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AFP – Spain’s economy grew 0.8 per cent in the third quarter as domestic consumption and exports increased, reinforcing a buoyant performance comfortably outstripping the European Union (EU) average, official data showed yesterday. Household spending in the EU’s fourth-largest economy jumped 1.2 per cent between July and September while exports rose 0.4 per cent, the National Statistics Institute said, confirming a provisional estimate from October. The agriculture and service sectors expanded strongly during the period, which coincided with the crucial summer tourism season in the world’s second most-visited country. The bullish economy has provided political capital to the often beleaguered minority left-wing government, which has set a growth target of 2.7 per cent for 2024. Earlier this month, the Bank of Spain raised its annual growth forecast to 3.1 per cent, well above the eurozone figure of 0.8 per cent predicted by the European Central Bank.

TORONTO (AP) — Embattled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not expected to announce a decision on his future over the Christmas holidays, a person familiar with the matter said Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The prime minister will be traveling to British Columbia with his family from Dec. 26 to Jan. 2. Concerns about Trudeau’s leadership were exacerbated last week when Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau’s finance minister and deputy prime minister, abruptly resigned from the Cabinet after she was told she would no longer be finance minister. A growing number of Liberal Members of Parliament want Trudeau to step aside fearing the party is headed for an historic defeat. It remains an open question whether Trudeau will lead the Liberal party into next year’s elections. Parliament is now shut for the holidays until late next month. The leftist New Democratic Party said Friday it would vote “no confidence” after lawmakers reconvene on Jan. 27. When Trudeau returns from the holidays he could move to suspend Parliament for months while a party leadership race is held. Or he could delay an opposition day when a “no confidence vote” could be scheduled in Parliament. RELATED COVERAGE Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal Takeaways from Trump’s 1st rally speech as president-elect German Christmas market ramming is the latest attack to use vehicles as deadly weapons Because Trudeau’s Liberals do not hold an outright majority in Parliament, they have for years depended on the support of the NDP to pass legislation and stay in power. But that support has vanished — NDP leader Jagmeet Singh made clear Friday the NDP will vote to bring down the government. Trudeau, who has led the country for nearly a decade, has become widely unpopular in recent years over a wide range of issues , including the high cost of living and rising inflation. There is no mechanism for Trudeau’s party to force him out in the short term. He could say he will step aside when a new party leader is chosen, or his Liberal party could be forced from power by a “no confidence” vote in Parliament that would trigger an election that would very likely favor the opposing Conservative Party. The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian products if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the United States — even though far fewer of each cross into the U.S. from Canada than from Mexico. Trudeau has not addressed his future or taken questions from the media since his finance minister resigned. But he has said his government is preparing for Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Trudeau is scheduled to participate virtually in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations on Monday.PHILADELPHIA and PERTH, Australia , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadium Lithium plc (NYSE: ALTM, ASX: LTM, "Arcadium Lithium"), a leading global lithium chemicals producer, today announced that it has obtained all requisite shareholder approvals in connection with the proposed acquisition by Rio Tinto previously announced on October 9 , 2024. "Today's vote of support by our shareholders confirms our shared belief that with Rio Tinto, we will be a stronger global leader in lithium chemicals production. Together, we enhance our capabilities to successfully develop and operate our assets while supporting the clean energy transition. We are confident that this transaction will provide future benefit to our customers, employees and the communities in which we operate, and I am excited by the path ahead," said Paul Graves , president and chief executive officer of Arcadium Lithium. The final voting results of Arcadium Lithium's special meetings will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Form 8-K and will also be available at https://ir.arcadiumlithium.com . Regulatory Update As of this release, merger control clearance has been satisfied or waived in Australia , Canada , China , the United Kingdom and the United States (Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976). Additionally, investment screening approval has been satisfied in the United Kingdom . The proposed transaction is still expected to close in mid-2025, subject to the receipt of remaining regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. Arcadium Lithium Contacts Investors: Daniel Rosen +1 215 299 6208 daniel.rosen@arcadiumlithium.com Phoebe Lee +61 413 557 780 phoebe.lee@arcadiumlithium.com Media: Karen Vizental +54 9 114 414 4702 karen.vizental@arcadiumlithium.com About Arcadium Lithium Arcadium Lithium is a leading global lithium chemicals producer committed to safely and responsibly harnessing the power of lithium to improve people's lives and accelerate the transition to a clean energy future. We collaborate with our customers to drive innovation and power a more sustainable world in which lithium enables exciting possibilities for renewable energy, electric transportation and modern life. Arcadium Lithium is vertically integrated, with industry-leading capabilities across lithium extraction processes, including hard-rock mining, conventional brine extraction and direct lithium extraction (DLE), and in lithium chemicals manufacturing for high performance applications. We have operations around the world, with facilities and projects in Argentina , Australia , Canada , China , Japan , the United Kingdom and the United States . For more information, please visit us at www.ArcadiumLithium.com . Important Information and Legal Disclaimer: Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, we have identified forward-looking statements by such words or phrases as "will likely result," "is confident that," "expect," "expects," "should," "could," "may," "will continue to," "believe," "believes," "anticipates," "predicts," "forecasts," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "intends" or similar expressions identifying "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the negative of those words and phrases. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for Arcadium Lithium based on currently available information. There are important factors that could cause Arcadium Lithium's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including the completion of the transaction on anticipated terms and timing, including obtaining required regulatory approvals, and the satisfaction of other conditions to the completion of the transaction; potential litigation relating to the transaction that could be instituted by or against Arcadium Lithium or its affiliates, directors or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; the risk that disruptions from the transaction will harm Arcadium Lithium's business, including current plans and operations; the ability of Arcadium Lithium to retain and hire key personnel; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or governmental relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction; certain restrictions during the pendency of the transaction that may impact Arcadium Lithium's ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; significant transaction costs associated with the transaction; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the transaction, including in circumstances requiring Arcadium Lithium to pay a termination fee or other expenses; competitive responses to the transaction; the supply and demand in the market for our products as well as pricing for lithium and high-performance lithium compounds; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the integration of the businesses of Livent and Allkem or of any future acquisitions; our ability to acquire or develop additional reserves that are economically viable; the existence, availability and profitability of mineral resources and mineral and ore reserves; the success of our production expansion efforts, research and development efforts and the development of our facilities; our ability to retain existing customers; the competition that we face in our business; the development and adoption of new battery technologies; additional funding or capital that may be required for our operations and expansion plans; political, financial and operational risks that our lithium extraction and production operations, particularly in Argentina , expose us to; physical and other risks that our operations and suppliers are subject to; our ability to satisfy customer qualification processes or customer or government quality standards; global economic conditions, including inflation, fluctuations in the price of energy and certain raw materials; the ability of our joint ventures, affiliated entities and contract manufacturers to operate according to their business plans and to fulfill their obligations; severe weather events and the effects of climate change; extensive and dynamic environmental and other laws and regulations; our ability to obtain and comply with required licenses, permits and other approvals; and other factors described under the caption entitled "Risk Factors" in Arcadium Lithium's 2023 Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024 , as well as Arcadium Lithium's other SEC filings and public communications. Although Arcadium Lithium believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, Arcadium Lithium cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither Arcadium Lithium nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Arcadium Lithium is under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this news release to conform its prior statements to actual results or revised expectations . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arcadium-lithium-announces-shareholder-approval-of-proposed-rio-tinto-transaction-and-provides-regulatory-update-302338409.html SOURCE Arcadium Lithium PLC

Former Washington State standout John Mateer, one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, is transferring to Oklahoma, he announced Wednesday evening on social media. Widely considered the best player available when he entered the transfer portal on Monday, Mateer is following former Cougars offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who was hired by Oklahoma earlier this month, as well as quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski, who is expected to join him. The Sooners, who lost starting QB Jackson Arnold to Auburn through the transfer portal, were regarded as the front-runners for Mateer. Miami, where former Washington State QB Cam Ward starred this season, became a Heisman Trophy finalist and is entering the NFL Draft, also was considered a potential landing spot. Mateer, who waited behind Ward at Washington State for two years, is a redshirt sophomore with two seasons of eligibility remaining. He led the FBS in total touchdowns (44) in his first season as a starter in 2024, compiling 3,139 yards with 29 touchdown passes and seven interceptions and rushing for 826 yards with 15 scores in 12 games. Washington State head coach Jake Dickert left his job to become Wake Forest's head coach on Wednesday. --Field Level Media

Two Sydney to Hobart sailors have died at sea amid wild weather that forced mass retirements overnight, but organisers say the race will continue denying conditions had been unsafe for the fleet. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading A sailor aboard Flying Fish Arctos and one on Bowline were fatally struck by their respective boat's boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail. Both yachts have since retired from the race - two of the 16 that had pulled out by 7.30am on December 27 after a west-southwesterly change brought strong winds to the southern NSW Coast and Bass Strait. The deaths are the first in the 628-nautical miles race since the tragic 1998 Hobart, which claimed the lives of six sailors in storms and triggered mass reforms to safety protocols. David Jacobs, vice-commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, said the race would "absolutely" continue, with the first boats expected to arrive in Hobart later on Friday or early Saturday morning. "The conditions are challenging, but they're not excessive," he told ABC. "So we've got sort of winds at about 25 knots coming from the north seas around about two metres or thereabouts, so the conditions that most of the sailors would normally easily handle." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the sailors who lost their lives. "We have sadly awoken to tragedy in the Sydney to Hobart with the awful news two sailors have lost their lives," he said. "Our thoughts are with the crews, their families and loved ones at this deeply sad time." The incident aboard Flying Fish Arctos occurred around 30nm east-south east of Ulladulla on the NSW south coast late on Thursday night. Crew members attempted CPR but could not revive their teammate, notifying the Australian Maritime Safety Authority of the incident around 11.50pm. Flying Fish Arctos has since altered her course to arrive at Jervis Bay on the morning of December 27. The crew member aboard Bowline was struck approximately 30nm north east of Batemans Bay around 2am and fell unconscious, with CPR also unsuccessful. A police vessel escorted the boat to Batemans Bay. Flying Fish Arctos, a NSW-based 50-footer, has contested 17 previous Hobarts since being built in 2001. She was designed for round-the-world sailing and is currently used by Flying Fish, a sailing school that operates in Mosman, a suburb on Sydney's north shore. The crew this year comprised 12 members, a mix of Hobart veterans and internationals, and was skippered by seven-time Hobart sailor George Martin, her most experienced Hobart sailor. Bowline had been racing in her third Hobart when tragedy struck her crew of seven. One of only four South Australian yachts in this year's race, she placed 33rd and 79th on handicap in the 2021 and 2022 editions of the bluewater classic, respectively. She has been skippered by Ian Roberts on all three occasions and is a previous winner of the Haystack Island Race in South Australia. As a result of the wild weather a crew member was also swept overboard from Porco Rosso, which won the race on handicap as Victoire in 2013, but the sailor was recovered before the boat retired. The twin tragedies came as line honours favourite Master Lock Comanche withdrew from the race 63nm off Green Cape in the early hours of December 27, having sustained damage to her mainsail while leading the fleet. Her retirement has rocketed rival 100ft supermaxi LawConnect into favouritism for back-to-back line honours titles. As of 7.30am, Christian Beck's boat was 8nm ahead of second-placed Celestial V70 sailing through the Bass Strait. Four-time line honours champion Comanche, one of the most impressive monohull yachts in the world, has never retired before in eight previous runnings of Syd-Hob. Comanche had been chasing atonement for last year's race when LawConnect ambushed her in the River Derwent to claim line honours victory by only 51 seconds. The fleet stands at 88 competitors as of 7.30am, reduced from 104 starters, after URM Group, Zeus, Bacchanal and Alive were among the leading handicap contenders to have retired. URM Group had enjoyed a dominant lead-up to the race and placed second overall last year behind Alive, which succumbed to engine issues only three hours into the race. RETIRED BOATS AS AT 7.30AM ON FRIDAY: Alive (26/12, 16:10) - engine issues Transcendence Ruby Project (26/12, 18:20), dismasted Ciao Bella (26/12, 20:14), steering issues URM Group (26/12, 22:15), dismasted Philosopher (26/12, 23:14), dismasted Flying Fish Arctos (26/12, 23:50), fatality Master Lock Comanche (27/12, 00:30), mainsail damage Wild Oats (27/12, 01:10), rigging damage Calibre 12 (27/12, 02:15), mainsail damage Bowline (27/12, 02:15), fatality Centennial 7 (27/12, 03:15), mainsail damage Porco Rosso (27/12, 04:45), man overboard - since recovered Mayfair (27/12, 05:00) broken gear Zeus (27/12, 06:03) foil damage Rum Rebellion (27/12, 06:26) TBA Bacchanal (27/12, time TBA) broken boom Australian Associated Press More from National Sport News Newsletters & Alerts DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. 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Midland Bank recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sheba Fintech Limited to advance digital banking and financial inclusion. Md Zahid Hossain, deputy managing director of the bank, and Ilmul Haque Sajib, managing director of Sheba Fintech, penned the MoU at the bank's head office in Dhaka, the bank said in a press release. The collaboration seeks to leverage technology and innovation to deliver advanced and seamless financial services for underserved populations across the country. Both organisations recognise the growing demand for accessible, tech-driven financial solutions that empower individuals, businesses, and the wider economy, the press release added. By combining the bank's tradition in developing innovative technology-driven banking offerings with Sheba's fintech solutions, the two entities intend to work together to bring more enhanced digitally focused services. Md Nazmul Huda Sarkar, chief technology officer of the bank, Md Rashed Akter, head of retail distribution division, and Mohammad Hassibur Rahman, head of cash management unit of institutional banking division, were present. In addition, several senior executives and representatives from both organisations were also present. Midland Bank recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sheba Fintech Limited to advance digital banking and financial inclusion. Md Zahid Hossain, deputy managing director of the bank, and Ilmul Haque Sajib, managing director of Sheba Fintech, penned the MoU at the bank's head office in Dhaka, the bank said in a press release. The collaboration seeks to leverage technology and innovation to deliver advanced and seamless financial services for underserved populations across the country. Both organisations recognise the growing demand for accessible, tech-driven financial solutions that empower individuals, businesses, and the wider economy, the press release added. By combining the bank's tradition in developing innovative technology-driven banking offerings with Sheba's fintech solutions, the two entities intend to work together to bring more enhanced digitally focused services. Md Nazmul Huda Sarkar, chief technology officer of the bank, Md Rashed Akter, head of retail distribution division, and Mohammad Hassibur Rahman, head of cash management unit of institutional banking division, were present. In addition, several senior executives and representatives from both organisations were also present.Food raids in Telangana: Snacks worth over Rs 60K seized, license suspendedDonald Trump can keep his campaign pledge to help average Americans, or he can keep Elon Musk. He can’t do both. Trump won in large part because he persuaded 77 million Americans that he understands and cares about gas, groceries and the corrosive impact of inflation. Musk’s interference with a bipartisan budget deal shows the billionaire does not. It was Musk who led the charge to jettison a plan to keep the government funded. No one will even notice if the federal government grinds to a halt for a few weeks, agreed Musk, the wealthiest person in the world. Spoken like a billionaire who has never stood in a grocery store line figuring how many meals he could make from one pound of hamburger; never stretched a budget for Christmas gifts; never sweated over a delayed Social Security check; never rented an apartment on the $28,530 U.S. Army privates earn. A budget deal would have been signed and a crisis averted but for Musk’s ranting on X, his $44 billion social media megaphone, against the budget that House Speaker Mike Johnson had worked out with Democrats on Dec. 17. Before dawn the next morning, Musk bombarded his millions of followers with the first of more than 150 tweets attacking the compromise. He threatened defeat at the polls for any member of Congress who voted for it. Trump later said, unconvincingly, that Musk had acted with his approval. The president-elect has the right to choose his own counselors, and if he believes the multiple billionaires he has tapped for Cabinet, agency and ambassador posts will best carry out his policies, that is his privilege. Musk holds no such post. The Department of Government Efficiency, the “agency” he has been tapped to head, does not actually exist. He was elected by no one, even though he has eclipsed JD Vance, who was elected by millions. That doesn’t directly impact average Americans’ pocketbooks, but the U.S. budget does. The spending bill Musk sabotaged ensured that military families would get paid over the holidays. It provided disaster relief to West Florida and financial aid to farmers. It barred internet services from ripping off rural customers and reined in hidden hotel fees. It provided money for poor children to quickly get out-of-state cancer treatment. Musk was not only proud when it all went up in flames. He was gleeful. And why not? The 1,500-page deal contained bipartisan provisions potentially restricting U.S. corporate investments in technology in China, where Musk already has one Tesla factory and intends to build another. “It is no surprise, then, that ‘President’ Musk does not want to see a funding deal containing this provision be signed into law,” wrote Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, in a letter to House leaders. Musk spent at least $260 million to elect Trump, who promptly rewarded him by naming him co-chair of this Department of Government Efficiency that Congress has yet to establish. At Mar-a-Lago, he has been interviewing other prospective appointees. And what does Musk bring to the table that would benefit Trump’s family-first pledges? Not economic acumen. Musk and fellow investors in Twitter have lost an estimated $25 billion as his toxic policies prompted advertisers and users to flock to smaller — but saner — platforms. Housing costs are backbreaking, but the man who once owned three mansions on the same street asserts that “homelessness” is primarily propaganda to describe violent drug users. And despite his avowed axe-wielding approach to budgeting, he doesn’t sneer at all bloated federal contracts. Musk’s SpaceX has vacuumed up more than $10 billion in government deals even as federal agencies are reviewing whether it played fast and loose with state secrets. There is infinite potential for more Musk damage. For example, he endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany party in its forthcoming election. Widely regarded as neo-Nazi, a party member suggested gassing immigrants, according to Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and another described Jews as an inner enemy. It doesn’t matter that a budget bill was eventually passed. It matters that Trump allowed Musk to borrow his spotlight, shatter campaign promises still fresh in voters’ minds and come away with nothing to show for it except the perception that Musk is running the show. Trump should not be seeking Musk’s advice on appointees. He should be asking whether he has created the political equivalent of Dr. Frankenstein’s fictional monster. The more Trump indulges Musk, the shakier his own reign will be. The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Opinion Editor Dan Sweeney, editorial writers Pat Beall and Martin Dyckman, and Executive Editor Gretchen Day-Bryant. To contact us, email at letters@sun-sentinel.com .

2024 wasn’t an earth-shaking year for new tech products, but it was significant when it comes to the tech industry’s impact on society and vice versa. Tech titans had a big impact on the 2024 election, starting with Elon Musk, whose net worth exceeds $400 billion thanks to his work and investments at several tech companies, including Zip2, PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, SolarCity and Neurolink. He’s also the owner of Twitter, but that subtracted from his financial net worth while increasing his political clout. Although you can’t point to one thing that turned the election, Musk’s endorsement and financial support were a major boon to the Trump campaign. Musk wasn’t the only tech billionaire to endorse the president-elect. Despite Silicon Valley’s liberal tradition, a number of other tech moguls did their share, including Oracle founder Larry Ellison, PayPal and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel, and Netscape author and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Tech’s cozy relationship with the new administration didn’t end on Nov. 5. Since then, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have donated to Trump’s inaugural fund. Vice President-elect JD Vance, in addition to being a best-selling author, headed up a venture capital firm that invested in tech companies. On more than one occasion, Vance visited Silicon Valley to raise funds for the Trump-Vance ticket. There has also been legislation around tech, including a recently passed Australian law that would ban social media for anyone under 16. There were numerous state laws introduced in the U.S. around regulating artificial intelligence. Though it’s still not a law, the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act passed the Senate 91-3. The European Union passed an act regulating AI. Related Articles Though it’s not clear when it will ship, Meta announced its Orion AR Glasses, the company’s first true augmented reality glasses that feature holographic displays that can superimpose computer-generated images over what you’re seeing in the physical world. Using AI, they can also interpret and explain what you’re seeing. These glasses are probably still a few years away, but Meta has had success this year with its current generation Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses. The glasses don’t have a smart display, but they play music, enable phone calls, read out text messages and describe what you’re looking at, which they see through a camera on the frames. It’s too early to say for sure, but it’s quite possible that future iterations of smart glasses will replace smartphones for many people, putting Meta in a good position to eventually compete with Apple, which dominates the U.S. smartphone market. We’re also seeing growth in the smart ring category. Oura Ring, which popularized the category, came out with its new Oura Ring 4 in 2024. Ringconn, another smart-ring maker, also updated its offering, but 2024 is also the year that a major company, Samsung, entered the market. It’s too early to tell whether smart rings will get as much traction as smart watches, but they do some of the same tasks, especially for health and fitness, such as heart rate and blood oxygen sensing. Meta also has its Quest VR headset, but now Apple is in that space with its 2024 introduction of the Apple Vision Pro, a very expensive VR/AR headset that Apple bills as “spatial computing.” Generative AI was the big story last year, but there were lots of new developments in 2024, Both Apple and Google made their annual smartphone and watch announcements this fall. Apple’s new iPhone 16 Series includes advanced AI-powered features such as Image Playground for photo and video editing and features that, according to Apple, help you “write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly.” Apple does the processing on the phone itself, and not the cloud, which is pretty amazing considering that phones have limited memory, storage and processing power compared with cloud-based systems. Google’s 2024 Series 9 phones have the company’s Gemini AI built in. You can now engage in a conversation with your phone with it understanding context. For example, you could say “how old is Tom Cruise,” and after you get the answer ask, “where was he born.” This contextual conversation mode is showing up in many AI products, including popular Generative AI services such as ChatGPT. Microsoft has also integrated AI into its Windows operating system, and Apple Intelligence is now built into MacOS. Google, in addition to building AI into its hardware, introduced Google Gemini Advanced, which, when you ask it what is does, says it’s “designed to excel at complex tasks like logical reasoning, coding, following intricate instructions, and creative collaboration.” The news isn’t entirely good for tech. There was backlash in 2024 that includes layoffs at many tech companies (along with some rehiring after the 2023 layoffs), global anti-trust actions against big tech, including Google, Amazon, Meta and Apple, and increased concerns about mental health and well-being on social media and other tech products. I’m not a fortune teller, but I’m pretty sure 2025 will bring lots of new advancements to tech, including further integration of AI into everyday products. It will also be a tumultuous year as the new administration takes over with lots of likely tech announcements, especially given the relationship between the incoming president and tech billionaires including Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and others. We’ll see an increased interest in cryptocurrency, AI regulation and a revisiting of rebates and subsidies of energy-saving tech. Whatever comes, I’m wishing you a happy, healthy and calm new year. Related Articles

SM Investments Corp. expects slowing inflation to boost consumer demand in 2025, which it said could create opportunities in the Philippine retail sector. “Any moderation in inflation should trigger a strong confidence rebound,” SM President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio said in a statement on Thursday. “This could create opportunities in consumer-focused sectors in the country, and we are poised to cater to these evolving demands.” He said the business sector has adapted well despite inflation and the peso’s volatility against the dollar. Household spending rose 5.1% in the third quarter, according to data from the local statistics agency. Inflation quickened to 2.5% in November as prices of vegetables, meat, and fish rose due to a series of typhoons. The peso sank to an all-time low of P59 against the dollar on Dec. 19, though it has since recovered. It closed at P57.97 a dollar on Thursday, 48 centavos stronger than its P58.45 finish on Monday, according to Bankers Association of the Philippines data posted on its website. To meet growing demand, Mr. DyBuncio said SMIC continues to expand to underserved areas. He added that the company continues to contribute to sustainable economic development and collaborate with the government to improve access to modern retail, financial services, and integrated property development. “By investing and expanding to more areas nationwide, SM creates new markets and improves access to these essential sectors, serving more communities and helping stimulate sustained economic activities,” Mr. DyBuncio said. Meanwhile, the group continues to invest in renewable energy and logistics, he added. SM has invested in the clean energy sector via Philippine Geothermal Production Co., which produces 300 megawatts of geothermal steam supply. SM aims to continue to develop geothermal concessions through Philippine Geothermal in support of the Energy department’s goal of reaching 50% renewable energy supply by 2040. The holding company’s property unit, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., has partnered with GUUN Co. Ltd. to implement a technology that converts nonrecyclable and hard-to-recycle packaging into alternative fuel. SM’s consolidated net income grew 9% to P60.9 billion in the first nine months as revenue increased 5% to P462.5 billion. SM shares dropped 2% or P18 to P882 each. — Revin Mikhael D. OchaveOn pornography platform OnlyFans, prostitutes make most of their earnings by directly engaging with their “fans” through messages and conversations. A global industry has popped up of imposters paid to pretend they are the OnlyFans model to trick lonely and desperate men into opening their wallets. Now, those human “chatters” are increasingly being replaced by AI-powered chatbots. Wired reports that the rise of AI has brought about concerns regarding its potential to replace human workers across various industries. One niche occupation that is already experiencing disruption due to AI is the role of OnlyFans chatters. These gig workers are paid to impersonate top-earning OnlyFans creators in online conversations with their fans, providing a crucial element of relationship simulation that complements the platform’s pornographic content. Traditionally, human chatters from countries with lower wage expectations, such as the Philippines, Pakistan, and India, have been employed to manage the deluge of amorous messages received by popular OnlyFans creators. Desperate men think they are talking to an OnlyFans prostitute when they are actually talking to a person sitting at a keyboard on the other side of the world. However, AI-generated stand-ins are increasingly replacing these human chatters, with several startups now offering access to AI chatbots and other generative AI tools tailored for this purpose. Kunal Anand, the founder of ChatPersona, an AI OnlyFans chatting service, states that his company has built its own model using data from creators’ chats to meet the growing demand for AI chatters. Since its launch last year, ChatPersona has attracted around 6,000 customers, including both individuals and agencies. Anand claims that ChatPersona does not violate OnlyFans’ terms of service, as it requires human intervention to send the AI-generated messages. The field of AI chatbots for OnlyFans is becoming increasingly crowded, with competitors like FlirtFlow, ChatterCharms, and Botly vying for market share. Supercreator, another player in the space, offers a suite of AI tools, including an assistant called Inbox Copilot that algorithmically sorts fans based on their spending habits, prioritizing “spenders” over “freeloaders.” Eden, a former OnlyFans creator who now runs a boutique agency called Heiss Talent, is an enthusiastic adopter of AI technology. She represents five creators who all use Supercreator’s AI tools, resulting in a significant increase in sales. One of the features automatically sends messages to inactive fans when they log in, which has led to substantial tips from conversations initiated by AI. While some AI chatter tools are fully automated, Eden prefers a mixed approach, with creators combining their own words with AI-generated content to maintain authenticity. This raises questions about the transparency of AI use in online interactions and whether companies should disclose when conversations are being handled by chatbots. Read more at Wired here. Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering issues of free speech and online censorship.

Thieves get a taste for cheese and butter amid surging pricesBoys basketball roundup: Bulldogs' historic pre-season; Wolf Pack, Jags on win streaksSuchi Semicon, a pioneering semiconductor company in Gujarat, has launched the state's first Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Testing (OSAT) plant in Surat. This development signifies a crucial stride towards bolstering India's semiconductor manufacturing sector, which remains in its early stages, as both local and international companies seek to explore its expansive opportunities. The advanced facility was ceremonially opened by Union Minister CR Patil and Gujarat's Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi. Designed initially as a 30,000-square-foot structure, the plant will deliver critical assembly, testing, and packaging services for semiconductor components essential to industries like automotive and consumer electronics, as stated by the company on Sunday. Aligned with the government's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, or self-reliant India, this initiative aspires to lessen the nation's reliance on imported semiconductors and fortify its position within the global supply chain. The site, supported by a USD 100 million expenditure, is prepared to fabricate up to 3 million semiconductor chips daily at peak capacity. Moreover, the company is reportedly advancing discussions to partner strategically with a technology entity to enhance its capabilities and drive innovation further. Designed for nimble expansion, this facility is ready to cater to the accelerating demand for semiconductors on both domestic and international fronts, propelling India closer to becoming a pivotal actor in the global semiconductor arena. Founded by Ashok Mehta and Shetal Mehta in July 2023, Suchi Semicon's foray into semiconductor production is particularly notable given its beginnings in the textile sector. Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil remarked, "India is on a transformative journey to become a global technology hub, and the establishment of initiatives like Suchi Semicon's OSAT plant is central to this vision. As the government intensifies its push for increased domestic semiconductor production, such facilities are vital in reducing import reliance, generating employment, and reinforcing our homegrown industry." Gujarat's Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi struck a similar tone, expressing full support for the venture while emphasizing its potential to drive regional economic development and elevate Gujarat's stature in worldwide semiconductor manufacturing. Chairman Ashok Mehta, reflecting on the occasion, mentioned, "Our venture into the semiconductor field evolved from modest beginnings in textiles. Yet, observing the widening gap in India's semiconductor infrastructure inspired us to make this pivotal move. Our ambitions extend beyond mere chip production; we aim to ignite innovation within the Indian semiconductor domain, leveraging this facility to mitigate supply chain critiques and foster a sustainable semiconductor industry nationwide." (With inputs from agencies.)

Thieves get a taste for cheese and butter amid surging prices

Your health is your greatest asset; without it, everything else fades into the background. The journey to a fitter and healthier you is tough and there are thousands of apps available on the Google Play Store for everything from physical to mental fitness, so treading on that path may become an unnecessary hassle. Choosing apps with the best ratings is an excellent way to stay on track and achieve your goals. Among other features, android fitness apps help you stay motivated and on track by showcasing your daily progress, getting you a step closer to your goal every day. Whether you're looking to monitor your calorie intake, track your workouts more effectively, or simply maintain your overall health, our curated list is here to help. As of the time of writing, all the apps featured have a rating of at least 4.5, making them the best health & fitness apps available on the Play Store. As of 2023, the U.S. population stands at 335 million. The Flo app has over 380 million users, making its user base larger than the entire population. That alone makes it the Beyoncé of all period and pregnancy apps out there. And if you're under the impression that the most your app can do is mark your calendars, Aunty Flo's sharper than a tack and knows a lot more than you think. She's also an expert at tracking your ovulation and fertility window, along with keeping up with your water intake, physical activity, and mood. If you forget to log in your data, Aunty Flo will send scheduled reminders and notifications. And if you ever find yourself lost in the dark about an awry vaginal discharge or methods of conception, she's armed with a huge content library filled with thousands of articles and videos, a secret chat space for the hush-hush topics you may not be comfortable with, and a virtual health assistant that can provide a ton of useful information. The app's user interface features pretty pastels and an inviting sunny-day theme, making self-care feel less like a chore. And it's not just women — Flo for Partners lets you and your significant other link accounts, allowing him to stay in the loop as well. At some point in our life, we've all been determined to get fit and adapt to a regular workout routine and failed — a pizza delivery, Netflix just dropped a new season, and — well, you get the gist. JustFit is built for us lazy folks who've been through this, for those who prefer working out from the comfort of our homes, or for people who don't want to splurge on expensive gym memberships or equipment. It's the perfect cost-effective solution for people who want to lose weight or gain muscle. You can create personalized fitness plans tailored to your lifestyle, fitness goals, and health profile. Additionally, JustFit features a built-in progress tracker that helps users stay on track and keeps them motivated to achieve their fitness goals. Whether you're a beginner on your fitness journey or a pro, there are plenty of workouts for everyone. Pilates workouts are a fantastic way to stay fit and toned while enjoying a range of health benefits. With JustFit's wall Pilates courses, you can elevate your fitness journey in a fun and beginner-friendly way. All you need to get started is a yoga mat and a wall. The app also features specialized core-focused belly workouts designed for women. If you're looking to target specific muscle groups like your abs, arms, or legs, JustFit makes it easy to focus on those areas and work toward your fitness goals. MyFitnessPal isn't just a simple calorie counter — it is your ultimate fitness companion that gives you control of your fitness journey by having full visibility on your health profile. It's an all-in-one super app that excels at being your personal nutrition coach, fitness tracker, and meal planner. Whether you're looking to gain muscle, shed a few pounds, or just make healthier choices daily, MyFitnessPal simplifies your fitness journey. What makes MyFitnessPal so great? For starters, its enormous database of 14 million food items makes logging calories a breeze, whether you're enjoying Thai, Indian, or Greek cuisine. Innovative features like the barcode scanner or the smart meal scan allow you to quickly log store-bought goods or full meals directly through your phone camera. Once you log your meal, you'll receive a detailed breakdown of calories, carbohydrates, fat, protein, and other nutrients. MyFitnessPal syncs with over 50 apps, wearable devices, and fitness trackers that will get you closer to your goals , ensuring every step of your fitness journey is tracked. You can even customize your dashboard with health metrics that matter the most to you. If you need inspiration on a healthy recipe for your next meal, the app comes loaded with hundreds of recipes and personalized meal plans tailored to all sorts of dietary needs. Once you dive into the world of MyFitnessPal, you'll find yourself feeling more confident and in control than ever before. MyNetDiary is an excellent personal fitness assistant that simplifies both weight loss and nutrition support. While its features are similar to MyFitnessPal, it stands out by being more user-friendly and easier to navigate. It's built on top of a database containing over 1.7 million verified food items, allowing users to precisely track both macro and micronutrients, including carbs, proteins, omega fats, and even vitamins. It also features an easy-to-use AI-powered scanner that lets you quickly and accurately log meals, in addition to the standard barcode scanner. Once you initialize the app with your current and target body weight, it tailors your user experience to your fitness goals. You can connect MyNetDiary with fitness apps like Google Fit and Samsung Health, while also syncing workout and activity data with wearables such as Garmin and Fitbit. The virtual fitness coach provides users with specialized diet recipes and meal planners, and you can also import recipes from other websites. Losing weight is a long, challenging road that often causes people to feel demotivated. Fortunately, you can socialize with other users through the in-app fitness community to stay motivated and on track. While MyNetDiary's free version is pretty impressive, upgrading to the premium version unlocks additional features that can help you achieve your fitness goals more easily. Pilates is a fast-growing lifestyle that focuses on strengthening core muscles while also improving flexibility and balance. Workouts often target specific muscle groups, including the pelvic floor muscles, abs, legs, and lower back. It's a great way to achieve a more toned body and lose weight effectively and naturally. If you're looking for a budget-friendly Pilates course that caters to both newbies and experienced users, you'll love the feature-rich Pilates Workout at Home app. You can create personalized plans tailored to your fitness goals to maximize your results. If you want to focus on a specific area, such as your chest, legs, abs, or arms, you can easily adjust your workout plan to target those areas. Most importantly, these exercises don't require any equipment, so you can stay fit whether you're at the office, outdoors, or enjoying a quiet day at home. All exercises are designed by certified experts, ensuring user safety and workout effectiveness. You can also follow step-by-step video tutorials for detailed guidance on maintaining proper form and preventing unnecessary muscle injuries. Just a few minutes of Pilates every day can greatly improve your mental and physical well-being. The '90's kids poured their hearts (and recess) into keeping their Tamagotchis alive, cleaning pixelated poop, and feeding them when needed. Now they're all grown up, and the tables have turned — meet your new feathery self-care friend, Finch . This time, it's dedicated to keeping you alive and thriving, with no threat of the dreaded beep-beep. When you open the app for the first time (which, by the way, features cheerful illustrations and uplifting colors), your birdie's life begins as an egg — pick one, hatch it, and meet your virtual pet. You'll then choose a name, its pronouns, and a personality trait. The app starts by asking you personal questions to understand your habits and where you currently stand in your self-care journey (or lack thereof). Once you've answered, Finch generates a small list of self-care goals to help you get started. Using the app is simple: Log in every day (or as often as you choose) to check off things from your self-care starter plan. The more you tick, the more energy your pet gains. When the energy bar reaches a certain number, your pet is rewarded, and it goes off on an adventure. Beyond daily logging, Finch offers quizzes, motivational quotes, insights on your mental health, and a space to journal and reflect. Intermittent fasting is a popular weight-loss method that doesn't require a specific diet and has also been shown to have neurological benefits . Instead of focusing on what you eat, it emphasizes when you eat, alternating between periods of eating and fasting. Whether you're a first-timer or an intermittent fasting veteran, you're going to appreciate the Fasting Tracker app. During the initial setup, Fasting Tracker asks targeted questions about your lifestyle, activity level, fitness goals, and body data to create a personalized health profile that customizes your app experience. Fasting Tracker has a user-friendly dashboard that displays your current progress and fasting cycle, along with exciting challenges to keep you motivated and transform your weight-loss journey into an engaging and fun experience. When you're ready to start fasting, you can choose from 40 fasting plans designed for beginners, intermediate users, and experienced fasters. These plans are customizable based on your preferred eating and fasting periods. Fasting Tracker also features a resource hub packed with helpful tips, informative videos, and insightful blogs to guide you through your weight-loss journey. As one of the best apps for intermittent fasting , it seamlessly integrates with wearable devices that sync with Google Fit, providing enhanced fitness tracking. You'll also get timely notifications reminding you to stay hydrated and updates on your current fasting cycle, ensuring you stay on track with your health goals. Safe to say, Fasting Tracker makes your weight-loss journey accessible, enjoyable, and safe. There has been a growing importance on mental health well-being in recent times, and it's no secret that mental health challenges are as critical as physical ailments. Wysa claims to provide a safe and anonymous platform to converse with an AI-powered chatbot that's the perfect virtual mental-health companion. It combines a mood tracker, mindfulness coach, and an anxiety helper, all in the form of a cute penguin chatbot. Wysa's unique and user-friendly experience makes it one of the top mental health support apps available on the Google Play Store. Wysa relies on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) techniques to help you navigate through life challenges. Whether it's stress, anxiety, depression, or you're struggling with low self-confidence, Wysa can help you do better. Wysa offers dedicated sections tailored to various mental well-being needs, providing exercises designed to address a wide range of emotional challenges. For additional support, you can look into dedicated gadgets that help reduce anxiety . If you'd much rather prefer personalized guidance, then you can connect with a professional therapist within the app. Wysa's journal entries track your emotions, showing how you felt on specific dates. To unlock Wysa's full potential, you'll need to upgrade to Wysa Premium — a purchase that's truly worth it for your well-being. Trust Wysa to be your mental wellness companion, because every step forward starts with a little support. While other apps on this list are aimed at the general public, TrainingPeaks is built for endurance coaches and athletes of all abilities. It is the perfect fitness app for when you want in-depth analysis of your workout sessions, track progress, follow training plans, and get personalized coaching. The app offers structured training plans for cycling, running, triathlon, swimming, strength, and even rowing. You can monitor progress for both long-term and short-term goals to ensure you're motivated and on track to achieve your dreams. Workout schedules are dynamic and allow flexible adjustments around your personal commitments, and every workout session can be analyzed for deeper insights with the premium version. Once you start logging enough data, you'll be able to spot patterns in the fitness calendar that allow you to review what worked and what didn't, making you more consistent and ultimately improving performance. You can connect TrainingPeaks with wearables such as the Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, and more to get real-time prompts that help you stay focused and motivated. Once your workout session ends, all the data is synced with the TrainingPeaks app and measured against your fitness goals. The free version of TrainingPeaks allows you to log workouts and set fitness goals, but for the full fitness trainer experience with advanced features, you'll need to upgrade to the premium version. Muscle Monster is your fitness partner for losing weight, gaining muscle, and enhancing strength. It's an all-in-one workout planner that provides specific exercises tailored to your fitness goals and preferred training environment. Whether you prefer no equipment, portable gear like dumbbells, or gym equipment, you can choose workouts that fit your needs. These workouts become part of your fitness calendar and contribute directly to your goals. You'll also get AI-driven guidance for personalized coaching that monitors performance metrics and adjusts your fitness plan, getting you closer to your dream body shape. The app's interface is simple and user-friendly, though its wearable connectivity options are limited. Muscle Monster offers over 300 workout options targeting different muscle groups, making it perfect for users who want to get fit without relying on extensive equipment. Even gym enthusiasts will appreciate how the app tracks every workout, including those on various machines.ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Dec, 2024) COMSATS University (CUI), in collaboration with The for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering (DSG), a US-based non-profit organization, successfully hosted a pivotal stakeholder engagement meeting to discuss the development and implications of a prototype Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) Impacts Dashboard for Malaria in South at the district level. It was funded by the Harvard University Center for International Development’s Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM) Incubation Fund, the brought together 46 climate and health researchers, and health policy experts and practitioners across to explore SRM’s potential role in addressing climate-driven health challenges in one of the ’s most vulnerable regions, said a press release. The meeting featured a robust program of presentations, interactive discussion and feedback on a prototype dashboard that highlights district level data on future climate change, SRM and malaria. The facilitated thematic breakout sessions to continue bridging gaps in the climate-health nexus. The inclusion of SRM technologies into this nexus is adding a level of urgency to the climate action needed on public health, especially in the context of vector-borne diseases. Breakout sessions encouraged stakeholders to thematic perspectives, offering valuable insights into refining the SRM-Malaria Dashboard to better serve health policy frameworks. Prof. Dr. Athar Hussain, Principal Investigator (PI) of several SRM research projects at CUI, emphasized the importance of collaborative research and interdisciplinary approaches in addressing climate change’s public health implications, particularly the changing dynamics of vector-borne diseases like malaria. Mr. Hassaan Sipra, Director of Global Engagement at The for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering (DSG) and a key contributor to the SRM research initiatives at CUI, discussed the global dimensions of SRM research and its ethical implications. Dr. Abdul Waheed, Policy Analyst, addressed the socio-political complexities of SRM. "In the context of addressing climate-driven health challenges in South , it is important to understand the social and political factors that shape public acceptance or rejection of SRM within the health sector, and the ethical implications these technologies. By investing in research and tools today, we can help ensure that SRM strategies are developed and implemented in a way that aligns with ethical standards, addresses societal concerns, and supports effective governance frameworks in , and provides a model of Global South outputs in this field." In addition to the prototype dashboard, CUI is also leading two initiatives assessing projected changes to climate variables, climate and health policies, and the evolving role of malaria control in emerging climate dynamics and public health sector of and South . Funded by The Degrees Initiative, a UK-based charity focused on increasing SRM research among Global South institutions, these works’ initial findings suggest that SRM technologies could have both beneficial and adverse effects on malaria transmission in the region. These insights will be critical for shaping future SRM research and policy development, ensuring that health systems are prepared for various potential outcomes, such as integration into public health strategies to mitigate climate-driven disease outbreaks in vulnerable communities. CUI continues to work on SRM research, to strengthen Global South perspectives on these technologies. These issues require more resources, more dialogue, and more constructive actions. Activities such as this one is the crux of stakeholder engagement that can pave the way towards building public trust in the processes around decision making on SRM, while empowering Global South people and policy makers to address it within their local vulnerabilities and contexts.2024 wasn’t an earth-shaking year for new tech products, but it was significant when it comes to the tech industry’s impact on society and vice versa. Tech titans had a big impact on the 2024 election, starting with Elon Musk, whose net worth exceeds $400 billion thanks to his work and investments at several tech companies, including Zip2, PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, SolarCity and Neurolink. He’s also the owner of Twitter, but that subtracted from his financial net worth while increasing his political clout. Although you can’t point to one thing that turned the election, Musk’s endorsement and financial support were a major boon to the Trump campaign. Musk wasn’t the only tech billionaire to endorse the president-elect. Despite Silicon Valley’s liberal tradition, a number of other tech moguls did their share, including Oracle founder Larry Ellison, PayPal and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel, and Netscape author and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Tech’s cozy relationship with the new administration didn’t end on Nov. 5. Since then, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have donated to Trump’s inaugural fund. Vice President-elect JD Vance, in addition to being a best-selling author, headed up a venture capital firm that invested in tech companies. On more than one occasion, Vance visited Silicon Valley to raise funds for the Trump-Vance ticket. There has also been legislation around tech, including a recently passed Australian law that would ban social media for anyone under 16. There were numerous state laws introduced in the U.S. around regulating artificial intelligence. Though it’s still not a law, the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act passed the Senate 91-3. The European Union passed an act regulating AI. Related Articles Though it’s not clear when it will ship, Meta announced its Orion AR Glasses, the company’s first true augmented reality glasses that feature holographic displays that can superimpose computer-generated images over what you’re seeing in the physical world. Using AI, they can also interpret and explain what you’re seeing. These glasses are probably still a few years away, but Meta has had success this year with its current generation Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses. The glasses don’t have a smart display, but they play music, enable phone calls, read out text messages and describe what you’re looking at, which they see through a camera on the frames. It’s too early to say for sure, but it’s quite possible that future iterations of smart glasses will replace smartphones for many people, putting Meta in a good position to eventually compete with Apple, which dominates the U.S. smartphone market. We’re also seeing growth in the smart ring category. Oura Ring, which popularized the category, came out with its new Oura Ring 4 in 2024. Ringconn, another smart-ring maker, also updated its offering, but 2024 is also the year that a major company, Samsung, entered the market. It’s too early to tell whether smart rings will get as much traction as smart watches, but they do some of the same tasks, especially for health and fitness, such as heart rate and blood oxygen sensing. Meta also has its Quest VR headset, but now Apple is in that space with its 2024 introduction of the Apple Vision Pro, a very expensive VR/AR headset that Apple bills as “spatial computing.” Generative AI was the big story last year, but there were lots of new developments in 2024, Both Apple and Google made their annual smartphone and watch announcements this fall. Apple’s new iPhone 16 Series includes advanced AI-powered features such as Image Playground for photo and video editing and features that, according to Apple, help you “write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly.” Apple does the processing on the phone itself, and not the cloud, which is pretty amazing considering that phones have limited memory, storage and processing power compared with cloud-based systems. Google’s 2024 Series 9 phones have the company’s Gemini AI built in. You can now engage in a conversation with your phone with it understanding context. For example, you could say “how old is Tom Cruise,” and after you get the answer ask, “where was he born.” This contextual conversation mode is showing up in many AI products, including popular Generative AI services such as ChatGPT. Microsoft has also integrated AI into its Windows operating system, and Apple Intelligence is now built into MacOS. Google, in addition to building AI into its hardware, introduced Google Gemini Advanced, which, when you ask it what is does, says it’s “designed to excel at complex tasks like logical reasoning, coding, following intricate instructions, and creative collaboration.” The news isn’t entirely good for tech. There was backlash in 2024 that includes layoffs at many tech companies (along with some rehiring after the 2023 layoffs), global anti-trust actions against big tech, including Google, Amazon, Meta and Apple, and increased concerns about mental health and well-being on social media and other tech products. I’m not a fortune teller, but I’m pretty sure 2025 will bring lots of new advancements to tech, including further integration of AI into everyday products. It will also be a tumultuous year as the new administration takes over with lots of likely tech announcements, especially given the relationship between the incoming president and tech billionaires including Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and others. We’ll see an increased interest in cryptocurrency, AI regulation and a revisiting of rebates and subsidies of energy-saving tech. Whatever comes, I’m wishing you a happy, healthy and calm new year. Related Articles

The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern.OpenAI issues statement on the death of former researcher Suchir Balaji, who raised legal concerns about the company's technologyThieves get a taste for cheese and butter amid surging prices

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