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Hollywood Media Strategist Sheeraz Hasan Triumphs at Virtuzone Entrepreneurship Awards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

In a gala that celebrated the pinnacle of business innovation, Hollywood media strategist Sheeraz Hasan clinched the Media & Communications Company of the Year at the Virtuzone Entrepreneurship Awards 2023. His firm, FAME BY SHEERAZ MARKETING, was recognized as the driving force shaping the media landscape not just in the UAE, but also in the glitzy world of Hollywood.The Virtuzone Entrepreneurship Awards are revered for identifying and celebrating the entrepreneurial talent that propels the Middle Eastern business ecosystem. The 2023 ceremony, a collaboration with Entrepreneur Middle East, was a showcase of the creme de la creme of the industry, with Hasan’s award highlighting the event.Sheeraz Hasan, with a storied career that bridges the Middle East and Hollywood, has established himself as a media maven, steering his company to the forefront of marketing innovation. FAME BY SHEERAZ MARKETING, under Hasan’s leadership, has revolutionized how brands engage with the enter...

15 Bay Area Christmas tree farms to check out in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

Looking to start out your seasonal festivities with a visit to a tree farm? Here’s a sampling of local options.ALAMEDASpeer Family Farms: Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily beginning Nov. 18 at 2453 Hancock St. This family owned tree farm offers a wide variety of locally grown “Wonderland” trees including Noble, Nordman, Grand and Fraser firs, as well as wreaths and custom flocking. In addition to the in-person lot, online ordering and delivery is also available. instagram.com/speerfamilyfarms/?hl=enBRENTWOODSmith Family Farms: Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends Nov. 18 through Dec. 18 at 4350 Sellers Ave. This farm features fresh Douglas, Noble and Grand firs from Oregon and Washington, with sizes ranging from tiny tabletop trees to 11-foot Goliaths. Don’t forget to check out the country store’s assortment of holiday gifts and decorations, or stop by for visits from Santa from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. sm...

Suspect in Oakland robbery later shot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

OAKLAND — A 34-year-old man suspected in an armed robbery Thursday night in West Oakland was shot about 20 minutes later more than a mile away, authorities said.Police don’t believe the shooting resulted from the earlier robbery and are investigating possible motives. The shooter is being sought.Police said the 34-year-old man is suspected of robbing a 22-year-old man about 8:38 p.m. Thursday in the 1400 block of Eighth Street.The robbery victim told police he was in his parked car when a man blocked his vehicle with a vehicle, got out and robbed him at gunpoint of his wallet before driving away.According to police, the 34-year-old man then went to the 1200 block of 24th Street where he was shot in the hand about 9 p.m. It was not clear if he was shot outside or inside his vehicle, which had several bullet holes, police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Driver flees after woman killed in multi-vehicle East Bay freeway crash Crime and Public S...

San Jose State Spartans on brink of becoming bowl eligible, but can’t stop there

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

SAN JOSE — San Jose State will become bowl eligible with a win on Saturday against San Diego State. But the Spartans are shooting for more than that.Entering the week, 58 teams had already won six games to become eligible for the 82 spots in bowl games this season. SJSU (5-5, 4-2 Mountain West) is one of 24 teams with five wins. There are 36 more four-win teams that have two games remaining.SJSU learned the hard way that six wins does not guarantee a trip to the postseason.In 2013 the Spartans finished 6-6 but were not invited to a bowl game. Out of the seven bowl-eligible teams in the Mountain West that season, SJSU was the only team left out.There already are four Mountain West teams that are bowl eligible: Air Force (8-2), UNLV (8-2), Fresno State (8-2) and Wyoming (6-4). Joining SJSU with five wins is Boise State (5-5) and Utah State (5-5).After Saturday’s home finale, the Spartans end the regular season at UNLV. That game could be for a spot in the MW title game.“It’...

Armstrong gets 90 years for killing pro cyclist Wilson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

By Jim Vertuno | Associated PressAUSTIN, Texas — A Texas jury on Friday sentenced a woman to 90 years in prison for the May 2022 shooting death of rising professional cyclist Anna “Mo” Wilson in a case that sent investigators on a 43-day international search for the killer.Jurors deliberated for just over three hours before delivering the verdict for Kaitlin Armstrong, who investigators say tracked Wilson to the apartment where she was staying and shot her three times. They took only two hours on Thursday to convict her.Prosecutors said Armstrong, 35, gunned down the 25-year-old Wilson in a jealous rage. Wilson had briefly dated Armstrong’s boyfriend several months earlier. Wilson went swimming and to a meal with him the day she was killed.Armstrong’s defense attorneys had urged the jury to consider something less than life that could offer the chance for parole.Armstrong left the courtroom immediately after the verdict. Her father wiped tears from his eyes a...

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter enters hospice care

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

By Kaanita Iyer | CNNFormer first lady Rosalynn Carter has entered hospice care at her home in Georgia, The Carter Center announced Friday.“Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has entered hospice care at home. She and President Carter are spending time with each other and their family. The Carter family continues to ask for privacy and remains grateful for the outpouring of love and support,” read the statement, released on behalf of Jason Carter, the Carters’ grandson.Additional details about Carter, 96, were not immediately provided. The Center announced in May that the former first lady had been diagnosed with dementia.President Carter, 99, began home hospice care in February after a series of short hospital stays.Speaking on his grandparents’ health, Josh Carter told People Magazine in an interview published in August that “it’s clear we’re in the final chapter.”Rosalynn Carter, he said at the time, was cognizant of her diagnosis and had signed off on the press release in which it...

ChatGPT parent company OpenAI fires CEO Sam Altman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

By Samantha Kelly | CNNOpenAI, the organization behind the viral chatbot ChatGPT, announced on Friday its CEO and founder, Sam Altman, was fired and will be departing the company, effective immediately.The company, in a statement, said an internal investigation found that Altman was not always truthful with the board.“Mr. Altman’s departure follows a deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities,” the company said in its statement. “The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI.”OpenAI announced Mira Murati, the company’s chief technology officer, will serve as interim CEO until a permanent successor is chosen.The news follows OpenAI’s first developer conference held in San Francisco last week, where Altman served as the master of ceremonies, unveiling a series of new artificial intelligence tool updates, includin...

Editorial: Tainted probe of Baby Phoenix fentanyl death should be halted

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

Baby Phoenix Castro, the 3-month-old San Jose girl who died of a fentanyl and methamphetamine overdose in May, should be alive today.Santa Clara County’s child protective services system failed her. The state is investigating. In the meantime, county officials should stand down and abandon their own internal investigation that was tainted from the start with conflicts of interest.This is a time for an outside independent probe that will produce findings free of any questions of bias or manipulation.However well-intentioned Damion Wright, the director of the county’s Department of Family and Children’s Services, and County Executive James Williams may be in their quest for answers, they have no business being anywhere near the investigation.The actions of the departments they have overseen are at the center of the controversy over how Baby Phoenix was allowed to remain with her drug-addicted father.Baby’s opioid withdrawalAs this news organization has detailed in a series of st...

San Jose Sharks forward taking temporary leave of absence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

SAN JOSE — Nico Sturm is taking a temporary leave of absence from the San Jose Sharks to attend to a personal family matter and will miss the next two games, the team announced Friday.Sturm, a center, will miss the Sharks’ games on Monday in Vancouver and Wednesday in Seattle. In a statement, the Sharks said, “Out of respect to Nico’s privacy, the organization will not have any further comment.”The Sharks have also loaned winger Danil Gushchin back to their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.Sturm, 28, has been San Jose’s third-line center for most of the season and has two assists in 17 games. He’s averaged close to 15 minutes of ice time per game, is also one of the Sharks’ leading penalty-killers, and has won a team-high 64.3 percent of his 224 faceoffs.The Sharks requested and were granted non-roster status for Sturm as he begins his leave of absence. They now have 21 players on their roster and will be free to recall another forward ...

OpenAI CEO ousted one day after speaking at APEC AI forum

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been removed from his position, the AI company announced Friday. Altman will depart as CEO and leave the company's board of directors.Altman's ouster follows a review by the board, which concluded that he "was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities." Tesla crashes into kitchen of San Mateo home Friday morning "The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI," the company announced in a statement.Altman's removal comes one day after he spoke at an APEC forum on artificial intelligence.OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati will replace Altman as interim CEO while the company works to identify a permanent successor.San Francisco-based OpenAI is the parent company behind ChatGPT.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.