jeopardy game

By MATTHEW BROWN and JACK DURA BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Donald Trump assigned Doug Burgum a singular mission in nominating the governor of oil-rich North Dakota to lead an agency that oversees a half-billion acres of federal land and vast areas offshore: “Drill baby drill.” That dictate from the president-elect’s announcement of Burgum for Secretary of Interior sets the stage for a reignition of the court battles over public lands and waters that helped define Trump’s first term, with environmentalists worried about climate change already pledging their opposition. Burgum is an ultra-wealthy software industry entrepreneur who grew up on his family’s farm. He represents a tame choice compared to other Trump Cabinet picks. Public lands experts said his experience as a popular two-term governor who aligns himself with conservationist Teddy Roosevelt suggests a willingness to collaborate, as opposed to dismantling from within the agency he is tasked with leading. That could help smooth his confirmation and clear the way for the incoming administration to move quickly to open more public lands to development and commercial use. “Burgum strikes me as a credible nominee who could do a credible job as Interior secretary,” said John Leshy, who served as Interior’s solicitor under former President Bill Clinton. “He’s not a right-wing radical on public lands,” added Leshy, professor emeritus at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. The Interior Department manages about one-fifth of the country’s land with a mandate that spans from wildlife conservation and recreation to natural resource extraction and fulfilling treaty obligations with Native American tribes. Most of those lands are in the West, where frictions with private landowners and state officials are commonplace and have sometimes mushroomed into violent confrontations with right-wing groups that reject federal jurisdiction. Burgum if confirmed would be faced with a pending U.S. Supreme Court action from Utah that seeks to assert state power over Interior Department lands. North Dakota’s attorney general has supported the lawsuit, but Burgum’s office declined to say if he backs Utah’s claims. U.S. Justice Department attorneys on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reject Utah’s lawsuit. They said Utah in 1894 agreed to give up its right to the lands at issue when it became a state. Trump’s narrow focus on fossil fuels is a replay from his 2016 campaign — although minus coal mining, a collapsing industry that he failed to revive in his first term. Trump repeatedly hailed oil as “liquid gold” on the campaign trail this year and largely omitted any mention of coal. About 26% of U.S. oil comes from federal lands and offshore waters overseen by Interior. Production continues to hit record levels under President Joe Biden despite claims by Trump that the Democrat hindered drilling. But industry representatives and their Republican allies say volumes could be further boosted. They want Burgum and the Interior Department to ramp up oil and gas sales from federal lands, in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Alaska. The oil industry also hopes Trump’s government efficiency initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk can dramatically reduce environmental reviews. Biden’s administration reduced the frequency and size of lease sales, and it restored environmental rules that were weakened under Trump . The Democrat as a candidate in 2020 promised further restrictions on drilling to help combat global warming, but he struck a deal for the 2022 climate bill that requires offshore oil and gas sales to be held before renewable energy leases can be sold. “Oil and gas brings billions of dollars of revenue in, but you don’t get that if you don’t have leasing,” said Erik Milito with the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents offshore industries including oil and wind. Trump has vowed to kill offshore wind energy projects. But Milito said he was hopeful that with Burgum in place it would be “green lights ahead for everything, not just oil and gas.” It is unclear if Burgum would revive some of the most controversial steps taken at the agency during Trump’s first term, including relocating senior officials out of Washington, D.C., dismantling parts of the Endangered Species Act and shrinking the size of two national monuments in Utah designated by former President Barack Obama. Officials under Biden spent much of the past four years reversing Trump’s moves. They restored the Utah monuments and rescinded numerous Trump regulations. Onshore oil and gas lease sales plummeted — from more than a million acres sold annually under Trump and other previous administrations, to just 91,712 acres (37,115 hectares) sold last year — while many wind and solar projects advanced. Developing energy leases takes years, and oil companies control millions of acres that remain untapped. Biden’s administration also elevated the importance of conservation in public lands decisions, adopting a rule putting it more on par with oil and gas development. They proposed withdrawing parcels of land in six states from potential future mining to protect a struggling bird species, the greater sage grouse. North Dakota is among Republican states that challenged the Biden administration’s public lands rule. The states said in a June lawsuit that officials acting to prevent climate change have turned laws meant to facilitate development into policies that obstruct drilling, livestock grazing and other uses. Oil production boomed over the past two decades in North Dakota thanks in large part to better drilling techniques. Burgum has been an industry champion and last year signed a repeal of the state’s oil tax trigger — a price-based tax hike industry leaders supported removing. Burgum’s office declined an interview request. In a statement after his nomination, Burgum echoed Trump’s call for U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. The 68-year-old governor also said the Interior post offered an opportunity to improve government relations with developers, tribes, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts “with a focus on maximizing the responsible use of our natural resources with environmental stewardship for the benefit of the American people.” Related Articles National Politics | Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing in order to decide where case should go now National Politics | Republicans scramble to fill JD Vance’s Ohio Senate seat National Politics | Gaetz’s withdrawal highlights how incoming presidents often lose Cabinet nominees National Politics | What to know about Pam Bondi, Trump’s new pick for attorney general National Politics | Democrat Bob Casey concedes to Republican David McCormick in Pennsylvania Senate contest Under current Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the agency put greater emphasis on working collaboratively with tribes, including their own energy projects . Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe in New Mexico, also advanced an initiative to solve criminal cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous peoples and helped lead a nationwide reckoning over abuses at federal Indian boarding schools that culminated in a formal public apology from Biden. Burgum has worked with tribes in his state, including on oil development. Badlands Conservation Alliance director Shannon Straight in Bismarck, North Dakota, said Burgum has also been a big supporter of tourism in North Dakota and outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. Yet Straight said that hasn’t translated into additional protections for land in the state. “Theodore Roosevelt had a conservation ethic, and we talk and hold that up as a beautiful standard to live by,” he said. “We haven’t seen it as much on the ground. ... We need to recognize the landscape is only going to be as good as some additional protections.” Burgum has been a cheerleader of the planned Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. Brown reported from Billings, Montana.In a state where manufacturing has long been a cornerstone of the economy, recent actions taken by some of Pennsylvania's political leaders reveal a concerning disconnect between rhetoric and reality. Specifically, the stark contrast in the way Gov. Josh Shapiro and his team have handled two separate opportunities to protect crucial industrial jobs in the state highlights an administration that appears to be missing the forest for the trees. The unsuccessful attempt last month by his attorney general, Michelle Henry, to prevent the closure of the 132-year-old Anchor Hocking glass factory in Charleroi garnered significant attention. While this effort to save hundreds of manufacturing jobs was understandable, especially considering the fact that the commonwealth has lost more than 4.4 million manufacturing jobs since 1999, it stands in puzzling contrast to the governor’s " serious concerns " about the proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel. The Shapiro administration’s skepticism of the deal raises troubling questions about their understanding of Pennsylvania's economic priorities. This $14 billion transaction could secure thousands of steelworker jobs and breathe new life into Pennsylvania's historic steel industry by reinvigorating it with substantial new investment and cutting-edge technology. Nippon Steel has announced plans to invest $1 billion to enhance the Mon Valley Works, a commitment that will bring stability and growth to the state’s steel industry. The Japanese steelmaker has also promised to maintain all of U.S. Steel’s existing labor agreements and to both retain the company’s iconic headquarters in Pittsburgh, as well as to relocate its American headquarters to the Steel City, demonstrating a genuine commitment to Pennsylvania's future. The deal would also bring much-needed modernization to several of Pennsylvania's other steel manufacturing facilities from a company that spends around $500 million annually on research and development. Nippon Steel's expertise in electric arc furnace technology, digital manufacturing processes, and advanced supply chain management could transform aging plants into competitive, efficient operations. Without this investment, facilities like the Clairton, Edgar Thomson, Fairless and Irvin plants risk becoming obsolete or facing closure — taking with them thousands of jobs and devastating local communities. The stakes couldn't be higher. Nippon Steel is the only company interested in U.S. Steel that is well-capitalized enough to make these investments . If this deal fails, these upgrades will not happen as U.S. Steel’s CEO has already warned that the company doesn’t “ have the money ” to make these improvements on its own. He also warned that it would raise “ serious questions ” about the likelihood that the company would remain headquartered in Pittsburgh. This could potentially lead to facility closures and job losses that would dwarf the impact of the Anchor Hocking shutdown. The Shapiro administration's seemingly contradictory stance with regards to protecting manufacturing jobs in the state may have already cost them politically. Recent Democratic losses in Pennsylvania's state-level races, notably in the attorney general contest, suggest voters are paying attention and disapprove of these mixed messages on economic policy. When an administration fights hard to save hundreds of jobs in one instance while appearing skeptical of a deal that could secure thousands in another, it's no wonder voters question their economic judgment. At the end of the day, manufacturing remains an integral industry in Pennsylvania's diverse economy, even as the state continues to modernize and adapt. Despite what some may argue, its demise is not inevitable, but the closure of the Anchor Hocking plant should serve as a wake-up call. In order for the Shapiro administration to secure this future, it needs to demonstrate a more consistent and forward-thinking approach to economic development. Without embracing transformative opportunities like the U.S. Steel deal, Pennsylvania risks watching more of its manufacturing heritage slip away, one factory at a time. (Becky Corbin of Downington is a former Republican member of the state House of Representatives. During her time in office, she was a member of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.)

DeepSeek-V3, ultra-large open-source AI, outperforms Llama and Qwen on launchUSA News Group Commentary Issued on behalf of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. VANCOUVER, BC , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- USA News Group News Commentary – The American Cancer Society has published its Advances in Oncology – 2024 Research Highlights , underscoring major strides in cancer research and ongoing innovation. However, the optimism is tempered by a troubling finding: a significant global rise in early-onset colorectal cancer cases . This unsettling trend comes as the medical community grapples with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent Nature article revealed how disruptions in cancer care—particularly delays in screenings, diagnoses, and treatments—have likely exacerbated the progression of advanced disease, diminished survival rates, and complicated long-term data analysis. Still, the oncology field continues to push forward with promising developments emerging from key innovators like O ncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), Cardiff Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDF), Personalis, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSNL), Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEM), and Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKPT). The article continued: Additionally, the American Cancer Society has spotlighted an alarming rise in cancer incidence and mortality among younger age groups. Analysts at Exactitude Consultancy anticipate that the global Cancer Immunotherapy Market will expand at a robust 12.84% CAGR, reaching $258.22 billion by 2031 —a clear indicator of oncology's rapid growth and critical importance. Oncolytics Biotech® to Present Promising Pelareorep Data in Pancreatic and Anal Cancers at ASCO GI Symposium Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), a leading clinical-stage company specializing in immunotherapy for oncology, today announced the presentation of two data sets through two abstracts showcasing pelareorep's potential in difficult-to-treat gastrointestinal cancers, which were accepted and will be presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco January 23-25, 2025 . "We are enthusiastic about pelareorep's applicability across multiple gastrointestinal cancer indications, including pancreatic and anal cancer," said Tom Heineman , M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Oncolytics . "Pelareorep engages patients' immune systems to help make commonly used chemotherapies and checkpoint inhibitors, such as atezolizumab, more effective in fighting cancer. This offers the promise of delaying disease progression and improving survival in patients with these devasting diseases. Given the versatility of pelareorep, we see multiple clinical and regulatory options for bringing this promising medicine to patients." Oncolytics will present two key data sets from the GOBLET study, with preliminary safety and tumor response results for the relapsed anal carcinoma cohort treated with pelareorep and atezolizumab presented in Poster Session C on January 25, 2025 , from 7:00 to 7:55 a.m. PT . Additionally, results from the safety run-in phase for first-line metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients treated with pelareorep, modified FOLFIRINOX, with and without atezolizumab will be presented in Poster Session B on January 24, 2025 , from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PT . Both abstracts will be available on the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium website at 5:00 p.m. ET on January 21, 2025 . CONTINUED... Read this and more news for Oncolytics Biotech at: https://usanewsgroup.com/2023/10/02/the-most-undervalued-oncolytics-company-on-the-nasdaq/ In other recent industry developments and happenings in the market include: Cardiff Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDF), a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging PLK1 inhibition to develop novel therapies across a range of cancers, recently announced positive initial data from CRDF-004, a randomized, Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating onvansertib in combination with standard-of-care (SoC) in patients with first-line RAS-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Efficacy and safety data are for all evaluable patients as of a November 26, 2024 , data cut-off date, and all efficacy data are determined by a blinded, independent central review (BICR) of each patient's tumor scan. "We are highly encouraged by the robust efficacy signal and favorable safety profile observed with onvansertib plus standard-of-care from the first 30 evaluable patients in our randomized first-line RAS-mutated mCRC CRDF-004 trial," said Fairooz Kabbinavar, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer of Cardiff Oncology . "Our data shows an objective response rate of 64% in patients receiving the 30 mg dose of onvansertib in combination with standard of care, significantly higher than the 33% objective response rate observed in the control arms of standard of care alone. In addition, as can be seen in the spider plots, we are observing deeper tumor response in patients receiving the 30mg dose of onvansertib compared to those receiving the 20mg dose with similar safety profiles for both doses." Personalis, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSNL), a developer of advanced cancer genomic tests and analytics, and Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEM), an AI-powered healthcare technology company, recently announced they've expanded their commercial relationship. Both companies agreed in November 2023 to collaborate and bring ultra-sensitive MRD testing to market and launched their efforts at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Tempus is serving as the exclusive commercial diagnostic partner for Personalis' ultra-sensitive tumor-informed MRD product, NeXT Personal® Dx, for broad patient adoption in breast and lung cancers, and for immunotherapy monitoring across all solid tumors. "While we already offer NeXT Personal through our own biopharma channel, we are pleased to leverage Tempus' integrated platform as well for these biopharma customers who desire to combine NeXT Personal with other Tempus products," said Chris Hall , CEO of Personalis . "We believe the expansion of the relationship with Tempus will accelerate market penetration of our leading ultra-sensitive MRD platform and allow us to better capitalize on the opportunity." Under this expanded relationship, Tempus will be enabled to offer Personalis' NeXT Personal MRD product to pharmaceutical and biotech customers who wish to bundle MRD testing with other Tempus offerings in a given study. Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKPT), a commercial-stage immunotherapy and targeted oncology company focused on novel treatments for patients with solid tumor cancers, recently announced that the FDA approved its UNLOXCYTTM (cosibelimab-ipdl) for the treatment of adults with metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) or locally advanced cSCC who are not candidates for curative surgery or curative radiation. UNLOXCYT is the first and only programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody to receive FDA marketing approval for this indication. "[This] FDA approval of UNLOXCYT – the first marketing approval for our company – is a significant milestone both for Checkpoint and for patients with advanced cSCC," said James Oliviero , President and CEO of Checkpoin t. "This approval marks Checkpoint's transformation to a commercial-stage company, with the opportunity to compete in a U.S. market estimated to exceed $1 billion annually, where we believe UNLOXCYT offers a differentiated treatment option versus available therapies by binding to PD-L1, rather than programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1), to release the inhibitory effects of PD-L1 on the anti-tumor immune response. Additionally, UNLOXCYT has demonstrated the ability to induce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), another potential differentiating feature of the drug compared to existing marketed therapies for patients with cSCC." Source: https://usanewsgroup.com/2024/09/21/is-oncolytics-biotech-the-markets-most-undervalued-cancer-opportunity/ CONTACT: USA NEWS GROUP info@usanewsgroup.com (604) 265-2873 DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. USA News Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. ("MIQ"). MIQ has been paid a fee for Oncolytics Biotech Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. which were purchased in the open market, and reserve the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. at any time without any further notice commencing immediately and ongoing. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material, including this article, which is disseminated by MIQ has been approved by Oncolytics Biotech Inc.; this is a paid advertisement, we currently own shares of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. and will buy and sell shares of the company in the open market, or through private placements, and/or other investment vehicles. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between the any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oncology-advancements-accelerate-amid-rising-early-onset-cancer-diagnoses-302337555.html SOURCE USA News GroupWith US government agencies and lawmakers reportedly considering a ban on TP-Link's products in the United States, one might think the company would rank high on the list of networking vendors with the most vulnerabilities currently being exploited by cyberattackers. Not by a long shot. The Chinese firm, whose products are popular among consumers and small businesses, currently has two security issues gracing the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) list curated by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), compared with 74 for Cisco Systems, 23 for Ivanti, and 20 for D-Link. Yet US government officials' concern is less about known vulnerabilities, and more about unknown risks, including its routers' popularity in the United States — where it accounts for about two-thirds of the market — and the degree to which the company is beholden to China's government. While no researcher has called out a specific backdoor or zero-day vulnerability in TP-Link routers, restricting products from a country that is a political and economic rival is not unreasonable, says Thomas Pace, CEO of extended Internet of Things (IoT) security firm NetRise and a former head of cybersecurity for the US Department of Energy. "The value to me [of a ban] is almost more around economic policy value than pure technical cybersecurity value," he says. "To me, there is value in saying you shouldn't buy these things because of X, Y, and Z reasons [and to make it] more difficult for small businesses, or whoever, to get their hands on devices from these companies." Related: BlackBerry to Sell Cylance to Arctic Wolf In April 2024, one of two TP-Link vulnerabilities attracted the most vulnerability scanning by threat actors, according to an analysis by cloud and application-security firm F5. The issue, a command injection vulnerability for TP-Link's Archer AX21 router ( CVE-2023-1389 ), allows an unauthenticated attacker to easily compromise a device via a simple POST request. In another incident, security firm Check Point Software Technologies discovered that TP-Link devices were also compromised with an implant known as Camaro Dragon . The implanted components were discovered in modified TP-Link firmware images, and not the original software shipped by the company, says Itay Cohen, research lead at Check Point Research. Yet Cohen stresses that the implants were written in a firmware-agnostic manner and not specific to any particular product or vendor. "It is worth noting that this kind of attack is not aimed specifically at sensitive networks, but rather at regular residential and home networks," he says. "Therefore, infecting a home router does not necessarily mean that the homeowner was a specific target, but rather that their device was merely a means to an end for the attackers ." Related: Versa Introduces Integrated Endpoint Data Loss Prevention in SASE Solution The threat posed by such vulnerabilities and implants are real, but the data from the KEV catalog shows that other manufacturers are just as likely to have their vulnerabilities exploited — and there are more of them. The lesson is that vulnerabilities in embedded devices are not unique to any one manufacturer or country of origin, says Sonu Shankar, chief product officer at Phosphorus Cybersecurity, an extended IoT cybersecurity provider. "Nation-state actors frequently exploit weaknesses in devices from companies worldwide, including those sold by American manufacturers," he says. "Devices lacking basic security hygiene — such as the use of strong passwords, timely firmware patching, or proper configurations — can become easy targets for cyberattacks." TP-Link stressed this fact in a statement sent to Dark Reading. "Many brands of consumer electronics are targeted by hackers, and we support government efforts to hold all producers to the same standard," a company spokesperson said. "We welcome opportunities to engage with the federal government to demonstrate that our security practices are fully in line with industry security standards, and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the American market, American consumers, and addressing US national security risks." Related: Test Your Cyber Skills With the SANS Holiday Hack Challenge But those assertions may be minimizing the influence of the Chinese government on the company's operations: Most Western companies do not understand the degree to which Chinese officials monitor China's business sectors — and cybersecurity firms — as a component of government policy and national strategy, NetRise's Pace says. "It's a totally different business culture," he says. "There is a member of the PRC in every company — that's not even like an opinion, it's just how it is. And if you think they're not there to exert their influence, then you're just an unbelievably naive person, because that's exactly what they do, [including] for the purposes of intelligence gathering." Threat intelligence analysts have flagged the Chinese government national strategy documents and evidence showing their increasing efforts to compromise rival nations' infrastructure — such as the attacks by Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon . "In recent years we see Chinese threat actors’ increasing interest in compromising edge devices, aiming to both build resilient and more anonymous C2 infrastructures, and to gain a foothold in certain targeted networks," Check Point stated in its analysis, but added that the "discovery of the firmware-agnostic nature of the implanted components indicates that a wide range of devices and vendors may be at risk." China's networking products are not alone in being targeted by the US government, which also banned the products of antivirus firm Kaspersky because of national security concerns, given that it's a Russian company. Companies and consumers should do their due diligence, keep their devices up to date with the latest security patches, and consider whether the manufacturer of their critical hardware may have secondary motives, says Phosphorus Cybersecurity's Shankar. "The vast majority of successful attacks on IoT are enabled by preventable issues like static, unchanged default passwords, or unpatched firmware, leaving systems exposed," he says. "For business operators and consumer end-users, the key takeaway is clear: adopting basic security hygiene is a critical defense against both opportunistic and sophisticated attacks. Don’t leave the front door open." For companies worried about the origin of their networking devices or the security their supply chain, finding a trusted third party to manage the devices is a reasonable option. In reality, though, almost every device should be monitored and not trusted, says NetRise's Pace. "It's a crazy world that exists when it comes to device security," he says. "You're accepting this device that you know nothing about — and that you really can't know anything about — unlike Windows [or another operating system] ... where you can also install three agents and a firewall in front of it to mitigate the risk of the software." Veteran technology journalist of more than 20 years. Former research engineer. Written for more than two dozen publications, including CNET News.com, Dark Reading, MIT's Technology Review, Popular Science, and Wired News. Five awards for journalism, including Best Deadline Journalism (Online) in 2003 for coverage of the Blaster worm. Crunches numbers on various trends using Python and R. Recent reports include analyses of the shortage in cybersecurity workers and annual vulnerability trends.

The Australian government recently passed legislation that bans social media for anyone under 16 . Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the legislation for putting “the onus on social media platforms — not young people or their parents” — for protecting youth from online harms. Australia is the first country in the world to pass a nationwide ban of social media for teens, set to take effect in a year . But other measures have been enacted or considered here in Canada and elsewhere. In the United States, it will be illegal for children under 14 in Florida to have social media accounts starting Jan. 1, 2025. Beginning in 2024, Québec began banning cellphones in classrooms . This fall, with the start of the 2024–2025 academic year, Ontario also began banning cell phones in schools . This follows a lawsuit filed by four school boards in Ontario against social media companies for disrupting youth learning. Québec is reportedly considering a social media ban — following Australia’s lead — that would limit social media use for teens under 16. Provincial governments recognize that social media and cellphones can be problematic for youth, and they’re not waiting on the federal government to take action. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced that the proposed Online Harms Act (Bill C-63) , originally introduced in February 2024 , will be separated into two bills . The idea is to pass the part of the bill focused on child protection to address problems like sextortion , image-based sexual abuse, revenge porn and other forms of online sexual violence. Since the Online Harms Act is still being debated, MPs in Canada may look to other countries, like Australia, for guidance on protecting youth from these online harms. Youth and online harms Some people in Canada approve of Australia’s social media ban and see it as a potential solution , including some teens . This idea has received a lot of traction in public discourse too, including with the book The Anxious Generation that argues social media should be banned until age 16 . Many of us may recall the stories of Rehtaeh Parsons , Amanda Todd and more recently a boy in British Columbia who died by suicide after being cyberbullied and sextorted. Some studies have shown that social media use is related to anxiety and depression among adolescents . Bans or regulations raise important questions about how we, as a society, should respond to social media use among youth and deal with online harms. Challenges with bans We are a team of researchers who study technology-facilitated sexual violence among youth aged 13–18 in Canada. We have conducted 26 focus groups with 149 youth from across the country, and launched a nationally representative survey of around 1,000 youth to learn about their experiences with online harms, what they know about the law and which resources work — and which ones don’t. Our initial findings show that youth experience a range of harms as they use digital platforms and social media. We also found that algorithms are fueling harms. Youth have emphasized they want tailored supports and resources to help them have safe, healthy and enjoyable experiences with technology. A full ban of social media is not realistic, in part because social media companies have no idea how to implement it . Some ideas are to use facial recognition technology or check someone’s age using credit cards . Another idea is to upload government IDs to third-party platforms for age verification. However a ban is implemented, it will almost certainly gather more user data, which raises questions about youth data privacy and security . These measures may also drive youth towards other platforms that are less regulated, such as on the dark web. This could actually make it harder to protect youth from online harms. Bans also don’t actually solve the problem . For example, abstinence-based interventions don’t work when it comes to sex education . It is unlikely that an abstinence-based approach would work with social media . Furthermore, technology is increasingly integrated into our daily lives, and youth need to be taught about healthy and responsible online interactions. Youth are learning how to become digital citizens . Kicking the problem down the road until they’re 16 or older will postpone the consequences, not solve them. This could cause more harm than a ban intends to solve . A ban also frees social media companies, governments and parents from any accountability. Rather than meaningfully addressing the harmful content and their impacts, a ban removes any and all responsibility from the people and institutions whose job it is to protect youth. Holistic interventions Technology companies need to develop their products with kids in mind , rather than prioritizing their profits and putting child safety and health second. Kids need guidance and support , and a ban does nothing to remove harmful content or resolve its negative impacts. Rather than bans, we suggest implementing holistic interventions that emphasize digital citizenship and youth rights and responsibilities so people of all ages learn how to have safe and healthy interactions with technology. This requires a consolidated effort across various sectors of society, including schools , community organizations and, importantly, both tech companies and government agencies. While there are resources available for educators, parents and youth about how to have safe and healthy online interactions , we need to act now. Rather than resorting to blanket bans, we should prioritize comprehensive societal changes that address the root causes of these harms. By doing so, we can promote youth safety and help our communities confront online harms. Christopher Dietzel receives funding from Le Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC). Kaitlynn Mendes receives funding from SSHRC and the Canada Research Chairs Program.Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed a legislative bill package designed to strengthen protections for the personal data of consumers. According to a news release from Hochul's office, companies, offices and organizations statewide, experience higher levels of fraudulent activity involving consumer data and information during the holiday season. "With this series of bills newly signed by the Governor, New York continues its commitment to protecting consumer data and safety both online and offline from dangerous activity," the release stated. “New Yorkers should never have to worry about their personal information being misused or falling into the wrong hands,” Hochul said. “With this legislative package, we are taking bold action to hold companies accountable, strengthen protections, and give consumers the transparency and security they need and deserve. My administration will continue to lead the fight to protect privacy, combat fraud, and ensure every New Yorker can live and work with confidence in an increasingly digital world.” One piece of legislation requires social media companies to post terms of service for each social media platform owned or operated by the company "in a manner reasonably designed to inform all users of the social media platform of the existence and contents of the terms of service"; and also requires social media companies to submit to the attorney general certain terms of service reports; and provides remedies for violations, according to the release. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “With white supremacy, antisemitism, islamophobia, anti-LGBTQ hatred and anti-AAPI violence all on the rise, social media companies must ensure that their platforms don’t advance disinformation and hate-fueled violence. The current social media landscape makes it too easy for bad actors to promote false claims, hate and dangerous conspiracies, too often leading to violence like January 6 and the rise in antisemitism and islamophobia we have seen in the aftermath of the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel.” Another piece of legislation strengthens protections of medical and insurance information from identity theft. State Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud said, “By expanding the definition of identity theft to include medical and health insurance details, we are taking a crucial step forward in safeguarding New Yorkers' personal and medical information. This legislation will help ensure that the privacy and security of every New Yorker’s sensitive health data is better protected, giving people peace of mind knowing that their medical information is just as safe as their financial records.” Another bill requires better security features in devices procured by the government by directing state agencies to require procurement of personal computing goods, services and solutions meet the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework. State Sen. Kevin Thomas said, “Cyber security attacks cost business and government billions each year, we need to take all available measures to combat this growing problem. Utilizing best practices that have been adopted by the U.S. Government is an important step in protecting the data of our residents.” Another piece of legislation requires that a business provide notification of a data breach within 30 days of such breach; and includes the Department of Financial Services to the list of entities that must be notified of a data breach that affects any New York resident. State Sen. Leroy Comrie said, “This bill marks a significant step forward in protecting New Yorkers’ personal data and ensuring transparency from businesses in the event of a data breach. By requiring notification within 30 days and including the Department of Financial Services as a key entity to be informed, this law strengthens consumer protections and enhances accountability.” Yet another bill prohibits the use of social media websites for debt collection. State Sen. Kevin Parker said, “Debt collectors should not have the ability to invade the personal privacy of New Yorkers through online platforms or social media. With this law, we are protecting New Yorkers from these intrusive and inappropriate tactics, reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding their privacy in the digital age.” Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn said, “Social media has become the Wild West of the internet for fraudsters and bad actors to steal our money; threatening our safety and causing irreparable damage, but New York is leading the nation in fighting back by enacting sweeping online safety legislation.” Online dating services are the target of another bill, which relates to how such services handle fraudulent members; and requires certain disclosures and regulations. State Sen. James Skoufis said, “Americans lose billions each year to scams, and dating sites are often used to target those looking to connect. This new law permits online dating platforms to disclose to its users when someone they've been in contact with has been previously banned or when someone they've previously been in contact with has since been banned. Having this fuller picture can help New Yorkers make informed decisions about with whom they want to invest their time.” Assemblymember Clyde Vanel said, “The romance scam industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise that preys on vulnerable groups, including the elderly. This legislation is an important step forward in protecting New Yorkers from these heartless schemes by ensuring that online dating services inform New York members when they have interacted with fraudulent accounts.”

No. 12 Boise State (9-1, 6-0 Mountain West, No. 12 CFP) at Wyoming (2-8, 2-4,) Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (CBSSN) BetMGM College Football Odds: Boise State by 22 1/2. Series record: Boise State leads 17-1. Boise State enters its final conference game of the season with an eight-game winning streak - its longest single-season winning streak since 2014 - and with its sights set on a potential top-four seed in the College Football Playoff. With Boise State in front of BYU, the Broncos became the provisional No. 4 seed in the playoff with two weeks left in the regular season. Despite being mired in a two-win season, Wyoming would love to play the spoiler role against the Broncos. Wyoming’s rushing defense against Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty. The junior running back comes into this one leading the nation in several categories, including rushing yards (1,893), rushing touchdowns (26), total touchdowns (27) and all-purpose yards (1,991). The Cowboys rank 116th in the nation in allowing 201.2 yards rushing per game. Boise State: WR Cameron Camper continues to play a pivotal role for the Broncos. As Jeanty draws the attention of opposing defensive units, it creates space in the secondary for Camper to operate. The senior leads the Broncos with 665 yards receiving with 40 catches, including four touchdowns. Wyoming: DE DeVonne Harris has proven to be effective for the Cowboys since missing time earlier this season with an injury. Harris registered a season-high six tackles with a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery at Colorado State and has three tackles for loss this season. Harris could be tasked to slow Jeanty in the running lanes while also applying pressure to Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen. Boise State and Wyoming are two of the best teams on third downs on both sides of the ball with the Broncos’ offense checking in third nationally in third-down conversion percentage (52.7%) and Wyoming’s defense ranked fifth in the country in third-down conversion percentage against (.285). ... The Broncos, who own the third-best rushing offense in the country with 258.7 yards rushing per game, have run for 200 or more yards in eight games this season. ... Wyoming linebacker Connor Shay ranks second on the team with 62 tackles this season. His 6.2 tackles per game rank 20th in the conference. .. Wyoming has won 65.9% of its games in War Memorial Stadium, though the Cowboys are just 1-4 in Laramie this season. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning reelection despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country’s constitutional foundations. “I persevered, against all odds, and WON,” Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The judge in the election case granted prosecutors’ dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending on Monday evening. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters’ own verdict. In court filings, Smith’s team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump’s incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters’ violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence it planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors’ request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One of them, a New York case involving hush money payments, resulted in a conviction on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump’s lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict.” Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty.

FOXBORO -- The New England Patriots were simply putrid on Saturday as the Los Angeles Chargers humiliated them, 40-7 , at Gillette Stadium. If you didn't think it could possibly get any worse for this team, it got worse on Saturday. Usually we try to dig up some positives in this space, but let's be completely honest: There were no "Ups" from New England's debacle. It felt like the Chargers were a big brother just toying with their younger sibling. They got just about anything and everything they wanted on Saturday, while the Patriots are still looking for answers. Drake Maye made a nice touchdown throw, but he also turned the ball over again. The Patriots' offense wasn't able to get anything going as the offensive line struggled throughout, and the team scored its only touchdown on a broken play. Meanwhile, the New England defense was carved up by Justin Herbert and company, as Los Angeles completely controlled the game. The end result was New England's worst loss of the season, and a second six-game losing streak in Jerod Mayo's first season. Somehow, the Patriots are a worse team now than they were when the season began. There has been no consistent improvement with this team from week-to-week, and they progressively got worse throughout Saturday's drubbing. Coming out of the bye week, the goal was for the Patriots to play well and build toward next season. While last week's loss to the Bills had some upside, it's now sandwiched between two blowout losses -- a 30-17 defeat in Arizona and Saturday's walloping on their home field. Outside of Maye, no one in New England should feel safe after Saturday's embarrassing result. It's the kind of loss that usually leads to wholesale changes in the offseason, though we'll see if the Krafts will agree with that sentiment after next week's regular-season finale against the Bills. Here are all the "Downs" from the latest embarrassment from the 2024 New England Patriots. UP and DOWN: Drake Maye OK, there is one single play to highlight before we head back to the darkness that was Saturday's defeat. This throw by Maye off a free play was beautiful. WHAT A PLAY POP 🤩 @DrakeMaye2 | @popshotta3 📺: NFLN pic.twitter.com/fLkx8YTgfV Did you enjoy that? Good, cause that's all the positivity we have from Saturday's loss. Maye looked like a rookie more on Saturday than he has throughout the season. He was sped up as the offensive line struggled to keep the Los Angeles pass rush away from him, and he had another horrendous turnover on a failed lateral/backwards pass. (Maybe rip those ones out of the playbook, Alex Van Pelt.) Maye also had a few key misses, as he finished 12-of-22 for just 117 yards. At least Maye didn't throw a pick this week for the first time since Week 8. But he also took a very unnecessary shot to the head at the end of a scramble early in the game, which knocked him out for a series. He can't be putting himself in those spots, and needs to learn when to just go down while scrambling. (At least he was much better at doing that the rest of the way.) Maye has just one more game in his rookie season, and then the pressure to fix these mistakes will really ramp up in 2025. DOWN: Antonio Gibson DIDN'T start for Patriots Before the game, Mayo said that Antonio Gibson would be starting in place of Rhamondre Stevenson, who lost another fumble last week in Buffalo. But when the New England offense took the field for the first time on Saturday, Stevenson was lined up in the backfield. Stevenson only got two carries for the afternoon while Gibson got a dozen. But why the change to start the game? Mayo wouldn't really say. "It's a coach's decision," Mayo said to a pair of inquiries. "I'll leave it at that." But why say anything before the game if there was a chance the game plan would change? It's just another instance of Mayo having to walk back something he said, though that usually waits until Monday. This time, Mayo couldn't even make it to kickoff without having something to walk back. It's fair to question is he has any control down in Patriot Place. DOWN: Pats' defense put no pressure on Justin Herbert Mayo should be feeling the heat because the team is 3-13, and because the Patriots defense has taken a huge step back throughout the season. The Pats generated zero pressure on Herbert throughout the game, and he carved them up for 281 yards and three touchdowns. There was nothing the Patriots could do against the Chargers on Saturday, as Los Angeles completely controlled the game from the get-go. The Chargers dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for 40:34 with the Patriots only managing a measly 19:26. Los Angeles ran 29 more offensive plays than New England, and outgained the Patriots to the tune of 428-181. The Patriots got their butts absolutely whooped on Saturday. While Mayo's seat is pretty hot at the moment, defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington should be really worried about a potential call into the principal's office on Monday. DOWN: Third down How did the Chargers hold on to the ball for so long on Saturday? The Patriots' defense couldn't get them off the field, letting Los Angeles go 10-of-17 on third down and a perfect 2-of-2 on fourth down. The Patriots' offense was an abysmal 2-of-10 on third down, and 0-for-3 on their fourth-down tries. "No complementary football, and that's what you get," Mayo said after the loss. DOWN: Ladd McConkey was real good for Los Angeles Eliot Wolf could have drafted McConkey with the 34th pick in last year's draft, and he would have looked incredible with Maye this season. Instead, he's looked incredible with Herbert in Los Angeles, and on Saturday he torched the Patriots. McConkey consistently schooled veteran corner Jonathan Jones and caught eight passes for 94 yards, including two of Herbert's three touchdown passes. The Patriots drafted Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker with the picks acquired in that draft swap with Los Angeles. Polk was targeted once on Sunday (which he didn't catch) and has just 12 receptions for the year. Baker also had just one target on Saturday, and is still looking for his first NFL reception. DOWN: Christian Gonzalez injured Second-year corner Christian Gonzalez has been another bright spot for the Patriots this season, but his day ended in second quarter on Saturday. Gonzalez was shaken up when he hit his head on McConkey while trying to bring down the receiver, and he was ruled out a short time later with a concussion. Even if Gonzalez clears concussion protocol before next Sunday, it'd probably be in New England's best interest to keep him out against the Bills. DOWN: Home Field advantage doesn't exist anymore The Patriots are now 1-6 at home this season, after going 1-7 at Gillette Stadium last season. They are just 10-23 at home over the last four seasons. The Patriots haven't had a winning season at home since 2020, when they went 5-3 in front of empty stands. Matthew Geagan is a sports producer for CBS Boston. He has been part of the WBZ sports team for nearly 20 years. He moved over to the web in 2012 and has covered all the highs (and a few lows) in Boston sports.