CHANHASSEN, Minn. , Nov. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpheus Medical, Inc., a private, clinical-stage oncology company pioneering sonodynamic therapy (SDT) for the treatment of solid body cancers, today announced positive results from their Phase 1/2 clinical trial in patients with recurrent or refractory high-grade gliomas. The company's proprietary therapy demonstrated a strong safety profile and extended median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared to historical data. The data were presented by Michael Schulder , MD, at the 2024 Society of Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Annual Meeting. "Glioblastomas are the most common and aggressive primary brain cancer, presenting a devasting diagnosis for patients and their familes," said David Reardon , MD, Clinical Director of the Center for Neuro-Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and member of the Alpheus Medical Scientific Advisory Board. "Current treatment options are limited and often ineffective due to the diffuse spread of the disease across the blood-brain barrier and often across the entire hemisphere, making it universally fatal with a rapid timeline. The early clinical results of Alpheus's therapy are promising, offering hope for this new approach. I look forward to further exploring the potential benefits of their SDT therapy for this patient population who is in critical need of an effective solution." Alpheus Medical's non-invasive SDT treatment, which can be delivered in an outpatient setting, combines low-intensity diffuse ultrasound (LIDU TM ) with oral 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) to target and kill cancer cells across the entire hemisphere without the need for imaging or sedation. Key findings from the study include: "In addition to the strong safety data and early indications of efficacy, Alpheus' non-invasive SDT therapy stands out for its ease of use - a significant improvement over the uncomfortable and often toxic treatments currently available for this rapidly fatal condition," stated Dr. Schulder, Director of the Brain Tumor Center at Northwell Health, and one of the trial's primary investigators. "We look forward to expanding the ability for patients to receive this promising therapy." The Phase 1/2 trial ( NCT05362409 ) is an open-label, multicenter, duration-escalation study evaluating the safety, optimal dose, and efficacy of Alpheus Medical's proprietary SDT platform. Twelve patients were enrolled across three cohorts, with treatment durations escalating to 60, 90, and 120 minutes per monthly session. The company plans to initiate a randomized, controlled trial at multiple centers across the U.S. in 2025. About Alpheus Medical, Inc. Alpheus Medical is a private, clinical-stage oncology company revolutionizing the treatment of solid body cancers with its pioneering sonodynamic therapy (SDT) platform that combines Low-Intensity Diffuse Ultrasound (LIDU TM ) with the sensitizing agent, oral 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). The company's proprietary, non-invasive technology is designed to selectively target and destroy cancer cells in the brain while preserving healthy tissue. Learn more at www.alpheusmedical.com . Media Contact Carla Benigni carla@sprigconsulting.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alpheus-medical-announces-positive-phase-12-trial-results-for-the-treatment-of-recurrent-high-grade-gliomas-302314785.html SOURCE Alpheus MedicalWaste Bins Market Analysis By Top Keyplayers - Rubbermaid, IKEA, W Weber, Busch Systems, Perstorp, Bigbelly, OTTO, Helesi, Sabalan Plastic, Shanghai AOTO

Home | Andhra Pradesh | India On Cusp Of 6g Boom But 91 Telangana Government Schools Lurk In Digital Dark Age India on cusp of 6G boom, but 91% Telangana government schools lurk in digital dark age Out of 30,023 government-run schools in the State, only 2,772 (9.23%) have internet facilities, highlighting a troubling digital divide By Yuvraj Akula Published Date - 22 December 2024, 09:45 PM Representational Photo Hyderabad: In this age of smartphones, electronic appliances, big machines and seamless communication from far off distances via the internet , students studying in the Telangana government -run schools remain stuck in a digital dark age. As India is on the cusp of a technology revolution with soon-to-be-rolled-out 6G services, a staggering 91 per cent of Telangana government-run schools lack the basic facility of internet connection. Also Read Editorial: Bridge the digital divide Of the 30,023 government schools in the State, only 2,772 (9.23 per cent) have internet access, highlighting the digital chasm. Telangana is far behind its neighbour Andhra Pradesh , where 45 per cent of 45,137 government schools have access to the internet. Ironically, the State also lags behind than the national average of 24.16 per cent. “Though cables were laid for providing internet connection under the ‘ Mana Ooru – Mana Badi ‘ programme, the schools are yet to get the service. Some schools have been provided with tabs, which have internet facility. Apart from internet, the government must ensure computers in all schools,” a high school headmaster said, requesting anonymity. Among the larger States, Telangana, with 9.23 per cent, stands at third place behind Bihar (5.85 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (8.81 per cent). These details were recently shared by Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary in Lok Sabha in response to a question on internet facility in schools raised by MPs Dr MP Abdussamad Samadani and Gowaal Kagada Padavi. Though private schools in Telangana have better internet facilities compared to their government counterparts, they fare poorly compared to the national average of 59.63 per cent. A total of 56.73 per cent of 12,193 private schools in the State have internet facilities. However, among the major States — Kerala with 95.13 per cent and Maharashtra with 85.85 per cent of private schools with internet facility — Telangana is far behind on the chart. Follow Us : Tags 6G network Digital Divide internet access Telangana government schools Related News Opinion: Let all retail formats coexist Four months on, Telangana schools yet to receive grants Education system in shambles under Congress government claims KTR Enrollment crisis hits Telangana government schools

A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and prevent an artificial intelligence "dictatorship" is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker's ongoing shift into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging it had betrayed its founding aims as a nonprofit research lab benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. The world's richest man, whose companies include Tesla, SpaceX and social media platform X, last year started his own rival AI company, xAI. Musk says it faces unfair competition from OpenAI and its close business partner Microsoft, which has supplied the huge computing resources needed to build AI systems such as ChatGPT. “OpenAI and Microsoft together exploiting Musk’s donations so they can build a for-profit monopoly, one now specifically targeting xAI, is just too much,” says Musk's filing that alleges the companies are violating the terms of Musk’s foundational contributions to the charity. OpenAI filed a response Friday opposing Musk’s requested order, saying it would “debilitate OpenAI’s business” and mission to the advantage of Musk and his own AI company and is based on “far-fetched” legal claims. A hearing is set for January before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California. At the heart of the dispute is a 2017 internal power struggle at the fledgling startup that led to Altman becoming OpenAI's CEO. Musk also sought to be CEO and in an email outlined a plan where he would “unequivocally have initial control of the company” but said that would be temporary. He grew frustrated after two other OpenAI co-founders said he would hold too much power as a major shareholder and chief executive if the startup succeeded in its goal to achieve better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence , or AGI. Musk has long voiced concerns about how advanced forms of AI could threaten humanity. “The current structure provides you with a path where you end up with unilateral absolute control over the AGI," said a 2017 email to Musk from co-founders Ilya Sutskever and Greg Brockman. “You stated that you don't want to control the final AGI, but during this negotiation, you've shown to us that absolute control is extremely important to you.” In the same email, titled “Honest Thoughts,” Sutskever and Brockman also voiced concerns about Altman's desire to be CEO and whether he was motivated by “political goals.” Altman eventually succeeded in becoming CEO, and has remained so except for a period last year when he was fired and then reinstated days later after the board that ousted him was replaced. OpenAI published the messages Friday in a blog post meant to show its side of the story, particularly Musk's early support for the idea of making OpenAI a for-profit business so it could raise money for the hardware and computer power that AI needs. It was Musk, through his wealth manager Jared Birchall, who first registered “Open Artificial Intelligence Technologies, Inc.,” a public benefit corporation, in September 2017. Then came the “Honest Thoughts” email that Musk described as the “final straw.” “Either go do something on your own or continue with OpenAI as a nonprofit,” Musk wrote back. OpenAI said Musk later proposed merging the startup into Tesla before resigning as the co-chair of OpenAI's board in early 2018. Musk didn't respond to emailed requests for comment sent to his companies Friday. Asked about his frayed relationship with Musk at a New York Times conference last week, Altman said he felt “tremendously sad” but also characterized Musk’s legal fight as one about business competition. “He’s a competitor and we’re doing well,” Altman said. He also said at the conference that he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence with President-elect Donald Trump. OpenAI said Friday that Altman plans to make a $1 million personal donation to Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships with the incoming administration. —————————— The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives. This story has been updated to correct the name of the company registered in 2017. It was Open Artificial Intelligence Technologies, Inc., not Open Artificial Technologies Technologies, Inc.None

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro plotted a coup to overturn the 2022 election along with dozens of ex-ministers and senior aides, federal police say in a formal accusation filed with the country's Supreme Court. The final police report caps a nearly two-year investigation into Mr Bolsonaro's role in the election-denying movement that culminated in riots by his supporters that swept the capital Brasilia in January 2023, just a week after his rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office. Many protesters at the time said they wanted to create chaos to justify a military coup, which they considered imminent. Earlier this week, police arrested five conspirators suspected of planning to assassinate Mr da Silva — more commonly known as Lula — before he took office. Investigators found evidence Mr Bolsonaro knew of that alleged plan, according to a police source familiar with the probe. Mr Bolsonaro said on social media that investigators and the Supreme Court judge overseeing the case had been "creative" and done "everything the law does not say", adding that he would have to look closer at the formal police accusation. His lawyer told Reuters he would wait to see the report before commenting. Jair Bolsonaro has been named by police for his role in a 2022 election result coup attempt. (Reuters: Ricardo Moraes) The formal police accusations against Mr Bolsonaro are a fresh blow to his plan to run for president in 2026. US president-elect Donald Trump's recent victory had buoyed Mr Bolsonaro allies trying to overturn a court decision that had blocked him from... ABC News49ers’ Isaac Guerendo gets his shot at lead runner in decimated backfieldIt’s certainly been one of the more chaotic weeks in UMass football history. Less than a week removed from the firing of former head coach Don Brown, the Minutemen will somehow try and turn the page to play against one of the top programs in the country on Saturday. UMass (2-8) travels to No. 8 Georgia (8-2) for a 12:45 p.m. kickoff at Sanford Stadium in Athens. The teams have met just once all time, a 66-27 Georgia victory back in 2018. While the opponent is certainly daunting, what type of Minuteman team will show up six days removed from losing their head coach? To make matters worse, several members of the program took to social media on Thursday night, voicing displeasure that the administration had changed their Senior Day program for next weekend’s finale against UConn. A letter to team members said that “due to the number of players who are completing their eligibility and graduating from school,” players would not be introduced individually prior to the Nov. 30 game against UConn. Tight end Dom Mazotti brought the situation to X, saying “For the department to take away honoring individuals who have given their all to this great university, is asinine.” Other players chimed in with similar sentiments, including leading receiver Jakobie Keeney-James and safety Te’Rai Powell. UMass defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski also commented, quote tweeting Powell’s disappointment by saying “to all the seniors I have nothing but gratitude for all you have done for UMass football. It has been an honor to coach you all these last 3 seasons. Let’s finish what we started.” The UMass football official account backtracked its initial statement to players on Friday morning, calling the issue a “miscommunication with our team regarding the Senior Day activities planned for next Saturday.” The school said it would meet with players later on Friday to “further discuss the logistics of Senior Day.” Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess With all that bubbling, and a coaching staff in flux, what can fans expect against Georgia? “It’ll be challenging,” said interim head coach Shane Montgomery, who was elevated from his position as offensive coordinator on Monday to replace Brown for the final two games of the 2024 campaign. “Any time you have 90-100,000 fans, that’s different than what you get every week. You end up playing a team that’s two years removed from back-to-back national championships. I’m sure you’ll see them in the playoff [this year]. Whether they’re No. 1 or No. 2 or [No. 8], they’re still Georgia. You’re going to face a lot of All-Americans on both sides of the ball, you’re going to face a lot of five-star recruits.” It’s the third and final SEC opponent on UMass’ schedule this season. It lost to Missouri (45-3) and Mississippi State (45-20), putting the Minutemen 0-13 all time against the nation’s toughest conference. “They play multiple SEC teams,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said of UMass. “It’s good because you get to watch how they played those teams but it’s unfortunate because those teams don’t have the same schemes we do. But uniquely UMass, their quarterback is out from [when they played Missouri and Mississippi State]. So now they’re using a two-quarterback system with guys that aren’t on those tapes.” Montgomery said during Tuesday’s press availability that he will still call plays, though he’ll now be on the sideline instead of up in the booth. Defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski will handle defensive responsibilities, an area where Brown also had a hand prior to his departure, though Montgomery doesn’t anticipate a major overhaul to that side of the ball. Georgia presents a number of problems for opponents, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The Bulldogs are 15th in the country in yards allowed (307.8) and 16th in points allowed (18.3) despite playing one of the toughest schedules. They have wins over Clemson, Texas and Tennessee this season, and sit 10th in the most recent College Football Playoff ranking. “I’ve been fortunate to play against some good defenses over the years, this is probably the most talented that I’ve ever faced,” offered Montgomery. “Kirby does a great job of preparing them. It’s going to be a challenge for us.” UMass put together one of its best offensive outings of the season last week in the team’s 35-34 overtime loss to Liberty. The Minutemen racked up 426 yards of offense and 263 on the ground. With quarterback Taisun Phommachanh out for the season due to injury, redshirt freshman Ahmad Haston started against Liberty. The team mixed Haston in with true freshman AJ Hairston, and both played well – Haston racking up 62 yards rushing and Hairston completing 13 passes for 163 yards. Montgomgery said he expects both quarterbacks to play again on Saturday. “I thought AJ played really well [against Liberty],” Montgomery began. “You’re talking about a redshirt freshman [Haston] and a true freshman [Hairston]. Ahmad [played] a few [games] last year... did have some pressure situations but he hadn’t had that really this year. AJ has a really strong arm, he’s got one of the strongest arms of a young quarterback that I’ve had. When you throw a true freshman like that at quarterback against a quality opponent, you really don’t know how they’re going to react. I really wanted to get his feet wet early and see what he can do but as he went on and on, he really showed what he can do.” While running the ball against Georgia will be a challenge, Montgomery noted that the team is going to try hard to find some semblance of a balance early on. “The biggest thing going into this type of game is they’ve got a great run defense. We have to try to find ways to run the ball early,” he said. “We cannot become one-dimensional early in the game. Whatever the score is, whatever happens early, we’re going to have to find some things that work.” UMass will have to find a way to slow down a Georgia offense led by expected first round draft pick Carson Beck at quarterback. The senior has thrown for 2,835 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season, though the Minutemen rank fifth in the country in passing yardage allowed at just 159.6. Montgomery said he’s friends with Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, whose unit has topped the 30-point plateau in eight of its 10 games. The game will be televised on the SEC Network, with Dave Neal and Max Starks on the call. Georgia is a 42-point favorite.Meta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facility

Mysterious googly eyes go viral after appearing on public art in OregonIt’s a testament to the energy and drive of Elon Musk that he’s now a key adviser to an incoming president of the United States that he helped elect this year — and this is a side project for him. What stamp-collecting is to most us — something we make time for when not engaged in our day jobs — influencing the future direction of the United States government is to Musk. This is not to minimize his significance. Far from it. The revolutionary businessman represents a distinctive and unexpected contribution to the Trump coalition. From the perspective of a decade ago, if you had said the most visionary and wealthy entrepreneur on the planet was at the right hand of a Republican president-elect, promising to cut a couple of trillion of dollars from the federal budget and bring massive innovation to the economy, you might have assumed Paul Ryan or someone in his ideological camp had gotten elected. The former Speaker of the House and vice-presidential nominee was a relentless advocate of entrepreneurship, economic dynamism and a slimmed-down government. Within the GOP, the rise of Trump the populist put the political squeeze on the likes of Ryan, whose business-oriented, free-market creed suddenly felt stale and out-of-touch. Now, a version of that worldview has returned via Musk. To be sure, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX is a different animal. He has an in-your-face persona, a bit of a Silicon Valley version of Trump. He’s been radicalized on immigration, becoming a fierce opponent of Joe Biden’s open border. He’s cultural warrior seeking to destroy what he calls “the woke mind virus.” And he is hated with a passion by the other side, which would shut him down if it could. The Biden SEC has notably clashed with him, and is trying to sanction him for how he acquired Twitter. All of this, and especially that acquisition, have made him a populist hero in his own right, even as he champions an economic dynamism that would have thrilled conventional Republicans from the pre-Trump era. Trump contains multitudes. Part of him is an inward-looking protectionist who believes, almost no matter what, that we are getting ripped off by foreign countries. Part of him is also a champion of endless possibility. Part of him is a tribune of the working class. Part of him is also inclined to make the stock market the economic measure of all things. He’ll talk of American carnage, and of an American golden age. This is a protean mix, and subject to change depending on circumstances and who is around Trump at any given point. A danger of populism is that it can succumb to pure nostalgia and become overly defensive, giving in to a distrust of technology, big companies and economic change. So long Musk is a major player in Trump’s world, there is a strong counter to this tendency. Musk is the paladin of a future ripped from the covers of paperback science-fiction novels circa 1950 — rocket ships, futuristic cars, robots and giant tunnel-boring machines. He has almost single-handedly changed Republican attitudes toward Big Tech. He’s proven that you can be a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and not be woke or a cowardly fellow-traveler with left-wing politics. There’s still plenty of contempt of and distrust for tech companies on the right, but now it is Democrats who talk more of ideas like repealing Section 230 to hobble social-media companies. At the same time, Musk’s DOGE has made talk of cutting government fashionable again on the right, when this priority had mostly lost out to other concerns since the advent of the Trump era. The hope that DOGE will cut as much as $2 trillion from the budget is unrealistic, but any savings and efficiencies would be welcome. Who knows how effective Musk will be in his role as a change agent confronting government, the most difficult institution to change? Sending a man to Mars might be easier. But Musk brings a boundless optimism and can-do verve to the effort, and he’s a healthy new ingredient to Trump’s populist mix. Twitter: @RichLowry

HOUSTON , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Applus+, a global leader in the Inspection, Testing and Certification sector, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Abyss Solutions (Abyss), a cutting-edge provider of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine-learning solutions for inspection and maintenance. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) capabilities through the integration of AI-driven technologies. By bringing together the extensive experience of Applus+ in NDT with Abyss' innovative AI algorithms and software platforms, this collaboration aims to revolutionize asset inspection processes, enabling faster, more accurate, and data-driven decision-making. "We are excited to partner with Abyss Solutions to unlock the full potential of artificial intelligence within inspection and testing," said Adam Alessandrino , Executive Vice President of the Pacific region at Applus+. "By integrating AI-driven technologies into our inspection processes, we are well positioned to deliver unparalleled value to our clients by enhancing efficiency, reliability, and safety." Through this partnership, Applus+ and Abyss will focus on developing AI-powered inspection solutions that enable predictive maintenance, asset optimization, and risk mitigation for clients across various industries, including oil and gas, mining, manufacturing, and infrastructure across the Pacific and South-East Asia "We are thrilled to collaborate with Applus+, a global leader in Inspection, Testing, and Certification services," said Gary Hill , Regional Director at Abyss Solutions. "By leading a disruption in the inspection industry, Applus+ is addressing challenges once considered unsolvable due to workforce shortages. We are excited to partner with them on this transformative journey." About Applus+: Applus+ is one of the world's leading and most innovative companies in the Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) sector, offering a broad portfolio of services and solutions for customers across various industries. Its solutions ensure that assets and products meet quality, health & safety and environmental standards and regulations, while also enhancing performance. Headquartered in Spain , the company operates in more than 70 countries and employs over 26,000 people. The Applus+ Group drives profitable revenue growth through sustainable services and digitalisation at all levels. About Abyss Solutions: Abyss is pioneering the future of inspection at scale, providing products and solutions that enables autonomous robots to capture and analyze data at an unprecedented level. Its industry-leading technology is pushing the boundaries of the possible, going beyond the status quo to deliver billions of dollars in risk reduction for some of the world's biggest companies. We've curated the brightest minds in autonomy who strive to help protect the world's most valuable assets and resources, delivering the insights needed to inform preventative maintenance programs, exceed health and safety targets, and significantly reduce CO2. SOURCE Abyss Solutions PTY LTDASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST ANNOUNCES CONVERSION OF LE PAVILLON NEW ORLEANS TO MARRIOTT'S TRIBUTE PORTFOLIO

NEW YORK, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Licensing International , the leading trade association for the $356-billion global brand licensing industry, and the Licensing International Foundation , which supports the education of future licensing leaders, today celebrated the induction of Joseph Kaminkow, Maca Rotter, and Stu Seltzer to the Licensing International Hall of Fame. Held at Gotham Hall in New York City, the 2024 Hall of Fame Induction and Rising Star Awards gala also honored the future of brand licensing, recognizing Rising Stars in the licensing business and celebrating the 2024 Licensing International Foundation scholarship recipients. Joseph Kaminkow is the Chief Innovation Officer at Aristocrat Gaming. Kaminkow’s career began when he started his own game development company, Logical Highs, before joining Williams Games. Noticing a resurgence in pinball games in the mid-1980s, Kaminkow partnered with Gary Stern to found Data East Pinball (now Stern Pinball). He was then recruited by International Game Technology to revolutionize slot machines using licensed titles. Kaminkow went on to found Spooky Cool Labs in Chicago, which was acquired by Zynga, before leaving in 2022 to devote himself full-time to Aristocrat Gaming, where he expanded his efforts to bring pop-culture icons to life on the casino floor. Kaminkow resides in Las Vegas with his wife Benita. "Reflecting back on my decades in the gaming industry, licensing has been at the center of much of the work that I’ve done,” said Kaminkow. “Even as consumer preferences and pop culture trends have evolved, licensing has moved with the changing tide. It fills me with pride to have adapted some of the most iconic properties in the world into a gaming format that brings people joy, and it is an honor to receive this recognition from Licensing International." Kaminkow was presented by Eugene Jarvis, President of Raw Thrills, and Gary Stern, Founder, Executive Chairman, and EVP of Stern Pinball. Maca Rotter is President & CEO of La Panadería Licensing. Rotter has more than 25 years of experience in marketing, branding, and licensing. Often referred to as the Queen of Licensing in Mexico, she has achieved great success in founding, developing, and expanding domestic and international markets by implementing innovative and strategic approaches. To establish a legacy and set a standard in the industry for the Hispanic community, Rotter authored the first and only Spanish-language book about consumer products structure and business models in 2014. Rotter served as the first Latin woman on Licensing International’s board of directors and founded the Licensing Association chapter in Mexico. "I know firsthand the power that brand licensing holds in connecting fans and consumers with the properties they cherish, and expanding this industry through Mexico has provided me an incredibly gratifying career,” said Rotter. “Working alongside Licensing International, I am dedicated to continue contributing to this remarkable industry while helping to shape its future growth.” Rotter was presented by Omar Faker, SVP of Non-Scripted Entertainment and Music at TelevisaUnivision. Stu Seltzer is the president of Seltzer Licensing Group, a global agency he has guided for over 25 years. The group is renowned for its expertise in brand licensing, partnership marketing, and strategic alliances. His understanding of the licensing field and adept negotiation skills were honed through pivotal roles at organizations like Yves Saint Laurent and the DC Comics division at Warner Bros. His strategic insights have driven substantial returns on marketing investments for clients, including Unilever, Scotts Miracle-Gro, and the American Red Cross. Seltzer has contributed significantly as an award-winning professor at New York University, where he has taught a course on brand licensing to undergraduates for over 20 years. "Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of collaborating with exceptional brands to build impactful licensing programs,” said Seltzer. “It’s a true honor to have made a difference in this industry and I’m energized by the future as we continue pushing boundaries and creating innovative partnerships together.” Seltzer was presented by Dan Romanelli, Founder of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. Established in 1989, the Licensing International Hall of Fame is home to the most esteemed global licensing executives of the last three decades. Inductees are selected by a committee of industry executives based on nominations received from the global licensing community at large; the Licensing International Board of Directors reviews all recommendations before making a final selection. Joseph Kaminkow, Maca Rotter, and Stu Seltzer join industry luminaries including Kathy Ireland, Martha Stewart, George Lucas, Walt Disney, and Charles Schultz. “Joseph, Maca, and Stu are pioneers in the global brand licensing industry, whose contributions have not only resulted in significant innovation but have also set the standard for leadership and integrity,” said Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “They have brought iconic brands to life in ways that continue to resonate across generations. This induction is a fitting recognition of their profound impact, as each of them has left an indelible mark on our industry, inspiring countless others to follow in their footsteps.” In addition to honoring Kaminkow, Rotter, and Seltzer, the 2024 Hall of Fame event recognized rising talent making strides in the licensing industry. The event celebrated the eight 2024 Rising Star Award recipients as announced in October . For more than a decade, the Rising Star program has recognized young professionals from around the world who have been nominated by their peers and selected by the Rising Star committee members for their contributions to the global brand licensing industry. Ten students—Nora Atwa, Cameron Faconer, Owen Fu, Andreaz Glasgow, Maycon Gomes da Silva, Skylar Grady, Britney Huston, Remy LeMaire, Matt Stein, and Sophia Rodriguez—were also celebrated as the recipients of the Licensing International Foundation 2024 Scholarship, awarded to accomplished students exploring a career in brand licensing. Licensing International thanks the generous donors that made the event possible, including Gold Sponsor Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences, Silver Sponsor Raw Thrills, and Mattel, the Champion-Level Sponsor for the Rising Star Awards. Nominations for the 2025 Hall of Fame are now open . To learn more about the Licensing International Foundation and support its ongoing mission to educate and inspire the next generation of licensing leaders, visit LicensingInternational.org/About/Foundation . About Licensing International Licensing International is the leading trade organization for the $356+ billion global licensing industry. Licensing International’s mission is to foster the growth and expansion of licensing around the world, raise the level of professionalism for licensing practitioners, and create greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large. Founded in 1985, Licensing International members in over 40 countries enjoy access to an array of benefits, including extensive educational programming and worldwide networking events. Visit LicensingInternational.org for more information and to utilize licensing’s definitive online resource. About Licensing International Foundation The Licensing International Foundation was established in 2020 to mark a new chapter in the global association’s charitable initiatives and to continue its decades-long support of the brand licensing community. The Foundation is focused on the education of future licensing leaders through the Licensing International Scholarship Program, which awards grants to deserving individuals who are interested in a career in brand licensing. Visit https://licensinginternational.org/about/foundation/ for more information or to make a donation. Contact Licensing International Elizabeth Foster EFoster@licensing.org A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0614c3d0-64cf-48aa-9e90-980c1c45a7d3NoneTrump's lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money conviction

No. 22 Xavier aims to keep its perfect record intact Monday night in Fort Myers, Fla., when it takes on South Carolina in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Musketeers (5-0) are coming off an 80-55 victory on Wednesday over Siena, while the Gamecocks (3-2) beat Mercer on Thursday 84-72. Against Mercer, South Carolina sank a season-best 12 3-pointers -- tied for the fourth-most in a single game under third-year coach Lamont Paris. Jamarii Thomas, a senior transfer from Norfolk State, had 19 points and swished 4 of 5 shots from behind the arc. "Thomas got some good, clean looks," Paris said. "It was good to see those guys make their shots. Hopefully it gets those guys going in the right direction." On the season, the Gamecocks are making 7.8 3-pointers per game and shooting 32.5 percent from deep. Senior guard Jacobi Wright makes a team-best 1.8 3-pointers per game and shoots 37.5 percent from behind the arc. At 13.0 ppg, he is second on the team behind Collin Murray-Boyles (15.8). Xavier is allowing eight makes from deep per game and is letting opponents shoot 38.5 percent from behind the arc, which ranks 337th in the country. And despite an undefeated record so far for the Musketeers, third-year coach Sean Miller is worried about his players developing bad habits. "We have a virus that everybody is looking at the stat sheet, trying to get as many points as they possibly can," Miller said after the win over Siena. "They want to win, but they really want to win and score. We need a couple of guys that are willing to rebound, defend, make the extra pass, play at a high level defensively and understand what makes a team great." Marcus Foster did a decent job of doing a little bit of everything for Xavier against Siena, piling up 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal. It was the first double-digit scoring outing for Foster -- a grad transfer from Furman -- in a Xavier uniform. Since 2008, Xavier is 25-11 against teams from the Southeastern Conference, but it hasn't played South Carolina in that stretch. --Field Level Media

'Wicked,' 'Gladiator II' bring in $270.2 million in global box office

Thrift your gifts: Secondhand gifts a sustainable and affordable way to shop this holiday seasonMissouri state pension board bans use of fund for political donationsAP Business SummaryBrief at 1:14 p.m. EST