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STREAM Token: A New Era for Streamflow and Onchain EconomiesHOUSTON , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sterling Group, a Houston -based, operationally focused middle market private equity firm, is pleased to announce that John Griffin and Claudine Lussier have been promoted to Partner. "We are excited to recognize the extraordinary contributions of John and Claudine," said Brad Staller , Partner at The Sterling Group. "Each has played a critical part in Sterling's success to date. We are thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments and welcome them as Partners." John Griffin , Partner, joined Sterling in 2018 from McKinsey & Company's Houston office where he focused on strategic and operational initiatives for industrial and energy companies. John has been a leader on the PrimeFlight Aviation, West Star Aviation, Fencing Supply Group, Tangent Technologies, and Lynx FBO Network investment teams. John has also been a key member of the firm's Operations Committee, which drives continuous improvement in Sterling's own value creation capabilities. Claudine Lussier , Partner, Human Capital, joined Sterling in 2017 to lead Human Capital at Sterling and its portfolio companies. During Claudine's time at Sterling, she has contributed to a significant build-out of the team and has driven a dramatic improvement in Sterling's ability to drive value creation through the Human Capital lever. Claudine is a critical business partner to investment teams and management teams alike. To learn more about a career at The Sterling Group, please visit www.sterling-group.com/careers/ About The Sterling Group Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from $100 million to $750 million . Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 73 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $24 billion . Sterling currently has $9.4 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com . Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss. SOURCE The Sterling Group, L.P.A victim of an elaborate online romance fraud has told BBC Scotland that she was completely convinced by deepfake videos used to scam her out of £17,000. Nikki MacLeod, 77, sent gift cards and made bank and Paypal transfers believing she was sending money to a real woman she was in an online relationship with. She said she was initially sceptical but felt reassured by video messages from the person, which she now knows were fake. She wants to warn others about the increasing use of AI technology by scammers. Nikki got in touch with BBC Radio Scotland's Morning Programme during the The retired lecturer from Edinburgh said: "I am not a stupid person but she was able to convince me that she was a real person and we were going to spend our lives together." The 77-year-old said she was lonely after losing her parents during lockdown and the end of a long-term relationship. She started speaking to people online and met the person she knows as Alla Morgan in a chat group. She was told this person was working on an oil rig in the North Sea and was asked to buy Steam gift cards to allow them to keep talking. These cards are typically used for buying video games. The person Nikki was chatting to told her she needed them to allow her to get an internet connection on the rig so that they could keep talking. Nikki said she was sceptical, but was persuaded to buy several hundred pounds worth of the cards. She repeatedly asked Alla Morgan for a live video call which was refused, or didn't work. It was then that she started receiving recorded video messages. "I had started to think, are you a real person?" Nikki said. "Then she sent me a video to say 'Hi Nikki, I am not a scammer, I am on my oil rig', and I was totally convinced by it. "A few weeks later she sent me another video, also on the oil rig with bad weather in the background. This was before she started asking me for all this money. " The images and video sent to Nikki were created using AI technology. There is no way of knowing where the image of the woman - Alla Morgan - came from. It could have been made using the face of a real person with no connection to the scammers and no idea that their identity was used. Nikki said documents, images and videos she was sent were enough to convince her to part with her cash. "She (Alla Morgan) said she was going to come and visit me and asked could I pay for her vacation from the oil rig to come to Scotland," Nikki said. Nikki was the sent details of a company Alla supposedly worked for and contacted by someone in their HR department who asked for money to pay for a helicopter. "She said she would pay me back, so I gave them $2,500," Nikki said. The scam finally came to light when Nikki was attempting to make another payment to a bank account, supposedly belonging to Alla Morgan, and her own bank informed her she was a victim of fraud. Police Scotland confirmed they are investigating the matter. BBC Scotland asked Dr Lynsay Shepherd, an expert in cybersecurity and human-computer interaction at Abertay University, to take a look at the video messages Nikki was sent. She said: "At first glance it looks legitimate, if you don't know what to look for, but if you look at the eyes – the eye movements aren't quite right. "There are a number of apps out there, even something as simple as a face swap app or filters, that can do this. You can sometimes see when people are talking, when you look around the jawline, the filter kind of slips a bit. "It is relatively straightforward to do." Dr Shepherd said online scammers often claim to be in a location where meeting face-to-face or even a live video call are not possible. "Oil rigs is one of the common ones - in the military on base, a doctor overseas - and then typically they build up that relationship and then say 'there has been an emergency, I need some money for travel'." Nikki said she sent around £17,000 in total to the scammers. Her bank and PayPal have been able to get around £7,000 of that money back, but she was persuaded by the scammers to send some of the money as personal payments - through the friends and family function on PayPal. This has not been recovered. PayPal said they do not cover personal payments under PayPal Buyer Protection. In a statement a spokesman added said: "We're very sorry to hear this has happened to Ms MacLeod. Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, which includes romance scams, is a threat that has grown across the industry." He urged PayPal users to be wary of "unusual payment requests" and added "always question uninvited approaches in case it's a scam." On their website, Steam warn of increasing reports of scammers coercing victims to purchase Steam wallet gift cards. The company said people should never give out a steam wallet gift card to a person they do not know." Police Scotland said an investigation is under way after the fraud was reported in October and inquiries are ongoing. A spokeswoman added: "We would ask people to be vigilant and encourage anyone who believes they may have been victim to fraud or a scam to contact police on 101." Nikki told us the scammers are continuing to contact her, most recently sending her a newspaper article, claiming Alla Morgan is now in a Turkish jail and needs more money. She wants others to learn from her experience. "These scammers don't have any empathy at all. It's their job and they are very good at it," she said. "The documents looked real, the videos looked real, the bank looked real. "With the introduction of artificial intelligence, every single thing can be fake."Conor McGregor admits 'mistakes' but 'everything was consensual' after losing civil case
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SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks activated center Nico Sturm off injured reserve Monday and made room for him on the 23-man roster by assigning defenseman Jack Thompson to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. The transactions mean that the Sharks currently have 14 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood, Vitek Vanecek, and rookie Yaroslav Askarov. Sturm’s return to the Sharks’ active roster was believed to be imminent after he showed signs of improvement last week and practiced with the team on Sunday. He also took part in the Sharks’ morning skate on Monday, when he was officially considered a game-time decision by coach Ryan Warsofsky. The Sharks play the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night in the second game of a four-game homestand. Warsofsky did not say who his starting goalie would be. Warsofsky said he had a few players who were “nicked up” and considered game-time decisions, although it would be a surprise not to see Sturm, a mainstay as the Sharks’ fourth-line center, play against the Kings. Sturm, injured in the Sharks’ game earlier this month against the New York Rangers, is the Sharks’ faceoff leader by percentage and is one of the team’s leading penalty-killing forwards. Thompson has been on the Sharks’ roster for almost the entire season and played in 13 of the team’s 23 games. His five points are third-most among all Sharks defensemen, as he’s averaged just under 16 minutes of ice time per game. The Sharks have had three goalies on their roster since Nov. 18, when they recalled Askarov from the Barracuda. At the time, Vanecek was considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but Vanecek backed up Blackwood on Saturday in the Sharks’ 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Askarov made his Sharks debut on Thursday, making 29 saves in a 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues. It’s unclear how long the Sharks plan to keep three goalies on their active roster. Both Blackwood and Vanecek are pending unrestricted free agents, and speculation is that one could be dealt to another team before the NHL trade deadline on March 7. Kevin Weekes of ESPN and the NHL Network posted on the social media platform X on Monday that the Carolina Hurricanes “are exploring potential goalie options in the market.” Frederik Andersen is out eight to 12 weeks after knee surgery, and Pyotr Kochetkov left Saturday’s game at Columbus after colliding with defenseman Sean Walker. Kochetkov is now in concussion protocol.
LOUISIANA TECH 85, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 79, OTSAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks activated center Nico Sturm off injured reserve Monday and made room for him on the 23-man roster by assigning defenseman Jack Thompson to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. The transactions mean that the Sharks currently have 14 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood, Vitek Vanecek, and rookie Yaroslav Askarov. Sturm’s return to the Sharks’ active roster was believed to be imminent after he showed signs of improvement last week and practiced with the team on Sunday. He also took part in the Sharks’ morning skate on Monday, when he was officially considered a game-time decision by coach Ryan Warsofsky. The Sharks play the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night in the second game of a four-game homestand. Warsofsky did not say who his starting goalie would be. Warsofsky said he had a few players who were “nicked up” and considered game-time decisions, although it would be a surprise not to see Sturm, a mainstay as the Sharks’ fourth-line center, play against the Kings. Sturm, injured in the Sharks’ game earlier this month against the New York Rangers, is the Sharks’ faceoff leader by percentage and is one of the team’s leading penalty-killing forwards. Thompson has been on the Sharks’ roster for almost the entire season and played in 13 of the team’s 23 games. His five points are third-most among all Sharks defensemen, as he’s averaged just under 16 minutes of ice time per game. The Sharks have had three goalies on their roster since Nov. 18, when they recalled Askarov from the Barracuda. At the time, Vanecek was considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but Vanecek backed up Blackwood on Saturday in the Sharks’ 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Askarov made his Sharks debut on Thursday, making 29 saves in a 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues. It’s unclear how long the Sharks plan to keep three goalies on their active roster. Both Blackwood and Vanecek are pending unrestricted free agents, and speculation is that one could be dealt to another team before the NHL trade deadline on March 7. Kevin Weekes of ESPN and the NHL Network posted on the social media platform X on Monday that the Carolina Hurricanes “are exploring potential goalie options in the market.” Frederik Andersen is out eight to 12 weeks after knee surgery, and Pyotr Kochetkov left Saturday’s game at Columbus after colliding with defenseman Sean Walker. Kochetkov is now in concussion protocol.
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The Nagpur South-West constituency , a BJP stronghold in Maharashtra, is shaping up for a closely contested battle in the state assembly elections, as results are due to be released Saturday. While BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis remains the favourite to win, experts and local residents predict a tough fight from his Congress opponent, Prafulla Gudhade Patil. Fadnavis, who has held the seat since 2004, faces significant challenges this time around. Political analysts note that while his influence in the region remains formidable, factors such as inflation, unemployment, and dissatisfaction over last year’s flooding have given his Congress rival, Patil, an opportunity to make inroads. BJP vs Congress in Nagpur South-West region Nagpur South-West, home to over 400,000 voters, has witnessed local discontent , especially after severe flooding in September 2023. Heavy rains overwhelmed the Ambazari lake, causing significant damage to homes and property. Residents in areas like Shankar Nagar have expressed frustration over the slow response from local authorities and the government. Dr. Archana Deshpande, a local resident, voiced her disappointment, citing inadequate support during the flood crisis and poor infrastructure in the area. 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Inflation is another major issue on voters’ minds. However, despite these grievances, many locals still seem likely to back Fadnavis, citing a lack of viable alternatives. Joseph John, a resident of Ajni, commented, "Though inflation and local issues are a concern, Fadnavis has the edge, being the former CM and current Deputy CM. He has never lost here." Fadnavis faces Prafulla Patil The constituency includes key developments such as the Multi Modal International Cargo Hub and Airport (MIHAN), AIIMS, and IIM Nagpur, all of which are expected to benefit Fadnavis. The BJP hopes to leverage these achievements, alongside welfare schemes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides financial aid to poor women, to shore up its support base. However, Patil, an ex-corporator and son of former BJP MLA Vinod Gudhade Patil, is banking on anti-incumbency sentiments. Analysts point out that his quiet, grassroots work could resonate with voters who are disillusioned with the current government. Vivek Deshpande, a political analyst, was quoted as saying, “Patil is not a novice, and although Fadnavis has a strong track record, Patil’s appeal among certain sections of voters, including the Kunbi community, is growing.” Patil's challenge is not just to win over disillusioned voters but to counter Fadnavis' development narrative. The constituency's voter demographics, including significant Dalit, Kunbi, Brahmin, Teli, and Mali populations, suggest a more fragmented electorate this time, which could work in Patil’s favor. "The election will not be a walk in the park for Fadnavis," Deshpande added. Some residents in the constituency, like one who preferred to remain anonymous, are dissatisfied with BJP’s decisions and would like to see a change in leadership. This voter raised concerns about alleged illegal constructions near Ambazari lake and expressed frustration over the BJP's alliance with the NCP, questioning the party's commitment to its core values. Fadnavis’ strong position, but a tight race While Patil’s campaign gains momentum, Fadnavis remains the more prominent figure in the race, buoyed by his tenure as Chief Minister and his role as Deputy CM. Political analyst Pradip Kumar Maitra pointed out that Fadnavis' legacy, including job creation through MIHAN and his role in launching the Nagpur Metro, strengthens his position. "Fadnavis has a strong development record, and nearly one lakh jobs have been created in the region, which will likely translate into electoral benefits," Maitra said. However, despite his advantages, Fadnavis is unlikely to secure the same high winning margins as in previous elections. "Patil is a capable youth leader who is giving Fadnavis a strong fight," Maitra concluded. "The final result may see Fadnavis winning, but by a narrower margin." The Nagpur South-West seat, once considered a BJP fortress, is shaping up to be a much closer contest. (With inputs from PTI) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
DENVER (AP) — Un accidente de un avión de la Patrulla Aérea Civil en Colorado ha causado la muerte de la piloto de la aeronave y de un fotógrafo aéreo, según informaron las autoridades. El accidente, que ocurrió en el condado de Larimer el sábado, mató a la piloto Susan Wolber y al fotógrafo aéreo Jay Rhoten, de acuerdo con un comunicado emitido por la oficina del gobernador Jared Polis. La aeronave estaba en una misión de entrenamiento rutinaria en el momento del accidente. El copiloto, Randall Settergren, resultó herido y fue trasladado a un centro médico en helicóptero por la Guardia Nacional del Ejército de Colorado. “El Estado de Colorado está agradecido por su compromiso con el servicio y no será olvidado. También quiero agradecer a los primeros respondedores que asistieron con los esfuerzos de rescate y recuperación”, dijo Polis en la plataforma de redes sociales X. La Patrulla Aérea Civil, la auxiliar oficial de la Fuerza Aérea de Estados Unidos, es una organización sin fines de lucro con 60.000 miembros en todo el país, operando una flota de 550 aeronaves. Realiza misiones de búsqueda y rescate en el interior continental de Estados Unidos y es acreditada por el centro de coordinación de rescate de la Fuerza Aérea con salvar un promedio de 70 vidas anualmente. Sus profesionales no remunerados también realizan misiones de seguridad nacional, alivio de desastres e interdicción de drogas a solicitud de agencias federales, estatales y locales. Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.RUBEN AMORIM was seen berating his Manchester United players as they narrowly avoided defeat against Ipswich. The Amorim era with the Red Devils got off to the perfect start when Marcus Rashford scored after just 81 seconds. Advertisement 2 Ruben Amorim was seen berating his Man Utd players during their draw with Ipswich Credit: Reuters 2 Fans joked Amorim was already broken by the job Credit: AP However, Ipswich regained control of the match and had the better of United throughout the rest of the game. Andre Onana was on hand to keep Liam Delap at bay either side of half time, but could do nothing when Omari Hutchinson 's long-range effort spun off of Noussair Mazraoui to go into the top corner. After joining from Sporting Lisbon, the 1-1 draw was the first time Amorim has failed to win a league game this season. But at one stage of the game he was seen berating his players on the sideline for failing to press the opposition. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL COOPER TROOPER Steve Cooper SACKED by Leicester as club release 104-word statement And after seeing a picture of Amorim looking frustrated in the dugout, fans joked the club may have already broken him. One fan said: "Amorim already tired with Manchester United." A second said: "They've already broken him." Another said: "Just one game and this dude is tired. Welcome to the EPL Amorim." Advertisement Most read in Sport HERO TO ZERO? Liverpool fans lose it as Robertson gives away controversial penalty COOPER TROOPER Steve Cooper SACKED by Leicester as club release 104-word statement REST EASY Andy Murray flooded with messages as he shares heart-breaking family update BIG BLUNDER Hearts launch investigation after image of notorious UDA member beamed to fans BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER S A fourth added: "Amorim already looks tired of how bad we are." His frustration was something Man Utd cult hero Owen Hargreaves picked up on as well. Awkward moment Ed Sheeran politely asked to leave after gatecrashing Ruben Amorim interview live on Sky Sports He said: "He was in front of me, and he was really frustrated, I'm not going to lie. Advertisement "He wasn't happy with Dalot's positioning in the first half. Zirkzee's positioning in the second half made him a bit frustrated as well." "Many of these players won't be playing in three, four, or five weeks time." Amorim had spoken about being shocked by the scale of the Man Utd job before taking charge of his first game. In his first post-match interview with Sky Sports, Amorim concluded by revealing how he had spoken more with the media in his first full week than he did across four years with Sporting. Advertisement Speaking about how the team fared against Ipswich, he said: "I think my players were thinking too much during the game, you can feel it. "They not just thinking about the ball but also where they are supposed to be, and that is hard with just two days training together. "We needed more physicality in the first half after going one ahead and we had to feel the opponent, but it was a tough match. "We lost some balls without pressure. When you start a game like that after scoring one goal you have to control the ball, you have to control the tempo of the game but we cannot do it at the moment. Advertisement "But they tried. They really, really tried. For some it's hard to understand but they're really trying and they want this." Read more on the Scottish Sun REST EASY Andy Murray flooded with messages as he shares heart-breaking family update COUGH UP Motorhome park owner shuts after guests leave without paying using shock trick After a draw away at Portman Road, Amorim will play his first game at Old Trafford against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday. This will be followed by his Premier League home debut against Everton next Sunday. Man Utd ratings vs Ipswich as Onana saves Amorim from embarrassment in first game as boss MANCHESTER UNITED began the Ruben Amorim era with a 1-1 draw away at Ipswich. Marcus Rashford needed just 81 seconds to put the Red Devils in front at Portman Road, tapping home an Amad Diallo cross. But Ipswich hit back when Omari Hutchinson's strike flew in via a deflection off Noussair Mazraoui. And it was the newly-promoted side who looked likelier to get a winner in the second half. Here is how SunSport's Charlie Wyett saw the performances of the Man Utd players... ANDRE ONANA - 7/10 United’s best player. Two key stops to deny Liam Delap but no chance for the deflected Omari Hutchinson goal. Then delivered an 87th minute save to keep out an effort from Conor Chaplin. NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI - 5 Slotted in on the right of the three-man defence but unfortunate with the deflection for the goal. MATTHIJS DE LIGT - 5 Has been suspect this season and will probably be better suited to a back three although still given a tough time by Delap. JONNY EVANS - 5 The 36-year-old was targeted by Ipswich for his lack of pace and no surprise he was replaced. AMAD DIALLO - 6 Did incredibly well to bomb past Jens Cajuste and deliver the cross for Rashford’s early goal but offered little else. CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN - 5 Some nice touches going forward but too lightweight in this position in front of the back three. CASEMIRO - 4 Lucky to start ahead of Manuel Ugarte and was really poor. Struggled throughout before being subbed and could maybe have got a block to the Hutchinson shot. DIOGO DALOT - 5 Not suited to left wing-back although stayed there when Luke Shaw arrived because the English international replaced Evans in the back three. BRUNO FERNANDES - 5 Some of his link-up play was fine but United need a captain who can inspire this team and Fernandes is not the man. Sent a free-kick flashing past the post with 12 minutes left. ALEJANDRO GARNACHO - 5 Twice called over by Ruben Amorim in the first half for instructions. Denied by a decent save from Aro Muric 50 seconds into the second half. MARCUS RASHFORD - 6 Criticised for his basketball trip to New York so to score after 80 seconds was two fingers up at his critics - but did not offer much after that. Subs Ugarte (for Casemiro 56 mins) - 6 Shaw (for Evans 56 mins) - 6 Hojlund (for Rashford 67 mins) - 5 Zirkzee ( for Eriksen 67 mins) - 5 Mount (for Garnacho 87 mins) - 5
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STREAM Token: A New Era for Streamflow and Onchain EconomiesHOUSTON , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sterling Group, a Houston -based, operationally focused middle market private equity firm, is pleased to announce that John Griffin and Claudine Lussier have been promoted to Partner. "We are excited to recognize the extraordinary contributions of John and Claudine," said Brad Staller , Partner at The Sterling Group. "Each has played a critical part in Sterling's success to date. We are thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments and welcome them as Partners." John Griffin , Partner, joined Sterling in 2018 from McKinsey & Company's Houston office where he focused on strategic and operational initiatives for industrial and energy companies. John has been a leader on the PrimeFlight Aviation, West Star Aviation, Fencing Supply Group, Tangent Technologies, and Lynx FBO Network investment teams. John has also been a key member of the firm's Operations Committee, which drives continuous improvement in Sterling's own value creation capabilities. Claudine Lussier , Partner, Human Capital, joined Sterling in 2017 to lead Human Capital at Sterling and its portfolio companies. During Claudine's time at Sterling, she has contributed to a significant build-out of the team and has driven a dramatic improvement in Sterling's ability to drive value creation through the Human Capital lever. Claudine is a critical business partner to investment teams and management teams alike. To learn more about a career at The Sterling Group, please visit www.sterling-group.com/careers/ About The Sterling Group Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from $100 million to $750 million . Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 73 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $24 billion . Sterling currently has $9.4 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com . Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss. SOURCE The Sterling Group, L.P.A victim of an elaborate online romance fraud has told BBC Scotland that she was completely convinced by deepfake videos used to scam her out of £17,000. Nikki MacLeod, 77, sent gift cards and made bank and Paypal transfers believing she was sending money to a real woman she was in an online relationship with. She said she was initially sceptical but felt reassured by video messages from the person, which she now knows were fake. She wants to warn others about the increasing use of AI technology by scammers. Nikki got in touch with BBC Radio Scotland's Morning Programme during the The retired lecturer from Edinburgh said: "I am not a stupid person but she was able to convince me that she was a real person and we were going to spend our lives together." The 77-year-old said she was lonely after losing her parents during lockdown and the end of a long-term relationship. She started speaking to people online and met the person she knows as Alla Morgan in a chat group. She was told this person was working on an oil rig in the North Sea and was asked to buy Steam gift cards to allow them to keep talking. These cards are typically used for buying video games. The person Nikki was chatting to told her she needed them to allow her to get an internet connection on the rig so that they could keep talking. Nikki said she was sceptical, but was persuaded to buy several hundred pounds worth of the cards. She repeatedly asked Alla Morgan for a live video call which was refused, or didn't work. It was then that she started receiving recorded video messages. "I had started to think, are you a real person?" Nikki said. "Then she sent me a video to say 'Hi Nikki, I am not a scammer, I am on my oil rig', and I was totally convinced by it. "A few weeks later she sent me another video, also on the oil rig with bad weather in the background. This was before she started asking me for all this money. " The images and video sent to Nikki were created using AI technology. There is no way of knowing where the image of the woman - Alla Morgan - came from. It could have been made using the face of a real person with no connection to the scammers and no idea that their identity was used. Nikki said documents, images and videos she was sent were enough to convince her to part with her cash. "She (Alla Morgan) said she was going to come and visit me and asked could I pay for her vacation from the oil rig to come to Scotland," Nikki said. Nikki was the sent details of a company Alla supposedly worked for and contacted by someone in their HR department who asked for money to pay for a helicopter. "She said she would pay me back, so I gave them $2,500," Nikki said. The scam finally came to light when Nikki was attempting to make another payment to a bank account, supposedly belonging to Alla Morgan, and her own bank informed her she was a victim of fraud. Police Scotland confirmed they are investigating the matter. BBC Scotland asked Dr Lynsay Shepherd, an expert in cybersecurity and human-computer interaction at Abertay University, to take a look at the video messages Nikki was sent. She said: "At first glance it looks legitimate, if you don't know what to look for, but if you look at the eyes – the eye movements aren't quite right. "There are a number of apps out there, even something as simple as a face swap app or filters, that can do this. You can sometimes see when people are talking, when you look around the jawline, the filter kind of slips a bit. "It is relatively straightforward to do." Dr Shepherd said online scammers often claim to be in a location where meeting face-to-face or even a live video call are not possible. "Oil rigs is one of the common ones - in the military on base, a doctor overseas - and then typically they build up that relationship and then say 'there has been an emergency, I need some money for travel'." Nikki said she sent around £17,000 in total to the scammers. Her bank and PayPal have been able to get around £7,000 of that money back, but she was persuaded by the scammers to send some of the money as personal payments - through the friends and family function on PayPal. This has not been recovered. PayPal said they do not cover personal payments under PayPal Buyer Protection. In a statement a spokesman added said: "We're very sorry to hear this has happened to Ms MacLeod. Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, which includes romance scams, is a threat that has grown across the industry." He urged PayPal users to be wary of "unusual payment requests" and added "always question uninvited approaches in case it's a scam." On their website, Steam warn of increasing reports of scammers coercing victims to purchase Steam wallet gift cards. The company said people should never give out a steam wallet gift card to a person they do not know." Police Scotland said an investigation is under way after the fraud was reported in October and inquiries are ongoing. A spokeswoman added: "We would ask people to be vigilant and encourage anyone who believes they may have been victim to fraud or a scam to contact police on 101." Nikki told us the scammers are continuing to contact her, most recently sending her a newspaper article, claiming Alla Morgan is now in a Turkish jail and needs more money. She wants others to learn from her experience. "These scammers don't have any empathy at all. It's their job and they are very good at it," she said. "The documents looked real, the videos looked real, the bank looked real. "With the introduction of artificial intelligence, every single thing can be fake."Conor McGregor admits 'mistakes' but 'everything was consensual' after losing civil case
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SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks activated center Nico Sturm off injured reserve Monday and made room for him on the 23-man roster by assigning defenseman Jack Thompson to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. The transactions mean that the Sharks currently have 14 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood, Vitek Vanecek, and rookie Yaroslav Askarov. Sturm’s return to the Sharks’ active roster was believed to be imminent after he showed signs of improvement last week and practiced with the team on Sunday. He also took part in the Sharks’ morning skate on Monday, when he was officially considered a game-time decision by coach Ryan Warsofsky. The Sharks play the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night in the second game of a four-game homestand. Warsofsky did not say who his starting goalie would be. Warsofsky said he had a few players who were “nicked up” and considered game-time decisions, although it would be a surprise not to see Sturm, a mainstay as the Sharks’ fourth-line center, play against the Kings. Sturm, injured in the Sharks’ game earlier this month against the New York Rangers, is the Sharks’ faceoff leader by percentage and is one of the team’s leading penalty-killing forwards. Thompson has been on the Sharks’ roster for almost the entire season and played in 13 of the team’s 23 games. His five points are third-most among all Sharks defensemen, as he’s averaged just under 16 minutes of ice time per game. The Sharks have had three goalies on their roster since Nov. 18, when they recalled Askarov from the Barracuda. At the time, Vanecek was considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but Vanecek backed up Blackwood on Saturday in the Sharks’ 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Askarov made his Sharks debut on Thursday, making 29 saves in a 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues. It’s unclear how long the Sharks plan to keep three goalies on their active roster. Both Blackwood and Vanecek are pending unrestricted free agents, and speculation is that one could be dealt to another team before the NHL trade deadline on March 7. Kevin Weekes of ESPN and the NHL Network posted on the social media platform X on Monday that the Carolina Hurricanes “are exploring potential goalie options in the market.” Frederik Andersen is out eight to 12 weeks after knee surgery, and Pyotr Kochetkov left Saturday’s game at Columbus after colliding with defenseman Sean Walker. Kochetkov is now in concussion protocol.
LOUISIANA TECH 85, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 79, OTSAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks activated center Nico Sturm off injured reserve Monday and made room for him on the 23-man roster by assigning defenseman Jack Thompson to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. The transactions mean that the Sharks currently have 14 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood, Vitek Vanecek, and rookie Yaroslav Askarov. Sturm’s return to the Sharks’ active roster was believed to be imminent after he showed signs of improvement last week and practiced with the team on Sunday. He also took part in the Sharks’ morning skate on Monday, when he was officially considered a game-time decision by coach Ryan Warsofsky. The Sharks play the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night in the second game of a four-game homestand. Warsofsky did not say who his starting goalie would be. Warsofsky said he had a few players who were “nicked up” and considered game-time decisions, although it would be a surprise not to see Sturm, a mainstay as the Sharks’ fourth-line center, play against the Kings. Sturm, injured in the Sharks’ game earlier this month against the New York Rangers, is the Sharks’ faceoff leader by percentage and is one of the team’s leading penalty-killing forwards. Thompson has been on the Sharks’ roster for almost the entire season and played in 13 of the team’s 23 games. His five points are third-most among all Sharks defensemen, as he’s averaged just under 16 minutes of ice time per game. The Sharks have had three goalies on their roster since Nov. 18, when they recalled Askarov from the Barracuda. At the time, Vanecek was considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but Vanecek backed up Blackwood on Saturday in the Sharks’ 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Askarov made his Sharks debut on Thursday, making 29 saves in a 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues. It’s unclear how long the Sharks plan to keep three goalies on their active roster. Both Blackwood and Vanecek are pending unrestricted free agents, and speculation is that one could be dealt to another team before the NHL trade deadline on March 7. Kevin Weekes of ESPN and the NHL Network posted on the social media platform X on Monday that the Carolina Hurricanes “are exploring potential goalie options in the market.” Frederik Andersen is out eight to 12 weeks after knee surgery, and Pyotr Kochetkov left Saturday’s game at Columbus after colliding with defenseman Sean Walker. Kochetkov is now in concussion protocol.
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The Nagpur South-West constituency , a BJP stronghold in Maharashtra, is shaping up for a closely contested battle in the state assembly elections, as results are due to be released Saturday. While BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis remains the favourite to win, experts and local residents predict a tough fight from his Congress opponent, Prafulla Gudhade Patil. Fadnavis, who has held the seat since 2004, faces significant challenges this time around. Political analysts note that while his influence in the region remains formidable, factors such as inflation, unemployment, and dissatisfaction over last year’s flooding have given his Congress rival, Patil, an opportunity to make inroads. BJP vs Congress in Nagpur South-West region Nagpur South-West, home to over 400,000 voters, has witnessed local discontent , especially after severe flooding in September 2023. Heavy rains overwhelmed the Ambazari lake, causing significant damage to homes and property. Residents in areas like Shankar Nagar have expressed frustration over the slow response from local authorities and the government. Dr. Archana Deshpande, a local resident, voiced her disappointment, citing inadequate support during the flood crisis and poor infrastructure in the area. 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Inflation is another major issue on voters’ minds. However, despite these grievances, many locals still seem likely to back Fadnavis, citing a lack of viable alternatives. Joseph John, a resident of Ajni, commented, "Though inflation and local issues are a concern, Fadnavis has the edge, being the former CM and current Deputy CM. He has never lost here." Fadnavis faces Prafulla Patil The constituency includes key developments such as the Multi Modal International Cargo Hub and Airport (MIHAN), AIIMS, and IIM Nagpur, all of which are expected to benefit Fadnavis. The BJP hopes to leverage these achievements, alongside welfare schemes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides financial aid to poor women, to shore up its support base. However, Patil, an ex-corporator and son of former BJP MLA Vinod Gudhade Patil, is banking on anti-incumbency sentiments. Analysts point out that his quiet, grassroots work could resonate with voters who are disillusioned with the current government. Vivek Deshpande, a political analyst, was quoted as saying, “Patil is not a novice, and although Fadnavis has a strong track record, Patil’s appeal among certain sections of voters, including the Kunbi community, is growing.” Patil's challenge is not just to win over disillusioned voters but to counter Fadnavis' development narrative. The constituency's voter demographics, including significant Dalit, Kunbi, Brahmin, Teli, and Mali populations, suggest a more fragmented electorate this time, which could work in Patil’s favor. "The election will not be a walk in the park for Fadnavis," Deshpande added. Some residents in the constituency, like one who preferred to remain anonymous, are dissatisfied with BJP’s decisions and would like to see a change in leadership. This voter raised concerns about alleged illegal constructions near Ambazari lake and expressed frustration over the BJP's alliance with the NCP, questioning the party's commitment to its core values. Fadnavis’ strong position, but a tight race While Patil’s campaign gains momentum, Fadnavis remains the more prominent figure in the race, buoyed by his tenure as Chief Minister and his role as Deputy CM. Political analyst Pradip Kumar Maitra pointed out that Fadnavis' legacy, including job creation through MIHAN and his role in launching the Nagpur Metro, strengthens his position. "Fadnavis has a strong development record, and nearly one lakh jobs have been created in the region, which will likely translate into electoral benefits," Maitra said. However, despite his advantages, Fadnavis is unlikely to secure the same high winning margins as in previous elections. "Patil is a capable youth leader who is giving Fadnavis a strong fight," Maitra concluded. "The final result may see Fadnavis winning, but by a narrower margin." The Nagpur South-West seat, once considered a BJP fortress, is shaping up to be a much closer contest. (With inputs from PTI) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
DENVER (AP) — Un accidente de un avión de la Patrulla Aérea Civil en Colorado ha causado la muerte de la piloto de la aeronave y de un fotógrafo aéreo, según informaron las autoridades. El accidente, que ocurrió en el condado de Larimer el sábado, mató a la piloto Susan Wolber y al fotógrafo aéreo Jay Rhoten, de acuerdo con un comunicado emitido por la oficina del gobernador Jared Polis. La aeronave estaba en una misión de entrenamiento rutinaria en el momento del accidente. El copiloto, Randall Settergren, resultó herido y fue trasladado a un centro médico en helicóptero por la Guardia Nacional del Ejército de Colorado. “El Estado de Colorado está agradecido por su compromiso con el servicio y no será olvidado. También quiero agradecer a los primeros respondedores que asistieron con los esfuerzos de rescate y recuperación”, dijo Polis en la plataforma de redes sociales X. La Patrulla Aérea Civil, la auxiliar oficial de la Fuerza Aérea de Estados Unidos, es una organización sin fines de lucro con 60.000 miembros en todo el país, operando una flota de 550 aeronaves. Realiza misiones de búsqueda y rescate en el interior continental de Estados Unidos y es acreditada por el centro de coordinación de rescate de la Fuerza Aérea con salvar un promedio de 70 vidas anualmente. Sus profesionales no remunerados también realizan misiones de seguridad nacional, alivio de desastres e interdicción de drogas a solicitud de agencias federales, estatales y locales. Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.RUBEN AMORIM was seen berating his Manchester United players as they narrowly avoided defeat against Ipswich. The Amorim era with the Red Devils got off to the perfect start when Marcus Rashford scored after just 81 seconds. Advertisement 2 Ruben Amorim was seen berating his Man Utd players during their draw with Ipswich Credit: Reuters 2 Fans joked Amorim was already broken by the job Credit: AP However, Ipswich regained control of the match and had the better of United throughout the rest of the game. Andre Onana was on hand to keep Liam Delap at bay either side of half time, but could do nothing when Omari Hutchinson 's long-range effort spun off of Noussair Mazraoui to go into the top corner. After joining from Sporting Lisbon, the 1-1 draw was the first time Amorim has failed to win a league game this season. But at one stage of the game he was seen berating his players on the sideline for failing to press the opposition. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL COOPER TROOPER Steve Cooper SACKED by Leicester as club release 104-word statement And after seeing a picture of Amorim looking frustrated in the dugout, fans joked the club may have already broken him. One fan said: "Amorim already tired with Manchester United." A second said: "They've already broken him." Another said: "Just one game and this dude is tired. Welcome to the EPL Amorim." Advertisement Most read in Sport HERO TO ZERO? Liverpool fans lose it as Robertson gives away controversial penalty COOPER TROOPER Steve Cooper SACKED by Leicester as club release 104-word statement REST EASY Andy Murray flooded with messages as he shares heart-breaking family update BIG BLUNDER Hearts launch investigation after image of notorious UDA member beamed to fans BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER S A fourth added: "Amorim already looks tired of how bad we are." His frustration was something Man Utd cult hero Owen Hargreaves picked up on as well. Awkward moment Ed Sheeran politely asked to leave after gatecrashing Ruben Amorim interview live on Sky Sports He said: "He was in front of me, and he was really frustrated, I'm not going to lie. Advertisement "He wasn't happy with Dalot's positioning in the first half. Zirkzee's positioning in the second half made him a bit frustrated as well." "Many of these players won't be playing in three, four, or five weeks time." Amorim had spoken about being shocked by the scale of the Man Utd job before taking charge of his first game. In his first post-match interview with Sky Sports, Amorim concluded by revealing how he had spoken more with the media in his first full week than he did across four years with Sporting. Advertisement Speaking about how the team fared against Ipswich, he said: "I think my players were thinking too much during the game, you can feel it. "They not just thinking about the ball but also where they are supposed to be, and that is hard with just two days training together. "We needed more physicality in the first half after going one ahead and we had to feel the opponent, but it was a tough match. "We lost some balls without pressure. When you start a game like that after scoring one goal you have to control the ball, you have to control the tempo of the game but we cannot do it at the moment. Advertisement "But they tried. They really, really tried. For some it's hard to understand but they're really trying and they want this." Read more on the Scottish Sun REST EASY Andy Murray flooded with messages as he shares heart-breaking family update COUGH UP Motorhome park owner shuts after guests leave without paying using shock trick After a draw away at Portman Road, Amorim will play his first game at Old Trafford against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday. This will be followed by his Premier League home debut against Everton next Sunday. Man Utd ratings vs Ipswich as Onana saves Amorim from embarrassment in first game as boss MANCHESTER UNITED began the Ruben Amorim era with a 1-1 draw away at Ipswich. Marcus Rashford needed just 81 seconds to put the Red Devils in front at Portman Road, tapping home an Amad Diallo cross. But Ipswich hit back when Omari Hutchinson's strike flew in via a deflection off Noussair Mazraoui. And it was the newly-promoted side who looked likelier to get a winner in the second half. Here is how SunSport's Charlie Wyett saw the performances of the Man Utd players... ANDRE ONANA - 7/10 United’s best player. Two key stops to deny Liam Delap but no chance for the deflected Omari Hutchinson goal. Then delivered an 87th minute save to keep out an effort from Conor Chaplin. NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI - 5 Slotted in on the right of the three-man defence but unfortunate with the deflection for the goal. MATTHIJS DE LIGT - 5 Has been suspect this season and will probably be better suited to a back three although still given a tough time by Delap. JONNY EVANS - 5 The 36-year-old was targeted by Ipswich for his lack of pace and no surprise he was replaced. AMAD DIALLO - 6 Did incredibly well to bomb past Jens Cajuste and deliver the cross for Rashford’s early goal but offered little else. CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN - 5 Some nice touches going forward but too lightweight in this position in front of the back three. CASEMIRO - 4 Lucky to start ahead of Manuel Ugarte and was really poor. Struggled throughout before being subbed and could maybe have got a block to the Hutchinson shot. DIOGO DALOT - 5 Not suited to left wing-back although stayed there when Luke Shaw arrived because the English international replaced Evans in the back three. BRUNO FERNANDES - 5 Some of his link-up play was fine but United need a captain who can inspire this team and Fernandes is not the man. Sent a free-kick flashing past the post with 12 minutes left. ALEJANDRO GARNACHO - 5 Twice called over by Ruben Amorim in the first half for instructions. Denied by a decent save from Aro Muric 50 seconds into the second half. MARCUS RASHFORD - 6 Criticised for his basketball trip to New York so to score after 80 seconds was two fingers up at his critics - but did not offer much after that. Subs Ugarte (for Casemiro 56 mins) - 6 Shaw (for Evans 56 mins) - 6 Hojlund (for Rashford 67 mins) - 5 Zirkzee ( for Eriksen 67 mins) - 5 Mount (for Garnacho 87 mins) - 5
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