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Prince Harry opened up about his late mother Diana , the Princess of Wales, in a heartbreaking speech at a key summit where Bill Clinton, Serena Williams and Jeff Bezos were also among the guest speakers. The Duke of Sussex attended the DealBook summit in New York, a high profile annual gathering of political, business and cultural leaders, on Thursday, in his latest solo engagement without his wife Meghan Markle . Taking to the stage for an interview with New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, the prince shared gut-wrenching details about his experience with the media after the death of his mother in 1997. He was asked about his "battles" with the press by Mr Sorkin, and in a passionate speech, he said: "I’ve had a lived experience since I was a kid. "I’ve seen stories written about myself that aren’t exactly based on reality. I’ve seen stories about members of my family, friends, strangers, all sorts of people." He added that he found himself "questioning the validity" of information he saw in the press, adding that he started a "war" with the industry after Diana died in a car crash aged just 36 - four years younger than the Duke is now. He said: “I was fighting myself. When you’re kind of trapped within this bubble it kind of feels like there’s no way out." He added that he felt "helpless" after the tragic incident, and battled an "inner turmoil" from a very young age. He also answered questions on a variety of topics, including a discussion about banning social media for children - something Harry himself is against, as it could lead to school bullying and family arguements. But he highlighted the need to keep children safe, and the importance of safeguarding. Elsewhere in the summit, Bill Clinton discussed Joe Biden and the reason behind Kamala Harris ' nightmare US Election loss - the fact that she was a "stranger" to the electorate, coupled with her predecessor's unpopularity. He said: “It was almost impossible to think she could win if the president has an approval rating of under 40 per cent. "I think she would have been a good president.”
Ati Inc's SVP sells $155,918 in stockECU CB Shavon Revel Jr. declares for NFL draft
If the first wave of the current AI deluge created complicated challenges, the second wave has often been about using AI to solve those challenges. ChatGPT and its ripple effect have cast “humanness” into doubt – and now we have World ID to verify who counts as human. Bots begat bot detection; so did GenAI deepfakes beget . If it all feels a bit cyclical and cyclonic – if you’d rather just hide behind a mask – lo and behold, AI has the answer. Chameleon is a new AI model that generates a virtual “personalized privacy protection” mask, or P-3 mask, to protect against facial recognition. “Chameleon learns the facial signature of the user (protectee) to generate a P3-Mask, which can be applied to protect any facial images before sharing them online against unauthorized FR,” says from the University of Hong Kong and the Georgia Institute of Technology. The paper describes the process as follows: “First, we use a cross-image optimization to generate one P3-Mask for each user instead of tailoring facial perturbation for each facial image of a user. It enables efficient and instant protection even for users with limited computing resources. Second, we incorporate a perceptibility optimization to preserve the visual quality of the protected facial images. Third, we strengthen the robustness of P3-Mask against unknown FR models by integrating focal diversity-optimized ensemble learning into the mask generation process.” In effect, what this means is that Chameleon tricks scanners to think a photo of someone is of somebody else. Cross-image optimization makes the mask fast and adaptable, while image optimization protects the quality of the facial image. The ensemble learning piece uses AI to improve the algorithm’s accuracy when it encounters new facial recognition models. And it works: “extensive experiments on two benchmark datasets show that Chameleon outperforms three state-of-the-art methods with instant protection and minimal degradation of image quality.” The researchers, who intend to post Chameleon’s code publicly on GitHub, believe the tool can be useful protection against data scraping – harvesting face data from the public Internet for massive training datasets without users consent. They explicitly call out and as firms that “have collected billions of online images and can recognize millions of citizens without their consent.” While masking tools exist, they often leave clear artifacts or other distortions. By preserving image quality, Chameleon makes it possible to put an invisible mask over an image before posting it to , for instance, or to apply it to a headshot required for promotional purposes. firms, however, need not worry: the tool allows users to grant trusted third parties access to their P3-Mask to de-obfuscate the protected image. | | | |One day before Texas and Georgia face off in the Southeastern Conference championship game, the Longhorns earned a surprising victory over the Bulldogs on the recruiting trail. Justus Terry, a defensive lineman from Manchester, Georgia, announced Friday he would be leaving his home state to play for Texas next year. Terry, who also was considering Georgia and Auburn, had been the nation’s top remaining uncommitted 2025 prospect. The addition of Terry gives Texas the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. “We’re super pumped about this recruiting class,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday, before Terry had announced his decision. “This is a very talented group of players that I think not only fit the physical characteristics of what we’re looking for by position in our program, but I think meet the character and are going to fit nicely into our culture.” Although there will be an additional signing period in February, 247Sports officials said Texas should maintain its No. 1 standing. The overwhelming majority of Power Four recruits already finalized their college plans this week. The top 11 classes as of Friday afternoon include eight Southeastern Conference schools and three Big Ten programs. Alabama is second, with Georgia third, Oregon fourth and Ohio State fifth. Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M, Michigan and Tennessee round out the top 10. Florida is 11th. The highest-rated recruiting classes outside the SEC and Big Ten are Notre Dame at No. 12 and Miami at No. 14. Terry is the nation’s No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 10 overall prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite. His decision gives Texas nine of the 247Sports Composite’s top 66 prospects. Texas’ other recruits rated 66th or better include safety Jonah Williams (No. 8), wide receivers Kaliq Lockett (No. 22) and Jamie Ffrench (No. 32), defensive lineman Lance Jackson (No. 25), all-purpose athlete Michael Terry III (No. 43), cornerbacks Kade Phillips (No. 54) and Graceson Littleton (No. 65), and linebacker Elijah Barnes (No. 66). “I think it’s a really versatile class with a variety of positions, highlighted by high-level players,” Sarkisian said. “As always, we really pride ourselves on recruiting the high school ranks. We think when we can get players in here young, then immerse them into our culture, into our off-season conditioning program, develop them as we go throughout their career, that’s when we really reap the benefits of having these guys in our program. This class is no different.” With the early signing period concluding Friday, the focus on college roster construction now turns to transfers. The transfer portal window officially opens Monday, though numerous college players already went to social media this week to announce their intentions to transfer. The early signing period was moved up a few weeks this year so that high school seniors could get their decisions out of the way before the opening of the transfer portal window. This marked the first signing period since the demise of the national letters of intent that prospects had sent in the past after signing with their respective schools. Athletes now are signing their names to a financial aid agreement that can include name, image and likeness agreements along with the standard tuition and room and board details. 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-football
American actor John Stamos is thanking two Chilliwack drummers after he called on them to help him perfect a drum solo for a Beach Boys concert. Brandon Toews and Dylan Weightman of Chilliwack were down in Los Angeles collaborating with the famous actor and musician as he prepared for an upcoming performance. Stamos, lovingly known as Uncle Jesse from sitcom Full House, has been playing with the Beach Boys for 40 years. He said he wanted to rediscover his love of drumming and needed help with a new solo, so he contacted Drumeo, an Abbotsford-based music school where Toews is the content director and Weightman the vice president. But it wasn’t just a drum lesson, it was a video project as well. “Today we released one of the coolest videos we’ve ever worked on at Drumeo,” Toews wrote on social media on Nov. 29. “I’ve gotten to know John Stamos over the last year and after sending some videos back and forth, we decided it was time to work on a new video together.” Weightman and fellow Drumeo teammate Brandon Scott developed the video concept and brought it to life, Toews said. In Drumeo’s 25-minute YouTube video called ‘John Stamos learns a drum solo in 10 days,’ Toews is seen working with Stamos on the drums and breaking down what makes a great solo. Near the end of the video, Stamos pounds out a minute-long drum solo at the Beach Boys concert that Toews called a 10 out of 10. Stamos “crushed it,” Toews said. “This was an absolute dream project collaborating with John Stamos to tell the story of evolving his Beach Boys drum solo in tribute of (late Foo Fighters drummer) Taylor Hawkins," Weightman wrote on social media. Weightman called Stamos talented, generous and handsome. “It was cool just to work with John – the fact that he’s a wonderful human being was a total bonus,” Weightman said. Stamos returned the compliments “Back at ya, Dylan. Total pleasure. You’re extremely helpful and very talented good man. And I absolutely love the video.” At the end of the video, Stamos pulls Toews up on stage to play a few songs with the Beach Boys, which Toews was not expecting. "John's a beast, man. What an incredible solo and, as a teacher, how cool to see your student go up there and just destroy a drum solo like that," Toews said. "Well done, John. You're an animal."Community legal centres turned away almost 400,000 people seeking legal advice because of funding shortfalls, including thousands experiencing domestic violence. or signup to continue reading Community Legal Centres Australia will release its annual state of the sector report at Parliament House on Thursday. Shocking findings include at least 3000 people impacted by domestic violence being declined help each week. More than 190,000 people were assisted by community legal centres in the past year. The 2023/24 year report found domestic and family violence legal support was the single largest area of need, making up to 50 per cent of the sector's work. Community legal staff travelled more than 1.2 million kilometres to reach and help people in regional and remote areas. The sector provides free legal and related help for victim-survivors of family violence, people experiencing homelessness, and parents resolving family law matters, among other vulnerable groups. Samantha Schulte, who turned to a community legal centre for help, said she never thought she would need to reach out for domestic violence support. "I was a shell of a person when I made it to Caxton Legal Centre. They believed and validated me and gave me all the support I needed over five years to find safety and resolve serious legal issues," she said. Community Legal Centres Australia chief executive Tim Leach said the nation's 165 services continued to play a vital role in preventing and resolving legal issues and crises. "The (report) shows us that even with additional investment this year, legal need in the community will still far exceed the capacity of community legal services," he said. "For the past two years, our sector has been forced to turn away over 1000 people in crisis every day. 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Byhre went 6 of 9 from the field (3 for 4 from 3-point range) for the Tommies (9-4). Ryan Lafferty scored 13 points and added 13 rebounds and six assists. Jermaine Coleman shot 5 for 8, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points. The Polars were led by Rayquan Moore, who posted 23 points. Tyrus Buckner added 13 points and seven rebounds for Crown (MN). Parker Behne also put up eight points. St. Thomas visits Bowling Green in its next matchup on Saturday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Trio leads UIC to 77-69 victory over Little Rock in OTNoneAmerican actor John Stamos is thanking two Chilliwack drummers after he called on them to help him perfect a drum solo for a Beach Boys concert. Brandon Toews and Dylan Weightman of Chilliwack were down in Los Angeles collaborating with the famous actor and musician as he prepared for an upcoming performance. Stamos, lovingly known as Uncle Jesse from sitcom Full House, has been playing with the Beach Boys for 40 years. He said he wanted to rediscover his love of drumming and needed help with a new solo, so he contacted Drumeo, an Abbotsford-based music school where Toews is the content director and Weightman the vice president. But it wasn’t just a drum lesson, it was a video project as well. “Today we released one of the coolest videos we’ve ever worked on at Drumeo,” Toews wrote on social media on Nov. 29. “I’ve gotten to know John Stamos over the last year and after sending some videos back and forth, we decided it was time to work on a new video together.” Weightman and fellow Drumeo teammate Brandon Scott developed the video concept and brought it to life, Toews said. In Drumeo’s 25-minute YouTube video called ‘John Stamos learns a drum solo in 10 days,’ Toews is seen working with Stamos on the drums and breaking down what makes a great solo. Near the end of the video, Stamos pounds out a minute-long drum solo at the Beach Boys concert that Toews called a 10 out of 10. Stamos “crushed it,” Toews said. “This was an absolute dream project collaborating with John Stamos to tell the story of evolving his Beach Boys drum solo in tribute of (late Foo Fighters drummer) Taylor Hawkins," Weightman wrote on social media. Weightman called Stamos talented, generous and handsome. “It was cool just to work with John – the fact that he’s a wonderful human being was a total bonus,” Weightman said. Stamos returned the compliments “Back at ya, Dylan. Total pleasure. You’re extremely helpful and very talented good man. And I absolutely love the video.” At the end of the video, Stamos pulls Toews up on stage to play a few songs with the Beach Boys, which Toews was not expecting. "John's a beast, man. What an incredible solo and, as a teacher, how cool to see your student go up there and just destroy a drum solo like that," Toews said. "Well done, John. You're an animal."
By Anna Helhoski, NerdWallet The battle to get here was certainly an uphill one, but people are generally feeling better about the economy and their finances than they once did. On top of that, the economy has been easing into an ideal, Goldilocks-like position — not running too hot or cooling too quickly. Throughout 2024, consumer sentiment data showed people were fairly positive about the economy and their own finances, even if there’s remaining frustration over elevated prices compared to four years ago. Looking ahead, households are feeling more optimistic about their personal finances in the next year, as the share of those expecting to be in a better financial situation a year from now hit its highest level since February 2020. Combine positive personal vibes with a strong economic picture and it looks like 2024 wasn’t so bad for consumers, after all. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t bumps in the road or potential roadblocks ahead. To cap off the year, NerdWallet writers reflect on the top trends in personal finance and the economy this year — and what they think might be ahead in 2025. Elizabeth Renter, NerdWallet’s economist What happened: In 2024, U.S. consumers have proven resilient following a period of high inflation and ongoing high interest rates. Wage growth has been strong, owing in part to rising productivity. This has driven robust spending throughout the year, which has kept the economy growing at a healthy pace. The labor market has remained steady, though cooler than 2023, and price growth continues to moderate towards the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation goal. What’s ahead: Barring significant changes to economic policy and significant shocks, the U.S. economy is expected to grow at a moderate rate in the coming year. Inflation will continue to moderate and the labor market will remain relatively healthy, all due in part to continued slow and deliberate rate cuts from the Fed. However, there are risks to this path. Higher tariffs and tighter immigration policies are likely, but the extent of these changes are yet unclear. The potential policy scenarios are many, and the economic outcomes complex. Increased tariffs are generally inflationary, and stricter immigration policies could impact the labor supply and economic growth. Consumers and small business owners with their eyes to the new year should focus on the things within their control. Margarette Burnette, consumer banking and savings writer What happened: High-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit offered elevated rates in 2024, rewarding savers with strong returns. Following the Federal Reserve rate cuts in the second half of the year, high-yield accounts had modest rate decreases, but they continued to outperform traditional savings accounts and CDs. What’s ahead: We’re watching for further Federal Reserve rate cuts, which could lead to more decreases in savings rates. Sara Rathner, credit cards writer What happened: Credit card debt levels hit record highs, with consumers turning to credit cards to pay for necessities. While the economy is doing well, many individuals have struggled to make ends meet, as incomes haven’t kept up with certain costs. What’s ahead: We may see some policy and regulation changes with the incoming administration that could affect folks when it comes to credit cards, debt and consumer protections. Ryan Brady, small business writer What happened : New businesses continued to blossom in 2024 as business applications remained well above pre-pandemic levels. Confidence in the future state of the U.S. economy also spiked after the presidential election, but that optimism was tempered by concerns over rising costs and labor quality. What’s ahead: All eyes are on the incoming administration as small-business owners brace for turbulence resulting from potential tariffs, tax policy changes and dismantled government regulations. We’re also watching the possibility of interest rate cuts in 2025 and small-business owners’ growing reliance on new technologies, such as AI. Holden Lewis, mortgages writer What happened: Home buyers struggled with elevated mortgage rates, rising house prices and a shortage of homes for sale. On top of that, a new rule required buyers to negotiate their agents’ commissions. What’s ahead: The Federal Reserve is expected to cut short-term interest rates, but mortgage rates might not necessarily fall by a similar amount. Buyers will probably have more properties to choose from, and the greater supply should keep prices from rising a lot. Interest rates on home equity loans and lines of credit should fall, making it less expensive to borrow to fix up homes — either to sell, or to make the home more comfortable and efficient. Sam Taube, investing writer What happened: The stock market had a great year. The S&P 500 is up more than 25% due to falling interest rates, fading recession fears, AI hype, and the possibility of lighter taxes and regulations under the new administration. Cryptocurrency also saw big gains in 2024; the price of Bitcoin crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time in December. What’s ahead: A lot depends on how fast the Fed reduces rates in 2025. Another key unknown is Trump’s second term. Regulatory rollbacks, such as those he has proposed for the banking industry, could juice stock prices — but they also could create systemic risks in the economy. His proposed tariffs could also hurt economic growth (and therefore stock prices). Finally, it remains to be seen whether trendy AI stocks, such as NVIDIA, can continue their momentum into next year. It’s the same story with crypto: How long will this bull market last? Caitlin Constantine, assistant assigning editor, insurance What happened: Many people saw their home and auto insurance premiums skyrocket in 2024. In some states, homeowners are finding it harder to even find policies in the first place. Meanwhile, life insurance rates have started to decrease post-pandemic. We also saw more insurers offering online-only policies that don’t require a medical exam. What’s ahead: Auto and home insurance costs will likely continue to rise, although auto premiums may not rise as dramatically as they have over the past few years. And if you’re in the market for life insurance, expect to see competitive life insurance quotes and more customizable policies. Eliza Haverstock, student loans writer What happened: Borrowers received historic student loan relief, but lawsuits derailed an income-driven repayment plan used by 8 million whose payments are indefinitely paused. Uncertainty will carry into 2025 as a result of the presidential administration change. What’s ahead: Trump has pledged to overhaul higher education and rein in student loan relief. The fate of the SAVE repayment plan, student loan forgiveness options, FAFSA processing and more remain in the balance. Meghan Coyle, assistant assigning editor, travel What happened: People are willing to pay more for big and small luxuries while traveling, and airlines and hotels are taking note. Many airlines raised checked bag fees early in 2024, credit card issuers and airlines invested in renovated airport lounges, and major hotel companies continued to add luxury properties and brands to their loyalty programs. What’s ahead: Southwest will say goodbye to its open seating policy and introduce new extra-legroom seats, a major departure for the airline. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will unveil a unified loyalty program in 2025. Spirit Airlines may attempt to merge with another airline again after its 2024 bankruptcy filing and two failed mergers under President Biden’s administration. Travelers will find that they’ll have to pay a premium to enjoy most of the upgrades airlines and hotels are making. Laura McMullen, assistant assigning editor, personal finance What happened: This year, dynamic pricing expanded beyond concerts and travel to online retailers and even fast-food restaurants. This practice of prices changing based on real-time supply and demand received plenty of backlash from consumers and prompted the Federal Trade Commission to investigate how companies use consumers’ data to set prices. What’s ahead: Beyond an expansion of dynamic pricing — perhaps with added oversight — expect subscription models to become more prevalent and demand for sustainable products to grow. Shannon Bradley, autos writer What happened: New-car prices held steady in 2024 but remained high after a few years of sharp increases — the average new car now sells for about $48,000, and for the first time ever the price gap between new and used cars surpassed $20,000 (average used-car prices are now slightly more than $25,000). Overall, the car market returned to being in the buyer’s favor, as new-car inventories reached pre-pandemic levels, manufacturer incentives began making a comeback and auto loan interest rates started to decline. What’s ahead: The future of the car market is uncertain and depends on policies implemented by the incoming administration. Questions surround the impact of possible tariffs on car prices, whether auto loan rates will continue to drop, and if federal tax credits will still be available for electric vehicle buyers. Jackie Veling, personal loans writer What happened: Buy now, pay later continued to be a popular payment choice for U.S. shoppers, even while facing headwinds, like an interpretive ruling from the CFPB (which determined BNPL should be regulated the same as credit cards) and Apple’s discontinuation of its popular Apple Pay Later product. Large players like Affirm, Klarna and Afterpay continued to offer interest-free, pay-in-four plans at most major retailers, along with long-term plans for larger purchases. What’s ahead: Though more regulation had been widely anticipated in 2025, the change in administration suggests the CFPB will play a less active role in regulating BNPL products. For this reason, and its continued strength in the market, BNPL will likely keep growing. Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Easing inflation was a bright spot in 2024. In June, the consumer price index fell below 3% for the first time in three years. Consumers saw prices level off or decline for many goods, including for groceries, gas and new and used vehicles. But prices haven’t fallen far enough or broadly enough to relieve the pinch many households feel. What’s ahead: The new and higher tariffs proposed by the Trump administration could reignite inflation on a wide range of goods. Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Rent prices remain high, but annual rent inflation slowed significantly compared to recent years, staying around 3.5% for much of 2024, according to Zillow, a real estate website that tracks rents. A wave of newly constructed rental units on the market seems to be helping ease competition among renters and forcing landlords to offer better incentives for signing a lease. What’s ahead: If it continues, a softening rental market could work in renters’ favor. But construction is one of several industries that could see a shortage of workers if the Trump administration follows through on its promise to deport undocumented immigrants. A shortage of workers would mean fewer houses and apartments could be built. Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: After a contentious presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump declared victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. While on the campaign trail, Trump promised to lower inflation, cut taxes, enact tariffs, weaken the power of the Federal Reserve, deport undocumented immigrants and more. Many economists have said Trump’s proposals, if enacted, would likely be inflationary. In Congress, Republicans earned enough seats to control both houses. What’s ahead: It’s unclear which campaign promises Trump will fulfill on his own and with the support of the new Congress. He has promised a slew of “day one” actions that could lead to higher prices, including across-the-board tariffs and mass deportations. Most recently, Trump pledged to enact 20% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% tariff on China. He has also promised to extend or make permanent the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; many of its provisions expire by the end of 2025. Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: Fiscal year 2023-2024’s funding saga finally came to an end in March, then six months later, the battle to fund the fiscal year 2024-2025 began. The Biden Administration waged its own war against junk fees . Antitrust enforcers pushed back against tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta; prevented the Kroger-Albertsons merger; nixed the Jet Blue-Spirit Airlines merger; and moved to ban noncompete agreements. The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as well as a challenge to abortion pill access. SCOTUS also overruled its landmark Chevron case, which means every federal regulatory agency’s power to set and enforce its own rules are now weaker. What’s ahead: The election’s red sweep means the GOP will control the executive and legislative branches of government. They’ll face the threat of at least one more potential government shutdown; a debt ceiling drama comeback; and the beginning of the debate over extending or making permanent provisions of the expiring 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Anna Helhoski writes for NerdWallet. Email: anna@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @AnnaHelhoski. The article What Trended in Personal Finance in 2024? originally appeared on NerdWallet .
Is the Criminal Case Against Donald Trump Dead?Two people have been arrested after allegedly conducting a "hazardous drone operation" near the airspace of the US city of Boston's main airport, police said. Robert Duffy, 42, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, were arrested on Long Island, part of the Boston Harbor Islands, on Saturday night. They were charged with trespassing and police said they may face further charges and fines over the drones, which were "dangerously close" to Logan International Airport, said police. Their arrests follow a series of drone sightings across the US north-east in recent weeks. Police have given no indication that the sightings are connected to these arrests. Police said the incident in Boston occurred at 16:30 local time (21:30 GMT) when a police officer detected a drone operating "dangerously close" to Logan International Airport. Police said they identified the drone's location and tracked the operators' position to a decommissioned health campus on Long Island. Because of the drone's proximity to an airport, FBI counter-terrorism agents helped the investigation. When officers arrived on the scene, police said three people attempted to flee, two of whom - Mr Duffy and Mr Folcik, were apprehended. A drone was discovered in a backpack carried by Mr Duffy, police said. The third suspect is believed to have fled the island in a small vessel and has not so far been found. It was not immediately clear whether Mr Duffy and Mr Folcik had legal representation. Police said they were yet to be arraigned. US government officials have been seeking to reassure residents of the north-east that no threats have been identified in relation to hundreds of drone sightings across the area. Flying objects have been reported in states including New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut and Massachusetts - with the most sightings reported in New Jersey. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the government was deploying additional resources, personnel and technology to assist New Jersey police in investigating. In an interview with ABC News, he said that the department was working in "close co-ordination" with state and local authorities, adding it was "critical" they be given the ability to counter drone activity under federal supervision. His comments follow New York state Governor Kathy Hochul's demands for more state powers to tackle the issue, after runways at Stewart Airfield had to shut down for about an hour on Friday night. "Congress must pass a law that will give us the power to deal directly with the drones," she added on Sunday, after announcing that a drone detection system was being sent to New York. Mayorkas said the rise in drone sightings could be to do with a change in federal law last year that allows drones to be flown at night. "That may be one of the reasons why now people are seeing more drones than they did before, especially from dawn to dusk," he said. He also said he knew of "no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the north-east".
HomeKit Weekly: Lockly Zeno Series offers full compatibility with Home Key and HomeKitFARGO, N.D. (AP) — Jacari White scored 19 points as North Dakota State beat Western Michigan 98-62 on Sunday. White had five rebounds and five assists for the Bison (10-4). Jacksen Moni added 16 points while shooting 7 for 10, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc while they also had seven assists. Masen Miller finished 5 of 9 from 3-point range to finish with 15 points. The Bison extended their winning streak to seven games. The Broncos (3-7) were led by Chansey Willis Jr., who recorded 22 points and five assists. Marquese Josephs added 12 points for Western Michigan. Markhi Strickland also put up eight points. North Dakota State took the lead with 19:23 left in the first half and never looked back. The score was 49-28 at halftime, with White racking up 13 points. North Dakota State extended its lead to 73-38 during the second half, fueled by a 9-0 scoring run. Darik Dissette scored a team-high eight points in the second half as their team closed out the win. North Dakota State next plays Monday against CSU Bakersfield at home, and Western Michigan will host Valparaiso on Friday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
The political circumstances that surrounded the publication of "Ultimatum," once a best-selling novel that imagined an American effort to annex Canada, may ring familiar to anyone following recent headlines. A US leader announces tariffs on Canadian imports, signaling a more confrontational relationship, and a prime minister named Trudeau scrambles to respond. But the American, in this case, was former president Richard Nixon and the Canadian leader was Pierre Elliott Trudeau -- father of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Nixon and the elder Trudeau are long dead, but the author of "Ultimatum," published in 1973, is D-Day veteran Richard Rohmer, the honorary lieutenant general of the Canadian Armed Forces, who recently turned 101. Still an avid news consumer and writer, Rohmer told AFP that remarks by President-elect Donald Trump implying that Canada could be absorbed by the United States should not be laughed off. "This man has to be taken seriously," he said. "He is a man with great imagination who has ideas about what he can do and what he cannot do, and as far as Canada is concerned." Trump mocked Trudeau this week as the "governor" of a state, rather than prime minister of the giant US neighbor -- a taunt beyond any seen during Trump's first term. The president-elect's jibe followed Fox News reports that, in talks with Trudeau in Florida, he had suggested that if Canada could not withstand his threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports, then it should be absorbed as the 51st US state. While some analysts dismissed the barbs as "Trump being Trump," it hit a sensitive nerve in Canada. Days after meeting Trudeau, Trump posted an AI-generated image showing himself standing high atop a mountain next to a Canadian flag, gazing forward. Former Quebec premier Jean Charest responded on X by tartly cautioning Trump to "think twice before invading Canada." Charest recalled the War of 1812, when US advances on Canadian territory ended in defeat -- and the torching of the White House. Yet not everyone in Canada views US annexation as a terrible idea. A poll by the Leger research firm conducted after Trump's comments found that 13 percent of Canadians would like the country to become a US state, with support strongest among men and Conservative Party supporters. Trudeau has not publicly responded to Trump's taunts. An op-ed piece in the Toronto Star said Trump was behaving "like a toddler," and the prime minister was wise to not "rise to the bait." For Laura Stephenson, chair of the political science department at Western University, Trump's musings amount to an escalation compared to a tariff threat. "We're in a different world now. Annexation isn't the same as 'I'm going to hurt your industry.'" Even if an active confrontation with the US remains unthinkable, Stephenson told AFP that such mockery can be "humiliating" to Canadians. She said many Canadians identify themselves explicitly as "not American," and Trump's poking at the issue "has all sort of implications for Canadian identity." University of Toronto political scientist Renan Levine, on the other hand, suggested Trump's ribbing could be a "good sign" for Canadians, as it implies a bond with Trudeau. "He's basically signaling, 'I have a certain level of comfort with you and we can exchange wisecracks,'" Levine told AFP. Rohmer said the moment calls for patriotism. The success of his book "Ultimatum" came at a curious time in Canadian fiction, with a flurry of books, including a novel by acclaimed author Margaret Atwood, exploring conflict with the US. Rohmer said his book likely tapped into a thirst for national pride that Canadians crave but are notorious for suppressing. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland responded to Trump's mockery by saying "Canada is the greatest country in the world" -- while adding that such a boast was not "appropriately Canadian." When asked if he thought Trump's insults should prompt Canada to assert its strength, Rohmer said: "I think we should, but I have no idea how." bs/bbk/bgsBALTIMORE (AP) — Will Thomas had 27 points in Morgan State's 86-76 win over Campbell on Sunday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * BALTIMORE (AP) — Will Thomas had 27 points in Morgan State's 86-76 win over Campbell on Sunday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? BALTIMORE (AP) — Will Thomas had 27 points in Morgan State’s 86-76 win over Campbell on Sunday. Thomas added seven rebounds for the Bears (6-8). Kameron Hobbs scored 21 points while going 8 of 12 from the floor, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line and added five assists. Marland Harris had nine points and shot 4 of 5 from the field. Nolan Dorsey led the way for the Fighting Camels (5-6) with 21 points and six rebounds. Jasin Sinani added 16 points, six rebounds and four assists for Campbell. Israel Yaw also had 10 points. Thomas scored nine points in the first half and Morgan State went into halftime trailing 33-31. Thomas’ 18-point second half helped Morgan State finish off the 10-point victory. Up next for Morgan State is a matchup Sunday with Iowa State on the road. Campbell hosts Longwood on Wednesday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Advertisement《TAIPEI TIMES》 Former Kinmen official’s prison sentence upheld
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The week's obituaries, delivered to your inbox.NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire , New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Thompson was shot at least once in the back and once in the calf, Tisch said. The shooter, who wore a jacket, face mask and large backpack, fled through Midtown on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, police said. The assailant remained at large Wednesday afternoon, sparking a search that included police drones, helicopters and dogs. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.” Police issued a poster showing a surveillance image of the man pointing what appeared to be a gun and another image that appeared to show the same person on a bicycle. Minutes before the shooting, he stopped at a nearby Starbucks, according to additional surveillance photos released by police on Wednesday afternoon. They offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive. The killing shook a part of New York City that's normally quiet at that hour, happening about four blocks from where tens of thousands of people were set to gather for Wednesday night’s tree lighting. Police promised extra security for the event. The hotel is also a short walk from other tourist sites, including the Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall, and is often dense with office workers and visitors on weekday mornings. Many security cameras are nearby. “We’re encouraging New Yorkers to go about their daily lives and their daily business but to be alert,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said. Police said the e-bike that the shooter used to ride into Central Park came from the city’s bike-share program, CitiBike. A spokesperson for Lyft, which operates the program, said police had not yet contacted the company. Health care giant UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death. “I’m afraid that we — some of you may know we’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” a company official told attendees, according to a transcript. “And as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today. ... I’m sure you’ll understand.” Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the company since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on the social platform X that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.” “This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote. Associated Press writers Tom Murphy in Indianapolis, Steve Karnowski in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this story.
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The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Jacari White scored 19 points as North Dakota State beat Western Michigan 98-62 on Sunday. White had five rebounds and five assists for the Bison (10-4). Jacksen Moni added 16 points while shooting 7 for 10, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc while they also had seven assists. Masen Miller finished 5 of 9 from 3-point range to finish with 15 points. The Bison extended their winning streak to seven games. The Broncos (3-7) were led by Chansey Willis Jr., who recorded 22 points and five assists. Marquese Josephs added 12 points for Western Michigan. Markhi Strickland also put up eight points. North Dakota State took the lead with 19:23 left in the first half and never looked back. The score was 49-28 at halftime, with White racking up 13 points. North Dakota State extended its lead to 73-38 during the second half, fueled by a 9-0 scoring run. Darik Dissette scored a team-high eight points in the second half as their team closed out the win. North Dakota State next plays Monday against CSU Bakersfield at home, and Western Michigan will host Valparaiso on Friday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .One week into a new Syria, rebels aim for normalcy and Syrians vow not to be silent again DAMASCUS (AP) — A transformation has started to take place in the week since the unexpected overthrow of Syria’s President Bashar Assad. Suddenly in charge, the rebels have been met with a mix of excitement, grief and hope. And so far the transition has been surprisingly smooth. Reports of reprisals, revenge killings and sectarian violence are minimal, looting and destruction has been quickly contained. But there are a million ways it could go wrong. Syria is broken and isolated after five decades of Assad family rule. Families have been torn apart by war, former prisoners are traumatized, and tens of thousands of detainees remain missing. The economy is wrecked, poverty is widespread, inflation and unemployment are high. Corruption seeps through daily life. Christians in Syria mark country's transformation with tears as UN envoy urges an end to sanctions DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — In churches across long-stifled Syria, Christians have marked the first Sunday services since Bashar Assad’s ouster in an air of transformation. Some were in tears, others clasped their hands in prayer. The U.N. envoy for Syria is calling for a quick end to Western sanctions as the country’s new leaders and regional and global powers discuss the way forward. The Syrian government has been under sanctions by the United States, the European Union and others for years as a result of Assad’s brutal response to what began as peaceful anti-government protests in 2011 and spiraled into civil war. US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the airborne pests. The New York Democrat is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy advanced technology to identify and track drones back to their landing spots. That is according to briefings from his office. Federal authorities have said that the drones do not appear to be linked to foreign governments. After a 15-year pause in executions, Indiana prepares to put to death a man who killed 4 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana officials are preparing to execute the state’s first death row inmate in 15 years. Joseph Corcoran was convicted in 1999 in the fatal shootings of his brother and three other men, including his sister’s fiancé. If Corcoran is put to death as scheduled Wednesday it will be the state’s first execution since 2009. Corcoran's attorneys have asked a federal court to stay his execution, arguing it would be unconstitutional because he has a serious mental illness. Indiana officials have refused to discuss how they obtained the sedative used for lethal injection. No media witnesses will be permitted under state law. Storms across US bring heavy snow, dangerous ice and a tornado in California OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Inclement weather has plagued areas of the U.S. in the first half of the weekend, with dangerous conditions including heavy snow, a major ice storm and unusual tornado activity. An ice storm beginning Friday created treacherous driving conditions across Iowa and eastern Nebraska. More than 33 inches of snow was reported near Orchard Park, New York, which is often a landing point for lake-effect snow. On Saturday, a tornado touched down in Scotts Valley, California, causing damage and several injuries. In San Francisco, a storm damaged trees and roofs and prompted a tornado warning, which was a first for a city that has not experienced a tornado since 2005. Israel will close its Ireland embassy over Gaza tensions as Palestinian death toll nears 45,000 DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel says it will close its embassy in Ireland as relations deteriorate over the war in Gaza, where Palestinian medical officials say new Israeli airstrikes have killed over 46 people including children. Israel's decision to close the embassy came in response to what Israel’s foreign minister has described as Ireland's “extreme anti-Israel policies.” Ireland earlier announced that it would recognize a Palestinian state. And the Irish cabinet last week decided to formally intervene in South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The Palestinian death toll in the war is approaching 45,000. The GOP stoked fears of noncitizens voting. Cases in Ohio show how rhetoric and reality diverge AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Ohio's Republican secretary of state and attorney general sought to reassure voters before the November election that the state's elections were being vigorously protected against the possibility of immigrants voting illegally. That push coincided with a national Republican messaging strategy warning that potentially thousands of ineligible voters would be voting. The officials' efforts in Ohio led to charges against just six noncitizens in a state with 8 million registered voters. That outcome and the stories of some of those now facing charges show the gap both in Ohio and across the United States between the rhetoric about noncitizen voting and the reality that it's rare and not part of a coordinated scheme to throw elections. South Korean leaders seek calm after Yoon is impeached SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s opposition leader has offered to work with the government to ease the political tumult, a day after the opposition-controlled parliament voted to impeach conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol over a short-lived attempt to impose martial law. Liberal Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, whose party holds a majority in the National Assembly, urged the Constitutional Court to rule swiftly on Yoon’s impeachment and proposed a special council for policy cooperation between the government and parliament. Yoon’s powers have been suspended until the court decides whether to remove him from office or reinstate him. If Yoon is dismissed, a national election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days. Small businesses say cautious shoppers are seeking 'cozy' and 'festive' this holiday season With a late Thanksgiving, the holiday shopping season is five days shorter than last year, and owners of small retail shops say that people have been quick to snap up holiday décor early, along with gifts for others and themselves. Cozy items like sweaters are popular so far. Businesses are also holding special events to get shoppers in the door. But there’s little sense of the freewheeling spending that occurred during the pandemic. Overall, The National Retail Federation predicts retail sales in November and December will rise between 2.5% and 3.5% compared with same period a year ago. Pope Francis makes 1st papal visit to France's Corsica awash in expressions of popular piety AJACCIO, Corsica (AP) — Pope Francis on the first papal visit ever to the French island of Corsica on Sunday called for a dynamic form of laicism, promoting the kind of popular piety that distinguishes the Mediterranean island from secular France as a bridge between religious and civic society. The one-day visit to Corsica’s capital Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon, on Sunday is one of the briefest of his papacy beyond Italy’s borders, just about nine hours on the ground, including a 40-minute visit with French President Emmanuel Macron. It is the first papal visit ever to the island, which Genoa ceded to France in 1768 and is located closer to the Italian mainland than France.White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaignTwo people have been arrested after allegedly conducting a "hazardous drone operation" near the airspace of the US city of Boston's main airport, police said. Robert Duffy, 42, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, were arrested on Long Island, part of the Boston Harbor Islands, on Saturday night. They were charged with trespassing and police said they may face further charges and fines over the drones, which were "dangerously close" to Logan International Airport, said police. Their arrests follow a series of drone sightings across the US north-east in recent weeks. Police have given no indication that the sightings are connected to these arrests. Police said the incident in Boston occurred at 16:30 local time (21:30 GMT) when a police officer detected a drone operating "dangerously close" to Logan International Airport. Police said they identified the drone's location and tracked the operators' position to a decommissioned health campus on Long Island. Because of the drone's proximity to an airport, FBI counter-terrorism agents helped the investigation. When officers arrived on the scene, police said three people attempted to flee, two of whom - Mr Duffy and Mr Folcik, were apprehended. A drone was discovered in a backpack carried by Mr Duffy, police said. The third suspect is believed to have fled the island in a small vessel and has not so far been found. It was not immediately clear whether Mr Duffy and Mr Folcik had legal representation. Police said they were yet to be arraigned. US government officials have been seeking to reassure residents of the north-east that no threats have been identified in relation to hundreds of drone sightings across the area. Flying objects have been reported in states including New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut and Massachusetts - with the most sightings reported in New Jersey. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the government was deploying additional resources, personnel and technology to assist New Jersey police in investigating. In an interview with ABC News, he said that the department was working in "close co-ordination" with state and local authorities, adding it was "critical" they be given the ability to counter drone activity under federal supervision. His comments follow New York state Governor Kathy Hochul's demands for more state powers to tackle the issue, after runways at Stewart Airfield had to shut down for about an hour on Friday night. "Congress must pass a law that will give us the power to deal directly with the drones," she added on Sunday, after announcing that a drone detection system was being sent to New York. Mayorkas said the rise in drone sightings could be to do with a change in federal law last year that allows drones to be flown at night. "That may be one of the reasons why now people are seeing more drones than they did before, especially from dawn to dusk," he said. He also said he knew of "no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the north-east".