(Vanessa Vasquez, Editor-in-Chief NewsUSA Tech) - The Video Game Awards is a highly-anticipated ceremony often held in the early weeks of December. To no one’s surprise, Baldur’s Gate 3 won a game of the year at the recently concluded Video Game Awards for 2023. Cyberpunk 2077 also won best ongoing game, with Resident Evil Village bringing home the award for best VR/AR. With the continuous evolution, These awards would highlight the industry’s creative diversity and technological advancements.

Story by Vanessa Vasquez, Editor-in-Chief NewsUSA Tech

(NewsUSA) - Many wonderful organizations focus on finding homes for dogs in shelters, but one dog breeder is on a mission—to promote smarter dog breeding and fewer dogs in shelters to begin with.

“Prevention is the key to avoiding canine suffering and reducing the burden on shelters and rescues,” says Kate Dalman, a Crystal Lake, Illinois, breeder of German Shepherds. Dalman’s goal is to improve the competitive and largely unregulated world of dog breeding by educating breeders on best practices. 

Dalman, the owner of Herzog German Shepherds and founder of the nonprofit Herzog's Heroes, has established the Herzog Conscientious Breeders Alliance (HCBA). The Alliance, named for her first German Shepherd, is open to those who work with any dog breed.

The Alliance’s current goal is a year-end campaign to raise $20,000 to launch a first-of-its-kind breeder directory that will help create transparency and accountability in breeding programs.

“Current breeder databases allow breeders to pay for higher rankings,” says Dalman. “Our algorithm is completely transparent, and it will change how people choose the breeders they work with.”

Dalman and CEO, Mary Lanckhoff, are currently working to establish breeder guidelines and collaborating with rescue communities to curb unscrupulous breeders and reduce the number of dogs who end up in shelters.

The breeder guidelines will encompass the latest industry standards, genetic diversity recommendations, and responsible puppy placement strategies. The HCBA training program currently in development will teach breeders ways to minimize their footprint on the shelter population.

"These guidelines will make unscrupulous breeding practices far less lucrative for breeders trying to cut corners and make a quick buck exploiting dogs," says Dalman. "On the other hand, dedicated breeders will receive recognition for their work."

The directory will allow people looking to purchase a puppy to search for breeders with good reputations, and to identify breeders with bad reputations. "This will enable people to search a breeder before deciding to work with them and it will prevent unscrupulous breeders from continuing to fly under the radar," Dalman says.

Dalman and her colleagues continue to encourage breeders to join the HCBA, establish best practices to minimize their impact on the shelter community, and mentor up-and-coming breeders.

“We want to recognize breeders doing their part, but also lift up those breeders who need help,” she emphasizes. “This will create a higher breeding standard for everyone, which is what we want for dogs everywhere."

Your donations can help meet the end-of-year goal to launch the breeder directory! For more information, visit About 1 — Herzog's Heroes (herzogsheroes.org).

(NewsUSA) - The designation “GenNext” represents adults ages 18-34, the life stage often referred to as “emerging adulthood,” and refers to the next generation of workers, heads of households, consumers, and investors with significant decisions to make about their future. Many in this group are optimistic, despite experiencing personal and professional challenges wrought by recession, inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and job transitions with changing workforce expectations, according to a survey from financial services firm Edward Jones, with Next360 Partners and Market Cast.

Overall, the survey found GenNext to be a resilient group, although 80% of respondents currently see themselves as struggling or surviving financially.

“Our research offers a deeper understanding of GenNext, an age group defined by their shared experiences, not the year they were born,” says Lena Haas, head of Wealth Management Advice and Solutions at Edward Jones. “With most worried about rising costs and an inability to save, this will have vast implications for the wealth management industry.”

Contrary to popular belief, GenNext is hardworking and ambitious, but this demographic has distinct approaches to work and life in the face of today’s social and economic challenges. Money matters, but so does comfort, security, and stability.

Members of GenNext also value flexibility, and are open to alternative career paths, which further impacts their saving, spending and investing.

GenNext does not expect the same job stability as previous generations, according to the Edward Jones survey. They place less value on employer loyalty and plan for highly mobile careers of moving from one job to another, wearing many hats, and engaging in “side hustles” and multiple jobs to fund their lifestyles. Although they were born in the digital era, the GenNext lifestyle prioritizes real-world experiences; more than half of survey respondents reported being happiest when at home with friends and family, and they value face-to-face connections in work and home life.

GenNext cited a short-term mindset when it comes to finances, prioritizing everyday expenses, budgeting and saving for large purchases over other financial matters. When it comes to financial planning, more than half (52%) talk to their parents, many of whom may have long-term relationships with financial advisors. Although only 12% currently discuss finances directly with a financial advisor, two-thirds (68%) said they viewed financial advisors as a sounding board for ideas.

“Working with a financial advisor can help improve your financial knowledge and confidence and help you feel more in control,” added Haas. “It’s never too early to get started. Financial advisors can help remove burden and complexity and help you focus on the most important first steps.”

Visit edwardjones.com/financialfuture for more information.

(NewsUSA) - When it comes to generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), the United States government needs to adjust its mission and tradecraft to advance American interests, according to experts at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a bipartisan nonprofit organization.

Despite its current position as a global leader GenAI, the issue facing the United States is how to shape GenAI’s global use and function so that it reinforces these interests, according to a new report from SCSP.

The authors outline recommendations for a new model of statecraft and the creation of global institutions to chart a way for GenAI to be used for good, and to put guardrails in place to protect against negative consequences.

SCSP advises the U.S. government to bring together different departments, authorities, talents, and tools, and to establish domestic regulatory policies that also reflect a global context, to work alongside like-minded allies, but not to disadvantage the U.S. private sector in global competition.

Platforms Statecraft. A platform approach to foreign policy and GenAI should include an updated mission with competition around technology platforms, as well as joint efforts across government agencies, modernization, and sub-national diplomacy to ensure that U.S. policy is tied into domestic innovation at the state and local levels.

New Tools. The adoption of GenAI tools by the Department of State will change the way workforces do their jobs, but these high-tech tools do not replace decision-making by policy experts; instead, GenAI tools provide additional, and potentially novel, recommendations and solutions based on an amount of information that no one human can process as quickly as a machine. Agency-wide programs to leverage GenAI could include a centralized GenAI infrastructure, a tailored GenAI system to handle sensitive information, and training policy makers to understand how GI works and where human oversight is needed.

Global Frameworks. To manage GenAI as a geopolitical and transnational issue, SCSP recommends creating a leaders-level forum to bring together key nations and address the highest-level risks that GenAI may pose; a leaders-level agenda item on GenAI in bilateral dialogues between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of Chine to help manage strategic stability risks; and a working-level forum for like-minded national to explore positive use cases around GenAI and mitigate against practical challenges.

For more information, visit scsp.ai.

(Matthew Du, NewsUSA Reporter) -  

New York City, collaborating with platforms like Airbnb, is enforcing a law that requires short-term rental hosts to register with the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement. This law, effective from early 2022, aims to curb unregistered rentals, with platforms like Airbnb prohibited from processing transactions for unregistered properties. 

Hosts now face stringent requirements, including being present during the guest's stay and not renting out entire homes. Despite these restrictions, Airbnb, which has over 39,000 listings in New York City, views the regulation as a de facto ban. The city's enforcement mirrors actions in other U.S. cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, which also regulate short-term rentals. Meanwhile, Airbnb's share price remains resilient, recently boosted by its inclusion in the S&P 500.

(Matthew Du, NewsUSA Reporter) - Although the World Wildlife Fund does not list brown bears (Ursus arctos) as endangered, their numbers in Alaska are dwindling, primarily due to legal hunting practices. Popular hunting locations like Cold Bay and the Izembek Refuge Area are known worldwide for trophy brown bears. Adding to the threat is the Willow Project by ConocoPhillips, an oil-drilling initiative first greenlit by the Trump administration in 2020. This project, focused on petroleum extraction to lessen U.S. oil imports, poses another significant challenge to the survival of Alaska's brown bear population.

(Matthew Du, NewsUSA Reporter) - Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered the jury in Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial to return Friday morning after dismissing them earlier Thursday. 

Kaplan presides over the trial of Bankman-Fried, who currently faces charges that include wire fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering about the operation of crypto exchange FTX.

The defense has questioned the former CEO on several topics. Still, foggy memory seems to be a common theme amongst many of Bankman-Fried’s answers, which comes in stark contrast to the claims that Bankman-Fried had made following the collapse of FTX and before his criminal charges. 

(NewsUSA) - Extended families are further apart than ever before, a trend that is only increasing each year. According to the latest report by the Pew Research center, only 27% of Americans live near some extended family, with 24% saying they live near a few and 20% saying they don’t live near any at all. Considering this distance, coupled with the desire to be together this time of year, it's no wonder that the holidays are the busiest travel season.

Unfortunately, not everyone is able to make a trip, whether it's due to flight cancellations, poor weather or even the cost of transportation. Thanks to the digitally advanced world we live in, we can still connect with family in real time through apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp. 

Meeting virtually is becoming an increasingly popular way to stay connected with friends and family who live in different parts of the country. Connecting via the internet gives us the chance to socialize with loved ones without the need for transportation, which can be a major barrier for many families.

However, for the 46 million Americans residing in rural parts of the country, fiber or wireline connectivity is often unavailable. Here, satellite internet plays a crucial role in connecting them to family, friends, business opportunities and education. Satellite internet is widespread, reliable and available in remote areas that cable or fiber providers will often overpass. And thanks to new technology and innovations, satellite internet continues to improve.

Recently, Hughes, the original pioneer of satellite internet, introduced new Hughesnet^® service plans that are redefining connectivity and accessibility for rural America and feature unlimited data, increased speeds and reduced latency. By leveraging capacity from JUPITER^™ 3, the most advanced commercial communications satellite ever built, as well as new multipath technology through Hughesnet Fusion^® plans, Hughes is offering customers more ways to connect, stream and play.

As the holiday season begins, and people look to connect with distant family and friends, they increasingly rely on email, social media and video chats to remain present in each other's lives. Satellite internet enables those personal connections to remain strong, no matter how much distance separates us from loved ones. So, this season, whether they’re looking to FaceTime their grandchildren or play a multi-player game with cousins, families know that satellite internet is there to help connect virtually to what matters most.

(NewsUSA) - Maaco is Inviting Customers to HEAR How Great the Upside of Uh-Ohs can be by giving away 35 pairs of AirPods^®

Charlotte, N.C. (December 18, 2023) – Maaco, North America’s body shop, is celebrating the end of the year with an AirPods^® giveaway to help customers groove into the new year in style.

Beginning today, customers will have the chance to win a pair of Maaco-branded second-generation AirPods^® by visiting this website. To enter, customers will share what they are looking forward to in 2024, their first and last name, email, and mailing address. Following the sweepstakes, the 35 lucky winners will be randomly selected from the total entrant pool.

“At Maaco, we’re always focused on better,” said Daryl Hurst, president, Maaco. “Better technology, better customer experiences, and better ways to connect with our community. With this exciting community initiative, customers can truly HEAR how great the Upside of Uh-Ohs can be!”

Entries will be monitored from Monday, December 18 through Friday, December 29, 2023, 11:59 p.m. EST. Only entrants from this eligibility period will be entered to win and winners will be contacted through their email address used to enter.

“As we enter our 52nd year of providing dedicated service to our valued customers, I am excited to connect with more members of the community and be a trusted partner for any dents, dings, paint needs and any other Uh-Ohs that come their way,” said Daryl Hurst, president, Maaco. “This end of year initiative is another way to say, ‘thank you’ to the customers who have supported us in the past, present, and now, into the future.”

Winter’s unexpected dents, dings, and chills can be harsh, but Maaco is ready to show customers how great the Upside of Uh-Ohs can truly be! As one of North America’s top performing auto paint and collision repair providers, Maaco has serviced over 20 million cars since 1972 with service and quality work customers can trust.

For more information on Maaco visit Maaco.com.

###

About Maaco

Maaco is North America’s body shop, with over 50 years of experience in providing affordable auto body repair and car painting. Maaco, with more than 400 independently owned and operated franchises across the United States and Canada, has been named a top automotive franchise numerous times by Entrepreneur Magazine in its Annual Franchise 500 ranking and Franchise Times’ list of Top 400 franchises. Maaco is a member of Driven Brands, the largest automotive services company in North America. For more information about Maaco, visit Maaco.com.

About Driven Brands
Driven Brands^™, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the largest automotive services company in North America, providing a range of consumer and commercial automotive needs, including paint, collision, glass, vehicle repair, oil change, maintenance and car wash. Driven Brands is the parent company of some of North America’s leading automotive service businesses including Take 5 Oil Change^®, Take 5 Car Wash^®, Meineke Car Care Centers^®, Maaco^®, 1-800-Radiator & A/C^®, Auto Glass Now^®, and CARSTAR^®. Driven Brands has more than 4,900 locations across 14 countries, and services over 70 million vehicles annually. Driven Brands’ network generates approximately $2.2 billion in annual revenue from more than $6.1 billion in system-wide sales.

(NewsUSA) - The results are in for CME Group’s 20th Annual University Trading Challenge! Universidad De Guadalajara takes first place this year, marking the fourth consecutive year a team from Latin America has won first place and the second consecutive year a team from Mexico has earned top honors.

This year’s challenge brought over 400 teams across 156 universities, representing 24 countries - a testament to strong interest in the role of derivatives around the world.

Throughout the competition, both graduate and undergraduate students learn hands-on techniques for trading agriculture, energy, metals, equity indices, interest rates and foreign exchange futures contracts through CQG, a real-time simulated electronic trading platform.

"We congratulate the students from around the world who participated in our 20th CME Group University Trading Challenge,” said Anita Liskey, CME Group Senior Managing Director of Global Brand Marketing and Communications. “In today's uncertain global economy, risk management is more important than ever, and CME Group’s University Trading Challenge provides the next generation of traders and risk managers with a unique, hands-on experience to explore the world of trading and build the skills they need for future careers in finance."

Eligible winners will receive cash prizes. All participants in this year’s Trading Challenge will be invited to attend an exclusive one-day, in-person market education event.

As the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group provides a wide array of risk management education services, tools and resources for learners of all levels to immerse themselves into the world of derivatives.

CME Group is committed to educating the next generation of finance professionals of the significance of its global derivatives market and risk management. CME Group also partners with other industry organizations to offer education tools such as Futures Fundamentals, a one-stop educational resource for “Futures 101.”

Photo caption: Steffany Trinidad Razo Diaz and her professor Luis Nicolau accepting the first-place certificates for the team from Universidad de Guadalajara at the Day of Market Education dinner.