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Promising therapies like mitochondrial treatments and experimental technologies offer hope for overcoming fertility challenges as parenthood is increasingly delayed. Study: Emerging therapeutic strategies to mitigate female and male reproductive aging . Image Credit: BGStock72 / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Nature Aging , a group of authors explored and summarized emerging experimental strategies and methodologies to reduce reproductive aging and improve fertility in the context of advanced reproductive age. Background The global trend of delayed parenthood has resulted in an increasing number of individuals attempting to conceive in their late 30s and 40s when fertility naturally declines. Female fertility begins to decrease significantly after age 30, with an exponential drop in pregnancy rates between 30 and 40 years and miscarriage rates exceeding 90% by age 45. Male fertility also declines, with reduced conception rates and heightened miscarriage risk when fathers are over 40. Despite the public perception that supplements and assisted reproductive technologies can fully restore fertility, evidence supporting their effectiveness is limited, particularly in humans. The authors emphasize that robust clinical trials validating these interventions are urgently needed, especially for individuals of advanced reproductive age. Mechanisms of reproductive aging Female reproductive aging Ovarian fibrosis: Aging ovaries develop excessive collagen deposits and inflammation , which restrict follicle growth and impair ovulation, significantly contributing to fertility decline. Several interconnected factors drive the decline in female fertility. One of the most significant is the progressive depletion of ovarian follicles. Women are born with a finite number of oocytes (egg cells), and this reserve diminishes over time due to apoptosis and ovulation. Moreover, the quality of the remaining oocytes declines, primarily due to mitochondrial dysfunction and chromosomal abnormalities. With age, mitochondrial activity in oocytes decreases, leading to impaired energy production, increased oxidative stress, and defective meiotic division. Chromosomal missegregation during meiosis becomes more frequent, resulting in higher rates of meiotic aneuploidy (abnormal chromosome numbers) and lower chances of successful pregnancies. Another key factor is ovarian fibrosis, a condition characterized by excessive collagen deposition and inflammation in the ovarian stroma. This fibrotic environment disrupts follicular growth and contributes to gonadotropin resistance, further impairing reproductive potential. Collectively, these changes culminate in a steep decline in fertility for women in their mid-30s, with natural conception becoming rare by the mid-40s. Male reproductive aging Male fertility focus: DNA damage in sperm increases with age, reducing embryo quality and implantation rates. Antioxidants like idebenone and melatonin have shown promise in reversing these effects. Although male fertility declines more gradually, aging induces significant changes in sperm quality and testicular function. Sperm motility and morphology deteriorate with age, and the accumulation of DNA damage in sperm increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. This DNA damage is associated with poorer embryo quality and reduced implantation success. Testosterone levels also decline, negatively affecting spermatogenesis. Oxidative stress plays a major role in male reproductive aging, causing cellular damage in spermatozoa and Leydig cells, which are essential for testosterone production. These changes result in reduced fertility and an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, even when conception occurs. Therapeutic interventions for female reproductive aging A range of supplements is marketed to improve fertility, but strong clinical evidence for their efficacy is lacking. Some promising candidates include Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), melatonin, and Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) boosters like Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) and Nicotinamide Riboside (NR). CoQ10 improves mitochondrial function, reducing oxidative stress and enhancing oocyte quality. Melatonin, a potent antioxidant, has been shown to improve oocyte maturation and embryo development in preclinical models. NAD+ boosters restore mitochondrial activity, increasing ovulation and reducing oxidative damage in aged oocytes. Another promising compound is spermidine, a cellular metabolite that reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) and improves spindle alignment in oocytes. However, despite their potential in animal studies, the authors stress that large-scale human clinical trials are required to validate these findings and determine their true effectiveness. Pharmaceutical approaches Pharmaceutical interventions targeting reproductive aging have shown encouraging results in preclinical studies. Metformin and rapamycin, known for their roles in regulating cellular metabolism, have demonstrated efficacy in delaying follicular depletion and improving mitochondrial function. The Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) antagonist cetrorelix has been found to enhance follicle growth and ovulation in aged mice. Additionally, BGP-15, a compound with antioxidant properties, has shown promise in reducing ovarian fibrosis and restoring mitochondrial bioenergetics in oocytes. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) ART, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), remains a cornerstone for individuals with age-related infertility. However, the success of ART decreases significantly with age due to poor oocyte quality and higher rates of aneuploidy. Emerging techniques aim to address these challenges. Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy (MRT) replaces defective oocyte mitochondria with healthy donor mitochondria, potentially rejuvenating egg quality. While MRT shows promise, ethical considerations and long-term safety must be addressed before widespread clinical use. In Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG) is another promising technology that reprograms somatic cells to create new oocytes. While MRT and IVG are still experimental, they offer hope for overcoming age-related reproductive decline in the future. Addressing male reproductive aging Therapeutic strategies for male reproductive aging are less developed but equally important. Antioxidants like idebenone and melatonin have shown potential in reducing oxidative stress and improving sperm motility. Idebenone, a CoQ10 analog, enhances mitochondrial function and reduces ROS levels in sperm. Preclinical studies indicate that these interventions can enhance embryo quality and implantation rates. Hormonal therapies targeting testosterone production are also under investigation. Treatments such as melatonin and sildenafil improve Leydig cell function, restoring testosterone levels and enhancing spermatogenesis. Conclusions To summarize, the study highlights the urgent need to address reproductive aging as delayed parenthood becomes increasingly common. Despite promising preclinical evidence, effective clinical interventions for reducing age-related fertility decline remain limited. Emerging therapeutic strategies, including antioxidants, mitochondrial therapies, and advanced reproductive technologies, show potential but require rigorous validation through well-designed clinical trials, particularly for individuals of advanced reproductive age. The authors also emphasize the need for a cautious approach to emerging technologies like MRT and IVG, ensuring that ethical concerns and long-term safety for offspring are thoroughly addressed. Winstanley, Y.E., Stables, J.S., Gonzalez, M.B. et al. Emerging therapeutic strategies to mitigate female and male reproductive aging. Nat Aging (2024), DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00771-4, https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-024-00771-4

NASA's 2 stuck astronauts face more time in space with return delayed until at least late March

Following the results of the 2024 presidential election, searches related to emigrating from the U.S., including if it’s possible to buy Canadian citizenship , began surging. Similar searches have spiked following past presidential elections as well. Over the past week, however, people have also searched about the possibility of buying cheap homes in Italy. One VERIFY reader texted us to ask if it’s true an Italian village is selling Americans $1 homes following the election, and people on social media are also asking if it’s a real offer. THE QUESTION Is an Italian village offering $1 homes to Americans following the election? THE SOURCES Live in Ollolai website Archive of Live in Ollolai dating back to Nov. 13, 2024 November 2024 CNN interview with Francesco Columbu, Ollolai’s mayor 2018 CNN story on Ollolai May 2024 CNBC report on renovation costs of 1-Euro Italian homes THE ANSWER Yes, an Italian village is offering $1 homes to Americans following the election. WHAT WE FOUND Ollolai, a village on the island of Sardinia in Italy, is courting American homebuyers following the presidential election by offering them homes for as little as $1. Ollolai and other Italian villages have made similar offers to people around the globe for several years. However, the cheapest homes available require renovations that will push the cost of the home much higher than just a dollar. A website run by the village titled “ Live in Ollolai ” offers homes from 1 Euro to 100,000+ Euros ($1.05 to $105,000) for people “worned [sic] out by global politics.” The earliest appearance the website makes on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine is Nov. 13, 2024, just over a week after the U.S. presidential election. The website itself makes no direct mention of Americans or U.S. politics. However, the village’s mayor, Francesco Columbu, told CNN that “the website was specifically created to attract American voters,” who would receive “preferential treatment” when applying. “We just really want, and will focus on, Americans above all,” Columbu told CNN. “We can’t of course ban people from other countries to apply, but Americans will have a fast-track procedure. We are betting on them to help us revive the village, they are our winning card.” The website promises any prospective buyers that the village will guide them through the process of buying and renovating the home, as well as navigating whatever paperwork Italy might require the homebuyer to go through. Ollolai’s website says 1-Euro homes will need renovations, but there are “move-in-ready” homes at affordable prices that “require minimal renovation.” Italian villages such as Ollolai have offered homes for as little as 1 Euro for years, but the cheapest homes have always come with the caveat that the buyer will need to pay for renovations. CNN first wrote about Ollolai in 2018 , when it reported the village was selling hundreds of abandoned homes for 1 Euro each. “The real estate bonanza comes with a catch, though,” CNN wrote at the time. “The 200 stone-built dwellings up for grabs are in poor condition and buyers must commit to a refurbishment within three years, which will likely cost about $25,000.” Other villages in Italy, such as Mussomeli on the island of Sicily, similarly require buyers of 1-Euro homes to renovate the homes within three years of purchase. In May 2024, CNBC reported on the true price of Italian 1-Euro homes purchased by two Americans. Both Americans first purchased their homes in villages in Sicily in 2019. One of them won their home in an auction after bidding 5,555 Euros, which was about 5,900 Euros (about $6,200) after taxes and fees. That homeowner then bought the neighboring home in a private sale for 22,000 Euros and spent about 425,000 Euros renovating the combined space. In total, the homes and renovations cost about $475,000. The other homeowner bought three homes in another village for 1 Euro each. Each building came with a 500-Euro realtors fee and a 2,800-Euro deed — that’s about $10,500 between the three buildings. At the time, that homeowner had spent about $35,000 in renovations. Ollolai’s website says prospective buyers will be able to explore properties online soon. Ollolai also maintains a separate website for foreign remote workers to apply to rent a home for a month in Ollolai for 1 Euro. Ollolai is just one of several villages listed by websites promoting 1-Euro home deals in Italy . The trend began when some Italian villages began making the offers to attract foreigners to boost their local economies and offset aging, declining populations. The offer does not come with Italian residency or citizenship. Any American seeking to live in Italy will have to apply for residency separately. The U.S. Embassies and Consulates in Italy describe the process for obtaining legal Italian residency. While Ollolai’s offer was announced following the election of Republican Donald Trump, people looking for a more liberal government may not find that in Italy. The country is currently led by a right-wing political party with roots to post-WWII fascist groups . Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has anti-LGBTQ+, anti-abortion and anti-migrant positions . Related Articles No, you cannot buy Canadian citizenship No, the Department of Government Efficiency is not a new government agency What we can VERIFY about Trump’s plan to use the military to support mass deportations The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter , text alerts and our YouTube channel . You can also follow us on Snapchat , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . Learn More » Follow Us YouTube Snapchat Instagram Facebook TikTok Want something VERIFIED? Text: 202-410-8808It feels like Steven Moffat just really wanted to make a “joy to the world” pun, then built the rest of this episode’s plot backward from there. I don’t think that makes for the strongest story, but also, this is a Christmas special. It’s not that Doctor Who ’s festive episodes can’t be memorable; “The Husbands of River Song,” “A Christmas Carol,” “The Runaway Bride,” and more beg to differ. But I know it’s a holiday tradition in the U.K. (and elsewhere!) for people to tune into this show with their families on Christmas Day, even if they don’t watch the regular seasons. Considering that expanded audience, I have a higher-than-usual tolerance for things feeling a little cheesy or convenient. So, what’s the setup for this extended punchline of an episode? The Doctor has parked the TARDIS inside the key plot device of this episode, the Time Hotel, which allows guests to stay in rooms that are portals to different moments throughout history. (At one point, he foreshadows that one of the doors could lead to the night of Jesus’s birth by quipping, “No wonder there was no room at the inn.) But the Doctor’s not here to be a time travel tourist. He just wants some milk. In a glum reminder that he doesn’t have a companion at the moment, he accidentally grabs two mugs. It’s fun to see his body move before his brain catches up — he’s grabbing his sonic screwdriver before he realizes that he wants to investigate a Time Hotel guest with a briefcase chained to his wrist. The Doctor enlists the help of quick-to-trust and eager-to-please hotel employee Trev, who doesn’t take offense when the Doctor says it might not be necessary for him to clear his mind. Trev is tasked with letting the Doctor know via psychic graft if the briefcase carrier leaves the bar, where he’s been told to wait until a room opens up. Trev promises that this will be the least he’s ever let anybody down, and the Doctor goes off to scare people throughout history by popping through portals and pretending to be delivering a room-service snack prepared by the Time Hotel kitchen (which operates 30 minutes in the future). Meanwhile, we’re seeing a pattern with the briefcase. It makes people’s eyes flicker, and they say, “The star seed will bloom, and the flesh will rise.” But once they get someone else to take the briefcase, they die by disintegrating. The briefcase has already moved to a bartender, then Trev, and now his Silurian manager. The Doctor follows the Silurian into a hotel room in present-day London that is already occupied by Joy ( Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan). She’s the type of person who says Merry Christmas to a fly, and she’s freaked out by these strangers. (Hotel receptionist Anita also walks in, but after a moment of surprise, seems to decide that it’s above her pay grade to worry about what’s going on.) Joy is frustrated that the Doctor and the Silurian ignore her to discuss the briefcase, and grabs it herself in an effort to be included. Despite a teary speech from the Doctor, the Silurian dies. Joy and the Doctor banter about mansplaining before he opens the briefcase to see a glowing sphere. This prompts a countdown to Joy’s disintegration, which will only be prevented with a security code. Luckily, a future version of the Doctor bursts in to deliver said code. This is when it starts to feel clear to me that loneliness is a major theme of this episode. We already know that Joy was planning to spend Christmas alone. And with his future self refusing to give him clear instructions, the Doctor is now yelling about how nobody likes him and people always leave him. He has no choice but to ask Anita, yet another person who seems to spend a lot of time on her own, if he can help out at the hotel and stay for a year. Anita really doesn’t seem as surprised as I’d expect when the Doctor does things like turn her car blue, get a mop to clean by itself, or make a microwave bigger on the inside. She also doesn’t press him too much about all the TARDIS figurines he’s started collecting. He does open up a tiny bit, briefly mentioning Ruby after he explains the meaning of “Auld Lang Syne.” But the real turning point in this friendship is when he asks Anita to sit in the other chair in his room. Chairing is caring! This is a big step for a guy who doesn’t have chairs in the TARDIS. We get a montage of them playing games on “chair night,” having drinks outside in sunglasses, and agreeing that they don’t need boyfriends. Anita obviously knows the Doctor’s on a mission — he asks her to let him inspect a door in an occupied honeymoon suite — but she’s still sad when she sees him getting ready to leave on Christmas Day 2025. During a tearful goodbye, the Doctor says he’s always wondered what it would be like to live days in the right order and that it was amazing because of Anita. She sends him off with a request to think of her sometimes, for auld lang syne. The Doctor returns to the Time Hotel through a portal that he knew would open thanks to a brochure he took with him. He gives his past self the code, closing the loop. We watch a familiar scene play out again, with one extra detail — he looks at the extra chair in the room before pulling Joy into the Time Hotel. The Doctor explains that the briefcase is being used to create a custom-built star as an energy source. Opening it in a different timezone is like microwaving it to speed the process up. In order to try to break the briefcase’s control over Joy, the Doctor starts psychoanalyzing/insulting her in a way that feels reminiscent of Moffat’s writing on Sherlock . Apparently, you can tell everything about someone from the hotel room they pick. Joy must be a “human train wreck” because of how sad and lonely the one she was going to spend Christmas in was. Hey, I thought that room looked fine. Cozy, even! And I don’t think I hate myself... Anyway, the Doctor keeps pushing, wondering if Joy’s mom was having a laugh when she named her people-pleasing, rule-following daughter. This crosses a line for an already upset Joy because her mom died alone during the COVID lockdown, and she was only able to see her over iPad. Now in a new room, Joy gets angry enough to start shoving the Doctor. She cries and reveals that she spends Christmas Day alone because that’s the day her mom passed, and all this emotion breaks the briefcase’s grip on her. It turns out that Villengard, the arms manufacturer we heard so much about last season, is responsible for this briefcase. Speaking through the Silurian’s uploaded consciousness, an interface acknowledges that the star could potentially burn everything on Earth by saying that Villengard “respects the collateral sacrifice of all participating innocent life forms” in its quest to create an infinite energy source. Just cartoonishly evil, this company. The Doctor points out that it would take 65 million years for this to work. Of course, that’s when an angry dinosaur’s cue to swallow the briefcase. The Doctor and Joy rush back into the Time Hotel, where good old Trevor — who has also been uploaded to Villengard’s interface along with his psychic graft — tells the Doctor when and where the star will be done cooking. When they find it locked inside a safe in a shrine, the Doctor doesn’t notice Joy’s eyes glow because he’s busy devising a plot to open the safe and fling the star into space. He hops back to get tools from the relevant Time Hotel destinations (the Orient Express in 1962 and Mount Everest’s base camp in 1953), leaving Joy alone with the briefcase when the safe opens. She wants the star to live, and absorbs it. When the Doctor catches up to her, she and all the other characters we saw disintegrate explain that the star seed will bloom, but far away where no one will be hurt. Joy seems, well ... joyful about this. But before she floats into space, she points out that while the Doctor was right about his hotel room analysis, he also stayed there for a whole year. “You need to find a friend,” she advises. I understand that this is probably meant as a nudge for the Doctor to travel with a companion again. But to be fair, he wasn’t always alone in that room. He did find a friend in Anita (who I’m frankly surprised didn’t get an offer to see the stars with him). Joy’s explosion creates a star that makes people across all time zones, including Ruby, smile. Anita sees it before she finds out that the Doctor has recommended her for a job at the Time Hotel, and Joy’s mom sees it in the hospital and seems to recognize her daughter before she disintegrates. And finally, finally, we’ve arrived at the big reveal Moffat’s been building to. The Doctor looks out and realizes something, declaring, “Joy to the world!” And the camera moves to show us three camels and a distant city, which on-screen text confirms is ... Bethlehem in the year 0001. Joy is the Star of Bethlehem, which some believe pointed the three wise men (and their camels) to baby Jesus. Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Hey, you can debate whether this special fully utilized its characters or had satisfying enough emotional payoffs, but you can’t say that it wasn’t on theme. What’s more Christmas-y than Jesus Christ? • The best line delivery of the episode is a horrified Doctor asking Anita if a plunger is armed, though I’m also quite partial to Joy’s little reprimand when she thinks the star-seed-and-flesh phrase is some sort of sexual innuendo. • I know some people think Fifteen cries too much, and I’ll admit that I wasn’t quite as emotional as him when the Silurian died and Joy rocketed off because I’d basically just met those characters. But I actually think it’s very on-brand for the Doctor to feel so deeply about anyone dying, regardless of how long he’s known them. And personally, Ncuti’s crying is moving enough that I do feel more upset once he gets going. • The woman writing sapphic love letters (and reading Murder on the Orient Express on the actual Orient Express) isn’t named in this episode, but the credits identify her as Sylvia Trench. She’s intended to be the James Bond character of the same name, Moffat confirmed in an interview with Mashable about his take on her backstory. • There are references sprinkled throughout the episode, like when the Doctor describes Weeping Angels or continues the mavity gag from the 60th-anniversary specials . He also alludes to his fluency in rope, which we saw firsthand in last year’s Christmas special . I like these quick asides; they’re a nice way to reward fans without confusing casual viewers too much. • Along with the Christmas special, a teaser trailer for the next season is now out. It looks like we’ll meet more villains who defy the laws of this universe because they are, in fact, not from this universe. I’m particularly intrigued by a shot of a cartoon coming out of a screen. We get a glimpse at Ruby, plus a new companion played by Varada Sethu (who you might recognize for playing a different character in “Boom” ). And is that Mrs. Flood? By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.In 2023, the Magnificent Seven stocks—Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta Platforms, and Tesla—proved their worth with substantial gains, dominating market movements. In 2024, their performance has continued to impress, further solidifying their significant influence on the market. Due to their massive market capitalizations, these stocks hold outsized influence on the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 indexes, driving broader market trends. Here’s a closer look at each of them: 1. Nvidia (NVDA) - +183.2% YTD Nvidia has been a standout performer in 2024, with a massive 183.2% year-to-date (YTD) gain. The company continues to be the leader in AI and GPU technologies, benefiting from surging demand for AI-powered applications and its dominant position in the AI chip market. Nvidia's Q3 earnings exceeded Wall Street expectations, with a substantial increase in both earnings and revenue compared to last year. However, the stock recently faced a 3% decline amid reports of an investigation in China for anti-monopoly violations. Despite this setback, Nvidia's growth prospects in the AI space remain robust, and it continues to be a key driver of the tech sector.

Faraday Future Announces it Will Change its Stock Ticker Symbol to "FFAI" and Host an “FF AI Open Day” Event in Early 2025

The latest on the culmination of Taylor Swift's Eras tour in Vancouver

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Backlash grows over failure on business rates as Kingfisher reveals £31m Budget hit By EMILY HAWKINS Updated: 22:01, 25 November 2024 e-mail 1 View comments The boss of B&Q owner Kingfisher last night joined the chorus of retailers calling for an ‘urgent’ overhaul of business rates to help offset the pain inflicted on corporate Britain in the Budget. As Rachel Reeves sought to defend her tax and spending plans at the CBI conference, Thierry Garnier said radical reform to the hated rates system was ‘even more vital’ given the extra costs facing the High Street. Retailers took at £7billion hit in the Budget as the Chancellor breached the Labour manifesto to raise National Insurance and approved an inflation-busting increase in the minimum wage. In a further costly setback to the industry, she left the High Street facing a £140million increase in business rates bills and put off any meaningful reform of the system until 2026. The British Retail Consortium estimates that 17,300 shops could close over the next decade unless the rates regime is overhauled. The issue has been highlighted by the Mail’s Save Our High Streets campaign. Kingfisher boss Thierry Garnier (pictured) said radical reform to the hated rates system was 'even more vital' given the extra costs facing the High Street Garnier revealed Kingfisher –which owns Screwfix as well as B&Q and is a member of the FTSE 100 index of Britain’s leading companies – will take a £31million hit next year from the National Insurance hike alone. The company also faces £14million of extra taxes in France, where it owns Castorama. Kingfisher shares tumbled 13.3 per cent, leaving it valued at £5.35billion, as the extra costs and sluggish sales led it to downgrade profit expectations for the year to between £510million and £540million, having previously targeted up to £550million. ‘With all the additional costs facing the retail sector, it’s even more vital and urgent that we see fundamental business rates reform to reduce the unfair burden on all retailers with stores,’ Garnier told the Mail. Business rates are a local levy based on the value of a commercial property, meaning shops pay a premium compared to online giants such as Amazon. Household names from Marks & Spencer to Currys have railed against this, calling it unfit for purpose and at odds with the modern age. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next The loss of ITV's independence would be a blow to creative... Why British newspapers are still in demand: New owners... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account Labour promised to ‘replace the business rates system’ in its manifesto to ‘level the playing field between the High Street and online giants’. But instead of taking radical action in the Budget, Reeves slashed Covid-era rates relief from 75 per cent to 40 per cent and imposed a cap of £110,000. Launching a ‘conversation’ about what a fairer system would look like, she proposed lower bills for smaller buildings, but not until 2026, to be paid for by higher bills on more valuable properties. Garnier said this ‘will simply penalise retailers with larger stores and further hold back investment, growth and job creation right across the country’. His concerns were echoed by Gavin Peck, chief executive of High Street stationery chain The Works, who said: ‘We have repeatedly called for rates to be overhauled given the system is an unbalanced method of raising taxes and is completely out of touch with property values.’ He said he hopes ‘meaningful change is implemented’ but added that until then, he faces increases to National Insurance and the minimum wage as well as a higher business rates bill. In her first Budget as Chancellor last month, Reeves announced £40billion of tax hikes, including a £25billion National Insurance raid on employers. ‘There is no doubting the extent to which business has been milked in the last Budget,’ said the CBI’s chairman, Rupert Soames. 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That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence. More top storiesIIT Kanpur cancels UP cop's PhD programme for raping student

New Delhi, Dec 28 (PTI) Education loans-focused lender Credila Financial Services Ltd, formerly known as HDFC Credila Financial Services Ltd, has filed papers with markets regulator Sebi for an initial public offering (IPO) through a confidential pre-filing route. The confidential pre-filing route allows the company to withhold public disclosure of details under the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP). In a public announcement on Friday, Credila said it has "filed pre-draft red herring prospectus with the Sebi and stock exchanges ... in relation to the proposed initial public offering of its equity shares on the main board". This development follows a significant change in the company's ownership during the financial year ended March 31, 2024. A private equity consortium of EQT and ChrysCapital acquired a 90.01 per cent stake in Credila for Rs 9,060 crore, including a fresh equity infusion of Rs 2,003.61 crore. Of this, Rs 700 crore was infused in June 2023 by the erstwhile HDFC Ltd, while the remaining Rs 1,303.61 crore was contributed in March 2024 by EQT and ChrysCapital entities. The consortium valued Credila at a pre-money valuation of Rs 10,350 crore. As of March 31, 2024, EQT holds 72.01 per cent ChrysCapital owns 18 per cent, and HDFC Bank retains a 9.99 per cent stake. The change of control came after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed HDFC Bank to reduce its shareholding in the company to less than 10 per cent after the merger of HDFC Ltd with HDFC Bank. Credila recorded impressive growth during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 with total income rising sharply to Rs 2,771.04 crore from Rs 1,352.18 crore in the previous year and profit after tax nearly doubling to Rs 528.84 crore from Rs 275.92 crore. Since its inception, the lender has supported over 1.24 lakh students with education loans. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)In a recent revelation that has stirred the tech community, an image supposedly leaked by hardware enthusiast wxnod hints at the pricing details for Nvidia’s anticipated RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards. Exciting yet speculative, these details suggest a major leap forward in GPU pricing and technology. According to the image shared on social media platform X, the RTX 5090 is projected to cost 18,999 Yuan, which is approximately $2,600, while the RTX 5080 could be priced at 9,999 Yuan, or about $1,350. These prices appear aimed at the Chinese market, with expectations of an announcement at Nvidia’s keynote scheduled for January 6, 2025. When adjusted for the standard 13% VAT in China, the pricing could translate to about $2,200 for the RTX 5090 and $1,200 for the RTX 5080 in the U.S. market, indicating a notable price increase compared to the RTX 4090 series. This speculative leap in pricing points to significant performance upgrades, likely making a splash in the graphics card landscape. Rumors also suggest that a unique RTX 5090D variant might be launched in China due to continued U.S.-China trade restrictions. Prior models like the RTX 4090D priced similarly to their standard counterparts, hinting at a possible pricing strategy for these new models. Additionally, a German retailer listing accidently revealed pricing for pre-built systems with these new GPUs, suggesting the RTX 5090 system could be priced 29% higher than its RTX 4090 counterpart, indicating a premium for this next-gen technology. As always, these leaks should be taken with caution until official confirmation from Nvidia. Are Nvidia’s Future Graphics Cards Worth the Hype and Price Tag? In a surprising twist that has captivated the tech world, rumors regarding the anticipated Nvidia RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards have emerged, hinting at not only innovative technology but also a substantial increase in pricing. Let’s delve deeper into what this means for the tech-savvy and price-conscious alike. Breaking Down the Rumored Pricing Structure The leaked image shared by the hardware enthusiast wxnod suggests significant pricing for Nvidia’s forthcoming graphics cards. The RTX 5090 is priced around 18,999 Yuan (approximately $2,600), while the RTX 5080 is speculated to cost 9,999 Yuan (about $1,350). These projected prices, adjusted for the 13% VAT in China, may translate to around $2,200 for the RTX 5090 and $1,200 for the RTX 5080 in the U.S. — a notable jump from the previous generation. Potential Features and Innovations Speculations suggest that these price hikes reflect significant advancements in GPU technology. While official specifications are yet to be confirmed, industry insiders anticipate improved performance metrics, including enhanced power efficiency, better ray tracing capabilities, and superior AI-driven graphics processing. Analyzing the Market Impact The potential launch of these GPUs could shake up the high-end graphics card market. With a predicted release date around January 6, 2025, during Nvidia’s keynote, anticipation is building. The anticipated price increase could make these GPUs a status symbol in the tech community, much like their predecessors. Geopolitical Influences on Product Variants Amid U.S.-China trade tensions, it’s rumored that Nvidia might release a specialized RTX 5090D variant exclusively for the Chinese market. Historical trends, as seen with the RTX 4090D, suggest these variants will maintain competitive pricing strategies, possibly aiming to circumvent trade barriers while maintaining appeal in the local market. Retailer Leaks: A Glimpse into System Pricing A German retailer inadvertently leaked pricing for systems equipped with these upcoming GPUs, hinting that an RTX 5090-powered setup could cost 29% more than its RTX 4090 counterpart. This insight suggests that enthusiasts willing to pay for premium pre-built systems will see a significant price discrepancy between generations, reflecting the leap in technology and performance. A Cautious Conclusion While these developments are intriguing, it’s crucial to approach them with caution. Until Nvidia provides official confirmation and specifications, these details remain speculative. However, the prospect of such advanced technology generates excitement and sets the stage for awaited announcements in the tech arena. For more updates on Nvidia’s innovations and announcements, visit [Nvidia’s official site](https://www.nvidia.com).AES Announces 2% Increase in Quarterly Dividend

OAKLAND — PG&E monthly electric bills are rising far faster than those levied on customers of its two California utility cousins, a new official report shows — although PG&E claims it’s on a path to rein in costs. For roughly a decade, customers of PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric have all been burdened with electricity bill increases that are rising far faster than the inflation rate, according to the report from the Public Advocates Office at the state Public Utilities Commission. “Residential average rates have significantly increased,” the consumer advocacy group’s Dec. 5 report stated. The report also determined that the increase in electricity rates is far more pronounced for PG&E customers when compared with the bill burdens for ratepayers served by Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric. Despite the current forbidding trends for customers of PG&E and other California utilities, some hopeful projections are appearing on the horizon, in the view of PG&E spokesperson Lynsey Paulo. Electricity bills do not increase continuously, Paulo asserted. Bills might flatten or even decrease if costs diminish for programs such as mitigation of wildfire hazards. “There are rate increases, but there are also rate decreases when program costs are removed from rates,” Paulo said. Monthly electricity bills, however, have trended decidedly higher for PG&E customers. Here is how increases in electricity bill rates compare for California’s three major utility companies over multiple time frames, as outlined in the state advocacy group’s report. — During roughly three years from January 2021 to October 2024: PG&E, up 56%; Southern California Edison, up 48%; and San Diego Gas & Electric, up 21%. — During approximately 10 years from January 2014 to October 2024: PG&E was up 118% — more than double. Southern California Edison was up 86% and San Diego Gas & Electric was up 83%. Over the 10 years in the survey period detailed in the report, the inflation rate as measured by the consumer price index increased by 34%, the state consumer advocacy group reported. PG&E officials point out that the company’s current average electricity rates for residential customers are below those charged by the San Diego utility, although they are greater than the Los Angeles-area utility. Electricity rate costs as of October 2024 were an average of 38 cents a kilowatt-hour for PG&E, 32.5 cents for Southern California Edison and 38.5 cents a kilowatt-hour for San Diego Gas & Electric, according to the public advocacy office’s report. Wildfire mitigation costs, investments in electricity transmission and delivery systems, and rooftop solar incentives were listed as the primary drivers of the fast-rising electricity costs for California’s three major investor-owned utilities. Oakland-based PG&E insists that its residential customers can expect decreases in monthly electric bills in the coming years. In April 2024, in response to questions from this news organization after an Earth Day event in Richmond, PG&E Chief Executive Officer Patricia Poppe sketched out her vision for a time when PG&E customers would pay less in their monthly electricity and gas bills. “We see a future where customers’ bills can start to come down,” Poppe said in the interview. Poppe added, “We are working very hard to modernize our methods for customers and make (monthly bills) more affordable.” Some changes are already in place, according to Poppe. “We have implemented a lean operating system to shave costs out of our system and improve the customer experience,” Poppe said. If these assurances were to morph into reality, that would be a welcome counterpoint to the ominous trends PG&E customers have faced. In 2023, PG&E’s monthly bills for residential customers soared 22.3% , while the Bay Area inflation rate rose 2.6%. Paulo pointed to one component in the report by the public consumer advocates that suggested an upcoming early 2025 jump in residential electricity rates for PG&E customers would be followed by a decline in rates by late 2025 and going into 2026. In October, PG&E residential customers were paying somewhere around 38 cents a kilowatt-hour, although this rate was expected to reach 39.6 cents a kilowatt hour in early 2025, the Public Advocates Office reported. By sometime around January 2026, PG&E customers can expect to pay 35.2 cents a kilowatt-hour. All of these current costs and projected expenses for electricity, however, are well above what PG&E customers were paying as recently as early 2022. At that time, PG&E customers were paying just a bit more than 30 cents a kilowatt hour. Put another way, if PG&E electricity rates for residential customers decrease to the projected level of 35.2 cents a kilowatt hour, that would still be approximately 17% higher than what PG&E customers were paying around the start of 2022. “Rates have increased substantially since 2014, surpassing inflation,” the Public Advocates Office stated in its report.Sports Innovation Lab Publishes 2025 Media Planning Guide for Sports and Entertainment