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The large mysterious drones reported flying over parts of New Jersey in recent weeks appear to avoid detection by traditional methods, like helicopters and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security. In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. The Morris County Republican was among several state and local lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the spate of sightings that range from the New York City area through New Jersey, westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. The devices do not appear to be being flown by hobbyists, Fantasia wrote. Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month and have raised growing concern among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility; and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey were larger than those typically used by hobbyists. The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once. Gov. Phil Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones don’t appear to threaten public safety. The FBI has been investigating and has asked residents to share any videos, photos or other information they may have. Two Republican Jersey Shore-area congressmen, U.S. Reps. Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, have called on the military to shoot down the drones. However, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters Wednesday that “our initial assessment here is that these are not drones or activities coming from a foreign entity or adversary.” Many municipal lawmakers have called for more restrictions on who is entitled to fly the unmanned devices. At least one state lawmaker proposed a temporary ban on drone flights in the state. “This is something we’re taking deadly seriously. I don’t blame people for being frustrated," Murphy said earlier this week. A spokesman for the Democratic governor said he did not attend Wednesday's meeting. Republican Assemblyman Erik Peterson, whose district includes parts of the state where the drones have been reported, said he also attended Wednesday's meeting at a state police facility in West Trenton. The session lasted for about 90 minutes. Peterson said DHS officials were generous with their time, but appeared dismissive of some concerns, saying not all the sightings reported have been confirmed to involve drones. So who or what is behind the flying objects? Where are they coming from? What are they doing? “My understanding is they have no clue,” Peterson said. A message seeking comment was left with the Department of Homeland Security. Most of the drones have been spotted along coastal areas and some were recently reported flying over a large reservoir in Clinton. Sightings also have been reported in neighboring states. James Edwards, of Succasunna, New Jersey, said he has seen a few drones flying over his neighborhood since last month. “It raises concern mainly because there's so much that's unknown,” Edwards said Wednesday. “There are lots of people spouting off about various conspiracies that they believe are in play here, but that only adds fuel to the fire unnecessarily. We need to wait and see what is really happening here, not let fear of the unknown overtake us."San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel sparked discussion on social media this week after addressing criticism of his production . In a now-deleted post, Samuel wrote, "Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!" The comment prompted questions for head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy, who expressed unwavering support for Samuel while emphasizing the team's commitment to finding ways to get him more involved offensively. When asked about his comments, Samuel simply responded, "You read what you read. I was frustrated for sure." One teammate, however, is predicting big things for Samuel in Thursday night's critical NFC West matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Tight end George Kittle believes Samuel is poised for a breakout performance, arguing that his season stats don't tell the whole story of his still-potent playmaking ability. "I thought Deebo, actually, against the Bears, the opportunities that he had, he was trying to make the most of them," Kittle said. "And unfortunately, for a couple of those, they had better calls than the plays that we called." Despite Samuel being limited to just two catches for 22 yards in Sunday's win over the Chicago Bears, Kittle is confident the star receiver will rise to the occasion against the Rams. "I think he's gonna have one of those amazing Deebo Thursday night games, especially against the Rams," Kittle shared. "That's what I see. So, guys want to voice their opinions on social media. It is what it is. I don't really care. It doesn't make anybody in this locker room think any differently about him. "Deebo thinks highly of himself, as we all think very highly of Deebo. He's a hell of a football player. So he just wants to be out there and contribute to the team, and I think he's going to have an opportunity to do that this Thursday." This article first appeared on 49ers Webzone and was syndicated with permission.

Patients waiting longer for treatment in emergency departmentsPresident-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction

A commission tasked with overseeing a process that could lead to a new Illinois state flag has selected 10 finalists for the public to consider early next year. The 20-member Illinois Flag Commission, which includes some elected officials, chose the finalists from nearly 5,000 submissions that came in since the Illinois secretary of state’s office opened the selection process in early September. The designs incorporate iterations of various state icons, including the state insect (the Monarch butterfly), the state flower (violet) and Abraham Lincoln, as well as nods to corn, agriculture and industry. Beginning in January, the public will be able to vote online at www.ilsos.gov/stateflag for one of the new designs, or for one of three flags that have already flown over the Land of Lincoln: the current state flag, the 1918 Centennial Flag and the 1968 Sesquicentennial Flag. By April 1, after the public vote has been tallied, the commission will offer recommendations and share its findings with the Illinois General Assembly, which will then decide on whether to adopt a new flag. The state flag now features a bald eagle with the state motto in its mouth standing on a rock bearing the year of the state’s incorporation, 1818, and the seal’s creation, 1868. It’s almost a carbon copy of the state seal. Through legislation sponsored by state Rep. Kam Buckner of Chicago and state Sen. Doris Turner of Springfield, the Illinois Flag Commission was created to determine whether a new state flag “would better represent the state’s diversity of urban, suburban and rural communities and inspire renewed state pride among Illinoisians,” according to a statement from the secretary of state’s office. Gov. JB Pritzker signed the measure into law last year. Designers for a new flag were asked to incorporate elements such as Illinois’ natural features or anything that represents the state’s history and culture. There was no limit on flag shape, but the commission was allowed to edit the designs. There was also no limit on colors but less than three colors were recommended for clarity of design. Designs were not allowed to be generated by artificial intelligence. The flag designs eligible for public voting in January can be viewed at ilsos.gov/special/IFC/10finalists.pdf . Minnesota adopted a new state flag earlier this year after a similar process, ending up with a banner that has an eight-pointed star enclosed in a dark blue shape that represents the state’s general outline and the night sky on the left, and a light-blue field on the right representing the state’s many bodies of water. Last year, Utah also underwent the process of getting a new state flag, which was changed to pay homage to its nickname, “The Beehive State.” Locally, Cook County changed its flag in 2022, adopting a design created by a student from Glenbrook South High School in north suburban Glenview.

On a scale of one to 10, just how desperate do you think Kim Kardashian is for attention? Judging by the billionaire’s weirdly sexual photoshoot with a robot, the answer may be an 11. The entrepreneur and influencer, who is a big Tesla fan, recently posed with the company’s Optimus bot in a Tesla Cybercab (a self-driving taxi ) for a series of photos which might be described as avant-garde if you’re being polite, and dystopian thirst traps if you’re not. She also posted some rather less sultry videos of her interacting with the humanoid robot. The photoshoot has ignited something of a debate online about whether Kardashian is deliberately aligning herself with Elon Musk, who runs Tesla, and outing herself as a Trump supporter. Which is a bit of a stretch really as I’m not sure that – with the exception of an admirable stint working on criminal justice reform – Kardashian has ever pretended to be a leftist. Kardashian is a billionaire who has been sued for unfair labor practices and who announced, back in 2018, that she has “ nothing bad to say ” about Trump. Her Tesla-themed photoshoot was hardly a radical new direction for her. It is, however, a sign of the “autonomous everything” direction in which we’re headed. The world’s most famous influencer cozying up to a robot in a self-driving taxi is yet another example of how AI-powered autonomous technology is slowly marching into our lives. When it comes to Tesla’s Optimus robot, of course, the operative word here is slowly. The robot, which isn’t available for sale to the general public yet, may look flashy but it isn’t clear just how sophisticated it actually is yet. The Optimus robots were a major part of Tesla’s Cybercab reveal in October, serving drinks to the crowd and even chatting with them – as it turns out, however, these “cutting-edge” robots were actually being remotely controlled by humans . Which is a step up, I suppose, from when Musk unveiled plans for a “Tesla Bot” in 2021 by bringing out a human in a robot suit who proceeded to breakdance to electronic music. Musk has been talking a big game about human-replacement robots for a long time , saying they’re being designed to do “ boring, repetitious and dangerous ” work. The tech billionaire, who has a habit of wildly overpromising what he is capable of, also keeps telling us they’re going to be released any day now. In 2021, for example, he suggested the “Tesla bot” would launch in 2022 . Earlier this year he claimed Tesla will produce “genuinely useful” humanoid robots to start working in its factories next year and plans to roll them out to other companies in 2026. I wouldn’t hold your breath that this will actually happen. Which is not to say, however, that development of these sorts of robots is a long way away. Robotic dogs, made by Boston Dynamics, are already being deployed by police departments and one has been guarding Trump at Mar-a-Lago . Deadlier versions of these dogs are also in the works: the US army has reportedly sent at least one “robot dog” armed with an artificial intelligence-enabled gun turret to Saudi Arabia for testing. More generally, military use of AI-enabled weaponry is booming , fundamentally changing the nature of warfare. Gaza is currently a real-life testing field for some of this tech: earlier this year, one Israeli intelligence officer told the Guardian that powerful AI systems “made it easier” to kill people and destroy homes. And while robot dogs may not be in Gaza yet, numerous eyewitnesses have said that the Israeli military is using sniper drones – quadcopters with rifles attached to them – and they’re shooting civilians and children. Are the people developing autonomous weapons kept up at night with worry about how their technology might be abused? Palmer Luckey , the billionaire founder of Anduril , the artificial intelligence weapons company, certainly doesn’t seem to be. In a recent conversation with Pepperdine University’s president, Jim Gash, Luckey enthused about how society needs a “warrior class that is enthused and excited about enacting violence on others in pursuit of good aims”. So this is what you should think about when you see cutesy photoshoots with robots like the one Kardashian just did. You should think about how these robots are going to be used by the self-proclaimed “warrior class”. I have a feeling that we’re going to see versions of Optimus being deployed to crack down on protesters well before the Tesla robots are cooking us all dinner and doing our drudge work. Georgia officials have dismissed all members of a state committee charged with investigating deaths of pregnant women. Why? Because ProPublica did a little investigating itself and, back in September, got hold of internal documents which found Amber Thurman and Candi Miller died preventable deaths as a result of a state abortion ban. McBride recently became the first openly transgender person to be elected to the US House of Representatives. Cue vicious bullying from her future colleagues. This week the South Carolina representative Nancy Mace filed a motion to ban McBride and other trans women from women’s bathrooms in the Capitol. “If you think this bill is about protecting women and not simply a ploy to get on Fox News, you’ve been fooled,” wrote Natalie Johnson, Mace’s former communications director. She added, a real effort to protect women would involve “a bill to bar Matt Gaetz, a sexual predator with an affinity for underage girls, from ever walking those halls again”. Sign up to The Week in Patriarchy Get Arwa Mahdawi’s weekly recap of the most important stories on feminism and sexism and those fighting for equality after newsletter promotion “OnlyFans says it empowers content creators, particularly women, to monetize sexually explicit images and videos in a safe online environment,” a Reuters Investigation notes . “But [we] found women who said they had been deceived, drugged, terrorized and sexually enslaved to make money from the site.” The word “squaw” is thought to have originally just meant “woman” in the Algonquin language but eventually morphed into a misogynistic and racist term. It will now be removed from more than 30 geographic features in California by 2025. Thaslima Begum’s Guardian article helped bring attention to Mazyouna Damoo’s family’s struggle to evacuate her from Gaza. After the Israeli authorities repeatedly blocked requests for her urgent medical evacuation she was finally allowed out to get help in the US . Police in Japan managed to crack the Mystery of the Disappearing Shoes and figure out why footwear was disappearing from a kindergarten. The culprit? It was ... a weasel . The Guardian has a video of the shoe thief in action, and this fun linguistic nugget: “[T]he musky scent of the Japanese weasel gave rise to the saying itachi no saigo-pei . That literally translates as ‘the weasel’s final fart’, but is used to refer to the last word or act of an unpopular or dislikable person.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump used his image as a successful New York businessman to become a celebrity, a reality television star and eventually the president. Now he will get to revel in one of the most visible symbols of success in the city when he rings the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday as he's also named Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Trump is expected to be on Wall Street to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, according to four people with knowledge of his plans. He will also be announced Thursday as Time's 2024 Person of the Year , according to a person familiar with the selection. The people who confirmed the stock exchange appearance and Time award were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who at times has treated the stock market as a measure of public approval and has long-prized signifiers of his success in New York's business world and his appearances on the covers of magazines — especially Time. Trump was named the magazine's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He had already been listed as a finalist for this year's award alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales. Time declined to confirm the selection ahead of Thursday morning's announcement. “Time does not comment on its annual choice for Person of the Year prior to publication,” a spokesperson for the magazine said Wednesday. The ringing of the bell is a powerful symbol of U.S. capitalism — and a good New York photo opportunity at that. Despite his decades as a New York businessman, Trump has never done it before. It was unclear whether Trump, a Republican, would meet with New York's embattled mayor, Democrat Eric Adams , who has warmed to Trump and has not ruled out changing his political party. Adams has been charged with federal corruption crimes and accused of selling influence to foreign nationals; he has denied wrongdoing. Trump himself was once a symbol of New York, but he gave up living full-time in his namesake Trump Tower in Manhattan and moved to Florida after leaving the White House. CNN first reported Wednesday Trump’s visit to the stock exchange and Politico reported that Trump was expected to be unveiled as Time's Person of the Year. The stock exchange regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the ceremonial opening and closing of trading. During Trump’s first term, his wife, Melania Trump, rang the bell to promote her “Be Best” initiative on children’s well-being. Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the opening bell to unveil the magazine's 2023 Person of the Year: Taylor Swift . After the Nov. 5 election, the S&P 500 rallied 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,508 points, or 3.6%, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 3%. All three indexes topped records they had set in recent weeks. The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise regardless of which party wins the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation that Trump favors will mean. Trump has long courted the business community based on his own status as a wealthy real estate developer who gained additional fame as the star of the TV show “The Apprentice” in which competitors tried to impress him with their business skills. He won the election in part by tapping into Americans' deep anxieties about an economy that seemed unable to meet the needs of the middle class. The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests. Trump spends the bulk of his time at his Florida home but was in New York for weeks this spring during his hush money trial there. He was convicted, but his lawyers are pushing for the case to be thrown out in light of his election. While he spent hours in a Manhattan courthouse every day during his criminal trial, Trump took his presidential campaign to the streets of the heavily Democratic city, holding a rally in the Bronx and popping up at settings for working-class New Yorkers: a bodega, a construction site and a firehouse. Trump returned to the city in September to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Manhattan tower and again in the final stretch of the presidential campaign when he held a rally at Madison Square Garden that drew immediate blowback as speakers made rude and racist insults and incendiary remarks . At the stock exchange, the ringing of the bell has been a tradition since the 1800s. The first guest to do it was a 10-year-old boy named Leonard Ross, in 1956, who won a quiz show answering questions about the stock market. Many times, companies listing on the exchange would ring the bell at 9:30 a.m. to commemorate their initial offerings as trading began. But the appearances have become an important marker of culture and politics -- something that Trump hopes to seize as he’s promised historic levels of economic growth. The anti-apartheid advocate and South African President Nelson Mandela rang the bell, as has Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone with his castmates from the film “The Expendables.” So, too, have the actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner for an “Avengers” movie and the Olympians Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. In 1985, Ronald Reagan became the first sitting U.S. president to ring the bell. “With tax reform and budget control, our economy will be free to expand to its full potential, driving the bears back into permanent hibernation,” Reagan said at the time. “We’re going to turn the bull loose.” The crowd of traders on the floor chanted, “Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie!” The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed in 1985 and 1986, but it suffered a decline in October 1987 in an event known as “Black Monday.” Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.Stocks jump on China hope, euro rebounds

An African country became a hub for dark tourism, thanks partly to its striking Italian-styled architecture and unique culture. Eritrea is located in northeast Africa next to the Red Sea. It borders Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti, and is famous for its Italian colonial buildings, especially in the capital of Asmara. Travel blogger Drew Binsky traveled to the country and even met an Italian tourist there. She told him the capital city "looks really, really Italian. I had the best spaghetti and pizza that I ever had outside of Italy." The Foreign Office warns Brits against all travel to Eritrea due to a high threat of terrorism and political instability. Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1991. Italians arrived in the country in 1882 to form settlements in the country. This is what led to the Italian aesthetic of many of the buildings. Italy left Eritrea in 1941 during World War II, it was then placed under British military administration until 1952. Drew Binsky said in his video that the buildings take him "right back to Florence or Milan." Even many of the cars in the capital city are old Italian models. Many of the older generations in the country can speak fluent Italian. Drew Binsky added that spending time in Eritrea is like going back 30 or 40 years. The capital city is cash only, with no credit cards accepted. None of the cars and buildings are modern either. While there, the travel vlogger said the people were welcoming and accepting. Eritrea also attracts dark tourism due to its history. The country endured difficult times during the civil war that led to its independence. There was another war for two years in 1998, again with Ethiopia.

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) – Bayern Munich’s German Cup hopes were ended with Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to visitors Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 but the team’s energy showed great promise, said coach Vincent Kompany. The Bavarians suffered their first defeat of the season in the league and domestic cup and had keeper Manuel Neuer sent off in the 17th minute with a straight red card. But they still had the better chances in the first half despite being a man down with Kingsley Coman, Leon Goretzka and Konrad Laimer all spurning opportunities. Leverkusen struck against the run of play with substitute Nathan Tella’s header in the 69th minute to dash Bayern’s hopes. “Fact is we lost and we won’t win the Cup this season. But with experience we know this was also a special performance from us,” Kompany told a press conference. “If this feeling remains we will win many games but this Cup we cannot win it any more,” he said. Kompany is in his first season in charge and his team tops the Bundesliga standings with a four-point advantage over second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. Bayern have also improved in the Champions League after a rocky start this season. “It is bitter for us. We won’t have a good evening,” Kompany said. “But if this energy remains then we will win many more games. This team can grow further and we will get our moments.” (Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Toby Davis) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibilty for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes got back to climbing on Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve . The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month and finished just short of its all-time high. Big Tech stocks led the way, which drove the Nasdaq composite up 1.8% to top the 20,000 level for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, lagged the market with a dip of 99 points, or 0.2%. Stocks got a boost as expectations built that Wednesday’s inflation data will allow the Fed to deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. Traders are betting on a nearly 99% probability of that, according to data from CME Group, up from 89% a day before. If they’re correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It’s hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy and to prices for investments, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. “The data have given the Fed the ‘all clear’ for next week, and today’s inflation data keep a January cut in active discussion,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times this year , with the latest coming last week. The biggest boosts for the index on Wednesday came from Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks. Their massive growth has made them Wall Street’s biggest stars for years, though other kinds of stocks have recently been catching up somewhat amid hopes for the broader U.S. economy. Tesla jumped 5.9% to finish above $420 at $424.77. It’s a level that Elon Musk made famous in a 2018 tweet when he said he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Stitch Fix soared 44.3% after the company that sends clothes to your door reported a smaller loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also gave financial forecasts for the current quarter that were better than expected, including for revenue. GE Vernova rallied 5% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500. The energy company that spun out of General Electric said it would pay a 25 cent dividend every three months, and it approved a plan to send up to another $6 billion to its shareholders by buying back its own stock. On the losing end of Wall Street, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment tumbled 20.1% after reporting a worse loss for the latest quarter than expected. It also said CEO Chris Morris has resigned, and the board has been working with an executive-search firm for the last few months to find its next permanent leader. Albertsons fell 1.5% after filing a lawsuit against Kroger, saying it didn’t do enough for their proposed $24.6 billion merger agreement to win regulatory clearance. Albertsons said it’s seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger, whose stock rose 1%. A day earlier, judges in separate cases in Oregon and Washington nixed the supermarket giants’ merger. The grocers contended a combination could have helped them compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, but critics said it would hurt competition. After terminating the merger agreement with Kroger, Albertsons said it plans to boost its dividend 25% and increased the size of its program to buy back its own stock. Macy’s slipped 0.8% after cutting some of its financial forecasts for the full year of 2024, including for how much profit it expects to make off each $1 of revenue. All told, the S&P 500 rose 49.28 points to 6,084.19. The Dow dipped 99.27 to 44,148.56, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 347.65 to 20,034.89. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.23% late Tuesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, edged up to 4.15% from 4.14%. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was an outlier and slipped 0.8% as Chinese leaders convened an annual planning meeting in Beijing that is expected to set economic policies and growth targets for the coming year. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1%, up for a second straight day as it climbs back following last week’s political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.A man has made a blood-chilling discovery in his laundry after his dogs raised the alarm in his Northern Territory home. Vince Nathan was asleep about 1.30am on Tuesday when the sound of his dogs Boff and Bluey began echoing through the house, waking him up. Curious to see what the dogs were making a fuss about, Mr Nathan got out of bed and walked around the corner, spotting something underneath his feet – a saltwater crocodile. Vince Nathan and his wife Raylene found a crocodile in their laundry. Picture: Supplied “As I came around the corner, I nearly stood on him,” he told 9News. “He was sitting there in the pathway.” The crocodile, which was about 1m in length, wasn’t too impressed to see him, opening his mouth and hissing at Mr Nathan, prompting him to take off and wake up his wife, Raylene. “I call my wife and said ‘Ray, come look, come look, there’s a croc here, mate’,” he said. While the Northern Territory is known for its large crocodile population, Mr Nathan and his wife do not live close to waterways, leaving the couple scratching their heads about the crocodile’s origins. “We’re not near any water to the west of us,” Mr Nathan said. “We’ve got a beach which is five kilometres away and we’ve got a creek that goes up there called crocodile creek.” He tried calling a snake catcher but wasn’t expecting anyone to pick up the phone in the middle of the night. Picture: Supplied The crocodile likely walked for kilometres to get to the couple’s house. Picture: Supplied He then tried to call the local snake catcher, though was not expecting them to pick up the phone in the middle of the night. “When you call them it goes to voicemail, it usually goes: ‘If there is a buffalo in the area or a dangerous dog please leave a message and I’ll get back to you’,” he explained. “I’m thinking, ‘Well, it’s sort of a dangerous dog’.” It was quite the surprise for the couple. Picture: Supplied Thankfully, the snake catcher was able to take the metre-long reptile out of the house, though there isn’t an indication how the crocodile got there in the first place. Mr Nathan believes it may have walked “two to three kilometres plus” to get to the house; the crocodile could have been there for weeks, hiding in the laundry while the occupants went on with daily life. “Ray had been going there the last two weeks every day doing washing and not even half a metre away this croc was under the table,” Mr Nathan said. Originally published as ‘Nearly stood on him’: Man makes chilling discovery in laundry Animals Don't miss out on the headlines from Animals. Followed categories will be added to My News. More related stories WA News Shark ‘shook’ surfer during attack A teenage surfer has described the moment a shark attacked him, but vowing it won’t stop him getting into the water again. Read more Animals Bull shark spotted in popular river Swimmers have been warned to stay out of the water after a bull shark was spotted in a popular river in Victoria’s east. Read more

LOADING ERROR LOADING A hallmark of Donald Trump's first presidency was the way major policy developments would sometimes get almost no attention, because they were competing with the flurry of higher-profile, mind-blowing controversies swirling around him and his team. Evidently Trump's second presidency is going to unfold in the same way. For the past week, the political world has focused mostly on the controversies over Trump's planned appointments for top positions in his administration. And that's understandable, given his plan to put the nation's health in the hands of a noted vaccine skeptic and to hand the national intelligence apparatus over to someone who likes to repeat talking points from Russian propaganda. Advertisement But that conversation has left virtually no space for discussion about policy changes — including one that should raise a lot of questions about exactly whose interests Trump will represent in government and exactly who has influence over him. The policy in question is a federal tax credit for buyers of new electric vehicles. It exists thanks to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden's signature legislative accomplishment, and is part of that law's effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by promoting EV use. Last week Reuters reported that Trump's transition team was recommending he ask Congress to kill the tax credit. And while Trump has not said anything publicly, auto industry leaders and investors saw the report as a trial balloon and indicator of what the president-elect is likely to do. It was not exactly a shocking development. Trump has been speaking out against Democratic support of EVs ― or what he has called, deceptively, an "electric vehicle mandate" ― for years. Especially when speaking in states like Michigan, cradle of America's auto industry, he has portrayed the EV effort as elite Democrats imposing a tree-hugging agenda that will ruin the U.S. auto industry and, in the process, wipe out jobs... Jonathan CohnNEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump used his image as a successful New York businessman to become a celebrity, a reality television star and eventually the president. Now he will get to revel in one of the most visible symbols of success in the city when he rings the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday as he's also named Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Trump is expected to be on Wall Street to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, according to four people with knowledge of his plans. He will also be announced Thursday as Time's 2024 Person of the Year , according to a person familiar with the selection. The people who confirmed the stock exchange appearance and Time award were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who at times has treated the stock market as a measure of public approval and has long-prized signifiers of his success in New York's business world and his appearances on the covers of magazines — especially Time. Trump was named the magazine's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He had already been listed as a finalist for this year's award alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales. Time declined to confirm the selection ahead of Thursday morning's announcement. “Time does not comment on its annual choice for Person of the Year prior to publication,” a spokesperson for the magazine said Wednesday. The ringing of the bell is a powerful symbol of U.S. capitalism — and a good New York photo opportunity at that. Despite his decades as a New York businessman, Trump has never done it before. It was unclear whether Trump, a Republican, would meet with New York's embattled mayor, Democrat Eric Adams , who has warmed to Trump and has not ruled out changing his political party. Adams has been charged with federal corruption crimes and accused of selling influence to foreign nationals; he has denied wrongdoing. Trump himself was once a symbol of New York, but he gave up living full-time in his namesake Trump Tower in Manhattan and moved to Florida after leaving the White House. CNN first reported Wednesday Trump’s visit to the stock exchange and Politico reported that Trump was expected to be unveiled as Time's Person of the Year. The stock exchange regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the ceremonial opening and closing of trading. During Trump’s first term, his wife, Melania Trump, rang the bell to promote her “Be Best” initiative on children’s well-being. Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the opening bell to unveil the magazine's 2023 Person of the Year: Taylor Swift . After the Nov. 5 election, the S&P 500 rallied 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,508 points, or 3.6%, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 3%. All three indexes topped records they had set in recent weeks. The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise regardless of which party wins the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation that Trump favors will mean. Trump has long courted the business community based on his own status as a wealthy real estate developer who gained additional fame as the star of the TV show “The Apprentice” in which competitors tried to impress him with their business skills. He won the election in part by tapping into Americans' deep anxieties about an economy that seemed unable to meet the needs of the middle class. The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests. Trump spends the bulk of his time at his Florida home but was in New York for weeks this spring during his hush money trial there. He was convicted, but his lawyers are pushing for the case to be thrown out in light of his election. While he spent hours in a Manhattan courthouse every day during his criminal trial, Trump took his presidential campaign to the streets of the heavily Democratic city, holding a rally in the Bronx and popping up at settings for working-class New Yorkers: a bodega, a construction site and a firehouse. Trump returned to the city in September to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Manhattan tower and again in the final stretch of the presidential campaign when he held a rally at Madison Square Garden that drew immediate blowback as speakers made rude and racist insults and incendiary remarks . At the stock exchange, the ringing of the bell has been a tradition since the 1800s. The first guest to do it was a 10-year-old boy named Leonard Ross, in 1956, who won a quiz show answering questions about the stock market. Many times, companies listing on the exchange would ring the bell at 9:30 a.m. to commemorate their initial offerings as trading began. But the appearances have become an important marker of culture and politics -- something that Trump hopes to seize as he’s promised historic levels of economic growth. The anti-apartheid advocate and South African President Nelson Mandela rang the bell, as has Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone with his castmates from the film “The Expendables.” So, too, have the actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner for an “Avengers” movie and the Olympians Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. In 1985, Ronald Reagan became the first sitting U.S. president to ring the bell. “With tax reform and budget control, our economy will be free to expand to its full potential, driving the bears back into permanent hibernation,” Reagan said at the time. “We’re going to turn the bull loose.” The crowd of traders on the floor chanted, “Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie!” The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed in 1985 and 1986, but it suffered a decline in October 1987 in an event known as “Black Monday.” Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.

Arizona lawmaker again targets transgender rights, citing election results

Rocketinvest.com: Revolutionizing Online Trading with Privacy, Simplicity, and Innovation 12-11-2024 10:22 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Stones_PR Rocketinvest.com has long been a trusted name in the world of online trading, with a legacy of adapting to the changing dynamics of the financial markets. Founded years ago as a platform focused primarily on the stock and fund markets, it has steadily expanded its offerings to include a wide array of financial products such as cryptocurrency, foreign exchange (Forex), and digital gold. This evolution has not only positioned Rocketinvest as a leader in online financial services but also transformed it into a one-stop platform for diverse investment options. From its humble beginnings to its current state as a comprehensive digital finance platform, Rocketinvest has built a reputation for providing privacy, simplicity, and security-three pillars that have guided its growth and attracted a global base of both retail and institutional investors. A Legacy of Innovation and Growth When Rocketinvest first entered the market, it focused solely on traditional asset classes like stocks and funds. The platform quickly gained popularity due to its user-friendly interface and transparent approach to trading. What set Rocketinvest apart from its competitors was its focus on simplifying complex investment strategies, allowing investors to easily navigate the world of stocks and mutual funds. Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/339ed7a9306e7f1287b97241f4360f4e.jpg However, as the financial world continued to evolve, so did Rocketinvest. The company recognized the growing demand for alternative financial instruments and began expanding its product offerings to meet these needs. The introduction of **cryptocurrency** trading was one of the first major expansions, giving users access to digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a wide range of altcoins. As the popularity of cryptocurrency soared, Rocketinvest's early adoption of these assets allowed it to capture a growing user base eager to enter the market. Next, Rocketinvest embraced foreign exchange (Forex) trading, offering users the ability to trade currencies from across the globe. Forex trading opened up new opportunities for both individual traders and institutional investors, and Rocketinvest provided the tools and resources needed to make these markets more accessible. In recent years, Rocketinvest has also ventured into digital gold, offering an innovative way for investors to gain exposure to gold without physically owning the metal. This addition, alongside the platform's diverse suite of financial instruments, has solidified Rocketinvest as a forward-thinking platform in the online trading space. Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/f96123001bc26b889875fcd784c17f06.jpg Privacy and Security: The Cornerstones of Rocketinvest's Success As the digital finance industry grows, privacy and security have become top concerns for users. Rocketinvest has long recognized the importance of protecting user data and ensuring that transactions remain secure. The platform employs advanced encryption technologies to protect all sensitive data, from login credentials to financial transactions. Whether users are trading stocks, cryptocurrencies, or currencies, their personal and financial information is safeguarded by industry-leading security protocols. "We understand that our users trust us with their financial assets, and it's our responsibility to protect that trust," said Jim reavis, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Rocketinvest. "Our security infrastructure is designed to offer the highest level of protection, and we continue to improve it to stay ahead of emerging threats." Simplicity: Making Complex Markets Accessible While Rocketinvest has expanded its offerings, it has remained committed to its core principle of simplicity. One of the platform's standout features is its intuitive interface, which makes it easy for both novice and experienced traders to navigate the world of financial markets. Whether you're trading stocks, forex, or cryptocurrency, the platform's clean design and user-friendly tools allow you to execute trades quickly and with confidence. "We believe in empowering our users by giving them the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in the markets," said Jay Farner, CEO of Rocketinvest. "By simplifying complex financial instruments, we help traders focus on what matters most - making smart investment choices." Expanding Horizons: A Global Platform for a Global Market Rocketinvest's evolution into a multi-asset platform has not only attracted investors from diverse sectors but has also expanded its international reach. With users in over 50 countries, Rocketinvest is increasingly recognized as a global leader in online trading. The platform's ability to offer cryptocurrency, forex, stocks, and digital gold under one roof has made it a go-to choice for both retail and institutional investors looking for flexibility and variety in their investment options. Rocketinvest's compliance with international regulatory standards, such as GDPR in Europe and SEC regulations in the United States, ensures that users can trade with confidence, knowing their data and investments are being handled in a transparent and secure manner. The platform's growing international status reflects its commitment to maintaining the highest levels of compliance and regulatory oversight. A Vision for the Future As Rocketinvest looks to the future, it remains committed to evolving with the times and introducing new products and services to meet the changing needs of investors. The platform is actively working on enhancing its mobile trading experience, introducing AI-powered trading tools, and exploring new asset classes, such as NFTs and sustainable investments. "Our mission has always been to democratize access to financial markets and provide a platform that offers both security and simplicity," said Reynolds. "As we continue to grow, we will remain focused on innovation and ensuring that our users can trade with confidence, no matter where they are in the world." Conclusion Rocketinvest.com has successfully transformed from a traditional stock and fund trading platform into a cutting-edge financial marketplace that meets the needs of today's global investor. With its diverse offerings in cryptocurrency, Forex, and digital gold, Rocketinvest provides users with the tools and security to thrive in today's fast-paced financial world. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced trader, Rocketinvest's focus on privacy, security, and simplicity ensures a smooth and secure trading experience for all. As the platform continues to innovate and expand, Rocketinvest is poised to remain a leader in the online trading industry, empowering investors with the resources they need to succeed in a rapidly changing financial landscape. Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Media Contact Company Name: Rocketinvest Contact Person: Jack Levin Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=rocketinvestcom-revolutionizing-online-trading-with-privacy-simplicity-and-innovation ] Country: United States Website: http://www.rocketinvest.com This release was published on openPR.The problem wasn’t money for Democrats

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Alyssa Naeher ended her national team career with one last win. The stalwart goalkeeper made two critical saves in her final match for the United States, and the Americans beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Tuesday. “I definitely wasn’t thinking about it during the game, just wanted to win the game and do what I could to come away with the ‘W’ for us to close out the year,” Naeher said. Lynn Williams scored the go-ahead goal in the 71st minute for the U.S., which won its fifth Olympic gold medal in France this summer and wrapped up the year on a 20-game unbeaten streak. The Americans were coming off a scoreless draw with England on Saturday at Wembley Stadium. Naeher announced two weeks ago that the European exhibitions would be her final matches. The 36-year-old goalkeeper played in 115 games for the U.S., with 111 starts, 89 wins and 69 shutouts. Naeher is the only U.S. keeper with shutouts in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. She was in goal when the United States defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the 2019 Women's World Cup final . “I feel like in my heart I would love to keep going. In my head, in my body and mind, I feel like it’s the right time. And I think it’s the right time with this team as well as it builds towards the future and towards 2027,” Naeher said. “This environment, this team, is an incredible team to be a part of, but it’s also really hard and really challenging in a lot of ways as well. “I feel like I’ve given everything I have to give for this team and that’s why I feel at peace with that.” The Netherlands took the lead on center back Veerle Buurman's header off a corner kick in the 15th minute. Naeher prevented a second goal when she punched away Dominique Janssen's shot in the 38th. The United States drew even at the end of the first half on an own goal that deflected off Buurman and past Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar. Naeher slid to stop Danielle van de Donk's shot in the 69th minute before Williams, a second-half substitute, scored her fourth goal of the year and 21st of her career. “I wouldn’t say that this was our prettiest game of soccer ever. And sometimes that’s how games go. You can talk about tactics, you can talk about formations, you talk about everything, but the biggest thing was matching their intensity. Getting to the second ball, getting to the first ball. That was the shift that needed to happen,” Williams said about the team's second-half mindset. Naeher finished with six saves. She is not quite finished with soccer yet: She will continue playing next season for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League. “She’s been consistent again and again. Even when she’s been questioned at times in her career, she’s always found the answer,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “Not only has she been a great player in this program, but let me tell you, she’s so loved by everyone, players and staff alike. She is the best teammate you could ask for and that just speaks volumes to the person that she is.” Lily Yohannes came in as a substitute in the second half. Yohannes, who has dual citizenship, opted to play for the United States over the Netherlands last month. She plays professionally for the Dutch club Ajax. The U.S. finished the year without the trio of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith, who were left off the roster for the final two matches to rest and heal nagging injuries. The U.S. is unbeaten in 15 matches under Hayes, who took over in May. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerNEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump used his image as a successful New York businessman to become a celebrity, a reality television star and eventually the president. Now he will get to revel in one of the most visible symbols of success in the city when he rings the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday as he's also named Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Trump is expected to be on Wall Street to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, according to four people with knowledge of his plans. He will also be announced Thursday as Time's 2024 Person of the Year , according to a person familiar with the selection. The people who confirmed the stock exchange appearance and Time award were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who at times has treated the stock market as a measure of public approval and has long-prized signifiers of his success in New York's business world and his appearances on the covers of magazines — especially Time. Trump was named the magazine's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He had already been listed as a finalist for this year's award alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales. Time declined to confirm the selection ahead of Thursday morning's announcement. “Time does not comment on its annual choice for Person of the Year prior to publication,” a spokesperson for the magazine said Wednesday. The ringing of the bell is a powerful symbol of U.S. capitalism — and a good New York photo opportunity at that. Despite his decades as a New York businessman, Trump has never done it before. It was unclear whether Trump, a Republican, would meet with New York's embattled mayor, Democrat Eric Adams , who has warmed to Trump and has not ruled out changing his political party. Adams has been charged with federal corruption crimes and accused of selling influence to foreign nationals; he has denied wrongdoing. Trump himself was once a symbol of New York, but he gave up living full-time in his namesake Trump Tower in Manhattan and moved to Florida after leaving the White House. CNN first reported Wednesday Trump’s visit to the stock exchange and Politico reported that Trump was expected to be unveiled as Time's Person of the Year. The stock exchange regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the ceremonial opening and closing of trading. During Trump’s first term, his wife, Melania Trump, rang the bell to promote her “Be Best” initiative on children’s well-being. Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the opening bell to unveil the magazine's 2023 Person of the Year: Taylor Swift . After the Nov. 5 election, the S&P 500 rallied 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,508 points, or 3.6%, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 3%. All three indexes topped records they had set in recent weeks. The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise regardless of which party wins the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation that Trump favors will mean. Trump has long courted the business community based on his own status as a wealthy real estate developer who gained additional fame as the star of the TV show “The Apprentice” in which competitors tried to impress him with their business skills. He won the election in part by tapping into Americans' deep anxieties about an economy that seemed unable to meet the needs of the middle class. The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests. Trump spends the bulk of his time at his Florida home but was in New York for weeks this spring during his hush money trial there. He was convicted, but his lawyers are pushing for the case to be thrown out in light of his election. While he spent hours in a Manhattan courthouse every day during his criminal trial, Trump took his presidential campaign to the streets of the heavily Democratic city, holding a rally in the Bronx and popping up at settings for working-class New Yorkers: a bodega, a construction site and a firehouse. Trump returned to the city in September to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Manhattan tower and again in the final stretch of the presidential campaign when he held a rally at Madison Square Garden that drew immediate blowback as speakers made rude and racist insults and incendiary remarks . At the stock exchange, the ringing of the bell has been a tradition since the 1800s. The first guest to do it was a 10-year-old boy named Leonard Ross, in 1956, who won a quiz show answering questions about the stock market. Many times, companies listing on the exchange would ring the bell at 9:30 a.m. to commemorate their initial offerings as trading began. But the appearances have become an important marker of culture and politics -- something that Trump hopes to seize as he’s promised historic levels of economic growth. The anti-apartheid advocate and South African President Nelson Mandela rang the bell, as has Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone with his castmates from the film “The Expendables.” So, too, have the actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner for an “Avengers” movie and the Olympians Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. In 1985, Ronald Reagan became the first sitting U.S. president to ring the bell. “With tax reform and budget control, our economy will be free to expand to its full potential, driving the bears back into permanent hibernation,” Reagan said at the time. “We’re going to turn the bull loose.” The crowd of traders on the floor chanted, “Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie!” The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed in 1985 and 1986, but it suffered a decline in October 1987 in an event known as “Black Monday.” Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.