Reggie Bird is anxiously awaiting the day she loses her eyesight completely. The two-time Big Brother winner was declared legally blind 16 years ago when she lost 90 per cent of her central vision. Five years earlier, after winning her first Big Brother crown in 2003, she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare degenerative eye disease. Now, her sight is like “looking through a straw”. “It won’t kill me but I am going to lose the whole lot so when that day comes, I don’t know what I am going to do,” Bird said in a revealing interview on the latest episode of the Mental As Anyone podcast. Reggie Bird with her children after winning Big Brother in 2022. “That day is going to come and it is really starting to scare me because I feel like my eyes are really getting worse. That’s why I get out and make the most of life while I can. I’ve just got to keep going, gotta get on with it, gotta keep moving. There’s worse people off than me. That’s what I always say to myself.” Mother of two Bird, 50, has battled various health issues for much of her life. Big Brother winner Regina "Reggie" Bird (right) pictured with Big Brother Host Gretel Killeen in 2003. She also suffers from stage-two Usher syndrome, a genetic condition that causes deafness and hearing loss. Despite her struggles, she is active on social media and regular shares videos of her adventures, from dancing to cooking and life with her beloved teenage kids. Unfortunately, that has attracted some social media bullying with ridiculous suggestions she is ‘faking’ blindness. “I still cop s**t saying how I’m faking it,” she said. Big Brother 2022. Regina "Reggie" Bird with fellow contestant Tim Dormer. “It just frustrates me. I’m out there having a go and trying to do my best under the circumstances that I live with. It (vision impairment) doesn’t mean we can’t do stuff. People think we should be sitting in a bloody chair in the corner with big black glasses on and not do anything. We are quite capable of doing things. There’s a lot of education that needs to be (done) around blindness. I wish I could go to schools and educate kids ... there is just such a stigma around what blind people should look like and what they should be doing.” Reggie Bird. Celebrity Slim..Reggie Bird Picture: Nathan Richter In the wide-ranging interview, Bird revealed she has struggled to find work due to her disability. She lives off a pension that covers her rent, and the prize money from winning both seasons of Big Brother. She joked that joining OnlyFans might be her only option to earn a living. “They make lots of money on there so why not get the old saggy t**s out,” she laughed. Do you need help? Lifeline: 131144; Beyond Blue: 1300224636; Kids Helpline: 1800551800 * A new episode of Mental As Anyone drops each Tuesday morning. More Coverage ‘Search over’: Jackie O’s love confession Gender talk that made cricket legend ‘squirm’ Jonathon Moran Originally published as Big Brother’s Reggie Bird health concerns: ‘It is really starting to scare me’ Reality Don't miss out on the headlines from Reality. Followed categories will be added to My News. Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Reality Fans vow to boycott if Raygun joins hit show Controversial breakdancer Raygun is tipped to join the cast of this hit reality series, but viewers have threatened to boycott the show if she does. Read more Reality Real reason hit show’s whole cast was axed Controversial US reality TV show Vanderpump Rules had “no path forward” with its legacy cast members, according to a new report. Read moreNEW YORK — Stoli Group USA, the owner of the namesake vodka , has filed for bankruptcy as it struggled to contend with slowing demand for spirits, a major cyberattack that has snarled its operations and several years of fighting Russia in court. The company in its bankruptcy filing said it is “experiencing financial difficulties” and lists between $50 million and $100 million in liabilities. Stoli vodka and Kentucky Owl bourbon will continue to be available on store shelves while the company navigates the Chapter 11 process, which only pertains to its U.S. business. Until 2022, Stoli was sold as Stolichnaya in the United States, which loosely translates to “capital city” in Russian. The company shortened its title following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and boycotts against Russian-branded vodkas . Stoli Group’s founder, Russian-born billionaire Yuri Shefler, was exiled from that nation in 2000 because of his opposition to President Vladimir Putin. Intel announced on December 2 that CEO Pat Gelsinger has resigned after a difficult stint at the company. The once-dominant chipmaker’s stock cratered as it missed the AI boom and was surpassed by most of its rivals. The liquor has long been marketed as a Russian vodka, but its production facilities have been in Latvia for several decades. Stoli Group is a unit of Luxembourg-based SPI Group, which owns other spirit and wine brands. “The Stoli Group has been targeted by the Russian Federation since it was formed nearly 25 years ago,” said Stoli Group CEO Chris Caldwell in a statement. “Earlier this year the company and our owner were both named by the Russian state as ‘extremist groups working against Russia’s interests.’” Its ongoing legal battle with the Russia government has forced Stoli to “spend dozens of millions of dollars on this long-term court battle across the globe with the Russian authorities,” according to its court filing. Caldwell also said that Stoli’s global operations has been a “victim of a malicious cyber attack” that has forced the company to operate “entirely manually while the systems are rebuilt.” A slowdown in demand for alcohol has crushed several company’s bottom lines following the pandemic when people were stuck at home and stocked up. Stoli’s filings said that it has seen a “decline and softening of demand for alcohol and spirits products post-Covid and especially beginning in 2023 and continuing into 2024.” Stoli Group USA, maker of Stoli vodka, has filed for bankruptcy due to slowing demand for spirits, a major cyberattack, and ongoing legal battles with Russia. The-CNN-WireTM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
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Prospect Capital's COO Eliasek purchases $23,000 in stockFormer Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State's Michael Van Buren Jr., Wisconsin's Braedyn Locke and Cal's Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal. Mensah, a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining, told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men's basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils (9-3) will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. Mensah, viewed as one of the top players in the portal, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns and completed 65.9% of his passes. He led the Green Wave to a 9-4 record and the American Athletic Conference championship game, where they lost 35-14 to Army. Tulane will play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl on Sunday. Van Buren, Mendoza and Locke announced on social media they had entered the portal. Van Buren started eight games as a true freshmen for the Bulldogs. He threw for 1,886 yards on 55% passing with 16 total touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8 Southeastern Conference). He took over as the starter when Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a 45-28 loss to Florida on Sept. 21. Shapen has said he plans to return next season. Van Buren, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound passer from St. Frances Academy in Maryland, had two 300-yard performances for the Bulldogs, including 306 yards and three touchdown passes in a 41-31 road loss against Georgia. Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards in 2024 with 16 TDs, six interceptions and a 68.7 completion percentage. "For the sake of my football future this is the decision I have reached," he posted. Locke passed for 1,936 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Wisconsin this season. He said he will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school. ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan cornerback Will Johnson has joined defensive tackle Mason Graham in the NFL draft. Johnson declared for the draft on Wednesday, one day after Graham decided he would also skip his senior season with the Wolverines. Both preseason All-America players are expected to be first-round picks. Johnson was limited to six games this year due to an injury. He had two interceptions, returning them both for touchdowns to set a school record with three scores off interceptions. Johnson picked off nine passes in three seasons. Graham played in all 12 games this season, finishing with 3 1/2 sacks and seven tackles for losses. He had 18 tackles for losses, including nine sacks, in his three-year career. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson is The Associated Press offensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference and South Carolina defensive lineman Kyle Kennard is the top defensive player. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was voted the top newcomer on Wednesday while the Gamecocks' Shane Beamer is coach of the year in voting by the panel of 17 media members who cover the league. Sampson led the SEC and set school records by rushing for 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. He is tied for third nationally in rushing touchdowns, recording the league's fifth-most in a season. Sampson was chosen on all but two ballots. Mississippi wide receiver Tre Harris and his quarterback, Jaxson Dart, each got a vote. Kennard led the SEC with 11-1/2 sacks and 15-1/2 tackles for loss. He also had 10 quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles. Beamer led the Gamecocks to just their fifth nine-win season, including a school-record four wins over Top 25 opponents. They've won their last six games and ended the regular season with a win over eventual ACC champion Clemson. South Carolina plays Illinois on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. Pavia helped lead Vandy to its first bowl game since 2018 after transferring from New Mexico State. He passed for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions. He ran for another 716 yards and six touchdowns, directing an upset of Alabama. AMES, Iowa — Matt Campbell, who led Iowa State to its first 10-win season and became the program's all-time leader in coaching victories, has agreed to an eight-year contract that would keep him with the Cyclones through 2032. University president Wendy Wintersteen and athletic director Jamie Pollard made the announcement Wednesday, four days after the Cyclones lost to Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game. “Given all the uncertainty currently facing college athletics, it was critical that we moved quickly to solidify the future of our football program,” Pollard said. “Matt is the perfect fit for Iowa State University and I am thrilled he wants to continue to lead our program. Leadership continuity is essential to any organization’s long-term success." The Cyclones won their first seven games for their best start since 1938 and are 10-3 heading into their game against Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 28. BRIEFLY FLAG PLANT: Ohio Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. MALZAHN: Gus Malzahn, who resigned as UCF’s coach last month to become Mike Norvell’s offensive coordinator at Florida State, said he chose to return to his coaching roots rather than remain a head coach distracted by a myriad of responsibilities. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
2024 marked a watershed year for the US autonomous vehicle industry with the ride-hailing market also experiencing a fresh boost after a slowdown in 2022 and 2023. Advertisement According to Straits Research, the global autonomous vehicle market size was pegged at $23.36 billion in 2024, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.1% during 2025 and 2033 to reach $65.30 by 2033. Advertisement Europe, with strong government support and increasing demand for AVs led the pack among countries worldwide, with Germany and the UK particularly standing out. Europe was followed by North America, where, apart from favourable government policies, the presence of industry leaders is expected to provide an impetus to demand in the coming years. According to Autonomous Vehicle Pilots Across America, over 50% of US cities are preparing to develop their roads for self-driving vehicles. takes a look at all the major developments that the industry leaders underwent in the last year, and what lies ahead for them in 2025. Waymo emerges as the frontrunner in robotaxi services Alphabet-owned Waymo emerged as the frontrunner in the autonomous driving industry as the company announced an investment of $5 billion into the self-driving startup. Waymo unveiled its sixth-generation Waymo Driver system and with 800 self-driving vehicles in operation currently in California and Phoenix, Waymo became the only AV company to be collecting fares in the US. In 2025, the company will expand its robotaxi services to Austin, Atlanta, and Miami, with rides available via the Uber app. The company also announced its first international foray in Tokyo, with a start made by collaborating with Japan-based taxi operator Nihon Kotsu. It will commence test rides in early 2025. It has also partnered with Hyundai in October for the integration of Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 SUV into the AV startup’s fleet of vehicles. The Waymo Ioniq 5s will also begin testing by late 2025. According to a , Waymo co-CEOs Tekedra Mawakana and Dmitri Dolgov, told employees at an all-hands meeting in November that they should scale up as aggressively as possible but do so with safety at the forefront of all their efforts. Therefore, simultaneously, to assure the public of safety in its service, the company has developed a large public affairs operation, published more detailed safety reports in 2024, and is working closely with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, first responders and authorities in the cities where it operates. Will Tesla finally deliver on its AV promises in 2025? While Waymo has made strides towards commercialisation and mainstream adoption, Tesla still lags behind. Tesla’s robotaxi promises remained unfulfilled in 2024, even though Tesla CEO Elon Musk did reveal the look and feel of the company’s “dedicated robotaxi” in October. Called Cybercab, the company plans to produce the robotaxi by 2027. At the same event, Tesla also unveiled the ‘Robovan’, its autonomous bus, however, despite these innovations, Tesla has not yet obtained permits for commercial robotaxi services in key US markets. While bullish investors say Tesla will deliver on its driverless technology promises as early as next year, looking at Tesla’s missed deadlines on robotaxis, critics have their doubts. Musk, on the other hand has attributed the delays to US regulations. Current regulations cap the number of self-driving vehicles a manufacturer can deploy at 2,500 annually under special exemptions. Efforts to increase that limit to 100,000 have repeatedly failed in Congress due to legislative gridlock. On a Tesla earnings call on Oct. 23, Musk said he would use his sway with now President-elect Donald Trump to establish a “federal approval process for autonomous vehicles.” Separately, after the US elections on November 18, that Trump’s transition team had signalled plans to prioritise the development of a federal framework for fully autonomous vehicles. Tesla’s stock reacted positively to the news, surging over 5% on trading platforms like Robinhood in what can be seen as a signal for the road ahead for Tesla with Trump in power. However, in a for Internet and Society, AV policy expert Bryant Walker Smith has rejected the idea that regulatory hurdles have curtailed the robotaxi business. “AVs can be — and in fact are — lawfully deployed and regulated under existing federal statutory law,” he said, highlighting Waymo’s example. How Zoox’s unique approach shows promise Amazon-backed Zoox has shown promise with its self-driving shuttles. These vehicles, described as “toasters on wheels,” lack a steering wheel or driver’s seat and feature inward-facing seats, making them ideal for urban environments. In 2024, Zoox secured permits to carry passengers in Foster City, California, expanding to Las Vegas and San Francisco through its Zoox Explorers program. According to CNBC, in March, the company expanded the environmental conditions its AVs can handle on public roads to include “nighttime driving, driving under light rain and damp road conditions, and at speeds up to 45 mph. The company’s leadership, including CEO Aicha Evans, has focused on scaling operations while maintaining safety standards. Zoox is now aiming to offer free rides to a wider group of the general public early next year, before opening up to paying customers and the general public, CNBC said. The service will start in Las Vegas and expand to San Francisco, the company told CNBC. It will begin with an early rider program called Zoox Explorers, allowing select users to ride in a Zoox for free and provide feedback. A recent hire, Zheng Gao, formerly Tesla’s autopilot hardware lead, signals Zoox’s commitment to attracting top talent. GM’s withdrawal from the AV sector stunned industry Despite growing demand for robotaxi services in the US, GM stunned industry observers by announcing its withdrawal from the sector earlier this month. “Cruise was making great progress in the robotaxi space, but deploying a fleet involves significant operational complexities,” GM CEO Mary Barra explained during a call detailing the strategic shift. The Detroit-based automaker will now concentrate on developing “personal autonomous vehicles” rather than pursuing robotaxi ventures. GM has not yet disclosed how many of Cruise’s 2,300 employees will transition to its broader technology team. Cruise founder Kyle Vogt, who sold the company to GM in 2016 and departed in late 2023, criticized the decision on X, writing, “If it wasn’t obvious before, it is now: GM doesn’t get it.” The road ahead for autonomous vehicles In 2024, though the AV industry overall still faced a lack of sufficient capital to support technology, investment announcements like Alphabet’s added a milestone. S&P Global Mobility’s September 2024 describes sales of autonomous vehicles growing slowly in the US. According to S&P Global Mobility’s September 2024 Autonomy forecasts, in 2034, sales of autonomous light vehicles in the US is forecasted to reach about 230,000 autonomous mobility-as-a-service units, suggesting a market share of less than 1.5% per year a decade from now. In mainland China, development is progressing more quickly. In that market, S&P forecasts potentially 1.5 million autonomous vehicles sold in the country in 2034, or about 5% of light-vehicle sales. Europe is expected to advance more slowly than the US, however, with sales beginning later than either the US or mainland China and rising to only 37,000 units in 2034. “Will autonomous vehicle technology prove to be as elusive as a strong hydrogen economy, something for which scale deployment seems perpetually 15 to 20 years in the future? Investment and expansion in 2024 are encouraging in the US market, but challenges remain,”This cryptocurrency's innovative governance model could set it apart from competitors
NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid a mixed Monday of trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% from its to post a record for the 54th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 28.7% to lead the market. Following allegations of misconduct and the , the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company’s board. It also said that it doesn’t expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 3.2% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 0.5% after the chip company said and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger’s replacement, and its chair said it’s “committed to restoring investor confidence.” Intel recently to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street’s frenzy around AI. Stellantis, meanwhile, skidded following the . Carlos Tavares steps down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands like Jeep, Citroën and Ram, amid an ongoing and an inventory backlog at dealerships. The world’s fourth-largest automaker’s stock fell 6.3% in Milan. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 likewise fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 5% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what’s expected to be the best on record and coming off . Target, which recently gave a , fell 1.2%. , which gave a more optimistic forecast, rose 0.2%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.4%. All told, the S&P 500 added 14.77 points to 6,047.15. The Dow fell 128.65 to 44,782.00, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 185.78 to 19,403.95. The stock market largely took latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won’t create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The dollar has long been the currency of choice for global trade. Speculation has also been around a long time that other currencies could knock it off its mantle, but no contender has come close. The U.S. dollar’s value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris . The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed above 4.23% during the morning before falling back to 4.19%. That was just above its level of 4.18% late Friday. A report in the morning showed the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted again last month, but not by as much as economists expected. This upcoming week will bring several big updates on the job market, including the October job openings report, weekly unemployment benefits data and the all-important November jobs report. They could steer the next moves for which recently began to give support to the economy. Economists expect Friday’s headliner report to show U.S. employers accelerated their hiring in November, coming off that was hampered by damaging hurricanes and strikes. “We now find ourselves in the middle of this Goldilocks zone, where economic health supports earnings growth while remaining weak enough to justify potential Fed rate cuts,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. In financial markets abroad, Chinese stocks led gains worldwide as monthly surveys showed improving conditions for manufacturing, partly driven by a surge in orders ahead of Trump’s inauguration next month. Both official and private sector surveys of factory managers showed strong new orders and export orders, possibly partly linked to efforts by importers in the U.S. to beat potential tariff hikes by once he takes office. Indexes rose 0.7% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai.DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will not be charged with a crime after he was found with a gun in a car driven by his brother, a prosecutor said Monday. The gun on the floor was registered to Williams, but he didn't have a concealed-carry permit. His brother did. Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Michigan law is “far from clear” when applied to the 1 a.m. traffic stop on Oct. 8. “We really could not recall any case that had facts that mirrored this case,” she said. Williams was riding in a car driven by his brother when Detroit police stopped the vehicle for speeding. Williams said one of two guns in the car belonged to him and was registered. But without a concealed-pistol license, known as a CPL, a Michigan gun owner typically must place the weapon in a closed case while in a vehicle. A violation is a felony. In this case, Williams' brother had a permit. “The CPL holder here was the driver and had care, custody and control of the car," Worthy said. “Guidance is needed for the future on how many weapons can a valid CPL say that they have control over.” Williams obtained a CPL on Nov. 6, a month later, attorney Todd Flood said. “My client is thankful and humbled by the hard work Kym Worthy and her team put into this matter,” Flood said. During the traffic stop, Williams was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car before officers released him with his gun instead of taking him to a detention center. Williams, a first-round draft pick in 2022, has 29 catches for 602 yards and four touchdowns this season. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLEngineers Pivotal to Nigeria’s Devt, Says Oyo-Ita
'China Corner' established at ISSI: CPEC expansion assured, says Fatemi