A man accused of setting a woman on fire inside a New York City subway train and then watching her die after she was engulfed in flames has made an initial court appearance and will remain in custody. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the US illegally, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court. He appeared briefly before a judge and wore a white jumpsuit over a weathered black hooded sweatshirt. He did not speak. He will remain jailed ahead of his next court date on Friday. The apparently random attack occurred on Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Police said on Tuesday that identification of the victim was still “pending at this time”. Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who was sitting motionless in the train car and may have been sleeping, and used a lighter to set her clothing on fire. The woman quickly became engulfed in flames, while the suspect then sat at a bench on the subway platform and watched, according to police. Video posted to social media appeared to show the woman standing inside the train ablaze as some people look on from the platform, and at least one officer walks by. NYPD chief of transit Joseph Gulotta said that several officers had responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the crime scene “the way it’s supposed to be” while the others went to get fire extinguishers and transit workers. They were eventually able to douse the fire, but “unfortunately, it was too late”, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said — the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. During Zapeta’s court hearing on Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said Zapeta at one point fanned the flames on the woman using his shirt. He said a 911 call from a subway rider helped identify Zapeta. Mr Rottenberg added that under interrogation Zapeta claimed he did not know what happened, noting that he consumes alcohol. But he alleged that Zapeta identified himself to interrogators in images related to the attack. Zapeta was taken into custody on Sunday afternoon while riding a train on the same subway line after police got a tip from some teenagers who recognised him from images circulated by the police. A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support. The shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal immigration officials said Zapeta had been previously deported in 2018 but at some point reentered the US illegally. The crime — and the graphic video of it that ricocheted across social media — deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system in a city where many residents take the subway multiple times each day.

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"Good evening, and thank you for allowing me to join you for a few moments on such a special night of gathering and celebration. Alongside the Queen, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofía, I wish you a happy and peaceful evening." This Christmas Eve, I would like to begin by addressing, and I’m sure you’ll understand, the terrible Dana storm that struck with unusual force almost two months ago in several areas of eastern and southern Spain, particularly in Valencia. The people who lost their lives and those who are still missing deserve our utmost respect, and we must never forget the pain and sorrow left behind for their families. Thousands of people saw how what had been their town, their neighbourhood, their workplace, their home, their business, or their school was reduced to rubble or even disappeared. It is a reality that is hard to come to terms with, but one from which we should all strive to draw the necessary lessons to strengthen us as a society and help us grow. We must never forget those first images of the flood that destroyed everything in its path: the rescues of people—some sick, elderly, or exhausted—trying to escape their cars or seeking refuge on rooftops. We also witnessed those who opened their homes to care for the most vulnerable, countering the relentless force of water and mud with the overwhelming power of solidarity and humanity. Neighbours, volunteers, civil protection teams, firefighters, security forces, the Armed Forces, NGOs, and even businesses that organised collections and donations, mobilising their staff and machinery—the help and collaboration of all have enabled the more than 800,000 affected people to gradually regain some sense of normality in their lives. Efforts are also being made to ensure that medium- and long-term needs are addressed to secure true recovery. This pure and practical solidarity has been recognised day after day in the tireless work of anonymous volunteers and public servants. At the same time, we have also observed—and understood—the frustration, pain, impatience, and calls for greater and more effective coordination among authorities. All these emotions—those that move and comfort us, and those that wound and sadden us—stem from a common source: the awareness of the common good, the expression of the common good, or the demand for the common good. Despite occasional differences and disagreements, there remains in Spanish society a clear sense of what benefits everyone and what must therefore be protected and strengthened. This is something the Queen and I have observed and appreciated even more deeply during this decade of reign. It is the responsibility of all institutions and public administrations to ensure that this notion of the common good continues to be clearly reflected in any discourse or political decision. Consensus on what is essential, not only as an outcome but also as a constant practice, must always guide the public sphere. This is not to stifle the diversity of opinions—legitimate and necessary in a democracy—but to prevent this diversity from leading to the denial of the existence of a shared space. It is from this agreement on the essentials that we must address the issues that concern us and affect our collective lives in various ways. The growing international instability, the climate of public debate, challenges in accessing housing, and immigration management are among the matters that deserve our attention and that I wish to discuss tonight. Immigration is a complex phenomenon of great social sensitivity, arising from diverse causes. Without population movements throughout history, present-day societies—open and interconnected—could not be understood. As a daily reality, migration, if not properly managed, can lead to tensions that erode social cohesion. The effort to integrate, which involves everyone, respect for basic laws and norms of coexistence and civility by all, and the recognition of the dignity every human being deserves are the pillars that must guide us in addressing immigration. At the same time, we must never forget the firmness required to combat the networks and mafias that traffic in human beings. How we approach immigration—which also necessitates good coordination with our European partners as well as countries of origin and transit—will reflect much about our principles and the quality of our democracy. Another pressing issue, especially for the young, is the difficulty in accessing housing. Cities, particularly large urban areas, act as growth hubs, generating a demand that supply struggles to meet. It is important that all stakeholders reflect, listen to one another, explore various options, and engage in dialogue to develop solutions that make housing accessible under reasonable conditions, especially for the young and the most vulnerable. This is the foundation of security and well-being for many life projects—and it is something we can achieve. Our lives are also shaped by an increasingly complex and volatile external environment. Too often, we see challenges to international law, resorting to violence, denial of the universality of human rights, or questioning of multilateralism to address global challenges such as climate crises, pandemics, energy transitions, trade, and resource scarcity. We even witness debates over the validity of democracy itself as a system of governance. In this context, Spain, along with other European Union member states, must resolutely defend the foundations of liberal democracy, human rights, and the social welfare achievements that underpin our shared political project. Europe—the idea of Europe—is an essential part of our shared identity and a legacy we owe to future generations. In a world that needs strong, cohesive actors, guided by principles and values, Europe remains our most valuable reference point. Domestically, our greatest reference is the 1978 Constitution, its words, and its spirit. The agreement on essentials was the fundamental principle that inspired it. Working for the common good means preserving this great pact of coexistence, which affirms our democracy and enshrines our rights and freedoms—the pillars of our Social and Democratic State under the rule of law. Even after so much time, the harmony that gave rise to it remains our solid foundation. Cultivating this spirit of consensus is vital to strengthening our institutions and maintaining the confidence of society in them. A pact of coexistence is preserved through dialogue—the kind of dialogue, conducted with dignity and generosity, that must always nourish the definition of shared will and state action. For this reason, it is essential that political competition—legitimate but sometimes deafening—does not drown out a more resounding call: a call for serenity. Serenity in public life and daily life, to pursue collective or individual projects, to prosper, and to care for and protect those who need it most. The recent reform of Article 49 of the Constitution, concerning persons with disabilities, is a good example of what we can achieve together. We cannot allow discord to become a constant background noise that prevents us from hearing the true pulse of our citizens. As I have said many times before, and I would like to repeat: Spain is a great country. A nation with an extraordinary history—despite its dark chapters—and exemplary in its democratic development over recent decades, overcoming even the threat of terrorism that claimed so many victims. It is a country with a promising present, despite the challenges that remain, such as addressing poverty and social exclusion. Our economy’s performance—in terms of growth, employment, and exports—is encouraging, and the overall level of social welfare is notable. Looking to the future, I sincerely believe Spaniards have immense potential, which should fill us with hope both nationally and internationally. This future lies primarily in our youth—the youth who have made us proud in the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the recent European Championships, who innovate despite difficulties, and who lead the way in our science. It is the youth who respect our elders and their valuable experience, who push for progress in equality, and who prepare themselves in schools, universities, and vocational training centres to enter the workforce with determination despite youth unemployment. Most of all, it is the youth who have filled us with pride, pouring into the streets of towns affected by the Dana to give their all. With this spirit of work and commitment to the common good, I conclude my words and return to where I began—to all the towns and regions affected by the floods, where so much remains to be done, and where the needs of neighbours often dwarf all efforts, though hope endures. May the solidarity that has united us in the most difficult times remain present in every gesture, every action, and every decision. May aid reach everyone in need, so they can rebuild the future they have fought for with courage and dignity, facing a present that can often be merciless. The sooner we achieve this, the stronger our sense of community and nation will be. Because the memory of the journey we have taken, the trust in the present, and the hope for the future are inescapable parts—perhaps the most valuable but also the most delicate—of our common good. May the spirit of these days of togetherness and harmony endure into the New Year. From the Queen, our daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, and me, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Eguberri On, Bon Nadal, Boas Festas.

2024 wasn’t an earth-shaking year for new tech products, but it was significant when it comes to the tech industry’s impact on society and vice versa. Larry Magid columnist. Tech titans had a big impact on the 2024 election, starting with Elon Musk, whose net worth exceeds $400 billion thanks to his work and investments at several tech companies, including Zip2, PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, SolarCity and Neurolink. He’s also the owner of Twitter, but that subtracted from his financial net worth while increasing his political clout. Although you can’t point to one thing that turned the election, Musk’s endorsement and financial support were a major boon to the Trump campaign. Musk wasn’t the only tech billionaire to endorse the president-elect. Despite Silicon Valley’s liberal tradition, a number of other tech moguls did their share, including Oracle founder Larry Ellison, PayPal and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel, and Netscape author and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Tech’s cozy relationship with the new administration didn’t end on Nov. 5. Since then, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have donated to Trump’s inaugural fund. Vice President-elect JD Vance, in addition to being a best-selling author, headed up a venture capital firm that invested in tech companies. On more than one occasion, Vance visited Silicon Valley to raise funds for the Trump-Vance ticket. Australian law There has also been legislation around tech, including a recently passed Australian law that would ban social media for anyone under 16. There were numerous state laws introduced in the U.S. around regulating artificial intelligence. Though it’s still not a law, the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act passed the Senate 91-3. The European Union passed an act regulating AI. Product announcements Related Articles Business | Most medical debt can no longer hurt your credit score under new California law Business | These California homeowners paid millions to have ADUs built. The best they got were permits or port-a-potties Business | Bay Area home sales are up 14% from last year, as once-reluctant buyers return to market Business | Who Is Steve Davis, Elon Musk’s go-to cost-cutter now working for DOGE? Business | 5 health bills impacting California patients in 2025 Though it’s not clear when it will ship, Meta announced its Orion AR Glasses, the company’s first true augmented reality glasses that feature holographic displays that can superimpose computer-generated images over what you’re seeing in the physical world. Using AI, they can also interpret and explain what you’re seeing. These glasses are probably still a few years away, but Meta has had success this year with its current generation Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses. The glasses don’t have a smart display, but they play music, enable phone calls, read out text messages and describe what you’re looking at, which they see through a camera on the frames. It’s too early to say for sure, but it’s quite possible that future iterations of smart glasses will replace smartphones for many people, putting Meta in a good position to eventually compete with Apple, which dominates the U.S. smartphone market. We’re also seeing growth in the smart ring category. Oura Ring, which popularized the category, came out with its new Oura Ring 4 in 2024. Ringconn, another smart-ring maker, also updated its offering, but 2024 is also the year that a major company, Samsung, entered the market. It’s too early to tell whether smart rings will get as much traction as smart watches, but they do some of the same tasks, especially for health and fitness, such as heart rate and blood oxygen sensing. Meta also has its Quest VR headset, but now Apple is in that space with its 2024 introduction of the Apple Vision Pro, a very expensive VR/AR headset that Apple bills as “spatial computing.” Generative AI Generative AI was the big story last year, but there were lots of new developments in 2024, Both Apple and Google made their annual smartphone and watch announcements this fall. Apple’s new iPhone 16 Series includes advanced AI-powered features such as Image Playground for photo and video editing and features that, according to Apple, help you “write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly.” Apple does the processing on the phone itself, and not the cloud, which is pretty amazing considering that phones have limited memory, storage and processing power compared with cloud-based systems. Google’s 2024 Series 9 phones have the company’s Gemini AI built in. You can now engage in a conversation with your phone with it understanding context. For example, you could say “how old is Tom Cruise,” and after you get the answer ask, “where was he born.” This contextual conversation mode is showing up in many AI products, including popular Generative AI services such as ChatGPT. Microsoft has also integrated AI into its Windows operating system, and Apple Intelligence is now built into MacOS. Google, in addition to building AI into its hardware, introduced Google Gemini Advanced, which, when you ask it what is does, says it’s “designed to excel at complex tasks like logical reasoning, coding, following intricate instructions, and creative collaboration.” The news isn’t entirely good for tech. There was backlash in 2024 that includes layoffs at many tech companies (along with some rehiring after the 2023 layoffs), global anti-trust actions against big tech, including Google, Amazon, Meta and Apple, and increased concerns about mental health and well-being on social media and other tech products. Happy New Year I’m not a fortune teller, but I’m pretty sure 2025 will bring lots of new advancements to tech, including further integration of AI into everyday products. It will also be a tumultuous year as the new administration takes over with lots of likely tech announcements, especially given the relationship between the incoming president and tech billionaires including Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and others. We’ll see an increased interest in cryptocurrency, AI regulation and a revisiting of rebates and subsidies of energy-saving tech. Whatever comes, I’m wishing you a happy, healthy and calm new year. Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist. Contact him at larry@larrymagid.com.In their Week 12 win over the Los Angeles Rams, the Philadelphia Eagles played 73 snaps on offense and 64 on defense. Let's just get right to the snap counts, and some notes. Quarterback • 71 snaps: Jalen Hurts • 2 snaps: Kenny Pickett Notes: Hurts didn't have to do much with Barkley running wild through the Rams' secondary,. He finished 15 of 22 for 179 yards and a TD. Running back • 50 snaps: Saquon Barkley • 23 snaps: Kenny Gainwell • 5 snaps: Ben VanSumeren Notes: I've been asked quite a bit recently about Barkley's heavy usage this season, and whether or not he can continue to play at a high level into December and January. Barkley has 250 touches on the season. He is on pace for 386 regular season touches, plus whatever he does in the playoffs. That is a lot of wear and tear to put on a running back in one season, and in the past we have seen running backs around the league have down years after that level of usage. I think the Eagles have tried to get Barkley off the field whenever appropriate, but the reality is that he is their best player right now, and he is winning them games. It's hard to take a player off the field when he is playing at an otherworldly level like Barkley is. Do you lean toward preservation, or the best record possible? The Eagles are trying to achieve both, but winning game is the priority. As the season has progressed, Barkley only appears to be getting stronger. As long as he doesn't suffer some kind of injury that will hamper him (the odds of which increase with a continued heavy workload, obviously), I think he'll still play like the elite player he is the rest of the way. I do think that the wear and tear he is taking on this season could affect him in 2025 and 2026, though. Wide receiver • 65 snaps: A.J. Brown • 51 snaps: Johnny Wilson • 50 snaps: Jahan Dotson • 7 snaps: Ainias Smith • 3 snaps: Britain Covey Notes: Hurts only attempted 22 passes, and Brown still caught 6 balls for 109 yards and a TD. If this game didn't turn into The Saquon Barkley Show, it could have very well been The A.J. Brown Show, as the Rams didn't have any corners capable of covering Brown man-to-man. The rest of the Eagles' receivers combined for 1 catch for 4 yards on 2 targets. DeVonta Smith missed this game with a hamstring injury. They'll need him Week 13 against the Ravens. Tight end • 55 snaps: Dallas Goedert • 40 snaps: Grant Calcaterra • 16 snaps: C.J. Uzomah Notes: There isn't much to say about the tight ends from this game. Goedert had 4 catches on 5 targets for 19 yards. Offensive line • 73 snaps: Jordan Mailata and Cam Jurgens • 71 snaps each: Landon Dickerson, Mekhi Becton, and Lane Johnson • 2 snaps each: Jack Driscoll, Fred Johnson, and Tyler Steen Notes: The Eagles' offensive line dominated in the run game, and only allowed one sack to a good, young Rams defensive line. Edge defenders • 39 snaps: Nolan Smith • 36 snaps: Josh Sweat • 29 snaps: Brandon Graham • 24 snaps: Jalyx Hunt Notes: Graham said that his season is over with a torn triceps. More here . This was a new high snap count for both Smith and Hunt. They're going to have to play a lot more with Graham out. Sweat has 7 sacks in the last 7 games, and has quietly had a very good season after the team shopped him this past offseason. Interior defensive line • 54 snaps: Jalen Carter • 24 snaps: Milton Williams • 23 snaps: Moro Ojomo • 15 snaps: Jordan Davis • 11 snaps: Thomas Booker Notes: Carter had a heavy workload yet again, until the outcome was decided, at which point he got some rest. Williams had a pair of sacks and a forced fumble. He now has 5 sacks on the season after posting 0.5 sacks in 2023. Linebacker • 53 snaps: Zack Baun • 52 snaps: Nakobe Dean • 9 snaps: Oren Burks • 5 snaps: Jeremiah Trotter Notes: Dean had 8 tackles and a sack. Baun only had 3 tackles, but he made a really nice pass breakup while in coverage on Cooper Kupp. His play against the pass has been shockingly good. Cornerback and safety • 64 snaps: Quinyon Mitchell • 62 snaps: Cooper DeJean • 57 snaps: Reed Blankenship • 56 snaps: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson • 28 snaps: Darius Slay • 13 snaps: Avonte Maddox • 8 snaps: Tristin McCollum • 6 snaps: Sydney Brown Notes: DeJean had a couple of pass breakups. PFF had him down for 6 catches allowed on 9 targets for 49 yards. That's 5.4 yards per attempt. The Eagles landed two of the best players in the 2024 draft in DeJean and Mitchell. I thought it was interesting that Tristin McCollum — and not Sydney Brown — filled in for Blankenship when Blankenship was banged-up for a few plays. Three stars 🤩 Eagles game ball 🏈 Season game balls Follow Jimmy & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @JimmyKempski | thePhillyVoice Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports Add Jimmy's RSS feed to your feed reader

Jayden Daniels and the offense stalling have the Commanders on a three-game losing streakWest Ham stun Newcastle to ease pressure on LopeteguiVision Pro, Apple's premium video streaming platform, has a unique selling point: immersive video technology. This allows viewers to feel like they're right in the heart of the action, with 360-degree views and spatial audio creating a truly immersive experience. However, content for the platform has been limited so far, leaving many users wanting more. This is where the stadium upgrade comes in. According to Marca (via ), Apple is in discussions to equip a popular stadium with the necessary technology to capture live sporting events in immersive video format. While the specific stadium hasn't been named, reports point towards Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu, currently undergoing a major renovation. The Spanish club's president, Florentino Pérez, has openly discussed the venue's capacity limitations, hinting at an openness to innovations that could enhance the fan experience. A live, immersive broadcast of a major sporting event would be a game-changer, not just for subscribers but for the future of sports viewing in general. Imagine being able to virtually experience the cheer of the crowd at a championship game or the electric atmosphere of a packed stadium—all from the comfort of your living room (or anywhere with a good internet connection). For geographically isolated fans or those with mobility limitations, this technology could be a dream come true. If Apple successfully pulls this off with Real Madrid, it could open the floodgates for similar partnerships with other teams and leagues worldwide. The potential benefits for Apple are clear: a compelling reason for users to subscribe to Vision Pro and purchase compatible headsets.