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fb777 apk Stock market today: Wall Street drifts lower after weak signals on the economyBusiness News | Spine Doctor in Bangalore Redefines Spine Care With an Enhanced Digital PlatformEven when Luigi Mangione was surrounded by people who cared about him, he was isolated by a spinal defect that gave the athletic young man crippling pain and contributed to a jaundiced view of the US healthcare system. Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Credit: nna\josh.hohne Authorities have charged Mangione, 26, with murder in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York and police said on Wednesday they believe the motive was animosity toward the health insurance industry and corporate America. New York police found a three-page, handwritten document on Mangione that expressed disdain for the health business, they’ve said. Mangione foreshadowed that scepticism about the healthcare industry on Reddit in April as he offered advice for getting a doctor to perform spinal surgery. “Tell them you are ‘unable to work’ / do your job,” he wrote. “We live in a capitalist society. I’ve found that the medical industry responds to these key words far more urgently than you describing unbearable pain and how it’s impacting your quality of life.” Mangione’s Reddit posts, under the name mister_cactus, had once linked to his personal programming site and offered numerous matching personal details. Reddit declined to confirm whether the account, which was deactivated this week, belonged to him. Reporters reviewed the posts in an internet archive. A poster depicting Luigi Mangione hangs outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in New York. Credit: AP Nothing in his Reddit posts reviewed by The Washington Post presaged violence. Authorities have not laid out their case for what they think drove Mangione to escalate his frustration with the health system, which is common in the United States, into an allegedly premeditated murder of a prominent executive. Thomas M. Dickey, an attorney for Mangione, didn’t respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Mangione’s arrest has stunned his friends and family, most of whom appeared to have lost touch with him in the last six months. “We all condemn violence of any kind,” said Josiah Ryan, a spokesman for Surfbreak HNL, a co-living community in Honolulu where Mangione lived for six months in 2022. He added: “There’s sadness because he was a person who was well-loved and no one saw this coming.” Ryan said Mangione’s back pain was well-known within the Surfbreak community. “It was a real problem for him, and he had to think about that in a way that most 24-year-old young men living in Hawaii would not have to worry about their health,” Ryan said. Mangione at the police station in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Credit: Pennsylvania State Police/AP Mangione’s struggles with his back pain offer a glimpse into the interior life of a man who outwardly lived a charmed existence – the scion of a wealthy family in Maryland who was valedictorian of his prestigious private school in Baltimore and earned degrees in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania. In archived Reddit comments, Mangione doesn’t express anger toward UnitedHealthcare or other health insurers. But the posts chronicle his struggle over the years to deal with back pain that became increasingly debilitating. “From childhood until age 23, my back would always ache if I stood too long, but it wasn’t too bad,” he wrote in February. But as he entered his mid-20s, the pain began to disrupt his life. He once described the sensation of an unstable spine as being able to “feel the bones moving/grinding.” He also struggled with cognitive issues, according to his posts. In a Reddit group focused on brain fog, he wrote, “The people around you probably won’t understand your symptoms – they certainly don’t for me.” By January 2022, Mangione was living at Surfbreak in Hawaii, where a surfing accident exacerbated his spinal condition, according to his Reddit posts and interviews with friends. He had a spinal fusion surgery – a procedure that stabilises the spine with surgical screws – in July 2023, according to his Reddit posts, and he seemed pleased with the results for months afterward. “Haven’t had a bad day since,” he wrote in November 2023. Mangione’s discussion of surgery aligns with an image of an X-ray prominently displayed on his profile for the social media platform X. An orthopedic surgeon who reviewed the image for The Post described it as a “lumbar spine with posterior spinal instrumentation, possible fusion”. It’s a common procedure for people with spondylolisthesis, a condition where a vertebra shifts forward and can cause excruciating pain in the lower back. He found a community on Reddit dedicated to spondylolisthesis, which he described as “my injury” in handwritten notes uploaded to his profile on the book-review site Goodreads in 2019. Mangione regularly offered advice to others, sometimes with an edge of bitterness about the reluctance of the medical profession to provide the care he considered necessary. To persuade doctors reluctant to perform surgery, he suggested an extreme option would be to “fake a foot drop” (difficulty lifting the front part of the foot) “or piss yourself. This is the absolute nuclear option, but there comes a point where it’s just ridiculous that people won’t operate on your broken spine.” His struggles drew empathy from people close to him. Surfbreak’s owner RJ Martin told the New York Times that Mangione “knew that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasn’t possible”. In a text message to The Post , Martin said he was overwhelmed and exhausted and deferred comment to Ryan, his spokesman. Martin found Mangione “to be a really special person,” Ryan said. “He expected to have a lifelong friendship with him.” Mangione’s arrest “was pretty devastating for him”. Marc McCoy, 59, owner of Moped Garage, a store near Surfbreak, said that he sold Mangione a moped and that they had multiple conversations. The Maryland native was eager to talk to McCoy, who has lived in Hawaii for a half-century, about how to fit in and respect the local culture and not be an ugly American stereotype, McCoy said. “He was well-spoken, intelligent, conscientious,” he said. “I’m in complete shock.” Mangione spent some time in Japan this year. A picture posted to X in late February by Japanese professional poker player Jun Obara shows him appearing to enjoy a meal at a Tokyo restaurant with a smiling Mangione and others. “He came in by himself and we talked to him and treated him to a meal and drinks because we wanted him to enjoy Japan,” Obara wrote in a subsequent post this week. “He said he was on vacation from Hawaii.” Most friends and family appear to have lost touch with Mangione since May. That appears to be when he last posted to his accounts on Goodreads and Reddit, where he linked to a video shared by another user in a group for discussing Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. Members of the New York police crime scene unit photograph bullets lying on the footpath. Credit: AP His apparently last post on X, formerly Twitter, was a retweet of a podcast episode on how smartphones and social media impact mental health on June 10. June 10 also was the last time Gurwinder Bhogal, a UK-based writer, said he received a message from Mangione, who was seeking advice about curating his social media feeds. The two had struck up a correspondence in April after Mangione subscribed to his Substack publication. They discussed politics, said Bhogal, who recalled him complaining “about how expensive health care in the U.S. was.” In comments circulated to reporters, Bhogal wrote, “Overall, the impression I got of him, besides his curiosity and kindness, was a deep concern for the future of humanity, and a determination to improve himself and the world.” United Healthcare chief executive Brian Thompson. Credit: AP He added, “He was so polite and thoughtful it was hard to conceive of him murdering someone.” Mangione’s movements in the summer and fall are still not clear. Mangione’s mother, Kathleen Mangione, called the San Francisco police on Nov. 18 and said her son had not been heard from since July, according to local media reports. A source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Post that a missing-person report was filed. The San Francisco Police Department declined to comment on the case and referred questions to New York police. An NYPD spokesperson declined to comment on the missing-person report. Washington Post Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here .Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save 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 unclear 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, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over the Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The Federal Aviation Administration says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” Body matching description of missing 84-year-old found in Galloway Township 1 injured in Egg Harbor Township crash Absecon police detain suspect in dollar store robbery Pentagon refutes Van Drew Iran claims as New Jersey officials meet to discuss mystery drones Work on Mike Trout's Vineland golf course completed, but play still more than a year away Could American Airlines bus program lead to more flights at Atlantic City airport? Atlantic City now has more weed shops than casinos with dozens more on the way These South Jersey bars and restaurants have transformed into holiday wonderlands Latest on New Jersey mystery drones: White House officials say there is no threat LGBTQ+ restaurant the ByrdCage to open in Atlantic City in January Questions about Gillian’s Wonderland finances draw angry response from Mita Egg Harbor Township installing 4-way stop signs at troubled intersections Large drones spotted in Philadelphia area as FBI investigates mysterious drone sightings in NJ Egg Harbor City church celebrates its inspiration with 1,700-year-old artifact Bridgeton nursing home barred from Medicaid after NJ comptroller finds fraud and abuse Who regulates drones? The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. Who enforces the rules? 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. There is no national security or public safety threat from the drones that have been spotted over the past month in New Jersey, national security spokesperson John Kirby said Thursday during a White House press briefing. 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. What does it take to become a drone pilot? 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.” Are drones allowed to fly at night? 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). Are drones a hazard? 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. Will drone rules get tougher? 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.” For the past month, drones have been spotted all over the state. Authorities have not said where they are coming from. Here is what we know about the drones and the investigation into them. “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.” Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

Marshall withdraws from Independence Bowl matchup against ArmyHenry Siu Innovative perspectives and gathering talent are crucial to the development of an innovation ecology in Hong Kong, says Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, who shared a meal with experts and proponents that included Jensen Huang Jen-hsun, founder of tech giant Nvidia. "This gathering - with innovative views and a Hong Kong taste - represents the two important elements of building a thriving innovation ecology - an innovative perspective and gathering of talent," Chan wrote on his blog yesterday. It was held at a dai pai dong in Sham Shui Po with a number of distinguished innovators and academic leaders in attendance, Chan said. Apart from Huang, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology president Nancy Chu Ip Yuk-yu and HKUST council chairman Harry Shum Heung-yeung were also present. "We shared authentic Hong Kong stir-fry and flavorful traditional Hong Kong dishes while we exchanged our views on IT development and talent cultivation," Chan said. He said he met several enterprises that have expressed interest in Hong Kong's IT development when he visited advanced economies spanning the United States and Europe, as well as the Middle East and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "They are eager to know more about the development and application of cutting-edge technology and the development of its relevant manufacturing industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area for more opportunities of cooperation," he said. Chan said the development of the Hong Kong section of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone has been accelerated, coupled with the substantial investment in information technology made in recent years. He believes the local IT sector would further develop in the direction of industrial development, being an important part of driving Hong Kong's economy. Nvidia founder Huang, 61, was among four individuals conferred honorary doctorates by HKUST. Huang received his doctorate alongside actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, 2013 Nobel chemistry laureate Michael Levitt and field medalist David Mumford. In a speech on Saturday, Huang, conferred an honorary doctorate degree in engineering, said "the age of AI has started - a new computing era that will impact every industry and every field of science." Huang also told university graduates that he wished he could have started his career now. "The whole world is resetting. You're at the starting lines with everybody else. An industry is being reinvented. You now have the instruments, the instruments necessary to advance science in so many different fields," he said. Asked about the possibility of US president-elect Donald Trump restricting the export of semiconductors against China and how the China-US trade war would affect AI development, Huang said AI development is global and will not be stopped. henry.siu@singtaonewscorp.com

Share Tweet Share Share Email Ripple (XRP) has long been a staple in the cryptocurrency market, renowned for revolutionizing cross-border transactions with its efficient and scalable blockchain solutions. Now, a new contender, Lightchain AI , is emerging with similar ambitions but a cutting-edge approach to blockchain innovation. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with blockchain technology, Lightchain AI addresses challenges like scalability, privacy, and transparency, setting itself apart as a transformative project. With the Lightchain AI Presale offering tokens at just $0.003, the platform is drawing comparisons to Ripple’s early success, sparking discussions about its potential to become the next major force in the blockchain space. This article examines the legacy of Ripple and how Lightchain AI is poised to surpass it with its groundbreaking innovations. Ripple’s (XRP) Legacy Cross-Border Transactions Ripple entered the blockchain space with a clear mission: to revolutionize global payments. By leveraging its XRP token, Ripple enabled seamless, low-cost cross-border transactions, challenging traditional financial systems that relied on slow and expensive intermediaries. Ripple’s success lies in its ability to partner with financial institutions and provide a scalable solution for real-time payments. However, Ripple’s centralized approach has drawn criticism, particularly from blockchain purists. Regulatory scrutiny has also posed challenges for XRP, highlighting the need for blockchain projects to balance innovation with compliance. Despite these hurdles, Ripple’s impact on the blockchain space is undeniable, establishing it as a pioneer in real-world blockchain applications. Lightchain AI (LCAI) Contender with Cutting-Edge Innovation While Ripple revolutionized payments, Lightchain AI is taking blockchain innovation to the next level by integrating artificial intelligence into its ecosystem. At the heart of Lightchain AI are two groundbreaking technologies: the Proof of Intelligence (PoI) consensus mechanism and the Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM). PoI incentivizes nodes to perform meaningful AI computations, such as model training and optimization, replacing traditional mining or staking methods. The AIVM provides a dedicated computational layer for executing AI-specific tasks, enabling developers to build scalable, intelligent applications. Lightchain AI’s roadmap outlines a clear path to growth, with milestones such as the testnet launch in January 2025 and the mainnet activation in March 2025. These innovations position Lightchain AI as a leader in decentralized AI development, offering solutions that go beyond Ripple’s focus on payments. Key Similarities Between Ripple and Lightchain AI Ripple and Lightchain AI share several key similarities that highlight their potential to disrupt traditional systems: Focus on Real-World Utility: Both Ripple and Lightchain AI prioritize solving real-world challenges. Ripple streamlined cross-border payments, while Lightchain AI enables scalable AI computations within a decentralized framework. Innovation-Driven Approach: Ripple’s success lies in its ability to partner with financial institutions, while Lightchain AI introduces groundbreaking technologies like PoI and AIVM to bridge the gap between AI and blockchain. Scalability and Efficiency: Both platforms address scalability issues, ensuring that their ecosystems can handle high transaction volumes or computational workloads without compromising performance. While Ripple has established itself as a leader in payments, Lightchain AI’s broader focus on AI applications gives it a competitive edge in addressing diverse industry needs. How Lightchain AI’s Proof of Intelligence (PoI) Redefines Blockchain Utility The Proof of Intelligence (PoI) consensus mechanism sets Lightchain AI apart from traditional blockchain projects. Unlike Ripple’s consensus algorithm, which focuses on validating transactions, PoI rewards nodes for performing valuable AI tasks. These tasks include training machine learning models, running inference, and optimizing neural networks. By aligning network security with meaningful computational contributions, PoI ensures that Lightchain AI’s blockchain directly advances decentralized AI capabilities. This approach not only enhances scalability but also addresses the energy inefficiencies associated with traditional mining. For developers and businesses, PoI offers a scalable and environmentally sustainable framework for building intelligent applications, redefining what blockchain utility can achieve. Could Lightchain AI Outpace Ripple’s Success? Ripple’s market success stems from its ability to establish partnerships with major financial institutions and create a robust ecosystem for cross-border payments. However, Lightchain AI is targeting an even broader market by addressing the growing demand for AI-driven solutions. Industries such as healthcare, logistics, and finance are increasingly adopting AI to optimize operations, creating significant opportunities for platforms like Lightchain AI. The ongoing Lightchain AI Presale has generated excitement among early investors, with tokens priced at just $0.003 . As the platform progresses toward its mainnet launch, its market potential continues to grow. By combining blockchain transparency with AI’s computational power, Lightchain AI is well-positioned to outpace Ripple’s success and become a dominant force in the blockchain industry. Why Lightchain AI Represents the Future of Blockchain Innovation Ripple set the standard for real-world blockchain applications, but Lightchain AI is pushing the boundaries of what blockchain technology can achieve. With its innovative features, sustainable tokenomics, and ambitious roadmap, Lightchain AI addresses challenges like scalability, privacy, and inclusivity. The LCAI token plays a central role in the ecosystem, enabling staking, governance participation, and AI task execution. A deflationary model, including token-burning mechanisms, ensures long-term value for investors. Additionally, Lightchain AI’s roadmap highlights its commitment to continuous growth, with milestones such as ecosystem expansion in May 2025 and the development of an open-source innovation hub by August 2025. By integrating AI and blockchain, Lightchain AI delivers solutions that go beyond payments, offering real-world applications across industries. This focus on innovation and scalability positions Lightchain AI as the logical successor to Ripple’s legacy. Lightchain AI as the Logical Successor to Ripple’s Throne Ripple revolutionized blockchain with its focus on cross-border payments, setting a precedent for real-world applications. Now, Lightchain AI is building on that legacy by introducing a new paradigm of blockchain innovation. With technologies like PoI and AIVM, a robust roadmap, and sustainable tokenomics, Lightchain AI addresses challenges Ripple could not. The live Lightchain AI Presale, offering tokens at just $0.003, provides investors with a unique opportunity to be part of a platform poised to redefine blockchain utility. As industries increasingly adopt AI-driven solutions, Lightchain AI’s ability to combine scalability, transparency, and innovation makes it the next major player in the blockchain space. For investors and developers alike, Lightchain AI represents the future of decentralized technology. 👉 Visit the Lightchain AI Website 👉 Read the Lightchain AI Whitepaper 👉 Follow Lightchain AI on Twitter/X 👉 Join the Lightchain AI Community on Telegra Related Items: Lightchain , press release Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Solana’s Proof-of-History vs. Lightchain AI’s Consensus Mechanism—A Technical Comparison Ethereum Price Could Recapture $4,800 in Under 10 Days as Investors With $10M+ Portfolios Load Up, Here’s What Else They’re Buying Polkadot (DOT) Strengthens Parachain Technology—Can Lightchain AI Compete? CommentsUS stocks close near the lows for the day

How do you remove children from the harms of social media? Politically the answer appears simple in Australia, but practically the solution could be far more difficult. The government's plan to ban children under 16 from social media platforms - including X, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram - is politically popular. The opposition party says it would have done the same after winning elections if the government had not moved first. The leaders of all eight Australian states and mainland territories have unanimously backed the plan, although Tasmania would have preferred the threshold set at 14. But a vocal assortment of experts in the fields of technology and child welfare have responded with alarm. More than 140 experts signed an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemning the 16-year age limit as "too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively." Leo Puglisi, a 17-year-old Melbourne student who founded online streaming service 6 News Australia at the age of 11, laments that lawmakers lack the perspective young people have gained by growing up in the digital age. "With respect to the government and prime minister, they didn't grow up in the social media age. What a lot of people fail to understand here is that, like it or not, social media is a part of people's daily lives," Puglisi said. "It's part of their communities, work, entertainment. It's where they watch content - young people aren't listening to the radio, reading newspapers or watching free-to-air TV - and so it can't be ignored. This ban is just kicking the can down the road." Puglisi has been applauded for his work online. He was a finalist in his home state Victoria's nomination for the Young Australian of the Year award. His nomination bid credits his platform with "fostering a new generation of informed, critical thinkers." Cyber safety campaigner Sonya Ryan, however, knows from personal tragedy just how dangerous social media can be for children. Her 15-year-old daughter Carly Ryan was murdered in 2007 in South Australia state by a 50-year-old pedophile who pretended to be a teenager online. She was the first person in Australia to be killed by an online predator. "Kids are being exposed to harmful pornography, misinformation, body image issues, sextortion, online predators, bullying. There are so many different dangers and kids just don't have the skills or life experience to manage those well," Ryan said. "The result is we're losing our kids. Not only what happened to Carly but also an alarming rise in young suicides." Ryan is part of a group advising the government on a national strategy to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse in Australia. She wholeheartedly supports setting the social media age limit at 16. "We're not going to get this perfect," she said. "We have to make sure there are mechanisms in place to deal with an anxious generation of children addicted to social media." A major concern for social media users of all ages is the legislation's potential privacy implications. Age estimation technology has proved ineffective, so digital identification appears to be the most likely option for assuring a user is at least 16. Tama Leaver, professor of internet studies at Curtin University, fears the government will make platforms hold users' identification data. The government has already said the onus will be on platforms to ensure everyone meets the age limit. "The worst possible outcome would be social media platforms being the identity arbiter," Leaver said. "They would hold identity documents, which would be absolutely terrible because they have a fairly poor track record on personal data." Platforms will have a year once the legislation has become law to work out how the ban can be implemented. Ryan said privacy concerns should not stand in the way of removing children from social media. "What is the cost if we don't? If we don't put the safety of our children ahead of profit and privacy?" she asked. ASSOCIATED PRESSCandel Therapeutics Announces $80 Million Proposed Public Offering“Barbenheimer” was a phenomenon impossible to manufacture. But, more than a year later, that hasn’t stopped people from trying to make “Glicked” — or even “Babyratu” — happen. The counterprogramming of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” in July 2023 hit a nerve culturally and had the receipts to back it up. Unlike so many things that begin as memes, it transcended its online beginnings. Instead of an either-or, the two movies ultimately complemented and boosted one another at the box office. This combination of images shows promotional art for "Gladiator II," left, and "Wicked." And ever since, moviegoers, marketers and meme makers have been trying to recreate that moment, searching the movie release schedule for odd mashups and sending candidates off into the social media void. Most attempts have fizzled (sorry, “Saw Patrol” ). This weekend is perhaps the closest approximation yet as the Broadway musical adaptation “Wicked” opens Friday against the chest-thumping sword-and-sandals epic “Gladiator II.” Two big studio releases (Universal and Paramount), with one-name titles, opposite tones and aesthetics and big blockbuster energy — it was already halfway there before the name game began: “Wickiator,” “Wadiator,” “Gladwick” and even the eyebrow raising “Gladicked” have all been suggested. “'Glicked' rolls off the tongue a little bit more,” actor Fred Hechinger said at the New York screening of “Gladiator II” this week. “I think we should all band around ‘Glicked.’ It gets too confusing if you have four or five different names for it.” As with “Barbenheimer," as reductive as it might seem, “Glicked” also has the male/female divide that make the fan art extra silly. One is pink and bright and awash in sparkles, tulle, Broadway bangers and brand tie-ins; The other is all sweat and sand, blood and bulging muscles. Both films topped Fandango’s most anticipated holiday movie survey, where 65% of respondents said that they were interested in the “Glicked” double feature. Theaters big and small are also pulling out the stops with movie-themed tie-ins. B&B Theaters will have Roman guards tearing tickets at some locations and Maximus popcorn tubs. Marcus Theaters is doing Oz photo ops and friendship bracelet-making. Alamo Drafthouse is leaning into the singalong aspect (beware, though, not all theaters are embracing this) and the punny drinks like “Defying Gravi-Tea.” This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande in a scene from the film "Wicked." “Rather than it being in competition, I think they’re in conversation,” “Gladiator II” star Paul Mescal said. “This industry needs a shot in the arm. Those films gave it last year. We hope to do it this year.” And the hope is that audiences will flock to theaters to be part of this moment as well. It's a sorely needed influx of could-be blockbusters into a marketplace that's still at an 11% deficit from last year and down 27.2% from 2019, according to data from Comscore. “Competition is good for the marketplace. It’s good for consumers,” said Michael O'Leary, the president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners. “Having two great movies coming out at the same time is simply a multiplier effect.” “Glicked” is currently tracking for a combined North American debut in the $165 million range, with “Wicked” forecast to earn around $100 million (up from the $80 million estimates a few weeks ago) and “Gladiator II” pegged for the $65 million range. “Barbenheimer” shattered its projections last July. Going into that weekend, “Barbie” had been pegged for $90 million and “Oppenheimer” around $40 million. Ultimately, they brought in a combined $244 million in that first outing, and nearly $2.4 billion by the end of their runs. It’s possible “Glicked” will exceed expectations, too. And it has the advantage of another behemoth coming close behind: “Moana 2,” which opens just five days later on the Wednesday before the Thanksgiving holiday. “Glickedana” triple feature anyone? This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Pedro Pascal, left, and Paul Mescal in a scene from "Gladiator II." “These are 10 important days,” O'Leary said. “It’s going to show the moviegoing audience that there’s a lot of compelling stuff out there for them to see.” There are infinite caveats to the imperfect comparison to “Barbenheimer,” as well. “Wicked” is a “Part One.” Musicals carry their own baggage with moviegoers, even those based on wildly successful productions (ahem, “Cats”). “Gladiator II” got a head start and opened internationally last weekend. In fact, in the U.K. it played alongside “Paddington in Peru,” where that double was pegged “Gladdington.” “Gladiator” reviews, while positive, are a little more divided than the others. And neither directors Ridley Scott nor Jon M. Chu has the built-in box office cache that Christopher Nolan’s name alone carries at the moment. The new films also cost more than “Barbie” ($145 million) and “Oppenheimer” ($100 million). According to reports, “Gladiator II” had a $250 million price tag; “Wicked” reportedly cost $150 million to produce (and that does not include the cost of the second film, due next year). The narrative, though, has shifted away from “who will win the weekend.” Earlier this year, Chu told The Associated Press that he loves that this is a moment where “we can root for all movies all the time.” Close behind are a bevy of Christmas releases with double feature potential, but those feel a little more niche. There’s the remake of “Nosferatu,” the Nicole Kidman kink pic “Babygirl” and the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.” The internet can’t even seem to decide on its angle for that batch of contenders, and none exactly screams blockbuster. Sometimes the joy is just in the game, however. Some are sticking with the one-name mashup (“Babyratu”); others are suggesting that the fact that two of the movies feature real-life exes (Timothée Chalamet and Lily-Rose Depp) is enough reason for a double feature. And getting people talking is half the battle. When in doubt, or lacking a catchy name, there’s always the default: “This is my Barbenheimer.” Associated Press journalist John Carucci and Film Writer Jake Coyle contributed reporting. Last summer, Malibu's iconic blonde faced off against Cillian Murphy and the hydrogen bomb in the unforgettable "Barbenheimer" double feature. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

Insider Buys Additional US$226k In Pitney Bowes StockNo. 5 UCLA women stun No. 1 South Carolina 77-62, snap Gamecocks' 43-game win streak

Three Greenspoon Marder Lawyers Bolster Southeast Presence MIAMI , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ice Miller is pleased to announce the addition of esteemed international transactional lawyers Jon Lyman and Gai Sher to help launch the firm's new Miami office . Bringing 30 years of experience counseling corporate and financial institution clients on all manner of deals, often involving cross-border transactions, Miami -based Lyman reinforces Ice Miller's strong transactional roster on both a regional and international scale, while Sher concentrates her practice on representing and providing legal counsel to startups, emerging growth companies, brands, creators, and executives in media, technology, and consumer products in all aspects of commercial transactions. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Ware had six rebounds and three blocks for the Mavericks (5-6). Diante Smith shot 5 of 11 from the field, including 2 for 7 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line to add 16 points. Brody Robinson shot 2 for 5 (1 for 4 from 3-point range) and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line to finish with 11 points. Makai Willis led the Warhawks (4-8) in scoring, finishing with 18 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks. Tyreese Watson added 15 points, six rebounds and four assists for UL Monroe. Jalen Bolden also had 13 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. UT Arlington next plays Wednesday against Evansville at home, and UL Monroe will host Houston Christian on Tuesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Luigi Mangione gave advice on how to game the system he believes failed him

BJP faces setback ahead of poll verdict as its Mumbai secretary joins Uddhav SenaBOULDER, Colo. — Travis Hunter is a throwback-type player — an elite receiver one moment, a lockdown cornerback the next — who rarely leaves the field and has a knack for making big plays all over it. The Colorado Buffaloes' two-way standout (see: unicorn) even celebrates at an elite level, unveiling imaginative dance moves following touchdowns and interceptions, some of which include the Heisman Trophy pose. It's one of the many awards he's in line to win. Hunter is the The Associated Press college football player of the year, receiving 26 of 43 votes Thursday from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. "Couldn't do what I do without my team," Hunter said in an email on a trip to Las Vegas for an awards ceremony. "So I view being up for these awards as team awards." A player with his particular set of skills doesn't come around that often. He's a flashback to the days of Charles Woodson at Michigan or Champ Bailey at Georgia. Or even his coach, Deion Sanders, a two-way star in the NFL. The prospect of significant playing time on both sides of the ball is what led Hunter to join Sanders at Jackson State and why he followed Sanders to Boulder. "Coach Prime was the only coach who would consider allowing me to do what I'm doing," said Hunter, who's expected to be a top-five pick next spring in the NFL draft, possibly even the No. 1 overall selection. "He did it and knows what it takes — how much you have to be ready on both sides of the ball." Want to fuel Hunter? Simply tell him he can't. "I'm motivated when people tell me I can't do something," Hunter said. "That I can't dominate on both sides of the ball. I want to be an example for others that anything is possible. Keep pursuing your dreams." Hunter helped the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record this season and a berth in the Alamo Bowl against No. 17 BYU (10-2) on Dec. 28. He played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the lone Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Hunter has already won a second straight Paul Hornung award as the game's most versatile player. He's up for the Walter Camp (player of the year), Maxwell (most outstanding player), the Biletnikoff (best receiver) and Bednarik (top defensive player) awards. And, of course, the Heisman, where he's the odds-on favorite to win over Jeanty this weekend. Hunter can join the late Rashaan Salaam as the only Colorado players to capture the Heisman. Salaam won it in 1994 after rushing for 2,055 yards. Hunter wasn't a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back. That drew the wrath of Sanders, who earned the award with Florida State in 1988 and vowed to give his trophy to Hunter. Hunter's high school coach, Lenny Gregory, knew he had a special player the summer of Hunter's freshman year. Gregory, then the coach at Collins Hill in Georgia, had a conditioning test for his players — run six 200-yard dashes with a minute rest in between. Defensive backs had to complete each in under 32 seconds. Hunter never even got winded. He played safety/cornerback and receiver as a freshman and helped Collins Hill to a state title his senior season. "I remember just talking to colleges the spring of his ninth-grade year and telling coaches that this kid's going to be the No. 1 player in the country," recounted Gregory, who's now the coach at Gordon Central High in Calhoun, Georgia. "They'd look at him and laugh at me, 'What are you talking about? This scrawny kid? He's not big enough.' I was like, 'Just watch. Just watch.'" Hunter finished the regular season with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced one crucial fumble, which secured an OT win over Baylor. Overall, Hunter had 92 receptions and allowed 22. He hauled in 14 receiving TDs and allowed just one. He was responsible for 53 first downs and gave up just six. He was targeted 119 times by Shedeur Sanders & Co. but only 39 times by opposing QBs. Hunter's likely final game in Boulder, a rout of Oklahoma State, was a three-touchdown, one-interception performance. "I'm used to seeing him do all this spectacular stuff," Shedeur Sanders said. "I'm used to all this stuff — you all are just now seeing it on national stage."

Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record. The Capitals updated Ovechkin’s status Thursday after he was evaluated by team doctors upon returning from a three-game trip. The 39-year-old broke the leg in a shin-on-shin collision Monday night with Utah’s Jack McBain, and some of his closest teammates knew it was not good news even before Ovechkin was listed as week to week and placed on injured reserve. “Everyone’s bummed out,” said winger Tom Wilson, who has played with Ovechkin since 2013. “We were sitting there saying: ‘This is weird. Like, it’s unbelievable that he’s actually hurt.’ It’s one of those things where like, he’s going to miss games? I’ve been around a long time, and it’s new to me.” Ovechkin in his first 19 seasons missed 59 games — and just 35 because of injury. Durability even while throwing his body around with his physical style is a big reason he is on track to pass Gretzky’s mark of 894 goals that once looked unapproachable. “He doesn’t go out there and just coast around,” Wilson said. “He’s played 20 years every shift running over guys and skating. He’s a power forward, the best goal-scorer ever maybe, and he’s a power forward that plays the game really hard.” Ovechkin surged to the top of the league with 15 goals in his first 18 games this season. He was on pace to break the record and score No. 895 sometime in February. “You know when goal-scorers start scoring, it’s dangerous,” said defenseman John Carlson, who has been teammates with Ovechkin since 2009-10. “There was a bit of that in the downs that everyone was feeling about it too, of course. We see him coming to the rink every day, we know what’s at stake. You never want anyone to get injured, but there’s a lot to it and certainly he was playing his best hockey in years.” ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press†̃Kanpen tang rahi hain': KP CM slams imposition of Section 144 ahead of PTI march

†̃Kanpen tang rahi hain': KP CM slams imposition of Section 144 ahead of PTI march