Musk Kicked In More Than a Quarter-Billion Dollars To Trump and GOP
Seven people have been arrested and charged in connection to an alleged social media drug ring at Rutgers University, New Jersey officials announced this week. Called “Operation RU Pharm,” officials said it uncovered a “closed and private social media network utilized by Rutgers University students to sell and purchase drugs,” Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said in a statement . The press release also said that the operation led to the seizure of a large amount of drugs such as marijuana, LSD, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, Adderall, and Xanax. Apart from these, other items seized included a firearm and “a large amount of U.S. currency.” Seven people face charges relating to the investigation, with charges of various degrees of possession and distribution of controlled substances. USA TODAY has reached out to Rutgers University for comment. CEO Brian Thompson shooting: Experts say killer was 'meticulous,' maybe professional What did the sting operation find? Prosecutors allege that a social media network was set up by an alumnus of Rutgers University to facilitate the sale and distribution of narcotics. “Narcotics distributors could post menus for drugs and solicit buyers from within the Rutgers University community. Rutgers students who established their affiliation with the school were allowed to join the network and once given access, they were able to browse menus posted by distributors and contact them in order to negotiate purchases,” the statement said. According to prosecutors, 23-year-old Anudeep Revuri faces charges of first-degree leader of a drug trafficking network, second-degree conspiracy to commit drug distribution, and third-degree conspiracy to commit drug distribution. The other six people charged were identified by officials as Joshua Duffy, 20; Zachary Petersen, 22; Catherine Tierney, 23; David Nudelman, 20; Donovin Williams, 20; and Noa Lisimachio, 21. They face charges of various degrees of possession and distribution of controlled substances. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
World number one Luke Humphries continued his bid for back-to-back World Championship titles after easing through to the last 16. While there was high drama in Alexandra Palace on the first day back after the Christmas break, where Damon Heta threw a nine-dart finish, Humphries enjoyed a serene evening. He beat Nick Kenny 4-0 to set up a mouth-watering fourth-round meeting with two-time champion Peter Wright. Kenny was unable to produce the form that saw him beat Raymond van Barneveld in the previous round and Humphries did not need to be anywhere near his best. “It was one of those games I didn’t want to take for granted,” he said. “I expected a tough game and I wasn’t firing, I felt there is so much more to give, I felt there was more to come out of me. “I didn’t want to give anyone an inch because they can take a mile. “I’m not going to give up this world title without a fight, I wasn’t at my best but when someone pushes me I know I can come up with the goods.” Earlier in the day Heta set the tournament alight on its resumption with a stunning nine-dart finish before bowing out. The Australian, seeded ninth, achieved darting perfection in the second set of his match with Luke Woodhouse to earn a cool £60,000 payday. However, his joy was short-lived as Woodhouse won a thrilling battle 4-3, having trailed 3-1. Heta was millimetres away from throwing a nine-darter in the previous round when he missed the double 12, but he made no mistake this time in the first match after the Christmas break. Heta’s feat was the second time a nine-darter has been thrown in the 2025 tournament and the 16th of all time at the World Championship, following Christian Kist’s effort before Christmas. As well as landing the Australian a hefty payday, it also saw a lucky fan in Ally Pally win a £60,000, with £60,000 also being donated to Prostate Cancer UK. There were several other titanic battles, none better than Gerwyn Price’s sudden-death leg victory over Joe Cullen. Price looked like he was going to have an easy night when he coasted into a 3-0 lead, but Cullen hit back to send it to a decider, which went all the way. Cullen landed a ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout to send the tie to a sudden-death leg on his throw but Price hit some big numbers to steal victory. “That was tough, I just wanted to get over the winning line,” he said during his on-stage interview. “He kept coming back, the crowd were way behind him. “I thought I was going to lose, but I kept in there right to the end and got the win. “He played some good darts at the right times. I put myself in that position, I got myself out of it and I’m still in.” Seventh seed Jonny Clayton also battled to victory after squandering a 3-0 lead against Daryl Gurney. Gurney then had six darts to send the decider to a tiebreaker but lost his nerve and Clayton stole a 4-3 win. Stephen Bunting and Peter Wright, who was suffering from a chest infection, enjoyed much more safe passages with routine wins over Madars Razma and Jermaine Wattimena respectively.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, predicts that search will undergo a profound transformation by 2025, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). This shift will redefine how we interact with information online, moving beyond simple keyword matching to a more intuitive and conversational experience. Imagine asking complex questions and receiving comprehensive, nuanced answers synthesized from vast amounts of data. This is the future Pichai envisions, and it’s closer than you might think. This monumental change is rooted in Google’s significant investments in AI and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of what search can achieve. Pichai, speaking at the New York Times DealBook Summit, emphasized that these are the “earliest stages of a profound shift” and that Google is at the forefront of this AI revolution. He believes that by 2025, we will be astonished by the capabilities of search, tackling complex queries and providing information in ways we can only begin to imagine today. What does this mean for the average user? How will this impact our daily lives, our work, and our understanding of the world? Let’s delve into the details of this impending transformation and explore the potential implications of this new era of search. The Evolution of Search: From Keywords to Conversations To appreciate the magnitude of this change, it’s helpful to understand how search has evolved. In the early days, search engines relied on basic keyword matching. You typed in a few words, and the engine returned a list of websites containing those words. Over time, search became more sophisticated, incorporating factors like website authority, user location, and search history to deliver more relevant results. However, even with these advancements, the fundamental interaction remained the same: you typed in keywords, and the search engine returned a list of links. This is about to change dramatically. AI is poised to revolutionize search in several key ways: The Impact on Our Lives This transformation in search will have far-reaching implications for our lives: The Challenges Ahead While the future of search is exciting, there are also challenges that need to be addressed: My Personal Take As someone who has been closely following the evolution of search for many years, I am both excited and apprehensive about this upcoming transformation. I believe that AI has the potential to revolutionize how we access and interact with information, but it’s crucial that we proceed with caution and address the ethical and societal implications of these advancements. I have personally experienced the limitations of current search engines. For instance, when researching complex topics for my work, I often have to consult multiple sources and spend hours sifting through information to find what I need. I am eager to see how AI-powered search can streamline this process and provide me with more relevant and comprehensive results . However, I am also concerned about the potential for bias and misinformation. I believe that Google and other search engines have a responsibility to ensure that their algorithms are fair and transparent and that they prioritize accurate and trustworthy information. The future of search is bright, and Google is leading the charge with its ambitious vision for AI-powered search. By 2025, we can expect to see a profound shift in how we interact with information online, moving from keyword matching to conversational interactions and personalized results. This transformation has the potential to enhance our productivity, deepen our understanding of the world, and improve our decision-making. However, it’s crucial that we address the challenges of ensuring accuracy, protecting privacy, and bridging the digital divide. As we move towards this new era of search, I am hopeful that Google will continue to innovate responsibly and prioritize the needs of its users. I believe that AI-powered search has the potential to be a powerful tool for learning, growth, and positive change.Ariana Grande And Cynthia Erivo Were Paid Equally For 'Wicked' Despite Rumors: Studio
Trump team signs memorandum of understanding with Biden White House to formalize transitionSAN ANTONIO (AP) — Davion Bailey had 19 points in Incarnate Word's 65-53 win against East Texas A&M on Saturday. Bailey had four steals for the Cardinals (5-4, 1-1 Southland Conference). Dylan Hayman went 5 of 11 from the field (1 for 3 from 3-point range) to add 11 points. Jalin Anderson had nine points and shot 2 of 9 from the field, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 7 from the line. The Lions (1-9, 0-2) were led in scoring by Scooter Williams Jr., who finished with 10 points. Mykol Sanchez-Vega added nine points for East Texas A&M. Josh Taylor finished with eight points. The Lions prolonged their losing streak to six in a row. NEXT UP Incarnate Word next plays Tuesday against Duke on the road, and East Texas A&M hosts South Alabama on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .None
Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes officeThe Queensland family responsible for internet sensation Molly the magpie has responded to a bombshell court ruling that could see the famous magpie removed from their home once again , saying they want to “enjoy the time we have together and let everything else go”. Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen obtained a special wildlife carer’s licence earlier this year in order to keep Molly, but that licence was overturned in court this week. Wells and Mortensen rescued Molly when he — initially believed to be a she — fell from a nest in 2020. Once recovered and released, the bird continued to live in their Gold Coast backyard, forming a relationship with their two dogs, Peggy and Ruby — which was documented on social media and in a book. Molly’s unlikely friendship with the two Staffordshire terriers gained a large social media following of more than 980,000. But after complaints the couple did not have the appropriate licences to look after Molly, they surrendered the magpie to Queensland wildlife authorities in March this year. Amid mounting pressure from the public — and some politicians — the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) “approved a specialised licence” and returned Molly to Wells and Mortensen six weeks after the bird had been surrendered. The department at the time said Molly was “highly habituated and may have developmental issues” and could “never be rehabilitated or returned to the wild”. Wells and Mortensen were ordered to not make commercial gain from Molly, and to continue wildlife training and engage with the department to “ensure the bird is receiving adequate care and enrichment”. The family has now addressed the court decision through social media . “A big thank you for the outpouring of support and love as we face yet another bump in the road,” the family said on Instagram . “Some anonymous people challenged DESI’s decision to grant us a specialised licence so Molly could come back to a family who love him in the Supreme Court yesterday. “The outcome: The decision to grant us a specialised licence has been set aside and is of no effect. That also means that your application for a specialised licence made on 11 April 2024 remains undecided. “What does that mean? We are not sure because we have not been advised of the next steps. We will keep you all updated as things unfold. “In the meantime, let’s live in the moment and enjoy the time we have together and let everything else go.” Legal firm XD Law & Advocacy sought a judicial review of the decision to grant the licence, on behalf of an unnamed wildlife volunteer representing a network of volunteers who work to care for injured and rescued birds. Jack Vaughan from XD Law and Advocacy said the Supreme Court had overturned the granting of the specialised licence to Wells and Mortensen on Monday. Vaughan said on X that the law firm took the case “when we saw volunteer wildlife carers being pilloried and abused for sticking up for the laws of Queensland preventing wildlife being turned into pets”. The applicant said: “This action was not about one magpie — it was about reinforcing Queensland’s wildlife protection laws and the integrity of the wildlife licensing system. “I am grateful to the Supreme Court and so proud of all the wildlife carers that stood up for the law when the department and the former premier failed to do so. “We are the ones who deal with the wreckage of the social media fad of capturing baby magpies and training them to do cute tricks. “There is nothing cute about wings and legs bitten off by family pets. There is nothing cute about seeing a domesticated magpie ferociously attacked by a wild flock when they first interact. “We are not commenting at all on what should be done with Molly — we will not be exposing our members to that violence and abuse again.” DETSI will now decide its next steps to take in regard to Molly. “In trying to protect the welfare of the bird — which has always been our highest priority — we made an error, and we are currently considering next steps,” a spokesperson said in a statement after the court decision on Monday.
Peterson 0-2 0-2 0, Pierce 7-13 6-9 20, Harvey 0-3 0-0 0, Mincy 5-11 0-0 12, Stewart 4-9 2-2 11, Scott 4-8 3-4 11, King 4-5 1-2 10, Parrish 1-2 0-0 3, Pettaway 0-1 0-0 0, Wilson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-54 12-19 67. Dynes 1-1 0-1 2, Farmer 4-10 1-2 10, Galette 2-11 0-0 5, Harper 5-8 0-1 12, Nelson 1-4 0-0 3, Carroll 1-6 3-4 5, Maxey 1-8 0-1 3, Uijtendaal 1-5 0-0 2, Kirkland 0-4 0-0 0, Wilkerson 0-2 0-0 0, DePante 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-59 4-9 42. Halftime_Presbyterian 28-16. 3-Point Goals_Presbyterian 5-11 (Mincy 2-5, Parrish 1-1, King 1-2, Stewart 1-2, Harvey 0-1), Youngstown St. 6-27 (Harper 2-3, Nelson 1-2, Farmer 1-3, Galette 1-4, Maxey 1-6, Kirkland 0-1, Uijtendaal 0-2, Wilkerson 0-2, Carroll 0-4). Rebounds_Presbyterian 35 (Pierce 9), Youngstown St. 32 (Kirkland 6). Assists_Presbyterian 11 (Peterson, Mincy, Pettaway 2), Youngstown St. 7 (Harper 2). Total Fouls_Presbyterian 13, Youngstown St. 14. A_103 (7,203).Stocks closed lower as Wall Street ended a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% Friday and the the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 333 points, or 0.8%. The Nasdaq composite dropped 1.5%. The “Magnificent 7” stocks weighed on the market, led by declines in Nvidia, Tesla and Microsoft. Even with the loss, the S&P 500 had a modest gain for the week and is still headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose slightly. On Friday: The S&P 500 fell 66.75 points, or 1.1%, to 5,970.84. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 333.59 points, or 0.8%, to 49,992.21. The Nasdaq composite fell 298.33 points, or 1.5%, to 19,722.03. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies dropped 35.60 points, or 1.6%, to 2,244.59. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 39.99 points, or 0.7%. The Dow is up 151.95 points, or 0.4%. The Nasdaq is up 149.43 points, or 0.8% The Russell 2000 is up 2.22 points, or 0.1%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,201.01 points, or 25.2%. The Dow is up 5,302.67, or 14.1%. The Nasdaq is up 4,710.68 points, or 31.4%. The Russell 2000 is up 217.52 points, or 10.7%.
Kings fire coach Mike Brown less than halfway through his 3rd season, AP source says The Sacramento Kings have fired coach Mike Brown less than halfway through his third season with the team mired in a five-game losing streak, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the firing hadn’t been announced by the team. ESPN first reported the firing. Brown won NBA Coach of the Year in his first season in 2022-23, when he helped Sacramento end the longest playoff drought in NBA history at 16 seasons. But Sacramento lost in the play-in tournament last year and was off to a 13-18 start this season. Injured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't play Sunday against Dallas PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Injured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't play Sunday against Dallas. Hurts is still in the NFL concussion protocol. The Eagles will turn to backup Kenny Pickett on Sunday because Hurts is dealing with the lingering effects of a concussion suffered against Washington. Hurts was injured early at Washington after his head slammed against the ground on one run and he was hit in the helmet by Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu at the end of another. Hurts isn’t healthy enough to play just yet. Browns restructure QB Deshaun Watson's contract to create cap space, flexibility, AP source says BEREA, Ohio (AP) — A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press the Cleveland Browns have again restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson’s massive contract to create salary-cap space and give them future flexibility. Watson has been limited to just 19 games in three seasons because of an NFL suspension and injuries with the Browns, who signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2022. The restructuring allows the team to spread out the salary-cap hit after the 2026 season, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team does not disclose contract details. Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78 NEW YORK (AP) — Longtime CBS sportscaster Greg Gumbel has died from cancer. He was 78. His family announced his death in a statement released by CBS on Friday. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. David Berson, the president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, Navy gets 95-yard TD run from Horvath and stops 2-point try to beat Oklahoma in Armed Forces Bowl FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Blake Horvath set a Navy record with a 95-yard touchdown run and scored a go-ahead 6-yarder with 4:34 left as the Midshipmen overcame an early two-touchdown deficit and stopped a late 2-point conversion attempt to beat Oklahoma 21-20 in the Armed Forces Bowl. The Sooners got a 10-yard touchdown pass from Michael Hawkins Jr. to Jake Roberts with six seconds left, but Hawkins was sacked by Justin Reed on the conversion try. Navy reached 10 wins for the first time since 2019, which had been their last winning season. Oklahoma has its second losing season in Brent Venables' three years as coach. Mavs star Luka Doncic will be out about a month before check on calf injury, AP source says DALLAS (AP) — A person with knowledge of the injury says Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic will be out about a month before being re-evaluated for a calf injury sustained in a Christmas Day loss to Minnesota. Doncic has undergone an MRI on his strained left calf. The absence is almost certain to be long enough to disqualify the five-time All-NBA player from consideration for that and other major awards, including MVP. Doncic had already missed eight games this season before his latest injury. What Snoop wants: Arizona Bowl gives NIL opportunities to players for Colorado State, Miami (Ohio) TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — When Snoop Dogg agreed to become the sponsor of the Arizona Bowl, he had a demand: It must have a NIL component. Other bowls have provided NIL chances for single players the past few years, but the Arizona Bowl is believed to be the first to offer NIL compensation to every player on both Colorado State and Miami (Ohio). The players participated in youth clinics before Saturday's game and will be compensated for their time. No. 20 Colorado cherishing matchup with No. 17 BYU in Alamo Bowl as Sanders, Hunter complete careers SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Colorado is relishing the chance to end its season on a high note regardless of the outcome of the Valero Alamo Bowl. No. 20 Colorado (9-3, No. 23 CFP) will face the 17th-ranked BYU Cougars (10-2, No. 17 CFP) in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday. While a number of teams are shuffling their roster with players opting out of bowl games to enter the transfer portal or prepare for the NFL Draft, the Buffaloes have their entire two-deep roster available. Colorado coach Deion Sanders honored his players’ commitment by securing additional disability insurance coverage for his team, including record coverage for his star duo of Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback son Shedeur. Former NFL receiver DeSean Jackson hired as the football coach at Delaware State DOVER, Del. (AP) — Former NFL receiver DeSean Jackson is taking over the football program at Delaware State. The school announced Jackson’s hire Friday in the latest move by a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference program to hire a former NFL star as its football coach. Norfolk State hired Michael Vick last week. Jackson joins a growing list of former NFL standouts who have taken over HBCU programs in recent years. Deion Sanders had success at Jackson State before heading to Colorado, and Eddie George guided Tennessee State to the FCS playoffs this year. Alex Ovechkin takes part in a full Capitals practice. He could return Saturday at Toronto ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin could return to the Washington Capitals lineup when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs in their first game back from the NHL’s Christmas break. Several signs point to Ovechkin returning Saturday night after missing five weeks with a broken left leg. Ovechkin skated with regular linemates Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas and took part in power play drills in practice Friday. Coach Spencer Carbery said things were trending the right way for Ovechkin to play but wanted to see how the 39-year-old comes out of a full practice before making a decision Saturday.Parts of the UK have experienced forceful wind, with some hitting speeds of around 93mph. This includes areas of the Thames Valley, as a tree collapsed in The Crescent on Saturday, December 7. Images taken from the scene show the plant has taken up most of the pavement, as well as a section of the road. Orange cones with reflectors have been placed around the infringement to aid drivers making their way up and down the road. It is hoped that the tree will be removed by Sunday, December 8. This is the second big tree to fall in the town as a result of the country’s latest storm, as one fell in Suffield Road several hours before. Officers from Thames Valley Police attended the scene and made the vicinity safe. Many people took to social media to alert those in the town of the obstruction, whilst wishing others a safe journey when out and about. According to a resident who lives near that part of Wycombe, the road ‘is now clear’ and that nearby cars and occupants ‘are OK’.Nasdaq surges above 20,000 after US inflation data matches estimatesNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes got back to climbing on Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve . The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month and finished just short of its all-time high. Big Tech stocks led the way, which drove the Nasdaq composite up 1.8% to top the 20,000 level for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, lagged the market with a dip of 99 points, or 0.2%. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Shoppers have been poking fun at the absence of Harry and Meghan from Selfridges' Royal family Christmas bauble range, with some suggesting that the Sussexes' decorations might be "in the bargain bin". The high-end Oxford Street store is selling £40 ornaments resembling King Charles, the late Queen Elizabeth , and the Waleses, but neither the Sussexes nor King Charles' wife Camilla , the Queen consort, are included. Social media users have reacted to this omission, with one quipping: "I'm presuming that the Harry and Meghan baubles are in the bargain bin?!" Another chimed in with a sarcastic: "I am sure Queen Camilla is very grateful!" However, not everyone was taken with the design and quality of the baubles on offer. One critic labelled them as "tacky", while another questioned: "Who in God's name would want to look at William or his dad? " A third disparaged the baubles of the Prince and Princess of Wales, remarking: "Both awful looking. No doubt the royal sycophants on here will lap these up, though." Despite the criticism, the unique baubles did attract attention inside Selfridges, with many shoppers pausing to admire them before being deterred by the hefty price tag. A pair of American tourists took a photo with the Prince William bauble but noted: "It's nice - but not for £40!" Similarly, a woman observed to her companion: "They're sweet - but £40 just for one?" Prince William 's baubles were nestled between those resembling British actress Audrey Hepburn and American musician Post Malone. Other celebrities featured around the future king included Amy Winehouse, Harry Styles, Freddie Mercury, Britney Spears , and Paul Hollywood . The festive ornaments, crafted from coloured glass, stand approximately 12 - 13cm tall. King Charles is portrayed in his full Coronation Day attire, while the late Queen Elizabeth is adorned with one of her many crowns. On its website, Selfridges describes its Kate Middleton decoration as "a stunning depiction of Her Royal Highness Princess Kate." Regarding its Prince William bauble, the store states: "This piece is sure to add a hint of regal sophistication to your Christmas decor."