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B reak out the sackcloth and ashes. As 2024 draws to a close, we centrist dads have conceded defeat. The millennial transformation prophesied by WB Yeats a century ago is finally in sight. Technology and tyranny have shown our civility and gradualism to be wanting. We are devastated and ruined. Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold, and mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. This year’s misfortunes for our tribe are perplexing to the moderate mind. Why has the common herd deserted us? It makes no sense. We’re good people. Our cultural heroes are national treasures: Judi Dench, Gareth Southgate, Olivia Colman, Alan Bennett, of course. Our podcasters are the nation’s educators: Melvyn Bragg, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook. Southgate’s desert island choices this week
Scott Boland will use the Prime Minister's XI fixture as a chance to rattle a touring Indian side and force his way into Australia's Test squad while an ACT Comet could go toe-to-toe with the best in the world. Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue Test-capped duo Boland and Matt Renshaw are the high-profile inclusions in a PM's XI squad - captained by Jack Edwards - set to take on India at Manuka Oval in a two-day, pink ball game at Manuka Oval from November 30. Comets fast-bowling all-rounder Hanno Jacobs - who starred for ANU in Cricket ACT's first grade competition before shifting to Western Suburbs in Sydney - has been named in the 14-man squad to take on an Indian outfit headlined by Virat Kohli. Sam Konstas headlines a group of rising stars in the PM's XI squad, giving the 19-year-old another chance to push for a Test call-up after commanding attention with twin tons for NSW at Sheffield Shield level earlier this season. Konstas joins former Australian under 19 teammates Charlie Anderson, Mahli Beardman and Aidan O'Connor for the first time since a victorious World Cup campaign in February. PM's XI coach Tim Paine will challenge India to field "the best players in the world" when they arrive in Canberra for a crucial pink ball tune-up. The two-day, day-night fixture is wedged between the opening two Tests of the summer, with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to begin in Perth on Friday before the action heads to Adelaide for a pink-ball test on December 6. Scott Boland headlines the Prime Minister's XI squad. Picture by Rod Thompson India's last taste of the pink ball at Adelaide Oval saw them rolled for a record low 36 with Australia recording a dominant eight-wicket victory - enough to suggest a warm-up in Canberra could prove crucial. "The squad contains a mix of experience combined with some promising emerging players in Australian cricket," chairman of selectors George Bailey said. "The Prime Minister's XI match presents an opportunity for a highly talented squad to impress against a strong Indian team in their only pink-ball hit out prior to the second Test. "We are utilising the opportunity to maintain Scott Boland's match fitness in his preparations as part of the Test squad. "We thank the Prime Minister for his input into the squad which sees some of the country's most exciting young cricketers mixed with some highly experienced players." READ MORE SPORT : Virat Kohli in 'ominous' display ahead of first Test Cummins wants Australia to become a generational team India's mysterious preparation for Test continues This season marks the second time the PM's XI fixture has been used as a pink-ball warm-up game for the touring team, after New Zealand played the PM's XI in a one-day, day-night game at Manuka Oval in 2015. "Taking on India, one of the best sides in world cricket featuring the likes of Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant, will be an amazing experience for the squad, particularly knowing that millions of fans around the globe will be watching the match," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. "I want to thank Jack Edwards for taking on the role of captain and look forward to watching him lead a side which will compete strongly while remaining true to the traditions and values of the Prime Minister's XI." Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Caden Helmers Sports Writer Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times. Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times. More from Canberra Our Deputy PM is an ambitious man who hasn't given up the dream 31m ago No comment s Man charged with attempted murder after alleged home machete attack 59m ago Test quick headlines PM's XI squad as Comet eyes shot against India's stars 1hr ago No comment s Tragedy drives one. One was the last pick. Meet Canberra's newest AFL players 1hr ago No comment s This judge said nothing wrong about rape trials. So why is everyone so outraged? No comment s 'I feel silly doing the right thing': How it feels when your opponent fails a drug test No comment s Newsletters & Alerts View all DAILY Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Loading... 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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens had a rough ending to his team's 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night, and could soon end up paying for it. Pickens got into a scuffle with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II during a final Hail Mary attempt from the Steelers that fell incomplete, with game officials and stadium security needing to step in to break it up. Pickens could likely be in line for punishment from the NFL, which has explicit rules against fighting during games and lists $39,501 as a fine for a first offense. Though neither Pickens nor Newsome were flagged on the play, the league regularly goes back and issues punishment for actions that didn't catch the attention of officials. The Steelers wide receiver could also face a potential fine from his postgame comments criticizing officials, saying they missed a pass interference penalty on Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. during a third-down pass attempt in the fourth quarter. "That's what I'm saying," Pickens told reporters after the game, via ESPN . "The conditions and away game refs." Pickens said he believed the Steelers were the better team, but the Browns benefited from the calls and sloppy field conditions as snow began to rapidly accumulate throughout the game. "Conditions played a huge, huge part in today's game," Pickens said. "I don't really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all. I think the conditions kind of saved them today." Pickens said the heavy snowfall was a contributing factor on a potential touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson that sailed incomplete. "The snow, the conditions were so bad," he said. "I don't even think the QB could see sometimes. And when you got conditions like that, at the opponents' home field, it kind of plays in their favor." George Pickens fighting Greg Newsome during the Hail Mary LMFAO pic.twitter.com/1QT1sN1w5o Pickens was also on the receiving end of a play that could lead to a fine for the Browns. Safety Grant Delpit was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct earlier in the game for snatching Pickens' mouthpiece off his helmet and throwing it to the ground. Related: George Pickens Assigns Blame After 'Thursday Night Football' Loss
Many businesses are set to benefit or see growth opportunities from the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), which is gaining ground in Thailand, while some may be affected by AI and may have to adjust before AI disrupts their business. Bangkok Post explores how AI is impacting the business landscape. AI juggernaut gathers pace Suchit Leesa-nguansuk Many businesses are expected to benefit or see growth opportunities from the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), which is gaining ground in Thailand. Somchai Sittichaisrichart, managing director of SET-listed SiS Distribution Plc, said businesses that will benefit from AI adoption range from technology companies, including hardware manufacturers, software companies that support AI, as well as consultants, implementers and distributors. Enterprises will also benefit from embracing AI to carry out their digital transformation, one of the key factors driving new investment in technology. Startups will see positive impacts if they integrate AI into their products and services, especially with AI-enabled applications. Moreover, businesses related to building small language models and Thai large language models will gain momentum in the AI uptake era. The providers of training and certification programmes will also see growth opportunities, with high demand for senior engineers who can verify the quality assurance of AI applications. Studios which use AI technology to generate creative work and reduce the costs and time of traditional processes will also thrive. Lastly, hybrid cloud solutions and data centres will see higher demand for their services in line with companies' increasing AI workload. In some countries, the demand for cloud services jumped by 3-5 times after hyperscale data centres were established. "If the government can ensure lower electricity costs, it will enable Bangkok-based data centres of global cloud providers to offer competitive pricing," said Mr Somchai. According to the Digital Economy Promotion Agency's Thailand Digital Technology Foresight 2035 report, by 2030 Thailand's AI market value is expected to reach 114 billion baht. AI tech gains traction at hospitals Becoming key to driving efficiency, accuracy and accessibility in healthcare services globally Lamonphet Apistinran and Suchit Leesa-nguansuk Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is becoming a more important part of treating patients as many hospitals have adopted medical AI in addition to the wider use of online healthcare services. AI technology is now central to driving efficiency, accuracy and accessibility in healthcare services worldwide, with applications ranging from predictive analytics and personalised medicine to advanced telemedicine platforms, said Suvanich Triamchanchoochai, deputy chief executive of privately-run Vimut Hospital. This transformative technology is enabling more patient-centric care models. "Thailand is making notable progress in this field," said Dr Suvanich, adding his hospital also jumped on the bandwagon by introducing "Inspectra" to patients. Inspectra allows the hospital to assist physicians in analysing chest X-ray images. Utilising deep learning algorithms trained on over 1.5 million high-quality chest X-rays, it can detect common pulmonary abnormalities with an accuracy exceeding 94% including more than 100,000 chest X-ray results from Thai patients, he said. Dr Suvanich believes Thailand has the potential to offer more technology-driven healthcare services to Thai and foreign patients. The country is leveraging its strong medical tourism reputation and robust healthcare infrastructure to position itself as a regional leader in integrating AI into healthcare services. The hospital will help the government strengthen healthcare services by further investing in new technologies and collaborating with industry leaders to embed AI into its operations to ensure round-the-clock patient care, said Dr Suvanich. Other hospitals are also focusing more on digital technologies to enhance diagnosis and treatments. Samitivej Hospital has joined hands with WHA Group, an industrial estate, logistics, utilities and power developer and operator, to offer healthcare services through the "WHAbit" digital application. The app provides market information, pain points and other necessary data that can be used to design and enhance healthcare solutions and services that connect with the offline channel. This includes telemedicine, health checkups, non-communicable disease clinics, pharmacies and data analytics. WHAbit can facilitate virtual consultations with qualified doctors for prompt diagnoses, treatment and medication, according to Samitivej Hospital. Fort Wachirawut Hospital, an army-run hospital based in Nakhon Si Thammarat, also developed the "FWH" application to serve as a connection between medical staff and patients. This software provides users, including foreign soldiers joining joint military exercises with the army, with updates on hospital and healthcare information, which is crucial for facilitating medical services. Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, which operates under the Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University, is the first hospital in Southeast Asia to use agentic AI to automate laboratory orders and patient appointment. The agentic AI combines generative AI and automation capabilities. The hospital and IBM have successfully completed this pilot project which elevates patient services by offloading the burden of high-volume workload and shortening lab order process time by at least 30-40 minutes from the current 150 minutes. "After piloting the use of IBM agentic AI for eight months, it helps foster the hospital's existing lab automation system and speeds up the lab service and reduces repetitive tasks and the workload of doctors and nurses," said Dr Bannakij Lojanapiwat, dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. The hospital has 1.6 million outpatients per year. Car industry struggles to scale autonomous heights Lamonphet Apistinran Thailand is making some progress in producing and selling autonomous vehicles domestically, but it is difficult for the country to reach the top levels of self-driving technology, says Wallop Chalermvongsavej, managing director of Hyundai Mobility Thailand, a subsidiary of South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Group. Autonomous vehicles utilise artificial intelligence to support various functions while driving, including detecting objects like other cars and pedestrians. There are five levels of autonomous vehicle technology, ranging from zero to fifth level, based on the degree of driving automation. The zero level refers to cars with no automation systems, while the fifth level is the most advanced autonomous driving without human intervention. Many high-tech cars sold in the Thai market are currently in the second level, meaning they have partial driving automation, said Mr Wallop. These cars are equipped with the advanced driver assistance system, known as ADAS, which helps drivers better operate many functions, including steering, acceleration, deceleration and braking. Drivers are still needed to control the level-2 autonomous cars. "In my opinion, Thailand should reach only the third level in the next five years. Our infrastructure is not ready to go up to the fourth level," said Mr Wallop. The third level features conditional driving automation, which enables vehicles to control many driving tasks in certain conditions like highways, while drivers can take their hands off the steering wheel in some conditions. This is different from the fourth level in which drivers are not required when vehicles are driving within a specific operational design domain, or a defined geographical area with specific environmental and traffic conditions. It is difficult to say which types of vehicles, including electric vehicles with automation functions, are most suitable for Thai buyers, said Mr Wallop. It depends on drivers' lifestyles, where they use cars – urban or rural areas – and why they decide to buy a car in the first place, whether for travelling or working, he said. Tech transformation in manufacturing likely to occur before AI adoption Lamonphet Apisitniran and Suchit Leesa-ngunsak Manufacturers who depend on a large number of workers are likely to change their production technology even before artificial intelligence (AI) disrupts their businesses, says the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the FTI, said he did not expect AI to cause significant changes to the manufacturing sector as is happening to companies in the internal combustion engine supply chain, which has been affected by the expansion of electric mobility technology. But he expects factory operators to adopt more robotic and automation systems to replace labourers in order to deal with an increase in operating costs and better compete with their rivals, especially Chinese manufacturers who export low-cost products into the Thai market. The influx of inexpensive products from China is affecting 30 industries, including steel and iron, car and auto parts, shoes, garments, and petrochemicals. Many factories have shut down as they could not survive the competition, according to the FTI. Local entrepreneurs utilising labour-intensive manufacturing in the food, shoe, steel and iron, and agricultural segments, are also worried about labour shortages and the government's policy to increase the daily minimum wage to 400 baht, Mr Kriengkrai said. These issues are causing manufacturers to adapt their businesses to best fit the current situation. "They are expected to make changes and we should see more smart factories in the future," said Mr Kriengkrai. "This trend is in line with the government, which wants manufacturers to adopt more advanced technologies at work." Authorities have been promoting the Industry 4.0 (the fourth industrial revolution) scheme, which encourages factory operators to blend digital technology with data analysis. In 2021, only 2% of Thai industries were considered to be at the Industry 4.0 level by using advanced technology in their operations, according to the Industry Ministry. Some 28% were in the Industry 3.0 phase, with less high technology, while 61% were in the Industry 2.0 phase, which focuses on productivity and considerable production capacity. Only 9% were at the stage of Industry 1.0, the lowest level of technological development. Somchai Sittichaisrichart, managing director of the SET-listed SiS Distribution, said certain businesses could be impacted by AI, such as professional translators, English teachers and call centres, as these roles could be replaced by natural voice AI assistants and AI instructors.Israeli troops forcibly remove staff and patients from northern Gaza hospital, officials say
Let it be, Gen Z: the TikTok craze for dressing up as the BeatlesOn a recent Saturday night on Sunset Boulevard, a pair of black 1940s low-riders guided the diverse, sold-out crowd into the Comedy Store. Cypress Hill hung out in the green room. Los Angeles photographer and director Estevan Oriol oversaw six cameras and the taping of George Perez’s debut hour special, “Misunderstood,” presented by Foos Gone Wild. “There were no fights,” Perez enthuses. “And,” with the mark of a successful Perez show traditionally measured in beer sales, “they sold out of 805s, Coors Lights and Peronis!” Originally from Orange County (“the Republican L.A.,” he calls it), Perez’s material combines deeply personal narrative with sociopolitical insight. Before releasing “Misunderstood” in 2025, he headlines New Year’s Eve at the two-year-old Stand Up Comedy Club. He’s already working on new material for the occasion. “That club has my culture all around it,” he says of the Bellflower venue. “Mexicans walk there; they don’t even drive. It’s by houses, apartments, by downtown, and every time I go there, it sells out. And I don’t even do Friday and Saturday. I do Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and I love that club. I love the crowd. It’s dark and comics like to hang out.” In Orange, Perez adored Cheech and Chong and was joking for his family by age 13. Later, he kept his construction co-workers cracking up. A girlfriend dragged him to an underground Wednesday comedy show at a Fullerton club called Rio. He recalls the warm-up comedians on the show being pretty corny. Toward the end when a headliner put his roasting skills against anyone in the crowd, Perez took the challenge. “I went up there, I beat him, and I got the itch that day,” he recalls. “Then the next day, I quit construction.” The show was hosted by Edwin San Juan (“SlantEd Comedy”), who mistook Perez for a ringer. The two remain close to this day. Perez recently bought a swap meet bootleg DVD of the 2001 evening labeled, “George Perez’s first time doing comedy.” Within eight months, he made his television debut on “LATV Live,” the primetime flagship series of L.A.’s first bilingual station. Early grinding involved “the craziest s—,” including shows for 30 people at tweaker houses where his cousin sold meth and a spot called the Wild Coyote, “the Mexican Apollo” where Felipe Esparza, Gabriel Iglesias and Ralphie May hung out. He started setting up chairs and doing bringer shows at Casa Latina in Rosemead. A year later, he was hosting to 300 people every Tuesday as well as doing spots at the Hollywood Improv. Whatever the venue, Perez knew tickets had sold well when venue managers laughed, “The Coronas are done! You did your job!” Audiences and industry reacted with surprise. “You thought [I] was going to talk about drive-bys, tortillas and lowriders and [I’m] up there talking about Shakespeare,” Perez says. He subverted stereotypes about growing up in the streets, got deep about being a young dad and discussed politics as a lifelong local. Perez appeared on MTV, Showtime and Comedy Central before a previous version of his life caught up to him. Before comedy, he had been a gang member since seventh grade. There was vandalism, carjacking, gun charges and a steadfast refusal to walk from fights. Perez was a felon at 18, the same year his son was born. Nearly two years later, he recalls, “The guy that I beat up sees me on MTV’s ‘Yo Mama,’ and he’s like, ‘That’s the guy that beat me up!’ ” Then the gang unit raided the strip club he was DJing at. “I fight it, I lose, and I’m in prison. There’s no more freedom of speech. So the comedian is completely gone. I’m now in survival mode.” He did three years. Guards remembered seeing him perform at the Ontario Improv. Everyone knew he was on TV. He did perform inside sometimes, including for the warden and 500 inmates. Most tattoos he sports today, he got as an inmate . He hid tobacco up his ass in a latex glove so he could sell it. He also saw riots, an OD, murder and fights, during one of which he lost a tooth. He continues experiencing nightmares and PTSD. When he got out in 2009, he met iPhones and his new baby daughter. “Prison was the best thing for me; it humbled me,” he says. “There’s no more fighting. There is only using your words. It showed me discipline and being sober in there, I got to look outside myself and realize all the people that I hurt, that love me. I learned in prison when you make a mistake, you confess to it, you fix it and you grow.” Fifteen years later, Perez’s credits include Netflix, HBO and the film “Taco Shop” with Carlos Alazraqui, Esparza and Brian Huskey. He records his first-hand “George Perez Stories” podcast and YouTube videos in a studio wallpapered with every vinyl comedy album he can find. His own January 2024 vinyl album “This Cholo Is Crazy” even featured sketch and music. Something else had happened that he didn’t address for years. “I dig deep,” he says of the impetus for “Misunderstood.” “I had a son that passed away because the babysitter left him in the tub.” He wasn’t allowed to attend services. Following three years out on parole, he tangled with cocaine. “Drugs would numb me and I wouldn’t think about my son and the bad things that have happened to me in my life, friends that I’ve lost.” Today he continues to be more honest about past tragedies and new growth than ever. At most, there’s a little tequila now and then to celebrate. His time in prison, journeys with addiction and struggles with mental health; all of it part of Perez’s artistic expression. “I just started writing. I’m no longer up there going, ‘Latinos make some noise!’ It’s, ‘This hurts, and I have to find a way out.’ It’s personal.” “I mean, you can’t cancel me. I went to prison for three years when my comedy was in its prime, came out and I’m doing better than I was before. I’m not looking to be on a sitcom. I want to be an artistic comedian. When someone sees me onstage, like, ‘This guy looks like me. He’s gone through the same thing I’ve gone through.’ That’s what I want to accomplish.”
Trump asks Supreme Court to pause law threatening TikTok ban
NEW YORK, Dec. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Light & Wonder, Inc. LNW resulting from allegations that Light & Wonder may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased Light & Wonder securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=29678 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On September 24, 2024, the Las Vegas Review-Journal published an article entitled "Slot manufacturer scores major win against Las Vegas-based rival." It stated that "Aristocrat Technologies Inc.'s request for a preliminary injunction in its trade-secret and copyright infringement lawsuit against Light & Wonder" had been granted, and that the "order prohibits [Light & Wonder] from the ‘continued or planned sale, leasing, or other commercialization of Dragon Train,' which Aristocrat claims uses intellectual property developed for its Dragon Link and Lightning Link games." On this news, Light & Wonder common stock fell 19.49% on September 24, 2024. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Australia has a remarkable history of outdoor cinema. Here’s why Netflix will never beat it
Thomas Frank unhappy with officials in game with BrightonNoneA new round of Israeli air strikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports while the World Health Organisation’s director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight. “The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few metres from where we were — and the runway were damaged,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the social media platform X. He added that he and UN colleagues were safe. “We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave,” he said. UN spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay later said the injured person was with the UN Humanitarian Air Service. Our mission to negotiate the release of @UN staff detainees and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in #Yemen concluded today. We continue to call for the detainees' immediate release. As we were about to board our flight from Sana’a, about two hours ago, the airport... pic.twitter.com/riZayWHkvf — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 26, 2024 Israel’s army later told The Associated Press it was not aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military in a statement said it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, asserting they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel’s military added it had “capabilities to strike very far from Israel’s territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively”. The strikes, carried out over 1,000 miles from Jerusalem, came a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad’s regime and others learned” as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths and showed broken windows, collapsed ceilings and a bloodstained floor and vehicle. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The US military has also targeted the Houthis in recent days. The UN has said the targeted ports are important entry points for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, while other missiles and drones have been shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor in what it says is an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The UN Security Council has an emergency meeting on Monday in response to an Israeli request that it condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying them with weapons.
No game Wednesday at The Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St., off Exit 1 of the I-190, because of the New Year’s Day holiday. Otherwise, the club offers a regular schedule of in-person and online games five days a week, with special games on the weekends, unusually one each month. For more info, visit the Buffalo Bridge Center website or call 716-424-0014. The Bridge Center reminds members that dues for 2025 are $80 and can be paid now, cash or check. Fee for games beginning Jan. 1 will be $8 for members and $12 for non-members. In case of heavy snow, the club abides by what the Buffalo Public Schools do. If the schools close, the club will be closed. Lessons for beginners are being held at the Buffalo Bridge Center from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays. For more information, call Ruth Nawotniak at 716-949-7574 or email ruth2250@outlook.com . Don’t want to clean up the house for kitchen bridge? The Bridge Center also hosts a social game in its lessons room on Tuesday mornings during the regular 10:30 a.m. game. Players can go at their own speed and style. Fee is $5 to cover expenses. In-person games: Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. For players with fewer than 1,600 points. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Free lesson at 10. Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Open to all players. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Upgraded to now include players with up to 2,000 points. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Free lesson at 10. Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Open to all players by pre-registration only. Call 716-424-0014. Virtual games on Bridge Base Online: Mondays, 7 p.m. For players with fewer than 750 points. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Delaware Wednesday game for players with fewer than 2,000 points. For info on this game, call Ed Harman at 716-480-1666 or email eharmon@roadrunner.com . • • • More access to virtual games on Bridge Base Online is being offered by the Airport Bridge Club, which currently is not holding face-to-face games. It has affiliated with a new group of clubs, the SE Club of Clubs Online Bridge Collective, where most games are $5. For more info, click this link . The Airport Club also continues to be part of the Alliance Bridge Club, which offers more than a dozen games every day. Anyone who has played at the Airport Club is automatically a member. For more info, visit alliancebridgeclub.com or call Airport Club manager Bill Finkelstein at 716-603-6943. • • • The East Aurora Bridge Club begins play at 10 a.m. Wednesdays in the Aurora Senior Citizens Center, 101 King St., East Aurora. Attendance is generally three or four tables. For more info, email director Dave Larcom at dmocral@verizon.net . • • • The Bridge Centre of Niagara (BCON) in St. Catharines, Ont., offers a mix of online games and in-person games at its club in Tremont Square opposite the Pen Centre shopping plaza off Glendale Avenue. Face-to-face games open to all players are offered at 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. There is also a face-to-face game for 499ers (players with fewer than 500 points) at 1 p.m. Monday and Friday, a beginner game with a mini-lesson at 6 p.m. Monday, mentoring at 1 p.m. Tuesdays (register by 9 p.m. Sunday), a 299er game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (pre-registration requested); and a 999er game at 1 p.m. Thursday. The club currently hosts two virtual games on Bridge Base Online. There’s one for players with fewer than 750 points at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, and an open game at 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more info, click here . BCON also has begun an affiliation with SE Club of Clubs Online Bridge Collective, which appears as SE Carolina on Bridge Base Online. Games run throughout the day. A full lineup of games can be seen at SE Carolina On-line Bridge . • • • Face-to-face play in non-sanctioned clubs is offered at the Tonawanda Senior Center on Wednesday afternoons and at the Amherst Senior Center on Monday and Friday afternoons. The Tonawanda Senior Center will not have a game on New Year's Day. • • • Tournament calendar 2025 Toronto Non-Life Master Regional – Sheraton Centre, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Next Friday, Jan. 3, to Sunday, Jan. 5. For more info, click this link . Toronto New Year's Sectional – Sheraton Centre, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. NextFriday, Jan. 3, to Sunday, Jan. 5. For more info, click this link . Cleveland Rock & Roll Regional – Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio. Wednesday, Jan. 8, to Sunday, Jan. 12. For more info, click this link . Niagara Sectional – Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Friday, Feb. 7, to Sunday, Feb. 9. Buffalo Spring Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St., Buffalo. Friday, March 28, to Sunday, March 30. Toronto Easter Regional – Sheraton Centre, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Tuesday, April 15, to Sunday, April 20. For more info, click this link . Finger Lakes Regional – Louis Wolk Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Ave., Rochester. Tuesday, June 9, to Sunday, June 14. Cleveland All-American Regional – Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio. Tuesday, June 24, to Sunday, June 29. For more info, click this link . South Western Ontario Regional – St. George Banquet Hall, 665 King St. North, Waterloo, Ont. Tuesday, July 1, to Sunday, July 6. For more info, click this link . Buffalo Summer Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St., Buffalo. Friday, July 11, to Sunday, July 13. Niagara 499er Sectional – Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Center, 14 Anderson Lane, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Friday, Aug. 15, to Sunday, Aug. 17. Pittsburgh Labor Day Regional – Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center, 3579 Masonic Way, Pittsburgh, Pa. Wednesday, Aug. 27, to Monday, Sept. 1. Great Lakes Sectional – Erie Bridge Club, 1221 Grant Ave., Erie, Pa. Saturday, Sept. 6, and Sunday, Sept. 7. Buffalo Fall Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St., Buffalo. Friday, Sept. 12, to Sunday, Sept 14. Buffalo Regional – Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga. Tuesday, Oct. 21, to Sunday, Oct. 26. Niagara Regional – Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Tuesday, Nov. 11, to Sunday, Nov. 16. • • • Bridge club websites: Click names for links. Bridge Center of Buffalo . Western New York Unit 116 . The Airport Bridge Club, which continues to be on hiatus, does not have a website. For info, call 716-603-6943. • • • Duplicate scores from ACBL Live for Clubs Week of Dec. 16 to Dec. 22 ACBL Affiliated Clubs Buffalo Bridge Center Monday evening – 0-750 game online. Fran Schmidt and Richard McGowan, 66.67%; Karen Dearing and Joyce Frayer, 62.04%; Fran Holmes and Leslie Deich, 59.26%. Buffalo Bridge Center Tuesday morning – 0-1,600 game. Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 67.20%; Ilene Rothman and Carol Licata, 57.20%; Jeannine Dupuis and Joyce Frayer, 53.40%; Brian Fleming and Dennis Daly, 52.50%; (tie) Betty Metz and John Brennan, Judy Zeckhauser and Pat Haynes, 50.80%. Buffalo Bridge Center Thursday morning – 0-2,000 game. Maryann Szafran and Pat Haynes, 62.50%; (tie) Joanne Nover and David Schott, Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 60%. Buffalo Bridge Center Friday morning – Open game. Jay Costello and Bud Seidenberg, 63%; Judy Graf and Mike Ryan, 57%; Davis Heussler and Fred Yellen, 51%. Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning – Open game. Mary Terrana and Gordon Crone, 56.55%; Maureen Cancilla and Kathy Donnelly, 55.95%; Linda and Paul Zittel, 55.36%. Delaware Wednesday evening – 0-2,000 game online. Richard Berger and Richard Burkhart, 64.44%; Richard McGowan and Bill Rich, 59.44%; Wendy Zimman-Smith and Cookie Melanson, 56.11%; Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 55.56%. Other clubs Amherst Senior Center Monday afternoon – North-south, Shirley Cassety and George Mayers, 68%; Joe Huber and Fritz Schweiger, 52%; east-west, Nancy Wolstoncroft and Pat Radtke, 61%; Dan Blatz and Bruce Brown, 59%. Amherst Senior Center Friday afternoon – North-south, Shirley Cassety and George Mayers, 57%; Nancy Wolstoncroft and Rolene Pozarny, 54%; east-west, Ruth Nowatniak and Bill Rogers, 63%; Karen Synor and Jeff Peters, 56%. Tonawanda Senior Center Wednesday afternoon – Ed and Mike Rupp, 65.2%; Judy White and Fritz Schweiger, 58.3%; Rose Bochiechio and Edna Fill, 51.4%. • • • Unit 116 Master Point Leaders for Play in All Venues Jan. 1, 2024, to Nov. 30, 2024 0-5 Points – Mike Rupp, 7.32; John Brennan, 3.09; Alice Cooley, 2.56; Cathy Hetzler, 2.02; Elaine Rinfrette, 0.66;Maxine Seller, 0.59. 5-20 Points – Zakie Nohra, 14.89; Dennis Daly, 13.37; Fran Holmes, 6.91; Anthony Girasole, 6.38; Jeannine Dupuis, 4.44; Barbara Kaye, 3.43; Devon Marlette, 3.07; Joan Nigrelli, 1.84; Chris-Elaine Santilli, 1.79; Bill Duax, 1.65; Shrikant Joshi, 1.12; (tie) Melanie Skalski, Carol Li, 0.92; Marie Aaron, 0.90. 20-50 Points – Brian Fleming, 31.80; Ilene Rothman, 26.74; Michel Dupuis, 12.64; Molly Morris, 10.34; Donna Starnes, 8.73; Pepe Justicia-Linde, 7.97; Kathleen Voigt, 6.35; Phyllis Stasiowski, 5.53; Gini Sicignano, 5.48; Maxine Johnson, 4.83. 50-100 Points – Maria Schory, 34.71; Howard Epstein, 28.93; Mike Meacham, 19.32; John Houghtaling, 17.96; Susan Cardamone, 16.26; Gary Keenan, 15.52; Maureen Cancilla, 13.63; Mike Metzger, 12.90; Cynthia Tashjian, 12.24; Candace Graser, 10.48. 100-200 Points – Carol Licata, 39.65; Jim Hassett, 20.47; Joan Ciszak, 15.04; Fran Schmidt, 13.62; Betty DeFeo, 13.49; Judith McDermid, 11.64; Jim Greno, 9.04; Susan Levy, 7.72; Betsy Greno, 7.09; Janet Desmon, 3.95; Tiger Li, 3.82. 200-300 Points – Maria Amlani, 58.13; David Whitt, 29.94; Ethan Xie, 17.98; Laura Houghtaling, 17.96; John Scott, 5.25; Judy Babat, 5.15; Barbara Scott, 3.47; Laurie Foster, 3.32; Patty Porter, 1.68; Stuart Caswell, 0.75; John Fiegl, 0.58. 300-500 Points – Pat Haynes, 91.53; David Schott, 91.95; Joanne Nover, 65.70; Jim McClure, 31.30; Linda Milch, 29.89; Kusum Phadke, 29.43; Ruth Nawotniak, 23.77; Bob Ciszak, 23.11; Margaret Zhou, 21.39; Maryann Szafran, 19.12. 500-1,000 Points – Larry Himelein, 152.79; Martha Townson, 105.11; Terry Hamovitch, 71.66; Bram Hamovitch, 70.34; Joyce Frayer, 62.52; Linda Zittel, 53.02; Paul Zittel, 52.31; Mary Terrana, 46.83; Andrei Reinhorn, 43.89; Gordon Crone, 42.11. 1,000-1,500 Points – Jim Lanzo, 200.25; Kamil Bishara, 151.45; Vic Bergsten, 75.50; Mary Ball, 61.34; Betty Metz, 48.72; (tie) Marilyn Wortzman, Jim Easton, 47.72; Sue Neubecker, 44.45; Terry Fraas, 43.69; Joanne LaFay, 36.68. 1,500-2,500 Points – David Colligan, 89.59; John Bava, 57.27; Tova Reinhorn, 48.90; Pinky Regan, 50.21; Paula Kotowski, 46.92; Walt Olszewski, 36.79; Joyce Greenspan, 27.89; Sandi England, 27.17; Rajat Basu, 24.69; Judy Kaprove, 12.89. 2,500-3,500 Points – Linda Burroughsford, 193.33; Fred Yellen, 90.81; Art Morth, 31.42; Bill Rushmore, 21.95; Dale Anderson, 20.52; David Turner, 10.54; Mike Silverman, 9.07; Elaine Kurasiewicz, 6.05; Pat Rasmus, 1.89; Joanne Kelley, 1.71. 3,500-5,000 Points – Davis Heussler, 256.89; John Ziemer, 88.99; Donna Steffan, 82.54; Judy Graf, 69.64; Judy Padgug, 56.53; Chongmin Zhang, 51.97; Martha Welte, 49.31; Jim Gullo, 42.19; Mike Ryan, 36.31; Brian Meyer, 7.88. More than 5,000 Points – Saleh Fetouh, 960.74; Jay Levy, 159.73; Chris Urbanek, 156.62; Glenn Milgrim, 141.78; Dian Petrov, 112.58; Bud Seidenberg, 104.96; Jay Costello, 80.69; Kathy Pollock, 64.27; Sharon Benz, 27.77; Dan Gerstman, 7.88. • • • The Duplicate Bridge column is compiled weekly by Buffalo News Staff Reporter Dale Anderson. The print version stopped appearing Saturdays in The News in March 2020 when the pandemic forced local bridge clubs to halt face-to-face play. These days you can find it in two places online. Google “Duplicate Bridge” plus the current Saturday date and that should bring up a link to it on buffalonews.com , the Buffalo News website. Another place to find it is on Dale Anderson’s bridge blog at http://newsdupli.blogspot.com/ Deadline for submission of scores and notices is Tuesday night. Email danderson@buffnews.com or dahotwings@aol.com . Office phone is 716-849-4420. • • • A Gold Life Master , Dale Anderson has a career total of more than 2,980 master points. He occasionally writes about his quest for the next measure of achievement, Sapphire Life Master (3,500 points), and other bridge adventures here . Email danderson@buffnews.com . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.For Makenzie Gilkison, spelling is such a struggle that a word like rhinoceros might come out as "rineanswsaurs" or sarcastic as "srkastik". or signup to continue reading The 14-year-old from suburban Indianapolis can sound out words, but her dyslexia makes the process so draining that she often struggles with comprehension. "I just assumed I was stupid," she recalled of her early primary school education. However assistive technology powered by artificial intelligence has helped her keep up with classmates. Last year, Makenzie was named to the National Junior Honour Society. She credits a customised AI-powered chatbot, a word prediction program and other tools that can read for her. "I would have just probably given up if I didn't have them," she said. Artificial intelligence holds the promise of helping countless other students with a range of visual, speech, language and hearing impairments to execute tasks that come easily to others. Schools everywhere have been wrestling with how and where to incorporate AI, but many are fast-tracking applications for students with disabilities. Getting the latest technology into the hands of students with disabilities is a priority for the US Education Department, which has told schools they must consider whether students need tools like text-to-speech and alternative communication devices. New rules from the Department of Justice also will require schools and other government entities to make apps and online content accessible to those with disabilities. There is concern about how to ensure students using it — including those with disabilities — are still learning. Students can use artificial intelligence to summarise jumbled thoughts into an outline, summarise complicated passages, or even translate Shakespeare into common English. And computer-generated voices that can read passages for visually impaired and dyslexic students are becoming less robotic and more natural. "I'm seeing that a lot of students are kind of exploring on their own, almost feeling like they've found a cheat code in a video game," said Alexis Reid, an educational therapist in the Boston area who works with students with learning disabilities. But in her view, it is far from cheating: "we're meeting students where they are". Ben Snyder, a 14-year-old from Larchmont, New York, who was recently diagnosed with a learning disability, has been increasingly using AI to help with homework. "Sometimes in maths, my teachers will explain a problem to me, but it just makes absolutely no sense," he said. "So if I plug that problem into AI, it'll give me multiple different ways of explaining how to do that." He likes a program called Question AI. Earlier in the day, he asked the program to help him write an outline for a book report — a task he completed in 15 minutes that otherwise would have taken him an hour and a half because of his struggles with writing and organisation. But he does think using AI to write the whole report crosses a line. "That's just cheating," Ben said. Schools have been trying to balance the technology's benefits against the risk that it will do too much. If a special education plan sets reading growth as a goal, the student needs to improve that skill. AI can't do it for them, said Mary Lawson, general counsel at the Council of the Great City Schools. But the technology can help level the playing field for students with disabilities, said Paul Sanft, director of a Minnesota-based centre where families can try out different assistive technology tools and borrow devices. "There are definitely going to be people who use some of these tools in nefarious ways. That's always going to happen," Sanft said. "But I don't think that's the biggest concern with people with disabilities, who are just trying to do something that they couldn't do before." Another risk is that AI will track students into less rigourous courses of study. And, because it is so good at identifying patterns, AI might be able to figure out a student has a disability. Having that disclosed by AI and not the student or their family could create ethical dilemmas, said Luis Pérez, the disability and digital inclusion lead at CAST, formerly the Centre for Applied Specialised Technology. Schools are using the technology to help students who struggle academically, even if they do not qualify for special education services. In Iowa, a new law requires students deemed not proficient — about a quarter of them — to get an individualised reading plan. As part of that effort, the state's education department spent $US3 million ($A4.8 million) on an AI-driven personalised tutoring program. When students struggle, a digital avatar intervenes. In September, Makenzie's district rolled out chatbots to help special education students in high school. She said teachers, who sometimes struggled to provide students the help they needed, became emotional when they heard about the program. Until now, students were reliant on someone to help them, unable to move ahead on their own. "Now we don't need to wait anymore," she said. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. 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In your everyday life, time and space know how to behave. A kilometre is a kilometre, and an hour is an hour – no matter how late you are running. Perception is not reality. Einstein showed space and time were one thing, and it bends and warps. A decade ago, astronomers for the first time observed gravitational waves: universe-spanning ripples that move through space-time – and through us. This discovery proved to be only part of the story. Astronomers are finding our universe is so permeated by gravitational waves, the fabric of reality is constantly in flux. Australian astronomers have created the most detailed maps of gravitational waves across the universe to date. Credit: Carl Knox / OzGrav / Swinburne University of Technology / South African Radio Astronomy Observatory The picture that is coming into focus, says astronomer Dr Matt Miles, is one that shows the universe as a vast ocean, dark and powerful. “The Earth is really just a ship, being bounced across the waves. The universe is constantly changing size. Time is constantly changing. The Earth is just riding that wave.” In a series of papers published last week in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society , a group of Australian astronomers reveal the strongest evidence yet for what they call the “gravitational wave background”: the constant rippling of space-time. Einstein imagined space like a piece of stretched fabric, with stars and planets and black holes scattered across it. Their mass bends and curves the fabric. The moon orbits the Earth because it is trapped in the depression in space-time created by the Earth’s mass – it spins like a coin in a funnel. Now, on the stretched fabric of space, introduce a very heavy spinning object: a pair of super-massive black holes orbiting each other. University of Sydney researcher Dr Sean Farrell was part of an international team of astronomers which observed a star that had strayed too close to a super-massive black hole being torn apart. Credit: Ute KrausTrump asks US Supreme Court to pause law threatening TikTok ban
President-elect Donald Trump said in an interview that aired on Sunday that he would act on his first day in office to pardon rioters involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack, further building expectations for a broad granting of clemency. "I'm going to be acting very quickly, first day," Trump said on NBC News' "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker" when asked when he planned to pardon his supporters who were charged in the attack aimed at overturning his 2020 election defeat. Trump told Welker that there could be "some exceptions" to his pardons if the individuals had acted "radical" or "crazy" during the assault, which left more than 140 police officers injured and led to several deaths. But Trump described the prosecutions of his supporters as inherently corrupt and did not rule out pardoning the more than 900 defendants who had already pleaded guilty, including those accused of acting violently in the attack. "I'm going to look at everything. We're going to look at individual cases," Trump said. The comments - Trump's most detailed on the issue of pardons since he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 election - will likely add to already high expectations for broad action once Trump is sworn in to office on Jan. 20. "He continues to put out the public message closer and closer to what the J6 community is asking for, which is clemency for all of the January 6ers," Suzzanne Monk, a longtime advocate for defendants charged in the riot, told Reuters. Hopes among Jan. 6 defendants and their supporters for broad-based clemency have been growing over the past week after President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter, marking a reversal from his pledge not to interfere with his son's criminal cases. Biden said Hunter deserved a pardon because he was the victim of political persecution, an argument Trump will likely use to justify mass pardons. Some Biden critics said his decision would lessen the political cost for Trump. Kimberly Wehle, a professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, said she was worried broad amnesty for Jan. 6 defendants would serve to wrongly incentivize the fomenting of unrest or even violence on behalf of a president. "The idea that he's going to reward people for violating the law on his behalf in connection with an attempt to overthrow legitimate election results... that's not precedented," said Wehle, author of a recent book on presidential pardon power. In what has been billed as America's largest-ever criminal investigation, at least 1,572 defendants have been charged in the Jan. 6 attack, with crimes ranging from unlawfully entering restricted grounds to seditious conspiracy and violent assault. Of that total, more than 1,251 have been convicted or pleaded guilty and 645 have been sentenced to prison, with punishments ranging from a few days to 22 years, according to the latest data from the Justice Department. John Pierce, a lawyer who has represented dozens of Jan. 6 defendants, urged Trump to issue a blanket pardon for all who were charged with participating in the riot. "I just don't know how you do it otherwise," he said, noting that it would be difficult to parse which conduct out of the scores of cases that have already worked their way through the legal system would merit a pardon. "I think you would see a lot of unhappy people in the January 6 community" if pardons were granted on a case-by-case basis, he said. In the NBC interview, Trump lamented those held for long periods of detention, saying they were being kept in "a filthy, disgusting place that shouldn't even be allowed to be open." He described them as being victims of a "very nasty system." Attorney Norm Pattis believes pardons should cover his clients, Zachary Rehl and Joseph Biggs, two former leaders of the Proud Boys militant group sentenced to 15 and 17 years in prison after a jury convicted them of seditious conspiracy. Pattis said Trump, in promoting the idea that the 2020 election had been stolen from him through widespread fraud - an assertion for which there is no evidence - prompted his clients to believe that they had to take drastic action. "He needs to own the fact that he created a tremendous sense of expectations with his claims about a stolen election, and people responded to him as President of the United States," Pattis said. "I would hope that he would pardon broadly." Pattis said it was unclear how Trump might draw a line excluding some defendants from clemency due to acts of violence. Jake Lang, a New York man who was charged with assaulting police officers and has been held in jail prior to trial, said he was hopeful he would be swept up in a blanket pardon. "I think on January 20, 2025 we are going to see a similar situation to Hunter Biden," Lang said in a phone interview. "Everybody's pardoned, full exoneration. Get them all out of prison and get this thing over with, so that we can start the national healing process."Israeli air strikes on Yemen airport ‘were metres from WHO chief’
Canada pressured to respond to Trump’s tax cut regimeAP Business SummaryBrief at 6:26 p.m. ESTOusted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say