game shows NoneGabby Logan is forced to apologise to Amazon Prime viewers as pundit swears during the broadcaster's live Champions League coverage

Texas' abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine Texas has sued a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a Texas woman via telemedicine. It appears to be the first challenge in the U.S. to a state shield law that's intended to protect prescribers in Democratic-controlled states from being punished by states with abortion bans. Prescriptions like these, made online and over the phone, are a key reason that the number of abortions has increased across the U.S. even after state bans started taking effect. Most abortions in the U.S. involve pills rather than procedures. Anti-abortion groups are increasingly focusing on the rise of pills. Syrians cheer end of 50 years of Assad rule at first Friday prayers since government fell DAMASCUS (AP) — Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad, gathering in the capital’s historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule. The newly installed interim prime minister delivered the sermon at the Umayyad Mosque, declaring that a new era of “freedom, dignity and justice” was dawning for Syria. The gatherings illustrated the dramatic changes that have swept over Syria less than a week after insurgents marched into Damascus and toppled Assad. Amid the jubilation, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with allies around the region and called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian” interim government. US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan, officials say WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has brought an American who was imprisoned in Syria for seven months out of the country. That's according to two U.S. officials, who said Friday that Travis Timmerman has been flown to Jordan on a U.S. military helicopter. The 29-year-old Timmerman told The Associated Press earlier Friday he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.” New Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightings TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has asked the Biden administration to put more resources into the ongoing investigation of mysterious drone sightings being reported in the state and other parts of the region. Murphy, a Democrat, made the request in a letter Thursday, noting that state and local law enforcement remain “hamstrung” by existing laws and policies in their efforts to successfully counteract any nefarious drone activity. Murphy and other officials say there is no evidence that the drones pose a national security or a public safety threat. A state lawmaker says up to 180 aircraft have been reported to authorities since Nov. 18. Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she 'sustained an injury' from fall on official trip to Luxembourg WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been hospitalized after she “sustained an injury” during an official engagement in Luxembourg, according to a spokesman. Pelosi is 84. She was in Europe to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Her spokesman, Ian Krager, did not describe the nature of her injury or give any additional details, but a person familiar with the incident said that Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event with the other members of Congress. The person requested anonymity to discuss the fall because they were not authorized to speak about it publicly. Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure with a massive attack by cruise missiles and drones KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia fired 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones in Friday's bombardments. He says it is one of the heaviest bombardments of the country’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago. He says Ukrainian defenses shot down 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles that were intercepted by F-16 warplanes provided by Western allies earlier this year. Zelenskyy renewed his plea for international unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin. But uncertainty surrounds how the war might unfold next year. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the war and has thrown into doubt whether vital U.S. military support for Kyiv will continue. Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it 'absurd' NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers are again urging a judge to throw out his hush money conviction. In a court filing Friday, they balked at the prosecution’s “absurd” idea for preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies before sentencing. The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen's friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes to seafood, one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy. Some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture, as they fear Trump’s pending trade hostilities with major trading partners Canada and China could make an already pricy kind of protein more expensive. Conservationists also fear Trump’s emphasis on deregulation could jeopardize fish stocks already in peril. But many in the commercial fishing and seafood processing industries said they expect Trump to allow fishing in protected areas and crack down on offshore wind expansion. OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship' A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and best avoid an artificial intelligence ‘dictatorship’ is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker’s ongoing conversion into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. OpenAI is filing its response Friday. Paula Abdul settles lawsuit alleging sexual assault by 'American Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paula Abdul and former “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe have agreed to settle a lawsuit in which she alleged he sexually assaulted her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the show. Abdul filed a notice of settlement in a Los Angeles court Thursday. The lawsuit filed nearly a year ago had also accused Lythgoe of sexually assaulting Abdul after she left “American Idol” and became a judge on Lythgoe’s other show “So You Think You Can Dance.” Lythgoe said at the time that the allegations were “an appalling smear.” Both sides said in statements Friday that they were glad to put the case behind them.The Union news-dumped their offseason roster moves late Tuesday, announcing a formal parting of ways with Leon Flach. The club retains 24 players under contract for 2025, to be coached by a person still to be determined after the firing of Jim Curtin. That group includes Mikael Uhre, whose option automatically vested earlier in the season, and Isaiah LeFlore. It does not include Flach, out of contract at the end of the season and whom the Union are letting walk. The Union declined options on Homegrowns Brandon Craig and Matthew Real, defender Jack Elliott and forward Joaquin Torres. They also declined the purchase option for on-loan left back Jamir Berdecio. The Union described “ongoing negotiations” with Elliott, Craig and Alejandro Bedoya, who is out of contract. Also out of contract is Sam Adeniran, though the Union don’t plan to bring the forward acquired midseason from St. Louis back. Flach, still just 23, played 116 games (107 starts) with two goals and 10 assists in four seasons since coming over from St. Pauli in the German 2.Bundesliga. A dual U.S.-German citizen, he was more of a defense-first presence, one rated more highly by Curtin than Sporting Director Ernst Tanner. Flach said in October that he had not had any discussions with the club on a new contract by his choice. Berdecio, 22, was acquired on loan from Oriente Petrolero. He made 28 appearances for MLS Next Pro runner-up Union II but never made the squad for the first team. He made his international debut with Bolivia over the summer. Craig, 19, is a Homegrown product who has made one appearance with the Union for three minutes in 2022. He was loaned to Austin FC but did not play in 2023, then spent 2024 on loan with El Paso Locomotive in the USL Championship, with one goal in 19 appearances. Real, now 25, made 52 appearances for the Union since 2018. He spent the season with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, leading them to the USL title. LeFlore was signed by the Union last offseason from Houston but tore his ACL in the preseason and missed the entire year. Torres was loaned out to Chilean club Universidad Catolica in the spring. He was acquired from Montreal in 2023 but made just 14 appearances for the Union with one goal.

Black-owned B.C. businesses get boost through grant programMillions of university graduates and students will soon wake up to an early Christmas present after the government wiped thousands of dollars off their debts. or signup to continue reading Laws to cap the indexation rate for the Higher Education Loan Program at either the rate of inflation or the wage price index - whichever is lowest - passed federal parliament late Tuesday night after Australians were stung with a 7.1 per cent increase to their student debts in 2023 because of surging inflation. The indexation changes will lead to $3 billion in debt being cleared over coming weeks. "University is a lot more expensive today than when I was at university," Education Minister Jason Clare told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. "Wiping $3 billion in debt will fix that spike in inflation that happened last year and it'll make sure that never happens again." People with an average HELP debt level will get a $1200 reduction on their loans. Those with a debt of $45,000 will get a decrease of about $2000, while students with $60,000 owning will have debt lowered by $2700. The changes were recommended in the university accords, a review of the tertiary education sector handed down in February. The laws mean university students completing placement will receive payments to help with living costs from July 2025. Students in degrees including teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work will receive an allowance of $319 per week. The reforms were a big win for students and graduates at a time when many Australians were struggling with the high cost of living, Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said. Though universities have celebrated these measures, other government proposals for the sector have been widely spurned. Labor has attempted to implement a cap on the number of foreign student arrivals from 2025. The reform would be used in place of an immigration rule known as ministerial direction 107, that has throttled student visas. Swinburne University of Technology vice-chancellor Pascale Quester has urged the government to replace the ministerial direction and prioritise visa processing for enrolments in science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses - collectively known as STEM subjects. The number of domestic students taking these courses has dropped steadily, while international student interest has increased by 39 per cent since 2021. "Forget a brain drain, we are at risk of a brain drought," Professor Quester said. "There is so much STEM talent in the region, but we have slammed the door in their faces with hastily-crafted policy." The government is also expected to slash a further 20 per cent off Australians' student debt if it wins the federal election in 2025. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementFunding from Teachers' Venture Growth and Other Investors to Scale Exploration Solutions Powered by Space & AI for Faster Energy Transition Mineral Discovery ADELAIDE, Australia , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fleet Space Technologies (Fleet Space), Australia's leading space exploration company, today announced the closing of a A$150M Series D funding round, led by Teachers' Venture Growth (TVG), the late-stage venture and growth investment arm of Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, and joined by existing investors Blackbird Ventures, Hostplus, Horizons Ventures, Artesian Venture Partners, and Alumni Ventures. The new investment will be used to expand the capabilities of Fleet Space's global end-to-end exploration platform, ExoSphere, to accelerate the discovery of critical minerals needed for Earth's clean energy future. "The ability to meet the rapidly increasing demand for critical minerals presents a significant challenge to achieving global net-zero targets," said Rick Prostko , Senior Managing Director, Teachers' Venture Growth. "Current mineral exploration methods are inadequate for efficient discovery and production. Fleet Space addresses this with advanced 3D subsurface imaging and AI analysis tools, which have the potential to sustainably transform the industry. We are proud to support the multidisciplinary team at Fleet Space in their efforts to accelerate the global energy transition." "We're proud to continue our investment in Fleet Space, building on many years of history," added Niki Scevak, Partner at Blackbird. "Quite simply, the discovery of critical minerals must exponentially increase if we are to electrify our society by 2050 and breakthroughs, like ExoSphere, are needed to make it happen." Real-Time Exploration Powered by Space & AI Founded by former propulsion engineer at the European Space Agency, Flavia Tata Nardini , and aerospace entrepreneur, Matt Pearson , Fleet Space was created to harness the capabilities of space exploration technologies for a new wave of solutions that can accelerate decarbonisation and the global energy transition. By integrating Fleet Space's satellites in LEO, smart seismic sensors, and AI into an end-to-end solution, Fleet Space's ExoSphere technology streamlines the acquisition, processing, and integration of exploration datasets, providing the global mining industry with high-quality targeting insights faster than ever before while minimising environmental impact. "There are two versions of the future. One where we bend the latest advances in space, AI, and big data towards building a clean energy future and another where we risk net-zero targets falling out of reach as the rate of new discoveries of energy transition minerals continues to decline," added Flavia Tata Nardini , CEO & Co-Founder of Fleet Space. "With ExoSphere, we have combined these technologies into an end-to-end platform that seamlessly integrates with and compliments modern mining operations - making the frontier of exploration technology accessible to the global mining industry within a single workflow. This is a fundamental step to unlock humanity's potential for making extraordinary discoveries with less environmental impact." Exponential Growth Today's announcement caps a period of exponential growth for Fleet Space. In the past year, Fleet Space has: Expanded the company's global footprint to the US, Canada , Chile , and Luxembourg with 130+ employees worldwide to support the deployment of ExoSphere for over 40+ industry leading exploration companies across five continents. Deployed ExoSphere to accelerate exploration in some of the most prospective areas on Earth with industry leaders like Rio Tinto and Barrick Gold - while also delivering the world's largest real-time 3D imaging survey in Australia's Macquarie Arc and the world's highest real-time 3D imaging survey in Chile's Atacama region . Launched ExoSphere Discovery , Fleet Space's breakthrough AI-powered exploration technology which uses proprietary multimodal AI models to predict opportunity zones and targets with potential mineralisation - a pioneering advance for the use of AI in mineral exploration met with widespread demand in the industry. "This funding is not just a testament to Fleet Space's growth, strong investor confidence, and sustained innovation in core technologies needed to address dual challenges of climate change and mineral exploration. It's a signal that in a period of turbulent macroeconomic conditions, the shared commitment to build technologies needed for Earth's clean energy future combined with solid business execution can attract the right partners," said Federico Tata Nardini , Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Fleet Space. "We are proud to be among the few companies globally to close a Series D round in the context of reduced activity in the venture ecosystem and look forward to furthering our vision, strategic initiatives, and roadmap to scale the business to the next level." Technology Roadmap for Explorers of New Worlds While advancing the capabilities of data-driven exploration on Earth with ExoSphere, Fleet Space has also laid the technology foundation to rapidly accelerate the exploration of new worlds. The smart seismic sensors used as part of Fleet Space's terrestrial ExoSphere system represent the technological precursor for its lunar variant – SPIDER – which will be deployed on the Moon in 2026 to enhance humanity's understanding of the lunar subsurface. Collaborating with MIT Media Lab's Space Exploration Initiative , Fleet Space is also helping to advance off-world research needed for the planning of future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Additionally, Fleet Space unveiled a cost-effective, resilient full duplex SATCOM system using microsatellites and reprogrammed Centauri-4 to become the world's smallest voice-enabled satellite . "The convergence of innovation in space, AI, and 3D subsurface imaging represents a foundational pillar of the core technology set that will enable humanity to build permanent research stations on the Moon, Mars, and beyond," said Matt Pearson , Chief Exploration Officer at Fleet Space. "The flywheel we've created by continuously enhancing the subsurface understanding of Earth through the global deployment of ExoSphere simultaneously drives advances in the technology needed to build highly scalable, data-driven exploration systems for new worlds. A bold new chapter in the history of space exploration is about to begin and we are positioned to play a significant role as humanity boldly ventures deeper into our solar system." About Fleet Space Technologies Fleet Space Technologies , Australia's leading space exploration company, is revolutionizing critical mineral discovery with its end-to-end mineral exploration solution, ExoSphere, which combines satellite connectivity, 3D multiphysics, and AI to image mineral systems in real-time. Over 40 leading exploration companies like Rio Tinto, Barrick Gold , and Core Lithium have used ExoSphere's real-time 3D subsurface imaging on projects across five continents. Due to global demand for ExoSphere, Fleet Space's international footprint has expanded to the US, Canada , Chile , and Luxembourg with over 130+ employees, representing 37 nationalities, worldwide. In 2024, Fleet Space was recognised as the winner of the Innovation category at the Mining Technology Excellence Awards and received the Climate Impact Technology Award by the Banksia Foundation. To learn more about ExoSphere, please reach out to the Fleet Space team here . About Teachers' Venture Growth Teachers' Venture Growth (TVG) focuses on late-stage venture and growth equity investments in cutting-edge technology companies worldwide. We partner with founders with bold missions, looking to expand their product offering, scale geographically, and become the leaders in their markets. We bring long-term thinking and active investing to help build better businesses and a better world. We think globally and act locally through our direct presence across Asia , North America and Europe . TVG is part of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers'), a global investor with net assets of CAD 255.8 billion as at June 30, 2024 . We invest in more than 50 countries in a broad array of assets including public and private equities, fixed income, credit, commodities, natural resources, infrastructure, real estate and venture growth to deliver retirement income for 340,000 working members and pensioners. Our more than 450 investment professionals operate in key financial centres around the world and bring deep expertise in a broad range of sectors and industries. We are a fully funded defined benefit pension plan and have earned an annual total-fund net return of 9.3% since the plan's founding in 1990. At Ontario Teachers', we don't just invest to make a return, we invest to shape a better future for the teachers we serve, the businesses we back, and the world we live in. For more information, visit otpp.com/teachersventuregrowth and follow us on LinkedIn . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578404/Fleet_Space_logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578405/Fleet_Space_Series_D_Funding.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2578406/Fleet_Space_Co_Founders.jpg SOURCE Fleet Space

Duke's Diaz: QB Murphy faces internal discipline for raising middle fingers in Virginia Tech winTrump's lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money convictionA-League tipping: Round 8 – Auckland finally on the road, can Jets and Glory avoid implosion?

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Mysterious googly eyes go viral after appearing on public art in OregonGrand Theft Auto 6 is going to cause a "global distraction event" when it launches, with millions taking time off of work and school to play it... but what about a beefed-up version on the PC? We're learning about GTA 6 on "next-gen consoles" and PC from the LinkedIn profile of a Principal Engine Programmer who has been working at Rockstar since 2020, with Grand Theft Auto 6 as the only project they've worked on over the last 4 years. The developer listed some details about working with RAGE, the in-house engine Rockstar uses for its games, with RAGE being used to power the next-generation world of GTA 6. The post teased that the developer has worked with ray tracing, ray-traced global illumination, and "procedural generation for objects and game environments". The full post on LinkedIn from the GTA 6 developer explains: "Oversee the design, development, and optimization of core engine of Rockstar's in-house RAGE engine. Including rendering, physics, AI, and memory management, ensuring the engine can handle open world environments and simulations. I collaborated with other technical leads, producers, and directors to define the technical vision and architecture of engine systems for current and future titles". The post continues: "Lead performance profiling and optimization efforts, pushing the limits of real-time rendering and processing to maintain smooth performance across multiple platforms, including next-gen consoles and PC. rrive the integration of new technologies and research into the engine pipeline, such as ray tracing, ray-traced global illumination, procedural generation for objects and game environments, and various other technical systems within the engine core".