services offered by fc188

services offered by fc188 Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time,” said a statement from OpenAI. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said “appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” The city's chief medical examiner's office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide. His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a “happy, smart and brave young man” who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends. Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT. “Suchir’s contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn’t have succeeded without him,” said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what made him such an exceptional engineer and scientist was his attention to detail and ability to notice subtle bugs or logical errors. “He had a knack for finding simple solutions and writing elegant code that worked,” Schulman wrote. “He’d think through the details of things carefully and rigorously.” Balaji later shifted to organizing the huge datasets of online writings and other media used to train GPT-4, the fourth generation of OpenAI's flagship large language model and a basis for the company's famous chatbot. It was that work that eventually caused Balaji to question the technology he helped build, especially after newspapers, novelists and others began suing OpenAI and other AI companies for copyright infringement. He first raised his concerns with The New York Times, which reported them in an October profile of Balaji . He later told The Associated Press he would “try to testify” in the strongest copyright infringement cases and considered a lawsuit brought by The New York Times last year to be the “most serious.” Times lawyers named him in a Nov. 18 court filing as someone who might have “unique and relevant documents” supporting allegations of OpenAI's willful copyright infringement. His records were also sought by lawyers in a separate case brought by book authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman, according to a court filing. “It doesn’t feel right to be training on people’s data and then competing with them in the marketplace,” Balaji told the AP in late October. “I don’t think you should be able to do that. I don’t think you are able to do that legally.” He told the AP that he gradually grew more disillusioned with OpenAI, especially after the internal turmoil that led its board of directors to fire and then rehire CEO Sam Altman last year. Balaji said he was broadly concerned about how its commercial products were rolling out, including their propensity for spouting false information known as hallucinations. But of the “bag of issues” he was concerned about, he said he was focusing on copyright as the one it was “actually possible to do something about.” He acknowledged that it was an unpopular opinion within the AI research community, which is accustomed to pulling data from the internet, but said “they will have to change and it’s a matter of time.” He had not been deposed and it’s unclear to what extent his revelations will be admitted as evidence in any legal cases after his death. He also published a personal blog post with his opinions about the topic. Schulman, who resigned from OpenAI in August, said he and Balaji coincidentally left on the same day and celebrated with fellow colleagues that night with dinner and drinks at a San Francisco bar. Another of Balaji’s mentors, co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, had left OpenAI several months earlier , which Balaji saw as another impetus to leave. Schulman said Balaji had told him earlier this year of his plans to leave OpenAI and that Balaji didn't think that better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence “was right around the corner, like the rest of the company seemed to believe.” The younger engineer expressed interest in getting a doctorate and exploring “some more off-the-beaten path ideas about how to build intelligence,” Schulman said. Balaji's family said a memorial is being planned for later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California, not far from his hometown of Cupertino. —————- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. —————-- The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives.The 7-4 Ravens travel to LA and face off against the 7-3 Chargers in a dual between brothers, as Baltimore will be without Roquan Smith for tonight’s game. This game also has massive revenge narratives for more than a few former Ravens, as the Chargers have many on the roster. This extends to their coaching staff and ownership with their general manager. Baltimore will look to rebound after a tough divisional loss, as the Chargers are coming off a thrilling close win last Sunday night. Roquan Smith Ruled Out Due to Hamstring Injury Ravens’ All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, who is questionable for tonight’s game due to a hamstring injury, is unlikely to play vs. the Chargers, per sources. Smith has not missed a game as a Raven because of injury. pic.twitter.com/sz2kT28F8i — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 25, 2024 According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Roquan Smith will be out tonight for the Baltimore Ravens due to a hamstring injury. The star linebacker and team-leading tackler was out of practice all week after suffering his injury late in the game last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 11. This may be a potential high-scoring affair if the Ravens offense shows up tonight against a tough Chargers defense that struggled against the Cincinnati Bengals last week . Even in an away game, Baltimore normally does well on Monday night matchups like in Tampa a few weeks ago. The Chargers boast a top-10 run defense and are 11th best against the pass, while the Ravens are a bottom unit against the pass. Baltimore will need Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Todd Monken to really cook it up tonight to keep pace with a surging Chargers offense that has been efficient recently. Ladd McConkey is slated to play after being limited due to a shoulder injury he suffered last week. Kyle Hamilton Key in Pivotal AFC Matchup vs. Chargers With no Smith, who normally has the green dot for communication on defense, Kyle Hamilton is slated to take the role. Hamilton playing more linebacker will likely have Marcus Williams back in the lineup after he was benched and Eddie Jackson was released. Ar’Darius Washington, who has seen more looks as their starting safety, will likely contribute to defending the slot as a nickel defender with Arthur Maulet also out. It is a concern since Zach Orr’s defense has had communication breakdowns pretty regularly all year. However, they are coming off their best defensive output last week. Trenton Simpson also gets a bigger role as their starting inside linebacker, with Malik Harrison and Chris Board seeing more looks on defense. The Baltimore Ravens’ interior against the run and pass has been a weakness, so Chargers’ Will Dissly may have a big game tonight. Tight ends have been exploiting Baltimore’s defense all season and will have to clean it up in the backend with no Smith. Final Thoughts on the Baltimore Ravens Defense for MNF The clash between Jim and John Harbaugh tonight will likely have fireworks from the passing game on both sides. However, with this injury news, the top Ravens rushing defense that ranks second takes a massive hit, as Jim will want to establish the run early and often to set the tone with former Ravens J.K. Dobbins/ Gus Edwards. This will be a physical matchup between two AFC contenders that look to make noise in the playoffs, so stakes are on the line in the Harbaugh Bowl at So-Fi Stadium. The struggling Ravens defense that had its best game as a unit last week faces a tough task tonight in a primetime spot against Justin Herbert and company. While Smith hasn’t been playing as well as last year, Baltimore is without its captain on defense for tonight’s game. This might be a must-win for the Baltimore Ravens, as they get the 9-2 Philadelphia Eagles next week and have to keep up with the Pittsburgh Steelers before their second matchup in week 15. This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Angola have expressed interest in establishing new cooperation and enhancing partnership, particularly in economic, commercial and investment sectors. This came in a joint statement issued on Saturday on the occasion of the official visit of President Joao Lourenco of the Republic of Angola to the Sultanate of Oman. It reads as follows: At the gracious invitation of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, President Joao Lourenco of the Republic of Angola paid an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman from December 19 to 21, 2024. His Majesty held discussions with the president, during which they reviewed bilateral relations and explored ways to develop these to serve the common interests of both countries. The two leaders expressed interest in establishing new cooperation, enhancing partnership, particularly in the economic, commercial and investment sectors, specifically in areas of mining, clean energy, technology, tourism, agriculture and food security, transportation, logistics and ports. They agreed to commence negotiations to enter into a cooperation agreement that covers economic affairs, science, technology and culture, in addition to signing memoranda of understanding and agreements in areas such as mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports, on political consultations as well as in the field of agriculture. His Majesty the Sultan and the president also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, reaffirming their respect for international law and the United Nations Charter, and emphasising the importance of cooperation within the framework of international organisations to achieve peace and security. Both leaders stressed the need to intensify efforts to address issues related to climate change. The two sides held meetings to discuss ways to develop trade, exchange visits of commercial and investment delegations, and encourage the establishment of joint projects. His Majesty commended President Lourenco’s efforts in bringing a lasting peace to Eastern DRC, and wished him success on assumption of chairmanship of Africa Union in February 2025. The President of Angola praised the wise leadership and foreign policy of His Majesty the Sultan, which is based on principles of dialogue and promotion of peace and harmony for all. President Lourenco expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to him and his accompanying delegation.

Mentalist George “The Amazing Kreskin” Kresge, a longtime “Tonight Show” guest, has died in his New Jersey home. He was 89. Kreskin boasted of having appeared on “The Tonight Show” 88 times when it was hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson is credited with adding “Amazing” to the New Jersey performer’s nickname. Kreskin frequently performed live shows and recorded YouTube videos prior to his death Tuesday. “The only thing the Amazing Kreskin cared about was performing for all of you, it brought so much joy to his life,” says an announcement on Kreskin’s social media pages. “As Kreskin would say at the end of every show, ‘This is not goodbye, but to be continued.’ ” That message, which notes Kreskin would’ve turned 90 next month, said Christmas was his favorite time of year. He hosted an annual party in the Caldwell, N.J., home where he died. The illusionist’s cause of death wasn’t mentioned. In addition to mind reading and sleight-of-hand tricks, Kreskin made himself available to weigh in on cultural happenings. In 2013, he told the Daily News that he could help Mets slugger Ike Davis become a better hitter through “hypnotic technique.” Davis left the team in 2014. In 2015, he clarified that “there is the immense power of suggestion but hypnosis is BS” when a Florida school district paid $600,000 to the families of students reportedly put into a trance by their principal. One of Kreskin’s less successful stunts was his 2002 guarantee that a UFO would appear over Las Vegas on June 2. When that didn’t happen, radio host Art Bell banned him from his paranormal-based radio show. Kreskin claimed the bad prediction was a stunt to prove a point about media manipulation. He hosted a couple of 1970s television shows in Canada. Those program features Kreskin seeming to read audience members’ thoughts. He also authored several books inspired by his experiences with mental manipulation. Kreskin fans were treated to a 2018 Off-Broadway run at Theatre Row where the magician challenged audience members to hide his paycheck, which he would earn by finding it. When he was unable to do so during one April performance, he told The News he’d donate that money to an animal shelter.

Another week, another excruciating loss under head coach Matt Eberflus. This time, they overcame a two-score deficit with under two minutes to go to force overtime against the Minnesota Vikings, only to run out of gas and lose on a walk-off field goal 30-27. At least it was entertaining, though. The Bears did their best to fight their way back after scoring just three points in the second and third quarters. Quarterback Caleb Williams continued to operate the offense effectively with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, having arguably the best game of his career. Unfortunately, Chicago's defense allowed Minnesota to drive the ball up and down the field, allowing long third-down conversions and failing to limit big plays in both the run and pass game. That was the deciding factor as the Vikings methodically drove all the way down the field for their game-winning field goal in overtime. At 4-7, the season is effectively over, which means the development of Williams and the other young core players is the primary objective moving forward. There continue to be bright spots, but the team is held back by Eberflus, who looks to be a dead man walking with six games remaining. Here are our takeaways from Sunday's loss: Through nearly three seasons, we are all aware of Eberflus' shortcomings as a head coach. He's not effective with challenges, there were more communication issues on the field, there have been special teams gaffes, and he's far too conservative in situations that scream for him to be aggressive. His one saving grace, however, has been that he calls a good defensive gameplan. That's out the window now after the Vikings methodically torched the Bears defense, getting out of third and long situations to move the chains all day long. This also comes just one week after the Packers marched down the field late in the game to turn the tides. If he can't do the job he once excelled at, then what else does he offer at this point? It feels like we're slowly, but surely, seeing the end of the Eberflus era. There are some who believe a coaching chance will come on Black Friday instead of the usual Black Monday after each NFL season. One can argue there's reason to keep him through the end of the year if the defense at least plays up to par. That's not happening anymore, and we have already seen one coaching move ignite this team. Eberflus has reached the point where you can't point to anything he does well, meaning his time has finally come. Coming into this game, it was clear that if the Bears were to have a chance, they would need Williams to shine. The Vikings had the best rush defense in the league, meaning the pass game was the only way to consistently attack their unit. Williams certainly did that and then some. The rookie had arguably his best game as a pro, completing 32 of 47 passes for 340 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers. He also compiled a passer rating of 103.4, the third-highest rating Minnesota has allowed all year. Williams needed to be Superman—his offensive coordinator even told him as much. He put the team on his back when they needed him the most and led two very improbable scoring drives with under two minutes left. He went 6-of-9 for 67 yards and a touchdown with a passer rating of 125.7. That's two games in a row he stepped up in crunch time, something previous Bears quarterbacks had problems doing. Williams had plenty of great moments, but it's the resolve to keep fighting and delivering when his back is against the wall that has me very excited. With Thomas Brown calling plays, he's back on the upward trajectory. This hasn't been the season many people envisioned for Keenan Allen, but the veteran still knows how to torch the Vikings defense. Allen had the best game of his illustrious career last year when he caught 18 passes for 215 yards against the Vikings. While he didn't get close to those totals, he still had his best game of the season against Minnesota, catching eight passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. He could have had a bigger day, too, had he not gotten his toe on the sideline after making a spectacular catch (more on that in a bit). Allen has clearly lost a step, but he seems to thrive when facing this chaotic defense. He's a valuable safety valve for Williams and made some big plays downfield that we simply haven't seen all year. Maybe he'll get two good games in a row as he's facing a Lions defense he had 175 yards against last year. It's been over four years since the Bears had a running back who could be a legitimate threat to catch passes out of the backfield. D'Andre Swift finally gave the team one once again. The veteran back has been invaluable to the offense this season, even after a rough beginning to the year, but he really shows up with some of his plays as a receiver. That was definitely the case on Sunday when he and Williams hooked up for one of the biggest plays of the day. Williams was flushed out to his right with Swift running with him. Running out of room, Swift made the heads-up play to turn upfield, where Williams launched an off-balance pass that hit the back right in the hands. Swift was able to track the ball, check the defender in front of him, and relocate the ball in the air before bringing it in, something that isn't easy to do for any player. The 30-yard play led to the first touchdown of the game. I wasn't impressed with how Eberflus coordinated this defense for much of the day, but the players need to be accountable as well, and it's clear this team is missing two significant leaders who have been out for quite some time. Defensive tackle Andrew Billings and safety Jaquan Brisker are two important members of this defense, and the void they have left due to their injuries is palpable. Brisker has been out for nearly two months with a concussion, while Billings tore his pectoral muscle a few weeks ago. Since Billings went out, the front four hasn't been the same. The pressure isn't there; Gervon Dexter has come back down to earth, and the run defense has gotten worse than it already was as Aaron Jones eclipsed 100 rushing yards for the Vikings. That also creates more pressure on the secondary, which has been worse without Brisker. He's a vocal leader and had something good going with Kevin Byard at the safety position. Now, backups like Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens are left to pick up the slack. These two players mean a lot to the defense, which hasn't been the same since they've been out. It's likely not going to get better without them, meaning we've seen the best this unit has to offer this year. Everyone is pointing to the fourth quarter and overtime decisions that impacted this game, but this one turned on its head in the first half following a big play to Allen. The veteran receiver caught a spectacular pass down the sideline from Williams that was originally ruled a catch. The offense did their best to run up to the field, but Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell quickly threw the challenge flag. Allen's toe barely hit out of bounds, and that call was reversed. Instead of having a first down at the six-yard line, the Bears settled for a 48-yard field goal attempt that was blocked, which led to another Vikings touchdown to make it 14-7. The Bears could have taken a touchdown lead but instead never led again. It's unfortunate since it was a great play by the quarterback and receiver that didn't result in any points. Just remember that play when dissecting the game because the Bears scored just three points from that point on until the final three drives. Did we all collectively find out that the sideline camera used at various NFL stadiums cannot be used for coaches challenges during the Bears game on Sunday? Following the failed challenge on Jordan Addison's catch and run, NFL on FOX's rules analyst Mike Pereira said sideline cameras are unable to be used to challenge plays because not every stadium has them. Mike Pereira explains why officials couldn't use the boundary cam on a review. "If a coach is challenged, you cannot use the boundary cam. There's not boundary cams in every stadium so there's a question of equity." — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) This is just a general takeaway unrelated to the game, but in an era where we have more angles than ever to review plays and legalized gambling is so prevalent, why would the NFL not take every advantage to get calls right by using the resources available? And why aren't they in every stadium? Soldier Field is archaic when it comes to NFL stadiums; surely everyone else can include them. The league owes it to everyone to make sure the calls are correct, and not using all of the equipment feels like a big failure.

Syria’s embassy in Lebanon suspends services as Lebanon hands over former Syrian army officersMitt Romney's Senate exit may create a vacuum of vocal, conservative Trump critics

TEHRAN – Iran's foreign ministry raised concerns with the Swiss ambassador and the Italian chargé d'affaires regarding the arrest of two Iranian nationals at the behest of the United States. Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary, and Iranian Expatriates Affairs Vahid Jalalzadeh condemned the arrests of two Iranian nationals as "unjust and illegal," emphasizing that they violated international law. He lodged formal protests with the Swiss ambassador (representing U.S. interests in Iran) and the Italian chargé d'affaires (where one of the arrests occurred). In remarks to Iranian media, Jalalzadeh assured that both the consular and political sections of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are closely monitoring the cases of these individuals. "We are committed to pursuing this matter until a satisfactory resolution is achieved," he affirmed. Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi (38) and Mehdi Mohammadzadeh (42) were arrested on December 16, under the pretext of involvement in a January drone attack targeting an illegal U.S. military base in Syria. Resistance groups in Iraq took responsibility for the operation against the base located near the Jordanian border. Najafabadi’s has been unreachable since he was arrested in Italy while he was preparing to travel to Switzerland where he lives, his family and acquaintances said to the media. His current whereabouts are unknown. Najafabadi’s university acquaintance told Tasnim News Agency that Najafabadi, a Sharif University graduate, is the CEO of Sanat Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak (SDRA), an Iranian company producing precision measurement equipment with applications in various fields, including medicine and sports. He also previously led Illumove SA, a Swiss company specializing in motion capture equipment, operating under Swiss governmental oversight. The source noted that the advanced technology in these companies' products allows for diverse uses after legal sales in Iran. Whether Najafabadi's company's products were used in the drones that targeted the American base early this year remains unclear. However, no industrial or scientific tool manufacturer is expected to control the end use of its products. The arrest appears to be a U.S. attempt to deflect attention from local opposition to its military presence in Syria and Iraq. Information on the other detainee, Mohammadzadeh, is limited; he is a U.S. resident arrested in Massachusetts around the same time as Najafabadi.Following The Virginian-Pilot's recent reporting on questions about Sen. Christie New Craig's residency when she filed for candidacy in 2023, reaction among the candidates who ran against her is mixed. Republican challengers say there likely isn't much that can or will be done, but the Democrat is pressing for further investigation. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Chinese student’s drone got stuck in tree near Newport News Shipbuilding, leading to Espionage Act prosecution Chinese student’s drone got stuck in tree near Newport News Shipbuilding, leading to Espionage Act prosecution Longtime Phoebus Auction Gallery to close after New Year’s Day event Longtime Phoebus Auction Gallery to close after New Year’s Day event Juvenile humpback whale washes ashore on Outer Banks Juvenile humpback whale washes ashore on Outer Banks James City County officer, 17-year-old injured in Christmas Eve crash James City County officer, 17-year-old injured in Christmas Eve crash Williamsburg leaders to prioritize funding for regional Trail757 project Williamsburg leaders to prioritize funding for regional Trail757 project Journey of self: Williamsburg-area massage therapist helps others heal Journey of self: Williamsburg-area massage therapist helps others heal Purdue defensive back transfers to ODU Purdue defensive back transfers to ODU Fun to Do: Ice skating, holiday concerts, lights and more Fun to Do: Ice skating, holiday concerts, lights and more Partnership with Riverside Health seeks to improve wellness at area homeless shelters Partnership with Riverside Health seeks to improve wellness at area homeless shelters Get healthier in the new year with these resources in the Williamsburg area Get healthier in the new year with these resources in the Williamsburg area Trending Nationally Body found in wheel well of plane from Chicago to Maui How Diddy and Luigi Mangione spent Christmas in Brooklyn jail Massive invasive python is freed into the Palm Beach County wilderness. Here’s why ‘Baby Driver’ actor Hudson Meek dead at 16 Pregnant woman stabbed multiple times by pizza deliverer disgruntled about tip, sheriff says

Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died

Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media saySo you're gathering with relatives whose politics are different. Here are some tips for the holidaysLara Trump, the daughter-in-law of President-elect Donald Trump, announced Sunday night that she will step down as a co-chair of the Republican National Committee amid mounting speculation that she could be picked to fill a coming Senate vacancy. Trump, who became co-chair of the RNC in March with her father-in-law's backing , said Sunday on X that she intends to step down at the RNC's next meeting after she completed her three goals for the organization. "At the RNC, we had three distinct goals: 1) surpass all fundraising records 2) build the largest army of lawyers and poll watchers to ensure election integrity and, 3) turn out millions of Americans and low prepencity voters during early voting. We accomplished all three," she wrote in the post . The RNC did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Sunday. Trump's name has been floated as a possible replacement for Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, of Florida, whom the president-elect has said he will nominate to be secretary of state. Several allies of the Trump family have named her as someone they'd like to see fill the seat, and she herself has not rejected the possibility. “If I am tapped to serve in another capacity, it truly would be my honor,” she told Fox News last month. “I have not been asked yet, but I certainly would strongly consider it if it is presented to me.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former political rival who ran against Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, will get to choose Rubio's replacement. DeSantis is also reportedly being considered as a replacement for Pete Hegseth, the embattled choice for defense secretary. A source told NBC News last week that the president-elect and DeSantis directly spoke about the issue. “Trump talked to the governor and wants him to do it,” a source familiar with the conversation said. NBC News reported last week that Hegseth’s nomination is in jeopardy because as many as six GOP senators are wavering in their support for him amid allegations of drinking and reports about his treatment of women . Hegseth, who has vowed not to withdraw as Trump's pick, has denied that he mistreated women and has said the encounter with the woman who accused him of sexual assault, with whom he later reached an undisclosed settlement , was consensual. He did not respond when he was asked about the drinking allegations Tuesday evening. Matt Dixon, Courtney Kube and Rebecca Shabad contributed. This article first appeared on NBCNews.com . Read more from NBC News here:

(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com .

The industrial sector in the sultanate witnessed significant growth in Omanisation rates in 2024 from January to November increasing 5.5%. During this period, 1,708 Omanis were employed, including 1,145 males and 563 females, surpassing the target of employing 1,000 Omanis in the year. According to statistics from Ministry of Labour, the total number of workers in the industrial sector reached approximately 30,993 Omanis at the end of November 2024. Dr Ahmed bin Khalfan al Badawi, Head of Employment Team at Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP), emphasised the fact that the next phase will focus on increasing Omanisation of technical and specialised roles within the industrial sector. He informed that the ministry is working to enhance professional specialisations and develop technical skills of the national workforce. This aligns with MoCIIP’s strategic goal of investing in national talent through implementation of initiatives in partnership with development organisations. Badawi further noted that Royal directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik regarding Industrial Strategy 2040, which came into effect mid-2024, have resulted in positive outcomes, including 265 initiatives. Of these, 125 initiatives are directly linked to the ministry’s sectors, while the remaining 140 initiatives are distributed among other relevant authorities. According to Badawi, the Industrial Strategy Team at MoCIIP has begun organising workshops with these authorities to familiarise them with details, objectives and implementation plans of the initiatives. The focus is on establishing new industries with advanced technologies, fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, and improving governance and industrial development management. He also explained that MoCIIP is working closely with governance committees and relevant authorities to ensure that efforts to localise jobs align with the goals of the National Employment Programme. This is being achieved through the Tawteen platform with the aim of meeting employment targets across various economic sectors. The ministry’s strategy emphasises utilisation of educational and professional qualifications and attracting skilled national talent.Mikel Arteta backs Bukayo Saka to emulate idol Cristiano Ronaldo as boss opens up on ‘evolving’ star winger

Donald Trump’s January 6 charges ‘to be dropped’ as prosecutor files motion to dismiss case against President-electEx-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has diedFacebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram The volatile situation in Manipur was overed in these columns earlier; Chief Minister N Biren Singh using Arambai Tenggol (AT), UNLF and police for ethnic cleansing, his cross-border links; the Manipur Tapes saga, no dialogue with Kuki-Zo MLA’s; rape, torture and killing of Zosangkim Hmar, followed by 10 suspected Kuki insurgents killed by the CRPF unleashing fresh wave of ethnic violence; gunfights, arson and shutdowns rocking Manipur despite additional central forces pumped in; AT caught on camera giving orders to the CRPF, NSCN (IM) general secretary threatening to resume armed resistance , and the like. Post-mortem reports of 10 Kuki-Zo youths allegedly killed in an encounter with the CRPF on November 11 shows they received multiple fatal bullet injuries – most of them fired from behind. The bodies were brought to a hospital in Assam only on November 14 were in early stages of decomposition; four bodies each had one eye missing – indicating torture. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) maintains they were village volunteers. After the burial ceremony, with a Mizoram delegation in attendance, in Manipur’s Churachandpur District on December 5, 2024, the ITLF reiterated its demand for a separate administration in Manipur. If the encounter involved the Army, there would have been hell to pay, a string of court martials and the mainstream media rubbing the Army’s face in mud. But central and state administrations remain soft and silent on police forces for reasons well known. Not surprising that the Telangana High Court has ordered a second post mortem of suspected Naxalites killed by the CRPF in an encounter amid allegations that the victims were poisoned and/or sedated and shot dead in cold blood. Extortion and anarchy in Imphal Valley by the AT became the order of the day amid the ongoing violence with shopkeepers and businesses hurt the most. There were numerous extortion threats by the AT, especially in urban areas such as Imphal city and the district headquarters in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi during October 2024, as reported by locals to the media. The Centre has pumped in 288 additional companies of central forces in Manipur but violence and extortion continues. On November 25, 2024, Lashiram Kamal, a Meitei went missing from the Army Camp at Leimakhong and is still missing. The takeover of Imphal by AT armed cadres roaming freely in vehicles is on record, with no security forces in sight under obvious instruction of Biren Singh. Same was the case when the AT forced the MLA’s and a junior union minister to congregate and take an oath of allegiance, Biren Singh can hardly absolve himself of this default with a large number of security forces at his disposal. Now the AT chief Korounganba Khuman Is reportedly on the radar of the National Investigation Agency for the above with the Supreme Court transferring the case from the NIA Court in Imphal to the NIA Special Court in Guwahati. Khuman and eight others are also involved in two other cases (shifted from Imphal to Guwahati) of attacks on police, looting arms and accusations by Kuki-Zo groups of orchestrating attacks on their community since the start of ethnic violence in May 2023. With the strong bond between Biren Singh and the Korounganba Khuman-led AT, all these cases are expected to be shoved under the carpet. The so-called “looting” of arms from police/IRB armouries happened in mid-2023 with full knowledge of the state administration and according to ground sources these 4,000 plus weapons and 50,000 rounds of ammunition were “distributed” to Meitei militants (read AT) – looting was misnomer. Concurrently there is news of action being taken against three AT cadres for extortion and possessing firearms. Is this to show a semblance of justice? AT maintains it began as a youth group of valley-dominant Meitei and took up arms when violence broke out in May 2023. But how did the organization expand to an incredible armed strength of 10,000 plus? Biren Singh will not dump AT although a lawyer indicates he has raised another group (EYOOM); his personal elite 200-250 strong militia of well trained, heavily radicalized fighters drawn from police commandos and foreign trained outfits . The veracity of this would be known to Biren Singh and the Centre but EYOOM was raised in January 2024 as a socio-cultural group. Will it be expanded and armed like the AT? #ManipurCrisis After phenomenal Arambai Tengol-UNLF-Meitei Leepun onslaught, @NBirenSingh proudly presents Eyom, his personal elite militia. A unit of 200-250 well trained, heavily radicalised fighters drawn from Commando units and foreign trained outfits. No accountability. — Vishwajeet Singh (@VishuAdv) November 23, 2024 A dicky bird in the core of the national hierarchy says our aim is that every Hindu must be armed. Fair enough, but why in Manipur alone, why not pan-India and why by looting police/IRB armories? Why not systemize it and tap the illegal weapons business in the country, imports included like narcotics under political patronage? Is Gaffar Market in New Delhi still selling Soviet-origin AK-47 and AK-74 assault rifles and cheaper ones of Bulgaria, Pakistan or China origin? In a recent article, GK Pillaii, former union home secretary with a reputation of being an upright officer, has called for criminal charges to be filed against CM N Biren Singh. But this is not possible by any stretch of imagination because Biren Singh is the blue-eyed boy of the Centre, especially of the union home minister. Despite the burning state, Manipur doesn’t even have a full-time Governor, giving a free hand to the chief minister. Not only this, nothing will come of the Manipur Tapes which purportedly show Biren Singh giving instructions for ethnic cleansing and related actions. The story earlier circulated was that Islamists under the interim Bangladesh regime are helping the Kuki-Zo; indicating the spin doctor’s brain was dislocated – radical Islamists assisting Christians instead of killing them? Having fallen flat, Biren Singh posed like a movie star, accusing P Chidambaram the root cause of the crisis in Manipur and the entire northeast. The question is what has Biren Singh done as chief minister in the last seven years (since 2017) other than branding indigenous tribals as infiltrates and indulging in ethnic cleansing? Does he realize killings of tribals in Manipur affected outcome of the recent elections in Jharkhand? Biren Sigh began his chief ministership as Santa Claus of the Meitei but never realized that the Kuki-Zo, being tribal fighters, will not take it lying down; the backlash was inevitable. So, now the Meitei are also suffering and call him the “Bad Santa of Manipur”. Multiple questions are being raised by them, like – we don’t understand what is the policy of the Centre – why the intransigence to burning Manipur – why the prime minister is scared to visit Manipur when he picks out small countries to visit in Africa – is it because we cannot honour him with the highest Manipur Award which Biren Singh perceives as tribal-free Manipur? Finally, Manipur’s future is difficult to predict with the Centre and Biren Singh giving no indication of changing their stance, other than political chest thumping about developing the northeast. Continuing the game of ethnic cleansing of tribals, placing more restrictions on them and abrogation of the SoO agreement will only exacerbate the situation. The author is an Indian Army veteran. Views expressed are personal. ~ News4masses is now also on Google news ~ If you want to contribute an article / story, please get in touch at: news4masses[at]gmail[dot]com Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram Previous article Mahindra launches BE 6e starting at ₹ 18.90 Lakh and XEV 9e starting at ₹ 21.90 Lakh Lt Gen Prakash Katoch A well known special forces officer of Indian Army, Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (R) is equally adept at writing expert and opinionated pieces on Defence Policies and Security. His Articles and Reviews are regularly carried by leading publications and magazines. RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR India Mahindra launches BE 6e starting at ₹ 18.90 Lakh and XEV 9e starting at ₹ 21.90 Lakh India Sounds of Manipur in Supreme Court Aviation Aircraft Leasing: How Indian Co’s Benefit from International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) India The US, BRICS And India-China India The Murky Manipur Conundrum Politics Ready Player India | Russia-Ukraine War India Echoes From The Indus: Discovering One Of The Oldest Civilizations On The Globe India Olympics 2036 Sports Paris Olympics – Done and Dusted Politics Kamala Harris’s Path to Presidency: Navigating Identity Politics & Overcoming Obstacles Politics Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ukraine Visit Economy Nirmala’s Oft-Repeated ‘New Direction’ Not Visible In Budget 2024-25 LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply Please enter your comment! Please enter your name here You have entered an incorrect email address! Please enter your email address here Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalitionSri Lanka mulls 250,000 IT workforce in two years

Mossad behind the assassination of Russian nuclear defense forces commanderThe man accused of gunning down United Healthcare’s CEO outside a Manhattan hotel is now jailed in New York, awaiting arraignment Monday on a state murder indictment after he was returned to the city in dramatic fashion to face charges in multiple courts, as per a report. Shackled and wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was escorted Thursday by heavily armed police officers and whisked by air from Pennsylvania to Manhattan, where he appeared in a packed courtroom on federal charges that could bring the death penalty, AP reported. The Ivy League graduate, who prosecutors say inveighed against the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in his writings, was not required to enter a plea to federal charges of murder, stalking and firearms charges in the December 4 killing of Brian Thompson. The state indictment charges Mangione with murder as a terrorist act. Also Read : The Witcher 4: Will Ciri take the lead? Here’s what fans can expect next season Mangione is being held without bail at Metropolitan Detention Center, the same federal jail where hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried are currently detained. Soft Skills Cross-Cultural Communication Mastery: Connect with Confidence By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Entrepreneurship Validating Your Startup Idea: Steps to Ensure Market Fit By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Learn InVideo AI: Create Videos from Text Easily By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Legal Complete Guide to AI Governance and Compliance By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Strategy ESG and Business Sustainability Strategy By - Vipul Arora, Partner, ESG & Climate Solutions at Sattva Consulting Author I Speaker I Thought Leader View Program Entrepreneurship Boosting Startup Revenue with 6 AI-Powered Sales Automation Techniques By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Data Analysis Animated Visualizations with Flourish Studio: Beginner to Pro By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Entrepreneurship Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Mangione is set to be arraigned Monday in Manhattan on the state indictment, according to Bragg's office. The University of Pennsylvania alum, who hailed from a prominent Maryland family and had also lived in Hawaii, had been expected to be arraigned Thursday on the state charges before the federal charges preempted that appearance. In the federal case, Mangione could next return to court for a bail hearing or for a preliminary hearing if prosecutors don’t obtain a grand jury indictment by mid-January. New York effectively abolished its death penalty by 2007 and the last execution in the state was in 1963. But the federal death penalty remains in effect. The federal complaint filed against Mangione includes a count of murder by firearm, which carries the possibility of the death penalty if he is convicted. Federal prosecutors have not said if they will seek the death penalty. That decision will be made in coming months by Justice Department officials in Washington, likely after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in on January 20. President Joe Biden's administration put a moratorium on federal executions soon after he took office in 2021, but that hasn't stopped federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty. Also Read : Here’s how Taylor Swift glams up: Her secret makeup routine revealed In contrast, Trump's administration carried out 13 executions in the last six months of his first term. FAQs Q1. Who is accused in killing of United Healthcare’s CEO? A1. Luigi Mangione is accused in killing of United Healthcare’s CEO. Q2. What is next for Luigi Mangione? A2. Luigi Mangione is set to be arraigned Monday in Manhattan on the state indictment. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )