jiliko 747.io
QOC and Doha Bank sign partnership agreement for sports developmentEdhi urges govt to resolve Kurram crisis
Walmart's Black Friday Sale Is Now Live, Here Are The Best Discounts
Bangladesh bans dissemination of ousted leader Hasina’s ‘hate speech’NEW YORK -- Depending on who you ask, small business owners say congestion pricing could be a blessing or a curse. When Gov. Kathy Hochul initially canned the plan , she said did so in part because small business owners were afraid of losing customers who travel by car. Some business owners recently offered their take. CBS News New York spoke with four different businesses that acknowledged shipping costs could go up even with the decreased $9 congestion fee , but they differ on whether congestion pricing hurts or helps them. "We're going to probably lose at least 25% more business," said Danny Reina, general manager of Wall Street Grill. Reina said business is still struggling to come back from the pandemic, adding instead of business clientele, it has become more of a destination for family celebrations. "The dinners, it's moving along steadily, but it's not what it's supposed to be," Reina said. Even with the $9 toll, the general manager of Wall Street Grill says the restaurant may have to reduce its lunch service. The luxury upscale kosher restaurant on Pear Street had just two parties in for lunch on a recent weekday. Reina said he also fears losing employees who live in transit deserts. He commutes from the Long Island town of Westbury by car. "I don't see [the congestion roll] decreasing traffic. We're out here between 11:30 p.m.-12 a.m. When you're getting out at the time, there's no trains. It easily is going to cost me $1,200 to $1,400 a month just taking the train." The chair of the MTA has said less than 1% of people in the region drive to the Central Business District for work, and that those who do will now have a faster ride. Some business owners against congestion pricing have sued the MTA to stop it. Those who are optimistic about the plan say it can't come soon enough. Over on Varick Street, traffic leading to the Holland Tunnel backs up past Zafferano America, a lamp and tabletop store. CEO Barrett Gross said he believes it deters customers who mostly come by foot. "It'll reduce the amount of traffic that's right outside our front doors, and that'll be more pleasant for people who are shopping here," Gross said. His is one of 150 businesses that are part of the Hudson Square Business Improvement District. The organization did a 2023 study that found 93% of people ride the train, bike or walk in the area. "We actually pay for private crossing guards after 3:30 in the afternoon to help people cross Varick Street, said Samara Karasyk, the business improvement group's president and CEO. "And so, the better our transit system, the more people will take the transit system to come here." In the West Village, Aviv Brawer-Cohen, the co-owner of Nati clothing boutique on Bleeker, is optimistic congestion pricing will help the store, and another on Prince Street in SoHo. "Our stores are located right next to the Christopher Street station, West 4th Street, Bowery, Broadway, and these stations are often times filthy," Brawer-Cohen said. "Now, this city will have dedicated revenues to clean up these stations and make trains run more reliably." One could say that opinion is a diamond in the rough in the Diamond District. Diamanti NYC co-owner Kerri Lavine said she would not feel comfortable with one of her employees carrying pricey stones on the subway. "Not really, honestly. I'm uncomfortable getting on the subway," Lavine said. Lavine said customers drive in to West 47th Street from across the region. "We make women happy and we make men cry," Lavine said. Crying may be the only option for the 2,600 small businesses that are part of the Diamond District Partnership. "All the different companies, they do pickup, plus we have armored companies that are here," executive director Avi Fertig said. "You can't send it by messenger and bicycle. It needs to be done in a very careful, role-planned way." Lisa Rozner joined CBS News New York in 2017. She covers a wide range of stories.
LONDON — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor "brutally raped and battered" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the "modest award." Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. "She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice," she said. "I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served." The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. "He's not a man, he's a coward," attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. "A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is." Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him "no" as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, "now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times," referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. "I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn't tell anyone so he wouldn't hurt me again," she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman's complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said "she never said 'no' or stopped" and testified that everything she said was a lie. "It is a full blown lie among many lies," he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. "How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings." McGregor's lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. "You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise," attorney Remy Farrell said. "I'm not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch." The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor's arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked "happy, happy, happy." McGregor said he was "beyond petrified" when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor's friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent. Get local news delivered to your inbox!CORVALLIS, Ore. — In an unquestionably strange season for the Pac-12, Oregon State and No. 25 Washington State will meet this weekend for what is essentially the league's regular-season title. It's the new reality for the once-proud Conference of Champions, which was whittled down to just two teams — the Beavers and the Cougars — during realignment last year. The lone Pac-12, well, Pac-2, game this season will be played Saturday in Corvallis. While Washington State and Oregon State had a scheduling agreement this year with the Mountain West, the two teams don't figure into that league's standings. No. 25 Washington State (8-2) at Oregon State (4-6) Since the Pac-12's collapse, the Beavers and the Cougs have worked together to rebuild the conference. In 2026, five Mountain West teams — as well as Gonzaga for basketball only — will join a new Pac-12 . But that alliance ends at the football field, at least according to Washington State coach Jake Dickert. "I’ve never gotten into, like, they’re our buddy. Oregon State’s not our buddy. They would have left us as fast as we would have left them. This is what it is,” Dickert said this week. “It’s one of our biggest rivals now. That’s the way I looked at it. That’s not bulletin board material. I hope they would say it the same way, let’s go compete.” Washington State (8-2) is coming off a disheartening 38-35 loss to New Mexico last weekend. The Cougars had hopes of winning out and possibly earning an at-large bid to the 12-team College Football Playoff, and were ranked as high as No. 18 in the CFP rankings. “Our team will be defined in how we respond to this," Dickert said. “That’s what we talked about after the game. That’s what we talked about this morning. We have a commitment to finish here. That isn’t just committing to finish because we’re in the playoff hunt. It’s a commitment to finish to each other and our team. There are 50 other teams in the country that would switch places with us, and be 8-2 with where we’re at.” Oregon State (4-6) has lost five straight and is coming off a 28-0 blanking at Air Force last weekend. It's possible the Beavers could still become bowl eligible, but they would need to beat the Cougars and then win at No. 12 Boise State next weekend. “When you lose like we’ve lost the last five weeks, it’s never just one thing, and it’s certainly not just the players," Oregon State coach Trent Bray said. Washington State's versatile quarterback John Mateer is considered among the top quarterbacks in the country, despite playing outside of a Power Four conference. Mateer has accounted for 340.2 yards of total offense to rank fifth nationwide, he has 26 passing touchdowns (tied for fourth) and he's rushed for 12 more, a Washington State single-season record for a quarterback. He's the only QB in the country with 20-plus passing touchdowns and 10-plus rushing scores. The result of his success is that he's generating outside interest. And just look at his predecessor, Cam Ward, who played for the Cougars last season before decamping to Miami, where he's become a Heisman candidate and a possible top NFL draft pick. The transfer portal opens Dec. 9. The scheduling agreement with the Mountain West was not renewed for next season, so Washington State and Oregon State each had to put together schedules with an assortment of opponents, and one quirk. The two teams will play each other twice, once in Corvallis and once in Pullman. In 2026, five Mountain West schools will join the Pac-12: Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Colorado State and Utah State. Gonzaga, which does not field a football team, has also joined. The new Pac-12 must still add another football member to be recognized by the NCAA. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballIn their final fixture of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening period. Arsenal’s victory takes them back to within six points of leaders Liverpool, having played one match more than the Reds, and a point clear of Chelsea following their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Ipswich, although much improved in the second half, have now lost five of their last six games, and remain just one place off the bottom of the table, three points away from safety. Mikel Arteta’s men have been rocked by Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury which could keep the England winger, who has nine goals and 13 assists this season, out of action for the next two months. Gabriel Martinelli was handed the unenviable task of filling Saka’s shoes on Arsenal’s right-hand side and the Brazilian was involved in the only goal of the evening. The Ipswich defence failed to deal with Martinelli’s cross, with the ball falling to Leandro Trossard on the opposite side of the area. Trossard fought his way to the byline before fizzing his cross into the box for Havertz to convert from a matter of yards. It was Havertz’s third goal in four matches, his 12th of the season, and no less than the hosts, who at that stage of the match had enjoyed a staggering 91.4 per cent of the possession, deserved. Heading into Friday’s fixture, Arsenal had lost only one of their last 75 Premier League games when they had opened the scoring, and their triumph here rarely looked in doubt following Havertz’s strike. Havertz thought he had doubled Arsenal’s lead with 34 minutes gone when he converted Gabriel Jesus’ cross. But Jesus – handed his third successive start for the first time in a year – strayed into an offside position in the build-up. When referee Darren England blew for half-time, Ipswich had failed to touch the ball in Arsenal’s box, becoming just the second side to do so in the Premier League this season. Nottingham Forest were the other, away at Liverpool, before they went on to inflict Arne Slot’s sole defeat of his tenure so far. And for all of Arsenal’s possession, while they held just a one-goal advantage, Ipswich knew they were still in the game. An encouraging start to the second half for the Tractor Boys ensued, albeit without testing David Raya in the Arsenal goal. Shortly after the hour mark, Gabriel should have settled any growing Emirates nerves when he arrived unmarked to Declan Rice’s corner, but the defender headed wide of Arijanet Muric’s post when it looked easier to score. Martin Odegaard then forced a fine fingertip save from Muric at his near post after a mazy run and shot from the Arsenal skipper. Rice’s stinging goal-bound volley from the following corner was blocked by Dara O’Shea as Arsenal pushed for a game-killing second. Havertz should have tapped home Trossard’s header but he fluffed his lines. And moments later, substitute Mikel Merino’s effort was diverted from danger by a diving Muric. Ipswich looked to catch Arsenal on the counter, but the match ended without them registering a single effort on Raya’s goal. Ipswich fans goaded their opponents with chants of “boring, boring Arsenal”, but it was the Gunners who enjoyed the last laugh as they saw out 2024 with a win which keeps the pressure on Liverpool.
Why British newspapers are still in demand: New owners circle The Telegraph and ObserverBlue Square X Expands Art Curation Services at Art Basel Miami
Special counsel moves to abandon election interference and classified documents cases against Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning reelection despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country's constitutional foundations. “I persevered, against all odds, and WON," Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” Israel launches new airstrikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to a ceasefire with Hezbollah BEIRUT (AP) — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials said they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. No casualties were reported after many residents fled the targeted sites. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel had issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. What's blocking a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah? BEIRUT (AP) — Diplomats and other officials say there have been several sticking points in ceasefire talks to end the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, even as conditions for an agreement appear to be ripe. Israel’s military has killed nearly all of the militant group’s top leaders, but it continues to fire missiles into Israel. Tens of thousands of Israelis who were evacuated from the border months ago are pressuring their government to help them go home. And the world wants to stop regional conflict from spreading after more than a year of fighting. Following the latest visit to the region by a U.S. mediator, Israel hit central Beirut over the weekend, and Hezbollah responded with its biggest barrage in weeks as each applied pressure to reach a deal. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost daily since the day after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, setting off the war in Gaza. Israel launched a widespread bombardment of Lebanon two months ago, then a ground invasion. More than 3,500 people in Lebanon have been killed, many of them civilians. Thanksgiving Travel Latest: Airport strike, staff shortages and weather could impact holiday travel Airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike. Here's the latest: U.S. airlines are preparing for a Thanksgiving holiday rush, and so are the U.S. Postal Service, United Parcel Service and FedEx. Shipping companies will deliver about 2.2 billion packages to homes and businesses across the U.S. from Thanksgiving to Dec. 31, said Satish Jindel, a shipping and logistics expert and president of ShipMatrix. White Florida woman sentenced to 25 years in prison for shooting Black neighbor in lengthy dispute A white Florida woman who fatally shot a Black neighbor through her front door during an ongoing dispute over the neighbor’s boisterous children was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison for her manslaughter conviction. Susan Lorincz, 60, was convicted in August of killing Ajike “A.J.” Owens, 35, by firing a single shot from her .380-caliber handgun in June 2023. She had faced a maximum of 30 years behind bars. Circuit Judge Robert Hodges opted for a slightly lesser term amid evidence that Lorincz had been abused as a child and had mental health problems. “The shooting was completely unnecessary in this case,” Hodges said during an afternoon hearing. “The shooting, I find, was based more in anger than in fear.” The shooting was the culmination of a long-running argument between the two neighbors over Owens’ children playing in a grassy area near both of their houses in Ocala, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northwest of Orlando. Prosecutors said Owens had come to Lorincz’s home after her children complained that she had thrown roller skates and an umbrella at them, which Lorincz denied. Trial testimony showed Owens, a mother of four young children, was pounding on Lorincz’s door and yelling, leading Lorincz to claim self-defense in shooting her neighbor. Judge in LA delays until January decision on resentencing Menendez brothers LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge on Monday delayed until January his decision on whether to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion 35 years ago, squashing their family’s hope the brothers would be released and home for the holidays. Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic said at the hearing in Los Angeles that he needed time to review 17 boxes of documents and give a new district attorney in Los Angeles County time to weigh in on the case. “I’m not ready to go forward,” Jesic said, setting the hearing for the resentencing request for Jan. 30 instead of Dec. 11 as originally planned. The brothers were scheduled to be seen in court for the first time in decades at the hearing but technical problems prevented them from appearing virtually from a San Diego prison. They were found guilty of murdering Jose and Kitty Menendez in 1989 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. While their defense attorneys argued at trial that they had been sexually abused by their father, prosecutors denied that and accused them of killing their parents for money. In the years that followed, they repeatedly appealed their convictions without success. Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to graphic cigarette warning labels WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won’t hear a challenge to a federal requirement that cigarette packages and advertising include graphic images demonstrating the effects of smoking. The high court declined to hear the case in a brief written order handed down Monday. Tobacco company R.J. Reynolds appealed to the high court after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the warnings do not violate the First Amendment. They include pictures of smoke-damaged lungs, feet blackened by diminished blood flow and a picture of a woman with a large growth on her neck and the caption “WARNING: Smoking causes head and neck cancer.” The company argued the final image, for example, was misleading because a patient would likely go to the doctor before a growth reached that size. Russia reportedly captures a Briton fighting for Ukraine as Russian troops advance Russia's military captured a British national fighting with Ukrainian troops who have occupied part of Russia's Kursk region, according to reports Monday, as Moscow began daylight drone attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine and its ground forces accelerated gains along parts of the front line. The Briton was identified by state news agency Tass and other media as James Scott Rhys Anderson. Tass quoted him as saying that he had served as a signalman in the British army for four years and then joined the International Legion of Ukraine, formed early on in Russia's nearly 3-year-old war against its neighbor. On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces are straining to hold at bay a push by Russia's bigger army at places in the eastern Donetsk region. Russian forces recently have gained ground at “a significantly quicker rate” than they did in the whole of last year, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank. The Russians have detected and are exploiting weaknesses in the Ukrainian defenses, it said in an analysis late Sunday. The war surpassed 1,000 days last week, and the milestone coincided with a significant escalation in hostilities. Judge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgender A judge on Monday rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she is transgender. The ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player, who has played all season, to compete in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship opening this week in Las Vegas. The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by nine current players against the Mountain West Conference challenging the league’s policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans woman volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not commented publicly on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player. Crews' ruling referred to the athlete as an “alleged transgender” player and noted that no defendant disputed that the San Jose State roster includes a transgender woman player. So you're gathering with relatives whose politics are different. Here are some tips for the holidays NEW YORK (AP) — There's no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. In the wake of the very contentious and divisive 2024 presidential election, the upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the winter holiday season could be a boon for some — a respite from the events of the larger world in the gathering of family and loved ones. Hours and even days spent with people who have played the largest roles in our lives. Another chapter in a lifetime of memories. That's one scenario. For others, that same period — particularly because of the polarizing presidential campaign — is something to dread. There is the likelihood of disagreements, harsh words, hurt feelings and raised voices looming large. Those who make a study of people and their relationships to each other in an increasingly complex 21st-century say there are choices that those with potentially fraught personal situations can make — things to do and things to avoid — that could help them and their families get through this time with a minimum of open conflict and a chance at getting to the point of the holidays in the first place.Blue Square X Expands Art Curation Services at Art Basel Miami
Caterpillar director Johnson acquires $39,857 in stock
Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus, is positioning Anduril Industries—his Southern California startup defense firm—as a challenger to military-industrial giants like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and General Dynamics. Anduril announced on Wednesday a strategic partnership with Sam Altman's OpenAI to develop and deploy advanced artificial intelligence for national security missions. " By bringing together OpenAI's advanced models with Anduril's high-performance defense systems and Lattice software platform, the partnership aims to improve the nation's defense systems that protect U.S. and allied military personnel from attacks by unmanned drones and other aerial devices ," the startup wrote in a statement. Introducing: Roadrunner, a compact VTOL drone powered by twin thrust-vectored turbojet engines with extraordinary speed, range, and payload capacity. & Roadrunner-M, a radical new low-cost weapon that allows for unprecedented tactics against powerful threats. pic.twitter.com/2C7Ga0h1Hf The war in Ukraine and the broadening conflicts across the Middle East have shocked military advisors in recent years due to the proliferation of aerial threats from both unmanned systems and manned platforms, which have had devastating impacts. We've all seen the shocking kamikaze drone footage posted on X, showing drones neutralizing commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden, as well as suicide drones hunting soldiers in Ukraine. Anduril and OpenAI's strategic partnership will focus on upgrading America's counter-unmanned aircraft systems "to detect, assess and respond potentially lethal aerial threats in real-time," according to the startup, adding, "As part of the new initiative, Anduril and OpenAI will explore how leading edge AI models can be leveraged to rapidly synthesize time-sensitive data, reduce the burden on human operators, and improve situational awareness." Anduril continued: The accelerating race between the United States and China to lead the world in advancing AI makes this a pivotal moment. If the United States cedes ground, we risk losing the technological edge that has underpinned our national security for decades. The decisions made now will determine whether the United States remains a leader in the 21st century or risks being outpaced by adversaries who don't share our commitment to freedom and democracy and would use AI to threaten other countries. Brian Schimpf, co-founder & CEO of Anduril, released this statement: "Anduril builds defense solutions that meet urgent operational needs for the US and allied militaries. Our partnership with OpenAI will allow us to utilize their world-class expertise in artificial intelligence to address urgent Air Defense capability gaps across the world. Together, we are committed to developing responsible solutions that enable military and intelligence operators to make faster, more accurate decisions in high-pressure situations." OpenAI's Altman said: "OpenAI builds AI to benefit as many people as possible, and supports US-led efforts to ensure the technology upholds democratic values. Our partnership with Anduril will help ensure OpenAI technology protects US military personnel, and will help the national security community understand and responsibly use this technology to keep our citizens safe and free." Luckey is leveraging his Silicon Valley background to disrupt the defense sector. And apparently, Altman is on board, too. Recall what President-elect Trump said in July.... Trump: "I will build an Iron Dome over our country." pic.twitter.com/jrhLmL1bdC ChatGPT missiles next?
West Ham surprise Newcastle with 2-0 away winMONTREAL — Canadian boxer Tammara Thibeault has signed with a company owned by boxing promoter and influencer Jake Paul ahead of her professional debut. Most Valuable Promotions, which boasts Puerto Rican boxer Amanda Serrano as one of its fighters, announced Friday it signed Thibeault. The 27-year-old from Shawinigan, Que., was scheduled for a bout Friday night in Orlando against fellow Canadian Natasha Spence (8-6-2, 6 KOs), ranked 10th among middleweight contenders by the World Boxing Association. Thibeault and Spence were set to make history as the first women to compete in three-minute rounds at the professional middleweight level. “I’m super happy, I’m really excited,” Thibeault said in a phone interview. “It’s the first time in history that this is happening in a professional debut, and it’s an honour to be part of history like this. For me, it’s the standard: I’ve been doing three-minute rounds for years.” Thibeault has represented Canada at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. She was a favourite in Paris after reaching the 75-kilogram quarterfinals in Tokyo, but suffered a surprise defeat in her first match, losing by split decision to Cindy Ngamba of the Olympic Refugee Team. That loss ended a three-year streak that included gold medals at the 2022 IBA World Amateur Championships, the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Pan American Games. Despite the unexpected setback in Paris, Thibeault’s negotiations with MVP were already well underway. “I’ve been negotiating with MVP for about a year. Regardless of the Olympic results, MVP was interested,” said her manager, Katia Banel. “I met (MVP’s Head of Boxing) Mike Leanardi a few months ago and again before making our decision. “Compared to other offers, whether from Matchroom or Boxxer, MVP’s initial offer was always the highest financially, and they presented it first. They offered something unparalleled: a huge signing bonus. Olympians without medals usually don’t have access to such bonuses. They also pay the highest purses in women’s boxing, even for four- or six-round fights. It’s unheard of. It’s like being paid for a 10-round fight.” MVP plans to make the most of its new protégé. Thibeault will fight at least four times a year over the three-year contract. “What’s great with MVP is that we can negotiate higher purses for each fight,” Banel said. “They’ve been very open to negotiating every clause.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Frédéric Daigle, The Canadian Press
None