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A roadmap for protecting our democracies in the age of AI

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MONTREAL, February 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The year 2025 will be an important one for democracies worldwide: several dozen countries are due to hold national elections in a world profoundly transformed by artificial intelligence (AI). Recent cases – notably in Romania, Brazil, Gabon and the United States – illustrate the need for action to protect electoral integrity as the proliferation of fake news and growing use of deepfakes – in particular – are affecting public confidence and the quality of democratic debate. 

To meet these challenges, academic experts from the North and the South have proposed actions aimed at supporting our institutions to better guard against the negative effects and risks generated by AI interference on elections and democratic processes. 

This framework comprises four priority actions:

Modernizing regulatory frameworks with the adoption of clear rules framing the use of AI during elections.Adoption of codes of conduct for the use of AI by political parties.Establishment of independent teams to monitor electoral integrity and prepare public response plans in the event of AI-fueled threats to elections.Development of an International AI Electoral Trustkeepers and international legal assistance protocols to respond to cases of AI-based electoral interference.

A major global initiative

These recommendations have been developed as part of the Global Policy Briefs on AI, a new joint endeavour of IVADO, Canada’s leading AI research and knowledge mobilization consortium, and the University of Ottawa’s AI + Society Initiative. This project aims to provide policymakers with public policy recommendations to address today’s major global AI challenges. 

For the first brief in this series – “AI in the Ballot Box: Four Actions to Safeguard Election Integrity and Uphold Democracy” – Prof. Catherine Régis (Université de Montréal and IVADO) and Prof. Florian Martin-Bariteau (University of Ottawa) brought together researchers representing North America, South America, Africa and Europe.

The brief is available on aisociety.ca and ivado.ca in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.

“This mobilization reflects how important it is to take action, but also represents a unique opportunity to help shape the future of our democracies. By pooling academic expertise on an international scale, we can develop solutions that will preserve the integrity of democratic processes,” says Professor Catherine Régis, Director of Social Innovation and International Policy at IVADO.

“With our democracies under threat, AI-driven interference requires swift and concrete actions from leaders – both at the national and international level. Without a concerted global effort to align laws, build capacity, and develop processes to mitigate AI risks, Canada – and democracies around the world – remain vulnerable,” says Professor Florian Martin-Bariteau, Director of the AI + Society Initiative at the University of Ottawa.

Next steps

IVADO, the University of Ottawa AI + Society Initiative, and their partners will present the recommendations contained in this first brief at an event on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit on Monday, February 10, 2025 at the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne in Paris.

A further retreat is scheduled for the end of 2025 to produce a global policy brief on another major challenge raised by AI.

The project was supported by the Fonds de recherche du Québec, the CEIMIA, the Canada-CIFAR Chair in AI and Human Rights at Mila, and the University of Ottawa Research Chair in Technology and Society. The week-long retreat was organized with the help of the Délégation du Québec à Rome and the Società Italiana per l’Organizzazione Internazionale. This research was supported in part by funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.

About IVADO

IVADO is an interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral research and knowledge mobilization consortium whose mission is to develop and promote a robust, reasoning and responsible AI. Led by Université de Montréal with four university partners (Polytechnique Montréal, HEC Montréal, Université Laval and McGill University), IVADO brings together research centers, government bodies and industry members to co-build ambitious cross-sectoral initiatives with the goal of fostering a paradigm shift for AI and its adoption.

About the University of Ottawa AI + Society Initiative

The University of Ottawa AI + Society Initiative defines problems and identifies solutions to essential issues related to AI to support a better understanding and framing of the ethical, legal and societal implications of AI by leveraging a transdisciplinary approach. The Initiative promotes an inclusive research agenda with a specific focus on avoiding the amplification of global digital injustices through AI for affected communities. Led by the University Research Chair in Technology and Society, the Initiative is incubated at the University of Ottawa Centre for Law, Technology and Society, Canada’s premier research hub on technology law, ethics and policy, with the support of the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue.

Contact: IVADO: Stéphanie Dufaud – stephanie.dufaud@ivado.ca; Université d’Ottawa: Paul Logothetis – plogothe@uottawa.ca 

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LAZARD GLOBAL TOTAL RETURN AND INCOME FUND DECLARES MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION AND ISSUES ESTIMATED SOURCES OF THE DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCED IN SEPTEMBER

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NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) (NYSE:LGI) is confirming today, pursuant to its Managed Distribution Policy, as previously authorized by its Board of Directors, a monthly distribution of $0.15340 per share on the Fund’s outstanding common stock. The distribution is payable on November 24, 2026, to shareholders of record on November 10, 2026. The ex-dividend date is November 10, 2026.

The Fund will pay a previously declared distribution today, October 22, 2026. The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid, including today’s distribution, from the following sources: net investment income, net realized capital gains (short-term and long-term), and return of capital. All amounts are expressed per share of common stock and are based on accounting principles generally accepted in the US, which may differ from federal income tax regulations.

Current Distribution

% of the Current Distribution

Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year to Date

% of the Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year to Date

Net Income

$0.02003

13 %

$0.20541

13 %

Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains

$0.00000

0 %

$0.00000

0 %

Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains

$0.13337

87 %

$0.80950

53 %

Return of Capital

$0.00000

0 %

$0.51909

34 %

Total

$0.15340

100 %

$1.53400

100 %

Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5-year period ending on September 30, 2026

6.36 %

Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of September 30, 2026

10.22 %

Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through September 30, 2026

5.81 %

Cumulative fiscal year distributions as a percentage of NAV as of September 30, 2026

7.66 %

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund’s Managed Distribution Policy.

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income”.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported above are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund provides financial intermediary firms the information necessary to produce the Form 1099-DIV, and then the relevant financial intermediary firm will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. If you have any questions, or need additional information, please call us at 1-800-823-6300.

Portfolio data as of September 30, 2026, including performance, asset allocation, top 10 holdings, sector weightings, regional exposure, and other Fund characteristics have been posted on Lazard Asset Management’s (“LAM”) website, www.LazardAssetManagement.com.

The Fund’s investment objective is total return, consisting of capital appreciation and current income. The Fund’s net assets are invested in a portfolio of approximately 60 to 80 US and non-US equity securities, including American Depository Receipts, generally of companies with market capitalizations greater than $2 billion, and may include investments in emerging markets. The Fund also invests in emerging market currencies (primarily by entry into forward currency contracts), or instruments whose value is derived from the performance of an underlying emerging market currency, and also may invest in debt obligations, including government, government agency and corporate obligations and structured notes denominated in emerging market currencies.

An indirect subsidiary of Lazard, Inc. (NYSE: LAZ), LAM, the Fund’s investment manager, offers a range of equity, fixed-income, and alternative investment products worldwide. As of September 30, 2026, LAM and affiliated asset management companies in the Lazard Group managed $284.0 billion worth of client assets. For more information about LAM, please go to www.LazardAssetManagement.com.

Media contact:

Investor contact:

Aziz Nayani, +1 212 632 6042

Ben Wulfsohn, +1 800 823 6300

aziz.nayani@lazard.com

ben.wulfsohn@lazard.com 

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SOURCE Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc.

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Norton LifeLock Benefit Solutions Introduces Norton Money Workplace

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New offering combines financial visibility and protection with personalized guidance, planning and earned-wage access for life’s most important financial moments

TEMPE, Ariz., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Norton LifeLock Benefit Solutions, the employee benefits division of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), has announced the launch of Norton Money Workplace, a new financial wellness benefit employers can offer employees to help them better understand, protect and grow their financial lives through one connected experience.

As employees navigate an increasingly complex financial landscape — from managing everyday expenses and debt to planning for retirement, education, and major life events — they’re also facing growing exposure to scams, fraud and identity threats. At the same time, employers are looking for benefits that deliver meaningful everyday value while helping reduce the financial stress that impacts employee wellbeing. Norton Money Workplace is designed to meet both needs by bringing together financial visibility, protection, personalized guidance, and planning into one experience. It helps employees manage debt, plan for education expenses, prepare for retirement, and navigate major financial decisions at every stage of life.

“Most financial wellness benefits solve one problem or serve one moment in an employee’s life. We saw an opportunity to do something different,” said Tim Hong, Global Head of Financial Wellness Technology at Gen. “Employees need support that’s just as relevant when they’re building financial habits as when they’re buying a home, navigating student loans or preparing for retirement. Our goal is to give employers a benefit that grows with their workforce and helps employees feel more confident navigating whatever life brings. That’s the future we’re building toward.”

Norton Money Workplace delivers that support for employees through four core capabilities. Together, they help employees understand where they stand financially, identify the steps they can take next, and build greater financial confidence over time:

Financial Visibility: Securely connect accounts to understand spending, cash flow, net worth, and credit in one place so employees have a clearer picture of their overall financial position.Financial Protection: Helps catch potential issues earlier and guides employees to take action before they become a larger issue.Guidance & Education: Employees receive personalized financial insights and expert-created education so they can better understand their options and determine appropriate next steps.Planning & Action – Employees can build personalized financial and retirement plans, navigate education costs and student debt, connect with Certified Financial Professional coaching, and receive actionable direction for important financial decisions.

Gen has spent decades helping people stay safer in an increasingly connected world through Cyber Safety, online privacy and identity protection. Today, its solutions also support people’s financial lives, from understanding spending and credit to planning for major decisions. Norton Money Workplace builds on that foundation, bringing Cyber Safety, identity protection and financial wellness together in a single benefit. Rather than employers and their payroll partners stitching together separate point solutions, they get one connected experience, and employees get support that protects their finances, identity and safety online, all in one place. 

“Employees are managing more of their financial lives online than ever before, and they need benefits that reflect that reality,” said Casey Cullinan, Head of Norton LifeLock Benefit Solutions at Gen. “By bringing together trusted cyber protection with proven financial technology, we’re helping employers deliver support that’s more relevant, more useful and built for the way people live today. It’s another example of how we’re delivering more value by connecting Gen’s strengths across our portfolio.”

Norton Money Workplace marks the next chapter in Gen’s journey to protect and empower people’s digital and financial lives. For decades, Norton and LifeLock have helped people stay safer online through Cyber Safety and identity protection — and more recently, through tools that help them understand and manage their money. Norton Money Workplace builds on that foundation, bringing these capabilities together in a single employee benefit, with more to come as Gen’s employee benefits division works toward an even more connected, all-in-one solution for employees’ digital and financial lives. Norton Money Workplace will be available beginning in December 2026. Learn more here.

About Norton LifeLock Benefit Solutions, part of Gen 

Norton LifeLock Benefit Solutions helps employers equip their employees with digital and financial protection through comprehensive benefits that combine award-winning technology with expert restoration support. Norton LifeLock Benefit Solutions is part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom with a family of trusted consumer brands including Norton, LifeLock and MoneyLion. Gen empowers nearly 500 million users in more than 150 countries through its products and services that span cybersecurity, online privacy, identity protection and financial wellness. Through Norton LifeLock Benefit Solutions, Gen brings that protection into the workplace, partnering with more than 12,000 employers to help employees safeguard their identities, navigate digital risks and take greater control of their financial lives. Learn more at GenDigital.com. 

Media Contact

Audra Proctor
Gen
Press@GenDigital.com 

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SOURCE Gen Digital Inc.

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Quantinuum to Report Third Quarter Financial Results on November 5, 2026

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BROOMFIELD, Colo., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Quantinuum Inc. (NASDAQ: QNT) (“Quantinuum”) today announced it will release its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, on November 5, 2026, after market close.

Quantinuum will host a conference call at 5:00 PM Eastern time that same day to discuss its financial results. The call will be available through a live webcast available here.

An archive replay of the webcast will be made available on the Quantinuum Investor Relations website following the call and will remain available for one year.

About Quantinuum

Quantinuum is a leading quantum computing company offering a full-stack platform designed to make quantum computing deployable in real-world environments. The company has commercially deployed multiple generations of quantum systems built on the well-established QCCD architecture, which it has implemented with novel designs and capabilities to achieve the industry’s highest accuracy levels based on average two-qubit gate fidelity as of December 31, 2025. Quantinuum has active engagements with market leaders across pharmaceuticals, material science, financial services, and government and industrial markets. Quantinuum’s headquarters is in Broomfield, Colorado, with additional facilities across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Qatar and Singapore.

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