Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs leaves game because of concussion
Arguably the biggest house at the Eastern Montana Fairgrounds has a new man in charge, and it is a name that is very familiar to the people of Miles City. Mike Lavin, who has lived in Miles City for four years, is filling the new role of events coordinator at the Custer County Events Center, which opened in 2021. Lavin, who came to Miles City from Las Vegas, Nev., comes from a sound, speaker, and technology background, and has spent years installing sound and speaker systems at various venues. Before coming to Miles City, he was a professional audio engineer at the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas. Since coming to Miles City in 2020, he has installed numerous sound systems in the community, including the current sound system at the Custer County Events Center. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get our free email newsletters — latest headlines and e-edition notifications.Pop icon Madonna has found herself in the middle of a heated controversy after sharing AI-generated images of herself with Pope Francis. The provocative photos, created using artificial intelligence, show Madonna in a series of poses with the religious leader, leading to intense backlash on social media. The images have triggered widespread debate about the ethical implications of using AI to blend sacred symbols with modern art and personal branding. Fans and critics have slammed the pop star of crossing boundaries and others debating the intersection of technology, creativity, and faith. Social media reactions: Fans and followers share outrage Following Madonna’s recent social media post featuring AI-generated images of herself with Pope Francis, fans and followers have flooded the internet with sharp reactions. The provocative image has ignited widespread debate, and social media users are not holding back their opinions. Here’s what people are saying: One user remarked, "That is very creepy!" expressing how unsettling they found the image. Another added, "So inappropriate," highlighting the perceived disrespect in the post. A confused user questioned, "What the hell is this?" showing their shock at the unexpected post. One response was blunt: "Seriously? She's too old," criticizing the use of AI-generated images for attention-seeking behavior. Another plea came through: "Stop AI please," reflecting concerns about the overreach of artificial intelligence in blending sacred imagery with modern trends. A user labeled it as "a mockery," emphasizing how the image has triggered feelings of offense among many viewers. One said, "She now has to stoop to that level for attention," accusing the singer of desperation for publicity. Another comment read, "Madonna is desperate for attention," suggesting that the move was calculated and unnecessary. One viewer remarked in disbelief, "What is wrong with this old lady?" questioning her intentions behind sharing the image. Many are now grappling with the ethics of technology meeting tradition, as reflected by a comment that said, "Madonna's AI-generated images of Pope Francis are causing a stir. Are we crossing a line when tech meets tradition? Ethics in AI just got a whole lot messier." This has prompted an ongoing conversation about the ethical boundaries of artificial intelligence in social media and art.
Massey students back to class after bomb threat, but frustration expressed over incidents
'Conspiracy theorist' lawmaker reveals why he's 'vindicated' by report disclosing number of FBI spies on January 6 Rep. Thomas Massie has wondered for years if the feds were involved in J6 CLICK HERE: Sign up for DailyMail.com's daily U.S. politics newsletter By JON MICHAEL RAASCH, U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 19:03 GMT, 13 December 2024 | Updated: 19:51 GMT, 13 December 2024 e-mail 14 View comments A Republican lawmaker says a bombshell report revealing the FBI had spies on the ground on January 6 backs up his suspicions. Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie for years has grilled officials on whether the federal government had any agents or sources at the Capitol riot. Attorney General Merrick Garland , FBI Director Christopher Wray and FBI Inspector General Michael Horowitz all told Massie they either didn't know or were unaware of a federal presence at the January 6 events. But following years of investigation by the FBI, Horowitz finally published an internal review on what happened on Thursday, including an admission that federal assets were not only in the crowd outside the Capitol , but some even went inside. 'For years I was called a conspiracy theorist for asking Garland, Wray, and Horowitz whether government assets participated in J6,' Massie posted on X Friday. 'Yesterday I was vindicated,' he continued. 'DOJ IG report confirms there were FBI confidential human sources in the crowd, entering the Capitol, and breaking laws.' Attached to his post was a edited video playing his questions to the top law enforcement officials in the years since January 2021. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., wrote on X that he feels vindicated for his efforts to uncover whether federal officials were in the crowd at the January 6 protest after an FBI report published this week revealed confidential human sources were present Pro-Trump protesters, including Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs, (plaid shirt at bottom center of frame,) gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 The clips show Massie questioning Garland, Wray and Horowtiz at different congressional hearings about what they knew and when. They didn't provide the Republican with how many assets were there, often claiming to have zero knowledge on that topic, despite their powerful positions atop the DOJ. 'We found no evidence in the materials we reviewed or the testimony we received showing or suggesting that the FBI had undercover employees in the various protest crowds, or at the Capitol, on January 6 ,' the report released Thursday stated. But the inspector general revealed that the DOJ had 26 confidential human sources working for the FBI in Washington, D.C., during the protests. Confidential human sources work with the FBI to offer them information and insights about the inner workings of organizations threatening the country, such as criminal, terrorist and espionage networks. According to the DOJ, these informants can be cashed out for the information they pass along to the feds. During the Capitol riot four of the confidential human sources entered the Capitol building, 13 of them entered the restricted area around the Capitol. The report stated that none of the confidential sources were authorized to enter the Capitol or break the law, but that four of them did. Protestors on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 President-elect Donald Trump signaled Sunday night that he intends to use Joe Biden's pardon of his son Hunter to his own advantage and pardon January 6 defendants The FBI report further noted there was a confidential human source who was in contact with the leadership of far-right groups such as the Oath Keepers, and were aware of plans discussed by the Proud Boys. According to the Justice Department, 140 police officers were assaulted during the attack on the Capitol, including 80 U.S. Capitol Police officers and 60 from DC's Metropolitan Police Department. Vice President JD Vance reacted to the report on social media Thursday afternoon. 'For those keeping score at home, this was labeled a dangerous conspiracy theory months ago,' he wrote. 'None of the CHSs who entered the Capitol or a restricted area has been prosecuted to date,' the report notes. It comes after Trump signaled Sunday night that he intends to use Joe Biden's pardon of his son Hunter to his own advantage and pardon January 6 defendants. 'Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!' Trump wrote, in his first public comment since Biden announced the pardon. FBI Politics Share or comment on this article: 'Conspiracy theorist' lawmaker reveals why he's 'vindicated' by report disclosing number of FBI spies on January 6 e-mail Add commentPlateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has said there is a major improvement in the security situation in the state The governor said President Bola Tinubu has been supportive and committed to the security situation in the state Mutfwang made the comment during his visit to President Tinubu's residence in Bourdillon, Lagos, on Saturday, December 28 CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has announced a significant improvement in the state's security situation in 2024. Speaking to State House correspondents after visiting President Bola Tinubu in Lagos , Mutfwang attributed the progress to security forces' efforts, technology investment, and community mobilization. He noted that, unlike in 2023, Plateau State was able to celebrate Christmas with relative peace, thanks to the President's concern and support . Mutfwang acknowledged that, while not all challenges have been resolved, the overall security situation is improving. Plateau governor promised continued efforts against crimes Read also Wike vs Fubara: Peter Odili makes fresh allegations on Rivers political crisis The governor assured the public that his administration will continue to work hard to prevent criminal activities from thriving within the state's borders. The governor expressed his commitment to reassuring the people of Plateau State and instilling confidence in Nigerians, particularly those considering investing in the state. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! Mutfwang's remarks come after a visit from the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who commended Mutfwang for his commitment to addressing security challenges in the state. Abubakar noted a significant improvement in security and assured the state government of his determination to combat banditry, farmer-herder clashes, and other regional security issues. Governor Mutfwang's administration has made significant strides in improving security in Plateau State, and the governor is optimistic about the future. He believes that 2025 will be an even better year, with the right climate and environment for investment and growth. See the video of his interview here: Read also Ex-President Jonathan's former ADC dies, details emerge Governor Mutfwang denied dumping PDP for APC Legit.ng earlier reported that Plateau state governor Caleb Mutfwang has again dismissed the claim that he had left the PDP and joined the APC . The governor said the claims were the work of mischief workers who were seeking to create confusion in the state and cast doubt on his loyalty to the PDP . Governor Caleb then maintained that there had been an ongoing discussion between the PDP in the state and North Central to resolve the party's internal crisis. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ngMalique Ewin finished with team highs of 17 points and seven rebounds to lead the Florida State Seminoles to a 92-59 victory over the Massachusetts Minutemen in each team's final game of the Naismith Hall of Fame Tip-Off on Sunday afternoon in Uncasville, Conn. The Seminoles (6-1) won their third consecutive game and went 2-0 in the event as they pulled away in the second half, leading by as many as 36 points. It's Florida State's best start since the 2019-20 season when it went 7-1. UMass (1-5) dropped its fifth in a row following a season-opening win over New Hampshire despite a strong game on Sunday from Jaylen Curry, who scored 17 points. Curry, with six free throws, helped propel the Minutemen on a 10-0 run over a four-plus minute span in the first half to take a 24-23 lead with 4:22 left. FSU closed the half on a 13-3 run to lead 37-27 at halftime. A 15-4 surge to open the second half helped the Seminoles break the game open. Florida State's defense frustrated UMass shooters throughout the contest, especially on the perimeter, limiting the Minutemen to 3-for-24 shooting (12.5 percent) from 3-point range and 18-for-58 (31 percent) overall. The Seminoles finished with 22 points off 17 UMass turnovers. On the flipside, Florida State had one of its best shooting games of the season. The Seminoles moved the ball well throughout the game and finished with 25 assists while only turning the ball over 10 times. The Seminoles shot 33 for 58 (57 percent) from the field and made 9 of 18 three-pointers to put together a season-high scoring output. Once again, Florida State shined thanks to its depth as 10 players scored and four scored in double figures. The Seminoles were able to have 16 players participate in the game as well. Jamir Watkins finished with 14 points while Jerry Deng and Justin Thomas each had 10 points. For UMass, Daniel Rivera finished with 12 points and six rebounds while Nate Guerengomba had 10 points. Daniel Hankins-Sanford collected a game-high 13 rebounds. --Field Level Media
KUWAIT: The Ministry of Finance announced on Sunday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to advance digital transformation, develop financial and administrative systems, and enhance training and artificial intelligence. The MoU was signed in Seattle, with Kuwait’s Undersecretary of Finance, Aseel Al-Munifi, representing the country and Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Public Sector, Angela Heise, signing on behalf of the company. The agreement follows a series of meetings between the two sides over the past few months. In September, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah met in New York with Microsoft Chief Commercial Officer Judson Althoff to discuss potential economic and investment cooperation. Building on that dialogue, Minister of Finance Noura Al-Fassam met with Microsoft official Angela Heise the following month to explore opportunities for collaboration, particularly in the areas of digitization and artificial intelligence. During the meeting, Microsoft outlined its support for Kuwait’s digital transformation goals, with a focus on enhancing cybersecurity and accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies. Both parties agreed to continue their discussions, which ultimately led to the formal agreement announced on Sunday. The MoU aims to establish a timeline for developing financial systems and services, accelerating digital transformation through the latest technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and cloud services. It is part of the ministry’s efforts to enhance its financial systems and services, especially for government entities. Microsoft has committed to providing technical support to help the ministry achieve its goals. Additionally, Al-Munifi met with Kirk Arthur, Microsoft’s Business Strategy Leader for the public sector, who outlined the steps Microsoft follows in its global partnerships with government entities. The ministry also plans joint workshops with Microsoft to develop a detailed cooperation plan, define necessary steps for each program, and identify the expertise required to implement the plans and address issues within a clear, specific timeline.
Lebawit Lily Girma | (TNS) Bloomberg News When winter rolls around, travelers predictably turn their attention to beaches. And this year, it’s the destination that comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean” that’s experiencing outsize demand from Americans planning a warm island vacation. Talk about trashing stereotypes. Related Articles Travel | Would you pay $700 a night to sleep under the stars at this Colorado resort? Travel | Thailand’s starring role in ‘The White Lotus’ is about to pay off Travel | 5 under-the-radar travel destinations the UN says you should visit Travel | Gift ideas for people planning their next trip Travel | Lights and decor, réveillon meals make Christmastime special in New Orleans Puerto Rico has recovered overseas visitors (excluding those from Canada and Mexico) faster than any U.S. state or territory — a staggering 85% increase over its 2019 overseas inbound visitor levels as of 2023, according to an October study from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office. There are now more daily flights from the U.S. West Coast, and hotel bookings are 6% higher so far in this last quarter of 2024 year-over-year. It’s a trifecta of tourism growth: more visitors, but also longer stays and a higher spend that reached a record $9.8 billion in 2023, boosting small businesses as well as major brands. “We don’t have a slow season in Puerto Rico anymore,” says Brad Dean, chief executive officer at Discover Puerto Rico. Even if they’re not booking, people are dreaming about “La Isla.” By tracking flight searches for trips between November 2024 and February 2025, a measure of “inspirational” demand, tourism intelligence company Mabrian Technologies reports Puerto Rico is up 9% compared with the same period last year and leads Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and the Bahamas in the Caribbean proper. Only Costa Rica ranked higher in the wider region. Dean attributes Puerto Rico’s ongoing tourism growth to a strategic effort to reposition the island’s brand as more than a sun-and-sea destination, starting back in 2018. That led to the Live Boricua campaign, which began in 2022 and leaned heavily on culture, history and cuisine and was, Dean says, “a pretty bold departure” in the way Puerto Rico was showcased to travelers. He adds that at least $2 billion in tourism spend is linked to this campaign. “We (also) haven’t shied away from actively embracing the LGBTQ+ community, and that has opened up Puerto Rico to audiences that may not have considered the Caribbean before,” Dean says. Hotels are preparing to meet this growing demand: A number of established boutique properties are undergoing upgrades valued between $4 million and more than $50 million, including Hotel El Convento; La Concha, which will join the Marriott Autograph Collection; Condado Vanderbilt Hotel; and the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar. That’s in addition to ultra-chic options that are coming online in 2025, including the adults-only Alma San Juan, with rooms overlooking Plaza Colón in the heart of Old San Juan, and the five-star Veranó boutique hotel in San Juan’s trendy Santurce neighborhood. The beachfront Ritz-Carlton San Juan in Isla Verde will also be reopening seven years after Hurricane Maria decimated the island. The travel industry’s success is helping boost employment on the island, to the tune of 101,000 leisure and hospitality jobs as of September 2024, a 26% increase over pre-pandemic levels, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Efforts to promote Puerto Rico’s provinces beyond the San Juan metro area — such as surfing hub Rincón on the west coast, historical Ponce on the south coast and Orocovis for nature and coffee haciendas in the central mountains —have spread the demand to small businesses previously ignored by the travel industry. Take Sheila Osorio, who leads workshops on Afro-Puerto Rican bomba music and dance at Taller Nzambi, in the town of Loíza, 15 miles east of San Juan; or Wanda Otero, founder of cheese-producing company Vaca Negra in Hatillo, an hour’s drive west of Old San Juan, where you can join a cheese-making workshop and indulge in artisanal cheese tastings. “The list of businesses involved in tourism has gone from 650 in 2018 to 6,100, many of which are artists and artisans,” Dean says. While New Yorkers and Miami residents have always been the largest visitor demographic, Dean says more mainland Americans now realize that going to Puerto Rico means passport-free travel to enjoy beaches, as well as opportunities to dine in Michelin-rated restaurants, hike the only rainforest in the U.S. and kayak in a bioluminescent bay. Visitors from Chicago and Dallas, for example, have increased by approximately 40% from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, compared with the same period in 2022-2023, and more travelers are expected from Denver now that United Airlines Holdings Inc. has kicked off its first nonstop service to San Juan, beginning on Oct. 29. Previously, beach destinations that were easy to reach on direct flights from Denver included Mexico, Belize and California, but now Puerto Rico joins that list with a 5.5-hour nonstop route that cuts more than two hours from the next-best option. Given United Airlines’ hub in San Francisco, it could mean more travelers from the Golden State in the near future, too. In December, U.S. airlines will have 3,000 more seats per day to the territory compared with the same period last year, for a total of 84,731 — surpassing even Mexico and the Dominican Republic in air capacity, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, the island’s primary gateway, is projecting a record volume of 13 million passengers by year’s end — far surpassing the 9.4 million it saw in 2019. As for Hinchcliffe’s “floating island of garbage” line, Dean says it was “a terribly insensitive attempt at humor” that transformed outrage into a marketing silver lining, with an outpouring of positive public sentiment and content on Puerto Rico all over social media. Success, as that old chestnut goes, may be the best revenge. “It was probably the most efficient influencer campaign we’ve ever had,” Dean says, “a groundswell of visitors who posted their photos and videos and said, ‘This is the Puerto Rico that I know.’” ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.