[Shang-Jin Wei] Institutional reforms China needs
Tweet Facebook Mail At least 6000 inmates escaped from a high-security prison in Mozambique's capital on Christmas Day after a rebellion, the country's police chief said, as widespread post-election riots and violence roil the country. Police chief Bernardino Rafael said 33 prisoners died and 15 others were injured during a confrontation with the security forces. The prisoners fled during violent protests that have resulted in police cars, stations and infrastructure being destroyed after the country's Constitutional Council confirmed the ruling Frelimo party as the winner of the October 9 elections. READ MORE: Investigation promised after tragic deaths in Sydney to Hobart Mozambique's police chief has said that at least 6,000 inmates have escaped from a high-security prison in the capital on Christmas Day after a rebellion, as widespread post-election riots and violence continue to engulf the country. (AP) The escape from the Maputo Central Prison, located 14 kilometres south-west of the capital, started about midday on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) after "agitation" by a "group of subversive protesters" nearby, Rafael said. Some of the prisoners at the facility snatched weapons from the guards and started freeing other detainees. "A curious fact is that in that prison we had 29 convicted terrorists, who they released. We are worried, as a country, as Mozambicans, as members of the defence and security forces," Rafael said. "They (protesters) were making noise, demanding that they be able to remove the prisoners who are there serving their sentences", said Rafael, adding that the protests led to the collapse of a wall, allowing the prisoners to flee. READ MORE: 'Worst holiday ever': Aussies caught in New York taxi chaos Police chief Bernardino Rafael said 33 prisoners died and 15 others were injured during a confrontation with the security forces. (AP) He called on the escaped prisoners to surrender to authorities and for the population to be informed about the fugitives. Videos circulating on social media show the moment inmates left the prison, while other recordings reveal captures made by military personnel and prison guards. Many prisoners tried to hide in homes, but some were unsuccessful and ended up being detained again. In one video, a prisoner still with handcuffs on his right wrist says he was held in the disciplinary section of the prison and was released by other inmates. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:44 p.m. ESTNew coach Chris Holtmann has been tasked with rebuilding DePaul to the point where it can return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004. Northern Illinois coach Rashon Burno knows what it takes to steer DePaul to the NCAAs because he was the starting point guard on the 2000 team that made the tournament -- the Blue Demons' only other NCAA appearance since 1992. Perhaps they can compare notes Saturday afternoon when Burno leads the Huskies (2-3) back to his alma mater as DePaul (5-0) hosts its sixth straight home game in Chicago. Last season, Burno's NIU squad helped accelerate DePaul's need for a new coach -- as the Huskies waltzed into Wintrust Arena and owned Tony Stubblefield's Blue Demons by an 89-79 score on Nov. 25. The Huskies built a 24-point second-half lead before coasting to the finish line. Can history repeat for NIU? There's just one problem with using last year's game as a potential barometer for Saturday's rematch: Almost no players on this year's teams were part of last year's squads. At DePaul, only assistant coach Paris Parham remains as Holtmann had the green light to bring in an all-new roster. UIC graduate transfer Isaiah Rivera (16.0 ppg, .485 3-point rate) and Coastal Carolina transfer Jacob Meyer (15.4 ppg, .406 on 3s) lead a balanced attack that focuses on getting half its shots from beyond the arc. At NIU, Burno retained only two players who competed against DePaul last year -- Ethan Butler and Oluwasegun Durosinmi -- and they combined for three points in 26 minutes in that game. The Huskies' main players used the transfer portal to join such programs as Kansas, Wisconsin, Penn State, Colorado State, James Madison, Georgia State and Niagara. With every starting job open, Butler has jumped into the lineup and produced 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Transfers Quentin Jones (Cal Poly) and James Dent (Western Illinois) pace the Huskies with 14.4 and 14.0 points per game. NIU is on a two-game losing streak, most recently a 75-48 home defeat at the hands of Elon on Wednesday. Holtmann hopes to have Arkansas transfer Layden Blocker for Saturday's game. Blocker missed Tuesday's 78-69 win over Eastern Illinois with a quad injury. With the combo guard unavailable, point guard Conor Enright handed out a career-high 11 assists in a season-high 38 minutes. "We need (Blocker)," Holtmann said. "I don't want to play Conor 38 minutes." --Field Level Media
Boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Is Oleksandr Usyk the inaugural Uncrowned king?SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — SMU had an anxious morning awaiting word from the College Football Playoff committee. The Mustangs believed they had a strong enough resume to get into the 12-team field, highlighted by two wins over ranked teams. Even so, a loss to Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game was enough to spur trepidation; the committee could go with Alabama instead. The wait over, these ponies will ride on in one of the best seasons in school history. SMU earned the CFP's last at-large selection on Sunday and will open the College Football Playoff at Penn State on Dec. 21, with the winner moving on to face Boise State and electric running back Ashton Jeanty in the Dec. 31 Fiesta Bowl. The Mountain West champion Broncos (12-1) were awarded the No. 3 seed in the CFP over Big 12 champion Arizona State. “Brands like Alabama, brands like Clemson — the blue bloods of our sport — they’ve earned that right, but that doesn’t mean they should get the nod in situations like this,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. "I was really proud and thankful that didn’t play into the final decision.” The Mustangs (11-2) had wins over No. 22 Louisville and No. 18 Pittsburgh, finishing their first ACC season 8-0 — best by a group of five team their first season after moving up to a power conference. It's SMU's best season since 1984, yet a 34-31 loss to No. 13 Clemson in the ACC title game Saturday night left doubt whether it would make the cut in the first year of the 12-team playoff. The committee went with SMU over Alabama, giving the Mustangs the No. 11 seed and the ACC two playoff teams a year after unbeaten Florida State was left out of the four-team bracket. “It hurt what happened to our league last year,” Lashlee said. ”It does kind of galvanize the conference a little bit.” Penn State has found stability under coach James Franklin since the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal led to the firing of longtime coach Joe Paterno in 2011. The Nittany Lions have won at least 10 games six times in 11 seasons under Franklin, punctuated by earning the CFP's No. 6 seed despite losing 45-37 to top-ranked Oregon in the Big Ten championship. Penn State got here with a defense that's top 10 in yards and points allowed per game, along with one of the nation's best tight ends in Tyler Warren, who has 88 catches for 1,062 yards and six touchdowns. “We're getting better, but we'll see — it's all going to be based how we do against SMU,” Franklin said. “It's all about what you do on a consistent basis.” SMU also had a long climb back to relevance. One of the nation's top programs in the 1980s, the Mustangs received the death penalty from the NCAA in 1987 for a pay-to-play scandal. SMU had a hard time gaining a footing in the years that followed, including a winless 2003 season, before earning four straight bowl berths under coach June Jones from 2009-12. Lashlee has ushered the Mustangs into a new era since taking over in 2022, leading them to three straight bowl games and consecutive 11-win seasons — the latest good enough for a CFP berth. “There’s obviously a lot of tradition and history at SMU,” Franklin said. “They’ve done a really good job.” Boise State has a strong history at the Fiesta Bowl, including a win over Oklahoma in 2007 in one of the most memorable bowl games ever. The Broncos finally broke through to the CFP in their first full season under coach Spencer Danielson, who retained the job after being named interim coach midway through last season. Boise State lost to Oregon by three early in the season, then closed the season with 11 straight wins behind Jeanty, who rushed for 2,497 yards this season — fourth-most in FBS history and 132 behind Barry Sanders' record. “Our guys deserved it, they earned it,” Danielson said. “Even in this, there's going to be people counting us out. ... That's awesome. That's what this place is built on, the blue-collar chip on the shoulder, counted out.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Edgewell Personal Care's chief supply chain officer sells stock for $165,266
Sam Darnold sensed the backside pressure as soon as he dropped back with Minnesota trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter in Seattle, so he moved into a safe space in the pocket and did precisely what would prefer him to do with the game on the line. He threw the ball down the field to Justin Jefferson. The perfectly placed throw near the sideline beat double coverage for a 39-yard touchdown that put the Vikings back in front with 3:51 remaining in a over the Seahawks on Sunday. “It was a great call,” said Jefferson, who had 10 receptions for 144 yards and two scores, all season highs. “I’m not going to say too much about that play, but something went on where me and Sam were on the same page, and he found me and we went up.” The Vikings were understandably coy about the context around the , when Darnold made a difficult on-the-run pass just over cornerback Tariq Woolen that Jefferson deftly twisted to catch next to his backside hip so he could shield the ball from late-breaking safety Julian Love. Darnold saw Love's shoulders initially shaded inside just enough to believe he couldn't retreat fast enough to prevent Jefferson from getting the ball. Jefferson also applied some improvisation to his route that Darnold clearly and properly read during the play. “I want those guys to have some freedom in those moments,” coach Kevin O'Connell said. “We do a lot of things with Justin and Sam, seeing the coverage and then with some route opportunities to get to at the line of scrimmage, and I think those guys have just gotten so comfortable with that stuff.” Darnold's long-delayed breakout performance under O'Connell has been one of the stories of the NFL this season, one that wouldn't have unfolded as neatly for the third overall pick in the 2018 draft without such synergy between him and his superstar wide receiver. If the Vikings (13-2) win their last two games, they will not only be NFC North champions for the second time in three years but also get the No. 1 seed and the lone first-round bye in the NFC for the playoffs. “Every single game we’re finding different ways to overcome adversity, overcome the different stuff defenses have thrown towards us," Jefferson said. “Sam has done a great job being a leader.” What's working The pass rush was strong, with Andrew Van Ginkel recording two sacks and pressure leading to both interceptions of Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. The Vikings were credited with eight hits on Smith. What needs help The Vikings converted only three of 12 third downs, their second-worst rate of the season. Stock up Theo Jackson, who saw significant playing time at safety with Harrison Smith out, had the game-sealing interception with 49 seconds left. Stock down Tight end Josh Oliver has played 47% of the snaps the last two games, his two lowest usage rates of the season. He dropped the only pass he was thrown on Sunday. Injury report The defense ought to get a big boost this week with the expected return of the 13-year veteran Smith from his first absence in two years when he was sidelined at Seattle with a foot injury. Linebacker Ivan Pace, who has missed four games on injured reserve with a hamstring strain, is also on track to be back with his return to practice. Backup defensive lineman Jalen Redmond, who didn't play against the Seahawks because of a concussion, has made progress through the protocol, O'Connell said. Backup cornerback Fabian Moreau, who was inactive at Seattle with a hip injury, will continue to be evaluated throughout the week. Key number 13.6% — That's the third-down conversion allowance rate for the Vikings over the last two games, with Chicago and Seattle combining to go just 3 for 22. The Vikings rank second in the NFL in third-down defense at 33.7% for the season and also rank second on fourth down at 36.7%. Up next The Vikings host Green Bay on Sunday, with the kickoff moved to the late afternoon showcase spot on Fox. If Minnesota loses to the Packers, the Lions will clinch the NFC North and the Vikings would open the playoffs on the road as the No. 5 seed at best. Even if the Lions were to lose at San Francisco on Monday night, the Vikings would need to win at Detroit on Jan. 5 to take the division title. ___ AP NFL: Dave Campbell, The Associated PressVW gearing up to celebrate 50 years of the Polo
The Darnold-Jefferson connection is thriving for the surging VikingsLeBron James is going to have to make room for the NFL. Wednesday's doubleheader on Netflix set records as the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, with numbers nearly five times more than the NBA. The Baltimore Ravens' 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million while Kansas City's 29-10 win at Pittsburgh averaged 24.1 according to early viewer figures released by Nielsen on Thursday. Nielsen also said there were 65 million U.S. viewers who tuned in for at least one minute of one of the two games. The NBA's five-game slate averaged about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, according to the league and Nielsen. “I love the NFL,” James said in his televised postgame interview Wednesday night. “But Christmas is our day.” While the NBA's Christmas lineup has its best viewer numbers in five years, the NFL has made Christmas one of its tentpole events during the regular season, joining Kickoff Weekend and Thanksgiving. “The numbers speak for themselves and LeBron can have his own view, and I’m sure more people will look at that because of this," said Hans Schroeder, the executive vice president of NFL Media. "But, you know, we’re focused on the NFL and we’re thrilled with the results this year with the Christmas on Netflix and we’re excited to continue to build that over the next couple of years.” Both NFL games surpassed the previous mark of 23 million for last season’s AFC wild-card game between the Miami Dolphins and Chiefs on Peacock. Viewership for Ravens-Texans peaked with the Beyoncé Bowl. The 20-minute halftime performance averaged over 27 million viewers. The viewer figures include the audience on Netflix, mobile viewership on NFL+ and those who tuned in on CBS stations in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore and Houston. Global ratings and final U.S. numbers are expected to be available on Tuesday. The NFL's Christmas numbers decreased from last season, but not at the rate that usually happens when something goes from broadcast to streaming. Last year’s three games averaged 28.68 million viewers. The early afternoon contest between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs led the way, averaging 29.48 million on CBS. Once global and Netflix's first-party data is released, both Christmas games should surpass 30 million. The NBA's lineup saw an 84% rise over 2023. One reason for the increase is that all five games were on ABC, compared to two last year. The Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors — a game pitting Olympic teammates LeBron James and Stephen Curry — averaged 7.76 million viewers and peaked with about 8.32 million viewers toward the end of the contest, the league said. Those numbers represent the most-watched NBA regular season game in five years. The NBA said all five Christmas games on its schedule — San Antonio at New York in Victor Wembanyama's holiday debut, Minnesota at Dallas, Philadelphia at Boston, Denver at Phoenix and Lakers-Warriors — saw year-over-year viewership increases. Wednesday's numbers pushed NBA viewership for the season across ESPN platforms to up 4% over last season. The league also saw more than 500 million video views on its social media platforms Wednesday, a new record. For the NBA, those are all good signs amid cries that NBA viewership is hurting. “Ratings are down a bit at beginning of the season. But cable television viewership is down double digits so far this year versus last year," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month. “You know, we’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programing on streaming than they are on traditional television. And it’s a reason why for our new television deals, which we enter into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service.” Part of that new package of television deals that the NBA is entering into next season also increases the number of regular season games broadcast on television from 15 to 75. AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA
The OpenAI o1 model marks a significant step forward in artificial intelligence, showcasing improved capabilities in reasoning and coding. Its ability to tackle complex problems and generate functional outputs highlights its potential for various applications. However, questions about its reliability in real-world scenarios persist. While the OpenAI o1 , its inconsistent performance—particularly in nuanced or edge-case situations—raises concerns about its readiness for critical use. This comprehensive performance test by the team at Prompt Engineering provides more insights into the model’s strengths, limitations, and the implications of its deployment in professional environments. Explore the OpenAI o1 model’s impressive progress in reasoning and coding, as well as the gaps that still hold it back from being a fully dependable solution. From tackling classic logic problems to generating functional code, the o1 model shows a lot of promise—but it also stumbles in ways that might make you hesitate to trust it completely. If you’ve ever felt torn between excitement and skepticism when it comes to AI, you’re not alone. Learn what makes the latest o1 AI model from OpenAI tick, where it shines, and why a little caution might still be necessary. The OpenAI o1 model demonstrates significant advancements in reasoning and coding, showing improved precision in logical problem-solving and application generation. Despite its strengths, the model struggles with complex or unconventional challenges, such as paradoxes and nuanced instructions, exposing gaps in its deductive reasoning. In coding tasks, it excels at generating functional applications and automating workflows but requires human oversight to address minor flaws and ensure reliability. The model’s reliance on training data and inconsistent performance in edge cases raise concerns about its reliability for critical or high-stakes applications. While promising, the o1 model is not yet fully dependable for production use, necessitating rigorous testing and validation to mitigate risks and improve outcomes. The OpenAI o1 model exhibits substantial progress in logical reasoning and problem-solving. It handles classic thought experiments, such as the and the , with improved precision compared to earlier iterations. These scenarios require the model to evaluate variables, weigh probabilities, and apply logical frameworks, tasks it performs with . However, its reasoning capabilities are not without flaws. When confronted with more complex or unconventional challenges, such as paradoxes like the or intricate logic puzzles, the model often struggles. These situations reveal its reliance on rather than genuine deductive reasoning. Additionally, prompts requiring nuanced understanding or strict adherence to specific instructions frequently expose inconsistencies in its responses. While the o1 model represents a step forward, its effectively underscores the need for further refinement. In the realm of coding, the OpenAI o1 model demonstrates considerable promise. It can generate functional applications in programming languages such as and , creating tools for tasks like joke generation or image manipulation via APIs. Moreover, it excels at automating project structuring, producing , and drafting comprehensive documentation to accompany its outputs. Despite these strengths, the model is not without limitations. Minor but impactful issues, such as or incomplete features like missing download functionality, can hinder its usability. These shortcomings highlight the importance of during development and testing. While the o1 model can significantly accelerate coding workflows and reduce manual effort, its outputs require to ensure they meet production standards. Without this oversight, the risk of errors or inefficiencies increases, potentially undermining its utility in professional environments. Here are more guides from our previous articles and guides related to that you may find helpful. The OpenAI o1 model’s reliance on its remains one of its most significant challenges. This dependency often results in errors when the model encounters scenarios that fall outside its learned patterns. For instance, its performance in handling or highly specific instructions is inconsistent, raising concerns about its reliability in critical applications. Another notable limitation is the . Without rigorous testing and validation, the model’s outputs can be unpredictable, making it less suitable for high-stakes tasks. These challenges reflect broader issues in AI development, particularly the need for greater . Addressing these shortcomings will be essential as the technology continues to evolve and expand its applications. The OpenAI o1 model represents a meaningful advancement in artificial intelligence, particularly in its reasoning and coding capabilities. Its ability to tackle complex problems and generate functional applications has the potential to and enhance productivity across various domains. However, its limitations—such as its reliance on training data, inconsistent performance, and struggles with edge cases—mean it is not yet fully reliable for . If you are considering integrating the o1 model into your workflows, it is essential to approach it with . Ensure that its outputs undergo rigorous testing and validation before deployment. Human oversight remains a critical component in mitigating risks and addressing any shortcomings. While the model holds significant promise, addressing its current limitations will be pivotal in unlocking its for future applications. Media Credit:
Luigi Nicholas Mangione, 26, emerged from a patrol car, spun toward reporters and shouted something partly unintelligible, yelling “insult to the intelligence of the American people” while deputies pushed him inside. Mangione is contesting his extradition back to New York. He was denied bail at the brief hearing. He has 14 days to challenge the bail decision. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have a month to seek a governor’s warrant out of New York. Mangione, wearing an orange jumpsuit, mostly stared straight ahead during the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion, but was told to be quiet by his lawyer. Thomas Dickey, his defence lawyer, questioned whether the second-degree murder charge filed in New York might be eligible for bail under Pennsylvania law, but prosecutors raised concerns about both public safety and Mangione being a potential flight risk, and the judge denied it. Prosecutors on Tuesday were beginning to take steps to take Mangione back to New York to face a murder charge while new details emerged about his life and how he was captured. The Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland family was charged with murder hours after he was arrested in the killing of Brian Thompson, 50, who led the United States’ largest medical insurance company. Mr Dickey had declined to comment before the hearing at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors have charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Mangione was likely motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said. He wrote that the US has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of his hand-written notes and social media posts. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, according to the police bulletin. Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania — about 230 miles (370km) west of New York City — after a McDonald’s customer recognised him and notified an employee, authorities said. Officers found him sitting at a back table, wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop, according to a Pennsylvania police criminal complaint. He initially gave them a fake ID, but when an officer asked Mangione whether he had been to New York recently, he “became quiet and started to shake”, the complaint says. When he pulled his mask down at officers’ request, “we knew that was our guy,” Officer Tyler Frye said. Images of Mangione released on Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and beanie. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Mr Thompson and the same fake ID the gunman had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione also had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America”. A law enforcement official who was not authorised to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone. “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone,” the document said, according to the official. It also had a line that said: “I do apologise for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” Pennsylvania prosecutor Peter Weeks said in court that Mangione was found with a passport and 10,000 dollars (£7,839) in cash, 2,000 dollars of it in foreign currency. Mangione disputed the amount. Mr Thompson was killed on Wednesday as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. Police quickly came to see the shooting as a targeted attack by a gunman who appeared to wait for Mr Thompson, came up behind him and fired a 9mm pistol. Investigators have said “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on ammunition found near Mr Thompson’s body. The words mimic “delay, deny, defend,” a phrase used to criticise the insurance industry. From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the gunman quickly fled fled the city, likely by bus. A grandson of a wealthy, self-made real estate developer and philanthropist, Mangione is a cousin of a current Maryland state legislator. After his elite Baltimore prep school, he went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder RJ Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Mr Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Mr Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said. “He went surfing with RJ once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Mr Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Mr Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Mr Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. Mr Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago.A lucky Oz Lotto player has won an entire jackpot but is yet to claim their . or signup to continue reading The , 1, 29, 20, 23, 34, 46, 39 with the supplementary numbers 42, 43, 24, were drawn on December 10. Oz Lotto officials know the winning ticket was bought in South Australia at an SA Lotteries outlet in the state's Mid-North Region. "If the elusive player had registered their ticket to The Lott Members Club, officials from The Lott would have reached out to them tonight to confirm the life-changing news," the Lott said. "Instead, the ticket was unregistered, so officials are eagerly waiting for the ticketholder to check their entry and make contact to start the prize claim process." The jackpot is the second-biggest win to land in South Australia in 2024 after an Adelaide man pocketed a $150 million Powerball prize in May. "We can't wait for them to discover this winning news! Just imagine how $50 million might change your plans for Christmas and the year ahead," the Lott spokesperson Matt Hart said. "There are 50 million reasons why all South Australian players who had an entry in tonight's draw should check their tickets as soon as possible. "If you discover you're holding the division one winning entry, hold on tight to that ticket and phone 131 868 as soon as possible so that we can start the prize claim process!" Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . Advertisement
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Brian Sausa is a New York-based content creator for Catena Media with an extensive betting history and several years of iGaming industry experience. A journalism graduate with a ranging sports background, Brian’s previous employment includes the flagship sites for multiple professional leagues including the MLB and NHL. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!WR Berkley's WRB short percent of float has fallen 13.25% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.95 million shares sold short , which is 1.31% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.31 days to cover their short positions on average. Why Short Interest Matters Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. Short selling is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises. Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish. See Also: List of the most shorted stocks WR Berkley Short Interest Graph (3 Months) As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for WR Berkley has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted. Comparing WR Berkley's Short Interest Against Its Peers Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis. According to Benzinga Pro , WR Berkley's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 1.88%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers. Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Stock market today: Stocks waver in thin trading after US markets reopen following a holiday pause
AP News Summary at 6:42 p.m. ESTFLORENCE — Texas Department of Public Safety will graduate 130 recruits next week following 29 weeks of rigorous physical, mental and situational training, part of which occurred just 20 miles south of Killeen. Class B-2024, which began May 20, is about to complete the rigorous six-month course. Last week, officials held a joint field training exercise at the DPS Tactical Training Center in Florence in Williamson County. “We provide a quality of training which is excellent,” said the facility’s Assistant Chief of Training Derek Prestridge. “Our intensive program and in-resident training brings value to our academy and a level of excellence that is a part of the core value of this organization.” Texas Department of Public Safety Assistant Chief of Training Lt. Derek Prestridge explains some of the strategies taught at the training center near Florence. The in-resident training allows recruits to experience the physical challenges of being away from family members and friends. One instructor said the arrangements inside the building where recruits stay are not like hotel accommodations. Recruits sleep on cots, or on the floor, or periodically wherever they can catch a nap. The reasoning behind this type of training is to see how recruits deal with mental and emotional situations which may be brought on by uncomfortable accommodations or the lack of adequate sleep, rest and daily schedule. For a portion of the physical training, there are 16 stations set up throughout the 200-acre training area. The training center has a three-mile track used to teach vehicle dynamics, coned skill courses, a road course, pursuit and emergency response tactics. There are three towers which give instructors the ability to run all electrical signs, lights, gates, security cameras and for visual observation. The Texas DPS training facility near Florence is home to 130 recruits who reside there during the last week of skills training The driving course is designed to teach precision driving skills within the urban environment, skid control and high-speed pursuit skills. The course is also used to teach crash investigation techniques. Included on the course: a paved level surface which, when wet, offers a slick surface to practice driving in those conditions in order to prepare for real-life situations. On Thursday, instructors had set up several exercises which would simulate conditions similar to a traffic stop. The first exercise involved a civilian vehicle which appeared to be broken down on the side of a road. Recruits are given no more information than that as they drive toward the vehicle, stop and attempt to survey the situation. The recruit attempts to make contact with a man who is under the hood of the vehicle by shouting out. In this case, the man yells back at the recruit to go away. As the recruit steps closer to the man’s vehicle it appears he has a gun and begins to shoot at the recruit. The recruit returns fire, appearing to have hit the man who falls to the ground, and is still. The recruit moves to the rear of the DPS vehicle, while using the radio to notify a dispatcher that help is needed and the important details of the stop. This all happens very quickly, in a matter of minutes. After the role-play is complete, instructors who have shadowed the recruit and watched from a close proximity, give the recruit feedback. These drills are run several times throughout the training period in many different circumstances. Another exercise involved a situation in which another trooper might be using excessive force. The recruit is told he is being called to assist in the take-down of a criminal, but when the recruit approaches, the original trooper appears to be using a baton to hit his suspect in the back of the head with excessive force. In this case, the recruit had to quickly assess the scene, determine the severity of the troopers actions and decide how to assist. One recruit used his own strength to pull the offending trooper off the suspect while assessing whether or not the trooper was in control of himself and his actions. Then, in an instant, the recruit apprehended the suspect and called dispatch to alert them of the situation. Another recruit was set up at the same station a few minutes later to test their assessment and action taken. This time, after pulling the trooper from the suspect, the recruit pushed the offending trooper to the ground and proceeded to handcuff him. When asked why by his instructors later, the recruit said the trooper appeared to continue his bad behavior even after the recruit arrived and told him to stop. These two exercises had very different endings and neither were wrong, according to instructor Lt. Michael Monaghan. “In the second case, the recruit felt they might be in danger, due to the aggressive demeanor of the trooper,” Monaghan said. “This is all part of the training and could happen out in the real world.” In this first exercise, the recruit in the gray shirt has pulled over to assess the situation of a car with a raised hood on the side of the road. The suspect is seen pulling a weapon from his pants and the recruit must call on her training to follow through with the stop. In another exercise, recruits were tested at an intersection where the driver of a vehicle sped past and the task was to make a traffic stop. It was all going along well, until the other driver decided to speed away from the stop taking some twisting turns and leaving the roadway. After pursuing the driver with sirens, lights and a PA call to pull over, the driver slowed down again. Before the recruit could stop his vehicle, the driver of the other car was off again, finally coming to a stop several hundred yards in front of the recruit. By this time, a second DPS vehicle had joined the pursuit as back up. The remainder of the stop consisted of giving the suspect directions as the recruits from both vehicles trained their guns on him. There was a series of commands given in order to subdue the driver, check the vehicle for other passengers and calm the situation down. In this exercise, there were several options open to the recruits to complete the test. “If an instructor believes additional training is needed, recruits will circle back through the situations that gave them difficulty,” Monaghan said. “The purpose of this is to help recruits feel at ease with their decisions and to develop the confidence to make snap decisions and follow-through in a safe manner.” Monaghan also pointed out that on every stop there are so many variables that they couldn’t possibly set them all up. He also said that the academy brings in experts in their field to assist in some of the scenarios. There are emerging threats that come up and the training needs to stay ahead and up to date with the latest methods, technology and strategies. The mission of the DPS’s Training Operations Division is to prepare law enforcement leaders and peace officers to meet 21st Century demands and challenges. The division develops a wide variety of world-class training and education programs and delivers them to public safety professionals within the department and throughout the state. Recruits, in the gray shirts, hold a suspect at gunpoint and verbally instruct him on how to proceed during this traffic stop exercise. “The Texas Department of Public Safety is committed to recruiting and training a diverse workforce that reflect our values of integrity, excellence, accountability and teamwork,” Prestridge said. The rigorous recruit training includes the basic peace officer course, which exceeds mandatory licensing requirements established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Trooper trainees are educated by experts on criminal and traffic law enforcement, crash investigation, crisis intervention, use of force, emergency casualty care, criminal investigations, communications, cultural diversity, fitness and wellness and many other areas, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the job of a highway patrol trooper anywhere in Texas. “The Texas DPS is the premier law enforcement agency in the state, as well as one of the finest in the nation,” according to the state’s website. In order to meet the many challenges facing law enforcement today, the department operates a world-class training program. Law Enforcement Education educates and trains recruits, troopers, agents, and other law enforcement officers across the state. Students study tactical vehicle operation, firearms, use of force, effective report writing, communications skills, and first aid, as well as other topics. Physical training and arrest and control tactics training are also core elements of the program. At the end of training, recruits are taken to DPS headquarters in Austin and given a chance to prepare for graduation. The annual DPS Legacy Run took place on Friday. The four-mile run went from the DPS Fallen Officers Memorial at DPS headquarters to the Peace Officers Memorial at the Texas State Capitol. First implemented in 2008, recruits and instructors have said it is a way to mark the end of the 30-week training academy. According to the DPS website, trooper trainees are accompanied by their instructors, members of DPS leadership and often times DPS retirees. Before leaving the Training Center, Prestridge talked about the relationship DPS has with legislators in Austin. “Our training brings value to the state,” Prestridge said. “We have the ear of legislators and have worked with them to help equip our facilities and provide state-of-the art technology. The way we invest in our personnel makes this a law enforcement agency of excellence.”