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( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) VFAF President Robert M. Cornicelli with Donald Trump Jared Craig VFAF Vice President with President Trump Tiffany Savage VFAF Comms Director with President Trump Donna and Stan Fitzgerald VFAF Educational Projects with President Trump VFAF Veterans for trump - The Movement Documentary VFAF Names New National Team for Upcoming 2025-26 Campaign Cycle expanding to nine national officers. VFAF will also re-launch the State Chapter Program. Stan Fitzgerald Veterans for America First +1 770-707-6291 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X VFAF Veterans for Trump the Movement a documentary film by Stan & Donna Fitzgerald with Jared Craig Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN23122024003118003196ID1109025460 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.- Tenorshare boasts 15 years of experience in the smartphone solutions industry - NEW YORK, N.Y., Dec. 12, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Recently, the Tenorshare website has received a major upgrade that focuses on providing a better user experience. “The upgrade is all about making life easier for our users. Our website now features our newest innovative products to enable users to solve more challenging problems from their daily walk of life,” says a Tenorshare spokesperson. So, what does the new upgrade beholds, let’s find out below! 1. Elevating the Brand Concept to New Heights Tenorshare boasts 15 years of experience in the smartphone solutions industry, specializing in advanced technology to create simple and easy-to-use products. So far, we’ve achieved 150M+ downloads, 142M+ happy users, and 100M+ views on YouTube . 2. Advancing Our Brand and Business Excellence Whatever problem you face, Tenorshare has the best software or platform solution for you. We offer repair and data recovery solutions for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and all types of internal and external devices. Moreover, we also provide powerful tools like a new PDF editor and reader, DOC summarizer, OCR tools, smarter AI bypass solutions, and an AI Presentation Maker. 3. Tenorshare: Trusted by Experts, Loved by Users Tenorshare is trusted by major platforms such as TechRadar, Softpedia, pocket-lint, etc, and loved by users worldwide who value the company for its reliable and effective tools. With 13K+ reviews on Trustpilot, Tenorshare has earned an excellent 4.4 out of 5 rating. TENORSHARE’S CHRISTMAS EVENT: SHOP AND SAVE BIG! Tenorshare is launching a Christmas shopping event on December 13th, providing you with a huge chance to shop and save big on its products. You can enjoy AI-generated greeting cards for their friends and family, and take advantage of amazing deals like “Buy One, Get One Free” on new PDF products. There’s also a 30% OFF discount code: TS-XMAS24-30 which you can use when purchasing Tenorshare products. About Tenorshare: Tenorshare, a top smartphone solutions provider is trusted by 10+ million users worldwide for their innovative and user-friendly products. The company now offers data recovery & repair, and iOS and Android management solutions, OCR Office, and online AI tools under a single banner. With the motto “Better Software, Better Life,” Tenorshare is committed to creating products that boost productivity, creativity, and personalization. More information: https://www.tenorshare.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TenorshareOfficial/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/Tenorshare_Inc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TenorshareOfficial/videos TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tenorshare_tech_tips . NEWS SOURCE: Tenorshare Co. Ltd. Keywords: Technology, Tenorshare, brnading, rebrand, tech, software, apps, Windows, macOS, NEW YORK, N.Y. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Tenorshare Co. Ltd.) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire . Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P122802 APDF15TBLLI To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/elevating-excellence-the-all-new-tenorshare-brand-website-is-unveiled/ © 2024 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is keeping elite company. The Japanese superstar caps 2024 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James. "I'm very honored," Ohtani said through translator Matt Hidaka in an exclusive interview with the AP. "Obviously all the hard work has paid off. Maybe next year, I'll get the award again." In balloting by 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members, Ohtani received 48 votes. He previously won the award in 2023 and 2021, when he was with the Angels. "Growing up in Japan, I did follow Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods," he said. "I would see their accolades and how they were successful in the United States." The AP honor has been given out since 1931. Golfer Babe Didrikson won six times, the most by a man or woman. Swimmer Léon Marchand of France, who won four gold medals at the Paris Olympics, was second with 10 votes in balloting announced Monday. Golfer Scottie Scheffler, whose victories this year included the Masters and an Olympic gold medal, was third with nine. The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced Tuesday. Moving from the beleaguered Los Angeles Angels to the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award and first in the National League, led his new team to its eighth World Series championship and created Major League Baseball's 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases. Ohtani signed a then-record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December 2023. Already a two-way superstar, he embellished his reputation even further despite not pitching all season while he rehabilitated from a second major right elbow surgery he had in September 2023. Ohtani went wild on offense, making every at-bat a must-see moment. The 6-foot-4 designated hitter batted a career-high .310 while easily surpassing his previous career highs in home runs and stolen bases. In September, he reached the previously unheard of 50/50 mark in a performance for the ages. Against the Miami Marlins in Florida, Ohtani went 6 for 6 with three homers, 10 RBIs, two stolen bases and 17 total bases. "It wouldn't shock me if he went 60/60 and 20 wins a year from now," Brad Ausmus, who managed the Angels in 2019 during Ohtani's second season in Anaheim, said recently. "This guy is the greatest athlete to ever play the sport of baseball and there's not a close second." Ohtani said he knew the Dodgers' franchise record for most homers in a season was 49. His previous best was 46, set in 2021. "I kind of wanted to get over that bar," he said. "I was pleasantly surprised I was able to pass that record." Ohtani carried the Dodgers offensively during the regular season, and he stayed healthy until Game 2 of the World Series. He injured his left shoulder trying to steal second base against the New York Yankees and finished the Series playing hurt. He underwent surgery a few days after the Dodgers celebrated their championship in early November. "I don't have full range of motion yet, but it feels a lot better," he told the AP. "There's no pain. There's obviously still a little bit of tightness, but slowly but surely it's getting better." Ohtani recently received an updated rehab schedule, and he's focused on the near-term. "It's the small steps that I think are very important to get me to the ultimate goal, which is to just get back healthy," he said. Ohtani is also throwing in the 70 mph range, which is typical for pitchers early in the offseason. "I'm going to continue to ramp up slowly," he said. The Dodgers' rotation for next season is in flux, and Ohtani is waiting to see how it shakes out. "We may go with a five-man rotation with a bullpen (game), which is what we did a lot during this season or we may have a six-man rotation," he said. "But it's all about balancing out when we can get rest and recuperate. We'll see where that takes us along the playoff chase. I've got to obviously pace myself, but again that situation will guide us to how we get there." The Dodgers open the 2025 season in Japan, where Ohtani is even more closely watched. "My personal goal is to be fully healthy by the time the opening games do start," he said. "To be able to pitch and hit would be great, but the situation will kind of guide itself." Each time Ohtani comes to the plate or steps on the mound, there's great pressure and expectation for him to perform spectacular feats. "I just go out there and try to stay within myself," he said. "I can only control what I can control and that's where you trust your teammates. The guys behind me, you trust they're going to make the plays for you. I don't really try to overthink it." Ohtani generated big bucks for the Dodgers off the field, too. Fans traveled from Japan in droves to see him play around the U.S. At Dodger Stadium, they paid extra for tours of baseball's third-oldest venue narrated by Japanese-speaking guides and to be on the field during pre-game batting practice. A majority of the fans bought Ohtani-branded merchandise, especially his No. 17 jersey. Ohtani's presence also helped the Dodgers land a bevy of new Japanese sponsors. Because Ohtani prefers to speak Japanese and use an interpreter with the media, he is shrouded in a bit of mystique. Asked before his first postgame series if he was nervous, he dropped a one-word answer in English: "Nope," which drew laughter. Japanese-born Dodgers manager Dave Roberts observed Ohtani's behind-the-scenes interactions with his teammates, coaches and staff, and came away impressed. "I really do believe that as good of a ballplayer as he is, he's a much better person. He's very kind, considerate, he cares," Roberts told the AP. "I'm just proud of any fame or glory or award that he receives because he just does it in such a respectful and humble way." Ohtani relishes his privacy and rarely shares details about himself off the field. That's why his February announcement via Instagram that he had wed Mamiko Tanaka, a former basketball player, stunned his new teammates and the rest of the world. The following month, after the Dodgers arrived in South Korea to open the season, he was enveloped in scandal when his longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after being accused of using millions of dollars of Ohtani's money to place bets with an illegal bookmaker. His new teammates rallied around Ohtani, who was found to have no part in the wrongdoing, and publicly it didn't seem to affect him even if he was privately distressed by it. By June, the uproar had subsided. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to federal bank and tax fraud charges and admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani. The public got a glimpse of Ohtani's softer side in August, when his dog Decoy delivered a first pitch to his owner on their shared bobblehead night. The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje exchanged an endearing high-five with Ohtani at the plate. As a result, Decoy became a celebrity in his own right, with his breed (pronounced COY-ker-HUND-che) making the list of the most mispronounced words of 2024. He and Ohtani were mentioned during the telecast of last month's National Dog Show, where the small Spaniel-type breed was among the competitors. "The number of the breed has kind of dwindled, so by him gaining a little bit of popularity hopefully that brings up the number of his breed," Ohtani said. "I do feel like we were able to, in a small way, contribute to the popularity of the dog and I'm sure Decoy himself would be happy about that." Ohtani will be looking to top himself next year while eyeing a repeat World Series title. "It's almost like right now you can lock in the Most Valuable Player in the National League award because no one has that ability or talent," Roberts said. "I'm just excited to see what '25 has for Shohei Ohtani." Get local news delivered to your inbox!The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation
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The Astoria School District is calling on state legislators to advocate for increased support for education going into the 2025 legislative session. On Wednesday, dozens of teachers, staff and parents gathered at the Capt. Robert Gray School for a special board meeting with state Sen. Suzanne Weber and state Rep. Cyrus Javadi to discuss legislative priorities — among them the State School Fund, special education services and unfunded mandates. State Sen. Suzanne Weber and state Rep. Cyrus Javadi appeared Wednesday at Capt. Robert Gray School in Astoria. Staff shared successes, like increased graduation readiness, the school district’s new literacy curriculum and wins in addressing chronic absenteeism through family liaisons. But they also shared the challenges the district has faced. Under the 2024-2025 budget, the school district cut more than two dozen positions and made tens of thousands of dollars worth of reductions for programs like technology, athletics and transportation. Astoria Middle School principal Linda Brech said she’s seen those cuts gut the school’s Spanish program, electives and intervention support and lead to higher class sizes. In order to avoid similar cuts in the future, the Legislature would need to approve consistent funding to the State School Fund. “We cannot make more of those cuts and ask more of our staff than they have already given,” said Jenna Rickenbach, an Astoria School District board member and parent. Gov. Tina Kotek's budget, which was released earlier this month, includes a proposal to put $11.3 billion toward education in the upcoming biennium. While that number is higher than previous bienniums, it still may not be on par with district needs. The Quality Education Model, a data-driven tool used by the state to estimate funding needs, estimates funding should actually be closer to $13.2 billion. Rickenbach said the school board is supportive of the governor’s proposal as a starting point, but sees room to grow. Fully funding special education is another key priority. For years, the state has implemented an 11% cap on special education funding, but many school districts have a higher percentage of students receiving specialized services. In the Astoria School District, the figure is around 17%. When a district exceeds the cap — as Astoria has for the past several years — they need to make up the difference with general fund dollars. “My ongoing fear is that we're going to burn these staff members out because they're all spread so thin, being forced to be on their toes and improvise all day long every day. The work is hard,” said Travis Roe, director of special programs for the school district. “Just generally speaking, education is hard. Special education is very hard, but it's made exponentially harder when we're short-staffed due to a lack of funding, because of the limitations of funding for the students past that 11%.” Staff also identified unfunded mandates, including paid leave, unemployment insurance benefits and LED lights, pension rate increases and potential cuts to federal funding as other strains. With a new incoming federal administration, some educators expressed concerns for the future of resources for underserved students, including students with undocumented family members. Bill Fritz, the superintendent of the Knappa School District, and Knappa school board member Brian Montgomery, who also attended, shared similar priorities for their district with a focus on special education resources, unfunded mandates and funding equity. Javadi and Weber, Tillamook Republicans who represent the North Coast, agreed on the importance of addressing those concerns and fully funding education. “You have my full support on your priorities,” Javadi said. “I mean, we need more money in the state’s schools. And one of the things that always shocked me last term, last session, is why isn't it just fully funded from the get-go? Why are we even having this discussion? Why is this not the first thing that we take care of, now how much money do we have left over to fund everything else? ... But I’ll tell you ... almost everyone in that building believes public education should be fully funded, and we'll continue to go there and beat that drum, because our kids are that important.” Weber, who worked as a teacher for decades, is the vice chair of the Senate Committee on Education. She said the committee has discussed putting forth 25 separate bills focused on education. Moving forward, she hopes to see a revamp based on the Quality Education Model. “We can talk about water and sewer and roads, but our most important infrastructure item is our children for our future,” Weber said. “So thank you for all of the work that you have done to make sure that they have a safe learning environment and curriculum that is going to build their knowledge and skills and take them into the future.”MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With Penn State's strong push for a spot in the College Football Playoff still a couple of wins from completion, the biggest roadblock to a bid for the Nittany Lions in this favorable final third of their schedule has appeared with a trip to Minnesota . That's why this week, naturally, is too early for them to talk about making the inaugural 12-team tournament — as enticing as their prospects might be. “I think the quality of teams that we go in and play each week speaks for itself,” quarterback Drew Allar said. "But as far as rankings, it doesn’t really matter until it matters.” Penn State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) is fourth in both the AP poll and the CFP rankings this week, needing help for a long-shot hope of reaching the Big Ten title game because of a loss to now-No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 2. In this new era of playoff expansion, the Nittany Lions are on firm footing for an at-large bid. Lose to the unranked Gophers (6-4, 4-3), however, and that ground could become shaky given the current collection of standout two-loss teams in the SEC. In case the Nittany Lions needed proof of the danger of letting focus diverge, coach James Franklin and his staff can call up the tape from Nov. 9, 2019. That's when an undefeated Penn State team came to Minnesota and lost 31-26 . The Nittany Lions lost again at Ohio State two weeks later and finished 11-2, one of several not-quite performances for this storied program that last went unbeaten in 1994 and hasn't been recognized as national champions since 1986. The Gophers were undefeated themselves after that game before losses to rivals Iowa and Wisconsin ended their Rose Bowl quest. This team isn't on that level of talent and success from five years ago, but the chemistry has been off the charts. Coach P.J. Fleck drew attention to some of the individual standout performances that fueled the signature victory in 2019 in meetings with players this week. “We need our best playmakers to play their best. Penn State’s going to need their playmakers to be their best. That’s what happens in November,” Fleck said. Tyler Warren has already shattered nearly every record for Penn State tight ends. The do-it-all senior become such a force his teammates insist he’s worthy of the Heisman Trophy, tracking toward the top of the NFL draft board for his position next spring. “He’s the best tight end in America, but he’s also the most complete tight end in America," Allar said. Warren is coming off a 190-yard performance at Purdue that included 63 yards on three rushes and 127 yards on eight receptions. “He has the ability to take a play that should be 2 or 3 yards and turn it into 30 or 40,” Gophers defensive end Danny Striggow said. Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter has 171⁄2 tackles for loss, the second-most in the FBS, and eight sacks to match the third-most in the Big Ten. He has a challenging matchup this week with Minnesota left tackle Aireontae Ersery across from him in a battle of projected first-round NFL draft picks. Gophers coaches told Striggow and his fellow defensive linemen a couple of seasons ago to relish the opportunity to face Ersery in practice. “That’s one of the best looks in the country that you’re going to get,” Striggow said. Carter has successfully made the transition from linebacker this season. “He is impacting the game in a number of ways, which creates opportunities for other guys on our defensive line and within our defense and causes a lot of headaches,” Franklin said. “He is becoming more and more of a leader every single day.” Allar and the Nittany Lions have paid particular attention to protecting the ball this week, given the Gophers have 16 interceptions, one short of the national lead. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar feels he’ll need to be especially accurate this weekend considering Minnesota has 16 interceptions on the season. “We’re just going to have to be disciplined and stick to our game plan,” Allar said. The Gophers have a strong group of departing players who will take the field at Huntington Bank Stadium for the final time, including Ersery, quarterback Max Brosmer, wide receiver Daniel Jackson, right guard Quinn Carroll, cornerback Justin Walley, kicker Dragan Kesich and Striggow. “It’s been good to reflect, but it’s not over yet," Striggow said. "Those short windows of reflection, I cut ’em out and then say, ‘We’ve got some more memories to make.’” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football .
Lebanon’s Hezbollah fired heavy rocket barrages at Israel on Sunday, with Israeli media reporting that a building had been hit near Tel Aviv, after a powerful Israeli airstrike killed at least 20 people in Beirut the day before. Israel also struck Beirut’s Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, where intensified bombardment over the last two weeks has coincided with signs of progress in U.S.-led ceasefire talks. Hezbollah, which has previously vowed to respond to attacks on Beirut by targeting Tel Aviv, said it had launched two precision missiles at military sites in Tel Aviv and nearby. There were no reports from Israel of damage to the sites, but broadcaster Kan showed an apartment damaged by rocket fire in Petah Tikvah, east of Tel Aviv. Footage broadcast by the medical service MDA showed cars ablaze in Petah Tikvah. Hezbollah fired 170 rockets at Israel on Sunday, according to the Israeli military, which said many had been intercepted, but at least four people had been injured by rocket shrapnel. Video obtained by Reuters showed a projectile exploding on impact as it smashed into the roof of a building in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya. Israel warned on social media that it planned to target Hezbollah facilities in southern Beirut before strikes which security sources in Lebanon said demolished two apartment blocks. On Saturday, it had carried out one of its deadliest and most powerful strikes on the centre of Beirut, killing at least 20 people, Lebanon’s health ministry said. The Israeli military did not comment on the strike or the target. Israel went on the offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah in September, pounding the south, the Bekaa Valley and Beirut’s southern suburbs with airstrikes after nearly a year of hostilities ignited by the Gaza war. US CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL AWAITS ISRAEL’S RESPONSE The Israeli offensive has uprooted more than 1 million people in Lebanon. Israel says its aim is to secure the return home of tens of thousands of people evacuated from its north due to rocket attacks by Hezbollah, which opened fire in support of Hamas at the start of the Gaza war in October 2023. U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein highlighted progress in negotiations during a visit to Beirut last week, before travelling to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, and then returning to Washington. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Sunday said a U.S. ceasefire proposal was awaiting final approval from Israel. “We must pressure the Israeli government and maintain the pressure on Hezbollah to accept the U.S. proposal for a ceasefire,” he said in Beirut after meeting Lebanese officials. Diplomacy has focused on restoring a ceasefire based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war. It requires Hezbollah to pull its fighters back around 30 km (19 miles) from the Israeli border, and the Lebanese army to deploy in the buffer zone. The Lebanese army said on Sunday at least one soldier had been killed and 18 more injured in an Israeli strike that caused severe damage at an army centre in Al-Amiriya near the southern city of Tyre. The Israeli military said it regretted and was investigating the incident, and that it was fighting against Hezbollah, not the Lebanese Army. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, said the attack “represents a direct bloody message rejecting all efforts to reach a ceasefire, strengthen the army’s presence in the south, and implement ... 1701”. Borrell said the EU was ready to allocate 200 million euros ($208 million) to support the Lebanese army.
Max Verstappen has admitted he came close to quitting Red Bull during his turbulent title-winning season in Formula 1 this year. Verstappen sealed his fourth world title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix after he finished ahead of Lando Norris to extinguish the McLaren man’s faint championship hopes for good. OPINION: Why Verstappen's 2024 title success is his greatest yet But Verstappen’s success has come against a political backdrop that led him to reconsider his place with the Milton Keynes squad. The 27-year-old was caught up in an internal investigation into team principal Christian Horner at the turn of the year, with his father Jos Verstappen embroiled in the bitter battle, a situation the younger Verstappen labelled as “messy”. Consequently, the Dutchman was openly courted by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who made no secret of the fact he wanted the Red Bull driver to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton . Questions were raised whether Verstappen would quit the team and force through a move to the Silver Arrows. And, while Verstappen admitted he did think about his options, he has now pledged his future to Red Bull, saying he is “loyal to the team”. When asked by Autosport if there was any moment he considered leaving Red Bull for Mercedes, or indeed quitting altogether, he said: “I think in your life, every year there are always thoughts going through your head from, 'how long do I still want to do this? Where do I want to do this? How do I want to do this?' “There are things in your private life that happen, of course. In your racing life, there are always things that you have to deal with and think about. “But that's fine. I think in general I'm quite relaxed about these things because it's very important to split your private life and racing life. “But it's fine to have these thoughts in your head about what you want to do. “But at the same time, I'm also not someone that makes very drastic decisions. And I'm just very happy where I'm at the moment. “I'm very loyal to the team. I appreciate, of course, what they have done for me from picking me up out of F3 and giving me an F1 seat and then going through all these emotions over all the years with these key people in the team. “So, when there are tough times, it's very easy to say goodbye or forget about it or ignore it. But I think it's actually way more important to actually face them and go through it together and deal with it and just try to move on from there and focus back, of course, on the performance side of things and have fun out there. “That's, at the end, the most important. If you're not having fun, then there's no point to continue.” Horner had hailed Verstappen’s fourth title win as the best of his career and when the Dutchman was asked if he agreed with his boss, he added: “I think so, too. “Last year, I had a dominant car, but I always felt that not everyone appreciated what we achieved as a team, winning 10 in a row. “Of course, our car was dominant, but it wasn't as dominant as people thought it was. I will always look back at [2023], because even in places where maybe we didn't have the perfect set-up, we were still capable, because in the race, our car was always quite strong, to win races. “But I'm also very proud of this season because, for most of the season, I would say for 70% of the season, we didn't have the fastest car, but actually we still extended our lead. So that is definitely something that I'm very proud of.”
A try, a scrap with a star and a trophy from grandma: Sione’s incredible dayBy HALELUYA HADERO The emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that allow people to efficiently produce novel and detailed online reviews with almost no work has put merchants , service providers and consumers in uncharted territory, watchdog groups and researchers say. Phony reviews have long plagued many popular consumer websites, such as Amazon and Yelp. They are typically traded on private social media groups between fake review brokers and businesses willing to pay. Sometimes, such reviews are initiated by businesses that offer customers incentives such as gift cards for positive feedback. But AI-infused text generation tools, popularized by OpenAI’s ChatGPT , enable fraudsters to produce reviews faster and in greater volume, according to tech industry experts. The deceptive practice, which is illegal in the U.S. , is carried out year-round but becomes a bigger problem for consumers during the holiday shopping season , when many people rely on reviews to help them purchase gifts. Where are AI-generated reviews showing up? Fake reviews are found across a wide range of industries, from e-commerce, lodging and restaurants, to services such as home repairs, medical care and piano lessons. The Transparency Company, a tech company and watchdog group that uses software to detect fake reviews, said it started to see AI-generated reviews show up in large numbers in mid-2023 and they have multiplied ever since. For a report released this month, The Transparency Company analyzed 73 million reviews in three sectors: home, legal and medical services. Nearly 14% of the reviews were likely fake, and the company expressed a “high degree of confidence” that 2.3 million reviews were partly or entirely AI-generated. “It’s just a really, really good tool for these review scammers,” said Maury Blackman, an investor and advisor to tech startups, who reviewed The Transparency Company’s work and is set to lead the organization starting Jan. 1. In August, software company DoubleVerify said it was observing a “significant increase” in mobile phone and smart TV apps with reviews crafted by generative AI. The reviews often were used to deceive customers into installing apps that could hijack devices or run ads constantly, the company said. The following month, the Federal Trade Commission sued the company behind an AI writing tool and content generator called Rytr, accusing it of offering a service that could pollute the marketplace with fraudulent reviews. The FTC, which this year banned the sale or purchase of fake reviews, said some of Rytr’s subscribers used the tool to produce hundreds and perhaps thousands of reviews for garage door repair companies, sellers of “replica” designer handbags and other businesses. It’s likely on prominent online sites, too Max Spero, CEO of AI detection company Pangram Labs, said the software his company uses has detected with almost certainty that some AI-generated appraisals posted on Amazon bubbled up to the top of review search results because they were so detailed and appeared to be well thought-out. But determining what is fake or not can be challenging. External parties can fall short because they don’t have “access to data signals that indicate patterns of abuse,” Amazon has said. Pangram Labs has done detection for some prominent online sites, which Spero declined to name due to non-disclosure agreements. He said he evaluated Amazon and Yelp independently. Many of the AI-generated comments on Yelp appeared to be posted by individuals who were trying to publish enough reviews to earn an “Elite” badge, which is intended to let users know they should trust the content, Spero said. The badge provides access to exclusive events with local business owners. Fraudsters also want it so their Yelp profiles can look more realistic, said Kay Dean, a former federal criminal investigator who runs a watchdog group called Fake Review Watch. To be sure, just because a review is AI-generated doesn’t necessarily mean its fake. Some consumers might experiment with AI tools to generate content that reflects their genuine sentiments. Some non-native English speakers say they turn to AI to make sure they use accurate language in the reviews they write. “It can help with reviews (and) make it more informative if it comes out of good intentions,” said Michigan State University marketing professor Sherry He, who has researched fake reviews. She says tech platforms should focus on the behavioral patters of bad actors, which prominent platforms already do, instead of discouraging legitimate users from turning to AI tools. What companies are doing Prominent companies are developing policies for how AI-generated content fits into their systems for removing phony or abusive reviews. Some already employ algorithms and investigative teams to detect and take down fake reviews but are giving users some flexibility to use AI. Spokespeople for Amazon and Trustpilot, for example, said they would allow customers to post AI-assisted reviews as long as they reflect their genuine experience. Yelp has taken a more cautious approach, saying its guidelines require reviewers to write their own copy. “With the recent rise in consumer adoption of AI tools, Yelp has significantly invested in methods to better detect and mitigate such content on our platform,” the company said in a statement. The Coalition for Trusted Reviews, which Amazon, Trustpilot, employment review site Glassdoor, and travel sites Tripadvisor, Expedia and Booking.com launched last year, said that even though deceivers may put AI to illicit use, the technology also presents “an opportunity to push back against those who seek to use reviews to mislead others.” “By sharing best practice and raising standards, including developing advanced AI detection systems, we can protect consumers and maintain the integrity of online reviews,” the group said. The FTC’s rule banning fake reviews, which took effect in October, allows the agency to fine businesses and individuals who engage in the practice. Tech companies hosting such reviews are shielded from the penalty because they are not legally liable under U.S. law for the content that outsiders post on their platforms. Tech companies, including Amazon, Yelp and Google, have sued fake review brokers they accuse of peddling counterfeit reviews on their sites. The companies say their technology has blocked or removed a huge swath of suspect reviews and suspicious accounts. However, some experts say they could be doing more. “Their efforts thus far are not nearly enough,” said Dean of Fake Review Watch. “If these tech companies are so committed to eliminating review fraud on their platforms, why is it that I, one individual who works with no automation, can find hundreds or even thousands of fake reviews on any given day?” Spotting fake AI-generated reviews Consumers can try to spot fake reviews by watching out for a few possible warning signs , according to researchers. Overly enthusiastic or negative reviews are red flags. Jargon that repeats a product’s full name or model number is another potential giveaway. When it comes to AI, research conducted by Balázs Kovács, a Yale professor of organization behavior, has shown that people can’t tell the difference between AI-generated and human-written reviews. Some AI detectors may also be fooled by shorter texts, which are common in online reviews, the study said. However, there are some “AI tells” that online shoppers and service seekers should keep it mind. Panagram Labs says reviews written with AI are typically longer, highly structured and include “empty descriptors,” such as generic phrases and attributes. The writing also tends to include cliches like “the first thing that struck me” and “game-changer.”
ATHENS, Greece -- Members of Greece’s former royal family expressed “deep emotion” Monday at a decision to reinstate their Greek citizenship, ending a decades-old dispute with the country’s government. Greece abolished the monarchy in a 1974 referendum and the former royal family was stripped of its citizenship two decades later during a dispute over the former royal estate that passed to state control. In a decision published in the government gazette, dated Friday, citizenship was granted to 10 members of the former royal family. They include the five children of the late King Constantine II and former Queen Anne-Marie as well as to five of their grandchildren. “It is with deep emotion that, after 30 years, we hold the Greek citizenship again. The law of 1994 deprived us of our citizenship, rendering us stateless with all that this entails in terms of individual rights and great emotional distress,” the former royal family said in a statement in Greek and English. “Our father and our family fully respected the result of the 1974 referendum,” the statement said. “However, the provision of the 1994 law on citizenship, a result of the political status at the time, was not befitting of a former head of the Greek state and an institution that served the country faithfully. The passing of our father marked the end of an era.” Constantine died last year at 82 having only returned to Greece in his 70s. He remained a controversial figure over claims that he failed to distance himself from heated political rivalries while he reigned as king between 1964 and 1973. He was ousted during a military dictatorship that collapsed the following year. Constantine's family has close ties with European royals through his marriage to Danish princess Anne-Marie. His sister is Emeritus Queen Sofia of Spain and he was second cousin to Britain’s King Charles III and godfather to Prince William. Ending the dispute, Constantine’s children agreed last week to adopt a surname — De Grece, from the French for “of Greece” — while formally recognizing Greece’s status as a presidential parliamentary democracy and renouncing any claims to royal authority or titles. “After 50 years since democracy’s restoration, we have a strong democracy and protected constitution that can defend itself, with laws that apply without any footnotes or exceptions,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said Friday before the decision was published. Constantine’s five children are Alexia, 58; Pavlos, 56; Nikolaos, 54; Theodora, 40; and Philippos, 37. Pavlos’ five children were also granted citizenship: Maria-Olympia, 27; Constantine-Alexios, 25; Achileas-Andreas, 23; Odysseas-Kimon, 19; and Aristidis-Stavros, 15. Other royal family members, including the 78-year-old former Queen Anne-Marie, did not apply.
Ohtani wins third AP Male Athlete of the Year award