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AP News Summary at 5:31 p.m. ESTThe Prime Minister insisted the UK will back Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as he made a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London, but for the first time acknowledged the conflict could move towards a negotiated end. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent weeks suggested he is open to a possible ceasefire with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Kyiv and its European allies meanwhile fear the advent of Donald Trump’s return to the White House could result in American aid being halted. President-elect Trump has said he would prefer to move towards a peace deal, and has claimed he could end the conflict on “day one” of his time in power. As he attempts to strike up a good relationship with the incoming president, Sir Keir revealed he had told Mr Trump the UK “will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come”. In his speech at London’s Guildhall, the Prime Minister said there is “no question it is right we support Ukraine”, as the UK’s aid to Kyiv is “deeply in our self-interest”. Allowing Russia to win the war would mean “other autocrats would believe they can follow Putin’s example,” he warned. Sir Keir added: “So we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. “To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their own future.” Mr Zelensky told Sky News over the weekend he would be open to speaking with Mr Putin, but branded the Russian president a “terrorist”. He also suggested Ukrainian territory under his control should be taken under the “Nato umbrella” to try to stop the “hot stage” of the war with Russia. In a banquet speech focused on foreign affairs, the Prime Minister said it was “plain wrong” to suggest the UK must choose between its allies, adding: “I reject it utterly. “(Clement) Attlee did not choose between allies. (Winston) Churchill did not choose. “The national interest demands that we work with both.” Sir Keir said the UK and the US were “intertwined” when it came to commerce, technology and security. The Prime Minister added: “That’s why, when President Trump graciously hosted me for dinner in Trump Tower, I told him that we will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come.” He also repeated his commitment to “rebuild our ties with Europe” and insisted he was right to try to build closer links with China. “It is remarkable that until I met President Xi last month there had been no face-to-face meeting between British and Chinese leaders for six years,” the Prime Minister said. “We can’t simply look the other way. We need to engage. To co-operate, to compete and to challenge on growth, on security concerns, on climate as well as addressing our differences in a full and frank way on issues like Hong Kong, human rights, and sanctions on our parliamentarians,” he added. The Prime Minister said he wants Britain’s role in the world to be that of “a constant and responsible actor in turbulent times”. He added: “To be the soundest ally and to be determined, always, in everything we do. “Every exchange we have with other nations, every agreement we enter into to deliver for the British people and show, beyond doubt, that Britain is back.” Ahead of Sir Keir’s speech, Lord Mayor Alastair King urged the Prime Minister and his Government to loosen regulations on the City of London to help it maintain its competitive edge. In an echo of Sir Keir’s commitment to drive the UK’s economic growth, the Lord Mayor said: “The idealist will dream of growth, but the pragmatist understands that our most effective machinery to drive growth is here in the City, in the hands of some of the brightest and most committed people that you will find anywhere in the world.”
Ukraine must be in strong position for negotiations, Starmer says
Premier League leaders Liverpool ruthlessly exploited another slip by their title rivals to move seven points clear with a match in hand after a 3-1 win over Leicester. Chelsea’s surprise defeat at home to Fulham earlier in the day had been an unexpected gift for Arne Slot’s side and they drove home their advantage by outclassing the struggling Foxes. Having overcome the early setback of conceding to Jordan Ayew, with even the travelling fans expressing their surprise they were winning away after taking just five points on the road this season, the home team had too much quality. That was personified by the excellent Cody Gakpo, whose eighth goal in his last 14 appearances produced the equaliser in first-half added time with the Netherlands international unlucky to have a second ruled out for offside by VAR. Further goals from Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah, with his 19th of the season, stretched Liverpool’s unbeaten run to 22 matches. For Leicester, who had slipped into the bottom three after Wolves’ win over Manchester United, it is now one win from the last 10 in the league and Ruud van Nistelrooy has plenty of work to do, although he was not helped here by the absence of leading scorer Jamie Vardy through injury. It looked liked Liverpool meant business from the off with Salah’s volley from Gakpo’s far-post cross just being kept out by Jakub Stolarczyk, making his league debut after former Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward was omitted from the squad having struggled in the defeat to Wolves. But if the hosts thought that had set the tone they were badly mistaken after being opened up with such simplicity in only the sixth minute. Stephy Mavididi broke down the left and his low cross picked out Ayew, who turned Andy Robertson far too easily, with his shot deflecting off Virgil van Dijk to take it just out of Alisson Becker’s reach. With a surprise lead to cling to Leicester knew they had to quell the storm heading their way and they began by trying to take as much time out of the game as they could, much to Anfield’s frustration. It took a further 18 minutes for Liverpool to threaten with Gakpo cutting in from the left to fire over, a precursor for what was to follow just before half-time. That was the prompt for the attacks to rain down on the Foxes goal, with Salah’s shot looping up off Victor Kristiansen and landing on the roof of the net and Robertson heading against a post. Gakpo’s inclination to come in off the left was proving a problem for the visitors, doing their utmost to resist the pressure, but when Salah curled a shot onto the crossbar on the stroke of half-time it appeared they had survived. However, Gakpo once again drifted in off the flank to collect an Alexis Mac Allister pass before curling what is fast becoming his trademark effort over Stolarczyk and inside the far post. Early the second half Darwin Nunez fired over Ryan Gravenberch’s cross before Jones side-footed home Mac Allister’s cross after an intricate passing move inside the penalty area involving Nunez, Salah and the Argentina international. Leicester’s ambition remained limited but Patson Daka should have done better from a two-on-one counter attack with Mavididi but completely missed his kick with the goal looming. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/IqmAsKylLR — Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2024 Nunez forced a save out of the goalkeeper before Gakpo blasted home what he thought was his second only for VAR to rule Nunez was offside in the build-up. But Liverpool’s third was eventually delivered by the left foot of Salah, who curled the ball outside Kristiansen, inside Jannick Vestergaard and past Stolarczyk inside the far post.The murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan involved the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) to identify his killer, but challenges hindered its success. Partial images of the suspect captured on some of the more than 15,000 various advanced surveillance systems and security cameras (including from inside taxis and drones) throughout New York City (NYPD) failed to capture the suspect’s full facial features, limiting the effectiveness of the technology in isolating the suspect’s identity. After five days and no success in identifying their suspect using FRT, the NYPD released yet more photos it said were the clearest it had of the suspect to solicit information from the public. It was those photos that led to a public tip that the suspect appeared to be the same man who was being observed in a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania about 200 miles from New York City. That man, identified as Luigi Mangione, was promptly detained by local police and eventually charged with Thompson’s murder. “That photo has been seen more times than in your average homicide,” former Philadelphia police officer and a criminal justice professor at The Citadel Sean Patrick Griffin Monday. The added that, “In the end, it was the simple act of distributing photos – not sophisticated facial recognition technology – that led the police to the man who has been charged in the fatal shooting ... For experts, the case was a reminder of how – even as facial recognition technology grows more sophisticated – distributing photos and relying on the public to recognize a face can still play a critical role in investigations.” magazine’s : “ .” But even if the NYPD had had a clear facial image of the suspect, it would only have been useful if the suspect’s face was in its criminal database, the New York Department of Motor Vehicles’ biometric database, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Next Generation Identification (NGI) database, the Department of Homeland Security’s Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT), or the Department of Defense’s Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS). While facial recognition technology has been widely employed by law enforcement to identify suspects, its role in identifying Mangione was ineffective. But perhaps not solely because of the technology’ shortcomings. Legal and privacy issues and federal and interstate database connectivity restrictions also may have played a role. Officially, the NYPD says its primary facial recognition tool is provided by . However, the department acknowledges the use of other tools for specific purposes and has faced criticism for a lack of transparency and comprehensive oversight regarding AI technologies. DataWorks’ FaceCompare Plus provides morphological facial comparison of any two facial images side-by-side, without the need for a full facial recognition system. But, again, Mangione’s photo or photos would have to have already been in the NYPD’s or other state and federal databases to be useful. “Most Americans may believe that law enforcement has images on everybody in the United States. That’s very much not true,” CEO Donnie Scott was . “If he happens to not be a resident of New York who happens to not have been arrested before, odds are he’s not going to be in their criminal database or their mugshot repository.” Scott further emphasized that “the state of New York does not have access to the DMV database for law enforcement purposes by statute. It requires cooperation and information sharing and a reason and willingness by the respective agencies to be allowed to share that by law.” Similarly, NYPD – and many other law enforcement agencies nationwide – do not have immediate access to one another’s databases, least of all their state’s DMV database. Neither does one state have access to another state’s DMV photo repository. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) does, and it confirmed its involvement in the investigation of Thompson’s murder as it joined efforts with the NYPD after the incident, which took place outside a Manhattan hotel. The FBI assisted in the manhunt for the suspect by leveraging its resources to track leads and identify the perpetrator. It’s not known if the FBI’s efforts resulted in some database photo match. The FBI has access to state law enforcement criminal databases and DMV records, but this access is regulated and governed by federal and state laws, often through cooperative agreements. The FBI operates the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Network which includes systems like the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). State and local law enforcement agencies input and access data on the NCIC, and the FBI can use this data for its investigations. The CJIS network also connects state and local databases to the FBI, enabling data-sharing across jurisdictions. As for DMV Records, the FBI can access these records for investigations, often through the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, which permits such access for legitimate law enforcement purposes. Through the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, the FBI can request state-level DMV data, which includes driver license information and vehicle registrations. Access though often depends on agreements between state law enforcement agencies and the FBI. States maintain their own databases but grant access to the FBI when investigations require it, under established protocols. Access is also closely monitored to ensure compliance with privacy laws, and misuse of these systems can result in significant penalties. In the end, however, it was partial photos of the suspect that the NYPD provided to the public through the media that resulted in Mangione’s arrest – that, after the NYPD had made a big deal about its investigation. Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly told FOX Business early on that he believed the suspect would be caught “fairly soon” and that “facial recognition is effective, and I would hope that it’s being used in this case.” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny added early on in the investigation, however, that police so far hadn’t been able to ID him using facial recognition, possibly because of the partial images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use the technology. While facial recognition has evolved significantly, modern systems still have difficulty handling all the challenges like surgical masks, balaclavas, or partial images, which have varying degrees of success. Facial recognition systems still face significant challenges when analyzing partial images that are obstructed by masks or balaclavas. While advanced systems can focus on visible features like eyes, eyebrows, and facial contours, accuracy diminishes when large parts of the face are hidden. Performance depends on factors like resolution, image quality, and the algorithms used. Some systems trained for such scenarios have improved recognition rates, leveraging AI models that extract additional clues from limited data. However, the success rate often remains significantly lower compared to unobstructed images. Studies that were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic showed accuracy drops ranging from 5% to 50%, depending on the system and the coverage of the face. Many systems have been updated to accommodate masked faces by focusing on visible features like the eyes, eyebrows, and forehead, and some companies, like and Huawei, have claimed that their technologies achieve 90% -95% accuracy . Advanced systems using 3D mapping and infrared imaging can bypass some of the limitations of traditional 2D recognition, and some AI models that have been trained with extensive datasets, including masked faces, perform better than those trained on unmasked datasets. Feature-based matching uses algorithms to analyze parts of the face that are visible (e.g., eyes, forehead) and compare them with a database, relying heavily on unique features like the shape of the eyes or eyebrows. However, the fewer visible features, the lower the accuracy. Most systems see a significant drop in performance when more than 30% to 50% of the face is obscured. FRT ystems also frequently struggle with extreme angles or occlusions, as partial images introduce uncertainty. Advanced techniques like pose normalization or multi-shot analysis (combining multiple partial images) can help mitigate these issues. AI models, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), have shown considerable promise in identifying individuals with partially obscured faces. These models are designed to focus on specific facial features that remain visible, such as the eyes, eyebrows, and forehead. They can also use contextual clues and patterns from datasets trained on partially masked faces. However, their success rate depends on the extent of obstruction, quality of the image, and robustness of the training dataset. State-of-the-art models achieve higher accuracy but still face challenges under poor lighting, movement, extreme angles, or significant obstructions. Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) can be highly effective in assisting facial recognition for partially obscured faces by reconstructing or inferring missing portions of a face by generating plausible approximations based on training data. This reconstruction allows other recognition systems to analyze a complete or near-complete representation of the face. However, while GAN-enhanced systems can improve identification rates, their accuracy depends on the quality of the training data and the degree of obstruction of a person’s face. GANs also face risks of introducing artifacts or false positives if misused. The exact number of facial recognition systems using CNNs in law enforcement though is difficult to pinpoint due to their proprietary nature and varied implementations. However, major providers like , , , and employ CNN-based algorithms in systems widely adopted by law enforcement agencies globally. While Clearview AI, for instance, uses a CNN to analyze over v from public sources, even with partial or low-quality images, it isn’t known whether any of the numerous photos of Mangione found on social media and other online public sources after he was identified are included in its database, or whether its CNN would have been able to identify him as a possible match. Overall, while FRT has made strides in addressing its many challenges, performance can vary widely depending on the specific system and context. Meanwhile, discussions about facial recognition and data-sharing frameworks continue in the broader context of law enforcement technology and privacy debates, with calls for stronger regulation and training to address privacy and civil rights concerns. Efforts to legislate or regulate facial recognition in the U.S. remain contentious. Some lawmakers and advocacy groups push for stricter limits or bans on certain uses, citing privacy concerns and the potential for misuse. On the other hand, others advocate for better integration and use of this technology for national security and crime prevention, though this, too, is often met with privacy-focused resistance. In the wake of Thompson’s murder and the inability of FRT to identify Mangione, expect this debate to only grow louder – on both sides. Several federal law enforcement officials expressed in private they are worried that there will be copycats, especially given the surprising level of galvanized public support from the right and the left – elites versus the little guy – for what Mangione did. “This reverse outrage,” as one official described it, “is truly troubling. I would expect some sort of political response that tears down restrictions” on the use of facial recognition “going forward.” | | | | | | | | | |Mortal remains of ex-PM Manmohan Singh taken to Cong headquartersSix-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick interviewed for the head-coaching job at North Carolina, Inside Carolina and the Raleigh News & Observer reported Thursday. According to the News & Observer, Belichick "blew them away in the interview," yet he is not likely to move forward because he is pushing 73 years old and has no experience in the college game. After he and the New England Patriots agreed to part ways following a 24-year stint, Belichick interviewed for the head job with the Atlanta Falcons, who instead hired Raheem Morris. The North Carolina interview is the first known instance of Belichick showing interest in a college position. Belichick is expected to draw interest for NFL openings in the upcoming hiring cycle. The Tar Heels retained an outside advisory firm to identify coaching candidates to replace Mack Brown, whom they fired at the end of the regular season. North Carolina went 6-6, including 3-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "We've had a tremendous response of people across the country, of agents calling us, coaches, people calling on behalf of other people that are in the industry," North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in an in-house interview the school posted online earlier this week. "We are very optimistic of where we are, the interest in our program is just extraordinary, and we'll get a great coach to lead us. Who can lead us in the next three, five, 10 years? We need somebody that can come in and take us from good to great." --Field Level Media
In its edition of 100 years ago this week, the Darlington & Stockton Times suggested they plump for "the beauty of the umbrella". The umbrella had, of course, been around since time immemorial – the Oxford English Dictionary says that the first use of the Latin word meaning "shade" in the English language was in 1611 – but advances in materials and folding technology meant that 100 years ago, it was affordable to all, and there was quite an industry of "umbrella doctors" keeping them well serviced and watertight. From a postcard advertising the "smart, stylish and sophisticated... Chris LloydBudimir extends La Liga scoring streak but Osasuna held
Robotaxi Market Expansion: $1B in 2022 to $283.9B by 2031Stocks wavered on Wall Street in afternoon trading Thursday, as gains in tech companies and retailers helped temper losses elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 was down less than 0.1% after drifting between small gains and losses. The benchmark index is coming off a three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 6 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 1:52 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was down less than 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened after the Christmas holiday. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.9%, Micron Technology was up 1% and Adobe gained 0.8%. While tech stocks overall were in the green, some heavyweights were a drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.1%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, Amazon was down 0.6%, and Netflix gave up 1.1%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, down 1.9%. Health care stocks helped lift the market. CVS Health rose 1.7% and Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 2.8%, Best Buy was up 2.2% and Dollar Tree gained 2.7%. Retailers are hoping for a solid sales this holiday season, and the day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4% and 16%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. Traders got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week , though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields turned mostly lower in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.57% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 26% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed.
'Pushpa 2: The Rule' leaked on Tamilrockers, and other piracy sites; here's big danger warning if you planning to downloadCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Known across the globe as the stuck astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams hit the six-month mark in space Thursday with two more to go. The pair rocketed into orbit on June 5, the first to ride Boeing’s new Starliner crew capsule on what was supposed to be a weeklong test flight. They arrived at the International Space Station the next day, only after overcoming a cascade of thruster failures and helium leaks . NASA deemed the capsule too risky for a return flight, so it will be February before their long and trying mission comes to a close. While NASA managers bristle at calling them stuck or stranded, the two retired Navy captains shrug off the description of their plight. They insist they’re fine and accepting of their fate. Wilmore views it as a detour of sorts: “We’re just on a different path.” “I like everything about being up here,” Williams told students Wednesday from an elementary school named for her in Needham, Massachusetts, her hometown. "Just living in space is super fun.” Both astronauts have lived up there before so they quickly became full-fledged members of the crew, helping with science experiments and chores like fixing a broken toilet, vacuuming the air vents and watering the plants. Williams took over as station commander in September. “Mindset does go a long way,” Wilmore said in response to a question from Nashville first-graders in October. He’s from Mount Juliet, Tennessee. “I don’t look at these situations in life as being downers.” Boeing flew its Starliner capsule home empty in September, and NASA moved Wilmore and Williams to a SpaceX flight not due back until late February. Two other astronauts were bumped to make room and to keep to a six-month schedule for crew rotations. Like other station crews, Wilmore and Williams trained for spacewalks and any unexpected situations that might arise. “When the crews go up, they know they could be there for up to a year,” said NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio found that out the hard way when the Russian Space Agency had to rush up a replacement capsule for him and two cosmonauts in 2023, pushing their six-month mission to just past a year. Boeing said this week that input from Wilmore and Williams has been “invaluable" in the ongoing inquiry of what went wrong. The company said in a statement that it is preparing for Starliner's next flight but declined comment on when it might launch again. NASA also has high praise for the pair. “Whether it was luck or whether it was selection, they were great folks to have for this mission,” NASA's chief health and medical officer, Dr. JD Polk, said during an interview with The Associated Press. On top of everything else, Williams, 59, has had to deal with “rumors,” as she calls them, of serious weight loss. She insists her weight is the same as it was on launch day, which Polk confirms. During Wednesday's student chat, Williams said she didn't have much of an appetite when she first arrived in space. But now she's “super hungry” and eating three meals a day plus snacks, while logging the required two hours of daily exercise. Williams, a distance runner, uses the space station treadmill to support races in her home state. She competed in Cape Cod’s 7-mile Falmouth Road Race in August. She ran the 2007 Boston Marathon up there as well. She has a New England Patriots shirt with her for game days, as well as a Red Sox spring training shirt. “Hopefully I’ll be home before that happens -- but you never know,” she said in November. Husband Michael Williams, a retired federal marshal and former Navy aviator, is caring for their dogs back home in Houston. As for Wilmore, 61, he's missing his younger daughter's senior year in high school and his older daughter's theater productions in college. “We can’t deny that being unexpectedly separated, especially during the holidays when the entire family gets together, brings increased yearnings to share the time and events together,” his wife, Deanna Wilmore, told the AP in a text this week. Her husband “has it worse than us” since he's confined to the space station and can only connect via video for short periods. “We are certainly looking forward to February!!” she wrote. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Maharashtra CM Swearing-In: MVA Leaders Boycott Ceremony As Nana Patole Criticises New Government For 'Stealing People's Mandate'
The Los Angeles Chargers activated running back J.K. Dobbins from injured reserve on Friday. Dobbins is formally listed as questionable but figures to be the team's top running threat for Saturday's road game against the New England Patriots. Teammate Gus Edwards (ankle) was ruled out Thursday. Dobbins has missed the past four games since sustaining a knee injury against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 25. He was a full practice participant Thursday before receiving the questionable label. The injury-prone Dobbins was enjoying a solid season prior to the knee ailment, with 766 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground and 28 receptions for 134 yards in 11 games. His career high for rushing yardage is 805 for the Ravens in 2020. Dobbins' return comes with the Chargers (9-6) just one win from clinching an AFC wild-card playoff spot. Los Angeles also elevated safeties Eddie Jackson and Kendall Williamson from the practice squad. --Field Level MediaLiverpool punish rivals’ errors with dominant win over Leicester to stretch lead
