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WASHINGTON — A White House official said Friday the U.S. identified a ninth telecommunications company impacted by a wide-ranging Chinese espionage effort and that further steps are planned to curb cyberattacks from Beijing. As the Biden administration learns about the scope and scale of the so-called Salt Typhoon breach that it attributed to China, officials are laying the blame on companies that were slow to identify the attack. “The reality is that China is targeting critical infrastructure in the United States. Those are private sector companies, and we still see companies not doing the basics,” Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday. “That’s why we’re looking forward and saying ‘Let’s lock down this infrastructure,’ ” she added. “And frankly, let’s hold the Chinese accountable for this.” The Commerce Department this month moved ahead with a ban of China Telecom and, according to Neuberger, similar actions will be released in the next month. Salt Typhoon is the name given to the hacking group behind the attacks. Microsoft Corp. assigns cyberthreat actors different names, to better identify and reference incidents, with the moniker “typhoon” used for activity originating from or attributed to China. Neuberger said one of the nine telecoms breached involved an administrator account that had access to over 100,000 routers. “So when the Chinese compromised that account, they gained that kind of broad access across the network. That’s not meaningful cybersecurity to defend against the nation-state actors,” Neuberger added. The U.S. still doesn’t have an exact assessment of how many Americans were targeted, Neuberger said. A large number of individuals were affected by geolocating around the Washington, D.C., and Virginia area — but fewer than 100 individuals’ phone calls and texts were hacked, she said. The Federal Communications Commission is voting on a rule in mid-January that would help protect America’s critical infrastructure, Neuberger said. She said the General Services Administration is reviewing government contracts to require better cybersecurity practices. Neuberger also cited an alarming increase in the number of health-related hacks that exposed Americans’ health care information and left them vulnerable to blackmail and said that the Department of Health and Human Services will propose new rules to protect medical data.Sen. Schumer pushes for increased surveillance to hunt drones in NY, NJ
The mystery surrounding at least one of the unexplained drones causing Americans to look toward the night sky in recent days was solved late Saturday evening, when Boston police arrested two men for flying their unmanned aerial device too close to Logan Airport. According to police, 42-year-old Robert Duffy of Charlestown and 32-year-old Jeremy Folcik of Bridgewater were arrested Saturday on Long Island, after officials noticed the drone on their monitoring systems. “The incident began earlier that evening, at 4:30 p.m., when a Boston Police Officer specializing in real-time crime surveillance detected an Unmanned Aircraft System operating dangerously close to Logan International Airport. Leveraging advanced UAS monitoring technology, the Officer identified the drone’s location, altitude, flight history, and the operators’ position on Long Island,” the Boston Police Department said in a Sunday statement. After rallying officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Massachusetts State Police, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Federal Communications Commission, and Logan Airport Air Traffic Control, the Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit was dispatched to the Boston Harbor Islands, where they allegedly found Duffy and Folcik, along with another man on the closed Long Island Health campus. All three attempted to flee on foot, according to police, but the arrested pair were caught and a drone found in their possession. The third man, according to police, is “believed to have fled the island in a small vessel.” Police say that all three were engaging in seriously dangerous behavior. “Operators are prohibited from flying drones over people or vehicles and must be aware of airspace restrictions. Even small drones pose significant risks, including the potential for catastrophic damage to airplanes and helicopters. Near-collisions can cause pilots to veer off course, putting lives and property at risk,” they said. Both Duffy and Folcik will appear in Dorchester District Court on charges of trespassing, police said. ©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at bostonherald.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Sports Update: Key Moves and Injuries Impacting Teams This SeasonDespite mounting pressure amid ongoing protests over allegations of question paper leak, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on Friday asserted that the 70th Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 held on December 13 across the state will not be cancelled. Making the announcement, BPSC Examination Controller Rajesh Kumar Singh said: "There is no question of cancelling the entire BPSC exam held on December 13. The BPSC decided to cancel the preliminary examination held at Bapu Pariksha Parisar centre only due to disruption created by a group of unruly aspirants as part of the conspiracy to disrupt the exam. The re-examination will be held on January 4 at some other centre in the city." "We have information that a group of private coaching institutes are instigating aspirants... and they are mobilising students to raise the demand for the cancellation of the entire exam. Their demand is baseless," Singh said. The decision comes as several political figures showcased support for the protesters who have been demonstrating for over a week and had even tried to storm the BPSC premises once, which led to a police crackdown. Tejashwi Yadav Writes To CM Nitish Kumar For Exam Cancellation Last week, former deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had expressed his solidarity with the protesting aspirants and even met them at the protest site in Patna's Gardani Bagh. He also wrote a letter to CM Nitish Kumar, demanding cancellation of the exam. Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Independent MP from Purnea, Pappu Yadav, who belongs to the INDIA bloc, also made similar gestures. The Jan Suraaj Party also sent a letter to the chief secretary regarding the exam's cancellation. Its founder Prashant Kishor visited the protest site on Thursday where he asked the state government to resolve the crisis within three days, failing which he warned to lead the protest himself. However, the protesters showed no interest in political leaders trying to use their cause for their own agenda. Educator 'Khan Sir' Visits Protest Site, Forced To Leave YouTube influencer Motiur Rahman Khan, known as Guru Rahman, declared that Prashant Kishor will not be allowed to participate in the protests. However, he himself was chased away by the aspirants on Friday when he visited the protest site, the report said. Educator Faizal Khan, popularly known as Khan Sir, was given a similar treatment, despite him trying to convince the protesters of his deep sympathy for them."I am willing to sell one of my kidneys for the sake of your cause," he said. Khan Sir, who came to meet the protesting BPSC candidates, said: "We are only demanding a re-examination from the commission. The commission can conduct as difficult an examination as it wants. We are not running away from this. We are saying that take a difficult examination and do not give children's questions... the questions in our class tests are more difficult than this... Why did the commission hide the evidence and CCTV footage? Many things have come out which are a matter of investigation." He further lashed out at the Bihar government and said he would move the apex court over the BPSC row. "We will go to the Supreme Court, we will even tell the President what is happening in Bihar... First, the country's GDP fell, then the bridge in Bihar collapsed and now BPSC has collapsed," he said. #WATCH | Patna, Bihar | Educator and YouTuber Khan Sir, who came to meet the protesting BPSC candidates, says, "We are only demanding a re-examination from the commission. The commission can conduct as difficult an examination as it wants. We are not running away from this. We... pic.twitter.com/8BFccuPir1 — ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2024 However, visuals surfaced showing the two being sent away by angry aspirants from the protest site. "We will not allow anybody, including Khan Sir or Guru Rahman, to use our stir for their own gains," one of the protesters told reporters. A group of aspirants is demanding that the entire exam of the BPSC held on December 13 in Bihar be cancelled. Seeking a response in this regard from the government, they have been staging a dharna at Gardani Bagh for the last several days. They are reasoning that cancellation shouldn't be ordered for just one centre but across the board since to esnure "level playing field". Education Loan Information: Calculate Education Loan EMI
KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) — Jamarques Lawrence's 16 points helped Rhode Island defeat Central Connecticut 77-69 on Sunday. Lawrence added seven assists for the Rams (10-1). David Green scored 14 points and added five rebounds. Tyonne Farrell shot 5 of 7 from the field and 2 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points. The Blue Devils (6-4) were led by Devin Haid, who posted 24 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks. Central Connecticut also got 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists from Joe Ostrowsky. Davonte Sweatman also had 11 points. Rhode Island took the lead with 3:45 to go in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 35-32 at halftime, with David Fuchs racking up eight points. Rhode Island used an 8-0 run in the second half to build a 10-point lead at 54-44 with 14:41 left in the half before finishing off the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Rashad King's 21 points helped Northeastern defeat Old Dominion 75-71 on Sunday. King added nine rebounds for the Huskies (8-3). LA Pratt added 15 points while going 7 of 14 from the field while they also had six rebounds. Masai Troutman shot 4 for 7 (0 for 3 from 3-point range) and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line to finish with 15 points. Robert Davis Jr. led the way for the Monarchs (3-8) with 17 points and six rebounds. Caelum Swanton-Rodger added 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks for Old Dominion. Sean Durugordon finished with 10 points. Harold Woods put up seven points in the first half for Northeastern, who led 31-26 at halftime. Northeastern turned a four-point second-half lead into a 13-point advantage with a 9-0 run to make it a 52-39 lead with 9:50 left in the half. King scored 14 second-half points in the victory. Northeastern's next game is Wednesday against UMass on the road, and Old Dominion visits UL Monroe on Saturday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Front Row Motorsports, one of two teams suing NASCAR in federal court, accused the stock car series Thursday of rejecting the planned purchase of a valuable charter unless the lawsuit was dropped. Front Row made the claim in a court filing and said it involved its proposed purchase of the charter from Stewart-Haas Racing. Front Row said the series would only approve it if Front Row and 23XI Racing dropped their court case. “Specifically, NASCAR informed us that it would not approve the (charter) transfer unless we agreed to drop our current antitrust lawsuit against them,” Jerry Freeze, general manager of Front Row, said in an affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court of Western North Carolina. The two teams in September refused to sign NASCAR's “take-it-or-leave-it” final offer on a new revenue sharing agreement. All other 13 teams signed the deal. People are also reading... Front Row and 23XI balked and are now in court. 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan has said he took the fight to court on behalf of all teams competing in the top motorsports series in the United States. NASCAR has argued that the two teams simply do not like the terms of the final charter agreement and asked for the lawsuit be dismissed. Earlier this week, the suit was transferred to a different judge than the one who heard the first round of arguments and ruled against the two teams in their request for a temporary injunction to be recognized in 2025 as chartered teams as the case proceeds. The latest filing is heavily redacted as it lays out alleged retaliatory actions by NASCAR the teams say have caused irreparable harm. Both Front Row and 23XI want to expand from two full-time cars to three, and have agreements with SHR to purchase one charter each as SHR goes from four cars to one for 2025. The teams can still compete next season but would have to do so as “open” teams that don't have the same protections or financial gains that come from holding a charter. Freeze claimed in the affidavit that Front Row signed a purchase agreement with SHR in April and NASCAR President Steve Phelps told Freeze in September the deal had been approved. But when Front Row submitted the paperwork last month, NASCAR began asking for additional information. A Dec. 4 request from NASCAR was “primarily related to our ongoing lawsuit with NASCAR,” Freeze said. “NASCAR informed us on December 5, 2024, that it objected to the transfer and would not approve it, in contrast to the previous oral approval for the transfer confirmed by Phelps before we filed the lawsuit,” Freeze said. “NASCAR made it clear that the reason it was now changing course and objecting to the transfer is because NASCAR is insisting that we drop the lawsuit and antitrust claims against it as a condition of being approved.” A second affidavit from Steve Lauletta, the president of 23XI Racing, claims NASCAR accused 23XI and Front Row of manufacturing “new circumstances” in a renewed motion for an injunction and of a “coordinated effort behind the scenes.” “This is completely false,” Lauletta said. Front Row is owned by businessman Bob Jenkins, while 23XI is owned by retired NBA Hall of Famer Jordan, three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and longtime Jordan adviser Curtis Polk. NASCAR had been operating with 36 chartered teams and four open spots since the charter agreement began in 2016. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. The teams contend they must be chartered under some of their contractual agreements with current sponsors and drivers, and competing next year as open teams will cause significant losses. “23XI exists to compete at the highest level of stock car racing, striving to become the best team it can be. But that ambition can only be pursued within NASCAR, which has monopolized the market as the sole top-tier circuit for stock car racing,” Lauletta said. "Our efforts to expand – purchasing more cars and increasing our presence on the track – are integral to achieving this goal. “It is not hypocritical to operate within the only system available while striving for excellence and contending for championships,” he continued. “It is a necessity because NASCAR’s monopoly leaves 23XI no alternative circuit, no different terms, and no other viable avenue to compete at this level.” AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Colts defense picks up the pace as offense continues searching for answers to red zone woes
Lions head into NFC title game rematch vs. 49ers seeking top seed more than revenge
Minor league pitchers Luis Moreno, Alejandro Crisostomo suspended after positive drug testsRallies express concern over lawlessness in KP PESHAWAR: The local chapters of Awami National Party (ANP) staged rallies in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday to express anger at the ongoing tension in the Kurram tribal district and the fresh wave of terror that has hit the province. MARDAN: The ANP held a protest outside Mardan Press Club against the recent wave of terrorism in the province. A large number of workers participated in the rally. The protesters were carrying placards with slogans condemning lawlessness. They raised slogans against the provincial government. The rally was led by the party district president Imran Manduri, Mardan Mayor Himayatullah Mayar, Akbar Hoti Advocate, Fazlur Rehman bin Yameen and others. The speakers said that the recent wave of terrorism in the province is a cause for concern. They said the provincial government had failed to maintain law and order situation in the province. They said the provincial government should spend the resources of the province on maintaining law and order instead of releasing anyone from jail. KHAR: Addressing the protest rally held outside the Bajaur’s press club, ANP general secretary Shah Naseer Khan, Maulana Khan Zeb, Fatehur Rahman Mamond demanded the government initiate a transparent investigation into the Parachinar incidents and take practical steps for the restoration of lasting peace in Kurram and elsewhere Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They expressed solidarity with the families of the victims of the Kurram tragedy and criticised the KP and Islamabad rulers for their petty politics The speakers urged the provincial government to act responsibly and take practical measures to address these issues. MINGORA: The ANP staged a protest rally outside the Swat Press Club against the recent incidents in Kurram tribal district. The protest was led by ANP senior vice-president Mumtaz Ali Khan and general secretary Abdul Malik. Addressing the protest, the speakers called on the provincial government to focus on resolving the deteriorating law and order situation and take steps to end unrest. They criticised the provincial government for leaving the people at the mercy of terrorists that had created a sense of widespread insecurity across the province. The speakers expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives in the Kurram incidents, saying that unrest would not be tolerated under any circumstances.They called on the government to immediately identify those responsible for the Kurram tragedy and take steps to restore peace. The rallies were also held in Charsada, Shangla and other districts of the province.
If we care about the world, every time we spend our money, we should think about the true cost of what we’re buying and whether we’re giving our hard-earned cash to companies that deserve it. Rather than brands and products that just talk a good game when it comes to be greener or kinder, we should invest in gifts which make a positive pledge to planet and people. While it's easy to fall for a bargain, we have to remember that sales are still about the brands making money from flogging us a lot of things we don’t really need; and we’re not truly winners in the end. Have a think about what a supply chain might look like beyond what you want, and the harsh reality of those so-called feel-good items online is that they're often made in a way that involves the exploitation of natural resources and human labour, and result in emissions galore as part of an ugly take-make-waste life cycle. Luckily, there are lots of hero products out there which are actively tackling social, environmental and economic challenges. So let’s spend our hard-earned cash in a way that also gives a salute to the values and messages we want to be amplified in the world, and in turn, it might also make the folks you give these gifts to think a little more deeply about what matters and why. This B Corp-certified brand makes cool contemporary bags from turning waste into fashion before it ends up in landfills. Seriously circular, they used to do this with PET bottles from the beverage industry, now they recycle textile waste as an antidote to the fallout from fast fashion. From €99.99 (£85.65) ucon-acrobatics.com Ethically-sourced charity-supporting chocolate from Arthouse Unlimited is enhanced with art by creatives living with complex neuro-diverse and physical support needs. From £5.25, arthouseunlimited.org Fans of Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens book will love this manifesto for better living from the straight-talking Dutch historian, Rutger Bregman. £9.49, uk.bookshop.org Selling affordable accessories from makers who’ve been homeless or who are living in hostels, Pivot's earrings, necklaces and bangles are made from zero waste acetate, recycled sterling silver and responsible brass. We also love their beautiful bookmarks . From £25, madebypivot.com This social-impact homeware brand is now based in E2 on Columbia Road, and its products include beautiful hand-blown tumblers made by artisans in Afghanistan. From £65, ishkar.com These vegan, bio-degradable zero-waste and waterless bars do a great job at cleansing and conditioning your hair. From £5.50, littlesoapcompany.co.uk What’s more eco than giving some living, breathing greenery? Order indoor and outdoor potted plants and Christmas trees — we especially love Patch's 'unkillable' houseplants. From £10, patchplants.com This indie toothbrush brand - a portmanteau of ' sustainable rituals' - considers nature and waste along its supply chain in a way the big-name brands can never compete with. The UV-light case is especially well suited to those on the go. £75, trysuri.com We already loved their climate-positive vodkas and gins which support reforestation with every bottle purchased. Now they’ve only gone and produced a poster spirit for regenerative farming in cahoots with chef and farmer Julius Roberts. This liquid lesson in the importance of restoring the soil to be a carbon sink allows you to taste that it’s made from nutrient-rich grains too. We'll drink to that. From £55, saplingspirits.com Swapfiets offers a shared economy solution for human-powered transport. Its fully-serviced e-bike rentals cost less than £20 monthly. From £18.90 per month, swapfiets.co.uk These resilient brollies are long-lasting, which is not only helpful in extreme weather but also important when you know how many cheap umbrellas end up in landfills. From £70, bluntumbrellas.co.uk These chic, sustainable ceramic stacking bowls are a dream for easy ramens, and provide storage free of plastic. From £24, hokanbowls.com Invest in one of these forever dresses made in London, keep your packing light and wear it over and over again without fear of being part of the fast-fashion churn. Elegant design with highest-quality fabrics let you step out in a dress-up or dress-down style to suit every occasion, whether a beach, bar, or boardroom. From £320, hansineshop.co Social Supermarket is a purveyor of sustainable independent products from pantry to wardrobe. Its ethical hampers or ethical and vegan gift boxes that are guaranteed to leave a good taste in the mouth. From £20.89, socialsupermarket.org Form meets function with these swimsuits and bikinis, which let you ditch waste from feminine hygiene products — especially perfect for teens. From £20, azurebelle.com.au Add some festive fizz to everyday drinks, or stock up for a jollier Dry January thanks to these witty, but responsible Scottish soft drink scamps. From £29 for 12 250ml cans, rapscallionsoda.com More tap water is drinkable than people realise when they wander, but a Water-To-Go purifier bottle helps when you need to play it extra-safe. Or try LARQ for a more luxe edition, which uses UV-C light to neutralise 99.9% of germs and bacteria at the touch of a button. Purifying bottle, from £25, watertogousa.com , and from £58, livelarq.com These Swedish makers really think about circularity when it comes to manufacturing their excellent audio accessories. £89.99, urbanears.com Flaunt your eco values in carbon-negative knitwear made from super-soft Merino wool. Sheep Inc's jumpers teach us about traceability, right down to a cute little QR tag built into every piece. From £290, sheepinc.com Only a lucky few can join the ledger for these limited-edition eaux de parfums from Somerset. Subscribe to Ffern's exceptionally small batch of organic seasonal fragrances and each delivery promises to be an uplifting lesson in transparency and sustainability. Membership from £169, ffern.co For more eco-friendly packing tips and sustainable travel inspiration, go to The Standard’s Sustainable Travel section .
PA speaker lauds media’s constructive criticism LAHORE:Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan Monday said journalists can guide both the government and opposition through fact-based and constructive criticism. Addressing an oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected President of the PA Press Gallery Committee journalist Khawaja Nasir, and its secretary Adnan Sheikh, the PA Speaker said the role of journalism in the success of any developed nation cannot be denied. The ceremony was held at the cafeteria of the Punjab Assembly’s Old Building. Members of the Press Gallery Committee, Provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari, MPAs Raheela Khadim and Uzma Kardar, PA Secretary General Chaudhry Amer Habib, Staff Officer to the Speaker Amad Hussain Bhalli and spokesperson Rao Majid Ali and President of the Lahore Press Club Arshad Ansari, and other senior journalists were also present. The PA speaker said the purpose of any political party should be the welfare of the people. Referring to the events of May 9, he said these were not ordinary allegations but direct attacks on the nation’s armed forces and institutions.
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Thursday, December 26, 2024 Uber continues to revolutionize global transportation by offering an array of unique ride options that extend far beyond traditional car rides. With services now available in over 10,000 cities across 70 countries on six continents, the ride-hailing giant is constantly innovating to cater to diverse travel needs and experiences. In 2024, Uber introduced several exciting transportation options, including the launch of Uber Shikara on Dal Lake in Srinagar, India. This service allows up to four passengers to enjoy an hour-long ride on the region’s traditional wooden boats, with all proceeds going directly to the boat operators. Meanwhile, in the U.S., Uber Shuttle debuted in New York City, providing airport shuttle services between Midtown Manhattan and LaGuardia Airport for $18. Uber Shuttle has also expanded globally, operating in cities across India, Brazil, Mexico, and Egypt. For water enthusiasts, Uber offers Uber Boat services in destinations like London, Greece, and Venice. The Uber Boat on the River Thames in London provides both point-to-point tickets and hop-on, hop-off passes. Seasonal luxury options included the Uber Yacht in Ibiza and the “Limo Boat” in Venice, catering to travelers seeking premium water transport. Uber’s aerial ambitions are set to take flight again in 2025. The company plans to launch electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis in New York City and Los Angeles in partnership with Joby Aviation. These eco-friendly and quieter aircraft will connect destinations within a 100-mile radius, marking a significant step forward in Uber’s Advanced Air Mobility initiatives. Uber previously experimented with helicopter services, including Uber Copter in New York City and UberCHOPPER in the UAE. The latter offered Formula 1 Grand Prix visitors helicopter rides between Dubai and Abu Dhabi for a one-day promotional event. Uber continues to delight with seasonal services. In 2024, the company reintroduced Uber Safari in Cape Town, South Africa, taking passengers on day trips through Aquila Private Game Reserve for $200. In 2022, Uber even offered Uber Sleigh rides in Lapland, Finland, complete with reindeer and snow. Beyond rides, the Uber app also allows users to book electric Lime bikes and scooters , as well as rental cars delivered to their doorstep, underscoring its commitment to multimodal transportation solutions. Uber is making strides in sustainability with plans to launch the UK’s first fully electric cross-river passenger ferry on London’s River Thames in 2025. The company also continues to explore autonomous driving technologies, aiming to revive its robotaxi initiatives as part of its long-term vision. As the company ventures further into new modes of transportation, it remains a dominant player in the mobility market. With plans to expand flight and boat services in 2025 and continued innovations in sustainable and autonomous travel, Uber is poised to redefine how people move around the world. With a range of options spanning cars, boats, air taxis, and even bikes, Uber is ensuring that no matter where you are, there’s a ride option tailored for your needs.