malls, hospitals, Companies’ premises, among others. This is further reinforced by the introduction of agent banking services, complemented by Point of Sale (POS) devices, in far remote areas difficult to locate traditional bank branches.Before the entry of Fintechs into the payment market, it was the commercial banks that drove the financial inclusion in the undeserved locations through Agency banking. Not a few banks are still showing strong presence in this segment of the market.It is to be noted that most Fintech companies are like ‘supper agents’ for commercial banks where they also operate accounts that are driving their payment businesses. Agent banking, apart from being cost effective, reduces pressure at the banks’ branches, simplifies banking processes, and makes banking services easily accessible. It also worthy to note that the Bankers’ Committee was a major sponsor of the 2nd International Financial Inclusion Conference held on 12-13 November 2024 at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos. The theme of the conference was, “Inclusive Growth: Harnessing Financial Inclusion for Economic Development.” At the conference, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, was said to have stated that among other considerations, deepening financial inclusion was one of the reasons that informed the introduction of new minimum capital thresholds for banks. This, according to the apex bank governor, is to, “ensure that banks are in a position to take on greater risks in the undeserved markets and provide more loans and financial products to MSMEs, rural communities, and other vulnerable segments The Deposit Money Banks are apparently working in sync with the apex bank in its drive to mop up excess liquidity in circulation, control inflation and redirect lending into productive investments and activities.” By this, the banks support the boosting of economic activities while at the same time targeting taming the inflationary trend currently at 33.88 per cent for the month of October, 2024. The banks are upbeat in implementation of CBN Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decisions to see to the realisation of the target objectives. For instance, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria Monetary Policy Rate (MPR – Interest rate at which CBN lends to Banks) to 27.50 per cent with an increase of 25 basis points from the previous rate of 27.25 per cent. It also retained Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR – mandatory amount of bank’s cash kept with the with the CBN) for deposit money banks at 50 per cent and for merchant banks at 16 per cent just as it retained the Liquidity Ratio (LR – Bank’s deposit liability that must be kept in liquid assets) at 30 per cent. Mindful of the financial and economic implications being targeted by the monetary policy decisions, the DMBs are ever conscious of complying with these CBN decisions on MPR, CRR and LR to achieve financial system stability and economic recovery. Through compliance with these CBN financial instruments: MPR, CRR and LR, the DMBs assist in controlling inflation, controlling quantity of money in circulation, maintaining financial stability, and influencing the economy positively.The important roles of the DMBs’ was recently acknowledged and commended at November, 2024 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. In a communiqué endorsed and released by Cardoso, at the end of the meeting, he stated that: “Members noted with satisfaction the continued resilience and stability of the banking system despite significant exogenous and endogenous headwinds”.”Key financial soundness indicators such as -the Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Non-Performing Loan ratio (NPL), Liquidity Ratio (LR), amongst others, remain strong.” In the management of the nation’s foreign exchange and foreign exchange transactions, it is mandatory for banks to promptly report to the CBN once such transaction is concretized for the apex bank’s knowledge and for further monitoring, should the need arise. The directive to this effect is as contained in a “Revised guidelines for the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM)” signed by the Director, Financial Markets Department of CBN, Dr. Omolara Omotunde Duke, released on November 29, 2024. Among other things, it specifically directs that, “All foreign exchange transactions completed by Authorised Dealers must be recorded on a processing system and reported to CBN within 10 minutes of the transaction. This includes all transactions completed with system participants on the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS), trades concluded with market counterparties on telephone and/or chat-based platforms, and customer transactions concluded through other acceptable channels. The details of all foreign exchange transactions concluded by Commercial, Merchant, and Non-Interest-Bearing Banks are required to be reported on a real time basis to CBN via APIs to the FXBRS system for effective monitoring of market activities.” Another area of collaboration is the recent November 5, 2024 “Guidelines on Implementation of the Foreign Currency Disclosure, Deposit, Repatriation and Investment Scheme to Commercial, Merchant and Non-Interest Banks (CMNIBs).” The guidelines reinforced an earlier Foreign Currency Disclosure, Deposit, Repatriation, and Investment Scheme Guidelines, 2024 (the “Scheme”), issued by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, on April 8, 2024. It is an upshot of Scheme introduced through Presidential Executive Order No. 15 (Modification Notice), targeted at motivating voluntary disclosure, deposit, and repatriation of foreign currencies held by Nigerians, whether within or outside the country. CBN guidelines clarifies regulatory expectations from Commercial, Merchant, and Non-Interest Banks (CMNIBs) on their participation in the Foreign Currency Disclosure, Deposit, Repatriation, and Investment Scheme, 2024, thereby enabling banks’ play active roles in managing foreign currencies by acting as participating financial institutions, responsible for processing applications, maintaining designated accounts, and ensuring compliance with the scheme’s guidelines.The banks are, equally, spearheading the control of inflation and mopping up of excess liquidity. For instance, investigations revealed that the prevailing restrictions on amount of cash to be withdrawn either from any bank branches or from ATMs are part of measures to reducing/mopping up excess cash in circulation and encouraging cashless society. Also, the banks are gradually mopping up the old naira notes as most banks often dispense new naira notes to customers.Like in every healthy relationship, the partnership between the apex bank and the Bankers’ Committee remains ‘work in progress’. So far, there is reason to believe that they are not working at cross purposes, but assiduously reinforcing the benefits of collaboration towards the economic development of Nigeria. . Clement Nwoji is a journalist and public affairs analysts based in AbujaBy Tom Hals WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -Qualcomm's central processors are properly licensed under an agreement with Arm Holdings, a jury found in a trial in U.S. federal court that removed some, but not all, uncertainty around the mobile chipmaker's expansion into the laptop market. A week of courtroom arguments and deliberations ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to resolve one of three questions put before it in the trial between the two chip giants. Qualcomm said the result affirmed its right to innovate, but Arm vowed to seek a new trial. Arm's shares were down 1.8% in extended trading after the news, and Qualcomm's shares were up 1.8%. The outcome means the case could be tried again in the future - something Arm vowed to pursue in a statement following the verdict. Judge Maryellen Noreika, who presided over the case in U.S. federal court in Delaware, encouraged Arm and Qualcomm to mediate their dispute. "I don't think either side had a clear victory or would have had a clear victory if this case is tried again," Noreika told the parties. After more than nine hours of deliberations over two days, the eight-person jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the question of whether startup Nuvia breached the terms of its license with Arm. But the jury found that Qualcomm - which purchased Nuvia for $1.4 billion in 2021 - did not breach that license. The jury also found that Qualcomm's chips, created using Nuvia technology and central to Qualcomm's push into the personal computer market, are properly licensed under its own agreement with Arm, clearing the way for Qualcomm to continue selling them. "The jury has vindicated Qualcomm's right to innovate and affirmed that all the Qualcomm products at issue in the case are protected by Qualcomm's contract with Arm," Qualcomm said in a statement. An Arm spokesperson said the company was "disappointed" that the jury was unable to "reach consensus" about the company's claims and said from the outset the goal has been to protect the company's intellectual property. For now, the outcome paves the way for Qualcomm to continue to push what it calls the "AI PC" in laptop chips that are aimed at handling tasks such as chatbots and image generators. That is a market where Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and MediaTek are also planning to make Arm-based processors. "My biggest worry was what happens to the future roadmap if they (Qualcomm) no longer have access to Nuvia (computing) cores," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said. "At this point, that risk is a lot closer to being off the table." The dispute between Arm and Qualcomm centered on what royalty rate Qualcomm should pay for each chip. Nuvia was set to pay higher rates than Qualcomm before Qualcomm bought the startup firm and wove its technology into chips under its own license with Arm at lower royalty rates. Ben Bajarin, chief executive of tech consulting firm Creative Strategies, said that Arm's current growth projections have not depended on reaping higher rates from Qualcomm as Arm chips enter the PC market. "They haven't factored in, via their quarterly (earnings) calls, a win," Bajarin said. "So none of this changes their economic upside. It's really just a matter of contractual argument." However, the trial's outcome leaves open the question of where Arm's technology begins and ends. Arm licenses its computing architecture to firms but also sells designs for computing cores as off-the-shelf products. Some of Arm's more sophisticated customers, such as Apple, Qualcomm and Nuvia, license Arm's architectures but develop their own custom cores. During the trial this week, Arm's attorneys insisted its architecture license terms with Nuvia gave it rights to demand the destruction of Nuvia's custom core designs. "This does have ramifications for the entire industry," Jim McGregor of Tirias Research said in an interview. "Whether you're using a standard Arm core, or developing your own Arm core, it has been the rock of everything from electric toothbrushes to satellites." (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware and Max Cherney in San Francisco; writing by Stephen Nellis; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Pooja Desai and Rosalba O'Brien)
Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Catch the latest in OpinionDecember Pixel Drop Has Expressive Captions, More New Accessibility Features
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller sat for a long interview with the NCAA as it looked into concerns about unusual gambling activity, his lawyer said Friday amid reports a federal probe is now under way. “Hysier Miller fully cooperated with the NCAA’s investigation. He sat for a five-hour interview and answered every question the NCAA asked. He also produced every document the NCAA requested,” lawyer Jason Bologna said in a statement. “Hysier did these things because he wanted to play basketball this season, and he is devastated that he cannot.” Miller, a three-year starter from South Philadelphia, transferred to Virginia Tech this spring. However, the Hokies released him last month due to what the program called “circumstances prior to his enrollment at Virginia Tech.” Bologna declined to confirm that a federal investigation had been opened, as did spokespeople for both the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia. ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reported Thursday that authorities were investigating whether Miller bet on games he played in at Temple, and whether he adjusted his performance accordingly. “Hysier Miller has overcome more adversity in his 22 years than most people face in their lifetime. He will meet and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead," Bologna said. Miller scored eight points — about half his season average of 15.9 — in a 100-72 loss to UAB on March 7 that was later flagged for unusual betting activity. Temple said it has been aware of those allegations since they became public in March, and has been cooperative. “We have been fully responsive and cooperative with the NCAA since the moment we learned of the investigation,” Temple President John Fry said in a letter Thursday to the school community. However, Fry said Temple had not received any requests for information from state or federal law enforcement agencies. He vowed to cooperate fully if they did. “Coaches, student-athletes and staff members receive mandatory training on NCAA rules and regulations, including prohibitions on involvement in sports wagering," Fry said in the letter. The same week the Temple-UAB game raised concerns, Loyola (Maryland) said it had removed a person from its basketball program after it became aware of a gambling violation. Temple played UAB again on March 17, losing 85-69 in the finals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. League spokesman Tom Fenstermaker also declined comment on Friday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
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WINDSOR, Conn. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSNC) today announced an initial agreement with Insignia Financial (Insignia) to deliver superannuation member administration services. Insignia Financial supports around 1.1 million superannuation fund members through its wealth management offerings. Upon signing a final binding agreement, more than 1,000 team members in seven offices across Australia will transfer from Insignia to SS&C. The team will then leverage SS&C’s in-house technology to automate processes and streamline operations while providing top-notch service delivery to Insignia’s customers alongside SS&C’s experts. “As a leading global provider of retirement solutions, SS&C is a trusted partner with extensive expertise in fund administration. We anticipate the collaboration with SS&C will provide our more than 1.1 million members with an improved experience delivered by contemporary technology, our people with the opportunity to be part of a large global enterprise, and greater cost efficiencies,” said Insignia Financial’s CEO Scott Hartley . “We look forward to welcoming Insignia Financial staff to the team and working closely with our new colleagues,” said Bill Stone , Chairman and CEO. “Insignia Financial is one of the largest wealth management businesses in Australia and will be our largest client in Australia . This collaboration will put SS&C one step closer to becoming the leading superannuation administration provider in the region. As more funds look to partner with trusted external providers, we look forward to delivering the best technology and service to optimize superannuation administration for Australia’s investors.” About Insignia Financial Ltd. With origins dating back to 1846, today the Insignia Financial is a leading Australian wealth manager. Insignia Financial provides financial advice, superannuation, wrap platforms and asset management services to members, financial advisers and corporate employers. Further information about Insignia Financial can be found at www.insigniafinancial.com.au About SS&C SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut , and has offices around the world. Some 20,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world’s largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale and technology. Additional information about SS&C (Nasdaq: SSNC) is available at www.ssctech.com . Follow SS&C on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook . Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/692536/SSC_Logo.jpg View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/ssc-signs-agreement-with-insignia-financial-302326732.html SOURCE SS&C
Thanks to meme culture, a whole new generation is enjoying the beloved 2003 holiday movie, "Elf." Video above: Giant Buddy the Elf cutout looms over Vermont children's museum We are now learning the behind-the-scenes story about one particular scene that has gone viral. According to Mark Acheson, who played "Mailroom Guy" in the film, not only was much of his scene improvised, it almost didn't make it into the movie. "I called my agent and he said, 'Listen, they would like you to come and do one line with Will Ferrell. Would you like to do it?,'" Acheson told People magazine. "And I said, yeah, I'd be happy to do that. I was only supposed to say 'work release' and that was the end of it." Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf, sent to the mailroom at his father's office to stay occupied. "Elf" director Jon Favreau got Acheson to improvise with Ferrell. During the scene, Acheson's character tells Ferrell's character he's 26 years old but has "nothing to show for it." "You're young, you're so young," Ferrell's Buddy tells the "Mailroom Guy." But not everyone loved the banter, and Acheson said the improvised dialogue initially landed on the chopping block. "The producers wanted to axe the whole scene because of that. I think, 'Who is gonna believe this guy is 26?' I mean, seriously," Acheson said. "I believe I was 46 at the time and an older, 46 even at that. Because I never looked young in my life." Favreau fought to keep it in the movie. "He said that the joke, that's the funny part, right?" Acheson recalled. "He kept me in. They didn't want me, but he did and thank God for me because it changed my career quite a bit." The scene is now being shared all over social media.Shatel: Is Omaha big enough for two professional volleyball teams?
Portland Mayor-elect Keith Wilson blazed a path to victory last month as a political outsider keen on upending City Hall’s status quo and delivering faster, more effective results on homelessness and other serious challenges. For at least his first year in office, however, Wilson plans to keep a fixture of Portland’s oft-maligned bureaucracy at the center of power: Michael Jordan .The hotel Moxy Lower East Side, NYC Moxy Lower East Side NYC. Check-in “This is Where the Magic Happens” reads the pink neon sign near the reception desk. Ain’t that the truth. The fourth, and most recent, Moxy to open in Manhattan doubles down on the brand’s design and style trademarks – funky, quirky, whimsical and aimed at the young and young-at-heart. Just to the right of the 303-room hotel’s entrance are two spiral staircases that take you down to on-site restaurant Sake No Hana. Inside to the left is the door to piano lounge Silver Lining. And to the right is The Fix, the open-plan all-day cafe, nighttime bar, co-working space and general hangout. It’s all in keeping with the brand’s MO to get guests out of their rooms and mingling. The look Interior fitout is unique and funky. The hotel occupies an impressive box of black steel, concrete and glass right on the former skid row – and now achingly hip – Bowery. Even before you take the elevator to your room, you’ll be playing a game of spot-the-quirk, taking photos and posting them to Instagram. Numerous unique touches from interior designers Michaelis Boyd and Rockwell Group include a statue of a hula-hooping bear, a hanging birdcage seat, a vintage Ms Pacman machine, a shuffleboard table, and lolly dispensers from Lower East Side institution Economy Candy. The room A King City View Room, compact but not cramped. The property has 10 room types – as well as the Factory Loft suite, just in case you’re feeling like king/queen of the world and want a 50-square metre haven with its own terrace. My King City View Room is compact but not cramped and, as with all Moxy hotels, it uses clever space-saving hacks including a fold-away desk, storage hutches under the bed and pegs for hanging clothes. A large flatscreen TV includes complimentary streaming apps. The bathroom has a rain shower, terrazzo floors, a lava stone sink, MUK bath products and a mirror framed with bulbs, making you feel as if you’re backstage and about to go on. The on-site 24/7 fitness centre has a range of Pelotons and state-of-the-art equipment. Food + drink The crowning glory... The Highlight Room rooftop bar. There are five food and beverage destinations, so good luck dragging yourself outside. The Fix has complimentary filter coffee, juices, muffins, yoghurt and fruit every morning, and there’s also a small cafe with espresso machine, baked goods and sandwiches. As the sun sets, the same space becomes an atmospheric and buzzy cocktail bar. Sake No Hana... there’s no shortage of bar or dining options at the Moxy. Downstairs, modern Japanese restaurant Sake No Hana is a huge space decorated with big kimono-like tapestries and hot air balloon-style light fittings. Food is next level, with shareable dishes including chili crunch edamame, black truffle steak tartare, and inventive sushi and teppanyaki dishes. Silver Lining is a speakeasy-style piano lounge inspired by Andy Warhol’s Factory from the ’60s, thus the mural that includes Edie Sedgewick and the famous banana design for the first Velvet Underground album. Settle into blue velvet upholstered chairs, order the Warhol Margarita, and enjoy the solo pianists and combos who keep the room humming. The hotel’s crowning glory, The Highlight Room rooftop bar festooned with explosions of hanging plants, has magnificent views of the Empire State Building uptown and the Freedom Tower downtown. In the basement, reached in true Lower East Side style by an alleyway, is subterranean nightclub Loosie’s, with mirror balls on the ceiling and lights synched to the DJ’s music. Out + about Katz’s Delicatessen, a Lower East Side institution, is a near neighbour. Credit: Getty Images If you had to choose the ideal base for exploring downtown Manhattan, your pin would land dead on the Moxy. Lower East Side favourites such as Katz’s Delicatessen, the Tenement Museum and the buzzy nightlife of Orchard and Ludlow Streets are in the ’hood, while the hip cafes, galleries and boutiques of NoLiTa and SoHo are just to the west, Chinatown is an easy walk downtown, and the East Village is a 15-minute stroll, just north of Houston Street. The verdict If ever a hotel reflected the buzz, energy and street style of the Lower East Side, then this is it. The essentials From $US199 a night. There are 30 accessible rooms, including those for wheelchair access and the hearing impaired. Moxy Lower East Side, 145 Bowery, New York. Phone +1 212 245 6699. See moxylowereastside.com Our score out of five ★★★★1⁄2 Highlight The dining experience at Sake No Hana is so good that you should consider making a booking even if you’re not staying at the hotel. Lowlight There is a $US32 destination fee each night, the benefits of which were only fully explained on my second day at the hotel – ask for details at check-in to make use of them. They include daily credits for laundry, for food and beverage at The Fix, and a CitiBike pass. The writer stayed as a guest of Moxy Lower East Side.
( MENAFN - GetNews) In the face of an increasingly complex international financial market, Future Capital Group (FCG) focuses on comprehensive investment management services to help clients achieve asset appreciation. The group is dedicated to providing flexible and personalized solutions in diversified asset fields to address the challenges and changes of global markets. In terms of investment management in the U.S. and Hong Kong stock markets, Future Capital Group leverages its professional team's deep market insights and extensive experience to create tailored investment portfolios for clients. The group not only swiftly captures market trends but also flexibly adjusts strategies based on market dynamics, helping clients maintain an edge in the highly competitive capital markets and achieve stable returns. In the ETF fund sector, Future Capital Group continuously introduces innovative investment products. Using transparent and efficient index-based investment tools, it offers clients diversified asset allocation options. These products balance investors' risk preferences and return objectives, enabling them to explore more opportunities in the global market. For example, one of FCG's ETF funds achieved an average annual return of XX% over the past three years, making it a favored financial tool among many investors. Future Capital Group focuses not only on optimizing existing services but also on exploring new investment fields and market opportunities. By integrating resources, innovative technologies, and a global perspective, FCG has built a comprehensive investment management ecosystem to help clients navigate challenges and seize opportunities in an ever-changing market environment. Whether it's U.S. stocks, Hong Kong stocks, or ETF funds, Future Capital Group always prioritizes client needs, aiming to provide efficient and transparent asset management solutions. As an international financial asset management institution, FCG will continue to deepen its market presence, driving wealth growth and capital value enhancement for clients worldwide. 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. MENAFN20122024003238003268ID1109018482 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
10th anniversary of ABLE savings plans in W.Va. celebratedClement Nwoji The partnership between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), under the umbrella of the Bankers’ Committee, could not have been more effective than now when all the key drivers of the economy are being called upon to step up their games towards economic recovery. Since the inception of the present administration, precisely on 29th May, 2023, there is no doubt that the administration is confronted with the herculean task of economic recovery, having inherited a battered economy from the immediate past administration. In this much needed efforts towards salvaging the economy, the CBN has an indispensable role to play, taking into consideration that no nation thrives well, economically, without sound and focused monetary policies. Though a regulator, the CBN recognizes that it cannot do it alone, and this underscores the collaborative approach which, currently, defines its relationship with the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs).This is in recognition that the Deposit Money Banks, in Nigeria, are at the center of implementing the policies of the CBN across all touch points. Consequently, they bring the ‘cascade effect’ to bear on all policies of the CBN, particularly, in ensuring that the banking publics understand and appreciate the various monetary policy measures being introduced to turnaround the economic fortunes of Nigeria. In the early stage of this administration, the banks played a major role in the implementation of the continued use of both the redesigned and old naira notes. This was sequel to the Supreme Court ruling of November 29, 2023, which extended, indefinitely, the continuing use of the old naira denominations: N200, N500, and N1, 000 banknotes. The banks’ roles in making these notes available, significantly, moderated the pressures associated with the naira redesign policy.Given the preeminent role of banks in cash management, the CBN, on November 13, 2024 issued a circular on, “Mystery shopping and spot-checks on cash disbursement activities of DMBs.” The circular signed by the Ag. Director, Currency Operations Department, Solaja Mohammed Olayemi, is intended to achieve two objectives: One, “monitor and prevent practices that facilitate flow of mint notes to ‘hawkers’ of Naira cash, thereby discouraging abuse of Naira and two, to “ensure that DMBs support efficient and responsible cash disbursement to the public”.The Commercial, Merchant, and Non-Interest Banks (CMNIBs) are also at the forefront of driving financial inclusion through multiple deployment of Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) at strategic locations including hotels, malls, hospitals, Companies’ premises, among others. This is further reinforced by the introduction of agent banking services, complemented by Point of Sale (POS) devices, in far remote areas difficult to locate traditional bank branches.Before the entry of Fintechs into the payment market, it was the commercial banks that drove the financial inclusion in the undeserved locations through Agency banking. Not a few banks are still showing strong presence in this segment of the market.It is to be noted that most Fintech companies are like ‘supper agents’ for commercial banks where they also operate accounts that are driving their payment businesses. Agent banking, apart from being cost effective, reduces pressure at the banks’ branches, simplifies banking processes, and makes banking services easily accessible. It also worthy to note that the Bankers’ Committee was a major sponsor of the 2nd International Financial Inclusion Conference held on 12-13 November 2024 at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos. The theme of the conference was, “Inclusive Growth: Harnessing Financial Inclusion for Economic Development.” At the conference, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, was said to have stated that among other considerations, deepening financial inclusion was one of the reasons that informed the introduction of new minimum capital thresholds for banks. This, according to the apex bank governor, is to, “ensure that banks are in a position to take on greater risks in the undeserved markets and provide more loans and financial products to MSMEs, rural communities, and other vulnerable segments The Deposit Money Banks are apparently working in sync with the apex bank in its drive to mop up excess liquidity in circulation, control inflation and redirect lending into productive investments and activities.” By this, the banks support the boosting of economic activities while at the same time targeting taming the inflationary trend currently at 33.88 per cent for the month of October, 2024. The banks are upbeat in implementation of CBN Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decisions to see to the realisation of the target objectives. For instance, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria Monetary Policy Rate (MPR – Interest rate at which CBN lends to Banks) to 27.50 per cent with an increase of 25 basis points from the previous rate of 27.25 per cent. It also retained Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR – mandatory amount of bank’s cash kept with the with the CBN) for deposit money banks at 50 per cent and for merchant banks at 16 per cent just as it retained the Liquidity Ratio (LR – Bank’s deposit liability that must be kept in liquid assets) at 30 per cent. Mindful of the financial and economic implications being targeted by the monetary policy decisions, the DMBs are ever conscious of complying with these CBN decisions on MPR, CRR and LR to achieve financial system stability and economic recovery. Through compliance with these CBN financial instruments: MPR, CRR and LR, the DMBs assist in controlling inflation, controlling quantity of money in circulation, maintaining financial stability, and influencing the economy positively.The important roles of the DMBs’ was recently acknowledged and commended at November, 2024 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. In a communiqué endorsed and released by Cardoso, at the end of the meeting, he stated that: “Members noted with satisfaction the continued resilience and stability of the banking system despite significant exogenous and endogenous headwinds”.”Key financial soundness indicators such as -the Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Non-Performing Loan ratio (NPL), Liquidity Ratio (LR), amongst others, remain strong.” In the management of the nation’s foreign exchange and foreign exchange transactions, it is mandatory for banks to promptly report to the CBN once such transaction is concretized for the apex bank’s knowledge and for further monitoring, should the need arise. The directive to this effect is as contained in a “Revised guidelines for the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM)” signed by the Director, Financial Markets Department of CBN, Dr. Omolara Omotunde Duke, released on November 29, 2024. Among other things, it specifically directs that, “All foreign exchange transactions completed by Authorised Dealers must be recorded on a processing system and reported to CBN within 10 minutes of the transaction. This includes all transactions completed with system participants on the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS), trades concluded with market counterparties on telephone and/or chat-based platforms, and customer transactions concluded through other acceptable channels. The details of all foreign exchange transactions concluded by Commercial, Merchant, and Non-Interest-Bearing Banks are required to be reported on a real time basis to CBN via APIs to the FXBRS system for effective monitoring of market activities.” Another area of collaboration is the recent November 5, 2024 “Guidelines on Implementation of the Foreign Currency Disclosure, Deposit, Repatriation and Investment Scheme to Commercial, Merchant and Non-Interest Banks (CMNIBs).” The guidelines reinforced an earlier Foreign Currency Disclosure, Deposit, Repatriation, and Investment Scheme Guidelines, 2024 (the “Scheme”), issued by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, on April 8, 2024. It is an upshot of Scheme introduced through Presidential Executive Order No. 15 (Modification Notice), targeted at motivating voluntary disclosure, deposit, and repatriation of foreign currencies held by Nigerians, whether within or outside the country. CBN guidelines clarifies regulatory expectations from Commercial, Merchant, and Non-Interest Banks (CMNIBs) on their participation in the Foreign Currency Disclosure, Deposit, Repatriation, and Investment Scheme, 2024, thereby enabling banks’ play active roles in managing foreign currencies by acting as participating financial institutions, responsible for processing applications, maintaining designated accounts, and ensuring compliance with the scheme’s guidelines.The banks are, equally, spearheading the control of inflation and mopping up of excess liquidity. For instance, investigations revealed that the prevailing restrictions on amount of cash to be withdrawn either from any bank branches or from ATMs are part of measures to reducing/mopping up excess cash in circulation and encouraging cashless society. Also, the banks are gradually mopping up the old naira notes as most banks often dispense new naira notes to customers.Like in every healthy relationship, the partnership between the apex bank and the Bankers’ Committee remains ‘work in progress’. So far, there is reason to believe that they are not working at cross purposes, but assiduously reinforcing the benefits of collaboration towards the economic development of Nigeria. . Clement Nwoji is a journalist and public affairs analysts based in AbujaBy Tom Hals WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -Qualcomm's central processors are properly licensed under an agreement with Arm Holdings, a jury found in a trial in U.S. federal court that removed some, but not all, uncertainty around the mobile chipmaker's expansion into the laptop market. A week of courtroom arguments and deliberations ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to resolve one of three questions put before it in the trial between the two chip giants. Qualcomm said the result affirmed its right to innovate, but Arm vowed to seek a new trial. Arm's shares were down 1.8% in extended trading after the news, and Qualcomm's shares were up 1.8%. The outcome means the case could be tried again in the future - something Arm vowed to pursue in a statement following the verdict. Judge Maryellen Noreika, who presided over the case in U.S. federal court in Delaware, encouraged Arm and Qualcomm to mediate their dispute. "I don't think either side had a clear victory or would have had a clear victory if this case is tried again," Noreika told the parties. After more than nine hours of deliberations over two days, the eight-person jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the question of whether startup Nuvia breached the terms of its license with Arm. But the jury found that Qualcomm - which purchased Nuvia for $1.4 billion in 2021 - did not breach that license. The jury also found that Qualcomm's chips, created using Nuvia technology and central to Qualcomm's push into the personal computer market, are properly licensed under its own agreement with Arm, clearing the way for Qualcomm to continue selling them. "The jury has vindicated Qualcomm's right to innovate and affirmed that all the Qualcomm products at issue in the case are protected by Qualcomm's contract with Arm," Qualcomm said in a statement. An Arm spokesperson said the company was "disappointed" that the jury was unable to "reach consensus" about the company's claims and said from the outset the goal has been to protect the company's intellectual property. For now, the outcome paves the way for Qualcomm to continue to push what it calls the "AI PC" in laptop chips that are aimed at handling tasks such as chatbots and image generators. That is a market where Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and MediaTek are also planning to make Arm-based processors. "My biggest worry was what happens to the future roadmap if they (Qualcomm) no longer have access to Nuvia (computing) cores," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said. "At this point, that risk is a lot closer to being off the table." The dispute between Arm and Qualcomm centered on what royalty rate Qualcomm should pay for each chip. Nuvia was set to pay higher rates than Qualcomm before Qualcomm bought the startup firm and wove its technology into chips under its own license with Arm at lower royalty rates. Ben Bajarin, chief executive of tech consulting firm Creative Strategies, said that Arm's current growth projections have not depended on reaping higher rates from Qualcomm as Arm chips enter the PC market. "They haven't factored in, via their quarterly (earnings) calls, a win," Bajarin said. "So none of this changes their economic upside. It's really just a matter of contractual argument." However, the trial's outcome leaves open the question of where Arm's technology begins and ends. Arm licenses its computing architecture to firms but also sells designs for computing cores as off-the-shelf products. Some of Arm's more sophisticated customers, such as Apple, Qualcomm and Nuvia, license Arm's architectures but develop their own custom cores. During the trial this week, Arm's attorneys insisted its architecture license terms with Nuvia gave it rights to demand the destruction of Nuvia's custom core designs. "This does have ramifications for the entire industry," Jim McGregor of Tirias Research said in an interview. "Whether you're using a standard Arm core, or developing your own Arm core, it has been the rock of everything from electric toothbrushes to satellites." (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware and Max Cherney in San Francisco; writing by Stephen Nellis; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Pooja Desai and Rosalba O'Brien)