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Trump says he's a 'believer' in polio vaccine, and other news conference takeawaysAt last week's Game Awards ceremony, developer SuperAuthenti debuted a teaser for its in-development open-world adventure cat game Catly , a video that was short on gameplay details and long on exceptionally cute cats with oversized, colorful eyes. After the trailer debuted, viewers—many of them game developers—began speculating that the game or the trailer are using generative AI technology. As internet sleuths dug through the business profiles of SuperAuthenti and its executives, some began to wonder if the game might also use blockchain technology. The company (like a cat) played coy at first, first telling Digital Trends it would share more details on the game in 2025. That seems to have changed. Today, a SuperAuthenti PR spokesperson told Game Developer that there is no generative AI in Catly or its teaser. Additionally, they said Catly is "not a blockchain game," and there are no non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or other blockchain currency affiliated with the product. "We did not use generative AI to produce the video and the game," the spokesperson said. "In fact we are very surprised by such speculation. We do not think there are any existing AI tools that could produce a video like that. Industry experts have echoed this opinion." SuperAuthenti shared a work-in-progress video of the Catly trailer with Game Developer, which contained a number of before-and-after shots showing the pre-rendered kitties bouncing around their playroom. The cat's models did not appear to contain telltale signs of generated 3D models (no unusual symmetry, no melded limbs, and no baked-in textures), and the environment also appeared to be created with traditional 3D animation. Some shots featured the cats rendered with full fur, others showed models implemented before fur animations were added. Related: How devs can spot AI-generated 3D models The cat models did appear to have been fully mapped and rigged before these clips were captured, but it otherwise didn't seem that different from other behind-the-scenes clips of CG animation . SuperAuthenti says any there isn't any blockchain technology in Catly As spotted by Digital Trends, Speculation over Catly 's possible use of blockchain tech was based on a possible connection to blockchain game developer TenthPlanet. TenthPlanet was "started" by William Wei Chen and colleague Kevin Yeung. Yeung is registered as the founder of SuperAuthenti. Animation and VFX news outlet 80 Level stated it reviewed documents saying SuperAuthenti is the sole shareholder of Shanghai Binmao Technology, which previously developed a blockchain-based "botanical and gardening experience." SuperAuthenti's spokesperson did not address these business connections, but did push back on the idea that Catly uses any blockchain technology. "Catly is not a blockchain game," the spokesperson said. "There are no NFTs. Our company/project has never issued any blockchain currency and any NFTs. Our company does not and has never owned any blockchain currency and NFTs." The spokesperson said that SuperAuthenti is "excited to reveal more about the game," and its own background in 2025.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted amid mixed trading Monday, ahead of this week’s upcoming meeting by the Federal Reserve that could set Wall Street’s direction into next year. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, coming off its first losing week in the last four . The Nasdaq composite climbed 1.2% to a record, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was a laggard and fell 110 points, or 0.3%. Broadcom leaped 11.2% to help lead the S&P 500 for a second straight day after delivering a profit report last week that beat analysts’ expectations. The technology company is riding a wave of enthusiasm about its artificial-intelligence offerings in particular. The market’s main event, though, will arrive on Wednesday when the Federal Reserve will announce its last move on interest rates for the year. The widespread expectation is that it will cut its main rate for a third straight time, as it tries to boost the slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its target of 2%. The question is how much more it will cut rates next year, and Fed officials will release projections for where they see the federal funds rate ending 2025, along with other economic indicators, once their meeting concludes. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will also answer questions in a press conference following the meeting. For now, the general expectation among traders is that the Fed may cut a couple more times in 2025, according to data from CME Group. But such expectations have been shrinking following reports suggesting inflation may be tougher to get all the way down to 2% from here. Besides last month’s slight acceleration in inflation, another worry is that President-elect Donald Trump’s preferences for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation down the line. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle has dropped his earlier forecast of a cut by the Fed in January, for example. Beyond the possibility of tariffs, he said Fed officials may also want to slow their cuts because of uncertainty about exactly how low rates need to go so that they no longer press the brakes on the economy. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times so far this year and is heading for one of its best years of the millennium . The economy has held up better than many feared, continuing to grow even after the Fed hiked the federal funds rate to a two-decade high in hopes of grinding down on inflation, which topped 9% two summers ago. On Wall Street, MicroStrategy jumped as much as 7% during the day as it continues to benefit from the surging price for bitcoin , which set another all-time high. But its stock ended the day down by les than 0.1% after bitcoin’s price pulled back below $106,000 after setting a record above $107,700, according to CoinDesk. The software company has been building its hoard of the cryptocurrency, and its stock price has more than sextupled this year. It will also soon join the Nasdaq 100 index. Bitcoin’s price has catapulted from roughly $44,000 at the start of the year, riding a recent wave of enthusiasm that Trump will create a system that’s more favorable to digital currencies . Honeywell rose 3.7% after saying it’s still considering a spin-off or sale of its aerospace business, as part of a review of its overall business. It said it plans to give an update with the release of its fourth-quarter results. They helped offset a drop for Nvidia, whose chips are powering much of the world’s move into AI. Its stock fell 1.7%. Because it’s grown so massive, with a total value topping $3 trillion, it was the single heaviest weight on the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 22.99 points to 6,074.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 110.58 to 43,717.48, and the Nasdaq composite rose 247.17 to 20,173.89. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged down to 4.39% from 4.40% late Friday. The two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, eased to 4.24% from 4.25%. In stock markets abroad, indexes fell modestly across much of Europe and Asia. They sank 0.9% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in Shanghai after China reported lackluster economic indicators for November despite attempts to strengthen the world’s second-largest economy. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.2% as law enforcement authorities pushed to summon impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning over his short-lived martial law decree, and the Constitutional Court met to discuss whether to remove him from office or reinstate him. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.Man City crisis continues as Feyenoord come from three down to drawNoneThe State of Arkansas has received approval for more than $10.1 million in funding to bring statewide digital skills training and digital device programs to the state. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved $10,161,429.01 in funding through the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program (Capacity Grant Program) for the State of Arkansas. The Arkansas State Broadband Office (ARConnect) will utilize this funding to implement programs outlined in the state’s Digital Skills and Opportunity Plan, a comprehensive approach to addressing the digital skills gap that affects every corner of the state. “Growing our broadband infrastructure is a big part of connecting our state, but if Arkansans don’t have the skills to use this new technology, we won’t fully realize its benefit,” said Governor Sanders. “This funding will be critical to closing the digital divide and putting communities on the path to success.” “Having digital skills is a critical element of succeeding in the twenty-first century workforce, and Arkansas is committed to preparing its citizens for success,” said Secretary of Commerce Hugh McDonald. “The Arkansas State Broadband Office will play a vital role in helping ensure that Arkansans have the skills and training they need to take part in the workforce of today and tomorrow.” In addition to digital skills work and digital device initiatives, planned programming outlined in the state’s Digital Skills and Opportunity Plan includes expanding high-speed internet access at community anchor institutions like community centers and veterans’ organizations, as well as piloting expanded high-speed internet access at multiple-dwelling units. “Today is another step forward for the State of Arkansas in ensuring that every Arkansan has the ability and opportunity to self-determine their success in the twenty-first century digital economy,” said State Broadband Director Glen Howie. “If we think about economic development throughout the state, small business growth in our communities, and improved quality of life for every Arkansas family, having proper digital skills is a key component to unlocking that future. We are proud to take on that mission.”

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Cam Carter hit five 3-pointers and finished with 23 points, Vyctorius Miller added 20 points and LSU never trailed Sunday night in a 110-45 win over Mississippi Valley State, the Tigers' 21st consecutive victory when scoring at least 100 points. LSU's 65-point margin of victory was its largest since the Tigers beat Grambling by 75 (112-37) on Nov. 20, 1999 and is the third biggest against a Division-I opponent in program history. The 110 points were the most by LSU since a 119-108 win over North Florida on Dec. 12, 2015. Carter scored 11 points — including three 3-pointers — in the first six minutes to make it 18-6 and LSU led by double figures the rest of the way. The Delta Devils went 0 for 6 from the field and committed five turnovers as LSU scored 17 consecutive points to take a 28-point lead with 7:44 left in the first half and led 55-13 at halftime. The Tigers allowed the seventh-fewest points in a half by an opponent in program history. Mississippi Valley State (2-11) is averaging 46.2 points and is winless with a scoring margin of minus-44.2 in 11 games against Division-I opponents this season. LSU (11-2) has won three games in a row since a 74-64 loss to SMU at the Compete 4 Cause Classic in Frisco, Texas, on Dec. 14. Jordan Spears and Daimion Collins added 15 points apiece for the Tigers, who shot 66% (46 of 70) from the field and made 12 3s. Alvin Stredic led Mississippi Valley State with eight points. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballGlobal power politics