CEO killer suspect: golden boy who soured on US health system

SL’s economic downturn will end mid next year – CB GovernorCEO killer suspect: golden boy who soured on US health systemAdam Pemble, AP journalist whose compassionate lens brought stories to life, dies at 52

NoneLooking to rebound from lost opportunity

‘Loyal’ Beatrice & Eugenie’s concerns for dad Prince Andrew revealed as rota made to visit him at 30-bedroom Royal LodgeBy Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times (TNS) Every day millions of people share more intimate information with their accessories than they do with their spouse. Wearable technology — smartwatches, smart rings, fitness trackers and the like — monitors body-centric data such as your heart rate, steps taken and calories burned, and may record where you go along the way. Like Santa Claus, it knows when you are sleeping (and how well), it knows when you’re awake, it knows when you’ve been idle or exercising, and it keeps track of all of it. People are also sharing sensitive health information on health and wellness apps , including online mental health and counseling programs. Some women use period tracker apps to map out their monthly cycle. These devices and services have excited consumers hoping for better insight into their health and lifestyle choices. But the lack of oversight into how body-centric data are used and shared with third parties has prompted concerns from privacy experts, who warn that the data could be sold or lost through data breaches, then used to raise insurance premiums, discriminate surreptitiously against applicants for jobs or housing, and even perform surveillance. The use of wearable technology and medical apps surged in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, but research released by Mozilla on Wednesday indicates that current laws offer little protection for consumers who are often unaware just how much of their health data are being collected and shared by companies. “I’ve been studying the intersections of emerging technologies, data-driven technologies, AI and human rights and social justice for the past 15 years, and since the pandemic I’ve noticed the industry has become hyper-focused on our bodies,” said Mozilla Foundation technology fellow Júlia Keserű, who conducted the research. “That permeates into all kinds of areas of our lives and all kinds of domains within the tech industry.” The report “From Skin to Screen: Bodily Integrity in the Digital Age” recommends that existing data protection laws be clarified to encompass all forms of bodily data. It also calls for expanding national health privacy laws to cover health-related information collected from health apps and fitness trackers and making it easier for users to opt out of body-centric data collections. Researchers have been raising alarms about health data privacy for years. Data collected by companies are often sold to data brokers or groups that buy, sell and trade data from the internet to create detailed consumer profiles. Body-centric data can include information such as the fingerprints used to unlock phones, face scans from facial recognition technology, and data from fitness and fertility trackers, mental health apps and digital medical records. One of the key reasons health information has value to companies — even when the person’s name is not associated with it — is that advertisers can use the data to send targeted ads to groups of people based on certain details they share. The information contained in these consumer profiles is becoming so detailed, however, that when paired with other data sets that include location information, it could be possible to target specific individuals, Keserű said. Location data can “expose sophisticated insights about people’s health status, through their visits to places like hospitals or abortions clinics,” Mozilla’s report said, adding that “companies like Google have been reported to keep such data even after promising to delete it.” A 2023 report by Duke University revealed that data brokers were selling sensitive data on individuals’ mental health conditions on the open market. While many brokers deleted personal identifiers, some provided names and addresses of individuals seeking mental health assistance, according to the report. In two public surveys conducted as part of the research, Keserű said, participants were outraged and felt exploited in scenarios where their health data were sold for a profit without their knowledge. “We need a new approach to our digital interactions that recognizes the fundamental rights of individuals to safeguard their bodily data, an issue that speaks directly to human autonomy and dignity,” Keserű said. “As technology continues to advance, it is critical that our laws and practices evolve to meet the unique challenges of this era.” Consumers often take part in these technologies without fully understanding the implications. Last month, Elon Musk suggested on X that users submit X-rays, PET scans, MRIs and other medical images to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence chatbot, to seek diagnoses. The issue alarmed privacy experts, but many X users heeded Musk’s call and submitted health information to the chatbot. While X’s privacy policy says that the company will not sell user data to third parties, it does share some information with certain business partners. Gaps in existing laws have allowed the widespread sharing of biometric and other body-related data. Health information provided to hospitals, doctor’s offices and medical insurance companies is protected from disclosure under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act , known as HIPAA, which established federal standards protecting such information from release without the patient’s consent. But health data collected by many wearable devices and health and wellness apps don’t fall under HIPAA’s umbrella, said Suzanne Bernstein, counsel at Electronic Privacy Information Center. “In the U.S. because we don’t have a comprehensive federal privacy law ... it falls to the state level,” she said. But not every state has weighed in on the issue. Washington, Nevada and Connecticut all recently passed laws to provide safeguards for consumer health data. Washington, D.C., in July introduced legislation that aimed to require tech companies to adhere to strengthened privacy provisions regarding the collection, sharing, use or sale of consumer health data. In California, the California Privacy Rights Act regulates how businesses can use certain types of sensitive information, including biometric information, and requires them to offer consumers the ability to opt out of disclosure of sensitive personal information. “This information being sold or shared with data brokers and other entities hypercharge the online profiling that we’re so used to at this point, and the more sensitive the data, the more sophisticated the profiling can be,” Bernstein said. “A lot of the sharing or selling with third parties is outside the scope of what a consumer would reasonably expect.” Health information has become a prime target for hackers seeking to extort healthcare agencies and individuals after accessing sensitive patient data. Health-related cybersecurity breaches and ransom attacks increased more than 4,000% between 2009 and 2023, targeting the booming market of body-centric data, which is expected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, according to the report. “Nonconsensual data sharing is a big issue,” Keserű said. “Even if it’s biometric data or health data, a lot of the companies are just sharing that data without you knowing, and that is causing a lot of anxiety and questions.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Logan Paul appears to have agreed a fight with John Fury, the father of the former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, and also Tommy Fury , who beat Paul's brother Jake Paul in a boxing match, last year. The Paul brothers continue to soar when it comes to superstar appeal as, while Logan swashbuckles his way through the world of pro wrestling, Jake levels up his box office status in prizefighting. In his last bout, Jake defeated Mike Tyson in an eight-round fight at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. And, though, there were plenty of critics over the way in which the Tyson bout developed, the reality of a worldwide global audience in excess of 100 million people on Netflix bodes well for Paul's return to the ring. Perhaps the Paul brothers will even find a way to compete on the same fight card together again, and, if they were to do that, there is a ready-made opponent to challenge Logan. And Logan appears game, too. Tyson Fury's physique is compared to Oleksandr Usyk's just two weeks before massive rematch. Logan Paul & John Fury Agree Boxing Fight In an Instagram video, John Fury issued his call-out of Paul. "This is a message to Logan Paul," said 'Big' John. "You keep going on about Tommy Fury not wanting to fight your brother." "Here’s one for you, my friend. He does want to fight your brother, and I’ll tell you what else ... I will fight you on the undercard." Fury continued: "As soon as possible... ASAP. I’m sick of people saying, ‘I won’t do this and I won’t do that.’ I will show you how I’ll do. Tommy will fight your brother as early as end of February or end of January, and I’ll fight you on the undercard. You’re a lot younger than me, we know that. You’re a 15 stone man, but I won’t do as other fighters do ... I will let my punches go at you. I’m sick of the critics saying, ‘I won’t do this’ or ‘I won’t do that’, and ‘I’m a coward.’ "I will show you how much of a coward I am; I will fight you anywhere in the world except America on your brother and Tommy’s undercard. Get back to me if you’re interested." "I will fight you, Logan Paul, and I will throw punches at you." "I will let my hands go and I won’t s*** myself... I’ll let my f****** hands go. So, if you’re interested, let me know, and I’ll fight you on your brother and Tommy’s undercard wherever it may be in the world." Logan Paul & Jake Paul's pro records (as of 11/12/24) Logan Paul Jake Paul Fights 1 12 Wins 0 11 Losses 1 1 Logan issued the two-word response below to Fury's call-out. "Start training." Tommy Fury was originally supposed to fight Darren Till at a Misfits event but recently withdrew from the contest. It is unclear, as yet, whether Fury will slot into a fight with Jake Paul, which would arguably be a much bigger event, instead. Manny Pacquiao has named the three opponents who he'd want to fight next in boxing.Reniya Kelly scores 18 and No. 16 North Carolina women beat 14th-ranked Kentucky 72-53

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes rose to more records Wednesday after tech companies talked up how much of a boost they’re getting from the artificial-intelligence boom. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to add to what’s set to be one of its best years of the millennium. It’s the 56th time the index has hit an all-time high this year after climbing in 11 of the last 12 days . The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 308 points, or 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite added 1.3% to its own record. Salesforce helped pull the market higher after delivering stronger revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit fell just short. CEO Mark Benioff highlighted the company’s artificial-intelligence offering for customers, saying “the rise of autonomous AI agents is revolutionizing global labor, reshaping how industries operate and scale.” The stock price of the company, which helps businesses manage their customers, jumped 11%. Marvell Technology leaped even more after delivering better results than expected, up 23.2%. CEO Matt Murphy said the semiconductor supplier is seeing strong demand from AI and gave a forecast for profit in the upcoming quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. All the optimistic talk helped Nvidia , the company whose chips are powering much of the move into AI, rally 3.5%. It was the strongest force pushing upward on the S&P 500 by far. They helped offset an 8.9% drop for Foot Locker, which reported profit and revenue that fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Mary Dillon said the company is taking a more cautious view, and it cut its forecasts for sales and profit this year. Dillon pointed to how keen customers are for discounts and how soft demand has been outside of Thanksgiving week and other key selling periods. Retailers overall have offered mixed signals about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain. Their spending has been one of the main reasons the U.S. economy has avoided a recession that earlier seemed inevitable after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to crush inflation. But shoppers are now contending with still-high prices and a slowing job market . This week’s highlight for Wall Street will be Friday’s jobs report from the U.S. government, which will show how many people employers hired and fired last month. A narrower report released Wednesday morning suggested employers in the private sector increased their payrolls by less last month than economists expected. Hiring in manufacturing was the weakest since the spring, according to Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. The report strengthened traders’ expectations that the Fed will cut its main interest rate again when it meets in two weeks. The Fed began easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high in September, hoping to offer more support for the job market. The central bank had appeared set to continue cutting rates into next year, but the election of Donald Trump has scrambled Wall Street’s expectations somewhat. Trump’s preference for higher tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , which could alter the Fed’s plans . Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the central bank can afford to cut rates cautiously because inflation has slowed from its peak two years ago and the economy remains sturdy. A separate report on Wednesday said health care, finance and other businesses in the U.S. services sector are continuing to grow, but not by as much as before and not by as much as economists expected. One respondent from the construction industry told the survey from the Institute for Supply Management that the Fed’s rate cuts haven't pulled down mortgage rates as much as hoped. Plus, “the unknown effect of tariffs clouds the future.” In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.18% from 4.23% late Tuesday. On Wall Street, Campbell’s sank 6.2% for one of the S&P 500’s sharper losses despite increasing its dividend and reporting a stronger profit than analysts expected. Its revenue fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, and the National Football League’s Washington Commanders hired Campbell’s CEO Mark Clouse as its team president. Gains for airline stocks helped offset that drop after JetBlue Airways said it saw stronger bookings for travel in November and December following the presidential election. It also said it’s benefiting from lower fuel prices, as well as lower costs due to improved on-time performance. JetBlue jumped 8.3%, while Southwest Airlines climbed 3.5%. All told, the S&P 500 rose 36.61 points to 6,086.49. The Dow climbed 308.51 to 45,014.04, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 254.21 to 19,735.12. In stock markets abroad, South Korea’s Kospi sank 1.4% following a night full of drama in Seoul. President Yoon Suk Yeol was facing possible impeachment after he suddenly declared martial law on Tuesday night, prompting troops to surround the parliament. He revoked the martial law declaration six hours later. In the crypto market , bitcoin climbed near $99,000 after Trump said he would nominate Paul Atkins , a cryptocurrency advocate, to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!LONDON (AP) — Barely a month after quitting international rugby , former England prop Joe Marler has brought forward his retirement plans and will end his time in the sport completely this week. Marler's last match will be for Harlequins, his team since 2009, at home to Bristol in the English league on Friday. The 34-year-old Marler had indicated he would continue playing club rugby until the end of the season. He has made 285 appearances for Harlequins since arriving in 2009 and retires with two English league winners medals. “The time has come to finally jump off the rollercoaster and walk away from this beautifully brutal game,” he said Wednesday. The charismatic Marler announced on Nov. 3 that his 95-cap test career was over, days after he left England’s camp ahead of the November internationals because of personal reasons. He had baited New Zealand in the build-up to England's first autumn test match by criticizing the Haka, stating on social media that it is “ridiculous” and “needs binning." He later apologized for the comments. AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Not every year brings a new holiday classic, but this Friday, David Gordon Green slips one under the tree. Snapped up by Hulu following its premiere at TIFF, the film is Nutcrackers , a little dramedy Green shot out on a small-town Ohio farm late last year, with an interim agreement in hand. Ben Stiller stars as Mike, a workaholic who heads out to the Buckeye State to look after his recently orphaned nephews, developing a closer bond with the rowdy bunch than he had anticipated. Green’s way into the project was unconventional — engineering a film around the charismatic young sons of a close film school friend. After years steeping himself in horror, between an Exorcist film and a Halloween trilogy, the project marked a return to his humanist roots, as well as his first feature comedy in almost a decade. But while pivoting creatively, as he’s known to do, after repeat collaborations with Blumhouse , Green walked away thinking about that company’s financial savvy, and how their success in empire building might be applied to the genre of comedy. As the industry continues to rebuild following Covid and last year’s double strike, Green is optimistic about the future, seeing the potential for a “renaissance” for feature comedies, and film, in general. But it’s an outcome that will only come with some serious soul searching amongst filmmakers and execs — an interest in real innovation that would involve taking a close look at everything from star salaries to ticket prices and movie theater seating. Below, Green gives his take on the way forward, also dishing on his feelings regarding the first big streaming deal of his career, his work as director and EP of Amazon’s forthcoming series Kay Scarpetta , and more. DEADLINE: I’ll start with a softball question, David. What are your favorite holiday movies? DAVID GORDON GREEN : The one that immediately hops to mind is Elf . Right now, Elf and Christmas Story are the ones that I always have in rotation. Of course, I’m always trying to squeeze in a Die Hard or a Home Alone , but I think Elf is the one that the more I watch it, the more I find these funny details and textures that’s not necessarily the obvious. And when you start to personalize a movie and make it your own is when you know you’ve got a classic. DEADLINE: You had an unusual way into Nutcrackers . Has any other project of yours come together in such an out-of-the-box way? GREEN : I think the closest thing to this was my second film, All the Real Girls , which was college friends, very closely connected stories. Paul Schneider, the lead actor of that movie, was an editor at my film school, not a trained actor, so we built that narrative around him and some of our personal stories, and filmed in a place that was very personal to us. In fact, the mother of these boys [in Nutcrackers ] is an actress in that film. So, it’s self-indulgent to the degree that just makes me honored to be among the social and creative inner circle that I work within. And it’s the inspiration of people that help you to safely go to some pretty strange places. DEADLINE: Your stars, the Janson brothers — Homer, Ulysses, Atlas, and Arlo — are magnetic on screen. But what assured you that they could lead a movie? How did you harness the unique energies they bring to the table in service of a fictional narrative? GREEN : I’ve done a lot of work with untrained actors and non-actors. I’ve done a lot of street casting. So I have a lot of experience with the warning signs that you’re walking down a dark path, or the signals of confidence and comedy and craziness, charisma that say when we turn a camera on, we’re going to get gold. All four of these kids had those kind of inspirational signals, so I just knew that if we put a camera in the right place and created a safe environment, these kids were going to bring authenticity. And I’m not asking them to do Shakespeare; I’m not asking them to memorize long monologues. I’m saying, “We’re going to film it at your house, with your animals. This is your movie, so you be you.” When we were developing the project, I bought them a video camera and had them start to film each other and put on scenarios, and get comfortable with expressing themselves and playing into characters a little bit. Then, we brought an acting coach down from New York to workshop scenes with them, but always being very cautious of the fact that we don’t want to burden them with technique and logistics. As Emily [McDonnell], our acting coach, would say, we just want to bring who they are forward. So that’s kind of what we worked to do. We were very fortunate to partner with Ben Stiller on this, so that you have an actor that gets the game and enjoys that playground of uncertainty and improvisation and authenticity. DEADLINE: How did you initially connect with your writer, Leland Douglas? GREEN : My first meeting with Leland was, when I first got out of film school, I went to work at a market research group that used to do test screenings of movies in Los Angeles. I was the guy that would tape people’s names on the backs of seats, or rope off rows for the VIPs, or collect the comment cards, and Leland was my supervisor. [ Laughs ] So during the 11th screening of Edtv or whatever movie we were testing, he and I would sit in the lobby of the movie theater and talk about Robert Altman movies, or Michael Ritchie movies, or Stanley Kubrick movies. He’s the only guy that’s read every script for every movie I’ve made, and we just really bonded in our affinity mostly for ’70s films. So when it came time to write this movie, I was immediately triggered by movies like Bad News Bears , and some of the style of Robert Altman and Hal Ashby movies, and the balance of tones that they had from comedic to dramatic. So I called Leland and said, “Hey, I’ve got these kids. I’m out on this farm in Ohio. I need you to come out here and meet them so we can design the greatest ’80s movie that was never made.” So he came out, and then we just started talking about it. Is this a save-the-farm movie like Kidco ? Is it an orphans-looking-for-a-home movie like Six Pack ? What are our inspirations? What are the tropes we want to either invite or avoid? A big influence of ours was Overboard , which is a movie I just always loved — that Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell film — and then I think Bad News Bears and Bless the Beasts and Children were our role models for how to bring these kids forward, and capture who they are, in their rough-around-the-edges authenticity. DEADLINE: You’ve said one of the big appeals of this movie was the fact that you got to work totally off the grid, as far as Hollywood was concerned. What awareness was there of the project in the local Ohio community? I imagine there was a level of excitement, when you’re filming right out in the town square. GREEN : Yeah, it’s amazing. I do a lot of production in Los Angeles and New York, cities that are numb, if not annoyed every time a camera truck pulls up down the street. But here, it was so welcoming, so inviting. It was just a beautiful experience to take an art project like this and start showing a community that doesn’t get burdened with this, but gets to feel the beauty of it. Last weekend, I went back to Wilmington, Ohio and we showed the movie at the Murphy Theatre, where we filmed some of the sequences, and it was really fun being able to show people full circle. I’m not even sure some of them knew what we were making was a movie. I think they just thought we were doing some performance art in the street. So to be able to invite the whole town, the community that was so supportive of us in those days, to come and share in the experience of the final product was really special. DEADLINE: You’ve also said that it’s a joy for you to work within environments that feel alive, rather than on a soundstage. You certainly got your fair share of that energy on this one... GREEN : It’s funny you say that because right now, I’m outside of a sound stage. I’m on my final day of production on this pilot, and I was saying the exact same thing yesterday. It was our second day on a stage, and for the most part, we’ve been out in these real locations. And when we get to the stage, I just start falling asleep because I love the elements. I love being out in it and I love the uncertainty of it, where in here, we have control of the lighting grids, and the comfort of heat and air conditioning. We filmed Nutcrackers , it was 10 degrees on this farm — howling winds and animals everywhere. They’re not hitting a mark; you just have to let them be. And these kids that, again, they’re not trained to memorize long monologues or have emotional arcs in the traditional sense. But we let them be our guides, and let it just unfold. What I get so excited about is capturing the authenticity. DEADLINE: What will your response be if one of these kids ends up pursuing a show biz career? GREEN : “Be careful.” [ Laughs ] A lot of the kids I’ve worked with have gone on to do great things, so I’m actually really proud of them. Mostly, that comes with great parental support and guidance of influences, and it’s been really fun for me to see. I was actually texting yesterday with one of the actors from George Washington , my first film. He’s getting his master’s degree in social work right now. Or an actor like Tye Sheridan that I worked with when he was a kid, or Jamie Bell. You see them go on to do really amazing and ambitious things, so I’m always intrigued, and I don’t have any of the horror stories on my resume. But you always want them to have people looking out for them because it can be a really vulnerable time of discovering that ability or that interest — the access to emotions, the access to so much of the world is right there when you want it, and you hope you have the right navigators in the chaos. DEADLINE: While promoting Nutcrackers on the festival circuit, you expressed the hope that the film would secure a deal for theatrical distribution. It ultimately sold to Hulu for eight figures and should rack up plenty of views over the holidays. But are you ambivalent about your outcome? GREEN : That’s a great question, probably complicated. I haven’t fully processed it because this is the first film I’ve taken that step with, but all I can say is so far, they’ve said the right things. They’ve created the right marketing materials. I’ve really enjoyed the collaboration with Hulu, and I’m excited to see them get this film out in a way that I’m enthusiastic about. So we’ll see. There’s a bit of a romantic notion I have for the cinematic experience, and guess what? They gave it to me at the Murphy Theatre. So having those experiences and screenings I’ve had, in the Toronto Film Festival and others, I get my fix of sharing this movie with an audience. My parents saw it last night at an Alamo Drafthouse in Dallas, so that’s fun, that they got to bring their friends and see it with a crowd. We shot the movie on 35mm, so I want it to be seen and appreciated in all of its beauty, [but] more than anything, you want eyeballs and hearts to enjoy the film you made. DEADLINE: How do you view the future of comedy where filmmaking is concerned? What do you think has caused it to wane in the theatrical space, and do you think it can make a comeback? GREEN : In most of the topics that we could talk about in life, I believe in the pendulum swinging, and so we’re here, we’re there. There’s a couple things I would note on that. One is, I think comedy, like horror, doesn’t need big movie stars; it needs funny people. I don’t think it needs big action set pieces; it needs funny concepts and funny set pieces. So the backlash comes, in a lot of ways, from a cultural standpoint, but also comes in an economic standpoint of these very expensive movies that cost too much money and then they don’t make it back. That seems absurd for something like comedy. I can understand it for a big event or action movie, but for these types of things, I think it should be responsibly made. I think all films need to look at their economics a little bit more responsibly. There’s a couple other things that I think are really fascinating that I’ve been observing, because I go to movies all the time. One is, the chairs are too comfortable and removed from the rest of the audience. People don’t see the backs of heads when they’re bouncing with laughter or jumping in fear, so I think these big armchair theaters are doing a disservice to the crowd that’s actually there to entertain. On top of that, if a movie does come out, they’re putting it in like five or six auditoriums so that audience is spread really thin. Rather than back in the day, where we’d have a sold-out crowd with an anticipation of the popcorn in their hands as they’re going into a movie and trying to find the best seat. Now, it’s become so comfortable and easy to get your ticket and find your spacing and fall asleep in the movie: That doesn’t serve a comedy in its best capacity, in my opinion. On top of that, the ticket prices have gotten so expensive that you’re thinking, well, I can just sit down with my family or friends and watch something streaming. Maybe that works to the advantage of a movie like Nutcrackers , in some capacity. But it’s really frustrating when I see and hear about audiences saying, “Well, I’ll go see the big action movie in the theater because I need that sound system. But for a comedy, I can check in at home.” I just think we’re trying to serve the interest of an audience, and instead, we’re scaring them away. It’s the comfortable chairs that I have the biggest problem with. When I test screen movies, I like to go to the theaters that are not stadium seating, the ones that remain that aren’t the most comfortable seats. It keeps you awake. DEADLINE: As someone who has collaborated repeatedly with Blumhouse, you’ve talked about the potential for applying their economic model for horror to a genre like comedy. Do you think there’s the potential for a company as prolific as Blumhouse that can succeed with lower-budget feature, less star-driven comedies in a way we haven’t yet seen? GREEN : Absolutely. And who does it first, to light the fire to [bring about] all the copycats? We’ve seen it in horror, and we will see that. I’m not worried about that happening. It’s just like, as an entrepreneur, as an innovator, you want to get there first and create that entity and make that signature move for your company. You know, Danny [McBride] and Jody [Hill] and I have Rough House Pictures, where we’re making a lot of TV shows. We did Nutcrackers , and we’re cranking out some films, and we look at that as a real north star of, how can we curate the voices of great comic writers, great comic performers, and put them in a package that audiences want to buy a ticket to? I feel like we’re on the cusp of a renaissance that happened, I’ll say in the late ’60s in American filmmaking, where everything got so manufactured within the studio vernacular that it was a time for the Easy Riders and Raging Bulls to come and disrupt the institution. And that’s going to come through the content, through the exhibition, through the mindset of where money goes in your production. I think all that needs to be reevaluated, from the cost of a star salary, to the practical below-the-line expenses of a movie, to the ticket prices that we’re selling at the theater. So I think with the right entrepreneurial mindset, we can find a great disruptor that’s going to then lead us back to what ultimately my vision of a theatrical audience experience would be. DEADLINE: You’ve been really successful on the TV side with projects like It’s Florida, Man , Tires , and The Righteous Gemstones, which prove that viewers still have a big appetite for comedy. What will it take for you to get more titles like these into theaters? GREEN : What I think we need is that partnership in a distribution company. Because you don’t necessarily hit the ball out of the park with every swing, but I think if you could put together that slate and keep the business model and the monetization responsible, there’s a strong likelihood that it could be extremely profitable and then point toward that radical renaissance that I think we’re all looking for. [At Blumhouse], something that I got firsthand experience in is, keep the costs low, keep the salaries responsible, and if you win, you win on the backend. I think those types of incentives don’t necessarily appeal to everybody, but for the hungry and the confident, it’s a great way to bet on yourself. There’s no more beautiful thing than keeping the economic pressure off your shoulders so that you don’t have a lot of corporate influence on your artistic creation. And then when you win, you are alongside all the players saying, “We did this together.” DEADLINE: You’ve said in the past that there are still a lot of genres you want to tackle as a filmmaker. Is one in particular on your mind right now? GREEN : It depends on the day. Today, I woke up and started working on a comedic script that I’ve been working on. Last week, I put the polish on an action movie that I’ve been writing. I’m trying to put together a documentary. So it’s always a buffet, and then you look at both the reality of your resources and the cultural enthusiasm from a financial institution and say, I’ve got to make things real. My goal is to be in production as many days of the year as I can because that’s where I thrive, in those chaotic environments of uncertainty. It’s just kind of how I like to live and breathe, maximizing shooting days. So I have to pivot with the pendulum and balance what my personal priorities are among the spinning plates that I have. DEADLINE: As we speak, you’re about to wrap on the pilot for Kay Scarpetta , Prime Video’s adaptation of the bestselling book series, starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis. What’s been most gratifying about your work on the show? GREEN : For me, it’s just discovering a new ensemble of incredible actors. It’s a vast cast, covering multiple timelines, and it’s really complicated and ambitious in what we’re trying to do. But the fact that you go to work every day with people that can memorize six pages of dialogue flawlessly on the first take, that’s when you step back and really admire the craftsmanship of some of these iconic actors. In a lot of ways, it’s the perfect juxtaposition to Nutcrackers , where we have this incredible actor in Ben keeping the ship afloat with these non-actor kids, and it’s all about improvisation and letting loose. Here, I can design a very complicated shot, they hit their marks every time, every line is wonderful and insightful, and then we can give it little switches and nuances with subtleties of direction. So I bring a different toolkit to this type of project, but it’s equally as inspiring.

NoneSyrian President Assad toppled after lightning rebel advance

Giants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Red Bull brings wrong rear wing to Las Vegas in mistake that could stall Verstappen's title chances LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen is suddenly in jeopardy of being denied a fourth consecutive Formula 1 title Saturday night. Red Bull apparently brought the wrong rear wing to Las Vegas and GPS data showed its two cars to be significantly slower on the straights than both McLaren and Mercedes, which led both practice sessions. Red Bull says it doesn’t have a replacement rear wing in Las Vegas to fix the issue and little chance of getting two flown in from England ahead of the race. Caitlin Clark to join Cincinnati bid for 16th National Women's Soccer League team WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined Cincinnati’s bid for an expansion National Women’s Soccer League team. Major League Soccer franchise FC Cincinnati is heading the group vying to bring a women’s pro team to the city. The club issued a statement confirming Clark had joined the bid group. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has said the league plans to announce the league’s 16th team by the end of the year. The league's 15th team will begin play in 2026 in Boston. Aaron Judge won't be bothered if Juan Soto gets bigger contract from Yankees than his $360M deal NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge won’t be bothered if Juan Soto gets a bigger deal from the New York Yankees than the captain’s $360 million, nine-year contract. Speaking a day after he was a unanimous winner of his second MVP, Judge says “It ain’t my money” and adds "that’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most.” Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in his first season with the Yankees, then became a free agent at age 26. In a 'Final Four-type weekend,' two top-6 clashes put women's college basketball focus on West Coast LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two games featuring four powerhouse teams has put the focus in women's college basketball on the West Coast this weekend. JuJu Watkins and No. 3 Southern California host Hannah Hidalgo and No. 6 Notre Dame on Saturday. Top-ranked South Carolina visits Lauren Betts and fifth-ranked UCLA on Sunday. Both games are nationally televised and the arenas are expected to be packed. WNBA scouts will be on hand to check out some of the nation's top talent. Two teams will come away with their first losses of the season. USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb calls it “a Final Four-type weekend.” A documentary featuring Watkins will air on NBC ahead of USC's game, which leads into the Army-Notre Dame football game. Noodles and wine are the secret ingredients for a strange new twist in China's doping saga Blame it on the noodles. That's what one Chinese official suggested when anti-doping leaders were looking for answers for the doping scandal that cast a shadow over this year's Olympic swim meet. Earlier this year, reports that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned heart medication emerged. None were sanctioned because Chinese authorities determined the swimmers were contaminated by traces of the drug spread about a hotel kitchen. In a strange twist, the leader of China's anti-doping agency suggested this case could have been similar to one in which criminals were responsible for tainting noodles that were later eaten by another Chinese athlete who also tested positive for the drug. Athletes see climate change as threatening their sports and their health. Some are speaking up BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Pragnya Mohan has been a professional triathlete for nearly a decade, but summers in her native India are now so hot that she can’t train there anymore. And she worries about a day when heat around the world kills her sport entirely. She was among athletes who spoke at the United Nations climate summit in Azerbaijan about the threat global warming poses to them, to fans and to sport itself. They described how extreme weather is making training and competing difficult or impossible. With billions of fans worldwide, some athletes and leagues are trying to get more people to care, and act, on climate change.

A single algorithm can help robots make good decisions in real timeBrian Thompson’s shooting in New York City has puzzled authorities. The Minneapolis resident was gunned down in a calculated attack, leaving behind a trail of questions. Authorities are yet to name the suspect but have discovered some key pieces of evidence. Theories about the motive and circumstances of his death have emerged, offering a range of perspectives on the crime. It has been more than 24 hours since the shooting. X (formerly Twitter) user @IzzyUnleashed2 has come up with some interesting theories. They also reason why the theories do not seem believable enough. Theory 1: A Message KillAccording to one view, the murder was done to convey a message. There are concerns regarding why NYC was chosen for the murder when Thompson lived in Minneapolis and lacked reliable security. Minneapolis would have been a more straightforward option if the shooter's goal had been to kill him. Investigators discovered that live rounds with notes on them were left next to the victim, suggesting a symbolic intent, @IzzyUnleashed2 stated. Counterpoints to Theory 1Although they seemed to get along well, Thompson and his wife had been apart for years. They lived within a mile of one other in Minneapolis. Ongoing, severe investigations against Thompson, however, may have given his wife a reason. The likelihood that she wanted to take action before possible jail or asset confiscation has not been ruled out by authorities. Her comments on "lack of coverage" in an interview conducted soon after the murder, together with the messages on the live rounds, are being closely examined as potential diversionary tactics. Theory 2: An Amateur ShooterAccording to @IzzyUnleashed2, the gunman appears to be unskilled in professional assassination based on his behavior. Despite using a suppressor, operating under extreme pressure, and carrying out a prearranged evacuation, the person made a number of blunders. Items that were thrown out included a phone and a Starbucks cup. The gunman did not wear gloves and carried an unflattering light grey rucksack. Additionally, investigators observed that the rifle seemed to malfunction and required manual cycling, and that the bullets fired were target practice ammo (full metal jacket) rather than hollow points. Counterpoints to Theory 2New information raises the possibility that the shooter was more strategic than first thought. It's possible that the light gray bag was a purposeful ruse to deceive law officers and witnesses. Days before to the event, surveillance footage revealed that the person was wearing a black backpack, which is a more popular option for commuters in New York City. According to authorities, the gunman changed to a black bag and other apparel after leaving the gray backpack in Central Park. It's also possible that the weapon failure was deliberate. If manually cycled, a suppressed weapon might further minimize noise and perhaps evade NYC's ShotSpotter system's detection. According to reports, the firearm could have been a B&T VP9, which is renowned for its modular silencer construction. Theory 3: An Inside ConnectionInsider information is another possibility. The gunman had only around three minutes to take action as Thompson made his way from The Luxury Hotel to the Hilton entryway. The suspect was spotted on the phone just before shooting and had barely positioned themselves minutes before the incident. This implies a well-coordinated strategy and in-depth familiarity with Thompson's moves, @IzzyUnleashed2 said. On Thursday, a day after the shooting outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, the police had yet to make any arrests. However, a number of developments, including information about the hostel stay, a potential connection to a gun bought in Connecticut, and bullet casings bearing the words "deny" and "delay," indicated that investigators might be getting closer to identifying the shooter. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.Was Luigi Mangione Missing Before Brian Thompson Shooting? What We Know

Oregon cornerback Jahlil Florence, a top cover guy who's been missing from the lineup since a knee injury against Washington last year, hinted at a return in a social media post yesterday afternoon. On X, Florence, a 6-1, 190 four-star defensive back from Lincoln High School in San Diego, posted a picture of himself leaping in the air and celebrating after a first-half interception against the Dawgs, but the hint was an icon of two cartoon alarm clocks in the upper left-hand corner, no caption. The implication was that the junior pass breakup artist is nearly ready to take the field. Florence started 9 games for the Ducks last year and finished with 27 tackles, an interception and a sack, a physical corner with a tackling grade of 76 from PFF. His potential return is huge for the Ducks in that if he is full-go for the Big Ten Championship, he gives the secondary an additional proven cover guy matching up with Ohio State's deep lineup of receivers. The Buckeyes boast Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Emeka Egbuka in their starting trio along with Brandon Inniss and Gee Scott, a group that's combined for over 2300 yards and 25 touchdowns this year, with Smith and Egbuka leading the way with 9 TD catches each. © Abigail Dollins / USA TODAY NETWORK Florence's return gives the Ducks a better chance of getting everyone covered. He's also a physical tackler who has the ability to come up in run support and make a tackle in space against Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. If the doctors say he's ready to go along with Jordan Burch, Tez Johnson and Matthew Harper II, Oregon could be the most physically complete team entering the playoff, a timetable that defies the poor injury luck of their last championship run in 2014. That year they faced the Buckeyes without Devon Allen, Darren Carrington or Pharoah Brown. ⏰⏰.. pic.twitter.com/Ln0ynlDgb9Details Of Acting COAS, Oluyede’s Statement During Screening At House Of Reps

DEAR ERIC: Frequently the advice is to find or consult with a therapist. We live in a large city with an overwhelming number of options. Where do you start and how do you find the right person that will gel well with your needs and personality? – Searching DEAR SEARCHING: Great question! Start by thinking about your goals. While you don’t have to have a clear idea of what the end result looks like, thinking through your hopes for a therapeutic relationship will guide your search. Use a website like PsychologyToday.com to filter therapists in your area by any criteria that are important to you, like therapists who specialize in working with children, or therapists who have experience with clients on the autism spectrum. The wide range of filters can also help you think through other aspects of this relationship that might be important to you, such as race, religious affiliation (if any), and experience working with certain communities, like the LGBTQ population. Next, you may want to familiarize yourself with the different types of therapy offered. You don’t have to be an expert, of course, but it may be less daunting to google some of the terms with which you’re not familiar, like cognitive behavioral therapy or internal family systems. GoodTherapy.org has a wonderful primer on some of the different types. When you reach out to a therapist, they’ll schedule a 15-minute consultation, usually by phone. This is a good time to get a sense of how this relationship might work. Some questions to consider asking: What type of therapy do you practice, and can you give me an example of what that would look like in session? Do you work with an agenda in session, and do you recommend doing “homework” between sessions? How often do you recommend meeting and do you work online or in-person? Do you offer feedback and response in-session? There’s no right answer. This is more about finding a style and approach that works for you. If it feels promising and you schedule an intake, don’t be afraid to continue asking questions and give feedback where appropriate. Also, be open to the possibility that you may not find a match that works for you right away. Therapists understand that this is a process to which you are both contributing. It’s fine to say, “this aspect doesn’t feel right; can we talk about it?” As with any other relationship, professional or personal, it may take time to find your groove. Please don’t let any trial and error discourage you. It’s worth the time you put into it. (Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com .) ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Latest Advice Columns Dear Abby: I have a friend who will not let me finish a story, a comment or a response Dear Annie: I have a pretty weak social battery and the holidays leave me feeling drained and a little sad December 8 birthday horoscope and your daily astrology Asking Eric: Billionaire brother won’t help his struggling sister Dear Abby: Partner waits for proposal that may never comeWhat lies ahead as TikTok ban looms in USTop 10 Outstanding Cold Chain Logistics Companies in 2025A Woman Appeared on the English Stage for the First Time on This Day in 1660, Transforming the World of Theater Forever