Category Archives: business

Lumen and Palantir Team Up to Accelerate Enterprise AI Adoption

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**Lumen Technologies and Palantir Technologies Announce Multi-Year Partnership to Advance Enterprise AI Adoption**

Lumen Technologies and Palantir Technologies have entered into a multi-year, multi-million-dollar strategic partnership aimed at accelerating enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across multi-cloud environments. Announced Thursday, the collaboration combines the strengths of two U.S.-based firms: Lumen’s advanced networking capabilities and Palantir’s cutting-edge data and AI platforms.

The partnership addresses one of the most pressing challenges for enterprises today—deploying AI securely and efficiently across multiple cloud systems. Together, the companies plan to offer tested, ready-to-deploy AI frameworks capable of handling the complexities of hybrid data architectures. Their joint goal is to reduce IT complexity, strengthen data security, and enhance operational agility as businesses increasingly transition toward AI-driven decision-making.

### Leveraging Strengths Across Multi-Cloud Infrastructure

Lumen, renowned for its Private Connectivity Fabric (PCF), intends to integrate Palantir’s Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) into its network infrastructure. This synergy is designed to give enterprises greater control over data movement across diverse environments while maintaining compliance and high performance.

Lumen highlights that its PCF achieves edge latency as low as 5 milliseconds and throughput of up to 400 Gbps—offering reportedly 60% more capacity than legacy fiber networks. However, the company has not yet released detailed information on coverage maps, cloud on-ramps, or service-level agreements (SLAs)—critical factors for enterprises assessing AI deployment costs.

Despite this, Lumen executives emphasize that the network’s digitally activated, modular design provides flexibility to build AI-ready infrastructures tailored to each customer’s unique requirements.

### Palantir’s Expanding AI Ecosystem

For Palantir, this partnership marks another milestone in its rapidly growing AI collaboration strategy. The company’s AIP platform is engineered to operate seamlessly across hybrid and multi-cloud systems. Its integrations with technologies such as Databricks’ Unity Catalog and Delta Sharing enable real-time data sharing fortified with robust security layers—capabilities that Lumen can now enhance through its high-speed private network.

Industry observers suggest that system integrators (SIs)—firms that design and manage large-scale IT systems—could leverage this partnership to bridge the gaps between Lumen’s connectivity solutions and Palantir’s AI stack. These third-party providers may offer managed services and accelerators to extend AI capabilities to more complex enterprise workloads.

### Questions Around Transparency and Scalability

Despite the promising outlook, some analysts have raised concerns regarding transparency and scalability. While Lumen reportedly achieved $350 million in internal cost reductions by using Palantir’s platforms, it remains unclear whether similar benefits will materialize for enterprise customers.

Moreover, the absence of clear throughput benchmarks and latency guarantees may pose challenges for potential buyers trying to evaluate the long-term value of the partnership. As a result, each AI deployment could require individual negotiation based on workload types, cloud preferences, and compliance demands.

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This strategic alliance between Lumen Technologies and Palantir Technologies aims to simplify AI deployment across multi-cloud environments, combining network infrastructure with advanced AI platforms. However, enterprises considering this solution await further details to assess its true scalability and performance assurances.
https://coincentral.com/lumen-palantir-partnership-enterprise-ai-adoption/

“We need each other”: Spire co-owner on signing Daniel Suarez for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season

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**Spire Motorsports Co-Owner Jeff Dickerson Hopes for a ‘Good Story of Redemption’ with Daniel Suarez Signing**

After months of speculation, Daniel Suarez has officially secured a 2026 seat with Spire Motorsports, driving the No. 7 Ford. The Monterrey native, who was recently released from Trackhouse Racing to make room for 19-year-old prodigy Connor Zilisch, now replaces Justin Haley, whose underwhelming performance this season included just two top-10 finishes in 34 starts.

Suarez has shown stronger results this year with seven top-10s, although he has also recorded nine DNFs, making him the second most crash-prone driver this season. Despite this, Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson is optimistic about the future. He believes next year offers both Suarez and the team a fresh start and an opportunity to prove their doubters wrong.

“It’s just the thing where I think we need each other. I think all of us love a good story of redemption and giving people a platform to prove doubters wrong,” Dickerson shared. He also highlighted Suarez’s near victories this season, noting the driver finished second twice — at Las Vegas and the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway.

In his five-year tenure with Trackhouse, Suarez made history as the first Mexican-born driver to capture two Cup Series wins, driving the No. 99 car.

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**“Wasn’t Looking at Spire Motorsports as an Option”: Daniel Suarez Opens Up on New Signing**

Daniel Suarez spoke candidly about his initial views of Spire Motorsports before joining the team. A two-time Xfinity Series champion, Suarez has competed with top-tier outfits like Joe Gibbs Racing and Trackhouse Racing prior to this move.

Reflecting on Spire’s growth over the past three years, Suarez said, “I mentioned this to Jeff, three years ago I probably wasn’t looking at Spire Motorsports as an option. Right now, I believe that this is the fastest-growing team in NASCAR, and I want to be part of that. I know that they are not even close to being done.”

Spire Motorsports has confirmed that the partnership with Suarez is a long-term commitment. For the upcoming season, the 33-year-old driver will join Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar, completing the team’s three-car lineup.

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**Looking Ahead: Team Dynamics and Driver Performances**

Carson Hocevar, in his sophomore season with Spire, has shown promising speed. He finished sixth in the recent playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway, while teammate Michael McDowell earned the Busch Light pole position for the same event.

Though Hocevar has notched two runner-up finishes this year, his aggressive driving style has sparked several controversies. Notably, repeated clashes with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. escalated into a heated feud that nearly became physical.

As Spire Motorsports prepares for the upcoming season with a refreshed roster, all eyes will be on how Suarez adapts to his new environment and whether the team can turn their shared ambitions into tangible success on the track.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nascar/news-we-need-other-spire-co-owner-signing-daniel-suarez-2026-nascar-cup-series-season

Alaska Air Non-GAAP EPS of $1.05 misses by $0.05, revenue of $3.77B beats by $10M

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Alaska Air Reports Q3 Earnings: Non-GAAP EPS Misses Estimates, Revenue Beats Expectations

On October 23, 2025, Alaska Air Group, Inc. released its third-quarter financial results. The company reported a Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of $1.05, missing analysts’ estimates by $0.05.

Despite the slight earnings miss, Alaska Air posted revenue of $3.77 billion, surpassing expectations by $10 million.

Investors are closely watching the stock’s performance, with recent trading activity showing notable trends. For more information on related stocks and market analysis, stay tuned to the latest updates.

Symbol: ALK
Company: Alaska Air Group, Inc.
Previous Close: [Insert value]
Short Interest: [Insert value]
Last Price: [Insert value]
% Change: [Insert value]
https://seekingalpha.com/news/4508038-alaska-air-non-gaap-eps-of-105-misses-by-005-revenue-of-377b-beats-by-10m?utm_source=feed_news_all&utm_medium=referral&feed_item_type=news

1996 Ford F-250 XLT SuperCab Power Stroke 4×4

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This 1996 Ford F-250 XLT SuperCab pickup comes with 133,000 miles on the odometer and has a documented registration history in Texas and Colorado. The seller purchased the truck in May 2025.

Powering this truck is a 7.3-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 engine, factory rated at 215 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, a dual-range transfer case, and a limited-slip rear differential with 4.10:1 gearing. An engine block heater is also equipped. Recent maintenance includes the replacement of the camshaft position sensor and fuel filter in May 2024, as well as an oil change in August 2025.

The exterior is finished in Oxford White and features 16-inch eight-hole alloy wheels fitted with Mastercraft Courser Trail tires installed in August 2025. Additional equipment includes a front brush guard, a receiver hitch, tubular side steps, an aftermarket rear bumper, chrome bed rail caps, a diamond-plate truck bed toolbox, and an in-bed trailer plug. There is noted damage to the left side of the bed, and the frame shows some signs of corrosion.

Braking is managed by power-assisted front disc brakes and rear drum brakes equipped with ABS. The front brake pads were replaced in August 2025 for added safety and reliability.

Inside, the cabin is trimmed in Opal Gray cloth and offers a front bench seat and rear bench seat. The interior styling is complemented by a color-coordinated dashboard and door panels. Comfort and convenience features include air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, a trailer brake controller, and a cassette stereo. Carhartt seat covers protect the front seats, and a cloth gun rack has been installed on the roof.

The instrument cluster features an 85-mph speedometer, a tachometer, and auxiliary gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, voltage, and fuel level. The digital odometer reads 133,000 miles, approximately 5,000 of which were added under the current ownership.

This Ford F-250 is being offered with a service invoice, a clean Carfax report free of accidents or other damage, and a clean Colorado title in the seller’s name. This truck represents a solid example of a well-maintained, classic Super Duty pickup with robust diesel power and useful features for work or recreation.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1996-ford-f-250-156/

EA Jumps Headfirst Into AI Hype Train Immediately After Acquisition

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EA was only recently acquired by private investment firms, and the company is already positioning itself to go all-in on using generative AI as part of its development process. The publisher just announced a “strategic partnership” with Stability AI, one of the largest players in the generative AI space, to integrate their technology into EA’s development pipeline. This move was always part of the plan following the acquisition.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson made the company’s commitment to generative AI crystal clear last year, signaling that this technology will be key in cutting costs and recouping some of the $55 billion spent on the acquisition by private investors, including Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

### EA Is Trying Generative AI Again

This isn’t the first time EA has attempted to integrate generative AI into its development processes. Their existing chatbot model, ReefGPT, has reportedly had issues with hallucinations—generating erroneous outputs that can lead to costly and time-consuming errors in code.

Despite these setbacks, Stability AI and EA are making ambitious claims about how generative AI can improve creative workflows. They are deliberately emphasizing the importance of creativity in game development, seemingly ignoring the broader concerns about generative AI’s impact on artists and creatives across industries.

In their announcement, EA compares generative AI to traditional procedural automation found in games, such as real-time physics simulation and automatic pathfinding. However, this analogy misses the core issues many people have with generative AI technology.

Even previous attempts to integrate AI into EA’s games have met with limited success, to put it mildly.

### Industry-Wide AI Adoption

EA is not alone in its dedication to generative AI. The technology has become relatively common in the Japanese gaming industry. Blizzard has echoed EA’s optimistic rhetoric, stating generative AI can “free up more time for people to be creative.” Similarly, just recently, Krafton announced plans for a “complete reorganization” to become more fully reliant on AI.

Over the last year, there have been less obvious but widespread signs of generative AI’s influence across the games industry, indicating a broader shift toward this technology despite ongoing challenges and controversies.
https://www.dualshockers.com/ea-jumps-headfirst-into-ai-hype-train-immediately-after-acquisition/

Despite gov’t shutdown, crypto market structure bill ‘90% there’ — Coinbase CEO

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Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has expressed optimism that US senators are moving closer to advancing key cryptocurrency market structure legislation by Thanksgiving. He suggested that there is now far more agreement across both sides of the aisle than differences.

“Even though the government is shut down, the Senate is working hard on getting market structure legislation passed for crypto,” Armstrong said in a video posted on X.

According to Armstrong, roughly 90% of the legislative framework has already been agreed upon, with the remaining 10% focused on issues like decentralized finance (DeFi). He added that policymakers are looking for ways to protect innovation while ensuring that “centralized intermediaries, like Coinbase, should be regulated, not the protocols.”

Armstrong also underscored the importance of “preserving stablecoin rewards” following the passage of the GENIUS Act earlier this year. The Act set federal standards for stablecoin reserves, transparency, and consumer protections.

“The big banks are coming for their cash grab, trying to block that,” Armstrong said. “We’re not going to let them re-litigate that.”

### Banking Lobby Pushback on the GENIUS Act

Armstrong’s criticism of the banking industry comes amid strong opposition from many lobbyists to the GENIUS stablecoin act, particularly over what they view as a loophole allowing interest payments.

While the GENIUS Act explicitly prohibits stablecoin issuers from offering interest or yield, this restriction does not apply to exchanges, according to the Bank Policy Institute (BPI). By excluding crypto exchanges like Coinbase, “the requirements in the GENIUS Act can be easily evaded and undermined by allowing payment of interest indirectly to holders of stablecoins,” the BPI stated.

As reported by Cointelegraph, banking lobbies have grown increasingly concerned that stablecoins could threaten their traditional business model, which currently offers depositors minimal interest.

Industry insider and New York University professor Austin Campbell noted that bankers are “panicking” over the prospect of stablecoin holders earning yields.

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**Related:** Boom in RWA Tokenization Expected After Passing of GENIUS Act
https://cointelegraph.com/news/brian-armstrong-senate-crypto-legislation-genius-act-stablecoin?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

Wings closing in on giving Paige Bueckers new head coach

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After a disappointing season for the Dallas Wings, the team decided to part ways with head coach Chris Koclanes. Following the conclusion of the year, the Wings began their search for a new leader to guide the team forward.

Now, it appears they have identified his successor. Reports indicate that USF’s Jose Fernandez is next in line for the head coaching position, according to SB Nation’s Mitchell Northam.

“According to multiple sources, the Dallas Wings are zeroing in on USF’s Jose Fernandez to be their next head coach. Deal could be finalized as early as today,” Northam wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Fernandez was among the candidates mentioned during the coaching search, and his consideration comes as no surprise given his impressive accomplishments at USF.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
https://clutchpoints.com/wnba/dallas-wings/wings-news-dallas-giving-paige-bueckers-new-head-coach

Released WWE star set to make return 3 weeks after exit

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It appears that just weeks after WWE released Santos Escobar, the company is bringing him back in a surprising move. This development comes shortly after his contract expired on October 7, 2025, leading to his effective departure from the company.

As previously reported by PWInsider, Escobar quickly lined up a panel appearance at New York Comic Con following his release. However, WWE presented him with a “big offer” that caused Escobar to reconsider his decision. He has since re-signed with WWE, and it seems his return will happen soon.

What Escobar will do upon his return remains unclear. He has not competed in a match since July 2025, so this comeback could serve as a reintroduction to fans.

### Why Was Santos Escobar Released by WWE?

The reason behind Escobar’s original release has not been disclosed. Notably, he was not involved in any major storyline prior to going on hiatus from WWE television. It is possible there simply weren’t any creative directions available for him at the time.

WWE allowed his contract to expire in October before making a renewed offer to bring him back. The nature of the “big offer” suggests that the company has plans for him moving forward, which is promising news for his fanbase.

### Career Highlights

Santos Escobar is a former NXT Cruiserweight Champion, holding the title for an impressive 321 days before losing it to Kushida on an episode of NXT. In 2022, he made the jump to WWE’s main roster by joining the Latino World Order (LWO) alongside Rey Mysterio, Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, and Zelina Vega.

The following year, Escobar turned on the LWO, sparking a feud with Mysterio. He went on to form Legado Del Fantasma, which also features Angel and Berto. His last notable match prior to his initial release took place at Worlds Collide on June 7, 2025, where Legado Del Fantasma defeated Elijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., Pagano, and Psycho Clown in a six-man tag team match.

### Previous Experience

Before joining WWE in 2019, Escobar gained valuable experience wrestling in promotions such as Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, Lucha Underground, and Impact Wrestling.

With his recent re-signing, it is expected that Santos Escobar will be part of WWE’s plans for the foreseeable future, much to the excitement of his supporters.
https://clutchpoints.com/wwe/wwe-news-released-santos-escobar-return-after-exit

Trump Admin Reportedly Close To Gobbling Up Stakes In Key Growing Industry

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Several quantum computing firms have reportedly been in discussions with the Commerce Department to offer equity stakes in return for federal funding.

Companies such as IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum are considering allowing the government to take equity stakes as part of deals to secure funding designated for promising technology firms, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Wednesday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter. Other technology firms, including Quantum Computing and Atom Computing, are also exploring similar arrangements, according to the outlet.

The Commerce Department, Quantum Computing, Atom Computing, D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing, and IonQ did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

Deputy Commerce Secretary Paul Dabbar, who was confirmed by the Senate in June, is reportedly spearheading the funding discussions with these technology companies, the anonymous sources told the WSJ. However, any potential deals with the quantum computing firms have yet to be finalized and remain subject to change, the report noted.

This news follows the White House announcement in August that the U.S. government will take a 10% ownership stake in Intel under a deal with the U.S.-based chipmaker. Additionally, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated on August 26 that the Trump administration was considering taking equity stakes in defense companies.

Quantum computers have the ability to solve highly complex statistical problems far beyond the capabilities of today’s conventional computers, according to a March report from McKinsey & Company. These machines can be applied across a variety of key industries, including finance, transportation, pharmaceuticals, and “green” technology.

An April 2023 report from McKinsey & Company estimated that quantum computing could account for nearly $1.3 trillion in value by 2035.

Following the release of the WSJ’s report, shares in U.S. quantum computing firms jumped in premarket trading on Thursday, according to Reuters.

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*All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline, and their DCNF affiliation. For questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.*
https://dailycaller.com/2025/10/23/trump-admin-commerce-department-quantum-computing/

Will Trump’s sanctions against Russian oil giants hurt Putin?

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Washington has announced new sanctions against Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, in an effort to pressure Moscow to agree to a peace deal in Ukraine. This marks the first time the current Trump administration has imposed direct sanctions on Russia.

Speaking alongside Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said he hoped the sanctions would not need to be in place for long, but expressed growing frustration with stalled truce negotiations.

“Every time I speak to Vladimir [Putin], I have good conversations and then they don’t go anywhere. They just don’t go anywhere,” Trump said, shortly after a planned in-person meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Budapest was cancelled.

Trump’s move is designed to cut off vital oil revenues that help fund Russia’s ongoing war efforts. Earlier on Wednesday, Russia unleashed a new bombardment on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, killing at least seven people, including children.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the new sanctions were necessary because of “Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war.” He added that Rosneft and Lukoil fund the Kremlin’s “war machine.”

### How Have Rosneft and Lukoil Been Sanctioned?

The new measures will freeze assets owned by Rosneft and Lukoil in the US and bar US entities from engaging in business with them. Additionally, thirty subsidiaries owned by Rosneft and Lukoil have also been sanctioned.

Rosneft, which is controlled by the Kremlin, is Russia’s second-largest company in terms of revenue, behind natural gas giant Gazprom. Lukoil is Russia’s third-largest company and its biggest non-state enterprise.

Together, the two companies export 3.1 million barrels of oil per day, accounting for 70 percent of Russia’s overseas crude oil sales. Rosneft alone is responsible for nearly half of Russia’s oil production, which makes up 6 percent of global output.

In recent years, both companies have been hit by ongoing European sanctions and reduced oil prices. In September, Rosneft reported a 68 percent year-on-year drop in net income for the first half of 2025. Lukoil posted an almost 27 percent fall in profits for 2024.

Meanwhile, last week the United Kingdom unveiled sanctions on the two oil majors. Elsewhere, the European Union is set to announce its 19th package of penalties on Moscow later today, including a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas.

### How Much Impact Will These Sanctions Have?

In 2022, Russian oil groups, including Rosneft and Lukoil, were able to offset some of the effects of earlier sanctions by pivoting exports from Europe to Asia, and by using a “shadow fleet” of hard-to-detect tankers with no ties to Western financial or insurance groups.

China and India quickly replaced the EU as Russia’s biggest oil consumers. Last year, China imported a record 109 million tonnes of Russian crude, representing almost 20 percent of its total energy imports. India imported 88 million tonnes of Russian oil in 2024.

These figures represent a significant increase compared to pre-2022 levels, when Western countries started tightening sanctions on Russia. At the end of 2021, China imported roughly 79.6 million tonnes of Russian crude, while India imported just 0.42 million tonnes.

Trump has repeatedly urged Beijing and New Delhi to halt Russian energy purchases. In August, he levied an additional 25 percent trade tariff on India because of its continued purchase of discounted Russian oil. He has so far refrained from a similar move against China.

However, Trump’s new sanctions are likely to place pressure on foreign financial groups that do business with Rosneft and Lukoil, including banking intermediaries facilitating sales of Russian oil in China and India.

“Engaging in certain transactions involving the persons designated today may risk the imposition of secondary sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions,” the US Treasury Department’s press release on Wednesday’s sanctions states.

As a result, the new restrictions may force buyers to shift to alternative suppliers or pay higher prices. Though India and China may not be the direct targets of these latest restrictions, their oil supply chains and trading costs are likely to come under increased pressure.

“The big thing here is the secondary sanctions,” Felipe Pohlmann Gonzaga, a Switzerland-based commodity trader, told Al Jazeera. “Any bank that facilitates Russian oil sales and with exposure to the US financial system could be subject.”

However, he added, “I don’t think this will be the driver in ending the war, as Russia will continue selling oil. There are always people out there willing to take the risk to beat sanctions. These latest restrictions will make Chinese and Indian players more reluctant to buy Russian oil; many won’t want to lose access to the American financial system. But it won’t stop it completely.”

According to Bloomberg, several senior refinery executives in India, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue, said the restrictions would make it impossible for oil purchases to continue.

On Wednesday, Trump said he would raise concerns about China’s continued purchases of Russian oil during his talk with President Xi Jinping at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea next week.

### Have Oil Prices Been Affected?

Oil prices rallied after Trump announced the US sanctions. Brent, the international crude oil benchmark, rose nearly 4 percent to $65 a barrel on Thursday.

The US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), jumped more than 5 percent to nearly $60 per barrel.

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*Recommended Stories*

– Trump hits Russia’s oil giants with sanctions, EU bans Russian LNG
– EU poised to agree on using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine in war
– Why planned Trump-Putin talks collapsed, and what it means for Ukraine
– EU moves to ban Russian energy imports by 2028
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/23/will-trumps-sanctions-against-russian-oil-giants-hurt-putin?traffic_source=rss