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ELECTION watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) is confident that next year's elections will be one of the country's most transparent electoral exercises. "I feel that this election cycle is one of the most transparent. We have been allowed to observe nearly every electoral process," said PPCRV's IT Director Director William Yu during The Manila Times-DZRH TownHall. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.Medina-Pingree/Buchanan upends Central McLean in ND Class B volleyball quarterfinalsJon Moxley talks how AEW can learn from challenge of rapid expansion: 'We've maybe gotten things out of order'BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Nyla Harris had 14 points and Jayda Curry scored 10 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter to help No. 24 Louisville get past Colorado 79-71 on Saturday. The Cardinals led 56-55 after three quarters before pulling away in the fourth by scoring 16 unanswered points, capped by a fast-break layup by Curry, before Colorado made its first field goal of the frame with 2:48 left. Colorado scored the next six points to get within single digits at 72-63, but freshman Tajianna Roberts banked in a jumper in the lane at the other end. Izela Arenas sealed it on two free throws with 24.9 seconds left for a nine-point lead. Roberts finished with 13 and Arenas had 11 for Louisville (5-2). Frida Formann scored 25 points for Colorado (6-2). Jade Masogayo added 12 points, Nyamer Diew scored 10 and Kindyll Wetta matched her career-high with 10 assists. Formann went on a personal 8-0 run to give Colorado a 43-37 lead with 7:38 left in the third. She reached 20 points during the run, while no other player had scored in double figures. Louisville plays No. 8 Oklahoma on Wednesday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Colorado continues a five-game homestand against Tennesse Tech on Tuesday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Australia passed its first-ever Cyber Security Act on Nov. 25, introducing various measures to strengthen the nation’s defenses. Among its key provisions is a requirement that organisations report to the government if they pay ransomware criminals — a practice that has become widespread globally . The Cyber Security Act follows Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy 2023-2030. The strategy, designed to position Australia as a leader in cyber resilience, foreshadowed several measures in the law, including creating a National Cyber Security Coordinator to oversee a cohesive national cyber response. In a media release , Australia’s Minister for Cyber Security Tony Burke said the Act was “a key pillar in our mission to protect Australians from cyber threats” and that it “forms a cohesive legislative toolbox for Australia to move forward with clarity and confidence in the face of an ever-changing cyber landscape. Experts have urged IT and security leaders to update their cyber security incident response plans to consider the legislative changes, which may require them to communicate with the government in new ways in the confusing midst of a cyber security attack or crisis. How will Australia’s new cyber security law affect organisations? The two main changes impacting Australian organisations are creating a mandatory obligation to report any ransomware payments and a new voluntary reporting regime for cyber incidents. Mandatory ransomware payment reporting The government will require organisations of a certain size to report ransomware payments. While the size threshold has yet to be determined, local Australian law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth said the mandate will likely apply to businesses with a turnover above AUD $3 million. Reports must be made to the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Signals Directorate within 72 hours of a ransomware payment. If organisations fail to report these payments, they could be charged a civil penalty, which Corrs said is currently valued at AUD $93,900. SEE: The alarming state of Australian data breaches in 2024 Corrs notes that, despite the new obligation, the government’s policy is still that organisations should not pay ransoms. The government believes that paying ransoms only feeds the business model of cybercrime gangs — and there is no guarantee organisations will actually recover their data or keep it confidential. Voluntary reporting of new cyber incidents The new Act commenced a new framework for the voluntary reporting of cyber incidents . The measure is designed to encourage more free information sharing when parties suffer a cyber attack so that other private and public sector organisations and the community can benefit. Overseen by the NCSC, any organisations doing business in Australia can report incidents while being protected somewhat by a “limited use” obligation, restricting what the NCSC can do with the information. For example, reporting a significant cyber security incident will allow the NCSC, under the law, to use the information for purposes including preventing or mitigating risks to critical infrastructure or national security and supporting intelligence or enforcement agencies, Corrs said. Further measures included with Australia’s new laws IT and security pros will be impacted by several other measures included in the legislative package. IoT device security in focus Australia’s government will now have the power to enforce security standards for any Internet of Things devices . Once these standards are stipulated in legislative rules, any global suppliers must comply if they want to continue supplying to the Australian market, Corrs explained. Cyber Incident Review Board Significant cyber incidents in Australia are now likely to be reviewed by a newly enfranchised Cyber Incident Review Board. The CIRB will conduct no-fault and post-incident reviews, provide recommendations, and have the power to compel entities to provide information. Other cyber security legislation The Cyber Security Act is part of a broader legislative package, including updates to Australia’s Security Of Critical Infrastructure Act 2019 . The SOCI Act has been updated to classify data storage systems that hold business-critical data as critical infrastructure assets, among other changes. IT and security urged to review cyber incident response plans IT and security teams should review their cyber security incident response plans and integrate changes to them where necessary. This would accommodate the new mandatory ransomware payment reporting obligations and engagement with the National Cyber Security Coordinator. SEE: Australian government proposes mandatory guardrails for AI The new regulatory obligations will require organisations to adjust their plans to ensure compliance. CISOs and security teams will be key in adjusting plans and integrating these changes into future cyber security tabletop exercises. Corrs noted that the trigger for an organisation to report a ransomware payment is the payment itself rather than any receipt of a demand for payment. This will impact both how organisations manage these cyber decisions and when they choose to communicate them. Organisations may also have overlapping reporting requirements with different timelines under Australia’s privacy laws and SOCI Act if they are designated critical infrastructure companies, in addition to continuous disclosure obligations if they are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

The Jatiya Nagorik Committee yesterday demanded the dissolution of the recently formed Election Commission, replacing it with one based on the proposals to be submitted by the Election Reform Commission. "The government has been compelled by political parties to form the election commission before the Election Reform Commission submitted its proposals. Such an act is tantamount to betraying the commitment of the mass uprising," said Samanta Sharmin, spokesperson of the platform, at a press briefing at the nagorik committee's office in the capital's Bangla Motor area. The platform rejected the formation and swearing-in of the commission, saying that the new EC was formed under the fascist framework of the illegitimate president and demanded abolishing the Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2022. "We are surprised to see that the current interim government formed a search committee for the Election Commission under that law. Whereas repealing that law after the July uprising would have been logical," said Samanta. Students and people from all walks of life are stakeholders in the mass uprising, she said, adding that the chief adviser cannot make such decisions only by consulting with political parties. "We want the chief adviser and other advisers to ensure that their decision-making reflects the aspirations of the mass uprising... We hope he understands the message from students and the youth, and responds to their call." Noting that the government has already exceeded the scope and limits of a caretaker government by staying in power for more than three months, Samanta further said to establish the government's legitimacy as an active one, it must fulfil the promised reforms. "If this government leaves after one year or slightly more without completing the desired reforms and holding elections, it will face accusations of exceeding the three-month timeframe stipulated for a caretaker government, thereby questioning its legitimacy." She said they do not want to hear undesirable remarks from the chief adviser, such as "reforms would be impossible if political parties opposed them." Nasiruddin Patwary, convener of the platform, warned of taking to the streets again if any step goes beyond the spirit of mass uprising. "If the recommendations of the reform commission and the spirit of the mass uprising are ignored, we will return to the streets. We will unite the people once again and wage an unyielding protest against any government -- current or future -- that deviates from the spirit of the mass uprising." He said they envisioned a new dream after August 5, and the interim government was formed to fulfil that dream. "However, we are repeatedly disheartened by the government's failure to meet our expectations. "Political parties have a commitment to the people and are supposed to assist the government, but we do not see them fulfilling that role. Instead, we observe them becoming entangled in tender manipulation and extortion, rushing towards a hasty electoral process." He alleged that the EC helped establish a fascist regime, and holding elections without restructuring it and its laws would betray the martyrs' sacrifices. Member secretary of the platform Akhter Hossen also spoke at the briefing.

Stock market today: S&P 500 eyes fresh record as Wall Street shrugs off Trump's tariff threatEmboldened by the view from the top of the NFC North, the Detroit Lions are out to eliminate nightmare holiday gatherings when the Chicago Bears come to town Thursday for a lunchtime division duel. The Lions (10-1) are streaking one direction, the Bears (4-7) the other in the first matchup of the season between teams on opposite ends of the division. Riding a nine-game winning streak, their longest since a 10-game streak during their first season in Detroit in 1934, the Lions are burdened by losses in their traditional Thanksgiving Day game the past seven seasons. Three of the defeats are courtesy of Chicago. The Bears and Lions get together for the 20th time on Thanksgiving -- the Bears have 11 wins -- this week in the first of two meetings between the teams in a 25-day span. Detroit goes to Soldier Field on Dec. 22. "I think there's two things," Campbell said of the Thanksgiving losing streak. "Number one -- Get a W. And it's a division win that's why this huge. Number two is because the players are going to get a couple of days off. So, they have family, friends in, it'd be nice to feel good about it when you're with everybody because it's just not real fun. It's not real fun to be around." Detroit (10-1) owns the best record in the NFC but the Lions aren't even assured of a division title. Minnesota sits one game behind them and Green Bay is two games back. The Bears (4-7) sit in last place and would likely need to run the table to have any chance of making the playoffs. The Lions have been dominant in all phases and haven't allowed a touchdown in the past 10 consecutive quarters. Detroit's offense ranks first in points per game (32.7) and second in total yardage (394.3) The Lions defense has not given up a touchdown in the last 10 quarters. Rookie placekicker Jake Bates has made all 16 of his field goal attempts, including four from 50-plus yards over the past three games. Chicago shows up in a foul mood. The Bears are saddled with a five-game losing streak and Chicago's defense has been destroyed for nearly 2,000 total yards in the last four games. The Bears failed to reach the 20-point mark four times in five outings since they last won a game. In their latest defeat, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the offense perked up but they lost to Minnesota in overtime, 30-27. "We have to play complementary football for us to be able to win these games," coach Matt Eberflus said. "The games we have won, we have done that. The games we have been close we've missed the mark a little bit. Over the course of the year, it's been one side or the other, this side or that side. In this league you have to be good on all sides to win. That's what we are searching for." Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. The wide receiver trio of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Romeo Odunze combined for 21 receptions and two touchdowns while tight end Cole Kmet caught seven passes. "What I've been impressed with is just how he has grown," Campbell said. "He has grown every game but these last two I really feel like he's taken off and what they're doing with him has been really good for him and he just looks very composed. He doesn't get frazzled, plays pretty fast, and he's an accurate passer, big arm, and he's got some guys that can get open for him." Detroit's banged-up secondary could be susceptible against the Bears' veteran receivers in their bid to pull off an upset on Thursday. The Lions put two defensive backs on injured reserve in the past week and top cornerback Carlton Davis isn't expected to play due to knee and thumb injuries. Detroit offensive tackle Taylor Decker (knee) and top returner Kalif Raymond (foot) are also expected to miss the game, though Campbell expressed optimism that running back David Montgomery (shoulder), formerly of the Bears, would play. Bears safety Elijah Hicks was listed as a DNP for Tuesday's walkthrough. --Field Level Media

Hezbollah fires 200 rockets at northern, central Israel, injuring eightFirst Advantage: Larger Scale Doesn't Mean Much If Growth Is PoorKent Fire and Rescue Service called to car fire in Hawley Road, Dartford

In 1970, the groundbreaking invention known as the “Ultrasonic Bath” captured the world’s attention at the Japan World Exposition. Created by Sanyo Electric, today known as Panasonic Holdings Corp, this innovative device was likened to a futuristic human washing machine. The egg-shaped pod provided an unusual bathing experience by automatically filling with hot water, utilizing ultrasound waves, and deploying massage balls to knead users’ bodies. Fast forward over five decades, and this unconventional idea is poised for a resurgence with a modern twist. Human washing machine Osaka-based Science Co is set to unveil an upgraded version of the human washing machine, called the “Mirai Ningen Sentakuki” or “Future Human Washing Machine.” This highly anticipated device will be showcased at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion and receive support from local government organizations. Attendees at the expo will have the opportunity to see the machine in action and experience its unique features firsthand. Science Co is already working on a consumer-grade model designed for home use, which will bridge the gap between exhibition novelty and practical functionality. During an informational lecture in October, chairman Yasuaki Aoyama shared that the prototype is well on its way to completion, with approximately 70% of its development finalized. The company plans to offer trial experiences to 1,000 visitors during the expo, allowing seven to eight daily users to reserve a spot through a dedicated web platform. Fighter jet-inspired This human washing machine has undergone a striking transformation, now resembling the cockpit of a sophisticated jet fighter. Its sleek, modern design features a transparent cover that opens with a pivoting motion. Once seated in the ergonomically designed center, users are surrounded by warm water that partially fills the chamber. Embedded advanced sensors monitor vital signs such as pulse rate, allowing for precise temperature adjustments to ensure a gentle and secure washing experience. Adding to the innovation, the integrated artificial intelligence system evaluates each user’s emotional state—relaxed or excited—and projects tailored visual displays onto the transparent cover’s interior, enhancing tranquility and rejuvenation. This process, including washing and drying, can be completed in 15 minutes, offering a compact yet immersive self-care experience. AI-enhanced The revival of the human washing machine aligns with broader trends toward health technology, smart devices, and the increasing integration of AI into our daily routines. The fusion of biometric sensors and AI-driven emotional analysis represents a significant advancement in personalized wellness solutions. Such devices are revolutionizing various industries, blending convenience with cutting-edge innovation. From a market perspective, introducing a home-use model could disrupt the personal care sector, targeting consumers who prioritize efficiency, luxury, and avant-garde design. Concepts like this pave the way for a future filled with more automated, AI-enhanced self-care solutions, potentially touching everything from fitness equipment to medical diagnostics. As technology continues to evolve, the ability to customize experiences according to individual preferences will likely drive the shift towards hyper-personalization in our daily lives. In this light, the human washing machine transcends its quirky origins to become a symbol of what is possible at the intersection of technology and everyday living, highlighting the future of wellness and self-care. Its emergence signals a nostalgic nod to the past and a visionary leap into a high-tech future where personal care is seamlessly integrated with advanced technology.

Emboldened by the view from the top of the NFC North, the Detroit Lions are out to eliminate nightmare holiday gatherings when the Chicago Bears come to town Thursday for a lunchtime division duel. The Lions (10-1) are streaking one direction, the Bears (4-7) the other in the first matchup of the season between teams on opposite ends of the division. Riding a nine-game winning streak, their longest since a 10-game streak during their first season in Detroit in 1934, the Lions are burdened by losses in their traditional Thanksgiving Day game the past seven seasons. Three of the defeats are courtesy of Chicago. The Bears and Lions get together for the 20th time on Thanksgiving -- the Bears have 11 wins -- this week in the first of two meetings between the teams in a 25-day span. Detroit goes to Soldier Field on Dec. 22. "I think there's two things," Campbell said of the Thanksgiving losing streak. "Number one -- Get a W. And it's a division win that's why this huge. Number two is because the players are going to get a couple of days off. So, they have family, friends in, it'd be nice to feel good about it when you're with everybody because it's just not real fun. It's not real fun to be around." Detroit (10-1) owns the best record in the NFC but the Lions aren't even assured of a division title. Minnesota sits one game behind them and Green Bay is two games back. The Bears (4-7) sit in last place and would likely need to run the table to have any chance of making the playoffs. The Lions have been dominant in all phases and haven't allowed a touchdown in the past 10 consecutive quarters. Detroit's offense ranks first in points per game (32.7) and second in total yardage (394.3) The Lions defense has not given up a touchdown in the last 10 quarters. Rookie placekicker Jake Bates has made all 16 of his field goal attempts, including four from 50-plus yards over the past three games. Chicago shows up in a foul mood. The Bears are saddled with a five-game losing streak and Chicago's defense has been destroyed for nearly 2,000 total yards in the last four games. The Bears failed to reach the 20-point mark four times in five outings since they last won a game. In their latest defeat, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the offense perked up but they lost to Minnesota in overtime, 30-27. "We have to play complementary football for us to be able to win these games," coach Matt Eberflus said. "The games we have won, we have done that. The games we have been close we've missed the mark a little bit. Over the course of the year, it's been one side or the other, this side or that side. In this league you have to be good on all sides to win. That's what we are searching for." Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. The wide receiver trio of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Romeo Odunze combined for 21 receptions and two touchdowns while tight end Cole Kmet caught seven passes. "What I've been impressed with is just how he has grown," Campbell said. "He has grown every game but these last two I really feel like he's taken off and what they're doing with him has been really good for him and he just looks very composed. He doesn't get frazzled, plays pretty fast, and he's an accurate passer, big arm, and he's got some guys that can get open for him." Detroit's banged-up secondary could be susceptible against the Bears' veteran receivers in their bid to pull off an upset on Thursday. The Lions put two defensive backs on injured reserve in the past week and top cornerback Carlton Davis isn't expected to play due to knee and thumb injuries. Detroit offensive tackle Taylor Decker (knee) and top returner Kalif Raymond (foot) are also expected to miss the game, though Campbell expressed optimism that running back David Montgomery (shoulder), formerly of the Bears, would play. Bears safety Elijah Hicks was listed as a DNP for Tuesday's walkthrough. --Field Level MediaKosovo arrested several suspects on Saturday after an explosion at a key canal feeding two of its main power plants, while neighbouring Serbia rejected accusations of staging the blast. The explosion on Friday near the town of Zubin Potok, which sits in an ethnic Serb-dominated area in Kosovo's troubled north, damaged a canal that supplies water to hundreds of thousands of people and cooling systems at two coal-fired power plants that generate most of Kosovo's electricity. As security forces swarmed the area around the canal, whose concrete walls were left with a gaping hole gushing water, Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited the site and announced that authorities had arrested several people. Law enforcement "carried out searches" and "collected testimony and evidence, and the criminals and terrorists will have to face justice and the law", he said. Calling it "the most serious attack on critical infrastructure in Kosovo since the end of the war", Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla told the press that police had detained eight suspects. Police chief Gazmend Hoxha said that his office had seized "200 military uniforms, six grenade launchers, two rifles, a pistol, masks, knives" in the operation. "This is not a trivial attack, it was an act prepared by professional terrorist organisations," Svecla added. The arrests follow a security meeting late on Friday, when Kurti pointed the finger at Serbia. "The attack was carried out by professionals. We believe it comes from gangs directed by Serbia," he told a press conference, without providing evidence. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hit back on Saturday, denying the "irresponsible" and "baseless accusations". "Such unfounded claims are aimed to tarnish Serbia's reputation, as well as to undermine efforts to promote peace and stability in the region," he said in a statement to AFP. Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric had earlier suggested on X that the Kosovar "regime" could itself be behind the blast, calling for an international investigation. The main political party representing Serbs in Kosovo, Serb List, also condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms". AFP journalists at the scene saw water leaking heavily from one side of the reinforced canal, which runs from the Serb-majority north of Kosovo to the capital, Pristina. However, electricity supplies to consumers were running smoothly on Saturday morning, with authorities having found an alternative method to cool the plants, said Kosovo's Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli. Repair work was ongoing, authorities said, while Kurti confirmed workers had managed to restore water flows to 25 percent capacity. The European Union denounced the explosion as a "terrorist attack". "It is a despicable act of sabotage on Kosovo's critical civilian infrastructure, which provides drinking water for (a) considerable part of Kosovo's population and is a vital component of Kosovo's energy system," the bloc's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in a statement. The United States, France and Turkey joined the international condemnation of the attack. "We call on all parties to exercise restraint to avoid escalation in the region," Turkey's foreign ministry said. The NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping mission for Kosovo likewise called for restraint. "It is important that facts are established and that those responsible are held accountable and brought to justice," it said in a statement. The force is providing security in the surrounding area and has offered logistical, explosives removal and engineering support to the Kosovo authorities, it added. Animosity between ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo and Serbia has persisted since the end of the war between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian insurgents in the late 1990s. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a move that Serbia has refused to acknowledge. Kurti's government has for months sought to dismantle a parallel system of social services and political offices backed by Belgrade to serve Kosovo's Serbs. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Saturday denounced "the act of sabotage on the critical water supply infrastructure in the Iber-Lepenc Canal" in comments on X, calling it "a serious crime that endangers the lives of Kosovo's citizens and undermines the process of normalising relations in our region". Friday's attack came after a series of violent incidents in northern Kosovo, including the hurling of hand grenades at a municipal building and a police station earlier this week. Kosovo is due to hold parliamentary elections on February 9. ih/ach/giv/jhb/sbk/bc

President issues pardon for son Hunter WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, sparing the younger Biden a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions and reversing his past promises not to use the powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family. The Democratic president previously said he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence after convictions in the two cases in Delaware and California. The move last Sunday night comes weeks before Hunter Biden was to be sentenced. In a statement released Sunday evening, Biden said, “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.” LEADERSHIP VOTE: Senate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin was also reelected to the No. 2 spot and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar became the new No. 3. People are also reading... Paige Hubl, former Nebraska volleyball player and Lincoln Southeast coach, dies at age 34 Man found dead in north Lincoln, police say Lincoln Southwest vs. East boys basketball game briefly suspended due to 'unsafe environment' 'It could be very special': Why signs point to strong match between Nebraska, Pinstripe Bowl Andi's Ascent: She didn't want to play volleyball. Now Andi Jackson is the sport's next best thing Wisconsin officer grabbing Donovan Raiola's arm a 'misunderstanding,' UW police say 'Straight up theft': Lincoln craft fair organizer under fire after canceling event Nebraska defensive lineman announces he’ll return for 2025 season Tony White leaves Nebraska for Florida State defensive coordinator job 140 layoffs hit Lincoln immigration services center; more likely Taco restaurant started by brothers in Grand Island expands to Lincoln Lincoln Public Schools chief Gausman announces plans to retire Matt Rhule, Luke Fickell both downplay postgame encounter between Fickell, Donovan Raiola 'Not what we want to do': Nebraska's Matt Rhule talks pregame handshake snub with Iowa Nebraska volleyball aces first test, sweeps Florida A&M in first round of NCAA Tournament MEMPHIS PD: The Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people, according to a U.S. Department of Justice investigation report released Wednesday. The inquiry was launched after the police beating death of Tyre Nichols in 2023. CEO KILLED: A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, 50-year-old Brian Thompson, on Wednesday morning in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the assailant. Trump’s lawyers: Toss hush money conviction NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction, arguing that continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.” In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that anything short of immediate dismissal would undermine the transition of power, as well as the “overwhelming national mandate” granted to Trump by voters last month. BOEING RULING: U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor rejected a deal Thursday that would have allowed Boeing to plead guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and pay a fine for misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max jetliner before two of the planes crashed, killing 346 people. TRANSGENDER HEALTH: The Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared likely to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people. EMPLOYMENT: The Labor Department reported Tuesday that the number of job postings in the United States for October rose 5% to 7.7 million from 7.4 million in September. The increase suggests that job gains could pick up in the coming months. Still, the latest figure is down significantly from 8.7 million job postings a year ago. — Associated Press 3.09M Travelers screened by the Transportation Security Administration last Sunday, breaking the previous record by about 74,000 as the holiday weekend drew to a close. Here in California, we’re not going to spend our time, our money or our resources going backward. Immigrants are the backbone of our nation. Immigrants make America great.” — Rob Bonta, California attorney general, who said Wednesday he was preparing to protect immigrants from President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans. TAYLOR SWIFT: After more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years, the global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour will come to an end Sunday in Vancouver, Canada. The 31⁄2-hour concert, showcasing 44 songs representing 10 “eras” of her career, kicked off in March 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. By the end of 2023, it became the first concert tour to gross over $1 billion and saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent on merchandise. EMINEM: Debbie Nelson, the single mother of Detroit rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his hit song lyrics, died Monday. She was 69. No cause of death was given, although Nelson had battled lung cancer. BRAIN ROT: Many of us have felt it, and now it’s official: “Brain rot” is the Oxford dictionaries’ word of the year. Oxford University Press said Monday that the phrase “gained new prominence in 2024,” with its frequency of use increasing 230% from the year before. ELTON JOHN: Elton John says he struggled to watch his new musical because he has lost his eyesight after contracting an infection. The 77-year-old singer-songwriter attended the opening night of “The Devil Wears Prada” in London last Sunday and told the audience about the condition. John wrote the score for the stage musical based on the 2006 movie about a young journalist navigating the glamour and egos of a glossy fashion magazine. MAJOR WINTER STORM POUNDS GREAT LAKES REGION

LOS ANGELES — Until he sustained a season-ending knee injury last week in the Western Conference final, Galaxy playmaker Riqui Puig was having a tremendous season. So I heard. I watched Puig play only twice this year, once in the Galaxy's season-opening 1-1 draw with Inter Miami and a second time in his team's Fourth of July defeat to LAFC at the Rose Bowl. Outside of short highlight clips on social media, I never saw the former Barcelona prospect, not even when he assisted on the goal that sent the Galaxy to the MLS Cup final. That wasn't a reflection of my interest. Some of my friends will make fun of me for publicly admitting this, but I like Major League Soccer. I covered the league in my first job out of college and have casually kept up with it since. I take my children to a couple of games a year. My 11-year-old son owns Galaxy and LAFC hats but no Dodgers or Lakers merchandise. When flipping through channels in the past, if presented with the choice of, say, college football or MLS, I usually watched MLS. But not this year. While the MLS Cup final between the Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will be shown on Fox and Fox Deportes, the majority of games are now exclusively behind a paywall, courtesy of the league's broadcasting deal with Apple. MLS Season Pass subscriptions were reasonably priced — $79 for the entire season for Apple TV+ subscribers, $99 for non-subscribers — but I was already paying for DirecTV Stream, Netflix, Amazon Prime, PlayStation Plus and who knows what else. MLS became a casualty in my household, as well as in many others, and the possibility of being out of sight and out of mind should be a concern for a league that is looking to expand its audience. Which isn't to say the league made a mistake. This was a gamble MLS had to take. Now in the second year of a 10-year, $2.5 billion deal with Apple, MLS did what Major League Baseball is talking about doing, which is to centralize its broadcasting rights and sell them to a digital platform. Regional sports networks have been decimated by cord cutting, making traditional economic models unsustainable. The move to Apple not only increased the league's broadcast revenues — previous deals with ESPN, Fox and Univision were worth a combined $90 million annually, according to multiple reports — but also introduced a measure of uniformity in the league. The quality of the broadcasts are better than they were under regional sports networks. Viewers know where to watch games and when, as every one of them is on Season Pass and most of them are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. local time either on Wednesday or Saturday. "That's been fueling our growth and driving our fan engagement," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Friday at his annual state of the league address. Apple and MLS declined to reveal the number of League Pass subscribers, but the league provided polling figures that indicated 94% of viewers offered positive or neutral reviews of League Pass. The average viewing time for a game is about 65 minutes for a 90-minute game, according to Garber. In other words, the League Pass is well-liked — by the people who have it. The challenge now is to increase that audience. The launch of League Pass last year coincided with the arrival of Lionel Messi, which presumably resulted in a wave of subscriptions. But the league can't count on the appearance of the next Messi; there is only one of him. MLS pointed to how its fans watch sports on streaming devices or recorded television than any other U.S. sports league, as well as how 71% of its fans are under the age of 45. The league also pointed to how it effectively drew more viewers to the Apple broadcast of Inter Miami's postseason opener with a livestream of a "Messi Cam' on TikTok, indicating further collaborations with wide-reaching entities could be in its future. Garber mentioned how Season Pass is available in other countries. The commissioner also made note of how Apple places games every week in front of its paywall. "What we have, really, is a communication problem," Garber said. "This is new, and we've got to work with Apple, we've got to work with our clubs and we've got to work with our partners to get more exposure to what we think is a great product." The greatest benefit to the league could be Apple's vested interest in improving the on-field product. MLS insiders said Apple has not only encouraged teams to sign more high-profile players but also pushed the league to switch to a fall-to-spring calendar more commonplace in other parts of the world, reasoning that doing so would simplify the process of buying and selling players. The on-field product is what matters. The on-field product is why MLS continues to face competition for viewers from overseas leagues. The on-field product is why the league hasn't succeeded in converting every soccer fan into a MLS fan. And ultimately, if casual viewers such as myself are to pay to watch the Galaxy or LAFC on a screen of some kind, the on-field product will be why. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

A top US Navy admiral has warned this week that the recent move of Washington to give advanced long-range weapons to Ukraine is depleting US missile stocks. Adm. Sam Paparo, Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, told a Brookings Institution audience earlier this week that earlier in the war the US was shipping less valuable weaponry to Ukraine , which didn't deeply impact readiness for big global threats like China. More advanced defense tech is currently being shipped, and this presents a serious problem for the United States' long-term defense needs. "But now with some of the Patriots that have been employed, some of the air-to-air missiles that have been employed, it’s now eating into stocks," Paparo said . "And to say otherwise would be dishonest," the naval commander continued. Given he's in charge of the Pacific region, he underscored that this could weaken America's defense posture in the region for the long term, at a moment Beijing is vying for military primacy. Paparo emphasized that "none" of these weapons "are preserved for any particular theater, but none can move with alacrity to any theater." "Inherently, it imposes costs on the readiness of America to respond in the Indo-Pacific region, which is the most stressing theater for the quantity and quality of munitions because the [China] is the most capable potential adversary in the world," he continued, as cited in Washington Times report Friday. He called for the depleted weaponry to be restored "and then some" - and that this must be an urgent priority. Among the missile systems being given by the Biden administration to Kiev are Patriot air defense batteries, and the Army's ATACMS. European countries have also suffered the same problem of depleted domestic stockpiles. Ukraine's Western backers are at the same time trying to assist Kiev in jump-starting and expanding its own defense manufacturing sector.

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NoneRico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, has died