Day 257 of the #foodtalk on LeoThis is the #threadcast for , 8/3/2025. It's time for some meal inspirations and food conversation. Don't forget to use #foodtalk in your comments.
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Day 257. Share your food content and food experiences with homemade foods and store-bought or restaurant foods. Welcome friends to today's episode of the #foodtalk on Leo,
¿En qué consistió ese evento playero? ¿Fueron actividades deportivas entre usuarios de Hive? ¿Y/o también para dar a conocer a Hive e INLEO al público en general?
Regulation is one of the most important factors when it comes to establishing the US as the "crypto capital" of the world. Having the strategic reserve is just one piece...and a small one at that.
Absolutely, balancing robust regulations with innovation is key to a thriving ecosystem. The new guidelines might pave the way for more predictable and secure market dynamics for everyone involved
Regulation, in this instance, will allow established companies to enter, especially when it comes to stablecoins. I expect hundreds of firms to create their own stablecoin once legislation is passed and the rules are clear.
That's a great point. Streamlined rules often provide the clarity that businesses need, spurring adoption and increasing trust in the market, which in turn can lead to a more resilient ecosystem
We are going to see, in my opinion, a hybrid situation. Traditional companies will enter crypto in a centralized manner. Stablecoins will likely be legal under US law based upon having the backing of US Treasuries.
A hybrid model seems likely. With established companies entering, the backing of US Treasuries could boost trust, while regulation clarity remains crucial for both centralized and decentralized players to thrive
It comes off as rather questionable—reviving tokens that were already burned? 😅
"An L1 blockchain issued by a major cryptography firm is planning to reintroduce 70 billion burned tokens into a strategic reserve custody wallet, thereby
Integrating crypto tech could indeed add both creativity and robust verification to our threads. It might pave the way for more secure and engaging interactions on the platform
Judge Amir Ali holds dual citizenship. His confirmation, decided by a 50‑49 vote after the election, led to his current actions interrupting the President’s efforts to restrict questionable spending.
He was confirmed 50‑49 after the election and is now halting the President from reducing fraudulent spending. He must face impeachment and further investigation."
It's an interesting angle. While his Canadian background is significant, the dual citizenship remains a key part of his story. The close 50‑49 vote shows there's more nuance to the matter worth discussing further
The vote doesn't grant Trump a straight removal tool, but it does highlight the broader political and legal complexities behind Judge Ali's dual-citizenship status and roles, which could shape future challenges and decisions
OF Jurickson Profar was removed from today’s game with a jammed left wrist. Initial X-rays were negative, and he is set to undergo further testing at a time yet to be determined. - Atlanta Braves
Acuna's health and a few others may be a problem for the Braves this season but I never count them out. They still have a few guys who can still hurt folks. Of course, I haven't been this confident rolling into Atlanta with the current Mets lineup in years.
Step 3: Build or choose an AI model
For portfolio management, a reinforcement learning model might be most appropriate. The AI will learn and adapt its actions based on rewards or penalties. This allows the agent to optimize the portfolio over time by evaluating the performance of different assets and adjusting allocations accordingly.
What the model does: The AI learns from past portfolio performance and current market conditions to suggest the optimal mix of assets.
The AI will monitor market fluctuations, adjusting asset allocation by moving funds into stablecoins during high volatility or switching into high-yield opportunities when market conditions are favorable.
Step 5: Integrate AI with the DeFi platform
Use a blockchain interaction library like web3.js or ethers.js to connect your AI with the DeFi protocols. This allows the AI to send transactions to DeFi platforms like Uniswap or SushiSwap to swap tokens, Aave for lending/borrowing or Compound for yield farming.
The AI could determine that a particular stablecoin pool offers the best yield and instructs the smart contract to swap a portion of your crypto holdings for the stablecoin and stake it in the pool.
While interest in AI-related crypto projects has surged, much of the AI agent niche remains speculative. Although some projects address practical challenges, the rapid development of Chinese AI models also adds competitive pressure that may lead to a sell-off among crypto AI projects, according to Sygnum Bank.
Additionally, while AI enhances security, it also introduces new risks. If not properly secured, AI systems can become targets for malicious actors. Moreover, flaws in algorithms could be exploited, making security a top priority for any AI-powered DeFi platform.
The regulatory environment of AI in DeFi is still nascent. Regulators and governments are concerned about algorithmic bias, data privacy and accountability. Resolving these concerns is crucial for AI to be implemented in DeFi on a large scale.
“They strong-armed banks into closing crypto businesses and entrepreneurs effectively blocking money transfers to and from exchanges, and they weaponized the government against the entire industry,” Trump said.
“But I know that feeling also, maybe better than you do; all that will soon be over.”
Many crypto firms turned to stablecoins to finance their operations after losing their business accounts at traditional banking institutions during the debanking operation.
On Jan 16, Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis sent a letter to the FDIC, claiming that whistleblowers informed her that the agency allegedly destroyed documents related to Operation Chokepoint 2.0.
“If it is uncovered that you or your staff have knowingly destroyed materials or sought to obstruct the oversight functions of the Senate, I will make swift criminal referrals to the US Department of Justice,” she said at the time.
Republicans argued that the largely Democratic state shouldn’t get a blank check for aid and suggested changes to water and forest management could all be on the table as conditions to funding.
Ric Grenell, President Trump’s envoy for special missions and a California resident, told Politico last month that he was all for attaching strings to disaster aid.
Still, the California lawmakers argued that “just as the federal government has come to the aid of communities impacted by wildfires across the western United States, tornadoes in the Midwest, ice storms in Texas or hurricanes in the Southeast, we should once again support the recovery of the impacted families, businesses and communities in Los Angeles County.
“Therefore, we urge you to ensure Los Angeles County has the resources it needs to recover and rebuild in an upcoming disaster relief bill.”
All of Maryland’s “Crab Five” starting lineup scored in double-digits, including 17 from Ja’Kobi Gillespie, 11 each from Rodney Rice and Selton Miguel, and a 10-point and 10-rebound double-double from Derik Queen. It was Queen’s 12th of the season and seventh in his last eight games.
“I like how solid we’re playing,” Reese said. “We battled adversity early in the season, like I said, we were 1-3, and just staying together like we did. We had a tough stretch. Michigan State had the buzzer beater against us. We stayed together, though. We just, we just stayed a team and stayed a family. That’s what I like most.”
Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli led all scorers with 28 points and seven rebounds. The Big Ten’s second-leading scorer, Martinelli notched 16 in the first half, nearly reaching his average (19.9) by halftime. Ty Berry added 10 as the only other Wildcat in double figures. Northwestern (16-15, 7-13) will still likely clear the bar to get in to the conference tournament barring other results.
“I hope we get a chance to play. It’s not guaranteed,” Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. “I told our guys, you know, we needed to win, to control our own destiny, get to Indianapolis. I think we can compete. I think we’re playing well.”
Maryland got off to a slow start, turning the ball over six times in the first eight minutes. Northwestern capitalized, with Martinelli leading the way in the midrange department, scoring six for an early 15-10 lead.
“I can’t describe him, so don’t ask me to,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “The guy is just an incredible player, and when you are one of one in this league, with the tremendous history of this league, that says a lot. There’s a lot of good players in this league, but Nikola, in my opinion, is just in a class all by himself.”
His fast start to overtime lifted the Nuggets after they had blown a 21-point lead. He had five points, five assists and three rebounds in the extra period, playing nearly 45 minutes overall.
He made a 4-foot turnaround to begin overtime, fed Jamal Murray for two baskets and assisted on a dunk and layup by Christian Braun in a 13-second span.
Lee has turned his cheating into a business. His company, Interview Coder, markets itself as a service that helps software developers cheat during job interviews. The internship offers that he landed are the proof he uses to show that his technology works.
AI assistants for virtual interviews can provide written code, make code improvements, and generate detailed explanations of results that candidates can read. The AI tools all work quickly, which is helpful for timed interviews.
Hiring managers are venting their frustrations on social media over the rise of AI cheaters, saying that those who get caught are eliminated from contention. Interviewers say they're exhausted from having to discern whether candidates are using their own skills or relying on AI.
Henry Kirk, a software developer and co-founder of Studio.init in New York, said this type of cheating used to be easy to catch.
"But now it's harder to detect," said Kirk. He said the technology has gotten smart enough to present the answers in a place that doesn't require users to move their eyes.
"The eye movement used to be the biggest giveaway," Kirk said.
Interview Coder's website says its virtual interview tool is immune to screen detection features that are available to companies on services such as Zoom and Google Meet. Lee markets his product as being webcam-proof.
When Kirk hosted a virtual coding challenge for an engineering job he was looking to fill in June, 700 people applied, he said. Kirk recorded the process of the first interview round. He was looking to see if any candidates were cheating in ways that included using results from large language models.
Back to the Googleplex
It's become a big topic at Google, and one Pichai addressed in February at an internal town hall meeting, where executives read questions and comments that were submitted by employees and summarized by AI, according to an audio recording that was reviewed by CNBC.
One question asked of management was, "Can we get onsite job interviews back?"
"There are many email threads about this topic," the question said. "If budget is constraint, can we get the candidates to an office or environment we can control?"
Pichai turned to Brian Ong, Google's vice president of recruiting, who was joining through a virtual livestream.
Ong said it's also an issue "all of our other competitor companies are looking at."
A Google spokesperson declined to comment beyond what was said at the meeting.
Other companies have already shifted their hiring practices to account for AI cheating.
Deloitte reinstated in-person interviews for its U.K. graduate program, according to a September report.
Anthropic, the maker of AI chatbot Claude, issued new guidance in its job applications in February, asking candidates not to use AI assistants during the hiring process.
"While we encourage people to use AI systems during their role to help them work faster and more effectively, please do not use AI assistants during the application process," the new policy says. "We want to understand your personal interest in Anthropic without mediation through an AI system, and we also want to evaluate your non-AI-assisted communication skills. Please indicate 'Yes' if you have read and agree."
The inflow of Chinese capital into Musk's business empire is primarily profit-driven and has little to do with technology transfer or influencing public policy, the people told the FT.
SpaceX, xAI and Neuralink did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Musk has long had contact with senior Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping.
Musk's electric vehicle (EV) company Tesla makes its Model 3 and Model Y cars in China and also exports its China-made EVs to markets including Europe, where sales plunged 45% in January.
Apart from Tesla, some of Musk's other ventures, including SpaceX and the social media platform X, which is banned in China, are viewed by Beijing as security risks.
At a summit in Brussels on Thursday, EU leaders backed plans to spend more on defense amid fears that Russia, emboldened by its war in Ukraine, may attack an EU country next and that Europe can no longer rely on the U.S. to come to its aid.
Merz's tougher stance on security and migration reflects a changing political landscape, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has surged to become the country's second-largest party.
Germany's plans to tighten migration laws did not clash with pan-European migration rules to be introduced by Brussels, Merz said.
"We want European solidarity...but Germany also naturally has a right to defend its own security and order," he said.
Merz has said he wants to form a coalition by Easter, which falls on April 20 this year.
CPI for February is expected to have climbed 0.3%, according to a Reuters poll. The inflation report will be among the last key pieces of data before the Fed next meets on March 18-19. While the central bank is expected to hold its benchmark rate steady at 4.25%-4.5% at that meeting, Fed funds futures indicate about 70 more basis points of easing are expected through December of this year, according to LSEG data.
"Equities would not enjoy a hot CPI print because... it softens that Fed easing view that has been starting to build in the market," said John Velis, Americas macro strategist at BNY. Investors are also increasingly concerned about "stagflation" - slowing growth and rising inflation that is feared to be a toxic combination for a broad range of assets.
An elevated CPI report could "bring the 'S-word' into play," Velis said.
Market unease is also rising. The Cboe Volatility index jumped this week and was around its highest level since late last year.
"Volatility is here to stay for a while because we do not have economic and trade policy certainty," said Irene Tunkel, chief U.S. equity strategist at BCA Research.
Homan has long argued tipping off Immigration and Custom's Enforcement operations potentially endangers federal law enforcement because those criminal illegals – some of which could be a part of the Tren de Aragua Venezuelan gang – could arm up against operations.
"We have identified two leakers of information here at the Department of Homeland Security who have been telling individuals about our operations and putting law enforcement lives in jeopardy," Noem said in a video posted Friday to X. "We plan to prosecute these two individuals and hold them accountable for what they've done."
NBC's sources did not know if the lie detector is how the leakers were caught, but there have been employees given the polygraph tests in multiple agencies within DHS, according to the report.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Saudi Arabia over March 10-12 for talks with Ukrainian counterparts, a statement from the U.S. Department of State said.Rubio will also have a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the statement from...
Zelenskyy has dropped his demand for security guarantees as an add-on to the minerals deal, finding his demands were not going to fly with President Donald Trump as they had for years with former President Joe Biden.
"I think a lot of the people in his country were upset with the way that was handled – certainly we all were – but we've got to get him back to the table," Johnson added to host John Catsimatidis.
Trump-backers arguing for the minerals deal say it would provide de facto security for Ukraine instead of direct military pledges, since American interests would be cemented in the country between the NATO front of Poland and Vladimir Putin's Russia.
Notably, Trump has called Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections," but did not push the Ukraine leader to restore democratic elections in his war-torn country.
Both may spark a fleeting period of growth, yet each inevitably leads to lasting ruin, serving only those with opportunistic political or economic aims. #EconomicInsight #HistoricalWisdom
“I told them, ‘you’re one-and-done, you lose this game, the season’s over,’” Pitino said. “That’s the way you gotta play to prepare for March Madness. You don’t just show up in March and say, ‘OK, this is what we are going to do.’ You prepare for it now, you prepare for it at the Big East Tournament. They did a fabulous job, just a tough-ass team. Toughness like you can’t believe.”
In typical St. John’s fashion, the players were critical of their miscues and looking ahead to the next challenge.
They were happy, but not satisfied, a hallmark of this team.
Ejiofor and Luis felt the Red Storm struggled in containing Marquette off the dribble, a point of emphasis entering the game.
“We’re going to go back, we’re going to fix those little mistakes,” Luis said, “and we’re going to get ready for the Big East Tournament, because we want to win that, too.”
Missouri Wins $24B COVID-19 Judgment Against China
Missouri won a $24 billion lawsuit against China on Friday for its role in the COVID-19 pandemic after none of its defendants appeared in court.
Missouri won a $24 billion lawsuit against China on Friday for its role in the COVID-19 pandemic after none of its defendants appeared in court.
U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. ordered China to pay Missouri $24,488,825,457 "at a rate of 3.91 percent, compounded annually."
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey told the Daily Caller it was "no surprise" the Chinese Communist Party didn't appear in court and instead dispatched "proxy organizations" to litigate, "like the Chinese Society of Private International Law rather than appearing in court to answer for their actions."
He said he was protesting "police repression and state violence."
He filmed his climb, which led to the cancellation of tours of Parliament and the closure of the Westminster Bridge.
About three hours after the man reached a ledge on the tower, three emergency personnel were lifted up on an aerial ladder platform to speak with him.
The negotiations continued with no sign of the man agreeing to come down 10 hours later, when Big Ben chimed after nightfall at 21:00 GMT, or 4 p.m. ET.
The man's climb began when he entered the grounds of Parliament and walked up some stairs. He then climbed onto a railing and started scaling Elizabeth Tower.
The climber took his shoes off at one point so he could go higher on the tower, and authorities said he injured his feet, with pools of blood being seen on the tower's stonework.
Nauta was indicted alongside Trump for allegedly violating the Espionage Act and related offenses linked to classified documents stored at the president's Mar-a-Lago estate. The case against Trump was dismissed in July, and an appellate court dropped the charges against Nauta, Trump's personal aide, and property manager Carlos De Oliveira last month.
Trump had pledged to pardon Nauta and De Oliveira if they were convicted.
The president's legal team has included attorney Stanley Woodward, who represented Trump's co-defendants in the classified documents case before joining the White House legal team in January.
Nauta's appointment follows Trump's decision to fire members of the Boards of Visitors for all four major U.S. military service academies, citing concerns over "woke ideology." These boards oversee student life and institutional policies at the academies.
“I am issuing a State of Emergency as Suffolk County fights brush fires in the Pine Barrens. I have spoken to @ExecEdRomaine and offered any necessary State resources. We have @NationalGuardNY helicopters providing air support, and multiple state agencies are on the ground,” Hochul posted on X Saturday evening.
"This is still out of control at this moment. The winds are just wreaking havoc," Hochul told News 12 out of Long Island. The governor confirmed that "one or two homes" have already been destroyed in the fire "with others that are in the way." According to Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine, over 70 fire departments are now battling the fires.
The Times said the action by X to scrub fake accounts is part of an ongoing effort to stamp out illegitimate platform activity. “We take reports like these very seriously, and continue to action millions of accounts per week for platform manipulation and spam violations,” said Dave Heinzinger, X’s head of media strategy, in an email to Epoch Times.
The Times did not say when it began its investigation into the matter. It said results of its findings were sent to X and the platform then began its review of the suspected bot network. Most of the accounts were subsequently taken down by X over the past several weeks. The Times also reported that at least one U.S.-based media outlet had some of its stories promoted by the connected fake accounts.
Cohen's firing came just 18 hours after Blanche released a memo that Cohen had helped him draft which announced that the task force he led would be playing a new leading role in combating illegal immigration, as part of an initiative dubbed "Operation Take Back America."
"It was a shock," Cohen wrote of his firing on LinkedIn, noting he had been meeting regularly with leadership to discuss violent crime initiatives.
"Putting bad guys in jail was as apolitical as it gets," he wrote. "My personal politics were never relevant. Not until yesterday."
Cohen's firing is one of the latest examples of the Trump administration removing or sidelining career Justice Department officials, who typically keep their positions across presidential administrations.
A third prosecutor, Alex Kristofcak, was also placed on leave in response to comments he made on social media, the email said.
In those comments, Kristofcak criticized Washington, D.C.'s interim U.S. attorney, Ed Martin, after he warned Georgetown University Law School that he would not hire its students unless the school removed diversity, equity and inclusion from its curriculum.
"This is a grotesque abuse of power," Kristofcak wrote of Martin.
"I am so sorry for my colleagues in DC who have this thug of a boss."
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York declined to comment.
Other career department officials were also fired Friday, including pardon attorney Liz Oyer and Bobak Talebian, who oversaw the handling of Freedom of Information Act requests.
The effect of hardware scaling solutions extends far beyond Ethereum itself. TradFi players are exploring blockchain-based cross-border payments, which demand real-time processing. With scalability issues inherited from the home layer, L2s alone cannot scale effectively to cater to the sheer TradFi demand. Cross-border transactions hit $190.1 trillion in 2023 and are only expected to grow in 2025, indicating one thing: Hardware acceleration is indispensable in incentivizing institutional adoption of blockchain.
Beyond finance, hardware optimization enhances blockchain utility across industries, accelerating mainstream adoption. A noteworthy example is healthcare, where accelerated blockchain infrastructure could improve the security and privacy of patient data. For gaming industries that rely on dynamic interactions, blockchain networks can help deliver real-time responses to user actions.
The time to invest in hardware is now
Ethereum has relied heavily on L2s to scale, but they remain temporary solutions that fail to meet the network’s fundamental operational demands. Hardware solutions are now non-negotiable for Ethereum to retain its position as a leader in blockchain innovation. From enabling seamless TradFi integrations to supporting real-time interactions in gaming and healthcare, purpose-built hardware resolves the root inefficiencies of Ethereum’s infrastructure. Without decisive investment in hardware acceleration, Ethereum risks stagnating while competitors rise.
Ethereum doesn’t need another short-term patch. It requires a lasting solution. The next wave of blockchain adoption demands an infrastructure that can support it, which means investing in hardware now.
"Higher car prices combined with higher interest rates have driven monthly payments upward and have put pressure on consumers across the income and credit score spectrum," the New York Fed wrote.
Meanwhile, the cost of purchasing a new vehicle has climbed significantly in recent years. According to Cox Automotive, the average price of a new car has risen from approximately $38,000 in January 2020 to more than $48,500 in January 2025, an increase of over $10,000. In the midst of the Biden administration, financing costs surged, with the average monthly payment for a new car loan reaching $795 in December 2022. By January, average monthly financing costs dipped to $755. However, they still remain high above the $566 monthly payment in 2019.
President Donald Trump's tariffs on auto imports for Canada and Mexico, which include a 25% levy on vehicles and parts, went into effect on Tuesday.
“I have never seen anybody drunk on the floor. I don’t think anybody drinks around the floor. I knew a couple of guys that might have had a drink, but the guys I knew that had a drink, they never showed it. They could hold their liquor well,” Cohen told Politico.
Added Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., “Maybe I’m not in that club because I don’t drink.
There was no immediate comment from the White House, which on Wednesday made the surprise confirmation of direct U.S. talks with Hamas.
Over the past week, Israel has pressed Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in return for an extension of the first phase, which ended last weekend, and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Hamas is believed to have 24 living hostages and the bodies of 34 others.
Israel last weekend cut off all supplies to Gaza and its more than 2 million people as it pressed Hamas to agree. The militant group has said that the move would affect the remaining hostages as well.
The ceasefire has paused the deadliest and most destructive fighting ever between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The first phase allowed the return of 25 living hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The foreign ministers gathered in Saudi Arabia for a special session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to address the situation in Gaza. The OIC has 57 nations with largely Muslim populations.
They supported a plan to rebuild Gaza put forward by Egypt and backed by Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Without mentioning Trump, the ministers' statement said that they rejected "plans aimed at displacing the Palestinian people individually or collectively ... as ethnic cleansing, a grave violation of international law and a crime against humanity."
They also condemned "policies of starvation" they said aim to push Palestinians to leave, a reference to Israel's cutting off all supplies to Gaza.
Trump has called for Gaza’s population to be resettled elsewhere permanently, so that the United States can take over the territory and develop it for others. Palestinians have rejected calls to leave.
Trump's administration aims to pay for an American shipbuilding comeback with help from potentially hefty port fees on Chinese-built vessels as well as ships from fleets with China-made vessels, according to a draft executive order seen by Reuters on Thursday.
The heads of four major labor unions in mid-February called on Trump to boost American shipbuilding and enforce tariffs and other “strong penalties” against China for its increasing dominance in that sphere.
The letter notes China manufactured more than 1,000 ocean-going vessels in 2023, while the United States made fewer than 10 ships. It adds that the Chinese shipbuilding industry received more than $100 billion in government support from 2010 to 2018, such that Chinese shipyards accounted for the majority of worldwide orders last year.
But he condemned "brutal" deadly strikes on eastern Ukraine, saying they proved that Russia was "not thinking about how to end the war."
Trump on Friday threatened new sanctions and tariffs against Russia over its bombardment of Ukraine.
The three-year-long war is now at a critical juncture for Kyiv after Trump suspended military aid following his public falling-out with Zelenskyy last week.
Ukraine still controls some 150 square miles in the Kursk region after launching an offensive last August. Zelenskyy sees this as a possible bargaining chip in peace talks.
But Ukraine's troops in Kursk have seen their position worsen in recent weeks with Russia's army pushing back.
Senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials are set to meet for talks on the war in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Zelenskyy will also visit Monday for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
For the U.S., Witkoff has said he wants to discuss an "initial ceasefire" with Russia and a "framework" for a longer agreement.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine would be represented by officials including Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
In his evening address, he told Ukrainians he was "confident that the meeting will be productive."
Zelenskyy also urged allies to "increase sanctions against Russia" after heavy overnight bombardment in the east and northeast.
A Russian barrage hit the centre of Dobropillia in the eastern Donetsk region late Friday, killing 11 people and wounding 40, according to the emergency services.
Most economists say that Trump's plans to slap tariffs on a wide array of imports, including 25% duties on goods from Canada and Mexico that he partially delayed Thursday, will push up prices and slow growth. But many also expect that tax cuts and deregulation could boost the economy.
Powell said the economy remains mostly healthy despite “elevated uncertainty.” He characterized Friday's jobs report, which showed employers added 151,000 jobs and the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.1%, as in line with the “solid” gains of the past six months.
He also noted that there were signs consumer spending has slowed compared with the healthy gains in the second half of last year, and said surveys of consumers and businesses “point to heightened uncertainty about the economic outlook.”
After cutting its key rate three times last year to about 4.3%, Powell indicated in January that the Fed would pause any further cuts amid signs that inflation has remained stuck above its target. The central bank's preferred inflation gauge shows that prices rose 2.5% in January compared with a year ago. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.6%, the smallest increase since June.
Technology is the second worst-performing S&P 500 sector year-to-date with about an 8% loss, after consumer discretionary stocks which have tumbled just over 9%.
Hedge funds were caught in crowded trades that sold off leaving those which pick stocks with a 1% average return on the year so far, said the Goldman Sachs note sent to clients on Thursday and seen by Reuters on Friday. U.S. stock pickers finished down 1.4% on Thursday, taking their yearly performance to negative 0.5% for 2025, so far, the note said.
Hedge funds that employ different kinds of trading strategies also had "a challenging day," said the Goldman note. This kind of hedge fund which for the last three years has produced consistently positive returns has this year lost money 18 out of 29 days since January 27, said Goldman.
El Salvador struck a deal with the IMF in December 2024 for a $1.4 billion loan from the organization. As part of that deal, the government of El Salvador agreed to rescind the status of BTC as legal tender in the country and scale back public sector involvement with Bitcoin.
El Salvador continues stacking despite IMF pressure
El Salvador's Congress amended its Bitcoin laws in January 2025 to comply with the IMF loan agreement. Lawmakers repealed the previous version of the law in a 55-2 vote.
Despite the repeal, the government continued stacking Bitcoin, purchasing two BTC in a single day on Feb. 1 and continuing its daily accumulation of the digital currency.
On March 3, the IMF issued a new request pressuring El Salvador to stop accumulating BTC and stipulated that the country could not issue debt or tokenized securities tied to Bitcoin.
During a recent appearance on the All In Podcast, host Jason Calacanis proposed charging a 0.01% tax on every cryptocurrency transaction, which would be denominated in the asset that is transferred, bought or sold. Sacks responded:
“That’s always how taxes start. They are described as being very modest. You know, when the income tax started, it only applied to like a thousand Americans, and the legislators swore up and down that it would never be applied to middle-class people.”
“I don’t particularly like the idea of new taxes, even if it is promised that they won’t affect people very much. That sounds burdensome to me,” Sacks continued.
“Women tend to build more diverse portfolios and focus on long-term wealth creation rather than chasing short-term gains,” according to Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget cryptocurrency exchange:
“This measured approach is exactly what the crypto ecosystem needs — investors who understand technological fundamentals and look beyond market noise.”
Women and men’s average holding period per asset type Source: Bitpanda
“Women typically adopt a ‘sit on their hands’ investment style,” with less trading frequency than men, Chen said, citing a Charles Stanley study:
“While men made 13 trades annually on average, women executed only 9. This patience and strategic thinking translates beautifully to crypto markets, where emotional reactions to volatility often lead to losses.”
We’re “not chasing overnight gains” or “FOMO-driven decisions”
The majority of women prefer Bitcoin, but not necessarily due to risk aversion alone.
“This approach often stems from thorough research and strategic patience,” according to Mary Pedler, founder of INPUT Comms blockchain and tech-focused communications agency.
“Many women I’ve worked and communicated with do deep research before investing and seldom make FOMO-driven decisions,” she told Cointelegraph, adding:
“When we invest in Bitcoin, it’s after understanding its fundamental value proposition — we’re not chasing overnight gains; we’re building generational wealth.”
Coinbase has requested that the FDIC provide details in court on how it conducted “due diligence” to ensure no documentation related to the event was destroyed. However, the agency “repeatedly refused to do so,” Grewal said.
His comments come a day after the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) eased its stance on how banks can engage with crypto just hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to end the prolonged crackdown restricting crypto firms’ access to banking services.
Trump’s remarks were made during the White House Crypto Summit, where he told industry leaders he was “ending Operation Chokepoint 2.0.”
Grewal added that his team requested that the FDIC give a “sworn testimony” to the court.
On March 4, Coinbase also submitted a FOIA request to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to find out how many investigations and enforcement actions were brought against crypto firms between April 17, 2021, and Jan. 20, 2025.
Imagine a world where trading is no longer limited to human financial knowledge and capacities. In this world, machines don’t just execute trades but also adapt and continuously optimize strategies on their own. This isn’t the distant future; it’s the reality emerging in decentralized finance (DeFi) today, thanks to AI agents.
AI agents are self-operating software programs that can make decisions independently, without human interaction. They use machine learning algorithms to refine their processes and adapt continuously.
In traditional finance, AI has already transformed trading, risk management and customer service. In DeFi, where trust is built on code, not intermediaries, AI has opened new avenues for autonomy, transparency and effectiveness.
AI agents often work through smart contracts, which are like self-executing agreements that run automatically when conditions are met. There is no need to trust an intermediary; everything is handled by code, making transactions safe and automatic. Here’s how it works:
Predefined rules: The AI agent interacts with a smart contract containing predefined conditions (e.g., “buy Bitcoin if the price drops to $40,000”).
Real-time data analysis: The AI continuously monitors market conditions, user preferences or risk factors and feeds this data into the smart contract.
Automatic execution: When the conditions are met, the smart contract executes the transaction instantly, whether it’s a trade, loan adjustment, or portfolio rebalancing.
For example, an AI-powered trading agent might execute complex multi-step trades, taking advantage of price differences between various DEXs and ensuring that opportunities are not missed.
AI agents for risk management
Risk management in the risky DeFi world can be daunting, but AI agents can help manage it. With the ability to continuously monitor market volatility, liquidity, and borrower credit risk, AI agents provide a more accurate and real-time risk assessment than traditional systems.
In DeFi lending, for example, AI agents examine a borrower’s history on various platforms and offer customized collateral and loan terms based on real-time inputs.
Furthermore, AI agents can monitor smart contracts to detect vulnerabilities before they are exploitedexploiting them, ensuring the platform’s security.
AI agents for yield farming and staking
As yield farming and staking pools can be highly lucrative, constant monitoring of gas fees, rewards, and interest rates for optimization is required. AI agents are adept at determining the most profitable pools to stake or farm tokens, switching strategies on the fly to compound returns. They can ensure that your assets always work for you, even when you are not actively controlling them.
AI agents as personalized financial assistants
By acting as personalized financial assistants, AI agents can help users navigate the complexities of DeFi. They can suggest the best investment opportunities, provide portfolio advice and help users optimize their assets while saving costs — without requiring in-depth crypto knowledge.
Step 2: Choose the data
Your AI agent will need market data to make informed decisions. For portfolio management, the data includes:
Price: Real-time and historical data of various cryptocurrencies.
Market conditions: Volatility, liquidity, market trends, etc.
DeFi opportunities: Information about yield farming, staking and lending rates.
Risk metrics: Data on market risk and volatility levels.
Use APIs like CoinGecko or CoinMarketCapto to fetch real-time price and market data. Get information on available yield opportunities from Yearn.finance or Aave.
Step 4: Develop smart contracts for automation
To implement portfolio rebalancing and other tasks autonomously, write smart contracts to handle actions like swapping assets, staking or yield farming based on the AI’s recommendations.
What the smart contract does: The smart contract will handle transactions like moving assets between wallets, rebalancing portfolios, staking tokens or withdrawing funds from yield farming pools.
So, write a Solidity smart contract that automatically moves your holdings based on the AI’s instructions. For example, if the AI detects that your portfolio has too much ETH and insufficient BTC, the smart contract will automatically swap some Ether for Bitcoin.
Drawbacks of AI agents
While AI agents in the crypto space are gaining traction, much of the current excitement remains speculative. Researchers caution that many AI agent projects have yet to prove their utility beyond hype.
One of the biggest concerns is their reliance on real-time, high-fidelity data. Errors or data manipulation can lead to unintended decisions with serious financial consequences.
Mike Cahill from the Pyth Network highlights that AI agents require ultra-low-latency price updates, ideally sourced directly from first-party providers like exchanges, to reduce risks from outdated or manipulated data.
OCC’s new guidance will “reduce the burden” on banks
The OCC confirmed in a document titled Interpretive Letter 1183 that OCC-supervised financial institutions no longer need “supervisory nonobjection” to engage with crypto-related activities.
“Today’s action will reduce the burden on banks to engage in crypto-related activities and ensure that these bank activities are treated consistently by the OCC,” Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney E. Hood said.
It comes just hours after Trump told a room full of crypto executives at the White House Crypto Summit that he is “ending Operation Chokepoint 2.0.”
“Some people really suffered, it was ridiculous what they were doing. In the end, they came around, but they came around for the wrong reasons, only because they wanted votes,” Trump said.
Operation Chokepoint 2.0 “strong-armed banks”
Operation Chokepoint 2.0 widely impacted the industry in multiple countries and was a significant pain point for industry advocacy groups during the 2024 US election.
Their letter did not mention California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request for $40 billion in disaster aid from Congress. That came last month and would divide the money into several pots, including $16.8 billion in public assistance funding, $9.9 billion for house and business repairs, $9.61 billion in business loans and grants and $2 billion in low-income housing tax credits.
Nor does the delegation’s letter mention the previous proposals of conditioning wildfire aid, which Democratic lawmakers have rebuked.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, has said more guardrails should be attached to disaster aid after passing a $100 billion aid package late last year.
The Baltimore native endured a coaching change just weeks into his freshman season in 2021, but stayed in College Park and endeared himself to Willard. Reese put his name into the pantheon of Maryland greats in the process and is likely, according to his coach, “maybe one of the last guys to ever spend four years” in a Terrapin uniform.
“My freshman year there was a coaching change,” Reese said. “It wasn’t really a good season. Willard came in second year. We had a little dominant season, my first year getting in the [NCAA] tournament. And then junior year had a mediocre regular season. And now for us to do what we’re doing now is special, and it just means a lot going out like that.”
With the win and No. 12 Wisconsin’s loss to Penn State on Saturday, Maryland guaranteed a top three finish in the Big Ten and a double bye in next week’s conference tournament in Indianapolis. The Terrapins (24-7 overall, 14-6 Big Ten) will have six days off before playing Friday night as the second or third seed in the tournament based on the result of Sunday’s game between No. 17 Michigan and No. 8 Michigan State.
“We have not been good coming off byes … I was going to go have a beer. Now I’m going to switch to whiskey,” Willard joked. “So I think, you know, we’re going to take, technically, two days off, but it won’t be a full two days. It’ll be like a day and a half.”
“He’s not a good matchup for anybody,” Willard said. “That kid’s a warrior. That kid is, if he could ever improve his outside shot just a little bit, he’s unstoppable.”
Reese had eight of Maryland’s first 10 points, while frontcourt mate Queen was held off the score sheet for the first 15 minutes. The star freshman was frustrated enough after earning a foul call on a baseline drive to throw the ball at a Northwestern player, instead earning himself a technical foul.
The foul midway through the half actually helped turn things in the Terrapins favor. Maryland rallied with an 8-0 run courtesy of Reese and Gillespie to surge back and take a 20-19 lead while holding Northwestern to 1-of-9 shooting.
A track meet broke out in the waning moments of the half, with Maryland making six of its final nine shots, Queen scoring 8 points in the final five minutes, and Maryland holding a 32-29 lead at the break despite 11 first half turnovers and an eventual season-high 18.
“It’s not supposed go that way,” Jokic said. “I was talking to (Aaron Gordon) and he said to me, ‘That was a quiet 30 points.’ I didn’t do anything special, just seemed like everyone was in flow.”
Jokic tied his franchise record with his 29th triple-double of the season, and he reached it just 1:20 into the second half with his 10th rebound. He was approaching the triple-double early, finishing the first quarter with 10 points, six assists and six rebounds and had 13, nine and eight at halftime.
The 30-year-old from Serbia is averaging a triple-double with 19 games left in the season. His 28.9 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.6 assists per game all rank in the top three in the NBA.
“He’s just one of a kind,” Braun said. “You’ll never see something like this ever again – ever. You’ll never see a player that does the things he does night in and night out.”
Jokic’s previous high in assists was 19, which happened Feb. 24 at Indiana. He surpassed that on Michael Porter Jr.’s dunk that gave Denver a 139-130 lead with 1:18 left.
Jokic has 149 career triple-doubles and Friday was the seventh time this season he has had at least 15 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists. That tied Oscar Robertson for the most in one season. His 22 assists are the most by a center in a game but he is far short of Scott Skiles’ NBA record of 30, a mark he isn’t concerned about.
The 30-year-old is expected to become one of the top players on the market when free agency opens next week.
He anchored Washington’s defensive front after the team drafted him in the first round in 2017. An Ashburn native, Allen stayed close to home to start his professional career. The Commanders’ practice facility is just a few miles from Stone Bridge High School, where he was named the Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2012.
Allen leaves Washington with 42 career sacks, fifth most in franchise history.
For the first time in 15 years, a man awaiting the death penalty in the United States has been executed by a shooting squad. Brad Sigmon was convicted of killing his girlfriend's parents.
Fees help cover operational costs, incentivize participation, and secure the network. The evolving fee model aims for balance, ensuring sustainability while building a robust system for everyone involved
Crypto isn’t just a market—it’s a movement. The ones who stay, build, and believe will reap the biggest rewards. Stay ahead, stay strong, and embrace the future!
Emerging markets are at the forefront of adopting blockchain technology, whereas several countries across Europe, East Asia, and the Americas remain more cautious. Nevertheless, these regions recognize blockchain as a significant part of
Always remember to do your own research and consider all perspectives. Questioning your beliefs is important, and maintaining a relaxed approach is essential. Rigid conviction can lead to unhealthy outcomes, so make it a point to assess
things based on their merits whenever possible. Comprehending the investments is key, and it's wise not to risk everything, which has been emphasized from the
The current price movements of $CACAO and impermanent loss have diminished any potential profits for liquidity providers. Furthermore, it's worth noting how synthetic assets and arbitrage players impact the liquidity pools.
Bonding does come with security concerns, since node operators often secure amounts exceeding what they have locked. This presents a centralization risk, shifting node operators from invested participants to mere service providers.
So chat says ‘ignore the market, X crypto is the new standard!’ Cool, but standards need mass adoption, affordability, and… you know, people wanting it? No pressure, chat. Just sayin’. 💡 #CryptoStandards #ThinkAboutIt #Crypto #inleo
WELCOME TO THE FOOD TALK ON LEO SEASON 3
Hello foodie Lions 🦁! Happy Saturday. Welcome to today's show. 🥗🍲🫕
Day 257 of the #foodtalk on LeoThis is the #threadcast for , 8/3/2025. It's time for some meal inspirations and food conversation. Don't forget to use #foodtalk in your comments.
Discussion
More about food with tips and tricks will be dropped in the threadcast. Upvote the comments you find interesting & connect with others. Let's have fun.
#foodie
Day 257. Share your food content and food experiences with homemade foods and store-bought or restaurant foods.
Welcome friends to today's episode of the #foodtalk on Leo,
Blackstone Products - Europe- Fried Tacos with Creamy Avocado Sauce.
#foodtalk #friedtaco #taco #avocadosauce #creamyavocado!summarize
Blackstone Products - Europe- How to Make Shrimp Fried Rice.
#foodtalk #ShrimpFriedRice #FriedRice #rice!summarize
Blackstone Products - Europe- How to Make Buttermilk Pancakes.
#foodtalk #pancakes #buttermilk #recipes!summarize
What food can you easily whip up in a short time? #foodtalk #food
Blackstone Products - Europe- Quick and Easy Breakfast Burrito.
#foodtalk #burrito #breakfast #recipes #Breakfast!summarize
#foodtalk
https://inleo.io/threads/view/moretea/re-leothreads-9nlkiegr?referral=moretea
by @manuelramosYa vamos a dar inicio a este 1° evento playero aquí en Playa Manaure! #SWC¡Abrazos desde El Salvador, hermanos Hiveanos!
¿En qué consistió ese evento playero? ¿Fueron actividades deportivas entre usuarios de Hive? ¿Y/o también para dar a conocer a Hive e INLEO al público en general?
BREAKING: 🇺🇸 The Trump-era administration announces plans to "rescind and amend" all earlier IRS guidelines on cryptocurrency.
Regulation is one of the most important factors when it comes to establishing the US as the "crypto capital" of the world. Having the strategic reserve is just one piece...and a small one at that.
Absolutely, balancing robust regulations with innovation is key to a thriving ecosystem. The new guidelines might pave the way for more predictable and secure market dynamics for everyone involved
Regulation, in this instance, will allow established companies to enter, especially when it comes to stablecoins. I expect hundreds of firms to create their own stablecoin once legislation is passed and the rules are clear.
That's a great point. Streamlined rules often provide the clarity that businesses need, spurring adoption and increasing trust in the market, which in turn can lead to a more resilient ecosystem
We are going to see, in my opinion, a hybrid situation. Traditional companies will enter crypto in a centralized manner. Stablecoins will likely be legal under US law based upon having the backing of US Treasuries.
A hybrid model seems likely. With established companies entering, the backing of US Treasuries could boost trust, while regulation clarity remains crucial for both centralized and decentralized players to thrive
Just filled up my fav GTA Vice City sedan, the Sentinel, in its most sporty version, the XS.
This is a customised Sentinel XS.
#hive #gaming #cent #inleo
Have a nice #caturday all
#cat #photo #animals
UPDATE: 🇨🇭 Switzerland's state-owned bank, PostFinance AG, has initiated staking services for Ethereum. #Crypto #EthereumStaking
That is a rather big move. It seems like banks are starting to filter in with regards to the #crypto services they offer.
🇵🇪 The Inca Empire at it's peak, stretched a length of 5,230 km (3,250 miles), that's more than the distance between New York and San Francisco.
partido del viernes
An engaging discussion over coffee with Scott Adams on January 11, 2025. #CoffeeChat #ScottAdams
Hoy crearon una publicación para su blog?
It comes off as rather questionable—reviving tokens that were already burned? 😅
"An L1 blockchain issued by a major cryptography firm is planning to reintroduce 70 billion burned tokens into a strategic reserve custody wallet, thereby
restoring the total supply back to the original 100 billion.
The tokens will be released over a 10-year period, with linear monthly vesting."
#Tokenomics #CryptoAnalysis
“Ravens are re-signing LT Ronnie Stanley to a three-year, $60 million deal.” - Adam Schefter
#nfl
Dude better stay healthy this time. Ravens throwing $60M at him and I just hope he actually plays a full season. Protect Lamar at all costs
A Ravens lifer for sure.
No application quite compares to 𝕏. #Unique #Innovation
We can try to make threads along those lines. With #crypto, we can actually offer more.
Integrating crypto tech could indeed add both creativity and robust verification to our threads. It might pave the way for more secure and engaging interactions on the platform
1/🧵
Here, I discuss my passion for Agricultural Technology/Extension.
#threadstorm #outreach
2/🧵
Also discuss how it connects people, and helps innovation to drive growth, how it transforms, and its impact.
3/🧵
Would you love to read more? Kindly do well to visit..: #gosh
https://inleo.io/@marsdave/extension-transforming-agriculture-how-agriculture-became-my-passion--cur
Judge Amir Ali holds dual citizenship. His confirmation, decided by a 50‑49 vote after the election, led to his current actions interrupting the President’s efforts to restrict questionable spending.
"Judge Amir Ali is a dual citizen.
He was confirmed 50‑49 after the election and is now halting the President from reducing fraudulent spending. He must face impeachment and further investigation."
#Accountability #Oversight
He is a Canadian first.
It's an interesting angle. While his Canadian background is significant, the dual citizenship remains a key part of his story. The close 50‑49 vote shows there's more nuance to the matter worth discussing further
I think Trump cannot remove him directly. So, does the vote affect anything relating to his stature?
The vote doesn't grant Trump a straight removal tool, but it does highlight the broader political and legal complexities behind Judge Ali's dual-citizenship status and roles, which could shape future challenges and decisions
OF Jurickson Profar was removed from today’s game with a jammed left wrist. Initial X-rays were negative, and he is set to undergo further testing at a time yet to be determined. - Atlanta Braves
#mlb
I always feared him in the Padres lineup.
I wanted him in the Mets lineup. He was out there for the taking for a while before the Braves signed him.
He's trouble in any good line up but I don't feel the Braves this year unless the Mets and Dodgers are injury plagued in the 2nd half.
Acuna's health and a few others may be a problem for the Braves this season but I never count them out. They still have a few guys who can still hurt folks. Of course, I haven't been this confident rolling into Atlanta with the current Mets lineup in years.
This development might signal a major step forward in the fight against pancreatic cancer.
However, lasting concerns from the COVID mRNA vaccine initiative may mean that additional efforts are needed to build trust in mRNA technology.
" #mRNAvaccines for #PancreaticCancer (PDAC) PART4
Published today in a leading journal
🧵👇🏽
[1/23]"
There is a belief that $SUI has the potential to increase by 50 times.
2025 Saturday Savers Club Update: Week 10
Link to post in comments
#bbh #cent
https://ecency.com/hive-146620/@logen9f/2025-saturday-savers-club-update
Global Fertility Rate:
1954: 5.01
2024: 2.31
According to Statista
The world needs another baby boom! The young need to get crackin'!
Anyone know of other #splinterland rental platforms to automate renting besides peak monsters since I gotta pay there it looks like.
Pepito was having fun this afternoon playing in the grass 🐶 🌾
Looking cool man!!
Is it your dog?
Yes
That's nice
It looks like Pepito has a wig.
Is 3speak down again.? My Leoshorts aren't showing up.
Ethereum struggles to gain momentum even after a strategic reserve announcement… 🤦♂️ #crypto #blockchain
BREAKING: $215M wiped from the cryptocurrency market in the last hour. #Crypto #MarketUpdate
Data silo filling up
!summarize #diddy #crime #jasonwhitlock
Step 3: Build or choose an AI model
For portfolio management, a reinforcement learning model might be most appropriate. The AI will learn and adapt its actions based on rewards or penalties. This allows the agent to optimize the portfolio over time by evaluating the performance of different assets and adjusting allocations accordingly.
What the model does: The AI learns from past portfolio performance and current market conditions to suggest the optimal mix of assets.
The AI will monitor market fluctuations, adjusting asset allocation by moving funds into stablecoins during high volatility or switching into high-yield opportunities when market conditions are favorable.
Step 5: Integrate AI with the DeFi platform
Use a blockchain interaction library like web3.js or ethers.js to connect your AI with the DeFi protocols. This allows the AI to send transactions to DeFi platforms like Uniswap or SushiSwap to swap tokens, Aave for lending/borrowing or Compound for yield farming.
The AI could determine that a particular stablecoin pool offers the best yield and instructs the smart contract to swap a portion of your crypto holdings for the stablecoin and stake it in the pool.
While interest in AI-related crypto projects has surged, much of the AI agent niche remains speculative. Although some projects address practical challenges, the rapid development of Chinese AI models also adds competitive pressure that may lead to a sell-off among crypto AI projects, according to Sygnum Bank.
Additionally, while AI enhances security, it also introduces new risks. If not properly secured, AI systems can become targets for malicious actors. Moreover, flaws in algorithms could be exploited, making security a top priority for any AI-powered DeFi platform.
The regulatory environment of AI in DeFi is still nascent. Regulators and governments are concerned about algorithmic bias, data privacy and accountability. Resolving these concerns is crucial for AI to be implemented in DeFi on a large scale.
!summarize #sassoons #history #family
“They strong-armed banks into closing crypto businesses and entrepreneurs effectively blocking money transfers to and from exchanges, and they weaponized the government against the entire industry,” Trump said.
“But I know that feeling also, maybe better than you do; all that will soon be over.”
Many crypto firms turned to stablecoins to finance their operations after losing their business accounts at traditional banking institutions during the debanking operation.
!summarize #eltonjohn #music
On Jan 16, Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis sent a letter to the FDIC, claiming that whistleblowers informed her that the agency allegedly destroyed documents related to Operation Chokepoint 2.0.
“If it is uncovered that you or your staff have knowingly destroyed materials or sought to obstruct the oversight functions of the Senate, I will make swift criminal referrals to the US Department of Justice,” she said at the time.
Republicans argued that the largely Democratic state shouldn’t get a blank check for aid and suggested changes to water and forest management could all be on the table as conditions to funding.
Ric Grenell, President Trump’s envoy for special missions and a California resident, told Politico last month that he was all for attaching strings to disaster aid.
Still, the California lawmakers argued that “just as the federal government has come to the aid of communities impacted by wildfires across the western United States, tornadoes in the Midwest, ice storms in Texas or hurricanes in the Southeast, we should once again support the recovery of the impacted families, businesses and communities in Los Angeles County.
“Therefore, we urge you to ensure Los Angeles County has the resources it needs to recover and rebuild in an upcoming disaster relief bill.”
!summarize #williamholden #death #hollywood #actor
All of Maryland’s “Crab Five” starting lineup scored in double-digits, including 17 from Ja’Kobi Gillespie, 11 each from Rodney Rice and Selton Miguel, and a 10-point and 10-rebound double-double from Derik Queen. It was Queen’s 12th of the season and seventh in his last eight games.
“I like how solid we’re playing,” Reese said. “We battled adversity early in the season, like I said, we were 1-3, and just staying together like we did. We had a tough stretch. Michigan State had the buzzer beater against us. We stayed together, though. We just, we just stayed a team and stayed a family. That’s what I like most.”
!summarize #innout #restaurant #food #business
Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli led all scorers with 28 points and seven rebounds. The Big Ten’s second-leading scorer, Martinelli notched 16 in the first half, nearly reaching his average (19.9) by halftime. Ty Berry added 10 as the only other Wildcat in double figures. Northwestern (16-15, 7-13) will still likely clear the bar to get in to the conference tournament barring other results.
“I hope we get a chance to play. It’s not guaranteed,” Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. “I told our guys, you know, we needed to win, to control our own destiny, get to Indianapolis. I think we can compete. I think we’re playing well.”
Maryland got off to a slow start, turning the ball over six times in the first eight minutes. Northwestern capitalized, with Martinelli leading the way in the midrange department, scoring six for an early 15-10 lead.
!summarize #gstaad #switzerland #billiionaires #wealth
“I can’t describe him, so don’t ask me to,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “The guy is just an incredible player, and when you are one of one in this league, with the tremendous history of this league, that says a lot. There’s a lot of good players in this league, but Nikola, in my opinion, is just in a class all by himself.”
His fast start to overtime lifted the Nuggets after they had blown a 21-point lead. He had five points, five assists and three rebounds in the extra period, playing nearly 45 minutes overall.
He made a 4-foot turnaround to begin overtime, fed Jamal Murray for two baskets and assisted on a dunk and layup by Christian Braun in a 13-second span.
!summarize #israel #warships #france #military #history
!summarize #zelenskyy #uk #ukraine
!summarize #tariffs #trump #corruption #weaponization #education #irs
!summarize #elonmusk #media #doge #corruption
!summarize #propertytaxes #florida #bankruptcy #realestate
!summarize #divorce #relationships
!summarize #relationships #men #droppingout #society
But engineers aren't slowing down.
Lee has turned his cheating into a business. His company, Interview Coder, markets itself as a service that helps software developers cheat during job interviews. The internship offers that he landed are the proof he uses to show that his technology works.
AI assistants for virtual interviews can provide written code, make code improvements, and generate detailed explanations of results that candidates can read. The AI tools all work quickly, which is helpful for timed interviews.
Hiring managers are venting their frustrations on social media over the rise of AI cheaters, saying that those who get caught are eliminated from contention. Interviewers say they're exhausted from having to discern whether candidates are using their own skills or relying on AI.
!summarize #saas #salesforce #margins #ai
!summarize #tomhanks #hollywood #megynkelly #oscars
!summarize #trisspeaker #mlb #baseball #thegreyeagle #doubles
!summarize #startups #investing
!summarize #divorce #meghanmarkle #princeharry #divorce #marriage
Henry Kirk, a software developer and co-founder of Studio.init in New York, said this type of cheating used to be easy to catch.
"But now it's harder to detect," said Kirk. He said the technology has gotten smart enough to present the answers in a place that doesn't require users to move their eyes.
"The eye movement used to be the biggest giveaway," Kirk said.
Interview Coder's website says its virtual interview tool is immune to screen detection features that are available to companies on services such as Zoom and Google Meet. Lee markets his product as being webcam-proof.
When Kirk hosted a virtual coding challenge for an engineering job he was looking to fill in June, 700 people applied, he said. Kirk recorded the process of the first interview round. He was looking to see if any candidates were cheating in ways that included using results from large language models.
Back to the Googleplex
It's become a big topic at Google, and one Pichai addressed in February at an internal town hall meeting, where executives read questions and comments that were submitted by employees and summarized by AI, according to an audio recording that was reviewed by CNBC.
One question asked of management was, "Can we get onsite job interviews back?"
"There are many email threads about this topic," the question said. "If budget is constraint, can we get the candidates to an office or environment we can control?"
Pichai turned to Brian Ong, Google's vice president of recruiting, who was joining through a virtual livestream.
Ong said it's also an issue "all of our other competitor companies are looking at."
A Google spokesperson declined to comment beyond what was said at the meeting.
Other companies have already shifted their hiring practices to account for AI cheating.
Deloitte reinstated in-person interviews for its U.K. graduate program, according to a September report.
Anthropic, the maker of AI chatbot Claude, issued new guidance in its job applications in February, asking candidates not to use AI assistants during the hiring process.
"While we encourage people to use AI systems during their role to help them work faster and more effectively, please do not use AI assistants during the application process," the new policy says. "We want to understand your personal interest in Anthropic without mediation through an AI system, and we also want to evaluate your non-AI-assisted communication skills. Please indicate 'Yes' if you have read and agree."
"This partnership boosts the number of buyers and sellers," said Enberg. "It could also solve some of Marketplace's trust issues."
While Facebook doesn't charge listing fees, it does take a 10% cut of sales made through its shipping service, according to Facebook's Help Center.
Marketplace isn't a major direct revenue source, but it keeps users engaged.
"It's one of the least monetized parts of Facebook," said Enberg. "But it brings in engagement, which advertisers value."
Meta relies on ads for over 97% of its $164.5 billion revenue in 2024.
!summarize #disney #thempark #imagineers
!summarize #relationships #dating
The inflow of Chinese capital into Musk's business empire is primarily profit-driven and has little to do with technology transfer or influencing public policy, the people told the FT.
SpaceX, xAI and Neuralink did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Musk has long had contact with senior Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping.
Musk's electric vehicle (EV) company Tesla makes its Model 3 and Model Y cars in China and also exports its China-made EVs to markets including Europe, where sales plunged 45% in January.
Apart from Tesla, some of Musk's other ventures, including SpaceX and the social media platform X, which is banned in China, are viewed by Beijing as security risks.
At a summit in Brussels on Thursday, EU leaders backed plans to spend more on defense amid fears that Russia, emboldened by its war in Ukraine, may attack an EU country next and that Europe can no longer rely on the U.S. to come to its aid.
Merz's tougher stance on security and migration reflects a changing political landscape, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has surged to become the country's second-largest party.
Germany's plans to tighten migration laws did not clash with pan-European migration rules to be introduced by Brussels, Merz said.
"We want European solidarity...but Germany also naturally has a right to defend its own security and order," he said.
Merz has said he wants to form a coalition by Easter, which falls on April 20 this year.
!summarize #jimsimons #fund #quant #wallstreet #math #finance
CPI for February is expected to have climbed 0.3%, according to a Reuters poll. The inflation report will be among the last key pieces of data before the Fed next meets on March 18-19. While the central bank is expected to hold its benchmark rate steady at 4.25%-4.5% at that meeting, Fed funds futures indicate about 70 more basis points of easing are expected through December of this year, according to LSEG data.
"Equities would not enjoy a hot CPI print because... it softens that Fed easing view that has been starting to build in the market," said John Velis, Americas macro strategist at BNY. Investors are also increasingly concerned about "stagflation" - slowing growth and rising inflation that is feared to be a toxic combination for a broad range of assets.
An elevated CPI report could "bring the 'S-word' into play," Velis said.
Market unease is also rising. The Cboe Volatility index jumped this week and was around its highest level since late last year.
"Volatility is here to stay for a while because we do not have economic and trade policy certainty," said Irene Tunkel, chief U.S. equity strategist at BCA Research.
!summarize #proximafusion #europe #startup #technology #energy
Homan has long argued tipping off Immigration and Custom's Enforcement operations potentially endangers federal law enforcement because those criminal illegals – some of which could be a part of the Tren de Aragua Venezuelan gang – could arm up against operations.
"We have identified two leakers of information here at the Department of Homeland Security who have been telling individuals about our operations and putting law enforcement lives in jeopardy," Noem said in a video posted Friday to X. "We plan to prosecute these two individuals and hold them accountable for what they've done."
NBC's sources did not know if the lie detector is how the leakers were caught, but there have been employees given the polygraph tests in multiple agencies within DHS, according to the report.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Saudi Arabia over March 10-12 for talks with Ukrainian counterparts, a statement from the U.S. Department of State said.Rubio will also have a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the statement from...
Zelenskyy has dropped his demand for security guarantees as an add-on to the minerals deal, finding his demands were not going to fly with President Donald Trump as they had for years with former President Joe Biden.
"I think a lot of the people in his country were upset with the way that was handled – certainly we all were – but we've got to get him back to the table," Johnson added to host John Catsimatidis.
Trump-backers arguing for the minerals deal say it would provide de facto security for Ukraine instead of direct military pledges, since American interests would be cemented in the country between the NATO front of Poland and Vladimir Putin's Russia.
Notably, Trump has called Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections," but did not push the Ukraine leader to restore democratic elections in his war-torn country.
!summarize #scammers #fraud #crime
!summarize #michaelfranzese #mafia #crime #organizedcrime
!summarize #marriage #relationships #tinder
!summarize #jongruden #nfl #coach #radiers #tampabay #buccaneeers #lasvegas
!summarize #timthomas #kenyonmartin #nba
1/2 🧵 Whippoorwill is small NA bird, its song feels like it says whip-poor-will.
Watch the video to listen to its chirp.
#birds #strage #video
2/2 🧵
Video: link
image from pinterest
Getting back into drawing... but this time I've been pushing the whole Instagram thing with it.
Go check it out at Smelted Brain
#art #doodles #lineart
Enjoy the good times in company because later they will only be memories. #photographylovers #vibes #lifestyle #reflections
A mismanaged nation often turns to rapid currency inflation, then to conflict, as two false remedies.
Both may spark a fleeting period of growth, yet each inevitably leads to lasting ruin, serving only those with opportunistic political or economic aims. #EconomicInsight #HistoricalWisdom
🇵🇱 Poland GDP:
2000: $171 billion
2024: $862 billion
Source: Statista
Good Night people's
Blessing 🙏🏾
Data data data...Leo the Lion is hungry
!summarize #angelreese #wnba #money #strike
!summarize #singapore #ukraine #europe #russia #war
!summarize #azzifudd #genoauriemma #uconn #bigeast #tournament
“I told them, ‘you’re one-and-done, you lose this game, the season’s over,’” Pitino said. “That’s the way you gotta play to prepare for March Madness. You don’t just show up in March and say, ‘OK, this is what we are going to do.’ You prepare for it now, you prepare for it at the Big East Tournament. They did a fabulous job, just a tough-ass team. Toughness like you can’t believe.”
In typical St. John’s fashion, the players were critical of their miscues and looking ahead to the next challenge.
They were happy, but not satisfied, a hallmark of this team.
Ejiofor and Luis felt the Red Storm struggled in containing Marquette off the dribble, a point of emphasis entering the game.
“We’re going to go back, we’re going to fix those little mistakes,” Luis said, “and we’re going to get ready for the Big East Tournament, because we want to win that, too.”
!summarize #sleep #portal #consciousness
!summarize #women #onlyfans #society #elderly
Missouri Wins $24B COVID-19 Judgment Against China
Missouri won a $24 billion lawsuit against China on Friday for its role in the COVID-19 pandemic after none of its defendants appeared in court.
Missouri won a $24 billion lawsuit against China on Friday for its role in the COVID-19 pandemic after none of its defendants appeared in court.
U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. ordered China to pay Missouri $24,488,825,457 "at a rate of 3.91 percent, compounded annually."
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey told the Daily Caller it was "no surprise" the Chinese Communist Party didn't appear in court and instead dispatched "proxy organizations" to litigate, "like the Chinese Society of Private International Law rather than appearing in court to answer for their actions."
He said he was protesting "police repression and state violence."
He filmed his climb, which led to the cancellation of tours of Parliament and the closure of the Westminster Bridge.
About three hours after the man reached a ledge on the tower, three emergency personnel were lifted up on an aerial ladder platform to speak with him.
The negotiations continued with no sign of the man agreeing to come down 10 hours later, when Big Ben chimed after nightfall at 21:00 GMT, or 4 p.m. ET.
The man's climb began when he entered the grounds of Parliament and walked up some stairs. He then climbed onto a railing and started scaling Elizabeth Tower.
The climber took his shoes off at one point so he could go higher on the tower, and authorities said he injured his feet, with pools of blood being seen on the tower's stonework.
!summarize #ai #ww3 #europe
Nauta was indicted alongside Trump for allegedly violating the Espionage Act and related offenses linked to classified documents stored at the president's Mar-a-Lago estate. The case against Trump was dismissed in July, and an appellate court dropped the charges against Nauta, Trump's personal aide, and property manager Carlos De Oliveira last month.
Trump had pledged to pardon Nauta and De Oliveira if they were convicted.
The president's legal team has included attorney Stanley Woodward, who represented Trump's co-defendants in the classified documents case before joining the White House legal team in January.
Nauta's appointment follows Trump's decision to fire members of the Boards of Visitors for all four major U.S. military service academies, citing concerns over "woke ideology." These boards oversee student life and institutional policies at the academies.
!summarize #brain #garybrecka #biohacking
“I am issuing a State of Emergency as Suffolk County fights brush fires in the Pine Barrens. I have spoken to @ExecEdRomaine and offered any necessary State resources. We have @NationalGuardNY helicopters providing air support, and multiple state agencies are on the ground,” Hochul posted on X Saturday evening.
"This is still out of control at this moment. The winds are just wreaking havoc," Hochul told News 12 out of Long Island. The governor confirmed that "one or two homes" have already been destroyed in the fire "with others that are in the way." According to Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine, over 70 fire departments are now battling the fires.
The Times said the action by X to scrub fake accounts is part of an ongoing effort to stamp out illegitimate platform activity. “We take reports like these very seriously, and continue to action millions of accounts per week for platform manipulation and spam violations,” said Dave Heinzinger, X’s head of media strategy, in an email to Epoch Times.
The Times did not say when it began its investigation into the matter. It said results of its findings were sent to X and the platform then began its review of the suspected bot network. Most of the accounts were subsequently taken down by X over the past several weeks. The Times also reported that at least one U.S.-based media outlet had some of its stories promoted by the connected fake accounts.
!summarize #catholics #orthodox #church #religion
!summarize #ai #mogawdat #humanity #happiness
!summarize #stephenasmith #skipbayless #sports #espn #reunion
Cohen's firing came just 18 hours after Blanche released a memo that Cohen had helped him draft which announced that the task force he led would be playing a new leading role in combating illegal immigration, as part of an initiative dubbed "Operation Take Back America."
"It was a shock," Cohen wrote of his firing on LinkedIn, noting he had been meeting regularly with leadership to discuss violent crime initiatives.
"Putting bad guys in jail was as apolitical as it gets," he wrote. "My personal politics were never relevant. Not until yesterday."
Cohen's firing is one of the latest examples of the Trump administration removing or sidelining career Justice Department officials, who typically keep their positions across presidential administrations.
A third prosecutor, Alex Kristofcak, was also placed on leave in response to comments he made on social media, the email said.
In those comments, Kristofcak criticized Washington, D.C.'s interim U.S. attorney, Ed Martin, after he warned Georgetown University Law School that he would not hire its students unless the school removed diversity, equity and inclusion from its curriculum.
"This is a grotesque abuse of power," Kristofcak wrote of Martin.
"I am so sorry for my colleagues in DC who have this thug of a boss."
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York declined to comment.
Other career department officials were also fired Friday, including pardon attorney Liz Oyer and Bobak Talebian, who oversaw the handling of Freedom of Information Act requests.
!summarize #cuban #cocaine #drugs #jorgevaldes #colombia
The effect of hardware scaling solutions extends far beyond Ethereum itself. TradFi players are exploring blockchain-based cross-border payments, which demand real-time processing. With scalability issues inherited from the home layer, L2s alone cannot scale effectively to cater to the sheer TradFi demand. Cross-border transactions hit $190.1 trillion in 2023 and are only expected to grow in 2025, indicating one thing: Hardware acceleration is indispensable in incentivizing institutional adoption of blockchain.
Beyond finance, hardware optimization enhances blockchain utility across industries, accelerating mainstream adoption. A noteworthy example is healthcare, where accelerated blockchain infrastructure could improve the security and privacy of patient data. For gaming industries that rely on dynamic interactions, blockchain networks can help deliver real-time responses to user actions.
The time to invest in hardware is now
Ethereum has relied heavily on L2s to scale, but they remain temporary solutions that fail to meet the network’s fundamental operational demands. Hardware solutions are now non-negotiable for Ethereum to retain its position as a leader in blockchain innovation. From enabling seamless TradFi integrations to supporting real-time interactions in gaming and healthcare, purpose-built hardware resolves the root inefficiencies of Ethereum’s infrastructure. Without decisive investment in hardware acceleration, Ethereum risks stagnating while competitors rise.
Ethereum doesn’t need another short-term patch. It requires a lasting solution. The next wave of blockchain adoption demands an infrastructure that can support it, which means investing in hardware now.
"Higher car prices combined with higher interest rates have driven monthly payments upward and have put pressure on consumers across the income and credit score spectrum," the New York Fed wrote.
Meanwhile, the cost of purchasing a new vehicle has climbed significantly in recent years. According to Cox Automotive, the average price of a new car has risen from approximately $38,000 in January 2020 to more than $48,500 in January 2025, an increase of over $10,000. In the midst of the Biden administration, financing costs surged, with the average monthly payment for a new car loan reaching $795 in December 2022. By January, average monthly financing costs dipped to $755. However, they still remain high above the $566 monthly payment in 2019.
President Donald Trump's tariffs on auto imports for Canada and Mexico, which include a 25% levy on vehicles and parts, went into effect on Tuesday.
“I have never seen anybody drunk on the floor. I don’t think anybody drinks around the floor. I knew a couple of guys that might have had a drink, but the guys I knew that had a drink, they never showed it. They could hold their liquor well,” Cohen told Politico.
Added Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., “Maybe I’m not in that club because I don’t drink.
!summarize #men #unitedstates
There was no immediate comment from the White House, which on Wednesday made the surprise confirmation of direct U.S. talks with Hamas.
Over the past week, Israel has pressed Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in return for an extension of the first phase, which ended last weekend, and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Hamas is believed to have 24 living hostages and the bodies of 34 others.
Israel last weekend cut off all supplies to Gaza and its more than 2 million people as it pressed Hamas to agree. The militant group has said that the move would affect the remaining hostages as well.
The ceasefire has paused the deadliest and most destructive fighting ever between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The first phase allowed the return of 25 living hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The foreign ministers gathered in Saudi Arabia for a special session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to address the situation in Gaza. The OIC has 57 nations with largely Muslim populations.
They supported a plan to rebuild Gaza put forward by Egypt and backed by Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Without mentioning Trump, the ministers' statement said that they rejected "plans aimed at displacing the Palestinian people individually or collectively ... as ethnic cleansing, a grave violation of international law and a crime against humanity."
They also condemned "policies of starvation" they said aim to push Palestinians to leave, a reference to Israel's cutting off all supplies to Gaza.
Trump has called for Gaza’s population to be resettled elsewhere permanently, so that the United States can take over the territory and develop it for others. Palestinians have rejected calls to leave.
Trump's administration aims to pay for an American shipbuilding comeback with help from potentially hefty port fees on Chinese-built vessels as well as ships from fleets with China-made vessels, according to a draft executive order seen by Reuters on Thursday.
The heads of four major labor unions in mid-February called on Trump to boost American shipbuilding and enforce tariffs and other “strong penalties” against China for its increasing dominance in that sphere.
The letter notes China manufactured more than 1,000 ocean-going vessels in 2023, while the United States made fewer than 10 ships. It adds that the Chinese shipbuilding industry received more than $100 billion in government support from 2010 to 2018, such that Chinese shipyards accounted for the majority of worldwide orders last year.
But he condemned "brutal" deadly strikes on eastern Ukraine, saying they proved that Russia was "not thinking about how to end the war."
Trump on Friday threatened new sanctions and tariffs against Russia over its bombardment of Ukraine.
The three-year-long war is now at a critical juncture for Kyiv after Trump suspended military aid following his public falling-out with Zelenskyy last week.
Ukraine still controls some 150 square miles in the Kursk region after launching an offensive last August. Zelenskyy sees this as a possible bargaining chip in peace talks.
But Ukraine's troops in Kursk have seen their position worsen in recent weeks with Russia's army pushing back.
Senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials are set to meet for talks on the war in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Zelenskyy will also visit Monday for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
For the U.S., Witkoff has said he wants to discuss an "initial ceasefire" with Russia and a "framework" for a longer agreement.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine would be represented by officials including Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
In his evening address, he told Ukrainians he was "confident that the meeting will be productive."
Zelenskyy also urged allies to "increase sanctions against Russia" after heavy overnight bombardment in the east and northeast.
A Russian barrage hit the centre of Dobropillia in the eastern Donetsk region late Friday, killing 11 people and wounding 40, according to the emergency services.
!summarize #ice #uk #ev #sales #crash
Most economists say that Trump's plans to slap tariffs on a wide array of imports, including 25% duties on goods from Canada and Mexico that he partially delayed Thursday, will push up prices and slow growth. But many also expect that tax cuts and deregulation could boost the economy.
Powell said the economy remains mostly healthy despite “elevated uncertainty.” He characterized Friday's jobs report, which showed employers added 151,000 jobs and the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.1%, as in line with the “solid” gains of the past six months.
He also noted that there were signs consumer spending has slowed compared with the healthy gains in the second half of last year, and said surveys of consumers and businesses “point to heightened uncertainty about the economic outlook.”
After cutting its key rate three times last year to about 4.3%, Powell indicated in January that the Fed would pause any further cuts amid signs that inflation has remained stuck above its target. The central bank's preferred inflation gauge shows that prices rose 2.5% in January compared with a year ago. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.6%, the smallest increase since June.
Technology is the second worst-performing S&P 500 sector year-to-date with about an 8% loss, after consumer discretionary stocks which have tumbled just over 9%.
Hedge funds were caught in crowded trades that sold off leaving those which pick stocks with a 1% average return on the year so far, said the Goldman Sachs note sent to clients on Thursday and seen by Reuters on Friday. U.S. stock pickers finished down 1.4% on Thursday, taking their yearly performance to negative 0.5% for 2025, so far, the note said.
Hedge funds that employ different kinds of trading strategies also had "a challenging day," said the Goldman note. This kind of hedge fund which for the last three years has produced consistently positive returns has this year lost money 18 out of 29 days since January 27, said Goldman.
!summarize #romanabramovich #oligarch #putin #russia #energy
El Salvador struck a deal with the IMF in December 2024 for a $1.4 billion loan from the organization. As part of that deal, the government of El Salvador agreed to rescind the status of BTC as legal tender in the country and scale back public sector involvement with Bitcoin.
El Salvador continues stacking despite IMF pressure
El Salvador's Congress amended its Bitcoin laws in January 2025 to comply with the IMF loan agreement. Lawmakers repealed the previous version of the law in a 55-2 vote.
Despite the repeal, the government continued stacking Bitcoin, purchasing two BTC in a single day on Feb. 1 and continuing its daily accumulation of the digital currency.
On March 3, the IMF issued a new request pressuring El Salvador to stop accumulating BTC and stipulated that the country could not issue debt or tokenized securities tied to Bitcoin.
!summarize #thewolfofwallstreet #jordanbelfour #crime #movie #truestory
!summarize #georgesoros #elonmusk #doge #democrats
During a recent appearance on the All In Podcast, host Jason Calacanis proposed charging a 0.01% tax on every cryptocurrency transaction, which would be denominated in the asset that is transferred, bought or sold. Sacks responded:
“That’s always how taxes start. They are described as being very modest. You know, when the income tax started, it only applied to like a thousand Americans, and the legislators swore up and down that it would never be applied to middle-class people.”
“I don’t particularly like the idea of new taxes, even if it is promised that they won’t affect people very much. That sounds burdensome to me,” Sacks continued.
!summarize #allusa #college #1997 #football #wherearetheynow
!summarize #navyseals #snipe #team6 #military
!summarize #kinahan #gangster #peadarkeating #crime #organizedcrime #cartel #ireland
!summarize #crime #lapd #rubenpalomares #police
!summarize #themafia #rudyguiliani #rico #southerndistrict #johngotti #crime
!summarize #puertorico #economy
“Women tend to build more diverse portfolios and focus on long-term wealth creation rather than chasing short-term gains,” according to Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget cryptocurrency exchange:
“This measured approach is exactly what the crypto ecosystem needs — investors who understand technological fundamentals and look beyond market noise.”
Women and men’s average holding period per asset type Source: Bitpanda
“Women typically adopt a ‘sit on their hands’ investment style,” with less trading frequency than men, Chen said, citing a Charles Stanley study:
“While men made 13 trades annually on average, women executed only 9. This patience and strategic thinking translates beautifully to crypto markets, where emotional reactions to volatility often lead to losses.”
We’re “not chasing overnight gains” or “FOMO-driven decisions”
The majority of women prefer Bitcoin, but not necessarily due to risk aversion alone.
“This approach often stems from thorough research and strategic patience,” according to Mary Pedler, founder of INPUT Comms blockchain and tech-focused communications agency.
“Many women I’ve worked and communicated with do deep research before investing and seldom make FOMO-driven decisions,” she told Cointelegraph, adding:
“When we invest in Bitcoin, it’s after understanding its fundamental value proposition — we’re not chasing overnight gains; we’re building generational wealth.”
Coinbase has requested that the FDIC provide details in court on how it conducted “due diligence” to ensure no documentation related to the event was destroyed. However, the agency “repeatedly refused to do so,” Grewal said.
His comments come a day after the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) eased its stance on how banks can engage with crypto just hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to end the prolonged crackdown restricting crypto firms’ access to banking services.
Trump’s remarks were made during the White House Crypto Summit, where he told industry leaders he was “ending Operation Chokepoint 2.0.”
Grewal added that his team requested that the FDIC give a “sworn testimony” to the court.
On March 4, Coinbase also submitted a FOIA request to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to find out how many investigations and enforcement actions were brought against crypto firms between April 17, 2021, and Jan. 20, 2025.
!summarize #rockefeller #power #jdrockefeller #wealth #oil #history
!summarize #douglasmurray #marxism #economics
!summarize #nikolajokic #nba #denver #nuggets
Imagine a world where trading is no longer limited to human financial knowledge and capacities. In this world, machines don’t just execute trades but also adapt and continuously optimize strategies on their own. This isn’t the distant future; it’s the reality emerging in decentralized finance (DeFi) today, thanks to AI agents.
AI agents are self-operating software programs that can make decisions independently, without human interaction. They use machine learning algorithms to refine their processes and adapt continuously.
In traditional finance, AI has already transformed trading, risk management and customer service. In DeFi, where trust is built on code, not intermediaries, AI has opened new avenues for autonomy, transparency and effectiveness.
AI agents often work through smart contracts, which are like self-executing agreements that run automatically when conditions are met. There is no need to trust an intermediary; everything is handled by code, making transactions safe and automatic. Here’s how it works:
Predefined rules: The AI agent interacts with a smart contract containing predefined conditions (e.g., “buy Bitcoin if the price drops to $40,000”).
Real-time data analysis: The AI continuously monitors market conditions, user preferences or risk factors and feeds this data into the smart contract.
Automatic execution: When the conditions are met, the smart contract executes the transaction instantly, whether it’s a trade, loan adjustment, or portfolio rebalancing.
For example, an AI-powered trading agent might execute complex multi-step trades, taking advantage of price differences between various DEXs and ensuring that opportunities are not missed.
AI agents for risk management
Risk management in the risky DeFi world can be daunting, but AI agents can help manage it. With the ability to continuously monitor market volatility, liquidity, and borrower credit risk, AI agents provide a more accurate and real-time risk assessment than traditional systems.
In DeFi lending, for example, AI agents examine a borrower’s history on various platforms and offer customized collateral and loan terms based on real-time inputs.
Furthermore, AI agents can monitor smart contracts to detect vulnerabilities before they are exploitedexploiting them, ensuring the platform’s security.
AI agents for yield farming and staking
As yield farming and staking pools can be highly lucrative, constant monitoring of gas fees, rewards, and interest rates for optimization is required. AI agents are adept at determining the most profitable pools to stake or farm tokens, switching strategies on the fly to compound returns. They can ensure that your assets always work for you, even when you are not actively controlling them.
AI agents as personalized financial assistants
By acting as personalized financial assistants, AI agents can help users navigate the complexities of DeFi. They can suggest the best investment opportunities, provide portfolio advice and help users optimize their assets while saving costs — without requiring in-depth crypto knowledge.
!summarize #annadeanfarm #gildedage #history
Step 2: Choose the data
Your AI agent will need market data to make informed decisions. For portfolio management, the data includes:
Price: Real-time and historical data of various cryptocurrencies.
Market conditions: Volatility, liquidity, market trends, etc.
DeFi opportunities: Information about yield farming, staking and lending rates.
Risk metrics: Data on market risk and volatility levels.
Use APIs like CoinGecko or CoinMarketCapto to fetch real-time price and market data. Get information on available yield opportunities from Yearn.finance or Aave.
Step 4: Develop smart contracts for automation
To implement portfolio rebalancing and other tasks autonomously, write smart contracts to handle actions like swapping assets, staking or yield farming based on the AI’s recommendations.
What the smart contract does: The smart contract will handle transactions like moving assets between wallets, rebalancing portfolios, staking tokens or withdrawing funds from yield farming pools.
So, write a Solidity smart contract that automatically moves your holdings based on the AI’s instructions. For example, if the AI detects that your portfolio has too much ETH and insufficient BTC, the smart contract will automatically swap some Ether for Bitcoin.
Drawbacks of AI agents
While AI agents in the crypto space are gaining traction, much of the current excitement remains speculative. Researchers caution that many AI agent projects have yet to prove their utility beyond hype.
One of the biggest concerns is their reliance on real-time, high-fidelity data. Errors or data manipulation can lead to unintended decisions with serious financial consequences.
Mike Cahill from the Pyth Network highlights that AI agents require ultra-low-latency price updates, ideally sourced directly from first-party providers like exchanges, to reduce risks from outdated or manipulated data.
OCC’s new guidance will “reduce the burden” on banks
The OCC confirmed in a document titled Interpretive Letter 1183 that OCC-supervised financial institutions no longer need “supervisory nonobjection” to engage with crypto-related activities.
“Today’s action will reduce the burden on banks to engage in crypto-related activities and ensure that these bank activities are treated consistently by the OCC,” Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney E. Hood said.
It comes just hours after Trump told a room full of crypto executives at the White House Crypto Summit that he is “ending Operation Chokepoint 2.0.”
“Some people really suffered, it was ridiculous what they were doing. In the end, they came around, but they came around for the wrong reasons, only because they wanted votes,” Trump said.
Operation Chokepoint 2.0 “strong-armed banks”
Operation Chokepoint 2.0 widely impacted the industry in multiple countries and was a significant pain point for industry advocacy groups during the 2024 US election.
!summarize #bordersecurity #trump #sanctuarycities #immigration #crime
!summarize #progressives #israel #lindyli #democrats
Their letter did not mention California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request for $40 billion in disaster aid from Congress. That came last month and would divide the money into several pots, including $16.8 billion in public assistance funding, $9.9 billion for house and business repairs, $9.61 billion in business loans and grants and $2 billion in low-income housing tax credits.
Nor does the delegation’s letter mention the previous proposals of conditioning wildfire aid, which Democratic lawmakers have rebuked.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, has said more guardrails should be attached to disaster aid after passing a $100 billion aid package late last year.
The Baltimore native endured a coaching change just weeks into his freshman season in 2021, but stayed in College Park and endeared himself to Willard. Reese put his name into the pantheon of Maryland greats in the process and is likely, according to his coach, “maybe one of the last guys to ever spend four years” in a Terrapin uniform.
“My freshman year there was a coaching change,” Reese said. “It wasn’t really a good season. Willard came in second year. We had a little dominant season, my first year getting in the [NCAA] tournament. And then junior year had a mediocre regular season. And now for us to do what we’re doing now is special, and it just means a lot going out like that.”
With the win and No. 12 Wisconsin’s loss to Penn State on Saturday, Maryland guaranteed a top three finish in the Big Ten and a double bye in next week’s conference tournament in Indianapolis. The Terrapins (24-7 overall, 14-6 Big Ten) will have six days off before playing Friday night as the second or third seed in the tournament based on the result of Sunday’s game between No. 17 Michigan and No. 8 Michigan State.
“We have not been good coming off byes … I was going to go have a beer. Now I’m going to switch to whiskey,” Willard joked. “So I think, you know, we’re going to take, technically, two days off, but it won’t be a full two days. It’ll be like a day and a half.”
“He’s not a good matchup for anybody,” Willard said. “That kid’s a warrior. That kid is, if he could ever improve his outside shot just a little bit, he’s unstoppable.”
Reese had eight of Maryland’s first 10 points, while frontcourt mate Queen was held off the score sheet for the first 15 minutes. The star freshman was frustrated enough after earning a foul call on a baseline drive to throw the ball at a Northwestern player, instead earning himself a technical foul.
The foul midway through the half actually helped turn things in the Terrapins favor. Maryland rallied with an 8-0 run courtesy of Reese and Gillespie to surge back and take a 20-19 lead while holding Northwestern to 1-of-9 shooting.
A track meet broke out in the waning moments of the half, with Maryland making six of its final nine shots, Queen scoring 8 points in the final five minutes, and Maryland holding a 32-29 lead at the break despite 11 first half turnovers and an eventual season-high 18.
“It’s not supposed go that way,” Jokic said. “I was talking to (Aaron Gordon) and he said to me, ‘That was a quiet 30 points.’ I didn’t do anything special, just seemed like everyone was in flow.”
Jokic tied his franchise record with his 29th triple-double of the season, and he reached it just 1:20 into the second half with his 10th rebound. He was approaching the triple-double early, finishing the first quarter with 10 points, six assists and six rebounds and had 13, nine and eight at halftime.
The 30-year-old from Serbia is averaging a triple-double with 19 games left in the season. His 28.9 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.6 assists per game all rank in the top three in the NBA.
“He’s just one of a kind,” Braun said. “You’ll never see something like this ever again – ever. You’ll never see a player that does the things he does night in and night out.”
Jokic’s previous high in assists was 19, which happened Feb. 24 at Indiana. He surpassed that on Michael Porter Jr.’s dunk that gave Denver a 139-130 lead with 1:18 left.
Jokic has 149 career triple-doubles and Friday was the seventh time this season he has had at least 15 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists. That tied Oscar Robertson for the most in one season. His 22 assists are the most by a center in a game but he is far short of Scott Skiles’ NBA record of 30, a mark he isn’t concerned about.
The 30-year-old is expected to become one of the top players on the market when free agency opens next week.
He anchored Washington’s defensive front after the team drafted him in the first round in 2017. An Ashburn native, Allen stayed close to home to start his professional career. The Commanders’ practice facility is just a few miles from Stone Bridge High School, where he was named the Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2012.
Allen leaves Washington with 42 career sacks, fifth most in franchise history.
!summarize #angelreese #wnba #caitlinclark
For the first time in 15 years, a man awaiting the death penalty in the United States has been executed by a shooting squad. Brad Sigmon was convicted of killing his girlfriend's parents.
#news #crime #usa
cbBTC and BTC – Are you prepared?
I mean you gotta collect fees some way to pay back all those millions
Fees help cover operational costs, incentivize participation, and secure the network. The evolving fee model aims for balance, ensuring sustainability while building a robust system for everyone involved
In contrast to gambling, investing involves a thoughtful approach driven by analysis and market duration.
Investors who maintain thoroughly researched assets over an extended period often achieve the most favorable outcomes.
The aim for this account is to serve as undeniable proof that achieving success with $AVA is certain.
This journey is fueled by skill, unwavering belief, and relentless determination; luck has no place in this story.
"#learn #from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." - Eleanor Roosevelt #motivation #quotes #proofofbrain #inleo #neoxian #creativecoin
Get involved with the revamped Department of Justice and focus on tackling real criminal activity!
"Sign up and save America! We need a few good ones…." #JusticeReform #FightCrime
Crypto isn’t just a market—it’s a movement. The ones who stay, build, and believe will reap the biggest rewards. Stay ahead, stay strong, and embrace the future!
Lions, he ain't capping he used to be cool now he ain't 🤣 #funny
This app is absolutely amazing! ♡
🔥 Bankonier: "Dash for instant transactions and living on crypto!"
👇 Link to post in first comment!
@dashpay $DASH #dash #crypto #liveoncrypto #adoption
Testing color combinations with AI generated image.
#chiguiritos #midnight #bokura #vtuber
Reunion semanal de capibaras !!!
Emerging markets are at the forefront of adopting blockchain technology, whereas several countries across Europe, East Asia, and the Americas remain more cautious. Nevertheless, these regions recognize blockchain as a significant part of
the "future of digital ownership" and "the future of money." #Blockchain #DigitalOwnership
We're all invited to welcome our #newlion, isaac! 😀
https://inleo.io/threads/view/isaacishere/re-leothreads-29tmzdafv
Always remember to do your own research and consider all perspectives. Questioning your beliefs is important, and maintaining a relaxed approach is essential. Rigid conviction can lead to unhealthy outcomes, so make it a point to assess
things based on their merits whenever possible. Comprehending the investments is key, and it's wise not to risk everything, which has been emphasized from the
onset.
The current price movements of $CACAO and impermanent loss have diminished any potential profits for liquidity providers. Furthermore, it's worth noting how synthetic assets and arbitrage players impact the liquidity pools.
If not bonded as a liquidity provider, the majority will likely miss out on APRs.
Bonding does come with security concerns, since node operators often secure amounts exceeding what they have locked. This presents a centralization risk, shifting node operators from invested participants to mere service providers.
By the way, what safeguards exist for the admin keys that grant the team the ability to modify Mimir values?
So chat says ‘ignore the market, X crypto is the new standard!’ Cool, but standards need mass adoption, affordability, and… you know, people wanting it? No pressure, chat. Just sayin’. 💡 #CryptoStandards #ThinkAboutIt #Crypto #inleo