"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.NICEVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Aaliyah Nye scored 15 points and No. 23 Alabama coasted to an 83-33 win over Alabama State on Monday at the Emerald Coast Classic. Sarah Ashlee Barker and Karly Weathers both added 12 points for the Crimson Tide (7-0). Zaay Green had 11. Barker, Weathers and Green combined to go 12 of 16 from the field as Alabama shot 51% and made 23 of 34 free throws. Cordasia Harris had eight points for the Hornets (2-3), who shot 27.5% and had 28 turnovers while being outrebounded by 17. Alabama entered ranked 17th in scoring offense through the first two weeks of the season, averaging 87.3 points per game. Barker opened the scoring and contributed another layup before her 3-pointer made it 14-0. The Tide led 26-8 after one quarter. Alabama also had a 13-2 run in the second quarter and Weathers had a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lead 46-20 at halftime. Alabama plays the winner of UAB-Clemson on Tuesday and the Hornets face the loser. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballManchester City boss Pep Guardiola reminded Liverpool fans of his six Premier League titles in the past seven seasons after he was taunted towards the end of Sunday’s 0-2 defeat at Anfield. Guardiola was met with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” from the home support after City suffered a sixth defeat in seven games to fall 11 points behind the Reds at the top of the table. The 53-year-old recently extended his contract at the Etihad to 2027, but has said he will not overstay his welcome if results do not improve. Guardiola, though, could not resist hitting back by showing six fingers, one for each of his title triumphs. Two of those came by denying Liverpool by a single point in 2018/19 and 2021/22. However, defeat continued Guardiola’s miserable record at Anfield. City has lost in six of its 10 visits under the Catalan, with its only win coming behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2021. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe made some peace with the Real Madrid fans as he scored in Madrid’s 2-0 win over Getafe in Spanish league. The results: LaLiga: Real Sociedad 2 (Llorente 14-og, Oyarzabal 31-pen) bt Real Betis 0. Serie A: Lecce 1 (Rebic 90+3) drew with Juventus 1 (Cambiaso 68). Published - December 03, 2024 04:09 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Football / sport
The election of Donald Trump for his second presidential term has led to widespread fears of an imminent authoritarian descent in the United States. Quite how that might play out remains speculative, for now at least. But evidence from Trump’s first term, as well as his campaign policies and cabinet nominations since the election, suggest those fears are not without foundation. Another way of looking at this, however, is that Trump’s return simply echoes realities within the international system’s other great powers – China, Russia and India have all displayed similar political pathologies for some time now. Due to their collective power and influence in determining the nature of the world order, Trump’s victory thus marks the amplification of a deeply autocratic era in global politics. The hallmarks of what we might call this nascent “Pax Autocratica ” can be seen in a variety of ways, as these four horsemen of authoritarianism charge ahead with their policies and plans. Strongman politics Donald Trump and his counterparts – China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and India’s Narendra Modi – are all bombastic, divisive and confrontational leaders. They embody the archetype of strongman politics whereby power is focused on a single, would-be omnipotent individual. As well as sharing similar alpha-male psychological characteristics and developing cults of personality around themselves, they seek to rule for long periods. In 2018, Xi removed the presidential term limit from China’s constitution. In 2020, Putin amended the Russian constitution, allowing him to rule until 2036, leading to what’s been described as a “ politics of eternity ”. In power since 2014, Modi has won the past three elections in India. Accused of having a god complex , his success has rested on mainstreaming Hindu-first nationalism , capturing the legal system and rewriting Indian history . Trump, too, has flirted with ideas of a third term (impossible under current constitutional rules), saying, “ we just have to figure that out ”. Strongman politics: Donald Trump meets India’s Narendra Modi in New Delhi, 2020. Getty Images Constraining human rights Each of these leaders has overseen governments that have sought to narrow and constrain human rights. This includes limiting freedoms of speech and expression within Russian media, attacking journalists and protesters in India, and purging opponents in China. In all three countries, this involves using legal mechanisms to stifle dissent. Reports after Trump’s victory suggest he also wants to punish or suppress protest and dissent. The growing politicisation of the US Supreme Court matches similar trends in the other three countries. This has been likened to a shift away from the rule of law (which underpins a free and open society) towards “rule by law” (whereby the law becomes a tool of control). Globally, there have been warnings that reduced freedoms of speech, association and expression threaten the fundamental structures of civil society . The 2024 State of Civil Society Report by watchdog group Civicus estimates 72% of the world’s population now lives under authoritarian regimes. Attacking minorities The first Trump administration actively discriminated against minority ethnic groups, LGBTQ people, those with disabilities, and immigrants. Trump’s 2017 travel ban closed the US border to Muslims, while the planned deportation of up to 13 million illegal migrants was a mainstay of his 2024 campaign. In Russia, attacks against minorities and foreigners are commonplace, with racism in the country described as “ out of control ” by Amnesty International. Since 2014, violence and discrimination against India’s 200 million Muslims has significantly increased under Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Modi government’s actions actively discriminate against Muslim employment, education, justice and housing , especially in Kashmir and Assam. These chime with China’s actions in Xinjiang and Tibet where ethnic minorities are experiencing fundamental human rights violations . Beijing is also building a national social credit system designed to enhance public trust in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and create a society of “ compliant subjects ”. Social control: China’s Xi Jinping with Russia’s Vladimir Putin at the BRICS Leader’s Summit, October 22. Getty Images Weakened electoral systems While ostensibly democratic, there are glaring weaknesses in the US, Indian and Russian political and electoral systems, which undercut claims of electoral equality, fairness and plurality. While not as blatantly authoritarian as China (under the one-party rule of the CCP since 1949, and which consistently silences its opponents ), elections in Russia are essentially non-competitive and only a fac ̧ade of democracy . In the US, the gerrymandering of electoral regions , voter suppression , and vast corporate donations tilt the political landscape towards particular interests. Much the same is true of India, which has shifted towards a form of “ electoral autocracy ”, and is described now as only a “ partially free democracy ” by monitoring group Freedom House. These trends are exacerbated by India’s persistent intergenerational political dynasties and powerful political donors . Surveillance and security All of these authoritarian trends are underpinned by modern surveillance structures , directed inward towards a country’s own citizens as much as outwards, and enabled by Big Tech and now AI. What has been described as “ algorithmic authoritarianism ” takes different forms. The Chinese social credit system uses such technology to instil social control mainly through financial levers. India’s Central Monitoring System allows government agencies to monitor all mobile phone, landline and internet communications with minimal legal restraints . The pervasive reach of Russia’s capabilities has resulted in a “cyber gulag” of “total digital surveillance” . In the US, whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed the mass surveillance of telephone records in 2013, which was found to be illegal in 2020. Now, Trump’s alliance with Elon Musk has potential implications for his administration’s approach to AI and national security – including Musk continuing to use his social media platform to boost Trump’s political support. Trump’s return has normalised and supercharged authoritarianism internationally, making it the rule rather than the exception. America’s autocratic drift is now part of a broader global pattern, one that threatens democratic forces everywhere. Chris Ogden is affiliated with the Foreign Policy Centre (London) as a Senior Research Fellow.KING OF PRUSSIA, PA — InductEV , based in Pennsylvania and specializing in commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging, has partnered with Norway-based ENRX to develop global standards for wireless inductive EV charging. The collaboration aims to ensure compatibility across the industry and accelerate the adoption of this technology. Together, the companies plan to address the growing demand for high-power wireless charging solutions, which are critical for reducing range anxiety and advancing EVs in the transportation sector. Under the newly signed memorandum of understanding (MOU), InductEV and ENRX will focus on several key areas. These include supporting the SAE J2954 standardization efforts, conducting compatibility and interoperability testing, and promoting the benefits of universal standards to industry stakeholders and regulators. By working together, the companies aim to create a more unified and reliable wireless EV charging ecosystem. “Veterans in their respective sectors, InductEV and ENRX bring complementary expertise to this venture,” noted John Rizzo, CEO of InductEV. “Wireless charging is at a critical tipping point, and the collaboration with ENRX will help establish the necessary framework for industry-wide adoption and growth.” InductEV has already shipped gigawatts of wireless power, making significant strides in commercial fleet EV applications. Its advanced systems use in-ground and vehicle-based charging pads capable of delivering power outputs ranging from 75 kW to 450 kW. This technology enables shorter, more efficient charging sessions throughout the day, reducing reliance on traditional overnight depot charging. ENRX, with nearly 20 years of experience in high-power wireless charging projects, has implemented solutions for industrial vehicles and public buses across European cities, including Germany’s 200kW bus charging system that has operated for over a decade. The company is also leading the development of a 200 kW electrified roadway in Orlando, Florida, designed to charge vehicles in motion. Magnus Vold, CCO at ENRX, emphasized the importance of creating unified standards for wireless charging. “Standardization is crucial to ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient electromobility solutions,” he said. “Partnering with InductEV allows both companies to leverage their technological strengths to benefit the entire industry.” This collaboration marks a pivotal moment for wireless EV charging. By removing barriers related to compatibility and accessibility, InductEV and ENRX aim to drive innovation, enhance adoption, and support the rapid expansion of the EV market worldwide. Their joint efforts are expected to have far-reaching implications for both passenger and commercial transportation sectors, helping pave the way for a future of seamless, wireless charging solutions. For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN .
Deep concerns raised by Surrey board directors about Metro Vancouver paint a troubling portrait of an organization that lacks expertise, fails to consult, and forces the region’s officials to make multibillion-dollar decisions affecting taxpayers without adequate information. The criticism, in the form of a sharply worded letter Nov. 12 to Metro’s finance committee and obtained by Glacier Media, is the most extensive and prominent challenge yet from board directors for change at the regional federation of 21 municipalities, one electoral area and one treaty First Nation. It calls for an overhaul of the 2025 budgeting methods, arguing that inaccurate and insufficient information has been provided to directors, including an exhaustive review of decisions on development cost charges (DCCs), and a repeal of various bylaws. More broadly it calls for changes in how the body is governed. It identifies as specific pain points two Metro Vancouver projects, the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant in North Vancouver and the looming Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Richmond, and disparages how they are among the seven top projects reporting directly into Chief Administrative Officer Jerry Dobrovolny “with no independent third-party engineering and financial auditor to provide transparency, accountability and evaluate cost-benefit design-based principles/assumptions.” The projects lack detailed and audited information on how costs are calculated, says the letter. In the case of the North Shore plant, the budget has soared seven-fold to $3.86 billion from an original $550-million contract with little public information along the way. Already the budget for the Iona plant in Richmond has risen to $14 billion from the $9.9 billion mark two years ago, and construction remains years away. The letter was submitted moments before the committee’s most recent Nov. 13 meeting by Surrey Coun. Pardeep Kooner on behalf of five other Surrey directors, including Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. Surrey’s six directors are second-most to Vancouver’s seven on the 41-director board. The letter’s general contents were briefly discussed but the letter itself was not part of the meeting package. It wasn’t formally dealt with at the committee meeting and has been referred to Metro Vancouver staff for a response early in 2025. But its language argues nothing short of significant shifts in its operating culture and quality of competence are necessary. “I believe there must be additional board oversight and decisions made on the costing of these Major Capital projects at a minimum,” Kooner wrote. The letter reflects the frustration many directors have expressed of a staff-dominated operation that leaves them without the necessary decision-making information – but with the accountability as elected officials to taxpayers in their districts. There have been calls for a third-party audit to examine what Kooner and others have complained is a chronic sprawl of budgets and a culture of indifference about them. While a performance audit will be conducted in-house on the North Shore plant costs, it hasn’t satisfied those who feel it is insufficiently independent. The provincial government, which created Metro Vancouver as a corporate entity, has so far declined publicly to involve itself, whether to launch a fuller-fledged inquiry into costs, provide additional funds to defray significant property tax levies for the North Shore plant, or to take back the responsibilities of the operation, which at the moment is overseeing some 300 infrastructural projects. The three-page letter goes on: “The way the current board is operating has many gaps in information, lacks sufficient details to make the decisions we need to and the full financial impacts or options are not being provided. “For instance, the board is often asked to approve or endorse a very broad strategy that has a suite of staff-led sub-action items and staff-driven priorities. There is often little or no discussion on the broad strategy let alone no consultation is provided on the sub-action items. “This results in a lack of crystal-clear strategies and policies which enables staff to make their own interpretations and significant decisions without Board consideration. I have found that staff has been using the strategic plan to pick and choose areas of focus with no clear direct board resolution which is affecting the information we are provided. I believe that the current governance model is not sufficient to ensure the Board is fully prepared and knowledgeable.” The letter outlines the need to defer the 2025 budget planning to deal with six issues, including what Kooner terms “a huge concern” about DCCs, how they are apportioned to communities, and the quality of the population and dwelling forecasts. “I have been told that there are many factors that are considered; however, these other factors have not been provided.” As it is, the budget information and methodology “is not accurate/insufficient and does not portray the true impact on the decisions that have been brought to the Board.” Kirk LaPointe is a Glacier Media columnist with an extensive background in journalismNone
Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail by third judge as he awaits sex trafficking trialThree members of Google’s NotebookLM team, including its team lead and designer, have announced they are leaving Google for a new stealth startup. On LinkedIn , ex-team lead Raiza Martin said she and her two other co-founders, designer Jason Spielman and engineer Stephen Hughes , “couldn’t shake the feeling that there’s a massive opportunity to build something transformative in this space.” The startup is in full stealth mode with only a bare-bones website that gives no details about its purpose or even its name. It’s not clear if the startup will focus on things that NotebookLM went viral for, such as AI-generated podcasts and AI-assisted note-taking, or if it will do something totally different. In comments to TechCrunch, Martin gave few details but hinted that the startup would be consumer-facing, emphasizing the team wanted to create something that leverages the latest AI models to build something useful to regular people. “As the frontier models and their capabilities continue to grow, thoughtful products are required to make the benefits of this technology accessible, useful, and obvious to everyday people — so our team is going to be focused on building a user-first AI product,” she said. Martin added that the new startup is in its very early stages and has not announced any funding yet. However, she noted that “support outside of Google (from fellow founders, investors, academics, people who want to join) has been tremendous and it’s been really encouraging for our small team.”Filling up your PlayStation 5's storage is all too easy, especially if you have the base, digital-only version like I do. So if you've been on the hunt for more storage, you could knab the WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid State Drive with Heatsink for just $133 today during Cyber Monday -- a 33% discount, which saves you $66. The drive has 2 terabytes of storage, which more than doubles what comes with the base PS5 model. It's also a good option for your PC if you don't have a PS5. Whether you're a PC or console gamer , adding extra storage to your build is a great way to improve your machine's performance. This model also features a built-in heatsink to keep things cool deep into your gaming session. Its simple slot-and-screw installation shouldn't give you much trouble, either. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money . Why this deal matters If you're looking for a way to upgrade your PS5 or PC's storage without dropping hundreds more on a new system (looking at you, PS5 Pro ), this WD_BLACK SSD could give your base PS5 or PC a slight edge. You might have to watch a short video on how to install it, but it's not too complicated (especially if you have experience building your own PC). For a little extra legwork, you could also enjoy 2 TB of extra space.
I've put dozens of great smartwatches on my wrist to test them for CNET -- and dozens of not-so-great watches -- but I love going bare-wristed for a few days after finishing a review to give myself a break. After wrapping up my review of the Apple Watch Series 10 , however, something unexpected happened: I didn't want to take the gadget off. I've always been on the lookout for a hybrid watch that strikes the right balance between a traditional wristwatch and a smartwatch. Plenty of wearables over the years have promised just that, like the Withings Scanwatch range. The Series 10 strikes the ideal balance for me because it doesn't compromise on connectivity, fitness tracking features or the overall look. That's because of the LTPO 3 technology that lets the screen refresh at 1Hz and gives the Series 10 a ticking second hand on a few watch faces, even when the display isn't actively being used. It makes Apple's device feel like a regular watch when I'm not actively using it, which is different from any other smartwatch I've tested, and you can get it after Cyber Monday for $50 off when you combine Amazon's current sale and the $19 on-page coupon. For more Apple deals, here are bargains on MacBooks and other Apple devices still available.This watch ticks the boxes for me I like being able to change up the look by switching between the Reflections watch face, with its sweeping "analog" second hand, and Activity Digital, with its digital seconds counter. I wish there were more watch faces that supported this ticking second hand. There is Flux , but I've found myself siding with Redditors who think it's kind of goofy. (If you've found a color combination that makes it feel less comical, let me know!) The ticking second hand isn't just an aesthetic choice, or for the times when I'm anxiously checking to make sure I'm not too early for my next meeting. It's also practical for folks in different professions, like health care workers who need to have a second hand even after the display times out. More than the ticking second hand, it's the display itself I was skeptical that the Series 10's wide-angle OLED display would make that much difference to the viewing experience. Apple says it's up to 40% brighter than earlier watch displays when you're looking at it off-axis. So of course I had to compare it to every other Apple Watch in my review cabinet, including last year's Series 9. When using my eyes alone I'm not able to quantify how much brighter it appears as a percentage, there's no question the Series 10 is easier to see and looks brighter than other Apple Watch models with the same watch face. The Series 10 doesn't have the same battery life or rugged construction, but I miss its display when I have to switch to the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 2. Why the Series 10 makes a great gift It's not just the display that's made it hard for me to remove the Series 10 from my wrist. There's almost every health and fitness tracking feature I could want, from a range of cycling tools to sleep apnea notifications , which is a part of the reason why this watch tops our Best Smartwatch for 2024 list . Then there's WatchOS 11 , which brings helpful safety tools like Check In to my wrist, so I no longer have to manually send the "I'm home!" message to friends and family. If only it worked with recipients who don't use iMessage: I truly hope Apple will add compatibility for RCS messaging for this indispensable safety tool, just like FaceTime works on Android through a web link. I now understand what people mean when they say they feel naked when they leave their house without their phones. Except for me, it's a watch. The Apple Watch Series 10 is normally listed at $499, but it's $50 off now after Cyber Monday with Amazon's sale and the on-page coupon.