Report: Chargers expect WR Ladd McConkey, LB Khalil Mack to play vs. Ravens
Americans more hopeful about 2025 than they were for 2024 — CBS News pollZomato CEO Deepinder Goyal with Rs 15300 crore net worth is at second place on...The Biden administration is beginning to retaliate against China for its sweeping hack of U.S. telecommunications companies earlier this year. Last week the Commerce Department issued a notice to China Telecom Americas, the U.S. subsidiary of one of China's largest communications firms, alleging in a preliminary finding that its presence in American telecom networks and cloud services poses a national security risk. The company has 30 days to respond, although the Commerce Department has not said what action it plans to take next. The New York Times was the first to report the action, which is a direct response to China's infiltration of telecom networks earlier this year. The China-backed hacking group known as Salt Typhoon penetrated the networks of numerous companies including Verizon, AT&T and Lumen Technologies, a U.S. official familiar with the matter told to CBS News in October . It's unclear what the impact on China Telecom would be, since the FCC has already limited China Telecom Americas' ability to operate in U.S. communications infrastructure. In October 2021, the FCC revoked its license to provide phone services in the US. The FCC found that China Telecom "is subject to exploitation, influence, and control by the Chinese government and is highly likely to be forced to comply with Chinese government requests without sufficient legal procedures subject to independent judicial oversight." China Telecom Americas has not responded to requests for comment. U.S. law enforcement and intelligence officials are continuing to try to learn more about the scope of the hack, which targeted U.S. surveillance capabilities used for operations including wiretaps. U.S. intelligence officials routinely seek court authorization to use telecom systems like those targeted in the breach to collect information for law enforcement or national security probes. One fear is that the cyberattacks could have allowed the hackers to access information about ongoing U.S. investigations — including those tied to China — through the collection of sensitive data and techniques. China's incursions into U.S. critical infrastructure — including water treatment plants and the electrical grid — have lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the incoming Trump administration warning of a more aggressive retaliatory posture going forward. Rep. Mike Waltz, designated by President-elect Trump to be national security adviser, told Margaret Brennan on "Face the Nation" Sunday, "We need to start going on offense and start imposing, I think, higher costs and consequences to private actors and nation state actors that continue to steal our data, that continue to spy on us." Last month, Rep. Jim Himes, Democrat of Connecticut and the ranking on the House Intelligence Committee, issued a similar warning. "We're not just going to name and shame," he said on "Face the Nation." "We are going to go into their networks and give as good as we got." Security Hacker China
Detroit-area library says Chicago man can keep overdue baseball book — 50 years later
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey, listed as questionable due to a shoulder issue, is expected to play Monday night against the visiting Baltimore Ravens, NFL Network reported. McConkey missed practice on Thursday and was limited on Friday and Saturday. Star linebacker Khalil Mack, who was questionable because of a groin injury and was a limited participant, also is expected to play, according to the report. The Chargers (7-3) made several moves Monday ahead of the game against the Ravens (7-4), placing tight end Hayden Hurst (hip) on injured reserve, activating cornerback Deane Leonard (hamstring) off IR, signing cornerback Eli Apple from the practice to the active squad, and elevating linebacker Caleb Murphy and safety Tony Jefferson for game day. McConkey, 23, has started nine of 10 games and has 43 receptions on 63 targets for 615 yards and four touchdowns. The Chargers drafted the 6-foot, 185-pound McConkey in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Georgia. Mack, 33, is a three-time first-team All-Pro, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He has started the nine games he has played and has 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season. For his career, Mack has 617 tackles, 106 sacks, 141 tackles for loss, 178 quarterback hits, three interceptions -- two returned for touchdowns -- 32 forced fumbles and 13 fumble recoveries in 160 games (159 starts). He has played for the Raiders (2014-17), Chicago Bears (2018-21) and Chargers. Hurst, 31, has started two of seven games in his first season with the Chargers. He has seven receptions on 12 targets for 65 yards. A first-round pick (25th overall) by Baltimore in the 2018 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, Hurst has 202 receptions for 1,967 yards and 15 TDs in 86 games (41 starts) for the Ravens (2018-19), Atlanta Falcons (2020-21), Cincinnati Bengals (2022), Carolina Panthers (2023) and Chargers. Apple, 29, has two tackles in three games this season, his first with the Chargers. The 10th overall selection in the 2016 draft, Apple has 383 career tackles and six interceptions in 101 games (82 starts) for the New York Giants (2016-18), New Orleans Saints (2018-19), Panthers (2020), Bengals (2021-22), Miami Dolphins (2023) and Chargers. Leonard, who turned 25 last Tuesday, has four tackles in four games this season. His 21-day practice window on IR opened Wednesday. --Field Level Media
Apple is reportedly working on a smart doorbell with Face ID-like facial recognition. The device is still in its early development stages and is unlikely to reach the market before late 2025 at the earliest. This timeline presumes Apple encounters no significant obstacles during the development. Apple has largely stayed away from the smart home market. It met with modest success with its second try in the smart speaker market with the HomePod mini. Otherwise, the company’s presence is almost negligible in this segment. However, this could change in 2025, with reports suggesting Apple is working on several smart home devices. The most widely reported is a that will supposedly pack a 7-inch display. There are rumors . But that’s not all. ‘s Mark Gurman, in the latest edition of his , claims the Cupertino giant is working on a smart Ring doorbell competitor. The device will seemingly feature Face ID-like authentication, enabling it to unlock the door once it identifies you. It will supposedly wirelessly connect to a deadbolt lock. Presumably, the doorbell will also tightly integrate with Apple’s HomeKit platform for smart home automation. The report speculates Apple could team up with a lock maker and launch a full system that is ready to use from day one outside of the box. Alternatively, the company could sell the technology to one of its accessory partners, Belkin or Logitech, with which it works closely. Long wait ahead for Apple’s smart home doorbell Apple is in the initial stages of development with its smart home doorbell. In a best-case scenario, the report claims the device may debut by late 2025. But the company is likely to run into some challenges, which could potentially affect the doorbell’s launch timeframe.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. Monday’s ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player, who has played all season, to continue competing in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship scheduled for later this week in Las Vegas. The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed by nine current players who are suing the Mountain West Conference to challenge 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 women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player. Judge Crews referred to the athlete as an “alleged transgender” player in his ruling and noted that no defendant disputed that San Jose State rosters a transgender woman volleyball player. He said the players who filed the complaint could have sought relief much earlier, noting that the individual universities had acknowledged that not playing their games against San Jose State this season would result in a forfeit in league standings. He also said injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo. The conference policy regarding forfeiting for refusing to play against a team with a transgender player had been in effect since 2022 and the San Jose State player has been on the roster since 2022 – making that the status quo. The player competed at the college level three previous seasons, including two for San Jose State, drawing little attention. This season’s awareness of her identity led to an uproar among some players, pundits, parents and politicians in a political campaign year. The tournament starts Wednesday and continues Friday and Saturday. San Jose State is seeded second. The judge's order maintains the seedings and pairings for the tournament. Several teams refused to play against San Jose State during the season, earning losses in the official standings. Boise State and Wyoming each had two forfeits while Utah State and Nevada both had one. Southern Utah, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, was first to cancel against San Jose State this year. Nevada’s players stated they “refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” without providing further details. Crews served as a magistrate judge in Colorado’s U.S. District Court for more than five years before President Joe Biden appointed him to serve as a federal judge in January of this year. Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Hanson from Helena, Montana.
Nostalgia on the menu: Sydney’s famed fish market serving up its last Christmas catchTRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over New Jersey and across the eastern U.S., sparking speculation and concern over where they came from and why. The FBI, the Homeland Security Department and state agencies have been investigating, but officials say there has been nothing so far to suggest that any drones have posed a national security or public safety threat. In fact, authorities say, many of the drone sightings have actually been legal drones, manned aircraft, helicopters and even stars. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Social media users attack Victoria Kjær Theilvig for posting a video of herself apparently miming along to Jay Z’s Empire State of Mind . The winner of Miss Universe 2024 has been criticised for appearing to lip-sync the N-word at the top of the Empire State Building . Victoria Kjær Theilvig, who was lauded by Republicans as the “anti-woke winner” when she was crowned, has been attacked by social media users for posting a video of herself where she is apparently miming along to Jay Z’s Empire State of Mind . The song features a racial slur which the 21-year-old lip-synced but did not appear to say out loud while filming herself at the top of New York’s Empire State Building, wearing her Miss Universe sash and crown. In the windswept video, Theilvig appears to sing along to rapper Jay Z’s line: “N**** I be striped out, I could trip a referee, tell by my attitude that I’m most definitely from New York.”OTTAWA - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will not support a Liberal plan to give Canadians a GST holiday and $250 unless the government expands eligibility for the cheques, saying the rebate leaves out “the most vulnerable.” The Liberals announced a plan last week to cut the federal sales tax on a raft of items like toys and restaurant meals for two months, and to give $250 to more than 18.7 million Canadians in the spring. Speaking after a Canadian Labour Congress event in Ottawa, Singh says he’s open to passing the GST legislation, but the rebate needs to include seniors, students, people who are on disability benefits and those who were not able to work last year. Singh says he initially supported the idea because he thought the rebate cheques would go to anyone who earned under $150,000 last year. But the so-called working Canadians rebate will be sent to those who had an income, leaving out people Singh says need the help. The government intends to include the measures in the fall economic statement, which has not yet been introduced in the House of Commons. The proposed GST holiday would begin in mid-December, lasting for two months. It would remove the GST on prepared foods at grocery stores, some alcoholic drinks, children’s clothes and toys, Christmas trees, restaurant meals, books, video games and physical newspapers. A privilege debate has held up all government business in the House since late September, with the Conservatives pledging to continue a filibuster until the government hands over unredacted documents related to misspending at a green technology fund. The NDP said last week they had agreed to pause the privilege debate in order to pass the legislation to usher in the GST holiday. Singh said Tuesday that unless there are changes to the proposed legislation, he will not support pausing the debate. The Bloc Québécois is also pushing for the rebates to be sent to seniors and retirees. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024.
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Quantum computing stocks have emerged as one of 2024's hottest investment themes, with the Defiance Quantum ETF ( QTUM 4.63% ) soaring 49.4% year to date, nearly doubling the S&P 500 's robust 24.3% gain. While widespread commercial quantum computers might take years to develop, major technological breakthroughs have sparked an early rush into what many see as the next computing revolution. The excitement isn't just speculative hype. Quantum computing achieved two groundbreaking milestones in 2024, suggesting we're approaching a technological tipping point. Alphabet ( GOOG 1.72% ) ( GOOGL 1.54% ) made history with its Willow quantum computing system, which demonstrated the ability to reduce errors as the number of qubits increases exponentially. This breakthrough solves a challenge that has stumped researchers for nearly 30 years. Even more impressively, Willow completed a benchmark computation in under five minutes that would require today's fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years to solve -- a timespan far greater than the universe's age. Meanwhile, quantum computing start-up Infleqtion, working with Nvidia ( NVDA 3.08% ) , achieved another first by demonstrating a practical materials science application using logical qubits. This breakthrough, which delivered a 6x boost in computational accuracy, hints at quantum computing's potential to revolutionize everything from battery technology to superconductors. While quantum computing remains in its infancy, these early breakthroughs, spurred by tech giants Alphabet and Nvidia, suggest we might be at the dawn of a computing revolution. Two companies are pioneering this transformative technology that could supercharge your portfolio in 2025 and beyond. Industry leadership through quantum execution Trapped-ion quantum computing leader IonQ ( IONQ 17.64% ) has emerged as one of 2024's standout quantum computing stocks. The company's novel approach uses ionized atoms as the heart of its quantum systems, enabling longer and more sophisticated calculations with fewer errors than competing approaches. IonQ's platform integrates with all major cloud providers and supports multiple programming languages, making quantum computing highly accessible to developers and researchers. The company's competitive advantages come from deep academic roots in ion trap technology spanning over 25 years of research and proven commercial traction through government and enterprise partnerships. IonQ has also expanded into quantum networking, working at the intersection of quantum computing and the future quantum internet. However, despite IonQ's impressive 258.5% stock gain in 2024, the company remains unprofitable and faces significant technological and commercialization risks. The quantum computing industry is still in its early stages, with uncertain timelines for achieving practical advantages over classical computers. Competition from tech giants and other quantum start-ups and the potential for technological obsolescence represent key risks to IonQ's market position. While IonQ's valuation may seem steep after its stellar 2024 run, with shares trading at nearly 250 times trailing sales, the company's growing commercial momentum, expanding quantum networking business, and strong balance sheet of $382.8 million at the end of the most recent quarter put it in pole position to capture a significant share of what could become a multitrillion-dollar quantum computing market. For investors with a high risk tolerance and a long-term horizon, IonQ offers pure-play exposure to one of technology's most promising frontiers. Industry leadership through superconducting innovation Quantum computing pioneer Rigetti Computing ( RGTI 25.43% ) takes a fundamentally different approach to quantum computing than IonQ, using superconducting circuits instead of trapped ions. The company's vertically integrated strategy includes Fab-1, the industry's first dedicated quantum foundry, giving Rigetti control over the entire quantum chip development process. This in-house manufacturing capability allows for rapid innovation cycles and helps protect against supply chain risks. The company's latest Ankaa quantum processor architecture has achieved 98% two-qubit gate fidelity, marking significant progress in quantum performance. Rigetti's strategy focuses heavily on scalability through a modular chip design that allows larger quantum systems to be built from smaller, identical components. The company has also built strong partnerships across government, research, and commercial sectors. However, like other quantum companies, Rigetti faces major technological hurdles and remains unprofitable. The stock's 851.2% surge in 2024 and valuation at 130 times sales indicate investors are pricing in significant future growth potential. Still, with its integrated manufacturing approach, improving quantum performance metrics, and clear technology roadmap through 2025, Rigetti offers an intriguing pure-play option for investors seeking exposure to superconducting quantum computing technology. The quantum investing strategy: Pure plays versus tech giants While tech giants like Alphabet and Nvidia have made significant strides in quantum computing, their massive market capitalizations mean quantum breakthroughs will likely have minimal impact on their stock prices. Pure-play quantum companies like IonQ and Rigetti offer more direct exposure to the technology's potential, though with considerably higher risk. Each represents a different technological approach -- trapped ions versus superconducting circuits -- and both could emerge as winners in what may become a massive new computing market. Given quantum computing's early stage and technical complexity, however, many investors may prefer a more diversified approach. The Defiance Quantum ETF offers exactly that, balancing pure-play quantum stocks with established tech leaders advancing the technology . With quantum computing potentially approaching an inflection point, investors now have multiple ways to position themselves for what could become one of the most transformative technologies of our time.