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Stalemate in Washington over raising the U.S. debt limit raises the risk of fresh turmoil for markets. Past debt ceiling fights have typically ended with a hastily arranged agreement in the final hours of negotiations, thus avoiding a default. "No," McCarthy said when asked by reporters if he would agree to align the debt ceiling with the budget process should Biden propose such an idea. Biden would agree to a separate discussion on the budget but not tied to the debt ceiling, the White House said. White House staff and aides to the congressional leaders quietly met on Friday to begin talking about the debt limit.

☆ Biden, McCarthy start U.S. debt ceiling talks as clock ticks to default
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Stalemate in Washington over raising the U.S. debt limit raises the risk of fresh turmoil for markets. Past debt ceiling fights have typically ended with a hastily arranged agreement in the final hours of negotiations, thus avoiding a default. McCarthy, whose party holds the House by only a slim majority, wants to tie a vote on the debt ceiling to broad spending cuts the White House considers draconian. Biden would agree to a separate discussion on the budget but not tied to the debt ceiling, the White House said. Few countries in the world have debt ceiling laws and Washington's periodic lifting of the borrowing limit merely allows it to pay for spending Congress has already authorized.

☆ Biden, McCarthy start debt ceiling talks as clock ticks to default
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Stalemate in Washington over raising the U.S. debt limit raises the risk of fresh turmoil for markets. Past debt ceiling fights have typically ended with a hastily arranged agreement in the final hours of negotiations, thus avoiding a default. McCarthy, whose party holds the House by only a slim majority, wants to tie a vote on the debt ceiling to broad spending cuts that the White House considers draconian. Biden would agree to a separate discussion on the budget but not tied to the debt ceiling, the White House said. Few countries in the world have debt ceiling laws and Washington's periodic lifting of the borrowing limit merely allows it to pay for spending Congress has already authorized.

☆ Morning Bid: Showdown on the ceiling
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

With world markets still at an impasse on the extent of the economic slowdown and chance of recession, the U.S. debt ceiling impasse remains unresolved - and Tuesday's showdown at the White House is one of the few opportunities left to resolve it. Biden meets Republican House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy for the first time since February. There are only six days this month when the House and the Senate are in session when Biden is in Washington. Longer-term Treasury yields remain under wraps, however, with 2-year yields hovering just under 4%. DEBT CEILINGBeyond the debt ceiling row, the picture of the wider economy remains equivocal.

☆ Biden, McCarthy aim to break US debt-ceiling standoff as default crisis looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Analysts do not expect an immediate deal to avert a historic default, which the Treasury Department has warned could come as soon as June 1. Forecasters warn a default would likely send the U.S. economy into deep recession with soaring unemployment. Outside observers including people who have participated in past fiscal negotiations and business lobby groups have laid out a range of potential compromises largely revolving around extending the debt ceiling past the November 2024 presidential elections while freezing spending. But it is not catastrophic," Democratic Senator Chris Coons said, referring to past shutdowns, adding, "default would be catastrophic." Worries about the standoff have already started to weigh on financial markets, but a default would have a far more immediate effect on average Americans.

☆ A consultant used ChatGPT to free up time so she could focus on pitching clients. She landed $128,000 worth of new contracts in just 3 months.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jacqueline DeStefano-Tangorra, the founder of consulting firm Omni Business Intelligence Solutions, started using ChatGPT when it launched last year. In her first three months using ChatGPT, DeStefano-Tangorra booked $128,000 worth of new deals. As a result, the chatbot, she said, freed up her capacity to focus on crafting more business proposals to potential clients. Meanwhile, DeStefano-Tangorra has helped her new clients craft personalized business proposals, customize legal documents, and design sales dashboards with guidance from ChatGPT. She won't stop using ChatGPT anytime soon.

☆ Husband Sued Over His Ex-Wife’s Abortion; Now Her Friends Are Suing Him
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Emily Bazelon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For Ms. Noyola and Ms. Carpenter, the experience of being sued has been difficult, said their lawyer, Rusty Hardin. Mr. Mitchell did not respond to requests for comment. Mr. Mitchell’s argument in this case uses the state’s wrongful death statute to seek damages on behalf of Mr. Silva. The suit asserts that under that state law, the rights of a fetus are equivalent to those of an adult. If Mr. Mitchell’s argument succeeds, it would be a legal victory for the concept of fetal personhood — a goal of many abortion opponents.

☆ Kamala Harris to discuss A.I. in meeting with Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with the chief executives of Google , Microsoft , OpenAI and Anthropic Thursday to discuss the responsible development of artificial intelligence, the White House confirmed to CNBC Tuesday. Harris will address the need for safeguards that can mitigate AI's potential risks and emphasize the importance of ethical and trustworthy innovation, the White House said. Generative AI has exploded into public consciousness after OpenAI released its viral new chatbot called ChatGPT late last year. In the months since, Microsoft has been integrating OpenAI's generative technology across many of its products as part of its multi-year, multi-billion-dollar investment in the company. While many experts are optimistic about the potential of generative AI, the technology has also inspired questions and concerns from regulators and tech industry giants.

☆ Comstock Act: The 150-year-old chastity law that may be the next big fight over abortion
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

“Comstock is really the backdoor way to remove access to abortion across the whole country,” said Greer Donley, a University of Pittsburgh Law School professor who specializes in abortion law. Severino argued that, at least when it comes to the Comstock Act’s prohibitions on mailing abortion pills, Congress is well within its powers to regulate those shipments. Several towns, some in New Mexico and elsewhere, have passed local ordinances that cite the Comstock Act and prohibit business within those jurisdictions from shipping or receiving items used for abortions in the mail, as covered by the Comstock Act. The lawsuits in New Mexico state court that those ordinances have prompted may provide for another opportunity for courts to elaborate on what the Comstock Act means. The Supreme Court, in the emergency order it issued last week, did not say anything about the Comstock Act.

☆ Musk met with Schumer and other lawmakers to discuss A.I. regulation
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Twitter CEO Elon Musk speaks at the "Twitter 2.0: From Conversations to Partnerships," marketing conference in Miami, Florida, on April 18, 2023. After being spotted on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Elon Musk tweeted that he'd met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and other lawmakers about artificial intelligence regulation. Schumer's high-level plans focus on transparency for AI systems, requiring independent experts to test the technologies ahead of public release and requiring disclosure of the people, places and ways involved in the technology's development. Musk has been among the loudest critics of the current fast pace of AI development. WATCH: Tesla investors claim Elon Musk is too distracted

☆ NBA roundup: Jimmy Butler, Heat eliminate Bucks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Apr 26, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) drives against Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) during game five of the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Butler followed up his franchise-playoff-record, 56-point performance in Game 4 by helping the eighth-seeded Heat overcome a 16-point, fourth-quarter deficit with 12 straight Heat points during one stretch before converting an alley-oop in the final second to force overtime. Bam Adebayo collected 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Heat, who will face the fifth-seeded New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Antetokounmpo recorded 38 points and 20 rebounds and Khris Middleton pumped in 33 points for the Bucks. Anthony Davis amassed 31 points and 19 rebounds and Austin Reaves registered 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the seventh-seeded Lakers.

☆ How to start 'career cushioning' so you aren't screwed if you lose your job
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Shana Lebowitz | Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

That's why it's wise to "career cushion" so you're not blindsided if you lose your job. Experts recommend updating your LinkedIn profile and ramping up your networking. Knowing you're prepared for a possible worst-case scenario by "career cushioning" can mitigate some of the stress you're feeling, according to Blair Heitmann, a career expert at LinkedIn. Cushioning makes you feel that you're ready "for whatever comes next in the economy and in the job market," Heitmann told Insider. Update your social-media profilesHeitmann said the first — and potentially easiest — thing to do is update your LinkedIn profile.

☆ Stanford and MIT study: A.I. boosted worker productivity by 14%—those who use it 'will replace those who don't'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The study is thought to be the first major real-world application of generative AI in the workplace. Researchers measured productivity of more than 5,000 customer support agents, based primarily in the Philippines, at a Fortune 500 enterprise software firm over the course of a year. In some cases, using AI trumped having real-life work experience: Customer service agents with two months of experience who used AI support performed as well or better than agents with over six months of experience working without AI. Meanwhile, the use of AI tools showed a minimal impact on "experienced or highly skilled workers," the authors note, and at times served as a distraction. AI support can be especially helpful to entry-level or early-career workers, says Lindsey Raymond, an MIT Ph.D. candidate and co-author of the paper.

Persons: chatbots, Lindsey Raymond, Raymond Organizations: Stanford, MIT, Bloomberg, Fortune, Tech Locations: Philippines

☆ NBA roundup: Warriors survive late gaffe, tie series with Kings
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Mike Conley added 19 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out for the Wolves. Nikola Jokic had 43 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Nuggets. Josh Hart chipped in 19 points and seven rebounds for the Knicks, who outrebounded the Cavaliers 47-33. The Hawks were within five points with 3:36 to play, but the Celtics took control by scoring the next seven points. Dejounte Murray finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

☆ NBA roundup: Devin Booker, Suns even series with Clippers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Apr 18, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second half during game two of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center. Kevin Durant added 25 points, six rebounds and five assists as Phoenix rebounded from a Game 1 home loss. Kawhi Leonard registered 31 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals and Russell Westbrook added 28 points for the Clippers. Mitchell, the seventh-leading scorer in the NBA this season at 28.3 points per game, had just 17 points Tuesday but collected a career-high 13 assists. Mobley had 13 points and 13 rebounds while Garland scored 32 points, including 26 in the first half.

☆ Oh Canada, is this the year the Stanley Cup comes home?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Not since the Montreal Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings in 1993 has the Stanley Cup been paraded through a Canadian city, an ego-deflating run of failure that has scarred a generation of fans. After winning the Stanley Cup in 1967, Maple Leafs defenceman Larry Hillman allegedly jinxed the team, saying they would not win it again until the club settled a contract dispute and paid him the $2,400 plus interest he believed he was owed. The Maple Leafs' big misfortune is playing in the same division as the Boston Bruins, who this season set NHL records for wins (65) and points (135), and the Tampa Bay Lightning, Stanley Cup finalists for the last three years. These two teams are once again hurdles that must be cleared on the way to a Stanley Cup. When the playoffs open on Monday, the Oilers will be the first of the Canadian teams to hit the ice, hosting the Los Angeles Kings in Game One of their best-of-seven series.

☆ OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: Letter from Elon Musk, others calling for AI development pause 'lacked technical nuance'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to the open letter calling for a pause on AI for one of the first times Thursday. Speaking at MIT, Altman said safety is important to OpenAI, and the letter "lacked technical nuance." The letter called for a six-month pause on AI development, and was signed by tech leaders like Elon Musk. In one of his only public responses to the open letter signed by Elon Musk and hundreds of others in the tech industry about concerns over AI, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said it "lacked technical nuance about where we need the pause." The OpenAI CEO also said his company will continue to be as honest as possible about its developments with AI.

☆ OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addresses letter from Musk and other tech leaders calling for A.I. pause
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Altman made the remarks during a Thursday video appearance at an MIT event that discussed business and AI. OpenAI makes ChatGPT, an AI bot that can create human-like responses to questions asked by a user. GPT technology underpins Microsoft 's Bing AI chatbot, and prompted a flurry of AI investment. Earlier this year, Altman acknowledged that AI technology made him a "little bit scared." Questions about safe and ethical AI use have come up at the White House, on Capitol Hill, and in boardrooms across America.

☆ NBA roundup: Warriors hang 157 on Blazers, glide into playoffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Shaedon Sharpe added 18 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds, while Jeenathan Williams had 17 points for Portland. New Orleans' Brandon Ingram had 42 points and 12 rebounds, CJ McCollum scored 23 points and Trey Murphy III had 20. Lindell Wigginton scored 17 points and Bobby Portis had 16 for the Bucks. Jaden Hardy led all scorers with 25 points, with Theo Pinson forging a triple-double (23 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists) for the Mavericks. De'Aaron Fox, who scored 13 points, played less than 18 minutes.

PALM BEACH, Florida, April 4 (Reuters) - A subdued former President Donald Trump lashed out on Tuesday at New York prosecutor Alvin Bragg for bringing criminal charges against him and declared himself the victim of election interference without offering evidence. "I never thought anything like this could happen in America," Trump told supporters gathered at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump accused Manhattan District Attorney Bragg of being out to get him "before he knew anything about me." "Trump should not be held above the law - if he does something wrong he should be held liable like anybody else. Reporting by Nathan Layne and Rich McKay in Palm Beach; Writing by Steve Holland; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

REUTERS/Ricardo ArduengoPALM BEACH, Florida, April 4 (Reuters) - A subdued former President Donald Trump lashed out on Tuesday at New York prosecutor Alvin Bragg for bringing criminal charges against him and declared himself the victim of election interference without offering evidence. "I never thought anything like this could happen in America," Trump told supporters gathered at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump accused Manhattan District Attorney Bragg of being out to get him "before he knew anything about me." "Trump should not be held above the law - if he does something wrong he should be held liable like anybody else. Reporting by Nathan Layne and Rich McKay in Palm Beach; Writing by Steve Holland; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ JPMorgan says this retailer is a buy as it nears an 'inflection point'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Analyst Matthew Boss upgraded the retail stock to overweight from neutral and increased his price target by $1 to $29. His price target implies the stock will rally 65.8% over the next year from where shares ended Friday's session. He said the retailer should be able to see multiyear EBITDA margins in the low double digits due to five "self-help" growth vectors. Boss said the stock has an attractive risk-to-reward ratio and is at an attractive entry point following recent underperformance. Macy's trades at around two times its 2024 EBITDA, he said, which places it around 50% below the average of stocks in the department stores/mall-based specialty category.

☆ Robots are getting good at dribbling soccer balls, new video from MIT shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Researchers from MIT designed "DribbleBot," a robot that dribbles a soccer ball just like humans. Researchers from MIT's Improbable Artificial Intelligence Laboratory designed the robotic system, which can dribble a soccer ball across a range of surfaces. We need the machines to go over terrains that aren't flat, and wheeled robots can't traverse those landscapes." Four-legged robots designed by other companies, including Boston Dynamics, Ghost Robotics, and Anybotics, are also putting their robot-iterations to work, such as performing equipment inspection checks at companies. But advancements like MIT's show there's still progress being made toward the dream of competitive soccer robots.

☆ NBA roundup: Knicks get by Wizards, clinch playoff berth
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

[1/4] Apr 2, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes (6) dribbles against Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert (24) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. New York led by no fewer than eight and by as many as 20 the rest of the way. Atlanta got 25 points from Dejounte Murray, 18 points and 10 rebounds from John Collins and 14 points and 11 boards from Clint Capela. Dallas also got 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists from Doncic and 18 points from Wood. The Rockets' starting backcourt of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green combined for 44 points with Green adding seven assists.

☆ Macy's CEO Gennette to retire next year, insider Spring to succeed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 29 (Reuters) - Macy's Inc (M.N) on Wednesday said its Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gennette will retire in February, after serving the U.S. department store chain for 40 years and will be succeeded by insider Tony Spring. Spring, who is the chairman and CEO of Macy's unit Bloomingdale's, has been with the company for 36 years. He was named as a successor to Gennette after an internal and external search, Macy's said. Macy's said as part of the leadership transition, Chief Financial Officer Adrian Mitchell's responsibilities have been expanded to include the role of chief operating officer. Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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