News from October 30, 2025

Technology

ChatGPT Down? Thousands of Users Report Outage, Open AI Responds

Just days after a major Microsoft Azure outage, OpenAI’s ChatGPT is facing technical issues affecting thousands of users. According to monitoring site Down Detector, reports of problems with ChatGPT began rising shortly before 3:00 PM ET, with more than 1,000 issues logged within half an hour. OpenAI confirmed the disruption on its official status page, stating at 3:24 PM ET: "We have identified the issue and are working to mitigate it." Reports of outages peaked at over 2,600, before showing signs of decline. By 3:40 PM ET, Down Detector recorded just over 1,100 reports as OpenAI worked towards restoring service. Get Latest News live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Technology Science and around the world.

Rounak Bagchi 11 hours ago

Will the real De Blasio please stand up? A lesson from a UK newspaper’s gaffe

The Times thought they were interviewing ex-NYC mayor Bill de Blasio. They were actually talking to a wine importer

Adam Gabbatt in New York 12 hours ago

Technology

Is Broncos QB Bo Nix Trying Too Hard to Be Sean Payton's Next Drew Brees?

Bo Nix has admitted that it hasn’t been easy to get quality sleep this month. In October, the Denver Broncos traveled from Philadelphia to London and back to Denver. Different time zones, different hotels, different beds. No consistency. But maybe something else is haunting the second-year quarterback. It is spooky season after all. I wonder if he’s worrying about the ghost of Drew Brees. Nix is running coach Sean Payton’s offense, and no one has ever run it better than Brees. But Nix can’t be Brees. Nor should he waste his time trying. And perhaps that’s what has bogged down this Denver offense to start the season. Nix hasn’t always played to his own strengths, and it’s almost as if he is doing a Brees impression that’s coming up short. Now, to be clear, it’s far, far, far from catastrophic. In fact, on the surface, everything looks good for the Broncos. They won four straight games in October. They’re 6-2. But they’ve had to overcome Nix's erratic play from game to game and even quarter to quarter. There was a three-game run from Week 5 to Week 7 when he couldn’t get things going until the fourth quarter, which was why they won those games by one-score margins. "I just told the guys to start doing some of that fourth-quarter stuff a little earlier," Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said last week. "When you look at it, we started slow [against the Giants], and [there are] a lot of reasons for that. We … felt like they were playing faster than us a little bit." That was the game in which the Broncos scored 33 points in the final quarter, the most in NFL history by a team that was shut out for the first three quarters, to win 33-32. Last week, Nix looked great in Denver's win over the Cowboys — particularly after the opening drive when the quarterback threw an interception where he either seemed to be attempting a no-look throw or simply had his eyes in the wrong place. He finished the game with 247 passing yards, four passing touchdowns and the one interception. "His feet got away from him a little bit. He bounced right back. He was magnificent. He was outstanding," Payton said of Nix. Before the season, Nix met with Brees to seek advice. Brees was a great quarterback, and he should have no shortage of wisdom to impart to Nix. Brees was a great pocket passer. Nix might someday be a great pocket passer. It’s only natural that Nix puts Brees on the horizon as a developmental north star, especially because Brees and Payton did special things and had a rare chemistry. "It got to the point where I knew what he was going to call before he called it," Brees said in a recent interview with Rich Eisen. The Giants game — from Week 7 — was when Nix and the Broncos had a breakthrough. He and Payton made major use of the key difference between Nix and Brees: mobility. Nix is a dangerous runner, and it makes the offense better. "It’s really just math," Payton said Monday when asked about running the ball with Nix. "When he’s the quarterback, you’re playing 10 versus 11 in the run game, and when he becomes a running back, you get that number back." Against the Giants, Nix scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter — two passing and two rushing. No one had ever done that in the history of the NFL. He didn’t run against the Cowboys, because he didn’t need to. Dallas has one of the worst defenses in the league, particularly when defending the pass. The Cowboys allow the second-most passing yards per game (258.6) in the league. But Nix’s mobility will be his bailout solution for blitzes and man-coverage. There will be opportunities for him to generate splash plays with his legs. And that’s something Brees could never really do. But that was back when he was one of the best in-structure passers in NFL history, along with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. We’re now in the era of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. It's the time of the dual-threat QB. Nix might not be an on-the-run thrower, but he can change a game by taking off downfield. Against the Texans on Sunday (1 p.m. ET on FOX), Nix will need his legs to beat Houston's defense, which is allowing the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (178.4). Houston’s offense is hot, too. In Week 8, quarterback C.J. Stroud had one of his best games since his rookie season, a dominant outing against the San Francisco 49ers. So Nix and the Broncos will have to keep pace. That'll only happen if Nix plays like himself. Trusts his skill set. And operates the offense in his own authentic way. Before joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.

Henry McKenna 12 hours ago

Technology

Netflix announces ten-for-one stock split, shares rise

Netflix on Thursday announced a ten-for-one stock split, making the streaming company's shares more affordable for retail investors. The company said it would issue nine additional shares for each share held after close of trading on Nov 10, adding that the split will make its stock more accessible to employees participating in its stock option program. Trading is expected to begin on a split-adjusted basis at the market open on November 17. The streaming giant, which has benefited from a strong line-up of shows, including the recent success of the animated "KPop Demon Hunters", currently has a market capitalization of $461.44 billion, as of Thursday's close. Its shares have risen more than 360 per cent over the past three years, far outpacing media rivals Walt Disney and Comcast . The stock was up about 3 per cent at $1,123.49 in extended trading. This marks Netflix's third stock split since it went public in 2002, with the last one in 2019 that reduced the company's per-share price to about $100 from $700. "A split will make it easier for small investors to buy in but it doesn't change anything about the company or its attractiveness to institutional investors who drive the market," said Ross Benes, senior analyst at EMarketer. Netflix's forward price-to-earnings multiple (P/E), a common benchmark for valuing stocks, is 45.96, compared with Walt Disney's 17.54 and Comcast's 6.89.

Unknown 12 hours ago

Prince Andrew to be stripped of titles and move out of Royal Lodge

King’s brother will become known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, Buckingham Palace says, in latest fallout from Epstein scandal

Caroline Davies 12 hours ago

Technology

OpenAI, Oracle plan 1 gigawatt Stargate data center in Michigan with Related Digital

OpenAI, Oracle and Related Digital will build a data-center campus of more than 1 gigawatt in Saline Township, Michigan, as part of their Stargate push to expand U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure capacity. The announcement made on Thursday underscores the AI industry's surging appetite for computing power, driven by the pursuit of technology capable of matching or surpassing human intelligence. The companies said it was a multi-billion dollar investment, without disclosing the exact figure. Industry executives have said 1 GW of computing power, enough to power roughly 750,000 U.S. homes, can cost around $50 billion. The construction is slated to begin in early 2026. The project is part of Oracle and OpenAI's 4.5-GW Stargate expansion and, together with six other U.S. sites, raises the infrastructure group's planned capacity to more than 8 GW and total investment to over $450 billion in the next three years. OpenAI said the move kept Stargate ahead of schedule to meet its $500 billion, 10-GW commitment. The startup has shared few details on how it plans to fund the spending. Earlier this week, it completed a restructuring that frees the ChatGPT maker to move away from its nonprofit roots. Reuters has reported it was laying the groundwork for an initial public offering that could value the company at up to $1 trillion. But surging valuations of AI companies and their massive AI spending commitments, which total more than $1 trillion for OpenAI, have raised fears that the AI boom is inflating into a bubble. OpenAI said on Thursday Related Digital would develop the Michigan project, which is expected to create more than 2,500 union construction jobs. "This project will help ensure Michigan is a key part of building the AI infrastructure that will power the next generation of American innovation," said Peter Hoeschele, OpenAI's vice president of industrial compute.

Unknown 12 hours ago

Technology

True Romance: Fiancée Admits She Had Threesomes With Friends, Girlfriend Caught In The Act & Signs Of Cheating

My friends, it's the day before Halloween or Halloween Eve to some folks, and there's love in the air. I'm back in the home office this week trying to get a handle on all of it. I'm a little distracted by some news I missed while I was off over the weekend. We all know that Aunt Becky is back on the market, but the piece of news that came out was the extent Lori Loughlin went to trying to save her marriage. She was reportedly hitting up Mossimo Giannulli’s favorite strip club to quiz strippers about her estranged husband's activities. That's love. She wanted the marriage to work. SIGN UP for The Daily OutKick. New Look, Same Attitude. Sometimes it's not meant to be. What is meant to be is getting back out there and finding someone who it will work with. That takes us to the latest involving former Tiger Woods mistress Rachel Uchitel. The now 50-year-old has found the one. She's planning to walk down the aisle for the third time with a Palm Beach businessman. They met on a dating app, became friends first, and over the weekend Uchitel was in Nashville for her bachelorette party. This is a woman who refuses to give up on love. That's what True Romance is all about. Let's dive into things this week with tales of those who haven’t quite made it over the hump like Rachel Uchitel has and are still going through the trials of relationship drama. We kick the week off with a fiancée who admitted that she used to have threesomes with the couple's friends. Shocking news to him. As you would expect, he's having trouble processing this new piece of information. First things first, go follow True Romance on Twitter and Facebook. Fiancée admits she used to have threesomes with their friends What's a threesome among friends if not a good way to get to know one another? Probably some knowledge that this woman's fiancé would have liked to have known prior to popping the question. In other words, not that big of a deal in her mind. He learned of the handful of threesomes that his fiancée of four months had with Lucy and Rob, a couple that she has known since college, and that they currently frequently hang out with. They've gone on couples dates and even vacations together. It was on one of these vacations that he learned all about his fiancée's past. "We had rented an Air B&B villa and after a few drinks in the evening, Rob and Lucy were getting a bit handsy and said they were going to bed. Me and my fiancé stayed by the pool and just lightly joked about how we knew they were obviously going upstairs to do," he wrote on Reddit. "After another drink, my fiancée started talking a bit more about Rob and Lucy and how she’d known them both since university. She then told me how they’d once all slept together as a threesome after a party and how that had eventually led to them having a threesome ‘just about four or five times’ before she met me." Not a big deal, right? Well, all attempts on his behalf to shrug it off failed. The news almost made him sick. He can't help but feel like "they've all been in on one big secret." When they got home, he tried to discuss the matter further. He told her that it was something she should have told him early in their relationship. It's something that he says would have caused him to reconsider dating her. His fiancée responded by saying it all happened years ago and that he should get over it. He then suggested they shouldn’t hang out with Rob and Lucy as much, which is destined to cause problems given that Lucy is her best friend. Where do they go from here? Is a handful of friendly encounters before they started dating really worth tossing an entire relationship into the wood chipper? I don't think Aunt Becky would give up that easily, so neither would I. There’s always a way to make it work. This Week in True Romance: Follow True Romance on Twitter and Facebook. Man catches girlfriend in the act when he comes home unexpectedly Now to a situation that's slightly easier to navigate. Not that anyone wants to catch their girlfriend in bed with someone else, but it's much more cut and dry with what to do next. Long story short, he was supposed to stay with his brother for a few days and came home unexpectedly when his brother canceled on him at the last minute. He tried calling his girlfriend of four years, who he lives with, but she didn’t answer. He walked in the front door of his home and was reportedly greeted with "sex noises" coming from his bedroom, reports Metro. When he opened the bedroom door, he expected to find another man in bed with his girlfriend. Instead, "I was stunned to catch her in the middle of a sex act with her friend." A friend who is always around and whom she's known since they were in school together. I know what you're thinking, but no, he didn’t join in despite being invited to do so. "Their reaction was one of guilt and shock, with the friend trying to make a joke of it, asking if I’d like to join in," he said. "I know that’s a fantasy for a lot of guys, but I felt so sick I just slammed the door shut and went to the pub to try and get my brain around what I’d just witnessed." He ignored several calls from his girlfriend and when he eventually went back home, she told him that "it was a drunken one-off." She begged for forgiveness and didn’t want it to cause them to break up. He can’t get over the thought that she isn’t the person he thought she was. Like I said, this one is easy. She needs to end it. She needed to end it the moment he stormed out of the room and went drinking. It pains me to come to that conclusion, but I don’t see anyway forward. Let me know if I'm wrong here, but this seems like an overreaction on his part. What else will he overreact about in the future? What’s a sign someone’s cheating that isn’t obvious until you’ve been through it? Some signs that you're being cheated on aren’t as obvious at the time the infidelity is taking place. But when the dust settles, and you look back, you see much clearer what was going on. Like the time your ex claimed she got herpes from the blood pressure machine at Walmart. Or the suspicious late nights at the office. It all comes into focus and that ends up making for an interesting Reddit thread. Enjoy and keep your eyes peeled: The latest True Romance post - Bob in Alabama writes: Hey Sean, I loved the latest true romance post you put up. I do have a couple of points to make about the hotel workers spotting folks having an affair hookup, especially the ones dealing with folks from the same town as the hotel checking in. There are other reasons for such behavior. My wife and I used to do that when we wanted some time away from kids in the house, especially when they got older. A date night might be dinner and then a couple of hours of "us" time in a quiet setting without yelling, screaming, running, etc. Now that her mother with Alzheimers is living with us full time, we are in the same situation. The woman has ears like a bat and is nosy as all get out. It is nice to escape from the constant monitoring and caregiving of her mother for a few hours. Your reader in Alabama, Bob SeanJo Thanks for reading, Bob, and thanks for sending in the email. You do bring up a valid point. It's not all cheaters renting hotel rooms for some alone time. It could be a happily married couple in search of some peace without others bothering them at home. Thanks again Bob. ------------- That's it for this week. Have a great Halloween weekend. As always feel free to reach out, anonymously if you prefer, with your True Romance stories sean.joseph@outkick.com. Also, do me a favor and go follow along on Twitter and on Facebook.

Unknown 12 hours ago

Technology

Ashley Tisdale Seemingly Shades Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, Meghan Trainor And More Friends Involved In 'Toxic' Mom Group!

Ashley Tisdale is so over her mom group! On Thursday, the actress published a new post on her blog, By Ashley French — titled “You’re Allowed to Leave Your Mom Group”! And in said piece she threw major shade at her former friends, who are some very recognizable faces in the industry! Ashley told her readers that when she became a mom, she “craved connection” and decided to join a mom group. She thought it was “great” at first, with everyone swapping “sleep training advice,” taking “tons of photos,” and celebrating “the tiny victories” together. Just a super supportive “village of moms” that she needed at the time. However, the mom group soon changed. Ashley said it became extremely “toxic” and cliquey. Oof. The High School Musical alum explained: “Not because the moms themselves are toxic people, but because the dynamic shifts into an ugly place with mean-girl behavior. I know this from personal experience. In my mom group, I started to notice that certain people would get talked about when they weren’t present, and not in a positive way. I realized that there were group text chains that didn’t include everyone, which led to cliques forming within the larger group.” Even Ashley got excluded from events! She continued: “After the third or fourth time of seeing social media photos of everyone else at a hangout that I didn’t get invited to, it felt like I wasn’t really part of the group after all.” Damn! It sounds like Ashley’s mom group just didn’t have time for her anymore! Hmm, wonder why?? Perhaps she needs to find a way into Gwyneth Paltrow‘s circle! Lolz! The Phineas and Ferb star eventually had enough, so she stopped showing up and putting energy into the friendships! Following the experience, she realized it is OK to leave a mom group, especially if it is no longer serving you. Ashley wrote: “If a mom group consistently leaves you feeling hurt, drained, or left out, it’s not the mom group for you. (Even if it used to be!) It’s no longer serving you in a way that lifts you up, and you don’t have to stay out of obligation or anything else. Choosing to step away doesn’t make you mean or judgmental. It makes you honest with yourself. It’s also worth remembering that friendships, like all relationships, have seasons. Maybe a group truly was a good fit at one point, but if it’s not the right fit for you now, it’s okay to move on.” Ultimately, Ashley feels you’re setting a good example for your children by leaving a “toxic” situation: “Here’s the bigger truth: When you choose yourself, you’re also choosing your kid. If you stay in a group that operates on exclusion and gossip, your child sees that and can absorb that behavior. On the flip side, when you show them that it’s possible to walk away from dynamics that feel unhealthy, you’re teaching them what real self-respect looks like.” Read the entire blog post HERE. The question everyone likely has now is: Who is Ashley throwing shade at here? We did some digging, and it appears The Suite Life of Zack & Cody star is targeting none other than Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff, and Meghan Trainor! If you didn’t know, they have been friends for many years. Their children went on playdates, and they took vacations together, along with their other mom pals. Back in 2022, the star-studded group enjoyed a getaway to the Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in Rancho Santa Fe, California — minus Mandy. However, Hilary made sure to give the Candy singer a shout-out in the vacay photo dump on Instagram! Check it out (below): View this post on Instagram Last year, Hilary opened up to People about how she uses her group of famous pals for support “all the time,” even when her family’s sick during the holidays. She said: “It was actually one of the hardest moments of my life, and I was on the chat thread just ranting and raving, and they’re all just really supportive.” Meghan also shared with the outlet earlier this year that she has “a great group chat with my other mom friends, like Hillary Duff and Mandy Moore and Ashley Tisdale.” It sounds like the group wasn’t so “great” for Ashley anymore! Yikes! She seemingly wasn’t at the last hangout this month, so she is probably talking about Mandy, Hilary, and Meghan! Damn! View this post on Instagram And to note… The He Said She Said artist still follows Hilary and Meghan on Insta at this time, so she hasn’t completely cut off those two. The pair also follow Ashley! However, she notably does NOT follow Mandy! The A Walk to Remember actress, meanwhile, still follows her! See (below): Hmm. Of course, there are always two sides to every story! We can’t help but wonder what their opinion on all this is! She sees her former mom group as toxic, but did they feel the same about her? Though, if so, did they try having conversations with her? Is ghosting ever the right thing? We also wonder if all this went down before or after her comments about Charlie Kirk‘s death… What are your reactions to the shade, Perezcious readers? Drop ’em in the comments below! [Image via Good Morning America/The Kelly Clarkson Show/The Drew Barrymore Show/YouTube]

Perez Hilton 12 hours ago

Technology

Motorola Solutions forecasts fourth-quarter revenue above estimates on steady demand

(This story has been republished to change the image, with no changes to text) Motorola Solutions beat third-quarter profit estimate and forecast current-quarter revenue growth above expectations on Thursday, driven by steady demand for its security products and critical communications equipment from government agencies. The company has benefited from consistent spending by public safety and government agencies in North America, which are upgrading their radio systems and investing in video security and command center software. Demand has also been bolstered by funding from government programs, including the American Rescue Plan Act, which has provided state and local governments with capital for modernizing their critical communication infrastructure. Motorola Solutions forecast fourth-quarter revenue to grow 11 per cent, compared with analysts' average estimate of a 10.8 per cent increase, according to data compiled by LSEG. Its adjusted profit per share for the September quarter came in at $4.06, beating the estimate of $3.85. Third-quarter revenue was $3.01 billion, while analysts expected $2.99 billion. Shares of Motorola Solutions, however, were down about 1 per cent in extended trading.

Unknown 12 hours ago

Technology

Mortgage rates are the lowest they've been since 2022. Here's how to get one even lower now.

While it may still feel like mortgage interest rates in the 4% to 5% range are still a ways off, the reality is that rates are slowly but noticeably declining again.Case in point: Mortgage rates have been declining for much of 2025. After starting the year averaging over 7%, rates on Thursday again moved back to a three-year low of 6.13%. That opens new opportunities both for homebuyers previously stuck on the sidelines waiting for rates to become more affordable and homeowners looking to refinance their high rates.However, just because mortgage rates are the lowest they've been since 2022, it doesn't automatically make them worth pursuing. If buyers can find ways to get a rate even lower than that 6.13%, however, even in the high 5% range, it may be worth acting. Fortunately, there are ways in which buyers can do just that. Below, we'll break down three strategies to consider right now.Start by seeing how low your current mortgage rate offers are here.How to get a mortgage rate lower than today's average nowFor many buyers, a huge difference in mortgage rates isn't required. Just a slightly lower rate of 25 basis points can justify action and lead to affordability. Here's how to get a rate lower than that average 6.13% right now:Add mortgage pointsMortgage points function as a fee that buyers pay lenders to secure a rate lower than what's offered. Many lenders will list rates on their websites with these fees already accounted for, which is a large part of the reason why you see lower rates on their site than traditional averages. And while these fees may be less than ideal to pay, you'll typically have the option to roll them into your overall loan amount or pay them up front during the closing process. Either way, it can result in a mortgage rate 25 basis points to 50 basis points lower than what you'd otherwise receive. That means the 6.13% average is now 5.88% or 5.63%, justifying enough savings in your new mortgage payments to make it worth paying.Learn more about buying mortgage points online here.Consider an adjustable-rate mortgageYou may be able to get an interest rate under 6% without having to pay any additional costs. Sounds too good to be true? It doesn't have to be if you pursue an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) now, with many lenders offering rates in the high 5% range. The catch here is that this is adjustable, so after a certain period (frequently five, seven or 10 years) the rate will adjust based on market conditions. That can be risky for those homeowners who are unsure about what the climate would look like at that point, but it can be a cost-effective way to get started with a mortgage now. And it's important to remember that an ARM can be refinanced into a fixed-rate loan in the future, should you want to get ahead of any adverse rate changes in a few years.Make a large down paymentHave you been patiently waiting for the mortgage rate climate to change? Have you been saving a lot of money in the interim? If so, consider making a large down payment on your home of more than the traditional 20% lenders require without private mortgage insurance being tacked on. By doing so, not only will you have a smaller mortgage balance to pay down each month, but you'll reduce your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio and encourage lenders to offer a better rate than they would with buyers putting down 20% or less.The bottom lineWith the right strategy, savvy homebuyers can make today's lower mortgage interest rates even more affordable. By evaluating their mortgage point and ARM options and by making a large down payment, buyers can easily secure a rate under 6% now. But remember that mortgage rates change daily, so if you're close to where you want to be in terms of interest rates, it makes sense to be aggressive now. It's been a long time since mortgage rates were available in the 5% range, so you'll want to take advantage now that they're accessible again.

Matt Richardson 12 hours ago

Technology

People left 'extremely disturbed' after discovering what Halloween Jack O'Lanterns originally looked like

The original Jack O'Lanterns were nothing like they are today - they were carved out of a different vegetable entirely, and were so spooky they've left some people 'extremely disturbed'. Before pumpkins became the go-to Halloween decoration, people in Ireland were carving turnips into creepy faces to keep evil spirits away. According to the National Museum of Ireland, these terrifying creations were part of Oíche Shamhna, or Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival marking when the barrier between the living and the dead was weakest. “Candles were placed inside the turnips and they were used to frighten people on the night of 31 October,” the museum explains. Some were even carved from potatoes, because apparently, nothing says Halloween like a haunted spud. But after similar photos were shared on Twitter, users likely experienced their first scare of the festive season! "A reminder that the original jack o' lanterns date back to 18th century Ireland if not earlier, were based on a shady boozy blacksmith called Stingy Jack who cheated the devil & was trapped between 2 worlds, were carved from turnips and looked like this," they wrote, accompanied by some pretty terrifying-looking turnips. One user wrote: "These are extremely disturbing!" With a second typing: "And bloody hard to carve too." Yes, trying to remove the 'insides' of a turnip I imagine would be much harder than taking the inners of a pumpkin out - and that sentiment is evidenced by some in the comments. One of which highlighted: "That's what we had growing up. My mum didn't trust us with knives so she made us carve our turnips out with a spoon. Do you have any idea how long that took? While another added: "I’m 52 and grew up in North East England. We had carved turnips not pumpkins, the smell of singed turnip is something I’ll never forget. It was so hard to carve, actually nearly impossible to hollow out, that it needed Dad to do it." The museum also notes: “The pumpkin that is prevalent today is an American development of this Irish tradition.” Basically, the US took the idea, swapped the rock-hard turnips for pumpkins, and made it a lot less traumatising. As for the name, it comes from the eerie Irish folktale of Jack - 'who was welcome neither in Heaven nor Hell and was destined to wander the countryside forever, with just a lantern to light the way'. If Jack’s lantern looked anything like those creepy turnips, we get why he’s still wandering.

Joe Yates 12 hours ago

Technology

Question 2 is a necessary next step to prevent gun violence in Maine | Opinion

Jeffrey W. Swanson, Ph.D., is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine and a faculty affiliate of the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law. David B. Joyce, JD, DrPH, is an attorney in Portland. In 2019, Maine enacted a “yellow flag” law to authorize temporary firearm removal from individuals in mental health crisis. It was a good-faith bipartisan compromise — an effort to balance public safety with civil liberties. But as researchers who have studied this law, we believe it’s not enough. The tragic shooting in Lewiston exposed the law’s limitations. Now, Maine voters have a chance to approve an additional tool to prevent gun violence. Question 2 in the referendum offers a true Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) statute — a “red flag” law like those already saving lives in neighboring states. Police can initiate the yellow flag process only for individuals already in protective custody who are found to be mentally ill and dangerous to self or others. But many people who pose an imminent risk of harm with a firearm do not fall into that category. Consider a mother who watches helplessly as her gun-owning son spirals into resentful rage, and it’s not due to mental illness. Under Maine’s current yellow flag law, police cannot act in a situation like that, because there is no diagnosable mental illness and no crime has yet been committed. A red flag law could prevent tragedy through earlier intervention. Requiring a diagnosable mental disorder is contrary to national data that show most people convicted of violent crimes have no history of mental illness. In Maine, they would not have been eligible for firearm removal under the yellow flag law. Question 2 fills this gap by allowing courts to consider behavioral evidence of dangerousness — regardless of psychiatric status — and act before tragedy strikes. By tying firearm removal to mental health holds, the current law reinforces stigma by implying that violent behavior is inherently linked to psychopathology. Research shows otherwise: most people with mental illness are not violent, and most violent individuals do not have a diagnosable mental illness. Approving Question 2 would bring Maine in line with 21 other states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands that have enacted ERPO laws. In most of these states, family or household members can petition a court directly — with police support as needed — to temporarily remove firearms from someone who poses a serious risk. Maine’s proposed additional law does not eliminate police involvement; it simply adds a pathway for families who often see the danger first. Claims that Question 2 lacks due process protections are unfounded. Like ERPO statutes elsewhere, the proposed law includes sworn affidavits, judicial review, time-limited orders and a meaningful opportunity for the subject to contest the order with legal representation. These safeguards reflect constitutional principles and have withstood legal scrutiny. Finally, the idea that the current law is sufficient is belied by experience. In Lewiston, the yellow flag law was not used, despite warning signs. That reflects not a failure of will, but a deficiency of legal design. The law’s complexity and reliance on medical evaluation and protective custody make it hard to use in urgent situations. ERPOs complement—do not replace—existing pathways for mental health intervention. Law enforcement remains central to implementation, with discretion to coordinate safe service and crisis response. We understand the political tightrope Maine leaders must walk. Misinformation has led some to believe that ERPO laws threaten the rights of law-abiding gun owners. They do not. What they do is prevent gun deaths — without stigmatizing people in crisis or removing property from those who are not dangerous. Our recent multistate study found that ERPOs may prevent one suicide for every 13 to 23 orders issued. Question 2 is not a partisan proposal. It is a public health measure grounded in research and tailored to Maine’s needs. Passing it would honor the lessons of Lewiston and give communities a vital tool to protect life without infringing rights. We urge Maine voters to look past the political rhetoric, trust the scientific evidence and consider the human stakes: more lives will be saved.

Jeffrey W. Swanson and David B. Joyce 12 hours ago

Technology

Ex-Central Michigan Staffers Receive Punishments for UM Sign-Stealing Scandal

Former Central Michigan coach Jim McElwain, three of his former staff members and the Chippewas program will face NCAA penalties for their roles in allowing former Michigan staff member Connor Stalions to be on the sidelines during a 2023 game against Michigan State. Stalions is best known for the role he allegedly played in Michigan’s sign-stealing scheme. He acknowledged earlier this year on social media that he knew almost every signal that opponents used in seven games over two seasons, including Michigan's 2023 national championship season. McElwain, the three former CMU staff members and the university agreed to take the deal first offered by the NCAA's enforcement staff on sportsmanship and later approved by the governing body's Committee on Infractions, which closes the book on one of college football's strangest scandals. In the 19-page report, released Thursday, the NCAA found former quarterbacks coach Jack Kostner bypassed the program's normal procedures by requesting extra coaching gear from Nate Mason, the former coordinator of athletic equipment operations. Kostner then asked Mike McGee, the former director of recruiting, to give the clothing and a sideline pass to his friend, Stalions, though Kostner had used an alias to avoid detection before kickoff. "McGee was unaware of whom exactly the gear was for, but knew it was for a friend of Kostner's who was skilled in deciphering signals," the NCAA wrote. "During the game, Stalions stood in close proximity to McGee and other football staff. Given his staff's direct involvement in the arrangement, Jim McElwain … is responsible for their violations under the head coaching responsibility legislation." Kostner received a four-year show-cause order — meaning any school that hired him would need NCAA approval and must also demonstrate why it should not be penalized for hiring Kostner. He's also banned from all athletically related activities for the first year and 50% of the second year and would face a suspension of 50% of the football season in his second year. Mason and McGee were given two-year show-cause orders and will be restricted from all athletically related activities in the first year. They would face suspensions for 30% of the football games during the second year. McElwain, now a special assistant to Central Michigan athletic director Amy Folan, received a two-year show-cause order and would be restricted from all football coaching duties during the first year. He also would be suspended from 30% of the football games during the first year and 20% of the games in the second year. UCM will be placed on two years of probation and must pay a fine of $30,000 in addition to 1% of the football budget. "Kostner, McGee and Mason all failed to cooperate with the enforcement staff by providing false or misleading information during interviews," the report said. "Kostner and McGee did, however, eventually cooperate with the investigation and provide critical information to the enforcement staff. Central Michigan demonstrated exemplary cooperation throughout the investigation and proactively assisted the enforcement staff with a timely and thorough collection of factual information and key records." The NCAA alleged in a 2024 notice relating to Michigan’s sign-stealing investigation that coach Sherrone Moore violated rules as an assistant coach on former coach Jim Harbaugh's staff. Harbaugh served a three-game suspension in exchange for the Big Ten dropping its own investigation into the allegations after the two ended up in court. In August, the NCAA fined Michigan tens of millions of dollars, possibly more than $20 million, and added one game to Moore's school-imposed two-game suspension, saying it had "overwhelming" and concerning evidence of a cover-up by Wolverines staff. Michigan also faces recruiting restrictions. At the time, the governing body said there were "sufficient grounds for a multiyear postseason ban" but stopped short of imposing program-crippling punishments because a two-year postseason ban "would unfairly penalize student-athletes for the actions of coaches and staff" who are no longer there. The fine includes 10% of the football budget. Moore and the Wolverines both appealed their punishments but dropped those appeals Tuesday. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!

The Associated Press 12 hours ago

Technology

2025 Ghana Business Awards: Sporty FM emerges as Emerging Brand of the Year

Sporty FM has chalked up a remarkable milestone after clinching a top honour at the 2025 Ghana Business Awards at the Kempinski Gold Coast HotelIn just 10 months of operation, the Accra-based 24-hour sports network has quickly become the go-to destination for comprehensive sports coverageRegional Lead, Gary Al-Smith, hailed the recognition as a testament to the station’s vision to revolutionise sports broadcasting and storytelling across the country. Sporty FM has made history after being named Emerging Brand of the Year at the 2025 Ghana Business Awards held on October 24, 2025. The recognition marks a major milestone for the youthful sports radio station, which has quickly become a force in Ghana’s media space since its launch in January 2025. Sporty FM wins Emerging Brand of the Year Known for its vibrant and refreshing approach to sports coverage, Sporty FM has captured the attention of fans nationwide with a blend of expert analysis, witty storytelling, and youthful energy. The award celebrates innovation and excellence in business and underscores the station’s rapid ascent as one of the most influential voices in sports broadcasting. Watch the video of Sporty FM's watershed moment at the 2025 Ghana Business Awards: From Sporty Breakfast to Sporty Drive, European Nights, and Ball Up Top, the station has kept listeners glued with its exciting mix of shows. Each programme offers a unique take on sports, with presenters bringing insight, humour, and authenticity to every discussion. Whether it’s football, boxing, basketball, or Formula One, Sporty FM delivers content that connects with fans on every level. At the helm of this groundbreaking project is Gary Al-Smith, Regional Content Lead at Sporty Group and one of Ghana’s most respected sports journalists. He leads an exceptional team that includes broadcasting icons and rising talents such as Fiifi Banson, Nathan Quao, Yaw Ofosu Larbi, Abigail Sena Sosu, Nana Asare Boadu, Raymond Nyamador, Immortal Agyakwah-Acheampong, Enoch “Sergio Manucho” Manu, Nana Akua Amankwaa, and Kosi Fiaka. Expressing his excitement after the win, Al-Smith said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in such a short time. This recognition inspires us to keep raising the bar for sports journalism in Ghana and to deliver even more engaging, high-quality content for our listeners.” Sporty FM drives national conversations The honour comes only weeks after Sporty FM hosted an exclusive interview with the President of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama. The conversation explored football’s power to unite the nation and its role in promoting accountability in leadership. Below is a summary of Sporty FM's interview with President Mahama: Sporty FM’s latest recognition cements its place as a trailblazer in Ghana’s evolving sports media landscape. Beyond entertainment, the station continues to shape conversations around sports, culture, and national development — proving that in just a year, it has become more than a radio station. How Nana Konadu shaped sports journalist's career In another story, YEN.com.gh highlighted how Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady played a key role in shaping Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo’s career. According to Fentuo, the late Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings inspired his strong passion for storytelling beyond her political influence. Source: YEN.com.gh

Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe,Samuel Obour 12 hours ago

News Corp books in advertisers in campaign for a ‘self-reliant’ Australia that ‘made things here’ | Weekly Beast

Daily Telegraph editor says the campaign aligns with the values of its backers, which include RM Williams, Qantas and Bunnings. Plus: Stokes defiant on BRS

Amanda Meade 12 hours ago

Technology

Crypto exchange Coinbase profit surges on strength in trading volumes

Coinbase Global reported a jump in its third-quarter profit on Thursday, as heightened volatility in digital assets boosted trading volumes at the cryptocurrency exchange, sending its shares up more than 3 per cent after the bell. Digital assets rallied in July as crypto-friendly policies by U.S. President Donald Trump attracted institutional investor interest, catapulting bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, to new peaks. However, weak economic data in the following month sparked recession fears, triggering a sell-off across the sector as investors moved to liquidate riskier assets. Volatility in the sector often benefits cryptocurrency exchanges, with trading volumes typically rising as investors seek to hedge their portfolios. Coinbase's transaction revenue rose to $1.05 billion during the quarter, from $572.5 million a year ago. The company reported a net income of $432.6 million, or $1.50 per share, for the three months ended September 30, compared with $75.5 million, or 28 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue from its subscription and services unit, which includes businesses outside of trading, rose 34.3 per cent to $746.7 million. A portion of Coinbase's subscription and services revenue is derived from stablecoin holdings and related platform activities. Stablecoin revenue came in at $354.7 million during the third quarter, up from $246.9 million a year earlier. "We are accelerating payments through stablecoin adoption, which we anticipate will continue given policy tailwinds, and ongoing adoption from financial institutions and corporates for payment and treasury needs," Coinbase said in a letter to shareholders. Stablecoin has received optimism from traditional circles of finance and has been at the forefront of legislations, with GENIUS Act been passed earlier in the year. The act aims to create a regulatory framework for stablecoins and promote broader adoption. Coinbase shares have gained about 32 per cent so far in 2025, while bitcoin prices have risen 14.5 per cent during the period.

Unknown 12 hours ago

Technology

Former Vols Quarterback Has Social Media Up In Arms With SEC Playoff Take

It seems like this year specifically, the discourse around the College Football Playoff has gotten increasingly combative and hostile. Everyone wants to discredit ranked teams, their wins, and their resumes for getting into the big dance. No one is safe, but specifically, everyone's favorite low-hanging fruit, the SEC, appears to be taking the brunt of the "overrated" criticism from the angry mob on social media. We can sit here and parse through every SEC school's case individually on whether they should make the playoffs, but former Tennessee Vols quarterback, Jarrett Guarantano, decided to take things a step further and make a blanket statement that has some of the fine folks on X running hot. Really, Jarrett? ANY of them? Now, to pull the curtain back a little bit, the reason Guarantano is saying this is that his Vols have precisely two losses. It's no secret he's being a homer here, but is he right that every SEC school with two losses should make the playoffs? I'm as big of an SEC defender as they come, but this is completely out of bounds for Guarantano to say. Let's start with Tennessee. The Vols have two quality losses on their ledger in Georgia and Alabama, but they lack even one signature win that would buoy their cause. They still have Oklahoma and Vanderbilt left on their schedule, but as it stands right now, you can't make a bold claim that Tennessee should make the big dance based on their current schedule. There is a good chance Oklahoma falls out of the top-25 by the end of the year, leaving Vandy as the lone win of substance for Tennessee. Texas already has a win over Oklahoma, but much like Tennessee, that win may not hold as much weight if the Sooners can't come out of the month of November unscathed. Speaking of Oklahoma, they might be the one team with a rock-solid case for making the CFP with two defeats. The Sooners face a murderer's row of a November schedule, which, if they navigate without a misstep, could leave them with a great shot at making the field of 12. How about Missouri? The Tigers have been gifted a notoriously easy schedule by SEC standards for the last few years, and this season is nothing new, so far anyway. Much like Oklahoma, Mizzou has a really tough schedule coming up, and if they can't beat the Sooners or Texas A&M, they may have a hard time pointing to a win over a single team with a winning record (assuming South Carolina and Auburn continue their downward trend), let alone one against a signature opponent. The comments section was heated as usual, with plenty of users pushing back on Guarantano's claims. Regardless of how you feel about the SEC, a case can at least be made for a school like Oklahoma, but I think we can all see what Guarantano is doing here. Whether it's an overcorrection in response to the SEC bashing on social media these days or a thinly veiled attempt at bolstering Tennessee's playoff resume, Jarrett Guarantano might want to sit this one out. All this does is delegitimize the SEC's case at sending multiple deserving teams to the postseason. And Lord knows they don't need any more negative publicity these days.

Unknown 12 hours ago

Technology

Roku posts quarterly revenue in line with estimates, shares fall

Roku reported third-quarter revenue that was in line with Wall Street estimates, hurt by tough competition and reduced advertising spend from clients, sending shares down nearly 7 per cent in trading after the bell. While ad spending has been shifting from traditional television to streaming, advertisers have remained cautious with their budgets amid economic uncertainty, creating a challenging environment for platforms dependent on ad revenue. Roku also saw a 5 per cent fall in its devices revenue in the third quarter. It reported third-quarter total revenue of $1.21 billion, up 14 per cent from the year-ago period and in line with estimates, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Unknown 12 hours ago

Technology

Amazon shares soar as cloud growth beats expectations

Amazon.com shares soared on Thursday after the company forecast quarterly revenue largely above Wall Street estimates as its cloud services unit turned in its largest growth rate in nearly three years. The online retailer benefited as businesses continue to spend relentlessly on artificial intelligence software development. Massive cloud demand is helping the tech company ease the pressure from softer growth at its e-commerce business, which is gearing up for the critical holiday season amid weakness in consumer confidence stemming from global trade uncertainty. Shares of Amazon soared 14 per cent in extended trading, lifting the company's market value by about $330 billion. A stock rally of the same size in Friday's official trading session would make it Amazon's biggest one-day percentage gain since 2015. “AWS is growing at a pace we haven’t seen since 2022," CEO Andy Jassy said in a statement. "We continue to see strong demand in AI and core infrastructure, and we’ve been focused on accelerating capacity." CLOUD REVENUE JUMPS Its cloud unit, Amazon Web Services, reported a 20 per cent rise in revenue in the third quarter ending in September, compared with estimates of a 17.95 per cent increase. Amazon shrugged off a tough prior week when an extended outage at AWS felled many of the most popular websites and consumer apps. Amazon has been the worst-performing stock among the "Magnificent 7" megacap tech companies, due in part to a nagging reputation as a laggard in AI development. "The report confirms Amazon’s operations are firing on all cylinders after a year of relative underperformance," said Ethan Feller, stock strategist at Zacks Investment Research. He said despite the stock's nearly flat growth this year, "the company’s fundamentals never meaningfully weakened." Amazon projected total net sales of between $206 billion and $213 billion for the fourth quarter, while analysts on average were expecting revenue of $208.12 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. The strong results from AWS, the world's largest cloud provider, followed stellar cloud revenue growth reported on Wednesday by Microsoft's Azure and Google Cloud, the No. 2 and No. 3 players in the industry, respectively. Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet and Facebook owner Meta all announced plans for higher annual capital expenditures as they pour money into chips and data centers. BIG TECH CONTINUES AI SPENDING Jassy's comments echoed those from rival CEOs, indicating Big Tech has no plans to pump the brakes on AI spending despite Wall Street expressing concern about a possible investment bubble. Companies, including Amazon, are introducing AI into nearly every facet of their operations in hopes of reducing costs and boosting productivity. On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said he did not believe the AI boom is a speculative bubble like the dot-com era, when many companies were "ideas rather than businesses." Today’s AI leaders “actually have earnings," he said. He added that AI investments - especially in data centers, chips, and infrastructure - were a major source of economic growth. He did warn about AI's impact on the labor market. Amazon Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky said he expected full-year capital expenditures to be around $125 billion and higher spending next year, without providing details. The company booked $89.9 billion in capital expenditures through the first three quarters, he said. AWS typically accounts for a little more than 15 per cent of Amazon's total revenue, but the segment is a huge profit engine, making up roughly 60 per cent of the company's total operating income. The unit reported revenue growth of 17.5 per cent in the second quarter. Advertising was another bright spot. Sales increased 24 per cent from a year earlier to $17.7 billion. The company has been placing greater emphasis on sponsored product listings and finding new spaces for higher ad volume, such as Echo Show screens and hi-tech grocery shopping carts. Seattle-based Amazon took a $1.8 billion charge for severance costs. On Tuesday, it announced it had cut 14,000 corporate jobs, part of a plan that could result in around 30,000 job losses in aggregate. It had added about 32,000 workers from this year's second quarter through the third for a workforce of 1.58 million people. Results were also weighed down by a one-time $25 billion charge for a settlement reached with the Federal Trade Commission over allegations that Amazon tricked consumers about their Prime memberships.

Unknown 12 hours ago

Hurricane Melissa leaves 29 dead as category 2 storm heads towards Bermuda – as it happened

Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba assess destruction as Bermudians prepare for approach of downgraded storm

Lucy Campbell (now); Tom Ambrose and Amy Sedghi (earlier) 12 hours ago