
ACWA Presents Contra Costa Water District With 2024 Excellence in Communication AwardUS homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people Federal officials say the United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts of the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said that federally required tallies taken across the country in January found that more than 770,000 people were counted as homeless. That increase comes on top of a 12% increase in 2023, which HUD blamed on soaring rents and the end of pandemic assistance. Among the most concerning trends was a nearly 40% rise in family homelessness. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. Israeli troops burn northern Gaza hospital after forcibly removing staff and patients, officials say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's Health Ministry says Israeli troops have stormed one of the last hospitals operating in the territory's north on Friday and forced many of the staff and patients outside. Then they had to remove their clothes in winter weather. It was the latest assault on Kamal Adwan Hospital. Parts of it were set on fire. Staff say it has been hit multiple times in the past three months by Israeli troops waging an offensive against Hamas fighters in surrounding neighborhoods. Israel's military says Hamas uses the hospital as a base. It did not provide evidence, and hospital officials have denied it. Azerbaijani and U.S. officials suggest plane that crashed may have been hit by weapons fire U.S. and Azerbaijani officials have said weapons fire may have brought down an Azerbaijani airliner that crashed on Wednesday, killing 38 people. The statements from Rashad Nabiyev and White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Friday raised pressure on Russia. Officials in Moscow have said a drone attack was underway in the region that the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was destined for but have not addressed statements from aviation experts who blamed the crash on Russian air defenses responding to a Ukrainian attack. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to Chechnya on Wednesday when it crashed, killing 38 people and leaving all 29 survivors injured. Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has ruled that the Georgia state Senate can subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. It's part of a inquiry into whether Willis has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump. But Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram is giving Willis the chance to contest whether lawmakers’ demands are overly broad before Willis responds. A Republican-led committee was formed earlier this year and sent subpoenas to Willis in August seeking to compel her to testify during its September meeting and to produce scores of documents. Willis argued that the committee didn’t have the power to subpoena her. In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee has a nearly total abortion ban and a porous safety net for mothers and young children. GOP state leaders in Tennessee and other states that banned abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 argue that they are bolstering services for families. Recent research and an analysis by The Associated Press has found that from the time a Tennessee woman gets pregnant, she faces greater obstacles to a healthy pregnancy, a healthy child and a financially stable family life than the average American mom. Maryland sues maker of Gore-Tex over pollution from toxic 'forever chemicals' Maryland is suing the company that produces the waterproof material Gore-Tex. State officials say the company's leaders kept using so-called “forever chemicals” long after learning about serious health risks. The federal complaint alleges Delaware-based W.L. Gore & Associates polluted the air and water around 13 facilities in northeastern Maryland with chemicals that have been linked to certain cancers, reproductive issues and high cholesterol. They’re nearly indestructible and can build up in various environments, including the human body. The company stopped using the harmful chemicals in 2014 and says it’s working with state regulators on testing and cleanup efforts. Man indicted in burning death of woman inside a New York City subway train, prosecutors say NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train has been indicted on state charges. A prosecutor announced Sebastian Zapeta’s indictment at a court hearing Friday. The development comes days after Zapeta’s arrest and subsequent police questioning in which they say he identified himself in photos and surveillance video showing the fire being lit. The indictment will be under seal until Jan. 7. He remains jailed. Federal immigration officials say the 33-year-old Zapeta is from Guatemala and entered the U.S. illegally. Authorities are continuing to work to identify the victim. Alex Ovechkin is on track to break Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is chasing the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin entered the season 42 goals short of breaking a record that long seemed unapproachable. He is set to play again Saturday at the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing more than a month with a broken left fibula. Ovechkin was on pace to get to 895 sometime in February before getting injured. At 868, he his 27 goals away from passing Gretzky.
Building on a Legacy of over 80 Years of Manufacturing Excellence - Gemcor Production Solutions Delivers Advanced Factory Integration with Automated Fastening Systems under Ascent AerospaceShareholders in Matthew Moulding’s beauty and wellness business have voted in favour of a plan to spin off its Ingenuity ecommerce platform at a valuation of £90 million. THG, formerly known as The Hut Group, will press ahead with a divestment of its technology platform after 89 per cent of voting shareholders backed the plan at a general meeting on Friday. Ingenuity provides technology to support the online operations of retailers including Holland & Barrett, The Range and L’Oréal. The division has 13 distribution centres and employs about 3,500 people. THG launched a funding round to raise capital of £95.4 million to fund the transaction, and has secured debt funding of £55 million. The company has told investors the money will be used to fund
House torpedoes Democratic-led effort to release Ethics report on Matt Gaetz
The Indian automotive industry is poised to achieve its ambitious target of up to ₹25,000 crore (about $3 billion) reduction in import value in the five years through this fiscal-year end by accelerating localisation of advanced parts such as electric motors, airbags and automatic transmissions, said industry executives. As per the plan, several projects were initiated to cut parts imports and boost localisation by up to 20% from FY20 levels across 11 critical categories including drive transmissions, engines, steering, electronics and electrical parts. These components comprise about 70% of total imports. Auto and parts makers achieved net localisation or gains of localisation efforts minus incremental imports due to increase in volumes of ₹7,018 crore in the two years through FY22, as per an assessment on localisation programmes conducted by industry bodies SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) and ACMA (Automotive Component Manufacturers Association). The industry is working on realising net localisation of an additional ₹17,977 crore in the three years to FY25. A reassessment of the localisation targets achieved by the domestic automotive industry will be undertaken after March-end, following which fresh targets will be set in consultations between the industry and government to further strengthen local manufacturing of automobiles and auto parts, the executives said. "Value-addition from the Indian auto components industry has gone up significantly in the last couple of years. In the first phase (till FY22), we achieved double the target of attaining localisation level at about 6%," said Shradha Suri Marwah, president, Acma. "The second phase is underway. The industry is targeting deepening localisation by another 15%". Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Design Microsoft Designer Guide: The Ultimate AI Design Tool By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Soft Skills Cross-Cultural Communication Mastery: Connect with Confidence By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Data Science MySQL for Beginners: Learn Data Science and Analytics Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Boosting Startup Revenue with 6 AI-Powered Sales Automation Techniques By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Collaborative AI Foundations: Working Smarter with Machines By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program As much as 28% of total components valued at $11 billion were imported in the first half of this fiscal year, largely from China, Japan, South Korea and Germany. Imports during the period rose by 4%. Auto parts exports from the country, though, grew at a faster clip of 7% to $11.1 billion between April and September 2024. This included exports to mature markets in North America, Europe and Asia. With annual car sales alone estimated to double to 9-10 million units by the turn of the decade, senior industry executives said component makers are making large investments to boost capacity as well as technological capability. "The moderation in growth rate being seen in vehicle sales in the country is a temporary blip. There may be some minor delays on part of component makers in mobilising investments. But mid-term, the capex cycle is strong and on track," said a senior industry executive who did not wish to be named. "Investments are planned in expanding physical infrastructure, developing design and technological knowhow and skilling (the workforce) to support future growth." Anmol Jain, managing director, Lumax Auto Technologies, said the company is making fresh investments to expand capacity at its Pune facility and to build a new plant in Sanand, Gujarat to meet customer demand. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 15, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Why Tinubu will be reelected president in 2027 - Reno OmokriThe provincial government has outlined the details surrounding the upcoming restrictions on long-bladed weapons, set to take effect Dec. 31. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * The provincial government has outlined the details surrounding the upcoming restrictions on long-bladed weapons, set to take effect Dec. 31. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? The provincial government has outlined the details surrounding the upcoming restrictions on long-bladed weapons, set to take effect Dec. 31. The rules prohibit sale of any long-bladed weapons to youth under 18. Legal-age purchasers must provide photo identification. The legislation requires retailers to lock away the items from shoppers and keep the information pertaining to any sale for a minimum of two years. Blades subject to the new law can be made of multiple materials, including ceramics, carbon fibre, nylon and fibreglass-reinforced plastic. Justice Minister Matt Wiebe (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files) It also lists tools that are exempt from the rules, including hedge trimmers, saws and pruning shears, and entirely exempts retailers where “a majority of products sold are a range of kitchenware products.” The province moved quickly on the legislation and focused the guidelines around the sale and purchase of machetes, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Friday. “We also know that there are some retailers that are selling these weapons irresponsibly, I would suggest, and so machetes were our first focus, and it was why we moved quickly, specifically targeting those those weapons,” he said. “But going forward, knife crime and other bladed weapons — we’re certainly going to be looking at other options to limit the violence... perpetrated by those weapons, as well.” The rules will be enforced by the province’s public safety investigation unit that also oversees the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, which investigates safety complaints from the public. “We expect that there’ll be probably some public input as to which retailers should be investigated, and we’re going to take action,” Wiebe said. Inner-city activist Sel Burrows said he and other community organizers will work with local businesses and hold them to account. “I and other activists look forward to working with stores to ensure they understand the rules and regulations and working as a community to report any bad actors as we fight to end machete violence,” he said in a news release from the province. Manitoba Justice has written to major online retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, Canadian Tire and Cabela’s, asking they comply with the legislation. Wiebe said the province has yet to hear back from any, but was “looking at all options to ensure that there’s compliance.” “Our expectation is that they do have the technology to be able to do age verification and other, of course, record-keeping, which we expect them to do,” he said. “We would hope that if they’re selling products into Manitoba that they’re doing everything that they can to play a part in keeping our streets safe.” 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. The scope of the legislation came after “consultation with law enforcement, retailers and Indigenous leadership.” Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee said he hoped the changes would “go a long way in addressing the violence that comes with the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol.” “While this is a positive step, we must not lose sight that there is still much work to be done. We look forward to continuing the work to collectively create positive change to support public safety in our First Nations,” he said in Friday’s press release. malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca Malak Abas is a city reporter at the . Born and raised in Winnipeg’s North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the in 2020. . Every piece of reporting Malak produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Malak Abas is a city reporter at the . Born and raised in Winnipeg’s North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the in 2020. . Every piece of reporting Malak produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement
CLEVELAND (AP) — The NFL has closed an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is ending the season on injured reserve for the second year in a row. The league has been reviewing the case for months , trying to determine whether Watson should be punished. “The matter is closed,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said Friday in an email to The Associated Press. “There was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy.” Watson, who served an 11-game suspension in 2022, was accused of assault in Texas by a woman in September. She was seeking more than $1 million in damages before the sides reached a confidential settlement. Watson strongly denied the allegations through his attorney, Rusty Hardin. The 29-year-old Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture in October. He's been rehabbing the injury in hopes of returning next season. The Browns still owe Watson $46 million in each of the next two seasons after they traded three first-round picks to Houston and signed him to a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract that has backfired. Watson has only played in 19 games over three seasons due to the suspension and injuries. He was acquired by the Browns, who were comfortable with his character despite Watson being accused of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage therapy sessions while he played for the Texans. While he's in the clear with the league, Watson's future with Cleveland isn't so certain. His massive contract — and its salary-cap ramifications — has put the Browns in a bind in terms of trying to improve their roster. Cleveland has had a disappointing season after making the playoffs a year ago and could move on from Watson, but the cost would be exorbitant if the team just releases him. The Browns signed Jameis Winston for one season to be Watson's backup. Winston has gone 2-3 as a starter since taking over and he's put some life into Cleveland's offense, which didn't score 20 points or gain 300 yards with Watson before his injury. His 2023 season was ended by a broken bone in his shoulder, requiring surgery. Winston has indicated he would come back, and he could be a viable option as a starter even if the Browns draft a young QB. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) 4g Services Global market Report 2024 - Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2024-2033 The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-for a limited time only! LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 18, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-limited time only! What Is the Future Outlook for the 4G Services Market? The 4G services market size has been on a decline in the recent years. Observing a sharp drop from $585 billion in 2023 to an expected $540 billion in 2024, the compound annual growth rate CAGR stands at -7.7%. The decline in this historic period is attributable to several factors including high initial investment, escalated energy consumption, environmental concerns, and disruption in the supply chain. Explore Comprehensive Insights Into The Global 4G Services Market With A Detailed Sample Report: How Will the Market Perform in the Coming Years? The downturn in the 4G services market size is set to continue in the foreseeable future, with projections showing a decline to $438.3 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of -5.1%. Factors leading to this decline in the forecast period include saturation of 4G coverage, stringent regulatory mechanisms, shift in consumer preferences, and increased competition. Nevertheless, major trends anticipated in the forecast period encompass enterprise solutions, preparations for 5G, improved roaming services, optimized content streaming, and enhanced security measures. Informative Report On The Global 4G Services Market: What Is Driving the Demand for 4G Services? Despite the market decline, there has been an increasing demand for high-speed internet connectivity, which is driving the 4G services market. This demand has been significantly amplified in the recent years due to the surge in the usage of smart devices. A marked increase in social media usage, online content activities, voice search, voice commands, smart home devices, gaming, and e-commerce have contributed significantly to the demand for high-speed internet connectivity. Who Are the Key Players in the 4G Services Market? Key industry players in the global 4G services market include Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Verizon Wireless, China Mobile Limited, AT&T Mobility LLC, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Lenovo Group Ltd., and China Telecom Corporation Limited among others. What Are the Emerging Trends in the 4G Services Market? The industry is seeing a new trend in the form of machine-to-machine M2M and IoT infrastructure in the 4G services market. Telecom networks are primarily being set up to support M2M and IoT, thereby offering cost-effective wireless M2M with faster data rates, along with affordable equipment for low bandwidth data transmission. How Is the 4G Services Market Segmented? The 4G services market in this report is segmented into three: 1 By Technology: LTE-FDD Frequency Division Duplex, LTE-TDD Time Division Duplex, LTE- advance, WiMax, and HSPA+ 2 By Connection Plan: Pre-paid, Post-paid, and Broadband 3 By End User: Retail, Corporate, Government or Public Sector, and Other End Users Which Regions Are Dominating the 4G Services Market? The largest region in terms of the 4G market in 2023 has been Asia-Pacific. The regions covered in the 4G services market report include Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. Browse Through More Similar Reports By The Business Research Company: 4G Infrastructure Equipment Global Market Report 2024 Wireless Telecommunication Carriers Global Market Report 2024 Mobile And Wireless Backhaul Global Market Report 2024 About The Business Research Company Learn More About The Business Research Company. With over 15000+ reports from 27 industries covering 60+ geographies, The Business Research Company has built a reputation for offering comprehensive, data-rich research and insights. Armed with 1,500,000 datasets, the optimistic contribution of in-depth secondary research, and unique insights from industry leaders, you can get the information you need to stay ahead in the game. Contact us at: The Business Research Company: Americas +1 3156230293 Asia +44 2071930708 Europe +44 2071930708 Email us at ... Follow us on: LinkedIn: YouTube: Global Market Model: global-market-model Oliver Guirdham The Business Research Company +44 20 7193 0708 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN17122024003118003196ID1109004609 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
The Ravens looked better defensively last week, but now Roquan Smith's injury is a concernSAN FRANCISCO — The parents of a former OpenAI researcher known for recently blowing the whistle on the company’s business practices are questioning the circumstances of their son’s death last month. In an interview this week, Suchir Balaji’s mother and father expressed confusion and shock over his sudden passing, expressing doubt their son could have died by suicide, as determined by the county medical examiner. The family hired an expert to perform an independent autopsy but has yet to release the report’s findings. “We’re demanding a thorough investigation — that’s our call,” said Balaji’s mother, Poornima Ramarao. San Francisco police found Balaji dead in his Lower Haight apartment on Nov. 26, less than a week after his 26th birthday. The San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office later told this news agency his death was ruled a suicide, though a final autopsy report has yet to be released while the office completes toxicology tests. Earlier this month, San Francisco police officials said there is “currently, no evidence of foul play.” Balaji’s death sent shockwaves throughout Silicon Valley and the artificial intelligence industry. He garnered a national spotlight in late October when he accused his former employer, OpenAI, of breaking federal copyright law by siphoning data from across the internet to train its blockbuster chatbot, ChatGPT. His concerns backed up allegations aired in recent years by authors, screenwriters and computer programmers who say OpenAI stole their content without permission, in violation of U.S. “fair use” laws governing how people can use previously published work. Media companies have been among those to sue the company, including The Mercury News and seven of its affiliated newspapers, and, separately, The New York Times. In an interview with The New York Times published in October 2024, Balaji described his decision to leave the generative artificial intelligence company in August while suggesting that its data collection practices are “not a sustainable model for the internet ecosystem as a whole. “If you believe what I believe, you have to just leave the company,” he told the newspaper. By Nov. 18, Balaji had been named in court filings as someone who had “unique and relevant documents” that would support the case against OpenAI. He was among at least 12 people — many of them past or present OpenAI employees — to be named by the newspaper in court filings as having material helpful to their case. His death a week later has left Balaji’s parents reeling. In an interview at their Alameda County home this week, his mother said her only child “was an amazing human being, from childhood.” “No one believes that he could do that,” Ramarao said about his taking his own life. OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment but in a statement to Business Insider said it was “devastated” to learn of Balaji’s death and said they had been in touch with his parents “to offer our full support during this difficult time.” “Our priority is to continue to do everything we can to assist them,” the company’s statement read. “We first became aware of his concerns when The New York Times published his comments and we have no record of any further interaction with him. “We respect his, and others’, right to share views freely,” the statement added. “Our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones, and we extend our deepest condolences to all who are mourning his loss.” Related Articles National News | Most Americans blame insurance profits and denials alongside the killer in UHC CEO death, poll finds National News | Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal? National News | Man indicted in burning death of woman inside a New York City subway train, prosecutors say National News | Powerful thunderstorms threaten Texas and Louisiana, delaying holiday travel National News | Today in History: December 27, Benazir Bhutto assassinated Born in Florida and raised in the Bay Area, Balaji was a prodigy from an early age, his mother told this news agency. He spoke her name at 3 months old; at 18-months he would ask “me to light a lamp to cheer me up” and could recognize words at 20 months, she said. Balaji appeared to have a knack for technology, math and computing, taking home trophies and earning renown, including in the 2016 United States of America Computing Olympiad. In 2020, he went to work for OpenAI — viewing the company’s then-commitment to operating as a nonprofit as admirable, his mother said. His opinion of the company soured in 2022 while he was assigned to gather data from the internet for the company’s GPT-4 program, the New York Times reported. The program analyzed text from nearly the entire internet to train its artificial intelligence program, the outlet reported. Ramarao said she wasn’t aware of her son’s decision to go public with his concerns about OpenAI until the paper ran his interview. While she immediately harbored anxiety about his decision — going so far as to implore him to speak with a copyright attorney — Ramarao also expressed pride in her son’s bravery. ‘He kept assuring me, ‘Mom, I’m not doing anything wrong — go see the article. I’m just saying, my opinion, there’s nothing wrong in it,” said Ramarao, herself a former employee of Microsoft who worked on its Azure cloud computing program. “I supported him. I didn’t criticize him. I told him, ‘I’m proud of you, because you have your own opinions and you know what’s right, what’s wrong.’ He was very ethical.” After leaving the company, Balaji settled on plans to create a nonprofit, one centering on the machine learning and neurosciences fields, Ramarao said. He had already spoken to at least one venture capitalist for seed funding, she said. “I’m asking, like, ”How will you manage your living?’ ” Ramarao said. She recalled how her son repeatedly tried to assuage any concerns about his finances, suggesting that “money is not important to me — I want to offer a service to humanity.” Balaji also appeared to be keeping a busy schedule. He turned 26 while on a backpacking trip in the Catalina Islands with several friends from high school. Such trips were commonplace for him — in April he went with several friends to Patagonia and South America. Balaji last spoke to his parents on Nov. 22, a 10-minute phone call that centered around his recent trip and that ended with his talking about getting dinner. “He was very happy,” Ramarao said. “He had a blast. He had one of the best times of his life.” Ramarao remembers calling her son shortly after noon on Nov. 23 but said it rang once and went to voicemail. Figuring that he was busy with friends, she didn’t try visiting his apartment until Nov. 25, when she knocked but got no answer. She said she called authorities that evening but was allegedly told by a police dispatch center that little could be done that day. She followed up Nov. 26, and San Francisco police later found Balaji’s body inside his apartment. Ramarao said she wasn’t told of her son’s death until a stretcher appeared in front of Balaji’s apartment. She was not allowed inside until the following day. “I can never forget that tragedy,” Ramarao said. “My heart broke.” Ramarao questioned authorities’ investigation of her son’s death, claiming that San Francisco police closed their case and turned it over to the county medical examiner’s office within an hour of discovering Balaji’s body. Ramarao said she and her husband have since commissioned a second autopsy of Balaji’s body. She declined to release any documents from that examination. Her attorney, Phil Kearney, declined to comment on the results of the family’s independent autopsy. Last week, San Francisco police spokesman Evan Sernoffsky referred questions about the case to the medical examiner’s office. David Serrano Sewell, executive director of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, declined to comment. Sitting on her living room couch, Ramarao shook her head and expressed frustration at authorities’ investigative efforts so far. “As grieving parents, we have the right to know what happened to our son,” Ramarao said. “He was so happy. He was so brave.” If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Call or text the lifeline at 988, or see the 988lifeline.org website, where chat is available.FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Should you cut back on doom scrolling in 2025? Worries about money, gun violence and hate crimes ranked high among many people's lists of worries at the end of 2024, according to a poll that is part of American Psychiatric Association (APA) Healthy Minds Monthly opinion poll series. The survey included 2200 U.S. adults. Reducing news consumption may be beneficial for your mental health , experts say. "If current events seem overwhelming it may be time to limit your news consumption,” Dr. Marketa Wills , medical director of the APA, said. “While we like to stay informed, the news can also impact our mental health, and being mindful of that impact is important," Wells said in a news release. According to the APA's research, American adults have remained most anxious about the economy and gun violence throughout 2024. Looking ahead to 2025, more than 1/3 of Americans surveyed (33%) say they will make mental health-related New Year’s resolutions, which is a 5% increase from last year. In fact, the increase is the highest result the APA has collected since it began asking the question in 2021. As usual, many people report that they will pledge to be more physically active in 2025; other resolutions focus on participating in mentally healthy activities. “A new year brings with it new opportunities but also renewed concerns about the very important issues that impact our lives,” Wills said, adding that “any time of the year, mental health matters. Staying mindful of how we’re doing while taking active steps to care for ourselves is a terrific resolution.” More information The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has more on stress and anxiety management. SOURCE: American Psychiatric Association (APA), news release, Dec. 13, 2024; APA, press release, Dec. 18, 2024 If you make resolutions, consider starting or re-starting a practice that will nurture your mental health, such as meditating or taking a break from social media.