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milyon88 com promotion philippines WASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. FILE - The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Zhangjiakou, China, on Feb. 2, 2022. A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” US officials recommend encrypted messaging apps amid "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack, attributed to China, targeting AT&T, Verizon, and others. The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online. Picture this: You're on vacation in a city abroad, exploring museums, tasting the local cuisine, and people-watching at cafés. Everything is going perfectly until you get a series of alerts on your phone. Someone is making fraudulent charges using your credit card, sending you into a panic. How could this have happened? Cyberattacks targeting travelers are nothing new. But as travel has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so has the volume of hackers and cybercriminals preying upon tourists. Financial fraud is the most common form of cybercrime experienced by travelers, but surveillance via public Wi-Fi networks, social media hacking, and phishing scams are also common, according to a survey by ExpressVPN . Spokeo consulted cybersecurity sources and travel guides to determine some of the best ways to protect your phone while traveling, from using a VPN to managing secure passwords. Online attacks are not the only type of crime impacting travelers—physical theft of phones is also a threat. Phones have become such invaluable travel aids, housing our navigation tools, digital wallets, itineraries, and contacts, that having your phone stolen, lost, or compromised while abroad can be devastating. Meanwhile, traveling can make people uniquely vulnerable to both cyber and physical attacks due to common pitfalls like oversharing on social media and letting your guard down when it comes to taking risks online. Luckily, there are numerous precautions travelers can take to safeguard against cyberattacks and phone theft. Hackers can—and do—target public Wi-Fi networks at cafés and hotels to gain access to your personal information or install malware onto your device, particularly on unsecured networks. Travelers are especially vulnerable to these types of cybersecurity breaches because they are often more reliant on public Wi-Fi than they would be in their home countries where they have more robust phone plans. This reliance on public, unsecured networks means travelers are more likely to use those networks to perform sensitive tasks like financial transfers, meaning hackers can easily gain access to banking information or other passwords. One easy way to safeguard yourself against these breaches is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, while traveling. VPNs are apps that encrypt your data and hide your location, preventing hackers from accessing personal information. An added bonus is that VPNs allow you to access websites that may be blocked or unavailable in the country you are visiting. To use a VPN, simply download a VPN app on your phone or computer, create an account, choose a server, and connect. Pickpockets, scammers, and flagrant, snatch-your-phone-right-out-of-your-hand thieves can be found pretty much everywhere. In London, for instance, a staggering 91,000 phones were reported stolen to police in 2022 , breaking down to an average of 248 per day, according to the BBC. Whether you're visiting a crowded tourist attraction or just want peace of mind, travel experts advise taking precautions to make sure your phone isn't physically stolen or compromised while traveling. There are several antitheft options to choose from. If you want a bag that will protect your phone from theft, experts recommend looking for features like slash-resistant fabric, reinforced shoulder straps, hidden zippers that can be locked, and secure attachment points, like a cross-body strap or a sturdy clip. For tethers, look for those made of tear-resistant material with a reinforced clip or ring. If your phone falls into the wrong hands, there's a good chance you won't be getting it back. Out of those 91,000 phones stolen in London in 2022, only 1,915 (or about 2%) were recovered. The good news is that you can take precautions to make the loss of your phone less devastating by backing up your data before you travel. With backed-up data, you can acquire a new device and still access your photos, contacts, messages, and passwords. Moreover, if you have "Find My Device" or "Find My Phone" enabled, you can remotely wipe your stolen phone's data so the thief cannot access it. It's safest to back up your data to a hard drive and not just the cloud. That way, if you have to wipe your device, you don't accidentally erase the backup, too. In order for the previous tip on this list to work, "Find My Phone" must be turned on in advance, but remotely wiping your device isn't the only thing this feature allows you to do. The "Find My Phone" feature enables you to track your device, as long as it's turned on and not in airplane mode. This is particularly helpful if you misplaced your phone or left it somewhere since it can help you retrace your steps. While this feature won't show you the live location of a phone that has been turned off, it will show the phone's last known location. With "Find My Phone," you can also remotely lock your phone or enable "Lost Mode," which locks down the phone, suspends any in-phone payment methods, and displays contact information for returning the phone to you. If your phone was stolen, experts caution against taking matters into your own hands by chasing down the thief, since this could land you in a potentially dangerous situation and is unlikely to result in getting your phone back. Strong passwords for important accounts help protect your information while you travel, but it's just a first step. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends creating long, unique, and complex passwords for every account and combining them with multifactor authentication to create maximum barriers to entry. If you're worried about remembering these passwords, password managers can be a vital tool for both creating and storing strong passwords. Password managers are apps that act as secure vaults for all your passwords. Some even come with a feature that allows you to temporarily delete sensitive passwords before you travel and then easily restore them once you return. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.WASHINGTON — While Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer pushes to confirm many of Joe Biden’s judicial nominees through the lame-duck session, Republicans have employed a series of procedural tactics to slow down the process as much as possible. When Schumer attempted to file cloture on nominees Monday evening, a procedural step typically done in just a few minutes with unanimous consent, Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and John Thune, R-S.D., asked for the yeas and nays on each motion. That forced the chamber into a series of 18 roll call votes lasting more than four hours as it moved back and forth from legislative to executive session. By the end, shortly before midnight, cloture had been filed on nine district court judges. Then, when the first scheduled cloture vote was about to begin Tuesday morning, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, objected to a motion from Sen. Christopher S. Murphy, D-Conn., to waive the mandatory quorum call, another procedural step typically occurring without incident. It then took around 40 minutes for the Senate to move to the scheduled vote to invoke cloture on the nomination of Mustafa Kasubhai to be a U.S. district judge for the District of Oregon. The delay tactics didn’t prevent Democrats from confirming any judges. But it leaves Democrats with just one option – play the waiting game. “They’re going by the rules, and the rules are the rules, but I think our persistence and determination will overcome their obstruction delays,” Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said the Democrats are not doing anything immoral when they try to push through Biden’s nominees before the end of the year. “It’s exactly what we do in the same circumstances, but it’s our job to try and slow it down,” Romney said. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said Biden lost an election. “It takes unanimous consent on our part to speed up the process and to make it easy for him. Why would we do that?” Hawley said. Four years ago, when Donald Trump was a lame duck president, Republicans confirmed 18 of Trump’s judicial nominees between the presidential election and the end of the Congress, including one appeals court judge and 12 district court judges, according to Senate records. Among those was the confirmation of a consequential nominee: Aileen Cannon to be a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Cannon would go on to preside over the criminal case related to Trump’s retention of classified documents after his presidency, where he faced more than three dozen charges including false statements, concealing government records and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Cannon in 2022 initially ruled in Trump’s favor to prevent the Justice Department from using classified documents seized in this summer’s search of Mar-a-Lago in a criminal investigation. A panel of judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit reversed her ruling, and the Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal of that ruling. Then in 2024 Cannon dismissed the case against Trump, finding that the special counsel handling the case was appointed unconstitutionally. The Justice Department has appealed that ruling to the 11th Circuit as well, but Trump’s election means the charges against him will not go forward. Attendance has also become a flashpoint for some Republican senators as the clock winds down on the Senate’s work for the year. On Monday, the Senate voted 49-45 to confirm Embry Kidd to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Sen. Joe Manchin III, I-W.Va., voted against the confirmation, and five Republicans did not vote, including Sens. JD Vance of Ohio, the vice president-elect, and Marco Rubio of Florida, Trump’s pick to be secretary of State. Carrie Severino, the president of conservative advocacy group JCN, pointed Tuesday to the 49-45 vote to confirm Embry Kidd to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. “If all of the Republican Senators showed up, Kidd’s nomination would’ve been rejected 49-50 and President Trump may have had an opportunity to fill the vacancy instead,” Severino said on social media. Prior to Tuesday, Vance had not cast a vote in the Senate since being named Donald Trump’s running mate in July. He showed up to vote Wednesday, as criticism of Republican lack of attendance to block Biden nominees bubbled up in conservative commentary circles. On Wednesday morning, if all Republican senators had voted on two judicial nominations, it might have required Vice President Kamala Harris to vote to break a tie. The Senate voted 50-48 to confirm Rebecca L. Pennell to be a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington and 50-48 to invoke cloture on the nomination of Amir H. Ali to be a judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The two absences were Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Mike Braun, R-Ind., who will leave the Senate in January to become governor of Indiana. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said he was “very angry” over the attendance issues. “Ninety percent of success in life is showing up. We could have stopped those 18 votes after that first vote if we had shown up that day,” Tillis said. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable to make damn sure we’re all there at the strike of the gavel. It’s that simple.”We Need To Keep Big Business From Owning Everything | Opinion

Investing your annual $7,000 Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) contribution limit is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make. Deciding how to allocate it effectively is key to building wealth over time. With no taxes on the growth or withdrawals, a TFSA offers the perfect opportunity to grow your investments without worrying about the taxman. Let’s dive into why a mix of solid , exchange-traded funds (ETF), and blue-chip performers like ( ) makes sense, especially given RY’s impressive earnings performance. Options to choose The first rule of investing in your TFSA is diversification. Spreading your investment across multiple assets helps manage risk and creates stability. Think of your portfolio as a team. Each player has a role, and together, they can win the financial game even if one teammate falters. This approach not only reduces risks but also takes advantage of different sectors’ potential growth. Now, when it comes to Canadian blue-chip stocks, Royal Bank of Canada is often a standout. RBC stock is Canada’s largest bank by market capitalization—a position it’s held for years due to its strong financial performance and diversified operations. From personal and commercial banking to wealth management, insurance, and capital markets, RBC stock has its hands in almost every aspect of finance. This diversification is a major strength because it ensures the bank’s earnings aren’t overly dependent on one business segment. Speaking of earnings, let’s look at RBC’s recent results, which continue to solidify its reputation as a top-tier investment. In its latest quarterly earnings report (Q4 2024), RBC stock posted a 17.7% increase in adjusted net income, reaching a whopping $4.44 billion. This stellar growth was driven in part by its acquisition of HSBC’s Canadian operations earlier this year. This brought in 780,000 new clients and significantly expanded its mortgage and corporate loan portfolios. The integration of HSBC’s operations is already proving to be a game-changer, adding both scale and revenue to RBC’s core business. Considerations Looking ahead, RBC stock is positioned for continued growth. Its strategic acquisitions, strong balance sheet, and diversified revenue streams provide a solid foundation. trailing annual dividend yield of 3.15% and forward yield of 3.23% are especially appealing for TFSA investors seeking reliable income. With a payout ratio of just under 49%, RBC stock maintains ample room to continue rewarding shareholders while reinvesting in growth. For your TFSA, allocating a portion of your $7,000 to RBC stock could be a winning move. Its consistent performance, strong dividend history, and growth potential make it an anchor for any portfolio. Pairing RBC with a low-cost ETF would add diversification. Another advantage of choosing RBC stock for your TFSA is its resilience in uncertain markets. Over the past year, its stock has risen significantly, with a 52-week range between $123.44 and $179.86, nearing its high again after a brief dip. This performance demonstrates investor confidence and RBC stock’s ability to thrive even when economic headwinds arise. It’s not just a safe choice. It’s a smart one. Bottom line The TFSA is a financial powerhouse when used wisely. By investing in blue-chip giants like RBC stock alongside diversified ETFs, you create a balanced portfolio that generates income, capital gains, and peace of mind. Whether you’re saving for retirement, a big purchase, or simply growing your wealth, your TFSA contribution limit is an opportunity you shouldn’t pass up. With RBC stock’s strong fundamentals, robust dividends, and future outlook, it’s a perfect place to start.

How Surgeons Kept What Health Care LostThe best Maelstrom loadout in Black Ops 6 makes the most of the fact that the game finally has a fully automatic shotgun. Fully-auto shotguns are best used with a fast-paced run-and-gun build where you try to get in the face of your enemies as much as possible, because as is the case with most shotguns, you don’t have much range. However, the Maelstrom is one of the best shotguns in the game if you can manage this, thanks to how quickly it fires, so our build is mostly geared around increasing the damage range and accuracy as much as possible. We also want to enable fast-paced movement and handling with the stock and laser attachments. So without further ado, here’s the best Maelstrom loadout in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and how to unlock the gun to begin with in Season 1 Reloaded. Table of Contents How to unlock the Maelstrom in Black Ops 6 Best Maelstrom loadout in Black Ops 6 Best Maelstrom class in Black Ops 6 How to unlock the Maelstrom in Black Ops 6 To unlock the Maelstrom in Black Ops 6 , you need to complete the Merry Mayhem event in Season 1 Reloaded. This involves earning a total of 600,000 XP during the event, which runs until Thursday, Dec. 19th . Earning this much XP will mean you’ve unlocked all the rewards, of which the Maelstrom is the very final one. Alternatively, if you don’t have the time to commit between now and then, you can also buy the Bad Manners bundle from the in-game store. This costs 1,800 COD Points and will grant you the Party Etiquette blueprint for the Maelstrom, which unlocks the gun for you to level up. Best Maelstrom loadout in Black Ops 6 Here is the best Maelstrom loadout in Black Ops 6 : Muzzle: Modified Choke Barrel: Reinforced Barrel Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip Stock: Balanced Stock Laser: Strelok Laser The most important thing to note with the Maelstrom is that you ideally want to be aiming down the sights when you’re firing, thanks to the Modified Choke , which reduces the pellet spread considerably but only when ADSing. It’s a minor inconvenience for a major buff as it almost guarantees all of your pellets will land. Finally, there’s the Strelok Laser , which is all about buffing your hipfire to ADS accuracy. It makes the laser visible when aiming down the sights, but it’s a small price to pay since you don’t want to be walking everywhere while aiming, you want to just pull the gun up quickly when in combat. (If you opt to not use the Modified Choke, you can also replace the Strelok Laser with the Fast Motion Laser for better hipfire accuracy.) Best Maelstrom class in Black Ops 6 The Reinforced Barrel is essential for that small damage range buff, and since this is a shotgun, bullet velocity also comes into play due to the short range, as opposed to weapons like assault rifles where bullet velocity usually isn’t that important to consider. Then on the mobility side of things we have the Ergonomic Grip to buff your slide to fire, dive to fire, and ADS speeds, while the Balanced Stock buffs the following speeds too: Strafing movement, movement, hipfire movement, and aim walking movement. That’s a lot of moving. Here is the best class to use with the Maelstrom in Black Ops 6 : Pistol: Grekhova Melee: Knife Tactical: Stim Shot Lethal: Combat Axe Field Upgrade: Sleeper Agent Perk 1: Dexterity Perk 2: Assassin Perk 3: Double Time Wildcard: Perk Greed Perk 4: Ghost As is the case with most weapons, you’ll want the Grekhova as your trusty sidearm thanks to how quickly you can switch to it and mow enemies down with its fire rate. The Knife is always the best melee choice to go with this. When it comes to equipment, since you’ll be sprinting and diving constantly, the Stim Shot is essential to keep you alive, as it heals your wounds and refreshes tactical sprint. Meanwhile, the Combat Axe is a helpful tool to quickly throw at any enemies you don’t manage to kill with one magazine of the Maelstrom. Since you’ll be behind enemy lines often, the Sleeper Agent field upgrade is one of the most situational tools in the game but it can be very effective here as it disguises you as a member of the enemy team. On the perk front, you’ll want all red perks for the Enforcer specialty, as this grants a temporary buff to both your movement speed and health regen rate whenever you kill enemies. The three best red perks to opt for are: Dexterity for the improved accuracy when moving and reduced fall damage; Assassin to stop enemies from getting kill streaks (though take note that neither this or Bruiser are great options, Assassin is just the better choice of the two for this class); and Double Time to allow you to sprint pretty much constantly. For the wildcard, we’d recommend Perk Greed alongside Ghost as this combo will keep you invisible to enemy radar effects. (You could also opt for Ninja to move quieter, Flak Jacket to protect you from incoming explosives, or Tac Mask to protect from tactical grenades.) If you don’t want to run Perk Greed, choose Gunfighter, and as one of your extra attachments, make sure you pick a bigger magazine — that’s the one weakness this gun has currently. Elsewhere, we have multiplayer explainers on the best guns , maps , and Double XP , campaign guides for safehouse puzzles and safe code locations , and the Liberty Falls vault code in Zombies. Black Ops 6 guides Guides PC PlayStation Xbox

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Mark Olfson, MD, MPH Credit: Columbia, Department of Psychiatry A cross-sectional study demonstrated significant psychotherapy increases from 2018 to 2021 among adults with mild or moderate distress, college education, greater family income, and private insurance, as well as young adults and females. 1 In 2021, people were significantly more likely to use teletherapy if they had a greater income, were employed, and were college-educated. Last February, the same team reported that the proportion of US adults receiving psychotherapy increased from 6.5% in 2018 to 8.5% in 2021. 2 This previous report found the rate of outpatient mental health care decreased for individuals with serious psychological distress, particularly among older adults, the unemployed, lower-income, less educated, and rural residents. "While psychotherapy access has expanded in the US, there's concern that recent gains may not be equally distributed, despite or maybe because of the growth of teletherapy," said Mark Olfson, MD, MPH, from Columbia Mailman School professor of Epidemiology and Psychiatry. 3 "This increase in psychotherapy use, driven by the rise of teletherapy, has largely benefited socioeconomically advantaged adults with mild to moderate distress." Due to this concern, investigators sought to characterize trends and patterns in outpatient psychotherapy using the 2018 to 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys. 1 The repeated cross-sectional study included 89,619 adults (51.5% female) with 29% aged 18 – 34 years, 48.8% aged 35 – 64 years, and 22.2% aged ≥ 65 years. The team measured age-, sex-, and distress-adjusted differences in psychotherapy between 2018 – 2021. They also measured for differences in age, sex, and distress in teletherapy. Investigators examined trends across levels of sociodemographic characteristics and distress. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler-6 scale; a score ≥ 13 indicated serious psychological distress, 1 – 12 indicated mild to moderate distress, and 0 indicated no distress. The study revealed psychotherapy use increased significantly quicker between 2018 and 2021 for females (7.7% to 10.5%) than males (5.2% to 6.3%), younger individuals aged 18 – 34 years (8% to 11.9%) than older individuals aged ≥ 65 years (3.6% to 4.6%), college graduates (7.6% to 11.4%) than those without a high school diploma (5.5% to 7%), privately insured (6.1% to 8.9%) than publicly insured (8.8% to 8.8%), adults at 2 to 4 times the poverty level (5.7% to 8.2%) than below the poverty level (9.7%. to 10%), employed (5.7% to 8.9%) than unemployed aged 18 – 34 and ≥ 65 years (10.8% to 10.5%, and urban adults (6.5% to 8.7%) than rural (6.4 to 5.9%). Controlling for distress levels showed teletherapy use was significantly greater among younger adults than middle-aged (35 – 64 years) (difference, -3.7 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -5.1 to -2.3) and older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) (difference, -6.5 percentage points; 95% CI, -8.0 to -5.0). Teletherapy was also significantly greater among participants who were not married (difference, 2.9 percentage points; 95% CI, 1.6 to 4.2), college-educated adults (difference, 4.9 percentage points; 95% CI, 3.3 to 6.4), people who were higher on the federal poverty level (difference, 2.3 percentage points; 95% CI, 1.2 to 3.5), privately insured (difference, -2.5 percentage points; 95% CI, -3.4 to -1.5), and urban residents (difference, 2.7 percentage points; 95% CI, 1.5 to 3.8). “Technological challenges, preferences for in-person care, and financial barriers can hinder access to teletherapy," Olfson said. 2 "There is growing concern that the rise of telemental health could deepen existing disparities in access to care. The trends we are seeing underscore the need for targeted interventions and health policies that expand psychotherapy access to underserved groups.” References Olfson M, McClellan C, Zuvekas SH, Wall M, Blanco C. Trends in Outpatient Psychotherapy Among Adults in the US. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online December 04, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.3903 Derman, C. Psychologically Distressed Patients Faced Challenges During COVID-19. HCPLive. February 8, 2024. https://www.hcplive.com/view/psychologically-distressed-patients-faced-challenges-during-covid-19 . Accessed December 4, 2024. Study shows significant rise in psychotherapy use among adults, but gains are uneven across socioeconomic groups. EurekAlert! December 4, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1066713 . Accessed December 4, 2024.Fiorentina also suffered a shock defeat to Empoli in the Coppa Italia. Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 LaLiga defeat at Athletic Bilbao as Kylian Mbappe missed from the penalty spot again. Alex Berenguer prodded the hosts ahead after 53 minutes before Mbappe – who failed to convert a Champions League penalty against Liverpool last week – sent his kick too close to Bilbao goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. Jude Bellingham appeared to have rescued a point for Real after scoring for the fourth successive league game 12 minutes from time. But Federico Valverde’s mistake two minutes later gifted Gorka Guruzeta the winner in front of a delirious San Mames crowd. On a busy night of second-round Copa del Rey action, Villarreal suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Pontevedra while there were wins for Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia. Fiorentina went out of the Coppa Italia to Empoli on penalties on an emotional night at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Viola were back in action after Edoardo Bove’s health scare forced their weekend league fixture with Inter Milan to be abandoned during the first half. Midfielder Bove collapsed on the pitch and required emergency medical treatment. He was taken to hospital but regained consciousness in intensive care. Empoli led at half-time through Emmanuel Ekong’s fourth-minute opener before Moise Kean and Riccardo Sottil put Fiorentina ahead. Sebastiano Esposito struck 15 minutes from time to make it 2-2 and take the last-16 tie into extra time, Empoli eventually winning 4-3 on penalties. Benjamin Sesko opened the scoring and Luis Openda struck twice as RB Leipzig brushed aside Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in the German DFB Pokal. Second-half goals from Denis Vavro, Jonas Wind and Yannick Gerhardt saw Wolfsburg beat Hoffenheim 3-0. Cologne knocked out Hertha Berlin 2-1 after extra time with Dejan Ljubicic converting a penalty in the final seconds, while Augsburg prevailed 5-4 on penalties against Karlsruhe after a 2-2 draw.

WASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. FILE - The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Zhangjiakou, China, on Feb. 2, 2022. A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” US officials recommend encrypted messaging apps amid "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack, attributed to China, targeting AT&T, Verizon, and others. The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online. Picture this: You're on vacation in a city abroad, exploring museums, tasting the local cuisine, and people-watching at cafés. Everything is going perfectly until you get a series of alerts on your phone. Someone is making fraudulent charges using your credit card, sending you into a panic. How could this have happened? Cyberattacks targeting travelers are nothing new. But as travel has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so has the volume of hackers and cybercriminals preying upon tourists. Financial fraud is the most common form of cybercrime experienced by travelers, but surveillance via public Wi-Fi networks, social media hacking, and phishing scams are also common, according to a survey by ExpressVPN . Spokeo consulted cybersecurity sources and travel guides to determine some of the best ways to protect your phone while traveling, from using a VPN to managing secure passwords. Online attacks are not the only type of crime impacting travelers—physical theft of phones is also a threat. Phones have become such invaluable travel aids, housing our navigation tools, digital wallets, itineraries, and contacts, that having your phone stolen, lost, or compromised while abroad can be devastating. Meanwhile, traveling can make people uniquely vulnerable to both cyber and physical attacks due to common pitfalls like oversharing on social media and letting your guard down when it comes to taking risks online. Luckily, there are numerous precautions travelers can take to safeguard against cyberattacks and phone theft. Hackers can—and do—target public Wi-Fi networks at cafés and hotels to gain access to your personal information or install malware onto your device, particularly on unsecured networks. Travelers are especially vulnerable to these types of cybersecurity breaches because they are often more reliant on public Wi-Fi than they would be in their home countries where they have more robust phone plans. This reliance on public, unsecured networks means travelers are more likely to use those networks to perform sensitive tasks like financial transfers, meaning hackers can easily gain access to banking information or other passwords. One easy way to safeguard yourself against these breaches is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, while traveling. VPNs are apps that encrypt your data and hide your location, preventing hackers from accessing personal information. An added bonus is that VPNs allow you to access websites that may be blocked or unavailable in the country you are visiting. To use a VPN, simply download a VPN app on your phone or computer, create an account, choose a server, and connect. Pickpockets, scammers, and flagrant, snatch-your-phone-right-out-of-your-hand thieves can be found pretty much everywhere. In London, for instance, a staggering 91,000 phones were reported stolen to police in 2022 , breaking down to an average of 248 per day, according to the BBC. Whether you're visiting a crowded tourist attraction or just want peace of mind, travel experts advise taking precautions to make sure your phone isn't physically stolen or compromised while traveling. There are several antitheft options to choose from. If you want a bag that will protect your phone from theft, experts recommend looking for features like slash-resistant fabric, reinforced shoulder straps, hidden zippers that can be locked, and secure attachment points, like a cross-body strap or a sturdy clip. For tethers, look for those made of tear-resistant material with a reinforced clip or ring. If your phone falls into the wrong hands, there's a good chance you won't be getting it back. Out of those 91,000 phones stolen in London in 2022, only 1,915 (or about 2%) were recovered. The good news is that you can take precautions to make the loss of your phone less devastating by backing up your data before you travel. With backed-up data, you can acquire a new device and still access your photos, contacts, messages, and passwords. Moreover, if you have "Find My Device" or "Find My Phone" enabled, you can remotely wipe your stolen phone's data so the thief cannot access it. It's safest to back up your data to a hard drive and not just the cloud. That way, if you have to wipe your device, you don't accidentally erase the backup, too. In order for the previous tip on this list to work, "Find My Phone" must be turned on in advance, but remotely wiping your device isn't the only thing this feature allows you to do. The "Find My Phone" feature enables you to track your device, as long as it's turned on and not in airplane mode. This is particularly helpful if you misplaced your phone or left it somewhere since it can help you retrace your steps. While this feature won't show you the live location of a phone that has been turned off, it will show the phone's last known location. With "Find My Phone," you can also remotely lock your phone or enable "Lost Mode," which locks down the phone, suspends any in-phone payment methods, and displays contact information for returning the phone to you. If your phone was stolen, experts caution against taking matters into your own hands by chasing down the thief, since this could land you in a potentially dangerous situation and is unlikely to result in getting your phone back. Strong passwords for important accounts help protect your information while you travel, but it's just a first step. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends creating long, unique, and complex passwords for every account and combining them with multifactor authentication to create maximum barriers to entry. If you're worried about remembering these passwords, password managers can be a vital tool for both creating and storing strong passwords. Password managers are apps that act as secure vaults for all your passwords. Some even come with a feature that allows you to temporarily delete sensitive passwords before you travel and then easily restore them once you return. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.

After a hiatus of nearly five years, I am thrilled to be back on the Globe Gazette full-time news staff rather than being an occasional freelancer. Here are five stories I enjoyed writing the most since returning to the newsroom in late August. Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals, who chose not to run for re-election this year, is retiring Dec. 31 after more than 45 years in law enforcement. Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals, who retires Dec. 31 after more than 45 years in law enforcement, first became involved in that career field as a teen. When he was a senior at Clear Lake High School, the town's police department started a reserve program. The long-time Cerro Gordo County Sheriff who used to work for the Clear Lake and Mason City police departments is retiring on Dec. 31. Pals said that sparked his interest, and he joined the Clear Lake Police Department as a dispatcher in August 1978, just a few months after high school graduation. "I was hooked," he said. "I've always just loved law enforcement. I've never regretted going into law enforcement. I have always liked my job everywhere I've worked. I haven't always had all good days, but I'm not sure anyone does." Brian Luallen When Brian Luallen was growing up, he listened to Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry records every night. Naturally, when he learned the nonprofit North Iowa Cultural Center and Museum was looking for a new CEO for the Surf Ballroom, “It took me about five minutes to start working on my cover letter,” he told a crowd at the Surf during the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce quarterly coffee in December where his hiring was announced. Luallen said the Surf post is his dream job. “I am an absolute rock ’n’ roll history nerd,” he said. For the past five years, Luallen has been the CEO of Fair Park First, a nonprofit organization that oversees operations of oldest and largest state park in the country. Fair Park is the home of Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas, and other venues, including a music hall. Lt. Robert "Bob" Cookman's grave is located in the Field of Honor at Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City. Lt. Robert "Bob" Cookman of Mason City, a World War II pilot, is remembered for saving the lives of his crew members by sacrificing his own in a recently published book titled, "From One War to Another." "He was a true hero of the war," said the book's author, John Lanza of New Jersey. Lanza told the Globe Gazette he learned about Cookman and his brothers and cousins from Mason City who also served in World War II while doing research for the book. Lt. Robert "Bob" Cookman saved the lives of his crew members while sacrificing his own when his plane had engine trouble and went down. "From One War to Another" analyzes how World War I and World War II were started, fought and ended. The initial inspiration for the book was John Cooney of Long Island, New York, one of Cookman's surviving crew members, who told Lanza the story of how their plane developed engine trouble and went down over Italy on Oct. 23, 1944. Cookman told the other crew members to parachute to safety while he remained on board, according to Cooney. "He told me he (Cookman) made the supreme sacrifice for his fellow crew members," Lanza said. Brigid Christianson looks for a high-five during Habit for Humanity North Central Iowa's Women Build Day event on Saturday. Nearly 30 women, some of them construction novices and others with years of experience, built the exterior walls for a future Habitat for Humanity home during the local affiliate’s ninth annual Women Build Day in September. “This is a chance for some ladies who may feel intimidated to come out on the job site and learn some skills if they’ve never done it before, and then we have some women leaders who have done a lot of construction that are helping teach them,” said Habitat of Humanity North Central Iowa Executive Director Melissa Schoneberg. One of the women getting her first taste of construction work was Kaylara Hoadley, who has three sons and will be the owner of one of the 13 Habitat for Humanity homes to be built in the new Madison Heights development in Mason City. Women volunteers participated in a special Habitat for Humanity North Central Iowa event Saturday. They built walls for one of the homes the non-profit organization will construct in Mason City for a partner family. “It’s actually been pretty fun,” she said. Hoadley admitted she’s never seen a saw like the one some of the women were using to cut boards, so “I said, ‘I don’t want to be on that team. I want to be on a different team,” she said with a laugh. “I am just building some of the walls and window units and door units. It’s nice to be able to put my hands on the project, too.” An exterior shot of Nightmare Authentics on Main Street in Charles City. A North Iowa store specializing in all things creepy opened in September, just in time for spooky season. John Miller, who collects horror memorabilia, said he and his fiancée, Laura Morse, opened Nightmare Authentics at 205 N. Main St. in Charles City because "I ran out of room in my house." A horror memorabilia shop opened last week in Charles City. The store features rare and autographed items. Miller reached out to suppliers he trusts to stock the store, including Trick or Treat Studios, which he says makes the best latex face masks in the business. Nightmare Authentics also carries makeup sets that help customers transform themselves into characters from classic horror films such as "Friday the 13th," "Scream" and "Child's Play." Some of these kits are limited editions, so "once they're gone, they're gone," Miller said. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

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AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTC Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FTCI), a leading provider of solar tracker systems, today announced that it has closed a previously announced private placement of senior secured promissory notes (the “Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) and warrants (the “Warrants”). The offering closed on December 4, 2024. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 11% per annum if payable in cash or, at the Company’s option, 13% per annum if paid-in-kind and will mature on December 4, 2029. The Warrants are exercisable for five (5) years to purchase an aggregate of 1,750,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.10, subject to adjustment under certain circumstances described in the Warrants. The Company is utilizing the proceeds of the offering for balance sheet support, growth acceleration and general corporate purposes. About FTC Solar Inc. Founded in 2017 by a group of renewable energy industry veterans, FTC Solar is a leading provider of solar tracker systems, technology, software, and engineering services. Solar trackers significantly increase energy production at solar power installations by dynamically optimizing solar panel orientation to the sun. FTC Solar’s innovative tracker designs provide compelling performance and reliability, with an industry-leading installation cost-per-watt advantage. FTC Solar Contact: Bill Michalek Vice President, Investor Relations FTC Solar T: (737) 241-8618 E: IR@FTCSolar.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on our current expectations and projections regarding our business, operations and other factors relating thereto. Words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and as such are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. In addition, this press release contains statements about third parties and their commercial activity. We have not independently verified or confirmed such statements and have instead relied on the veracity of information as provided to us by such third parties related to such statements. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements or statements related to third parties or their commercial activities as predictions of future events, as actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements or statements related to third parties or their commercial activities because of several factors, including those described in more detail above and in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained therein. FTC Solar undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or statements related to third parties or their commercial activities contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.

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