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Protesters Denounce Tate’s Ties to Israel During Turner Prize CeremonyTo the victors go the sports cars. When Islamist rebel forces in Syria marched into Damascus and stormed the palace of Bashar al-Assad on Sunday, they found a massive fleet of high-end cars, including Mercedes, Porches, Audis and Ferraris. Videos shared on social media show gleeful looters touring a massive garage in the presidential palace, chock full of high-end roadsters from the deposed dictator’s private stash. One eagle-eye commenter pointed to a coveted Mercedes-Benz with gullwing doors. SUVs, motorcycles, ATVs, and what appears to be an armored truck also awaited the rebels, who traipsed through the sprawling mansion taking selfies, firing guns into the air and making off with anything that wasn’t bolted down, videos shared on X show. The palace is a sprawling, blocky fortress of stone and marble perched on a hill on the outskirts of Damascus; the Guardian once described it as an “echoing monument to dictator decor.” Rebel soldiers found it abandoned after Assad absconded by plane to an unknown location, Reuters reported, putting an end to 24 years of brutal rule in which the dictator and his family lived like emperors while the people languished. Videos shared on X show men hauling away furniture and artwork while women in full hijab picked through the dishes and bed linens. One video shows what appears to be an armory stocked with scores of submachine guns. “I imagine he and those close to [Assad] ... thought: ‘we have enough ammo! We are invincible! Nothing can shake us!’ the poster, TOKO, quipped. In another video, looters discover a bunker network hidden deep under the main structure, the concrete floors littered with what appear to be empty cigar boxes and gun cases. “He who fears the people digs hundreds of feet underground,” the poster, Abdullah Almousa, wrote in Arabic. The palace wasn’t the only government building to be ransacked as soldiers peeled off their uniforms and abandoned their posts. One user posted a video of what he claims to show people carrying sacks of “money and valuables” from the central bank. “The smart people did not go to Assad’s palace for chandeliers, but to the bank for cash and gold!” he wrote.
Victoria Liu: Pioneering The Future Of Finance Through Extraordinary Insight And InnovationStock market today: Wall Street hits records despite tariff talk
Hilton’s Hampton Inn & Suites Cleveland-Beachwood Showcases Bold New Look After Major Renovation by Buffalo Lodging Associates(TNS) — The Spokane County Sheriff's Office is one of a number of agencies statewide and across the country turning to artificial intelligence and researchers to review to what Sheriff John Nowels referred 'as law enforcement's single largest data set: body camera footage. In the Evergreen State, much of that work is done at Washington State University's Complex Social Interactions Lab, which has reviewed more than 40,000 hours of footage for a number of law enforcement agencies since its inception in 2016. Lab Director David Makin said the trend is an effort to turn those large data sets into usable and actionable information. "It's an untapped data source that you're spending a considerable amount of money to collect and store, but unfortunately, without these tools or integrated practices, it just sits there," Makin said. "It's a data source that largely is untapped, when you could use it to improve outcomes." The lab partners with a number of law enforcement agencies across the state, and can tailor analysis to what an agency might want to learn from its trove of footage, Makin said. He added that any Washington agency could participate in the lab's studies free of charge. For example, an agency may ask the lab to explore possible discrimination within the agency's force, the effectiveness of an agency's de-escalation tactics or a review of how often resources are provided following a domestic violence call. The lab also partners with Axon, the largest provider of police cameras and footage storage in the country. The company's database of body camera footage sat at around 4 terabytes in 2016, as reported by ProPublica. As of August, that figure has grown to around 400 petabytes, according to a company letter to shareholders. That's the storage capacity equivalent to 3,125,000 iPhone 16s, if opting for the cheapest model. Makin said his field has grown exponentially over the years, due in part to a somewhat competitive landscape and the piggybacking successes of involved parties. Makin said there are two main camps on the analysis side: researchers like himself who are developing open-source technologies that can be shared widely, and private companies developing proprietary programs and techniques. The company the county has partnered with, Polis Solutions and its software TrustStat, is an example of the latter. Where TrustStat relies predominantly on artificial intelligence to carry the load, Makin's lab uses around 50 student researchers to assist in analysis. The students process the footage, take notes on the information they can gather, then enter it into machine learning algorithms to look for identifiable patterns or connections between what was observed and the eventual outcome of the police encounter. Makin said that the human element helps with cases where a person's judgment might be needed. "We need some element of subjective kind of assessment, and so that's what we need our students for, as well," Makin said. "They help us label data, but they also give us that vantage of, 'Well, how well do you think the officer did in this interaction?'" While implementing an analysis tool, or a program like the Sheriff's Office's, is one piece of the puzzle, Makin said incorporating the technology into an institution plays an equally large role. Integrating the tech into existing practices and daily operations is often where agencies fall short, he said. "Integrating it means I got to align policy and practice so that if the technology identifies a set of body-worn material videos that I should go look at for various reasons, do I have a policy that tells the person how they have to do it?" Makin said. "What has to happen next?" Makin said they evaluate the success of integrating technology on five main principles: it should lead to an improvement in efficiencies, effectiveness, resource allocation and the ability to deploy resources, while also having an accountability aspect. "You can have a successful integration if you can do all five of those," Makin said. "What's uncommon is actually going through it when you do your integration and checking, because you could actually implement a technology and actually it produces operational inefficiencies, introduces organizational ineffectiveness." "Then we're kind of back at square one, and most people end up scrapping the technology and saying it didn't work," Makin said. Nowels said he was not aware of the lab's ongoing work, and that the agency could have partnered with the lab free of charge. Makin takes the blame for that, saying the lab and researchers as a whole could do more to build awareness of their efforts. "We just don't do well to market ourselves," Makin said. "I'm a researcher and I'm not a salesperson." Makin said he looks forward to seeing the results of the Spokane County program, and he hopes the aforementioned board overseeing the project has a research plan on what they hope to learn, how those lessons will be implemented, and so on. "I think that's the missing part of all of this, right?" Makin said. "It's: 'We just got a grant to buy this technology.' Well, does it come with a plan to evaluate its effectiveness or its efficiency?" ©
Kansas School District Weighs Limiting Student Screen TimeMost Australians feel they are poorer now than they were three years ago, as a poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the Albanese government’s priorities. A new Redbridge poll found 52 per cent of those surveyed either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposition that the government has the right focus. 40 per cent of voters said Peter Dutton was ready for office, slightly more than the 39 per cent who said he was not. Asked on Seven’s Sunrise if the polling meant Australia was “in the mood for change”, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the government was focused on the cost of living, while the Coalition was blocking bills. Directing her comments to Liberal senator Jane Hume, Rishworth said: “You’ve voted against our housing bills. Blocked our cost of living measures. Fought against our energy price measures. Everything we’ve done, the Liberal Party have fought against it...” Hume repeatedly interjected Rishworth’s response, asking “Where have you been for 21⁄2 years?” “You spent a year concentrating on the Voice referendum,” she quipped. Meanwhile, on Nine’s Today , Nationals senator Matt Canavan also responded to the poll, saying Australians were poorer because “we’ve adopted a lot of stupid policies that deny Australians the use of their own energy resources that load our country with way too much red tape”. Last month, the Resolve Political Monitor found Australians hold Labor accountable for the financial pain of rising prices and the cost of housing. Thirty-six per cent believe the federal government is responsible for their rising living costs – far greater than the 13 per cent who blame global factors outside Australia’s control. President Joe Biden on Tuesday called Israel and Hezbollah’s ceasefire agreement “good news” and expressed hope the pause in more than 13 months of fighting will be the catalyst to also end the war in Gaza. Biden made his comments in a Rose Garden speech. He stressed that Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah broke the terms of the truce. US President Joe Biden administration has been trying to calm relations with Beijing. Credit: AP Biden added that the deal between Israel and Hezbollah “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities”. The president’s comments come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, clearing the way for the truce to take effect. Netanyahu’s office said the plan was approved by a 10-1 margin. The late-night vote came shortly before President Joe Biden was expected to announce details of the deal in Washington. Earlier, Netanyahu defended the ceasefire, saying Israel has inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah and could now focus its efforts on Hamas militants in Gaza and his top security concern, Iran. Netanyahu vowed to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the expected deal. Read more about the ceasefire deal in the full story here. Most Australians feel they are poorer now than they were three years ago, as a poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the Albanese government’s priorities. A new Redbridge poll found 52 per cent of those surveyed either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposition that the government has the right focus. 40 per cent of voters said Peter Dutton was ready for office, slightly more than the 39 per cent who said he was not. Asked on Seven’s Sunrise if the polling meant Australia was “in the mood for change”, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the government was focused on the cost of living, while the Coalition was blocking bills. Directing her comments to Liberal senator Jane Hume, Rishworth said: “You’ve voted against our housing bills. Blocked our cost of living measures. Fought against our energy price measures. Everything we’ve done, the Liberal Party have fought against it...” Hume repeatedly interjected Rishworth’s response, asking “Where have you been for 21⁄2 years?” “You spent a year concentrating on the Voice referendum,” she quipped. Meanwhile, on Nine’s Today , Nationals senator Matt Canavan also responded to the poll, saying Australians were poorer because “we’ve adopted a lot of stupid policies that deny Australians the use of their own energy resources that load our country with way too much red tape”. Last month, the Resolve Political Monitor found Australians hold Labor accountable for the financial pain of rising prices and the cost of housing. Thirty-six per cent believe the federal government is responsible for their rising living costs – far greater than the 13 per cent who blame global factors outside Australia’s control. It’s likely to be another cloudy day in Brisbane, with a medium chance of showers throughout the day. And the temperature is forecast to reach a maximum just short of 30 degrees. The weather bureau predicts a slight breeze throughout the day also, dropping off into the evening. Here’s the seven-day outlook: Stories making the rounds further afield this morning: The grieving families of two backpackers who died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning have returned to Australia with the bodies of their daughters after living every parents’ nightmare. The Australian economy has been destabilised by incoming US president Donald Trump’s declaration of a tariff war on three of America’s biggest trading partners. Natalie Harp watches Donald Trump. Credit: Doug Mills/The New York Times Trump has always demanded loyalty from his aides but few have answered the call quite like Natalie Harp . A 33-year-old former far-right cable TV host, Harp is nearly always at Trump’s side and has written him a series of devotional letters. Now she is poised to play an influential role in his White House. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he will recommend a proposal for a ceasefire with Hezbollah to his cabinet for approval, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. And from January 8, Australians will need an electronic travel authorisation to enter the UK. You can apply for yours now. Good morning, thanks for joining us for Brisbane Times’ live news blog. It’s Wednesday, November 27, and we’re expecting a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 29 degrees. In this morning’s local headlines: Did Brisbane’s buses get more crowded after 50¢ fares? What impact has working from home had on public transport? We have the latest figures from Translink . Queensland’s new LNP government will push a regular end-of-year budget update into early 2025 to give it time to “get our head around” Labor’s cost blowouts, says Treasurer David Janetzki. Queensland remains in the grip of a whooping cough outbreak , with staff at Brisbane public hospitals reporting up to 28 times the number of cases normally seen by this time of year. Thirty-four years ago, former umpire Ian Stewart was viciously assaulted . As he reflects on the damage caused by an angry player, a Queensland academic explains why decision-makers shouldn’t be surprised by “concussion crises”. And it took just a $30 investment and a tug on his heartstrings to convince former St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt that he belonged back at the Broncos , where his career began. Ben Hunt has agreed to a two-year Broncos deal worth about $550,000 annually – significantly less than what he was earning at St George Illawarra. Credit: Getty
11 Canadian tech entrepreneurs to watch in 2025A reevaluation of risk management and regulatory oversight is transforming the bank-FinTech partnership model. At the center of this shift is the April collapse of Synapse , a banking-as-a-service (BaaS) provider, and its subsequent ongoing fallout which has expanded to include four banks, including American Bank , AMG National Trust , Evolve Bank and Trust and Lineage Bank . At one point , Synapse’s platform served around 120 FinTech customers, had 2 million active users, $60 billion in annualized money movements and $3 billion in card-based spending. Synapse, as its name implies, served as the connective tissue linking FinTech companies with traditional banks, enabling non-bank entities to offer banking services, in part by keeping track of the money. Except, as stressed most recently in a Nov. 12 court filing , Synapse did not keep track of the money at all. “Although many end users still have not received the amount of deposits due to them based on the Synapse ledger, the estate does not have the funds to implement an independent reconciliation nor any remaining operations or employees to participate in these efforts,” stated Synapse bankruptcy trustee, Jelena McWilliams . Many users were unaware that their funds, though held in FDIC-insured banks, were not directly insured due to the intermediary role of companies like Synapse. The impact of the ledger failure has been ruinous for thousands of American FinTech customers, many of whom have lost sums that include life savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars and who have collectively borne the brunt of the tens of millions in unaccounted-for funds. Read more : Compliance Remains a Constant for Bank-FinTech Partnerships Implications for Bank-FinTech Partnerships Synapse’s failure highlighted fundamental weaknesses in the BaaS model. Operational fragility was a major issue, as discrepancies in account management and frozen funds pointed to inadequate record-keeping and transparency. This situation emphasizes the critical need for accurate and transparent record-keeping in bank-FinTech partnerships to ensure consumer funds’ safety and accessibility. “Sometimes making it simple and making it look simple doesn’t mean you did it right,” Ingo Payments CEO Drew Edwards told PYMNTS. “Later you’ll pay the price for improper simplicity.” One of the most visible examples of improper simplicity , Edwards said, can be seen with Synapse. “My sense is they tried oversimplification,” he said, “and potentially took millions of consumers’ money accounts, and put them into a single commingled omnibus account without proper real time or even daily reconciliation of very complicated money in and money outflows.” Regulatory oversight also came under scrutiny, revealing that existing frameworks were insufficient to address the complexities of bank-FinTech relationships. Additionally, consumer protection gaps became glaringly apparent, with many customers realizing too late that their deposits, while held in FDIC-insured banks, were not directly insured due to Synapse’s intermediary role. “It’s very clear in hindsight that Synapse was not executing on its duty to reconcile dollars,” Amias Gerety , a partner at QED Investors , told PYMNTS in an interview posted June 17. But while the Synapse bankruptcy revealed systemic flaws, it also provides an opportunity for banks and FinTechs to strengthen their collaboration frameworks. The lessons learned from this failure will likely shape the next wave of innovation, leading to partnerships that are more resilient, transparent and aligned with regulatory expectations. Read more : Making Sense of For Benefit Accounts (FBOs) and FinTech’s Future From FinTech Growing Pains to Mature Partnerships One of the biggest challenges for small and mid-sized financial institutions is overcoming legacy technology that limits their ability to offer the type of modern payment solutions and financial services experiences that digitally native end users have come to expect. According to data from PYMNTS Intelligence research, 65% of banks and credit unions have launched at least one FinTech partnership in the past three years, with 76% of banks seeing such collaborations as essential to meeting customer expectations. Alexander Knothe , head of client solution and partner management at Deutsche Bank , told PYMNTS that relationship between traditional financial institutions and FinTech companies has shifted from one of pure competition to what Knothe termed “coopetition” — a mixture of cooperation and competition. While FinTechs have expanded their role in providing payments solutions, banks are adapting to modernize their infrastructure and services. This competition has been heightened by a focus on counterparty risk , he added. By sharing risk management strategies and co-developing financial products, banks and FinTechs can work together to create solutions that integrate seamlessly across platforms. Investment in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence could help further streamline operations and enhance security, building partnerships that are both efficient and resilient. Ultimately, the future of bank-FinTech partnerships will be defined by the ability to balance agility with accountability. Banks and FinTech companies that can navigate these complexities will not only avoid the pitfalls of the past but also lay the groundwork for a new era of financial innovation — one that prioritizes consumer trust, regulatory compliance and operational excellence.
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump threatened the United States’s closest neighbours with big tariffs this week, in a move that has reminded many of the unpredictable tactics the president-elect deployed during his first tenure in the White House. Trump said Monday he would use an executive order to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico until the two countries stop drugs and migrants from illegally crossing the U.S. border. The announcement, made on Truth Social, brought swift responses from officials and industry in both countries who are bracing for chaos during Trump’s second tenure. He has long used the threat of import taxes to pressure other countries to do his bidding, saying this summer that “the most beautiful word in the dictionary is ‘tariff.'” It’s unlikely the move would violate the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, which was negotiated during the first Trump administration. Laura Dawson, an expert on Canada-U. S. relations and the executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, said the president can impose tariffs under his national security powers. This type of duty has a time limit and can only be made permanent through Congressional approval, but for Trump, national security powers are like a “get out of jail free card,” Dawson said. “This is exactly what happened in the last Trump administration,” Dawson said. “Everyone said, ‘Well, that is ridiculous. Canada is the U.S.’s best security partner. What do you mean our steel and aluminum imports are somehow a source of insecurity?'” But within the global trade system, she said, no country challenges another’s right to define their own national security imperatives. Trump’s first administration demonstrated how vulnerable Canada is to America’s whims when the former president scrapped the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. is Canada’s closest neighbour and largest trading partner. More than 77 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S. Negotiation of CUSMA, commonly dubbed “the new NAFTA,” was a key test for Ottawa following Trump’s first victory. The trilateral agreement is up for review in 2026 and experts suspect this week’s tariff announcement is a negotiating tactic. Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick for treasury secretary, said in a recent op-ed that tariffs are “a useful tool for achieving the president’s foreign policy objectives.” “Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defence, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing co-operation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.” During the initial CUSMA negotiations in 2018, Trump floated the idea of a 25 per cent tariff on the Canadian auto sector — something that would have been crippling for the industry on both sides of the border. It was never implemented. At the time, he did use his national security powers to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports, casting fear of an all-out trade war that would threaten the global economy. The day after announcing those levies, Trump posted on social media “trade wars are good, and easy to win.” Former U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer recounted in his book that the duties sent an “unmistakable signal that business as usual was over.” “The Trump administration was willing to ruffle diplomatic feathers to advance its trade agenda.” It led to a legendary clash between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump at the G7 in Quebec. Trudeau said Canada would impose retaliatory measures, saying the argument that tariffs on steel and aluminum were a matter of national security was “kind of insulting.” Trump took to social media, where, in a flurry of posts he called Trudeau “very dishonest and weak.” Canada and other countries brought their own duties against the U.S. in response. They targeted products for political, rather than economic, reasons. Canada hit yogurt with a 10 per cent duty. Most of the product impacted came from one plant in Wisconsin, the home state of then-Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. The European Union, Mexico and Canada all targeted U.S. whiskey products with tariffs, in a clear signal to then Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his home state of Kentucky’s bourbon industry. Ultimately, Canada and Mexico were able to negotiate exemptions. Carlo Dade, the director of trade and trade infrastructure at the Canada West Foundation, said Trump is returning to the White House with more experience and a plan. But he suspects Americans will not like the blow to their bank accounts. Trump’s new across-the-board tariff strategy would not only disrupt global supply chains, it would also cause a major shakeup to the American economy. It’s unclear if Trump will go through with them, or for how long, after campaigning on making life more affordable and increasing the energy market. “I think it will be short-term,” Dade said. “The U.S. can only inflict damage on itself for so long.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press
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A young mother in east Idaho got a huge surprise from a Secret Santa and his elves recently when they heard her family is struggling. Brooke, her husband Jacob, and their two young children, who live in Challis, had their lives turned upside down when Jacob began experiencing dizziness, weakness, and problems with depth perception a few months ago, East Idaho News reported on Thursday. He was admitted to EIRMC in July and later transferred to the University of Utah Hospital where doctors eventually diagnosed him with encephalitis. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, encephalitis is “inflammation of the active tissues of the brain caused by an infection or an autoimmune response. The inflammation causes the brain to swell, which can lead to headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, mental confusion and seizures,” the site reads . “Encephalitis strikes 10–15 people per 100,000 each year, with more than 250,000 patients diagnosed in the last decade alone in the U.S.,” it noted. Jacob has endured so many difficulties throughout his health journey, including being on a feeding tube and a ventilator, several infections, and being transferred to other hospitals. He is now in Boise and his family visits him a few days each week. It is hard because Brooke does not have a reliable car to get them there. However, Secret Santa told the outlet’s Nate Eaton to surprise her with the news that she can now go pick up a car that was chosen specifically for her. Eaton and his team made the surprise even more epic by arriving at her home in the East Idaho News chopper. Video footage shows the moment Secret Santa’s helpers touched down in Brooke’s front yard. “Oh, that’s really sweet,” she said while opening the first gift which appeared to be a check. When she opened the second box containing a toy car, the young mother at first did not realize what it meant. When Eaton told her Secret Santa bought her a car, Brooke was overwhelmed and began crying. Eaton then showed her a photo of the Toyota Rav4 that was waiting for her to pick up, noting that all fees for it were paid. “Thank you, I really appreciate it so much,” Brooke said through tears. Social media users were quick to share their thoughts on the sweet surprise, one person writing , “I’ve known brooke since high school and I for one can say she is truly one of the sweetest person ever! I’m so glad she finally got some sort of break!” “Thank you Secret Santa. She really needed this blessing. God, please give her husband’s doctors the wisdom to get him well and back home. Amen,” another user commented .[Robert J. Fouser] Moving toward a Post-Yoon future
