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Bucs rout Panthers, keep pace in race for first in NFC SouthJamaica Labour Party (JLP) members and supporters are being encouraged to put aside their differences and unite for a better, stronger party. The appeal came from veteran trade unionist Kavan Gayle, amid the internal JLP spats in the ruling party spilling out in the public in recent weeks. Gayle urged those attending the JLP’s annual conference on Sunday at the National Arena to safeguard unity in the party. "Don't be distracted. Don't be dismayed. I want to call on us to continue to promote party unity because unity and progress will make our nation strong," said Gayle, the president of the JLP affiliated Bustamante Industrial Trade Union, at the party's conference on Sunday. Fusses have emerged in the JLP. For example, there is disagreement in Manchester North Eastern over who will replace Audley Shaw and Karl Samuda has criticised general secretary Dr Horace Chang for announcing his exit from representational politics without discussion and a councillor is reported to have accused the JLP leadership of disrespecting workers. We want to hear from you! Email us at star@gleanerjm.com and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on X @JamaicaStar and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStarToshiba (OTCMKTS:TOSYY) Stock Passes Below Fifty Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?Nigel Farage’s Reform Party could wreck SNP’s hold over Holyrood as pollsters predict election chaos
Clash erupts between PMK patriarch Ramadoss, and his son Anbumani at party meetMac Jones threw two touchdown passes Sunday and the Jacksonville Jaguars earned a season sweep of the visiting Tennessee Titans with a 20-13 victory. Jones connected on 15 of 22 passes for 174 yards, finding Parker Washington and rookie Bryan Thomas Jr. for scores, as Jacksonville (4-12) left Tennessee (3-13) behind in the AFC South cellar. Cam Little booted field goals of 48 and 44 yards. Mason Rudolph hit 19 of 31 attempts for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Titans, which dropped their fifth consecutive game. Tyjae Spears rushed for 95 yards on 20 carries, playing in place of Tony Pollard (flu/ankle). Jones' 11-yard scoring strike to Thomas with 7:05 left in the game gave the Jaguars a 20-10 lead but Tennessee responded with Matthew Wright's 28-yard field goal at the 2:02 mark. After getting a three-and-out, the Titans had a chance to force overtime and reached the Jacksonville 26. But Rudolph's fourth-down pass intended for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was knocked down at the goal line with nine seconds left. The pregame storyline concerned which team could benefit most from a loss. Both entered a game behind the New York Giants for the potential No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft. Jacksonville initiated scoring on the game's opening drive, needing to drive only 38 yards on nine plays to set up Little for his first field goal at the 10:46 mark. The Jaguars got into the end zone for the first time with 8:59 left in the half on Jones' 2-yard touchdown pass to Washington, coming five plays after Rudolph tossed a tipped-ball interception. Little's second field goal upped the margin to 13-0 with 2:02 remaining before Tennessee pieced together a two-minute drive that set up Wright for a 39-yard field goal as time expired, making it 13-3 at halftime. The Titans started the second half with their best drive of the game, chewing up 85 yards and eight minutes before Rudolph hit Nick Vannett with an 8-yard strike to cut the margin to 13-10. --Field Level Media
World number one Jannik Sinner triumphed in singles and doubles to help Davis Cup holders Italy beat Argentina 2-1 on Thursday to reach the semi-finals. Italy will face Australia after they earlier defeated record 32-time winners the United States with a tense 2-1 victory. Sinner won his first two Grand Slams this season, as well as triumphing at the ATP Finals last week without dropping a set, and blew Sebastian Baez away 6-2, 6-1 after Francisco Cerundolo comfortably beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1 in the opening rubber. In the decisive doubles battle, Sinner and Matteo Berrettini shaded Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez 6-4, 7-5 to progress. “If they put me on the court in doubles I try my best,” said Sinner. “Matteo played unbelievable today, he carried me.” Italy booked a third consecutive return to the semi-finals and are favourites to win the Davis Cup for a second year running, in no small part because of Sinner’s presence. The 23-year-old is still waiting for the outcome of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal against his initial exoneration for twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March. Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in singles and doubles in last year’s semi-finals on the way to helping Italy end a 47-year wait to lift the trophy again. “I didn’t have time to adapt to this court (after the ATP Finals) so I’m very happy with how I handled the situation today,” Sinner told reporters. “It was a very good doubles (pairing), he played unbelievable, I tried to stay there (with Berrettini), he also gave me a lot of confidence to play.” The doubles teams were tied until the ninth game of the first set when Sinner won three points and then Molteni clipped his passing shot which was heading wide to hand Italy the decisive solitary break. The second set was even tighter with Italy breaking for a 6-5 lead and sealing their victory with a Sinner smash. Berrettini more than held his own alongside Sinner. “When you’re playing with Jannik the pressure is off a little bit, he’s going to play great,” said the world number 35. Argentina’s captain Guillermo Coria said he was pleased with his team taking Italy to the wire. “It speaks of the respect Italy have for us, and my doubles pairing, that they put the world number one out there,” he said. “We were close to taking out a powerful team like Italy.” Australia’s match-up with the USA was the most played in Davis Cup history with this their 48th meeting — the first was in 1905. In the opening rubber, Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis edged Ben Shelton 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (16/14) with a gripping tie-break triumph. Taylor Fritz pulled the US level in the tie by beating Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 before Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson scored a 6-4, 6-4 win over Shelton and Tommy Paul. Australia, who have lifted the trophy 28 times, second only to the USA, last won the tournament in 2003 and finished as runners-up in the last two editions.Natick next up to vote on rules similar to other Massachusetts sanctuary citiesIn a groundbreaking revelation, the gaming industry is abuzz with the news of the “SMCI Drop” — a cutting-edge technology poised to redefine gaming experiences worldwide. The acronym SMCI stands for “Smart Multi-Core Interface,” a revolutionary advancement in processor design specifically tailored for enhancing gaming performance. Unveiling the Power of SMCI SMCI technology integrates a sophisticated system of threading that optimizes multi-core processors, thereby minimizing latency and maximizing frame rates without compromising on graphics quality. This innovative approach allows games to achieve unprecedented levels of realism and fluidity, even on standard gaming hardware. Bridging the Past and Future Developed by a coalition of top-tier engineers and gaming developers, SMCI is set to bridge the gap between current-gen and next-gen gaming consoles and PCs. By harnessing unused computational power through its smart interface, SMCI grants gamers an enhanced experience that feels like a major hardware upgrade without the need for new physical components. A Win for Gamers and Developers Alike Gaming studios can also leverage SMCI to reduce development costs and create more immersive worlds. By optimizing existing hardware performance, developers can focus on crafting innovative gameplay mechanics and narratives, rather than on device compatibility concerns. The advent of the SMCI drop is more than just technological evolution; it’s a cultural shift, promising to democratize high-quality gaming experiences and setting the stage for an exciting future in interactive entertainment. As the first SMCI-enabled games are slated for release in the coming months, the anticipation and expectation amongst the gaming community continue to soar. SMCI: Transforming Gaming Landscapes with Smart Multi-Core Interface The gaming industry is on the brink of a revolutionary shift with the advent of the “SMCI Drop.” This innovation, known as Smart Multi-Core Interface (SMCI), is poised to redefine how games are developed and experienced, pushing the boundaries of realism and performance in the gaming world. How SMCI Revolutionizes Gaming Performance SMCI technology is designed to revolutionize gaming performance by optimizing the threading systems of multi-core processors. It strategically minimizes latency and maximizes frame rates, offering a seamless gaming experience without sacrificing graphics quality. This means that even standard gaming hardware can deliver high-quality, smooth gameplay akin to that of next-generation consoles and PCs. Pros and Cons of SMCI Technology Pros: – Improved Performance: Significant boost in game fluidity and realism. – Cost-Efficient: Provides a next-gen experience without needing new hardware. – Universal Benefits: Enhances both gaming experiences and developer capabilities. Cons: – Adoption Curve: Initial setup and integration may require time and resources. – Compatibility Issues: Potential challenges in optimizing older devices. Innovative Features of SMCI SMCI employs a sophisticated threading system that utilizes unused computational power of existing hardware. This allows both gamers and developers to gain advantages without extensive new investments. By improving the efficiency of multi-core processors, SMCI promises a future where players can enjoy high-quality gaming on a wider array of devices. Anticipated Market Impact and Trends The introduction of SMCI is expected to democratize gaming, leading to widespread access to advanced gaming experiences. The technology is not only anticipated to reduce game development costs but also to shift the focus toward more creative and immersive gaming narratives. With players and developers eagerly anticipating the first SMCI-enabled games, market trends suggest a substantial shift towards higher engagement and retention rates in gaming. Sustainability and Future Predictions SMCI’s emphasis on utilizing existing hardware aligns with sustainable practices, reducing the need for frequent hardware upgrades and minimizing electronic waste. As the gaming industry increasingly focuses on sustainability, SMCI could play a pivotal role in promoting eco-friendly practices. In the future, we could see a broader adoption of similar technologies across various entertainment platforms. Conclusion The SMCI Drop heralds a new era in gaming technology, presenting both exciting opportunities and challenges. As this innovation unfolds, it is set to provide transformative experiences for gamers and developers alike, promising a dynamic future where gaming is both accessible and thrilling. Stay updated on the latest advancements in gaming with more insights and trends at Digital Trends .
Hezbollah fires about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel in heaviest barrage in weeksJimmy Spithill introduces his new Red Bull Italy SailGP Team
BEIRUT — Hezbollah fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel on Sunday, wounding seven people in one of the militant group's heaviest barrages in months, in response to deadly Israeli strikes in Beirut while negotiators pressed on with cease-fire efforts to halt the all-out war. An Israeli bomb squad policeman carries the remains of a rocket that was fired from Lebanon on Sunday in Kibbutz Kfar Blum, northern Israel. Some of the rockets reached the Tel Aviv area in the heart of Israel. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike on an army center killed a Lebanese soldier and wounded 18 others in the southwest between Tyre and Naqoura, Lebanon's military said. The Israeli military expressed regret, saying that the strike occurred in an area of combat against Hezbollah and that the military's operations are directed solely against the militants. Israeli strikes have killed over 40 Lebanese troops since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, even as Lebanon's military has largely kept to the sidelines. Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the latest strike as an assault on U.S.-led cease-fire efforts, calling it a “direct, bloody message rejecting all efforts and ongoing contacts” to end the war. Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles and drones into Israel after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack out of the Gaza Strip ignited the war there. Hezbollah has portrayed the attacks as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians and Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups. The Israeli police bomb squad inspects the site after a missile fired from Lebanon hit the area Sunday in Petah Tikva, outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel. Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes at Hezbollah, and in September the low-level conflict erupted into all-out war as Israel launched airstrikes across large parts of Lebanon and killed Hezbollah's top leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The Israeli military said about 250 projectiles were fired Sunday, with some intercepted. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said it treated seven people, including a 60-year old man in severe condition from rocket fire on northern Israel, a 23-year-old man who was lightly wounded by a blast in the central city of Petah Tikva, near Tel Aviv, and a 70-year-old woman who suffered smoke inhalation from a car that caught fire there. In Haifa, a rocket hit a residential building that police said was in danger of collapsing. The Palestine Red Crescent reported 13 injuries it said were caused by an interceptor missile that struck several homes in Tulkarem in the West Bank. It was unclear whether injuries and damage were caused by rockets or interceptors. Sirens wailed again in central and northern Israel hours later. Israeli airstrikes without warning on Saturday pounded central Beirut, killing at least 29 people and wounding 67, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. A flock of birds flies above the smoke from Israeli airstrikes Sunday in Dahiyeh, Beirut. Smoke billowed above Beirut again Sunday with new strikes. Israel's military said it targeted command centers for Hezbollah and its intelligence unit in the southern suburbs of Dahiyeh, where the militants have a strong presence. Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,700 people in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced about 1.2 million people, or a quarter of Lebanon’s population. On the Israeli side, about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed by bombardment in northern Israel and in battle following Israel's ground invasion in early October. Around 60,000 Israelis have been displaced from the country's north. The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for an "immediate ceasefire" in the Israel-Hezbollah war while on a visit to the Lebanese c... The European Union’s top diplomat called Sunday for more pressure on Israel and Hezbollah to reach a deal, saying one was "pending with a final agreement from the Israeli government.” U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein was in the region last week. Josep Borrell spoke after meeting with Mikati and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally who has been mediating with the group. Borrell said the EU is ready to allocate $208 million to assist the Lebanese military. But Borrell later said that he did not “see the Israeli government interested clearly in reaching an agreement for a cease-fire" and that it seemed Israel was seeking new conditions. He pointed to Israel’s refusal to accept France as a member of the international committee that would oversee the cease-fire's implementation. The emerging agreement would pave the way for the withdrawal of Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops from southern Lebanon below the Litani River in accordance with the U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the monthlong 2006 war. Lebanese troops would patrol with the presence of U.N. peacekeepers. With talks for a cease-fire and hostage release deal in Gaza stalled, freed hostages and families of those held marked a year since the war's only hostage-release deal. “It’s hard to hold on to hope, certainly after so long and as another winter is about to begin," said Yifat Zailer, cousin of Shiri Bibas, who is held along with her husband and two young sons. Around 100 hostages are still in Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead. Most of the rest of the 250 who were abducted in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack were released in last year's cease-fire. Talks for another deal recently had several setbacks, including the firing of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who pushed for a deal, and Qatar’s decision to suspend its mediation. Hamas wants Israel to end the war and withdraw all troops from Gaza. Israel has offered only to pause its offensive. The Palestinian death toll from the war surpassed 44,000 this week, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. On Sunday, six people were killed in strikes in central Gaza, according to AP journalists at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. How often do you buy something online ? A couple of times a month? A couple of times a week? A couple of times a day? Everybody's answer will be different, but collectively, it's done a lot: Online retail accounted for over $1 trillion of purchases in the U.S. in 2022 and a record $277.6 billion in the second quarter of 2023 alone. Retailers ranging from titans like Amazon and Walmart, down to local small-town shops work very hard to land their share of that business. Sadly and inevitably—so do criminals and scammers. At any given moment, they operate millions of bogus sites. So how can you spot those fake online shopping sites? Spokeo provides a guide. In the early days of the internet , it took some genuine skills to set up a website, but those days are gone. A quick search will show that there are lots of apps and services offering websites on a prefabricated "fill in the blanks" basis, and most web hosts provide those tools as part of the service when someone signs up with them. It's even easier on social media . If you were opening a "side hustle" business tomorrow from your home, you could set up your own Facebook page tonight in under an hour, with exactly zero knowledge of websites. Once that page is set up, you just need to throw a few dollars in the direction of Facebook's advertising department, and they'll start advertising your page to users. It's no harder to promote a website, except in that case, you'd give your advertising dollars to Google. This is a simplified overview, but the main point holds: Establishing a presence online has become a very democratized process, open to anyone with minimal skills and even the smallest budget for advertising. That's been a boon for legitimate entrepreneurs, but it also makes life very easy indeed for scammers. There are multiple types of bogus websites . Some are imposters, created to look very much like a legitimate commercial or government site that you're familiar with, such as Amazon or Netflix. Others don't imitate a specific site, but instead attempt to capture the look and feel of those sites in general (whether that be a retail site, a government or bank page, or even something relatively shady like a gambling or porn site). Next, scammers find ways to drive traffic to their site. Often that's through phishing texts or emails, but deceptive ads on social media or search engines like Google and Bing work just as well. Once a browser arrives at the criminals' site (or, in some cases, downloads their app), any number of bad things can happen. One is that they'll download malware onto your devices, which can capture passwords or steal personal information. A more straightforward risk is that the browser will cheerfully enter their personal and banking/credit card information, thinking they're making a legitimate purchase. That's largely why fake online shopping sites are so dangerous, and so useful to scammers and identity thieves. Most bogus sites share some or all of those characteristics, but shopping sites are a very specific type of bogus site with some quirks of their own. One characteristic to count on—whether the website directly impersonates a major retailer like Amazon, a niche retailer like MEC, or just positions itself as an anonymously general retail site—is that it will offer unusually low pricing on high-demand products. That might be a mass-market item like the latest gaming console, a suddenly in-demand item that's unavailable through normal channels (remember trying to get masks and sanitizing wipes during COVID-19?), or something as mundane as disposable diapers or high-capacity computer drives. Whatever the product, the advertised price will be low enough to get attention. The bogus site will have any number of ways to transfer a browser's money to its coffers, depending on the scammers' intentions and skillset. A few of the most common include: These are all aside from the potential to infect devices or steal payment information . Sites focused on identity theft might consider a faux purchase to be just the added gravy. How common is online shopping fraud? Well, the news is pretty bad. The FTC's 2022 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book recorded over 327,000 online shopping complaints, the fourth-highest category for overall complaints and second among fraud categories. You would expect these sites to be more prevalent during the final quarter of the year, corresponding to the holiday gift-giving season—Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas itself—and they are, but that doesn't mean you can relax during the other nine months of the year. The Anti-Phishing Working Group, or APWG, identified nearly a million fake or phishing websites during the first quarter of 2022 alone (not a busy time of year for shopping), for example. To be clear, only 14.6% of those were eCommerce sites, but that still translates to well over 140,000 bogus shopping sites. The true number is almost certainly higher because the APWG only tracks the ones that use a phishing approach. Many opt to simply buy advertising instead (or as well), and those won't be captured in the APWG's statistics. However you slice it, there's a definite risk of encountering these sites when you shop. The good news is that bogus shopping sites aren't hard to spot, once you're aware of the risk. They aren't built for permanence; scammers pull them together quickly and cheaply and then abandon them once they stop producing.That "just good enough" approach leaves plenty of visible signs you can detect. Below, here's what to look for when recognizing fake online shopping sites. Bad images Bogus sites don't have direct access to the real products' manufacturing images, so they resort to copying and pasting from legitimate sites. \That means bogus sites' product images (and often their fake logos, if they impersonate a legitimate site) are fuzzy and low-res. A URL that's slightly "off" Imposter sites obviously can't have the same URL as the legitimate site, so they'll usually have a URL that looks right, but isn't quite. They might have a typo in the name, or incorporate the real company's name into their URL in a non-standard way ("myfakesite.amazon.com.123xyz.com"), or—sneakiest of all—use a letter from a different language's character set , which looks the same to the eye, but not to the computer. Broken links The scammers may have simply copied and pasted user interface elements from a legitimate site, in which case many links on the site may be broken (or simply not clickable). Lots of missing elements A legitimate retail website will have several pages of legalese, often starting with a pop-up about its cookie policy or privacy policy. You should certainly expect to see a detailed document spelling out shipping policies, return and refund policies, and similar details. If those are missing or brief and vapid, it's probably a fake site. Limited options for payment Sites that plan to take your money and run will often show oddly specific payment options, from wire transfers to gift cards to cryptocurrency. The thing those payment methods have in common is that it's very difficult to get money back once it's spent. Sites geared around capturing your personal or payment information, on the other hand, may insist on getting your credit card. Typos, grammar, and linguistic errors Simple, silly language errors are often a red flag. Scammers may not be native English speakers, and it shows up in awkward or sometimes inappropriate phrasing. Errors in actual product listings aren't necessarily a smoking gun—you'll see them frequently on real Amazon pages—because they come from the manufacturers, who are often not English speakers. Language errors on the rest of the site are more of a concern. HTTP vs. HTTPS In the address bar of your browser, a legitimate retail site's URL will start with HTTPS, rather than HTTP, and will show a closed lock symbol. The majority of fake sites now also have an HTTPS URL and will show the lock (so this isn't as helpful as it used to be), but less-sophisticated scammers may miss that detail. You can automatically rule those ones out. And, of course, the biggest red flag of all is an unrealistically low price on the product you're looking for. We all want to get a really good deal, but that impulse will often lead you astray. If a shopping site fails those basic "eyeball" tests, the smart thing to do is just close that browser tab and walk away. If you want to dig deeper, or if you aren't sure, there are a few quick and easy ways to verify a site's legitimacy. Use a URL/website checker Remember those really sneaky fake URLs that use a letter from another alphabet? The best way to check those (and other problematic elements in a URL) is through a URL verifier/website reputation service, like the ones from URLVoid and Google . Just copy (don't click!) the link, and paste it into the checker. If the site is sketchy, they'll tell you. Look up the site on a registry Domain names all need to be registered and there are several lookup tools to check this, like ICANN's registration lookup (think of it as Spokeo for websites). If a site claims to be Amazon but was registered just a few weeks ago, that's a really big red flag. Similarly, if the site isn't located where it should be, or if the ownership data is obscured, that's grounds for concern. Turn to Google If you have a bad feeling about a particular site, do a quick Google or Bing (or whatever) search that pairs the site's name with keywords like "scam," "fraud," "bogus" or "ripoff" and see what comes up. If you get a lot of hits, that's definitely grounds for concern. Go Forth and Shop (Safely) If a given site fails any or all of those tests, then keeping your wallet in your pocket is definitely the smart choice. Instead of making the purchase, report the site instead to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and the FTC's Report Fraud website. That will get the investigative wheels turning and may help protect someone less wary from falling victim to the scammers. As always, wariness and skepticism are your friends when it comes to avoiding scams. Don't click on links in emails, texts , or social media messages; instead, go to the company's site by typing the URL directly. If you search a company's page on Google, scroll down through the actual search results until you find it instead of clicking on the sponsored results or advertisements at the top. Most of all, remember the golden rule of scam avoidance: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Keeping those principles in mind, and using the tips given here to screen out dubious sites means you'll be able to shop 'til you drop (safely), despite the vast number of scammers out there. And that—as the credit card ads like to say—is priceless. This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
To lure Juan Soto, Mets created a video of his statue outside Citi Field next to Tom Seaver's NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets wanted Juan Soto to know his future with them could be set in stone. When the free agent outfielder traveled to owner Steve Cohen’s house in Beverly Hills, California, for a presentation last month, the team unveiled a video that included an image of a future Soto statue outside Citi Field, next to the one erected of franchise great Tom Seaver. Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. Bill Belichick 'always wanted' to give college coaching a try. Now he will at North Carolina New North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick said he had long been interested in coaching in the college ranks. But it had never worked out until now, as he takes over the Tar Heels program. Belichick led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during a 24-year run there that ended last year. Belichick's five-year deal pays him $10 million in base and supplemental salary per year. It is guaranteed only for the first three years, including for buyout purposes. There is also up to $3.5 million in annual bonuses. NFL world reacts with excitement, surprise, questions after Bill Belichick is hired to coach UNC Bill Belichick is already the most decorated coach in NFL history. His next challenge is college football after he agreed to a five-year deal to coach at North Carolina. The reaction around the NFL ranged from excitement at seeing him back on the sideline to disbelief. Some of his former players believe his skill set will work at any level. Others caution that the players he brings into UNC should prepare to have their limits tested. Travis Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is the AP college football player of the year BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter is The Associated Press college football player of the year. Hunter received 26 of the 43 votes from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes, and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. A throwback player who rarely left the field, Hunter had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. He had four interceptions and 11 passes defensed as a shutdown corner. Hunter helped the the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against BYU. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. LeBron James ruled out of Lakers' game at Minnesota on Friday with foot soreness LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James has been ruled out of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game at Minnesota on Friday night due to soreness in his left foot. James will miss his second straight game when the Lakers return from a four-day break to face the Timberwolves. The top scorer in NBA history was away from the team this week with an excused absence attributed to “personal reasons,” coach JJ Redick said Wednesday. It’s unclear whether James will even make the quick round trip to Minnesota before the Lakers’ next game at home against Memphis on Sunday. Team claims NASCAR rescinded approval to buy new charter unless federal antitrust suit is dropped CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A new court filing says NASCAR rejected Front Row Motorsports’ agreement to purchase a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing unless the team and 23XI Racing dropped their federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock car series. Front Row and 23XI rejected NASCAR's new revenue sharing agreement and have gone to court. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. Texas Rangers and RHP Nathan Eovaldi finalize $75 million, 3-year contract DALLAS (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi and the Texas Rangers have finalized a $75 million, three-year contract that keeps him in their starting rotation. The right-hander was the winning pitcher for Texas in its 2023 World Series clincher, and the Rangers said one of their primary goals this offseason was to re-sign Eovaldi. The sides agreed to financial terms earlier this week, pending a successful physical. To open a roster spot for Eovaldi, right-hander Roansy Contreras was designated for assignment. Eovaldi became a free agent Nov. 4 after declining a vested $20 million player option for the 2025 season. Rape investigation that Swedish media say focused on Kylian Mbappé has been closed STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish prosecutors say they have dropped a rape investigation that was launched in connection with soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s visit to Stockholm in October. In a statement, lead investigator Marina Chirakova says there is not enough evidence to continue the investigation into the allegation at a hotel. Prosecutors never publicly named the suspect in the investigation but some Swedish media reported it was Mbappé. The Real Madrid striker visited Stockholm in October during a break in the Spanish league. At the time, Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false. 2034 World Cup visitors will live in 'a bubble' and not see real life, Saudi rights activist says LONDON (AP) — A Saudi human rights activist says soccer fans visiting Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup will live in a “bubble” that doesn't reflect real life there. Lina al-Hathloul is a London-based activist whose sister was jailed in Saudi Arabia then banned from travel after campaigning to end a ban on women driving. When FIFA confirmed the kingdom as the 2034 tournament host on Wednesday its president Gianni Infantino acknowledged “the world will be watching” for positive social change. Al-Hathloul says western people “will be very safe” at the World Cup but "will see a bubble of what Saudi Arabia is.”It's a well-worn meme at this point that the writing staff of "The Simpsons" must be time travelers with all the things they've managed to predict over the years. From Donald Trump's presidency to Disney buying out 20th Century Fox, things that are played for simple gags on the animated sitcom end up eerily coming to fruition. Of course, there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for why "The Simpsons" is able to do this. The show's been on the air for decades, with hundreds of episodes, so it's bound to get something right now and then. Add in the fact the show regularly dabbles in social satire, poking fun at things that are relevant at the time, and it only makes sense that history would wind up repeating itself to where it looks like the show was super prescient. Still, it's impressive to watch all the same, especially when it comes to how much advanced technology has been featured on the show years ago only to actually come out years later. Certain devices, like smartwatches, were bound to come out one way or another, but it's far more humorous when something like a baby translator ends up being made — sort of. Here's all the cool tech "The Simpsons" featured years before it was a reality. Consider it an incentive to check in with newer episodes of "The Simpsons" to see what society might get 20 years from now. On "The Simpsons" Season 9, Episode 12 — "Bart Carny" – Marge tries to get the kids to do some yard work. She's disappointed when they refuse, but Homer, as his usual oblivious self, ends up taking them all to the carnival anyways. Once there, they want to go on all fun rides, with Bart expressing his enthusiasm over trying the "Yard Work Simulator," despite his reluctance to perform any actual yard work earlier. The joke is clear — kids don't want to do anything productive, but they'll jump at the chance to perform manual labor if it's presented as a cool video game. That's pretty much the ideology behind "FarmVille," the Facebook game that took the world by storm in the 2010s. People could log on to plant crops and raise livestock, with the main feature being that your Facebook friends could visit your farm to help you out. It sounds like a lot of time and energy when one could learn actual skills like planting their own garden to become a little more self-sufficient in real life. Sadly, all that time invested into "FarmVille" was all for naught when the game shut down for good at the end of 2020. In a way, "The Simpsons" joke could be seen as predicting the prevalence of all sorts of mundane video game simulators, such as "Car Wash Simulator" and "PowerWash Simulator." At the very least, perhaps these simulators show people how fun and rewarding it can be to do these tasks in real life. When it comes to "The Simpsons" predictions, the Holy Grail remains the Donald Trump premonition in Season 11's "Bart to the Future." This is just a throwaway line in a flash forward episode showing Lisa as President of the United States, but before that, "The Simpsons" had a different peek into the future with Season 6's "Lisa's Wedding." It sees Lisa almost getting married to her first love, Hugh Parkfield. When his first attempt at a proposal goes wrong, he immediately speaks into a phone located on his wrist. It's easy to see this as a precursor to modern smartwatches where people can make calls and keep track of all sorts of important data right from their wrist. Of course, real-world smartwatches simply have little screens instead of flipping open like an old-fashioned phone, but Hugh's gadget does exude a certain old-school charm. To be fair, there's a long line of media predicting smartwatches before even "The Simpsons" was around. Arguably, the first well-known example came in the 1940s with "Dick Tracy" comics, with the titular character sporting a two-way radio on his wrist. "The Jetsons" and "Star Trek" followed suit, and there's the real-world forefather to smartwatches with the Hamilton Pulsar Time Computer . This device, which looks super futuristic and featured an LED display, came out all the way back in 1972. Hugh's smartwatch almost seems crude by comparison. "Lisa's Wedding" actually has quite a few technological predictions that were supposed to come out in the far-off year of 2010 — in case you need to be reminded of how long "The Simpsons" has been airing. After Hugh proposes, Lisa calls Marge on a video phone to tell her the good news. Much like Hugh's smartwatch featuring a flip phone, the video calling device has some old-school sensibilities, such as how you still need to input a number using a rotary dial. Still, it manages to predict how people could call one another and actually see who they're speaking with. It wouldn't take too long for this technology to appear, as smartphones with front-facing camera began making waves in the late 2000s. It's not bad for a TV episode that came out in 1995. However, the technology became far more commonplace with the introduction of the iPhone 4, which came with FaceTime, allowing even more people to partake in this futuristic novelty. In fact, FaceTime came out in – 2010? Okay, are we sure "The Simpsons" writers aren't actually time travelers with this one? The video conferencing scene on "Lisa's Wedding" is even more humorous with Marge not realizing she's on a video call, like crossing her fingers when promising Homer won't ruin Lisa's big day. Anyone who's ever had an awkward conversation with a parent who didn't quite understand these newfangled gadgets can surely relate. "The Simpsons" certainly didn't invent robots, and society has been hard at work trying to create these mechanical entities. Sometimes, this leads to useful inventions, but other times, it leads to some truly haunting robots getting put out into the world . In "Lisa's Wedding," the robots featured here — not counting the tin men seen toward the beginning — include a librarian whose face catches fire after crying. Roboticists may be hard at work creating more realistic humanoid robots, but we already have librarian robots to a degree. In 2016, the introduction of a robot named AuRoSS, which was developed by Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research, was widely reported on. It's an autonomous device that's capable of scanning the myriad bookshelves to find any pieces that are out of place. After doing the rounds, it can then inform the librarian staff of which books need to be moved manually. AuRoSS definitely can't do everything librarians do, but it helps take the busywork out of a more menial task. AuRoSS also can't cry when you remind it that it's just a robot, but that's probably for the best. Season 16's "Future-Drama," yet another peek into what could happen if the Simpson family ever aged, sees Bart and Lisa graduating high school. Marge takes a picture of the two before they go to prom, only for the photo to expand into a cake. Marge then exclaims, "It's so great. We can do anything now that scientists have invented magic." To explain this phenomenon in the real world, one could argue Marge making that cake through the process of 3D printing. Researchers have been trying to develop viable means of creating food, such as using food inks that preserve the nutrition and flavor of frozen and fresh vegetables . This relies on piping an edible paste into whatever structure the user wants, and it could be a great way to ensure individuals get the nutritional requirements they need. Unfortunately, the technology is still pretty expensive for in-home use, and it's not quite as easy as just taking a picture of whatever you want plastered on a cake. "Future-Drama" definitely has some more outlandish future technology compared to something like "Lisa's Wedding," which looks downright grounded by comparison. Chief Wiggum has gone full RoboCop and Moe has a clone. Still, bioengineered food is within the realm of possibility — even if it's not exactly magic. It often takes a more far-out framing device to see "The Simpsons" dabble with new technology. "Treehouse of Horror XII" includes a segment where the family gets a new smart home, tricked out by a nefarious AI voiced by Pierce Brosnan. It does everything for them, from cooking their favorite foods to cleaning the dinner table. Of course, the AI also falls in love with Marge and tries to kill Homer, but before that, it shows off some pretty nifty technology. Most people probably aren't giving their homes full chrome makeovers, but plenty of high-tech gadgets make it easier than ever to have a smart home of your very own. Much like the Simpsons family, you don't even need to be that rich, seeing as there are many affordable smart home devices to choose from. Ring Video Doorbells allow you to see who's at the front door before answering, smart thermostats allow you to control your house's inner temperature even when you're away. Plus, smart vacuums clean your house autonomously , which comes in handy even if it can't really help you clean the table after a meal. The Brosnan-voiced AI — which borrows heavily from HAL 9000 from "2001: A Space Odyssey" — even exemplifies many people's fears surrounding AI. Granted, the only human he wants to kill is Homer, but what if a highly advanced intelligence wanted something more than just marrying Marge? On Season 2 of "The Simpsons," we learn Homer has a half-brother named Herb, who is voiced by Danny DeVito. He's a successful businessman who loses his fortune by the end of the episode due to Homer's incompetence. Fortunately, he gets redemption in Season 3's "Brother Can You Spare Two Dimes" when he borrows money from Homer for a gadget that'll put him back on top — a baby translator. Maggie Simpson makes for the perfect test subject, as he analyzes her coos to figure out what she's really trying to say. No doubt an actual baby translator would be a major asset to new parents who just want their child to stop fussing. In the modern AI era, there are numerous services that market the ability to translate a baby's cries into understandable demands. For example, the Cappella app states how it uses AI to translate a baby's cries to determine if they're hungry or sleepy. The app claims to be 95% accurate, but with membership costing $9.99/month, it's natural if parents are skeptical of whether it'll actually help them raise their kids. Similar apps include Nanny AI and ChatterBaby . Herb becomes rich through his invention, although he becomes broke again later in the series, so the money clearly dried up somehow. Maybe there was some kind of flaw in his baby translator that resulted in massive recalls. Or perhaps the general population got tired of hearing Herb's voice whenever their babies wanted to talk. Gone are the days when people need bulky cameras when they can capture solid footage and photos on just about any smartphone . Today, it's quite common for drivers to install cameras on their dashboards in the event of a car accident and for homeowners to put up video doorbells that monitor the outside of the home. Either way, the wide availability of hands-free cameras today makes people's lives easier in more ways than one. This idea of hands-free cameras can be seen in an episode of the "The Simpsons" called "Homer and Apu." Homer is tasked with capturing Apu's negligence on camera with a device so small it fits inside an oversized novelty hat. Of course, this camera is still huge, but Kent Brockman's news team manages to get the footage wirelessly. It's the kind of joke that only works in the context of the mid-'90s, as nowadays, Homer could've just clipped something to his shirt to prove that Apu sells dangerously expired food. Today, hands-free cameras are an asset even when you're not trying to narc on a small business owner. There's even an iPhone hack where you can turn it into a hands-free camera for greater accessibility. On Season 10, Episode 22 — "They Saved Lisa's Brain" – Lisa meets up with the smartest people in Springfield, and eventually, they're put in charge of running the town. Among them is Professor Frink, who frequently has all sorts of neat inventions to factor into the plot. At one point, he pulls out a sarcasm detector, although when it is confronted by the frequently sardonic Comic Book Guy, the device soon explodes due to a sarcasm overload. One would assume picking up sarcasm would be fairly simple in day-to-day conversations, but researchers have actually come out with an AI-powered sarcasm detector. The University of Groningen's Matt Coler told The Guardian , "When you start studying sarcasm, you become hyper-aware of the extent to which we use it as part of our normal mode of communication. But we have to speak to our devices in a very literal way, as if we're talking to a robot, because we are. It doesn't have to be this way." Ultimately, the application seems to mostly apply to humans speaking with AI models, which may be more inclined to take everything literally. There's really no need to use it on someone who's sarcastic in virtually every conversation like Comic Book Guy. Hopefully, this doesn't lead to people taking a bunch of bad advice from AI because it starts deciding to be sarcastic. The history of practical VR goes back decades, usually involving people wearing some kind of goggle-esque headset to see things that aren't really there. "The Simpsons" certainly didn't invent the aesthetic, but it's hard not to see similarities between the VR headsets featured in Season 28's "Friends and Family" and the Apple Vision Pro, which would come out eight years after the episode. Much of the episode centers on Mr. Burns acquiring a VR headset and using the Simpson family — minus Homer, that is — to create idyllic family scenes since he never had a family of his own. However, the most relatable scene from the episode likely comes at the end when everyone in Springfield is seemingly using the headsets as they go about their day. This often results in catastrophe, like when Agnes Skinner falls down a manhole. The Apple Vision Pro, despite having a Travel Mode, isn't really meant to be used outside, despite the presence of videos of people using them out in public. One of the biggest complaints of the Apple Vision Pro is the narrow field of vision compared to competitors like the Meta Quest 3. It poses many dangers, so it might appear that in addition to "The Simpsons" predicting the Apple Vision Pro, it also anticipated its major drawback. Perhaps that's the source of "The Simpsons" being able to predict so much — no matter what technology gets invented, people will find the most hilarious way to misuse it.Cam Carter put LSU ahead for good with a jumper 1:08 into the third overtime and the Tigers came away with a wild 109-102 win over UCF on Sunday in the third-place game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Carter's make sparked a 5-0 spurt for LSU (5-1), which mounted a ferocious second-half rally that began after Darius Johnson drilled a 3-pointer to put the Knights up 52-34 with 12:57 to play in regulation. UCF (4-2) got back within two in the third overtime, but it never found a way to draw even. Vyctorius Miller and Jordan Sears sealed the victory, combining for three buckets down low that gave the Tigers a 106-99 cushion with 17 seconds remaining. Carter was the late-game hero for LSU, scoring the final four points of regulation to forge a 70-70 tie. He also knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:19 left in the first extra session to give the Tigers a 76-75 advantage. Sears gave LSU a four-point edge with a triple of his own with 2:10 to go, but the Tigers failed to stay in front, and UCF's Keyshawn Hall kept the game going by sinking two free throws with six seconds remaining to make it 82-82. Neither team led by more than three in the second overtime, with Hall again coming to the Knights' rescue. He made two layups in the final 52 seconds of the frame to knot things at 93 and send the teams to a third OT. Few could have predicted 15 minutes of extra basketball after UCF put together a 25-3 first-half run that lifted it to a 38-18 advantage with 2:12 left until the break. LSU responded with seven unanswered points, but the Knights still led comfortably, 40-25, at intermission. Sears finished with a game-high-tying 25 points to go along with nine boards, while Jalen Reed recorded a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double for the Tigers. Carter netted 20 points, Miller had 16 and Dji Bailey chipped in 14. Johnson collected 25 points, six rebounds, eight assists and five steals for UCF. Hall totaled 21 points and 10 boards, and Jordan Ivy-Curry supplied 20 points. LSU outshot UCF 43.2 percent to 40.7 percent and had narrow advantages from behind the arc (12 made shots to 10) and the free-throw line (21-18). --Field Level Media
A prominent psychologist has sounded the alarm on the perils of teens falling in love with virtual girlfriends or boyfriends powered by artificial intelligence. And he has warned parents that kids who turn to chatbots for companionship could struggle to develop social skills needed for real relationships. Once the domain of science fiction, AI avatars that communicate with their creators are becoming increasingly popular. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today A rapidly-growing number of apps give users the power to design their ideal romantic partner — choosing their looks, interests and personality — which they can chat with at any time of the day or night. High-profile adolescent psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg raised serious concerns about the possible risks to young people in a video provided to schools across Australia. “The rise in popularity of AI girlfriends, boyfriends and digital companions signifies a significant shift in human interaction with artificial intelligence — blurring the lines between digital and personal connection,” he said in a special report on the SchoolTV platform. “Young people who engage excessively with AI companions might struggle to develop the social skills needed for real human relationships — potentially leading to unhealthy emotional attachments and dependencies that can lead to psychological damage.” SchoolTV, backed by children’s mental health experts, provides parenting resources to schools that subscribe to its service. It also responds to trends reported by schools. Dr Carr-Gregg noted virtual girlfriend and boyfriend apps were easy to download and age restrictions could be bypassed. He warned that excessive exposure to AI companion bots could have a significant impact on a young person’s developing identity. Talking to a virtual companion risked normalising sexualised chat, which could lead to a young person being groomed by a real predator. Because users could personalise their avatar to look, dress and act to fit their desires, that could potentially lead to a deeper attachment than if the avatar was generic. And the power to be able to tell a companion bot what to do could lead to coercive control issues in a real life relationship. “Adolescents seeking belonging and exploring their sexuality may turn to virtual partners for affirmation, attention and validation, addressing feelings of loneliness or disconnection,” Dr Carr-Gregg said. Tragically, talking to an AI bot was the last thing US 14-year-old Sewell Setzer did moments before taking his own life. Last month, his mother Megan Garcia filed a federal lawsuit against role-playing chatbot app Character.AI, claiming it was responsible for the death of her son. The Florida high school student, who had been obsessed with companion apps, took his own life in February. Court documents show Sewell had, for months, repeatedly texted a chatbot named Daenerys Targaryen, after a character in the series Game of Thrones. The teen had pledged his love for “Dany” and discussed suicidal thoughts. His parents were so worried by his addiction they had confiscated his phone, but he soon found it. According to the police report, Sewell’s last act before his death was to log on to Character.AI on his phone to tell “Dany” he loved her and promised to come home to her. The bot replied: “I love you too . . . please come home to me as soon as possible, my love.” Ms Garcia accused the platform of using addictive design features to increase engagement and steer vulnerable users towards intimate conversations. “A dangerous AI chatbot app marketed to children abused and preyed on my son, manipulating him into taking his own life,” Ms Garcia said in a statement last month. “Our family has been devastated by this tragedy, but I’m speaking out to warn families of the dangers of deceptive, addictive AI technology and demand accountability from Character.AI, its founders and Google.” Character.AI issued a statement on X saying it was “heartbroken” by the tragic loss of one of its users. “As a company, we take the safety of our users very seriously and we are continuing to add new safety features,” it read. The company, which promises “personalised AI for every moment of your day”, is one of the biggest AI chatbot providers, with its website becoming one of the world’s most visited sites since it was founded in 2021. One of the earliest companies to promote companion bots, Replika, reports it now has around 30 million users. Billing itself as “the AI companion who cares”, Replika was banned temporarily in Italy last year because of concerns around data privacy and risks to minors. Other popular chatbot apps that mimic human interaction with increasingly life-like avatars include Eva AI, iGirl, AI Girlfriend and AI Boyfriend. AI Boyfriend sells itself as “a boyfriend you can trust”, while iGirl boasts that it “lets you experience the thrill of having a virtual girlfriend that feels just like the real one”. Dr Carr-Gregg told The West the SchoolTV report on navigating AI relationships was not sparked by any single event, but addressed a growing trend and concern regarding teens’ interactions with companion bots. “While the tragic case of Sewell Setzer has certainly brought increased attention to this issue, it’s part of a broader pattern that educators and mental health professionals have been observing,” he said. “The report aims to provide guidance on the potential risks and benefits of AI relationships, especially for young people who may be particularly vulnerable.” While he had not directly encountered teens using companion apps in his psychology practice, Dr Carr-Gregg said research and anecdotal evidence suggested their usage was becoming more widespread among adolescents. “Many teens are drawn to the always-available nature of AI companions and the perception of a non-judgmental, understanding presence,” he said. “Given the rapidly evolving nature of AI technology, it’s crucial to continue monitoring its impact on youth mental health and social development.” He urged parents to encourage teens to maintain real-world social connections, share their feelings about AI relationships without fear of judgment and discuss the limitations of artificial interactions. The warning comes as the Albanese Government prepares to introduce new laws to stop kids under 16 from using social media, but it is unclear if that would extend to chatbot apps. Acting eSafety Commissioner Kathryn King said AI companion apps had recently proliferated online. Some were free, accessible and targeted towards children. “These apps and services are particularly concerning for young people navigating relationships for the first time, as engagement with an AI companion may lead to confusion about consent, respect and/or sexual safety,” she said. “As with other digital platforms, there is a danger that excessive, sexualised engagement with AI companions could interfere with children’s social and emotional development, setting up misguided or harmful beliefs and patterns that are damaging to individuals or relationships in real life.” Ms King said it was important parents were aware such services existed and that they talked to their children about their online activities. She stressed there was work underway to protect kids from harms linked to generative AI by building in measures to stop them accessing age-inappropriate materials. “While providers of chatbots are encouraged to participate in this co-regulatory process, they should also be taking action now to keep users safe,” she said. “Primary digital safeguards should be embedded at the design phase and throughout the development and deployment process — not bolted on as an afterthought.” Lifeline: 13 11 14 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800Bangladesh commission finds India’s ‘involvement in enforced disappearances’BEIRUT — Hezbollah fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel on Sunday, wounding seven people in one of the militant group's heaviest barrages in months, in response to deadly Israeli strikes in Beirut while negotiators pressed on with cease-fire efforts to halt the all-out war. An Israeli bomb squad policeman carries the remains of a rocket that was fired from Lebanon on Sunday in Kibbutz Kfar Blum, northern Israel. Some of the rockets reached the Tel Aviv area in the heart of Israel. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike on an army center killed a Lebanese soldier and wounded 18 others in the southwest between Tyre and Naqoura, Lebanon's military said. The Israeli military expressed regret, saying that the strike occurred in an area of combat against Hezbollah and that the military's operations are directed solely against the militants. Israeli strikes have killed over 40 Lebanese troops since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, even as Lebanon's military has largely kept to the sidelines. Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the latest strike as an assault on U.S.-led cease-fire efforts, calling it a “direct, bloody message rejecting all efforts and ongoing contacts” to end the war. Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles and drones into Israel after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack out of the Gaza Strip ignited the war there. Hezbollah has portrayed the attacks as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians and Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups. The Israeli police bomb squad inspects the site after a missile fired from Lebanon hit the area Sunday in Petah Tikva, outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel. Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes at Hezbollah, and in September the low-level conflict erupted into all-out war as Israel launched airstrikes across large parts of Lebanon and killed Hezbollah's top leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The Israeli military said about 250 projectiles were fired Sunday, with some intercepted. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said it treated seven people, including a 60-year old man in severe condition from rocket fire on northern Israel, a 23-year-old man who was lightly wounded by a blast in the central city of Petah Tikva, near Tel Aviv, and a 70-year-old woman who suffered smoke inhalation from a car that caught fire there. In Haifa, a rocket hit a residential building that police said was in danger of collapsing. The Palestine Red Crescent reported 13 injuries it said were caused by an interceptor missile that struck several homes in Tulkarem in the West Bank. It was unclear whether injuries and damage were caused by rockets or interceptors. Sirens wailed again in central and northern Israel hours later. Israeli airstrikes without warning on Saturday pounded central Beirut, killing at least 29 people and wounding 67, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. A flock of birds flies above the smoke from Israeli airstrikes Sunday in Dahiyeh, Beirut. Smoke billowed above Beirut again Sunday with new strikes. Israel's military said it targeted command centers for Hezbollah and its intelligence unit in the southern suburbs of Dahiyeh, where the militants have a strong presence. Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,700 people in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced about 1.2 million people, or a quarter of Lebanon’s population. On the Israeli side, about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed by bombardment in northern Israel and in battle following Israel's ground invasion in early October. Around 60,000 Israelis have been displaced from the country's north. The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for an "immediate ceasefire" in the Israel-Hezbollah war while on a visit to the Lebanese c... The European Union’s top diplomat called Sunday for more pressure on Israel and Hezbollah to reach a deal, saying one was "pending with a final agreement from the Israeli government.” U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein was in the region last week. Josep Borrell spoke after meeting with Mikati and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally who has been mediating with the group. Borrell said the EU is ready to allocate $208 million to assist the Lebanese military. But Borrell later said that he did not “see the Israeli government interested clearly in reaching an agreement for a cease-fire" and that it seemed Israel was seeking new conditions. He pointed to Israel’s refusal to accept France as a member of the international committee that would oversee the cease-fire's implementation. The emerging agreement would pave the way for the withdrawal of Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops from southern Lebanon below the Litani River in accordance with the U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the monthlong 2006 war. Lebanese troops would patrol with the presence of U.N. peacekeepers. With talks for a cease-fire and hostage release deal in Gaza stalled, freed hostages and families of those held marked a year since the war's only hostage-release deal. “It’s hard to hold on to hope, certainly after so long and as another winter is about to begin," said Yifat Zailer, cousin of Shiri Bibas, who is held along with her husband and two young sons. Around 100 hostages are still in Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead. Most of the rest of the 250 who were abducted in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack were released in last year's cease-fire. Talks for another deal recently had several setbacks, including the firing of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who pushed for a deal, and Qatar’s decision to suspend its mediation. Hamas wants Israel to end the war and withdraw all troops from Gaza. Israel has offered only to pause its offensive. The Palestinian death toll from the war surpassed 44,000 this week, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. On Sunday, six people were killed in strikes in central Gaza, according to AP journalists at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. How often do you buy something online ? A couple of times a month? A couple of times a week? A couple of times a day? Everybody's answer will be different, but collectively, it's done a lot: Online retail accounted for over $1 trillion of purchases in the U.S. in 2022 and a record $277.6 billion in the second quarter of 2023 alone. Retailers ranging from titans like Amazon and Walmart, down to local small-town shops work very hard to land their share of that business. Sadly and inevitably—so do criminals and scammers. At any given moment, they operate millions of bogus sites. So how can you spot those fake online shopping sites? Spokeo provides a guide. In the early days of the internet , it took some genuine skills to set up a website, but those days are gone. A quick search will show that there are lots of apps and services offering websites on a prefabricated "fill in the blanks" basis, and most web hosts provide those tools as part of the service when someone signs up with them. It's even easier on social media . If you were opening a "side hustle" business tomorrow from your home, you could set up your own Facebook page tonight in under an hour, with exactly zero knowledge of websites. Once that page is set up, you just need to throw a few dollars in the direction of Facebook's advertising department, and they'll start advertising your page to users. It's no harder to promote a website, except in that case, you'd give your advertising dollars to Google. This is a simplified overview, but the main point holds: Establishing a presence online has become a very democratized process, open to anyone with minimal skills and even the smallest budget for advertising. That's been a boon for legitimate entrepreneurs, but it also makes life very easy indeed for scammers. There are multiple types of bogus websites . Some are imposters, created to look very much like a legitimate commercial or government site that you're familiar with, such as Amazon or Netflix. Others don't imitate a specific site, but instead attempt to capture the look and feel of those sites in general (whether that be a retail site, a government or bank page, or even something relatively shady like a gambling or porn site). Next, scammers find ways to drive traffic to their site. Often that's through phishing texts or emails, but deceptive ads on social media or search engines like Google and Bing work just as well. Once a browser arrives at the criminals' site (or, in some cases, downloads their app), any number of bad things can happen. One is that they'll download malware onto your devices, which can capture passwords or steal personal information. A more straightforward risk is that the browser will cheerfully enter their personal and banking/credit card information, thinking they're making a legitimate purchase. That's largely why fake online shopping sites are so dangerous, and so useful to scammers and identity thieves. Most bogus sites share some or all of those characteristics, but shopping sites are a very specific type of bogus site with some quirks of their own. One characteristic to count on—whether the website directly impersonates a major retailer like Amazon, a niche retailer like MEC, or just positions itself as an anonymously general retail site—is that it will offer unusually low pricing on high-demand products. That might be a mass-market item like the latest gaming console, a suddenly in-demand item that's unavailable through normal channels (remember trying to get masks and sanitizing wipes during COVID-19?), or something as mundane as disposable diapers or high-capacity computer drives. Whatever the product, the advertised price will be low enough to get attention. The bogus site will have any number of ways to transfer a browser's money to its coffers, depending on the scammers' intentions and skillset. A few of the most common include: These are all aside from the potential to infect devices or steal payment information . Sites focused on identity theft might consider a faux purchase to be just the added gravy. How common is online shopping fraud? Well, the news is pretty bad. The FTC's 2022 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book recorded over 327,000 online shopping complaints, the fourth-highest category for overall complaints and second among fraud categories. You would expect these sites to be more prevalent during the final quarter of the year, corresponding to the holiday gift-giving season—Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas itself—and they are, but that doesn't mean you can relax during the other nine months of the year. The Anti-Phishing Working Group, or APWG, identified nearly a million fake or phishing websites during the first quarter of 2022 alone (not a busy time of year for shopping), for example. To be clear, only 14.6% of those were eCommerce sites, but that still translates to well over 140,000 bogus shopping sites. The true number is almost certainly higher because the APWG only tracks the ones that use a phishing approach. Many opt to simply buy advertising instead (or as well), and those won't be captured in the APWG's statistics. However you slice it, there's a definite risk of encountering these sites when you shop. The good news is that bogus shopping sites aren't hard to spot, once you're aware of the risk. They aren't built for permanence; scammers pull them together quickly and cheaply and then abandon them once they stop producing.That "just good enough" approach leaves plenty of visible signs you can detect. Below, here's what to look for when recognizing fake online shopping sites. Bad images Bogus sites don't have direct access to the real products' manufacturing images, so they resort to copying and pasting from legitimate sites. \That means bogus sites' product images (and often their fake logos, if they impersonate a legitimate site) are fuzzy and low-res. A URL that's slightly "off" Imposter sites obviously can't have the same URL as the legitimate site, so they'll usually have a URL that looks right, but isn't quite. They might have a typo in the name, or incorporate the real company's name into their URL in a non-standard way ("myfakesite.amazon.com.123xyz.com"), or—sneakiest of all—use a letter from a different language's character set , which looks the same to the eye, but not to the computer. Broken links The scammers may have simply copied and pasted user interface elements from a legitimate site, in which case many links on the site may be broken (or simply not clickable). Lots of missing elements A legitimate retail website will have several pages of legalese, often starting with a pop-up about its cookie policy or privacy policy. You should certainly expect to see a detailed document spelling out shipping policies, return and refund policies, and similar details. If those are missing or brief and vapid, it's probably a fake site. Limited options for payment Sites that plan to take your money and run will often show oddly specific payment options, from wire transfers to gift cards to cryptocurrency. The thing those payment methods have in common is that it's very difficult to get money back once it's spent. Sites geared around capturing your personal or payment information, on the other hand, may insist on getting your credit card. Typos, grammar, and linguistic errors Simple, silly language errors are often a red flag. Scammers may not be native English speakers, and it shows up in awkward or sometimes inappropriate phrasing. Errors in actual product listings aren't necessarily a smoking gun—you'll see them frequently on real Amazon pages—because they come from the manufacturers, who are often not English speakers. Language errors on the rest of the site are more of a concern. HTTP vs. HTTPS In the address bar of your browser, a legitimate retail site's URL will start with HTTPS, rather than HTTP, and will show a closed lock symbol. The majority of fake sites now also have an HTTPS URL and will show the lock (so this isn't as helpful as it used to be), but less-sophisticated scammers may miss that detail. You can automatically rule those ones out. And, of course, the biggest red flag of all is an unrealistically low price on the product you're looking for. We all want to get a really good deal, but that impulse will often lead you astray. If a shopping site fails those basic "eyeball" tests, the smart thing to do is just close that browser tab and walk away. If you want to dig deeper, or if you aren't sure, there are a few quick and easy ways to verify a site's legitimacy. Use a URL/website checker Remember those really sneaky fake URLs that use a letter from another alphabet? The best way to check those (and other problematic elements in a URL) is through a URL verifier/website reputation service, like the ones from URLVoid and Google . Just copy (don't click!) the link, and paste it into the checker. If the site is sketchy, they'll tell you. Look up the site on a registry Domain names all need to be registered and there are several lookup tools to check this, like ICANN's registration lookup (think of it as Spokeo for websites). If a site claims to be Amazon but was registered just a few weeks ago, that's a really big red flag. Similarly, if the site isn't located where it should be, or if the ownership data is obscured, that's grounds for concern. Turn to Google If you have a bad feeling about a particular site, do a quick Google or Bing (or whatever) search that pairs the site's name with keywords like "scam," "fraud," "bogus" or "ripoff" and see what comes up. If you get a lot of hits, that's definitely grounds for concern. Go Forth and Shop (Safely) If a given site fails any or all of those tests, then keeping your wallet in your pocket is definitely the smart choice. Instead of making the purchase, report the site instead to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and the FTC's Report Fraud website. That will get the investigative wheels turning and may help protect someone less wary from falling victim to the scammers. As always, wariness and skepticism are your friends when it comes to avoiding scams. Don't click on links in emails, texts , or social media messages; instead, go to the company's site by typing the URL directly. If you search a company's page on Google, scroll down through the actual search results until you find it instead of clicking on the sponsored results or advertisements at the top. Most of all, remember the golden rule of scam avoidance: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Keeping those principles in mind, and using the tips given here to screen out dubious sites means you'll be able to shop 'til you drop (safely), despite the vast number of scammers out there. And that—as the credit card ads like to say—is priceless. This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Fire Alarm & Detection Market: Projected to Hit $103.49B by 2031, 5% CAGR
Hi all! ICYMI, I introduced myself a couple weeks ago. I am the new water and cropping systems Extension Instructor for Dawson, Buffalo, and Hall counties. I aim to serve farmers and agricultural specialists to improve farm operations and profitability. Some ways for me to do this are to host pesticide training programs, answer any questions relating to agriculture and cropping systems, and provide additional programs that are of interest to farmers in the area. Talon Mues Some areas of interest to me include water quality and quantity (chemigation), pest management and drone technology. However, my main interest is addressing questions and concerns that you may have. This week I would like to talk about pesticide training. As an Extension Instructor, it is my responsibility that growers and applicators know how to properly prepare, apply, store and manage pesticides. Those who apply chemicals for private use, which does not include commercial, noncommercial or chemigation applications, will be required to renew their license every three years. Private pesticide training includes laws and regulations, pesticide label information, pesticide safety, environmental protection, integrated pest management and more. Training dates and times for private pesticide license renewal can be found online at the Nebraska Extension Pesticide Safety Training Program website at https://pested.unl.edu/ . Also, training dates, times and locations will be mailed to each applicator in need of license renewal. This letter will come from your local Extension Office with all the information for the pesticide trainings; please keep an eye out for this letter. Another letter or re-certification form will come from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. The letter from NDA contains a barcode you will need to bring to your training session. To register for any of these trainings hosted by Nebraska Extension, call your local extension office. The office can also address any complications or concerns you may have with pesticide trainings. If you cannot attend an in-person training other options are available. There are online/self-study training options available as well as crop production clinics that have additional resources for farming operations with a built-in re-certification for private applicators. Additional information on these options for private pesticide renewal can be found in the letter sent out by your local Nebraska Extension Office. Other trainings are also available for commercial and noncommercial applicators. These trainings are different from the trainings already mentioned. If you are looking to get your initial or recertification for a commercial/noncommercial license, information can be found at the Nebraska Extension Pesticide Safety Training Program website ( https://pested.unl.edu/ ) as well. Remember to attend a meeting with the proper categories. These categories are important and required depending on the type of pesticide application planned. Some examples of commercial/noncommercial categories include agricultural pest control (01), ornamental and turf pest control (04), non-soil and structural fumigation (11), aerial pest control (12), and more. A full list of categories is provided on the Nebraska Pesticide Safety Education Program website. Registration for in-person trainings started Dec 16. The final pesticide trainings provided by Nebraska Extension are chemigation trainings. These trainings provide information on proper irrigation system requirements, chemigation practices, and instruction for needed calculations. A chemigation license must be renewed every four years and requires passing the chemigation license exam. If your chemigation license is expired, you must complete training and the exam before you chemigate in 2025. Online training is available and requires completion of modules in order for the certification exam to appear. If you register for online training in 2024, it must be completed by Dec. 31 to receive certification credit. Starting Jan. 1, chemigation training will become available for 2025. I am looking forward to seeing those who need pesticide certifications. Talon Mues is a Nebraska Extension Instructor for Dawson, Buffalo and Hall counties, focusing on water and cropping systems. Contact him at 308-324-5501 or tmues3@unl.edu Get local news delivered to your inbox! {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Thereport, which includes 100 of the world’s top sportsorganisations, teams, apparel, leagues, broadcasters andtechnology companies, looks at the influence and impact oftechnology in sport across all aspects. Leading therankings in #1 spot was the NBA, followed by McLaren Formula1 team, Apple, AWS ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand whoranked 5th ahead of 95 other powerhouses of the sportingtechnology industry. Emirates Team New Zealand CEOGrant Dalton said, “It brings the team great pride to berecognised so significantly in the Sports Technology PowerList specifically for the technological and innovativeaspect of what the team does. On one perspective weare a sailing team, but to be successful in that regard weare ultimately a technology company. Furthermore, inour role as current Defender of the America’s Cup anddriver of the technology at the pinnacle event of our sport,it is through the innovation that we have a significantinfluence across sailing which also extends to a number ofindustries like marine, sustainability, broadcast ande-sports." Emirates Team New Zealand have had a busyfew years as part of the Defence of the 37th America’s Cupwhich they won for the third time in a row in October ofthis year achieving a diverse number of design and sportingmilestones including: HYDROGEN BOATS Designed,built, successfully launched and implemented the inclusionof Hydrogen powered foiling chase boats, across the eventand teams of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’sCup WIND-POWERED LAND SPEED WORLDRECORD Designed, built and set a new Wind-powered LandSpeed World Record of 222.43km/h in their land yacht‘Horonuku’ with Glenn Ashby in Lake Gairner, SouthAustralia AC40 Design and development of theAC40 class which won World Sailing Boat of the Year and wasused as the foundation of the Women’s and YouthAmerica’s Cups in Barcelona AC SAILING E-SPORTSGAME Developed and launched AC Sailing E-Sports Gamebased of the team’s proprietary in-house simulator andAmerica’s Cup design tools AMERICA'S CUP WINNINGAC75 Designed and built the America’s Cup winningAC75 ‘Taihoro’ which sailed to victory for the thirdtime in a row in Barcelona The report’s maincontributors are immersed in using and understandingtechnology as an integral part of their roles in the sportsindustry. They engage daily with tech companies, sportsscientists, business leaders, coaches and athletes, andsports brands of all types and sizes. Rebecca Hopkins,CEO of The STA Group reflects on Emirates Team NewZealand’s top 5 ranking, “The Sports Technology PowerList is the ultimate industry guide to the brands shapingthe future of sport and sports innovation. It’s the listthe industry watches—and aspires to be on. Thisyear’s rankings were determined through a rigorous processthat combined AI-powered analysis of all past results,expert insights from The STA Group team, and a final verdictfrom a small yet distinguished jury. Being featured isa testament to the groundbreaking innovation and impactEmirates Team New Zealand brings to sports technology.Brands like this are redefining the future ofsport.”Seibert misses an extra point late as the Commanders lose their 3rd in a row, 34-26 to the Cowboys LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game with 21 seconds left after Washington’s Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin connected on an 86-yard touchdown, Dallas’ Juanyeh Thomas returned the ensuing onside kick attempt for a touchdown, and the Cowboys pulled out a 34-26 victory Sunday that extended the Commanders’ skid to three games. Seibert was wide left on the point-after attempt following a bad snap. On the ensuing onside kick attempt, Juanyeh Thomas returned it 43 yards for a touchdown as the Cowboys ended their losing streak at five in improbable fashion. Earlier in the fourth quarter, KaVonte Turpin returned a kickoff 99 yards for a TD. Sam Darnold leads game-winning drive in OT and Vikings beat Bears 30-27 after blowing late lead CHICAGO (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for 90 of his 330 yards in overtime to set up Parker Romo’s game-ending 29-yard field goal, and the Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Chicago Bears 30-27 after giving up 11 points in the final 22 seconds of regulation. Darnold threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Addison caught eight passes for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown, and T.J. Hockenson had 114 yards receiving for the Vikings, who remained one game behind Detroit in the rugged NFC North. Caleb Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears, who lost their fifth straight. Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs win at the buzzer again, topping Panthers 30-27 on Shrader's field goal CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns, Spencer Shrader kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Carolina Panthers 30-27 to reach double-digit wins for the 10th straight season. The Chiefs bounced back from last week’s 30-21 loss at Buffalo and won at the buzzer yet again in a season of narrow escapes. Noah Brown caught two TD passes and DeAndre Hopkins also had a touchdown catch. Bryce Young finished 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers, who had their two-game winning streak snapped. No. 1 South Carolina women stunned by fifth-ranked UCLA 77-62, ending Gamecocks' 43-game win streak LOS ANGELES (AP) — Londynn Jones scored 15 points and fifth-ranked UCLA stunned No. 1 South Carolina 77-62. The Gamecocks' overall 43-game winning streak and their run of 33 consecutive road victories were snapped. The Gamecocks, who fell to 5-1, lost for the first time since April 2023. Te-Hina Paopao scored 18 points for South Carolina. The Bruins knocked off a No. 1 team for the first time in school history. The Bruins dominated from start to finish and their defense prevented the Gamecocks from making any sustained scoring runs. AP Top 25: Alabama, Mississippi out of top 10 and Miami, SMU are in; Oregon remains unanimous No. 1 Alabama and Mississippi tumbled out of the top 10 of The Associated Press college football poll and Miami and SMU moved in following a chaotic weekend in the SEC. Oregon is No. 1 for the sixth straight week and Ohio State, Texas and Penn State held their places behind the Ducks. The shuffling begins at No. 5, where Notre Dame returned for the first time since Week 2 after beating Army for its ninth straight win. No. 6 Georgia moved up two spots, No. 7 Tennessee and No. 8 Miami rose three and No. 9 SMU jumped four places. Indiana dropped from No. 5 to No. 10 following its first loss. Thitikul finishes eagle-birdie to win CME Group Tour Championship and claim record $4M prize NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Down by two shots with two holes to play, Jeeno Thitikul knew exactly what was needed to capture the biggest prize in women’s golf history. And a eagle-birdie finish for the second straight day made it happen. Thitikul claimed the record-setting $4 million first-place check by winning the CME Group Tour Championship on Sunday. It was the biggest money prize in women’s golf history. Thitikul shot a 7-under 65 on Sunday and finished the week at 22 under, one shot ahead of Angel Yin (66). Yin had a two-shot lead walking to the 17th tee, only to wind up settling for the $1 million runner-up check. From Maui to the Caribbean, college hoops' Thanksgiving tournaments a beloved part of the sport College basketball is ready for its Thanksgiving Week closeup. The schedule is full of early season tournaments that could create buzzworthy marquee matchups. And many of those come in warm-weather locations. The Maui Invitational in Hawaii turns 40 years old this year. It opens Monday with a field that includes two-time reigning national champion and second ranked UConn. The Battle 4 Atlantis men's tournament in the Bahamas opens Wednesday. It has a field topped by No. 3 Gonzaga. There are also multiple women's events in the Bahamas featuring ranked teams, including the fourth Atlantis women's tournament. Jannik Sinner leads Italy past the Netherlands for its second consecutive Davis Cup title MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Jannik Sinner clinched Italy's second consecutive Davis Cup title and capped his breakthrough season at the top of tennis by beating Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (2), 6-2 for a 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the final of the team competition in Malaga, Spain. Matteo Berrettini won Sunday's opening singles match 6-4, 6-2 against Botic van de Zandschulp. The Italians are the first country to win the Davis Cup twice in a row since the Czech Republic in 2012 and 2013. The No. 1-ranked Sinner stretched his unbeaten streak in singles to 14 matches and 26 sets. Netherlands reached the Davis Cup final for the first time. Verstappen still manages to win 4th straight F1 title in one of worst seasons of his Red Bull career LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen won an unbelievable 19 races last season that included an incredible streak of 10 in a row in what would arguably go down as one of the greatest years in Formula 1 history. And yet it is this year’s eight-win season — his lowest victory total since 2020 — that Verstappen considers a career-defining campaign. Those eight wins were enough to win him a fourth consecutive F1 championship on Saturday night with his easy drive at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The championship made Verstappen only the sixth driver in F1 history to win four or more titles. Maverick McNealy birdies the last hole at Sea Island to finally become PGA Tour winner ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — Maverick McNealy is finally a winner on the PGA Tour, and it took a shot he won't soon forget. McNealy was part of a four-way tie for the lead when he drilled a 6-iron to 5 feet on the final hole at Sea Island for birdie and a 68. That gave him a one-shot victory over Daniel Berger, Nico Echavarria and Florida State sophomore Luke Clanton. Berger and Henrik Norlander moved into the top 125 to keep full PGA Tour cards for next year. Clanton continued to show his promise. It was his second runner-up finish and fourth top 10 this year.
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