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US agriculture industry starts talks with Trump team on tariffs, immigration

US agriculture industry starts talks with Trump team on tariffs, immigration

The U.S. agriculture industry has started talks with Donald Trump’s transition team in a bid to advocate for the food business as the president-elect pledges tariffs and mass deportations.

Groups including the National Grain and Feed Association, which represents agriculture powerhouses such as Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. and Cargill Inc., and the International Fresh Produce Association, were among those involved in the discussions, according to people familiar with the matter. The National Council of Agricultural Employers also has a meeting on the books.

The groups are prioritizing topics such as Trump’s promised tariffs, which could upend trade with key commodity buyers like China and Mexico, as well as immigration, with U.S. agriculture becoming more reliant on foreign labor. Some industry advocates are lobbying for the expansion of a visa program for temporary workers, and others want China to stick to crop purchases pledged during the “Phase One” trade deal negotiated by Trump in his previous term, said the people who asked not to be named citing private talks. read more

OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment

OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment

SAN FRANCISCO — A former OpenAI researcher known for whistleblowing the blockbuster artificial intelligence company facing a swell of lawsuits over its business model has died, authorities confirmed this week.

Suchir Balaji, 26, was found dead inside his Buchanan Street apartment on Nov. 26, San Francisco police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said. Police had been called to the Lower Haight residence at about 1 p.m. that day, after receiving a call asking officers to check on his well-being, a police spokesperson said.

Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAi employee, in San Francisco, on Oct. 3, 2024. Balaji helped gather and organize the enormous amounts of internet data used to train the startup's ChatGPT chatbot. (Ulysses Ortega/The New York Times)
Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAi employee, in San Francisco, on Oct. 3, 2024. Balaji helped gather and organize the enormous amounts of internet data used to train the startup’s ChatGPT chatbot. (Ulysses Ortega/The New York Times)

The medical examiner’s office has not released his cause of death, but police officials this week said there is “currently, no evidence of foul play.”

Information he held was expected to play a key part in lawsuits against the San Francisco-based company.

Balaji’s death comes three months after he publicly accused OpenAI of violating U.S. copyright law while developing ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence program that has become a moneymaking sensation used by hundreds of millions of people across the world. read more

Tech review: Earbuds and phones for those on your holiday list

Tech review: Earbuds and phones for those on your holiday list

By Jim Rossman, Tribune News Service (TNS)

Everyone seems to be listening to something. I’m not sure what they’re listening to, because they all seem to be wearing headphones. I suppose they’re all listening to their favorite podcast or just their playlists.

Here are a few gift suggestions for headphones that’ll make anything sound better. I’ve listed the retail pricing, but don’t be surprised if you find them on sale.

Soundcore AeroFit 2 adjustable open-ear wireless earbuds

The Soundcore AeroFit 2 adjustable open-ear wireless earbuds. (Soundcore/TNS)
The Soundcore AeroFit 2 adjustable open-ear wireless earbuds. (Soundcore/TNS)

We’ve all tried traditional earbuds. They can sound good if the fit is correct.

The SoundCore AreoFit 2 ($99.99, soundcore.com) don’t fit inside your ear canal. Instead, they sit on the outside of your ear. The battery sits behind your ear, much like a hearing aid. The speaker is attached by a sturdy, yet flexible cable. The only adjustment is on the speaker end – it clicks to adjust the angle of the speaker to sit directly over your ear canal.

The fact that they don’t insert into your ears means you can still hear the outside world, so you are not so isolated. These are great for jogging or biking. read more

5 ways to tell if you’re on track for retirement — and 5 things to do if you need to catch up, according to experts

5 ways to tell if you’re on track for retirement — and 5 things to do if you need to catch up, according to experts

Rachel Christian | (TNS) Bankrate.com

Just because retirement planning involves some guesswork doesn’t mean it has to be a total mystery.

The year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upward

The year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upward

By Anna Helhoski, NerdWallet

The battle to get here was certainly an uphill one, but people are generally feeling better about the economy and their finances than they once did. On top of that, the economy has been easing into an ideal, Goldilocks-like position — not running too hot or cooling too quickly.

Throughout 2024, consumer sentiment data showed people were fairly positive about the economy and their own finances, even if there’s remaining frustration over elevated prices compared to four years ago.

Looking ahead, households are feeling more optimistic about their personal finances in the next year, as the share of those expecting to be in a better financial situation a year from now hit its highest level since February 2020.

Combine positive personal vibes with a strong economic picture and it looks like 2024 wasn’t so bad for consumers, after all. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t bumps in the road or potential roadblocks ahead.

To cap off the year, NerdWallet writers reflect on the top trends in personal finance and the economy this year — and what they think might be ahead in 2025. read more