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Hamas accepts a ceasefire proposal from Egypt & Qatar None - A faction of Hamas, later reported to be the political wing, has agreed to an Egyptian and Qatari ceasefire deal, but the Israeli government has yet to respond. Raf Sanchez joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss the details of the agreement.May 6, 2024
Hamas accepts tentative cease-fire proposal from Egypt and Qatar None - Hamas has tentatively accepted a Gaza cease-fire proposal from Egypt and Qatar. NBC News' Raf Sanchez reports on the details of the potential deal and what the next steps could be.May 6, 2024
US employers scaled back their hiring in April, adding 175,000 jobs in the face of higher borrowing rates None - US employers scaled back their hiring in April, adding 175,000 jobs in the face of higher borrowing rates US employers scaled back their hiring in April, adding 175,000 jobs in the face of higher borrowing rates
John Swinney expected to lead Scotland after taking the helm of the Scottish National Party None - A former head of the Scottish National Party is expected to be Scotland's next leader John Swinney expected to lead Scotland after taking the helm of the Scottish National Party LONDON -- Scotland's former deputy first minister was poised to become its third leader in just over a year after taking the helm of the troubled Scottish National Party on Monday. John Swinney, who led the SNP two decades ago, was the only candidate to replace First Minister Humza Yousaf as the leader of the party. The SNP has been in turmoil since long-serving First Minister Nicola Sturgeon abruptly stepped down last year during a campaign finance investigation that eventually led to criminal charges against her husband. Swinney, 60, who joined the party at age 15, will try to bring stability to the SNP as it fights efforts by opponents to weaken it going into U.K.-wide parliamentary elections expected later this year. “The polarization of politics does not serve our country well," Swinney said as he was named party leader. “I will reach out to everyone willing to join with us in good faith and seek compromises that serve our nation well. We need to stop shouting at each other and talk. More than that, actually, we need to listen. As first minister, I will do exactly that.” Yousaf announced his resignation last week after a political miscalculation in which he booted the Green Party from the ruling coalition of Scotland’s semiautonomous government. The SNP is one seat short of a majority in the local parliament with 63 of the 128 voting seats, so it needs to partner with at least one opposition party. The pro-independence SNP was weakened by the campaign finance scandal and divisions over transgender rights, but was ultimately brought down by Yousaf’s decision to oust the Greens because of differences over climate change goals. Yousaf was unable to persuade other parties to back his minority government in Scotland’s parliament. Facing the prospect of two no-confidence votes that had been scheduled, Yousaf quit rather than be forced out. Yousaf will remain first minister until his replacement is elected. Swinney is likely to be elected to that position later this week. Swinney thanked Yousaf for serving with “grace and dignity,” and said that his “moral leadership on the issue of Gaza has been a light in very dark times." Yousaf won a bruising campaign to take over the party after Sturgeon, who was first minister for eight years, resigned unexpectedly in February 2023. About a month later, Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, who was the party's chief executive, was arrested as police investigated how 600,000 pounds ($750,000) earmarked for a Scottish independence campaign was spent. Sturgeon and Colin Beattie, the party’s former treasurer, were later arrested and questioned in the inquiry, but they were released without being charged with a crime. Murrell was charged last month with embezzlement. Swinney had served as Sturgeon's deputy first minister during her tenure as Scotland's leader, but stepped down when she left office. Conservative leader Douglas Ross said that Swinney’s past makes him unlikely to bring the change that Scotland needs. “John Swinney was joined at the hip with the disgraced Nicola Sturgeon and his fingerprints are all over her numerous policy failures and cover-ups,” Ross said. Swinney pledged to lead a center-left government focused on the economy, jobs, the cost of living, the National Health Service, schools, public services and the “climate crisis.” Swinney said that he would make his case to persuade people of the need for Scottish independence, which voters rejected in 2014. He cited Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis, which he blamed on U.K. politicians in London, as being bad for Scotland. “They demonstrate why Scotland needs to have independence to make our own decisions and create our best future,” he said. “If someone is an independence supporter in Scotland and they want Scotland to be independent, there’s only one political party that will ever deliver and that’s the Scottish National Party.” Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar echoed Ross' remarks, saying that the “SNP is offering more of the same.” “John Swinney has been at the heart of this incompetent government for 17 years and at the heart of the SNP for 40 years," Sarwar said. "John Swinney’s record is one of failure.”
Call it Cognac diplomacy. France offered China’s Xi a special drink, in a wink at their trade spat None - How do you smooth over trade tensions with the all-powerful leader of economic powerhouse China Call it Cognac diplomacy. France offered China’s Xi a special drink, in a wink at their trade spat PARIS -- How do you smooth over trade tensions with the all-powerful leader of economic powerhouse China? Charm him with a bottle of Cognac, or two. That seemed to be French President Emmanuel Macron’s strategy with his carefully selected gift list for visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday. China recently opened an anti-dumping investigation into European brandy — which mainly means French Cognac. It’s seen as retaliation for EU investigations into Chinese subsidies for electric cars and medical devices. Those disputes were central to talks between Xi and Macron on Monday. Macron said afterward that he thanked Xi for his “openness about the provisional measures toward French Cognac.” According to the protocol of formal state visits, the two leaders then exchanged gifts. Xi presented the French president with a striking stuffed bird, French-language books published in China, and a painting. Macron offered rare volumes by Victor Hugo, the first French-Chinese dictionary, a sculpted glass vase from Amboise — and two bottles of Cognac, a Hennessy X.O. and a prized Louis XIII by Remy Martin.
Redfin agrees to pay $9.25 million to settle real estate broker commission lawsuits None - Redfin has agreed to pay $9.25 million to settle federal lawsuits that claim U.S. homeowners were saddled with artificially inflated broker commissions when they sold their home as a result of longstanding real estate industry practices Redfin has agreed to pay $9.25 million to settle federal lawsuits that claim U.S. homeowners were saddled with artificially inflated broker commissions when they sold their home as a result of longstanding real estate industry practices. The online brokerage and real estate services company disclosed the proposed settlement Monday in a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The settlement, which Redfin agreed to Friday, would resolve pending class action lawsuits filed in federal court in the Western District of Missouri, and also shield the company, its subsidiaries and agents from similar cases around the country, according to the filing. "Resolving this litigation now and removing uncertainty is in the best interest of the company, our employees, and our investors,” the company said in a statement Monday. Seattle-based Redfin noted that it doesn't expect the settlement, which must be approved by the court, to have a material impact on its future operations, adding it expects to record a $9.25 million pre-tax charge for the quarter ended March 31. Shares in Redfin were up 3.7% in afternoon trading Monday. Redfin is the latest big brokerage to agree to settlement terms in order to put an end to lawsuits related to the real estate industry's broker compensation structure, following Re/Max, Keller Williams Realty, Compass and Anywhere Real Estate. Last month, HomeServices of America, which is owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, agreed to pay $250 million to settle the lawsuits. And in March, the National Association of Realtors agreed to pay $418 million. All told, the real estate industry has now agreed to pay more than $950 million to make the lawsuits go away. The lawsuits′ central claim is that the country’s biggest real estate brokerages and the NAR violated antitrust laws by engaging in business practices that required home sellers to pay the fees for the broker representing the buyer. Attorneys representing home sellers in multiple states argued that homeowners who listed a property for sale on real estate industry databases were required to include a compensation offer for an agent representing a buyer. And that not including such “cooperative compensation” offers might lead a buyer’s agent to steer their client away from any seller’s listing that didn’t include such an offer. In October, a federal jury in Missouri ordered the National Association of Realtors and several other large real estate brokerages to pay nearly $1.8 billion in damages. The defendants were facing potentially having to pay more than $5 billion, if treble damages were awarded. The verdict in that case, which was filed in 2019 on behalf of 500,000 home sellers in Missouri and elsewhere, led to multiple similar lawsuits being filed against the real estate brokerage industry.
Inspired by the Met, 'sleeping baddies' tackle medical debt at the Debt Gala's pajama party None - The Met Gala has inspired pajama-clad New Yorkers to fundraise for medical debt relief at an alternative benefit called the Debt Gala NEW YORK -- A plush octopus by Jellycat. A neck pillow by XpresSpa. Graphic sleeping masks by Geyoga. The accessories weren't designer. But these cozy, low-budget pieces stood out Sunday at the second Debt Gala, where some 200 pajama-clad revelers dressed for its “Sleeping Baddies” theme to raise money for medical bill relief. Hosted in Brooklyn one night before the Met Gala, the populist benefit's thrifty getups and raunchy comedy routines marked a far cry from its glitzy, star-studded inspiration that collects millions of dollars annually for the renowned art museum's costume department. It's one of several alternative galas that have recently emerged around the city with hopes to democratize the exclusive springtime fundraiser's spectacle and leverage its fanfare to highlight other causes. Brooklyn Public Library revived its People's Ball in 2022 as an inclusive declaration of fashion's existence among “the everyday New Yorker.” "Why should this wonderful, fun display of creativity and showmanship just be reserved for these wealthy elite when there’s so many amazing, creative New Yorkers who deserve to get the red-carpet treatment?” said Debt Gala co-founder Molly Gaebe. This year’s beneficiaries are the Debt Collective, a debtors’ union born from the Occupy Wall Street movement, and Dollar For, a non-profit that reports having eliminated almost $50 million in medical debt by ensuring lower-income patients get discounted health services. The prevalence of health care debt has prompted billions of dollars in relief from governments and private donors. A 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that four in 10 adults have some form of medical- and dental-related debts — with even greater numbers among Black and Hispanic adults, the uninsured and women. Debt Gala tickets ranged from $35-$1,000. Attendees were encouraged to wear red squares — a nod to debtors' status “in the red” and a symbol of solidarity. Handbags by Steve Madden composed almost all the items up for grabs at a silent auction. Jared Walker, the founder of Dollar For, said the fundraiser aligned better with his nonprofit’s mission than more elaborate, black-tie events. The Washington-based organization connects financially strapped families facing overwhelming medical expenses with legal teams who help them obtain charity care. Walker said every dollar raised will eliminate over $25 of medical debt. “I don’t want to do the old-school, golf tournament-type charity event,” Walker said. Organizers had pitched the event as a night for those “that may never be able to buy a house” and a “red carpet for the people.” Dinosaur slippers and pink curlers contrasted with the Louboutins and bedazzled tiaras of past Met Galas. One attendee dressed in moccasins and a plaid, wearable blanket exclaimed that they'd been “wearing this all yesterday!” The accessory of the evening might have been the sleeping eye mask. Winston Koone and Anuraag Baxi wore black ones that read “Shut Up” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Koone paired that with a $30 ring bought at a corner store. Baxi finally got the chance to break out a robe set purchased for a long flight. “We’re here with things we found in our closets, dressing up not to mock — because I will definitely be watching tomorrow — but to show that... there is a different side to the world that maybe tomorrow doesn’t focus on,” Koone said. The anti-capitalist sentiment and attention to New York's greater cultural scene continued through a series of sometimes crude standup comedy sets and lively drag queen performances. Comedian Tina Friml joked that she wore a plain outfit because she sleeps in street clothes — before later confessing that she actually falls asleep naked. Many artists lack good health insurance, comedian Chanel Ali told The Associated Press, making the cause especially relevant to the creative community. Ali said she has peers who “will not let you call an ambulance no matter what” because “they don't want to get stuck with the bill.” The concept came to the organizers several years ago at a wine bar in Manhattan's Theater District after watching Met Gala coverage. The pun came first: Debt Gala. But they soon decided that the vastness of medical debt and opportunity to exponentially increase the impact of the money collected made it an equally good cause to support, according to director and Debt Gala co-founder Tom Costello. Debtors at Sunday evening's gala emphasized the need to fight health care inequalities baked into the system of medical debt. Philip Bjerknes, a longtime Brooklyn resident, said he incurred around $50,000 in hospital bills during a one-month institutionalization against his will after a suicide attempt. Wearing a Brooks Brothers night gown from eBay, Bjerknes said medical debt can be very embarrassing and that he was “completely destabilized” by his experience. “At the end of the day, the material support is what we need,” Bjerknes said. "To get to that with fun and fashion is awesome." ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and non-profits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
Interest rates may stay high for longer. Here’s what it means for the 2024 election. None - Interest rates may stay high for longer. Here’s what it means for the 2024 election. At the start of 2024, the economy appeared to deliver just about everything President Joe Biden could want: falling inflation, robust growth and a forecast of interest rate cuts at the Federal Reserve that might send economic output even higher. Since then, however, the sunny outlook has darkened. Inflation has proven stubborn and output has slowed. Perhaps most notably, the Fed has cast doubt over whether rate cuts will arrive after all. Experts who spoke to ABC News described the delay of interest rate cuts as a challenge for Biden that could make his reelection more difficult. The lack of cuts could weigh on economic output and compound the financial pain of inflation, they noted. Moreover, if the Fed did cut rates, any benefits would likely take hold beyond Election Day. Those benefits would also be muted since key measures of economic health remain fairly strong, such as the pace of economic expansion and the level of unemployment, experts argued. "High interest rates tamp down economic growth and that is a detriment to the president’s reelection," Matt Grossman, a professor of political science at Michigan State University who studies the role of economic performance in electoral politics, told ABC News. "The only unknown there is the timeline," Grossman added, referring to delayed interest rate cuts. “It might be too late now to have a big effect on economic performance.” When reached for comment, the Biden campaign directed ABC News to a former member of the Council of Economic Advisers. At a meeting last week, the Fed decided to hold its benchmark interest rate steady for the sixth consecutive time. The central bank said it does not anticipate cutting interest rates until it's confident that inflation is moving sustainably downward. "So far the data has not given us that greater confidence," Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a press conference in Washington, D.C., last Wednesday. "It is likely that gaining such greater confidence will take longer than previously expected." Inflation has fallen significantly from a peak of 9.1% but it remains more than a percentage point higher than the Fed's target rate of 2%. Since last July, the Fed Funds rate has stood between 5.25% and 5.5%, matching its highest level in more than two decades. The delayed interest rate cuts mark a blow to the Biden campaign, since the Fed’s posture illustrates the need for a continued fight against inflation, Steve Boms, founder and president of D.C.-based consulting firm Allon Advocacy. "If you’re on the Biden campaign, you’re hoping that the rate cuts come as soon as possible because voters tend to vote based on their pocketbooks," Boms said. Interest rate cuts would lower borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, potentially triggering a burst of economic activity through greater household spending and company investment. Credit card holders could gain some immediate relief from sky-high interest rates while prospective homebuyers would see mortgage rates ease. Even a series of two quarter-point cuts at the Fed, however, would not sizably reduce such borrowing costs, Boms said. Still, he added, the interest rate cuts would send an important signal that the administration has brought inflation under control. "The headline of rates starting to come down could move the needle politically a little bit even if quantitatively it wouldn’t make that much of an impact on how much folks are spending on credit cards, auto loans and mortgages," Boms said. The economy poses a political liability for Biden. Thirty-seven percent of U.S. adults approve of Biden’s handling of the economy, slightly lower than his overall approval rating of 40%, according to a Gallup poll in March. Public sentiment about the economy has improved in recent months but it remains well below pre-pandemic levels, according to a University of Michigan survey. That said, the economy has performed well on several key metrics. Economic growth has slowed in recent months but continues apace at a solid clip. Unemployment stands near a 50-year low. The movement of interest rates prior to Election Day is unlikely to change economic factors that affect voter attitudes, such as the unemployment or growth rate, Joe Stone, a professor emeritus of economics of the University of Oregon, told ABC News. "Most of the economic factors that would affect the election are already baked in this close to the election," Stone said.
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Freshpet rise; Luminar, Integra fall, Monday, 5/6/2024 None - Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes on Monday: BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Freshpet rise; Luminar, Integra fall The Associated Press By The Associated Press Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes on Monday: Paramount Global, up 40 cents to $13.29. The owner of Paramount Pictures and CBS is reportedly considering a sale to Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management. Vistra Corp., up $1.75 to $83.24. The electricity company is being added to the S & P 500 index. Luminar Technologies Inc., down 1 cent to $1.67. The maker of technology for self-driving vehicles is cutting 20% of its workforce. Napco Security Technologies Inc., up $2.83 to $45.30. The security products and software company beat analysts' fiscal third-quarter financial results. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc., up 82 cents to $5.27. The drugmaker's first-quarter earnings and revenue beat Wall Street forecasts. Freshpet Inc., up $11.45 to $121.03. The seller of fresh pet food beat analysts' first-quarter financial forecasts. Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp., down $5.75 to $23.14. The medical device maker trimmed its earnings forecast for the year. Treehouse Foods Inc., down $2.68 to $34.58. The food maker's first-quarter loss was bigger than analysts expected.
Xi and Macron call for closer Europe-China ties at Paris meeting – video None - The Chinese premier, Xi Jinping, met the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, for talks in Paris. Xi said the world had entered a period of 'turbulence and change' adding: 'As two important forces in the world, China and Europe should adhere to their partnership positioning ... and healthy development of China-Europe relations.' Macron and Von der Leyen echoed Xi in their statements. Macron said: 'The international situation, very clearly, requires this Euro-Chinese dialogue more than ever and, I expressed it again recently in my speech about our Europe, we are at a turning point in our history'
Judge indefinitely delays Trump's classified documents criminal trial None - Judge Aileen Cannon has indefinitely postponed former President Donald Trump’s classified documents trial in Florida pending the resolution of multiple pre-trial issues. The trial was scheduled to start May 20. “The Court...determines that finalization of a trial date at this juncture—before resolution of the myriad and interconnected pre-trial and CIPA issues remaining and forthcoming—would be imprudent and inconsistent with the Court’s duty to fully and fairly consider the various pending pre-trial motions before the Court, critical CIPA issues, and additional pretrial and trial preparations necessary to present this case to a jury,” Cannon wrote Tuesday. “The Court therefore vacates the current May 20, 2024, trial date (and associated calendar call), to be reset by separate order following resolution of the matters before the Court, consistent with Defendants’ right to due process and the public’s interest in the fair and efficient administration of justice,” she added. Cannon also scheduled additional hearings on some of the pending issues, with the first one in May and the last one in late July. That schedule would mean the case is unlikely to go to trial before August. Trump has argued that going to trial in the weeks before the November election would amount to political interference because he should otherwise be campaigning. Trump is currently waiting on a Supreme Court decision about his claim of presidential immunity in a separate federal case in Washington, D.C., where he is accused of crimes related to the effort to overturn the 2020 election. He has argued that any decision in that case could influence his other criminal cases, including the ongoing hush money trial in New York. Former President Donald Trump appears in court in Fort Pierce, Fla., on March 14, 2024 for a hearing in his classified documents case. Lothar Speer Trump is facing dozens of felony charges, including willful retention of national defense information, false statements and representations, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record and corruptly concealing a document. He has denied any wrongdoing. Trump’s co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, have also pleaded not guilty to the related charges against them. Special counsel Jack Smith has accused Nauta, who served as Trump’s valet and continued to work for him after leaving the White House, and De Oliveira, a Mar-a-Lago property manager, of seeking to erase security video at Mar-a-Lago after the Justice Department sought to obtain it. De Oliveira is also accused of making false statements to prosecutors.
Xi begins Serbia visit on the 25th anniversary of NATO's bombing of the Chinese Embassy None - Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to European ally Serbia falls on a symbolic date: the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy during NATO’s air war over Kosovo BELGRADE, Serbia -- BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping's visit to European ally Serbia on Tuesday falls on a symbolic date: the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during NATO's air war over Kosovo. U.S. jets dropped five bombs on the Chinese Embassy compound in the Serbian capital on May 7, 1999, setting it ablaze and killing three Chinese nationals. Twenty other people were injured in the bombing, which has burdened relations between the two powers ever since. Xi referred to the bombing in an op-ed published in Serbia’s Politika newspaper on Tuesday, saying that “we must not forget that 25 years ago today, NATO brazenly bombed the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia,” according to translations carried by Chinese state media. “The Chinese people value peace but will never allow historical tragedies to happen again," Xi added. The Western military alliance had launched the air war in March that year to force then Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic to end a brutal onslaught against ethnic Albanian rebels in Kosovo. The U.S. at the time apologized and said the embassy bombing was a mistake that happened due to faulty intelligence. The intended target, Washington said, was the headquarters of a Serbian state arms exporter located on the same street, a few blocks away. “Imagine that somebody would, even by accident, strike an American Embassy somewhere around the world. The reaction would be immediate,” said Sven Biscop, a professor of European foreign and security policy at the Ghent University and Egmont Institute. “So for a country like China, it is also clear that this is a big thing," he added. "And, of course, it has not been forgotten.” Angry protesters in China stormed U.S. diplomatic installations as the bombing fueled anti-American sentiments and speculation that the attack was intentional rather than accidental. Mistrust over the incident has endured to this day. “We will probably never really conclusively know either way," Biscop said. “But one thing is sure. In war, incidents like that do happen, and I usually tend to go for the most simple explanation rather than try to invent complicated theories.” While straining Beijing's relations with the U.S., the embassy bombing brought China and Serbia closer together. China has emerged as Serbia’s largest provider of foreign direct investment and its second-largest trading partner after the European Union. Beijing opposed the NATO bombing campaign and has since backed Belgrade's bid to counter the Western-backed push for independence in Kosovo, a former Serbian province. In return, Serbia has been a loyal ally to Beijing and has opened its doors without restraint to billions of dollars of Chinese investment, even as it formally seeks EU membership. "The friendship forged in blood between the peoples of China and Serbia has become the common memory of the two peoples and will inspire both sides to move forward together,” Xi wrote. “We are willing to work with our Serbian friends to stay true to our original aspirations, join hands in progress, write a new chapter in national development and revitalization, and build a China-Serbia community with a shared future for mankind in the new era.” Signs of pro-China sentiments were clearly visible ahead of Xi's visit on Tuesday and Wednesday. In Belgrade, a huge Chinese flag was placed on a skyscraper along a roadway leading into the city from the airport. Smaller Chinese and Serbian flags could be seen downtown and along a highway. Serbia's air force MiG-29 jets escorted Xi's presidential plane to the Belgrade airport. Xi arrived from France and will later travel to Hungary as part of his first European tour in five years. He is expected to visit the site of the former embassy and pay his respects to the bombing victims. A Chinese cultural center now stands at the spot where the embassy was once located. The sprawling complex reportedly includes a Confucius Institute, workshops, exhibitions, offices, residential space and a hotel. It is seen as a symbol of China's growing influence in Serbia and across Europe. Near the institute, a group of visitors from China last weekend bowed in front of a simple black-marble monument and laid flowers in honor of the victims of the 1999 bombing. An inscription on the monument in both Chinese and English reads: “Honor Martyrs, Cherish Peace.” ___ Associated Press writers Sylvain Plazy in Brussels and Christopher Bodeen in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report.
Too much water, and not enough: Brazil's flooded south struggles to access basic goods None - More than 80% of residents in Brazil's southern city of Porto Alegre don't have running water one week after major flooding Too much water, and not enough: Brazil's flooded south struggles to access basic goods PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- The mayor of a major city in southern Brazil on Tuesday pleaded with residents to comply with his water rationing decree, given that some four-fifths of the population is without running water, a week after major flooding that has left at least 90 people dead and more than 130 others missing. Efforts were continuing to rescue people stranded by the floods in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, as more rains were forecast for the region into next week. The capital, Porto Alegre, has been virtually cut off, with the airport and bus station closed and main roads blocked because of the floodwaters. The floods in Brazil are among extreme weather events being seen around the world. Yoga teacher Maria Vitória Jorge's apartment building in downtown Porto Alegre is flooded, so she's leaving it behind, having withdrawn about 8,000 reais ($1,600) from her savings to rent an apartment for herself and her parents elsewhere in the state. “I can’t shower at home, wash the dishes or even have drinkable water,” the 35-year-old Jorge said in her car as she prepared to travel. She had just a gallon of water for the 200-kilometer (125-mile) drive to the city of Torres, so far unaffected by the floods. Five of the Porto Alegre's six water treatment facilities aren’t working, and Porto Alegre Mayor Sebastião Melo on Monday decreed that water be used exclusively for “essential consumption.” “We are living an unprecedented natural disaster and everyone needs to help,” Melo told journalists. “I am getting water trucks to soccer fields and people will have to go there to get their water in bottles. I cannot get them to go home to home.” The most urgent need is drinking water, but food and personal hygiene products are also in short supply. Other Brazilian states are mobilizing trucks with donations bound for Rio Grande do Sul. There were long lines and empty shelves at supermarkets in Porto Alegre on Tuesday. Some people have tried to buy bottled water since the weekend, and when they could find it, their purchases were limited to two five-liter (1.3-gallon) bottles. Public health experts say there is also growing risk of disease as much of the region remains submerged, warning that cases of dengue fever and leptospirosis, a bacterial disease, in particular could rise sharply within days. Adriano Hueck on Tuesday was attempting to retrieve medicine stocked at a friend’s warehouse, which is partially flooded. “If we can save some of it, there’s still a chance it can be useful in hospitals,” said 53-year-old Hueck, who then pointed toward another part of the city. “My house is somewhere there. You can’t even see its roof now.” Like Jorge, the yoga teacher, residents in Rio Grande do Sul who are able to flee are doing so, amid fears of shortage and disease. However, it's difficult for many to leave Porto Alegre with main access roads blocked by floodwaters. The city's airport and main bus terminal are filled with water and closed for the foreseeable future. Close to the airport, about 100 people of a nearby slum set up tents on the road, hoping to return to their shacks on small boats to try to save some of their belongings. Some roasted chunks of meat on improvised grills. The downpour has stopped for now, but a looming cold front will bring more severe rain starting Tuesday night, mainly in the southern part of the state, according to the National Meteorological Institute. Rainfall could exceed 150 millimeters (nearly six inches) by early Wednesday. Late Monday, Rio Grande do Sul Gov. Eduardo Leite issued an alert for several cities close to the huge Patos Lagoon. The floodwaters in Porto Alegre and other cities pass through the lagoon to the sea. “The water level will rise and it will affect you,” he said in a video broadcast on his social media channels. “Please, believe the alerts and help us save lives. Let's reduce the damage so we can be together to rebuild.” Porto Alegre's metropolitan region is one of Brazil's largest, home to around 4 million people. Damage from the rains has already forced more than 150,000 people from their homes. An additional 50,000 have taken refuge in schools, gymnasiums and other temporary shelters. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited Rio Grande do Sul for a second time on Sunday, accompanied by Defense Minister José Múcio, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad and Environment Minister Marina Silva, among others. Authorities said Monday that they are concerned about the risks of hypothermia, as the temperature should drop to 10 C (50 F) on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Melo issued a plea for more donations of blankets. And it isn’t just residents who are at risk. “Our personnel has been wet for five days, shivering in the cold, staying up all night, in deficient sanitary conditions, because we’re sharing the same facilities with the displaced,” Gen. Hertz Pires do Nascimento, the army commander of Brazil’s southern region, told journalists. During Mass at the Vatican on Sunday, Pope Francis said he was praying for the state’s population. Security is another concern. Rio Grande do Sul’s public security secretariat said in a statement that police will beef up operations to prevent looting and theft. Brazil's national guard is mobilizing to the state to reinforce security. “Even a boat was stolen this morning from the people working on the rescue. Jet Skis and houses were looted. This is deplorable and must be denounced,” Paulo Pimenta, Lula’s spokesperson, said Tuesday at a news conference. The flood disaster is also likely to affect the South American country's food supplies. Rio Grande do Sul produces 70% of an basic Brazilian foodstuff: rice. “With the rains, I think we’ve definitely delayed the harvest in Rio Grande do Sul. So, if needed to balance production, we’ll have to import rice, import beans,” Lula said in a radio interview at Brazil's public broadcaster. ___ Pessoa reported from Sao Paulo.
Where is Apple headed after latest product event? Experts weigh in. None - The tech giant continues to rely on new models of old products, analysts said. Where is Apple headed after latest product event? Experts weigh in. Apple unveiled new models of its iPad at an event on Tuesday, promising revamped devices at affordable prices. "This is the biggest day for iPad since its introduction," CEO Tim Cook declared. The announcement exemplified the current strategy at Apple: Rely on new models of its signature items, rather than transition to the next big product, analysts told ABC News. While the world's second-largest company, in terms of market capitalization, risks dependence on longstanding products in a competitive sector, analysts say the approach allows Apple to capitalize upon its loyal customer base and popular devices while it develops new products like Apple Vision Pro, the company's mixed reality headset. A view of Apple Vision Pro as visitors are guided by Apple retail employee during the 30-minute demo experience in San Francisco, Feb. 7, 2024. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images However, with a starting cost of $3,499 and a higher-powered version at around $4,000, Apple Vision Pro remains far from a price point that would make it affordable for a wide audience, says Ben Bajarin, an analyst at research firm Creative Strategies. Further, Apple has remained largely quiet in the industry-wide race toward artificial intelligence technologies and products. "We still don't know what's next," Bajarin said. "That's what's hard for everybody," though he added, "There's still no company on the planet that has the level of consumer hardware scale that they do." Apple did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. In its latest earnings report, Apple last week revealed a sales slump for some of its mainstay products. Smartphone sales dropped 10% over the three months ending in March, when compared with the same period a year earlier. Even more, iPad sales fell 17% over that period, the earnings report said. In all, Apple sales fell 4% over the three-month period ending in March, when compared with the same stretch last year. Speaking on a conference call last week, Cook attributed the decline in sales to a difficult comparison with the quarter one year earlier, when a loosening of COVID-related supply blockages triggered a sales boom. In the absence of that one-time surge, sales would have grown to start 2024, Cook said. The earnings report set the stage for Apple's event on Tuesday, in which the company rolled out fresh models of its iPad in an effort to bolster sales. Apple showcased a redesigned 11-inch iPad Air and a newly released 13-inch iPad Air, each of which is equipped with the M2 Chip. The 11-inch iPad Air cost starts at $599, while the 13-inch model goes for $799. The company also released fresh models of its premium iPad Pro, describing it in an online statement as "the thinnest Apple product ever." The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999, while the 13-inch iPad Pro begins at $1,299. Customers can order the new products online now and find them in-store next week, the company said. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards, March 10, 2024, in Hollywood, Calif. Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Many analysts are looking ahead to the Worldwide Developers Conference next month, when Apple is expected to make a "major AI announcement," Dan Ives, a managing director of equity research at the investment firm Wedbush, said in a note to investors that was shared with ABC News. The company may reveal plans to incorporate AI into its next round of iPhone models, potentially supercharging sales of the product, Ives said. The combination of potential AI updates, coupled with the new iPad models, could amount to a "broader Apple hardware-driven upgrade cycle over the coming year," Ives further noted. "We believe the seeds for an Apple growth turnaround are being planted in the field by Cook & Co.," Ives added. Still, the strategy of improving pre-existing products rather than introducing new ones leaves Apple's long-term vision somewhat unclear, Bajarin said, while acknowledging that Apple Vision Pro – which became available for purchase in February in the U.S. only – remains in the early development stages. He also acknowledged that the buzzy product's steep price will eventually come down. "We've gotten glimpses of what's next but everybody realizes it's not around the corner," Bajarin said. "It'll take many years to flesh that out." In the meantime, Bajarin said, Apple will likely draw upon its massive customer base and potential AI-driven product upgrades to stabilize sales. "I'm not concerned at all," Bajarin said. "It's not like they're losing customers to someone else. People are holding onto their stuff for longer because it's good enough."
MLB and Nike announce 2025 uniforms will have larger jersey lettering and custom-fit pants None - Major League Baseball uniforms will have larger lettering on the back of jerseys and individual pant customization will be available to all players beginning in 2025 MLB and Nike announce 2025 uniforms will have larger jersey lettering and custom-fit pants Major League Baseball uniforms will have larger lettering on the back of jerseys and individual pant customization will be available to all players beginning in 2025, MLB and Nike announced Friday. MLB and Nike said the uniform adjustments will be made following conversations with players, clubs and equipment managers. Some players in spring training complained about the fit and look. The white pants worn by some teams are see-through enough to clearly show tucked-in jersey tops. “Player and club feedback is extremely important to us,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. ”Together with Nike, we listened to our players and as a result, we are addressing their concerns.” Nike also is working on a solution to address the slight color differences between the jerseys and pants of some gray road uniforms, as well as the discoloration that can occur because of sweat. Once the solution is finalized, adjusted gray uniforms will be worn as soon as the second half of this season. “We will continue to work with Nike to make adjustments with the goal of delivering a uniform that looks good and helps MLB players perform at their best,” Manfred said. The uniform changes initially were detailed in a memo distributed to players by the players' association on Sunday. Uniforms are made by Fanatics, with specifications set by MLB and Nike. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
One Tech Tip: How to spot AI-generated deepfake images None - AI fakery is quickly becoming one of the biggest problems confronting us online LONDON -- AI fakery is quickly becoming one of the biggest problems confronting us online. Deceptive pictures, videos and audio are proliferating as a result of the rise and misuse of generative artificial intelligence tools. With AI deepfakes cropping up almost every day, depicting everyone from Taylor Swift to Donald Trump to Katy Perry attending the Meta Gala, it's getting harder to tell what's real from what's not. Video and image generators like DALL-E, Midjourney and OpenAI’s Sora make it easy for people without any technical skills to create deepfakes — just type a request and the system spits it out. These fake images might seem harmless. But they can be used to carry out scams and identity theft or propaganda and election manipulation. Here is how to avoid being duped by deepfakes: In the early days of deepfakes, the technology was far from perfect and often left telltale signs of manipulation. Fact-checkers have pointed out images with obvious errors, like hands with six fingers or eyeglasses that have differently shaped lenses. But as AI has improved, it has become a lot harder. Some widely shared advice — such as looking for unnatural blinking patterns among people in deepfake videos — no longer holds, said Henry Ajder, founder of consulting firm Latent Space Advisory and a leading expert in generative AI. Still, there are some things to look for, he said. A lot of AI deepfake photos, especially of people, have an electronic sheen to them, “an aesthetic sort of smoothing effect” that leaves skin “looking incredibly polished,” Ajder said. He warned, however, that creative prompting can sometimes eliminate this and many other signs of AI manipulation. Check the consistency of shadows and lighting. Often the subject is in clear focus and appears convincingly lifelike but elements in the backdrop might not be so realistic or polished. Face-swapping is one of the most common deepfake methods. Experts advise looking closely at the edges of the face. Does the facial skin tone match the rest of the head or the body? Are the edges of the face sharp or blurry? If you suspect video of a person speaking has been doctored, look at their mouth. Do their lip movements match the audio perfectly? Ajder suggests looking at the teeth. Are they clear, or are they blurry and somehow not consistent with how they look in real life? Cybersecurity company Norton says algorithms might not be sophisticated enough yet to generate individual teeth, so a lack of outlines for individual teeth could be a clue. Sometimes the context matters. Take a beat to consider whether what you're seeing is plausible. The Poynter journalism website advises that if you see a public figure doing something that seems “exaggerated, unrealistic or not in character,” it could be a deepfake. For example, would the pope really be wearing a luxury puffer jacket, as depicted by a notorious fake photo? If he did, wouldn't there be additional photos or videos published by legitimate sources? At the Met Gala, over-the-top costumes are the whole point, which added to the confusion. But such big name events are typically covered by officially accredited photographers who produce plenty of photos that can help with verification. One clue that the Perry picture was bogus is the carpeting on the stairs, which some eagle-eyed social media users pointed out was from the 2018 event. Another approach is to use AI to fight AI. OpenAI said Tuesday it's releasing a tool to detect content made with DALL-E 3, the latest version of its AI image generator. Microsoft has developed an authenticator tool that can analyze photos or videos to give a confidence score on whether it's been manipulated. Chipmaker Intel's FakeCatcher uses algorithms to analyze an image's pixels to determine if it's real or fake. There are tools online that promise to sniff out fakes if you upload a file or paste a link to the suspicious material. But some, like OpenAI's tool and Microsoft's authenticator, are only available to selected partners and not the public. That's partly because researchers don't want to tip off bad actors and give them a bigger edge in the deepfake arms race. Open access to detection tools could also give people the impression they are “godlike technologies that can outsource the critical thinking for us" when instead we need to be aware of their limitations, Ajder said. All this being said, artificial intelligence has been advancing with breakneck speed and AI models are being trained on internet data to produce increasingly higher-quality content with fewer flaws. That means there’s no guarantee this advice will still be valid even a year from now. Experts say it might even be dangerous to put the burden on ordinary people to become digital Sherlocks because it could give them a false sense of confidence as it becomes increasingly difficult, even for trained eyes, to spot deepfakes. ___ Swenson reported from New York. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Kenvue, Crocs rise; Disney, Teradata fall, Tuesday, 5/7/2024 None - Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes on Tuesday: Kenvue, Crocs rise; Disney, Teradata fall The Associated Press By The Associated Press Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes on Tuesday: The Walt Disney Co., down $11.08 to $105.39. The entertainment giant's revenue fell shy of forecasts and said it expects its streaming video business to weaken. Kenvue Inc., up $1.20 to $20.08. The maker of Band-Aids and Tylenol reported better-than-expected profits and revenue for the latest quarter. Crocs Inc., up $9.86 to $136.49. The shoe maker's results breezed past analysts' estimates and it raised its forecasts for the full year. Lucid Group Inc., down 43 cents to $2.62. The maker of the Lucid Gravity electric SUV lost more money last quarter than analysts expected. Builders FirstSource Inc., down $38.26 to $162.62. The Texas-based supplier wood, insulation and other building materials warned of a weakening multi-family market and higher mortgage rates. Teradata Corp., down $5.24 to $32.72. The cloud data analytics company lowered its forecast for full-year earnings. Celsius Holdings Inc., down $1.38 to $76.95. The energy drink brand's revenue for its latest quarter fell below Wall Street's estimates. Bloomin' Brands Inc., down $1 to $23.96. The operator of Outback Steakhouse and other restaurant chains' earnings were short of forecasts.
Chinese leader Xi visits the French Pyrenees in a personal gesture by Macron None - France’s president has hosted China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings TOURMALET PASS, France -- France’s president hosted China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees on Tuesday for private meetings after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. It is meant to be a reciprocal gesture after Xi took Macron last year to the residence of the governor of Guangdong province, where the Chinese president’s father once lived. Snow coated nearby slopes after new snowfall overnight, and security was tightened around the area. The winding roads up to the pass were blocked by authorities Tuesday for dozens of kilometers. Foggy weather, falling snow and brisk winds obscured the view of the dramatic Tourmalet Pass. Macron and Xi — together with their wives, Brigitte Macron and Peng Liyuan — visited a mountain restaurant. Before lunch, protected from the elements by umbrellas, they watched a traditional folk dance performance on the terrace. The leaders could be seen eating ham and blueberry pie, among other local specialties. Macron presented Xi with a yellow Tour de France jersey — with the Tourmalet Pass one of the most famous climbs of the race — a woolen blanket made in the Pyrenees and a bottle of Armagnac, French broadcaster BFMTV said. The mountain meetings come after a grandiose state visit by Xi on Monday that included a ceremonial welcome at the monument housing Napoleon’s tomb and a state dinner at the Elysee Palace with celebrities and magnates. Xi left France from the Pyrenees on Tuesday evening by plane, in a departure ceremony that included military fanfare. The Elysee said Tuesday it welcomed the dialogue between Macron and Xi, which was “friendly but also very frank," according to BFMTV. The broadcaster also noted that Macron had brought up the issue of human rights with the Chinese president, including “a few individual cases”. Xi is on a trip to Europe aimed at reinvigorating relations at a time of global tensions. He heads next to Serbia and Hungary. The last day of his visit to France came as authorities were searching the European Parliament office of a prominent German far-right lawmaker in Brussels on Tuesday, Germany’s top prosecutor’s office said. Maximilian Krah, the Alternative for Germany party’s top candidate in the upcoming European Parliament election, has been under scrutiny after an assistant of his was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China.
TikTok and ByteDance sue US to block law forcing sale of the app None - TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have sued to block a law signed by Joe Biden just weeks ago that would force the sale of the short video app or ban it from the US. The companies filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the US government in the court of appeals for the District of Columbia, arguing the law is unconstitutional and violates free speech protections. Signed by the president on 24 April as part of a broader foreign aid package, the law gives China’s ByteDance until 19 January 2025 to sell TikTok to an approved buyer. If it does not, the US would prohibit app stores from offering TikTok and bar internet hosting services from supporting TikTok. The companies argue in the suit that the divestiture required by the bill “is simply not commercially, legally, or technically possible. “There is no question: the Act (law) will force a shutdown of TikTok by January 19, 2025, silencing the 170 million Americans who use the platform to communicate in ways that cannot be replicated elsewhere,” the suit said. The suit confirmed previous reports that ByteDance would not sell TikTok without the powerful recommendation algorithm that has fueled the platform’s success. The Chinese government “has made clear that it would not permit a divestment of the recommendation engine that is a key to the success of TikTok in the United States”, the suit said. The potential for a ban of TikTok has been escalating since Donald Trump first unsuccessfully attempted to block it in 2020. Critics of TikTok have expressed worry that the platform’s China-based parent company could collect sensitive user data and censor content that goes against the Chinese government – claims TikTok denies. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to First Thing Free daily newsletter Our US morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters Enter your email address Sign up Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy . We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Amid the political fallout, TikTok spent more than $2bn to implement measures to protect the data of US users, according to the suit. The suit also highlighted additional commitments the company made in a 90-page draft National Security Agreement developed through negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency committee, chaired by the US Treasury Department, that reviews foreign investments in American businesses that implicate national security concerns. CFIUS had been in talks with TikTok to find solutions, though the agreement included TikTok agreeing to a “shut-down option” that would give the US government the authority to suspend TikTok in the US if it violated some obligations”, according to the suit. But in August 2022, according to the lawsuit, CFIUS stopped engaging in meaningful discussions about the agreement and in March 2023 CFIUS “insisted that ByteDance would be required to divest the US TikTok business”. Many experts have questioned whether any potential buyer possesses the financial resources to buy TikTok and if China and US government agencies would approve a sale. To move the TikTok source code to the US “would take years for an entirely new set of engineers to gain sufficient familiarity”, according to the lawsuit. Under the current law, Biden could extend the 19 January divestiture deadline by three months if he determines ByteDance is making progress.
Video Biden to tout new AI data center in Wisconsin None - Biden to tout new AI data center in Wisconsin The president will announce Microsoft’s plan to build a $3.3 billion data center, which is expected to be ready for 2026.