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ST. LOUIS — Jake Neighbours scored the lone shootout goal, Jordan Binnington denied all three San Jose Sharks and the St. Louis Blues snapped a four-game home losing streak with a 3-2 victory Thursday night. Binnington bounced back after allowing Alexander Wennberg’s tying goal with 8.8 seconds left to notch his 151st career victory and tie Mike Liut’s franchise record. Wennberg had both goals for the Sharks. Mikael Granlund and Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL draft, assisted both goals. Jordan Kyrou and Nathan Walker scored in regulation for the Blues, who won for just the second time in their last nine games. Walker scored 11 seconds into the game after Radek Faksa intercepted a pass from Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov. Kyrou, sandwiched between Granlund and Timothy Liljegren at the top of the crease, jammed home a pass from Pierre-Olivier Joseph for his sixth goal of the season with 8:13 left in the second. Binnington had 22 saves in the win, while Askarov had 29 saves. Takeaways Sharks: San Jose, which has been outscored 28-10 in the first period this season, had another rocky start despite getting a first-period goal for the third straight game. St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, right, is congratulated by center Brayden Schenn, center, and center Robert Thomas, left, after defeating the San Jose Sharks in the shootout of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Jeff Le Blues: Binnington ranks second among goalies in franchise history with 295 games played. He reached the 151-win mark in 56 fewer games than Liut, who went 151-133 with 52 ties from 1979-1985. Key moment Neighbours delivered the victory in the shootout with a wrist shot that beat Askarov on his glove side. Key stat The Blues have been outscored 14-2 in the third period of their last seven games. Up next The Blues play seven of their next eight games on the road, beginning Saturday against the New York Islanders, the same day San Jose starts a four-game home stand Saturday against Buffalo.French telecommunications company Orange will have direct access to OpenAI ’s artificial intelligence (AI) models under a new agreement signed by the two companies. The agreement will provide Orange with direct access that includes data processing and hosting in European data centers and will facilitate early access to OpenAI’s latest AI models, Orange said in a Tuesday (Nov. 26) press release . With this partnership and access, Orange will work to improve its existing solutions and develop new ones for other use cases, according to the release. For example, the firm will explore AI-based voice interactions with its customers. “Orange is focused on delivering ‘Responsible AI,’ where the company carefully chooses the most appropriate and simplest solution for each AI use case,” the release said. “This approach means only using the latest Large Language Models where they are necessary and otherwise choosing simpler and cheaper solutions, thereby minimizing the impact on the environment as well as reducing cost for the many valuable AI use cases deployed across Orange.” This announcement comes at a time when enterprise spending on generative AI has increased sixfold over the past year to reach $13.8 billion. When reporting this data on Nov. 20, venture capital firm Menlo Ventures said 72% of enterprise IT decision-makers from companies with 50 or more employees expect to see broader adoption of generative AI “in the near term.” Menlo Ventures Partner Joff Redfern said at the time in a press release that organizations are “moving beyond pilots to embedding AI at the core of their business strategies.” Orange also said in its Tuesday press release that it will partner with OpenAI and Meta to fine-tune large language models (LLMs) to understand regional languages in Africa, starting with the Wolof and Pulaar languages that are spoken by 16 million people and 6 million people, respectively. The telecommunications firm will use these AI models to deliver customer support and sales messages and will provide these models for use in public health, public education and other services, according to the release . “Orange’s long-term goal is to work with many AI technology providers to enable future models to recognize all African languages spoken and written across Orange’s 18-country footprint in the region,” the release said.Augustus Goosie Tanoh, Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto Committee, has strongly criticized the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for its claim of creating over two million jobs since coming into office. In an interview on TV3’s Hot Issues with Kemenni Amaor, Tanoh dismissed the NPP’s job creation figures as unfounded, accusing the party of fabricating data without any credible evidence. Tanoh pledged that, should the NDC win the upcoming elections, it would prioritize addressing the country’s unemployment crisis by creating approximately 1.7 million jobs over the next four years. He explained that the NDC’s goal is to generate around 431,000 jobs annually, citing that an average of 308,000 people join the workforce each year, while only about 123,000 secure employment. This gap, Tanoh argued, leaves many Ghanaians without work and is an issue the NDC intends to tackle head-on. The NDC official expressed skepticism regarding the NPP’s reported job creation numbers, remarking, “I don’t know where the NPP got these numbers from. I don’t know if they have a secret ‘statistics room’ in their bedroom.” He described the two million jobs claim as “completely fabricated” and dismissed the figures as “fancy and imaginary.” Tanoh emphasized that the NDC is committed to providing realistic, data-driven solutions to Ghana’s unemployment problem, promising practical strategies designed to create sustainable employment opportunities for the country’s workforce.When Seuk Kim took off from Maryland last weekend with three small dogs aboard his plane, it was the latest of many volunteer flights he had made to rescue animals in need. After realizing a childhood dream of becoming a pilot, Kim transported cats and dogs from disaster areas, overcrowded shelters and other misfortunes — including a dog trapped for days in a shipping container — to rescue groups. He lined up other aviators to do the same. But Sunday's flight to New York was his last. Kim's 1986 Mooney M20J crashed in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, killing the 49-year-old pilot and one of the dogs, authorities said. The other two pups survived and were recovering Tuesday. “There are very few people like Seuk in this world. He has no ulterior motives. He never needed recognition,” said Sydney Galley, a fellow rescue flight volunteer. “He just wanted to help.” RELATED STORY | 'Need all the help I can get': Hurricane-related IV shortage landed woman in hospital for 6 weeks Whiskey — a 4-month-old Labrador-mix puppy who was found huddled in the snow with two broken legs — was doing well while awaiting surgery at Pieper Memorial Veterinary emergency and specialty hospital in Middletown, Connecticut. Videos showed the tawny pup getting belly rubs, licking a staffer’s face and, later, calmly looking around while having a leg bandage changed. The other surviving dog, an 18-month-old Yorkshire terrier mix called Pluto, was found Monday with minor injuries. By Tuesday, Pluto was at the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley, the New York organization that had been set to receive all three dogs. The third was a 5-pound (2.3-kg) puppy named Lisa, Galley said. The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday that the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances in mountainous terrain. National Transportation Safety Board investigators were at the crash site. Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky has said visibility was poor Sunday and that Kim sought permission to change his altitude because of turbulence before the plane went down in early evening. Galley said the aircraft — Kim's third plane, purchased in recent months — was equipped with technology to help locate it in an emergency. Still, it took authorities until about midnight Sunday to find the aircraft, which was in about a foot of snow a couple of miles from the nearest road, the sheriff said. Kim lived with his wife and their three children in Springfield, Virginia. Originally from South Korea, he “came to this country with little but a dream, and through hard work and perseverance, he built a life of meaning and generosity,” cousin Christine Kim said in a Facebook message. “Witty, spontaneous, and full of boundless generosity,” he combined a caring heart with a sense of adventure, the Kim family said in an online obituary. RELATED STORY | 'Need all the help I can get': Hurricane-related IV shortage landed woman in hospital for 6 weeks Seuk Kim had worked in fields including public relations and marketing. His family said he had pastimes including cooking and following baseball, but he had long aspired to fly. He eventually made that wish come true, and Galley said Kim recently told friends that he had landed a job with a charter flight company. “He was on top of the world,” she said. Kim started flying rescue dogs about four years ago and became a dedicated volunteer who handled as many as three flights a week and helped line up other pilots, Galley said. Unfazed by huge dogs, cats that other pilots didn't want to fly, or animal potty accidents, he responded to virtually any request with a smile and “sure, I can do that,” she recalled. Earlier this year, he flew “Connie the container dog,” the canine found in a shipping container at the Port of Houston, according to Galley and to a post on his memorial website. After Hurricane Helene struck parts of the Southeast this fall, Kim helped fly planeloads of generators and other supplies to hard-hit western North Carolina and even acquired a pickup truck to drive in hay for farms, Galley recalled. Penny Edwards of Forever Changed Animal Rescue, one of the groups Kim helped with Helene response, called him “a huge asset to not just us but the entire rescue community.” “Our hearts are shattered,” she wrote in an email Tuesday. Maggie Jackman Pryor, the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley’s executive director, said Kim helped save hundreds of animals over the years. Among them were a dog and her five puppies that he flew in October to Cathy West of Kuddles & Kisses K9 Rescue in Baltimore. The mixed-breed dog had been on a list to be euthanized at an overfilled shelter in Tennessee, West said. “He was so involved in trying to get the word out to volunteer, to other pilots — that this is a good thing to save these dogs so that they don’t die in shelters,” she said. On Sunday, Galley said, Kim picked up four dogs at a Virginia airport where her husband had just transported them from Georgia. After excitedly telling her husband about his new charter-plane job, Kim took off, dropped a big dog at a small airport in Maryland, and headed on with the rest toward Albany, New York. She imagines that he apologized to his canine passengers as the plane went down. “He always,” she said, “put everybody ahead of himself.”
Textron Inc. stock rises Wednesday, still underperforms market
The Ontario Provincial Police’s service bill for 2025 is indeed a bitter pill to swallow, agrees Detachment Commander Inspector Simon Hardy, who met the Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry Police Services Board to discuss the spike in the tab. Policing services will cost SDG 21.5 per cent more in 2025 than they did in 2024, for a total bill of about $12 million, This amount breaks down to $354.30 per household, which is lower than the provincial average of $399 per household. But local officials have joined colleagues across the province in objecting to the sharp increases. Hardy likened the cost to being forced to eat a dish that wasn’t ordered, particularly since there aren’t other options for policing in SD&G. Hardy stated, “The majority of money put forward is for salary dollars.” In July, OPP officers ratified a new four-year contract, which is retroactive to 2023 and expires in 2026, and provides for an increase of 12.4 per cent. Hardy acknowledged the increase was generous, but did say it now finally put the OPP at a similar level to other police forces. Added to the statement for 2025 is a year-end adjustment of $719,316 which includes court security, overtime and contract enhancements. According to Maureen Adams, Chief Administrative Officer for SD&G, other rural municipalities, dependent upon the policing services of the OPP, along with the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) have expressed their concerns at the increases happening across the province. Municipal officials have complained the OPP has failed to justify the hikes, which have been imposed without their input. Some municipalities must consider raising taxes for residents or cutting services just to afford the increase. In SDG, there have been increases in reports of suspicious persons, mischief, burglaries, trouble with youth, disturbing the peace and automobile theft. He noted that when there is a “shift shortage” at the OPP, when only a minimum of officers is available, overtime rates for the officers are at regular pay and not at time-and-a-half. This can help mitigate costs and provide some savings. The board feels new technology should be considered to assist policing efforts, make better use of an officer’s time and potentially save money. Hardy said speed monitors in communities are proving useful and taking some pressure off the OPP. Also discussed was the re-introduction of photo radar, despite its previous unpopularity, monitoring WiFi use, and piggy-backing on snow and ice road sensors to monitor conditions. It was noted that follow-up on traffic infractions might significantly add funds to the SD&G police services strained budget. In an effort to explain the increases, Hardy outlined the base services provided — tactical units, canine operations, aviation support, emergency assistance, anti-racketeering, rescue and recovery and major crime investigations. The OPP also provides security at events and traffic control in construction zones, although these services are paid by the venue or construction company. Some municipalities are asking the provincial government to absorb the cost for OPP services in communities with fewer than 10,000 residents. The board believes emulating other forces’ successes might prove helpful, and a study to re-evaluate the responsibilities of the OPP would be a worthwhile investment.Colorado 85, Utah Tech 73
WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Dior Conners led Appalachian State with 19 points and Myles Tate made a jumper from the free-throw line with 25.1 seconds left as the Mountaineers knocked off Sam Houston 66-63 on Wednesday night. Conners shot 4 of 9 from the field, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 9 for 10 from the line for the Mountaineers (4-2). Tate scored 17 points, going 6 of 14 from the floor, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and 2 for 4 from the line. Jackson Threadgill had 11 points and shot 4 for 11, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc. Lamar Wilkerson led the way for the Bearkats (3-3) with 22 points. Marcus Boykin added 11 points, five assists and four steals for Sam Houston. Dorian Finister also had 10 points and seven rebounds. Threadgill scored nine points in the first half and Appalachian State went into the break trailing 33-30. Tate scored a team-high 10 points for Appalachian State in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enerflex Ltd. (TSX: EFX) (NYSE: EFXT) (“Enerflex” or the “Company”) today provided an update of a modularized cryogenic natural gas processing facility in Kurdistan (the “EH Cryo project”). As previously announced, during the second quarter of 2024, Enerflex suspended activity at the EH Cryo project, demobilized its personnel and provided its customer with notice of Force Majeure following a fatal drone attack at an adjacent facility. Due to the continuing Force Majeure and circumstances that make it impossible for Enerflex to fulfill its obligations under the EH Cryo project contract, Enerflex today provided its customer with formal notice of termination. As previously announced, Enerflex’s customer has commenced arbitration proceedings against the Company, asserting certain baseless and unsubstantiated claims. Enerflex is disputing these claims and, following today’s termination, Enerflex will seek to recover amounts owing in connection with the EH Cryo project. At the end of Q3/24, the net asset position associated with the EH Cryo project was $161 million. Approximately $75 million of work associated with the EH Cryo project was included in the Company’s Engineered Systems (“ES”) backlog at the end of Q3/24. With the termination of the EH Cryo project, Enerflex expects to reverse this amount during the fourth quarter of 2024. The future ES revenue associated with the EH Cryo project was expected to contribute minimal gross margin. Since inception of the EH Cryo project, Enerflex has maintained a $31 million letter of credit to support its obligations under the EH Cryo project contract. Enerflex would view any drawing of this financial security in the prevailing circumstances as improper and would increase the amount owing by the customer. Any drawing of the financial security would not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or liquidity. At the end of Q3/24, Enerflex had $588 million available for future drawings, which reflects the $31 million letter of credit funded with the Company’s revolving credit facility. This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and “forward-looking statements” (and together with “forward-looking information”, “forward-looking information and statements”) within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking information and statements. The use of any of the words “future”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “believe”, “predict”, “potential”, “objective”, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking information and statements. In particular, this news release includes (without limitation) forward-looking information and statements pertaining to the Company’s expectations to recover amounts owing in connection with the EH Cryo project, if any; and the Company’s expectations to reverse approximately $75 million included in the Company’s ES backlog in the fourth quarter of 2024. All forward-looking information and statements in this news release are subject to important risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, which may affect Enerflex’s operations, including, without limitation: the impact of economic conditions; the markets in which Enerflex’s products and services are used; general industry conditions; changes to, and introduction of new, governmental regulations, laws, and income taxes; increased competition; political unrest and geopolitical conditions; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Enerflex. As a result of the foregoing, actual results, performance, or achievements of Enerflex could differ and such differences could be material from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements, including but not limited to those factors referred to under the heading “Risk Factors” in: (i) Enerflex’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023, (ii) Enerflex’s management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, and (iii) Enerflex’s Management Information Circular dated March 15, 2024, each of the foregoing documents being accessible under the electronic profile of the Company on SEDAR+ and EDGAR at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov/edgar, respectively. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of assumptions and risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information and statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and are based on the information available to the Company at such time and, other than as required by law, Enerflex disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. This news release and its contents should not be construed, under any circumstances, as investment, tax, or legal advice. Enerflex is a premier integrated global provider of energy infrastructure and energy transition solutions, deploying natural gas, low-carbon, and treated water solutions – from individual, modularized products and services to integrated custom solutions. With over 4,600 engineers, manufacturers, technicians, and innovators, Enerflex is bound together by a shared vision: The Company remains committed to the future of natural gas and the critical role it plays, while focused on sustainability offerings to support the energy transition and growing decarbonization efforts. Enerflex’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “EFX” and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “EFXT”. For more information about Enerflex, visit . Marc Rossiter President and Chief Executive Officer E-mail: MRossiter@enerflex.com Preet S. Dhindsa Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer E-mail: PDhindsa@enerflex.com Jeff Fetterly Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations E-mail: JFetterly@enerflex.com
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Damson Technologies Inaugurates New Manufacturing Facility in AhmedabadZebra Technologies' chief accounting officer sells $75,979 in stockCanada Prepares for Possible Retaliatory Tariffs Amid US Trade TensionsOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Alabama faces a tougher roadblock than it might appear in its quest to maintain positioning for the College Football Playoff. Sure, Oklahoma has struggled in its first Southeastern Conference season. The Sooners (5-5, 1-5 SEC) have lost four straight conference games. The Sooners have fired their offensive coordinator and they have the worst offense in the league. But they have a tough defense, too. Linebacker Danny Stutsman, a midseason AP All-American, anchors a nasty unit that has kept the Sooners competitive in losses at Ole Miss and Missouri. He ranks second in the SEC with 96 tackles. Defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. has scored four defensive touchdowns since the start of the 2023 season, tied for the most nationally. Defensive end R Mason Thomas has seven sacks, with six coming in the fourth quarter of close games. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is paying attention. “It’s going to take a great week of preparation,” DeBoer said. “A physical football team all around. Their defense is, I think, an extremely tough defense in all ways — just what they do with their scheme and then with their personnel, the way they fly around.” Plus, Oklahoma is motivated. It’s Senior Day for a program that would become bowl eligible with a win. Beating the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide could cure a lot of ills for the Sooners. “I think they know they could be a great example for what fight and what belief and what finishing and what improving and what proving people wrong looks like,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. “And I think this is a group of guys that are committed to doing that.” Alabama (8-2, 4-2) has more answers than most. Jalen Milroe has passed for 15 touchdowns and rushed for 17. Freshman receiver Ryan Williams has 40 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns. “Yeah, incredibly explosive, and they have great playmakers everywhere," Venables said. “Certainly, it starts — everything goes through the quarterback.” There has been much talk about what a third loss would do to Alabama's playoff hopes. DeBoer said his team isn't focused on that. “I think we're really honed in and the guys really believe on and have understood the significance of really focusing on where we’re at right now,” he said. “We talk about the next play is the most important play, the next game is the most important game. We haven’t thought about anything beyond Oklahoma.” Milroe is only the fourth SEC quarterback since 2007 to have at least 15 passing touchdowns and 17 rushing touchdowns in a single season. The others won the Heisman Trophy during their seasons — Florida's Tim Tebow in 2007, Auburn's Cam Newton in 2010 and Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel in 2012. “I think it just starts with doing what’s best for the team, and that’s what Jalen is all about," DeBoer said. Since returning to the lineup early against South Carolina four games ago, Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold has completed 70 of 112 passes for 705 yards with five touchdowns with no interceptions. Still, his fumble that was returned for a touchdown in the final minute against Missouri was the difference in a 30-23 loss. Arnold has dealt with significant criticism all season. “That goes along with that position at a place like the University of Oklahoma,” Venables said. “That’s a position that’s a little bit ... it’s a bit like the head coach position. There’s a different type of microscope and there’s a different type of focus and that’s okay he’s got broad shoulders to handle that.” Oklahoma running back Jovantae Barnes ran for career highs of 203 yards and three touchdowns against Maine two weeks ago, then he sat out last week's loss to Missouri. He's listed as questionable on this week's injury report. He leads the Sooners with 577 yards rushing this season. Venables is impressed with what DeBoer has done in his first year at Alabama since taking over for Nick Saban. “One of Kalen’s strengths as a football coach — a very successful coach — is he takes a group of players that he has, and their staff figures out what they can do,” Venables said. “They major in that, put them in position to be successful based on the players’ strengths. They’ve done a nice job of doing that throughout the course of the season.” Oklahoma beat heavily favored Alabama 45-31 in the Sugar Bowl to cap the 2013 season, a game that helped pump energy into the Sooner program under Bob Stoops. Alabama got revenge in 2018, beating the Sooners 45-34 in the College Football Playoff. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and
By Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times (TNS) Every day millions of people share more intimate information with their accessories than they do with their spouse. Wearable technology — smartwatches, smart rings, fitness trackers and the like — monitors body-centric data such as your heart rate, steps taken and calories burned, and may record where you go along the way. Like Santa Claus, it knows when you are sleeping (and how well), it knows when you’re awake, it knows when you’ve been idle or exercising, and it keeps track of all of it. People are also sharing sensitive health information on health and wellness apps , including online mental health and counseling programs. Some women use period tracker apps to map out their monthly cycle. These devices and services have excited consumers hoping for better insight into their health and lifestyle choices. But the lack of oversight into how body-centric data are used and shared with third parties has prompted concerns from privacy experts, who warn that the data could be sold or lost through data breaches, then used to raise insurance premiums, discriminate surreptitiously against applicants for jobs or housing, and even perform surveillance. The use of wearable technology and medical apps surged in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, but research released by Mozilla on Wednesday indicates that current laws offer little protection for consumers who are often unaware just how much of their health data are being collected and shared by companies. “I’ve been studying the intersections of emerging technologies, data-driven technologies, AI and human rights and social justice for the past 15 years, and since the pandemic I’ve noticed the industry has become hyper-focused on our bodies,” said Mozilla Foundation technology fellow Júlia Keserű, who conducted the research. “That permeates into all kinds of areas of our lives and all kinds of domains within the tech industry.” The report “From Skin to Screen: Bodily Integrity in the Digital Age” recommends that existing data protection laws be clarified to encompass all forms of bodily data. It also calls for expanding national health privacy laws to cover health-related information collected from health apps and fitness trackers and making it easier for users to opt out of body-centric data collections. Researchers have been raising alarms about health data privacy for years. Data collected by companies are often sold to data brokers or groups that buy, sell and trade data from the internet to create detailed consumer profiles. Body-centric data can include information such as the fingerprints used to unlock phones, face scans from facial recognition technology, and data from fitness and fertility trackers, mental health apps and digital medical records. One of the key reasons health information has value to companies — even when the person’s name is not associated with it — is that advertisers can use the data to send targeted ads to groups of people based on certain details they share. The information contained in these consumer profiles is becoming so detailed, however, that when paired with other data sets that include location information, it could be possible to target specific individuals, Keserű said. Location data can “expose sophisticated insights about people’s health status, through their visits to places like hospitals or abortions clinics,” Mozilla’s report said, adding that “companies like Google have been reported to keep such data even after promising to delete it.” A 2023 report by Duke University revealed that data brokers were selling sensitive data on individuals’ mental health conditions on the open market. While many brokers deleted personal identifiers, some provided names and addresses of individuals seeking mental health assistance, according to the report. In two public surveys conducted as part of the research, Keserű said, participants were outraged and felt exploited in scenarios where their health data were sold for a profit without their knowledge. “We need a new approach to our digital interactions that recognizes the fundamental rights of individuals to safeguard their bodily data, an issue that speaks directly to human autonomy and dignity,” Keserű said. “As technology continues to advance, it is critical that our laws and practices evolve to meet the unique challenges of this era.” Consumers often take part in these technologies without fully understanding the implications. Last month, Elon Musk suggested on X that users submit X-rays, PET scans, MRIs and other medical images to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence chatbot, to seek diagnoses. The issue alarmed privacy experts, but many X users heeded Musk’s call and submitted health information to the chatbot. While X’s privacy policy says that the company will not sell user data to third parties, it does share some information with certain business partners. Gaps in existing laws have allowed the widespread sharing of biometric and other body-related data. Health information provided to hospitals, doctor’s offices and medical insurance companies is protected from disclosure under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act , known as HIPAA, which established federal standards protecting such information from release without the patient’s consent. But health data collected by many wearable devices and health and wellness apps don’t fall under HIPAA’s umbrella, said Suzanne Bernstein, counsel at Electronic Privacy Information Center. “In the U.S. because we don’t have a comprehensive federal privacy law ... it falls to the state level,” she said. But not every state has weighed in on the issue. Washington, Nevada and Connecticut all recently passed laws to provide safeguards for consumer health data. Washington, D.C., in July introduced legislation that aimed to require tech companies to adhere to strengthened privacy provisions regarding the collection, sharing, use or sale of consumer health data. In California, the California Privacy Rights Act regulates how businesses can use certain types of sensitive information, including biometric information, and requires them to offer consumers the ability to opt out of disclosure of sensitive personal information. “This information being sold or shared with data brokers and other entities hypercharge the online profiling that we’re so used to at this point, and the more sensitive the data, the more sophisticated the profiling can be,” Bernstein said. “A lot of the sharing or selling with third parties is outside the scope of what a consumer would reasonably expect.” Health information has become a prime target for hackers seeking to extort healthcare agencies and individuals after accessing sensitive patient data. Health-related cybersecurity breaches and ransom attacks increased more than 4,000% between 2009 and 2023, targeting the booming market of body-centric data, which is expected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, according to the report. “Nonconsensual data sharing is a big issue,” Keserű said. “Even if it’s biometric data or health data, a lot of the companies are just sharing that data without you knowing, and that is causing a lot of anxiety and questions.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was limited with the right shoulder injury that sidelined him last week and there is growing concern about the long-term status of left tackle Trent Williams. Wednesday's practice was not the start to the NFL workweek head coach Kyle Shanahan had hoped after Purdy was unable to bounce back from a shoulder injury in Week 11. Brandon Allen started at Green Bay and the 49ers (5-6) lost 38-10 with the backup-turned-starter committing three turnovers. Williams was reportedly spotted in the locker room with a knee scooter and is experiencing pain walking. He played through an ankle injury against the Seattle Seahawks Nov. 17. Defensive end Nick Bosa (hip, oblique) also missed practice Wednesday, leaving the 49ers to spend the holiday plotting to play the Buffalo Bills (9-2) without the three Pro Bowlers again. "I don't know anyone who gets Thanksgiving off unless maybe you have a Monday night game. You just start a lot earlier and get the players out," Shanahan said. "We cram everything in so the players get out, tries to be home with the family by 5. I usually get home by 7 and they're all mad at me, then get back to red-zone (installation)." The 49ers are in danger of a three-game losing streak for the first time since Oct. 2021. Injuries have been a common thread since September when running back Christian McCaffrey was a surprise scratch with an Achilles injury for the opener. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (ACL) is out for the season at a position dinged from top to bottom. Star linebacker Fred Warner also is ailing and said Wednesday that he fractured a bone in his ankle on Sept. 29 against the New England Patriots. The game against the Bills will mark his eighth straight game playing with the injury. "It's something I deal with every game," Warner said. "I get on that table before every game and get it shot up every single game just to be able to roll. But it's not an excuse. It's just what it is. That's the NFL. You're not going to be healthy. You've got to go out there, you've got to find ways to execute, to play at a high level and to win every single week." Shanahan wasn't interested in injury talk. He said the 49ers have not played well in the past two weeks, and puts part of his focus on getting more out of the running game with snow in the forecast on Sunday night. He's not in agreement with pundits who doubt McCaffrey's ability early into his return from injured reserve, with a per-carry average of 3.5 yards compared to 5.4 in 2023. "The speculation on Christian is a little unfair to him," Shanahan said. "Christian is playing very well. He's playing his ass off. To think a guy who misses the entire offseason is going to come back and be the exact same the day he comes back would be unfair to any player in the world." San Francisco opened the 21-day practice window for linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who tore his Achilles in the Super Bowl in February. His return date is unclear. --Field Level MediaBEIRUT (AP) — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 12 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials said they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. No casualties were reported after many residents fled the targeted sites. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel had issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatieh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Monday that at least 12 people were killed in the strikes in the Tyre province, adding to the more than 3,700 people in Lebanon who have been killed since Israel launched its invasion two months ago. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians , and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. The latest round of airstrikes came weeks after Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military had previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding U.S.-led ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment in order to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because “we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire.” Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were “close to a deal." “It can happen within days,” he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. Two Israeli officials told The Associated Press that Netanyahu’s security Cabinet had scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, but they said it remained unclear whether the Cabinet would vote to approve the deal. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing internal deliberations. Danny Danon, Israel’s U.N. ambassador, told reporters Monday that he expected a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah to have stages and to be discussed by leaders Monday or Tuesday. Still, he warned, “it’s not going to happen overnight.” After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force . Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel is demanding the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government has said that such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. A ceasefire could mark a step toward ending the regionwide war that ballooned after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . The lack of a ceasefire has emerged as a political liability for Israeli leaders including Netanyahu, particularly while 60,000 Israelis remain away from their homes in the country's north after more than a year of cross-border violence. Hezbollah rockets have reached as far south into Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers died fighting in the ground offensive in Lebanon. The Israeli military said about 250 projectiles were fired Sunday, with some intercepted. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the strongest of Iran’s armed proxies , is expected to significantly calm regional tensions that have led to fears of a direct, all-out war between Israel and Iran. It’s not clear how the ceasefire will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Hezbollah had long insisted that it would not agree to a ceasefire until the war in Gaza ends, but it dropped that condition. While the proposal is expected to be approved if Netanyahu brings it to a vote in his security Cabinet, one hard-line member, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, said he would oppose it. He said on X that a deal with Lebanon would be a “big mistake” and a “missed historic opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah.” If the ceasefire talks fail, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said, “it will mean more destruction and more and more animosity and more dehumanization and more hatred and more bitterness.” Speaking at a G7 meeting in Fiuggi, Italy, the last summit of its kind before U.S. President Joe Biden leaves office, Safadi said such a failure "will doom the future of the region to more conflict and more killing and more destruction.” Federman reported from Jerusalem and Metz from Rabat, Morocco. Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Nicole Winfield in Fiuggi, Italy, and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report. Find more of AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-warNone