
Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Soprano Angel Blue sings her first Metropolitan Opera 'Aida' in a new production Angel Blue, one of the most admired singers of her generation, is headlining the Metropolitan Opera’s first new production of Verdi’s “Aida” in 36 years. The 40-year-old takes on the title role of the enslaved Ethiopian princess torn between love for an Egyptian warrior and loyalty to her country. It’s a part that comes weighted with history, especially for a Black soprano at the Met, where Leontyne Price embodied the role from her first performance in 1961 until her retirement in 1985. Blue tells The Associated Press she’s long looked up to Price, and directors who have worked with her say the singer is ready for the challenge. Blue’s Met debut in ‘Aida’ will happen New Year’s Eve. Centuries-old angels uncovered at Boston church made famous by Paul Revere BOSTON (AP) — Conservators have uncovered eight angels in a historic Boston church that counted Paul Revere as a bell ringer and played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War. The angels were painted in the early 18th century but painted over in 1912 as part of a renovation of the Old North Church. Inspired by research showing the existence of at least 20 angels, conservators for the past four months have been removing the white paint that covered the eight angels located on the balcony's arches in the church sanctuary. The public is now able to view them. Swiss Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger dies in avalanche, aged 26 Swiss Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger has died following an avalanche at a mountain resort. The country's skiing federation says the incident took place at the Arosa resort in Switzerland. The 26-year-old Hediger competed at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in the women’s snowboard cross and the mixed team version of the same event. Hediger achieved her first two World Cup podium finishes in the 2023-24 season. Her best result was a second place in St. Moritz in January. NFL on Netflix: Christmas Day games are a 1st for streaming giant Netflix will have one of its biggest days since the site launched in 1998 when it carries two NFL games for the first time on Christmas. “NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix” kicks off with a two-hour pregame show at 11 a.m., before Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City. Baltimore faces Houston in the second game. The streaming giant agreed to a three-year contract in May to carry Christmas Day games. Magic and lights draw crowds to an alpine village in Washington state for Christmas LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (AP) — Freshly baked pretzels, shining tree lights and sleds in the snow lend a ruddy warmth to an unlikely collection of Bavarian-themed chalets in the mountains of Washington state. Decades ago, the town of Leavenworth was a near ghost town, one of the poorest parts of the Pacific Northwest. The mines and the sawmill had closed, and even the railroad left. That’s when desperate business owners took a serious gamble -- reinventing the community in the vision of an alpine village. More than half a century later, the result brings tourists from near and far -- especially during the holidays, when Leavenworth takes on the flavor of a German Christmas market. Bill Clinton is hospitalized with a fever but in good spirits, spokesperson says WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton was admitted Monday to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington after developing a fever. The 78-year-old was admitted in the “afternoon for testing and observation,” Angel Urena, Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, said in a statement. “He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving,” Urena said. Packers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout in NFL this season, 34-0 over Saints GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Josh Jacobs gained 107 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown for a sixth straight game as the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth while producing the first shutout of the NFL season, 34-0 over the hapless New Orleans Saints. Green Bay improved to 11-4 and earned its fifth postseason appearance in six years. New Orleans played without injured quarterback Derek Carr and running back Alvin Kamara. Rookie Spencer Rattler started and went 15 of 30 for 153 yards with an interception and a fumble. The Packers have won nine of their last 11 games. Prosecutors withdraw appeal of dismissed case against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico prosecutors won’t pursue an appeal of a court’s decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin. The actor had been charged in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal on a movie set outside Santa Fe in October 2021. Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey withdrew on Monday the appeal of a July decision at trial to dismiss the charge. The decision to drop the appeal solidifies the decision by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer halfway through trial to dismiss the case on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense. An all-Filipino crew is set to make history in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race SYDNEY (AP) — There have been plenty of “firsts” in the history of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race which was first held in 1945. An all-Filipino crew of 15 sailors will make it another when the annual ocean classic begins in Sydney Harbor on Thursday. With veteran sailor Ernesto Echauz at the helm, Centennial 7 will embark on the 628-nautical mile race. The boat itself is no stranger to the race. Previously, the TP52 yacht was known as Celestial and claimed the Sydney to Hobart overall handicap victory in 2022 under Sam Haynes after being runner-up the year before.
NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. Announces Series A Preferred Stock DividendSouth Korean citizens were hit with a zero-click malware from the North The malware used pop-up ads to install payloads Keyloggers and other malicious surveillance software was also installed North Korean state-linked hacker ScarCruft recently conducted a large-scale cyber-espionage campaign using an Internet Explorer zero-day flaw to deploy RokRAT malware , experts have warned. The group, also known as APT37 or RedEyes, is a North Korean state-sponsored hacking group known for cyber-espionage activities. This group typically focuses on South Korean human rights activists, defectors, and political entities in Europe. Internet Explorer Zero-Day flaw exploited Over the years, ScarCruft has developed a reputation for using advanced techniques such as phishing, watering hole attacks, and exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities in software to infiltrate systems and steal sensitive information. Their latest campaign, dubbed "Code on Toast," was revealed in a joint report by South Korea's National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) and AhnLab (ASEC). This campaign used a unique method involving toast pop-up ads to deliver zero-click malware infections. The innovative aspect of this campaign lies in how ScarCruft used toast notifications - small pop-up ads displayed by antivirus software or free utility programs - to spread their malware. ScarCruft compromised a domestic advertising agency’s server in South Korea to push malicious "Toast ads" through a popular but unnamed free software used by many South Koreans. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! These malicious ads included a specially crafted iframe that triggered a JavaScript file named ‘ad_toast,’ which executed the Internet Explorer zero-day exploit. By using this zero-click method, ScarCruft was able to silently infect systems without user interaction. The high-severity vulnerability in Internet Explorer used in this attack is tracked as CVE-2024-38178 and has been given a severity score of 7.5. The flaw exists in Internet Explorer’s JScript9.dll file, part of its Chakra engine, and allows remote code execution if exploited. Despite Internet Explorer’s official retirement in 2022, many of its components remain embedded in Windows or third-party software, making them ripe targets for exploitation. ScarCruft’s use of the CVE-2024-38178 vulnerability in this campaign is particularly alarming because it closely resembles a previous exploit they used in 2022 for CVE-2022-41128. The only difference in the new attack is an additional three lines of code designed to bypass Microsoft ’s earlier security patches. Once the vulnerability is exploited, ScarCruft delivers RokRAT malware to the infected systems. RokRAT is primarily used to exfiltrate sensitive data with the malware targeting files with specific extensions like .doc, .xls, .ppt, and others, sending them to a Yandex cloud every 30 minutes. In addition to file exfiltration, RokRAT has surveillance capabilities, including keylogging, clipboard monitoring, and screenshot capture every three minutes. The infection process consists of four stages, with each payload injected into the ‘explorer.exe’ process to evade detection. If popular antivirus tools like Avast or Symantec are found on the system, the malware is instead injected into a random executable from the C:\Windows\system32 folder. Persistence is maintained by placing a final payload, ‘rubyw.exe,’ in the Windows startup and scheduling it to run every four minutes. Via BleepingComputer These are the best antivirus options available Ford denies it was hit by data breach, says customer data is safe These are the best endpoint protection solutionsThe Department of Energy (DOE) has strengthened its partnership with the United States to advance nuclear energy in the Philippines through a recent policy dialogue. During the 2nd United States-Philippines Energy Policy Dialogue (EPD), the DOE and key US officials finalized a guiding document that formalizes a framework for regular engagement in the energy sector. The DOE also reported that they had discussed the advancing deployments of renewable energy (RE) technologies, which are aimed at minimizing carbon emissions while also modernizing and expanding energy transmission infrastructure that could address the rising power demand in the Philippines. “Both nations also emphasized the importance of reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels to strengthen energy security and resilience,” it said. Besides advancing RE innovations, this year’s EPD underlined accessibility to finance, technologies, and resilient infrastructure for a reliable and just energy transition. “These initiatives are essential to ensuring that the shift to cleaner energy is equitable, affordable, and inclusive, promoting sustainable economic growth without imposing undue burdens on consumers,” the DOE emphasized. Furthermore, Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla thanked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for its encouraging assessment following the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission to the Philippines last week. “The IAEA’s recognition of our progress in addressing most of the recommendations and suggestions from the initial 2018 INIR Mission reflects the Philippine government’s steadfast commitment to developing a robust nuclear power program,” he stated. In his remarks, he mentioned the country’s position on adopting nuclear energy via the Presidential Executive Order. “I thank the IAEA for its invaluable partnership and for conducting this objective and professional review, which underscores the Philippines' commitment to adhering to global standards and best practices in nuclear infrastructure development,” Lotilla added. “This collaboration strengthens our ability to adopt nuclear energy responsibly alongside renewable energy sources, driving us closer to our goal of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”Asma al-Assad’s Reported Divorce From Bashar Refuted by her Father, Russian Officials
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Ethereum (ETH) has long been the blockchain of choice for decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. New on the scene is Lightchain AI (LCAI), combining AI with blockchain technology to make a wave.LCAI presale started at just $0.003, but some experts are predicting a 500x increase by 2025, so it might be worth exploring in case you tend to compare it to what Ethereum was. Why Lightchain AI (LCAI) Might Just 500x Your Wow Factor Here are the reasons why Lightchain AI (LCAI) is positioned to deliver exponential growth and redefine the blockchain and AI landscape: Lightchain AI’s integration of artificial intelligence and blockchain goes beyond speculation, focusing on real-world applications. The LCAI token powers decentralized AI services, governance, and privacy-preserving data processing, ensuring consistent demand and long-term relevance. By introducing advanced scalability solutions and decentralized frameworks, LCAI addresses critical gaps in the market. Its emphasis on AI-specific capabilities positions it as a unique player in the blockchain space, driving adoption across industries. With over $4.16 million raised in Stage 8 at a token price of $0.00375, the presale showcases investor confidence. Early adoption indicates significant growth potential as the project moves closer to mainnet launch. The LCAIs roadmap stresses ecosystem development, global adoption, and partnership with the industry. This innovative strategy together with its disruptive capabilities could make Lightchain AI stand out among the investments providing the maximum of 500x gains. The Future of Lightchain AI Could It Surpass Ethereum? Lightchain AI (LCAI) is getting speed as a change-making blockchain plan, mixing smart machines to build a shared system with real-life use. Even if Ethereum leads as a main blockchain, LCAI's special focus on AI apps, privacy features and growth gives odd benefits that might compete with Ethereum's role. Due to its strong pre-sale push, new plans, and focus on clear dealings and shared control, LCAI is set for fast rise. If many people use it and the site keeps its word on easy AI mixing, it might compete or even beat Ethe͏reum in some areas by changing the blockchain world. Why Lightchain AI Could Be the Next Ethereum Lightchain AI (LCAI) has the potential to rival Ethereum by offering unique innovations tailored for the next generation of blockchain applications. Its integration of artificial intelligence with blockchain enables real-world utility, addressing challenges like scalability, transparency, and privacy. Unlike Ethereum’s broader focus, LCAI targets AI-driven decentralized applications (dApps), setting itself apart with advanced technology. With a strong roadmap emphasizing global adoption, developer engagement, and cross-industry collaboration, LCAI is poised for exponential growth. If it continues to gain traction through its presale and delivers on its promise of scalable AI integration, Lightchain AI could become the Ethereum of AI-focused blockchain solutions How To Snag Your $LCAI Still here? Awesome, because the Lightchain AI Presale is LIVE and moving faster than your Wi-Fi on a good day. Stage 6 is creeping up, which means prices are about to jump—act now, and your dollar gets you more tokens. Here’s how ridiculously easy it is to get your hands on $LCAI. Cruise over to the Lightchain AI website . Connect your wallet (we’re talking ETH or USDT—super flexible). Swap for the amount of $LCAI tokens you want. That’s it! You’re officially in on something massive. Want to nerd out on the details? Dive into the Lightchain AI whitepaper —it’s like a love letter to anyone obsessed with blockchain and AI. https://lightchain.ai https://lightchain.ai/lightchain-whitepaper.pdf https://x.com/LightchainAI https://t.me/LightchainProtocol Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train used a shirt to fan the flames, a prosecutor said Tuesday at his arraignment on murder charges. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally, was not required to enter a plea and did not speak at the hearing in Brooklyn criminal court. Zapeta, wearing a white jumpsuit over a weathered black hooded sweatshirt, will remain jailed and is due back in court on Friday. His lawyer did not ask for bail. Zapeta is charged with two counts of murder, accusing him of intentionally killing the woman and killing her while committing arson. He is also charged with one count of arson. The top charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called the attack a “gruesome and senseless act of violence” and said it would be “met with the most serious consequences.” The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on an F train that was stopped at the Coney Island station. Police said Tuesday the victim's identification is still pending. Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who may have been sleeping in the train, and set her clothing on fire with a lighter. Zapeta then fanned the flames with a shirt, engulfing her in fire, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said in court Tuesday. Zapeta then sat on a bench on the subway platform and watched, police said. According to Rottenberg, Zapeta told detectives that he didn’t know what happened but identified himself in images of the attack. Zapeta's lawyer, Ed Friedman, did not speak to reporters after the arraignment. Video on social media appears to show some people looking on from the platform and at least one police officer walking by while the woman is on fire inside the train. NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Gulotta said Sunday that several officers responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the crime scene “the way it’s supposed to be" while the others went to get fire extinguishers and transit workers. “Officers who were on patrol on an upper level of that station smelled and saw smoke and went to investigate. What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. They eventually put the fire out, but “unfortunately, it was too late,” Tisch said, and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Zapeta was taken into custody Sunday afternoon while riding a train on the same subway line after teenagers recognized him from images circulated by the police. A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support. The shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal immigration officials said Zapeta was deported in 2018 but later reentered the U.S. illegally. The crime deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system, amplified by graphic video of the attack that ricocheted across social media. Overall, crime is down in the transit system compared to last year. Major felonies declined 6% between January and November compared to the same time period last year, according to data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. But murders are up, with nine killings this year through November compared to five during the same period last year. Earlier this month, a Manhattan jury acquitted former Marine Daniel Penny in the chokehold death last year of an agitated subway rider. The case became a flashpoint in debates over safety, homelessness and mental illness on the system. Policing the subway is difficult, given the vast network of trains moving between 472 stations. Each stop contains multiple entry points and, in many stations, multiple floors and platforms.
Man arraigned on murder charges in NYC subway death fanned flames with a shirt, prosecutors sayThe opportunity in front of Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Saturday is not lost on first-year coach Bill O'Brien. When the Massachusetts native leads the Eagles (7-5) onto the hallowed New York ground, Boston College will be shooting for its first eight-win season since 2009. Facing an opponent as prestigious in the world of college football as Nebraska (6-6) makes it even more special. "I think that was the big thing for us," O'Brien said. "Can we play a great, legendary program? (We're) all very excited about the opportunity to go up against a program like Nebraska in Yankee Stadium around Christmastime. It's a very, very cool opportunity." The Eagles not only look to send seniors such as ACC Defensive Player of the Year Donovan Ezeiruaku (FBS-leading 16 1/2 sacks in the regular season), running back Kye Robichaux (452 yards, six touchdowns in the past four games) and former walk-on linebacker Joe Marinaro out on a high note, but also keep an eye on the future with many expected 2025 returnees already contributing on the depth chart. Florida International junior transfer Grayson James has emerged as Boston College's top quarterback, throwing for five touchdowns in four starts since Florida State-bound Thomas Castellanos departed the program midseason. The Eagles won three of those games, all in Atlantic Coast Conference play. This season has also seen the likes of running back Turbo Richard, wide receiver Reed Harris and safety Carter Davis receive significant time as true or redshirt freshmen for O'Brien's team. "There's a lot of guys that will be playing in this game that will hopefully be playing for us next year," O'Brien said. "If you can't get up to playing in a game like this, I think for our guys, you might want to check yourself out a little bit." While Boston College seeks back-to-back bowl victories after toppling now-ACC rival SMU in the Fenway Bowl last December, Nebraska is headed to its first postseason appearance since 2016. The Cornhuskers clinched the bowl berth with a Nov. 23 win over Wisconsin, ending a four-game losing streak that followed a 5-1 start. Five of Nebraska's six losses were by eight or fewer points, including setbacks against ranked Big Ten foes Illinois and Ohio State. "We're unbelievably excited and grateful," second-year Nebraska coach and native New Yorker Matt Rhule said. "We've worked really hard to get to this point. A tough schedule this year, had a chance to play against a lot of great teams." Nebraska has one of the nation's top young quarterbacks at the helm. Dylan Raiola has thrown for 12 touchdowns and ranks second among FBS freshmen with 2,595 passing yards and a 66.6 percent completion rate. Raiola shot down transfer portal rumors and affirmed his commitment to the Huskers since the regular season concluded. "I never officially entered and never really was shopping around," Raiola said. "I'm playing quarterback at Nebraska." The game has added significance to Rhule due to his New York City roots. This month, he added Dana Holgorsen as offensive coordinator and promoted John Butler to defensive coordinator. Eight Nebraska players hail from New York or New Jersey, including sophomore starting defensive end Cameron Lenhardt and sixth-year senior running back Rahmir Johnson. "It's been home for a long time," Rhule said. "This is a special, special kind of full-circle moment for us." --Field Level Media
Singhvi seeks probe into incident New Delhi: A wad of Rs 500 notes found from the seat allotted to Abhishek Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha (RS) rocked the Upper House on Friday with the Opposition and the ruling alliance MPs trading charges and the Congress MP demanding a probe into the ‘security lapse’. Stating that it was not clear if the currency notes were real or fake, Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar said an investigation has been ordered into the incident in accordance with the practice. The notes were found from seat 222, allotted to Singhvi, during an anti-sabotage check on Thursday, Dhankhar said. Singhvi suggested that glass enclosures should be erected to prevent anyone from planting “ganja” on seats in an MP’s absence. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day within minutes of meeting after lunch as treasury benches were on their feet seeking answers from Opposition. Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who was in Chair, sought to pacify the members of the ruling party and urged them to sit down and allow the House to function. As unrelenting BJP members continued to raise slogans, he adjourned the House for the day. Soon after the official papers were laid on the table in the morning, Dhankhar said security staff had recovered a wad of Rs 500 notes from the seat allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, leading to an uproar in the House. While leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said the chairman should not have named the member without an investigation being completed, leader of the House J P Nadda accused the Opposition of showing eagerness on “some issues” while wanting to cover up other issues. “After adjournment of the House yesterday, a wad of currency notes was apparently recovered by security officials from seat no 222 presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from the state of Telangana,” Dhankar said. The chairman said the wad has Rs 500 currency notes and there appear to be 100 notes. “It was my duty and I’m obliged to inform the House. This is a routine anti-sabotage check which takes place,” he said. Dhankhar said he was expecting someone would claim the notes, but no one has so far. “Does it reflect the state of the economy that people can afford to forget it,” he posed. As a ruckus broke out, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asked, “Why should there be an objection to the name being taken? The chairman has pointed out the seat number and the member who occupies that. What is the problem with that?” He said carrying bundles of notes in the House is not appropriate and agreed that there should be a serious investigation into the matter. Dhankhar said the anti-sabotage check was done in view of the security challenges. “I have been careful that anti-sabotage checks must be very severe because in these highly technological situations where chemicals are used, the first and foremost is security... From that perspective it was done,” he said. According to Nadda, the matter was serious and the opposition and treasury benches should not be divided as it is an attack on the dignity of the House. He also suggested that the Rajya Sabha should pass a resolution stating the proceedings of the House should never be disrupted.AP News Summary at 4:35 p.m. EST