Technology Don't miss out on the headlines from Technology. Followed categories will be added to My News. While most Australians support Bunnings using facial recognition technology (FRT) to protect customers and staff, one of the nation’s leading experts in the field has warned it’s far from foolproof. In a poll conducted by news.com.au, 78 per cent of the almost 11,000 people who voted backed the company’s use of the controversial program as an “important tool”. It comes after the Privacy Commissioner found Bunnings had breached Australians’ privacy over the course of three years, ruling “just because a technology may be helpful or convenient, does not mean its use is justifiable”. Former Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow has explained why the “experimental” technology was unsettling for authorities despite the “legitimate concerns” of issues like crime prevention. An alleged assault at Midland Bunnings in 2020. Picture: Bunnings He said the current generation of FRT generally relied on data captured without “rigour” by big tech companies scraping our social media. “So there’ll be people caught up in that who have never been accused, let alone convicted, of any crime,” Mr Santow said. “What you’re creating with this sort of facial recognition is a kind of virtual line up and we’re always in it every time we walk into one of those stores.” Bunnings was this week found to have breached privacy by capturing the faces of “likely hundreds of thousands” of Australians who entered 63 Bunnings stores in Victoria and NSW from November 2018 to November 2021. It has not used the technology since its trial ended in November 2021. Bunnings Managing Director Michael Schneider said the company believes it was using FTR lawfully. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett The hardware giant maintained that using the technology was an important safety measure, and released a compilation of shocking incidents in stores which included clips or armed robbers, staff being physically attacked, and a naked man following an employee. Managing Director Michael Schneider said the ruling did not “pass the pub test”, adding images were captured and held for 0.00417 seconds – “or less than the blink of an eye”. “I think any reasonably minded person is going to understand that is not capturing and storing data,” Mr Schneider said. “Particularly when you look at it through the lens of keeping our team and our customers safe.” Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind said FRT had “emerged as one of the most ethically challenging” issues in recent years. She accepted Bunnings had “well-intentioned efforts to address unlawful activity” but found “deploying facial recognition technology was the most intrusive option, disproportionately interfering with the privacy of everyone who entered its stores, not just high-risk individuals”. Some kinds of facial recognition technology is still considered “experimental”. Picture: iStock Mr Santow, co-founder of the University of Technology Sydney’s Human Technology Institute, said the privacy commissioner’s ruling was “balanced” in recognising Bunnings’ good intentions and declining to impose any financial penalties. “But what (Ms Kind) was really saying was that in this specific situation, they weren’t taking strong enough privacy protections,” he said. On its website Bunnings states how the technology is used with matches to a “potential offender” sending an alert to staff who then manually check the images. If confirmed, a loss prevention officer would then decide to deploy a security officer to monitor the person, inform store leadership and/or call police. Bunnings was using the technology between 2018 and 2021. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Mr Santow said from a safety perspective, the problem for staff confronted by a person armed with a weapon was not whether you could identify them. “Your problem is whether you can get a police or a security guard or something to protect your staff,” he said. “I’m very, very sympathetic to any staff member or anybody else who’s affected, but it’s got almost nothing to with facial recognition.” The human rights lawyer said Australia’s laws surrounding FRT were “pretty vague”, and “don’t set clear rules about when you can and can’t” use it. He said lists of banned or suspected individuals were usually maintained by companies, not “official” databases created by police or government agencies. It’s understood Bunnings used sources such as staff reports, CCTV and police advice to compile its database. This man was captured on camera after entering the Taree store naked last year. Picture: Bunnings Another issue with this type of facial recognition is that error rates were “significantly higher” for people with dark skin, women, those with physical disabilities and young people. “So that actually takes in quite a lot of the community, basically anyone who doesn’t look like me. I’m a white, middle aged man,” Mr Santow said. “It’s pretty accurate for people who look like me, but if you don’t make that description, it’s less accurate, and that means that you’re having the errors cluster, particularly in respect of those sorts of groups where that’s really unfair.” Former Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow says there needs to be a balance between privacy and safety. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett Mr Schneider said using the technology was “all about safety”, and that it was targeting people who were not the kind “you want your family, your kids around at any time”. “We’ve seen a significant rise in violent and aggressive behaviour towards frontline workers, whether they’re in a Bunnings store, in a fast-food outlet, in a supermarket environment,” he said. “It’s something that as an industry we’ve been working hard to get legislation changed to raise the awareness of this. “The types of people we’re talking about here, no one wants to be around. They’re convicted felons, they’re people who have been identified as perpetrating violent crime.” He said “70 per cent of incidents are caused by the same group of people” and the high volume of customers coming through the doors made it “virtually impossible” to enforce bans. A staff member was pushed to the ground at Greenacre Bunnings in 2018. Picture: Bunnings Mr Santow said there may be a place for FRT in addressing crime, and pointed to the example of the European Union which had recently provided guidelines for its use to agencies. “Our privacy law was passed in the 1980s before the rise of the internet, let alone things like facial recognition technology and it’s dangerously out of date,” he said. “Obviously, my background is as a human rights lawyer, so I care really deeply about the community, but I actually really care about business as well. “Because I think they suffer from the law being so out of date because the rules are not as clear as they need to be.” Consumer group Choice, which brought attention to Bunnings, Kmart and The Good Guys using facial recognition technology in 2022 , said this week’s determination was a “landmark decision”. More Coverage ‘Control’: Musk’s chilling warning to Aussies Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer ‘Worried’: Biggest threat to Coles, Woolies Duncan Evans Originally published as How facial recognition technology puts us in a ‘virtual line-up’ Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Motoring News ‘Shame’: Aussie EV push backfires big time Car industry warns that a policy intended to drive motorists toward electric cars could have the opposite effect. Read more Gadgets Urgent safety recall for JB Hi-Fi product A popular product sold at JB Hi-Fi stores between January and October has sparked serious safety concerns. Read moreRoyal Bank of Canada Has Lowered Expectations for Lucid Group (NASDAQ:LCID) Stock Price
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New standards pave way for m-cycle helmets with quick-release straps to be used in S’poreWith Boston College trailing defending champion Miami, Flutie threw the Hail Mary and found receiver Gerard Phalen, who made the grab while falling into the end zone behind a pair of defenders for a game-winning 48-yard TD. Flutie and many of his 1984 teammates were honored on the field during BC’s 41-21 victory over North Carolina before the second quarter on Saturday afternoon, the anniversary of the Eagles’ Miracle in Miami. “There’s no way its been 40 years,” Flutie told The Associated Press on the sideline a few minutes before he walked out with some of his former teammates to be recognized after a video of The Play was shown on the scoreboards. It’s a moment and highlight that’s not only played throughout decades of BC students and fans, but around the college football world. “What is really so humbling is that the kids 40 years later are wearing 22 jerseys, still,” Flutie said of his old number. “That amazes me.” That game was played on national TV the Friday after Thanksgiving. The ironic thing is it was originally scheduled for earlier in the season before CBS paid Rutgers to move its game against Miami, thus setting up the BC-Miami post-holiday matchup. “It shows you how random some things are, that the game was moved,” Flutie said. “The game got moved to the Friday after Thanksgiving, which was the most watched game of the year. We both end up being nationally ranked and up there. All those things lent to how big the game itself was, and made the pass and the catch that much more relevant and remembered because so many people were watching.” There’s a statue of Flutie winding up to make The Pass outside the north gates at Alumni Stadium. Fans and visitors can often be seen taking photos there. “In casual conversation, it comes up every day,” Flutie said, when asked how many times people bring it up. “It brings a smile to my face every time we talk about it.” A week after the game-ending Flutie pass, the Eagles beat Holy Cross and before he flew off to New York to accept the Heisman. They went on to win the 49th Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day. “Forty years seem almost like incomprehensible,” said Phalen, also standing on the sideline a few minutes after the game started. “I always say to Doug: ‘Thank God for social media. It’s kept it alive for us.”’ Earlier this week, current BC coach Bill O’Brien, 55, was asked if he remembered where he was 40 years ago. “We were eating Thanksgiving leftovers in my family room,” he said. “My mom was saying a Rosary in the kitchen because she didn’t like Miami and wanted BC to win. My dad, my brother and I were watching the game. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “Everybody remembers where they were for the Hail Mary, Flutie pass.”
BOSTON — Forty years ago, Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie rolled to his right and threw a pass that has become one of college football’s most iconic moments. With Boston College trailing defending champion Miami, Flutie threw the Hail Mary and found receiver Gerard Phalen, who made the grab while falling into the end zone behind a pair of defenders for a game-winning 48-yard TD. Flutie and many of his 1984 teammates were honored on the field during BC’s 41-21 victory over North Carolina before the second quarter on Saturday afternoon, the anniversary of the Eagles’ Miracle in Miami. “There’s no way its been 40 years,” Flutie told The Associated Press on the sideline a few minutes before he walked out with some of his former teammates to be recognized after a video of The Play was shown on the scoreboards. A statue commemorating Doug Flutie's famed "Hail Mary" pass during a game against Miami on Nov. 23, 1994, sits outside Alumni Stadium at Boston College. Famous football plays often attain a legendary status with religious names like the "Immaculate Reception," the "Hail Mary" pass and the Holy Roller fumble. It’s a moment and highlight that’s not only played throughout decades of BC students and fans, but around the college football world. “What is really so humbling is that the kids 40 years later are wearing 22 jerseys, still,” Flutie said of his old number. “That amazes me.” That game was played on national TV the Friday after Thanksgiving. The ironic thing is it was originally scheduled for earlier in the season before CBS paid Rutgers to move its game against Miami, thus setting up the BC-Miami post-holiday matchup. Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie rejoices in his brother Darren's arms after B.C. defeats Miami with a last second touchdown pass on Nov. 23, 1984, in Miami. “It shows you how random some things are, that the game was moved,” Flutie said. “The game got moved to the Friday after Thanksgiving, which was the most watched game of the year. We both end up being nationally ranked and up there. All those things lent to how big the game itself was, and made the pass and the catch that much more relevant and remembered because so many people were watching.” There’s a statue of Flutie winding up to make The Pass outside the north gates at Alumni Stadium. Fans and visitors can often be seen taking photos there. “In casual conversation, it comes up every day,” Flutie said, when asked how many times people bring it up. “It brings a smile to my face every time we talk about it.” A week after the game-ending Flutie pass, the Eagles beat Holy Cross and before he flew off to New York to accept the Heisman. They went on to win the 49th Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day. Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie evades Miami defensive tackle Kevin Fagan during the first quarter of a game on Nov. 23, 1984, in Miami, Fla. “Forty years seem almost like incomprehensible,” said Phalen, also standing on the sideline a few minutes after the game started. “I always say to Doug: ‘Thank God for social media. It’s kept it alive for us.”’ Earlier this week, current BC coach Bill O’Brien, 55, was asked if he remembered where he was 40 years ago. “We were eating Thanksgiving leftovers in my family room,” he said. “My mom was saying a Rosary in the kitchen because she didn’t like Miami and wanted BC to win. My dad, my brother and I were watching the game. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “Everybody remembers where they were for the Hail Mary, Flutie pass.” Mike Tyson, left, slaps Jake Paul during a weigh-in ahead of their heavyweight bout, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal serves during a training session at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark reacts after missing a shot on the 18th hole in the final round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Taylor Fritz of the United States reacts during the final match of the ATP World Tour Finals against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) fails to pull in a pass against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson) Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, top right, scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) India's Tilak Varma jumps in the air as he celebrates after scoring a century during the third T20 International cricket match between South Africa and India, at Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski warms up before facing the Seattle Kraken in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Kansas State players run onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) A fan rapped in an Uruguay flag arrives to the stands for a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) People practice folding a giant United States flag before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Marquinhos attempts to stop the sprinklers that were turned on during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Venezuela at Monumental stadium in Maturin, Venezuela, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Georgia's Georges Mikautadze celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League, group B1 soccer match between Georgia and Ukraine at the AdjaraBet Arena in Batumi, Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Tamuna Kulumbegashvili) Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque, right, attempts to score while Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) and Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) keep the puck out of the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt) Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Fans argue in stands during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Israel at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Thursday Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova hits a return against Danielle Collins, of the United States, during a tennis match at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Malaga, southern Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) St. John's guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) falls after driving to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against New Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) England's Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Katie Taylor, left, lands a right to Amanda Serrano during their undisputed super lightweight title bout, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner, right, tackles Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington, left, on a punt return during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) A fan takes a picture of the moon prior to a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Uruguay and Colombia in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich) Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario misses the third goal during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and France, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) President-elect Donald Trump attends UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) UConn's Paige Bueckers (5) battles North Carolina's Laila Hull, right, for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Greensboro, N.C., Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) Get local news delivered to your inbox!Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference and classified documents cases against Trump
Israel Light Commercial Vehicle Market Set to Surpass US$ 1,319.69 Million By 2032 | Vans to Control Over 36% Market Share Says Astute Analytica
PTI convoys yet to reach Islamabad for much hyped ‘final call’ protest
AP News Summary at 4:36 p.m. EST
ATLANTA — Confronted with the reality of four more years of Donald Trump in the White House, Georgia Democrats are beginning to draw up plans to oppose the president-elect that break from the protest-driven movement that followed his 2016 election. This time around, there has been no groundswell behind an anti-Trump “resistance” or massive marches against his policies. Instead, party leaders talk of maintaining a focus on core issues, such as expanding Medicaid, while sharpening other agenda priorities. And they talk about working with the Trump administration and other Republicans where possible, while mounting a determined opposition to measures such as new transgender restrictions that the GOP used as a wedge issue during the 2024 campaign. Most of all, party leaders say they must learn from mistakes, including a muddled economic message and a misreading of the electorate’s mood after Trump bested Vice President Kamala Harris by about 120,000 votes and flipped Georgia back to the GOP. “I’ve never learned much from my wins. I’ve learned more from my losses. And we need a sea change,” said Jen Jordan, the party’s 2022 nominee for attorney general. “We need to be ready. Because there will be a backlash against Donald Trump in 2026.” Senior Democrats indeed agree the best cure for a postelection hangover is overreach and excess by their political opponents, from the White House to Gov. Brian Kemp’s office to GOP legislative leaders. But while Trump has stoked controversy with polarizing picks for his incoming administration, Kemp and other senior Republicans have been careful to say they don’t feel emboldened to take up new abortion limits or similarly divisive policies. “It’s the economy, stupid,” Senate GOP Leader Steve Gooch said of plans to cut taxes and limit spending next year. “We need to look back at what happened over the last four years. Democrats lost touch with their base. We have not.” Some Democratic leaders say it’s not the policies that should change, but the way they are delivered to voters. After all, they say, Harris outdid Joe Biden in Georgia by more than 70,000 votes — more than other battleground states. Baldwin County Democratic Chair Quentin Howell said pledges to preserve abortion rights, improve infrastructure and overhaul the criminal justice system helped propel Joe Biden, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to statewide victories in the past two election cycles. “We saved the country in 2020 with our victories, and we did it again in 2021 and 2022,” Howell said. “We were on a roll with the same policies. What we need to do is what we’ve been doing: keep pressing the flesh, making sure voters know what we stand for.” The party must hash out its trajectory in the crucible of upcoming elections. Ossoff faces a tough reelection fight in 2026, and Republicans will likely target him as a top pickup opportunity. And there’s no clear Democratic front-runner in the race to succeed Kemp, who cannot run for a third term. Further complicating the Democratic path forward is the ongoing fight over the party’s chair, U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, who is under pressure to step down after Trump’s victory. She recently endorsed changes to the bylaws that could pave the way for her to relinquish her role, but to some, the battle over her leadership is just the start of a broader discussion. Parker Short, the former leader of the Young Democrats of Georgia, said future Democratic contenders need to catch up with voters by making a more concerted push to back a higher minimum wage and legalizing sports betting and recreational marijuana. “Democrats failed to talk about material issues that impacted peoples’ lives,” Short said. “When you see Missouri voting to pass a $15 minimum wage , you see that voters want a populist message — and Harris wasn’t able to capitalize on that message.” Other party leaders fretted that Democrats were maintaining their edge in metro Atlanta at the cost of slipping in other parts of the state. Trump increased his vote share in more than 130 of Georgia’s 159 counties compared with the 2020 election. “Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett did what they needed to do. Gwinnett hobbled along. But we lost ground in most other counties,” said Nate Rich of the Cherokee County Democrats, who said he felt there was “zero focus” from the party in key rural and exurban areas. “I’m glad we hit 70% Democrats support in Fulton, but at some point, we’re facing the law of diminishing returns,” he said. “We’re hemorrhaging in other counties.” State Rep. Carolyn Hugley of Columbus, the newly elected House Democratic leader, said she expects a renewed focus on boosting education funding and enhancing job training programs to help the party work to close the gap in rural areas. “I’m a country girl from Arkansas, so I can go to South Georgia and tell you the difference from soybeans and cotton when I see it,” she said. “We need to meet people where they are and talk to them about the things important to them.” Most of all, perhaps, Democratic leaders say they are poised to capitalize on the potential for GOP overreach after Trump’s slim, but decisive, victory. State Sen. Harold Jones II of Augusta, the Senate’s top Democrat, said the party will be ready to fight new efforts to impose abortion limits or adopt more permissive gun measures, which GOP leaders say is unlikely. But what’s almost a certainty is a new push to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports at the high school and college level , echoing policies that Trump and state Republican leaders embraced in the run-up to the 2024 vote. “We want to make sure that voters realize that this is the same Republican Party that’s prioritizing culture wars” and not prioritizing other efforts, such as expanding Medicaid, Jones said. “We won’t hesitate to show Georgians who is on their true side — and who is using these cultural issues as a distraction.” ©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Dave & Buster's Enter PLAY , and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in PLAY usually suggests something big is about to happen. We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 10 extraordinary options activities for Dave & Buster's Enter. This level of activity is out of the ordinary. The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 70% leaning bullish and 20% bearish. Among these notable options, 5 are puts, totaling $215,896, and 5 are calls, amounting to $178,927. Expected Price Movements Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $15.0 to $34.0 for Dave & Buster's Enter over the last 3 months. Analyzing Volume & Open Interest Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Dave & Buster's Enter's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Dave & Buster's Enter's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $15.0 to $34.0 over the preceding 30 days. Dave & Buster's Enter Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview Biggest Options Spotted: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume PLAY PUT SWEEP BULLISH 02/21/25 $2.85 $2.8 $2.85 $30.00 $82.1K 0 288 PLAY PUT SWEEP BULLISH 02/21/25 $2.85 $2.8 $2.85 $30.00 $51.0K 0 467 PLAY CALL SWEEP BULLISH 02/21/25 $2.75 $2.6 $2.7 $30.00 $42.4K 40 355 PLAY CALL SWEEP BULLISH 02/21/25 $2.7 $2.55 $2.65 $30.00 $41.6K 40 198 PLAY CALL SWEEP BULLISH 02/21/25 $2.75 $2.6 $2.75 $30.00 $35.7K 40 485 About Dave & Buster's Enter Dave & Buster's Entertainment Inc owns and operates nearly a hundred entertainment and dining establishments in the United States where customers can eat, drink, play games, and watch televised sports. Each store offers a full menu of entries and appetizers, a complete selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and an extensive assortment of entertainment attractions centered around playing games and watching live sports and other televised events. It derives maximum revenue from Entertainment. Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Dave & Buster's Enter, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance. Present Market Standing of Dave & Buster's Enter Trading volume stands at 1,069,989, with PLAY's price up by 1.95%, positioned at $29.26. RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold. Earnings announcement expected in 98 days. Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days? 20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. Click here for access . Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Dave & Buster's Enter options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro . © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem marked another somber Christmas Eve on Tuesday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus under the shadow of war in Gaza . The excitement and cheer that typically descends on the West Bank during Christmas week were nowhere to be found. The festive lights and giant tree that normally decorate Manger Square were missing, as were the throngs of foreign tourists that usually fill the square. Palestinian scouts marched silently through the streets, a departure from their usual raucous brass marching band. Security forces arranged barriers near the Church of the Nativity, built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The cancellation of Christmas festivities is a severe blow to the town's economy. Tourism accounts for an estimated 70% of Bethlehem’s income — almost all from the Christmas season. Salman said unemployment is hovering around 50% — higher than the 30% unemployment across the rest of the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Finance Ministry. Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, noted the shuttered shops and empty streets and expressed hope that next year would be better. “This has to be the last Christmas that is so sad,” he told hundreds of people gathered in Manger Square, where normally tens of thousands would congregate. Pizzaballa held a special pre-Christmas Mass in the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City. Several Palestinian Christians told the Associated Press that they have been displaced in the church since the war began in October of last year with barely enough food and water. “We hope by next year at the same day we’d be able to celebrate Christmas at our homes and go to Bethlehem,” said Najla Tarazi, a displaced woman. “We hope to celebrate in Jerusalem ... and for the war to end. This is the most important thing for us and the most important demand we have these days because the situation is really hard. We don’t feel happy.” Bethlehem is an important center in the history of Christianity, but Christians make up only a small percentage of the roughly 14 million people spread across the Holy Land. There are about 182,000 in Israel, 50,000 in the West Bank and Jerusalem and 1,300 in Gaza, according to the U.S. State Department. The number of visitors to the town plunged from a pre-COVID high of around 2 million per year in 2019 to fewer than 100,000 in 2024, said Jiries Qumsiyeh, the spokesperson for the Palestinian Tourism Ministry. After nightfall, the golden walls of the Church of the Nativity were illuminated as a few dozen people quietly milled about. A young boy stood holding a pile of balloons for sale, but gave up because there were no customers to buy them. The war in Gaza has deterred tourists and has prompted a surge of violence in the West Bank , with more than 800 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire and dozens of Israelis killed in militant attacks. Palestinian officials do not provide a breakdown of how many of the deceased are civilians and how many are fighters. Since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the war , access to and from Bethlehem and other towns in the West Bank has been difficult, with long lines of motorists waiting to pass through Israeli military checkpoints. The restrictions have prevented some 150,000 Palestinians from leaving the territory to work in Israel, causing the economy there to contract by 25%. In the Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took more than 250 Israeli hostages. Israeli officials believe that around 100 hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Elsewhere, Christmas celebrations were also subdued. Scores of Syrian Christians protested Tuesday in Damascus, demanding protection after the burning of a Christmas tree in Hama the day before. Videos and images shared on social media showed the large, decorated tree burning at a roundabout in Suqalabiyah, a town in the Hama countryside. It remains unclear who was responsible for setting the tree on fire. In a video that circulated on social media, a representative of Syria’s new leadership, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, could be seen visiting the site and addressing the community. He said: “This act was committed by people who are not Syrian, and they will be punished beyond your expectations.” German celebrations were darkened by a car attack on a Christmas market on Friday that left five people dead and 200 people injured. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier rewrote his annual recorded Christmas Day speech to address the attack. He plans to acknowledge that “there is grief, pain, horror and incomprehension over what took place in Magdeburg,” while urging Germans to “stand together,” according to an early copy of the speech. A snowstorm in the Balkans stranded drivers and downed power lines, but some saw the beauty in it. “I’m actually glad its falling, especially because of Christmas,” said Mirsad Jasarevic in Zenica, Bosnia. “We did not have snow for Christmas for 17 years here, and now is the time for wonderful white Christmas.” American Airlines briefly grounded flights across the U.S. on Tuesday due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive. Winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 1,447 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 28 flights canceled. In the port of Barcelona, Spain, volunteers from the faith-based ministry Stella Maris visited seven ships docked there on Christmas Eve to deliver Nativity scenes and the local specialty of turrón (nougat candy) to seafarers. The volunteers met seafarers from India, the Philippines, Turkey and elsewhere, said Ricard Rodríguez-Martos, a Catholic deacon and former merchant marine captain who leads Stella Maris in this major Mediterranean harbor. Associated Press writers Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City and Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
Christmas Connection lights up holiday season at Cleveland’s I-X Center (photos)
Ohtani wins third MVP, while Judge takes his secondNow that he’s stepped back into the role of being a starter, Dalton Risner is working tirelessly to make sure he’s at his best for the Vikings. ADVERTISEMENT That could be easier said than done in the short term. After starting exclusively at left guard since entering the NFL, Risner got the start at right guard for the first time last weekend with the Vikings playing the Tennessee Titans. Though he said he was extremely grateful for the opportunity, Risner also admitted there’s a learning curve now playing a new position. Not that he’s complaining about his place on the offensive line. “It was awesome,” Risner said. “I’m really happy with how I played. A few things to clean up. I think I’ll only continue to get better.” ADVERTISEMENT After rewatching the game, head coach Kevin O’Connell praised Risner for the way he competed in the trenches. “He showed some of that veteran moxie to win some downs that were some hard downs,” O’Connell said. “There are some things he’ll continue to improve with the speed and physicality of it as he finds his groove.” The biggest hurdle for Risner is getting his mind to think in reverse. He has spent so much time at left guard throughout his career that switching over to right guard has forced him out of his comfort zone. “All of it is flip-flopped,” Risner said. “It’s not an easy process.” ADVERTISEMENT It was made even more difficult last weekend with Risner going up against the combination of star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and rookie defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat. “That’s about as good of a pair as we’re going to find in the NFL,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. “We knew it was going to be a challenge up front with those guys. There are some things we could’ve done better from a technique perspective. We expect these guys to respond.” That includes Risner as the Vikings prepare for the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field. As he gains more experience at his new position, his hope is that it becomes second nature to him at some point soon. ADVERTISEMENT “I don’t know how many reps it’ll be or how many games it’ll be,” Risner said. I know I’ll consistently get more and more comfortable there.” Briefly The only player listed as a non-participant on the injury report was tight end Josh Oliver (wrist/ankle). He hasn’t practiced at all this week, so his availability for this weekend is very much up in the air. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .I hope everyone who celebrates today is having a wonderful, festive start to their day. Did you receive a pair of socks today? What about a pair of stocks? Receiving (ASX: XJO) shares as a gift is probably not the most popular present, but I'd love it. 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When I ' operations/profit become in five or ten years? The more a business can grow, the more likely it is to deliver pleasing shareholder returns. The thanks to a combination of a high loyalty rate and strong growth. When the company reported its , it said its total ARR was $470.2 million. It's aiming to achieve revenue growth of at least 15% from its existing customer base each year as customers take up more of the ASX 200 share's products and modules. The average ARR from customers has grown from $100,000 in FY12 to almost $400,000 in FY24. The company is aiming to reach a profit before tax (PBT) margin of 35% in the coming years, up from 30% in FY24. Overall, I think this business has a lot of growth potential, and I'd love to be gifted some of its shares and financially contribute to its success. According to the forecasts on Commsec, the TechnologyOne share price is valued at 75x FY25's estimated earnings.
Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Jim McNally, Elijah Pitts honored with career coaching award from Pro Football Hall of Fame