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The King and the Prime Minister have paid tribute to Jimmy Carter following the former US president’s death on Sunday aged 100. In a message to the American people, the King expressed “great sadness” at the news of Mr Carter’s death, describing him as “a committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights”. He added: “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time.” Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981 and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Carter had “lived his values in the service of others to the very end” through “decades of selfless public service”. Praising a “lifelong dedication to peace” that saw him win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Sir Keir added: “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad.” Tributes to Mr Carter followed the announcement of his death by his family on Sunday, more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.” US President Joe Biden, one of the first elected politicians to endorse Mr Carter’s bid for the presidency in 1976, said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Other UK politicians also paid tribute to Mr Carter. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he was “an inspiration” who “led a truly remarkable life dedicated to public service with a genuine care for people”. Scottish First Minister John Swinney described the former president as “a good, decent, honest man who strove for peace in all that he did”, while Welsh First Minister said he was “a remarkable man” and “a humanitarian and scholar”. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Mr Carter’s “life was a testament to public service”. He added: “I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington DC before being buried in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and, finally, the White House, where he took office as 39th president in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked more than four decades leading The Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center virtually eliminated Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public serviceThanksgiving Weekend Sports Guide: Your roadmap to NFL matchups, other games, times, odds
THE BBC runs a competition called “Women’s Footballer of the Year”. In drawing up a shortlist, they have one job. And that’s to select a woman who plays football . Doesn’t sound terribly onerous, does it? Plenty of women around who play football, aren’t there? But the BBC couldn’t quite manage that task. Because on the shortlist was the Zambian player Barbra Banda . Barbra certainly plays football. And when up against women, is rather good. Trouble is, Babs ain’t what you or I would call a woman. Instead, Babs is rather closer to what you or I would call a bloke. READ MORE FROM ROD LIDDLE Banda plays for the Zambian national team. However, the player was withdrawn from the 2022 African Cup of Nations . Because it was claimed she — or maybe more properly he — did not meet the gender verification criteria. There are lots of things which might be responsible for that, such as having male levels of testosterone. Or generally having a male physique. But the BBC was happy to let Banda be named Women’s Footballer of the Year. Probably, knowing the BBC, even happier than if Barbra had actually been a, you know, young lady. They like to make a progressive political point at the BBC. Most read in The Sun Needless to say there were howls of outrage from within the game. And plenty more outside it. Largely from women who believe that it’s only fair to let women compete against other women. Rather than against men who are born stronger and faster. Harry Potter author JK Rowling , for example, had this to say: “Presumably the BBC decided this was more time efficient than going door to door to spit directly in women’s faces.” Ouch! But she’s right, isn’t she? Because the selection of Banda is an insult not only to women footballers, but to all women. Deranged argument Right now women’s sport is in an absolute crisis — all because of the counter-rational and truly idiotic insistence that blokes who say they are women but are actually men should be allowed to compete against women. It’s taken years for women’s sport to be taken as seriously as men’s sport. And now, suddenly, just as women’s football has really taken off, guess what? The men-women people are inveigling their way in. It’s not just football, of course. A recent United Nations report suggested that transgender athletes have taken a total of 900 medals away from real women across 29 different sporting disciplines. That’s kinda shocking. And remember, this report was from the UN which is about as progressive as it gets. I thought this battle was well on the way to being won. More and more sports bodies are outlawing transgender competitors having previously allowed this fraud. Everywhere, the deranged argument that insists blokes who say they are women really are women is in rapid retreat. Common sense has been allowed back into the argument. But not at the BBC, of course. They are determined to carry on flying the banner for a cause which even some of the transgender activists have given up on. One day, not too far down the line, this last decade will be regarded as being really very, very odd. The obsession with gender politics . The general determination not to allow sanity to have its say. But when Barbra picks up the award, 90 per cent of those watching will know the truth. That the award should really have gone to a WOMAN. ALERTS OFTEN HOT AIR WHY did Storm Bert cause so much damage to the country? Hundreds and hundreds of homes underwater. Communities evacuated. There have been complaints that there were not enough early warnings. But the Met Office said: “Storm Bert was well forecast, 48 hours in advance, with a number of warnings in place ahead of the system reaching the UK.” So what went wrong, then? Here’s my guess. It’s about the boy who cried wolf. You know the story. EVERY weather front which approaches the UK gets the same treatment. With the forecasters shrieking at us “STAY INSIDE!” In case we are burnt to death. Or drown. Or have our testicles frozen off in a snowstorm. And nine times out of ten there’s no problem at all. So when they warned us about Bert, we just thought: “Yeah, yeah. Same ol’ same ol’.” CUT PEP LOOKS HELLISH WHAT the hell has happened to Pep Guardiola ? He looks like he’s just done ten rounds with a Tasmanian devil. Scratches and gouges all over his face and head. Manchester City lost five games on the trot. And Pep made a comment about self-harming. The most likely explanation is that Pep was set upon by furious Satanic imps because he had reneged on a deal with their boss. I can’t prove it, it’s just a guess. WOKE IS WAL OVER THE biggest company in the world has become the latest to ditch its odious DEI policies. DEI stands for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. It is wokedom gone mad – and racist. Companies across the Western world are quickly getting rid of this rubbish. Walmart is removing ALL vestiges of DEI from its company. Well done, Walmart. In future , with any luck, people will be hired for jobs because they are the best people available. Not because of the colour of their skins, religion or gender. ANOTHER anti-Semitic hate crime in London . This time a bunch of girls walking home from school had bottles thrown at them. One 14-year-old lass was taken to hospital with a head wound. Earlier this year, a 16-year-old Jewish lad had to flee in terror when he was pelted with rocks by a mob. We know who the perpetrators are. Here, just as in France and Belgium and Germany . But for some reason we’re scared to call it out. It’s time we started telling the truth about these horrible racist attacks. SHIRK FORCE DODGE SO, the Labour Government isn’t going to reform our costly and catastrophic benefits system at all. They had said they would. But nope, not really. There are hundreds of thousands of people claiming state money for doing nothing but sitting on their fat arses watching Homes Under The Hammer . Unless they are threatened with the immediate withdrawal of benefits, they will continue to do so. And our welfare bill will continue to spiral. Alien language has down-to-earth use THE incredibly esteemed Ubiquity University in California is offering a degree in Extraterrestrial Studies. This includes an important module on “How to communicate with aliens”. At first I had been inclined to snigger at this. READ MORE SUN STORIES But it’s probably of more practical value than half the courses on offer at our own universities . In fact, I might sign up, in case I ever have to interview Rachel Reeves .Where to Watch Wofford vs. South Carolina on TV or Streaming Live – Nov. 23
Destination XL Group, Inc. Confirms Receipt of Non-Binding Proposal from Fund 1 Investments, LLC
NICOSIA, Cyprus , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — BC.GAME , a premier cryptocurrency i-Gaming platform, announced its decision to withdraw its license specifically from Curaçao. This move reflects Curaçao’s increasingly hostile environment for operators in recent years. Despite ongoing efforts to modernize Curaçao’s i-Gaming law, proper legal protection for all operators established in Curaçao is severely lacking, such as its bankruptcy law which dates to 1931 via the “ Curaçao Bankruptcy Decree ” which can easily be exploited by malicious actors and used against legitimate operators. Therefore, on 5 th December 2024 , BC.GAME decided to officially withdraw its Curaçao license. This will in no way affect BC.GAME’s wider international operations. Separately from Curaçao, BC.GAME holds gaming licenses in multiple other jurisdictions, and its international operations remain fully compliant with its applicable regulatory obligations. Adapting to industry trends As the global gaming industry faces an increasingly complex regulatory environment, this move by BC.GAME is essential in enhancing and maintaining its operational strategy to ensure continuity and to realign BC.GAME with suitably evolved and robust regulatory frameworks for the benefit of its international operations. Most importantly, it ensures the safety, reliability and security of service for BC.GAME users. Consistency in legal and financial obligations Contrary to recent rumours inaccurately circulated questioning BC.GAME’s financial position, BC.GAME further reaffirms to its stakeholders and the public in general that its financial position remains in good health. All BC.GAME’s international operations remain unaffected and BC.GAME will continue to fulfil all of its ongoing legal and financial obligations. About BC.GAME BC.GAME is a leading global cryptocurrency i-Gaming platform focused on providing users with a secure and diverse entertainment experience. BC.GAME offers a range of services, including sports betting, and electronic gaming whilst ensuring adequate player protection and an increased focus on preventing gambling addiction. With a strong emphasis on technological innovation and regulatory compliance, BC.GAME continues to expand its presence in international markets in maintaining its reputation of being the leading entertainment provider offering a wide range of gaming services. SOURCE BC.GAMENone
Voting may be over, but this election worker is still debunking disinformation
Social Media Has Beef With a Black Man Set to Play Snape in New ‘Harry Potter’ TV SeriesJimmy Carter’s Imperfect GreatnessHollywood cranks out holiday programming as fast as toys are made in Santa’s workshop, with broadcast networks, cable channels and streaming services offering seasonal specials. This year’s options include three sequels to the 2023 Hallmark Channel hit “Christmas on Cherry Lane,” a docuseries following what happens when a letter to Santa is dropped in the mail, and the stop-motion classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Below are 10 options to get you in the Christmas spirit: ‘Our Little Secret’  Lindsay Lohan stars in this new holiday rom-com for Netflix. Lohan and Ian Harding (“Pretty Little Liars”) play exes who find themselves spending Christmas together after discovering they’re now dating siblings. “It has a lot of heart, and it’s very funny, and I think that’s what we need in film these days,” Lohan told The Associated Press. Kristin Chenoweth is in it, too. Streaming on Netflix. People are also reading... ‘Dear Santa, The Series’ This show will warm the soul like a cup of hot chocolate. Now in its second season, “Dear Santa, The Series” highlights the United States Postal Service’s Operation Santa program where children write letters to Santa and a team of elves help grant their holiday wishes. Streaming on Hulu. ‘Home Sweet Christmas’ Candace Cameron Bure and Cameron Mathison star in “Home Sweet Christmas” as former childhood friends who reunite after the death of a family member who leaves his maple sugar farm to them both. Available on Great American Family. ‘25 Days of Christmas’ Freeform has holiday fare airing this month from morning to midnight. Dec. 8 is a highlight with Tim Allen’s “The Santa Clause” franchise and the 1964 stop-motion classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and 1969’s “Frosty the Snowman.” Available on Freeform. ‘Brewster’s Millions: Christmas’ Remember the 1985 film “Brewster’s Millions” starring Richard Pryor and John Candy? The comedy classic has been updated with a holiday twist. China Anne McClain stars as Morgan Brewster, a wealthy heiress who will lose her family’s fortune unless she completes a series of tasks in time for Christmas. The film also stars Romeo Miller and two of Pryor’s children, Richard Pryor Jr. and Rain Pryor. Premieres Dec. 5 on BET+. ‘Cherry Lane’ trilogy The 2023 Hallmark movie “Christmas on Cherry Lane” was a big hit for the network. It followed three families on Christmas Eve who live in the same home in different time periods. Three sequels will stream on Hallmark+, spanning from 1951 to present day. Jonathan Bennett and Vincent Rodriguez III star in the first sequel, “Season’s Greetings from Cherry Lane,” debuting Dec. 5. “Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane” premieres Dec. 12 starring Catherine Bell and James Denton. The third film, “Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane” arrives Dec. 19 with Erin Cahill and Brooke D’Orsay. Available on Hallmark+. ‘A Season to Remember’ This original holiday romance movie stars Michele Weaver as a sports reporter who works hard to prove herself in a male-dominated industry but still sometimes gets overlooked for opportunities. The pressure is on to find a compelling story the week before Christmas. Weaver teams up with a freelance photographer (Nathan Owens) who helps her find romance, confidence and the right path. Airs Dec. 7 on OWN. ‘A Motown Christmas Special’ Motown legends including Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight and the Temptations sing some of their best-known songs as well as Christmas tunes. Halle Bailey will perform a medley of music by Diana Ross and the Supremes, while Jamie Foxx will lead a Stevie Wonder tribute featuring Andra Day, Bebe Winans and Jordin Sparks. An 11-piece live band will accompany the performances. Airs Dec. 11 on NBC (streaming next day on Peacock). ‘O C’mon All Ye Faithful’ In a new double-episode Christmas edition of “The Simpsons,” a famous mentalist arrives in Springfield and uses his mind tricks to boost holiday spirits. When Homer gets hypnotized and believes he’s Santa Claus, it causes the rest of the town to question their own Christmas beliefs and the meaning of the word miracle. The special also has music from Patti LaBelle and Pentatonix. Streams Dec. 17 on Disney+. Beyoncé halftime show Netflix will stream two NFL games on Christmas Day. First, Super Bowl LVII champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers followed by the Baltimore Ravens facing the Houston Texans. The streamer is gifting the beyhive with Beyoncé this holiday season — as the superstar will perform at halftime during the game featuring her hometown team, the Texans. The Netflix Christmas Day games will also be available on broadcast TV in the competing team cities. Streams Dec. 25 on Netflix. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
2 Oregon men die from exposure in a forest after they went out to look for Sasquatch
Cineworld to close first site TOMORROW ahead of six closing for goodAsia-Pacific markets set to open higher after Wall Street gains on tech strength
HE Maryam bint Abdullah al-Attiyah, who serves as Chairperson of Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee and President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, emphasised that integrating human rights into legislation, policies, and climate plans is essential for achieving a sustainable future. She noted that this approach enables countries to fulfil their human rights obligations. She highlighted that national human rights institutions are pivotal in developing a human rights-based approach to climate action, given their roles in monitoring and engaging with various national stakeholders, including civil society, rights-holders, and victims of climate change. Furthermore, their interaction with regional and international protection mechanisms equips them to address challenges and adopt best practices effectively. This came during al-Attiyah’s address at the side event organised by Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee during the 29th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event was attended by HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, Qatar’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohammed bin Hamad al-Hajri, and representatives from Qatar’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Azerbaijani Human Rights Commissioner, the Social Research Center, and the Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights. The discussions focused on the impact of climate phenomena on the enjoyment of human rights, highlighting challenges such as increasing marginalisation of vulnerable groups, rising displacement and migration, and widening food and water gaps in many countries worldwide. Al-Attiyah said that the current meeting aligns with the National Human Rights Committees efforts to address climate change and its growing impact on human rights at the national, regional, and international levels. She welcomed Qatar’s approach, which places human rights at the heart of its national policies and plans to address climate change. This approach, she said, has enabled Qatar to make strides in renewable energy investments, energy efficiency improvements, and the development of environmentally friendly technologies and projects, such as Lusail and Msheireb Downtown Doha, which represent Qatar’s commitment to building a sustainable future in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. As the President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, al-Attiyah encouraged national human rights institutions to engage with climate change issues and collaborate with one another. She emphasised the ongoing efforts to amplify the voice of these institutions at all relevant international forums, underscoring that inclusive engagement with all stakeholders is the only way to address climate change challenges and achieve climate justice for future generations. She also mentioned plans to recommend establishing a permanent forum for dialogue between national human rights institutions and other stakeholders on emerging climate issues and response strategies. Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud, Undersecretary at Qatar’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, highlighted Qatar’s efforts to combat climate change threats. He noted the recent launch of the ministry’s 2024-2030 strategy, which aims to achieve a vision of a sustainable environment balanced with development and resilient to climate change. Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva stressed the importance of international co-operation to address the increasing impact of climate change on human rights, including the rights to life, adequate food, clean water, health, decent housing, and education. She also highlighted the exacerbated risks of displacement, migration, environmental conflicts, and the marginalization of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, children, women, and the elderly.Meanwhile, Zahid Oruj, a member of the Azerbaijani National Assembly and chair of the executive board of the social research centre, called for the exchange of experiences and best practices in the field of climate action, with a focus on the role of national human rights institutions. Director of the Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights Dr Ahmad Shahidov underscored the active role of national human rights institutions in climate policy discussions and their comprehensive evaluation of various climate actions and measures. Related Story Session on empowering women in digital era begins in Doha Summit to explore aspects of women’s leadership in the digital era
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Senate on Thursday began considering a ban on children younger than 16 years old from social media after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly supported the age restriction. The world-first bill that would make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts is likely to be passed by the Senate on Thursday, the Parliament’s final session for the year and potentially the last before elections, which are due within months. The major parties’ support for the ban all but guarantees the legislation will become law. But many child welfare and mental health advocates are concerned about unintended consequences. Unaligned Sen. Jacqui Lambie complained about the limited amount of time the government gave the Senate to debate the age restriction, which she described as “undercooked.” “I thought this was a good idea. A lot of people out there thought it was a good idea until we looked at the detail and, let's be honest, there's no detail,” Lambie told the Senate. The House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly carried the bill 102 votes to 13. Once the legislation becomes law, the platforms would have one year to work out how they could implement the ban before penalties are enforced. The platforms complained that the law would be unworkable, and urged the Senate to delay the vote until at least June next year when a government-commissioned evaluation of age assurance technologies made its report on how young children could be excluded. Critics argue the government is attempting to convince parents it is protecting their children ahead of general elections due by May. The government hopes that voters will reward it for responding to parents' concerns about their children's addiction to social media. Some argue the legislation could cause more harm than it prevents. Criticisms include that the legislation was rushed through Parliament without adequate scrutiny, is ineffective, poses privacy risks for all users, and undermines parental authority to make decisions for their children. Opponents of the bill also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of the positive aspects of social media, drive them to the dark web, discourage children too young for social media to report harm and reduce incentives for platforms to improve online safety.Oneida County employees donate toys to Connect-A-Kid
Prospects for President Yoon's impeachment are dim with ruling party boycotting voteDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Bennett Stirtz scored 20 points as Drake beat Belmont 65-46 on Sunday night. Stirtz added three steals for the Bulldogs (12-0, 2-0 Missouri Valley Conference). Daniel Abreu scored 15 points while shooting 5 for 11, including 3 for 9 from beyond the arc and added five rebounds. Mitch Mascari had nine points and shot 3 for 7, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs prolonged their winning streak to 12 games. Sam Orme led the Bruins (9-4, 1-1) in scoring, finishing with 11 points. Brody Peebles added 10 points for Belmont. Jonathan Pierre had nine points. Drake took the lead with 10:21 left in the first half and never looked back. Stirtz led their team in scoring with 13 points in the first half to help put them up 39-21 at the break. Drake outscored Belmont in the second half by one point, with Abreu scoring a team-high eight points after intermission. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Meet Stephen Miller’s wife Katie: the ‘Mrs Smith’ of Maga – whose husband is tapped to lead homeland security – was formerly Mike Pence’s press secretary and is known for her controversial viewsBy ALI SWENSON and BARARA ORTUTAY Bluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk’s X, which they view as increasingly leaning too far to the right given its owner’s support of President-elect Donald Trump, or wanting an alternative to Meta’s Threads and its algorithms. The platform grew out of the company then known as Twitter, championed by its former CEO Jack Dorsey. Its decentralized approach to social networking was eventually intended to replace Twitter’s core mechanic . That’s unlikely now that the two companies have parted ways. But Bluesky’s growth trajectory — with a user base that has more than doubled since October — could make it a serious competitor to other social platforms. But with growth comes growing pains. It’s not just human users who’ve been flocking to Bluesky but also bots, including those designed to create partisan division or direct users to junk websites. The skyrocketing user base — now surpassing 25 million — is the biggest test yet for a relatively young platform that has branded itself as a social media alternative free of the problems plaguing its competitors. According to research firm Similarweb, Bluesky added 7.6 million monthly active app users on iOS and Android in November, an increase of 295.4% since October. It also saw 56.2 million desktop and mobile web visits, in the same period, up 189% from October. Besides the U.S. elections, Bluesky also got a boost when X was briefly banned in Brazil . “They got this spike in attention, they’ve crossed the threshold where it is now worth it for people to flood the platform with spam,” said Laura Edelson, an assistant professor of computer science at Northeastern University and a member of Issue One’s Council for Responsible Social Media. “But they don’t have the cash flow, they don’t have the established team that a larger platform would, so they have to do it all very, very quickly.” To manage growth for its tiny staff, Bluesky started as an invitation-only space until it opened to the public in February. That period gave the site time to build out moderation tools and other distinctive features to attract new users , such as “starter packs” that provide lists of topically curated feeds. Meta recently announced that it is testing a similar feature. Compared to the bigger players like Meta’s platforms or X, Bluesky has a “quite different” value system, said Claire Wardle, a professor at Cornell University and an expert in misinformation. This includes giving users more control over their experience. “The first generation of social media platforms connected the world, but ended up consolidating power in the hands of a few corporations and their leaders,” Bluesky said on its blog in March. “Our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see. On an open social network like Bluesky, you can shape your experience for yourself.” Because of this mindset, Bluesky has achieved a scrappy underdog status that has attracted users who’ve grown tired of the big players. “People had this idea that it was going to be a different type of social network,” Wardle said. “But the truth is, when you get lots of people in a place and there are eyeballs, it means that it’s in other people’s interests to use bots to create, you know, information that aligns with their perspective.” Little data has emerged to help quantify the rise in impersonator accounts, artificial intelligence-fueled networks and other potentially harmful content on Bluesky. But in recent weeks, users have begun reporting large numbers of apparent AI bots following them, posting plagiarized articles or making seemingly automated divisive comments in replies. Lion Cassens, a Bluesky user and doctoral candidate in the Netherlands, found one such network by accident — a group of German-language accounts with similar bios and AI-generated profile pictures posting in replies to three German newspapers. “I noticed some weird replies under a news post by the German newspaper ‘Die Ziet,’” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “I have a lot of trust in the moderation mechanism on Bluesky, especially compared to Twitter since the layoffs and due to Musk’s more radical stance on freedom of speech. But AI bots are a big challenge, as they will only improve. I hope social media can keep up with that.” Cassens said the bots’ messages have been relatively innocuous so far, but he was concerned about how they could be repurposed in the future to mislead. There are also signs that foreign disinformation narratives have made their way to Bluesky. The disinformation research group Alethea pointed to one low-traction post sharing a false claim about ABC News that had circulated on Russian Telegram channels. Copycat accounts are another challenge. In late November, Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security, Trust and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, found that of the top 100 most followed named individuals on Bluesky, 44% had at least one duplicate account posing as them. Two weeks later, Mantzarlis said Bluesky had removed around two-thirds of the duplicate accounts he’d initially detected — a sign the site was aware of the issue and attempting to address it. Bluesky posted earlier this month that it had quadrupled its moderation team to keep up with its growing user base. The company also announced it had introduced a new system to detect impersonation and was working to improve its Community Guidelines to provide more detail on what’s allowed. Because of the way the site is built, users also have the option to subscribe to third-party “Labelers” that outsource content moderation by tagging accounts with warnings and context. The company didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment for this story. Even as its challenges aren’t yet at the scale other platforms face, Bluesky is at a “crossroads,” said Edward Perez, a board member at the nonpartisan nonprofit OSET Institute, who previously led Twitter’s civic integrity team. “Whether BlueSky likes it or not, it is being pulled into the real world,” Perez said, noting that it needs to quickly prioritize threats and work to mitigate them if it hopes to continue to grow. That said, disinformation and bots won’t be Bluesky’s only challenges in the months and years to come. As a text-based social network, its entire premise is falling out of favor with younger generations. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that only 17% of American teenagers used X, for instance, down from 23% in 2022. For teens and young adults, TikTok, Instagram and other visual-focused platforms are the places to be. Political polarization is also going against Bluesky ever reaching the size of TikTok, Instagram or even X. “Bluesky is not trying to be all things to all people,” Wardle said, adding that, likely, the days of a Facebook or Instagram emerging where they’re “trying to keep everybody happy” are over. Social platforms are increasingly splintered along political lines and when they aren’t — see Meta’s platforms — the companies behind them are actively working to de-emphasize political content and news. The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here . The AP is solely responsible for all content.