gstar288

gstar288 HNB General Insurance (HNBGI) won three awards at the National Sales Awards 2024, organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM). The company’s Channel Development Manager, Danidu T. Galappaththi, clinched the coveted Silver Award under the National Sales Manager category. His multifaceted contributions have been instrumental in driving HNBGI’s sales success. His leadership encompassed managing a dynamic sales team to achieve enhanced performance, leveraging innovative technologies, and adopting strategies such as product diversification and bundling to penetrate new market segments. In the Territory Manager category, Pulasthi Bandara, HNBGI Malabe Branch Manager, was honoured with a Gold Award for his strategic planning abilities, financial acumen, and strong communication skills which were pivotal in achieving sales targets and implementing best practices. In the same category, Cluster Manager, Colombo South, HNBGI, Ranga Deshan won a Merit Award for his efforts in overseeing branch performance. His expertise in branch-level strategy, target achievement, and team development were critical to HNBGI’s consistent growth. CEO of HNBGI, Sithumina Jayasundara said, “The steady sales growth we have achieved over the last few years is a testament to the dedication and exceptional performance of our sales force. “At HNBGI, we ensure their hard work is recognised and celebrated internally but seeing them honored on a national stage is incredibly rewarding. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our award winners for their outstanding contributions to the company.”Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died

David Fink: Steering the Federal Railroad AdministrationMARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (SWBI) on Thursday reported net income of $4.1 million in its fiscal second quarter. The Maryville, Tennessee-based company said it had profit of 9 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 11 cents per share. The firearm maker posted revenue of $129.7 million in the period. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( http://automatedinsights.com/ap ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SWBI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SWBI

Pakistan forces launch raid on ex-PM Khan's supportersHalifax security forum gathers as Trump’s support for Taiwan, Ukraine in question

Despite short bench, Duchess Park beating the odds as provincial double-A contenders

DALLAS — 70 Native American athletes from across the United States will compete in the 2025 Native American All-Star Football Game on Jan. 7, 2025, at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Organized by the Native American Athletic Foundation (NAAF) in collaboration with the National Football League (NFL) and Nike, the event will spotlight top talent while fostering growth on and off the field for an immersive experience. From Jan. 3-7, 2025, participants will receive elite coaching, preparation for college athletics, leadership training, life skills and positive coping tools, all designed to inspire and prepare them for future success. “We are excited and honored to work with the NFL to make an impact in the lives of Native athletes,” said Michael Stopp, Executive Director, NAAF. “Our organization was established to use sports to develop the next generation of leaders in Indian Country. This partnership and this year’s game take an important step forward in meeting our mission.” The NAAF is a nonprofit, which is devoted to creating athletic and educational opportunities for Native youth. NFL Vice President of Football Development, Roman Oben, said the Native American All-Star game will celebrate diversity while fostering the development of the next generation of leaders. “Through this partnership, we aim to create a lasting impact by giving Native athletes the same opportunities to succeed both on and off the field,” Oben said. “This also reflects the NFL’s commitment to building character, promoting inclusivity and strengthening communities across the country.” Nike will be providing the uniforms for the all-star game and camp. They are trying to help grow football among Native American and Indigenous youth. This initiative ties into Nike’s N7 Collection, where they are “celebrating Indigenous culture and its interconnectedness with nature while helping preserve and showcase Native traditions for generations to come.” The term N7 is inspired by the “Seventh Generation Principle,” a philosophy from the Haudenosaunee. It asserts that decisions made today should lead to a sustainable world seven generations into the future. “As a champion for athletes and sport, Nike is committed to building inclusive communities, breaking down barriers to access for athletes around the world, and expanding sport for the next generation,” said Scott Henson, Nike brand director. ©2024 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK. When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in. You're reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool's Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources , and more. Learn More . Passive income can be elusive. In theory, all sorts of ideas to earn without working sound appealing. In practice, some work better than others (and some do not work at all!) One proven approach to earning passive income is to buy a diversified range of shares in proven blue-chip companies that pay dividends.... Christopher Ruane

The President of Ireland has led tributes to former government minister Gemma Hussey, who has died at the age of 86. The first female to hold the position of minister for education, the former Fine Gael TD was a strong advocate for women’s rights. Advertisement It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Gemma Hussey this evening. Gemma was a true champion of equality, a trailblazer for female leadership in politics and a dear friend. My heartfelt condolences go to her family and friends. pic.twitter.com/c5hjyRpxTb — Frances Fitzgerald (@FitzgeraldFrncs) November 26, 2024 Advertisement President Michael D Higgins said: “A lifelong committed feminist, Gemma Hussey was a passionate advocate and inspiration for the vitally important increase in the number of women serving in our political system. “As a dedicated and effective government minister, she set a stirring example of the key role which must be held by women in politics. “In introducing aural and oral exams and establishing the National Parents Council as minister for education, she put in place lasting reforms which have benefited all those who have grown up in Ireland in the succeeding decades. Advertisement “Throughout her career, she remained true to her principles and advocated for social reforms at a time when not all of the causes she supported were popular with all parts of Irish society.” Gemma Hussey was a pioneering presence for women in politics as the first female Minister for Education. Read my statement here... https://t.co/cmyCIQtfbK via @rte pic.twitter.com/zHJ6kKhSCI — Norma Foley T.D (@NormaFoleyTD1) November 26, 2024 Advertisement President Higgins said that after her departure from the political front line, Ms Hussey remained an “incisive commentator and an always valuable voice on the political system”. “May I express my deepest sympathies to Gemma’s children Rachel, Ruth and Andrew, and to all her family, friends and former colleagues,” he added. Advertisement Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris called her a “trailblazer”. He noted she was Fine Gael’s first female cabinet member. “Gemma was a passionate progressive for woman’s rights, education reform and Ireland’s place in the world, particularly the potential of European Union membership,” he said. “Gemma was a TD for my own native Wicklow, where her long service and delivery is remembered to this day. “But above all Gemma was a patriot, a Fine Gael stalwart and a kind and generous person. I was one of the people lucky to enjoy her company, her advice and her good humour. “To all of her family, colleagues and friends, l am truly sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace.” Current Education minister Norma Foley also paid tribute, describing Ms Hussey as a “pioneering presence for women in politics”. “She was a courageous and determined politician who showed the way for women at the highest level in politics,” said the Fianna Fail minister. “She was highly regarded for the work she did in steering and guiding the development of the Irish education system.”

TEHRAN – Iran's foreign ministry raised concerns with the Swiss ambassador and the Italian chargé d'affaires regarding the arrest of two Iranian nationals at the behest of the United States. Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary, and Iranian Expatriates Affairs Vahid Jalalzadeh condemned the arrests of two Iranian nationals as "unjust and illegal," emphasizing that they violated international law. He lodged formal protests with the Swiss ambassador (representing U.S. interests in Iran) and the Italian chargé d'affaires (where one of the arrests occurred). In remarks to Iranian media, Jalalzadeh assured that both the consular and political sections of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are closely monitoring the cases of these individuals. "We are committed to pursuing this matter until a satisfactory resolution is achieved," he affirmed. Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi (38) and Mehdi Mohammadzadeh (42) were arrested on December 16, under the pretext of involvement in a January drone attack targeting an illegal U.S. military base in Syria. Resistance groups in Iraq took responsibility for the operation against the base located near the Jordanian border. Najafabadi’s has been unreachable since he was arrested in Italy while he was preparing to travel to Switzerland where he lives, his family and acquaintances said to the media. His current whereabouts are unknown. Najafabadi’s university acquaintance told Tasnim News Agency that Najafabadi, a Sharif University graduate, is the CEO of Sanat Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak (SDRA), an Iranian company producing precision measurement equipment with applications in various fields, including medicine and sports. He also previously led Illumove SA, a Swiss company specializing in motion capture equipment, operating under Swiss governmental oversight. The source noted that the advanced technology in these companies' products allows for diverse uses after legal sales in Iran. Whether Najafabadi's company's products were used in the drones that targeted the American base early this year remains unclear. However, no industrial or scientific tool manufacturer is expected to control the end use of its products. The arrest appears to be a U.S. attempt to deflect attention from local opposition to its military presence in Syria and Iraq. Information on the other detainee, Mohammadzadeh, is limited; he is a U.S. resident arrested in Massachusetts around the same time as Najafabadi.Rudy Giuliani draws rebuke for a courtroom outburst accusing judge in assets case of being unfairLISBON, Portugal (AP) — The goals are flying in again for Arsenal — and it just happens to coincide with the return from injury of Martin Odegaard. Make that eight goals in two games since the international break for Arsenal after its 5-1 hammering of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, tying the English team’s heaviest ever away win in the competition. Odegaard is back in Arsenal’s team after missing two months with an ankle injury . In that time, Mikel Arteta’s attack stuttered, with a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth and a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle dropping the Gunners well off the pace in the Premier League. There was also a 0-0 draw at Atalanta in the Champions League as well as a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan last month, when Odegaard made his comeback from injury as an 89th-minute substitute. Since then, Arsenal hasn’t lost and the goals have returned. After a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday came the cruise in Lisbon — and Odegaard was at the heart of everything as Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end. “He’s an unbelievable player,” Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka said of Odegaard. “The day he returned, there was a big smile on my face. You can see the chemistry we have. I hope he stays fit for the rest of the season.” Odegaard was involved in the build-up to Arsenal’s first two goals against Sporting — scored by Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz — and was fouled to win the penalty converted by Saka in the 65th to restore Arsenal’s three-goal lead at 4-1. Odegaard was seen flexing his leg after that but continued untroubled and was substituted in the 78th minute. The last thing Arteta would want now is another injury to Odegaard as Arsenal attempts to reel in first-place Liverpool in the Premier League. Liverpool is already nine points ahead of fourth-place Arsenal after 12 games. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Cadence Design Systems Inc. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitorsSuchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time,” said a statement from OpenAI. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said “appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” The city's chief medical examiner's office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide. His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a “happy, smart and brave young man” who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends. Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT. “Suchir’s contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn’t have succeeded without him,” said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what made him such an exceptional engineer and scientist was his attention to detail and ability to notice subtle bugs or logical errors. “He had a knack for finding simple solutions and writing elegant code that worked,” Schulman wrote. “He’d think through the details of things carefully and rigorously.” Balaji later shifted to organizing the huge datasets of online writings and other media used to train GPT-4, the fourth generation of OpenAI's flagship large language model and a basis for the company's famous chatbot. It was that work that eventually caused Balaji to question the technology he helped build, especially after newspapers, novelists and others began suing OpenAI and other AI companies for copyright infringement. He first raised his concerns with The New York Times, which reported them in an October profile of Balaji . He later told The Associated Press he would “try to testify” in the strongest copyright infringement cases and considered a lawsuit brought by The New York Times last year to be the “most serious.” Times lawyers named him in a Nov. 18 court filing as someone who might have “unique and relevant documents” supporting allegations of OpenAI's willful copyright infringement. His records were also sought by lawyers in a separate case brought by book authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman, according to a court filing. “It doesn’t feel right to be training on people’s data and then competing with them in the marketplace,” Balaji told the AP in late October. “I don’t think you should be able to do that. I don’t think you are able to do that legally.” He told the AP that he gradually grew more disillusioned with OpenAI, especially after the internal turmoil that led its board of directors to fire and then rehire CEO Sam Altman last year. Balaji said he was broadly concerned about how its commercial products were rolling out, including their propensity for spouting false information known as hallucinations. But of the “bag of issues” he was concerned about, he said he was focusing on copyright as the one it was “actually possible to do something about.” He acknowledged that it was an unpopular opinion within the AI research community, which is accustomed to pulling data from the internet, but said “they will have to change and it’s a matter of time.” He had not been deposed and it’s unclear to what extent his revelations will be admitted as evidence in any legal cases after his death. He also published a personal blog post with his opinions about the topic. Schulman, who resigned from OpenAI in August, said he and Balaji coincidentally left on the same day and celebrated with fellow colleagues that night with dinner and drinks at a San Francisco bar. Another of Balaji’s mentors, co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, had left OpenAI several months earlier , which Balaji saw as another impetus to leave. Schulman said Balaji had told him earlier this year of his plans to leave OpenAI and that Balaji didn't think that better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence “was right around the corner, like the rest of the company seemed to believe.” The younger engineer expressed interest in getting a doctorate and exploring “some more off-the-beaten path ideas about how to build intelligence,” Schulman said. Balaji's family said a memorial is being planned for later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California, not far from his hometown of Cupertino. —————- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. —————-- The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives.

Netflix. Netflix is reportedly pulling out all the stops for its two Christmas Day NFL games, including a pre-game performance by Mariah Carey singing "All I Want for Christmas is You." According to a report by news agency AP, however, there is anxiety. For, the steaming giant recognizes that technical difficulties could ruin the experience. As Netflix executive Brandon Riegg, VP of nonfiction series and sports, told AP, that the memory of the streaming issues encountered during the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight on November 14 is mit fresh. Riegg, while addressing the concerns about Netflix's readiness for a potentially record-breaking viewership, added with a caution that the sheer volume of viewers for the fight overwhelmed the system, despite extensive pre-event testing. While acknowledging the issues experienced by some viewers, Riegg emphasized that the event served as a crucial stress test, leading to numerous system improvements. "The sheer tonnage of people that came to watch was incredible. And for all the testing that the engineering team had done ahead of that, and I think they’re the best in the business, the only way to test something of that magnitude is to have something of that magnitude,” Riegg said. “We never want to have technical issues or a disappointing experience for our members. There was a subset of people that were watching that struggled with that and we acknowledge that. The good news is they stress-tested the system to such a degree that there’s a lot of these fixes and improvements that they realized that they could make, and they’re applying all that stuff.” NFL streaming schedule on Netflix Netflix will stream two games on Christmas Day: the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs, preceded by a two-hour pregame show starting at 11 a.m. EST, and the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. EST. These games will be available to Netflix's 282.3 million subscribers in over 190 countries, marking the first global distribution of an NFL game by a single outlet. This marks the first year of a three-year deal, with Netflix also streaming one game each in 2025 and 2026, at a cost of $150 million for this year's package. While a full season package doesn't align with Netflix's strategy, the Christmas Day games presented a unique opportunity. What make NFL streaming on Netflix BIG This move signals Netflix's broader ambition to become a major destination for sports fans, evidenced by its recent acquisition of U.S. rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup and its upcoming partnership with WWE, beginning January 6th with "Monday Night Raw." The Tyson-Paul fight drew a global audience of 60 million, peaking at 65 million concurrent streams (38 million in the U.S.). However, Down Detector reported nearly 85,000 viewer complaints of outages and streaming problems leading up to the fight. This contrasts with previous benchmarks for streamed NFL games: 23 million viewers on Peacock for last season's AFC wild card game and 17.3 million on Amazon Prime Video for a regular-season game. The NFL's decision to schedule games on Christmas, despite it falling on a Wednesday, is reportedly driven by the potential for increased viewership. Last year's three Christmas games averaged 28.68 million viewers. The league approved two Christmas games in March, prompting Netflix's interest. Their existing relationship with the NFL through series like "Quarterback" and "Receiver" facilitated the deal.NoneNew apartment owners reach out to Weidner tenants

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — Maverick McNealy steadied himself after a rugged start Saturday with a 4-under 66 and caught up with Vince Whaley in a wild third round at the RSM Classic in which a half-dozen players had at least a share of the lead. McNealy looked as though he might have the lead when he hit wedge on the final hole that rolled just by the cup and settled 8 feet away. He missed the putt, still in great position to go after his first PGA Tour victory. Whaley, also winless on tour, birdied the 18th for a 63 and will be playing in the final group for the first time on the PGA Tour. McNealy, who joined him at 14-under 198, also shared the 54-hole lead in 2021 at the season opener in Napa, California. Whaley was playing with a sense of freedom not everyone has at the final PGA Tour event this year. He was playing on a medical extension and fulfilled the necessary points in July. The next step was finishing in the top 125 in the FedEx Cup. He secured that last week with a tie for fifth in the Bermuda Championship. Everything else feels like a bonus, and there could be no greater perk than a victory to get into the Masters and PGA Championship, along with a two-year exemption. “I've really got nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I'm just excited for the opportunity,” Whaley said. Opportunity abounds going into the final round. Daniel Berger shot a 63 and played his way into the final group, just two shots behind. He was tied with former Sea Island winner Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., (65), Michael Thorbjornsen (67) and Patrick Fishburn (69). Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., (71) dropped 23 spots to tie for 47th at 3 under. Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., (70) was 1 under. Berger and Thorbjornsen were among those who arrived at Sea Island outside the top 125, the number required to keep full status on tour on next year. Thorbjornsen already has that locked up as the No. 1 player in the PGA Tour University ranking. Berger needed a big week and he's delivering, even though he says he doesn't feel stress. Berger missed 19 months with a back injury that he feared might end his career. Now he's healthy enough to have played 27 times this year. “Regardless when I play well, I'm going to be fine,” said Berger, who played in the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. "When you miss that much amount of time it takes a little bit of a while to get back. It's just a matter of being patient and eventually good things come around.” Henrik Norlander and Hayden Springer, also on the wrong side of No. 125, each shot 63 and were among those tied for 12th, a position that currently would let them move into the top 125. Joel Dahmen, who had to make a 5-foot par putt on Friday to make the cut, shot 70 and was tied for 61st. He is at No. 124 and his future depends on a big round Sunday, along with how Thorbjornsen, Berger, Norlander and Springer fare. Closer to the top, eight players were separated by three shots. That includes Luke Clanton, the Florida State sophomore and No. 1 amateur in the world who already has three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour and was going after another one. ___ AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf The Associated Press

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (SWBI) on Thursday reported net income of $4.1 million in its fiscal second quarter. The Maryville, Tennessee-based company said it had profit of 9 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 11 cents per share. The firearm maker posted revenue of $129.7 million in the period. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( http://automatedinsights.com/ap ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SWBI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SWBINEW YORK (AP) – Investigators are searching for clues that could help them identify the masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest United States (US) health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk, then disappeared into Central Park. UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Officer Brian Thompson, 50, died in a dawn ambush on Wednesday as he walked to the company’s annual investor conference at a Hilton in Midtown, blocks from tourist draws like Radio City Music Hall and the Museum of Modern Art. The killing, and the shooter’s movements in the minutes before and afterward, were captured on some of the multitudes of security cameras present in that part of the city. One video showed him approach Thompson from behind, level his pistol and fire several shots, barely pausing to clear a brief gun jam while the dying health executive tumbled to the pavement. Other security cameras captured the initial stages of the gunman’s escape. He was seen fleeing the block across a pedestrian plaza, then escaping on a bicycle into Central Park, where he vanished. Police used drones, helicopters and dogs in an intense search, but the killer’s whereabouts remained unknown late into the night. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that while investigators had not yet established a motive, the shooting was no random act of violence. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said at a news conference. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Police issued several surveillance images of the man, who wore a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face and wouldn’t have attracted attention on a frigid winter day. Some of the photos were taken at a coffee shop shortly before the shooting. The police department offered a reward of up to USD10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc, said in a statement. “We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.” Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him”. She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. The police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived Eric Werner said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive. Investigators recovered several nine millimetre shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson’s hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said. Police initially said the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle from the city’s bike-share programme, CitiBike. But a spokesperson for the programme’s operator, Lyft, said police officials informed the company that the bike was not from the CitiBike fleet.

Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died

Uber will need to fingerprint drivers in California to transport teensRG Kar Rape Victim’s Parents Meet Leader Of Opposition In West Bengal AssemblyP&G doubles down on China shopping app

nline shopping has gained a very important place in the United States, something that was strengthened since the Covid-19 pandemic. After Black Friday, the Monday following Thanksgiving is known as Cyber Monday. In 2024, this event will officially take place on Monday, December 2, but many brands have extended their discounts from Black Friday or have activated exclusive promotions for subscribers and social networks. Early Cyber Monday 2024 deals are already available at several online stores. Some of the major stores participating and offering deals include: Amazon It offers early discounts in categories such as electronics, home goods, beauty and toys. Some examples include savings of up to 50% on brands such as JBL, Ninja, and premium beauty items. The deals start on November 30 and run until December 2 Best Buy It has launched promotions in technology, including televisions, computers and mobile phones, as well as accessories. Although Cyber Monday is officially on December 2, some deals are already available and will continue to extend beyond the event. Walmart It offers early deals in categories such as toys, fashion and technology. At Walmart, its discount event links Black Friday with Cyber Monday, offering ongoing savings on different products. Target It also has ongoing promotions, especially in home decor, toys and electronics. Online deals include free shipping on select purchases. These stores usually update their offers continuously, so I recommend you visit their discount pages to keep up to date with the latest news.

Jade Rose's job for Canada is to prevent goals. Younger sister Nyah Rose is looking to score them. While 26 appearances, including 25 starts, under her belt, 21-year-old Jade is already a veteran of the Canadian senior side. The Harvard senior is part of Canada's first-choice back three alongside veterans Vanessa Gilles and Kadeisha Buchanan, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury. Just 19, Nyah is taking her first steps with the senior side after excelling as a youth international. Nyah is in camp with the sixth-ranked Canadian women in Spain, preparing for friendlies Friday against No. 13 Iceland and next Tuesday against No. 19 South Korea, with both games at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia. She is learning the ropes in the absence of Jade, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. "It's been a great experience," Nyah said Tuesday after getting a taste of the step up from the youth level to the senior side in the team's first full training session in Spain. "I think the biggest difference is the intensity, like ball speed during practice," she added. "And within the team environment, everyone kind of holds each other to the same high standard and level." WATCH | Matheson says Canada looks to emulate Spain's domestic successs: Canada aiming to emulate Spain's domestic women's soccer success in order to build national program 1 month ago Duration 3:45 Ahead of Canada's women's national soccer team's friendly exhibition against Spain, Canadian interim staffers Diana Matheson and Katelyn Collar took part in a media availability, where Matheson, a Northern Super League co-founder, explained her vision to help build Canada's national program via the women's professional domestic league. Nyah, a former centre back who grew up in Markham, Ont., has a nose for goal. At the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Colombia, Nyah scored in Canada's opening 23-2 draw with France on Aug. 31 and recorded seven shots on goal in a 9-0 romp over Fiji as Canada reached the round of 16 in the tournament for the first time since 2014, eventually losing 2-1 to Spain. As a freshman last year at Dallas-based SMU (Southern Methodist University), she led the American Athletic Conference in goals with 11, was named conference Co-Rookie of the Year and earned All South Region first team, All-AAC first team, and All-Rookie team honours. As a sophomore, Nyah missed five games early this season due to the U-20 World Cup. Upon her return, she scored five goals in 11 games to rank second on the team with the Mustangs facing stiffer competition after shifting to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Suspended Bev Priestman makes first public comments in wake of drone-spying scandal Canada Soccer tabs U20 women's coach Cindy Tye interim bench boss for senior friendlies In September, Nyah scored in a 1-1 draw with defending NCAA champion Florida State. That came three days after a highlight-reel goal at Miami, with Nyah rising high to control a cross with her right foot before swivelling to volley the ball home before it hit the turf. In camp with Canada, Nyah has been reunited with under-20 coach Cindy Tye, who is serving as Canada interim coach for the two friendlies. Canada Soccer has said head coach Bev Priestman will not be returning in the wake of the recent independent report into the Olympic drone-spying scandal. Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi are currently serving one-year suspensions from FIFA, with Lombardi having already resigned his Canada Soccer position. WATCH | Priestman out as Canadian women's soccer head coach: Bev Priestman out as women’s head soccer coach after drone-spying scandal 14 days ago Duration 2:38 Bev Priestman is out as the head coach of Canada's women's soccer team, following an independent report into drone spying at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Canada Soccer says assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi are also gone. Nyah said her call-up came out of the blue. "I was not expecting it whatsoever," she said. She was disappointed at first that Jade would not be in camp with her. But her sister told her it was a good thing, given she could find her own way with the team. The sisters are close — and competitive, says Nyah. "I felt like I kind of pushed myself a lot more when I went up against her just because I wanted to beat her, because she's my sister. Examining who could crack Canada Soccer's shortlist for next women's head coach Priestman won't return as Canada women's soccer head coach after drone-spying investigation Mehkai, their 16-year-old brother, also plays soccer as a winger. Earlier this year, Nyah was one of only three sophomores among the 44 players named to the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, The annual award goes to the top NCAA soccer player, with former Canada captain Christine Sinclair (2004 and '05) and Buchanan (2106) among the past winners. Nyah, who is studying sports management at SMU, and her sister both hope to play professionally in Europe after college. Jade and Nyah Rose are no relation to forward Deanne Rose, a Leicester City forward with 84 caps for Canada who is also in camp in Spain. Tye has also brought North Carolina State University defender Janet Okeke, another under-20 player, into the senior camp for the first time. And there are second call-ups for 18-year-old midfielder Jeneva Hernandez Gray from the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls elite team and 28-year-old defender Megan Reid from the NWSL's Angel City.Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI’s strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time,” said a statement from OpenAI. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said “appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” The city’s chief medical examiner’s office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide. His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a “happy, smart and brave young man” who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends. Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT. “Suchir’s contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn’t have succeeded without him,” said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what made him such an exceptional engineer and scientist was his attention to detail and ability to notice subtle bugs or logical errors. “He had a knack for finding simple solutions and writing elegant code that worked,” Schulman wrote. “He’d think through the details of things carefully and rigorously.” Balaji later shifted to organizing the huge datasets of online writings and other media used to train GPT-4, the fourth generation of OpenAI’s flagship large language model and a basis for the company’s famous chatbot. It was that work that eventually caused Balaji to question the technology he helped build, especially after newspapers, novelists and others began suing OpenAI and other AI companies for copyright infringement. He first raised his concerns with The New York Times, which reported them in an October profile of Balaji . He later told The Associated Press he would “try to testify” in the strongest copyright infringement cases and considered a lawsuit brought by The New York Times last year to be the “most serious.” Times lawyers named him in a Nov. 18 court filing as someone who might have “unique and relevant documents” supporting allegations of OpenAI’s willful copyright infringement. His records were also sought by lawyers in a separate case brought by book authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman, according to a court filing. “It doesn’t feel right to be training on people’s data and then competing with them in the marketplace,” Balaji told the AP in late October. “I don’t think you should be able to do that. I don’t think you are able to do that legally.” He told the AP that he gradually grew more disillusioned with OpenAI, especially after the internal turmoil that led its board of directors to fire and then rehire CEO Sam Altman last year. Balaji said he was broadly concerned about how its commercial products were rolling out, including their propensity for spouting false information known as hallucinations. But of the “bag of issues” he was concerned about, he said he was focusing on copyright as the one it was “actually possible to do something about.” He acknowledged that it was an unpopular opinion within the AI research community, which is accustomed to pulling data from the internet, but said “they will have to change and it’s a matter of time.” He had not been deposed and it’s unclear to what extent his revelations will be admitted as evidence in any legal cases after his death. He also published a personal blog post with his opinions about the topic. Schulman, who resigned from OpenAI in August, said he and Balaji coincidentally left on the same day and celebrated with fellow colleagues that night with dinner and drinks at a San Francisco bar. Another of Balaji’s mentors, co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, had left OpenAI several months earlier , which Balaji saw as another impetus to leave. Schulman said Balaji had told him earlier this year of his plans to leave OpenAI and that Balaji didn’t think that better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence “was right around the corner, like the rest of the company seemed to believe.” The younger engineer expressed interest in getting a doctorate and exploring “some more off-the-beaten path ideas about how to build intelligence,” Schulman said. Balaji’s family said a memorial is being planned for later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California, not far from his hometown of Cupertino. —————- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. or Canada is available by calling or texting 988. —————–