nice88 free 120 register philippines
Walmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victory NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart’s sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are re-evaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups in business. The changes announced by the world’s biggest retailer on Monday followed a string of legal victories by conservative groups that have filed an onslaught of lawsuits challenging corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minority and women-owned businesses and employees. The retreat from such programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Trump's threat to impose tariffs could raise prices for consumers, colliding with promise for relief DETROIT (AP) — If Donald Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, the price increases that could follow will collide with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation. Economists and industry officials say companies would have little choice but to pass along the added costs, dramatically raising prices for food, clothing, automobiles, booze and other goods. The president-elect floated the tariff idea and an additional 10% tax on goods from China, as a way to force the countries to halt the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the U.S. But his posts Monday threatening tariffs on his first day in office could be a negotiating ploy to get the countries to change behavior. Trump’s latest tariff plan aims at multiple countries. What does it mean for the US? WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has identified what he sees as an all-purpose fix for what ails America: Slap huge new tariffs on foreign goods entering the United States. On Monday, Trump sent shockwaves across the nation’s northern and southern borders, vowing sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, as well as China, as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. Trump said he will impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders. Federal Reserve officials signal cautious path for rate cuts amid still-high inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — With inflation still elevated, Federal Reserve officials expressed caution at their last meeting about cutting interest rates too quickly, adding to uncertainty about their next moves. Even if inflation continued declining to the Fed’s 2% target, officials said, “it would likely be appropriate to move gradually” in lowering rates, according to minutes of the November 6-7 meeting. The minutes don’t specifically provide much guidance about what the Fed will do at its next meeting in December. Wall Street investors see the odds of another quarter-point reduction in the Fed’s key rate at that meeting as nearly even, according to CME Fedwatch. Canadian officials blast Trump's tariff threat and one calls Mexico comparison an insult TORONTO (AP) — Canadian officials are blasting President-elect Donald’s Trump’s threat to impose sweeping tariffs. The leader of Canada's most populous province on Tuesday called Trump’s comparison of Canada to Mexico “the most insulting thing I’ve ever heard.” Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico and China as soon as he takes office in January as part of efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. Canadians say their economy and the U.S. one are deeply intertwined and Americans would feel tariffs, too. Biden proposes Medicare and Medicaid cover costly weight-loss drugs for millions of obese Americans WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of obese Americans would be eligible to have popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound covered by Medicare or Medicaid under a new rule the Biden administration proposed Tuesday morning. The proposal, which would not be finalized until after President-elect Donald Trump takes office, could cost taxpayers as much as $35 billion over the next decade. It would give millions of people access to weekly injectables that have helped people shed pounds so quickly that some people have labeled them miracle drugs. Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump's promised crackdown on immigration President-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. One algorithm, for example, ranks immigrants with a “Hurricane Score,” ranging from 1-5, to assess whether someone will “abscond” from the agency’s supervision. It’s almost time for Spotify Wrapped. When can you expect your 2024 recap? NEW YORK (AP) — It’s almost that time of year. Spotify is gearing up to release its annual Spotify Wrapped, a personalized recap of its users' listening habits and year in audio. The streaming service has been sharing these personalized analyses with since 2016. And each year, it’s become a bigger production than the last. Spotify claimed its 2023 Wrapped was the “biggest ever created” in terms of audience reach and the kind of data it provided to users. But information on Wrapped's 2024 release has been kept under ... er, wraps. In previous years, it’s been released after Thanksgiving, between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6. Thanksgiving travel is cranking up. Will the weather cooperate? The Thanksgiving travel rush is picking up, with Tuesday and Wednesday expected to be much busier than the last couple days. A lot of travelers will be watching weather forecasts to see if rain or snow could slow them down. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen more than 2.8 million people on Tuesday and 2.9 million on Wednesday after handling more than 2.5 million people on Monday. So far, relatively few flights have been canceled this week, but there have been thousands of delayed flights every day. That is becoming normal for U.S. airlines. Federal agency raises the size of most single-family loans the government can guarantee to $806,500 The Federal Housing Finance Agency is increasing the size of home loans that the government can guarantee against default as it takes into account rising housing prices. Beginning next year, mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be able to acquire loans of up to $806,500 on single-family homes in most of the country, the agency said Tuesday. The new conforming loan limit is a 5.2% increase from its 2024 level. FHFA oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which buy home loans from banks and other lenders. FHFA adjusts the loan limits annually to reflect changes in U.S. home values, which have been rising this year despite a national home sales slump.With more companies seeking sustainable energy solutions, asset manager Brookfield is offering ways for investors to drive growth while supporting a greener future As energy consumption continues to rise, companies are gaining more interest in sustainable sources like solar, wind, and nuclear power. The global race to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed many sectors – but it is also fueling a surge in energy consumption. For example, each prompt entered into generative AI chatbot ChatGPT uses about 2.9 watt-hours (Wh) of energy. This is nearly ten times the energy needed for a single Google search. At scale, the energy consumption of data centres powering advanced AI rivals that of entire cities and, in some cases, small countries. According to estimates by the International Energy Agency, these energy guzzlers are expected to consume as much power as the country of Sweden – and potentially up to as much as Germany – by 2026. However, fossil fuels – the primary energy source for today’s electricity grids – are finite, making them costly to use. As a result, there is an urgent need to identify a power source that is both environmentally and financially sustainable to meet the tech sector’s growing energy demands. This is why the recent deal between tech giant Microsoft and Brookfield Asset Management is significant. Under the agreement signed in May, Brookfield will invest more than US$10 billion (S$13.2 billion) between 2026 and 2030 to develop 10.5 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity in the US and Europe. In return, Microsoft has pledged to purchase the power produced from these sites on long-term contracts. “This first of its kind agreement, which is almost eight times larger than the largest single corporate power purchase agreement ever signed, is a testament to our ability to reliably deliver clean power solutions at scale to our corporate partners and accelerate the energy transition,” says Mr Connor Teskey, chief executive of Brookfield Renewable and president of Brookfield Asset Management. This investment by Microsoft will help to drive greater demand for renewable energy, which in turn supports the development of new renewable energy infrastructure and advancing clean energy availability. Microsoft is not alone in this clean energy pursuit. Google has set a goal to operate on carbon-free energy on every grid at all times , as part of its overall net-zero target by 2030. Others such as Amazon and Meta , have become some of the largest corporate buyers of renewable energy in the US. As generative AI computing surges, Brookfield expects that demand from these companies could more than triple by the latter half of this decade. If this growth continues, the energy consumption required by just one of these companies aiming for 100 per cent renewable energy could match the entire current energy demand of the United Kingdom. Growing demand for sustainable energy across sectors With an infinite supply and minimal environmental impact, solar energy is a sustainable, low-cost resource that companies can harness. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES While the urgency for sustainable energy sources is growing in the tech sector, companies in other sectors too are looking for similar solutions. More than 8,000 companies have made net-zero commitments under the United Nations’ “Race to Zero” campaign. Switching to renewable energy has emerged as one of the simplest ways for companies to reduce their carbon emissions, with clean energy procurement hitting an all-time high in 2022 to reach 50 gigawatts globally. The primary driver behind this shift is the emergence of renewable energy as the most cost-effective power source for these companies. Additionally, many existing energy grids are strained by rapidly rising demand. In some regions, these grid limitations make it difficult for tech firms to obtain the necessary permits to build new data centres unless they also invest in strengthening energy infrastructure and securing a reliable electricity supply. This dual incentive of cost savings and permitting necessity has pushed many companies towards renewable solutions to meet both their current operational and future expansion needs. Equally important is these companies’ commitment to reducing carbon emissions. Despite soaring energy demands from AI and high-performance computing, many tech giants have upheld their highly ambitious environmental targets. This dedication reflects both a genuine push for sustainability and rising pressures from customers, investors, and financial institutions to align growth with strong environmental, social and governance standards. As the global demand for renewable energy grows, asset managers with expertise in clean energy projects, like Brookfield, play a crucial role in helping companies achieve their decarbonisation goals . Brookfield owns 34 gigawatts of clean energy capacity – more than the wind, solar and hydro capacity of the United Kingdom – and has a 200-gigawatt development pipeline. This scale allows Brookfield to negotiate favourable terms with suppliers, attract high-value customers, and drive cost efficiencies across the renewable energy market. With the rising demand for sustainable energy sources, nuclear energy is also being re-evaluated. Says Mr Teskey: “Tech companies have also shown interest in procuring zero-carbon, baseload nuclear power.” Although not a type of renewable energy, nuclear energy is still considered a sustainable option. This is because it generates electricity with zero greenhouse gas emissions once a plant is operational. More importantly, zero-carbon, baseload nuclear power is able to offer consistent, large-scale power, unlike wind, hydro and solar power – whose sources are heavily dependent on the weather. Recently, several tech companies have taken steps to support nuclear energy initiatives, signing agreements to back new small modular reactors (SMRs) in the US. For instance, Google has signed an agreement to purchase nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors (SMRs) to be developed by Kairos Power. Microsoft also signed a deal to revive a nuclear plant in Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island. These moves underscore a growing corporate interest in nuclear energy, as businesses look to support the development of reliable, low-carbon power sources. As demand rises for nuclear power, businesses investing in nuclear technology providers are likely to see growing opportunities – a trend Brookfield is capitalising on with its ownership of Westinghouse. Westinghouse, a business Brookfield has owned since 2018, is the world’s leading provider of technology and power plant designs for the nuclear power sector. Nuclear energy offers a promising solution to meet the growing power demands of tech firms, particularly those with data centres that require stable, carbon-free power for their round-the-clock operations. Mr Mark Carney, chair and head of Transition Investing at Brookfield Asset Management, says: “Every credible net-zero pathway relies on significant growth in nuclear power. It is an essential, reliable zero-carbon technology that directly displaces fossil fuels and supports the growth of renewables by providing critical baseload to our grids.” Whether it is nuclear, wind, solar or batteries, tech demand, alongside other corporations wishing to take advantage of cheap and abundant energy, is driving the future of clean energy worldwide. Learn how you can seize opportunities in the global push toward net-zero emissions. Disclaimers: This article and the information contained herein are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any investment advisory services, securities or related financial instruments. This commentary discusses broad market, industry or sector trends, or other general economic or market conditions. It is not intended to provide an overview of the terms applicable to any products sponsored by Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. and its affiliates (together, “Brookfield”). Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now
In what appears to be an embarrassing and ironic gaffe, a top Stanford University professor has been accused of spreading AI-generated misinformation while serving as an expert witness in support of a law designed to keep AI-generated misinformation out of elections. Jeff Hancock, the founding director of Stanford’s Social Media Lab, submitted his expert opinion earlier this month in Kohls v. Ellison, a lawsuit filed by a YouTuber and Minnesota state representative who claim the state’s new law criminalizing the use of deepfakes to influence elections violates their First Amendment right to free speech. His opinion included a reference to a study that purportedly found “even when individuals are informed about the existence of deepfakes, they may still struggle to distinguish between real and manipulated content.” But according to the plaintiff’s attorneys, the study Hancock cited — titled “The Influence of Deepfake Videos on Political Attitudes and Behavior” and published in the Journal of Information Technology & Politics —does not actually exist. “The citation bears the hallmarks of being an artificial intelligence (AI) ‘hallucination,’ suggesting that at least the citation was generated by a large language model like ChatGPT,” the plaintiffs wrote in a motion seeking to exclude Hancock’s expert opinion. “Plaintiffs do not know how this hallucination wound up in Hancock’s declaration, but it calls the entire document into question, especially when much of the commentary contains no methodology or analytic logic whatsoever.” The accusations about Hancock’s use of AI were first reported by the Minnesota Reformer . Hancock did not immediately respond to Gizmodo’s request for comment. Minnesota is one of 20 states to have passed laws regulating the use of deepfakes in political campaigns. Its law prohibits knowingly or acting with reckless disregard to disseminate a deepfake up to 90 days before an election if the material is made without the consent of the person depicted and is intended to influence the results of the election. The lawsuit challenging the law was filed by a conservative law firm on behalf of Minnesota state Representative Mary Franson and Christopher Kohls, a YouTuber who goes by the handle Mr Reagan. A lawsuit filed by Kohls challenging California’s election deepfake law led to a federal judge issuing a preliminary injunction last month preventing that law from going into effect.Today's fortune: Nov. 25, 2024 Published: 25 Nov. 2024, 07:00 Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI Read what today holds in store for you under the 12 signs of the zodiac, each represented by an animal. Our astrologer Cho Ku-moon explores saju (the four pillars of destiny) and geomancy for your prospects on wealth, health and love while offering advice on the direction of your luck and fortune. Check the year of your birth for today’s prediction. Monday, Nov. 25, 2024 (Oct. 25 on the lunar calendar) Rat Wealth: average Health: average Love: jealous Lucky direction: east 1936: Avoid going out. 1948: Eat well, even if you lack an appetite. 1960: Avoid crowded places. 1972: Complete tasks ahead of others. 1984: Survive. Life is a series of competitions. 1996: Skills and effort are the only ways to succeed. Ox Wealth: stable Health: good Love: joyful Lucky direction: north 1937: Likely to see more gains than losses. 1949: Simply living is already a benefit. 1961: You might hear good news. 1973: Do not postpone today's tasks; act on them. 1985: You’ll see potential and feel motivated to work. 1997: Financial opportunities may align in your favor. Tiger Wealth: stable Health: good Love: perfect Lucky direction: east 1938: A parent‘s love for their children is endless. 1950: In the era of 100-year lifespans, live with love. 1962: In love, age is just a number. 1974: Show affection to your spouse. 1986: A good sense of camaraderie will develop. 1998: Balance both love and work. Rabbit Wealth: stable Health: good Love: joyful Lucky direction: north 1939: A day where wisdom from experience shines. 1951: Learn to use the internet and a smartphone. 1963: Prepare for the second chapter of life. 1975: You might connect well with someone in a senior position. 1987: You can achieve both principle and practicality. 1999: There are opportunities to learn while working. Dragon Wealth: spending Health: cautious Love: conflicting Lucky direction: west 1940: Be logical, not emotional. 1952: Too much rigidity can lead to breaking. 1964: Avoid being overly dominant or submissive. 1976: Nothing in life comes free. 1988: Avoid direct confrontations; take an indirect approach. 2000: Don’t engage in arguments with others. Snake Wealth: spending Health: cautious Love: new encounters Lucky direction: east 1941: You might have some worries. 1953: Worrying doesn’t solve problems. 1965: Avoid being blunt in communication. 1977: Be cautious with financial transactions or investments. 1989: You might face some bothersome tasks. 2001: Be careful to avoid problematic encounters. Horse Wealth: spending Health: average Love: cloudy Lucky direction: north 1942: Avoid thinking you are the only one who can do it. 1954: Everyone relies on each other; cooperation matters. 1966: Sometimes familiar faces can be more intimidating. 1978: Avoid overworking or overexerting yourself. 1990: Stay unnoticed by superiors and maintain neutrality. 2002: Be cautious and prevent physical injuries. Sheep Wealth: stable Health: good Love: happy Lucky direction: east 1943: Happiness begins from within. 1955: You might receive awaited news or results. 1967: Every day is the best day to live fully. 1979: You might find joy in pursuing a vision or passion. 1991: A day filled with physical and emotional joy. 2003: Luck will be on your side. Monkey Wealth: average Health: average Love: generous Lucky direction: south 1944: Grace and dignity are important as you age. 1956: Don’t hesitate to offer small help to others. 1968: Maintain a steady and balanced pace. 1980: Even a thousand-mile journey starts with a single step. 1992: The first attempt doesn’t always yield results. 2004: You might worry about career decisions. Rooster Wealth: average Health: average Love: generous Lucky direction: south 1945: Hobbies become more important as you age. 1957: Eat warm food and keep your body warm. 1969: Knowledge is power. 1981: Use social media and understand the atmosphere. 1993: Dress warmly and focus on practical fashion. 2005: Listen to music to relax. Dog Wealth: stable Health: good Love: joyful Lucky direction: west 1946: You may gain more than you lose. 1958: A peaceful and leisurely day is likely. 1970: Starting is half the battle. 1982: You might begin something new with promise. 1994: A day of motivation and productivity. 2006: Consider wearing metallic accessories for luck. Pig Wealth: excellent Health: robust Love: unite Lucky direction: north 1935: An age to understand the will of the heavens. 1947: Follow your heart freely. 1959: Save and manage even a little. 1971: Everything has its place; stay organized. 1983: Unity and harmony are the keys to success. 1995: A day with nothing to waste. 2007: You might connect deeply with someone.
Dauphin County consultant got nearly $200K in grant money from program he overseesPresident Emmanuel Macron is to name a new prime minister on Friday, aides said, after days of deadlock over finding a candidate to replace Michel Barnier whose ousting by parliament pushed France into a fresh crisis. Barnier was toppled in a historic no-confidence vote on December 4 and there had been expectations Macron would announce his successor in an address to the nation even a day later. But in a sign of the stalemate in French politics after inconclusive legislative elections this summer, he did not name his successor then and has now missed a 48-hour deadline he gave at a meeting meeting of party leaders on Tuesday. On Thursday, Macron left France on a day-long trip to key EU and NATO ally Poland but shortened the visit in an apparent bid to finalise the appointment. "The statement naming the prime minister will be published tomorrow (Friday) morning," said an aide to to the president, asking not to be named, late Thursday just after Macron touched down from the trip to Poland. "He is finishing his consultations," the aide added, without giving further details. Whoever is named will be the sixth prime minister of Macron's mandate after the toppling of Barnier, who lasted only three months, and faces an immediate challenge in thrashing out a budget to pass parliament. Each premier under Macron has served successively less time in office and there is no guarantee for the new premier that they will not follow this pattern. Macron remains confronted with the complex political equation that emerged from the snap parliamentary polls -- how to secure a government against a no-confidence vote in a bitterly divided lower house where no party or alliance has a majority. All the candidates widely floated so far have encountered objections from at least one side of the political spectrum. "They are stuck," said a person close to Macron, asking not to be named and lamenting that "each name gets blocked." "No one is in agreement around the president," added the source, expressing hope Macron will surprise everyone with an unexpected choice. Macron's rumoured top pick, veteran centrist Francois Bayrou, raises hackles on the left -- wary of continuing the president's policies -- and on the right, where he is disliked by influential former president Nicolas Sarkozy. Beyond Bayrou, prime ministerial contenders include former Socialist prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve, current Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, a Macron loyalist, and former foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. Another name being discussed in the media is Roland Lescure, a former industry minister, but the nomination of the former Socialist risks inflaming the right. These "are names that have been around for years and haven't seduced the French. It's the past. I want us to look to the future," Greens leader Marine Tondelier said. "The French public want a bit of enthusiasm, momentum, fresh wind, something new," she told France 2 television. Polls indicate the public is fed up with the crisis. Just over two-thirds of respondents to one Elabe poll published on Wednesday said they want politicians to reach a deal not to overthrow a new government. But confidence is limited, with around the same number saying they did not believe the political class could reach agreement. In a separate IFOP poll, far-right National Rally (RN) figurehead Marine Le Pen was credited with 35 percent support in the first round of a future presidential election -- well ahead of any likely opponent. She has said she is "not unhappy" that her far-right party was left out of the horse-trading around the government, appearing for now to benefit from the chaos rather than suffer blame for bringing last week's no-confidence vote over the line. In a critical looming moment, Le Pen on March 31, 2025 faces the verdict in an embezzlement trial on charges she denies. If convicted, she could lose the chance of standing in the 2027 elections and with it her best chance yet of winning the Elysee. burs-tgb-sjw/rlp
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Mitch Mascari's 22 points helped Drake defeat Florida Atlantic 75-63 on Friday. Mascari shot 6 for 9 (6 for 8 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Bulldogs (5-0). Bennett Stirtz scored 17 points and added six assists. Tavion Banks had 12 points and shot 2 of 5 from the field and 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. The Owls (4-3) were led in scoring by Leland Walker, who finished with 14 points and five assists. Matas Vokietaitis and Tre Carroll each scored 10 points. Drake entered halftime up 32-28. Mascari paced the team in scoring in the first half with 11 points. Drake took the lead for what would be the final time on Banks' free throw with 14:22 left in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .