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blackjack simulator Authorities in the United States have reviewed airport security footage as they continue to investigate how a woman sneaked on board a Delta Air Lines flight from New York to Paris without a ticket last Tuesday –– one of the busiest travel days of the year. Inspectors from the Transportation Security Administration are preparing a civil case against the stowaway after reviewing airport security video from inside John F. Kennedy International Airport, agency spokesperson Alexa Lopez told CNN. The stowaway initially slipped past facial recognition ID scanners at the TSA checkpoint undetected, the TSA said, though she did go through baggage screening where officers found two bottles of water. “The TSA will open civil cases against passengers when there’s evidence that procedures may have been violated,” Lopez said. The TSA cannot bring criminal charges, though it can refer them to the Justice Department. A Paris airport official identified the female stowaway as a 57-year-old Russian national. The passenger – whom French officials are trying to return to the US – remains in custody in France. She was scheduled to take a return flight to the United States Saturday afternoon but French authorities had to remove her from the aircraft after she started screaming, according to the Paris airport official. “The pilot refused to take her because she was too unruly,” the official told CNN Monday. French border police brought the passenger back to a waiting zone at Charles de Gaulle Airport for people awaiting deportation. She can be held in the zone, known as ZAPI, for up to 20 days. French authorities want her to return to the United States of her own volition. But failing that, they will force her to go back with an escort, in formal custody. Since arriving in Paris, she has been evaluated by a doctor. Inspectors from the TSA are planning to meet the stowaway at JFK when she returns to the States, Lopez said. The TSA says the incident shows why the agency is seeking funding for electronic gates that use facial recognition and open and allow access to baggage screening only once a passenger passes the identification screening. What remains a mystery is how the person was able to slip past Delta gate agents at JFK. A source familiar with the incident said the stowaway was able to evade detection by the flight crew on the plane because the flight was not full, though passengers told CNN the woman was able to hide by moving between bathrooms. Delta has not said how she was able to make it onto the plane once she made it past the TSA checkpoint. The airline says it “is conducting an exhaustive investigation of what may have occurred,” but declined further comment. Incidents like these do happen, but not frequently, according to former Department of Homeland Security official Keith Jeffries, who was federal security director when he left DHS in 2022. In about 20 years working with DHS and the TSA, Jeffries estimated, he saw similar situations play out about 30 times. Airlines are adding more technology to their boarding process to prevent these lapses, said Jeffries, now vice president of K2 Security Screening Group, an aviation security firm. But things still happen, especially during peak travel periods. The public can also help keep the skies safe during the busy travel season, he said. “As simplistic as it sounds, if you see something, say something,” Jeffries said. “One of the most important layers of the entire security process is the public themselves.” CNN’s Mark Morales and Holmes Lybrand contributed to this report.How video games empower players with disability to find fun, friendship and communityPaul Keating set for $40 million windfall from Telstra dealIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi paid a visit to Beijing at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to review the relations between the two countries and discuss the regional developments. In the ministerial negotiations, the two sides praised the progress in the implementation of a comprehensive cooperation agreement between Iran and China, reiterating their countries’ determination to carry out the agreement and exchange governance experiences in the political, diplomatic, parliamentary, defense, security, law enforcement, judicial, economic and trade fields. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the two sides also discussed the situation in West Asia, stressing that the Middle East belongs only to its people, is not a playing field for the big countries, and should not fall victim to the plots and geopolitical clashes of outsiders. They also agreed that the international community should respect the national sovereignty, security, stability, unity and territorial integrity of all Middle East countries, pay heed to the logical demands of the Middle East nations, respect their independent decisions, and push to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. The way for the establishment of stability and clam in the Middle East is commitment to the principle of political solutions on the basis of international law without foreign interference, the Iranian and Chinese ministers emphasized. The two sides also voiced support for the enhancement of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the continuation of dialogue and consultations among the regional countries. Iran and China also agreed that the settlement of the Palestine crisis requires respect for and restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation and ending occupation. They described an immediate establishment of ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of military forces from Gaza, and the delivery of humanitarian aids as the main priority at present. Stressing the need for the serious and effective implementation of a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, the Iranian and Chinese ministers also called for the fight against terrorism and extremism in Syria, domestic reconciliation, and delivery of humanitarian supplies to the Arab country.

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, expecting their first childNXT Energy Solutions Inc. Announces Board of Director ChangesHARARE – Zimbabwe’s capital markets are undergoing significant transformation, with efforts to address low liquidity, regulatory hurdles, and economic instability paving the way for potential growth. The introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency and initiatives to engage international creditors have set the stage for stability and expansion. Market analysts believe that a strategic approach is necessary to stimulate the country’s capital markets in 2025. Business analyst Kudakwashe Mundowozi highlighted the importance of enhancing liquidity through new financial instruments, streamlining regulations, and implementing investor education programs. He also emphasised the need for sustainable investment promotion and a green financing framework to attract socially responsible investors in line with global trends. Fostering public-private partnerships and encouraging foreign direct investment through policy stability and tax incentives are considered critical for long-term growth. By addressing these issues, Zimbabwe can build a more vibrant and resilient capital market. The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) and the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) are seen as key platforms for driving investment and contributing to the country’s economic development. Investment analyst Enock Rukarwa noted that the introduction of ZiG had brought relative stability, shifting stock market activity from flat to a bullish trend in late 2024. However, he pointed out challenges such as the discontinuation of foreign currency settlements, which had briefly improved liquidity. Liquidity, market depth, and size remain areas of concern, with analysts linking these variables to broader macroeconomic dynamics. Improved economic conditions, they argue, would boost confidence and activity in the stock market. Financial analyst Malone Gwadu observed that ZSE served as a haven for investors during periods of volatility, particularly in early 2024, as a hedge against exchange rate losses. However, he identified inflation and exchange rate volatility as systemic threats to market confidence and growth. To encourage market participation, Mr Mundowozi proposed tax incentives for companies listing on the ZSE, citing successful examples from Rwanda and Ireland. He also suggested adopting a fast-track listing process, similar to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, to attract foreign companies and diversify the investor base. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube announced plans to further incentivise market activity on the VFEX, which has been hindered by low trading volumes. As part of the 2025 national budget, the Government will reduce capital gains withholding tax on marketable securities on the ZSE, effective January 1, 2025. ZSE Chief Executive Justin Bgoni welcomed the tax reduction, stating it would increase liquidity, attract more investors, and enhance overall market efficiency. Lower taxes could also improve price discovery and make Zimbabwe’s investment landscape more appealing to foreign investors. As these measures take shape, Zimbabwe’s capital markets are expected to play a pivotal role in driving economic growth and attracting both domestic and international investors in the coming years.

By Leah Douglas and Ed White WASHINGTON/REGINA, Saskatchewan (Reuters) -U.S. prices may rise next year for avocados, strawberries and other fresh produce, and consumers could face shortages, if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on plans to slap tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, agricultural economists and industry executives said. Mexico and Canada are by far the top two suppliers of farm products to the United States, with imports of agricultural goods valued at nearly $86 billion last year, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Customs data. Duties on their food shipments could cause jarring financial and operational ripple effects on U.S. supplies and highlight how reliant the nation has become on its neighbors for feeding its population, economists said. Trump said Monday he would sign an executive order on his first day in office in January that would impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States from Canada and Mexico to curb the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the U.S. U.S. consumers would feel impacts at grocery stores and restaurants, with items being out of stock, Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, said on Tuesday. "We would see fewer items in general in the produce section," Jungmeyer said. "Restaurants would have to reconfigure their menus, maybe putting in less fruits and vegetables or decreasing portions." About two-thirds of all U.S. vegetable imports and half of fruit and nut imports come from Mexico, according to the USDA: nearly 90% of its avocados, as much as 35% of its orange juice, and 20% of its strawberries. Avocado exports to the United States have soared 48% since 2019, according to U.S. trade data, as consumers have increasingly put them in salads and on sandwiches. The U.S. market accounts for about 80% of Mexico's total avocado exports, data by the USDA shows, a trade worth $3 billion last year. "It would generate an inflationary spiral," said Alfredo Ramírez, governor of Michoacan, Mexico's main avocado producing state. "Demand would not fall," he said. "What would increase are costs and prices. This would bring us an increase in inflation and direct repercussions for consumers." Margarita supplies could be hit, too. Imports of beer and tequila together make up nearly a quarter of Mexican imports of agricultural goods into the U.S. last year. U.S. imports of Mexican tequila and mezcal - both used for making cocktails, such as margaritas - totaled $4.66 billion in 2023, up 160% since 2019. The tariffs could also push prices higher for fertilizer imported from Canada at a time when farmers are paying nearly 50% more for fertilizer than in 2020, said Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, a farmer trade group. "Now is not the time to send shock waves through the agricultural economy," Kieffer said. PIGS, CATTLE MIGRATION Trump's plan could also slow the migration of more than 1 million cows exported by Mexico across the border each year, to become part of the U.S. beef supply. U.S. producers have slashed their cattle herds in recent years, pushing up beef prices. They could benefit if tariffs lead to fewer cattle and beef imports, said Bill Bullard, chief executive officer of the Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America. Tariffs could also further increase meat prices for U.S. consumers, though Bullard said importers and meat processors may be able to absorb some extra costs. "We look forward to tariffs," he said. "It will help to level the playing field for our domestic producers." To the north, tariffs also could disrupt shipments of beef and dairy cattle and hogs between the U.S. and Canada, and potentially affect producers in both countries. Manitoba alone sends about 3 million piglets each year to producers in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska, where feed corn can be sourced more cheaply, according to the Canada Pork Council and Manitoba Pork Council Midwestern farmers then raise and fatten up the animals in their feeder barns, before sending them to slaughter - and the pork flows both to buyers in the U.S. and Canada after processing. TRUMP TRADE WARS 2.0 The latest USDA projections show that the U.S. in 2025 will likely run a deficit in agricultural trade of more than $42 billion, driven in part by consumer interest in off-season produce and imported alcohol from Mexico. The threat of tariffs could be a way of attaining leverage over Mexico and Canada in the lead-up to renegotiation of the USMCA trade deal, set to be reviewed in 2026, said Peter Tabor, an attorney and senior policy advisor at Holland & Knight and a former USDA trade official. But implementation of steep tariffs over time could mean the U.S. may be seen as an unreliable trading partner and that importers of U.S. goods would look elsewhere to fill the void, Tabor said. (Reporting by Leah Douglas in Washington, Ed White in Regina, Saskatchewan, Tom Polansek and Karl Plume in Chicago, Emma Rumney in London, and Cassandra Garrison and Adriana Barrera in Mexico City; Writing By P.J. Huffstutter in Chicago; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)

rookie guard will travel with the South Bay Lakers to make his road G League debut Thursday against the Valley Suns in Tempe, Ariz., sources told ESPN. The Lakers' No. 55 pick has played in three G League games -- all at home. James is averaging 8.7 points on 29.4% shooting, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. He is coming off his strongest showing with South Bay, scoring 16 points on 6-for-15 shooting with four rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes in a win over the San Diego Clippers on Saturday. James, 20, was recently sidelined for several weeks while dealing with a bone bruise in his left heel. The organization was cautious in James' recovery, sources told ESPN on Wednesday, because the heel injury was affecting the same leg that required left knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus when he was in high school. Joey Buss, South Bay's president and CEO, told ESPN last month that James' split allegiances between the Lakers and their G League affiliate were not set in stone. "That's going to be fluid," Buss told ESPN. "We're going to do what's best for his development. There's going to be a lot of things that we do for all the assignment players, and decisions are made based off where they are, based off the injury status, based off how many bodies they need for practice. There's a lot of variables. So nothing unique for Bronny. He's just kind of in that system." The Lakers do not play again until Friday on the road against the , so James could theoretically play in Tempe on Thursday and be called back up to join L.A. on Friday in Minneapolis. James' father, , missed Wednesday's practice because of personal reasons, according to coach JJ Redick.

Jim Rossman | Tribune News Service Cord cutting used to refer to abandoning pay TV and putting up an antenna to watch free over-the-air TV. Then cord cutting expanded to include streaming services like Netflix and Hulu and individual streaming sources. Related Articles San Jose Sharks debut catchy sequel video to ‘Holiday Sweater’ Gift ideas for people planning their next trip Lights and decor, réveillon meals make Christmastime special in New Orleans Why American travelers are choosing Europe for Christmas Jaw-dropping holiday light displays worth the trip this December Now we also include streaming bundles, like YouTube TV or Hulu Live or DirecTV Stream. These bundled services mimic cable and satellite service, in that they have hundreds of channels. The ease or complexity of the cord cutting experience depends on how you have things set up. Let’s take a look at some gift options for your favorite cord cutter. As far as I know DirecTV is the only streaming bundle service that offers its own hardware. The Gemini Air is a small dongle that plugs into an HDMI port on your TV. It is paired with a remote control to allow for easy navigation. If you were an AT&T U-Verse TV customer, the Gemini Air/DirecTV Stream experience will be very familiar. The Gemini Air is a rarity in that it has number buttons. DirecTV Stream has the option of turning on channel numbers in the guide. I’ve used DirecTV Stream with my Roku TV and with the Gemini Air and the Air makes navigating the huge list of channels much easier. The Gemini Air runs the Google operating system, so you can see and use all your other streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Max and more. You can also load apps and games from the Google Play store. The Gemini Air connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network, and it can stream 4K content to your TV. The remote control has a microphone so you can use your voice to search or interact with Hey Google’s voice assistant. DirecTV Stream customers can get a free Gemini Air from AT&T with their service. Additional units are available for $120. There are lots of smart TV brands. Some run on the Roku operating system, some run Google TV and some use their own brand of smart TV apps. If you’d like to add Google TV to any set, you can get Google’s new TV Streamer (4K) for just $99 from store.google.com. The small device connects to your TV’s HDMI port. It also can connect to your home’s internet via Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet connection. The Google TV interface is not tied to any specific streaming service. You can use any streaming service or app that’s available on the Google Play store. It features a simple remote with voice control and the Google TV Streamer is also a hub and controller for Matter and Thread home devices that work with Google’s home ecosystem. If you use an over-the-air antenna for watching your free local channels, I’m betting you’d like the option to record those channels. TiVo used to be the best/easiest way to record OTA TV, but they’ve discontinued their OTA recorders. A great alternative is from TabloTV, which is a small box that you connect to your TV antenna. The TabloTV does not directly connect to your TV. Instead it connects to your home’s Wi-Fi, and the antenna signal is wirelessly sent to any TV or compatible device in your home. Your TV picks up the signal through a free app, which is compatible with smart TV brands like Samsung, LG, Google TV, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV or Android TV. This method is extremely handy if you don’t want to be bothered running an antenna wire from your attic or roof all the way to your TV. It’s also great if you want to use an indoor antenna, but your TV is not situated in a room that faces the broadcast towers. You can place the antenna and TabloTV where you get the best reception. The TabloTV comes in two models – with either two or four tuners. This means you can record or watch two or four shows at a time. TabloTV has onboard storage to record up to 50 hours of shows, but you can plug in any USB hard drive and expand to record thousands of hours of programming. You can also bundle a TabloTV with an OTA antenna if you like, or you can use your own antenna. Two things to know, there are no ongoing subscription costs for guide data, and there is no streaming service integration. You will need another way to add in streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. TabloTV models start at $99.95 for the two tuner model at tablotv.com. The four-tuner model is $139.95, but they may be on sale during the holidays. ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 16, 2024-- Blackmagic Design announced it will start taking pre-orders for the new Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera — the world’s first commercial camera system designed to capture Apple Immersive Video for Apple Vision Pro — today with deliveries due to start in early 2025. DaVinci Resolve Studio will be updated to support editing Apple Immersive Video early next year, offering professional filmmakers a comprehensive workflow for producing Apple Immersive Video for Apple Vision Pro. Apple Immersive Video is a remarkable 180-degree media format that leverages ultra-high-resolution immersive video and Spatial Audio to place viewers in the center of the action. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216360826/en/ Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive features a fixed, custom lens system pre-installed on the body, which is designed specifically to capture Apple Immersive Video for Apple Vision Pro. The sensor delivers 8160 x 7200 resolution per eye with pixel level synchronization and an incredible 16 stops of dynamic range, so cinematographers can shoot 90fps 3D immersive cinema content to a single file. The custom lens system is designed for URSA Cine’s large format image sensor with extremely accurate positional data that’s read and stored at time of manufacturing. This immersive lens projection data — which is calibrated and stored on device — then travels through post production in the Blackmagic RAW file itself. Additionally, DaVinci Resolve Studio will be updated to support editing Apple Immersive Video early next year, offering professional filmmakers a comprehensive workflow for producing Apple Immersive Video for Apple Vision Pro. (Photo: Business Wire) “We are excited to begin accepting pre-orders for the new Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera and preview a true end-to-end workflow for Apple Immersive Video with DaVinci Resolve,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “We are looking forward to working closely with filmmakers and production companies on the Blackmagic production workflow for Apple Immersive Video before releasing the camera to a wider audience later in 2025. We can’t wait to see the amazing action, drama, concerts, sports and other incredible experiences our customers will capture in this powerful new format pioneered by Apple.” The World’s First Commercial Camera System for Apple Immersive Video Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive features a fixed, custom lens system pre-installed on the body, which is designed specifically to capture Apple Immersive Video for Apple Vision Pro. The sensor delivers 8160 x 7200 resolution per eye with pixel level synchronization and an incredible 16 stops of dynamic range, so cinematographers can shoot 90fps 3D immersive cinema content to a single file. The custom lens system is designed for URSA Cine’s large format image sensor with extremely accurate positional data that’s read and stored at time of manufacturing. This immersive lens projection data — which is calibrated and stored on device — then travels through post production in the Blackmagic RAW file itself. The World’s First Editing Software for Apple Immersive Video A new version of DaVinci Resolve Studio set to release in Q1 next year includes powerful new features to help filmmakers edit, color grade, and produce Apple Immersive Video shot on the URSA Cine Immersive camera for Apple Vision Pro. Key features include a new immersive video viewer, which will let editors pan, tilt, and roll clips for viewing on 2D monitors or on Apple Vision Pro for an even more immersive editing experience. Additionally, transitions rendered by Apple Vision Pro will also be able to be bypassed using FCP XML metadata, giving editors clean master files. To complete the workflow, export presets will enable quick output into a package which can be viewed directly on Apple Vision Pro. About Blackmagic URSA Cine The Blackmagic URSA Cine camera platform is the basis of multiple models with different features for the high end cinema industry. All models are built with a robust magnesium alloy chassis and lightweight carbon fiber polycarbonate composite skin to help filmmakers move quickly on set. Customers also get 12G‐SDI out, 10G Ethernet, USB-C, XLR audio, and more. The fold out monitor has a large 5′′ HDR touchscreen on one side and an external color status LCD on the other. The right side of the camera features a dedicated assist station with a second 5′′ HDR touchscreen that allows crew to work around the camera without needing external monitors. An 8-pin Lemo power connector at the back of the camera works with 24V and 12V power supplies, making it easy to use the camera with existing power supplies, batteries, and accessories. Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive comes with a massive 250W power supply and B mount battery plate, so customers can use a wide range of high voltage batteries from manufacturers such as IDX, Blueshape, Core SWX, BEBOB, and more. Customers will also receive a top handle, antennas for high speed Wi-Fi, baseplate, 24V power supply and high voltage B mount battery plate for quick set up. Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive comes with 8TB of high performance network storage built in, which records directly to the included Blackmagic Media Module, and can be synced to Blackmagic Cloud and DaVinci Resolve media bins in real time. This means customers can capture over 2 hours of Blackmagic RAW in 8K stereoscopic 3D immersive, and editors can work on shots from remote locations worldwide as the shoot is happening. The new Blackmagic RAW Immersive file format is designed to make it simple and easy to work with immersive video within the whole post production workflow, and includes support for Blackmagic global media sync. Blackmagic RAW files store camera metadata, lens data, white balance, digital slate information and custom LUTs to ensure consistency of image on set and through post production. Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive is the first commercial, digital film camera with ultra fast high capability Cloud Store technology built in. The high speed storage lets customers record at the highest resolutions and frame rates for hours and access their files directly over high speed 10G Ethernet. The camera also supports creating a small H.264 proxy file, in addition to the camera original media when recording. This means the small proxy file can be uploaded to Blackmagic Cloud in seconds, so media is available back at the studio in real time. Blackmagic Media Dock accelerates post production workflow by making it faster and simpler to start editing and performing color correction. Customers can mount up to three Blackmagic Media Modules for high speed access to media from multiple URSA Cine Immersive cameras all at the same time. The four high speed 10G Ethernet ports allow up to four separate edit workstations to connect directly and is extremely fast, even when a lot of users are connected at the same time. Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive Features DaVinci Resolve Immersive Features Availability and Price Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive is available to pre order now direct from Blackmagic Design offices worldwide for $29,995 (US). Delivery will start in late Q1 2025. URSA Cine Immersive will be available from Blackmagic Design resellers later next year. Press Photography Product photos of the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive, as well as all other Blackmagic Design products, are available at www.blackmagicdesign.com/media/images . About Blackmagic Design Blackmagic Design creates the world’s highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability in post production, while the company’s EmmyTM award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984. Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI products and stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information, please go to www.blackmagicdesign.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216360826/en/ CONTACT: Media Terry Frechette +1 408 954 0500 Ext. 321 pr-usa@blackmagicdesign.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FILM & MOTION PICTURES CONSUMER ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT OTHER TECHNOLOGY PHOTOGRAPHY SOFTWARE AUDIO/VIDEO HARDWARE OTHER ENTERTAINMENT SOURCE: Blackmagic Design Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/16/2024 05:15 PM/DISC: 12/16/2024 05:15 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216360826/en

LONDON: “Human intelligence,” the cultural critic Neil Postman once wrote, “is among the most fragile things in nature. It doesn’t take much to distract it, suppress it, or even annihilate it.” The year was 1988, a former Hollywood actor was in the White House, and Postman was worried about the ascendancy of pictures over words in American media, culture and politics. Television "conditions our minds to apprehend the world through fragmented pictures and forces other media to orient themselves in that direction", he argued in an essay in his book Conscientious Objections. “A culture does not have to force scholars to flee to render them impotent. A culture does not have to burn books to assure that they will not be read ... There are other ways to achieve stupidity.” DECLINE IN LITERACY SKILLS What might have seemed curmudgeonly in 1988 reads more like prophecy from the perspective of 2024. This month, the OECD released the results of a vast exercise : In-person assessments of the literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills of 160,000 adults aged 16 to 65 in 31 different countries and economies. Compared with the last set of assessments a decade earlier, the trends in literacy skills were striking. Proficiency improved significantly in only two countries (Finland and Denmark), remained stable in 14, and declined significantly in 11, with the biggest deterioration in South Korea, Lithuania, New Zealand and Poland. Among adults with tertiary-level education (such as university graduates), literacy proficiency fell in 13 countries and only increased in Finland, while nearly all countries and economies experienced declines in literacy proficiency among adults with below upper secondary education. Singapore and the US had the biggest inequalities in both literacy and numeracy. “Thirty per cent of Americans read at a level that you would expect from a 10-year-old child,” Andreas Schleicher, director for education and skills at the OECD, told me – referring to the proportion of people in the US who scored level 1 or below in literacy. “It is actually hard to imagine – that every third person you meet on the street has difficulties reading even simple things.” In some countries, the deterioration is partly explained by an ageing population and rising levels of immigration, but Schleicher says these factors alone do not fully account for the trend. His own hypothesis would come as no surprise to Postman: That technology has changed the way many of us consume information, away from longer, more complex pieces of writing, such as books and newspaper articles, to short social media posts and video clips. At the same time, social media has made it more likely that you "read stuff that confirms your views, rather than engages with diverse perspectives, and that’s what you need to get to [the top levels] on the [OECD literacy] assessment, where you need to distinguish fact from opinion, navigate ambiguity, manage complexity", Schleicher explained. IMPLICATIONS FOR POLITICS AND PUBLIC DEBATE The implications for politics and the quality of public debate are already evident. These, too, were foreseen. In 2007, writer Caleb Crain wrote an article called Twilight of the Books in The New Yorker magazine about what a possible post-literate culture might look like. In oral cultures, he wrote, cliche and stereotype are valued, conflict and name-calling are prized because they are memorable, and speakers tend not to correct themselves because “it is only in a literate culture that the past’s inconsistencies have to be accounted for”. Does that sound familiar? These trends are not unavoidable or irreversible. Finland demonstrates the potential for high-quality education and strong social norms to sustain a highly literate population, even in a world where TikTok exists. England shows the difference that improved schooling can make: There, the literacy proficiency of 16-year-olds to 24-year-olds was significantly better than a decade ago. THE QUESTION OF AI The question of whether AI could alleviate or exacerbate the problem is more tricky. Systems like ChatGPT can perform well on many reading and writing tasks: They can parse reams of information and reduce it to summaries. A number of studies suggest that, when deployed in the workplace, these tools can significantly increase the performance of lower-skilled workers. In one study, researchers tracked the impact of an AI tool on customer service agents who provided technical support via written chat boxes. The AI tool, trained on the conversational patterns of top performers, provided real-time text suggestions to agents on how to respond to customers. The study found lower-skilled workers became more productive and their communication patterns became more similar to those of higher-skilled workers. David Autor, an economics professor at MIT, has even argued that AI tools could enable more workers to perform higher-skilled roles and help restore “the middle-skill, middle-class heart of the US labour market”. But, as Autor says, in order to make good use of a tool to “level up” your skills, you need a decent foundation to begin with. Absent that, Schleicher worries that people with poor literacy skills will become “naive consumers of prefabricated content”. In other words, without solid skills of your own, it is only a few short steps from being supported by the machine, to finding yourself dependent on it, or subject to it.

. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., left, and Vice President-elect Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, walk together after leaving Vance's office on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP WASHINGTON — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vance is taking on an atypical role as Senate guide for Trump nominees The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. “JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Mar-a-Lago scene is a far cry from Vance’s hardscrabble upbringing Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates' pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray, as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” Vance is making his voice heard as Trump stocks his Cabinet While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence, a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators' offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance will draw on his Senate background going forward Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and " interesting" to be around. “He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” RECOMMENDED • pennlive .com GOP senators divided on release of Gaetz ethics report as Trump applies pressure Nov. 19, 2024, 9:05 p.m. Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws Nov. 21, 2024, 7:06 p.m. Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year.

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Nov 30, 2024; Killington, Vermont, USA; Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States is taken off the course on a sled in the second run of the women's giant slalom at the Stifel Killington Cup alpine skiing race at Killington Resort. Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images/File Photo Nov 30, 2024; Killington, Vermont, USA; Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States crashes in the second run of the women's giant slalom at the Stifel Killington Cup alpine skiing race at Killington Resort. Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images/File Photo Mikaela Shiffrin will be sidelined for at least a few weeks after she suffered a puncture wound in her abdomen and severe muscle trauma during a giant slalom race in Killington, Vermont, the twice Olympic gold medallist said on Monday. Shiffrin was chasing a milestone 100th World Cup win on Saturday when she caught an edge and crashed into the safety netting at full speed, remaining down for several minutes before being taken to a medical clinic. Shiffrin thanked her fans for their support on social media on Monday and said it would take "a few weeks minimum" to be able to "take on much of any force." "I literally have a puncture wound and some pretty significant muscular trauma around my whole right oblique area," said Shiffrin. "We're starting the process to be on the mend and I hope to get back to being able to ski soon-ish." Shiffrin previously missed six weeks after injuring her knee in a high-speed crash in January while competing in a World Cup downhill in Cortina d'Ampezzo and subsequently dropped the discipline from her schedule. Shiffrin is already considered the most successful Alpine skier in World Cup history when she topped retired Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark's record 86 wins in March. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now