Artificial intelligence (AI) tools could be used to manipulate online audiences into making decisions – ranging from what to buy to who to vote for – according to researchers at the University of Cambridge. The paper highlights an emerging new marketplace for “digital signals of intent” – known as the “intention economy” – where AI assistants understand, forecast and manipulate human intentions and sell that information on to companies who can profit from it. The intention economy is touted by researchers at Cambridge’s Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (LCFI) as a successor to the attention economy, where social networks keep users hooked on their platforms and serve them adverts. The intention economy involves AI-savvy tech companies selling what they know about your motivations, from plans for a stay in a hotel to opinions on a political candidate, to the highest bidder. “For decades, attention has been the currency of the internet ,” said Dr Jonnie Penn, an historian of technology at LCFI. “Sharing your attention with social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram drove the online economy.” He added: “Unless regulated, the intention economy will treat your motivations as the new currency. It will be a gold rush for those who target, steer and sell human intentions. “We should start to consider the likely impact such a marketplace would have on human aspirations, including free and fair elections, a free press and fair market competition, before we become victims of its unintended consequences.” The study claims that large language models (LLMs), the technology that underpins AI tools such as the ChatGPT chatbot, will be used to “anticipate and steer” users based on “intentional, behavioural and psychological data”. The authors said the attention economy allows advertisers to buy access to users’ attention in the present via real-time bidding on ad exchanges or buy it in the future by acquiring a month’s-worth of ad space on a billboard. LLMs will be able to access attention in real-time as well, by, for instance, asking if a user has thought about seeing a particular film – “have you thought about seeing Spider-Man tonight?” – as well as making suggestions relating to future intentions, such as asking: “You mentioned feeling overworked, shall I book you that movie ticket we’d talked about?” The study raises a scenario where these examples are “dynamically generated” to match factors such as a user’s “personal behavioural traces” and “psychological profile”. “In an intention economy, an LLM could, at low cost, leverage a user’s cadence, politics, vocabulary, age, gender, preferences for sycophancy, and so on, in concert with brokered bids, to maximise the likelihood of achieving a given aim (eg to sell a film ticket),” the study suggests. In such a world, an AI model would steer conversations in the service of advertisers, businesses and other third parties. Advertisers will be able to use generative AI tools to create bespoke online ads, the report claims. It also cites the example of an AI model created by Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, called Cicero, that has achieved the “human-level” ability to play the board game Diplomacy – a game that the authors say is dependent on inferring and predicting the intent of opponents. AI models will be able to tweak their outputs in response to “streams of incoming user-generated data”, the study added, citing research showing that models can infer personal information through workaday exchanges and even “steer” conversations in order to gain more personal information. The study then raises a future scenario where Meta will auction off to advertisers a user’s intent to book a restaurant, flight or hotel. Although there is already an industry devoted to forecasting and bidding on human behaviour, the report said, AI models will distill those practices into a “highly quantified, dynamic and personalised format”. The study quotes the research team behind Cicero warning that an “[AI] agent may learn to nudge its conversational partner to achieve a particular objective”. The research refers to tech executives discussing how AI models will be able to predict a user’s intent and actions. It quotes the chief executive of the largest AI chipmaker, Jensen Huang of Nvidia , who said last year that models will “figure out what is your intention, what is your desire, what are you trying to do, given the context, and present the information to you in the best possible way”.Incoming Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart begins his role the day after the Scottish League Cup final on December 16. He could be inheriting a club that's in further crisis if the Ibrox side don't lift silverware at Hampden Park, given Rangers' precarious position, trailing Celtic and Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership table. The Rangers support are already demanding manager Philippe Clement is sacked and reports claim that Stewart's first big decision in the job will be whether he decides to stick by the Belgian beyond Christmas. Mark Critchley from The Athletic provided his take on how he reckons Stewart will approach things and suggested the former Manchester United chief will enter his position with his "eyes wide open". "I think it says a lot about Rangers season so far that this game is almost a month away and everybody is expecting them to lose it," he said. "But I think he will be fully aware of the responsibilities of the role and the demands of it. I think any chief executive when they go in, yes they have decision making and authority but they are the ones who have to define the structure. "I know that it's Nils Koppen isn't it who's been appointed technical director this week, he's been moved up from his recruitment role. So, I don't know if Rangers' operations will necessarily funnel into Patrick Stewart but I'm sure he's walking into this role with his eyes wide open, knowing exactly the challenges that Rangers have had this season and that he may have on his desk first thing in the morning when he starts work." Read more: Discussing the appointment on BBC's Scottish Football Podcast , Critchley revealed more about Rangers' newest boardroom addition. "People will have that his most recent job was at Manchester United and perhaps Manchester United are not especially renowned for being a well-run club, particularly over the last decade," he said. "But I wouldn't necessarily put a lot of that at Patrick Stewart's door. He joined in 2006, not long after the Glazer takeover, but spent the majority of the 18 years that he was at Old Trafford as the general council. So, essentially he was United's top lawyer. He was the guy that was signing off on absolutely everything from a legal perspective. Whether it was transfers, whether it was contract extensions, sponsorships and commercial deals. "He would've been in the room and making sure everything was correct and legal over massive sponsorship deals like the Chevrolet one that they signed in 2012. £560m, it was a record at the time. There was a £900m deal with Adidas that they signed last year. That was a record as well. He would've played a key role in the club being listed on the New York stock exchange so he is a guy that was responsible for everything and making sure everyone was compliant legally at United. "It was maybe not a successful time on the pitch but it was in a commercial sense." Read more: A tribute to Walter Smith: New coach will help support Glasgow school Rangers squad rally behind Clement in quest for improved performances Aberdonian-born Stewart clearly has a strong and successful background but being Rangers' CEO will be a fresh challenge in his career. "At United he was the top lawyer but he wasn't necessarily the CEO," Critchley explained. "I mean he was for his final six months there. He was was appointed interim CEO when Richard Arnold left this time last year but it's been a year of upheaval at United. There's been a lot of change. In the end, he was only in the role for six months so there wasn't much decision making capacity really. Especially when you are waiting for a new CEO to come in. "I think when he left in April there was a sense that he would look to take on another executive role, one that would carry more decision making and power, and that's exactly what he's done. I think that's the attraction for him. I think it would be a move that he will see as ambitious in his next step on the ladder. "If you look at the executives that have left Old Trafford, not too many have walked into big football club's. So, I think it's a testament to Partick Stewart's reputation and the standing that he was held at United the fact he's managed to secure a top executive role at a club like Rangers. For everything you say, Rangers are still a massive club." Asked if Stewart will be equipped to handle the focus that comes with representing Glasgow Rangers, Critchley said: "I think it's slightly different because going from being United's top lawyer to being the guy who has that decision making power, authority and influence is a very different step. "I think most chief executives are probably like referee's where it's probably best if you don't notice them. You don't know what they are getting up to. For him, he's got the track record, he's got the pedigree. He has the necessary experience and there's no reason to think that just because his name wasn't on the lips of every United fan that he hasn't got the knowhow to do what he needs to do to do a job like this properly."vamos bet 。

New OGI Camera Detects Fugitive Ammonia and Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Emissions at Industrial and Manufacturing Facilities Non-Germanium Based Solution Insulates LightPath Customers from China's Recent Ban on Germanium Exports to the United States ORLANDO, Fla. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPTH) ("LightPath," the "Company," or "we"), a leading provider of next-generation optics and imaging systems for both defense and commercial applications, today announced a new version of its Optical Gas Imaging ("OGI") camera platform to detect fugitive ammonia and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions for industrial and manufacturing applications. LightPath's recently launched OGI Camera platform is a specialized technology utilizing infrared (IR) cameras to detect and visualize emissions, in this case the detection of ammonia and SF6. OGI cameras are capable of visualizing gases that are invisible to the naked eye by detecting the infrared energy absorbed or emitted by the gases. LightPath's purpose-built OGI camera leverages a proprietary non-germanium BlackDiamondTM BD6 lens to improve upon current technologies by offering a cost-effective, higher sensitivity and ultimately more effective solution that concurrently insulates LightPath customers from the geopolitical supply chain issues plaguing competing Germanium based solutions – such as China's recent ban on the export of Germanium to the United States . SF6 is a colorless, odorless, non-flammable, and non-toxic gas, but with a 23,500 times greater global warming potential than CO2. SF6 is used in the electrical industry as a gaseous dielectric medium for electrical equipment and power systems, as well as in medical, semiconductor and other industrial industries. Ammonia is used in food and beverage manufacturing, metal and plastics fabrication, and the energy and chemical industries. "Building on our oil and gas application OGI Camera, our newest variant expands our market potential into additional industrial and manufacturing applications," said Sam Rubin , President and Chief Executive Officer of LightPath. "This version will help detect SF6, the most potent greenhouse gas known to-date, and ammonia, which is also harmful when released into the environment. Managing gas emissions is critical for operations and are controlled by a variety of federal, state and local regulations – making OGI cameras an essential compliance tool. To meet these requirements, a wide spectrum of industries are seeking solutions that are cost effective, highly sensitive, and don't require the use of a proprietary software. "With China's recently announced ban on the export of Germanium to the United States , it's more important than ever for U.S. companies to evaluate non-Germanium solutions for optics and imaging systems of all kinds. In this case, our OGI purpose-built camera with a non-germanium lens improves on current emissions detection technology, satisfies regulatory requirements for our clients, and provides an economical tool for multiple applications while ensuring supply chain security," concluded Rubin. About LightPath Technologies LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPTH) is a leading provider of next-generation optics and imaging systems for both defense and commercial applications. As a vertically integrated solutions provider with in-house engineering design support, LightPath's family of custom solutions range from proprietary BlackDiamondTM chalcogenide-based glass materials – sold under exclusive license from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory – to complete infrared optical systems and thermal imaging assemblies. The Company's primary manufacturing footprint is located in Orlando, Florida with additional facilities in Texas , Latvia and China . To learn more, please visit www.lightpath.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "forecast," "guidance," "plan," "estimate," "will," "would," "project," "maintain," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "prospect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "believe," "continue," "opportunity," "potential," and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the impact of varying demand for the Company products; the ability of the Company to obtain needed raw materials and components from its suppliers; actions governments, businesses, and individuals take in response to the pandemic, including restrictions on onsite commercial interactions; general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; geopolitical tensions, the Russian-Ukraine conflict, and the Hamas/ Israel war; the effects of steps that the Company could take to reduce operating costs; the inability of the Company to sustain profitable sales growth, convert inventory to cash, or reduce its costs to maintain competitive prices for its products; circumstances or developments that may make the Company unable to implement or realize the anticipated benefits, or that may increase the costs, of its current and planned business initiatives; and those factors detailed by LightPath Technologies, Inc. in its public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on 10-Q. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties, or facts materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lightpath-technologies-introduces-new-optical-gas-imaging-camera-for-ammonia-and-sf6-detection-302324317.html SOURCE LightPath TechnologiesA chilling message was left at the scene of the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson: "Deny," "Defend," and "Depose." This echoes a phrase commonly used to describe tactics employed by insurance companies to avoid paying claims. The 50-year-old health insurance executive was gunned down early Wednesday morning, November 4, outside a hotel in Manhattan, where he was set to attend his UnitedHealthcare's annual investor conference. According to New York Police, three spent 9mm shell casings were found at the scene, along with three live rounds. The three words -- "Deny," "Defend," and "Depose" -- were written on the ammunition a masked gunman used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The phrase "Delay, Deny, Defend" is said to have long been associated with insurance industry practices, often used to describe how insurers deny services and payment. These chilling words also echo the title of a 2010 book, “Delay Deny Defend,” whose subtitle is “Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.” The shooting and the ominous message have ignited a firestorm of criticism on social media, reflecting growing public frustration with the rising costs and complexities of healthcare. Many Americans view health insurance companies as profit-driven entities that prioritise financial gain over patient care. "!! The shooter of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson wrote “deny” “defend” “depose” on the shell casings left at the scene, ABC News reports. The words echo the name of a book about how insurers won’t pay claims. This is an EARTHQUAKE for corporate America," says a viral post by Alex Berenson. The post on X, formerly Twitter, has so far received 25K-plus likes and 8K retweets. "New Unreported Truths, about the anti-insurance company messages left at the scene of Brian Thompson’s murder - and the rising fury Americans feel over our broken medical system," Berenson said in another post. First time in America's history The targeted murder of a top corporate executive of a major public company is unprecedented in recent American history. The uproar on social media is linking the murder to the insurance industry's 'culture of denial'. The insurance industry in the US is said to have a history of employing strategies to delay or deny claims, often leading to significant financial burdens and emotional distress for policyholders. The recent tragedy has further intensified public scrutiny of the insurance industry, particularly UnitedHealthcare, one of the nation's largest health insurers. Critics argue that the company's focus on profits has led to increased denial rates for claims, delayed treatments, and limited access to care. Social media has been flooded with angry comments and memes, expressing frustration and outrage over the industry's practices. Many users have shared personal stories of being denied coverage for essential medical treatments, highlighting the human cost of these tactics. As the investigation into Thompson's murder continues, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about healthcare affordability, insurance industry practices, and the need for greater transparency and accountability. UnitedHealthcare provides coverage for more than 49 million Americans and brought in more than $281 billion in revenue last year as one of the nation’s largest health insurers. UnitedHealthcare and its rivals have become frequent targets of criticism from doctors, patients and lawmakers in recent years for denying claims or complicating access to care.

By SARAH PARVINI, GARANCE BURKE and JESSE BEDAYN, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. While immigration officials have used the tech for years, an October letter from the Department of Homeland Security obtained exclusively by The Associated Press details how those tools — some of them powered by AI — help make life-altering decisions for immigrants, including whether they should be detained or surveilled. One algorithm, for example, ranks immigrants with a “Hurricane Score,” ranging from 1-5, to assess whether someone will “abscond” from the agency’s supervision. Related Articles The letter, sent by DHS Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Eric Hysen to the immigrant rights group Just Futures Law, revealed that the score calculates the potential risk that an immigrant — with a pending case — will fail to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The algorithm relies on several factors, he said, including an immigrant’s number of violations and length of time in the program, and whether the person has a travel document. Hysen wrote that ICE officers consider the score, among other information, when making decisions about an immigrant’s case. “The Hurricane Score does not make decisions on detention, deportation, or surveillance; instead, it is used to inform human decision-making,” Hysen wrote. Also included in the government’s tool kit is a mobile app called SmartLINK that uses facial matching and can track an immigrant’s specific location. Nearly 200,000 people without legal status who are in removal proceedings are enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program, under which certain immigrants can live in the U.S. while their immigration cases are pending. In exchange, SmartLINK and GPS trackers used by ICE rigorously surveil them and their movements. The phone application draws on facial matching technology and geolocation data, which has been used before to find and arrest those using the app. Just Futures Law wrote to Hysen earlier this year, questioning the fairness of using an algorithm to assess whether someone is a flight risk and raising concerns over how much data SmartLINK collects. Such AI systems, which score or screen people, are used widely but remain largely unregulated even though some have been found to discriminate on race, gender or other protected traits. DHS said in an email that it is committed to ensuring that its use of AI is transparent and safeguards privacy and civil rights while avoiding biases. The agency said it is working to implement the Biden administration’s requirements on using AI , but Hysen said in his letter that security officials may waive those requirements for certain uses. Trump has publicly vowed to repeal Biden’s AI policy when he returns to the White House in January. “DHS uses AI to assist our personnel in their work, but DHS does not use the outputs of AI systems as the sole basis for any law enforcement action or denial of benefits,” a spokesperson for DHS told the AP. Trump has not revealed how he plans to carry out his promised deportation of an estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally. Although he has proposed invoking wartime powers, as well as military involvement, the plan would face major logistical challenges — such as where to keep those who have been detained and how to find people spread across the country — that AI-powered surveillance tools could potentially address. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, did not answer questions about how they plan to use DHS’ tech, but said in a statement that “President Trump will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation” in American history. Over 100 civil society groups sent a letter on Friday urging the Office of Management and Budget to require DHS to comply with the Biden administration’s guidelines. OMB did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Just Futures Law’s executive director, Paromita Shah, said if immigrants are scored as flight risks, they are more likely to remain in detention, “limiting their ability to prepare a defense in their case in immigration court, which is already difficult enough as it is.” SmartLINK, part of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, is run by BI Inc., a subsidiary of the private prison company The GEO Group. The GEO Group also contracts with ICE to run detention centers. ICE is tight-lipped about how it uses SmartLINK’s location feature to find and arrest immigrants. Still, public records show that during Trump’s first term in 2018, Manassas, Virginia-based employees of BI Inc. relayed immigrants’ GPS locations to federal authorities, who then arrested over 40 people. In a report last year to address privacy issues and concerns, DHS said that the mobile app includes security features that “prohibit access to information on the participant’s mobile device, with the exception of location data points when the app is open.” But the report notes that there remains a risk that data collected from people “may be misused for unauthorized persistent monitoring.” Such information could also be stored in other ICE and DHS databases and used for other DHS mission purposes, the report said. On investor calls earlier this month, private prison companies were clear-eyed about the opportunities ahead. The GEO Group’s executive chairman George Christopher Zoley said that he expects the incoming Trump administration to “take a much more aggressive approach regarding border security as well as interior enforcement and to request additional funding from Congress to achieve these goals.” “In GEO’s ISAP program, we can scale up from the present 182,500 participants to several hundreds of thousands, or even millions of participants,” Zoley said. That same day, the head of another private prison company told investors he would be watching closely to see how the new administration may change immigrant monitoring programs. “It’s an opportunity for multiple vendors to engage ICE about the program going forward and think about creative and innovative solutions to not only get better outcomes, but also scale up the program as necessary,” Damon Hininger, CEO of the private prison company CoreCivic Inc. said on an earnings call. GEO did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, CoreCivic said that it has played “a valued but limited role in America’s immigration system” for both Democrats and Republicans for over 40 years.

Rabada unlikely batting star as South Africa edge Pakistan in thrillerRural areas experience the brunt of healthcare system deficiencies. Are there solutions?

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean law enforcement officials on Monday requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as they investigate whether his short-lived martial law decree on Dec. 3 amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant from the Seoul Western District Court. They plan to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Yoon has dodged several requests by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors to appear for questioning and has also blocked searches of his offices. It’s not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Yoon can be compelled to appear for questioning. Under the country’s laws, locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge, and it’s unlikely that Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces detainment. Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14 over his imposition of martial law that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. Yoon’s fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him. Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a warning against the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which has been bogging down his agenda with its majority in the parliament. Parliament voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Yoon’s case. The country’s new interim leader is Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also finance minister.

St. Cloud City Council seats its first Somali American member

Heat earns gusty road win over Rockets behind another excellent night from Tyler HerroThey are investigating whether his short-lived martial law decree earlier this month amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant on Monday. Investigators plan to question Mr Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Mr Yoon has dodged several requests by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors to appear for questioning and has also blocked searches of his offices. It is not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Mr Yoon can be compelled to appear for questioning. Under the country’s laws, locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge and it is unlikely Mr Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces detainment. Mr Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on December 14 over his imposition of martial law that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. His fate lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Mr Yoon from office or reinstate him. Mr Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a warning against the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which has been bogging down his agenda with its majority in the parliament. Parliament voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Mr Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Mr Yoon’s case. The country’s new interim leader is Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also finance minister.

The national government has summoned Congress for extraordinary sessions between December 5 and 27 to debate six bills including the elimination of the PASO primaries via electoral reform, Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni said Thursday. The other bills cover political reform, trials in absentia, the anti-mafia law, presidential travel and the reform of political immunity – but not the 2025 Budget presented with such fanfare by President Javier Milei last September 15, due to a lack of consensus in Congress committees. Other absentees in Adorni’s list were the privatisation of Aerolíneas Argentinas, the ‘ ’ bill to bar those with confirmed corruption convictions from electoral candidacy and the Supreme Court nominations of Ariel Lijo and Manuel García-Mansilla with the votes reportedly lacking. The government aim for the extraordinary sessions is to advance with its electoral reform package, including the elimination of the PASO primaries and changes in party financing. Libertarian deputy Martín Menem was re-elected as Congress Speaker on Wednesday with the support of most parliamentary caucuses, except Unión por la Patria, which decided to abstain. His vice-presidents will be Cecilia Moreau (Unión por la Patria), Silvia Lospennato (PRO) and Julio Cobos (UCR). Presidential chief-of-staff Karina Milei and Adorni were among those present at the speaker's re-election. – TIMES/NA Ads Space Ads Space

Minutes of an Executive meeting from June of that year state further action would be considered “as appropriate” if the DUP went ahead with a threat to rotate its ministers. The minutes are within files which have been declassified at the Public Record Office in Belfast. Devolved powersharing had been restored to Northern Ireland in May 2000 when Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble had received the backing of his party to go back into the Assembly, despite there having been no decommissioning of IRA arms at that point. Then DUP deputy leader Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds took up the offices as ministers for regional development and social development, but refused to attend Executive meetings due to the presence of Sinn Fein ministers. The party also said it would rotate its ministerial posts to prevent other parties from taking them. A minute of an Executive meeting on June 8 said Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds had refused a request from First Minister Mr Trimble and deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon to meet with them “to discuss recent public comments by the DUP concerning their positions as ministers”. The minute records that the Executive endorsed a proposal from the First and deputy First Ministers to write again to the two DUP ministers setting out sanctions against them. It says: “The First Minister and and Deputy First Minister would assume responsibility for representing the Executive Committee on transport matters at the British-Irish Council in place of the Minister for Regional Development. “The Minister for Social Development and the Minister for Regional Development would not be nominated to attend meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee. “Pending the receipt of satisfactory assurances from DUP Ministers regarding the confidentiality and integrity of Executive Committee business, the Minister for Social Development and Minister for Regional Development would not receive Executive Committee papers as of right. “The First Minister and Deputy First Minister would seek briefing, as appropriate, from officials in the Department for Regional Development and Department for Social Development.” The minute continues: “If the DUP carried out their threat to change the holders of the two Ministerial offices on a frequent basis, the Executive Committee would consider other action as appropriate.” Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds resigned as ministers on June 27 and were replaced by party colleagues Gregory Campbell and Maurice Morrow. A minute from an Executive meeting that day says: “The Executive Committee noted that the Minister for Social Development and Minister for Regional Development would be resigning their posts that afternoon, and expressed concern at the proposed rotation of the ministries held by their Party Members.”By Leah Douglas and Ed White WASHINGTON/REGINA, Saskatchewan (Reuters) -U.S. prices may rise next year for avocados, strawberries and other fresh produce, and consumers could face shortages, if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on plans to slap tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, agricultural economists and industry executives said. Mexico and Canada are by far the top two suppliers of farm products to the United States, with imports of agricultural goods valued at nearly $86 billion last year, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Customs data. Duties on their food shipments could cause jarring financial and operational ripple effects on U.S. supplies and highlight how reliant the nation has become on its neighbors for feeding its population, economists said. Trump said Monday he would sign an executive order on his first day in office in January that would impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States from Canada and Mexico to curb the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the U.S. U.S. consumers would feel impacts at grocery stores and restaurants, with items being out of stock, Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, said on Tuesday. "We would see fewer items in general in the produce section," Jungmeyer said. "Restaurants would have to reconfigure their menus, maybe putting in less fruits and vegetables or decreasing portions." About two-thirds of all U.S. vegetable imports and half of fruit and nut imports come from Mexico, according to the USDA: nearly 90% of its avocados, as much as 35% of its orange juice, and 20% of its strawberries. Avocado exports to the United States have soared 48% since 2019, according to U.S. trade data, as consumers have increasingly put them in salads and on sandwiches. The U.S. market accounts for about 80% of Mexico's total avocado exports, data by the USDA shows, a trade worth $3 billion last year. "It would generate an inflationary spiral," said Alfredo Ramírez, governor of Michoacan, Mexico's main avocado producing state. "Demand would not fall," he said. "What would increase are costs and prices. This would bring us an increase in inflation and direct repercussions for consumers." Margarita supplies could be hit, too. Imports of beer and tequila together make up nearly a quarter of Mexican imports of agricultural goods into the U.S. last year. U.S. imports of Mexican tequila and mezcal - both used for making cocktails, such as margaritas - totaled $4.66 billion in 2023, up 160% since 2019. The tariffs could also push prices higher for fertilizer imported from Canada at a time when farmers are paying nearly 50% more for fertilizer than in 2020, said Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, a farmer trade group. "Now is not the time to send shock waves through the agricultural economy," Kieffer said. PIGS, CATTLE MIGRATION Trump's plan could also slow the migration of more than 1 million cows exported by Mexico across the border each year, to become part of the U.S. beef supply. U.S. producers have slashed their cattle herds in recent years, pushing up beef prices. They could benefit if tariffs lead to fewer cattle and beef imports, said Bill Bullard, chief executive officer of the Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America. Tariffs could also further increase meat prices for U.S. consumers, though Bullard said importers and meat processors may be able to absorb some extra costs. "We look forward to tariffs," he said. "It will help to level the playing field for our domestic producers." To the north, tariffs also could disrupt shipments of beef and dairy cattle and hogs between the U.S. and Canada, and potentially affect producers in both countries. Manitoba alone sends about 3 million piglets each year to producers in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska, where feed corn can be sourced more cheaply, according to the Canada Pork Council and Manitoba Pork Council Midwestern farmers then raise and fatten up the animals in their feeder barns, before sending them to slaughter - and the pork flows both to buyers in the U.S. and Canada after processing. TRUMP TRADE WARS 2.0 The latest USDA projections show that the U.S. in 2025 will likely run a deficit in agricultural trade of more than $42 billion, driven in part by consumer interest in off-season produce and imported alcohol from Mexico. The threat of tariffs could be a way of attaining leverage over Mexico and Canada in the lead-up to renegotiation of the USMCA trade deal, set to be reviewed in 2026, said Peter Tabor, an attorney and senior policy advisor at Holland & Knight and a former USDA trade official. But implementation of steep tariffs over time could mean the U.S. may be seen as an unreliable trading partner and that importers of U.S. goods would look elsewhere to fill the void, Tabor said. (Reporting by Leah Douglas in Washington, Ed White in Regina, Saskatchewan, Tom Polansek and Karl Plume in Chicago, Emma Rumney in London, and Cassandra Garrison and Adriana Barrera in Mexico City; Writing By P.J. Huffstutter in Chicago; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)

Morrissey throws 67-yard TD pass to Calwise Jr. to lift Eastern Kentucky over North Alabama 21-15Sinn Fein ‘ignored role of 3,000 deaths in damaging community relations’

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Aziaha James had 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Devyn Quigley scored a career-high 20 points and made four 3-pointers and NC State beat Coastal Carolina 89-68 on Thursday. NC State had its lead trimmed to 54-46 midway through the third quarter before James scored five straight points to begin a 13-2 run that ended in a 19-point lead. Quigley took over in the fourth, making three 3-pointers and scoring 15 points. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire , New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Thompson was shot at least once in the back and once in the calf, Tisch said. The shooter, who wore a jacket, face mask and large backpack, fled through Midtown on foot before pedaling an electric bike into Central Park a few blocks away, police said. The assailant remained at large Wednesday afternoon, sparking a search that included police drones, helicopters and dogs. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.” Police issued a poster showing a surveillance image of the man pointing what appeared to be a gun and another image that appeared to show the same person on a bicycle. Minutes before the shooting, he stopped at a nearby Starbucks, according to additional surveillance photos released by police on Wednesday afternoon. They offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive. The killing shook a part of New York City that's normally quiet at that hour, happening about four blocks from where tens of thousands of people were set to gather for Wednesday night’s tree lighting. Police promised extra security for the event. The hotel is also a short walk from other tourist sites, including the Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall, and is often dense with office workers and visitors on weekday mornings. Many security cameras are nearby. “We’re encouraging New Yorkers to go about their daily lives and their daily business but to be alert,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said. Police initially said the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle from the city’s bike-share program, CitiBike. But a spokesperson for the program’s operator, Lyft, said police officials informed the company Wednesday afternoon that the bike was not from the CitiBike fleet. Health care giant UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death. “I’m afraid that we — some of you may know we’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” a company official told attendees, according to a transcript. “And as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today. ... I’m sure you’ll understand.” Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the company since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on the social platform X that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.” “This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote. Associated Press writers Tom Murphy in Indianapolis, Steve Karnowski in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this story.