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Billions Just Hit The Biggest Semiconductor ETF: Are Investors Going All In On AI Chip Boom? - NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) 2024-03-14 22:19:00+00:00 - Loading... Loading... The semiconductor industry is reaching unprecedented levels of popularity among investors as it becomes clear that chips have become some of the most important commodities of present times. On Thursday, major cash inflows to the world's largest semiconductor ETF shows substantial disbelief in the idea that a tech bubble might burst any time soon. Semiconductors are not only consequential within the supply chain for consumer electronics: they serve as the engine behind industrial growth, military supremacy and might ultimately become the backbone of the geopolitical success for nations like China and the U.S. According to data shared by Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst for Bloomberg, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF SMH had record cash inflows on Thursday, possibly triggered by automated buying signals. The ETF, which is pegged to the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index and follows the performance of the 25 largest and most liquid U.S.-listed companies in the industry, received an injection of $1.6 billion, doubling its previous all-time high for weekly fund flows. The event can be read as another vote of trust towards the up-and-coming industry. Shares of the VanEck Semiconductor ETF peaked last week. The fund added almost 80% in gains in the last year and 30% in 2024 alone. Also read: Citadel CEO Ken Griffin Unsure Of AI Market Bubble But Says Nvidia ‘Sits In A Pretty Good Position’ Now: ‘Really On Top Of Their Game’ Other ETFs following the industry show a similar trajectory. iShares Semiconductor ETF SOXX, the second-largest semiconductor ETF after VanEck by total assets, grew 58% in the past year and 19% since January. Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares SOXL, ranking third in total assets among its peers, stands out as the top performer. As a leveraged ETF aiming to amplify the industry’s growth threefold, the fund has surged by 183% over the past year, with a notable 53% increase since the beginning of January alone. While the industry saw a slight downtick this week, ETFs following the sector have benefited significantly from the recent tech rally, which counted semiconductor stocks among some of its biggest winners. NVIDIA Corp NVDA, which has been consistently referred to as the real winner of the AI race, has led the rally, accumulating more than 80% in growth since January. Nvidia's first mover advantage in developing high-end chips made to train artificial intelligence models has been welcomed by investors with open arms. Loading... Loading... Competitor Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. AMD also showcases remarkable —yet more moderate— growth, having added 33% in gains since the start of the year. Top chip manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. TSM follow's AMD's trajectory closely, adding 37% since January. The company, which is a supplier for Nvidia, AMD and other "fabless" chip companies, is overcoming a slump in its own country’s tech sector with the boost received from increasing demand in AI infrastructure. Now read: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Thinks Even Free AI Chips From Rivals Are ‘Not Cheap Enough’ Compared To Its GPUs Image created using artificial intelligence with Midjourney.

North America OTT TV and Video Market Forecast Report 2024 - North American OTT TV Episode and Movie Revenues to Reach $100 Billion in 2029, Up From $81 Billion in 2023 2024-03-14 22:01:00+00:00 - Loading... Loading... DUBLIN, March 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "North America OTT TV and Video Market Forecast to 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. North American OTT TV episode and movie revenues will reach $100 billion in 2029; up from $81 billion in 2023. The US will contribute $16 billion from the $19 billion additional revenues, with Canada supplying the rest. US revenues will be $92 billion in 2029. North American AVOD revenues will increase from $17 billion in 2023 to $25 billion in 2029. SVOD revenues will climb by $10 billion between 2023 and 2029 to $67 billion. The principal analyst of the report said: "Despite being the most mature OTT market by some distance, the US OTT sector continues to grow as cord-cutting show few signs of abating. The US is unique, given the poor state of the pay TV market and the wide OTT choice." This report covers movies and TV episodes. The report comes in two parts: Insight: Detailed country-by-country analysis in a 28-page PDF document. Excel workbook covering each year from 2015 to 2029 by household penetration, by SVOD subscribers and by OTT, AVOD & FAST revenues for movies and TV episodes. As well as summary tables by country and by platform. Company Coverage: Amazon Freevee Amazon Prime Video Apple TV+ CBC CraveTV CTV Disney+ Facebook Fox Global Hulu Live Illico Max NBC Netflix Paramount+ Peacock Pluto TV Roku Channel Samsung TV Plus Showtime Sling TV Stack TV Starz Tubi TVA Viacom YouTube TV For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tslym4 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Loading... Loading... Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets

TC Energy enters agreement to sell Prince Rupert Gas Transmission entities to Nisga'a Nation and Western LNG - TC Energy (NYSE:TRP) 2024-03-14 21:56:00+00:00 - Loading... Loading... Transaction demonstrates TC Energy's focus on its strategic priorities while facilitating the development of critical energy infrastructure CALGARY, Alberta, March 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TC Energy Corporation ((TSX, NYSE:TRP) (TC Energy or the Company) announced today that it has entered into a binding letter agreement with Nisga'a Nation and Western LNG (the Buyers) regarding the purchase and sale of all outstanding shares in Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Holdings Ltd. and the limited partnership interests in Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Limited Partnership (collectively, PRGT). PRGT is a wholly owned subsidiary of TC Energy and the developer of a natural gas pipeline project in British Columbia and potential delivery corridor that would further unlock Canada as a secure, affordable and sustainable source of LNG. This transaction demonstrates TC Energy's resolve toward delivering its 2024 strategic priorities while facilitating the development of critical energy infrastructure. TC Energy's strategic priorities are focused on staying within its $6 to $7 billion annual net capital expenditure limit, post-2024, maximizing the value of its assets and further enhancing the strength and flexibility of its balance sheet. This agreement fits with those priorities and more. "We are pleased to see this important project move forward while remaining firm on our commitment to our strategic priorities. This is an important agreement that will see Indigenous co-ownership and development of an integrated LNG project. Enabling LNG development in British Columbia is good for Indigenous communities, our customers, supports the long-term growth of the WCSB and global emissions reduction through the export of responsibly produced Canadian natural gas," said François Poirier, President and CEO, TC Energy. As part of the letter agreement, TC Energy has committed to provide transition services, on a reimbursable basis, to facilitate the seamless transition of the pipeline project and support development work planned for this year. Subject to the execution of definitive agreements and customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024. Initial proceeds from the transaction are not expected to be material to TC Energy, with the potential to receive additional payments contingent upon the project achieving final investment decision and commercial operation. About TC Energy We're a team of 7,000+ energy problem solvers working to safely move, generate and store the energy North America relies on. Today, we're delivering solutions to the world's toughest energy challenges – from innovating to deliver the natural gas that feeds LNG to global markets, to working to reduce emissions from our assets, to partnering with our neighbours, customers and governments to build the energy system of the future. It's all part of how we continue to deliver sustainable returns for our investors and create value for communities. TC Energy's common shares trade on the Toronto (TSX) and New York (NYSE) stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. To learn more, visit us at TCEnergy.com. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This release contains certain information that is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties (such statements are usually accompanied by words such as "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "intend" or other similar words). Forward-looking statements in this document are intended to provide TC Energy security holders and potential investors with information regarding TC Energy and its subsidiaries, including management's assessment of TC Energy's and its subsidiaries' future plans and financial outlook. All forward-looking statements reflect TC Energy's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made and as such are not guarantees of future performance. As actual results could vary significantly from the forward-looking information, you should not put undue reliance on forward-looking information and should not use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. We do not update our forward-looking information due to new information or future events, unless we are required to by law. For additional information on the assumptions made, and the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the anticipated results, refer to the most recent Quarterly Report to Shareholders and Annual Report filed under TC Energy's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. -30- Loading... Loading... Media Inquiries: Media Relations media@tcenergy.com 403-920-7859 or 800-608-7859 Investor & Analyst Inquiries: Gavin Wylie / Hunter Mau investor_relations@tcenergy.com 403-920-7911 or 800-361-6522 PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/6af3878e-bafd-4a19-9e33-38b2eafe20a8

ROHM Develops Automotive Primary LDOs: Leveraging Original QuiCur Technology to Achieve Industry-Leading Load Response Characteristics 2024-03-14 21:56:00+00:00 - Loading... Loading... Santa Clara, CA and Kyoto, Japan, March 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ROHM Semiconductor today announced the new BD9xxM5-C series of 45V rated, 500mA output primary LDO regulators (BD933M5EFJ-C, BD950M5EFJ-C, BD900M5EFJ-C, BD933M5WEFJ-C, BD950M5WEFJ-C, BD900M5WEFJ-C ) . These devices are suitable for supplying power to automotive electronic components such as Electronic Control Units (ECUs) that operate from vehicle batteries. In recent years, the number of onboard power supply system and functions has continued to grow as electrification in the automotive industry progresses. This increases the demand for primary LDOs that can directly step down the battery voltage to MCUs and other components used in ECUs. However, the energy supplied by the vehicle's lead-acid battery is often subject to sudden voltage fluctuations, which primary LDOs are required to provide with excellent line-transient response in these conditions. At the same time, ECUs and other downstream devices often experience load current variations during operation that also demand excellent load-transient response characteristics. A high frequency response is essential for fast output voltage recovery, but it has been difficult to provide sufficient phase margin at the same time to ensure stable operation. In response, ROHM developed a novel solution that addresses these challenges. The BD9xxM5-C incorporates original QuiCur™ high-speed load response technology that delivers industry-leading[1] load response characteristics to current fluctuations. For example, the LDO can maintain output to within 100mV of set voltage even as the load changes between 0 and 500mA in 1μs (rise time/fall time). Furthermore, low 9.5µA (typical) current consumption contributes to lower power consumption in automotive applications. These new products will be available in four packages, ranging from the compact HTSOP-J8 to the high heat dissipation TO252 (TO252-3/TO252-5) and HRP5 types. This allows users to select the most suitable package for each use case. Going forward, ROHM will continue to improve reliability while reducing power consumption in automotive applications by developing products utilizing its strengths in analog and other technologies. Product Lineup The new BD9xxM5-C meets the basic requirements for automotive products, including 150°C operation and qualification under the AEC-Q100 automotive reliability standard. A wide range of packages will be available to select from depending on the application environment, all featuring excellent response performance and low current consumption using proprietary QuiCur technology. The lineup will be expanded to comprise a total of 18 models by FY2024, including the TO252-3, TO252-5, and HRP5 packages. Loading... Loading... Application Examples Suitable for a wide range of automotive applications such as ECUs that operate on vehicle primary power supply systems, including: Powertrain: Fuel injection, tire pressure monitoring system Body systems: Body control modules Infotainment: Instrument clusters, head-up displays QuiCur High-Speed Load Response Technology QuiCur is the name of ROHM's proprietary ‘Quick Current' high-speed load response circuit capable of maximizing load response characteristics (response performance) without causing instability in the feedback circuits of power supply ICs. Stable operation of the power supply IC is also possible with minimal output capacitance. And in the case of switching regulators, which are a type of power supply IC, it is possible to linearly adjust the capacitance and output voltage fluctuation to easily achieve stable operation even when the capacitance is changed due to specification changes, significantly reducing the number of person-hours required for power circuit design - both in terms of decreasing component count and ensuring stable operation. For more information on QuiCur Technology, please visit: https://www.rohm.com/news-detail?news-title=rohm-establishes-quicur-that-maximizes-the-response-performance-of-power-supply-ics&defaultGroupId=false QuiCur is a trademark or registered trademark of ROHM Co., Ltd. Support Tools ROHM Real Models are high accuracy SPICE models that utilize original model-based technology to faithfully reproduce the electrical and temperature characteristics of the actual IC, resulting in a perfect match between the IC and simulation values. This ensures reliable verification, contributing to more efficient application development, for example by preventing rework after prototyping. Real Models are now available on ROHM's website: https://www.rohm.com/products/power-management/linear-regulators/single-output-ldo-regulators?page=1&PS_ProductSeries=BD9xxM5%20series&PS_SpiceLink=1.0#parametricSearch Online Sales Information Sales launch date: February 2024 Online distributors: DigiKey, Mouser and Farnell (the products will be sold at other online distributors as well) (the products will be sold at other online distributors as well) Applicable part numbers: BD950M5EFJ-C, BD933M5WEFJ-C, BD950M5WEFJ-C, BD900M5WEFJ-C [1] ROHM study, March 2024 Attachments Keng Ly ROHM Semiconductor (248) 348-9920 kly@rohmsemiconductor.com Heather Savage BWW Communications (408) 507-4398 heather.savage@bwwcomms.com

Solar Alliance announces change of auditor 2024-03-14 21:56:00+00:00 - Loading... Loading... TORONTO and KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Solar Alliance Energy Inc. (‘Solar Alliance' or the ‘Company') SOLR, a leading solar energy solutions provider focused on the commercial and industrial solar sector, announces it has changed its auditor from KPMG LLP ("Former Auditor") to Kreston GTA LLP ("Successor Auditor") effective March 1, 2024. The change of auditor occurred at the request of the Company. The Company's board of directors accepted the resignation of the Former Auditor and appointed the Successor Auditor as the new auditor of the Company effective March 1, 2024, and to hold office until the close of the Company's next annual general meeting of shareholders. There were no reservations in the Former Auditor's audit reports for any financial period during which the Former Auditor was the Company's auditor. There are no "reportable events" (as the term is defined in National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations) between the Company and the Former Auditor. In accordance with National Instrument 51-102, the Notice of Change of Auditor, together with the required letters from the Former Auditor and the Successor Auditor, have been reviewed by the Company's audit committee and board of directors and have been filed on SEDAR+ accordingly. Myke Clark, CEO For more information: Investor Relations Myke Clark, CEO 416-848-7744 mclark@solaralliance.com About Solar Alliance Energy Inc. (www.solaralliance.com) Solar Alliance is an energy solutions provider focused on the commercial, utility and community solar sectors. Our experienced team of solar professionals reduces or eliminates customers' vulnerability to rising energy costs, offers an environmentally friendly source of electricity generation, and provides affordable, turnkey clean energy solutions. Solar Alliance's strategy is to build, own and operate our own solar assets while also generating stable revenue through the sale and installation of solar projects to commercial and utility customers. The Company currently owns two operating solar projects in New York and actively pursuing opportunities to grow its ownership pipeline. The technical and operational synergies from this combined business model supports sustained growth across the solar project value chain from design, engineering, installation, ownership and operations/maintenance. Statements in this news release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, constitute Forward-looking statements. The words "would", "will", "expected" and "estimated" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different than those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include but are not limited to: uncertainties related to the ability to raise sufficient capital; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; litigation, legislative or other judicial, regulatory, legislative and political competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties; the ability to maintain revenue growth; the ability to execute on the Company's strategies; the ability to complete the Company's current and backlog of solar projects; the ability to grow the Company's market share; the high growth US solar industry; the ability to convert the backlog of projects into revenue; the expected timing of the construction and completion of the 872 KW Tennessee solar project; the targeting of larger customers; the ability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the construction sector, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; potential corporate growth opportunities and the ability to execute on the key objectives in 2023. Consequently, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. "Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

Elon Musk shared an unverified post about Haiti that his own company had to remove 2024-03-14 21:52:21+00:00 - X took down a clip Elon Musk shared that purported to show cannibalism in Haiti. Experts have dismissed unverified claims that cannibalism is spreading in Haiti amid its humanitarian crisis. Musk has tied the unverified cannibalism rumors to concerns over immigration. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time. Advertisement Elon Musk himself is apparently not immune to content moderation on his own platform. X, formerly known as Twitter, reportedly took down a post that Musk re-shared this week because it violated the platform's rules. The billionaire owner of X responded to an NBC News article posted on its account about violence that's been spreading across Haiti and the country's ongoing humanitarian crisis. The NBC article specifically referred to posts from Musk and conservative personalities promoting unverified claims about cannibalistic gangs in Haiti. Related stories Musk wrote in response to the article, "What do you call this?" He then linked to a graphic clip purporting to show cannibalism in Haiti, Bloomberg reported. Business Insider viewed Musk's post, but was unable to verify the contents of the video clip, which X removed from the platform with a note stating it violated the "X Rules." Advertisement When you click the blue link Musk shared, you then see the message "This post violated the X Rules." Elon Musk/X A spokesperson for the US State Department told Business Insider that it has not "received any credible reports regarding this claim," referring to the rumors of cannibalism in Haiti, and that "people should seek fact-based verification of sensational claims from credible sources before sharing on social media." Despite the lack of credible evidence, claims about cannibalism in Haiti have continued to spread on X. The videos being shared, some of which are years old, were most likely created by violent gangs as an intimidation tactic to scare locals, rather than evidence of widespread cannibalistic behavior, NBC News reported. Musk tied the rumors to fears over Haitian immigration to the US. In response to a post from right-wing personality Ian Miles Cheong, Musk wrote, "If wanting to screen immigrants for potential homicidal tendencies and cannibalism makes me 'right wing', then I would gladly accept such a label! Failure to do so would put innocent Americans in mortal risk." Advertisement Musk, who calls himself a "free speech absolutist," laid off hundreds of content moderation staff when he took over Twitter, renaming it X, in 2022. Shortly after Musk's takeover, reports of the N-word being used on the platform surged by nearly 500%, according to data from the Network Contagion Research Institute. And hateful speech and disinformation has plagued the platform ever since, just as experts warned. X, which typically ignores requests from journalists, said it was too busy to respond to Business Insider's request for comment. March 14, 2024: This article has been updated to include a comment from the US State Department.

Jazz in the Gardens Grows in Attendance from the Previous Year, With 41K at Hard Rock Stadium 2024-03-14 21:51:00+00:00 - Loading... Loading... Music Royalty and Chart-Topping Artists of Multi-Genres Maxwell, Summer Walker, Jazmine Sullivan, Uncle Luke, Jeezy, T.I., Babyface, Fantasia, Tamia, Kirk Franklin, and October London Illuminate the Stages at Jazz in the Gardens Legendary Civil Rights Leader Ben Crump Receives a Proclamation from Miami-Dade County, While Legendary Rappers Trick Daddy and Trina Receive the Key to the City of Miami Gardens MIAMI GARDENS, Fla., March 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- JAZZ IN THE GARDENS 2024 (JITG), hosted by the City of Miami Gardens, has grown in attendance from the previous year, with more than 41,000 fans gathering at Hard Rock Stadium. In its inaugural partnership with Black Promoters Collective (BPC), the festival, in its 17th year, saw a remarkable 25% increase in ticket sales. The 2024 festival, with its diverse lineup and unforgettable performances, spanned two days and featured two magnetic stages. On March 9th and 10th, festival-goers showed up and showed out to enjoy all of JITG's culture-driven offerings. From a varied lineup in food, music, brand activations, vendor merchandise, and art, every attendee could find their place at this annual homecoming. This year's events were made even more remarkable by the presence of a highly curated sponsors lounge and activations for fans to enjoy. Sponsors included Simply, Calder Casino, The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Miami-Dade District 1, Amscot, AARP, Aetna, Bahamas Air, Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits, and more. The festival included two special performances with the "Welcome to the Crib" stages hosted by DJ Nasty, which gave the fans a special taste of Miami with performances by Trick Daddy, Trina, Rick Ross, Ball Greezy, Major 9, and Wayne Wonder. DJ Cassidy gave fans an unforgettable treat with his "Pass The Mic Live!" stage, featuring some of the biggest names in hip hop, including Uncle Luke, Lil Kim, T.I., and Too $hort. Two of the highlights included a surprise presentation to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who was honored with a proclamation from Miami-Dade County, while legendary rappers Trick Daddy and Trina received the key to the City of Miami Gardens from Mayor Rodney Harris and Vice Mayor Katrina Wilson. On Saturday, platinum-selling singer/songwriter Eric Bellinger opened up and set the tone for the energetic performances to come throughout the day. Chicago-born songstress and rapper Tink served the crowd real rawness with her high-energy hits. Fantasia hit the stage and had everyone out of their seats with her rendition of Tina Turner's "Proud Mary." Kirk Franklin's adrenaline-pumping spiritual performance had the crowd going to church, while Jazmine Sullivan gave the most powerful performances for the ladies. Afrobeats artist Davido kept the energy high and the crowd moving. Saturday night closed out with the sexy and sultry sounds of Summer Walker. JITG's second day brought more recognition to the festival. Rising star October London opened the day with the smooth sounds from his debut album. Songbird Tamia sang hit after hit, and the crowd broke out into the "Can't Get Enough" challenge. Jeezy gave the fans what they wanted with a rousing performance, while R&B legend Maxwell, who had a spectacular stage presence, closed out the festival. JITG continues to bring the best in urban music while highlighting the community, and this year's event was nothing short of spectacular. With great attendance, unforgettable performances, and meaningful recognitions, JITG once again showcased its ability to unite music enthusiasts and celebrate the power of music diversely and dynamically. About the City of Miami Gardens Loading... Loading... The City of Miami Gardens celebrated its 20th anniversary of incorporation in 2023. With a population of approximately 113,000, it is the third-largest city in Miami-Dade County. Miami Gardens is a solid professional community of unique diversity. It is the largest predominantly African American municipality in Florida and boasts thousands of Caribbean and Hispanic residents. The city is the home of the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Dolphins football team, University of Miami Hurricanes football team, Orange Bowl football game, 2020 Super Bowl, Miami Tennis Open, the Miami Dolphins Training Facility and home of the Formula One Miami Grand Prix Race. The city has demonstrated steady growth in the areas of community and economic development and has gained a reputation for being a premier destination in South Florida. Miami Gardens is the future host city of the College Football Playoff National Championship and one of the host cities of FIFA World Cup 2026. Miami Gardens is a 2020 All-America City. About Black Promoters Collective The Black Promoters Collective (BPC) is a coalition of six of the nation's top independent concert promotion and event production companies. As a 100% Black-owned business, its mission is to be the world's leading producer and provider of culturally relevant live entertainment experiences. To learn more, visit http://www.blackpromoterscollective.com. Social: Twitter: @jazzgardens Instagram: @jazzgardens Facebook: facebook.com/JazzInTheGardens Website: jazzinthegardens.com/ SOURCE Black Promoters Collective

Investigation Finds World Bank Failed to Police Abuse at Kenyan Schools 2024-03-14 21:23:12.726000+00:00 - The World Bank’s internal watchdog on Thursday criticized the organization’s handling and oversight of its investment in a chain of Kenyan schools that were subject to an internal investigation after allegations that students were abused. The investigation, which started in 2020, has consumed World Bank officials and shareholders in recent months and led to scrutiny of its investment arm, the International Finance Corporation, which invested in the educational project a decade ago. Countries that make up the board of the I.F.C. have been debating how to compensate victims of the abuse. While the scandal predates the tenure of Ajay Banga, the World Bank’s new president, it has emerged as one of the first tests of his management. Mr. Banga will be responsible for directing any changes related to how the bank invests in private-sector projects. He has already faced criticism for appearing to be dismissive of suggestions that the I.F.C. was interfering in the investigation, and U.S. lawmakers have told him that the bank’s future funding could hinge on his handling of the matter.

Trump's NY hush money trial may be delayed a month or more by a last-minute evidence feud: court docs 2024-03-14 21:20:24+00:00 - Trump's felony hush money trial had been scheduled to begin March 25 in Manhattan. Prosecutors now say they'd agree to a 30-day delay, while the defense is demanding a 90-day delay. Talk of delay was triggered by federal prosecutors producing 73,000 pages of long-awaited evidence. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time. Advertisement Donald Trump's felony hush money trial, long scheduled to begin March 25, may be delayed by a month or longer due to federal officials' last-minute production of 73,000 pages of evidence concerning their 2018 prosecution of Michael Cohen. Manhattan prosecutors are willing to delay jury selection by up to 30 days so that the defense will have time to review the newly produced federal evidence, they said Thursday in a letter to the trial judge, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan. Defense lawyers, meanwhile, are demanding "dismissal of the Indictment and severe sanctions," against Manhattan prosecutors as punishment for this late production of evidence, they said in a motion made public Thursday. Short of that, the defense is asking that the trial date be delayed by at least 90 days. Meanwhile, as they wait for Merchan to calm the chaos and pick a new trial-start date, lawyers for Trump and for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg are filing dueling court documents that blame each other for the delay. Advertisement Bragg's side said it has shown only "diligence" in seeking evidence relating to Cohen's federal prosecution. The defense has only dragged its feet in seeking the same evidence, prosecutors said. But in his own filing, Trump attorney Todd Blanche countered that Bragg's lawyers "have engaged in widespread misconduct" by attempting to "suppress" the federal evidence in an effort to improve their chances at trial. "The People should have collected all of these documents long ago," Blanche claimed in his motion. "Instead, they collected some materials but left others with the federal authorities, in the hope that President Trump would never get them," his motion says. Advertisement Both sides appear to agree that the delay was triggered by some 73,000 pages of records — sought for months by both the DA's office and the defense — that have been turned over in tranches throughout this month by the US Attorney's Office. Of that massive evidence dump, some 31,000 pages were turned over only Wednesday, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo wrote in a letter to the trial judge on Thursday. More pages are expected to be turned over by federal prosecutors next week, Colangelo wrote. Related stories But each side is accusing the other of footdragging in pursuing this last-minute evidence, which includes federal grand jury minutes, tapes, witness lists and other documents relating to Cohen — the former Trump fixer who is now a key hush-money prosecution witness. Advertisement In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court to charges that included making an illegal campaign contribution on Trump's behalf, namely the same $130,000 hush money payment at the center of Trump's upcoming state trial. Michael Cohen and former President Donald Trump. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz; Joe Raedle/Getty Images The 2016 payment, which purchased porn star Stormy Daniels' silence just 11 days before the presidential election, was made "at the direction of" Trump, Cohen said. He is expected to repeat that account at Trump's upcoming trial. At the time of the payment, Daniels was about to go public with her account of having slept with Trump during a golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in 2008. The alleged tryst was shortly after Melania Trump gave birth to their son, Barron Trump. So far, Manhattan prosecutors have confirmed that only 176 pages of the newly-produced materials appear to be relevant to Trump's case, Colangelo said in his letter to Merchan, the hush-money judge. Advertisement The evidence turned over Wednesday appears to include additional material related to the state case, Colangelo added. The assistant prosecutor blamed the late, ongoing evidence dump — and the resulting need for a delay — on federal prosecutors and the Trump defense. The materials turned over Wednesday included evidence that Manhattan prosecutors requested from federal prosecutors "more than a year ago and that the USAO previously declined to provide," Colangelo complained in his letter to the judge, using the acronym for US Attorney's Office. The materials are being produced in response to a subpoena that defense lawyers first served on the US Attorney's Office back in January, Colangelo also wrote. Advertisement "Defendant waited until January 18, 2024, to subpoena additional materials from the USAO and then consented to repeated extensions of the deadline for the USAO's determination," the assistant prosecutor wrote. "The timing of the USAO's productions is a result solely of defendant's delay despite the People's diligence." Manhattan prosecutors remain ready to start trial on March 25, but would agree to a delay of up to 30 days "in an abundance of caution," Colangelo wrote. Merchan has not indicated when he will decide on the dismissal request or the trial date.

Sydell L. Miller, Self-Made Eyelash and Hair Care Mogul, Dies at 86 2024-03-14 21:17:56.113000+00:00 - Sydell L. Miller, a self-made beauty mogul who went from the stay-at-home wife of a Cleveland salon owner to a Palm Beach mansion so immense that it was said to take an hour to walk through all of its rooms, died on Feb. 25 at her home in Cleveland. She was 86. Her daughter Stacie Halpern confirmed the death. Ms. Miller had various health issues, including serious heart problems dating to the early 1990s; Ms. Halpern said that a combination of factors had recently caused her mother’s health to decline. Ms. Miller and her husband, Arnold Miller, created two dominant brands: Ardell, the industry standard for abundant and shapely false eyelashes, and Matrix Essentials, which has often been described as the nation’s largest manufacturer of salon products and was the primary source of Ms. Miller’s fortune. In 1994, two years after her husband’s death, Bristol Myers Squibb bought Matrix from Ms. Miller for $400 million.

Eric Trump's wife, Lara Trump, now co-chairs the RNC. Here's a timeline of their relationship. 2024-03-14 21:16:34+00:00 - 2008: Eric Trump and Lara Yunaska met while out with friends and began dating three months later. Eric and Lara Trump in 2008. Davidoff Studios/Getty Images When they met, Eric was working for the Trump Organization and Lara was a producer at Inside Edition. Lara spotted Eric from across the room and was "immediately intrigued," she told Ainsley Earhardt in an interview on "Fox & Friends" in 2016.

Adobe shares slip 10% on soft sales forecast 2024-03-14 21:16:00+00:00 - Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen speaks during an interview with CNBC on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 20, 2024. Adobe shares tumbled as much as 11% in extended trading Thursday after the design software maker issued strong fiscal first-quarter results but came up slightly short on quarterly revenue guidance. Here's how the company did, compared with estimates from analysts polled by LSEG, formerly known as Refinitiv: Earnings per share: $4.48 adjusted vs. $4.38 expected $4.48 adjusted vs. $4.38 expected Revenue: $5.18 billion vs. $5.14 billion expected Adobe's revenue grew 11% year over year in the quarter, which ended on March 1, according to a statement. Net income decreased to $620 million, or $1.36 per share, from $1.25 billion, or $2.71 per share, in the same quarter a year ago. During the quarter, Adobe abandoned its $20 billion acquisition of design software startup Figma after U.K. regulators found competitive concerns. The company paid Figma a $1 billion termination fee. Adobe announced an early version of an artificial intelligence assistant for its Reader and Acrobat apps. Adobe sees fiscal second-quarter earnings of $4.35 to $4.40 per share on an adjusted basis, with $5.25 billion to $5.30 billion in revenue. The middle of the range implies 9% growth. Analysts polled by LSEG had been looking for $4.38 per share and $5.31 billion in revenue. Product enhancements in the Adobe Express app, the Firefly Services AI offering and the new Acrobat assistant should lead to acceleration in digital media annualized recurring revenue in the second half of the year, David Wadhwani, president of Adobe's digital media business, said on the earnings call. The company said it was setting aside $25 billion for share buybacks. Leaving out the after-hours movement, Adobe shares have fallen 4% so far this year, while the S&P 500 index has gained 8% over the same time period. This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.

Georgia Senate passes bill to loosen health permit rules, as Democrats again push Medicaid 2024-03-14 21:13:41+00:00 - ATLANTA (AP) — The Georgia Senate on Thursday passed a plan to loosen health care permitting that proponents say will create new options for patients, as Democrats made a last-ditch attempt to expand health care coverage for lower-income adults. Senators voted 43-11 for House Bill 1339, sending it back to the House for more debate. It’s likely to face pushback there from opponents who warn greater competition will undercut rural hospitals by drawing away the best-paying patients. “It is not a wholesale elimination of certificate of need requirements,” Sen. Bill Cowsert, an Athens Republican, said of the Senate approach. “We’re targeting certain areas where we want to make it easier to provide medical services to Georgians.” Certificates of need, in place in Georgia since the 1970s, require someone who wants to build a health facility or offer new services to prove an expansion is needed. The permits are meant to prevent overspending that would increase health care costs. One key sticking point is likely to be whether to let outpatient surgery centers serve multiple medical specialties without a state permit, called a certificate of need. The Senate bill would let physicians from multiple specialties share one surgery center. The House has opposed such a move. The Senate measure could also allow the historically Black Morehouse School of Medicine to open a hospital in central Atlanta that could provide services once offered by the now-shuttered Atlanta Medical Center. It would also allow a hospital to open without a permit in any rural county where a prior hospital has been closed for more than 12 months. That could allow a hospital in the southwest Georgia town of Cuthbert that closed in 2020 to reopen. The bill also includes a study committee to examine whether Georgia’s state-federal Medicaid program should be expanded to cover more lower-income adults. Right now, for many adults who make less than than the federal poverty level, or about $15,000 a year, the only option is Gov. Brian Kemp’s Pathways program. It requires adults to prove 80 hours a month of work, study or volunteering. Although hundreds of thousands of Georgia adults below the poverty line are uninsured, only a few thousand have attained Pathways coverage so far. “Medicaid expansion is what you need to take care of all these folks,” said Sen. David Lucas, a Macon Democrat who introduced a separate expansion bill this year. He voted for Thursday’s bill, saying he wanted negotiators to consider full expansion when they meet to work out differences between House and Senate bills. While some states have repealed certificate-of-need laws, Georgia is among the majority of states still using them. Incumbent hospitals and health care providers often oppose new developments. Those who dislike the certificates say they prevent needed competition and unfairly protect local monopolies. “The Senate passed a measure today that would ensure that every Georgian, regardless of where they live, would have an opportunity to access quality care in their community,” Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a Republican, said in a statement. Jones has advocated for full repeal of the permits But Democrats say that new medical facilities in underserved areas won’t be able to sustain themselves without more insured patients. “How does this bill allow a hospital operator, whether it’s 20 minutes from here or four hours from here, to avoid operating at a significant loss under the current mix of uncompensated care?” asked Sen. Jason Esteves, an Atlanta Democrat. Now in Georgia, physicians can open a surgery center serving only their medical specialty without a permit. The Senate plan doesn’t directly say physicians can open a surgery center that provides medical procedures across multiple specialties. But it does say physicians from different specialties can share operating rooms, which means one building can be used for any procedure. Sen. Billy Hickman, a Statesboro Republican who supported the bill, said surgery centers skim off lucrative businesses from hospitals. “They are not open seven days a week like our hospital is,” Hickman said. “They’re not open 24 hours a day like our hospital. They don’t have to take everybody that walks in the way our hospital does.” The Senate plan would also abolish requirements for permits for outpatient birthing centers and imaging centers, which provide X-rays, CAT scans and PET scans. The bill would let new hospitals be built in counties with less than 50,000 residents, as long as they agree to provide a certain amount of charity care, join the statewide trauma system and provide “comprehensive behavioral health services.”

Trump hush money prosecutor tells judge he is OK with one-month delay of trial start 2024-03-14 20:58:00+00:00 - Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a news conference at his office in New York City on Feb. 22, 2024. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Thursday told a judge that he does not oppose postponing the start of the criminal hush money trial of former President Donald Trump by up to 30 days. Bragg said that delay would give Trump's attorneys time to review tens of thousands of documents turned over Wednesday by federal prosecutors related to their criminal prosecution of Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen. The DA told Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan that his prosecution team is prepared to start Trump's trial on March 25 as currently scheduled. But, Bragg wrote in a court filing, "We do not oppose an adjournment in an abundance of caution and to ensure that defendant has sufficient time to review the new materials." Trump is charged with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment that Cohen paid to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election to keep her quiet about an alleged sexual tryst with the then-presidential nominee. Cohen, who is set to testify against Trump at the trial, pleaded guilty in 2018 in Manhattan federal court to federal campaign finance violations related to hush money paid to Daniels and to another woman who said she had an affair with Trump. Bragg in his filing said that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan on Wednesday turned over 31,000 pages of records related to Cohen's criminal case to his office and Trump's lawyers. Another production of documents from federal prosecutors is due next week, Bragg said. The DA said that the late arrival of those materials "is a result solely of defendant's delay despite the People's diligence." Trump's lawyers dispute that characterization. Last week, defense attorneys Susan Necheles and Todd Blanche asked Merchan to either dismiss Bragg's indictment entirely or delay the trial for 90 days while also blocking Cohen and Daniels from testifying. Trump's lawyers argued that Merchan should do so because federal prosecutors in early March gave them an incomplete tranche of 73,000 pages of records related to Cohen. The DA's prosecutors "should have obtained and produced these materials long ago, and instead they chose to seek unsuccessfully to obstruct our access to them," Trump's lawyers wrote. In turn, the DA in his new filing says that last year he asked federal prosecutors for the full grand jury record related to Cohen's conviction. Those materials were sent to Trump by last June, the DA said. Trump "raised no concerns" about whether those efforts were sufficient until last week, Bragg said. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement that Bragg agreed to a delay "after conceding serious discovery violations." "President Trump and his counsel have been consistent and steadfast that this case has no basis in law or fact, and should be dismissed," Cheung said. Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case, which is one of four criminal prosecutions he faces while also preparing to run against President Joe Biden in November's presidential election.

U.K. high court rules Australian computer scientist is not bitcoin founder "Satoshi Nakamoto" 2024-03-14 20:58:00+00:00 - Who is Satoshi Nakamoto? A ruling from Britain's high court Thursday has at least narrowed down who Satoshi is not. For eight years, Australian computer scientist Craig Wright has claimed that he was the man behind "Satoshi Nakamoto," the pseudonym that masked the identity of the creator of bitcoin. His claim was vehemently rejected by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance, or Copa, a nonprofit group of technology and cryptocurrency firms, who brought the case to court. In his ruling, Justice James Mellor said Wright did not invent bitcoin, was not the man behind Satoshi, or the author of the initial versions of the bitcoin software. Further explanation will emerge when Mellor's written statement is published at a later date. "Having considered all the evidence and submissions presented to me in this trial, I've reached the conclusion that the evidence is overwhelming," he said, according to a court transcript. Britain's high court Thursday ruled Craig Wright (above) did not invent bitcoin. For eight years, Australian computer scientist has claimed he was the man behind "Satoshi Nakamoto," the pseudonym that masked the identity of the cryptocurrency's creator. Lucy North/PA Images via Getty Images During the trial, Copa claimed Wright had created an "elaborate false narrative" and forged documents to suggest he was Satoshi and had "terrorized" those who questioned him. A spokesperson for Copa said Thursday's decision is a "win for developers, for the entire open source community, and for the truth." "For over eight years, Dr. Wright and his financial backers have lied about his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto and used that lie to bully and intimidate developers in the bitcoin community," the spokesperson added. Wright, who attended the start of the five-week trial, denied the allegations. At stake was not just bragging rights to the creation of bitcoin, the world's most popular virtual currency, but control of the intellectual property rights. Wright has used his claim as bitcoin's inventor to file litigation to drive developers away from further developing the open-source technology, the alliance claimed in their lawsuit. The ruling will clearly impact three pending lawsuits that Wright has filed based on his claim to having the intellectual property rights to bitcoin. The murky origins of bitcoin date to the height of the financial crisis in 2008. A paper authored by a person or group using the Nakamoto pen name explained how digital currency could be sent around the world anonymously, without banks or national currencies. Nakamoto seemed to vanish three years later. Speculation on the true identity swirled for years and the names of several candidates emerged when Wright first surfaced to claim the identity in 2016, only to quickly return to the shadows, saying he didn't "have the courage" to provide more proof. Bitcoin, the world's first cryptocurrency, was released in 2009 as an open-source software and is the most high-profile digital currency. As with all digital tokens, bitcoin is not tied to any bank or government. Like cash, it allows users to spend and receive money anonymously, or mostly so. It can also be converted to cash when deposited into accounts at prices set in online trading. Supporters say it can be more trustworthy than traditional money, which can be vulnerable to the whims of those in power. Skeptics say their volatility has introduced a potential new risk to the global financial system, and fret about their potential to promote illicit activities and introduce uncertainty. Despite occasional big wobbles, one bitcoin is now worth over $70,000, three times what it was worth just a year ago. Demand for the bitcoin has risen sharply on so-called spot bitcoin exchange traded funds. The ETFs, which allow investors to dabble in crypto in a less riskier way than ever before, has attracted a huge influx of cash this year, experts said. Thursday's verdict is a relief to the crypto exchanges who have been rejecting the idea of Wright as Satoshi. "Satoshi understood the value of decentralization and built bitcoin so that it could not be controlled by a single person or entity," said a spokesperson for Kraken, one of the biggest exchanges. "We're pleased the court recognized the overwhelming evidence that categorically settles that Wright is not Satoshi."

Sports Illustrated’s Employees Are Told Print Edition Will Close in May 2024-03-14 20:53:32+00:00 - Friction between Sports Illustrated’s owner and its operator has led to disarray at the venerable magazine in recent months. On Thursday, that dysfunction again came to the fore. Employees were told during a meeting that the magazine would cease publishing its print edition after its May issue, according to Steve Janisse, a spokesman for Manoj Bhargava, the businessman whose handpicked leadership team effectively operates the publication. But that message runs counter to what Sports Illustrated’s owner, Authentic Brands Group, has said about looking for a way to ensure that the magazine endures in print. Authentic Brands, primarily a licensing company that acquires the rights to celebrity brands, bought the publication in 2019 because of its name recognition but not with the intention of running a magazine. The Arena Group, a media company that publishes a variety of news websites, then reached an agreement to operate Sports Illustrated, under a license from Authentic Brands. Last year, Mr. Bhargava, the founder of the 5-Hour Energy drink company, agreed to buy a major stake in the Arena Group. In January, Authentic Brands terminated its deal with Arena Group after Arena breached its licensing agreement by failing to make a $3.75 million payment. Soon after, much of the publication’s staff was informed that it was being let go immediately or would be laid off within 90 days. Since then, Authentic Brands has been weighing a deal with new licensees, leading to the current uncertainty.

Wendy Williams’ guardian challenges validity of contract for docuseries in legal documents 2024-03-14 20:42:00+00:00 - Former daytime talk show host Wendy Williams signed a contract to take part in a docuseries that critics have called exploitative without her financial guardian present, a legal filing NBC News obtained Tuesday alleges. Williams was impaired — but had not yet been diagnosed with a neurological condition that affects her ability to communicate and understand others — when she agreed in November 2022 to take part in a two-part Lifetime docuseries, the guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, said in court documents filed Feb. 21 in New York State Supreme Court and unsealed Thursday. The docuseries aired in two parts on Feb. 24 and 25. “She was not, and is not, capable for consenting to the terms of the documentary Contract,” the papers state. “And no one acting in [Williams’] best interest would allow her to be portrayed in the demeaning manner in which she is portrayed in the Trailer for the documentary.” Even though Williams is listed as the executive producer of “Where is Wendy Williams?” Morrissey asked the court to declare the contract null and void and bar A&E Television Networks and Entertainment One Reality Productions from “releasing the documentary and any associated footage.” The day the court documents were filed, Williams’ management team announced in a statement that she was in a treatment facility, diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, the debilitating ailment that actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with in 2022. It was all for naught. Citing the First Amendment, a judge on Feb. 23 dismissed Morrissey’s request for a restraining order to block the show from airing but did not dismiss her lawsuit. Morrissey said in the court papers that Williams was depicted in a “demeaning and undignified manner.” The two-part docuseries sparked outrage from Williams’ friends and fans. Morrissey, whom a New York state judge appointed as Williams’ guardian in February 2022, is still suing A&E. In her lawsuit, which was first obtained by NBC News and had been sealed to protect Williams’ privacy, Morrissey said the contract was signed in November 2022 by “the “CEO” of The Wendy Experience, Inc.” It’s unclear who the CEO of this company, formed in June 2022, is, and Morrissey said that while the company was formed after she was appointed guardian, she did not authorize its creation. In addition, Morrissey calls the CEO signature into question in the court papers, saying, “The name in the signature is not clearly legible; however, it is highly distinguishable from [Williams’] signature.” A&E and the production company behind the project, Entertainment One Reality Productions LLC., did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The guardian was aware that a film crew was working with Williams on a comeback project and that there had been a couple of days of filming, but she was not aware Williams had signed a contract, a source close to the matter said. Morrissey said in the court documents that Williams’ manager, William Selby, said he would have “final creative control” over the documentary and that she allowed the project to go forward “with the understanding that nothing would be released without review and final approval of the Guardian and the court.” Selby declined a request for comment. Earlier, in an interview with TODAY.com, the filmmakers said they were not aware of Williams’ diagnosis during production, though they acknowledged: “Some days, Wendy was on and very Wendy. Other days, she wasn’t.” They moved forward with the project because, according to showrunner Erica Hanson, “[w]e all felt this was a complex and sensitive story to tell, and we all felt a great responsibility to do it with dignity and sensitivity.” Morrissey said “Where is Wendy Williams?” was anything but dignified or sensitive. In the court filing, Morrissey called the docuseries “humiliating” and “demeaning” and charged that it is “unconscionably exploiting [Williams’] condition, and perhaps even disclosing her personal and private medical diagnosis, for perceived ‘entertainment value’ and the prurient interest of television viewers.” “This blatant exploitation of a vulnerable woman with a serious medical condition who is beloved by millions within and outside the African American community is disgusting and it cannot be allowed,” the filing says. In an interview last month, Williams’ publicist, Shawn Zanotti, slammed the producers of the docuseries. “I did not agree with what was going on with this documentary,” Zanotti said. “I made it very clear to the guardian. The production company was aware of that.” Zanotti said she “didn’t agree with the way this was moving and shaking.” “And instead of them dealing with me, they decided to ignore me,” she said. “They ignored me from that moment, and I never heard from them again.” Williams, 59, hosted the “The Wendy Williams Show” from 2008 to 2021, performing well in ratings. In its 10th season, the show averaged more than 1.6 million viewers a day, Deadline reported. Speculation about Williams’ health began in 2017, after she fainted live on the air. Williams has been open with her audience about her struggles with addiction. In 2019 she told viewers that she was living in a sober house and that she had sought treatment for drug use. Months later, Williams revealed she was taking time off because of Graves’ disease, which is an autoimmune disorder. Williams was also absent from her show in 2021 and 2022 because of health reasons, Variety reported. Sherri Shepherd took over the time slot in 2022, before “The Wendy Williams Show” was eventually canceled. It was while Williams was off the air that her bank, Wells Fargo, petitioned to have her placed under a financial guardianship, claiming she was “incapacitated” and “a victim of undue influence and financial exploitation,” claims Williams pushed back against.

If Fani Willis is disqualified, a long delay in Trump’s Georgia case may follow 2024-03-14 20:38:38+00:00 - A decision could come any minute from Judge Scott McAfee that changes the course of Donald Trump’s criminal prosecution in Georgia — possibly forever. If the judge disqualifies Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, that doesn’t mean that the case is dismissed. But it would jeopardize the election subversion case from moving forward and would, at minimum, cause more delay in a case that doesn’t even have a trial date as it is. McAfee previously said that he intends to rule by Friday. The reason that disqualification would at least cause further delay is that Willis’ whole office would be off the case, requiring a new one to be appointed. That task falls to a state panel called the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia. As an example of how long that process can take, look no further than this previous disqualification: In July 2022, Willis was blocked from pursuing charges against Burt Jones, then a state senator and now Georgia’s lieutenant governor, who faced a possible indictment in the fake elector scheme. Willis had hosted a fundraiser for a candidate who ultimately ran against Jones. All this time later, a new prosecutor still hasn’t been assigned. And that’s just one person. The complex Trump case involves not only a former president and the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, but more than a dozen other defendants alongside him. If Willis were to be disqualified, it’s difficult to see the case getting to a new prosecutor quickly — especially if the Jones delay is any indication. Even if it does, how that hypothetical new prosecutor would handle the case remains to be seen. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for weekly updates on the top legal stories, including news from the Supreme Court, the Donald Trump cases and more.

Democrats cite AI gains and automation in Senate bill calling for 32-hour workweek 2024-03-14 20:36:00+00:00 - Senate Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) questions witnesses with ranking member Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) during a hearing about working hours in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 14, 2024 in Washington, DC. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Senate Democrats cited advances in artificial intelligence and automation Thursday in their argument for a bill that would mandate a 32-hour federal workweek. "Despite massive growth in technology and worker productivity, millions of workers in our country are working longer hours for low wages," Sanders said after gaveling open a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. "The sad reality is Americans now work more hours than the people of any other wealthy nation," the committee chair and Vermont independent said later. The bill introduced by Sanders and Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., would reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours over a four-year period. Employers would have to pay overtime compensation to nonexempt employees of 1.5 times the hourly rate for every hour worked past eight hours in a single day, and two times the hourly rate for every hour worked past 12 hours. The bill also would guarantee that total weekly wages would not be cut as a result of the reduction in total hours worked. Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., has introduced a similar bill in the House of Representatives. The bills come months after business leaders such as JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates predicted that people could within decades work as little as three days a week due to innovations in AI and automation. Sanders and Democrats at Thursday's hearing said that reducing the workweek would allow people to spend more time with family and on hobbies. "A lot of people find value in work and I'm glad that they do, but a lot of people find more value by the institutions and the social clubs and the churches that they affiliate and spend time with outside of work," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. Republicans slammed the plan, saying the mandate would destroy small businesses and would hurt industries such as retail stores, which need to be open six or more days per week. "This would be napalm upon the fire of inflation," said Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the ranking Republican on the committee. Another Republican on the panel, Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana, said, "I do disagree trying to do anything from this place that would impose upon the hundreds of businesses out there to where I just don't think they could survive." In testimony to the committee, Boston College sociology professor Juliet Schor said her research shows that hourly productivity of both workers and management would rise as a result of a four-day, 32-hour workweek. Schor said her research also found that employees experienced increases in well-being outside of the office. Jon Leland, chief strategy officer at the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, testified that his company saw its goal achievement rate and employee retention soar after instituting a four-day workweek. "People want to work but they want to work in a way that is balanced with the rest of their lives," Leland told the panel. But another witness, Liberty Vittert, disputed studies that have found higher productivity with a shorter workweek. Vitter said those productivity gains disappear over time. "We don't know yet what abilities AI is going to give us," said Vittert, who is a professor of the practice of data science at Washington University in St. Louis. Cassidy suggested holding a hearing on AI's impact on the economy. But he also said that it is unlikely that advances in that technology would allow most workers to reduce their hours. "A mom-and-pop restaurant is not really seeing increased productivity from AI," Cassidy said. "They're having trouble finding enough people to fill shifts."

Christie Brinkley said she received treatment for skin cancer 2024-03-14 20:25:09+00:00 - Model and actor Christie Brinkley has revealed that she received treatment for basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. "The good news for me is we caught the basal cell Carcinoma early," Brinkley, 70, wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday. "And I had great Doctors that removed the cancer and stitched me up to perfection like an haute couture Dior." Brinkley wrote that she was diagnosed by chance during her daughter's checkup. At the end of her daughter's appointment, Brinkley asked the doctor to look at a "little tiny dot" that she had felt while applying her foundation. "He took a look and knew immediately it needed a biopsy! He did it then and there!" she wrote. Brinkley was the face of CoverGirl cosmetics for 25 years and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated several times in the 1970s and '80s. Basal cell carcinoma happens when the genetic material in the basal cell, the outermost skin layer, mutates. It's known to affect areas of the body that are exposed to the sun, and it's especially common among older people. Both President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were treated for basal cell carcinoma last year. In her Instagram post, Brinkley urged her followers to be "diligent with your sun protection" and checkups. "I got serious a bit late so now for this ole mermaid/gardener, I’ll be slathering on my SPF 30, reapplying as needed, wearing long sleeves and a wide brim hat," she added.