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A fishing boat glides peacefully across the calm North Sea, positioned perfectly beneath the blazing orb of the setting sun.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Associated Press: As artificial intelligence companies reshape the economy and race toward trillion-dollar valuations, Sen. Bernie Sanders is proposing a sweeping transfer of wealth and power from the industry to the American public. The legislation, shown first to The Associated Press, would create a sovereign wealth fund overseen by an independent commission and financed through a one-time 50% tax on the stock of the largest AI companies. Sanders estimates that the tax would create a nearly $7 trillion fund that would generate hundreds of billions of dollars annually in direct payments to Americans and programs such as health care, education and housing.
[...] The 50% tax would apply to AI companies that reach $200 million in annual AI sales. Any new AI company that reaches that benchmark would also be subject to the tax. It would create a sovereign wealth fund -- similar to those used by countries around the world and some U.S. states -- that Sanders estimates would be worth around $7 trillion. Unlike a traditional tax, the proposal would require companies to transfer stock rather than cash, effectively making the American public a major shareholder in the country's largest AI firms.
A seven-person independent commission -- nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate -- would manage the fund and use its voting shares "to block decisions that hurt the American people and to push for policies that help them," the bill summary says. Sanders proposes that a 5% annual dividend from the fund would provide direct payments of more than $1,000 to every American. If companies grow, the gains would be used for public goods such as education, housing and health care. Sanders argues taxpayers would not bear the losses if AI company valuations decline. "We're not going to lose any money, even if there is a bust in the bubble," Sanders said. The commission would be directed to "to block decisions that hurt the American people and to push for policies that help them," according to the summary. "The benefits cannot simply go to the handful of wealthy corporations. They will be shared by the American people," the independent Vermont senator said in an interview Wednesday. "The public has got to have a significant seat at the table to make sure that terrible things do not happen to ordinary people, and that in fact, AI benefits ordinary people, not hurts them," Sanders said.
[...] The 50% tax would apply to AI companies that reach $200 million in annual AI sales. Any new AI company that reaches that benchmark would also be subject to the tax. It would create a sovereign wealth fund -- similar to those used by countries around the world and some U.S. states -- that Sanders estimates would be worth around $7 trillion. Unlike a traditional tax, the proposal would require companies to transfer stock rather than cash, effectively making the American public a major shareholder in the country's largest AI firms.
A seven-person independent commission -- nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate -- would manage the fund and use its voting shares "to block decisions that hurt the American people and to push for policies that help them," the bill summary says. Sanders proposes that a 5% annual dividend from the fund would provide direct payments of more than $1,000 to every American. If companies grow, the gains would be used for public goods such as education, housing and health care. Sanders argues taxpayers would not bear the losses if AI company valuations decline. "We're not going to lose any money, even if there is a bust in the bubble," Sanders said. The commission would be directed to "to block decisions that hurt the American people and to push for policies that help them," according to the summary. "The benefits cannot simply go to the handful of wealthy corporations. They will be shared by the American people," the independent Vermont senator said in an interview Wednesday. "The public has got to have a significant seat at the table to make sure that terrible things do not happen to ordinary people, and that in fact, AI benefits ordinary people, not hurts them," Sanders said.
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"I stand motionless because I believe it gives the team emotional stamina," he said in a phone interview last week. "Just as Lumumba sacrificed his life for our country, mine is a small price to pay because of how deeply I care about this team."
Even though Mboladinga missed the first game, Congo fought to a surprise draw with Portugal, 1-1
Even though Mboladinga missed the first game, Congo fought to a surprise draw with Portugal, 1-1
DEN HAAG (ANP) - De strafrechtelijke vervolging van schoolverzuim moet stoppen. Er moet zo snel mogelijk een passend en effectief alternatief komen voor de aanpak van leerlingen die spijbelen. Dat adviseert de Raad voor Strafrechtstoepassing en Jeugdbescherming (RSJ) in een rapport.
De focus ligt nu te veel op het strafrecht en te weinig op de ontwikkeling van leerlingen, stelt de raad. Wat betreft de RSJ moet de discussie over de aanpak van schoolverzuim gaan over de vraag: wat hebben jeugdigen nodig om zich optimaal te kunnen ontwikkelen? "Belangrijk is te kijken naar wat een jongere nodig heeft in onderwijs en ondersteuning om de oorzaken van het schoolverzuim aan te pakken", aldus de raad.
De RSJ adviseert daarom "te stoppen met strafrechtelijke vervolging en in plaats daarvan te kiezen voor zorg en passend onderwijs, omdat straf de onderliggende problemen meestal niet oplost".
"Zorg zo snel mogelijk voor een passend en werkzaam alternatief, waarbij er een hoofdverantwoordelijke is voor de aanpak van schoolverzuim", schrijft de RSJ verder. "Bij deze landelijke aanpak moet gefocust worden op de oorzaken van en onderliggende problematiek bij schoolverzuim. Ook moeten ouders actief betrokken worden en komen er passende vormen van onderwijs of alternatieve dagbesteding."
DEN HAAG (ANP) - Gezondheidsminister Sophie Hermans (VVD) wil de behandeling van het wetsvoorstel om het eigen risico te verhogen uitstellen tot na de zomer. Dat werd donderdagavond duidelijk, toen Ingrid Coenradie (JA21) en Diederik van Dijk (SGP) voorstelden de behandeling uit te stellen en Hermans zich daar in kon vinden. Dit zorgde voor woede bij oppositiepartijen PRO, PVV en SP.
In de toelichting van de wet staat dat de wet uiterlijk begin juli behandeld moet zijn. Coenradie en Van Dijk willen eerst een analyse van de financiële effecten van de verhoging, zoals een aangenomen motie van Chris Stoffer (SGP) voorschrijft, afwachten en Hermans heeft daar begrip voor. Ze herhaalde meermaals dat haar harde deadline 1 oktober is. "Vanuit VWS zal alles op alles worden gezet om het proces in goede banen te leiden", aldus Hermans.
"Ik vind dit wel een heel raar figuur", zei Julian Bushoff (PRO) over de verandering van het tijdspad. "Wat speelt hier?", aldus Bushoff, die Hermans ervan beticht te onderhandelen met JA21 en SGP.
More walking and standing in the workplace also associated with higher risk, according to Danish research
Bending forwards and walking a lot at work in the early stages of pregnancy may increase the risk of miscarriage, a study suggests.
Miscarriage affects about 15% of women. Risk factors include parental age, smoking, night shift work and exposure to air pollution and various chemical compounds.
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