Police seek Facebook records in death of Oregon woman found dead in car with baby in Vancouver
Qatar tribune Tribune News Network Doha Commercial Bank has been featured in the latest global platform video by Oxford Business Group, which delves into the country’s financial sector and highlights its focus on technological innovation andsustainable growth. In the video, Shahnawaz Rashid, Executive General Manager and Head of Retail Banking at Commercial Bank, discusses the critical role the banking industry plays in driving sustainability and economic growth. He highlights key initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, digitizing banking services, and utilizing artificial intelligence to deliver more tailored financial products. Shahnawaz also underscores the significance of Qatar’s National Fintech Strategy, launched in 2023 by the Central Bank of Qatar, which seeks to position the country as a regional leader in financial innovation. He further details Commercial Bank’s green initiatives, including financing for electric vehicles and sustainable real estate projects, while emphasizing the use of AI and data architecture to offer customize financial solutions to clients and supporting Qatar’s economic growth. “The banking sector in Qatar is making significant strides in embracing technology and sustainability. “By adopting financial technology and reducing carbon emissions, we are positioning ourselves as a key partner in the Nation’s economic development,” Shahnawaz remarked. “Our video illustrates how Qatar’s banking sector is advancing through innovation and a clear commitment to sustainability, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. This collaboration reflects the importance of driving green initiatives while ensuring economic stability and growth” Marc-André de Blois, Director of PR and Video Content at Oxford Business Group. The video also showcases Qatar’s efforts to enhance its infrastructure and reduce its carbon footprint by 25 percent by 2030. It explores the role of digital banking, with nearly all transactions now being conducted online, helping the sector meet its environmental goals. Copy 04/12/2024 10
Arsenal, Manchester City and Bayern Munich all advanced to the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals with with two games to spare on Thursday. Late substitute Lina Hurtig scored the winner in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Juventus in London. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week
President-elect Donald Trump is keeping secret the names of donors who are funding his transition effort, a break from tradition that could make it impossible to see what interest groups, businesses or wealthy people are helping launch his second term. Trump has so far declined to sign an agreement with the Biden administration that imposes strict limits on that fundraising in exchange for up to $7.2 million in federal funds earmarked for the transition. By dodging the agreement, Trump can raise unlimited amounts of money from unknown donors to pay for the staff, travel and office space involved in preparing to take over the government. Trump is the first president-elect to sidestep the restrictions, provoking alarm among ethics experts. Those seeking to curry favor with the incoming administration now have the opportunity to donate directly to the winning candidate without their names or potential conflicts ever entering the public sphere. And unlike with campaign contributions, foreign nationals are allowed to donate to the transition. “When the money isn’t disclosed, it’s not clear how much everybody is giving, who is giving it and what they are getting in return for their donations,” said Heath Brown, a professor of public policy at John Jay College of Criminal Justice who studies presidential transitions. “It’s an area where the vast majority of Americans would agree that they want to know who is paying that bill.” Trump’s transition team, led by Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, both of whom were nominated to Cabinet positions last week, has repeatedly said it intends to sign the agreements with the Biden administration, known as memorandums of understanding. But it blew past deadlines to do so in September and October, and nothing has indicated progress being made to that end in the two weeks since the election. The White House, which is obliged to offer the agreements to presidential candidates under a federal law known as the Presidential Transition Act, has said it is ready to assist the Trump transition to ensure a smooth handover of power. On Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., sent a letter to the Biden administration, raising concerns that the Trump transition’s failure to sign the agreements was “uncharted territory” that “threatens the American public.” She asked for an accounting of how the administration was engaging with the Trump transition on the agreements. “The Trump-Vance transition lawyers continue to constructively engage with the Biden-Harris administration lawyers regarding all agreements contemplated by the Presidential Transition Act,” Brian Hughes, a Trump transition spokesperson, said in a statement responding to queries about the status of negotiations with the Biden administration. Transition efforts help the president-elect with the complex task of taking over the federal government, including selecting thousands of potential political appointees. Previous transitions, including Trump’s before his first term, have signed the agreements. Trump’s transition team, formally known as Trump Vance 2025 Transition Inc., has revealed nothing about how much money it hopes to raise, who has contributed to the fund or how it is spending the money. The current Trump transition, like its predecessors, is set up as a “dark money” nonprofit. Those groups typically do not have to disclose their donors, even to the IRS. But unlike Trump’s team this year, earlier transitions accepted financial support from the General Services Administration, which oversees much of the transition process. In exchange for that federal money, they agreed to conditions that other dark-money nonprofits do not have to follow, like capping individual contributions at $5,000 and disclosing the names of their donors. When Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008, his transition raised $4.5 million while restricting donations to a maximum of $5,000, and pledging to refuse money from corporations, labor unions, political action committees, lobbyists and registered foreign agents. Nearly 60,000 people contributed, with an average donation of about $75. In 2020, the Biden transition set a fundraising goal of $7 million and brought in seasoned Democratic fundraisers to help. But when the General Services Administration, spurred on by Trump’s false claims that he had won the election, withheld government funding for weeks, private donations flooded in. By the time of the inauguration, Biden’s team had raised more than $22 million, with 450 employees on its books. Its disclosure report, released in February 2021, was more than 1,000 pages. Before the 2016 election, Trump relied on former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, to run his transition. But, as journalist Bob Woodward later reported, when Trump discovered that Christie had been raising money to pay for that venture, Trump accused him of “stealing” from his campaign and “jinxing” his chances. Trump fired Christie immediately after the election, replacing him with his running mate, Mike Pence. The 2016 Trump transition, which did sign the agreement with the General Services Administration, had roughly 120 employees and ultimately disclosed raising $6.5 million and receiving $2.4 million in federal reimbursements. Trump used office space in Trump Tower to interview candidates during the transition, and filings show that his transition spent $258,000 on “rent and utilities,” though not who was paid. In 2018, that transition donated $150,000 in leftover money to another dark-money nonprofit, the 45 Alliance, which was meant to help Trump’s appointees and reportedly held a reception for them at what was then Trump’s hotel in Washington. The 2016 transition also paid some $1.8 million in legal fees, much of which was spent after Trump had been sworn in as president. In late 2017, for example, the transition challenged the government’s decision to hand over its emails to Robert Mueller, who was then the special counsel, during his investigation of Trump’s ties to Russia. The group also fought legal battles with New Jersey’s attorney general, which sued it for failing to register properly as a nonprofit with the state. That transition was eventually wound down and, as required by its settlement with New Jersey, donated the last of its funds to a charity, according to Kory Langhofer, a lawyer for the 2016 transition. The transition chose the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit that helps veterans. That charity said it had received $17,478. Leading up to this year’s election, Trump’s campaign and groups supporting it raised more than $1 billion, according to federal records, including more than $100 million apiece from three billionaires: Timothy Mellon, Elon Musk and Miriam Adelson. But opportunities to curry favor with large contributions do not end on Election Day. A traditional post-campaign target has been the presidential inaugural committee, which, as an entity separate from both the campaign and the transition, raises money to fund the parties held to celebrate the handover of power. In 2016, Trump raised $107 million for his inaugural, including from 30 donations of $1 million each. The attorney general of the District of Columbia later sued, accusing the inaugural committee of misusing funds, including by overpaying for space at Trump’s Washington hotel. The suit was settled for $750,000. As with campaign donations, contributions to inaugural funds are regulated by the Federal Election Commission, which requires the inaugural committee to file detailed lists of donors. It also prohibits donations from foreign nationals. Transition funding is not regulated by the FEC. And IRS rules permit the nonprofits in question to accept donations from foreigners without public disclosure. Max Stier, the president of the Partnership for Public Service, which studies transition operations, said disclosure rules were intended to keep donors from using the transition fund to seek favorable treatment privately from the incoming administration before it even begins. “The transition government is a little like setting up the universe, pre-Big Bang,” Stier said. “It’s a lot of influence.” The Trump transition was registered in Florida in August by Jacob Roth, a lawyer for the Dhillon Law Group, a prominent Republican firm. This month, Roth also registered Trump’s inaugural fund in Florida, and the inauguration group began seeking individual donations, from $50,000 to $1 million, a fundraising flyer reviewed by The New York Times shows. Roth did not respond to a request for comment. Because the transition has also failed to sign a separate agreement with the Justice Department, the FBI has been unable to conduct background checks needed to grant appointees security clearance. As a result, the transition is reportedly using private firms to vet candidates, leaving open the possibility that federal law enforcement may never properly review Trump appointees. The Trump transition has also left unsigned a memorandum of understanding with the White House that outlines how appointees and other staff members can gain physical access to federal agencies and classified information before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. That agreement is contingent on the transition submitting and posting publicly an ethics plan that complies with federal law, including an explicit statement about Trump’s own plans to avoid potential conflicts of interest. It has so far not done so. Experts on presidential transitions say lawmakers did not appear to have anticipated that a presidential candidate would decline millions of dollars from the federal government or refuse to post an ethics code. In theory, the IRS could audit the Trump transition and ask it to provide information on its contributors, but even if it did, the agency would not make those names public. Brian Galle, a Georgetown University law professor who studies nonprofits, said he was skeptical the IRS would conduct an audit. “Given the political sensitivity of this organization,” Galle said, “I’d say the odds of their being audited are zero.” This article originally appeared in The New York Times .Ajagba great fight for Bakole
Prosthetic material could help reduce infections from intravenous catheters December 17, 2024 Texas A&M University Researchers created realistic, skin-like replicas made of Ecoflex, a type of silicone rubber that can potentially serve as a platform to evaluate risks of bacterial infections from intravenous catheters and test wearable sensors, among other biomedical applications. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email In the holiday movie "The Grinch," makeup artists are reported to have spent several hours each day encasing Jim Carrey's face with prosthetics to create the iconic grumpy, green-furred creature. Such elaborate prosthetics, often made possible by materials like silicone rubbers, may have now found an unexpected yet beneficial biomedical engineering application, according to a new study from Texas A&M University. Published in the journal Scientific Reports , researchers have created realistic, skin-like replicas made of Ecoflex, a type of silicone rubber that can potentially serve as a platform to evaluate risks of bacterial infections from intravenous catheters and test wearable sensors, among other biomedical applications. The study found that EcoFlex-based skin replicas can be engineered to mimic actual skin textures, wettability and elasticity, simulating the conditions where bacteria grow and adhere. "We think that the material holds tremendous promise for studying infections at the insertion site due to bacteria that are naturally occurring on the skin," said Majed Othman Althumayri, a graduate student in the Texas A&M Department of Biomedical Engineering and primary author of the paper. "Our goal was to create a skin-like material with ingredients that can be purchased off the shelf. Ecoflex is not just easy to use, it can be cured quickly with minimum additional steps, making it very convenient." There are roughly a million bacteria per square centimeter of human skin. The most common of them is Staphylococcus , particularly the species Staphylococcus epidermidis , which is considered a typical resident of the skin microbiome. Infections often happen when there is a cut, break or wound on the skin, allowing the bacteria to enter the bloodstream. In fact, a relatively common infection in hospitals comes from surgically inserting tubes or catheters into veins. Each year, around 80,000 catheter-related bloodstream infections happen in intensive care units alone, underscoring its public health significance in the United States. "We have been slow in finding solutions for preventing infections from intravenous catheters," said Althumayri. "A reason could be that we lack good platforms to test new catheter designs or wearable biosensor technologies and train staff so that the number of infections can be reduced." To address this gap, the researchers turned to Ecoflex 00-35, a fast-curing, biocompatible rubber used for various applications, including prosthetics for special effects. First, they created molds of common intravenous insertion sites, such as the elbows, hands and forearms. Then, by pouring Ecoflex into the molds that contained artificial bones and tubes acting as veins, the researchers created skin-like replicas. Next, the researchers tested if the Ecoflex skin replicas had properties that matched that of real skin. They measured the replicas' wettability, bacterial adhesion and mechanical properties, such as elasticity and resilience. The researchers found that the Ecoflex models could replicate human skin roughness within a 7.5% error margin. Further, high-resolution imaging showed that bacteria could adhere to the skin replica and grow on it. Then, in a key experiment, the researchers simulated an intravenous catheter insertion into an Ecoflex hand replica that they created. This artificial hand effectively modeled phases of bacterial growth, showing promise that these replicas can be used for implementing infection control measures and improving the design of medical devices like catheters. However, the researchers noted that their current experiments do not entirely model real-world conditions. "Developing realistic skin models that can mimic the human skin is an important initial step," said Dr. Hatice Ceylan Koydemir, corresponding author on the study and assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering with a research program housed within the Texas A&M University Center for Remote Health Technologies and Systems. "But we think that incorporating additional elements, like body fluids and other clinically relevant situations, in future experiments will bolster our findings and further validate Ecoflex's potential for medical applications." Other contributors to the research include Azra Yaprak Tarman, a graduate student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. This study was partly sponsored by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (one of the National Institutes of Health), the Department of Defense Office of Naval Research and the National Science Foundation-funded Engineering Research Center PATHS-UP. Researchers also received additional support from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Center for Remote Health Technologies and Systems, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, the AggieFab Nanofabrication Facility and the Soft Matter Facility. Story Source: Materials provided by Texas A&M University . Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :Is Enron back? If it's a joke, some former employees aren't laughing
NoneGreat achievements start with a clear vision, a commitment to growth, and the determination to tackle challenges. As a leader in SAP systems and digital transformation, Adarsh Vaid has delivered impactful solutions that improve efficiency across industries. From managing complex ERP migrations to leading global compliance efforts, his work sets new standards in technology and strategy. Born on January 18, 1978, in a small town in Haryana with limited resources, Adarsh Vaid’s early life was shaped by his surroundings and his natural resourcefulness. With a strong curiosity and problem-solving mindset, he quickly stood out in school, excelling in science despite the challenges he faced. His determination and drive for knowledge fueled his academic journey, helping him earn a Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Bangalore University in 2001. Adarsh’s passion for technology took root during his studies, where he immersed himself in programming and system design, always looking for ways to use technology to solve real-world problems. This passion set the foundation for his future career. He began his professional journey at HCL Technologies Ltd, diving into the world of SAP systems. Early on, Adarsh was involved in critical projects like SAP migrations and IT upgrades, honing his skills in precision and planning. His outstanding performance earned him multiple awards, and his reputation as a problem-solver grew. At AMD (through HCL Technologies LTD), Adarsh led the upgrade of SAP systems, transforming legacy systems to modern solutions, earning recognition for his contributions. At Spansion (through HCL Technologies LTD), Adarsh managed a complex SAP upgrade project that was completed ahead of schedule using cutting-edge techniques, solidifying his reputation as a technical leader. His success at Spansion not only earned him praise but also helped HCL Technologies secure additional SAP projects under his leadership. At Coca-Cola Refreshments (through CSC), Adarsh managed a global team, playing a key role in maintaining some of the most complex SAP systems in the world. His most transformative work began in 2014 at CSC, where he led digital transformations, including migrating ERP systems to SAP S/4 HANA with minimal downtime. At American National Insurance Company, Adarsh streamlined HR processes for over 5,000 employees by deploying SAP HR and SuccessFactors. Adarsh’s work continues to impact businesses, enhancing supply chain efficiency and developing innovative database techniques. He believes in continuous learning, earning certifications like SAP Enterprise Architect to stay ahead of industry trends. As a Senior Member of IEEE and an advisory committee member of the Soft Computing Research Society, Adarsh actively mentors future tech professionals. He is passionate about volunteering and is actively involved at FITP (Field Information Technology Program) at the University of Houston, providing semester-long mentorship to IT students, guiding them through their academic and career paths. Mentoring students at “Ohio State University” hackathons have become one of his favorite hobbies, allowing him to inspire and share his expertise. Additionally, he delivers guest lectures on real-world SAP implementation challenges, offering valuable insights and practical knowledge to aspiring IT professionals. He has also published numerous papers on SAP technology, AI and Machine Learning in leading journals, and these works have been widely cited by industry leaders. Throughout his career, Adarsh has received numerous accolades, including a Global Recognition Award for his technological contributions. His story—from his humble beginnings in Haryana to global recognition—serves as a powerful reminder that with determination, any challenge can be overcome. Adarsh’s legacy is not just in the systems he has built, but in the people he has inspired to believe that no dream is too distant to achieve.What does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump?
DETROIT (AP) — For a second time, a Delaware judge has nullified a pay package that Tesla had awarded its CEO, Elon Musk, that once was valued at $56 billion. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * DETROIT (AP) — For a second time, a Delaware judge has nullified a pay package that Tesla had awarded its CEO, Elon Musk, that once was valued at $56 billion. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? DETROIT (AP) — For a second time, a Delaware judge has nullified a pay package that Tesla had awarded its CEO, Elon Musk, that once was valued at $56 billion. On Monday, Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick turned aside a request from Musk’s lawyers to reverse a ruling she announced in January that had thrown out the compensation plan. The judge ruled then that Musk effectively controlled Tesla’s board and had engineered the outsize pay package during sham negotiations. Lawyers for a Tesla shareholder who sued to block the pay package contended that shareholders who had voted for the 10-year plan in 2018 had been given misleading and incomplete information. In their defense, Tesla’s board members asserted that the shareholders who ratified the pay plan a second time in June had done so after receiving full disclosures, thereby curing all the problems the judge had cited in her January ruling. As a result, they argued, Musk deserved the pay package for having raised Tesla’s market value by billions of dollars. McCormick rejected that argument. In her 103-page opinion, she ruled that under Delaware law, Tesla’s lawyers had no grounds to reverse her January ruling “based on evidence they created after trial.” What will Musk and Tesla do now? On Monday night, Tesla posted on X, the social media platform owned by Musk, that the company will appeal. The appeal would be filed with the Delaware Supreme Court, the only state appellate court Tesla can pursue. Experts say a ruling would likely come in less than a year. “The ruling, if not overturned, means that judges and plaintiffs’ lawyers run Delaware companies rather than their rightful owners — the shareholders,” Tesla argued. Later, on X, Musk unleashed a blistering attack on the judge, asserting that McCormick is “a radical far left activist cosplaying as a judge.” What do experts say about the case? Legal authorities generally suggest that McCormick’s ruling was sound and followed the law. Charles Elson, founding director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, said that in his view, McCormick was right to rule that after Tesla lost its case in the original trial, it created improper new evidence by asking shareholders to ratify the pay package a second time. Had she allowed such a claim, he said, it would cause a major shift in Delaware’s laws against conflicts of interest given the unusually close relationship between Musk and Tesla’s board. “Delaware protects investors — that’s what she did,” said Elson, who has followed the court for more than three decades. “Just because you’re a ‘superstar CEO’ doesn’t put you in a separate category.” Elson said he thinks investors would be reluctant to put money into Delaware companies if there were exceptions to the law for “special people.” What will the Delaware Supreme Court do? Elson said that in his opinion, the court is likely to uphold McCormick’s ruling. Can Tesla appeal to federal courts? Experts say no. Rulings on state laws are normally left to state courts. Brian Dunn, program director for the Institute of Compensation Studies at Cornell University, said it’s been his experience that Tesla has no choice but to stay in the Delaware courts for this compensation package. Tesla has moved its legal headquarters to Texas. Does that matter? Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The company could try to reconstitute the pay package and seek approval in Texas, where it may expect more friendlier judges. But Dunn, who has spent 40 years as an executive compensation consultant, said it’s likely that some other shareholder would challenge the award in Texas because it’s excessive compared with other CEOs’ pay plans. “If they just want to turn around and deliver him $56 billion, I can’t believe somebody wouldn’t want to litigate it,” Dunn said. “It’s an unconscionable amount of money.” Would a new pay package be even larger? Almost certainly. Tesla stock is trading at 15 times the exercise price of stock options in the current package in Delaware, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas wrote in a note to investors. Tesla’s share price has doubled in the past six months, Jonas wrote. At Monday’s closing stock price, the Musk package is now worth $101.4 billion, according to Equilar, an executive data firm. And Musk has asked for a subsequent pay package that would give him 25% of Tesla’s voting shares. Musk has said he is uncomfortable moving further into artificial intelligence with the company if he doesn’t have 25% control. He currently holds about 13% of Tesla’s outstanding shares. Advertisement AdvertisementShares of Arc Minerals Limited ( LON:ARCM – Get Free Report ) reached a new 52-week low on Friday . The stock traded as low as GBX 1.05 ($0.01) and last traded at GBX 1.13 ($0.01), with a volume of 17444889 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1.13 ($0.01). Arc Minerals Stock Performance The business’s fifty day simple moving average is GBX 1.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 1.61. The firm has a market capitalization of £16.31 million, a PE ratio of -307.50 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 5.56 and a current ratio of 2.54. About Arc Minerals ( Get Free Report ) Arc Minerals Limited engages in the identification, evaluation, acquisition, and development of mineral properties in Africa. It holds interests in the Zambia copper and cobalt projects; and 72.5% in the Zaco copper project located in Western part of the Zambian copper belt. Arc Minerals Limited is based in Road Town, British Virgin Islands. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Arc Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arc Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .NEW YORK (AP) — In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs — including Apple’s Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said in remarks at Mar-a-Lago . “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech companies and leaders have now poured millions into his inauguration fund, a sharp increase — in most cases — from past pledges to incoming presidents. But what does the tech industry expect to gain out of their renewed relationships with Trump? A clue to what the industry is looking for came just days before the election when Microsoft executives — who’ve largely tried to show a neutral or bipartisan stance — joined with a close Trump ally, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, to publish a blog post outlining their approach to artificial intelligence policy. “Regulation should be implemented only if its benefits outweigh its costs,” said the document signed by Andreessen, his business partner Ben Horowitz, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the company’s president, Brad Smith. They also urged the government to back off on any attempt to strengthen copyright laws that would make it harder for companies to use publicly available data to train their AI systems. And they said, “the government should examine its procurement practices to enable more startups to sell technology to the government.” Trump has pledged to rescind President Joe Biden’s sweeping AI executive order, which sought to protect people’s rights and safety without stifling innovation. He hasn’t specified what he would do in its place, but his campaign said AI development should be “rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Trump’s choice to head the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has spoken openly about the need to boost electricity production to meet increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. “The AI battle affects everything from defense to healthcare to education to productivity as a country,′′ Burgum said on Nov. 15, referring to artificial intelligence. “And the AI that’s coming in the next 18 months is going to be revolutionary. So there’s just a sense of urgency and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration′′ to address it. Demand for data centers ballooned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and local governments are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies. But as data centers begin to consume more resources, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities. “Maybe Big Tech should buy a copy of ‘The Art of The Deal’ to figure out how to best negotiate with this administration,” suggested Paul Swanson, an antitrust attorney for the law firm Holland & Hart. “I won’t be surprised if they find ways to reach some accommodations and we end up seeing more negotiated resolutions and consent decrees.” Although federal regulators began cracking down on Google and Facebook during Trump’s first term as president — and flourished under Biden — most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to business mergers. Google may benefit from Trump’s return after he made comments on the campaign trail suggesting a breakup of the company isn’t in the U.S. national interest, after a judge declared its search engine an illegal monopoly . But recent nominations put forward by his transition team have favored those who have been critical of Big Tech companies, suggesting Google won’t be entirely off the hook. Cook’s notoriously rocky relationship with the EU can be traced back to a 2016 ruling from Brussels in a tax case targeting Apple. Cook slammed the bloc’s order for Apple to pay back up to $13.7 billion in Irish back taxes as “total political crap.” Trump, then in his first term as president, piled on, referring to the European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was spearheading a campaign on special tax deals and a crackdown on Big Tech companies, as the “tax lady” who “really hates the U.S.” Brussels was eventually vindicated after the bloc’s top court rejected Apple’s appeal this year, though it didn’t stop Cook from calling Trump to complain, Trump recounted in a podcast in October. Trump hosted Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly. Neither Apple nor the Trump transition team has commented on the nature of their discussions. Altman , Amazon and Meta all pledged to donate $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which billionaire Bezos owns. Meanwhile, Bezos had criticized some of Trump’s past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. More recently, Bezos has struck a more conciliatory tone. He recently said at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term, while also endorsing president-elect’s plans to cut regulations. The donation from Meta came just weeks after Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president, but voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump in recent months had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. And Altman, who is in a legal dispute with AI rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence in the incoming administration. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits.
Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left in awe as they noticed a touching moment between Dianne Buswell and her partner Chris McCausland during the live show. The duo took to the stage with to perform a Paso Doble to El Gato Montes by Manuel Panella on the latest BBC show. They impressed the judges with their 'telepathy' while dancing. But it was one sweet moment in the routine that caught the eye of viewers at home. They took to social media as they spotted Dianne moving her red skirt out of the way of the floor so the blind comedian didn't slip. One wrote: "Chris McCausland & Dianne Buswell need all our votes tonight, if for nothing else other than when, whilst on the floor Dianne gathered up her skirt so Chris couldn't trip on it! Its the little things." Read more Strictly Come Dancing viewers outraged at Chris McCausland 'disadvantage' as they say 'bad taste' A second wrote: "Can we just talk about how aware Dianne is of Chris... watching her move her dress out the way of him walking around her as she sat on the floor is next level detail! AMAZING!!" A third fan added: "It’s a small thing but i liked how dianne moved away her skirt before doing the floor spin so chris could do it without getting stuck." Head Strictly judge Shirley Ballas was incredibly impressed with Dianne's choreography, telling her: "You young lady, you desevre your own little mirrorball trophy so I'm going to buy you one because I think you are fantastic." Speaking about the dance, she added: "You have telepathy between you when your moving. To me there wasn't a step out of place." Craig Revel Horwood told the duo: "It was wonderful but it lacked the smooth Spanish flare of this dance. I could see you going for it however... the strength of character was there. "That was a really, really solid performance." Strictly Come Dancing's result show airs on BBC One at 7.20pm on Sunday night (November 24).
Two Pennsylvania state lawmakers have unveiled a new plan to legalize recreational marijuana, saying the state is an “outlier” in its continued prohibition of cannabis. Democratic Reps. Rick Krajewski and Dan Frankel, who led several hearings on cannabis reform during the past legislative session, said they plan to introduce legislation to decriminalize cannabis and create a regulated market that focuses on public health, raises revenue for the state and supports those harmed by the criminalization of marijuana. Frankel and Krajewski are distributing a memo seeking cosponsors for the bill planned for the 2025-2025 legislative session, online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment reported on Monday. The memo outlines the rationale for legalizing cannabis in Pennsylvania and highlights key provisions of adult-use cannabis legislation they plan to introduce next year. “As a state that continues to criminalize recreational cannabis, Pennsylvania is now an outlier—24 states have legalized the practice, including 5 of the 6 states that border Pennsylvania,” the legislators wrote in the co-sponsorship memo. “But legal or not, Pennsylvanians are consuming marijuana, whether by visiting our bordering states, buying unregulated hemp loophole products at gas stations and vape shops, or purchasing in the illicit market,” they continued. Two Pennsylvania lawmakers have unveiled a new plan to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. The memo, which invites fellow lawmakers to join Frankel and Krajewski in sponsoring the upcoming bill, maintains that decades of cannabis prohibition have failed to keep Pennsylvanians safe. “Prohibition is a failed policy with significant consequences to our Commonwealth,” the memo reads. “It has ruined lives over minor cannabis offenses, disproportionately impacting Black and Brown communities. Consumption of unregulated and dangerous products has increased. And we are losing millions of public revenue that our communities need.” Save Up To 75% With The Best Black Friday Clothing Deals That Are Still Running 10 Unofficial Hoka Cyber Week Sales You Don’t Want To Miss Lawmakers Held Hearings To Study Cannabis Legalization Efforts Krajewski, who led the House Health Subcommittee on Health Care, chaired five legislative hearings during the last session to weigh the successes and failures of cannabis legalization in other states. “We’ve heard from public health experts. We’ve heard from criminal justice and social equity advocates,” Krajewski said on Monday in a statement about the new bill. We’ve learned directly from states across the country how to get this done safely and efficiently, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in public revenue,” said Krajewski. “It’s time to move forward in Pennsylvania before we fall further behind.” Frankel, the majority chair of the House Health Committee, said marijuana prohibition has been a disaster in Pennsylvania, particularly for communities of color. “We have a moral obligation to not only legalize but also to work to repair the damage caused by decades of marijuana arrests,” Frankel said. “Our bill will deliver a market that protects the public health, benefits our taxpayers and uplifts those communities that were disproportionately harmed by prohibition policies.” Legalization Bill Expunges Past Weed Convictions To address the harms caused by marijuana prohibition, the legislation prioritizes expunging records of past cannabis-related offenses and “restorative justice for those affected by draconian drug policies.” The bill also includes provisions to invest funds raised by cannabis legalization to communities disproportionately harmed by the failed War on Drugs. The bill also prioritizes public protections, including provisions to limit “excessive THC levels.” Additionally, the legislation seeks to establish a Pennsylvania cannabis industry that provides sustainable business opportunities for a local and diverse field of licensed operators. “Prohibition was a reckless and racist policy which deliberately targeted and destroyed Black and Brown communities,” said Krajewski. “As a criminal justice organizer and chair of the Pennsylvania Sentencing Commission, I’m fighting to ensure that we reinvest revenue generated from the cannabis industry into areas most impacted by the War on Drugs and ensure that those who are still dealing with criminal sentences and records are able to finally move on.” In September, a different bipartisan pair of lawmakers introduced a bill to legalize cannabis in Pennsylvania and create a regulated market for adult-use cannabis. The bill was referred to the House health committee but has not been brought up for a vote.NHL fines Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner $2,000 for embellishment