Youngkin also said his budget package will include an additional $50 million for development of business-ready sites. He said the $50 million investment in fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1 will build upon the $282 million Youngkin previously committed to development of business sites around the state. The administration said the schools proposal would bring the total amount allocated for school construction in this two-year span to $700 million, and the total amount allocated in the state since Youngkin took office in January 2022 to nearly $2 billion. Youngkin said the $290 million proposal would support critical public school construction projects by expanding competitive grant opportunities for school divisions in high-need areas and addressing urgent infrastructure needs, ensuring safe and conducive learning environments for K-12 students. “Over the last three years, we have invested historic amounts in our education system, including our public school facilities,” Youngkin said in a statement. “Our record economic growth and the resulting surplus allows us to make this critical investment to ensure every Virginia student has access to high-quality school facilities that support academic success.” More than half of all school buildings in Virginia are more than 50 years old, according to a 2021 report from state’s Commission on School Construction and Modernization. It would cost $25 billion to replace or rebuild all of those schools, according to the legislative commission. Virginia Education Association President Carol Bauer said the governor’s one-time funding proposal “doesn’t even keep pace with the annual growth of our backlog, let alone make meaningful progress in reducing it.” She cited the $25 billion estimate from the state in 2021, referring to it as a backlog. She also noted the increase from the last time the state collected inventory on school buildings in 2013 and estimated an $18 billion need to replace aging buildings. “Without significant action, this backlog has likely been growing by approximately $1 billion annually, driven by rising construction costs and years of underinvestment,” Bauer said in a statement. “While the governor’s announced $290 million investment in school construction grants represents a gesture toward addressing our infrastructure challenges, it falls staggeringly short of meeting the scale of the crisis,” Bauer said. She called on legislators to reject the proposed investment as insufficient and work to develop a sustainable long-term plan to reduce the backlog. This year Youngkin vetoed legislation that would have let localities impose a 1% sales tax for school construction and modernization projects if voters approved it in a local referendum. The bill passed the Senate on a 27-13 vote and passed the House on a 68-28 vote. In his veto statement , the governor said the proposal could result in a nearly $1.5 billion a year tax increase on Virginians and “any proposal that increases the cost of living and the cost of business is not a policy we should pursue.” About one-quarter of Richmond schools were built or renovated in the past 25 years, compared with nearly three-quarters of schools in neighboring Henrico and Chesterfield counties, according to the 2021 study. The Richmond school division released a report last week that says the division needs $43.7 million in the next 18 months for immediate repairs to dozens of school buildings that have fallen into disrepair and pose safety concerns. Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said the division is excited to see the investment and knows the benefit it brings to public schools around the commonwealth. “In a state where more than half of our buildings are at least half a century old, this is exactly the type of support that local divisions need and deeply appreciate,” Kamras said in a statement. “Over the last two years, state investment has enabled RPS to rebuild a school after a fire , install walls and doors in two open-plan elementary schools, replacing a crumbling exterior wall at a high school, plan a full window replacement at our alternative secondary school, and begin planning for a new, modern (career and technical education) school.”Stock market today: Wall Street rises to records despite tariff talk
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NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks closed at more records after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to reach another all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3% to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.6% as Big Tech stocks helped lead the way. Stock markets abroad saw mostly modest losses, after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office. U.S. automakers and other companies that could be hurt particularly by such tariffs fell. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are rising toward records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% and was on track to top its all-time high set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 81 points, or 0.2%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.5% higher, with less than an hour remaining in trading. Stock markets abroad were down, but mostly only modestly, after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada's main index edged down by just 0.1%. Trump has often praised the use of tariffs , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. General Motors sank 8.2%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.9%. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support to the job market . While lower interest rates can boost the overall economy and prices for investments, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed's last meeting earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to minutes of the meeting released Tuesday afternoon. Unlike tariffs in Trump's first term, his proposal from Monday night would affect products across the board. Trump’s tariff talk came almost immediately after U.S. stocks rose Monday amid excitement about his pick for Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent. The hope was the hedge-fund manager could steer Trump away from policies that balloon the U.S. government deficit, which is how much more it spends than it takes in through taxes and other revenue. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another set of mixed profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates instituted by the Fed to get inflation under control. Kohl’s tumbled 17.6% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. Best Buy fell 4.7% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. J.M. Smucker jumped 5.4% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500 after topping analysts' expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 2.8% for Amazon and 2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. In the bond market, Treasury yields rose following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.30% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after topping $99,000 for the first time late last week. It's since dipped back toward $91,600, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the bonanza that initially took over the crypto market following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. ___ AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. Stan Choe, The Associated PressNone
Dallas Cowboys star guard Zack Martin is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders due to ankle and shoulder injuries. Martin didn't practice at all this week. He also physically struggled during Monday night's loss to the Houston Texas. Martin, who turned 34 on Wednesday, has started all 162 games played in 11 seasons with the Cowboys. He's a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a seven-time first-team All-Pro. Tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion) and safety Markquese Bell (shoulder) have been ruled out. Neither player practiced this week after being hurt against the Texans. Cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) practiced in full this week and will make his season debut. He was injured in August. Star wideout CeeDee Lamb (back/foot) was a full practice participant on Friday and is good to go. Cornerback Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) and receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) are among six players listed as questionable. The others are offensive tackle Chuma Edoga (toe), guard Tyler Smith (ankle/knee), defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (knee) and linebacker Nick Vigil (foot). --Field Level MediaCHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Zion Fruster had 15 points in Eastern Illinois' 99-55 victory over Division-III Blackburn on Saturday night. Fruster shot 6 of 11 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the free-throw line for the Panthers (4-8). Obadiah Curtis added 15 points while going 7 of 9 from the field while they also had five steals. Kooper Jacobi went 6 of 9 from the field to finish with 13 points. Odis Grissom led the Beavers in scoring, finishing with 19 points. Blackburn also got seven points and five assists from Darius Duff. Caleb Schaab had seven points and two steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .New Siena poll finds majority of New Yorkers prefer ‘someone else’ over Hochul in 2026 governor’s race
Director-General, the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof Eghosa Osaghae, speaks with BIODUN BUSARI about President Bola Tinubu’s foreign trips, among other diplomatic matters concerning Nigeria and other countries What is the significance of foreign trips embarked on by President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima considering the resources these travels gulp as Nigerians face hardships? Have you thought of the benefits, the dividends, and the profits of these trips that from all that we know outweigh and outstrip all the resources that went into those travels? In other words, as we say, every investor knows that you invest money, and you expect returns. So, if these trips have yielded the kind of returns regarding our foreign direct investments and the various things that have been attracted to the country, I think that’s the way to go. It’s not to say in terms of the opportunity cost. If they were home, the money could go around, but the money they were able to attract would multiply. There’s a multiplier effect. So, first, the dividends of those trips are obvious. Then, of course, the dividends for the entire country; the welfare of the citizens, and our overall development and economic growth far outweigh what you consider to be the costs. In any case, why should the president and his vice president, and in fact, even any Nigerian official travel at this time? Economic diplomacy and the attraction of foreign direct investment are fundamental to the government’s articulation of our national interest. Don’t forget also that Nigeria is a big player in the world. Nigeria is a clear African leader. Nigeria is a host African leader. For a long time, Nigeria was missing in action. So, the time has come to regain lost balance and reassert Nigeria’s giant status in Africa. But all of those ones are only additional. The primary reason for going out to seek direct investment and attract external resources to the country is for the profits that have come from these. With security issues in Nigeria, do you think foreign investors will come? You can be in a village and have all of your local resources ploughed back into the things that you are doing. But think of that village going outside to other villages and seeing what can happen when they all work together. In today’s world, shared prosperity is the name of the game. There is no way our local resources in circulation locally can meet the kinds of needs that we have as a country. To fight insecurity, you need the kinetic angle, you need weapons; you need technology, and you need AI. You need those kinds of investments which we don’t have in abundance. So, there is no way we will not go out to look for support, even to fight insecurity. We will not go out to seek support, even for infrastructural renewal and development. Don’t think it’s only when the president and the vice president travel that Nigeria is pursuing its interests in terms of economic diplomacy. Security diplomacy is a complement to economic diplomacy. So, you can have all your money here, but we don’t produce weapons, not enough to fight the level of insecurity that we have. We don’t have the technological base or the kinds of weapons that we require. All of those things need external collaboration and support. Don’t forget that terrorism, banditry, and others are cross-national problems. They are transnational in character. Therefore, if you’re going to address them, you must address them globally. You must address them within the ambits of the national space. That’s the global space. These are not things we can tackle, acting alone or in isolation. So, those people can only be one-tenth right. We need all the support that we can get. Speaking about insecurity, recently, rebel groups overthrew the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad. The same thing happened in Afghanistan in 2021 when the Taliban overthrew the Afghan government. Is this not a concern as Nigeria has battled security challenges for over a decade? Both our internal mechanism and external support can collaborate. When I talk about external support, there’s no country today in the world, including the United States of America, Russia, and China, that can fight on its own. Everyone needs global collaboration in one way or the other. It could be regional support, sub-regional support, or bilateral support. But the way conflicts have come to the world today shows that collaboration is required. You talk about Afghanistan; you talk about Syria; look at the externalities of the crises in these countries and how external forces have played into that. Our military is adequate but needs collaboration. I may just tell you that one of the distinctions of the Nigerian military is its prowess in the area of not only unconventional war but also asymmetrical war. Even countries like America and others are glad to learn from Nigeria how we have excelled in these forms of war. The reason Nigeria is such a popular destination for peacekeeping operations is that it has been recognised that Nigeria has always succeeded where so-called sophisticated weapons have failed to happen. So, in the area of capabilities, the world is aware of Nigeria’s strength in these forms of war. But terrorism, banditry, and violent extremism are not Nigerian characters. They are not only about Nigeria. They have cells, proliferation, and networks that are global. That’s why we talk about information sharing, intelligence sharing, and so on. You’ll be surprised that many of the things that happened in Syria or are happening in Afghanistan or Yemen are better known outside of these countries than they are known within. What are your views about how ECOWAS under President Bola Tinubu treated the three military-ruled Sahelian countries of Malli, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic as regards Nigeria’s insecurity? It’s unfortunate that we had this kind of development in these three countries that you have mentioned. There is very little that is Nigerian in the kind of responses and interventions that we have had. Be it the military or intervention, or its so-called alliance of the Sahelian states, the three of them have now come together to pull out from ECOWAS. I mean, it’s unfortunate. Related News Nigeria, others lose investments to inefficiencies – W’Bank Nigeria has no military pact with France, says Ribadu FG expresses concern about Mozambique election crisis But there is nothing pretentious in Nigeria about what is going on, and what has happened. Nigeria’s involvement in these matters has been at two levels. One is at the national level or the bilateral, the other is at the ECOWAS level, the regional level, and by extension, the global level. At this time, Nigeria is the chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State. Therefore, our president is the chair of ECOWAS. The ECOWAS has an existing framework in terms of its protocols, treaty, and the articles of both the protocol and the treaty that are directly related to the developments in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. One of them is the protocol on good governance and constitutional rule. That protocol says that ECOWAS will not tolerate unconstitutional intervention. ECOWAS is committed to democracy and democratic rule. ECOWAS recognises the power of the people, popular sovereignty, and so on. When these things happened, they were not happening only in these three countries. ECOWAS has been in the driving seat of not just the advocacy, but also the defence of democracy and democratisation, and human rights. This has been a redefining factor. Nigeria’s involvement is a different layer. Remember that Niger is Nigeria’s next-door neighbour. Niger has been very closely tied to Nigeria. The ties are historical, they are ethnic, and there are families across the boundary that are closely related. The religious ties are very strong. Remember that even the governors from Niger pay homage to our governors and vice versa. Nigeria and Niger have serious strategic linkages. Nigeria has been supplying Nigeriens electricity for all that time. Don’t forget that Niger is a landlocked country. Niger and Burkina Faso need good neighbourliness to be able to have access to the sea. For a long time, that was not happening. Nigeria is of strategic importance to Niger. Nigeria and Niger were involved in the multinational task force against Boko Haram because these terrorist movements are transnational. So, in terms of direct security, Nigeria needs Niger just as much as Niger needs Nigeria. So, Nigeria has had backdoor diplomatic engagements with Niger despite the ECOWAS position. Are you saying the pulling out of the Niger Republic from the ECOWAS will not affect its diplomatic ties with Nigeria? Well, if what you mean is our security challenges in terms of banditry, Boko Haram, the new Lakurawa, and so on, yes, of course, because these groups don’t have national boundaries. They crisscross national boundaries. So, once they’re in Nigeria, they’re also in Niger. They’re in Chad. They’re in Cameroon. They’re everywhere. They can spread to Burkina Faso and Mali. That’s the experience; that’s the history. That’s what we have seen. So, there’s no way Nigeria and Niger will not have to work together. There’s no way Nigeria and Niger and Burkina Faso and Mali and Chad will not have to work together. These differences but steps have been set in motion and things have been done to address them. Everything cannot be on the pages of newspapers. Even at the last ECOWAS summit, the president of the ECOWAS council said there was a moratorium. For six months, they will continue to use the good offices of the President of Togo and the President of Senegal to see how much we can get from these forms of diplomacy. So, all hope is not lost at all. Even these three countries have not said that pulling out of ECOWAS means they will no longer respect the protocol of free movement of persons and goods. That is still very active. Those informal movements continue to go on. The volume of trade between Nigeria and Ghana and Nigeria and Benin and Nigeria and Niger and Ivory Coast and others in West Africa cannot be stopped. They are challenges to ECOWAS, but the forces that brought ECOWAS together in 1975 are not lost at all. The final thing I want to say is that people think that this alliance of Sahelian states is a contradiction or is parallel to ECOWAS. It is not. The Francophone countries have parallel associations and alliances and organisations that exist side-by-side with ECOWAS. They haven’t threatened ECOWAS. So, all we are hoping for is that the countries see a good reason to come back to ECOWAS. But the point is that the fight in the Sahel is not only for and about these countries. We are directly involved in Nigeria because we are close to Niger. Whatever happens in Niger will spill over to Nigeria. Whatever happens in Nigeria, we will spill over to Cameroon. So, these are the organic connections that we all have. What do you think of the relationship between Nigeria and the United States if the former joins the BRICS, knowing Russia and China are members? BRICs have existed, and there’s nothing that says that BRICS is anti-America. BRICs is, as they define it, a global South coalition. The Global South coalition is an alliance that opens more options for countries of the Global South. BRICS is not a Nigerian creation, and BRICS was not anti-America, that was not the spirit of BRICS. The countries in BRICS are Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Now, all these countries are not just in BRICS because they are in problems or trouble with America. That tells me that BRICS has not been anti-America in any way. Therefore, it is not likely to change the contour or the trajectory of Nigerian relations with America and the West. The point is that BRICS is one of the imperatives of global relations that uphold a unipolarity or bipolarity. What BRICS represents is a global south platform that emanates from the kind of theoretical and practical imperatives that led Bolaji Akinyemi in the 1980s to propagate the idea of the concept of medium power. The global south requires some kind of platform that allows it to enjoy options. These options are not potentially Western or Eastern or ideologically potent. It is now BRICS plus because of other countries joining over the years. Now, what BRICS Plus represents is to offer options to less developed countries in terms of economic opportunities, in terms of credit, in terms of loans, and so on. It’s better to have these opportunities than not to have them at all. So, BRICS is the concept. So, BRICS comes with a lot of opportunities for Nigeria, just as it has been for countries that have joined it. It offers a good option. It’s an option, a multilateral option to all the other ones that we presently belong to. Nigeria has quite a range of choices and decision-making choices.OREM, Utah (AP) — Tanner Toolson had 21 points in Utah Valley's 119-59 victory over Bethesda (CA) on Saturday night. Toolson added five rebounds for the Wolverines (8-6). Ethan Potter scored 19 points and added eight rebounds and three steals. Hayden Welling shot 6 of 11 from the field and 3 for 3 from the line to finish with 15 points. Kameron Mayhan led the way for the Flames with 22 points and six rebounds. Cameron Durr added 10 points for Bethesda. Taeo Thomas also had 10 points and two steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Economist Who Accurately Predicted 312-226 Outcome Makes Next Prediction
Today, on International Human Rights Day , we celebrate the enduring vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948. Despite progress over the past 75 years, much remains to be done to realize these rights for everyone, everywhere. As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, generative artificial intelligence emerges as an intriguing tool to finally bridge the gap between human rights ideals and the lived experiences of people worldwide. Time is overdue, but are our mindsets ready? The Unfinished Journey Toward Universal Human Rights Global poverty reduction has reached a near standstill, with the decade from 2020 to 2030 projected to be a lost period in the fight against poverty. Today, nearly one in ten people live on less than $2.15 per day, the extreme poverty line for low-income countries, according to the World Bank . Additionally, 44% of the global population, around 3.5 billion people, live on less than $7 per day, which is the poverty line for upper-middle-income countries. While we are excited about the fast-paced technology that changes life as we know it, billions of people lack access to clean water and healthy food, health care, and education. To make this gloomy picture even darker, unjustifiable gender disparities continue, as do exploitation, violence, and abuse. Generative AI: A Tool For Human Advancement Generative AI, capable of producing human-like text, images, and other media, offers innovative solutions to these complex problems plaguing society for centuries. Some examples: Education Accessibility : AI-powered platforms like Khan Academy use AI tutors to provide personalized learning experiences, helping bridge educational gaps. Their new initiative, Khanmigo, uses AI to simulate prosocial AI-powered one-on-one tutoring for students worldwide. Healthcare Innovation : AI is changing healthcare diagnostics. For instance, DeepMind's AlphaFold has predicted the 3D structures of over 200 million proteins, accelerating drug discovery and disease understanding. Eventually, advancements of this type can lead to treatments for diseases that disproportionately affect underserved populations and that have received little funding in the past. Human Rights Monitoring: The Human Rights Data Analysis Group employs AI to analyze data from conflict zones, identifying patterns of human rights abuses that might be overlooked. This assists international organizations in holding perpetrators accountable. Economic Inclusion : AI-driven financial services are extending credit to underserved communities. Companies like Branch use machine learning algorithms to offer microloans via mobile platforms, reaching millions without access to traditional banking. Two shifts are needed to harness the social benefits. One is material, starting with the actual access to the internet for those who are excluded from the virtual world. Today, 2.6 billion people do not have access to the internet. Taking the benefit of generative AI to scale means Increasing connectivity to ensure everyone who wants to go online can do so. Digital inclusion is not abstract. The second shift is mental; from the ambition of AI as merely a driver of commercial profitability, we need to zoom in on the aspiration of positive social outcomes. Seizing The Opportunity: AI As A Means To An End To harness AI effectively to address the issues listed earlier, we must approach it as a means to achieve human rights goals, not an end in itself or a mere instrument for commercial benefit. Pro-social and pro-business are not an either-or equation; instead, they can be mutually beneficial – making them a win-win-win-win for the people we are, the communities we belong to, the countries we are part of, and the planet we depend on. However, in pursuing an expressed ambition of human rights respect as a prime concern rather than a secondary consideration, the priorities are reversed, and the need to focus systematically on ethics and inclusion becomes evident. Ethics: As evidenced ever and again by cases where AI systems have exhibited racial and gender discrimination in hiring or lending decisions, the old saying garbage in, garbage out still holds – biased data leads to biased outcomes. Moving towards an AI-saturated future, it is important to ensure that AI systems are systematically designed to be unbiased. Inclusion : Developing AI solutions that consider the needs of marginalized communities requires us to expand the scope of interest beyond the usual target audience or people in high and middle-income countries. For example, UNICEF's Innovation Fund invests in open-source AI projects that address challenges faced by children worldwide, particularly in low-income countries. Reframing The AI Welfare Debate The AI welfare discussion, which dives deep into the moral considerations for advanced AI systems and the potential rights of future sentient entities, presents an opportunity to refocus our attention on human well-being. Rather than diverting resources from pressing human rights issues to speculate about the rights of hypothetical AI beings, this heightened interest can reinforce our commitment to empowering humanity. By contemplating the ethical dimensions of AI, we are reminded of the importance of addressing the challenges people worldwide face today. While ethics and inclusion may appear as abstract lofty goals, they start with practical, straightforward actions by those who create and utilize these technologies. Diverse development teams are essential for building unbiased AI systems that serve everyone equitably. When people from different backgrounds contribute to AI development, the resulting technologies are more likely to be fair and inclusive. Transparency and accountability in AI practices foster trust and encourage responsible use, ensuring that AI systems are held to ethical standards. Furthermore, educating users about AI empowers them to make informed decisions, enhancing the likelihood that technology positively influences society. Double literacy, combining a holistic understanding of our natural intelligence and artificial assets, is central to that endeavor. Building Collaborative Frameworks For ProSocial AI As we observe International Human Rights Day amid the relentless hype surrounding generative AI technologies like ChatGPT, it's important to recognize that while AI holds immense potential for humankind, its ultimate value lies in how we harness it to advance human rights and global well-being. The concept of ProSocial AI — AI systems that are tailored, trained, tested, and targeted to bring out the best in and for people and the planet — embodies this philosophy. By focusing on ProSocial AI, we commit to developing technologies that are: Tailored to address specific challenges different communities face, ensuring relevance and effectiveness. Trained on diverse and representative data to eliminate biases and promote fairness. Tested rigorously to ensure safety, reliability, and ethical compliance. Targeted toward initiatives that promote social good, environmental sustainability, and global equity. ProSocial AI offers a pathway to leverage technology that uplifts humanity, reduces inequalities, and fosters shared prosperity. It aligns with the urgent need to accelerate progress on human rights, especially in light of recent stagnation in poverty reduction and rising inequalities. Now, we have the means – do we have the desire?NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Enphase Energy, Inc. ENPH between April 25, 2023 and October 22, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important February 11, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline . SO WHAT: If you purchased Enphase common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Enphase Energy class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=25593 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 11, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts, about Enphase's business and operations. Specifically, defendants systematically overstated Enphase's ability to maintain its pricing levels and market share for microinverter products in Europe in the face of competition from low-cost, Chinese alternatives. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Enphase class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=25593 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Partnering with hummel and Northwell Health, the new kit honors the club's iconic local roots. WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Westchester Soccer Club (WSC) – the first homegrown professional sports club to call New York's most populous suburb home – debuted the team's inaugural home kit last week at an event with Northwell Health, its front of kit sponsor and official health partner. See images of the new kit here and the video reveal. Through an exciting partnership with hummel, a leading global sportswear brand, and with sponsorship from Northwell Health, the home kit builds on the excitement of WSC's iconic homegrown brand unveiled earlier this summer. The White, Gold, and Blue "Zee" Kit represents the next step in WSC's campaign to deepen community engagement as it prepares for the 2025 season in the United Soccer League One (USL). Earlier this year, USL announced that Westchester County, N.Y. has been granted the rights to a USL League One franchise, with WSC to kick off in 2025 as the host of home matches at the newly renovated Memorial Field in Mount Vernon, N.Y. "Our new kits proudly showcase the defining spirit of our community. At its core, the jersey is a celebration of our heritage, with the "Infinity W" mark (found in our badge and side-striping) and the Tappan Zee Bridge representing the connection between our players, fans, and our hometown communities," said Mitch Baruchowitz, majority owner of WSC. "Northwell Health is very proud to be the front-of-kit sponsor and official health partner of Westchester Soccer Club. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to fostering a healthier, more connected community," said Dr. Debbie Salas-Lopez of Northwell Health. "The new jerseys symbolize the strength of this collaboration, and we are excited to stand alongside WSC in uniting and inspiring Westchester through the power of soccer." Designed with the vibrant spirit of the NY suburban landscape in mind, the jerseys embody the pride and identity of WSC as a uniter of families and communities in the greater Westchester Region. The distinctive home kits resonate with the club's unique identity and aim to bring fans together and feature one of the region's iconic landmarks. In addition to the introduction of the new kits, WSC is also excited to announce the availability of season ticket deposits for the upcoming League One season. A deposit includes exclusive access to club information, announcements, invitations to events and more, providing fans the opportunity to secure their seats for an exciting season ahead, further solidifying their connection to the club. The new jerseys, and other items in a brand-new line of merchandise, are now available online at WSC's website for ensuring that fans can proudly display their support for the club ahead of the season. For more information about the new jerseys, season ticket options, and upcoming events, please visit: https://www.westchestersc.com/ . About Westchester Soccer Club Westchester Soccer Club, Westchester's first homegrown professional sports team, will join USL One in the 2025 season. The club is dedicated to celebrating the region's profound love for soccer through exciting game experiences and community-focused events. With a strong commitment to nurturing local talent, WSC aims to build a world-class developmental pipeline for both boys and girls in Westchester. For more information and updates, follow WSC on social media: Twitter/X: @westchestersc • Instagram: @westchestersc • Facebook: @westchestersc Sign up for email updates at www.westchestersc.com Media Contact: Josh Vlasto josh@joshvlasto.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/westchester-soccer-club-debuts-new-home-kit-to-kick-off-upcoming-season-302317028.html SOURCE Westchester Soccer Club
