New Delhi: US President Joe Biden joined world leaders in paying tribute to late former prime minister Manmohan Singh, saying his achievements such as the India-US civil nuclear deal and helping launch the Quad will strengthen the world for generations. Manmohan Singh died on December 26 at the age of 92 after battling age-related illness, triggering an outpouring of grief and tributes from across the world. The government has announced seven days of state mourning as a mark of respect. Biden said he and his wife Jill joined the people of India in grieving the loss of Singh, without whose “strategic vision and political courage” the unprecedented level of cooperation today between India and the US “would not have been possible”. “From forging the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement to helping launch the first Quad between Indo-Pacific partners, he charted pathbreaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations – and the world – for generations to come. He was a true statesman. A dedicated public servant. And above all, he was a kind and humble person,” Biden said in a statement. The epochal India-US civil nuclear deal is seen as one of the greatest achievements of Singh, who staked the fate of his government to get the agreement finalised in the face of opposition from the Left parties. Biden also recalled his meetings with Singh in his previous roles as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as vice president, and their discussions on the US-India relationship being “among the most consequential in the world”. He said, “And together, as partners and friends, our nations can unlock a future of dignity and unlimited potential for all of our people. During this difficult time, we recommit to this vision to which Prime Minister Singh dedicated his life.” Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid tribute to Singh, describing him as an outstanding statesman who “accomplished a lot in promoting India’s economic development and asserting its interests on the world stage”. Singh also made a “major personal contribution to strengthening friendly ties” between India and Russia by elevating them to a special privileged strategic partnership. “I had the occasion of talking with this remarkable man several times. We will cherish the memory of him,” Putin said. Perhaps the poignant tribute of all came from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who described Singh as his “mitra” (friend) and “bhai” (brother) and revealed in a lengthy post on X that the former premier had offered scholarships for Anwar’s children at a time when he was in jail. “Not many people know this, and it is time that I share it with Malaysians: during the years of my incarceration, he extended a kindness that he didn’t have to – one that was neither politically expedient nor, as one can imagine, appreciated by the Malaysian government at that time,” Anwar said, referring to the time when he was jailed during 1999-2004. “Yet, true to his character, he did it anyway. He offered scholarships for my children, particularly my son, Ihsan. Although I had declined the gracious offer, such a gesture undoubtedly showed his extraordinary humanity and generosity, demonstrative, as the Bard would have it, of a man so full of ‘the milk of human kindness’,” he said. Anwar said he also witnessed the early years of Singh’s transformative policies when both leaders served as finance ministers of their countries during the 1990s. “We shared a fervent commitment to the war against corruption – even collaborating on unravelling a major case,” he said. The “praise that will follow in the days ahead will be truly well-deserved”, Anwar said, describing Singh as “slightly awkward as a politician but undeniably upright, steadfast and resolute as a statesman”, and a leader whose legacy will inspire generations to come. There were also tributes from regional leaders such as Bangladesh’s interim government chief and fellow economist Muhammad Yunus, who described Singh as a close friend and a visionary leader who would be remembered for his contributions to India’s economic transformation. Singh’s leadership “not only shaped the future of India but also contributed to strengthening the bond of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between Bangladesh and India”, Yunus said. He highlighted Singh’s commitment to regional peace, prosperity and role in advancing South Asian cooperation. Yunus recalled that Singh had invited him to deliver the Professor Hiren Mukerjee Annual Parliamentary Lecture in 2009 that was attended by members of both houses of Parliament. Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar recalled Singh’s roots in a village in Chakwal district in the neighbouring country and said he would be remembered for his wisdom and gentle demeanour. Singh also demonstrated a commitment to promoting regional peace and his “approach to regional issues reflected his belief that mutual understanding, dialogue and cooperation were essential for collective progress”, Dar said on X. “He played a notable role in improving Pakistan-India bilateral relations during his tenure as Prime Minister,” he added. Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Deeply paid tribute to Singh as a visionary leader whose wisdom, humility and dedication inspired the region, while Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu said Singh’s “historic visit to the Maldives in November 2011 marked a significant milestone in advancing our economic and social development”. Singh’s leadership in strengthening India’s “Look East” policy played a “pivotal role in fostering development and cooperation across the South Asia region”, Muizzu said. Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay described Singh as a “cherished friend of Bhutan” whose “legacy will remain in our hearts forever”. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Singh’s “influence transcended national boundaries”, and his transformative policies, such as the Right to Education Act and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, “reflected his steadfast commitment to equity and inclusivity”.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) labellers in Kenya have reported unfavourable working conditions despite a boom in global AI investment. According to reports, these labellers, also known as humans in the loop, (people sorting, labelling, and combing through reams of data to train and improve AI for companies like Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google) note that the job “needs to be done accurately and fast, and to do it cheaply, it’s often farmed out to places like Africa.” “In the job, you are teaching robots or machines how to think like humans, to do things like humans,” said Naftali Wambalo, a labeller for videos and images, in a recent interview with 60 Minutes. Wambalo and his colleagues spend eight hours a day in front of a screen studying photos and videos, drawing boxes around objects, labelling them, and teaching the AI algorithms to recognise them. He added, “You’d label, let’s say, furniture in a house. And you say, “This is a TV. This is a microwave.” So, you are teaching the AI to identify these items. And then there was one for the faces of people. The color of the face. “If it looks like this, it is white. If it looks like this, it’s Black. This is Asian.” You’re teaching the AI to identify them automatically.” Large language models (LLMs), like GPT-4, are advanced machine-learning models that mimic human-like understanding and content generation. Trained on extensive data, they excel at recognising complex language patterns and can perform diverse tasks. Supervised learning comes next. It entails training the AI model against a labelled dataset, whose elements are labelled by human annotators, so that the model can learn ‘right’ responses from ‘wrong’ ones. This is supplemented by reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF). It involves human evaluators creating a supervised training dataset from specified prompts, responses, and human-evaluated rankings against which the model must retrain itself. Nerima Wako-Ojiwa, a Kenyan civil rights activist, revealed that the role is like modern-day slavery. She said, “I think that we’re so concerned with creating opportunities, but we’re not asking if they are good opportunities. The government has been courting tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Intel to come here, promoting Kenya’s reputation as the Silicon Savannah.” Wambalo noted that they are paid about $1.50 – $2 an hour, gross before tax. Wambalo and his colleagues were hired by an American outsourcing company called SAMA. SAMA employs over 3,000 workers for Meta and OpenAI. According to documents, OpenAI agreed to pay SAMA $12.50 an hour per worker, much more than the $2 the workers got. However, SAMA notes that the $2 is a fair wage for the region. Global investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) is projected to reach $632 billion in 2028, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC). However, these investments do not represent the reality of the people. When asked why he took the job, Nathan, another digital labeller disclosed, “I have a family to feed. And instead of staying home, let me just at least have something to do.” The workers also noted that if they had finished their tasks before the stipulated period, they would forfeit their pay for the rest of the period and be rewarded with food. Wambalo said, “They used to say thank you. They give you a bottle of soda and KFC chicken. Two pieces. And that is it.” The workers also claimed that they were subjected to psychological harm through the content they interacted with for hours. They added that it affected their interactions with their families and friends alike. “I looked at people being slaughtered, people engaging in sexual activity with animals. People abusing children physically, sexually. People committing suicide.” Fasica noted that she was reviewing graphic and disturbing content. “I was watching dismembered bodies or drone attack victims. You name it. Whenever I talk about this, I still have flashbacks.” When asked about labour laws, Wako-Ojiwa said, “Our labour law is about 20 years old. It doesn’t touch on digital labour. I do think that our labour laws need to recognise it, but not just in Kenya alone. Because what happens is when we start to push back in terms of protecting workers, a lot of these companies shut down, and they move to a neighbouring country.”Ex-Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum will help team find next coach and GM
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SAN DIEGO, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds investors that a class action was filed on behalf of all persons and entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Marqeta, Inc. MQ securities between August 7, 2024 and November 4, 2024. Marqeta creates digital payment technology for innovation leaders. For more information, submit a form , email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that Marqeta, Inc. (MQ) Failed to Disclose the Impact of Regulatory Scrutiny on its Business Prospects According to the complaint, during the class period, defendants failed to disclose that Marqeta understated the regulatory challenges affecting its business outlook and therefore, would have to cut its guidance for the fourth quarter of 2024. The complaint alleges that on November 4, 2024, Marqeta announced third quarter 2024 financial results and revised its fourth quarter projections to "reflect[] several changes that became apparent over the last few months with regards to the heightened scrutiny of the banking environment and specific customer program changes." The complaint further alleges that Marqeta's CEO and CFO actually knew of the heightened regulatory scrutiny affecting the Company's business from the beginning of the year, which they revealed in connection with the November 4 announcement. On this news, Marqeta's stock price fell $2.53 per share, or 42.5%, to close at $3.42 per share on November 5, 2024. What Now : You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Marqeta, Inc. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their application to the court by February 7, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP : A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. To be notified if a class action against Marqeta, Inc. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact: Aaron Dumas, Jr. Robbins LLP 5060 Shoreham Pl., Ste. 300 San Diego, CA 92122 adumas@robbinsllp.com (800) 350-6003 www.robbinsllp.com https://www.facebook.com/RobbinsLLP/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/robbins-llp/ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/53e69218-456a-4e86-81b7-b14619b1f825 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
South Korea lifts president's martial law decree after lawmakers vote against it SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government has lifted the martial law he imposed during a tense night of political drama in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule. Yoon said early Wednesday that his government withdrew military personnel following a bipartisan parliamentary vote rejecting martial law, and the measure was formally lifted during a Cabinet meeting around 4:30 a.m. Yoon declared martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls the country’s parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. Less than three hours later, parliament voted to lift the declaration. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.
MACON, Ga. (AP) — Myles Redding returned an interception 25 yards for a first-quarter touchdown and Whitt Newbauer threw a four-yard touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter as No. 7-seeded Mercer beat No. 10 Rhode Island 17—10 on Saturday. Mercer advances to the FCS semifinals for the first time and will face No. 2 North Dakota State, which beat No. 15 Abilene Christian 51-31. Redding swooped in front of Hunter Helms' intended receiver for his seventh interception of the season with 3:33 left in the first quarter, tying him with teammate TJ Moore for the most in the nation. Rhode Island got a 17-yard field goal from Ty Groff as time expired in the first half and took the lead late in the third quarter when Helms connected with Marquis Buchanan on a 56-yard touchdown for a 10-7 lead. Senior Dwayne McGee set up two fourth-quarter scores for the Bears, slashing through the right side for a 33-yard gain to give Mercer a first-and-goal at the Rhode Island 10. On third-and-goal from the 4, Newbauer found Adjatay Dabbs for the go-ahead touchdown. After the Bears twice forced the Rams to punt in their own half of the field, McGee ran 40 yards on first down to give Mercer a first down at the Rhode Island 25, setting up a 24-yard Reice Griffith field goal for the game's final score. McGee finished with 114 yards on 21 carries and CJ Miller added 81 yards on 10 carries for Mercer (11-2), which remained unbeaten in seven home games. Helms finished 22 of 33 passing for 266 yards and Buchanan caught 11 passes for 119 yards to lead Rhode Island (11-3), but the Rams managed just 46 yards on 26 carries on the ground. — 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-footballAP Trending SummaryBrief at 4:29 p.m. EST
Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley says President-elect Donald Trump’s new pick for U.S. Attorney General is “impressive” and “well-qualified.” Grassley, the incoming chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met Monday with Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General and Trump’s pick to lead the Justice Department. The 59-year-old Trump ally was part of a team of lawyers that defended the then-president during his first Senate impeachment trial, where he was accused — but not convicted — of attempting to coerce Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate then-former Vice President Joe Biden, his political rival. Bondi also was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his New York hush-money criminal trial that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. Trump’s sentencing in the case is on hold. A New York judge last month postponed it, giving Trump’s lawyers time to seek a dismissal, and could choose to freeze the case for four years while Trump holds office. Bondi, who served as Florida Attorney General from 2011 to 2019, also was involved in efforts to delegitimize the results of the 2020 presidential election that Trump lost to Biden, falsely claiming that Trump had “won Pennsylvania” at a news conference in Philadelphia and claiming voter fraud, according to reporting by the Tampa Bay Times. She also served on a federal commission during Trump’s first term focused on combating drug addiction and the opioid crisis. Trump named Bondi as his nominee to serve as the country’s top federal law enforcement officer after his first choice, Republican former Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations. Gaetz has vehemently denied the allegations. “Pam Bondi is a well-qualified nominee with an impressive legal career, including eight years as Attorney General of the State of Florida and nearly two decades spent as a prosecutor,” Grassley said in a statement Monday after meeting with Bondi in his Senate office. “Bondi is prepared to refocus the Justice Department (DOJ)’s attention where it ought to be: on enforcing the law and protecting Americans’ safety.” Trump’s pick of Bondi comes as critics fear he will use the Justice Department to prosecute his political enemies. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans — Not anymore,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.” Grassley, 91, who has been a staunch advocate of federal whistleblowers and government oversight, said “I’ve found that the Justice Department is often the first to stand in Congress’ way when it’s seeking answers. “It’s time the DOJ prioritize transparency and recommit itself to blind justice, unlike what we’ve seen over the last four years,” he said in a statement. “To achieve this, Bondi will need to show unfailing support for whistleblowers, demonstrate respect for the DOJ Office of Inspector General’s independent oversight and commit to working with Congress to shed light on the Biden administration’s weaponization of the DOJ.” Current U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has defended the department’s integrity and impartiality against claims of politicization. Trump was indicted in two criminal cases by special counsel Jack Smith, whom Garland brought in from outside the department to run the investigations. Grassley said the Senate Judiciary Committee “will move swiftly” to consider Bondi’s nomination when the 119th Congress convenes in January. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Trump, Jill Biden attend Notre Dame reopening in France with world leaders
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia quarterback Carson Beck was hit on his throwing hand on the final play of an ugly first half, leaving his status uncertain Saturday in the Southeastern Conference championship game against Texas. Beck was hit by outside linebacker Trey Moore, forcing a fumble recovered by Anthony Hill Jr., who then lost the ball on an errant attempt to extend the play with a lateral as time expired. Georgia coach Kirby Smart told ESPN that Beck said, “He got hit as he was throwing it.” Asked if Beck would be able to play in the second half, Smart said, “Should be. I don’t know.” No. 2 Texas outgained No. 5 Georgia 260-54 but led only 6-3 at halftime. The Bulldogs netted minus-2 yards rushing and Beck completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: andHallmark continues to expand on their slate of Hanukkah films with their latest new addition, Hanukkah on the Rocks . This romantic-comedy stars Degrassi ‘s Stacey Farber and The Secret Life of The American Teenager ‘s Daren Kagasoff as two adults feeling lost in life just a week before Hanukkah. Luckily, they both end up finding some solace and purpose in a Chicago bar called Rocky’s, as well as its staff, patrons, and Hanukkah celebrations. But even as the holiday brings the two closer, they ‘ re unsure of the road ahead as the futures they’d planned clash with the new ones they inspire each other to chase. HANUKKAH ON THE ROCKS : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT? The Gist: Tory (Stacey Farber) is a driven workaholic who has always been fully committed to her job as a corporate lawyer in Chicago. But when she’s the casualty of a mass layoff, she’s left feeling both unsure and free for the first time since she began her job. Although Tory’s main, and seemingly only, social engagement is her grandma, Francis, AKA Bubby (Marina Stephenson Kerr), she resolves to keep her new unemployed status a secret from both her Bubby and parents who sacrificed so much to help her achieve her dreams. Tory only confides in her sister, Becca (Cora Matheson), who she’s finally able to spend more time with now that her demanding job isn’t weighing her down. With all of this free time on her hands, Tory is also able to spend more time with her Bubby, who soon sends her on a mission to purchase a specific brand of Hanukkah candles. But when just one store seems to have them in stock, she ends up squabbling with a Florida-based radiologist named Jay (Daren Kagasoff) over the last box. Jay ends up victorious, and she ends up following him to Rocky’s, an Old Town neighborhood dive bar with amazing annual Hanukkah celebrations and an even better cast of characters to welcome her in. In addition to Jay’s grandfather, a lovable longtime Rocky’s patron named Sam ( Double Dare ‘s own Marc Summers!!), there’s also the cook, Lottie (Lauren Cochrane), server Stacy-Lynn (Verity Marks), and aspiring novelist Anthony (Dan De Jaeger). Together, they form a warm community that welcomes Tory with open arms, especially after their bartender suddenly leaves for a romantic last-minute getaway to Cabo, leaving Tory to unexpectedly step in. Drawing on her stint as a bartender in college, as well as her innate love for helping others, Tory ends up being so good as the job that the folks at Rocky’s keep having her back throughout all of Hanukkah. At the same time, Jay, who only came to Chicago to convince Sam to move down to Florida with him and his parents, begins to see that maybe he’s the one who needs to consider moving... Especially as he and Tory start seriously falling for one another. Is there a way for Tory and Jay to make their budding romance work when they still have so many uncertainties in each of their own lives? And does Rocky’s (and its mysterious owner) hold the key to help them unlock the place they’re truly meant to be? What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Hanukkah on the Rocks might remind you of the 2022 Hallmark Hanukkah movie, Hanukkah on Rye , and not just because of their similar titles. Julie Sherman Wolfe actually wrote both films, which each showcase Jewish holiday foods and traditions in their own way. The warm neighborhood pub vibe may also remind you of the beloved sitcom Cheers , especially considering both titles feature a bar owner named Sam. Performance Worth Watching: Lauren Cochrane is very natural and brings a great energy as Lottie. She’s a bit of a scene stealer thanks to her effortless charm and humor. Marina Stephenson Kerr is also pretty lovable and delightfully sassy as Bubby/Francis. Memorable Dialogue: Jay, while donning a gaudy pair of Hanukkah glasses at the Party Store: “I think these sunglasses were designed by Elton John Berkowitz.” Honorable mentions for Bubby’s lines “At least my granddaughter has a job!” and “I’m no snitch.” Now that’s the kind of person you want to have in your corner! A Holiday Tradition: Every year, Sam’s late wife, Celia, would throw incredible Hanukkah celebrations at her favorite bar, Rocky’s, a tradition he still attempts to keep alive even after she’s gone. Does the Title Make Any Sense?: Hanukkah on the Rocks absolutely makes sense. Not only does the story mostly revolve around a bar called Rocky’s, but Tory also creates a seasonal cocktail that’s dubbed a “Hanukkah on the Rocks” which also becomes the business’s new temporary name, so yeah, the title is pretty fitting! Our Take: Although it has been trying to diversify its filmography slowly but surely over the past few years, Hallmark still doesn’t have many Hanukkah movies. With that in mind, I think that the mere existence of this movie is a win for representation, and the writing also shows that care, research, and personal experience went into the portrayal of this Hanukkah story. Especially coming to this movie as someone who was raised Christian, there are plenty of things that may have felt unfamiliar, but that didn’t mean that as a viewer, I cared about them any less. After all, at the heart of Hanukkah on the Rocks is a story about community, tradition, and family, things that anyone can relate to. You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy watching the festivities because both the characters at Rocky’s and the movie itself welcome everyone in with open arms. That being said, there are some critiques and gripes that I think viewers of any religion or creed could likely agree upon. First of all, it’s a bit ridiculous to suggest that there would be only one box of a specific Hanukkah candle in a city as big and diverse as Chicago, but hey, that’s just Hallmark movies for you, so we can give it a pass. However, a major part of any Hallmark movie tends to be the romance, and the one here between Tory and Jay was just okay. They had some genuinely enjoyable moments of interaction and chemistry, but these were weighed down by some especially cheesy moments and the somewhat two-dimensional nature of the characters, themselves. You’re telling me that Tory has lived in Chicago her entire life and has zero friends besides her Bubby? I know she’s a workaholic but that seems impossible! But I guess if she didn’t have time for her sister and nephew, she really didn’t have time for any friends, which is a bummer. Really, I just wish the characters were a little more fleshed out so they could feel a bit more real and therefore easier to invest in and connect to. Ultimately, the ensemble nature of this movie as well as the focus on celebrating Jewish culture and traditions help to make it feel worth watching for viewers of all backgrounds. I’m glad to see Hallmark go for something outside of their usual Christmas story, and I hope that they will continue to do so in the years ahead! Our Call: I wouldn’t say that Hanukkah on the Rocks is the most memorable or moving new holiday title streaming this year. Still, we can always use a new Hanukkah movie, especially one with as much genuine care for the traditions and spirit as this one seems to have. It’s just a nice and easy seasonal watch. STREAM IT for Bubby!
Work and pensions minister Sir Stephen Timms said the move aims to drive “real improvements” for disabled people, whom the ministers will be encouraged to engage with on a regular basis. He told the Commons: “I am very pleased to be able to announce today the appointment of new lead ministers for disability in each Government department, they will represent the interests of disabled people, champion disability inclusion and accessibility within their departments. “I’m going to chair regular meetings with them and will encourage them to engage directly with disabled people and their representative organisations, as they take forward their departmental priorities. “And I look forward to this new group of lead ministers for disability together driving real improvements across Government for disabled people.” This came during an adjournment debate on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, where Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling raised concerns about “floating bus stops”, which have a cycle lane between the stop and the pavement. Intervening, the MP for Torbay, who is registered blind, said: “The Government needs to ban floating bus stops.” Sir Stephen said: “I do think this issue about floating bus stops is an important issue which we need to work across Government to reflect on.” Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, who led the debate, had earlier criticised the lack of accessibility for disabled people on trains. The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP said: “Our train network does not have level access, and we heard Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson from the other place make this plea back in the summer, absolutely outrageous what she was put through. “But I was absolutely shocked to find, when I had a presentation of the TransPennine route upgrade, that the rolling stock yet to be commissioned is not going to provide that level access. “It’s absolute nonsense, it’s not even in the design of that procurement, so we must do better than this.”