Chandigarh: In a much-awaited development regarding the municipal elections in Haryana, the state govt has announced that it would release the schedule for the civic body elections before Jan 4, 2025, with the polls to be completed by Feb 4, 2025. As per the undertaking submitted by the Haryana govt before the Punjab and Haryana high court, the election programme for conducting the fresh elections to new municipalities in the state shall be positively announced within one month. “The entire exercise ultimately resulting in the announcement of results, shall be completed within one month subsequent thereto,” the state informed the HC. The undertaking was given by the state on Wednesday in response to a petition, which sought directions to conduct the MC elections. With this, all the pending MC polls in the state are expected to be completed by Feb 4, 2025. While allowing the petitioner to withdraw the petition in view of the state’s undertaking, the HC has made it clear that “the issues raised in the instant petition are kept alive for being re-raised and determined at any appropriate stage”. The division bench comprising Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Sudeepti Sharma passed these orders while hearing a petition filed on the issue regarding delay in holding the MC polls in the state. Importantly, a majority of municipal elections, including those for the MCs of Gurgaon, Karnal, Hisar, Faridabad, Rohtak, and Yamunanagar, have been pending in the state for a long time. The tenure of these municipal corporations had come to an end a long time ago. The delay in these elections has led to massive problems, including irregular collection of garbage, overflowing of sewerage, water shortage and damaged local roads. The elections to the MC of Gurgaon (MCG) were last held in 2017, and the tenure of the councillors and the mayor had come to an end in 2022. Similarly, the elections for the MCs of Karnal, Hisar, Faridabad, Rohtak and Yamunanagar had come to an end in Jan this year. The counsel for the petitioner in this case, advocate Raman B Garg, informed that the rules stipulate that fresh elections should be held within six months, but they were delayed because the delimitation exercise could not be completed. Garg added that if the delimitation is not completed, the elections should be held based on the existing delimitation. However, officials from the Haryana urban local bodies department argued that the election of the MCs could not be conducted because the delimitation had not been carried out and approved by the state. Delimitation is a process of reorganisation of wards based on population, social composition and geographical area, and is undertaken ahead of the elections to ensure fair representation of different sections of society. Sources in the local bodies department informed that initially, the department may release the scheduled for around 42 municipalities, including 34 municipal council/committees and eight corporations. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Amprius technologies CTO Stefan Ionel sells $16,846 in stock
AI chatbot usage and concepts Artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked transformative changes across industries, but its rapid evolution has also raised critical concerns about ownership, privacy, and control over creative expression. The centralized nature of most AI systems concentrates power in the hands of a few corporations, leaving copyright creators and owners vulnerable to exploitation. Companies like OpenAI recognize the legal limits of using unlicensed copyrighted materials to train ChatGPT tools. As reported by The Guardian , in a submission to the House of Lords communications and digital select committee , OpenAI said it could not train large language models such as its GPT-4 model – the technology behind ChatGPT – without access to copyrighted work. Interestingly, Open AI’s strategic partner Microsoft (that reportedly holds a 49% ownership stake in OpenAI, with rights to up to 75% of profits until it receives back its investment), is usually a strong proponent of robust copyright protection , to control the copying, distribution, adaptation and public performance or display of copyrighted materials it owns. Now, with at least eight newspaper publishers suing Microsoft and OpenAI for copyright infringement not excused by “fair use”, a legal doctrine that allows for the authorized use of copyrighted works, these data-dependent companies find themselves on the other side of the “information wants to be free” debate. Funny how copyright works. Enter decentralized AI. Decentralized AI (deAI) offers a new way forward, empowering individuals and communities with autonomy over their creativity while ensuring fair rewards for contributions. To understand why deAI matters, we must first explore its benefits, the role of emerging decentralized AI ecosystems like Bittensor and Ocean Protocol, and the broader implications for intellectual property rights. The Need for Decentralized AI At its core, decentralized AI leverages blockchain and distributed ledger technology to distribute the development, deployment, and governance of AI systems across a global network. Unlike centralized AI, which depends on proprietary data silos controlled by corporations, deAI systems enable open participation and transparency. This shift offers transformative benefits : Decentralized AI is not just a technological evolution; it is a societal imperative. By empowering individuals with tools to co-create the future of AI, deAI dismantles the monopolistic stronghold over creativity and innovation. The Fed’s ‘Biggest Nightmare’ Is Suddenly Coming True As Bitcoin Price Surges Elon Musk Xmail Teaser Poses New Threat For Billions Of Gmail Users Mystery Drones Saga: Rand Paul Blocks Expedited Drone Bill (Updated) The Intersection of AI and Copyright The rise of deAI comes amid growing scrutiny of how AI systems are trained. Many current AI models, including OpenAI’s GPT-4, rely heavily on copyrighted material for training. Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship, such as books, music, and software, from unauthorized use. However, copyright differs from trademark and patent protections: Copyright law allows for “ fair use,” a legal doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without the owner’s consent under certain conditions. AI companies often invoke fair use to justify their use of copyrighted works for training models, but this approach has sparked legal battles with creators who argue that their work is being exploited without fair compensation. Lawsuits, like those filed by the New York Times and authors such as George R.R. Martin , underscore the tension between innovation and intellectual property rights. While the centralized AI industry grapples with these challenges, deAI offers an alternative model—one where contributors’ rights are respected, and rewards are distributed equitably. Top Decentralized AI Projects to Watch in 2025 The future of AI will not be defined by monolithic corporations but by collaborative ecosystems that empower individuals. Here are five decentralized AI projects leading the charge: Bittensor Fetch.ai SingularityNET Ocean Protocol Numerai These projects exemplify how deAI can address the shortcomings of centralized AI, creating ecosystems where creativity and innovation thrive. Empowering Creativity Through Decentralization In an era where data is the lifeblood of innovation, centralized AI systems pose significant risks to autonomy and equity. The deAI movement seeks to dismantle these systems by redistributing power to the people. Ecosystems like Bittensor and Ocean Protocol not only enable individuals to contribute but also ensure they are rewarded fairly for their creativity and labor. More importantly, deAI aligns with the ethos of intellectual property protection by respecting the rights of creators and contributors. By offering transparency and traceability, decentralized networks foster trust—something sorely lacking in the centralized AI industry. The fight for creative autonomy is not just a legal or technological battle; it is a cultural shift toward a future where AI serves the many, not the few. Through decentralized systems, we can build a world where innovation flourishes on a foundation of equity, inclusion, and empowerment. The Future of AI is Decentralized Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, decentralized AI is emerging as more than just a technological advancement; it is reshaping how creativity, data ownership, and transparency are addressed in AI development. The breakneck development of closed AI tools, branded as "open," has relied heavily on harvesting free data to monetize their systems. This approach is awakening creators and copyright owners to the true value of their data and the importance of ownership. These new deAI ecosystems and projects highlight the potential for collaboration and fairness to drive innovation. As these platforms evolve, they offer a blueprint for how AI can be developed to better align with societal values, protect creators' rights, and foster more inclusive and equitable outcomes.Nearly 13 months after his beloved wife Rosalynn died in November 2023, former President Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100, the Carter Center confirmed on Sunday. The former president made a rare public appearance at her memorial service. He sat in a wheelchair with a blanket that had a picture of him and Rosalynn together. He would also make a rare public appearance on October 1 as his hometown celebrated his 100th birthday. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” President Carter said after his wife passed away. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.” The couple was married for 77 years. They met as children, both growing up in Plains, Georgia. Their storied romance started when Jimmy was 17 years old. After their first date, he reportedly told his mom, “She’s the girl I want to marry.” The pair would marry not long after — in 1946. The couple moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where Jimmy was stationed after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy. Like many military families, the Carters moved from city to city. Their three sons were born in three different states: Virginia, Hawaii and Connecticut. Their only daughter was born in their home state of Georgia. Jimmy left the military in 1953 and began a career in politics about 10 years later. RELATED STORY | Former President Jimmy Carter dies at age 100 Rosalynn was reportedly an important member of Jimmy’s campaign team when he ran for governor of Georgia, a race he won in 1970. After serving four years as governor, Jimmy decided to run for president. During the campaign, Rosalynn traveled the country independently, proving to be a strong advocate for her husband’s vision for the country. Jimmy Carter would go on to defeat President Gerald Ford and become the 39th president of the United States. Rosalynn was an active first lady. She attended cabinet meetings and frequently represented her husband at ceremonial events. Rosalynn shared in her husband’s efforts to work to make the U.S. government more “competent and compassionate,” the White House said. After leaving the White House in 1981, the couple returned to Georgia. They would go on to become some of the most notable philanthropists in the world. They founded The Carter Center, which is committed to protecting human rights around the world.
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Three long days of counting in the General Election finished late on Monday night when the final two seats were declared in the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. Fianna Fail was the clear winner of the election, securing 48 of the Dail parliament’s 174 seats. Sinn Fein took 39 and Fine Gael 38. Labour and the Social Democrats both won 11 seats; People Before Profit-Solidarity took three; Aontu secured two; and the Green Party retained only one of its 12 seats. Independents and others accounted for 21 seats. The return of a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael-led coalition is now highly likely. However, their combined seat total of 86 leaves them just short of the 88 needed for a majority in the Dail. While the two centrist parties that have dominated Irish politics for a century could look to strike a deal with one of the Dail’s smaller centre-left parties, such as the Social Democrats or Labour, a more straightforward route to a majority could be achieved by securing the support of several independent TDs. For Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and current taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, wooing like-minded independents would be likely to involve fewer policy concessions, and financial commitments, than would be required to convince another party to join the government benches. Longford-Westmeath independent TD Kevin “Boxer” Moran, who served in a Fine Gael-led minority government between 2017 and 2020, expressed his willingness to listen to offers to join the new coalition in Dublin. “Look, my door’s open,” he told RTE. “Someone knocks, I’m always there to open it.” Marian Harkin, an independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim, expressed her desire to participate in government as she noted that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were within “shouting distance” of an overall majority. “That means they will be looking for support, and I certainly will be one of those people who will be speaking to them and talking to them and negotiating with them, and I’m looking forward to doing that, because that was the reason that I ran in the first place,” she said. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats and Irish Labour Party both appear cautious about the prospect of an alliance with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. They will no doubt be mindful of the experience of the Green Party, the junior partner in the last mandate. The Greens experienced near wipeout in the election, retaining only one of their 12 seats. Sinn Fein appears to currently have no realistic route to government, given Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s ongoing refusal to share power with the party. Despite the odds being stacked against her party, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald contacted the leaders of the Social Democrats and Labour on Monday to discuss options. Earlier, Fianna Fail deputy leader and outgoing Finance Minister Jack Chambers predicted that a new coalition government would not be in place before Christmas. Mr Chambers said planned talks about forming an administration required “time and space” to ensure that any new government will be “coherent and stable”. After an inconclusive outcome to the 2020 election, it took five months for Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens to strike the last coalition deal. Mr Chambers said he did not believe it would take that long this time, as he noted the Covid-19 pandemic was a factor in 2020, but he also made clear it would not be a swift process. He said he agreed with analysis that there was no prospect of a deal before Christmas. “I don’t expect a government to be formed in mid-December, when the Dail is due to meet on December 18, probably a Ceann Comhairle (speaker) can be elected, and there’ll have to be time and space taken to make sure we can form a coherent, stable government,” he told RTE. “I don’t think it should take five months like it did the last time – Covid obviously complicated that. But I think all political parties need to take the time to see what’s possible and try and form a stable government for the Irish people.” Fine Gael minister of state Peter Burke said members of his parliamentary party would have to meet to consider their options before giving Mr Harris a mandate to negotiate a new programme for government with Fianna Fail. “It’s important that we have a strong, stable, viable government, whatever form that may be, to ensure that we can meet the challenges of our society, meet the challenges in terms of the economic changes that are potentially going to happen,” he told RTE. Despite being set to emerge with the most seats, it has not been all good news for Fianna Fail. The party’s outgoing Health Minister Stephen Donnelly became one of the biggest casualties of the election when he lost his seat in Wicklow in the early hours of Monday morning. Mr Donnelly was always predicted to face a fight in the constituency after boundary changes saw it reduced from five to four seats. If it is to be a reprise of the Fianna Fail/Fine Gael governing partnership of the last mandate, one of the major questions is around the position of taoiseach and whether the parties will once again take turns to hold the Irish premiership during the lifetime of the new government. The outcome in 2020 saw the parties enter a coalition on the basis that the holder of the premier position would be exchanged midway through the term. Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin took the role for the first half of the mandate, with Leo Varadkar taking over in December 2022. Current Fine Gael leader Mr Harris succeeded Mr Varadkar as taoiseach when he resigned from the role earlier this year. However, this time Fianna Fail has significantly increased its seat lead over Fine Gael, compared with the last election when there were only three seats between the parties. The size of the disparity in party numbers is likely to draw focus on the rotating taoiseach arrangement, raising questions as to whether it will be re-run in the next coalition and, if it is, on what terms. On Sunday, Simon Coveney, a former deputy leader of Fine Gael, said a coalition that did not repeat the rotating taoiseach arrangement in some fashion would be a “difficult proposition” for his party. Meanwhile, Fine Gael minister Paschal Donohoe said he would be making the case for Mr Harris to have another opportunity to serve as taoiseach. On Monday, Mr Chambers said while his party would expect to lead the government it would approach the issue of rotating the taoiseach’s role on the basis of “mutual respect” with Fine Gael. “I think the context of discussions and negotiations will be driven by mutual respect, and that’s the glue that will drive a programme for government and that’s the context in which we’ll engage,” he said. On Monday, Labour leader Ivana Bacik reiterated her party’s determination to forge an alliance with fellow centre-left parties with the intention of having a unified approach to the prospect of entering government. Asked if Labour was prepared to go into government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on its own, she told RTE: “No, not at this stage. We are absolutely not willing to do that. “We want to ensure there’s the largest number of TDs who share our vision and our values who want to deliver change on the same basis that we do.” The Social Democrats have been non-committal about any potential arrangement with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and have restated a series of red lines they would need to achieve before considering taking a place in government. Leader Holly Cairns, who gave birth to a daughter on polling day on Friday, said in a statement: “The party is in a very strong position to play an important role in the next Dail. In what position, government or opposition, remains to be seen.” Fianna Fail secured the most first preference votes in Friday’s proportional representation election, taking 21.9% to Fine Gael’s 20.8%. Sinn Fein came in third on 19%. While Sinn Fein’s vote share represented a marked improvement on its disappointing showing in June’s local elections in Ireland, it is still significantly down on the 24.5% poll-topping share it secured in the 2020 general election. The final breakdown of first preferences also flipped the result of Friday night’s exit poll, which suggested Sinn Fein was in front on 21.1%, with Fine Gael on 21% and Fianna Fail on 19.5%.
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WASHINGTON , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA continues to advance its campaign to explore more of the Moon than ever before, awarding Firefly Aerospace $179 million to deliver six experiments to the lunar surface. This fourth task order for Firefly will target landing in the Gruithuisen Domes on the near side of the Moon in 2028. As part of the agency's broader Artemis campaign, Firefly will deliver a group of science experiments and technology demonstrations under NASA's CLPS initiative, or Commercial Lunar Payload Services, to these lunar domes, an area of ancient lava flows, to better understand planetary processes and evolution. Through CLPS, NASA is furthering our understanding of the Moon's environment and helping prepare for future human missions to the lunar surface, as part of the agency's Moon to Mars exploration approach. "The CLPS initiative carries out U.S. scientific and technical studies on the surface of the Moon by robot explorers. As NASA prepares for future human exploration of the Moon, the CLPS initiative continues to support a growing lunar economy with American companies," said Joel Kearns , deputy associate administrator for exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington . "Understanding the formation of the Gruithuisen Domes, as well as the ancient lava flows surrounding the landing site, will help the U.S. answer important questions about the lunar surface." Firefly's first lunar delivery is scheduled to launch no earlier than mid-January 2025 and will land near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium, on the northeast quadrant of the Moon's near side. Firefly's second lunar mission includes two task orders: a lunar orbit drop-off of a satellite combined with a delivery to the lunar surface on the far side and a delivery of a lunar orbital calibration source, scheduled in 2026. This new delivery in 2028 will send payloads to the Gruithuisen Domes and the nearby Sinus Viscositatus. The Gruithuisen Domes have long been suspected to be formed by a magma rich in silica, similar in composition to granite. Granitic rocks form easily on Earth due to plate tectonics and oceans of water. The Moon lacks these key ingredients, so lunar scientists have been left to wonder how these domes formed and evolved over time. For the first time, as part of this task order, NASA also has contracted to provide "mobility," or roving, for some of the scientific instruments on the lunar surface after landing. This will enable new types of U.S. scientific investigations from CLPS. "Firefly will deliver six instruments to understand the landing site and surrounding vicinity," said Chris Culbert , manager of the CLPS initiative at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston . "These instruments will study geologic processes and lunar regolith, test solar cells, and characterize the neutron radiation environment, supplying invaluable information as NASA works to establish a long-term presence on the Moon." The instruments, collectively expected to be about 215 pounds (97 kilograms) in mass, include: Through the CLPS initiative, NASA purchases lunar landing and surface operations services from American companies. The agency uses CLPS to send scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to advance capabilities for science, exploration, or commercial development of the Moon. By supporting a robust cadence of lunar deliveries, NASA will continue to enable a growing lunar economy while leveraging the entrepreneurial innovation of the commercial space industry. Two upcoming CLPS flights scheduled to launch in early 2025 will deliver NASA payloads to the Moon's near side and south polar region, respectively. Learn more about CLPS and Artemis at: https://www.nasa.gov/clps View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/more-nasa-science-tech-will-fly-to-moon-aboard-future-firefly-flight-302335523.html SOURCE NASA