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Imagine a world where every drive is safer and accidents are a rare occurrence—this vision is becoming a reality thanks to the rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence. AI is transforming different dimensions of our lives, and road safety is no exception. With cutting-edge technology, it's now possible to track and analyze every movement on the road, leading to improved safety and efficiency. This article explores how AI is being utilized in the detection and management of road activities, its benefits, and potential concerns surrounding its implementation. The most noticeable applications of AI in road safety are intelligent traffic management systems (ITMS). ITMS systems use cameras, sensors, and algorithms that follow AI concepts to monitor real-time traffic flow. For instance, technology such as ANPR can auto-capture and recognize a car's registration number; by this automatic means, every case of speeding and illegal parking is caught and fined. India's government has installed more than 83,000 CCTV cameras in 100 smart cities under the Smart Cities Mission. That surely is a game-changer, assisting in traffic management and, at the same time, in crime prevention by data input for crime mapping. AI plays a crucial role in improving road safety, extending beyond merely managing traffic. Several companies are actively developing AI-driven tools to enhance safety in urban mobility, including Nayan, PathPartner, and Netradyne. Nayan's AI engine analyzes video feeds from smartphone applications to monitor road conditions and traffic. This crowdsourcing application can identify infrastructural defects, traffic violations, and road hazards, providing real-time insights for better planning and ensuring safety. With a highly effective algorithm that uses advanced computer vision methods of driver distraction detection and prevention, the PathPartner Driver Monitoring System observes facial expressions and eye movements to alert drowsy or distracted drivers at much greater probabilities of preventing accidents before they occur. Another significant application of AI in road safety is its prediction. Through extensive data analysis, AI is able to discern patterns and predict hazards likely to happen. For example, AI can learn where along the road network is most prone to crashes so that proper precautions can be taken to prevent those incidents. In autonomous vehicles, AI predicts the movements of other road users, pedestrians and cyclists, among others, for safe vehicular operation. The ability to predict ahead is important for smart driverless cars to anticipate and react to the sudden emergence of obstacles. Benefits abound from adding AI to the roadmap on road safety: 1. Better Traffic Management: AI is capable of better managing traffic flow. It helps reduce congestion and improve travel times. 2. Better Safety: AI detects and prevents traffic violations and driver distractions, thus reducing accidents on the road. 3. Proactive Maintenance: AI can monitor the condition of the road infrastructure and predict when maintenance is needed. 4. Crime Prevention: AI data collection can be incorporated into crime mapping and crime prevention to create safer cities for residents. 5. Environmental Benefit: The efficient flow of traffic reduces fuel consumption and, consequently, emissions, thereby ensuring that the environment is preserved and used sustainably. Although the advantages of AI on the road are quite apparent, several concerns and issues have to be dealt with while taking into consideration ethics. The primary concern is privacy. Cameras and sensors installed on all the roads raise a host of questions about an individual's right to privacy. The usage of data captured by such cameras or sensors has to be used responsibly so that no aspect of privacy is breached in any manner. Another issue is the bias in AI algorithms. If the data used to train AI systems is biased, the decisions of such systems could also be biased, thereby deterring unfair treatment of certain groups of people. This calls for the development of and implementation of AI systems that are transparent and fair. AI is transforming road safety by providing real-time data insights, predictive capabilities, and efficient traffic management. While the benefits are significant, it is essential to address the concerns and ethical considerations associated with the use of AI. By doing so, we can harness the power of AI to create safer and more efficient roadways for everyone. As AI continues evolving, it will naturally offer even more innovative solutions to the challenges we face on the roads. For now, though, it is certain that AI can make a really big difference in road safety: safer journeys and more efficiently completed. With these advancements, we can look forward to a future where every drive feels more secure and thoughtful, unlocking new possibilities for travel and adventure.But he was named Monday to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. "How about that, huh?" Cook said with a chuckle Monday in a phone interview. Cook, a Roanoke County resident who once served as the groundskeeper for the Salem Pirates and Salem Buccaneers, has been the field and stadium consultant for Major League Baseball since 1991. The class of 2025 for the commonwealth's sports hall of fame was announced Monday. Other names of note in the nine-person class include 1975 Martinsville High School graduate and former Detroit Tigers second baseman Lou Whitaker; college basketball television analyst and ex-University of Virginia basketball player Dan Bonner; former soccer star Ali Krieger; ex-NBA player Joe Smith; and former Ferrum football standout Ed George. The class will be inducted in April in Virginia Beach. "Pretty humbling," said Cook, who learned of his selection last month. "Wasn't expecting that one at all. To be part of that group — some pretty high rollers there. Really. really honored to be a part of it." Cook, 64, is president of the Brightview Sports Turf Division, which manages the operations for Major League Baseball's special games in the U.S. and overseas. When Major League Baseball needs to build a field for a special MLB game or tailor an existing stadium for a special game, it turns to Cook. "I enjoy sharing what I've learned over the years," Cook said. "I've been fortunate to have the same crew with me for 25 years or so, so we know what MLB needs ... and we're able to produce some pretty unique things." One of Cook's newest projects will be turning Bristol Motor Speedway into the site of an Aug. 2 game between the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves. "Doing what we're building down in the Bristol speedway ... is going to be quite unique," Cook said. "How that's going to come together in the time we have to do it, in 30 days, is going to be fun. "The entire field's being built in the middle of pit row. To level it, we're having to bring in almost 17,000 tons of stone and gravel just to be able to build a field on top of it. ... Along with that, there's everything else (to do) — fencing, backstop, ... the bullpens, locker rooms." One of his other new projects will be getting the Tokyo Dome ready for two games between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs in March. "Whenever you do things in another country, ... they have nice parks and we've got to come in and work with them and make some changes here and there to get it to an MLB level," Cook said. Earlier this year, Cook turned the Sky Dome in South Korea into the site of games between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres. He turned a Mexico City ballpark into the site of games between Houston and Colorado. He had just 18 days to turn London Stadium into the site of games between the New York Mets and Philadelphia. Also this year, Cook helped turn 114-year-old Rickwood Field, a former Negro League ballpark in Birmingham, Alabama, into the site of a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants. "We spent a lot of time trying to keep the historical features," Cook said. "A special event." Cook helped build a ballpark next to the setting of the "Field of Dreams" movie in Iowa for a 2021 game between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox. "There was nothing out there but corn," Cook. In 2016, Cook helped build a ballpark on an old golf course at Fort Bragg for a game between the Braves and Marlins. In 2017, he turned a minor-league ballpark in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, into an MLB-certified ballpark for a game between Pittsburgh and the Chicago Cubs. The MLB Little League Classic has become an annual event. He also helped construct baseball fields for three Summer Olympics. George will be going into the hall of fame as the recipient of the hall's Distinguished Virginian award. "I was surprised by it," George, 78, said in a phone interview. "If you've been a poor boy all your life and you come from a bad childhood experience, ... you value this stuff. ... So I'm very pleased with it." The E.C. Glass High School graduate was an offensive lineman and tight end for Ferrum Junior College in 1967 and 1968. He then played for Wake Forest and in the Canadian Football League and the NFL. He helped Montreal win two Grey Cups in the CFL and was chosen for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. "Ferrum gave me a chance," George said. "I came from a very bad child life. I had the bad stepfather, ... got beat up a lot. Ferrum gave me a chance to go to college. "Coach Norton ... taught people what discipline was about — how to train, how to stay focused." George, a Charlottesville resident, used to work for an investment firm. "I consider myself as successful in business as I was in sports," George said. Whitaker played 19 seasons with the Tigers. He had 2,369 hits, 244 homers, 1,084 RBIs and 1,386 runs scored. The former American League rookie of the year and five-time All-Star helped Detroit win the 1984 World Series. Bonner is an analyst for ACC Network men's basketball telecasts and does NCAA Tournament games for CBS and Turner Sports. The Staunton resident used to be a commentator on ACC games for Raycom and for the ACC’s regional cable package. Smith shined at Maury High School and at Maryland before playing 16 seasons in the NBA. Krieger, a Forest Park High School graduate, helped the U.S. women's soccer team win two World Cups. The class also includes ex-Hampton High School football coach Mike Smith; Virginia Beach native and former Virginia Wesleyan basketball star Brandon Adair; and former Richmond News Leader and Virginian-Pilot sports writer Harry Minium.
By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The picture of who will be in charge of executing President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration and border policies has come into sharper focus after he announced his picks to head Customs and Border Protection and also the agency tasked with deporting immigrants in the country illegally. Trump said late Thursday he was tapping Rodney Scott, a former Border Patrol chief who’s been a vocal supporter of tougher enforcement measures, for CBP commissioner. As acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Trump said he’d nominate Caleb Vitello, a career ICE official with more than 23 years in the agency who most recently has been the assistant director for firearms and tactical programs. They will work with an immigration leadership team that includes South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security ; former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement head Tom Homan as border czar ; and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Scott led during Trump’s first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country’s borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he joined the agency, San Diego was by far the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Traffic plummeted after the government dramatically increased enforcement there, but critics note the effort pushed people to remote parts of California and Arizona. San Diego was also where wall construction began in the 1990s, which shaped Scott’s belief that barriers work. He was named San Diego sector chief in 2017. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump’s policies. “He’s well known. He does know these issues and obviously is trusted by the administration,” said Gil Kerlikowske, the CBP commissioner under the Obama administration. Kerlikowske took issue with some of Scott’s past actions, including his refusal to fall in line with a Biden administration directive to stop using terms like “illegal alien” in favor of descriptions like “migrant,” and his decision as San Diego sector chief to fire tear gas into Mexico to disperse protesters. “You don’t launch projectiles into a foreign country,” Kerlikowske said. At the time Scott defended the agents’ decisions , saying they were being assaulted by “a hail of rocks.” While much of the focus of Trump’s administration may be on illegal immigration and security along the U.S.-Mexico border, Kerlikowske also stressed the importance of other parts of Customs and Border Protection’s mission. The agency is responsible for securing trade and international travel at airports, ports and land crossings around the country. Whoever runs the agency has to make sure that billions of dollars worth of trade and millions of passengers move swiftly and safely into and out of the country. And if Trump makes good on promises to ratchet up tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada, CBP will play an integral role in enforcing them. “There’s a huge amount of other responsibility on trade, on tourism, on cyber that take a significant amount of time and have a huge impact on the economy if it’s not done right,” Kerlikowske said. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda. He has appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He’s also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, he advocated for a return to Trump-era immigration policies and more pressure on Mexico to enforce immigration on its side of the border.
When Bashar al-Assad was toppled on Sunday, it turned the page on not only his 24-year presidency but on more than 50 years of his family ruling Syria. Before Assad took office in 2000, his late father Hafez was president for three decades. Now, with rebels led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir-al Sham (HTS) forming a transitional government, the future of the deposed president, his wife and their three children is uncertain. They are now in Russia, where they have been offered asylum, but what lies ahead for them? Russia was a staunch ally of Assad during Syria's civil war and has two key military bases in the Middle Eastern country. In 2015, Russia launched an air campaign in support of Assad that turned the tide of the war in the government's favour. A UK-based monitoring group reported that more than more than 21,000 people, including 8,700 civilians, were killed in Russian military operations over the following nine years. However, distracted by its war in Ukraine, Russia was either unwilling or unable to help Assad's government stop the rebel's lightning offensive after it began in late November. Hours after rebel forces seized control of Damascus, it was reported by Russian state media that Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and that they would be granted asylum on "humanitarian grounds". But when Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked about Assad's whereabouts and asylum claim by reporters on Monday, he said: "I have nothing to tell you... right now. Of course, such a decision [on granting asylum] cannot be made without the head of state. It is his decision." The Assads' ties to Russia, specifically Moscow, are well-documented. A 2019 investigation by the Financial Times found that Assad's extended family had purchased at least 18 luxury apartments in the Russian capital, in a bid to keep tens of millions of dollars out of Syria during the civil war. Meanwhile, Assad's eldest son, Hafez, is a PhD student in the city - with a local newspaper reporting just last week about the 22-year-old's doctoral dissertation. Amid the chaos at the weekend, Russian state TV reported that officials in Moscow were in talks with "the Syrian armed opposition" to secure Russia's bases and diplomatic missions. Assad is married to a dual British-Syrian national, Asma, who was born and raised in west London to Syrian parents. She attended school and university in London before becoming an investment banker. Asma moved to Syria full-time in 2000 and married Assad around the time he succeeded his father as president. Dr Nesrin Alrefaai, a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), told BBC News that Asma "holds a British passport, so could return to the UK" instead of remaining in Russia. "However, the USA [has] imposed sanctions on her father, Dr Fawaz al-Akhras, who is also reported to be in Russia," she said - suggesting Asma may want to stay put in Moscow for now. In a report by the Mail Online, neighbours were quoted as saying Asma's father, a cardiologist, and mother Sahar, a retired diplomat, wanted to be in Moscow to "console" their daughter and son-in-law. Assad and his wife have three children: Hafez, the PhD student, Zein and Karim. A 2022 US State Department report to Congress said the extended Assad family's net worth was between $1bn (£790m) and $2bn (£1.6bn) - though it noted that it was difficult to estimate because their assets are "believed to be spread out and concealed in numerous accounts, real estate portfolios, corporations, and offshore tax havens". According to the report, Bashar and Asma maintained "close patronage relationships with Syria's largest economic players, using their companies to launder money from illicit activities and funnel funds to the regime". It also said that Asma had "influence over the economic committee that manages Syria's ongoing economic crisis" - and had made key decisions on Syria's "food and fuel subsidies, trade and currency issues". She also exerted influence over the Syria Trust for Development, through which most foreign aid for reconstruction in regime-held areas was channelled. In 2020, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alleged that Asma had "become one of Syria's most notorious war profiteers" with the help of her husband and her family. Another senior Trump administration official described her as the "business head of the family" and an "oligarch" who had been competing with Bashar's cousin Rami Makhlouf. He is one of Syria's richest men and the family rift became public knowledge after he posted videos on social media complaining about his treatment. Following the fall of the Assad dynasty, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnès Callamard said Syrians had been subjected to what she called "a horrifying catalogue of human rights violations that caused untold human suffering on a vast scale". This includes "attacks with chemical weapons, barrel bombs, and other war crimes, as well as murder, torture, enforced disappearance and extermination that amount to crimes against humanity". She called on the international community to ensure that people suspected of breaking international law and other serious human rights violations must be investigated and prosecuted for their crimes. On Tuesday, the Islamist rebel leader in Syria said any of the ousted regime's senior officials found to have been involved in torturing political prisoners would be named. Abu Mohammed al-Jolani also said his so-called Syrian Salvation Government would seek to repatriate officials it identified who fled to another country. In France, investigative judges have sought an arrest warrant for Assad for alleged complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes, in connection with a deadly chemical attack in Syria in 2013 under the legal concept of universal jurisdiction. Russia does not extradite its own nationals - a legal process whereby someone is returned to another country or state to face trial for a suspected crime. Assad is unlikely to leave Russia to go to a country where he could be extradited back to Syria or any other that might charge him with a crime.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will bring a new series to Netflix in December, revealing the “grit behind the glamour” in the high-stakes world of polo. The five-part series will debut globally on December 10, following elite global players on and off the field as they compete in the US Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida. A trailer for the series titled Polo, executive produced by Harry and Meghan, was released on Thursday, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the “fast-paced and glamorous world of polo”. In a statement, Harry said: “This series offers audiences an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look into the passion and determination driving some of the world’s elite polo players, revealing the grit behind the glamour. “We’re proud to showcase the true depth and spirit of the sport — and the intensity of its high-stakes moments.” It has been produced by the Sussexes’ Archewell Productions, having previously released three documentaries with Netflix as part of a multimillion-pound deal with the streaming giant. Heart Of Invictus, which aired last August, followed a group of service members on their road to the Invictus Games, the Paralympic-style sporting competition set up by Harry in 2014 for injured and sick military personnel and veterans. Netflix also released the documentary series Live To Lead and the controversial six-part Harry & Meghan documentary in December 2022. Harry and Meghan moved to the US in 2020 after stepping down from royal duties.
, /PRNewswire/ -- , part of and a leading AI-first digital transformation consultancy, is proud to announce the appointment of as its new President. This strategic addition to the leadership team underscores Launch's commitment to accelerating innovation and delivering transformative solutions to its clients. Cipolla brings a wealth of leadership experience in technology consulting, organizational transformation, and business strategy to Launch. With a track record of building high-performing teams, cloud-first organizations, fostering a culture of excellence, and developing innovative solutions that drive business outcomes, he is poised to guide Launch's continued growth and success. "John's appointment marks a pivotal moment for Launch Consulting," said , CEO of The Planet Group. "His deep expertise in driving digital innovation and his passion for empowering organizations to thrive in today's fast-paced technology landscape make him the ideal leader to spearhead our next phase of growth." Cipolla joins Launch Consulting after a distinguished career with market leaders like Atos/Eviden, Accenture, Insight Enterprises, NetApp, and AT&T, during which he led numerous large-scale initiatives, blending cutting-edge technology with human-centric strategies. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, and results-driven execution, aligning seamlessly with Launch's mission to create meaningful AI-first solutions for modern challenges. "I'm honored to join Launch at this pivotal moment," said Cipolla. "My focus is on accelerating our clients' growth through innovative solutions that deliver impactful business outcomes. Together with Launch's talented team, we will build a best-in-class consulting community that is client-obsessed and backed by delivery excellence." As President, Cipolla will oversee the company's strategic direction, go-to-market, operational excellence, and ecosystem partnerships, ensuring that Launch continues to lead in delivering innovative, AI-driven, and data-focused solutions. Launch Consulting, part of The Planet Group, is an AI-first digital transformation consultancy that helps Fortune 1000 customers harness the power of data, software, and AI to advance their business and compete. Our approach blends specialized industry experience with deep expertise in a local and global delivery model that supports all aspects of transformation. We help our customers make bold moves with confidence to build their future state. Learn more at . The Planet Group, a portfolio company of Odyssey Investment Partners Fund VI, LP, consists of a group of related global consulting organizations and renowned staffing brands and has been purposefully built to address the professional services needs of leading companies in the areas of Technology and Digital Transformation, Engineering, Marketing, and Professional Services. Named one of America's fastest-growing private companies, the company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in with offices throughout the US, , , and LATAM. Learn more at . : VP, Marketing, The Planet Group 781.530.3191 | View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Launch Consulting
The IPL mega auction has wrapped up in Saudi Arabia with some astronomical figures put up by franchises to secure the biggest names in white-ball cricket. Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. The two-day extravaganza yielded mixed results for Australia’s T20 stars. Some secured massive pay days, others took a sizeable pay cut, while plenty missed out all together and will be putting their feet up for two months during next March, April and May. Here are the winners and losers as 15 of the 37 Australians who went under the hammer were snapped up by the various franchises. WINNERS Josh Hazlewood Australia’s big three will all play in the same IPL season for the first time with Hazlewood cashing in upon his return to the competition after sitting out last season due to the birth of his first child. The 33-year-old was bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru on the opening night for $2.29 million to return to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium after playing there alongside Virat Kohli in 2022 and 2023. The right-arm seamer received the biggest pay day of any Australian in the auction as he was bought for more than double his base price. It was the lowest top price for an Australian since the auction for the 2019 IPL where many players opted out due to the ODI World Cup, but Hazlewood’s services were in high demand as he is an IPL champion with Chennai Super Kings in 2021, and his relentless accuracy has built him an impressive T20 resume with a career economy rate of 7.51 and a strike rate of 17.8. Hazlewood will not be the highest paid Australian next year however as his Test skipper Pat Cummins was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for $3.7 million. Mitchell Starc The left-arm quick took a massive pay cut with his $2.15 million purchase price by the Delhi Capitals less than half of what champions Kolkota Knight Riders paid for his services last season, but he is still a winner. He was second only to Hazlewood in the price among the Australian bought as Starc underwhelmed for much of the tournament but delivered when it mattered most as he was breathtaking in the final with figures of 2/14 from three overs. The dip in his price may be a result of his economy rate of 10.61 for the season as he took 17 wickets in 14 games, but the fact he is a proven match-winner meant he was still highly desirable. The Capitals will be the third franchise he has played for after previously suiting up for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as well as Kolkota. Marcus Stoinis The big-hitting all-rounder was the top Australian on Ricky Ponting’s shopping list as he was purchased by the Punjab Kings for $2 million. Ponting added five Australians to his squad - Glenn Maxwell ($770k), Josh Inglis ($475k), Aaron Hardie ($228k), Xavier Bartlett ($146k) and Stoinis who is the highest paid overseas player on the new-look Kings. Punjab only retained two players before the mega auction - teams had the right to retain up to six players - as they undertook a cleanout and Stoinis will be a key cog after an impressive 2024 IPL campaign for the Lucknow Super Giants. He smashed a century with 124 not out of 63 balls to chase down the Chennai Super Kings’ score of 210 as well as two other half centuries as he posted 388 runs in 15 games at an average of 32.22 at a strike rate of 147.52. Stoinis’ bowling is always a handy weapon with him having the ability to swing the new ball and shoulder the responsibility at the death, and Ponting has clearly sought after all-rounders. Jake Fraser-McGurk The Rooster exploded onto the IPL scene as a replacement player for Delhi Capitals earlier this year and now he has received a $1.65 million pay day from the franchise that gave him a start in the lucrative league. Fraser-McGurk was electric against the new ball in the powerplay with 330 runs in nine matches at an average of 36.66 and a whopping strike rate of 234.04. He scored four half centuries under the tutelage of former Delhi coach Ponting who unlocked Fraser-McGurk’s potential by encouraging him to swing at 80% because that’s all he needs to clear the rope. The right-hander has struggled in Australian colours and in franchise leagues around the world since his breakout IPL campaign, but the memories of him slapping the likes of Jasprit Bumrah to all parts clearly stuck in the mind of the Delhi hierarchy. Josh Inglis Australia’s most recent white-ball captain is off to the IPL for the first time with Ponting’s Punjab King snapping him up for $475,000. The wicket-keeper batter’s reputation has flourished in the last twelve months with two T20I centuries including the fastest ever hit by an Australian from just 43 balls against Scotland in Edinburgh in September. The knock that will stick in the mind of Indian fans however is his hundred in the first T20I of the infamous series that immediately followed Australia’s triumph in the ODI World Cup last year when most of the Australian side were exhausted and keen to go home. Inglis has also starred in the Big Bash for the Perth Scorchers as well as The Hundred for the London Spirit. Adam Zampa Many feared that Zampa may not return to the IPL after causing a stir by pulling out of last season, like he did in Covid times. New rules were brought in that bars players who do the same for two years going forward, but Australia’s dominant white ball spinner was still a sought after commodity. He has been overlooked at times in the IPL with franchises choosing to use their international spots on fast bowlers and batters rather than a spinner when there are an abundance of local options, but Zampa still found himself at the Sunrisers Hyderabad for $440,000 alongside retained Australian teammates Pat Cummins and Travis Head. The runners-up from last season will be the fourth franchise Zampa has played for after previously representing the Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rising Pune Supergiants. LOSERS Spencer Johnson It is hard to put someone who got bought as a loser, but Johnson copped a massive pay cut as he was sold to the Kolkota Knight Riders for $510,000 after pocketing $1.78 million from the Gujurat Titans last season. The left arm speedster is a heavily discounted replacement for Mitchell Starc for the champions, but his drop in price comes as little surprise after an underwhelming debut campaign. Johnson took only four wickets in five games as he went at an economy rate of 9.44. His stocks are rising in Australian cricket however with a five-wicket haul in the recent T20I series against Pakistan and calls from greats like Mark Waugh that he could be elevated into the Test team. Steve Smith Australia’s best batter of the modern era’s absence from the IPL will extend to a fourth straight year as Smith went unsold in the mega auction. It comes as little shock after he was pushed out of Australia’s T20 team earlier this year - he was not selected in the squad for the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States. Smith showed in the Big Bash two summers ago that he can still be destructive in short form cricket with two centuries for the Sydney Sixers, and he boasts an impressive IPL record with 2485 runs from 103 matches at average of 34.51 with a strike rate of 128.09. He also captained Washington Freedom to the title in America’s Major League Cricket with 88 in the final, but Smith’s day in the IPL look done. Alex Carey Australia’s Test keeper went unsold as he continues to miss out on white ball opportunities. Carey was famously punted from Australia’s ODI team after the first game of last year’s World Cup, and has been on the outer of the national T20 team for some time with Inglis and the recently retired Matthew Wade preferred with the gloves. The South Australian was in stellar form with the bat during the ODIs in England in September but will not be heading to the IPL for a second season. His only campaign in the tournament to date was three games for Delhi Capitals in 2020. Matt Short Short has dominated the Big Bash in recent seasons for the Adelaide Strikers and has played handy innings this year at the top of the order in white ball cricket for Australia, but will not be returning to the IPL. The destructive right-hander was with the Punjab Kings in 2023 but went unsold for a second consecutive year from a base price of $136,500. The Victorian struggled in the series against Pakistan which may have proved costly. Jhye Richardson The West Australian quick was bought by the Punjab Kings for an astonishing $2.48 million in 2021 but this year went unsold. Richardson has battled injury woes in recent years and even sent a scare through the Australian cricket hierarchy earlier this week when it appeared he had injured his shoulder celebrating a wicket in the Sheffield Shield, but thankfully resumed bowling. He was bought by the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Capitals - who played one game for last season - respectively in the past two years but injuries derailed those campaigns. The right-armer has only managed four IPL games throughout his career for three wickets at an economy rate of 10.47. Riley Meredith Another Australian speedster who once fetched a large sum going unsold. In the same 2021 auction as Richardson, Meredith was also bought by Punjab for $1.42 million. He played three years in a row with 19 wickets in 18 games for the Kings as well as the Mumbai Indians, but like Richardson, has been hampered by injuries. Meredith returned to the Australian white ball set-up during September tour of the United Kingdom, but he seems to have faded into obscurity when it comes to the IPL. AUSTRALIANS AT THE 2025 IPL Chennai Super Kings: Nathan Ellis ($365k) Delhi Capitals: Mitch Starc ($2.15m), Jake Fraser-McGurk ($1.65m) Kolkata Knight Riders: Spencer Johnson ($510k) Lucknow Super Giants: Justin Langer (coach), Mitch Marsh ($623k) Punjab Kings: Ricky Ponting (coach), Marcus Stoinis ($2m), Glenn Maxwell ($770k), Josh Inglis ($475k), Aaron Hardie ($228k), Xavier Bartlett ($146k) Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Josh Hazlewood ($2.29m), Tim David ($547k) Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins ($3.7m), Travis Head ($1.2m), Adam Zampa ($440k) Unsold: Sean Abbott, Ollie Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Green, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Ben McDermott, Michael Neser, Alex Carey, Riley Meredith, Josh Brown, Matt Short, Will Sutherland, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Jason Behrendorff, Daniel Sams, Andrew Tye, David WarnerIn networking, “state” refers to the context or session data of a current network connection. A stateful firewall, therefore, keeps track of the state of each connection passing through it, while a stateless firewall does not. Although they may sound less restrictive, stateless firewalls are incredibly useful for securing home and business networks. They use ACLs (Access Control Lists) to determine which traffic to allow through and which traffic to block. Of course, not tracking the state of network connections means that stateless firewalls can’t tell you as much about the traffic on your network as stateful firewalls. The benefits of stateless firewalls come with tradeoffs. Businesses often balance these trade-offs by using both types in tandem, with stateless firewalls handling bulk traffic filtering at the perimeter and stateful firewalls offering deeper inspection behind them. By the end of this post, you’ll know when stateless firewalls work really well, and when another solution might work much better. Five reasons to use a stateless firewall 1. They’re efficient The biggest advantage of using a stateless firewall is efficiency. Since they only check for individual packets (rather than tracking the state of connections like their bulky stateful counterparts), stateless firewalls are like lean, mean, security machines. This makes them far more useful when handling high volumes of traffic. For instance, since they don’t have to keep up with the specific details of every connection passing through, stateless firewalls won’t chew up as much memory and processing power. If you’re running a large-scale website that receives tons of traffic, for example, you won’t want your firewall to slow things down. With a stateless firewall, you can set up strong network security protections without jeopardizing a website’s performance. SEE: Avoid these mistakes when configuring network security . 2. Stateless firewalls are simple to set up and maintain Setting up a stateless firewall is a breeze compared to stateful firewalls. Stateful firewalls dynamically maintain state tables to track ongoing connections, ensuring traffic flows are legitimate by monitoring session information. In contrast, stateless firewalls rely on a fixed set of filtering rules, such as allowing or blocking packets based on IP addresses, ports, or protocols. This makes stateless firewalls simpler to configure and less resource-intensive, though it also makes them less adaptable to dynamic or context-dependent traffic than stateful firewalls. 3. Stateless excels on the network perimeter Stateless firewalls are often used as a first line of defense in network security due to their simplicity and effectiveness at blocking unwanted traffic. They are particularly useful in scenarios where only basic access control is needed, such as filtering traffic between trusted and untrusted networks. This protects specific services from common attacks like port scans, denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, or VoIP fraud . While they may not offer the deep inspection or session awareness of stateful firewalls, they can serve as an effective initial barrier, reducing the load on more advanced systems by blocking simple, high-volume threats before they reach more sensitive parts of the network. 4. They’re inherently less vulnerable Stateless firewalls don’t keep track of past traffic or active connections, which makes them less prone to certain types of attacks that target the firewall’s memory or stored data. Instead, stateless firewalls simply compare incoming packets to their pre-defined “allow” and “deny” rules, ensuring that traffic is only allowed into the network if it meets specific criteria. This straightforward approach ensures that only authorized traffic enters the network. Since they don’t need to manage the details of each connection, stateless firewalls avoid some of the vulnerabilities that can arise when a firewall tries to remember everything, like becoming overloaded during different types of DDoS attacks , where attackers flood the system with too many requests. Stateful firewalls offer deeper inspection and more thorough security, but that introduces additional complexity, which can be exploited by attackers. Stateless firewalls, with their simpler design, avoid this risk altogether. 5. Stateless firewalls are cost-effective and affordable Because they don’t require the advanced features of stateful firewalls, such as session tracking or deep packet inspection, their hardware and maintenance costs are significantly lower. This makes them an accessible choice for organizations with limited IT budgets or smaller networks. Stateful firewalls are more expensive due to their advanced features, such as integrated intrusion detection and prevention systems . These firewalls also require more processing power, memory, and specialized hardware to manage real-time traffic analysis and maintain security. Key downsides of a stateless firewall While stateless firewalls have their advantages, they also come with some downsides. 1. Minimal packet inspection capabilities Since it doesn’t keep track of connections, a stateless firewall won’t maintain a table of all the previous connections that have gone through the firewall. This makes it faster and easier to handle high volumes of traffic, but it comes with minimal packet inspection capabilities. For example, stateless firewalls can only inspect individual packets based on headers and protocols, meaning they cannot look at the contents of the packets themselves. This makes them less effective at detecting and preventing more sophisticated attacks that can bypass simple packet inspection, such as ones that use encrypted traffic. Moreover, due to the lack of connection tracking, a stateless firewall cannot always distinguish between legitimate and malicious traffic. This can result in unnecessary blockages of legitimate traffic, which can disrupt business operations. It also makes it more difficult to modify the firewall, as stateless firewalls cannot recognize connection states — so they can’t allow and deny traffic dynamically based on them. Learn more about how stateful inspection works . 2. Harder to scale One of the biggest downsides to stateless firewalls is that they can be an absolute nightmare to scale in certain scenarios. The problem lies in the fact that a stateless firewall only examines individual packets to determine whether to allow or deny them. This means that, as the number of connections to your network increases, so does the number of rules in your firewall. Therefore, when your network has a high volume of traffic, it can be extremely difficult to manage and maintain. Unfortunately, with stateless firewalls, you need to create manual rules for each kind of packet that travels through the network. This can lead to a situation where there are simply too many rules to manage — which can lead to network performance issues, security flaws, and massive administrative overheads. Learn more about how to create a firewall policy that works for your network. 3. Initial configuration to work properly Although stateless firewalls are a breeze to set up compared to stateful firewalls, the process isn’t exactly the easiest. Stateless firewalls can require a fair bit of initial configuration to work properly. For instance, since they don’t maintain connection states, they must rely on other factors—such as IP addresses and port numbers—to determine whether or not incoming packets are allowed into the network. This means that, in addition to the aforementioned filtering rules, some additional settings require careful configuration to ensure that legitimate traffic is allowed through while malicious traffic is blocked. Learn more about how to set up a firewall properly .Das Technology Innovation Institute in Abu Dhabi eröffnet Open-Source-AI Summit mit kritischen Diskussionen über die Zukunft der KIFOREST HILL, Md. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cadmium, the leading provider of event and learning management solutions, announced today that Sean Brady will take over as Chief Executive Officer effective December 2 . Sean succeeds current CEO John Pierson, who will transition into retirement while remaining an active Board member. " Sean Brady brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective that will propel Cadmium to new heights," said John Pierson . "I'm committed to working closely with Sean as an advisor to ensure a seamless transition. I'm confident his leadership will enable Cadmium to continue to thrive, and I wish him all the best in this exciting role." Sean Brady joins Cadmium with a proven track record of driving growth and innovation. Most recently, he served as President and COO at Maropost, where he oversaw strategic operations and enhanced company performance. His career includes leadership roles such as CEO of Terminus, where he championed customer engagement strategies, and President of Emarsys Americas, where he played a pivotal role in its acquisition by SAP. Earlier in his career, Sean helped transform ExactTarget into a multibillion-dollar enterprise, culminating in its acquisition by Salesforce. "I am honored to join Cadmium as CEO and lead its next chapter of innovation and growth," said Sean Brady . "Cadmium's dedication to empowering associations with transformative technology aligns with my vision for fostering impactful solutions that create lasting value for customers." Rushi Kulkarni , Managing Director at Symphony Technology Group (STG) and Cadmium Board member, added: "We are deeply grateful for John Pierson's leadership, which established Cadmium as a trailblazer in event and continuing education technology. As we wish John a joyful retirement, we are confident Sean's expertise and vision will drive Cadmium's continued success." About Cadmium Cadmium delivers integrated solutions that empower associations to manage events and continuing education seamlessly. Focused on creating transformative learning experiences, Cadmium fosters community and drives meaningful change. Learn more at gocadmium.com. Contact: Jessie Reyes Director of Marketing, Cadmium jessie.reyes@gocadmium.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cadmium-appoints-sean-brady-as-ceo-to-drive-next-phase-of-growth-302320010.html SOURCE Cadmium
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Man leads police on chase and tumbling down an embankmentPOET Technologies (POET) Target Raised to $7 as Expansion Plans Address Supply Chain ConcernsThe development experience and usage process of LED track lightsThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are Markets digest Nvidia earnings U.S. markets rose on Thursday after digesting Nvidia's earnings release. Its shares rose just 0.5%. Alphabet slumped 4.7% on the U.S. Department of Justice calling for Google to divest Chrome . The pan-European Stoxx 600 added 0.41%, ending a four-day losing streak. British sports retailer JD Sports plunged 15.5% after warning about its annual profit. Bitcoin inches towards $100,000 Bitcoin broke the $99,000 barrier on Thursday before retreating to around $98,600. The cryptocurrency has been on fire since Donald Trump won the election because of his perceived crypto-friendly stance. Galaxy Digital CEO Michael Novogratz thinks it's "inevitable" bitcoin will cross the $100,000 milestone, but "there will be a correction ." Fed might incur Trump's ire There are signs that the U.S. disinflation process is slowing . Couple that with Trump's planned policies, which are seen as inflationary , and the U.S. Federal Reserve might decide to keep interest rates unchanged. That, in turn, could anger Trump, who berated Fed officials during his first term in office for not relaxing monetary policy quickly enough. No Bluesky for billionaires Bluesky has risen in popularity in tandem with Elon Musk's ascending prominence in U.S. politics. That might put the social media platform, which functions like Musk's X and Meta's Threads, in the crosshairs of acquirers. But Bluesky is "billionaire proof," CEO Jay Graber told CNBC . "If someone bought or if the Bluesky company went down, everything is open source." [PRO] Focus on Nvidia's Blackwell Despite Nvidia's revenue growth rising at a slower pace each subsequent quarter, analysts are still optimistic on the stock. Many even raised their price target for Nvidia because of the chipmaker's next-generation Blackwell chip, which is in such hot demand that supply is struggling to meet it, according to Nvidia Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress. With Nvidia's earnings out of the way, markets can return to a semblance of regular programming after a month of frenzy that included the U.S. presidential elections , the Fed bringing rates down by 25 basis points, Russia ratcheting up its nuclear rhetoric , to mention just a few events. U.S. markets took everything in their stride and took a few steady steps forward on Thursday. The S&P 500 rose 0.53%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 1.06% and the Nasdaq Composite was mostly flat. "I think markets are finally finding their footing for two reasons: One is recovery from that postelection hangover after the first week, and [two is] reaction to Nvidia's earnings," Nuveen CIO Saira Malik told CNBC. Nvidia reported an incredible – by most standards – third-quarter financial report. Its revenue almost doubled year on year and net income soared. But we know already investors' bar for Nvidia is somewhere beyond the stratosphere . Impressive as Nvidia's earnings are, investors were still put off by a combination of the chipmaker's slowing rate of growth and a relatively conservative projection for its sales ahead. Nvidia shares ticked up just 0.5% after falling in premarket trading. By way of comparison, let's look at data analytics software Snowflake . Its fiscal third-quarter revenue rose 28% year on year (remember that Nvidia's jumped 94%) and the company's net loss widened. But investors were so pumped they pushed up its stock 32.7% to give Snowflake its best day ever. That discrepancy might seem baffling. But it's not unusual for the markets, where expectations dictate share movements. If investors expect a company to make a huge loss and it manages to make a dollar in profit, shares are likely to rise. An exaggeration, but still. That's just regular programming for markets. — CNBC's Jesse Pound, Samantha Subin and Alex Harring contributed to this report.