Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More As Amazon takes a major step into the AI space with its new Nova family of foundation models , Google is doubling down on its own multimodal AI capabilities. The tech giant’s cloud division has announced that its latest video and image-generation models, Veo and Imagen 3, are now available on Vertex AI . This move empowers teams to integrate cutting-edge video and image-generation capabilities into their AI workflows, unlocking diverse use cases—especially in marketing and advertising. It also makes Google Cloud the first hyperscaler to offer a video model to its customers. While the Veo model is currently in private preview, Imagen 3 will be generally available to all Vertex AI users starting next week. Notably, Imagen 3 also includes editing features, enabling users to refine generated images to meet specific creative needs. What do Veo and Imagen 3 offer? First unveiled at Google’s I/O developer conference , Veo is Google DeepMind’s response to competitors like Runway’s Gen-3 and OpenAI’s Sora, delivering a sophisticated video-generation experience. The model transforms text or image prompts into cinematic, high-definition videos in various visual styles, generating clips over 60 seconds long. What sets it apart is frame-level consistency, ensuring subjects move seamlessly within shots. Imagen 3, also from DeepMind, takes on the task of text-to-image generation, producing photorealistic visuals in a variety of styles. Google claims it surpasses its predecessors in detail, lighting accuracy and artifact reduction. Beyond generation, users on Google’s allowlist can also access advanced customization options with Imagen 3. These include image upscaling, inpainting, outpainting and background replacement—all guided by text prompts. Additionally, users can provide reference images, enabling Imagen 3 to create content aligned with specific brand aesthetics, logos or product features. Broader implications for industry Vertex AI has long been Google Cloud’s flagship platform for streamlining AI application development and deployment. By integrating Veo and Imagen 3, the platform offers organizations an even more comprehensive suite of tools to innovate in marketing, sales and beyond. Imagen 3, for instance, simplifies the creation of high-quality assets such as product images and social media content, while Veo extends this capability by offering teams an option to convert these visuals into polished videos. The speeds up production, cuts costs, and accelerates prototyping, allowing teams to iterate rapidly on their creative strategies. “Customers like Agoda are using the power of AI models like Veo, Gemini, and Imagen to streamline their video ad production, achieving a significant reduction in production time,” said Warren Barkley, senior director of product management at Google, in a blog post . He also highlighted that both models include safety features like digital watermarking and content moderation guardrails to mitigate risks associated with generative AI. Other early adopters include Mondelez International—owner of brands such as Oreo, Cadbury, and Milka—and global marketing and communications service WPP. As Google’s foundation models expand their reach, businesses across industries have a powerful opportunity to reimagine how they create and deliver visual content. Competition continues to heat up While all major cloud providers, including Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, have been providing image generation models on their respective AI orchestration platforms, video generation has been quite a rarity thus far. Google’s move to launch Veo in private preview today changes that. Interestingly, soon after the Veo announcement, AWS made a splash at re:Invent with the announcement of Nova Reel , a foundation model that generates six-second-long studio-quality videos from text and image prompts. This model, along with others in the Nova family, is set to become available via Amazon Bedrock , the company’s fully managed service designed to simplify the creation and deployment of generative AI applications. Microsoft, on its part, appears to be lagging in this category at this stage. Its AI Foundry does not include models for video generation. However, we expect that to change as soon as OpenAI’s Sora hits the market. Stay in the know! Get the latest news in your inbox daily By subscribing, you agree to VentureBeat's Terms of Service. Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here . An error occured.
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To progress through the main story of Infinity Nikki , you will need to work on upgrading your Stylist Rank. It’s a bit of a process, but there are many things you can do to climb through the ranks of the Stylist’s Guild. Infinity Nikki is all about fashion and playing dress-up at its heart, so it makes sense that one of the main leveling systems revolves around styling outfits. Increasing your Stylist Rank unlocks more of the story for you to explore and offers unique rewards and a whole pile of Diamonds for use in the store. Here’s a complete guide to leveling up your Stylist Rank. How to unlock Stylist Rank in Infinity Nikki Before you can begin actively working on your Stylist Rank, you’ll need to have reached Florawish and registered under the Stylist’s Guild. After this, you’ll unlock the Pear-Pal, which will allow you to check on Courses. Under this menu, you’ll find all of the different objectives and goals that can be completed to upgrade your Stylist Rank. How to upgrade Stylist Rank in Infinity Nikki Upgrading your Stylist Rank is as easy as exploring and playing the game. Progressing through the main story will get you some of the way, but you’ll need to complete separate challenges and objectives to make up the difference. These challenges are as simple as catching various (or specific) fish, grooming animals, unlocking Warp Spires, or collecting a certain number of specific resources. It’s essentially a checklist of things that can be completed passively over time but can also be rushed if you’re trying to speed things along. Pretty early into the game’s main story, you need to upgrade your Stylist Rank to “Skilled Stylist” before you can progress. It’s worth noting that this is time-gated, and you physically cannot reach the “Skilled Stylist” level in a single game of playing. This is due to the Daily Wish system, which only allows you to earn a maximum of 500 stars per day, while you need to reach 500 stars to progress to “Skilled Stylist.” After the daily reset at 4 p.m. in your chosen server’s time zone, you can make more progress. Types of Courses in Infinity Nikki While the Daily Wish feature is a bit of a headache, the progression trackers can be completed as quickly as you like, and progress will accumulate and pass on to the next level increase. To see them, open up the Pear-Pal and select “Courses.” There are a total of five different subcategories of Courses, each of which will require you to complete different objectives: Daily wishes work much in the same way, offering manageable objectives to be completed before the daily reset takes place. These are all relatively easy to manage and worth doing each day, even if you only pick five of them to complete to meet the maximum daily reward of 500 stars.NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to top the all-time high it set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 123 points, or 0.3%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% as Microsoft and Big Tech led the way. Stock markets abroad mostly fell after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China once he takes office. But the movements were mostly modest. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada’s main index edged down by less than 0.1%. Trump has often praised the use of tariffs , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. The consequences otherwise for markets and the global economy could be painful. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. And unlike tariffs in Trump’s first term, his latest proposal would affect products across the board. General Motors sank 9%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.3%. The value of the Mexican peso fell 1.8% against the U.S. dollar. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support for the job market . While lower interest rates can boost the economy, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed’s last meeting earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to minutes of the meeting released Tuesday afternoon. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another mixed set of profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates imposed by the Fed to get inflation under control. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. Kohl’s tumbled 17% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. Best Buy fell 4.9% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. Still, more stocks rose in the S&P 500 than fell. J.M. Smucker had one of the biggest gains and climbed 5.7% after topping analysts’ expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 3.2% for Amazon and 2.2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 34.26 points to 6,021.63. The Dow gained 123.74 to 44,860.31, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 119.46 to 19,174.30. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.29% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after topping $99,000 for the first time late last week. It’s since dipped back toward $91,000, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the bonanza that initially took over the crypto market following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
Jimmy Carter was a presidential paradox – a son of the Deep South devoted to civil rights, a small businessman wary of his party’s labor union base, a devout Baptist abhorred by the rising religious right, a submarine officer who was reluctant to commit American forces in war and a ferocious campaigner who disdained the compromises of governing. He parked politics at the Oval Office door, believing he would be reelected if he did “the right thing,” freeing him to take on challenges other presidents shirked. Congress enacted 70% of his ambitious agenda , a record surpassed only slightly by the fabled President Lyndon Johnson. Carter, who died Sunday at age 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia, was our most accomplished one-term modern president, whose enduring achievements were eclipsed by inflation, Iran, inexperience and interparty warfare. The energy security America enjoys rests on the foundation of his three comprehensive energy bills , ending price controls on domestic production of oil and natural gas, focusing on conservation, and inaugurating the era of wind and solar energy. Average Americans benefited from the consumer advocates he placed in regulatory agencies, along with legislation that opened up transportation to competition, from trucking to railroads to airlines, making air travel affordable for the middle class and clearing the way for new carriers like Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways. He even removed Prohibition-era regulations that had blocked the rise of the local craft beer industry and began telecommunications deregulation that ushered in the cable era. Jimmy Carter's extraordinary life: Imperfect in office to consequential former president Jimmy Carter was a clean energy pioneer Carter was the greatest environmental president since Theodore Roosevelt, doubling the size of the national park system through the Alaska Lands Act. With typical attention to detail, he spread a map of Alaska on the Oval Office rug and on his hands and knees persuaded Alaska’s senior Republican senator to accept setting aside over 157 million acres for protection against development. In ethically challenged Washington, Carter's campaign pledges – “ I will never lie to you ” and seeking a government “ as good " as the American people – were translated into lasting reforms: the 1977 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act , prohibiting companies from paying bribes to foreign officials to get business; the 1978 Inspector General Act , creating independent inspectors general to root out fraud and abuse in federal agencies; and the 1978 Ethics in Government Act , requiring senior officials to disclose their assets, restrict gifts and limit post-employment lobbying, and authorizing the appointment of special prosecutors to investigate wrongdoing – the precursor to special counsel Robert Mueller and his Russia investigation during the Trump presidency. With Walter Mondale, Carter created the modern vice presidency, making his running mate a full partner in government with a West Wing office and access to all classified papers. He appointed more women and minorities to judgeships and senior posts than all the previous 38 presidents together, and he supported affirmative action , angering his conservative Southern base. Carter's domestic Achilles' heel was also his finest hour: tackling a decade of runaway inflation impervious to traditional remedies. Inflation was high during the Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford presidencies and rose further under Carter, with the oil shock and gas lines from the radical Iranian revolution. First lady Rosalynn Carter: From mental health to Camp David to the campaign trail, she made her mark He told us that every measure he tried had failed, and that even if it doomed his reelection he would choose Paul Volcker to chair the Federal Reserve, knowing full well it would mean tight money and sky-high interest rates that his advisers, including me, warned would be political poison. Carter never complained. Volcker’s prescription worked – not in time to earn him a second term, but it laid the foundation for the low inflation we enjoy today, even with the temporary spike from the pandemic recovery. Stronger America at home and abroad In foreign policy, Carter's most lasting success was the greatest feat of personal presidential diplomacy in American history. Deliberately isolated at Camp David for 13 agonizing days in September 1978 with the mutually distrustful Menachem Begin of Israel and Anwar Sadat of Egypt, Carter crafted more than 20 successive draft agreements seeking common ground. With all participants exhausted, Begin was ready to go home. Carter applied a personal touch by inscribing photographs of the three leaders to Begin’s eight grandchildren . The Israeli prime minister’s eyes teared, he relented and the rest is history: For more than four decades, the peace treaty Carter negotiated between Egypt and Israel has been central to Israel’s security and to America’s national interest. A lion at dusk: Jimmy Carter's greatest accomplishments have been in health and welfare Carter made human rights a central tenet and applied those principles to the Latin American dictatorships, creating a new era in hemispheric relations along with the Panama Canal Treaty. With the Soviet Union, he combined soft and hard power: championing human rights for Soviet Jews and others, increasing defense spending, greenlighting military modernization programs (that President Ronald Reagan later built upon) and taking a tough stand on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan . It was confrontation with the Iranian revolution, a conundrum no president has resolved, that brought down Carter. He supported our ally, the shah of Iran, to the bitter end, and urged the shah's army to stand up to the Islamic regime that followed. Carter was the last holdout, and after he agreed to let the shah enter the United States for cancer treatment, radical students took American diplomats hostage in our Tehran embassy. Carter mistakenly promised their families he would put their safety first, giving the Iranians leverage, and refused to blockade Iran’s oil export ports. He holed himself up in the White House to concentrate on their release, keeping the humiliating story on television for 444 nights . The crowning blow was a bold but unsuccessful rescue mission doomed by too few helicopters, unexpected sandstorms, and the failure of our four military services to coordinate the complex mission. But as commander in chief, he took sole responsibility. David Jones, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time, recounted to me in an interview for my book what Carter had told him: If the mission succeeded, it would be their success; if it failed, it would be on his shoulders. Carter’s enemies dismissed him as ineffectual, and former President Donald Trump called his accomplishments "peanuts," but they were wrong. Jimmy Carter does not deserve a place on Mount Rushmore with our greatest presidents, but he belongs in the foothills with others who strengthened our country and its place in the world. His vice president, Walter Mondale, put it succinctly in words now etched on the Carter Presidential Library : “We told the truth, we obeyed the law, we kept the peace.” Stuart E. Eizenstat was chief White House domestic policy adviser to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981 and held several senior positions in the Clinton administration from 1993 to 2001, including U.S. ambassador to the European Union, undersecretary of Commerce, undersecretary of State and deputy secretary of the Treasury. He is the author of " President Carter: The White House Years ."Mikel Arteta has cast doubt over the fitness of Gabriel after revealing that he was forced to take off the Arsenal defender against Sporting CP. The Brazilian centre-back was substituted with six minutes left of Tuesday night’s statement 5-1 victory in the Champions League , where he headed in the third goal on the stroke of half-time in Lisbon. Arteta had been about to bring on Raheem Sterling for the final stages of the game at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, but instead Jakub Kiwior was sent on in place of Gabriel. “We don’t know [if he is okay], because he said that he was feeling some discomfort,” said Arteta of Gabriel afterwards. “I was about to make the change of Raz (Sterling), poor thing, but I couldn’t make the sub - and we had to get him (Gabriel) out.” Arsenal, who are next in action on Saturday when they travel to face London rivals West Ham in the Premier League, will hope that Gabriel has not suffered an injury as it would take the gloss off a fine win in Lisbon. The Gunners put in a brilliant performance against Sporting and scored five goals away from home in the Champions League for the first time since 2008. “I am very happy,” said Arteta. “It is a big result against a big opponent. We wanted to make that statement. “I felt really good energy and belief before the match. The first half was exceptional, you have to put it into practice. We were really clever, really intelligent and really efficient, the way we attacked them. “After we conceded, we showed a lot of personality to bring the game back and then we scored the fourth goal and that’s when the game changed again. “You have to enjoy [it]. When you play in this competition against these teams, you have to enjoy it. What I loved about this team is the way that they flowed. “They played with purpose. If you want to be challenging for big trophies, you have to be consistent.”Three priests suspended over report that felled Justin Welby
The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.They were all exceptional – Mikel Arteta loved seeing Arsenal run riot in LisbonWords on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on the ammunition used to kill UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That's according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. The words are similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend.” That's how attorneys describe insurers denying services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the words. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. Bitcoin has surpassed the $100,000 mark as the post-election rally continues. What's next? NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin has topped the $100,000 mark, extending a rally in the world’s most popular cryptocurrency sparked by the election of Donald Trump. The milestone comes just hours after the president-elect signaled a lighter regulatory approach to the crypto industry with his choice of crypto advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin has soared to unprecedented heights since Trump won the election Nov. 5. The cryptocurrency has climbed dramatically from $69,374 on Election Day and rose to more than $103,000 before falling back below $100,000 by Thursday afternoon. US judge rejects Boeing's plea deal in a conspiracy case stemming from fatal plane crashes DALLAS (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a deal that would have allowed Boeing to plead guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and pay a fine for misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max jetliner before two of the planes crashed, killing 346 people. The ruling on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Texas creates uncertainty around the criminal prosecution of the aerospace giant in connection with the development of its bestselling airline plane. O’Connor’s decision was almost certain to please many relatives of the passengers who died in the crashes, which took place off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia less than five months apart. McKinsey subsidiary will pay $122M for scheme to bribe South African officials, US says WASHINGTON (AP) — An African subsidiary of the consulting firm McKinsey & Company Inc. will pay a criminal penalty of more than $122 million to resolve a U.S. Justice Department investigation into a yearslong scheme to bribe South African government officials. The Justice Department says the scheme involved bribes to officials with South Africa’s state-owned and state-controlled custodian of ports, rails, and pipelines, as well as its state-controlled energy company. It netted McKinsey Africa and its parent company $85 million in profits between 2012 and 2016, officials said. McKinsey said in a statement that it “welcomes the resolution of these matters and the closure of this regretful situation.” EPA hails 'revitalized' enforcement efforts as Biden administration heads to exit WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency says it concluded more than 1,850 civil cases this year, a 3.4% increase over 2023, and charged 121 criminal defendants, a 17.6% increase over the previous year. The agency also issued $1.7 billion in financial penalties, more than double last year's total. Thursday's report was the final one account of Biden-era enforcement actions before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Enforcement efforts included first-ever criminal charges for a California man accused of smuggling climate-damaging air coolants into the United States. Engine maker Cummins Inc. paid more than $2 billion in fines and penalties after it was found to use illegal software to skirt diesel emissions tests. Work-life balance isn't working for women. Why? NEW YORK (AP) — About half of working women reported feeling stressed “a lot of the day,” compared to about 4 in 10 men, according to a Gallup report published Wednesday. The report suggests that competing demands of work and home comprise part of the problem: working women who are parents or guardians are more likely than men who are parents to say they have declined or delayed a promotion at work because of personal or family obligations, and mothers are more likely than fathers to “strongly agree” that they are the default responders for unexpected child care issues. But changing workplace culture and prioritizing well-being can improve the problem, according to Karen Guggenheim, creator of the World Happiness Summit. From outsider to the Oval Office, bitcoin surges as a new administration embraces crypto NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin burst on the scene after trust had withered in the financial system and Washington’s ability to protect people from it. Now, it’s Washington’s embrace of bitcoin that’s sending it to records. Bitcoin briefly surged above $103,000 after President-elect Donald Trump said he will nominate Paul Atkins, who's seen as friendly to crypto, to be the Securities and Exchange Commission's next chair. The crypto industry, meanwhile, did its part to bring politicians friendly to digital currencies into Washington. It's a twist from bitcoin's early days, when it was lauded as a kind of electronic cash that wouldn’t be beholden to any government or financial institution. Stock market today: Wall Street edges back from its records as bitcoin briefly pops above $100,000 NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks edged back from their records as Wall Street counted down to a big jobs report that’s coming on Friday. The S&P 500 fell 0.2% Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.2% from its own all-time high. The crypto market had more action, and bitcoin briefly burst to a record above $103,000 before falling back toward $99,000. It's climbed dramatically since Election Day on hopes President-elect Donald Trump will be more friendly to crypto. Airline stocks were strong, while Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Key members of OPEC+ alliance are putting off production increases amid slack crude prices FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Eight members of the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries have decided to put off increasing oil production as they face weaker than expected demand and competing production from non-allied countries — factors that could keep oil prices stagnant into next year. The OPEC+ members decided at an online meeting to postpone by three months production increases that had been scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The plan had been to start gradually restoring 2.2 million barrels per day over the course of 2025. That process will now be pushed back to April 1, 2025 and production increases will gradually take place over 18 months until October 2026. Fox News loses bid for Smartmatic voting-tech company's records about Philippines bribery case NEW YORK (AP) — Smartmatic does not need to give Fox News any information about U.S. federal charges against the voting machine company’s co-founder over alleged bribery in the Philippines. A New York judge on Thursday also turned down Smartmatic’s request to question two Fox Corp. board members. It already has questioned others. Smartmatic is suing Fox News for $2.7 billion. The election-technology company says its business was gutted when Fox aired false claims that Smartmatic helped rig the 2020 vote. Fox says it was just reporting on newsworthy allegations. Fox maintains the Philippines bribery allegations are pertinent to Smartmatic’s business prospects and claims of losses. Florida-based Smartmatic isn’t charged in the criminal case and says it's irrelevant in the defamation suit.
Voyagers Ready to Go Dark
Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) quarterback Kenny Pickett played through broken ribs in Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys (7-9), per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk . Pickett came into Sunday’s game nursing a rib injury, the full extent unknown. Florio’s report confirms what Eagles cornerback Darius Slay said after the game — that Pickett indeed played through broken ribs in the 41-7 victory. Florio added in his report that Pickett received two painkilling injections — one before kickoff and one at halftime. Pickett started the game in place of Jalen Hurts , who remains in concussion protocol retroactive to last Sunday’s loss to the Washington Commanders (10-5). Pickett went 10-of-15 for 143 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game in the third quarter after taking a hit to the body from Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons . Kenny Pickett took a shot from Micah Parsons here and had to come out of the game. He has a pre-existing rib injury and is wearing a flak jacket today. pic.twitter.com/L7ZWCU5bCI “I’m good,” Pickett said after the game. “I’ll be all right.” Kenny Pickett delivers in place of Jalen Hurts vs. Cowboys The offense didn’t skip a beat after Tanner McKee replaced Pickett under center. McKee completed 3-of-4 passes for 54 yards and two scores as Philadelphia made it look easy against the Cowboys’ defense. “It was awesome, so happy for Tanner,” Pickett said, via the team’s official website . “He’s a great guy. Being in the quarterback room you spend so much time together. We watch a lot of tape together on the opponent for whatever week it is and in the meetings and on the practice field. So happy for him and a special day for everyone in the locker room.” Both Pickett and McKee did their job, and now Philadelphia has the option of resting its starters in Week 18 as NFC East champions. “Coming to a team like this was awesome,” Pickett said. “It reminds me of a college feel how much each guy cares for each other. We’re all pulling for each other, and we all leave it all out there and that’s all you can ask for. “And then you add the talent and that’s what makes it a really special group. It’s been a lot of fun to be here. Don’t want the ride to end so, we’re going to keep working.” This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.
OTTAWA—When U.S. president-elect Donald Trump rattled global markets with a new threat of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian and Mexican products and additional tariffs on China, it jolted the Canadian dollar and nerves at all government levels, led to predictions of a recession in 2025, and kicked off bitter partisan shots on Parliament Hill. The early days of a new Trump era suddenly look a lot like the old days, only worse. The Liberal government did not rule out retaliation — possibly a tariff war — if Trump goes ahead with his threat, just as Ottawa reciprocal dollar-for-dollar tariffs against the U.S. in 2018 during the bitter NAFTA renegotiation talks — a trade counter-punch that Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday worked. Freeland, the deputy prime minister and finance minister, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, and other cabinet ministers said Canada “shares” Trump’s concerns about border security and is intent on beefing it up where necessary, but insisted the overall Canada-U.S. relationship is “balanced and mutually beneficial.” “The fact is, we need them and they also need us,” Freeland told reporters. She pointed to Canadian exports of oil, hydroelectricity, critical minerals and metals the U.S. relies on, all of which could face a sudden 25 per cent price hike for American consumers and businesses. Some economists suggested Canadian oil exports could eventually find new markets, but automotive, manufacturing, and other business leaders said Tuesday a 25 per cent surcharge would be devastating for most other Canadian export sectors. University of Calgary Prof. Trevor Tombe updated a he wrote for the Chamber of Commerce with a more dire prediction on “X” that 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs would hammer the Canadian economy, cause a recession, and lead to a loss of $2,000 in real annual income for people. For months, the Trudeau government has told Canadians it was getting ready for the prospect of an incoming Trump administration. It knew he’d campaigned on a 10 per cent tariff on all on global imports. It was braced for surprises. Yet on Monday night, Trump’s vow to exact a “big price” on Canada and Mexico and his lumping of Canada together with Mexico as a source of fentanyl and illegal immigration to the U.S. still landed like a bombshell, sources admitted. Trump, in his on his Truth Social platform, claimed “thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing crime and drugs at levels never seen before.” On his first day in office, he now says he would levy and keep a 25 per cent tariff in place “until such time as drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country!” Trump’s aggressive move sent the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso into a fall in overnight markets. Premier , who chairs the Council of the Federation, said it was “unfair” and “insulting” for Trump to compare Canada to Mexico. “It’s like a family member stabbing you right in the heart.” Asked if Canada should respond in kind if Trump slaps a 25 per cent tariff on goods shipped into the U.S., Ford said: “Hopefully we won’t come to that. But if it does, there is no choice. We have to retaliate.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau immediately called Trump’s team Monday night, but the call resulted in no pullback by Trump, or dialing down of the threat. Trudeau told the Commons they talked about “how important it was for us to work together to solve some of the challenges we are facing as a continent and as countries, but also work to grow our economy and protect our workers on both sides of the border.” The prime minister essentially argued Canada is not the same problem Mexico is — rather it’s a solution to American concerns about border integrity. A senior government official told the Star the call lasted about 10 minutes, with the first few minutes spent on niceties and catching up, and was not confrontational. Still, at the end of it, Trudeau and his inner circle recognized Trump’s threat must be taken seriously, that Trump has set a deadline at his swearing-in date, and so the government must spend the next two months to avoid that. The sense of urgency pervaded Parliament Hill Tuesday. The Commons was to hold an emergency debate Tuesday night, and said he has convened a first ministers’ meeting Wednesday night, at 5 p.m. to hash out how to handle the incoming , and the potential crisis posed by his . It remains unclear if Trump is staking out a tough initial negotiating position, or trying to scare foreign investment capital away from Canada and Mexico. The renegotiated North American trade pact is up for review in 2026 and Trump has boasted since his re-election that he fixed it in his first term. Known here as the Canada-U.S.-Mexican-Agreement or CUSMA, that deal protects duty-free trade among the three countries, and mostly prevents the use of tariffs on each other. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said a tariff war would put “our common businesses at risk,” Associated Press reported. “It is unacceptable and would cause inflation and job losses in Mexico and the United States,” Sheinbaum said. Inside and outside the Commons, the prime minister issued a call for Canadian political leaders to set partisanship aside and show a united front in a “Team Canada approach” to Trump. However, Trudeau’s call didn’t bridge the deep partisan divide on Parliament Hill. Outside the Commons, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Trudeau and Freeland were surprised by Trump’s threat because they are “weak,” and that “if necessary” he would be willing to retaliate against any Trump tariffs, although he did not specify in what manner . Inside the chamber, Poilievre erroneously said Trump made the threat after Trudeau had called him, lambasting Trudeau for having no real plan other than a “Zoom call.” “Where is the plan to stop the drugs and keep our border open to trade?” Poilievre demanded. Trudeau retorted Poilievre “is just making stuff up” — Trump’s threat preceded and prompted their call — and resorting to slogans and fear-mongering. “We are going to continue to work constructively with the incoming administration to protect Canadian jobs, to protect Canadian growth and to take the responsible approach that is not steeped in partisanship,” the prime minister said. New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh said, “The only thing a bully responds to is strength. Where is our plan to fight back? Where is the war room? Where is a concrete plan to bring our issue before CUSMA? Why is the prime minister not fighting like hell for Canadian jobs?” Trudeau said the “idea of going to war with the United States” is not what anybody wants, and his government would not react by “freaking out the way the leader of the NDP seems to be.” Two premiers — Alberta’s Danielle Smith and Quebec’s François Legault — backed Trump, with Smith posting that he “has valid concerns related to illegal activities at our shared border.” “I think that the concerns expressed by Donald Trump are legitimate,” said Legault, speaking in Quebec City. “I understand that the problem is far worse on the Mexican border, but the fact remains that when you look at what’s happening on the Canadian border, especially in recent years, there’s been a significant increase in the number of illegal immigrants going through Canada to arrive in the United States. So Mr. Trudeau, more than ever, now must present a plan, a plan to properly protect the border on both sides.” NDP Premier Wab Kinew of Manitoba said Canada could more quickly invest in defence and border security to allay Trump’s concerns.To drill or not to drill
Listen, I know is ~technically~ supposed to be all about for your loved ones or splurging on a spendy appliance while it's at its lowest price of the year. But hear me out: with earlier sunsets and frigid AF weather, now is the perfect time to make some , too. And considering that so many of ? Yeah, I rest my case. The race is officially on to find all the happening now—and our editors are working overtime (no, literally) to bring you all the latest and greatest finds. Right now, days before Black Friday, DTC darlings like and , not to mention mega-retailers like and , have major clothing discounts for the taking, . Related Stories As one of our editors' absolute , Abercrombie is always when it comes to Black Friday shopping. From November 27 through December 1, shoppers can take 25% off sitewide, plus an But if you're a myAF Member (it's free to ), you can start shopping deals now. There's nothing worse than getting a brand-new pair of shoes, only for them to be SO painful to walk in. That's why I love ALDO's selection of loafers, heels, boots, and more—they're outfitted with special "Pillow Walk" insoles that makes them actually comfortable. Bonus: you can shop (plus free shipping!) this Black Friday. The iconic athleisure brand known for its whisper-soft sweat sets and stylish workout sets is currently offering — —for Black Friday. Naturally, the most sought-after deals are selling out fast, but I managed to find a few pieces in stock in most sizes—like a pair of high-waisted leggings and a major faux leather puffer. When it comes to variety, few retailers are doing it quite like Amazon. There are literally of Black Friday fashion steals happening during Amazon's Black Friday sale (which runs ), including deep discounts on Levi's denim and platform suede slippers. And did I mention free two-day shipping for Prime members? This Black Friday, Anthropologie is giving shoppers an . I'm partial to the brand's impressive array of funky statement jewelry, but I also spotted deals on cold-weather essentials like snuggly sweaters and holiday party dresses. PSA: I found during the brand's Black Friday sale. You can also on over 1,000 styles, from luxe cashmere-wool coats to sleek bodysuits. When your office outfits need a lil' refresh (AKA always), check out Banana Republic Factory's Black Friday sale. The brand is offering . And if you have a Gap Inc. credit cart, the sales get even steeper, with an extra 30% discount stacked on top. Score designer at a discount thanks to Bloomingdale's Black Friday sale, which is offering an extra . Below, I've highlighted some of my top budget-friendly picks including studded Sam Edelman flats and a cozy sweater in 100% cotton. Just in time for holiday gifting szn, —I'm talking everything from trendy shoulder bags to classic totes and small leather goods like wallets and card cases. If you need me, I'll be upgrading my loungewear collection with all things soft and snuggly from Cozy Earth this winter. Right now, the brand is offering (plus free shipping over $50) for Black Friday, including a pair of pajamas that made —score! Step up your shoe game with Dolce Vita's 6 Days of Dolce, featuring discounts of . Plus, take during the brand's Black Friday sale . At DSW, save like Nike and Reebok during the brand's early Black Friday sale. What's more, I found deals of up to , including the viral Mini Bootie. Add code at checkout for an extra 30% off select items. Stars like Sofia Richie, Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner, and Meghan Markle have all been spotted in Eberjey's stylish pajamas. Save on celeb-loved sleepwear (and a bathrobe from Oprah's Favorite Things list) from November 24 through December 2 with code . Everlane is one of the best places to shop for for high-quality basics, and you can save during the brand's current Black Friday sale, which runs through November 27. But if you wait to shop until November 28, the discounts get even steeper, at up to 70% off—that is, if these best-selling pieces are still in stock. at Franco Sarto's Black Friday sale. The brand is slashing prices on everything from slingbacks to sandals, but I'm partial to the gorgeous selection of leather boots. Halara's trendy and affordable activewear has been all over my TikTok feed lately, in no small part due to Taylor Swift wearing the brand's pleated buckle skirt at Coachella this year. Now, you can —yes, including the famous skirt—at Halara's Black Friday sale. Editor-loved activewear brand Lululemon is still being hush-hush about , but I dug through the We Made Too Much section to bring you the very best pieces, like and the ever-popular Everywhere Belt Bag. Save on everything from essential denim to gift-worthy leather bags at Madewell's Black Friday sale. The brand is currently giving shoppers —that includes sale items, which means you can stack discounts for maximum savings. Mango is kicking off the Black Friday savings with up to including workwear, coats, accessories and more. Plus, get free shipping on orders of $220 or more. The brand behind some of , Mazin Jewels, is hosting a Black Friday sale. on all kinds of stunning baubles. Once the sale begins, all of these Blondie-approved pieces will all be available for under $50(!). Spoil yourself (and your loved ones) with fine jewelry from Mejuri. The brand's Black Friday sale is offering —just create a free Mejuri account to enjoy these discounts. Beginning November 29 and running through December 2, shop almost . That includes statement jewelry, stacking necklaces, earrings, and more. I keep finding sooo many of my favorite trends at Mint Velvet, from eye-catching holiday outfits to quality wardrobe staples. From November 27 to December 2, you can , so you can thank me later when your new wardrobe gets you tons of compliments. TBH, *so* many of our editors love Negative Underwear's ridiculously soft loungewear sets—which is why we were stoked to find out that the brand's Black Friday sale . Shop between November 28 and December 2 to save. Nordstrom has thousands of Black Friday deals to choose from at . I even spotted rare markdowns on coveted pieces, like a pair of Hoka Bondi 8s and the TikTok-viral SKIMS bodysuit. "Thanks, I got it on sale"—you, after shopping Reformation's Black Friday deals. Save 25% sitewide through midnight on December 2—and yes, that includes celeb favorites like Zendaya's cashmere sweater, and Kendall Jenner's mini skirt. From wedding guest dresses to trendy going-out tops, Revolve is my #1 . And although the retailer hasn't dropped any Black Friday deals (yet!), I found some fun finds in its clearance section. During Saks Off 5th's Holiday sale, you can like coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and sweaters when you use the code at checkout. Complete your new outfit with a pair of ultra-strong Sheertex tights, on sale now for Black Friday. You from simple sheers to playful polka dots, plus enjoy free shipping on your order. Ahead of SKIMS' official Black Friday offering, I spotted lots of lingerie and loungewear at a major discount in the brand's sale section. Save . I know Spanx is famous for its shapewear, but the brand has tons of clothing options that are perfect for the office. Before Spanx drops its official Black Friday deals, shop these . Spendier items like designer boots are one of the best things to shop during Black Friday, so I highly recommend checking out Stuart Weitzman's outlet to —just use the code at checkout . Snag at Sunglass Hut's Black Friday sale—including top brands like Versace, Ray Ban, and Burberry. From November 22 through November 28, Uniqlo is offering , like down parkas for under $100 and layering essentials starting at $15. Don't sleep on Walmart's fashion department. The mega-retailer has sooo many affordable (and adorable) finds on sale. From November 25 through December 1, you can at Walmart's Black Friday sale. at Zappos' Black Friday sale, plus apparel and outerwear. IMO, the best deal is on the ultra-popular Hoka Clifton 9 sneakers, since they almost never go on sale. Related Stories Lauren Gruber is an associate commerce editor at Hearst Magazines, where she writes for publications like , , , , , and more. She has over four years of professional experience covering a variety of lifestyle topics from home to fashion, with an advanced background in beauty and fragrance. When she’s not researching the most worthy Prime Day deals or hands-on testing all the latest perfume launches, Lauren is probably hanging out with her cat Serafina or flexing her AMC A-List membership at the movie theater. You can find her previous work at , , , , , and .
Jimmy Carter, the 39th president and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, has died at 100
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration has launched its own news service, with city employees producing a “news magazine” on the city’s . Segments of “City News” will highlight New Orleans’ “rich culture, diverse communities, and untold stories,” the administration said in a news release. “City News is designed to meet the community where they are,” Deputy Press Secretary Kourtney Williams said in the release. “The ongoing mission is to connect with the people of New Orleans.” A city spokesperson did not respond to questions about the new outlet, which is expected to cover “news, in-depth features and inspiring stories” in New Orleans. Details were not released about whether Cantrell will participate in its coverage, how much it will cost or how it will be funded. Williams will co-host the program with Raven Frederick, a digital communications director on Cantrell’s staff. Steven Martinez, a multimedia manager for the city, will work on production. The release also named three producers. It was unclear if they were already city employees. Cantrell for months has avoided attention from traditional media outlets amid a federal investigation and political challenges from the City Council. She in April, which her team said would “bridge the gap” between New Orleans residents and their local officials, . The podcast has released just two , the newspaper said. The Associated Press
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that the weakness of the opposition political parties is a threat to the country’s democracy and the welfare of citizens. The ADC National Chairman, Okey Nwosu, stated this on Thursday at the launch of the Digital Political Academy at ADC Global Campus, Abuja. Nwosu urged the opposition to brace up in the interest of citizens, who are going through different kinds of hardship in the country. According to him, “The state of the nation, worsening economy, and security situation under the APC should challenge all opposition parties. The signals from the Edo and Ondo elections and the human rights abuses show the weakness of the opposition. “The weakness of the opposition threatens our democracy, the nation, and exposes our citizens to great harm. For the many families who cannot feed and are poverty-ravaged, for our unemployed graduates, the opposition must stand up to be counted. “Our party, ADC, and the PRP are committed to building a virile opposition and are standing firm together on justice. We must not allow the chaos to override our stellar character as a transformative, innovative, and value-driven political party.” The ADC chairman, while condemning the arrest of rights activist Dele Farotimi, called for his immediate release. “I am sure you are aware of the arrest of Dele Farotimi. I call on the federal authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of this honourable gentleman. We call for his immediate release and also ask the authorities to call their operatives to order. Institutions are being desecrated; citizens’ rights are being trampled upon. All this must stop,” Nwosu stated.The conference voted 60 per cent to 40 per cent to reject the motion. Speaking after the count, Deputy Mayor Doug Eaton said it looked like the Labor Party delegates had decided to support the State Labor Minister. Councillor Belinda Neal said all Central Coast councillors were disappointed that the Local Government Conference did not support the motion requesting the withdrawal of the PIO. Eaton had addressed the conference, saying the PIOs imposed on councils coming out of administration could be the thin edge of the wedge. “If they do it to councillors coming out of administration who have done nothing wrong in terms of those who have been elected – they could do it to any council in NSW,” Eaton said. He explained the PIO effectively tied the hands of the councillors for 12 months and stopped council from doing things such as sacking the general manager or changing the priorities of the budget. But two speakers stood to oppose the motion. Councillor Susan McMichael from Armidale Regional Council (ARC) said PIOs were individual for councils and important for governance. As a councillor who was part of a PIO, McMichael said she was firmly against the motion. “Having the Performance Improvement Order at Council assisted us as councillors and staff to turn around what was a difficult and poor council, to one which has done great things,” McMichael said. It was her opinion the PIO was helpful for the staff, councillors and the community and allowed everyone to see what had been achieved, and what still needed doing. Councillor David Roenfeldt from Lane Cove Council said accountability did not cease when a council returned from administration. “In fact all councils should subscribe to a philosophy of continual improvement,” Roenfeldt said. “Performance Improvement Orders are issued either to encourage a council to lift their game if they are on a path of decline or to ensure that the recovery trajectory set by an administrator continues on that path until the completion of recovery. “The election of a new council upon having come out of administration is no justification to ditch the roadmap to recovery.’’ He said the PIOs would ensure the recovery continued. “It is in the best interests of councils hit with Performance Improvement Orders to earn their way out of it rather than expect a free lunch,” Roenfeldt said. “Should a newly elected council prove to the Minister that a Performance Improvement Order is no longer needed then they can be proud that their hard work earned them the recovery turnaround and the lifting of such an order.” Councillor Vincent De Luca from Northern Beaches Council spoke in support of the motion as did another NSW councillor who said the Central Coast councillors had been made scapegoats. With two speakers for the motion and two against, the vote was then taken with electronic counters showing that 60 per cent voted down the motion with 40 per cent in support. The motion asked that Local Government NSW call for the Minister of Local Government to withdraw Performance Improvement Orders imposed on councils coming out of administration as a matter of urgency and to restore local democracy to those councils. On September 19, only days after the council elections were held, Local Government Minister Ron Hoeing formally served Central Coast Council with a PIO. Under the PIO, Council is required to obtain concurrence of the Office of Local Government (OLG) to make major staffing decisions, such as the termination of the General Manager, the restructure of the organisation, or budget allocations. Council also has to meet additional governance requirements, including obtaining OLG concurrence before amending its councillor and staff interaction policy, and developing a councillor request system that prevents disrespectful or excessive use. It has to engage with Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee before any significant changes to Council’s priorities are adopted. It has to ensure councillor briefings are open to the public unless there are grounds under the Act to exclude members of the public, such as to consider information that should not be made public. Council is required to provide a quarterly compliance report to the OLG, including a quarterly business reporting statement, use of the councillor request system and any determinations of acts of disorder made at a council meeting. Two other councils coming out of administration, Wingecarribee Shire Council and Balranald Shire Council, were also issued with similar PIOs. “These orders are an unfair impost on the newly elected councils who played no part in the financial problems that caused the dismissal of the previous council,” Eaton said.
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