Trailer overturns on Asr road, 2 die
Special counsel moves to abandon election interference and classified documents cases against Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors have moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. In court filings on Monday, the prosecutors cited longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had sought to hold Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president who firmly won election this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him. Israel launches new airstrikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to a ceasefire with Hezbollah BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli airstrikes are hitting Lebanon with airstrikes as negotiations progress toward a ceasefire between the country and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants. Lebanon reported that at least 12 people were killed Monday as explosions lit up the sky and airstrikes hit targets in Beirut and Tyre, a southern port city. After about a year of exchanging low-level attacks across the Israel-Lebanon border with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, Israeli troops launched a ground invasion of Lebanon in October. More than 3,700 people have been killed and 1.2 million displaced since. The fighting has amplified worries about direct conflict between Israel and Iran. International mediators are seeking to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah to end the fighting. What's blocking a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah? BEIRUT (AP) — Diplomats and other officials say there have been several sticking points in ceasefire talks in the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, even as conditions for an agreement appear to be ripe. Israel’s military has killed nearly all of the militant group’s top leaders. Tens of thousands of Israelis who were evacuated from the border months ago are pressuring their government to go home. And the world wants to stop regional conflict from spreading after more than a year of fighting. But there remain sticking points over how Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the border area will be monitored and whether Israel will have freedom to strike the militants. Thanksgiving Travel Latest: Airport strike, staff shortages and weather could impact holiday travel Airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike. Scuffles in Serbian parliament as deadly station collapse sparks anger at the government BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Scuffles and fistfights broke out between ruling party and opposition lawmakers in Serbia’s parliament on Monday over a deadly rail station roof collapse that has ignited tensions in the Balkan state. The opposition wanted to discuss who is responsible for the crash that killed 15 people in the northern city of Novi Sad on Nov. 1. The collapse has fueled widespread anger toward the government and protests, becoming a flashpoint for broader dissatisfaction with Serbia’s authoritarian rule. Judge in LA pushes back decision on resentencing Menendez brothers until late January LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge has pushed back to January his decision on whether to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion 35 years ago. The judge said he needed time to review 17 boxes of documents. Still he let the brothers' aunts take the stand. They both testified on their behalf as the brothers seek to have their 1989 convictions reexamined in the shotgun murders of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez. They argued the convictions should be reexamined because of new evidence of sex abuse by the brothers' father. The brothers were sentenced to life without parole. Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to graphic cigarette warning labels WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won’t hear a challenge to a federal requirement that cigarette packages and advertising include graphic images demonstrating the effects of smoking. The high court declined to hear the case in a brief written order handed down Monday. The warnings include pictures of smoke-damaged lungs and feet blackened by diminished blood flow. Nearly 120 countries around the world have already adopted graphic warning labels. It’s not clear when new labels might appear in the U.S., however. Some legal claims remain and the FDA has said it doesn’t plan to enforce any new requirements until December 2025. Russia reportedly captures a Briton fighting for Ukraine as Russian troops advance Reports say the Russian military has captured a Briton fighting with Ukrainian troops who have occupied part of Russia’s Kursk region. Russia also began launching daylight drone attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine and its ground forces accelerated gains along parts of the front line. Russian state news agency Tass says the captured fighter was in the British army for four years and then joined the International Legion of Ukraine, formed early on in the nearly 3-year-old war. On the battlefield, a think tank says Russian forces recently have gained ground at “a significantly quicker rate” than they did in the whole of last year. Judge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgender A judge has rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she’s transgender. Monday’s ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player to continue competing in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship in Las Vegas this week. The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed by nine current players who are suing the Mountain West Conference challenging the league’s policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. So you're gathering with relatives whose politics are different. Here are some tips for the holidays NEW YORK (AP) — There’s no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. In the wake of the presidential election, the upcoming marking of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the holiday season could be a boon for some - a respite from the events of the larger world in the gathering of family and loved ones, hours and even days spent with people who have played the largest roles in our lives, another chapter in a lifetime of memories.For others, though, that same scenario, particularly because of the polarizing presidential campaign, is something to dread, with the likelihood of disagreements, harsh words and raised voices looming large.An Omaha man was arrested on Tuesday and charged with first-degree sexual assault and attempted robbery after a woman reported being assaulted in Benson last week. The man, 21-year-old Dash Lansdale, appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday and was ordered held on 10% of $150,000 bail, meaning he would have to pay $15,000 to be released ahead of trial. According to an arrest affidavit, the woman who reported the assault was walking to her car on the evening of Nov. 19 near the intersection of Maple Street and Military Avenue when she was grabbed from behind. The woman reported that the man reached into her pants and assaulted her, leading to a struggle in which the man also grabbed her breast. The man was chased off by nearby witnesses who came to the woman’s aid, according to a press release from the Omaha Police Department. Video footage was obtained, according to the affidavit, which appeared to corroborate the woman’s description of the assault. The suspect on the video was a white male with medium to light-colored long hair and a bald spot on his crown. After police posted screengrabs of the video to Omaha Crime Stoppers and social media , multiple tips identified Lansdale as the suspect. Lansdale was located at his residence, which was just blocks away from the location of the assault, and taken to police headquarters to be interviewed. He initially denied any involvement and said he was asleep with his girlfriend at the time of the assault. Lansdale’s girlfriend was also interviewed, according to the affidavit, and was shown the still photos from the video. She confronted Lansdale, who admitted to being the person depicted in the video, but said he had intended to rob the woman and did not sexually assault her, according to the affidavit. In a subsequent interview, according to the affidavit, Lansdale admitted to being the person in the video and said he “wondered if he could take the victim’s purse and acted on those thoughts.” He said he approached the woman from behind and attempted to grab her purse, but denied the sexual assault allegations. Lansdale entered a plea of not guilty during his initial appearance on Wednesday. He is set to appear for a preliminary hearing on the charges in January. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-12-09T23:07:32+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-12-09T23:07:32+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-12-09T23:07:31+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22482/news/infrastructure/six-things-to-know-about-kigali-urban-transport-improvement-project", "headline": "Six things to know about Kigali urban transport improvement project", "description": "The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group on December 4 announced that its Board of Directors approved a loan of $100 million (approx. Rwf140billion) to...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22482/news/infrastructure/six-things-to-know-about-kigali-urban-transport-improvement-project" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/09/66048.png", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/09/66048.png" }, "articleBody": "The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group on December 4 announced that its Board of Directors approved a loan of $100 million (approx. Rwf140billion) to Rwanda for the implementation of Kigali Urban Transport Improvement (KUTI) Project meant for easing transport in and around the country’s capital. According to information from RTDA, project implementation period was expected to be five years from loan approval, with its overall cost estimated at $279 million (approx. Rwf386 billion). ALSO READ: Kigali to pilot dedicated bus lanes in six months The objective of the project is to enhance the efficiency, inclusivity and safety of road transport mobility. To that end, it seeks to address a growing urban mobility problem and a high volume of traffic that Kigali has recently witnessed, requiring significant adjustments to urban transport design and systems, according to AfDB, which is the project financier. Congestion and long queues are prevalent at most major junctions [especially during peak periods], increasing travel times, disruption, and traffic conflicts, the bank pointed out, observing that the immediate project area is the city of Kigali, which has a population of 1.7 million that is expected to grow to 3.8 million by 2050. The lack of an inclusive urban mobility system, such as dedicated bus lanes, a non-motorised transport system and limited integration between different public transport networks, exacerbates transport problems and has led citizens to opt for motor-cycle taxis, the number of which is increasing in urban areas, putting users at risk of serious accidents, as per the bank. “The project will focus on improving three of the seven crucial junctions identified as bottlenecks so as to have more efficient, sustainable and user-friendly urban transport infrastructure,” said Aïssa Touré Sarr, the African Development Bank's Country Manager for Rwanda. The following are six things to know about the project. Proposed intervention or developments at seven junctions The project aims at improving transport infrastructure and services in the City of Kigali, including the upgrading of seven selected junctions namely Chez Lando, Gishushu, Gisozi (at an area called Kinamba), Nyabugogo, Rwandex, Sonatubes and Kibagabaga. ALSO READ: Revamped Amahoro Stadium: How will traffic be managed on match days? For Chez Lando Junction, a technical feasibility study commissioned by RTDA on behalf of the Government of Rwanda in conjunction with AfDB, recommended the construction of a 740 metre (m) long underpass (UP) tunnel grade separation, signalisation and geometric improvement for the road KN5 Rd, according to Rwanda Transport Development Agency’s (RTDA) environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for the project, dated July 2024. Grade separation refers to road crossing or junction using an underpass or overpass. For Gishushu Junction, the recommended intervention consists of construction of 500m long flyover (FO) bridge (including an approach section) for grade separation and geometric improvement for KN5 Rd, as per the environmental and social impact assessment. Concerning Sonatubes Junction, the construction of 620m long underpass (UP) tunnel as a grade separation, signalisation and Geometric Improvement for KN3 Rd, were recommended by a technical study. For Rwandex Junction, the proposed intervention shall comprise of construction of a new four-lane bypass for throughway traffic of KN3 Rd, at northern Gikondo wetland, two ramp bridges (with Bridge1 covering 112m, and Bridge2 covering 592m) separating the upper and lower lines in order to minimise the impact on the Gikondo wetland development area. Kibagabaga Junction could see the widening of the road KG11 Av into a four-lane road and improvements be made to the geometry of the right-turn lane from KG 11 Av to KG 19 Av, while for Gisozi Junction, a plan to improve the traffic capacity on the main road of KN8 Av, and construction of 540m long flyover (FO) bridge, were recommended by the study. For Nyabugogo Junction, the recommended option will involve a construction of a new two-lane flyover for throughway traffic of the road NR1 Rd, construction of a new two-lane flyover for throughway traffic of the road KN7 Rd, construction of 400m new road section which will constitute Nyabugogo Bypass, and junction improvements associated with those works. Easing movement of persons with disabilities (PWDs) The project design is expected to include aided facilities on the road for the PWDs, such as braille traffic light with sounds and pedestrian push-button that can be used by both the sighted and visually impaired, Accessible Pedestrians Signals (APS) that communicate information about pedestrians timing in non-visual format such as audible tones, verbal messages and/or vibrating surfaces and parking signs. Other features to be considered include short ramps from carriage way to the walkway to ease mobility of PWDs, ensuring that drainages are covered to protect PWDs from accidents, and short distances between road crossovers to ease mobility for PWDs. Designated bus lanes Designated bus lanes (DBLs) are expected to be considered in the project design to promote public transport over [individual] private transport, according to RTDA’s ESIA. This is meant to address concerns over lack of such lanes on current roads. The DBL options could comprise separate lanes dedicated only for buses, or turning some normal lanes to DBLs during peak hour times and/or installing traffic lights with sensors that prioritise lanes with more bus numbers, all as a means of encouraging use of public transport over private means. Designs could also consider wider roads that can allow easier turning of the big buses now being used in the City of Kigali. ALSO READ: Transporters push for dedicated lanes for public buses Cyclist lanes There are concerns that no special lane reserved for bicycles exists on current roads, exposing cyclists to accidents, RTDA’s ESIA indicated. To deal with the issue, cyclist lanes are set to be included in the design as part of the Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) facilities under the project. NMT facilities are proposed at the key junctions where pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles are separated from each other by forming a traffic space network independently of walkways and cycleways, RTDA’s environmental and social impact assessment indicated. As part of traffic signals at crossovers, the option of cyclists cross over with minimal impact on waiting time for motorists, and proper lighting of these junctions to ensure the safety of cyclists even at night, are set to be included in the project. Design of NMT facilities may follow proposed requirements in the Kigali NMT master plan 2023-2032, it pointed out. Overhead pedestrian bridges Overhead pedestrian bridges can also be installed at junctions where accessibility to surrounding facilities is required in the city center. This is intended to minimise pedestrian-vehicle interaction and accident risks. People to be affected and compensation RTDA’s Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the project, dated July 2024, cites an asset inventory and valuation of property which estimated 664 people could be affected by the project implementation (they are referred to as Project Affected people – PAPs), of which 109 will be physically displaced and 555 economically affected. Of those economically affected, 298 PAPs own the property while 257 PAPs are tenants. Land that will be acquired in total is 63,527 square meters, while structures likely to be affected are 77 main houses, 15 annexes, 29 fences, 33 parkings. Majority of those structures are at Nyabugogo and Kibagabaga junctions, it indicated. The estimated total cost of full replacement compensation of all property likely to be affected, including a 5 per cent disturbance allowance as per 2015 expropriation law, amounts to more than Rwf24 billion (over $18 billion equivalent), while a livelihood restoration budget is over Rwf950 million (over $700,000), it showed. The latter covers transition costs for businesses that shall be disrupted by paying a six-month rent for the businesses economically displaced, and upgrading of modern selling points at Nyabugogo, Kibagabaga and Sonatubes.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emmanuel Ntirenganya" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }
British-Canadian computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton and co-laureate John Hopfield are set to receive the Nobel Prize for physics on Tuesday in Stockholm. The pair landed the accolade because they used physics to develop artificial neural networks, which help computers learn without having to program them. These networks form the foundation of machine learning, a computer science that relies on data and algorithms to help artificial intelligence mimic the human brain. Hinton and Hopfield's path to the Nobel began when Hopfield, who is now a professor emeritus at Princeton University, invented a network in 1982 that could store and reconstruct images in data. The Hopfield network uses associate memory, which humans use to remember what something looks like when it's not in front of them or to conjure up a word they know but seldom use. The network can mirror this process because it stores patterns and has a method for recreating them. When the network is given an incomplete or slightly distorted pattern, the method then searches for the stored pattern that is most similar to recreate data. This means if a computer was shown, for example, a photo of dog where only part of the animal was visible, it could use the network to piece together the missing part of the image and recognize it was depicting a dog. Hinton, who was working at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 1985, used the Hopfield network as the foundation for a new network he called the Boltzmann machine. Its name came from the nineteenth-century physicist Ludwig Boltzmann. The Boltzmann machine learns from examples, rather than instructions, and when trained, can recognize familiar characteristics in information, even if it has not seen that data before. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which gives out the Nobel, likens this to how humans may be able to identify someone as a relative of one of their friends, even if they've never met this person before, because of they share similar traits. The Boltzmann machine works in a similar way, classifying images or creating new examples based on the patterns it was trained on. This kind of technology can help suggest films or television shows based on a user's preferences and past viewing history The Hopfield network and Boltzmann machine are considered to have laid the groundwork for modern AI. Hinton, a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, went on to win the A.M. Turing Award, known as the Nobel Prize of computing, with fellow Canadian Yoshua Bengio and American Yan LeCun in 2018. He is often called the godfather of AI. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press
Drama surrounds final three F1 races of season
Anas Sarwar has been named The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year in recognition of his work securing Scottish Labour’s stunning result at the General Election . The party returned 37 MPs, a huge jump on the one won in 2019. It is the second time Mr Sarwar has won the prize, after first taking the gong home in 2022. It was a unanimous choice for the independent judging panel, who praised the MSP for keeping his party disciplined and focused on winning. It is now the third year in a row Labour has won the main prize at the Scottish Politician Of The Year Awards in association with Scottish Power. READ MORE Scottish Politician Of The Year - winners revealed Bernard Ponsonby: The Herald's Politician of the Year is about real people Scottish Politician of the Year: Who has won in previous years? Mr Sarwar - who saw off competition from John Swinney and Kate Forbes - said: “It is truly an honour to have been named the Herald Scottish Politician of the Year for 2024. Whilst I may have received this award, the reality is that it is a team effort and I’m really lucky to have so many talents alongside me. “This year has been one of seismic change in our politics with the election of a UK Labour government, with Scotland at its heart, seeing us also win the election here in Scotland and return 37 Scottish Labour MPs. “Politics is first and foremost about service. “As we look ahead to the election in 2026, I am committed to working tirelessly with all who recognise the need for a new direction to deliver the public services, economy and standard of living Scots deserve.” (Image: Gordon Terris/NQ) Labour’s Ian Murray won in the Best Scot at Westminster category, with judges recognising his role in the party’s election victory and in making sure the party leadership took Scotland seriously. Also short-listed were SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain. Both were nominated for the second year in a row. There was much debate on the judging panel over who should win Committee MSP of the Year Award. In the end, it went to Jackson Carlaw and the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee for their damning inquiry on the A9. They saw off stiff competition from the SNP’s Kenny Gibson, convener of Holyrood’s Finance and Public Administration Committee, and his party colleague Audrey Nicoll, the chair of the Criminal Justice Committee. Former first minister Humza Yousaf picked up the SNP’s first gong of the night, winning the Donald Dewar Debater of the Year Award supported by Aiir Networks. Judges thought his intervention on Gaza at the end of 2023 was one of the standout speeches of the parliamentary year. The Glasgow Pollok MSP could not make the ceremony but took to social media to thank The Herald. Thank you @heraldscotland Sorry I couldn't be there in person to collect it, I have my hands full tonight...! https://t.co/jfsGKiCHIs pic.twitter.com/bIdSsrNtHn — Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) November 21, 2024 Labour MP Kirsty McNeil won the One-to-Watch award in association with Scottish Power. Judges were impressed at the new Midlothian MP’s rapid ascent. She went from making her maiden speech to speaking from the despatch box for the first time as a Scotland Office minister within a matter of hours. There was little disagreement in the judging panel over who the Community MSP of the Year should be, with the Scottish Greens’ Ross Greer winning for his work opposing the Flamingo Land development on the shores of Loch Lomond. The Politics in Business award - supported by Big Partnership - was won by Kate Forbes. The judges were told that she had completely reset the Scottish Government’s relationship with industry. There was a feeling from businesses that the Deputy First Minister understood their importance in growing the economy. The Scottish Power Green Champion Award went to former Scottish Government minister Lorna Slater, who was praised for sticking to her principles and giving her ex-colleagues in St Andrew’s House a hard time over the environment. The Campaigner of the Year went to Linda, Stuart and Scott Allan for their work on prison reform and their campaign to get all children in Polmont Young Offenders Institute transferred to care. It was a tough choice for the judges. The Fornethy Survivors, a group of women who were victims of physical, mental and sexual abuse while attending Fornethy Residential School in Glasgow, were also on the shortlist. So too were the campaigners who saw Emma Caldwell’s killer brought to justice. Fiona Hennebry won the Local Politician Of The Year award. Judges were impressed by the Labour councillor’s charity work. She runs a community pantry and drop in cafe and group called Bags Full Of Love which provides backpacks for vulnerable young people filled with essential items. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Baroness Annabel Goldie. The former Scottish Tory leader played a central part in making Holyrood what it is, leaving in 2015 after 16 years, to dedicate herself to the House of Lords, where she has served in the government of four prime ministers. In her speech, she joked that a lifetime achievement award was for people "on their way to the crematorium." Baroness Goldie told the audience: "When I entered the Scottish Parliament in 1999 I had an overwhelming sense of privilege and obligation. The public had put me there, the taxpayer was keeping me there, and the deal was that I had to serve but I think that's something else in politics we always need to remember. "And I have to say that we've seen tonight some marvellous examples of really stellar political service in many of the undoubtedly discerning winners of awards this evening. "And I think I just want to say to to them and to the parties they represent, thank you. Thank you for being the real representation of what the public wants from its politicians. "And a plea, that if there's anyone in politics who's in it for self, to promote themselves in their own advancement, and most distastefully of all to, through some grotesque sense of entitlement, seek to grab every passing trimming and frill going past, then get them out. "Boot them out your party. They're no use to your party. They are are no use to the public, and there's certainly no use to the reputation of what should be an admired and respected vocation, and that is a privilege of political service. " (Image: Gordon Terris/NQ) Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower, said: “Congratulations to all the worthy winners. Every one of them – and their fellow nominees – has shown their commitment to Scotland and its people through their amazing work. "It’s been an honour to be part of this event again and I look forward to seeing and hearing more from them as we work together to deliver Scotland’s green energy transition.” Hamish Fraser, Director, said: "Congratulations to The Herald and the events team for delivering yet another exceptional Scottish Politician of the Year Awards — truly one of the highlights of the Scottish political calendar. "I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to the winner of the Donald Dewar Debater of the Year category, to the Politician of the Year, and to all the remarkable winners who were recognised last night. Their dedication and contributions to shaping Scotland’s future are truly inspiring."CARSON, Calif. (AP) — The LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls have been Major League Soccer mainstays since the league's inaugural season in 1996, signing glamorous players and regularly competing for championships through years of success and setbacks in a league that's perpetually improving and expanding. Yet just a year ago, both of these clubs appeared to be a very long way from the stage they'll share Saturday in the MLS Cup Final . The Galaxy were one of MLS’ worst teams after a season of internal turmoil and public fan dissent, while the Red Bulls were merely a steady mediocrity seeking yet another coach to chart a new direction. A year later, these MLS founders are meeting in the league's first Cup final between teams from North America's two biggest markets. “Two original clubs being able to put themselves in this situation, I think it’s great,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “To see two clubs that have been at it as long as this league has been around be here, I think it’s a special moment. Couldn’t be two more different and contrasting styles as well, which could make for an interesting game, and I would imagine a high-intensity game.” Everything changed in 2024 after a dismal decade for the Galaxy , who are favored to cap their transformation by winning their team's record sixth MLS championship with a roster that's dramatically different from its past few groups — albeit with one massive injury absence in the final. The transformation of the Red Bulls happened only in the postseason, when a team that hadn't won a playoff game since 2017 suddenly turned into world-beaters under rookie coach Sandro Schwarz. New York struggled through the final three months of league play with only two wins before posting road playoff victories over defending champ Columbus , archrival New York City FC and conference finalist Orlando to storm into the Cup final. “We know about the history (of our club), and we know tomorrow will define what that could mean,” Schwarz said Friday. “To feel the pressure for tomorrow, it’s necessary, because it’s a final, and without pressure it’s not possible to bring the best quality on the field.” The Red Bulls have never won an MLS Cup, only reaching the championship match once before. What's more, they've somehow never won a Cup in any tournament, although they’ve collected three Supporters’ Shields for MLS' best regular-season record. The Galaxy’s trophy case is large and loaded, and those five MLS Cups are on the top shelf. But not much of that team success happened in the past decade for the club that famously brought David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and many other international stars to Hollywood. In fact, this season has ended a grim era for the Galaxy, who haven't lost all year at their frequently renamed home stadium — which was the site of protests and boycotts just a year ago. The club's fans were tired of LA's steady underachievement and ineptitude in the front office run by team president Chris Klein, who was fired in May 2023. One year ago Thursday, the Galaxy hired Will Kuntz, a longtime Los Angeles FC executive who engineered his new club's roster transformation, most dramatically by landing new designated players Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil — two international talents that LAFC also had in its sights. “I give Will and the group up there a ton of credit,” Vanney said. “It’s one thing to have players you like, and it’s a whole other thing to get them here and get them to connect with your group.” Pec and Paintsil combined for 32 goals and 27 assists while boosting the incumbent talents of striker Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig, the gifted Barcelona product who runs the offense from the midfield. The Galaxy clicked in the postseason, scoring a jaw-dropping 16 goals in four matches. Puig has been the Galaxy's most important player all season, but he won't be in the MLS Cup Final after tearing a knee ligament late in last week's conference final victory over Seattle . The loss of Puig — who somehow kept playing on his injured knee, and even delivered the game-winning pass to Joveljic — makes the Galaxy even more difficult to anticipate. “He played a lot in the regular season, so it was not so easy to analyze all these games now without him,” Schwarz said. “But the main focus is to analyze what we need to do, because it’s not clear now how they’re playing without him.” The Galaxy could give some of Puig's responsibilities to Marco Reus, the longtime Dortmund standout who joined LA in August. Reus is nursing a hamstring injury, but Vanney expects him to play. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
Macquarie downgrades NIO on weak guide, demand concernsAuthorities arrested a suspect and charged him with murder in the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after a quick-thinking individual at a Pennsylvania McDonald's spotted a man who officers found with a gun, mask and writings linking him to the deadly shooting. The chance sighting at the fast food restaurant in Altoona led to a dramatic break in a challenging but fast-moving investigation that captivated the public in the five days since the shooting that shook the business world. Luigi Mangione , a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family, had a gun believed to be the one used in last Wednesday’s shooting of Brian Thompson , as well as writings suggesting anger with corporate America, police said. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors filed murder and other charges against Mangione, according to an online court docket. He remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where earlier in the evening he was charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Mangione was sitting in the rear of the McDonald's wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop computer, court documents said. A customer saw him and an employee called 911, said Kaz Daughtry, an NYPD deputy commissioner. Altoona Police Officer Tyler Frye said he and his partner recognized the suspect immediately when he pulled down his mask. “We just didn’t think twice about it. We knew that was our guy,” he said. When one of the officers asked if he’d been to New York recently, he “became quiet and started to shake," according to a criminal complaint based on their accounts of the arrest. In his backpack, police found a black, 3D-printed pistol and a 3D-printed black silencer, the complaint said. The pistol had a metal slide and plastic handle with a metal threaded barrel. He was taken into custody at about 9:15 a.m., police said. Mangione had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Two senior law enforcement officials say Mangione had the name "Mark Rosario" on his fake ID. Other fake IDs were found on Mangione Monday as well, investigators said. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco and a last known address in Honolulu. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione's family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved." Mangione was arraigned and ordered held without bail during a brief court hearing. Asked if he needed a public defender, he asked if he could “answer that at a future date.” He eventually will be extradited to New York to face charges in connection with Thompson’s death, Kenny said. Police found a three-page document with writings suggesting that Mangione had “ill will toward corporate America,” Kenny said. The handwritten document “speaks to both his motivation and mindset,” Tisch said. Altoona Deputy Chief of Police Derek Swope would not characterize the writings except to say they were voluminous. “They were very detailed, and everything we have is going to be turned over to NYPD,” he told The Associated Press. Mangione had a ghost gun , a type of weapon that can be assembled at home from parts without a serial number, making them difficult to trace, investigators said. He also had a passport and $10,000 in cash — $2,000 of it in foreign currency, the local prosecutor said. Mangione, who said Hawaii was his most recent address, disputed the amount. Monday's developments came as a private funeral was being held for Thompson , 50, less than a week after he was killed as he walked alone to a hotel where UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, was holding its annual investor conference, police said. UnitedHealth Group thanked law enforcement in a statement. “Our hope is that today’s apprehension brings some relief to Brian’s family, friends, colleagues and the many others affected by this unspeakable tragedy,” a company spokesperson said. The shooting shook U.S. businesses and the health insurance industry in particular, causing companies to rethink security plans and delete photos of executives from their websites. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching the executive from behind and opening fire, police said. Mangione attended an elite Baltimore prep school, graduating as valedictorian in 2016, according to the school’s website. He went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a school spokesperson said. One of his cousins is a Maryland state legislator and his family bought a country club north of Baltimore in the 1980s. On Monday, police blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to the suspect's parents. A swarm of reporters and photographers gathered outside. Mangione went from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh after the shooting, and likely “was in a variety of locations across the state,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said. “Based on everything we have seen, he was very careful with trying to stay low profile, avoid cameras — not all that successfully in some cases, but that was certainly the effort he was making,” Bivens said. In the days since the shooting, police turned to the public for help by releasing a collection of nine photos and video — including footage of the attack, as well as images of the suspect at a Starbucks beforehand. Photos taken in the lobby of a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side showed the suspect grinning after removing his mask, police said. On Monday, police credited news outlets for disseminating the images and the tipster for recognizing the suspect and calling authorities. Investigators earlier suggested the gunman may have been a disgruntled employee or client of the insurer. Ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics. The gunman concealed his identity with a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence, including a backpack he ditched in Central Park, a cellphone found in a pedestrian plaza and a water bottle and protein bar wrapper that police say he bought at Starbucks minutes before the attack. On Friday, police said the killer had left the city soon after the shooting. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, investigators say the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle and emerged from the park without his backpack. He made his way to a bus station that offers commuter service to New Jersey and routes to the East Coast, police said. He left the city by bus soon after the Wednesday morning shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal in Washington Heights about 45 minutes later, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. The suspected gunman may have taken a bus to get out of New York. It was not clear which bus the suspect got on, nor was it known how he got to Altoona. Investigators were looking into whether Mangione had recently gotten off a bus from Philadelphia, according to a senior official. For five days after the shooting -- by a man captured on surveillance cameras across Manhattan -- the killer remained on the loose. The nation's largest police department was after him, along with the FBI. Despite obtaining a clear image of his face among other evidence, authorities did not identify him until Monday, after getting the tip from the McDonald's employee. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi . The first shows him outside the vehicle, and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask. Those photos came after authorities recovered a gray bag possibly belonging to the suspect in Central Park. The bag was taken, unopened, for forensic processing before investigators were to review its contents. Sources later said the bag contained a jacket and Monopoly money, but no gun. DNA testing was ongoing. NYPD divers were back in the water inside the park Monday to continue their search for potential evidence related to the deadly shooting. They did not say whether anything new was found. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone.
Black Caps vs England live updates: Second test, day two, WellingtonThe claim: UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter identified as 'Samuel H. Ide' A Dec. 5 Instagram post ( direct link , archive link ) shows an image of a man in a black T-shirt and glasses holding a rifle in a wooded clearing. "Reports are emerging that the shooter in NYC has been identified as Samuel H. Ide, a self-proclaimed Hospital abolitionist," reads text on the image. "Samuel was reported as having over $700,000 in medical debt at the time of the assassination due to life-threatening side effects of TRT." The post is an apparent reference to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. It was liked more than 5,000 times in a day. More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page Our rating: False No credible news or police reports have identified the healthcare executive's shooter as "Samuel H. Ide." The photo in the post shows comedian Sam Hyde, who has been repeatedly and falsely linked to high-profile attacks for years. Social media users have wrongly linked comedian to shootings for years The New York City Police Department, which is investigating the Dec. 4 shooting of Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel, had not announced a suspect name or arrest as of the day the post was shared. Nor were there any other credible news or government reports by that day identifying the shooter as "Samuel H. Ide." Police released images Dec. 5 of an unidentified person "wanted for questioning" in connection with the homicide investigation. The search for the gunman entered its third day on Dec. 6, and a suspect name hadn't been released by late afternoon. The NYPD didn't immediately return a request for comment. The image in the Instagram post shows comedian Sam Hyde circa 2016 . Social media users have for years shared photos of Hyde in the aftermath of high-profile attacks , falsely identifying him as a suspect in such events as the Moscow concert hall attack in March and a Nashville elementary school shooting in 2023. He was also falsely identified as the " Ghost of Kyiv " in 2022, when rumors circulated online about an ace Ukrainian fighter pilot who shot down six Russian jets. Fact check : Photo shows comedian Sam Hyde, not suspect in Moscow concert hall attack In each case, altered versions of the comedian's name were used. Hyde was called "Sam Shevchenko" in the Moscow attack, "Samantha Hyde" in the Nashville shooting, and "Samuyil Hyde" in the Ukrainian fighter pilot rumor. This trend continued in the post here identifying "Samuel H. Ide." The Instagram post is a screenshot of an X post with the same claim. The X user who shared the post said it was "extremely fake" and a "common meme" when contacted by USA TODAY. The Instagram user who shared the post did not provide evidence to support the claim when contacted by USA TODAY. Our fact-check sources Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here . USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .
Key Takeaways OpenAI has added a new Sora video generator to ChatGPT that can create videos from text, animate images, and convert existing videos to new styles. OpenAI made Sora broadly available to the general public on Monday after a video announcement showing off what the AI could do. Related: Would You Pay $200 for ChatGPT? OpenAI's New Reasoning Model Has a Hefty Price Tag. Per OpenAI's demo video, Sora starts with a text prompt, an image, or a video, which it then uses to generate videos in resolutions from 480p up to 1080p. It currently produces anywhere from 5 seconds to 20 seconds of video. Sora can also generate different options for the same prompt. So if a user isn't sure what they want their AI video to look like, they can ask Sora to generate one, two, or four variations of the same prompt to get more options. OpenAI researchers demoed four variations of the prompt "A wide shot of woolly mammoths walking through a desert landscape" in a 480p resolution with 10 seconds of video. How Much Does Sora Cost? The cost of the service is included in the company's paid plans. ChatGPT Plus subscribers who pay $20 per month get up to 50 generations monthly. ChatGPT Pro subscribers, who pay $200 monthly, can generate an unlimited amount. Related: OpenAI's New Project Isn't 'Broadly' Available Yet — But It's Already Setting Off Alarm Bells What Was the Sora Controversy? OpenAI first previewed Sora in February . From the start, Sora was controversial and set off alarm bells because of its potential to create deepfakes or highly realistic videos of people. Sora product engineering lead Rohan Sahai acknowledged the challenge with content moderation in the announcement video. "We obviously have a big target on our back as OpenAI so we want to prevent illegal activity of Sora, but we also want to balance that with creative expression," Sahai said. "We know that's something that will be an ongoing challenge. We might not get it perfect on day one... Just give us that feedback, we'll be iterating." Though OpenAI teased the dreamscapes that Sora could create from text, a small group of artists were upset with the company for asking them to be unpaid testers for Sora. These artists leaked Sora last month for a few hours before OpenAI shut down the test version entirely. Related: Testers Leak OpenAI's New AI Video Generator, Claiming They Were Used as 'Unpaid Labor' How Sora Might Help Businesses Sora generates videos from text, images, and other videos, which could save businesses time and manpower when it comes to creating shareable content. Businesses can use Sora to refresh videos they already have on hand or create new ones. This can work for creating ads, generating content for social media, and even brainstorming internally. For example, a 20-second video clip created by Sora could kickstart a meeting or create the basis for a social media campaign. Related: Here's What Sora, OpenAI's Text-to-Video Creator, Can Do
JB Hunt CEO Shelley Simpson sells $1.1 million in stockBIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom (AFP) — Emiliano Martinez produced a wonder save and Aston Villa were controversially denied a last-gasp winner in a 0-0 Champions League draw with Juventus on Wednesday. Chances were at a premium in Birmingham but the home side had Argentina international Martinez to thank for keeping the scores level. Then, deep into stoppage time, Morgan Rogers looked to have given Unai Emery’s team another famous win when he slammed a loose ball home. But the goal was ruled out after it was deemed that Diego Carlos had fouled Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. Emery said he was “very happy” with the point despite the late ruling by the officials, describing the contact as “soft”. “The last action is clear, it is the interpretation of the referee,” the Spaniard told TNT Sports. “Only the interpretation. We know here in England, 80 per cent is not fault (foul) and maybe in Europe it is a fault.” Villa raced out of the blocks in Europe this season, winning their first three matches, but they have now gone seven games in all competitions without a victory. Emery made it clear before the match that a draw would not be a bad result against the Italian giants as he plots an exit from the revamped group stage. Juventus, playing without a recognised striker, enjoyed the bulk of possession in the early stages but showed little punch. The game opened up as the first half progressed. Teenager Kenan Yildiz drifted in from the left but dragged his shot wide of Martinez’s right-hand post in the 20th minute. The first shot on target for either side came when Ollie Watkins controlled a clever Boubacar Kamara pass in the 37th minute but Di Gregorio pushed the ball behind. Matty Cash lashed a shot towards goal from the resulting corner but it hit a Juventus player and the Italians broke with pace, Timothy Weah, playing up front, firing over from distance. Martinez then kept out a shot from the impressive Francisco Conceicao. But Villa came closest to breaking the deadlock in first-half stoppage time when Lucas Digne rattled the crossbar from a free-kick. Both teams showed more urgency early in the second half as the game picked up pace, with the home crowd trying to lift Villa. Two-time champions Juventus had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 65th minute when the ball fell to Conceicao at the back post from a corner. He got his effort on target but somehow Martinez made up ground to his right, diving low to keep the ball out, millimetres short of crossing the line. Five minutes later Villa were denied when Leon Bailey crossed for John McGinn, whose shot was kept out by the outstretched boot of Manuel Locatelli. The home side thought they had won the match in the final seconds but it was not to be. Villa, playing their first season in Europe’s top-tier competition since the 1982/83 season, are ninth in the Champions League table, with Thiago Motta’s Juventus down in 19th spot.Shlomo Nehama Steps Down as Chairman of the Board of Ellomay Capital Ltd.
BIC America Spotlights Acoustech Architectural In-Ceiling Speaker SeriesCHERRY HILL, N.J., Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Real Good Food Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGF) (“Real Good Foods” or the “Company”), a leading health and wellness frozen and refrigerated foods company, announced today that, on November 20, 2024, the Listing Qualifications Staff of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notified the Company that the Company’s failure to timely file its Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), for the period ended September 30, 2024, serves as an additional basis for the delisting of the Company’s securities from Nasdaq, per Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1). The Company previously presented its plan to file all delinquent periodic reports with the SEC, including the Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024, and requested an extension to do so at a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”). The Panel has not yet issued its decision following the hearing. Despite the efforts described above, there can be no assurance that the Company will ultimately regain compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing or that the Panel will grant the Company a further extension. About Real Good Food Company Real Good Foods (Nasdaq: RGF) is a leading health and wellness frozen and refrigerated foods company, providing a better way to enjoy your favorite foods. The Company’s mission is to provide “Real Food You Feel Good About Eating”, making delicious, nutritious foods that are low in sugar, low in carbohydrates and high in protein. The Real Good Foods family of products includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks – available in over 16,000 stores nationwide with additional direct-to-consumer options. To learn more, please visit our website at realgoodfoods.com or join us on social media @realgoodfoods – where we maintain some of the largest followings in the frozen food industry today. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements are subject to considerable risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements regarding the timing of the filing of Company’s late periodic reports and amendments to prior periodic reports, the Company’s plan to request a hearing to appeal its delisting determination by Nasdaq, and the Company’s plan to request various extension periods to regain compliance with the Listing Rule. The Company has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by using words such as “anticipate,” "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "should," "will," or "would," and similar expressions or the negative of these expressions. Forward-looking statements represent management's current expectations and predictions about trends affecting the Company’s business and industry and are based on information available as of the time such statements are made. Although the Company does not make forward-looking statements unless it believes it has a reasonable basis for doing so, it cannot guarantee their accuracy or completeness. Forward-looking statements involve numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause its actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements predicted, assumed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Some of the risks and uncertainties that may cause its actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including the risk of further delays in the filing of the Company’s late periodic reports and restated financial statements in amendments to prior periodic reports, the discovery of additional information regarding the error identified in the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements, the scope of the anticipated restatement of previously issued financial statements as a result of the error, the remediation by management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm of the identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, the Panel’s determination following the Company’s appeal of its delisting decision, the Panel’s decision whether or not to grant the Company various extension periods following the submission of a hearing request to regain compliance with the Listing Rule, the Company’s ability to regain compliance with the Listing Rule and other continued listing standards and other risk factors described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Company from time to time. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release. Investor Relations Contact The Real Good Food Company 3 Executive Campus, Suite 155 Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 ir@realgoodfoods.com
Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise prices, won't rule out revenge prosecutionsThis equity large and mid cap fund has generated 22.7% returns in last 5 years: Should you invest?
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