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At last, Wilson’s reputation gets dismantling it deservesAmong the tearful embraces and expressions of gratitude, the woman's eyes searched desperately for her beloved grandmother. And then, in a moment of sheer serendipity, her grandmother emerged from the shadows, unscathed and unharmed. The emotional reunion was a testament to the power of love and hope in the face of adversity, as the family embraced each other with a newfound appreciation for the precious gift of life.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield embarrassed the woeful Giants with his arm and legs, and if that wasn't enough, he rubbed it in by mimicking New York fan favorite Tommy DeVito's celebratory dance after scoring a touchdown. Mayfield catapulted into the end zone on a spectacular 10-yard scramble for one of Tampa Bay's four rushing TDs, and the Buccaneers beat the Giants and new starting quarterback DeVito 30-7 on Sunday, snapping a four-game losing streak and extending New York's skid to six. With both teams struggling and coming off byes, most of the focus leading up to the game was on the Giants' decisions this week to bench and then release quarterback Daniel Jones. The brash DeVito was given the starting job and asked to spark coach Brian Daboll's team, as he did last season. Instead, Mayfield provided the energy with his play and his trolling of DeVito. “Tribute to Tommy,” said a straight-faced Mayfield, who was 24 of 30 for 294 yards. “He’s a good dude, that’s why. Most of the times, I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s spontaneous.” Mayfield was asked several times about the gesture and admitted he wanted to give Giants fans something they liked, adding he met DeVito at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas in February. “He had his chain blinged out, swag walking through the casino. It was awesome,” Mayfield said. “It was like a movie scene, honestly.” DeVito did nothing to help the NFL's lowest-scoring offense. He threw for 189 yards, mostly in the second half with New York well on its way to its sixth straight loss at home, where it is winless. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers dominated in every phase in a near-perfect performance that featured TD runs of 1 yard by Sean Tucker, 6 yards by Bucky Irving and 1 yard by Rachaad White. After recent losses to the Ravens, 49ers and Chiefs, Tampa Bay (5-6) moved within one game of idle Atlanta in the NFC South. “We’re hoping it builds confidence,” Mayfield said. “We have a belief that we are still sitting and controlling our own destiny.” Tampa Bay scored on five of its on first six possessions to open a 30-0 lead, and none was more exciting than Mayfield's TD run with 12 seconds left in the first half. On a second-and-goal from the 10, he avoided pressure and went for the end zone. He was hit by Cor'Dale Flott low and Dru Phillips high around the 2-yard line, and he was airborne when he crossed the goal line. The ball came loose when he hit the turf but he jumped up and flexed, DeVito-style, as the Bucs took a 23-0 lead. DeVito said players talked about the celebration in the locker room but he did not see it. Daboll was asked about the gesture and said Mayfield played well. He said the Giants' poor performance had nothing to do with Jones being released. “No excuse on that,” said Daboll, whose job is on the line despite making the playoffs in 2022. “We just didn’t do a good enough job.” “We played soft, and they beat the (expletive) out of us,” defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence added. Mayfield's favorite target Mike Evans returned to the lineup after missing three games with a hamstring injury and had five catches for 68 yards. Irving had 87 yards rushing and six catches for 64 yards. The Bucs held New York to three first downs and 45 yards in the first half, and they finished with 450 yards to the Giants' 245. DeVito had a 17-yard run in the fourth quarter to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Devin Singletary. The brash New Jersey native was sacked four times, including once in the fourth quarter, which forced him to go to the bench for one play. Buccaneers: LT Tristan Wirfs (knee) did not play and Justin Skule replaced him. ... Tampa Bay lost OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to an ankle injury in the second quarter and safety Jordan Whitehead to a pectoral injury in the fourth quarter. Giants: LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) and OLB Azeez Ojulari (toe) were hurt in the first quarter and did not return. Buccaneers: At Carolina next Sunday. Giants: At Dallas on Thanksgiving AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflIn the second half, Shanxi managed to gain a slight edge, thanks to their execution on both ends of the court. They capitalized on turnovers and converted them into fast break opportunities, while also making key stops on defense to stifle Beijing's momentum. The home crowd rallied behind their team, providing a raucous atmosphere that energized the players on the court.
Bears vs. Vikings: Studs and duds from Chicago's OT lossNEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involving the Tampa Bay Rays to the first two months of the season in an attempt to avoid summer rain at open-air Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home following damage to Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay is scheduled to play 19 of its first 22 games at home and 37 of 54 through May 28, then play 64 of its last 108 games on the road. The Rays are home for eight games each in July and August. A series scheduled at the Los Angeles Angels from April 7-9 will instead be played at Tampa, Florida, from April 8-10, MLB said Monday. The second series between the teams will be played at Anaheim, California, from Aug. 4-6 instead of at St. Petersburg, Florida, from Aug. 5-7. Minnesota's first series against the Rays will be played at Steinbrenner Field from May 26-28 and the Twins' second will be at Target Field in Minneapolis from July 4-6. Tampa Bay heads into the All-Star break with a 10-game trip to Minnesota, Detroit and Boston, and has a 12-game trip to the Angels, Seattle, Oakland and San Francisco from Aug. 4-17. Tropicana Field, the Rays’ home since the team started play in 1998, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9 , with most of its fabric roof shredded. The Rays cannot return to the Trop until 2026 at the earliest, if at all. Tampa's average monthly rainfall from 1991 to 2020 was 2.25 inches in April and 2.60 in May , according to the National Weather Service, then rose to 7.37 in June , 7.75 in July and 9.03 in August before falling to 6.09 in September . The Class A Tampa Tarpons, the usual team at Steinbrenner Field, had six home postponements, two cancellations and four suspended games this year from June 21 through their season finale on Sept. 8. The Rays are now scheduled to play their first six games at home against Colorado and Pittsburgh, go to Texas for a three-game series, then return for a 13-game homestand against the Angels, Atlanta, Boston and the New York Yankees. The Tarpons will play their home games on a back field. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/
As fans and enthusiasts marvel at the incredible talent displayed by these world-class athletes, one thing is clear - the Chinese national team's legacy in table tennis is one that will continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world. With their unmatched skill, determination, and passion for the sport, Wang Chuqin, Sun Yingsha, Lin Shidong, and Wang Manyu are shining examples of excellence and sportsmanship at its finest.North Dakota State erases 14-point deficit, beats Abilene Christian 51-31 in FCS second round
In conclusion, the recent admissions of exhaustion from high-profile figures like Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola serve as a reminder of the intense nature of the English Premier League. As one of the most competitive and physically demanding leagues in the world, the Premier League can take a toll on its participants, leading to burnout and fatigue. It is crucial for clubs, players, and managers to prioritize the health and well-being of all individuals involved, creating a supportive and nurturing environment that promotes long-term success and sustainability in the league. Only by addressing the challenges of the intense nature of the Premier League can we ensure a bright future for the beautiful game.
In light of the potential changes in oil prices, individuals and businesses should consider taking proactive measures to mitigate the impact. For consumers, this may involve exploring alternative transportation methods, carpooling, or making energy-efficient choices to reduce fuel consumption. Businesses can adopt sustainable practices, diversify their energy sources, and hedge against oil price volatility through financial instruments.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield embarrassed the woeful Giants with his arm and legs, and if that wasn't enough, he rubbed it in by mimicking New York fan favorite Tommy DeVito's celebratory dance after scoring a touchdown. Mayfield catapulted into the end zone on a spectacular 10-yard scramble for one of Tampa Bay's four rushing TDs, and the Buccaneers beat the Giants and new starting quarterback DeVito 30-7 on Sunday, snapping a four-game losing streak and extending New York's skid to six. With both teams struggling and coming off byes, most of the focus leading up to the game was on the Giants' decisions this week to bench and then release quarterback Daniel Jones. The brash DeVito was given the starting job and asked to spark coach Brian Daboll's team, as he did last season. Instead, Mayfield provided the energy with his play and his trolling of DeVito. “Tribute to Tommy,” said a straight-faced Mayfield, who was 24 of 30 for 294 yards. “He’s a good dude, that’s why. Most of the times, I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s spontaneous.” Mayfield was asked several times about the gesture and admitted he wanted to give Giants fans something they liked, adding he met DeVito at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas in February. “He had his chain blinged out, swag walking through the casino. It was awesome,” Mayfield said. “It was like a movie scene, honestly.” DeVito did nothing to help the NFL's lowest-scoring offense. He threw for 189 yards, mostly in the second half with New York well on its way to its sixth straight loss at home, where it is winless. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers dominated in every phase in a near-perfect performance that featured TD runs of 1 yard by Sean Tucker, 6 yards by Bucky Irving and 1 yard by Rachaad White. After recent losses to the Ravens, 49ers and Chiefs, Tampa Bay (5-6) moved within one game of idle Atlanta in the NFC South. “We’re hoping it builds confidence,” Mayfield said. “We have a belief that we are still sitting and controlling our own destiny.” Tampa Bay scored on five of its on first six possessions to open a 30-0 lead, and none was more exciting than Mayfield's TD run with 12 seconds left in the first half. On a second-and-goal from the 10, he avoided pressure and went for the end zone. He was hit by Cor'Dale Flott low and Dru Phillips high around the 2-yard line, and he was airborne when he crossed the goal line. The ball came loose when he hit the turf but he jumped up and flexed, DeVito-style, as the Bucs took a 23-0 lead. DeVito said players talked about the celebration in the locker room but he did not see it. Daboll was asked about the gesture and said Mayfield played well. He said the Giants' poor performance had nothing to do with Jones being released. “No excuse on that,” said Daboll, whose job is on the line despite making the playoffs in 2022. “We just didn’t do a good enough job.” “We played soft, and they beat the (expletive) out of us,” defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence added. Mayfield's favorite target Mike Evans returned to the lineup after missing three games with a hamstring injury and had five catches for 68 yards. Irving had 87 yards rushing and six catches for 64 yards. The Bucs held New York to three first downs and 45 yards in the first half, and they finished with 450 yards to the Giants' 245. DeVito had a 17-yard run in the fourth quarter to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Devin Singletary. The brash New Jersey native was sacked four times, including once in the fourth quarter, which forced him to go to the bench for one play. Buccaneers: LT Tristan Wirfs (knee) did not play and Justin Skule replaced him. ... Tampa Bay lost OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to an ankle injury in the second quarter and safety Jordan Whitehead to a pectoral injury in the fourth quarter. Giants: LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) and OLB Azeez Ojulari (toe) were hurt in the first quarter and did not return. Buccaneers: At Carolina next Sunday. Giants: At Dallas on Thanksgiving AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Despite these challenges, the future of social commerce on TikTok looks promising, given the platform's innovative features, engaged user base, and strong brand partnerships. By continuing to invest in e-commerce capabilities, user experience enhancements, and regulatory compliance, TikTok has the potential to solidify its position as a frontrunner in the social commerce landscape. As the lines between social media and e-commerce blur, TikTok's ability to drive sales, revenue, and engagement through creative and immersive shopping experiences could shape the future of online retail in the U.S. and beyond. With the right strategy and execution, TikTok's Black Friday success could be just the beginning of a new era of social commerce dominance.Furthermore, NanTong's commitment to innovation and technology has played a pivotal role in driving the growth of cross-border e-commerce within the zone. With a focus on digitization and automation, businesses operating in NanTong have been able to streamline their processes, improve efficiency, and enhance the overall customer experience. This dedication to technological advancement has not only accelerated the growth of existing e-commerce companies but also attracted new players seeking to capitalize on NanTong's digital infrastructure.
In conclusion, the Central Committee's meeting on the 2025 economic work sets the tone for a more proactive and dynamic approach to economic management in China. By implementing proactive macroeconomic policies, fostering innovation and technological progress, ensuring financial stability, and promoting inclusive and sustainable development, China aims to navigate through challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve sustainable and high-quality economic growth in the years ahead.
Nanjing, a vibrant city in eastern China, has recently welcomed the establishment of Amazon's Global Store office, marking a significant milestone for the e-commerce giant's expansion into the Chinese market. The decision to set up an office in Nanjing highlights the strategic importance of the city as a key hub for Amazon's operations in China and beyond.Middle East latest: Israeli strikes kill a hospital director in Lebanon and wound 6 medics in Gaza‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained?
An aerial drone photo taken on Nov 23, 2024 shows farmlands developed after wells were dug by Chinese firm ZPEC in the desert of Aswan province, Egypt. – Xinhua photo ASWAN (Dec 8): In early winter, the warm sun bathes the desert hinterland of Kom Ombo, some 60 kilometres north of Aswan Province in Upper Egypt. Against the vast arid landscape, patches of lush green wheat stand in striking contrast. “Before, this place was an arid desert with no vegetation. Now, with the irrigation of well water, crops such as wheat have grown here, full of vitality and hope,” said Ahmed El-Sadani, beaming as he shared his story. Sadani, 30 years old, is the deputy manager of the Aswan water well project of ZPEC (China’s Zhongman Petroleum and Natural Gas Group Co Ltd) branch in Egypt, responsible for managing six water well drilling teams on site. Photo taken on Nov 23, 2024 shows a rig platform from Chinese firm ZPEC working on drilling a well in the desert of Aswan province, Egypt. – Xinhua photo He joined ZPEC in 2018 and has successively served as a mud engineer, water pump test engineer, and field engineer. “During the past six years, I have accumulated more experience by working in several desert well-drilling projects,” Sadani said. “Every time we see clear groundwater gushing out of the wellhead, my colleagues and I are very excited, knowing we’ve successfully drilled a new well.” Workers of Chinese firm ZPEC work on a rig platform to drill a well in the desert of Aswan province, Egypt, on Nov 23, 2024. – Xinhua photo Egypt, home to over 100 million people, grapples with the daunting task of cultivating more land for agriculture, as only 5 per cent of its territory is currently arable. To reduce reliance on food imports, the country has accelerated its desert reclamation initiatives since 2015. In support of these efforts, ZPEC established its Egypt branch in 2016 under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Since then, the team, composed of Chinese and Egyptian workers, has tackled harsh desert conditions, drilling more than 540 wells across Egypt — from the Sinai Peninsula to Minya, Matrouh, and Aswan provinces. Irrigated by underground water, the once barren desert has gradually transformed into fertile land. At the Kom Ombo site, there are six drilling teams, comprising more than 200 Chinese and Egyptian employees, said Zhao Wutao, general manager of the ZPEC branch in Egypt. An aerial drone photo taken on Nov 23, 2024 shows farmlands developed after wells were dug by Chinese firm ZPEC in the desert of Aswan province, Egypt. – Xinhua photo The rigs operate 24 hours a day, with workers rotating in two shifts, he said. Summer temperatures in Aswan often exceed 40 degrees Celsius, and conditions in the desert are even harsher. Yet, the team adheres to strict safety protocols, donning full uniforms and protective gear despite the heat. Amr Mohammed, 28 years old and one of the site engineers, used to work for an Egyptian drilling company and joined ZPEC last year. “ZPEC is one of the best companies in the field of drilling water wells in Egypt,” said Mohammed, who is responsible for managing the team members and drilling technology. “This area is yellow now, and it will turn green soon. Our work brings great benefits to the development of agriculture in Egypt,” Mohammed told Xinhua while pointing to the desert beside him. Drilling wells in the desert is no easy task. Zhao explained that locating well sites required trekking through the trackless desert for hours with GPS devices. Workers of Chinese firm ZPEC work on a rig platform to drill a well in the desert of Aswan province, Egypt, on Nov 23, 2024. – Xinhua photo Transportation of drilling equipment is another challenge. “A piece of large-scale drilling equipment weighs 500 tons and must be dismantled into parts before being transported by 25 vehicles,” Zhao said. “It takes 10 days to transport here from the work area in central and northern Egypt over 1,000 kilometres away,” he added. Zhao (left) chats with Ahmed El-Sadani, deputy manager of the Aswan water well project of ZPEC branch in Egypt. – Xinhua photo “We are engaged in livelihood projects and contribute our modest efforts to the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Egypt. We are happy to see that the locals can benefit from the well water,” Zhao said. Looking ahead, Zhao said ZPEC plans to deepen its involvement in Egypt’s agricultural development, creating more job opportunities and contributing further to the nation’s food security. – XinhuaEven before special counsel Jack Smith formally asked that his criminal cases against Donald Trump be dismissed, it was already guaranteed the president-elect would never see a jury. Smith on Monday dropped both the 2020 election subversion prosecution against Trump and the charges accusing Trump of mishandling classified documents. The special counsel stressed his decision was not about the strength of his case against Trump, but his reasoning hung on the Justice Department’s long-held belief that the Constitution prohibits prosecutions against sitting presidents. Even if prosecutors had believed that they could have kept the cases on life support into the second Trump presidency, the president-elect had already indicated that he planned to fire Smith and his team, a vow that breached the usual norms surrounding a special counsel investigation. Trump’s reelection this month was the straw that broke the back of a camel that had been buckling under slow-walking courts and novel legal arguments. Smith’s filings suggested he could bring the charges again, though Trump may seek to foreclose that possibility by pardoning himself – an unprecedented move. Also looming over Trump’s second term is the Republican’s promises to go after those who prosecuted him, a vow echoed by his pick for attorney general. Here are takeaways from Smith’s move to seek the cases’ dismissal and how his prosecutions got to this point: Trump’s reelection earlier this month ensured that his federal criminal cases would face an early end. The former president vowed during his campaign to fire Smith if voters sent him back to the White House – a move at odds with how other presidents have handled special counsels. “Oh, it’s so easy. It’s so easy,” Trump said in October when asked by conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt whether he would “pardon yourself” or “fire Jack Smith” if reelected. “I would fire him within two seconds.” In the end, though, Trump didn’t need to sack the special counsel to kill the two cases. He was already benefiting from a legal strategy of delay that made sure no trials got underway before Election Day – which ultimately forced Smith’s hand. A few days after Trump’s reelection, the special counsel asked the judge overseeing the DC case to pause deadlines in that matter so his team could assess how to move forward with the unprecedented prosecution. Nearly three weeks after Election Day, he submitted his filings to the courts in DC and Florida. The president-elect, meanwhile, has repeatedly promised to seek political retribution against Smith and others whom he believes have unfairly pursued him during his four years out of office. His pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi , appears ready to be a loyal foot soldier in those efforts. “The Department of Justice, the prosecutors will be prosecuted — the bad ones,” Bondi, who served for a time as Florida’s attorney general, said in a TV appearance in August 2023. “The investigators will be investigated. Because the deep state, last term for President Trump, they were hiding in the shadows. But now they have a spotlight on them, and they can all be investigated,” she added. Before Trump takes his oath of office next year, Smith plans to release a final report as required by law on his investigations into Trump, a source familiar with the matter tells CNN. Attorney General Merrick Garland is expected to publicly release it, as he has with past special counsel reports. But it’s unclear how much new information would be included, especially in the election subversion case, where Smith recently filed hundreds of pages of legal arguments and evidence gathered for that prosecution. If part of what happened was that Smith simply ran out of time to pursue the case against Trump, then the six-justice conservative majority on the Supreme Court had a key role to play in slowing things down. The high court granted Trump sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions in a highly anticipated 6-3 decision that was handed down in July, limiting the special counsel’s ability to move forward. Some of Trump’s critics slammed the decision itself , but others faulted the court for the time it took to deliver it. It was clear that several conservative justices saw the ruling not as a gift to Trump but as a way to head off spiraling and potentially politically motivated prosecutions. While the court’s decision may ultimately meet that goal, the ruling is also widely viewed as removing a check on presidents. Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative, wrote that Congress couldn’t criminalize a president’s conduct when he is “carrying out the responsibilities of the executive branch.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a liberal, warned in dissent that the decision would set up future presidents to be “a king above the law.” The Supreme Court initially denied Smith’s effort to resolve the immunity questions in December – allowing the normal process to play out with a federal appeals court wading in first. Two months later, in mid-February, after the appeals court ruled in Smith’s favor, it was Trump who asked the justices to review the question of presidential immunity. The court granted the case in February but did not hear arguments until the end of April. It handed down its decision on the final day of its term, on July 1. And the case was finally returned to the trial-level court in DC in August. The election subversion case was always expected to face years of litigation over the questions it raised about criminalizing acts taken by a sitting president. But the case in which Trump was accused of mishandling national defense information – was viewed as a much more straightforward prosecution, for how it focused on Trump’s post-presidency conduct and dealt with a well-established area of law. Trump, however, hit the jackpot with the assignment of that case to Judge Aileen Cannon, an appointee of his with little trial experience who had already treated the investigation with remarkable hostility when she oversaw pre-indictment lawsuit Trump brought challenging the FBI’s search of his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort. Cannon threw a number of wrenches into the prosecutors’ case before dismissing it entirely this summer on the grounds that Smith was unlawfully appointed. Her handling of the charges was widely panned by legal experts, and her dismissal ruling as set for review by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals until those deadlines were postponed with Trump’s win. Notably, Smith is not ending the Justice Department’s pursuit of the two Trump employees, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who were charged with allegedly assisting their boss in efforts to hinder the federal probe. What to do next in the case will be a question for the incoming Trump Justice Department. While Trump might want to have the charges against his allies dropped, the DOJ will have to balance that against an institutional desire to wipe off the books a dismissal ruling that could undermine special counsel investigations in the future. In both of his cases against Trump, Smith said he was dropping the charges against the president-elect “without prejudice,” which in theory would keep open the door for charges to be brought again in the future. While pointing to the immunity Trump was about to receive by reentering the White House, Smith repeatedly said characterized that immunity as “temporary.” Smith’s filing in the election subversion case in Washington, D.C., included a longer discussion of how he had come to the decision to drop that case, where he had to weigh the longstanding DOJ position barring prosecutions of sitting president against the principle that no man is “above the law.” Smith said he consulted with DOJ lawyers on the question, and they also weighed the possibility of pausing the case until Trump no longer had the immunity of the presidency protecting him. Ultimately, however, the Department’s Office of Legal Counsel concluded that the prohibitions on prosecuting sitting presidents is “categorial,” including for indictments handed up before a defendant enters office, Smith said. Monday’s move by Smith will likely bring attention – and perhaps criticism – to the Justice Department’s views, which have not yet been tested directly by courts. Smith’s dismissal filings bring to a close a chapter for the criminal attorneys who were mostly successful in staving off the criminal prosecutions against Trump. But a new chapter has already opened for several members of the Trump legal team who have already been rewarded with plum positions in his incoming administration. Todd Blanche, who played a central role in the DC prosecution and in other Trump cases, has been tapped by Trump for the DOJ’s No. 2 role, deputy attorney general. John Sauer, who argued the immunity dispute on Trump’s behalf before the Supreme Court, has been selected by Trump to be U.S. solicitor general, the federal government’s top lawyer before the high court. Both positions are subject to Senate confirmation. Additionally, Trump announced that another member of his personal legal team, Emile Bove would serve as acting deputy attorney general while Blanche was waiting for confirmation and then move to principal associate deputy attorney general, a position that does not go before the Senate.
Following closely behind Zaha is Everton's Richarlison, who has been a key player for the Toffees this season with his pace and trickery on the ball. Richarlison has averaged 3.2 successful dribbles per game, highlighting his ability to beat defenders and drive his team forward in attack.DENVER — Mayor Mike Johnston’s pointed comments last week about Denverites resisting a federal mass-deportation effort — including a suggestion that he would mobilize the Denver police department to face off with federal and National Guard troops — have generated blowback in Colorado and across the country. Even billionaire Elon Musk, President-elect Donald Trump’s most visible benefactor and adviser, appeared to weigh in on Saturday on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “Those who break the law will be arrested, and that includes mayors,” Musk posted in response to another post about the mayor’s comments. On Monday, Johnston reiterated his commitment to resisting what he views as a desire by Trump to abuse the power of the presidency by initiating a nationwide roundup and mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. But the second-year mayor stopped short of providing any specifics of what that resistance might look like. “Denver is proud to be a welcoming city, and we will do everything in our power to protect those who live here,” Johnston said in a statement. “We are considering a number of options to strengthen protections for all our residents, and we continue to provide education about the rights of our immigrant community so they can best protect themselves from any unlawful actions.” In the days following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential race this month, Johnston told The Denver Post that the city would not cooperate with the incoming Republican president’s stated goal of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants in the country. He defended the city’s policies as a so-called sanctuary city that for years has refused to work with federal immigration officials on enforcement actions. He also touted his office’s program that has supported hundreds of asylum seekers from the U.S. southern border — mostly Venezuelans fleeing economic and political strife in that country — with housing, food and job training this year. They were among tens of thousands of migrants who have come to Denver in the last two years. But in an interview with Denverite published Wednesday, Johnston took his rhetoric to another level. He invoked pro-democracy protests in China’s Tiananmen Square in 1989 as an analogy for Denver residents who would stand up against the federal government, should Trump follow through on threats to mobilize the military against communities that do not cooperate with his deportation plans. He also suggested the city’s police could be part of a resistance action. “More than us having DPD stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there,” Johnston said in that interview. “It’s like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? You’d have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them.” The comments generated near-immediate blowback in Colorado. George Brauchler, a conservative talk radio host and newly elected district attorney for Colorado’s 23rd Judicial District in south metro Denver, reacted to Johnston’s comments on Thursday morning by posting on his X account a portion of the oath Denver police officers take when they are sworn in. “Denver PD Oath: ‘I do swear by the ever-loving God to that I will support the Laws and Constitution of the United States and...’ Now what?” Brauchler wrote, pointing to the conflict between supporting the Constitution and following mayoral orders that could defy a presidential action. By Friday, Johnston was walking back some of his comments. But he also doubled down on his commitment to resist the Trump administration’s deportation plans. In an interview with 9News reporter Marc Sallinger, Johnston said he regretted invoking the image of Denver police officers facing off with federal troops. “I want to be clear, we have no plan for armed conflict with the federal government. We have no desire to do that. There is no interest and we have no plan to do that,” Johnston said. But in response to questions from Sallinger, Johnston said he would be willing personally to protest federal deportation actions — and, if necessary, face arrest. “If I believed that our residents are having their rights violated, if I think things are happening that are illegal or immoral or un-American in our city, I would certainly protest it, and I would expect other residents would do the same,” Johnston said. “I’m not afraid of (being arrested) — and I’m also not seeking that. I think the goal is we want to be able to negotiate with reasonable people (on) how to solve hard problems.” That interview did not tamp down the criticism from some quarters nationally. After the right-wing account End Wokeness shared the clip on X of Johnston saying he did not fear arrest, Donald Trump Jr., the president-elect’s oldest son, reposted the clip with the comment: “Your terms are acceptable.” U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, the far-right congresswoman who next year will take a new seat representing Colorado 4th Congressional District, has posted on her X account about Johnston’s comments on three of the last four days. On Monday, she shared the same interview snippet of Johnston saying he did not fear arrest for opposing deportation efforts, adding the comment: “If only the Left was as interested in taking care of Americans as they are in taking care of illegals. We could achieve great things working together. Instead, we have this!” ©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at denverpost.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.The arms race in large language artificial intelligence (AI) is heating up. Can the Gulf countries play a leading role in the sector, given the high savings, cheap energy and good political ties with the US? The tech billionaire Elon Musk has alarmed competitors, and intrigued customers and observers, by rapidly building a supercomputer, appropriately known as Colossus, in just 120 days, in Memphis Tennessee in a new data centre. Its purpose is to power his xAI technology, and it will be of an unprecedented scale: Some 100,000 graphics processing units supplied by Nvidia. Competitors are nervous. There is no guarantee that this formidable scaling up of computer power will give his xAI a superior edge, but no certainty that it won’t. Industry experts reckon that the tools at the rival OpenAI are currently superior, but the sheer computing muscle of Colossus may help xAI close the gap or overtake. What does this mean for the economic world, including the Gulf? The impact of AI is already being felt, will continue and likely intensify. You could say that there has been much hype around AI, accidents such as ‘hallucinations’ in large language models and technical glitches. But you could have made similar criticisms about the aviation sector in the early 20th century – there were crashes and failed models, but it still proceeded to transform long-distance travel around the globe. AI is at a similar stage 100 years on. And just as you need a skilled pilot for an aircraft, similar principles apply with AI. Harvard Business Review in its September-October edition refers to the development of ‘fusion skills’ – the most intelligent applications of AI in which human and artificial intelligence is most effectively combined. For example, breaking a complex problem down into sequential parts, and priming the large language model to address each challenge sequentially, beginning with the simplest, is more effective than asking it to solve a complex problem in one go. Researchers at Google DeepMind have found that this ‘least-to-most’ approach improves the accuracy of AI output from 16% to 99%. Research by the Boston Consulting Group has found that only a minority of firms gain substantial value from AI, and that the most successful companies ensure that the people, skills and processes are optimal. This is the 70-20-10 principle: 70% of the investment is in people and processes; 20% is in technology and data, and just 10% in the algorithms. The most effective companies used AI for growth and revenue generation, not just process efficiencies. In this rapidly developing technology, how should the Gulf countries invest and position themselves? It is likely that China and the US will remain the primary providers of AI, given the scale of the technological investment required, as illustrated by the examples of Elon Musk and his rivals. The response of the Gulf sovereign wealth funds and other key players has been promising. Rather than trying to compete with the US and China in a direct way, they are developing strategic support roles within the existing industry, while identifying niche opportunities for growth. Arabic language models constitute a promising industry. AI specialist companies within the region report that it costs around one third more to train an English large language model and then translate into Arabic, than to train one using Arabic inputs. Doing so can eliminate some of the western biases of English-language models. For Gulf economies, cheap energy offers another competitive advantage in developing AI hubs. Saudi Aramco has calculated that the cost of power locally is around 13% cheaper than the cost per kilowatt hour in the US. Given the considerable computing power needed for large language models, this is significant. Geopolitical considerations are of paramount importance. The Gulf states are political allies of the US, which does not want technological know-how falling into the hands of Iran or China. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF has announced a strategic partnership with Google Cloud to develop a specialist hub, which will be a research and education centre, including for Arabic language models, and a base for global enterprises and startups. It will be based near Dammam. This year the United Arab Emirates launched the fund MGX, totalling $100bn, with investors including BlackRock and Microsoft, dedicated to investing in AI companies. The AI revolution is well underway, and there will be significant returns for both providers and users. So far, the key players in the Gulf have made some smart strategic calls. The author is a Qatari banker, with many years of experience in the banking sector in senior positions. 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