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More funds to support steel workers and businessesLG Electronics has launched in Qatar the Xboom Go XG2 portable Bluetooth speaker "designed to deliver powerful sound in a compact form." One of the outstanding features of the Xboom Go XG2 is its ability to produce deep, rich bass and clear highs even with its ultra-portable size, a statement said. With an IP67 water resistance rating, the Xboom Go XG2 is designed to endure rain and occasional spills. The device, which has also passed seven durability tests, is made as per military standards. The product offers up to 10 hours of playback. Xboom Go XG2 has Bluetooth 5.0 technology, which ensures stable connections and a wider range for seamless music streaming. The LG Xboom Go app gives users the ability to adjust sound settings with ease. It has an all-around string for various outdoor settings. LG Xboom Go XG2 is available at LG Brand Shop, Jumbo store, all leading hypermarkets and electronics stores or online at Jumbosouq.com. Related Story Web Summit Qatar holds kick-off event for second edition PM meets UK foreign secretaryEx-Canuck Zadorov goes on epic anti-diving rant: "It's a man's league"
FILE - Vice President Kamala Harris and Taylor Swift (Photo by SAUL LOEBANDRE DIAS NOBRE/AFP via Getty Images) The most notable quotations of 2024 have something for everyone: entertainment, politics and even a side of conspiracy theory. With such a heated presidential election behind us , it’s no surprise that politics dominated the conversation this year. From Taylor Swift’s "Childless Cat Lady" signoff to "they’re eating the dogs" in Springfield, Ohio , the most notable quotations of 2024 have something for everyone: entertainment, politics and even a side of conspiracy theory. RELATED: Celebrity deaths of 2024: The influential people we lost this year Here are seven of the most notable quotes of 2024, as compiled by Fred Shapiro, an associate director at the Yale Law Library. RELATED: Top Google searches of 2024 "Please note that the items on this list are not necessarily eloquent or admirable quotations, rather they have been picked because they are famous or important or particularly revealing of the spirit of our times," Shapiro said, per the Associated Press. The city of Springfield, Ohio has fallen victim to internet rumors and conspiracy theories regarding immigrants eating peoples' pets. LiveNOW from FOX's Josh Breslow spoke to Springfield Mayor Rob Rue about the claims, which Rue says are false. "Taylor Swift Childless Cat Lady" — Taylor Swift , signing off on an Instagram post , Sept. 10, 2024 "Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter." — President Joe Biden , official statement, Dec. 1, 2024 "In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in. They’re eating the cats." — President-elect Donald Trump , presidential debate , Sept. 10, 2024, repeating a debunked conspiracy about Haitian immigrants in Ohio "I’ve become friends with school shooters." — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz , vice presidential debate, Oct. 1, 2024, misspeaking while referring to befriending shooting survivors "Fight! Fight! Fight!" — Trump after an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania , on July 13, 2024 "Yes they can control the weather." — Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene , posting on the social media platform X, Oct. 2, 2024, endorsing a conspiracy theory that the government used weather control technology to aim Hurricane Helene at Republican voters. "Some of you (women) may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world." — Kansas City Chiefs football player Harrison Butker , commencement address at Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas, May 11, 2024. Justin Timberlake appeared outside a New York courthouse and spoke to the press after he accepted a plea deal in connection to a DWI arrest that happened in June. Timberlake was pulled over and arrested in Long Island on June 18 after police say he ran a stop sign and was veering out of his lane. The officer at the scene also said that the 43-year-old smelled of alcohol and performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests. The singer/songwriter pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was given community service consisting of 25 to 40 hours. "Give him my regards did you take Ozempic?" — Barbara Streisand, commenting on a photo of Melissa McCarthy and her husband on Instagram . Streisand later apologized and said she forgot Instagram comments were public. Observers assumed she had done voice to text to make the comment, thus the lack of a comma. "This is going to ruin the tour." — Justin Timberlake , speaking to a police officer who pulled him over for driving under the influence in the Hamptons . Reportedly, the officer responded, "What tour?" revealing he had no idea who Timberlake was. "kamala IS brat" — Charli XCX , in a reference to her album "brat" and its rabid summer following. The post accumulated over 35 million impressions on the app, and Harris’ campaign quickly set its X banner photo to the striking Shrek-green color of Charli’s "brat" album cover. This report includes information from the Associated Press, Vulture and previous LiveNow from FOX reporting.Detroit (AP) — China will soon see a massive expansion of electric vehicle battery swapping, as global battery maker CATL said Wednesday it is investing heavily in stations there next year. Battery swapping is not new — but it's had a challenging journey. Adoption of electric vehicles has varied in regions across the globe over the past several years, and that doesn't always bode well for building new infrastructure. While the technology could do well in China, it's uncertain whether it could work in other countries. Battery swapping allows EV drivers to pull into a station on a low battery and receive a swapped, fully-charged battery within minutes. An EV has to be equipped with the right technology to receive a swap — and not many models around the world currently have it. Automakers have to buy into the idea, and EV adoption among consumers also has to grow, so that investing in new infrastructure seems worthwhile. Consumers also have to be comfortable not owning their battery. China is much further along in adopting EVs than other countries. Not only is it the world's largest auto market, but in July, the country hit a milestone with 50% of new sales electric — and it accounts for most of this year's global EV sales. China supports EV growth through government subsidies and mandates. So it makes more sense for companies to invest in unique EV infrastructure there because that's more likely to be needed. The most notable example might be Israeli startup Better Place, which tried its hand at swapping in 2007. But the company shut down a few years later after investing a lot of money and coming up against roadblocks with logistics. EV adoption was especially low at the time. Startup Ample, for example, has a modular battery swapping station that it says can complete a swap in 5 minutes. That’s important as charging time remains a point of concern for prospective EV buyers. Even the fastest fast chargers could take at least 15 minutes for a decent charge. But in the U.S., pure EVs only accounted for 8% of new vehicle sales as of November. Meanwhile Nio, a rival Chinese EV brand, has about 60 swap stations in northern Europe, and the EV adoption is higher there than the U.S., but the same challenges remain. Different automakers put different batteries in their various EV models, so a station would need all of those available if the industry didn't agree to a standardized battery, and not all of those models are out yet in volume. This is something that really needs scale. Swapping could help with EV cost — currently a barrier to adoption for many — because a driver wouldn’t necessarily own the most expensive part of an EV: the battery. Greg Less, director of the University of Michigan Battery Lab, said with proper framing and education, people might like the idea of battery swapping. To him, it's not unlike buying a propane-fueled grill and purchasing a refilled tank every so often. But it would require a rethinking of car ownership. "Where I could see it working is if we went entirely away from vehicle ownership and we went to a use-on-demand model," Less added. “I don’t think we’re there yet.” Battery swapping might make most sense for ride-sharing or other fleet vehicles. Drivers of buses, taxis, Uber or Lyft vehicles want to spend as much time on the road as possible, transporting customers and making money. If battery swapping can shorten the time needed to charge EVs, that makes driving one less disruptive to their business. Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate solutions reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn . Reach her at ast.john@ap.org . Read more of AP’s climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .
Gogglebox star unrecognisable as she returns from uni to reunite with celeb sisterby Chula Goonasekera Rev. Dato’ (Sir) Sumana Siri We, the citizens of Sri Lanka, have already witnessed significant reforms in governance under AKD’s leadership. This personally led process must continue consistently, free of bias, and within the framework of the law to ensure sustainable governance by the State, not the individual. Such efforts will help minimise the waste of public funds and lay a strong foundation for the nation’s development in the long term. We often look to Lee Kuan Yew (LKY), Singapore’s founding father, as an example of transformative leadership. He united three diverse ethnic groups—Chinese, Malay, and Indian—under the principle of honesty. Today, Sri Lanka faces profound challenges from past political corruption, economic instability, and social divisions. LKY’s leadership serves as a reminder that integrity, accountability, and a commitment to the greater good can redefine a nation’s destiny, regardless of its size or resources, similar to Singapore. When Singapore gained independence in 1965, it was a small, resource-scarce nation facing political unrest and ethnic divisions. Yet, within one generation, it became a global financial hub and a first-world country. LKY’s leadership was pivotal, centred on three core principles: meritocracy, integrity, and pragmatic governance. He prioritised national security, social cohesion, and economic growth. His efforts to foster ethnic harmony included implementing bilingual education policies and enforcing anti-discrimination laws. Similarly, AKD should consider enacting legislation to prevent racially motivated demands, i.e. anti-discrimination laws, to safeguard the government from evil, selfish minds trying to destabilise the government’s commitment to equality. Such legislation will stop this burden falling on the leadership case by case. LKY’s policies, though sometimes harsh, were rooted in practicality and long-term thinking. The Internal Security Act ensured peace and stability during critical years. Likewise, his investments in education and infrastructure established a foundation for sustained growth. His focus on political stability, a robust legal system, and zero tolerance for corruption inspired investor confidence. Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was empowered to tackle corruption at all levels. Sri Lanka must adopt a similar mindset to revitalise the Bribery and Corruption Commission, moving away from populism and short-term fixes in favour of strategic, future-oriented policies. AKD’s primary election theme was anti-corruption, reflecting a key aspect of LKY’s leadership. His unwavering stance against corruption defined LKY’s pragmatic governance. He held public officials to the highest accountability standards, ensuring that anyone guilty of corruption faced severe consequences, including dismissal, public exposure, and prosecution. By rooting out corruption, Singapore built domestic credibility and attracted global investment. We in Sri Lanka need such legislation at the earliest opportunity to deal with various kinds of corruption that are appearing again and involving many public officials. In Sri Lanka, corruption has long undermined public trust in institutions and stifled economic growth. With overwhelming public support, AKD is well-positioned to deliver on his promise to combat corruption. However, this needs to be done early before the government gets entangled with controversy over its own ‘tiered’ standards. Through comprehensive legislative measures, Sri Lanka can rebuild its institutions, restore public confidence, and chart a course toward sustainable development. LKY was considered “cruel” by some because he treated all races equally without favouring any. AKD shares a similar stance. One of the hallmarks of LKY’s leadership was his unwavering commitment to meritocracy. This created a culture of excellence where the best and brightest minds were responsible for leading the country. In Singapore, recruitment and promotions across all sectors were strictly based on merit—capabilities, skill sets, and abilities—not on connections, nepotism, racial considerations, or personal favouritism. Although challenging to implement, meritocracy can be implemented with the open advertisement of qualifications needed, a transparent appointment process, strict job plans with annual reviews linked to customer feedback, and personal development strategies that are considered a necessity to continue. This approach will foster a culture of excellence and innovation, like Singapore, ensuring that the most capable individuals propel the country forward. Sri Lanka must break free from the grip of favouritism and focus on nurturing talent through equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of ethnicity or social background. Early signs of this approach are visible under AKD’s leadership. LKY understood that for a nation to progress, its institutions must be led by those who are truly capable, irrespective of their background. By adopting meritocracy, Sri Lanka could break the cycle of favouritism, nepotism, and ethnic division that has often hindered its development. Establishing a system where opportunities are based on ability and performance could unlock the full potential of Sri Lanka’s people, fostering a culture of innovation, growth, and national unity. After gaining independence in 1965, during Singapore’s formative years, LKY focused on eliminating corruption, gang activities, and communist threats to create a peaceful and secure nation. The Internal Security Act (ISA) granted his administration discretionary powers to arrest and detain individuals without trial, when necessary, to prevent actions deemed harmful to Singapore’s security, public order, or essential services. The ISA allowed preventive detention, suppression of subversion, and countering of organised violence against persons and property. Sri Lanka urgently needs a similar act to ensure that politicians and public officials comply with legally binding measures. With its Parliament still in its formative stages, we hope Sri Lanka will soon establish a comparable Internal Security Act. By eliminating corruption at all levels, as LKY did, Sri Lanka can inspire public trust and attract international investors who view stability and a corruption-free environment as prerequisites for investment. This approach could transform Sri Lanka into a manufacturing, business, and financial hub for the Indian Ocean region. Under LKY’s leadership—often described as strict—Singapore transformed from a third-world nation into a first-world country. Sri Lanka has the potential to achieve even more, given its abundant natural resources, strategic location, and educated population that can be developed into a skilled workforce. With its prime position in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka could become a regional economic powerhouse—provided it fosters a stable and investor-friendly environment. Like Singapore, Sri Lanka should adhere to a non-aligned foreign policy to emerge as a crucial node in global trade and finance, maintaining friendly ties with Eastern, Western, and Asian powers while leveraging its strategic location. While some label LKY’s methods as “cruel,” his leadership was not about oppression but discipline and fairness. Whether these policies were “cruel” or benevolent is debatable, but their results speak for themselves. He treated all races equally, fostering harmony in a diverse society by ensuring everyone felt they had a stake in Singapore’s future. Moreover, LKY’s economic policies were marked by simplicity and foresight. Low personal income taxes, the absence of capital gains and inheritance taxes, and a business-friendly environment encouraged reinvestment and entrepreneurship. By positioning Singapore as a global trade and financial hub, LKY ensured its economic resilience. Sri Lanka, too, must prioritise national unity. Divisive politics and ethnic biases must be curtailed to build a shared vision of prosperity and peace, as AKD is striving to do. LKY’s leadership was built on three core tenets relevant to Sri Lanka today: meritocracy, integrity, and pragmatism. Encouragingly, AKD appears to be moving in a similar direction. One of LKY’s greatest strengths was his pragmatic, long-term approach to governance. He maintained tight control over domestic finances, preventing the internationalisation of the Singapore dollar and limiting the operations of foreign banks. This created an environment that attracted international firms eager to establish themselves in Singapore. Sound financial policies, a corruption-free environment, and a focus on technological advancement helped Singapore become a hub for multinational companies like General Electric. State-owned enterprises like Temasek Holdings and Singapore Airlines were run with business efficiency, often outperforming private sector competitors. Sri Lanka could adopt a similar model to enhance the performance of its state-owned enterprises and boost economic growth. Singapore adopted a two-pronged financial strategy: becoming an international financial hub while ensuring its financial sector supported key domestic industries like manufacturing and shipping. Additionally, integrating foreign and local talent fuelled decades of sustained economic growth. LKY’s focus on economic development, making Singapore an attractive investment destination, and drawing world-class manpower offer valuable lessons for Sri Lanka. To replicate such success, Sri Lanka must invest in state-of-the-art infrastructure, establish excellent air and sea linkages, and maintain a low and transparent tax regime. Clean and efficient bureaucracy, a strong regulatory and legal framework, and a neutral diplomatic policy—balancing relations with global powers like the US and China—are critical. Developing clean, green cities powered by sustainable energy will also be key to achieving remarkable economic success akin to Singapore’s.A GOGGLEBOX star is unrecognisable as she returned from uni to reunite with her famous sister. The star was catapulted to fame when she was just a young child thanks to the Channel 4 show. 3 The Moffatt's youngest child is all grown up Credit: Channel 4 3 Eva reunited with her big sister Scarlett for the Christmas holidays Credit: Instagram 3 Eva, who is now at uni, is back to spend quality time with her family Credit: Instagram But she's been off screens for nearly a decade as her celebrity sister appeared on I'm A Celebrity. Scarlett Moffatt took to social media to reveal her younger sister Ava had returned home for the holidays. Sharing a video of them both shopping, Scarlett told fans: "Love that my sis is back from uni for Christmas." Now all grown up, Eva could be seen laughing with Scarlett, 34, as they spent quality time together. more on gogglebox GOGGLE-EYED Gogglebox star reveals new girlfriend after heartbreaking split SQUARE EYES Gogglebox star reveals how hit Channel 4 show is filmed behind-the-scenes Scarlett appeared on Gogglebox between 2014 and 2016, with Eva and their parents Betty and Mark also leaving too. The Sun recently told how Scarlett's ITV2 dating show Love Bites had been axed after just one series . Speaking about its cancellation, she told us: “I get so many people talking about Love Bites, that was a show that we did during Covid. "We did around 30 episodes, we just did bulk episodes because it was easy and something that could be filmed during Covid but obviously they still needed new shows. Most read in Reality it's over Ella Morgan splits with boyfriend amid accusations he flirted with other women Geordie Love Geordie Shore star reveals he's got MARRIED and shares first pic of wedding xmas curse Bake Off’s Prue Leith takes savage swipe ahead of soap star Christmas special LEAKED RESULT Strictly chaos as Christmas winner leaks online - WEEKS before show airs “It was never meant to be a long thing, it was just meant to be something for Covid and loads of people are always asking ‘when is Love Bites back?’. I’m A Celeb champion Scarlett Moffatt begs bosses to give pal more airtime – and reveals who will rake in millions are show “I feel like if ever I was to do my own show, I’d want to bring Love Bites back, simply because loads of people always say that they love it. “Whenever you flick through, it’s on. It’s a good one to have in the background, where you can dip in and out of it.” Celebrity Gogglebox 2024: The lineup These are the celebrity pairings that are taking part in the special for Stand Up To Cancer. Josh Widdicombe and Stephen Merchant David Baddiel and Frank Skinner Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Saskia Reeves Miriam Margolyes and Lesley Joseph Jordan Pickford and Tony Bellew
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Confluent's chief accounting officer sells $59,170 in stockNEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of the people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO in a targeted killing on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, ran the insurance arm of the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc. since 2021 and had worked at the company for 20 years. He previously led its Medicare and retirement businesses. As CEO, Thompson led a business that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at Pricewaterhouse Coopers and had little name recognition beyond the industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. Thompson’s few moments of public attention stood in contrast to his role in reshaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy, rather than focusing on treating them when they get sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson was scheduled to speak at an investor meeting when he was shot around 6:45 a.m. outside the New York Hilton Midtown by a masked assailant who fled on foot, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. He said Thompson walked out of the hotel alone. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporter Michael R. Sisak contributed to this report. This story corrects the style of the company’s name to UnitedHealthcare.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FuriosaAI , an emerging leader in AI semiconductor solutions, is closing out the year with rapid technical and customer progress with its second-generation chip, RNGD (pronounced 'Renegade'). The recently announced AI solution has achieved compelling performance metrics in real-world enterprise deployments meeting the demand for inference with advanced large language and multimodal models. The new performance benchmarks showcase RNGD's ability to meet industry-leading throughput demands for Llama 3.1 models, including the 8B and 70B variants, with additional optimizations already in progress. The company also announced key software features that bring advanced optimization for customers currently sampling RNGD hardware in their production environments. These achievements represent the first phase of Furiosa's vision for AI infrastructure that overcomes the inherent limitations of GPUs. RNGD delivers winning throughput metrics with Llama 3.1 8B and 70B : Building on the AI-native Tensor Contraction Processor (TCP) architecture of RNGD , Furiosa is redefining real-world AI deployments, delivering unmatched performance, programmability, and power efficiency. Furiosa's RNGD recently achieved a throughput of 3,200–3,300 Tokens per Second (TPS) when running the LLaMA 3.1- 8B model. In single-user scenarios, RNGD consistently delivers 40–60 TPS performance. Additionally, RNGD demonstrates exceptional power efficiency, consuming 181W per card, with further optimization efforts underway. Rather than excessively boosting per-user performance, the company aims to maintain performance levels exceeding typical text-reading speeds (10–20 TPS or higher) while optimizing for multi-user environments and achieving a balanced performance approach. Furiosa is advancing the performance and efficiency of the LLaMA 3.1- 70B model. With just two RNGD cards, LLaMA 3.1- 70B can be executed effectively. Currently, a single server supports up to 100 concurrent user queries, with ongoing optimizations aiming to achieve 8,000 TPS per server when equipped with 8 RNGD cards. With the release of SDK v2024.3.0, Furiosa will expand the range of preloaded models. The SDK will also include support for tensor parallelism, enabling seamless processing across multiple elements without requiring model modifications, and a torch.compile, providing the foundation for executing customized models. Integration with HuggingFace Optimum will further empower customers to leverage a broader variety of models. Advanced optimization tools delivered to early RNGD customers: Building on these milestones, domestic and global enterprise customers are conducting tests with Furiosa to find a more efficient solution for scaling the inference of their self-developed models, compared to their existing setup. Their objective is to manage TCO effectively as they prepare for large-scale AI adoption. Furiosa plans to provide a high-quality AI development environment through a powerful and user-friendly SDK optimized for RNGD. The SDK v2024.1.0, currently available through the Early Access Program (EAP), is designed to handle high-performance processing of multiple LLM serving requests. It incorporates optimization techniques such as PagedAttention, Block KV Cache, and Continuous Batching, while also supporting various token sampling methods, including Greedy, Beam Search, and Top-k/p. These features allow developers to seamlessly create AI services customized to meet a wide range of requirements. The SDK and online sample will be available after the release of v2024.3.0. Furiosa remains committed to delivering the most sustainable AI deployment solutions through rigorous optimization at an unprecedented pace. "With RNGD now in customers' hands, we are accelerating the next generation of frontier LLMs to unlock emerging Agentic AI applications—bringing advanced reasoning capabilities to enterprise verticals, all at dramatically lower costs," said June Paik , Co-Founder and CEO of FuriosaAI. Furiosa Expands Global Footprint with Strategic Leadership Appointment Furiosa is scaling production and expanding its leadership team with the appointment of Alex Liu as Senior Vice President of Product and Business. A Technology Emmy Award winner and co-founder of NETINT Technologies, Alex brings over 20 years of expertise in startup management, technology innovation, and strategic leadership. At NETINT, he spearheaded groundbreaking achievements, including the development of the world's first VPU SoC, setting new industry benchmarks and securing the prestigious 2024 Technology Emmy Award. At Furiosa, Alex will lead global product management, go-to-market strategies, and partnerships to drive innovation and align the company's AI-native technologies with a vision to empower the development of planet-scale AI infrastructure. RNGD is currently sampling with customers, and mass production will ramp up in partnership with TSMC for 2025 availability. To learn more about Furiosa, please visit https://furiosa.ai/ . About FuriosaAI FuriosaAI is a semiconductor company dedicated to creating sustainable AI computing solutions that make powerful AI accessible to all. With its innovative Tensor Contraction Processor architecture, FuriosaAI is revolutionizing the AI hardware landscape, offering unparalleled efficiency and programmability for the most demanding AI workloads. For more information, please visit https://furiosa.ai/ . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/furiosaai-ends-2024-on-a-high-note-llama-3-1-performance-sdk-release-leadership-expansion-302336756.html SOURCE FuriosaAILike many embarking on the journey of mastering a new language, Megan Bednarczyk understands the challenges that come with it. The senior design manager at language-learning app Duolingo has been studying French using the popular platform for the last two years. The 30-year-old recalled how she was in Paris a year ago, determined to put what she learnt to use. “I was at a restaurant and I knew the vocabulary to use, but the second someone spoke to me in French, I froze. I had no confidence to speak the language and it was so frustrating,” she said. She fared better while on a recent trip to Paris. “This time, I had more confidence to speak French. I was given the French menu, and I ordered my meal in French,” said Bednarczyk with a hint of pride. Bednarczyk credits her confidence to daily practice. And yes, Duo, the beloved green owl mascot of Duolingo that constantly reminds her (and other users) to keep up with her lessons. She also has Lily to thank. Duolingo users would be familiar with Lily, the purple-haired, emo teenage character known for her sarcasm and moody demeanour. Lily is also the face of Duolingo Max, the platform’s newest AI-powered subscription tier which offers two exclusive features: Explain My Answer and Roleplay. It was launched in March. The two features came about after Bednarczyk and her team, which includes designers, illustrators, engineers, linguists and education experts, researched the pain points learners were facing: To understand their mistakes better and to have more opportunities for conversational practice. The New York-based designer and avid marathon runner led the design of Duolingo Max from concept to launch. She was in Singapore to speak at the Design Future Forum 2024 in October during Singapore Design Week. Explain My Answer helps users learn more about their response in a lesson, regardless of whether the answer was correct or incorrect. “Sometimes, you make a mistake but you don’t know why. Using AI, we explain the associated grammar rule with that mistake, so that you don’t make the same mistake again,” Bednarczyk said. Roleplay allows learners to practise real-world conversation skills with the characters in the app. For example, they might discuss future vacation plans with Oscar, go furniture shopping with Eddy, ask Bea to go for a hike , or ask Lin to help with dog-walking. “We wanted to make people speak with the characters more, rather than type out their replies. Speaking helps build up confidence more, especially in real world scenarios,” said Bednarczyk, who can attest to this. Although users aren’t talking to a live human, the AI behind this feature is responsive and interactive, meaning no two conversations will be exactly alike. After the interaction, learners get AI-powered feedback from Duo on the accuracy and complexity of their responses, as well as tips for future conversations. There is also the Video Call feature, where learners can video call Lily and have a conversation. Even though Lily isn’t real, she can remember little details about the learner and will use them in future conversations. The more proficient the learner is, the more nuanced the conversation. Bednarczyk told CNA Women that Lily is the face of Duolingo Max as she represents introverted learners and is popular for her relatable personality. “She is not easily excitable, so you really have to work hard to impress her. We picked her as she gave a more realistic experience to language learning.” Launched in 2011, Duolingo was created by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker with the aim of making education accessible to everyone. Number of users: Over 500 million learners worldwide to date, of which 74 million are active users. Languages offered: Over 100, from the world’s top five most spoken languages, namely English, Spanish, French, Japanese and German, to less commonly taught languages such as Hawaiian, Navajo and Scottish Gaelic. You can also learn High Valyrian from Game Of Thrones, and Klingon from the Star Trek series, as well as math and music. Most popular languages in Singapore: Japanese, Chinese and Spanish. How to learn: Membership levels start with the free Duolingo tier, where users go from the start to end of a course without paying a cent. It also offers two paid subscription tiers. Super Duolingo, at S$13.98 (US$10.40) per month, that allows users to fast track their learning. Bednarczyk said the majority of learners are on the Super Duolingo tier. Duolingo Max costs S$27.98 per month, which includes all the benefits of Super Duolingo and the new AI-powered features. It is currently available only for the Chinese, French for English Speakers and Spanish for English Speakers courses. Bednarczyk fully embraces AI and sees it as a partner. “AI helps take away the mundane tasks,” she said, citing an example of using AI to help her draw grids for brainstorming sessions. “I still do the strategic thinking,” she said. “I use AI as a sparring partner, to help me write the copy. It never gives me the perfect copy, but I use what it gives to shape my own thinking. I see it like a partner that enhances the work we do.” “Humans are still the final decision maker, and we are the ones asking and framing the questions to get the solutions that we need,” Bednarczyk added. Humans write the scenarios that learners see in Roleplay, making sure the initial prompt is aligned with where they are in their course. Humans also review the AI-generated explanations to ensure that answers are factually correct and have the right tone. Bednarczyk said that if not for AI, specifically GPT-4, Duolingo Max might have taken longer to create. “We knew that Duolingo had gaps and pain points, which we wanted to solve for years, but it was either too hard or took too much effort.” GPT-4 allowed the team to fill those gaps. Bednarczyk said Duolingo is not competing with other language learning apps, but rather with other social media apps. “We need to make learning engaging to keep learners coming back,” she said. This is where her design expertise comes in. Although trained in product design, designing in the digital world follows the same principles – solving a problem through design that is simple and beautiful. Duolingo’s aim is to make learning a language enjoyable and accessible, and this is done through thoughtful, innovative design. Lessons are bite-sized to fit busy learners’ schedules and take a game-like approach to foster a sense of accomplishment. The interface is intuitive, allowing users to navigate effortlessly through lessons and exercises. “We want learners to open the app, and know what to do next – creating something so simple can be hard,” said Bednarczyk. “Some of the best experiences with an app could be unmemorable, because you don’t have problems with it.” Working on a digital platform means things are constantly changing. To stay on top of the game, the team keeps up to date with the latest AI news, stays abreast of what other tech companies are doing, listens to users on their wants, and is always thinking about how others can disrupt them. Bednarczyk is constantly reminding herself and her team that “the things that you are building today will hopefully not be in the app in two years – that is how fast we innovate. If the feature is still there, it means the product is stale”. CNA Women is a section on CNA Lifestyle that seeks to inform, empower and inspire the modern woman. If you have women-related news, issues and ideas to share with us, email CNAWomen [at] mediacorp.com.sg .Heritage Global Inc. (NASDAQ:HGBL) Short Interest Update
Fred Harris, a self-described populist Democrat from Oklahoma who served eight years in the U.S. Senate before an unsuccessful campaign for president in 1976, has died. He was 94. Harris' wife, Margaret Elliston, confirmed his death to the Associated Press in a text message on Saturday, writing: "Fred Harris passed peacefully early this morning of natural causes. He was 94. He was a wonderful and beloved man. His memory is a blessing." Harris, who was living in New Mexico, died in a hospital in Albuquerque, Elliston told The New York Times. Harris first served for eight years in the Oklahoma State Senate after winning election in 1956. He then launched his career in national politics in 1964 when he won a Senate race to fill the vacancy left by Sen. Robert S. Kerr, who died in January 1963. GAME SHOW HOST CHUCK WOOLERY OF 'WHEEL OF FORTUNE,' 'LOVE CONNECTION,' DIES AT 83 "I've always called myself a populist or progressive," Harris said in a 1998 interview. "I'm against concentrated power. I... Stephen SoraceAP Business SummaryBrief at 2:42 p.m. EST
Ministers said an extra £15 million will be made available for supply chain businesses and workers affected by changes at Tata’s Port Talbot site in south Wales. Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said the move means a fund to support businesses across Wales heavily reliant on Tata steel will be increased to £30 million. She also announced that more businesses will be able to apply for the funds, and the value of individual grants is increasing to up to £250,000 for businesses to invest in equipment, property, technology. The Government said there has been “significant demand” on the existing funding, with almost 40 businesses employing 2,000 people having begun the application process. Grants worth millions of pounds are expected to be released in the new year. The increase in funding is in anticipation of more people leaving Tata in early 2025 through the company’s voluntary redundancy scheme. Ms Stevens said: “This Government is acting decisively to support workers and businesses in Port Talbot. “We are doubling the funding available to businesses and workers and widening access to grants to ensure we support as many people as possible. “In just four months we have announced more than £40 million in investment. We said we would back workers and businesses affected by the transition at Port Talbot and we are doing exactly that. “While this remains a very difficult time for Tata workers, their families and the community, we are determined to support workers and businesses in our Welsh steel industry, whatever happens.”DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The crypto market continues to witness groundbreaking developments as Rexas Finance (RXS) surges ahead. The platform, focused on real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, has achieved a significant milestone by selling out its 10th presale stage. With $33,125,000 raised so far, Rexas Finance is gaining traction among investors eager to capitalize on its innovative approach to bridging blockchain technology with tangible assets. Presale demand has driven the RXS token price from $0.03 in Stage 1 to $0.175 in Stage 11, marking an impressive near sixfold increase. This growth underscores the platform's vision of democratizing access to global asset markets through blockchain. Revolutionizing Asset Ownership with RXS Rexas Finance is transforming access to asset markets through tokenization, allowing investors to own a fraction or the entirety of real-world assets. Real estate, traditionally an exclusive domain, is now accessible globally with just a click. This removes barriers such as high costs and complex legal processes. For instance, an investor in Asia can now acquire fractional ownership of a luxury apartment in Europe and earn passive rental income. Similarly, an entrepreneur in the Americas can tokenize their property and raise funds on Rexas Launchpad, enabling global participation. Beyond real estate, the platform extends to commodities like gold and oil, valued at trillions of dollars, as well as art and collectibles. Rexas Finance unlocks liquidity in traditionally illiquid markets, creating new opportunities for investors and broadening asset diversification. The platform's tools, such as the Rexas Token Builder and QuickMint Bot, further simplify the tokenization process. Token creators can issue tokens representing their assets and mint them with minimal effort, making blockchain integration seamless for all users. Innovative Ecosystem Driving Adoption Rexas Finance's ecosystem is equipped with features designed to support the tokenization journey: Rexas Launchpad: This fundraising hub allows token projects to secure capital directly from investors, fostering new innovations. Rexas Estate: An integrated feature providing a marketplace for tokenized real estate investments. Rexas AI Shield and GenAI: Advanced technologies ensuring secure and efficient management of tokenized assets, closing the gap between blockchain and real-world utility. By incorporating these solutions, Rexas Finance positions itself as a leader in the RWA sector, offering unparalleled value to users. Unprecedented Presale Success The RXS presale has proven its appeal with rapid sellouts across all 10 completed stages, driven by the platform's focus on community inclusion. Instead of relying on venture capital, Rexas Finance prioritized public participation, granting widespread access to its groundbreaking project. Current figures reflect strong market confidence, with $33,125,000 already raised. Early-stage investors have enjoyed significant gains, as token prices jumped from $0.03 to $0.175, reinforcing the platform's growth trajectory. With the presale in Stage 11, Rexas Finance offers a compelling opportunity for investors to join this blockchain revolution before its anticipated launch. Adding to its momentum, the platform is listed on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko, increasing its visibility among millions of monthly users. These listings enhance credibility and attract a growing community of investors and enthusiasts, further boosting liquidity and trading activity. Final Push to Join the RXS Revolution Rexas Finance is now hosting a $1,000,000 giveaway, offering 20 winners $50,000 USDT each. Participants can maximize their chances by completing tasks and referring friends, creating additional opportunities to win. As the project looks to launch on three Tier 1 exchanges, its long-term potential is clear. Analysts predict that RXS could achieve double-digit prices by early 2025, representing over a 150x increase from current levels. With a CertiK audit confirming its smart contract security and an ecosystem that simplifies asset ownership, Rexas Finance is driving blockchain adoption in unprecedented ways. Investors have a unique chance to capitalize on this momentum and join a platform reshaping how assets are owned, traded, and managed. For more information about Rexas Finance (RXS) visit the links below: Website: https://rexas.com Win $1 Million Giveaway: https://bit.ly/Rexas1M Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance Contact: Leo Gabriel pr@rexas.com Disclaimer: This content is provided by Rexas Finance. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b2b4171d-d251-4ddb-9ab8-602e60a4992e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/918214ff-6138-4df7-b0a4-d9c1a310d986 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Ethan Taylor scores 21 as Air Force takes down Mercyhurst 82-48
How to Invest 100k to Make $1 MillionThe main contributors to the latest contraction included a 1.1% decline in retail. Photo: RNZ By Gyles Beckford of RNZ New Zealand's economy was in a deeper than expected recession in the middle of the year, with widespread contraction across many sectors. Stats NZ data shows gross domestic product, the broad measure of economic growth, fell 1% in the three months ended September, to be 1.5% lower than a year ago. Significant revisions to previous figures resulted in a fall of 1.1% in the June quarter, meeting the definition of technical recession. These were the biggest quarterly falls since late 2021 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, but excluding those the six monthly fall was the largest since mid-1991. However, previous negative readings for 2022/23 have largely disappeared. Stats NZ said extra data had shown a different performance of the economy. "The data incorporated this year shows stronger growth over the last year, followed by two significant falls in the latest quarters," spokesperson Jason Attewell said. Short, sharp recession The big falls in the June and September quarters were the biggest quarterly drops since late 2021 at the height of the pandemic and lockdowns. But excluding those the six-monthly fall was the largest since mid-1991. The main contributors to the latest contraction were a 2.6% fall in manufacturing, 3.7% in electricity and gas, 2.8% drop in construction and 1.1% decline in retail. The fall in manufacturing in part reflected the energy crunch in mid-winter which forced some businesses to reduce or halt production. The growth spots were agriculture on the back of the strong dairy production, information and technology, and rental and real estate industries. Individual shares of the economy shrank again, by 1.2% during the quarter, the eighth consecutive quarterly fall. The latest GDP reading is expected to be the low point of the recent economic cycle, with falling interest rates expected to give a spark to household spending and business investment. Forecasts are for tepid but positive growth from the end of this year picking up pace in the second half of next year to average 2-3% over the next few years. New Zealand's economic activity was the weakest of all its major trading partners.