PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ethan Gettman kicked what proved to be the game-winning field goal from 31-yards out midway through the fourth quarter and Brendan Bell added an insurance touchdown a minute later as Villanova pulled away from Delaware in the second half to post a 38-28 victory in the season finale on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats now have won 17 of their last 19 meetings with the Blue Hens, who played their final regular season game as an FCS-member. Delaware will join the FBS and join Conference USA for the 2025 season. Villanova (9-3, 6-2 Coastal Athletic Association) took a 21-0 lead five minutes into the second quarter after David Avit scored from a yard out, Brendan Bell returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown and Watkins fired a 36-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Miles. But Delaware (9-2, 6-2) scored three times in the final eight minutes of the half, with JoJo Bermudez scoring from 14-yards out and Marcus Yarns punching in from the 1, then catching a Nick Minicucci pass for a 65-yard touchdown with :32 left. Connor Watkins ran up the middle on a quarterback draw for a 38-yard touchdown to put the Wildcats in front, but Minicucci answered with a six-yard touchdown to Jo'Nathan Silver to send the game into the fourth quarter tied at 28-28. Gettman put the Wildcats in top for good with 8:41 left and Bell scored on a six-yard run with 7:39 remaining. Watkins was 13 of 30 passing for 203 yards with a touchdown and an interception and carried eight times for 79 yards. Minicucci was 18 of 33 for 195 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Yarns carried 20 times for 100 yards and caught three passes for 74 yards. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballSuchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.
Mortal Kombat 2 Producer & Game Creator Tease Fans with Cryptic Upate
A lawsuit by Wirecard investors claiming 750 million euros ($780 million) in compensation over the German payment company’s collapse in a 2020 fraud scandal had its first hearing on Friday. Some 8,500 investors are hoping to rake back some of the money they lost when it was revealed Wirecard had a two-billion-euro hole in its accounts. The class action lawsuit, which is being heard at Bavaria’s regional supreme court in Munich, is aimed at the company’s top management, its auditor EY and Wirecard’s insolvency administrator. The scale of the trial means it is exceptionally being held in the arrivals hall at the former Munich-Riem international airport. The large number of claimants could eventually swell even further, according to the court. Around 19,000 people have lodged claims for compensation not included in the original suit and could join the case, the court said. Central to the proceedings will be the question of whether positive audit reports from EY can be used as evidence. In its heyday, Wirecard was heralded as a success story for German technology and was admitted into the Frankfurt Stock Exchange’s blue-chip DAX index. The firm imploded in June 2020 after it was forced to admit that 1.9 billion euros in cash, meant to be sitting in trustee accounts in Asia, did not actually exist. Several senior figures from the company are separately facing criminal trial over the scandal, including ex-CEO Markus Braun. In September, a Munich court ordered three former board members, including Braun, to pay damages for “negligently” approving a loan to a business in Asia. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.Amazon is doubling its investment in Anthropic to $8 billion in a deepened collaboration on artificial intelligence, the companies said Friday. The e-commerce and technology behemoth will remain a minority investor in Anthropic, having pumped an initial $4 billion into the artificial intelligence developer late last year and becoming its primary cloud computing provider. "The response from AWS customers who are developing generative AI applications powered by Anthropic in Amazon Bedrock has been remarkable," said Matt Garman, chief of AWS cloud computing division. "We'll keep pushing the boundaries of what customers can achieve with generative AI technologies." Amazon is investing the additional $4 billion in Anthropic as part of an expanded alliance that includes working together on "Trainium" hardware to optimize machine learning, according to the companies. "We're looking forward to working with Amazon to train and power our most advanced AI models using AWS Trainium, and helping to unlock the full potential of their technology," said Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei. The announcement came just days after Britain's competition regulator cleared Google-parent Alphabet's investment in Anthropic, following a probe. The Competition and Markets Authority concluded that the big tech giant had not acquired "material influence" over Anthropic as a result of the deal, which was reported to have cost $2 billion. The British regulator is one of several global regulators concerned with reining in big tech companies and their partnerships with AI firms. In September, the CMA cleared Amazon's initial investment in Anthropic, saying it did not believe that "a relevant merger situation has been created." gc/mlmBrainrot, brat, extreme weather, midwest nice and weird round out the shortlist SAN MATEO, Calif. , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dictionary.com , the world's leading digital dictionary, today announced its 2024 Word of the Year: demure . Traditionally used to describe reserved or modest individuals, demure has taken on an expanded meaning this year to signify refined and sophisticated appearances or behaviors. "As remote work fades and in-person experiences become the norm again, the subtle art of personal presentation has taken on renewed importance," said Steve Johnson , Curriculum Design Manager of the Dictionary Media Group at IXL Learning . " Demure captures this cultural shift with a modern twist: a word that once carried traditional, often limiting connotations has been reimagined to celebrate understated elegance and suavity. Its evolving meaning gives people a way to express quiet confidence—embracing modesty and charm as intentional, empowering choices . " In making the annual selection, Dictionary.com 's lexicographers analyzed a wealth of data—including newsworthy headlines, search engine results and social media trends—to identify words that captured pivotal moments in 2024. The word demure dominated the cultural zeitgeist, with its usage in digital media surging a remarkable 1,200% between January and August. This meteoric rise is largely attributed to Jools Lebron, a content creator who popularized the phrase "very demure, very mindful" in a series of TikTok videos illustrating how to embody the term in professional, travel and social settings. The social media buzz surrounding demure sparked a similar spike in search interest. In the 11 months before Lebron's videos, there was no notable trend in Google searches for the term, but interest surged 14-fold by August 2024 . At its peak, searches for demure on Dictionary.com were 200 times greater than their previous rate. While the initial trend has cooled, the word remains five times more popular on Dictionary.com than it was before its breakout moment. Alongside demure, Dictionary.com 's lexicographers identified five additional words that shaped the cultural conversation in 2024, rounding out this year's shortlist. Read more about Dictionary.com 's 2024 Word of the Year at http://dictionary.com/e/word-of-the-year/ . About Dictionary.com Words define every aspect of our lives, from our ideas to our identities. Dictionary.com aspires to empower people to express themselves, make connections and find opportunities through the power and joy of language. With 96 million visitors each month, Dictionary.com is the premier destination to learn, discover and have fun with the limitless world of words and meanings. The brand helps you make sense of the ever-evolving English language so you can put your ideas into words—and your words into action. Press Contact Joslyn Chesson IXL Learning press@ixl.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dictionarycom-names-demure-as-the-2024-word-of-the-year-302315735.html SOURCE IXL Learning
These ten Mid-cap stocks were the best performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio? Nebius Group N.V. NBIS shares rocketed 67.21% after Citron Research highlighted the company's potential to become the next artificial intelligence sensation on Wall Street . SoundHound AI, Inc. SOUN stock jumped 61.22% after the company announced the deployment of its voice AI Smart Ordering system at all 130 Torchy's Tacos locations . Bitdeer Technologies Group BTDR stock escalated 47.23%. The company announced a Bitcoin BTC/USD production and operations update . Analysts raised the price forecast on the stock . Asana, Inc. ASAN rose 44.94% after the company reported better-than-expected financial results and several analysts boosted the price forecast on the stock. Janux Therapeutics, Inc. JANX stock upped 43.75% after the company announced updated interim clinical data for its JANX007 program in prostate cancer . Analysts raised the price forecast on the stock . NovoCure Limited NVCR stock rose 39.52% after the company announced its Phase 3 PANOVA-Trial met its primary endpoint and demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in its median overall survival rate . Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited KC stock was up 38.27%. Victorias Secret & Co. VSCO stock jumped 23.64% after the company reported better-than-expected third-quarter results . Analysts raised the price forecast on the stock . Zeta Global Holdings Corp. ZETA stock grew 22.91% last week after the company announced a 108% year-over-year usage increase for its marketing platform from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday . Five Below, Inc. FIVE gained 21.61% after the company reported better-than-expected third-quarter results and several analysts boosted the price forecast on the stock. Photo: Courtesy Victoria’s Secret © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Doug Wick And Lucy Fisher On Tackling ‘Gladiator ll’ And A Marriage Made For The Movies – Behind The Lens
Murray – who retired after the summer Olympics at the age of 37 after finally admitting defeat in his battle against his body – will join the Serbian’s team in the off-season and coach him through the opening grand slam of 2025. It will see the Scot surprisingly join forces with the man who was his biggest nemesis during his long career, especially in Australia where he lost to Djokovic in four finals. Murray, who beat Djokovic to win the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013, says he wants to help the 24-time grand slam champion achieve his goals. He never liked retirement anyway. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ga4UlV2kQW — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 23, 2024 “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open, he said. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.” Djokovic, a week younger than his new coach, added: “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach. “Looking forward to start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.” In posting a teaser about the appointment on social media, Djokovic said: “He never liked retirement anyway.” He then added: “We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of pushing each other to our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in in our sport. They called us gamechangers, risk takers, history makers. “I thought our story may be over. Turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard coach, Andy Murray.” Djokovic beat Murray in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals while also losing in the French Open final in 2016. It was his pursuit of toppling Djokovic at the top of the rankings in 2016 which was a precursor to his 2017 hip injury which derailed Murray’s career. Djokovic, who split with coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year, hopes that adding Murray to his team will help him get back to the top of the game as he went through a calendar year without winning a grand slam for the first time since 2017. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have developed a stranglehold at the top of the men’s game and Djokovic, who has seen Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal all retire in recent years, is still hoping to move clear of the record 24 grand slams he shares with Margaret Court.NoneToney double takes Al-Ahli into Asian Champions League knockout rounds
Banda's goal leads Pride over Spirit 1-0 for NWSL championship
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally, Russian media said Sunday, hours after a stunning rebel advance seized control of Damascus and ended his family’s 50 years of iron rule . Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire and waved the revolutionary flag in scenes that recalled the early days of the Arab Spring uprising, before a brutal crackdown and the rise of an insurgency plunged the country into a nearly 14-year civil war. The swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region. “Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," President Joe Biden said , crediting action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria’s backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He called the fall of Assad a “fundamental act of justice” but also a “moment of risk and uncertainty,” and said rebel groups are “saying the right things now” but the U.S. would assess their actions. Russia requested an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council to discuss Syria, according to Dmitry Polyansky, its deputy ambassador to the U.N., in a post on Telegram. The arrival of Assad and his family in Moscow was reported by Russian agencies Tass and RIA, citing an unidentified source at the Kremlin. A spokesman there didn't immediately respond to questions. RIA also said Syrian insurgents had guaranteed the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic posts in Syria. Earlier, Russia said Assad left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. The leader of Syria's biggest rebel faction, Abu Mohammed al-Golani , is poised to chart the country’s future. The former al-Qaida commander cut ties with the group years ago and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance. His Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the U.N. In his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, al-Golani visited the Umayyad Mosque and described Assad's fall as “a victory to the Islamic nation.” Calling himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and not his nom de guerre, he said Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country ravaged by war and split among armed factions. Turkey-backed opposition fighters are battling U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in the north, and the Islamic State group is still active in remote areas. Syrian state television broadcast a rebel statement saying Assad had been overthrown and all prisoners had been released. They urged people to preserve the institutions of “the free Syrian state,” and announced a curfew in Damascus from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m. An online video purported to show rebels freeing dozens of women at the notorious Saydnaya prison, where rights groups say thousands were tortured and killed . At least one small child was seen among them. “This happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of prison and know where is he,” said one relative, Bassam Masr. "I have been searching for him for two hours. He has been detained for 13 years.” Rebel commander Anas Salkhadi appeared on state TV and sought to reassure religious and ethnic minorities, saying: “Syria is for everyone, no exceptions. Syria is for Druze, Sunnis, Alawites, and all sects.” “We will not deal with people the way the Assad family did," he added. Celebrations in the capital Damascus residents prayed in mosques and celebrated in squares, calling, “God is great.” People chanted anti-Assad slogans and honked car horns. Teenage boys picked up weapons apparently discarded by security forces and fired into the air. Soldiers and police fled their posts and looters broke into the Defense Ministry. Families wandered the presidential palace, walking by damaged portraits of Assad. Other parts of the capital were empty and shops were closed. “It’s like a dream. I need someone to wake me up," said opposition fighter Abu Laith, adding the rebels were welcomed in Damascus with “love.” Rebels stood guard at the Justice Ministry, where Judge Khitam Haddad said he and colleagues were protecting documents. Outside, residents sought information about relatives who disappeared under Assad. The rebels “have felt the pain of the people,” said one woman, giving only her first name, Heba. She worried about possible revenge killings by the rebels, many of whom appeared to be underage. Syria’s historically pro-government newspaper al-Watan called it “a new page for Syria. We thank God for not shedding more blood.” It added that media workers should not be blamed for publishing past government statements ordered from above. A statement from the Alawite sect that formed the core of Assad's base called on young Syrians to be “calm, rational and prudent and not to be dragged into what tears apart the unity of our country.” The rebels mainly come from the Sunni Muslim majority in Syria, which also has sizable Druze, Christian and Kurdish communities. In Qamishli in the northeast, a Kurdish man slapped a statue of the late leader Hafez Assad with his shoe. Calls for an orderly transition The rebel advances since Nov. 27 were the largest in recent years, and saw the cities of Aleppo, Hama and Homs fall within days as the Syrian army melted away. The road to Damascus from the Lebanese border was littered with military uniforms and charred armored vehicles. Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, which provided crucial support to Assad, abandoned him as they reeled from other conflicts. The end of Assad’s rule was a major blow to Iran and its proxies, already weakened by conflict with Israel . Iran said Syrians should decide their future “without destructive, coercive, foreign intervention.” The Iranian Embassy in Damascus was ransacked after apparently having been abandoned. Hossein Akbari, Iran’s ambassador to Syria, said it was “effectively impossible” to help the Syrian government after it admitted the insurgents' military superiority. Speaking on Iranian state media from an undisclosed location, he said Syria's government decided Saturday night to hand over power peacefully. “When the army and the people could not resist, it was a good decision to let go to prevent bloodshed and destruction,” Akbari said, adding that some of his colleagues left Syria before sunrise. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking on state TV, said there were concerns about the “possibility of civil war, disintegration of Syria, total collapse and turning Syria into a shelter for terrorists.” Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali has said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and turn its functions over to a transitional government. A video on Syrian opposition media showed armed men escorting him from his office to a hotel. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” The Gulf nation of Qatar, a key regional mediator, hosted an emergency meeting of foreign ministers and top officials from eight countries with interests in Syria late Saturday, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Turkey. Majed al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, said they agreed on the need “to engage all parties on the ground," including the HTS, and that the main concern is “stability and safe transition.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned positions. Israel’s military later warned residents of five southern Syria communities to stay home for their safety, and didn’t respond to questions. Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the U.S., views it as occupied, and the Arab League on Sunday condemned what it called Israel’s efforts to take advantage of Assad’s downfall to occupy more territory. ___ Sewell reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue, Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samar Kassaballi, Omar Sanadiki and Ghaith Alsayed in Damascus; Jon Gambrell in Manama, Bahrain; Josef Federman in Doha, Qatar; and Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem, contributed. Abdulrahman Shaheen, Sarah El Deeb And Abby Sewell, The Associated PressTaoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris canvasses at a Christmas market at Rathfarnham Parish Hall, Dublin (Image: PA Wire/PA Images) There is “all to play for” in the Irish General Election, Taoiseach Simon Harris has said, despite polling numbers that suggest support for his Fine Gael party is on the slide. Backing for Fine Gael has slumped by six percentage points, according to the latest poll. Mr Harris’s party now trails both Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein , the Irish Times/Ipsos B&A survey indicates. Fianna Fail leads the way on 21% in the latest poll , up two points on the last survey by the paper two weeks ago. Sinn Fein is on 20%, up one, while Fine Gael is on 19%, down six points since the November 14th poll. Ireland goes to the polls on Friday. READ MORE: Simon Harris says ‘entirely possible’ there will be Irish unity in his lifetime READ MORE: Mary Lou McDonald tells students their best years will be in a united Ireland A Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll published at the weekend still had Fine Gael in the lead, on 22%, however it also recorded a sharp drop in support for the party, down four points on the paper’s last poll. The Sunday Independent poll had Sinn Fein on 20%, up two points, and Fianna Fail unchanged at 20%. Asked on Monday if he was on the back foot in the campaign, Mr Harris told RTE’s Today With Claire Byrne show: “I fully accept that this is a three-race tie. “There’s three parties all on roughly 20% across a number of published polls. It is all to play for. “Not one vote has been cast. And I’m humbly asking people to lend me and lend Fine Gael their number one vote, because we have a plan. We have the funding to deliver that plan.” Mr Harris said the crucial takeaway from the polls was the potential implication for forming a “stable” and “coherent” coalition government post-election. The last coalition saw Fine Gael and Fianna Fail form a historic coalition, with the Green Party serving as a junior partner. “We don’t need six months, seven months, eight months of navel gazing,” he said of the prospect of lengthy negotiations and wrangling to form a government. “We’ve got to be able to hit the ground running, whoever is going to be in government, and on these numbers if would be tricky for anybody.” Monday’s poll, which was carried out between Thursday and Saturday, comes after Mr Harris apologised over the weekend after criticism of his handling of an encounter with a disability care worker while canvassing in Kanturk in Co Cork on Friday. The Taoiseach was accused of dismissing concerns that Charlotte Fallon raised about Government support for the disability sector, during the exchanged filmed in a supermarket. Mr Harris rang Ms Fallon on Saturday and said he unreservedly apologised for the way he treated her. Read More Related Articles Dublin councillor resigns from party after criticism for supporting Conor McGregor Read More Related Articles The Irish people face a historic choice at election, says Mary Lou McDonald On Monday, Mr Harris said he “let himself down” during his much-criticised interaction with Ms Fallon, but was confident that voters would not judge him on what was captured on a 40-second video clip. “I let myself down,” he told RTE Radio One. “I’m deeply annoyed with myself, and there’s no-one more annoyed with me than me, and particularly on an issue that I feel incredibly passionate about. “I mean, I have been that 16-year-old teenager who’s watched my own mother cry with frustration at being a mother of a child with special educational needs (Mr Harris’s brother is autistic). “I know what it’s like. I know what it’s like to be in a family where you feel isolated, where you feel let down, where you fight for services. And, on that issue, of all issues, I am so passionate about it.” Mr Harris added: “I don’t think fair people and decent people, and that’s what people right across this country are, will judge me on 40 seconds on a Friday evening. “I think they’ll judge me on my record. They’ll judge me on what I’m going to do over the next five years, what I want to do, what Fine Gael wants to do, and the plans that we’ve put forward to, for once and for all, fix and rectify disability services. “That is my burning desire. It’s something that I’ve prioritised since becoming Taoiseach.” The clip from Kanturk is one of several incidents that have put Fine Gael under pressure during the election campaign, including comments made by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary about teachers, in the first few days. Mr O’Leary was criticised for saying at a Fine Gael candidate launch that he would not hire teachers to “get things done” , which drew laughs and cheers from the gathered party faithful. There has also been a furore over whether senator John McGahon should have been selected as a Fine Gael candidate for the Louth constituency. Mr McGahon was found not guilty of assaulting a man outside a Dundalk nightclub in a criminal case two years ago, but a High Court civil action earlier this year found him liable, and he was ordered to pay damages. On Monday, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said many votes remain to be won in the coming days. Asked about the latest opinion polls, he said he does not get “excited” about them. “When you say I’m not a polls man, that was probably the most accurate statement you’ve made in the sense that we’re still all around 20-odd percent, give or take,” Mr Martin told reporters in Dublin. “You can go up or down 2% so I’m not getting in any way excited about these polls. “We would have always felt that the three parties, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein, were in about the 20s. But the real poll is on (Friday). “There is a degree of volatility there. “There’s a lot of votes to be won yet, and there are a lot of issues on the doorstep.” He said the days before polls open will be “very challenging”. “I’ve experienced this before the last election and so on, when the last number of days can be crucial in terms of maintaining clarity on the message, and there’ll be attempts made all wrong to confuse the situation, but we’re very clear that we have a lot of work to do.” Mr Martin also said addressing issues in the disability sector was a priority for his party. On coalition permutations, he said a government comprising more than three parties would be very challenging to manage. “I think it would be very challenging,” he told RTE. “I’ve led with three parties, with the Green Party, Fine Gael and ourselves, and that was complex, challenging, but we did it. “And I’ve always said, by the way, from the outset of the campaign, that my sense was it would be a three-party coalition government of some form after this general election, it’s very competitive.” Responding to her party’s ratings in the latest opinion poll, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said she had met “zero per cent of people” with any confidence in Fine Gael or Fianna Fail’s ability to address Ireland’s acute housing shortages. Ms McDonald told the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk: “The great beauty of the campaign is that you get to be out and about everywhere, talk to people. “I have met zero per cent of people with any confidence in Fine Gael or Fianna Fail sorting the housing crisis. “I have met countless people who are chilled at the idea that Fianna Fail would say out loud they should have the housing ministry again. “I think people looked at that prospect and said there is no way on God’s green earth that we can tolerate or endure another five years of failure from Fianna Fail or Fine Gael.” With regard to the smaller parties, Monday’s poll has the Greens on 4%, up one; Labour on 4%, down one; Social Democrats on 6%, up two; People Before Profit on 3%, up one; and Aontu on 3%, no change. Independents (including the Independent Ireland party) are on 17%, down three percentage points. In terms of personal favourability, Mr Harris’s popularity is down from 50% to 46%, while Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is on 44%, down one point. Ms McDonald is unchanged on 31%. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow BelfastLive Facebook Twitter Comment More On BBC Radio 1 Green Party Labour Party Ryanair Sinn Fein Politics Republic of Ireland RTE
Conference title games a chance at a banner, bragging rights and, for some, a season-wrecking loss
As drink-spiking and date-rape drugs cases continue to stoke emotions, Victoria council is looking for answers The conversation re-entered the spotlight recently when the 2021 death of Victoria 18-year-old Samantha Sims-Somerville — who ingested a lethal dose of the well-known date-rape drug GHB — was re-classified a homicide by the Coroner's Service of B.C. Additionally, this month, a 16-year-old girl and her mom spoke with local media about her experience allegedly being drugged at a Vancouver Island party. Victoria police chief Del Manak spoke at council's Nov. 21 meeting about Somerville's death, which was initially ruled an accidental overdose. "This is an extremely tragic situation," he said. Manak explained that investigations like this can be tough, and some evidence, including second or third-hand evidence, can't always be admissible evidence to the court. He also mentioned that though the coroner's office deemed Somerville's death a homicide, there may not be enough evidence to prove anyone's culpability. "We aren't doubling down. This is an extremely serious case with just a horrific outcome and we're doing everything we can," Manak told the council. "I can't make up the evidence though, right? The evidence is the evidence and the courts will decide, not on a balance of probabilities, but on beyond a reasonable doubt if there's enough evidence that meets the charge-approval standard." Following the re-classification of Somerville's case, VicPD said it has since requested more information from the coroner about why. In the meantime, "out of an abundance of caution," it has forwarded the case to the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit, which looks after all suspicious deaths and homicide cases, for review. Council members put forward a motion to request an update from VicPD, the Greater Victoria School District, and the provincial government about any efforts being undertaken to raise awareness and prevent the use of date-rape drugs like GHB or Rohypnol. "What are we doing in Victoria about these crimes? What can city council do about these crimes? And likewise, what are high schools doing about these crimes? What are our not-for-profits, our social services agencies doing about these drugs? And what is VicPD doing?" asked councillor Matt Dell. Dell explained he recently talked to nightclub owners in the city, who said that they put up awareness posters, have safe drink spots where people can leave their drinks and offer free lids to cover the top of drinks, though other council members felt that it isn't enough. "I think we are doing our due diligence to let parents and victims know we're on their side and we want to do everything we can to educate the community and make sure that everything that could happen to prevent this is happening; that when there is a case, that charges are laid when they need to be laid that we're not just letting this slip through the system," Coun. Krista Loughton said. Stacey Forrester, a co-founder of Good Night Out, whose goal is to create safer spaces and prevent sexual violence in Vancouver and Victoria's nightlife, says suspected drink spiking is not a rare sight for their street-teams, which works in the cities' entertainment districts on Friday and Saturday nights. "A big part of our work is actually educating the public, not just on signs of drink spiking, but signs of predatory behaviour," Forrester explained in an interview in the summer. "We can only saturate women so much with 'cover your drink, don't leave it alone, don't [take] drinks from strangers.' Whereas, we need to educate bar staff and patrons, especially men, on signs that someone is being predatory." She explained red flags to watch for in bars and nightclubs include individuals targeting the most intoxicated person in the room, lingering around unattended drinks, buying drinks with a sense of entitlement or expectation, and trying to separate an intoxicated person from their friends. "Good Night Out has a three-hour training that includes all aspects of nightlife safety, including preventing drink spiking," Forrester said. "Talking about drink spiking is really important, but we also have to be aware that the most commonly used drug to render people incapacitated is alcohol. It just doesn't make the headlines." Coun. Stephen Hammond explained that he didn't support the motion because he felt it would be a waste of time for the province, the school district and VicPD to put a report together. He thought it would be better to encourage the parties to make sure people are being educated about the issue. "What I want is for the school district and for the police to be educating young men that they have no right over the bodies of young women, nor do they have the right to drug young women," Hammond said. "I would also prefer they spend the time educating young women about the harms, and that tragically, today, you can never leave a drink alone or out of your sight."
Andy Murray to coach long-time rival Novak Djokovic at Australian Open
Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Apple introduced the Pro Display XDR in 2019 with its $4999 price tag, no included stand, and an optional Pro Stand for $999. Since then, despite all of the advancements in display technology, Apple has left it untouched. While there isn’t a ton to go off of, there are a couple of smaller details that give us an idea on what Apple is working on. Apple Silicon chip Apple released the Studio Display in 2022, and it had one unique advantage over most displays: it was powered by an A13 Bionic. This allowed it to have cool features like Center Stage and spatial audio. Pro Display XDR , since it was released three years prior, does not include an Apple Silicon chipset. However, according to a Bloomberg report from 2022 , that is one thing Apple is planning for the next-generation model: Apple is working on multiple new external monitors as well, including an update to the Pro Display XDR that was launched alongside the Intel Mac Pro in 2019. It is possible, however, that the company’s next high-end display will ship after the Mac Pro, as the computer is further along in development than the monitor. Those new monitors — like the Studio Display launched with the Mac Studio — will include Apple silicon. That helps the screens rely less on resources from the attached computer. Presuming this two-year-old rumor holds up – which could make sense given the fact that Gurman mentioned that the display was behind in development, then we can likely expect some sort of Apple Silicon chipset in the Pro Display XDR 2. This could allow for the Pro Display XDR to have a built in camera and speakers, something it doesn’t currently. Quantom-dot display According to display analyst Ross Young , Apple will be adopting quantom-dot films in the next generation Pro Display XDR, similar to the new M4 MacBook Pro : Now that Apple has adopted [quantum dot] films in the MacBook Pro, it will be interesting to see if they replace KSF films and KSF phosphors in other Apple products. KSF films are found in previous MiniLED MacBook Pro’s and the Mac Pro Display XDR. We expect the next version of the Mac Pro Display to adopt it. It isn’t clear if this means Apple will adopt mini-LED in the next generation Pro Display XDR , which currently uses a higher end IPS panel with local-dimming zones. We also have no concrete information regarding refresh rate, though it would be nice if we got a 120Hz panel, especially since MacBooks have had that for over three years, and the Pro Display XDR costs over $5000. Other rumors Last year, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple will be releasing a 27-inch miniLED display in 2025. It’s unlikely that this is in reference to the Pro Display XDR, since it has a 32-inch display size, but it’s relevant to mention regardless, as Kuo refers to it as a “high end monitor.” According to Kuo, this display will be thinner, and also have narrower bezels. Additionally, we’ve reported on 9to5Mac that Apple is working on a display with a 7K resolution, which seems plausible for a future Pro Display XDR . Release date Display analyst Ross Young shared with 9to5Mac that he currently expects the Pro Display XDR 2 to launch in late 2025 or early 2026, though there isn’t yet anything concrete. Follow Michael: X/Twitter , Bluesky , InstagramStay warm and dry all winter long with these cold-weather running tips
Brainrot, brat, extreme weather, midwest nice and weird round out the shortlist SAN MATEO, Calif. , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dictionary.com , the world's leading digital dictionary, today announced its 2024 Word of the Year: demure . Traditionally used to describe reserved or modest individuals, demure has taken on an expanded meaning this year to signify refined and sophisticated appearances or behaviors. "As remote work fades and in-person experiences become the norm again, the subtle art of personal presentation has taken on renewed importance," said Steve Johnson , Curriculum Design Manager of the Dictionary Media Group at IXL Learning . " Demure captures this cultural shift with a modern twist: a word that once carried traditional, often limiting connotations has been reimagined to celebrate understated elegance and suavity. Its evolving meaning gives people a way to express quiet confidence—embracing modesty and charm as intentional, empowering choices . " In making the annual selection, Dictionary.com 's lexicographers analyzed a wealth of data—including newsworthy headlines, search engine results and social media trends—to identify words that captured pivotal moments in 2024. The word demure dominated the cultural zeitgeist, with its usage in digital media surging a remarkable 1,200% between January and August. This meteoric rise is largely attributed to Jools Lebron, a content creator who popularized the phrase "very demure, very mindful" in a series of TikTok videos illustrating how to embody the term in professional, travel and social settings. The social media buzz surrounding demure sparked a similar spike in search interest. In the 11 months before Lebron's videos, there was no notable trend in Google searches for the term, but interest surged 14-fold by August 2024 . At its peak, searches for demure on Dictionary.com were 200 times greater than their previous rate. While the initial trend has cooled, the word remains five times more popular on Dictionary.com than it was before its breakout moment. Alongside demure, Dictionary.com 's lexicographers identified five additional words that shaped the cultural conversation in 2024, rounding out this year's shortlist. Read more about Dictionary.com 's 2024 Word of the Year at http://dictionary.com/e/word-of-the-year/ . About Dictionary.com Words define every aspect of our lives, from our ideas to our identities. Dictionary.com aspires to empower people to express themselves, make connections and find opportunities through the power and joy of language. With 96 million visitors each month, Dictionary.com is the premier destination to learn, discover and have fun with the limitless world of words and meanings. The brand helps you make sense of the ever-evolving English language so you can put your ideas into words—and your words into action. Press Contact Joslyn Chesson IXL Learning press@ixl.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dictionarycom-names-demure-as-the-2024-word-of-the-year-302315735.html SOURCE IXL LearningPLQ leadership candidate Pablo Rodriguez gets new endorsementsPrime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada will “abide” by an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We stand up for international law, and we will abide by all the all the regulations and rulings of the international courts,” Trudeau said. “This is just who we are as Canadians.” On Thursday, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant for “crimes against humanity and crimes committed” since the Israel-Hamas war began more than a year ago. The ICC was created in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity in cases where its member states are unwilling or incapable of doing so. Canada is among its 124 member states. The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, although Israel has said he was killed in an air strike in Gaza in July. Both Israel and Hamas have rejected the allegations. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trudeau reiterated the federal government’s call for a ceasefire in the war. “We need to see a ceasefire that protects civilians. We need to get back on track towards a two-state solution with a peaceful Israel living alongside a peaceful Palestinian state,” Trudeau said. In Washington, D.C., Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly repeated the prime minister’s position. “We need accountability in our world, and so based on that, Canada will abide by its obligation under the ICC treaty,” Joly said. Netanyahu’s office is describing the arrest warrants as “an antisemitic decision.” Israel’s Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed, meanwhile, is speaking out against Canada’s stance to abide by the warrants. “We urge the Canadian government to stand firm in its support of Israel’s right to defend itself by rejecting and condemning the ICC’s decision,” Moed said in a statement. The United States, which is not an ICC member, is rejecting the ICC decision. "The United States fundamentally rejects the Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials. We remain deeply concerned by the Prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision," a White House National Security Council spokesperson said, adding the U.S. is discussing next steps with its partners. The ICC does not have its own police force to enforce the warrants. It will be up to the 124 member states to cooperate. With files from Reuters
