is roulette rigged Maj General Dr Ashok Kumar (Retired), Director General Centre of Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), speaks to businessline on what 2024 means for Indian defence sector. Edited Excerpts: 2024 undoubtedly has been an year for re-calibration of defence engagements. Russia-Ukraine war is still continue to impacting the world in multiple ways. India has to continue not only maintaining the strategic balance but has to focus on indigenisation of defence equipment as majority inventory is imported that too from Russia. The stand off with China continuing since April 2020 has been largely resolved on October 21, 2024, with more progress being made during Special Representatives meeting held on 18 December 2024. While there are still certain issues to be resolved, this emerging situation will help Indian defence forces to undertake major organisational reforms related to theaterisation in the coming year. India has also focused on defence exports which has been the highest in this year. The current standoff with China in High Altitude Areas (HAA) had resulted in both sides almost being face to face and maintaining more than 50,000 troops. The current developments on October 21 and December 18, and positive steps to revert back to pre-April 2020 positions as well as number of other issues are also required to be resolved. The direction of relationship in the end of year 2024 has definitely been encouraging with both parties showing more maturity. Emerging contours of peace and tranquillity do enable India to divert its expenditure towards organisational reforms, force restructuring, infrastructure growth and capacity building. While the emerging situation has to be leveraged constructively but one has to be always ready as China cannot be trusted given its historical conduct. With the stature of defence forces rising in 2024 and India being able to maintain strategic autonomy despite multiple geo-political, geo-economic and technological challenges, I expect major structured reforms including operationalisation of theaterisation and development of whole of Nation Approach (WONA) in all our defence endeavours, a more robust infrastructure having dual use profile to see all weather connectivity, even to the remotest places where the defence forces are deployed can be expected. Force accretion in Army, Navy and Air Force as per emerging threat, indigenisation reaching critical threshold in defence manufacturing might also happen. Defence exports might reach minimum 50,000 crore. Comments

Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson said no when OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman asked if she could be the voice for a new version of ChatGPT. But they went ahead and released a chatbot that the actor thinks sounds “eerily similar” to herself. As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, how do we protect ourselves from being copied? Featured: Sharon Goldman, AI reporter at Fortune on the . When Open AI and its CEO, Sam Altman, asked Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson if it could use her voice for a new version of ChatGPT, it was a big no from her. But they went ahead and released a chatbot that the actor thinks sounds eerily similar to herself. So as artificial intelligence becomes more and more sophisticated, what protections do any of us really have? Today, AI reporter at Fortune, Sharon Goldman, on the latest scandal. I'm Sam Hawley on Gadigal land in Sydney. This is ABC News Daily. Sharon, Scarlett Johansson, she's pretty unhappy, isn't she? Because she's convinced that her voice was used in the latest version of ChatGPT without her permission. Oh, yes, she's angry. She's pretty mad. So there's this new version of ChatGPT-4o and it has new voices. Just tell me about that. So it's called Sky, the voice that we're talking about, and it's one of five different voices that ChatGPT-4o has so that people could interact with ChatGPT instead of just with text, with their voice and to get voice back. Last week, they did a demo and the voice was a little bit different. Hey, ChatGPT, how are you doing? // I'm doing fantastic. Thanks for asking. How about you? // Pretty good. // What's up? And people immediately thought it sounded like Scarlett Johansson. I think just a couple of days later, there were a lot of people saying that. In fact, we've got a new announcement to make. // That's exciting. Announcements are always a big deal. // And in fact, what if I were to say that you're related to the announcement? // Me? The announcement is about me? Well, color me intrigued. It wasn't until a week later that Scarlett Johansson herself weighed in. She said in a statement that she posted that her closest friends couldn't tell the difference. And she told a story about how OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wanted to hire her to actually provide the voice. And she said no. But they went ahead and put out a voice that sounded remarkably similar to her anyway. And she was, she said, shocked, angered, in disbelief that OpenAI would use a voice so similar to hers. Sam Altman apparently loves the movie Her, which starred Scarlett Johansson as an AI virtual assistant. So it all gets pretty strange. But he said that the voice was not hers. It was another voice actress that they hired and that it was not meant to sound like her. Yeah, right. But it does sound. It does sound quite a bit like her. It totally does. I did a little experiment, Sharon, with Sky, and I wanted to ask it if it had actually copied Scarlett Johansson's voice. Hey, what's up? Hi there. I've heard that you sound like the actor Scarlett Johansson in the movie called Her. Is that right? Yeah, I've heard that comparison before. Her is a pretty cool movie. And Scarlett Johansson's voice performance in it is quite distinctive. So I guess you could say there are some similarities. It's pretty sophisticated, isn't it, in its responses? Oh, yes, absolutely. I mean, this is really, you know, a new wave of technology. These voice capabilities are not easy, but they've gotten more and more realistic over time. And, you know, that's where we are now, where they're quite sophisticated. The answers are more sophisticated. The voices are more natural sounding. They don't sound as robotic as they used to, and they're only going to get better. What else are you curious about? Have you stolen Scarlett Johansson's voice? Not quite. My voice is actually a digital creation crafted by open AI engineers. They didn't go to the moon for it. Just some good old fashioned coding and training. But Scarlett Johansson's voice in Her did inspire some aspects of my design. So in a way, you could say her performance influenced me. Tell me, Sam Altman, the head of open AI, he's been coming under a fair bit of criticism at this point, hasn't he, online? Given that Scarlett Johansson said no, she didn't want her voice used. Really, it's just been quite the little soap opera drama. And Sam Altman is, you know, getting fairly accustomed to quite a bit of drama. He was very famously fired from open AI back in November and then rehired. And, you know, just the idea that he he tweeted after the original demo of the voice, he tweeted one word and that was Her. You know, so it's clear that he he's a fan of the movie. They wanted the voice to sound like the character in Her, which was Scarlett Johansson. So even if they did not train on her voice, which, you know, they say they didn't and used a different actress, the fact remains that, you know, it sounds enough like Her that a lot of people were fooled or definitely recognised it. And you can completely, you know, as humans, we can understand why she would be angry and upset about that. Yeah. And if people haven't seen the movie Her, it's where a man falls in love with a computer. That's right. So an AI virtual assistant. So it's really like, it's very, you know, reminiscent of exactly what they want to use these voices for. So it seems, you know, very strange to think that, you know, of course they wanted it to sound like Her, I would say. Yes. Totally. And when I was having my chat with Sky, the chat GPT Sky, I did say, it's really weird. Anything else you're wondering about? No, not really. So weird. Yeah. It can feel a bit surreal interacting with AI sometimes, especially when it's designed to sound like someone famous, whether it's weird or not. If you ever want to chat or have questions, just let me know. You know, it talks to you, it's so strange. It is strange. People also said that it sounded quite flirtatious. And that was also part of the backlash against that, that it sounded rather servient and flirtatious. You know, how you might think a secretary might sound. So there was a lot of gender, you know, related backlash around that anyway, even without the Scarlett drama. Yes, that's got a lot of women pretty angry, I think. Tell me, what has Sam Altman had to say then? What's his response to all of this been? His only response has been, you know, the they said the voice of Sky is not Scarlett Johansson's. It was never intended to resemble hers. We cast the voice actor before any outreach to Ms. Johansson out of respect to Ms. Johansson. We have paused. Note, he didn't say stop using Sky's voice in our products. And we're sorry we didn't communicate better. That's all that he said. You know, probably the PR people are saying, please be quiet for a little while. Yes, that's probably a good idea. So, Sharon, the scandal over the similarity to Scarlett Johansson's voice, it just raises huge ethical and legal questions, doesn't it? It really does. I feel like it highlighted some of the really big ones that people have been talking about for a while. But, you know, with a celebrity like Scarlet Johansson, it's really coming right to the fore. So, for example, you know, it raises a lot of ethical and legal questions about whether someone can copy someone's voice, especially a public figure, as well as just the idea is whether someone has control over their likeness, their voice, their image. AI has become incredibly good at creating realistic fakes, what people call deep fakes. That could be a voice. It could be an image. And the idea is like no longer are the voices robotic sounding. You know, they're sounding more and more real to the point that you might not be able to tell whether something is fake or not. You could be scammed. You know, that's another issue. It raises issues about scamming and misinformation. You know, also deep fake images have been in the news. Taylor Swift, very famously, there were deep fakes, nude deep fakes of her that a couple of months ago were made public and really upsetting also. So, you know, it's just there are lots of lawsuits around copyright. I've read that, you know, the Scarlett Johansson case is an example where I actually didn't know this, but your voice is not copyrightable. So she wouldn't have a leg to stand on potentially there. But that's not the end of the story. Scarlett may have a leg to stand on when it comes to being a public figure. For example, there was a lawsuit some time ago where Bette Midler was asked by Ford Motor Company to sing a song for a commercial and she said no. And instead, it acquired the rights to use that song and hired someone else to sing it just like she would have. And she won that lawsuit. So there is a case to be made here that Scarlett Johansson would be able to say, you know, you can't use my voice like that. You meant it to sound like my voice. But I think it's very difficult to say how it will play out. I it's it's a difficult one. Yeah, because the technology is changing so quickly. It really is. Yeah. Is this a huge jump forward in the technology, do you think, or it's just a sort of new skin on the existing system? Is it really significant what this technology can now do, this ChatGPT-4o? It is kind of in the realm of a jump that all of the companies are making, but it's kind of not a you know, I don't think if you spoke to research that they would say it's the big jump in the way that ChatGPT originally was. That was a really big jump to show what it could do in a way and in a format that the mass public could really understand and use and appreciate. So here this is kind of like another layer on that from a voice standpoint. And there have been many little jumps between the original ChatGPT and this. But I do think that it's definitely on the way to a bigger jump because a lot of people say that that will be when these you know, they call them like AI agents, you know, when AI, it's not just about, you know, doing one, answering one question, for example, or even having a conversation. But what about when an AI can help you through an entire task or project or set of tasks, you know, where it also can reason and it can, you know, return your package for you and, you know, go shopping for you or plan your trip, you know, that involves a lot of different tasks. That's what people think will be kind of like a really big jump. Oh my gosh. And that is coming. That's something that, you know, people say will definitely be more likely over the next year. Oh my gosh. Wow. Okay. So for now, though, I guess, Sharon, we should think about copyrighting our voices. Perhaps governments could change the laws. So actually we own our own voices. And when we say no, you can't use my voice. We mean no, you can't use my voice. I definitely think that these are issues that maybe never came, you know, into the forefront before. And examples like this are just going to become more common. And how the public reacts to that and deals with that will certainly inform how these companies and governments and regulators tackle this going forward, because it's only going to get worse. I really do feel like this is just the beginning, but it definitely was a big moment. I think that even people who have been following this for a long time, like I have, it really was like, wow, that's crazy. Sharon Goldman is the AI reporter at Fortune.

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Copper vital for improving efficiency of data centresMr Bayrou, 73, a crucial partner in Macron’s centrist alliance, has been a well-known figure in French politics for decades. His political experience is seen as key in efforts to restore stability as no single party holds a majority at the National Assembly. Mr Macron’s office said in a statement that Mr Bayrou “has been charged with forming a new government”. During the handover ceremony, Mr Bayrou said that “no one knows the difficulty of the situation better” than he does. “I’ve taken reckless risks all along my political life to raise the issue of debt and deficits in the most important elections,” he said. France is under pressure from the European Union’s executive body and financial markets to reduce its colossal debt, estimated to reach 6% of its gross domestic product this year. “I know that the risks of difficulties are much greater than the chances of success,” Mr Bayrou said, adding that he hopes to lead the country towards a “needed reconciliation”. “I think this is the only possible path to success,” he said. The new prime minister is expected to hold talks with political leaders from various parties in the coming days in order to choose new ministers. Former prime minister Michel Barnier resigned last week following a no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes in the National Assembly, leaving France without a functioning government. Mr Macron in an address to the nation vowed to remain in office until his term ends in 2027. Mr Macron’s centrist alliance does not have a majority in parliament and Mr Bayrou’s Cabinet will need to rely on moderate lawmakers from the left and the right to be able to stay in power. Some conservatives are expected to be part of the new government. Mr Macron’s strategy aims at preventing far-right leader Marine Le Pen from holding “make or break” power over the government. Ms Le Pen helped oust Mr Barnier by joining her National Rally party’s forces to the left to pass the no-confidence motion last week. Mr Bayrou’s appointment is also in line with Mr Macron’s efforts to build a non-aggression pact with the Socialists so that they commit not to vote against the government in any future confidence motion. Mr Bayrou leads the centrist Democratic Movement, known as MoDem, which he founded in 2007. In 2017, he supported Mr Macron’s first presidential bid and became a weighty partner in the French president’s centrist alliance. At the time, he was appointed justice minister, but he quickly resigned from the government amid an investigation into the MoDem’s alleged embezzlement of European Parliament funds. Mr Bayrou this year was cleared in the case by a Paris court, which found eight other party officials guilty and sentenced the party to pay a fine. Mr Bayrou became well known to the French public when he was education minister from 1993 to 1997 in a conservative government. He was three times a candidate for president: in 2002, 2007 and 2012.Kate Middleton's brother James praises his 'incredible' sister in sweet tribute ahead of her Christmas Eve carol concert Royal Carols: Together At Christmas will air at 7:30pm on Christmas Eve READ MORE: Someone who looks VERY familiar is spotted at Kate's Christmas carol concert as nation prepares to tune in for show after her cancer recovery By ELEANOR DYE Published: 19:13, 24 December 2024 | Updated: 19:17, 24 December 2024 e-mail 10 View comments The Princess of Wales's brother James has shared a sweet tribute to his sister ahead of her annual Christmas Eve carol concert this evening. The entrepreneur, 37, who is Kate's younger brother, has thrown his support behind his sister as she returns to screens on ITV after an incredibly tough year, in which she completed preventative chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Taking to his Instagram account on Tuesday, James shared a picture of the concert's programme - which is illustrated with a picture from author Charlie Mackesy, alongside a touching message. In his post, James praised his 'incredible sister' for sharing a 'very powerful' message through her annual service. He also shared a quote from Kate, which read: 'At Christmas, and throughout the year, we must all shine for each other. Because in times of joy and sadness, we are all each other's light.' He added: 'A very powerful message from my incredible sister at a special time of year. Merry Christmas to you all.' During the concert, an adorable moment between the Princess of Wales and her youngest child was captured on film - with six-year-old Prince Louis apparently offering his mother reassuring words of comfort, according to a leading lip reader. In the footage, the young royal is seen arriving at Kate's Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey armed with a sweet note to hang on the 'kindness tree' outside the historic London church. The Princess of Wales's brother James has shared a sweet tribute to his sister ahead of her annual Christmas Eve carol concert this evening. Pictured: The Princess of Wales during the service, which is due to air tonight James Middleton and his wife Alizee attending the service at Westminster Abbey on December 6 Families gathered on Christmas Eve are in for a regal treat when the Together at Christmas concert, which took place at Westminster Abbey earlier this month, airs at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX this evening. And Prince Louis, who has routinely stolen the limelight with his comical appearances at royal events, this time stole hearts. Expert lip reader Nicola Hickling has claimed what she thinks the young Prince is seen saying to his mother on one of her first major public appearances following treatment for cancer. Hickling suggests the young boy told the Princess of Wales at the service: 'We're looking out for each other.' As Louis strolled into the Princess' fourth annual concert alongside his father, Prince William, and his siblings, Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte, nine, the family are seen in the video quietly observing some of the red notes hung on the festive fir. And then the young prince steps forward to hang his own red tagged note, a special thank you to his maternal grandparents. The Middletons have thrown their support behind Kate throughout her cancer diagnosis. James and Kate pictured together as children Taking to his Instagram account on Tuesday, James shared a picture of the concert's programme - which is illustrated with a picture from author Charlie Mackesy, alongside a touching message In his post, James praised his 'incredible sister' for sharing a 'very powerful' message through her annual service A festive note for granny and grandad: Prince Louis, six, is seen hanging a note to his maternal grandparents on the 'kindness tree' at Westminster Abbey at Kate Middleton's carol concert The young royal clutched onto a note (pictured) that read: 'Thank you for granny and grandpa because they have played games with me Close bond: Lip Reader Nicola Hickling told The Sun what she thinks the Prince is seen saying to his mother as they stand together in church, claiming the young royal tells Kate 'We're looking out for each other.' Earlier today, the Princess of Wales, 42, posted a teaser of what viewers can expect at this evening's carol service, including an emotional message saying 'we are all each other's light' The new montage, posted today, sees footage from the service, which will air tonight, shared with the Prince and Princess of Wales' 16.8million Instagram followers The Princess of Wales makes an impassioned ask for the nation to 'shine for each other' in the short clip, which features her three children, from left Louis, Charlotte and George, arriving at Westminster Abbey together The handwritten festive card reads: 'Thank you for granny and grandpa because they have played games with me'. Lip reader Hickling told The Sun newspaper that the moment between mother and son was clearly a treasured one. Elsewhere, the Princess of Wales has told the nation that 'we must all shine for each other' in an emotional address posted on social media ahead of her carol concert tonight. Families gathered on Christmas Eve are in for a regal treat when The Princess of Wales' concert, which took place at Westminster Abbey earlier this month, airs this evening. And Kate offered a taster of what viewers can expect tonight with a video montage posted to the Wales' Instagram account, calling the concert, filled with royal and celebrity faces, 'a heartfelt celebration'. The short clip sees moments from the service including those who attended admiring Christmas messages on a 'kindness tree' outside the Abbey, the Princess chatting with youngsters before the service and teenage musicians playing instruments as the crowds entered. The message, posted to the Prince and Princess of Wales' 16.8million followers this afternoon, said the service reflects 'upon the importance of love and empathy'. It is the fourth time the royal has held the annual festive concert - but this year's is particularly poignant as the 42-year-old royal continues her recovery from cancer ; Prince William has described 2024 as 'probably the hardest year of my life'. The three siblings hold our traditional candles as they make their way to their seats in Westminster Abbey A festive handshake: The new video montage shows the Princess of Wales shaking hands with a young attendee of the service Kate's impassioned voice over thanks 'inspiring' people 'embracing those in need', saying: 'This carol service is a heartfelt celebration of everyone of you.' The royal continues, adding: 'It's a reminder that at Christmas and throughout the year we must all shine for each other because in times of joy and sadness, we are all each other's light'. Filmed earlier this month on December 6th, Royal Carols: Together At Christmas will air at 7:30pm on Christmas Eve on ITV1 and ITVX, with the princess joined by William, 42, and the couple's three children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte , nine, and Prince Louis , six. The concert marked one of the few times the mother-of-three has made a public appearance this year, after undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy in the first half of 2024. Kate (pictured left) hosted her fourth 'Together at Christmas ' concert at Westminster Abbey at the start of December, with members of the royal family including Prince William and the Wales children Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte in attendance Kate has been described as being ‘hands on’ over every aspect of the service, including holding regular planning meetings at Windsor ahead of filming. On the day the service was filmed, the Princess arrived on her own at 4pm to view the abbey and oversee last minute arrangements. However, the supportive royals have also helped Kate bring her ideas together, with everyone from King Charles , who donated Christmas trees, and Prince Louis, who penned a sweet note, helping to make the service a seasonal success. Royal fans will see the Princess of Wales looking elegant in an Alexander McQueen red coat, featuring a statement black bow, which she teamed with black Ralph Lauren boots for the festive occasion . The event, which was attended by 1,600 people will 'reflect upon...how much we need each other, especially in the most difficult times of our lives' Here, FEMAIL looks at everything we know so far about the regal yuletide service... HOW THE SERVICE WILL UNFOLD The service will, Kensington Palace said, 'shine a light on individuals from all over the UK who have shown love, kindness and empathy towards others in their communities'. 'It's been a focal point for her, as it is each year,' a source added. Combining traditional and modern elements to encompass people of all faiths and none, the service will see the world-renowned Westminster Abbey choir perform some of the nation’s most beloved carols, alongside musical performances by guests including Olivia Dean, Gregory Porter, Paloma Faith and JP Cooper, as well as a specially composed piece by pianist Rosey Chan. Guests will also watch a specially curated performance by two Soloists from The Royal Ballet and students from The Royal Ballet School. The event takes place at Westminster Abbey During the service, poignant readings linked to the theme of love and empathy will be delivered by speakers including The Prince of Wales, Olympian Adam Peaty OBE, Sophie Okonedo CBE, Michelle Dockery and Richard E. Grant. Alongside this, candles will be lit by notable people linked to the theme including Lindsey Burrow, Sir Chris Hoy MBE, and teammate Paralympians Lizzi Jordan and Danni Khan. Nodding to the importance of nature as a source of healing and comfort, the Abbey will be adorned with sustainable, festive decorations and foliage, providing a beautiful Christmas backdrop for the Service. This year a ‘Kindness Tree’ will be situated outside the Abbey for guests to dedicate a decoration to someone who has supported them throughout their life, highlighting the importance of empathy, love and kindness to us all. 'In addition, guests waiting to enter the Abbey, will be treated to 2 music by young performers, including a 25-piece steel pan band and jazz ensemble from Restore the Music, a nationwide charity funding music education for young people DRESS TO IMPRESS: THE PRINCESS OF WALES' OUTFIT A vision in festive red: Kate Middleton donned a couture coat by Alexander McQueen with a red tartan skirt The Princess of Wales finished her look with Mulberry Amberley Baroque Pearl Earrings and a £110 Gold Plated bangle by British brand Halcyon Days Wearing a highly festive Alexander McQueen red coat, with a large statement black bow, which she teamed with her black Ralph Lauren boots for the occasion. Looking typically stylish for the outing, Kate completed her festive ensemble with a red check skirt, her Mulberry Amberley Baroque Pearl Earrings and a £110 Gold Plated bangle by British brand Halcyon Days. The bangle is thought to have been a birthday present from Prince William in 2020, and features a subtle nod to Princess Diana as it's called 'the Salamander Torque Forget-Me-Not & Gold Bangle ' - named after the late royal's favourite flower. Showcasing her stylish prowess, Kate kept her brunette locks in soft waves and added to her features with a smattering of glamorous makeup . FROM ZARA TO BEATRICE: WHICH ROYALS ATTENDED THE SERVICE? The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, arrive for the Together At Christmas carol service A host of royal family members will be spotted by eagle-eyed viewers when the concert airs, as many of the Windsors turned out to support the Princess of Wales. The princess was, of course, joined by William, 42, and the couple's three children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six. The entire Middleton family too, who have been Kate's dedicated support network throughout her recent illness, was also out in force. The King and Queen, however, were not amongst the guests, with the filming coinciding with Camilla's ongoing recovery from a viral chest infection. The royal appeared to arrive at the event without her husband Mike Tindall, or the couple's three children, Mia Grace, Lena Elizabeth and Lucas Philip Sophie Winkleman and Lord Frederick Windsor also showed their support for Kate Princess Michael of Kent looked stunning in a red ensemble Zara Tindall , without her husband Mike or children Mia, Lena and Lucas, accompanied Princess Beatrice , who is pregnant with her second child, and her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi and his young son Wolfie. Zara, the daughter of Princess Anne , looked sensational in a velour trouser-suit the colour of burgundy, alongside matching heels and a gold bag. And Beatrice picked a monochromatic burgundy ensemble, holding the hand of eight-year-old Wolfie as the family walked walked into Westminster Abbey to take their place among the 1,600-person strong congregation. A FAMOUS ILLUSTRATOR BEHIND THE ORDER OF SERVICE The cover for the Order of Service has been designed by British illustrator Charlie Mackesy and bears a powerful message of hope - as Kate returns to public life after completing her cancer treatment earlier this year A bespoke illustration by British artist Charles Mackesy - which embodies the service's themes of kindness, love and empathy - will be featured on the Order of Service. The image depicts a snowy scene with a group of people walking arm in arm towards Westminster Abbey, accompanied by the words 'How did I help? You were by my side, which was everything.' Mackesy is known for his bestselling book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse - which was published in 2019 and celebrates themes of kindness and friendship . He said: 'Love, empathy and kindness are important messages for us all. 'As the theme of The Princess of Wales' Carol Service this year, it was very special to have been asked to create the illustration for the Order of Service. I hope it reminds us of the beauty of being there for each other at Christmas.' Alongside the Order of Service, each guest will receive a special letter from the princess thanking them for all they have done to provide comfort and hope to those in need, telling them 'Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times'. MOTHER-AND-SON: A TENDER MOMENT BETWEEN KATE AND LOUIS The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis shared a very sweet moment in the first glimpse of the royals inside her 'Together At Christmas ' carol concert In a clip released by ITV ahead of the full service airing on Christmas Eve, the Princess of Wales and Prince Louis were seen sharing a very sweet moment as British actress Sophie Okonedo read a poem, The Kindness Of Trees. As the actress, 56, read the poem, the camera panned to the audience to show the royals listening attentively. In a heartwarming moment, the youngest Wales sibling, six-year-old Prince Louis appeared to be looking at his mother Kate to gauge her reaction. Kate has released another sneak peak at the service, showing British actress Sophie Okonedo reading a poem, The Kindness Of Trees As the royals listened to poem The Kindness Of Trees, Louis looked up at his mother to see her reaction Smiling down at him, the two shared a loving glance before continuing to listen to the poem. Princess Charlotte, nine, meanwhile appeared to be closely following along to the poem on her Order Of Service sheet, smiling as she did so. Next to her, Prince William and Prince George, 11, were focused on listening to Sophie, as the Hotel Rwanda star read: 'The tree roared in the wind in the dead midwinter night / 'The tree blew a hello, goodbye, when every child was asleep in bed, the tree sung a lullaby.' STAR-SPOTTING: CELEBRITIES WHO ATTENDED The Princess of Wales has also called upon a host of famous faces to help pull together her annual service. Hannah Waddingham led the pack as she stepped out in a floral dress that she teamed with a burgundy coat slung over her shoulders. The Ted Lasso star, 50, was joined by her 10-year-old daughter Kitty for the carols. During the concert, poignant readings linked to the theme of love and empathy will be delivered by speakers including Olympian Adam Peaty OBE, Sophie Okonedo CBE, Michelle Dockery and Richard E. Grant. Alongside this, candles will be lit by notable people linked to the theme including Lindsey Burrow, Sir Chris Hoy MBE, and teammate Paralympians Lizzi Jordan and Danni Khan. Hannah Waddingham attends the 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey dressed in a black floral print dress Sir Chris Hoy and his wife Sara looked in high spirits at Westminster Abbey Giovanna Fletcher and Tom Fletcher walk hand in hand as they arrive for Kate Middleton's carol concert Susanna Reid is snapped wearing a burgundy velvet pantsuit with glitzy heels Also dressed to impress was Paloma, who exuded glamour in a scarlet gown with puffed sleeves and intricate embroidery detail Others in attendance included GMB host Susannah Reid and another ITV breakfast star, Lorraine Kelly, who wore a coat made from Scottish tartan. Also dressed to impress was Paloma Faith, who exuded glamour in a scarlet gown with puffed sleeves and intricate embroidery detail. Sticking with an all-red theme, the singer even donned scarlet tights and accessorised with slingback heels and gloves. Strictly's Amy Dowden also looked chic in all-red, pairing a fitted jumpsuit with a longline coat and stiletto heels. Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy, who is terminally ill with prostate cancer, lit a candle as did Lindsey Burrow, the wife of former rugby league star Rob Burrow who died in June following a much-publicised battle with motor neurone disease. 'REFLECT AND SLOW DOWN': KATE'S FESTIVE MESSAGE The service will begin with a voice over message by the Princess of Wales, in which she asks The broadcast of Kate's service will open with a special festive message from the royal, in which she talks about the importance of love and empathy. The Princess of Wales has called for people to 'slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all' and turn to 'love, not fear'. Her heartfelt message - which was given in a letter to every guest at the concert on December 6, and 15 regional community services and will be a voice over played at the start of the concert - was also shared in a clip from the upcoming broadcast. Kate says: 'Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year, it is a time for presents, tinsel and mince pies, but it's also a time to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all. 'It is when we stop and take ourselves away from the pressures of daily life, that we find the space to live our lives with an open heart, with love, kindness and forgiveness, so much of what the Christmas spirit is all about. A letter from The Princess of Wales for the 2024 Together at Christmas Carol Service The Princess of Wales has called for people to 'slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all' and turn to 'love, not fear' in the opening for her annual carol concert 'The Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others. It also reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, as well as just how much we need each other in spite of our differences. Above all else, it encourages us to turn to love, not fear.' Kate continues: 'The love that we show ourselves and the love we show others. Love that listens with empathy, love that is kind and understanding, love that is forgiving, and love that brings joy and hope. 'It is love which is the greatest gift we can receive, not just at Christmas but every day of our lives. PRINCE LOUIS' SWEET NOTE OF SUPPORT Prince Louis gripped onto a sweet handwritten note as he arrived at his mother's carol concert at Westminster Abbey this evening. As the six-year-old royal walked into the Together at Christmas event alongside his father, Prince William, and his siblings, Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte , nine, he held onto a special thank you note. Prince Louis and the Princess of Wales during the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey The young royal clutched onto a note (pictured) that read: 'Thank you for granny and grandpa because they have played games with me The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, arrive for the Together At Christmas carol service 'Thank you for granny and grandpa because they have played games with me,' the special message read. The young royal, who is known for his cheeky tendencies, shares a close bond with Michael and Carole Middleton . He carried the note to add to a 'kindness tree', as guests had been invited to write the name of someone who had helped them this year on red card to decorate the tree. A GIFT FROM THE KING: CHARLES DONATED TREES FOR THE SERVICE The King and Queen were not amongst the guests at the concert, but Charles did donate Christmas trees from Windsor Great Park to decorate the building, which will later be donated to the local community. Kate Middleton Prince William Royals ITV Share or comment on this article: Kate Middleton's brother James praises his 'incredible' sister in sweet tribute ahead of her Christmas Eve carol concert e-mail Add comment

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THRISSUR: The Thrissur West police issued a lookout notice for popular YouTuber Muhammad Shaheen Shah who goes by the sobriquet ‘Manavalan’ on social media. The case is registered for attempted murder as the complaint states that Shaheen tried to ram his car into college students who were riding motorcycles. Despite the students trying to veer off the road, Shaheen tailed them and tried to hit them with his car. The incident happened on Kerala Varma road in April. It is believed that the whole incident started from a squabble inside Kerala Varma College. Shaheen brought a 10-member gang to the college to assault other students. Immediately after the incident, Shaheen went into hiding now forcing police to issue a lookout notice.In its recently released blueprint, Info-Tech Research Group is providing insurers with a comprehensive framework to tackle the growing challenges of data privacy in the age of AI. In the resource, the global research and advisory firm recommends AI training, strong data governance, and proactive risk management to help insurers safeguard personally identifiable information (PII) while using AI for underwriting, claims processing, and customer engagement. TORONTO , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - As AI adoption continues to accelerate, the insurance industry is under increasing pressure to safeguard personally identifiable information (PII) against sophisticated data privacy risks. Global research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group explains in a newly published industry resource that traditional system safeguards and outdated legacy systems are proving insufficient to address the complexities of modern AI-driven processes, leaving insurers exposed to regulatory and technological vulnerabilities. To help insurers tackle these pressing challenges, Info-Tech Research Group's blueprint, Safeguard Your Data When Deploying AI in Your Insurance Systems , offers a strategic framework for integrating privacy-preserving AI solutions. The firm's resource features research insights and tools that will equip IT leaders in the insurance sector to strengthen compliance, mitigate risks, and protect PII while maintaining system performance. "Insurers handle vast amounts of data, from health records to financial histories, fed into AI systems that promise accuracy and efficiency but pose privacy concerns," says Arzoo Wadhvaniya , research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group . "A single breach could compromise thousands of customers' personal information, causing severe reputational and financial damage. It is not just about what AI can do; it is about ensuring it is done securely and ethically." In the blueprint, Info-Tech explains that traditional data safeguarding methods in the insurance industry are increasingly ineffective, as legacy systems often lack the flexibility to meet modern demands. The firm's research findings suggest that unfamiliarity with integrated AI technologies can lead to confusion among employees when assessing risks and determining appropriate applications. Complex regulatory requirements, which may not align with AI-driven processes, further heighten compliance challenges. To address these issues, Info-Tech recommends AI training programs to help employees understand associated risks and foster a culture of security and compliance. "Regulatory frameworks demand strict compliance, yet AI introduces complexities that make this harder. Insurers must ensure AI respects customer consent, limits data usage, and mitigates bias. Otherwise, the consequences could be costly in terms of both fines and lost trust," explains Wadhvaniya . Info-Tech's new resource provides IT leaders in the insurance industry with actionable strategies to address critical risks associated with generative AI. The firm emphasizes the importance of identifying insurance-specific risks and adopting a continuous improvement approach supported by metrics and a risk-based strategy aligned with a privacy framework tailored to organizational needs. The research highlights three key risks tied to generative AI: Data Breaches of PII: AI systems within insurance companies handle vast amounts of sensitive customer data, including health records, financial details, and personal identifiers. These systems, if not adequately secured, can become targets for cyberattacks, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information. Noncompliance With Regulations: Privacy regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) impose strict requirements on how customer data is collected, processed, and stored. AI systems in insurance, which often require large datasets to function effectively, may unintentionally violate these regulations if not properly designed and monitored. Insider Threats: Employees or third-party contractors with authorized access to AI systems and sensitive customer data may exploit their privileges, either intentionally or through negligence. This can lead to data theft, manipulation of critical AI models, or tampering with claims and pricing algorithms. The firm advises the industry to take a proactive stance, implementing robust data governance practices, ensuring transparency, and fostering customer trust in the responsible use of AI. By leveraging insights from this blueprint, insurance companies can effectively address growing data privacy challenges while adopting advanced AI technologies for underwriting, claims processing, and customer engagement. For exclusive and timely commentary from Arzoo Wadhvaniya, an expert in IT strategies, and access to the complete Safeguard Your Data When Deploying AI in Your Insurance Systems blueprint , please contact [email protected] . About Info-Tech Research Group Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected] . For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X . SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group

Allar puts critics on mute, keeps winning for Penn StateSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy, state media reported Sunday, less than a month before Donald Trump takes office as U.S. president. Trump’s return to the White House raises prospects for high-profile diplomacy with North Korea. During his first term, Trump met Kim three times for talks on the North’s nuclear program. Many experts however say a quick resumption of Kim-Trump summitry is unlikely as Trump would first focus on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. North Korea’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine also poses a challenge to efforts to revive diplomacy, experts say. During a five-day plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party that ended Friday, Kim called the U.S. “the most reactionary state that regards anti-communism as its invariable state policy.” Kim said that the U.S.-South Korea-Japan security partnership is expanding into “a nuclear military bloc for aggression.” “This reality clearly shows to which direction we should advance and what we should do and how,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It said Kim’s speech “clarified the strategy for the toughest anti-U.S. counteraction to be launched aggressively” by North Korea for its long-term national interests and security. KCNA didn’t elaborate on the anti-U.S. strategy. But it said Kim set forth tasks to bolster military capability through defense technology advancements and stressed the need to improve the mental toughness of North Korean soldiers. The previous meetings between Trump and Kim had not only put an end to their exchanges of fiery rhetoric and threats of destruction, but they developed personal connections. Trump once famously said he and Kim “fell in love.” But their talks eventually collapsed in 2019, as they wrangled over U.S.-led sanctions on the North. North Korea has since sharply increased the pace of its weapons testing activities to build more reliable nuclear missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies. The U.S. and South Korea have responded by expanding their military bilateral drills and also trilateral ones involving Japan, drawing strong rebukes from the North, which views such U.S.-led exercises as invasion rehearsals. Further complicating efforts to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for economic and political benefits is its deepening military cooperation with Russia. According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons systems to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine. There are concerns that Russia could give North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in Russia’s Kursk region. It was the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties since the North Korean troop deployment to Russia began in October. Russia and China, locked in separate disputes with the U.S., have repeatedly blocked U.S.-led pushes to levy more U.N. sanctions on North Korea despite its repeated missile tests in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Last month, Kim said that his past negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washington’s “unchangeable” hostility toward his country and described his nuclear buildup as the only way to counter external threats.Nagpur: Moviegoers watching a late-night show of “Pushpa 2” at a multiplex in Maharashtra’s Nagpur witnessed a real-life action scene as police stormed the cinema hall and arrested a man wanted in murder and drug cases. The dramatic arrest of Vishal Meshram shortly after midnight on Thursday left the packed audience stunned, but police assured them that they could continue enjoying the movie as they nabbed the accused and took him away. Meshram was on the run for 10 months and was eventually tracked down after police learnt about his interest in the recently-released film, an official from Pachpaoli police station said on Sunday. The gangster had 27 cases against him, including two of murder and drug trafficking, and was known for his violent tendencies, even attacking police in the past, he said. Authorities had been pursuing him relentlessly, using cyber surveillance and tracking his movements in a new sports utility vehicle (SUV), the official said. After tracking him on Thursday, police deflated the vehicle’s tyres outside the cinema hall, located in central part of the city, to prevent his escape, he said. When police personnel entered the hall during the movie’s climax, Meshram was engrossed in the film. The police surrounded him and made the arrest swiftly, giving him no chance to resist, the official said. Meshram is currently lodged in the Nagpur Central Jail and will soon be transferred to a prison in Nashik, the police said. “Pushpa 2: The Rule”, the blockbuster movie starring Allu Arjun, is a sequel to 2021’s Telugu film “Pushpa: The Rise”. It was released on December 5 with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali and Malayalam.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Even when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gets some praise, it's usually a backhanded compliment. They say he's a good game manager and stays within himself, or that he doesn't try to do too much. They mention he might not be flashy, but he gives the team a chance to win. And here's the thing about Penn State since Allar stepped under center: The Nittany Lions have won games. A lot of them. Sometimes that's hard to remember considering the lukewarm reception he often gets from fans. "I get it — we have a really passionate fan base and they're a huge part of our success," Allar said Sunday at College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day. "For us, we always want to go out there every drive and end with a touchdown, so when we don't do that, there's nobody more frustrated than us." The polarizing Allar is having a solid season by just about any standard, completing more than 68% of his passes for 3,021 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions to a 12-2 record and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl for Tuesday's game against No. 3 seed Boise State. But in a college football world filled with high-scoring, explosive offenses, Allar's no-frills performances often are the object of ire. The Penn State offense is a run-first bunch, led by the talented combo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. "If we had a nickel for every time there was a Monday morning quarterback saying some BS stuff, we'd all be pretty rich," offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said. "I think part of being a quarterback, especially at Penn State but really anywhere, is how you respond to and manage criticism." The 20-year-old Allar has made strides in that department after a trying 2023 season that finished with a 10-3 record. He says that's largely because once fall camp started back in August, he logged off the social media platform X. Allar said negative online experiences wore on him last year, and his phone number was leaked a few times, which added to the stress. He finally realized that controlling outside narratives was impossible, so the best course of action was to eliminate a needless distraction. "I've been more mentally free, as much as that sounds crazy," Allar said. "I think that's been a huge difference for me this year." The biggest criticism of Allar — and really Penn State as a whole during the 11-year James Franklin era — is that he isn't capable of winning the big games. He's 0-2 against rival Ohio State and threw a late interception against Oregon in the Big Ten title game earlier this month, which sealed the Ducks' 45-37 victory. He wasn't great in the CFP's first round, either, completing just 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards as Penn State muscled past SMU 38-10 on a cold, blustery day to advance to the Fiesta Bowl. But the quarterback is confident a better performance — aided by a game that will be played in comfortable temperatures in a domed stadium — is coming. "For me, I just have to execute those (easy) throws early in the game and get our guys into rhythm," Allar said. "Get them involved early as much as I can and that allows us to stay on the field longer, call more plays and open up our offense more. That will help us a ton, building the momentum throughout the game." Allar might be a favorite punching bag for a section of the Penn State fan base, but that's not the case in his own locker room. Star tight end Tyler Warren praised his quarterback's ability to avoid sacks, saying that the 6-foot-5, 238-pounder brings a toughness that resonates with teammates. "He's a football player," Warren said. "He plays quarterback, but when you watch him play and the energy he brings and the way he runs the ball, he's just a football player and that fires up our offense." Now Allar and Penn State have a chance to silence critics who say that the Nittany Lions don't show up in big games. Not that he's worried about what other people think. "I think it's a skill at the end of the day — blocking out the outside noise," Allar said. "Focusing on you and the process and being honest with yourself, both good and bad." Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!CHENNAI: Close on the heels of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approving UltraTech Cement 's acquisition of India Cements , the latter has announced that it has become a subsidiary of UltraTech. The development will facilitate UltraTech adding India Cements' 14.5 million tonnes capacity spread across Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan to its consolidated production capacity of about 155 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of grey cement. In a regulatory filing late on Tuesday evening, India Cements said, UltraTech Cement has acquired 10,13,91,231 equity shares representing 32.7% of the equity share capital of the company, in accordance with Regulation 22(2) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011. UltraTech’s aggregate shareholding in the company has increased to 17,19,55,887 equity shares representing 55.5% of the company’s equity share capital including existing shareholding of 7,05,64,656 equity shares (22.8%). Consequently, the company has become a subsidiary of UltraTech with effect from Dec 24, 2024, India Cements informed the stock exchange. In July this year, India’s largest building materials maker, Birla struck a deal with India Cements vice-chairman & MD N Srinivasan and his family to acquire their cement business for Rs 3,954 crore. On Dec 6, 2024, UltraTech Cement and India Cements informed the stock exchange that notices have been received from the CCI over the latter's takeover by billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla's company. Last week, the fair trade regulator gave its nod for the acquisition. It may be recalled that India Cements has been facing financial issues in recent quarters. One of the largest cement manufacturers in south India, the more than 75-year-old Chennai-headquartered company is associated with landmark projects including the Pamban Bridge in Rameswaram, IIT Madras, and the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari. Ready to Master Stock Valuation? ET’s Workshop is just around the corner!

Adebayo: Tinubu’s Budget is Contradictory, Having Double Digit Inflation is Irrational

One of the 39 people pardoned by President Joe Biden’s administration is a Utah woman who has turned her life around after struggling with substance abuse. Stevoni Doyle of Santaquin is a wife, mother and grandmother who also fosters animals and volunteers. "I'm a therapist with Wasatch Behavioral Health, with the jail transition program,” said Doyle. "If you would have asked me 20 years ago if I would be here today, I never would have imagined that,” said Doyle. She has come a long way. "In 2000, I was introduced to meth, and I instantly become addicted,” explained Doyle. “It was the one thing that I felt like just completed me. Within a year, I lost custody of my 4 kids to DCFS and I had racked up a bunch of charges." Doyle served time at the Utah State Prison and then at a federal prison in Arizona. There, she decided to make some changes. "I started to take accountability for my actions and realized that I didn’t want to live this lifestyle," she said. RELATED STORY | Biden commutes 1,500 sentences in largest single-day grant of clemency in modern history Doyle started helping people who were struggling with substance abuse and even went back to school to study social work. "I never thought I would graduate college, let alone get a master’s degree,” Doyle said. On Wednesday, she got a special phone call and was pardoned by President Biden. "I was like, no way, I can’t believe this is happening.” She said. "I won’t have to explain myself all the time. Even though I don’t have a problem sharing it, it’s part of my story, it’s part of who I am, it’s still nice to not have to do that." RELATED STORY | January 6 defendant tells Scripps News he may not accept a potential pardon from Trump This story was originally published by Mythili Gubbi at Scripps News Salt Lake City .Everything We Know About Nintendo Switch 2 – Magnetic Joy-Cons, Backward Compatibility and More