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Three long days of counting in the General Election finished late on Monday night when the final two seats were declared in the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. Fianna Fail was the clear winner of the election, securing 48 of the Dail parliament’s 174 seats. Sinn Fein took 39 and Fine Gael 38. Labour and the Social Democrats both won 11 seats; People Before Profit-Solidarity took three; Aontu secured two; and the Green Party retained only one of its 12 seats. Independents and others accounted for 21 seats. The return of a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael-led coalition is now highly likely. However, their combined seat total of 86 leaves them just short of the 88 needed for a majority in the Dail. While the two centrist parties that have dominated Irish politics for a century could look to strike a deal with one of the Dail’s smaller centre-left parties, such as the Social Democrats or Labour, a more straightforward route to a majority could be achieved by securing the support of several independent TDs. For Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and current taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, wooing like-minded independents would be likely to involve fewer policy concessions, and financial commitments, than would be required to convince another party to join the government benches. Longford-Westmeath independent TD Kevin “Boxer” Moran, who served in a Fine Gael-led minority government between 2017 and 2020, expressed his willingness to listen to offers to join the new coalition in Dublin. “Look, my door’s open,” he told RTE. “Someone knocks, I’m always there to open it.” Marian Harkin, an independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim, expressed her desire to participate in government as she noted that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were within “shouting distance” of an overall majority. “That means they will be looking for support, and I certainly will be one of those people who will be speaking to them and talking to them and negotiating with them, and I’m looking forward to doing that, because that was the reason that I ran in the first place,” she said. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats and Irish Labour Party both appear cautious about the prospect of an alliance with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. They will no doubt be mindful of the experience of the Green Party, the junior partner in the last mandate. The Greens experienced near wipeout in the election, retaining only one of their 12 seats. Sinn Fein appears to currently have no realistic route to government, given Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s ongoing refusal to share power with the party. Despite the odds being stacked against her party, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald contacted the leaders of the Social Democrats and Labour on Monday to discuss options. Earlier, Fianna Fail deputy leader and outgoing Finance Minister Jack Chambers predicted that a new coalition government would not be in place before Christmas. Mr Chambers said planned talks about forming an administration required “time and space” to ensure that any new government will be “coherent and stable”. After an inconclusive outcome to the 2020 election, it took five months for Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens to strike the last coalition deal. Mr Chambers said he did not believe it would take that long this time, as he noted the Covid-19 pandemic was a factor in 2020, but he also made clear it would not be a swift process. He said he agreed with analysis that there was no prospect of a deal before Christmas. “I don’t expect a government to be formed in mid-December, when the Dail is due to meet on December 18, probably a Ceann Comhairle (speaker) can be elected, and there’ll have to be time and space taken to make sure we can form a coherent, stable government,” he told RTE. “I don’t think it should take five months like it did the last time – Covid obviously complicated that. But I think all political parties need to take the time to see what’s possible and try and form a stable government for the Irish people.” Fine Gael minister of state Peter Burke said members of his parliamentary party would have to meet to consider their options before giving Mr Harris a mandate to negotiate a new programme for government with Fianna Fail. “It’s important that we have a strong, stable, viable government, whatever form that may be, to ensure that we can meet the challenges of our society, meet the challenges in terms of the economic changes that are potentially going to happen,” he told RTE. Despite being set to emerge with the most seats, it has not been all good news for Fianna Fail. The party’s outgoing Health Minister Stephen Donnelly became one of the biggest casualties of the election when he lost his seat in Wicklow in the early hours of Monday morning. Mr Donnelly was always predicted to face a fight in the constituency after boundary changes saw it reduced from five to four seats. If it is to be a reprise of the Fianna Fail/Fine Gael governing partnership of the last mandate, one of the major questions is around the position of taoiseach and whether the parties will once again take turns to hold the Irish premiership during the lifetime of the new government. The outcome in 2020 saw the parties enter a coalition on the basis that the holder of the premier position would be exchanged midway through the term. Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin took the role for the first half of the mandate, with Leo Varadkar taking over in December 2022. Current Fine Gael leader Mr Harris succeeded Mr Varadkar as taoiseach when he resigned from the role earlier this year. However, this time Fianna Fail has significantly increased its seat lead over Fine Gael, compared with the last election when there were only three seats between the parties. The size of the disparity in party numbers is likely to draw focus on the rotating taoiseach arrangement, raising questions as to whether it will be re-run in the next coalition and, if it is, on what terms. On Sunday, Simon Coveney, a former deputy leader of Fine Gael, said a coalition that did not repeat the rotating taoiseach arrangement in some fashion would be a “difficult proposition” for his party. Meanwhile, Fine Gael minister Paschal Donohoe said he would be making the case for Mr Harris to have another opportunity to serve as taoiseach. On Monday, Mr Chambers said while his party would expect to lead the government it would approach the issue of rotating the taoiseach’s role on the basis of “mutual respect” with Fine Gael. “I think the context of discussions and negotiations will be driven by mutual respect, and that’s the glue that will drive a programme for government and that’s the context in which we’ll engage,” he said. On Monday, Labour leader Ivana Bacik reiterated her party’s determination to forge an alliance with fellow centre-left parties with the intention of having a unified approach to the prospect of entering government. Asked if Labour was prepared to go into government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on its own, she told RTE: “No, not at this stage. We are absolutely not willing to do that. “We want to ensure there’s the largest number of TDs who share our vision and our values who want to deliver change on the same basis that we do.” The Social Democrats have been non-committal about any potential arrangement with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and have restated a series of red lines they would need to achieve before considering taking a place in government. Leader Holly Cairns, who gave birth to a daughter on polling day on Friday, said in a statement: “The party is in a very strong position to play an important role in the next Dail. In what position, government or opposition, remains to be seen.” Fianna Fail secured the most first preference votes in Friday’s proportional representation election, taking 21.9% to Fine Gael’s 20.8%. Sinn Fein came in third on 19%. While Sinn Fein’s vote share represented a marked improvement on its disappointing showing in June’s local elections in Ireland, it is still significantly down on the 24.5% poll-topping share it secured in the 2020 general election. The final breakdown of first preferences also flipped the result of Friday night’s exit poll, which suggested Sinn Fein was in front on 21.1%, with Fine Gael on 21% and Fianna Fail on 19.5%.Tennessee Vols butt of no more jokes and playoff-bound revived by Josh HeupelNone
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has expanded its pediatric emergency department (ED) at Children’s Hospital by 50 per cent, reducing wait times. “It's very common for emergency departments to get that block where we really have no care spaces left, for patients,” said Dr. Rod Lim, Director of Pediatric Emergency. “And they're (families) made to wait in the waiting rooms longer than we'd like, so we've really [been] able to bring and prioritize those type of patients into these care spaces and begin treatment quicker, and really alleviate a lot of that stress that families feel.” The new space consists of eight new beds and two dedicated procedure rooms, in a child friendly setting. “It really provides that safe space for children and their families to have scary things done, in a way that allows our child life workers to have room, and accommodate and create that calm environment that we that we strive for,” said Dr. Lim. Dr. Rod Lim, Director of Pediatric Emergency inside new Children’s Hospital Emergency Department expansion at Victoria Hospital (Reta Ismail/CTV News London) The construction began in early 2024 and the space opened this past fall. The space is being funded with $3 million in donor support to Children’s Health Foundation. Since this past September, the expansion has seen more than 2,628 patients, helping to reduce wait times and ensure patients and their families are seen more quickly. One of those patients is Zak, a 10-year-old resident of London, who was brought to the hospital by his mother when he fell at the playground and suffered an injury to his wrist. Zak was one of the first children treated in one of two new dedicated procedure rooms in the Children’s ED. The experience left his mother Zoe feeling grateful for the outstanding care her son received. “We were brought in the waiting room, but I didn't really feel like there was chaos. I felt like it was a very calm feel to the whole atmosphere,” said Zoe. Interior of the new Children’s Hospital Emergency Department expansion at Victoria Hospital, December 11, 2024 (Reta Ismail/CTV News London) The two new procedure rooms were designed to provide a private and calm environment for children who require specialized care. In a little under five hours, Zak received diagnostic X-rays, had a straightening of his fracture, had a plaster cast placed on his arm, and reviewed follow-up X-rays with the attending physician before being sent home. LHSC says Children’s Hospital has seen an increasing demand as the community around it continues to grow – the new space will hopefully help alleviate some of the pressure. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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These LEGO Kits Are On Sale And Ready To Gift Black Friday May Be Over, But You Can Still Take Advantage Of These Amazing Sales On Amazon Canada It's Officially Travel Tuesday: Here Are The Best Deals On Flights, Hotels, And Vacations London Top Stories London police say pedestrian threw coffee at driver, threatened them with knife, and fled on city bus Man assaults and disarms police in Hyde Park bank: London police Blizzard, snow squall warnings in effect, as much as 80cm possible in some areas NEW | Middlesex resident loses $45,000 in crypto-currency scam: OPP 'I'd prefer to put security over commerce': Sarnia mayor reacts to potential border spending LHSC expands pediatric emergency, reduces wait times for children and families Councillor McAlister claims his ward 'got shafted' by the rest of London after storming out of debate Bank of Canada drops key interest rate to 3.25%, Trump tariff threat 'new source of uncertainty' CTVNews.ca Top Stories Banks lower prime rates following Bank of Canada move Canadian financial institutions are lowering their prime lending rates to match the decrease announced by the Bank of Canada. Police locate labyrinth of tunnels connecting tents to generator in Hamilton encampment Hamilton police say that they discovered a series of “man-made holes and tunnels” during a patrol of a downtown encampment earlier this week. Elon Musk calls Trudeau 'insufferable tool' in new social media post Billionaire Elon Musk is calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'an insufferable tool' in a new social media post on Wednesday. 'Won't be in power for much longer,' Musk also wrote about the prime minister on 'X.' Police identify murder victim whose skull was found in Ontario river more than three decades ago Police have identified a man whose skull was found almost 40 years ago in a Peterborough-area river. Canada Post strike: Talks deadlocked as sides clash on wages Negotiations between Canada Post and the union representing its workers appear to be in a deadlock as the two sides remain far apart on wages and other issues. Trudeau will have to 'kiss the ring' to achieve smoother bilateral relations with Trump: John Bolton If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants to get on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's good side for the sake of a smooth bilateral relationship, he'll likely have to be openly deferential, says former U.S. National Security Advisor, John Bolton. Certain foods may disrupt your body's fight against cancer cells, study says The food you eat may be affecting your body’s ability to fight cancer cells in the colon, according to a new study. Poilievre's Conservatives still in majority territory: Nanos seat projections The Liberals' promise of a temporary GST break and $250 rebate cheques haven't benefited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his minority government when it comes to public support, according to Nanos Research data. Meta working on resolving Facebook, Instagram outage Meta users are experiencing a widespread outage, including applications like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Facebook Messenger, according to third-party website Downdetector.com. Meta acknowledged the issue and is working on resolving the outage. Kitchener Another blast of winter weather coming our way After a few days of warmer weather, winter is making its return. Why a complaint to the City of Guelph will cost a bike repair business $1,900 A Guelph woman says a complaint to the city about her bicycle repair business will end up costing her $1,900. Lottery ticket worth $40 million sold in Wellington County Someone in Wellington County could be $40 million dollars richer. Barrie Blizzard and snow squall warnings issued with hazardous travel expected Prepare for some wicked weather expected to hit the region on Wednesday, with heavy snowfall up to 80 centimetres possible and gusty winds creating dicey travel conditions. Driver speeding 155km/h in posted 80 zone in dense fog charged: OPP A motorist accused of speeding 75 kilometres per hour over the posted limit in the Town of Mono through dense fog will have to explain their actions in court. Closing arguments presented in CFB Borden sexual assault case After four days of testimony, closing arguments were presented Wednesday in the sexual assault trial of Oleksii Silin, who is accused of sexually assaulting a fellow military member in a broom closet at CFB Borden in 2018. Windsor $64,000 bank fraud suspect arrested Windsor police say a bank fraud suspect, who was wanted in Windsor, has been arrested in York Region. Kingsville man dies after crash on Manning Road Essex County OPP say Manning Road is closed after a crash involving a dump truck. Windsor residents stuck waiting for passports amid postal strike The Canada Post strike is causing major headaches for Windsor residents trying to get their passports in time for holiday travel. Northern Ontario Sudbury police make big drug bust at apartment connected to assault suspect As Sudbury police continue to investigate Tuesday's assault on Elm Street, a search of the apartment where some of the suspects were found uncovered $135,000 in drugs. Ontario man charged with sex trafficking underage girls from Sudbury, Kingston Two young girls, from Sudbury and Kingston, Ont., were rescued from sex trafficking in the GTA and their suspected abuser has been charged, but police fear there may be more victims. Canada Post strike: Talks deadlocked as sides clash on wages Negotiations between Canada Post and the union representing its workers appear to be in a deadlock as the two sides remain far apart on wages and other issues. Sault Ste. Marie Ontario man charged with sex trafficking underage girls from Sudbury, Kingston Two young girls, from Sudbury and Kingston, Ont., were rescued from sex trafficking in the GTA and their suspected abuser has been charged, but police fear there may be more victims. Doctor shortage crisis turning into a catastrophe in the north: OMA Northern Ontario doctors are calling on the province to immediately address an acute doctor shortage in northern Ontario. SPONSORED | Is your credit card’s travel insurance enough? When you’re planning a trip, you always want to ensure you have coverage for any unexpected events, whether that’s a medical emergency, needing to cancel a trip at the last-minute (or during the trip!), or even for lost baggage. Many credit cards offer travel insurance as a perk, but do they provide you with enough coverage? Ottawa Canada Post workers rally at headquarters as strike enters fourth week Canada Post workers are continuing their fight for a deal as their strike stretches into its fourth week. Council approves Ottawa Police Service budget, begins debate on full 2025 spending plan Council will vote on the final 2025 City of Ottawa budget on Wednesday and residents can expect to pay more in taxes next year. Driver receives $10K in fines for speeding 134 km/h over speed limit on Highway 174 in Ottawa, police say An Ottawa driver faces $10,000 in fines and is banned from driving for two years after being observed going 134 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 174 Toronto Police locate labyrinth of tunnels connecting tents to generator in Hamilton encampment Hamilton police say that they discovered a series of “man-made holes and tunnels” during a patrol of a downtown encampment earlier this week. 'We just want a clear plan': Ford says ahead of meeting with Trudeau on Trump tariff threat Ontario Premier Doug Ford is softening his language a day after telling a U.S. media outlet that he plans to hold Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “accountable” for managing the threat of tariffs from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Police identify murder victim whose skull was found in Ontario river more than three decades ago Police have identified a man whose skull was found almost 40 years ago in a Peterborough-area river. Montreal BREAKING | Quebec police issue Amber Alert for nine-year-old child Quebec provincial police have issued an Amber Alert for a missing nine-year-old child. Quebec launching investigations into 3 Montreal schools over religion The Quebec Education Ministry will formally investigate three Montreal schools for possible religious abuses. Preliminary information points to a toxic climate and behavior that could lead to fears for students' safety, among other things. Montreal billionaire Robert Miller facing new sex charges Montreal billionaire Robert Miller is facing new criminal charges as he waits to go on trial on several sex offences. Atlantic Officer receives suspension after two Mi'kmaq elver fishers left without boots A federal fisheries officer has been suspended for 10 days without pay for his role in arresting two Mi'kmaq elver fishers late at night and releasing them in only their socked feet. Truro man wanted on provincewide warrant: N.S. RCMP The RCMP is searching for a man from Truro, N.S., who is wanted on a provincewide warrant. Maritime weather: Rainy, windy weather moves through region More rain and wind are ahead for the Maritimes Wednesday through Thursday, with weather warnings in effect for parts of the region. Winnipeg Winnipeggers face 5.95 percent property tax increase in budget Winnipeggers will be paying more property taxes than expected next year. Manitoba nurse found not criminally responsible for killing parents has licence to practice suspended A Manitoba nurse who was found not criminally responsible for killing his parents and attacking another nurse in a Winnipeg hospital has been suspended from practicing. Manitoba’s homicide rate highest among Canadian provinces New data from Statistics Canada shows the number of homicides across the country decreased in 2023 compared to 2022; however, Manitoba continued to lead the way for homicides per 100,000 people. Calgary 'Suspicious person' prompts shelter in place at Calgary building, turns out to be RCMP officer Calgary police say an RCMP officer inadvertently prompted a shelter in place order at an Eau Claire office building on Wednesday. Multi-vehicle highway collision in southern Alberta leaves 4 dead, 1 injured Four people are dead following a multi-vehicle crash in southern Alberta on Monday evening. Woman on life support after assault on N.E. 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Sask. premier sees rise in approval as new term begins, according to poll Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has seen a bump in his approval rating as his new term begins, according to a recent poll from Angus Reid. Former U of S Huskie coaching women's national hockey team in New Zealand Brooke Patron, 29, who hails from the small community of Redvers, Sask., has taken her talents across the world and has been named the Head Coach of the New Zealand Ice Fernz, the country’s national women’s hockey team. Saskatoon 'Unfortunate coincidence': Two Saskatoon power outages not related, city says The city's two major power outages within a week were caused by different reasons, according to Saskatoon Light & Power (SL&P). River search for missing Saskatchewan man suspended Emergency crews have suspended their river search for a missing Saskatchewan man. SaskPower bills to rise an average of 2.9% in 2025 due to carbon tax rate increase Residents in Saskatchewan will see a slight increase in their power bills come the new year, as the federal price on carbon is set rise. Vancouver Commercial truck driver charged after parked cars struck in Metro Vancouver A commercial truck driver is facing impaired driving charges after police say his tractor-trailer collided with four parked cars in Port Coquitlam, B.C. Can’t stand to see others fidget? You could be suffering from this condition Those who are driven up the wall by the sight of people shaking their legs, twirling their hair or biting their nails could be suffering from a little-known psychological condition, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia. Public inquiry called into conduct of Vancouver police in Myles Gray's beating death A public hearing will be held to examine the conduct of seven Vancouver police officers in the beating death of Myles Gray, with Police Complaint Commissioner Prabhu Rajan saying there is "meaningful uncertainty as to what happened" that day in August 2015. Vancouver Island No Santa, no Rudolph: B.C. mother questions lyric changes for son's school concert A Saanich, B.C., mom is questioning why her son came home from school with the words “Santa,” “Rudolph” and “Christmas” crossed out on a lyric sheet for his winter concert. Commercial truck driver charged after parked cars struck in Metro Vancouver A commercial truck driver is facing impaired driving charges after police say his tractor-trailer collided with four parked cars in Port Coquitlam, B.C. B.C. First Nation to develop salmon hatchery with Fisheries Department The Tsilhqot’in National Government in British Columbia says it has formed a "historic partnership" with the federal Fisheries Department to develop a permanent salmon conservation hatchery in its territory. Stay ConnectedAntero Midstream ( NYSE: AM ), out of a few select buying opportunities like after the post pandemic crash, has not been a great long term outperformer in midstream. There are some obvious reasons for that, most of which investors are keenly aware of at Are you an investor looking for quality research within the oil and gas industry? Energy Investing Authority is the source. While commodity prices are up and so too are shareholder dividends, it can be easy to chase yield and buy the wrong firms. Income investors cannot afford those mistakes. Deep dive analysis forms the foundation of the platform. Hundreds of companies fall under the coverage universe, from pipelines to renewables to producers. 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By MICHELLE L. PRICE NEW YORK (AP) — Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Tuesday he was withdrawing his name from consideration, becoming the second person selected by the president-elect to bow out quickly after being nominated for a position requiring Senate confirmation. Sheriff Chronister, the top law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County, Florida, said in a post on X that he was backing away from the opportunity, which he called “the honor of a lifetime.” “Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,” Chronister wrote. He did not elaborate, and Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Chronister follows former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz , Trump’s first pick to serve as attorney general, in withdrawing his name for a post in the administration. Gaetz withdrew following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. Trump’s pick of Chronister for the DEA job drew backlash from conservatives, who raised concerns over his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and his saying that his office “does not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities.” In March 2020, Chronister arrested the pastor of a megachurch who held services with hundreds of people and violated a safer-at-home order in place aimed at limiting the spread of the Covid virus. “Shame on this pastor, their legal staff and the leaders of this staff for forcing us to do our job. That’s not what we wanted to do during a declared state of emergency,” Chronister said at the time. “We are hopeful that this will be a wakeup call.” U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky, was among those airing public complaints, saying Chronister should be “disqualified” for the arrest. Others flagged comments Chronister made in a video about Florida’s immigration laws that he released in 2023 that circulated again online after Trump named him last weekend. Related Articles National Politics | Trump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staff National Politics | President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction National Politics | Democrats stick with Schumer as leader, their strategy for countering Trump is far less certain National Politics | Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffs National Politics | Democrats’ outgoing chair says Trump’s win forces party to reassess how it reaches voters In the video, Chronister praised the “rich diversity” of his community and called it “a place where people from all walks of life come together.” He said it was important to note his office “does not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities. We do not target individuals based on their immigration status. That’s the authority of federal agencies.” Trump has made a sweeping crackdown on immigration a central focus of his campaign and his aims for his coming administration. Associated Press writer Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida contributed to this report.The Chicago Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus in November. His interim replacement, Thomas Brown, is 0-3 since taking the reins. Each of those losses came by at least 17 points. Suffice to say, the Bears will enter the 2025 NFL offseason in search of a new head coach. This December, an unusual name surfaced in Chicago's search -- the former coach of the team the Bears face in Week 17, . Carroll led the Seattle Seahawks to nearly 150 total wins and the franchise's only Super Bowl victory before retiring ahead of the 2024 season. Now he may be interested in an opportunity to turn Caleb Williams into the cornerstone Chicago badly needs him to be. Whether or not Carroll gets a fair shot at the job is up to Bears management. He won't be the only one in the running. Here are five candidates who likely have high placement on Chicago's wish list when it comes to replacing Eberflus in 2025. Carroll won a playoff game with Matt Hasselbeck. He turned an undersized third round pick into a perennial Pro Bowler and world champion. Now he'd get to work with Williams and a defense that has slumped in 2024 but finished 2023 as one of the league's most formidable units. Turning around the Bears would cement his legend as a leader who could win just about anywhere. Johnson is considered the front runner for the job thanks to his reputation as an offensive innovator. His wide-ranging game plans proved the Lions could score by grinding opponents into dust on the ground or dazzling them with trick plays. In the process he turned Jared Goff from a Los Angeles Rams castoff into an MVP candidate and made himself the hottest coordinator in the game. Williams would present a different kind of challenge -- and unlock new pages in Johnson's War and Peace-sized playbook. Moore rose quickly after retiring after six seasons as a seldom-used backup quarterback. He was the Dallas Cowboys' coordinator at age 30, molding Dak Prescott's offense into a top six unit three times in four seasons in Texas. While his lone year with the Los Angeles Chargers produced modest results, he's rebuilt his value with the Eagles this fall. He's proven he can thrive with dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks; pairing him with Williams could unlock each's true potential. Coen, a Rhode Island high school football legend and I-AA national title runner up as UMass's starting quarterback, has emerged as a reliable offensive mind across 15 years as an assistant. Four years with the Rams helped give him the requisite Sean McVay experience that turns a young coach into a rising star. More importantly, he helped convince NFL teams Will Levis was a viable pro quarterback as playcaller at Kentucky (2021, 2023) and is currently keeping Baker Mayfield in butter brickle with the Bucs. Let's wrap with a curveball -- something you can never rule out when it comes to the Bears football decisions. Freeman has built Notre Dame back up from good to great in his three-plus seasons since taking over for Brian Kelly. His stock has never been higher than it is in 2024, however -- an absolutely wild statement considering he lost to Northern Illinois at home earlier this year. Still, Freeman has the combination of disciplined players, solid play-calling and the admiration and respect necessary to command a locker room. The jump to the pros would be a big challenge, but a return to the franchise that drafted him as a fifth round linebacker in 2009 (he failed to record a snap in the regular season) could be the jolt Chicago needs.
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If you’re looking to spread a little Christmas cheer over the holidays, these white elephant gifts will bring plenty of smiles and laughs. While not the traditional heartfelt gifts of Christmas, a white elephant gift is meant to poke a little fun and create some giggles. These outlandish gifts often playfully tease about a quirky personality trait or hobby — giving you an opportunity to have a little fun for the holidays. So, no matter if you’re shopping for your co-worker, friend, or family, we’ve curated some of the top white elephant gifts you can snag on Amazon. These gag gifts are sure to cause some massive giggles and jabs in all the right places when these. big surprises are opened for Christmas. White Elephant gifts you can get at the last minute on Amazon Here are some of our favorite white elephant gifts to give for Christmas this year and even a few to keep on hand as a hearty joke throughout the year. Cassette Tape AirPods Case Cover Amazon Price: $14 Keep the tunes rolling with this vintage-style AirPods Pro cassette tape case cover that protects and hopefully prevents misplacing those earbuds over the holidays.. LEGO Abstract Wall Art Kit Amazon Price: $50 Create some magic this Christmas by giving an abstract art piece with this LEGO building set . Magic 8 Ball Amazon Price: $14, instead of $15 This blast from the past toy answers those difficult life questions with a nostalgic shake or you can “ask again later.” Golf Pen Desktop Game Amazon Price: $10, instead of $13 We’re not “golfing” around with this gift that will keep that golf pro’s putting game sharp with golf clubs that double as pens, miniature golf balls and a golf course gift box. Retro Record Coasters Amazon Price: $14, instead of $20 This retro gift is perfect for the music fan. They can rock out to their favorite tunes while these throwback record coasters , with vinyl record player holder, prevent a party mishap. Pickle-Flavored Cotton Candy Amazon Price: $10 Yes, there’s such a thing and that pickle-loving freak on your list will savor every bite of this pickle-flavored treat . Snoop Dogg Cookbook Amazon Price: $14, instead of $45 This bestselling cookbook will be a hit with foodies “for shizzle.” Bluetooth Banana Phone Amazon Price: $40, instead of $50 Your friends will think this gift is “bananas” when they take calls and play music on this Bluetooth handset . Plus, this “appealing present” can be bought in a bunch of three . The Fuzzies Stacking Game Amazon Price: $15 This addicting game will keep them busy during the holidays with the limitless ability to stack these fuzzies from head to toe. Cat Microwave Heating Pad Amazon Price: $19 Any cat parent will adore this microwave heating pad in the shape of a cat to help knead out those sore muscles — minus the claws. Grinch Socks Amazon Price: $8 (20% off coupon available) There’s a Grinch in every family and you can surprise yours with these festive socks for Christmas. Food Decision Dice Amazon Price: $15 This is the perfect Christmas present for the person who can’t ever decide what they want to eat. With a quick roll of the dice , this gag gift will prevent arguments and hunger pains. Bicycle Pizza Cutter Amazon Price: $20, instead of $25 This bicycle pizza cutter will cruise its way into the heart of every pizza lover and we “crust” you’ll love giving it as a Christmas gift this year too. Bad Opinions Card Game Amazon Price $25 The ideal card game for a family member who has an opinion about everything. Bob Ross Chia Pet Amazon Price: $25 There’s an artist in all of us, and this Bob Ross Chia Pet will inspire anyone’s creative side this Christmas. Nothing Gift Amazon Price: $14 For the person on your list that has it all and says they don’t want anything for Christmas. This gift is literally — nothing . The Dad Joke 3000 Amazon Price: $20 He’s got a million of them and now he’ll have even more dad jokes on demand with the push of a button. Gracula Garlic Crusher Amazon Price: $19, instead of $23 Gift this kitchen helper to the family cook to ward off vampires all year long, with a simple twist at mealtime. OREO Ultimate Dunking Gift Set Amazon Price: $25, instead of $28 The cookie monster in the family can indulge on their OREO obsession with this dunking kit that includes cookies, a mug, a cookie holder, tongs, and a napkin. Bat Wine & Beer Opener Amazon Price: $15, instead of $35 There’s no “bats” about it, that wine-lover friend will appreciate the thought put into this batty gift. Heating Eye Massager Amazon Price: $53, instead of $100 (5% off coupon available) This not-so-subtle eye massager may look futuristic, but its stress-reliving abilities will comfort the tired eyes of a friend. The Best Gift Guides of 2024 15 coworker gift ideas for your next office holiday party 20 unique gifts for the boyfriend who has everything 20 Harry Potter gifts to buy for the muggle in your life 16 gift ideas for ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ fans 20 travel gifts for the jetsetter in your life Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .By KELVIN CHAN LONDON (AP) — After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. Related Articles Technology | Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds Technology | US updates a science and technology pact with China to reflect growing rivalry and security threats Technology | North Korean nationals indicted in scheme using IT workers to funnel money for weapons programs Technology | TikTok files challenge against Canadian government order to dissolve its business in the country Technology | California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is a garble that can’t be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won’t be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here’s a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you’re an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there’s a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption on all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent, or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal’s encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp , so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger , which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels” but contrary to popular perception, it doesn’t turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France . Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.Daily Post Nigeria Workers escape death as 2-story building collapses in Umuahia Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport Metro Workers escape death as 2-story building collapses in Umuahia Published on December 26, 2024 By Daniel Chibuike A two-story building still under construction has collapsed at No. 20 Ozuitem Street, Umuahia, the Abia State capital. The building, said to be owned by a “very wealthy” resident of Umuahia, collapsed on Christmas Day when the site workers had taken the day off. The cause of the collapse has not yet been officially established, but some residents living near the building claimed that substandard materials may have been used by the contractor, which they alleged compromised the integrity of the structure. A resident who pleaded anonymity thanked God for sparing the lives of the site workers, saying: “Yesterday was Christmas Day and there was no work. If not, who knows what would have happened?” He said that the contractor had gone into hiding after realising what had happened to avoid being arrested or questioned. When DAILY POST visited the site on Thursday afternoon, a bulldozer was demolishing the remaining parts of the building to ensure they did not collapse onto adjacent houses. Messages boldly pasted around the site by the Umuahia Capital Development Authority, UCDA, dated December 26, 2024, declared that the site had been sealed. When DAILY POST contacted the Public Relations Officer of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Mrs Nkeiru Ogba, she confirmed that her office had visited the site of the collapsed building to ascertain what had happened. She said that the owners of some of the buildings that had collapsed in the state did not follow due process or had refused to comply with official regulations. Related Topics: building collapses umuahia Don't Miss Police detain man for slitting friend’s throat in Kogi You may like Traditional leaders in Umuahia invoke bees, death, rain curses on kidnappers Monthly sanitation: 89 violators arrested in Umuahia NNL: Drama as Abia Comets walk over 1472 FC in Umuahia Alleged defamation: Drama in Umuahia as police attempt to whisk journalist to Abuja Abia Govt demolishes illegal motor parks, shanties in Umuahia Otti vows to fish out killers of banker, 2 others in Umuahia attack Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd
After Trump victory, UFC’s Dana White says he’s done with politicsBKTI stock soars to 52-week high, reaches $36.88 amid growth(The Center Square) – Billionaire and advisor to President-elect Donald Trump Elon Musk was denied by a judge this week a $56 billion compensation package for his work as CEO of Tesla, the successful electric automaker that pioneered EV technology in the U.S. The package had been approved by more than 70% of Tesla's board of directors. A Tesla shareholder who owned just nine shares of stock in the company sued to block the 2018 compensation agreement. In addition to blocking the package this week, the judge in the case, Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick, awarded the plaintiff's attorneys $345 million, which Reuters reported is “one of the largest fee awards ever in securities litigation.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Constellation Brands Inc. Cl A stock falls Monday, underperforms marketPachuca of Mexico bested Brazilian side Botafogo 3-0 on Wednesday in the Intercontinental Cup to reach the next stage of the competition. Second-half strikes from Pachuca's Oussama Idrissi, Nelson Deossa and Salomón Rondón gave the North American continental champions victory over their South American counterparts. "It was really emotional," said Pachuca coach Guillermo Almada. "It was a party in the stadium with all the supporters from Pachuca and Botafogo that came here – it was a football party." "We're very happy," he added. "We're already thinking about the next game, which could be even more difficult than this one." The winners of the all-American clash progress to the next round of the new Intercontinental Cup format, where they will meet CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly of Egypt on December 14. Real Madrid, the current Uefa Champions League holders, lie in wait in the final four days later. Pachuca qualified for the tournament as victors of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup – following their 3-0 win in the final against MLS side Columbus Crew in early June. The defeat put a dampener on a brilliant fortnight for Botafogo in which they won the Copa Libertadores and wrapped up the Brazilian Serie A. "I won't look for an excuse," said Botafogo coach Artur Jorge. "Pachuca were better than us, more efficient and more capable in the second half." The 52-year-old Portuguese guided the Rio club to a first-ever Copa Libertadores and a first domestic league title since 1995 this year. "It wasn't the result we wanted, but we had an extraordinary year, made history," he added. (AFP)Caps look to keep record road win streak going vs. Blue Jackets
US President-elect Donald Trump is planning to cut federal spending, and one of the methods he may use is impoundment. This little-known presidential power allows the leader to refuse spending funds appropriated by Congress. In line with his recent threat to use recess appointments to bypass Senate approval for his controversial cabinet positions, Trump has a plan to circumvent federal spending as well. If Congress continues to allocate funds to projects, agencies, or departments he opposes, he may use impoundment to withhold those funds. What is impoundment? Impoundment, simply put, occurs when the president declines to spend funds that Congress has appropriated. The practice has a long history in US politics, beginning with President Thomas Jefferson in 1803, who chose not to spend money allocated for gunboats to patrol the Mississippi amid negotiations with France for the Louisiana Purchase. Impoundment became a controversial issue during Richard Nixon's presidency. After his reelection in 1972, Nixon sought to use impoundment to reduce federal spending, halt housing programmes and cut disaster aid. When Congress overrode his veto of the Clean Water Act, he withheld a large portion of the $24 billion allocated to clean municipal sewage systems. These clashes led to the passage of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, limiting a president's ability to withhold funds for policy reasons. It also led to the creation of the Congressional Budget Office. Even during his first term, Trump attempted impoundment when he withheld military aid to Ukraine in 2019, using it as leverage to press President Volodymyr Zelensky for an investigation into Joe Biden. This eventually led to Trump's first impeachment. Despite the controversy, the funds were released, and the Government Accountability Office ruled Trump's step as illegal. Before his reelection, Trump said that reclaiming the power of impoundment would be a priority for his second term, either through legal challenges or by persuading Congress to relinquish some of its spending power. In one video, Trump criticised the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, calling it “not a very good act” and “a blatant violation of the separation of powers.” He vowed to use impoundment to “squeeze the bloated federal bureaucracy for massive savings.” Trump says in a second term he will seek to repeal the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 so that he will have unilateral power as president to seize funds appropriated by Congress for govt agencies and programs and use that money to give out tax cuts. pic.twitter.com/AFMiHV80lK — Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 20, 2023 While Trump may face opposition, even from fellow Republicans, in efforts to cede more power to the executive, he may look to the Supreme Court for support. With the current conservative majority, the Court has recently curtailed the powers of federal agencies, offering a possible opening for Trump to challenge impoundment limits. Some Republican figures such as Vivek Ramaswamy have proposed the repeal of the Impoundment Control Act entirely. Ramaswamy, who has been tapped by Trump to lead the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), advocates for a radical downsizing of the federal government. Ramaswamy has suggested that a president could reinterpret existing laws to drastically reduce the size of the federal workforce, potentially firing up to 75 per cent of federal employees within four years. Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the worldSt. John’s of Albert Lea Receives $600,000 from LeadingAge Minnesota FoundationSTEWARTVILLE — Few would have guessed this when Ridge Hatz was a Stewartville High School sophomore. Back then, Hatz was barely 6 feet tall and 175 pounds. No way did he seem on his way to becoming a future Division II college offensive lineman. ADVERTISEMENT But this month, it happened. Hatz orally committed to Winona State University, where he is projected as an offensive tackle. A lot has happened since those 6-foot, 175-pound days for Hatz. He’s gone from getting a sprinkling of playing time as a sophomore on a standout Stewartville offensive line, to being a two-year starting star for a Stewartville team that has claimed back-to-back Class 3A state championships. And Hatz is the same guy in name only. That’s because he’s practically unrecognizable — 2 inches taller and close to 90 pounds heavier than his sophomore year. Hatz took stock of himself two years ago, approached Stewartville coach Garrett Mueller about what he could do about his lack of size, and then went to work. Did he ever. “I told our coach that I needed to put on some weight,” said Hatz, who is not only a star on the football field but in the classroom, complete with a 3.75 grade-point average. “He then gave me a meal plan and I stuck with it as best I could. I was consuming about 4,500 to 5,000 calories a day. I’ve cut back on that now, but if I needed to do it again, I could.” Hatz became so consumed with consuming because his love for football ran that deep. He didn’t want to be just good at football, he wanted to be great and to do his part in taking the Stewartville football program to the next level. ADVERTISEMENT Consider all of that done. Hatz, Stewartville’s best offensive lineman this season from a group that was chock full of veteran stars, played left tackle as a senior and didn’t allow a single quarterback sack. That went a long way toward the Tigers going unbeaten and winning the state title for the second straight season and Hatz drawing plenty of accolades, including being named All-District. Mueller considers him to be as good of an offensive lineman as Stewartville has possibly ever had. “Ridge was super versatile, which is a big thing, and an overall great athlete,” said Mueller, also noting his skills as a thrower in track and field, Hatz just inches from the Stewartville record in the discus and having finished fourth at state in the event last year. “For a kid that size to move as well as he does on the edge is unusual. He made it easy to do whatever we wanted to do offensively. He is really good in space. He did an outstanding job at the point of attack and in pass protection, protecting the blind side of our quarterback.” Hatz played on both sides of the ball for Stewartville. But his best and favorite position was offensive line. There is a community there, a brotherhood in the offensive trenches that Hatz says can’t be beat. It’s why he loves football as much as he does, that togetherness. He can’t wait to dive in for more of that on the college level. It’s what keeps him coming back for more. “As an offensive lineman, it is the closeness you have with the rest of the offensive line that is the biggest thing,” Hatz said. “You have to be able to trust each other to do your job. It is five guys working for one goal and doing it together. It is that team aspect that makes it so special. I love going out there and competing for (48) minutes with my best friends. To be able to continue to do that in college sounds awesome to me.” ADVERTISEMENT Hatz's decision to pick Winona State wasn’t an easy one. He also gave serious thought to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, which was also steadfast in its recruitment of him. It was the all-for-one vibe that he got from the WSU players that ultimately won him over. “I really loved the guys on the team and the coaches,” Hatz said. “But the real turning point for me was what I heard from the players. They seemed like genuinely nice guys and they answered all my questions. They all seemed to really like it there.”
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Intel has announced it's second generation of discrete desktop graphics cards designed for PC gamers. The Xe2 architecture-based Battlemage Arc B580 and B570 , which were leaked last week , are targeted at the $200-300 price segment, competing with Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3050 and 4060 and AMD's Radeon RX 7600 and 7600 XT with a view to disrupting the low end of the market. Intel's Arc B580 graphics card What's new with the Intel Arc A580 and a 570? How fast are the Intel Arc A580 and a 570? Intel has released various performance claims for the new cards. The Arc B580 is on average 24% faster at 1440p than the previous similarly-priced Arc A750 and has up to 50% more performance per watt and more importantly offers 32% better performance per dollar than the competition - presumably the models listed above such as the RTX 4060, although Intel didn't mention any specific models from AMD or Nvidia. Intel's Arc B580 graphics card will be up to 24% faster than the previous generation on average, ... [+] beating the competition in performance per dollar according to Intel Save Up To 75% With The Best Black Friday Clothing Deals That Are Still Running 10 Unofficial Hoka Cyber Week Sales You Don’t Want To Miss How much will Intel Arc A580 and a 570 cost? The Arc B580 will cost $249 and B570 $219. This puts them into contention with some of the cheaper options from AMD and Nvidia such as the GeForce RTX 3050 and Radeon RX 7600. Based on Intel's claims, the new cards will be on average 24% faster at a similar price. Intel's Arc B580 graphics card How much memory do the Intel Arc A580 and a 570 have? The biggest headline features, though, are the memory options. The Arc 580 is equipped with a decent 12GB of memory - 50% more than its predecessors. The ARC B570 meanwhile This is significant as 8GB is widely viewed as not enough to deal with todays games, even at lower resolutions such as 1,920 x 1,080p and with comparatively low-end graphics cards. Nvidia certainly came in for critisizm with its cheaper RTX 4000-series cards such as the RTX 4060 Ti, which started at 8GB, while AMD's equivalents had larger amounts. The increased amounts of memory are likely add to the appeal in addition to Intel's claimed performance figures, even if the amounts are what would be expected for a graphics card in this price range to have launching right now. Of course, all eyes will be on Nvidia come January when it is expected to launch its RTX 5000 series. When will the Intel Arc A580 and a 570 be available? So far Intel has stated that add-in board partners Acer, ASRock, GUNNIR, ONIXX, MAXSUN and Sparkle will offer the Arc B580 from December 13th from $249, with Intel also offering a Limited Edition version too. The Arc B570 will be available from January 16th, 2025, starting at $219. Are the Intel Arc A580 and a 570 significant? Ultimately Intel is aiming to disrupt the most popular part of the market in terms of discrete graphics card sales - one currently dominated by Nvidia's RTX 4060 and 3060 cards. There has also been very little movement in terms of new releases at this price point with both AMD and Intel relying on older models to fill the gaps. Nvidia's for example, hasn't released an RTX 4050 - its product stack begins with the RTX 4060 8GB that cost over $300 when new. Nvidia's RTX 4060 graphics card will be a target for Intel's Battlemage models, even if it's about ... [+] to be replaced with Nvidia's RTX 5000 cards Intel hasn't had an easy time trying to break into the GPU market, though, with the unenviable task of optimizing drivers for hundreds of games to compete with AMD and Nvidia. the current situation based on recent tests by various tech review outlets is that there is still work to be done, but performance in much improved. Still, the release of a new graphics cards is encouraging and shows Intel's commitment to continue to push forwards and when graphics card prices show no signs of falling, additional options below $300 are very welcome.USMNT milestone: Weston McKennie and Tim Weah combine for special Juventus strike
What Did Bills Say About Matt Milano's Emotional Return?By KELVIN CHAN LONDON (AP) — After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. Related Articles Technology | US updates a science and technology pact with China to reflect growing rivalry and security threats Technology | North Korean nationals indicted in scheme using IT workers to funnel money for weapons programs Technology | TikTok files challenge against Canadian government order to dissolve its business in the country Technology | California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites Technology | Apple Cash: How to use it to send and receive money To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is a garble that can’t be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won’t be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here’s a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you’re an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there’s a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption on all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent, or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal’s encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp , so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger , which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels” but contrary to popular perception, it doesn’t turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France . Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.NBA's Christmas Day ratings skyrocket, even going up against NFL games
Ensure power-related issues are redressed promptly: Dy CM to KPDCLSt. Paul City Council approves zoning relief for proposed affordable housing on White Bear Avenue