aces wild columbia photos

aces wild columbia photos Qatar Foundation (QF) has wrapped up the World Math Team Championship 2024, with a closing ceremony attended by Vice Chairperson and CEO HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani. Qatar, the first in the Middle East to host this event, supported by its destination partner, Visit Qatar welcomed 800 math students, including 443 international participants, fostering cultural exchange and academic excellence. Over the three days, the Qatar National Convention Centre hosted the championship, celebrating the legacy of the Muslim scholar al-Khwarizmi, known as the 'Father of Algebra,' under the theme 'Algebra and Balancing.' The event emphasised principles of balance and fairness among nations, blending collaboration and competition in an educational environment that fosters both challenge and learning while strengthening cultural connections among participants. Professors from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, a QF partner university, played a pivotal role in the success of the championship. Hasan Demirkoparan, Layan El Hajj, Niraj Khare, Anthony Weston, and Zelealem Yilma brought their expertise and dedication to crafting the competition’s questions, ensuring high-quality academic rigour and intellectual depth. After the rounds, top-performing students across all three categories were recognised for their achievements, both as individuals and as teams, receiving multiple medals and awards. The honours covered the junior, intermediate, and advanced levels, celebrating their outstanding performance throughout the event. Among the winners, several Arab and Qatari students distinguished themselves with remarkable accomplishments, earning awards that highlight the growing mathematical talent in the region. Abeer al-Khalifa, president of Pre-University Education, QF, said: "We are honoured to host this prestigious global event in Qatar, which continues to solidify its position as a global hub for innovation and scientific excellence. "We take pride in embracing the cultural diversity of the outstanding mathematics students who have come from all over the world to compete with a spirit of positivity and showcase their exceptional talents." Al-Khalifa explained that for over two decades, QF has been a pioneer in supporting local, regional, and international efforts aimed at unlocking human potential and building a knowledge-based, innovation-driven society. During the trip, students had the opportunity to visit some of Qatar's most prominent tourist and heritage sites, as well as participate in unique events, including the Al-Ghorrah activity. This event featured a series of activities that allowed students to gain new insights into Qatar's rich heritage and culture. It also highlighted various cultural and social aspects of the country, offering them a valuable opportunity to explore Qatar's unique blend of deep-rooted traditions and modern development. Related Story QU launches 4th World Congress on Engineering and Technology

North Carolina retaining its status as the nation's most prominent ticket-splitting state was the top political story for 2024 as determined by the Winston-Salem Journal. Voters supported putting Republican Donald Trump back in the White House, while delivering an overwhelming win for Democrat Attorney General Josh Stein over embattled Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the governor's race. North Carolinians also rejected Trump's MAGA acolytes for lieutenant governor, attorney general and state superintendent of Public Instruction. Speaking of Robinson, his GOP primary win over state Treasurer and Winston-Salem native Dale Folwell was the runner-up story. Third on the list was the national speculation that Gov. Roy Cooper could become Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate before removing his name from consideration. Fourth was the Republican supermajorities' successful override votes of 10 Cooper vetoes during the 2024 session, as well as the potential ending of the House supermajority in the 2025 session. Rounding out the top-five is the so-called "power grab" attempt by Republican legislative leaders of certain authorities of the Democratic-elect governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and state superintendent of Public Instructions. Both Trump and a Democratic governor candidate won North Carolina for the third consecutive general election. Trump carried North Carolina by a 50.95% to 47.56% margin over Harris. Trump received 2.87 million votes. Meanwhile, Stein defeated Robinson by 3.03 million to 2.22 million votes, or 54.8% to 40.1%. Stein not only was the largest vote-getter in the statewide races, but received 160,496 more votes than Trump. There were minimal, if any, Trump coattails for the other Republican MAGA acolytes running for lieutenant governor (Hal Weatherman), attorney general (U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop) and superintendent of Public Instruction (Michele Morrow). They were defeated by Lt. Gov.-elect Rachel Hunt, Attorney General-elect Jeff Jackson and superintendent-elect Maurice “Mo” Green, the former Guilford County Schools superintendent. Bishop and Morrow both drew about 180,000 fewer votes than Trump, while Weatherman was about 230,000 votes shy of Trump. What is different about the 2024 statewide races is that “voters generally cast party-line votes and aligned their Council of State votes with their presidential preference," said John Dinan, a Wake Forest University political science professor who is considered a national expert on state legislatures. “But in cases where one party’s candidate was able to portray the other party’s candidate as outside the mainstream, especially in open-seat races, this led some voters to engage in ticket-splitting." Folwell built his governor's campaign in March 2023 on the pillars of being the top statewide race vote-getter in 2016 and 2020, and that he offered stability, experience and maturity as “the best governor that money can’t buy.” Folwell did not hold back his questioning of Robinson’s qualifications to be governor given Robinson’s statements about racism, gender identity and women’s role in society. Yet, once Trump full-throatedly endorsed Robinson, calling him “Martin Luther King on steroids," that was enough to push Robinson to a decisive win over Folwell and Bill Graham. Among the criticisms of Folwell’s candidacy was that he was too prickly, too boring and didn’t display the same fiery campaign rhetoric as Robinson. Trump, however, chose to ostracize Robinson from his presidential campaign following the controversial Sept. 19 CNN report, as well as several Southeast Republican governors withdrawing their support. The CNN report included that Robinson wrote that he was a “Black Nazi” and that he not only supported a return of slavery but that he also wanted to own slaves. The story also said Robinson wrote that he liked to watch transgender porn. The comments were made on the porn website Nude Africa between 2008 and 2012. Robinson has denied making the comments and has filed a lawsuit against CNN. Folwell pulled no punches in the aftermath of the bombshell CNN report, calling Robinson a “counterfeit conservative” and “always playing the victim.” “In the end, North Carolina voters decided they wanted a government that would be more moderate because that is how North Carolinians see themselves," said Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, an economics professor at Winston-Salem State University. Saying “It’s not the right time for North Carolina or for me to be on a national ticket,” Cooper pulled on July 30 his name from consideration as a vice presidential candidate for Harris . Being a popular two-term Democratic governor in a center-right Southern state was viewed by political analysts as a viable ticket-balancing option as Democrats attempting to shift N.C. back into the win column. CNN reported that Cooper, at 67, was the oldest potential vice president under consideration. “After all, only one person can be chosen for the vice president nominee, and there are at least a handful of strong candidates who come from swing states and who would provide some ideological balance to the ticket in the way that Cooper would have done," Dinan said. Another factor: Political analysts cited Robinson as being a potential deterrent for Cooper pursuing the vice president nominee. Robinson could potentially have issued executive orders as acting governor while Cooper was campaigning out of the state. As Cooper bowed out of VP consideration, speculation continued to swirl that Cooper is at the top of the list for Democratic challengers for two-term Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026. John Quinterno, principal with South by North Strategies Ltd. of Chapel Hill, said that given Cooper’s accomplishments as governor and his long career in public service, he “would be a strong candidate” to take on Tillis. Stein will enter office Jan. 1 with a viable, but razor-thin, veto power since House Democrats were successful in gaining a 49th seat, thus breaking the Republican super-majority after two years. A super-majority exists when Democrats or Republicans control two-thirds of a chamber's seats. Since Republican legislators regained supermajority status in April 2023 after Mecklenburg County Rep. Tricia Cotham switched from Democrat, they overrode 29 Cooper vetoes during the 2023 and 2024 sessions. Stein said that in the governor's race, North Carolinians "chose hope over hate, competence over chaos, decency over division.” Although Stein registered “a clear win,” John Locke Foundation senior political analyst Mitch Kokai cautioned that "he ought to be careful not to view that victory as an overwhelming mandate for his policy prescriptions." Meanwhile, Rep. Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford, continues to embrace his role as a potential supporter of certain GOP legislation, telling the News & Record that "you need me. I don't need you ." That's even though four other eastern N.C. House Democrats have been identified as potentially playing the same flipping role. The Republican-controlled legislature completed Dec. 11 the passing of controversial Senate Bill 382 that curtails or ends certain authorities of four Democratic Council of State seats, as well as making the State Highway Patrol commander post a non-elected Cabinet position appointed by the legislature. The N.C. House overrode Cooper’s veto by a 72-46 vote along party lines on Dec. 11. Cooper vetoed the bill Nov. 26, calling it “a sham” and a “cruel blow.” Cooper and Stein needed just a day to file on Dec. 12 a lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court challenging the constitutionality of SB382 with the foremost focus on the SHP commander legislation. SB382 also moves the State Board of Elections to the State Auditor’s Office, prevents the attorney general from undermining state law, and allows the state Treasurer to appoint a member to the Utilities Commission. SB382 appropriates an additional $227 million in Hurricane Helene disaster relief funding, but doesn’t immediately disperse it. "The people of western North Carolina are desperate for help from their state government. Yet, this bill is a power grab, not hurricane relief,” Stein said in a statement. Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, and House speaker for the 2025-26 sessions, said the disaster relief funding in SB382 “has been framed incorrectly" and “this body is entirely committed to helping folks in this state with storm relief." The Republican supermajorities overrode a Cooper veto to make school vouchers to private and religious schools available to all parents no matter their household income , as well as enforcing that urban Democratic sheriffs cooperate with federal ICE agents. About $460 million is now available for the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program for the 2024-25 school year. Funding for the waitlist is retroactive, with eligible families qualifying for a tuition reimbursement from their schools. There are more than 72,000 voucher applications for this school year, but only about 16,000 students were approved before the money ran out. Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, said there have been 27,256 applicants in Tier 1, which includes the lowest-income household, as well as 13,060 in Tier 2, 25,750 in Tier 3 and 12,228 in Tier 4, which Lee said half of which come from Mecklenburg and Wake counties. All North Carolina sheriffs began Dec. 1 being required to cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for offenses committed on or after that date. Several metro sheriffs — including Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough of Forsyth County and Sheriff Danny Rogers of Guilford County — have limited their cooperation. “No longer will sheriffs in our most populated counties get away with ignoring federal immigration detainers issued by ICE," according to a joint statement from Republican Senate Judiciary Committee chairmen Danny Britt Jr. of Robeson County, Warren Daniel of Burke County and Buck Newton of Wilson County. "With House Bill 10 finally becoming law, and the Trump administration taking over in Washington, we’re on the path toward a stronger border and safer United States.” Another potential casualty within SB382 is the loss of the Forsyth County Superior Court 31-D seat , held by Democrat Todd Burke. The seat would be eliminated in 2029, along with a seat in Wake County also held by a Democrat. In their place, the legislature would create two Superior Court seats, one appointed by the Senate leader and the other by the House speaker. Both judges would serve an eight-year term. Their districts would be identified when the nominees are submitted for appointment. Rep. Robert Reives, D-Chatham, and House minority leader, said Burke’s seat is being eliminated because he took legal stances opposed by Republican legislative leadership and not because of the quality of his overall work or the lack of need for the seat. A primary example came in 2017 when Burke was part of a three-judge panel that ruled it was unconstitutional for the Republican supermajority at that time to revamp the state elections board and ethics commission weeks before Cooper was sworn in to his first term as governor. Sen. Dan Blue, D-Wake, and Senate minority leader, called part of the intent of SB328 to allow Republican legislative leaders to be able to turn to favorable Superior Court judges that they appoint, rather than go before judges that may hold them accountable to the constitutionality of their actions. Yet another successful GOP veto override in House Bill 237 loosened campaign-financing laws and significantly restricted public mask wearing for health and safety reasons. The insertion of state campaign finance law changes into HB237 has been pitched as either leveling the playing field on corporate and union donations, or opening another floodgate for out-of-state dark money into high-profile 2024 election races. HB237 became law amid predictions that the Stein-Robinson governor's race would be among the costliest in the country. “This legislation creates a gaping loophole for secret, unlimited campaign money in the middle of an election year,” Cooper said in a statement. “The legislation also removes protections and threatens criminal charges for people who want to protect their health by wearing a mask." Rep. Sarah Crawford, D-Wake, said the number of North Carolinians affected by the masking part of HB237 could reach 2 million when counting immunocompromised individuals, those that assist them, and workers who require masking to perform their jobs outdoors. A compromise reached between House and Senate Republican leadership narrowly defined exemptions as allowing individuals ages 16 and older to wear a medical or surgical grade mask for the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious disease — with the condition of removing it upon request by law enforcement. “Bad actors have been using masks to conceal their identity when they commit crimes and intimidate the innocent,” said Sen. Danny Britt, R-Scotland, and Senate sponsor of HB237. “Instead of helping put an end to this threatening behavior, the governor wants to continue encouraging these thugs by giving them more time to hide from the consequences of their actions." The Triad will be represented by two new-blood Republican U.S. House candidates in newcomers Pat Harrigan and Addison McDowell . Both cruised to comfortable victories in their respective 10th and 6th district races considering they were all but ordained once they won their primaries in March given their districts were gerrymandered into safe Republican seats during the 2023 redrawing of the state’s congressional map. The redrawn map produced what political analysts had projected: a shift from North Carolina’s 14 congressional seats being split at 7-7 to a 10-4 Republican majority. Their victories were pivotal to U.S. House Republicans holding on to bare majority of seats for the 2025-26 sessions. Democratic-leaning Winston-Salem is in the new 10th, along with Republican-leaning western Forsyth County suburbs and solidly conservative counties Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Yadkin. The 6th District is the most Triad-centric of the four U.S. House districts in the region. The new map includes Kernersville, Walkertown and the southern Forsyth border — all Republican strongholds. In Guilford County, the 6th District portion forms a loop shaped like a backward C around the county’s suburban communities and High Point. Also included are all of Davidson, Davie and Rowan counties, and about 20% of Cabarrus County. A bipartisan and controversial N.C. Senate medical marijuana bill cleared the chamber in June for the second time during the 2023-24 sessions. However, Republican House leadership quickly shelved the revamped House Bill 563 without receiving a committee hearing. Outgoing House speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, told legislative media outlets that for a medical marijuana bill to clear the House, there would need to be “reasonable controls,” and a balance to have enough distributors to prescribe and avoid a monopoly. Still, a block of House Republicans has opposed any medical marijuana language out of concern that it could serve as a gateway to legalized recreational marijuana use. They also claim that medical research isn’t definitive that it benefits users. The bill also contains language that would: place Tianeptine, Xylazine and Kratom on the state’s controlled substance schedules; create criminal penalties for criminal possession and unlawful sale of embalming fluid; and create penalties for exposing a minor to a controlled substance. HB563 would permit the use of medical marijuana — prescribed only by licensed physician — for individuals with ALS, cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments, but not for those experiencing chronic pain. Importantly, the bill does not allow recreational marijuana usage or the marketing of medical marijuana to anyone under age 21. rcraver@wsjournal.com 336-727-7376 @rcraverWSJ Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

While we observed many of our family traditions, our Thanksgiving was a little different this year. My daughter and her boyfriend cooked the turkey, ham and most of our favorite side dishes. I provided store bought rolls, cream cheese corn and a broccoli and cauliflower salad. Traditionally, I’ve cooked and cleaned for days before the holiday. So this year seemed like a gift to not have to worry about the details of a big family get-together. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family, and I love being able to serve them in this way. I love having everyone around the table and spending time together. What I don’t love is how exhausted I feel after a big holiday meal. Unlike my mom, cooking and serving is not my natural love language. The downside of not hosting the big meal — there were no leftovers when I was finally hungry again. People are also reading... ‘I don’t care who’s played': Nebraska’s Dana Holgorsen on personnel changes at tight end Search warrants lead to arrest of man in narcotics investigation Blue Springs family to host 2025 Cattleman's Ball They fell in love with Beatrice. So they opened a store in downtown. At the courthouse, Nov. 30, 2024 La Segoviana finds new home in Court Street Plaza Hospice foundation helps with extra support At the courthouse, Nov. 23, 2024 Board of Supervisors denies permit for Filley telecom tower Fall Farmers Market and Brunch planned for Saturday Shoplifting investigation leads to arrest for possession of controlled substance 'The Message' religious sect sprouts destructive groups across globe Dale G. Lunsford Shatel: Emotions are still simmering, but Nebraska delivered the bottom line for 2024 — a bowl game Spreading kindness one butterfly at a time I thought a lot about tradition this weekend. Food is at the center of a lot of our family traditions because my mom was a wonderful cook, but as we unpacked the ornaments for the Christmas tree, a lifetime of other memories surfaced. We found baby’s first Christmas ornaments, gifts the kids had made in elementary school, and photos with big toothless grins. Tons of snowmen adorn our tree and are scattered throughout the house. Willow tree angels fill a corner cabinet. The Nativity that my mom gave me many years ago sits on a special shelf. Some of the other ornaments were purchased especially to remind us of special occasions. A dog ornament for a cherished pet we lost. A tractor, a barn and a cow all around memories of the farm. A toolbox, a red truck with a tree and several other remembrances. All these things reminded me of a sign I had seen. “The traditions we create today with be the memories our children cherish in the future.” And then it suddenly occurred to me that this would be one of the last Thanksgiving weekends that Luke, our senior in high school, will be around decorating the tree. Very soon my husband and I will be empty nesters. Our holiday traditions will change. Our family will change. And really, how did I not see this coming? How could our lives not change as our children are now young adults? I started thinking about what my family and friends will remember about me after I have passed. Last year my daughter gave me a guided journal which is intended to tell my story. It is designed to “create a cherished legacy.” I put it on the bookshelf intending to get to it later. It’s still empty, but I’m going to try to put some thought into the questions around my memories. The book, “Mom, I want to Hear Your Story,” asks about the circumstances around my birth, my parents, siblings, teen years, work and life. It asks questions about political viewpoints, movies, music, books and hobbies. One of the many quotes I saw when I was scanning the pages jumped off the page at me. “Being a mother means that your heart is no longer yours; it wanders wherever your children do.” (George Bernard Shaw) Maybe that is the foundation of some of my heartache right now. I didn’t realize how my life choices affected my mom. For that matter, my choices affect my family. What traditions does your family have that will create memories? “Enjoy the little things in life for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” (Robert Breault) Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Author email {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Chhattisgarh: Civil Society Issues ₹850 Crore Notice To Navjot Kaur Over Husband's Controversial Cancer Cure Claims; VIDEOLogistical issues meant that thousands of Namibians were still waiting to vote in pivotal presidential and legislative elections late on Wednesday as the polling stations were scheduled to close. The vote could usher in the desert nation's first woman leader even as her party, the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) faces the strongest challenge yet to its 34-year grip on power. Some voters told AFP they queued all day, for up to 12 hours, blaming technical problems which included issues with voter identification tablets or insufficient ballot papers. According to Namibia's electoral law, those in the queue before the polls closed -- scheduled at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) -- should be allowed to vote. "We have the obligation to make sure that they pass their vote," said Petrus Shaama, chief officer of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN). The main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has blamed the ECN for the long lines and cried foul play. "We have reason to believe that the ECN is deliberately suppressing voters and deliberately trying to frustrate voters from casting their vote," said Christine Aochamus of the IPC. She said the party had "started the process" of approaching a court "to order the ECN to extend the voting time". At one polling station inside Namibia's University of Science and Technology in the capital Windhoek, hundreds of people were still in line at 09:00 pm despite some having arrived at 6:00 am, an hour before polls opened. It was a similar situation at the Museum of Independence, according to an AFP reporter, where one voter said he arrived 12 hours earlier and was still in line with hundreds of others. SWAPO's candidate and current vice president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was one of the first to vote and called on Namibians "to come out in their numbers". An estimated 1.5 million people in the sparsely populated nation had registered to cast their ballot. SWAPO has governed since leading mineral-rich Namibia to independence from South Africa in 1990 but complaints about unemployment and enduring inequalities could force Nandi-Ndaitwah into an unprecedented second round. Leader of the IPC, Panduleni Itula, a former dentist and lawyer said he was optimistic he could "unseat the revolutionary movement". "We will all march from there and to a new dawn and a new era of how we conduct our public affairs in this country," the 67-year-old told reporters after voting. Itula took 29 percent of votes in the 2019 elections, losing to SWAPO leader Hage Geingob with 56 percent. It was a remarkable performance considering Geingob, who died in February, had won almost 87 percent five years before that. Namibia is a major uranium and diamond exporter but not many of its nearly three million people have benefitted from that wealth. "There's a lot of mining activity that goes on in the country, but it doesn't really translate into improved infrastructure, job opportunities," said independent political analyst Marisa Lourenco, based in Johannesburg. "That's where a lot of the frustration is coming from, (especially) the youth," she said. Unemployment among 15- to 34-year-olds is estimated at 46 percent, according to the latest figures from 2018, almost triple the national average. For the first time in Namibia's recent history, analysts say a second round is a somewhat realistic option. That would take place within 60 days of the announcement of the first round of results due by Saturday. "The outcome will be tight," said self-employed Hendry Amupanda, 32, who queued since 9:00 pm the night before to cast his ballot. "I want the country to get better and people to get jobs," said Amupanda, wearing slippers and equipped with a chair, blanket and snacks. Marvyn Pescha, a self-employed consultant, said his father was part of SWAPO's liberation struggle and he was not going to abandon the party. "But I want SWAPO to be challenged for better policies. Some opportunistic leaders have tarnished the reputation of the party, they misuse it for self-enrichment," the 50-year-old said. While lauded for leading Namibia to independence, SWAPO is nervous about its standing after other liberation-era movements in the region have lost favour with young voters. In the past six months, South Africa's African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority and the Botswana Democratic Party was ousted after almost six decades in power. clv/br/lhd/sbk

Raiders confirm QB Gardner Minshew out for season, look to Aidan O'Connell

Republican Suggesting Elon Musk Not Influenced by Money Raises EyebrowsResearchers have spotted what they believe is the first ever malware capable of infecting the boot process of Linux systems. "Bootkitty" is proof-of-concept code that students in Korea developed for a cybersecurity training program they're involved in. Though still somewhat unfinished, the bootkit is fully functional and even includes an exploit for one of several so-called LogoFAIL vulnerabilities in the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) ecosystem that Binarly Research uncovered in November 2023. Bootkits operate at the firmware level and execute before the operating system loads, allowing them to bypass the Secure Boot process for protecting systems from malware during startup. Such malware can persist through system reboots, operating system reinstallation, and even physical replacement of certain parts, like hard drives. Researchers at ESET who analyzed Bootkitty after finding a sample on VirusTotal just last month described it as the first UEFI bootkit for Linux they have come across. That's significant because, until now, bootkits — the most notorious of which includes BlackLotus and FinSpy — have been Windows-specific. "[Bootkitty's] main goal is to disable the kernel's signature verification feature and to preload two as yet unknown ELF binaries via the Linux init process (which is the first process executed by the Linux kernel during system startup)," ESET researchers Martin Smolar and Peter Strycek wrote. Binarly, which also analyzed Bootkitty, found the malware to contain an exploit for CVE-2023-40238, one of several image parsing LogoFAIL vulnerabilities in UEFI that the company reported last year. The Bootkitty exploit leverages shellcode embedded within bitmap image (BMP) files to bypass Secure Boot and get the OS to trust the malware, Binarly said. The vendor identified Linux systems from multiple vendors as being vulnerable to the exploit, including those from Lenovo, Fujitsu, HP, and Acer. "While this appears to be a proof-of-concept rather than an active threat, Bootkitty signals a major shift as attackers expand bootkit attacks beyond the Windows ecosystem," Binarly wrote . "The operating system bootloaders present a vast attack surface that is often overlooked by defenders, and the constant growth in complexity only makes it worse." The UEFI — and prior to that the BIOS ecosystem — has been a popular target for attackers in recent years because of how malware operating at that level can remain virtually undetectable on compromised systems. But concerns over UEFI security really came to a head with the discovery of BlackLotus, the first malware to bypass Secure Boot protections even on fully patched Windows systems. The malware took advantage of two vulnerabilities in the UEFI Secure Boot process, CVE-2022-2189, also known as Baton Drop, and CVE-2023-24932 , to install itself in a virtually undetectable and unremovable manner. The relatively easy availability of the malware and Microsoft's struggles in addressing it, prompted a call from the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for improved UEFI protections . "Based on recent incident responses to UEFI malware such as BlackLotus, the cybersecurity community and UEFI developers appear to still be in learning mode," CISA noted at the time. "In particular, UEFI secure boot developers haven't all implemented public key infrastructure (PKI) practices that enable patch distribution." ESET found Bootkitty to contain capabilities for modifying, in memory, functions that normally verify the integrity of the GRand Unified Bootloader (GRUB), which is responsible for loading the Linux kernel during startup. However, the specific functions that Bootkitty attempts to modify in memory are supported only on a relatively small number of Linux devices, suggesting the malware is more proof of concept than an active threat. Bolstering that theory is the presence of several unused artifacts in the code, including two functions for printing ASCII art and text during execution, ESET said. The Korean students who developed the bootkit informed ESET after the security vendor published its analysis. ESET quoted the students as saying they had created the malware in an effort to spread awareness about the potential for bootkits becoming available for Linux systems. Details of the malware were only supposed to have become available as part of a future conference presentation. However, a few samples of the bootkit ended up being uploaded to VirusTotal, they noted. Jai Vijayan is a seasoned technology reporter with over 20 years of experience in IT trade journalism. He was most recently a Senior Editor at Computerworld, where he covered information security and data privacy issues for the publication. Over the course of his 20-year career at Computerworld, Jai also covered a variety of other technology topics, including big data, Hadoop, Internet of Things, e-voting, and data analytics. Prior to Computerworld, Jai covered technology issues for The Economic Times in Bangalore, India. Jai has a Master's degree in Statistics and lives in Naperville, Ill.

Do we need a social media ban? Find out with Episode 622 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast - Tech GuideDespite breaking off from Brock Lesnar as his advocate in WWE, Paul Heyman will forever be juxtaposed with his name. One would imagine that there’s no one better than Mr. Heyman himself to get a heads up on what his former client is up to these days. The Bloodline’s Wiseman joined Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports to break down some stuff. Halfway through the conversation, Paul was asked whether he’s spoken to Brock lately. Asserting that The Beast is quite privy about his life off camera, Heyman insinuated about respecting those boundaries. Out of sheer affection and apprehensions about Lesnar, Paul Heyman said he could neither deny nor confirm his knowledge about the former UFC Heavyweight Champion. Heyman’s last hurrah with Brock will turn two in January. It was back at the Royal Rumble in 2022 where Paul accompanied his then-advocate to the ring. A little while later, Paul E dumped Lesnar, only to side with Roman Reigns once again. The latter has since held Heyman in high regard. Paul Heyman was asked if he speaks with Brock Lesnar these days: “Based on both love and appreciation for the man, and a healthy dose of absolute fear of the man, I will neither confirm nor deny my knowledge of even the existence of a species on this planet that carries the name... pic.twitter.com/Y8mk09Jlup Based on both love and appreciation for the man, and a healthy dose of absolute fear of the man, I will neither confirm nor deny my knowledge of even the existence of a species on this planet that carries the name Brock Lesnar. On the other hand, Brock continues to be on the sidelines from WWE. He was due to return as a surprise entrant in this year’s Royal Rumble match. However, a lawsuit alleging him and former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon of s*xual misconduct caught the public eye. The plaintiff, Janel Grant , named McMahon as the prime accused, along with an implicit mention of Lesnar . As a result, WWE pulled Brock off. The creative plans for him were dropped, which included a WrestleMania XL date with The Ring General, Gunther . The 47-year-old’s last WWE appearance came at SummerSlam in 2022. At the PLE, he lost a high-octane clash with Cody Rhodes . Why WWE has continued to embrace Brock Lesnar’s past on their programming? Brock Lesnar hasn’t been around in WWE for a long time. The company has heavily cut down on his mentions, but it’s just not that easy. In fact, a few weeks ago, Lesnar was referenced twice in a single Raw taping. That caught many fans off guard, and they started wondering if it’d lead to his return. However, an update from PWInsider confirmed that the two sides haven’t had those discussions . The report clarified that if Lesnar’s name is mentioned again, it’d be to accentuate the ongoing storylines. Take, for instance, this past Monday, Xavier Woods did bring up Kofi Kingston ‘s 6-second WWE title loss in one of the most heartbreaking fallouts in recent memory. This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

Oregon football’s seniors aim for redemption from 3 straight losses to WashingtonHARTINGTON, Neb. — Hartington-Newcastle completed a 2-0 run in the Hartington-Newcastle Holiday girls’ basketball Tournament with a 41-32 victory over Lutheran High Northeast on Saturday. Hartington-Newcastle trailed 13-6 after one quarter, then outscored the Eagles 35-19 the rest of the way. McKenzie Bruning finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds for Hartington-Newcastle (6-2). Vaida Lippert posted 10 points and four blocked shots. Alejandra Reyes had five assists, and Maddie Steffen added four assists and nine rebounds in the victory. Reagan Lewis led Lutheran High Northeast with nine points. Hartington-Newcastle hosts Randolph on Friday. LHNE, 2-7, travels to Pierce on Friday. WPB Holiday Tourn. Crofton 53, Archangels 43 WEST POINT, Neb. — Sammie Allen finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to lead Crofton past Archangels Catholic 53-43 in the opening round of the West Point-Beemer Holiday Tournament, Saturday in West Point, Nebraska. Jaisie Janssen finished with 14 points, nine steals and seven rebounds for Crofton (8-0), which will face host West Point-Beemer in the final on Monday. Lexi Wiebelhaus scored nine points, and Cassie Allen had four assists and four steals in the victory. Jayda Krings scored 16 points for Archangels, which will face Wynot in the consolation game. Isabel Preister scored 13 points and Nyla Kessler added 10 points for the Defenders. West Point-Beemer 73, Wynot 30 WEST POINT, Neb. — West Point-Beemer built a 40-22 halftime lead and pulled away to a 73-30 victory over Wynot in the opening round of the West Point-Beemer Holiday Tournament, Saturday in West Point, Nebraska. Allie Kaup scored 33 points to lead West Point-Beemer, which will face undefeated Crofton in the championship on Monday. Campbell Snodgrass and Mia Hunke each had 10 points and 10 rebounds, with Hunke also recording five assists. Addison Toelle added seven assists in the victory. Wynot will face Archangels Catholic in the consolation game. Great NE Neb. Shootout Wayne 48, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 35 WAYNE, Neb. — Wayne outlasted Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 48-35 in semifinal action in the Great Northeast Nebraska Shootout girls’ basketball tournament, Saturday in Wayne. Haley Kramer and Claire Lutter each scored 11 points for Wayne (4-4), which will face unbeaten Pender in the final on Monday. Addison Frank added nine points in the victory. Kaida Eriksen led LCC (5-3) with a game-high 12 points. Lainey Schutte scored nine points and Carlie Kvols had eight points for the Bears, who will face Pierce in the third place game. Cedar Catholic 58, South Sioux City 46 WAYNE, Neb. — Anisten Wortmann and Addison Walter each scored 16 points to lead Cedar Catholic past South Sioux City in consolation action in the Great Northeast Nebraska Shootout girls’ basketball tournament, Saturday in Wayne. Lauren Bernecker added 11 points for Cedar Catholic (5-3), which will face Plattsmouth in the fifth place game on Monday. Bailee Durant led South Sioux City (2-6) with 15 points. Keyana Weaver scored 11 points and Naomi Aldrich added 10 points for the Cardinals, who will face Winnebago in the seventh place game. Pender 51, Pierce 42 WAYNE, Neb. — Pender outscored Pierce 33-19 in the second half to claim a 51-37 victory over the Bluejays in semifinal action in the Great Northeast Nebraska Shootout girls’ basketball tournament, Saturday in Wayne. Hadley Walsh and Maya Dolliver each scored 13 points for Pender (9-0), which will face host Wayne for the championship on Monday. Madalyn Dolliver hit four three-pointers for 12 points, and Kyla Krusemark hit three three-pointers for nine points for the Pendragons, who finished with 11 made three-pointers in the contest. Skyler Scholting scored a game-high 15 points for Pierce. Abbie Cone added nine points for the Bluejays (4-2), who will face Laurel-Concord-Coleridge for third. Plattsmouth 69, Winnebago 47 WAYNE, Neb. — Plattsmouth used a strong start to each half to claim a 69-49 victory over Winnebago in consolation action in the Great Northeast Nebraska Shootout girls’ basketball tournament, Saturday in Wayne. Plattsmouth (5-2) led 24-8 after one quarter, then outscored Winnebago 22-7 in the third quarter. Chloe Adkins led Plattsmouth with 19 points. Averi Winters scored 16 points and Mila Wehrbein added 15 points in the victory. Daynee Harlan led Winnebago with 14 points. Jolon Blackbird and Charlize Frenchman each scored nine points in the effort. Plattsmouth (5-2) will face Cedar Catholic in the fifth place game on Monday. Winnebago (1-7) plays South Sioux City for seventh. Other Games Corsica-Stickney 46, Freeman Academy-Marion 31 MARION — Corsica-Stickney used an 11-2 edge in the second quarter to take control for a 46-31 victory over Freeman Academy-Marion in girls’ basketball action on Saturday in Marion. Braylee Bordewyk finished with 27 points, 10 steals and four assists for Corsica-Stickney. Sophie DeLange scored 10 points, Sydney Spaans had eight rebounds and eight steals, and Haydyn Johnson added four assists in the victory. Anna Olsen led Freeman Academy-Marion with eight points and eight rebounds. Karley Luke also had eight points. Sieta Wiersema added eight rebounds. Corsica-Stickney, 4-0, hosts Sanborn Central-Woonsocket on Thursday. Freeman Academy-Marion, 2-4, hosts Tripp-Delmont-Armour on Friday in Freeman.

Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreamsNone

Dow Jones futures, along with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures, were little changed ahead of Tuesday's stock market open, as ( ) sold off for a second straight session, while the Federal Reserve's favored inflation gauge is due out later this week. Nvidia stock tumbled another 4.2% Monday, adding to Friday's 3.2% skid. The artificial intelligence titan is back at its , an important area to watch. If the stock breaks that level in heavy volume, then further downside would be likely. Conversely, a decisive rebound would place the AI stock in a new buy area. Meanwhile, the stock has already made a huge move since bottoming out in October 2022. Its breakout in October of this year was from a . Such formations entail more risk than first- and second-stage bases. Key earnings reports this week include ( ), ( ) and ( ), along with ( ), ( ) and ( ). On the , the Fed's primary inflation gauge, the core personal consumption expenditures price index or PCE, is expected out Wednesday midmorning, a change from the usual premarket fare. Other key economic data include jobless claims, durable goods orders and a second estimate on third-quarter GDP growth. New home sales for October are out Tuesday, followed by pending home sales on Wednesday. Stock Market Today On Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 1%, hitting an all-time high, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3% each. Among the best companies to are ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ) and ( ). Dow Jones components making notable moves are ( ), ( ), ( ) and ( ). Sherwin-Williams and Cloudflare featured in this . Dow Jones Today: Oil Prices, Treasury Yields Ahead of Tuesday's opening bell, Dow Jones futures, along with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures, were little changed vs. fair value. Remember that overnight action in Dow Jones futures and elsewhere doesn't necessarily translate into actual trading in the next regular stock market session. On Monday, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield dropped to 4.26%. And oil prices slipped more than 3%, as West Texas Intermediate futures settled around $69 a barrel. What To Do Now Now is an important time to read amid the ongoing stock market action. Following Monday's session, be sure to check out and . , the team discussed the current trading conditions of the stock market rally. An essential resource for daily breakouts is "Breaking Out Today" list. It shows stocks that are breaking out past buy points. Meanwhile, the MarketSurge "Near Pivot" list shows more stocks nearing buy points in bases. To find more stock ideas, check like , and . These features identify bullish patterns and buy points and are available to check every day. Dow Jones: Sherwin-Williams Breaks Out Dow Jones leader Sherwin-Williams is breaking out above a 392.57 in a flat base, according to . Outside the Dow Jones index, artificial intelligence giant Broadcom remains below its 50-day moving average, as it continues to build a flat base that has a 186.42 entry. Heico is in buy range above its flat base's 269.38 buy point and is a recent surged past a in a at 182.26 Friday as shares continue to rally in recent months. The stock is extended following Monday's 2.3% gain. broke out last week, topping a 99.17 buy point in a cup with handle. The 5% buy zone runs up to 104.13, so shares are barely in buy range. Finally, closed Monday just below a 136.13 entry in a flat base. Stock Market Today: Companies To Watch Among in the , snapped a three-day losing streak Monday, retaking a consolidation's 201.20 buy point. rallied 1.3% Monday, further above their 50-day line, as they approach a flat base with a 237.49 entry. Microsoft shares were up 0.4% Monday. But the stock remains below its 50-day line, a key level to watch.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 Media

🎤Town council votes to cut public time at mic 🎤Props banned, including flags, in decorum rule 🎤Ordinance follows months of meeting disruptions EDISON — Emotions ran high among dozens of critics at a Monday meeting, as the Edison Township Council adopted some new rules for public comments. One ordinance reduced the limit on public speaking time by two minutes, to a total of four minutes per person. There were two dissenting votes and an absent council member who has previously spoken against the proposal. A separate ordinance looked to codify "firm rules of decorum for conduct" at town council meetings. That conduct, already established by Edison Council President Nishith Patel, included a ban on any props from use by those at the podium. American flags and copies of the U.S. Constitution being lumped into “props” was of particular disgust from those who slammed the ordinance before a final vote. As the floor was opened up for public comment on the time restriction, the first speaker said the council should be ashamed of its proposal to “slash” the time that each member of the public is allowed to speak. He narrated that he was holding a printed copy of the ordinance, saying “I’m tearing it up and holding up the pieces, one third of it is gone,” before he picked up a bound copy of the Constitution. At that point, the council told him it counted as a prop and his remaining time would be forfeited. New Brunswick Today creator Charlie Kratovil also spoke against the proposed time limit, saying it was an abuse of power. Another critic of the time limit was the vice president of the Edison Board of Education. “We do have a right to speak, let the people speak,” Joseph Romano said, adding that their last board meeting ran over four hours long as 72 people spoke. Another female resident said that it was misguided for the council to try and “militantly control” public actions during meetings, due to a handful of disruptive individuals. Masked men at multiple meetings Disruptions have been caught at the recorded Edison Council meetings, going back for months, if not years. At the Oct. 9 meeting, at least two men wore Guy Fawkes or “Anonymous” style face masks, while a third often wore a full wrestler’s mask. A fourth man was dressed as a giant cannabis bong, cradling a baby doll dressed in a similar costume. Two of the men have a social media presence as “ Bongholeo and El Rampador ”, whose self-billed mission is in support of ”medical-cannabis and the disabled.” Their TikTok account includes repeat appearances at other municipal meetings in Sayreville and Lavalette, in addition to Edison. During his six minutes at the October meeting, the man dressed as a bong told the council they had failed miserably. He ended by singing until his time was up and he was escorted out by police officers. That unique collection of attendees was no accident, according to self-billed entrepreneur, Patrick Duff on his Instagram account. “People’s ability to freely speak is what keeps us from tyranny. The right to pray, say, and protest, must be protected, so sometimes we must push the boundaries with absurdity to act as the modern day court jester,” Duff said in an Oct. 10 post. He added the activists had turned out to support lifelong Edison resident, Christo Makropoulos. Past town controversy Makropoulos, who goes as Jersey Watcher on his own social media accounts, has been at the center of years of controversy in his hometown. He ran as an independent for mayor in 2021 but lost to Democrat Sam Joshi, the town's youngest and first South Asian mayor. Makropoulos, an Edison High School grad, then unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Edison Board of Education in fall 2022, on the “Protect the Children” platform. That same year, he was arrested after an amateur attempt to catch a child predator turned violent. Read More: Edison, NJ man arrested in bold child predator trapping fiasco By this January, his case had been dismissed and Makropoulos had become a frequent speaker at council meetings. He can be seen in videos posted from January , March, April and June , wearing a ski mask and going as "anonymous" while speaking at the podium. At the Monday meeting before a final vote on cutting back on public speaking time, Councilman Patel said the new rules were about having “better conversation.” Councilman Asaf Shmuel said most of those who had spoken that night had delivered their comments in under four minutes. Of the two opposing votes, Councilman Ajay Patil said that people were taking their time to express their feelings on any given issue and called the time limit “insane.” Councilman Richard Brescher said he agreed with the public members who had spoken against the limits. Brescher — who also lost to Joshi as an independent mayoral candidate in 2021 — said this was a repeat of history or “Jun Choi 2.0” — as the former mayor had also cut public speaking time to four minutes. Choi was Edison’s first Asian American mayor and previously the youngest mayor elected, serving for one term through 2010. Several public speakers at Monday's meeting said that while some might lack decorum or might not always be polite, the council should still hear them out and not move to restrict how individuals make their views heard. Video from the Oct. 6 Edison Town Council meeting, including costumed attendees, was shared to YouTube by New Brunswick Today: Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom How N.J. voted in the 2024 presidential election Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris won New Jersey's 14 Electoral College votes but her performance against Republican former President Donald Trump trailed President Biden's victory in 2020. Below is a county-by-county breakdown. Gallery Credit: New Jersey 101.5 Best elementary schools in New Jersey (2024) In November 2024, U.S. News & World Report released its list of the best elementary schools in New Jersey. Gallery Credit: Dino Flammia Best New Jersey Diners For Breakfast and Lunch Thank you to our New Jersey listeners for these recommendations. Gallery Credit: Bill SpadeaCanada warns claiming asylum is ‘not easy’ with new global ad campaignBarron's surprise contribution in Donald and Melania Trump's 2024 Christmas card