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There are times your phone’s camera just doesn’t do enough. Maybe it’s too shaky when you’re moving, or the quality just doesn’t capture the moment the way you see it. For those times that you want more (clarity, stability, and features), you need something built for the job, like the GoPro HERO13 . This compact camera is capable of capturing moments in ways your phone simply can’t. Capture everything in great detail and clarity with a 5.3K video resolution. All footage stays smooth and professional, thanks to the HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization feature. The HERO13 is built to last. It’s waterproof up to 33 feet and tough enough to withstand snow, mud, and rough handling. The lens even has a water-repelling cover, so you’ll have clear shots in wet conditions. Plus, the Enduro battery lasts longer, which gives you additional peace of mind. The camera is smart too. The HERO13 pairs with HB-Series lenses, giving you options for different scenes. Want to capture wide landscapes? Attach the ultra-wide lens for stunning shots. Need to zoom in on those details? The macro lens lets you get up close with precision. The camera automatically adjusts settings based on the lens you use, so you don’t have to worry about tweaking anything. Sharing is just as convenient. The HERO13 transfers videos to your phone 40 percent faster with its rapid offload feature. It also backs up everything to the cloud automatically, so all your data is going to be safe and accessible. Additionally, with the GoPro Quik app, you can create highlight reels in seconds if you want to share your adventures. Grab this camera for just $299.99 after a 25% discount. GoPro HERO13 Make Tech Easier may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox Zainab is an Actuarial Sciences graduate from Pakistan with a passion for technology. When she's not busy writing insightful pieces on Windows and the latest tech trends, you'll find her with her nose buried in a productivity book, always on the lookout for ways to optimize her workflow and stay ahead of the curve.

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Luke Williams feels Swansea ‘lost grip’ on game despite sealing victory at DerbyDexter: Original Sin will take audiences back in time to find out how the man became the monster — er, the monster-slayer — in the Showtime thriller. The prequel series, which premieres on Paramount+ with Showtime on Friday, December 13, takes place 15 years before we first met Dexter (then played by Michael C. Hall , who still narrates the new series) in the original Dexter . Taking over the title role in this iteration is Patrick Gibson , who has the character’s steely-eyed stares and smug sauntering style down to a science. With new characters being introduced in some familiar settings, the new series will bring some new details about Dexter’s past to light, but it will also inevitably retread some familiar territory from the first show, which had ample flashbacks. Here’s what to remember about Dexter ‘s past before Dexter: Original Sin . Dexter didn’t find out until he was a fully grown serial murderer that he had a big brother who was also running around slaughtering people. The Ice Truck Killer who stalked Dexter was actually Brian Moser, his slightly older brother who was not adopted (or even mentioned) by Harry. Dexter only found out about Brian because the Ice Truck Killer left clues that were tailored to catch his attention — reminding him of scenes from his past as part of the Morgan family. Laura Moser was the single mother to Brian and Dexter and worked as a confidential informant for Harry and the Miami-Metro Police Department against the Colombian cartel. She was brutally dismembered right in front of Brian and Dexter, who were left wading in her blood inside a shipping container. Harry adopted Dexter as his own upon finding him in the container, but Brian was sent into the foster system. In flashbacks in Dexter , it became clear that he was not a normal teenager with typical feelings or tendencies. In fact, he had an innate bloodlust that his father recognized and tried to quell with hunting trips, to the exclusion of his daughter Debra. Harry wanted to protect Dexter from himself — particularly his self-destructive impulses. Though Harry tried to find other ways for Dexter to quench his thirst for blood, so to speak, he soon gave in and encouraged him to kill someone when he discovered Nurse Mary was poisoning Harry and other patients in the hospital after his heart attack. Once Dexter began to kill, Harry worked hard to create a framework for his adoptive son to work within that, if he followed it to the letter, would keep his morality and freedom intact. The rules included being certain that the mark was worthy of being murdered and leaving no trace of evidence behind. Even after Harry’s death, Dexter worked to strictly adhere to this code in every kill. Randy Tepper/Showtime Dexter repeatedly revealed that he felt empty on the inside, and it was Harry who taught him to feign normal human feelings and social interactions around others — even if it meant faking a smile in his own family photos. Little by little throughout Dexter , we learn that Harry Morgan had several affairs while married to Doris, including with Laura Morgan and another confidential informant. Though Harry is definitely the most common star of Dexter’s flashback memories, his adoptive mother Doris is also a fixture of his past. She died when Deb was 16 and didn’t know about Dexter’s violent tendencies, even if she didn’t totally understand him at times. Dexter: Original Sin , Series Premiere, Streaming, Friday, December 13, Paramount+ with Showtime, Sunday, December 15, 10/9c, Paramount+ with Showtime More Headlines:By Leah Nylen and Jaewon Kang | Bloomberg A judge blocked Kroger Co.’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons Cos. , finding the takeover would lessen competition for US grocery shoppers, in a ruling that marks a likely death knell for the deal. In a decision filed in Oregon federal court Tuesday, US District Judge Adrienne Nelson found in favor of the US Federal Trade Commission. The agency had argued that the proposed tie-up violates US antitrust law and that a division of hundreds of stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. wouldn’t do enough to replace the lost competition. Also see: Biggest question from Kroger-Albertsons trial: What’s a grocery store? “There is ample evidence that the division is not sufficient in scale to adequately compete with the merged firm and is structured in a way that will significantly disadvantage C&S as a competitor,” Nelson wrote. “The deficiencies in the disvestiture scope and structure create a risk that some or all of the divested stores will lose sales or close, as has happened in past C&S acquisitions.” Nelson’s decision is a major victory for the FTC and its outgoing Chair Lina Khan, who came under harsh criticism from conservatives and business groups for stepped-up antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration. “Today’s win protects competition in the grocery market, which will prevent prices from rising even more,” said FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar. “This statement makes it clear that strong, reality-based antitrust enforcement delivers real results for consumers, workers, and small businesses.” Also see: Albertsons would have shed these 63 California stores A C&S Wholesale spokesperson said the company is disappointed by the court’s decision and that it looks forward to seeing how Kroger and Albertsons will determine the next steps of the proposed deal. Kroger and Albertsons didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Attorneys for the companies have said the acquisition would probably be called off if the judge ruled against the deal. Kroger shares jumped as much as 6.1% in New York trading on Tuesday, extending earlier gains. Albertsons slumped as much as 10%. Specific Market Nelson agreed with the FTC that supermarkets constitute a specific market, countering the companies’ argument that the market extends to online retailers like Amazon.com Inc. “Supermarkets are distinct from other grocery retailers,” Nelson wrote. “Supermarkets offer a larger selection of fresh and non-perishable items, a one-stop shopping experience that appeals to a particular consumer’s preference to meet all their grocery needs in one location, and a customer service focus with deli, bakery, meat, and other specialized departments.” The ruling marks a disappointing end to a two-year odyssey by Kroger and Albertsons, which sought to become a bigger player with a more substantial national footprint to better compete against larger, non-unionized rivals including Walmart Inc. Kroger and Albertsons agreed to combine in October 2022 in what would have been the biggest US grocery deal in history, bringing together more than 4,000 stores across 48 states and Washington, DC. Kroger will likely turn its focus back to improving and investing in its existing network of about 2,750 stores. Albertsons, on the other hand, could emerge again as a deal target, but is expected in the near term to invest in its roughly 2,270 stores and technology. The proposed deal has been a political hot potato, drawing pushback from elected officials, union groups and consumer advocacy firms. The companies vowed to spend $1 billion to cut prices, $1.3 billion to improve store conditions and $1 billion to raise worker wages and benefits following the deal. The FTC has increased antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration, though the results in court have been mixed. The FTC lost a challenge to Microsoft Corp.’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. and won against Illumina Inc. over its purchase of startup Grail and against Tapestry Inc.’s planned $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri Holdings Inc. The companies and the agency fought their case in court for three weeks over the summer in Oregon, as grocery inflation came back into the political spotlight ahead of the US presidential election. Grocery inflation hit a four-decade high in 2022 due to higher costs of labor, transportation and ingredients. Price increases have moderated and are expected to stay within historical ranges, though many American shoppers still say expensive groceries continue to squeeze their ability to spend. The FTC argued that the deal would harm consumers by eliminating competition on prices and quality, making the combined entity less likely to improve its services by offering flexible hours and pickup services. It said the grocers would have more leverage over workers, which would slow wage growth and worsen benefits, and that the proposed divestiture would be inadequate. The agency tried to depict Kroger and Albertsons as the most direct competitors. It said the deal would combine the two largest “traditional supermarkets” in a market that includes Walmart and Target, but does not include Amazon, Costco, Aldi and dollar stores. The companies argued that such a definition is “antiquated” and no longer describes how people shop and pointed to various changes they have made in response to newer threats. The grocers also said joining forces would help them increase market share and improve technology to compete with Amazon, Walmart and other companies. The case is Federal Trade Commission v. Kroger Co., 24-cv-00347, US District Court, District of Oregon (Portland). Related Articles Retail | Fear of Trump tariffs sending Americans into debt as pantry stockpiling rises Retail | Costco’s popular Kirkland diapers shifting suppliers Retail | Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on the year’s biggest day for online shopping Retail | SunFed cucumbers and Costco eggs recalled due to potential salmonella contamination Retail | Gifting on a budget: 5 secrets to being generous without going broke

CNN wants the North Carolina lieutenant governor's defamation lawsuit against it thrown outJoe Burrow's home broken into during Monday Night Football in latest pro-athlete home invasion

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs denied bail by third judge as he awaits sex trafficking trialBroadcom Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitorsPhone call identity checker Gogolook is exploring the integration of Artificial Intelligence, particularly Generative AI (Gen AI), to enhance and simplify its popular mobile app, Whoscall, according to an executive of the company. Mel Migriño, regional director for Information Security and Alliances and Philippines country head at Gogolook, also discussed the company’s commitment to listening to customer feedback. “We have been very active in gathering feedback from our customers. We also conduct technology scanning to stay updated on the latest trends and emerging technologies that we believe could eventually be integrated into the overall features of Whoscall,” Migriño told DAILY TRIBUNE. “With the advent of AI, specifically Gen AI, we are exploring how to adapt these features to further simplify Whoscall,” she added. From August 2023 to August 2024, the Philippines recorded nearly 4 million scam text messages and over 400,000 fraudulent calls, according to data from Whoscall, in partnership with the government’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC). Spam also rising The report also highlighted a sharp rise in spam communications, with over 42 million spam SMS and 6.6 million spam calls during the same period. The Whoscall app integrates a range of advanced features, including caller identification, call blocking, spam detection and URL scanning. Powered by a vast database and sophisticated algorithms, these tools provide users with a powerful defense against fraudulent calls, spam messages and harmful links. Furthermore, Whoscall features community-driven approach, which allows users to report suspicious numbers and contribute to a collective effort in identifying and stopping fraud. According to Migriño they are in collaboration with CICC in order to verify the reports. Migriño also discussed the various challenges involved in developing a mobile app like Whoscall, placing a particular emphasis on the importance of complying with local cybersecurity and data protection regulations. She stressed that adhering to these legal frameworks in different countries is essential for ensuring the app’s security and legitimacy. Another significant challenge, according to Migriño, is the shortage of skilled professionals, a gap that continues to hinder progress in many technology businesses. When it comes to optimizing Whoscall’s performance, Migriño shared that the app has been designed to be lightweight and user-friendly. The development team focused on minimizing storage requirements and ensuring the app operates efficiently without draining the phone’s battery. Looking to the future, Migriño said that Whoscall plans to roll out new features by early 2025, continuing its commitment to innovation and user safety.

Kate Moss splits from teetotal Nikolai Von Bismarck after 9 years as supermodel declares she wants ‘to have some fun’

US SEC Chief Gary Gensler To Step Down Clearing Way For Trump's Pick

Get ready for a college football bowl season like you’ve never seen. It’s the first year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff to determine the national champion, with first-round games kicking off Friday, December 20. In the new format, the top four conference champions (Oregon, Georgia, Arizona State and Boise State) receive a first-round bye and automatic entry into the quarterfinals. The remaining eight teams play in the four-game first round, with matchups held at the home stadiums of the higher-ranked participants. The “New Year’s Six” bowls serve as the quarterfinals and semifinals, with the national championship decided Monday, January 20, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Of course, there’s still plenty of college football postseason action through early January that doesn’t involve the national championship chase. The parade of bowl games begins Saturday, December 14, with the Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. A great tradition continues in Landover, Maryland, as the Navy Midshipmen take on the Army Black Knights Saturday on CBS at 3/2c. Later on Saturday, the Heisman Trophy is presented to the season’s most outstanding player in a ceremony on ESPN at 8/7c. Finalists are Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty (pictured above) and Miami QB Cam Ward. Here’s your complete lineup of College Football Playoff games and other bowl matchups: All times Eastern/Central. CFP First Round Friday, December 20 No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, ABC/ESPN, 8/7c Saturday, December 21 No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, noon/11a c, TNT/Max No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, 4/3c, TNT/Max No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, 8/7c, ABC/ESPN CFP Quarterfinals Tuesday, December 31 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Arizona): TBA vs. No. 3 Boise State, (ESPN) Wednesday, Jan. 1 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Atlanta): TBA vs. No. 4 Arizona State, 1/noon c, ESPN Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California): TBA vs. No. 1 Oregon, 5/4c, ESPN Allstate Sugar Bowl (New Orleans): TBA vs. No. 2 Georgia, 8:45/7:45c, ESPN CFP Semifinals Thursday, January 9 Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida): TBA vs. TBA, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Friday, January 10 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (Arlington, Texas): TBA vs. TBA, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN CFP National Championship Game Monday, January 20 National Championship (Atlanta): TBA vs. TBA, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Saturday, December 14 Cricket Celebration Bowl (Atlanta): Jackson State vs. South Carolina State, noon/11a c, ABC IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama): South Alabama vs. Western Michigan, 9/8c, ESPN Tuesday, December 17 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas): Memphis vs. West Virginia, 9/8c, ESPN Wednesday, December 18 Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Florida): Western Kentucky vs. James Madison, 5:30/4:30c, ESPN Art of Sport LA Bowl (Inglewood, California): Cal vs. UNLV, 9/8c, ESPN More from this section Thursday, December 19 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (New Orleans): Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston, 7/6c, ESPN2 Friday, December 20 StaffDNA Cure Bowl (Orlando, Florida): Ohio vs. Jacksonville State, noon/11a c, ESPN Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa, Florida): 3:30/2:30c, ESPN Monday, December 23 Myrtle Beach Bowl (Conway, South Carolina): Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA, 11a/10a c, ESPN Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Idaho): Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State, 2:30/1:30c, ESPN Tuesday, December 24 Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu): South Florida vs. San José State, 8/7c, ESPN Thursday, December 26 GameAbove Sports Bowl (Detroit): Pittsburgh vs. Toledo, 2/1xc, ESPN Rate Bowl (Phoenix): Rutgers vs. Kansas State, 5:30/4:30c, ESPN 68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, Alabama): Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green, 9/8c, ESPN Friday, December 27 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas): Oklahoma vs. Navy, noon/11a c, ESPN Birmingham Bowl (Birmingham, Alabama): Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt, 3:30/2:30c, ESPN AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Memphis, Tennessee): Texas Tech vs. Arkansas, 7/6c, ESPN DirecTV Holiday Bowl (San Diego): Syracuse vs. Washington State, 8/7c, Fox SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas): Texas A&M vs. USC, 10:30/9:30c, ESPN Saturday, December 28 Wasabi Fenway Bowl (Boston): UConn vs. North Carolina, 11a/10a c, ESPN Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl (Bronx, New York): Boston College vs. Nebraska, Noon/11a c, ABC Isleta New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque, New Mexico): Louisiana vs. TCU, 2:15/1:15c, ESPN Pop-Tarts Bowl (Orlando, Florida): Iowa State vs. Miami, 3:30/2:30c, ABC Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl (Tucson, Arizona): Miami (Ohio) vs. Colorado State, 4:30/3:30c, The CW Go Bowling Military Bowl (Annapolis, Maryland): East Carolina vs. NC State, 5:45/4:45c, ESPN Valero Alamo Bowl (San Antonio): BYU vs. Colorado, 7:30/6:30c, ABC Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl (Shreveport, Louisiana): Marshall vs. Army, 9:15/8:15c, ESPN Monday, December 30 TransPerfect Music City Bowl (Nashville, Tennessee): Iowa vs. Missouri, 2:30/1:30c, ESPN Tuesday, December 31 ReliaQuest Bowl (Tampa, Florida): Alabama vs. Michigan, noon/11a c, ESPN Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas): Louisville vs. Washington, 2/1c, CBS Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (Orlando, Florida): South Carolina vs. Illinois, 3/2c, ABC Kinder’s Texas Bowl (Houston): Baylor vs. LSU, 3:30/2:30c, ESPN Thursday, January 2 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, Florida): Duke vs. Ole Miss, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Friday, January 3 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl (Dallas): North Texas vs. Texas State, 4/3c, ESPN Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Charlotte, North Carolina): Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Saturday, January 4 Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas): Buffalo vs. Liberty, 11a/10a c, ESPN2 More Headlines: College Football Playoff & Bowl Game TV Schedule 2024 How Will ‘Blue Bloods’ End for Each Character? Our Theories ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Creator Reveals How Dexter Survived ‘New Blood’ & Will Return for ‘Resurrection’ ‘The Night Agent’ Adds Jennifer Morrison, Stephen Moyer & More for Season 3 ‘Dexter: Resurrection’: Cast, Premiere Date & Everything Else We Know So Far

Ghana counts ballots after tight presidential raceDid The Secret Service Chief Perjure Himself After Screaming Match?Dexter: Original Sin will take audiences back in time to find out how the man became the monster — er, the monster-slayer — in the Showtime thriller. The prequel series, which premieres on Paramount+ with Showtime on Friday, December 13, takes place 15 years before we first met Dexter (then played by Michael C. Hall , who still narrates the new series) in the original Dexter . Taking over the title role in this iteration is Patrick Gibson , who has the character’s steely-eyed stares and smug sauntering style down to a science. With new characters being introduced in some familiar settings, the new series will bring some new details about Dexter’s past to light, but it will also inevitably retread some familiar territory from the first show, which had ample flashbacks. Here’s what to remember about Dexter ‘s past before Dexter: Original Sin . Dexter didn’t find out until he was a fully grown serial murderer that he had a big brother who was also running around slaughtering people. The Ice Truck Killer who stalked Dexter was actually Brian Moser, his slightly older brother who was not adopted (or even mentioned) by Harry. Dexter only found out about Brian because the Ice Truck Killer left clues that were tailored to catch his attention — reminding him of scenes from his past as part of the Morgan family. Laura Moser was the single mother to Brian and Dexter and worked as a confidential informant for Harry and the Miami-Metro Police Department against the Colombian cartel. She was brutally dismembered right in front of Brian and Dexter, who were left wading in her blood inside a shipping container. Harry adopted Dexter as his own upon finding him in the container, but Brian was sent into the foster system. In flashbacks in Dexter , it became clear that he was not a normal teenager with typical feelings or tendencies. In fact, he had an innate bloodlust that his father recognized and tried to quell with hunting trips, to the exclusion of his daughter Debra. Harry wanted to protect Dexter from himself — particularly his self-destructive impulses. Though Harry tried to find other ways for Dexter to quench his thirst for blood, so to speak, he soon gave in and encouraged him to kill someone when he discovered Nurse Mary was poisoning Harry and other patients in the hospital after his heart attack. Once Dexter began to kill, Harry worked hard to create a framework for his adoptive son to work within that, if he followed it to the letter, would keep his morality and freedom intact. The rules included being certain that the mark was worthy of being murdered and leaving no trace of evidence behind. Even after Harry’s death, Dexter worked to strictly adhere to this code in every kill. Randy Tepper/Showtime Dexter repeatedly revealed that he felt empty on the inside, and it was Harry who taught him to feign normal human feelings and social interactions around others — even if it meant faking a smile in his own family photos. Little by little throughout Dexter , we learn that Harry Morgan had several affairs while married to Doris, including with Laura Morgan and another confidential informant. Though Harry is definitely the most common star of Dexter’s flashback memories, his adoptive mother Doris is also a fixture of his past. She died when Deb was 16 and didn’t know about Dexter’s violent tendencies, even if she didn’t totally understand him at times. Dexter: Original Sin , Series Premiere, Streaming, Friday, December 13, Paramount+ with Showtime, Sunday, December 15, 10/9c, Paramount+ with Showtime More Headlines:

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer the stuff of science fiction. It’s right here influencing our daily lives in every passing minute. AI has become a silent yet powerful force shaping the modern world from the way we work to how we interact and live. Its presence is both exhilarating and unsettling as it offers possibilities we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago. But what exactly does this transformation look like? Redefining the workplace In any workplace, AI is not a mere a tool; it’s a game-changer. Across industries, it’s reshaping jobs and creating new opportunities while simultaneously making others obsolete. Across the globe, businesses use AI to automate repetitive tasks, analyse data at lightning speed, and improve efficiency. Applications such as customer service chatbots, predictive analytics in marketing, or automated inventory systems save time and reduce human error, giving companies a competitive edge. It is vital to note that the integration of AI doesn’t stop at efficiency. It’s enabling workers to focus on more creative and strategic aspects of their roles. For example, architects can rely on AI-driven design tools to model buildings faster, leaving more time for innovation. Likewise, doctors now use AI for diagnosing diseases with unprecedented accuracy, transforming healthcare into a more personalised and precise field. Yet, the rise of AI also sparks anxiety. Many fear that automation will lead to job losses, especially in industries like manufacturing, logistics, and retail. While it’s true that some roles will disappear, AI is also creating demand for new skills. Jobs in AI development, ethical programming, and robotics are growing rapidly. The challenge lies in adapting, reskilling, and ensuring that people are equipped to thrive in this evolving landscape. AI in everyday life AI’s influence isn’t limited to offices or factories—it’s everywhere. Voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa rely on AI to answer questions, play music, and control smart devices in your home. Netflix recommends movies based on what you’ve watched, while shopping platforms predict what you might want to buy next. These conveniences are powered by algorithms that learn human preferences, making daily tasks easier and more enjoyable. AI in transportation Transportation is another area where AI shines. Self-driving cars, once a futuristic fantasy, are becoming a reality. Companies like Tesla are pushing boundaries with vehicles that can navigate roads using AI-powered sensors and cameras. AI is also behind the navigation apps that provide real-time traffic updates, saving us time and frustration on our commutes. But what we should know is that convenience comes at a cost. The more we rely on AI, the more data we share. From our online searches to our shopping habits, AI systems thrive on data to improve their performance. This raises concerns about privacy and how companies use our information. Striking a balance between leveraging AI’s benefits and safeguarding personal data is a challenge society must address. Revolutionising communication AI has certainly redefined how we communicate, connecting people across the globe in ways that were unimaginable a few decades ago. Translation apps powered by AI make it easy to break down language barriers. AI ensures your message gets across wherever you go – whether you are a local or global traveller. Social media platforms rely heavily on AI to curate content, recommend connections, and filter out harmful material. Algorithms decide what appears on your feed, tailoring the experience to your interests. While this personalisation keeps us engaged, it also creates echo chambers, where we’re exposed only to ideas and opinions that align with our own. This can limit critical thinking and deepen societal divides. AI also plays a role in creative communication. Tools like ChatGPT or DALL-E generate text and images, opening up new possibilities for storytelling, marketing, and education. These innovations are fascinating, but they also blur the lines between human creativity and machine-generated content. As AI-generated art, music, and literature become more common, society must grapple with questions about authenticity and ownership. Future of AI The future of AI is as exciting as it is uncertain. Its potential to solve global problems is immense. In medicine, AI is already being used to identify cancerous cells and develop new treatments. In environmental science, it helps predict weather patterns and track deforestation. As these technologies evolve, they could play a critical role in addressing climate change, improving disaster response, and creating sustainable solutions for a growing population. However, this future isn’t without challenges. Ethical concerns loom large. Who decides how AI should be used? How do we prevent biases embedded in algorithms from perpetuating inequality? What happens when machines surpass human intelligence in certain areas? These questions demand thoughtful answers as AI continues to advance. Another pressing issue is accessibility. While AI holds promise for improving lives, its benefits aren’t evenly distributed. Wealthier countries and corporations dominate AI research and development, leaving others at risk of falling further behind. Bridging this gap is crucial to ensuring that AI’s advantages are shared globally, rather than exacerbating existing inequalities. AI has brought us to a turning point in human history. It’s transforming how we work, live, and communicate at a unique pace. While the changes it brings are enormous, what we should not forget is that they’re not without complications. It is the responsibility of us, the humans to make use of AI responsibly, ensuring that it enriches lives rather than undermining them. The choices we make today will shape the world of tomorrow, making this an era of great responsibility as well as great possibility.

DAMASCUS (AP) — Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad , gathering in the capital's historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule. The newly installed interim prime minister delivered the sermon at the Umayyad Mosque, declaring that a new era of “freedom, dignity and justice” was dawning for Syria. The gatherings illustrated the dramatic changes that have swept over Syria less than a week after insurgents marched into Damascus and toppled Assad. Amid the jubilation, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with allies around the region and called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian” interim government. Blinken arrived in Iraq on a previously unannounced stop after talks in Jordan and Turkey, which backs some of the Syrian insurgent factions. So far, U.S. officials have not talked of direct meetings with Syria's new rulers. The main insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has worked to establish security and start a political transition after seizing Damascus early Sunday. The group has tried to reassure a public both stunned by Assad's fall and concerned about extremist jihadis among the rebels. Insurgent leaders say the group has broken with its extremist past, though HTS is still labeled a terrorist group by the United States and European countries. HTS's leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, appeared in a video message Friday congratulating “the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.” “I invite them to head to the squares to show their happiness without shooting bullets and scaring people,” he said. “And then after, we will work to build this country, and as I said in the beginning, we will be victorious by the help of God.” Syrians celebrate in the historic heart of Damascus Huge crowds, including some insurgents, packed the historic Umayyad Mosque in the capital's old city, many waving the rebel opposition flag — with its three red stars — which has swiftly replaced the Assad-era flag with with its two green stars. Syrian state television reported that the sermon was delivered by Mohammed al-Bashir, the interim prime minister installed by HTS this week. The scene resonated on multiple levels. The mosque, one of the world's oldest dating back some 1,200 years, is a beloved symbol of Syria, and sermons there like all mosque sermons across Syria were tightly controlled under Assad's rule. Also, in the early days of the anti-government uprising in 2011, protesters would leave Friday prayers to march in rallies against Assad before he launched a brutal crackdown that turned the uprising into a long and bloody civil war. “I didn’t step foot in Umayyad Mosque since 2011," because of the tight security controls around it, said one worshipper, Ibrahim al-Araby. “Since 11 or 12 years, I haven’t been this happy.” Another worshipper, Khair Taha, said there was “fear and trepidation for what’s to come. But there is also a lot of hope that now we have a say and we can try to build.” Blocks away in Damascus' biggest roundabout, named Umayyad Square, thousands gathered, including many families with small children — a sign of how, so far at least, the country's transformation has not caused violent instability. “Unified Syria to build Syria,” the crowd chanted. Some shouted slurs against Assad and his late father, calling them pigs, an insult that would have previously led to offenders being hauled off to one of the feared detention centers of Assad’s security forces. One man in the crowd, 51-year-old Khaled Abu Chahine — originally from the southern province of Daraa, where the 2011 uprising first erupted — said he hoped for “freedom and coexistence between all Syrians, Alawites, Sunnis, Shiites and Druze.” The interim prime minister, al-Bashir, had been the head of a de facto administration created by HTS in Idlib, the opposition's enclave in northwest Syria. The rebels were bottled up in Idlib for years before fighters broke out in a shock offensive and marched across Syria in 10 days. Similar scenes of joy unfolded in other major cities, including in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Raqqa. US and its allies try to shape a rapidly changing Syria Al-Sharaa, HTS' leader, has promised to bring a pluralistic government to Syria, seeking to dispel fears among many Syrians — especially its many minority communities — that the insurgents will impose a hard-line, extremist rule. Another key factor will be winning international recognition for a new government in a country where multiple foreign powers have their hands in the mix. The Sunni Arab insurgents who overthrew Assad did so with vital help from Turkey, a longtime foe of the U.S.-backed Kurds . Turkey controls a strip of Syrian territory along the shared border and backs an insurgent faction uneasily allied to HTS — and is deeply opposed to any gains by Syria's Kurds. In other developments, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey’s Embassy in Damascus would reopen Saturday for the first time since 2012, when it closed due to the Syrian civil war. The U.S. has troops in eastern Syria to combat remnants of the Islamic State group and supports Kurdish-led fighters who rule most of the east. Since Assad's fall, Israel has bombed sites all over Syria, saying it is trying to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands. It has also seized a swath of southern Syria along the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, calling it a buffer zone. After talks with Fidan, Blinken said there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the U.S. on what they would like to see in Syria. That starts with an "interim government in Syria, one that is inclusive and non-sectarian and one that protects the rights of minorities and women” and does not “pose any kind of threat to any of Syria’s neighbors,” Blinken said. Fidan said the priority was “establishing stability in Syria as soon as possible, preventing terrorism from gaining ground, and ensuring that IS and the PKK aren’t dominant” — referring to the Islamic State group and the Kurdistan Workers Party. Ankara considers the PKK within Turkey's borders a terrorist group, as it does the Kurdish-backed forces in Syria backed by the U.S. A U.S. official said that in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Fidan both told Blinken that Kurdish attacks on Turkish positions would require a response. The official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic talks. The U.S. has been trying to limit such incidents in recent days and had helped organize an agreement to prevent confrontations around the northern Syrian town of Manbij, which was taken by Turkey-backed opposition fighters from the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces earlier this week. In Baghdad, Blinken met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, saying both countries wanted to ensure the Islamic State group — also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh — doesn't exploit Syria's transition to re-emerge. “Having put Daesh back in its box, we can’t let it out, and we’re determined to make sure that that doesn’t happen," Blinken said. The U.S. official who briefed reporters said that Blinken had impressed upon al-Sudani the importance of Iraq exercising its full sovereignty over its territory and airspace to stop Iran from transporting weapons and equipment to Syria, either for Assad supporters or onward to the militant Hezbollah group in Lebanon. ___ Lee reported from Ankara, Turkey. Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report. Albert Aji And Matthew Lee, The Associated PressSupreme Court will take up a challenge related to California's tough vehicle emissions standards WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it will take up a business-backed appeal that could make it easier to challenge federal regulations, acting in a dispute related to California’s nation-leading standards for vehicle emissions. The justices agreed Friday to hear an appeal filed by fuel producers who object to a waiver granted to California in 2022 by the Environmental Protection Agency during Joe Biden’s presidency. The waiver allows California to set more stringent emissions limits than the national standard. The case won’t be argued until the spring, when the Trump administration is certain to take a more industry-friendly approach to the issue. Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship' A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and best avoid an artificial intelligence ‘dictatorship’ is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker’s ongoing conversion into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. OpenAI is filing its response Friday. OpenAI's Altman will donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund LOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. China signals it's prepared to double down on support for the economy as Trump tariffs loom BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese leaders met this week to plot economic policy for the coming year and sketched out plans to raise government spending and relax Beijing's monetary policy. Analysts said the broad-brush plans from the annual Central Economic Work Conference were more of a recap of current policy than ambitious new initiatives at a time when the outlook is clouded by the President-elect Donald Trump's threats to sharply raise tariffs once he takes office. The ruling Communist Party did commit to raising China's deficit and to doing more to encourage consumer spending by bringing wage increases in line with the pace of economic growth. Here's a look at China's main priorities and their potential implications. Stock market today: Wall Street ends mixed after a bumpy week Stock indexes closed mixed on Wall Street at the end of a rare bumpy week. The S&P 500 ended little changed Friday. The benchmark index reached its latest in a string of records a week ago. It lost ground for the week following three weeks of gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%. The Nasdaq composite edged up 0.1%. Broadcom surged after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged after raising its revenue forecast. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. Next Week: Retail sales, Fed policy update, existing home sales The Commerce Department releases its monthly snapshot of U.S. retail sales Tuesday. Federal Reserve officials wrap up a two-day meeting and issue an interest rate policy update Wednesday. The National Association of Realtors issues its latest update on U.S. home sales Thursday.

( MENAFN - The Conversation) The Australian Human Rights Commission this week launched the National Anti-racism Framework . It's an important moment. For the first time, the country has a comprehensive approach to tackle, if not eliminate, racism in all sectors of society and across different levels of government. The ten-year road map includes 63 recommendations acknowledging the ongoing impact of colonialism on First Nations people and the persistent racism that minority communities experience . The goal of ending racism is highly ambitious, yet necessary. Here's how the plan wants to do it. This framework is a major policy document that will complement and strengthen the Racial Discrimination Act . To date, Australia has not had a national approach to addressing racism. This is despite the numerous calls from many communities that have endured its damaging effects every day. This framework promises to deal with this historical legacy of racism against Indigenous people, as well as its contemporary manifestations . Anti-racism underpins the new approach. This means it aspires to more than simply“not being racist”. Rather, anti-racism involves identifying, challenging and dismantling racism at the individual, structural and institutional levels. It outlines plans from a whole-of-society approach rooted in human rights. Indeed, one of its key recommendations is a national human rights act to lay the legislative foundations for such interventions. Read more: An inquiry has recommended Australia legislate a Human Rights Act. Here's why we need one The document identifies seven priority areas, including: This acknowledges the widespread nature of racism. The framework recommends legal reforms to include minimum requirements to counter racial discrimination. This includes embedding First Nations cultural safety across sectors. It also includes recommendations for the education system to implement cultural safety and anti-racism reforms, and for workplaces to develop and implement various internal anti-racism strategies. One such suggestion is mandatory cultural safety and anti-racism training for all workers, including parliamentarians. The plan involves strategies for recruiting and retaining staff from First Nations and other minority communities in leadership and senior roles. It also calls for media organisations to adopt guidelines based on an anti-racist approach to reporting. To lead by example, parliamentarians and staff should adhere to a zero-tolerance approach to racism. The framework recommends that the government establish a National Anti-racism Taskforce to develop separate implementation plans. One of these would focus on First Nations people; the other on the general population. Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman says the national plan must be centred on First Nations people, because“there can be no racial justice in this country without racial justice for First Nations peoples”. It therefore emphasises the importance of truth-telling and self-determination as crucial features of meaningful anti-racism action. This includes incorporating the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into Australian laws. The anti-racism framework comes at a time of intensifying hate speech and exclusionary nationalism. For the past few years, nations have faced increasing political division and social fissures . Disinformation, misinformation and identity politics are all fanning the flames of racism across Australia, from schools to public events. The Diversity Council Australia reports that 59% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have experienced racial discrimination in workplaces. In addition, the 2024 Scanlon Foundation Mapping Social Cohesion survey reveals that 17% of Australian adults reported experiencing discrimination based on skin colour, ethnic origin or religion over the past year. This figure is notably higher among overseas-born Australians from non-English-speaking backgrounds, with one in three (34%) reporting similar experiences. What compounds these recent forms of social division and political polarisation is the amplification of racism in key institutions. Since its founding, Australia has grappled with systemic racism in its institutions and structures . Systemic racism leads to poor outcomes for those affected. The poor quality of life standards for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is an example of this. The over-representation of African-Australian youth in the justice system is another. Yet acknowledging and confronting the painful colonial history and its enduring legacy continues to be a significant challenge. The evidence from various studies, including our own research, shows systemic racism in Australia is mounting . The urgency of a coordinated approach across the whole of society has never been clearer. Racism cannot be addressed by few individuals, one community, agency, or government body. An adequately funded, resourced and coordinated anti-racism approach is necessary. In its calls for reform in key systems and structures, the framework acknowledges this. If fully implemented, these recommendations have the potential to drive transformative change in Australia. Policies and programs affecting First Nations communities would become better coordinated and integrated. With robust monitoring and evaluation, anti-racism initiatives would be more effective at tackling deeply entrenched racism. Achieving a racism-free society will require sustained political will, meaningful action and a commitment to dismantling the structures that perpetuate inequality. This means the real challenge lies in securing bipartisan support and implementing the necessary strategies to turn this vision into a reality. The Australian Greens have already indicated support for the plan. But the government and the opposition are yet to respond. The road map is ambitious and much needed vision for improving race relations, especially at a time of growing division and intolerance in our society. The ten-year timeframe for achieving its goals is undeniably challenging. Racism is a deeply entrenched problem and will also need longer-term strategies to resolve. The success of the framework hinges on the commitment and support of all Australians, from policymakers and community leaders to media organisations and everyday citizens. Ending racism require increased individual awareness, stronger collective action, persistence, and an unwavering dedication to dismantling racism at every turn. 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In a significant move, President Joe Biden is set to block the acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns. The $15 billion deal is under scrutiny by a U.S. national security panel, which must report to Biden by December 22 or 23, Bloomberg News has revealed. The planned acquisition has faced backlash since its announcement, with both Biden and former president Donald Trump expressing intentions to oppose it. Concerns center on the potential impact on critical infrastructure sectors like transportation and agriculture. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has emphasized these risks. Despite the resistance, Nippon Steel is striving to push the deal forward by promising not to move production capacities outside the U.S. and offering significant financial bonuses to employees. However, tensions remain high, with both companies prepared to engage in legal battles if the deal is obstructed. (With inputs from agencies.)SANTA CLARA, Calif. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRVL), today announced a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share of common stock payable on January 30, 2025 to shareholders of record as of January 10, 2025 . About Marvell To deliver the data infrastructure technology that connects the world, we're building solutions on the most powerful foundation: our partnerships with our customers. Trusted by the world's leading technology companies for over 25 years, we move, store, process and secure the world's data with semiconductor solutions designed for our customers' current needs and future ambitions. Through a process of deep collaboration and transparency, we're ultimately changing the way tomorrow's enterprise, cloud, automotive, and carrier architectures transform—for the better. Marvell® and the Marvell logo are registered trademarks of Marvell and/or its affiliates. For further information, contact: Ashish Saran Senior Vice President, Investor Relations 408-222-0777 ir@marvell.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marvell-technology-inc-declares-quarterly-dividend-payment-302331636.html SOURCE Marvell