Find the links between the words to win today's game of Connections. Looking for Thursday’s Connections hints and answers instead? You can find them here: Hey there! Congrats on making it to another Friday. Just a few more hours until the weekend and some deserved downtime. Unless, of course, you’re tied up with work or something else over the weekend, in which case I hope you can relax soon! I just came across this Atlantic interview with Wyna Liu, the editor of Connections , from last week. It’s an interesting read that offers some useful context on how Liu assembles puzzles and the thought process behind the construction. One thing I absolutely agree with Liu on here is that there’s nothing wrong with solving each puzzle however you want to. I don’t look up the meaning of any terms while I’m playing (though I might afterward for context), but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with doing that or, uh, using some hints if you need a little help. And what do you know? Today’s NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, December 6, are coming right up. FBI Warns iPhone And Android Users—Stop Sending Texts Microsoft’s New Update—Bad News Confirmed For 400 Million Windows Users FBI Warns Smartphone Users—Hang Up And Create A Secret Word Now How To Play Connections Connections is a free, popular New York Times daily word game. You get a new puzzle at midnight every day. You can play on the NYT website or Games app. You’re presented with a grid of 16 words. Your task is to arrange them into four groups of four by figuring out the links between them. The groups could be things like items you can click, names for research study participants or words preceded by a body part. There’s only one solution for each puzzle, and you’ll need to be careful when it comes to words that might fit into more than one category. You can shuffle the words to perhaps help you see links between them. Each group is color coded. The yellow group is usually the easiest to figure out, blue and green fall in the middle, and the purple group is usually the most difficult one. The purple group often involves wordplay. Select four words you think go together and press Submit. If you make a guess and you’re incorrect, you’ll lose a life. If you’re close to having a correct group, you might see a message telling you that you’re one word away from getting it right, but you’ll still need to figure out which one to swap. If you make four mistakes, it’s game over. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen with the help of some hints, and, if you’re really struggling, today’s Connections answers. As with Wordle and other similar games, it’s easy to share results with your friends on social media and group chats. If you have an NYT All Access or Games subscription, you can access the publication’s Connections archive. This includes every previous game of Connections , so you can go back and play any of those that you have missed. Aside from the first 60 games or so, you should be able to find my hints for each grid via Google if you need them! Just click here and add the date of the game for which you need clues or the answers to the search query. What Are Today’s Connections Hints? Scroll slowly! Just after the hints for each of today’s Connections groups, I’ll reveal what the groups are without immediately telling you which words go into them. Today’s 16 words are... And the hints for today’s Connections groups are: What Are Today’s Connections Groups? Need some extra help? Be warned: we’re starting to get into spoiler territory. Today’s Connections groups are... What Are Today’s Connections Answers? Spoiler alert! Don’t scroll any further down the page until you’re ready to find out today’s Connections answers. This is your final warning! Today’s Connections answers are... No perfect game, but that's nine wins in a row. Here's how I fared: 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟪🟩🟩🟪 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟪🟪🟪 I'm a '90s kid and Toy Story is basically my Star Wars. So I got the blues instantly. The yellows were straightforward enough too. I was struggling a little after that, though. My first guess of MANIA, JINX, HEX and PILLED didn't really add up in hindsight. JINX and POX surely had to go together, after all. That guess didn't put me one away from a group, but it meant that I had two greens and two purples, which was useful information. Swapping out MANIA and PILLED for POX and SPELL was my next move. That did the trick for the greens. I did not figure out the purple connection. It's a very loose link, but it makes sense. The use of PILLED as a suffix — rather than as a verb for the pilling of fabric — is relatively new. It originates from the concept of being redpilled, a term that stems from The Matrix and Neo taking a red pill to learn about the truth of his existence. Spoilers for a 25-year-old movie, I guess: That’s all there is to it for today’s Connections clues and answers. Be sure to check my blog for hints and the solution for Saturday’s game if you need them. P.S. The first two words in today’s grid spell out Puzzle Mania. This is a special annual section in the print edition of The New York Times. It features more than 50 puzzles, including a massive crossword linked to a contest that has a $1,000 Visa gift card and other prizes up for grabs. On top of that, there are special bite-size print versions of Connections, Wordle, Spelling Bee and the Mini crossword. If you didn’t pick up the December 1 edition of the paper that included Puzzle Mania, you can order a copy of the section now from the NYT Store. If you’re lucky, you may still be able to pick one up for free at select locations across the U.S. Have a great day! Call someone you love! If you’re so inclined, please do follow my blog for more coverage of Connections and other word games and even some video game news, insights and analysis. It helps me out a lot! Also, follow me on Bluesky ! It’s fun there.
AMGEN TO PRESENT AT CITI'S 2024 GLOBAL HEALTHCARE CONFERENCEJournalist Protection Bill Blocked In Senate After Tom Cotton Objects To Speedy Passage
Agricultural land in Central Asia and the Caucasus is degrading at an alarming rate. Officials did a lot of handwringing about the issue during a roundtable at the recently completed COP29 environmental conclave. But in highlighting urgent needs, participants didn’t proffer many ideas about how to mitigate the myriad challenges. Globally, about 40 percent of agricultural land is vulnerable to degradation, Azerbaijan’s agriculture minister, Majnun Mammadov, stated in his opening remarks at the roundtable, adding as much as 12 million acres of arable land around the world becomes unproductive every year. Conditions are particularly acute in Tajikistan, where almost one-third of the country’s agricultural land is in “critical condition,” according to a published by the Asia-Plus news agency. But such challenges as deforestation, soil salinization and over-grazing are threatening other Central Asian states too, especially Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Citing UN data, the Asia-Plus report stated that 39 percent of Central Asia’s landmass is experiencing drought. In presenting a plan to introduce water-conserving and soil-monitoring technologies in Uzbekistan, the country’s ecology minister, Aziz Abdukhakimov, exuded a sense of urgency. “We must act quickly and decisively, otherwise we will leave only deserts for future generations,” he stated. Participants agreed that a multilateral approach was needed to address soil degradation, but no specific initiatives to promote joint action were discussed. Even if plans had been worked out to address problems, Central Asian states lack the funds to fully implement them on their own. And that situation doesn’t look like it will change anytime soon. Developing nations say substantive climate action will take over $1 trillion per year in funding from wealthy nations. Yet, after prolonged and, at times, bitter negotiations at COP29 in Baku, wealthy nations agreed to commit $300 billion annually to address global-warming related issues, including soil degradation. That figure marks a substantial increase over the $100 billion that wealthy nations had previously pledged to commit to help developing countries adapt to global warming conditions. But somehow everyone departed Baku full of hard feelings. Developing nations accused the globally rich of being cheap. At the same time, many wealthy nations, especially the United States and European Union members, were angry that economically advanced states, such as China and Saudi Arabia, claimed to still be developing countries not obligated to make any contribution to the COP climate action fund. The causes of soil degradation are not new, with many linked to global warming. A published by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in 2022 also identified several man-made factors contributing to the loss of farmland and pasture across Central Asia, including an overreliance on cotton cultivation and inefficient irrigation practices. The cumulative effects of soil degradation are heightening social challenges across the region, acting as a “significant trigger” for migration from the countryside to cities, resulting in increases in air pollution, according to the UN report. It also cautioned that a vicious cycle of social harm, fueling a decline in living standards in Central Asia, is taking hold. “Land degradation, combined with increasing anthropogenic pressure caused by population growth and density, leads to a decrease in the availability of productive land and water resources, a drop in crop yields and livestock productivity,” UN study states. ByQatar tribune Agencies Every Wednesday, retiree Zhang Zhili travels an hour by bus to an education center, drawn by the pulsing rhythms of the African drum she plays there in a classroom filled with fellow retirees whose hands move in unison, every beat lifting her spirits. Zhang, 71, has found joy and new friends at the “elderly university” in Beijing. Besides African drums, the former primary school teacher joins social dance classes, paying about 2,000 yuan ($280) for two courses this semester. Seeing herself standing tall in dance class boosts her confidence. After class, she hangs out with her friends. “When we get old, what do we need?” she said. “To love ourselves.” Many older Chinese are looking beyond traditional nursing homes, afraid of abandonment by their families and quality issues. That’s driving a boom in universities, home care services, and communities catering to older adults. Though some providers struggle to turn a profit, they persist because they see promise in the growing market. China has a rapidly aging population. Last year, about 297 million people were aged 60 or above, over one-fifth of the population. By 2035, this number is forecast to exceed 400 million, or over 30% of all Chinese. That’s fueling growth in services and products aimed at older adults in what Beijing calls the silver economy, which is projected to balloon from about 7 trillion yuan (about $982 billion) currently to approximately 30 trillion yuan (about $4.2 trillion) in 2035, raising its share in the economy from about 6% to roughly 10%, Hu Zuquan, a researcher at the State Information Center, a public institution affiliated with China’s main planning agency, told state media. Du Peng, dean of the school of population and health at Beijing’s Renmin University, said the government is expanding basic care services to all older people who need them, moving beyond its traditional focus on those without family support. Last year, officials compiled a list of basic care services they aim to make available nationwide, including providing ability assessments for those over 65 and care training subsidies for family members of those who are disabled. Filial piety runs deep in China and most older people prefer aging at home with family after they retire, typically when they’re 50 to 60 years old, one of the youngest retirement ages among the world’s major economies. Many help care for their grandchildren, and for some, nursing homes are seen as a kind of abandonment, except in cases of serious disability. In January, Beijing issued new guidelines calling for expanding home care services and meal deliveries and more clothing, food and tech products tailored for older adults. They include enriching their lives through education. Home-based services offer a more affordable alternative to nursing homes, alleviating accommodation costs, Du said. Most older Chinese are relatively healthy, and these able people perhaps need richer cultural lives rather than disability care, he said. Cai Guixia, 60, said she has found fulfillment in African drumming and modeling classes. She thinks she would feel “forsaken” in a conventional nursing home, preferring to hire a domestic helper. Liu Xiuqin, an owner of two care homes, saw business opportunities in meeting those needs. She invested more than 800,000 yuan (about $112,000) to open a school in Beijing. Cai and Zhang are among its 150 students attending classes in dance, singing, yoga and modeling training for about 1,000 yuan ($140) per course each semester. Outside the classroom, her team organizes gatherings where students can socialize. Liu expects to break even in another year and is prepared for the wait. She believes in the market’s future, given that the generation born in the 1960s and later values quality of life and health more than their parents did. “It’s not about making quick money,” she said. “It requires persistence.” Turning a profit is proving challenging for some silver economy businesses. In the southern city of Guangzhou, Wu Tang co-founded a school last year after his geotechnical investigation and surveying business was hit by the downturn in China’s property market. His school offers courses to help people achieve some of their childhood dreams, but he has yet to cover his costs. He also faces competition from cheaper government-run courses. And there’s Cui Yang, who runs a care station in Beijing, sending helpers zigzagging across the district to provide 30 yuan ($4.20) haircuts at home; accompanying people on hospital visits for 50 yuan ($7) per hour and other services. Even with government subsidies including free rent, Cui is losing money. Without the subsidies, the business would fail, she said.The struggles aren’t limited to small operators. Wu Wenjing heads the home care department of a healthcare subsidiary of state-owned financial conglomerate China Everbright Group in southwest China’s Chongqing. It has been in the red for 13 straight years, spending 5 million yuan (about $702,000) annually and still losing 1 million (about $140,000) a year, she said. Wu’s business employs 70 workers who visit homes as caregivers, rehabilitation therapists and psychotherapists. The industry is competitive and it has a high turnover rate given the difficulties of working alone in clients’ homes. Wu hopes to break even in five years, and is delighted about the government’s efforts to grow the silver economy. “The spring of China’s elderly care business has finally come,” she said. Various companies are looking to grab a slice of this government-backed market. Property developers like Vanke Co. and Sino-Ocean Group and insurance companies such as Taikang Insurance Group have built high-end communities for older adults with amenities such as movie-screening and mahjong rooms and dining services. China’s also working to tackle the problem of dementia, providing cognitive screening tests and training staff who work in memory clinics or as social workers. Several Chinese pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are working on drugs targeting Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Some vacant schools and kindergartens -- casualties of the country’s declining birthrate -- are meanwhile being transformed into care facilities for older people. Government efforts to back the silver economy are paying off: official data showed the country had 410,000 care facilities by June, double the number in 2019. Still, questions remain about the spending power of many older Chinese. A 2021 national survey co-conducted by China’s Civil Affairs Ministry found older adults had a median annual income of 11,400 yuan ($1,574). In rural areas it was less than half of that. More than one in 10 older Chinese are living in poverty, with living standards much lower in rural areas and western China, according to data from surveys conducted by Beijing University. China’s silver economy is still in its infancy, said Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking. If they lack enough insurance to cover medical and other expenses, many older Chinese must set aside funds for such costs, limiting their spending capacity, he said, and it takes time to build industries producing senior-focused products and people trained to provide such services. Tax incentives and investments in training a skilled workforce would help, he said. “There are prospects here, but it seems there’s still much that needs to be done,” he said. Copy 03/12/2024 10M3 Group Joins MEDIROM Mother Labs’ Series A Financing Round at JPY9 Billion (as of December 1, 2024, approximately USD $59,000,000) Pre-Money Valuation'Delhi Chalo' March: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Accuses Centre Of Ignoring Farmers' Demands
Chandigarh: Punjab assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Tuesday advocated immediate action to discard error-ridden Punjabi, Hindi, and English editions of Gurshabd Ratnakar Mahan Kosh published by Punjabi University . Sandhwan also asked the higher education department to submit a report within three weeks. He said that this work is extremely important to “maintain the supremacy of Gurbani and rectify the misconceptions for future generations.” On Monday, Sandhwan convened a meeting for the conservation of the historic Diwan Todar Mal Haveli in Fatehgarh Sahib. It was attended by the Punjab tourism minister, officials of the department, and representatives of the Diwan Todar Mal Heritage Foundation and SGPC. Sandhwan on Monday also accused the Centre of turning a blind eye to the genuine demands of farmers, leaving them to languish on the roads instead of addressing their grievances. Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open channels of communication with the farmers, he stressed that the Centre must take decisive action and resolve the farmers’ issues “without dragging its feet.” We also published the following articles recently Narwekar front-runner for Maharashtra assembly speaker in election on Monday Rahul Narwekar is likely to be re-elected as Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Monday. The BJP is expected to retain the crucial post. Narwekar's handling of recent disqualification cases has earned him praise. If Narwekar is chosen for a ministerial role, Sudhir Mungatiwar is a potential replacement. Special assembly session from Monday, Rabindra Nath Mahto likely to retain speakers post Jharkhand's Nala MLA Rabindra Nath Mahto is likely to be re-elected as Speaker of the State Assembly during its upcoming session. Although Mahto desired a ministerial position, the Hemant Soren-led government, now at full capacity, may propose him for the speakership again. The session, starting Monday, will see pro tem speaker Stephen Marandi administering oaths to newly elected MLAs. Haryana khap leaders respond to farmers march to Delhi: Demand unity among Punjab farmers Haryana's Khap leaders have expressed their willingness to join the farmers' protest march to Delhi, but only if the United Morcha (SKM) unites first. They emphasized that internal politics among Punjab farmer groups is hindering the movement's progress. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
Polish game development studio and publisher People Can Fly is going through its second round of layoffs . This time, over 120 employees are being affected, with the CEO Sebastian Wojciechowski saying that this is to make sure that the company does not go over its financial capacity. Multiple games in development are affected by the staff reduction too. The announcement arrived on , with the CEO saying that it is "deeply grateful for the contributions of every team member impacted by this turn of events; their talent and dedication have helped shape our company and our games." As part of the change in scope, the studio says that its Project Victoria game is being suspended entirely, while Project Bifrost development team is being scaled down. Some "restructuring" of the studio's support teams are in effect too. Both gaming projects have been self-published titles but have never seen official announcements, and have only being in development for a few years. "This action became necessary as external market pressures persisted beyond our forecasts. The video game market is still evolving, and we have to adjust with where things are today," said the CEO. "We are redoubling our efforts with new work-for-hire engagements and focusing on the development of a single independent game." Important update from Sebastian Wojciechowski, CEO. "Our priority is to approach this moment with compassion and to ensure our team feels supported as we work together to build a stronger future," he adds. "In this hard moment, our dedication to excellence and creativity remains as strong as ever. For everyone who loves what we create — we will not give up on our dreams." The company has multiple gaming projects still in development. This includes a title for Square Enix, which is largely believed to be an sequel, and even an . This mysterious Microsoft-published project is said to cost around 30-50 million USD to complete, though it may be some years out from release still.MADRID (AP) — Spanish King Felipe VI used his traditional Christmas Eve speech to remember the victims of the catastrophic Valencia flash floods , and urged the country to remain calm while addressing hot-button issues such as immigration and housing affordability. In a pre-recorded speech that usually reviews the year's most relevant issues, Felipe said Spain “must never forget the pain and sadness" the floods caused. The Oct. 29 floods killed more than 225 people in eastern Spain, damaging countless homes and leaving graveyards of cars piled on top of each other. In some towns, the heavy downpours that caused the floods dropped as much as a year's worth of rain in just eight hours. In early November, as Spaniards' shock at the wreckage turned into frustration, a political blame game began, directed especially at regional authorities who failed to send timely emergency alerts to cell phones on the day of the floods. The frustration of residents in hard-hit Paiporta near Valencia was on display when people tossed mud and shouted insults at the king and government officials in early November when they made their first visit to the town. “We have seen — and understood — the frustration, the pain, the impatience, the demands for greater and more effective coordination," Felipe said about how the disaster was managed. He also addressed the country's housing crunch and high rents, which have become a leading concern in the southern European country that is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy. Fast-rising rents are especially acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where incomes have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Felipe urged that “all the actors involved reflect” and "listen to each other” so that they facilitate bringing access to housing under “affordable conditions.” Spain's immigration debate should keep in mind the country's European partners and immigrants' countries of origin, Felipe said, warning that “the way in which we are able to address immigration ... will say a lot in the future about our principles and the quality of our democracy.” Felipe said Spain needed to remain calm in the public sphere, even in the face of a “sometimes thunderous” contest in its politics.
DA suggests unusual idea for halting Trump's hush money case while upholding convictionIndian edtech overhaul sparks renewed investor optimismMIAMI , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at Art Basel Miami, Blue Square X proudly announced an expansion of its art curation services to further elevate the Vision X LED series. Building on its success with collaborations featuring artists like ThankYouX, Nick Thomm , Brooke Einbender , JN Silva, and institutions such as Art Republic and BlackDove, the company continues to lead at the intersection of art and technology. Past installations include Leila Pinto at Pace Gallery, Jennifer Steinkamp at Lehmann Maupin Gallery, and Anthony Samaniego of Art Republic. A Curated Collection for Vision X Scheduled for release in Q1 2025, Blue Square X will launch exclusive contemporary art collections tailored specifically for Vision X LED displays. These collections will enable subscribers to turn their Vision X displays into immersive, gallery-quality art experiences, redefining how contemporary and digital masterpieces are enjoyed. Art Beyond Boundaries This expanded service transforms how audiences interact with art by seamlessly introducing renowned works from established and emerging artists into retail spaces, public venues, and private homes. By merging advanced technology with curated collections, Vision X offers an unmatched platform for showcasing art in visually stunning and immersive ways. Pioneering the Fusion of Art and Technology This expansion underscores Blue Square X's dedication to exploring new frontiers at the intersection of creativity and technology. By combining advanced display technology with thoughtfully curated art collections, the company is redefining how audiences access and experience art, creating deeply engaging, transformative encounters. "Our goal at Blue Square X has always been to push boundaries and explore new ways to connect people with art through technology," said Yitzy Shapiro , COO of Blue Square X. "With this new curation service, we're not just providing a product; we're creating a platform that transforms spaces and inspires deeper connections to art. We're excited to offer this next step in immersive, experiential storytelling." Experiential Marketing Through its curated art services, Blue Square X empowers clients to craft immersive, emotionally resonant experiences that foster brand loyalty and drive engagement. This experiential approach positions Vision X displays as invaluable tools for businesses aiming to captivate audiences through compelling storytelling. Redefining the Art and Technology Landscape Blue Square X redefines the intersection of art and technology through its curated art offerings, transforming audience experiences with cutting-edge display solutions. This initiative reinforces the company's role as a trailblazer, combining innovative storytelling and immersive visuals to deliver unforgettable, industry-leading experiences. For more information about Blue Square X's Vision X LED series and Art Curation Services, visit Bluesqx.com or contact marketing@bluesqx.com Media Contact: Shari Sentlowitz Blue Square X 201-951-2734 Shari@bluesqx.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blue-square-x-expands-art-curation-services-at-art-basel-miami-302324265.html SOURCE Blue Square X © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
During Intel’s long stretch of breakthroughs in the 1990s and early 2000s, it released new, faster chips every 1 to 2 years. It was an incredible feat, and rapidly swept us into the internet age. OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, was moving at a similar speed early on. A new, wildly improved model every 1-2 years. But recently the company has been releasing a new model every 3 to 4 months Additionally, its latest models, o1 and o3, are new animals. They don’t instantly output an answer based on training data. These ponder, consider, review, calculate, and then give an answer. You could say this type of AI is the first truly “thinking” one. Thinking AIs are new and rough around the edges. But they’re already making incredible progress. OpenAI’s o1 recently scored 133 on Mensa Norway’s IQ test. Source: TrackingAI Now, it’s important to realize that this IQ test is probably in o1’s training data, meaning it should technically know the answers. But you can see just how large of an improvement the new o1 models (in yellow) are over previous ones. In an offline IQ test, created specifically to test AI, OpenAI’s o1 Pro scored a 110. And those answers were not in the training data (you can see all the IQ results here ). Recently, the brand new o3 model scored 2,727 on Codeforces, a competitive coding test. That places it as the 175th-best competitive coder on the planet. Incredible. These breakthroughs are a big deal. We are about to enter a stage of major disruption. Soon these models will be smart enough to handle complex tasks, and they will begin to compete for coding and some other white-collar jobs. It’s a disturbing idea, but seems inevitable based on current trends. For now, these thinking models are expensive, slow, and limited in availability. But as they come down in price, speed up, and the market begins to understand how to utilize them, things are going to get weird for a while. The Snowball Each new model helps train and build the next model. As the models become smarter, this creates a compounding effect. And of course, new breakthrough techniques are being discovered by hundreds of worldwide teams researching AI. Some are kept secret, but many are being shared in research papers and through open-source code. The NVIDIA GPUs used to build these models are also rapidly advancing. As the latest hardware is deployed in massive data centers, the pace of acceleration will only increase. In other words, we’re about to enter a very disruptive period. Investment and Economic Implications Companies that wisely employ these new AI technologies will see a productivity boost unlike anything we’ve ever seen in centuries. Likewise, individuals who learn to harness these tools will become super-productive. Companies and people who refuse to adopt this new tech, however, may find themselves falling behind. Ultimately AI will lead to far higher productivity, and eventually, growth. But the adoption period will be challenging. Some white-collar teams will require less employees, and the disruption this causes will be no small matter. In many ways, it reminds me of the Industrial Revolution, when new manufacturing tech changed the entire world’s economy. The old way of crafting items by hand with skill and artistry became a rare curiosity. As investors, we must be keenly aware of what’s coming. Picking stocks which make excellent use of AI will be crucial. In 2025, we’ll be devoting plenty of attention to AI, so stay tuned. And if you haven’t yet, do check out Jim Rickards’ new book, MoneyGPT: AI and the Threat to the Global Economy. I hope you all are having an excellent Christmas and Holiday season.IPHONE and Android users have been urged to ditch texting and use WhatsApp instead in a warning from the FBI. Chinese cyberattacks are targeting Americans through messages and calls that aren't encrypted, officials said. The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said the best way to prevent hackers from seizing their messages is to use encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal. Encrypting involves technology that scrambles a message and requires a key to unscramble it. “Our suggestion, what we have told folks internally, is not new here: Encryption is your friend, whether it’s on text messaging or if you have the capacity to use encrypted voice communication," said CISA's executive assistant director for cybersecurity Jeff Greene. "Even if the adversary is able to intercept the data, if it is encrypted, it will make it impossible." READ MORE TECH WARNINGS He said people should be “using a cell phone that automatically receives timely operating system updates, responsibly managed encryption and phishing resistant [multi-factor authentication] for email, social media and collaboration tool accounts.” The massive cyberattack, which is called Salt Typhoon by Microsoft, has exposed private communications between Americans to foreign hackers. China hacked tech giants like AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies to spy on customers, officials told NBC News . "China firmly opposes and combats all kinds of cyber attacks," a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy said to NBC News. Most read in News Tech A senior FBI official confirmed the agency started investigating the questionable activity in the spring of this year. Greene said it's "impossible" to predict when the issue will be fully resolved. Signal and WhatsApp automatically use end-to-end encryption in both calls and messages. Google Messages and iMessage also encrypt calls and texts. This means that messaging from Android to Android or iPhone to iPhone is typically safe. However, the issue pops up when iPhone users text Android users and vice versa. Here's what you need to know... WhatsApp was created in 2009 by computer programmers Brian Acton and Jan Koum – former employees of Yahoo It’s one of the most popular messaging services in the world Koum came up with the name WhatsApp because it sounded like “what’s up” After a number of tweaks the app was released with a messaging component in June 2009, with 250,000 active users It was originally free but switched to a paid service to avoid growing too fast. Then in 2016, it became free again for all users Facebook bought WhatsApp Inc in February 2014 for $19.3 billion / £14.64 billion The app is particularly popular because all messages are encrypted during transit, shutting out snoopers As of 2024, WhatsApp has over 2.78 billion monthly users globally A Senate Commerce committee is set to hold a hearing about Salt Typhoon on December 11. The subcommittee is expected to go over security threats to communications networks and "review best practice," Reuters reported. The warning to use encrypted messages comes after officials warned Chrome and Safari users to avoid certain websites while shopping on Black Friday. The FBI said shoppers should avoid websites that don't start with the letters "https." Read More on The US Sun Officials said people should also be wary of buying from sellers that only appear to be authorized dealers. Plus, they recommended making purchases with a credit card over gift cards.
US President Joe Biden on Sunday issued an official pardon for his son Hunter, who was facing sentencing for two criminal cases, despite assurances that he would not intervene in his legal troubles. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” the president said in a statement. The move is sure to bring about fresh scrutiny over the independence of the US judicial system — especially at a time when incoming president Donald Trump has moved to appoint loyalists to the FBI and Justice Department himself. The younger Biden was convicted earlier this year of lying about his drug use when he bought a gun — a felony — and has also pleaded guilty in a separate tax evasion trial, but had not faced sentencing. Joe Biden, who is in the final weeks of his presidency before Trump takes office on January 20, had repeatedly said he wouldn’t pardon his son. “I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,” President Biden said in Sunday’s statement. “The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election,” he added. “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.” The pardon comes as criminal cases against President-elect Trump have stalled after a sweeping ruling on presidential immunity by the Supreme Court — all but ensuring Biden’s Republican rival will likely never see a jail cell, even after his landmark conviction for falsifying business records in May. – Plea deal gone awry – US presidents have previously used pardons to help family members and other political allies. Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother for old cocaine charges and Trump pardoned the father of his son-in-law for tax evasion, though in both cases those men had already served their prison terms. Trump has vowed to pardon supporters who stormed the US Capitol in a deadly riot on January 6, 2021, in a bid to reverse his 2020 election loss. He referenced them in a social media post late Sunday, writing, “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!” Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in a tax evasion trial in September, facing up to 17 years in prison. For the separate gun charge, he was facing 25 years in prison. His lawyers have said he was only being brought before the court because he is the son of the president. Hunter has paid the back taxes, as well as penalties levied by authorities, and previously reached a plea deal that would have kept him out of jail — but that agreement fell apart at the last minute. His case has long been a thorn in the Biden family’s side, particularly during this election year when Republicans have charged that Hunter was being treated too leniently. President Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris took much of the zeal out of the Republican drive to make an example out of his son. Still, prosecutors appeared unwilling to cut him any slack, rejecting a so-called “Alford plea,” whereby Hunter Biden would admit guilt because of the high probability of conviction, but would maintain his innocence. In a statement to US media, Hunter Biden, who has grappled with drug addiction, said he would “devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.” AFP
Subsplash Acquires Pulpit AI, an Innovative Platform Leveraging AI to Help Streamline Content Creation & Boost Sermon Engagement for ChurchesBy MICHELLE L. PRICE and ROB GILLIES NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Biden says he was ‘stupid’ not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that’s he’s preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect’s threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park.” Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn’t a trolling-free zone for Trump’s adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden’s spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump’s taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.