An Iranian group linked to the country’s Revolutionary Guard has attempted to access the personal email accounts of various figures associated with President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and Vice President Kamala Harris. These targets include current and former government officials, as well as individuals connected to presidential campaigns. Google’s Threat Analysis Group reported ongoing active targeting by the Iranian group, using email credential phishing tactics to try to infiltrate accounts. The group, identified as APT42 by Google and Mint Sandstorm by Microsoft, has a history of cyber interference, with past attempts to disrupt US elections. Amid growing concerns about foreign adversaries influencing the upcoming presidential election, investigations are underway by the FBI regarding the intrusion attempts on both the Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns. US intelligence officials have cited persistent efforts from Russia and Iran to sway the election through various online activities, including disseminating misleading information. While Iran has denied involvement in the election interference, the reports highlight the escalating digital threats facing political campaigns and officials in the lead-up to the election.
Australian Employment Surges in July, Jobless Rate Rises; Interest Rate Cut Chance Dims
SYDNEY, Aug 15 – Australian employment sped past forecasts for a second straight month in July, yet the jobless rate still ticked higher as worker participation hit record peaks in a sign labour demand remains solid despite high borrowing costs.
Markets pared back the chance for an interest rate cut this year, with the probability of a November easing now seen at 35%, down from 55% before the release. The local dollar perked up 0.2% to $0.6609 while three-year bond futures trimmed earlier gains to be flat at 96.51.
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday showed net employment rose 58,200 in July from June, when they jumped 52,200. That was well above market forecasts for a 20,000 rise.
Full-time employment surged 60,500, for a third month of strong gains.
The jobless rate, however, ticked up to 4.2%, the highest since early 2022 and above forecasts of 4.1% as more people looked for work. The participation rate rose to an all-time high of 67.1%, while hours worked rose 0.4%.
The employment and participation measures remain historically high while unemployment and underemployment measures remain historically low, compared with what we saw before the pandemic, said Kate Lamb, ABS head of labour statistics.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has held its policy steady since November, judging the current cash rate of 4.35% – up from the 0.1% during the pandemic – is restrictive enough to bring inflation to its target band of 2-3% while preserving employment gains, she added.
However, it assessed that the labour market was still running a little tight, one reason that underlying inflation, which was at 3.9% last quarter, is only expected to return to the target band by the end of 2025.
Unlocking Success: Big Data Strategies Fueling Business Growth in Michigan, US
Thank you for pointing that out. Here is the revised response:
1. Utilizing Predictive Analytics for Market Trends
Understanding and anticipating market trends through predictive analytics is another key strategy for gaining a competitive edge. Predictive analytics involves analyzing historical data to forecast future outcomes. This way, businesses can stay ahead of changes in the market and adapt quickly.
The global predictive analytics market is expected to grow to around USD 61.9 billion by 2032. This projection highlights the increasing reliance on predictive analytics across industries. Companies adopting this approach can gain valuable insights into customer preferences, anticipate shifts in demand, and fine-tune their marketing strategies.
Beyond market trends, predictive analytics is instrumental in product development and innovation. Analyzing customer data can reveal unmet needs, which, in turn, guides the development of products that fulfill these demands. Such proactive strategies enhance customer satisfaction while strengthening the company’s market position.
Apple Developing iPad-Like Device with Robotic Arm for Video Calls, US
Apple is reportedly developing a device that combines an iPad-like display with a robotic arm, enabling it to perform tasks like adjusting to face the user during a video call.
This is one of several projects the tech giant has undertaken as it aims to create new products, according to a report by Bloomberg. The effort to develop the tabletop device is codenamed J595 and has accelerated in recent months after being approved in 2022.
Apple envisions the device as a tool for tasks related to smart home management, videoconferencing, and home security. It expects the device to be controlled by the Siri digital assistant and Apple Intelligence artificial intelligence (AI) offering. The company aims to release the device by 2026 or 2027 for around $1,000.
The project, which involves several hundred people, has received mixed reactions within Apple. However, CEO Tim Cook is reportedly a supporter of the effort. In addition to this device, Apple is also working on mobile robots for home use, AirPods earbuds with cameras, and a giant, foldable iPad. The company is also considering developing smart glasses and augmented reality (AR) glasses in the future.
Apple recently shifted focus from its long-running electric car project to invest more in AI technology. The company is heavily investing in research and development to integrate generative AI across its product line.
As Apple continues to innovate and develop groundbreaking technologies, consumers can expect new and exciting products to enhance their digital experiences in the coming years.
Telstra Group Sees 16% Profit Drop Despite Mobile Growth, Australia
Telstra Group, Australia’s predominant telecom firm, experienced a notable decline in its annual profit, primarily attributed to the underperforming enterprise and wholesale sectors despite growth in the mobile segment. The fixed enterprise division, which caters to delivering technological solutions to government and large businesses, faced challenges from intense competition and limited customer expenditures. Although the mobile business exhibited margin expansion due to increased prices for mobile and data plans along with customer acquisition, the struggles in the enterprise category overshadowed these gains.
The company reported a profit of A$1.62 billion, a significant drop from the previous year’s A$1.93 billion and below the estimate of A$2.00 billion. However, the underlying net profit after tax saw a 7.5% increase, totaling A$2.3 billion. Despite the decline in overall profit, Telstra announced a final dividend of 9 Australian cents per share, reflecting a modest increase from the prior year’s 8.5 cents. The contrasting performance in different segments highlights the shifting landscape of the telecom industry and the challenges faced by key players like Telstra in adapting to evolving market dynamics and customer demands.
Stanford Professor Fei Fei Li’s World Labs Raises $100M in Latest Funding Round, US
World Labs, a secretive startup founded by esteemed Stanford University AI professor Fei Fei Li, has recently secured a substantial investment from NEA, a leading venture capital firm. The $100 million round of financing, which took place two months after a previous round, has propelled World Labs’ valuation to over $1 billion, solidifying its status as a unicorn startup. World Labs, founded just a few months ago, is focused on developing AI models that can accurately estimate the three-dimensional physical aspects of real-world objects and environments without the need for extensive data collection. This groundbreaking technology, spearheaded by Fei Fei Li, has garnered significant interest from investors and industry experts, positioning World Labs as a key player in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
UK Grocery Inflation Climbs to 1.8% in August: Fresh Data Shows Consumer Behavior Shifts.
UK grocery inflation edged higher this month for the first time since March 2023, according to industry data.
Market researcher Kantar said annual grocery price inflation was 1.8% in the four weeks to Aug 4, versus 1.6% in the previous four week period.
Having reached its lowest rate in almost three years in July, August saw inflation nudge up again slightly, Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said.
While this is noticeable following 17 straight months of falling rates, it actually marks a return to the average levels seen in the five years before the start of the cost of living crisis.
The British Retail Consortium warned last month that renewed inflationary pressures could be on the way as the effect of last year’s fall in commodity prices fades and climate change damages harvests following unusually wet weather in England and extreme heat elsewhere.
Wage inflation is also putting upward pressure on prices.
Kantar said prices are rising fastest in markets such as vitamin and mineral supplements, fruit juices and drinks and chocolate confectionery and are falling fastest in toilet tissues, bottled cola drinks and dog food.
Official data published last month showed overall UK inflation held at 2% in June, lower than in the United States and the eurozone. Data for July is expected to show an increase.
Kantar’s data, the most up-to-date snapshot of UK consumer behaviour published since the July 4 national election, showed take-home grocery sales rose 3.8% in value terms over the four-week period year-on-year.
It said sales of wine, beer and snacks were boosted by the closing stages of the Euro 2024 soccer championship and the start of the Paris Olympics. — Reuters
Irvine City Council Plans $100M Gym with Badminton Courts as Priority, US
The city of Irvine is set to embark on the construction of a $100 million municipal gym on Red Hill Avenue. While the gym’s interior design is still in the works, one thing is for certain – badminton will be a top priority in its development. The city council recently greenlit the acquisition of a sizable property for $96.5 million, laying the groundwork for this ambitious project. The gym is expected to offer much-needed indoor recreational space for residents while catering to the demand for badminton facilities in the area. Stay tuned as the city moves forward with this exciting venture that promises to enhance the local community’s recreational options.
Cold Case Solved: DNA Match Leads to Serial Killer Confessing to 1986 Teen Murder, US
(LOS ANGELES) — The 1986 cold case murder of a teen has been solved after a DNA match led investigators to a convicted serial killer on death row.
When presented with the DNA evidence, William Lester Suff, a 70-year-old convicted serial killer, admitted to stabbing 19-year-old Cathy Small multiple times in the chest and leaving her on a California road after an argument, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Lt. Patricia Thomas.
On Feb. 22, 1986, South Pasadena police found Small unresponsive in the middle of the street, wearing a nightgown and suffering from multiple stab wounds throughout her body. Despite being pronounced dead at the scene, she was listed as Jane Doe No. 17 before being identified.
It wasn’t until August 2020 that DNA evidence from the case revealed the presence of two male donors, one of whom was identified as Suff, a notorious convicted serial killer known as the Riverside Prostitute Killer or the Lake Elsinore killer. Suff’s murder spree of 12 homicides occurred from 1989 to 1991 in Riverside County.
Suff, who was working in a computer repair shop in 1986, admitted to killing Small after a heated argument that led to her stabbing. Small, a mother of two with a younger sister, was mourned by her family, with her sister relieved that justice was served, although her mother had passed years before the killer was identified.
Cathy had a family who cared about her deeply. It is horrifying that her life was taken away so violently and in such a tragic way, said Kathryn Barger, a member of the LA County Board of Supervisors, during a press conference. Justice will be served for Cathy and her family.
The resolution of this long-standing cold case sheds light on the heinous crimes committed by serial killer William Lester Suff and brings closure to the family of Cathy Small after decades of uncertainty.
Starbucks CEO Exits Abruptly: Trend of Short Tenures Among Top Executives on Rise, US
NEW YORK, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) — The abrupt departure of Laxman Narasimhan as chief executive of Starbucks ushered him into a group of high-profile executives who have resigned, or been ousted, after fewer than two years in the position, a sign that more big-shot corporations have been on bumpy roads, reported The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.
Narasimhan assumed the CEO role at the coffee giant in March 2023 and was announced to step down on Tuesday, after roughly 16 months. The average tenure of a departing CEO in the S&P 500 is about 8 years, according to data from the Conference Board and data-analytics firm Esgauge.
When CEOs have short tenures, it is typically because of pressure from a company founder or activist investors, or a realization that a new strategy is failing to take off, corporate advisers say, said the report. In some instances, like at Disney, an old boss is itching to return.
These are often cases of failed executions of visions to turn around the company in a difficult financial situation, said Matteo Tonello, managing director of ESG research at the Conference Board. The board realizes it’s a miss and wants to change course before further damage is caused.
Except for Narasimhan, notable short-time CEOs in the United States include Ron Johnson of J.C. Penney, serving about 17 months; John Flannery of General Electric, 14 months; Bob Chapek of Disney, from February 2020 to November 2022; Ed Whitacre of General Motors, 10 months; Edward Liddy of American International Group, 12 months; and Stephanie Linnartz of Under Armour, 14 months.
