Up to 40% of bushfires in parts of Australia are deliberately lit. But we’re not doing enough to prevent themNewby has 18 as UNC Wilmington defeats Marshall 78-69Brighton frustrated in goalless draw with BrentfordReal World Economics: Bitcoin is in a bubble phase; the bubble will burst

The Yomiuri Shimbun 7:00 JST, December 8, 2024 This is the third installment in a series of interviews with members of the delegation of Nihon Hidankyo [Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations] who will attend the award ceremony for the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Dec. 10. Interview with Reiko Hara Nihon Hidankyo consultant Half a century has passed since I, a native of Kagawa Prefecture and not an A-bomb survivor, first became involved with A-bomb survivors. I began working as a caseworker at a hospital in Tokyo in 1967. I was 22 and ignorant. When I saw photos of their burns, I turned my eyes away before I knew it. “You can always escape, but a hibakusha cannot escape being a hibakusha,” a doctor told me. I decided to face the reality ever since. After meeting more than 1,000 A-bomb survivors, there are some I cannot forget. One woman told me emotionlessly that she would probably have been a happy ordinary person if she had not become a hibakusha. Another woman who was exposed to both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki A-bombs suffered seven miscarriages and stillbirths. Their faces still appear in my mind. I want to remember that the people whom I listened to were alive. In 2016, I became a consultant for Nihon Hidankyo, hoping to put my knowledge to use as much as possible. I consult with A-bomb survivors about their daily lives once a week by phone or in person at a Nihon Hidankyo office. Their questions are mainly about nursing care and pensions. Some people just want someone to listen to their concerns about how they will spend their final days. Listening to such concerns is also part of my job. Hibakusha had their lives shattered by the atomic bombings. Nevertheless, they have continually raised their voices, saying such things as “No more nuclear weapons” and “No more wars.” Reflecting on Nihon Hidankyo winning the Nobel Peace Prize, I felt that even though a lot of people died, their feelings are being kept alive. I would like to attend the award ceremony in Oslo carrying the thoughts of many A-bomb survivors. — Interviewed by Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer Kaho YamashitaNone

Co-founder and current CEO Scott Knoll to transition to Executive Chairman NEW YORK , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Guideline.ai , a leading provider of advertising data and planning technology, announced that Vincent Mifsud will become its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding the company's co-founder, Scott Knoll , who will now serve as Executive Chairman. Mifsud brings decades of experience building high-performing teams and impactful technology products. Most recently, Mr. Mifsud was the Global President of Enghouse Systems Limited, a leading global B2B enterprise software company with a suite of vertically focused software products. The company grew significantly during his time at Enghouse, expanding to approximately 1,800 employees and over $350 million in revenue. Prior to joining Enghouse, he was CEO of Scribble Technologies, a leading content marketing SaaS provider, and held executive roles with high-growth companies such as Genesis, Pivotal and Rand Technologies. Mifsud's track record improving customer outcomes through technology and process improvement, along with his experience serving marketers, makes him a perfect fit to join the Guideline team for the next step of its accelerated growth journey. " Scott Knoll's founding vision for Guideline is more relevant now than ever," said Vince Mifsud . "I look forward to working with him and the talented team at Guideline to build on an exciting foundation of the world's most comprehensive and accurate media investment data and the leading media planning application used by the majority of top global advertisers." Knoll founded Guideline in 2020 to improve the media investment ecosystem through new applications of data science. This thesis led to Guideline's acquisitions of Standard Media Index and SQAD in 2022, and Lumina in 2023. Following the acquisitions, Guideline has introduced exciting innovations into the marketplace, including new insights into programmatic media investment activity and a next-generation ad planning software platform. In his role as Executive Chairman, Knoll will continue to drive the Company's integrated product vision and support its customer relationships. "Vince brings a wealth of experience helping businesses achieve their potential and is deeply aligned with our company's vision, values, and growth strategy," said Knoll. "I look forward to working with Vince in support of our customers and partners as we continue to build innovative new products and solutions for the advertising ecosystem." About Guideline Guideline, a leading provider of advertising data and planning technology, has become the world's most trusted authority on media investment and intelligence. The company was formed through the acquisitions of Standard Media Index, SQAD, and Lumina. With its market-leading media planning platform, industry-best ad market data and unrivaled customer service, Guideline effectively meets the evolving needs of today's marketing, media and investment professionals. To learn more about Guideline, visit guideline.ai or follow us on LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guideline-announces-vincent-mifsud-as-ceo-302326355.html SOURCE GuidelineNoneUS teacher jailed in Russia is formally designated as wrongfully detainedTuesday's Transactions

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BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; and Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar, contributed to this report.A Cabinet minister will shadow doctors, nurses and police officers to learn how taxpayers' cash is being spent across Britain. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones will embark on a tour of nations and regions early next year to spend time on the frontline observing public sector workers. He will officially launch the first review of government spending in over a decade and a half on Tuesday. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror , he said he is “not just going to do this work from my office in the Treasury” but wants to get out “to listen to people, workers and businesses”. “I want to be with people where they live and work, hear their ideas and explain what I’m doing to make sure their money is being spent well,” he said. “I will make better decisions having listened and learned from the people who work in and use public services, and from the businesses which create wealth and jobs in our country.” He said he will not only be reviewing what money is spent on but also how public services can be modernised so money is spent more efficiently. “We will root out waste and make sure that every pound is spent well,” he said. Top Labour ministers across the government will next week be warned they must make their argument to the Treasury for public funds. Mr Jones said the review will lay the groundwork for achieving Keir Starmer ’s Plan For Change, which on Thursday set out tough targets for voters to judge the Government on. They include putting more money in people’s pockets, fixing the NHS , creating safer streets, making Britain a clean energy superpower and giving every child the best start in life. The spending review is due to be published in June. Be the first with news from Mirror Politics POLITICS WHATSAPP: Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here . We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . NEWSLETTER: Or sign up here to the Mirror's Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox. PODCAST: And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell , hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday. The Prime Minister said on Friday he had "no plans" for more tax hikes after October's Budget but would not rule it out entirely. He said: "What I can’t do is say to you there are no circumstances unforeseen in the future that would lead to any changes at all. Because if you just look at Covid and the Ukraine situation, everybody knows there are things that we can’t see now. “But I can tell you our intention was to do the tough stuff in that budget and not to keep coming back... It’s tough but fair, but at least we know now with certainty and we can plan.”

The 49ers' playoff hopes are still teetering even after get-right game against the BearsNone

Nuvo Group Enters into Agreement for Sale of Pregnancy Support BusinessSLUG: TWO STOCK BROKERS BOOKED Ahmedabad: A chartered accountant (CA) from Isanpur lodged a police complaint on Friday against two stockbrokers based in Gandhidham, Kutch, and Chandkheda here. The accused allegedly swindled him and five others out of Rs 56 lakh by promising exceptional returns on stock market investments. In his FIR, the 29-year-old complainant detailed that he encountered Kailash Bulchandani, who operates from a commercial complex in the Satellite area, at the latter's office in 2022. Bulchandani is a native of Adipur in Gandhidham, Kutch. He partners with Neel Mehta from Zundal in Chandkheda. A mutual friend introduced the complainant to the pair when he sought information about investment opportunities. According to the complainant, Bulchandani assured him of doubled returns on investments. After being persuaded by both Bulchandani and Mehta, the complainant proceeded with the investment. Bulchandani reportedly promised monthly returns of Rs 10,000 for every Rs 10 lakh invested in the stock market. They formalised the arrangement through an MoU (memorandum of understanding) guaranteeing regular payments. The complainant revealed that five of his friends also invested through the duo. By Aug 2022, the total invested amount reached Rs 56 lakh. However, the accused only disbursed Rs 10,000 for two months before ceasing all payments. Subsequently, the complainant and other investors approached Satellite police station recently to register a case of breach of trust, cheating, and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .Microsoft seized 240 domains belonging to ONNX, a phishing-as-a-service platform that enabled its customers to target companies and individuals since 2017. ONNX was the top adversary-in-the-middle (AitM) phishing service, according to Microsoft's "Digital Defense Report 2024," with a high volume of phishing messages during the first six months of this year. Millions of phishing emails targeted Microsoft 365 accounts each month, and Microsoft has apparently had enough. ONNX promoted and sold phishing kits on Telegram using a subscription service model, which ranged from $150 to $550 a month. "The fraudulent ONNX operation offered phishing kits designed to target a variety of companies across the technology sector, including Google, Dropbox, Rackspace, and Microsoft," Microsoft said in its statement. The attacks themselves are controlled through Telegram bots and come with built-in, two-factor authentication (2FA) bypass mechanisms . As of late, QR code phishing, also known as quishing, has also been enabled, targeting financial firms' employees. ONNX uses bulletproof hosting services that allow delays in phishing domain takedowns, as well as encrypted JavaScript code that decrypts itself, all of which allows them to be highly effective in carrying out attacks and evading detection. "While today's legal action will substantially hamper the fraudulent ONNX's operations, other providers will fill the void, and we expect threat actors will adapt their techniques in response," stated Steven Masada , assistant general counsel at Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit. "However, taking action sends a strong message to those who choose to replicate our services to harm users online: we will proactively pursue remedies to protect our services and our customers and are continuously improving our technical and legal strategies to have greater impact." A full list of the 240 domains that were seized is available online. Dark Reading is a leading cybersecurity media site.

In Syria, US Hopes to Avoid Replay of AfghanistanPeople ensnared by love scams often pugnaciously defend the scammer and isolate themselves even more, says the writer. “Old age is not a battle. Old age is a massacre” was that wry observation made by the protagonist in American writer Philip Roth’s novel Everyman, which chronicles the misdeeds, despair and losses that come with growing old. Among the indignities of ageing must surely include being targeted as an easy mark for a scam – a threat that’s heightened these days by technology making it difficult to tell online if someone is real. Older people are disproportionately targeted for scams because they are perceived to have more money, to be less savvy with technology, and more likely to have cognitive decline and deficits. Already a subscriber? Log in Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month $9.90 $9.90/month No contract ST app access on 1 mobile device Subscribe now All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowNone

Raw milk nearly killed her son. Now avian flu is bringing more attention to its risk