EC Healthcare (OTC:UNHLF) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

EC Healthcare is a Hong Kong-based non-hospital medical service provider. The principal activities of the group include the provision of medical services; aesthetic medical services, comprising medical aesthetics and dental services; beauty and wellness services, comprising traditional beauty, haircare, and ancillary wellness services; and the sale of skincare, healthcare, and beauty products. The group caters to its services through the operating segments of Medical which is the key revenue generator segment and Aesthetic medical, beauty and wellness, and Veterinary and others. Geographically, the group has a business presence in Hong Kong, Macau, and the PRC.

EC Healthcare

<ul>
<li>Company outlines its second brand, Faraday X (FX), and its launch plan for the first batch of planned products, innovative ways in creating AIEV (Artificial Intelligence Electric Vehicle) products with &quot;twice the performance at half the price&quot; for users, and its aspiration to become the Toyota of the AIEV era.</li>
<li>The first new FX models, which we refer to as the FX 5 (expected price range of&nbsp;$20,000-$30,000) and FX 6 (expected price range of&nbsp;$30,000-$50,000), are expected to offer two types of powertrains: range-extended AIEV and battery-electric AIEV, and will target start of production by the end of 2025, subject to securing necessary funding.</li>
<li>The Company has established relationships with four Chinese OEMs, having already entered into two strategic framework agreements and two memoranda of understanding, and is working toward finalizing definitive agreements with each.</li>
<li>The Company will focus on five key initiatives: Open-Source and Open-Platform, User-Definition, Co-creation and Sharing; Creating the new category: RE-AIEV; Global Auto Industry Bridge Strategy; Leveraging FF&#39;s Legacy to Empower FX; and the Light and Swift, Premium Quality. With this approach, we&#39;re inviting our users to participate throughout the entire lifecycle of FX products.</li>
<li>The Company&#39;s recent &quot;Everyone&#39;s AIEV, You Decide&quot; survey suggests there is high demand for high-performance, intelligent, cost-effective B-AIEV and RE-AIEV products for the U.S. market, which presents a historic opportunity for the U.S. AIEV industry.</li>
</ul>

News

FFIE

Faraday Future Launches Second Brand, Faraday X (FX), With Plans For Affordable AIEV Models Priced Between $20K And $50K, Supported By Strategic Agreements With Four OEMs

Brazil's Supreme Court has fined Elon Musk&#8216;s social media platform nearly $1 million <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40932378/elon-musks-x-manages-to-dodge-brazil-ban-with-software-update-court-wants-an-explanation">daily for allowing access to X, despite a ban</a>.
What Happened: The court accused Musk of switching X's network provider to partially restore access. This maneuver was seen as an attempt to bypass the ban imposed three weeks ago, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/brazil-fines-musk-for-skirting-x-ban-945813ed">reported</a> The Wall Street Journal. 
In his latest ruling on Thursday, Justice Alexander de Moraes ordered X to immediately block user access to the platform in Brazil due to the network switch, or face a daily fine of approximately $921,000. The Brazilian judge described the crackdown on X as part of broader efforts to &#8220;clean up the internet.&#8221;
X stated it had no intention of evading the ban. The company claimed it was forced to switch providers after shutting down its Brazilian operations, which inadvertently restored service temporarily. However, de Moraes cited Musk's cryptic <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1836289127907758312">post</a> on X as a "confession" of deliberate circumvention.
De Moraes initially banned X on Aug. 30 for failing to block accounts spreading misinformation and hate speech. He emphasized the crackdown as part of efforts to "clean up the internet" and protect democracy, following violent attacks on Brazil's capital last year.
Brazil's telecom regulator, Anatel, accused Musk of intentionally defying the court order. They are working with Cloudflare to find a solution to enforce the ban without disrupting other services, according to the report.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40897703/former-tesla-exec-says-elon-musks-endorsement-of-trump-might-not-sway-upcoming-presidential-election?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Former Tesla Exec Says Elon Musk&#8217;s Endorsement Of Trump Might Not Sway Upcoming Presidential Elections: &#8216;Last Time Around He Endorsed Andrew Yang&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The conflict between Musk and Brazil&#8217;s government has broader implications. On Thursday, the Brazilian Association of Internet and Telecommunications Providers reported that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40932378/elon-musks-x-manages-to-dodge-brazil-ban-with-software-update-court-wants-an-explanation">X managed to dodge the ban</a> using an automatic software update, complicating efforts to block the platform. This maneuver has raised questions about the effectiveness of Brazil&#8217;s regulatory measures.
Earlier in the month, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40748476/fcc-chief-defends-elon-musks-x-and-starlink-amid-brazils-punitive-actions-warns-business-leaders-are">criticized Brazil&#8217;s actions</a>, warning that such punitive measures could make Brazil an &#8220;uninvestable market.&#8221; Carr&#8217;s comments reflect growing concerns among U.S. business leaders about the stability of Brazil&#8217;s regulatory environment.
The situation has also affected Musk&#8217;s other ventures. On Sept. 5, SpaceX <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40723859/spacex-reportedly-evacuates-employees-from-brazil-halts-travel-amid-elon-musks-legal-battle-with-sup">evacuated employees from Brazil </a>and halted travel to the country amid the legal battle. This move underscores the broader impact of the dispute on Musk&#8217;s business operations.
Moreover, experts warned that the standoff could affect other Musk ventures like SpaceX and Tesla Inc. Tim Higgins noted that the ban on X could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40709109/elon-musks-brazil-standoff-for-x-could-impact-tesla-spacex-and-other-ventures-warns-expert">jeopardize Musk&#8217;s business opportunities in Brazil</a>, particularly in rural areas where his ventures have been successful.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40893054/mark-cuban-says-he-would-buy-rupert-murdochs-fox-news-and-elon-musks-x-but-there-are-some-obstacles?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Says He Would Buy Rupert Murdoch&#8217;s Fox News And Elon Musk&#8217;s X But There Are Some Obstacles: &#8216;If I Had Enough… I&#8217;d Buy It In A Heartbeat&#8217;</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

Global

Elon Musk's X Fined $1M A Day By Brazil's Supreme Court For Defying Ban On Platform: Judge Says Part Of Effort To 'Clean Up The Internet'

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed further improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Thursday.
U.S. stocks settled higher on Thursday, with the Dow Jones index and S&amp;P 500 hitting fresh record highs during the session. The US Federal Reserve, on Wednesday, slashed interest rates by 50 basis points Wednesday at its September Federal Open Market Committee meeting, lowering the federal funds rate to a range of 4.75% to 5%.
On the economic data front, the U.S. reported a current account deficit of $266.8 billion in the second quarter versus a gap of $241 billion in the prior period and higher than market estimates of a $260 billion gap. U.S. initial jobless claims fell by 12,000 from the prior week to 219,000 in the week ending September 14, compared to market expectations of 230,000.
Tech stocks rallied, with shares of NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) gaining around 4% and 6%, respectively. Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) shares added 2.2% during the session. Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) also surged, closing the day with gains of 7.4%.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with consumer discretionary, communication services, and information technology stocks recording the biggest gains on Thursday. However, consumer staples and utilities stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.
The Dow Jones closed higher by around 522 points to 42,025.19 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 surged 1.70% to 5,713.64, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 2.51% at 18,013.98 during Thursday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from VinFast Auto Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VFS#NASDAQ">VFS</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 65.7, the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Thursday, versus a prior reading of 60.8.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/09/40948972/coinbase-global-electronic-arts-and-2-other-stocks-executives-are-selling">Coinbase Global, Electronic Arts And 2 Other Stocks Executives Are Selling</a></li>
</ul>

Earnings

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

Trading Ideas

NVDA

TSLA

Nvidia, Tesla Rally As Dow, S&P 500 Surge To Fresh Highs After Fed Cuts Rates: Fear Index Remains In 'Greed' Zone

General Motors' (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) autonomous driving unit Cruise said on Thursday that it is eyeing resuming operations of its robotaxis in California which was paused after the involvement of one of its driverless vehicles in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/12/36246017/future-of-gm-autonomous-vehicle-maker-cruise-in-peril-after-900-job-cuts">pedestrian accident</a> late last year.
What Happened: The company said that it will deploy several manual mapping vehicles in Sunnyvale and Mountain View starting Thursday. The company intends to start supervised robotaxi testing in the state later this fall with up to five autonomous vehicles, it added.
&#8220;Resuming testing in the Bay Area is an important step forward as we continue to work closely with California regulators and local stakeholders. This will allow our local employees to engage directly with our product as they refine and improve our tech through R&amp;D,&#8221; the company said in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Starting today we will deploy several manual mapping vehicles in Sunnyvale and Mountain View with the intent to progress to supervised testing with up to 5 AVs later this fall. Resuming testing in the Bay Area is an important step forward as we continue to work closely with… <a href="https://t.co/OlDkv74r34">pic.twitter.com/OlDkv74r34</a>
&mdash; cruise (@Cruise) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cruise/status/1836812363963486286?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: Cruise suspended all of its operations in the U.S. late last year following the involvement of one of its robotaxis in an accident in San Francisco, leading to heightened regulatory scrutiny and the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38606510/us-is-currently-sc-ed-ex-cruise-ceo-calls-for-manufacturing-makeover-to-win-over-chinese-auto-rivals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exit of its co-founder </a>and then CEO Kyle Vogt.
The company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38155753/cruise-back-on-phoenix-roads-soon-gms-self-driving-unit-reportedly-gears-up-to-resume-robotaxi-testi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resumed manual driving in the city of Phoenix</a>&nbsp;to gather road information earlier this year in April and in Houston and Dallas, Texas in June.
For the first half of 2024, Cruise accrued an operating loss of $1.65 billion, 28% higher than the loss of $1.29 billion recorded in the corresponding period of last year. GM also spent $583 million on restructuring Cruise in the period.
Last month, Cruise issued a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40502871/gms-autonomous-driving-unit-cruise-recalls-all-u-s-vehicles-over-concerns-of-unexpected-braking-auto">recall for the entirety of its U.S. fleet</a> over concerns that they may brake unexpectedly. The company updated software in all of its vehicles on the road to fix the issue. 
Check out more of Benzinga'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/news/24/09/40934031/teamsters-opts-to-not-endorse-either-harris-or-trump-for-upcoming-presidential-elections-citing-fail" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Teamsters Opts To Not Endorse Either Harris Or Trump For Upcoming Presidential Elections, Citing Failure To Secure Pledges Of Non-Interference In Union Campaigns</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Tech

GM's Cruise Eyes Resuming Robotaxi Operations In California After Long Pause Due To Pedestrian Accident In 2023

The United States will continue to keep a mid-range missile system in the Philippines, the decision comes despite demands from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39710570/us-has-better-global-image-than-china-survey-reveals">China for its removal</a>.
What Happened: The Typhon missile system, capable of launching missiles that can reach Chinese targets, was initially deployed for joint exercises earlier this year. However, it has remained in place, reported Reuters on Friday, citing sources familiar with the situation.
The Philippines, located near Taiwan, is a crucial part of the U.S. strategy in Asia. The missile system&#8217;s presence is seen as vital for supporting Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.
China and Russia have criticized the deployment, accusing the U.S. of escalating an arms race. China&#8217;s foreign ministry expressed significant concern over the decision to keep the system in place, stating it threatens regional security.
Philippine officials confirmed ongoing training with the missile system on the northern island of Luzon, near the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, according to the report. They indicated no immediate plans to withdraw the system, even though joint exercises conclude this month.
A senior Philippine government official noted that the U.S. and the Philippines are testing the system&#8217;s feasibility for potential conflict scenarios. 
&#8220;It is up to the higher headquarters to decide on its stay, and most importantly the United States Army Pacific&nbsp;(USARPAC) because they own this, it is not our capability,&#8221; Philippines army spokesman, Colonel Louie Dema-ala said 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 decision to retain the missile system in the Philippines comes amid a series of escalating tensions between the U.S. and China. 
Recently, President Joe Biden&#8216;s administration launched an investigation into a significant rise in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40896792/us-probes-surge-in-chinese-uranium-imports-amid-fears-of-russian-ban-evasion">enriched uranium imports from China</a>, suspecting it as a potential loophole for Russia to bypass a U.S. import ban. 
Additionally, key congressional panels have warned that the U.S. is lagging behind China in war preparedness. Lawmakers have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40936105/us-lagging-behind-china-in-war-preparedness-congressional-panels-warn">criticized outdated Pentagon procedures</a> and emphasized the need for faster technology transfers to allies.
Tensions in the South China Sea have also been on the rise. In June, a collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels near the Spratly Islands led to accusations of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39351335/us-ally-slams-chinas-claims-of-vessel-collision-as-deceptive-and-misleading-amid-rising-south-china">deceptive information from Beijing</a>. The Philippine military has previously condemned China&#8217;s actions as illegal within their exclusive economic zone.
Furthermore, a survey by the Pew Research Center revealed that the U.S. enjoys a significantly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39710570/us-has-better-global-image-than-china-survey-reveals">better global image</a> than China in numerous high- and middle-income countries. This perception plays a crucial role in the ongoing geopolitical rivalry between the two nations.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40931458/obama-era-economist-says-she-is-pleasantly-surprised-that-jd-vance-thinks-the-economy-is-too-strong?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Obama-Era Economist Says She Is &#8216;Pleasantly Surprised&#8217; That JD Vance Thinks The &#8216;Economy Is Too Strong For The Rate Cut&#8217;</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>

US Keeps Missiles Vital For Defence Of Taiwan In Philippines Despite Beijing's Demands For Removal: Report

With U.S. stock futures trading lower this morning on Friday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>FedEx Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/09/40948046/fedex-q1-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-miss-lowered-guidance-challenging-quarter">weaker-than-expected results</a> for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 and lowered its full-year guidance. The company reported first-quarter revenue of $21.6 billion, missing analyst estimates of $21.955 billion, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. The company reported first-quarter adjusted earnings of $3.60 per share, missing analyst estimates of $4.80 per share. FedEx shares tumbled 11% to $267.25 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Wall Street expects VinFast Auto Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VFS#NASDAQ">VFS</a>) to report a quarterly loss at 21 cents per share on revenue of $460.09 million before the opening bell. VinFast Auto shares rose 0.2% to $3.9665 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Chewy Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHWY#NYSE">CHWY</a>) announced a public offering by a selling stockholder and a concurrent share repurchase. Chewy shares fell 0.8% to $30.85 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>MillerKnoll, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MLKN#NASDAQ">MLKN</a>) reported downbeat <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/09/40949071/millerknoll-stock-dips-after-q1-results-heres-why">first-quarter financial results</a> on Thursday. The company also said it sees second-quarter earnings of between 51 cents and 57 cents per share, versus the estimate of 61 cents, and second-quarter revenue in a range of $950 million to $990 million, versus the $948.12 million estimate. MillerKnoll shares declined 5.3% to $26.02 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Lennar Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/09/40948948/homebuilder-lennar-reports-better-than-expected-q3-results-details">reported</a> better-than-expected financial results for the third quarter. The company said it sees fourth-quarter new orders in a range of 19,000 to 19,300 and deliveries between 22,500 and 23,000. The company expects the average sales price to be approximately $425,000. Lennar shares fell 2.4% to $187.75 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
</ul>
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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

CHWY

MLKN

FedEx, Lennar And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday

Palantir Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) co-founder, Joe Lonsdale, has expressed his support for Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31810229/elon-musk-bought-twitter-1-year-ago-a-look-back-at-whats-happened-since-and-what-could-be-next">acquisition of</a> Twitter, now rebranded as X.
What Happened: On Thursday, while appearing on CNBC&#8217;s Squawk Box, Lonsdale was asked about Musk&#8217;s sentiments toward his $44 billion purchase of Twitter. 
Lonsdale responded positively, suggesting that Musk&#8217;s acquisition was a crucial step for the preservation of the West.
&#8220;If Elon hadn&#8217;t bought Twitter, if he hadn&#8217;t done this, the entire West would be at 10x the threat,&#8221; he said and went on to underscore the significance of free speech in maintaining our civilization.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/05/32623067/how-to-take-the-perfect-moon-shot-using-an-iphone-14?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How To Take The Perfect Moon Shot Using An iPhone 15</a>
When probed about the financial implications of the acquisition, Lonsdale acknowledged a decrease in revenue due to brands pulling their support.
However, he contended that this was a result of illegal coordination and attacks, which he deemed &#8220;probably illegal.&#8221;
he stated that while brands have the right to withdraw their support, behind-the-scenes coordination to damage a company is inappropriate.
Musk also shared the clip from this discussion on X and said, &#8220;Thanks Joe.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Thanks Joe <a href="https://t.co/swbYEjVnGW">https://t.co/swbYEjVnGW</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1836806074638434556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Why It Matters: Musk&#8217;s acquisition of Twitter has been fraught with controversy. Just earlier this month, it was reported that X is expected to see a drastic <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40762349/x-faces-major-advertiser-exodus-amid-string-of-elon-musk-controversies">reduction in advertising expenditure</a> in 2025, following a 26% decline in marketers' ad spending on the platform.
Last month, it was reported that since Musk&#8217;s acquisition, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/08/40533138/as-twitters-revenue-collapses-by-84-tesla-bulls-fear-elon-musk-will-liquidate-more-tesla-stock-bring">X&#8217;s revenue has plummeted by 84%</a>. This number also reportedly sparked fears among Tesla investors that Musk might sell more of his Tesla stock to fill the financial gap.
Previously, Meta Platforms Inc's president for global affairs, Nick Clegg, also criticized X for becoming a "tiny" platform for elites that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40852207/meta-exec-slams-elon-musks-x-as-tiny-platform-that-allows-anyone-say-anything">permits anyone to say anything</a>.
He also noted that individuals banned from Meta's platforms like Facebook and Instagram remain active on X and Telegram, and were involved in the far-right protests and riots in Britain last month.
Meanwhile, on Thursday morning, Palantir <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40939510/palantir-stock-hits-52-week-highs-thursday-whats-going-on">shares made a new 52-week high</a>. This development came after the company got a new contract from the U.S. Army worth $99.8 million.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40914747/jpmorgan-ceo-jamie-dimon-thinks-social-media-platforms-like-tiktok-and-facebook-are-a-total-stupid-w?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Thinks Social Media Platforms Like TikTok And Facebook Are &#8216;A Total Stupid Waste Of Time&#8217;</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.

PLTR

Palantir Co-Founder Joe Lonsdale Backs Elon Musk's Twitter Acquisition, Saying If He Had Not Bought It Then 'The Entire West Would Be At 10x The Threat'

<ul>
<li>Kineta will be trading under the symbol &quot;KANT&quot; on OTC Pink</li>
<li>Kineta will continue to pursue strategic alternatives as previously announced</li>
<li>TuHURA Biosciences has an exclusivity right and a right of first offer for Kineta&#39;s KVA12123 program</li>
<li>The ongoing KVA12123 Phase 1 study is open for new patient enrollment and following those patients previously enrolled.</li>
</ul>

Reported Earlier, Kineta Transitions From Nasdaq To OTC Markets, Continues Focus On Strategic Alternatives

Approval based on compelling safety and efficacy from the Phase 3 MARIPOSA-2 study, marking&nbsp;the third new indication for RYBREVANT&reg;&nbsp;this year, with four indications overall

Johnson & Johnson Announces FDA Approval Of RYBREVANT Plus Chemotherapy As The First Targeted Therapy To Halve Disease Progression Risk In Second-Line EGFR-Mutated Lung Cancer

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

Germany Producer Price Index (MoM) For August 0.2% Vs. 0.0% Est.; 0.2% Prior

U.K. Retail Sales (YoY) For August 2.5% Vs. 1.4% Est.; 1.5% (Revised) Prior

U.K. Retail Sales (MoM) For August 1.0% Vs. 0.3% Est.; 0.7% (Revised) Prior

U.K. Core Retail Sales (YoY) For August 2.3% Vs. 1.1% Est.; 1.4% Prior

U.K. Core Retail Sales (MoM) For August 1.1% Vs. 0.5% Est.; 1.0% (Revised) Prior

TRIN

Reported Earlier, Trinity Capital Expands Credit Facility To $510M With $70M Boost From New Lenders

Ascendis estimates the net proceeds from the offering will be approximately&nbsp;$281.3 million&nbsp;(assuming no exercise of the underwriters&#39; option to purchase additional ADSs), after deducting the underwriting commissions and estimated offering expenses. Ascendis intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to support the commercial preparations, launch and commercial activities, clinical development and regulatory approvals for its products and product candidates, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

ASND

Reported Earlier, Ascendis Pharma Prices $281.3M Public Offering Of 2M ADSs At $150/ADS

Leveraging NVIDIA accelerated computing and offering personalized drinks, Scorpion is expected to save costs, generate revenue, and provide an unforgettable customer experience

Reported Earlier, Richtech Robotics Launches Scorpion, An AI-Driven Single-Arm Beverage Service Robot, And Secures 500-Unit Distribution Deal Over Five Years

Agreement designed to foster collaboration and usage of quantum computing solutions for optimization and AI applications

QBTS

Reported Earlier, D-Wave And Staque Join Forces To Accelerate Annealing Quantum Computing Adoption Across The Middle East

The gross proceeds from the sale of the shares by the Selling Stockholders will be approximately $2.2 billion. Diamondback will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares by the Selling Stockholders. The Secondary Offering is expected to close on September 23, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.
In addition, Diamondback has agreed to purchase from the underwriters 2,000,000 shares of common stock that are the subject of the Secondary Offering at a price per share equal to the price per share to be paid by the underwriters to the Selling Stockholders (the &quot;Share Repurchase&quot;) under Diamondback&#39;s existing share repurchase program. Diamondback plans to fund the Share Repurchase from existing cash on hand. The underwriters will not receive any compensation for the shares being repurchased by Diamondback in the Share Repurchase.

FANG

Reported Earlier, Diamondback Energy Prices Upsized $2.2B Secondary Common Stock Offering Of 12.77M Shares

YouTube, a subsidiary of&nbsp;Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google, has announced the implementation of &#8220;Pause ads,&#8221; a feature that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/35613857/youtubes-war-against-ad-blockers-leads-to-record-uninstalls-but-users-are-fighting-back">displays advertisements</a> even when a video is paused.
What Happened: On Thursday, YouTube confirmed the broad rollout of &#8220;Pause ads&#8221; to all advertisers. Now, when a user pauses a video, an ad will appear&nbsp;on the side of the&nbsp;screen, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/19/business/youtube-ads-paused-screen/index.html">reported</a> CNN.
The new feature is intended to be &#8220;seamless for viewers&#8221; and offers an opportunity for&nbsp;them to learn more about&nbsp;a brand, a Google spokesperson told the report.
The update is seen as beneficial&nbsp;for the entire YouTube ecosystem&nbsp;and is part of the modern Connected TV (CTV) ads experience.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40932378/elon-musks-x-manages-to-dodge-brazil-ban-with-software-update-court-wants-an-explanation?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk&#8217;s X Manages To Dodge Brazil Ban With Software Update, Court Wants An Explanation</a>
Despite YouTube&#8217;s assertion that&nbsp;the update creates a less&nbsp;interruptive viewing experience, social media users have voiced their annoyance over the new, unavoidable ads.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Seriously <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTube</a>? You&#39;re putting up ads when you pause a video now? I am about to install a computer in place of the fire stick so I can have an ad blocker&#8230; Your ads are getting ridiculous. <a href="https://t.co/OT4JMduGTU">pic.twitter.com/OT4JMduGTU</a>
&mdash; RoÆther (@Roaether) <a href="https://twitter.com/Roaether/status/1832186161743216724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">nice one thing i hate when i pause a youtube video is the silence <a href="https://t.co/86sNagJ9Y4">https://t.co/86sNagJ9Y4</a>
&mdash; Keefler (@Keefler_Elf) <a href="https://twitter.com/Keefler_Elf/status/1836947769317020159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTube</a> Playing ads when pausing a video is an absolute trash idea. Stop trying these atrocious implementations to try to strongarm users into your subscription service. When I pause a video I want to disconnect not have to also wait to mute/pause/skip and ad.
&mdash; Cannoli Senpai (@CannoliSenpai) <a href="https://twitter.com/CannoliSenpai/status/1836956020226040198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Users can still avoid ads&nbsp;with a YouTube Premium subscription, which costs&nbsp;$13.99 a month for an&nbsp;individual.
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.
Why It Matters: The introduction of &#8216;Pause ads&#8217; comes amid growing user frustration over the increasing number of ads on YouTube. Last year, Elon Musk agreed with millions of users worldwide that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35483941/elon-musk-agrees-with-millions-of-users-worldwide-youtube-ads-are-getting-out-of-control">YouTube ads were &#8220;getting out of control.&#8221;</a>
In May this year, some YouTube users with ad blockers installed reported that their videos were skipping to the end, a phenomenon that was speculated to be a strategy by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/39054233/youtube-videos-reportedly-skipping-to-the-end-for-ad-block-users-bug-or-strategy">YouTube to counter ad blockers</a>.
YouTube has also been experimenting with new ways to prevent rampant ad-blocking on the platform, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/06/39438445/youtube-steps-up-ad-blocker-crackdown-is-it-making-a-difference">server-side ad injection</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;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:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40892284/oracles-larry-ellison-predicts-police-officers-will-be-supervised-at-all-times-and-citizens-will-be?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oracle&#8217;s Larry Ellison Predicts Police Officers Will Be Supervised &#8216;At All Times&#8217; And Citizens Will Be On Their Best Behavior Thanks To Constant AI-Powered Surveillance</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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