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magic ocean okinawa american village My love of movie scoundrels has been sorely tested this year. When I was young, I daydreamed of exotic heists, slick con artists and lovable crooks I’d seen on screen. For most of my moviegoing life, I’ve been a sucker for larceny done well. Most of us are, probably. But now it’s late 2024. Mood is wrong. In the real world, in America, it’s scoundrel time all the time. Maybe Charles Dickens was right. In “American Notes for General Circulation” (1842), the English literary superstar chronicled his travels and detected a widespread, peculiarly American “love of ‘smart’ dealing” across the land. In business and in politics, Dickens observed, slavish admiration of the con men among them “gilds over many a swindle and gross breach of trust.” And here we are. It’ll pass, this scoundrel reprieve of mine. In fact it just did. All it took was thinking about the conspicuous, roguish outlier on my best-of-2024 list: “Challengers.” It’s what this year needed and didn’t know it: a tricky story of lying, duplicitous weasels on and off the court. The best films this year showed me things I hadn’t seen, following familiar character dynamics into fresh territory. Some were more visually distinctive than others; all made eloquent cases for how, and where, their stories unfolded. “All We Imagine as Light,” recently at the Gene Siskel Film Center, works like a poem, or a sustained exhalation of breath, in its simply designed narrative of three Mumbai hospital workers. Fluid, subtly political, filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s achievement is very nearly perfect. So is cowriter-director RaMell Ross’ adaptation of the Colson Whitehead novel “The Nickel Boys,” arriving in Chicago-area theaters on Jan. 3, 2025. “Nickel Boys,” the film, loses the “the” in Whitehead’s title but gains an astonishingly realized visual perspective. If Ross never makes another movie, he’ll have an American masterpiece to his credit. The following top 10 movies of 2024 are in alphabetical order. “All We Imagine as Light” Both a mosaic of urban ebb and flow, and a delicate revelation of character, director and writer Payal Kapadia’s Mumbai story is hypnotic, patient and in its more traditional story progression, a second feature every bit as good as Kapadia’s first, 2021’s “A Night of Knowing Nothing.” “Anora” Mikey Madison gives one of the year’s funniest, saddest, truest performances as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who takes a shine to the gangly son of a Russian oligarch, and he to her. Their transactional courtship and dizzying Vegas marriage, followed by violently escalating complications, add up to filmmaker Sean Baker’s triumph, capped by an ending full of exquisite mysteries of the human heart. “The Brutalist” As played by Adrien Brody, the title character is a visionary architect and Hungarian Jewish emigre arriving in America in 1947 after the Holocaust. (That said, the title refers to more than one character.) His patron, and his nemesis, is the Philadelphia blueblood industrialist played by Guy Pearce. Director/co-writer Brady Corbet’s thrillingly ambitious epic, imperfect but loaded with rewarding risks, was shot mostly in widescreen VistaVision. Worth seeing on the biggest screen you can find. Opens in Chicago-area theaters on Jan. 10, 2025. “Challengers” Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor play games with each other, on the tennis court and in beds, while director Luca Guadagnino builds to a match-point climax that can’t possibly work, and doesn’t quite — but I saw the thing twice anyway. “Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World” In Bucharest, production assistant Angela zigzags around the city interviewing people for her employer’s workplace safety video. If that sounds less than promising, even for a deadpan Romanian slice-of-life tragicomedy, go ahead and make the mistake of skipping this one. llinca Manolache is terrific as Angela. “Green Border” Like “Do Not Expect Too Much,” director Agnieszka Holland’s harrowing slice of recent history was a 2023 release, making it to Chicago in early 2024. Set along the densely forested Poland/Belarus border, this is a model of well-dramatized fiction honoring what refugees have always known: the fully justified, ever-present fear of the unknown. “Janet Planet” A quiet marvel of a feature debut from writer-director Annie Baker, this is a mother/daughter tale rich in ambiguities and wry humor, set in a lovely, slightly forlorn corner of rural Massachusetts. Julianne Nicholson, never better; Zoe Ziegler as young, hawk-eyed Lacy, equally memorable. “My Old Ass” I love this year’s nicest surprise. The premise: A teenager’s future 39-year-old self appears to her, magically, via a strong dose of mushrooms. The surprise: Writer-director Megan Park gradually deepens her scenario and sticks a powerfully emotional landing. Wonderful work from Aubrey Plaza, Maisy Stella, Maria Dizzia and everybody, really. “Nickel Boys” From the horrific true story of a Florida reform school and its decades of abuse, neglect and enraging injustice toward its Black residents, novelist Colson Whitehead’s fictionalized novel makes a remarkable jump to the screen thanks to co-writer/director RaMell Ross’s feature debut. “A Real Pain” Cousins, not as close as they once were, reunite for a Holocaust heritage tour in Poland and their own search for their late grandmother’s childhood home. They’re the rootless Benji (Kieran Culkin) and tightly sprung David (Jesse Eisenberg, who wrote and directed). Small but very sure, this movie’s themes of genocidal trauma and Jewish legacy support the narrative every step of the way. Culkin is marvelous; so is the perpetually undervalued Eisenberg. To the above, I’ll add 10 more runners-up, again in alphabetical order: “Blink Twice,” directed by Zoe Kravitz. “Conclave,” directed by Edward Berger. “Dune: Part Two ,” directed by Denis Villeneuve. “Good One ,” directed by India Donaldson. “Hit Man,” directed by Richard Linklater. “Joker: Folie a Deux,” directed by Todd Phillips. “Nosferatu,” directed by Robert Eggers, opens in Chicago-area theaters on Dec. 25. “The Outrun,” directed by Nora Fingscheidt. “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat,” directed by Johan Grimonprez. “Tuesday,” directed by Daina O. Pusić. Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.AP Business SummaryBrief at 12:31 p.m. ESTJayden Daniels rallies Commanders past Jalen Hurts-less Eagles

Amritsar: Recent violent incidents in Amritsar, including attacks on political figures and explosions near police stations, have raised concerns among security experts about potential unrest in Punjab. On Nov 24, police seized a suspicious bomb-like object outside Ajnala police station. It was followed by a bomb blast at an abandoned police post in Gurbaksh Nagar on Nov 29. This was followed by Wednesday’s attack on SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal . Just 13 hours later, a suspected explosion took place at the holy city’s Majithia police post. Amritsar and Tarn Taran had remained the epicentre of militancy during the 1980s and 1990s. “Is this not the commencement of something grave, perhaps even militancy? How else do militants operate? They have started functioning in a manner similar to the early 1980s, beginning with the murder of Lala Jagat Narayan on Sep 9, 1981,” said a retired police officer, who served across Punjab during the days of militancy. The failure of law and order in the border city of Amritsar, coupled with indifferent police and security agencies, posed a substantial risk to the state’s security, he said. “If authorities continue to neglect their responsibilities and are not decisive, consequences could be severe,” he added. He said the attacks on a police post and police station suggested a calculated attempt to undermine law enforcement and create an atmosphere of fear and instability. He said with a weakened SAD, traditional panthic (Sikh) segment of Punjab’s population was finding itself lacking a formidable leader, such as late Parkash Singh Badal or Gurcharan Singh Tohra. “Sukhbir has not been able to fill this leadership vacuum. On the other hand, SAD itself is not only weak, but also a divided house. This lack of cohesive leadership is paving the way for anti-national Khalistani elements to re-emerge,” he observed. According to panthic observers, Akalis have positioned themselves as defenders of Punjab’s interests, particularly in context of managing Sikh identity and autonomy. The surge in violence plays into this narrative, as the party might seek to project itself as the sole party capable of controlling the influence of anti-national elements in Punjab. We also published the following articles recently Man opens fire at SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal at Golden Temple in Amritsar A man fired shots at Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal at the Golden Temple entrance in Amritsar. Badal, performing seva due to a religious punishment, escaped unharmed. Police swiftly apprehended the shooter, Narayan Singh Chaura, but the motive remains unclear. 'Wash utensils, clean bathrooms': Why Sikh high priests have punished SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Punjab deputy CM, performed public penance at the Golden Temple after being declared guilty of religious misconduct. He carried a spear and wore a placard displaying Gurbani verses. The punishment, pronounced by Sikh high priests, relates to decisions made during SAD's rule from 2007-2017, including the handling of sacrilege incidents and pardoning Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Attack on former Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal shows rise of radical fringe A pro-Khalistan extremist attempted to assassinate Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal outside the Golden Temple. An alert police officer and a volunteer thwarted the attack, pushing the gunman's hand as he fired. Badal was unharmed. The incident highlights rising radical extremism within the Sikh diaspora, fueled by online propaganda and support from Pakistan-based terrorist groups. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

Ivory Smith's aunt Sharonda Collins joined 'Fox & Friends' to discuss the tragic loss of her niece as the family fights for justice and the legacy she left behind. A realtor in Georgia was killed in a suspected DUI crash that allegedly involved an underage illegal immigrant from Honduras who ran through a red light and struck the driver, going 100 miles per hour (mph). Police in Chamblee, Georgia, said that around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, 20-year-old Christian Fernando Irias-Ruiz ran through a red light, going 100 mph, and T-boned another car, killing the driver, according to local station WSB-TV. Family and friends identified the victim of the crash as 37-year-old Jimmy Chang, according to his social media and a GoFundMe page. A source told Fox News Digital that the suspect is an illegal immigrant from Honduras. He was arrested by the Border Patrol in South Texas around June 2021 and released. FAMILY DEMANDS ACTION AFTER 7-YEAR-OLD'S DEATH IN DUI CRASH INVOLVING MIGRANT WHO HAD PRIOR ARREST Jimmy Chang, 37, a Georgia realtor, died in a crash after police say an underage drunk driver ran a red light going 100 mph in Chamblee. (Jimmy Chang Facebook/FOX Atlanta) The source said ICE also placed a detainer with the DeKalb County jail. Irias-Ruiz faces multiple charges including homicide by vehicle in the first degree, DUI, reckless driving, speeding and possession of alcohol by someone under 21. Police told WSB-TV that Irias-Ruiz was also driving with no insurance, no license and a suspended registration. "It’s not going to bring my brother back, but hopefully justice will be served," Jason Chang, Jimmy Changs' brother, told WSB-TV. "We’re kind of at a loss of what to do now." Four people were taken to the hospital from injuries sustained in the crash, including Irias-Ruiz and two passengers in his vehicle and the other being the driver of a third car. HONDURAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED IN ALLEGED DUI CRASH THAT KILLED ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S RESPIRATORY THERAPIST The family of Georgia realtor, Jimmy Chang, is mourning his death after he was killed in a crash by a suspected DUI driver. (GoFundMe) "We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our beloved Jimmy. The unexpected passing of Jimmy has left us heartbroken," a post on a GoFundMe page reads. The Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) also confirmed Chang's passing and shared a tribute in his memory. "With profound sadness and heavy hearts, the AREAA Atlanta chapter BOD would like to share the news of the sudden passing of our Chapter President and dear friend, Jimmy Chang," the post read. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ALLEGEDLY KILLED MOTHER, SON IN DRUNK DRIVING CRASH DESPITE BEING DEPORTED 4 TIMES A beloved Georgia realtor was killed in a suspected DUI crash over the weekend – sources tell Fox News Digital the suspect that caused the crash was an illegal immigrant. (FOX Atlanta) "Since joining the AREAA Atlanta Chapter in 2017, Jimmy has been an integral part of our community, demonstrating unwavering kindness, dedication, and leadership - all in a style that is uniquely Jimmy." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Chang's brother told WSB-TV that their family is devastated and still in shock that their beloved Jimmy is gone. "It’s devastating for all the family right now, still can’t process that he’s gone. He impacted a lot of lives," Jason Chang said. Fox News Digital reached out to the Chamblee Police Department for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 5, 2024-- The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc. (Cboe CA: CBST) (OTCQX: CBSTF) (FSE: 3LP) (“The Cannabist Company” or the “Company”), one of the most experienced cultivators, manufacturers and retailers of cannabis products in the U.S., announced today the launch of its partnership with Flower by Edie Parker (the “Brand”), the leading female-founded and operated cannabis lifestyle brand, in Virginia and Colorado. The Cannabist Company launched Flower by Edie Parker’s premium products in the markets with the Brand’s best-selling ‘Petal Puffer’ all-in-one vape and vape cartridges. Next week, the Company will be launching Flower by Edie Parker’s cannabis infused edibles line, ‘Seedies’ in Colorado and New York, with additional markets launching in Q1 2025. The Cannabist Company plans to bring Flower by Edie Parker to Delaware in 2025. “Virginia and Colorado are ideal first markets for us to launch this partnership with Flower by Edie Parker. Brett and her team have created a brand that resonates with people in a truly unique way by normalizing cannabis consumption through the lens of fashion and culture,” said Jesse Channon, President, The Cannabist Company. “Our brand partnership model has enabled us to work with the most amazing partners and use our scaled retail and cultivation platforms to elevate these incredibly innovative and dynamic founders and their brands, while keeping the customer at the center of everything.” “We’re incredibly excited to kick off our partnership in the vibrant cannabis community in Virginia and Colorado,” said Brett Heyman, Founder and Creative Director of Flower by Edie Parker. “The Cannabist Company is the perfect partner for this next step in our journey, and we look forward to bringing Flower by Edie Parker to all ‘smokers with style’ in these new markets.” Flower by Edie Parker is now available in eleven states. The Brand’s smoking accessories and handbags are also available at select The Cannabist Company’s dispensaries across the US. To find the nearest Cannabist Company dispensary featuring this new partnership, visit https://cannabistcompany.com/locations . About The Cannabist Company (f/k/a Columbia Care) The Cannabist Company, formerly known as Columbia Care, is one of the most experienced cultivators, manufacturers and providers of cannabis products and related services, with licenses in 14 U.S. jurisdictions. The Company operates 91 facilities including 71 dispensaries and 20 cultivation and manufacturing facilities, including those under development and assuming the closure of announced divesture transactions. Columbia Care, now The Cannabist Company, is one of the original multi-state providers of cannabis in the U.S. and now delivers industry-leading products and services to both the medical and adult-use markets. In 2021, the Company launched Cannabist, its retail brand, creating a national dispensary network that leverages proprietary technology platforms. The company offers products spanning flower, edibles, oils and tablets, and manufactures popular brands including Seed & Strain, Triple Seven, Hedy, gLeaf, Classix, Press, and Amber. For more information, please visit www.cannabistcompany.com . About Flower by Edie Parker Flower by Edie Parker, the leading female-founded and female-operated cannabis lifestyle brand, ushers in a new generation of cannabis consumers with an irreverent and bold collection of design-forward accessories and cannabis accouterments. Merging the worlds of fashion and cannabis, Flower by Edie Parker continues to break barriers and de-stigmatize the use of the plant. Priced from $8 to $800, Flower by Edie Parker's accessory collection features gorgeous acrylic, ceramic and hand blown glass accessories and a distinctly canna-friendly take on their signature acrylic bags. Since launching in 2019, Flower by Edie Parker & The Edie Parker Foundation aim to help those, primarily women and children, whose lives have been affected by low level drug offenses. Partner organizations include and have included the Women's Prison Association, The Bail Project, The Last Prisoner Project, Feeding America, City Meals on Wheels & more. Visit www.edie-parker.com , edieparkerflower.com or @EdieParkerFlower Instagram for more information. Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements that constitute “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws and reflect the Company’s current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking statements or information contained in this release include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to the Company’s ability to execute on retail, wholesale, brand and product initiatives. These forward-looking statements or information, which although considered reasonable by the Company, may prove to be incorrect and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking information. In addition, security holders should review the risk factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in Columbia Care’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory authorities and described from time to time in subsequent documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241205217725/en/ CONTACT: Investors Lee Ann Evans SVP, Capital Markets investor@cannabistcompany.comMedia Mike Moses Communications Manager media@cannabistcompany.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA COLORADO VIRGINIA NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE CANNABIS RETAIL HEALTH SPECIALTY NATURAL RESOURCES SOURCE: The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/05/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/05/2024 04:06 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241205217725/en

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reverses decision to put a time limit on anesthesia

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:40 p.m. ESTDURHAM, N.H. (AP) — Robert Hinton scored 15 points as Harvard beat New Hampshire 72-62 on Sunday. Hinton shot 5 of 11 from the field and 5 for 7 from the line for the Crimson (3-7). Chandler Pigge scored 14 points while going 6 of 9 from the field and added nine rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Louis Lesmond had 13 points and shot 4 for 7 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. Anthony McComb III led the Wildcats (2-11) in scoring, finishing with 21 points. Sami Pissis added 16 points and two steals for New Hampshire. Caleb Middleton had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Harvard's next game is Saturday against Furman at home, and New Hampshire visits Stonehill on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — De'Vondre Campbell's decision to quit on his team in the middle of a game overshadowed the bigger issues for the San Francisco 49ers. An offense that was one of the most dynamic in the NFL during a run to the Super Bowl last season has been just ordinary for most of 2024 and was downright bad in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night that just about ended San Francisco's playoff hopes. San Francisco (6-8) was held to its fewest yards (191) in a regular-season game in eight seasons under coach Kyle Shanahan and its fewest points since Shanahan's debut in 2017 on a rainy night that will be remembered mostly for Campbell walking off the field in the middle of the game with a towel draped over his head. The game also featured San Francisco going three-and-out on four drives as Brock Purdy struggled to connect with his receivers. Deebo Samuel dropped a potential touchdown pass after complaining earlier in the week about a lack of touches. Purdy then missed Ricky Pearsall on an underthrown deep shot in the fourth quarter before throwing an interception into the end zone that ended the Niners' comeback attempt. “I just feel like I had a lot of plays left out there that I could have made for our team,” Purdy said. “I thought the defense and special teams played so good. That’s what’s hurting me is I just feel like I failed the team. I could have been better for our offense and we could have put up more points.” Scoring has been an issue this season for the 49ers, who have been missing key playmakers like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk for much of the season. San Francisco is scoring 8.5 fewer points per game on offense than the Niners did through 14 games last season. Red-zone defense. After allowing touchdowns on 13 consecutive red-zone drives over the previous four games, the 49ers kept the Rams out of the end zone on all three drives that went inside the 20. Receivers. The 49ers failed to get much production from their wide receivers with Purdy going 6 for 20 for 63 yards with an INT and a 19.4 rating when targeting wideouts. Samuel had 16 yards on seven targets with the key drop. Jauan Jennings had two drops and was the target on the interception. Pearsall had one catch for 16 yards on four targets. LB Dre Greenlaw returned for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season's Super Bowl. Greenlaw had eight tackles in the first half as he brought needed intensity and physical play that had been missing for much of the season. Campbell. The 49ers are deciding whether to waive or suspend Campbell, who lost his starting job when Greenlaw returned and then refused to play when he was needed. “His actions from the game just is not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still expect to be a part of our team,” Shanahan said. “We’re working through exactly the semantics of it right now, but we’ll handle the situation appropriately.” Greenlaw came out of the game feeling OK after leaving with soreness in his knee and Achilles tendon. He is day to day. ... S Ji’Ayir Brown (groin) and LB Dee Winters (neck) are also day to day. ... LT Trent Williams (ankle) is still trying to get back to play after missing the last four games. Shanahan said Williams' recovery has been "a lot slower than anticipated.” 0 — The Niners didn't reach the red zone once all game, with their deepest penetration into Rams territory being when they reached the 27 on a third-quarter field goal drive. This marked the first time since Week 11 in 2010 that the 49ers didn't run a single play inside the opponent's 25. The 49ers visit Miami on Dec. 22. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

AP News Summary at 6:06 p.m. ESTOpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship'

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used "physician work time values," which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it's unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to “reverse the proposal immediately,” saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It's not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were posted in Virginia and Colorado . People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced, unpredictable human element” of surgery and was a clear “money grab.” “It’s incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care,” he said. "If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we’re delighted that they came to their senses.” Prior to Anthem's announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy wouldn't affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant’s policy change came one day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare , another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.Apple’s bad week has suddenly gotten worse. Just a few days after the FBI warned iPhone users to stop texting Android users , given the lack of encryption in RCS, the Bureau has now confirmed that U.S. law enforcement want access to encrypted iPhone content . And now, with perfect timing, Apple is being sued for not scanning encrypted user content for dangerous material, playing right into the FBI’s hands. The net result is that the security all iPhone, iPad and Mac users rely on to keep their content safe and secure is under attack. The risk is the forced addition of backdoors into encrypted content. And once that line is crossed, there’s no going back. This new lawsuit comes at the worst possible time. According to the filing lawyers, the class action is “on behalf of thousands of survivors of child sexual abuse for [Apple] knowingly allowing the storage of images and videos documenting their abuse on iCloud and the company’s defectively designed products. The lawsuit alleges that Apple has known about this content for years, but has refused to act to detect or remove it, despite developing advanced technology to do so.” The claims relate to Apple’s proposal to scan on-device imagery for known child sexual abuse material (CSAM) before its upload to iCloud, using hashes of known images to flag matches on phones for manual review. An unsurprising backlash followed, and Apple withdrew its proposal before it was ever released. Just a few hours before details of the lawsuit were first published in the New York Times , the FBI told me that “law enforcement supports strong, responsibly managed encryption. This encryption should be designed to protect people’s privacy and also managed so U.S. tech companies can provide readable content in response to a lawful court order.” The stories are different but the point is the same. U.S. law enforcement wants to force U.S. big tech to police the content on its platforms. The lawsuit claims that “the images and videos of the plaintiffs’ childhood sexual abuse, which have been stored thousands of times, would have been identified and removed had Apple implemented its 2021 “CSAM Detection” technology.” As I commented at that time, the issue is not scanning for CSAM, the issue is introducing screening of any content on one side of Apple’s end-to-end encryption . Right now, Apple can tell China, Russia and others that it does not have the technology to monitor for political dissent or religious or sexual behaviors, but bring in a backdoor for CSAM and there’s no impediment to its expansion. Apple and others defend decisions such as the removal of certain apps as compliance with local laws. You can see the risks as to where this might go if Pandora’s box is opened . Realistically, the new lawsuit is just a sideshow to the real debate that will take place under the new Trump administration. During the last Trump presidency, Deputy U.S Attorney General Rod Rosenstein introduced the concept of “ responsible encryption ,” which aims to tackle ‘warrant-proof’ encryption, where tech platforms don’t hold any decryption keys, which law enforcement describes as “going dark.” As The New York Times explains, “the lawsuit is the second of its kind against Apple, but its scope and potential financial impact could force the company into a yearslong litigation process over an issue it has sought to put behind it. And it points to increasing concern that the privacy of Apple’s iCloud allows illegal material to be circulated without being as easily spotted as it would be on social media services like Facebook. For years, Apple has reported less abusive material than its peers, capturing and reporting a small fraction of what is caught by Google and Facebook. It has defended its practice by saying it is protecting user privacy, but child safety groups have criticized it for not doing more to stop the spread of that material.” Now the FBI has reopened the debate into “responsibly managed encryption,” under the guise of Salt Typhoon hacking U.S. telco networks and the consequent warnings for American citizens to use encrypted messaging and calls where they can. The lawsuit makes the same point in a different way, but at the same time. And there’s a third leg to this stool—Europe. EU regulators and lawmakers are still fighting amongst themselves over the proposal to resolve this problem differently. Again, taking CSAM as its starting point, the EU proposal is to introduce “chat control,” essentially making tech platforms responsible for the illegality of the content they transmit, forcing them to monitor content without actually participating in the monitoring itself. Users would need to agree to such content screening to install and use end-to-end encrypted platforms. This does not yet have the votes and sponsorship it needs amongst EU member states to proceed, but that could change. A perfect storm could now be brewing for Apple and the 2 billion users that rely on its market-leading end-to-end encryption across much of its ecosystem to secure their data—even Apple, Apple says, cannot access their data under any circumstances. But if the new Trump administration wants to push the FBI point, that “U.S. tech companies can provide readable content in response to a lawful court order,” and if Europe does the same, and if there’s a sensitive lawsuit exposing the risks in such encryption running in the background, then 2025 could prove difficult. For all those Apple’s users this is a huge risk. Any breaks in the end-to-end encrypted enclave change it completely. If you’re an Apple user, you need to take this seriously. Meanwhile, I have approached Apple for any comments on the lawsuit.

Quantum corp CFO Kenneth Gianella sells $11,473 in stockNEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin extended its streak of record highs after ticking above $99,000 for the first time. The cryptocurrency has rocketed more than 40% in just two weeks. Now, bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000, just two years after dropping below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX . The dramatic rally rolls on as industry players expect the incoming Trump administration to bring a more “crypto-friendly” approach toward regulating the digital currency. Bitcoin was trading at $99,526 Friday afternoon, according to CoinDesk. As with everything in the volatile crypto markets, the future is impossible to know. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Here’s what you need to know. Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But, chances are, you've heard about it more and more over the last few years. In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it’s typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money, but the large majority of daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Crypto industry players have welcomed Trump’s victory, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. Trump, who was once a crypto skeptic, recently pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. How of this will actually pan out — and whether or not Trump will successfully act quickly on these promises — has yet to be seen. “This is not necessarily a short-term story, it’s likely a much longer-term story," Citi macro strategist David Glass told The Associated Press last week. "And there is the question of how quickly can U.S. crypto policy make a serious impact on (wider adoption).” One step Trump must take in the short-term is name a new head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which shares oversight of cryptocurrencies. Gary Gensler, current chair of the SEC, has led the U.S. government’s crackdown on crypto over recent years, penalizing a number of companies for violating securities laws. But he's also faced criticism from industry players in the process, like the chief legal officer of Robinhood , who described Gensler's approach toward crypto as “rigid” and "hostile.” Gensler will step down in January when Trump takes office. Adam Morgan McCarthy, a research analyst at Kaiko, thinks the industry is craving “just some sort of clarity.” Much of the approach to regulating crypto in the past has been “enforcement based,” he notes, which has been helpful in weeding out some bad actors — but legislation might fill in other key gaps. Despite crypto’s recent excitement around Trump, McCarthy said that 2024 has already been a “hugely consequential year for regulation in the U.S.” — pointing to January’s approval of spot bitcoin ETFs, for example, which mark a new way to invest in the asset. Spot ETFs have been the dominant driver of bitcoin for some time now — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. According to Kaiko , bitcoin ETFs recorded $6 billion in trade volume for the week of the election alone. In April, bitcoin also saw its fourth “halving” — a preprogrammed event that impacts production by cutting the reward for mining, or the creation of new bitcoin, in half. In theory, if demand remains strong, some analysts say this “supply shock” can also help propel the price long term. Others note it may be too early to tell. History shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you’ve made it. Long-term price behavior relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of Federal Reserve rate hikes. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $17,000. Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs. But experts still stress caution, especially for small-pocketed investors. And lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could mean less guardrails. “I would say, keep it simple. And don’t take on more risk than you can afford to," McCarthy said — adding that there isn't a “magic eight ball” to know for certain what comes next. Assets like bitcoin are produced through a process called “mining,” which consumes a lot of energy. Operations relying on pollutive sources have drawn particular concern over the years. Recent research published by the United Nations University and Earth’s Future journal found that the carbon footprint of 2020-2021 bitcoin mining across 76 nations was equivalent to the emissions from burning 84 billion pounds of coal or running 190 natural gas-fired power plants. Coal satisfied the bulk of bitcoin’s electricity demands (45%), followed by natural gas (21%) and hydropower (16%). Environmental impacts of bitcoin mining boil largely down to the energy source used. Industry analysts have maintained that clean energy has increased in use in recent years, coinciding with rising calls for climate protections

Some concert-goers are making the naughty list this year after a physical fight broke out during Mariah Carey's Christmas time concert in Baltimore. As Mariah sang her Christmas classic All I Want for Christmas Is You chaos erupted in the crowd as four to five people began yelling and throwing drinks and punches during the show . The altercation, which was captured on video, has spread all across social media and appears to have began between an argument between two women during the closing number. The fight ignited when a curly-haired brunette woman appeared to push a blond woman standing in front of her and the blond woman reacted by turning around and throwing her beer. The brunette women then smacked the other women and two men then seemed to get involved while others in the crowd stepped in to break up the brawl. American Music Awards fans think Mariah Carey 'knew the rent was due' as she takes to the stage Nick Cannon calls ex-wife and mother of twins Mariah Carey his 'best friend' The scene was pure chaos as the women are seen fighting in the crowd while Santas are dancing on stage and confetti rained down from the sky. According to reports by TMZ , the concert-goers involved were escorted out of the venue by private security. While it's difficult to make out exactly what occurred, fans were stunned by the wild turn of events. Under a viral TikTok of the moment , one user that claimed to have witnessed the fight first-hand and commented: "We were right next to them on the way out of the show. The woman was screaming at the man saying 'this was supposed to be a magical night and you were acting like a teenager' and then smacked him." To which the creator replied: "They were acting up all night, seemed like a fun couple haha." In response another person joked: "Ahh, that true American holiday spirit right there." Another replied: "Fighting at a Mariah show is crazy work." While someone else commented: "Fighting while Santa dances in the background is wild." And another person chimed in: "and that confetti was a paid actor." This comes as Mariah is currently on a Christmas concert tour across the US to celebrate the 30th year anniversary of her famous 'Merry Christmas' album. The album has been a staple for fans for decades with Mariah's hit song “All I Want for Christmas is You" topping the Billboard Holiday 100 chart every year since it's release in 1994. The 55-year-old pop star has since been dubbed the "Queen of Christmas" and has been getting fans into the holiday spirit all across the nation. Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories. All the latest news, showbiz, lifestyle and sports updates, brought to you by our dedicated American team. Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook to make sure you're not missing out. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.