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Rupert Murdoch: Media mogul reportedly loses court battle to change family trust and hand Lachlan control

Consider this: It is now four decades ago that astronaut Owen Garriott, callsign W5LFL, pioneered amateur radio communication from space. He was a crewmember on the space shuttle program's STS-9 mission. During that space shuttle flight in 1983, Garriott became the first-ever person in space to communicate with amateur radio operators on the ground . He was also the first person to be heard directly from space by members of the public using simple radio receivers and scanners. That event transformed astronaut communications from space forever, allowing amateur radio operators and the public to communicate with people in space. But don't change that dial! Much more is coming in terms of amateur radio and the International Space Station . Strong signal strength The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, or AMSAT in short wave sign language, is a worldwide group of Amateur Radio Operators dubbed as "Hams." AMSAT itself was formed in 1969 as an educational organization. For decades the organization has emitted strong signal strength to emphasize that status. For decades, AMSAT groups have had far-reaching, positive effects on the future of both amateur radio, as well as other governmental, scientific and commercial activities in terms of the final frontier. Home brew AMSAT's ongoing achievements in space research and communication were kick-started by efforts surrounding the 1961 launch of Project OSCAR - the Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. A U.S.-based group on the west coast built the very first amateur radio satellite, the 10-pound "home brew" OSCAR-1, assembled in a garage in Los Altos, California. OSCAR-1 was lofted on Dec. 12, 1961 as a secondary payload as "ballast" on a U.S. spy satellite launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. OSCAR-1 made its ascension into Earth orbit a scant four years after the liftoff of the former Soviet Union's first Sputnik in October 1957. Radio spectrum "Since then, two groups — Project OSCAR and AMSAT — have launched more than 30 spacecraft designed and built by radio amateurs. The OSCAR number is now over 100 satellites but most of these have been university satellites who wanted to use amateur radio spectrum and wanted to support the notion of satellite for use by radio amateurs," said Jan King, a founding member of AMSAT. "Amateur radio has launched and operated more satellites than most countries have," King told Space.com. But for boosted signal strength, enter the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). The ARISS program was created and is managed by an international consortium of amateur radio organizations and space agencies including NASA, Russia's Roscosmos, the Canadian Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the European Space Agency. Educational connections Frank Bauer, also known as KA3HDO in callsign lingo, is ARISS-USA Executive Director and serves as international chair of the group. "We are performing 60-100 'educational connections' with astronauts and cosmonauts on ISS a year," Bauer told Space.com. Educational connections are astronaut on-board contacts in formal and informal educational settings. These can include formal schools, virtual or home schools, scouts, boys and girls clubs, libraries, etc., Bauer explained. To date, ARISS has performed about 1,700 connections with ISS astronauts, an initiative that began just a few weeks after the first crew came onboard the orbiting outpost, he said. Over that period of time, ARISS has chalked up several milestones. On Nov. 13 of this year, the group celebrated 24 years of continuous operations and on Dec. 21 they flag the 24th anniversary of their first ISS school contact. "Our connections, over the years, have engaged between 40,000 and 200,000 youth per year," Bauer said. "We were the first operational educational payload on the ISS." New milestones In the next few years, ARISS is scoping out new milestones the group would like to achieve. For one, there's an ARISS 2.0 initiative, a new education vision for the future and one that is multi-pronged. To that end, that strategy involves: Developing and deploying engaging education projects and lesson plans; Extending low Earth orbit (LEO) space-reach to include multiple commercial space stations as well as activities on ISS; Extending educational activities beyond LEO into deep space via lunar orbiters and landers, including NASA's projected Lunar Gateway; Supporting science/technology projects that employ ARISS capabilities and/or enhance science via radio techniques. Projects underway There have been a series of partnerships, grants and other ARISS team activities that are keyed to education, spaceflight hardware development and spaceflight operations. Bauer pointed to projects underway, such as SPARKI (Space Pioneers Amateur Radio Kit Initiative) Radio Kit, which is currently operational via a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), a California-based foundation with roots in amateur radio and the technology of internet communication. Also there are partnerships with the private space group Axiom and NASA, Bauer added, "where we have supported all three Axiom mission crews." Also there's the ARISS STAR (Space Telerobotics Using Amateur Radio), in development, as well as Student Mission Control, also in development, said Bauer. Blue-sky to the moon How about any blue-sky thoughts on future ARISS endeavors that might tie into NASA Artemis moon base contact with future crews? Bauer responded saying that the ARISS Amateur Radio Exploration (AREx) program has been developing systems to be deployed on crewed and uncrewed missions to the moon. "Their purpose is to inspire, engage and educate youth and lifelong learners in STEAM/STEM activities and encourage them to pursue STEAM/STEM careers," said Bauer. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts , and mathematics. Achievable goal "We have a fairly mature hardware prototype of a system called CAVIAR (Communications, Audio, Video, Imaging using Amateur Radio), which will allow youth to actively immerse themselves in lunar exploration in the lunar environment," Bauer added. "This includes communications with astronauts during the exploration activities as well as the ability to capture pictures and video directly, similar to what we have accomplished on ISS. Lunar communications, ala ARISS is achievable," concluded Bauer. For contact with ARISS, visit their official website .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought,” roughly three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations, including two that led to separate indictments of Trump last year as well as inquiries into Biden and his son. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The intended resignation was not unexpected considering that Trump had settled on Patel to be director and had repeatedly aired his ire at Wray, whom he appointed during his first term. But his departure is nonetheless a reflection of how Trump's norm-breaking style has reshaped Washington, with the president-elect yet again flouting tradition by moving to replace an FBI director well before his term was up and Wray resigning to avert a collision with the incoming administration. “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me," Wray said. “I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorized to discuss the private gathering by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice" and saying that Patel's confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again.” If confirmed by the Senate, Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation's premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI's Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators," raising alarms that he might seek to wield the FBI's significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Trump's perceived enemies. Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to "a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one.” It's extremely rare for FBI directors to be ousted from their jobs before the completion of their 10-year terms, a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations. But Trump has done it twice, placing Wray in the job in 2017 after firing Director James Comey amid an investigation into ties between Russia and the Republican president’s campaign. Despite having appointed Wray, Trump had telegraphed his anger with the FBI director on multiple occasions throughout the years, including as recently as the past week. In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday, Trump said, “I can’t say I’m thrilled with him. He invaded my home,” a reference to the FBI search of his Florida property , Mar-a-Lago, two years ago for classified documents from Trump’s first term as president. That search, and the recovery of boxes of sensitive government records, paved the way for one of two federal indictments against Trump. The case, and another one charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election, have both been dismissed by the Justice Department special counsel that brought them in light of Trump's November victory. Attorney General Merrick Garland praised Wray for having “served our country honorably and with integrity for decades.” He said: “Under Director Wray’s principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law.” Natalie Bara, the president of the FBI Agents Association, said in a statement that Wray had led the FBI “through challenging times with a steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe. ” Throughout his seven years on the job, the self-professed "low-key, understated" Wray brought a workmanlike approach to the job, repeatedly preaching a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra to bureau personnel despite a steady drumbeat of attacks from Trump and his supporters. He also sought to avoid public conflict when possible with the Trump White House, distancing himself and his leadership team from the FBI's Russia investigation over errors that took place before he took office and announcing dozens of corrective actions meant to prevent the recurrence of the surveillance abuses that plagued the inquiry. But there were other instances when he memorably broke from Trump — he did not agree, for instance, with Trump’s characterization of the Russia investigation as a “witch hunt." He made known his displeasure when the White House blessed the declassification of materials related to the surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide and contradicted a Trump talking point by stating that Ukraine had not interfered in the 2016 election. He repeatedly sought to keep the focus on the FBI's day-to-day work, using the bulk of his resignation announcement to praise the bureau's efforts in countering everything from violent crime and cyberattacks to Chinese espionage and terrorism. Yet as he leaves office at a time of heightened threats , much of the public focus has been on the politically sensitive investigations of his tenure. Besides the inquiries into Trump, the FBI in recent years also investigated Biden's handling of classified information as well as Biden's son Hunter for tax and gun violations. Hunter Biden was pardoned by his father last week. A particular flashpoint came in August 2022, when FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago — an action officials defended as necessary given the boxes of documents that were being concealed at the Palm Beach property and the evidence of obstruction that the Justice Department said had been gathered. Trump railed against the FBI over that search and has kept up his criticism ever since. Trump was angered by Wray's comment at a congressional hearing that there was “some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel” that struck Trump's ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. The FBI later stated unequivocally that it was indeed a bullet. Before being named FBI director, Wray worked at a prestigious law firm, King & Spalding, where he represented former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during the “Bridgegate” scandal. He also led the Justice Department’s criminal division for a period during President George W. Bush’s administration.Flag football uses talent camps to uncover new stars

Kmart worker who suffered black eyes in shocking attack issues a message to Aussies as violence towards retail workers ramps up just before Christmas

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission has summoned Indian billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani, founder of the Adani Group, and his nephew Sagar Adani in connection with allegations that the conglomerate paid $265 million – Rs 2,200 crore – in bribes to secure solar energy contracts. A copy of the summons is with Scroll. The summons were sent to Gautam Adani’s Shantivan Farm residence and Sagar Adani’s Bodakdev home, both in Ahmedabad city, seeking their response in 21 days. “Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it)...you must serve on the plaintiff (SEC) an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,” a notice from the New York Eastern District Court dated November 21 read. “If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint,” the summonses states. “You also must file your answer or motion with the court.” The Securities and Exchance Commission and the US Department of Justice have alleged that 62-year-old Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and others orchestrated bribes to Indian officials from 2020 to 2024 to win lucrative solar energy contracts. The contracts were reportedly expected to the net the conglomerate $2 billion in profits over 20 years. Separate from the Securities and Exchange Commission complaint, an indictment document unsealed in a New York court names Adani, Sagar and Cyril Cabanes of Azure Power Global in what it describes as a “massive bribery scheme”. The Adani Group has denied the accusations, calling them “baseless.” The US indictment formally charges the Adanis and others and givess them notice to respond. Prosecutors claim the inquiry, initiated in 2022, faced obstruction and alleged that the Adani Group raised $2 billion from investors, including US firms, by misrepresenting anti-bribery compliance. “As alleged, the defendants orchestrated an elaborate scheme to bribe Indian government officials to secure contracts worth billions of dollars and... lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise capital from US and international investors,” US Attorney Breon Peace said. Indian agencies must probe bribery charges, petitioner tells SC An application has been filed in the Supreme Court urging Indian agencies to investigate the bribery charges against Gautam Adani and others by the US authorities, reported LiveLaw. Advocate Vishal Tiwari, the petitioner, has requested the court to consider the indictment order by the US Department of Justice and the charges filed by the Securities and Exchange Board. He described the allegations as significant enough to warrant a probe by Indian agencies in the “interest of the nation”. The application is part of an ongoing case seeking an independent investigation into the claims of money-laundering and stock price manipulation levelled by American short-seller Hindenburg Research against the Adani Group last year. Tiwari also noted that the Securities and Exchange Board of India has not yet completed its investigation into Adani Group companies despite a Supreme Court directive in January, in connection with Hindenburg Research’s allegations. “The SEBI must inspire confidence by concluding its probe and disclosing its findings to restore investor trust,” the application said. The US authorities have said that the alleged actions of Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and others violated US laws including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act. The petitioner had previously requested the Securities and Exchange Board of India to expedite its investigation but the Supreme Court registry declined to register his plea, on the grounds that the court’s January order had not given any deadline for the board to complete the probe. Also read: What does US law say about Adani’s indictment – and can he be charged in India?None

If the Las Vegas Raiders are going to make a coaching change, don’t expect it to be during the regular season. Pro Football Talk is reporting that Raiders owner Mark Davis told reporters at league meetings on Wednesday that he will evaluate head coach Antonio Pierce’s job status at the end of the season. PFT also reports that Davis is “disappointed” in how the first full season under Pierce has gone. Pierce replaced Josh McDaniels, going 5-4 in the Raiders’ final nine games to earn the full-time nod. If Pierce were to be fired, it would be the fourth head coach in five seasons to lose their job in Las Vegas. Pierce would join McDaniels, Rich Bisaccia (interim), and Jon Gruden, as other coaches who failed to bring success to Las Vegas. Paul Delos Santos is the Las Vegas sports insider for Dice City Sports. Follow him on X at @PaulDelos_ . This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.