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The Midtown assassin ‘s alleged weapon of choice in the brazen execution of United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson is believed to be a 3D-printed ghost gun — a nearly untraceable weapon that has become a major problem for the NYPD in recent years. When the NYPD first released that grainy image of the assassin taking deadly aim at Thompson outside Hilton hotel on West 54th Street on the morning of Dec. 4, many suggested it looked like a highly-proficient murder weapon used by a professional hitman, equipped with a silencer. Others thought it might have been a gun typically used on farms to euthanize livestock. However, NYPD Inspector Courtney Nilan of the Intelligence Division said she almost instantly recognized the firearm used in the assassination as a potential ghost gun. Nilan has made a career out of battling the rising prominence of ghost guns and raising awareness of their danger as technology advances to the point where anyone with a 3D printer can manufacture a deadly weapon. This has given Nilan the unique authority and skillset on ghost guns. Once she saw a clearer image of the firearm, she said she immediately knew it was 3D-printed and the continuation of a disturbing trend that sees people printing guns in their own homes. “As soon as we actually saw images of the gun, I knew it was a ghost gun because the lower receiver had a unique design,” Nilan told amNewYork Metro in an interview. “And with 3D printing of firearms, you could print them in basically any type of unique design you wanted. And with ghost guns, what we are seeing in New York City, and as is the rest of the country, is a shift away from the commercially ordered kits and a shift towards 3D printing of firearms.” Luigi Mangione is led into the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, PA for an extradition hearing Dec. 10, 2024. Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images The blood-covered crime scene in Midtown where Brian Thompson was shot dead on Dec. 4, 2024. Photo by Dean Moses Just a few short years ago, according to Nilan, it was only possible to print a small portion of a firearm — but today, illegal gun manufacturers can print 90% of a firearm, along with accessories. In this incident, it’s believed that the suspect assassin — 26-year-old Luigi Mangione of Maryland — allegedly fixed a 3D-printed suppressor to the 3D-printed gun. Nilan believes the ability to print deadly accessories draws people in even further but, in doing so, the process could have contributed to the gun jamming that fateful morning. “It could have been that he’s not a frequent gun user, so he didn’t exactly know how to handle it. It could be that by screwing in and adding the suppressor, maybe that changed the calibration of the gun a little bit. There are a lot of different factors,” Nilan explained. “The 3D print malfunction is usually cracking, and that did not happen in this case.” Nilan says her team could possibly be able to trace the design used to make the gun used in Thompson’s demise. “I’ve already expressed interest in the Intelligence Division seeing that gun. We cannot, per se, determine if he made it unless he admits it, or if he purchased it from somebody else who made it. But what we can do is try to match it up to the file design,” Nilan said. “Once they (detectives) do subpoenas on all his computers and cell phones, we could potentially help them identify if he did make it himself or not. Like if that design was downloaded onto his computer and whatnot.” For years, Nilan has been banging the drum on the dangers of 3D printing ghost guns in a way that seems eerily prophetic in light of what took place last week. Just two or three years prior, a 3D-printed ghost gun would crack and even explode after pulling the trigger just a few times, now though, they can operate akin to a commercially made firearm. Moreover, they can be customized with 3D-printed Glock switches and auto sears with several cheap pieces of plastic. Another challenge for ghost gun investigators, Nilan said, are that hundreds of thousands of different designs are being passed around online, leaving the NYPD to face a mounting battle against the polymer pipeline. “We have to keep playing Whack a Mole. Another reason why they have gone towards 3D printing now is because so many states have done civil and criminal litigation against the online kit retailers, all those online websites that have been selling the ghost gun kits for so long there has been state and federal legislation,” Nilan said. “Even two years ago, we saw this growing in popularity in other states, and we saw this as something, we identified this as a potential problem.” Nilan pointed to the disturbing rise with several large cases this year alone. In 2022, police only recovered four ghost guns, in 2023, they retrieved 42 through their investigations, and in 2024 so far they have acquired 110. “Our goal, which we did, was to get them before they were able to sell them on the street. Because we have a lot of people that are home manufacturers, but there has been instances this year, you know, of individuals just arrested on the street with a gun, and it happens to be a 3D-printed firearm,” Nilan said. Nilan hopes that New York will pass legislation making it illegal to download the files to make 3D-printed guns — and help prevent horrific shootings like Thompson’s execution going forward.The 10 best gifts for the cozy gamer in your life
Unions attack 2.8% Government pay rise proposal for NHS workers and teachersAden Holloway established career highs of 26 points and eight 3-pointers to help No. 5 Alabama roll to a 105-82 nonconference victory over South Dakota State on Sunday at Tuscaloosa, Ala. Freshman Labaron Philon had the best game of his young career with 21 points and six assists for the Crimson Tide (11-2). Mark Sears had 20 points, including 6-for-14 3-point shooting. Grant Nelson added 17 points and eight rebounds and scored the game's first eight points. Alabama coach Nate Oats has sometimes been critical of his squad's defensive effort and the second half against the Jackrabbits will provide more fuel for that concern. Alabama did connect on a season-best 19 3-point shots but also attempted 55 long-range shots (34.5 percent). The Tide also saw South Dakota State put up 49 points in the second half to keep the score relatively competitive. Alabama claimed a fifth straight win with its third 100-plus point performance of the season. South Dakota State (9-6) was led by Washington State transfer Oscar Cluff, who had 21 points and 15 rebounds, including seven offensive boards. The Jackrabbits connected on 11-for-26 3-point shooting (42.3 percent), with guard Isaac Lindsey scoring 11 points, including 3-for-6 on 3-point tries. After Nelson's personal 8-0 run to open the game, South Dakota State pulled with 16-14 on a shot by William Whorton with 11:45 to play in the opening half. But Alabama then broke the game open, going on a 24-3 run culminating in a Holloway 3-pointer to give the Tide a 40-17 edge with 7:37 left in the opening half. South Dakota State trailed 57-33 at halftime, but played a much more competitive second half offensively by connecting on 17 of 33 shots (51.5 percent). Alabama will open 2025 with a home game against No. 12 Oklahoma on Saturday. South Dakota State will host Summit Conference opponent Denver on Thursday. --Field Level Media
Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington is always looking ahead and accentuating the positive in opening remarks at his weekly press conference at Halas Hall. (“This week the San Francisco 49ers’ offense, at first glance you see all the signatures of a Kyle Shanahan-led offense.”) But after the Bears’ defense allowed 452 yards and 38 points and showed little to no resistance against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in his first game as the defensive play-caller, even Washington did what NFL coaches are loathe to do on a Thursday, and address last week before he looked to this week. It was that bad. “I’m going to start with this: Last week’s performance on the defensive side of the ball, myself — clearly we failed to meet the mark in terms of anything that could be considered an acceptable performance. And that starts with me,” Washington said. “We’ve identified, looked at, scrutinized, gone through every aspect of our process, our preparation, tactically, strategically, some of the core values and beliefs that we have, and I expect us to respond ... and put forth the type of performance that will [give] us a chance to win a football game, and to actually win it.” We’ll see about that. While the defense’s performance against the 49ers was a new low, it was hardly new. Since the Hail Mary debacle against the Commanders on Oct. 27, the defense has been determined to regain its first-half excellence, and keeps falling deeper and deeper into the muck. The Bears in fact, were living up to their goal of being a top-five defense in the NFL through the first half of the season. They were fourth in points allowed (17.0 per game) and fifth in yards allowed (292.0 per game) following the Commanders game. But since the bye, they’re 24th in points allowed (25.3 per game) and 31st in yards (404.9). The 49ers game looked like an opportunity to stop the regression, with the Bears feeling relief after Matt Eberflus was fired and the 49ers playing without All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams. Instead, the 49ers needed just five plays to drive 70 yards for a touchdown on their opening drive, and the rout was on. And four days later, a Rams defense that ranks 24th in points and 27th in yards held those same 49ers to 12 points and 191 yards in a 12-6 victory at Levi’s Stadium on Thursday night. “I’m not going to put forth any theories or anything that sounds like an excuse. We fell short. And that can’t be,” Washington said. “The players have a lot of pride. They invest a lot, as do I and the rest of our coaching staff, so we’ve got to move forward and come out ready to play and give ourselves a better chance.” A week after the firing of Eberflus was hoped to invigorate the fading Bears, they instead were worse. Niners receivers were consistently open for big plays. Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 10 of 11 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown (a 149.1 passer rating) to “open” receivers,” per NFL.com ‘s Next Gen Stats. What’s the deal with that? “We have to be better,” Washington said. “Everything starts with rush and coverage. It all starts with our ability to affect the quarterback. Any time the quarterback is able to stand back there, the receivers are going to break open whether you’re in a zone or man concept. We have to do a better job with that.” While the offense has struggled with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the demise of the defense since the Hail Mary has been mystifying. “Disappointed,” Washington said. “But very determined. I’m going to chalk that up as an anomaly as far as the character of our guys and the way we perform. We’re going to bounce back and perform the way we’re capable of.”Giovanni Pernice to return to TV after Strictly exit as he joins Channel 4 show
A big change in the ration system is coming in the new year. You will no longer need to show your ration card to collect various items from the ration dealer. A new system is being introduced. The ration card is one of the most important identity documents or government documents for Indian citizens. But now the importance of ration cards is going to decrease. Most people have smartphones these days. With a special mobile app on this smartphone, various items can be obtained from the ration dealer. A mobile app called Mera Ration 2.0 is being launched for the convenience of ration consumers. Various items can be collected from the ration dealer through this app. You don't have to carry a ration card with you. Download the Mera Ration 2.0 app on your smartphone and verify your Aadhaar. Then this app will become active. If you have the ration card information in the Mera Ration 2.0 app, just take your smartphone to the ration dealer. With the help of this app, the ration dealer can check the customer's information and give various items.
The Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), India on Sunday proposed the introduction of a “faceless” GST audit system to boost ease of doing business in the country. The apex engineering exports promotion body’s proposal comes following the successful implementation of ‘faceless assessment’ by the Income Tax department. “The faceless GST audit system, by using technology and ensuring anonymity, will reduce compliance costs. A faceless system will streamline procedures allowing MSMEs to focus on growth and innovation," said Pankaj Chadha, chairman of EEPC India. The proposal is a part of EEPC India's Budget 2025 recommendation. By introducing a “faceless” GST audit system, India can further improve its ranking in the Ease of Doing Business index, making it a more attractive destination for foreign investors, it said. It also proposed that Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) related liabilities should be eligible for the ‘Amnesty Scheme’ to address challenges faced by exporters, who may be unaware of foreign bank charges and foreign business services. Comments
Many people are having a harder time finding a partner than ever. Therefore, it shouldn't be surprising that many are turning to AI companions to find love. AI companions are especially popular in rural areas like Iowa, where people have a hard time finding partners the old-fashioned way. However, many people question the viability of having an AI boyfriend or girlfriend. They wonder whether these partners will ever be fully sentient. If you're considering finding an AI Girlfriend or boyfriend in Iowa, then you will want to know what you are looking for. Keep reading to learn more. Dating can be a very difficult process these days. A survey from Pew Research found that almost half of people find dating is more difficult than it was a decade ago. The percentage of the population that is single has also increased. Three out of ten adults in the United States do not have a partner. While dating has become more difficult everywhere, some places have a harder time than others. Singles in Iowa have some unique challenges when it comes to dating: One challenge is that Iowa is the 13th most rural state in the country, so it doesn't have the same nightlife that a lot of other more urban areas have. People in Iowa also tend to get married at a very young age, which makes things harder for people in their 20s that are still single and struggling with a small dating pool. They may have an easier time as they get older and people in the community start getting divorced, but the dating pool is still going to be smaller than many other places. Certain demographics in Iowa have a hard time finding someone that is the right fit for them. The state is still not the most LGBT-friendly place to live, so many people still hide their sexual orientation. This makes it a lot harder for them to find a partner. College-educated individuals also have a hard time finding a compatible partner. There are a lot of great reasons to consider using an AI companion if you are single in Iowa. These services are especially popular for younger men that have a harder time dating. One survey found that 28% of men between 18 and 34 have used an AI girlfriend service, but the real number may be higher since some people may be too embarrassed to admit to it. Many women are also starting to use online companions. One news site reports that 40% of women are interested in using an AI boyfriend, although most haven’t done so yet. The number of people in Iowa using these platforms is probably higher due to the reasons listed above. There are a lot of appealing things about having an AI partner. However, some people are still skeptical about the benefits of AI companion services since they question how realistic the relationships on them are. They don't believe that AI companions can have authentic relationships with humans until they are fully sentient. Although this concern is understandable, it is often based on some misunderstandings. The truth is that many people believe that AI bots are very realistic. One study from a year and a half ago found that 32% of people can't tell the difference between an AI chatbot and a person . That figure has probably increased significantly since that study was conducted because AI has improved drastically over the last few months alone. Of course, this doesn't mean that AI is becoming fully sentient. AI literally stands for artificial intelligence. It will always be based on algorithms. However, these algorithms are becoming better and better at mirroring human emotions. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether they are fully sentient or not. People just want to have a pleasant experience when interacting with them. Romantic chatbots are not an entirely new concept. A number of websites have used them to interact with people for years. So, how are newer AI companions becoming more sentient than their more primitive counterparts? The biggest example is that some of them are being taught to understand emotional intelligence and behave like they have their own feelings. A social media commentator wrote about this. They pointed out that some AI companions are now being trained to tell when people are being respectful, which can help people learn to cultivate more holistic relationships. AI companions on one website offer kindhearted replies to people who treat them like an equal. There are multiple reasons that it is a good thing that AI companions are becoming more sentient. The most obvious benefit is that they will be able to offer better services to people using these services. Most people want to have realistic interactions, which are a lot easier when their companion acts like it is reasonably sentient. However, there are other reasons that don’t get quite as much attention. One issue is that sentient AI partners can help people become kinder to human partners. As AI companions have become more popular, more news sites have started talking about their services. A number of other websites have published articles about the importance of men learning to be compassionate partners while using AI partners. This is going to be important for women to learn, too, as they start using these services more frequently. Many AI partner services are tweaking their models so AI companions can understand their partners’ behavior in context. They will give higher quality services to people who treat them kindly, which helps people learn to be better real-life partners. There are a number of reasons to expect that AI companions will be more similar to human partners. Here are some of the reasons that they are going to keep improving. They Rely Heavily on User Feedback AI companion websites encourage users to provide feedback to improve the user experience. They will take feedback seriously so they can keep offering better experiences. They Use Machine Learning to Get Better Even Without Input User feedback is very important, but it isn't enough to provide a better experience. AI companion websites also use complex machine learning algorithms to learn more about their users. They pay attention to things like how long people spend using the service to gauge user satisfaction. They also look for contextual cues to better serve various demographics of users. For example, they may find that those with nerdy interests prefer to interact with AI companions that have certain conversation styles. They can also nuance their personalities based on the region and the user lives in. They can also help people in same-sex relationships by ignoring traditional gender norms. Machine learning technology is going to keep playing a more important role in helping AI companion services offer better service to their users. Therefore, these platforms will become better over time. AI Companion Services Will Keep Hiring Talented Developers to Improve Their Products Machine learning technology is vital for helping AI companion websites improve their products. However, these services can't rely on machine learning alone. They're going to need to keep hiring new developers to tweak the algorithms. Great developers will help make the services more realistic. AI companions can be very beneficial for Iowans who are struggling to find a partner on dating apps or in the wild. If you are interested in trying an AI companion website, then you may want to try following this advice. Research Your Options Carefully to Find a Platform That Offers More Sentient Partners There are many websites dedicated to helping people find an AI companion. Unfortunately, some of them are not as good as others. Some AI companion websites strive to make their models as sentient as possible so conversations seem more authentic and realistic. Others do not offer the same quality of service. You will want to read reviews to find out which services are committed to offering the most sentient companions possible. Don't Take Privacy Concerns Lightly Sentience isn't the only thing that you should be concerned about when choosing an AI companion service. You also need to make sure that the platform prioritizes security. You should look for a site that promises to keep your chats secure and encrypted. Since there are so many data breaches these days, this is an issue that you need to take seriously. Don’t Expect Your AI Companion to Meet Your Needs without Input AI companions are becoming more advanced than ever. However, you can’t expect them to perfectly meet your needs right away. You are going to want to provide feedback to help them get better at offering a quality service. You should tell your AI companion what you like so it does a better job at meeting your needs. This will help you have a more enjoyable experience. Treat Your Partner Like an Equal A lot of AI companion websites reward users who treat their partners respectfully. They allow you to unlock the best features if you are nice to your AI companion and get richer, more wholesome conversations. Try to be as respectful as possible to your AI companion. This will lead to a stronger relationship. Don’t Be Afraid to Try Different AI Companion Websites You may find that some AI companion services have great reviews, but don’t necessarily offer the services that you are looking for. Here are some ways that they may differ: Some of these platforms specialize in creating models with certain personality traits. Some may allow you to create anime models, while others only let you create models that resemble real people. Some AI girlfriend platforms allow you to have more adult-friendly conversations, while others only let you have more wholesome discussions. You will want to understand the rules before using any service. Some platforms primarily serve customers in certain regions, so their machine-learning algorithms may be optimized for people in those localities. Sometimes, you won’t know which services are best until you give them a try. Don’t Become Addicted to Your AI Partner There are a lot of great ways that AI companions can enrich your life. However, it is easy to get addicted to your AI relationship if you are not careful. The risk is especially high in places like Iowa, where people have fewer things to do. You should set limits on the amount of time that you spend with your AI companion. It is also important not to sacrifice other relationships with your AI partner. Use Your AI Companion to Improve Your Social Skills with Real Future Partners Many people turn to AI relationships because they lack the social skills to find a human partner. Fortunately, these digital companions can help them improve their social skills, which will make it easier for them to find a human partner down the road. The best way to do this is by roleplaying dating scenarios that you are likely to encounter with real people. Iowans live in one of the most miserable dating climates. Fortunately, many of them have started to discover the benefits of using AI companions. AI girlfriends and boyfriends are becoming more sentient than ever, which helps them offer better services to their users. If you are tired of ghosting and other dating challenges, then you may want to look into finding an AI companion. These services can be a great alternative, especially since they are becoming more realistic than ever. Get local news delivered to your inbox!