PR in the Philippines

Fox Sports projects a record-breaking average viewership of 126 million U.S. viewers for Super Bowl LIX, which aired across television and streaming platforms Sunday night. The broadcast was shown on Fox, Fox Deportes, and Telemundo, and streamed on Tubi and the NFL's digital platforms. Fox's initial projections, released Monday, incorporated early Nielsen data and streaming figures from Tubi and the NFL. More comprehensive data was anticipated on Tuesday. This marks the second consecutive year the Super Bowl achieved record viewership. Last year's Chiefs' overtime victory over San Francisco averaged 123.7 million viewers across CBS, Nickelodeon, Univision, and streaming services. According to Fox, viewership peaked at 135.7 million during the second quarter. Preliminary data suggests 14.5 million viewers watched via streaming platforms, including 13.6 million on Tubi, where the game was freely available. Part of the increase is attributed to a shift in viewership measurement. This year marks the first time Nielsen included out-of-home viewers from all states except Hawaii and Alaska. Previously, Nielsen only measured the top 44 media markets, encompassing 65% of the nation. The ratings also encompass Nielsen data from smart TVs, in addition to cable and satellite set-top boxes. Following two closely contested Super Bowls, Sunday's game was decided in the first half with Philadelphia establishing a commanding 24-0 lead. This Super Bowl also featured notable attendees. President Trump's attendance marked the first time a sitting President attended a Super Bowl, while Taylor Swift's ongoing relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce maintained significant public interest. For the third consecutive year, the Super Bowl averaged over 100 million viewers, reversing a trend where four of the five games before 2023 fell below that mark due to cord-cutting. This contrasts with the 2021 Super Bowl between Tampa Bay and Kansas City, which had the lowest TV-only average since 2007, at 95.2 million viewers. NFL playoff viewership averaged 35.2 million viewers over the first three weekends, a 9% decrease from last year's record of 38.5 million. This followed a regular season with an average of 17.5 million viewers. While this ranked as the sixth-highest average since 1995, it represented a 2% decline from 2023.

Retaliatory tariffs imposed by China on U.S. goods went into effect on Monday, shortly after President Trump announced new tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports. This latest exchange of tariffs and import restrictions echoes the trade war between the U.S. and China that characterized much of Trump's first term and continued, to some degree, under President Biden. Less than a month after his return to the White House, Trump imposed 10% tariffs on all Chinese imports, a move anticipated to increase prices on goods such as laptops, toys, and clothing. In response, China levied 15% tariffs on coal and liquefied natural gas, and a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-engine vehicles imported from the U.S. Beijing also initiated an anti-monopoly investigation into Google and added PVH, the parent company of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, to its “unreliable entity” list. Furthermore, China restricted exports of five rare earth metals crucial for defense and clean energy sectors. As this renewed trade friction threatens to escalate, here's a summary of key events in the protracted trade dispute: March 2017 Early in his presidency, Trump, aiming to reduce trade deficits, signed an executive order strengthening tariff enforcement in anti-dumping cases. April 2017 During a visit to Beijing, Trump and President Xi Jinping agreed to a 100-day plan for trade negotiations aimed at shrinking the U.S. trade deficit with China. These talks failed by July. August 2017 Trump initiated an investigation into alleged Chinese intellectual property theft, which the U.S. estimated cost it up to $600 billion annually. January 2018 The U.S. announced 30% tariffs on imported solar panels, primarily sourced from China. April 2018 China responded with tariffs on approximately $3 billion of U.S. imports, including 15% duties on products like fruits, nuts, wine, and steel pipes, and a 25% tax on pork, recycled aluminum, and other goods. The U.S. immediately countered by imposing a 25% tax on roughly $50 billion worth of Chinese goods from aerospace, machinery, and medical sectors. China retaliated with 25% duties on approximately $50 billion of U.S. imports, including aircraft, automobiles, soybeans, and chemicals. June-August 2018 Both countries implemented at least three further rounds of reciprocal tariffs impacting over $250 billion in Chinese goods and more than $110 billion in U.S. imports to China. This included 10% tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods, effective September 2018, scheduled to rise to 25% on January 1, 2019. December 2018-May 2019 Trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing failed to produce a deal despite an agreement in December 2018 to suspend new tariffs. Following the breakdown of talks, Trump increased tariffs from 10% to 25% on $200 billion of Chinese goods. May 2019 The U.S. banned Chinese tech firm Huawei from purchasing parts and components from American companies. June 2019 Trump and Xi agreed to resume trade talks following a phone call, but these discussions faced numerous obstacles over the next five months. January 2020 The U.S. and China signed a Phase One trade agreement, in which China pledged to purchase an additional $200 billion of U.S. goods and services over two years. However, subsequent research indicated China largely failed to meet this commitment. October 2022 President Biden, who had maintained most of the tariffs imposed under Trump, introduced extensive new restrictions on the sale of semiconductors and chipmaking equipment to China. These restrictions were further expanded in October 2023 and December 2024. February 2024 During his campaign, Trump stated his intention to impose tariffs of at least 60% on all Chinese imports if re-elected. May 2024 Biden increased tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, solar cells, steel, aluminum, and medical equipment. Feb. 4, 2025 New 10% tariffs on all Chinese imports to the U.S. came into effect. China immediately retaliated with a series of countermeasures, including tariffs on American coal, liquefied natural gas, and agricultural machinery. —Mistreanu reported from Taipei, Taiwan.

NEW YORK — On Monday, the Trump Administration directed federal prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. This unprecedented decision cited the case's interference with the mayor's ability to support the President's efforts against illegal immigration. A two-page memo from Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, obtained by the Associated Press, instructed New York prosecutors to immediately dismiss the bribery charges against Adams. Bove stated the order wasn't based on the case's merit, but on its proximity to Adams' reelection campaign and its distraction from his administration-related duties. “The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime,” Bove wrote. This intervention, prioritizing a powerful defendant's official duties over accountability for alleged crimes, significantly deviates from established Justice Department practices, which typically grant independence to federal prosecutors. High-ranking government officials, including Trump during his presidency, routinely face Justice Department investigations without similar claims of exemption from prosecution to focus on their governmental roles. This action follows months of speculation about the Trump Justice Department's potential intervention in Adams' case, which involved allegations of bribery through free or discounted travel and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals. After , he altered his stance on Trump, surprising some within his party due to his public support for the Republican President and his strict immigration policies. The memo followed Adams' directive to his officials to avoid publicly criticizing Trump, including his immigration policies. Adams' attorney, Alex Spiro, declared the Justice Department's order vindicated the mayor's innocence. “Now, thankfully, the mayor and New York can put this unfortunate and misguided prosecution behind them.” A spokesperson for the Southern District of New York prosecutors, Nicholas Biase, declined to comment on the order to drop the charges. Trump hinted at a possible pardon in December, stating that the mayor had been “treated pretty unfairly.” He also alleged, without evidence, that Adams was being targeted for criticizing former President Biden's immigration policies. Following Trump's inauguration, Adams' lawyers approached senior Justice Department officials, requesting the case's dismissal. Adams subsequently met with Trump in Florida on January 17th. Afterward, he stated they hadn't discussed his criminal case or pardons, but suggested Trump's agenda would benefit New York more than Biden's. Trump, convicted last year of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment, previously expressed support for Adams. “I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ, for speaking out against open borders,” Trump said in October at a Manhattan event attended by Adams. “We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so are you, Eric.” The case against Adams alleges he accepted over $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and lavish travel perks—including flight upgrades, luxury hotel stays, and a bathhouse trip—during his time as Brooklyn Borough president. The indictment states a Turkish official who facilitated these trips then sought favors from Adams, including lobbying the Fire Department to expedite the opening of a new diplomatic building for a Turkish presidential visit. Prosecutors also presented evidence of Adams directing campaign staff to solicit foreign donations, then concealing them to qualify for a city program offering matching funds for small donations. Federal law prohibits foreign contributions to U.S. elections. Damien Williams, the former U.S. attorney in Manhattan, resigned after Trump's election. However, as recently as January 6th, prosecutors indicated their investigation was ongoing, stating in court documents that they continued to “uncover additional criminal conduct by Adams.” The task of dismissing the case falls to acting U.S. attorney for Manhattan, Danielle Sassoon, who assumed the role after Trump's inauguration. Her position was temporary; Trump nominated Jay Clayton for the permanent role in November, pending Senate confirmation. Federal agents also investigated other senior Adams aides. Before the mayor's indictment, authorities seized phones from a police commissioner, schools chancellor, multiple deputy mayors, and the mayor’s director of Asian Affairs. These officials denied wrongdoing but have since resigned. In December, Adams' chief advisor, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, faced indictment by the Manhattan district attorney on bribery charges related to real estate projects, involving $100,000 in alleged bribes accepted by her and her son. —Durkin Richer and Tucker contributed from Washington. ```

A group of investors, led by Elon Musk, has offered approximately $97.4 billion to acquire OpenAI, intensifying an ongoing legal dispute with the AI company Musk co-founded. Musk, his AI venture xAI, and a consortium of investment firms aim to gain control of the ChatGPT creator and restore its original non-profit research lab status, according to Musk's lawyer, Marc Toberoff. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, swiftly rejected the offer on Musk's X platform, countering with a proposal to purchase Twitter for $9.74 billion. Musk acquired Twitter (now X) for $44 billion in 2022. Musk and Altman, who collaborated on OpenAI's inception in 2015 and later contended for leadership, have been embroiled in a prolonged disagreement regarding the startup's trajectory since Musk's departure from the board in 2018. Musk, an early investor and board member of OpenAI, filed a lawsuit against the company last year, initially in a California state court and subsequently in federal court, alleging a breach of its founding principles as a non-profit research lab dedicated to public benefit. Toberoff stated that Musk invested roughly $45 million in the startup from its inception until 2018. Musk and OpenAI's legal teams recently appeared before a California federal court judge considering Musk's request for an injunction to prevent OpenAI's transition to a for-profit entity. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers hasn't yet ruled on Musk's request but indicated in court that Musk's claim of irreparable harm without intervention was a "stretch." However, the judge also voiced concerns about OpenAI's relationship with Microsoft and confirmed the case would proceed to trial potentially as early as next year for jury deliberation. “It is plausible that what Mr. Musk is saying is true. We’ll find out. He’ll sit on the stand,” she stated. Besides Musk and xAI, other participants in the bid announced on Monday include Baron Capital Group, Valor Management, Atreides Management, Vy Fund, Emanuel Capital Management, and Eight Partners VC. Toberoff stated that if Altman and OpenAI's board proceed with the for-profit conversion, it's crucial that the charity receives fair compensation for the loss of control over "the most transformative technology of our time." Musk's attorney also disclosed a letter sent in early January to the attorneys general of California and Delaware. “As both your offices must ensure any such transactional process relating to OpenAI’s charitable assets provides at least fair market value to protect the public’s beneficial interest, we assume you will provide a process for competitive bidding to actually determine that fair market value,” Toberoff wrote, requesting further details on the bidding process terms and timeline.

Grimes, a musician and producer who has openly embraced AI in her work, was honored at the TIME100 AI Impact Awards in Dubai. In 2023, Grimes garnered attention for her initiative allowing fans to use AI to create music using her voice, promising support to participants. The TIME100 AI Impact Awards, held on Monday in Dubai, recognized Grimes alongside Anima Anandkumar (California Institute of Technology), Refik Anadol (visual artist), and Arvind Krishna (IBM CEO, chairman, and president). The event also included a performance by Emirati singer Arqam Al Abri. During her acceptance speech, Grimes, quoting Arthur C. Clarke, likened advanced technology to magic. She used the platform to acknowledge several innovators, referring to them as "real-life wizards" and celebrating their achievements. Among those Grimes highlighted were David Holz (Midjourney founder), a technologist utilizing AI to understand whale communication, and an entrepreneur who started by building silicon chips in his parents' garage. [Names redacted due to incompleteness in original text] Grimes also praised a singer-songwriter [Name redacted due to incompleteness in original text] who developed a website to identify AI-generated art and a tool enabling artists to remove their work from training datasets. Grimes observed the significance of this tool, noting widespread anxiety surrounding AI’s impact on art and the tendency to overlook positive developments in the field. Grimes emphasized the need for recognizing achievements in technology and celebrating successes amidst concerns about its potential negative impacts, stating that many are working towards positive change and are making progress. The TIME100 AI Impact Awards Dubai was presented by the World Government Summit and the Museum of the Future.

Refik Anadol views data as a creative medium. At the TIME100 AI Impact Awards in Dubai on Monday, the Turkish-American artist stated, "For as long as I can remember, I have envisioned data as more than just information—I have seen it as a vibrant, dynamic substance, a pigment with limitless potential." Anadol was among four AI pioneers honored at TIME's fourth annual Impact Awards. Also recognized were California Institute of Technology professor Anima Anandkumar, musician Grimes, and IBM CEO, chairman, and president Arvind Krishna. The ceremony included a performance by Emirati soul singer Arqam Al Abri. Anadol has spent more than a decade demonstrating the artistic potential of diverse sources. As a media artist and co-founder of Refik Anadol Studio, he has leveraged AI to create novel forms of art, including data paintings and sculptures.  He explained in his speech, “Over the past decade, my work with AI has been a continuous exploration of the collaboration between humans and machines, between memory and imagination, between technology and nature,” Anadol and his team will unveil "Dataland," the world's first AI art museum, in Los Angeles this year—a culmination of years spent creating numerous works exhibited globally. This aligns with his vision to push creative boundaries. Anadol stated, “In my view, art has never been limited to a single culture, location, or audience. It belongs to everyone.” The TIME100 AI Impact Awards Dubai was presented by the World Government Summit and the Museum of the Future.

Anima Anandkumar accelerates solutions to global challenges using AI. Her work includes leveraging AI for improved extreme weather prediction and sustainable nuclear fusion simulations to safely harness this energy source. During her acceptance of a TIME100 AI Impact Award in Dubai on Monday, Anandkumar—a Caltech professor and former Nvidia AI research director—attributed her inspiration to her engineer parents. She highlighted her mother as a powerful role model, emphasizing her parents’ introduction of computerized manufacturing to their Indian hometown as formative to her perspective. Anandkumar explained, “Growing up, I viewed computer programs not just as digital entities, but as tools impacting the physical world, creating precise metal components.” This perspective, she continued, has guided her two decades of AI research, focusing on bridging the physical and digital realms. Anandkumar’s research hinges on neural operators—AI frameworks capable of multi-scale learning. These operators enable the creation of systems with “universal physical understanding,” simulating physical processes, designing innovative engineering solutions previously unattainable, and facilitating new scientific discoveries. Discussing her 2022 collaborative project with Nvidia, Caltech, and other institutions, she described FourCastNet, an AI-powered high-resolution weather model built using neural operators. This model is significantly faster and often more accurate than traditional methods, particularly in predicting extreme weather events like heatwaves and hurricanes. “Neural operators are accelerating progress toward resolving complex scientific problems,” she stated. After mentioning potential applications in drone and rocket design, sustainable nuclear reactors, and medical devices, she concluded, “This is only the beginning.” The TIME100 AI Impact Awards Dubai was presented by the World Government Summit and the Museum of the Future.

President Trump announced a 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum, a recent action in the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and its trading partners. Tariffs are taxes on imported goods. Importers pay these taxes to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, potentially leading to higher consumer prices to offset the added costs.  This measure aims to bolster domestic steel and aluminum industries, but could negatively impact businesses reliant on foreign steel.  The U.S. is a major importer of steel, with Canada, Brazil, and Mexico being top suppliers. Other nations, like South Korea, are significant steel exporters to the U.S. Steel and aluminum are crucial materials in automotive and construction, as well as in manufacturing various goods and appliances.  This action echoes Trump's earlier administration's policies, which included a 25% steel tariff and a 10% aluminum tariff, although some countries received exemptions. Following this latest tariff announcement, South Korean steelmakers' shares declined, while U.S. steel companies saw their shares rise. The U.S. imports over 2 million metric tons of steel mill products monthly, according to the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration. However, only about 25% of U.S. steel is imported, and total imports have decreased year-over-year.  “You see these empty, old, beautiful steel mills and factories that are empty and falling down,” Trump stated during his campaign. “We’re going to bring the companies back. We’re going to lower taxes for companies that are going to make their products in the USA. And we’re going to protect those companies with strong tariffs.” Approximately half of U.S. aluminum consumption is imported, primarily from Canada. The International Trade Administration reports a substantial increase in U.S. aluminum imports—a 25% rise from 2015 to 2022.  Earlier in February, Trump threatened a 25% tariff on most Canadian and Mexican imports but later delayed implementation for 30 days after negotiations. Trump also imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, which remains in effect. He indicated further retaliatory tariffs against other countries are forthcoming.