Developers of Baltimore flex-lab space hope to create more than 100 jobs

Lark Hotels Forms Joint Venture With Life House, Adding More Than 50 Properties to North American PortfolioMaybe it's not the economy, stupid

December 19, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Rod Boyce, University of Alaska Fairbanks New research shows that three sites spread along an approximately 620-mile portion of today's Denali Fault were once a smaller united geologic feature indicative of the final joining of two land masses. That feature was then torn apart by millions of years of tectonic activity. The work, led by associate professor Sean Regan at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute and UAF College of Natural Science and Mathematics, is featured on the cover of the December edition of Geology . Regan is the research paper's lead author. UAF co-authors include doctoral student McKenzie Miller, recent master's graduate Sean Marble and research assistant professor Florian Hofmann. Other co-authors are from St. Lawrence University, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and the University of California, Santa Barbara. "Our understanding of lithospheric growth—or plate growth—along the western margin of North America is becoming clearer, and a big part of that is related to reconstruction of strike-slip faults such as the Denali Fault," Regan said. "We're starting to recognize those primary features involved in the stitching, or the suturing, of once-distant land masses to the North American plate." The research focused on formations at three locations: the Clearwater Mountains of Southcentral Alaska, the Kluane Lake region of Canada's southwestern Yukon, and the Coast Mountains near Juneau. Previous thinking among geologists is mixed, with some suggesting the three locations formed individually. Regan's historical reconstruction of 300 miles of horizontal movement on the Denali Fault over millions of years found that the three locations at one time formed a terminal suture zone. A terminal suture zone represents the final integration of tectonic plates or crustal fragments into a larger mass. Regan's work defines one of several places where the Wrangellia Composite Terrane, an oceanic plate that originated far from its current position , accreted to the western edge of North America between 72 million and 56 million years ago. "When you think about geologists crawling around Earth's surface trying to understand what the heck happened, it makes some sense that they might not link things that are so far apart," Regan said of the three sites he studied. "With different geologists working in different areas, the dots don't really get connected until you can reconstruct deformation on the Denali Fault." Regan's reconstruction focused on the three sites' inverted metamorphism, a geological phenomenon where rocks formed under higher temperatures and pressures are found overlying rocks formed under lower temperatures and pressures. This is the reverse of the typical sequence observed in regional metamorphism, where temperature and pressure generally increase with depth. Inverted metamorphism is a key indicator of tectonic complexity and helps geologists reconstruct the processes of crustal deformation and mountain building. "We showed that each of these three independent inverted metamorphic belts all formed at the same time under similar conditions," Regan said. "And all occupy a very similar structural setting. Not only are they the same age, they all behaved in a similar fashion. They decrease in age, structurally, downward." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . Regan connected the three locations by analyzing their monazite, which consists of the rare earth elements lanthanum, cerium, neodymium and sometimes yttrium. He collected monazite from the two Alaska locations and used Kluane data published earlier in the year by another scientist. "It is just the most special little mineral," Regan said. "It can participate in a lot of reactions, so we can use it as a way to track the mineralogical evolution of a rock." Regan began his quest after reading a 1993 paper by researchers at the University of Alberta and the University of British Columbia and published in Geology . That paper asserted similarities in the Denali Fault region later studied by Regan, but only went as far as labeling them as a single metamorphic-plutonic belt. A metamorphic-plutonic belt is a region characterized by the close association of metamorphic rocks and plutonic rocks that form as a result of intense tectonic activity, typically during mountain-building processes. These belts are commonly found in areas where tectonic plates converge. "It was amazing to me that the 1993 paper hadn't caught more attention back in the day," Regan said. "I had this paper hung up on my wall for the last four years, because I thought it was really ahead of its time." More information: Sean P. Regan et al, Orogen-scale inverted metamorphism during Cretaceous–Paleogene terminal suturing along the North American Cordillera, Alaska, USA, Geology (2024). DOI: 10.1130/G52614.1 Journal information: Geology Provided by University of Alaska Fairbanks

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the limit for lending collateral-free agri loans to farmers from Rs 1.6 lakh to Rs 2 lakh, the regulations of which will come into effect from January 1, 2025. Considering rising input costs and inflation, the RBI has been raising the limit for disbursing collateral-free agricultural loans since. The collateral-free agricultural loan limit was Rs 10,000 in 2004. Currently, it is at Rs 1.6 lakh which will increase to Rs 2 lakh from January. As per their mandate, banks are not supposed to seek collateral for agricultural loans for the loan limits set by it. However, there have been claims otherwise. This has resulted in many farmers taking hand loans from private individuals at higher interest rates. To support small and marginal farmers who form 86% of the farmers in the country, the Union ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare has sought more contributions from the RBI in the form of collateral-free loans. The ministry has informed the RBI to implement the new regulations swiftly and spread awareness among the farmers about the increased loan limit. The collateral-free agricultural loans could be availed by farmers to purchase seeds and other agricultural inputs, to grow vegetables and other horticultural crops, to raise poultry dairy and other livestock, and for building godowns to store their produce.INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 19, 2024-- The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), a global leader in high-speed autonomy, is gearing up for a monumental return to CES 2025 with exciting new developments, including the introduction of multicar racing and the future of physical AI . Set to take place on January 9, 2025 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway from 2-4 PM PST , the Autonomous Challenge at CES 2025 will mark a significant milestone in the development of autonomous technologies, offering attendees a firsthand look at the evolution of AI in high-speed motorsport. A New Era of AI Racing: Multicar Showdown and Tiered Competitions Having introduced the world to head-to-head autonomous racing three years ago at CES, the IAC will attempt another historic feat during CES 2025 with a multicar exhibition race. Teams will run 3-4 autonomous racecars on track at the same time, in a thrilling 20-lap format. This marks a significant leap forward in high-speed autonomy, as the exhibition race will test not just individual car performance but the ability of AI systems to manage complex multi-agent interactions at high speed. The IAC race event at CES2025 will feature a progressive three-tiered structure, designed to ensure teams at every level can actively compete and push the boundaries of their AI driver development: This structure allows for a progressive increase in AI racing difficulty, ensuring all teams, regardless of experience, have a chance to showcase their AI driver development in the ever-evolving landscape of autonomous racing. New Teams and Exciting Partnership The IAC has also welcomed two new university teams: Indiana University and California Institute of Technology , bringing the total number of IAC teams to ten. These new additions further elevate the competition, expanding the IAC’s global pool of talent and expertise that are working on a common AI and robotics platform to accelerate the future of high-speed autonomy The IAC’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI extends beyond racing, through a strategic collaboration with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) which selected IAC as an official test and evaluation platform to be used in improving AI training for autonomous systems. This work is part of a new DARPA program, Transfer Learning from Imprecise and Abstract Models to Autonomous Technologies (TIAMAT) which aims to address the “simulation to real” gap in AI training. “The Indy Autonomous Challenge is truly leading the charge in the physical AI revolution,” said Paul Mitchell, President of the Indy Autonomous Challenge. “By pushing the limits of autonomous technology on the racetrack, we’re not just developing AI that can drive racecars—we’re creating systems that can be applied to everything from aviation to autonomous vehicles and robotics. The race at CES will be a showcase of cutting-edge innovation, and it’s also a great example of what can be achieved when government, academia, and industry come together to tackle some of the biggest tech challenges of our time.” IAC at CES 2025: A Hub for Innovation As a leader in the physical AI revolution , the IAC will take center stage at CES 2025 , the world’s largest innovation event. The IAC will have a prominent display in the West Hall lobby, showcasing the IAC-AV-24 world’s fastest autonomous racecar, along with a series of CES Conference Sessions exploring the future of AI in motorsport and beyond. Sessions include: These sessions will provide key insights into the future of physical AI and its potential to revolutionize mobility while increasing sustainability and quality of life. Race Day and VIP Experience at CES The Indy Autonomous Challenge race day at CES 2025 will be held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, setting the stage for a thrilling exhibition of innovation, speed, and AI advancement. Taking place on January 9 from 2-4 PM PST , this exciting autonomous race event will include three competitions: Time Trials, Passing Competition, and Multicar Race Exhibition. Ample parking will be available at the venue, and rideshare drop-offs are encouraged for added convenience. This year’s official IAC at CES Media Briefing will take place at the Media Center of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on January 9, 2025, at 1:15 PM , right before race activities begin. Reporters will receive the latest updates, learn about the innovations on the track, and have the opportunity for an open Q&A with IAC leadership and team leads. Media Registration: To attend any IAC track events as media, including tier 1, 2 and 3 exhibitions and/or to attend the media briefing, please register here . Media Contact & Resources: To request an interview with IAC stakeholders or to plan media tours at the track and/or booth, please contact IAC@OneMoreVolley.com . High-resolution images and additional information about the Indy Autonomous Challenge are available on the IAC Media Page . About the IAC: The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) is a non-profit organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA) that organizes racing competitions among university-affiliated teams from around the world. Teams program AI drivers to pilot fully autonomous racecars and compete in a series of history-making events at iconic tracks. The IAC is working to establish a hub for performance automation in the state and is harnessing the power of innovative competitions to attract the best and the brightest minds from around the globe to further state-of-the-art technology in the safety and performance of autonomous vehicles. The IAC started as a $1 million prize competition with 31 university teams signing up to compete more than four years ago, representing top engineering and technology programs from 15 U.S. states and 11 countries. Follow the IAC on LinkedIn , Twitter , Instagram , Facebook , & YouTube . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219471601/en/ IAC@OneMoreVolley.com KEYWORD: INDIANA NEVADA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL SERVICES MOTOR SPORTS INTERIOR DESIGN OTHER ENTERTAINMENT CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY DATA ANALYTICS NANOTECHNOLOGY AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING SOFTWARE NETWORKS MANUFACTURING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY SPORTS HARDWARE ENTERTAINMENT ELECTRONIC DESIGN AUTOMATION DATA MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE & SPECIAL INTEREST TECHNOLOGY AUTOMOTIVE AUTONOMOUS DRIVING/VEHICLES GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE UNIVERSITY SOURCE: The Indy Autonomous Challenge Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/19/2024 03:44 PM/DISC: 12/19/2024 03:45 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219471601/en

Amazon to invest an additional $4 billion in AI startup AnthropicNext week’s weather will put the 'brr' in NovemberDevelopers of Baltimore flex-lab space hope to create more than 100 jobs

Shillong: The PA Sangma International Medical College and Hospital (PIMC), situated at 9th Mile, Khanapara, Ri Bhoi district has been empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana ( AB-PMJAY ). The hospital facilities under this scheme have been operational since Dec 13, 2024. A letter from the National Health Authority, Govt of India, confirmed that after going through all the steps for hospital empanelment, PIMC has been deemed eligible for inclusion under AB PM-JAY. "As part of the implementation process, a team from the State Health Agency Meghalaya conducted a comprehensive training programme at PIMC, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM). This programme focussed on utilising the Beneficiary Identification System (BIS), Transaction Management System (TMS), medical documentation, claims and adjudication, and grievance management under the AB PM-JAY. Doctors, nurses and technical staff from PIMC actively participated in the training session to ensure seamless delivery of the scheme's benefits to beneficiaries," a PIMC statement said Saturday. Following the training, an MoU was signed between PA Sangma International Medical College and Hospital under the state nodal agency-Meghalaya, and Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd. This collaboration is pivotal for the effective implementation of the AB PM-JAY and the Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) in the state, the statement underscored. Mehjabeen Rahman, principal secretary of USTM, said, "PIMC has been authorised to register Meghalaya's residents under the MHIS-PM JAY Scheme, enabling them to access extensive healthcare benefits provided by the state and Centre. Notably, Meghalaya stands out as the only state in India where patients can avail of OPD services worth up to Rs 30,000 for free under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme". The statement said this empanelment marks a significant step towards enhancing healthcare access and affordability for the people of Meghalaya. "The PIMC is committed to ensuring that the benefits of this landmark initiative reach every eligible individual in the state," the PIMC statement emphasized. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .On December 10, a federal court in Oregon issued a preliminary injunction against Kroger's proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons, which would have been the largest supermarket merger in US history (Albertsons terminated the merger agreement after the ruling). 1 The Federal Trade Commission, the District of Columbia, and eight States filed the suit in February 2024, alleging that the transaction would substantially lessen competition in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act. The opinion by Judge Adrienne Nelson tackled a number of interesting antitrust issues, including the government's allegation that the merger would reduce competition not only for grocery store sales but also for union grocery store labor. However, one of the most instructive aspects of the opinion is the court's rejection of the defendants' proposed divestiture package. We have outlined the scope of the competitive problem that the divestiture needed to mitigate, the parameters of the proposed divestiture, and the deficiencies the court found. Companies assuming that divestitures will eliminate regulatory concerns about the anticompetitive impact of a transaction should examine whether there is a divestiture package that is commercially acceptable and that can account for the concerns Judge Nelson highlighted. The antitrust agencies and courts will almost certainly use this latest judicial decision as guidance when evaluating such proposals. Competitive Problem The government's economic expert offered what the court found to be a persuasive market concentration analysis showing the merger would be presumptively anticompetitive in 1,574 local geographic markets for "supermarkets" and 1,785 local geographic markets for "large format stores" (i.e., traditional supermarkets and supercenters, natural and gourmet food stores, club stores, and limited assortment stores). The court also found evidence (ordinary course documents and witness testimony) of substantial head-to-head competition between the merging firms bolstered the government's case. Finally, the court credited the government's expert's analysis showing that the loss of head-to-head competition would lead to price increases at numerous stores. The government thus put forth a multiprong prima facie showing that the merger would lessen competition substantially. On rebuttal, the defendants first sought to establish that competitive entry and merger efficiencies would mitigate the merger's anticompetitive effects, but the court was not convinced. The defendants then attempted to show that their proposed divestiture remedy would solve the competitive concerns. Divestiture Proposal Defendants entered into an agreement — contingent on the merger closing — to divest 96 Kroger stores and 483 Albertsons stores to a third party. The proposed third-party divestiture buyer is primarily a wholesaler but has acquired retail chains in the past and currently operates approximately 25 stores. The divestiture package also included ownership of four store banners, a license to use two other banners in certain states, ownership of five private label brands, a temporary license to use two other brands, six distribution centers, and one dairy manufacturing plant. A transition services agreement provided the divestiture buyer the right to use certain of the defendants' services, technology, and data for periods ranging from six months to four years. Deficiencies The court explained numerous ways in which the Kroger-Albertsons divestiture package was inadequate to sufficiently mitigate the anticompetitive effects of the merger and overcome the government's showing of a substantial lessening of competition: Many markets unaddressed – The court noted that 113 of the presumptively unlawful markets did not contain even a single store to be divested, meaning the divestiture would have done nothing to change the merger's anticompetitive effects in those markets. (The high number of unaddressed markets was in part a function of the fact that the defendants' economic expert utilized a market definition method and applied market concentration presumption thresholds that differed from those the government advanced and the court adopted.) Many markets insufficiently addressed – Other markets contained divestiture stores, but those divestitures were insufficient to take away a presumption of harm. Crediting the government's economic expert, the court noted that even if all the proposed divestitures were perfectly successful, the merger would still have been presumptively unlawful in 1,002 local supermarket markets and 551 large format store markets based on market concentration levels. Risk of unsuccessful divestitures – The court also agreed with the government's analysis showing that if divested stores were to lose sales or close, the number of presumptively problematic markets would rise significantly. For example, if the divested supermarkets were to lose 10 percent of their sales, the number of presumptively unlawful markets would increase from 1,002 to 1,035. If they lose 30 percent of their sales, the number would increase to 1,276. Mixed and matched assets – The divestiture package did not represent an existing, standalone, fully functioning company but rather a mix of stores, banners, private labels, and other assets. This meant the buyer would have had to rebanner 286 of the 579 divested stores (and for some of these stores, the buyer would not be acquiring any banner currently used in the state). The court cited testimony from the government's expert in retail operations and consumer shopping behavior, as well as other witnesses, explaining that rebannering is complicated and risky. The divestiture buyer also would have eventually lost access to many Kroger and Albertsons private label brands that customers are familiar with and would need to replace those with new private label products. The court noted witness testimony emphasizing the importance of private label brand equity and recounting the time required to launch a new private label brand. Divestiture size – The court expressed concern that with only 604 total stores (25 existing stores plus the 579 divested stores), the divestiture buyer may not have replaced the competitive intensity lost from Kroger and Albertsons, each of which had thousands of stores. Divestiture buyer's experience – The court was concerned that the divestiture buyer had no experience running a large portfolio of retail grocery stores. The 579 divestiture stores included hundreds of pharmacies and fuel centers, whereas the buyer's current 25 stores include only one pharmacy and no fuel centers. The court also noted that the buyer's experience offering private label products was much more limited than what the divestiture stores demand and that the buyer currently lacks any retail media capabilities, which would have taken three years to set up. Divestiture buyer's track record – The buyer has made divestiture purchases in the past, which the court noted have not been successful. Specifically, the buyer acquired 334 retail grocery stores between 2001 and 2012, but only three remained under its operation by the end of 2012 (the rest were closed or sold off). The court also cited evidence that the buyer's current stores are performing below expectations. Transfer of employees – Approximately 1,000 Albertsons employees agreed to transfer to the divestiture buyer, including Albertsons' current Chief Operating Officer, who had experience with prior divestiture integrations. The court found, however, that these transfers would not have fully mitigated the buyer's inexperience and lack of success in grocery retail and could not overcome difficulties inherent in the selection of assets and structure of the transition services agreement in the divestiture package. Divestiture buyer's independence – The court viewed the transition services agreement as broad in services and time. It noted that the buyer would remain interdependent with the merged firm for many years. The court expressed particular concern over the fact that Kroger would have provided sales forecasting data and a base pricing plan to the buyer, which the buyer could have adjusted only by communicating with Kroger's "clean room."

Voice cloning is an emerging technology powered by artificial intelligence and it's raising alarms about its potential misuse. Earlier this year, New Hampshire voters experienced this firsthand when a deepfake mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice urged them to skip the polls ahead of the primary. The deepfake likely needed only several seconds of the president's voice to create the clone. According to multiple AI voice cloning models, about 10 seconds of an actual voice is all that is needed to recreate it. And that can easily come from a phone call or a video from social media. "A person's voice is really probably not that information-dense. It's not as unique as you may think," James Betker, a technical staff member at OpenAI, told Scripps News. Betker developed TortoiseTTS, an open-source voice cloning model. "It's actually very easy to model, very easy to learn, the distribution of all human voices from a fairly small amount of data," Betker added. How AI voice cloning works AI models have been trained on vast amounts of data, learning to recognize human speech. Programs analyze the data and train repeatedly, learning characteristics such as rhythm, stress, pitch and tone. "It can look at 10 seconds of someone speaking and it has stored enough information about how humans speak with that kind of prosody and pitch. Enough information about how people speak with their processing pitch and its weights that it can just continue on," Betker said. Imagine a trained AI model as a teacher, and the person cloning the voice to be a student. When a student asks to create a cloned voice, it starts off as white noise. The teacher scores how close the student is to sounding correct. The student tries again and again based on these scores until the student produces something close to what the teacher wants. While this explanation is extremely simplified, the concept of generating a cloned voice is based on bit-by-bit, based on probability distributions. "I think, at its core, it's pretty simple," Betker said. "I think the analogy of just continuing with what you're given will take you pretty far here." There are currently some AI models that claim to only need two seconds of samples. While the results are not convincing yet, Betker says future models will need even fewer voice samples to create a convincing clone.

What makes Speke Resort Munyonyo Uganda’s Exclusive Five-Star JewelNEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 26, 2024-- BlackRock Advisors, LLC announced today that the Boards of Directors of BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc. (NYSE: EGF) and BlackRock Income Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BKT) (each, a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”) have approved the reorganization of EGF with and into BKT, with BKT continuing as the surviving Fund (collectively, the “Reorganization”). Following the closing of the Reorganization, BKT, as the surviving Fund, intends to offer to repurchase a portion of its common shares via an annual tender offer if certain conditions are met during specified time periods. It is currently expected that the Reorganization will be completed in the first half of 2025, subject to the requisite approvals by EGF’s shareholders. Shareholders of BKT are not required to approve the Reorganization. Additional Information about the Reorganization and Where to Find It This press release is not intended to, and does not, constitute an offer to purchase or sell shares of the Funds nor is this press release intended to solicit a proxy from any shareholder of any of the Funds. The solicitation of the purchase or sale of securities or of proxies to effect the Reorganization will only be made by either a definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus. This press release references a Proxy Statement/Prospectus, to be filed by BKT. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus has yet to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). After the Proxy Statement/Prospectus is filed with the SEC, it may be amended or withdrawn. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus will not be distributed to shareholders of EGF unless and until a Registration Statement comprising of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus is declared effective by the SEC. The Funds and their respective directors, officers and employees, and BlackRock, and its shareholders, officers and employees and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the Reorganization. Investors and shareholders may obtain more detailed information regarding the direct and indirect interests of the Funds' respective directors, officers and employees, and BlackRock and its shareholders, officers and employees and other persons by reading the Proxy Statement/Prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE FUNDS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE REORGANIZATION. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSIDER THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, RISKS, CHARGES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUNDS CAREFULLY. THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WILL CONTAIN INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, RISKS, CHARGES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUNDS. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus will not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities, in any state where such offer or sale is not permitted. Security holders may obtain free copies (when they become available) of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov . In addition, free copies (when they become available) of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC may also be obtained by directing a request to BlackRock at (800) 882-0052. About BlackRock BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate Availability of Fund Updates BlackRock will update performance and certain other data for the Funds on a monthly basis on its website in the “Closed-end Funds” section of www.blackrock.com as well as certain other material information as necessary from time to time. Investors and others are advised to check the website for updated performance information and the release of other material information about the Funds. This reference to BlackRock’s website is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Funds and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate BlackRock’s website in this release. 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Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and BlackRock assumes no duty to and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. With respect to each Fund, the following factors, among others, could cause actual events to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) changes and volatility in political, economic or industry conditions, the interest rate environment, foreign exchange rates or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in demand for the Fund or in the Fund’s net asset value; (2) the relative and absolute investment performance of the Fund and its investments; (3) the impact of increased competition; (4) the unfavorable resolution of any legal proceedings; (5) the extent and timing of any distributions or share repurchases; (6) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; (7) the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms, and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to the Fund or BlackRock, as applicable; (8) terrorist activities, international hostilities, health epidemics and/or pandemics and natural disasters, which may adversely affect the general economy, domestic and local financial and capital markets, specific industries or BlackRock; (9) BlackRock’s ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals; (10) the impact of BlackRock electing to provide support to its products from time to time; and (11) the impact of problems at other financial institutions or the failure or negative performance of products at other financial institutions. Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and other regulatory filings of each Fund with the SEC are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on BlackRock’s website at www.blackrock.com , and may discuss these or other factors that affect the Fund. The information contained on BlackRock’s website is not a part of this press release. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126352668/en/ CONTACT: BlackRock Closed-End Funds 1-800-882-0052 KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ASSET MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: BlackRock Closed-End Funds Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/26/2024 05:06 PM/DISC: 11/26/2024 05:05 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126352668/enPitt QB Eli Holstein carted off with leg injury

DENVER — A federal appeals court upheld a ruling Tuesday that allows a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member to play in this week’s Mountain West Conference tournament after a legal complaint said she should be ineligible on grounds that she is transgender and thus stronger, posing a safety risk to teammates and opponents. A two-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with U.S. Magistrate S. Kato Crews in Denver. On Monday he rejected the request for an emergency injunction, finding the players and others who challenged the league’s policy of allowing transgender athletes to participate should have filed the complaint earlier. The tournament starts Wednesday in Las Vegas, but top-seeded Colorado State and second-seeded San Jose State have byes into Friday’s semifinal matches. They waited too long Judge Crews and the 10th Circuit noted the request for the emergency injunction was filed in mid-November, less than two weeks before the tournament was scheduled to start. The complaint could have been made weeks earlier, both courts said. The first conference forfeit happened Sept. 28. All the schools that canceled games against San Jose State acknowledged at the time that they would take a league loss, Crews noted. The players and others who sued are disappointed that the appeals court found it would be “too disruptive” to enter an injunction the day before the tournament is scheduled to start, said William Bock III, an attorney for the plaintiffs. The appeals court said the plaintiffs' "claims appear to present a substantial question and may have merit,” but they have not made a clear case for emergency relief. “Plaintiffs look forward to ultimately receiving justice in this case when they prove these legal violations in court and to the day when men are no longer allowed to harm women and wreak havoc in women’s sport," Bock said in a statement. Status quo The athlete has played for San Jose State since 2022, but her participation only became an issue this season. The conference policy regarding forfeiting for refusing to play against a team with a transgender player has also been in effect since 2022, the conference said. Injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo, Judge Crews said, and her playing is the status quo. The motions for an injunction also asked that the four teams that had conference losses for refusing to play against San Jose State during the regular season have those losses removed from their records and that the tournament be re-seeded based on the updated records. Crews denied that motion and the 10th Circuit did not address it. Neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans woman volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not commented publicly on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player. Crews’ ruling referred to the athlete as an “alleged transgender” player and noted that no defendant disputed that the San Jose State roster includes a transgender woman player. Transgender participation San Jose State “maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment,” Athletics Director Jeff Konya told students Tuesday. He praised the resilience student-athletes, the athletic department and staff have shown while the court challenges played out over the past nearly two weeks. “The fact that they have come to this point of the season as a team standing together on the volleyball court is a testament to their strength and passion for their sport,” Konya said. The conference said Monday it was “satisfied” with the judge’s decision and would continue upholding policies established by its board of directors, which “directly align with NCAA and USA Volleyball.” An NCAA policy that subjects transgender participation to the rules of sports governing bodies took effect this academic year. USA Volleyball says a trans woman must suppress testosterone for 12 months before competing. The NCAA has not flagged any issues with San Jose State. In Friday's semifinals, San Jose State is scheduled to play the winner of Wednesday’s match between Utah State and Boise State — teams that forfeited matches to San Jose State during the regular season. Boise State associate athletic director Chris Kutz declined to comment Monday on whether the Broncos would play San Jose State if they won their first-round tournament game. Utah State associate athletic director Doug Hoffman said the university is reviewing the order and the team is preparing for Wednesday’s match. Wyoming and Utah State also forfeited matches against San Jose State. Some athletic associations, Republican legislatures and school districts have sought in recent years to restrict the ability of transgender athletes, in particular transgender girls and women, to compete in line with their gender identity. The Republican governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming have made public statements in support of the team cancellations, citing fairness in women’s sports. President-elect Donald Trump likewise has spoken out against allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports.

Volleyball: ETBU women open NCAA tourney with Allegheny sweepPeel Hunt: 'Missing piece' in Reeves' City growth push

On December 10, a federal court in Oregon issued a preliminary injunction against Kroger's proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons, which would have been the largest supermarket merger in US history (Albertsons terminated the merger agreement after the ruling). 1 The Federal Trade Commission, the District of Columbia, and eight States filed the suit in February 2024, alleging that the transaction would substantially lessen competition in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act. The opinion by Judge Adrienne Nelson tackled a number of interesting antitrust issues, including the government's allegation that the merger would reduce competition not only for grocery store sales but also for union grocery store labor. However, one of the most instructive aspects of the opinion is the court's rejection of the defendants' proposed divestiture package. We have outlined the scope of the competitive problem that the divestiture needed to mitigate, the parameters of the proposed divestiture, and the deficiencies the court found. Companies assuming that divestitures will eliminate regulatory concerns about the anticompetitive impact of a transaction should examine whether there is a divestiture package that is commercially acceptable and that can account for the concerns Judge Nelson highlighted. The antitrust agencies and courts will almost certainly use this latest judicial decision as guidance when evaluating such proposals. Competitive Problem The government's economic expert offered what the court found to be a persuasive market concentration analysis showing the merger would be presumptively anticompetitive in 1,574 local geographic markets for "supermarkets" and 1,785 local geographic markets for "large format stores" (i.e., traditional supermarkets and supercenters, natural and gourmet food stores, club stores, and limited assortment stores). The court also found evidence (ordinary course documents and witness testimony) of substantial head-to-head competition between the merging firms bolstered the government's case. Finally, the court credited the government's expert's analysis showing that the loss of head-to-head competition would lead to price increases at numerous stores. The government thus put forth a multiprong prima facie showing that the merger would lessen competition substantially. On rebuttal, the defendants first sought to establish that competitive entry and merger efficiencies would mitigate the merger's anticompetitive effects, but the court was not convinced. The defendants then attempted to show that their proposed divestiture remedy would solve the competitive concerns. Divestiture Proposal Defendants entered into an agreement — contingent on the merger closing — to divest 96 Kroger stores and 483 Albertsons stores to a third party. The proposed third-party divestiture buyer is primarily a wholesaler but has acquired retail chains in the past and currently operates approximately 25 stores. The divestiture package also included ownership of four store banners, a license to use two other banners in certain states, ownership of five private label brands, a temporary license to use two other brands, six distribution centers, and one dairy manufacturing plant. A transition services agreement provided the divestiture buyer the right to use certain of the defendants' services, technology, and data for periods ranging from six months to four years. Deficiencies The court explained numerous ways in which the Kroger-Albertsons divestiture package was inadequate to sufficiently mitigate the anticompetitive effects of the merger and overcome the government's showing of a substantial lessening of competition: Many markets unaddressed – The court noted that 113 of the presumptively unlawful markets did not contain even a single store to be divested, meaning the divestiture would have done nothing to change the merger's anticompetitive effects in those markets. (The high number of unaddressed markets was in part a function of the fact that the defendants' economic expert utilized a market definition method and applied market concentration presumption thresholds that differed from those the government advanced and the court adopted.) Many markets insufficiently addressed – Other markets contained divestiture stores, but those divestitures were insufficient to take away a presumption of harm. Crediting the government's economic expert, the court noted that even if all the proposed divestitures were perfectly successful, the merger would still have been presumptively unlawful in 1,002 local supermarket markets and 551 large format store markets based on market concentration levels. Risk of unsuccessful divestitures – The court also agreed with the government's analysis showing that if divested stores were to lose sales or close, the number of presumptively problematic markets would rise significantly. For example, if the divested supermarkets were to lose 10 percent of their sales, the number of presumptively unlawful markets would increase from 1,002 to 1,035. If they lose 30 percent of their sales, the number would increase to 1,276. Mixed and matched assets – The divestiture package did not represent an existing, standalone, fully functioning company but rather a mix of stores, banners, private labels, and other assets. This meant the buyer would have had to rebanner 286 of the 579 divested stores (and for some of these stores, the buyer would not be acquiring any banner currently used in the state). The court cited testimony from the government's expert in retail operations and consumer shopping behavior, as well as other witnesses, explaining that rebannering is complicated and risky. The divestiture buyer also would have eventually lost access to many Kroger and Albertsons private label brands that customers are familiar with and would need to replace those with new private label products. The court noted witness testimony emphasizing the importance of private label brand equity and recounting the time required to launch a new private label brand. Divestiture size – The court expressed concern that with only 604 total stores (25 existing stores plus the 579 divested stores), the divestiture buyer may not have replaced the competitive intensity lost from Kroger and Albertsons, each of which had thousands of stores. Divestiture buyer's experience – The court was concerned that the divestiture buyer had no experience running a large portfolio of retail grocery stores. The 579 divestiture stores included hundreds of pharmacies and fuel centers, whereas the buyer's current 25 stores include only one pharmacy and no fuel centers. The court also noted that the buyer's experience offering private label products was much more limited than what the divestiture stores demand and that the buyer currently lacks any retail media capabilities, which would have taken three years to set up. Divestiture buyer's track record – The buyer has made divestiture purchases in the past, which the court noted have not been successful. Specifically, the buyer acquired 334 retail grocery stores between 2001 and 2012, but only three remained under its operation by the end of 2012 (the rest were closed or sold off). The court also cited evidence that the buyer's current stores are performing below expectations. Transfer of employees – Approximately 1,000 Albertsons employees agreed to transfer to the divestiture buyer, including Albertsons' current Chief Operating Officer, who had experience with prior divestiture integrations. The court found, however, that these transfers would not have fully mitigated the buyer's inexperience and lack of success in grocery retail and could not overcome difficulties inherent in the selection of assets and structure of the transition services agreement in the divestiture package. Divestiture buyer's independence – The court viewed the transition services agreement as broad in services and time. It noted that the buyer would remain interdependent with the merged firm for many years. The court expressed particular concern over the fact that Kroger would have provided sales forecasting data and a base pricing plan to the buyer, which the buyer could have adjusted only by communicating with Kroger's "clean room."