Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump’s promised crackdown on immigration

Our clan has been described as far back as the late 1800s to be ‘as loud as an orchestra,’ especially on occasions like Noche Buena and Media Noche Now put a bunch of Romualdezes together with differing opinions and you get a full-on philharmonic! We all have our fair share of family dramas and this becomes more evident come Christmas time when we are all forced by holiday circumstances to gather in one place. The Romualdezes have been described as far back as the late 1800s to be “as loud as an orchestra.” To this day, when together, we are not only loud but strong and independent in mind and soul. We are as my great uncle, the first native Filipino Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, writer, composer, musicologist, politician, and statesman Norberto L. Romualdez, described as “people who are brought up to be the captain of one’s soul.” Looking for the meaning of this, I read that, “captain of my soul” suggests you're in charge of your deepest feelings, desires, and beliefs. In a world full of distractions and expectations, staying true to yourself can be challenging but essential. This is so true and runs strong in some more than others belonging to our clan. Now put a bunch of “Rs” together with differing opinions and you get a full-on philharmonic! You know the saying, be careful what you wish for. Well, I curiously wanted to know what it must have been like at family gatherings during major political events in our country’s history, such as during the turning point from Spanish to American colonial rule and from being an American colony to a republic. I have public documents and correspondence detailing the thoughts and opinions of a number of family members with opposing views and I wondered how they dealt with one another during those times. Were they successful in curbing their emotions when faced with family members with opposing sentiments at a family gathering? From my experience and, as a witness, yes there would be some “dead-mahan (not minding each other)” or avoidance or a cold shoulder here and there, but at least they would show up. After all, isn’t that what the spirit of Christmas is all about? Still, some family members do opt to skip the Christmas events, including the Noche Buena. Do I regret making that wish to know how it feels? To know what it’s like? No, I was there to bear witness to how this family overcomes inter-familial adversity. I am not the first to do this in my family. This “burden” was bestowed upon me by previous family historians and “geneologists. My late cousin Nonoy Abella was filled with utmost relief when he turned over all the family documents to me, “Now I can die,” he says. I thought he was overly dramatic but realizing the responsibility of finding someone in the family who would be up to the task of recording our family history, I know now how he felt. Nonoy was designated by our Auntie Loring Romualdez-Ramos, who, in turn, was tasked to be the family historian by Nonoy’s father, Dr. Domingo Abella (1906-1976), a scholar, historian, and later director of the Bureau of Records, which was known from 1967 up until the early ’70s as the National Archives. Before him, it was his mother, Dona Trinidad Talintin Lopez, who played the role. My family story is no different from that of other families with the usual family dynamics at play. Maybe, most other family stories do not play so publicly but the template is the same. After Noche Buena, we have Christmas Day and the many days that follow, on which we think up occasions to eat the leftovers, leading up to New Year’s Eve. The Christian tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve can be traced back to the implementation of the Gregorian calendar, which was established by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. It officially declared Jan. 1 as the first day of the New Year, whereas Old Year’s Day, which is now called New Year’s Eve, was declared as the last day of the year (Dec. 31). Filipinos have established their own way of celebrating the coming of the New Year. This includes, among Christian Filipinos, attending mass before partaking of a midnight meal called Media Noche, during which 12 round fruits are served to represent the 12 months of the year. It is believed that fruits circular in shape, resembling coins and money, will bring good fortune. This is a derivative of the Spanish New Year’s Eve tradition of eating 12 grapes or las doce uvas (the twelve grapes of luck) at midnight to ensure fortune and prosperity for the coming year. The wearing of polka dots is also quite a tradition, as is placing coins on windowsills to invite good fortune, opening doors and windows (despite the smoke from the firecrackers) for good luck to enter the home, jumping at midnight (for children), which is believed to make children grow tall. To be completely honest, I have my doubts with this one. Other traditions include making a lot of noise at midnight to drive away negative energy and bad spirits and starting fresh. What you do at the start of the New Year will follow you in the rest of the year, so make friends, avoid debt, and keep on loving. Happy New Year everyone! Here is to peace, prosperity, and “love among all creatures on this earth.” May God bless us and keep us safe in the palm of His hand.

Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office National Politics | An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalition National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020Man City crisis continues as Feyenoord come from three down to draw

Article content VICTORIA — The B.C. NDP and federal Liberal governments took victory laps last year after putting up a combined $285 million to secure a high-performance battery plant in Maple Ridge. The project looked to be an impressive one, according to the Nov. 14, 2023 news release. Taiwanese-owned E-One Moli and its investors were putting up the balance of $765 million for the $1.05-billion expansion of the company’s existing plant in Maple Ridge. The commitment would secure 100 existing jobs and add 350 more. Construction to start in the summer of 2024. When the expanded facility was up and running in 2028, it would be “Western Canada’s first high-performance lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing facility, creating a new hub in the global battery component supply chain.” For Premier David Eby, the green light from E-One Moli was proof positive that his government had made the province into “a centre for innovation, investment and cutting-edge technology” and “a leader in building a clean-energy future.” Eby, then heading into an election year, also took a swipe at his critics on the climate action front. “We know that this is what we have to do,” he told reporters. “The people who suggest that we have to accept that (climate change) as the future and stop taking action are simply wrong.” Then-B.C. Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey observed that jurisdictions all over the world were competing for battery plants. But in this case, B.C. was the chosen one. “This investment is a powerful example of a global leader in clean-technology manufacturing choosing to anchor its North American production and operations at home,” said Bailey. “B.C. has shown time and again that our province is stronger when we invest in people and the vision they have for a cleaner future.” B.C. officials said that the province’s supply of clean green power was a factor in attracting the project as well. E-One Moli would be switching some of its power from natural gas to electricity, “as well as participating in the load attraction program aimed at diversifying industries in B.C. wanting to connect to B.C. Hydro.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who joined Eby and Bailey for the announcement at the E-One Moli site, went with that Canadian standby, a hockey metaphor. “This is where the puck is going,” Trudeau told reporters. “This is the future we are building every single day. Climate policy is economic policy. “The world is looking to Canada. When we support projects like E-One Moli’s new facility in Maple Ridge, we bolster Canada’s role as a global clean-tech leader, create good jobs, and help keep our air clean.” Trudeau’s commitment also addressed Eby’s concern that B.C. had been sidelined while the federal government committed to backing development of a trio of battery plants in Eastern Canada. The scale of the federal commitment did not warrant close inspection. Senior governments were putting up almost $44 billion to underwrite plants in Ontario and Quebec, according to the parliamentary budget officer. The Maple Ridge project drew a mere fraction of those billions, with Ottawa contributing $205 million and the province $80 million. Still, it was something to celebrate. In the months following the November 2023 announcement, the New Democrats would cite the Maple Ridge plant again and again as evidence that they were putting the province on the “cutting edge” of battery technology. But there were no media releases, nor any cause for victory laps with this week’s news that E-Moli had hit pause on the Maple Ridge plant. “$1 billion lithium-ion battery factory on hold,” read the headline on the front page of The Vancouver Sun on Wednesday. “Over the past year, we have seen a major scale-back in electrification projects globally,” company executive Frank So told Sun reporter Derrick Penner by e-mail. The cancellations or postponements included 17 lithium-ion battery manufacturing plants of one kind or another. Company chair Nelson Chang of parent Taiwan Cement Corp. said E-One Moli would hold off building any new plants abroad until it reaches “full efficiency” in its gigafactory in Taiwan. In contrast to the rhetorical flourishes that followed last year’s announcement, the New Democrats downplayed the significance of the latest development regarding the Maple Ridge plant. No more talk of B.C.’s supposed advantages over other jurisdictions in attracting investment. Instead, a statement from the energy ministry attributed the pause entirely to “a global recalibration driven by market conditions.” Not for the first time had B.C. arrived late to the game of attracting investment in the latest fashion in cutting-edge technology. Last year, Eby declared his enthusiasm for Australia-based Fortescue’s proposal to build a $2-billion hydrogen plant on a site near Prince George. “I love this project,” the premier declared, and predicted it could become a hub for hydrogen-based development. This fall, the company walked away after expressing doubts that B.C. could provide the necessary supply of “affordable” electricity and the “favourable” policies to go along with it. The premier just can’t resist these premature victory laps. Next time he touts a billion-dollar project, I suggest waiting until construction is well underway before getting caught up in the celebrations.All Blacks v Italy Kick-off: 9.10am Sunday 24 November Allianz Stadium, Turin Live blog updates on RNZ Sport This is it, the last test of the season for Scott Robertson's All Blacks. So far it's been nine wins and four losses, the form guide suggests this one will end in a comfortable victory. The magnificent Allianz Stadium in Turin is the venue for the match, while the All Blacks have played in quite a few Italian cities over the years, this will be the first time they have visited the northern city most well known for being the home of the country's automotive industry and Juventus football club. Allianz is the home ground of Juventus, the All Blacks have been doing a bit of promo work with them this week given their shared sponsorship with adidas. It's shaping up to be a cold night in Turin, with snow falling during the week and the temperature expected to be below freezing at kick-off. This will be the last time on the park as All Blacks for both Sam Cane and TJ Perenara, both men bow out having played 105 and 89 tests respectively. Here's a look at the teams: All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot 2. Codie Taylor 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Scott Barrett (c) 5. Patrick Tuipulotu 6. Wallace Sititi 7. Sam Cane 8. Ardie Savea 9. Cam Roigard 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Caleb Clarke 12. Anton Lienert-Brown 13. Rieko Ioane 14. Mark Tele'a 15. Will Jordan Bench: 16. Asafo Aumua 17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi 18. Fletcher Newell 19. Tupou Vaa'i 20. Peter Lakai 21. TJ Perenara 22. David Havili 23. Damian McKenzie Italy: 1. Danilo Fischetti 2. Gianmarco Lucchesi 3. Marco Riccioni 4. Federico Ruzza 5. Dino Lamb 6. Sebastian Negri 7. Manuel Zuliani 8. Ross Vintcent 9. Martin Page-Relo 10. Paolo Garbisi 11. Monty Ioane 12. Tommaso Menoncello 13. Juan Ignacio Brex (c) 14. Jacopo Trulla 15. Ange Capuozzo Bench: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Mirco Spagnolo 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Alessandro Izekor, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Leonardo Marin 23 Marco Zanon All Blacks selections: This is a very stacked All Blacks team, surprisingly so considering this is the last game of the tour and more than a few of these players are due for a rest. Ethan de Groot returns after being in the dog box for an off-field indiscretion, but the real reason he's back is because Tamaiti Williams is injured. Patrick Tuipulotu gets a start ahead of Tupou Vaa'i, while Cane returns to openside and in the backs Anton Lienert-Brown comes in for the injured Jordie Barrett. Peter Lakai retains his bench spot to back up the loosies, while David Havili gets his first run since the win over Japan. This selection really says a lot about how keen Robertson is to win and put on a good performance, however it's meant some of his squad members have seen very little game time on this tour. Italy selections: The big change for the Italians after their 2017 win over Georgia last weekend is the return of Ange Capuozzo. The young fullback is their best attacking weapon. Sebastian Negri is a hard ball carrier, but the real test will be on the tight five against a very well performed All Black set piece. Elsewhere Martin Page-Relo takes over at halfback inside Paolo Garbisi, if Italy get any sort of front foot ball it'll be up to them to make something happen. What they're saying: "The guys were desperately disappointed last week. We created so much, and the French just took a few opportunities - the game changed and we had our chances which we didn't take. We wanted to come up here and sweep the north. The margins are small, now we get a chance to finish properly." - All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. "We just want to end the year how we started. A win would be awesome but we're focused on the performance, that comes from a great week's preparation." - All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane. The last time they met: The score ended All Blacks 96 - 17 Italy the last time the sides faced off, at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. It seems crazy to think there were genuine fears that Italy would cause an upset and send the All Blacks tumbling out of last year's World Cup. All of that was answered in brutal fashion as they handed out a trademark All Black backlash, running in 12 tries and almost racking up a century. It says a lot that this wasn't even the record-winning score line between the two sides. What is going to happen: This will be one way traffic, unless the Italians can do what they did in 2010 and simply try to spoil everything so that the All Blacks can't string enough phases together. Even then, there is so much talent in this side it's likely that a negative gameplan will be overturned by set piece dominance. The main issue is likely to be the weather. It's been a while since the All Blacks have played in snow, and the conditions may affect what they want to do with the ball. This is the last test of the season, but also the last one for a couple of serious servants to the black jersey. Both Cane and Perenara will walk off the field having completed long and successful careers, so the motivation is there for their team mates to make sure it is a comfortable victory.

Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah agree to a ceasefire after nearly 14 months of fighting

Major Drilling Announces Second Quarter 2025 Results, Building on Robust Net Cash Position3 US Army soldiers arrested on human smuggling charges along the border with Mexico

With one month’s worth of highway deaths yet to be counted, the state is on track to record its second most deadly year in decades. The most significant and preventable reason behind the numbers – driving under the influence – hasn’t changed. But the influence has. Of the 307 who died from Jan. 1 through Nov. 30, about 40 percent were impaired by a combination of illegal and prescription drugs and alcohol or drugs alone. “It’s alarming,” Josh Morgan, Department of Transportation spokesman said of the trend. “Connecticut regularly ranks among the two, three to five most deadly states in terms of impairment causing highway deaths, and we are on course to record our second deadliest year since the 1980s, behind 2022 when 367 people died.” Last year 316 died. Some known and unknown factors are behind the numbers. Anecdotal evidence suggests that young people are trending more toward calling an Uber and designating a driver. A pandemic related shift toward drinking more at home, according to data from the International Wine and Spirits Record, hasn’t shifted back. Across the U.S., 59 percent of consumers say they are going out less, which is believed to be linked to the higher cost of those drinks rather than concerns about the drive home. Polysubstance abuse resulting in combined alcohol and drug impairment is increasing, though no one knows by just how much because drug impairment is more difficult than alcohol to detect. “It’s rare that it’s a single substance impacts the ability to drive safely,” Morgan said. No one knows just how many of the 1,823 drivers arrested by state police for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs from Jan. 1, 2024 until Dec. 4 in Connecticut combined drugs and alcohol, but police spokesman Sgt. Luke Davis also believes it’s an increasing percentage as excessive alcohol use alone declines. ON STATE ROADS, the number of impairment related crashes decreased this year from 428 recorded from Jan. 1 through Dec. 4 of 2023, Davis said, to 404 for the same period this year. But fatalities across the state during that time increased from 281 to 307, in part related to a spike in wrong way and reckless drivers who caused more serious and fatal crashes. Most wrong way drivers are impaired, Davis said. No one knows how much of an influence cannabis plays in violations under the single heading of illegally operating under the influence of one or the other or both, Davis said. But the increase in fatalities followed similiar trends in other states following the decriminalization of marijuana in June of 2021. Just 15 state police drug recognition experts are trained to detect the influence of a variety of drugs, especially marijuana. Another 60 such officers are on local roads. In Hartford, a recent Republican led legislative initiative to make it easier for police to pull over drivers suspected of using cannabis was defeated. The odor of cannabis cannot be used as the sole reason for an officer to pull over a driver. Another proposal to lower the legal threshold for impairment from 0.08 % to 0.05 % also failed despite an estimate by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration that lowering the level would lower the fatal crash rate by 11 percent. According to the National Conference of State Legislators, testing for drug impairment hinges on limitated drug detecting technology and the lack of an agreed upon limit for determining impairment. The nationally recognized level of impairment for drunken driving is 0.08 %but there is no similiar national standard for drugged driving. And drugs, they note, don’t have the same measurable affect on people that alcohol does yet both require proof of impairment as the basis for arrest. THE SAFETY ADMINISTRATION claims alcohol remains a larger problem than marijuana even as the use of marijuana plays an increasing role in fatal crashes as more states make it legal. In Connecticut, 30 percent of those who died from 2017-2021 had blood alcohol levels greater than 0.15. Efforts to tackle the problem of polysubtance abuse hit home in January of 2023 when Middletown Democrat Rep. Quentin “Q” Williams died when his car was struck by a wrong way driver shortly after Williams left the governor’s inaugural ball in Hartford. Both he and the driver at fault, who also died, were found to have been legally drunk and had marijuana in their systems. A greater awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving has made a difference. Julian Sawyer, owner of Sawyer’s Restaurant & Bar in Torrington said he has noticed a shift over the past couple of years as more of his customers call for rides when they have had a few too many. On a night before Thanksgiving, a few of his younger customers got rides home from their parents. The eatery staff will often take the initiative and call an Uber. But people over the past couple of years have been calling Uber more often. “And they are more available.” “If I know you and you’re a good customer, I’ll give you a ride home myself,” he said. “I’ve given many rides.” Mothers Against Drunk Driving New England Executive Director Rob Garguilo said the trend in younger drivers acting responsibly has certainly saved lives. “They are making right decision based on a number of things,” he said. “They understand the dangers and they have a solution at their fingertips to call an Uber.” Hope is already in the offing for safer roadways. Within three years the first vehicles equipped with technology able to detect certain telltale habits of impaired driving, such as eye movement but not a breathalyzer, will role off the assembly line. It will help to reverse a startling increase from 10,000 prepandemic national highway deaths to 13,000 as most people stopped driving to work and shed millions of highway miles, Garguilo said. Sloan Brewster contributed to this report.Global stocks end mostly up with DAX crossing 20,000 for 1st time

H&R Block Inc. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitors300-plus unit San Jose housing tower could help fuel downtown revival

While shoppers can’t get enough of their holiday deals , Amazon is making bold moves in the world of AI. The tech giant revealed a lineup of innovative AI tools and services at its annual re:Invent conference, including Nova. As stated in the company's blog , Nova is "a new generation of state-of-the-art foundation models (FMs ) that deliver frontier intelligence and industry leading price performance, available exclusively in Amazon Bedrock . You can use Amazon Nova to lower costs and latency for almost any generative AI task." For example, Nova Reel was used to create this advertisement for a fictional pasta brand, showcasing the AI's ability to help retailers bring their products to life. Generative AI takes center stage Among Amazon's announcements is the launch of new AI models under its proprietary "Titan" family. These models will power various applications, from content generation to personalized recommendations like Rufus . This marks Amazon's bid to compete with industry leaders like OpenAI ’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini . Amazon also introduced Amazon Q, a generative AI-powered assistant capable of summarizing documents, enhancing collaboration, and troubleshooting cloud applications. With its ability to integrate into business environments, Amazon Q aims to redefine productivity across industries. Doubling down on AI infrastructure To support its AI efforts, Amazon has also expanded its AI infrastructure. One of the standout developments is the upcoming "Rainier" AI supercomputer, built using Amazon’s Trainium chips . Set to become one of the most powerful AI clusters globally, Rainier is expected to handle large-scale training workloads for cutting-edge AI models. This focus on infrastructure extends to Amazon's strategic partnership with Anthropic , the prominent AI startup behind the very human-like chatbot Claude . Amazon recently announced an additional $4 billion investment in Anthropic, bringing its total funding to $8 billion. Anthropic will use Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its primary cloud platform, further strengthening Amazon’s position as a go-to resource for AI innovation. Video and image AI Another highlight of today's announcement is Amazon's development of Olympus, a generative AI model specifically designed for video and image applications. Olympus promises to make video analysis and editing as simple as entering text prompts, allowing users to find and modify video scenes effortlessly. The model aims to compete with existing tools while setting a new standard for visual AI capabilities. AI-designed carbon solutions Amazon is also leveraging AI for sustainability . The company plans to pilot a material for carbon removal in its data centers, designed using AI by the startup Orbital Materials. This innovative material, functioning as a CO2 sponge, reflects Amazon's commitment to tackling climate change through technology. The pilot is scheduled to begin in 2025, aligning with Amazon’s broader goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. The road ahead As competition in the AI sector heats up, Amazon’s latest advancements underline its aim to remain at the forefront of technological innovation. From expanding infrastructure to introducing cutting-edge models, Amazon is investing heavily in AI, making AI central part of its business strategy. With these developments, Amazon has set the stage for a transformative year in AI, creating tools and solutions that promise to reshape industries, boost productivity, and inspire creativity. For the future of AI being built, it’s looking like Amazon wants to lead the way. More from Tom's GuidePlans to stabilise Earth's climate rely on emerging carbon removal technology – we need to get moving

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FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Cam Miller threw three touchdown passes, ran for another and second-seeded North Dakota State blew past a 14-point deficit to beat 15th-seeded Abilene Christian 51-31 on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs. The Bison (11-2), in the FCS playoffs for a 15th straight season and winner of nine FCS titles, will host seventh-seeded Mercer in the quarterfinals. Abilene Christian (9-5) took a 17-3 lead on a 13-yard TD pass from Maverick McIvor to J.J. Henry, a 90-yard run by Sam Hicks and a Ritse Vaes 29-yard field goal early in the second quarter. The Bison then took over, starting with Jackson Williams' 100-yard kickoff return to start a run of 31 consecutive points, 17 coming in the second quarter for a 20-17 halftime lead. The scoring streak ended when Nehemiah Martinez’s 53-yard return helped set up Hicks’ 3-yard score to get the Wildcats within 34-24. But the Bison matched that TD on their ensuing drive on Miller’s 36-yard connection with Bryce Lance to cap their 21-point third quarter. Again, the Wildcats got within 10 early in the fourth quarter on Rovaughn Banks Jr.’s 2-yard TD run. But NDSU’s Marcus Gulley returned an interception 37 yards to the ACU 9 and the Crosa kicked a field goal and Logan Kopp followed with a 31-yard pick-6. Miller was 20 of 29 for 274 yards passing. McIvor threw for 153 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Hicks ran for 153 yards on 16 carries. ACU, champion of the United Athletic Conference, was in its first FCS playoffs since joining the classification in 2013, and beat Northern Arizona in its first-round game. Crosa has made his 262nd career PAT to pass NDSU's Cam Pederson (2015-18) and set an FCS record. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25I Will Find You: Netflix Orders Next Harlan Coben Show With Gotham Producer By has officially granted a series order to its next miniseries titled, , based on Coben’s 2023 bestselling thriller novel. The project hails from and Once Upon a Time producer Robert Hull, who has been tapped to serve as the limited drama’s showrunner. “Harlan’s gripping stories are beloved around the world and have consistently captivated fans with their trademark twists and turns, dramatic cliffhangers and compelling mysteries,” Netflix executive Peter Friedlander said in a statement. “There is no one like Harlan, and his first U.S. scripted series with Netflix will be no exception. We know he and Robby will deliver the same thrilling experience that audiences have come to expect and which sets it apart as a must-watch event.” What is I Will Find You about? I Will Find You will be created and executive produced by Hull and Coben under his production company called Final Twist Productions, as part of his creative partnership with Netflix. It will also be executive produced by Quantum Leap team Bryan Wynbrandt and Steven Lilien, along with John Weber. This comes ahead of the 2025 release of Coben’s series, which will be available for streaming on January 1. “The series centers around an innocent father serving a life sentence for the murder of his own son. When he receives evidence that his son my still be alive, he is determined to break out of prison to discover the truth,” reads the film’s official synopsis. Source: Maggie Dela Paz has been writing about the movie and TV industry for more than four years now. Besides being a fan of coming-of-age films and shows, she also enjoys watching K-Dramas and listening to her favorite K-Pop groups. Her current TV obsessions right now are FX’s The Bear and the popular anime My Hero Academia. Share articleFor much of last season, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores held his unit together with string and some duct tape. It worked for the most part due to Flores’ blitz packages and multiple coverages. However, the shortage of talent caught up to Minnesota as the Lions (twice) and the Packers scored 30 or more points on them down the stretch. The Vikings saw edge rushers Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum and middle linebacker Jordan Hicks walk in free agency. With these departures and some holes to fill at the cornerback position, 2024-25 looked like a rebuilding year for the Minnesota defense. Vikings Acquire Defensive Help But Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell made some quiet but important moves in free agency. First, they signed free-agent edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkle to a one-year contract. They then turned their sights to the Lones Star State and picked up rising sack star Jonathan Greenard and late-blooming inside linebacker Blake Cashman, also in free agency. Those additions, including defensive lineman Jerry Tillery and veteran cornerbacks Shaq Griffin and Stephon Gilmore, have transformed Minnesota’s defense into one of the best in the NFL. How good? In this case, the numbers don’t lie. The Purple defense currently ranks fourth in the league for points allowed with 219 through 12 games. And their run defense is even stingier, allowing only 976 rushing yards to their opponents. And although their bend but don’t break pass defense gives up an average of 243 passing yards a game, they have only relinquished 18 touchdowns through the air, which places them solidly in the middle of the pack, statistically speaking. Hometown Boy Does Great Blake Cashman played his high school football at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota and was an All-State cornerback and linebacker on four state championship teams. Despite his success, he was an unranked recruit who chose to walk on at the University of Minnesota. Playing without a scholarship at first, he worked his way into the starting lineup as a sophomore and eventually led the team in tackles as a senior, making the All-Big Ten Second Team. Cashman was drafted in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, but a series of injuries left his career in doubt. Shoulder, hamstring, and groin problems kept him out of 35-49 games over his three years in New York. The Jets traded him to the Houston Texans after the 2022 season. But Cashman got healthy, and in 2023, under new Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, he flourished. In 13 starts last season, he had a team-high 106 tackles. Salary cap considerations dictated that Cashman might have to find employment elsewhere. The Vikings, Texans, Broncos, Packers, Steelers, and Falcons all lined up in an attempt to sign the rising league star. The Vikings won out inking Cashman to a three-year deal. And he has rewarded the team with an All-Pro-like performance in 2024. Despite missing three midseason games due to a turf toe injury, he is third on the team with 66 tackles, has contributed three quarterback sacks, and has been the defensive play-caller all season. A Star in the Making Jonathan Greenard was a two-sport star (football, basketball) at Hiram High School in Hiram, Georgia. On the football field, he was named the 5-A Regional Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. He chose the University of Louisville to continue his education and career. After an injury-plagued tenure at Louisville, he transferred to the University of Florida as a graduate transfer, where he finished his college career with 9.5 sacks, 52 tackles, and three forced fumbles. He was named Southeastern Conference Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week for his efforts after his first game with the Gators against Miami. Greeenard was drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. He became a starter in his second season, registering eight sacks in 12 games. Unfortunately, he was limited to eight games in 2022 due to a calf injury. But he put it all together the next season when he accounted for 12.5 sacks in 15 games in his breakout season. And the Vikings came calling last offseason, eventually signing Greenard to a four-year $76 million contract. And neither party has looked back as he has accumulated 10 sacks and, along with Van Ginkle and the Patrick Jones II, has provided Minnesota with a dynamic outside pass rush. If his play continues at this pace, he will be a strong candidate for Pro-Bowl and All-Pro honors at season’s end. The Texas Two-Step After Blake Cashman signed with the Vikings this off-season, his first call was to his girlfriend. His second call? Not to his mother, his agent, or his brother. It was to teammate Jonathan Greenard, who had also just signed on with Minnesota . They discussed their future together, playing for the Vikings. “We immediately were just sharing our excitement, congratulating each other and talking about what kind of mentality we’re going into this with, and ‘We’re gonna make this a great year.’ We both came off, you know, probably our best season so we just want to continue to work hard and take the next step.” This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

Information minister, Blueprint editor, others grace wedding Fatiha for NOA DG’s daughterPHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia City Council members continue marathon closed-door negotiations over a proposed Center City arena for the Sixers called 76 Place . They're trying to come to a deal on the $1.3 billion project after the city rescheduled their initial vote that would have taken place at the end of a public hearing on Tuesday. The project doesn't use any city funds but residents say it still comes at a cost. Some of them spoke about that during Thursday's council meeting. The meeting was not a public hearing like we've seen for weeks regarding the arena, but residents still got up and talked about it. "We do not support this arena in the middle of our city," said Will Chan as he spoke against the proposal Thursday morning. Residents ran their own game plan to address city council members, speaking out against the proposed arena. "This arena threatens the very existence of Chinatown," said one resident commenting on the issue. On Tuesday, City Council postponed the initial vote to get the legislation out of committee. They had planned a hearing Thursday but canceled it . Council President Kenyatta Johnson confirms that councilmembers have been in closed-door negotiations with the Sixers in the 48 hours since Tuesday's meeting ended. "It's a work in progress," said Johnson (D - Dist. 2), "And right now we're just having conversations on what our issues and concerns are." Johnson said there are several issues being negotiated including assurances that women and minority-owned businesses can equally benefit from the project. There also continues to be a stalemate over the Community Benefits Agreement or CBA. In it, the Sixers agreed to give the city $50 million for various initiatives over the course of 30 years. A number of councilmembers, though, have repeatedly said that $50 million is not enough. In the meeting, it was said that councilmembers Kendra Brooks (Working Families Party, At Large), Nicolas O'Rourke (Working Families Party, At Large) and Jeffery Young, Jr. (D, Dist 5) are asking for $300 million. It's not clear if that number is feasible, but it's one that opponents of the arena have latched onto. "The arena is worth at least $300 million to our city, and the current deal is worth just 1/6th of that," said Vivian Chang, an arena opponent. Union leaders support the arena. They question why opponents, who are intent on preserving Chinatown, are now open to the agreement if it means more money in the CBA. "Now all of a sudden at the 11th hour, they're throwing out a ridiculous number like $300 million," said IBW Local 98 Political Director T. J. Lepera. Arena opponents say they don't want the council to rush into a decision. "If they don't get all the details, they recognize that we are going to suffer," said Rev. Dr. Sharon Avant, who is a Committeeperson in the 8th councilmanic district. Arena supporters say the city needs the jobs that a new arena would bring. "We've been here every day making our voices known to council and the city of Philadelphia," said Brian Stevenson, a longtime IBW Local98 member. Mark Squilla (D, Dist 1) represents the area where the arena would be built and nearby Chinatown. he introduced the legislation and says the process is going as it should, with lots of back-and-forth. "Once a decision is made, some people will be upset. Probably everybody on every side will be upset at the end of the day," said Squilla. The next hearing on the issue is Wednesday. Officials with the Sixers have previously said they want this deal approved by the end of the year. Right now, it's not clear if council will be able to do that or if they'll approve the arena at all. "We need nine votes to move this process forward," said Johnson, "and we don't see nine votes at the moment."