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Drones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.Digital Power Corp Stock Hits 52-Week Low at $5.04 Amid Steep Decline

NEW YORK, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Outbrain Inc. (NASDAQ: OB) (“Outbrain”), a leading technology platform that drives business results by engaging people across the Open Internet, announced today that, at its special meeting of shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) held earlier today, Outbrain shareholders voted to approve the issuance of 35 million shares of common stock and 10.5 million Series A Convertible Preferred Shares, which are convertible into common stock, in connection with the acquisition of Teads S.A. (the “Share Issuance Proposal”). The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close during the first quarter of 2025. “We are pleased with the outcome of today’s special meeting and extend our appreciation to our shareholders for supporting the combination with Teads,” said David Kostman, Chief Executive Officer of Outbrain. “Today’s shareholder approval marks a major milestone in the process to combine our two complementary businesses. We look forward to the closing of the transaction and becoming a global leader on the Open Internet delivering our full funnel value proposition to drive great outcomes for brands and media owners,” added Kostman.

Texas weighs social media bans for minors as schools and police face challengesBillionaires have seen their combined wealth shoot up 121 percent over the past decade to $14 trillion, Swiss bank UBS said Thursday, with tech billionaires' coffers filling the fastest. Switzerland's biggest bank, which is among the world's largest wealth managers, said the number of dollar billionaires increased from 1,757 to 2,682 over the past 10 years, peaking in 2021 with 2,686. The 10th edition of UBS's annual Billionaire Ambitions report, which tracks the wealth of the world's richest people, found that billionaires have comfortably outperformed global equity markets over the past decade. The report documents "the growth and investment of great wealth, as well as how it's being preserved for future generations and used to have a positive effect on society", said Benjamin Cavalli, head of strategic clients at UBS global wealth management. Between 2015 and 2024, total billionaire wealth increased by 121 percent from $6.3 trillion to $14.0 trillion -- while the MSCI AC World Index of global equities rose 73 percent. The wealth of tech billionaires increased the fastest, followed by that of industrialists. Worldwide, tech billionaires' wealth tripled from $788.9 billion in 2015 to $2.4 trillion in 2024. "In earlier years, the new billionaires commercialised e-commerce, social media and digital payments; more recently they engineered the generative AI boom, while also developing cyber-security, fintech, 3D printing and robotics," UBS said. The report found that since 2020, the global growth trend had slowed due to declines among China's billionaires. From 2015 to 2020, billionaire wealth grew globally at an annual rate of 10 percent, but growth has plunged to one percent since 2020. Chinese billionaire wealth more than doubled from 2015 to 2020, rising from $887.3 billion to $2.1 trillion, but has since fallen back to $1.8 trillion. However, North American billionaire wealth has risen 58.5 percent to $6.1 trillion since 2020, "led by industrials and tech billionaires". Meanwhile billionaires are relocating more frequently, with 176 having moved country since 2020, with Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and the United States being popular destinations. In 2024, some 268 people became billionaires for the first time, with 60 percent of them entrepreneurs. "The year's new billionaires were mainly self-made," said UBS. The report said U.S. billionaires accrued the greatest gains in 2024, reinforcing the country's place as the world's main centre for billionaire entrepreneurs. Their wealth rose 27.6 percent to $5.8 trillion, or more than 40 percent of billionaire wealth worldwide. Billionaires' wealth from mainland China and Hong Kong fell 16.8 percent to $1.8 trillion, with the number of billionaires dropping from 588 to 501. Indian billionaires' wealth increased 42.1 percent to $905.6 billion, while their number grew from 153 to 185. Western Europe’s total billionaire wealth rose 16.0 percent to $2.7 trillion -- partly due to a 24 percent increase in Swiss billionaires. UAE billionaires' aggregate wealth rose 39.5 percent to $138.7 billion. UBS said billionaires faced an "uncertain world" over the next 10 years, due to high geopolitical tensions, trade barriers and governments with mounting spending requirements. Billionaires will therefore need to rely on their previous distinctive traits: "smart risk-taking, business focus and determination". "Risk-taking billionaires are likely to be at the forefront of creating two technology-related industries of the future already taking shape: generative AI and renewables/electrification," UBS predicted. And more flexible wealth planning will be needed as billionaire families move country and spread around the world. The heirs and philanthropic causes of baby boom billionaires are set to inherit an estimated $6.3 trillion over the next 15 years, UBS said.

‘Raabita’ Wing established to facilitate prompt grievance resolution Srinagar: The government on Thursday accorded sanction to the establishment of ‘Chief Minister’s Public Services and Outreach Office’ under Chief Minister’s Secretariat, for ensuring efficient grievance redressal and timely public service delivery through citizen engagement. “It is further ordered that the office shall initially comprise of two wings at the central level, each headed by an Officer of the rank of Special Secretary/Additional Secretary to the Government, as under: 1) Grievance Redressal Wing (Raabita) to facilitate prompt grievance resolution and service delivery, besides oversee the performance of regional and district offices in grievance handling. 1) Public Outreach & Evaluation-cum-Feedback Wing to engage with citizens through outreach programmes across all administrative levels, PSGA monitoring, feedback collection on governance & service delivery, besides evaluation of government initiatives and recommend improvements,” according to an order issued here. The office shall: 1) Involve an integrated online grievance portal for registration, tracking & resolution of grievances, besides escalating unresolved matters to higher authorities for prompt resolution. The Information Technology Department shall incorporate a window for handling the online grievances of Raabita on the existing Samadhan Portal. The process in this regard shall be completed in 15 days. 2) Actively collect feedback/suggestions from the citizens through online/offline platforms, and improvement thereof. “Adopt a hybrid communication approach, utilizing both online platforms (portals, social media, helpline) and offline methods (public interaction, district level meetings) to ensure accessibility & responsive governance.” The staff/other modalities for the office shall be finalized by Chief Minister’s Secretariat.Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systems

NBA 2024: Every team’s Christmas wish for 2025, analysis, biggest needs, trade targets, No.1 pick race, latest newsMusic doesn’t just evoke memories — it can change how we remember the past: study⚫ World leader, soon-to-be U.S. president push to do more ⚫ Hear from prisoner ⚫ Happening within days of latest Hamas prisoner video New Jersey native Edan Alexander’s name is back in the headlines since being featured over the weekend in the Hamas terror organization’s latest hostage video. The 20-year-old Israeli American remains held by Hamas in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in Israel. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Alexander’s family in Jerusalem yesterday, according to The Times of Israel. Netanyahu vocalized to the family his commitment to “working around the clock” to free their loved one and the other hostages, according to the outlet. President-elect Donald Trump also chimed in on Monday on Truth Social and gave a stark warning if Alexander and the others aren’t released before he takes office. “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity. Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America,” Trump said on social media. Netanyahu reacted on Tuesday to Trump’s Monday post prior to the Jerusalem meeting, praising Trump for his stance and delivery. SEE ALSO: Have you seen this teen in NJ? She’s been missing for almost a month ‎"I want to thank President Trump for his strong statement yesterday about the need for Hamas to release the hostages, the responsibility of Hamas and this adds another force to our continued effort to release all the hostages,” Netanyahu said in a video featured on his official Facebook account. Alexander’s message The Nov. 30 video shared by Hamas features a headshot of Alexander with an English translation. As seen on the Bring Them Home Now Facebook page, Alexander stated his name and how long he has been a prisoner. He had a message for Netanyahu, given under coercion: “The prime minister is supposed to protect his citizens and soldiers and you neglected us... The fear is at its peak and we are dying a thousand times every day.” Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom The 10 Biggest Problems NJ Faces, According to Reddit Users Reddit users named these the biggest problems that New Jersey Faces. Do you agree? Gallery Credit: Diana Tyler

EPL: Ola Aina’s Nottingham Forest Move To 3rd SpotBy DEE-ANN DURBIN The Federal Trade Commission sued the largest U.S. distributor of wine and spirits on Thursday, saying it is illegally discriminating against small and independent businesses. Related Articles Nation | Police say suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing wasn’t a client of the insurer Nation | US hikes tariffs on imports of Chinese solar wafers, polysilicon and tungsten products Nation | Lies, damned lies, and politics: Republican source for Biden dirt admits he made it up Nation | YouTube TV is hiking its monthly price, again. Here’s what to know Nation | 3 men say in lawsuits that Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs drugged and sexually assaulted them Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits doesn’t give smaller stores access to discounts and rebates that larger chains receive, putting the smaller stores at a competitive disadvantage, the FTC alleged in the lawsuit it filed in California. “When local businesses get squeezed because of unfair pricing practices that favor large chains, Americans see fewer choices and pay higher prices — and communities suffer,” FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a statement. Miami-based Southern Glazer’s called the lawsuit “both misguided and legally flawed.” “Alcohol distributors face numerous regulations that dictate how they compete and can price and discount products, and Southern Glazer’s complies with those legal requirements,” the company said. “Southern Glazer’s strongly disputes the FTC’s allegations and will defend itself vigorously in this litigation.” Southern Glazer’s is one of the largest privately held companies in the U.S., with $26 billion in revenue from wine and spirits sales to retail customers in 2023, according to the FTC. It distributes one out of every three bottles of wine and spirits in the U.S. and serves commercial customers such as Total Wine, Costco and Kroger . The FTC’s case is based on the rarely enforced 1936 Robinson-Patman Act, which permits volume discounts but only if a seller can demonstrate they achieve real cost efficiencies. According to the FTC, Southern Glazer’s has repeatedly offered quantity discounts and rebates to large buyers that aren’t justified by the difference in the costs of distributing products. In some cases, Southern Glazer’s has charged significantly higher prices for sales of identical bottles of wine and spirits to independent retailers than to large chains that are only a few blocks away. Southern Glazer’s also doesn’t inform smaller retailers about quantity discounts, rebates and other special offers available to larger chains even when smaller stores could participate in the deals, the FTC alleged. The FTC is seeking an injunction in the U.S. District Court for California’s Central District to prohibit further price discrimination. The fate of the lawsuit under the Trump administration is unclear. Two of the FTC’s five commissioners voted not to authorize the lawsuit against Southern Glazer’s. President-elect Donald Trump recently picked one of the objecting commissioners, Andrew Ferguson , to head the FTC. In his dissent, Ferguson said the FTC had not brought a case under the Robinson-Patman Act in more than 25 years. While the act should be enforced, the FTC was unlikely to prevail in Southern Glazer’s case, he said. Ferguson said that while it’s possible the FTC might discover some instances where Southern Glazer’s price differential could not be fully justified, only “substantial price discrimination” — not isolated situations — violate the act. “The evidence presented to me does not lead me to the conclusion that such extensive, unjustified discrimination has taken place,” Ferguson wrote.

Exiled Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof's definition of home is shifting

Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systemsAP News Summary at 4:36 p.m. EST

EastEnders confirms multiple Christmas episodes won’t air early on BBC iPlayer this year

Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systemsIsrael strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away

Wheat growers promised fair profit

WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency enhanced enforcement efforts this year, doubling financial penalties issued to polluters and issuing the first-ever arrest for a climate change-related crime, the agency said in a report Thursday. The EPA said it concluded more than 1,850 civil cases, a 3.4% increase over 2023, and charged 121 criminal defendants, a 17.6% increase over the previous year. The “revitalized enforcement and compliance efforts" resulted in the reduction or elimination of more than 225 million pounds of pollution in overburdened communities, the agency said in its final report on Biden-era enforcement actions before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. The agency said it issued $1.7 billion in fines and penalties, more than double the 2023 total and the highest level in seven years. Bolstered by 300 new employees hired since last year, the enforcement program focused on “21st century environmental challenges," including climate change, environmental justice and chemical waste, said David Uhlmann, EPA's assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance. More than half the agency’s inspections and settlements involved poor and disadvantaged communities long scarred by pollution, reflecting the Biden administration’s emphasis on environmental justice issues . Enforcement efforts included first-ever criminal charges for a climate change-related crime. A California man was charged in March with smuggling climate-damaging air coolants into the United States. The case involved hydrofluorocarbons, a highly potent greenhouse gas also known as HFCs, a gas once commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners. A 2020 law passed by Congress prohibits importation of HFCs without allowances issued by the EPA. The law is part of a global phaseout designed to slow climate change. Uhlmann called enforcement of the HFC law a high priority for the United States and the world. “Alongside methane, HFCs are one of the most significant near-term drivers of climate change. And the criminal program is front and center there,'' he said. In other highlights, engine maker Cummins Inc. paid more than $2 billion in fines and penalties — and agreed to recall 600,000 Ram trucks — as part of a settlement with federal and California authorities. Cummins was found to use illegal software that let Ram trucks — manufactured by Stellantis — to skirt diesel emissions tests for nearly a decade. The fine is the largest ever secured under the federal Clean Air Act. The EPA and Justice Department also reached a $241.5 million settlement with Marathon Oil for alleged air quality violations at the company’s oil and gas operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The settlement requires Marathon to reduce climate- and health-harming emissions from those facilities and will result in over 2.3 millions tons worth of pollution reduction, officials said. Uhlmann, who was confirmed as head of the enforcement office last year, said in an interview that with the help of a spending boost approved by Congress, the agency has made “consequential changes in how we approach enforcement at EPA.'' “We’ve revitalized an enforcement program that suffered more than a decade of budget cuts and was badly hampered by the (COVID-19) pandemic,'' he said. The agency also weathered a series of actions by former President Donald Trump’s administration to roll back environmental regulations and reduce overall staffing. “We’ve strengthened the partnership between the criminal and civil programs, and we’ve also focused on moving our cases with greater urgency so that we provide meaningful results to communities in time frames that make sense to the people who are harmed when unlawful pollution occurs,” Uhlmann said. With Trump set to return to the White House, Uhlmann said he hoped enforcement would not suffer, noting that a host of civil and criminal investigations begun in the past two years could bear fruit in 2025 and beyond. Trump, who has named former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to be EPA administrator, has said he will again slash regulations and target what he calls onerous rules on power plants, factories and oil and natural gas production. Uhlmann declined to speculate on how enforcement will change under Trump but said, “Upholding the rule of law and making sure that polluters are held accountable and communities are protected from harmful pollution is not a partisan matter. We do enforcement at EPA based on the law, based on the facts, without regard to politics. “So, you know, communities should expect that EPA will continue to protect them from harmful pollution."

Six people have been arrested while six others remain wanted in connection with a daring smash-and-grab heist at a jewelry store in Markham, Ont. on Wednesday afternoon, according to York Regional Police. Videos released on social media show around 10 people kicking and tearing out the windows of LukFuk Jewellery in Markville Shopping Centre at around noon. Police say they were also using hammers to smash out the glass windows which is located near McCowan Road and Highway 7. As officers were about to arrive at the mall, police say a white Honda Civic, believed to be one of the suspect vehicles, rear-ended another vehicle at the intersection of McCowan Road and Highway 7. The car quickly emptied out as the suspects ran but police say officers nabbed four of them before they caught up with two others in the washroom of a nearby restaurant. Police did not say how many people were inside the vehicle that was rear-ended but they did note that the occupants were left with minor injuries and were taken to an area hospital as a precautionary measure. The Honda Civic was reported stolen in Toronto last month. Police say a number of the alleged robbers were also travelling inside a beige SUV as well. Four teens from Toronto between the ages of 15 and 17, as well as 19-year-old men from Toronto and Mississauga, were arrested and have been charged with robbery with an offensive weapon, disguise with intent and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. https://x.com/YRP/status/1864764866663452707 Police note that four of the people arrested and charged in this case were out on bail. “Investigators are currently seeking at least six additional male suspects, four of which were directly involved in the robbery and at least two acting as getaway drivers,” a police statement says.Liverpool punish rivals’ errors with dominant win over Leicester to stretch lead