Google owner Alphabet drops promise over ‘harmful’ AI uses
Google owner Alphabet drops promise over ‘harmful’ AI uses
Alphabet, the parent company of technology giant Google, is no longer promising that it will never use artificial intelligence (AI) for purposes such as developing weapons and surveillance tools.
The firm has rewritten the principles guiding its use of AI, dropping a section which ruled out uses that were “likely to cause harm”.
In a blog post Google senior vice president James Manyika, and Demis Hassabis, who leads the AI lab Google DeepMind, defended the move.
They argue businesses and democratic governments need to work together on AI that “supports national security”.
There is debate amongst AI experts and professionals over how the powerful new technology should be governed in broad terms, how far commercial gains should be allowed to determine its direction, and how best to guard against risks for humanity in general.
There is also controversy around the use of AI on the battlefield and in surveillance technologies.
The blog said the company’s original AI principles published in 2018 needed to be updated as the technology had evolved.
“Billions of people are using AI in their everyday lives. AI has become a general-purpose technology, and a platform which countless organisations and individuals use to build applications.
“It has moved from a niche research topic in the lab to a technology that is becoming as pervasive as mobile phones and the internet itself,” the blog post said.
As a result baseline AI principles were also being developed, which could guide common strategies, it said.
However, Mr Hassabis and Mr Manyika said the geopolitical landscape was becoming increasingly complex.
“We believe democracies should lead in AI development, guided by core values like freedom, equality and respect for human rights,” the blog post said.
“And we believe that companies, governments and organisations sharing these values should work together to create AI that protects people, promotes global growth and supports national security.”
The blog post was published just ahead of Alphabet’s end of year financial report, showing results that were weaker than market expectations, and knocking back its share price.
That was despite a 10% rise in revenue from digital advertising, its biggest earner, boosted by US election spending.
In its earnings report the company said it would spend $75bn ($60bn) on AI projects this year, 29% more than Wall Street analysts had expected.
The company is investing in the infrastructure to run AI, AI research, and applications such as AI-powered search.
Google’s AI platform Gemini now appears at the top of Google search results, offering an AI written summary, and pops up on Google Pixel phones.
Originally, long before the current surge of interest in the ethics of AI, Google’s founders, Sergei Brin and Larry Page, said their motto for the firm was “don’t be evil”. When the company was restructured under the name Alphabet Inc in 2015 the parent company switched to “Do the right thing”.
Since then Google staff have sometimes pushed back against the approach taken by their executives. In 2018 the firm did not renew a contract for AI work with the US Pentagon following a resignations and a petition signed by thousands of employees.
They feared “Project Maven” was the first step towards using artificial intelligence for lethal purposes.
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On the rails and through the outback
On the rails and through the outback
Stephen Scourfield is having quite the adventure on his way to Sydney, aboard the Indian Pacific
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Woman’s mission to bring back memories of those who lost homes in wildfires
Woman’s mission to bring back memories of those who lost homes in wildfires
A woman in Southern California has made it her mission to bring back photos that blew away from people’s homes as they burned in the recent Southern California wildfires. As the photos are located, sometimes miles away, they are posted online and are being returned to the owners. NBC News’ Liz Kreutz reports.
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Cuisineer Review – Thumb Culture
Cuisineer Review – Thumb Culture
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“Cuisineer is an Action, Adventure, RPG developed by perfectly named BattleBrew Production and published by Marvelous Europe and XSEED. Having released on PC back in November 2023, it’s the turn of the consoles now!” Stu @ Thumb Culture
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Pam Bondi confirmed as attorney general in 54-46 vote
Pam Bondi confirmed as attorney general in 54-46 vote
Washington — The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Pam Bondi as attorney general, installing a key ally of President Trump’s to take the helm of the Justice Department.
Bondi’s nomination for attorney general was approved by the upper chamber 54 to 46, with one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, joining all Republicans in voting to confirm her. She will take over as the nation’s top law enforcement officer as Mr. Trump has pledged to end what he calls the weaponization of the Justice Department and threatened to target his critics.
During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month, Bondi said she would “not politicize” the department and said “justice will be administered evenhandedly throughout this country.”
“If confirmed, I will work to restore confidence and integrity to the Department of Justice and each of its components,” she said. “Under my watch, the partisanship, the weaponization, will be gone. America will have one tier of justice for all.”
In the days since Mr. Trump began his second term in office, the Senate has been working to confirm his Cabinet picks. The GOP-led upper chamber installed the top members of his national security team first and now is moving to approve the remaining nominees who will lead federal departments.
Bondi’s nomination was first approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in a 12-10 party-line vote before it was considered by the upper chamber.
As attorney general, Bondi will oversee a sprawling department that includes numerous law enforcement components, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Both agencies have often been the target of attacks by Mr. Trump. The president selected another staunch defender, Kash Patel, to lead the FBI.
Bondi will also have the power to investigate the federal probes involving Mr. Trump that were overseen by former special counsel Jack Smith. Smith resigned from the role before the president returned to office, and the two cases brought against Mr. Trump were dismissed because of longstanding Justice Department policy that precludes the prosecution of a sitting president.
Now, with Mr. Trump back in the White House, his administration has been overseeing the ouster of certain Justice Department employees. Acting Attorney General James McHenry, selected by the president to temporarily lead the department, fired roughly a dozen Justice Department employees who worked for Smith because “he did not believe these officials could be trusted to faithfully implement the president’s agenda because of their significant role in prosecuting the president,” a Justice Department official said.
And department leadership directed the acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., Edward Martin, to terminate prosecutors who investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, according to a Jan. 31 memo reviewed by CBS News.
At the FBI, which is a component of the Justice Department, the acting deputy attorney general ordered the acting head of the bureau to compile a list of all current and former FBI employees who were assigned to the investigation into the Jan. 6 attack for review to “determine whether any additional personnel actions are necessary,” according to a memo reviewed by CBS News.
FBI supervisors have also received questionnaires for certain agents in their field offices that contain questions about their possible work on the Jan. 6 cases, such as whether they participated in a search, if they made any arrests or testified in court.
Bondi has previously suggested that the Justice Department prosecutors who were involved in the cases against Mr. Trump would face their own investigation and has repeated the president’s claim that there is a so-called deep state of career government employees working to undermine him.
“The Department of Justice, the prosecutors will be prosecuted, the bad ones. The investigators will be investigated because the deep state last term for President Trump, they were hiding in the shadows. But now they have a spotlight on them,” she told Fox News after he was charged in 2023.
Bondi takes the helm of the Justice Department without the federal prosecution experience that her predecessors have had. She served two terms as Florida’s attorney general, during which her office led lawsuits challenging the Affordable Care Act and former President Barack Obama’s immigration policies.
After leaving office in 2019, she worked as a lawyer and lobbyist for Ballard Partners, a Florida-based firm. During her tenure there, she represented corporations including General Motors, Amazon and Uber, and lobbied on behalf of the Qatari government, according to registration forms submitted to the federal government.
Bondi briefly left her post at Ballard Partners to serve as a member of Mr. Trump’s defense team during the first set of impeachment proceedings pursued by congressional Democrats in his first term. She defended Mr. Trump’s July 2019 call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, in which he pressured Zelenskyy to investigate former President Biden.
Mr. Trump was impeached by the Democrat-led House, becoming the third U.S. president to be impeached, and acquitted by the Republican-led Senate following a trial, where Bondi was part of Mr. Trump’s team.
She also spearheaded legal efforts following the 2020 election to challenge the results in Pennsylvania and falsely asserted Mr. Trump won the battleground state. Bondi told the Senate Judiciary Committee during her confirmation hearing that she accepts the results of the election.
Mr. Trump selected Bondi for attorney general after his first pick, former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, withdrew his name from consideration. Gaetz had been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged ******* misconduct and illicit drug use, and he denied any wrongdoing.
Melissa Quinn
Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for outlets including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal and Alexandria Times. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts.
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Waffle House is passing along the sky high cost of eggs to diners with a 50 cent surcharge – The Associated Press
Waffle House is passing along the sky high cost of eggs to diners with a 50 cent surcharge – The Associated Press
Waffle House is passing along the sky high cost of eggs to diners with a 50 cent surcharge The Associated PressSouth Florida consumers react to the price of eggs CBS NewsEgg prices, shortages from bird flu lead restaurants to add egg surcharge AxiosWant Eggs With Your Breakfast? Pay a Surcharge, Waffle House Says. The New York TimesEgg Shortages Are Now Hitting Restaurants, With No Relief in Sight Bloomberg
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Review – Just One More Day [Wccftech]
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Review – Just One More Day [Wccftech]
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Map (Interactive): A full map for the main regions of KCD 2, Trosky and Kuttenberg. Find and track all Quests, Chests, NPCs, Vendors, and various Points of Interests. You can also find locations of Fast Travel points, different services, Dice Tables, and many more. Discover all that you need in the complete map for KCD 2.
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Billionaire and spiritual leader the Aga Khan dies at 88
Billionaire and spiritual leader the Aga Khan dies at 88
Billionaire philanthropist and spiritual leader Aga Khan has died at the age of 88, his charity the Aga Khan Development Network has announced.
Prince Karim Aga Khan was the 49th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslims, who trace his lineage directly to the Prophet Muhammad.
He “passed away peacefully” in Lisbon, Portugal, surrounded by his family, his charity said in a statement on social media.
Born in Switzerland, he had British citizenship and lived in a chateau in France.
King Charles III has been made aware of the death of the philanthropist, who was a friend of both himself and his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
It is understood that the King is deeply saddened at the loss of a personal friend of many years and is in touch with the family privately.
The Aga Khan’s charities ran hundreds of hospitals, educational and cultural projects, largely in the developing world.
He enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, with a private island in the Bahamas, a super-yacht and a private jet.
The Aga Khan Development Network said it offered its “condolences to the family of His Highness and to the Ismaili community worldwide”.
“We continue to work with our partners to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities across the world, as he wished, irrespective of their religious affiliations or origins,” it added.
The Ismailis, a ******* sect, have a worldwide population of about 15 million, including 500,000 in Pakistan. There are also large populations in India, Afghanistan and Africa.
Prince Karim Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather as imam of the Ismaili Muslims in 1957 at the age of 20.
The prince had an estimated fortune of $1bn (£801m) in 2008, according to Forbes magazine. His inherited wealth was boosted by numerous business interests, including horse-breeding.
He became a leading owner and breeder of race horses in the ***, France and Ireland, breeding Shergar, once the most famous and most valuable racehorse in the world.
He was the founder of the Aga Khan Foundation charity prince and gave his name to bodies including a university in Karachi, and the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture was key to the restoration of the Humayun’s Tomb site in Delhi. There is an annual Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
And he founded the Nation Media Group, which has become the largest independent media organisation in east and central Africa.
Shergar won the Derby at Epsom in 1981 by 10 lengths in the Aga Khan’s emerald green racing silks with red epaulets but was kidnapped in Ireland two years later and never found.
Despite losing his beloved horse, he told the BBC in 2011 – on the 30th anniversary of Shergar’s biggest triumph – that he did not contemplate deserting his Irish breeding operation.
Of Shergar’s triumph, he said: “It’s a memory that can never, never go away.
“I’ve seen that film I don’t know, tens or hundreds of times. I keep trying to analyse where this remarkable performance came from. Every time I see the film, I feel that I have learned something.
“If you’re in racing, the Epsom Derby is one of the greats. It always has been, so to win a race of that quality in itself is an extraordinary privilege. To win it the way he won it was more than that.
“I had watched quite enough races to be able to determine what the jockey was feeling, how the horse was going at the time and when he came around Tattenham Corner, I couldn’t believe my eyes, frankly.
“His victory up to this point in time was unique. Two things I found stunning – one was the ease with which that horse moved and second was the fact that during the finishing straight he just kept going away, going away, going away. That was really remarkable.”
The Aga Khan went on to win the big race another four times with Shahrastani (1986), Kahyasi (1986), Sinndar (2000) and Harzand (2016).
Other notable successes included the 2008 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with the brilliant unbeaten filly Zarkava.
Shergar won the Derby at Epsom in 1981 by 10 lengths in the Aga Khan’s emerald green racing silks with red epaulets but was kidnapped in Ireland two years later and never found.
Despite losing his beloved horse, he told the BBC in 2011 – on the 30th anniversary of Shergar’s biggest triumph – that he did not contemplate deserting his Irish breeding operation.
Of Shergar’s triumph, he said: “It’s a memory that can never, never go away.
“I’ve seen that film I don’t know, tens or hundreds of times. I keep trying to analyse where this remarkable performance came from. Every time I see the film, I feel that I have learned something.
“If you’re in racing, the Epsom Derby is one of the greats. It always has been, so to win a race of that quality in itself is an extraordinary privilege. To win it the way he won it was more than that.
“I had watched quite enough races to be able to determine what the jockey was feeling, how the horse was going at the time and when he came around Tattenham Corner, I couldn’t believe my eyes, frankly.
“His victory up to this point in time was unique. Two things I found stunning – one was the ease with which that horse moved and second was the fact that during the finishing straight he just kept going away, going away, going away. That was really remarkable.”
The Aga Khan went on to win the big race another four times with Shahrastani (1986), Kahyasi (1986), Sinndar (2000) and Harzand (2016).
Other notable successes included the 2008 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with the brilliant unbeaten filly Zarkava.
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Football Australia keep quiet on Kerr’s Matildas future
Football Australia keep quiet on Kerr’s Matildas future
Football Australia (FA) has refused to speculate on Sam Kerr’s playing future in the aftermath of the injured Matildas captain’s court case.
Kerr is in line to return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury for international friendlies against South Korea in Australia, but will first attempt to clear her name in a *** court.
The 31-year-old striker is on trial this week, facing a charge of racially aggravated abuse of a police officer following a night out in London in 2023.
Footage played in court earlier this week showed Kerr labelling a police officer “stupid and white”.
The offence carries a maximum sentence of 26 weeks in jail under *** law.
Kerr denies the charge.
Fronting the media in Sydney, FA chief James Johnson refused to comment on how the forward’s return to the pitch will be handled or whether she will hold onto the captaincy.
“We understand that there will be some disappointment out there (from fans), but what we would ask is that we all wait out,” Johnson said on Wednesday.
“We know there’s a 30-second, 40-second clip out there but we also know there’s a 30-minute video out there which certainly we haven’t seen.
“What we need to do we need to give Sam the opportunity to go through the trial.
“Once we complete the trial, then we’ll have a holistic view of what’s happened.”
The Matildas will host South Korea at Allianz Stadium on April 4 and at McDonald Jones Stadium three days later in the lead-up to the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Provided there are no setbacks with her return at Women’s Super League club Chelsea, interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni believes Kerr has put herself in the frame to feature in the April window.
“Right now, I would say there’s a decent chance that she will be fit,” Sermanni said.
“She’s feeling good, she’s feeling fit, she’s feeling healthy.
“But then, by that stage, she’s not played for probably 15 months.
“A lot of things will potentially depend on what her schedule is with Chelsea, how quickly or how slowly, rather, and safely, we need to bring her back.”
The April friendlies will be a chance for the Australians to exact Asian Cup revenge after a disastrous quarter-final exit loss to South Korea in the 2022 tournament.
It was the Matildas’ worst finish at an Asian Cup, with South Korea going on to finish runners-up to China.
Sermanni is likely to be at the helm of the two friendlies as FA continues its search for a permanent candidate to lead the Matildas at the home 2026 Asian Cup and to the 2027 Women’s World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
“We do want to give that new coach as long a runway as possible,” Johnson said.
“The reality in women’s football now is coaches are locked into contracts – it’s not as simple as just going and tapping someone on the shirt and they come the next day.
“I can assure you that we are talking to candidates at the very highest level.”
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Walmart to cut roles, shut office in North Carolina, memo says
Walmart to cut roles, shut office in North Carolina, memo says
By Siddharth Cavale
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Walmart on Tuesday said it is eliminating some roles and closing its office in North Carolina, as part of its move to relocate employees to its main hubs in California and Arkansas, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters.
The company is also asking office-based employees in Hoboken, New Jersey and some of its smaller offices to relocate to its newly opened headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas and its office in Sunnyvale, California, Donna Morris, Walmart’s chief people officer wrote in a memo marked to its U.S. office-based employees on Tuesday.
Fox News first reported news of the job cuts.
The moves are part of Walmart’s broader relocation strategy that began last year and comes as several other U.S. corporates mandate employees return to office three to five days a week.
In May 2024, Walmart made the decision to relocate the majority of its employees in Dallas, Atlanta, and its Toronto Global Tech office to Bentonville, Arkansas, San Francisco and Hoboken. That came a year after it closed three tech offices and asked some staff to relocate to central corporate hubs.
“We are making these changes to put key capabilities together, encouraging speed and shared understanding,” Morris said in the memo. “Through this review process, we have eliminated some roles as we streamline how we work and will also be exiting our office in Charlotte, North Carolina.”
Walmart, on Tuesday, did not specify the number of people being affected by the decision or the severance packages they will receive if they decide against relocating. Employees will be given a month to inform the company if they plan to move, the Fox News report said.
Earlier this year, Walmart unveiled a new headquarter campus in northwest Arkansas, just a few miles from its previous location it called its “Home Office.”
The expansive 350-acre campus is designed to accommodate over 15,000 employees across 12 buildings with move-ins planned to be completed by fiscal year 2026.
The company is also opening new office spaces later this year in Sunnyvale, California and Bellevue, Washington and expanding and upgrading its office in Hoboken and its Fashion office in New York City, the memo said.
(Editing by Stephen Coates)
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Trump says Palestinians should leave Gaza permanently and US will ‘take over’ strip – CNN
Trump says Palestinians should leave Gaza permanently and US will ‘take over’ strip – CNN
Trump says Palestinians should leave Gaza permanently and US will ‘take over’ strip CNNTrump says U.S. will take over Gaza Strip ReutersOpinion | Population Transfers Approved by America? It’s on the Table. The New York Times
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Vance flexes political power in new role
Vance flexes political power in new role
The vice presidency may have taken JD Vance out of the Senate, but his brief service there has turned out to be instrumental in the early weeks of the Trump administration.
Vance has proven to be essential in getting President Trump’s most controversial cabinet nominees cleared through committees to a full Senate confirmation vote. Multiple Republican senators who were on the fence about supporting some of the president’s picks have said it was Vance, their former Senate colleague, who helped them get them to yes on some of President Trump’s most controversial Cabinet nominees.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana and a key swing vote, was uncommitted about voting for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department until he had “intense” conversations with the White House over the weekend.
“I want to thank VP JD specifically for his honest counsel,” Cassidy said in a post on X as he and fellow members of the Senate Finance Committee assembled for their vote Tuesday. “With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes.”
Sen. Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana, also said he had extensive conversations with the vice president about confirming former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be the director of national intelligence.
“We identified — after looking at her hearing transcript, after a personal visit in the office, after a lot of answers to questions for the record — some gaps, and there was certain language I wanted her to embrace and her answers to reassure me that those national security gaps would be filled. And I worked with Vice President Vance, and he got me those the requested answers,” Young told reporters.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, another prolific swing vote, has also complimented Vance and said she has spoken with him about policy.
“I think all of us who have served with JD have had conversations with him,” she said. “I’ve talked to him, for example, about the difference between our relationships with Canada, which is very important in my state, versus our relationship with Mexico and China.”
Vance introduced commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick at his confirmation hearing last month. And when it came to Trump’s embattled nominee for defense secretary, Vance not only ginned up support for Pete Hegseth but also cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm him.
Vance is particularly close to Senate Majority Whip John Barasso, who is responsible for counting votes and is considered an integral part of the team. While he only served in the Senate for two years before becoming vice president, Vance built key relationships in the chamber, and Republicans members view him a trusted colleague. He has been working the phones and talking to senators about their questions and concerns.
But Vance is also not afraid to exert public pressure, too. He put Republican senators on notice last Wednesday after Kennedy and Gabbard testified before the committees that would vote on advancing their nominations.
“In their own way, both Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. represent parts of the new coalition in our party. To say they’re unwelcome in the cabinet is to insult those new voters,” Vance wrote in a post on X. “To reject their confirmation is to reject the idea that President Trump decides his cabinet.”
Sources close to Vance say he won’t have a traditional portfolio like other vice presidents, who are often tasked with taking on less desirable initiatives. Mr. Trump previously assigned former Vice President Mike Pence to lead the coronavirus task force in late February 2020 before the pandemic swept over the country.
Instead, Vance is expected to be a jack of all trades, rather than serving in any specific area. An adviser close to Vance stressed that he is going to be a “generalist” focusing on all areas of policy and carrying out Mr. Trump’s plans.
Most importantly, Vance will serve as the node between the White House and Capitol Hill, focused on making sure no one is slowing down the Trump agenda in Congress.
Olivia Rinaldi
Olivia Rinaldi is a campaign digital reporter at CBS News covering former President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Rinaldi was previously an associate producer for “CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell” and a broadcast associate for “Face the Nation.” She is based in Washington, D.C.
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Fed Vice Chair Jefferson advocates remaining cautious on rates as policy drama unfolds
Fed Vice Chair Jefferson advocates remaining cautious on rates as policy drama unfolds
Philip Jefferson speaks during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Feb. 3, 2022. The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to confirm Philip Jefferson, an economist and Davidson College’s dean of faculty, to the Federal Reserve Board.
Ken Cedeno | Bloomberg | Getty Images
EASTON, Pa. — Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said Tuesday the central bank should be careful how it adjusts interest rates amid an uncertain policy environment.
In broad terms, the Fed governor said he sees the economy strong with inflation easing back on a “bumpy” road to the central bank’s 2% goal and a labor market in a “solid position.”
However, Jefferson echoed recent statements from other officials that it’s in the Fed’s best interest to move slowly as it evaluates evolving conditions.
“As long as the economy and labor market remain strong, I see it as appropriate for the [Federal Open Market] Committee to be cautious in making further adjustments,” he said in remarks for a speech at Lafayette College.
“Over the medium term, I continue to see a gradual reduction in the level of monetary policy restraint placed on the economy as we move toward a more neutral stance as the most likely outcome,” Jefferson added. “That said, I do not think we need to be in a hurry to change our stance.”
The remarks come less than a week after the FOMC voted to hold its policy rate steady in a range between 4.25% to 4.5%, a decision with which Jefferson concurred. At the previous three meetings, the committee had cut the federal funds rate by a total 1 percentage point after hiking it rapidly to combat a surge in inflation.
Fed officials have refrained from commenting directly on policy clashes in Washington, but have expressed a level of trepidation about trying to prejudge events.
Principal among the current level of uncertainty is the impact that tariff negotiations between the U.S. and its primary trading partners will have. President Donald Trump has paused on duties against products from Canada and Mexico, but is locked in a tense battle with China.
“There is always a great deal of uncertainty around any economic forecast, and currently we face additional uncertainties about the exact shape of government policies, as well as their economic implications,” Jefferson said.
Over the past year, the Fed’s favored inflation gauge — the personal consumption expenditures price index — has edged lower. The rate increased 2.6% in December on a year-over-year basis, well off its peak but still ahead of the central bank’s 2% goal.
Jefferson said he expects inflation to continue to move lower, but hedged his outlook.
“In the current environment, I attach a high degree of uncertainty to my projections,” he said.
The policymaker added that he “could envision a range of scenarios for future policy” where “we can maintain policy restraint for longer” if inflation stays elevated, or one where the Fed could ease more if the labor market weakens.
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FBI turns over details of 5,000 employees who worked on January 6 cases to Trump Justice Department, as agents sue – CNN
FBI turns over details of 5,000 employees who worked on January 6 cases to Trump Justice Department, as agents sue – CNN
FBI turns over details of 5,000 employees who worked on January 6 cases to Trump Justice Department, as agents sue CNNFBI agents sue Trump administration over Jan. 6 scrutiny as FBI discloses list of over 5,000 agents to DOJ CBS News
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Ferrari EV launch date set
Ferrari EV launch date set
Ferrari has set a launch date for its first electric vehicle (EV), which is set to be sold alongside its sonorous V6, V8 and V12 powered models.
The Italian performance car maker will take covers off the as-yet unnamed EV on October 9 at its Maranello headquarters, where the landmark model has been spied testing several times in recent months.
While not much is known about the EV, Ferrari has previously said it’ll account for five per cent of the storied marque’s annual sales by 2026 – meaning about 700 to 800 examples are expected to be sold next year, based on 2024 sales figures.
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Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
A prototype previously spied outside Ferrari’s Maranello factory showed a Purosangue-like vehicle which emitted a synthesised low-pitched V8 rumble from its fake exhaust.
This suggests Ferrari could emulate other EVs such as Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N by keeping the aural experience of internal combustion engined vehicles in its battery-powered vehicles.
Ferrari representatives have previously told CarExpert that any EV will remain true to the hallowed brand’s values.
“Driving thrills are the most important thing within our portfolio and we measure driving thrills in two ways,” said Emanuele Carando, Ferrari’s global marketing director.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
“The easiest way is the smile the clients have whenever they drive our car and get out of the car. [This is] the best indication of how fun it is to drive the car.
“But there is a more scientific approach which is longitudinal acceleration, lateral acceleration, braking, gear shifting and sound. Those five elements are the most important elements we evaluate and we build together to develop our cars.”
As well as introducing electric power, the upcoming model will debut a new body style that sits somewhere between a hatchback and a shooting brake. It will have four doors, joining the Purosangue in the family-friendly Ferrari club.
It’ll join the growing list of electrified Ferraris, which presently includes the 296 GTB/GTS and the SF90.
MORE: How Ferrari will ensure its first EV is a ‘true’ Ferrari MORE: Ferrari’s electric Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model S rival spiedMORE: Is this the sound of Ferrari’s first EV?
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Bill Gates Laughs at the Idea Tech Billionaires Attended Trump’s Inauguration ‘For the Good of the Country’
Bill Gates Laughs at the Idea Tech Billionaires Attended Trump’s Inauguration ‘For the Good of the Country’
Bill Gates threw some cheeky shots at his fellow tech billionaires who attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Tuesday.
While guesting on “The View,” he was asked about the tech bro guest list that featured most of the big names in the space. Gates himself did not attend, but joked he was sure his colleagues were there for the right reasons.
“They clearly wanted to fund the inauguration, they wanted it to be a great inauguration,” he said with a smile. “For the good of the country, no doubt.”
The question came weeks after Trump’s inauguration saw him flanked by many of the most recognizable faces in tech. In attendance – and sat right behind the dais and in front of many of Trump’s cabinet appointments – were X and Tesla boss Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google chief Sundar Pichai. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and OpenAI chief Sam Altman were also at inauguration weekend.
Musk has been a topic of conversation on “The View” for much of the last few months. Earlier in Tuesday’s episode, moderator Whoopi Goldberg asked during the Hot Topics segment if the SpaceX billionaire was getting too much access to sensitive government information. Her follow-up question even got interrupted by a strong reaction from the audience.
“Are Americans going to be OK with Musk…” Whoopi started. Before she could even get around to finishing, “The View” crowd loudly answered, “No!”
At the sudden response, Whoopi startled a bit and laughed, responding, “Oh, OK!”
“The View” airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET on ABC.
The post Bill Gates Laughs at the Idea Tech Billionaires Attended Trump’s Inauguration ‘For the Good of the Country’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
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ChatGPT on WhatsApp can now see, hear, and remember your conversations from elsewhere
ChatGPT on WhatsApp can now see, hear, and remember your conversations from elsewhere
OpenAI is upgrading the ChatGPT phone number you can text with on WhatsApp to be a lot more like the mobile app and web portal. From now on, you won’t need to type out everything you want to say to the AI chatbot. Now, you can send a photo or record a voice memo that ChatGPT will “see” or “hear” and respond via the usual text form.
You’ll be able to do things like take a picture of a foreign-language sign and ask for a translation or send an audio clip of your toddler’s latest philosophical ramblings and ask for a text transcription. It’s not quite as capable as the more standard portal, but it’s very close. The phone number 1-800-CHATGPT still works, too, but by its nature as a phone call, it already takes audio input but can’t accept images.
You’ve been able to use ChatGPT on WhatsApp since it debuted in December, but some may have been annoyed at having to fumble with the keyboard. Being able to snap a picture or send a quick voice note to get ChatGPT’s help will be a real boon for them. Accepting voice messages and photos within an app that many people regularly use during the day makes it much easier for more spontaneous interactions, the way you’d randomly send a photo of voice recording to a friend when you think to do so.
For instance, imagine you’re out for a run and suddenly remember an idea you don’t want to forget. Instead of stopping to type it out, you can send a voice message to ChatGPT, asking it to summarize your thoughts into a note for later. Or let’s say you’re trying to fix something at home, and instead of awkwardly explaining the problem, you snap a picture and ask ChatGPT if it can offer troubleshooting tips.
ChatGPT remembers you
The update also introduces account linking. That means the AI will remember you and your previous preferences and interactions if you have a ChatGPT account through the app or web portal, whether at the free tier or with a subscription to ChatGPT Plus or Pro. Previous limitations, such as the 15-minute-a-month cap on AI calls, are being loosened. This update could entice those who like the idea of ChatGPT but have been reluctant to download the app or go to the website.
WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging platforms in the world, and adding more ChatGPT features there and removing the extra step of opening another app or switching contexts could be OpenAI’s subtle pitch to WhatsApp users without ChatGPT accounts. Instead of needing to open ChatGPT separately, it’s now embedded in a place where they already spend time texting their family and friends. Why not an AI assistant, too?
OpenAI has mentioned that messages may be reviewed for safety purposes, so users should keep that in mind before sending anything too personal or sensitive. Still, for everyday tasks, creative brainstorming, and answering random questions on the fly, this update makes ChatGPT feel more integrated into everyday life than ever before.
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Any upgrade that makes an AI chatbot feel like a natural, conversational tool within your favorite apps and less like a standalone tool with an app you only open when you need something specific is going to be of interest to OpenAI and its rivals.
Whether WhatsApp fans start reaching out to ChatGPT whenever a thought crosses their mind like “What’s for dinner?” or “Can you turn my 2 AM voice ramblings into something coherent?” remains to be seen.
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Karla Sofía Gascón Skipping Critics Choice, PGAs & Other L.A. Awards Events Amid Controversy; Appearance At Spain’s Goya Awards In Play – Deadline
Karla Sofía Gascón Skipping Critics Choice, PGAs & Other L.A. Awards Events Amid Controversy; Appearance At Spain’s Goya Awards In Play – Deadline
Karla Sofía Gascón Skipping Critics Choice, PGAs & Other L.A. Awards Events Amid Controversy; Appearance At Spain’s Goya Awards In Play DeadlineHow Emilia Pérez Is Being Removed from the ‘Emilia Pérez’ Oscar Campaign Yahoo EntertainmentWhy Is Netflix Staying Silent On Karla Sofía Gascón? DeadlineNetflix Distances Itself From Karla Sofía Gascón as Controversy Forces ‘Emilia Pérez’ Oscar Campaign Changes Variety
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Greens senator warns against tech barons influencing *********** politics
Greens senator warns against tech barons influencing *********** politics
Australia has been warned about tech barons growing their influence in our politics after Donald Trump let Elon Musk into the White House.
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Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist selling waterfront Sarasota home for $10 million
Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist selling waterfront Sarasota home for $10 million
Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist Stu Cook has listed his waterfront Sarasota estate for ***** for nearly $10 million, according to a news release from Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.
Cook and his wife Dana Cook purchased the property at 3638 San Remo Terrace in 2013 for $2.95 million before transferring the property a family trust in 2017, according to Sarasota County property records.
The property was listed Tuesday for $9.975 million by Joel Schemmel with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.
The 0.36-acre property includes a four-bedroom, five-bath modernist home designed by architect Carl Abbott. The architect is famous for blending luxury with nature with the Cook residence featuring a Zen-inspired waterfront setting, according to marketing materials.
Located in San Remo Estates just on the mainland near the north bridge to Siesta Key, the 4,550-square-foot house has “undeniable curb appeal with an expansive travertine walkway and a serene Zen garden,” according to marketing materials.
The property also boasts engineered white oak floors, a marble fireplace, a heated pool and a spa and fitness studio.
“This unparalleled estate is a vision of modern architectural excellence,” Schemmel said in a news release. “Every detail has been meticulously crafted to offer an elevated living experience that reflects a legendary music provenance.”
While pricey at just south of $10 million, the home built in 2002 won’t set any records in the Sarasota real estate as just last year a property in the Harbor Acres neighborhood near downtown fetched $20 million, setting the record for a single-family home in Sarasota County.
A double-unit condo at St. Regis Longboat Key also broke through the $20 million figure last year after Vail Properties LLC bought the renovated 10,800-square-foot condo in the region’s newest luxury resort in September. The company bought the two properties for $21.2 million.
Cook isn’t the only famous celebrity to at one time call this stretch of Florida home.
Starting with circus king John Ringling and wife Mable in 1911, Sarasota and Manatee counties have attracted the rich and famous from all walks of life.
Past residents include Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Dickey Betts and Gregg Allman (co-leaders of the Allman Brothers Band), Donna Summer (the disco queen had a home on Manasota Key Road), Donald “Duck” Dunn (Booker T. & the M.G.’s and The Blues Brothers’ bassist lived on Snead Island in Palmetto), and Jerry Wexler (producer of classic albums by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan lived on Siesta Key).
The list of famous musicians currently living in the region includes AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, according to previous Herald-Tribune reporting.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist lists Sarasota home for $10M
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Trump says U.S. will own and develop Gaza Strip
Trump says U.S. will own and develop Gaza Strip
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., Feb. 4, 2025.
Leah Millis | Reuters
President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening said the United States “will take over the Gaza Strip,” and “we’ll own it.”
Trump said that all Palestinians currently living in Gaza, nearly 2 million people, should leave the territory and be placed in other countries in the Middle East. He said the U.S. could then re-develop Gaza, which has been decimated during a war with Israel.
“Gaza is a hellhole,” Trump said at the White House during a joint news conference with Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu, when asked about the U.S. taking over Gaza, said, “I think it’s something that could change history.”
“And I think it’s really worth pursuing this avenue,” he added.
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
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Inside El Salvador's mega-prison where president has offered to hold ‘dangerous’ US citizens and criminal migrants – New York Post
Inside El Salvador's mega-prison where president has offered to hold ‘dangerous’ US citizens and criminal migrants – New York Post
Inside El Salvador’s mega-prison where president has offered to hold ‘dangerous’ US citizens and criminal migrants New York Post El Salvador offers to house violent US criminals and deportees of any nationality in unprecedented deal CNNTrump says he’d deport US citizens convicted of crimes ‘in a heartbeat’ if legal ABC News
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