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Thanksgiving weekend sports guide: A roadmap to NFL matchups, plus more games, times, oddsLSU HC Brian Kelly makes argument favoring Alabama to make playoffThe Israeli Justice Ministry made the announcement in a message late on Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the Uvda investigative programme into Sara Netanyahu. The programme uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organise protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. The announcement did not mention Mrs Netanyahu by name and the Justice Ministry declined further comment. Earlier on Thursday, Mr Netanyahu blasted the Uvda report as “lies”. It is the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the Netanyahus, highlighted by the PM’s ongoing corruption trial. Mr Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of cases alleging he exchanged favours with powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. He denies the charges and says he is the victim of a “witch hunt” by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media.

We all want to improve our photography and create amazing images, right? We want to become more creative. Should we use technology to help us? Can it help us? I have some thoughts. In the comments section of a recent article I wrote about finding our photography voice and style, Fstoppers community member Mark Sawyer wrote, “AI hides under your bed at night, whispering ‘I can make you more creative.’” I thought this was an intriguing line. I believe many people will look at AI as a quick and easy answer for producing more creative images—better than we can produce ourselves—by typing in just a few prompt words. AI can help us develop ideas; it’s certainly a useful research tool. I can see the benefits of AI in a commercial environment. Content can be created quickly and cost-effectively. It’s a great tool to speed up production at a reduced cost. That’s a whole other discussion and article. What I’m looking at here is—will AI really help us be more creative with our photography? With our art. Sure, AI can create an impressive-looking image, an eye-catching piece of photographic art, but creativity is an expression of self. AI doesn’t have a self. It doesn’t have feelings or a soul. Advertising guru Sir John Hegarty wrote recently, “An AI has never had its heart broken. Never watched a sunrise. Or swam in the sea. A bot has no life experience. And no soul. Without this last thing, there is no ‘art.’” For me, great photographic art is self-expression based on life experiences and how those experiences make us feel. A computer algorithm knows nothing of this. My best photographs are where I’ve caught a special moment, where someone is feeling something, and you experience that feeling through their eyes, getting a glimpse into their soul. Can typing in a few words about how we feel be enough to have an algorithm create something that represents those thoughts and feelings visually? Authentically? Left: A moment of pure joy, my dad savouring a pint in his favourite pub. Right: A friend who has lived a tough life, reflecting on that. I can see it in his eyes, they take you to his soul. These are authentic images, capturing emotion and feeling in the moment. something AI can never replace. Photographing people is the obvious place where communicating feelings and evoking emotions can be the most powerful and least effectively created by AI. But what about something like landscape photography? Many landscape photos are just pretty scenes we capture, and AI can create something similar. However, there are times when I’m in the landscape, and the location and conditions make me feel a certain way and want to communicate that through my photos. I was traveling through Spain a few years ago, in an area steeped in history and culture, where misty, rainy weather is common. I ended up with a photo that encapsulated that for me—something moody, dark, yet with a hint of positivity as the morning sun rose. Can AI create something if I use some words that describe the physical location and feelings and mood I felt at the time? I played with various prompt words, trying to describe the scene, and this (below) was the best result I could get. Does the AI version evoke as much feeling and mood as the original created from actually being there? I don’t think it’s even close. To paraphrase Johnny Rotten in the song “EMI”—just because it came into my head right now and I decided to type it—“I can’t stand those useless tools, there’s an unlimited supply (of AI). Goodbye AI, goodbyyyyyeeee.” A question I’ve been asked a few times is, where does my creative inspiration come from? I think about creativity a lot. How do you become more creative? It’s an important topic to discuss. My biggest inspiration might be travel. Exploring the world, observing, soaking up different cultures, art, architecture, ways of life, ways of communicating. I find posters in different countries inspirational. Like a photo, a poster is a form of communication and is often very representative of the local culture. It can be a work of art in itself. How we lived during our formative years plays a huge role in how we see and what we like. It’s a good idea to use that and channel it into creative ideas. I was brought up during tough and rebellious times in England. The Sex Pistols and The Clash came onto the music scene, and the photographers who worked with them and the album art created; this all influenced my creativity and aesthetic sensitivities, and I carry this inspiration with me today. At art college, learning photography and visual communications, we put a lot of time toward studying art and design history. We analyzed the images that caught our attention, breaking down and discussing why they appealed so much. We looked at composition and how lighting was used, how these things can affect the viewer’s perception and evoke emotion. We studied classical painters to mid-20th-century designers. Being exposed to so much creativity was a massive influence. Sure, AI can analyze these painters from different eras, but it sees only form, colors, and aesthetic style. AI doesn’t see the emotions that are evoked in the art, which is the point of them. AI sees the tangible, yet the intangible is often what matters the most. Creativity needs to be fed to grow. Exploring the world—even if it’s a town local to you—and observing how people live and communicate is inspirational. Creativity comes from inspiration. Studying the best artists and photographers from history is a fantastic way to educate yourself about creativity. My advice is to go to art galleries, go to the library, and dig out old art and design books to study. I strongly believe those who seek creative inspiration by venturing out into the world with an open mind and curiosity have an advantage. AI is a great research tool, and yes, it has its uses for things like cleaning up photos, cloning out unwanted objects, etc. But to create photographic art with true meaning and expression, I don’t believe AI is up to the task. The greatest art is created from life experiences and feelings, not an algorithm and search bot. What do you think—is AI important for you? Where do you get your inspiration from to feed your creativity? Simon is a professional photographer and video producer, with over 35 years experience. He spends his time between Canada and the UK. He has worked for major brands, organizations and publications; shooting travel, tourism, food, and lifestyle. For fun he enjoys black and white photography, with a penchant for street and landscapes.

Zero Investment, Maximum Savings: Powerdown220 Revolutionises Energy Solutions for Schools and Manufacturing FacilitiesThe counting for the Irish General Election 2024 concluded on Monday evening, December 2, more than 72 hours after polls opened across Ireland on Friday, November 29. The top three parties are unchanged since Ireland’s last General Election, which was held in February 2020. Fianna Fáil has won 48 Dáil seats this time around, while Sinn Féin won 39 and Fine Gael won 38. Each of the top three parties also saw gains on 2020 - Fianna Fáil is up 10 seats, Sinn Féin is up two, and Fine Gael is up three. However, the number of seats in the Dáil Éireann has also increased since 2020, from 160 to 174. The number of constituencies also increased from 39 to 43. Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! With 174 seats up for grabs in this year's election, one party would have needed to win at least 88 seats to win the majority and thus control of the Dail. However, no one party fielded enough candidates in the Irish General Election 2024 to win the majority outright. As such, Ireland is likely heading for another coalition government, where parties come together as a bloc to reach the majority. The results of the Irish General Election 2020 also gave way to a three-way coalition between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and The Green Party. Micheál Martin (Fianna Fáil), Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael), and Simon Harris (Fine Gael) all served as Taoiseach at different points during the outgoing Dáil. With a combined 86 seats, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will likely be a part of Ireland's new coalition government. While on the campaign trail, the leaders of both parties vowed not to go into coalition with Sinn Féin. Meanwhile, Sinn Féin said earlier on Monday before counting was finalized that it was contacting the leaders of the Social Democrats, Labour, and "other progressive TDs and groupings this week." With a combined 61 seats, a Sinn Féin - Social Democrats - Labour coalition would need lots of support from other 'progressives' to reach a majority. As parties begin to contact each other in hopes of forming a majority-winning coalition, discussions will now turn to a timeline of when Ireland's next Government will be formed. TD Jack Chambers, Ireland's Minister for Finance, told RTÉ on Monday: “I don’t expect a government to be formed in mid-December, when the Dáil is due to meet on the 18th of December, probably a Ceann Comhairle (speaker) can be elected, and there’ll have to be time and space taken to make sure we can form a coherent, stable government. “I don’t think it should take five months like it did the last time – Covid obviously complicated that. "But I think all political parties need to take the time to see what’s possible and try and form a stable government for the Irish people.” Meanwhile, RTÉ News reports that Fianna Fáil won 21.9% of the first preference votes, followed by Fine Gael with 20.8%, and Sinn Féin with 19%. Voter turnout in the Irish General Election 2024 sunk to 59.7% from 62.9% in 2020. This year's election saw the lowest turnout since 1923, the last time the number was below 60%.With Black Friday sales in full swing, there are still plenty of terrific deals to take advantage of. It’s the perfect time to shop for expensive electronics, including TV’s. Until Cyber Monday, you’ll be able to snag a high-end TV at a nice discount. Several top brands are offering huge deals on their best models. We’re seeing fantastic discounts on Samsung, LG, Sony and Hisense TVs. Whether you want a big-screen TV or something smaller for casual viewing, there are many options to consider getting during this sale event. Last updated on Nov. 30, 2024, at 2 a.m. ET. In this article: Samsung 55-Inch Class QLED 4K The Frame Series Smart TV , LG 77-Inch Class OLED B4 Series Smart TV and Hisense U6 Series 65-Inches ULED 4K Smart TV . The cool thing about this smart TV is that it features an Art mode you can enable, which displays modern and classic art pieces whenever you’re not watching. The color volume is fantastic, the matte film reduces light glare and the frame is customizable with multiple color bezel options. If you’re looking for an affordable 4K smart TV, this 65-inch LED model won’t disappoint. Motion Xcelerator reduces blur and lag, and object tracking delivers impressive 3D surround sound. It supports HDR and Mega Contrast to minimize the difference between light and dark areas. This Roku TV offers a sharp 4K resolution and supports HDR10+ technology, which enhances color, contrast and brightness. The home screen is customizable with shortcuts to your favorite apps, and the voice remote lets you effortlessly search for paid and free content. Are you looking for a solid TV for casual viewing? This 40-inch Amazon Fire TV has plenty to offer. The Fire TV platform provides quick access to live TV, video games and music, and the remote has a dedicated Alexa button for launching apps, searching for content and controlling smart devices on your network. This TV boasts Quantum Dot technology for reproducing stunning visuals and bright colors. When mounted, its AirSlim design allows it to blend seamlessly with your wall. The advanced processor automatically transforms non-UHD content into 4K and improves sound. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better TV for your home entertainment hub than this 77-inch LG smart TV. OLED technology produces accurate colors and deep blacks, and the a8 AI processor automatically fine-tunes the picture quality based on what you’re watching. Plus, it features NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium and VRR for improved gaming. This high-end smart TV boasts advanced OLED HDR+ technology, which enhances image brightness and clarity. Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound Lite produce excellent sound quality, and the 144-hertz refresh rate delivers ultrasmooth motion for gaming and live sports. Plus, the smart Tizen OS offers streaming and gaming access. If you want a cheap smart TV for a smaller room in your home, this 42-inch Insignia Fire TV is the one for you. It’s a full HD TV with a 1080p resolution and a built-in Fire TV interface for streaming content from apps such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+. The Alexa voice remote makes it easy to find your favorite movies. This Hisense 65-inch TV features advanced Mini-LED technology for reproducing dark blacks and vibrant colors. Dolby Vision delivers superior picture quality, and the dedicated game mode provides a variable refresh rate for smooth gaming. The voice remote is convenient for finding content, and the smart TV interface is intuitive. If you have the space in your home for this massive TV, you’ll love the cinematic experience it offers. QLED technology delivers dazzling visuals and rich colors, and HDR Pro+ boosts contrast, brightness and clarity no matter what you watch. It has an integrated Google TV interface and is compatible with Alexa. Amazon Fire TV 43-Inch 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV 38% OFF Amazon Fire TV 65-Inch Omni QLED Series 4K UHD Smart TV 25% OFF Amazon Fire TV 50-Inch Omni Series 4K UHD Smart TV 31% OFF Sony 75-Inch 4K Ultra HD Google TV Bravia TV 28% OFF Samsung 55-Inch Class QLED 4K Q80D Series Quantum HDR+ Smart TV 33% OFF LG 86-Inch Class UHD Smart TV 23% OFF LG 55-Inch Class QNED85T Series LED Smart TV 13% OFF Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

South Korea’s digital infrastructure is regarded as the world’s best, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT, citing findings from the OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024. In the report, South Korea ranked first among 29 countries, including non-OECD members such as China and the European Union, in “5G base station deployment.” The country recorded 593 5G base stations per 100,000 inhabitants, significantly surpassing Lithuania (328) and Finland (251). The OECD average stood at just 100 base stations per 100,000 inhabitants. In the category of “number of 5G connections per 100 inhabitants,” the United States led with 68.4 connections, followed by South Korea with 63. Finland (58), Australia (57), and Japan (56) rounded out the top five. These rankings highlight South Korea’s continued leadership in digital infrastructure, setting a global standard for 5G technology deployment and adoption.Democratic congresswoman Katie Porter obtained a temporary restraining order against her ex-boyfriend on Tuesday. She accused him of harassment , including alleging she had a sexually transmitted disease, forcing her to submit test results proving otherwise. In August 2023, Porter, a California Democrat and prominent political figure, ended her relationship with Julian Willis, citing struggles with substance abuse and mental health issues. Despite moving out of her home, Willis allegedly launched a campaign of harassment against Porter, her family and colleagues, threatening her reputation and safety, Politico reported. On November 26, Porter filed for a temporary restraining order in Orange County Superior Court, detailing over 1,000 attempts from Willis to harm her public image, including threats to report her to Child Protective Services. Willis also claimed that Porter had genital herpes, forcing her to submit test results to the court proving she did not have any STDs. Ultimately, a judge granted a temporary restraining order requiring Willis to stay away from Porter, her children and her workplace until a mid-December hearing later this year. Willis denies Porter's allegations, claiming that she is trying to prevent him from pursuing legal action and going public with his claims. Porter's legal team is expected to present further evidence at the December hearing. Originally published by Latin Times

Nova Scotia Liberals saw support crumble after campaign linking them to Trudeau HALIFAX — A day after Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston led the Progressive Conservatives to a massive majority win, the Liberals were licking their wounds and wondering why their party was almost wiped off the political map. Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press Nov 27, 2024 1:48 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Zach Churchill speaks to reporters following a televised leaders' debate in Halifax, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese HALIFAX — A day after Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston led the Progressive Conservatives to a massive majority win, the Liberals were licking their wounds and wondering why their party was almost wiped off the political map. On Wednesday morning, once all the ballots were counted, the incumbent Tories had secured 43 of the 55 seats in the legislature, an increase of nine. The NDP won nine seats, an increase of three, and the Liberals fell to only two seats, a dozen less than when the campaign started. One Independent candidate held her seat — a first for the province. Liberal Leader Zach Churchill, a 40-year-old former cabinet minister, lost his seat after a long, see-saw battle with his Tory rival in the riding of Yarmouth — Churchill's hometown on Nova Scotia's southwestern shore. The Liberals had to give up their role as official opposition and the party barely held on to official party status. "At the end of the day, this falls on my shoulders," Churchill said afterwards. "This loss belongs to me and me alone." But it would be wrong to blame Churchill for his party's collapse at the polls, says Tom Urbaniak, a political science professor at Cape Breton University in Sydney, N.S. "Zach Churchill was dealing with a damaged Liberal brand — damaged in large part by the current standing of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau," Urbaniak said in an interview Wednesday, adding that Houston took advantage of that weakness. "(Churchill) was portrayed as Justin Trudeau's junior protege. And that stuck with some Nova Scotians." Throughout the campaign, Houston and his Tory colleagues tried to link Trudeau — whose Liberals are trailing the federal Tories by about 20 points in the polls — with Churchill, a well-spoken career politician who was elected to lead the provincial party in July 2022. "We know Zach Churchill defends his federal cousins at every turn,” provincial Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Kent Smith said in a statement early in the campaign. “Once again, when Zach Churchill had the choice to stand up for Nova Scotians or stand with Justin Trudeau, he chose Trudeau.” Churchill was also hobbled by a relatively low provincial profile, Urbaniak said. Despite the fact that he had held the riding of Yarmouth for the past 14 years and served in the cabinet of former Liberal premier Stephen McNeil, Churchill failed to leave much of an impression on the electorate, he said. Part of the problem was that McNeil, who served as premier from 2013 to 2021, rarely let his ministers spend much time in the limelight. "Stephen McNeil, at times, ran a one-person government," the professor said. "The premier made the big decisions .... That came back to hurt Zach Churchill." As well, Houston's decision to call an early election also stung the Liberals and the NDP, both of which were still nominating candidates when the campaign started. On another front, the Liberals in southwestern Nova Scotia were hurt by the fact that residents in several fishing communities had long complained about what they said was the federal Liberal government's failure to stop the illegal fishing of lobsters and baby eels. "The perceived federal mismanagement was a factor in some ridings," Urbaniak said, pointing to the Acadian riding of Clare, which had been held by the Liberals for the past 31 years. Liberal candidate Ronnie LeBlanc, a local fisherman, lost the riding to rookie Tory candidate Ryan Robicheau on Tuesday night by more than 1,000 votes. During the campaign, Churchill promised to establish an inquiry into illegal fishing, but voters on the South Shore were unimpressed. The Tories won all nine ridings in the region. It was Churchill's first election as leader. On Tuesday night, he declined to say if he would stay in the role. Neither Churchill nor Houston were available for an interview Wednesday. As for the NDP, party leader Claudia Chender said she was looking forward to taking on the large Tory majority. "I think what we take away from being the official Opposition is that people are looking for a strong voice and they are looking for a different voice,” said Chender, a 48-year-old lawyer. It was also her first election as leader. She said her priorities include pushing for more protection for renters, and reducing the number of people still seeking a doctor. The three additional seats won by the NDP are all in the Halifax area, part of the party’s traditional power base. Chender said the election results showed her party has room to grow, particularly along the South Shore and in Cape Breton. “In many ridings across this province there were tight two- or three-way races and we are building,” she said. “I think that work has started and will continue.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National News Inuit Nunangat University closer to realization with $50M from Mastercard Foundation Nov 27, 2024 1:47 PM Hiker missing in freezing B.C. wilderness for more than five weeks is found alive Nov 27, 2024 1:46 PM Quebec premier says he's 'open' to possibility of Quebec constitution by 2026 Nov 27, 2024 1:44 PM Featured Flyer