lodi games

Stock market today: Wall Street slips to a rare back-to-back loss

By KRISTEN WOOD Chilly weather and early nights make the holiday season the best time of year for cuddling up with your favorite games. From enjoying a quiet afternoon alone to gathering with family, these board, video and card games will bring cozy vibes to your holiday gaming. The holidays are prime time for coziness. Cold weather, hot drinks and days off work or school are perfect for snuggling up under a blanket. With many games designed to be cozy, relaxed and lighthearted, accompanying your cozy afternoons with a game might be your new holiday tradition. Many holidays bring together friends and family as well. While some families may look forward to feuding over the Risk board or resources in Settlers of Catan, more low-key games can be an opportunity to bond with loved ones. Cooperative games or games with a bit of friendly competition let you focus on who you’re playing with. Since these cozy games often have easier instructions, everyone can get involved. A busy holiday season also benefits from rest. Take a break from shopping, cooking, traveling and other holiday tasks with some games. Stress-busting games let you enjoy a couple of hours of quiet gameplay or raucous laughter, both sure to provide some relaxation. Relaxing board games are great for a lazy afternoon with friends or after dinner at a holiday party. These games often feature cooperative play or minimal competition, beautiful artwork and straightforward gameplay ideal for all ages. For the holidays, these games provide a whimsical escape from seasonal chaos. Related Articles Entertainment | As Americans are beyond burned out, Tricia Hersey’s Nap Ministry preaches the right to rest Entertainment | Coca-Cola’s AI holiday ad sparks controversy for not being the ‘real thing’ Entertainment | Album review: For Kendrick Lamar, spite is an engine on the exhilarating ‘GNX’ Entertainment | With Trump as president, can TikTok in the US survive? Entertainment | Column: ‘Wicked’ box office proves Hollywood needs to take family films seriously again Patchwork Patchwork is a chill two-player puzzle game where you and your opponent compete to create the best quilt. The tactile experience and cozy results are relaxing on a chilly day. If you have more than two players, try Calico instead where you’ll create quilts for cats. Carcassonne In Carcassonne, players compete to build Medieval cities and fields by laying tiles. The game takes a bit of strategy and luck, and it will generate some friendly competition among children and adults alike. The charming artwork of parks, featuring America’s national parks, will also transport you on a road trip from the comfort of your home. Everdell and Flamecraft For those looking for longer gameplay, Everdell will have you playing as cute forest creatures building new cities during a game that averages a little over an hour. Flamecraft is another delightfully whimsical game where players try to attract dragons to improve the reputation of their shops. Each of these games is simple to pick up and, with every playthrough offering something new, they’ll get you through the entire holiday season. Parks, Everdell and Flamecraft can also be single-player games if you need a break from socialization. Snuggling up on the couch with a video game is inherently relaxing. Whether you enjoy mobile, computer, handheld or console games, the cozy game genre provides dozens of options. This season, try games ranging from relaxing to enchanting. If having everything in its place provides calm in the chaos of the holiday season, you’ll love Unpacking. This puzzle game, available on Switch, PC and Xbox, has you unpacking boxes and putting items away. Playing games like Unpacking can be a meditative experience. Other puzzle games like A Little to the Left and Spiritfarer blend stories into the gameplay. For spooky autumn vibes, try Strange Horticulture and play as the owner of a plant shop and potion maker. Maintaining a virtual farm or building a make-believe castle from your sofa can be a great stress reliever. Stardew Valley is a quintessential farming game surrounded by charming townspeople. With the highly anticipated November update, you can now play on console, mobile and PC. Palia , a massively multiplayer online game, features farming, quests and community building with other players. It’s also free. For those with a Nintendo Switch, the Animal Crossing series has you interacting with other animal players in a peaceful village. With multiplayer modes, these games are great options for playing with friends and family from afar during the holidays. For a single-player escape, try the recently-released Tiny Glade on PC where you’ll build castles. This cozy game’s detailed artistry and conflict-free gameplay will bring hours of relaxation. Or build a world from tiles in Dorfromantik. The game can be entirely chill or provide a bit of strategy if you want to go for a high score. A pack of cards is reliable entertainment at any gathering. From classics to innovative new card games, having a few in your game collection can be worthwhile. Card games can range from simple to complex, a few minutes to a few hours and single-player to dozens of players. If you have a standard deck of playing cards, Blitz is a great option for any number of players. Also known as Thirty One, this game gives every player three cards and lets them trade out a card on each turn, trying to get a value of thirty-one. President is another simple social card game where players race to get rid of their cards in ascending order. If you are imbibing this holiday season, some people play it as a drinking game. For a two-player card game, try The Fox in the Forest. This trick-taking card game features cozy graphics, and its fast, simple gameplay is perfect for a winter date night. For two to four players, Arboretum has darling tree graphics on its cards. Players lay cards down with the goal of creating a beautiful garden. This holiday season, be sure to take time to connect with loved ones and catch a few moments to yourself. Cozy games are a lighthearted escape. As the genre grows, there are options for everyone this season, from mindless games to those that require a touch of strategy – perfect for any mood or moment. Kristen Wood is a writer, photographer, avid cozy gamer and creator of The Cozy Gaming Nook , your source for everything cozy games. Her work has been featured in various online and print publications, including Elle, NBC, Forbes, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, Seattle Times and more.

Another recount won't be ordered in a North Carolina court race, but protests are ahead

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stitch Fix Inc. (SFIX) on Tuesday reported a loss of $6.3 million in its fiscal first quarter. The San Francisco-based company said it had a loss of 5 cents per share. The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 14 cents per share. The online clothing styling service posted revenue of $318.8 million in the period, also exceeding Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $306.1 million. For the current quarter ending in January, Stitch Fix said it expects revenue in the range of $290 million to $300 million. The company expects full-year revenue in the range of $1.14 billion to $1.18 billion. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( http://automatedinsights.com/ap ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SFIX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SFIX

Accomplished Leader Brings Expertise in Finance and Tribal Governance SAN DIEGO , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Indigenized Energy, a Native-led organization building sustainable solar energy systems with Tribes nationwide, has announced the appointment of Lorilee J. Morsette , MS, THRP as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Morsette previously served as President of National Accounts for Tribal Markets at Mutual of America Financial Group and led HR operations for nearly 600 employees at the Nisqually Indian Tribe in Olympia, Washington . As COO, Morsette will oversee program delivery, finance, human resources, technology, and will ensure operational excellence. The newly created COO role is integral to scaling the organization's impact in 2025 and beyond. In April, Indigenized Energy, along with its partners the MHA Nation-Three Affiliated Tribes and the Tribal Renewal Energy Coalition, were awarded $135.5M in Solar for All funding by the EPA. A Suquamish and Chippewa-Cree from Rocky Boy, Montana , Morsette brings a visionary approach informed by the historical challenges faced by Indian Country. Morsette said, "Joining Indigenized Energy allows me to combine my expertise in financial services with my deep commitment to advancing opportunities for Native Americans. Our community's strength lies in our autonomy, and Indigenized Energy stands as a beacon of hope towards that goal. Together, we are Native-led, driven by our shared values, and contributing to a future where all voices and spirits thrive." Morsette's leadership adds depth to Indigenized Energy's executive team, which already excels in solar technology and tribal relations. Her presence is a milestone for Native women in leadership: women hold only 15% of C-suite roles in the finance sector and 18% in the solar industry, with Native American women representing a fraction of these figures. Cody Two Bears, Founder and CEO of Indigenized Energy said, "If we wrote a COO job description that called for expertise in corporate finance, management, Tribal governance, and values that align seamlessly with our own, and then looked for a Native American woman, we never would have found that. We cast a wider net and fortunately, connected with Lorilee at a time when she was open to a bold new leadership opportunity. Her appointment is a testament to the right timing and shared vision. I have no doubt." About Indigenized Energy With a mission focused on developing innovative and practical energy solutions, Indigenized Energy endeavors to support tribal autonomy, economic development, and environmental stewardship through clean energy initiatives. Indigenized Energy is registered as a charitable corporation in North Dakota and is a fiscally sponsored project of Mission Edge San Diego, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in San Diego. Our Federal Tax ID # 27-2938491. https://www.4indigenized.energy/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/indigenized-energy-names-lorilee-j-morsette-as-chief-operating-officer-302334331.html SOURCE Indigenized EnergyJENKINTOWN, PA — National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) has announced the addition of Warren Thaler and Tamara Watts to its Board of Trustees, bringing their wealth of expertise to the organization’s mission of advancing charitable giving globally. “On behalf of National Philanthropic Trust, I am delighted to welcome Warren Thaler and Tamara Watts to our Board of Trustees,” said Holly Welch Stubbing, CEO of NPT. “Warren’s significant investment expertise and Tamara’s extensive tax-exempt legal knowledge will prove valuable to NPT’s mission of increasing charitable giving worldwide. Recently, NPT surpassed 800,000 grants to charitable organizations in the U.S. and more than 50 countries by supporting our donors’ philanthropic objectives. We look forward to Warren and Tamara’s contributions to our Board of Trustees as NPT prepares for the future of philanthropy while helping donors support what means most to them, every day.” About Warren Thaler Warren Thaler brings decades of investment experience as a private investor and former president of Gund Investment Corporation, where he managed the capital of Gordon Gund and his family for 27 years. Notably, he was instrumental in the early success of Align Technology, serving on its board for 19 years while investing in other innovative healthcare companies. Thaler has a strong history of nonprofit leadership, which includes serving on the board of the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). While there, he played a key role in creating and leading the organization’s venture philanthropy initiative, The Retinal Degeneration Fund, to advance research and early-stage developments in retinal degeneration. Additionally, Thaler has served on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Board of Directors and as the team’s representative at NBA Board of Governors meetings. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Princeton University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. About Tamara Watts Tamara Watts brings 25 years of legal expertise in advising tax-exempt organizations. Currently, she serves as Vice President, Legal and General Counsel for The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. Her previous roles include Managing Deputy Director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she supported global health and development initiatives. Watts also has experience as a partner and co-leader of K&L Gates’ Tax-Exempt Organizations Practice Group. For more than a decade, she co-chaired the American Bar Association’s International Philanthropy Subcommittee of the Tax Section. Her knowledge further extends to her frequent speaking engagements on legal issues tied to philanthropy. Watts earned her undergraduate degree in History from Stanford University and her Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School. By adding Thaler and Watts to its leadership team, NPT is taking steps to enhance its ability to support donors’ philanthropic goals. Their diverse backgrounds underscore NPT’s commitment to fostering innovation and expertise in the philanthropic sector as it continues to shape the future of giving. For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN .

Programmers, Do You Get Window-Switch Whiplash? Google’s New Code Assist Aims to Help

With state elections over, Indian stock market heads for stabilityVanquishing Bears, Thanksgiving losing streak tops Lions' holiday listIf you want to make a cinephile cringe, “digital face replacement” is the phrase that pays. “Digital de-aging” and “deepfake” will do the trick, too. While theoretically just the latest addition to the filmmaker’s toolkit, it’s proven to enable some of Hollywood’s ugliest and most cowardly instincts. In an industry already averse to risk and change, digital de-aging and the more dehumanizing practice of outright replacing an unknown actor’s face with a familiar one allows media corporations to lean more than ever on the cheap high of nostalgia. Of course, any illusion — cinematic or otherwise — is only as good as the magicians creating it. If their intent is merely to dazzle you for a hot second, then it’s just a magic trick. With loftier goals and an artistic hand, a visual effect can be profoundly moving. Improbably, this year’s best argument for the value of digital face replacement in cinema came from a big-budget Star Trek fan film. 765874: Unification is a 10-minute short produced by effects studio OTOY and The Roddenberry Archive, an online museum founded by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s son Rod. It follows Captain James T. Kirk after his death in 1994’s Star Trek: Generations , navigating an abstract afterlife and crossing barriers of time and reality to comfort his dying friend, an aged Spock in the image of the late Leonard Nimoy. The role of James T. Kirk is portrayed by William Shatner — but also, it isn’t. It’s actually actor Sam Witwer, wearing a digital prosthetic of Shatner’s face circa 1994. This latest generation of digital mask renders in real time, allowing the actor to rehearse in front of a monitor and perfect his performance as he would with a physical makeup effect. Witwer’s work absolutely pays off. On first viewing, practically any viewer would reasonably assume that the actor on screen is a de-aged William Shatner. Without seeing it for yourself, you could be forgiven for dismissing Unification as easily as the late Harold Ramis’ cheap, ghostly cameo in Ghostbusters: Afterlife . The difference, however, is in the execution of this story as well as in its purpose. The climax of Ghostbusters: Afterlife sees a digitally resurrected Ramis effectively passing the Proton Pack to a new generation, offering a tacit endorsement of a commercial product that the actor never saw. It’s a mechanically engineered tearjerking moment amid a hollow exercise in nostalgia, a sweaty effort to invest a new generation in Ghostbusters — not the raunchy snobs-versus-slobs comedy, mind you, but the toy line it inspired. By contrast, Unification is a noncommercial work about putting the past to rest, and saying goodbye to two beloved figures: not Kirk and Spock, but Shatner and Nimoy. Related: The evolution of Spock, from a scrapped Star Trek pilot to Discovery Kirk and Spock, after all, live on, recast twice already on film and television. But this film wouldn’t work if the roles were played by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto , or Paul Wesley and Ethan Peck , because it’s not really about Kirk visiting Spock on his deathbed. It’s about the 93-year-old Shatner — who also produced the short along with Nimoy’s widow, Susan Bay Nimoy — facing his own death through the lens of his most famous character and finding comfort in the notion that he may be reuniting with the man he once called “brother.” It helps that this is a noncommercial work, but what really makes Unification outstanding is Sam Witwer’s performance. Director Carlos Baena composes something that is somehow both art film and tech demo, hiding the weaknesses of the VFX while trusting Witwer/Shatner’s face and Michael Giacchino’s original score to tell the story. Like most new technologies, digital makeup hit the market well before the kinks were worked out. Mass audiences got their first obvious look at the process in 2006, when the eerily smoothed-out faces of Sirs Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen stepped into frame in the prologue of X-Men: The Last Stand . In order to make the two actors, then in their 60s, appear 20 years younger, the production enlisted the VFX house Lola to apply a process that they’d previously employed to “perfect” the skin of pop stars in music videos. The results on the screen were infamously uncanny, but Lola co-founder Greg Strause nevertheless predicted that this work would cause a “fundamental shift” in cinema. “Writers have stayed away from flashbacks because directors don’t like casting other people,” Strause told Computer Graphics World at the time. “This could break open a fresh wave of ideas that had been off-limits.” On the one hand, Strause was correct in that digital de-aging enabled storytellers — particularly those working in genres with a higher threshold for suspended disbelief like science fiction or comedy — to expand the utility of certain actors in flashback. This became one of Marvel Studios’ favorite moves, letting Baby Boomer actors like Michael Douglas or Kurt Russell play 30 or 40 years younger for a few scenes, or Samuel L. Jackson for an entire film. The practice escaped the confines of genre cinema, adopted by Martin Scorsese for a few shots in 2006’s The Departed before the auteur went all in with 2019’s The Irishman , which used a new effects methodology innovated by Pablo Helman and ILM. No longer the specialty of one effects house, digital de-aging has become an industry in itself, with different studios offering different methods on a variety of scales and budgets. It’s everywhere now, from Avatar to The Righteous Gemstones . In theory, there’s nothing evil about a digital prosthetic. It’s simply another storytelling tool, like practical makeup. Like any visual effect, it works best when you don’t notice it. (If you’d never seen Willem Dafoe before Spider-Man: No Way Home , you’d have no idea he’d been de-aged 19 years ; the same can’t be said for Alfred Molina.) However, digital de-aging and face replacement are used more often as features to be appreciated than as effects to be disguised. At the moment, it’s a gimmick, a generous sprinkle of movie magic that makes something impossible — like 58-year-old Nicolas Cage getting a sloppy kiss from 28-year-old Nicolas Cage — possible. Digital face or head replacement can be used to a unique and interesting effect that preserves the integrity of an actor’s performance, allowing for stories that, as Strause predicted, might not have worked otherwise. The family drama in Tron: Legacy between Jeff Bridges’ aged Kevin Flynn, his estranged biological son Sam (Garrett Hedlund), and his “perfect” digital clone Clu is uniquely compelling in a way that probably would not click if Bridges was not also playing Clu via a process that digitally scanned his performance and rendered a virtual younger Bridges over the on-set performance of John Reardon, who in turn repeated all of Bridges’ takes to complete the illusion. What makes this sticky is this may be the first time you’ve heard of John Reardon, a working actor in Canada who figures heavily in a big-budget Disney feature but whose face never appears and whose voice is never heard and whose name is way down at the bottom of the acting credits. He’s listed as the “performance double” for Clu and Young Kevin Flynn. In this particular case, Reardon’s obscured role in the film is somewhat justified, as his performance mimicked Bridges’ takes as closely as possible and it’s Bridges who’s wearing a rig on his head and driving Clu’s CGI face. Stunt actors and stand-ins don’t share billing with the principals they’re doubling, and it could be argued that Reardon’s job on Tron: Legacy was not so different. But as studios — particularly Disney — double down on making each of their intellectual properties a living, everlasting document with an unbroken continuity, the use of digital masks represents a deeply troubling future where the person who’s performing a role is never the star. This industry villain wears the face of one of Hollywood’s most beloved heroes, Luke Skywalker . In 2020, when a young Luke made a surprise cameo appearance in the second season finale of The Mandalorian , one could easily imagine a media frenzy over Lucasfilm casting a new live-action Luke Skywalker for the first time . Instead, actor Max Lloyd-Jones was buried in the credits as “double for Jedi,” while Mark Hamill, whose face was superimposed onto his but who does not actually appear, received his own title card. When Luke reappeared in The Book of Boba Fett the following year, this time with a full speaking role, a different actor, Graham Hamilton, served as his “double.” In addition to replacing Hamilton’s face — a dead ringer for young Hamill — Luke’s dialogue was created using machine learning to mimic Hamill’s voice circa 1982. Next time Luke appears in a live-action Star Wars work as a digital phantom, he will no doubt be played by another disposable actor whose career will barely benefit, while the Disney-owned intellectual property that is Luke Skywalker remains a household name. Of course, we’ll also never know whether or not Max Lloyd-Jones or Graham Hamilton have the chops to succeed Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker because, in both of Young Luke’s television appearances, he does as little as possible, since the digital mask looks less convincing the more “Luke” speaks or emotes. Neither actor got the chance to do anything with the character to demonstrate either their own spin or even the perfect mimicry that Star Wars obsessives would no doubt prefer. The irony here is that, as is the case with practical makeup effects or full-body performance capture, the only thing that can really sell digital de-aging or full face replacement is great acting. 2024 saw Robert Zemeckis, a filmmaker who is constantly pushing the limits of technology to indulge his bizarre storytelling whims, hinge an entire film on digital de-aging , casting Tom Hanks and Robin Wright to play high school sweethearts all the way through to old age in his new feature Here . Beyond the novelty of the gimmick, avoiding recasting characters at different ages helps to keep Here ’s unconventional narrative legible as it bounces back and forth between decades and centuries. Here is a hokey and heavy-handed affair, but the digital effects never feel as if they’re a hindrance to their performances. Their digital masks, created using deepfakes from the hundreds of hours of footage available from their long careers, are among the best the big screen has seen so far. But the actors are also physically selling their characters’ different ages the way that stage and film actors have been doing for generations. It’s imperfect, but it’s sincere and informed by all the tiny decisions that actors make about their characters and their off-screen lives while preparing for a role. It’s that same element that made Andy Serkis’ performance as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings a watershed moment in cinema, and that continues to make the rebooted Planet of the Apes franchise exciting even after his departure. This year’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes , like its Serkis-led predecessors, shines not for its incredibly rendered sentient ape effects but for the way those effects disappear into the characters they represent. Peter Macon may not get recognized on the street for his voice and mo-cap performance as the endearing orangutan philosopher Raka, but there’s no debating whose performance it is. Contrast this against one of the year’s most widely criticized special effects: the late Ian Holm’s ill-advised cameo as the decapitated android Rook in Alien: Romulus . Director Fede Álvarez made an effort to avoid the digital uncanny valley by commissioning an animatronic Rook made from a cast of Ian Holm’s head (with the permission of Holm’s family), but a layer of VFX was added overtop of it that actually compounded the problem. It’s hard to say which was more distracting — the effect, or the mere presence of the Holmunculus itself. The narrative doesn’t require Rook to resemble an established character; it was simply an Easter egg turned rotten , an expensive effect that failed where an actor would have done just fine. Like so many filmmakers before who’ve whiffed on ambitious special effects, Álvarez and company may simply have succumbed to the temptation to use a cool new filmmaking toy. This impulse, if indulged, ends up hurting not only their respective films but the reputation of the technology as a whole. In an interview with TrekCulture about 765874: Unification , Sam Witwer was quick to push back against the notion that the short’s transformative digital makeup process would spread like wildfire — not despite his involvement in its development, but because of it. “It will grow so long as it’s done well. You’ll recall that when Jurassic Park came out, people were pretty high on CGI, because it was impeccably done. Then it got into the hands of people who didn’t do it as well, and ‘CGI’ was a bad word for a while. It’s all about the artists. In the case of OTOY, they trusted that an actor was an integral part of that team.” There is a great deal of well-justified anxiety in the art world over the general public’s apparent indifference about whether a piece of “content” is created by people or by artificial intelligence. The ability to enter a prompt into a piece of software and have it generate infinite variations on something you already like has widespread appeal, but it’s also incredibly shallow. 765874: Unification is, superficially, the kind of story a Trekkie might try to generate via AI, a “fix-it fic” starring two actors who no longer exist as we remember them. But there’s nothing you can type into a machine that is ever going to result in a film like this. For as much as Unification is a weird, lyrical jumble of deeply obscure Star Trek lore, it’s also a minor cinematic miracle. If something like this can exist and bring a tear to the eye of the most jaded, critical viewer, then the technology behind it doesn’t have to represent a creative doomsday. Employed with purpose and human emotion and performance behind it, it can create something unique and beautiful. Entertainment Movies Opinion Sci-fi Star Trek TV

Okunbo canvasses support for Art as a tool for social cohesionThe Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) has partnered with Umm Salal SC to roll out an initiative fostering a sustainable ecosystem in Qatar. Eyeing further garden protection across the country in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, the co-operation initiative was sealed by the MoECC's Assistant Undersecretary for Protection and Natural Reserves Affairs Dr Ibrahim Abdul Latif al- Maslamani and HE Umm Salal SC Vice-President Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie and HE Umm Salal SC President Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman al-Thani attended the signing. Reflecting both sides' adherence to further joint efforts to promote sustainability, the move envisions strategic objectives including garden fencing to avert encroachment, native flora planting to battle desertification along with societal awareness-raising and volunteering campaigns. Dr al-Maslamani said the move would consolidate national garden protection efforts, highlighting the MoECC's initiatives to preserve the environment and protect biodiversity. He added the MoECC would provide all needed facilities to support the initiative, including technical expertise and awareness-raising programs. Meanwhile, HE Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani hailed co-operation with the MoECC as part of the Qatari club's social responsibility and active involvement in national environment protection efforts. Highlighting the close connection between sports and ecology, he stressed the need for athletes to cope with the environment conservation, and avoid sustainability-harming practices. Related Story Environment ministry launches updated Air Quality Platform on its website MoECC studies diverse ecosystems at Khor Al Adaid

(Reuters) - Companies ranging from finance majors to Silicon Valley behemoths are pledging donations to Donald Trump's inaugural fund as business leaders rush to ensure a favorable relationship with the U.S. president-elect after his November election win. Trump is set to take office in January and executives are hoping a positive rapport with his administration, such as the one Tesla boss Elon Musk has established, could mean notable benefits for their companies. Below is a list of companies that are contributing funds for Trump's inauguration for his second term in the White House. UBER TECHNOLOGIES Uber Technologies and its CEO Dara Khosrowshahi donated $1 million each, a company spokesperson told Reuters. AMAZON.COM Amazon is donating $1 million. The company will also air the inauguration event on its Prime Video service, an Amazon spokesperson said. META PLATFORMS Meta Platforms has donated $1 million, a company spokesperson told Reuters. OPENAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a personal donation of $1 million to the inaugural fund, an OpenAI spokesperson confirmed. "President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead," Altman said in a statement. BANK OF AMERICA AND GOLDMAN SACHS Bank of America, the second-largest U.S. lender, and investment bank Goldman Sachs plan to contribute to Trump's inaugural committees, but have yet to decide on the amount, spokespersons for each bank said. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh, Deborah Sophia and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet approved a temporary U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement Tuesday that will put a pause to the fighting with Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. On Tuesday, Scripps News spoke with former U.N. Ambassador and former National Security Adviser John Bolton about the agreement and its implications. Bolton said he didn't believe the agreement would cause long-lasting changes in the conflict. "The duration of the cease-fire is 60 days, meaning that it takes the government of Israel out of the Biden administration, into the Trump administration, where they expect to have a more favorable audience," Bolton said. "The provisions of the cease-fire agreement do allow Israel to take military action during this 60-day period if Hezbollah tries to infiltrate back into southern Lebanon, which I think is very highly likely." RELATED STORY | Israel's Netanyahu voices support for ceasefire deal with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon "There's some optics here, there's some American politics involved, because Netanyahu and the Israelis fear that the Biden administration may do something negative on their way out the door," Bolton told Scripps News. "I think it's a temporary accommodation and one that's really very shaky, even from the beginning." It’s not clear if the ceasefire will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which is a separate conflict. Also in the interview, Bolton spoke about the possibility of new North American tariffs under the incoming Trump administration, as well as the national security implications of some of President-elect Trump's cabinet nominations. Watch the full interview with Bolton in the attached video.

MLB report on arm injury epidemic finds a multilayered problem with few easy fixesNone