Defense IT Spending Market , 46% of Growth to Originate from North America, TechnavioThe Australian government’s support for a UN resolution calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of Gaza is to blame for a widely condemned arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue, the Jewish state’s prime minister says. It is impossible to separate the reprehensible arson attack from the federal government’s “extreme anti-Israeli position,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on social media early on Saturday. “Including the scandalous decision to support the UN resolution calling on Israel ‘to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as rapidly as possible’, and preventing a former Israeli minister from entering the country,” he wrote on X. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today “The burning of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne is an abhorrent act of antisemitism,” he said. The Adass Israel synagogue at Rippon Lea in Melbourne’s southeast had two of its three buildings gutted after suspected masked intruders allegedly broke into the building and set it alight in the early hours of Friday. Two congregants preparing for morning prayers, were inside. They were evacuated, with one sustaining minor injuries. Police have not ruled out terrorism as a motive, believing the attack was targeted. The suspects had poured accelerant on the floor inside the synagogue and set it on fire before fleeing when they were disturbed by a congregant, police said. Israel President Isaac Herzog said he firmly condemned the horrific arson amid an intolerable wave of attacks on Jewish communities when he spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday night. “I noted to the prime minister that this rise and the increasingly serious antisemitic attacks on the Jewish community required firm and strong action, and that this was a message that must be heard clearly from Australia’s leaders,” he said. “I thanked him for his ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism, and expressed my trust that the local law enforcement would do everything in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice.” Political and religious leaders have widely condemned the attack on the synagogue, built by Holocaust survivors. Albanese said he had no tolerance for antisemitism. “This deliberate, unlawful attack goes against everything we are as Australians and everything we have worked so hard to build as a nation,” he said in a statement. Australian Federal Police will provide all requested resources to Victorian authorities, he said. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said police patrols would be increased, and pledged $100,000 to rebuilding the synagogue.
Europe has the introduction of its biometric-based traveler registration scheme, the Entry-Exit System (EES) but it continues working on tools that will help biometric identification at border crossings. EU border agency Frontex presented its EES pre-enrollment mobile app this week, showcasing how non-EU travelers will be able to register their biometric and biographic data before arriving in Europe. Frontex is calling the new app Quick Border. After checking their eligibility, travelers can scan their passport containing a chip and then take a live selfie, used to confirm that the person is the same as in the document. The last steps include a questionnaire which can be customized, according to the country’s specific requirements, explains Frontex’s Senior Research Officer Ricardo Neisse. The app was presented during a conference on ID fraud organized by iMars, the European Commission-funded project dedicated to uncovering document fraud. Led by and a consortium of 24 partners, the project also focuses on the development of mobile tools for European border guards that verify the authenticity of identity documents and detect manipulated face images. The EES will require non-EU citizens to submit fingerprint and face biometrics on their first crossing of Schengen borders. One thing that the Quick Border app will not be able to do, however, is scan travelers’ fingerprints. While companies such as have been working on , it comes with its own challenges. For now, travelers will have to visit self-service kiosks or border guards to enroll their fingerprints. “Some countries also foresee having border guards walking in the airport and enroll in the fingerprints as well,” says Neisse. Sensitive operations such as certificate checks, presentation attack detection and verification are not performed on the device but on the backend of the app. The raw data is sent to the destination countries which can double-check any data. Frontex has already conducted two tests of the app, including one in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport which tested the app’s usability. The second test was held at Stockholm Arlanda Airport as a fully fledged operational EES pilot which recruited almost 1700 people from 37 countries, mainly from the UK, U.S. and Australia. The pilot was completed at the end of August. “This project was rather quick, a little over 10 months,” says Neisse. “We are still evaluating findings, and we are working on a couple of research publications so we are going to have a paper on this.” Frontex is still working on improving chip reading and facial verification. Around 80 percent of facial images have passed the quality test while the remaining 20 percent mostly faced issues with lighting. The images are checked through eu-LISA, the European agency dedicated to large-scale IT systems, responsible for developing and managing the EES. Some questions about the Quick Border app still remain, including whether it will be separate from the which was recently announced by the European Commission. The platform allows both EU and non-EU citizens to create a digital passport. “I think this is not yet decided. But the goal of the European Commission is to have one app for all,” says Neisse. iMARS’ research does not just focus on tools that verify the authenticity of identity documents and detect counterfeits. The Horizon 2020 project is also exploring how biometric-based tools used by border authorities interact with European regulation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the AI Act as well as other privacy, data and border rules. To shed light on this issue, iMars is developing guidelines and best practices with the help of independent advisors exploring the legal, ethical and societal part of biometric border tools. Regulation is dependent on public opinion and iMars has found that the public has solid support for digital identity tools. In 2022, the project an analysis of societal acceptability of checking and proving identity which covered 3,000 respondents across European countries. “One thing was important to mention that the purpose and intended use of technology, technology, plus the personal data collection, should be clearly and carefully explained to citizens,” says Abdullah Elbi, a legal researcher at KU Leuven Center for IT & IP Law (CiTiP) in Belgium. Another important part is the accuracy and performance of systems. Even slight false negative rates, even below 1 percent, might affect settings such as border control which see hundreds of thousands of individuals monthly or even weekly. “Performance is very important, otherwise, the risk would be a violation of fundamental rights” says Elbi, who is also involved in iMars. Accuracy issues are not only a problem for citizens. If tools cannot catch morphed images, then border control may let some bad people into the country, he adds. On a positive note, more people are familiar with AI-fueled threats to identification such as deepfake thanks to the media attention to this topic in recent years. “One of the lessons learned from this work was that the social acceptability and public perception also changed by time, with new technologies, with new laws, with some bad news,” says Elbi. In April, iMars held a where it presented the latest findings on face morphing. Morphing involves combining images of two individuals to create a hybrid image that resembles both original faces. Aside from developing (MAD) solutions for enrollment, forensic investigation and border crossing, the project is also focusing on vulnerabilities in biometric systems and training people involved with ID checks. | | | | |Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister has withdrawn his nomination from President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Drug Enforcement Agency, the sheriff announced on social media Tuesday evening.
SPDA ties up with SMC for Davao del Sur poultry farmThe sky was falling for the Dallas Cowboys entering Week 11. They were 3-7, tied for their worst 10-game start since 2020, and in the midst of a five-game losing streak. A matchup against the Washington Commanders , Offensive Rookie of the Year betting favorite Jayden Daniels , and their top-five scoring offense (28 points per game) appeared to spell doom and a sixth consecutive loss for Dallas. However, the Cowboys refused to stop fighting for head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff, and they battled hard enough to steal a 34-26 road win in Week 12. Dallas took home the largest upset victory of the 2024 season thus far, emerging victorious as 10.5-point road underdogs thanks to becoming the first team NFL history with two kickoff return touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a game, per CBS Sports Research. The Commanders nearly sent this game to overtime, however. Trailing 27-20 and out of timeouts on their own 14-yard line, Daniels pulled a rabbit out of the hat and hit No. 1 target Terry McLaurin down the right sideline. Dallas' defense took some poor tackling angles, which allowed McLaurin to zig zag through the Cowboys secondary and into the end zone for an 86-yard touchdown. However, Commanders kicker Austin Seibert , who made all 22 of his extra points entering Week 12, missed his second of the day. COMMANDERS 86-YARD TOUCHDOWN WOW 📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX 📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/apaNEKNCkh That forced Washington to attempt an onside kick to get the football back since they were out of timeouts and only 21 seconds remained on the scoreboard. Cowboys defensive back and No. 2 kick returner Juanyeh Thomas scooped up the onside kick on one hop and housed it for a 43-yard touchdown to truly seal the game. ONSIDE KICK RETURN FOR A TD WHY NOT?! 📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX 📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/DIXs64vWvP Dallas Pro Bowl kick returner KaVontae Turpin , who entered the week leading the league in yards per kick return return (34.3), didn't get many chances tor return a kick or punt Sunday. That was until the Commanders opted to kick the football short against Turpin following a four-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to veteran tight end Zach Ertz . Daniels capped Washington's nine-play scoring drive by waltzing in for a two-point conversion to trim the Cowboys' lead to just three points, 20-17, with 3:02 left to play. That's when Turpin turned on the jets and made the ensuing kickoff Turpin time, taking it back 99 yards for a touchdown after bobbling the football initially. The play was reminiscent of a game-winning, 65-yard punt return touchdown by Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson to beat the New York Giants in Week 15 of the 2010 season. This play appeared to win the game for the Cowboys before all the aforementioned drama ensued. Dallas is now the first team with two kickoff return touchdowns in a game since Week 18 of the 2022 season when the Buffalo Bills did so against the New England Patriots . KaVontae Turpin goes 99 yards for the TD 🔥 📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX 📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/IiHNVZAnt5 It's remarkable Dallas was even in this game after its first six offensive possessions went as follows: blocked field goal, missed field goal, lost fumble, and then three consecutive punts. Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and his defense deserve a ton of credit. It entered Week 12 as the NFL's second-worst defense, allowing 29.3 points per game, due to a litany of injuries to edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence , edge rusher Micah Parsons , cornerback DaRon Bland , cornerback Trevon Diggs and more. The star of the day for the Cowboys defense was undrafted rookie corner Josh Butler . He led all players in tackles with 12 and broke up three passes. All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons also racked up two sacks of Daniels, while 2023 third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown added another. Daniels threw for as many interceptions as he did touchdowns (two) in addition to 275 yards on 25 of 38 passing. He had fewer than 200 yards passing (189) prior to his 86-yard touchdown to McLaurin with 21 seconds remaining. After two lackluster starts in place of an injured Dak Prescott (hamstring), veteran quarterback Cooper Rush put together his best career start: he threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns on 24 of 32 passing for a 117.6 passer rating, his career-high in nine starts. Rush's second scoring strike was his best throw of the day. He hung in the pocket calmly against a Commanders blitz on third-and-6 and then delivered a high-arching throw to wide-open tight end Luke Schoonmaker for a 22-yard touchdown. Lead running back Rico Dowdle also provided enough support in the run game, totaling 86 yards on 19 carries. Why the Cowboys won Their defense stood tall for the vast majority of the game, and then their special teams saved the day at the end when they faltered. Many teams in the midst of a five-game losing streak might have folded when the Commanders scored eight points to trim their lead to 20-17 with 3:02 left to play. All Dallas did was take the ensuing kickoff to the house thanks to Turpin's Pro Bowl-caliber efforts. The special teams unit bailed out the defense again following the Commanders second missed extra point by not only recovering the extra point but housing it for the score. Why the Commanders lost Their special teams play and lackluster offense. Washington missed two extra points and surrendered two kickoff return touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Daniels and Co. being unable to take advantage of the Cowboys early sloppiness on their first six possessions stands out as well. Turning point Turpin's 99-yard kickoff return touchdown. This completely turned the tide of the game, and it did essentially win the game since the Commanders were then trailing by two scores with under three minutes left. It's a hole they were unable to completely climb out of. KaVontae Turpin goes 99 yards for the TD 🔥 📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX 📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/IiHNVZAnt5 Play of the game Daniels' 86-yard passing touchdown to McLaurin. All seemed lost when they started their final offensive drive down seven at their own 14 without a timeout. The Cowboys simply tackling the Commanders in bounds would have ended the game. Instead, McLaurin leveled up and magically maneuvered his way into the end zone for what appeared to be the game-tying touchdown before a missed extra point rained on Washington's parade. COMMANDERS 86-YARD TOUCHDOWN WOW 📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX 📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/apaNEKNCkh What's next The 4-7 Cowboys return home to host the 2-9 Giants on Thanksgiving Day in Week 13. The Commanders, who have now lost three in a row after a 7-2 start, will host the 3-8 Tennessee Titans in Week 13.NEW YORK -- As New York City prosecutors work to bring murder charges against Luigi Mangione in the brazen killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, supporters of the suspect are donating tens of thousands of dollars for a defense fund established for him, leaving law enforcement officials worried Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Several online defense funds have been created for Mangione by anonymous people, including one on the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo that as of Sunday morning had raised over $100,000. NOTE: The video above is from a previous report. The GiveSendGo defense fund for the 26-year-old Mangione was established by an anonymous group calling itself "The December 4th Legal Committee," apparently in reference to the day Mangione allegedly ambushed and gunned down Thompson in Midtown Manhattan as the executive walked to his company's shareholders conference at the New York Hilton hotel. "We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right to fair legal representation," the anonymous group said in a statement. The crowdfunding campaign prompted donations from thousands of anonymous donors across the country, many of them leaving messages of support for Mangione, including one person who called themselves "A frustrated citizen" and thanked Mangione for "sparking the awareness and thought across this sleeping nation." The GiveSendGo fund for Mangione appeared to be briefly taken down before it was restored on Thursday. In a statement to ABC News, a spokesperson for GiveSendGo said the company "operates with a principle of not preemptively determining guilt or innocence." "Our platform does not adjudicate legal matters or the validity of causes. Instead, we allow campaigns to remain live unless they violate the specific terms outlined in our Terms of Use. Importantly, we do allow campaigns for legal defense funds, as we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to access due process," the GiveSendGo spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "We understand the concerns raised by such campaigns and take these matters seriously. When campaigns are reported, our team conducts a thorough review to ensure they comply with our policies. While other platforms may choose a different approach, GiveSendGo's core value is to provide a space where all individuals, no matter their situation, can seek and receive support, with donors making their own informed decisions." Other crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe have also taken down campaigns soliciting donations for Mangione's defense. "GoFundMe's Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes," the crowdfunding website said in a statement. "The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded."Amazon and Etsy have removed from their websites merchandise featuring Mangione, including T-shirts and tote bags reading "Free Luigi" and the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," words police said were etched in the shell casings discovered at the scene of Thompson's homicide. "Celebrating this conduct is abhorrent to me. It's deeply disturbing," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told ABC News senior investigative reporter Aaron Katersky in an interview Wednesday night. "And what I would say to members of the public, people who as you described are celebrating this and maybe contemplating other action, that we will be vigilant and we will hold people accountable. We are at the ready." Prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney's office have begun presenting evidence to a grand jury as they work to try to secure an indictment against Mangione, sources told ABC News on Thursday. Mangione's attorney, Thomas Dickey of Altoona, Pennsylvania, where the suspect was arrested Monday following a five-day manhunt, said his client is presumed innocent and will plead not guilty to any charges filed against him. Mangione is contesting extradition to New York. Asked about people contributing to Mangione defense funds that have popped up, Dickey said, "People are entitled to their opinion and, like I said, if you're an American and you believe in the American criminal justice system, you have to presume him to be innocent and none of us would want anything other than that if that were us in their shoes. So, I'm glad he had some support." In a later interview on CNN, Dickey said he is leaning toward not accepting any money from his client's supporters for his defense. "To be honest with you, I probably wouldn't," Dickey told CNN. "I just don't feel comfortable about that. So, I don't know. I haven't given that much thought. Obviously, my client appreciates the support that he has, but I don't know, it just doesn't sit right with me, really." Retired FBI special agent Richard Frankel said that in previous politically-charged violent crimes, suspects have received unsolicited support. "We saw it with the Unabomber," said Frankel, an ABC News contributor, referring to Ted Kaczynski -- the mathematician-turn-domestic terrorist who blamed technology for a decline of individual freedom and mailed handcrafted explosives to targeted individuals between 1978 and 1995. Frankel said Eric Rudolph, who detonated a bomb in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Olympic Games and carried out three additional bombings as he eluded capture for five years, also attracted supporters. "In my opinion, they're supporting individuals who have committed potentially terrorist acts, but it's a politically charged act," Frankel said Referring to the Thompson killing, Frankel added, "You can be up in arms about the healthcare industry, but you can't threaten or actually hurt members of the healthcare industry." Most recently, Marine veteran Daniel Penny was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man who was acting erratically on a New York City subway, after supporters donated more than $3 million to his legal defense fund. Law enforcement officials have expressed concern that Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Someone this week pasted "wanted posters" outside the New York Stock Exchange naming other executives. A bulletin released Wednesday by the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, a multi-agency law enforcement intelligence-sharing network based in Philadelphia, included a photo of a banner hanging from an overpass reading, "Deny, Defend, Depose." "Many social media users have outright advocated for the continued killings of CEOs with some aiming to spread fear by posting 'hit lists,'" the bulletin, obtained by ABC News, reads. Meanwhile, New York Police Department investigators continue to build a murder case against Mangione, who is being held in Pennsylvania on charges stemming from his arrest there, including illegal possession of ghost gun and fraudulent identification. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the three shell casings recovered at the scene of Thompson's shooting matched the gun found in Mangione possession when he was arrested. She also confirmed that Mangione's fingerprints were recovered from a water bottle and the wrapper of a granola bar found near the crime scene.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Decreases Position in Curtiss-Wright Co. (NYSE:CW)NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery's podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. “Chuck was a dear friend and brother and a tremendous man of faith, life will not be the same without him,” Young wrote. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. In 1983, Woolery began an 11-year run as host of TV’s “Love Connection,” for which he coined the phrase, “We’ll be back in two minutes and two seconds,” a two-fingered signature dubbed the “2 and 2.” In 1984, he hosted TV’s “Scrabble,” simultaneously hosting two game shows on TV until 1990. “Love Connection,” which aired long before the dawn of dating apps, had a premise that featured either a single man or single woman who would watch audition tapes of three potential mates and then pick one for a date. A couple of weeks after the date, the guest would sit with Woolery in front of a studio audience and tell everybody about the date. The audience would vote on the three contestants, and if the audience agreed with the guest’s choice, “Love Connection” would offer to pay for a second date. Woolery told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003 that his favorite set of lovebirds was a man aged 91 and a woman aged 87. "She had so much eye makeup on, she looked like a stolen Corvette. He was so old he said, ‘I remember wagon trains.’ The poor guy. She took him on a balloon ride.” Other career highlights included hosting the shows “Lingo," “Greed” and “The Chuck Woolery Show,” as well as hosting the short-lived syndicated revival of “The Dating Game” from 1998 to 2000 and an ill-fated 1991 talk show. In 1992, he played himself in two episodes of TV’s “Melrose Place.” Woolery became the subject of the Game Show Network’s first attempt at a reality show, “Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned,” which premiered in 2003. It shared the title of the pop song in 1968 by Woolery and his rock group, the Avant-Garde. It lasted six episode and was panned by critics. Woolery began his TV career at a show that has become a mainstay. Although most associated with Pat Sajak and Vanna White, “Wheel of Fortune” debuted Jan. 6, 1975, on NBC with Woolery welcoming contestants and the audience. Woolery, then 33, was trying to make it in Nashville as a singer. “Wheel of Fortune” started life as “Shopper’s Bazaar,” incorporating Hangman-style puzzles and a roulette wheel. After Woolery appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show” singing “Delta Dawn,” Merv Griffin asked him to host the new show with Susan Stafford. “I had an interview that stretched to 15, 20 minutes,” Woolery told The New York Times in 2003. “After the show, when Merv asked if I wanted to do a game show, I thought, ‘Great, a guy with a bad jacket and an equally bad mustache who doesn’t care what you have to say — that’s the guy I want to be.’” NBC initially passed, but they retooled it as “Wheel of Fortune” and got the green light. After a few years, Woolery demanded a raise to $500,000 a year, or what host Peter Marshall was making on “Hollywood Squares.” Griffin balked and replaced Woolery with weather reporter Pat Sajak. “Both Chuck and Susie did a fine job, and ‘Wheel’ did well enough on NBC, although it never approached the kind of ratings success that ‘Jeopardy!’ achieved in its heyday,” Griffin said in “Merv: Making the Good Life Last,” an autobiography from the 2000s co-written by David Bender. Woolery earned an Emmy nod as host. Born in Ashland, Kentucky, Woolery served in the U.S. Navy before attending college. He played double bass in a folk trio, then formed the psychedelic rock duo The Avant-Garde in 1967 while working as a truck driver to support himself as a musician. The Avant-Garde, which tourbed in a refitted Cadillac hearse, had the Top 40 hit “Naturally Stoned,” with Woolery singing, “When I put my mind on you alone/I can get a good sensation/Feel like I’m naturally stoned.” After The Avant-Garde broke up, Woolery released his debut solo single “I’ve Been Wrong” in 1969 and several more singles with Columbia before transitioning to country music by the 1970s. He released two solo singles, “Forgive My Heart” and “Love Me, Love Me.” Woolery wrote or co-wrote songs for himself and everyone from Pat Boone to Tammy Wynette. On Wynette’s 1971 album “We Sure Can Love Each Other,” Woolery wrote “The Joys of Being a Woman” with lyrics including “See our baby on the swing/Hear her laugh, hear her scream.” After his TV career ended, Woolery went into podcasting. In an interview with The New York Times, he called himself a gun-rights activist and described himself as a conservative libertarian and constitutionalist. He said he hadn’t revealed his politics in liberal Hollywood for fear of retribution. He teamed up with Mark Young in 2014 for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and soon became a full supporter of Donald Trump while arguing minorities don’t need civil rights and causing a firestorm by tweeting an antisemitic comment linking Soviet Communists to Judaism. “President Obama’s popularity is a fantasy only held by him and his dwindling legion of juice-box-drinking, anxiety-dog-hugging, safe-space-hiding snowflakes,” he said. Woolery also was active online, retweeting articles from Conservative Brief, insisting Democrats were trying to install a system of Marxism and spreading headlines such as “Impeach him! Devastating photo of Joe Biden leaks.” During the early stages of the pandemic, Woolery initially accused medical professionals and Democrats of lying about the virus in an effort to hurt the economy and Trump’s chances for reelection to the presidency. “The most outrageous lies are the ones about COVID-19. Everyone is lying. The CDC, media, Democrats, our doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it’s all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I’m sick of it,” Woolery wrote in July 2020. Trump retweeted that post to his 83 million followers. By the end of the month, nearly 4.5 million Americans had been infected with COVID-19 and more than 150,000 had died. Just days later, Woolery changed his stance, announcing his son had contracted COVID-19. “To further clarify and add perspective, COVID-19 is real and it is here. My son tested positive for the virus, and I feel for of those suffering and especially for those who have lost loved ones,” Woolery posted before his account was deleted. Woolery later explained on his podcast that he never called COVID-19 “a hoax” or said “it’s not real,” just that “we’ve been lied to.” Woolery also said it was “an honor to have your president retweet what your thoughts are and think it’s important enough to do that.” In addition to his wife, Woolery is survived by his sons Michael and Sean and his daughter Melissa, Young said. Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits .
New York Medical Cannabis Industry Challenges The State's System: $20M Fee Per Operator At Stake
Bridge Defense Announces Strategic Investment in Federated ITChuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of ’Love Connection’ and ’Scrabble,’ dies at 83
Keith Higgins Jr. scores 22 to lead Lehigh to 87-67 victory over Neumann
New York Medical Cannabis Industry Challenges The State's System: $20M Fee Per Operator At Stake
Colorado State center Jacob Gardner highlighted a group of nine CSU Rams honored by the Mountain West on its football all-conference teams released Tuesday.
Once a month, the team at Bell Potter releases its Australian equities panel. The broker describes its panel as follows: Our panel of favoured Australian equities offer attractive risk-adjusted returns over the long term. We consider the current macro-economic backdrop and investment environment, focusing on quality companies with proven track records, strong management teams and competitive advantages. Among the shares that feature on its panel this month are the two ASX 200 listed below. Let's see why the broker is feeling particularly bullish on these names: ( ) The first ASX 200 blue chip share that could be a buy according to Bell Potter is James Hardie. It is a global fibre cement manufacturer with operations in Australia, United States, and Europe. Bell Potter highlights that it is the leader in fibre cement with a ~90% share of the US market. This allows James Hardie to enjoy substantial pricing power and a strong brand. This in turn is supportive of one of the highest return on equities (ROEs) in the market at ~30%. The good news is that Bell Potter believes the company's earnings are on the cusp of expanding thanks to structural drivers. It said: In our view, James Hardie is poised for continued earnings expansion, driven by the structural shift towards fibre cement in the US. Households in the US continue to shift to fibre cement cladding from vinyl/timber, providing a multiyear runway for JHX's revenue and profit growth. With a strong market position, premium brand, and pricing power, JHX is poised to capitalise on structural growth in the fibre cement market and cyclical tailwinds from potential rate cuts. Bell Potter has a buy rating and $64.00 price target on its shares. WiseTech Global Ltd ( ) Another ASX 200 blue chip share that Bell Potter has on its Australian equities panel is WiseTech Global. It is a leading global provider of software solutions to the logistics services industry. The key product in its arsenal is CargoWise One, which is a market leading solution that is used by many of the largest logistics providers in the world. Bell Potter rates the company highly due to its high level of recurring revenue and the launch of new products. It expects these to underpin an acceleration in growth. It said: WTC has a high degree of recurring revenue (80-85%) and should continue to grow its revenue/earnings from further customer wins. We see CargoWise as the market leader in freight forwarding software and expect growth to accelerate due to the launch of three new products, as well as ongoing global roll-out wins. All up, WTC is a growth story with strategic acquisitions representing upside potential enabling WTC to benefit from large-scale global rollouts and consolidation within the logistics sector. Bell Potter has a buy rating and $140.00 price target on its shares.TOUCHING tributes for the late Jimmy Carter have started to flood in for the "extraordinary leader" who has died aged 100. Joe Biden and Donald Trump have led the heartfelt messages to the beloved former president whose death was confirmed by his family earlier today. Carter, the oldest president in history , and the only one to become a centenarian, has been survived by five other American commander-in-chiefs who have all left touching homages to the great man. President-elect Donald Trump remembered Carter for his leadership and urged Americans to keep the late president's loved ones in their " hearts and prayers". Trump wrote on Truth Social: "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. "For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. "Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time." He later posted a second statement which acknowledged the pair's political and philosophical differences but praised Carter's clear love for America. "He truly loved and respected our Country, and all it stands for," Trump added. "He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect. "He was a truly good man and, of course, will be greatly missed. He was also very consequential, far more than most Presidents, after he left the Oval Office." The man Trump is set to replace in the White House in just a few weeks time in Joe Biden described Carter as an "extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian". The fellow Democrat and close friend posted the loving tribute alongside his wife Jill. They said: "Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend." "He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together." Joe, 82, has now taken on the title as the oldest living president following the passing of Carter. Barack Obama - the youngest living American leader - commended the late humanitarian with his wife Michelle. They said: "Maranatha Baptist Church will be a little quieter on Sundays, but President Carter will never be far away — buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels. "Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man." Former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary also praised Carter's commitment to service. They praised him for his "long and good life" and applauded his belief in faith and selflessness. The final remaining president, George W. Bush, joined his wife Laura to call Carter “a man of deeply held convictions” who “dignified the office ". US vice president Kamala Harris made a similar statement praising Carter's "deep and abiding faith in God, America and in humanity". “He reminded our nation and the world that there is strength in decency and compassion," she continued. "I had the privilege of knowing President Carter for years. I will always remember his kindness, wisdom, and profound grace." Tributes to the statesman even came from overseas as the UK's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer lauded Carter's service. The British PM said he “redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad”. King Charles III also described the former US president as a “committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace”. Sir Tony Blair soon followed with a powerful statement. It read: "Jimmy Carter's life was a testament to public service; from his time in office, and the Camp David Accords, to his remarkable commitment to the cause of people and peace round the world over the past 40 years. "I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. "He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need." Carter , the 39th president of the United States , has died after nearly two years in hospice care. His son Chip Carter confirmed the former president died at his Georgia home on Sunday around 3:45 pm ET. Carter peacefully passed away surrounded by his family who paid an emotional tribute to the former leader. His son Chip said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. "The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Public events will commemorate Carter in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. and a state funeral will be held, The Carter Center confirmed. The former president decided to live out the remainder of his days at his home in Plains, Georgia . Carter, the beloved Democrat and Nobel Peace Prize winner, had experienced several health issues in recent years including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. He became the longest-living president and the first to make it 100 years old. Carter's death came over a year after the death of his wife, Rosalynn Carter , who died on November 19, 2023, at age 96. Two days before her death, Rosalynn joined her husband in hospice care at their home in Georgia. The former first lady and fierce advocate for mental health was diagnosed with dementia in early 2023. Before his death, Jimmy Carter was the first to pay tribute to his wife of 77 years, "Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished. "She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me."
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Jimmy Carter, the 39th president and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, has died at 100NEW YORK -- As New York City prosecutors work to bring murder charges against Luigi Mangione in the brazen killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, supporters of the suspect are donating tens of thousands of dollars for a defense fund established for him, leaving law enforcement officials worried Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Several online defense funds have been created for Mangione by anonymous people, including one on the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo that as of Sunday morning had raised over $100,000. NOTE: The video above is from a previous report. The GiveSendGo defense fund for the 26-year-old Mangione was established by an anonymous group calling itself "The December 4th Legal Committee," apparently in reference to the day Mangione allegedly ambushed and gunned down Thompson in Midtown Manhattan as the executive walked to his company's shareholders conference at the New York Hilton hotel. "We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right to fair legal representation," the anonymous group said in a statement. The crowdfunding campaign prompted donations from thousands of anonymous donors across the country, many of them leaving messages of support for Mangione, including one person who called themselves "A frustrated citizen" and thanked Mangione for "sparking the awareness and thought across this sleeping nation." The GiveSendGo fund for Mangione appeared to be briefly taken down before it was restored on Thursday. In a statement to ABC News, a spokesperson for GiveSendGo said the company "operates with a principle of not preemptively determining guilt or innocence." "Our platform does not adjudicate legal matters or the validity of causes. Instead, we allow campaigns to remain live unless they violate the specific terms outlined in our Terms of Use. Importantly, we do allow campaigns for legal defense funds, as we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to access due process," the GiveSendGo spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "We understand the concerns raised by such campaigns and take these matters seriously. When campaigns are reported, our team conducts a thorough review to ensure they comply with our policies. While other platforms may choose a different approach, GiveSendGo's core value is to provide a space where all individuals, no matter their situation, can seek and receive support, with donors making their own informed decisions." Other crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe have also taken down campaigns soliciting donations for Mangione's defense. "GoFundMe's Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes," the crowdfunding website said in a statement. "The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded."Amazon and Etsy have removed from their websites merchandise featuring Mangione, including T-shirts and tote bags reading "Free Luigi" and the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," words police said were etched in the shell casings discovered at the scene of Thompson's homicide. "Celebrating this conduct is abhorrent to me. It's deeply disturbing," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told ABC News senior investigative reporter Aaron Katersky in an interview Wednesday night. "And what I would say to members of the public, people who as you described are celebrating this and maybe contemplating other action, that we will be vigilant and we will hold people accountable. We are at the ready." Prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney's office have begun presenting evidence to a grand jury as they work to try to secure an indictment against Mangione, sources told ABC News on Thursday. Mangione's attorney, Thomas Dickey of Altoona, Pennsylvania, where the suspect was arrested Monday following a five-day manhunt, said his client is presumed innocent and will plead not guilty to any charges filed against him. Mangione is contesting extradition to New York. Asked about people contributing to Mangione defense funds that have popped up, Dickey said, "People are entitled to their opinion and, like I said, if you're an American and you believe in the American criminal justice system, you have to presume him to be innocent and none of us would want anything other than that if that were us in their shoes. So, I'm glad he had some support." In a later interview on CNN, Dickey said he is leaning toward not accepting any money from his client's supporters for his defense. "To be honest with you, I probably wouldn't," Dickey told CNN. "I just don't feel comfortable about that. So, I don't know. I haven't given that much thought. Obviously, my client appreciates the support that he has, but I don't know, it just doesn't sit right with me, really." Retired FBI special agent Richard Frankel said that in previous politically-charged violent crimes, suspects have received unsolicited support. "We saw it with the Unabomber," said Frankel, an ABC News contributor, referring to Ted Kaczynski -- the mathematician-turn-domestic terrorist who blamed technology for a decline of individual freedom and mailed handcrafted explosives to targeted individuals between 1978 and 1995. Frankel said Eric Rudolph, who detonated a bomb in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Olympic Games and carried out three additional bombings as he eluded capture for five years, also attracted supporters. "In my opinion, they're supporting individuals who have committed potentially terrorist acts, but it's a politically charged act," Frankel said Referring to the Thompson killing, Frankel added, "You can be up in arms about the healthcare industry, but you can't threaten or actually hurt members of the healthcare industry." Most recently, Marine veteran Daniel Penny was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man who was acting erratically on a New York City subway, after supporters donated more than $3 million to his legal defense fund. Law enforcement officials have expressed concern that Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Someone this week pasted "wanted posters" outside the New York Stock Exchange naming other executives. A bulletin released Wednesday by the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, a multi-agency law enforcement intelligence-sharing network based in Philadelphia, included a photo of a banner hanging from an overpass reading, "Deny, Defend, Depose." "Many social media users have outright advocated for the continued killings of CEOs with some aiming to spread fear by posting 'hit lists,'" the bulletin, obtained by ABC News, reads. Meanwhile, New York Police Department investigators continue to build a murder case against Mangione, who is being held in Pennsylvania on charges stemming from his arrest there, including illegal possession of ghost gun and fraudulent identification. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the three shell casings recovered at the scene of Thompson's shooting matched the gun found in Mangione possession when he was arrested. She also confirmed that Mangione's fingerprints were recovered from a water bottle and the wrapper of a granola bar found near the crime scene.
NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery's podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. “Chuck was a dear friend and brother and a tremendous man of faith, life will not be the same without him,” Young wrote. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. In 1983, Woolery began an 11-year run as host of TV’s “Love Connection,” for which he coined the phrase, “We’ll be back in two minutes and two seconds,” a two-fingered signature dubbed the “2 and 2.” In 1984, he hosted TV’s “Scrabble,” simultaneously hosting two game shows on TV until 1990. “Love Connection,” which aired long before the dawn of dating apps, had a premise that featured either a single man or single woman who would watch audition tapes of three potential mates and then pick one for a date. A couple of weeks after the date, the guest would sit with Woolery in front of a studio audience and tell everybody about the date. The audience would vote on the three contestants, and if the audience agreed with the guest’s choice, “Love Connection” would offer to pay for a second date. Woolery told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003 that his favorite set of lovebirds was a man aged 91 and a woman aged 87. "She had so much eye makeup on, she looked like a stolen Corvette. He was so old he said, ‘I remember wagon trains.’ The poor guy. She took him on a balloon ride.” Other career highlights included hosting the shows “Lingo," “Greed” and “The Chuck Woolery Show,” as well as hosting the short-lived syndicated revival of “The Dating Game” from 1998 to 2000 and an ill-fated 1991 talk show. In 1992, he played himself in two episodes of TV’s “Melrose Place.” Woolery became the subject of the Game Show Network’s first attempt at a reality show, “Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned,” which premiered in 2003. It shared the title of the pop song in 1968 by Woolery and his rock group, the Avant-Garde. It lasted six episode and was panned by critics. Woolery began his TV career at a show that has become a mainstay. Although most associated with Pat Sajak and Vanna White, “Wheel of Fortune” debuted Jan. 6, 1975, on NBC with Woolery welcoming contestants and the audience. Woolery, then 33, was trying to make it in Nashville as a singer. “Wheel of Fortune” started life as “Shopper’s Bazaar,” incorporating Hangman-style puzzles and a roulette wheel. After Woolery appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show” singing “Delta Dawn,” Merv Griffin asked him to host the new show with Susan Stafford. “I had an interview that stretched to 15, 20 minutes,” Woolery told The New York Times in 2003. “After the show, when Merv asked if I wanted to do a game show, I thought, ‘Great, a guy with a bad jacket and an equally bad mustache who doesn’t care what you have to say — that’s the guy I want to be.’” NBC initially passed, but they retooled it as “Wheel of Fortune” and got the green light. After a few years, Woolery demanded a raise to $500,000 a year, or what host Peter Marshall was making on “Hollywood Squares.” Griffin balked and replaced Woolery with weather reporter Pat Sajak. “Both Chuck and Susie did a fine job, and ‘Wheel’ did well enough on NBC, although it never approached the kind of ratings success that ‘Jeopardy!’ achieved in its heyday,” Griffin said in “Merv: Making the Good Life Last,” an autobiography from the 2000s co-written by David Bender. Woolery earned an Emmy nod as host. Born in Ashland, Kentucky, Woolery served in the U.S. Navy before attending college. He played double bass in a folk trio, then formed the psychedelic rock duo The Avant-Garde in 1967 while working as a truck driver to support himself as a musician. The Avant-Garde, which tourbed in a refitted Cadillac hearse, had the Top 40 hit “Naturally Stoned,” with Woolery singing, “When I put my mind on you alone/I can get a good sensation/Feel like I’m naturally stoned.” After The Avant-Garde broke up, Woolery released his debut solo single “I’ve Been Wrong” in 1969 and several more singles with Columbia before transitioning to country music by the 1970s. He released two solo singles, “Forgive My Heart” and “Love Me, Love Me.” Woolery wrote or co-wrote songs for himself and everyone from Pat Boone to Tammy Wynette. On Wynette’s 1971 album “We Sure Can Love Each Other,” Woolery wrote “The Joys of Being a Woman” with lyrics including “See our baby on the swing/Hear her laugh, hear her scream.” After his TV career ended, Woolery went into podcasting. In an interview with The New York Times, he called himself a gun-rights activist and described himself as a conservative libertarian and constitutionalist. He said he hadn’t revealed his politics in liberal Hollywood for fear of retribution. He teamed up with Mark Young in 2014 for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and soon became a full supporter of Donald Trump while arguing minorities don’t need civil rights and causing a firestorm by tweeting an antisemitic comment linking Soviet Communists to Judaism. “President Obama’s popularity is a fantasy only held by him and his dwindling legion of juice-box-drinking, anxiety-dog-hugging, safe-space-hiding snowflakes,” he said. Woolery also was active online, retweeting articles from Conservative Brief, insisting Democrats were trying to install a system of Marxism and spreading headlines such as “Impeach him! Devastating photo of Joe Biden leaks.” During the early stages of the pandemic, Woolery initially accused medical professionals and Democrats of lying about the virus in an effort to hurt the economy and Trump’s chances for reelection to the presidency. “The most outrageous lies are the ones about COVID-19. Everyone is lying. The CDC, media, Democrats, our doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it’s all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I’m sick of it,” Woolery wrote in July 2020. Trump retweeted that post to his 83 million followers. By the end of the month, nearly 4.5 million Americans had been infected with COVID-19 and more than 150,000 had died. Just days later, Woolery changed his stance, announcing his son had contracted COVID-19. “To further clarify and add perspective, COVID-19 is real and it is here. My son tested positive for the virus, and I feel for of those suffering and especially for those who have lost loved ones,” Woolery posted before his account was deleted. Woolery later explained on his podcast that he never called COVID-19 “a hoax” or said “it’s not real,” just that “we’ve been lied to.” Woolery also said it was “an honor to have your president retweet what your thoughts are and think it’s important enough to do that.” In addition to his wife, Woolery is survived by his sons Michael and Sean and his daughter Melissa, Young said. Mark Kennedy is at .Tejashwi: After Jharkhand, GA will win assembly polls in BiharE-bike Market size to increase by USD 16.48 Billion between 2023 to 2028, Market Segmentation by Battery Type, Propulsion, Geography , Technavio