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Qatar tribune Agencies President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump’s choice for solicitor general. The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. He has been holding meetings with foreign leaders and business officials at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida while he assembles his administration, including a meeting last week with TikTok CEO Shou Chew. Trump has reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He said earlier this year that he still believed there were national security risks with TikTok, but that he opposed banning it. The filings Friday come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The law was was signed by President Joe Biden in April after it passed Congress with broad bipartisan support. TikTok and ByteDance filed a legal challenge afterwards. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute, leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” In their brief to the Supreme Court on Friday, attorneys for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance argued the federal appeals court erred in its ruling and based its decision on “alleged ‘risks’ that China could exercise control” over TikTok’s U.S. platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. The Biden administration has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok’s U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. But the government “concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so,” TikTok’s legal filing said, adding that the U.S. fears are predicated on future risks. In its filing Friday, the Biden administration said because TikTok “is integrated with ByteDance and relies on its propriety engine developed and maintained in China,” its corporate structure carries with it risk. Copy 29/12/2024 10Newly updated on the use of biometric technology systems in Scottish schools serves as a critical document for education authorities that emphasizes the potential of biometric technologies while also underscoring significant privacy and civil rights concerns. Biometric systems are being considered for various school applications in Scotland, including managing attendance, enabling , and automating library services. However, their implementation raises profound ethical, legal, and social questions that must be carefully addressed, the updated guidance says. Central to the debate over biometric systems in schools is the . These technologies process highly sensitive personal data, referred to as “special category data” under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). This data includes unique identifiers that, if misused or compromised, could have severe implications for the affected individuals. The guidance defines biometric data as any personal data derived from physical or behavioral traits that uniquely identify a person. This sensitivity necessitates stringent compliance with data protection laws, particularly the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR. The collection and processing of such sensitive data inherently carries risks. The potential for misuse, data breaches, or unauthorized surveillance poses significant threats to students’ privacy. Biometric systems, by design, collect and store information that is immutable – unlike a password or ID card, fingerprints or facial patterns cannot be changed if they are stolen or improperly accessed. This permanence intensifies the responsibility of education authorities to implement robust security measures, including encryption and strict access controls. Any failure to safeguard this data not only undermines trust but also exposes students to lifelong vulnerabilities. A crucial aspect of implementing biometric systems is ensuring the fairness and transparency of these processes, the updated guidance highlights, noting that schools must justify why they are adopting such intrusive technologies and assess whether less invasive alternatives, like smart cards, could achieve the same objectives. The principle of proportionality is central: biometric systems should only be used where the benefits significantly outweigh the privacy costs. For example, while a fingerprint-based system might streamline lunch payments, it raises the question of whether such convenience justifies the collection of sensitive biometric data. The guidance stresses the importance of conducting thorough assessments of necessity, ensuring that these systems are implemented only when absolutely required. The civil rights implications of biometric technology extend beyond privacy. The use of such systems must align with broader human rights frameworks, including the Human Rights Act 1998 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. These frameworks emphasize the importance of protecting children from undue intrusion and ensuring their autonomy and dignity are respected. The guidance emphasizes that transparency is a key component of fairness. Schools must clearly communicate with students and parents about how biometric data will be used, stored, and protected. This includes providing detailed privacy notices and ensuring that the information is accessible and comprehensible to all stakeholders, particularly children. Consent is another critical element in the implementation of biometric systems. Under the UK GDPR, consent must be freely given, informed, and specific. For students under the age of 12 or those deemed unable to provide informed consent, parental consent is required. However, the guidance also acknowledges the evolving capacity of children, stating that students aged 12 or older are presumed capable of exercising their data protection rights unless proven otherwise. Even with parental consent, schools must ensure that students are aware of their rights and can withdraw their consent at any time. The opt-out provisions for biometric systems are essential in safeguarding civil liberties. Students and parents who object to the use of biometric data must be offered alternative systems that provide equal access to school services. These alternatives, such as smart cards, must not disadvantage those who opt out, ensuring inclusivity and preventing discrimination. The guidance stresses that opting out must be a genuine choice, free from coercion or negative repercussions. Another significant issue is the potential for discriminatory outcomes stemming from the use of biometric technology. Schools must ensure that these systems do not inadvertently exclude or stigmatize students based on disabilities or other characteristics. For instance, students who cannot provide biometric data due to physical disabilities must have access to alternative systems that are equally efficient and non-intrusive. The Equality Act 2010 mandates that schools accommodate such needs, reinforcing the principle that no student should face discrimination in accessing educational services. The Equality Act 2010 is a UK law that protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in society. It replaced several anti-discrimination laws with a single act, making the law easier to understand and strengthening protection. The guidance also touches on broader societal concerns, particularly the normalization of surveillance. Introducing biometric systems in schools risks acclimating children to intrusive monitoring from an early age, potentially eroding their expectations of privacy. This concern is amplified when considering systems like facial recognition, which have been criticized as disproportionately intrusive and unnecessary in educational contexts. The guidance advises against the use of facial recognition for routine school activities, citing its potential for overreach and the heightened risks it poses to students’ rights. To address these privacy and civil rights issues, the guidance outlines a rigorous framework for evaluating and implementing biometric systems. Education authorities are required to conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) to identify and mitigate risks associated with the processing of biometric data. DPIAs are crucial tools for ensuring accountability and demonstrating that the adoption of biometric systems aligns with data protection laws and ethical standards. If a DPIA reveals high risks that cannot be mitigated, schools must consult with the Information Commissioner’s Office before proceeding. The role of Data Protection Officers (DPOs) is also emphasized in the guidance. DPOs play a critical role in monitoring compliance, advising on data protection obligations, and acting as a point of contact for students, parents, and regulatory authorities. Their involvement is essential in ensuring that biometric systems are deployed responsibly and in compliance with legal and ethical standards. Ultimately, the guidance on biometric systems in schools serves as both a roadmap and a cautionary tale. While these technologies offer undeniable benefits in terms of efficiency and convenience, they also pose significant challenges to privacy, inclusivity, and civil rights. The decision to implement biometric systems requires a careful balancing of the potential benefits against the risks and a commitment to protecting the rights and freedoms of students. In an era where digital technologies increasingly permeate every aspect of life, the introduction of biometric systems in schools serves as a litmus test for society’s commitment to upholding privacy and civil liberties. Schools and education authorities must navigate this complex landscape with transparency, accountability, and a focus on the best interests of the students they serve. The guidance provides a strong foundation for this effort, reminding all stakeholders that technological progress must never come at the expense of fundamental rights. | | | | | | | | |6d online casino 。

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NEW YORK — Bitcoin topped $98,000 for the first time Thursday, extending a blistering post-presidential election rally. The cryptocurrency has rocketed more than 40% in just two weeks. Bitcoin now sits at the doorstep of $100,000 just two years after dropping below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. The recent, dramatic rally arrives as industry players expect the incoming Trump administration to bring a more “crypto-friendly” approach toward regulating the digital currency. Bitcoin traded as high as $98,349 early Thursday, according to CoinDesk. It was at $98,024 around 4:30 p.m. As with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is impossible to know. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money — but it can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. Much of the recent spike in the price of bitcoin has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Crypto industry players have welcomed Trump’s victory, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. “This is not necessarily a short-term story, it’s likely a much longer-term story,” Citi macro strategist David Glass said last week. “And there is the question of how quickly can U.S. crypto policy make a serious impact on (wider adoption).” Adam Morgan McCarthy, a research analyst at Kaiko, thinks the industry is craving “just some sort of clarity.” Much of the approach to regulating crypto in the past has been “enforcement based,” he notes, which has been helpful in weeding out some bad actors — but legislation might fill in other key gaps. Gary Gensler, who as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission under President Joe Biden has led a U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry, penalized a number of crypto companies for violating securities laws. Gensler announced Thursday that he would step down as SEC chair on Jan. 20, Inauguration Day. That announcement boosted bitcoin’s price in Thursday trading. Despite crypto’s recent excitement around Trump, McCarthy said that 2024 has already been a “hugely consequential year for regulation in the U.S.” — pointing to January’s approval of spot bitcoin ETFs, for example, which mark a new way to invest in the asset. Spot ETFs have been the dominant driver of bitcoin for some time now — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. According to Kaiko, bitcoin ETFs recorded $6 billion in trade volume for the week of the election alone. U.S. stocks also climbed Thursday after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 pulled 0.5% higher after flipping between gains and losses several times during the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 461 points, or 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite edged up by less than 0.1%.

Embiid ejected during Wembanyama showdownJoby Aviation's JOBY short percent of float has risen 3.69% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 75.90 million shares sold short , which is 16.57% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.25 days to cover their short positions on average. Why Short Interest Matters Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. Short selling is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises. Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish. See Also: List of the most shorted stocks Joby Aviation Short Interest Graph (3 Months) As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Joby Aviation has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted. Comparing Joby Aviation's Short Interest Against Its Peers Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis. According to Benzinga Pro , Joby Aviation's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 8.30%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers. Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

High school football player hospitalized with brain injury from Thanksgiving gameAhmad Robinson scores 21 in near triple-double and Mercer beats Georgia State 71-68Cronos Group Inc. stock rises Thursday, outperforms marketHouse holds moment of silence for American Omer Neutra killed by Hamas on Oct 7, 2023. A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday night held a moment of silence for American-Israeli Omer Neutra who was determined this week to have been killed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, after it was believed that he had been alive for more than a year. Neutra, 21 years old, was a tank platoon commander in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and was among the first to respond to the Hamas attack that ultimately killed some 1,200 people and initially saw the abduction of more than 250 men, women and children. His parents, Orna and Ronen, who spoke with Fox News Digital just days prior to the tragic development, believed their son was still alive after the IDF had long assessed that he, along with Nimrod Cohen, another soldier from his tank, were taken hostage into Gaza and remained alive . An image of Omer Neutra is displayed at his memorial service Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at the Midway Jewish Center in Syosset, N.Y. (AP Photo/Philip Marcelo) (AP Photo/Philip Marcelo) 7 US HOSTAGES STILL HELD BY HAMAS TERRORISTS AS FAMILIES PLEAD FOR THEIR RELEASE: 'THIS IS URGENT' "For 420 days Omer’s parents and his brother Daniel have done everything they can with the love and support of hundreds of thousands of others to free their son from captivity," Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., who represents the Neutra family’s district, said from the House floor. "Every day they soldiered on through alternating deep sorrow and brief bursts of hopefulness. They went from crushing anxiety to steely determination. "Just a few days ago we learned that this courageous young man, this bright light, this courageous idealist, made the ultimate sacrifice," Suozzi continued. "Omer had not been alive for the last 422 days, he was murdered on Oct. 7." Footage from the attack on Omer’s tank showed the commander, as well as three others, Shaked Dahan, Oz Daniel and Nimrod Cohen being pulled from the military vehicle by Hamas terrorists and being taken captive . Daniel and Dahan had previously been assessed to have been killed following the attack, and according to the IDF, intelligence now suggests Omer, a descendant of Holocaust survivors, was also killed on Oct. 7. 2023. Syosset, N.Y.: Daniel Neutral, brother of Omar Neutra, surrounded by father Ronen Neutra and mother Orna Neutra at the Midway Jewish Center on Dec. 3, 2024 in Syosset, New York speak during a memorial service for Omer Neutra, an Isaeli-American who was killed by Hamas militants. (Howard Schnapp/Newsday RM via Getty Images) AMERICAN FATHER OF HAMAS HOSTAGE ITAY CHEN PUSHES US, ISRAEL ON ‘PLAN B’ AS NEGOTIATIONS FALTER The Israeli military has not said how they came by this new information and the fate of Cohen remains unknown. In a memorial service held for Omer on Tuesday in the Long Island synagogue where he reportedly celebrated his bar mitzvah years earlier, Omer's father Ronen, said the news had left them "breathless and empty." "For over a year now, we’ve been breathing life into your being, my beautiful boy," Orna said through tears, according to reports. "With the hope and love of so many, we kept going and going and going, keeping you alive, speaking your name from every outlet, pushing any hint of despair, not stopping to breathe or to take in the deep pain of your absence." "Now things are clear," she said to the reported 1,500 attendees at the service. "But not as we’d hoped." Onra and Ronen have described their son as loving, a good friend and an athlete, but they also highlighted his ability to lead and how his actions on Oct. 7, 2023 saved lives. Omer’s body is believed to still be held by Hamas along with the six other American hostages, only three of whom are still assessed by the IDF to be alive at this time, including Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Keith Siegel. Hersh Goldberg-Polin's body was recovered after he, along with five others, were discovered to have been murdered by Hamas in the tunnels in Gaza in August. These are the American hostages who were taken by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023 and held in Gaza, only Hersh Goldberg-Polin (Left) has been returned to Israel after the IDF found him and other hostages killed by terrorists. Pictured next to Hersh is Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Edan Alexander, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai and Judi Weinstein Haggai and Keith Siegel. (Fox News Photo) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP There are still 100 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza following the recovery of Itai Svirski’s body on Wednesday, an Israeli hostage taken during the attack on Kibbutz Be’eri on Oct. 7, 2023. The IDF confirmed he "was murdered in captivity by his captors, and his body was held hostage in the Gaza Strip." Caitlin McFall is a Reporter at Fox News Digital covering Politics, U.S. and World news.

Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about one hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by an issue with a vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Middle East latest: Israel expels patients from a hospital in Gaza TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Palestinian Health Ministry says Israeli soldiers raided a hospital in isolated northern Gaza after forcing all the patients and most of the doctors to leave. The Israeli military confirmed its troops had entered the Indonesian Hospital in the town of Jabaliya on Tuesday, as part of an operation searching for Hamas fighters. Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza, with most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent. Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Major storm pounds California's central coast, blamed for man's death and partially collapsing pier SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm has pounded California’s central coast bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 60 feet Monday as it gained strength from California to the Pacific Northwest. Some California cities have ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon. Forecasters have warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. Medellin Cartel victims demand truth and justice as cartel boss Fabio Ochoa walks free in Colombia BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — The return of the notorious drug trafficker Fabio Ochoa to Colombia, following his deportation from the United States, has reopened old wounds among the victims of the Medellin cartel, with some expressing their dismay at the decision of Colombian authorities to let the former mafia boss walk free.Some of the cartel victims said on Tuesday that they are hoping the former drug lord will at least cooperate with ongoing efforts by human rights groups to investigate one of the most violent periods of Colombia’s history, and demanded that Colombian prosecutors also take Ochoa in for questioning. Man arraigned on murder charges in NYC subway death fanned flames with a shirt, prosecutors say NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors say a man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train used a shirt to fan the flames, causing her to become engulfed. The suspect, identified by police as Sebastian Zapeta, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court on Tuesday. He faces murder charges that could put him in prison for life. Federal immigration officials say 33-year-old Zapeta is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally after being deported in 2018. The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Amsterdam court sentences 5 men over violence linked to Ajax-Maccabi soccer game THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An Amsterdam District Court has issued sentences of up to six months in jail against 5 men who were involved in violent disorder after a soccer match between the Dutch club Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in November. The riots caused an international outcry and accusations of deliberate anti-Semitic attacks. The violence following a UEFA Europa League match left 5 people in hospital. More than 60 suspects were detained. The court on Tuesday sentenced one man to 6 months in prison, another to 2 1/2 months, two to 1 month and one to 100 hours of community service.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As a reflection of the utility's ongoing commitment to sustainability and corporate citizenship, Newsweek today named California Water Service Group (Group) (NYSE: CWT) one of "America's Most Responsible Companies” for 2025. This is the fourth consecutive year that Newsweek and Statista Inc., a leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, recognized Group with this honor. Group was one of only three investor-owned water utilities ranked in the Energy & Utilities category. The 2025 list spans 14 industries and recognizes the top 600 out of the 2,000 largest public companies by revenue. America's Most Responsible Companies were selected this year based on 30 publicly available key performance indicators (KPIs) derived from corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and other reports, along with independent survey results. The KPIs focused on company performance in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas, while the survey asked respondents about their perception of company activities related to corporate social responsibility. "We have long operated by the mantra to always "do the right thing”-not simply the easy thing-for our customers, communities, employees, and stockholders, and for the environment,” said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Group Chairman & CEO. "To be recognized for our efforts by Newsweek for the fourth year in a row is an honor we do not take lightly, and we will continue striving to enhance our efforts each year to do right by those we serve.” The full listing is published at www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-most-responsible-companies-2025 . About California Water Service Group California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) is the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 2.1 million people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water Service. Group's purpose is to enhance the quality of life for customers, communities, employees, and stockholders. To do so, it invests responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The company's 1,200+ employees live by a set of strong core values and share a commitment to protecting the planet, caring for people, and operating with the utmost integrity. The company has been named one of "America's Most Responsible Companies” and the "World's Most Trustworthy Companies” by Newsweek , a Top Workplace, and a Great Place to Work ® . More information is available at www.calwatergroup.com . Media Contact Yvonne Kingman [email protected] 310-257-1434How Androxgh0st rose from Mozi's ashes to become 'most prevalent malware'Reeling from a divisive and turbulent election season, many of us seek spaces of solace, light, unity and worship as we turn toward the winter holidays. The cosmos and its reflection within us harbor such spaces. By viewing and embracing scientific insights through the lens of humanity, you form a connection with your place in the universe. And, when you do so, a window opens into the sacred space of our profoundly united existence. Earlier this year, a celestial event cast its splendor along a belt traversing our nation — the total solar eclipse. During totality, day turned to night. The sun’s corona blazed around its darkened disc. A moment so visceral, unwitting animals could palpably feel it. Transcending age, walks of life, race and politics, the eclipse brought millions together in a communion of cosmic wonder. In my family of three generations, some drove from Illinois to Indiana, while others traveled from India in time for the event. Our shared experience formed immediate bonds with hitherto unknown friends. As a scientist, the eclipse also offered me spectacular links to two modern revolutionary branches of physics that have completely changed our perception of nature: relativity and quantum physics. As my late black hole physicist father would delight in sharing, a solar eclipse was needed to demonstrate the bending of light around the sun, sealing predictions of Albert Einstein’s relativity in 1919. As for the quantum revolution, its technological marvels are part of our daily lives: lasers, semiconducting circuit elements, MRI machines and more. A practicing quantum physicist, I rejoice at the unity of our common quest. Scholars come together from across the world to the United States, collaborating, learning, mentoring. Just as my parents did — my mother, a biophysicist — half a century ago. During the eclipse, I felt a heightened awe for the phenomenon that sparked this revolution. Humans and stars radiate light in the same way. An ever-present miracle on Earth — we are all perfectly glowing beings in our unhindered outpouring! What is this universal light? “Blackbody radiation,” as physicists call it, is the common pattern of light that emanates from stars, heated metal, the universe and you and me. We are all effulgent blackbodies. Our radiation pattern depends only on the body’s intrinsic temperature. For a star, it peaks in the visible range and depending on its temperature, appears anything from red to blue in the rainbow spectrum. For mammals, reflecting a similar body temperature across species, the radiation peaks in the infrared. Through an infrared camera, we can perceive our glowing warmth. Our Earth, too, is nearly a blackbody. Save for the atmosphere — a thin veneer trapping heat and balancing a temperature range that sustains life. A delicate balance that we humans can disrupt by pumping this veneer with emissions. Quantum physics grew from contemplating this universal pattern. Understanding it required re-envisioning light not as a wave but as a bundle of energy, a photon. This seed gave way to mind-boggling notions and theories that explain so much of the world, starting with our current description of the atom. Today, quantum science thrives splendidly across the globe. Looking ahead, the U.S. National Quantum Initiative passed as an act of Congress with bipartisan support, meaning that throughout 2025, the world will celebrate a United Nations International Year, commemorating a century of quantum science and its wonders. The seed that gave birth to all this brings alive a luminous sacred space. The universe, the stars, humans — all mirroring one another in radiance. A sacred space of awe and care as you might find in nature — lying in a pine forest, walking by a mountain range, immersing in the ocean’s infinity. Or in an act of worship — praying together beneath a spire or dome, meditating in a sanctum, dancing in spiritual ecstasy, feeding a child, creating patterns of colored chalk powder to be blown away by the wind. We are here as but one burst in space and time. Contemplating our mortality, do we not hold the sacred all the more precious? In the afterglow of Thanksgiving — a relatively new holiday, in cosmic terms — I invite you into this space. An invocation that can bring joy, universal love and gratitude. A contemplation that comes as a prayer. On the veneer of the Earth, just as the celestial sphere is riddled with a billion blazing stars, we form a human galaxy of glowing beings. Nodes of an interconnected complex web. Connecting in the smiles of strangers passing by, in our exchanges, our altercations included, in a shoulder to rest on in moments of deep pain, in a shared meal, in an embrace. The stretches of darkness grow longer in the winter, and we kindle fires. We illuminate our festivities with clusters of light. In all this, each of us carries within ourselves a burnishing lamp. Each of us is a radiant, glowing being. Smitha Vishveshwara is a professor of physics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Public Voices Fellow with the OpEd Project. She is the co-author of the upcoming popular physics book “Two Revolutions: Einstein’s Relativity and Quantum Physics,” written with her late father as a dialogue. She wrote this for the Chicago Tribune.

Oklahoma sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold will enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. A five-star recruit in 2023 out of Denton, Texas, Arnold began this season as the starter, lost his spot and later regained it as the Sooners went 6-6. Monday is the first day that underclassmen can transfer during the winter portal window. Arnold completed 154 of 246 passes (62.6 percent) for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games. He also ran the ball 150 times for 444 yards and three TDs, including 25 attempts for 131 yards in the Sooners' 24-3 win over Alabama on Nov. 23. As a freshman last season playing behind Dillon Gabriel, Arnold appeared in seven games and was 44 of 69 (63.8 percent) for 563 yards, four TDs and three picks. A former Gatorade Texas Player of the Year, Arnold started for Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl last December, when the Sooners lost 38-24 to Arizona. He was QB1 for the 2024 campaign, but three early turnovers caused him to be pulled in a 25-15 defeat to Tennessee on Sept. 21 and replaced by true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. Arnold came off the bench to replace Hawkins in a 35-9 loss to South Carolina on Oct. 19, and head coach Brent Venables afterward fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. Co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley became the interim play-caller. Venables filled the position permanently on Monday by hiring Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle, who could bring Cougars QB John Mateer with him to Norman, Okla. --Field Level MediaGAZA, — An Israeli airstrike on a car in the Gaza Strip on Saturday killed five people, a senior Palestinian health official said. Three of them were said to be employees of the charity World Central Kitchen , whose aid delivery efforts in the war-ravaged territory were temporarily suspended earlier this year after an Israeli strike killed seven of its workers, most of them foreigners. World Central Kitchen could not immediately be reached for comment, and it did not mention the deaths on social media. The Israeli military said it struck a wanted militant who had been involved in the Hamas attack that sparked the war. In a later statement, it said that the alleged attacker had worked with WCK and it asked “senior officials from the international community and the WCK administration to clarify" how that had come about. The violence in Gaza rages on even as a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appears to be holding, despite sporadic episodes that have tested its fragility. Israel on Saturday struck what it said were Hezbollah weapons smuggling sites along Syria's border with Lebanon. The strike on the vehicle in Gaza was the latest in what aid agencies have described as the dangerous work of delivering aid in Gaza , where the war has sparked a humanitarian crisis that has displaced much of the territory's 2.3 million population and triggered widespread hunger. World Central Kitchen provides freshly prepared meals to people in need following natural disasters or to those enduring conflict. Its teams have fanned out in Gaza and across Israel and Lebanon since the war began and have often served as a lifeline for people in Gaza who have struggled to feed themselves and their families. Palestinian health official Muneer Alboursh confirmed the strike, and an aid worker in Gaza confirmed that three killed were workers with the WCK. The aid worker spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak with the media. At Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, a woman held up an employee badge bearing the WCK logo, the word “contractor” and the name of a man said to have been killed in the strike. A heap of belongings — burned phones, a watch and stickers with the WCK logo — lay splayed on the hospital floor. Nazmi Ahmed said his nephew worked for WCK for the past year. He said he was driving to the charity's kitchens and warehouses. “Today, he went out as usual to work ... and was targeted without prior warning and without any reason,” Ahmed said. In April, a strike on a WCK aid convoy killed seven workers — three British citizens, Polish and Australian nationals, a Canadian-American dual national and a Palestinian. The Israeli military said the strike was a mistake. The strike prompted an international outcry and the suspension of aid to Gaza for a a brief period by several aid groups, including WCK. Another Palestinian WCK worker was killed in August by shrapnel from an Israeli airstrike, the group said. The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’ October 2023 attack, when militants killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their count but say more than half the dead were women and children. Efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have faltered repeatedly. But the U.S.- and France-brokered deal for Lebanon appears to holding after it took effect on Wednesday. Still, Israel has accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire and Lebanon has accused Israel of the same. On Saturday, Israel's military said it struck sites that had been used to smuggle weapons from Syria to Lebanon after the ceasefire took effect, which the military called a violation of its terms. There was no immediate comment from Syrian authorities or activists monitoring the conflict in that country. Hezbollah did not immediately comment. Israeli aircraft have struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, citing ceasefire violations, several times since the truce began. The Israeli strike in Syria came as insurgents there breached the country's largest city, Aleppo, in a shock offensive that added fresh uncertainty to a region reeling from multiple wars. The truce between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah calls for an initial two-month ceasefire in which the militants are to withdraw north of Lebanon's Litani River and Israeli forces are to return to their side of the border. Many Lebanese, some of the 1.2 million displaced in the conflict, were streaming south to their homes , despite warnings by the Israeli and Lebanese militaries to stay away from certain areas. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone attacked a car in the southern village of Majdal Zoun. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said three people were wounded, including a 7-year-old child. Majdal Zoun, near the Mediterranean Sea, is close to where Israeli troops still have a presence. Israel's military said earlier Saturday that its forces, who remain in southern Lebanon until they withdraw gradually over the 60-day ceasefire period, had been operating to distance “suspects” in the region, without elaborating, and said troops had located and seized weapons found hidden in a mosque. Israel says it reserves the right under the ceasefire to strike against any perceived violations. Israel has made returning the tens of thousands of displaced Israelis home the goal of the war with Hezbollah but Israelis, concerned that Hezbollah has not been deterred and could still attack northern communities, have been apprehensive about returning home . Hezbollah began attacking Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group Hamas and its assault on southern Israel the day before. Israel and Hezbollah kept up a low-level conflict of cross-border fire for nearly a year, until Israel escalated its fight with a sophisticated attack that detonated hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah fighters. It followed that up with an intense aerial bombardment campaign against Hezbollah assets, killing many of its top leaders including longtime chief Hassan Nasrallah , and it launched a ground invasion in early October. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon during the conflict, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The fighting killed more than 70 people in Israel — over half of them civilians — as well as dozens of Israeli soldiers fighting in southern Lebanon. ___ Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel, and Mroue reported from Beirut. Mohammad Jahjouh in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, contributed.

Our Evening Tally take from our political team Fine Gael's Jennifer Carroll MacNeill the first TD elected in the country... Shocks, drops and ministerial meltdowns: What we’ve learned from the tallies so far 'It's clear the Green Party has not had a good day' - Roderic O'Gorman Don’t blame the electorate when Simon Harris is Taoiseach for Christmas, Kevin Doyle writes Irish Independent Election 2024 hub and live count centre Labour Party’s Francis Timmons bids farewell to Dublin Mid West election race Limerick County Count 1: Fine Gael's Patrick O'Donovan elected 'First time in 40 years my name wasn't on the ballot paper' - Howlin First count imminent in Galway East Greens and Labour battle for last seat in Dublin West Full tally for Louth with SF 1 and 2 as FG's John McGahon trails on 6.2pc 'We'll be talking to people about the possibilities of government' - McDonald Green Party's Martin arrives in Rathdown amid uphill battle for seat Sinn Féin dominate the tallies in Dublin Midwest Dublin Fingal West Count 1: Louise O'Reilly (SF) leads as four candidates eliminated Our Evening Tally take from our political team Dún Laoghaire Count 1: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill elected, no candidate eliminated

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