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Dimopoulos shines in double OT and Northern Illinois beats Fresno State 28-20 in Idaho Potato BowlWhere to Watch Kentucky vs. Texas on TV or Streaming Live – Nov. 23In the world of retail collaborations, it's essential for brands to ensure that their products meet the expectations and needs of consumers. However, Luckin Coffee recently faced a backlash over its co-branded cup priced at 183.5 yuan, which turned out to be unsuitable for hot water. Designed originally as a cold water cup, this oversight has sparked disappointment among customers and raised questions about the quality control processes in place.
In addition to the constant managerial turnover, the Glazers have also faced criticism for their lack of footballing expertise and the appointment of inexperienced directors who have failed to effectively navigate the complexities of running a modern football club. Ed Woodward, the club's former Executive Vice Chairman, bore the brunt of much of this criticism, as his tenure was marked by poor transfer dealings, a lack of a coherent footballing strategy, and an overall disconnect from the club's heritage and values.Meta Platforms has backed Elon Musk in an effort to prevent OpenAI from converting into a for-profit company. In a letter sent to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Meta expressed concerns that this transition would set a dangerous precedent for Silicon Valley startups and potentially undermine nonprofit advantages. Meta’s key concerns Meta, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, highlighted that OpenAI ’s move to a for-profit model could distort the traditional nonprofit-investment structure, allowing investors to benefit from for-profit gains while leveraging tax write-offs. “ OpenAI ’s conduct could have seismic implications for Silicon Valley,” Meta warned in its letter. “If OpenAI’s new business model is valid, non-profit investors would get the same for-profit upside as those who invest the conventional way in for-profit companies while also benefiting from tax write-offs bestowed by the government,” Meta was also stated as saying in its letter. This intervention underscores the competitive AI landscape. Meta is a direct rival to OpenAI and has invested billions in developing its own advanced AI technologies to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Meta also pointed out that Musk and business associate Shivon Zilis are well-positioned to represent public interests in this dispute. “Although we ask your office to take direct action, we believe that Mr. Musk and Ms. Zilis are qualified and well-positioned to represent the interests of Californians in this matter,” Meta was stated as writing in its letter. Musk has filed multiple legal complaints against OpenAI, accusing the company of betraying its original nonprofit mission and conspiring with Microsoft to dominate the AI space. Musk’s role and historical context Elon Musk , who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 before leaving in 2018 amidst internal power struggles, has been a vocal critic of OpenAI’s shift toward profit-making. Musk’s company, xAI , has clashed with OpenAI’s restructuring plans, and his latest legal complaint came last month. Musk’s claims focus on OpenAI’s collaboration with Microsoft and its move toward a more profit-driven business strategy. Meta has now added weight to Musk ’s legal and strategic opposition, advocating for a review of whether OpenAI should be permitted to transition into a for-profit business model. OpenAI responds OpenAI has defended its choice to restructure as a for-profit public benefit corporation. As per the news report, last week, OpenAI published internal communications, including emails and texts arguing that Musk had previously supported the for-profit model before exiting leadership following a failed attempt to gain majority control. A growing AI debate OpenAI , the developer behind AI breakthroughs like ChatGPT, has faced mounting pressure to shift business strategies. Transitioning into a for-profit model would allow the organization to attract more funding, but critics fear it could compromise the original mission of promoting AI research transparently and ethically. What’s next? With Meta and Musk now actively pushing against OpenAI ’s changes, the legal battle could shape the future of AI development, investor practices, and nonprofit protections. Whether Musk and Meta can force a pause on OpenAI’s for-profit ambitions remains to be seen as the political and legal dimensions of this clash intensify.Upon Andrew Jackson’s inauguration as the seventh president of the United States in 1829, he owned 95 enslaved people and a sprawling plantation in Nashville named “the Hermitage.” Last week, the Andrew Jackson Foundation, the group that owns and operates the Hermitage today, announced the discovery of gravesites where an estimated 28 enslaved people were buried on the plantation’s grounds. By the time of his death in 1845, Jackson owned 150 enslaved people and had expanded the Hermitage to a vast 1,000 acres. He and his family owned more than 300 enslaved men, women and children from 1788 to the end of the Civil War in 1865. “Any time you have this large of a population of enslaved people at the site, there has to be a cemetery somewhere,” Tony Guzzi, the Hermitage’s chief of preservation and site operations, tells Annie Correal of the New York Times . “And we have found that piece of history that was missing.” Advances in technology and a tip-off from a 1935 agricultural report allowed the foundation to make the recent discovery, along with a new source of funding. The historical report had identified an area of graves and large trees on the property, which was located in January 2024. The burial site is near a creek an estimated 1,000 feet northwest of the main house. It has been largely undisturbed for the last 180 years, overgrown and untouched by farming or infrastructure. Archaeologists used ground-penetrating radar to identify possible and probable graves without damaging them, validating their hunches through cautious partial excavation that revealed “depressions oriented in rows” and “unnaturally placed pieces of limestone, all suggesting possible gravesites,” according to a statement . Jackson first purchased the Hermitage from a neighbor on July 5, 1804, expanding the original 425-acre property into a cotton-producing plantation. The Hermitage’s website delves into the stories of some of the known enslaved people who toiled on the plantation. In October 1804 , Jackson ran an advertisement in the Tennessee Gazette with a $50 reward for the return of an enslaved person who escaped the plantation earlier that year. The advertisement added: “ten dollars extra, for every hundred lashes any person will give him, to the amount of three hundred.” When Jackson was elected president in 1829, he brought 14 enslaved people—eight women and six men—to labor in his new home at the White House. According to The White House Historical Association , Jackson’s enslaved household likely worked on many of the improvements to the White House during his administration, including adding running water to the building. Others served as domestic laborers and likely as jockeys in his hobby for racing horses. The Hermitage now joins other mansions owned by former U.S. presidents where visitors can observe burial sites of enslaved people. Historians at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello , George Washington’s Mount Vernon and James Madison’s Montpelier have previously located cemeteries where enslaved people were buried. “Locating the physical remains of these individuals is a strong reminder of what this landscape was and what it represented—historically, an elite white space, a plantation and a place of enslavement sustained by arduous labor and sacrifice of Black bodies,” Carlina de la Cova , a bioarchaeologist at the University of South Carolina who was not involved in the project, tells Live Science ’s Kristina Killgrove. The newly discovered gravesite has been fenced off, but beginning this week, the Hermitage is including the site in a new free tour, reports Travis Loller of the Associated Press . An advisory committee consisting of historians and descendants of some of the enslaved people at the Hermitage will decide on how to memorialize the site. “It is historically significant, after decades of searching, that we are highly confident we have found the cemetery for people who were enslaved at the Hermitage,” Jason R. Zajac , president and CEO of the Andrew Jackson Foundation, says in the statement. The foundation cautioned against sharing definitive numbers about how many graves were found, as not all possible sites may turn out to be graves, and there could be more yet to be identified. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday. Olatunji Osho-Williams | READ MORE Olatunji Osho-Williams is an intern with Smithsonian magazine.
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Social media platform WhatsApp remains one of the favourite hunting grounds for online scamsters who use diverse ploys to cheat the vulnerable, hijack their accounts, malign their reputation, and inflict severe financial losses on them. Recently, complaints about the alleged hacking of WhatsApp accounts have surged, with the cyber police across the State reportedly receiving numerous cases. A common tactic involves using hacked accounts to request monetary help in groups the victims belong to. Taking advantage of access to these groups, scamsters are allegedly hacking the accounts of other users in the same groups. When users realise their accounts have been compromised and warn other members of the group, scamsters reportedly delete those messages. Different modus operandi Recently, a police officer in rural Alappuzha received three such calls, each employing a different modus operandi. He said that scamsters appeared to have been inventing new methods on the go to deceive people. In some cases, callers asked for an OTP, claiming it was needed to update the phone’s security lock. In others, they warned that failing to update WhatsApp would render the platform defunct, he added. “Even at other times, the caller requested the OTP under the guise of enabling a single login for WhatsApp and Facebook,” the officer said. “Their attempts fell flat when they encountered technically savvy youngsters. However, there are plenty of gullible people who might fall for their convincing performance,” he added. A senior cyber police officer said the WhatsApp-based scam had been ongoing for quite some time, prompting the police to issue several alerts, including through their social media handles. “People simply need to be cautious and avoid clicking on dubious links or installing unknown apps at someone’s request,” he added. Published - November 24, 2024 01:40 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Kochi / Kerala / cyber crime / policeThe incident took place on a routine East Airlines flight from Shanghai to Beijing. Reports indicate that a passenger on board began experiencing difficulty breathing shortly after takeoff, prompting concerns among the flight crew and fellow passengers. The situation quickly escalated, leading to a call for immediate medical assistance.
NEW YORK (AP) — In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs — including Apple’s Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said in remarks at Mar-a-Lago . “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech companies and leaders have now poured millions into his inauguration fund, a sharp increase — in most cases — from past pledges to incoming presidents. But what does the tech industry expect to gain out of their renewed relationships with Trump? A clue to what the industry is looking for came just days before the election when Microsoft executives — who’ve largely tried to show a neutral or bipartisan stance — joined with a close Trump ally, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, to publish a blog post outlining their approach to artificial intelligence policy. “Regulation should be implemented only if its benefits outweigh its costs,” said the document signed by Andreessen, his business partner Ben Horowitz, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the company’s president, Brad Smith. They also urged the government to back off on any attempt to strengthen copyright laws that would make it harder for companies to use publicly available data to train their AI systems. And they said, “the government should examine its procurement practices to enable more startups to sell technology to the government.” Trump has pledged to rescind President Joe Biden’s sweeping AI executive order, which sought to protect people’s rights and safety without stifling innovation. He hasn’t specified what he would do in its place, but his campaign said AI development should be “rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Trump’s choice to head the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has spoken openly about the need to boost electricity production to meet increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. “The AI battle affects everything from defense to healthcare to education to productivity as a country,′′ Burgum said on Nov. 15, referring to artificial intelligence. “And the AI that’s coming in the next 18 months is going to be revolutionary. So there’s just a sense of urgency and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration′′ to address it. Demand for data centers ballooned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and local governments are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies. But as data centers begin to consume more resources, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities. “Maybe Big Tech should buy a copy of ‘The Art of The Deal’ to figure out how to best negotiate with this administration,” suggested Paul Swanson, an antitrust attorney for the law firm Holland & Hart. “I won’t be surprised if they find ways to reach some accommodations and we end up seeing more negotiated resolutions and consent decrees.” Although federal regulators began cracking down on Google and Facebook during Trump’s first term as president — and flourished under Biden — most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to business mergers. Google may benefit from Trump’s return after he made comments on the campaign trail suggesting a breakup of the company isn’t in the U.S. national interest, after a judge declared its search engine an illegal monopoly . But recent nominations put forward by his transition team have favored those who have been critical of Big Tech companies, suggesting Google won’t be entirely off the hook. Cook’s notoriously rocky relationship with the EU can be traced back to a 2016 ruling from Brussels in a tax case targeting Apple. Cook slammed the bloc’s order for Apple to pay back up to $13.7 billion in Irish back taxes as “total political crap.” Trump, then in his first term as president, piled on, referring to the European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was spearheading a campaign on special tax deals and a crackdown on Big Tech companies, as the “tax lady” who “really hates the U.S.” Brussels was eventually vindicated after the bloc’s top court rejected Apple’s appeal this year, though it didn’t stop Cook from calling Trump to complain, Trump recounted in a podcast in October. Trump hosted Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly. Neither Apple nor the Trump transition team has commented on the nature of their discussions. Altman , Amazon and Meta all pledged to donate $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which billionaire Bezos owns. Meanwhile, Bezos had criticized some of Trump’s past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. More recently, Bezos has struck a more conciliatory tone. He recently said at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term, while also endorsing president-elect’s plans to cut regulations. The donation from Meta came just weeks after Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president, but voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump in recent months had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. And Altman, who is in a legal dispute with AI rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence in the incoming administration. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits.Over in the Ice Zone, the spotlight will be on the fast-paced and dynamic sports of figure skating, speed skating, and ice hockey. Figure skaters will dazzle with their grace and artistry, while speed skaters will push the limits of human endurance and speed on the ice. And of course, ice hockey will bring fans together in a frenzy of excitement, as teams from around the world battle it out for supremacy on the rink. The Ice Zone promises to deliver a blend of elegance, intensity, and pure adrenaline that will keep viewers glued to their screens.The prospect of pardoning criminals raises important questions about justice, rehabilitation, and the role of executive power. Pardons can provide individuals with a second chance, allowing them to move on from past mistakes and reintegrate into society. However, critics argue that pardons can also undermine the legal system, particularly if they are viewed as being granted for political reasons rather than based on merit.
NEW YORK (AP) — In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs — including Apple's Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said in remarks at Mar-a-Lago . “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech companies and leaders have now poured millions into his inauguration fund, a sharp increase — in most cases — from past pledges to incoming presidents. But what does the tech industry expect to gain out of their renewed relationships with Trump? Clearing the way for AI development A clue to what the industry is looking for came just days before the election when Microsoft executives — who’ve largely tried to show a neutral or bipartisan stance — joined with a close Trump ally, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, to publish a blog post outlining their approach to artificial intelligence policy. “Regulation should be implemented only if its benefits outweigh its costs,” said the document signed by Andreessen, his business partner Ben Horowitz, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the company's president, Brad Smith. They also urged the government to back off on any attempt to strengthen copyright laws that would make it harder for companies to use publicly available data to train their AI systems. And they said, “the government should examine its procurement practices to enable more startups to sell technology to the government.” Trump has pledged to rescind President Joe Biden’s sweeping AI executive order, which sought to protect people’s rights and safety without stifling innovation. He hasn’t specified what he would do in its place, but his campaign said AI development should be “rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Easier energy for data centers Trump's choice to head the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has spoken openly about the need to boost electricity production to meet increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. “The AI battle affects everything from defense to healthcare to education to productivity as a country,′′ Burgum said on Nov. 15, referring to artificial intelligence. “And the AI that’s coming in the next 18 months is going to be revolutionary. So there’s just a sense of urgency and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration′′ to address it. Demand for data centers ballooned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and local governments are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies. But as data centers begin to consume more resources, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities. Changing the antitrust discussion “Maybe Big Tech should buy a copy of ‘The Art of The Deal’ to figure out how to best negotiate with this administration,” suggested Paul Swanson, an antitrust attorney for the law firm Holland & Hart. “I won’t be surprised if they find ways to reach some accommodations and we end up seeing more negotiated resolutions and consent decrees.” Although federal regulators began cracking down on Google and Facebook during Trump’s first term as president — and flourished under Biden — most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to business mergers. Google may benefit from Trump’s return after he made comments on the campaign trail suggesting a breakup of the company isn’t in the U.S. national interest, after a judge declared its search engine an illegal monopoly . But recent nominations put forward by his transition team have favored those who have been critical of Big Tech companies, suggesting Google won’t be entirely off the hook. Fending off the EU Cook’s notoriously rocky relationship with the EU can be traced back to a 2016 ruling from Brussels in a tax case targeting Apple. Cook slammed the bloc’s order for Apple to pay back up to 13 billion euros ($13.7 billion) in Irish back taxes as “total political crap.” Trump, then in his first term as president, piled on, referring to the European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was spearheading a campaign on special tax deals and a crackdown on Big Tech companies, as the “tax lady” who “really hates the U.S.” Brussels was eventually vindicated after the bloc’s top court rejected Apple’s appeal this year, though it didn’t stop Cook from calling Trump to complain, Trump recounted in a podcast in October. Trump hosted Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly. Neither Apple nor the Trump transition team has commented on the nature of their discussions. Making amends? Altman , Amazon and Meta all pledged to donate $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which billionaire Bezos owns. Meanwhile, Bezos had criticized some of Trump’s past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. More recently, Bezos has struck a more conciliatory tone. He recently said at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term, while also endorsing president-elect’s plans to cut regulations. The donation from Meta came just weeks after Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president, but voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump in recent months had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. And Altman, who is in a legal dispute with AI rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence in the incoming administration. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits. The Associated Press
Ezewiro scores 19 and UAB takes down Alcorn State 91-74As the bidding war intensifies and the competition heats up, the Dutch defender finds himself at the center of a high-stakes transfer saga. With Inter Milan, Manchester City, PSG, and Bayern Munich all vying for his services, the decision of where to ply his trade next will be a crucial one that could shape the trajectory of his career.This tragic accident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of staying focused and attentive while operating a vehicle. Distracted driving, whether due to texting, talking on the phone, or engaging in other activities, significantly increases the risk of accidents and endangers the lives of pedestrians and other road users.
In the world of showbiz, where fame and fortune can fluctuate like the tides, it's always heartwarming to see acts of kindness and support between colleagues. Recently, actress Xiao Hua expressed her deep gratitude towards actor Xiang Zuo for reaching out to her during a time when her popularity was waning, offering to trim her hair. This small gesture of kindness not only touched Xiao Hua's heart but also won the admiration and praise of netizens, who applauded the genuine and pure friendship that exists in the entertainment industry.
Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda on Monday announced they had entered into official talks to merge and create the world's third-largest automaker by sales . In a press conference on Monday, Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the companies needed greater scale to compete in the development of new technologies in electric vehicles and intelligent driving. A business integration would give the companies an "edge that will not be possible under the current collaboration framework," Mibe said, according to a translation. The deal would aim to share intelligence and resources and deliver economies of scale and synergies while protecting both brands, he said. A holding company would be formed as the parent company of both Honda and Nissan, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The larger Honda will nominate most of the integrated entity's board members. The merged group has the potential to deliver revenue of 30 trillion yen ($191.4 billion) and operating profit of over 3 trillion yen, he said. Discussions are set to conclude in June 2025. Mibe added that if approved, the integration would be a mid to long-term project that is currently not expected to show visible progress until 2030 and beyond. Nissan's strategic partner Mitsubishi has been offered the chance to join the new group and will take a decision by the end of January 2025. The companies are grappling with intense global competition in the EV market from the likes of Tesla and China's BYD. The proposed deal was first reported by Japan's Nikkei newspaper on Dec. 17. Nissan shares spiked following the initial report of a merger. Analysts say the potential tie-up is a result of financial underperformance at the company and of the restructure of its longstanding partnership with France's Renault . In its most recent quarterly results, Nissan said it would cut 9,000 jobs and reduce global production capacity by a fifth. Honda CEO Mibe on Monday said some of the company's shareholders may feel that the deal would represent Honda supporting Nissan, but noted the merger was "based on the assumption that Nissan completes its turnaround action." "If Nissan and Honda fail to stand on their own feet the business integration talks will not come to fruition," he said. Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida told reporters that the discussion of integration did "not mean we have given up on a turnaround" and was instead about ensuring the company's competitiveness for the future. "After doing this turnaround action for future development, future growth, we need to look at ultimate size and growth. This growth will be through partnerships," he added. Nissan has "been struggling in the market, it's been struggling at home, it doesn't have the right product line-up," Peter Wells, professor of business and sustainability at Cardiff Business School's Centre for Automotive Industry Research, told CNBC's " Street Signs Europe " last week. "There are so many warning signs, so many red flags around Nissan at the moment that something had to happen. Whether this is the answer is another question," Wells added. — CNBC's Ruxandra Iordache and Sam Meredith contributed to this story.9. Marcelo Brozovic (Midfielder) - Inter Milan's midfield general, Brozovic, controlled the game with his passing, vision, and defensive work in Round 15. His ability to dictate the tempo of the match and break up opposition attacks were crucial in Inter's victory. Brozovic's standout performance secured his place in the Best XI lineup.
Michelle Rowland once confessed she had a vice. It was “excessive online clothes shopping”, Rowland , when she was Labor’s communications spokeswoman. “I blame Instagram.” Now the communications minister with responsibility for regulating social media, Rowland is doing something to curb its influence. The politician known for having such a lawyerly, cautious approach that she reads from notes even in private meetings has taken the audacious step of . The move has outraged technology giants and generated headlines around the world. “We would like that something very similar could be put in place, enforced in Europe,” French Education Minister Anne Genetet said. “We absolutely urgently need something to be put in place.” That Australia is out ahead of any other country is all the more striking because two of Rowland’s other priorities – a bill to and a – are dead or dying. Rowland’s critics blame the minister for that. “Minister Rowland seems to operate under the belief that she doesn’t have to bring anyone along with her on her legislation and policies,” Greens communications spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young says. “For the communications minister, she’s not a great communicator.” But the wooden exterior belies a different Rowland. Behind the closed doors of the Labor Party, colleagues know her as funny (the type of minister who leaves odd snacks on staff desks), sharp and influential. Rowland, they say, is in her dream job. She is the first sitting MP since Paul Keating to serve as NSW party president, a role in which she has helped keep internal NSW Labor dramas off the front page as the after more than a decade in opposition. The former communications and regulatory lawyer, who worked with star lawyer Danny Gilbert and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb, cares about her portfolio and knows it inside out. Growing up in the western Sydney electorate of Greenway that she represents, Rowland rose through the ranks of Young Labor before marrying Michael Chaaya, a corporate lawyer who could not speak English when he started school in Mount Druitt. The pair regularly attend a Maronite church together, grounding her views in favour of religious freedom and against antisemitism. In 2009, Rowland was a senior lawyer at Gilbert+Tobin when an electoral redistribution flipped Greenway from a safe Liberal seat to a winnable prospect for Labor. Rowland won it the next year and began a steady rise through the party that has won her fans in Labor’s most senior ranks. Treasurer Jim Chalmers secured her a position on the powerful cabinet expenditure review committee that signs off on government spending – a rarity for a communications minister. “She is very smart, very thorough and very tough,” one senior minister says. “She has a lawyer’s sense of the detail and a marginal member’s sense of the politics, and that makes her very influential.” And she has personal bonds, too. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rates not only her political judgment as a voice from suburban Labor comfortable on Sky News, but also her health advice. He followed Rowland’s diet (she lost about 40kg – roughly half her body weight – on the strict meal-prepping plan in 2020 and still gets up at 4.30am for Pilates) to lose weight before the 2022 election, declaring it made him “match fit”. Yet, those backroom relationships have not been enough to advance major parts of the government’s agenda that Rowland is overseeing in a portfolio that deals with politically influential organisations such as media companies and sporting codes. On some other issues, such as modernising Australia Post, updating rules to preserve major sport on free-to-air TV, reshaping the National Broadband Network, and letting users find broadcast stations on smart TVs, Rowland has confronted issues that her Coalition predecessors left alone. But rules to require more Australian content on streaming services such as Netflix, which sit both in Rowland’s patch and the arts portfolio, are nowhere to be seen. , which would have let the media regulator pressure social media companies to take down falsehoods circulating online, attracted a chorus of critics, from human rights groups to religious institutions. Intended to prevent conspiracy theories about events such as terrorist attacks, it left about who would determine what was true and how. Rowland her second attempt to pass the law late last month. Gambling reform has fared scarcely better. More than a year after the late Labor MP Peta Murphy delivered bipartisan recommendations from a parliamentary committee for a blanket ban on gambling advertising, no laws have been introduced and a government commitment to respond by the end of this year has been all but abandoned. Anti-gambling advocates have accused the government of That is despite Rowland privately briefing gambling ads online and a cap on those airing on television, less than the proposal Murphy backed, but further than the sports, gambling and media sectors wanted and beyond what any previous government has floated. But Rowland has done little to convince the public of the significance of the reforms. In press conferences, Rowland is disciplined to the point of appearing stilted. Those who have spoken with her in private say her habit of referring to notes, which is unusual for a politician but more common in the law, has the same effect. It is, one former minister says, an “insult to the craft”. Rowland’s allies admit her attitude towards the gambling sector changed after this masthead that she had received donations and a Rockpool dinner from Sportsbet before the 2022 federal election, leading to crossbench calls for her resignation. Teal MPs and anti-gambling advocates portrayed Rowland as captured by corporate interests. That perception has meant her proposed set of policies, which would hurt media companies and sporting codes’ finances, won no friends. “The reputational damage done by the Sportsbet stuff meant she was always on the back foot on the gambling issue,” one gambling industry source says. “People like [Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate] Tim Costello were always going to paint her as weak if she ended up anywhere other than a full blanket ban.” With the prime minister publicly suggesting poker machines are a greater problem and privately convinced there is little electoral benefit in prosecuting the crackdown, Rowland’s problem is unlikely to go away unless she can muster the rhetoric to convince the public that a middle path works. That more charismatic Rowland has peeked through before. Asked her favourite TV show in , Rowland named the Netflix show . It’s full of “heavily tattooed Nordic beefcakes in sweaty battle scenes”, she said. “I’m only human.”
Avenix Fzco Takes On Forex Trading With New FXSpire RobotNEW YORK – In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs — including Apple's Tim Cook , OpenAI’s Sam Altman , Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg , SoftBank's Masayoshi Son and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said in remarks at Mar-a-Lago . “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Recommended Videos Tech companies and leaders have now poured millions into his inauguration fund, a sharp increase — in most cases — from past pledges to incoming presidents. But what does the tech industry expect to gain out of their renewed relationships with Trump? Clearing the way for AI development A clue to what the industry is looking for came just days before the election when Microsoft executives — who’ve largely tried to show a neutral or bipartisan stance — joined with a close Trump ally, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, to publish a blog post outlining their approach to artificial intelligence policy. “Regulation should be implemented only if its benefits outweigh its costs,” said the document signed by Andreessen, his business partner Ben Horowitz, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the company's president, Brad Smith. They also urged the government to back off on any attempt to strengthen copyright laws that would make it harder for companies to use publicly available data to train their AI systems. And they said, “the government should examine its procurement practices to enable more startups to sell technology to the government.” Trump has pledged to rescind President Joe Biden’s sweeping AI executive order, which sought to protect people’s rights and safety without stifling innovation. He hasn’t specified what he would do in its place, but his campaign said AI development should be “rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Easier energy for data centers Trump's choice to head the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has spoken openly about the need to boost electricity production to meet increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. “The AI battle affects everything from defense to healthcare to education to productivity as a country,′′ Burgum said on Nov. 15, referring to artificial intelligence. “And the AI that’s coming in the next 18 months is going to be revolutionary. So there’s just a sense of urgency and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration′′ to address it. Demand for data centers ballooned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and AI, and local governments are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies. But as data centers begin to consume more resources, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities. Changing the antitrust discussion “Maybe Big Tech should buy a copy of ‘The Art of The Deal’ to figure out how to best negotiate with this administration,” suggested Paul Swanson, an antitrust attorney for the law firm Holland & Hart. “I won’t be surprised if they find ways to reach some accommodations and we end up seeing more negotiated resolutions and consent decrees.” Although federal regulators began cracking down on Google and Facebook during Trump’s first term as president — and flourished under Biden — most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to business mergers. Google may benefit from Trump’s return after he made comments on the campaign trail suggesting a breakup of the company isn’t in the U.S. national interest, after a judge declared its search engine an illegal monopoly . But recent nominations put forward by his transition team have favored those who have been critical of Big Tech companies, suggesting Google won’t be entirely off the hook. Fending off the EU Cook’s notoriously rocky relationship with the EU can be traced back to a 2016 ruling from Brussels in a tax case targeting Apple. Cook slammed the bloc’s order for Apple to pay back up to 13 billion euros ($13.7 billion) in Irish back taxes as “total political crap.” Trump, then in his first term as president, piled on, referring to the European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was spearheading a campaign on special tax deals and a crackdown on Big Tech companies, as someone who “really hates the U.S.” Brussels was eventually vindicated after the bloc’s top court rejected Apple’s appeal this year, though it didn’t stop Cook from calling Trump to complain, Trump recounted in a podcast in October. Making amends? Altman , Amazon and Meta all pledged to donate $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which billionaire Bezos owns. Meanwhile, Bezos had criticized some of Trump’s past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. More recently, Bezos has struck a more conciliatory tone. He recently said at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term, while also endorsing president-elect’s plans to cut regulations. The donation from Meta came just weeks after Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president, but voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump in recent months had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. And Altman, who is in a legal dispute with AI rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence in the incoming administration. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits. What about Elon Musk? “We have two multi-billionaires, Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are tasked with cutting what they’re saying will be multiple trillions of dollars from the federal budget, reducing the civil service, the workforce,” said Rob Lalka, a business professor at Tulane University. Musk, he said, has a level of access to the White House that very few others have had -- access that allows him to potentially influence multiple policy areas, including foreign policy, automotive and energy policy through EVs, and tech policy on artificial intelligence. “Elon Musk walked into Twitter’s headquarters with a sink and then posted, ‘let that sink in,‘” he said. “Elon Musk then posted a status update on X, a picture of himself with a sink in the Oval Office and said, 'Let that sink in.′"
In a recent team meeting, Mbappe made his intentions clear, delivering a stern and impassioned speech calling for solidarity and accountability. "We are a team, a family, and we must protect each other at all costs," he declared. "It pains me to see this division among us, but we must root out the source of our troubles and stand together to overcome them."The City of Arlington premiered "The Heartbeat of Arlington" on Nov. 22, a documentary about the city's General Motors manufacturing plant's start, growth and impact on the community. The documentary was produced by the city's office of communication, which said the GM plant played a large role in shaping Arlington as "The American Dream City." “General Motors was the catalyst that made Arlington be the first city that exploded and became the DFW region,” said Victor Vandergriff, son of Tom Vandergriff. Tom Vandergriff is credited with helping to convince GM in 1951 to build a manufacturing plant in Arlington. The assembly plant opened three years later. “I'll argue the case that Arlington's luckiest day ever was when General Motors decided to cast its lot with us,” said Tom Vandergriff. Arlington said the documentary focuses on "pivotal moments in the assembly's history," including how the company landed in Arlington, its economic impact on the city, communitywide efforts to keep the plant open during potential closures in the early 1990s, technological advancements, and a glimpse into the future of vehicle production. “We used to talk about GM as ‘The Heartbeat of Arlington,’ and I am proud to say that yes, because of all the efforts made into the plant, they still are very much the heartbeat of our community,” said Arlington City Manager Trey Yelverton. “We are so appreciative of General Motors’ continued innovation and investment to keep the plant viable, productive, and highly efficient.” The documentary also featured the plant's shift in production of cars to trucks, it's process in becoming the exclusive plant to produce every new full-sized SUV in GM's lineup, to achieving the milestone of 13 million vehicles produced earlier this year. “I still believe to this day it took visionary people and political leadership to say, ‘We have to keep it here, but those workers made it happen,’” said Victor Vandergriff. “The result of what’s happened since in the decades that followed is just amazing.” The 45-minute production summed up a nearly two-year search through archival footage from The University of North Texas's "The Portal to Texas History" , which was primarily sourced by NBC 5. The footage held interviews with long-time employees, current and former leaders, historians and Arlington residents sharing their insight into the plant's impact. Several North Texas entities assisted and provided archival footage, including the Arlington Historical Society, the Arlington Public Library, the Dallas Public Library, the Delta County Public Library in partnership with the Delta County Historical Commission, General Motors Arlington Assembly, the University of North Texas’ Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington’s Special Collections and the Vandergriff family. GM says their employment of about 8,400 Texas workers and partnerships with more than 550 suppliers puts $1.2 billion into the economy. “We are very aware and conscious of the fact that this has been going on for a long time,” said GM Arlington Assembly Plant Executive John Urbanic. “It is a legacy, and we take that to heart. We’re really committed to continuing and growing that legacy here in Arlington.” In addition to watching the documentary at the top of this article, "The Heartbeat of Arlington" is available on the City of Arlington's YouTube Channel .
Keir Starmer has published an emotional first Christmas message as Prime Minister in which he talks about "the hope and joy of this special season". The PM thanked those who will spend the festive period serving others, including doctors and nurses, our armed forces and churches and charities who welcome their communities in. While he spoke about the "joy and wonder" of Christmas, Mr Starmer also acknowledged that it is not an easy time for many people across the country and the world . In a moving message, he told the nation: "My thoughts are with all those who are lonely this Christmas. Having a tough time, missing a loved one. You are not alone. "Because as Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Christmas story reminds all of us to reach out to one another. To care for one another. And to look after those around us." And he also spoke about those whose lives are being torn apart by war and conflict across the world: "This Christmas, I will be hoping for peace, particularly in the Middle East as the birthplace of the Christmas story." Downing Street earlier revealed the Prime Minister is due to take his first break abroad since winning the election over the festive season. Officials said Mr Starmer is due to go away for a few days with his family over New Year. No10 would not say where the PM is going, with his travel usually kept quiet due to security reasons. Mr Starmer will remain in charge of the country during his trip. In August Mr Starmer cancelled his family holiday following the wave of disorder across the UK. The PM had been expected to head to Europe with his family for a few days - but opted to stay at home with police forces on "high alert". Keir Starmer's Christmas message in full: This Christmas, people will be travelling up and down the country. Heading home, visiting relatives and loved ones to celebrate together the hope and joy of this special season. It’s a time to remind ourselves what’s really important. Family. Friendship. And fellowship between all people. Being there for one another – in these celebrations, as well as the more difficult times. I’d like especially to thank those who will spend their Christmas serving others this year. In our NHS and emergency services, our Armed Forces and the churches and charities that will welcome every person this Christmas. Be the first with news from Mirror Politics BLUESKY: Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here . And follow our Mirror Politics team here - Lizzy Buchan , Jason Beattie , Kevin Maguire , Sophie Huskisson , Dave Burke , Ashley Cowburn , Mikey Smith POLITICS WHATSAPP: Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here . We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . NEWSLETTER: Or sign up here to the Mirror's Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox. PODCAST: And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell , hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday. Because I know that this is not an easy time for everyone, and my thoughts are with all those who are lonely this Christmas. Having a tough time, missing a loved one. You are not alone. Because as Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Christmas story reminds all of us to reach out to one another. To care for one another. And to look after those around us. This Christmas, I will be hoping for peace, particularly in the Middle East as the birthplace of the Christmas story. I’ll be looking towards a better, brighter future for every person and celebrating the joy and wonder that Christmas brings. So, from my family to yours, I hope you have a very merry Christmas.The case has ignited a heated debate over medical ethics and the role of healthcare providers in making decisions about the number of fetuses to carry in high-risk pregnancies. Some argue that the exorbitant cost of the procedure raises questions about accessibility to necessary healthcare services, especially for individuals from lower-income backgrounds. Others question the ethical implications of selectively reducing the number of fetuses in a pregnancy, raising concerns about the value of human life and the rights of unborn children.