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X continues to roll out updates to its Grok AI chatbot, which it recently made available for free to all users . Grok is the showcase product of Elon Musk’s xAI initiative , which is separate from X, but comes under the X Corp. branding. And it heavily relies on X insights to power its responses, which intertwines both the X app and xAI. And with xAI recently raising an additional $6 billion in funding , and building a huge AI computing cluster in Memphis , X and Musk are keen to get more people using Grok, to show-off what it can do, and how it matches up to other generative AI chatbots on the market. First off, X has further integrated X and web search data to improve Grok’s answers. As you can see in this example, Grok’s responses now include reference links and citations to help clarify and contextualize its outputs. It’s also improved Grok’s image generation model , while it’s also added an updated Grok button on X posts, which will make it easy to get more context on any X post in-steam. You’ll also note the updated Grok icon for the new button. Grok’s switching from the box with a slash through it to a new logo design , further differentiating the function. X is also now testing audio queries for Grok , so you can vocally ask the app questions. That would bring it more into line with Meta AI, which is already available for voice queries in its Ray-Ban Meta glasses . Though Meta AI isn’t the true target of Musk’s gen AI initiative. Musk’s real focus is OpenAI, the organization that he helped to establish in its initial stages, before being ousted from the project due to his demands to be put in control. As the story goes, back in 2016, at the beginning of the OpenAI experiment, Musk pledged $100 million in funding to the OpenAI project , and its goal of developing AI in a safe and open manner. He then sought to be made CEO of the organization, and was rebuffed by the OpenAI board, which prompted Musk to leave the project, and partially withdraw his donation. Years later, OpenAI became a major company, and started making money from the project. And Elon, spurned by both the rejection, and having his initial donation to the project partially fund its for-profit status, became so incensed that he created his own AI project to essentially kill OpenAI. Which is part of the reason why Elon’s ramping up development of his AI projects, which are also linked to Tesla, and its work towards full self-driving technology. And Grok is what xAI currently has to show for this. I’m not convinced that AI chatbots add anything significant to the social media experience, and I don’t know that many X users are going to find much value in the tool, even with it now being made available to all of its 570 million users . But that may not be the key aim, as xAI continues to develop, and seek new use cases for its offerings. But Grok is also improving, and if you’re looking for an AI chatbot, its access to X’s real-time info could be of value.
READY to wave goodbye to 2024 and see what lies in store for the next 12 months? The Sun’s astrologer shares twists and turns for the different zodiac signs in 2025 when it comes to work, finances and good fortune. Find out if it will be a year of celestial celebration for you. And don’t miss tomorrow’s paper, when Maggie maps out events that await at home, in health and on new horizons. ARIES March 21 – April 20 CAREER: Your “take charge” Mars magic swells throughout spring and, by mid-June, you can make your boldest move. Work-based new moons on August 23 and September 21 rejig false starts into genuine opportunities. READ MORE ON HOROSCOPES CASH: Saturn’s steady hold on Aries from May to September chairs great negotiations – you possess a prime poker face! February 4 and April 30 are rich dates for finding lost tickets, accounts or legacies. Answer questions honestly in November. CHANCE: Neptune enhances intuition in everything from number choices to lucky colours from March onwards. Most read in Fabulous Teams of three, packs of four, and any talking or rapid-response challenge, are Aries-significant. TAURUS April 21 – May 21 CAREER: Friends or family who dream together can make a great business team, taking shape over the summer. With Pluto set for 20 years in your success sector, your future can break records. An October choice is a key decision. CASH: Until June, Jupiter spotlights smart ways into and out of some big money situations. Your smile can be worth a fortune! Around July 4, you can identify earning potential in a learning scenario. CHANCE: Staying silent and keeping secrets is a challenge, but with potential rich rewards. You can also find 2025 luck with music played by trios and dates that include a three. GEMINI May 22 – June 21 CAREER: Closing a decision around January 13 can lead to open doors by September 7. You see many clever ways to pivot your career profile in 2025, guided by mentor Mercury. Late November, surf a success wave straight into 2026. CASH: You have Jupiter financial flair all year – but build in Saturn common sense, too. A saving goal can come closer by September. Vintage records hide new value. CHANCE: Number two, twinned towns or cities and second-time-around entries can all have a Gemini luck link. Uranus, with its “try anything” vibe, finds success for you in contests with unusual settings, or hi-tech themes, July to November. CANCER June 22 – July 22 CAREER: Your work journey speeds up from January and Saturn-strong shoots push through in June and July. Yes, you can learn and lead. An unusual ambition around the time of October 7 deserves your full attention. CASH: Mars boosts risk taking from day one – April to June you reap rewards. Then Mercury steps in with smart strategies to double that. Stick to a money plan in September, even when temptation is strong. CHANCE: As Jupiter’s number one, by June you can feel personal luck flow. First answers, especially under pressure, your first initial and any list of number ones, past or present, can be winners. LEO July 23 – August 23 CAREER: Take the first three months to suss out what you really need from work – in April and May, Mars encourages action. Saturn supports learning all summer to ace any test or interview, however many times you’ve tried. CASH: The March 14 eclipse mixes emotions and finances – and people who love each other can enrich each other. Double new money moons in August and September show that you can start again, no matter what. Believe in better! CHANCE: Number 12, December dates/birthdays and following clue trails can lead to luck. Team up with your least-likely friend or colleague for summer success. VIRGO August 24 – September 22 CAREER: Look for Mercury career guidance and intelligence and it’s there for you, all year. From March to May, you have crystal clear future vision. Your personal moon shines so bright in August and September, nothing can stop you. CASH: Pluto’s new position underlines that people matter more than possessions – review 2025 spending plans accordingly. Wellbeing businesses, tests of patience and “H” addresses carry cash potential. CHANCE: A silly family game, a new social media connection and a local celebrity challenge can all be luck-linked for Virgo. So can football teams, November journeys and someone who changes their name in 2025. LIBRA September 23 – October 23 CAREER: Valentine’s Day to mid-April, you hit your Mercury progress stride, pushing obstacles aside and embracing challenges. June to late August, your best friend at work can be your best promotion ally. “Six” dates are career firsts. CASH: Set high saving/spending standards as the year begins, and Mars helps you meet them, maybe exceed them. Pluto’s willingness to break rules and be creative brings rich Libra chances all year, but especially when things feel toughest. CHANCE: Jackpots that double daily, sets of ten questions and a person or place first encountered in October can all add extra luck to 2025. SCORPIO October 24 – November 22 CAREER: Planet leader Pluto transforms what job security means to you – for the next 20 years, you can run risks, aim for the sky. The solar eclipse makes March 29 super-special. Neptune endows summer insight to read bosses’ lips – and minds. CASH: Creative skills – your own or others’ – can boost your 2025 bank balance as soon as Saturn gets involved. Productivity is off the scale. Minor plans that start around August bank holiday build to major profits by Christmas. CHANCE: Old maps, new languages and a decision to believe in your ability to learn, no matter what, enhance Scorpio’s winning streak. SAGITTARIUS November 23 – December 21 CAREER: Saturn helps secure success where you are in 2025, with roles or responsibilities you may not have considered. But big offers can be irresistible in August and September. On October 29 and December 11, follow facts, not fantasy. CASH: Start 2025 taking stock of what you have, as financial genius Venus backs you until summer to build on this brilliantly. In July, only invest in people and projects that mean something. Mars goes big or goes home around December 15. CHANCE: Fortune flows from feelings, so trust yours implicitly. Figures of eight and August trips can also have lucky influence. CAPRICORN December 22 – January 20 CAREER: Talk your way to success in March, put in extra hours in June. Maverick planet Uranus upends your career chart from July to November, and cautious Capricorn is no more. Get ready to surprise everyone, especially yourself. CASH: Your inner voice counts most from January to June, so ignore external spending pressures. Two travel moons, in August and September, spot some big cash chances on the move. Pluto power helps focus on the financial future, so ditch the past. CHANCE: Combining birthday dates, wedding planning and brokering deals can spell 2025 luck. An old family story can scoop a unique prize. AQUARIUS January 21 – February 18 CAREER: The positive vibes of Jupiter are zooming in on your work zone, so you approach serious ambitions with a lighter touch. Reinventing yourself can start with the full moon on January 13, alongside the “never say no” spirit of Mars. You’ve got this. CASH: Saturn has been on call in your money chart for years – but 2025 is the last one. So spend it finishing what you have started with a cool, clear head. April 7 and October 22 are crucial cash decision dates. CHANCE: Six o’clock, contests in three rounds and an event that has been postponed until next June can be Aquarius luck-finders. PISCES February 19 – March 20 CAREER: Mercury focuses your work mind from July to September, when you can visualise yourself in an exciting new role. February 28 and September 7 are Pisces push harder days. Pluto toughens up secret ambitions, giving an inner shine. CASH: Go your own way until May, when Saturn’s six-month shift encourages pooling money plans, working and winning as part of an “F” team. Pisces’ key money moon is October 7, so swap distractions for determination. READ MORE SUN STORIES CHANCE: Neptune’s natural number-choosing and success-seeking instincts kick in strongest April to October. Families of five and locations to the east can be lucky all year.
West Michigan middle school robotics team wins state championshipDubai is gearing up for an epic New Year’s Eve celebration with comprehensive traffic management to enhance and ensure safety. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has released its plans for road closures on December 31, which is expected to accommodate the high turnout of residents and visitors. The road closures will be implemented gradually, starting from 4 pm, on December 31 with strategic timing for different routes. Among the roads that will be closed are: Additionally, Al Sukuk St will closed from 8 pm and the upper level of the Financial Road will closed from 9 pm. Similarly, The Sheikh Zayed Road which is a key route will gradually close from 11 pm. The RTA has made extensive preparations to facilitate the movement and parking of public transportation. Approximately 20,000 additional parking spaces will be available at the following locations To ensure adequate parking for those visitors coming to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks shows in their private vehicles, alternative parking spaces will also be provided at Al Wasl and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) parking lots, where free shuttle buses will be available. An executive director of traffic at the RTA, Hussain Al Bana urged visitors to use Metro stations where parking is available, such as Centerpoint, Etisalat e&, and Jebel Ali stations. Notably, the Dubai Water Canal Footbridge and elevators will close at 4 pm. He also advised the visitors to start trips early, Use public transportation and leave early if not attending festivities to avoid any inconvenience. Dubai has announced fireworks shows at 36 different locations across the city to welcome the New Year. The city guarantees a thrilling night of experience, music and illumination.
BOCA RATON, Fla. , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boca Woods Country Club is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newly redesigned Woods golf course. This momentous occasion took place on Sunday, December 8th at 12:00 PM , with a celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony marking the culmination of a remarkable $9M transformation that has captivated the attention of golf enthusiasts far and wide. More than 450 Members and distinguished guests from industry and government joined the Club for the ribbon cutting ceremony, cocktails and hors d' oeuvres. Attendees included PGA Junior Club Members standing aside past Club Presidents, sharing a commitment to excellence demonstrated by the investment to fully renovate the Woods Course. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of a lifetime Boca Woods Country Club Membership accepted by Rees Jones . The outcome of this extensive renovation: a formidable championship golf course, meticulously designed by the renowned Rees Jones and delivered through the craftsmanship of LaBar Golf. Stretching to a maximum yardage of 7,043 yards, the course boasts key risk/reward decisions for the experienced golfer while offering better playable options for those less experienced. Some key highlights of the renovation include: " The Woods course is now a true championship layout, playing to a maximum yardage of 7,043 yards." Said Jeff Gullett , Director of Golf. He continued, " Rees Jones has incorporated a combination of green complexes and bunkering that will test every golfer's ability. We are confident that our Members will be delighted with the results." The Woods golf course offers an inspired blend of challenging greens and strategically placed bunkers, promising to test the mettle of even the most seasoned golfers. The harmonious fusion of design elements guarantees a truly exceptional and unforgettable round of golf. What truly distinguishes the Woods course is its serene and secluded setting. Nestled away from the luxury homes that dot the community, the course immerses players in the tranquility of South Florida's nature, offering a respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. " Bryce Swanson and I are pleased that the Woods Course at Boca Woods is reopening on time and on budget. The redesign of the golf course enhances the course's playability, strategy, and variety. The remodeled golf course will provide an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience for the Members and their guests on a continuing basis. It has been a pleasure to work with all involved in this project," said Rees Jones . This renovation is particularly significant due to Boca Woods' unique position in the golfing world. With 36 holes of championship golf and a limited Membership of only 590 golfers, Boca Woods provides an unparalleled level of exclusivity and access. The newly renovated Woods course further solidifies the club's reputation as a golfer's paradise, offering a rare combination of world-class amenities and a close-knit community of passionate enthusiasts. " It is amazing to witness the evolution taking place at this Club." Says David Sweet, General Manager/ COO. He continues, "In the last four years, Members have supported the development of modern amenities: a new Clubhouse with state-of-the-art virtual meeting spaces, a sports and wellness complex that offers 10,000 sq ft of fitness, modern racquet sports facilities including lights for night play, and now this championship course developed in partnership with the best names in the business. Rees has left his mark on Boca Woods, and the Club's future is bright!" Central to the course's allure is the masterful touch of Rees Jones , whose design philosophy seamlessly integrates the natural beauty of the surroundings with the strategic demands of the game. The result is a golfing experience that is both visually captivating and intellectually stimulating. "The Rees Jones' update to our Woods Course is inspirational. Coupled with renovations designed by Kipp Schulties on the Lakes Course, we offer a small community of players a wide range of golfing opportunities. As President of Boca Woods, I am proud of what we accomplished and the time frame we worked within. We listened to our players: men and women, scratch players and weekenders... the result is 36 holes of magnificent golf course architecture that challenges the best and offers playable options for every level. Our demographics say it all (reference the generations photo), and there are tee boxes for every player at every age to enjoy. Boca Woods is setting the standard" said Howard Mittleman , Board President for Boca Woods Country Club. The renovation of the Woods golf course represents a substantial investment in elevating the club's amenities, ensuring Members have exceptional golf experiences. The comprehensive project followed a $14.5M building and facilities renovation. For more information on the new Woods golf course or to inquire about membership opportunities, please visit bocawoodscc.com . The Club foresees many future investments, including the installation of TopTracer (technology owned and used by Top Golf Entertainment Group) on the driving range, sharing information about every shot for Members through fully integrated technology inclusive of ballistics scopes delivering multiple data points for every shot. About Boca Woods Country Club Boca Woods Country Club is an established residential country club community located in Boca Raton, Florida . Membership at Boca Woods offers extraordinary value in a golf community that features two championship golf courses and all the amenities that private country club living has to offer. Boca Woods Country Club is dedicated to providing a residential country club lifestyle featuring a community and club culture characterized by friendliness, civility and respect for its members and staff in an overall setting of refinement and casual elegance. Media Contact: membership@bocawoodscc.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grand-opening-of-the-rees-jones-woods-golf-course-announced-at-boca-woods-country-club-302334242.html SOURCE Boca Woods Country ClubGrand Opening of the Rees Jones "Woods" golf course announced at Boca Woods Country Club
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Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic will face conservative rival Dragan Primorac in an election run-off in two weeks' time after the incumbent narrowly missed out an outright victory on Sunday, official results showed. The results came after an exit poll, released immediately after the polling stations closed, showed that Milanovic, backed by the opposition left-wing Social Democrats, had scooped more than 50 percent of the first round vote and would thus avoid the January 12 run-off. Milanovic won 49.11 percent of the first round vote and Primorac, backed by the ruling conservative HDZ party, took 19.37 percent, according to results released by the state electoral commission from nearly all of the polling stations. Such a strong lead for Milanovic, whom surveys labelled a favourite ahead of the vote, raises serious concerns for Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic's HDZ. The election comes as the European Union and NATO member country of 3.8 million people struggles with biting inflation, widespread corruption and a labour shortage. Among the eight contenders, centre-right MP Marija Selak Raspudic and green-left MP Ivana Kekin followed the two main rivals, the exit poll showed. They each won around nine percent of the vote. Croatia's president commands the country's armed forces and has a say in foreign policy. But despite limited powers, many believe the office is key for the political balance of power in a country mainly governed by the HDZ since independence in 1991. "All the eggs should not be in one basket," Nenad Horvat, a salesman in his 40s, told AFP. He sees Milanovic, a former leftist prime minister, as the "last barrier to all levers of power falling into the hands of HDZ", echoing the view of many that was reflected in Sunday's vote results. The 58-year-old Milanovic has been one of Croatia's leading and most colourful political figures for nearly two decades. Sharp and eloquent, he won the presidency for the Social Democrats (SDP) in 2020 with pledges to advocate tolerance and liberalism. But he used the office to attack political opponents and EU officials, often with offensive and populist rhetoric. Milanovic, who condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine, has nonetheless criticised the West's military aid to Kyiv. That prompted the prime minister to label him a pro-Russian who is "destroying Croatia's credibility in NATO and the EU". Milanovic countered that he wanted to protect Croatia from being "dragged into war". "As long as I'm president no Croatian soldier will wage somebody else's wars," he said this month. Milanovic regularly pans Plenkovic and his HDZ party over systemic corruption, calling the premier a "serious threat to Croatia's democracy". "I'm a guarantee of the control of the octopus of corruption... headed by Andrej Plenkovic," he said during the campaign. For many, the election is a continuation of the longstanding feud between two powerful politicians. "This is still about the conflict between the prime minister and president," political analyst Zarko Puhovski told AFP. "All the rest are just incidental topics." Primorac, a 59-year-old physician and scientist returning to politics after 15 years, campaigned as a "unifier" promoting family values and patriotism. "Croatia needs unity, global positioning and a peaceful life," he told reporters after casting his ballot in Zagreb, adding that he would later attend a mass. Primorac repeatedly accused Milanovic of "disgracing Croatia", a claim that resonated with his supporters. ljv/bcTwo Capital High students arrested over gun video made on campus
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