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- 2025-01-10 Author: Hua Erjun Source: http://admin.turflak.no/cpresources/twentytwentyfive/
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Your photos: Osoyoos Lite-Up Parade fills Main Street with holiday magic (Oliver/Osoyoos)Pyrotechnic, or rocket-propelled, line throwers have existed in maritime for centuries and remain a common feature in the industry today, but there are good reasons why users have pushed for a practical alternative. According to Petter M. Olsen, Chief Marketing Officer, Restech Norway, development of the pneumatic line thrower (PLT®) began when a sea captain requested a solution that was free of explosives, reusable, and robust enough for deployment in rough weather. Petter M. Olsen, Chief Marketing Officer, Restech Norway “Restech Norway was established to make this vision a reality,” he says, as the company celebrates the 45th anniversary of its pneumatic system. “The PLT® has since become a fixture in the maritime and offshore markets thanks to its superior safety and practicality,” adds Olsen. Using compressed air to launch projectiles, the PLT® works without explosives or gunpowder, meaning it is safer to store and deploy than pyrotechnic systems. The International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (Solas) covering the carriage of life-saving appliances (LSAs) includes a requirement for line-throwing apparatus (LTA) on board vessels. It applies to vessels of 500 gross tonnage and above or with capacity for more than 12 people. Providing “more specific technical requirements for the manufacturing, testing, maintenance, and record keeping” of LSAs, the Convention’s LSA Code for rescue lays out the accuracy, reach, and strength needed by the LTA, while storage requirements reflect the use of pyrotechnic types. Lower-risk PLT® “There are obvious safety risks associated with the storage and use of pyrotechnics on board a vessel, and in certain situations, these risks are exacerbated,” notes Olsen, who points to the example of a tanker, where pyrotechnics pose a fire or explosion hazard and complicate rescue operations. “Even if the stricken vessel is not a tanker, gas may be present in a distress situation due to a fire, in which case, using pyrotechnics would be extremely dangerous.” Outside of rescue operations, LTA are used for bunkering and ship-to-ship transfer in the offshore oil and gas sector, and in this case, pneumatic systems are now mandatory, Olsen explains. This is not only for reasons of safety, he says, but also due to accuracy. “In offshore locations such as the North Sea, pyrotechnic LTA have been shown to lack precision,” he says. “Being self-propelled, the projectiles are easily pushed off course by wind, whereas projectiles propelled by compressed air are less susceptible to the effects of weather, making them considerably more accurate. In fact, studies demonstrate that the PLT® can repeat a shot within five to eight metres of a target up to 240 metres away in a strong crosswind.” Another application for the PLT® is to help large vessels moor safely and efficiently in rough conditions. “A rocket-propelled projectile is designed to fly 450 metres, so when it reaches port at a shorter distance, it will continue to fly around until it burns out,” comments Olsen. “This is a clear safety risk and one reason the PLT® has found favour with container and cruise ships, whose size makes mooring in high winds a challenge.” Cruise lines are also opting for the PLT® for environmental reasons, with Costa Cruises a notable example. Olsen explains that, under local regulations, crew on board Italian-flagged vessels have to practise with LTA biannually – and having previously used pyrotechnics, Costa noticed that small pieces of plastic were falling into the sea whenever a projectile was launched. The company decided to switch to the PLT®, which contains no loose components and therefore has no negative impact on the marine environment. “Every time a pyrotechnic LTA is used or expires, it has to be replaced, creating waste, causing lifecycle costs to mount up, and making training and testing impractical,” continues Olsen. “The PLT® is reusable, meaning it can be tested and trained with as often as needed. Furthermore, whereas rocket-propelled systems have to be replaced every three years even if unused, the PLT® has no expiry date. Over the course of a cruise ship’s lifespan, which can exceed 40 years, the payback on pneumatic LTA compared to pyrotechnic versions is enormous.” In addition, since pneumatic systems are not classed as dangerous goods, no special provisions are required for their transport. Shipping pyrotechnics, conversely, requires permits and specially adapted storage solutions, which delays delivery and adds to total cost of ownership. “Disposal presents a further headache for users of pyrotechnic systems,” says Olsen. “As dangerous goods, pyrotechnics need to be taken to special disposal sites. However, these are few and far between, which can mean keeping unstable explosives on board for extended periods. Manufacturers may offer a disposal service, but again, this just adds to cost.” The advantages of the PLT® over pyrotechnic LTA are significant and numerous, but Olsen stresses that Restech’s system is not the only pneumatic option on the market. “Other brands are available,” he says. “What sets Restech apart is that we are the inventor of the original system. As such, we possess unparalleled experience in its development, application, and testing. This is a life-saving technology, so there can be no compromise on quality.” Restech’s product portfolio caters to a range of requirements based on the type and size of the vessel and the operations it undertakes. For vessels under 500 GT or with capacity for fewer than 12 people, Restech offers a small, lightweight LTA: PLT® Mini. With a launching distance of 30–100 m depending on the line and projectile used, PLT® Mini is commonly deployed in both work and rescue operations. PLT® Solas, meanwhile, is a low-cost solution designed exclusively to support compliance with the LSA Code. In accordance with regulations, it comes equipped with four projectiles, achieves a launching distance of 230–250 m, and has a line breaking strength of 2,000 Newtons. Restech’s best-selling system, PLT® Multi, is centred on the PLT® Launching Unit, which comprises three launching tubes and allows operators to select from a toolbox of nine projectiles. With PLT® Multi, users can comply with Solas rules while addressing more specific launching requirements for line transfer, mooring operations, back-up for towing, and life buoys, for example. Reflecting on the regulatory landscape around LTA, Olsen calls for the rules to be updated to shift the focus from only pyrotechnic to include other technologies like pneumatic systems and make regular training mandatory: “It’s a matter of addressing the weak link in rescue operations. Every other piece of life-saving equipment may be optimal, but if you can’t transfer a line because of safety concerns, a lack of precision, or insufficient training, the entire operation will be compromised,” he concludes. Source: By Petter M. Olsen, CMO/Chief Marketing Officer, Restech
A Pima County judge rejected preservationists' bid for a preliminary injunction to stop Pima Community College from demolishing three historic, long-vacant Tucson motels. Superior Court Judge Brenden J. Griffin's ruling Thursday came after arguments by the Arizona Preservation Foundation and Tucson Historical Preservation Foundation and by defendant PCC. Griffin said his decision was based on Pima Community College being a “political subdivision” and not a “state agency,” a distinction he said removes any requirement in state law for the college to undertake historic preservation of its properties. The plaintiffs will appeal, said Demion Clinco, CEO of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation and a former PCC Governing Board chair. A judge ruled demolition plans may proceed for three long-closed historic motels — Tucson Inn, Copper Cactus Inn and Frontier Motel — located along West Drachman Street on the north side of the Pima Community College downtown campus. Historic preservationists said they will appeal to a higher court. “Of course we’re disappointed, but this is a significant decision. So, it being pushed to the Court of Appeals is not really a surprise at all,” Clinco said after the hearing. “Ultimately, we strongly believe that Pima Community College is subject to the Arizona State Historic Preservation Act and has responsibilities under the law to consult with the State Historic Preservation Office and protect these resources,” Clinco said. “Because, as was noted during the hearing, these are important cultural assets that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.” Griffin’s decision included lifting a temporary restraining order blocking demolition that was briefly granted earlier this month until full arguments could be heard in court. The order will be lifted as of Dec. 27, which Griffin said will give the plaintiffs time to take their case to the Arizona Court of Appeals. The 1940s-’50s-era motels — the Tucson Inn, Frontier Motel and Copper Cactus — are located on Drachman Street north of downtown Tucson. “We are pleased that the court has confirmed that state historic preservation laws do not apply to local governments like Pima College or college decisions about the Drachman properties," PCC officials said in a statement to the Arizona Daily Star. "We are also pleased that the court refused to issue the injunction and provided plaintiffs with only a limited time to seek review of the court’s decision." “While we respect the right of opponents to pursue further legal action, ongoing litigation will delay our efforts to address critical safety and security issues on the site," and to direct taxpayer resources away from the rundown motels' costly renovation needs and back to "our educational mission and the students we serve," PCC said. The lawsuit was filed earlier this month after the PCC Governing Board capped a years-long debate over the properties by voting in November to demolish the structures but to try to save their neon signs. The college estimated the vote will save up to $35.7 million that would have been needed to restore the motels. Plaintiffs' attorney Benjamin Rundall argued Thursday that preservation laws apply to political subdivisions such as PCC, while the college's lawyer Robert D. Haws argued otherwise. “There’s not any clear precedent," Rundall said, "but we still think that our argument is the right argument, which is that these preservation statutes have to include political subdivisions, because everything in Arizona is a political subdivision. So, if it doesn’t apply to political subdivisions, it really doesn’t apply to anybody — meaning that Arizona residents don’t benefit from any preservation laws," he said. PCC General Counsel Jeff Silvyn, also present at the hearing with Haws, declined to comment on the judge’s decision. The three motels were purchased by the college in 2018 and 2019 at costs of more than $1 million for the Tucson Inn and about $1.3 million for the Frontier Motel and Copper Cactus. Over the last seven years, possible uses for the properties were discussed by the college — a culinary and hospitality program; a diversity, equity and inclusion center; a teaching and learning center; an innovation center; or an education technology lab, with cost estimates for renovation ranging up to $35.7 million. In the meantime, the buildings have sat vacant, sustaining damage from weather and vandalism. The demolition costs are estimated at $500,000 by the college. Reporter Prerana Sannappanavar covers higher education for the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson.com . Contact her at psannappa1@tucson.com . Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Higher Education ReporterPlaying without Kirill Kaprizov, Wild rally for a point in 4-3 shootout loss at CalgaryThe holiday gift puzzle: Who should get a gift, and what should it be?
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Taylor Swift has made a surprise stop at a Kansas City children’s hospital, shocking parents and patients alike as she laughed with them, posed for photos and exchanged gifts. All parent Cassie Thomas was told beforehand was that she might want to brush her hair and teeth because there was going to be a special visitor. But she was stunned when Swift, fresh off her Eras Tour and one day before her 35th birthday, walked into her son's room on Thursday at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. “No rumors. Like, we literally had absolutely no idea this was happening,” Thomas recalled. Her 13-year-old son, Beckett Thomas, is a cancer patient and a fan of Swift's Kansas City Chiefs tight-end boyfriend, Travis Kelce. Beckett uses a 3D printer to make earrings bearing his and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' names, walking around the hospital unit selling them to nurses. Now, Swift has a pair as well. “She was amazing,” Beckett's mom said. “So down to earth.” Another patient told Swift that her favorite song was “Love Story" and they later discussed the song “Paper Rings,” in which Swift sings, “I'd marry you with paper rings.” When their conversation veered to discussion of San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy, whose team played the Chiefs in the Super Bowl earlier this year, Swift expressed surprise. “Brock Purdy, What? I mean, I don’t mind Brock Purdy.” Swift said, then continued: “He put me through a lot last February.” Asked before the Super Bowl whether he was prepared to disappoint Swift, Purdy responded: “Yes.” The game ended with Mahomes rallying the Chiefs to their second straight Super Bowl title, 25-22 over the 49ers in overtime. “I was very stressed for a second but it all ended up fine,” Swift told the girl, their recorded conversation posted online. The girl then chimed in: “I like Travis now.” Swift responded with: “Me too. That’s an absolute yes on that one." There is no word on whether Swift will be in the stands when the Chiefs play the Browns on Sunday in Kelce’s hometown of Cleveland.
With one of the most exciting AFL seasons done and dusted, it’s time to see how horribly wrong — or right — we were at the start of the year. Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. In January, we made a series of bold predictions for the 2024 season that, despite holding merit at the time, were still more likely to fail than succeed.Now it’s time to take a look back at which ones we got right and which ones were totally off the mark. BOLD PREDICTION: The Blues make the Grand Final VERDICT: Nope Carlton were one of the premiership favourites in pre-season, but their 2024 campaign was cruelled by injuries which meant they never really looked like featuring on the biggest stage of all. The Blues were bundled out in a hugely disappointing elimination final against eventual premiers Brisbane, conceding the first nine goals of the game. Twin towers Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay missed games through injury at the end of the season, while ruck Tom De Koning also missed a large chunk of the back end. Defenders Mitch McGovern, Adam Saad and Jordan Boyd all had disrupted seasons, while Adam Cerra, Zac Williams and Lachie Fogarty also spent some time on the sidelines. Overall, Carlton’s 2024 campaign was disappointing, but now all eyes turn towards whether or not they can bounce back in 2025. BOLD PREDICTION: Michael Voss wins Coach of the Year Award VERDICT: Nope There’s no doubt 2025 will be an intriguing year for the Blues, can Michael Voss find a way to get the most out of a talented group? Things were looking promising this time last year, but now the jury is out. The Blues arguably went backwards in 2024, but injuries certainly did play a part. Brisbane Lions premiership coach Chris Fagan won the award, while former Sydney coach John Longmire came runner-up. Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell rounded out the podium after he lifted the Hawks from cellar dwellers to premiership contenders. While we don’t know the full breakdown, you’d imagine Geelong coach Chris Scott, Giants head honcho Adam Kingsley and Port Adelaide mastermind Ken Hinkley would all have finished higher than Voss. A huge 2025 looms. BOLD PREDICTION: Brodie Grundy returns to All-Australian form VERDICT: Almost... Brodie Grundy was a key contributor to Sydney’s successes in 2024, but he didn’t quite reach those All-Australian levels he has before. After a turbulent year at Melbourne, Grundy returned to the number one ruck role at Sydney and performed admirably. The star Swan averaged 18 disposals, five clearances and 4.7 tackles a game as he started to get back to some good form. Max Gawn earned a seventh All-Australian blazer, while breakout Roos ruck Tristan Xerri and Collingwood tall Darcy Cameron were the other rucks to make the All-Australian squad. St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall was also considered an unlucky omission. Grundy was probably in the next batch of talls, including Tim English and Toby Nankervis. A stronger season and an increased output than what Grundy has produced in the past couple of years, but not quite All-Australian calibre. BOLD PREDICTION: The Suns break into the top eight VERDICT: Not yet We can probably rinse and repeat this one for 2025. Surely, the Suns aren’t far off from featuring in September action. In their first season under new coach Damien Hardwick, the Suns finished 13th with a win-loss record of 11-12. It was a bizarre year for the Suns, who were a dominant force on their home decks at People First Stadium and TIO Stadium, but didn’t win a game on the road until round 22 against Essendon at Marvel. The club’s had a refresh and a rebrand and will be hoping that next year is the year they break through for their maiden finals appearance. Their talented youth will only get better with another pre-season under their belts, while the acquisitions of damaging half-backs Daniel Rioli and John Noble will add the rebound out of the back half that they struggled with so much. Is 2025 the year they finally break the drought? BOLD PREDICTION: Three teams will drop out of the top eight VERDICT: Correct We were spot on with this one and the numbers didn’t lie. It’s been two every year since the top eight began and the average is approximately 2.8 per season. BOLD PREDICTION: The Saints are one of them VERDICT: Correct As we predicted, there was a bit of a dip for the Saints in 2024. They had a focus on getting experience into their younger brigade and they also lost some games they probably should’ve won. The likes of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Darcy Wilson and Mitch Owens all had strong campaigns that resulted in top 10 finishes in the best and fairest, while Mattaes Phillipou had a strong end to the season as well. They’ve attacked the draft hard again this year, securing Gippsland Power high-flyer Alix Tauru and Bendigo Pioneers product Tobie Travaglia, who both look like players for the future. The Saints will be hoping to improve on their win-loss record of 11-12 and push back towards September action in 2025. BOLD PREDICTION: But Max King returns to top form VERDICT: Nope As promising as Max King is, injuries limited the key forward to just 12 games in 2024. The Sandringham Dragons product booted 19 goals for the year at an average of 1.6 per game which was well down on his previous two years where he averaged 2.4 and 2.5 goals a match. It was the worst year of King’s career if you exclude 2019 (ACL injury so no games) and his first year in 2020, according to the AFL Player Ratings system. There’s no doubt that when fit, King is one of the most promising key forwards in the competition. The Saints have shown tremendous faith in King, extending his contract until the end of the 2032 season, can he repay that faith? 2025 will be a big year. BOLD PREDICTION: The Power also drop out VERDICT: Nope Port Adelaide strung together another strong home and away season, finishing in second spot with a win-loss record of 16-7. It was the fourth time in five years that Ken Hinkley’s side have featured in September action, yet they haven’t gone on to reach the big dance on any of those occasions. Right now, it feels like they’re home and away experts and then crumble under the finals pressure. Our bold prediction questioned how their recruits would fare and it’s fair to say they didn’t exactly fire. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is probably a tick as a defender, while Jordon Sweet assumed the number one ruck role by seasons end. Ivan Soldo sought a trade out of South Australia after just one year and Esava Ratugolea is on the fringes of the side heading into 2025. They’re so strong at home, so expect the Power to be around the mark of the top four again in 2025, but the challenge for them is progressing further through a finals campaign. BOLD PREDICTION: And the Josh Carr handover is made official VERDICT: Not yet Six months ago, it looked like Ken Hinkley’s job was on thin ice. They’d lost three consecutive matches to the Blues, Giants and Lions but they went on to win eight of their last nine in a scintillating end to the season. Post-match after the gritty win over St Kilda, Ken Hinkley was emotional in an on-field interview with Fox Footy’s Sarah Jones, highlighting how much he loved the playing group and how much the playing group loved him. The Power were thumped in a qualifying final by Geelong but bounced back in the semi against Hawthorn, before going down to the Swans in a preliminary final. Hinkley still remains in the hot seat, but there’s a sense amongst the competition that Josh Carr will inherit that throne sooner rather than later. Hinkley is yet to reach a grand final during his time as senior coach, a role he has held for 12 years. Carr has been a part of the Power footy program for several years and the club could execute a handover similar to that at the Swans, where Dean Cox took over from John Longmire. It feels inevitable that Carr takes over, but don’t rule out the Power making a bold play and trying to poach someone if Hinkley does step aside some time in 2025. BOLD PREDICTION: The Crows take their spot VERDICT: Not even close Adelaide were one of the biggest disappointments in 2024, if not the biggest disappointment. After finishing 10th with a win-loss record of 11-12 in 2023, there were high hopes that the Crows could return to September action for the first time since 2017. While it was overall a poor season, there were a few shining lights for Matthew Nicks’ side. Midfielder Jake Soligio showed positive signs of growth, while exciting youngster Max Michalanney is going to become a serious player. Izak Rankine played some good footy and Ben Keays was joint winner of the Best and Fairest alongside captain Jordan Dawson. Draftee Sid Draper has been tearing up the training track and is on target to feature in round one, while the likes of Riley Thilthorpe, Josh Rachele and Dan Curtin should only get better with another pre-season under their belts. At the end of the day though, the Crows weren’t as good as they could’ve been in 2024, given the talent at their disposal. BOLD PREDICTION: And Jordan Dawson finishes in the top three of the Brownlow Medal count VERDICT: Also no Let’s be honest, this one was pretty bold! Dawson finished equal 16th in this year’s Brownlow Medal count, polling 18 votes, two less than last year, where he finished 13th (including ineligible players). Dawson did not poll a vote in his first five games and just one in his final six, so it was the middle part of the year where he did his best work. His inconsistent campaign was a bit reflective of Adelaide’s season as a whole. Playing mainly through the midfield, the former Swan averaged 24.5 disposals, five marks and 6.1 tackles. The Crows skipper will no doubt have a huge pre-season to try and give himself the best chance of leading the Crows to their first finals campaign since 2017 and return to some of the best form of his career. BOLD PREDICTION: Dustin Martin finishes in the top five VERDICT: Nope There was clearly a bit of nostalgia behind this one and let’s be honest, it wasn’t even close to being correct. Martin polled just one Brownlow Medal vote this year for his performance in round 11 against Essendon, where he amassed 23 disposals and three goals. Injury and then retirement meant he played just one match of the last eight of the season and he had clearly lost his edge that will see him go down as one of the greats. A superb career and one we were so lucky to be able to witness. BOLD PREDICTION: Then moves to the Gold Coast VERDICT: Still, no Wow, wasn’t this one bubbling away for some time! There were murmurings of Dusty reuniting with former coach Damien Hardwick up at the Suns, but nothing materialised and he is happily retired. He is the only three-time Norm Smith Medallist, a triple premiership player, four time All-Australian and 2017 Brownlow Medallist. He’ll go down as one of the greatest ever Tigers and a true champion of the game. BOLD PREDICTION: The Dogs come in VERDICT: Yes! The Bulldogs made the finals yet again after narrowly missing out in 2023, which was a step in the right direction. The Bulldogs are one of the biggest mysteries in the competition right now. Their list is incredibly talented, and their best football is electric, but they struggle to piece it all together for a prolonged period of time. The club continues to back in premiership coach Luke Beveridge who never backs down from a challenge and will be looking to press towards a top four berth in 2025. Their youth is exciting, but it is important that they capitalise while the likes of Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar are in career-best form. BOLD PREDICTION: But the Cats miss out again VERDICT: Nope Year after year, the Cats continue to prove the footy world wrong. Chris Scott’s side made it all the way to a preliminary final in 2024, falling just short to eventual premiers Brisbane. The Cats have featured in September every year bar three since 2004. That is an absurd period of time to be featuring at the pointy end of the season. The scary thing is, you’d imagine the Cats only get better in 2025. The recruitment of former Bulldog Bailey Smith will bolster their midfield stocks dramatically, while if they can get ex-Blue Jack Martin fit, that could be a bargain. It would take a brave person to write them off again. BOLD PREDICTION: The Hawks just miss out VERDICT: Not quite Can we give this one a tick? We predicted the Hawks would surge up the ladder this year, just not all the way to a semi-final. No one saw that coming, especially after their poor start where they sat 0-5 and then 1-6. The evolution of ‘Hokball’ has been a joy to watch this season. Sam Mitchell’s side have played with plenty of dash and dare and they’ve had the celebrations to match. The scary thing? They could be even better in 2025 and are genuine premiership contenders. The core of their list is still young and will only improve, while the additions of Tom Barrass and Josh Battle will further bolster their defensive stocks. The sky is the limit for these young Hawks. BOLD PREDICTION: And Jack Ginnivan thrives VERDICT: We’ll pay this one! A move to Hawthorn under Sam Mitchell has resulted in Jack Ginnivan playing the best footy of his career. Ginnivan averaged 16.5 disposals, 3.9 marks and 2.7 tackles a game this year, booting 28 goals. He’s become an integral part of one of the best forward lines in the competition and loves to get under the skins of his opponents. He’s become an absolute fan favourite amongst the brown and gold faithful and will be key in Hawthorn’s quest for success. It’s fair to say, he’s put a messy exit from Collingwood behind him and is absolutely thriving. BOLD PREDICTION: Fremantle remains stranded outside the top eight VERDICT: Bang on We were spot on with this one, the Dockers missing out on the top eight by just two premiership points. It went down to the last game of the season, if they had been able to defeat Port Adelaide on their home deck, then they would’ve squeezed Carlton out. The general consensus right now though is that the Dockers could be the biggest risers of 2025. They’ve added former Tiger Shai Bolton to their weaponry, while young gun Murphy Reid could make an impact early on in the year, too. Fremantle have stars across every single line. In defence, Luke Ryan, Jordan Clark and Alex Pearce have been super, while the on-ball brigade of Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Hayden Young genuinely could be the best in the competition. Their forward half improved as Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss took big strides forward and the ruck duo of Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson gives them great flexibility. It’s exciting what they could produce next year. BOLD PREDICTION: And Justin Longmuir goes VERDICT: Nope Justin Longmuir signed a one-year extension in March, tying him to the Dockers until the end of 2025. There’s no doubt that the pressure will be on Longmuir next year to try and get the best out of his side, because they are just so talented. It’s never easy entering the final year of your contract, but his future really is in his hands. A strong season will surely see him recontracted, but if the Dockers can’t feature in September, the heat will well and truly be on. BOLD PREDICTION: Finn Callaghan jumps into the All-Australian side VERDICT: Nope This was another pretty bold call, but one that didn’t eventuate. Giants youngster Finn Callaghan had a strong year but it definitely wasn’t All-Australian calibre. Callaghan took a small step forward from his 2023 campaign, lifting his disposals average (22.9), tackles (3.6) and clearances (3.4) and will be an exciting player to track in the years to come. He is clean with ball in hand, smooth-moving in traffic and has plenty of drive out of stoppage. He also managed to finally get some continuity with his body, playing 24 games for the year. Intriguingly, Callaghan did not finish in the top 10 in the club best and fairest. BOLD PREDICTION: And Jamarra Ugle-Hagan does too VERDICT: Nope A strong season for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, but not All-Australian worthy. The former number one draft pick booted a career-high 43 goals this season and continued his steady increase year-on-year. Alongside Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy, the Bulldogs have a three-pronged attack that is the envy of the competition. He improved his consistency this year, kicking at least one goal in 19 out of 22 appearances this season. At his best, Ugle-Hagan is flying for his marks and kicking miraculous goals. Should he continue his upwards trajectory, hitting that 50-goal mark for the first time in his career won’t be out of the question in 2025. BOLD PREDICTION: With one club offering him a 10-year contract VERDICT: We’ll pay it! We’re going to claim this one! According to the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph, clubs were offering “lifetime deals” to Ugle-Hagan early in the season to try and lure him out of the Kennel. Ralph reported that deals “as much as 11 or 12 years” were tabled to Ugle-Hagan, but ultimately, he decided to re-sign with the Dogs. The star forward put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension in May, tying him to the club until the end of 2026. Keep an eye on what he can produce next year. BOLD PREDICTION: The grand final start time stays put VERDICT: Correct The AFL decider indeed remained in its traditional afternoon slot. Instead, the AFLW grand final had its start time moved to the evening. But, while we correctly predicted nothing would change in Andrew Dillon’s first season in charge, we did tease that an eventual tweak might be ‘inevitable’ — and that might too be the case, given the success of the night grand final in the women’s competition. “A night grand final is pretty special ... Maybe we might see it in the men’s, who knows? ... Maybe not!” said victorious North Melbourne AFLW skipper Emma Kearney post-GF. BOLD PREDICTON: Any issues with the score review system will be a thing of the past VERDICT: Tongue in cheek Admittedly this one was tongue in cheek, but the spotlight once again was on the score review system in 2024. At the start of the year, the system was being used too often and for too long and then there’s the AFLW score review system, which had a few kinks in it to begin with. An error with the new ball tracking technology in the Suns and Pies clash incorrectly recorded that the ball was touched, when the video clearly showed the ball had not been touched. The Suns went on to lose that game and the AFL issued a statement afterwards apologising for the mistake.Why Zimbabwean nationals are a target for international cyber criminals
By Erin Banco and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In the early days of 2013, an American man, dressed in ragged clothing, dodged between houses in the streets of Damascus’ upscale Mazzeh neighborhood looking for a civilian to take him to safety after more than five months of captivity in the concrete cells of a local prison. The man, journalist Austin Tice, was taken captive during a reporting trip to Syria in August 2012. A former Marine, he had managed to slip out of his cell, one current and three former U.S. officials and a person with knowledge of the event told Reuters. All were granted anonymity to speak freely about sensitive U.S. intelligence. Tice’s 2013 escape, reported here for the first time, was the first public sighting of the American after he disappeared, the officials said. Tice is now the focus of a massive manhunt following the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad this week after 13 years of civil war. Rebels, led by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have since released thousands of people from prisons in Damascus where Assad held political opponents, ordinary civilians and foreigners. The American has not yet been found. There are no credible hints of his whereabouts but also no clear evidence that he is dead, a U.S. official said. U.S. officials say that Tice's 2013 escape from prison, where he was believed to have been held by a pro-government militia, is the strongest evidence the U.S. government has to suggest that forces loyal to Assad held Tice. This has over the years allowed American officials to pressure the Assad government directly about the matter. The White House declined to comment for this story. The CIA, Office of the Director for National Intelligence and the FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment. When Tice escaped, he was spotted by people living in the Mazzeh neighborhood, wandering the street. He entered the house of a well-known Syrian family, the name of which is being withheld for security reasons, a person familiar with the escape said. Tice was recaptured soon after his escape, one current and one former U.S. official said. U.S. officials believe it is likely that Tice was taken after his escape by forces who answered directly to Assad. One person with knowledge of the escape said Tice was potentially passed back and forth between several different government intelligence agencies in the following years. The administration of former President Barack Obama received another tip in 2016 that Tice had been taken to a hospital in Damascus to receive care for an unknown illness, in what would be his second known sighting, a U.S. official and a person familiar with the tip said. But current U.S. officials are not as confident in that report as they are in his 2013 escape. Over the years, Tice's family - which has led the charge in trying to find him - has spoken publicly of their frustration with the U.S. government, saying it has not prioritized Tice's release. They are now gathered in Washington in the hope they can soon celebrate his freedom. The family declined a request for comment. “We believe he’s alive. We think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence of that yet,” U.S. president Joe Biden said last Sunday, fueling optimism about Tice’s fate. Over the last 12 years, U.S. agencies, including the FBI, the State Department and the CIA, have gathered thousands of tips about Tice. Most are nearly impossible to verify. HARROWING VIDEO Tice, who worked as a freelance reporter for the Washington Post and McClatchy, was one of the first U.S. journalists to make it into Syria after the outbreak of the civil war. In August 2012, during fighting in Aleppo, he was taken captive. Weeks later, a YouTube video was published showing Tice blindfolded, hands tied behind his back. He was led up a hill by armed men in what appeared to be Afghan garb and shouting "God is great" in an apparent bid to blame Islamist rebels for his capture although the video only gained attention when it was posted on a Facebook page associated with Assad supporters. Tice can be heard reciting a prayer, in Arabic, before saying in English: "Oh Jesus, oh Jesus." There are varying accounts of what happened to Tice in 2012, including who initially took him and where he was moved. Other journalists were taken captive around the same time. But as time passed and other reporters were freed, details about Tice remained scarce. The Obama administration had obtained intelligence that he was either in the hands of an extremist rebel faction or the Syrian government, two of the former officials said. But it had no way of verifying the information. Over the past decade, some U.S. officials and press advocates have lost faith in the assessment that Tice is alive in part because there has been no new, credible evidence to confirm his status. Others have maintained a sense of optimism, including some in the incoming Trump administration. In 2019, Trump administration officials, including Kash Patel, then a U.S. presidential aide and counterterrorism adviser, and Roger Carstens, special envoy for hostage affairs, traveled to Damascus to meet with Syrian officials about Tice. Current and former U.S. officials said the Syrian government refused to offer proof of life and demanded the U.S. reverse its Syria policy and withdraw U.S. troops from the country in return for opening negotiations about Tice. The Biden administration has maintained contact with the Syrian government since then, but Assad's officials were unwilling to negotiate until the U.S. agreed to their demands. On Dec. 6, Austin Tice's mother Deborah and her family told a press conference that a U.S. government-vetted source had recently confirmed that Tice was alive and was being treated well. “He is being cared for, and he is well,” Deborah Tice said. But in the hours after the conference, U.S. officials working on Tice’s case said they did not have any new information and that they were caught off guard by his mother's statements. This week, Carstens traveled to Beirut to coordinate the search for Tice. Other officials are also in the region, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Barbara Leaf, the head of the State Department’s Near East bureau. “We’re determined to find him and bring him home to his family and loved ones,” Blinken told reporters Thursday. Almost a week after Assad’s ouster, some U.S. officials fear that Tice could have been killed during a recent round of Israeli airstrikes. Officials are also concerned that if Tice was being held underground in a cell, he may have run out of breathable air as Assad's forces shut off the electricity in many of the prisons in Damascus before the president fled. This week, reports emerged that an American man had been seen in Damascus, raising hopes that Tice had been freed. But it wasn’t Tice. On Thursday, news broke that Missouri resident Travis Timmerman had been found after having been freed from prison by the rebels. Timmerman said he had traveled into Syria for a spiritual mission earlier this year and was arrested for entering the country illegally. (Reporting by Erin Banco in New York and Jonathan Landay in Washington; Editing by Don Durfee, Heather Timmons and Alistair Bell)
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump said he can't guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won't raise prices for American consumers and suggested once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect, in a wide-ranging interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday, also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning "things do change." Here's a look at some of the issues covered: President-elect Donald Trump takes the stage before he speaks at the FOX Nation Patriot Awards, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Greenvale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa) Trump threatened broad trade penalties, but said he didn't believe economists' predictions that added costs on those imported goods for American companies would lead to higher domestic prices for consumers. He stopped short of a pledge that U.S. an households won't be paying more as they shop. "I can't guarantee anything. I can't guarantee tomorrow," Trump said, seeming to open the door to accepting the reality of how import levies typically work as goods reach the retail market. That's a different approach from Trump's typical speeches throughout the 2024 campaign, when he framed his election as a sure way to curb inflation. In the interview, Trump defended tariffs generally, saying that tariffs are "going to make us rich." He has pledged that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada unless those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He also has threatened tariffs on China to help force that country to crack down on fentanyl production. "All I want to do is I want to have a level, fast, but fair playing field," Trump said. He offered conflicting statements on how he would approach the justice system after winning election despite being convicted of 34 felonies in a New York state court and being indicted in other cases for his handling of national security secrets and efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. "Honestly, they should go to jail," Trump said of members of Congress who investigated the Capitol riot by his supporters who wanted him to remain in power. The president-elect underscored his contention that he can use the justice system against others, including special prosecutor Jack Smith, who led the case on Trump's role in the siege on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump confirmed his plan to pardon supporters who were convicted for their roles in the riot, saying he would take that action on his first day in office. As for the idea of revenge driving potential prosecutions, Trump said: "I have the absolute right. I'm the chief law enforcement officer, you do know that. I'm the president. But I'm not interested in that." At the same time, Trump singled out lawmakers on a special House committee who investigated the insurrection, citing Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. "Cheney was behind it ... so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that committee," Trump said. Asked specifically whether he would direct his administration to pursue cases, he said, "No," and suggested he did not expect the FBI to quickly undertake investigations into his political enemies. At another point, Trump said he would leave the matter up to Pam Bondi, his pick as attorney general. "I want her to do what she wants to do," he said. Such threats, regardless of Trump's inconsistencies, have been taken seriously enough by many top Democrats that Biden is considering issuing blanket, preemptive pardons to protect key members of his outgoing administration. Trump did seemingly back off his campaign rhetoric calling for Biden to be investigated, saying, "I'm not looking to go back into the past." Immigration advocates hold a rally in Sacramento, Calif. on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, to protest President-Elect Donald Trump's plans to conduct mass deportation of immigrants without legal status. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) Trump repeatedly mentioned his promises to seal the U.S.-Mexico border and deport millions of people who are in the U.S. illegally through a mass deportation program. "I think you have to do it," he said. He suggested he would try to use executive action to end "birthright" citizenship under which people born in the U.S. are considered citizens — though such protections are spelled out in the Constitution. Asked specifically about the future for people who were brought into the country illegally as children and were shielded from deportation in recent years, Trump said, "I want to work something out," indicating he might seek a solution with Congress. But Trump also said he does not "want to be breaking up families" of mixed legal status, "so the only way you don't break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back." Long a critic of NATO members for not spending more on their own defense, Trump said he "absolutely" would remain in the alliance "if they pay their bills." Pressed on whether he would withdraw if he were dissatisfied with allies' commitments, Trump said he wants the U.S. treated "fairly" on trade and defense. He waffled on a NATO priority of containing Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Trump suggested Ukraine should prepare for less U.S. aid in its defense against Putin's invasion. "Possibly. Yeah, probably. Sure," Trump said of reducing Ukraine assistance from Washington. Separately, Trump called for an immediate cease-fire. Asked about Putin, Trump said initially that he has not talked to the Russian leader since Election Day last month, but then hedged. "I haven't spoken to him recently," Trump said when pressed, adding that he did not want to "impede the negotiation." Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the Federal Reserve in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) The president-elect said he has no intention, at least for now, of asking Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to step down before Powell's term ends in 2028. Trump said during the campaign that presidents should have more say in Fed policy, including interest rates. Trump did not offer any job assurances for FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose term is to end in 2027. Asked about Wray, Trump said: "Well, I mean, it would sort of seem pretty obvious" that if the Senate confirms Kash Patel as Trump's pick for FBI chief, then "he's going to be taking somebody's place, right? Somebody is the man that you're talking about." Trump promised that the government efficiency effort led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will not threaten Social Security. "We're not touching Social Security, other than we make it more efficient," he said. He added that "we're not raising ages or any of that stuff." He was not so specific about abortion or his long-promised overhaul of the Affordable Care Act. On abortion, Trump continued his inconsistencies and said he would "probably" not move to restrict access to the abortion pills that now account for a majority of pregnancy terminations, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights. But pressed on whether he would commit to that position, Trump replied, "Well, I commit. I mean, are — things do — things change. I think they change." Reprising a line from his Sept. 10 debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump again said he had "concepts" of a plan to substitute for the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which he called "lousy health care." He added a promise that any Trump version would maintain insurance protections for Americans with preexisting health conditions. He did not explain how such a design would be different from the status quo or how he could deliver on his desire for "better health care for less money." Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Rodney Scott led during Trump's first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country's borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump's policies. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. He appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He's also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.KINGSTON, Ont. — Felipe Forteza went from delivering hits to making kicks for the Laval Rouge et Or this season. The linebacker-turned-kicker showed a veteran's poise with his boot on Saturday, kicking a Vanier Cup record six field goals to lift Laval to a 22-17 win over the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks at Richardson Stadium. "The defence did its job and the offence put me in the right position to do it," said Forteza, who was named game MVP. "So I'm stoked." Quarterback Arnaud Desjardins was 34 of 42 for 320 passing yards to help the Rouge et Or win their second Vanier Cup in three years and record 12th overall. It was the first loss of the year for the Golden Hawks, who last won a Canadian university football title in 2005. Laval set the early tone with some big defensive plays and Desjardins was in fine early form, completing his first 22 pass attempts. Forteza split the uprights five times in the first half as Laval took a 17-7 lead into the intermission. Forteza broke the record with his sixth field goal with 2:31 remaining. His only miss was a 32-yard attempt in the final minute. The Golden Hawks ran the ball out of the end zone but didn't threaten again. "We didn't score touchdowns but we moved the ball very well," said Laval coach Glen Constantin. "We flipped the field on these guys." Forteza did some part-time kicking in high school but this was his first season kicking field goals on a regular basis. The Rouge et Or coaching staff liked his powerful leg and helped him with the transition. "It was a bit heartbreaking for me because I like hitting people," Forteza said. "I like being intense and that job is really about being calm and trying to stay healthy." "I like the position," he added. "I like the pressure of it and I like the preparation. I like the hard work and being able to kick that (well) during a game." Laurier quarterback Taylor Elgersma, who won the Hec Crighton Trophy as most outstanding player this season, had a quiet opening quarter before settling in and throwing touchdown passes to Ryan Hughes and Jaxon Stebbings. Elgersma was 23 of 34 for 246 yards but was sacked five times. "Our game plan was just to be us and execute," he said. "Obviously we didn't do that well enough today." Laurier had an 8-0 record in the regular season and outscored its opposition 128-76 over its first three playoff wins. Laval entered at 10-1 overall (7-1, 3-0) and was coming off two close victories over the last two weeks. A near-capacity crowd at the 8,000-seat Queen's University venue had an even split of Laurier and Laval supporters. The weather co-operated after two days of showers in the area. It was cloudy and 8 C at kickoff. Desjardins marched the Rouge et Or deep into Laurier territory on Laval's first possession before settling for an 18-yard field goal by Forteza. Laval used a no-huddle offence in the early going with Desjardins frequently using dump passes to great effect. A 15-yarder from Forteza with 2:54 left in the first quarter made it 6-0. The potent Rouge et Or defence, which led U Sports with just 106 points allowed in the regular season, showed its form as Jordan Lessard forced a fumble from Elgersma that the Golden Hawks recovered. On the next play, Ndeki Garant-Doumambila walloped the Laurier pivot with a ferocious sack. "We know what it takes to get here and what it takes to win these games," he said. Laurier didn't record a first down until late in the first quarter. Laval's special-teams play was also on point. Forteza booted a 65-yard punt and the Rouge et Or coverage swarmed returner Tayshaun Jackson, forcing him down at the Laurier one-yard line. The Golden Hawks would concede a safety to make it 8-0. Forteza added to the lead at 7:01 with a 35-yard field goal. Jackson gave Laurier some life when he broke for a 51-yard run to the Laval five-yard line. Hughes took a shovel pass from Elgersma and sprinted for the corner of the end zone to put Laurier on the scoreboard with 4:57 left in the half. Forteza made a 32-yard field goal with 2:33 remaining. After a Jackson fumble, he added a 42-yard kick 24 seconds later to make it 17-7. The Golden Hawks came out with more jump in the third quarter. Elgersma found Ethan Jordan for a 45-yard reception to highlight a 93-yard drive capped by Stebbings' three-yard TD catch and a Dawson Hodge conversion. Laval took a 19-14 lead when Laurier conceded a safety to open the fourth quarter. Hodge made it a two-point game when he hit a 34-yard field goal with 8:26 left. A pivotal play came with 4:57 remaining when Laval's Loic Brodeur forced a fumble at midfield. He knocked the ball out of Elgersma's hands and Garant-Doumambila recovered. "We focused, we believed in it, and experience," Garant-Doumambila said. "That's what did it for us." The Golden Hawks fell to 2-4 in national championship game appearances while Laval improved to 12-2. The 2025 Vanier Cup will be played in Regina. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 23, 2024. Follow @GregoryStrongCP on X. Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press'AI textbooks' are coming to Korea. But is the country ready for them? Published: 30 Dec. 2024, 07:00 LEE SOO-JUNG [email protected] A person tests the prototype of an AI textbook at an edtech fair held in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, in September. [YONHAP] “AI textbooks” aren't physical textbooks — they're tablet apps — but they aim to be something even better. They include real-time practice questions and can analyze intonation and pronunciation as a learner speaks. An integrated model assesses each user's level of comprehension and tailors questions and explanations appropriately. Instructors can view each student's practice performance, assessed level and correct answer ratio. It's a textbook, but smarter — and personalized. At least, that's the Korean Ministry of Education's pitch. On Dec.2, the ministry unveiled authorized AI textbooks from private publishers, which are expected to be introduced over the upcoming four years — from 2025 to 2028 — to Korean classrooms. Elementary students to high schoolers, nationwide, will be learning from AI textbooks across English, math, social studies, sciences, history and technology. Incorporating AI into public and mandatory education will offer more personalized learning experiences, said the ministry, with each student provided a device of their own. However, on Thursday, the ministry's grand AI transition ran into a hurdle when the National Assembly demoted the AI textbooks to supplementary materials. The passage of an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, led by the opposition Democratic Party — even stripped AI textbooks of their "textbook" title, relegating them to "subsidiary references." However, Education Minister Lee Ju-ho said that introducing AI textbooks would be the "starting point of reducing educational imbalances," helping tackle the polarization of knowledge. He also said the selective use of AI textbooks could worsen the educational gap between AI textbook learners and those not having a chance to use them. In late November, Education Minister Lee also said AI textbooks would “awaken classrooms” and motivate students to study eagerly, preventing them from dropping out. However, such an awakening is unlikely to happen without resistance, nor will it come cheap. Scholars, students and teachers, despite the ministry's effort to incorporate contemporary technology in classrooms, have been less than enthusiastic. Due to the parliamentary measure, the AI textbooks' downgraded status could prevent the ministry from funding AI textbook distribution and upgrading classroom IT systems. While textbooks are mandatory at schools nationwide and funded by the state, using subsidiary materials is at the discretion of school principals. The parliamentary National Assembly Research Service calculated that subscription fees paid to textbook publishers would total between 1.9 trillion won ($1.3 billion) and 6.6 trillion won over four years. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education was set to earmark 203.7 billion won into system improvement and subscription costs. ━ An incomplete endeavor An employee of an AI textbook publisher demonstrates the program at the Sejong government complex on Monday. Left monitor shows the display for students and the right monitor shows students' academic progress. [NEWS1] Does AI add that much to a traditional textbook? Experts aren't so sure. Joo Jeong-heun, a senior researcher at the Seoul Education Research and Information Institute, believes the technology is not yet comprehensive enough to help students apply their knowledge. AI is “competent in delivering factual information but has limits in encouraging actual usage of learned knowledge in real life,” Joo told the Korea JoongAng Daily. “Digital educational content and AI lack intuitive thoughts, which are catalysts prompting people to apply learned knowledge in actual experiences,” Joo said. Joo said educational policymakers should evaluate how an AI textbook effectively triggers the transfer of learning rather than treating it as a tool for improving students’ grades. Fourth graders at Seoul Sinseong Elementary School participate in an English class using AI last May. Then-Seoul education superintendent Cho Hee-yeon also attended the class. [NEWS1] Prof. Kim Bong-jae from Seoul National University of Education’s AI value judgment design center said current AI textbooks do not encompass complex developmental characteristics, which are deeply related to emotional development and value judgment. “AI technology simply translates students’ behaviors and responses only into intellectual ability,” Kim said. “Only human teachers are capable of understanding the process and variables that influence student’s answer choices and reflecting those behavioral and psychological elements into the curriculum.” Prof. Kim believes AI textbooks in elementary schools would be “inappropriate” as the students undergo the most significant emotional and social developments during those years. He said using AI textbooks in middle and high schools would be “acceptable,” as those students are mature enough to handle the technology. Teachers try out prototypes of AI textbooks at an educational conference in Daegu in August. [YONHAP] But even high school faculty are skeptical about bringing AI textbooks into classrooms because of their potential to create more work for teachers. A total of 49 percent of 1,656 teachers in Gyeonggi answered that an AI learning tool dubbed High-Learning — developed by the provincial education office — was “meritless,” according to a survey by the Gyeonggi Teachers Union in October. The AI-powered High-Learning program has been up and running since September of last year. The union told the Korea JoongAng Daily that AI-based educational content was inefficient in terms of time management. “Device distribution, itself, does not complete education,” said Kim Hee-jung, a teacher’s union spokesperson, who pointed out that the widespread use of AI textbooks puts a number of additional tasks on an instructor's plate, such as troubleshooting a fleet of tablets and ensuring that students are logged into the correct server. “Based on experience, if one or two students forget their ID and passwords, teachers have to help their log-in process, which normally takes up around 20 to 30 minutes during class hours.” ━ Schools unready Six graders from Daejeon Neuriul Elementary School receive new textbooks for the fall semester in August. [NEWS1] The teacher’s union representative also doubted the ministry’s belief that AI technology would narrow learning gaps among students, citing “extremely low digital literacy” among high schoolers. The teachers’ union said that leaving students to study on their own digital devices could “polarize educational achievements.” A 2024 survey by the National Youth Policy Institute indicated that 63.9 percent of some 2,261 high- and middle-schoolers nationwide know little to nothing about generative AI. “On average, five percent of students in each high school classroom are capable of using ChatGPT,” Kim from the Gyeonggi teachers’ union said. Her remarks echo those other critics of AI have been making across sectors as the technology explodes — that it only benefits those who already know how to use it while leaving the rest baffled. Plus, Kim Hee-jung worries, struggling students might just use the tablets to play online games. People who object to the introduction of AI textbooks hold a press conference in front of the government complex in central Seoul last month. [YONHAP] Teachers also expressed concern about “lack of time getting familiar with AI textbooks before the spring semester,” which starts in March. Considering faculty reshuffle and relocation, slated to be complete in mid-February, teachers will likely have only 10 to 15 days to practice content in the AI textbooks — designated by each school before their relocation. “Teachers are unsure of the effectiveness of teaching accompanied with AI textbooks when lessons are given to students in an underprepared situation,” said Min Jae-sik, a representative of the union of middle school teachers. Min also noted that AI textbooks have an attached manual for teachers, but not for students. “Because there is no manual available for students, teachers have to address questions raised by students or solve their technical difficulties one by one,” Min said. ━ The silver lining Despite the uncertainties surrounding the need for AI textbooks and her own awareness of the technology's limitations, Joo pointed to AI textbooks as having the potential to become a “great learning tool.” “There are parts where simple and repeated exercises are crucial, and using AI textbooks for such purposes would amplify students' learning.” Joo has faith that teachers will figure out the optimal timing and usage of AI textbooks as they are well aware of effective teaching methods per each academic lesson. “Teachers will use AI textbooks once they are proven to be effective and well-made.” Education Minister Lee also stressed that surveys after AI textbook pilot programs revealed a "high" level of satisfaction. Lee told lawmakers this month that post-use reviews are what really matter. AI textbook publishers are also confident that their products will gain the trust of students, parents and teachers. Visang Education, an authorized AI textbook publisher, told the newspaper that his company would make an effort to provide “customized solutions” to students by automatically analyzing data about their behavior and achievements in real time. “AI textbooks will help students digest academic lessons through a personalized curriculum regardless of one’s learning speed,” a Visang spokesperson said. The official believes that the wary public attitude derives from vague stereotypes of AI in the education sector. “Learning with AI textbooks,” the spokesperson insisted, “would be a totally different experience.” BY LEE SOO-JUNG [ [email protected] ] var admarutag = admarutag || {} admarutag.cmd = admarutag.cmd || [] admarutag.cmd.push(function () { admarutag.pageview('3bf9fc17-6e70-4776-9d65-ca3bb0c17cb7'); });
FBI: Most Wanted is one of the most watched shows on CBS , and its stars have all gained significant traction on social media. From Dick Wolf , the FBI spinoff series is a high-stakes drama that focuses on the Fugitive Task Force, an elite unit that relentlessly pursues and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau’s Most Wanted list. Across its six seasons, the show has seen a ton of stars come and go on the cast, and some have become especially popular among fans. We’ve put together the main cast of the series past and present, and ranked them according to popularity. Find out who are the most popular stars of FBI: Most Wanted... Continue Here »
JOSH BERMAN JOINS ASSEMBLY AS EVP, ASSEMBLY LEAD IN NORTH AMERICASAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 20, 2024-- We are pleased with today’s decision. The jury has vindicated Qualcomm’s right to innovate and affirmed that all the Qualcomm products at issue in the case are protected by Qualcomm’s contract with ARM. We will continue to develop performance-leading, world class products that benefit consumers worldwide, with our incredible Oryon ARM-compliant custom CPUs. About Qualcomm Qualcomm relentlessly innovates to deliver intelligent computing everywhere, helping the world tackle some of its most important challenges. Our proven solutions drive transformation across major industries, and our Snapdragon ® branded platforms power extraordinary consumer experiences. Building on our nearly 40-year leadership in setting industry standards and creating era-defining technology breakthroughs, we deliver leading edge AI, high-performance, low-power computing, and unrivaled connectivity. Together with our ecosystem partners, we enable next-generation digital transformation to enrich lives, improve businesses, and advance societies. At Qualcomm, we are engineering human progress. Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering and research and development functions and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patents are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241220310709/en/ CONTACT: Qualcomm Contact: Clare Conley Media Relations 1-858-845-5959 corpcomm@qualcomm.comMauricio Lopez-Hodoyan Investor Relations 1-858-658-4813 ir@qualcomm.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOURCE: Qualcomm Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/20/2024 05:35 PM/DISC: 12/20/2024 05:36 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241220310709/en
Broncos can wipe away back-to-back heartbreakers and make playoffs by beating Kansas City
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Losses to the Chargers and Bengals with a playoff berth on the line show Sean Payton made a miscalculation when he agreed to flex the Denver Broncos' Week 16 game to a Thursday night. The NFL needed the Broncos' approval to replace the Cincinnati-Cleveland game with the Broncos-Chargers game because Denver had already played on a Thursday night on the road. He eagerly agreed to the switch, figuring the team's fanbase always travels well to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and the Broncos would be the more rested team at Cincinnati. But after an emotional comeback win over the Colts, the Broncos (9-7) lost to the Chargers in part because Payton got away from the run even though it helped them score touchdowns on their first three drives — and he had written “Run It!!” in marker on top of his play sheet. And they lost to the Bengals 30-24 in overtime on Saturday after Payton decided against going for 2 and the win when Marvin Mims Jr. hauled in a highlight-reel touchdown grab between two defenders with 8 seconds left in regulation. “We knew a tie for us was just as beneficial as a win,” Payton explained. “We felt like we had the momentum at that point.” Holding up two fingers, rookie QB Bo Nix lobbied for the 2-point try to no avail. “We discussed it all. We had plenty of time, plenty of time, plenty of time,” Payton said. "And the decision we made was the right one.” Well ... An extra point assured Joe Burrow would get the ball back, and the Broncos hadn't forced a single punt all game, something Payton acknowledged afterward that he wasn't aware of, and they hadn't stopped the Bengals since twice holding them on fourth down in the first half. They finally forced a punt in overtime, but the Broncos went three-and-out, something they did again after Bengals kicker Cade York doinked a 33-yard field-goal attempt off the left upright on Cincinnati's second possession. With the Bengals out of timeouts, all the Broncos needed was a first down and they'd be playoff-bound for the first time since 2015, but Bo Nix misfired to tight end Adam Trautman on third-and-long, so the Broncos punted and Burrow led the Bengals (8-8) on their game-winning touchdown drive. “I thought we could move the ball in overtime,” Nix said, “but we didn't.” The Broncos could render all of it moot with a win in Week 18 against Kansas City with the Chiefs (15-1) expected to rely heavily on backups as they rest up for the playoffs as the AFC's top seed. But Denver's defense has been dismal since November, giving up the most yards in the league, and another letdown against the Chiefs would give the Broncos their biggest collapse in two decades. “This is what we do it for — meaningful games here,” Payton said. "I think it’s important that you embrace it, and it is exciting. There’s nothing worse than playing games in the last part of the season where there’s nothing at stake. So I think it’s something we’ll all be excited about.” What’s working Denver's pass rush. The Broncos sacked Burrow seven times, giving them a league-high 58 for the season. Zach Allen had a career-best 3 1/2 of them and Dondrea Tillman's sack gives the Broncos six players without at least five sacks this season. What needs help Riley Moss led the Broncos with 14 tackles but he had a tough return to action after missing a month with a sprained MCL. Burrow targeted him over and over, including on the game-winning touchdown throw to Tee Higgins, who caught three TD passes. “Riley could have been healthy for the last eight weeks. Whoever’s opposite Pat, they’re going to go that direction, right?" Payton said. (Higgins) is a good player. A real good player. It wasn’t anything that we didn’t expect. In other words, that happens when you’re teammates with Pat.” Stock up WR Marvin Mims Jr. had a breakout performance with eight catches for 103 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, a 51-yarder and the 25-yard catch on fourth down in the closing seconds while sandwiched between two veteran defenders. Stock down Denver's defense. Even with Moss back, which allowed DC Vance Joseph to go back to relying more on man coverage, the Broncos defense continued to struggle since the calendar turned to December. Injuries The Broncos came out healthy although superstar CB Patrick Surtain II was limping on the game's final snaps. Key number 5 — Number of NFL rookie QBs to throw for at least 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns with Nix joining Justin Herbert, Baker Mayfield, Russell Wilson and Peyton Manning. What’s next It's all or nothing next week when a win over the Chiefs would send Denver to the playoffs. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Arnie Stapleton, The Associated PressTrump taps Rollins as agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretaries
The BBC announced last week that Lineker will leave his role as host, which he has held since 1999, at the end of the current season. Gary Lineker has joked about his Match Of The Day departure as he hosted the show for the first time since confirming he is to step down. The BBC announced last week that Lineker will leave his role as host, which he has held since 1999, at the end of the current football season. Saturday’s episode of the football highlights programme opened with pundit Alan Shearer, Lineker’s fellow former England striker, saying direct to the camera: “All good things must come to an end.” Lineker then appeared, and said: “Yes Alan – Lee Carsley’s England reign is over. It’s back to business in the Premier League.” Despite his exit, the 63-year-old will remain with the BBC after both parties agreed to a contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup. Lineker will host BBC Sport’s coverage of the FA Cup in the 2025-26 campaign and continue presenting the Match Of The Day: Top 10 podcast for BBC Sounds, which will also host The Rest Is Football podcast, produced by Lineker’s Goalhanger Podcasts, with one episode released on the platform each week. The BBC has said future plans for Match Of The Day would be “announced in due course” with Mark Chapman, Alex Scott, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan among those being tipped as candidates to replace him. Following the announcement, Lineker said it “has been an absolute joy and privilege to present such an iconic show for the BBC, but all things have to come to an end” on his podcast, The Rest Is Football. He added: “I bowed out in my football career when I felt it was the right time. I feel this is now the right time. “I think the next contract they’re looking to do Match Of The Day slightly differently, so I think it makes sense for someone else to take the helm.” Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day since 1999 and will have presented the show for more than a quarter of a century when he leaves in May 2025.
As befits a high-flying India: It is natural for Indians to expect that Air India will become world class again—as soon as possible!BISMARCK — The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education and Bismarck State College President Doug Jensen are parting ways. Following a special meeting Friday, Dec. 20, in which the board that oversees the state's university system went into executive session for about an hour, board members voted unanimously to accept a separation agreement with Jensen. The board did not discuss the reasons for Jensen's departure or the details of the agreement that was reached. "We'll have some words for him (Jensen) to follow shortly," Board Chair Tim Mihalick said in the meeting. Jensen was hired as Bismarck State College president in March 2020 after the retirement of Larry Skogen. Jensen previously served as president of Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois, and as president of Alabama Technology Network. His contract with Bismarck State College was renewed at a meeting of the State Board of Higher Education on June 25 and was set to last until June 30, 2026. His base salary at the time was set at $258,952. While president of Bismarck State, Jensen oversaw growth in enrollment, a change in athletics from junior college status to NAIA and expansion of campus buildings. According to Jensen's contract, if he is fired without cause, he is entitled to a payout of his current contract or the option to "retreat" to a tenured faculty position. A replacement for Jensen was not immediately disclosed.
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