Latest news with #SouthAfrican-American
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What does DOGE stand for? About the agency, federal firings and stimulus checks
Forget zodiacs — 2025 is seemingly the year of "Doge." Since its establishment last month, Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has shaken up the federal workforce in a matter of weeks. From firings to controversial emails, the South African-American billionaire has caused uproar with his role in President Donald Trump's administration. But what exactly does "Doge" mean? From silly dog photos to a newly established advisory group, here is what to know about every version of Doge and how its newest addition is impacting the country. As of 2025, the word "doge" can refer to very different things. However, it origin comes from photo of a Shiba Inu with its raised eyebrows and glaring sideways at the camera. The term "doge" was born out of these photos, slang for "dog." Silly, sarcastic messages written in the Comic Sans font would typically accompany the meme. The original photos came from Japanese teacher Atsuko Sato, who posted the photos of her rescue-adopted dog Kabosu to her blog. The first use of the meme is unknown; however, it became popular online in the early 2010s with Reddit and Tumblr users, according to Know Your Meme. Inspired by the meme, software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer created the cryptocurrency "Dogecoin" in 2013 as a joke on the surge in other digital coins. However, USA TODAY reported it became one of the most popular "meme stocks" amid a boom in retail trading and a viral trend to get the coin to a dollar during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dogecoin's price peaked in May 2021 at $0.72. As of Feb. 25, 2025, it is worth $0.20. Now, "Doge" has an even more powerful definition — standing for "Department of Government Efficiency," which was started by Trump during his first day of the presidency on Jan. 20. It is headed by Musk. NPR notes Trump didn't "create" the department; rather it was renamed from the previously existing United States Digital Service, which was created under former President Barack Obama. What is 'Doge'? Why new government department shares its name with viral 2010s meme What exactly is it about the term "Doge" that Musk loves so much? It's a little harder to track Musk's origins with the meme; however, Business Insider said he once cited his interest in the meme to the fact that it has dogs and "the best humor." The meme has now become an emblem for Musk and his supporters online, with his X followers typing in the same speech pattern and photoshopping the dog into pictures with Musk. Musk has been vocal over the years about his love of memes, flooding his social media accounts with photos and quotes from viral items. He once referred to them as 'modern art" in 2019 and the following year tweeted "Who controls the memes controls the universe." Trump's executive order establishes the Department of Government Efficiency to implement the President's DOGE Agenda by "modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity." According to Trump himself last year, DOGE will provide advice and guidance from outside of the government, and it will partner with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to "drive large-scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before." It's not a department, despite the name. Trump tapped Musk and former GOP presidential opponent Vivek Ramaswamy as the heads of the advisory group. Ramaswamy exited the position last month, instead running for governor of Ohio. No, Musk is not a federal employee. White House officials state Musk is a "special government employee." According to Reuters, Trump first floated the idea of Musk becoming an advisor to his administration in August 2024. Musk responded to Trump by tweeting an AI-generated photo of himself in front of a podium marked "Department of Government Efficiency." Trump's executive order earlier this month directs the federal government to implement a "workforce optimization initiative" created by DOGE, which has been moving rapidly from one department to another to slash spending and gut programs. In an effort to downsize the U.S. government, DOGE and Trump created a buyout program promising eight months of pay and benefits to over two million federal employees in exchange for their immediate resignation. Federal employees who chose to continue to work in the federal government are required to return to in-person work and embrace new "performance standards" and be "reliable, loyal and trustworthy" in their work, among other new "reforms" across the government. According to USA TODAY, about 75,000 federal employees accepted Trump's buyout offer. The deadline was originally set for Feb. 6 but U.S. District Judge George O'Toole paused it to hear arguments against the offer. According to the Intelligencer, roughly 30,000 federal workers have been fired by DOGE since it began work in January. Some of these agencies and departments include: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Department of Agriculture Department of Defense Department of Education Department of Energy Department of Health and Human Services Department of Homeland Security Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of the Interior Department of Justice Department of Transportation Department of the Treasury Department of Veterans Affairs Environmental Protection Agency Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and National Labor Relations Board Musk is keeping a running tally of estimated savings on its website. As of Feb. 25, DOGE estimated savings have reached $55 billion. However, USA TODAY has reported previously that DOGE's website has published misleading information on the amount of money it has claimed to save. After stimulus payments from DOGE savings were brought up by Azoria investment firm CEO James Fishback on X, Musk responded to Fishback's post saying, "Will check with the President." Trump announced last week he is considering the idea. "We're considering giving 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens and 20% to paying down the debt," Trump said at the Saudi-sponsored FII PRIORITY Summit in South Florida. Contributing: Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Elon Musk's DOGE: What is it, why agency's actions are controversial
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
From breast cancer to HIV, how AI is set to revolutionise healthcare
This week's artificial intelligence summit in Paris highlights the potential for use of the technology in healthcare, with AI offering new diagnostic tools and treatment options – although experts stress it will not replace human expertise, and caution there is still work to do in how it is implemented. Among the AI projects being showcased beneath the glass roof of the Grand Palais is a robot that could help to break down barriers in healthcare. "Our AI will provide practical, tailored answers to questions about sexual health and HIV prevention, which are still very taboo subjects. Our users can ask all the questions they want, and our AI will guide them through self-testing and, if necessary, put them in touch anonymously with clinicians," said Sarah Morris, marketing manager for South African-American company Audere, which produces this robot. Why the African continent has a role to play in developing AI While this week's AI Action Summit in Paris is a showcase for future developments in the sphere, AI is already being used to support healthcare professionals. Read more on RFI English
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump goes all-in on crypto: Bitcoin soars as new policies shake up the industry
Donald Trump has wasted no time making cryptocurrency a centerpiece of his presidency. During his campaign, Trump vowed to make America the crypto capital of the world, and since taking office on January 20, he has made good on that promise. One of his first major actions in office was signing an executive order to establish an internal working group dedicated to advancing cryptocurrency adoption. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead One dozen eggs in America now costs $4.15 — and $14.35 for a pound of sirloin steak. Both record highs. 3 simple ways to protect your wealth in 2025 Home prices in America could fly through the roof in 2025 — here's the big reason why and how to take full advantage (with as little as $10) He also appointed South African-American venture capitalist David Sacks as chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The shift toward digital currency — with fewer restrictions from banks and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — has become a defining feature of Trump's 47th presidency. 'You like (cryptocurrency)?' Trump said, upon signing the executive order on January 23, 'We're gonna make a lot of money for the country.' His aggressive pro-crypto stance has reignited the industry. After struggling through disappointing years, Bitcoin surged over 36% between November 6 — when Trump's election win was certified — and December 31. During his 2024 election campaign, Trump positioned himself as a 'pro-Bitcoin' candidate, claiming it 'stands for freedom sovereignty, and independence from government, coercion and control.' He also pledged to fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler on his first day in office. Gensler, who had spent years imposing regulatory restrictions and fines on crypto firms like Coinbase and Binance, tendered his resignation on November 21, 2024, after Trump's election victory and officially stepped down on January 20. According to Federal Election Commission data, the crypto community donated over $245 million to Trump's campaign — accounting for more than 50% of all corporate donations. However, Trump wasn't always pro-crypto. In 2021, he dismissed Bitcoin as a 'scam' and preached the U.S. Dollar as the 'currency of the world.' 'I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air,' Trump wrote in a series of posts on X in 2019. He also linked crypto to the rising crime rates during his first term. 'Unregulated crypto assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade and other illegal activity,' Trump wrote in another X post. Just a few days before taking office, Trump launched a meme coin called $TRUMP, while First Lady Melania Trump followed with her own, $MELANIA. The president's cryptocurrency skyrocketed, climbing from roughly $6.50 to $73 in just two days. Meanwhile, $MELANIA rose by nearly 40% to $13 before correcting to $2.30. The Trump family's net worth increased by billions following the meme coin launches, but the move hasn't gone without criticism. 'We write with deep concern about the decision by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to launch two meme coins, $TRUMP and $MELANIA, that allow them to earn extraordinary profits off his Presidency,' said Congressional Democrats Elizabeth Warren and Jake Auchincloss in a letter to multiple regulators. Read more: 82% of Americans are missing out on a savings account that pays over 10 times the national average Trump has touted his 47th presidency as a 'golden age for America,' and the cryptocurrency industry stands to benefit. 'The reign of terror against crypto is over,' said Sacks, the newly appointed AI and crypto czar, at the Crypto Ball in New York on January 17, 'The beginning of innovation in America for crypto has just begun.' Bitcoin crossed $100,000 for the first time since December 2024, hitting an all-time high of over $109,000 on Trump's inauguration day. Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, predicts this momentum will continue through 2025, with Bitcoin potentially surpassing $200,000 by year-end. However, investing in crypto comes with risks. Bitcoin has already pulled back by over 3% in the past week as initial enthusiasm around Trump's presidency fades. 'Investors should also recognize that volatility can work in both directions: while it presents the possibility of substantial upside gains, it equally entails the risk of significant losses,' said Dovile Silenskyte, Director of Digital Assets Research at WisdomTree Investments. To mitigate risk, consider diversifying your investments. Allocating a portion of your total portfolio to tried-and-true assets can help reduce exposure to crypto volatility. Gold, for example, has long been a hedge against inflation and stock market downturns. With geopolitical tensions rising, analysts at JPMorgan predict gold prices could reach $3,000 in 2025. A gold IRA can help diversify your portfolio while offering tax benefits. Real estate is another way to hedge against market risks while building wealth. As commercial real estate makes a comeback, investing in grocery-anchored properties could provide a stable passive income stream amid uncertainty. Self-made $500M mogul Ben Mallah reveals his 'essential' US portfolio that he says Amazon 'can't hurt' — here's his secret formula and how you can copy it in 2025 I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Jamie Dimon issues a warning about the US stock market — says prices are 'kind of inflated.' Crashproof your portfolio with these 3 rock-solid strategies This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump goes all-in on crypto: Bitcoin soars as new policies shake up the industry
Donald Trump has wasted no time making cryptocurrency a centerpiece of his presidency. During his campaign, Trump vowed to make America the crypto capital of the world, and since taking office on January 20, he has made good on that promise. One of his first major actions in office was signing an executive order to establish an internal working group dedicated to advancing cryptocurrency adoption. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead One dozen eggs in America now costs $4.15 — and $14.35 for a pound of sirloin steak. Both record highs. 3 simple ways to protect your wealth in 2025 Home prices in America could fly through the roof in 2025 — here's the big reason why and how to take full advantage (with as little as $10) He also appointed South African-American venture capitalist David Sacks as chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The shift toward digital currency — with fewer restrictions from banks and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — has become a defining feature of Trump's 47th presidency. 'You like (cryptocurrency)?' Trump said, upon signing the executive order on January 23, 'We're gonna make a lot of money for the country.' His aggressive pro-crypto stance has reignited the industry. After struggling through disappointing years, Bitcoin surged over 36% between November 6 — when Trump's election win was certified — and December 31. During his 2024 election campaign, Trump positioned himself as a 'pro-Bitcoin' candidate, claiming it 'stands for freedom sovereignty, and independence from government, coercion and control.' He also pledged to fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler on his first day in office. Gensler, who had spent years imposing regulatory restrictions and fines on crypto firms like Coinbase and Binance, tendered his resignation on November 21, 2024, after Trump's election victory and officially stepped down on January 20. According to Federal Election Commission data, the crypto community donated over $245 million to Trump's campaign — accounting for more than 50% of all corporate donations. However, Trump wasn't always pro-crypto. In 2021, he dismissed Bitcoin as a 'scam' and preached the U.S. Dollar as the 'currency of the world.' 'I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air,' Trump wrote in a series of posts on X in 2019. He also linked crypto to the rising crime rates during his first term. 'Unregulated crypto assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade and other illegal activity,' Trump wrote in another X post. Just a few days before taking office, Trump launched a meme coin called $TRUMP, while First Lady Melania Trump followed with her own, $MELANIA. The president's cryptocurrency skyrocketed, climbing from roughly $6.50 to $73 in just two days. Meanwhile, $MELANIA rose by nearly 40% to $13 before correcting to $2.30. The Trump family's net worth increased by billions following the meme coin launches, but the move hasn't gone without criticism. 'We write with deep concern about the decision by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to launch two meme coins, $TRUMP and $MELANIA, that allow them to earn extraordinary profits off his Presidency,' said Congressional Democrats Elizabeth Warren and Jake Auchincloss in a letter to multiple regulators. Read more: 82% of Americans are missing out on a savings account that pays over 10 times the national average Trump has touted his 47th presidency as a 'golden age for America,' and the cryptocurrency industry stands to benefit. 'The reign of terror against crypto is over,' said Sacks, the newly appointed AI and crypto czar, at the Crypto Ball in New York on January 17, 'The beginning of innovation in America for crypto has just begun.' Bitcoin crossed $100,000 for the first time since December 2024, hitting an all-time high of over $109,000 on Trump's inauguration day. Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, predicts this momentum will continue through 2025, with Bitcoin potentially surpassing $200,000 by year-end. However, investing in crypto comes with risks. Bitcoin has already pulled back by over 3% in the past week as initial enthusiasm around Trump's presidency fades. 'Investors should also recognize that volatility can work in both directions: while it presents the possibility of substantial upside gains, it equally entails the risk of significant losses,' said Dovile Silenskyte, Director of Digital Assets Research at WisdomTree Investments. To mitigate risk, consider diversifying your investments. Allocating a portion of your total portfolio to tried-and-true assets can help reduce exposure to crypto volatility. Gold, for example, has long been a hedge against inflation and stock market downturns. With geopolitical tensions rising, analysts at JPMorgan predict gold prices could reach $3,000 in 2025. A gold IRA can help diversify your portfolio while offering tax benefits. Real estate is another way to hedge against market risks while building wealth. As commercial real estate makes a comeback, investing in grocery-anchored properties could provide a stable passive income stream amid uncertainty. Self-made $500M mogul Ben Mallah reveals his 'essential' US portfolio that he says Amazon 'can't hurt' — here's his secret formula and how you can copy it in 2025 I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Jamie Dimon issues a warning about the US stock market — says prices are 'kind of inflated.' Crashproof your portfolio with these 3 rock-solid strategies This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What does ‘DOGE' mean? Why new government department shares its name with viral 2010s meme
"Doge to the moon!" "Doge to the White House!" One meme is seemingly still going viral and worming itself into popular culture over a decade later — mostly thanks to Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Doge memes are still going strong in 2025 due to the South African-American billionaire and his role in President Donald Trump's administration. But what exactly is "Doge" and why has it been everywhere since 2010? From silly dog photos to a newly established advisory group, here is what to know about Doge and his various forms. The Doge meme is a slang term for "dog," showcasing photos of a Shiba Inu with its raised eyebrows and glaring sideways at the camera. Silly, sarcastic messages written in Comic Sans font will typically accompany the meme. The original photos came from Japanese teacher Atsuko Sato, who posted the photos of her rescue-adopted dog Kabosu to her blog. The first use of the meme is unknown; however, it became popular online in the early 2010s with Reddit and Tumblr users, according to Know Your Meme. Kabosu died in May of 2024. Sato announced the death of the 18-year-old Shiba Inu in a tribute post on her blog, adding she died in her arms. "Thank you all so much for loving Kabosu all these years. I am certain that Kabosu was the happiest dog in the world," Sato said. "That makes me the happiest owner in the world." Social media users around the world mourned the loss of Kabosu, thanking the dog for its impact on pop culture and their lives. Musk also shared a tribute to the dog, tweeting a photoshopped picture of Kabosu with fellow meme'd animal, Harambe the Gorilla. Musk has been vocal over the years about his love of memes, flooding his social media accounts with photos and quotes from viral items. He once referred to them as 'modern art" in 2019 and the following year tweeted "Who controls the memes controls the universe." As for his specific love for "doge," it's a little harder to track Musk's origins with the meme. According to Business Insider, he once cited his interest in the meme to the fact that it has dogs and "the best humor." The meme has now become an emblem for Musk and his supporters online, with his X followers typing in the same speech pattern and photoshopping the dog into pictures with Musk. Inspired by the meme, software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer created the cryptocurrency "Dogecoin" in 2013 as a joke on the surge in other digital coins. However, USA TODAY reported it became one of the most popular "meme stocks" amid a boom in retail trading and a viral trend to get the coin to a dollar during the COVID-19 pandemic. Musk became associated with the cryptocurrency in 2019 after tweeting that it was his favorite. He also joined social media users in declaring "Dogecoin to the moon" and shared that Tesla would accept the currency as a means of payment for the company's merchandise. Dogecoin's price peaked in May 2021 at $0.72. As of Feb. 6, 2025, it is worth $0.26. Musk was also accused of insider trading by investors in June 2023 due to his announcement of allowing it as a form of payment and also changing the logo of Twitter to Doge. He ended up winning the dismissal of the $258 billion federal lawsuit in August after the court deemed he did not defraud investors by hyping up Dogecoin or conduct insider trading, according to Reuters. DOGE stands for "Department of Government Efficiency," which was started by Trump during his first day of the presidency on Jan. 20. NPR shared Trump didn't "create" the department; rather it was renamed from the previously existing United States Digital Service, which was created under former President Barack Obama. And it's not a department, despite the name. Trump tapped Musk and former GOP presidential opponent Vivek Ramaswamy as the heads of the advisory group. Ramaswamy exited the position last month, instead running for governor of Ohio. Musk is not a federal employee. White House officials state Musk is a "special government employee." According to Reuters, Trump first floated the idea of Musk becoming an advisor to his administration in August 2024. Musk responded to Trump by tweeting an AI-generated photo of himself in front of a podium marked "Department of Government Efficiency." Trump's executive order establishes the Department of Government Efficiency to implement the President's DOGE Agenda by "modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity." According to Trump himself last year, DOGE will provide advice and guidance from outside of the government, and it will partner with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to "drive large-scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before." As of February 2025, the group has rapidly taken over the U.S. government's main human resources and foreign aid arms. USA TODAY reported Musk's actions have caused uproar across the federal workforce in a matter of weeks. Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Elon Musk sees controversy with 'DOGE' group. What does 'doge' mean?
