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Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Weekly unemployment claims saw surprise slight drop this week
July 24 (UPI) -- The number of Americans filing for unemployment insurance dropped unexpectedly this week, but unemployed workers are likely having a difficult time getting new jobs. The United States Department of Labor released its weekly unemployment insurance claims seasonally adjusted data for the week of July 19, showing a slight drop in claims. The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 217,000, a drop of 4,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 221,000. The four-week moving average was 224,500, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 229,500. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.3 percent for the week ending July 12, and that didn't change from the previous week. The total number of continued weeks claimed for benefits in all programs for the week ending July 5 was 2,039,425, an increase of 113,926 from the previous week, showing a sluggish hiring market. In the comparable week last year, there were 1,970,274 weekly claims filed for benefits in all programs. No state entered the Extended Benefits program during the week ending July 5. There were 789 former federal civilian employees who filed in the week ending July 12, which was an increase of 193. Newly discharged veterans' claims were at 302 initial claims, down from 101 from the previous week. There were 7,226 continued weeks claimed filed by former federal civilian employees the week ending July 5, an increase of 191 from the previous week. There were 4,479 newly discharged veterans claiming benefits, an increase of 167 from the past week. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
X declines to hand over data in French data tempering investigation
July 21 (UPI) -- X declined to hand over data in allegations made by French authorities concerning a data tampering investigation on Monday. "French authorities have launched a politically-motivated criminal investigation into X over the alleged manipulation of its algorithm and alleged 'fraudulent data extraction," X posted on social media. "X categorically denies these allegations." Prosecutors initiated an investigation in January following allegations that X's algorithm was being exploited for foreign interference. This month, the investigation was moved over to France's national police. "French authorities have requested access to X's recommendation algorithm and real-time data about all user posts on the platform in order for several 'experts' to analyze the data and purportedly 'uncover the truth' about the operation of the X platform," X said. X said the investigation is meant "to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech." "X has not acceded to the French authorities' demands, as we have a legal right to do. This is not a decision that X takes lightly. However, in this case, the facts speak for themselves," X said. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Netflix reveals it used AI in Argentinian sci-fi series
July 18 (UPI) -- The Netflix streaming service said this week it is using artificial intelligence for the first time in order to create realistic effects for a foreign sci-fi series. The company's revenue is certainly on the rise, which rose 16% during the second quarter of 2025, and is expected to be between $44.8 billion and $45.2 billion, up from a range of $43.5 billion to $44.5 billion as per its full-year revenue forecast. Its profits grew from $2.1 billion to $3.1 billion. As for its AI usage, Netflix co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos said the Argentinian science fiction program The Eternaut was the first for which generative AI footage was utilized. "We remain convinced that AI represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper," he told analysts Thursday after Netflix reported its second-quarter financial results. According to Sarandos, visual effects artists used AI for Eternaut to show the collapse of a building. "Using AI-powered tools, they were able to achieve an amazing result with remarkable speed and, in fact, that VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been completed with traditional VFX tools and workflows," he said. "The cost of [the special effects without the use of AI] just wouldn't have been feasible for a show in that budget." The Eternaut, or El Eternauta, is based on an apocalyptic Argentine comic book and graphic novel about the survivors of an alien invasion. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
17-07-2025
- Miami Herald
Wind chime market in Kawasaki, Japan, brings together art, color and sound
July 17 (UPI) -- The sounds of thousands of wind chimes may or may not seem enjoyable. But the fūrin (wind chimes) at the Kawasaki Daishi Furin-Ichi Wind Chime Market are nothing like the chimes in your mom's backyard. The annual chime market is happening now through July 21 at the Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji Temple in Kawasaki, Japan. This year is the 30th anniversary of the event, which began when a priest at the Buddhist temple had the idea to draw people to the city to enjoy the excitement of the market. As a head priest said: "We want visitors to hear the sound of wind chimes from all over Japan." There are more than 800 types of chimes from all over the country for sale at the market. They are made of ceramics, glass, metal and more, and they each have a unique sound. If you go, signal to everyone you expect only good vibes when you buy the temple's own chime: the Daruma Wind Chime for warding off evil. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Indigenous Australians lose climate change case against government
July 15 (UPI) -- An Australian federal court ruled Tuesday that Indigenous residents of the Torres Strait Islands are not owed environmental protections from the nation's government. Justice Michael Wigney said in his dismissal that "changes wrought by the escalating impacts of global warming and climate change in the Torres Strait have had, and continue to have, a devastating impact on the traditional way of life of Torres Strait Islanders." However, he concluded that the case brought by island community elders Pabai Pabai and Paul Kabai "failed because the law in Australia as it currently stands provides no real or effective avenue through which the applicants were able to pursue their claims." Wigney further explained that current common Australian law is not written in a way that the plaintiffs could seek relief in regard to what they considered a failure of the federal government. The elders, Pabai Pabai and Paul Kabai, launched legal action in 2021 against the government for allegedly failing to protect the Torres Strait Islands from the impact of climate change. The plaintiffs charged that governmental negligence interfered with the completion of Ailan Kastom, customary practices unique to Torres Strait Islanders that relate to a spiritual connection to the islands and surrounding waters. "I thought that the decision would be in our favor, and I'm in shock," said Kabai Tuesday. "My heart is broken for my family and my community," said Pabai. There are around 4,000 residents of the Torres Strait Islands, with 90% who identify as Indigenous. Wigney concluded his ruling with a notation that any future, similar lawsuits will also fail "until the law in Australia changes." He then added that until it does, "the only recourse that those in the position of the applicants and other Torres Strait Islanders have is recourse via the ballot box." Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowenreleased a joint statement with the Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy Tuesday in regard to the case. The release noted ways the current government has attempted to deal with climate change, and that it "remains committed to both acting to continue to cut emissions and adapting to climate impacts we cannot avoid." As for Tuesday dismissal of the case brought by Pabai and Kabai, it concluded that "As the Commonwealth is carefully considering the detailed judgment, it would not be appropriate to comment on the specific findings while this occurs." Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
