ABILENE, Texas (AP) — Leonardo Bettiol scored 22 points as Abilene Christian beat Texas Southern 69-65 on Saturday night. Bettiol added six rebounds for the Wildcats (8-5). Quion Williams added 21 points while shooting 8 of 15 from the field and 4 for 5 from the line while they also had 11 rebounds. Hunter Jack Madden went 4 of 15 from the field (1 for 10 from 3-point range) to finish with nine points. The Tigers (1-10) were led in scoring by Kavion McClain, who finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Texas Southern also got 17 points and three steals from Zaire Hayes. Kenny Hunter had 10 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
‘First Buddy’ Elon Musk accuses Trump impeachment witness of ‘treason’ and calls for ‘appropriate penalty’
On 5 December 2024, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Divisions of Clearing and Risk, Data, Market Oversight, and Market Participants issued a staff advisory on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by CFTC-regulated entities (the Advisory). 2 The Advisory comes nearly a year after CFTC staff (Staff) issued a Request for Comment on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in CFTC-Regulated Markets, which garnered 26 responses and helped to inform the CFTC’s guidance. 3 Importantly, the Advisory does not create any new compliance obligations for derivatives market participants who use AI solutions. Instead, consistent with the CFTC’s “technology neutral” approach, Staff took this opportunity to remind registered entities that they must continue to comply with existing compliance obligations, whether using AI or any other technology, either directly or with a third-party service provider. The Advisory highlights a number of AI use cases by derivatives market participants, and the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and CFTC regulatory requirements that may be implicated by each of the use cases. Chairman Rostin Behnam, in what is likely to be one of his last key acts as head of the agency, remarked that the Advisory is the CFTC’s first step engaging with market participants on the topic of AI. However, as noted in the Advisory, there is likely more to come. As AI technology evolves and as derivatives market participants develop other innovative use cases, there is potential for future rulemakings or guidance by the CFTC. Below, we set forth an overview of the key elements of the Advisory. Under the Advisory, Staff explicitly states its expectation that all CFTC-regulated entities will assess the risks of using AI and will update their policies, procedures, controls, and systems, as appropriate under applicable CEA and CFTC regulatory requirements. Whether developing its own AI solutions or using a third-party AI offering, a regulated entity remains responsible for compliance with existing laws and regulations. Although Staff articulates this expectation with respect to entities that are registered with the CFTC in some capacity, all market participants should consider adhering to this standard, i.e., performing a risk assessment and following generally accepted standards for the development, operation, reliability, capacity, and security of the systems that use AI technology. As AI usage evolves and as existing AI tools are materially updated, market participants should consider conducting another risk assessment. As discussed below, Staff articulated use cases for which various registration categories may consider deploying AI technology and identified core principles and regulatory obligations that could be implicated by these uses. We consider a number of these below. Commissioner Kristin N. Johnson, who has long been an advocate for enhanced oversight and protective measures related to AI, issued a statement concurrent with the publication of the Advisory. In it, she described her vision for an AI Fraud Task Force within the Division of Enforcement and increased enforcement resources to effectively supervise market participants. She also called for a formal policy of enhanced penalties on those who use AI to engage in fraud or other illegal activities, especially when they lure vulnerable investors using AI (including the use of so-called “deepfakes”). Finally, Commissioner Johnson advocated for an interagency task force focused on AI and an open dialogue to gather information about market participants’ use and adoption of AI technologies. The risk of AI technology has been on the CFTC’s radar and will continue to be a priority, even under the new administration. CFTC-regulated entities should anticipate continued engagement by the CFTC on this topic and should take Staff’s expectations set forth in the Advisory seriously, despite the fact that it is not formal CFTC guidance or a rulemaking. In light of this Advisory, market participants may consider documenting each use case for how they deploy AI, any risk assessments that have taken place, and descriptions of how policies and procedures were updated to reflect the risk of the use of AI technology. Any market participant contemplating a new AI tool may need to consider their existing compliance obligations and whether any of these obligations are implicated by the use of the technology. Footnotes 1 Rostin Behnam, Chairman, Comm. Fut. Trading Comm’n, Statement of Chairman Rostin Behnam on the Staff Advisory Related to the Use of Artificial Intelligence by CFTC-Registered Entities and Registrants (Dec. 5, 2024), https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/SpeechesTestimony/behnamstatement120524?utm_source=govdelivery . 2 Press Release Number 9013-24, Comm. Fut. Trading Comm’n, CFTC Staff Issues Advisory Related to the Use of Artificial Intelligence by CFTC-Registered Entities and Registrants (Dec. 5, 2024), https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9013-24 . 3 Press Release Number 8853-24, Comm. Fut. Trading Comm’n, CFTC Staff Releases Request for Comment on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in CFTC-Regulated Markets (Jan. 25, 2024), https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8853-24 .As U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher looked ahead to the next Women’s World Cup in 2027, she calculated what that would look like at her age. Now 36, she already has a World Cup title and won an Olympic gold medal this year in France. She considered the mental, physical and emotional toll of a new cycle and decided it was time to step away. “Honestly, I think I’ve been somebody that has given everything I’ve had to this team. I don’t do anything halfway. It’s kind of, if you can give 100% to it, then keep going,” she said. “With that in mind, I kind of just felt like this was the right time coming off of the Olympics, having the year that we had, entering into a new cycle, a new stage for this team.” Naeher is the latest veteran to announce she’s stepping down from the national team as the next generation takes over under coach Emma Hayes. Among those who have wrapped up their soccer careers in the past couple of years include World Cup winners Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Kelley O’Hara and Ali Krieger. Naeher will be with the team for two more matches in the coming week. The Americans play England at Wembley Stadium on Saturday and then the Netherlands in The Hague on Tuesday. While she’s leaving the national team, she’ll play one more year for her club team, the Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League. Naeher said she’s excited about the next generation of goalkeepers. In addition to Naeher, Mandy Haught of the NWSL’s Utah Royals and Phallon Tullis-Joyce of the Women’s Super League’s Manchester United are on the roster for the upcoming matches. Other goalkeepers who have been on recent rosters include Casey Murphy and Jane Campbell. “I think the beauty of goalkeeping is that it’s not really a one-size-fits-all kind of position,” she said. “The more that you can understand — that’s going to be the challenge any young goalkeeper coming up, is really taking the time to understand what your strengths are and make them really, really elite and separate yourself.” Naeher spoke on Wednesday from London after announcing her retirement on social media Monday. Naeher made her senior debut with the national team in 2014 and was a backup to Hope Solo at the 2015 World Cup, which the United States won. She became the team’s regular starter following the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and was on the squad that repeated as World Cup winners in 2019. Naeher won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 before the U.S. earned gold this year in Paris. She made a key one-handed save in stoppage time to preserve the Americans’ 1-0 victory over Brazil in the Olympic final. For her career, Naeher has appeared 113 games with 110 starts, 88 wins and 68 shutouts. She had four shutouts over the course of the Olympic tournament in France. “I hope that I can be remembered as a good teammate, as a competitor, as somebody that was looked on as someone that could be relied upon on the field and supported those players around me,” she said. “I think it’s just been a really special team to be a part of. And I’m very proud of what we have been able to accomplish over the years.”
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Jurors in New Mexico have awarded a man more than $412 million in a medical malpractice case that involved a men’s health clinic that operates in several states. The man’s attorneys celebrated Monday’s verdict, saying they are hopeful it will prevent other men from falling victim to a scheme that involved fraud and what they described as dangerous penile injections. They said the jury award for punitive and compensatory damages is likely the largest in history for a medical malpractice case. The award follows a trial held in Albuquerque earlier this month that centered on allegations outlined in a lawsuit filed by the man's attorneys in 2020. NuMale Medical Center and company officials were named as defendants. According to the complaint, the man was 66 when he visited the clinic in 2017 in search of treatment for fatigue and weight loss. The clinic is accused of misdiagnosing him and unnecessarily treating him with “invasive erectile dysfunction shots” that caused irreversible damage. “This out of state medical corporation set up a fraudulent scheme to make millions off of conning old men by scaring them with a fake test,” Nick Rowley, the man's attorney, wrote in a social media post that detailed the verdict. Rowley went on to say that the scheme involved clinic workers telling patients they would have irreversible damage if they didn't agree to injections three times a week. NuMale Medical Center President Brad Palubicki said in a statement issued Tuesday that the company is committed to high-quality and safe patient care. He said NuMale disagrees with the verdict and intend to pursue all available legal remedies, including an appeal. A message seeking additional comment was left Wednesday with the company and its attorney. NuMale also has clinics in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, Nebraska, North Carolina and Wisconsin. According to court records, jurors found that fraudulent and negligent conduct by the defendants resulted in damages to the plaintiff. They also found that unconscionable conduct by the defendants violated the Unfair Practices Act.Preview: Borussia Monchengladbach vs. St Pauli - prediction, team news, lineups
The House of Representatives on Wednesday, approved for second reading, a bill to establish the National Commission for Technology Transfer, Acquisition and Promotion. The commission when established will monitor the inflow of foreign products and technology into the country. The sponsor of the bill from Akwa Ibom State, Clement Jimbo, said the proposed legislation “seeks to leverage the huge and active Nigerian population to create jobs for youths, process raw materials into finished goods/products, increase the Gross Domestic Product, and transfer technology to Nigeria.” Leading the debate on the bill’s general principles, the PDP lawmaker said the overriding principle behind the introduction of the proposed legislation is to ensure regular value addition to the country’s solid mineral exploration. He also said it was triggered by the need to create sustainable jobs for the nation’s army of unemployed youths. “The bill seeks to increase our GDP and revenue base through foreign exchange. Related News Poor performance: FG issues 90-day ultimatum to mining management committee Unemployment rate dropped to 4.3% in Q2 - NBS Maximising your naira amid high inflation Jimbo, who represents Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, pointed out that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says over 200 million cell phones, over 500,000 solar systems, over 12 million cars, and millions of cameras, microphones, laptops, and remote controls are currently in use in Nigeria. “These products have one thing in common which is batteries,” he added, stressing that “The major ingredient in the production of battery is a solid mineral lithium.” He pointed out that Deutsche Welle DW, a German foreign broadcasting company, says lithium has been discovered in large quantities in Nigeria, particularly in Abuja, Nasarawa, Kogi, Ekiti, Kwara, and Cross River. “The Minister of Solid Mineral, Mr Dele Alake said we will do everything possible to discourage the carting away of our solid minerals without value addition. This statement is in sync with the intendment of this bill, Mr Speaker,” he said. Addressing reporters after the plenary session, the lawmaker urged his colleagues to support the bill to quicken its passage.The student protests sweeping across Serbia have garnered significant attention, with thousands of young voices demanding accountability and justice in response to a series of tragedies and systemic failures. Considering that protesters reject all government solutions and willingness to fix societal issues, the situation echoes the Color Revolution in North Macedonia. In 2015-2016, North Macedonian citizens mobilized themselves to challenge entrenched corruption and political irresponsibility in the capital city of Skopje. By drawing a comparative analysis between these two movements, we can identify commonalities and divergences between these two movements, shedding light on their potential implications related to governance, civil society and regional stability. The Color Revolution in North Macedonia was ignited by the 2015 wiretapping scandal, which exposed high-level government corruption, electoral interference fraud and authoritarian tendencies under then-Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. Citizens, particularly the youth, took to the streets to demand accountability and democratic reforms. However, the main purpose of the protests was to replace the government. In Serbia, the current wave of protests stems from the tragic Novi Sad train station collapse, which claimed multiple lives and underscored systemic negligence. While this accident initiated the protest, there were broader grievances, including decaying infrastructure, lack of institutional transparency and perceived governmental indifference that compounded over the years of governmental (mis)management of the country. Students, supported by the teaching unions, have emerged as the vanguard of these protests, reflecting the frustration with the government's failures to prioritize safety and education. Both movements relied heavily on the organization and mobilization of civil society. The North Macedonian protests were marked by colorful symbolism, with protesters painting government buildings and public spaces to signify the "colors" of democracy over autocracy. In contrast, Serbian students have adopted poignant slogans such as “15 Minutes for 15 Lives,” emphasizing the human cost of governmental negligence. The physical blockading of university campuses and streets mirrors the sit-ins and occupation tactics employed in North Macedonia. Both activities raised numerous legal questions and concerns by symbolism. Notably, social media has played a pivotal role in both movements, acting as a platform for coordination, information dissemination and raising awareness. In North Macedonia, platforms like Facebook and Twitter were instrumental in bypassing state-controlled media, while in Serbia, videos and live streams from Novi Sad and Belgrade have attracted national and international attention. In both cases, governments initially sought to downplay the protests, portraying them as politically motivated or orchestrated by foreign actors. The former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's administration in North Macedonia deployed police forces to disperse demonstrations, leading to clashes and arrests. However, government authorities and security forces, in most cases, allowed protestors to engage in throwing color bombs at government institutions, which consequently resulted in high-cost restoration. Similarly, Serbian authorities have accused protesters of destabilizing the country and have sought to intimidate organizers through police presence and media campaigns. The scale and intensity of the protests differ significantly. In North Macedonia, police actions to disperse protesters led to more violent confrontations, while in Serbia, the government response has been less aggressive, influenced by the support of teaching unions and other respected societal actors. This broader coalition in Serbia makes it harder for the government to discredit the movement. Generally, when civil society protests against the government, using police force is a poor strategy to delegitimize movements like color revolutions. These movements often control the narrative, framing repression and excessive force as evidence of authoritarianism, which can quickly garner international community and media support. Both movements underscore a deep-seated demand for accountability. In North Macedonia, protesters called for the resignation of Gruevski and his cabinet, pushing for judicial action against those implicated in corruption. The protests culminated in the EU-brokered Pržino Agreements between Gruevski’s government and the opposition political parties, which exploited the Color Revolution to force early elections and political reforms. In Serbia, the focus has been placed on receiving justice for the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy and reforms to prevent such future occurrences. In their protests, students have highlighted the lack of oversight in infrastructure projects and the pervasive culture of impunity. While the Serbian government has made rhetorical commitments to investigate the incident, protesters remain skeptical, pointing at past unfulfilled promises. Yet, blocking educational institutions and other public or private venues represents a violation of citizen’s constitutional rights regarding freedom of work, movement, and access to state institutions. International engagement has played a nuanced role in both contexts. During North Macedonia’s Color Revolution, the European Union and the United States were active mediators, leveraging political and economic incentives to facilitate a resolution. Serbia, however, operates in a more complex geopolitical environment, balancing its EU accession aspirations with maintaining ties to Russia and China. This dynamic has limited the West’s leverage, although international media coverage and statements of support for the protesters have added pressure on the government. So far, there have not been any clear indicators of direct involvement by international actors. But it does not imply their lack of interest in the unfolding events in Serbia. A striking similarity lies in the empowerment of youth as agents of change. The protests marked a generational shift in North Macedonia, with young leaders emerging as prominent voices in civil society and politics. The Serbian protests similarly reflect a generational awakening, with students challenging the status quo and demanding a future defined by transparency and meritocracy rather than nepotism and cronyism. The long-term impact of these movements remains uncertain. While North Macedonia's protests brought political change, the country still faces deep systemic issues. Many Color Revolution supporters now regret participating, as the movement failed to deliver lasting improvements or keep its promises. In the end, one corrupt group of politicians was replaced by another. Serbia’s movement, while generating promises, faces significant obstacles, including a fragmented opposition and a polarized political landscape. There are, however, many lessons Serbian politicians could learn from neighboring countries, which could help them develop sustainable solutions. The Serbian student protests and North Macedonia’s Color Revolution illustrate the transformative power of these types of “grassroots” movements to challenge entrenched systems of power. Both underscore the importance of youth engagement, the role of civil society and the potential for regional movements to inspire one another. However, for better or worse, they also highlight the challenges of translating the protest energy into lasting political and societal change, for good or worse. For Serbia, the current protests represent a critical juncture in the country’s future. The government’s ability to address protesters’ demands – or its failure to do so – will profoundly affect its legitimacy and the country’s trajectory toward democracy and prosperity. For the region, these movements are very dangerous because they are like a two-edged sword. On the one side, these movements very rarely provide sustainable strategic solutions in weak and small states because the corrupt politicians, who are only interested in self-gain, are at the forefront of such protests. On the other side, these movements have the potential to reaffirm the enduring relevance of civic activism in holding governments accountable and shaping the future of the Western Balkans.