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Irish civil servants compiled a list of “major leaks” they claimed originated from the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and Special Branch officers in the region, records show. The confidential briefing note is part of the tranche of documents made public in the annual release of State papers from the Irish National Archives. An Irish Department of Foreign Affairs official focusing on justice and security created the list in October 2002. The document starts by referencing a 1999 interview given by George Mitchell, the chairman of the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, in which he claimed the British and Irish governments, as well as Northern Ireland’s political parties, had leaked information to manipulate public opinion. However, he further accused the NIO of attempting to sabotage the process by leaking information on British Government policy to the media. Mr Mitchell, a former US senator, is said to have expressed alarm and anger over the frequency of leaks from the NIO – saying they were uniquely “designed to undermine the policy of the British Government of which they were a part”. The Irish civil servant notes Mr Mitchell himself was subjected to an attempted “smear” when he first arrived in Northern Ireland, as newspaper articles falsely claimed his chief of staff Martha Pope had had a liaison with Sinn Fein representative Gerry Kelly with ulterior motives. The Irish civil servant goes on to list several “leaks”, starting with the publication of a proposed deal in a newspaper while “intense negotiations” for the Downing Street Declaration were under way. Next, the Department lists two “high-profile and damaging leaks issued from the NIO”. A so-called “gameplan” document was leaked in February 1998, showing papers had been prepared weeks before the Drumcree march on July 6, 1997. In the preceding years, there had been standoffs and clashes as nationalists opposed the procession of an Orange parade down Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The gameplan document showed then secretary of state for Northern Ireland Mo Mowlam, who was publicly expressing a desire for a negotiated solution to the 1997 parade, advocated “finding the lowest common denominator for getting some Orange feet on the Garvaghy Road”. In 1997, a large number of security forces were deployed to the area to allow the march to proceed. The incident sparked heightened tension and a wave of rioting. The document further describes the release of a document submitted by the NIO’s director of communications to the secretary of state as a “second major leak”. It claims a publicity strategy was released to the DUP in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement and showed how the UK Government would support a yes vote in a referendum following any talks agreement. In addition, it is claimed unionists used leaked sections of the Patten report on policing to invalidate its findings ahead of its publication in 1999. The report recommended the replacement of the Royal Ulster Constabulary with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the changing of symbols, and a 50-50 recruitment policy for Catholics and Protestants. At the time, UUP leader David Trimble said the recommendations would lead to a corruption of policing in Northern Ireland. Chris Patten, chairman of the independent commission on policing, said some of the assertions were a “total fabrication” and designed to “muddy the waters” to create a difficult political atmosphere. Elsewhere, the author notes it was leaked to the media there was serious disagreement between the governments of the UK and Ireland on the composition of that commission – with not a single name submitted by the Irish side being accepted by the other. The author notes this incident, still under the heading “NIO leaks”, was believed by British officials to have emanated from the Irish side. The report turns to leaks of other origin, claiming “disgruntled Special Branch officers in Northern Ireland” were blamed by the British Government for a series of releases about the IRA which were designed to damage Sinn Fein in the 2001 general election in Northern Ireland. One senior Whitehall source was quoted in the Guardian as complaining that Special Branch was “leaking like a sieve” after details of an IRA intelligence database containing the names of leading Tories – described at the time as a “hit list” – was passed to the BBC in April 2002. The briefing note adds: “This was followed days later by a leak to The Sunday Telegraph which alleged that senior IRA commanders bought Russian special forces rifles in Moscow last year. “The newspaper said it was passed details by military intelligence in London.” The briefing note adds that other Special Branch leaks were associated with the Castlereagh break-in. The final incident in the document notes the Police Ombudsman’s Report on the Omagh bombing was also leaked to the press in December 2001. Then Northern Ireland secretary John Reid said at the time: “Leaks are never helpful and usually malicious – I will not be commenting on this report until I have seen the final version.” The reason for creating the list of leaks, which the Irish National Archives holds in a folder alongside briefing notes for ministers ahead of meetings with officials from the UK Government and NIO, is not outlined in the document itself. – This document is based on material in 2024/130/6.One of the biggest giants in all of sports took a tumble on Sunday, as the No. 1 South Carolina women's basketball team had its 43-game win streak snapped with a 77-62 upset loss to No. 5 UCLA. The loss dropped the Gamecocks to 5-1 this season, while the Bruins remained undefeated at 5-0 and could rise up the Top 25 following Sunday's monumental victory. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .
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20 Things From Target That’ll Organize Your Home To Within An Inch Of Its LifeAP Trending SummaryBrief at 10:31 p.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — If you're planning on ringing in the new year quietly at home, you're not alone. A majority of U.S adults intend to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research . “As I’ve gotten older over the last few years, it’s like if I don’t make it to midnight, it’s not a big deal, you know?” says Carla Woods, 70, from Vinton, Iowa. Nearly 2 in 10 will be celebrating at a friend or family member’s home, and just 5% plan to go out to celebrate at a bar, restaurant or organized event, the poll found. But many U.S. adults will celebrate the new year in a different way — by making a resolution. More than half say they'll make at least one resolution for 2025. There's some optimism about the year ahead, although more than half aren't expecting a positive change. About 4 in 10 say 2025 will be a better year for them personally. About one-third don’t expect much of a difference between 2024 and 2025, and about one-quarter think 2025 will be a worse year than 2024. Relaxed New Year's Eve plans for many Kourtney Kershaw, a 32-year-old bartender in Chicago, often fields questions from customers and friends about upcoming events for New Year's Eve. She said this year is trending toward low-key. “A majority of who I’ve spoken to in my age range, they want to go out, but they don’t know what they’re going to do because they haven’t found anything or things are just really expensive,” she said. “Party packages or an entry fee are like a turnoff, especially with the climate of the world and how much things cost.” As expected, younger people are more interested in ringing in the new year at a bar or organized event — about 1 in 10 U.S. adults under 30 say they plan to do that. But about 3 in 10 older adults — 60 and above — say they won’t celebrate the beginning of 2025 at all. Anthony Tremblay, 35, from Pittsburgh, doesn't usually go out to toast the arrival of the new year, but this year he's got something special cooked up: He and his wife will be traveling through Ireland. “I don’t do anything too crazy for New Year’s, usually. So this is definitely a change,” he said. “I wanted to do something unique this year, so I did.” Woods will be working New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. She answers calls on The Iowa Warmline, a confidential, noncrisis listening line for people struggling with mental health or substance use issues. “Holidays are really hard for people, so I don’t mind working,” she said. “I’m passionate about it because I have mental health issues in the family and so being able to help people is rewarding to me.” Younger Americans are more likely to make a resolution Every New Year's also triggers the eternal debate about resolutions. A majority of U.S. adults say they intend to make a New Year’s resolution of some type, but millennials and Gen Z are especially likely to be on board — about two-thirds expect to do so, compared to about half of older adults. Women are also more likely than men to say they will set a goal for 2025. Tremblay hopes to lose some weight and focus more on self-care — more sleep, meditation and breathing exercises. “It’s probably a good year to focus on mental health,” he said. Many others agree. About 3 in 10 adults choose resolutions involving exercise or eating healthier. About one-quarter said they'll make a resolution involving losing weight and a similar number said they'll resolve to make changes about priorities of money or mental health. Woods' resolutions are to stay social and active. As a mental health counselor, she knows those are key to a happy 2025 and beyond: “Probably one of my biggest resolutions is trying to make sure I stay social, try to get out at least once a week — get out and either have coffee or do something with a friend. That’s not only for the physical but also for the mental health part.” Kershaw, the bartender, says weight loss and better health are the top resolutions she hears people make. “Mental health is the new one, but I think it’s high up there as well as with regular health,” she said. She prefers more goal-oriented resolutions and, this time, it's to do more traveling and see more of the world: “I don’t know if that’s really a resolution, but that’s a goal that I’m setting.” And how will she welcome the arrival of 2025? Usually, she takes the night off and stays home watching movies with plenty of snacks, but this year Kershaw has a different plan, maybe one of the most Chicago things you can do. This die-hard sports fan will be at Wrigley Field on Tuesday watching the Chicago Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues. “Hockey’s my favorite sport. So I will be watching hockey and bringing in the new year,” she said. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. ___ Sanders reported from Washington. Mark Kennedy And Linley Sanders, The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — The Philadelphia Eagles have won eight straight games. A bettor at Circa Sports wagered $3 million that they will win their ninth straight Sunday over the Carolina Panthers. The gambler on Thursday placed a $3 million bet to win $428,000 on the Eagles on the money line (-700) over the Panthers. It is the biggest bet ever placed on a single game at the downtown Las Vegas sportsbook, Circa owner Derek Stevens told the Review-Journal. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
An exhibition at the Red Eight Gallery in London is immortalizing the greatest Shakespearean actors of our time through portraits that can blink, breathe and rattle off soliloquies. For hundreds of years, artists have captured the theater’s greatest actors through portraiture. The new show, titled “ The Shakespeare Portraits (Act I) ,” aims to update the practice by bringing the thespians to life using state-of-the-art technology. The show includes ten digital portraits of contemporary actors—including celebrities like Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen —reciting lines from various Shakespeare plays. However, the portraits are not just small films that play on loop. Artnet ’ s Richard Whiddington writes that they’re “not dissimilar from Harry Potter’s living portraits” that move and capture the subject's mannerisms. Michael Billington, a critic for the Guardian , writes that he was “struck by the intimacy of the experience.” “I sat beneath a large, framed image of Ian McKellen, and as I spoke to the exhibition’s creative director, Arsalan Sattari-Hicks , I realised that Sir Ian’s head was occasionally moving, that his gaze was subtly shifting and his features expressing a variety of emotions,” he adds. The portraits were made by StageBlock , a tech studio that creates new kinds of interactive art. The actors worked with the studio, “posing” for a camera and reciting their lines. Museumgoers can hear the speeches by pressing a button. Each of the ten actors infuses their own spin on their chosen Shakespeare text, giving viewers an up-close look at how they bring the Bard’s lines to life. “Ian McKellen delivers ‘all the world’s a stage’ from As You Like It , Derek Jacobi offers up Hamlet ’s ‘to be or not to be,’” writes Artnet . “ Harriet Walter turns to Prospero ’s ‘ Ye elves of hill ’ from The Tempest , David Suchet performs Macbeth ’s infamous lines on the futility of life ‘tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow’ (a role Suchet has never played).” StageBlock is hoping that viewers will not only see the novelty in the new pieces, but also treat them as lasting works of art that can be hung in galleries and sold to interested buyers. “It’s a bold, visionary new idea for the digital age, but I hope it won’t stifle the talent of the individual portraitist,” writes Billington of the Guardian . “I cherish the notion of, say, Salvador Dalí’s painting of Olivier as Richard III hanging on a gallery wall alongside the mesmerizing image of McKellen looking on at one in watchful fascination.” The tech company also plans to make an Act II of the show, which will feature a second round of Shakespearean actors in new digital portraits next year. “This collection is the culmination of profound collaborations with some of the most iconic actors of our time,” says Sattari-Hicks in a statement. “This is only the beginning, with many renowned home-grown and international talents already in line for future collections.” “ The Shakespeare Portraits (Act I) ” is on view at the Red Eight Gallery in London through January 10, 2025. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday. Julia Binswanger | READ MORE Julia Binswanger is a freelance arts and culture reporter based in Chicago. Her work has been featured in WBEZ, Chicago magazine, Rebellious magazine and PC magazine.Simmons Says: Alexander Ovechkin's chase of Great One an uncomfortable collision of sports and politics
BALTIMORE (AP) — Azmar Abdullah's 21 points off of the bench led Boston University to a 69-62 victory against Howard on Sunday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * BALTIMORE (AP) — Azmar Abdullah's 21 points off of the bench led Boston University to a 69-62 victory against Howard on Sunday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? BALTIMORE (AP) — Azmar Abdullah’s 21 points off of the bench led Boston University to a 69-62 victory against Howard on Sunday. Abdullah went 7 of 9 from the field (5 for 7 from 3-point range) for the Terriers (3-4). Kyrone Alexander added 10 points while going 2 of 9 from the floor, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and 4 for 4 from the line while they also had seven rebounds. Ben Palacios went 3 of 5 from the field (3 for 4 from 3-point range) to finish with nine points. Marcus Dockery finished with 17 points and two steals for the Bison (3-3). Blake Harper added 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals for Howard. Anwar Gill had 10 points and two steals. An 11-0 run in the first half gave Boston University a five-point lead. The teams entered the break with Boston University ahead 26-21, while Michael McNair led their club in scoring with eight points. Abdullah’s 18-point second half helped Boston University close out the seven-point victory. NEXT UP Boston University takes on Sacred Heart at home on Sunday, and Howard visits UMBC on Monday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Advertisement
CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — Jestin Porter had 26 points in Middle Tennessee's 95-88 win over South Florida on Friday. Porter shot 9 for 12 (4 for 6 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Blue Raiders (5-1). Essam Mostafa scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds. Kamari Lands shot 6 for 12, including 4 for 8 from beyond the arc to finish with 17 points. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
DETROIT (AP) — In the waning days of President Joe Biden's administration, the government's highway safety agency is proposing voluntary safety guidelines for self-driving vehicles. But a rule from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration putting the plan in place won't be approved before the end of Biden's term in January and likely will be left to whoever runs the agency under Republican Donald Trump. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whom Trump has named to co-lead a “Department of Government Efficiency” to cut costs and regulations, has floated the idea of him helping to develop safety standards for self-driving vehicles — even though the standards would affect Tesla's automated driving systems. At present there are no federal regulations that specifically govern autonomous vehicles, and any regulation is left to states. However, self-driving vehicles must meet broad federal safety standards that cover all passenger vehicles. Under the agency's proposal, released on Friday, automakers and autonomous vehicle companies could enroll in a program that would require safety plans and some data reporting for autonomous vehicles operating on public roads. To apply companies would have to have independent assessments of their automated vehicle safety processes, and there would be requirements to report crashes and other problems with the vehicles. Companies would have to give NHTSA information and data on the safety of the design, development and operations of the vehicles. The agency would decide whether to accept companies into the program. But auto safety advocates say the plan falls short of needed regulation for self-driving vehicles. For instance, it doesn't set specific performance standards set for the vehicles such as numbers and types of of sensors or whether the vehicles can see objects in low-visibility conditions, they said. “This is a big bunch of nothing,” said Missy Cummings, director of the autonomy and robotics center at George Mason University and a former safety adviser to NHTSA. “It’ll be more of a completely useless paperwork drill where the companies swear they’re doing the right thing.” Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, said one of the few good things about the plan is that companies will have to report data on crashes and other problems. There have been reports that the Trump administration may want to scrap a NHTSA order that now requires autonomous vehicle companies to report crashes to the agency so it can collect data. A message was left Friday seeking comment from the Trump transition team on crash reporting requirements. Brooks said the incoming administration probably will want to put out its own version of the guidelines. NHTSA will seek public comment on the plan for about 60 days, then the plan would have to wind its way through the federal regulatory process, which can take months or even years. “It is important that ADS (Automated Driving System) technology be deployed in a manner that protects the public from unreasonable safety risk while at the same time allowing for responsible development of this technology, which has the potential to advance safety,” the proposed rule says. The agency concedes that in the future, there may be a need for NHTSA to set minimum standards for self driving vehicle performance that are similar to mandatory safety standards that govern human-driven cars. But the agency says it now doesn't have data and metrics to support those standards. The voluntary plan would help gather those, the proposal said.BALTIMORE (AP) — Azmar Abdullah's 21 points off of the bench led Boston University to a 69-62 victory against Howard on Sunday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * BALTIMORE (AP) — Azmar Abdullah's 21 points off of the bench led Boston University to a 69-62 victory against Howard on Sunday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? BALTIMORE (AP) — Azmar Abdullah’s 21 points off of the bench led Boston University to a 69-62 victory against Howard on Sunday. Abdullah went 7 of 9 from the field (5 for 7 from 3-point range) for the Terriers (3-4). Kyrone Alexander added 10 points while going 2 of 9 from the floor, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and 4 for 4 from the line while they also had seven rebounds. Ben Palacios went 3 of 5 from the field (3 for 4 from 3-point range) to finish with nine points. Marcus Dockery finished with 17 points and two steals for the Bison (3-3). Blake Harper added 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals for Howard. Anwar Gill had 10 points and two steals. An 11-0 run in the first half gave Boston University a five-point lead. The teams entered the break with Boston University ahead 26-21, while Michael McNair led their club in scoring with eight points. Abdullah’s 18-point second half helped Boston University close out the seven-point victory. NEXT UP Boston University takes on Sacred Heart at home on Sunday, and Howard visits UMBC on Monday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Advertisement
Watch in Peace: Best Wireless Headphones for TV Lovers By Having the best wireless headphones for TV by your side is a great way to enjoy all your favorite movies and games wirelessly. It is also a great way to watch in peace without disturbing anyone around you. If you have a show that you want to binge-watch while your spouse reads or kids are in the next room, then wireless headphones are the way to go. Apart from that, it also creates a more immersive experience when compared to a speaker as you’re completely enveloped in audio owing to the noise-cancelation features that some headphones have. And especially with wireless headphones, you don’t have to deal with the cables either. Wireless headphones are also a great option for senior citizens or people who are hard of hearing. Since turning up the volume too much may be uncomfortable for others, so with a headphone, they can enjoy the movie just like the rest of the family does. In this article, we’ve listed some of the best wireless headphones to watch TV without disturbing others or getting disturbed by anyone else around you. Can Noise-canceling Headphones Be Used for TV? Yes, noise-canceling headphones can be used for watching TV as they significantly reduce ambient noise and help you focus on the movie or games you’re playing. Every house gets noisy at some point in the day and when it happens right when you’re watching something on TV, only a noise-canceling headphone can come to your rescue. The only thing that you have to consider is whether the headphones are compatible with your TV or not. Most modern TVs have Bluetooth enabled, which lets you connect the headphones to them seamlessly. If you have headphones and a TV with Bluetooth features, go for it. MORE FROM Best Wireless Headphones for TV 2024 BEST OVERALL Sennheiser RS 175 RF MOST COMFORTABLE Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Headphones BEST AFFORDABLE Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Headphones BEST WITH BASS JBL Tune 720BT Wireless Headphones BEST WITH CHARGING STAND Avantree Duet – Dual Wireless Headphones BEST LOW LATENCY Swiitech KH136K Wireless Headphones BEST LONG RANGE Shure AONIC 40 Wireless Headphones BEST OVERALL PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON The Sennheiser Consumer Audio RS 175 RF is an incredible wireless pair of headphones that gives you the best immersive experience. It has a high price tag but also includes some premium features like Bass Boost and surround sound capabilities. The headphones have an ergonomic design with comfortable earcups for long hours of use. You will also benefit from its battery life of up to 18 hours on a single charge — you can easily make it through Lord of the Rings Extended Cut. Additionally, it comes with a multi-purpose transmitter that transmits the audio from TV to headphones and also doubles as a charger. This is one of the best headphones for TV wireless or not. BEST COMFORTABLE PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON The Bose QuietComfort is one of the most comfortable headphones you can get. Its plush earcups are made from premium material that sits firmly on your ears without causing much pain. This headphone has an excellent noise-canceling feature that completely blocks the ambient noise to keep you focused. If you don’t like the noise-cancelation on, you can always switch to its Aware mode, which allows you to be aware of your surroundings. You even get the ability to manually adjust audio levels with its high-fidelity audio and EQ control. And with its 24-hour battery life, you can watch movies all day long without charging, literally. BEST AFFORDABLE PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON If you’re on a tight budget for a wireless headphone, then the Soundcore Anker Life Q20 is the best you can get. It features a customized 40mm dynamic driver at its core that delivers high-resolution and crystal-clear audio every single time. The Life Q20 also boasts a potent active noise-canceling (ANC) feature to isolate high-frequency audio to avoid any disturbances. Additionally, the ANC is also built into the microphone which will help you when you’re using it to attend calls on your phone. For music lovers, this headphone uses Soundcore’s BassUp technology to deliver a strong bass output and let you feel every beat of the music. BEST WITH BASS PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON JBL is a brand that is pretty much on everyone’s list in all things audio, and headphones like the JBL Tune 720BT make it clear exactly why. It is not only an affordable price range but also offers impeccable audio quality with long-lasting battery life. This one specifically features the JBL Pure Bass sound technology that engulfs your senses with the best bass effects in this price category. You can enjoy all your shows and movies on TV by effortlessly pairing and connecting the headphones to your TV via Bluetooth 5.3 version. MORE FROM BEST WITH CHARGING STAND PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON The Avantree Duet is the best TV headphones for seniors — it comes in pairs and is easy to use. It includes a transmitter that is paired automatically with the headphones, all you have to do is plug it into the TV and start playing. They have slightly higher volume levels compared to other ones in the range, which helps senior citizens enjoy their favorite movies even better. And that’s not it, even when it’s connected to the TV, it allows for the audio to pass through to the speakers. That way, everyone in the family can enjoy the TV together. What’s even better is that you can connect up to 100 compatible headphones without facing any audio lag. How cool is that? BEST LOW LATENCY PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON Nobody wants to hear delayed audio on their headphones, isn’t it? The Swiitech KH136K has one of the lowest latency headphones out there at $100. With a combination of Bluetooth 5.3 and advanced acoustic algorithms, the headphones can achieve a latency of just 40ms. Thanks to its 40mm large speaker graphene composite membrane, you get to experience crystal-clear audio at all times. Additionally, it comes with a base that can be used to dock the headphones and also as a charger. The base has an LED screen to display the connectivity status and the battery level of the headphones. It supports multiple connectivity methods including 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, allowing you to connect multiple devices at the same time. BEST LONG RANGE PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON The Shure AONIC 40 is a premium over-ear wireless Bluetooth headphone that delivers excellent sound quality and features a 40mm dynamic driver for clear, balanced audio. It offers active noise cancelation, reducing ambient noise for an immersive experience, with adjustable levels based on your environment. Bluetooth 5.0 ensures stable, high-quality wireless connectivity, and multipoint pairing allows connection to two devices at once. The headphones are designed for comfort with memory foam ear cups, making them suitable for long listening sessions. Durable and foldable for travel, the AONIC 40 is a top choice for those seeking premium audio and noise isolation. MORE FROM Using headphones with TV is totally the user’s preference depending on their immersive experience and comfortability. Some headphones are incredibly comfortable which enables you to wear them for a very long time, while others may cause discomfort. Additionally, they aren’t ideal for group viewing, as they prevent sharing the experience. For a more social experience, TV speakers or soundbars may be better, offering richer, room-filling sound without the isolation of headphones. These wireless headphones were chosen by our team of experts who have years of experience in the field. They scanned through the internet to shortlist over a dozen headphones that are compatible with TVs and tested them thoroughly. They tested them for factors like compatibility, ease of connectivity, audio quality, and other additional features. The team also consulted with other industry experts to understand their experience with these headphones. After a thorough research, they ended up with the above wireless headphones for TV. FAQ Using a headphone is definitely the solution to watching TV in isolation. Turning up the speaker’s or headphones’ volume could help you hear better. We recommend using headphones since they will not disturb anyone else around you when you play TV with high volume. Some headphones, like Avantree Duet, allow the audio to pass through to both headphones and speakers, allowing everyone in the room to watch and enjoy movies together. Yes, but ensure they have connectivity options like Bluetooth to connect them to the TV. If your headphones and LG TV have Bluetooth enabled, then yes, you can use them by pairing them. The best way to connect a headphone to a TV is via Bluetooth. You can pair them through the settings section, which will hardly take 2 minutes. Harsha is a gamer, movie buff, anime enthusiast, and creative writer. He spent most of his childhood playing games, and after all these years, he pretty much does the same; nothing’s changed. Being a huge Spider-Man fan as a kid, he spent an unhealthy amount of time trying to get bitten by a spider. As of 2024, he still has had no luck with receiving any superpowers. Now, as a Content Lead and Editor, he focuses his technical skills on writing about games, movies, superheroes, and everything in between. Share article
Simmons Says: Alexander Ovechkin's chase of Great One an uncomfortable collision of sports and politics
Irish civil servants compiled a list of “major leaks” they claimed originated from the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and Special Branch officers in the region, records show. The confidential briefing note is part of the tranche of documents made public in the annual release of State papers from the Irish National Archives. An Irish Department of Foreign Affairs official focusing on justice and security created the list in October 2002. The document starts by referencing a 1999 interview given by George Mitchell, the chairman of the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, in which he claimed the British and Irish governments, as well as Northern Ireland’s political parties, had leaked information to manipulate public opinion. However, he further accused the NIO of attempting to sabotage the process by leaking information on British Government policy to the media. Mr Mitchell, a former US senator, is said to have expressed alarm and anger over the frequency of leaks from the NIO – saying they were uniquely “designed to undermine the policy of the British Government of which they were a part”. The Irish civil servant notes Mr Mitchell himself was subjected to an attempted “smear” when he first arrived in Northern Ireland, as newspaper articles falsely claimed his chief of staff Martha Pope had had a liaison with Sinn Fein representative Gerry Kelly with ulterior motives. Next, the Department lists two “high-profile and damaging leaks issued from the NIO”. A so-called “gameplan” document was leaked in February 1998, showing papers had been prepared weeks before the Drumcree march on July 6, 1997. In the preceding years, there had been standoffs and clashes as nationalists opposed the procession of an Orange parade down Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The gameplan document showed then secretary of state for Northern Ireland Mo Mowlam, who was publicly expressing a desire for a negotiated solution to the 1997 parade, advocated “finding the lowest common denominator for getting some Orange feet on the Garvaghy Road”. In 1997, a large number of security forces were deployed to the area to allow the march to proceed. The incident sparked heightened tension and a wave of rioting. The document further describes the release of a document submitted by the NIO’s director of communications to the secretary of state as a “second major leak”. It claims a publicity strategy was released to the DUP in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement and showed how the UK Government would support a yes vote in a referendum following any talks agreement. In addition, it is claimed unionists used leaked sections of the Patten report on policing to invalidate its findings ahead of its publication in 1999. The report recommended the replacement of the Royal Ulster Constabulary with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the changing of symbols, and a 50-50 recruitment policy for Catholics and Protestants. At the time, UUP leader David Trimble said the recommendations would lead to a corruption of policing in Northern Ireland. Chris Patten, chairman of the independent commission on policing, said some of the assertions were a “total fabrication” and designed to “muddy the waters” to create a difficult political atmosphere. The author notes this incident, still under the heading “NIO leaks”, was believed by British officials to have emanated from the Irish side. The report turns to leaks of other origin, claiming “disgruntled Special Branch officers in Northern Ireland” were blamed by the British Government for a series of releases about the IRA which were designed to damage Sinn Fein in the 2001 general election in Northern Ireland. One senior Whitehall source was quoted in the Guardian as complaining that Special Branch was “leaking like a sieve” after details of an IRA intelligence database containing the names of leading Tories – described at the time as a “hit list” – was passed to the BBC in April 2002. The briefing note adds: “This was followed days later by a leak to The Sunday Telegraph which alleged that senior IRA commanders bought Russian special forces rifles in Moscow last year. “The newspaper said it was passed details by military intelligence in London.” The briefing note adds that other Special Branch leaks were associated with the Castlereagh break-in. The final incident in the document notes the Police Ombudsman’s Report on the Omagh bombing was also leaked to the press in December 2001. Then Northern Ireland secretary John Reid said at the time: “Leaks are never helpful and usually malicious – I will not be commenting on this report until I have seen the final version.” The reason for creating the list of leaks, which the Irish National Archives holds in a folder alongside briefing notes for ministers ahead of meetings with officials from the UK Government and NIO, is not outlined in the document itself. – This document is based on material in 2024/130/6.Julia Bradbury on lifestyle change and going teetotal after cancer diagnosisBeed, Dec 28 (PTI) Thousands of people gathered in Maharashtra's Beed city on Saturday to protest against the brutal murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh as even MLAs from the ruling coalition demanded the sacking of NCP minister Dhananjay Munde. Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, former MP Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati, local BJP MLAs Suresh Dhas, Abhimanyu Pawar; NCP MLA Prakash Solanke and NCP (SP) MLAs Jitendra Awhad and Sandeep Kshirsagar participated in the 'aakrosh morcha' or protest march that culminated in a rally. The protesters demanded arrest of Walmik Karad, an associate of Dhananjay Munde, a politician from Beed district. Santosh Deshmukh was allegedly abducted and tortured to death on December 9. While four persons have been arrested, Opposition leaders claimed in the state legislature during the winter session that Walmik Karad was the mastermind of the murder. Karad, named as an accused in a related case of extortion but not for the murder, is still at large. In a related development, social activist Anjali Damania on Saturday claimed that she received a call saying that three absconding accused in the case had been murdered. She shared the information with Beed Police, Damania added. Earlier this week, the activist had alleged that Dhananjay Munde and Karad were joint owners of a tract of land. At the rally in Beed, Vaibhavi Deshmukh, the daughter of the deceased sarpanch, demanded justice for her father. He lost his life while saving a person from the Dalit community, she said. Abhimanyu Pawar, who was an aide of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis before he became MLA from Ausa in neighbouring Latur district, said the pain caused by Deshmukh's murder was felt in different parts of Maharashtra. "Even if I am part of the (ruling) dispensation, I want to tell the government that if the accused are not arrested, protests will reach other parts of the state. We want justice for the family of Santosh Deshmukh," he said. BJP MLA Dhas alleged that Munde, the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, won assembly election from Parli in Beed district with the help of bogus votes. Notably, the Nationalist Congress Party to which Munde belongs is part of the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition. Prakash Solanke, an MLA from the NCP, said some of the accused were still at large even 19 days after the murder, and Walmik Karad too had not been arrested. Dhananjay Munde was the guardian minister of Beed for four of the last five years and until the accused are convicted, Munde should be dropped from the state cabinet so that there is an impartial probe, Solanke said. The Majalgaon constituency which he represents has collected Rs 40 lakh for the Deshmukh family, he informed. Quota activist Jarange said the Maratha community will not keep quiet till the deceased (who belonged to the Maratha community) got justice. "If CM Fadnavis does not want this protest to spread to other parts of the state, the accused should be arrested and action should be taken against those who are supporting them. There is suspicion that the government is shielding the accused," Jarange said. Beed MP Bajrang Sonawane, who belongs to the Opposition NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), also demanded Munde's dismissal from the cabinet. Sambhaji Raje, who is a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, demanded that Munde should not be made the guardian minister of Beed. Local Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders demanded resignations of both Dhananjay Munde and his cousin, BJP minister Pankaja Munde. According to police, Deshmukh was apparently killed after he opposed an extortion bid targeting an energy firm which is installing windmills in Beed district. Local NCP leader Vishnu Chate had allegedly demanded Rs 2 crore from the company. Deshmukh tried to intervene, leading to his abduction, torture and death. Chate is among the four arrested accused. Dhananjay Munde, who met chief minister Fadnavis earlier this week, had told reporters that he wanted strict action against all the culprits in the murder case, even if any of them were found to be close to him. But the allegations against him were part of a conspiracy to finish off his political career, he had claimed. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)