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The seabed has increasingly emerged as a significant and contested domain in recent years, drawing global attention due to unprecedented events and developments. In 2022 alone, incidents such as the breaking of the Svalbard subsea communication cable, the explosion of the Nord Stream 1 & 2 subsea gas pipelines and the breakage of the SHEFA-2 communication cable underscored the vulnerability of underwater critical infrastructure (UCI). This trend persisted into 2023, with similar disruptions affecting subsea communication cables, such as the one connecting Taiwan. Even in 2024, Pakistan had only gone through four incidents of submarine cables, which cost the nation millions of rupees. These events have not only highlighted the fragile nature of UCIs, including oil and gas pipelines, power transmission cables and submarine communication systems, but they have also spurred significant political, military, and scholarly interest in what is now termed "seabed warfare." Historically, seabed warfare is not a new concept. Navies have long conducted operations on the seabed, particularly during the Cold War, when the U.S. and the Soviet Union developed extensive acoustic surveillance systems for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and strategic intelligence. Notably, the U.S. Navy's Operation IVY BELLS in the 1970s involved tapping Soviet subsea cables, yielding critical intelligence. Seabed warfare has evolved into a complex, multi-dimensional field, incorporating advanced technologies and strategies to protect and disrupt Underwater Critical Infrastructure (UCIs), reflecting its growing importance in defensive and offensive naval operations. The last two decades have witnessed a major boom in the energy distribution sector through the seabed. Various oil and gas pipelines run on the seabed in different oceans, which ensures energy supply among other countries and regions; they hold vital economic importance. Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines transport Russian gas to Europe and run on the seabed of the Baltic Sea. Within Europe, there is also a network of underwater gas pipelines that transport Norwegian gas to the U.K., France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark and Poland. These gas pipelines run on the seabed of the North and Baltic Seas . In the East, the subsea Ichthys Export Pipeline (Timor Sea) transports gas from the Ichthys field to mainland Australia. Yacheng 13-1 gas pipeline transports gas from the Yacheng gas field to mainland China, and the list goes on. Subsea oil pipelines are also being extensively used to transport oil from offshore terminals to land. According to surveys, the web of 2,381 operational oil and gas pipelines spread across 162 nations back in 2020. Similarly, offshore drilling for new energy resources on the seabed of different oceans around the world is also witnessing a boom. Keeping in view projects such as the Trans Caspian, subsea energy transportation is likely to have an upward trend. Subsea communication cables also hold significant importance for the world’s economic growth and stability. More than 97% of the world’s internet data flows through the ocean. Let alone subsea communication cables enable money transactions worth $10 trillion per day across the world. Any disruption to these cables is considered socio-economically catastrophic. Politically, growing subsea connectivity and dependency on energy and information are being considered lucrative foreign policy tools. Subsea pipelines and cables have gained unprecedented strategic importance. Safe operations of subsea pipelines and cables are crucial for socio-economic stability, but at the same time, their blockage and disruption can impose significant strategic effects. New international relations (IR) terms such as ‘pipeline diplomacy’ reflect the same political thought. For military strategists, seabed warfare capability to protect (defensive) and even disrupt (offensive) subsea pipelines and cables has become a priority area. Seabed warfare is inherently attractive for the hybrid military strategy; therefore, it has great potential to grow in "no war-no peace" and "low-intensity conflict" environments. Based on an analysis of seabed operations in naval history, recent events and development strategies of different navies, the scope of emerging seabed warfare can be divided into benign, defensive and offensive operations. Benign operations will be mainly aimed at oceanographic research, search and rescue (SAR) and salvage operations. Defensive operations will focus on the protection of UCIs. Emerging concepts like Seabed-to-Space Situational Awareness (S3A), Distributed Remote Sensing (DRS), the Great Underwater Wall, etc., will define the framework of defensive seabed operations. Similarly, offensive operations will focus on the destruction or disruption of UCIs and the tapping of digital data flowing through subsea communication cables. Technological advancements enabled seabed access more than ever. Modern hydro-mechanical systems, advanced electronics and artificial intelligence are enabling the maritime industry to produce ships, submarines and UUVs (uncrewed underwater vehicles) that would carry out activities on the seabed. So where research, exploration and productive machines can go, there will also be military vehicles accessing the seabed to turn it into a new battlefield. Seabed warfare is a technologically intensive field. Artificial intelligence is reckoned to be the backbone of all enablers of seabed warfare. Enablers of seabed warfare can be divided into three categories: launch platforms (submarines, ships, extra-large UUVs), execution vehicles (UUVs, ROVs, and AUVs) and remote sensors (underwater buoys, ocean data buoys, and air/satellite-based sensors). It is interesting to highlight that there is significant technological progress in each category. The Belgorod Class Submarine (Russian Navy) is designed to address this requirement for seabed operations. Though U.S. submarines have the capability to carry out similar operations at present, it has decided to develop the VA SSW (Modified Virginia Subsea and Seabed Warfare) submarine. The same trend is followed even by conventional submarines; the latest Swedish A-26 Class submarines have specific features such as rapid and straightforward bottoming and UUV launch and control capability for seabed warfare. The Italian NFS (Near Future Submarine) project and the German-Norwegian Type 212 CD have similar claims. UUV technology is considered the linchpin of seabed warfare. A long list of special ships will be mainly used for benign and defensive seabed operations. UUVs are becoming more capable in terms of operating depths, endurance, power and propulsion day by day. UUVs are the world’s leading defense companies' top priority. Data from remote sensors such as underwater hydrophone networks, ocean buoys and even satellites can be fused together for robust surveillance. As seabed warfare continues to evolve, driven by rapid technological advancements and strategic competition, it is becoming an increasingly sophisticated and high-stakes arena. The development of seabed warfare capabilities, such as the Russian Belgorod Class Submarine and the U.S. Virginia-class submarines, reflects the growing emphasis on controlling this new battlefield. Until clear international rules are established to govern seabed warfare, the potential for conflict in this domain remains significant, with implications for global security and stability. Moreover, in the context of Pakistan, a country with a strategic vicinity and growing dependence on undersea cables, it is imperative to assess its preparedness and resilience against emerging threats of seabed warfare.The tragic death of Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher and whistleblower, has taken a new turn. Balaji’s mother has alleged that her son’s death was not a suicide, as ruled by the authorities, but a "cold-blooded murder." Balaji’s mother revealed that the family had hired a private investigator and conducted a second autopsy. The tragic death of Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher and whistleblower, has taken a new turn. Balaji’s mother, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), has alleged that her son’s death was not a suicide, as ruled by the authorities, but a “cold-blooded murder.” Her claims have added fuel to the ongoing controversy surrounding Balaji’s passing, with prominent voices like Elon Musk stepping in to express doubts about the official narrative. In her post, Balaji’s mother revealed that the family had hired a private investigator and conducted a second autopsy, which contradicted the police’s findings. She highlighted unsettling details, including signs of a struggle in Balaji’s apartment and blood spots in the bathroom. Also read: OpenAI finally breaks on Suchir Balaji’s death: Here is the full statement Mother’s allegations against the police’s ruling Balaji’s mother took to X to share her findings, stating: “We hired private investigator and did second autopsy to throw light on cause of death. Private autopsy doesn’t confirm cause of death stated by police. Suchir’s apartment was ransacked, sign of struggle in the bathroom and looks like some one hit him in bathroom based on blood spots. It’s a cold blooded mu*d*r declared by authorities as suicide. Lobbying in SF city doesn’t stop us from getting justices. We demand FBi investigation” Her allegations paint a chilling picture, raising questions about the initial investigation and the circumstances surrounding Balaji’s death. Elon Musk, known for his candid opinions on X, commented on the post, stating: “This doesn’t seem like a suicide.” Also read: OpenAI Whistleblower Suchir Balaji found dead in San Francisco apartment Suchir Balaji’s death already sparked debates about the challenges faced by whistleblowers and the ethical concerns in AI development. With these new allegations, the case has taken a darker turn, raising questions about transparency and accountability in investigations involving high-profile individuals. The family’s demand for an FBI investigation, coupled with Musk’s support, could put pressure on authorities to re-examine the case. Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile

The World Summit AI Qatar 2024 (WSAI 2024) will be held for the first time in the Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region Tuesday and on Wednesday. Under the patronage of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and organised by Inspired Minds, the summit will take place under the theme *Putting Humanity at the Heart of AI. Global experts will present in-depth insights into artificial intelligence (AI) and its various challenges during the summit. The MCIT said in a statement that the event aims to foster global dialogue on the technical and ethical dimensions of AI advancements, focusing on delivering innovative solutions that enhance quality of life and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals. This platform will bring together experts and decision-makers from various sectors to exchange knowledge and insights on the future of AI globally. The summit will feature the launch of several significant projects by the MCIT and other participating government entities. One of the event’s key highlights will be the "Qatar Pavilion", which will include entities such as the MCIT, the Ministry of Labour, the Supreme Judiciary Council, Public Prosecution, and Qatar University. The pavilion will showcase initiatives in AI and their role in driving digital transformation in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030. This participation provides an opportunity for knowledge exchange and exploring new frameworks for collaboration with local and international partners. The summit will focus on four key pillars: “Responsible AI and Governance”, “Human-AI convergence”, “Generative AI and Large Language Models”, and “Accelerating AI Adoption”. It will address various discussion topics, including Generative AI, ethical governance of modern technologies, and accelerating the adoption of technological solutions. Additionally, it will emphasise the importance of public-private sector collaboration to develop technologies that serve society and meet its needs. Discussions will cover a wide range of topics, such as balancing technological progress with human values, exploring intersections between AI and psychology, and analysing the structural determinants of current AI systems. The summit will also explore the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to understand AIs impact on human life and its potential to shape a better future for humanity. Discussions will further highlight the unpredictable nature of AI development, with a particular focus on the ethical considerations involved in creating reliable and safe AI systems. Related Story Qatar and Estonia to strengthen trade and economic ties Qatar Airways expects to equip entire fleet with Starlink connectivity by end-2025: Group CEOCoreCivic director Lappin sells $137,479 in common stockAll you have to do to become a South Dakota resident is spend one night. Stay in a campground or hotel and then stop by one of the businesses that specialize in helping people become South Dakotans, and they’ll help you do the paperwork to gain residency in a state with no income tax and relatively cheap vehicle registration. The system brings in extra government revenue through vehicle fees and offers refuge to full-time travelers who wouldn’t otherwise have a permanent address or a place to vote. And that’s the problem. State leaders are at a stalemate between those who say people who don’t really live in South Dakota shouldn’t be allowed to vote in local elections and those who say efforts to impose a longer residency requirement for voting violate the principle that everyone gets to vote. And at least one state has gotten wind that its residents might be avoiding high income taxes with easy South Dakota residency and is investigating. Catering to the nomadic lifestyle for nomads has become an enterprising opportunity for businesses such as RV parks and mail forwarders. “That’s the primary concept here, is the people that have given up their sticks and bricks and now are on wheel estate, we call it, and they’re full-time traveling,” said Dane Goetz, owner of the Spearfish-based South Dakota Residency Center, which caters to full-time travelers. “They need a place to call home, and we provide that address for them to do that, and they are just perpetually on the move.” Goetz estimated more than 30,000 people are full-time traveler residents of South Dakota, but the actual number is unclear. The state Department of Public Safety, which handles driver licensing, says it doesn’t track the number of full-time traveler applications. Officials of the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office did not respond to emailed questions or a phone message seeking the state’s tally of full-time travelers registered to vote. The office is not responsible for enforcing residency requirements, Division of Elections Director Rachel Soulek said. Victor Robledo, his wife and their five kids hit the road a decade ago in a 28-foot (8.5-meter) motorhome to seek adventure and ease their high cost of living in Southern California. They found South Dakota to be an opportunity to save money, receive mail and “take a residency in a state that really nurtures us,” he said. They filed for residency in 2020. “It was as simple as coming into the state, staying one night in one of the campgrounds, and once we do that, we bring in a receipt to the office, fill out some paperwork, change our licenses. I mean, really, you can blow through there — gosh, 48 hours,” Robledo said. Residency rules spark election concerns Residency becomes thorny around voting. Some opponents don’t want people who don’t physically live in South Dakota to vote in its elections. “I don’t want to deny somebody their right to vote, but to think that they can vote in a school board election or a legislative election or a county election when they’re not part of the community, I’m troubled by that,” said Democratic Rep. Linda Duba, who cited 10,000 people or roughly 40% of her Sioux Falls constituents being essentially mailbox residents. She likes to knock on doors and meet people but said she is unable to do “relationship politics” with travelers. The law the Republican-controlled Legislature passed in 2023 added requirements for voter registration, including 30 days of residency — which don’t have to be consecutive — and having “an actual fixed permanent dwelling, establishment, or any other abode to which the person returns after a period of absence.” The bill’s prime sponsor, Republican Sen. Randy Deibert, told a Senate panel that citizens expressed concerns about “people coming to the state, being a resident overnight and voting (by) absentee ballot or another way the next day and then leaving the state.” Those registered to vote before the new law took effect remain registered, but some who tried to register since its passage had trouble. Dozens of people recently denied voter registration contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, according to the chapter’s advocacy manager, Samantha Chapman. Durational residency requirements for voting are, in general, unconstitutional because such restrictions interfere with the interstate right to travel, said David Schultz, a Hamline University professor of political science and a professor of law at the University of St. Thomas. “It’s kind of this parochialism, this idea of saying that only people who are really in our neighborhood, who really live in our city have a sufficient stake in it, and the courts have generally been unsympathetic to those types of arguments because, more often than not, they’re used for discriminatory purposes,” he said. State lawmakers at odds over residency law Earlier this year, the Legislature considered a bill to roll back the 2023 law. It passed the Senate but stalled in the House. During a House hearing on that bill, Republican Rep. Jon Hansen asked one full-time traveler when he was last in South Dakota and when he intends to return. The man said he was in the state a year earlier but planned to return in coming months. Another man who moved from Iowa to work overseas said he had not lived “for any period of time, physically” in South Dakota. “I don’t think we should allow people who have never lived in this state to vote in our state,” Hansen said. Republican Sen. David Wheeler, an attorney in Huron, said he expects litigation would be what forces a change. It’s unlikely a change to the 30-day requirement would pass the Legislature now, he said. “It is a complicated topic that involves federal and state law and federal and state voting rights, and it is difficult to bring everybody together on how to appropriately address that,” Wheeler said. Out-of-state residents may see tax benefits More than 1,600 miles (2,500 kilometers) east, Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon has asked prosecutors to look into whether some state employees who live in Connecticut may have skirted their tax obligations by claiming to be residents of South Dakota. Connecticut has a graduated income tax rate of 3.0% to 6.99%. Connecticut cities and towns also impose a property tax on vehicles. South Dakota has none. Scanlon and his office, which administers state employee retiree benefits, learned from a Hartford Courant columnist in September that some state retirees might be using South Dakota’s mail-forwarding services for nefarious reasons. Asked if there are concerns about other Connecticut taxpayers who are not state retirees possibly misusing South Dakota’s lenient residency laws, the Department of Revenue Services would only say the agency is “aware of the situation and we’re working with our partners to resolve it.” A South Dakota legislative panel broached the residency issue as recently as August, a meeting in which one lawmaker called the topic “the Gordian knot of politics.” “It seems like it’s almost impossible to come to some clear and definitive statement as to what constitutes a residency with such a mobile population with people with multiple homes and addresses and political boundaries that are easy to see on a map but there’s so much cross-transportation across them,” Republican Sen. Jim Bolin said. ___ Dura reported from Bismarck, North Dakota. Associated Press Writer Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report. Jack Dura, The Associated Press

Why it pays to focus now on Nvidia, Treasury bonds and a bullish finish to 2024Iowa followed its lowest-scoring game of the season with a 110-point eruption the next time out. The Hawkeyes will be one week removed from that scorching effort when they host Northwestern in Tuesday's Big Ten opener in Iowa City, but rust won't be the only roadblock for a potential repeat showing. Iowa (6-1) also is bracing for stiffer competition in conference play while navigating an injury to Seydou Traore. The reserve forward suffered a sprained ankle midway through the first half of a 110-77 home rout of South Carolina Upstate on Nov. 26. Also missing frontcourt contributors Even Brauns and Cooper Koch, the Hawkeyes still flexed their resilience and depth. Brock Harding notched a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds and Owen Freeman netted 17 points as five Iowa players scored in double figures. "Coming off a loss, going into Thanksgiving break here, we've got a couple days off coming, it'd be easy to kinda (think), ‘All right, let's relax for this one, guys sit out,'" Harding said. "But I think we really locked in." Northwestern (6-2) overcame 40.8 percent shooting to defeat UNLV 66-61 in the third-place game of the Arizona Tip-Off on Friday in Tempe, Ariz. Brooks Barnhizer, a preseason All-Big Ten pick who was sidelined by a foot injury during the Wildcats' first four games, had team highs of 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists. He has scored at least 20 points in three of four games. Northwestern limited UNLV to a 42.1 percent effort from the floor. Matthew Nicholson propelled the defense with two of the Wildcats' seven steals to go with two blocks. "We're a defensive-minded team and, you know, our identity is just getting stops," Barnhizer said. "Everything else will take care of itself. So, the older guys were trying to come out here and do that tonight and I think we did a pretty good job of it." Strong ‘D' helped Northwestern's ball movement, too, as the Wildcats assisted on 15 of 20 made field goals. Northwestern went 8-for-18 (44.4 percent) from long range to improve to 3-0 this season when connecting on 40 percent of its 3-point shots or better. --Field Level MediaOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! viewers were left in stitches as Coleen Rooney shared a hilarious anecdote about her husband Wayne Rooney's faux pas at a dinner party, which was also attended by David and Victoria Beckham . In the final episode of the 2024 series, Coleen, 38, spilled the beans on Wayne's gaffe to her fellow finalists, Danny Jones and Reverend Richard Coles. The mum-of-four reminisced about a posh dinner party alongside the Beckhams, where celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay had prepared a Michelin-star style meal. Despite the formal and lavish atmosphere, Wayne, 39, made a blunder that brought down the tone of the evening. He was served cold soup by Gordon but mistook the bowl for a finger bowl, used for rinsing fingers between courses. Recounting Wayne's dinner mishap, Coleen couldn't help but laugh as she told the awkward story to Danny and Richard. "He was dipping his fingers in the bowl until he realised it was actually a bowl of soup. He had never had cold soup before," she chuckled, reports the Mirror . After Coleen shared her hilarious anecdote about Wayne on I'm A Celebrity, social media users couldn't contain their amusement. Chatter and laughter ensued online with one fan posting: "Will never stop thinking about Coleen at a fancy dinner realising Wayne was washing his hands in a bowl of cold soup thinking it was a little dish of water. Incredible scenes #ImACeleb." Another added some cheeky commentary: "Wayne Rooney washing his hands in Gordon Ramsay's cold soup - brilliant. So lucky he was good at football," while someone else shared their own gourmet faux pas: "Well I never knew that Wayne Rooney and I would have something in common, my first encounter with 'cold soup' was not far off his! Classy girl that I am! #imacelebrity2024." Amid all the chatter, another tweet read: "Wayne Rooney washing his fingers in the fancy soup. Good Lord. #imacelebrity #ImACeleb," Meanwhile, an I'm A Celeb star couldn't resist making a joke: "Wayne Rooney washing his hands in the soup at the Beckham's World Cup party is brilliant." Rev Richard Coles, who was part of pop duo The Communards, came in third place. Presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly announced the results to Coles and his fellow finalists, Coleen Rooney and Danny Jones, in the jungle camp during Sunday’s final. The 62-year-old radio presenter made it to the grand final of the ITV1 jungle reality show alongside Coleen and McFly singer Danny Jones but didn't quite manage to take the crown. Speaking to hosts Ant and Dec immediately after his elimination, he said: "It's not what you think it's gonna be. I thought we'd all be beautifully pampered and well looked after. It was much harder than I thought it was gonna be, the lows were much lower and the highs were much higher." Asked which of his former campmates he would like to win the entire series, he said: "Both would be fantastic but I have a feeling it will be Coleen's year!"

Article content Two Georgia men who were convicted in the horrific sexual abuse of their two adopted sons will be spending the rest of their lives behind bars. A judge sentenced William Zulock, 34, and his husband Zachary Zulock, 36, to each serve 100 years in prison without the possibility of parole, according to the Walton County District Attorney’s office. The boys — two brothers who are now 12 and 10 years old — were adopted from a Christian special-needs agency by the couple in 2018. The sickening abuse was believed to have taken place when the boys were as young as three and five years old. “These two Defendants truly created a house of horrors and put their extremely dark desires above everything and everyone else,” District Attorney Randy McGinley said, according to WSB . “However, the depth of the Defendants’ depravity, which is as deep as it gets, is not greater than the resolve of those that fought for justice and the strength of the victims in this case,” McGinley noted. “The resolve I have seen from these two young victims over the last two years is truly inspiring.” The couple raised the two boys in an affluent Atlanta suburb, and depicted the perfect life to the outside world, according to the outlet. However, the Zulocks regularly raped and sodomized the boys, and filmed the abuse to provide videos for other pedophiles. They were also accused of using social media to pimp the boys to at least two men in a local pedophile sex ring, WSB reported. RECOMMENDED VIDEO The so-called dads were arrested in 2022 after an alleged member of the local sex ring was caught downloading child porn. During the investigation, he told authorities how the couple made porn with boys living in their house. Deputies got arrest warrants for the home in Oxford, a suburb of Atlanta, identified the Zulocks as suspects and worked with the Georgia Division of Family and child Services to protect the children. At the time, investigators found recordings from surveillance cameras, which showed the men committing sexually abusive acts against both boys in different parts of the house. Both men pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, sexual exploitation of children. William entered a guilty plea for charges of incest, while Zachary pleaded not guilty to two counts of incest. However, a judge later found him guilty of the incest charges following a brief bench trial, according to the DA’s office. Zachary was also found guilty of pandering for a person under 18. After hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence, the judge followed the State’s recommendation and sentenced both men to 100 years in prison without the possibility of parole, followed by life on probation. The men won’t be eligible for parole for the entire 100 years.Jamaican tech firm Optimity to launch innovative e-wallet platform in Dubai by 2025

Incredible video shows Ukraine unleashing SHOTGUN-wielding drones to hunt down & blast Russians on frontlineWhile the jury is still out on the factors leading to the landslide victory for the MahaYuti coalition in the Maharashtra assembly elections, anger among Muslims is being directed against religious leaders, especially Maulana Sajjad Naumani, a Deobandi cleric whose appeal to Muslims to vote for Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is being blamed for the counter-mobilisation of Hindu votes, precipitating BJP-led MahaYuti's record-breaking victory. At a press conference in Mumbai on November 13, Naumani had released a list of candidates, mostly from MVA, asking Muslims to support them. He said that Muslims should vote for the candidates 'to defeat forces challenging the Constitution'. Naumani had, however, declined to answer questions from the media on whether he represented all Muslims, explaining that he had come up with the list of candidates after consulting scholars, social activists, and opinion makers. Naumani has since apologised for a statement made during the run-up to the elections where he said that Muslims who vote for MahaYuti should be socially boycotted. After MVA's drubbing in last week's elections, Muslims are asking the question raised at the press meet. Juned Shaikh, who runs a YouTube channel called F3 News with a wide viewership, represented the view of many Muslims when he asked, "Who did maulana consult before declaring support for the candidates? There are millions of Muslims in the state; did you have a meeting with them?" Shuiab Khateeb, trustee of Mumbai's Jama Masjid, who contested as a candidate in Mumbadevi for the Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), said it was wrong for Naumani to endorse the entire list of MVA candidates. "On what ground did Naumani base his list of candidates? Did he consult the public?" asked Khateeb. "His statement created vote banks of Hindus and Muslims. Candidates should be endorsed on the basis of their work and potential, not because they belong to a particular political group. Naumani's statements created havoc in the minds of the voters," said Khateeb. Naumani, who was educated at a university in Madina, is based out of Uttar Pradesh though he has an establishment in Mumbai. Naumani probably did not know the ground realities in Maharashtra and was misled by other people, said senior Urdu journalist Saeed Hameed. "We talk about transparency by politicians and the government. However, the maulana did not have transparency about the machinery that he used to come up with the list of candidates Muslims should vote for in 288 seats," said Saeed. "Surveys that cover a big state require a lot of money. I am apprehensive of his research and his parameters." Saeed added that Naumani's endorsement of MVA candidates lent credence to accusations of 'vote jihad' hurled by BJP leaders like Kirit Somaiya. "It was a critical election; he should have been careful in choosing his words. He exceeded his limits as a maulana. He has to ultimately apologise for some of his statements. Also, a statement by a Tablighi maulana will not be accepted by Barelvis, Shias, and other sects." A statement similar to Naumani's was made by AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in 2014 during his first political rally in Mumbai, said Shaikh. "He said something about Muslims uniting for 15 minutes to finish off their opponents. While the statement did not unite Muslims, it did unite the majority. That was a turning point," said Shaikh. Dr Azimuddin, president of Movement for Human Welfare, who had accompanied Naumani at the press meet, said that the cleric's remarks could have had only a marginal effect on the election results. "There were other factors that led to the huge win for MahaYuti. Questions about manipulation of voting machines remain unanswered. There were reports that money meant for distribution among voters were seized. The Sangh Parivar used Naumani's statements to create an elaborate door-to-door campaign. They worked hard; the MVA was confident of winning and did not match the campaigning. The maulana is not such a powerful person to influence voters. He did not make any polarising statement," said Azimuddin Some Muslims felt that Naumani did not deserve the harsh criticism. Abdul Razak Maniar, a social worker, said, "During every election, local community leaders suggest names of candidates who they think people should vote for. Naumani made up his list after doing local surveys. However, endorsing an entire list of candidates was not a sensible thing. It could have caused counter-mobilisation of Hindu votes."

It seemed like companies couldn’t hire information technology analysts fast enough in 2014 when Michael Deneen began his IT career. Job counts nationally soared in the 2010s and early 2020s, but then the market flattened and a profession that looked like it might grow uninterrupted started shedding jobs. Laid off twice this year from Minnesota IT jobs, Deneen said he’s found it hard to snag the next gig. “Before I could have three, four offers lined up and would have to choose between them,” the Columbia Heights man said. “It’s like I’m struggling to even get a foot in the door in places that I’m more than qualified for.” ADVERTISEMENT Even with the state’s relatively low 3.5 percen t unemployment rate, some mid-career Minnesotans and those just coming out of college are seeing a job market now that worries them. Recent layoffs at Cargill in the Twin Cities and last week’s announcement that Arctic Cat, the Minnesota snowmobile maker, will shutter its manufacturing operations next year in Thief River Falls and St. Cloud, have added to the anxiety. Analysts say Minnesota’s job market remains robust, but for some there’s a skills matchup problem as some sectors grow while others flatten or decline. “I’m not gonna lie, it’s been hard,” Deneen said of finding the next IT job. “I’ve had a lot of self-doubt now, like questioning is this really an industry I am good at? Is this something I should even be in anymore? I’m also 40. It’s like, I can’t really switch careers at this point.” Health care, government, leisure and hospitality and transportation are among the Minnesota sectors that continue to show strong job growth, according to state data. Other industries are growing slower, including construction and manufacturing. “We’ve heard from some folks that maybe it has taken a little longer than what they remember in the past if they were previously unemployed. Some individuals don’t say that at all,” said Sara Garbe, workforce development supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. “November and reaching December, we certainly see a slowdown of hiring and folks may mention things like that they’ve heard from recruiters that maybe a decision won’t be made until after the holidays or after the first or the last quarter of the year,” added Garbe, whose staff works with new job seekers and those in mid-career. For recent college grads who haven’t landed work, the holiday season can bring its own pressures. ADVERTISEMENT Raina Hofstede, 22, studied English at Harvard University. Since graduating in May and coming back to Minnesota, she said job prospects have been nearly nonexistent. “I feel kind of directionless in the time period that I’m waiting,” said Hofstede, who grew up in Coon Rapids. “I feel like I really want to plan. I’m at a point where, like, I’d love to get things moving.” She’s applied to post-undergrad internships and career-advancing work. She’s looking into publishing, creative writing spaces and museums and hopes a stint working in comedy clubs while at Harvard might intrigue an employer. The search and the uncertainty around it is a grind, she acknowledged. “I think, as time goes on, and this feels sad, but I think as time goes on, my belief in myself slowly drops a little bit more with more rejections, and so I feel like I’ll be applying to less and less competitive things as I move forward,” Hofstede said. ' Minnesota showed strong steady job growth coming out of the Great Recession in 2009, reaching nearly 3 million jobs by February 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic torpedoed that growth — the state lost more than 400,000 jobs, nearly 14 percent of its employment, in the span of a few months. Job counts didn’t return permanently to pre-pandemic levels until September last year. The current state and national unemployment rates are relatively low, although they have ticked up over the past year. Minnesota’s unemployment rate is lower than the U.S. unemployment rate at 4.2 percent. Based on the most recent data, Minnesota has six unemployed people for every 10 job openings where nationally there are nine unemployed people for every 10 openings. ADVERTISEMENT Knowing that doesn’t make it easier for those looking for work, waiting for answers from prospective employers. “It just kind of feels like they have no respect for a candidate or their time, or them as a person,” Deneen said of the current market. “It’s an entire game, and it shouldn’t be this way.” Garbe said technology is transforming job searches in ways that may make landing work more challenging for some in mid-career or just starting out. Companies are using automated systems or in some cases artificial intelligence systems to screen applicants before a human gets to them. She encourages job seekers to reach out to one of DEED’s more than 50 CareerForce offices across the state where analysts can review resumes or cover letters with job seekers and offer help with writing and strategy. They can also connect people to needed training or certifications. Garbe also suggests reflecting on what you’ve accomplished to boost your self-confidence if you get overwhelmed. Social media has become a resource for job seekers as they look. Groups on Reddit like r/StudentJobSearch have become a space for venting and advice with conversations about job searching and applications. LinkedIn is also seeing similar support groups, including two Deneen is in that focus on networking and project management. ADVERTISEMENT Hofstede said she’s found solace leaning on those around her who are going through these same experiences. She and a group of new graduates meet at their public library to sift through job postings and work on cover letters and resumes together. “Something of a little community of people who are unemployed and looking for jobs, and I like having the friends support,” she said. “It is harder to go through something uncertain like this alone.”OpenAI could reportedly give Microsoft access to its as-yet-unrealized artificial general intelligence (AGI). As it stands now, the artificial intelligence (AI) startup has a provision that blocks Microsoft from accessing OpenAI’s AGI, or AI that can think and perform tasks at or above the level of humans. However , OpenAI is considering removing that rule from its corporate structure, allowing Microsoft — its biggest benefactor — to continue to invest and access OpenAI technology once AGI is achieved , the Financial Times (FT) reported Friday (Dec. 6), citing sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, OpenAI initially added the provision to protect AGI from being misused for commercial purposes, giving ownership of the technology to its nonprofit board. “AGI is explicitly carved out of all commercial and IP licensing agreements,” the company’s website says. However, the FT said , this clause could limit the value of OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft, which has invested more than $13 billion into the startup. The company will need more funding as it competes with much wealthier rivals in the AI race, like Amazon and Google. OpenAI — recently valued at $150 billion — began as a nonprofit research lab but is now restructuring to transform into a public benefit corporation. Source told the FT that — as part of these changes — the company is discussing new terms with Microsoft and other investors. “When we started, we had no idea we were going to be a product company or that the capital we needed would turn out to be so huge,” CEO Sam Altman told a New York Times conference last week, per the FT. “If we knew those things, we would have picked a different structure. “We’ve also said that our intention is to treat AGI as a mile marker along the way. We’ve left ourselves some flexibility because we don’t know what will happen,” added Altman, who could for the first time gain a direct equity stake in OpenAI under the restructure. It’s also not clear when AGI will arrive, though Altman said at the same conference that it will happen “sooner than most people in the world think and it will matter much less .” Earlier this year, OpenAI board member Adam D’Angelo predicted that AGI would happen “within five to 15 years,” calling it a “very, very important change in the world when we get there.”Diamcor Mining (CVE:DMI) Shares Down 16.7% – Should You Sell?

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. to Issue Quarterly Dividend of $1.25 (NASDAQ:MPWR)

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Bryce Thompson scored 17 points, Marchelus Avery had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Oklahoma State beat Miami 80-74 on Friday in the consolation bracket of the Charleston Classic. Oklahoma State (4-1) will play in the fifth-place game on Sunday, while Miami (3-2) will try to avoid going winless in the tournament. Oklahoma State led 43-27 at halftime after making 8 of 15 from 3-point range, while Miami was just 8 of 27 overall. Four different Cowboys made a 3-pointer in the first half, with Brandon Newman making three. Thompson banked in a shot early in the second half to give Oklahoma State a 20-point lead at 49-29. Miami, which opened the game by missing 7 of 8 shots, went 1 for 8 from the field to begin the second half. Miami trailed by double figures the entire second half until Matthew Cleveland made a difficult shot in the lane while being fouled. He made the free throw to pull the Hurricanes within 75-67 with 49 seconds left. Arturo Dean restored a double-digit lead by making two free throws at 43.8. Thompson reached the 1,000 career points with the Cowboys on a shot in the lane with 13:01 left in the second half to give Oklahoma State a 55-38 lead. Nijel Pack scored 20 points and Brandon Johnson had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Miami. Cleveland finished with 11 points, and Lynn Kidd and Paul Djobet each had 10. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballClick with care: Rise in online travel scamsBrookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. stock falls Monday, underperforms market

In 2020, a conspiracy theory spread across social media claiming that online home goods retailer Wayfair was involved in child trafficking . People claimed that odd pricing and certain product names were evidence of the theory. VERIFY reader Leslie emailed us to ask if Wayfair was ever involved in the sex trafficking of children. THE QUESTION Is Wayfair involved in the sex trafficking of children? THE SOURCES National Center on Sexual Exploitation DeliverFund , a nonprofit intelligence agency that uses technology to help law enforcement fight human trafficking Polaris , organization that operates the U.S. National Human Trafficking hotline Original VERIFY reporting in 2020 Statement from Wayfair Statement from Wayfair to the BBC in 2020 THE ANSWER No, there is no evidence to support the claims that Wayfair was involved in the sex trafficking of children. WHAT WE FOUND When the conspiracy theory first spread in 2020, people on social media pointed to Wayfair products with strange names and disproportionately high prices as proof that the online furniture store was involved in child trafficking. These products included a “Samiyah Storage Cabinet” priced at over $14,000 and a “Duplessis Zodiac Sign Astrological Constellation Personalized Throw Pillow” at $9,999. At the time, people claimed that these products shared the names of girls that were reported missing. The theory followed that the products had high prices because they were fronts for selling the missing girls. Wayfair told the BBC in 2020 that the prices were accurate for the industrial grade cabinets and were the result of a glitch in the case of the pillows. Wayfair gave VERIFY a similar statement when asked to comment in 2024. "There is, of course, no truth to these claims," Wayfair told VERIFY. "The products in question are industrial grade cabinets that are accurately priced. Recognizing that the photos and descriptions provided by the supplier did not adequately explain the high price point, we temporarily removed the products from the site to rename them and provide a more in-depth description and photos that accurately depict the product to clarify the price point. We also corrected another pricing issue that was resulting in other products such as throw pillows being priced incorrectly. Multiple news outlets published stories to debunk the theory. " The viral social media posts frequently linked products to girls who were no longer missing. Multiple anti-trafficking groups said the claims were unproven and likely false. “We believe that the accusations being leveled against Wayfair regarding sex trafficking are lacking credibility in significant ways and, in many places, demonstrably false,” the National Center on Sexual Exploitation said at the time. In 2020, VERIFY found that the family of Samara Duplessis, a missing girl purportedly linked to the overpriced pillows, reported she was back home a couple of months before the Wayfair conspiracy became widespread. When VERIFY searched Wayfair for “Duplessis” products in 2020, we found the name attached to a number of different items that were considerably less expensive than the pillow. When VERIFY searched Wayfair’s site again on Dec. 2, 2024, we found it’s using the “Duplessis” name for at least one product, a rug selling for $144.99 , years after the missing girl was found. As for the reference to the cabinets in the original rumors, people claimed that there was a missing teenager from Ohio named Samiyah, too. But VERIFY was unable to find any evidence that a girl by that name was missing, and a teenager some people believed to be Samiyah refuted that she was missing in a video posted to her Facebook account. Wayfair told the BBC in 2020 that the expensive cabinets were “industrial size,” meant for business or commercial use and that the $14,000 price point was accurate. “We have temporarily removed the products from our site to rename them and to provide a more in-depth description and photos that accurately depict the product to clarify the price point,” Wayfair told the BBC in 2020. Another example of a missing teenager’s name possibly matching a Wayfair product was Mary Durrett to a Durrett coffee table. But she went missing in 2017 and was found safe two days after she was first reported missing. The claim connecting her to the coffee table listing was posted three years later. Many anti-trafficking organizations addressed the rumors in 2020. They all said the claims lacked credibility. “We identified early on that this was a likely hoax or a case of overexuberance by someone who did not have the expertise and data-driven approach that DeliverFund has,” Michael Fullilove, chief of operations for DeliverFund , a nonprofit intelligence agency that uses technology to help law enforcement fight human trafficking, said in 2020. “Based on the original source of the information, we were able to use open source intelligence techniques to determine that it was highly unlikely that the trafficking of children was taking place through the sale of expensive items on Wayfair,” Fullilove said. Polaris , which operates the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, said the claims were unsubstantiated and did more harm than good. People overwhelmed the hotline to make reports related to the conspiracy, increasing wait times and potentially denying trafficking victims from reaching the hotline. The theory also resulted in harassment and privacy intrusions of people mistakenly believed to be victims, as well as broad sharing of online sexual abuse material of real victims never connected to the Wayfair conspiracy, Polaris said. Polaris pointed out that trafficking is rarely perpetrated by a total stranger who kidnaps children and is instead usually perpetrated by people the victims know or even love and trust. Scenarios where the trafficker locks up or imprisons the victim with literal shackles make up a minority of trafficking cases despite it being the common public perception of trafficking, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation said. Traffickers usually groom their victims and keep them captive through forms of psychological abuse, manipulation and coercion that can be difficult to identify. There are real cases in which sex trafficking is perpetrated online, usually through prostitution sites and pornography websites, according to the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation said in 2020 that traffickers were increasingly using “popular social media apps such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok to identify, groom and exploit children in the online space.” Anti-trafficking organizations say that sharing viral, unsubstantiated trafficking rumors online is generally unhelpful to trafficking victims. What’s more helpful, these organizations say , is to learn how to identify real, common cases of trafficking to spot victims who need help. Related Articles No, most sex trafficking victims are not kidnapped by strangers There’s no evidence sex traffickers use tactics in viral warnings to target victims Claim that 320,000 migrant children went missing during the Biden administration is misleading The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter , text alerts and our YouTube channel . You can also follow us on Snapchat , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . Learn More » Follow Us YouTube Snapchat Instagram Facebook TikTok Want something VERIFIED? Text: 202-410-8808None

The arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) into the mainstream has supercharged shares of semiconductor giant Advanced Micro Devices ( AMD 0.63% ) . Last December, the stock was at a 52-week low of $116.37, but in 2024, it topped $227.30. Since reaching that record high in March, AMD's share price has pulled back, and the stock was down about 6% in 2024 through Nov. 18. Given that price decline, does this mean the fervor over AI is done? Or is the stock's drop a signal that now is the time to buy? Let's examine the company in detail to help you decide. AMD's success with AI AMD was once known primarily as a purveyor of semiconductors for the video game industry. Now, the chipmaker is transforming into an AI juggernaut under the leadership of CEO Lisa Su. Su's 10th anniversary as CEO is this year, and she sees great potential for the company: "Looking out over the next several years, we see significant growth opportunities across our data center, client, and embedded businesses driven by the nearly insatiable demand for more compute." AMD's performance supports her point. Customers operating data centers, which house cloud computing servers for AI, began adopting the company's chips over the past year, and its sales to this market have exploded. In its fiscal third quarter, ended Sept. 28, data center segment revenue rose 122% year over year to a record $3.5 billion. This division accounted for over half the company's total third-quarter sales of $6.8 billion, helping AMD achieve 18% year-over-year growth. The company's data center customers include tech luminaries such as Microsoft , Meta Platforms , and Uber . Just Meta itself purchased 1.5 million units of AMD's EPYC computer processor for its cloud servers. Rising demand for AMD's AI solutions The company's third-quarter data center success is a substantial change from 2023, when sales represented $1.6 billion of its $5.8 billion in total third-quarter revenue. The ability to quickly seize the sudden surge in demand for AI-related semiconductor products illustrates that its evolution into an AI powerhouse is working. The customer demand for chips to power AI not only remains high, but year-over-year sales growth is also accelerating, which indicates the company is successfully capturing an increasing share of this AI demand. Quarter Data Center Revenue YOY Change Q3 2024 $3.5 billion 122% Q2 2024 $2.8 billion 115% Q1 2024 $2.3 billion 80% Q4 2023 $2.3 billion 38% Data source: AMD. YOY = year over year. AI chip demand isn't coming just from data centers. The client segment, which represents products sold to the personal device market (including semiconductors for laptops), is also seeing strong sales growth. In the third quarter, the client segment's revenue reached $1.9 billion, a 30% year-over-year increase. Together, the data center and client divisions accounted for 80% of third-quarter revenue. Management expects this AI demand will drive even greater growth in its fiscal fourth quarter, estimating quarterly revenue to reach about $7.5 billion, an impressive 22% year-over-year increase from $6.2 billion. AMD's AI transformation As CEO Lisa Su indicated, this AI demand is expected to last years, which is why her company is doubling down on its acquisitions. It bought Silo AI in August to help customers integrate AMD hardware into their AI tech, and plans to acquire ZT Systems, an expert at implementing AI-related infrastructure. Thanks to its strong top-line performance, the bottom line is growing as well. Third-quarter net income was up 158% year over year to $771 million. This raised diluted earnings per share (EPS) to $0.47, a 161% jump from the prior year. With AI demand showing no sign of slowing down, and considering AMD's growing strength in capturing its share of this market, the company is a great long-term investment . The question is whether now is the time to buy. One factor to consider is the company's forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E ratio) , which is a way to assess the relative value of a stock by telling you how much investors are willing to pay for every dollar of earnings. AMD stock is trading around 42 times forward earnings at the time of this writing. That's a decline from the valuations it was commanding earlier in the year -- valuations that were so elevated, they were higher than the forward P/E for AI darling Nvidia . Data by YCharts . AMD stock fell recently after management announced job cuts in areas it is de-emphasizing to shift resources toward its AI-related businesses. With its price drop, the forward P/E is now below Nvidia's. You could wait for shares to drop further, but the stock's current valuation is more reasonable now, and that means it's a good time to consider buying shares in AMD.Washington : Mexico and Canada have hit back at Donald Trump’s tariff plans, warning about the potential economic impact and urging the president-elect to choose cooperation over the prospect of retaliatory trade wars. In an ominous but unsurprising development on Monday, Trump announced on social media that he intended to slap heavy tariffs on America’s neighbours and top trading partners as soon as he returns to the White House in January. Donald Trump speaks on the southern border with Mexico in August. Only a fraction of his “beautiful wall” was built during his first term – and mainly to replace older dilapidated sections. Credit: AP Under the plan, Trump says a 25 per cent tariff would be imposed on Canada to the north and Mexico at the southern border unless they crack down on drugs and illegal immigrants coming into the US. In addition, he threatened that China would receive “an additional 10 per cent tariff” on top of tariffs already in place on Chinese goods unless the country implements the death penalty for drug dealers connected to the fentanyl trade. But as global markets digested the news, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum warned the tariff hike would fail to curb illegal migration or the consumption of illicit drugs in the US. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said the tariffs would hurt her country and the US. Credit: Getty Images She also described the plan as “unacceptable” and something that “would cause inflation and job losses in Mexico and the United States”. “One tariff will follow another and so on, until we put our common businesses at risk,” Sheinbaum said in a letter to Trump, which she read at her daily press conference and planned to send to the president-elect later in the day. “Dialogue is the best path to achieve understanding, peace and prosperity for our two countries ... I hope our teams can meet soon.” Mexico is currently the United States’ top trade partner, representing 15.8 per cent of total trade, followed by Canada at 13.9 per cent. But Trump made it clear during his election campaign that he would readily use tariffs as leverage to tackle the tide of illegal immigrants coming into America. After Trump’s social media post, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to the president-elect as he sought to tamp down concerns about the potential impact on his country’s economy. Trevor Tombe, an economist who authored a report on the consequences of US tariffs on Canada’s economy, warned a recession was likely if Trump followed through on the 25 per cent tariff. The country’s premiers have warned a trade war would cause immense damage to their respective economies, while the Canadian dollar fell to its lowest level since May 2020. Trudeau, who has called an emergency meeting with worried provincial premiers for Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), told reporters he had a “good call” with Trump. Then-president Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2019. Credit: AP “We obviously talked about laying out the facts, talking about how the intense and effective connections between our two countries flow back and forth,” he said. “This is a relationship that we know takes a certain amount of working on, and that’s what we’ll do.” In an echo of Trump’s politics, Trudeau initiated a U-turn on immigration, restricting flows of new migrants. He said last week Canada’s system had been exploited by “bad actors”. Trump’s vision for tariff hikes on Mexico, Canada and China were laid out in a Truth Social post on Monday night. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” he said. In a follow-up post, he also announced that the US “will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America”. The reason, he said, was China’s failure to curb the number of drugs entering the US. China is a major producer of precursor chemicals that are acquired by Mexican drug cartels and others to manufacture fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that accounts for about 70 per cent of all drug overdoses in the US. “Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before,” Trump said. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here .Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise prices, won't rule out revenge prosecutionsSyrians rejoice as Assad flees, ending brutal reign