download nice88
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved from a futuristic concept to a transformative force, reshaping industries worldwide. From healthcare and finance to retail and logistics, AI technologies are driving innovation, enhancing efficiency, and enabling organizations to solve complex problems at unprecedented scales. The advent of machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and neural networks has unlocked new possibilities, allowing machines to mimic human intelligence, make predictions, and adapt to changing environments. The impact of AI is undeniable. It has revolutionized customer experiences through personalization, improved decision-making with predictive analytics, and optimized workflows by automating repetitive tasks. Businesses are increasingly leveraging AI to gain a competitive edge, streamline operations, and address critical challenges such as fraud detection, data security, and market prediction. However, as AI continues to evolve, it brings with it both opportunities and challenges, including ethical concerns, data privacy, and integration complexities. To delve deeper into the transformative power of AI and its future implications, we spoke with Amit Taneja, a distinguished expert in the field. Known for his extensive work in AI-powered solutions, shared his insights on how this technology is shaping industries, particularly in financial services and multi-cloud management. Expert Opinion on AI's Role in Modern Industries Mr. Amit, an expert in Artificial Intelligence and Senior Data Engineer, explains how AI is not just a tool but a strategic enabler for organizations. Speaking about its impact on the financial sector, Taneja highlights, "The financial services industry has always been data-driven, but traditional methods are increasingly inadequate in managing the sheer volume and complexity of data. AI, with its ability to process real-time information, analyzes patterns, and detects anomalies, has become indispensable." He elaborates on key areas where AI is making a difference: The Multi-Cloud Connection Expanding on AI's application beyond finance, Taneja discusses how it is transforming multi-cloud management. "As organizations adopt multi-cloud strategies, AI is essential for optimizing workload allocation, ensuring security, and maintaining compliance. AI-driven cloud-agnostic solutions enable seamless operations across diverse cloud environments, addressing challenges like vendor lock-in and inefficiencies." He draws parallels between financial services and multi-cloud ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of adaptability. "Just as AI helps financial institutions navigate complexity, it empowers businesses in multi-cloud environments to operate with agility and resilience," he explains. Future Trends and Challenges Looking ahead, Taneja predicts significant advancements in explainable AI (XAI) and privacy-preserving techniques. "Explainable AI will make it easier to understand and trust machine-driven decisions, while techniques like federated learning will enhance data security without compromising analytical capabilities," he says. However, he acknowledges the challenges. "Ethical concerns, algorithmic bias, and integration with legacy systems are critical hurdles. Organizations must address these issues to ensure AI's sustainable growth and widespread adoption." Conclusion Artificial Intelligence is no longer a concept confined to science fiction; it is a reality reshaping industries and redefining possibilities. With experts like Amit Taneja leading the charge, the future of AI looks promising, though not without challenges. As businesses continue to embrace this transformative technology, the balance between innovation and responsibility will be critical in harnessing AI's full potential for a better, more inclusive future.Universal Corporation Receives NYSE Notice Regarding Filing of Form 10-Q for the Fiscal Quarter Ended September 30, 2024
Giles' 25 help UNC Greensboro beat N.C. A&T 67-55
Doha, Qatar: The esteemed Council of Ministers approved the draft decision of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, stipulating that the Umm Al Sheif area be considered a nature reserve, due to its environmental and historical importance, and to preserve pearl diving sites and biodiversity. The Umm Al Sheif area, located in the north of the country, is one of the most prominent pearl diving sites in the region, and one of the most famous pearls located in the economic waters of the State of Qatar. It is characterised by a rich marine environment as a result of the convergence of currents laden with nutrients, making it a rich habitat for marine organisms such as fish, shellfish and coral reefs. The decision includes a number of measures aimed at protecting the region, most notably a fishing ban, to enhance the ecological balance and support biodiversity in Qatari waters, especially since pearl oysters play an important role in improving the quality of seawater through the feeding process. Studies have revealed that the Umm Al Sheif area still maintains its good environmental condition compared to other sites that have been exposed to increasing environmental pressures, as this decision contributes to protecting the natural pearl oyster stock in Qatari waters. This decision reflects the State of Qatar’s commitment to protecting its natural and marine heritage, and supporting sustainable development efforts, in line with the implementation of the third national plan of Qatar National Vision 2030, and the application of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
Ruben Amorim impressed with Arsenal’s corners after first defeat as Man Utd boss
10 Most Affordable Cities in India to Buy a House The Pros and Cons of Investing in Value Stocks Most Visited Monuments in India Investing in Small-Cap Stocks: Top 10 Tips for Absolute Beginners 10 Ways to Earn Money Online by Selling Physical Products Richest Cricket Players Across the World 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Warren Buffett’s Investment Process Top 10 Benefits of Investing in Small-Cap Stocks Priyanka Chopra Net Worth: Know How Rich is Global Actress How to Make Money Online With Writing and Blogging? Financial calculators A SIP calculator is a simple tool that allows individuals to get an idea of the returns on their This financial tool allows one to resolve their queries related to Public Provident Fund account. When investing in a fixed deposit, the amount you deposit earns interest as per the prevailing... The National Pension System or NPS is a measure to introduce a degree of financial stability... Mutual Funds are one of the most incredible investment strategies that offer better returns...Perodua set to roll out affordable EV
With technical prowess and considerable style, Marta danced around two sliding defenders, outwitted a goalkeeper and calmly scored as another player rushed forward in desperation to stop her. It was more Marta Magic. That goal last weekend helped propel the Orlando Pride into Saturday's National Women's Soccer League championship game against the Washington Spirit. Barbra Banda also scored in the Pride's 3-2 semifinal victory over the Kansas City Current . While Banda has had an incredible first season with the Pride, captain Marta has been the talisman that has helped lead the team in its remarkable turnaround this year. The last time the Pride were in the NWSL playoffs was in 2017 — Marta's first year with the club. But this season they nearly went undefeated, going 23 games without a loss to start the season before losing 2-0 to the Portland Thorns with just two regular-season games left. “I think because of the way that we did it, during this season, from beginning to now, it’s something very special that I’ve never had before with any other club that I’ve played for," Marta said. "Plus year by year, we see in America, strong competition. This is the best league in the world. And you never know what’s going to happen, and it’s hard to keep winning the games, being in the first place almost like the whole season. That’s why it’s really different and so special.” Marta’s goal was the latest gasp-inducing moment in a stellar career filled with them. Known by just her first name, the 38-year-old is a six-time FIFA world player of the year. "Let's see if tomorrow I can do something similar — or even better," Marta said on Friday. Her teammate Kylie Strom chimed in: “That was the greatest goal I've ever witnessed, hands down." Appropriate. Earlier this year, FIFA announced that the best goal in women's soccer each year would earn the Marta Award. In a lighthearted moment the day before the title match, Marta was asked if she thought it was possible she might give the award to herself. “You guys need to decide, because who votes for the best goal in the year? It’s you. It’s the people in the public. So it should be really interesting, like Marta’s Award goes to Marta!” she said with a laugh. Marta has played in six World Cups for Brazil and played this summer in her sixth Olympics, winning a silver medal after falling in the final to the United States . She previously said this would be her final year with the national team. But since then Brazil was named the host of the 2027 Women's World Cup. "I had a conversation with my coach, the national team coach, and I was really clear about playing in 2027. I told him it’s not my goal anymore,” she said. “But I’m always available to help the national team. And if they think I still can do something during this preparation for the World Cup, yeah, I would be happy to help them." Marta's club career started in Brazil when she was just 16. She has also played in Sweden and in the U.S. professional women's leagues that came before the NWSL. With nine regular-season goals, Marta has had one of her best seasons since she joined the Pride. “I can never pick a side, I never pick favorites — but I love to see this for Marta," U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “Marta is someone we all like, admire and are grateful for. And that goal was just like prime Marta at her best. And so grateful for and thankful for her that she got the opportunity with another game with her team.” The Pride went 18-2-6 this season, clinching the NWSL Shield for the first trophy in club history. Orlando also set a record with 60 regular-season points to finish atop the standings. “We are sitting top of the table, but I think there still are a lot of doubters. I think there’s people out there who say, maybe this was a one-off season,” Strom said. “But we’re here to prove them all wrong. So I think we do carry a bit of that underdog mentality still with us.” The second-seeded Spirit advanced to the title match at Kansas City's CPKC Stadium last weekend on a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw against defending champions Gotham FC. The Spirit's roster includes Trinity Rodman, a standout forward who formed the so-called “Triple Espresso” trio with Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith for the United States at the Olympics. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
NoneThe family of Christopher Ferguson, who was killed by police in a shootout in Brooklyn on Thursday, were joined by social justice advocate and lawyer Rev. Kevin McCall to call for justice. On Dec. 5 at around 3:30 p.m., Brooklyn officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation within the Whitman Houses public housing complex, located at 81 North Portland Ave., where a witness told police about the shooter in a car with an out-of-state license plate. Minutes later, police saw the car headed toward Fulton Street and Washington Avenue with a female driver, Ferguson as the passenger and a 3-year-old. The NYPD followed the car, reaching near the corner of Utica Avenue and Park Place, where police got out of the car and approached the vehicle. It was reported that Ferguson was attempting to get out of the car’s partially blocked passenger door while holding a handgun, which he then pointed at the cops. Police fired at Ferguson 19 times, suffering multiple gunshot wounds throughout his body. Though life-saving measures were taken, Ferguson ultimately died of his injuries at the hospital. Yolanda Campbell, Ferguson’s mother, addressed the crowd gathered on Dec. 6 in Brooklyn, calling for the release of the body camera footage from the incident. “What we see was an execution happened by the New York City Police Department. There’s so many conflicting stories that have been circulating about what happened yesterday. We demand to see the body camera footage,” said Campbell. The group, while yelling “No justice, no peace,” echoed Campbell’s statements, calling for answers. Rev. McCall that the incident was excessive. “I don’t care what crime that Christopher did. 17 shots is excessive,” said McCall. “You aren’t allowed to chase in New York City. Now, under this administration, Eric Adams’ administration, the police decides to chase someone from almost a quarter of a mile, causing his demise.” Campbell said, “I have allowed the detectives in our house. They never found any gun. Why won’t they let us see him? Is it because he is strapped to a gurney with 17 bullet holes? We want justice, release the footage. He should be here with his two kids today.” Photo by Lloyd Mitchell Yolanda Campbell cries out for her son a day after he was killed in a police involved shooting at Utica Avenue and Park Place in Crown Heights, Brooklyn on December 5. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Tech stocks and AI lift Wall Street to more recordsQatar's prime minister said on Saturday that momentum had returned to talks aimed at securing a truce and hostage exchange deal in Gaza following Donald Trump's election as US president. The Gulf emirate, along with the United States and Egypt, had been involved in months of unsuccessful negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release. But in November, Doha announced it had put its mediation on hold, saying it would resume when Hamas and Israel showed "willingness and seriousness". "We have sensed, after the election, that the momentum is coming back," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told the Doha Forum for political dialogue. He spoke as a source close to the Hamas delegation in the talks told AFP that a new round of negotiations will "most likely" begin in the coming week. Sheikh Mohammed said that while there were "some differences" in the approach to an agreement by the outgoing and incoming US administrations, "we didn't see or recognise any disagreement on the goal itself to end the war". He said there had been "a lot of encouragement from the incoming administration in order to achieve a deal, even before the president comes to the office", adding this had affected Qatar's decision to get talks "back on track". "We hope to get things done as soon as possible. We hope that the willingness of the parties to engage in a good faith continues," he said. The source close to the Hamas delegation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP: "Based on contacts with the mediators, we expect a new round of negotiations to begin in Cairo, most likely this week, to discuss ideas and proposals regarding a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange." The source added that Turkey, as well as Egypt and Qatar, had been "making commendable efforts to stop the war". In a statement later on Saturday, the group said Turkish spy chief Ibrahim Kalin met with a Hamas delegation in Doha to discuss the war in Gaza. The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. During the attack, militants kidnapped 251 people, 96 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the Israeli military. Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 44,664 people, a majority civilians, according to figures from the territory's Hamas-run health ministry which the UN considers reliable. The US president-elect this week warned on social media of unspecified massive repercussions if the hostages were not released by the time he takes office next month. Trump has vowed staunch support for Israel and to dispense with outgoing President Joe Biden's occasional criticism, but has also spoken of his desire to secure deals on the world stage. On Saturday, Qatar's premier dismissed the prospect of his country facing greater pressure over the status of the Hamas political bureau, which the Gulf state has hosted since 2012 with Washington's blessing. Sheikh Mohammed called the Hamas office a "platform to convene between the different parties". Qatar was not "expected to enforce solutions" on the Palestinian militants, he added. csp/srm/dcp/itNoneBack to the land
Kotaku's Weekend Guide: 4 Awesome Games To Get Cozy With
No. 16 Iowa State falls short in Big 12 title game again, this time with CFP at stakeWhy Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) is the Best Fuel Stock to Buy Now?
Apple is challenging an order by the Nebraska Tax Commissioner, asking a judge to reverse the decision involving its Nebraska taxable income for the 2017 tax year. "The order approves an assessment that violates Nebraska law and results in taxation that is so disproportionate to petitioners' Nebraska business activities that it results in taxation that violates the United States Constitution," Omaha attorney Matthew Ottemann wrote. The petition for review filed in Lancaster County District Court this week involves an Aug. 7, 2020, balance-due notice issued by the Nebraska Department of Revenue to the technology giant headquartered in Cupertino, California. The Nebraska Department of Revenue said an additional $652,066 in taxes were due to the state. The following October, Apple sought a redetermination, saying the notice had wrongfully increased its Nebraska tax base by including dividends received by its foreign subsidiaries not subject to federal tax code. The company's attorneys said those amounts already had been repatriated to the U.S. when they were included in Apple's federal taxable income. They argued that — even if the income had been properly included in Apple's Nebraska tax base — the state had failed to include the foreign sales generating taxable income under the federal tax code for purposes of calculating the amount of taxes apportioned to Nebraska. In the lawsuit, the company's attorneys said the state's method resulted in an "unlawful gross distortion." They allege the department is violating the Commerce Clause by discriminating against Apple's business activities outside of the state. The Nebraska Department of Revenue disagreed, saying that it had been right to add the foreign subsidiaries' $281 billion income in the apportionment calculation, resulting in $652,066 additional tax due to the state. On March 28, Jim Titus presided as hearing officer on behalf of the Tax Commissioner at a hearing in Lincoln to consider the issues. On Oct. 29, Tax Commissioner James Kamm denied Apple's petition for redetermination, saying: "The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 changed the federal income tax regime from a worldwide system of taxation, under which the worldwide income of a U.S. corporation was taxed, to a territorial system, under which the tax base of a U.S. corporation is largely limited to its domestic income." He said that as part of the shift, Congress imposed a one-time "transition tax" on untaxed foreign earnings of foreign corporations owned by U.S. corporations, which is at issue here. The so-called 965 income can only be included once. Titus cited a 2024 Nebraska Supreme Court decision finding that foreign income should not be excluded from Nebraska taxable income base, saying the income does not qualify as "dividends ... deemed to be received." He declined to determine whether the statute was constitutional, deferring to the "province of the judicial branch." The decision led to Apple's appeal filed this week. Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com . On Twitter @LJSpilger Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Shannon and Mike Farrell started what would later become their local farm from one pumpkin. “We started with a small garden and a friend of ours laughed at a pumpkin we grew. So I kinda went... Well, I’ll show you!” Mike said. “Poor Shannon,” Mike chuckled. “We started growing pumpkins en masse.” “To show that friend,” Shannon added. The two are the married team behind Comox Valley’s Shamrock Farm. They agreed to meet up with The Discourse during the farm’s winter market — which took place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 — to share some of what they’ve learned over the last 30 years of running a local farm. The farm has been in operation since 1993. Mike said things began slowly, with the two introducing things little by little over the years to their 20-acre property in Little River, Comox. Since the pumpkin, the family farm has grown into a diversified local business with year-round crops and some goats, pigs and chickens. They are always experimenting, but some crops include pumpkins, garlic, lavender, squash, carrots, radicchio, tomatoes, greens, and one of Shannon’s favourites — kalettes, a cross between brussels sprouts and kale. From 1999 to 2019, the farm also offered field trips to school children. Shannon said this was a good way to spread the word about the farm before social media took off in the 2010s. The two were also busy raising their three boys at this time. One of their biggest focuses over the years has been the importance of not using pesticide or herbicide sprays even while opting not to undergo the cumbersome organic certification process. “Our philosophy was to be able to pull it out of the ground, wipe the dirt off and eat it,” Mike said. The farm scales up a bit every year and they focus on trial and error to grow and diversify their crops. “We have to be able to rotate into different areas all the time,” Mike said. This helps the farm maintain soil health, control pests and weeds, and enable diverse crop production on limited acreage. “It’s kind of a jigsaw puzzle, actually.” Mike said the hardest part about having a farm that doesn’t use pesticides is the weeding, which increases the cost of labour. “We weed everything by hand so that puts our costs up,” Shannon said. “We have a great crew though.” And sometimes the farm does lose crops to bugs. “A few bitten bok choy leaves people will buy but when it gets really bad people won’t buy that vegetable.” Shannon said. Then there is the balance of pricing the vegetables. The Farrells said you can’t have them too expensive because then people won’t buy the vegetables. But if you price them too low, it’s not enough to keep the farm going. When COVID-19 hit, the team started thinking a lot about food scarcity and the supply chain issues that were hitting the Island at the time. “We were like, let’s plant as much as our fields can handle,” Shannon said. The farm did well. Shannon said she noticed a shift in how many people began to value local food. “People were worried about where their food was coming from, and I finally felt like the farm was supporting the family.” Autumn Farrell, Shannon and Mike’s daughter-in-law, has been helping out on the farm since she was in high school. Back then, her now husband Jesse Farrell asked her to help out because his parents needed some help on the farm. Now, a decade later, Autumn is still a lead farmhand weeding and harvesting vegetables, ordering seeds, operating the website and social media and sending out newsletters. “Over the years, I’ve just continued to work here. I also work in a hospital, and this is just a completely different environment for me. I really value being able to work outside and getting your hands dirty,” she said. “It’s so good to be... in nature and connecting with the soil and the earth.” “We focus a lot on diversity too,” Autumn said. Shannon added that their focus on diversity ensures there is something else to fall back on if a crop fails. It’s important for the long-term resilience of the farm. A diverse range of crops is also fun and gives them room to grow and experiment, she added. “I find it really cool, you’ve got these seeds and some of the varieties are really old heirloom varieties that have been passed down from all those generations,” she said. You save that seed, and then you grow it again, and it keeps going. I love that,” Shannon said. Shannon chuckled and added that sometimes this diversity doesn’t succeed because the farm is always experimenting. But that ends up helping them grow in the long-term. “Every year we usually try to find a few new weird varieties that people haven’t heard of before,” Autumn said. This year, it was forced radicchio. Radicchio — a type of chicory from Italy, is known for its white and purple to dark red leaves. They planted different varieties of radicchio for the farm this year, and Shannon experimented with “forcing” the plant. “So in Italy, historically, they would take their radicchio, which is field grown, inside and cover it, shade it from light, and change the water everyday... but because it doesn’t have light, you get these beautiful tender leaves that are dark red and pure white.” The lack of light reduces chlorophyll production, which also softens the bitterness that is often associated with radicchio. Radicchio is a winter vegetable, and Shannon added that she likes being able to grow during all four seasons. “Outside right now, we’ve got all of the brussels sprouts and kale and radicchio and all the winter cabbages and kalettes. Carrots are outside right now, radishes are outside right now. We are lucky that we can grow right through the season.” There are also lots of vegetables in the high tunnel right now, which is like a greenhouse but there is no heat. “We don’t like to waste anything, because obviously that’s money thrown away. So if something doesn’t sell, we pickle it right away, preserve it right away, or put it in the freezer for now in the winter.” The goats, they said, are part of the diversity gamble. The goat’s milk is used for the soap made on the farm, but the goats are a bit of a luxury, and the soap barely covers their cost. But the six pigs were a success. The farm had a forested area that needed some clearing, so they put the pigs in the area to clear it. Having animals for meat was a new experience for them, but the farmers said they see a need for serving people concerned about where their meat comes from. They even had one of the workers on the farm break a mainly vegetarian diet after seeing how well they were raising the pigs. “She could see where they were, they were outside 24/7, getting fed, they had their big wallow. They were getting all our vegetables.” Shannon said it was amazing to see how the pigs were helpful in clearing the land and is looking forward to seeing how things grow there now. They sold most of the pig meat but still have some cuts left. Shamrock Farms can often be found at the Comox Valley Farmer’s Market, and their products are also in many local restaurants. But most of their products are sold straight from the farm at their markets. Now that the winter farm market is complete, locals can look forward to the spring plant sale in May. Come July, the farm will host a lavender and garlic market then In late September and early October a fall harvest market. Shamrock Farm offered some advice for those who may want to get into farming: “Start small and pay as you go. Don’t reach for the moon and borrow a ton of money,” Mike said. Farming is tough, and the farmers said it’s important for the farm to be sustainable for not only the food they grow. “With sustainable farming, it has to be sustainable for the people who work on the farm too,” said Shannon. She said that the job can be exhausting and that breaks are important too. They also added that it’s important to have another form of income before going all-out in farming. In other words, don’t put all your eggs into one basket (pun intended). To learn more about Shamrock Farm, go to or email . NoneWith the official grand opening set for Friday to open up to the public, the new McDonald’s location in The Yard district welcomed invited guests inside on Wednesday to kickoff the new location. Raj Bains is the owner and operator of the new location, along with the other two in the city, and he’s excited to see the new location finally open its doors. They want to make an impact with the city right away by supporting the Ronald McDonald House coming to Prince Albert. “This is one more restaurant to serve our community and we are very excited to open the doors and we’re looking forward to having our community come and serve on this end of the town. The big deal for us is in this grand opening, we’re also doing certain things to give back to our community. Ronald McDonald House is coming in Prince Albert, so every Big Mac meal that anyone buy for the next seven days from Friday till Thursday, a dollar from that Big Mac goes towards the Ronald McDonald’s House in Prince Albert.” While there are other businesses in The Yard already open, being one of the first in the new area of the city is a sign of good things to come. With the new community centre taking shape and more projects coming, the area is set to be a beautiful hub in the city. “This is a new iconic area in Prince Albert. If you look at it, we have a community centre, we have a rink coming in, we have hotels coming in and this is one of the iconic areas. It’s going to just be as strong as Cornerstone.” For the new location, the focus in the building was put on drive-thru and pickup order efficiency during its construction. The new location has a smaller dining area compared to the other two but has a large kitchen equipped with two full assembly lines for food along with technology that will monitors vehicle positions around the building and compares drive thru times to other McDonald’s locations in the province. “Drive thru is always the biggest channel for us. I’m really confident that people were coming in off from highway, they will stop here for their washroom breaks and just maybe sit down, stretch your legs and have some meals.” The new location officially opens to the public on Friday. — nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.comBy REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The picture of who will be in charge of executing President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration and border policies has come into sharper focus after he announced his picks to head Customs and Border Protection and also the agency tasked with deporting immigrants in the country illegally. Trump said late Thursday he was tapping Rodney Scott, a former Border Patrol chief who’s been a vocal supporter of tougher enforcement measures, for CBP commissioner. As acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Trump said he’d nominate Caleb Vitello, a career ICE official with more than 23 years in the agency who most recently has been the assistant director for firearms and tactical programs. They will work with an immigration leadership team that includes South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security ; former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement head Tom Homan as border czar ; and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Scott led during Trump’s first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country’s borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he joined the agency, San Diego was by far the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Traffic plummeted after the government dramatically increased enforcement there, but critics note the effort pushed people to remote parts of California and Arizona. San Diego was also where wall construction began in the 1990s, which shaped Scott’s belief that barriers work. He was named San Diego sector chief in 2017. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump’s policies. “He’s well known. He does know these issues and obviously is trusted by the administration,” said Gil Kerlikowske, the CBP commissioner under the Obama administration. Kerlikowske took issue with some of Scott’s past actions, including his refusal to fall in line with a Biden administration directive to stop using terms like “illegal alien” in favor of descriptions like “migrant,” and his decision as San Diego sector chief to fire tear gas into Mexico to disperse protesters. “You don’t launch projectiles into a foreign country,” Kerlikowske said. At the time Scott defended the agents’ decisions , saying they were being assaulted by “a hail of rocks.” While much of the focus of Trump’s administration may be on illegal immigration and security along the U.S.-Mexico border, Kerlikowske also stressed the importance of other parts of Customs and Border Protection’s mission. The agency is responsible for securing trade and international travel at airports, ports and land crossings around the country. Whoever runs the agency has to make sure that billions of dollars worth of trade and millions of passengers move swiftly and safely into and out of the country. And if Trump makes good on promises to ratchet up tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada, CBP will play an integral role in enforcing them. “There’s a huge amount of other responsibility on trade, on tourism, on cyber that take a significant amount of time and have a huge impact on the economy if it’s not done right,” Kerlikowske said. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda. He has appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He’s also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, he advocated for a return to Trump-era immigration policies and more pressure on Mexico to enforce immigration on its side of the border.
Astera Labs CFO sells $36.1 million in stockLaw Minister S. Regupathy said on Saturday that the DMK-led alliance remained strong, and nobody could change its calculations. Stressing that the front would win 200 seats in the 2026 Assembly election, he said nobody could change the alliance’s “plus into minus”. The Law Minister’s comments come in response to TVK president Vijay’s remarks on Friday that the “people of Tamil Nadu will minus the selfish alliance calculations of the ruling party”. As for the speculation on VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan leaving the DMK-led alliance, Mr. Regupathy said, “Mr. Vijay’s remarks reflect his personal wishes. The reality is different.” He dismissed the allegations of dynastic politics in the DMK. “Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin have earned their posts through hard work,” he added. Published - December 07, 2024 11:17 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit
WNBA star Kelsey Plum has everyone's attention on Monday afternoon. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.After defeating the Atlant Falcons and improving their season record to 8-4, the Los Angeles Chargers fans are on a high. But now heading into an important proving ground that is a three-game stretch against the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Denver Broncos, one of the biggest questions facing Jim Harbaugh’s team is health. The Chargers’ team-building strategy in the first year of this regime, as left major holes at several position groups due to injury Heading into the Chiefs game the biggest areas of injury concern are the running backs, wide receivers, and defensive backs. Chargers Running Backs JK Dobbins has been the only running back the team has brought on to find any success and he is going to miss at least three more weeks after being put on the injured reserve. This leaves Gus Edwards, rookie sixth-rounder Kimani Vidal, and Hassan Haskins to attempt to find yards on the ground. So far this season, those have been hard to find for these backs. Edwards leads the way for the backs with a 51st-ranked 3.4 yards per carry. Vidal is averaging just 2.9 yards on 22 carries and Haskins has 1.9 yards per carry. The Chargers offense has struggled on the ground without Dobbins in the lineup. On the year they are a respectable, 15th-ranked rushing offense by EPA per play. But last week, they dropped to 29th in the same statistic. Wide Receivers To make matters worse for the offense, Justin Herbert’s top target is questionable heading into this matchup. Ladd McConkey was listed as such with an ankle and shoulder injury. He has simultaneously emerged as a high-value receiver, but a regular injury concern. He has essentially been on the injury report since Week 6, after suffering an injury in the game against the Broncos. Why this matters is the compounding effect of missing Dobbins. Together Dobbins and McConkey account for 46 percent of all the Chargers’ offensive yards from scrimmage this season. Defensive Backs The defense is already without cornerbacks Eli Apple and Asante Samuel Jr and safety Alohi Gilman, all of whom are on the injured reserve. But several more were listed on the team’s injury report. Cornerback Cam Hart and safety Elijah Molden were limited in practice, but are expected to play against the Chiefs. Meanwhile, veteran safety Tony Jefferson will be questionable. This means three of the five starting defensive backs have been dealing with ailments as recently as Thursday. This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.
Update | Protest over, junior doctors return to workQatar PM sees 'momentum' on Gaza talks after US election