Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login London | A British judge on Thursday sentenced Australian maverick cryptocurrency entrepreneur Craig Wright to a year’s jail for contempt of court, and struck off his latest £900 billion ($1.8 trillion) lawsuit against a host of bitcoin companies. Dr Wright, 53, who this year moved from Britain to an undisclosed country in Asia, dialled into the London court by video link to hear his sentence, which has been suspended for two years – meaning he will avoid prison if he keeps his head down. Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Introducing your Newsfeed Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Latest In Technology Fetching latest articles Most Viewed In TechnologyTrump picks physician who opposed lockdowns to head NIH
New York City mayor meets with Trump's 'border czar' to discuss how to go after 'violent' criminalsALBANY – For two consecutive years, Gov. Kathy Hochul has vetoed a bill that would allow surviving family members of the deceased to file wrongful death lawsuits seeking damages for their emotional loss. On Thursday, as the governor received a newer version of the proposed Grieving Families Act, a Buffalo attorney representing victims of the May 14, 2022, racist massacre at Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue urged her to sign the legislation. Attorney John Elmore, who represents three of the families who lost loved ones in the Tops massacre. “It’s unfortunate that she hasn’t signed it,” the attorney, John Elmore, told The Buffalo News in a phone interview. “She’s publicly expressed concerns for the victims of May 14, but by signing this bill, she would be signing a bill showing that she would be doing exactly what the people that elected her to office expect her to do.” Elmore added: “Does the governor represent the interests of the lobbyists, or the people who elected her to office? Whether she signs this bill or not will determine that.” Forty-eight states allow wrongful death litigants to seek damages for emotional loss. The exceptions are Alabama and New York. New York’s wrongful death statute dates to 1847, well before the Civil War, Elmore said. Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Legislature appeared unlikely to reach a compromise on a bill to allow families that have lost a loved one due to misconduct to sue for “emotional” losses. Among proponents were families of the 10 victims of the racist mass shooting at a Buffalo Tops. Elmore represents the families of Katherine “Kat” Massey, 72; Andre Mackniel, 53; and Heyward Patterson, 67, all of whom were murdered in the shooting, and Latisha Rogers, an assistant office manager at the supermarket who survived the carnage after dialing 911 while hiding behind a customer service counter. They filed suit in State Supreme Court against social media companies, among others, for their reported roles in the radicalization of Payton Gendron, the white supremacist gunman who killed 10 Black people and wounded three others. Gendron, now 21, is serving life in prison without parole for murder and attempted murder. He faces the possibility of the death penalty under a pending federal case charging him with hate crimes that resulted in death. Under current New York civil law, litigants can only be compensated for conscious pain and suffering and economic loss. It leaves families of victims who were killed instantly and who did not incur medical costs unable to sue for damages, Elmore said. The bill, first introduced in 1994, is sponsored by Assembly Member Helene Weinstein, D-Brooklyn, and Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, D-Manhattan. Their memo of support for the bill recalled that the victims of the notorious 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City, which killed 146 workers, received all of $75 in damages. The bill passed both houses in 2022 and 2023, only to be vetoed by the governor. Hochul rejected the proposal while signaling support for a change in the wrongful death law – just not the one in the bill that lawmakers passed. As Tuesday’s second anniversary of the mass shooting approaches, some community members wonder when the promised investment will pay off for people who live and work here. “While well-intentioned, that bill represented a foundational shift in New York’s wrongful death jurisprudence and would have likely resulted in significant unintended consequences,” Hochul stated. “I attempted to work in good faith with the Legislature to amend the bill, and as the deadline approached, I publicly laid out clear criteria for the appropriate changes. After robust negotiations with the Legislature were not able to produce a satisfactory compromise, I was constrained to veto that bill.” The latest bill differs from previous versions because it narrowly defines surviving close family members, and also would allow the “finder of fact” in these cases to determine who is eligible for damages, based on the specific circumstances of their relationship to the deceased. Asked for her view of the most recent bill, Hochul spokesperson Nicolette Simmonds said: “Governor Hochul is reviewing the legislation.” In a statement, the Healthcare Association of New York State, which represents nonprofit and public hospitals and other facilities, urged Hochul to veto the legislation, suggesting it would lead to high malpractice costs, health care workforce shortages and patient access limitations. On June 4, the legislation passed the Assembly 124 to 22. Among western New York’s delegation, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, D-Buffalo, and Assembly Members Karen McMahon, D-Williamsville; Jonathan Rivera, D-Buffalo; Patrick Burke, D-Orchard Park; William Conrad, D-Tonawanda; Joseph Giglio, R-Gowanda; Michael Norris, R-Lockport; Angelo Morinello, R-Niagara Falls; and Monica Wallace, D-Lancaster, all voted for the bill. Assembly Members David DiPietro, R-East Aurora; Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown; Marjorie Byrnes, R-Caledonia; and Stephen Hawley, R-Batavia, voted against it. On June 5, the Senate passed the bill 51-8. Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt, R-North Tonawanda; and Sens. Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo; Patrick Gallivan, R-Elma; Thomas O’Mara, R-Big Flats; Pamela Helming, R-Canandaigua, all voted for the bill. Sen. George Borrello, R-Silver Bay, voted against it. 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. Albany Bureau Chief {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.LAHORE: In order to increase the export of pink salt, Punjab government has decided to establish special economic zones. The provincial government would request the federal government to impose a ban on the export of raw salt produced in Punjab. All resources would be utilized to enhance the export of pink salt. Minister for Mines and Minerals Sher Ali Gorchani disclosed this during a meeting held on Thursday. He further mentioned that the draft of the Pink Rock Salt Policy 2024 would soon be presented to the Chief Minister of Punjab for approval. In collaboration with the Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC), a processing zone for salt will be established within the salt range. The Minister also highlighted that in line with the Chief Minister Punjab’s vision, pink salt exporters would be equipped with modern technology. Protecting pink salt from wastage is a priority for the Chief Minister. In this regard, the planning, branding, marketing, and international certification of pink salt will be given special attention. He added that land would be provided to exporters at discounted rates, and the Punjab government would bear the infrastructure costs. Discounted loans would be provided through the Bank of Punjab. The option of adopting a profit-sharing model was also considered. The meeting was attended by Secretary for Mines and Minerals Pervez Iqbal, DG Mines and Minerals, Mansoor Ahmad, MD PSIC, Sarah Umar, and other officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
Iran, China insist Middle East 'not a battleground' for outsiders
Christians in Lebanon Celebrate Downfall of Assad While Those in Syria Worry About FutureImplements INDATA SaaS on a Front-to-Back Office Basis delivered via iPM Private Cloud GREENWICH, Conn. , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- INDATA , a leading industry provider of cloud-native, SaaS-based solutions for buyside firms, today announced that Paradigm Capital Management (PCM) is live with INDATA's Software-as-a-Service for Front, Middle and Back Office . With a three-decade history of small-cap investing, Paradigm Capital Management, based in Albany, NY employs a disciplined, bottom-up approach with an emphasis on fundamental analysis and extensive management contact. Paradigm manages $1.8 billion in AUM and offers a range of products including institutional separately managed accounts, proprietary mutual funds, and private wealth via hedge funds and LP's. Paradigm is using the INDATA system for a range of functions including trade order management (OMS), Portfolio Accounting , Performance and Reporting, including managed services for streamlined reconciliation. "We are very pleased to have Paradigm Capital Management as a client. We look forward to partnering with Paradigm on their ongoing needs," commented David Csiki , President of INDATA. About INDATA ® INDATA is a leading specialized provider of SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), technology and managed outsourcing services for buyside firms, including trade order management (OMS), portfolio management, compliance, portfolio accounting and front-to-back office. INDATA iPM Portfolio Architect AITM is the industry's first portfolio construction, modeling, rebalancing and reporting tool based on AI, and Machine Learning. INDATA's iPM – Intelligent Portfolio Management® technology platform allows end users to efficiently collaborate in real-time across the enterprise and contains the best of class functionality demanded by sophisticated institutional investors, wealth managers, and hedge funds. The company's mission is to provide clients with cutting edge technology products and services to increase trading and operational efficiency while reducing risk and administrative overhead. INDATA provides software and services to a variety of buyside clients including asset managers, registered investment advisors, banks and wealth management firms, pension funds and hedge funds. Assets under management range from under $1 billion to more than $100 billion across a variety of asset classes globally. For more information, visit www.indataipm.com Media Contact: David Csiki , dave@indataipm.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paradigm-capital-management-live-with-indata-302330839.html SOURCE INDATA
Eagle Point Credit Management Sells 2,388 Shares of ACRES Commercial Realty Corp. (NYSE:ACR) Stock
Voters in Ireland were more than usually busy in 2024, casting their ballot in five different polls – for two referenda in March, local and European ballots in June and a general election in November. The country’s political comings and goings were further punctuated by an emotional announcement in March from former premier Leo Varadkar that he was resigning as taoiseach and Fine Gael leader. He was succeeded the following month in both roles by Simon Harris. But the year had so much more to offer than just politics, and PA news agency photographers were on hand to capture some of the highlights.
NEW YORK (AP) — A slide for market superstar Nvidia on Monday knocked Wall Street off its big rally and helped drag U.S. stock indexes down from their records. The S&P 500 fell 0.6%, coming off its 57th all-time high of the year so far. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 240 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite pulled back 0.6% from its own record. Nvidia’s fall of 2.5% was by far the heaviest weight on the S&P 500 after China said it’s investigating the company over suspected violations of Chinese anti-monopoly laws. Nvidia has skyrocketed to become one of Wall Street’s most valuable companies because its chips are driving much of the world’s move into artificial-intelligence technology. That gives its stock’s movements more sway on the S&P 500 than nearly every other. Nvidia’s drop overshadowed gains in Hong Kong and for Chinese stocks trading in the United States on hopes that China will deliver more stimulus for the world’s second-largest economy. Roughly three in seven of the stocks in the S&P 500 also rose. The week’s highlight for Wall Street will arrive midweek when the latest updates on inflation arrive. Economists expect Wednesday’s report to show the inflation that U.S. consumers are feeling remained stuck at close to the same level last month. A separate report on Thursday, meanwhile, could show an acceleration in inflation at the wholesale level. They’re the last big pieces of data the Federal Reserve will get before its meeting next week on interest rates. The widespread expectation is still that the central bank will cut its main interest rate for the third time this year. The Fed has been easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high since September to offer more help for the slowing job market, after bringing inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower interest rates can ease the brakes off the economy, but they can also offer more fuel for inflation. Expectations for a series of cuts from the Fed have been a major reason the S&P 500 has set so many all-time highs this year. “Investors should enjoy this rally while it lasts—there’s little on the horizon to disrupt the momentum through year-end,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, though he warns stocks could stumble soon because of how overheated they’ve gotten. On Wall Street, Interpublic Group rose 3.6% after rival Omnicom said it would buy the marketing and communications firm in an all-stock deal. The pair had a combined revenue of $25.6 billion last year. Omnicom, meanwhile, sank 10.2%. Macy’s climbed 1.8% after an activist investor, Barington Capital Group, called on the retailer to buy back at least $2 billion of its own stock over the next three years and make other moves to help boost its stock price. Super Micro Computer rose 0.5% after saying it got an extension that will keep its stock listed on the Nasdaq through Feb. 25, as it works to file its delayed annual report and other required financial statements. Earlier this month, the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company’s board following the resignation of its public auditor . All told, the S&P 500 fell 37.42 points to 6,052.85. The Dow dipped 240.59 to 4,401.93, and the Nasdaq composite lost 123.08 to 19,736.69. In the oil market, a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rallied 1.7% to settle at $68.37 following the overthrow of Syrian leader Bashar Assad, who sought asylum in Moscow after rebels. Brent crude, the international standard, added 1.4% to $72.14 per barrel. The price of gold also rose 1% to $2,685.80 per ounce amid the uncertainty created by the end of the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. In stock markets abroad, the Hang Seng jumped 2.8% in Hong Kong after top Chinese leaders agreed on a “moderately loose” monetary policy for the world’s second-largest economy. That’s a shift away from a more cautious, “prudent” stance for the first time in 10 years. A major planning meeting later this week could also bring more stimulus for the Chinese economy. U.S.-listed stocks of several Chinese companies climbed, including a 12.4% jump for electric-vehicle company Nio and a 7.4% rise for Alibaba Group. Stocks in Shanghai, though, were roughly flat. In Seoul, South Korea’s Kospi slumped 2.8% as the fallout continues from President Yoon Suk Yeol ’s brief declaration of martial law last week in the midst of a budget dispute. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.19% from 4.15% late Friday. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
The world must respond to Russia’s use of a new ballistic missile, Volodymyr Zelensky said as Vladimir Putin threatened to strike the UK with his hypersonic weapon. The Ukrainian president said the use of a ballistic missile to hit Dnipro was a “clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war” and he warned that Russian president Mr Putin would attack or destabilise other countries unless stopped. Mr Putin said the use of the new weapon was in response to the UK and US allowing missiles they have supplied to Ukraine to be used to strike targets in Russia. “In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the Ukrainian defence industry,” Mr Putin said in a televised address. “One of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested in combat conditions, in this case, with a ballistic missile in a non-nuclear hypersonic warhead.” He added: “We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities.” But Mr Zelensky urged world leaders – his “dear partners” – not to be cowed by Mr Putin’s actions otherwise there will be “endless Russian strikes” and “not just against Ukraine”. “A lack of tough reactions to Russia’s actions sends a message that such behavior is acceptable,” the Ukrainian president said on X, formerly Twitter. “This is what Putin is doing. Putin must feel the cost of his deranged ambitions. “Response is needed. Pressure is needed. Russia must be forced into real peace, which can only be achieved through strength. “Otherwise, there will be endless Russian strikes, threats, and destabilisation-not just against Ukraine.” The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Mr Putin’s country. Mr Putin confirmed Russia has tested the new intermediate-range weapon in an attack on Dnipro in response. The US said the weapon was a new, experimental intermediate-range missile based on Russia’s existing RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. In Westminster , the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “My understanding is that it is the first time that Russia has used a ballistic missile in Ukraine with a range of several thousand kilometres.” Defence Secretary John Healey said it was “yet another example of Putin’s recklessness”. He said: “Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine began, Russia has consistently and irresponsibly escalated the conflict while Ukraine continues to fight in self-defence for a democratic future.” The missile’s range far outstrips that of newly authorised US and British-supplied weapons, which can hit targets around 250-300km away. The distance from Moscow to London is around 2,500km, suggesting the range of the new missile could threaten the UK. Mr Healey said the UK knew Russia had been “preparing for months” to fire a new ballistic missile. Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence have repeatedly declined to comment publicly on Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow. “It risks both operational security and in the end the only one that benefits from such a public debate is President Putin,” Mr Healey told MPs. The head of the UK’s armed forces, Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, met Mr Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss the war on Thursday. Mr Zelensky said: “We discussed defence co-operation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, focusing on developing and enhancing the technological capabilities of the armed forces of Ukraine. “Particular attention was given to Ukraine’s current military needs and the continued support from our partners.”Stuart Piltch Grant for Tech Innovators: Advancing Visionary Solutions in AI and National SecurityI’m A Celeb star Coleen Rooney’s sons have been missing their mum terribly, as Wag’s family arrive in AustraliaVance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picks
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DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad , but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the command said in a statement on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services had shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. “You will see there are skills" among the rebels, al-Sharaa said in a video shared on a rebel messaging channel. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Assad , a decision made by President Vladimir Putin . Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence though in some areas, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons , security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. “Don’t be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!” In southern Turkey , Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. “I haven’t seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he’s alive.” Jalali, the prime minister, has sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. “We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation had already improved from the day before. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. “We want to give everyone their rights,” Haddad said outside the courthouse. “We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods.” But a U.N. official said some government services had been paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector “has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies had been put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. “This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation’s capital,” Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again.” Britain and the U.S. are both considering whether to remove the main anti-Assad rebel group from their lists of designated terrorist organizations. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham began as an offshoot of al-Qaida but cut ties with the group years ago and has worked to present a more moderate image. The group's leader, al-Sharaa, “is saying some of the right things about the protection of minorities, about respecting people’s rights,” British Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said, adding that a change would be considered “quite quickly.” But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking later during a visit to Saudi Arabia, said it was "far too early” to make that decision. In Washington, a Biden administration official noted that HTS will be an “important component” in Syria's future and that the U.S. needs to “engage with them appropriately.” Another administration official said the U.S. remains in a “wait and see” mode on whether to remove the designation. Both officials requested anonymity to discuss the ongoing internal deliberations. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that such designations are constantly under review. Even while it is in place, the designation does not bar U.S. officials from speaking with members or leaders of the group, he said. The U.S. also announced it was sending its special envoy for hostage affairs to Beirut to seek information about the whereabouts of Austin Tice, a journalist who vanished in Syria 12 years ago and who President Joe Biden has said is believed to be alive. Israelis welcomed the fall of Assad, who was a key ally of Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, while expressing concern over what comes next. Israel says its forces temporarily seized a buffer zone inside Syria dating back to a 1974 agreement after Syrian troops withdrew in the chaos. “The only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters Monday. Saar did not provide details about the targets, but the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they included weapons warehouses, research centers, air defense systems and aircraft squadrons. Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria in recent years, targeting what it says are military sites related to Iran and Hezbollah . Israeli officials rarely comment on individual strikes. Syria agreed to give up its chemical weapons stockpile in 2013, after the government was accused of launching an attack near Damascus that killed hundreds of people . But it is widely believed to have kept some of the weapons and was accused of using them again in subsequent years. Officials in Turkey, which is the main supporter of the Syrian opposition to Assad, say its allies have taken full control of the northern Syrian city of Manbij from a U.S.-supported and Kurdish-led force known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF. The SDF said a Turkish drone struck in the village of al-Mistriha in eastern Syria, killing 12 civilians, including six children. Turkey views the SDF, which is primarily composed of a Syrian Kurdish militia, as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which has waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey. The SDF has also been a key ally of the United States in the war against the Islamic State group. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday warned against allowing Islamic State or Kurdish fighters to take advantage of the situation, saying Turkey will prevent Syria from turning into a “haven for terrorism.” Mroue reported from Beirut and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, Mehmet Guzel at the Oncupinar border crossing in Turkey, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, and Aamer Madhani and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report. Follow the AP's Syria coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/syriaBritish Journalism Awards winners 2024: Channel 4 News named best news provider, Caroline Wheeler is journalist of the year
News Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr says she’ll be keeping a close eye on the suspended mayor’s continued interactions with the Townsville City Council and will inform the Local Government Minister if necessary. Ms Marr defended the government’s decision to suspend Troy Thompson for 12 months on full pay while a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation was held, and repeated the local government minister’s explanation that the government was limited in what it could do. In Townsville last week Local Government Minister Ann Leahy said Mr Thompson’s movements would not be restricted and that he would have the access in the community and the council offices in the same way as any other ratepayer. “Mr Thompson is basically a member of the public going forward, so he does not have access to any of the council resources during this period, he is basically the same as a member of the public.” Troy Thompson speaks to media outside a Townsville City Council meeting. Picture: Shae Beplate. When suggested to Ms Marr that the suspended mayor would have freedom over his own social media posts and in attending council meetings as a member of the public gallery, she said, “I’m not going to comment on that, but I’m seeing what you’re seeing.” Ms Marr is a former Townsville City Council councillor who served four years under mayor Les Tyrell and then deputy mayor David Crisafulli, and chaired governance and finance. “I hold such respect for the role that they play so I will be keeping a very close eye on it personally and working very closely with that just to make sure the community understands that I’m here, I’m listening,” Ms Marr said. Local Government Minister Ann Leahy visited the Townsville City Council to explain the decision behind suspending Mayor Troy Thompson on paid leave for 12 months. Picture: Evan Morgan “I’m feeling the same things they are feeling, I’m feeling the same frustrations but we’re moving forward.” Suspension had not stopped Mr Thompson from posting his opinions as a political commentator on social media even though he removed his former official title from his page name, using questions to suggest ideas and to seek public feedback, even as members of the community complain that comments critical of him and his actions were being deleted. On Wednesday he suggested beach huts along Pallarenda, while earlier in the week he raised concerns about money spent on major projects in the previous council term such as the Haughton Pipeline, Lansdown, and the Northern Rail Yards. Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr supported the Local Government Minister’s decision to suspend Mr Thompson but also understood ratepayers’ frustrations. Picture: Scott Radford-Chisholm The council has tried to distance itself from Mr Thompson’s posts, as a spokeswoman clarified the suspended mayor was responsible for his own social media account. Meanwhile, Mundingburra MP Janelle Poole said she understood the community’s frustrations and that she was among the ratepayers being burdened by Mr Thompson’s salary. But she said that if the government did not follow proper process then there could be further issues raised in the future. Mundingburra MP Janelle Poole said procedures need to be followed properly or it would cause further problems later. Picture: Scott Radford-Chisholm “We need to get it right, if we don’t follow the correct policies and procedures that then opens up a whole new can of worms later on down the track,” she said. “So it’s really, really important that we follow processes and procedures and wait for the outcome of that Crime and Corruption Commission inquiry.” Townsville MP Adam Baillie said the focus should be on ensuring business confidence in the city, and this could not happen while internal politics were not aligned. Pic: Scott Radford-Chisholm Townsville MP Adam Baillie accused the previous government of delaying action against Mr Thompson for months, which had held back the city’s economic progress. He blamed the situation within the council as a “lack of alignment” not just within local government circles but across all three tiers of government. “If we want the city to move forward, which we do, we need alignment not just within council but from the federal government to the state government, to the local government, and then ultimately private investors and the general public. “We want to all be aligned with which way the city’s going and when one layer of government’s distracted about internal politics versus getting the alignment and their focus on moving the city forward, that’s unhealthy.” When asked how the Townsville MP could help the council to operate at its best, Mr Baillie said, “I’m not sure as a state member I can ensure that, but I can certainly encourage that and work with council to understand what their key issues are and key priorities are over the term. “Hopefully they would see it in their interest to help me achieve those priorities. “If we can get alignment, it’s only going to do very good things for the city.” More Coverage How much Thompson’s 12-month sabbatical will REALLY cost ratepayers Cas Garvey Thompson ‘didn’t have city’s best interests at heart’ Chris Burns Originally published as MPs will be watching Townsville City Council’s interactions Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories News The biggest issue affecting young people in Townsville revealed Young Townsville residents have had their say on the biggest issues affecting their lives, with a new survey revealing the figures from across the country. Read more News Pizza Riviera unveils dramatic changes with new ‘superstore’ Pizza Riviera will soon open a new ‘superstore’ with several new features including outdoor dining, express pick up lane, function room, and arcade. See where it is. Read moreSAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2024-- Ambient.ai, the AI-powered computer vision intelligence (CVI) company transforming the physical security industry, has introduced a major evolution in its platform: Ambient Intelligence. By integrating cutting-edge natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision models, Ambient.ai delivers human-level understanding, capable of comprehending scenes captured by security cameras even better than humans at scale. The platform’s powerful contextual understanding enables security teams to minimize nuisance alerts and focus on the critical threats that matter. This breakthrough marks a pivotal step toward autonomous security operations, pushing the boundaries of threat detection and response. With Ambient.ai, incidents are not only detected but prevented. Contextual intelligence for incident prevention “From the beginning, our vision at Ambient.ai has been to create a contextually intelligent system, capable of preventing incidents from happening,” said Shikhar Shrestha, CEO and co-founder of Ambient.ai. “With Ambient Intelligence, we’re now realizing that vision — empowering security teams to instantly pinpoint the two or three incidents that truly matter across hundreds of cameras.” Ambient Intelligence enables security teams to shift from reactive monitoring to proactive threat assessment. By understanding the context of each event, the system categorizes incidents by severity — from low-risk activities like writing on a whiteboard to high-severity threats like break-ins or vandalism. “With recent advancements in our vision models, the signal-to-noise ratio has dramatically shifted in favor of the signal,” said Vikesh Khanna, CTO and co-founder of Ambient.ai. “This is not an incremental improvement — it’s a transformative change in our ability to use context and detect highly specific behaviors. Security teams have long sought a proactive solution to ensure the safety of their people, places, and assets — and I believe we have just taken a giant leap in that direction with Ambient Intelligence.” Pioneering autonomous physical security operations Ambient.ai’s latest innovations signal a new era for the physical security industry. The company's advanced NLP and computer vision models now automate security operations with a level of contextual understanding that was previously unattainable. By enabling AI to take on a more proactive role, security teams can focus on tasks requiring human intuition while relying on Ambient Intelligence to identify and assess the most significant security events. This evolution offers unmatched precision in detecting and responding to threats, creating a future where autonomous security operations become the standard. Learn more about the impact Ambient.ai can have on your physical security operations. About Ambient.ai Founded in 2017 by CEO Shikhar Shrestha and CTO Vikesh Khanna, Ambient.ai is a unified, AI-powered physical security platform that helps enterprise organizations reduce risk, improve security operational efficiency, and gain critical insights. Trailblazing enterprises and multiple Fortune 500 organizations across a variety of industries leverage Ambient.ai to unify their security infrastructure and significantly enhance their security posture. For more information, please visit ambient.ai. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212444624/en/ CONTACT: Name: Atul Ashok Email:atul.ashok@ambient.ai KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SECURITY IOT (INTERNET OF THINGS) TECHNOLOGY AUDIO/VIDEO SOFTWARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HARDWARE SOURCE: Ambient.ai Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/12/2024 05:36 PM/DISC: 12/12/2024 05:35 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212444624/enNova Scotia Progressive Conservative premier names new 21-member cabinet
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