Jour : 23 décembre 2024

Al-Kassar: There is no relationship between Roshen League foreigners and the national team’s decline  Yalla Shoot
source

All this data can help us save time, personalize services and stop cyberattacks. But the information is useless if we can’t make sense of it, which is why AI has become an indispensable business tool and, increasingly, a means for social good. 
Designed to find patterns in reams of data, AI can identify the time-sucking tasks that hinder productivity as well as the subtle transaction anomalies that indicate a stolen account. In fact, in 2023, Mastercard’s AI-powered insights prevented $20 billion in fraud across its network.
Here are the stories from 2024 that illustrate AI’s benefits and potential — and the importance of implementing it responsibly.
As generative AI goes mainstream, it’s supercharging complex forms of fraud, arming criminals with powerful tools at almost no cost. In October, Rohit Chauhan, Mastercard’s executive vice president for AI Fraud Solutions, offered insights for how companies and consumers can fight back against criminals, such as those create digital twins that mimic humans in order to defraud their family, friends and associated businesses.
Businesses are already countering cyberthreats by using AI to make security tools smarter. Chauhan explains how gen AI can take those efforts even further by decoding spending habits — at the level of the individual and the broader market. These sophisticated fraud models can stop bad actors sooner while letting more legitimate transactions through.
But, he adds, often a low-tech solution works just fine — like using an agreed-upon password or personal question to foil fraudsters who pose as family members. Sometimes the secret is simply to be human. 
AI is the superhero of cybersecurity, but it can also act as its own Clark Kent–like alter ego, plugging away at the office to improve the employee experience. In May, Anshul Sheopuri, Mastercard’s executive vice president for people operations and insights, and Lucrecia Borgonovo, chief talent and organization effectiveness officer, shared how the company is using AI to help employees manage their careers. From matching staff with the right projects to optimizing the use of office space, AI is improving day-to-day experiences and informing career paths.
As an emerging technology, AI sparks questions and concerns — and even fear. Sheopuri and Borgonovo explain that the best way to build trust is to make sure employees understand the company’s commitment to responsible and ethical AI: “We view AI as a partner on our journey to improve the employee experience, and we work hard to create opportunities to use it but also to nurture conversations about it.”
AI and data hold huge potential for driving positive change in struggling communities worldwide, from better health care outcomes to faster disaster relief to more productive farms. The trick is getting AI into the hands of those who need it the most. In September, leaders from across politics — including multilateral organizations like the United Nations — academics, nonprofits and tech companies shared ways to harness AI responsibly and at scale at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth’s annual Impact Data Summit. 
AI will add $15.7 trillion to the global economy, said Gayan Peiris, a U.N. Development Programme advisor for data, technology and AI, but, he added, only 10% of people will benefit from it: “We need to ensure we build a future where our global south is not just users of AI; they are part of this.”
Cultivating future data talent, developing and implementing responsible regulation to build trust and ensuring public–private collaboration will be critical, panelists said. 
“It’s instructive to look at the lessons learned,” said Jon Huntsman, Mastercard’s vice chairman and president for Strategic Growth, during one panel. “What has [technology] done for humanity? Where has it misfired? What governing structures have been good versus less good? Let history be our guide… The inclusive nature of what we’re embarking on must be part of it. The divisions globally are too profound.”
Artificial intelligence has the potential to multiply impact exponentially. Here are some of the ways — and how we can ensure this is done responsibly.

source

Sebastian Stan’s Comedy Thriller With 93% on Rotten Tomatoes Hits Streaming Next Month  MovieWeb
source

Kim Muff, Concordia USD 333
Students and staff at CES, CMS, and CJSHS were all smiles when gifts were delivered to their classrooms just before Christmas. Gifts were purchased with donations from the USD 333 Education Fund, created in 2022 to directly support Concordia public schools, and the school district has received contributions which enhance learning in many ways.
Students and teachers were excited to receive literacy resources, STEM activities, new classroom games, stand-up desks, and compound microscopes. Resources provided from donor funds create a renewed excitement for learning. These donor gifts are in addition to a recent anonymous donor contribution of $20,000 announced at the December USD 333 Board of Education meeting. Those funds will be used to upgrade the video productions software and equipment at CHS, among other classroom resources across the district.
The long-term goal of the USD 333 Education Fund is to provide opportunities to grow funds as a viable option for endowed positions, programming, and facility improvements for decades to come.
The fund is held at the Community Foundation for Cloud County, a 501(c)(3) managed by the Greater Salina Community Foundation. All gifts to this fund are tax deductible.
More information about the Concordia Education Fund is available at this website: https://sites.google.com/usd333.com/concordia-education-fund?usp=sharing.

Sign up for the KCLY Digital Newspaper, The Regional

source

After several years of decline, California’s population grew by almost a quarter of a million residents in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, a rebound that brings the Golden State almost back to its pre-pandemic numbers.
The numbers are not all rosy. California experienced a slower growth rate than the country as a whole, particularly large states in the fast-growing South. It also experienced the nation’s largest domestic migration loss.
But experts say California’s new population figures represent an important turnaround.
“The big picture is California is growing again,” said Hans Johnson, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California. “It shows California has a pretty healthy growth rate… The number of people who are coming into the state from abroad has increased, the number of people leaving for other states has decreased. There are still substantial flows to other states, but that’s not as large as it was.”
While California’s population gain of 232,570 people from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024, represents the largest numeric population increase in the nation’s West, it lagged behind Texas, which expanded its population by 562,941, and Florida, which grew by 467,347 people.
California’s 0.6% population increase also fell short of the national average (0.9%) and was significantly outpaced by the District of Columbia (2.2%), Florida (2%) and Texas (1.8%).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, California’s population dropped after a decade of steady growth. Upon reaching its highest-ever population level in 2020 with more than 39.5 million people, the state lost nearly 1% of its population by July 1, 2021, as it introduced a rash of restrictions, including the closures of offices, retail stores, restaurants and schools.
California is still the nation’s most populous state with 39,431,263 residents, significantly more than Texas’ 31 million and Florida’s 23 million. But its overall population remained 124,000 short of its 2020 peak.
California’s population decline has been seized on by the right as a sign of the failure of its liberal progressivism. GOP critics, such as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have presented California as a state in decline, arguing that in recent years its residents were fleeing to red states because California had become a bastion of high crime, unaffordable housing, excessive regulation and wacky leftist ideology.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office celebrated the Census Bureau estimate, released the same week that the California Department of Finance released data that also showed state population growth.
“People from across the nation and the globe are coming to the Golden State to pursue the California Dream and experience the success of the world’s fifth largest economy — strengthening local communities, regional economies and our state’s future,” said Brendan Richards, a spokesman for Newsom.
California’s population growth stems largely from international migration and natural population increases (the net result of births minus deaths) — not domestic migration.
Census Bureau estimates showed California experienced the nation’s largest domestic migration loss — minus 239,575 people — while Texas added 85,267.
The main driver of California’s population growth is people from outside the U.S.: the state experienced the nation’s second largest net gain in international migration, attracting 361,057 people from other countries, short of Florida’s 411,322, but ahead of Texas’ 319,569.
California also experienced the nation’s second highest natural increases — births outnumbering deaths — with a net gain of 110,466 people, just short of Texas’ 158,753.
Beyond the cultural wars’ rhetoric between red and blue states, population shifts have the potential to reshape the national potential landscape.
In 2021, new census data resulted in the state losing a congressional representative for the first time in its history, falling from 53 to 52 seats in the House of Representatives. Last year, the Brennan Center for Justice predicted that the state was on track to lose four more congressional districts in reapportionment in 2030, leaving California with just 48 House seats.
Michael Li, senior counsel in the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, said Friday the Census Bureau’s new estimates indicated there might be a slightly less dramatic 2030 reapportionment across the nation. But assuming the population trend of the last two years carried out for the rest of the decade, he said, California was still on track to lose three or four seats — and possibly more, depending on how harshly President Trump’s administration clamped down on immigration.
“California’s population is sustained mostly by immigration,” Li said. “It has around 360,000 people coming in from outside the United States… With a new administration coming in, talking about deporting millions of people and maybe cutting off pathways of legal immigration into the country, there’s a lot that could change.”
The Trump administration, Li said, could also fiddle with the census. For example, adding a citizenship question could depress turnout and participation.
The Census Bureau estimates were released a day before the California Department of Finance released data Friday showing the state’s population grew by about 49,000 in the fiscal year ending July 1 to 39,172,742. The department’s estimate is substantially lower than the Census Bureau’s estimate of 232,570, largely because the bureau attributes a much higher level of international migration to California.
As a demographer who has looked at population data for decades, Johnson said this year’s difference between the Census Bureau and California Department of Finance estimates was remarkable.
“The big difference is migration, and migration is hard to measure,” Johnson said. “We have legal flows and administrative records, but people sometimes will be, for example, adjusting their status from some sort of temporary status to a permanent status. Technically, that could be considered immigration, but it’s not a new resident. And then, of course, unauthorized or undocumented immigration is difficult to measure as well.”
The California Department of Finance attributed the state’s growth to a combination of factors: legal immigration continuing to rebound after the pandemic; greater domestic migration in and slowed domestic out-migration; natural increase as the number of deaths lowers from its pandemic peak.
Johnson said he didn’t expect conservatives to stop holding up California as a symbol of national decline.
“There’s still a lot of people leaving California to move to other states — no doubt about it — so there’s probably some political hay to be made there,” Johnson said. “The reason for that is because the cost of living and housing prices are so high in California, which means people want to live here, because that’s a demand and supply consideration.”
During California’s heyday of rapid population growth, Johnson said, the state used to gain people from the rest of the country, as well as from abroad. But that hasn’t been the case for a couple of decades.
Still, Johnson said, liberals could push against simplistic conservative narratives and offer a reality check.
“Why is California so expensive?” he said. “Part of it is probably that it’s more difficult to build housing here. But one reason it’s more difficult to build housing here is because land is expensive, and land is expensive because a lot of people want to own land or own houses in California.”
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
Follow Us
Jenny Jarvie is a national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Atlanta.
Entertainment & Arts
Politics
California
Climate & Environment
California
California
California
California
Subscribe for unlimited access
Site Map
Follow Us
MORE FROM THE L.A. TIMES

source

The spiritual importance of Hanukkah and Christmas  MSNBC
source

At $944M, jackpot could become largest Mega Millions prize won on Christmas Eve  WFLA
source

source

The intricate relationship between mental health and addiction has been a topic of extensive research and discussion in recent years. Mental health issues and substance abuse often coexist, influencing and exacerbating each other. This connection can make diagnosis and treatment more complex, but understanding the link is essential for effective recovery.
Mental health disorders and addiction frequently co-occur, a phenomenon referred to as co-morbidity or dual diagnosis. Several factors contribute to this relationship:
Understanding this bidirectional relationship is crucial for effective intervention and treatment.
Several mental health disorders are commonly linked to substance abuse, including:
Chronic worry, panic attacks, and social anxiety can drive individuals toward substances as a coping mechanism. However, substances often exacerbate these conditions, creating a vicious cycle.
Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and low energy are hallmarks of depression. Alcohol and drug use may temporarily numb these feelings but ultimately deepen the depressive symptoms.
The extreme mood swings in bipolar disorder can lead individuals to use substances to manage highs (mania) or lows (depression), increasing the risk of addiction.
PTSD sufferers may use drugs or alcohol to cope with intrusive memories, flashbacks, and emotional distress, putting them at a higher risk for addiction.
People with schizophrenia may turn to substances to cope with their symptoms, but this often worsens their mental health and complicates treatment.
Given the complexity of co-occurring disorders, integrated treatment is essential. This involves addressing both the mental health condition and the addiction simultaneously. Cities like Mumbai and Pune in India offer advanced facilities for such treatments.
Mumbai is home to world-class mental health facilities equipped to handle complex cases of dual diagnosis. Key features of these treatments include:
Pune boasts several renowned deaddiction centers specializing in holistic recovery programs. These centers provide:
Integrated treatment ensures that both mental health disorders and addiction are treated as interrelated conditions rather than in isolation. This approach includes:
While effective treatment options exist, several challenges remain:
Recovery from co-occurring disorders is a journey that requires commitment, support, and professional guidance. The following steps can help:
Consulting experts in mental health and addiction, such as those at Mental Disorder Treatments in Mumbai, India, is the first step toward recovery.
Surrounding yourself with understanding and supportive individuals can make a significant difference.
Learning strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and triggers is essential for sustainable recovery.
Recovery is a long-term process that requires persistence, even in the face of setbacks.
The connection between mental health and addiction is undeniable, yet it is manageable with the right approach. Integrated treatment models offered by facilities like Deaddiction Rehabilitation Centers in Pune, India, and mental health services in Mumbai play a vital role in helping individuals regain control of their lives. By addressing both aspects concurrently, these centers pave the way for holistic recovery, ensuring a healthier and more fulfilling future for those affected.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.

source

Bill Maher has a new comedy special coming to HBO next year. Per Variety, Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This? will premiere in January, marking Maher’s 13th stand-up comedy special for HBO.
Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This? will be taped in front of a live audience at the CIBC Theater in Chicago, and apparently comes with a content warning. Said Maher: “I almost called this special ‘You Won’t Feel Safe’, because if you’re purely a team player in American politics, you won’t. This one is for the 80 percent of Americans who want to see crazy called out no matter where it comes from. And the last twenty minutes on my sex life, that’s for everybody.”
Maher released his first comedy special for HBO in 1989 and dropped his most recent special, #Adulting, in 2022. He has also hosted the HBO talk show Real Time with Bill Maher since 2003. HBO EVP of late night & specials programming Nina Rosenstein said in a statement: “Bill’s comedic commentary has been an extraordinary part of HBO for 12 specials and 22 seasons of Real Time with Bill Maher. We truly value his steadfast commitment to honesty and humor, which we know will be front and center in his next special.”
A new episode of Real Time with Bill Maher will air Friday at 10 p.m. EST on HBO, featuring actor and producer Michael Douglas, along with journalist John Heilemann and attorney Sarah Isgur.
Editorial credit: Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com

source