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No. 4 Penn State tries to keep playoff picture out of focus in prep for tough trip to MinnesotaA Youtuber who has travelled to some of the most dangerous countries in the world is now planning to visit North Korea. Callum Mills, 32, enjoys places where there is a higher element of risk such as active war zones or political instability, including Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Ukraine. He has met drugs lords, the Taliban, stood on Saddam Hussein's Palace and had dinner with gang members in Brazil. The traveller saw a Banksy original wall mural in the West Bank in Palestine and visited compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and even met Pablo Escobar's brother Roberto Escobar while on a trip in Medellin, Colombia. Now, Callum is now planning his next trip - to North Korea. He says he became "addicted" with danger tourism after exploring the most obscure places in Egypt during Covid. Since then, the adrenaline junkie has been to countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Ukraine. However, Callum says it is not the danger that fascinates him as all his trips are about connecting with different cultures and meeting new people. He said: "It is hard for people to understand this - it does become an addiction you seek the adventure and that feeling of being on edge. Their representation is always negative - I wanted to go there and connect with people locally. "I like to roam about and see what happens. I would always buy a one day flight. I like to get to the more obscure places that are not touristy. I've been asked this many times - about how I get to see some of the things that I do. I always say, 'I just speak to people'. "There have been incredible people who I've spoken to, with some people teaching me a lot about things. Getting to visit all these countries, people and areas has delivered a better education than school ever did." Callum - also known as Callum Abroad on YouTube - was in his second year of nursing degree at the University of the West of Scotland when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. His classes were being cancelled and he could not attend university so he decided to check what flights were available from Scotland. He said: "The longer I spent at home the more restless I became. The only flight I could take was Cairo in Egypt - and I never looked back I just kept doing. "It wasn't because I had a keen interest in Cairo. I wanted to see something a bit different - not just the pyramids. I decided to go to "Garbage City" as the locals call it. It didn't go well with the locals - I was told I was going to be attacked. "I found it pretty interesting - they go round the city and collect all the garbage before taking it back to their community to be sorted." After the first trip at the age of 28 he never returned to university as the more he travelled the more people were interested in what he was doing. Next, he packed his bags and travelled to Syria as he "wanted to show people what the world is really like." However his travels ended up being featured all over the news when he shared a video of what it is like to enter the boarders in Syria. He said: "My social media went crazy. I was being wanted because I exposed what it was like to enter the borders - where you had to pay soldiers to enter the borders." But despite this Callum says he "loved" his time in the country as the locals were "fantastic". "People think it is a complete war zone. But once you get there people are really nice," he added. "The media and the west forget sometimes that people in these countries are just ordinary people." Pakistan was the next country on the list - which is now Callum's favourite destination and he has been there six times already. He explained how he understands why some people would feel "intimidated" in Pakistan. Callum continued: "Both of my arms are filled with tattoos - but people just look at you because they are curious. I go to a lot of weddings there - it is countless the number of weddings I go to." Callum shares most of his experiences in his YouTube channel. And after meeting with drugs gang in Barcelona and Bogota he took a flight to Medellin in Colombia and even met Roberto Escobar, brother of Pablo Escobar. He said: "I chatted with him while his wife translating what I was saying. We got a picture together. I don't tend to plan things in my travels - I just plan things as I go. That's the beauty of it." In June 2023 the Coatbridge native decided to travel on a 40-hour train from Romania to Moldova and then by a bus to get him in Ukraine. Bombs dropping in the Ukrainian cities of Kherson and Odesa is one such moment that sticks in Callum's mind. "I could hear the bombs dropping off behind me when I got to Kherson. There was a time I had to take a second because I felt very emotional," he said. "A lot of people said they are prepared to die in Odesa. They don't think the Russians will stop until they get Odesa - that was a common theme I was getting from people. I just wish the war would stop killing each other - the level of devastation is bad." He added: "The bomb sirens were going off doing the day and the night - when the siren goes off people don't panic. I think it has got to the point where it is numb to them." In Afghanistan, he says he was taken away for questioning by the Taliban and asked him to convert to Islam. "I took the land border from Pakistan - it is very strict and it is a bit hectic there is a lot of screaming and shouting," he said. "The Taliban came up for me and I remember I was a bit nervous and only of them spoke English and the other didn't. I was making small talk with them. In Afghanistan it was my first interaction with the Taliban. They were asking me where I was from, asking if I was in the military or my family. Asked if I was Muslim and then they shook my hand." In Bogota's Bronx in Colombia he met gang members who told their stories. This happened while he was beside a crocodile and they said they would get the reptile to bite the limbs off of other gang members if they caught them. The UK Foreign Office advises against everything but essential travel to North Korea, but Callum is "desperate" to go. The country ruled by the Kim family since 1948 has been widely condemned for abusing human rights violations. Callum said: "I am prepared for any backlash I get and I want to see it with my own eyes. Nobody in the west was allowed in for five years. I wanna see the capital. It's a chance to speak to a North Korean - it would be great if I could do it. "I understand that it will be a challenge and I can take that on board - I am aware of the hardships people in North Korea face. I know some people might think that it's wrong to travel to North Korea however as someone who's got a desire to travel and see the world, I would hope people can understand that. "It's like when a car has a bump on the motorway, people tend to slow down and look because they are curious." However, Callum admits he doubts this will be possible in North Korea due to the strict guided nature of the tours. He said: "I think when you go to these countries you have to follow the rules. Don't go and break the rules in these countries. As long as I conduct myself in a proper manner I am pretty confident. It'd be good to have the human perspective and see it with my own eyes." According to the government the level of tension on the Korean Peninsula remains high. Although daily life in the capital city, Pyongyang, may appear calm, the security situation can change quickly with no advance warning about possible actions by the authorities. This poses significant risks to British visitors and residents, as stated by the Foreign Office. Information about his travels are at the YouTube at Callum Abroad, as well as on Twitter through his @CallumAbroad account.

CLEVLEAND — Shane Bieber's comeback with Cleveland has double meaning. The former Cy Young winner re-signed with the Guardians on Wednesday, a reunion that seemed unlikely when he became a free agent. However, the 29-year-old Bieber decided to stay with the AL Central champions after making just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Bieber agreed last week to a one-year, $14 million contract. The deal includes a $16 million player option for 2026. It seemed like a long shot that Bieber, who is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 132 starts, would return to Cleveland. He had turned down long-term offers in the past from the club, and it was expected he would sign with another contender, likely one on the West Coast. But the California native has a special connection with the Guardians, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. Bieber, who won the AL Cy Young in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, threw only 12 innings last season before lingering issues with his elbow forced him to have surgery. He is expected to join Cleveland's rotation at some point in 2025. A two-time All-Star, Bieber was named MVP of the midsummer event in 2019 when it was held in Cleveland. He has the highest strikeout ratio per nine innings (10.2) and third-highest winning percentage (.660) in the franchise's 124-year history. Bieber is one of just three Cleveland pitchers to start five season openers, joining Stan Coveleski (1917-21) and Corey Kluber (2015-19). While Bieber had some elbow issues in the past, he didn't show any issues before being shut down. He struck out 11 in six scoreless innings against Oakland on March 28, and followed that up with six more shutout innings at Seattle on April 2. DALLAS — Pitchers again dominated the big league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings, comprising 11 of the 15 unprotected players who were picked Wednesday. The 121-loss Chicago White Sox had the first pick and selected 24-year-old right-hander Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Smith was an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest when he was signed by Milwaukee in July 2021. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder has gone 13-7 with a 2.69 ERA and 203 strikeouts over 157 innings in 19 starts and 54 relief appearances over three minor league seasons. There were 14 teams who made picks in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft of players left off 40-man rosters after several minor league seasons. Only Atlanta made two selections, after making none since 2017. Atlanta chose right-hander Anderson Pilar from the Miami Marlins with the 11th pick, and then took infielder Christian Cairo from the Cleveland Guardians with the 15th and final pick in the MLB portion. The 26-year-old Pilar was original signed by Colorado as a minor league free agent in 2015 and has pitched in 213 minor league games that included 17 starts. He is 28-20 with a 2.86 ERA. Teams pay $100,000 to take a player in the major league portion. The players must stay on the big league roster all of next season or clear waivers and be offered back to their original organization for $50,000. Six of the 10 players selected during the Rule 5 draft last December — five of them right-handed pitchers — remained last season with organization that selected them. Two of the four position players taken Wednesday by other teams came from the Detroit Tigers organization: catcher Liam Hicks and third baseman Gage Workman. Miami drafted second after Colorado passed making a selection, and took Hicks. Workman was taken by the Chicago Cubs with the 10th pick. Baltimore lost two right-handed pitchers on back-to-back picks, Juan Nunez to San Diego with the 12th pick before Connor Thomas went to Milwaukee. DALLAS — Tom Hamilton, who has called Cleveland games on the radio for 35 seasons, won the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting on Wednesday. Hamilton, 70, joined the team's broadcast in 1990, when he was with Herb Score in the booth and part of the coverage of their World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997. Hamilton became the voice of the franchise when Score retired after that second World Series. Hamilton will be honored during the Hall of Fame’s induction weekend from July 25-28 in Cooperstown, New York. He was selected the hall's Frick Award 16-member committee as the 49th winner. There were 10 finalists on this year's ballot, whose main contributions came as local and national voices and whose careers began after, or extended into, the Wild Card era. The other nine were Skip Caray, Rene Cardenas, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Ernie Johnson Sr., Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Dave Sims and John Sterling. DALLAS — The Texas Rangers acquired slugging corner infielder Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday in a trade for three minor league players. Burger hit .250 with 29 home runs and 76 RBIs in 137 games for the Marlins last season, with 150 strikeouts in 535 at-bats with 31 walks. He started 59 games at third base and made 50 starts at first. Five days of service time short of being eligible for salary arbitration this offseason, he will be eligible next winter and can become a free agent after the 2028 World Series. Miami got infielders Max Acosta and Echedry Vargas and left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza. The acquisition of Burger comes about a month after the Rangers hired former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a senior adviser for baseball operations. Luis Urueta, Miami's bench coach the past two seasons, also was added recently to manager Bruce Bochy's on-field coaching staff for 2025. BRIEFLY WHITE SOX: Mike Tauchman is switching sides in Chicago. The White Sox announced a $1.95 million, one-year contract for the outfielder. Tauchman, 34, grew up in Palatine, Illinois, about 35 miles northwest of Chicago, and played college ball for Bradley in Peoria, Illinois. He spent the previous two seasons with the Cubs. TRADE: All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet was acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the Chicago White Sox for four prospects. Catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and outfielder Braden Montgomery are headed to Chicago. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Chiefs edge Panthers, Lions rip Colts as Dallas stuns Washington

There Is No Pardoning The Biden AdministrationBEIRUT — Syria’s embassy in Lebanon suspended consular services Saturday, a day after two relatives of deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad were arrested at the Beirut airport with allegedly forged passports. Also on Saturday, Lebanese authorities handed over dozens of Syrians — including former officers in the Syrian army under Assad — to the new Syrian authorities after they were caught illegally entering Lebanon, a war monitor and Lebanese officials said. The embassy announced on its Facebook page that consular work was suspended “until further notice” at the order of the Syrian foreign ministry. The announcement did not give a reason for the suspension. Two Lebanese security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the suspension was ordered because the passports belonging to Assad’s relatives — the wife and daughter of one of his cousins — were believed to have been forged at the embassy. Assad’s uncle, Rifaat Assad — who has been indicted in Switzerland on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity — had flown out the day before on his real passport and was not stopped, the officials said. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Saturday that 70 Syrians, including former army officers, were handed over by a Lebanese security delegation to the security forces of the new Syrian government, led by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. Three Lebanese judicial officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the report. Regional countries have been quick to establish ties with Syria’s new rulers. Delegations of Libyan and Bahraini officials arrived in Damascus on Saturday on official visits. HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has largely succeeded in calming fears within and outside of Syria that his group would unleash collective punishment against communities that supported Assad’s rule or attempt to impose strict Islamic law on the country’s religious minorities. However, in recent days, sporadic clashes have broken out between the HTS-led security forces and pro-Assad armed groups. The country’s new security forces have launched a series of raids targeting officials affiliated with Assad and have set up checkpoints in areas with significant populations of the Alawite religious minority to which the former president belongs to search for weapons. There have also been ongoing tensions and clashes in northeastern Syria between Kurdish-led forces and armed groups backed by Turkey. Many Kurds have viewed the new order in Damascus, which appears to have strengthened Turkey’s hand in Syria, with anxiety. Ankara sees the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces — a key U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State group — as an affiliate of its sworn enemy, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which it classifies as a terrorist organization. The U.S. State Department said Saturday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had spoken with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to “discuss the latest developments in Syria.” “Secretary Blinken emphasized the need to support a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that upholds human rights and prioritizes an inclusive and representative government,” the statement said, adding that they “also discussed the shared goal of preventing terrorism from endangering the security” of Turkey and Syria. On Saturday, hundreds of protesters convened by Kurdish women’s groups participated in a demonstration in the northeastern city of Hasaka to demand women’s rights in the new Syria. Perishan Ramadan, a participant from Hasaka, said the new government “is worse than Bashar” and that its leaders are Islamist extremists who “don’t accept any role for women.” While the country’s new leaders have not attempted to impose Islamic dress or other conventions, it remains to be seen what role women will have in the new order and whether they will hold political or government positions. “Women must be present in the new constitution for Syria,” said Rihan Loqo, spokeswoman for the Kongra Star women’s organization. “... Women’s rights should not be ignored.” Associated Press writers Hogir Abdo in Hasaka, Syria, and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.

The has arrived, bringing both promise and caution. Many people are wondering if AI can coexist peacefully and productively alongside a broad human workforce with diverse talents, skills, and abilities. I believe that AI isn't coming to — it's coming to take away tasks. 80% of employees' time is consumed by low-value, repetitive, time-intensive, uninteresting tasks, while only 20% gets devoted to the more interesting activities that generate higher value for the organization. What if we could flip that ratio? What if we could free humans to solve, build, and create? That's what I believe AI can do. In the process, this new AI paradigm can unlock the value of an accelerated and more fulfilling career. I strongly believe that what we invent today can lead to a profound impact on the world — changing industries and people's lives. Marie Kondo-ing with AI Thoughtfully deployed, generative and help people find more meaning in their work. It can free you to work on the parts of your job that are more interesting and more valuable — the reasons you got into your profession in the first place. I think the applies: If the task doesn't spark joy, let AI take it from you. Our goal must be to kindle (or rekindle) our joy, to bring out curiosity and creativity, and to reimagine what's possible, now that we're no longer burdened with an assortment of mundane tasks. In a sense, AI can give each of us a job promotion, not be a job replacement. There will be short-term displacement but it will self-correct Of course, the widescale adoption of Gen AI will have impacts and implications, and it would be foolhardy to ignore them. Increased productivity and greater cost efficiencies will inevitably lead to — for example, contact centers with faster resolution times need fewer workers. However, I believe that AI will also in such a macroeconomic picture. Efforts must be made to close wage disparities and potential economic or opportunity gaps. Community colleges should offer guided and hands-on training to ensure AI is accessible to the broadest areas of our workforce. Similarly, technology companies must offer to promote AI's widespread adoption and use. I believe AI can cut the time for this upskilling process in half and foresee a world where nearly anyone can be an app builder and creator or where a junior technician can do senior-level repairs. Decisions should still be made by humans Whether it's conversational search, agent assistants, image creation, or other forms of intelligent automation, AI becomes a supportive foundation that translates into time — time to evaluate, investigate, strategize — and solves problems. AI will give us access to a nearly limitless set of highly accurate, data-driven predictions. Nonetheless, decisions shouldn't be automated. They should remain the sole province of humans, who have a better understanding of tradeoffs, nuances, and strategies. Here are some examples of how humans can work alongside AI: By being able to focus on decisions and outcomes, we unlock new creativity that we can channel to solving bigger and harder problems. With this new era of generative AI discovery, there has never been a better time to transform businesses and work as we know it. Read the original article on49ers look to maintain 'urgency' against rival Rams

Sunday, December 29, 2024 The tragic Azerbaijan Airlines crash on Christmas Day has left the global travel and aviation industries grappling with safety concerns and calls for heightened regulatory oversight. The incident, which claimed the lives of 38 passengers out of the 67 onboard, occurred in Russian airspace under circumstances yet to be fully clarified. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev during a phone call, referring to the crash as a “tragic incident” but refraining from accepting Russian responsibility. According to an official Kremlin statement, Putin extended heartfelt sympathies to the victims’ families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. The event has sparked international attention, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urging Russia to provide a more detailed explanation. As investigations unfold, the travel industry is closely monitoring developments, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability. Air travel safety is a cornerstone of the global travel industry. Incidents like the Azerbaijan Airlines crash serve as stark reminders of the inherent risks and the critical need for stringent safety protocols. Aviation experts are urging international authorities to prioritize a thorough investigation to uncover the root causes of the crash and implement measures to prevent similar tragedies. The crash has reignited discussions on airspace safety, particularly in regions with complex geopolitical dynamics. Industry stakeholders are advocating for: In the wake of the crash, travelers have expressed heightened concerns about air travel safety. The industry’s response will be pivotal in restoring confidence. Airlines, regulatory bodies, and governments must work together to demonstrate a commitment to safety and transparency. The Azerbaijan Airlines tragedy underscores the importance of proactive measures in the aviation sector. Safety protocols, rigorous training for air traffic personnel, and investments in cutting-edge technology are critical to minimizing risks. Additionally, fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration among international stakeholders will be instrumental in maintaining the integrity of global air travel. As the investigation continues, the travel industry’s role in shaping a safer future cannot be overstated. Ensuring that lessons are learned and applied will honor the lives lost and reaffirm the industry’s dedication to protecting its passengers.Heartbreaking Tale of a 67-Year-Old Woman Scammed by a Fake 'Keanu Reeves' – A Stark Warning About Online Romance Fraud

Have Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have played their FINAL Test, they will not be seen...Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of Biden's pardon of his son Hunter, poll finds