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Banana Company Artwashes Its Bloody Legacy at Art Basel Miami BeachThe intersection of automotive innovation and gaming could redefine entertainment. Tesla, the pioneering electric vehicle manufacturer, is reportedly exploring new horizons by venturing into the gaming industry. While traditionally known for revolutionizing the electric car market, Tesla’s latest move hints at the possibility of transforming its electric cars into entertainment hubs. Gaming on wheels: A futuristic entertainment platform. Tesla’s vehicles already feature some gaming capabilities thanks to their advanced onboard computer systems. However, recent developments suggest the company might be exploring a more comprehensive integration of gaming technologies. Analysts believe Tesla is working on a system that allows its cars to function as mobile gaming consoles. This move could offer gamers a unique experience, allowing them to enjoy high-quality games while charging or during autonomous driving in the future. The potential impact on the gaming industry. If Tesla succeeds in incorporating full-fledged gaming systems into its vehicles, it could set a new standard for in-car entertainment. This novel approach could attract a broader demographic, merging the worlds of gaming and automotive technology. It could also encourage game developers to create new content specifically designed for Tesla’s platform, promoting an entirely new market category. Conclusion: A visionary step into uncharted territory. As Tesla delves deeper into gaming, the company’s potential to innovate continues to thrill. By bridging the gap between auto and entertainment industries, Tesla not only aims to redefine the in-car experience but also positions itself as a frontier player in the future of gaming. Tesla’s Gaming Revolution: Could Your Car Be the Next Entertainment Hub? The intersection of automotive technology and the gaming industry is poised to redefine how we perceive both entertainment and mobility. Tesla, the trailblazer in the electric vehicle (EV) market, is reportedly making strategic moves to transform its vehicles into high-tech entertainment platforms. This could signify the next big leap in in-car entertainment, merging the rapidly evolving gaming industry with the innovative spirit of automotive technology. Tesla’s vehicles are already equipped with advanced computer systems capable of supporting gaming. However, the latest insights suggest a more profound integration of gaming technologies is on the horizon. Potential developments include: – Expanded Game Library : Tesla might enhance its current offerings with popular game titles that are specifically optimized for their platform, catering to casual and serious gamers alike. – Seamless Connectivity : The vehicles could offer high-speed internet connections to support online gaming, streaming, and multiplayer features. – State-of-the-Art Interfaces : The integration of advanced controls, touchscreen interfaces, and voice commands could offer a fully immersive gaming experience right from the comfort of your car seat. If Tesla successfully incorporates comprehensive gaming solutions into its vehicles, it could disrupt traditional gaming markets. Game developers would be incentivized to create exclusive content for Tesla, launching a niche market centered around in-car gaming experiences. This synergy could spark new trends in gaming, with a focus on mobility and on-the-go entertainment solutions. Pros: – Enhanced Passenger Experience : Gamers can enjoy rich entertainment options during commutes or while the car is charging. – Innovation Catalyst : Encourages technological advancements in both automotive and gaming industries. – New Market Opportunities : Opens avenues for game developers to create unique in-car gaming content. Cons: – Safety Concerns : Gaming features could distract drivers, necessitating strict regulations and safeguards. – Cost Implications : Designing and maintaining a high-tech gaming system could potentially increase vehicle prices. As Tesla continues to blur the lines between automotive and entertainment technology, we can anticipate a larger trend of integrated digital experiences in vehicles. This approach could lead to: – Collaborative Ventures : Partnerships between car manufacturers and gaming companies to explore co-branded content and experiences. – Growth in Autonomous Vehicles : An increased focus on autonomous features will boost in-car entertainment demand, as hands-free driving becomes more prevalent. – Sustainability in Entertainment : Utilizing EVs as mobile entertainment hubs emphasizes sustainable entertainment options, aligning with global environmental goals. As Tesla delves into this new venture, the company is poised to be at the forefront of a revolutionary shift in how entertainment systems are integrated into our daily lives. For more information about Tesla and its future innovations, visit Tesla’s official website .“Cardiol Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRDL) Heart Health Innovation – AVCO, GXAI, UPC, And More Stocks Driving Groundbreaking Advances”A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok's petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company's challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court's opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, though its unclear whether the court will take up the case. “The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people,” Hughes said. Unless stopped, he argued the statute “will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19th, 2025.” Though the case is squarely in the court system, its also possible the two companies might be thrown some sort of a lifeline by President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the presidential campaign that he is now against such action . The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a years-long saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits , that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect — a concern mirrored by the European Union on Friday as it scrutinizes the video-sharing app’s role in the Romanian elections. TikTok, which sued the government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit in the U.S. They have also argued the law is predicated on future risks, which the Department of Justice has emphasized pointing in part to unspecified action it claims the two companies have taken in the past due to demands from the Chinese government. Friday’s ruling came after the appeals court panel, composed of two Republican and one Democrat appointed judges, heard oral arguments in September. In the hearing, which lasted more than two hours, the panel appeared to grapple with how TikTok’s foreign ownership affects its rights under the Constitution and how far the government could go to curtail potential influence from abroad on a foreign-owned platform. On Friday, all three of them denied TikTok’s petition. In the court's ruling, Ginsburg, a Republican appointee, rejected TikTok's main legal arguments against the law, including that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. He also said the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to "suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok. “Content on the platform could in principle remain unchanged after divestiture, and people in the United States would remain free to read and share as much PRC propaganda (or any other content) as they desire on TikTok or any other platform of their choosing,” Ginsburg wrote, using the abbreviation for the People’s Republic of China. Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court, issued a concurring opinion. TikTok’s lawsuit was consolidated with a second legal challenge brought by several content creators - for which the company is covering legal costs - as well as a third one filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc. Other organizations, including the Knight First Amendment Institute, had also filed amicus briefs supporting TikTok. “This is a deeply misguided ruling that reads important First Amendment precedents too narrowly and gives the government sweeping power to restrict Americans’ access to information, ideas, and media from abroad,” said Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the organization. “We hope that the appeals court’s ruling won’t be the last word.”
Qatar tribune Agencies US consumer spending increased in November amid strong demand for a range of goods and services, underscoring the economy’s resilience, which saw the Federal Reserve this week projecting fewer interest rate cuts in 2025 than it had in September. There was also good news on inflation last month after a series of warmer readings. The report from the Commerce Department on Friday showed moderate monthly rises in prices, with a measure of underlying inflation posting its smallest gain in six months. Nonetheless, the annual increase in core inflation, excluding food and energy, remained stubbornly well above the US central bank’s 2 percent target. There are also worries that plans by President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration to cut taxes, impose or raise tariffs on imports and deport millions of undocumented immigrants would stoke inflation. “The economy continues to grow from strong consumer demand as income growth and the wealth effect from higher portfolio values give consumers capacity to spend,” said Jeffrey Roach, chief economist at LPL Financial. “Inflation was more benign than expected but the stickiness of some categories supports the Fed’s hesitancy to materially lower rates next year.” Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose 0.4 percent last month after a downwardly revised 0.3 percent gain in October, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis said. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast consumer spending advancing 0.5 percent after a previously reported 0.4 percent rise in October. The nearly broad-based increase in spending was led by new motor vehicles, likely in part as households replaced vehicles damaged during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. That accounted for the bulk of the 0.8 percent rebound in goods outlays. Spending on recreational goods and vehicles also rose as did outlays on financial services and insurance, mostly charges, fees and commissions. There was also increased spending on recreation services, healthcare, clothing and footwear, furniture as well as housing and utilities. Spending at restaurants and bars as well as on hotel and motel stays also increased. Spending on services rose 0.2 percent. When adjusted for inflation, consumer spending rose 0.3 percent after edging up 0.1 percent in October. The so-called real consumer spending is running at an annualized rate of 3.1 percent in the first two months of the fourth quarter. “That will lay the foundation for another very solid GDP number for the fourth quarter,” said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP. Consumer spending surged at a 3.7 percent pace in the third quarter, the fastest in 1-1/2 years, helping to propel the economy to a 3.1 percent growth rate following a 3.0 percent pace of expansion in the April-June quarter. The Atlanta Fed is forecasting gross domestic product increasing at a 3.1 percent rate in the fourth quarter. Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday described the economy as having “just been remarkable,” adding “I feel very good about ... the performance of the economy and we want to keep that going.” The central bank on Wednesday cut its benchmark overnight interest rate by 25 basis points to the 4.25 percent-4.50 percent range. It forecast only two rate reductions in 2025, in a nod to the economy’s continued resilience and still-high inflation. In September, Fed officials had forecast four quarter-point rate cuts next year. The shallower rate cut path in the latest projections also reflected uncertainty over policies from the incoming Trump administration. Stocks on Wall Street traded higher. The dollar slipped against a basket of currencies. US Treasury yields fell. Labor market stamina, marked by low layoffs and strong wage growth, is underpinning consumer spending. Strong household balance sheets, reflecting high stock market and home prices are also driving spending. Household savings remain supportive. Economists, however, cautioned that it was mostly middle- and higher-income households that were benefiting from the wage gains and wealth effects, noting that lower-income consumers were under financial pressure. Personal income rose 0.3 percent, with wages shooting up 0.6 percent. Income at the disposal of households after accounting for inflation rose 0.2 percent, meaning some tapped their savings to fund purchases. The saving rate dipped to 4.4 percent from 4.5 percent in October. Economists did not believe that the moderation in inflation last month would have changed the tone of the Fed’s message on Wednesday. Copy 24/12/2024 10CreateAI Announces Results of 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
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What made readers turn the pages in 2024? From edge-of-your-seat thrillers to enchanting fantasy worlds, these authors captured the hearts and imaginations of book lovers across the globe. Using insights from Libby, the leading platform for ebooks and audiobooks, we have compiled a list of the ten most beloved authors of the year. Whether you are into courtroom dramas or BookTok famous romantasy, there’s something for every literary taste. James Patterson Once again, James Patterson dominates the literary scene, solidifying his reputation as a master storyteller. Known for his action-packed thrillers and unmatched productivity, Patterson delivered three blockbusters this year: Lies He Told Me, The House of Cross (soon to be an Amazon Prime series), and Tiger, Tiger, a compelling biography on Tiger Woods. His much-anticipated collaboration with Bill Clinton, The First Gentleman, has also stirred excitement. This political thriller, exploring the life of the U.S.’s first female president and her husband facing a murder trial, promises to be one of his most gripping works yet. Sarah J. Maas Sarah J. Maas continues to enchant fans with her rich and immersive romantasy worlds. Her latest release, House of Flame and Shadow, the third book in the Crescent City series, debuted to widespread acclaim in January 2024. With intricate plots and swoon-worthy characters, Maas remains a force to be reckoned with. Rumors of a new addition to her A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series have only heightened the anticipation surrounding her future works. Colleen Hoover Even without releasing a new book in 2024, Colleen Hoover’s influence remains undeniable. Her bestselling It Ends With Us series regained momentum thanks to the highly anticipated film adaptation starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, which premiered in August. Hoover’s knack for blending emotional depth with relatable characters ensures her place among the year’s most talked-about authors. David Baldacci David Baldacci continues to deliver nail-biting suspense and intricate legal dramas. His latest thriller, To Die For, released in November 2024, showcases his signature ability to keep readers guessing until the final page. A household name in the crime and thriller genre, Baldacci’s books remain staples for fans of gripping storytelling. Kristin Hannah Kristin Hannah’s masterful storytelling and emotional depth make her a perennial favorite among readers. Best known for her poignant historical novels like The Nightingale and The Four Winds, Hannah’s enduring appeal lies in her ability to create characters that resonate deeply. Her latest book, The Women, continues to captivate audiences with its heartfelt exploration of resilience and love. Freida McFadden Freida McFadden’s meteoric rise in the thriller genre is nothing short of remarkable. Her bestselling novels, including The Housemaid and The Teacher, combine psychological twists with edge-of-your-seat suspense. McFadden’s ability to craft unpredictable narratives has earned her a devoted following and a well-deserved spot among the year’s most popular authors. Rebecca Yarros Rebecca Yarros captured the imagination of readers with her sensational Empyrean Series. Starting with the viral sensation Fourth Wing in 2023, the series has sold millions of copies and amassed an incredible following on social media. Fans eagerly await the next installment, drawn in by Yarros’s masterful blend of romance and fantasy in a vividly constructed world. John Grisham A legend in the legal drama genre, John Grisham continues to enthrall readers with his signature style. Renowned for classics like The Firm and A Time to Kill, Grisham’s latest works reaffirm his unmatched ability to weave complex legal and moral dilemmas into compelling narratives. His enduring popularity speaks to his status as a literary icon. Nora Roberts Nora Roberts proves once again why she is the queen of romance. Her latest releases, including The Witness, Inheritance, and Mind Games (2024), highlight her versatility in crafting captivating love stories and engrossing mysteries. Roberts’s ability to create vivid characters and immersive settings ensures her continued dominance in the literary world. Stephen King Stephen King remains a towering figure in the realm of horror and suspense. In 2024, King thrilled fans with You Like It Darker, a collection of chilling short stories, and announced his next novel, Never Flinch, set for release in May 2025. With a legacy that includes classics like The Shining and Carrie, King’s storytelling prowess continues to leave an indelible mark on readers. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Features, Lifestyle and around the world.Baltimore is all Mariah Carey wants for Christmas during holiday visit
Get essential daily news for Fort Worth area Sign up to receive insightful, in-depth local stories today. 📩 The deployment of Fort Worth ISD central administration staff is now in full force, according to the district’s top leader. Interim Superintendent Karen Molinar directed more than 140 specialists and content coordinators in every central office department to directly work with students. The effort is part of Molinar’s larger push to turn around the school district’s lagging student achievement. Each administrator was assigned a small group of students to work with and track for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. Administrators are expected to work with students three days a week, the interim superintendent said. “We have excellent master teachers that are supporting us in the central administration who are now going out (to schools), not only supporting our teachers but pulling our students and intervening with them,” Molinar told trustees in November. Molinar has emphasized to the school board that interventions, such as small group instruction, will be key as the district works to boost student achievement . Still, she said, traditional classroom instruction remains important. Get essential daily news for the Fort Worth area. Sign up for insightful, in-depth stories — completely free. The district rolled out an internal test that is administered every nine weeks to help teachers determine what lessons may need to be retaught. The test is called a quarterly assessment and features nine to 12 questions. Quarterly assessments are not intended to forecast future performance, Molinar said. The assessment is used in reading, math, science and social studies. The initial quarterly assessment was administered to all students in kindergarten through 12th grade. However, the district will no longer test kindergarten through second-grade students in science and social studies, Molinar said. “I do feel we need to go back to more teaching the foundations versus testing,” the interim superintendent said. “I need our teachers to have time to teach and not (have to) assess in those two content areas.” Trustee Wallace Bridges appreciated Molinar’s recognition that students need more teaching than assessing in certain instances. Bridges wanted to know more about how the district would work with parents to ensure their students don’t fall through the cracks. First, a teacher should sit down with the students’ parents and talk about what’s happening and how to improve, Molinar said. Additionally, the district as a whole should communicate better with the public and thoroughly explain to parents how to understand data available to them, such as quarterly assessments, she said. The data is on the district’s parent portal. “I like the fact there’s a deeper push to move towards that because I think that’s a benefit for all of us,” Bridges said. Here’s how third- to eighth-grade students performed on the first quarterly assessment of the 2024-25 school year: Trustee Anne Darr complimented Molinar’s speed in reporting new student achievement data and tackling other district issues. “The sense of urgency is real,” Darr said. Jacob Sanchez is a senior education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org or @_jacob_sanchez . At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here . Related Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism . Republish This Story Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. 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If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. by Jacob Sanchez, Fort Worth Report December 4, 2024The Miami Hurricanes, who once appeared to be a near-lock for the College Football Playoff, are not playing for a national title. Instead, they will play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. That bowl berth against Iowa State is a let-down for fans with dreams of a sixth national title in their minds, as well as players hoping to compete for a championship. However, Miami’s trip to Orlando and the lead-up to it are still crucial periods for the Hurricanes for multiple reasons. First, it’s a chance for the program to achieve something it has not done in more than two decades: win 11 games. Although the 11th win won’t get them closer to a championship, it is a good sign of the program’s progress over Mario Cristobal’s tenure. It would also end UM’s five-game losing streak in bowls. “We’re not satisfied,” Cristobal said. “We want to win every single game. We won 10. We were close on the other two, but close isn’t good enough. We want progress. We’re hungry and driven to get better, and so that’s what our focus is on: to improving as a football program, to getting better, to moving into the postseason with an opportunity against a great football team like this and putting our best on the field.” There are signs the Hurricanes will show up at close to full strength for the bowl game. Running back Damien Martinez announced he was going to play, and star quarterback Cam Ward said in a video call posted on social media that he intends to play, as well. “We’re trying to win our first bowl game in 20 years,” Ward said in the video, mistaking the length of UM’s long bowl losing streak. “We’re going hard.” Playing in the bowl game also provides the opportunity for the Hurricanes to get in several practices between now and the game. That means Miami can develop its young players and prepare them for next season during both the practices and the bowl game itself. “It’s extremely valuable,” Cristobal said. “You really don’t have many opportunities throughout the course of the year — time is limited more and more each season with your student-athletes. I want to state this and be very clear: it’s very important, it’s ultra-important for the University of Miami to continue to develop and grow and progress by stressing the importance of offseason opportunities ... You learn a lot about your team and learn a lot about your people and your program when you head to the postseason.” Of course, there are potential negatives. Players can get hurt; Mark Fletcher Jr. suffered a foot injury in the Pinstripe Bowl last year that cost him all of spring practice. A poor performance can also potentially set the tone for next season, like how Florida State, fresh off a playoff snub last year, suffered a devastating loss against Georgia in the Orange Bowl and went on to a dismal 2-10 season this year. “This is the ending of ’24 and the beginning of ’25,” Cristobal said. “This is the last opportunity to be on the field and carry some momentum into the offseason. So it is, in essence, it is the most important game because it’s the next game. “There’s a lot of excitement in the form of opportunity for our guys. Our guys love to play football. The chance to play one more time with this special group — this is a special group of guys now. They’ve worked hard to really change the trajectory of the University of Miami, and they want to continue to elevate the status and the culture at the University of Miami. So certainly a ton to play for.” ____ Get local news delivered to your inbox!Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next
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NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare pleaded not guilty on Monday to state murder and terror charges while his attorney complained that comments coming from New York’s mayor would make it tough to receive a fair trial. Luigi Mangione, 26, was shackled and seated in a Manhattan court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his plea. The Manhattan district attorney charged him last week with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism . Mangione's initial appearance in New York’s state trial court was preempted by federal prosecutors bringing their own charges over the shooting. The federal charges could carry the possibility of the death penalty, while the maximum sentence for the state charges is life in prison without parole. Prosecutors have said the two cases will proceed on parallel tracks , with the state charges expected to go to trial first. One of Mangione’s attorneys told a judge that the “warring jurisdictions" had turned Mangione into a “human ping-pong ball” and that New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other government officials had made him a political pawn, robbing him of his rights as a defendant and tainting the jury pool. “I am very concerned about my client’s right to a fair trial,” lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo said. Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stood among a throng of heavily armed officers last Thursday when Mangione was flown to a Manhattan heliport and escorted up a pier after being extradited from Pennsylvania. Friedman Agnifilo said police turned Mangione’s return to New York into a choreographed spectacle. She called out Adams' comment to a local TV station that he wanted to be there to look “him in the eye and say, ‘you carried out this terroristic act in my city.’” “He was on display for everyone to see in the biggest stage perp walk I’ve ever seen in my career. It was absolutely unnecessary,” she said. She also accused federal and state prosecutors of advancing conflicting legal theories, calling their approach confusing and highly unusual. In a statement, Adams spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus wrote: “Critics can say all they want, but showing up to support our law enforcement and sending the message to New Yorkers that violence and vitriol have no place in our city is who Mayor Eric Adams is to his core.” “The cold-blooded assassination of Brian Thompson — a father of two — and the terror it infused on the streets of New York City for days has since been sickeningly glorified, shining a spotlight on the darkest corners of the internet,” Mamelak Altus said. State trial court Judge Gregory Carro said he has little control over what happens outside the courtroom, but can guarantee Mangione will receive a fair trial. Authorities say Mangione gunned down Thompson as he was walking to an investor conference in midtown Manhattan on the morning of Dec 4. Mangione was arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s after a five-day search, carrying a gun that matched the one used in the shooting and a fake ID, police said. He also was carrying a notebook expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and especially wealthy executives, according to federal prosecutors. At a news conference last week, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the application of the terrorism law reflected the severity of a “frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation.” “In its most basic terms, this was a killing that was intended to evoke terror,” he added. Mangione is being held in a Brooklyn federal jail alongside several other high-profile defendants, including Sean “Diddy” Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried. During his court appearance Monday, he smiled at times when talking with his attorneys and stretched his right hand after an officer removed his cuffs. Outside the courthouse, a few dozen supporters chanted, “Free Luigi,” over the blare of a trumpet. Natalie Monarrez, a 55-year-old Staten Island resident, said she joined the demonstration because she lost both her mother and her life savings as a result of denied insurance claims. “As extreme as it was, it jolted the conversation that we need to deal with this issue,” she said of the shooting. “Enough is enough, people are fed up.” An Ivy-league graduate from a prominent Maryland family, Mangione appeared to have cut himself off from family and friends in recent months. He posted frequently in online forums about his struggles with back pain. He was never a UnitedHealthcare client , according to the insurer. Thompson, a married father of two high-schoolers, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and became CEO of its insurance arm in 2021. The killing has prompted some to voice their resentment at U.S. health insurers, with Mangione serving as a stand-in for frustrations over coverage denials and hefty medical bills. It also has sent shockwaves through the corporate world , rattling executives who say they have received a spike in threats.FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Faced with rising cases of bird flu virus being detected in raw milk in California, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday announced it would mandate testing for the virus in milk nationwide. The National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) "builds on measures taken by USDA and federal and state partners since the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza [HPAI] H5N1 in dairy cattle was first detected in March 2024," the agency said in a statement . Any entity that handles pre-pasteurized raw milk -- milk processors and transporters, for example -- must hand over samples for testing to USDA staff upon request. According to the USDA, this could be an efficient way to identify herds infected with H5N1. As of Thursday, 718 cattle herds nationwide are known to be infected with the avian flu virus. The new testing initiative "will give farmers and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the USDA statement. The move comes only a few days after a California dairy farm said it was expanding its recall of raw milk and cream after state health officials discovered bird flu virus in more milk samples. In a notice posted Tuesday, Fresno-based Raw Farm LLC said it has now recalled all whole milk and cream products with "use by" dates of Nov. 27 to Dec. 13. Meanwhile, California health officials took additional steps to keep consumers safe, including quarantining the farm. "While this voluntary recall only applies to raw whole milk and cream, due to multiple bird flu detections in the company's operation, the California Department of Public Health [CDPH] urges consumers to avoid consuming any Raw Farm products for human consumption including raw milk, cream, cheese,and kefir, as well as raw milk pet food topper and pet food kefir marketed to pet owners," the CDPH said in a health alert posted Tuesday. "In addition to the statewide voluntary recall, CDFA [California Department of Agriculture] has placed the farm under quarantine, suspending any new distribution of its raw milk, cream, kefir, butter and cheese products produced on or after November 27," the agency added. No human bird flu cases linked to the consumption of raw milk products have been confirmed at this point, the CDPH noted. Unlike raw milk, pasteurized milk is heat-treated to kill off any viruses and remains safe to drink. The latest actions follow recalls of two lots of Raw Farm products after bird flu was first reported in raw milk samples on Nov. 24. Bird flu first surfaced in U.S. dairy cows in March. Since then, the virus has been spreading across the country, particularly in California, where nearly 500 of the more than 700 infected herds nationwide have been detected, the Associated Press reported. So far this year, the virus has infected 58 people in the United States, including 31 in California, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Mild illnesses have been seen in dairy and poultry workers who had close contact with infected animals. No cases of bird flu spreading between people have been detected so far, the agency added. In a statement posted to its website, Raw Farm officials said they were working to restore raw milk supply quickly. “There are no illnesses associated with H5N1 in our products. But rather this is a political issue,” the post stated. “There are no food safety issues with our products or consumer safety. We are working towards resolving this political issue while being cooperative with our government regulatory agencies.” Any move to restrict public access to raw milk could be challenged by the incoming Trump administration, however. Robert Kennedy Jr., who has long criticized crackdowns on raw milk, has been nominated to run the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and has vowed to push for greater distribution of raw milk products. More information The CDC has more on bird flu . SOURCE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, news release, Dec. 6, 2024; California Department of Public Health, news release, Dec. 4, 2024; Associated Press A California dairy farm has issued a full recall of its raw milk and cream after bird flu was discovered in more milk samples.By Stephanie Lai and Hadriana Lowenkron, Bloomberg News Donald Trump says he is selecting venture capitalist David Sacks of Craft Ventures LLC to serve as his artificial intelligence and crypto czar, a newly created position that underscores the president-elect’s intent to boost two rapidly developing industries. “David will guide policy for the Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, two areas critical to the future of American competitiveness. David will focus on making America the clear global leader in both areas,” Trump said Thursday in a post on his Truth Social network. Trump said that Sacks would also lead the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. In Sacks, Trump is tapping one of his most prominent Silicon Valley supporters and fundraisers for a prime position in his administration. Sacks played a key role in bolstering Trump’s fundraising among technology industry donors, including co-hosting an event at his San Francisco home in June, with tickets at $300,000 a head. He is also closely associated with Vice President-elect JD Vance, the investor-turned-Ohio senator. Sacks is a venture capitalist and part of Silicon Valley’s “PayPal Mafia.” He first made his name in the technology industry during a stint as the chief operating officer of PayPal, the payments company whose founders in the late 1990s included billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and investor Peter Thiel. After it was sold to eBay, Sacks turned to Hollywood, where he produced the 2005 satire Thank You for Smoking. Back in Silicon Valley, he founded workplace communications company Yammer, which was bought by Microsoft Corp. in 2012 for $1.2 billion. He founded his own venture capital firm, Craft Ventures, in 2017 and has invested in Musk-owned businesses, including SpaceX. Sacks said on a recent episode of his All-In podcast that a “key man” clause in the agreements of his venture firm’s legal documents would likely prevent him from taking a full-time position, but he might consider an advisory role in the new administration. A Craft spokeswoman said Sacks would not be leaving Craft. In his post, Trump said Sacks “will safeguard Free Speech online, and steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship.” Protecting free speech is a keen interest of Sacks. He regularly speaks about “woke” interests that try to muzzle unpopular opinions and positions. The new post is expected to help spearhead the crypto industry deregulation Trump promised on the campaign trail. The role is expected to provide cryptocurrency advocates a direct line to the White House and serve as a liaison between Trump, Congress and the federal agencies that interface with digital assets, including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Trump heavily campaigned on supporting crypto, after previously disparaging digital assets during his first White House term, saying their “value is highly volatile and based on thin air.” The president-elect on Thursday said Sacks would “work on a legal framework so the Crypto industry has the clarity it has been asking for, and can thrive in the U.S.” During the campaign, Trump spoke at a Bitcoin conference, accepted crypto campaign donations and met with executives from Bitcoin mining companies and crypto exchanges multiple times. Trump’s desire to give priority to the digital asset industry is also reflected in his close allies and cabinet selections, including his Commerce secretary pick, Howard Lutnick, and Treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent. On the AI front, Sacks would help Trump put his imprint on an emerging technology whose popular use has exploded in recent years. Sacks is poised to be at the front lines in determining how the federal government both adopts AI and regulates its use as advances in the technology and adoption by consumers pose a wide array of benefits as well as risks touching on national security, privacy, jobs and other areas. The president-elect has expressed both awe at the power of AI technology as well as concern over the potential harms from its use. During his first term, he signed executive orders that sought to maintain US leadership in the field and directed the federal government to prioritize AI in research and development spending. As AI has become more mainstream in recent years and with Congress slow to act, President Joe Biden has sought to fill that void. Biden signed an executive order in 2023 that establishes security and privacy protections and requires developers to safety-test new models, casting the sweeping regulatory order as necessary to safeguard consumers. A number of technology giants have also agreed to adopt a set of voluntary safeguards which call for them to test AI systems for discriminatory tendencies or security flaws and to share those results. Trump has vowed to repeal Biden’s order. The Republican Party’s 2024 platform dismissed Biden’s executive order as one that “hinders AI Innovation, and imposes Radical Leftwing ideas on the development of this technology.” Sacks can be expected to work closely with Musk, the world’s richest person and one of the president-elect’s most prominent supporters. Musk is also a player in the AI space with his company xAI and a chatbot named Grok — efforts which pit him against Silicon Valley’s giants — and he stands to wield significant influence within the incoming administration. The appointment won’t require Sacks to divest or publicly disclose his assets. Like Musk, Sacks will be a special government employee. He can serve a maximum of 130 days per year, with or without compensation. However, conflict of interest rules apply to special government employees, meaning Sacks will have to recuse himself from matters that could impact his holdings. Sacks’s Craft Ventures is known more for enterprise software investing than for crypto, but it has made a few crypto investments, including BitGo and Bitwise. Still, Sacks has firm opinions on the sector. Speaking last month on All-In, Sacks praised a bill on crypto regulation that had passed in the U.S. House but not the Senate earlier this year. The Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act would regulate certain types of digital assets as a commodity, regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. “The crypto industry basically wants a really clear line for knowing when they’re a commodity and they want commodities to be governed, like all other commodities, by the CFTC,” he said on the November podcast. He also disparaged some of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s positions on crypto under its chair, Gary Gensler. “The days of Gensler terrifying crypto companies,” he said. “Those days are about to be over.” Earlier this week, Trump nominated crypto advocate Paul Atkins to lead the SEC. With assistance from Zoe Ma, Bill Allison, Sarah McBride, Anne VanderMey and stacy-marie ishmael. ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Scripps taps Matthew Hijuelos to lead distribution strategyNoneWhat To Know About David Sacks, Trump's Pick For AI And Crypto Czar