2025-05-31 12:00:27.266

Mateusz Demski, a Polish journalist, details his experience being laid off from Radio Kraków, only to see his former position filled by AI-driven characters. This sparked outrage, particularly due to an AI's "interview" with a deceased national icon. A campaign ensued, resulting in the AI programs' removal but highlighting the ethical concerns and lack of regulation surrounding AI in media. Lina Meilina, an Indonesian illustrator, describes a significant drop in commissions due to AI art generators, even facing instances of her work being inappropriately used by AI. The ease of AI art generation, coupled with weak copyright laws, leaves her and her colleagues struggling to compete. Annabel Beales, a UK copywriter, lost her dream job to ChatGPT after months of her work being gradually replaced by AI. She reflects on the lack of substance in AI-generated content and the emotional toll of losing her job. Richie Tavake, a voice actor from San Francisco, discusses the unauthorized use of his voice by AI in an audio drama, highlighting the lack of protection for voice actors and the potential for AI to replace human performers. Jadun Sykes, a graphic designer from the UK, shares his experience of redundancy due to AI, emphasizing the global impact and the mental toll it takes on creative professionals. He urges fellow designers to develop diverse skills to stay competitive.

2025-05-31 12:00:27.259

Taylor Swift has successfully bought back the master recordings of her first six albums, marking a significant victory in her long-running fight for ownership of her music. This acquisition includes not only the master recordings but also videos, concert films, album art, photography, and unreleased songs. Originally losing the rights in 2019 when her label, Big Machine, sold them to Scooter Braun, Swift described the sale as her "worst-case scenario." Braun later sold the masters to Shamrock Capital for a reported $300 million. Swift's letter to fans expresses gratitude to Shamrock Capital for their fair and respectful handling of the deal, emphasizing that this was a business deal but also recognized the personal significance of the music to her. While rumors suggested a much higher purchase price, Swift clarified that the actual cost was significantly lower. Swift's ability to buy back her masters was partly due to her rerecording project, where she remade her first six albums as "(Taylor's Version)", which allowed her to devalue the original recordings and regain control. This project also included unreleased songs from the original songwriting sessions. The success of her rerecordings, combined with her immensely successful Eras tour, contributed to her financial capacity to complete the buyback. While most of her first six albums have been rerecorded, Reputation remains partially unfinished, as Swift felt it perfectly captured a specific moment in her life and didn't need improvement. She hinted at the possibility of releasing the remaining rerecordings and unreleased tracks in the future. Swift's journey highlights the industry-wide conversations about artist rights that her saga initiated, leading to more young artists negotiating ownership of their master recordings in their contracts. She credits her fans for their unwavering support throughout the process.

2025-05-31 12:00:27.245

In 2022, months before resigning as New Zealand's Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern was confronted at Auckland airport by a woman who thanked her for "ruining the country." This incident marked a turning point, highlighting a global surge in rage directed at public figures. Ardern's leadership, characterized by empathy, progressive policies, and decisive Covid-19 measures, had initially garnered international acclaim ("Jacinda-mania"). However, this popularity shifted, and she faced increasing hostility. Her memoir, "A Different Kind of Power," details this tumultuous period. Ardern discusses the challenges of balancing her personal life with the demands of her role, including the birth of her daughter while in office. She clarifies that her resignation wasn't due to burnout but rather a judgment that she wasn't operating at the required level. She reflects on the intense pressures of leading during a global pandemic, the Christchurch mosque massacre, and the anti-vaccine protests that targeted her. Ardern contrasts her leadership style with that of figures like Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, emphasizing the importance of empathy and acknowledging the difficulties of navigating a polarized world. She reflects on the unique challenges faced by women in politics and the disproportionate vitriol they endure. While her resignation didn't quell political polarization, she highlights lasting policy achievements in areas such as climate change and child poverty. Despite the negativity, Ardern remains committed to empathetic leadership and believes in the power of democracy and kindness. She plans to return home to New Zealand soon.

2025-05-31 06:00:17.369

Shakira canceled three concerts due to structural issues with the staging. A Virginia man faces multiple charges for allegedly holding a gun to his child's head. Trump said he'd consider a pardon for Diddy if convicted. Courtney Stodden clapped back at cellulite critics. Loretta Swit, known for "M*A*S*H," passed away. Alix Earle, Katie Austin, and Jena Sims Koepka showed off their swimsuits in Miami. Fans speculate about Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet's relationship. Jonathan Bennett and Cody Simpson showed off their physiques. Sam Asghari had a hot photo shoot. Taylor Swift bought back her entire music catalog. Snoop Dogg supports YoungBoy and Larry Hoover's pardons. Patrick and Brittany Mahomes celebrated Taylor Swift's master purchase. Smokey Robinson was investigated for sexual assault in 2015 but not charged. Trump says he will consider a pardon for Diddy. Elon Musk dismissed a New York Times report about his drug use. Scooter Braun is happy for Taylor Swift's master purchase.

2025-05-31 00:00:10.97

Elon Musk's departure from his role as a special government employee under President Trump was anything but ordinary. His exit interview included discussions ranging from transgender mice and nuclear war to a potential presidential pardon for Sean 'Diddy' Combs. A recent New York Times exposé alleged Musk's heavy ketamine use during the 2024 presidential campaign, a claim he did little to dispel. Trump lauded Musk's cost-cutting measures, despite accusations that these cuts led to the loss of thousands of government jobs and potentially 15,000 lives due to cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development. Musk's unconventional approach, including appointing young hackers to government positions, was praised by Trump as a "colossal change." Despite his departure, both Musk and Trump indicated that their professional relationship will continue. Musk defended his actions, citing complaints from those whose funding was cut and drawing a controversial comparison between bureaucratic spending and Nazi Germany. He also promised the continuation of his "DOGE team's" influence, likening it to a "way of life." The article concludes that Musk's influence on the Trump administration, and potentially the U.S. government, is far from over.

2025-05-30 18:00:10.571

President Trump hosted a final White House press event with Elon Musk, marking the end of Musk's 130-day term as a special government employee. Musk's departure follows his criticism of Trump's policies. The event was highly publicized, with Trump expressing his continued support for Musk on TruthSocial. Other news included Trump issuing pardons to several individuals, including reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, and facing criticism for his use of executive actions and tariffs, with some suggesting it could hurt the Republican party in the upcoming elections. There were also reports alleging Musk's drug use during his time working with Trump. Meanwhile, President Biden made his first public appearance since his prostate cancer diagnosis.

2025-05-30 12:00:37.292

Faizan Zaki, a favorite going into the Scripps National Spelling Bee, won the competition despite a moment of overconfidence. After correctly spelling most words with enthusiasm, he prematurely attempted to spell "commelina", realizing his mistake and asking to stop. He recovered, however, correctly spelling his winning word, "eclaircissement", without asking any questions and celebrating with excitement. The win marks the 100th anniversary of the bee, and Zaki may be remembered more for his near-miss than his victory.

2025-05-30 12:00:37.284

TOKYO (AP) — European shares rose while Asian benchmarks finished mostly lower Friday as uncertainty grew about what will happen next after a U.S. court blocked many of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. France’s CAC 40 rose 0.2% in early trading to 7,796.14, while Germany’s DAX jumped 0.6% to 24,122.42. Britain’s FTSE 100 added 0.6% to 8,771.71. U.S. shares were set to drift lower with Dow futures down 0.1% at 42,217.00. S&P 500 futures declined 0.1% to 5,914.75. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 1.2% to finish at 37,965.10. Government data showed Tokyo core inflation, excluding fresh food, rising to a higher-than-expected 3.6% in May. Some analysts say that makes it more likely the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3% to 8,434.70. South Korea’s Kospi declined 0.8% to 2,697.67, ahead of a presidential election set for next week. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 1.2% to 23,289.77, while the Shanghai Composite shed 0.5% to 3,347.49. Earlier this week, the U.S. Court of International Trade said that the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act that Trump cited for ordering massive increases in taxes on imports from around the world does not authorize the use of tariffs. The ruling at first raised hopes in financial markets that a hamstrung Trump would not be able to drive the economy into a recession with his tariffs, which had threatened to grind down on global trade and raise prices for consumers already sick of high inflation. But the tariffs remain in place for now while the White House appeals the ruling, and the ultimate outcome is still uncertain. The court’s ruling also affects only some of Trump’s tariffs, not those on foreign steel, aluminum and autos, which were invoked under a different law. The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Thursday allowed the president to temporarily continue collecting the tariffs under the emergency powers law while he appeals the trade court’s decision. Un energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude rose 24 cents to $61.18 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, edged up 23 cents to $64.38 a barrel. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar declined to 143.96 Japanese yen from 144.12 yen. The euro cost $1.1342, down from $1.1367.

2025-05-30 12:00:37.279

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is undergoing a significant staff reorganization, involving leadership changes in its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) divisions. Kenneth Genalo, acting director of ERO, is retiring, while Robert Hammer, acting head of HSI, is transitioning to another role. Marcos Charles will become the acting head of ERO, and Derek Gordon will lead HSI. These changes, according to ICE, aim to fulfill President Trump's mandate of arresting and deporting criminal illegal aliens. This follows White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller's announcement of a daily arrest goal of 3,000, a substantial increase from the current average of 656 daily arrests. The administration is seeking increased funding to support this ambitious deportation plan, including more ICE officers, detention beds, and transportation. This is the latest in a series of staff changes at ICE, reflecting the Trump administration's focus on immigration enforcement.

2025-05-30 12:00:37.272

Bernard Kerik, New York City's police commissioner on September 11, 2001, and later a convicted tax fraudster who received a presidential pardon, has died at the age of 69. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that Kerik passed away on Thursday following an unspecified illness. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had a long-standing relationship with Kerik, spoke emotionally about their history, describing Kerik as a brother and stating that he was a better, braver, and stronger person for knowing him. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, also a former NYPD officer, confirmed that he had visited Kerik at the hospital earlier that day. Kerik, an Army veteran, was initially hailed as a hero after 9/11 and was even nominated to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. However, his career took a dramatic turn, leading to a prison sentence. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to tax fraud, making false statements, and other charges stemming from apartment renovations he received from a construction firm with alleged organized crime ties. The judge at his sentencing noted that Kerik committed some of these crimes while serving as the chief law enforcement officer of New York City. President Donald Trump pardoned Kerik in 2020. Kerik's background included serving in the Army as a military policeman, working private security in Saudi Arabia, supervising a New Jersey jail, and leading New York City's troubled jail system before becoming police commissioner. After 9/11, he was at Giuliani's side and played a significant role in the city's response. He later worked to organize Iraq's police force and was nominated for Homeland Security Secretary before withdrawing his nomination due to concerns about a housekeeper's immigration status. Following his conviction, Kerik founded a consulting firm and later worked with Giuliani again.