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IT’S less “Lock, Stock” and more “Crock Stock” for poor old Guy Ritchie after his new TV show was plundered by thieves – for a SECOND time. I told last week how two robbers in a Toyota Prius drove up to the London set of Paramount+ series The Associate pretending to be lost, before jumping out and making off with some loot. Now sources say the duo came back the following day to try their luck for more expensive gear. And sadly for Guy their low-life ploy paid off, as they apparently went on to swipe kit worth more than £1million. My insider told me: “These guys are scum and after the first robbery they came back and did it all over again. “The second time around they made off with camera lenses and some kit that was worth massive money. READ MORE CELEB NEWS “They’ll be making a lot of cash if they can somehow sell it on. The fact the production has been caught out twice makes a total mockery of the security firm and they have been given their marching orders. “Their contract has now ended and another firm is coming on board to tighten things up and make sure this doesn’t happen again. “The Associate is being filmed in and around city streets and naturally there are risks, but this is hugely embarrassing. “Guy is confident it won’t throw filming off but it’s been a hard lesson for everyone involved.” Most read in Bizarre After working in London for well over a decade, I know that even a flash of my crappy old phone is going to make a mugger’s fingers twinge. So leaving kit which is that expensive on the street, you might as well have erected a couple of Belisha beacons either side and a big sign saying: “Free to the man with the fastest Toyota.” Perrie’s tongue ‘n’ groove PERRIE channelled her inner rock chick in this edgy photoshoot. The former Little Mix star wore loads of dark eye make-up and stuck her tongue out for the December issue of Xmag , which ought to have been renamed Xmas given she is promoting her festive single Christmas Magic. She released the track earlier this month along with a video, starring her son Axel. After launching her solo career this year , Perrie has been working on her debut album, which is expected to come out in 2025. But it remains to be seen whether she’ll beat ex-bandmates Leigh-Anne and Jade in getting hers out first. Chesney's album: A road map for kids CHESNEY HAWKES has announced his first album in over a decade – and a reunion with 80s pop star Nik Kershaw, who wrote his hit The One And Only. The beloved British singer is to release Living Arrows – featuring songs inspired by his kids – on February 28. And last night, he put out new single Live Forever, which was penned by Nik and Jake Gosling, who has worked with Ed Sheeran and One Direction. Chesney said: “I didn’t realise straight away, when I started putting these songs together, that I was creating a sort of road map for my kids. “I had them in mind the whole time, because the messages on songs like Live Forever are to do with taking life by the horns, doing what you love and following your instincts. “You have to let them do their own things, make their own mistakes. “That’s what I was doing with this record, trying to give them good advice.” Luke's battle MOVIE hunk Luke Evans admits he beats himself up over body image issues. Despite his bulging biceps, the Beauty And The Beast actor said: “I’ve had to learn to be kinder to myself but I have terrible anxiety about feeling good enough physic-ally. I was on a beach recently and I didn’t want to take my T-shirt off.” He added to the How To Fail podcast: “I don’t want to be in that place. “I know I shouldn’t feel like that, but you know we are sensitive creatures, we’re very delicate.” Corr blimey! THE CORRS put on a spellbinding show at London’s O2 Arena on the final night of their Talk On Corners tour. Nearly 30 years on from their debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten, Andrea's vocals were just as sharp as the lead singer delivered some of their biggest hits. A friend of the group said: “The Corrs still have a huge fan base and this tour showed them that there is still a huge appetite for their music. “They will come back and tour again. There might even be some new music.” Fans go in-Zayn at comeback gig “IT f***ing feels amazing to be here, not going to lie,” Zayn beamed as he took to the stage at the first of two sold-out shows in the capital. “Thank you for waiting, I know I took a while but we are here, so tonight I want you guys to have an amazing night, really enjoy yourself, sing along, scream.” The crowd didn’t need telling twice, losing their minds every time he so much as smiled. Vocally Zayn was flawless, powering through a 17-song set with the pitch perfect precision of Celine Dion in her prime. But while he said he was on top of the world, at times it was hard to tell. In 2017 I was lucky enough to see his former bandmate Harry Styles play the same venue and he jumped around the stage with more energy and presence than 99 per cent of his peers. In contrast, Zayn opted for a more subdued show, sticking to the centre of the stage and letting the vocals do the talking. Beyond his debut single Pillowtalk and more recent track Sweat, things blended into one. CHER has revealed Gene Simmons told her he loved her after just one date. In Cher: The Memoir, Part One, she opens up on her romance with the KISS rocker, which lasted from 1977 to 1979 after they were introduced at a drinks party. She said they went on a date and he flirted with both her and her friend, but neither of them were interested. Then he racked up a massive phone bill calling her from Japan, when he told her of his feelings. Cher recalled: “That’s when he blurted out that he loved me. “We hadn’t even kissed. We’d only been out once before he left. What is it with these men?” Count me Elt, please SIR ELTON JOHN raised some hackles ahead of his Royal Variety Performance after failing to turn up for rehearsals. An irate backstage source told me: “I found it super disrespectful. “Everyone was bloody there doing their bit but Elton wasn’t at any rehearsal – even the final one with all the other stars.” We previously revealed that Elton was set to introduce a performance from the cast of his hit musical The Devil Wears Prada alongside the show’s star Vanessa Williams. His team denied this was the case, but shortly after our story, ITV confirmed that Elton and David Furnish would be introducing the “eye-catching” routine. On the latest claims, an ITV spokesman said last night: “Elton John was not required to attend rehearsals as he was not performing. “The same applied to others who were there introducing acts and not performing.” The annual event, hosted by Amanda Holden and Alan Carr , took place at London’s Royal Albert Hall last week and will air on ITV in December. And despite the backstage grumbles, we can assure you the show went off without a hitch. It will be well worth a watch. Dua's Cal time DUA LIPA has got her ultimate home comfort while on the road – her boyfriend. READ MORE SUN STORIES The singer was spotted with actor lover Callum Turner at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday during a day off from her world tour in Malaysia . Meanwhile, fans in Blighty can see her recent show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on ITV1 on December 8.The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication on Friday presented a detailed action plan to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif aimed at boosting the country’s IT exports to $25 billion in five years. The prime minister, who had tasked the IT ministry with the said target, chaired a review meeting here and appreciated the action plan, and instructed to ensure its implementation, according to a PM Office press release. The action plan featured measures to bring reforms in different IT-related sectors and address the issues. In his remarks, the prime minister said that there was no dearth of capable manpower and resources. The effective use of resources and skill training of the manpower could take the IT exports even beyond the targeted $25 billion. He asked all the relevant departments for collaborative efforts to address the challenges in the IT sector reforms and informed the participants that he would personally oversee the implementation process. The prime minister instructed the Higher Education Commission to devise an action plan for youth’s education and skill training of international standards. Calling for implementing the proposals to meet the Gulf countries’ demand for IT experts, he asked the IT ministry to define the targets and their timelines to enhance exports. In this regard, he also directed to constitute a committee to ensure the implementation of the reforms and carry out necessary collaboration with different departments. In the briefing, the prime minister was told that his decision to prioritise the IT sector led to a 34% increase in IT exports during the last four months. It was informed that Pakistan’s IT ranking improved from 79 to 40, e-governance ranking by 14 points, and 2500 new IT companies were registered. The participants were informed that for the next five years, a $15 billion target has been set for IT sector exports, $10 billion for digitization, and $1 billion for telecom exports. The meeting was briefed on the Labor Management System aimed at capacity building of the workforce in collaboration with the educational institutions, using the demand data of the industries. As the IT ministry briefed about the proposed project for the facilitation of youth particularly the freelancers in remittances, the prime minister appreciated the measures regarding the international patent gateways and instructed for an immediate implementation. The prime minister expressed satisfaction with the action plan on IT exports and lauded the IT minister and her team. Federal Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja and relevant senior officers attended the meeting.
By GABRIELA SÁ PESSOA and MAURICIO SAVARESE, Associated Press SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s federal police said Thursday they indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people for allegedly attempting a coup to keep him in office after his defeat in the 2022 elections. Police said their findings were being delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which must decide whether to refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will either formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation. The former right-wing president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then. Police said in a brief statement that the Supreme Court had agreed to reveal the names of all 37 people who were indicted “to avoid the dissemination of incorrect news.” The 700-page police document likely will take several days for the court to review, Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes said. Dozens of former and current Bolsonaro aides also were indicted, including Gen. Walter Braga Netto, who was his running mate in the 2022 campaign; former Army commander Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira; Valdemar Costa Neto, the chairman of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party; and his veteran former adviser, Gen. Augusto Heleno. The investigation started last year. On Tuesday, four military men and one federal police agent were arrested as part of the same probe . Other investigations focus on Bolosnaro’s potential roles in smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil without properly declaring them, and in directing a subordinate to falsify his and others’ COVID-19 vaccination statuses. Bolsonaro has denied any involvement in either. Another probe found that he had abused his authority to cast doubt on the country’s voting system, and judges barred him from running again until 2030. The far-reaching investigations have weakened Bolsonaro’s status as a leader of Brazil’s right wing, said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo. “Bolsonaro is already barred from running in the 2026 elections,” Melo told the The Associated Press. “And if he is convicted he could also be jailed by then. To avoid being behind bars, he will have to convince Supreme Court justices that he has nothing to do with a plot that involves dozens of his aids. That’s a very tall order,” Melo said. On Tuesday, the federal police arrested four military and a federal police officer accused of plotting to overthrow the government following the 2022 elections, including alleged plans to kill Lula and other top officials.Commanders place kicker Austin Seibert on injured reserve
Wall Street inches higher to set more recordsAre you tracking your health with a device? Here’s what could happen with the data
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By Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times (TNS) Every day millions of people share more intimate information with their accessories than they do with their spouse. Wearable technology — smartwatches, smart rings, fitness trackers and the like — monitors body-centric data such as your heart rate, steps taken and calories burned, and may record where you go along the way. Like Santa Claus, it knows when you are sleeping (and how well), it knows when you’re awake, it knows when you’ve been idle or exercising, and it keeps track of all of it. People are also sharing sensitive health information on health and wellness apps , including online mental health and counseling programs. Some women use period tracker apps to map out their monthly cycle. These devices and services have excited consumers hoping for better insight into their health and lifestyle choices. But the lack of oversight into how body-centric data are used and shared with third parties has prompted concerns from privacy experts, who warn that the data could be sold or lost through data breaches, then used to raise insurance premiums, discriminate surreptitiously against applicants for jobs or housing, and even perform surveillance. The use of wearable technology and medical apps surged in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, but research released by Mozilla on Wednesday indicates that current laws offer little protection for consumers who are often unaware just how much of their health data are being collected and shared by companies. “I’ve been studying the intersections of emerging technologies, data-driven technologies, AI and human rights and social justice for the past 15 years, and since the pandemic I’ve noticed the industry has become hyper-focused on our bodies,” said Mozilla Foundation technology fellow Júlia Keserű, who conducted the research. “That permeates into all kinds of areas of our lives and all kinds of domains within the tech industry.” The report “From Skin to Screen: Bodily Integrity in the Digital Age” recommends that existing data protection laws be clarified to encompass all forms of bodily data. It also calls for expanding national health privacy laws to cover health-related information collected from health apps and fitness trackers and making it easier for users to opt out of body-centric data collections. Researchers have been raising alarms about health data privacy for years. Data collected by companies are often sold to data brokers or groups that buy, sell and trade data from the internet to create detailed consumer profiles. Body-centric data can include information such as the fingerprints used to unlock phones, face scans from facial recognition technology, and data from fitness and fertility trackers, mental health apps and digital medical records. One of the key reasons health information has value to companies — even when the person’s name is not associated with it — is that advertisers can use the data to send targeted ads to groups of people based on certain details they share. The information contained in these consumer profiles is becoming so detailed, however, that when paired with other data sets that include location information, it could be possible to target specific individuals, Keserű said. Location data can “expose sophisticated insights about people’s health status, through their visits to places like hospitals or abortions clinics,” Mozilla’s report said, adding that “companies like Google have been reported to keep such data even after promising to delete it.” A 2023 report by Duke University revealed that data brokers were selling sensitive data on individuals’ mental health conditions on the open market. While many brokers deleted personal identifiers, some provided names and addresses of individuals seeking mental health assistance, according to the report. In two public surveys conducted as part of the research, Keserű said, participants were outraged and felt exploited in scenarios where their health data were sold for a profit without their knowledge. “We need a new approach to our digital interactions that recognizes the fundamental rights of individuals to safeguard their bodily data, an issue that speaks directly to human autonomy and dignity,” Keserű said. “As technology continues to advance, it is critical that our laws and practices evolve to meet the unique challenges of this era.” Consumers often take part in these technologies without fully understanding the implications. Last month, Elon Musk suggested on X that users submit X-rays, PET scans, MRIs and other medical images to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence chatbot, to seek diagnoses. The issue alarmed privacy experts, but many X users heeded Musk’s call and submitted health information to the chatbot. While X’s privacy policy says that the company will not sell user data to third parties, it does share some information with certain business partners. Gaps in existing laws have allowed the widespread sharing of biometric and other body-related data. Health information provided to hospitals, doctor’s offices and medical insurance companies is protected from disclosure under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act , known as HIPAA, which established federal standards protecting such information from release without the patient’s consent. But health data collected by many wearable devices and health and wellness apps don’t fall under HIPAA’s umbrella, said Suzanne Bernstein, counsel at Electronic Privacy Information Center. “In the U.S. because we don’t have a comprehensive federal privacy law ... it falls to the state level,” she said. But not every state has weighed in on the issue. Washington, Nevada and Connecticut all recently passed laws to provide safeguards for consumer health data. Washington, D.C., in July introduced legislation that aimed to require tech companies to adhere to strengthened privacy provisions regarding the collection, sharing, use or sale of consumer health data. In California, the California Privacy Rights Act regulates how businesses can use certain types of sensitive information, including biometric information, and requires them to offer consumers the ability to opt out of disclosure of sensitive personal information. “This information being sold or shared with data brokers and other entities hypercharge the online profiling that we’re so used to at this point, and the more sensitive the data, the more sophisticated the profiling can be,” Bernstein said. “A lot of the sharing or selling with third parties is outside the scope of what a consumer would reasonably expect.” Health information has become a prime target for hackers seeking to extort healthcare agencies and individuals after accessing sensitive patient data. Health-related cybersecurity breaches and ransom attacks increased more than 4,000% between 2009 and 2023, targeting the booming market of body-centric data, which is expected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, according to the report. “Nonconsensual data sharing is a big issue,” Keserű said. “Even if it’s biometric data or health data, a lot of the companies are just sharing that data without you knowing, and that is causing a lot of anxiety and questions.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.When your team expectations include exactly one objective: winning the Stanley Cup, it is never a good time for a slump. When your team is the New York Rangers, located in the heart of the U.S. media capital, the adage rings especially true. Yet the Rangers, who are, make no mistake, slumping, are managing to ride just under the radar thanks to the debacle that is NFL football in the New York Region. Have a first line center with trouble getting it going? That’s nothing. I’ll see your slumping first liner and raise you by cutting my starting quarterback and promoting a third stringer with very little upside and a kitschy celebration that was a thing for about five minutes last season. Not playing much defense? Ha, that’s nothing. I’ll raise you spotting our opponent 30 points in a completely lackluster performance, devoid of even the courtesy of an attempted comeback. Both New York NFL teams would probably kill for a four game West Coast road trip about now. And they would certainly kill for one in which they came home at .500. Looking ahead, maybe you’re worried about what the Rangers might do at the trade deadline, as needs are starting to emerge for this group. Oh yeah? Well did your owner want to bench your franchise player when the team was 2-2? Oh, right, the team was never 2-2, thanks to a hot start. “Call me when you’ve got some real issues,” say Jets and Giants fans. Perhaps for Ranger fans this notion of cruising just under the collective fan radar is of little comfort. After all, we are counting on the Rangers to carry our championship dreams for the foreseeable future (although the Knicks may have something to say about that soon). But in an 82-game season that is effectively a prelude to the real action, there are bound to be highs and lows. Measuring the team’s worth after every game is certainly fodder for folks like me, but is likely of little consequence in the overall outcome of the season. The truth is that the Rangers are a highly talented team that seems to be searching a bit for this year’s identity. That they are doing so while in a playoff position doesn’t feel like it calls for the “sky is falling” narrative that many of the most vocal fans have taken up. There have been some real stinkers in there, to be sure, but for Rangers fans desperately in need of a little perspective, look no further than the two NFL teams across the river for a peak into what it could look like. The beauty of an 82-game regular season is that the opportunities come fast and furious. Tonight, the now Jim Montgomery-led Blues are in town. And there’s nothing that would chase the Rangers’ blues away quite like chasing the Blues away. It sure beats waiting for Thursday if you’re a Giants fan and through a bye week if you root for the Jets. This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.
Is Enron back? If it's a joke, some former employees aren't laughingStock market today: Wall Street hits records despite tariff talkManitoba figure skaters come home for Skate Canada Challenge
Minnesota's Cannabis License Lottery Faces Legal Delays Over Rejections DisputeNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to top the all-time high it set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 123 points, or 0.3%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% as Microsoft and Big Tech led the way. Stock markets abroad mostly fell after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China once he takes office. But the movements were mostly modest. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada’s main index edged down by less than 0.1%. Trump has often praised the use of tariffs , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. The consequences otherwise for markets and the global economy could be painful. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. And unlike tariffs in Trump’s first term, his latest proposal would affect products across the board. General Motors sank 9%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.3%. The value of the Mexican peso fell 1.8% against the U.S. dollar. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support for the job market . While lower interest rates can boost the economy, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed’s last meeting earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to minutes of the meeting released Tuesday afternoon. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another mixed set of profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates imposed by the Fed to get inflation under control. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. Kohl’s tumbled 17% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. Best Buy fell 4.9% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. Still, more stocks rose in the S&P 500 than fell. J.M. Smucker had one of the biggest gains and climbed 5.7% after topping analysts’ expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 3.2% for Amazon and 2.2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 34.26 points to 6,021.63. The Dow gained 123.74 to 44,860.31, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 119.46 to 19,174.30. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.29% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after topping $99,000 for the first time late last week. It’s since dipped back toward $91,000, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the bonanza that initially took over the crypto market following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
BroadwayHD , which celebrated its 10th anniversary in October, continues transforming access to theater by offering high-quality recordings of Broadway shows via its online streaming platform. What began as a vision of co-founders Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley has grown into a global resource, allowing theatergoers of all ages to experience the thrill of live performances at any time from any location. Lane and Comley have long seen BroadwayHD as a bridge to live theater, as it generates curiosity that leads to ticket sales for live performances. For longtime aficionados, it’s an opportunity to relive favorite productions. And for novices, it’s a warm welcome to the medium. BroadwayHD’s reach has become significant as a new study highlights the influence of arts involvement on society. Research by the National Endowment for the Arts shows that access to the arts corresponds with reduced crime rates, greater high school graduation rates and improved civic involvement. Residents are more inclined to vote, volunteer and seek higher education, demonstrating how a thriving arts scene can promote a connected and involved community. The NEA results highlight the societal advantages of active arts involvement. People who participate in the arts are more connected to their communities and more willing to support causes and organizations that benefit others, according to the research. BroadwayHD demonstrates that technology can enhance and enrich live arts rather than replace them. The 24-hour streaming service not only delivers Broadway into people’s living rooms worldwide, but also acts as a doorway for audiences who would otherwise be unable to see live theater. During the pandemic, BroadwayHD provided a vital link to live performance, keeping Broadway’s spirit alive while theaters were closed. But BroadwayHD’s aim extends beyond just streaming shows. By giving viewers a taste of Broadway, the platform encourages them to go out and see live theater. For many people, watching a show on BroadwayHD sparks a desire to visit in person locally or on Broadway. BroadwayHD’s initiatives to expand theatrical accessibility have also contributed to a greater variety of theater audiences. The platform has allowed individuals from all walks of life to see Broadway-quality performances by removing barriers such as high ticket prices, travel costs and geographical limitations. This inclusion is consistent with a larger push in the theatrical business to make the performing arts more accessible. As it approaches its second decade, BroadwayHD’s continued success demonstrates that providing theater productions online can enhance the appreciation for live performances. “The platform is essential in learning about theater and making it more accessible and inclusive for people too far from Broadway in real life,” the co-founders say.