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Not to those who had witnessed the president’s shared anguish over his two sons after the boys survived a car crash that killed Biden's first wife and a daughter more than a half-century ago. Or to those who heard the president regularly lament the death of his older son, Beau , from cancer or voice concerns — largely in private — about Hunter’s sobriety and health after years of deep addiction. But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president — who had pledged to restore a fractured public’s trust in the nation’s institutions and respect for the rule of law — has raised new questions about his already teetering legacy. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado's Democratic Gov. Jared Polis wrote in a post on X. He added that while he could sympathize with Hunter Biden’s struggles, “no one is above the law, not a President and not a President’s son.” Biden aides and allies had been resigned to the prospect of the president using his extraordinary power in the waning days of his presidency to ensure his son wouldn't see time behind bars, especially after Donald Trump ’s win. The president's supporters have long viewed Biden's commitment to his family as an asset overall, even if Hunter's personal conduct and tangled business dealings were seen as a persistent liability. But the pardon comes as Biden has become increasingly isolated since the loss to Trump by Vice President Kamala Harris , who jumped in to the race after the president’s catastrophic debate against Trump in June forced his exit from the election. He is still struggling to resolve thorny foreign policy issues in the Middle East and Europe. And he must reckon with his decision to seek reelection despite his advanced age, which helped return the Oval Office to Trump, a man he had warned time and again was a threat to democratic norms. Trump has gleefully planned to undo Biden’s signature achievements on climate change and reverse the Democrat's efforts to reinvigorate the country’s alliances, all while standing poised to take credit for a strengthening economy and billions in infrastructure investments that are in the pipeline for the coming years. And now, Biden has handed the Republican a pretext to carry through with sweeping plans to upend the Department of Justice as the Republican vows to seek retribution against supposed adversaries. “This pardon is just deflating for those of us who’ve been out there for a few years yelling about what a threat Trump is,” Republican Joe Walsh, a vocal Trump critic, said on MSNBC. “‘Nobody’s above the law,’ we’ve been screaming. Well, Joe Biden just made clear his son Hunter is above the law.” Jean-Pierre said Monday from Air Force One that the president wrestled with the decision but ultimately felt his son’s case had been tainted by politics, though she tried to thread the needle — insisting he had faith in the Justice Department. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” she said. But Trump has already made very clear his intent to disrupt federal law enforcement with his initial nomination of outspoken critics like former Rep. Matt Gaetz to be attorney general and Kash Patel to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , who nominally still has more than two years left in his term. (Gaetz ended up quickly withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations.) Reacting to the pardon, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement: “That system of justice must be fixed and due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people." In a social media post, the president-elect himself called the pardon “such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.” “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” Trump asked. He was referring to those convicted in the violent Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by his supporters aiming to overturn the 2020 presidential election result. Biden and his spokespeople had repeatedly and flatly ruled out the president granting his son a pardon. In June, Biden told reporters as his son faced trial in the Delaware gun case, “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.” In July, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters: “It's still a no. It will be a no. It is a no. And I don’t have anything else to add. Will he pardon his son? No." In November, days after Trump's victory, Jean-Pierre reiterated that message: “Our answer stands, which is no." Neither Biden nor the White House explained the shift in the president's thinking, and it was his broken promise as much as his act of clemency that was a lightning rod. He is hardly the first president to pardon a family member or friend entangled in political dealings. Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Roger for drug charges after he had served his sentence roughly a decade earlier. In his final weeks in office, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner , the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner, as well as multiple allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. Yet Biden held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns — trying to draw a deliberate contrast with Trump, who tested the bounds of his authority like few predecessors. Inside the White House, the timing of the pardon was surprising to some who believed Biden would put it off as long as possible, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. It came just after Biden spent extended time over the past week with Hunter and other family members on Nantucket in Massachusetts, a family tradition for Thanksgiving. “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice – and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further,” Biden said in a statement announcing the pardon. Some in the administration have privately expressed anguish that the substance of Biden’s statement, including his claim of an unfair politically-tinged prosecution of his son resembled complaints Trump — who faced now-abandoned indictments over his role in trying to subvert the 2020 election — has been making for years about the Justice Department. Biden said the charges in his son's cases "came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.” Many legal experts agreed that the charges against the younger Biden were somewhat unusual, but the facts of the offenses were hardly in dispute, as Hunter wrote about his gun purchase while addicted to illegal drugs in his memoir and ultimately pleaded guilty to the tax charges. The pardon too was unusual, coming before Hunter Biden was even sentenced and covering not just the gun and tax offenses against his son, but also anything else he might have done going back to the start of 2014. It's a move that could limit the ability of the Trump Justice Department to investigate the younger Biden's unsavory foreign business dealings, or to find new ground on which to bring criminal charges related to that time period. Biden, in his statement, asked for consideration: “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision."Trust and empathy are the future for a more 'human' AI in Aussie workplace90 jili free 100 。

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans tight end Taysom Hill is likely to miss the rest of the season after injuring his knee in the Saints' loss to the Los Angeles Rams. “It looks like an ACL tear,” interim coach Darren Rizzi said Monday. “He’ll probably get a second opinion, but it looks like it will be season-ending.” Hill, who is listed at tight end but plays a variety of roles, was carted off the field after taking a hard hit to his left knee while converting a fourth down on a direct snap in the Saints’ 21-14 loss Sunday to the Rams. The injury came one game after he'd posted a career-best 138 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns in a victory over Cleveland. He also has lined up at quarterback and running back, as well as playing special teams. “It means everybody else has to step up,” Rizzi said. “He fills so many roles, so there are going to be a lot of different guys that have to be a part of the solution there. It’s hard to sit here and tell you we are going to replace Taysom. You can’t. He’s a phenomenal person, player, leader and captain. It’s a big loss." Hill is the third key offensive player the Saints have lost. He joins leading wide receivers Chris Olave, who suffered a concussion in Week 9 and has not played since, and Rashid Shaheed, who is out for the year after tearing a meniscus in Week 7. Rizzi said guard Nick Saldiveri also might miss the remaining five games after injuring his left knee in the fourth quarter one series before Hill. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.As 2025 approaches, investors may start to think about how they want to approach the second half of the decade. Given technological trends, stocks driven by artificial intelligence (AI) will likely continue to prosper. The emergence of ChatGPT helped make Nvidia the AI stock of the decade's first half. But with its red-hot growth beginning to cool, many investors moved on to other stocks. While it is nearly impossible to predict the best performer for the rest of the decade, investors can expect that several stocks will probably deliver strong returns. Knowing that, three contributors at Fool.com have ideas as to which stocks might deliver those sought-after gains. Meta hits a new all-time high, but the party is just getting started Justin Pope (Meta Platforms): It's hard to overstate how remarkable a business Meta Platforms ( META 2.44% ) is. The company has a stranglehold on the world's social media landscape, with 3.29 billion people logging on to Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or Threads daily. Social media apps are a fantastic distribution mechanism to serve digital ads, primarily how Meta generates more than $156 billion in (very profitable) annual revenue. Meta has leaned hard into artificial intelligence. The company has invested billions of dollars into data centers for computing capacity, developed a proprietary AI model (Llama), and woven AI technology into its digital ads business to make them more effective for customers. The stock's appeal is twofold. First, the company's digital ads business makes Meta a juggernaut in its present form. Analysts estimate Meta will grow earnings by 20% annually over the next three to five years. Yet, the stock's PEG ratio of 1.3 signals that Meta is still very reasonably priced for that growth -- even at all-time highs. In other words, Meta's growth outlook for the remainder of the 2020s looks strong, and you aren't overpaying for it. Second, Meta continually invests tons of money into Reality Labs, its AI and augmented reality segment. Reality Labs posted an operating loss of $11.4 billion through the first nine months in 2024. CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes it will turn profitable over time; otherwise, the company wouldn't invest the money and effort. Does that guarantee Mark Zuckerberg is right? Of course not. Still, Meta has proven its foresight and ability to position itself for success in years past ( Instagram and Reels ). The stock's strong existing ads business and hefty AI investments could make Meta a continued winner, especially if Reality Labs starts bearing fruit later this decade. SoundHound AI is a leader within the growing field of voice AI Jake Lerch (SoundHound AI): My pick is SoundHound AI ( SOUN 12.60% ) . First, a little background. SoundHound is a leader in the field of voice AI solutions. Its products help bridge the gap between human voices and AI models. For example, SoundHound has partnered with automakers like Honda , Hyundai , Mercedes-Benz , and others to power their in-car voice-activated chat. In addition to its automotive partnerships, SoundHound has made inroads in the casual-dining sector. As of this writing, its list of restaurant clients has grown to more than a dozen well-known brands, including Papa John's , Chipotle Mexican Grill , and Jersey Mike's. There are at least two big reasons why these high-profile companies are seeking out SoundHound: So, what is SoundHound's competitive advantage? In short, it has what's called a first-mover advantage. The company was founded in 2005, and its proprietary tech helps its tools deliver best-in-class speed and accuracy -- mimicking human-to-human conversation. Moreover, since SoundHound isn't a major tech conglomerate, some clients may feel more comfortable partnering with the company. In other words, SoundHound AI offers its clients an alternative to big-tech voice AI provided by Amazon , Apple , or Google ( Alphabet ). Finally, the company's position within the ongoing AI boom bodes well for the future. As noted, it seems every business is eagerly chasing down opportunities to utilize AI tools to drive higher profitability. As the public becomes more and more familiar with AI voice interactions, more industries will roll out voice-powered AI for customer interactions. SoundHound AI is an up-and-coming AI stock that still has plenty of room to grow -- and it's a name that investors should remember. This cybersecurity stock should strike a chord with investors Will Healy (CrowdStrike): When it comes to cybersecurity stocks , CrowdStrike ( CRWD 0.22% ) may look closer to a stock to avoid. The company continues to deal with the fallout from its July 19 outage, and with the stock having recovered most of its lost value, it may appear to have little upside left. Indeed, the stock has risen more than 50% over the last year, even when accounting for the summer outage. Moreover, its price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 24 makes it is a more expensive stock than its most direct competitors. Nonetheless, the outage may have strangely increased trust in the company. CrowdStrike quickly admitted fault when the incident occurred and promptly issued a fix. Such a move shows CrowdStrike cares more about its long-term reputation than its short-term performance. Furthermore, CrowdStrike has positioned itself to capitalize on the growing need for cybersecurity. Fortune Business Insights forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14% through 2032 amid a growing need to protect cloud and AI workloads. CrowdStrike plans to capture more of this increasing demand with the company's Falcon platform, an AI-native cybersecurity ecosystem. Also, its Charlotte AI security product can use plain language questions to discover hidden threats, speed up decision-making, and automate error-prone tasks that can lead to security breaches. Additionally, CrowdStrike's numerous offerings help it capture more business from new and current customers. According to the company, 66% of customers subscribe to five or more modules. In the first nine months of fiscal 2025 (ended Oct. 31), this increased adoption led to $2.9 billion in revenue, 31% more than the same period in fiscal 2024. Admittedly, investors may not want to buy the stock as long as it maintains an elevated valuation. However, five years of sales growth will make that multiple less significant over time, and as the company moves on from the outage, its continuing growth should mean stock gains over the second half of the decade.The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? 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Retired DOJ prosecutor Steve Mellin shares his thoughts on President Biden’s commutations of federal death sentences on ‘America Reports.’ Following President Biden's move to commute the sentences of 37 prisoners on federal death row, Sen. Joe Manchin , I-W.Va., called the clemency granted to two of the individuals "horribly misguided and insulting." In the 37 cases, Biden commuted the sentences to life sentences without the potential for parole. Manchin — a Democrat-turned-independent senator who will soon leave office — said he felt a responsibility to speak out on behalf of the parents of Samantha Burns, who was slain in 2002 at the age of 19, according to reports. TRUMP PLEDGES TO BRING BACK FEDERAL EXECUTIONS AFTER BIDEN COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES FOR 37 INMATES Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., speaks during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Special Diabetes Program on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on July 11, 2023. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for JDRF) "After speaking to Samantha Burns’ parents, I believe it is my duty to speak on their behalf and say President Biden’s decision to commute the death sentences for the two men convicted in her brutal murder is horribly misguided and insulting," the lawmaker declared in a statement posted on X. "Particularly since Samantha’s family wrote letters to President Biden & the Department of Justice, pleading for them not to do this, but their concerns were unheard. I can’t imagine the grief that Kandi and John Burns are reliving and dealing with during the holiday season," Manchin continued. "As their U.S. Senator and a father, I want to express my deepest sympathy for their continued suffering. Please know that Samantha will forever be in our prayers." Brandon Basham is pictured after escaping from the Hopkins County Jail in Madisonville, Kentucky, on Nov. 4, 2002. He went on an interstate crime spree with fellow escapee Chadrick Fulks that included the murders of two women. (Ashland Police Department/Getty Images) The two men connected with the young woman's death escaped lockup and went on a crime spree in 2002, according to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit . "On November 4, 2002, cellmates Chadrick Fulks and Brandon Basham escaped from a county detention facility in Kentucky" and "unleashed a criminal rampage that lasted seventeen days and zigzagged across several states," according to the court, which noted that the men "admitted to killing Burns and pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in death in the Southern District of West Virginia." TRUMP HAS CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO ‘RADICAL LEFT LUNATICS,’ TELLS INMATES BIDEN GRANTED CLEMENCY TO ‘GO TO HELL!’ Chadrick Fulks is escorted by U.S. Marshals out of the federal courthouse in Huntington, West Virginia, on April 12, 2005, following an arraignment on charges of carjacking resulting in the death of Marshall University student Samantha Burns, use of a firearm to commit a crime and interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle. (AP Photo/The Herald-Dispatch, Randy Snyder) In a fiery Christmas Day post on Truth Social, President-elect Trump told the 37 individuals who escaped capital punishment to "GO TO HELL!" In a statement about the commutations, President Biden said, "I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss." OUTGOING SEN. JOE MANCHIN PUSHES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR SUPREME COURT TERM LIMITS President Biden speaks at the Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 16. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP But he also said that he was "more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level." "These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder," Biden said. Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.U.S. Home Infusion Therapy Market Set for Exceptional Growth in the Forecast 2024-2032 12-27-2024 07:11 PM CET | Health & Medicine Press release from: Cognate Insights U.S. Home Infusion Therapy Market Latest Market Overview The U.S. home infusion therapy market is expected to reach USD 22.5 billion by 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% from 2024 to 2032. Home infusion therapy involves the administration of intravenous (IV) medications at home, including antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and biologics, under the supervision of healthcare professionals. With the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the aging population, and the growing preference for home-based healthcare, the market is experiencing significant growth. The shift from hospital-based care to home care is a major driver for the expansion of this market. The U.S. Home Infusion Therapy Market has experienced steady growth in recent years and is expected to continue expanding at a strong pace from 2024 to 2032. This analysis offers a comprehensive overview, providing valuable insights into key trends and developments within the U.S. Home Infusion Therapy industry. These findings equip business leaders with the necessary knowledge to devise more effective strategies and enhance profitability. Furthermore, the report serves as a useful resource for new and emerging businesses, helping them make informed decisions as they navigate the market and seek growth opportunities. Major Players of U.S. Home Infusion Therapy Market are: Option Care Health, Inc. - Bannockburn, IL (Revenue: USD 3.73 billion in 2023) CVS Health Corporation - Woonsocket, RI (Revenue: USD 5.6 billion from specialty pharmacy division in 2023) B. Braun Medical Inc. - Bethlehem, PA (Revenue: USD 1.8 billion in 2023) CareCentrix, Inc. - Hartford, CT (Revenue: USD 2.1 billion in 2023) Get Latest PDF Sample Report @ https://www.cognateinsights.com/request-sample/us-home-infusion-therapy-market Our Report covers global as well as regional markets and provides an in-depth analysis of the overall growth prospects of the market. Global market trend analysis including historical data, estimates to 2024, and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) forecast to 2032 is given based on qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market segments involving economic and non-economic factors. Furthermore, it reveals the comprehensive competitive landscape of the global market, the current and future market prospects of the industry, and the growth opportunities and drivers as well as challenges and constraints in emerging and emerging markets. Global U.S. Home Infusion Therapy Market Landscape and Future Pathways: North America: United States Canada Europe: Germany France U.K. Italy Russia Asia-Pacific: China Japan South Korea India Australia China Taiwan Indonesia Thailand Malaysia Latin America: Mexico Brazil Argentina Korea Colombia Middle East & Africa: Turkey Saudi Arabia UAE Korea Speak to Our Analyst for A Discussion on The Above Findings, And Ask for A Discount on The Report @ https://www.cognateinsights.com/check-discount/us-home-infusion-therapy-market Key drivers and challenges influencing the U.S. Home Infusion Therapy market: Regional Analysis: The report involves examining the U.S. Home Infusion Therapy market at a regional or national level. Report analyses regional factors such as government incentives, infrastructure development, economic conditions, and consumer behaviour to identify variations and opportunities within different markets. Market Projections: Report covers the gathered data and analysis to make future projections and forecasts for the U.S. Home Infusion Therapy market. This may include estimating market growth rates, predicting market demand, and identifying emerging trends. Company Analysis: Report covers individual U.S. Home Infusion Therapy manufacturers, suppliers, and other relevant industry players. This analysis includes studying their financial performance, market positioning, product portfolios, partnerships, and strategies. Consumer Analysis: Report covers data on consumer behaviour, preferences, and attitudes towards U.S. Home Infusion Therapy This may involve surveys, interviews, and analysis of consumer reviews and feedback from different by Application. Technology Analysis: Report covers specific technologies relevant to U.S. Home Infusion Therapy. It assesses the current state, advancements, and potential future developments in U.S. Home Infusion Therapy areas. Reason to Buy this Report: -Analysis of the impact of technological advancements on the market and the emerging trends shaping the industry in the coming years. -Examination of the regulatory and policy changes affecting the market and the implications of these changes for market participants. -Overview of the competitive landscape in the U.S. Home Infusion Therapy market, including profiles of the key players, their market share, and strategies for growth. -Identification of the major challenges facing the market, such as supply chain disruptions, environmental concerns, and changing consumer preferences, and analysis of how these challenges will affect market growth. -Evaluation of the potential of new products and applications in the market, and analysis of the investment opportunities for market participants. For In-Depth Competitive Analysis - Purchase this Report now at @ https://www.cognateinsights.com/purchase-report/us-home-infusion-therapy-market Contact Us: Cognate Insights Web: www.cognateinsights.com Email: info@cognateinsights.com Phone: +91 8424946476 About Us: We are leaders in market analytics, business research, and consulting services for Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, financial & government institutions. Since we understand the criticality of data and insights, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. To be at our client's disposal whenever they need help on market research and consulting services. We also aim to be their business partners when it comes to making critical business decisions around new market entry, M&A, competitive Intelligence and strategy. This release was published on openPR.

As 2024 ushers in an era rich with technological advancements, one standout domain is artificial intelligence (AI), which has propelled major players like Nvidia and Broadcom to new heights. But there’s more to the AI boom than just the titans; lesser-known companies like SoundHound AI are captivating the attention of investors with their unique contributions. What Makes SoundHound AI Distinct? SoundHound AI, a company specializing solely in voice AI, offers a fresh approach to enabling seamless communication between humans and machines. Unlike the tech mammoths that anchor their AI features to proprietary hardware, SoundHound’s tools allow other businesses to embed voice AI into their own systems. This flexibility attracts companies wary of sharing data with big tech, providing them with customized solutions harnessing SoundHound’s cutting-edge technology. A testament to its prowess, SoundHound’s technology, compatible with 25 languages, has been incorporated by global brands such as Kia, Honda, and Krispy Kreme. These companies leverage its capabilities to deliver real-time, accurate, and natural voice interactions. Financial Growth and Future Prospects Currently in a growth phase, SoundHound displayed a remarkable revenue increase, hitting $25 million in the last quarter, marking an 89% rise from the previous year. The company’s diversified client base minimizes dependency on any single customer, broadening its reach beyond its automotive origins into healthcare and finance. While still unprofitable, SoundHound presents intriguing opportunities for growth-focused investors attracted to its rapid expansion and innovative voice AI solutions. As the company continues building momentum, it stands poised to make significant strides in 2025 and beyond. SoundHound AI: The Rising Voice of Innovation in the AI Revolution The explosion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in 2024 has shone a spotlight on both industry giants and emerging innovators. Among the key players enhancing the AI landscape is SoundHound AI, a company garnering attention for its unique contributions to voice AI. Unlike its larger counterparts, SoundHound AI’s approach provides a refreshing alternative in the AI market. Features and Capabilities of SoundHound AI SoundHound AI excels in voice recognition technology, offering businesses the ability to incorporate voice interaction capabilities into their systems without reliance on proprietary hardware. This versatility enables a wide range of applications, allowing businesses to tailor voice solutions to fit their specific needs. Furthermore, SoundHound AI’s compatibility with 25 different languages makes it a versatile tool for global businesses looking to implement precise and natural voice interactions in diverse markets. In the automotive sector, major brands such as Kia and Honda have integrated SoundHound’s technology, enhancing user experiences by enabling sophisticated voice commands for navigation and infotainment systems. Additionally, Krispy Kreme utilizes this technology to streamline customer interactions, exemplifying the flexibility of SoundHound’s solutions in various industries. Advantages of Choosing SoundHound AI One of the key benefits of SoundHound AI’s products is the potential for businesses to safeguard their data. By choosing SoundHound, companies can implement a robust voice AI system internally, avoiding the data management challenges associated with larger tech conglomerates. This makes SoundHound an attractive partner, particularly for businesses operating in several sectors that demand confidentiality and data privacy, such as healthcare and finance. SoundHound AI’s Market Position and Future Outlook SoundHound is currently experiencing a period of dramatic financial growth, having reported a staggering 89% increase in quarterly revenue to $25 million. This surge underscores the company’s ability to capture market share and expand its influence beyond its initial footprint in the automotive industry. As a result, SoundHound AI has become a compelling option for growth-focused investors. While it has yet to achieve profitability, its innovative approach and fast-paced expansion suggest that it could play a significant role in the AI industry’s future, particularly as voice interfaces become more prevalent in 2025 and beyond. Trends and Predictions The demand for integrated voice AI solutions is expected to grow, with SoundHound poised to capitalize on trends aiming at smart environments in homes, vehicles, and workplaces. Industry analysts predict that further advancements in AI could lead to more intuitive user interfaces, and SoundHound, with its expertise and adaptable solutions, is well-positioned to lead this evolution. Conclusion SoundHound AI’s distinctive approach and rapid growth highlight its potential as a transformative player in the voice AI sector. For businesses seeking innovative ways to integrate voice technology, SoundHound AI offers a customizable and secure solution, reflecting the broader trends in the AI industry’s evolution. Explore SoundHound AI to learn more about their cutting-edge technologies and potential impact on the AI landscape.The US State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation”, according to a statement. The designation of Mr Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the US has placed on Georgian politicians and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in US jurisdictions or that might enter US jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions under Ivanishvili’s leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the State Department said in a statement. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia.” Mr Ivanishvili is a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBT+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia’s bid to join the European Union, fuelling further public outrage.

Question of self-confidence for India: Excerpts from Manmohan’s 1992 speechMatrixport Pursues Financial Service Permission Licence to Offer Comprehensive Virtual Asset Services in Bhutan's Gelephu Mindfulness City Special Administrative Region

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.MacKenzie Scott continues to make medical debt relief a priority in her mysterious giving. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * MacKenzie Scott continues to make medical debt relief a priority in her mysterious giving. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? MacKenzie Scott continues to make medical debt relief a priority in her mysterious giving. This week, Undue Medical Debt, formerly RIP Medical Debt, announced it had received a rare third gift — $50 million — from the billionaire philanthropist, signaling her satisfaction with the group’s efforts to purchase medical debt in bulk from hospitals and debt collectors. Scott has donated a total of $130 million to the organization since 2020. Medical debt is increasing despite most of the U.S. population having some form of medical insurance. Nearly 100 million people are unable to pay their medical bills, according to Third Way, a left-leaning national think tank. Overall, Americans owe about $220 billion in medical debt, with historically disadvantaged groups shouldering the bulk of the burden. Lower-income people, people with disabilities, middle-aged adults, Black people, the uninsured, and people living in rural areas are among the groups most likely to be affected by medical debt, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Undue Medical Debt buys debt at a discounted price, estimating that it erases about $100 in debt for each $1 donated. The group also collaborates with policymakers to encourage the adoption of measures to curb what people owe for medical care. Scott first gave Undue Medical Debt a $50 million donation in 2020, followed by a $30 million donation in 2022. With that money, the group has relieved nearly $15 billion in debt for more than 9 million people, CEO Allison Sesso said. That’s a significant leap from the $1 billion in debt relieved from 2014 to 2019, she noted. “I’m frankly astounded by this most recent gift from MacKenzie Scott and feel proud to be a steward of these funds as we continue the essential work of dismantling the yoke of medical debt that’s burdening far too many families in this country,” said Sesso. The continued funding has allowed Sesso “to not have to worry about my next dollar,” she said, and “think more strategically about the narrative around medical debt — she has helped us push that conversation.” Undue Medical Debt was started in 2014 by two former debt collection executives, Jerry Ashton and Craig Antico, who were inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement’s advocacy for debt relief. Growth initially was slow. But with Scott’s gifts, the nonprofit has been able to staff up, produce more research, and develop relationships with policymakers who have pushed for changes to hospital billing practices to relieve debt and prevent people from accumulating it in the first place, Sesso said. Undue Medical Debt’s public policy arm has worked with lawmakers in North Carolina, which in July became the first state to offer additional Medicaid payments to hospitals that agree to adopt debt relief measures, she said. The policy change followed the publication of a 2023 report from Duke University, which found that one in five families in the state had been forced into collections proceedings because of medical debt. Since 2020, the organization’s staff has grown from three to about 40, Sesso said. Those hires included an anthropologist who collects stories from people set back by medical debt to inform the group’s research and advocacy work. Scott’s gifts also have helped improve Undue Medical Debt’s technology to identify people eligible for debt relief and to find hospitals from which it can purchase medical debt, among other things, Sesso said. “This coming year, because of this MacKenzie Scott grant, we’ll be able to add more people, making sure that we can support that growth on an ongoing basis,” Sesso said. Few repeat grantees Few organizations have received more than one gift from Scott. Other multi-grant recipients include Blue Meridian, an intermediary group that has directed billions of dollars to nonprofits around the world, and GiveDirectly, which provides no-strings-attached cash payments to low-income people globally. GiveDirectly has received $125 million from Scott since 2020. Blue Meridian has not disclosed amounts for the four gifts it’s received since 2019. Scott’s contributions to those two organizations were for specific causes like GiveDirectly’s U.S. poverty relief fund, said Christina Im, a senior research analyst at the Center for Effective Philanthropy. In the case of Undue Medical Debt, the timing of Scott’s first gifts in 2020 and 2022 seemed to correspond with COVID-relief efforts, she said. Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is worth an estimated $32 billion but provides few details about her grantmaking decisions. Without further information, it’s hard to know what prompted this third donation to Undue Medical Debt, but Scott has said in public statements that she wants to help those who are most in need and bear the brunt of societal ills, said Elisha Smith Arrillaga, the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s vice president for research. “I have not seen a lot of other folks funding in this area,” Smith Arrillaga added. Anger over health care costs Scott’s latest gift to Undue Medical Debt comes amid national debates about medical insurance and the cost of medical treatments. The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4 in Midtown Manhattan has heightened these conversations, with some lionizing the man who allegedly committed the crime. “That’s no way to get change, full stop,” Sesso said in reference to Thompson’s murder. “But I think the anger around insurance companies and having access to care is very clear.” The U.S. has one of the most expensive health care systems in the world. And the amount of medical debt carried by individuals seems to be increasing, noted Adam Searing, a public interest attorney and associate professor at Georgetown University, where he focuses on Medicaid and other health coverage programs. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Searing previously served for 17 years as director of the Health Access Coalition at the nonprofit North Carolina Justice Center, advocating for the uninsured and underinsured. During that time, he heard from people losing their homes due to liens from hospitals. Sometimes those liens could be delayed, but it still meant that the debtors couldn’t pass those homes along to their children or grandchildren, he said. “Those stories stuck with me,” he said. “It really has an impact on families.” Relieving debt allows people to get their lives back on track and become financially secure after a major illness or series of expensive bills, Searing said. For philanthropists, it’s also a cause that is largely nonpartisan. Scott shining a spotlight on the issue is undoubtedly “a good thing,” he said. “I think it will have a big effect.” _____ Stephanie Beasley is a senior writer at the Chronicle of Philanthropy. This article was provided to The Associated Press by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as part of a partnership to cover philanthropy and nonprofits supported by the Lilly Endowment Inc. The Chronicle is solely responsible for the content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. Advertisement AdvertisementUS urges push for Syria de-escalation

US urges push for Syria de-escalationJoin our newsletter to get the latest military space news every Tuesday by veteran defense journalist Sandra Erwin. A weekly newsletter that explores the rapidly evolving intersection of space exploration and artificial intelligence. By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner to receive the newsletters. You can opt-out at any time. WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s annual “ Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China ” report, released Dec. 18, underscores the accelerating pace of China’s military modernization, with increasing focus on space and artificial intelligence technologies. The report, often referred to as the China Military Power Report, offers insights into Beijing’s expanding capabilities, many of which are aimed at countering U.S. influence in the Indo-Pacific region. This year’s report places new emphasis on China’s use of satellites and AI to bolster its military operations. It describes how Beijing is increasingly leveraging space-based surveillance to track U.S. and allied forces and enhance its precision-strike capabilities. This capability includes integrating satellite data with advanced AI systems to identify vulnerabilities and guide high-precision missile strikes. China’s space capabilities have expanded at a rapid rate, the report notes. In 2010, the country operated a modest fleet of 36 satellites. By 2024, that number has surged to over 1,000, with more than 360 dedicated to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. “The PRC emphasizes the importance of space-based surveillance capabilities in supporting precision strikes and, in 2022, continued to develop its constellation of military reconnaissance satellites that could support monitoring, tracking, and targeting of U.S. and allied forces,” the report states. China has embraced “multi-domain precision warfare,” a strategy that integrates AI, big data, and space technologies to conduct highly coordinated military operations. First articulated by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in 2021, this concept mirrors similar strategies pioneered by the Pentagon but now appears to be a cornerstone of China’s military doctrine. The idea is to synthesize vast amounts of intelligence from various domains — land, sea, air, space and cyberspace — to deliver precise, coordinated strikes. In addition to its satellite advancements, China continues to pursue anti-satellite weaponry and reusable space plane technology, the report says. The Pentagon’s assessment suggests that Beijing’s advances are not solely about military confrontation but also reflect ambitions for global technological and strategic leadership.

The immigration debate in our country has been dominated by huge corporations who want more (and cheaper) workers and by liberal advocacy organizations who want America to take in as many people from developing nations as possible, partly for humanitarian reasons and partly to drive up the voter rolls for the Democrats. These dueling interests have dominated for decades and led to a permissive system with a large influx of new immigrants, both legal and illegal. In response, conservative voices have pushed back on what they see as overly open immigration policies. Lost in this policy debate is what we should really be focused on: what’s good for America. Big businesses want to bring in as many new workers as they can. Expanding the workforce allows workers less leverage on wages and benefits. This system may lead to greater economic output overall, but there is a strong case to be made that it harms American workers, especially those at the bottom of the labor pool, where an influx of unskilled workers has caused wage stagnation. America’s current H1B skilled visa system is a complete giveaway to corporate America, primarily big tech. We bring in skilled foreigners only when a company sponsors them. The system then keeps many of these workers in a legal limbo, often for decades. That whole time they are... https://t.co/RwzFk2kwLz — Neil Patel (@NeilPatelTDC) December 27, 2024 Liberal activists want to take in as many immigrants as they can, and you don’t have to be a cynic to see the political angle of this policy. An influx of new immigrants has already turned California from a decidedly red state to a strongly blue state, although recent trends show this strategy may be backfiring . In recent years, the permissiveness on immigration has advanced from advocating for more legal immigration to openly favoring illegal immigration. We are now at a point where the majority of Democrats who ran in the party’s last presidential primary raised their hands in favor of completely decriminalizing illegal border crossings. The standard Republican response has been to focus on skilled immigrants. The line you hear most often is to “staple an H-1B visa to every science and technology degree” earned by foreign graduates in American universities to keep these new workers in our country. The final camp in the immigration debate believes our country has had an overly permissive immigration system for too long. This camp wants to both shut down our borders and curtail or stop legal immigration until we get things under control. All of these camps have it wrong on immigration, especially when it comes to skilled immigration. There is a better way. Somewhere in the world today are the next generation’s brightest young scientists. A bunch of them are in America, but many are in other countries, especially India and China. It’s in America’s interest to bring as many of these people as possible into our country. Other countries know this. They have a name for it: “brain drain.” This brain drain — the loss of a country’s best and brightest to places like America — is one of the biggest policy challenges for poor countries around the world. For the sake of America’s future prosperity and status as the world’s most innovative and prosperous country, America should be working on policies to promote it. When a worker comes to America on a temporary H-1B visa, they are tied to the American company that sponsors them. Because of the huge backlog we currently have for these temporary immigrants to gain permanent status in America, these highly skilled workers can stay tethered to an American employer for decades. During this time, they can’t change jobs, their spouses often can’t work and their children can be subject to deportation as soon as they turn 18. The end result of this system is an unfair competition for jobs between American workers and this indentured class of highly skilled immigrants. A big company will always prefer to hire an essentially indentured immigrant who can’t afford to push for better pay or benefits. This current system is ripe for abuse by bad actors like Disney or AT&T Inc., who have been caught recruiting temporary H-1B workers to replace Americans, or by Indian consulting firms that have entire business models built to take advantage of temporary, indentured foreign tech workers. The answer to this problem is not to stop bringing skilled workers to America. If they don’t come to the United States, they can go to Canada or New Zealand, where there are policies in place to actively recruit them . Given the improving conditions in their home countries, these immigrants are also increasingly deciding to forego the American dream and just stay home. (RELATED: America Doesn’t Need More Nerds And Foreigners To Start Winning Again) The real answer is to scrap our broken system. We should better identify and recruit the world’s most talented people. But when we find them, we should bring them here with all the same rights we give to Americans. Doing this will prevent American workers from having to compete with workers with fewer rights. Most importantly, an immigration system that better targets talent and then allows that talent to come to America with the same rights as American workers would incentivize the best to keep coming here, keep inventing here, keep starting companies here and keep the American dream alive.

Crypto-Related Shares Fall Today: What's Going On?

Up to 75% off bestsellers in Debenhams sale including suitcases, watches and airfryers“It looks like an ACL tear,” interim coach Darren Rizzi said Monday. “He’ll probably get a second opinion, but it looks like it will be season-ending.” Hill, who is listed at tight end but plays a variety of roles, was carted off the field after taking a hard hit to his left knee while converting a fourth down on a direct snap in the Saints’ 21-14 loss Sunday to the Rams. The injury came one game after he'd posted a career-best 138 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns in a victory over Cleveland. He also has lined up at quarterback and running back, as well as playing special teams. “It means everybody else has to step up,” Rizzi said. “He fills so many roles, so there are going to be a lot of different guys that have to be a part of the solution there. It’s hard to sit here and tell you we are going to replace Taysom. You can’t. He’s a phenomenal person, player, leader and captain. It’s a big loss." Hill is the third key offensive player the Saints have lost. He joins leading wide receivers Chris Olave, who suffered a concussion in Week 9 and has not played since, and Rashid Shaheed, who is out for the year after tearing a meniscus in Week 7. Rizzi said guard Nick Saldiveri also might miss the remaining five games after injuring his left knee in the fourth quarter one series before Hill. Without Hill, though, the Saints’ quest to get back in the NFC South race became even tougher. At 4-8, they trail Atlanta and Tampa Bay by two games. Hill has 99 catches, 437 carries, 302 passes, 44 touchdowns, 19 tackles and one blocked kick in seven years with the Saints. “I don’t know if I can compare Taysom to anybody else that I’ve ever coached,” Rizzi said. “There’s not a guy that comes to mind that has been able to do all the different things he’s been able to do just in one game, forget about his career." Alvin Kamara had his third 100-yard rushing game of the year and is 106 yards away from the first 1,000-yard season of his eight-year career. He needs only 39 more yards to set a career high. His 206 carries are the third most in his career. Los Angeles averaged 5.4 yards per carry, finishing with 156 yards. Rams running back Kyren Williams said they knew at halftime they would win if they stuck to the ground game, and he carried seven times on the opening series of the third quarter as they took the lead. The Saints have allowed 5.1 yards per carry for the season — tied for last with the New York Giants. Signed in late October after Shaheed’s season-ending surgery, Marquez Valdes-Scantling has become Derek Carr’s go-to receiver for big plays. His 28-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was the Saints’ longest gain of the day and his fourth score in the past three games. Tight end Foster Moreau, a reliable performer all year, could not handle Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse on the Saints’ final offensive snap, allowing him to hit Carr as he released a pass on fourth-and-3 from the Los Angeles 9 with New Orleans trailing by 7. Although the news was bad for Hill and Saldiveri, Rizzi said he expected starting center Erik McCoy to play Sunday against the Giants. McCoy was scratched against the Rams after aggravating a groin injury two weeks earlier versus Cleveland in his first game back since missing seven in a row. Rizzi said oft-injured running back Kendre Miller, who has played in two games this year, might return from a hamstring injury Sunday. 2 — The number of sacks for the Saints, not enough to keep Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford from finding his rhythm in the second half. In the Rams’ last five losses, he has been sacked 20 times. In their last five wins, he has been sacked three times. With their NFC South hopes on life support, the Saints travel to face the reeling Giants, who have lost seven in a row. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Hallmark star secretly battles throat cancer, says he's been on a 'long road' to recovery

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia lawmakers should consider expanding mental health services, staffing and de-escalation training to address deaths and neglect at state prisons, a panel of lawmakers said last week. The panel voted Friday for recommendations for the Georgia legislature to consider when it convenes in January. Two months ago, the Justice Department said it would sue if state prison officials didn’t act swiftly to curb the violations of prisoners’ Eighth Amendment protections against cruel punishment. And Georgia prisons are on track to set another record for homicides in 2024, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. State Rep. Matt Hatchett, a Republican from Dublin who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, confirmed he supports spending money to curb the violence and increasing single-cell facilities but he does not think that all facilities need to be single-cell, as the report suggests. Lawmakers rejected DeKalb County Democratic State Sen. Kim Jackson’s proposal to create an independent oversight committee. Republicans argued there is already oversight through legislative committees. RELATED COVERAGE No. 7 Florida staves off UNC rally for 90-84 win to remain undefeated Trump chooses Herschel Walker as US ambassador to Bahamas Family of ‘Cop City’ activist who was killed by troopers files lawsuit “Hours and hours and hours of testimony that we heard over the course of the study committee indicated there was a clear lack of oversight over the Department of Corrections,” Jackson said. “Public testimony also shows that people felt like they did not have opportunities to have access to justice. To have somebody answer their questions.” Georgia’s prisons are failing to provide basic care, advocates said at the panel’s final meeting Friday. Former prisoners and relatives of people who died in custody railed against prison officials for their lack of transparency about the deaths. “A lot of the deaths happening in the Georgia Department of Corrections are preventable,” said Nasir Jahid, who left the department’s custody almost two months ago. He told the panel that he saw two people die, including Garry Lloyd Gerald Matthews Jr. He and others had to repeatedly call for help and when officers finally arrived, they “stood by doing nothing,” Jahid told lawmakers. A corrections department spokesperson said in an email that one of the deaths Jahid saw was a suicide, and an investigation into Matthews’ death found officers provided adequate support but weren’t able to save him for medical reasons. Heather Hunt testified about what she said was a weak investigation into the death of her son at a state prison. Della Newsome said during testimony she received minimal communication about the death of her fiancée, Joshua Mark Holliday, behind bars. Authorities eventually said the men died by suicide, but the families don’t believe them. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations handles autopsies in prison deaths but does not usually look into their cases. The panel declined to recommend that the bureau investigate those deaths. Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver told the panel that officers investigating deaths undergo the same training as the bureau, and they’re instructed to notify relatives or next-of-kin. The panel also recommended partnering with private prisons and that the federal government let state prisons use cell phone and drone jamming technology. Oliver testified that people in prison use phones and drones to bring contraband into the facility. But advocates say most people use their phones to communicate with family, since options for calling them are limited and expensive. ___ Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon.New Report Finds Bioscience Sector Generates Over $3 Trillion for U.S. EconomyBrowns restructure QB Deshaun Watson's contract to create cap space, flexibility, AP source says

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s decision to go back on his word and issue a categorical pardon for his son, Hunter , just weeks before his scheduled sentencing on gun and tax convictions was a surprise that wasn't all that surprising. Not to those who had witnessed the president’s shared anguish over his two sons after the boys survived a car crash that killed Biden's first wife and a daughter more than a half-century ago. Or to those who heard the president regularly lament the death of his older son, Beau , from cancer or voice concerns — largely in private — about Hunter’s sobriety and health after years of deep addiction. People are also reading... But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president — who had pledged to restore a fractured public’s trust in the nation’s institutions and respect for the rule of law — has raised new questions about his already teetering legacy. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado's Democratic Gov. Jared Polis wrote in a post on X. He added that while he could sympathize with Hunter Biden’s struggles, “no one is above the law, not a President and not a President’s son.” Biden aides and allies had been resigned to the prospect of the president using his extraordinary power in the waning days of his presidency to ensure his son wouldn't see time behind bars, especially after Donald Trump ’s win. The president's supporters have long viewed Biden's commitment to his family as an asset overall, even if Hunter's personal conduct and tangled business dealings were seen as a persistent liability. But the pardon comes as Biden has become increasingly isolated since the loss to Trump by Vice President Kamala Harris , who jumped in to the race after the president’s catastrophic debate against Trump in June forced his exit from the election. He is still struggling to resolve thorny foreign policy issues in the Middle East and Europe. And he must reckon with his decision to seek reelection despite his advanced age, which helped return the Oval Office to Trump, a man he had warned time and again was a threat to democratic norms. Trump has gleefully planned to undo Biden’s signature achievements on climate change and reverse the Democrat's efforts to reinvigorate the country’s alliances, all while standing poised to take credit for a strengthening economy and billions in infrastructure investments that are in the pipeline for the coming years. And now, Biden has handed the Republican a pretext to carry through with sweeping plans to upend the Department of Justice as the Republican vows to seek retribution against supposed adversaries. “This pardon is just deflating for those of us who’ve been out there for a few years yelling about what a threat Trump is,” Republican Joe Walsh, a vocal Trump critic, said on MSNBC. “‘Nobody’s above the law,’ we’ve been screaming. Well, Joe Biden just made clear his son Hunter is above the law.” Jean-Pierre said Monday from Air Force One that the president wrestled with the decision but ultimately felt his son’s case had been tainted by politics, though she tried to thread the needle — insisting he had faith in the Justice Department. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” she said. But Trump has already made very clear his intent to disrupt federal law enforcement with his initial nomination of outspoken critics like former Rep. Matt Gaetz to be attorney general and Kash Patel to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , who nominally still has more than two years left in his term. (Gaetz ended up quickly withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations.) Reacting to the pardon, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement: “That system of justice must be fixed and due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people." In a social media post, the president-elect himself called the pardon “such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.” “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” Trump asked. He was referring to those convicted in the violent Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by his supporters aiming to overturn the 2020 presidential election result. Biden and his spokespeople had repeatedly and flatly ruled out the president granting his son a pardon. In June, Biden told reporters as his son faced trial in the Delaware gun case, “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.” In July, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters: “It's still a no. It will be a no. It is a no. And I don’t have anything else to add. Will he pardon his son? No." In November, days after Trump's victory, Jean-Pierre reiterated that message: “Our answer stands, which is no." Neither Biden nor the White House explained the shift in the president's thinking, and it was his broken promise as much as his act of clemency that was a lightning rod. He is hardly the first president to pardon a family member or friend entangled in political dealings. Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Roger for drug charges after he had served his sentence roughly a decade earlier. In his final weeks in office, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner , the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner, as well as multiple allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. Yet Biden held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns — trying to draw a deliberate contrast with Trump, who tested the bounds of his authority like few predecessors. Inside the White House, the timing of the pardon was surprising to some who believed Biden would put it off as long as possible, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. It came just after Biden spent extended time over the past week with Hunter and other family members on Nantucket in Massachusetts, a family tradition for Thanksgiving. “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice – and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further,” Biden said in a statement announcing the pardon. Some in the administration have privately expressed anguish that the substance of Biden’s statement, including his claim of an unfair politically-tinged prosecution of his son resembled complaints Trump — who faced now-abandoned indictments over his role in trying to subvert the 2020 election — has been making for years about the Justice Department. Biden said the charges in his son's cases "came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.” Many legal experts agreed that the charges against the younger Biden were somewhat unusual, but the facts of the offenses were hardly in dispute, as Hunter wrote about his gun purchase while addicted to illegal drugs in his memoir and ultimately pleaded guilty to the tax charges. The pardon too was unusual, coming before Hunter Biden was even sentenced and covering not just the gun and tax offenses against his son, but also anything else he might have done going back to the start of 2014. It's a move that could limit the ability of the Trump Justice Department to investigate the younger Biden's unsavory foreign business dealings, or to find new ground on which to bring criminal charges related to that time period. Biden, in his statement, asked for consideration: “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision." Associated Press Writer Aamer Madhani in Washington and Will Weissert aboard Air Force One contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!AI has massively shaped lives over the last few years. One of the biggest changes brought on by AI is the sudden proliferation of AI girlfriends. People have had romantic discussions with AI chatbots since at least 2011. However, major advances in AI technology have made them far more appealing in the last couple of years. There are currently 1,663,200 searches a year for people seeking a girlfriend experience with an AI partner. About a quarter of men between the ages of 18 and 34 have used an AI companion from sites, which has an article about the concept . Men are still ten times more likely to use AI partners than women, but the number of women using them is growing significantly. Washington may become one of the most popular states for AI companions. For some reason, the dating scene has gotten a lot worse recently. A Washington news site published an article earlier this year showing that 900,000 people suddenly became single. Dating is a lot harder in places like Seattle. Many single people may feel AI companions are great alternatives to traditional dating. Of course, there are pros and cons of using an AI companion. But one thing is certain — AI is changing the concept of soulmates forever. There are a number of reasons many Washingtonians are turning to AI companions instead of seeking traditional relationships. Some of the biggest benefits are listed below. AI Companions Are More Accepting of Flaws Washington is a state known for perfectionism. Part of this is due to the fact that the state has a strong tech sector, which attracts many highly talented, intelligent people with Type A personality traits. Unfortunately, this can make it difficult for people seeking traditional connections, especially on dating apps. People in Washington often exclude potential partners for the tiniest of flaws. Some people in online single communities have admitted to breaking up with people because they use emojis in text messages. Men and women are both responsible for this frustrating reality, so many singles are deciding to give up looking for love with another person. This is a huge reason some people are considering AI companions instead. They won't write people off for silly things. AI Companions Are Great for People Frustrated with the Washington “Freeze” The Pacific Northwest is known for being a very introverted region. Many people have talked about the “Seattle freeze,” which has spread to most of the rest of the state. It is difficult to meet new people in the area because people tend to cling to their regular social groups. You can't easily strike up a conversation with someone in a coffee shop and ask them a date like you could in the Midwest or South. AI companions can be perfect for people trying to find their soulmate without wanting to bother people that want to be left alone. AI partners are always available when you want to chat with them. AI Companions Are Perfect for People That Don't Align with The Local Demographics In Washington, it can be difficult for people who deviate from the average resident to find partners. People who feel like they don't fit in may prefer using an AI companion instead. They can customize their companion to satisfy essential dimensions of compatibility. AI Companions Can Be Cheaper than Regular Dating Washington is not a cheap place for singles trying to find a partner. The average cost of a first date is $122 and the cost of premium subscription for most dating apps is $50 to $60 a month. Some AI companion websites are totally free, while others charge different fees. However, almost all of them are cheaper than going on dates. Therefore, having an AI boyfriend or girlfriend may be a great alternative for people living on tight budgets. AI Companions Don't Make You Wait for Love Finding romance the old-fashioned way takes time, even if you are using dating apps. One study found that the average American used online dating for eight months before finding their partner. It can be even harder for older generations. Gen Xers spent nearly 10 months before finding their significant other. People living in Washington may have to wait even longer, since the dating scene is so miserable. Fortunately, you don't have to wait for love with an AI partner. It can be a great option for people who don’t want to spin their wheels on dating apps for months or even years. AI Companions Can Be Great for People Trying to Improve Their Social Skills to Meet Real Partners Many people would like to have a regular relationship but lack the social skills to form one. Younger adults who missed out on formative social experiences during the pandemic and neurodivergent people have the hardest time. AI companions can help these people practice their social skills to become better at dating. This will make it easier for them to find love down the road. AI boyfriends and girlfriends are going to become a lot more popular in the near future. If the social climate in Washington doesn't improve soon, it may be one of the most common states where people have AI companions. There are a lot of great reasons to consider having an AI companion. However, the quality of the experience is going to depend on how you use it. Here are some tips to have the best possible experience with an AI partner. Customize Your AI Partner Based on Important Features of Compatibility Most AI companion websites give you the option to create your partner based on factors that are most important. You can choose the age, physical features, personality type, political orientation and other factors that are important. You will want to spend some time thinking about your ideal partner and customize your AI companion around those traits. Test Different AI Companion Sites to Find One that Works Best There are a number of different AI companion websites. You will want to test them out to find one that best meets your needs. Here are some factors that you should consider before giving them a try: Some AI companion sites specialize in serving different audiences. For example, some have a lot of models for people who enjoy anime. Others are great for people seeking partners from a particular country or LGBT partners. Some sites offer a much broader range of options, so it is easier to tweak your partner to meet your needs, regardless of what they are. It is a good idea to research each site before giving it a try. You will want to understand the rules of each site before joining. Some sites are more restrictive on the types of conversations that you are allowed to have with your AI companion. You don't want to create an account and then get in trouble for violating the rules. Make sure that you find a site that lets you have the type of relationship that you are looking for. Look for sites that have a free trial. You will want to experiment with it a bit before paying for a subscription. Make sure you are aware of the features it offers. Some sites allow you to exchange selfies or have video chats with your AI companions. You will want to be aware of these features if they are important to you. Finding the right AI companion site can be just as important as creating the right partner. You may need to experiment a little to find one that is the right fit. Don't Be Shy About Providing Feedback to Your AI Companion Communication is important in any relationship. Relationships with AI companions are no exception. You will want to continually provide feedback to your AI partner, so they can get to know you better and better meet your needs. Some of the things that you should tell your AI partner include the following: Let them know if you prefer having more concise or longer messages. Tell them how you feel about the facial expressions they are making when you are engaging in video chats or exchanging selfies. Provide clear feedback on elements of their personality that you want them to fix, such as wanting them to speak in a kinder or more sarcastic tone. Let them know if you prefer them to get their points across by telling stories or engaging in non-literal communication styles. You will have a much richer relationship with your AI companion if you provide clear feedback. Treat Your AI Companion With Respect and Follow Good Consent Practices Some people believe that they don't need to be respectful to their AI partner, since it doesn't actually have feelings. While it is true that these entities are not sentient, there are a couple of reasons it is still important to be respectful to them: Many AI companion websites have started providing better user experiences for people that are respectful to their AI companion. Many of them also explicitly require you to be respectful in their terms of service. You will have a more enjoyable experience if you are kind to your partner. The habits that you get into with your AI companion will carry over into real relationships. You will be more likely to have a healthy relationship with other people if you practice good habits with your AI companion. You should follow the platinum rule whenever you are engaging with any partner. Your AI companion is no exception. Use Your AI Partner As an Opportunity to Build Your Social Skills A recent article from a major news site shows that Washington is one of the loneliest states in the country. The author cites Census data showing that 43% of Washingtonians are lonely at least some of the time . Your AI companion can help take the edge off your loneliness. However, most people will want to eventually form real relationships with other humans. Fortunately, your AI companion can help with this as well. You may want to consider using your AI relationship to work on your social skills. This will make it easier to date and find friends. Here are some tips for Washington residents who want to use their AI companion to boost their emotional intelligence and dating skills: Ask your AI companion to get ongoing feedback about your conversations. Some people want AI partners that will always agree with and validate them. While this can be enjoyable at first, it is not going to help you improve your social skills. You need to know what you are doing wrong. Make sure you tweak your AI companion to match the personality types of people you will actually be dating. This is important so that you can get targeted feedback. You want to be realistic about the types of people you will be matching with on dating apps or meeting in real life. You don't want to get feedback from the perspective of a dream partner that you will never actually meet, such as someone 20 years younger or a celebrity. Ask your AI companion to pretend to go on a date with you. Request clear feedback on What they did and did not like on the date. This will give you a better sense of what real people are looking for on a date. Have your AI partner explain its emotions while you are video chatting with it. Pay close attention to their facial expressions and other nonverbal communication. At least 80% of communication is nonverbal, so this will help you better understand how to engage with people on dates. AI is transforming love lines in Washington. More people are going to have relationships with AI companions, since they are easier to connect with and are very supportive. They may be ideal partners if the state’s dating scene doesn’t get better anytime soon. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Global Times: People's Daily article says favorable conditions for China's economic development remain unchangedNone