U.S. senator says mysterious drones spotted in New Jersey should be 'shot down, if necessary'1 2 Hyderabad: An algorithm developed by a third-year engineering student from the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIITH) to detect flying objects —helicopters, aeroplanes, drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and birds — faster and more robustly, could soon be used by the Navy. The solution was developed by Rishabh Bhattacharya at a nationwide competition organised by the Navy to address real-world operational challenges with innovative technological solutions. He won a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh. Speaking to TOI, on Thursday, Rishabh said the Navy asked him to conduct further research so that the solution can be integrated into their functioning. "One of the criteria laid out was for the solution to demonstrate resilience to varying lighting conditions, rapid movements, and complex textures while maintaining efficiency on platforms like drones or embedded systems. My algorithm meets the requirement by ensuring robustness and scalability," said Rishabh. The BTech student said he received a call from Navy officials asking him to continue this project at the Indian Institute Technology, Hyderabad. For the competition, Rishabh developed an ‘ optical flow tracking algorithm ,' which can help track flying objects like planes, helicopters, and birds in real time. He used a method called "optical flow" to identify how objects move by studying changes in pictures. Since there weren't enough datasets or examples of flying objects to train his program, he combined two collections of pictures — one from Sekilab and another from Kaggle. He also made his own dataset by separating and moving objects across the screen so the program could learn better. "By doing so, I managed to create different motion scenarios, helping us test how well the program could track moving objects," he said. "Even when we tried it under different lighting-- fog and low lighting, tricky patterns, and unexpected movements — the program worked well, showing it could handle tough conditions," Rishabh added. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
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Manchester United teammates Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo exchanged words after the final whistle of a 2-1 victory on Thursday. And manager Ruben Amorin has no problem with it. “For me, it’s a very, very good sign,” Amorin said after his team beat Viktoria Plzen to stay unbeaten in the Europa League. Hojlund scored two goals and hoped for a centering pass from Diallo to go for a hat trick in the final minutes. The Denmark striker didn’t get the pass, though. Viktoria had been pushing forward looking for an equalizer, which created space for United counters. On another break shortly afterward, Hojlund opted to keep the ball. The pair then had a heated post-game exchange. “We need to feel something,” Amorin said. “If we need to fight each other, it’s like a family. When you don’t care, you don’t do nothing. When you care — you fight with your brother, with your mother, your father.” ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerMarjorie Taylor Greene diversifies portfolio with multiple stock purchases and US Treasury Bill
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras will be out for six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Zegras had surgery Thursday, the team announced. Zegras was injured last week on a fairly innocent-looking play during the Ducks' 4-1 loss to Vegas in Anaheim. Zegras and William Karlsson only briefly got their skates and stick blades entangled, but Zegras needed help to get off the ice after taking a fall. Zegras' torn meniscus is his third major injury in just over a year, although a torn meniscus is likely a fortunate outcome for a knee injury that could have been much worse. He was limited to 31 games last season by two injury setbacks, including a broken ankle that required surgery. Zegras has four goals and six assists in 24 games this season for Anaheim, which had lost four straight heading into its road game against Toronto on Thursday night. The Ducks surprisingly activated forward Robby Fabbri from injured reserve before they faced the Maple Leafs. Fabbri had arthroscopic knee surgery on Nov. 15 and is progressing much faster than his initial predicted timeline of six to eight weeks. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
The new Karl Lagerfeld has arrived at Chanel. Here’s what to expectUnited Airlines travelers with lost luggage have a new tool to track their bags. If the lost bag has an Apple AirTag in it, that information can now be passed directly to United, the airline announced Thursday. The new feature, called Share Item Location, allows travelers with an AirTag or other Find My network accessory to share the location with the airline’s customer service team to help locate their luggage in the event it’s misplaced. United says more than 99% of its customers pick up their luggage without a hitch. The feature is now available with iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 or macOS 15.2. “Apple’s new Share Item Location feature will help customers travel with even more confidence, knowing they have another way to access their bag’s precise location with AirTag or their Find My accessory of choice,” said David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer. Travelers on United whose bags do not arrive at their destination can file a delayed baggage report with United and share the link to the item’s location either through the United app or via text message. After the report has been submitted, customer service agents will be able to locate the item on an interactive map alongside a timestamp of a recent update. The shared location will be disabled after a customer has the bag, and customers can also stop sharing the location of the item at any time on their own. The location link will also automatically expire after seven days. Using AirTags or other tracking devices on luggage is increasingly popular among frequent travelers, with a significant boom following the 2022 Southwest Airlines holiday meltdown , which displaced thousands of travelers over Christmas and into 2023, alongside much of their belongings. United says lost bags are rare, with more than 99% of its customers arriving with their bags. It says the new technology will help those with lost bags to recover them more quickly because the airline will have more information about them. Apple previously announced the new service will also be integrated at other air carriers, including Delta Air Lines. Others include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Vueling. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Guelph City Council has passed a motion to officially oppose the province’s plan to use the to allow municipalities to evict homeless encampments. This comes in opposition to the mayor’s stance, who is on record as wanting to have those powers. Mayor Cam Guthrie was one of the thirteen mayors who signed a letter to the premier requesting stronger tools to address problematic encampments. During the debate, Ward 4 Councillor Linda Busuttil said the blame for the situation being as bad as it is lies with all levels of government. “We are all extremely frustrated with all levels of government, including the federal government and the lack of response to the housing crisis in a very concrete way.” Ward 2 Coun. Erin Caton tabled the motion. She told council it’s her belief the province created the legislation to avoid having to actually deal with the crisis. “I think the call out from Premier Ford was bait. It was bait because the policies the province has been making and the underfunding of our social services, which we have been taking up on our property taxes, is the cause for this crisis worsening.” Related: For his part, Guthrie told council that he is thankful to have a partner in the province to help uphold the city’s but he’s not without compassion. “I’m very passionate about this because I’m passionate in both ways. I want to help the people in these circumstances but I also want to be having our public spaces safe for everyone.” The original motion contained three items. The first was the declaration against the notwithstanding clause, which passed with three votes opposed, including Guthrie. The third item was for council to officially support the Solve the Crisis Campaign; which passed unanimously. The second item was differed for further discussion. On Thursday, Mayor Guthrie took to social media following the premier’s announcement of the use of the notwithstanding clause. “Guelph is ready to partner with our social services manager and with the government to ensure we have positive outcomes for those struggling with addictions, mental health and housing needs in our community.” The legislation also includes $75.5 million for homeless prevention programs. This much needed funding ($75.5 million) to help transition those in encampments to safer shelter or housing is key and I applaud the premier for this focus. Guelph is ready to partner with our social services manager and with the government to ensure we have positive outcomes...With nearly all of the votes counted, left-leaning Mr Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling conservative HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%. Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on January 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Mr Milanovic thanked his supporters but warned that “this was just a first run”. “Let’s not be triumphant, let’s be realistic, firmly on the ground,” he said. “We must fight all over again. It’s not over till it’s over.” Mr Milanovic, the most popular politician in Croatia, has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, the 58-year-old has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and continuous sparring between the two has been a recent hallmark of Croatia’s political scene. Mr Plenkovic has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and Nato. He has labelled Mr Milanovic “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him (Mr Primorac) and Milanovic is quite simple: Milanovic is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme commander of the military. Mr Milanovic has criticised the Nato and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, thought it is a member of both Nato and the EU. Mr Milanovic has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a Nato-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war”. His main rival in the election, Mr Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East”. However, his bid for the presidency has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and which featured prominently in pre-election debates. Trailing a distant third in the pre-election polls is Marija Selak Raspudic, a conservative independent candidate. She has focused her election campaign on the economic troubles of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a snap parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.
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Miami (OH) roars past Colorado State in Arizona BowlI like Martha Stewart. Always have. Two recent documentaries, "Martha" on Netflix and the CNN series "The Many Lives of Martha Stewart," follow the Greek drama that make Stewart a cultural fascination to this day. They recount the jihad against this visionary who came under attack for being a woman with fierce ambition. Admittedly, Stewart's hard-edged perfectionism and nuclear-powered drive had created some tension with her product, the "soft" home arts of cooking, flower arranging and chair reupholstering. But did she have to be destroyed? Sure, Stewart engaged in some insider trading that may have seemed nothing more than an innocent stock tip. She shouldn't have lied about it to the FBI. But did journalist Dominick Dunne have to call her the "Goddess of Greed" over a transaction that saved the creator of a billion-dollar business only $45,673? It sure didn't merit five months in prison. In 1987, the cultural hyenas jumped on her for signing a $5 million contract with Kmart. Stewart was allegedly "selling out" the domestic lifestyle she had cultivated, moving away from authenticity toward mass production and profit. Heaven forfend. The year before, Disney Company's CEO walked off with a $90 million severance check after 14 months of undistinguished performance. She was tenacious. So what? Male executives wore that badge proudly. This woman built a business empire based on creating artistic cheese trays and making wreaths from dry leaves. Try that, Elon Musk. Some of her trouble came in the sub-message that our home lives had turned slovenly because Americans had stopped caring about family dinners and dust balls under the sofa. Some translated that not as a call to do better but as an indictment. But Stewart had no army. Those who accused her of creating unrealistic expectations for women juggling work and family should have been asked: Whose expectations? One could simply enjoy watching her on TV or reading her magazine, Martha Stewart Living. Her projects were properly labeled "aspirational." I once tried to follow her instructions for coloring cloth with natural vegetable dyes. Two hours later, I ended up with blotchy fabric and hands stained by beet juice. I tried, I failed, and I had a funny story to tell. I was intrigued by her demonstration on how to roll an ironed tablecloth in parchment paper to prevent wrinkles. And how nice that she could whip up 80 perfectly iced little cakes in no time. I can't do a single back flip. Must I resent Simone Biles for executing a triple-double in one move? It took Superwoman strength to plant an orchard with 122 trees and who knows how many rose bushes. One interviewer noted that people living in Detroit or New York City couldn't do rose gardens. She responded, "but yes, they want roses." The fantasy was more than half the point. Women were among her leading inquisitors. One called her "the most intimidating homemaker on earth." Another female interviewer tells her, "Either they worship you or they say you make us crazy." There was a third possibility — that they found her entertaining. Stewart can lay claim to two heroic feats: She played a big part in improving the quality of American homelife. And she rebuilt a business that had been left for dead. Above all, Martha was a great tough broad. You saw how TV's Larry King kept badgering her about her failed marriage in a way that would have seemed bizarre had the executive been a man. "I had sacrificed a marriage because of the allure of a great job," she finally relented. And she didn't regret it? She did not. I like Stewart, still going strong at 83. More than ever. Harrop, who lives in New York City and Providence, Rhode Island, writes for Creators Syndicate: fharrop@gmail.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!A Stoughton woman believed to have fled home with her three children triggered an Amber Alert on Friday night. The kids were found safe less than an hour later. Yet across Massachusetts, people continued to receive alerts that the women and children were missing throughout Saturday. Technology issues were to blame, a Massachusetts State Police spokesperson said. There was no lingering threat to the children, ages 8, 9 and 10. Other similar stories
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“I carry a knife or a sickle, an earthen pot, a waist belt and a harness before wrapping my feet around the tree trunk and climbing it,” explains Katikam Bhiksham, a toddy-tapper from Penumaka village in Tadepalli mandal of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh. “Even at the age of 59, he can climb swiftly carrying tools and the toddy collecting pot with a remarkable balance that comes only with years of experience,” says his wife, Ms. Narasamma, her eyes glowing in pride. The couple was interacting with a team of officials and staff from the AP State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) and Penumaka Grama Sachivalayam (village secretariat), a government-established office that provides public services at the grassroots level. The team members go door to door for the household survey as part of the Andhra Pradesh government’s ambitious plan to enumerate skill census, the first of its kind in India. “First, I inspect the tree and the inflorescence to ensure it is healthy and is ready for tapping,” Mr. Bhiksham continues, unmindful of his conversation overlapping with a query tossed at him by one of the Sachivalayam staff. “Do you want to switch to some other occupation, or do you desire to continue what you are doing,” asked Sadupati Jyotirmayi, Welfare and Education Assistant at the Sachivalayam. Sachivalayam staff interacting with Katikam Bhiksham and his wife Narayanamma, locals of Penumaka village. | Photo Credit: G.N. Rao Mr. Bhiksham took a few minutes as if to organise his thoughts. Rubbing his chin, he said that toddy-tapping demanded exceptional strength and endurance. “It is also a high-risk job because sometimes it involves climbing trees taller than 50 feet,” he said, breaking eye contact. Given a choice, the 59-year-old is willing to take up agriculture work. However, even while promptly answering the queries, Mr. Bhiksham wonders about the purpose of the inquiry. APSSDC has almost completed the pilot census conducted in five mandals of Tadepalli, Duggirala, Mangalagiri Urban, Mangalagiri Rural and Thulluru in Mangalagiri Assembly Constituency. “This initiative will help bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, aligning better with the demands of the modern workforce” D. Nagamalleswara Rao Engineering student, KLEF (Deemed to be University) A total of 775 enumerators, drawn from APSSDC, village and ward secretariats, Society for Employment Generation and Enterprise Development in Andhra Pradesh (SEEDAP), and the National Academy of Construction (NAC), surveyed 1,12,251 households categorised into 2,029 clusters across 100 Sachivalayams by reaching out to the 2,77,207 residents. A new hope Pathan Shameela, a 34-year-old homemaker, once worked as a computer operator at a surgical shop in Vijayawada. The native of Bhimadole in Eluru district is a B. Com (Computer Applications) graduate who lives in Penumaka. The purpose of the visit of the officials to the village rekindled her hope of finding a job and utilising her skills to supplement her husband’s income. At Kothuru Centre in Tadepalli mandal, the enumerators approached a group of villagers, most of them unlettered and a mix of curiosity, confusion and apprehensions writ large on their faces. Soon, others gathered cautiously to observe what was happening. Whispers spread as people speculated about the purpose of the officials’ visit. “Is it a government aid programme?” asked an excited Ms. Venkayamma, a local resident. However, questions about skills, education and vocational experiences puzzled them, and some hesitated to answer, unsure of how their responses would be interpreted. When asked, Ms. Venkayamma laughed nervously, dismissing her skills as unimportant. It took a patient explanation of the purpose of the survey to people in the villages so that they could open up. Some of them came forward to describe their expertise in weaving, farming or animal husbandry. The staff recorded details meticulously, asking questions about traditional crafts, farming methods, educational and technical skills, and aspirations for future training. They captured inputs from all demographic groups, including women, youth, and elders in the 15-59 years age group, to build a comprehensive profile of their skill potential. “Besides the challenge of the migrated persons, whose names are officially registered here but have moved elsewhere, many residents have apprehensions about sharing the one-time password (OTP) they receive on their phones to approve the survey. Some others say they are unwilling to participate in the survey for various reasons,” says Mr. Venkata Srikanth, a digital assistant from Penumaka Sachivalayam. Some of the surveyors involved in the enumeration process say that the Sachivalayam staff attending other government priorities and surveys in addition to the skill census is yet another shortcoming. Skill gap study This sample assessment and data collection exercise aims to understand the skills and competencies of the local population and the skills in demand for improving the State economy. In other words, it is a skill gap study, which will be replicated at the State level, tentatively from the first week of January 2025. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (2022-23), says that Andhra Pradesh has the highest unemployment rate of 24% among graduates aged 15 years and above in India. The Skill Census exercise aims to address this issue. According to key information accessed by those at the helm of the census project, which is only indicative in nature, the Labour Force Participation Rate is lowest among those with higher secondary education, while unemployment rate in the 15-29 years age group is 15.7% against the national average of 10%, indicating that Andhra Pradesh needs to skill up its youth more to bring down the unemployment rate. Regarding the gender-based worker population ratio among the 15-29 years age group in the State, it has been found that fewer young women are participating in the workforce, and more programmes could be designed to uplift them. As far as wages among salaried employees (15 to 29 years age group) are concerned, the State is performing above the national average, but there is scope for improvement. Unlocking talent “Our youngsters are skilled not just in the emerging areas of cyber security and cloud technology but also in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Unfortunately, their talent is locked up in their resumes. They need a platform to prove their mettle,” says A. Srinath, dean of Skill Development and Students’ Progression wing in K.L.E.F. Deemed to be University. Mr. Srinath feels that the skill census should not be prolonged, and it should be completed in the next six months “as we have the 2024 graduating batch readily available with high potential and equipped with skill sets.” “Through this very special project, the government is trying to identify what skills people have across different jobs and fields, spot the gap between the skills people have and what employers need” G. Ganesh Kumar Managing Director and CEO, APSSDC People, especially the youth, see the skill census as a boon in disguise. “This initiative will help bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, aligning better with the demands of the modern workforce,” says D. Nagamalleswara Rao, a final year Mechanical Engineering student from K.L.E.F. Deemed to be University. The APSSDC office at Tadepalli is buzzing with activity where a constant hum of energy and purpose fills the space. The Managing Director and CEO of APSSDC, G. Ganesh Kumar, is engaged in back-to-back meetings and is working closely with various agencies and NGOs to ensure the success of the skill census. A large conference room, converted into a tech command centre, is occupied by representatives of KPMG International Limited, the knowledge partners of the APSSDC. Long tables are laid with high-power laptops and monitors, and a mix of tangled cables are spread across the room. A couple of techies are immersed in typing codes, while others are scanning spreadsheets filled with survey questions and demographic data. “Through this very special project, the government is trying to identify what skills people have across different jobs and fields, spot the gap between the skills people have and what employers need,” says Mr. Ganesh Kumar, explaining that the outcome of the census will benefit both, the government and the people. He says it will equip the government with useful data to create better training and job-oriented programmes and help people choose careers, find suitable training, and improve their job chances. “Job creation in the State is the need of the hour, and this project will help the government achieve the same. Selected State-run and private institutions should be engaged in the process of identifying skill gaps, building competency levels among students and promoting internships, which subsequently would lead to their job placements,” says A.V. Ratna Prasad, pro-vice-chancellor of V.R. Siddhartha Engineering College, Deemed to be University. Students are happy that the skill census would guide them in focusing on skills that align with the demands of the industry. “As mere academic qualifications are no longer enough to land jobs, we need to target specific skills that will make us more competitive and employable in the job market,” says Pranuthi Pollipogu, a final year (ECE) student from V.R. Siddhartha Engineering College. Her friend Tribhuvana Sree Sappa, who is pursuing computer science engineering at the same institution, sees the initiative as a transformative step towards addressing critical challenges like employment and skill gaps. “It will give a sense of direction and confidence to young jobseekers like me,” she says. “The outcome of the census will be a powerful tool that will help the government systematically classify and organise the skills possessed by people, like a well-organised library of the State’s workforce capabilities, providing a clear picture of what skills an individual has and where there might be gaps” K. Raghu Executive Director, APSSDC Mammoth task Gearing up for the State-wide survey, which would require meticulous planning and execution to ensure accuracy and reliability, officials at the helm of the project are making swift and elaborate arrangements, including multiple rounds of workshops and training sessions on a massive scale at the village, mandal, district, and State levels. Armed with credible information, the officials are progressing with the project. The population in the State is said to be experiencing a demographic dividend, and this is expected to last till 2040 if their numbers are any indication. Every year, about 3 lakh people are entering the labour force now, compared to 2.3 lakh in the previous decade. Though the State economy is anticipated to grow, more than 1 lakh youth in the 15-16 age group here drop out of mainstream education every year, which is a matter of grave concern. The information also indicates that 33% of the youth in the State need skilling as of 2021-22. The census will cover 3.5 crore working-age people (15-59 years) in 1.8 crore households in Andhra Pradesh. The project involves two key elements: a household census and an industry census. The State has 33 lakh micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), among other major industries, and all of them will be covered. Skill ID To overcome the language barrier, the enumerators will conduct the survey in a bilingual format. After the enumeration, the participants will receive a Skill ID derived from their Aadhaar number, which will give them access to a skill profile, assessments and lifelong skilling opportunities in virtual and physical modes. Around 50,000 enumerators and 8,000 supervisors would be trained to carry out the project. “The outcome of the census will be a powerful tool that will help the government systematically classify and organise the skills possessed by people, like a well-organised library of the State’s workforce capabilities, providing a clear picture of what skills an individual has and where there might be gaps,” says K. Raghu, Executive Director, APSSDC. Published - December 13, 2024 12:48 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Andhra Pradesh / Vijayawada / employment / unemployment / labour / population and census / advanced training / Visakhapatnam / Spotlight
Smith's career-high 205 yards rushing carries San Diego past Morehead State 37-14MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — Isaiah Smith ran for a career-high 205 yards on 31 carries and scored a touchdown and San Diego beat Morehead State 37-14 in a season-ending contest for both teams on Saturday. Grant Sergent threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns for San Diego (8-3, 6-2 Pioneer Football League) which ended the season with a four-game win streak and winners of six of seven. The Toreros finished in sole possession of second place in the PFL behind Drake (7-1), which clinched the league outright with a 49-10 win over Stetson on Saturday. Drake beat San Diego 30-28 on a walk-off field goal on Sept. 28 in Des Moines, Iowa. Bryce Patterson threw for 133 yards and a touchdown and James Louis ran for a touchdown for the Eagles (7-5, 5-3). ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP collegebasketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
'We know he has touched so many lives'