d nice skit Angela Merkel ‘tormented’ by Brexit vote and saw it as ‘humiliation’ for EUMinisters said an extra £15 million will be made available for supply chain businesses and workers affected by changes at Tata’s Port Talbot site in south Wales. Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said the move means a fund to support businesses across Wales heavily reliant on Tata steel will be increased to £30 million. She also announced that more businesses will be able to apply for the funds, and the value of individual grants is increasing to up to £250,000 for businesses to invest in equipment, property, technology. The Government said there has been “significant demand” on the existing funding, with almost 40 businesses employing 2,000 people having begun the application process. Grants worth millions of pounds are expected to be released in the new year. The increase in funding is in anticipation of more people leaving Tata in early 2025 through the company’s voluntary redundancy scheme. Ms Stevens said: “This Government is acting decisively to support workers and businesses in Port Talbot. “We are doubling the funding available to businesses and workers and widening access to grants to ensure we support as many people as possible. “In just four months we have announced more than £40 million in investment. We said we would back workers and businesses affected by the transition at Port Talbot and we are doing exactly that. “While this remains a very difficult time for Tata workers, their families and the community, we are determined to support workers and businesses in our Welsh steel industry, whatever happens.”SANTA CLARA, Calif. , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FuriosaAI , an emerging leader in AI semiconductor solutions, is closing out the year with rapid technical and customer progress with its second-generation chip, RNGD (pronounced 'Renegade'). The recently announced AI solution has achieved compelling performance metrics in real-world enterprise deployments meeting the demand for inference with advanced large language and multimodal models. The new performance benchmarks showcase RNGD's ability to meet industry-leading throughput demands for Llama 3.1 models, including the 8B and 70B variants, with additional optimizations already in progress. The company also announced key software features that bring advanced optimization for customers currently sampling RNGD hardware in their production environments. These achievements represent the first phase of Furiosa's vision for AI infrastructure that overcomes the inherent limitations of GPUs. RNGD delivers winning throughput metrics with Llama 3.1 8B and 70B : Building on the AI-native Tensor Contraction Processor (TCP) architecture of RNGD , Furiosa is redefining real-world AI deployments, delivering unmatched performance, programmability, and power efficiency. Furiosa's RNGD recently achieved a throughput of 3,200–3,300 Tokens per Second (TPS) when running the LLaMA 3.1- 8B model. In single-user scenarios, RNGD consistently delivers 40–60 TPS performance. Additionally, RNGD demonstrates exceptional power efficiency, consuming 181W per card, with further optimization efforts underway. Rather than excessively boosting per-user performance, the company aims to maintain performance levels exceeding typical text-reading speeds (10–20 TPS or higher) while optimizing for multi-user environments and achieving a balanced performance approach. Furiosa is advancing the performance and efficiency of the LLaMA 3.1- 70B model. With just two RNGD cards, LLaMA 3.1- 70B can be executed effectively. Currently, a single server supports up to 100 concurrent user queries, with ongoing optimizations aiming to achieve 8,000 TPS per server when equipped with 8 RNGD cards. With the release of SDK v2024.3.0, Furiosa will expand the range of preloaded models. The SDK will also include support for tensor parallelism, enabling seamless processing across multiple elements without requiring model modifications, and a torch.compile, providing the foundation for executing customized models. Integration with HuggingFace Optimum will further empower customers to leverage a broader variety of models. Advanced optimization tools delivered to early RNGD customers: Building on these milestones, domestic and global enterprise customers are conducting tests with Furiosa to find a more efficient solution for scaling the inference of their self-developed models, compared to their existing setup. Their objective is to manage TCO effectively as they prepare for large-scale AI adoption. Furiosa plans to provide a high-quality AI development environment through a powerful and user-friendly SDK optimized for RNGD. The SDK v2024.1.0, currently available through the Early Access Program (EAP), is designed to handle high-performance processing of multiple LLM serving requests. It incorporates optimization techniques such as PagedAttention, Block KV Cache, and Continuous Batching, while also supporting various token sampling methods, including Greedy, Beam Search, and Top-k/p. These features allow developers to seamlessly create AI services customized to meet a wide range of requirements. The SDK and online sample will be available after the release of v2024.3.0. Furiosa remains committed to delivering the most sustainable AI deployment solutions through rigorous optimization at an unprecedented pace. "With RNGD now in customers' hands, we are accelerating the next generation of frontier LLMs to unlock emerging Agentic AI applications—bringing advanced reasoning capabilities to enterprise verticals, all at dramatically lower costs," said June Paik , Co-Founder and CEO of FuriosaAI. Furiosa Expands Global Footprint with Strategic Leadership Appointment Furiosa is scaling production and expanding its leadership team with the appointment of Alex Liu as Senior Vice President of Product and Business. A Technology Emmy Award winner and co-founder of NETINT Technologies, Alex brings over 20 years of expertise in startup management, technology innovation, and strategic leadership. At NETINT, he spearheaded groundbreaking achievements, including the development of the world's first VPU SoC, setting new industry benchmarks and securing the prestigious 2024 Technology Emmy Award. At Furiosa, Alex will lead global product management, go-to-market strategies, and partnerships to drive innovation and align the company's AI-native technologies with a vision to empower the development of planet-scale AI infrastructure. RNGD is currently sampling with customers, and mass production will ramp up in partnership with TSMC for 2025 availability. To learn more about Furiosa, please visit https://furiosa.ai/ . About FuriosaAI FuriosaAI is a semiconductor company dedicated to creating sustainable AI computing solutions that make powerful AI accessible to all. With its innovative Tensor Contraction Processor architecture, FuriosaAI is revolutionizing the AI hardware landscape, offering unparalleled efficiency and programmability for the most demanding AI workloads. For more information, please visit https://furiosa.ai/ . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/furiosaai-ends-2024-on-a-high-note-llama-3-1-performance-sdk-release-leadership-expansion-302336756.html SOURCE FuriosaAI

NEW YORK , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global apple market size is estimated to grow by USD 14.71 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.25% during the forecast period. Increasing demand for superfoods is driving market growth, with a trend towards growing popularity of urban farming. However, stringent food safety regulations poses a challenge. Key market players include Auvil Fruit Co. Inc., Batlow Fruit Co. Pty Ltd, Borton Fruits , Centre Partners Management LLC, CMI Orchards LLC, Evans Fruit Co, Fowler Farms Ltd., Fruit Hill Orchard Inc., Gebbers Farms, Gilbert Orchards, Golden Bay Fruit , Harmonie, Hope Orchards, Mercier Orchards, Rice Fruit Co., Roche Fruit LLC, Shenandoah Valley Orchards, Stemilt Growers LLC, Symms Fruit Ranch Inc, and Washington Fruit Growers. AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View Free Sample Report PDF Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The rising trend of urban farming, particularly in the US, UK, and South Korea , is projected to enhance the global apple market due to increased demand. Urban agriculture, including vertical farming and rooftop gardening, is thriving in community spaces like schools and parking lots. With the preference for organic farming, rooftop farming is gaining traction, especially for dwarf and semi-dwarf apple varieties like Honeycrisp. Urban farming offers higher productivity and reduces transportation and refrigeration costs, potentially benefiting the apple industry. The Apple Market continues to be a significant player in the technology industry, with several trends shaping its current landscape. Calmages, an innovative app, has gained popularity for its image recognition capabilities. Harvest, another trending app, assists in crop management and yield prediction. Climate apps like Apple's Weather app and Google Maps provide real-time weather information and traffic updates. Apple's App Store offers a plethora of productivity apps, such as Todoist and Evernote, which help users manage their tasks and schedules effectively. Rockets and Markets provide real-time stock market updates, while RedApple offers a segmented marketing solution for businesses. Delicious foods and recipes can be discovered through apps like Yelp and Cookpad. Vitamin Minerals and Apple Fitness+ cater to health-conscious users, offering vitamin tracking and workout plans respectively. Overall, the Apple Market is a dynamic platform, with a wide range of apps catering to various needs and trends. Insights on how AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and market growth- Request Sample! • The global apple market is experiencing growth due to the nutritional benefits of apples. Manufacturers in the food and beverage industry are using apples as an ingredient in various products, including cookies, pies, juices, smoothies, wines, and cider. Regulatory agencies such as the FDA, USDA, NOSB, GB 2760-2014, GB 29924-2013, and EFSA oversee the quality and safety of these products. Compliance with food safety regulations can incur additional costs for manufacturers. Non-compliance may result in product recalls and fines, potentially impacting market growth. • In the dynamic Apple Market, various challenges arise for businesses looking to make an impact. App development costs can be prohibitive for some companies, requiring a significant investment in time and resources. Furthermore, keeping up with the latest consumer trends and market demands can be a challenge. Consumers expect frequent updates and innovative features, making it essential for businesses to stay agile and responsive. Additionally, competition is fierce, with numerous apps vying for user attention. To succeed, companies must differentiate themselves through unique value propositions and effective marketing strategies. The use of analytics and consumer insights can help businesses tailor their offerings to meet the evolving needs of their audience. Overall, the Apple Market presents both opportunities and challenges for businesses looking to thrive in the digital landscape. Insights into how AI is reshaping industries and driving growth- Download a Sample Report This apple market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Red apple 1.2 Granny smith and Golden apples 2.1 Offline 2.2 Online 3.1 APAC 3.2 Europe 3.3 Middle East and Africa 3.4 North America 3.5 South America 1.1 Red apple- Red apples, recognized for their visually appealing red coloration, are popular for their sweet to sweet-tart flavors and crisp, juicy texture. Varieties like Red Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Pinata, Pink Lady, Envy, Ambrosia, and Jazz are favored for their unique taste profiles. These apples are versatile, used in culinary applications and as healthy snacks. Leading producers like Stemilt Growers and CMI Orchards supply these varieties, driving market growth during the forecast period. Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) The Apple market, a significant segment of the fresh produce industry, has witnessed historical trends and future projections shaped by consumer segments and geographic variations. Fueled by health consciousness and dietary changes, the demand for apples as a rich source of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants has grown. The Five Forces analysis reveals increasing competition among vendors, with the gaming industry leveraging apple-themed games to promote consumption. Calories, a crucial factor, have led to some vendors exploring low-calorie apple varieties to cater to diverse consumer needs. The vendor landscape continues to evolve, with new players entering the market and existing ones adapting to consumer preferences. The Apple Market refers to the global trade platform where various Apple products are bought and sold. These products include iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, Apple Watches, and other Apple accessories. The market is characterized by its dynamic nature, with constant shifts in supply and demand. Consumers from around the world seek out the latest Apple releases, driving up demand. Meanwhile, suppliers work to meet this demand, often through complex global supply chains. The Apple Market also features a strong secondary market, where pre-owned and refurbished Apple devices are bought and sold. This market segment caters to budget-conscious consumers and those seeking to upgrade their devices more frequently. Overall, the Apple Market is a vibrant and ever-evolving ecosystem that connects consumers, suppliers, and Apple enthusiasts from around the world. 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Type Red Apple Granny Smith And Golden Apples Distribution Channel Offline Online Geography APAC Europe Middle East And Africa North America South America 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE TechnavioMinisters said an extra £15 million will be made available for supply chain businesses and workers affected by changes at Tata’s Port Talbot site in south Wales. Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said the move means a fund to support businesses across Wales heavily reliant on Tata steel will be increased to £30 million. She also announced that more businesses will be able to apply for the funds, and the value of individual grants is increasing to up to £250,000 for businesses to invest in equipment, property, technology. The Government said there has been “significant demand” on the existing funding, with almost 40 businesses employing 2,000 people having begun the application process. Grants worth millions of pounds are expected to be released in the new year. The increase in funding is in anticipation of more people leaving Tata in early 2025 through the company’s voluntary redundancy scheme. Ms Stevens said: “This Government is acting decisively to support workers and businesses in Port Talbot. “We are doubling the funding available to businesses and workers and widening access to grants to ensure we support as many people as possible. “In just four months we have announced more than £40 million in investment. We said we would back workers and businesses affected by the transition at Port Talbot and we are doing exactly that. “While this remains a very difficult time for Tata workers, their families and the community, we are determined to support workers and businesses in our Welsh steel industry, whatever happens.”

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The Government has announced it is doubling funds to support workers and businesses affected by job losses at a giant Tata steel plant. Ministers said an extra £15 million will be made available for supply chain businesses and workers affected by changes at Tata’s Port Talbot site in south Wales. Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said the move means a fund to support businesses across Wales heavily reliant on Tata steel will be increased to £30 million. She also announced that more businesses will be able to apply for the funds, and the value of individual grants is increasing to up to £250,000 for businesses to invest in equipment, property, technology. The Government said there has been “significant demand” on the existing funding, with almost 40 businesses employing 2,000 people having begun the application process. Grants worth millions of pounds are expected to be released in the new year. The increase in funding is in anticipation of more people leaving Tata in early 2025 through the company’s voluntary redundancy scheme. Ms Stevens said: “This Government is acting decisively to support workers and businesses in Port Talbot. “We are doubling the funding available to businesses and workers and widening access to grants to ensure we support as many people as possible. “In just four months we have announced more than £40 million in investment. We said we would back workers and businesses affected by the transition at Port Talbot and we are doing exactly that. “While this remains a very difficult time for Tata workers, their families and the community, we are determined to support workers and businesses in our Welsh steel industry, whatever happens.”None

Modernisation has undoubtedly made our lives more convenient, introducing technological advancements and streamlined processes that save time and effort. However, this rapid pace of life comes with a heavy toll on mental health. The constant pressure to perform, stay connected, and keep up with an ever-evolving world has led to increased stress, anxiety, and burnout. Social media overexposure, lack of downtime, and the erosion of work-life balance only compound these challenges. While progress has its perks, it has also highlighted the need for effective mental health strategies, reminding us that true well-being requires a balance between advancement and inner peace. Innovative Therapies in Modern Mental Health Care Emerging Techniques in Mental Wellness: Dr. Ashish Bansal, MD, Consultant Psychiatrist and Co-Founder of House of Aesthetics in New Delhi, says that there is an urgent need to address mental health challenges, combining traditional therapies with new-age technologies. Neurofeedback Therapy: Dr. Bansal describes this technique as a way to regulate brainwave patterns using EEG monitoring. “It's a great therapy to get relief from anxiety, PTSD etc. and enhances the focus of the individuals,” he says. Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: For deep healing and overcoming end-of-life anxiety, depression etc., this therapy is quite an emerging way. Psychiatrists are trying to use this technique to help dealing with individuals to recover in a better way, says Dr. Bansal. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET): Dr. Bansal explains how VRET helps individuals confront fears and overcome phobias or anxiety. “When exposed with their fears that trigger anxiety, a psychiatrist helps his clients to help them overcome their challenges,” he says. Heart Rate and Respiratory Rate Variability: Dr. Bansal says, “Research has proven a direct association between mental health and heart rate variability (HRV) as well as respiratory rate variability (RRV). These signify the status of the body’s autonomic nervous system which is responsible for regulating the mood and achieving emotional balance. HRV biofeedback therapy is useful for the management of anxiety and depressive symptoms.” Holistic Practices for Everyday Mental Well-Being Mindfulness: Aamish Dhingra, ICF-PCC Certified Life Coach and Co-Founder of Cocoweave Coaching International, explains that mindfulness is one of the simplest yet most effective strategies to ease life’s complexities. It involves living in the present moment, leaving behind the distress of the past and worries about the future. He recommends starting with 5–10 minutes and gradually increasing the duration. Healing with Sound: Dhingra highlights sound therapy as an effective way to align the mind with the body. Using instruments like gongs and tuning forks, this technique employs vibrations and frequencies to calm a chaotic mind. These sounds mimic brainwaves, helping individuals enter a meditative, deeply healing state. Visualisation Technique: Dhingra also promotes visualisation, which encourages individuals to imagine the reality they want to manifest. By focusing on a goal in detail and envisioning the emotions tied to its achievement, this method helps foster positivity and clarity. Digital Detox: Dhingra stresses the importance of taking breaks from social media. He advises establishing screen-free hours and replacing mindless scrolling with informative reading to reduce digital dependency. Mapping Goals with a Life Coach: A life coach, according to Dhingra, not only motivates individuals but also helps resolve personal, professional, and internal conflicts. Acting as a supportive guide, they help broaden perspectives and navigate challenges. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Mental Health, Health and around the world.TORONTO, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rivalry Corp. (the " Company " or " Rivalry ") (TSXV: RVLY) (OTCQX: RVLCF) (FSE: 9VK), the leading sportsbook and iGaming operator for digital-first players, is pleased to announce that it has closed the third tranche (the " Third Closing ”) of its non-brokered private placement of units of the Company (the " Units "), previously announced on November 26, 2024 (the " Offering "). Under the Third Closing, the Company issued 2,231,253 Units at a price of $0.15 per Unit, for gross proceeds of $334,688. The Company may complete one or more additional closings, for aggregate gross proceeds (together with the proceeds raised under the initial closing, second closing and Third Closing) of up to approximately USD$3 million. Unless otherwise noted, all dollar figures are quoted in Canadian dollars. Each Unit is comprised of one (1) subordinate voting share in the capital of the Company (each, a " Subordinate Voting Share ") and one-half of one (1/2) Subordinate Voting Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a " Warrant "). Each Warrant is exercisable into one Subordinate Voting Share in the capital of the Company (each, a " Warrant Share ") at a price of $0.25 per Warrant Share for a period of 12 months from the date hereof, subject to the Company's right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants upon 30 days' notice in the event that the closing price of the Subordinate Voting Shares is equal to or exceeds $0.50 on the TSX Venture Exchange (or such other recognized Canadian stock exchange as the Subordinate Voting Shares are primarily traded on) for a period of 10 consecutive trading days. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering for corporate development and general working capital purposes. The Subordinate Voting Shares and Warrants, and any securities issuable upon exercise thereof, are subject to a four-month statutory hold period, in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Company has paid an aggregate of $10,501.20 in finder's fees in connection with the Third Closing. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " U.S. Securities Act "), or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. 100,200 Units were issued to family members of Steven Isenberg, a director of the Company and a "related party" (within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101")) and 500,000 Units were issued to Kevin Wimer, a director of the Company and a "related party", and such issuances are considered a "related party transaction" for the purposes of MI 61-101. Such related party transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities being issued to the related parties nor the consideration being paid by the related parties exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The purchasers of the Units and the extent of such participation were not finalized until shortly prior to the completion of the Offering. Accordingly, it was not possible to publicly disclose details of the nature and extent of related party participation in the transactions contemplated hereby pursuant to a material change report filed at least 21 days prior to the completion of such transactions. About Rivalry Rivalry Corp. wholly owns and operates Rivalry Limited , a leading sport betting and media company offering fully regulated online wagering on esports, traditional sports, and casino for the digital generation. Based in Toronto, Rivalry operates a global team in more than 20 countries and growing. Rivalry Limited has held an Isle of Man license since 2018, considered one of the premier online gambling jurisdictions, as well as an internet gaming registration in Ontario, and is currently in the process of obtaining additional country licenses. With world class creative execution and brand positioning in online culture, a native crypto token, and demonstrated market leadership among digital-first users Rivalry is shaping the future of online gambling for a generation born on the internet. Company Contact: Steven Salz, Co-founder & CEO [email protected] Investor Contact: [email protected] Media Contact: Cody Luongo, Head of Communications [email protected] 203-947-1936 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of the Company at the date the statements are made based on information then available to the Company. Various factors and assumptions are applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to and involve a number of known and unknown, variables, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause the Company's actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include regulatory or political change such as changes in applicable laws and regulations; the ability to obtain and maintain required licenses; the esports and sports betting industry being a heavily regulated industry; the complex and evolving regulatory environment for the online gaming and online gambling industry; the success of esports and other betting products are not guaranteed; changes in public perception of the esports and online gambling industry; failure to retain or add customers; the Company having a limited operating history; negative cash flow from operations; operational risks; cybersecurity risks; reliance on management; reliance on third parties and third-party networks; exchange rate risks; risks related to cryptocurrency transactions; risk of intellectual property infringement or invalid claims; the effect of capital market conditions and other factors on capital availability; competition, including from more established or better financed competitors; and general economic, market and business conditions. For additional risks, please see the Company's MD&A dated April 30, 2024 and other disclosure documents available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. No assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Source: Rivalry Corp.

CARSON, Calif. (AP) — The LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls have been Major League Soccer mainstays since the league’s inaugural season in 1996, signing glamorous players and regularly competing for championships through years of success and setbacks in a league that’s perpetually improving and expanding. Yet just a year ago, both of these clubs appeared to be a very long way from the stage they’ll share Saturday in the MLS Cup Final . The Galaxy were one of MLS’ worst teams after a season of internal turmoil and public fan dissent, while the Red Bulls were merely a steady mediocrity seeking yet another coach to chart a new direction. A year later, these MLS founders are meeting in the league’s first Cup final between teams from North America’s two biggest markets. “Two original clubs being able to put themselves in this situation, I think it’s great,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “To see two clubs that have been at it as long as this league has been around be here, I think it’s a special moment. Couldn’t be two more different and contrasting styles as well, which could make for an interesting game, and I would imagine a high-intensity game.” Everything changed in 2024 after a dismal decade for the Galaxy , who are favored to cap their transformation by winning their team’s record sixth MLS championship with a roster that’s dramatically different from its past few groups — albeit with one massive injury absence in the final. RELATED COVERAGE Woltemade’s second half brace leads Stuttgart comeback to beat Union Berlin Atalanta tops Serie A after late win over AC Milan while Inter goes 13 games unbeaten Foden and Ake to miss Man City’s game at Crystal Palace The transformation of the Red Bulls happened only in the postseason, when a team that hadn’t won a playoff game since 2017 suddenly turned into world-beaters under rookie coach Sandro Schwarz. New York struggled through the final three months of league play with only two wins before posting road playoff victories over defending champ Columbus , archrival New York City FC and conference finalist Orlando to storm into the Cup final. “We know about the history (of our club), and we know tomorrow will define what that could mean,” Schwarz said Friday. “To feel the pressure for tomorrow, it’s necessary, because it’s a final, and without pressure it’s not possible to bring the best quality on the field.” The Red Bulls have never won an MLS Cup, only reaching the championship match once before. What’s more, they’ve somehow never won a Cup in any tournament, although they’ve collected three Supporters’ Shields for MLS’ best regular-season record. The Galaxy’s trophy case is large and loaded, and those five MLS Cups are on the top shelf. But not much of that team success happened in the past decade for the club that famously brought David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and many other international stars to Hollywood. In fact, this season has ended a grim era for the Galaxy, who haven’t lost all year at their frequently renamed home stadium — which was the site of protests and boycotts just a year ago. The club’s fans were tired of LA’s steady underachievement and ineptitude in the front office run by team president Chris Klein, who was fired in May 2023. One year ago Thursday, the Galaxy hired Will Kuntz, a longtime Los Angeles FC executive who engineered his new club’s roster transformation, most dramatically by landing new designated players Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil — two international talents that LAFC also had in its sights. “I give Will and the group up there a ton of credit,” Vanney said. “It’s one thing to have players you like, and it’s a whole other thing to get them here and get them to connect with your group.” Pec and Paintsil combined for 32 goals and 27 assists while boosting the incumbent talents of striker Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig, the gifted Barcelona product who runs the offense from the midfield. The Galaxy clicked in the postseason, scoring a jaw-dropping 16 goals in four matches. Puig has been the Galaxy’s most important player all season, but he won’t be in the MLS Cup Final after tearing a knee ligament late in last week’s conference final victory over Seattle . The loss of Puig — who somehow kept playing on his injured knee, and even delivered the game-winning pass to Joveljic — makes the Galaxy even more difficult to anticipate. “He played a lot in the regular season, so it was not so easy to analyze all these games now without him,” Schwarz said. “But the main focus is to analyze what we need to do, because it’s not clear now how they’re playing without him.” The Galaxy could give some of Puig’s responsibilities to Marco Reus, the longtime Dortmund standout who joined LA in August. Reus is nursing a hamstring injury, but Vanney expects him to play. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccerSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — When Kenyan police arrived in Haiti as part of a U.N.-backed mission earlier this year to tackle gang violence, hopes were high. Coordinated gang attacks on prisons, police stations and the main international airport had crippled the country’s capital and forced the prime minister to resign , plunging Haiti into an unprecedented crisis. But the crisis has only deepened since the international policing contingent arrived. The main international airport closed for the second time this year after gangs opened fire on commercial flights in mid-November, striking a flight attendant. Gunmen also are attacking once-peaceful communities to try and seize control of the entire capital, taking advantage of political infighting that led to the abrupt dismissal of the prime minister earlier this month. Now, a new prime minister is tasked with turning around a nation that sees no escape from its troubles as Haitians wonder: How did the country reach this point? Bloody coups, brutal dictatorships and gangs created by Haiti's political and economic elite have long defined the country's history, but experts say the current crisis is the worst they’ve seen. “I’m very bleak about the future,” said Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert at the University of Virginia. “The whole situation is really collapsing.” The government is anemic, the U.N.-backed mission that supports Haiti's understaffed police department lacks funding and personnel, and gangs now control 85% of the capital. Then, on Wednesday, another blow. Doctors Without Borders announced it was suspending critical care in Port-au-Prince as it accused police of targeting its staff and patients, including threats of rape and death. It’s the first time the aid group has stopped working with new patients since it began operating in Haiti more than 30 years ago. “Every day that we cannot resume activities is a tragedy, as we are one of the few providers of a wide range of medical services that have remained open during this extremely difficult year,” said Christophe Garnier, mission director in Haiti. Lionel Lazarre, deputy spokesman for Haiti’s National Police, did not return messages for comment. Neither did officials with Kenya’s mission when asked about the surge in gang violence. In a recent statement, the Kenyan-led mission said it was “cognizant of the road ahead that is fraught with challenges." But it noted that ongoing joint patrols and operations have secured certain communities and forced gangs to change the way they operate. André François Giroux, Canada’s ambassador to Haiti, told The Associated Press on Saturday that his country and others have been trying to bolster the Kenyan-led mission. “They’ve done miracles, I think, considering all the challenges that we’ve been facing," he said. “What we have to keep in mind is that it’s still very much in deployment mode,” Giroux said. “There are not even 400 on the ground right now.” A spokesman for Haiti’s new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, did not return messages for comment. In a statement Thursday, his administration said authorities were strengthening security along the capital's main roads and had formed a special security council. “The prime minister renews his commitment to find lasting solutions to current problems,” it said. The statement was issued just days after gangs launched a pre-dawn attack Tuesday around an upper-class community in Haiti’s capital, forcing residents armed with machetes and guns to fight side-by-side with police to repel gunmen. At least 28 gang members were killed, but not before some reached an area near an upscale hotel long considered safe. “It tells you that there is no functioning authority in Haiti," Fatton said. A main concern in the ongoing crisis is the temporary closure of the main international airport in Port-au-Prince. It means critical aid is not reaching those who need it the most in a country where nearly 6,000 people are starving and nearly half of the more than 11 million inhabitants are experiencing crisis levels of hunger or worse. Gang violence also has left more than 700,000 people homeless in recent years . “We are deeply concerned about the isolation of Port-au-Prince from the rest of Haiti and the world,” said Laurent Uwumuremyi, Mercy Corps’ country director for Haiti. The aid group helps people including more than 15,000 living in makeshift shelters, but persistent gang violence has prevented workers from reaching a growing number of them in the capital and beyond. Basic goods also are dwindling as the suspension of flights has delayed imports of critical supplies. “Before, there were some neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince that we considered safe that the gangs had never reached, but now they are threatening to take over the control of the entire capital,” Uwumuremyi said. At least 150 people were reported killed in the capital and 20,000 forced to flee their homes in the second week of November alone. Overall, more than 4,500 people were reported killed in Haiti so far this year, the U.N. said. Jimmy Chérizier, a former elite police officer who became a gang leader known as Barbecue, warned that a gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm will keep attacking as they demand the resignation of a transitional presidential council tasked with leading the country along with the new prime minister. The council also is supposed to organize general elections for the first time in nearly a decade so voters can choose a president, a position left empty since President Jovenel Moïse was killed at his private residence in July 2021. The U.S. and other countries pushed for a U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti at a U.N. Security Council meeting this week. Only about 400 officers from Kenya have arrived, along with a handful of police and soldiers from other countries — way short of the 2,500 personnel slated for the mission. “This is not just another wave of insecurity; it is a dramatic escalation that shows no signs of abating,” Miroslav Jenča, U.N. assistant secretary general for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, said Wednesday at the meeting. But Russia and China oppose a U.N. peacekeeping mission , leaving many to wonder what other options are left for Haiti. Giroux, the Canadian ambassador, said his country supports a peacekeeping operation “when the time is right.” “Everybody is looking at a peacekeeping mission as a silver bullet,” he said, adding that even if that were to happen, it wouldn’t be able to deploy for another six to 12 months. “We need to be realistic.” Giroux said he is hopeful that some 600 Kenyans will arrive in Haiti in upcoming weeks, but added that "none of this matters if the political elite doesn’t get its act together.” The nine-member transitional presidential council has been marred by accusations of corruption and infighting and was criticized for firing the previous prime minister. “I’m at a loss for any short-term solution for Haiti, let alone any long-term solutions,” Fatton said. “The gangs have seen that they shouldn’t be afraid of the Kenyan mission.” He said one option may be for the government to negotiate with the gangs. “At the moment, it is perceived as utterly unacceptable," he said. "But if the situation deteriorates even more, what else are you left with?”

Instagram head Adam Mosseri on Thursday teased new genAI video features. Could it represent the beginning of more advanced platform-integrated AI capabilities for creators and brands? Instagram is rolling out AI-generated video features enabling creators to change their appearance or background / Adobe Stock Instagram is preparing to roll out generative AI editing tools in the new year, offering creators the ability to transform the appearance of their videos using simple text prompts. Powered by Meta’s generative AI model Movie Gen, and unveiled in October, the new features are designed to simplify video editing by allowing users to seamlessly alter nearly any aspect of a clip – swapping out backgrounds, adding realistic-looking accessories and objects into the video or even animating a creator’s face. In a video shared Thursday, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri previewed the tools, demonstrating a smattering of backdrops and appearances generated on the fly. In one clip, Mosseri morphs into a puppet, while in another, he dons a sleek leather jacket. A post shared by Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) “A lot of you make amazing content that makes Instagram what it is, and we want to give you more tools to help realize your ideas,” Mosseri says in the clip. “And you should be able to do anything you want with your videos. You should be able to change your outfit, or change the context in which you’re sitting, or add a chain – whatever you can think of.” Responses from users have been mixed, evidenced by comments on Mosseri’s post. “With great power comes great responsibility. I will say though this does look like a lot of fun,” wrote an animator with over 225,000 followers who goes by the Instagram handle @jtmadness. Other users expressed outright disapproval. @secondnaturedesignsmv, a landscape design creator with nearly 77,000 followers, said: “So let me get this straight. You’re enabling us to be less authentic and use illusions to create a fake reality? This is wrong on so many levels.” The Movie Gen model was announced this fall, with Meta touting the tech’s ability to depict realistic human motion in AI-generated content. Today’s announcement comes just over a week after OpenAI announced the public debut of its highly anticipated video generation platform Sora . The launch came with much fanfare, and OpenAI was forced to restrict signups amid surging demand. But unlike OpenAI’s Sora and other rivals like Adobe’s Firefly, Meta’s approach appears focused on integrating AI directly into its social platforms, where the technology could easily reach millions of creators. It’s a potentially powerful differentiator. Advertisement Of course, questions remain about how well tools like Movie Gen and Sora perform once they’re widely available. Mosseri’s teaser clips look polished, but early previews of rival models have occasionally fallen short of expectations in real-world use. A common hiccup has been the accurate portrayal of human limbs and fingers. For Instagram’s vast user base of 2bn monthly active users, the arrival of AI-powered video editing could mark a significant leap in creative possibilities – and perhaps, a new frontier in content creation. Brands, too, may be eying the forthcoming features with eagerness. “We’ll definitely see creators using this to produce more cinematic and personalized content – and, if brands gain access, it will be an exciting opportunity to reintroduce how we consume user-generated content,” says Hillary Applegate, founder and CEO of Digital HQ, a digital marketing agency. Advertisement For brands, Movie Gen could enable “more interactive campaigns and contests that could allow brands to involve customers in the creative process,” she predicts. Furthermore, she highlights opportunities for more immersive product visualization and virtual try-ons,” establishing new ways for brands to showcase products and improve the customer experience. Lance Wolder, the head of strategy at digital advertising firm PadSquad, says that Movie Gen is “undeniably intriguing,” and says he’s excited by the possibility of “[enhancing] brand assets beyond just talking-head content. Can it make visuals more dynamic or intelligently replace unwanted backgrounds in a way that elevates production value?” Nonetheless, Wolder wonders how truly innovative the features will prove to be. At this stage, he says, “It feels like the next evolution of a filter – exciting but perhaps not groundbreaking.” To win with creators and brands, he suggests, Instagram would do well to go further and develop AI that can “address other pain points in content production, [as] many creators still rely on third-party apps like CapCut for editing features that should be native to the platform.” Catch up on the most important stories of the day, curated by our editorial team. Stay up to date with a curated digest of the most important marketing stories and expert insights from our global team. Learn how to pitch to our editors and get published on The Drum. But perhaps Meta’s objective isn’t to get creators and brands attached to these Movie Gen Instagram features, but rather to use these foundational tools as a springboard for developing more advanced capabilities. At least, that’s Yashin Manraj’s perspective. Manraj is the CEO of tech automation company Pvotal Technologies. “The end goal is not to make this a useful tool, but rather to limit the time users are spending on other AI enhancement tools and to collect data on what users are doing with so [Meta] can improve [its own offerings],” he says. Another goal in launching Movie Gen, Manraj suspects, is more blatantly commercial: to develop generative AI product placements or more organic branded messaging that will appeal to consumers who are turned off by explicit advertisements. Meta has yet to confirm an exact launch date for the new AI features.In a commanding performance, Sweden overwhelmed Serbia with a 6-0 victory, completing an 8-0 aggregate win to secure their place in next year's Women's European Championship finals in Switzerland. They will be joined by Norway and Finland, who also triumphed in their respective playoff matches. Sweden's win was marked by goals from Filippa Angeldahl, Kosovare Asllani, Stina Blackstenius, Hanna Bennison, and Anna Anvegaard. The Swedes celebrated their triumphant qualification by honoring recently retired Caroline Seger. Meanwhile, other qualifiers include Portugal, Poland, Belgium, and Wales, marking a fascinating series of playoff matches. (With inputs from agencies.)

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