Jae Crowder is officially back in the league. The veteran forward officially struck a deal to join the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, the team announced. Terms of that contract are not yet known, though the Kings put him to work right away. Crowder was in the starting lineup for Sacramento in their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center on Monday night. welcome to the 916, 🤝 — Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) Crowder, 34, spent the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. The 13-year veteran, who was first selected in the second round of the 2012 draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, will join his ninth team in the league once his deal with the Kings is official. He averaged 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last season in Milwaukee. Crowder helped lead both the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals in back-to-back years, though he’s yet to win a championship. Crowder became a free agent this past offseason, and he worked out with the Kings over the summer, though he was unable to strike a deal to land with any team. The Kings are dealing with significant injuries, and have lost seven of their last 10 games entering Wednesday’s contest in Minnesota. Forward Trey Lyles is out for at least three weeks with a right calf strain, which he sustained in Monday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. DeMar DeRozan will also miss Wednesday’s game with lower back muscle inflammation, though it’s unknown how long he’ll be sidelined. Third-year coach on Tuesday after he chased down an official in their loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, too. Though it’s unclear what his role will be with the franchise just yet, Crowder should be able to provide some much-needed depth in the frontcourt behind Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis at least in the near future. We’ll see if he’s the missing piece to lift the Kings out of their slump.The kidnapping and murder of Santosh Deshmukh (45), the sarpanch of Massajob village in Kej taluka of Beed district on December 9, has turned into a full-blown political controversy and is posing a major challenge to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is in charge of the home portfolio. What is significant is that on Saturday local BJP MLA Suresh Dhas joined opposition leaders in leading a massive procession in Beed demanding justice for the Deshmukh family and the resignation of minister Dhananjay Munde, who is close to one of the accused, Valmik Karad. Deshmukh was allegedly murdered because he opposed the extortion efforts of Valmik Karad, who is reportedly close to Dananjay Munde, NCP leader and minister for food and civil supplies in the Fadnavis cabinet. Karad, who is absconding, allegedly tried to extort Rs 2 cr from a windmill company and this was opposed by Deshmukh. The windmill company Avaada Energy has already filed an FIR for alleged extortion by one Vishnu Chate at the instance of Karad. Vishnu Chate is also one of the accused in the murder case. The Beed police have arrested four persons so far and are on the lookout for three others, including Karad. The controversy took a new twist on Saturday with social activist claiming that she received a call from an unknown person who said the bodies of the three absconding persons have been found in the Karnataka border. She has handed over the audio clip to the Beed police. She has also started a dharna in front the Beed collector's office demanding the immediate arrest of Karad and the resignation of Munde, who recently had an hour-long meeting with Fadnavis. The failure of the police to trace Karad even 19 days after the kidnap and murder is causing considerable embarrassment to Fadnavis. NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Jitendra Awhad and other opposition leaders have alleged that Karad is being shielded because of his proximity to Munde. The incident has taken a casteist turn since Deshmukh is a Maratha and some of the accused persons belong to the Vanjari community, which is in the OBC category. Maratha leader Jarande Patil and others, including Sharad Pawar, have already called on the Deshmukh family. Deputy CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar has expelled Karad from his party in a bid to distance his organisation from the brutal murder. Deshmukh was kidnapped in a Scorpio and as many as 60 injuries were inflicted on him before being dumped on the road. On Saturday, Dhas trained his gun on his own party leader and minister, Pankaja Munde. He asked her , “Why didn’t you visit Santosh Deshmukh’s family?” The all- party march on Saturday to the Beed collector's office was attended by thousands of people wearing black bands and holding black flags. The protest saw a large number of women, senior citizens, and youths. A single demand resonated throughout the crowd was “Arrest the accused, Valmiki Karad, and demand the resignation of Dhananjay Munde.” The march began on Saturday morning with tributes paid at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue. Prominent leaders such as former MP Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje Bhosale, BJP MLA Suresh Dhas, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLAs Sandeep Kshirsagar, Prakash Solanke and Jitendra Awhad, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Bajrang Sonawane, Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, and Jyoti Mete participated in the protest. Former MP Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati said, “If Dhananjay Munde is made the Guardian Minister, we won’t tolerate it. If anyone tries to intimidate people, I will step in. What’s happening here? Do you want to turn Beed into Bihar? This is why we have to take to the streets.” NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Bajrang Sonawane openly challenged Dhananjay Munde. He said, “If you truly want to deliver justice to Beed and respect the soil you were born in, resign and face an inquiry. Why do you need ministerial position? Is it just to oppress us?" Fadnavis has set up an SIT for investigation. However, pressure for the resignation of Minister Dhananjay Munde is increasing. There is a constant discussion about the deteriorating law and order situation in Beed district.None
Browns will be without three starters against Broncos on Monday Night FootballEU rules requiring all new smartphones, tablets and cameras to use the same charger came into force on Saturday, in a change Brussels said will cut costs and waste. Manufacturers are now obliged to fit devices sold in the 27-nation bloc with a USB-C, the port chosen by the European Union as the common standard for charging electronic tools. "Starting today, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, speakers, keyboards and many other electronics sold in the EU will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port," the EU Parliament wrote on social media X. The EU has said the single charger rule will simplify the life of Europeans and slash costs for consumers. By allowing consumers to purchase a new device without a new charger, it will also reduce the mountain of obsolete chargers, the bloc has argued. The law was first approved in 2022 following a tussle with US tech giant Apple. It allowed companies until December 28 this year to adapt. Makers of laptops will have extra time, from early 2026, to also follow suit. Most devices already use these cables, but Apple was more than a little reluctant. The firm said in 2021 that such regulation "stifles innovation", but by September last year it had begun shipping phones with the new port. Makers of electronic consumer items in Europe had agreed on a single charging norm from dozens on the market a decade ago under a voluntary agreement with the European Commission. But Apple , the world's biggest seller of smartphones, refused to abide by it and ditch its Lightning ports. Other manufacturers kept their alternative cables going, meaning there were about half a dozen types knocking around, creating a jumble of cables for consumers. USB-C ports can charge at up to 100 Watts, transfer data up to 40 gigabits per second, and can serve to hook up to external displays. At the time of its approval, the commission said the law was expected to save at least 200 million euros (R3.9 billion) per year and cut more than a thousand tonnes of EU electronic waste every year. "It's time for THE charger," the European Commission wrote on X on Saturday. "It means better-charging technology, reduced e-waste, and less fuss to find the chargers you need." AFP
The Pennsylvania Institute of Technology in Media announced the gift last week of nearly $4 million from The Walter R. Garrison Foundation, the largest capital gift in the school’s history. This contribution will enhance the college’s educational facilities and further its mission to provide outstanding learning experiences in alignment with Walter R. Garrison’s legacy of dedication to education and innovation, officials said in a press release. The funds will be utilized through two major initiatives first establishing the Walter R. Garrison College of Nursing with $2.2 million being used to convert existing spaces into a cutting-edge facility for a new registered nursing program. This program, along with the pre-nursing and practical nursing programs, will form the newly designated Walter R. Garrison College of Nursing, with that new name taking effect on Jan. 1. The second initiative is modernizing the school’s main entry space into the “Walter R. Garrison Gateway to Success.” $1.68 million will be used to make the entrance accessible area for congregation and collaboration, thus reflecting Garrison’s vision of opportunity. School officials note the college’s history spans 71 years, and over the decades, students have embarked on rewarding careers, making a positive impact on their lives and their families. Graduates excel in fields such as nursing, health care management, cannabis studies, and diagnostic medical sonography, as well as many other in-demand careers. In the early 1950s Garrison recognized the need for engineers in aircraft and civil/architectural fields which was the basis of the school. Two campuses in Upper Darby hosted classes in mathematics, stress analysis, and technical subjects. By 1976, the Pennsylvania Department of Education had approved P.I.T. to award specialized associate’s degrees, leading to a move in 1982 to the spacious 14-acre Rose Valley-Media campus. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredited P.I.T. in 1983, and in 2021, approval was granted to offer Bachelor degree programs. “This gift is a testament to Walter R. Garrison’s enduring commitment to education,” said P.I.T. President Matt Meyers. “It empowers P.I.T. to continue his legacy by expanding and enhancing our programs, ultimately enriching the lives of our students and broader community.” Barton Winokur, Chairman of The Walter R. Garrison Foundation, said, “Walter believed strongly in the potential of education to transform lives. This gift aims to perpetuate his vision, ensuring that P.I.T. continues to cultivate talent and prepare students for impactful careers. We are honored to support such a vital institution and its mission.” Garrison’s statue, which can be seen on campus, honors his lasting impact to the school. Additionally, foundation representative, Walter Strine, a local businessman and philanthropist, has joined the P.I.T. board to foster the ongoing collaboration to sustain an educational environment that embodies Garrison’s vision, as reinforced by the foundation’s strategic support.I’m a Celeb’s GK Barry sends sweet message to girlfriend Ella Rutherford after ‘secret communication’ was revealed
Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time,” said a statement from OpenAI. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said “appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” The city's chief medical examiner's office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide. His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a “happy, smart and brave young man” who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends. Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT. “Suchir’s contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn’t have succeeded without him,” said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what made him such an exceptional engineer and scientist was his attention to detail and ability to notice subtle bugs or logical errors. “He had a knack for finding simple solutions and writing elegant code that worked,” Schulman wrote. “He’d think through the details of things carefully and rigorously.” Balaji later shifted to organizing the huge datasets of online writings and other media used to train GPT-4, the fourth generation of OpenAI's flagship large language model and a basis for the company's famous chatbot. It was that work that eventually caused Balaji to question the technology he helped build, especially after newspapers, novelists and others began suing OpenAI and other AI companies for copyright infringement. He first raised his concerns with The New York Times, which reported them in an October profile of Balaji . He later told The Associated Press he would “try to testify” in the strongest copyright infringement cases and considered a lawsuit brought by The New York Times last year to be the “most serious.” Times lawyers named him in a Nov. 18 court filing as someone who might have “unique and relevant documents” supporting allegations of OpenAI's willful copyright infringement. His records were also sought by lawyers in a separate case brought by book authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman, according to a court filing. “It doesn’t feel right to be training on people’s data and then competing with them in the marketplace,” Balaji told the AP in late October. “I don’t think you should be able to do that. I don’t think you are able to do that legally.” He told the AP that he gradually grew more disillusioned with OpenAI, especially after the internal turmoil that led its board of directors to fire and then rehire CEO Sam Altman last year. Balaji said he was broadly concerned about how its commercial products were rolling out, including their propensity for spouting false information known as hallucinations. But of the “bag of issues” he was concerned about, he said he was focusing on copyright as the one it was “actually possible to do something about.” He acknowledged that it was an unpopular opinion within the AI research community, which is accustomed to pulling data from the internet, but said “they will have to change and it’s a matter of time.” He had not been deposed and it’s unclear to what extent his revelations will be admitted as evidence in any legal cases after his death. He also published a personal blog post with his opinions about the topic. Schulman, who resigned from OpenAI in August, said he and Balaji coincidentally left on the same day and celebrated with fellow colleagues that night with dinner and drinks at a San Francisco bar. Another of Balaji’s mentors, co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, had left OpenAI several months earlier , which Balaji saw as another impetus to leave. Schulman said Balaji had told him earlier this year of his plans to leave OpenAI and that Balaji didn't think that better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence “was right around the corner, like the rest of the company seemed to believe.” The younger engineer expressed interest in getting a doctorate and exploring “some more off-the-beaten path ideas about how to build intelligence,” Schulman said. Balaji's family said a memorial is being planned for later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California, not far from his hometown of Cupertino. —————- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. —————-- The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives.Year in Review - March - City comes alive with the sound of music for the 11th Kilkenny Tradfest
Amazon invests another $4 bn in AI firm Anthropic
The story so far: A study of 432 convenience food products, in five categories — idli mixes, breakfast cereals, porridge mixes, beverage mixes, soup mixes — and extruded (‘puffed’ or ‘expanded’) snacks, has found that a majority of these ready-to-eat/packaged food products are high in carbohydrates. Also read | What the Food Safety and Standards Act says Who conducted the study? The study, ‘Assessment of front and back of pack nutrition labels of selected convenience food products and snacks available in the Indian market’ by Shobana Shanmugam et al, was published in Plos One . Researchers with Chennai-based Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition and the University of Reading, the U.K. were involved. It aimed to evaluate the nutritional profiles and claims of selected convenience food products and snacks in the Indian market and also measured their healthiness by categorising them according to their nutrient profiles. The nutritional profiling of the foods was conducted based on the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) claims regulations, after evaluating the nutritional information on the front and back of pack labels of the selected food items. Only the nutritional content claims related to protein, dietary fibre, fat, sugar and cholesterol were evaluated in this study. The healthiness was assessed using a nutritional traffic light system. The products were classified into ‘healthy’, ‘moderately healthy’ and ‘less healthy’ based on the fat, saturated fat, and sugar content. The study was funded by the Department of Science and Technology. What did the study find? In essence, the study found that while most of the products could fall under the ‘healthy’ or ‘moderately healthy’ categories, except extruded snacks, most of the products provided over 70% of the energy from carbohydrates, while extruded snacks provided over 47% of the energy from fat. The energy distribution from protein was found to be less than 15%. All convenience food products that the study tested were rich in carbohydrate content. While beverage mixes had the highest carbohydrate content (35.5g to 95g/100g), extruded snacks had the highest total fat content (mean 28.3±7.5 g/100g), and the highest saturated fatty acid (SFA) content (mean 11.0±4.5 g/100g). The beverage mixes were found to be high in sugar content. The soup mixes had high sodium levels with poor protein and dietary fibre content. The idli mixes had high protein content and were largely sugar free. Breakfast cereals were found to have high dietary fibre. The study also found that despite FSSAI’s packaging and labelling regulations requiring products to display the minimum nutritional information for energy, protein, carbohydrate, sugar, and total fat as “per 100 g” or “100 ml” or “per serving” of the product on the label, only certain breakfast cereals and some beverages widely disclosed the concept of per-serving information. Further, some products that claimed to contain whole grains did not display them in the ingredient list and these claims may be misleading to the consumer, it noted. It pointed out that a clear labelling system would be a valuable tool for consumers to choose healthier products. What are the issues around food labelling? For years, activists have been advocating for front-of-pack labelling that has warning labels indicating high fat, sugar and sodium. “We want the warning labels to be specific, so, for instance, a customer with hypertension can avoid food labelled as ‘high sodium’ or a customer with diabetes can avoid high sugar foods,” said Vandana Prasad, a public health professional associated with the Public Health Resource Network. Lead author of the paper and senior scientist at Madras Diabetes Research Foundation Dr. Shanmugam said the present labelling system was not uniform, and customers could find it hard to understand. “Nutrition labelling in India is at an evolving stage and evidence of awareness and understanding of these labels by the Indian population is limited,” the study notes. How are changing diet patterns affecting health? As per the household consumption expenditure survey 2022-23, Indians are now spending more on processed food, beverages, and refreshments while reducing money spent on home-cooked food. Though there are subtle variations in rural and urban areas, the pattern is valid across both regions. Experts have highlighted this changing diet is a huge contributing factor to the staggering burden of non-communicable diseases in the country. The Economic Survey of India this year, citing the Indian Council of Medical Research’s dietary guidelines, noted that 56.4% of the total disease burden in India is due to unhealthy diets. Not only do excessive carbohydrates in the diet place a strain on the pancreas, therefore increasing one’s risk for type 2 diabetes, but other chemicals in processed food can increase the risk of ailments such as fatty liver as well, said Nihal Thomas, senior professor, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Christian Medical College, Vellore. Dr. Shanmugam underlined the need for reformulation of packaged/processed food items to ensure they contain more proteins, alongside less fat and sodium. R.M. Anjana, managing director of Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai, who was also part of the study, reiterated the importance of reading food labels and avoiding processed food as much as possible. Published - December 22, 2024 12:41 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit food safety / health / nutrition and diet / The Hindu ExplainsWomen will for the first time make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year, but at least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, according to a count released Thursday by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. While women will fill a record number of state legislative seats in 2025, the overall uptick will be slight, filling just over third of legislative seats. Races in some states are still being called. "We certainly would like to see a faster rate of change and more significant increases in each election cycle to get us to a place where parity in state legislatures is less novel and more normal," said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the CAWP, which is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. As of Wednesday, at least 2,450 women will serve in state legislatures, representing 33.2% of the seats nationwide. The previous record was set in 2024 with 2,431 women, according to the CAWP. People are also reading... The number of Republican women, at least 851, will break the previous record of 815 state lawmakers set in 2024. "But still, Republican women are very underrepresented compared to Democratic women," Debbie Walsh, director of the CAWP, said. From left, House Maj. Whip Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, Rep. D. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock and Rep. Cristina Parajon, D-Albuquerque, talk July 18 before the start of a special session, in Santa Fe, N.M. States with gains By the most recent count, 19 states will have increased the number of women in their state legislatures, according to the CAWP. The most notable increases were in New Mexico and Colorado, where women will for the first time make up a majority of lawmakers. In New Mexico, voters sent an 11 additional women to the chambers. Colorado previously attained gender parity in 2023 and is set to tip over to a slight female majority in the upcoming year. The states follow Nevada, which was the first in the country to see a female majority in the legislature following elections in 2018. Next year, women will make up almost 62% of state lawmakers in Nevada, far exceeding parity. Women in California's Senate will make up the chamber's majority for the first time in 2025 as well. Women also made notable gains in South Dakota, increasing its number by at least nine. Four of South Carolina's Sister Senators, from left, Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Columbia, Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, stand in front of the Senate on June 26 with their John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award in Columbia, S.C. States that lost At least thirteen states emerged from the election with fewer female lawmakers than before, with the most significant loss occurring in South Carolina. This year, the only three Republican women in the South Carolina Senate lost their primaries after they stopped a total abortion ban from passing. Next year, only two women, who are Democrats, will be in the 46-member Senate. No other state in the country will have fewer women in its upper chamber, according to the CAWP. Women make up 55% of the state's registered voters. Half the members in the GOP dominated state were elected in 2012 or before, so it will likely be the 2040s before any Republican woman elected in the future can rise to leadership or a committee chairmanship in the chamber, which doles out leadership positions based on seniority. A net loss of five women in the legislature means they will make up only about 13% of South Carolina's lawmakers, making the state the second lowest in the country for female representation. Only West Virginia has a smaller proportion of women in the legislature. West Virginia stands to lose one more women from its legislative ranks, furthering its representation problem in the legislature where women will make up just 11% of lawmakers. Why it matters Many women, lawmakers and experts say that women's voices are needed in discussions on policy, especially at a time when state government is at its most powerful in decades. Walsh, director of the CAWP, said the new changes expected from the Trump administration will turn even more policy and regulation to the states. The experiences and perspectives women offer will be increasingly needed, she said, especially on topics related to reproductive rights, healthcare, education and childcare. "The states may have to pick up where the federal government may, in fact, be walking away," Walsh said. "And so who serves in those institutions is more important now than ever." 20 political cartoons draw out Donald Trump's win November 7, 2024: Trump Victory Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
None
Ottawa's LRT southern extension gets 'substantial completion' designationSouth African dissident writer Breyten Breytenbach dies
HAMILTON — There’s a first time for everything.In this case, the Mooch Senior Girls Soccer game ended in a scoreless draw for the first time in history on Sunday afternoon at Al Cowell Field inside Veterans Park.“Honestly, no, not expecting that,” said Ewing goalie Emily Gamboa Ordini, who helped preserve the clean sheet for the [...]Linq Blue Automates and Personalizes iMessage Outreach to Boost Engagement and Efficiency BIRMINGHAM, Ala. , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Linq, the world's leading mobile CRM and lead capture platform, announces Linq Blue — an iMessage automation tool designed to revolutionize sales communication. This breakthrough feature empowers businesses to automate and personalize customer outreach via iMessage—without requiring an iPhone. Launching January 2025 , Linq Blue offers seamless messaging capabilities that drive higher response rates and unlock new levels of sales efficiency. Why Linq Blue is a Game-Changer Reserve Your Spot Today Linq Blue is now open for early access reservations to a closed beta. Learn more and reserve your spot at https://linqapp.com/s/imessage-automation/ About Linq: Founded in Birmingham, AL , Linq is a rapidly growing tech company that transforms the way businesses manage contacts, relationships, and workflows. With a focus on mobile-first solutions, Linq integrates seamlessly with existing CRM platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot, offering an easy-to-use interface that enables teams to work effectively, no matter where they are. For more information, visit www.linqapp.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/linq-launches-blue-messages-for-sales-302314658.html SOURCE Linq
Marcus Rashford takes up new sport to keep in top condition for Man Utd