State Street’s asset management unit on Friday dropped targets for the number of women and minority directors who should serve on corporate boards, according to new proxy voting guidance posted on its website.
But the change was striking for State Street, which in March 2017 installed the famous “Fearless Girl” statue in Manhattan’s financial district as part of a campaign to increase gender diversity in business.
State Street, in March 2017, installed the famous “Fearless Girl” statue in Manhattan’s financial district. REUTERS
Along those lines, the global proxy voting policy of State Street Global Advisors as of March 2024 stated the firm expected boards of companies in major indexes to be 30% female or risk votes against nominating committee members. Larger S&P 500 companies were also expected to have at least one racial or ethnic minority director.
Psst, did you hear about Mary Kate Cornett at Ole Miss – and how she slept with her boyfriend Evan Solis’ dad during winter break?
And omg, they are still together despite Evan knowning that Mary Kate slept with his dad, who by the way is such dog. He cheats on his wife all the time.
Pass it on.
If you’re unfamiliar with this story, the players or you think this sounds like the ramblings of a nasty teen gossip girl, congrats. You have a brain and a shred of decency.
Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett Instagram/olemiss2029classbios
Sadly for this couple and their families, swathes of social media users, including some influential names in sports and pop culture rode this unsubstantiated tale about people they never heard of until a few days ago, all the way to the gutter.
The whole debacle is an indictment of our careless social media discourse, and proves that culturally, we’re stuck in middle school.
Mary Kate Cornett was the target of a damaging internet rumor that she slept with her boyfriend’s father. Instagram/olemiss2029classbios
To recap, a few days ago, a screenshot of a poorly written snapchat message appeared on a social media platform – it’s exact origins difficult to place. Littered with the word “like,” it told the saga of Mary Kate from Ole Miss who went home for break, and then out to dinner with her boyfriend’s dad who got her drunk and into bed.
It became the zesty topic du jour for the bored masses, many of whom fetishize SEC frat culture and pretty young chicks – despite being decades past their own glory days.
The rumor took off like a rocket, crop dusting everyone’s timeline and turning #MaryKate into a trending topic on X. Online sleuths dug through the families’ digital footprint, posting photos of both teens, their parents and the elder Solis’ linkedin.
Mary Kate Cornett issued a statement denying the allegations. Instagram / Mary Kate CornettMary Kate Cornett and her boyfriend Evan Solis were piled on by the internet after a salacious story about them became viral. Facebook / Mary Kate Cornett
According to the police report, Mary Kate who is only 18 learned of the rumors while in a salon in Oxford, Mississippi. Her Houston based parents flew to be with their daughter, telling TMZ, they “felt absolutely helpless.” And that she was treated “like she wasn’t a human being.”
It’s super virality was given an assist by some big accounts on various platforms.
Barstool Sports’ Kevin Clancy, known as KFC, who took the bait. On his personal account In a now deleted video, he noted that he felt a bit uncomfortable with the tale but his job is to review internet news, and he doesn’t pick the topic. The topic was decided for him.
Oh the desperation to be in on the conversation and not miss out on sweet sweet clicks!
In a statement on instagram, Evan Solis condemned those “spreading outrageous accustions with no regard to veracity.” Instagram / Evan Solis
ESPN’s Pat McAfee also joined the pile on, referencing it on his show.
Both teens issued statements denying the salacious story, and Mary Kate says she’s been doxxed, cyberstalked and harrassed. She named Barstool, Pat McAfee as well as unhinged former NFL star Antonio Brown and said she’d been the victim of a “deliberate and coordinated cyberattack spreading categorically false and defamatory information.”
Look, gossip is fun, and it has been enjoyed and weaponized since the dawn of time. There’s nothing more delicious than the celebrity rumor mill and a little harmless tittle-tattle.
But we’re talking about two innocent teens who did nothing to ask for the spotlight. They didn’t get arrested for public drunkeness, they aren’t college athletes, and they didn’t post a narcissistic video begging for engagement.
ESPN personality Pat McAfee referenced the scandal on his show, and Cornett has now called him out on it. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
They simply didn’t enter public life, willingly.
No wonder kids are so anxious these days.
And this is a harbinger of dangerous things to come because it can happen to anyone.
As adults, we’re supposed to be above the fray and protect young people – however, online mob mentality has dulled our humanity and given us permission to slip back into our catty, insecure adolescent selves.
And collectively, we have the memory of a goldfish.
Which means, we’ll soon move on to the next shiny object – even as Mary Kate and Evan struggle to escape the stench of this malicious campaign.
And the duo will be just one chapter, in the big petty middle school slam book, we call social media.
Lakers superstar LeBron James has been one of the faces of the NBA for more than two decades.
He doesn’t blame rising star Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves for not wanting that label applied to him.
“I feel Ant,” James said Thursday night after the Lakers’ 111-102 win over Minnesota at Crypto.com Arena. “I understand. I completely understand. There’s this weird energy when it comes to that.”
At age 23, Edwards is already a three-time NBA All-Star as well as an Olympic gold medalist as James’ teammate on the U.S. national team. Not usually one to shy from the spotlight, Edwards was recently asked during an All-Star weekend news conference if he considers himself a possible future face of the league.
Later, during an NBA TV interview, Ant-Man clarified his stance.
“I’m capable of being that guy, but I don’t want to be that guy,” Edwards said. “Put it like that. I want to be the guy to just show up and hoop and just kill dudes and go home.”
“Every great player, whether that’s Ant, Wemby, Bron, you know, Steph [Curry] — you know [who] they compare them to? A mother— [that played] 40 years ago,” said Frye, specifically referring to old school players Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
“Nobody celebrates these new people, so why the f— will anybody want to be the face of the league when you’re going to get s— on, on every network for not being somebody from 40 f—ing years ago? It’s ridiculous. It is unfair.”
James referenced his former teammate’s comment Thursday.
“I mean, Channing Frye said it the other day … Why do you want to be the face of the league when all the people that cover our game and talk about our game on a day-to-day basis s— on everybody?’” James said. “It’s just weird. It’s weird energy from the people that — I don’t know, but Channing, he said it perfectly. Couldn’t say it no better.”
James added on being in the position of having the highest profile in the league: “Ant said he don’t want it. Obviously, I didn’t ask for it, but I knew there was a responsibility for me, not only to my family, my friends, my community and whoever that was gonna follow my journey throughout my career. …
“I’ve always taken that seriously and understood from the beginning what being a professional was all about and being a role model is all about, so I tried to hold that with the utmost respect and honor.”
A few hours after they announced that quarterback Matthew Stafford would return, the Rams agreed to terms with left tackle Alaric Jackson on a three-year contract, a person with knowledge of the situation said Friday.
The person requested anonymity because the deal has not been completed.
Jackson, who signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2021, was due to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins March 12. He played last season on a $4.9-million, one-year deal.
In the wake of Andrew Whitworth’s retirement after the 2021 season, the 6-foot 7-inch, 345-pound Jackson supplanted Joe Noteboom as the starting left tackle.
Last season Jackson did not play the first two games because he was suspended for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy. Upon his return to the lineup, he helped solidify a line that protected Stafford and cleared the way for running back Kyren Williams.
With the return of Jackson, the Rams could field the same offensive line that started the second half of the season, when the Rams bounced back from a 1-4 start to make the playoffs. That configuration included Jackson, left guard Steve Avila, center Beau Limmer, right guard Kevin Dotson and veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein.
The Rams have given interior lineman Jonah Jackson permission to seek a trade.
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis is devastating Britons’ plans for retirement. Higher bills are giving people less money to invest — in UK stocks and other assets — or to save for their later years.
According to Annuity Ready, just 28% of ‘Generation X’ are on course to meet a savings target “that would allow them to live comfortably throughout retirement“.
This demographic comprises those born between 1965 and 1980.
As a result, a staggering 17% of Gen Xers fear they won’t be able to retire at all, with almost four in five of those (78%) predicting they won’t have enough money saved to stop working.
Could building a portfolio of shares and other exchange-traded securities help them turn around their fortunes?
Retirement fears
Gen Xers say that lack of access to final salary pension schemes, and the fact that auto-enrolment has only been introduced recently, will have an impact on their pension savings. They also voice fears over the future cost of living, along with the level and availability of the State Pension.
The 45-to-60-year-old age group is by far the most pessimistic in the UK. But other demographics are also in danger of missing their savings objectives.
According to Annuity Ready, the percentage of people who are on track for a comfortable retirement stands at:
50% for Generation Z (those born between 2001 and 2020)
47% for Millennials (born between 1981 and 2000)
37% for Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964)
In total, only four in 10 survey respondents say their retirement savings goals are on track.
Buying UK stocks
It goes without saying that the earlier one begins planning for retirement, the better the chances of hitting one’s goals. This is thanks to the mathematical miracle that is compounding, where — over the long term — savers and investors can exponentially grow their wealth by making a return on all their past returns.
However, even Gen Xers who are late to the party can build a healthy nest egg with the right strategy. Investing in UK shares, where someone can realistically target an average annual return of 8%, is one I think’s worth considering.
Let’s say a 45-year-old starts their investing journey by putting £500 a month in British stocks. If they can hit that 8% figure, they’d have built a decent portfolio worth £394,366 by the time they reach the State Pension age of 68.
Trust time
A simple way to target a return like this could be to invest in a UK-listed trust that holds a collection of stocks.
The F&C Investment Trust (LSE:FCIT) is one such investment trust I think’s worth considering. It has holdings in more than 400 companies from across the globe, providing excellent diversification by geography and industry.
Major holdings here include tech giants Microsoft, Nvidia, Apple, and Amazon. This can adversely impact returns during economic downturns. But it has also delivered excellent long-term gains as the digital revolution has continued.
Taking a diversified approach like this provides a chance to generate wealth in a low-risk way. But that’s not to say that returns are mediocre. The F&C trust has delivered an average annual return of around 10.9% over the past decade.
If this continues, a £500 investment here would make our 45-year-old an even larger nest egg than that £394,366 by the time they retire.
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This creamy lemon dill sauce is fresh, tangy, and packed with flavor! It’s the perfect complement to salmon, roasted veggies, or even as a dip for crispy potatoes. Made with simple ingredients like fresh dill, lemon, and a touch of garlic, it comes together in minutes!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
Fresh and Flavorful: This lemon dill sauce has an incredibly rich and creamy texture! The combination of fresh herbs, zesty lemon, and tangy sour cream creates a perfectly balanced flavor that’s absolutely irresistible.
Quick and Easy: You can whip this up in about 10 minuteswith 7 simple ingredients, making it the perfect tasty addition to any dish.
This salmon dill sauce comes together in minutes! Simply measure out all the ingredients into a bowl then whisk to combine. Not only does this recipe yield a versatile sauce, but you’ll also be thrilled by how effortlessly you can make it at home.
Combine: In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, fresh minced dill, grated garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
Mix: Whisk together until smooth and creamy. Use immediately or store in the fridge to let the flavors meld together.
Tips for the Best Lemon Dill Sauce
Before you get started, here are some helpful tips to ensure your lemon dill sauce turns out perfectly every time. These simple tricks will help you balance the flavors and achieve the ideal creamy texture to take this recipe to the next level!
Can I use Greek Yogurt? If you want to save on calories or add more protein to your diet, you can use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.
Fresh Dill is Best: I really recommend using fresh dill for this recipe. If you can’t find it, the minced kind in a squeeze tube also works but those are better than dried since you want the best dill flavor for this recipe.
Use Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper is going to give you the best pepper flavor for this dip.
How to Store Leftovers
Lemon dill sauce is great for meal prep! Make it on Sunday to be able to enjoy it with different foods throughout the week.
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. This sauce needs to be kept cold before using.
Don’t Freeze: While freezing might seem like a convenient option, I don’t recommend storing this sauce in the freezer. Instead, just put it in the fridge to preserve flavor and texture.
In a small bowl combine 1 cup sour cream, 3 tablespoons fresh minced dill, 1 teaspoon grated garlic,1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, the juice of 1 lemon, and salt and pepper to taste.
Whisk together until smooth and creamy.
Use immediately or store in the fridge to let the flavors meld together.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin sent an internal message Wednesday to the group working on the company’s AI model Gemini. In the message, Brin wrote that Google can become a leader in AI development — provided that employees work more.
“I recommend being in the office at least every weekday,” Brin said in a message quoted by The New York Times. “Sixty hours a week is the best for productivity.”
Brin sees an increased risk of burnout when working more than 60 hours a week, but at the same time criticized employees who he says do not contribute enough. “Some people work less than 60 hours and some don’t put in more effort than they have to,” he wrote. “The latter are not only unproductive, but can also be very demoralizing for everyone else.”
The Dungeons & Dragons faithful have another option for times when a physical tabletop isn’t feasible. Wizards of the Coast’s Sigil is a 3D virtual tabletop (VTT) experience that borrows some elements from video games without straying too far from the joy of sitting around a table with like-minded cohorts. It launched publicly this week and is now available for anyone to try.
If you have no clue what a 3D VTT is, imagine a graphical recreation of all the hallmarks of tabletop D&D: virtual versions of a game board, miniatures, dice, character sheets and so on. It isn’t a full-on video game like Baldur’s Gate because the characters are still static minis that you move around as if they were physical pieces. But it adds digital touches like animated spell effects and lighting. If done well, it’s like recreating top-of-the-line D&D gear (with some added flair) that you can use to play with anyone in the world.
Sigil (named after a city in D&D lore) isn’t the first of its kind. BouncyRock Entertainment’s TaleSpire is a popular 3D VTT currently in early access for PC and Mac. And its business model will be preferable to many: Everyone pays $25 as a one-time purchase. Although Sigil is free to tinker around with and join others’ games, you’ll need a D&D Beyond Master Tier subscription ($6 monthly or $55 annually) to host multiplayer games and unlock extra goodies like builder kits and mini customization options.
Wizards of the Coast
Where Sigil has an advantage is its integration with D&D Beyond’s character sheets. So, if you’ve already built out your characters, equipment and abilities with the official D&D digital companion service, you should (at least in theory) have an easy transition.
Sigil provides a library of assets, brushes and lighting effects for you to play around with and customize your maps and minis to your heart’s content. “These customizable tools let you bring your world to life, whether you’re exploring fantastical landscapes, towering fortresses or dangerous dungeons,” the company says in its pitch.
It also includes tabletop-esque touches like virtual dice that tumble realistically across the game board. You can customize your miniatures with different scales, sizes and appearances. “All of our assets are created in a way that’s like actually buying a high-end mini or figure,” the company said in its 2024 introduction video. “We wanted them to feel kind of painted, but kind of realistic — trying to capture that beautiful in-between where art, figures and games come together.”
Wizards of the Coast
Sigil runs on Unreal Engine 5, and you’ll need at least a decently powerful gaming PC to partake. Although its minimum system requirements are less daunting, D&D Beyond recommends at least an Nvidia RTX 2080, AMD R9 380 or Intel UHD on the GPU front, along with 16GB of RAM. It’s Windows only for now, but the company wants it to eventually run on consoles, mobile and maybe even your fridge. (Fridge-top gaming, anyone?)
If this sounds like your kind of adventure, you can sign up with your D&D Beyond account on the product page. (For a more established alternative, you can also give the highly rated TaleSpire a spin.) For a better sense of Sigil, check out Wizards of the Coast’s intro video from D&D Direct 2024:
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In a startling shift between U.S.-Ukraine relations, President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance got into a heated argument with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, February 28, 2025. During several points in the meeting, Trump, 78, and Zelensky, 47, sparred over the United States’ aid for Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to a statement shared to Trump’s Truth Social account, the American president said, “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Learn what happened between Trump and Zelensky during their Oval Office meeting below.
Why Did Zelensky Visit Trump?
Zelensky visited the White House to discuss and potentially sign an agreement with Trump over sharing Ukraine’s mineral wealth in exchange for U.S. aid, according to BBC. Per the outlet, Trump previously said, “We’ve been able to make a deal where we’re going to get our money back, and we’re going to get a lot of money in the future. Most importantly by far, we’re going to make a deal with Russia and Ukraine to stop killing people.”
What Happened During Trump & Zelensky’s Meeting?
After Zelensky sat down with Trump and Vance, the two presidents eventually got into a heated back-and-forth over Zelensky’s gratitude for America’s aid.
“You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,” Trump told Zelensky, as seen in videos shared by multiple outlets directly from the Oval Office.
Trump also accused Zelensky of harboring tension toward Putin, 72. “You see the hatred he’s got for Putin,” the Republican said. “That’s very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate.”
During another moment, Trump claimed to Zelensky, “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.”
Vance also spoke out multiple times during the meeting to criticize Zelensky, who left the White House without signing the mineral agreement with Trump.
Trump reportedly ordered for the Ukrainians to leave the White House.
What Did Vance Say to Zelensky During the Meeting?
Vance was the first to criticize Zelensky during the tense argument. At one point, the VP said, “Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
The VP also challenged Zelensky by asking him if he ever thanked the U.S.
British tourists planning their holidays on a cruise have been urged to avoid one “costly” mistake that could see their travel costs soar.
Cruises are becoming increasingly popular with families. They offer the opportunity to visit multiple destinations in one trip, provide great value for money, and feature a wide range of onboard facilities.
However, a money expert Hannah Mayfield, who works with PayingTooMuch, has warned travellers to avoid making one costly mistake.
According to the expert, it is advisable not to buy travel insurance directly from the cruise operator.
She explained: “Despite being cost-savvy and making the most of the discounted period to book a cruise, there’s one simple mistake that people make which can see them end up paying more than they need to.
“Buying your travel insurance cover directly from the cruise operator may seem convenient, but this can actually end up being a more costly option.”
Buying travel insurance for a cruise is essential to protect against unexpected disruptions, from medical emergencies to trip cancellations.
With limited onboard medical care and unpredictable weather, insurance can help you, so you won’t be left with costly bills, the expert warned.
She added: “With costs already high, failing to do your research and selecting the wrong travel insurance could end up costing you even more — completely undoing the savings you hoped to gain by booking during wave season.”
While some cruise lines provide discounted or even complimentary fares for children under a certain age, pricing policies vary between operators. As a result, costs for young passengers can differ significantly and may accumulate quickly.
That’s not all—if you have pre-existing medical conditions, ensuring you have comprehensive coverage is essential.
Travelling, especially on a cruise, can sometimes lead to increased expenses due to additional insurance requirements or medical considerations.
Ms Mayfield continued: “Instead of automatically opting for the cruise provider’s policy, comparison sites can help you find better deals that provide the same cover — or even better.
“Travel insurance policies from other insurers tend to be more comprehensive than those you might purchase through a cruise line. Third-party insurance plans can often be far cheaper, offering the same level of protection for your family.”
