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NoneSince J. Edgar Hoover died in 1972 — after 48 years of leading the FBI — the seven men chosen to lead the premier law enforcement agency had previous experience as senior lawmen, senior federal prosecutors and federal judges. If President-elect Donald Trump has his way, the agency will instead be headed by a political loyalist who has pledged to use his powers to target the president’s political opponents. Kash Patel, 44, is a former junior-level federal prosecutor who was a White House aide in Trump’s first administration. That’s drawing scrutiny not just from Democrats, but from at least one Senate Republican. RELATED STORY | Mother of Pete Hegseth reportedly told son he was an 'abuser of women' in email South Dakota Republican Mike Rounds expressed support for current FBI Director Chris Wray — who Trump appointed after firing predecessor James Comey in 2017. “The president has the right to make nominations, but normally these are for a 10-year term. We'll see what his process is and whether he actually makes that nomination,” Rounds said Sunday during an interview on ABC News’ “This Week.” It would also be the second time Trump removed an FBI director before the end of the congressionally mandated 10-year term, which is designed to allow FBI directors to outlast the presidential administration. Since the end of the first Trump Administration, Patel has been actively engaged with the Make America Great Again movement supporting Trump. He was also one of the select group of supporters who accompanied Trump during the trial earlier this year in Manhattan that led to Trump being convicted of 34 felony counts related to falsifying corporate documents. RELATED STORY | Here's who Trump has asked to join his administration He has also said that a charity he operates provides financial help to families of people charged in connection with the January 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol. In an interview with conservative strategist Steve Bannon, Patel said he and others “will go out and find the conspirators not just in government but in the media.” ”We’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections,” Patel said, referring to the 2020 presidential election in which Biden, the Democratic challenger, defeated Trump. “We’re going to come after you, whether it’s criminally or civilly. We’ll figure that out. But yeah, we’re putting you all on notice.” In an interview earlier this year on the “Shawn Ryan Show,” Patel vowed to sever the FBI’s intelligence-gathering activities from the rest of its mission and said he would “shut down” the bureau’s headquarters building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., and “reopen it the next day as a museum of the ‘deep state.’” Rounds, meanwhile, praised Wray and said he saw no reason he should be removed. “Chris Wray, who the president nominated the first time around — I think the president picked a very good man to be the director of the FBI when he did that in his first term,” Rounds said. “When we meet with him behind closed doors, I've had no objections to the way that he's handled himself, and so I don't have any complaints about the way that he's done his job right now.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.Transform your home this Christmas with our guide to Christmas tree decoration items. Discover names, images, and tips for ornaments, stars, bells, and more to elevate your festive spirit. New Delhi: Christmas decorations are an important part of celebrating the festive cheer, turning homes into magical spaces, and filling them with warmth and cheer. From the sparkling fairy lights to the beautifully decorated Christmas trees, every decorating element adds to creating an environment of joy and togetherness. Decoration for Christmas allows families to come together, express their creativity, and embrace the holiday spirit in their special way. Whether it is about hanging the traditional stockings by the fireplace, setting up a Christmas tree, or crafting DIY ornaments, these adornments reflect the spirit of the festive season. Adding a holiday theme to every corner of the house conveys a sense of accordance with the decor. Simple touches such as festive table settings, scented candles, and decorative garlands on doors can level up the ambience while sparkling fairy lights on the windows or outdoor spaces create festive magic. The Christmas decorations are not only about aesthetics but also about keeping the traditions and making new memories with your loved ones. Christmas tree decoration items Here are some popular items that you can use to decorate your Christmas tree : A festive Christmas tree adorned with ornaments. Pinterest 2. Fairy lights Sparkling fairy lights in warm or multicolour tones give a magical glow. They can be wrapped around the Christmas tree to emphasise its shape and the branches. Twinkling fairy lights wrapped around a Christmas tree create a magical festive ambience. Pinterest 3. Tree topper It can be a star or an angel that is set up on the top of the tree. It represents the Star of Bethlehem or the season’s spiritual energy. The star atop a Christmas tree is a timeless symbol of holiday cheer and spirituality. Pinterest 4. Garlands and tinsel Drape the garlands made of beads, ribbons, or popcorn, or use shiny tinsel to add sparkle and texture to the tree. Shimmering garlands and tinsel elevate the beauty of a Christmas tree’s decorations. Pinterest 5. Tree skirt It is placed at the bottom hides the tree stand and serves as a decorative base for gifts, adding to the overall decoration. Christmas Tree skirt with base covered. Pinterest 6. DIY crafts Handmade paper stars, snowflakes, or clay decorations can give a personal and creative decoration to your tree. 7. Candy canes Hanging candy canes not only gives a festive feel but also doubles as a sweet treat for family and guests. Hanging candy canes on a Christmas tree is both decorative and delicious for family and friends. Pinterest 8. Pinecones and natural articulations Pinecones, berries, or small twigs of greenery bring a rustic and earthy vibe to your tree. Christmas decoration items Here are some important Christmas decoration items that can be used to add a festive touch to your space: 1. Christmas tree The main centrepiece of this festival, the Christmas tree can be adorned with a variety of lights, ornaments, and a topper. It sets the festive tone to your home. A beautifully decorated Christmas Tree. Pinterest 2. Fairy lights String or fairy lights in warm white or multicolour will make a magical ambience and can be placed both indoors and outdoors when draped over trees, windows, or walls. Christmas tree decorated with fairy lights. Pinterest 3. Wreaths It is mainly hung on doors and is made of greenery, berries, and ribbons offering a welcoming and festive vibe for visitors. A welcoming Christmas wreath adds a touch of festive elegance to your home entrance. Pinterest 4. Stockings One of the essential items for Christmas decorations is hung by the fireplace or walls. It is both decorative and is used to hold small gifts or treats. Brightly coloured stockings add a playful and traditional element to Christmas decor. Pinterest 5. Candles and lanterns It adds warmth and a cosy glimmer to any room. Scented candles with holiday aromas like cinnamon or pine enhance the festive feeling. Lanterns hanging from Christmas tree. Pinterest 6. Garlands Used on windows, staircases, or tabletops, garlands of greenery, lights, or beads convey texture and charm to the entire decor. Staircase decorated with Christmas garland and lights. Pinterest 7. Tree ornaments Bulbs, stars, bells, and personalised ornaments level up the overall look of the Christmas tree with a hint of tradition or creativity. A decorated Christmas tree with various items. Pinterest No matter the style, the Christmas decorations deliver a perfect chance to showcase your festive spirit and make your home feel special for everyone who comes to visit. Click for more latest Events news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. A Sub-Editor at Tv9 Digital. She writes education stories, exclusive articles. She has studied from MakhanLal Chaturavedi University of Journalism and Mass communication, Bhopal.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump used his image as a successful New York businessman to become a celebrity, a reality television star and eventually the president. Now he will get to revel in one of the most visible symbols of success in the city when he rings the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday as he's also named Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Trump is expected to be on Wall Street to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, according to four people with knowledge of his plans. He will also be announced Thursday as Time's 2024 Person of the Year , according to a person familiar with the selection. The people who confirmed the stock exchange appearance and Time award were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who at times has treated the stock market as a measure of public approval and has long-prized signifiers of his success in New York's business world and his appearances on the covers of magazines — especially Time. Trump was named the magazine's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He had already been listed as a finalist for this year's award alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales. Time declined to confirm the selection ahead of Thursday morning's announcement. “Time does not comment on its annual choice for Person of the Year prior to publication,” a spokesperson for the magazine said Wednesday. The ringing of the bell is a powerful symbol of U.S. capitalism — and a good New York photo opportunity at that. Despite his decades as a New York businessman, Trump has never done it before. It was unclear whether Trump, a Republican, would meet with New York's embattled mayor, Democrat Eric Adams , who has warmed to Trump and has not ruled out changing his political party. Adams has been charged with federal corruption crimes and accused of selling influence to foreign nationals; he has denied wrongdoing. Trump himself was once a symbol of New York, but he gave up living full-time in his namesake Trump Tower in Manhattan and moved to Florida after leaving the White House. CNN first reported Wednesday Trump’s visit to the stock exchange and Politico reported that Trump was expected to be unveiled as Time's Person of the Year. The stock exchange regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the ceremonial opening and closing of trading. During Trump’s first term, his wife, Melania Trump, rang the bell to promote her “Be Best” initiative on children’s well-being. Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the opening bell to unveil the magazine's 2023 Person of the Year: Taylor Swift . After the Nov. 5 election, the S&P 500 rallied 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,508 points, or 3.6%, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 3%. All three indexes topped records they had set in recent weeks. The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise regardless of which party wins the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation that Trump favors will mean. Trump has long courted the business community based on his own status as a wealthy real estate developer who gained additional fame as the star of the TV show “The Apprentice” in which competitors tried to impress him with their business skills. He won the election in part by tapping into Americans' deep anxieties about an economy that seemed unable to meet the needs of the middle class. The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests. Trump spends the bulk of his time at his Florida home but was in New York for weeks this spring during his hush money trial there. He was convicted, but his lawyers are pushing for the case to be thrown out in light of his election. While he spent hours in a Manhattan courthouse every day during his criminal trial, Trump took his presidential campaign to the streets of the heavily Democratic city, holding a rally in the Bronx and popping up at settings for working-class New Yorkers: a bodega, a construction site and a firehouse. Trump returned to the city in September to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Manhattan tower and again in the final stretch of the presidential campaign when he held a rally at Madison Square Garden that drew immediate blowback as speakers made rude and racist insults and incendiary remarks . At the stock exchange, the ringing of the bell has been a tradition since the 1800s. The first guest to do it was a 10-year-old boy named Leonard Ross, in 1956, who won a quiz show answering questions about the stock market. Many times, companies listing on the exchange would ring the bell at 9:30 a.m. to commemorate their initial offerings as trading began. But the appearances have become an important marker of culture and politics -- something that Trump hopes to seize as he’s promised historic levels of economic growth. The anti-apartheid advocate and South African President Nelson Mandela rang the bell, as has Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone with his castmates from the film “The Expendables.” So, too, have the actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner for an “Avengers” movie and the Olympians Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. In 1985, Ronald Reagan became the first sitting U.S. president to ring the bell. “With tax reform and budget control, our economy will be free to expand to its full potential, driving the bears back into permanent hibernation,” Reagan said at the time. “We’re going to turn the bull loose.” The crowd of traders on the floor chanted, “Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie!” The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed in 1985 and 1986, but it suffered a decline in October 1987 in an event known as “Black Monday.” Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.Last year’s Chabad of the Berkshires' Hanukkah menorah lighting, attended by at least 100 people, included remarks by Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue and state Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox, on Dec. 7, 2023. LENOX — The second annual menorah lighting celebration marking the beginning of the eight-day Hanukkah holiday is set for sundown Wednesday in Lilac Park off Main Street. The Chabad of the Berkshires ceremony, organized by Rabbi Levi Volovik, begins at 4:30 and includes a fire show, music, dancing, doughnuts and latkes (potato pancakes). Rabbi Levi Volovik speaks at Lilac Park on Dec. 7, 2023 during the first public Hanukkah menorah lighting at a town-owned park in Lenox. The second annual celebration will be this Wenesday at 4:30 p.m. The event includes music, dancing, donuts and latkes (potato pancakes). The start of the eight-day holiday rarely falls on the same day as Christmas. “Hanukkah is an eternal story that began in Israel, where the Jewish people were oppressed and not allowed to celebrate their Jewish life in public,” he pointed out. Hanukkah, also known as the Celebration of Lights, is an eight-day holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple in 165 BC by Jewish fighters, the Maccabees, after its desecration by the Syrians. It is marked by the night-by-night lighting of eight candles. This will be only the fifth time in 115 years that Christmas and Hanukkah fall on the same day — the previous instances were in 1910, 1921, 1959 and 2005. It’s a rare alignment because the Hebrew calendar is different from the Western world’s Gregorian calendar. The Hebrew calendar uses the moon’s phases to determine dates. A new moon marks the beginning of each month. Getting through all the moon’s phases takes just under 30 days, and 12 months are about 354 days long. Every few years, an extra month is added to keep seasonal celebrations roughly at the same time each year. The Gregorian calendar is based on the movement of the sun, and eight of the year’s 12 months have 31 days. The eight days and nights of Hanukkah are fixed, starting on the 25th day of Kislev, one of the months of the Hebrew calendar. However, because of the difference in year lengths, Hanukkah can occur any time from late November to late December on the Gregorian calendar. Source: The Jerusalem Post. Berkshires-based relatives of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza will speak during the event, the rabbi said. The celebration is sponsored by the Haddad dealerships, the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. “Antisemitism has reared its ugly head since Oct. 7 [2023, Hamas' attack on Israel],” Volovik noted. “The universal message of Hanukkah is that everyone has challenges and darkness in life but it’s our mission to add light into the world by making a difference, by doing goodness and kindness, always to keep on going, doing as much as you can. If we all add goodness and kindness, this will be a better world.” In an interview, the rabbi announced that the Lenox Jewish Center of the Berkshires , under construction downtown at 17 West St. since September 2023, will have its grand opening for the community on July 6, 2025. “It’s for people of all backgrounds and affiliations, making a positive difference in people’s lives,” he said. The campus will include a social hall for lectures and concerts, cooking classes, a kosher cafe, music room, art room, a teenage lounge, fitness center, sanctuary, library, tennis and pickleball courts, meditation terrace, playground, and eventually a preschool/childcare center. Originally projected to cost $6.5 million , the current estimate for Chabad’s first phase is nearly $9 million, including acquisition of the property. The next phase will include the rabbi’s full-time residence on the second floor. Fundraising is continuing beyond nearly $5 million in pledges already received. For next week, the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires has announced a “Radiant Nights” special event. It's a Hanukkah celebration this Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hancock Shaker Village, 1843 Housatonic St. on the Pittsfield-Hancock border. The event features sparkling lights, music, farm animals and art video projections, with a 6 p.m. menorah lighting in the Round Stone Barn. It will be accompanied by Hanukkah songs performed by the Jewish Musicians Collective as well as tasty treats, warm drinks, giveaways and Hanukkah-themed light illuminations by local artist Joe Wheaton, the announcement stated. The event is mostly outdoors or inside unheated spaces. Extended security will be present, the Federation announcement stated. Advance purchase of tickets with a special coupon code is required for the Sunday event. Federation Group tickets are $15 for adults, with youth 12 and under free. Registration is on the Hancock Shaker Village site with the discount code JFB2024.

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British-Canadian computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton and co-laureate John Hopfield are set to receive the Nobel Prize for physics on Tuesday in Stockholm. The pair landed the accolade because they used physics to develop artificial neural networks, which help computers learn without having to program them. These networks form the foundation of machine learning, a computer science that relies on data and algorithms to help artificial intelligence mimic the human brain. Hinton and Hopfield's path to the Nobel began when Hopfield, who is now a professor emeritus at Princeton University, invented a network in 1982 that could store and reconstruct images in data. The Hopfield network uses associate memory, which humans use to remember what something looks like when it's not in front of them or to conjure up a word they know but seldom use. The network can mirror this process because it stores patterns and has a method for recreating them. When the network is given an incomplete or slightly distorted pattern, the method then searches for the stored pattern that is most similar to recreate data. This means if a computer was shown, for example, a photo of dog where only part of the animal was visible, it could use the network to piece together the missing part of the image and recognize it was depicting a dog. Hinton, who was working at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 1985, used the Hopfield network as the foundation for a new network he called the Boltzmann machine. Its name came from the nineteenth-century physicist Ludwig Boltzmann. The Boltzmann machine learns from examples, rather than instructions, and when trained, can recognize familiar characteristics in information, even if it has not seen that data before. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which gives out the Nobel, likens this to how humans may be able to identify someone as a relative of one of their friends, even if they've never met this person before, because of they share similar traits. The Boltzmann machine works in a similar way, classifying images or creating new examples based on the patterns it was trained on. This kind of technology can help suggest films or television shows based on a user's preferences and past viewing history The Hopfield network and Boltzmann machine are considered to have laid the groundwork for modern AI. Hinton, a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, went on to win the A.M. Turing Award, known as the Nobel Prize of computing, with fellow Canadian Yoshua Bengio and American Yan LeCun in 2018. He is often called the godfather of AI. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. Tara Deschamps, The Canadian PressRomanian lawmakers narrowly approve new pro-European coalition during period of political turmoil

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