Correction: Mattr Corp. Announces Pricing of Debt Subscription ReceiptsBanking's Digital Evolution: Merging Mainframe Legacy with Cloud Innovation
Bluesky says X's "partisan microphone" are driving users to it
Imagine a world where every drive is safer and accidents are a rare occurrence—this vision is becoming a reality thanks to the rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence. AI is transforming different dimensions of our lives, and road safety is no exception. With cutting-edge technology, it's now possible to track and analyze every movement on the road, leading to improved safety and efficiency. This article explores how AI is being utilized in the detection and management of road activities, its benefits, and potential concerns surrounding its implementation. The most noticeable applications of AI in road safety are intelligent traffic management systems (ITMS). ITMS systems use cameras, sensors, and algorithms that follow AI concepts to monitor real-time traffic flow. For instance, technology such as ANPR can auto-capture and recognize a car's registration number; by this automatic means, every case of speeding and illegal parking is caught and fined. India's government has installed more than 83,000 CCTV cameras in 100 smart cities under the Smart Cities Mission. That surely is a game-changer, assisting in traffic management and, at the same time, in crime prevention by data input for crime mapping. AI plays a crucial role in improving road safety, extending beyond merely managing traffic. Several companies are actively developing AI-driven tools to enhance safety in urban mobility, including Nayan, PathPartner, and Netradyne. Nayan's AI engine analyzes video feeds from smartphone applications to monitor road conditions and traffic. This crowdsourcing application can identify infrastructural defects, traffic violations, and road hazards, providing real-time insights for better planning and ensuring safety. With a highly effective algorithm that uses advanced computer vision methods of driver distraction detection and prevention, the PathPartner Driver Monitoring System observes facial expressions and eye movements to alert drowsy or distracted drivers at much greater probabilities of preventing accidents before they occur. Another significant application of AI in road safety is its prediction. Through extensive data analysis, AI is able to discern patterns and predict hazards likely to happen. For example, AI can learn where along the road network is most prone to crashes so that proper precautions can be taken to prevent those incidents. In autonomous vehicles, AI predicts the movements of other road users, pedestrians and cyclists, among others, for safe vehicular operation. The ability to predict ahead is important for smart driverless cars to anticipate and react to the sudden emergence of obstacles. Benefits abound from adding AI to the roadmap on road safety: 1. Better Traffic Management: AI is capable of better managing traffic flow. It helps reduce congestion and improve travel times. 2. Better Safety: AI detects and prevents traffic violations and driver distractions, thus reducing accidents on the road. 3. Proactive Maintenance: AI can monitor the condition of the road infrastructure and predict when maintenance is needed. 4. Crime Prevention: AI data collection can be incorporated into crime mapping and crime prevention to create safer cities for residents. 5. Environmental Benefit: The efficient flow of traffic reduces fuel consumption and, consequently, emissions, thereby ensuring that the environment is preserved and used sustainably. Although the advantages of AI on the road are quite apparent, several concerns and issues have to be dealt with while taking into consideration ethics. The primary concern is privacy. Cameras and sensors installed on all the roads raise a host of questions about an individual's right to privacy. The usage of data captured by such cameras or sensors has to be used responsibly so that no aspect of privacy is breached in any manner. Another issue is the bias in AI algorithms. If the data used to train AI systems is biased, the decisions of such systems could also be biased, thereby deterring unfair treatment of certain groups of people. This calls for the development of and implementation of AI systems that are transparent and fair. AI is transforming road safety by providing real-time data insights, predictive capabilities, and efficient traffic management. While the benefits are significant, it is essential to address the concerns and ethical considerations associated with the use of AI. By doing so, we can harness the power of AI to create safer and more efficient roadways for everyone. As AI continues evolving, it will naturally offer even more innovative solutions to the challenges we face on the roads. For now, though, it is certain that AI can make a really big difference in road safety: safer journeys and more efficiently completed. With these advancements, we can look forward to a future where every drive feels more secure and thoughtful, unlocking new possibilities for travel and adventure.
Harris scores 16 as South Carolina Upstate beats Western Carolina 74-68
A bullet was discovered just metres from a Melbourne synagogue targeted by arsonists last week as Jewish community members prepare to gather in solidarity against the anti-Semitic attack. The bullet was found by a boy outside the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea on Saturday afternoon. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Bullet found at firebombed synagogue Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today It isn’t clear how long the bullet was there for and police have confirmed they are investigating. The discovery came a day after the building was significantly damaged in a firebombing attack in the early hours of Friday morning . Two of its three buildings were gutted after it was set alight by two masked men in what police have described as a targeted attack. Two congregants who were inside at the time preparing for morning prayers were evacuated, one suffering minor injuries. More than a thousand community members are expected to meet at an undisclosed location in Ripponlea to “stand against hate” on Sunday. The rally will finish with flowers being laid at the synagogue. “This rally is a moment to unite, reflect and reaffirm our shared commitment to resilience and togetherness in our community,” organisers J-United said. Orthodox Jewish parents and children walking through the Ripponlea neighbourhood in Melbourne’s southeast on Saturday paused to take in the damage. The attack on a place of worship, which was built by Holocaust survivors, has led to a heightened sense of fear in the community, Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed increased police patrols to bolster safety into the coming week and pledged $100,000 towards rebuilding. Despite condemning the attack, she is not expected to attend Sunday’s rally. Politicians and religious leaders unanimously condemned the anti-Semitic arson attack, with Albanese offering to send in Australian Federal Police to help with the Victoria Police investigation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the attack on the Labor Government’s “extreme anti-Israeli position” saying the two were “impossible to separate”. “The burning of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne is an abhorrent act of antisemitism,” he wrote on X. “I expect the state authorities to use their full weight to prevent such antisemitic acts in the future.” He said the governments decision to support the United Nation’s call to end Israel’s presence in Gaza was “scandalous”. “Anti-Israel sentiment is antisemitism,” he said. In response, the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network said any attack on a place of worship was an unacceptable act of hate via social media but accused Netanyahu of seeking to sow division as a distraction from his government’s actions. Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to set up a police task force devoted to stamping out anti-Semitism and declare the Ripponlea attack a terrorist act. A pro-Palestine rally is expected to be held outside the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne CBD on Sunday that will end with a march through the CBD. That rally has been running weekly for the past year. - With Molly Magennis
AI without limits threatens public trust — here are some guidelines for preserving communications integritySome users are experiencing a bug after updating to Windows 11 24H2 where sound levels are unexpectedly increasing to 100 percent, and it's mainly happening on gaming-focused PCs. There are no error messages or indications other than suddenly loud volume. As of a few days, Microsoft has confirmed the bug and found that it occurs when one or more of the... Mikael Markander , Joel Lee
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Blundstone is an Australian heritage footwear brand with a long history of producing rugged slip-on leather boots beloved by adventurers, farmers, and fashionistas alike. The 154-year-old company remains family-owned and is based in Tasmania. While Blundstone's rugged boots are known worldwide, the brand has a dressier version of its iconic Chelsea boot , and I was sent a pair to put through its paces. The Chelsea boot is a laceless leather ankle boot with elastic sides that allow you to easily slip them on and off. The style dates back to the Victorian era when the invention of vulcanized rubber allowed J. Sparkes-Hall to create the iconic footwear for the House of Queen Victoria in 1851. These boots fit for royalty were made for the Queen who wanted a simple, low-slung riding boot. While they've gone through some changes over the years, they're still basically the same boot created more than 170 years ago. How are these Blundstones different? The first thing you'll notice about the Dress Ankle Boots when compared to the Blundstone Original 500 series or Classic 550 series, which are the traditional styles the company is best known for, is the shape. This dress version has a leaner silhouette and a chisel toe, where the traditional Blundstones have a wider toe bed and a chunkier outsole. Additionally, the new ankle boots, which come in chestnut brown, tan, and black, have monochromatic stitching while the 500s often sport contrast stitching. It's a handsome boot that manages to achieve an upscale feel while still looking like a Blundstone. Putting the Blundstone Dress Chelsea Boot to the test Blundstones are known for being really comfortable, and this dress boot maintains that high standard. The break-in period was short, about a day, and they've gotten more and more comfortable over the four months I've been testing them out. They're great for all-day wear, whether you're at work or on the move. I've worn them on 10-mile walking excursions in LA (I know, who walks 10 miles in LA?) and San Francisco. The latter included a long trek through the woods in Golden Gate Park. I don't recommend these for serious hikes in the actual woods or as rugged work boots since the leather is a little softer than the Blundstone 500s, but they still held up on my long walks. I'm notoriously hard on footwear and I've managed to rack up several small scratches and scuffs on the boots. They were easily fixed with a good cream shoe polish. Construction The boots are constructed with the same level of care as the rest of the company's products, including twin-needle reinforced stitching with a high tensile strength thread. The outsoles are made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which is lightweight, long-lasting, flexible, and resists splitting, abrasion, and most oils. These are cemented-construction boots, meaning the leather upper is glued to the outsole, a method that is typically seen in sneakers. And as with sneakers, this allows for the addition of technology aimed at making the boots more comfortable, including XRD Technology , a flexible, lightweight material that's in the boot's heel-strike zone and is designed to absorb impacts. The midsole is made from polyurethane, which you'd typically see in hiking or work boots. It's also good at impact absorption and cushioning. Blundstone's boots can't be resoled, according to the company , but I've found a few shoe repair places, including one online, that say they can replace Blundstone soles for around $80. Since the boots retail for $225, it may be worth at least trying to get them resoled when the time comes. How long the boots will hold up You can expect a pair of Blundstones to last between two and five years, depending on the amount of wear and what you're using them for, according to the Canadian footwear retailer the Australian Boot Company . My last pair of Blunnies (as they're colloquially known) lasted well beyond that, more than eight years, but I didn't wear them as work boots. They were my go-to boots during the fall and winter but I stayed on top of their upkeep (basically just cleaning and polishing them once a month). Here's a good Reddit thread about customers' experiences with how long their Blundstones lasted. Since the new dress ankle boot isn't meant to be worn at a construction site or on the farm, you'll probably get a longer life out of these than you would a Blundstone 500 or 550 used as work boots. How to style the Blundstone Dress Chelsea Boots These boots are very versatile and look as good with jeans and a fisherman's sweater as they will with a T-shirt and chinos come springtime. I'd consider them three-season boots (it's not likely you'll be wearing these in the summer due to their colorways and warmth). The company does make a summer version , dubbed the Active series; they're made from lighter-weight leathers and suedes in more summer-appropriate tones and are cut slightly shorter at the ankle. It should be noted that because the dress ankle boots, like the 500 and 550 styles, have front and back pull-on tabs with the company name, some super slim-fit suit pants or cropped pants may not cover the tabs, which could take away from the formality of your look. The bottom line Overall, I found the new dress ankle boots to be really comfortable, strikingly handsome, and constructed to the same quality standards as other Blundstone shoes. I'd recommend them for business-casual work environments, weekends, and everything in between. Pros: Handsome, very comfortable, with the same quality construction Blundstone is known for. Cons: The pull-on tabs may be seen when wearing very slim suit pants; the leather requires some upkeep; resoling them may not be easy.
Ruben Amorim tells Man United players they have to 'run like mad dogs' to be winners again as Red Devils look to bounce back from Arsenal defeat against Nottingham Forest United lost for the first time under Amorim as they went down to Arsenal He has encouraged his side to fight during games to become a great team again LISTEN NOW to It's All Kicking Off! : Why can't Chelsea win the league? They made seven changes and still scored five. Do you think Liverpool could do that? By CHRIS WHEELER Published: 22:31 GMT, 6 December 2024 | Updated: 22:31 GMT, 6 December 2024 e-mail View comments Ruben Amorim has ordered his Manchester United stars to run like ‘mad dogs’ if they want to be Premier League title contenders again. Amorim admitted before Saturday’s clash with Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford that United are ‘a massive club but not a massive team’ as he tries to manage the levels of expectation around his new job as head coach. The 39-year-old is adamant that his players will have to run harder and with more intensity if he is to have a chance of taking United back to the pinnacle of English football. ‘If we want to win the Premier League, we have to run like mad dogs. If not, we aren’t going to,’ he admitted. ‘Even with the best starting XI on the planet, without running they will not win nothing, that is very clear. It’s impossible to win the Premier League without a team like that. ‘I think the way we sprint back, the way we sprint forward, the way we fight, we have to be very clear with the team, this is the first point we have to address. Ruben Amorim has told his players they need to run like 'mad dogs' to be successful again United lost for the first time under Amorim against Arsenal in the week and face Nottingham Forest this weekend The Portuguese said that United are 'a massive club but we’re not a massive team' as they look to continue trying to improve ‘They’re making an effort and there’s a lot of room to improve. Changing that you can say is simple because it’s just running, but it’s something in the head of the players. Read More Man United announce plans to pay tribute to much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps this weekend ‘The problem to be fit enough is if they can cope with that. If they are used to it in training, they will do that in games. They’re professional athletes and they will improve in that aspect and then you have something.’ United have dropped to 13th place in the table after Amorim’s first defeat at Arsenal in midweek, and the Portuguese must try to balance the reality of his situation with the expectations of managing one of the world’s biggest clubs. He added: ‘We’re a massive club but we’re not a massive team, and we know it so it is no problem to say it. We want to improve but we are in a different moment to Arsenal. But you could feel it during the game, I think we have to believe more. ‘This club has glories in the past. Our players have to understand that it’s a very difficult position. We’re not one of the best teams in the league, and we have to say and think that clearly, but in the past our club is maybe the best one in the league.’ Match Day Share or comment on this article: Ruben Amorim tells Man United players they have to 'run like mad dogs' to be winners again as Red Devils look to bounce back from Arsenal defeat against Nottingham Forest e-mail Add commentStanford knocks off Cal in both teams' ACC openerCINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals have found all manner of ways to lose close games this season. Sunday's 44-38 loss to AFC North rival Pittsburgh can be blamed on a defense that missed tackles and allowed 520 yards of offense, and three turnovers by Joe Burrow. It's become a familiar story in this disappointing season. Cincinnati (4-8) keeps scoring lots of points but can't close out games. Seven of the Bengals’ eight losses this year have been by one score. Burrow has stopped talking about the possibility of going on a run and making the playoffs. He'd just like to win another game or two. “Playoffs are the furthest thing from my mind,” the fifth-year quarterback said. “You never know what can happen, so I’ll keep putting one foot in front of the other and try to be the best player I can be for the rest of the season, week in and week out.” The Bengals allowed Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson to throw for a season-high 414 yards and three touchdowns. After Wilson threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, the Steelers (9-3) scored on seven of their last nine possessions. They didn't punt until early in the fourth quarter. Burrow lost two fumbles and threw an interception. “We haven’t done enough to earn the win,” coach Zac Taylor said. “It’s a simple as that. It’s nobody else’s fault but our own. We haven’t earned it.” What’s working Turnovers aside, Burrow had another strong game, finishing with 28 for 38 for 309 yards with three touchdowns. Burrow is having a great season statistically, and he hasn't hidden his disappointment and frustration about Cincinnati's narrow losses. ... WR Ja'Marr Chase had a touchdown catch to bring his league-leading total to 13. What needs help The defense missed tackles and couldn't hold off the Steelers, even with Burrow keeping the game close. It didn’t help that LB Logan Wilson (knee) and DT Sheldon Rankins (illness) had to sit out. The Bengals have allowed 34 or more points six times, including in four of the past five games. Cincinnati became the first NFL team to lose four games in a season in which it scored 33 points or more. Stock up RB Chase Brown has been dependable as the featured back since Zack Moss went down with a neck injury. He rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers. He also had three catches for 30 yards. The second-year back has 677 yards rushing and six TDs. “He’s really coming along, improving his game every single week,” Burrow said. “Pass game, run game, running hard, understanding his protection responsibilities. He’s a guy that practices hard, plays hard, and a guy you can count on.” Stock down The Bengals' coaching staff. Something has got to give. There was no excuse for the defense to play this badly after a bye week. The unit gave up 500-plus yards for the second time this season. Injuries None were reported in the game. Key number 30.3 — The average points per game by the Bengals against teams with a .500 or better record this season. They are 0-7 in those games. Next steps The Bengals will try to regroup before facing the Dallas Cowboys (5-7) next Monday night. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Mitch Stacy, The Associated Press
What happens when 'The Simpsons' join 'Monday Night Football'? Find out during Bengals-CowboysCULLOWHEE, N.C. (AP) — Brit Harris' 16 points helped South Carolina Upstate defeat Western Carolina 74-68 on Saturday night. Harris shot 6 of 9 from the field and 3 of 5 from the free-throw line for the Spartans (4-8). Carmelo Adkins added 14 points while going 5 of 8 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) while they also had five rebounds. Karmani Gregory shot 4 for 13 (0 for 3 from 3-point range) and 3 of 5 from the free-throw line to finish with 11 points. The Catamounts (3-5) were led in scoring by Bernard Pelote, who finished with 14 points. Cord Stansberry added 14 points and three steals for Western Carolina. CJ Hyland finished with nine points and four assists. Both teams next play Saturday. South Carolina Upstate visits South Carolina and Western Carolinaplays UNC Asheville on the road. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Lisa Simpson once said during an episode of “The Simpsons:” What could be more exciting than the savage ballet that is pro football? On Monday night, the entire Simpsons universe gets to experience it in a way not many could have imagined. The prime-time matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys will also take place at Springfield’s Atoms Stadium as part of “The Simpsons Funday Football” alternate broadcast. The altcast will be streamed on ESPN+, Disney+, and NFL+ (on mobile devices). ESPN and ABC have the main broadcast, while ESPN2 will carry the final “ManningCast” of the regular season. The replay will be available on Disney+ for 30 days. Globally, more than 145 countries will have access to either live or on replay. “We’re such huge football fans, and the Simpsons audience and the football audience, I feel, are like the same audience of just American families and football. And the Simpsons are so much a part of the DNA of the American family and culture that for us to, like, mush them together in this crazy video game, it’s so fun,” said Matt Selman, executive producer of “The Simpsons.” While the game is the focal point, the alternate broadcast, in some ways, will resemble a three-hour episode of “The Simpsons.” It starts with Homer eating too many hot dogs and having a dream while watching football. Homer joins the Cowboys in the dream while Bart teams up with the Bengals. Lisa and Marge will be sideline reporters. “That’s the beginning of the story, and the story continues through the entire game until Homer wakes up from his dream at the end of the game. It is like a complete story, and the NFL game will happen in between. It’s just going to be an amazing presentation with tons of surprises,” said Michael “Spike” Szykowny, ESPN’s VP of edit and animation. This is the second year ESPN has done an alternate broadcast for an NFL game. It used the characters from “Toy Story” for last year’s Sunday morning game from London between the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars. “The Simpsons” has featured many sports-themed episodes during its 35 seasons. Even though “Homer at the Bat” remains the consensus favorite sports episode for many Simpsons fans, there have been football ones such as “Bart Star” and “Lisa The Greek.” There also was a Super Bowl-themed one after Fox’s broadcast of Super Bowl 33 between Denver and Atlanta in 1999. Even though “The Simpsons” remains a staple on Fox’s prime-time schedule, it is part of the Disney family after their acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. All 35 seasons are on Disney+. The show’s creators have worked with ESPN and the NFL to make sure the look and sound is definitely Simpsonsesque. The theme song is a mash-up of “The Simpsons” opening and “Monday Night Football’s” iconic “Heavy Action.” There have also been pre-recorded skits and bits to use during the broadcast featuring Simpson’s legendary voices Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith. The telecast will be entirely animated, with the players’ movements in sync with what is happening in real-time on the field. That is done through player-tracking data enabled by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats system and Sony’s Beyond Sports Technology. While Next Gen Stats tracks where players are on the field with a tracking chip in the shoulder pads, there is skeletal data tracking and limb tracking data — which uses 29 points per player — to get closer to the player’s movements. The other data tracking will allow Beyond Sports and Disney to add special characters to the game. For example, there might be a play where Lisa catches the ball and goes 30 yards instead of Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins. “Lisa is much smaller than the rest of the players. So, in real life, the ball would go over her head, but now, with data processing, we can take the ball and make it go exactly into her hands. So for the viewer, it still looks believable, and it all makes sense,” said Beyond Sports co-founder Nicolaas Westerhof. The other major challenge is making “The Simpsons” two-dimensional cartoon characters into 3-D simulations. Szykowny and his team worked to make that a reality over the past couple of months. “That’s a big leap of faith for them to say, hey, we trust you to make our characters 3-D and work with it. Our ESPN creative studio team has done a wonderful job,” Szykowny said. Lisa, Krusty, Nelson, Milhouse and Ralph will be with Bart and the Bengals; while Carl, Barney, Lenny and Moe join up with with Homer and the Cowboys. The broadcast will also feature ESPN personalities Stephen A. Smith, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. ESPN’s Drew Carter, Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky will call the game from Bristol, Connecticut, and also be animated. They will wear Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from Springfield using VR technology. For Kimes, being part of the broadcast and being an animated Simpsons character is a dream come true. She is a massive fan of the show and has a framed photo of Lisa Simpson — who she said is a personal hero and icon — as part of her backdrop when she makes appearances on ESPN NFL shows from her home in Los Angeles. “I didn’t have any input, and I didn’t see anything beforehand, so I wasn’t sure if it would look like me, but it kind of does, which is very funny,” said Kimes, who drew Simpsons characters when she was a kid. “To see the actual staff turn me into one was a dream.” Even though the Bengals (4-8) and Cowboys (5-7) have struggled this season, Selman thinks both teams have personalities that appeal to “The Simpsons” universe. “We were just so lucky also that the Cowboys are sort of like a Homer Simpson-type team, American team, and Mike McCarthy might be a Homer-type guy, one might imagine,” he said. ”And then you have Joe Burrow on the other side who is a cool young, spiky-haired, blonde bad boy -- he’s like Bart. And that fits our character archetypes so perfectly. “If Homer is mad at Bart and has a hot dog dream while watching ’Monday Night Football’, and then it’s basically McCarthy versus Burrow, Homer versus Bart, and that’s the simple father versus son strangling — Homer strangling Bart dynamic that has been part of the show for 35 years. I don’t know if that would have worked as well if it was like Titans versus Jacksonville. We would have found something. We would have made it work.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Patchwork Edinburgh come up just short against GloucesterWorld Fisheries Day observedKILLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she suffered an abrasion on her left hip and that something “stabbed” her when she crashed during her second run of a World Cup giant slalom race Saturday, doing a flip and sliding into the protective fencing. Shiffrin stayed down on the edge of the course for quite some time as the ski patrol attended to her. She was taken off the hill on a sled and waved to the cheering crowd before going to a clinic for evaluation. “Not really too much cause for concern at this point, I just can’t move,” she said later in a video posted on social media . “I have a pretty good abrasion and something stabbed me. ... I’m so sorry to scare everybody. It looks like all scans so far are clear.” She plans to skip the slalom race Sunday, writing on Instagram she will be “cheering from the sideline.” The 29-year-old was leading after the first run of the GS and charging for her 100th World Cup win. She was within sight of the finish line, five gates onto Killington’s steep finish pitch, when she an outside edge. She hit a gate and did a somersault before sliding into another gate. The fencing slowed her momentum as she came to an abrupt stop. Reigning Olympic GS champion Sara Hector of Sweden won in a combined time of 1 minute, 53.08 seconds. Zrinka Ljutic of Croatia was second and Swiss racer Camille Rast took third. The Americans saw Paula Moltzan and Nina O’Brien finish fifth and sixth. “It’s just so sad, of course, to see Mikaela crash like that and skiing so well,” Hector said on the broadcast after her win. “It breaks my heart and everybody else here.” The crash was a surprise for everyone. Shiffrin rarely DNFs — ski racing parlance for “did not finish.” In 274 World Cup starts, she DNF'd only 18 times. The last time she DNF'd in GS was January 2018. Shiffrin also has not suffered any devastating injuries. In her 14-year career, she has rehabbed only two on-hill injuries: a torn medial collateral ligament and bone bruising in her right knee in December 2015 and a sprained MCL and tibiofibular ligament in her left knee after a downhill crash in January 2024. Neither knee injury required surgery, and both times, Shiffrin was back to racing within two months. Saturday was shaping up to be a banner day for Shiffrin, who skied flawlessly in the first run and held a 0.32-second lead as she chased after her 100th World Cup win. Shiffrin, who grew up in both New Hampshire and Colorado and sharpened her skills at nearby Burke Mountain Academy, has long been a fan favorite. Shiffrin is driven not so much by wins but by arcing the perfect run. She has shattered so many records along the way. She passed Lindsey Vonn’s women’s mark of 82 World Cup victories on Jan. 24, 2023, during a giant slalom in Kronplatz, Italy. That March, Shiffrin broke Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark’s Alpine mark for most World Cup wins when she captured her 87th career race. To date, she has earned five overall World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals — along with a silver — and seven world championships. In other FIS Alpine World Cup news, the Tremblant World Cup — two women’s giant slaloms at Quebec’s Mont-Tremblant scheduled for next weekend — were canceled. Killington got 21 inches of snow on Thanksgiving Day, but Tremblant — five hours north of Killington — had to cancel its races because of a lack of snow. ___ AP Sports Writer Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report. ___ More AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing Peggy Shinn, The Associated Press
La Scala's gala season premiere vanquished bad-luck vibes around long-absent Verdi operaElection Results 2024 LIVE: With few hours for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly election results, attention is focused on the fierce electoral battle between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the INDIA bloc. According to the Election Commission of India, the counting would begin at 8 am with postal ballots, and the first round's result is expected by 9:30. ...Read More While the NDA, which is fighting as a team in both the states, is looking poised to retain Maharashtra as per exit polls, the INDIA bloc that put up a divided front in Jharkhand was given an edge over their rival by some pollsters. Maharashtra elections: The Mahayuti vs Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) battle Jharkhand Assembly Election: All eyes on NDA vs INDIA battle Bypolls result: BJP fights for prestige in Uttar Pradesh The counting of votes for the by-polls to 46 Assembly seats in 13 states and in the Lok Sabha segments of Nanded in Maharashtra and Wayanad in Kerala, a crucial electoral exercise since the parliamentary polls in April-May, will also begin at 8 am on Saturday. This result marks a pivotal point for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh, which is fighting for its prestige after the disappointing show in the Lok Sabha elections. The poll result will also decide the fate of Congress's Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is making her poll debut from Wayanad, a seat vacated by her brother Rahul Gandhi. Election Results 2024 LIVE: Security beefed up in key counting centres in Maharashtra Election Results 2024 LIVE: Results for the by-polls across 15 states today Election Results 2024 LIVE: Election Commission to begin counting of votes at 8 am Assembly Elections 2024: Get real time updates now! Election Results 2024 LIVE: NDA seeks dominance, INDIA bloc eyes comeback
Border measures begin to take effect in response to Trump’s tariff threat
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Monday to begin a special session to protect the state's progressive policies ahead of another Trump presidency. The Democratic governor, a fierce critic of President-elect Donald Trump, is positioning California to once again be the center of a resistance effort against the conservative agenda. He is asking his Democratic allies in the Legislature, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, to approve additional funding to the attorney general's office to prepare for a robust legal fight against anticipated federal challenges. Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel on Monday introduced legislation to set aside $25 million for legal fees to respond to potential attacks by the Trump administration on state policies regarding civil rights, climate change, immigration and abortion access. “While we always hope to collaborate with our federal partners, California will be ready to vigorously defend our interests and values from any unlawful action by the incoming Trump Administration,” Gabriel said in a statement. California sued the first Trump administration more than 120 times to various levels of success. “We’re not going to be caught flat-footed,” Newsom said at a recent news conference. Trump often depicts California as representing all he sees wrong in America. Democrats, which hold every statewide office in California and have commanding margins in the Legislature and congressional delegation, outnumber registered Republicans by nearly 2-to-1 statewide. Trump called the Democratic governor “New-scum” during a campaign stop in Southern California and has relentlessly lambasted the Democratic stronghold over its large number of immigrants in the U.S. illegally, homeless population and thicket of regulations. Trump also waded into a water rights battle over the endangered delta smelt , a tiny fish that has pitted environmentalists against farmers and threatened to withhold federal aid to a state increasingly under threat from wildfires. He also vowed to follow through with his campaign promise of carrying out the mass deportation of immigrants without legal status and prosecuting his political enemies. Before the special session was set to begin, state lawmakers swore in more than two dozen new members and elect leaders for the 2025 legislative session. Hundreds of people also demonstrated around the Capitol on Monday to urge the Legislature to try to stop Trump's mass deportation plans . They carried banners that said “Not one cent for mass deportation” and “MAGA out of California.” “With the results of the presidential election, we need our state elected officials to use every tool and every resource they have available to them to protect our immigrant Californians,” protester Deborah Lee said. State Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office will protect the state’s immigration population, while Newsom last week unveiled a proposal to revive a rebate program for electric vehicle purchases if the incoming Trump administration eliminates a federal tax credit for people who buy electric cars. Newsom is also considering creating a backup disaster relief fund for the wildfire-prone state after Trump’s threats. Bonta announced legislation Monday aimed at bolstering reproductive rights in the state, including by allowing the attorney general to seek monetary penalties against local governments that infringe on those rights. The proposals are part of the state's efforts to safeguard against threats to abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade . Republican lawmakers blasted Newsom and his Democratic allies over the special session. Rep. Vince Fong, who represents the state’s Central Valley farm belt, said California should work with the incoming Trump administration instead. “Gavin Newsom’s actions are tone-deaf to the concerns of Californians who disapprove of the direction of our state and country,” Fong said in a video on social media. Legislators also are expected to spend the year discussing ways to protect dozens of laws expected to be targeted by the Trump administration, including one that has made the state a sanctuary for people seeking abortions who live in states where such practices have been severely limited. California, the nation’s most populous state, was the first to mandate that by 2035 all new cars , pickup trucks and SUVs sold in California be electric, hydrogen-powered or plug-in hybrids. The state also extends state-funded health care to all low-income residents regardless of their immigration status. Newsom hasn't provided details about what actions the lawmakers will consider but said he wanted funding in place before Trump's inauguration day, Jan. 20. The state spent roughly $42 million in litigation costs during the first Trump administration, officials said. California is projected to face a $2 billion budget deficit next year, with bigger shortfalls ahead. Gabriel, who sued the first Trump administration in 2017 when it tried to end a program to shield young immigrants from being deported, said lining up the funding now is “a wise investment." California successfully clawed back $57 million between 2017 and 2018 after prevailing in a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from putting immigration enforcement conditions on certain federal law enforcement grants. Another legal victory over the citizenship question in the 2020 census forced the federal government to return $850,000 to the state, according to the attorney general's office. “We are positioned, if necessary, to be the tip of the spear of the resistance and to push back against any unlawful or unconstitutional actions by the Trump administration,” said Gabriel, who chairs the budget committee. During Trump’s first presidency, Democratic attorneys general banded together to file lawsuits over immigration, Trump’s travel ban for residents of Muslim countries, the environment, immigration and other topics. But Trump has one possible advantage this time around: He was aggressive in nominating conservative jurists to federal courts at all levels, including the Supreme Court. ___ Associated Press journalists Haven Daley and Sophie Austin contributed to this report. Trân Nguyễn, The Associated PressNov 22 (Reuters) - Investor Scott Bessent has spent his career in finance, working for macro investment billionaire George Soros and noted short seller Jim Chanos, as well as running his own hedge fund. Bessent will take his investing knowledge down a rarefied career path that only a few other prominent Wall Street luminaries have followed: running the U.S. Treasury. Other examples of U.S. Treasury secretaries who have come from finance include Steven Mnuchin, who served under Trump in his first term, and had worked at Goldman Sachs. Henry Paulson, who served as Treasury secretary under George W. Bush, was also a Goldman Sachs alumnus, where he had been chairman and CEO. Bessent has advocated for tax reform and deregulation, particularly to spur more bank lending and energy production, as noted in a recent opinion piece , opens new tab he wrote for The Wall Street Journal. The market's surge after Trump's election victory, he wrote, signaled investor "expectations of higher growth, lower volatility and inflation, and a revitalized economy for all Americans." "Scott is one of the smartest and sharpest investors I’ve had the privilege to work for. Just like George Soros was, he too is typically multiple steps ahead of the market," said Michael Oliver Weinberg, a Columbia Business School professor and investment advisor who previously worked under Bessent as a portfolio manager at Soros Fund Management. Bessent, 62, has said his success came after growing up knowing financial anxiety. He grew up in the fishing village of Little River, South Carolina, where Bessent has said his father, a real estate investor, experienced booms and busts. “I’ve known financial anxiety and I do not want that for any family,” Bessent told Trump ally Roger Stone in a recent interview on Stone's radio show. Bessent attended Yale College and considered journalism but, after graduating in 1984 with a degree in political science, took an internship on Wall Street. He worked for Chanos in the late 1980s and then joined Soros Fund Management, Soros' famed macroeconomic investment firm. He soon helped Soros and top deputy Stanley Druckenmiller on their most famous trade - shorting the British pound in 1992, which earned the firm more than $1 billion. In 2015, Bessent raised $4.5 billion, including $2 billion from Soros, to launch Key Square Group, a hedge fund firm that bets on macroeconomic trends. The firm managed approximately $577 million in overall assets, as of December 2023, according to a regulatory filing. Bessent has said he has known the Trump family for 30 years through a friendship with Donald Trump’s late brother, Robert Trump. Bessent supported Donald Trump’s presidential run in 2016 but during this election cycle worked as a top economic advisor to the campaign in addition to being a top fundraiser. “I was all in for President Trump. I was one of the few Wall Street people backing him,” Bessent told Stone over the weekend. Sign up here. Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne in Boston, editing by Megan Davies and Rod Nickel Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Thomson Reuters Delevingne works primarily on enterprise stories related to finance. He joined Reuters in 2015 and previously reported for CNBC.com and Absolute Return. Delevingne is a graduate of Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism and Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service.