Latest news for Italgas (OTC:ITGGF) Stock

Italgas SpA is an Italy-based company engaged in the business of natural gas distribution. The distribution service consists of transporting gas through local pipeline networks, from points of delivery at the reduction and measurement stations interconnected with the transport networks up to the final delivery points to customers. In addition, the company is also engaged in metering activities, which consist of determining, gathering, making available, and archiving metering data on natural gas withdrawn over the distribution networks. It derives a majority of its revenue from natural gas distribution activity. The other activities of the company are the distribution and sale of water and providing technical, engineering, IT assistance, and other services.

Italgas SpA

Following delisting from Nasdaq, the Company expects its common stock will be quoted on the OTCQX Market beginning on&nbsp;October 7, 2024&nbsp;and expects to retain the symbol &quot;GBNY.&quot;

News

GBNY

Generations Bancorp NY Reports Voluntary Decision To Delist Its Common Stock From Nasdaq

Needham analyst Ami Fadia reiterates Harmony Biosciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HRMY#NASDAQ">HRMY</a>) with a Buy and maintains $52 price target.

Price Target

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

HRMY

Needham Reiterates Buy on Harmony Biosciences, Maintains $52 Price Target

Popular cryptocurrency-based betting platform Polymarket, which has gained prominence this U.S. election season, might be gearing up to launch its own token.
What happened: The so-called decentralized prediction platform was in talks to raise $50 million in fresh funding, tech-focused publication The Information <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/polymarket-discusses-fresh-funding-amid-election-betting-craze">reported </a>Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
&#8220;Investors in the round will receive token warrants, which grant them the right to purchase tokens if Polymarket launches them at a later date,&#8221; the report added.&nbsp;
It was further revealed that Polymarket could use the potential token as a way for users to validate the outcome of real-world events.&nbsp;
Polymarket didn't immediately respond to Benzinga's request for clarification on the matter.&nbsp;
Earlier in May, Polymarket <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240513090515/en/Polymarket-Raises-70m-From-Thiel%E2%80%99s-Founders-Fund-General-Catalyst-Vitalik-Buterin-to-Scale-Global-Prediction-Market">announced </a>raising $70 million, led by tech billionaire Peter Thiel's Founders Fund and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) founder Vitalik Buterin.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40994028/elon-musk-dons-his-maga-hat-to-meet-pro-bitcoin-president-javier-milei-duo-discuss-argenti">Elon Musk Dons His MAGA Hat To Meet Pro-Bitcoin President Javier Milei: Duo Discuss Argentina&#8217;s Journey To Normalcy</a>
Why It Matters: Polymarket, built atop Ethereum&#8217;s Layer-2 chain, Polygon (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/matic/usd">MATIC</a>) facilitates buying and selling outcome shares using cryptocurrencies. The shares can be redeemed for $1 if the outcome is correct and become worthless if it's incorrect.
Polymarket&#8217;s trade volume has exploded in recent months, with August reaching over $472.7 million and September already seeing $400.21 million, <a href="https://tokenterminal.com/terminal/projects/polymarket?v=ZjhlY2U3ODIzZmM5MGVmNGYwZjA0YjVh">according </a>to the on-chain analytics platform Token Terminal.
With almost $1 billion wagered on who would win the battle for the White House between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the platform has profited from the excitement surrounding the U.S. elections.&nbsp;
Should the startup proceed with the token launch, it would be among the most prominent debuts in the recent history of the cryptocurrency market.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40993290/trump-vs-harris-2024-election-betting-odds-show-vice-president-maintains-lead-as-race-near">Trump Vs. Harris: 2024 Election Betting Odds Show Vice President Maintains Lead As Race Nears One-Month Mark</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Hubert Burda Media

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

Markets

$ETH

$MATIC

Peter Thiel-Backed Crypto-Based Betting Platform Polymarket Might Be Contemplating A Token Launch: Report

Macro Economic Events

Economics

China Central Bank Governor Said Medium Term Lending Rate, Lending Prime Rate Will Further Fall

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-24/china-unveils-broad-support-to-shore-up-real-estate-market" title="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-24/china-unveils-broad-support-to-shore-up-real-estate-market">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-24/china-unveils-broad-support-to-shore-up-real-estate-market</a>

China Central Bank Governor On Tuesday Said Will Reduce Mortgage Rates For Existing Homes; Said We Must Support The Steady Recovery Of Prices In The Economy

A leading economist in China has vanished following critical comments about President Xi Jinping&#8216;s economic policies.
What Happened: Zhu Hengpeng, deputy director at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), was detained after allegedly criticizing Xi in a private WeChat group. Zhu&#8217;s remarks reportedly included veiled criticisms of Xi&#8217;s leadership and comments on China&#8217;s struggling economy, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/china/top-economist-in-china-vanishes-after-private-wechat-comments-50dac0b1">reported</a> The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
The investigation into Zhu coincides with the Chinese Communist Party&#8217;s intensified efforts to suppress negative commentary about the country&#8217;s economic health. Under Xi, dissent has been increasingly punished, with critics facing imprisonment or exile.
Zhu, who has held senior positions at CASS for over a decade, was removed from his posts, and his name was erased from online directories.
The probe aligns with an indoctrination campaign at CASS, aimed at enforcing party discipline. CASS President Gao Xiang emphasized the need for officials to be &#8220;fearful in their hearts, careful with their words, and restrained in their actions.&#8221;
Zhu&#8217;s last public appearance was in April at an elder-care conference. He was scheduled to speak at a May event but was replaced without explanation, according to the report. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40935722/spacex-ceo-elon-musk-says-anyone-can-go-to-mars-with-spacex-but-journey-would-be-like-a-long-sea-voy?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Says Anyone Can Go To Mars With SpaceX But Journey Would Be Like A &#8216;Long Sea Voyage In Centuries Past&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The disappearance of Hengpeng is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend in China. This follows the high-profile case of Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba Group Holdings, who vanished from public view after criticizing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/03/31505927/jack-ma-reportedly-returns-to-china-as-xi-jinpings-tech-crackdown-focus-shifts-to-banker-bao-fan">Chinese regulators in 2020</a>.
Ma&#8217;s disappearance and subsequent reappearances, including a recent return to China in March 2023, highlight the ongoing crackdown on influential figures. 
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40971831/putin-ally-who-unveiled-tesla-cybertruck-with-machine-gun-last-month-now-says-elon-musk-remotely-dis?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Putin Ally Who Unveiled Tesla Cybertruck With Machine Gun Last Month Now Says Elon Musk &#8216;Remotely Disabled&#8217; The Militarized EV</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

Global

After Criticizing Xi Jinping's Economic Policies, Leading Economist Zhu Hengpeng Reportedly Goes Missing In China

Piper Sandler analyst Brent Bracelin upgrades Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) from Neutral to Overweight and raises the price target from $268 to $325.

Upgrades

Piper Sandler Upgrades Salesforce to Overweight, Raises Price Target to $325

AMBA

Ambarella Announced That Its Oculii AI 4D Imaging Radar Technology Is Deployed Worldwide In The 2023 And 2024 Lotus Eletre Electric Hyper-SUV As Well As The 2024 Lotus Emeya Fully Electric Hyper-GT From Lotus Technology

As consideration for the P&amp;A Transaction, ESL Federal Credit Union will pay Generations&nbsp;$26.2 million&nbsp;in cash and Generations Bank will retain its equity at the effective time of the P&amp;A Transaction, less certain reductions and additions.
The P&amp;A Transaction is expected to close late in the&nbsp;second quarter&nbsp;or in the&nbsp;third quarter&nbsp;of 2025.
Generations Bancorp&#39;s shareholders are currently estimated to receive an aggregate of between&nbsp;$18.00&nbsp;and&nbsp;$20.00&nbsp;in cash in exchange for each share of Generations Bancorp common stock owned (the &quot;per share consideration&quot;). I
&nbsp;

ESL Federal Credit Union Agrees To Acquire Substantially All Assets And Liabilities (Including Deposit Account Liabilities) Of Generations Bank; To Pay Generations $26.2M In Cash

In a recent development, Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) has made a final pay offer to its striking workers, but the workers&#8217; union has declined to put it to a vote.
What Happened: Boeing, on Monday, made a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40992886/boeing-stock-climbs-as-company-sweetens-labor-deal-what-you-need-to-know">&#8220;best and final&#8221; pay offer</a> to its striking workers, which included reinstating a performance bonus, enhancing retirement benefits, and doubling a ratification bonus to $6,000 if the workers accepted the offer by Friday, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) declined to vote on the offer, stating that the planemaker had refused to negotiate over the proposal, which did not meet the members&#8217; demands.
&#8220;Logistically we don&#8217;t have the ability to set up a vote for 33,000 people in a few days like that anyway. Plus, it missed the mark on many of the things our members said were important to them,&#8221; said Jon Holden, the president of IAM District 751.
&#8220;We are not obligated to vote (on) their offer. We may, down the road. But our hope is that we can get into some discussion so we can actually address the need of our members.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/09/40972472/x-rays-microwaves-and-now-what-this-company-freezes-weed-at-320-f-to-kill-mold-and-save-a-ton?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X-Rays, Microwaves And Now What? This Company Freezes Weed At -320°F To Kill Mold And Save A Ton</a>
The strike, which began on Sep. 13, is the union&#8217;s first since 2008. The workers, who are seeking a 40% pay increase and the reinstatement of a performance bonus, had previously rejected an offer by the company.
Why It Matters: The rejection of Boeing&#8217;s final offer comes after the company sweetened its labor deal in an attempt to end the strike that has been costing the planemaker hundreds of millions of dollars each week. The strike began after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/09/40942814/boeing-braces-for-turbulence-as-strikes-furloughs-send-stock-sliding-bearish-signals-pre">more than 30,000 machinists </a>in Seattle and Oregon rejected Boeing&#8217;s latest contract offer, with 96% voting to walk off. Despite a 25% raise on the table, workers argued the offer failed to match the skyrocketing cost of living in the Seattle area. Negotiations remain tense, and the union&#8217;s frustration is mounting.
Boeing&#8217;s stock has been affected by the strike, with the company furloughing thousands of U.S. employees, executives, and non-essential contractors in a bid to cut costs.
Price Action: As per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>, Boeing stock closed 1.96% higher at $156.30 on Monday after the company presented the new deal. However, post the rejection, the stock was trading only slightly lower, around 0.15%, during Tuesday&#8217;s pre-market.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40969619/trump-ally-sarah-huckabee-sanders-jabs-kamala-harris-for-not-having-biological-children-doesnt-have?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Ally Sarah Huckabee Sanders Jabs Kamala Harris For Not Having Biological Children: &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t Have Anything Keeping Her Humble!&#8221;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Pooja-Rajkumari" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pooja Rajkumari</a>

General

Boeing's Striking Workers Reject 'Best And Final' Offer: '...It Missed The Mark On Many Of The Things'

-Reuters Citing Senior Administration Official

APDN

GOVX

MRNA

TNXP

VRAX

President Biden Will Announce Donation Of 1M MPox Vaccine Doses, At Least $500M To African Countries To Support Their Response To Outbreak

XPeng (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPEV#NYSE">XPEV</a>) CEO Xiaopeng He said late last week that the Chinese EV maker made its 500,000th vehicle. 
What Happened: &#8220;XPENG&#8217;s 500,000th Smart EV has rolled off the line!&#8221; the CEO announced on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The CEO also added that it produced 10,000 units of the Mona M03 all-electric hatchback coupe in just 22 days after its launch in late August.
XPeng has been scaling sales through the course of the year, despite <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40669363/teslas-china-rivals-report-steady-august-sales-performance-amid-intense-price-competition-what-i">lagging behind its peers</a> such as Li Auto.
In the eight months ended August, XPeng delivered 77,209 EVs, marking an increase of 17% from the corresponding period last year.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="416" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24042306/Je25j-xpeng-deliveries-over-the-years-1024x416.png" alt="" class="wp-image-562565" style="width:576px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24042306/Je25j-xpeng-deliveries-over-the-years-1024x416.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24042306/Je25j-xpeng-deliveries-over-the-years-300x122.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24042306/Je25j-xpeng-deliveries-over-the-years-768x312.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24042306/Je25j-xpeng-deliveries-over-the-years.png 1240w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Why It Matters: In the second quarter alone, XPeng delivered 30,207 EVs and accrued a net loss of $0.18 billion and total revenue of $1.12 billion.
The EV maker, however, is yet to turn a profit. 
The company launched the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40794637/whats-going-on-with-xpeng-stock-today">Mona M03 late last month in China</a>, with a starting price of RMB 119,800 ($17,025). Its more premium variant starts at RMB 155,800 ($22,141), still lower than Tesla Inc.&#8217;s cheapest offering- the Model 3- which starts at over RMB 200,000.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40979752/elon-musk-says-buses-wont-be-needed-once-tesla-robotaxis-start-operating-will-take-people-point-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Says Buses Won't Be Needed Once Tesla Robotaxis Start Operating: ‘Will Take People Point To Point For A Similar Cost'</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Xpeng

Tech

XPEV

XPeng Touches Production Milestone Of 500K EVs: Here's How Many Electric Cars The Chinese Company Has Delivered

ByteDance&#8217;s TikTok on Monday removed accounts linked to Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40891684/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-banishes-russian-state-media-globally-to-counter-foreign-influence-rt-and-">violating community guidelines</a>.
What Happened: The social video app stated that the accounts associated with TV-Novosti and Rossiya Segodnya, the parent organizations of RT and Sputnik, were permanently banned for engaging in deceptive behavior. TikTok had already restricted the visibility of these accounts in the European Union and the United Kingdom, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tiktok-removes-rt-sputnik-covert-operations-rcna172358?ref=biztoc.com">reported</a> to NBC News.
Both outlets reported over the weekend that some of their accounts had been deleted without explanation. Sputnik criticized the ban on X, <a href="https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1837470299077439663">stating</a> that their subscribers are now deprived of crucial geopolitical information.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has claimed that Russian outlets like RT have transitioned from media operations to covert intelligence activities. Federal prosecutors have charged two RT employees with running a $10 million project to promote Russia-aligned narratives while concealing the funding source, according to the report.
RT's editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, has defended the organization, asserting it will continue its operations in the U.S. despite the bans, according to the report.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40973189/teslas-chinese-rival-byd-plans-to-assemble-evs-in-pakistan-after-india-said-no-we-have-big-ambit?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla&#8217;s Chinese Rival BYD Plans To Assemble EVs In Pakistan After India Said No: &#8216;We Have Big Ambitions&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: This move by TikTok comes amid a broader crackdown on Russian state media by major social media platforms. Last week, Meta Platforms Inc. announced a global ban on RT and Rossiya Segodnya, escalating its efforts to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40891684/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-banishes-russian-state-media-globally-to-counter-foreign-influence-rt-and-">combat foreign interference</a>. This ban followed accusations that these outlets used deceptive tactics for covert influence operations online.
Additionally, TikTok is undergoing significant internal changes. On Saturday, TikTok's head of global marketing, Kate Jhaveri, resigned <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40969365/tiktok-global-marketing-chief-resigns-amid-major-overhaul-heres-what-the-leaked-memo-says">amid a major overhaul</a> aimed at restructuring the company&#8217;s marketing function.
Meanwhile, a three-judge panel at the DC Circuit Court of Appeals last week expressed skepticism during oral arguments in a case involving TikTok and a group of creators contesting a law often referred to as "the TikTok ban." The judges scrutinized TikTok's counsel more rigorously than the U.S. Department of Justice, indicating <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40890877/tiktoks-future-hangs-in-balance-as-judges-express-skepticism-in-us-court-battle">potential challenges ahead for the platform</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40946963/bitcoin-worth-63-000-pulled-in-33-pack-of-trading-cards-at-gamestop-mind-boggling-story-go?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Worth $63,000 Pulled In $33 Pack Of Trading Cards At GameStop: ‘Mind-Boggling' Story Goes Viral, Highlights Crypto Redemption Card</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

Social Media

Legal

After Meta, TikTok Cracks Down On Russian State Media By Banning RT And Sputnik Accounts For Violating Guidelines

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is gearing up to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40989179/meta-connect-2024-preview-cheaper-vr-expected-analysts-see-augmented-reality-and-ai">announce that its AI chatbot</a> will reportedly be able to mimic the voices of celebrities such as Judi Dench, John Cena, and others.
What Happened: Meta has secured agreements with several actors,&nbsp;including Dench, Kristen Bell, and Cena, to voice its AI chatbot, reported Reuters, citing a source familiar with the plans.
This new audio feature will enable users to choose a voice for Meta&#8217;s&nbsp;digital assistant from a list&nbsp;of five celebrities, which also includes Awkwafina and Keegan-Michael Key, in addition to several generic voice options.
The social media behemoth plans to unveil these&nbsp;audio capabilities at its annual&nbsp;Connect conference, which kicks off on Wednesday.
The celebrity voices will start rolling out in the U.S. and other English-speaking markets this week across Meta&#8217;s suite of apps, which includes Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40973399/apples-former-design-maestro-jony-ive-confirms-hes-joined-forces-with-openais-sam-altman-for-a-new-a?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple&#8217;s Former Design Maestro Jony Ive Confirms He&#8217;s Joined Forces With OpenAI&#8217;s Sam Altman For A New AI Hardware Project</a>
Meta is also anticipated to reveal the first iteration&nbsp;of its augmented-reality glasses at&nbsp;the Connect conference this year. 
The company has been striving to launch&nbsp;generative artificial intelligence products to&nbsp;its billions of users, vying against ChatGPT-parent OpenAI and Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s Google.
Meta&nbsp;CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted a&nbsp;promotional video featuring Cena on&nbsp;Instagram last week, showing the&nbsp;two men and several others&nbsp;engaging in stunts while wearing&nbsp;the Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24041554/Screenshot-2024-09-24-at-1.45.31%E2%80%AFPM-1024x923.png" alt="" class="wp-image-562553" style="width:529px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Screenshot</figcaption></figure>
Why It Matters: This latest development by Meta comes in the wake of a controversy involving&nbsp;OpenAI and Scarlett Johansson, where the actress accused the AI company of using a voice modeled <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/05/38951041/scarlett-johanssons-clash-with-openai-over-chatgpt-voice-reveals-dark-side-of-ai">after hers without consent</a>.
This incident highlighted the need for regulations to protect artists and creators from being exploited by AI tools.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and founder of xAI, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38949924/obviously-a-ripoff-elon-musk-slams-openai-for-mimicking-scarlett-johansson-in-gpt-4o-they-were-liter">also criticized OpenAI</a>, the company he co-founded in 2015 but later parted ways with, for replicating the actor's voice.
The&nbsp;Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists or SAG-AFTRA also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/05/38956092/scarlett-johansson-gets-backing-from-actors-union-in-ai-voice-dispute-with-openai">supported Johansson in her</a> dispute with OpenAI.
The use of AI to replace voice actors and creators was a central topic of debate during last year's writers&#8217; strike in Hollywood.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40911877/jeff-bezos-had-a-habit-of-keeping-an-empty-chair-for-the-most-important-person-in-the-room-at-compan?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jeff Bezos Had A Habit Of Keeping An Empty Chair For The Most Important Person In The Room At Company Meetings: This Strategy Helped The Amazon Founder Build The E-Commerce Giant We Know Today</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Media

Meta's AI Chatbot To Mimic Voices Of Celebrities Like Judi Dench And John Cena: Here's What Mark Zuckerberg-Led Company Has Learned From OpenAI-Scarlett Johansson Fiasco

With only 40 days remaining until the election,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mary-trump"> Mary Trump,</a> the niece of former President Donald Trump and a psychologist, warned about potential attempts to undermine the electoral process.
Reading Between Lines: Every time Donald Trump opens his mouth, something &#8220;incomprehensible, delusional, or terrifying&#8221; comes out of it, which is outrageous and shocking, said Mary Trump in a substack post on Monday. That said, the psychologist and author said Americans should pay attention to what her uncle keeps saying over and over again.
She noted that Donald Trump said in a recent interview that he doesn&#8217;t need votes and that he has so many votes. &#8220;We should be suspicious of a man who, while running for president, tells people he doesn't need any more votes,&#8221; she said.
Trump Campaign did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga's</a> request for comment.
Reading between the lines, Mary Trump said a lack of interest shown by her uncle to campaign is potentially due to his preparing for cheating.
&#8220;Just as in 2020, Donald's coup is already well underway,&#8221; Mary Trump said. He has been spreading lies that the Democrats are trying to steal the election, falsely claiming that the election is being rigged against him, she said. &#8220;He's convinced that his right to be back in the White House supersedes his need to play by the rules,&#8221; she said, adding that &#8220;his followers feel the same way.&#8221;
The election board of Georgia, which has a &#8216;MAGA majority,&#8217; voted three to two to require hand-count of ballots, said Mary Trump, calling it an &#8220;example of engineering election results in a key swing state. This will cause, which the Republican campaign is counting on,&#8221; she said.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40974653/trump-vs-harris-vice-president-leads-in-2-more-new-polls-but-pollster-says-undecided-republicans-can"> Trump Vs. Harris: Vice President Leads In 2 More New Polls But Pollster Says Undecided Republicans Can Come Back Home To Bolster Ex-President</a>
Reaching Out To MAGA Base: Mary Trump noted that her uncle never appeals to voters beyond his base, neither to independents nor women in the suburbs.
The reason why he is talking so much to his base this close to the election is that he is confident that his &#8220;sycophants and enablers—from local election boards to the U.S. Congress—are going to pre-rig the results in swing states where polls show a frighteningly close race,&#8221; she said.
Call To Nebraska Voters: Mary Trump also flagged the risk of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) working to change the way Nebraska awards its electoral votes. Nebraska and Maine both give two electoral votes to the winner of the state and one electoral vote to the winner of each Congressional district as opposed to the other states, which are &#8220;winner-take-all,&#8221; she said.
Graham has been pressuring the Nebraska legislators to change the methodology currently in place, she said.
One potential vote in the Omaha area, according to Mary Trump, can get Democrats to 270 electoral voters if they also win <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40969584/trump-vs-harris-this-candidate-has-the-edge-in-latest-swing-state-polls">Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. </a>
&#8220;Though it's a long shot, under the right circumstances that one electoral vote could decide the presidential election in a country that, because of the electoral college, does not honor the principle of &#8216;one person, one vote,'&#8221; she said.
Graham&#8217;s efforts have been stymied by holdouts from his party such as Sen. Mike McDonnell (R-Neb.), she added.
Did You Know?
<ul>
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Politics

Trump's Niece Slams Republicans For 'Engineering' Election Results In Key Swing State Of Georgia: 'Donald's Coup Is Already Well Underway'

Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) a global payments giant reportedly faces charges by the United States Department of Justice for allegedly monopolizing the domestic debit card industry
What Happened: DOJ&#8217;s antitrust division is expected to accuse Visa in federal court due to its participation in various anti-competitive activities, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-23/visa-faces-justice-department-antitrust-case-over-debit-cards">reported</a> Bloomberg on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. 
These measures include exclusivity agreements intended to keep rivals from entering the debit card industry.
The case is the outcome of years-long&nbsp;research into Visa&#8217;s business practices that started in the wake of the company&#8217;s failed acquisition attempt of Plaid Inc in 2021. Visa&#8217;s &#8220;tokenization&#8221; technology pricing was also examined by the Justice Department.
According to the report, the government believes Visa&#8217;s actions hindered the expansion of rival networks and blocked technology companies from entering the market. 
Last year, Mastercard Inc. settled a separate enforcement action by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission concerning its tokenization technology practices.
Visa and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/24/09/40990914/oil-falls-energy-stocks-flat-as-fears-of-demand-drop-off-eclipse-israel-hezbollah-conflict-escal">Oil Falls, Energy Stocks Flat As Fears Of Demand Drop Eclipse Israel-Hezbollah Conflict Escalation</a>
Why It Matters: The Justice Department&#8217;s lawsuit against Visa is part of a larger series of antitrust cases that the federal agency is pursuing against big firms.
The DOJ has been aggressively pursuing prosecutions in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40758622/doj-probes-googles-ai-strategy-as-it-looks-to-snap-its-monopoly-in-search">recent times to stop monopolistic activities</a> across various industries. For example, Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s AI strategy and market dominance in search are the subject of a DOJ investigation.
The DOJ has also been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40719936/nvidia-has-not-been-subpoenaed-by-doj-whats-going-on">investigating other large technology companies</a>, such as NVIDIA Corp., for possible antitrust breaches, however, the chipmaker clarified it has not received any subpoenas, the day after the company lost over $300 billion in market capital following the news. 
Visa&#8217;s case comes after a series of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/08/40140918/tiktok-is-repeat-offender-with-childrens-privacy-violations-doj-says-in-lawsuit">well-known antitrust cases</a>, such as one against TikTok, a social media company owned by ByteDance, for allegedly breaking children&#8217;s privacy rules.
Price Action: On Monday Visa Inc.&#8217;s stock traded at $288.63 and saw a gain of 1.36%. The stock fell 1.78% during after-hours trading. However, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/login">data from Benzinga Pro</a> suggests that Visa has risen by 11.50% so far this year.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/09/40972472/x-rays-microwaves-and-now-what-this-company-freezes-weed-at-320-f-to-kill-mold-and-save-a-ton?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta Connect 2024 Preview: Cheaper VR Expected, Analysts See Augmented Reality And AI As Major Focus</a></li>
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Image Via Shutterstock

Equities

Visa Reportedly Faces DOJ Antitrust Lawsuit Alleging Monopolization Of US Debit Card Market Amid Regulatory Crackdown

SMTC

Semtech Announced Availability Of Its One-channel LoRaWAN Hub Reference Design And Evaluation Kit Targeting Smaller Scale Network Deployments Such As For SMB/SME And Smart Home Applications

Asset Sales

Brookfield Asset Management And Its Institutional Partners, Including Its Listed Affiliate Brookfield Renewable, Entered Into An Agreement With CDPQ To Sell Its 25% Stake In First Hydro Company For An Undisclosed Amount

Chrysler parent Stellantis NV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>) on Monday denied allegations made by United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain that the company failed to keep its commitments made to union workers under an agreement reached last year. 
What Happened: In a Facebook live dated Sept. 17, Fain said that Stellantis has broken promises made to the workers and that several of its local chapters are preparing to strike. The union alleges that Stellantis is attempting to move the production of the Dodge Durano SUV out of the U.S. and is also looking to not reopen the idled Belvidere assembly plant in Illinois despite it being promised.
"To be clear, Stellantis has abided, and will continue to abide, by the agreement the parties reached in 2023," Stellantis North America COO Carlos Zarlenga&nbsp;wrote in an email to Fain on Monday. 
Stellantis said that the timelines and investment promises provided during the negotiations last year are not &#8220;absolute guarantees&#8221; but dependent upon multiple factors including market conditions. 
&#8220;There is indisputable volatility in the market, especially as the industry transitions to an electrified future,&#8221; the company said, while adding that that several investments and products have been canceled across the automaking industry over the past year.
The company has not made an announcement regarding the production allocation of the next generation of Dodge Durango, Stellantis said, while adding that the decision to delay the reopening of the Belvidere plant is due to the current &#8220;challenging automotive landscape.&#8221;
Why It Matters: Last week, UAW said that it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40894503/uaw-files-nlrb-complaint-against-stellantis-over-alleged-contract-violations-says-it-intends-to-make">filed federal unfair labor practice charges</a> at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against&nbsp;Stellantis for alleged violation of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/35530931/stellantis-weathered-uaw-strikes-better-than-gm-and-ford-with-less-financial-toll-cfo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">labor contract entered into last year</a>.
Earlier this month, President of U.S. Stellantis National Dealer Council (NDC)&nbsp;Kevin Farrish also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40827607/stellantis-fires-back-at-us-dealer-councils-allegation-of-short-term-decision-making-carmaker-says-p">wrote to company CEO</a> Carlos Tavares, accusing him of "short-term decision-making" and urged that the CEO spend more to clear older inventory. Tavares' decisions, the NDC President said, ended up shrinking the company's market share and hurting its many brands. 
Stellantis, however, said that it takes "absolute exception" to the letter, and termed it a "public personal attack."
For the first half of 2024, Stellantis reported a 48% fall in net profit to €5.6 billion ($6.22 billion) and a 14% fall in net revenue to €85 billion, owing to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/06/39477084/stellantis-threatens-to-exit-uk-over-unsustainable-ev-sales-targets-if-this-market-becomes-hostile-f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dip in market share</a>&nbsp;in North America.
&#8220;It is an understatement to say that H1 2024 results were disappointing and humbling,&#8221;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39959183/stellantis-ceo-earnings-fell-short-of-expectations-expect-20-new-vehicles-this-year" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tavares said</a>&nbsp;at the company&#8217;s earnings call last month.
"The Company's performance in the first half of 2024 fell short of our expectations, reflecting both a challenging industry context as well as our own operational issues… We have significant work to do, especially in North America, to maximize our long-term potential,&#8221; he said while also reiterating his personal involvement with the teams in North America to fix the issue.
In the second quarter alone, Stellantis saw its sales in the U.S. fall 21% to 344,993 vehicles. 
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40979752/elon-musk-says-buses-wont-be-needed-once-tesla-robotaxis-start-operating-will-take-people-point-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Says Buses Won't Be Needed Once Tesla Robotaxis Start Operating: ‘Will Take People Point To Point For A Similar Cost'</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

STLA

Stellantis Denies UAW Allegations Of Failing To Keep Promises Made To Workers

Elon Musk, who has been very vocal about governments&#8217;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40971374/elon-musk-responds-to-venture-capitalists-claim-on-government-subsidies-for-spacex-tesla-do-some-res"> unfair treatment meted out to his business ventures, </a>vented out his frustration yet again on Monday.
What Happened: The trigger for another outburst by Musk came in the form of a post by a Tesla influencer from Canada, who noted that federal and provincial governments have reiterated support for Canadian satellite telecom company Telesat&#8217;s Lightspeed satellite network project.
The project was touted as a source of 967 additional jobs in Canada and Quebec and involved an investment of C$2.62 billion. This would translate to a public subsidy of just under C$3 million per job for a project that will cost a total of more than C$6 billion and aims to connect all Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2030,&#8221; the social-media user said on X. He contrasted that with Musk&#8217;s Starlink, which did not receive any subsidies but already had over 400,000 satisfied users in Canada.
Starlink is owned by SpaceX and it provides low-latency broadband internet service.
The Tesla influencer said Starlink could &#8220;provide all Canadians in rural and remote locations with reliable high-speed internet &#x2A;today&#x2A; and for a fraction of that cost.&#8221;
Musk jumped in and said competitors receive vastly more subsidies than SpaceX or Tesla. &#8220;The success of SpaceX/Tesla is in spite of competitor subsidies!&#8221; he said.
He also referred to the U.S. government&#8217;s giveaway for a North American Supercharger network to compete against Tesla, adding that it still failed. The billionaire could have referred to Charge Enterprises, which partnered with Stellantis and General Motors, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year.
Despite massive subsidies to Starlink competitors for American rural broadband they failed, Musk said. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Competitors receive vastly more subsidies than SpaceX or Tesla. The success of SpaceX/Tesla is in spite of competitor subsidies! Look at how much was given away for a North American Supercharger network to compete against Tesla and it still failed. Or the massive subsidies… <a href="https://t.co/apLWr3pKGG">https://t.co/apLWr3pKGG</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1838238701886849183?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-invest-in-spacex">How To Invest In SpaceX</a>
Why It&#8217;s Important: The Tesla CEO clarified the same in an exchange with Sun Microsystems co-founder and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla over the weekend.
When the latter questioned how much government money SpaceX gets and whether Tesla could have survived without EV subsidies, Musk retorted sharply. &#8220;Do some research before you display your utter ignorance,&#8221; he said, adding that SpaceX gets no subsidies and received half as much as Boeing for astronaut transport, but did 100% of the work. He also clarified that government subsidies make up only a minor portion of his electric-vehicle manufacturing company Tesla's revenue.
Musk&#8217;s SpaceX is already on a warpath with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over regulatory delays and safety concerns, particularly regarding its Starship development program. The regulator has maintained that its accent is on safety and environmental protection but Musk has been rooting for a more agile and forward-thinking regulatory approach that aligns with SpaceX's fast-paced innovation agenda.
Recently Rep.&nbsp;Kevin Kiley&nbsp;(R-Calif.) applauded Musk's SpaceX for its&nbsp;Polaris Dawn&nbsp;mission in a speech and also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40972034/elon-musk-responds-as-california-congressman-slams-bureaucratic-roadblocks-for-spacex-program-agenci">voiced concerns regarding the regulatory clampdown on the company. </a>&#8220;We continue to be stuck in the reality where it takes longer to do the government paperwork to license a rocket launch than it does to design and build the actual hardware,&#8221; Kiley said.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40787779/spacex-launches-polaris-dawn-crew-to-space-with-aim-of-first-ever-private-spacewalk">SpaceX Launches Polaris Dawn Crew To Space With Aim Of First-Ever Private Spacewalk</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

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