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Pope Francis will visit the French Mediterranean island of Corsica in December, days after skipping the reopening of Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral which was ravaged by a fire in 2019, the Vatican said Saturday. Francis, 87, declined an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the Notre Dame reopening ceremony in Paris on December 7. He will however head to Corsica's capital Ajaccio for a conference on the Catholic faith in the Mediterranean one week later on December 15, the Vatican said. Some French bishops were "annoyed" by the pope's decision to stay away from the Notre Dame gala, according to one bishop speaking on condition of anonymity. But the head of the Bishops' Conference of France (CEF) Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort said: "The star of the Notre Dame reopening ceremony is Notre Dame itself." The pope had not wanted his presence to be a distraction from the essential point of the occasion, he added. "It's not a snub aimed at France," said another bishop. Francis's one-day trip to Corsica will be the first papal visit to the island, where 90 percent of its 350,000 population is Catholic, according to the local Church, and religious traditions remain deeply rooted. He will give two speeches, preside over a mass and meet Macron during his nine hours on the island, the Vatican said. "It is a historic event, we will give ourselves the extraordinary means to put on an exceptional welcome for the Holy Father," said Bishop of Ajaccio Francois-Xavier Bustillo said in a video posted on social media. Francis, who will celebrate his 88th birthday on December 17, has been to France twice since becoming head of the worldwide Catholic Church in 2013. He visited Strasbourg in 2014, where he addressed the European Parliament, and last year went to Marseille for a meeting of Mediterranean area bishops, where he met Macron. He has yet to make a state visit to France, one of Europe's main majority-Catholic countries. He is also yet to make state visits to Spain, the United Kingdom or Germany. The Argentine pontiff prefers visiting smaller or less established Catholic communities, from Malta to Mongolia. The Corsica visit was championed by the popular media-friendly Bustillo, who was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in September 2023. "It will not be a state visit, but a pastoral visit. It will be a beautiful moment, a moment of hope and joy," he told AFP. In addition, the head of the Catholic Church is scheduled to be at the Vatican on December 7-8 for a service at which he will create 21 new cardinals. Rescheduling appointments over coming months would appear to be tricky, given the multitude of events due to take place in Rome in 2025, a Catholic jubilee year. Bustillo is one of the active cardinals Francis has appointed in the Mediterranean region, with the pope keen they "work together to meet the specific challenges of the area", a bishop told AFP on condition of anonymity. Those issues include migration, global warming and interreligious dialogue. Corsica will be the 47th overseas visit for Francis and his third this year, after a long tour of the Asia Pacific in early September and a trip to Belgium and Luxembourg the same month. cmk-bur/tw/jmThe opposition has warned Australia’s relationship with Israel is at its “lowest ebb in decades” after a controversial former Israeli minister was refused entry to Australia. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced last week that he had not granted an entry visa to Ayelet Shaked over concerns she would threaten social cohesion. The decision sparked reports the Australian ambassador to Israel had been summoned to be reprimanded by the Israeli government over the move. Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said that by having “abandoned Israel”, Australia had “walked away from our closest and most important ally in the US”. The Australian reported on Thursday that Mr Paterson said protests outside Sydney’s Great Synagogue on Wednesday during a service were a “disgrace”. He went on to tell Sky News it should be of “no surprise when you have a weak prime minister like Anthony Albanese”. He accused Mr Albanese of adopting “a position of moral equivalence when it comes to these issues who can’t condemn anti-Semitism unequivocally”. It comes after Australia broke from a two-decade stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict to vote for a United Nations resolution backing Palestinian statehood. Ms Shaked, a right-wing politician, served as minister for justice in Israel from 2015 until 2019 and was involved in the drafting of the controversial Basic Law. Originally published as Opposition warns Australia-Israel relationship at ‘lowest ebb in decades’Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 - Official Story Trailer
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Thirty-two countries have granted cultivation approvals to genetically modified (GM) crops as of October 2024. This indicates a significant growth in utilizing biotechnology as a sustainable tool to address global challenges, such as food security and climate change. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications Inc. (ISAAA Inc.) released two new infographics highlighting the “Countries Approving GM Crop Cultivation” and the “Contributions of Biotech Crops to Food Security, Sustainability, and Climate Change Solutions.” Additional GM crop adopting countries from Africa In 2019, a total of 29 countries planted GM crops globally. Five years later, the number of adopting countries increased to 32, with three additional countries from Africa that granted cultivation approvals. In 2020, Kenya announced the approval of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton after the five-year field trials exhibited effective resistance to African bollworm while increasing the yield and lowering the cost of production. Kenya also lifted the 10-year ban on GM product importation and cultivation by a Cabinet decision on October 3, 2022. While this decision has been challenged in court, Kenya has continued with research and advanced other crops, including insect-resistant Bt maize, virus-resistant cassava, and late blight-resistant potato in the research and biosafety regulatory approval pipeline. Ghana is the latest addition to the biotech-adopting countries in 2024 with the commercial approval for GM cowpea with resistance to pod-borer developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute. Burkina Faso has come back to the list of GM crop-adopting countries this year with the cultivation approval of Bt cotton hybrids from 2024 to 2033. The Bt cotton-producing country reported seven years of adoption from 2008 until 2015, the same years when the country was hailed as the top cotton producer in the region. The suspension in planting occurred in the 2016/2017 planting season due to concerns regarding the lint length of the varieties. The newly approved Bt cotton hybrids have been hailed to achieve the desired lint length, attaining the requirements, and achieving a competitive edge for the Burkina Faso market. GM crops in the pipeline Internationally recognized researchers and institutions are focusing their efforts on the development of GM products aimed at addressing global challenges in agriculture, nutrition, and sustainability. Countries in Africa have been developing promising GM crops in the pipeline, including NEWEST Rice in Nigeria, virus-resistant cassava varieties in East Africa, Nigeria, and other West African countries. GM crops being developed in Kenya include insect-resistant and drought-tolerant corn, brown streak disease-resistant cassava, sorghum with enhanced vitamin A, zinc, and iron, and late blight resistant potato, that may be commercialized in the next five years. Several GM crops are also being developed in the Latin America and Caribbean Region. This includes drought-resistant rice varieties and pineapple with higher levels of lycopene in Costa Rica, yellow leaf virus-resistant sugarcane varieties in Colombia, tree nuts resistant to fungi and viruses in Chile, and various GM crops awaiting commercial approval in Brazil, including potatoes, papaya, rice, and citrus. Developers of HoneySweet, a plum tree resistant to the plum pox virus, are also hoping for final approval for commercialization in the EU in the next few years. In Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Bangladesh are also making significant progress in developing GM crops. The technology developers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños introduced a papaya resistant to papaya ringspot virus, and are now preparing for further trials after the field trials in 2014 and 2017 have been completed. Researchers in Indonesia have also started research on high sucrose sugarcane, Golden Rice, and Fe-Zn biofortification rice and have been conducting safety studies for both granola and diamant varieties of GM potatoes with stacked genes in 2023-2024. GM mustard in India is slowly progressing through the country’s regulatory approval system. In 2023, the controlled field trials for the development of late blight resistant potatoes had already commenced in four research stations in Bangladesh. Latest GM plants and traits The ISAAA GM Approval Database lists over 600 approvals for GM crops for cultivation, food, feed, and processing. The highest number of approvals was recorded in 2022. In the last five years, several notable GM plant have been approved in specific countries, including the TELA maize in Nigeria, Golden Rice in the Philippines, TR4-resistant banana in Australia, yield-enhanced eucalyptus in Brazil, and the glowing petunia in the US. The TELA maize project being implemented by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation and partners has released four transgenic maize varieties with stem-borer and fall armyworm resistance and drought tolerance traits in Nigeria this year. Golden Rice, also known as “Malusog Rice” in the Philippines, was approved for cultivation in 2021. Because of its high beta carotene content, it has been targetted as a complementary means to combat vitamin A deficiency. Developed by experts from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Malusog Rice can provide up to 50 percent of the estimated average vitamin A requirement in young children most vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency. GM Cavendish banana QCAV-4 resistant to the fungal disease Fusarium wilt tropical race 4 (TR4), or Panama disease, has been licensed in Australia for commercial cultivation in 2024. It is the world’s first GM banana for planting and the first biotech fruit approved for cultivation in Australia. FuturaGene developed another GM eucalyptus with volumetric wood increase, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, and antibiotic resistance traits that has been approved for cultivation in Brazil in 2024. It is improved to deliver optimized derivatives exhibiting accelerated growth and producing significantly more wood than conventional eucalyptus. Firefly Petunias look white in the day but are genetically engineered to glow green in the dark. Light Bio announced the first shipping of 50,000 glowing petunias in April 2024. Key contributions of biotech crops According to PG Economics, biotech crops contributed to food security, sustainability, and climate change solutions by increasing crop productivity by $261.3 billion; conserving biodiversity by saving 183 million hectares of land; providing a better environment by saving 748.6 million kg active ingredient of pesticides from being released into the environment; reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 39 billion kg, equivalent to taking 25.9 million cars off the road for one year; and helping alleviate poverty by uplifting the economic situation of more than 17 million small farmers and their families totaling about 65 million people. Pitfalls and possibilities Legal challenges in countries, such as the Philippines and Kenya, have caused delays in the cultivation of GM crops, as well as, in bringing benefits to farmers and consumers. On the other hand, the GM crop market in China anticipates high adoption in the coming years. A total of 81 new cultivation approvals have been granted in 2023 and 2024 for maize and soybeans, apart from the renewal of biosafety certificates for previously approved crops. Australia also contributes to the favorable adoption of GM crops in the Asia-Pacific region with the approval of new crops such as banana, Indian mustard, and chrysanthemum. Latin American countries, particularly Brazil and Argentina, continue to model excellent adoption rates in the region, paralleled with regulatory cooperation. The US, the top producer of GM crops globally, is also expected to maintain its position as a leader in GM crop adoption with continuous enhancements in its guidelines and targets. As of 2023, the USDA Economic Research Service reported that over 90 percent of the US maize, cotton (upland), and soybeans were genetically engineered varieties. With the latest addition in biotech-adopting countries from Africa and intensive R&D initiatives focused on the region, more African countries are expected to join the list in the next few years. The new infographics can be downloaded on ISAAA website. Countries Approving GM Crop Cultivation and Contributions of Biotech Crops to Food Security, Sustainability, and Climate Change Solutions . Kristine Grace Tome, Janine Cyren Escasura, and Clement Dionglay work at ISAAA Inc. Acknowledgements to Dr. Margaret Karembu and Dr. Paul Chege of ISAAA AfriCenter for updates in Africa.Dallas Cowboys to miss 5 stars with combined $100M earnings against Washington CommandersNo. 2 Ohio State takes control in the 2nd half and runs over No. 5 Indiana 38-15
COLEEN Rooney has wowed I'm A Celebrity fans with her washboard stomach after stripping off for a jungle shower. The WAG, 38, headed straight to the waterfall after getting covered in thousands of critters during the latest Bushtucker Trial. Advertisement 6 Coleen Rooney has stripped off for a jungle shower Credit: ITV 6 The WAG showed off her washboard stomach in a black tankini Credit: ITV 6 Coleen relaxed in a black bikini top and red shorts once clean Credit: ITV The Arcade Of Agony trial was so horrific that Coleen needed help from a medic to get a lodged bug out of her ear with a syringe. The star tried to remain calm as the insect was washed away with a fast shot of saline. Once her ordeal was over, Coleen gathered up a towel and some clean clothes before visiting the waterfall shower. She was then shown washing her hair while wearing a black tankini. Advertisement READ MORE ON COLEEN ROONEY BUG OFF Watch moment I’m A Celeb medics help Coleen after bug gets lodged in her ear JUNGLE JANE I survived wettest I’m A Celeb & now Coleen Rooney’s my pal, says Jane Moore As she tilted her head backwards, the mum-of-four wowed viewers at home with her impressive figure. Once washed and clean, Coleen then sat in camp and chatted to her jungle pals in red shorts and a fresh, black bikini top. Writing on X, one fan said: "#Coleen in the shower and sitting in her bikini top 😍." Another added: "What a woman Coleen Rooney is." Advertisement Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 BUG OFF Watch moment I’m A Celeb medics help Coleen after bug gets lodged in her ear Exclusive N-SNUBZ I'm A Celeb's Tulisa left friends 'panicking' after vanishing from hotel Exclusive JUNGLE JANE I survived wettest I’m A Celeb & now Coleen Rooney’s my pal, says Jane Moore FRIEND FALLOUT I'm A Celeb star Tulisa's 'huge row with best pal behind her show snub' And a third penned: "I love Coleen, love her." This is the second time Coleen has wowed I'm A Celeb viewers with her impressive body in the shower since the series begun. Coleen Rooney wows in I'm A Celeb jungle shower - as other stinking campmates refuse to wash In the early days of jungle life, the star was the only famous face in camp willing to wash in the freezing water. The weather in camp had been awful and the other celebrities were refusing to strip off to get clean. Advertisement Coleen's campmate Danny Jones even said: "Since it’s rained I’ve not washed. Don’t fight it, just stink! What do spiders do? "They don’t get up and shower, do they? They just go, ‘I’m gonna go out for the day'." I'm A Celebrity continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV1/ ITVX 6 Coleen needed a shower after the Arcade Of Agony Bushtucker Trial Credit: ITV 6 A medic had to syringe out a critter that got stuck in her ear Credit: ITV Advertisement 6 Coleen appeared remarkably cool following her bug ordeal Credit: ITV I'm A Celebrity 2024 i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher. Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth."BigBear.ai ( BBAI 9.58% ) stock is rocketing higher in Thursday's trading. The company's share price was up 12.8% as of 3:15 p.m. ET and had been up as much as 22.6% earlier in the day's session. BigBear.ai is surging today thanks to meme stock momentum. Meme stocks have enjoyed bullish energy lately, and BigBear's share price has seen explosive gains recently on the heels of a report which raised the possibility that the company could be the next Palantir . BigBear.ai rallies on continued meme stock momentum On Dec. 2, The Economic Times published an article discussing Bigbear.ai and whether the stock had the potential to deliver multibagger returns comparable to recent gains posted by Palantir -- a leader in artificial intelligence ( AI ) technologies. While there wasn't any new information contained in the report, the write-up was enough to help spur big gains for BigBear.ai's share price. In conjunction with expectations that next year could bring new rounds of cuts for interest rates and corporate taxes and a more lax regulatory climate, meme stocks have been posting explosive gains lately. BigBear.ai stock is now up roughly 82% over the last month. What's next for BigBear.ai stock? BigBear.ai has been an explosive winner lately, and it's possible that the company's market-crushing gains will continue in the near term. Investors are on the hunt for the next big opportunity in the AI software space, and the announcement of new contract wins and solid financial results could have the effect of pushing the software specialist's valuation above current levels. On the other hand, investors should probably move forward with the understanding that recent gains for the stock have not been driven by any breakthroughs in fundamental business performance. With the company's share price climbing thanks to meme stock momentum and excitement surrounding the broader AI software category, BigBear.ai looks riskier on the heels of its recent rally.
Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward became the all-time leader in Division I career touchdown passes during the first half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday. Ward had three passing scores in the half and the first of them was a 4-yard touchdown to Jacolby George for the 156th of his career, allowing him to pass Houston's Case Keenum (2007-11). Ward also threw touchdown passes to Joshisa Trader and Elijah Arroyo in the first half as Miami led 31-28 over Iowa State in Orlando, Fla. Ward began his college career at FCS Incarnate Word and threw 71 touchdown passes over two seasons. He then transferred to Washington State and tossed 48 scoring passes over the next two seasons. He moved on for this lone season at Miami and he entered the game with a school-record 36 TD passes. Ward could see his new record threatened next month. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel has 153 career passing touchdown entering the College Football Playoff game against Ohio State on Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl. Gabriel could have multiple games left in his season. --Field Level Media
As Syrian rebels advance, what can Iran and its tired allies do for Assad?Chandigarh: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday met with farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been fasting for over a month in support of protesting farmers’ demands, at the Khanauri border demonstration site. Wangchuk met Dallewal (70) in the presence of other farmer leaders from the two unions spearheading the ongoing agitation. After the meeting, Wangchuk told media persons that his meeting was “mainly to bring good wishes and warm support on behalf of the people of Ladakh”. He said that in view of his prolonged fasting, Dallewal could barely speak, though he emphasized the purpose of meeting him was not to have any long conversation but just to extend support. Wangchuk appealed to the people to have their sympathies with the farmers, saying, “The food we eat is produced by the farmers.” Dallewal’s indefinite hunger strike entered its 33rd day on Saturday. Farmers have been on a protest over several demands, including a legal guarantee for a minimum support price (MSP). Under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, they have been camping at the Shambhu and the Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. A “jatha (group)” of 101 farmers attempted to march to Delhi on foot three times between December 6 and 14 but were stopped by security personnel of Haryana.
To The New York Times, it was a standard journalistic practice done in the name of fairness — asking someone involved in a story for comment. To the mother of the nominee for secretary of defense, it constituted a threat. On Wednesday, Pete Hegseth's mother accused the Times of making “threats” by calling about its story on an email she had sent to her son six years earlier that criticized his treatment of women. Penelope Hegseth sought and received an interview on Fox News Channel to support her son, whose confirmation chances are threatened by a series of damaging stories about his personal conduct. At one point, she said she wanted to directly tell President-elect Trump that her son “is not that man he was seven years ago.” She also called the Times “despicable” and attacked a basic tenet of journalism: giving someone the chance to speak for a story about actions that could be seen in a negative light. The Times' story, published Saturday , quoted from a private email that Penelope Hegseth sent to her son in 2018 while he was in the midst of divorcing his second wife. She criticized his character and treatment of women, suggesting that he get some help. “I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego,” she wrote to her offspring. “You are that man (and have been for many years).” She told the Times for its story that she had sent the email in a moment of anger and followed it up two hours later with an apology. She disavows its content now. When the Times called her for comment on the story, Hegseth told Fox News that, at first, she did not respond. She said she perceived the calls as a threat — “they say unless you make a statement we will publish it as is and I think that's a despicable way to treat anyone,” she said. “I don't think a lot of people know that's the way they operate,” she said, speaking about the story. She accused the newspaper of being in it "for the money. And they don't care who they hurt, families, children. I don't believe that's the right way to do things.” Charles Stadtlander, a spokesman for the Times, said Hegseth's claim “is flatly untrue,” and she was in no way threatened. “The Times did what it always does in reporting out a story, simply reaching out and asking for a comment, which we included,” he said. Such a call is the opposite of a threat — it's an attempt to be fair, said Tom Rosenstiel, a University of Maryland professor and co-author of “Elements of Journalism: What News People Should Know and What the Public Should Expect.” “She's basically saying that brake lights are a threat because they alert you that the car ahead of you is about to stop," he said. But many Americans would perceive that call as a threat, or certainly as rude and a violation of privacy, said Tim Graham, director of media analysis at the conservative Media Research Center. “She didn't write that email to be on the front page of The New York Times,” he said. A secondary question is the newsworthiness of publishing the content of the private email, one that Hegseth said she almost immediately regretted sending and doesn't reflect how she perceives her son. Graham suggested that the newspaper wouldn't do the same for the nominee of a Democratic president-elect. “The New York Times is out to destroy these nominees,” he said. In its initial story, the Times wrote that it had obtained a copy of the email “from another person with ties to the Hegseth family.” “This was a piece of independently reported journalism published in the name of public awareness of the nominee to lead the largest department in the federal government,” Stadtlander said. “We stand behind it completely.” In many circumstances, an email from a mother to her son would be considered a private matter and out of bounds to a news organization, Rosenstiel said. But in this case, Hegseth, a former Fox News weekend host chosen by Trump to lead the Pentagon, has built himself into a public figure and is up for a very important job — and one that leads the military, which involves waging war and in which character is considered a fundamental trait. “It makes this news, honestly,” Stadtlander said. The Times wrote about Penelope Hegseth's Fox interview on Wednesday, leading with her saying her son “was not the same man he was in 2018 when she fired off an email accusing him of routinely abusing women and lacking decency and character.” There was some question about whether Hegseth would appear for an interview at his former network on Wednesday, after CNN's Kaitlan Collins posted on X the night before that “multiple people” said that was expected. A Fox News representative said that no such interview had been scheduled, and the nominee was on Capitol Hill meeting with senators. He has faced a flurry of other damaging reports, including stories about a sexual assault allegation reported to police in 2017. No charges were filed then, and Hegseth said the relationship was consensual. The New Yorker magazine wrote about reports of financial mismanagement , sexist behavior and excessive drinking when Hegseth ran a veterans' organization, and NBC News wrote about people at Fox News concerned about his alcohol use. David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.WASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. FILE - The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Zhangjiakou, China, on Feb. 2, 2022. A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. People are also reading... The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” US officials recommend encrypted messaging apps amid "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack, attributed to China, targeting AT&T, Verizon, and others. The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. FBI tells telecom firms to boost security following wide-ranging Chinese hacking campaign The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online. 5 tips for protecting your phone while traveling abroad 5 tips for protecting your phone while traveling abroad Picture this: You're on vacation in a city abroad, exploring museums, tasting the local cuisine, and people-watching at cafés. Everything is going perfectly until you get a series of alerts on your phone. Someone is making fraudulent charges using your credit card, sending you into a panic. How could this have happened? Cyberattacks targeting travelers are nothing new. But as travel has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so has the volume of hackers and cybercriminals preying upon tourists. Financial fraud is the most common form of cybercrime experienced by travelers, but surveillance via public Wi-Fi networks, social media hacking, and phishing scams are also common, according to a survey by ExpressVPN . Spokeo consulted cybersecurity sources and travel guides to determine some of the best ways to protect your phone while traveling, from using a VPN to managing secure passwords. Online attacks are not the only type of crime impacting travelers—physical theft of phones is also a threat. Phones have become such invaluable travel aids, housing our navigation tools, digital wallets, itineraries, and contacts, that having your phone stolen, lost, or compromised while abroad can be devastating. Meanwhile, traveling can make people uniquely vulnerable to both cyber and physical attacks due to common pitfalls like oversharing on social media and letting your guard down when it comes to taking risks online. Luckily, there are numerous precautions travelers can take to safeguard against cyberattacks and phone theft. Use a VPN Hackers can—and do—target public Wi-Fi networks at cafés and hotels to gain access to your personal information or install malware onto your device, particularly on unsecured networks. Travelers are especially vulnerable to these types of cybersecurity breaches because they are often more reliant on public Wi-Fi than they would be in their home countries where they have more robust phone plans. This reliance on public, unsecured networks means travelers are more likely to use those networks to perform sensitive tasks like financial transfers, meaning hackers can easily gain access to banking information or other passwords. One easy way to safeguard yourself against these breaches is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, while traveling. VPNs are apps that encrypt your data and hide your location, preventing hackers from accessing personal information. An added bonus is that VPNs allow you to access websites that may be blocked or unavailable in the country you are visiting. To use a VPN, simply download a VPN app on your phone or computer, create an account, choose a server, and connect. Turn on "Find My Phone" In order for the previous tip on this list to work, "Find My Phone" must be turned on in advance, but remotely wiping your device isn't the only thing this feature allows you to do. The "Find My Phone" feature enables you to track your device, as long as it's turned on and not in airplane mode. This is particularly helpful if you misplaced your phone or left it somewhere since it can help you retrace your steps. While this feature won't show you the live location of a phone that has been turned off, it will show the phone's last known location. With "Find My Phone," you can also remotely lock your phone or enable "Lost Mode," which locks down the phone, suspends any in-phone payment methods, and displays contact information for returning the phone to you. If your phone was stolen, experts caution against taking matters into your own hands by chasing down the thief, since this could land you in a potentially dangerous situation and is unlikely to result in getting your phone back. Protect your passwords Strong passwords for important accounts help protect your information while you travel, but it's just a first step. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends creating long, unique, and complex passwords for every account and combining them with multifactor authentication to create maximum barriers to entry. If you're worried about remembering these passwords, password managers can be a vital tool for both creating and storing strong passwords. Password managers are apps that act as secure vaults for all your passwords. Some even come with a feature that allows you to temporarily delete sensitive passwords before you travel and then easily restore them once you return. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.Amenaza de Trump de imponer aranceles podría elevar precios, lo que rompería su promesa de campaña
The past two years have seen Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) dominate market headlines as the cornerstone of the AI stock boom. With its shares catapulting by over 800% recently, Nvidia continues to draw investor attention for its role in bolstering the S&P 500, thanks to its prowess in artificial intelligence chipmaking. This year alone, Nvidia’s stock has skyrocketed 174%, outpacing its closest Magnificent 7 competitor, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), which noted a 74% increase. However, despite such remarkable performance, questions arise about whether Nvidia can sustain this momentum, especially with new AI chip challengers and potential geopolitical trade hurdles on the horizon. Data centers offer broad growth avenues for Nvidia, while new consumer market opportunities loom. Nonetheless, increasing AI chip competition and political uncertainties could present obstacles. Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) and Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) are already nipping at Nvidia’s heels, with lesser-known contenders like Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL) gaining traction by partnering with tech giants. Despite this, Nvidia’s innovation continues to fuel demand—its forthcoming Blackwell chip is anticipated to match hyperscaler data center needs. Unprecedented pre-orders suggest a promising start for Nvidia in 2024, as indicated by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing’s plans to magnify chip production capacity. Wall Street anticipates Nvidia’s sales and profits to surge over 50% by 2025. Yet, growth forecasts predict a slowdown by 2026. While continued gains are expected, replicating past explosive growth might prove challenging. Nvidia, while still a potential investment gem, might face headwinds in maintaining its rapid ascent. With tempered expectations, it remains key for investors to monitor the evolving market landscape for AI technologies. Nvidia’s AI Chip Dominance: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead Nvidia has been a cornerstone in the AI stock boom, capturing global attention with its exceptional growth. While its shares have soared by over 800% recently, questions abound about whether the company can maintain this trajectory amid rising competition and geopolitical challenges. Pros and Cons of Nvidia’s Growing Influence Pros: – AI Leadership: Nvidia’s unmatched prowess in AI chipmaking positions it as a leader in the industry. The anticipated release of the Blackwell chip is set to meet the demands of hyperscaler data centers, suggesting continued dominance. – Market Expansion: With data centers and new consumer markets, Nvidia has multiple avenues for growth. The company’s innovation garners substantial pre-orders, pointing to a promising outlook. Cons: – Growing Competition: AMD and Broadcom are intensifying the competitive landscape, while companies like Marvell Technology are gaining traction through strategic partnerships. This rising competition could affect Nvidia’s market share. – Geopolitical Risks: Potential trade restrictions could pose significant hurdles for Nvidia, affecting global operations and sales. Market Predictions and Trends Wall Street analysts predict Nvidia’s sales and profits could surge over 50% by 2025. However, growth may slow by 2026, indicating that while gains are expected, recreating past explosive performance might be challenging. Innovations and Future Insights Nvidia’s forthcoming innovations, especially in AI chip technology, keep the market optimistic about its future. The collaboration with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to enhance chip production capacity supports this optimistic outlook. The ongoing pre-orders highlight the market’s confidence in Nvidia’s new products. Industry Comparisons and Market Analysis When comparing Nvidia with competitors like Tesla and AMD, it’s clear that Nvidia’s focus on AI chipmaking has offered unique growth opportunities. However, with AMD and Marvell Technology expanding their foothold, remaining vigilant to industry shifts is imperative. For more business insights into artificial intelligence, visit Nvidia’s official website . Sustainability and Security Aspects As AI technology continues to evolve, sustainability and security remain crucial concerns. Nvidia is expected to prioritize eco-friendly chip design and robust security features to cater to market demands and regulatory requirements. Summary: Navigating Challenges and Capitalizing on Opportunities In conclusion, Nvidia stands out as a potential investment gem, though sustaining its rapid ascent will require navigating industry challenges and geopolitical risks adeptly. Investors should watch market trends and Nvidia’s strategic initiatives closely. With tempered expectations, Nvidia’s future remains promising in the dynamic AI landscape.None