BUSINESS

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Music generation services Suno and Udio, have been accused of violating the copyrights of top artists to train their generative AI engines without permission.

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BMW has taken a significant step forward in the world of GT racing with the unveiling of the M4 GT3 EVO, set to make its debut in 2025. This evolution of the M4 GT3 represents a commitment to performance, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Developed with input from factory drivers such as Augusto Farfus, Jens Klingmann, and Bruno Spengler, the EVO-spec car focuses on drivability and efficiency rather than just raw performance gains.

The M4 GT3 EVO distinguishes itself with a host of visual and technical enhancements. Smaller wing mirrors and larger air outlets on the front wheel arches have been introduced for improved aerodynamics. The rear wing’s adjustment range has been expanded, offering better aerodynamic efficiency. The car’s aesthetics are further refined with updated head- and taillights.

Under the hood, the M4 GT3 EVO is equipped with new anti-roll bars on both axles, larger rear brake discs, and a more finely adjustable differential. These upgrades aim to reduce tire and brake wear, ensuring consistent performance over longer periods. The car’s net price is set at €578,000 (approximately $628,655 USD), reflecting the advanced engineering and comprehensive enhancements that have gone into its development.

BMW M Motorsport’s Head of Customer Racing, Bjorn Lellmann, emphasized the importance of customer feedback in the development process. The result is a car that allows drivers to consistently push the limits without undue risk, catering to the needs of racers across various skill levels.

In addition to the M4 GT3 EVO, BMW has also announced the M4 GT4 EVO, which will be available to customers from 2025. The current M4 GT4 has already proven its mettle, with Turner Motorsport clinching the GS title in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in its debut season. Other notable achievements include championships in the GT4 European Series and Pirelli GT4 America.

The M4 GT4 EVO will be showcased alongside the M4 GT3 EVO at the ring°boulevard during the N24 weekend. While details on the updated GT4 car are yet to be revealed, its presence indicates BMW’s ongoing commitment to providing competitive and cutting- edge vehicles for the racing community.

This strategic move by BMW not only strengthens its position in the GT racing segment but also showcases its dedication to innovation and customer-centric development. With the M4 GT3 EVO and the upcoming M4 GT4 EVO, BMW is poised to continue its legacy of success on the racetrack, offering drivers the tools they need to achieve victory. The anticipation for these vehicles is high, and the racing world eagerly awaits their arrival on the circuit.

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang acknowledged that the company's supply is struggling to meet the overwhelming demand for its products, in a recent
interview Yahoo Finance, "Demand is just so strong across the world that we remain entirely supply constrained," Huang stated.

The admission from Nvidia's chief executive comes as the company reported blockbuster financial results for its fiscal 2024 first quarter. Revenue soared 88% year-over-year to $7.19 billion, shattering Wall Street's projections. Net income more than doubled to $2.04 billion.

"The age of AI is upon us, and the exponential growth trajectories for AI training and inference are unstoppable," Huang proclaimed during the  earnings call. "Nvidia has the right products and the best AI platform to help customers fully capitalize on this era."

Huang specifically cited data center revenue as the primary growth driver, skyrocketing 142% from the prior year to $4.28 billion. The burgeoning AI sector's voracious demand for Nvidia's high-performance GPUs and data center chips fueled the surge.

"The world is embracing NVIDIA AI computing for every industry, every cloud, every robot and every intelligent edge device," Huang remarked."We had great breadth across our portfolio with the ramp of our new computing clusters, from Grace Hopper to the viral AI models like ChatGPT."

Gaming revenue, Nvidia's traditional core business, increased a more modest 13% to $2.24 billion. However, Huang noted gaming product supply remains "severely constrained" as consumer demand outstrips available inventory.

Nvidia's total quarterly revenue eclipsed last year's Q1 results of $3.84 billion by a staggering 87%. Net income doubled from $1.03 billion in the year-ago period.Despite the supply challenges,Nvidia's full-year guidance reflects continued optimism for fiscal 2024.The company projects revenue of approximately approximately $33 billion, marking a 35% jump versus fiscal 2023.

Wall Street clearly shares Nvidia's bullish outlook, with the stock soaring over 26% following the earnings report to an all-time high near $400 per share. The company now boasts a mammoth market cap exceeding $900 billion.

Nvidia's CEO made it abundantly clear: the company aims to power the revolution, constrained supply notwithstanding. "The AI boom, which has been decades in the making, has finally arrived," Huang proclaimed.

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A major American IT company has been fined a substantial sum by the U.S. Department of Labor for posting a job advertisement that excluded
non-whites and non-U.S. citizens from applying. The discriminatory ad sparked outrage and an investigation that found the firm had violated federal anti-discrimination laws.

According to the Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), the company posted a job listing in 2018 that stated
applicants must be "White and U.S. citizen" and "No Asians please." The listing was for an engineering position at a facility in Texas.

"The racist and discriminatory language used in this job posting directly violated federal law and core American values," said OFCCP
Director Jenny R. Yang. "No employer should be allowed to exclude applicants based on race, color or citizenship status."

The OFCCP did not identify the company in its statement, referring to it only as "a data analytics firm." However, the agency released details that the firm is a federal contractor with over 2,000 employees and contracts worth over $100 million.

The company has agreed to pay $145,000 in back wages, interest and fines to settle the case, as well as take steps to prevent future discrimination. This includes reviewing policies, providing training, and monitoring its compliance.

In a statement, the firm claimed the discriminatory language was"included in the listing erroneously by a recruiter who has since been terminated." A company spokesperson said it has a"longstanding commitment to affirmative action and equal employment opportunity" and does not condone discrimination.However, the OFCCP Director criticized the firm's "attempts to minimize such egregious discrimination" and said no employer can avoid responsibility by placing blame on a recruiter.

"Discriminatory policies and practices are unacceptable, and the U.S. Department of Labor will work vigilantly to stop unlawful employment
discrimination," Yang stated.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) highlighted the case as "another example of ongoing discrimination in hiring and employment for roles across the tech industry and American workforce." An ACLU spokesperson urged companies to implement stronger oversight and accountability
measures.

With fines and back wages totaling $145,000, the case serves as a sternwarning to employers about the severe consequences of discrimination in   job recruitment and hiring processes.

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A top US banking regulator offered his resignation Monday after an independent report found evidence of widespread sexual misconduct and a "patriarchal" culture at the agency he leads.

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In a move that has escalated tensions between West African nations, Benin has blocked China  first shipment of crude oil from Niger, citing an ongoing border dispute following a military coup in Niger that installed a junta regime. The decision by Benin authorities to prevent three vessels carrying crude oil from docking at the port has raised concerns about the stability of trade relations in the region