fortune gems download What's Happening: Week of Dec. 9, 2024Walmart is pulling back on some initiatives for diversity, equity and inclusion, known as DEI. NEW YORK - In June of 2020, as protesters spilled into the streets after the murder of George Floyd, Walmart’s chief executive officer, Doug McMillon, promised action. In a blog post, he said that “slavery, lynching, the concept of separate but equal... have morphed into a set of systems today that are all too often, unjust” and promised to address systemic racism by establishing a Centre for Racial Equity that would give out US$100 million (S$134.8 million) in grants over five years. He also pledged to make changes within the company and “actively shape our culture to be more inclusive.” Four and a half years later, Walmart is sending a different message, pulling back on some of those initiatives for diversity, equity and inclusion, known as DEI. As a result of the changes, the company will stop sharing data with the Human Rights Campaign, a non-profit that tracks corporate LGBTQ+ policies. Third-party merchants will no longer be able to sell some LGBTQ-themed items, such as chest binders, on Walmart.com that could be marketed to children. It will no longer use the terms DEI and Latinx in official communications. And Walmart will not renew the Centre for Racial Equity when the agreement expires in 2025. Mr Robby Starbuck, an anti-DEI activist and a social media influencer, declared the changes a victory on Nov 25. In a post on social media, Mr Starbuck said that he had told executives at the company that he was working on a story about “wokeness” at Walmart, but that instead the two sides had “productive conversations” to make changes “before Christmas when shoppers have very few large retail brands they can spend money with who aren’t pushing woke policies.” A spokesperson for Walmart confirmed the changes. Many companies are concerned about the threat of litigation targeting DEI programs after a 2023 Supreme Court decision striking down race-conscious college admissions. At NYU School of Law, the Meltzer Centre has been hosting a quarterly webinar for employers helping them to understand which DEI programs are legally safe. Diversity experts note that while companies worry about the social and cultural backlash they are facing, they also have to juggle concerns about their workforce. For Black workers, said Ms Adia Harvey Wingfield, a sociologist at Washington University, pulling back from diversity policies “reinforces the message that they don’t belong.” THE NEW YORK TIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now

Lindsey is a Seattle area writer interested in all things society, including internet culture, politics, and mental health. Outside of the Daily Dot, her work can be found in publications such as The Mary Sue, Truthout, and YES! Magazine.Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys: Free live stream, ManningCast, Simpson broadcastUS indictment accuses two Syrian officials of torture at notorious prison

Australia's proposal to ban under-16s from social media platforms is "rushed", social media companies claimed Tuesday, expressing "serious concerns" about potential unintended consequences. The landmark legislation would force social media firms to prevent young teens from accessing their platforms or face fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million). Platforms such as X, Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta have criticised the 24-hour time frame given for stakeholder comments, claiming a lack of consultation and inadequate details about how the legislation would work. X said in its submission that it had "serious concerns" the ban would have "a negative impact" on children, adding it breached their "rights to freedom of expression and access to information". The company added that the proposed law was "vague" and "highly problematic" and that there was "no evidence" that it would work. Australia is among the vanguard of nations trying to clean up social media, and the proposed age limit would be among the world's strictest measures aimed at children. The proposed laws, which were presented to parliament last week, would also include robust privacy provisions that require tech platforms to delete any age-verification information collected. The government is trying to approve the law this week, before parliament breaks for the rest of the year. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said in its submission the ban would "fail" in its current form because there was not enough consultation with stakeholders. "More time should be taken to get this bill right," it said. TikTok raised concerns over the privacy provisions -- including that they overlapped and contradicted other legislation -- and the limited time to consult stakeholders. "Its rushed passage poses a serious risk of further unintended consequences," the company's submission said. Key details about how social media companies are expected to enforce the ban remain unclear. Some companies will be granted exemptions from the ban, such as YouTube, which teenagers may need to use for school work or other reasons. Once celebrated as a means of staying connected and informed, social media platforms have been tarnished by cyberbullying, the spread of illegal content, and election-meddling claims. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted Tuesday that "social media is causing social harm". "It can be a weapon for bullies, a platform for peer pressure, a driver of anxiety, a vehicle for scammers and, worst of all, a tool for online predators," he wrote in an opinion piece. "And because it is young Australians who are most engaged with this technology -- it is young Australians who are most at risk." The laws would give families "peace of mind" that their children's well-being and mental health were being prioritised, he said. If the proposed law passes, tech platforms would be given a one-year grace period to figure out how to implement and enforce the ban. The proposal comes just months before Australians go to the polls in a general election that must be held in the first half of 2025. lec/arb/foxCANCUN, Mexico (AP) — Darryl Simmons II scored 19 points to help Gardner-Webb defeat SE Louisiana 73-69 on Tuesday. Simmons shot 7 for 13 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line for the Runnin' Bulldogs (3-3). Pharell Boyogueno scored 15 points while going 6 of 13 (3 for 7 from 3-point range) and added seven rebounds and four steals. Anthony Selden shot 6 of 10 from the field and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 15 points. Jeremy Elyzee led the Lions (2-4) in scoring, finishing with 22 points, three steals and two blocks. Sam Hines Jr. added 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. Jakevion Buckley finished with 11 points, four assists and three steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .NOTE: Late games between Daniel Boone and Providence Academy and Chuckey-Doak versus David Crockett were still in progress at press time. Recaps of those games can be seen online at johnsoncitypress.com and timesnews.net or in the next editions of the Johnson City Press and Kingsport Times News. Clinton was able to keep the pressure on University High on Tuesday afternoon. Pressing throughout four quarters, the Dragons defeated the Bucs 64-40 in the opening boys’ game of the 35th annual Hardee’s Classic basketball tournament at David Crockett High School. It was the strategy which University High coach Herman Rice and staff figured the Dragons (2-1) would employ. But, it proved too much for the Bucs (1-2) to overcome. Clinton led 19-12 after one quarter and 34-22 at halftime. “Their intensity was the way a basketball team should play and we didn’t meet the challenge,” Herman Rice said. “The disappointing thing is our senior group has played in the state tournament and they’ve seen presses. Nothing against Clinton, but we’ve seen presses like that and had no trouble with them. I was shocked we didn’t handle it well.” Bryson Maddux led the bigger and stronger Clinton team with 19 points. Carson Richardson reached double figures with 10 points. Ben Tackett netted nine points and Braylon Hayden was next with eight points. Brady Weems was the leading scorer for University High with 13 points and Andrew Cole finished with 10 points. Knox Poston ended with eight points. Rice played his reserves extensively and was pleased what he saw out of them. Cash Paysinger had just four points, but impacted the game with his tough play and battling inside for rebounds. “We were really impressed with the second group,” Rice said. “That’s the kind of effort we have to have from everybody. Cash took five charges. He will sacrifice his body and will do anything you ask him for the team.” South Greene 62, Cocke County 53 The defending tournament champion Rebels began their defense of their title with the victory over the Fighting Cocks. South Greene led 35-24 at the half before Cocke County cut the lead to four to start the third quarter. The Rebels pushed the lead to 48-38 at the end of three quarters and led by double digits for most of the second half. Chandler Gamble led South Greene with 21 points. Jase Roderick posted 15 for the Rebels and Gavin Dyer tallied a dozen. Kyler Hayes paced Cocke County with 11 points. Maddox Holt, Ethan Fine and Spencer Moore Jr. each scored 10.

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NoneWhy Is Anyone Surprised Trump Is Serious About Using Tariffs? President-elect Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he would impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico and Canada through an executive order that he would sign on January 20, the day he is scheduled to take the presidential oath of office. Art of the Deal! Trump Threatens Mexico and Canada with Tariffs; Guest John Carney Trump’s post caught many people by surprise, which is itself surprising. Trump has been very clear that he plans to use tariffs as a tool to pursue U.S. geopolitical interests . He does not look at tariffs as simply a “protectionist” policy to defend critical U.S. industries. Instead, he sees tariffs and access to U.S. markets as leverage to win cooperation from our trading partners and economic rivals. Here’s the post in full: As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before. Right now a Caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its quest to come through our currently Open Border. On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price! The Wall Street Journal described this as “the clearest indication since his election victory that he plans to follow through on the tough campaign rhetoric that helped propel him to the White House.” It’s hard to imagine why anyone needed that to be made clear, but the immediate reaction to Trump’s Truth Social post made it clear that sending that signal was actually necessary. The Tariffs Threat Is Trump’s Opening Gambit The Truth Social announcement not only threatened tariffs; it also laid out the path away from tariffs. If Mexico and Canada cooperate with the U.S. government under Trump’s leadership in securing our border from fentanyl and illegal migration , they will maintain their current access to U.S. markets. This is an example of what Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent has described as escalating to de-escalate. It is Trump’s opening gambit in three-party negotiations over the shape of trade, border, and drug policies. The fact that the announcement of this policy came so early—two months before Trump’s inauguration—means that Trump is giving Mexico and Canada plenty of time to submit their counter-offers and reform their own policies to comply with the incoming administration’s goals. Trump’s ask is hardly onerous. Neither Mexico nor Canada has a strong self-interest in resisting U.S. border control or facilitating the fentanyl trade. Both have an extremely strong self-interest in maintaining their access to U.S. consumers. As Sara Eisen of CNBC pointed out , 77 percent of Canada’s exports and 83 percent of Mexico’s go to the United States . Mexico’s exports to the U.S. add up to nearly one-quarter of its gross domestic product. The initial reaction to Trump’s message from Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum is being viewed as a threat of retaliation if the U.S. imposes tariffs. “The phenomenon of migration or the consumption of drugs in the United States will not be dealt with by threats or with tariffs,” Sheinbaum wrote in a letter to Trump on Tuesday, which she read out at her daily press conference. “One tariff will come in response to another, and so on until we put shared companies at risk.” This is likely posturing for the domestic Mexican audience rather than a sign that Mexico will not negotiate with the Trump administration. But it may also be a test of Trump’s resolve. Trump may have to raise tariffs in order to show Sheinbaum that he really means business. Ultimately, however, we expect that Mexico and Canada will agree to terms that will allow them to avoid anything on the scale of 25 percent tariffs. The cost of doing otherwise to their economies would be too high.