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Plaintiffs in a First Amendment lawsuit filed against the Bow School District argued in federal court Thursday that their rights were violated when they were barred from school grounds following a silent protest of a transgender athlete playing in a girls soccer game in September. Attorneys from the Institute for Free Speech and attorney Richard J. Lehmann filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Concord in September on behalf of Kyle Fellers, Anthony “Andy” Foote, Nicole Foote and Eldon Rash. The suit names Bow school administrators — including Superintendent Marcy Kelley, Principal Matt Fisk and Athletic Director Mike Desilets — and soccer referee Steve Rossetti. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants violated the plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights by banning them from school grounds and events for wearing pink wristbands with “XX” symbols — a nod to the female chromosome structure — as a form of silent protest during a Bow High School girls soccer game against Plymouth on Sept. 17. According to court filings, the plaintiffs wore the wristbands in protest of a policy allowing a transgender athlete identified in court paperwork as a “biological male” to play on the Plymouth girls team. Two of the plaintiffs, Andy Foote and Fellers, took the stand in Thursday’s 7-hour preliminary hearing on their motion for injunctive relief. Judge Steven McAuliffe quickly determined the relief sought in the motion is not moot. Attorneys for the school district had argued that because the soccer season is over and the ‘No Trespass’ orders issued to the plaintiffs have expired, “there is no longer a plausible argument that plaintiffs are facing an immediate threat of irreparable harm.” Attorney Endel Kolde of the Institute for Free Speech displays the pink armband his clients wore to protest transgender athletes playing on girls teams in this photo from October. Endel Kolde said his clients intend to continue wearing their wristbands at other school extracurricular events, such as swim meets and cross country meets, during this school year and in future school years. School officials in Bow say wearing the armbands violates district policy and amounts to harassment of transgender students. McAuliffe asked attorney Brian Cullen, representing the school district, if his clients would issue sanctions if the plaintiffs engage in silent protests at future school events, such as girls basketball games this winter. “Wearing XX wristbands, we believe it violates school policy and doesn’t comply with Title IX,” said Cullen. “The school’s position is if they come to games with the bands, we will ask them to take (them) off.” “They call what my clients did as harassment,” Kolde responded. “We don’t call it harassment. We call this legal passive speech.” McAuliffe said the issue isn’t moot, and the hearing on the injunction request began. Questioning of both Fellers and Foote centered on the reasons behind their silent protest, with both men testifying they wear the wristbands in support of women’s causes. Cullen, the district's attorney, highlighted an email from Fellers to Superintendent Kelley dated Aug. 1, which referred to gender inclusion policies as rules written to “appease a mentally ill cult.” “A cult in my mind is a group of individuals who quash any type of dissent on their beliefs. I have the right to believe they are biological males,” Fellers wrote. Cullen also highlighted an Aug. 23 email from Foote to the Bow girls varsity coach, Jay Vogt, as an example of why district officials feel the wristbands represent an anti-transgender message. “No one other than the United States transgender mob supports boys playing on girls’ sports teams,” Foote wrote in the email to Vogt. McAuliffe asked Foote directly if he agreed transgender athletes might see a pink wristband with XX on it as being directed at them in a negative way. “I don’t think that way,” Foote said. “It’s about the safety of females in female sports.” The motion hearing will resume Friday morning in federal court, with testimony expected to last into the afternoon hours. At the conclusion of the motion hearing, the court will consult with counsel to set a pretrial schedule, including a date for a bench trial. pfeely@unionleader.com
Drone Clubs in 2 Rome elementary schools get new drone giftsRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The woman who in 2006 falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her – making national headlines that stirred tensions about race, class and the privilege of college athletes — has admitted publicly for the first time that she made up the story. Crystal Mangum, who is Black, said in an interview with the “Let’s Talk with Kat” podcast that she “made up a story that wasn’t true” about the white players who attended a party where she was hired to perform as a stripper “because I wanted validation from people and not from God.” “I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn’t and that was wrong,” Mangum, 46, said in the interview, which was released Monday. The interview was recorded last month at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women, where Mangum is incarcerated for fatally stabbing her boyfriend in 2011. The former Duke players were declared innocent in 2007 after Mangum’s story fell apart under legal scrutiny. The state attorney general’s office concluded there was no credible evidence an attack ever occurred, and its investigation found no DNA, witness or other evidence to confirm Mangum’s story. The Durham prosecutor who championed Mangum’s case was disbarred for lying and misconduct. Prosecutors at the time declined to press charges against Mangum for the false accusations. Related Articles National News | NJ cop suffered ‘medical episode’ before crashing cruiser National News | UnitedHealth Group CEO speaks out after Brian Thompson murder National News | Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases National News | Companies tighten security after a health care CEO’s killing leads to a surge of threats National News | FBI, Homeland Security say drones in N.J. are not a threat The former lacrosse players reached an undisclosed settlement with Duke University in 2007 after suing it for the handling of the rape allegations. Mangum, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2013 and is eligible to be released from prison as early as 2026, told the podcast interviewer that she hopes the three falsely accused men can forgive her. “I want them to know that I love them and they didn’t deserve that,” she said. Durham-based podcaster Kat DePasquale said she wrote to Mangum because she was curious about the case that got so much attention, and that Mangum wrote back saying she wanted to talk.
Hou Jianan Breaks the Illusion of Digital Pleasures in 'Here Today, Gone Tomorrow'FPCCI stresses need for setting up software technology parks in Karachi KARACHI: President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Atif Ikram Sheikh has called for the establishment of a software technology park (STP) in Karachi to create an enabling environment for the export of IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS). He said that this has been the city’s longstanding demand, which continues to face infrastructural challenges that hinder its potential in IT exports and its ability to attract large-scale investments into the industry. CEO of the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) Abu Bakar recently visited the FPCCI Head Office in Karachi to discuss facilitating business, industrial and trade communities in investing in IT companies to boost the country’s exports. Sheikh reiterated the FPCCI’s stance that Pakistan must diversify and expand its export portfolio. He highlighted that the IT sector is uniquely positioned to deliver quick results due to its efficient turnaround time and its potential for exponential growth in exports. Senior Vice President of the FPCCI Saquib Fayyaz Magoon shared that the FPCCI and the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) have joined forces to organise a groundbreaking technology startup exhibition. This initiative aims to generate investments for viable startups and promote them on national and international platforms. He added that the event will have full support from the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) and the PSEB. Magoon also highlighted the need for the FPCCI and the IT industry to consolidate their budget proposals and policy advocacy efforts. He urged for transformational policy reforms targeting the IT sector within a macroeconomic framework, particularly through the federal budget for 2025-26. A software technology park in Karachi is seen as a crucial step to unlock the city’s potential in the IT sector and bolster the country’s overall economic growth.
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (AP) — CJ Luster II's 20 points helped Stony Brook defeat Rider 72-55 on Saturday. Luster shot 7 for 11, including 6 for 9 from beyond the arc for the Seawolves (3-7). Joseph Octave scored 14 points, shooting 5 for 12 (1 for 4 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. Ben Wight shot 5 of 7 from the field to finish with 12 points. The Seawolves snapped a five-game losing streak. Jay Alvarez led the Broncs (4-7) in scoring, finishing with 13 points and two steals. Rider also got 13 points, four assists and two steals from Aasim Burton. Tariq Ingraham also had seven points. Stony Brook took the lead with 4:48 left in the first half and did not relinquish it. Luster led their team in scoring with 12 points in the first half to help put them up 34-24 at the break. Stony Brook extended its lead to 50-33 during the second half, fueled by a 12-0 scoring run. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .What's New President-elect Donald Trump transferred $4 billion in stake that he owns in Trump Media & Technology (TMTG), Truth Social's parent company, to a revocable trust, causing the stock to drop Friday morning. Newsweek has reached out to Trump for comment via email. Why It Matters The incoming president's stake in the company is valued at more than $4 billion, with Trump previously making his commitment to the company and its shares clear. He said in November that he would not be selling shares in the company, which has a market capitalization of around $7.7 billion. What To Know Trump moved 114.75 million shares, which makes up 53 percent of TMTG, to a revocable trust where he is the sole beneficiary, a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing on Thursday revealed. For that fund, Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. is the sole trustee. That means he has sole voting and investment power over the securities owned by the trust. At $34.68 per share Friday afternoon, the stock fell down 2 percent today after news of Trump's stock transfer was revealed. Despite the reaction to Trump's investment move, experts say this could ultimately stabilize the stock for investors. This is because the revocable trust will prevent a mass sell-off of the stock while Trump is in office. Trump's actions, meanwhile, have historically been linked to the stock's performance. After a debate in June in this year's presidential race that was perceived by many viewers as a Trump victory over President Joe Biden , TMTG shares soared 13 percent in the June 28 premarket trading alone. What People Are Saying Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "Shares of DJT have been one of the most fascinating business stories of the last year. It's been an epic back-and-forth in buying and selling, largely centered around Trump's election chances. Not selling his shares and instead putting them in a revocable trust ensures a mass sell-off caused by him unloading his shares won't occur but also limits his ability to do anything with them while in the White House. It's the best scenario for investors and the only scenario for the incoming President." Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and the founder of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek: "This is a common estate planning move that helps avoid the probate process and ensures a successor trustee can manage the assets in case of incapacity. While trusts do provide some privacy benefits, in this case, privacy isn't a major advantage given Trump's status as a large shareholder. Under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, large shareholders are required to publicly disclose their holdings, so privacy is not the reason for the move." What Happens Next Moving forward, Thompson said Trump likely made the move for continuity purposes. "If something were to happen to him, the trust allows for the seamless transfer or dissolution of shares without delays or complications," he said. "However, the move raises questions for investors about whether it reflects a strategic decision or a signal regarding the stock's future as we head into 2025." Since Truth Social, Trump's social media platform, has historically been viewed as "meme stock," driven by the president-elect's popularity rather than business ideals, the stock will continue to hinge on Trump's influence rather than the media company's actual business performance, Thompson said. "At its core, this is yet another example of Trump's business acumen," he added. "Whether selling bibles, shoes, or colognes , Trump has consistently demonstrated his ability to monetize his brand. Moving his Truth Social stock into a trust is just another step in leveraging that influence strategically and financially."
Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. OpenAI's Altman will donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund LOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. China signals it's prepared to double down on support for the economy as Trump tariffs loom BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese leaders met this week to plot economic policy for the coming year and sketched out plans to raise government spending and relax Beijing's monetary policy. Analysts said the broad-brush plans from the annual Central Economic Work Conference were more of a recap of current policy than ambitious new initiatives at a time when the outlook is clouded by the President-elect Donald Trump's threats to sharply raise tariffs once he takes office. The ruling Communist Party did commit to raising China's deficit and to doing more to encourage consumer spending by bringing wage increases in line with the pace of economic growth. Here's a look at China's main priorities and their potential implications. Stock market today: Wall Street wavers at the end of a bumpy week NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks wavered as Wall Street closes out a rare bumpy week. The S&P 500 was down 0.1% in midday trading Friday and headed for a weekly loss. The benchmark index hit its latest in a string of records a week ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 19 points. The Nasdaq composite was down 0.2%. Broadcom surged after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. Treasury yields edged higher in the bond market. European markets were mostly lower and Asian markets mostly fell. Next Week: Retail sales, Fed policy update, existing home sales The Commerce Department releases its monthly snapshot of U.S. retail sales Tuesday. Federal Reserve officials wrap up a two-day meeting and issue an interest rate policy update Wednesday. The National Association of Realtors issues its latest update on U.S. home sales Thursday. From a 10-year-old to a Muppet to a president-elect, NYSE bell-ringers range from famous to obscure The first guest invited to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange in 1956 wasn’t a company executive, a politician or a celebrity. It was a 10-year-old boy, Leonard Ross, who received the honor by winning a television quiz show. Since then, business titans, political giants and global film stars have all been among those ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. Ronald Reagan rang the bell as president in 1985. Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. have also rung the bell. The even list includes famous Muppets: Miss Piggy was once a bell ringer. Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen's friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes to seafood, one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy. Some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture, as they fear Trump’s pending trade hostilities with major trading partners Canada and China could make an already pricy kind of protein more expensive. Conservationists also fear Trump’s emphasis on deregulation could jeopardize fish stocks already in peril. But many in the commercial fishing and seafood processing industries said they expect Trump to allow fishing in protected areas and crack down on offshore wind expansion.COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 20, 2024-- Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE: MTD) today announced it will present at the 43 rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, CA on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 3:45 p.m. Pacific Time. A live webcast of the presentation will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at investors.mt.com . METTLER TOLEDO (NYSE: MTD) is a leading global supplier of precision instruments and services. We have strong leadership positions in all of our businesses and believe we hold global number-one market positions in most of them. We are recognized as an innovation leader and our solutions are critical in key R&D, quality control, and manufacturing processes for customers in a wide range of industries including life sciences, food, and chemicals. Our sales and service network is one of the most extensive in the industry. Our products are sold in more than 140 countries and we have a direct presence in approximately 40 countries. With proven growth strategies and a focus on execution, we have achieved a long-term track record of strong financial performance. For more information, please visit www.mt.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250103362416/en/ CONTACT: Adam Uhlman Head of Investor Relations METTLER TOLEDO Direct: 614-438-4794 adam.uhlman@mt.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA OHIO UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER HEALTH MACHINERY MEDICAL DEVICES TECHNOLOGY OTHER MANUFACTURING RETAIL ENGINEERING CHEMICALS/PLASTICS BIOTECHNOLOGY OTHER TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING HEALTH SOURCE: Mettler-Toledo International Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/20/2024 04:30 PM/DISC: 12/20/2024 04:30 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250103362416/enDe'Vondre Campbell's mid-game quitting overshadowed the 49ers' offensive woes
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GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Cooper Bowser scored 16 points as Furman beat South Carolina State 68-64 on Saturday. A jumper from Tom House gave Furman a 64-62 lead with 35 seconds remaining and the Paladins closed out the win by going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Bowser added three steals and four blocks for the Paladins (10-1). Eddrin Bronson scored 11 points while going 3 of 8 from the floor, including 2 for 6 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line. Nick Anderson had 11 points and shot 3 for 9 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. Drayton Jones led the Bulldogs (5-7) in scoring, finishing with 15 points. Omar Croskey added 13 points for South Carolina State. Davion Everett also had 12 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
The military’s tradition of tracking Santa Claus on his gravity-defying sweep across the globe will carry on this Christmas Eve, even if the U.S. government shuts down , officials said Friday. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online . “We fully expect for Santa to take flight on Dec. 24 and NORAD will track him,” the U.S.-Canadian agency said in a statement. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats , such as last year’s Chinese spy balloon . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs, Colorado, are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” The endeavor is supported by local and corporate sponsors, who also help shield the tradition from Washington dysfunction. Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer, told The Associated Press that there are “screams and giggles and laughter” when families call in, usually on speakerphone. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, “Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early.” NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War , predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics . Here’s how it began and why the phones keep ringing. It started with a child’s accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy’s mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80-foot (18-by-24-meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from “those who do not believe in Christmas.” Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup’s story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy’s call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child’s call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. “When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,'” Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. “People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada — known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That’s when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.
Published 18:48 IST, November 24th 2024 Indian traveler humorously highlights rare Japanese bullet train delay, comparing expectations of punctuality and tech advancements to his experience. Viral: Japan's world-renowned punctuality, particularly of its Shinkansen bullet trains, faced a rare hiccup recently, sparking both surprise and amusement among passengers. A delay of 1 hour and 30 minutes in one of the country's famed bullet trains became the focus of a viral video shared by an Indian traveler. The video, which gained traction on social media, captured the traveler humorously addressing the unexpected situation. Referring to Japan's reputation for flawless timekeeping, he remarked, "Humne suna hai Japan mein 7G aa gaya aur train kabhi late nahi hoti ye aur 2 minute late hone see maafi mangte hai wo log," which translates to, "We’ve heard Japan has 7G and trains never run late, and even if they’re just 2 minutes late, they apologize." Later they said that the train is 1:30 hours late and there is no place to sit on the whole railway station. And it can delay more. The traveler shared his experience of waiting in the cold winter weather, noting the lack of seating at the station. "There is no place to sit and it's chilling in winters already," he said, highlighting the discomfort faced by passengers. He further joked about Japan's technological advancements, sharing his initial expectations versus reality. "We received 3G SIM cards at the airport," he quipped. "It is claimed 7G has arrived in Japan but unfortunately we could not see it here and even getting a 5G SIM is very expensive." The video concluded with a relatable remark, "Apne jaisa hi hai (It is same like India)." The lighthearted take on the delay and Japan’s reputation struck a chord with viewers, many of whom found the video both entertaining and relatable. For a country where even minor delays often prompt apologies from staff, the incident showcased a rare deviation from the norm. One of the users said, “Literally, It's all about good PR bro !!!” whereas another one said, “At this moment you find about PR work even Australia is not what like they show on social media they stop/take down any bad post about their nation and promote only good side of their nations.” A third user said, “Look at the crowd. Then look at the condition of the platform and tracks and the complete lack of dirt, debris or rubbish anywhere in the station. This is the correct lesson to learn from Japan.” 18:48 IST, November 24th 2024
Bayern Munich 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain, UEFA Champions League: Dembele Sees Red As Kim Seals VictoryA first-of-its-kind study highlights the stark gender disparity in AI-generated nonconsensual intimate images — and puts into focus the evolving risks for women in politics and public life. By Barbara Rodriguez and Jasmine Mithani , for The 19th More than two dozen members of Congress have been the victims of sexually explicit deepfakes—and an overwhelming majority of those impacted are women, according to a new study that spotlights the stark gender disparity in this technology and the evolving risks for women’s participation in politics and other forms of civic engagement. The American Sunlight Project , a think tank that researches disinformation and advocates for policies that promote democracy, released findings on Wednesday that identify more than 35,000 mentions of nonconsensual intimate imagery depicting 26 members of Congress—25 women and one man—that were found recently on deepfake websites. Most of the imagery was quickly removed as researchers shared their findings with impacted members of Congress. “We need to kind of reckon with this new environment and the fact that the internet has opened up so many of these harms that are disproportionately targeting women and marginalized communities,” said Nina Jankowicz, an online disinformation and harassment expert who founded The American Sunlight Project and is an author on the study. Nonconsensual intimate imagery, also known colloquially as deepfake porn ( though advocates prefer the former ), can be created through generative AI or by overlaying headshots onto media of adult performers . There is currently limited policy to restrict its creation and spread. ASP shared the first-of-its-kind findings exclusively with The 19th. The group collected data in part by developing a custom search engine to find members of the 118th Congress by first and last name, abbreviations, or nicknames on 11 well-known deepfake sites. Neither party affiliation nor geographic location had an impact on the likelihood of being targeted for abuse, though younger members were more likely to be victimized. The largest factor was gender, with women members of Congress being 70 times more likely than men to be targeted. ASP did not release the names of the lawmakers depicted in the imagery to avoid encouraging searches. They did contact the offices of everyone impacted to alert them and offer resources on online harms and mental health support. Authors of the study note that in the immediate aftermath, imagery targeting most of the members was entirely or almost entirely removed from the sites—a fact they’re unable to explain. Researchers have noted that such removals do not prevent material from being shared or uploaded again. In some cases involving lawmakers, search result pages remained indexed on Google despite the content being largely or entirely removed. “The removal may be coincidental. Regardless of what exactly led to removal of this content—whether ‘cease and desist’ letters, claims of copyright infringement, or other contact with the sites hosting deepfake abuse—it highlights a large disparity of privilege,” according to the study. “People, particularly women, who lack the resources afforded to Members of Congress, would be highly unlikely to achieve this rapid response from the creators and distributors of AI-generated NCII if they initiated a takedown request themselves.” According to the study’s initial findings, nearly 16% of all the women who currently serve in Congress—or about 1 in 6 congresswomen—are the victims of AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery. Jankowicz has been the target of online harassment and threats for her domestic and international work dismantling disinformation. She has also spoken publicly about being the victim of deepfake abuse—a fact she found out through a Google Alert in 2023. “You can be made to appear in these compromised, intimate situations without your consent, and those videos, even if you were to say, pursue a copyright claim against the original poster, as in my case, they proliferate around the internet without your control and without some sort of consequence for the people who are amplifying or creating deepfake porn,” she said. “That continues to be a risk for anybody who is in the public eye, who is participating in public discourse, but in particular for women and for women of color.” Image-based sexual abuse can have devastating mental health effects on victims, who include everyday people who are not involved in politics—including children. In the past year, there have been reports of high school girls being targeted for image-based sexual abuse in states like California , New Jersey , and Pennsylvania . School officials have had varying degrees of response, though the FBI has also issued a new warning that sharing such imagery of minors is illegal. The full impact of deepfakes on society is still coming into focus, but research already shows that 41% of women between the ages of 18 and 29 self-censor to avoid online harassment. “That is a hugely powerful threat to democracy and free speech, if we have almost half of the population silencing themselves because they’re scared of the harassment they could experience,” said Sophie Maddocks, research director at the Center for Media at Risk at the University of Pennsylvania. There is no federal law that establishes criminal or civil penalties for someone who generates and distributes AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery. About a dozen states have enacted laws in recent years , though most include civil penalties, not criminal ones. AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery also opens up threats to national security by creating conditions for blackmail and geopolitical concessions. That could have ripple effects on policymakers irrespective of whether they’re directly the target of the imagery. RELATED STORY: Experts warn of impact on elections as AI deepfakes go mainstream “My hope here is that the members are pushed into action when they recognize not only that it’s affecting American women, but it’s affecting them,” Jankowicz said. “It’s affecting their own colleagues. And this is happening simply because they are in the public eye.” Image-based sexual abuse is a unique risk for women running for office. Susanna Gibson narrowly lost her competitive legislative race after a Republican operative shared nonconsensual recordings of sexually explicit livestreams featuring the Virginia Democrat and her husband with The Washington Post. In the months after her loss, Gibson told The 19th she heard from young women discouraged from running for office out of fear of intimate images being used to harass them. Gibson has since started a nonprofit dedicated to fighting image-based sexual abuse and an accompanying political action committee to support women candidates against violations of intimate privacy. Maddocks has studied how women who speak out in public are more likely to experience digital sexual violence. “We have this much longer, ‘women should be seen and not heard’ pattern that makes me think about Mary Beard’s writing and research on this idea that womanhood is antithetical to public speech. So when women speak publicly, it’s almost like, ‘OK. Time to shame them. Time to strip them. Time to get them back in the house. Time to shame them into silence.’ And that silencing and that shaming motivation ... we have to understand that in order to understand how this harm is manifesting as it relates to congresswomen.” ASP is encouraging Congress to pass federal legislation. The Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 , also known as the DEFIANCE Act, would allow people to sue anyone who creates, shares or receives such imagery. The Take It Down Act would include criminal liability for such activity and require tech companies to take down deepfakes. Both bills have passed the Senate with bipartisan support, but have to navigate concerns around free speech and harm definitions, which are typical hurdles to tech policy, in the House. “It would be a dereliction of duty for Congress to let this session lapse without passing at least one of these bills," Jankowicz said “It is one of the ways that the harm of artificial intelligence is actually being felt by real Americans right now. It's not a future harm. It's not something that we have to imagine.” In the absence of congressional action, the White House has collaborated with the private sector to conceive creative solutions to curb image-based sexual abuse. But critics aren’t optimistic about Big Tech’s ability to regulate itself, given the history of harm caused by its platforms. “It is so easy for perpetrators to create this content, and the signal is not just to the individual woman being targeted,” Jankowicz said. “It’s to women everywhere, saying, ‘If you take this step, if you raise your voice, this is a consequence that you might have to deal with.’” If you have been a victim of image-based sexual abuse, the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative maintains a list of legal resources.New Delhi: India’s image as the 'IT Outsourcing Centre' has now transformed into a new identity as a 'Deep Tech Hub' due to the reforms undertaken by the government to promote innovation, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Sunday. "As a result of the dedicated focus of PM Modi making India a hub for innovation, even the most cutting edge, deep tech & frontier tech startups, led by Indian students with PhDs from major global universities are now taking root in India," the minister said in a post on X. Instead of just being proud of working for MNCs, Indians are now daring to create their own multinational companies in a defining change which will fuel our next stage of economic growth, Puri said. "For the past many decades, while Indian engineers & scientists were recognised for their talent and dedication in global technology companies and universities, they couldn’t dare to incubate their tech startups in India, owing to our onerous patents framework, lack of funding, crumbling infrastructure and lack of government support," he added. These new developments, of a reversal in the brain drain, are part of a larger fabric of technological innovation in India. A gradual journey of reforms and schemes to promote the entrepreneurial spirit in the early years of the Modi Govt has resulted in a technological boom, the minister pointed out. He said that this transformation is visible in the energy sector too. The India Energy Week began in 2023 as a novel initiative to leverage this increasing prominence of India in the global energy landscape through collaborative dialogue and opening up the horizon for India’s talented young professionals. Puri pointed out that in the Green Hydrogen segment, several Indian PSUs showcased new electrolyser technologies. At the same time, start-ups have demonstrated their membrane-less electrolyser for green hydrogen. Other firms have focused on building CCUS technologies, including direct air capture and enhanced oil recovery methods. There was also considerable progress made in advanced battery storage solutions, including solid-state batteries, lithium-ion improvements, and flow batteries, which promise better efficiency, longevity, and reduced costs. All eyes are now on the future as it takes shape in India. He further stated that the National Deep Tech Startup Policy lays out a roadmap aimed at spurring innovation in critical domains such as semiconductors, AI, and space tech. AI is so widespread in India’s software services now that it borders on ubiquity. It is no coincidence that India now has the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world. "We need to further nurture Indian talent in deep tech domains to hasten the reversal of ‘brain drain’. We have always had good talent, but have also lamented that our youngsters leave India to pursue work and studies abroad. The trend is now noticeably reversing - a significant victory in its own right. Indians are coming back or even deciding to stay put when offered enticing opportunities abroad so that they can build in India, for the world," the minister said. India’s startup success is the cumulative effect of such individual decisions, the full magnitude of which will be realised by the coming generations that will take ceaseless innovation for granted in a Viksit Bharat, he added.
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Gautam Adani, one of India’s most prominent businessmen, has been indicted by US prosecutors for bribing Indians and hiding that from American investors thus misleading them while taking their money. Broadly, it is also an indictment of how business is projected to be conducted in India with kickbacks suspected to have been paid to various parties inside the government and outside, as alleged. As an oil to ports and airports conglomerate that globally handles very large infrastructure projects, Adani’s enterprises must subject themselves to regulatory mechanisms of many countries. With the group’s businesses going global, the companies must abide by universal norms rather than expect to be subject only to India’s slothful regulatory mechanisms. As the justice department of the US government as well as its securities regulator are involved in making grave criminal charges, the matter is far more serious than the time when the same business group was attacked by a speculative stock market short seller who charged it with round tripping money to boost stock prices and such other sharp practices with the use of money flow from tax havens. In the interests of transparency and to convince ourselves that the Indian system is not tainted by the handing out of large bribes in excess of Rs 2,000 crores to personalities in charge of government — whether “officials” are netas or bureaucrats — India must also set up a probe into this matter and be prepared to go by the evidence presented to the US regulators and courts to determine if there has been wrongdoing on our soil. A few governments have been named whose “officials”, presumably including netas and babus, were said to have been the beneficiaries of kickbacks. It would be incumbent upon the government that such charges be probed by Indian regulatory and investigative agencies to determine the truth. The Indian public needs to be convinced that this is not just some foreign hand involved in putting down Indian commercial interests. It is a fact that very large infrastructure projects are funded by governments far more than the private corporate sector. And, given the scale of investments and the risks involved for investors in getting a fair return for their capital, there is plenty of room for suspicion over the paying of bribes for favourable action aiding commensurate returns. The suspicions are probably even weightier than the facts revealed so far. It is also true that most action under the US securities regulator has been in the form of fines and naming of companies and individuals who may then be left struggling to raise funds or indulge in speculative activity using money from the United States where the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act aims to provide a fair and level playing field for all businesses. What may happen when the Trump regime is in place can only be speculated upon now. It is the right of the Adanis to expect to go through the process of inquiry along with their legal defence teams and establish the innocence they have been projecting. But, until then, they cannot expect not to be probed in India. Because their greasing of palms is said to have taken place in India, they must expect to face probes in their home country too.
TEHRAN – Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), assured reporters on Saturday that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will continue to have access to Iran’s nuclear facilities under the framework of the Safeguards Agreement and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). “We operate within the framework of the Safeguards Agreement, adhering precisely to their regulations—nothing more, nothing less,” Eslami stated during the 25th International Research, Technology, and Tech-Market Exhibition in Tehran. The nuclear chief reiterated that Iran has "not created and will not create any obstacles for the IAEA's inspections and access." Commenting on Iran’s approval of tougher safeguards measures by the IAEA, including increased inspections at the Fordow uranium enrichment facility, Eslami noted, “Our [nuclear] capacity is increasing, and it’s only natural that the number of inspections should also increase.” Reuters reported on Friday that Iran has agreed to enhanced monitoring by the U.N. nuclear watchdog at its Fordow facility, where it claimed uranium enrichment "has approached weapons-grade levels." According to the news agency, the IAEA's confidential report noted that Iran will increase the frequency and intensity of safeguards measures at the site and is cooperating with the implementation of new enhanced protocols. Tehran recently decided to accelerate uranium enrichment and deploy new advanced centrifuges after a November anti-Iran IAEA resolution. The resolution, pushed by the U.S. and the European troika, accused Iran of non-cooperation under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear deal Washington officially left in 2018 and Europe began shunning the same year. The resolution demanded a comprehensive report on Iran’s nuclear activities by spring 2025. Following the censure, Iran significantly sped up its production of highly enriched uranium by increasing the enrichment level of uranium feedstock from 5% to 20% At its Fordow facility. Its highest uranium enrichment level at other facilities is 60%. Tehran had offered to slow enrichment if the resolution was dropped. During a phone call with IAEA’s Director-General Rafael Grossi this week, Iran’s foreign minister reiterated that the resolution Europe passed at the UN nuclear watchdog’s Board of Governors in November prevented Grossi from harvesting the results of his earlier visit to Iran. “While we will not hesitate to retaliate, we are still prepared and willing to continue constructive cooperation with the IAEA within relevant technical frameworks.” Meanwhile, the possibility of diplomatic progress on Iran's nuclear program continues to diminish as Europe seems poised to maintain its hostile stance towards Iran. Reuters reported Wednesday that Germany, France, and Britain have told the United Nations Security Council they are ready to “snap back” sanctions against Iran. The snapback mechanism outlined in UN Resolution 2231 permits permanent members of the Security Council and Germany to reinstate UN sanctions if Iran violates JCPOA obligations. The JCPOA signed by Iran and the P5+1 (the US, UK, France, Germany, China, and Russia) in 2015, sought to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the US withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 under President Trump reimposed sanctions, which European nations, despite remaining as official signatories to the deal, have been unable to mitigate. Washington no longer retains the authority to trigger the mechanism following its exit from the pact. Iran argues that European signatories to the deal also lack the moral and legal justice to activate snapback as they have too failed to uphold their commitments. Some Iranian officials have warned that if the E3 snap backs international sanctions, Tehran would consider leaving the NPT. During the Saturday ceremony, Tehran showcased its technological prowess by unveiling a domestically-made high-power radio frequency generator. Produced by the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), the generator is essential for electron accelerators and meets critical needs in various sectors, including nuclear agriculture. Commenting on the country’s latest nuclear achievement, Eslami emphasized the AEOI’s goal of generating 20,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity by 2042, underscoring the high efficiency and recyclability of nuclear power plants. In recent years, Iran's nuclear industry has also expanded into pharmaceutical production, currently supplying 69 different specialized drugs, with research underway on an additional 20. These radiopharmaceuticals are particularly instrumental in cancer treatment.The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Dallion Johnson scored 25 points and made seven 3-pointers to help FGCU defeat CSU Bakersfield 74-54 on Friday. Johnson went 9 of 14 from the field for the Eagles (1-4). Zavian McLean scored 12 points, going 4 of 9 from the floor, including 1 for 5 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line. Jevin Muniz went 3 of 10 from the field (2 for 5 from 3-point range) to finish with 10 points, while adding eight rebounds. Marvin McGhee led the Roadrunners (3-2) in scoring, finishing with 15 points. Fidelis Okereke added 10 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .