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jili super win THERE used to be a division between the energy company’s information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) networks. However, the digitalisation of generation-transmission-distribution-retail systems has seen the convergence of these ecosystems. While making the organisation more efficient and responsive to stakeholder expectations, it has a downside. The integration of the ecosystems presents a significantly enlarged playground for cyberthreat actors to play hit-and-run games that are nefarious in intent and outcomes. What is alarming is the rise in the frequency and intensity of such cyberthreats and attacks in recent years. This has required the energy sector to scrutinise its readiness in the face of potential cyberattacks, or in some unfortunate cases, in the wake of one. While every part of the value chain is vulnerable, what is of concern is the OT space, which is not as secure as IT. This has now become the focus of energy companies. Energy Malaysia spoke to Rahayu Ramli, Head of Cyber Strategy & Architecture, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS), who provided insights on how PETRONAS and the energy sector as a whole are securing themselves against existing and oncoming cyberthreats. “The energy industry has been a geo- and socio-political tool for decades, highlighting the influence of the industry on the economy, society and way of life. “The rise of cyberwarfare as a component of national and private arsenals has only amplified the issue, moving from field wars such as in the Gulf States in the nineties to guerrilla tactics in cyberspace today due to pervasive industry digitalisation,” said Rahayu. In the complex energy sector, technology can be divided primarily into IT (for example, laptops, mobile devices, servers, cloud and similar) and OT (for example, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA), Industrial Control Systems (ICS), Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) and similar. Historically, these environments were kept mostly separate. However, the industry is seeing the lines blurring between IT and OT with the increased reliance on digital tools, the cloud, and the growing use of remote operations. There is a definitive increase in the use of Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics, the sharing of OT data, the implementation of ruggedised mobile devices and personal wearables – all extending beyond what used to be a relatively static OT security perimeter. Unfortunately, the convergence of IT and OT ecosystems is also potentially a wonderland of attack vectors and entry points into systems of varying criticality and importance. Cyberthreat actors can range from nation-state adversaries, who seek to disrupt the critical infrastructure of their foes (and allies), to hacktivists who seek to make political statements about the environment, economics or society in general. OT space vulnerability In many energy companies, there is a re-examination of the segregated approach by which OT landscapes have been previously designed and protected. “IT security has been an aspect of technology operations for decades. On the other hand, OT cybersecurity as a specific practice is a relatively new focus,” said Rahayu. “As such, there is renewed interest to ramp up security in the OT space, with new startups, products and investment channelled towards mitigating existing and oncoming cyberthreats. It is an exciting but also an unpredictable space to be in at the moment.” Besides external factors, internal ways of working may also contribute to the vulnerabilities within the connected IT and OT ecosystem, where system availability is critical and downtime avoidance is paramount. While digital transformations have spurred innovation and accelerated technological advances, the speed of application and pressure of delivery has often caused system security to take a back seat. “Eventually, it is addressed but often after a system is live and operational, and in some unfortunate cases, only after a breach or incident has occurred,” pointed out Rahayu. Additionally, increased digitalisation across a supply chain of vendors and partners is creating flexibility and options in products and services. The flip side is that it expands the exposure to unfortunate breaches or incidents, starting at one supplier and cascading down the network of companies and users. Polycrisis scenario The “Global Risks Report 2023” published by the World Economic Forum introduced the term “polycrisis”, which translates to “a cluster of related global risks with compounding effects, with an overall impact that exceeds the sum of each part”. The energy industry is no stranger to this scenario, given its volatility and uncertainty in recent years resulting from the energy transition and rapid digitalisation. The global risk scenario also includes cyber risks that are borderless. The industry as a whole expects cyberthreats to continue to increase against IT and OT assets and operations, as energy companies become more reliant on connected digital technologies to operate. Individual companies have embarked on their own journey to reevaluate and improve their security posture, acknowledging that the support required to do so is not purely driven by technology, but more importantly, must also be supported by education of the entire organisation, and a continuous review and revamp of its security capability and requirements. The work cannot be done in silo either. It requires support and collaboration across the industry to minimise blind spots that may affect everyone in the industry and the communities that interact with them. Rahayu said, “At PETRONAS, we have various cybersecurity memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with vendors to help us better focus our efforts in designing a more secure OT technology. “We also engage with other industry players for knowledge exchange and upskilling. In addition, we work closely with non-profits and academia to raise awareness on the importance of cybersecurity, of how it applies to our daily lives and to also scout for potential talent. “The general aim of these types of collaboration is that the integration of the IT and OT ecosystem across people, processes and technology will eventually lead to an equilibrium of a hybrid-skilled cybersecurity workforce (within and beyond PETRONAS), creating a more sustainable loop to manage and respond to any cyberthreat that may appear on the immediate horizon,” she added. Securing the cyberspace environment From the onset of its digital transformation journey in 2017, PETRONAS recognised the importance of establishing a cyber secure environment across the entire organisation. “It was the prerequisite for PETRONAS going digital,” said Rahayu. “As the organisation became more data-driven in decision making and needed to incorporate new and different technologies more rapidly into various portfolios, it made sure that every move was made securely. This approach became one of the cornerstones of the PETRONAS digital transformation strategy. “It saw the establishment of the PETRONAS cybersecurity function as a single point of accountability to oversee IT and OT – to govern, steer and shape the minimum requirements to sustain the targeted level of cybersecurity maturity,” she added. PETRONAS embraces OT security through the secure-by-design approach, with cybersecurity-related requirements as part of the PETRONAS Technical Standards (PTS). It began with a focused project known as the real-time OT (RTOT) programme, to design and implement a new standard, architecture and roadmap to manage its IT and OT patch management and OT asset management in near real-time. “Our OT footprint is large, thus we focused on assets considered to be the crown jewels of the organisation and continue to deploy this programme across our local and international sites,” said Rahayu. When PETRONAS completes the initial RTOT programme, it will continue to expand secure capability into other aspects of OT. “Identity is a complex area within OT,” added Rahayu. “It is an area of particular concern given the distributed nature of our OT systems. “While IT has always had the advantage in establishing more robust identity and access management, we are exploring ways to do the same for our OT environment and are working towards eliminating the use of shared accounts, establishing proper identity governance and ensuring secure remote access.” There is also emphasis on having a robust all-encompassing cybersecuritygovernance structure. The launch of the organisation-wide Enterprise Cyber Security Governance Framework (ECSGF) was followed by a customised OT programme in early 2023, underscoring its importance as well as its vulnerability. As a result, cybersecurity risk assessments are now part of the Management of Change (MOC) process for both greenfield and brownfield projects to guide design in the OT environment. These initial steps have laid the foundation for the real-time visibility of PETRONAS’s assets and cyber vulnerabilities in order to remediate based on the business criticality. Meanwhile, employees and other stakeholders are continuously kept up to date on secure behaviours through the Human Firewall programme, which emphasises the need for staying alert at work, home and play. This programme is run through a combination of training, communication and community engagements, and supported by an extensive network of cybersecurity change agents who champion the message and awareness across our business and sites. There is also continuous staff training to ensure they have the appropriate cybersecurity knowledge to support their day-to-day work. For example, business system owners are required to attend training on cyber risk management for the systems they oversee; lead OT focals at site are assigned training on OT cybersecurity upon joining and refreshed every two years to ensure they have the latest cybersecurity knowledge with respect to the systems that they work with. Protecting hotspots PETRONAS uses a risk-based approach to cybersecurity that allows it to identify critical systems effectively, thus enabling “hotspots” to be more rigorously protected, while ensuring that there are safeguards in place at every level of the company’s technological (defence-in-depth) and organisational landscape. This involves organisation-wide governance and policies as well as continuous education and awareness across the employee population. A primary concern is the OT environment, where complex systems have a much longer lifespan and maintenance/ updates require meticulously scheduled downtimes in very specific parts of the year. This is one of the main reasons why PETRONAS has deployed the RTOT programme as a priority to enhance security practices, address potential vulnerabilities and minimise the impact of cyberthreats. At the other end of the spectrum, it has been consistently shown that people remain one of the biggest weak points in any organisation. Social engineering through methods such as phishing remains a primary way into a company’s systems. According to the Cofense Phishing Report 2022, 67% of all phishing attempts are meant to steal login and password details from their victims. This is so prevalent that it is estimated that more than 90% of company networks around the world can be penetrated by cybercriminals. Breaches can occur in IT or OT in this manner, and while threat actors may not gain immediate access to a given critical system, gaining a foot in the door through an employee’s login credentials may be sufficient to drop malware, trigger a ransomware attack, or stage a long-term reconnaissance programme by lurking in their victim’s environment, an example of what’s known as Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), which can lead to even more malicious activity like data theft. Rahayu added, “I can tell you that phishing attempts remain a constant. ‘Think before you click’ is one of PETRONAS’ main cybersecurity taglines, and we also regularly see threats through potentially exploitable vulnerabilities in both new applications and older systems. “Part of being secure is accepting that threat actors have a lot of patience and creativity when it comes to planning attacks, which now is even simpler with the use of AI-augmented tools. “They also have no shame in sharing their methods, for example, entire businesses have been set up around ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS). So, one type of safeguard is never enough, and it is crucial that security is designed and applied through an enterprise lens and as an integrated part of the organisation’s strategy and operations.” Reality checks by government and industry In Malaysia, the National Critical Information Infrastructure (NCII) has been a codified priority since 2006, when the National Cyber Security Policy (NCSP) was initially developed. The energy sector features prominently among the 11 sectors identified in the NCSP. In recent years, there have been specific events that have triggered more immediate actions to re-examine the security posture of complex cyber-physical systems. These are wake-up calls, urging both proactive and defensive actions against the evolving threat landscape. While attacks such as Stuxnet on Iran’s nuclear centrifuges and the NotPetya ransomware attack may no longer be considered part of recent memory, Governments and businesses around the world are constantly kept alert by the continuous wave of cyber incidents. Among the recent newsmakers are the Solarwinds supply chain breach in 2020; the Colonial Pipeline ransomware incident and Kaseya supply chain breaches in 2021; and the MOVEit data breach in 2023 that affected hundreds of organisations and millions of individuals. The energy sector has moved towards deeper conversations regarding cybersecurity to better understand the threats that the community may face collectively. Organisations have become more open to collaboration and knowledge sharing, contributing experiences and lessons learnt to conversations across critical infrastructure forums such as those led by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and the US National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE). In 2022, the World Economic Forum launched the initiative “Cyber Resilience in the Oil and Gas Industry” as a collaboration with more than 50 companies and Government Agencies, with the goal of establishing a blueprint for governing and managing cyber risk and unifying its approach to safeguard digital infrastructure and assets. The Energy Benchmarking Group (previously known as Oil & Gas Benchmarking Group, or OGBG), provides an avenue for energy companies to review their operational benchmarks against others in the industry, while hosting strategic conversations around key topics such as safety and security. In Malaysia, there are ongoing discussions and planning to protect the country’s National Cybersecurity Information Infrastructure (NCII). There is also close collaboration with the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence for upskilling and knowledge sharing of regional talent and capabilities. Operationally, NCII stakeholders work closely with the relevant Government Agencies to ensure accurate and timely incident reporting, and to establish and maintain organisational certifications such as the ISMS ISO 27001. Malaysian energy companies are also known to collaborate with the Department of Standards Malaysia to adopt the IEC 62443 Standards to be part of the Malaysian Standards (MS). The aim of this initiative is to ensure that the standards are more accessible and affordable to local industry players, not just the end users but system integrators and vendors as well. “In the event of a cyberattack, the ability to respond and recover quickly is heavily dependent on the strong fundamental capability to identify, detect and protect the target,” adds Rahayu. The Energy Commission’s Perspective “Our regulator to ensure a secure, uninterrupted, and reliable power supply ecosystem as stipulated by the Electricity Supply (Amendment) Act 2015 that governs the Malaysian electricity supply industry,” says Khairol Fahami, Senior Deputy Director of the Information Management and Technology Unitof the Energy Commission. “The Commission expects industry players to follow proper guidelines where cybersecurity is concerned but on the whole it is up to the them to decide what works best. Companies are strongly encouraged to follow global best practices for cybersecurity,” says Khairol. “Unfortunately, the rapid convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) networks have given rise to unprecedented challenges,” he points out. “Many in the energy sector feels that cyberattacks can just strike upon them without any prior warning. What can energy companies do to protect themselves from cybersecurity attacks? The mostcrucial step is to identify areas that are vulnerable to attack and strengthen them. “From the Commission’s perspective, organisations must make the right investments to strengthen theirsecurity ecosystems. They should also have in place the correct policy and strategy to ensure the agility and flexibility to recover quickly in the event of an attack. Among their priorities should be institutional cyber hygiene. Poor cyber hygiene includes weak passwords or the lack of passwords, outdated software or poor physical security,” says Khairol. Institutional cyber hygiene is a priority at the Commission, which undergoing its digitalisation programme. As a standard practice, the Information Management and Technology Unit has a strict schedule to remind staff to change passwords and to monitor and check their emails for the slightest aberration. Regular education and engagement sessions are also held to ensure everyone plays a role in cybersecurity and befully aware of the threats that are lurking in cyberspace. “As a policy, the Commission adopts a ‘Zero Trust’ approach where cybersecurity is concerned. Anyone, willing or unwilling – or, in some cases, unknowing – could be the weak link in the cybersecurity chain,” he says. Rahayu Ramli, Head of Cyber Strategy & Architecture, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS),

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HELP THEM DRIVE LIKE A SACRAMENTO KING: GIVE THE GIFT OF A REVIVER RPLATE®Kari Dziedzic, former Minnesota Senate majority leader, dies at 62On December 23, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission issued FAQs: One-to-One Consent Rule for TCPA Prior Express Written Consent . What is the FCC’s New One-to-One Consent Rule In December 2023, the FCC adopted new rules in the Second Report and Order to combat unwanted and illegal telemarketing calls and texts, including a rule that closed the lead generator loophole. The rule expressly prohibits lead generators, texters and callers from using a single consumer written consent to inundate consumers with unwanted telemarketing robocalls and robotexts from dozens of sellers when consumers visit comparison shopping websites. The FCC made it unequivocally clear that each caller and texter soliciting consumers’ business must obtain a consumer's prior express written consent prior to making such robocalls or robotexts. Under the Commission’s new one-to-one consent rule— which takes effect on January 27, 2025 —the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s prior express written consent requirement applies to a single seller at a time. In other words, robocallers and robotexters must obtain a consumer’s written consent for marketing messages for each seller. For example, on a comparison shopping website, the consumer could check a separate box for each seller they wish to receive a robocall or robotext from. In addition, such consent must be in response to a clear and conspicuous disclosure that the consumer will receive robocalls or robotexts from each selected sellers, and the content of ensuing robotexts and robocalls must be logically and topically related to the website where the consumer gave consent. When Was the TCPA Enacted, and What is its Purpose? In 1991, Congress enacted the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”), codified in section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 USC § 227 , to address certain practices considered to be an invasion of consumer privacy and, in some instances, a risk to public safety. The TCPA generally prohibits making any nonemergency call using an artificial or prerecorded voice to any residential telephone line, wireless telephone number, or certain other telephone numbers (for example, a 911 line, other emergency telephone numbers, or a patient room at a hospital) without the prior express consent of the called party. The TCPA also prohibits making any nonemergency call using an automatic telephone dialing system (also referred to as an autodialer) to certain telephone numbers—including any wireless telephone number—without the prior express consent of the called party. The TCPA generally requires callers to get consumer consent before making certain calls to consumers using an autodialer or an artificial or prerecorded voice. FCC rules require prior express written consent for all telephone calls using an artificial or prerecorded voice to deliver an advertising or telemarketing message to wireless numbers and residential lines (such written consent is also required for calls to certain telephone numbers, including wireless numbers, using an autodialer). In addition, in a 2003 Order , the FCC explained that the TCPA applies to both voice calls and text messages. The FCC’s most recent actions have centered on a consumer’s right to revoke consent when they no longer want robocalls or robotexts and on the growing use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) in calling and texting. In a 2024 Order the FCC took steps to protect consumers by strengthening consumers’ ability to revoke consent to receive robocalls and robotexts and also required that callers and texters implement such requests in a timely manner. More recently, the FCC released a 2024 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing steps to protect consumers from the abuse of AI in robocalls. Are There Written Consent Requirements to Protect Consumers Whose Telephone Numbers are Registered in the Do-Not-Call Registry? The FCC’s Do-Not-Call (“DNC”) rules also protect consumers from unwanted telephone solicitations or telemarketing calls when the consumer has added their number to the National DNC Registry . These additional protections apply to all telemarketing calls, regardless of the technology used to make the call or whether the call is to a wireline or a wireless number. However, even if a consumer’s telephone number is listed in the DNC Registry, the consumer can provide prior express written consent to receive telemarketing calls or texts from a particular seller. To obtain prior express invitation or permission for a telemarketing call to a DNC line, the caller must meet the requirements of section 64.1200(c)(2)(ii) of the FCC’s rules: “Such permission must be evidenced by a signed, written agreement between the consumer and seller which states that the consumer agrees to be contacted by this seller and includes the telephone number to which the calls may be placed.” Why Did the FCC Adopt the One-to-One Consent Rule? In short, the FCC believes that lead generated communications were a large percentage of unwanted robocalls and robotexts and “often rely on flimsy or nonexistent claims of consent.” The FCC also states its belief that while comparison shopping websites that involve lead generation can benefit consumers by enabling them to quickly compare goods and services and discover new sellers, “new protections were necessary to stop abuse of its established prior express written consent requirement.” The FCC also states that “this rule is consistent with the Federal Trade Commission’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, which requires one-to-one consent as well.” Does the New FCC Requirement for One-to-One Prior Express Written Consent Apply When a Third Party is Added to an Ongoing Live Telemarketing Call? The FCC explained in its Second Report and Order that the new one-to-one consent rule would not affect the practice of connecting a third-party agent to a prospective customer on a telemarketing call that is not autodialed and does not include a prerecorded or artificial voice message. “Indeed, the new one-to-one consent rule has no bearing on such calls. It only applies to calls made using an autodialer or prerecorded or artificial voice.” However, if the third party seeks to reconnect with a consumer following this initial live call, the caller must obtain the necessary consumer consent if its future calls will be placed using an autodialed and/or prerecorded or artificial voice. Where Can I Find the Second Report and Order? The Second Report and Order is available, here , The Federal Register Summary of the Second Report and Order is available, here . Takeaway: Lead generators and telemarketers should consult with an experienced FTC defense lawyer ahead of the looming one-to-one consent rule effective date. Without limitation, failing to ensure lawful consent language and processes, utilizing regulated technologies (versus, for example, utilizing lawful human selection systems) with leads procured outside the constraints of the new rule, working with lead generators that do not comply with applicable legal regulations, and/or failing to adhere to the new “logically and topically” related requirement potentially expose corporate entities and individuals associated therewith to significant liability exposure.

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Trump’s Jewish outreach chief on President-elect's vision for US-Israel relationsOpinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. To contribute, click here . ••• It is no surprise that in the Dec. 13 article “Trump hedges on food price promise” the president-elect said that bringing down grocery prices will be “very hard,” which is the direct opposite of what he said on the campaign trail when stating he would bring down the prices for eggs and bacon. He also made a campaign promise that he would bring down the price of gas by at least $1 a gallon. Now he has said he is going to put a 25% tariff on Canada, who happens to be the biggest exporter of crude oil into the United States. Canada’s reply: If he does that, the price of fuel will go up! Economists across the nation warned that the president-elect’s tariff policies would increase the costs of goods for U.S. consumers. And yet 77 million Americans voted for the man who has been bankrupt six times and has repeatedly been known to fabricate the truth to get what he wants. How many warnings will voters need before they vote for policies that actually would work to lower prices? Leading economists warned us what a second term of Donald Trump’s policies would mean and now Canada has warned us. I was one of the 75 million who voted for his opponent because she had actually had policies to deal with price gouging by corporations, and with high housing and energy prices — not just rhetoric to get elected. Now all of us will have to live with the consequences of the voters who actually believed what he said. Jan McCarthy, Eden Prairie Take public safety seriously In 2021, Minneapolis voters soundly rejected a ballot measure that would have defunded and replaced the Minneapolis Police Department. Last week, the Minneapolis City Council ignored the wishes of their constituents by voting for a budget that will defund the police by cutting $1.8 million from Mayor Jacob Frey’s proposed police department budget ( “Frey cites ‘ideology’ in veto of ′25 budget,” Dec. 12 and “City Council votes to override Frey’s budget veto,” Dec. 13). Police reform and public safety are stated top priorities for the City Council, yet they voted to cut $631,000 that would have funded positions for civilian investigators (who handle nonviolent crime investigations, freeing up police officers for more serious work), essentially voting against one of the very police reform programs they champion. In addition, they cut $500,000 from the police recruitment campaign fund. Bewildering decisions by the City Council are all too common these days, but blatantly ignoring their constituents and making the city less safe by reducing the number of police officers is beyond the pale. The entire City Council is up for election next year, giving us a chance to replace them with rational council members more in tune with voters and committed to public safety. Steve Millikan, Minneapolis Skirting the real issue How very disappointing. The Minnesota Star Tribune reprinted a New York Times op-ed from UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty, giving him a forum to defend his company’s claim-denial rate without pressing him on why that rate is so high or providing any specifics about the lack of “transparency” Witty cites to downplay the damage UnitedHealthcare does ( “UnitedHealth Group C.E.O. Andrew Witty: The health care system is flawed. Let’s fix it,” StarTribune.com, Dec. 13). Here’s some of what the Star Tribune could’ve found in a 30-second Google search: ”Last year, UnitedHealthcare settled a case brought by a severely ill college student in Pennsylvania who claimed the company denied coverage for drugs determined necessary by his doctors, leaving him with a medical bill of more than $800,000. The lawsuit, which was chronicled by ProPublica , uncovered the lengths to which the insurer goes to reject claims, including burying medical reports and relying on rubberstamped recommendations from doctors paid by the company,” reads a Dec. 11 CNN article. The story continues: ”UnitedHealthcare, in particular, has come under public scrutiny as it dramatically increased care denials for its Medicare Advantage enrollees. The insurer more than doubled the rate of denials for care following hospital stays between 2020 and 2022 as it implemented machine-assisted technology to automate the process, according to a Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation’s report released in October. That far surpassed its competitors, including Humana, whose care denials grew 54% during the same time period.” The list could go on and on. If the Star Tribune wants to live up to its pledge of giving readers in-depth reporting, it must do more than print the self-serving evasions Witty uses to try to let UnitedHealthcare slide off the hook for its blatant profiteering that causes so much real harm to real people. Steve Schild, Falcon Heights ••• In a commentary, UnitedHealth Group CEO Witty said that insurers need to be clearer with the public in how insurance-coverage decisions are made. Reminds me of a soft apology — ”I’m sorry you’re hurt” rather than “I’m sorry I hurt you.” Apparently, he sees the problem as one of the public not understanding the process through which denials are determined, rather than the plethora of denials that are issued. In other words, if they understood the process, they’d understand and accept why their claim was denied. I don’t think he gets it. Andrine Nelson, Minneapolis ••• Are we becoming desensitized to violent acts of terror as long as they support our point of view? Following Trump’s two assassination attempts, minimal outrage was expressed from the left side of the political aisle. They quickly learned that they didn’t need to pretend they cared. After all, they were dealing with a felon and a fascist; an election was near. People who would normally cringe at the thought of their fiercest ideological foe being murdered were looking the other way. Many were openly expressing regret that a bullet didn’t take him out. A slew of news commentators denouncing Thompson’s killing seemed sympathetic to the shooter’s plight as they read the alleged assassin’s manifesto. “The visceral response from people across this country who feel cheated, ripped off and threatened by the vile practices of their insurance companies should be a warning to everyone in the health care system,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren said of the response to Thompson’s killing in an interview with The Huffington Post. “Violence is never the answer, but people can be pushed only so far.” Thousands said the same thing after the slaughter of 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023. Look for a copycat coming to your neck of the woods sometime soon. Making excuses for those who commit violent acts is a slippery slope. Making them heroes is simply insane. Scott Thompson, Bloomington, Ind. Like that’s a deal-breaker Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham wants the woman who accused Pete Hegseth of sexual assault to be released from her confidentiality agreement so she can speak publicly of her assertions (”Hegseth may let accuser speak out,” Dec. 16). As though saying it out loud on TV makes it more true. This isn’t about truth. Sen. Graham just wants to punish and publicly embarrass her. He goes on to say, “I would want to know if anybody nominated for a high-level job in Washington legitimately assaulted somebody.” He does know President-elect Trump was found liable for sexual abuse in a court of law, doesn’t he? Of course he does. What a farce. Doug Williams, RobbinsdaleThe reigning Super Bowl champions saw their run of 15 straight wins ended by the Buffalo Bills last week, but got back to winning ways thanks to star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. After a late Chuba Hubbard touchdown and two-point conversion had made it 27-27, the Chiefs got the ball back with less than two minutes on the clock and a 33-yard run from Mahomes helped set up Spencer Shrader for a game-winning field goal. THE CHIEFS SURVIVE AGAIN. 🔥 Patrick Mahomes comes up CLUTCH with a 33-yard run late, before Spencer Shrader wins it as time expires! Get your #NFL action on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/POt57HQYig — ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) November 24, 2024 Mahomes finished the game with 269 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Noah Gray in the first half. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs scored two touchdowns as the Detroit Lions beat the Indianapolis Colts 24-6 to improve their record to 10-1, matching that of the Chiefs. David Montgomery also ran for a score before having to leave the game with a shoulder injury. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended a four-game losing streak with a 30-7 win over the New York Giants, who “mutually agreed” to terminate the contract of quarterback Daniel Jones earlier this week. Jones’ replacement Tommy DeVito was sacked four times while opposite number Baker Mayfield ran for a touchdown and completed 24 of 30 pass attempts for 294 yards. Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker also ran for touchdowns in a one-sided contest. The Dallas Cowboys ended their five-game losing streak with a remarkable 34-26 win over the Washington Commanders, with 30 points scored in the final three minutes. KaVontae Turpin’s 99-yard kick-off return for a touchdown looked to have sealed victory for the Cowboys, only for the Commanders to respond with a field goal before getting the ball back with 33 seconds remaining. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin sprinted 86 yards through the Dallas defence for a touchdown, only for Austin Seibert to miss the extra point. 99 YARDS TO THE 🏡 @KaVontaeTurpin was gone!! 📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LvklCbYJ1e pic.twitter.com/4ckMWDEDPL — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 24, 2024 The Commanders tried an onside kick and Juanyeh Thomas returned it 43 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw four touchdown passes as the Miami Dolphins cruised to a 34-15 win over the New England Patriots, while the Tennessee Titans pulled off a surprise 32-27 victory at the Houston Texans. The Minnesota Vikings improved to 9-2 thanks to a 30-27 overtime win against the Chicago Bears, Parker Romo kicking the decisive field goal from 29 yards.

Family-Friendly Perks and Huge Discounts Highlight Princess Cruises' 'Come Aboard Sale on 2025 - 2027 SailingsA research team led by Prof. Kim So-hee from the Department of Robotics and Mechanical Electronics, DGIST, has developed a technology that enables precise brain stimulation using a coil small enough to be implanted in the body. It is expected to be utilized as an electronic medicine for brain neurological disorders that require long-term treatment due to its ability to significantly improve safety and effectiveness with fewer side effects compared to existing technologies. The study is published in the journal Brain Stimulation . Brain-stimulating technologies are being used to treat Parkinson's disease and to aid in stroke rehabilitation. Currently, the most common method of brain stimulation involves passing a small electric current through the brain. This method requires the insertion of electrodes directly into the brain, which can cause damage to brain tissue, and in the long term, it can cause inflammation around the electrodes, reducing the stimulation effect. Other non-contact brain stimulation methods use magnetic fields, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which is currently used clinically to treat depression. TMS involves placing a large magnet, 10 to 20 cm in size, over the head to generate a strong magnetic field that stimulates brain cells . However, as this method stimulates the entire head, the precision is low, and side effects such as headaches and dizziness can occur. To address these limitations, Prof. Kim So-hee's research team has proposed a novel brain stimulation technology. The team developed a method capable of stimulating specific areas of the brain by placing an ultra-small coil (3.5 mm), approximately half the size of a pinkie nail, on the brain's surface. This approach eliminates the need for a large device, as required by conventional TMS, and minimizes the risk of brain tissue damage by suppressing heat generation below a certain level. The magnetic field generated by the coil is approximately 500 milliTesla (mT), about 10 times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field, which is approximately 50 microTesla (μT). For reference, the Earth's magnetic field is strong enough to move a compass needle, and the magnetic field from this coil is stronger but still within a safe range. This low magnetic field allows for effective stimulation while increasing safety. The method has demonstrated both the effectiveness and precision of the stimulation—an achievement that surpasses existing magnetic stimulation methods, which do not allow for precise stimulation. The technology developed in this study is expected to be used for treating various neurological diseases and for neurorehabilitation. In particular, since it facilitates precise stimulation of specific parts of the brain without penetrating brain tissue, it can be used in various areas such as stroke rehabilitation and symptom relief for movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease. It is also expected to evolve into a self-treatment type of electronic medicine, ushering in an era where people can easily receive brain stimulation treatment at home without the need to visit a hospital. "We have shown that precise brain stimulation is possible without damaging brain tissue in localized areas using millimeter-sized coils, which will overcome the disadvantages of TMS treatment, such as the need for regular hospital visits and calibration work to set the coil and stimulation parameters each time," said Prof. Kim. More information: Kyeong Jae Lee et al, Epidural magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex using an implantable coil, Brain Stimulation (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.10.001

(TNS) — The Kalamazoo County Consolidated Dispatch Authority is now using an artificial intelligence (AI) system to respond to some calls that come in through a non-emergency line. The calls will now be processed by Ava, the dispatch center’s new virtual assistant. The tech is powered by Aurelian, a Seattle-based software company, the Kalamazoo County dispatch center said in a news release while announcing the AI on Thursday, Dec. 19. Ava is quick to react to requests and respond to questions. It speaks multiple languages, officials said. The AI is “very smart,” the agency said. The company advertises the technology as “ that doesn’t just route callers, but actually solves their needs.” The AI agent is designed specifically for emergency communications centers, including routing calls appropriately and collecting information for public safety resources to be dispatched, the the news release states. The dispatch center encourages callers to provide as much detail as possible to the AI to get the fastest response to non-emergency requests. “We’re trying to free up some of our staff to have more time to deal with emergencies,” Kalamazoo County Dispatch Authority Executive Director Jeffery Troyer said. All calls that require public safety assistance are reviewed and monitored by dispatchers to ensure complete and accurate information is passed on to the correct resource, Kalamazoo County Dispatch Authority said. Several “fail-safes” are in the system, Kalamazoo County Dispatch Authority said. If Ava can’t understand the caller’s needs or determines the call to be an emergency, the call is immediately transferred to a dispatcher to assist, officials said. There are times when the call center is handling a high volume of calls, , he said. The AI will be useful for those times, when dispatchers sometimes cannot get to the non-emergency calls. A call placed to the non-emergency number Thursday afternoon was answered by the AI. The call was promptly forwarded to Troyer after the caller asked for the director. Hear the AI’s voice in the video below as Ava transfers the call: In the past, the transfer would have been handled by a human. The facility handles an average of 260,000 non-emergency calls per year including police, fire and medical incidents. About half of the calls come through the main non-emergency number, 269-488-8911, and the AI will handle those calls, the agency said. ©B.F. Raid's (Boston's Final Raid) Interview with Matt Connarton Now Available On Demand 11-21-2024 10:23 PM CET | Arts & Culture Press release from: B.F. Raid's (Boston's Final Raid) Explore B.F. Raid's heavy metal roots and latest album Raided Again on WMNH. On-demand interview now available B.F. Raid (Boston's Final Raid), a local heavy metal band based in New England, recently participated in an in-depth interview with Matt Connarton on WMNH 95.3's Unleashed radio show. The full interview, which originally aired on November 9, 2024, is now available for on-demand streaming at mattconnarton.com/unleashed. During the interview, B.F. Raid's members discussed the band's origins, their evolution within the New England heavy metal scene, and the creative process behind their latest album, Raided Again. The band also provided insights into their next steps, including plans for a follow-up album, shedding light on their vision for the future and what fans can expect from their next release. The conversation delves into the challenges the band has faced in the competitive world of heavy metal, their approach to writing and recording music, and how they continue to grow their presence in the regional music scene. B.F. Raid also discusses the dynamics of their live performances, their fanbase, and the role of social media in reaching a broader audience. This interview serves as an in-depth look at the inner workings of B.F. Raid, their musical influences, and their determination to stand out in an increasingly crowded heavy metal landscape. Fans of the band and listeners interested in the behind-the-scenes aspects of the music industry will find this interview to be a valuable resource. The full interview is now available for on-demand streaming at mattconnarton.com/unleashed. B.F. Raid (Boston's Final Raid) 1120 S Main St #2112 Manchester, NH 03102 Bill Foster B.F. Raid is a heavy metal band based in New England, known for their raw energy, tight musicianship, and bold sound. With a growing presence in the local and regional music scenes, B.F. Raid has earned a reputation for delivering high-octane live performances that captivate audiences. Their latest album, Raided Again, showcases their continued evolution as a band, combining elements of traditional heavy metal with their own unique style. As they look toward the future, B.F. Raid is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of their music and expanding their fan base. For more information about B.F. Raid, including their latest album, upcoming shows, and band updates, visit bfraid.com. This release was published on openPR.HELP THEM DRIVE LIKE A SACRAMENTO KING: GIVE THE GIFT OF A REVIVER RPLATE®

MONTRÉAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / December 20, 2024 / Valsoft Corporation Inc. ("Valsoft") , a Canadian company specializing in the acquisition and development of vertical market software businesses, has solidified its position as a leader in the local government software sector with the acquisitions of Keystone Information Systems ("Keystone") and Cott Systems ("Cott Systems"). These acquisitions mark a significant expansion of Valsoft's portfolio in the local government sector, enabling them to provide enhanced solutions to school boards, local governments, and other public-sector organizations. Founded in 1975, Keystone has earned a reputation as a trusted provider of enterprise-wide ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) applications, for small and mid-sized public sector organizations. The functional depth and integration of its complete product suite simplifies complex tasks and interdepartmental workflows, enabling greater efficiency and productivity. "This acquisition is more than a transaction; it's an investment in Keystone's legacy," said Judson B. Van Dervort, Jr., President and CEO of Keystone Information Systems. "Joining Valsoft provides a secure foundation for Keystone's current and future customers and employees, through continued innovation and growth, ensuring we can exceed customer expectations and continue our positive impact on the communities we serve." Valsoft's acquisition of Keystone expands its growing portfolio in the local government sector, reinforcing its ability to support mission-critical services for public organizations. "We are thrilled to welcome Keystone to the Valsoft family," said Costa Tagalakis, Investment Partner at Valsoft. "Their longstanding reputation for excellence in serving local government and public-school sectors aligns perfectly with our strategy of delivering high-quality, impactful solutions. We're excited to continue supporting Keystone's existing customers while exploring new growth opportunities." Earlier this year, Valsoft also acquired Cott Systems, a leader in public records management with a history spanning over 135 years. Cott Systems provides solutions for managing and digitizing land and court records, enabling local governments to modernize operations while preserving their jurisdictions' historical integrity. Products like Resolution 3, VERDICT, and OIB offer local officials' comprehensive tools to streamline processes and serve their communities more effectively. "This acquisition of Cott Systems represents the next step in our ongoing efforts to innovate and simplify the records management process," said David Scheine, Portfolio Manager at Valsoft. "Cott's customer-centric approach and innovative solutions coupled with Valsoft's support and resources will enable us to accelerate Cott's vision of delivering secure, cloud-based, and user-friendly solutions that empower local government offices to serve their communities better." Both acquisitions position Valsoft as a leader in GovTech software solutions with an established offering to assist the local government and public records management sectors in navigating public sector regulations and compliance. Valsoft remains committed to supporting these businesses as they continue to grow, innovate, and enhance the services they provide to their communities. About Keystone Founded in 1975, Keystone is a trusted provider of enterprise-wide information management solutions for Municipal and County Governments and Public-School Districts in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, and Rhode Island. Known for its cost-effective and efficient software, Keystone's user-focused approach helps smaller and mid-sized organizations optimize operations and exceed stakeholder expectations. For more information, visit www.keyinfosys.com . About Cott Systems Cott Systems has been an innovator in public records management since 1888, providing trusted technology solutions that preserve and protect public records while empowering local governments to serve their constituents more effectively. From land record management systems like Resolution 3 to comprehensive criminal and civil court case management tools like VERDICT, to online digitalization products like OIB, Cott Systems' products and services enable local officials to modernize their operations and safeguard their jurisdiction's rich history. For more information: https://cottsystems.com About Valsoft Valsoft acquires and develops vertical market software companies that deliver mission-critical solutions. A key tenet of Valsoft's philosophy is to invest in established businesses and foster an entrepreneurial environment that shapes a company into a leader in its respective industry. Unlike private equity and VC firms, Valsoft does not have a predefined investment horizon and looks to buy, hold, and create value through long-term partnerships with existing management and customers. Learn more at www.valsoftcorp.com For the Keystone Information Systems acquisition, Valsoft was represented internally by David Felicissimo (General Counsel) and Pamela Romero (Senior Corporate Paralegal). Keystone Information Systems was represented by Rosenbloom Law Group LLC. For the Cott Information Systems acquisition, Valsoft was represented internally by David Felicissimo (General Counsel), Ambra Del Busso (Legal Counsel), and Elisa Marcon (Senior Corporate Paralegal). Cott Information Systems was represented by Dinsmore & Shohl LLP. Media contact information: Communications and Public Relations Valsoft Corporation communication@valsoftcorp.com SOURCE: Valsoft Corp View the original on accesswire.com

Health In Tech, Inc. Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering2024 in review: Restaurants, bars, and longstanding businesses that closed in the ValleySEATTLE — Great Osobor and Zoom Diallo each scored a dozen points and Washington rolled to a 90-53 win over NJIT Sunday in its final tune-up before diving full-time into the Big Ten season. The Huskies bounced back from an upset loss at the hands of Seattle U that snapped a 19-game win streak against the cross-town rival. Osobor opened the game with a three-point play in the first minute and followed it with a layup and the Huskies raced to a 20-point lead by intermission, 46-26. Washington’s bench saw plenty of playing time with four players scoring at least nine points. Diallo led the bench effort with 12 points, five assists and a pair of steals. Wilhelm Briedenbach finished with 10 points and five rebounds. Sebastian Robinson was 5 of 22 from the field, including 0-for-4 from distance, but led the Highlanders (2-12) with 16 points. Tim Moore Jr. added 14 points and Ari Fulton contributed 11. The Huskies will look look for their first Big Ten Conference victory after an 0-2 start when they play host to Maryland on Thursday and No. 24 Illinois on Sunday. NJIT returns home to host Medgar Evers on Saturday.