'Britain Doesn't Have 5,000 Missiles': Zelensky's Aide Drops Bombshell As Russia Readies For WW3 Recommended Playlist Putin 'Recruits' Houthis To Fight Ukraine Before World War 3 Begins | Iran's Proxy 'Helps' Russia IDF In Crisis: 6 Israeli Soldiers 'Commit Suicide | Troops Mental Health Takes A Toll In Gaza France Declares 'War' Against Russia In A Shock Move, Putin To Press Nuclear Button? | Ukraine Central Israel Under Attack: Missiles Pummel Tel Aviv Suburbs; Hezbollah Bombs North | Watch Iran's 3rd Strike On Israel: Khamenei's Shocking Diktat Amid Killing Of Israeli Rabbi In UAE Deadly Attack Near Israel Embassy In Jordan; Israeli Diplomats In Panic | Gunman Dead, 3 Cops Hurt Iran Ally 'Accurately Hits' IDF's Ashdod Naval Base; 150+ Rockets Fired At Tel Aviv, Haifa Putin's Oreshnik Sends Chills Through NATO | Why U.S. Allies Can't Intercept New Russian Missile World War III Is Here? UK Confirms Will Join War Against Russia 'Tonight' If Moscow... | Watch Putin Aide Reveals Russia's World War 3 Targets In West | 'Our Nuclear Doctrine A Signal' Top Viral Videos Shocking! Lawyer rams Mercedes car into Kachori shop in Delhi, Six injured In a shocking incident, six people were injured after a lawyer rammed his speeding Mercedes car into a Kachori shop in the national capital. The incident took place at Fateh Kachori in Civil Lines area. The police have taken the lawyer into custody and seized his car. The lawyer has been identified as Parag Maini who is a resident of Noida’s Sector 79. The police have registered a case against the lawyer under Section 279 (rash driving) and 337 (causing hurt by endangering life). Telangana cop punched, dragged by villagers, video goes viral On Cam: Crane drags car with senior citizens sitting inside, case registered | video goes viral Instagram influencer shot dead by husband in Rajasthan's Phalodi CCTV: Thieves arrive in car, decamp with jewellery in MP's Damoh Goons hurl abuses at toll plaza employee in MP's Chhatarpur Two goons hurled abuses at a toll plaza employee in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur. One of the assailants is reportedly the brother of an MLA. The incident was filmed by an employee of ol plaza which has gone viral on social media. The goons were upset after they had to wait in the queue. Viral: Cobra blocks road in MP's Chhatarpur district Nigeria: Lion kills zookeeper at Obafemi Awolowo University CCTV: Biker crushed to death by speeding bus in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district Four women steal tray full of earrings from a jewellery shop in MP's Raisen Shirtless British man punches air steward after destroying aircraft toilet, arrested A shirtless British man punched an air steward after destroying the aircraft toilet. The man was arrested. The man went berserk soon after the flight took off . He went up to smash the plane’s toilet. The incident took place on February 7 when the flight took off from Bangkok to London. A video of the incident went viral on social media. On cam: Several injured after swarm of bees attacks guests during wedding ceremony in MP's Guna On cam: Man hurls abuses at government school teacher in MP's Chhatarpur district On cam: Man thrashes youth with stick in MP's Ujjain Doctor loses cool, misbehaves with home guard in MP's Chhatarpur On cam: Goons thrash Dalit youth in MP's Betul A Dalit youth was thrashed in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul. The man was brutally thrashed and forced to squat while holding his ears. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. Congress leader Jitu Patwari highlighted the plight of the Dalit man. The police have launched a probe into the matter. On cam: Govt employee consumes alcohol at work place in MP's Singrauli On cam: Goons thrash liquor shop employee in MP's Gwalior CCTV: Man thrashed, abducted in Madhya Pradesh's Betul district Fight breaks out between CHC employee and patient in UP's Barabanki Short Videos BJP Orchestrated Attack On Kejriwal During ‘Padyatra’ Campaign: Delhi CM Atishi Your Autistic Child Can Also Make A Difference Your Autistic Child Can Also Make A Difference Kejriwal Questions RSS Over BJP’s 'Dirty' Tactics Against Opposition | Watch Atishi's 1st Statement After Being Picked As Delhi CM; 'Kejriwal Made Biggest Sacrifice' Kejriwal To Give Up CM Residence; AAP's Sanjay Singh Issues Big Warning... Haryana Polls: Vinesh Phogat & Bajrang Punia Join Congress; Sakshi Malik next? Putin's Big Pledge For Russian Speakers In Ukraine; 'Will Fight For...' Ukraine’s Kursk Incursion Has Failed To Achieve Objectives, Declares Putin Putin Says Russia Will Support Kamala Harris In U.S. Elections Related Articles Russia says US using Taiwan to stir crisis in Asia Turkey's Erdogan to discuss Ukraine war with Nato chief Republican senators eager to see Tulsi Gabbard's FBI file because of her Snowden stance Russia plots to target US-linked defence projects: US intelligence Ukraine claims Russia fired ICBM; mid-range missile, says Putin 'Insane neighbour's attack reveals true nature': Ukraine's Zelenskyy reacts to Russia's use of ICBM India joins Russia on plastic rule concerns at WTO US, others shut embassies in Ukraine amid fear over Russia attack《TAIPEI TIMES》Court releases Ko Wen-je on bail of NT$30m

Percentages: FG 48.889, FT .429. 3-Point Goals: 9-22, .409 (Antenucci 4-8, Cairns 3-6, Jefferson 1-3, Santoro 1-3, Rolle 0-1, Gill 0-1) Blocked Shots: 1 (Taylor 1) Turnovers: 16 (Team 4, Antenucci 3, Gill 2, Jefferson 2, Rolle 2, Taylor 2, Mitchell-Steen 1) Steals: 5 (Antenucci 1, Gill 1, Jefferson 1, Santoro 1, Taylor 1) Technical Fouls: 1 (Jefferson 1) Percentages: FG 40.000, FT .900. 3-Point Goals: 3-13, .231 (Hylton 2-4, R.Jackson 1-4, A.Jackson 0-3, Holtman 0-1, Mann 0-1) Blocked Shots: 2 (Ndiba 2) Turnovers: 18 (A.Jackson 5, R.Jackson 4, Byars 2, Hayes 2, Hylton 2, Mann 1, Ndiba 1, Team 1) Steals: 4 (Byars 1, Hylton 1, R.Jackson 1, Mann 1) Technical Fouls: None A_804 Officials_Ian Carey, Tunita Dumas, Darwin ThompsonHewlett Packard Enterprise Co. stock outperforms competitors despite losses on the day

Macron, refusing to resign, struggles on in search for stable French governmentSoutheast Asian bloc's defense chiefs renew support for 5-Point consensus on Myanmar

Princess Kate inadvertently hinted at a massive change in her life during a key royal appointment today, a body language expert has said. The Princess of Wales , 42, was among the first senior royals to arrive at the annual Christmas Carol service held at Westminster Abbey this evening, appearing initially solo before she was joined by her husband, Prince William , and three children. The younger royals joined after visiting the "kindness tree" on which Prince Louis could be seen leaving a message for the late Queen and Prince Philip . The message read: "Thank you to granny and grandpa because they have played games with me." Princess Kate came with no such message, but body language experts who have carefully studied her body language have noticed subtle changes to her composure that speak volumes. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror , Judi James said she appears to have "changed her body language rituals" and even appeared to emulate the King. Ms James started with the Princess' arrival, saying she emerged with a "radiant" smile before cementing her place as the "leader of the event". She said: "Kate's smile on her lone arrival was classic Kate, a radiant, perfect Duchenne smile that threw a warm and grateful-looking connecting tie-sign to the fans outside. "Her lack of a bag to carry suggested confidence as she has at times used her bags as barriers when she has been feeling vulnerable. Here she just touched the fingers of both hands together or gesticulated as she spoke to again suggest confidence and to define her role as leader of this event." When she entered the service, the expert added, she expressed an all new "dimension" to her behaviour, with Ms James catching the Princess' emotion at attending alongside other cancer survivors. She continued: "But when she was greeting the guests inside, we saw a new dimension to Kate's body language rituals. "She has always been politely animated but here she was much more openly expressive and emotional with her facial expressions. This is a very moving service for Kate, with other cancer sufferers attending, and that seemed to reflect in her animated expressions that ranged from nose-wrinkled, dimpled laughter to a much more empathetic and concerned look, with steepled brows and the saddest eye expression accompanying a kind mouth smile." Ms James added that, at one point during the service, she appeared to mirror King Charles III. She said: "At one point she even seemed to be mirroring her father-in-law, arching her back slightly and performing the kind of playful chuckle that is Charles's signature look when he is meeting guests." Despite this, the strongest mirroring came from Prince William and his eldest son, Prince George , 11, Ms James suggested. She said: "The strongest mirroring though came between William and George. The father and son have famously adopted mirrored poses but it's usual that, with age, the tendency can decline. "Here the opposite seems to be true though, with each mirroring the other now, sitting or standing in identical poses for much of the time."The U.S. House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence has released its report on artificial intelligence following nearly a year of meetings and discussions with over 100 experts in the field. The task force, which included 12 Democrats and 12 Republicans, was charged with compiling a comprehensive "road map" for Congress to implement safeguards against artificial intelligence misuse and boost the development of artificial intelligence technology in the United States. "Artificial intelligence has the potential to enhance the lives of Americans, but it also poses serious threats – from fraud and identity theft to election integrity and more," said Colorado’s Democratic U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, who sat on the task force. "After months of bipartisan collaboration, I’m proud to help release this report which will serve as a blueprint for Congress to enact policies that help harness the potential of this emerging technology while ensuring strong guardrails and consumer protections,” Pettersen said. “This report is an important step toward ensuring Congress meets the moment and the United States remains a global leader in AI." The 253-page report includes 66 key findings and 85 recommendations but does not propose any specific legislative measures. The task force adopted seven guiding principles when compiling the report that include: The task force investigated the use of AI in 15 areas, including government use, data privacy, national security, and intellectual property. Government Use The report encourages the federal government and Congress to be "wary" of algorithm-informed decision-making in government affairs. In addition, task force members recommended adopting AI standards for federal government use and improving cybersecurity of federal systems to protect against AI's negative impacts. "Irresponsible or improper use [of AI] fosters risks to individual privacy, security, and the fair and equal treatment of all citizens by their government," the report stated. Federal Preemption of State Law Several states, including Colorado, have passed legislation related to AI. According to the task force, the federal government can use these state-level statutes as a tool to "accomplish various objectives." However, "federal preemption presents complex legal and policy issues that should be considered." The report found that federal preemption has both positive and negative aspects and that it can allow states to be subject to certain limits on regulation. The task force recommended the federal government study the laws, rules, and regulations in each state when it comes to AI in different industries. Data Privacy "As AI systems amass and analyze vast amounts of data, there are increasing risks of private information being accessed without authorization," the report stated. "Thoughtful and effective data privacy policies and protections will support consumer confidence in the responsible development and deployment of AI systems." Currently, Americans have very few avenues for recourse if their privacy is negatively impacted by AI, but federal privacy laws have the potential to increase the effectiveness of state laws related to AI and data privacy. The task force recommended exploring ways to promote access to data in "privacy-enhanced" ways while ensuring any privacy laws that come out of Congress are "generally applicable and technology-neutral" to cover all forms of AI, current and future. National Security With many countries, including US adversaries, incorporating AI technology into their military programs, it's crucial for the American military to have a thorough understanding of different AI systems and implement them in its defense strategy, the report stated. The report called for expanded AI training within the Department of Defense continued oversight of autonomous weapons policies, and international collaboration with American allies on developing AI for military use. Research, Development, and Standards The task force recommends that Congress implement an open research environment in which research processes and data are accessible to all entities to maintain the U.S.'s status as a leader in AI research and development. The report found that further investments in AI research and development will increase competitiveness with American adversaries such as China and expand access to and adoption of AI technology among Americans. The report also called for promoting public-private partnerships for AI research and development and implementing standards for the evaluation and testing of AI technology. Civil Rights & Civil Liberties "AI models, and software systems more generally, can produce misleading or inaccurate outputs" that can deprive Americans of their basic rights, the report stated. The task force found that the federal government must understand the potential harm misleading or inaccurate AI systems can pose to mitigate potential rights violations. The report recommended always having a human available to identify and remedy potential flaws when AI is being used in "highly consequential" decisions and informing users when AI is being used in situations where decisions are being made to protect against discrimination. Education and Workforce According to the report, the U.S. has a "significant gap" in its workforce of AI-literate professionals, which is only growing. "Educating and training American learners in AI topics will be critical to continued U.S. leadership in AI technology and for America’s economic and national security," the report stated. As AI becomes increasingly common in the workplace, the task force recommended that the government invest in K-12 STEM and AI education to promote AI literacy and broaden pathways to the AI workforce. At the same time, the government should monitor labor laws and worker protections to ensure workers are not being taken advantage of when it comes to AI adoption in the workplace. Intellectual Property Generative AI has sparked widespread debates about intellectual property rights for creatives such as artists, musicians, and designers. "Generative AI poses a unique challenge to the creative community," the report stated, adding that creators are often unaware AI developers are using their work. The report recommends clarifying IP laws, regulations, and agency activity to better inform the legal community about what is and isn't legal and counter the increasing use of deepfakes to harm others. Content Authenticity When tackling inauthentic content such as deepfakes, the task force recommended a "risk-based, multipronged approach" in which the responsibilities of AI developers, content producers, and content distributors are clearly outlined. While the report found that synthetic content "has many beneficial uses," it can also harm individuals and create a sense of distrust among users. The report recommended ensuring victims of harmful synthetic content have access to tools and resources they may need for support. Open & Closed Systems The report also discussed open and closed AI systems. In an open system, an AI model's underlying code and data are publicly accessible. They can be built upon, while a closed system is only available to the developers. The report found that open models encourage innovation and competition among AI developers and that "limited evidence" exists that open models should be restricted. Despite this, the task force recommended the federal government continue monitoring open-source models for potential risks. Energy Usage & Data Centers The electrical grid has been significantly impacted by the advancement of AI technology, particularly due to large data centers with high energy demands. While the report found AI to be "critical" to U.S. economic interests and national security, it poses a multitude of challenges to the country's energy sector. "Planning properly now for new power generation and transmission is critical for AI innovation and adoption," the report stated, adding that AI itself can play a role in modernizing America's energy sector. Small Business Many small businesses lack the understanding and financial resources to implement AI, the report found. Providing them with education and resources to improve AI literacy is essential in order to help small businesses thrive, the task force stated, advocating for the federal government to reduce "compliance burdens" for small businesses that operate with the assistance of AI. Agriculture According to the report, AI technology has the potential to change the agriculture industry, increasing food availability, lowering food prices, and encouraging economic growth. Because many agricultural communities lack reliable internet connection, AI adoption in the agriculture industry has been slow, the report stated. However, increased AI use by the USDA could help provide more agriculture programs to American communities and reduce costs for farmers and ranchers. The report recommended the federal government direct the USDA to "better utilize" AI in program delivery and continue to explore how AI technology could help land managers improve forest health. Health Care AI has the potential to make significant improvements to the American healthcare system by improving diagnostic accuracy, streamlining operations. speeding up drug development and automating routine tasks, the report found. However, there currently aren't any uniform standards for medical data when it comes to AI, which makes it difficult for advancements to be made. The task force recommended the government "maintain robust support" for medical research related to AI and create incentives and guidance to encourage risk management of AI technologies in the healthcare sector, as well as developing uniform standards for liability related to AI issues. Financial Services According to the report, the financial services industry has been using AI technology for decades. "The ideal environment for continued growth would allow AI innovation to thrive while protecting consumers and maintaining market integrity," the task force wrote. "By focusing on fostering innovation, enhancing customer experiences, and ensuring financial inclusion, AI can significantly improve the financial sector's efficiency and accessibility." While AI has the potential to expand access to financial products and services, smaller firms may be at a disadvantage due to financial barriers to adopting AI. The report recommends fostering an environment where financial services firms can "responsibly" adopt AI technology and encourage industry regulators to gain a better understanding of AI while suggesting a "principles-based" regulatory approach. 'I don't want a future where China's leading on AI': Pettersen on the role AI plays in US government In an interview with Colorado Politics , Pettersen said the United States is in a race against China when it comes to crafting AI policy, and she's afraid China could win. "I really worry about areas like this where we need to be leading the way globally and making sure that China is not the one doing that,” Pettersen said. “I don’t want a future where China’s leading on AI. It needs to be the United States, and we have to come together in Congress to bring comprehensive, pragmatic, bipartisan solutions. It cannot matter (which party) has the majority. This needs to continue to be a bipartisan effort." Pettersen said she is confident artificial intelligence will remain a priority in the Trump administration but admitted that the Task Force on Artificial Intelligence faced some obstacles due to a "dysfunctional congress" and election season. However, she and other Colorado members of Congress agree that federal legislation on artificial intelligence is far more effective than "patchwork" measures passed at the state level. AI legislation in Colorado During the 2024 legislative session, Colorado passed a first-of-its-kind law that aims to address "algorithmic discrimination", defined in statute as any condition in which AI increases the risk of "unlawful differential treatment" that then "disfavors" an individual or group of people on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, race, religion, veteran status, English proficiency and other classes protected by state laws. Gov. Jared Polis has tasked Attorney General Phil Weiser with creating audit policies and identifying high-risk artificial intelligence practices to ensure the law is effectively implemented. The measure's prime sponsor, Sen. Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, has promised to amend it during the 2025 legislative session to minimize any unintended consequences. Thelma Grimes contributed to this story.

Swiss voters reject more powers for landlords on sublettingOpenAI ’s board of directors plans to transform the organization’s for-profit arm into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) in order to raise the capital it needs to continue developing artificial general intelligence (AGI). The organization will continue to have a structure that includes both a non-profit and a for-profit, as it does now, but it is evolving that structure in order to strengthen both arms, OpenAI said in a Thursday (Dec. 26) blog post outlining the change its board is considering. “Eventually it became clear that the most advanced AI would continuously use more and more compute and that scaling large language models was a promising path to AGI rooted in an understanding of humanity,” the post said. “We would need far more compute, and therefore far more capital, than we could obtain with donations in order to pursue our mission.” As it considers how to structure OpenAI, the board said it aims to transform the for-profit into a PBC with ordinary shares of stock and OpenAI’s mission as its public benefit interest, saying this structure would be best for the mission’s long-term success. Under the plan being considered, the non-profit’s interest in the for-profit would become shares in the PBC, with the valuation being determined by independent financial advisors; the PBC would run and control OpenAI’s operations and business; and the non-profit would hire leaders and staff and focus on charitable initiatives, per the post. “The PBC is a structure used by many others that requires the company to balance shareholder interests, stakeholder interests, and a public benefit interest in its decisionmaking,” the post said. “It will enable us to raise the necessary capital with conventional terms like others in this space.” It was reported Thursday (Dec. 26) that OpenAI and its largest investor, Microsoft , have been in talks since October about how to restructure the AI firm . In September, it was reported that OpenAI planned to restructure its core business into a for-profit benefit corporation , with the OpenAI non-profit owning a minority stake. The restructuring would make the company more attractive to investors, as it would operate more like a typical startup, the report said.

A year of political U-turns and power plays

Distribution Dates and Amounts Announced for Certain BlackRock Closed-End FundsRussian ASML employee suspected of stealing trade secrets; Banned from NL for 20 years

By DAVID A. LIEB Artificial intelligence. Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. Minimum wages. Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another. Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges. Here’s a look at some of the most notable state laws taking effect: California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use. Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so. New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges. Related Articles National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February. A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, has filed a challenge. Several new California measures aimed at combating political deepfakes are also being challenged, including one requiring large social media platforms to remove deceptive content related to elections and another allowing any individual to sue for damages over the use of AI to create fabricated images or videos in political ads . In a first nationally, California will start enforcing a law prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require staff to notify parents if their children change their gender identification . The law was a priority for Democratic lawmakers who wanted to halt such policies passed by several districts. Many states have passed laws limiting or protecting abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to the procedure in 2022. One of the latest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A law there will require the state employee health plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cover abortions with no deductible , copayments or other cost-sharing requirements. A new Minnesota law prohibits guns with “binary triggers” that allow for more rapid fire, causing a weapon to fire one round when the trigger is pulled and another when it is released. In Delaware, a law adds colleges and universities to a list of school zones where guns are prohibited, with exceptions for those working in their official capacity such as law officers and commissioned security guards. Kentucky is becoming the latest state to let people use marijuana for medical purposes . To apply for a state medical cannabis card, people must get written certification from a medical provider of a qualifying condition, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana. Minimum wage workers in more than 20 states are due to receive raises in January. The highest minimum wages will be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which will top $16 an hour after modest increases. The largest increases are scheduled in Delaware, where the minimum wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, where a ballot measure approved by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the current minimum of $12 an hour. Twenty other states still follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. In Oregon, using drugs on public transit will be considered a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. While the measure worked its way through the legislature, multiple transportation officials said drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers feel less safe. In Missouri, law enforcement officers have spent the past 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is illegal. Starting with the new year, penalties will kick in: a $150 fine for the first violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and up to 15 years imprisonment if a driver using a cellphone cause an injury or death. But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law. Montana is the only state that hasn’t banned texting while driving , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Tenants in Arizona will no longer have to pay tax on their monthly rent , thanks to the repeal of a law that had allowed cities and towns to impose such taxes. While a victory for renters, the new law is a financial loss for governments. An analysis by Arizona’s nonpartisan Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimated that $230 million would be lost in municipal tax revenue during the first full fiscal year of implementation. Meanwhile Alabama will offer tax credits to businesses that help employees with child care costs. Kansas is eliminating its 2% sales tax on groceries. It also is cutting individual income taxes by dropping the top tax rate, increasing a credit for child care expenses and exempting all Social Security income from taxes, among other things. Taxpayers are expected to save about $320 million a year going forward. An Oklahoma law expands voting privileges to people who have been convicted of felonies but had their sentences discharged or commuted, including commutations for crimes that have been reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Young, an Oklahoma City Democrat, carried the bill in the Senate. “I think it’s very important that people who have gone through trials and tribulations in their life, that we have a system that brings them back and allows them to participate as contributing citizens,” Young said. Associated Press writers Trân Nguyễn in Sacramento, California; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky; Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon; Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri; Gabriel Sandoval in Phoenix; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed.Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh died at AIIMS Delhi on Thursday evening. He breathed his last at 9:51 pm at the age of 92. This came hours after he was admitted to the emergency department of the hospital. The veteran leader, who had faced health issues in the past, was taken to the hospital for urgent medical attention. The news of his demise was first confirmed by Robert Vadra who posted it on social media. Later, a medical bulletin was also released by AIIMS, confirming Singh's (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); death. Dr Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha in April this year, marking the conclusion of a distinguished parliamentary career. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had lauded Singh's contributions and outlined his key role in shaping modern India's economic landscape. As the finance minister in the PV Narasimha Rao-led government from 1991-1996, Singh spearheaded transformative economic reforms, steering India away from socialist-era policies toward a liberalized economy.

The Year Villainy Won

Jalen Hurts out for Eagles, former Steeler Kenny Pickett to start Sunday vs. CowboysBy MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and host Charlotte Hornets couldn't look much different going into Saturday night's contest. The Thunder have won four games in a row since falling to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup championship. "It's the extra plays that put you over the edge," Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. "We know that. We have a bunch of players that are hungry to do that." The Thunder had a huge second half to overcome host Indiana for a 120-114 victory Thursday, sparked by Gilgeous-Alexander's career-high-tying 45 points. Nine of his points came in the final minute, including a clutch 3-pointer. "That's what the work is about," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It went in because I took the shot. I'd like to think I've grown a bit. Trusting my work. It's about continuing to push forward." Gilgeous-Alexander has led the Thunder in scoring in seven of the last eight games, including back-to-back 40-plus-point performances. His latest outing might have been one of his best. "That was a masterpiece," Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. "He just had total control." Gilgeous-Alexander has taken his scoring average to 31.1 points per game, ranking second in the league. Charlotte guard LaMelo Ball is fourth at 30.1. Charlotte has dropped six consecutive games and 14 of 15. The latest struggles for the Hornets came with Thursday's 113-110 loss at Washington, which has fewer victories than seven-win Charlotte. "We're going through a little bit of adversity right now, and I think this group is banding together," Hornets coach Charles Lee said. "They're competing harder and learning how to get through it. I have total faith that we will continue to push through and keep getting better every day." Either Miles Bridges or Ball has been Charlotte's top scorer in four of the last five games. Ball has eclipsed the 30-point mark twice since returning to action from an injury. The Hornets figure to be regaining some of their post presence with Mark Williams and Nick Richards both in action. Yet Bridges is picking up much of the rebounding slack, leading Charlotte on the boards in three of the past five games. Williams has played in eight games -- all losses -- since missing all of October and November while coming back from an injury. His 16-point outing on 8-for-11 shooting in 26 minutes at Washington might be reason for encouragement. Richards' role has been reduced as he has played no more than 17 minutes in five of his last six outings. The Hornets seem to have swingman Brandon Miller back in the regular rotation. He posted 18 points in 36 minutes at Washington, where he was 6-for-21 from the field. "Defensively, he'll give us a boost," Lee said. "Offensively, with his ability to shoot. ... I think he's one of the better catch-and-shoot players on our team and he's always able to create and play-make for other guys." Miller has played only three games in the past 2 1/2 weeks, shooting a combined 9-for-34 on 3-pointers in those outings. Four of Oklahoma City's last six opponents have failed to reach the 100-point mark. The Hornets have scored more than 110 points in only one of their last six games. --Field Level MediaHello! I’m Mark Olsen . Welcome to another edition of your regular field guide to a world of Only Good Movies. I recently had the pleasure of moderating this year’s Envelope Directors Roundtable with the knockout lineup of Edward Berger (“Conclave”), Brady Corbet (“The Brutalist”), Coralie Fargeat (“The Substance”), James Mangold (“A Complete Unknown”), Denis Villeneuve (“Dune: Part Two”) and Malcolm Washington (“The Piano Lesson”). The full video will broadcast on Spectrum and be available on YouTube later today. From our edited print transcript , the group began talking about what they can compromise on and what they cannot. Villeneuve and Fargeat said that, within the confines of their budget and logistics, they have an attitude of no compromise, as often as possible. As Fargeat said, “Everybody sometimes wants to try and change it and make a difference. It’s my job to keep it the way I had invented in my head.” Conversely, Berger noted that the vaping cardinal in “Conclave,” which has now become a meme and a fan favorite, wasn’t in the script, but was a response to the actor on set in his costume vaping between takes. Mangold, director of “A Complete Unknown,” said, “We all make plans before we start. But then the secret, at least in my experience — the work I’m most proud of is where I adapt. It’s not about compromise, but it’s that the world, the actor, in that moment, the weather, the location, the schedule, something within the very real confines that Denis was talking about comes up against your vision. ... The reality is how we adapt to the s— that happens, good and bad, which isn’t about compromise, but it’s about being alive.” A holiday harvest of new releases This holiday season has brought us a terrific bounty of films to round out our end-of-year moviegoing, with “Babygirl,” “The Fire Inside,” “A Complete Unknown” and “Nosferatu” all landing in theaters this week. (And that’s not even mentioning the see-it-to-believe-it “Better Man,” a biopic about British pop star Robbie Williams, portrayed by a CGI chimp.) Seeing all four of these movies in one day might be a stretch, but it would be doable to see at least three, or maybe break them up into two days of double features. I think I personally would suggest the order they land below for the best mix of genres and moods. If anyone thinks there is a better approach to this lineup, let me know. ‘Babygirl’ Written and directed by Halina Reijn, “Babygirl” stars Nicole Kidman as a Manhattan CEO who finds herself drawn into a submissive relationship with Samuel (Harris Dickinson), a strangely dominating new intern at her company. The film becomes an exploration of power dynamics and personal identity cloaked as an erotic thriller with a dash of corporate intrigue. In Amy Nicholson’s review , she noted, “Eight years into the #MeToo movement, our reaction to the plot could fall anywhere on a spectrum between ‘Yaaaas queen’ to ‘How hypocritical!’ ... Both know their affair is happening in a cultural minefield where the trip wires are economic, professional and generational. And nowadays, the intern recognizes his boss has the most to lose.” Amy added, “The smartest choice the film makes is that Samuel isn’t some “Fifty Shades of Grey” BDSM mastermind. He learns to control as she learns to submit. Their shared adventure plays out like two people learning to juggle while staring into each other’s eyes. Sometimes, it’s clumsy. Their first tryst starts off like a bad porno with Samuel and Romy improvising a script that feels phony even to them. They have to break the scene and start again, with Samuel trying to making Romy eat candy from his hand. She pauses. He’s frustrated. ‘Can you just try it?’ he asks. The whole movie hinges on that awkward moment. Right there, Reijn decides that the strongest foundation for all of our species’ sex angst is simply consent. Forget right or wrong. ‘Babygirl’s’ key question is yes or no.” Emily Zemler spoke to Dickinson , who explained how the sense of discovery in the movie is something he felt while making it as well. “I was fascinated by the writing and the character because I didn’t really know what I would do with it,” Dickinson said. “It scared me a little bit, in the sense of ‘I don’t know how exactly best to do this in a way that’s going to elevate the rest of the story.’ But I guess that’s why it eventually led me to do it.” Certified sex educator Laura Ramadei wrote about the film’s depiction of kink , noting, “‘Babygirl’ appears to understand a common reality behind the kink: Many accomplished, strong women (and men) want to turn their brains off and fully submit to the right Dom. It also highlights a common limitation — that for skillful domination, emotional intelligence is equally, if not more, important than physical talent. The film also understands the power of unlocking such a dynamic, without being gratuitous about the visual details.” ‘The Fire Inside’ Directed by Rachel Morrison from a screenplay by Barry Jenkins, “The Fire Inside” is based on the true story of Claressa Shields, who won back-to-back Olympic gold medals in women’s boxing. But the story isn’t a typical tale of sports triumph, instead paying attention to what happens — and doesn’t happen — to Shields (Ryan Destiny) and her coach (Brian Tyree Henry) after she wins her first gold. As Robert Abele put it in his review , “‘The Fire Inside’ is no pity party about a system’s inequality, and the movie’s refusal to paint anyone in Claressa’s life as simply an impediment or an ally is another sign of the movie’s welcome (and very Jenkins-esque) emotional intelligence. And while the boxing is kinetically directed, Morrison grasps that the movie’s fiercest stands are taken outside the ring, when Claressa — faced with tough choices about her future — asserts herself to the people who need to hear it. That spin on an ever-roiling motivation to win, even when the bout is over, is what sets ‘The Fire Inside’ apart from so many others of its ilk.” For The Envelope podcast , I spoke to Destiny about the role and what it means to bring Shields’ story to a broader audience. “The first time that I watched the movie, I was looking for different things that I kind of wanted to do better,” Destiny recalls. “I was just nitpicking myself. The second time it really hit me how incredible her story is and how much this means to people and to her and how much it’s needed. Her story is so inspiring and incredible, and I literally cried because it really touched me in a way that made me see it from a different standpoint and see the bigger picture of what it’s really about.” ‘A Complete Unknown’ Directed by James Mangold from a screenplay by Mangold and Jay Cocks (adapting Elijah Wald’s book, “Dylan Goes Electric!”) “A Complete Unknown” tells the story of a young Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) as he arrives in New York City in 1961, continuing through to his legendary performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. But it also very much tells the story of the people around Dylan, including his girlfriend Sylvie (Elle Fanning), singer and paramour Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) and folk singer Pete Seeger (Edward Norton). Reviewing the film, Joshua Rothkopf wrote , “Superfans aren’t necessarily going to love this. It’s a movie made with affection, but also with the wisdom that visionaries can sometimes be jerks. Then again, their hero won’t get a fairer shake than in ‘A Complete Unknown,’ which presents the tunes vividly (classic after classic, all of them sung live by the cast) while keeping things neatly chronological among the four or so years that any biopic interested in Dylan’s artistic arrival would have to cover, from his penniless 1961 arrival in New York through his 1965 rebellion at the Newport Folk Festival. ... [Mangold and Cocks] have landed on a counterintuitive but brilliant organizing principle, one that no great-man biopic has, to my mind, ever tried. In order for this dream to happen, that is, in order for Dylan to become Dylan , a lot of other people’s dreams had to die.” Esther Zuckerman spoke to Fanning , whose character of Sylvie Russo is based on Suze Rotolo , the character’s name reportedly changed at the behest of Dylan himself. The singer’s involvement had an impact on Fanning’s performance, she said. “I was always aware that Bob Dylan himself wanted her name changed and that was the one character that he was very precious about,” Fanning said. “Knowing that, I just felt kind of this subconscious weight to want to do justice to what they had.” ‘Nosferatu’ Written and directed by Robert Eggers, “Nosferatu” is the filmmaker’s adaptation of the 1922 silent horror classic originally mounted by director F.W. Murnau and since remade by Werner Herzog and, to an extent, E. Elias Merhige with 2000’s “Shadow of the Vampire.” In this telling, young Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) is dispatched to a remote castle to finalize the paperwork on a property purchase by the mysterious Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård). Hutter is unaware of the supernatural bond the Count has with his wife, Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), who has been suffering from an unknown condition. For The Times, Katie Walsh wrote , “Eggers’ version isn’t a ‘take’ on ‘Nosferatu’ so much as it is an overly faithful retelling, so indebted to its inspiration that it’s utterly hamstrung by its own reverence. If ‘Shadow of the Vampire’ was a playful spin, Eggers’ ‘Nosferatu’ is an utterly straight-faced and interminably dull retread of the 1922 original. It’s the exact same movie, just with more explicit violence and sex. And while Eggers loves to pay tribute to styles and forms of cinema history in his work, the sexual politics of his remake feel at least 100 years old. ... The film is a feat of maximalist and moody production design and cinematography, but the tedious and overwrought script renders every character two-dimensional, despite the effortful acting and teary pronunciations.” Kenneth Turan spoke to Eggers , who talked about the intensely detailed research and production work that he has become notorious for in films such as “The Witch ” and “The Northman.” As Eggers said, “I personally enjoy the act of research and while I get tired of beating the drum for historical accuracy, I do believe an accumulation of details grounds and transports an audience, makes it easier for them to believe the metaphysical stuff in the film.” Points of interest Kathryn Bigelow’s ‘Strange Days’ To launch its new series “Cyberpunk: Envisioning Possible Futures Through Cinema” and exhibition of the same name, the Academy Museum will be screening Kathryn Bigelow’s 1995 “Strange Days” on 35mm. Seeing this movie, arguably Bigelow’s best, big and loud in the academy’s huge David Geffen theater should be a dazzling experience. With a climax set around a massive New Year’s Eve party in downtown Los Angeles, the film is set on the cusp of the year 2000, then five years away. (The film’s screenplay was written by James Cameron and “A Complete Unknown’s” co-writer Jay Cocks.) Ralph Feinnes plays Lenny Nero, a former LAPD officer who traffics in underground videos that presage virtual reality. When a tape of the murder of a popular rapper threatens to implicate the LAPD and lands Lenny in danger, he turns to an old friend, Mace (Angela Bassett), for help. Playing Lenny’s former girlfriend, Juliette Lewis performs a couple of PJ Harvey songs onscreen in the film and is almost worth the price of admission alone. Reviewing the film at the time of its release, Kenneth Turan wrote , “Through it all, ‘Strange Days’ manages to be consistently loud, violent and sleazy, which is less of an accomplishment than it may sound.”In Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island, the Greek gods are queer and kind

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WASHINGTON — The House passed a $895 billion measure Wednesday that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military. The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization. The bill passed by a vote of 281-140 and next moves to the Senate, where lawmakers sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows. The Pentagon and the surrounding area is seen Jan. 26, 2020, from the air in Washington. Lawmakers are touting the bill's 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term. Lawmakers said service member pay failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing. "No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that's exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted," said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. "This bill goes a long way to fixing that." The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023 agreement that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation's borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators wanted to increase defense spending about $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a "tremendous loss for our national defense," though he agreed with many provisions in the bill. "We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it," Wicker said. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks with reporters Nov. 21 on Capitol Hill in Washington. House Republicans don't want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many nondefense programs. They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a "very real problem." He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, proved effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. "These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives," Smith said. "And in this bill, we decided we're going to bar service members' children from having access to that." Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson's office insisted on the ban and said the provision "taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation." Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, "I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates." Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, "and yet, here it is in this bill." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., responds to reporters Dec. 6 during his weekly news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team did not tell Democrats how to vote on the bill. "There's a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well," Jeffries said. The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration requested about $10 billion. On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas. The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January. Rising threats from debt collectors against members of the U.S. armed forces are undermining national security, according to data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal watchdog that protects consumer rights. To manage the impact of financial stress on individual performance, the Defense Department dedicates precious resources to improving financial literacy, so service members know the dangers of notorious no-credit-check loans. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities,” said Andrew Cohen, the director of financial readiness in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. But debt collectors are gaining ground. Last quarter, debt collection complaints by U.S. military service members increased 24% , and attempts to collect on “debts not owed” surged 40%. Complaints by service members against debt collectors for deceptive practices ballooned from 1,360 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 1,833 in the first quarter of 2024. “There’s a connection between the financial readiness and the readiness of a service member to perform their duty,” said Jim Rice, Assistant Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Laws exist to protect the mission readiness of U.S. troops from being compromised by threats and intimidation, but debt collectors appear to be violating them at an alarming pace. “If they’re threatening to call your commander or get your security clearance revoked, that’s illegal,” says Deborah Olvera, financial readiness manager at Wounded Warriors Project, and a military spouse who’s been harassed herself by a collection agency that tried to extort money from her for a debt she didn’t owe. But after she requested the name of the original creditor, she never heard from them again. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities.” —Andrew Cohen, Director of Financial Readiness at the Pentagon Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it’s illegal for debt collectors to threaten to contact your boss or have you arrested because it violates your financial privacy. The FDCPA also prohibits debt collectors from making false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt, even for borrowers with bad credit scores. But according to the data, debt collectors are increasingly ignoring those rules. “Debt collection continues to be one of the top consumer complaint categories,” said a spokesperson at the Federal Trade Commission. The commission released a report earlier this year revealing that consumers were scammed $10 billion in 2023, a new benchmark for fraud losses. In his book Debt: The First 5,000 Years, David Graeber argues that debt often creates a relationship that can feel more oppressive than systems of hierarchy, like slavery or caste systems because it starts by presuming equality between the debtor and the creditor. When the debtor falls into arrears, that equality is then destroyed. This sense of betrayal and the subsequent imbalance of power leads to widespread resentment toward lenders. Photo Credit: Olena Yakobchuk / Shutterstock The debt collector reportedly harassing military service members most was Resurgent Capital Services, a subsidiary of collection giant Sherman Financial Group. The company tacks on accrued interest and junk fees and tries to collect on debts purchased for pennies on the dollar from cable companies, hospitals, and credit card companies, among others. Sherman Financial Group is run by billionaire Benjamin Navarro, who has a reported net worth of $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. Sherman Financial also owns subprime lender Credit One Bank and LVNV Funding, which outsource collections to Resurgent Capital. According to CFPB data, the second worst offender is CL Holdings, the parent company of debt-buyer Jefferson Capital Systems. The company has also been named in numerous complaints to the Better Business Bureau for alleged violations of the FDCPA, such as failing to properly validate debts or update credit reports with accurate information. Under the leadership of CEO David Burton, Jefferson Capital Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CompuCredit Corporation, which markets subprime credit cards under the names Aspire, Majestic, and others. The third most referenced debt collector is publicly traded Portfolio Recovery Associates [NASDAQ: PRAA], which was forced to pay $27 million in penalties for making false representations about debts, initiating lawsuits without proper documentation, and other violations. Portfolio Recovery Associates is run by CEO Vikram Atal. Fourth place for alleged worst offender goes to Encore Capital Group [NASDAQ ECPG], which was required to pay $42 million in consumer refunds and a $10 million penalty for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Encore collects under its subsidiary Midland Credit Management Group. These debt collectors all operate under a veritable shell game of company and brand names, almost none of which are disclosed on their websites, sending consumers on a wild goose chase to try and figure out how they’re related to each other. But despite their attempts to hide their tracks behind a smoke screen of subsidiaries, a leopard can’t change its spots, and the CFPB complaint database makes it harder for them to try. Photo Credit: Bumble Dee / Shutterstock Although widely considered a consumer-friendly state, complaints spiked most in California, which saw a 188% increase in complaints filed from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. California is home to 157,367 military personnel, making it the most populous state for active-duty service members. The second-largest increase in debt collection complaints was in Texas, which saw a 66% jump from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. The U.S. Department of Defense reports 111,005 service members stationed in the Lone Star State, which is the third-most populous state for active-duty military. The rising trends do not correlate to the number of military personnel by state. Complaints against debt collectors in Virginia, the second most populous state with 126,145 active duty personnel, decreased by 29% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. And complaints filed quarter-over-quarter in North Carolina, the fifth most populous state with 91,077 military personnel, decreased by 3% in the same period. The third largest percentage increase in debt collection complaints was from service members stationed in Maryland, where alleged harassment reports jumped 112% from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. Maryland ranks number 12 with just 28,059 active duty service members. Fourth place goes to Ohio – the 28th most populous active-duty state – where complaints doubled, followed by Arizona – the 15th most populous military state – where complaints were up 70% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. Photo Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock In 2007, Congress passed the Military Lending Act to cap the cost of credit to a 36% annual percentage rate, inclusive of junk fees and late charges, for active duty military service members. That rate is still considerably higher than average credit card rates, which range from 8% for borrowers with excellent credit scores to as high as 36% for borrowers with bad credit. But lenders still get hauled into court for violating the MLA. Don Hankey, the billionaire subprime auto lender who funded Donald Trump’s $175 million appeal bond , is among those violators. His company, Westlake Financial, which markets high-interest car loans for bad credit, has been sued twice by the Department of Justice for harassing military service members. In 2017, the DoJ alleged Hankey’s Westlake Financial illegally repossessed at least 70 vehicles owned by military service members. Westlake Financial paid $700,000 to settle the charges. In 2022, Westlake Financial paid $250,000 for allegedly cheating U.S. troops out of interest rates they were legally entitled to. Westlake Financial continues to receive complaints from military service members alleging abusive debt collection practices on its no-credit-check loans. A steady year-over-year increase in the number of complaints filed against Westlake Financial continued from 2020 to 2023. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data shows a 13% increase in the number of complaints against the company from 2020 to 2021, a 28% increase from 2021 to 2022, and a torrential 119% surge from 2022 to 2023. The numbers suggest systemic complaint-handling processes and inadequate customer service resources. Photo Credit: Cynthia Shirk / Shutterstock On May 16, 2024, a deceptively named predatory lending industry front group dubbed the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) lost a legal attempt to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In an effort to deprive Americans of essential consumer protections, the lobby group argued that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure was unconstitutional. But the Supreme Court denied its claim. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court held that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure is indeed constitutional. That means the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cannot be defunded, but it does not mean the agency cannot be defanged. The New York Times suggested that Hankey’s incentive to finance Trump’s $175 million bond could have been a reciprocity pledge to neuter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election. If Trump wins a second term, he could replace Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit Chopra, an American consumer advocate, with a predatory lending advocate. In 2020, the Trump Administration secured a Supreme Court ruling that made it easier for the president to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The ruling struck down previous restrictions on when a president can fire the bureau’s director. Like other federal agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also been confronted for overstepping its bounds, pushing too far, and acting unfairly against entities it regulates. Photo Credit: Lux Blue / Shutterstock Seasonality and rising interest rates do not explain the increase in debt collection complaints from service members. The surge in complaints is not tied to predictable seasonal fluctuations or changes in interest rates. The increase in debt collection complaints by service members may point to underlying systemic issues, such as aggressive and predatory debt collection practices that exploit the unique financial vulnerabilities of service members, who face frequent relocations and deployments. Debt Complaints by Service Members The 24% spike in debt collection complaints exhibits no correlation to fluctuations in interest rates. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Pandemic stimulus checks were also not a factor. COVID-19 relief benefit checks went through three major rounds during the pandemic. The final round of Economic Impact Payments went out in March 2021 . To better understand the rising trend of debt collection complaints, we calculated the increase in the total number of complaints and the percentage increase quarter-over-quarter. For example, New Jersey has the second largest percentage increase in complaints quarter-over-quarter, but the total number of complaints increased by just 16. The data for this study was sourced from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint database. The dataset specifically targeted complaints filed by U.S. military service members, identified using the tag “Servicemember” within Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. Readers can find the detailed research methodology underlying this news story in the accompanying section here . For complete results, see U.S. Troops Face Mounting Threats from Predatory Debt Collectors on BadCredit.org . Homelessness reached record levels in 2023, as rents and home prices continued to rise in most of the U.S. One group was particularly impacted: people who have served in the U.S. military. "This time last year, we knew the nation was facing a deadly public health crisis," Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said in a statement about the 2023 numbers. He said the latest homelessness estimates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development "confirms the depth of the crisis." At least 35,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness in 2023, according to HUD. While that's about half of what it was in 2009—when the organization began collecting data—things have plateaued in recent years despite active efforts to get that number to zero. Although they make up just 6.6% of the total homeless population, veterans are more likely to be at risk of homelessness than Americans overall. Of every 10,000 Americans, 20 were experiencing homelessness. Of veterans living in the United States, that number jumps to 22, HUD data shows. Complicated by bureaucracy, family dynamics, and prejudice, the path from serving in the military to homelessness is a long one. According to a 2022 study by Yale School of Medicine researchers, homelessness typically occurs within four years of leaving the military, as veterans must contend with the harsh reality of finding a job in a world where employers struggle to see how skills on the battlefield transfer to a corporate environment. These days, veterans also deal with historically high rent and home prices, which causes many to rely on family generosity while figuring out a game plan. Stacker examined academic studies, analyzed government data, and spoke with members of the Biden administration, experts, and former members of the armed forces to see the struggles members of the military face when leaving the armed forces. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers transition assistance to the roughly 250,000 service members who leave each year. However, those programs can be burdensome and complex to navigate, especially for those who don't have a plan for post-military life. Only a small portion of veterans have jobs lined up when they leave, according to 2019 Pew Research. Many also choose to live with relatives until they get on their feet, which can be longer than anticipated. Some former service members are unsure what kind of career they'd like to pursue and may have to get further education or training, Carl Castro, director of the Military and Veteran Programs at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California, told Stacker. "It takes years for that kind of transition," Castro said. Many have trouble finding a job after leaving the service, even if they are qualified. Some employers carry misconceptions about those who have served. A 2020 analysis from the journal Human Resource Management Review found that some veterans face hiring discrimination due to negative stereotypes that lead hiring managers to write them off as a poor culture fit. Underemployment, or working low-wage jobs below their skill level, is also an issue. While the unemployment rate for veterans was 3% in March 2024, a study released by Penn State at the end of 2023 found three years after leaving the service, 61% of veterans said they were underemployed because of perceived skill mismatches . This phenomenon can have long-term economic effects, and eventually, that frustration can boil over, strain relationships, and potentially lead to housing instability. Working, especially a low-wage job, is not protection against homelessness. A 2021 study from the University of Chicago found half of people living in homeless shelters and 2 in 5 unsheltered people were employed, full or part-time. High rents make it difficult to save up, even when applying for a VA loan—a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that typically has more favorable terms. While the VA does not require a downpayment, some lenders, who ultimately provide the loan, do. They're not entirely risk-free either, and veterans can still lose their homes if they are unable to keep up with their mortgages. In November 2023, the VA put a six-month pause on foreclosures when an NPR investigation found thousands of veterans were in danger of losing their homes after a COVID forbearance program ended. Biden officials pointed to high rents and the end of COVID-era housing restrictions like eviction moratoriums to explain the spike in Americans experiencing homelessness. In the last year, homelessness rose 12%—to more than 650,000 people—the highest level since data began being collected in 2007. Overall, more than half of people experiencing homelessness in 2023 live in states with high living costs. Most were in California, followed by New York and Florida. Western states, including Montana and Utah, experienced massive population growth during the pandemic, becoming hubs for remote workers who drove home prices and rents even further. For veterans, housing costs certainly play a role, but those who leave the military also face systemic barriers. "It's worrying there are people that continue to fall through the cracks," said Jeanette Yih Harvie, a research associate at Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Just under a quarter of adults experiencing homelessness have a severe mental illness , according to 2022 HUD survey data. They are also likely to have chronic illnesses but are unable to maintain preventative care, which only exacerbates these problems. Veterans facing homelessness are more likely to have experienced trauma , either before or after joining the military, according to Yale researchers who analyzed the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Childhood trauma was among the most significant commonalities among vets who become homeless. Substance use disorder is also widespread and can indicate an undiagnosed mental illness . Racial and ethnic disparities are at play, too. A 2023 study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research showed that Hispanic and Black veterans were more likely to screen positive for PTSD, and Hispanic veterans were more likely to report having suicidal ideation. Overall, access to mental health care has improved in the last decade or so. In December 2023, the VA announced it would open nine additional counseling centers. However, the stigma of getting help remains, especially after years of being conditioned to be self-reliant and pull oneself up by their bootstraps. That help, in the form of public policy, is slowly working to catch up to the need. In 2023, the Biden administration invested millions into research programs and studies on suicide prevention by the VA office in addition to a proposed $16 billion to improve quality and lower-cost mental health care services for veterans. And, in February of this year, HUD and the VA announced they would give up to $14 million in vouchers to public housing agencies for veterans experiencing homelessness. The program would also offer case management and other services. Still, with a culture that pushes people to keep going, it can be challenging for servicemembers to take advantage of these opportunities, Harvie said. "When you've been doing that for the last 15 or 20 years, it's difficult to stop and say, 'I'm the person that needs help.'" Story editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

Joe Rogan doubts McGregor will return to the Octagon Is the UFC’s biggest star done with fighting? Joe Rogan seems to think so. Speaking recently, the seasoned UFC commentator shared his belief that Conor McGregor may never make his long-awaited return to the octagon. “I don’t know if Conor’s ever going to fight again,” Rogan said. “The reality is, that guy’s partying, and he’s partying real hard.” Most Read on Euro Weekly News Richard Gere on living in Spain: A love story with no complaints Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are engaged Cristiano Ronaldo’s €70 Million Flying Palace: A Look Inside His new private jet McGregor, who hasn’t competed since his devastating leg injury in 2021, has been teasing a comeback for months. But Rogan is sceptical, suggesting that the lifestyle McGregor leads now might not be compatible with a serious return to the cage. Factors inhdering Conor McGregor’s UFC return McGregor has always been known for his larger-than-life personality, but Rogan hinted that his current lifestyle might be one of the reasons he’s stayed out of the sport for so long. The Party Scene: Rogan pointed out that McGregor has been indulging in the high life, which could be a distraction from his training and focus. Physical Recovery: After suffering a broken leg during his last fight, the road to recovery has been long and uncertain. Mental and Emotional Toll: Rogan also touched on the potential impact of repeated blows to the head, suggesting that the wear and tear of years in the octagon might have taken a toll on McGregor’s mental health. Despite McGregor’s reputation as a showman and fighter, Rogan isn’t convinced he has the same fire to compete as he did in his prime. Could McGregor prove everyone wrong? Fans remain divided. While some agree with Rogan’s assessment, others believe McGregor has another fight left in him. McGregor himself has done little to clarify his plans. He continues to post training clips and bold claims on social media, but he hasn’t re-entered the USADA testing pool—a necessary step for any UFC comeback. Whether or not McGregor steps back into the cage, there’s no denying his influence on the sport. As the first-ever simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history, his legacy is already cemented. But for now, Rogan’s comments have left fans wondering: is ‘The Notorious’ really done? Find more celebrity newsHighs and lows of 2024ASBT launches Fill a Forgotten Stocking program