Chelsea fans believe Enzo Fernandez is prime Lampard since separationThe Arecibo Message , transmitted on November 16th, 1974, from the Arecibo Observatory, was humanity’s first true attempt at Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI). The message was a simple pictorial signal in binary code composed by famed astronomer and SETI researcher Frank Drake (inventor of the Drake Equation ) with the assistance of Sagan and other prominent astronomers. The message was and was aimed toward Messier 13 (NGC 6205 or “The Great Hercules Cluster”), a globular star cluster located about 25,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Hercules. In 2018, in preparation for the 45th anniversary of the historic broadcast, the Arecibo Message Global Challenge was launched. Student teams were tasked with designing a new message that could be sent to space, and by August 2020, the Boriken Voyagers team was recognized as the winner of the competition. Unfortunately, the Observatory collapsed on December 1st, 2020 , and the message was never sent. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Arecibo Message, the Boriken Voyagers have shared “ The Last Arecibo Message .” The Boriken Voyagers team consists of eight students from the University of Arecibo Mayagüez Campus (RUM) and the Planetary Habitability Laboratory (PHL) at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo. Boriken is the name for Puerto Rico in the language of the Indigenous Taino/Arawakan people. The group is led by Kelby D. Palencia-Torres , a student at RUM and PHL who specializes in the study of the gas and dust surrounding galactic disks – aka. the Circumgalactic Medium . The Arecibo Message was organized by Drake in the early 1970s as the first campaign to compose a message destined for space. The effort relied on Arecibo’s megawatt transmitter attached to its 305-meter (1000-foot) antenna to send a 20-gigawatt omnidirectional broadcast. The M13 cluster was selected because of the number of stars (about 300,000) and the cluster’s age (11.65 billion years). This made it seem a likely place to host an extraterrestrial civilization. The message was not intended as an invitation to talk nearly as much as a demonstration of human technological capabilities and scientific knowledge. The message was transmitted on November 16th, 1974, at a frequency of 2380 MHz and an effective bandwidth of 10 Hz. The message was transmitted at a frequency-shifting rate of 10 bits per second and lasted less than three minutes. It consisted of a 1679-binary digit picture (210 bytes) – the product of two prime numbers – arranged rectangularly into 73 lines of 23 characters per line (also prime numbers). The use of prime numbers was deliberate since mathematics is considered the only “universal language” and easier for an alien civilization to decode. They conveyed a series of scientific, geographical, biological, and astronomical information in different colors. These included: Fifty years after the Arecibo Message was sent, its legacy lives on. Universe Today recently caught up with the Boriken Voyagers to learn more about the original message and their updated version. The team members included Kelby D. Palencia-Torres, Cesar F. Quinones-Martinez, Javier A. Garcia Sepulveda, Luis R. Rivera Gabriel, Lizmarie Mateo Roubert, German Vazquez Perez, and Abel Mendez. Germán Vázquez Pérez : “Even 50 years later, and despite the loss of the Arecibo Observatory, the Arecibo Message continues its journey through the vastness of space, waiting to be intercepted by potential civilizations. It’s a bittersweet feeling. The message remains an example of what humanity can achieve, but we no longer possess the same capability to receive a potential reply or transmit another message with such power and significance. At least for the moment.” Kelby Palencia-Torres: “The significance of the Message is that it represents humanity, and it is the first intentional message of our existence in the cosmos. The message compels curiosity, and it’s our first step to answering the old question if we are alone in the universe.” Lizmarie Mateo Roubert: “ The Arecibo Message can represent the hope people working in the scientific community have in answering questions about the Universe and all the efforts they have put in throughout the years.” Cesar Quinones-Martinez : “The Arecibo Message has fascinated many throughout the decades, bringing a lot of debate as to whether or not we should actively contact other extraterrestrial civilizations. Arecibo and the Arecibo Message for Puerto Rico represent a collective curiosity in space exploration, as for many students on the island, visiting Arecibo becomes a key motivator to beginning their STEAM journey. It represents a bold step into the unknown, where our curiosity takes us to make new discoveries. “ Cesar Quinones-Martinez: “The SETI and METI initiatives both have seen improvements to their capabilities as technology improves. Bigger, more sensitive detectors bring us closer to receiving any artificial signal, while better transmitters could allow for future messages that can better retain their information while passing through gas clouds or other mediums. While the Arecibo Message was designed to showcase Arecibo’s capabilities, current METI projects are more rigorous with what they want to communicate. We do not know the intentions of the recipient of our message, and measures must be taken to be direct with what we say.” Kelby Palencia-Torres : “With METI, we are more cautious with the content included in the messages. Some sci-fi series like the ‘3 Body Problem’ play a negative role in how METI is perceived outside the scientific community.” Kelby Palencia-Torres: “The New Arecibo Message Global Challenge was an intriguing and daring competition. To partake and enlist in the challenge, one had to solve a riddle. After this first stage of the challenge, we had to solve a puzzle where the situation was similar to that of the movie Contact. We had to decode a message and identify the location of said message. Once proven to solve the puzzle, we passed to the last stage, where we had to develop the New Arecibo Message. As part of the challenge of the message, we had to consider the energy used to produce the signal and transmit it, choose a location visible to the Arecibo Telescope, and the hardest part ... fully create the content of the message itself.” Lizmarie Mateo Roubert: “At the time, this was truly the most difficult part of the challenge we had encountered so far. Back in 2018, most of us were just beginning our undergraduate degrees and some of the information we needed to keep in mind whenever we were to develop a message in a way that could be encoded eventually proved to be a bit of a struggle. With the help of other professionals in the field and professors on our university campus, we were then able to fully understand how to properly develop this message and the different conditions and capabilities we had to keep in mind so the message could be successfully sent and deciphered.” Luis Rivera: ‘It proved to be a space for great professional and personal growth for me. The difficulty behind solving the problems and creating something new that t underscored the need for teamwork in all aspects of science, and helped me grow closer to people I call my friends today.’ Cesar Quinones-Martinez: ‘The Arecibo global Competition consisted of 3 stages to highlight important stages of making the message: interpretation, decoding a received message, and finally writing our New Arecibo Message. The first stage showed how clever message design can contain a lot of information about the subject material. Imagine a pixelated image of a human sent at a certain frequency. How do you figure out the human’s average height? The key is the frequency, which corresponds to a specific wavelength so that by counting the pixels, you can approximately obtain the height. “However, is that all the information you can extract from the image? Knowing the size of the pixels, you can figure out the ratio of the head to the arms, legs, and abdomen, communicating more about humans without added complexity. The second stage gave us a scenario with a received message that we needed to decode. The team regularly pitched different ideas on what aspects of the signal were important to decode, which was useful to the design of the new Arecibo Message in the final stage. The competition was a great exercise in thinking outside the box and looking at different perspectives, showing the nuance of communicating efficiently when the turnaround time can be centuries.’ Lizmarie Mateo Roubert: “The content of the Last Arecibo Message contains information about humanity’s knowledge of mathematics, science, and astronomy. The first two sections include the numbers from 1 to 10 and the arithmetic symbols including the equal sign. We included mathematical and physical constants such as pi, the Euler constant, the speed of light, the Planck constant, and the Stefan-Boltzmann constant. Adding these constants in our message helps us with a variety of assumptions regarding the recipient’s understanding of the universe..” Germán Vázquez: “We also wanted to share astronomical aspects of our galaxy, solar system, and earth-moon system to pinpoint our location in the universe. The image of the Milky Way Galaxy is presented (up to scale) with the distance from the Galactic center to our solar system. “The Arecibo Message, sent in 1974, served as a direct inspiration for the next section of our message, our Solar System. However, we wanted to enhance some aspects to make it more descriptive and accurate. We included our Moon and Saturn’s rings, enhanced the sizes of the gas giants, and excluded Pluto, which is now considered a dwarf planet. “The Earth-Moon system was also implemented in our message, considering the impact our natural satellite has had in shaping humanity, influencing our calendars, producing ocean tides, and understanding celestial mechanics. Lastly, our depiction of a human being, the average height, and the population in 2020 were also included, alluding to the original message.” Kelby Palencia-Torres : “The purpose of the message is to continue the legacy of the Arecibo Observatory and the Original message by Frank Drake. Our message sums up humanity’s curiosity and wanting to explore the universe together.” Kelby Palencia-Torres: “The message we constructed for the Arecibo Message Global Challenge was to commemorate and demonstrate the importance the original had. Currently, our message does not have plans to be transmitted. But it showcases the innate curiosity and feelings we have to see if we are alone. Our message will go to the list of messages built with METI purposes and show the interest in taking the first step in communicating with other intelligence. “One of the assumptions we use in our paper can also back up METI since other civilizations with similar capabilities to our civilization will face the same constraints as SETI. Whoever listens will need resources, energy, and telescope time to look for techno signatures in their sky. Assuming that other civilizations have a greater technological feat than us, it would mean giving access to resources and a really big and sensitive radio telescope to a being from this advanced civilization to search for techno signatures, and it all would be reduced to be lucky enough to be looking at the right moment and time to receive a one time signal that is not continuous such like the original Arecibo message or the wow signal.” Further Reading: arXivis ready to shine at CES 2025 this January, marking 31 years at the event. The company to show off its latest display and smart home technology, giving visitors an exciting and fun experience. Cool Technology to See at TCL Event A big focus will be on , which is part of many products like monitors, car screens, , tablets, smartwatches, projectors, and RayNeo AR glasses. This tech makes screens brighter, sharper, and full of color. TCL will also introduce , a new version of its . NXTPAPER is made to look like paper, which helps reduce eye strain while keeping the colors bright and clear. : This mixes , which make colors brighter and clearer, with , tiny lights that improve contrast and reduce glare. This combo makes screens look amazing, with vivid colors and sharp details. : This display is designed to feel like reading on paper. It’s easier on your eyes while keeping videos and images colorful and crisp. It’s great for reading or watching content for long periods. Smarter Homes Made Simple TCL will also showcase its improved , which includes connected devices like air conditioners, fridges, washing machines, smart locks, and WiFi routers. These devices are easy to use and help save energy while making everyday life more convenient. As the , TCL is building excitement for with new technology and fun activities. These include online and in-person ways to enjoy games even more, helping fans feel closer to the action. TCL’s press conference will happen on January 6 at Mandalay Bay. From January 7-10, visitors can explore their booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center. If you love tech, sports, or smart gadgets, TCL’s showcase has something for you!
News: Optoelectronics 26 November 2024 POET expands capacity to meet AI infrastructure demand POET Technologies Inc of Toronto, Ontario, Canada — designer and developer of the POET Optical Interposer, photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and light sources for the data-center, telecom and artificial intelligence (AI) markets — is to expand its optical engine production capacity in Malaysia. The firm also announced that it has signed a binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Quanzhou Sanan Optical Communication Technology Co Ltd (SAIC) to transfer to POET its 24.8% stake in the China-based joint venture Super Photonics Xiamen (SPX), along with all the production equipment previously leased by SAIC to SPX. With control of SPX, POET now has the flexibility to implement its ‘China Plus One’ strategy to locate its wafer-scale assembly operations outside China. Concurrently, the firm has been negotiating with several contract manufacturers in Malaysia to become the focal point for POET’s wafer-scale assembly of optical engines and expects to sign an agreement in November and to start operations by the end of the year. "The addition of wafer-scale equipment to our assembly & test operations will significantly expand our production capacity to cover the projected needs of our customers for 800G optical engines being sold to AI networks through 2026,” notes POET’s chairman & CEO Dr Suresh Venkatesan. "We can now project an assembly & test capacity exceeding 1 million optical engines per year, all dedicated to the 800G-and-higher-speed transceivers required for AI clusters.” The 24.8% equity stake represents SAIC’s entire ownership position in the JV. With no other shareholders, SPX will become a wholly owned subsidiary of POET and will continue to assemble optical engines for sale in China, adopting the POET company name. The MOU is binding and is also subject to definitive agreements, which are expected to be signed by the end of November. Expansion of IR activities POET has entered into an agreement with 1123963 B.C Ltd DBA CAPITALIZ ON IT to conduct market awareness and marketing services, commencing on 15 November 2024 and terminating on 15 February 2025. The nature of the services to be provided by CAPITALIZ include, but are not limited to, advice, content development, media buying and distribution, and marketing services through social media channels. POET will pay CAPITALIZ a total of US$90,000 for its services, split over the term of the contract in accordance with the services rendered. See related items: POET and Mitsubishi Electric Collaborate to advance AI Networks POET streamlines global engineering organization in response to AI market demand Tags: POET Visit: www.poet-technologies.comTony Osburn scores 23 points to lead Omaha past Lamar 65-59 in Akron Basketball ClassicThe withdrawal of the ‘no-detention’ policy for Classes 5 and 8, paving the way for schools to fail students who are unable to clear year-end exams, has been opposed by many educationists in the State. They expressed concern that this move by the Union government will particularly affect children from deprived classes such as Dalits, tribal people and those from backward classes and rural areas. They feared it would lead to more dropouts and children getting into labour market. On the other hand, some private school managements and students’ groups have welcomed the government’s decision. What the changed rules say The Ministry of Education, in its gazette notification dated on December 16, titled ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Rules, 2024’, states that if a child fails to fulfil promotion criteria in Classes 5 or 8 in the regular examination, they can be held back. It also emphasised the need for remedial measures for such students to close learning gaps. They will get an opportunity for re-examination within two months from the date of declaration of results. If the child fails to clear the re-exam, they should be held back. Though the Ministry had amended the Act to this effect in 2019, they had not framed the rules and implemented them till this academic year. Speaking to The Hindu, Niranjanaradhya V.P., development educationist, said that as a result of the continuous struggle for almost 100 years for free and compulsory education, in 2009, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had brought in the RTE Act, 2009, and implemented it from 2010. Section-16 of the Act prohibited holding back or expulsion of a child from school till the attainment of elementary education. The changes in the act brought out now, he said, were a “deliberate attempt to dilute and distort the historic Act.” He urged that the State government reject the detention proposal. “The Chief Minister should take the lead in this,” he said. “Repeating a class does not give the child any special resources to deal with the same syllabus requirements for yet another year. Parents and friends of such children also tend to view them as failures,” he added. He emphasised that the ‘no detention’ provision in the RTE Act does not imply abandoning procedures that assess children’s learning, but putting in place a continuous and comprehensive evaluation procedure. Lokesh Talikatte, president of Karnataka Private Educational Institutions Association (KRUPA), said that the move of the Centre was “anti-student.” He said this might lead to school dropouts. Welcomed by some On the other hand, private school managements, such as those affiliated to Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) and students’ organisations like All India Democratic Students Organization (AIDSO) have welcomed the move. “SSLC students in many government schools cannot read and write English or solve simple mathematics problems since there is a ‘no detention’ policy. Therefore, we welcome the Union government’s move to scrap the policy as it will help to improve the quality of education. So, the State government should immediately implement the new rules,” urged Shashi Kumar, general secretary of KAMS. The AIDSO State committee in a statement called the change in rules “a partial victory to the movement against no-detention policy” and said that parents, teachers as well as several educationists were for a change in the policy. Policy matter Speaking to The Hindu, Ritesh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, said that it was a policy matter and a decision would be taken on the matter after discussions with the Minister concerned and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Published - December 24, 2024 11:43 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Karnataka / Bangalore / students / school / test/examination / poverty / discrimination / minority group / dalits / tribals / social issue / right to education / educationMissed kicks. Poor tackling. Costly penalties. Week 12 was filled with sloppy play around the NFL, leading to some upsets and surprising outcomes. Jayden Daniels nearly led Washington to an improbable comeback down 10 in the final two minutes against Dallas only to fall short because Austin Seibert's extra point sailed wide left. After a field goal and successful onside kick, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on an 86-yard catch-and-run touchdown to bring the Commanders within one point with 21 seconds remaining. But Seibert's point-after attempt failed and the Cowboys returned the ensuing onside kick for a touchdown to seal a 34-26 victory. Special teams were atrocious for both teams. Seibert also missed his first extra point and Washington allowed KaVontae Turpin's 99-yard kickoff return for a score earlier in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys missed a field goal, had another blocked and had a punt blocked. "What a wild special teams moment of blocked punts, kicks, kickoff returns, blocked field goals, just a number of things going to that spot," Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. Washington (7-5) was a 10 1/2-point favorite over the undermanned Cowboys (4-7) but ended up losing a third straight game. The Houston Texans were 8-point favorites against the lowly Tennessee Titans and let the game come down to Ka'imi Fairbairn missing a 28-yard field goal that would have tied it with just under two minutes left. C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions, was sacked four times and the Texans (7-5) committed 11 penalties, including an illegal shift that negated a go-ahead 33-yard TD pass to Nico Collins on the drive that ended with Fairbairn's miss in the 32-27 loss. The Titans (3-8) averaged just 17 points per game before putting 32 on the scoreboard against Houston's defense that entered No. 4 in the league. "We didn't do anything well enough to win this game," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives. Too many negative plays. Score, get a penalty, get touchdowns called back. Get penalties on special teams. Just way too many negative plays defensively, like unexplainable explosives for touchdowns. We just didn't play good across the board." The San Francisco 49ers didn't have quarterback Brock Purdy, star edge rusher Nick Bosa and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams against Green Bay. That was no excuse for their undisciplined performance. The Niners committed nine penalties and their tackling was shoddy in a 38-10 loss to the Packers. The defending NFC champions are 5-6 with a trip to Buffalo (9-2) coming up. They're still only one game behind Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West. "I'm really not concerned right now about how many guys were missing. We didn't play good enough, so that's not a factor. But, when you are missing some guys, you do have to be better. When you have those penalties and we didn't stop the run like we did and we had those three turnovers in the second half, that's how you get embarrassed." Coming off their first loss of the season, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs needed Patrick Mahomes' heroics on the final drive to beat Carolina 30-27. Mahomes ran 33 yards to set up Spencer Schrader's 31-yard field goal as time expired. Kansas City had 10 penalties, including a pass interference that gave the Panthers (3-8) another chance to make the 2-point conversion that tied the game with 1:46 remaining. On defense, the Chiefs (10-1) suddenly shaky unit gave up 334 total yards against Bryce Young and an offense that entered last in the NFL. "We've got to do better. We're doing good in the red zone but that's only a third of the field," Chiefs safety Bryan Cook said. "We will go back and look at the film to see what we're doing week to week, and see the tendencies that we're giving up, and just move forward from there. At the end of the day, we're all vets in the room for the most part. ... got to go back to the drawing board and see what we're doing and correct it from there." The Vikings allowed the Bears to recover an onside kick with 21 seconds left and Caleb Williams followed with a 27-yard pass to D.J. Moore to set up Cairo Santos' tying 48-yard field goal. But Minnesota won in overtime, 30-27. The Chiefs and Vikings overcame their mistakes in narrow victories. The Commanders, Texans and 49ers couldn't. They have to be better down the stretch to make a playoff run. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
SEATTLE — Mary Ellen Johnson-Davis, a member of the Tulalip Tribes, disappeared in 2020 without a trace. On the FBI website today , below several photos of a woman with dark hair and a resolute expression, a Missing Person poster notes, “Mary was traveling to a friend’s house and never arrived.” Her family believes she was taken against her will, but after four years, they still have no idea what happened to her. Johnson-Davis’ story is explored in the new documentary “Missing from Fire Trail Road,” which examines both one specific case and a longtime pattern of violence against Indigenous women, disproportionate mysterious disappearances or murders of those women , and a seeming lack of interest by law enforcement to solve those cases. According to the National Crime Information Center, there were 5,712 reports of missing American Indian or Alaska Native women or girls in 2016 , though the U.S. Department of Justice’s federal missing persons database only logged 116 of those cases, according to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Seattle-based Urban Indian Health Institute, in a report released in 2018 , identified 506 missing or murdered Indigenous women since 1943 from specifically urban areas across the U.S. (including 45 in Seattle alone), noting that it was extremely difficult to gather such data from the 71 cities, and is likely a significant undercount. It is, said the film’s director, Sabrina Van Tassel, “an epidemic, because there’s not one (Native) family that’s not impacted. Everyone knows someone who went missing.” Deborah Parker, former vice chairperson of the Tulalip Tribes and executive producer of the film, said, “These are our daughters, our aunties, our relatives. ... When a Native woman goes missing, the chances of our sister not returning is high.” May 5 is now recognized as a national Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Van Tassel, a French American investigative journalist whose work focuses on social justice (her latest film, “The State of Texas vs. Melissa,” brought attention to a woman facing the death penalty), said she wished she could tell the stories of “all the women who disappeared.” But she chose this story because she was familiar with the Tulalip Tribes (having previously worked with Parker on a project more than a decade ago) and she found something enormously moving in Johnson-Davis’ story, which was one of long struggle: As a child, Johnson-Davis was removed from her family and placed in foster care, where she was subjected to sexual abuse, says her sister in the film. Returning as an adult to the Tulalip Reservation, she struggled with addiction, and with a volatile marriage. “There were so many unknowns about Mary — we had to do a lot of investigation,” said Parker. “Sadly, that’s the case when families are broken apart and other relatives don’t know much information about the children that were taken by the government.” She and Van Tassel searched for “relatives, friends, anyone who knew anything about Mary,” ultimately focusing on the missing woman’s three sisters, who had been looking tirelessly for her for years with little help from law enforcement. They were guided, Parker said, by Mary’s spirit — by “paying attention to Mary’s energy that was left around us. We had to pay attention to maybe her direction, from the other side.” Though it meticulously walks us through the case (and presents a few possible suspects), “Missing from Fire Trail Road” is not simply a true-crime documentary, but an examination of the impact of multigenerational trauma. Like “ Sugarcane ,” a documentary released earlier this year, the film traces the horrifying history of Native American boarding schools in the U.S. and Canada, where for decades, Native children were subjected to cultural erasure and abuse . Van Tassel said she was particularly interested in the link between the cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and what happened in the schools — “putting the two together, that’s really what my film is,” she said. “I do believe that when you have unsolved issues in the past, you can’t go forward to the present.” The film, completed some months ago, notes at the end that there has been no official U.S. government apology for the damage caused by the boarding schools. That changed a few weeks ago, when President Joe Biden issued an apology , calling the era of the schools “a blot on American history” and “a sin on our soul.” Parker, who’s now the CEO of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, was among those personally asking for that apology, and was pleased to see it. “It’s never too late to apologize,” she said. “I was on Air Force One with him from D.C. to Arizona, and we had a long discussion about the boarding school era. ... He was very visibly sad, he had tears in his eyes, he was just angry that we could have a society that behaves so horribly toward Native children and families.” Having the president acknowledge that pain and make an apology, Parker said, is an important step. Now available on multiple digital platforms, “Missing from Fire Trail Road” is still making the rounds of film festivals and screenings, including a special local screening for the Tulalip Tribes held on Nov. 10. Parker is hopeful that the screening “really sparked some interest in folks who want to do something,” and that perhaps it might bring about some new leads in the case. Many of Johnson-Davis’ family members attended that screening and, Parker said, found some hope in the sense of community. And both filmmakers are hopeful that the documentary might help effect change. “I think this is really the right moment,” Van Tassel said. “Society has changed so much in recent years — we all of a sudden understand where victims come from. I think this is the right moment for people to really acknowledge that there is one population in the U.S. that we have really not dealt with their past trauma.” Parker hopes, first and foremost, that the film helps solve the mystery of what happened to Johnson-Davis, to give her loved ones some resolution and peace. She also hopes it will bring a realization that it’s time to “take a pause, listen to Native people, start to honor the Indigenous culture that surrounds us, and pay deep respect for those who are still with us, those who are survivors.” The government, she said, tried to devastate a people — “but we’re still here, and we have a story to tell.” 'MISSING FROM FIRE TRAIL ROAD' No MPA rating Running time: 1:41 How to watch: Available on demand from Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, Microsoft Movies and other services. ——— ©2024 The Seattle Times. Visit seattletimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
President-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. While immigration officials have used the tech for years, an October letter from the Department of Homeland Security obtained exclusively by The Associated Press details how those tools — some of them powered by AI — help make decisions over whether an immigrant should be detained or surveilled. One algorithm, for example, ranks immigrants with a “Hurricane Score,” ranging from 1-5, to assess whether someone will “abscond” from the agency's supervision. The letter, sent by DHS Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Eric Hysen to the immigrant rights group Just Futures Law, revealed that the score calculates the potential risk that an immigrant — with a pending case — will fail to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The algorithm relies on several factors, he said, including an immigrant’s number of violations and length of time in the program, and whether the person has a travel document. Hysen wrote that ICE officers consider the score, among other information, when making decisions about an immigrant’s case. “The Hurricane Score does not make decisions on detention, deportation, or surveillance; instead, it is used to inform human decision-making,” Hysen wrote. Also included in the government’s tool kit is a mobile app called SmartLINK that uses facial matching and can track an immigrant’s specific location. Nearly 200,000 people without legal status who are in removal proceedings are enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program, under which certain immigrants can live in the U.S. while their immigration cases are pending. In exchange, SmartLINK and GPS trackers used by ICE rigorously surveil them and their movements. The phone application draws on facial matching technology and geolocation data, which has been used before to find and arrest those using the app. Just Futures Law wrote to Hysen earlier this year, questioning the fairness of using an algorithm to assess whether someone is a flight risk and raising concerns over how much data SmartLINK collects. Such AI systems, which score or screen people, are used widely but remain largely unregulated even though some have been found to discriminate on race, gender or other protected traits. DHS said in an email that it is committed to ensuring that its use of AI is transparent and safeguards privacy and civil rights while avoiding biases. The agency said it is working to implement the Biden administration’s requirements on using AI , but Hysen said in his letter that security officials may waive those requirements for certain uses. Trump has publicly vowed to repeal Biden's AI policy when he returns to the White House in January. “DHS uses AI to assist our personnel in their work, but DHS does not use the outputs of AI systems as the sole basis for any law enforcement action or denial of benefits,” a spokesperson for DHS told the AP. Trump has not revealed how he plans to carry out his promised deportation of an estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally. Although he has proposed invoking wartime powers, as well as military involvement, the plan would face major logistical challenges — such as where to keep those who have been detained and how to find people spread across the country — that AI-powered surveillance tools could potentially address. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, did not answer questions about how the incoming administration plans to use DHS’ tech, but said in a statement that “President Trump will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation” in American history. Over 100 civil society groups sent a letter on Friday urging the Office of Management and Budget to require DHS to comply with the Biden administration’s guidelines. OMB did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Just Futures Law’s executive director, Paromita Shah, said if immigrants are scored as flight risks, they are more likely to remain in detention, "limiting their ability to prepare a defense in their case in immigration court, which is already difficult enough as it is.” SmartLINK, part of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, is run by BI Inc., a subsidiary of the private prison company The GEO Group. The GEO Group also contracts with ICE to run detention centers. ICE is tight-lipped about how it uses SmartLINK’s location feature to find and arrest immigrants. Still, public records show that during Trump’s first term in 2018, Manassas, Virginia-based employees of BI Inc. relayed immigrants’ GPS locations to federal authorities, who then arrested over 40 people. In a report last year to address privacy issues and concerns, DHS said that the mobile app includes security features that “prohibit access to information on the participant’s mobile device, with the exception of location data points when the app is open.” But the report notes that there remains a risk that data collected from people "may be misused for unauthorized persistent monitoring.” Such information could also be stored in other ICE and DHS databases and used for other DHS mission purposes, the report said. On investor calls earlier this month, private prison companies were clear-eyed about the opportunities ahead. The GEO Group’s executive chairman George Christopher Zoley said that he expects the incoming Trump administration to “take a much more aggressive approach regarding border security as well as interior enforcement and to request additional funding from Congress to achieve these goals.” “In GEO’s ISAP program, we can scale up from the present 182,500 participants to several hundreds of thousands, or even millions of participants,” Zoley said. That same day, the head of another private prison company told investors he would be watching closely to see how the new administration may change immigrant monitoring programs. “It’s an opportunity for multiple vendors to engage ICE about the program going forward and think about creative and innovative solutions to not only get better outcomes, but also scale up the program as necessary,” Damon Hininger, CEO of the private prison company CoreCivic Inc. said on an earnings call. GEO did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, CoreCivic said that it has played “a valued but limited role in America’s immigration system” for both Democrats and Republicans for over 40 years.Ruthless Arsenal answer Mikel Arteta's call with statement win to ignite seasonTown Board member Michael Aragosa criticized Acting Supervisor Robert Kirkham Jr. for not providing Town Board members with information on a series of fourth-quarter budget adjustments until just hours before last week’s Town Board meeting. Aragosa said he did not receive information regarding the transfers until 2:45 p.m. last Wednesday — just over four hours ahead of the 7 p.m. meeting that same day. “I mean it’s outrageous,” Aragosa said. “I can’t imagine why there’s not outrage from everybody on this board that we are not getting our resolutions sooner than we are.” Aragosa, a Democrat in his second term, said lawmakers for months have not received information pertaining to pending resolutions and pushed back on Kirkham’s categorization that the budget adjustments were “not something that is extraordinary.” “Sure, they’re standard adjustments, but we need to be able to see them,” Aragosa said. “We need to be able to see them so that we can know what we’re voting on. It’s not — it’s no way to run a town government.” The documents were also not available for the public’s viewing 24 hours prior to the meeting as required under the state’s Open Meetings Law. “If the agency in which a public body functions maintains a regularly and routinely updated website and utilizes a high speed internet connection, such records shall be posted on the website to the extent practicable at least twenty-four hours prior to the meeting,” the law reads. Aragosa ultimately voted in favor of the budget transfers, but said he would not do so on any resolution moving forward until documents are provided to lawmakers at least 48 hours in advance. “That’s where I’m at,” he said. “Going forward, I’m done.” Kirkham pushed back, saying Aragosa should have been more proactive in seeking information on the proposed transfers, noting he has an open-door policy and is available to discuss any issue that may be of concern. “The agenda went out on Friday. And the agenda stated that there were going to be quarterly adjustments,” Kirkham said. “You chose not to reach out and have any discussion with me. I have an open-door policy. Our comptroller has an open-door policy. So to conduct yourself in this manner, I think, is uncalled for.” But Aragosa was not the only lawmaker to raise concerns about not receiving meeting documents in a timely manner. Board member Brendan Gillooley, a Conservative backed by Democrats, ultimately voted against the transfers because he did not have time to review the proposal. “We didn’t have time to look at it,” he said. “That’s the issue.” At one point, the meeting devolved into a back and forth between Aragosa and Kirkham with the men talking over each other. The exchange was ultimately disrupted by the town’s attorney, Jeffrey Siegel. “There should be some democrum here,” Siegel said. “One person at a time.” It’s not the first time that Aragosa and Kirkham have clashed in recent months. In October, Aragosa raised concerns about a series of pay raises for elected officials included in the town’s operating budget that amounted to just over $13,000. Aragosa felt it was an inappropriate time for the raises. Kirkham accused him of trying to gain political traction. The budget was ultimately approved in a 4-0 vote. Aragosa and Kirkham did not return a request seeking comment for this story.
Norway has heavily invested in developing its fibre-optic infrastructure and deploying 5G technology. Key players like Telenor, Altibox, and Global Connect have extended fibre-optic networks to ensure high-speed internet is accessible to urban and rural populations. 99 per cent of Norwegian households now have broadband access, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 5G coverage in Norway is rapidly expanding, complementing fibre networks to provide ultra-fast speeds for a range of applications. Most Read on Euro Weekly News Norway’s competitive telecom market, characterised by over 80 network providers, benefits from fixed wireless access (FWA) solutions. These enable smaller internet service providers to compete effectively, driving down prices and increasing consumer choice. As a result, consumers can save thousands annually while tailoring services to their needs. Price comparison platforms including bredbåndtest.no and Fibernettguiden.no simplify the decision-making process by helping users compare broadband prices and services. These tools enable Norwegians to identify the best value and performance for their location, ensuring informed decisions in an otherwise complex market. Norway leads in closing digital divides related to age, income, and education. Efforts have reduced disparities in internet usage, making digital services accessible to almost all demographics. According to the , ‘differences in the share of adults using the internet in Norway by age, education level, gender and income are significantly lower than the OECD average.’ Norway is utilising data to drive innovation, particularly in healthcare, where data-sharing intensity has reached 100 per cent. Secure infrastructure and privacy regulations are critical to maintaining trust. A strong focus on cybersecurity ensures critical infrastructures are robust. , with Norway continuing to refine its policies. Norway is integrating digital technologies to support sustainability, particularly in energy management and e-waste reduction. With over half of its e-waste recycled, the country is aligning its green transition with digitalisation. It recently made headlines for . Norway is currently positioned as one of the digital leaders in Europe, offering a digitally inclusive and competitive society.PDP Crisis: ‘They Want Damagum To Remain In Office Till 2027’ – Ugochinyere
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has signed revised Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Eastern University of Sri Lanka (EUSL) and the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (SEUSL), reinforcing its commitment to supporting the educational and career aspirations of undergraduates. The SEC began its partnership with national universities in 2008 through the signing of MoUs, and the MoUs were initially signed with the EUSL and SEUSL in 2010. This marked the start of a lasting partnership aimed at nurturing the development of future professionals in the capital market. The updated MoUs aim to offer valuable benefits to undergraduates, such as a cash award and Gold medal recognising academic excellence in capital market-related subjects, a cash award for the top research project in the capital market field, and opportunities for enhanced industry knowledge, hands-on learning experiences, and career development within the capital market and the SEC through internships. The revised Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were formally signed with the participation of key representatives from both universities and the SEC. SEC Deputy Director Tushara Jayaratne represented the Commission, while SEUSL was represented by its Acting Vice Chancellor Dr. U.L. Abdul Majeed, and EUSL by its Vice Chancellor Prof. V. Kanagasingham. The signing ceremony at SEUSL was also attended by Department of Management and Information Technology Head Prof. Sabraz Nawas and M. Farwis of Department of Accountancy and Finance. At EUSL, the MoU was signed in the presence of Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr. T. Prabaharan, Faculty of Graduate Studies Dean Prof. J. Kennedy, Faculty of Arts and Culture Dean Dr. V. Gunabalasingam, Department of Management Acting Head V.R. Ragel, Department of Commerce Head M.S. Thayaraj, Faculty of Commerce and Management National Link Coordinator T. Sellar and Healthcare Sciences Dean Prof. T. Sathaananthan. The SEC will continue to renew MoUs with other national universities, underscoring its dedication to broadening access to professional opportunities for students across the country. Through this initiative, the SEC seeks to inspire a new wave of young professionals, fostering academic excellence and innovative contributions to the capital markets sector.
Finding the perfect pair of jeans for your toddler can be a delightful experience, especially when it involves the . Available on today, these jeans boast a classic style with a modern comfort twist, making them a standout choice for parents and little ones alike. Here are some compelling reasons to add these jeans to your cart today: First and foremost, these jeans are currently discounted by 36% on , presenting a fantastic opportunity to grab high-quality apparel at an incredible value. This limited-time offer allows you to stock up on durable everyday wear without straining your budget. Crafted with soft, durable cotton, the promise comfortable all-day wear, no matter how active your toddler might be. The hand-sanded effect gives these jeans a lived-in look that combines both style and comfort effortlessly. The design is sleek and functional, featuring a classic bootcut with a flare leg opening that is fitted through the thigh. The 5-pocket styling provides a quintessential jeans look, while the EZ-fit elastic waist with snap closure ensures ease of use. For growing kids, the inner adjustable waist tabs are a thoughtful addition, allowing for a personalized fit as they grow. Versatility is another win for these jeans. Perfect for any casual day, you can easily pair them with your toddler's favorite top or graphic tee. Whether it's a fun day at the park or a casual family gathering, these jeans deliver style and comfort seamlessly. Finally, the convenience of buying these jeans on allows you to enjoy a hassle-free shopping experience from the comfort of your home. So why wait? Give your little one the gift of style and comfort with the and make the most of this unbeatable discount offer today!FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors Market 2024: A Decade of Phenomenal Growth Ahead 12-29-2024 06:58 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Prudent Markets FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors Market The FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors Market 2024-2023 report provides a comprehensive analysis of Types (FAKRA PCB Plug Connectors, FAKRA Cable Jack Connectors, FAKRA Cable Plug Connectors), Application (GPS, Infotainment & Television, Safety & Security, In-Vehicle Network, Others), Analysis of Industry Trends, Growth, and Opportunities, R&D landscape, Data security and privacy concerns Risk Analysis, Pipeline Products, Assumptions, Research Timelines, Secondary Research and Primary Research, Key Insights from Industry Experts, Regional Outlook and Forecast, 2024-2032. Major Players of FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors Market are: Rosenberger, Amphenol, Molex, TE Connectivity, JAE, IMS Connector Systems, Hosiden, SMK, Raydiall Automotive, Yamaichi Electronics, Robert Karst, MITSUMI Group, Pasternack, Electric Connector Technology (ECT), Chant Sincere, Suzhou Recodeal, Wenzhou Yihua Connector, ACES Electronics, Dongguan Tin Wei Electronic Technology, Shenzhen Sihanming Technology Get PDF Sample Report Now! @ https://www.prudentmarkets.com/sample-request/9169813/ FAKRA (Fachkreis Automobil, a german standard) connectors are SMB based automotive-grade connectors that can operate up to 6 GHz. These connectors are embedded within a plastic housing with a locking feature that has an audible clicking noise which lets you know a connection has been made. They are available in 14 different mechanical layouts which are color coded for easy identification and mis-matching prevention. FAKRA connectors meet the mechanical and environmental requirements of the automotive industry. The worldwide automotive industry has standardized on connectors based on the FAKRA and USCAR standards. They can be used in for to make various connections in automotive vehicles, applications include SDARS, Cellular, GPS Navigation, key-less entry and satellite radio. This report provides a deep insight into the global FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors market covering all its essential aspects. This ranges from a macro overview of the market to micro details of the market size, competitive landscape, development trend, niche market, key market drivers and challenges, SWOT analysis, value chain analysis, etc. The analysis helps the reader to shape the competition within the industries and strategies for the competitive environment to enhance the potential profit. Furthermore, it provides a simple framework for evaluating and accessing the position of the business organization. The report structure also focuses on the competitive landscape of the Global FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors Market, this report introduces in detail the market share, market performance, product situation, operation situation, etc. of the main players, which helps the readers in the industry to identify the main competitors and deeply understand the competition pattern of the market. Segmentation of FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors Market- By Type FAKRA PCB Plug Connectors, FAKRA Cable Jack Connectors, FAKRA Cable Plug Connectors By Application GPS, Infotainment & Television, Safety & Security, In-Vehicle Network, Others Geographic Segmentation -North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) -Europe (Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy, Rest of Europe) -Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific) -South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Rest of South America) -The Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Rest of MEA) Prudent Markets provides attractive discounts that fit your needs. Customization of the reports as per your requirement is also offered. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you a report that suits your needs. Speak To Our Analyst For A Discussion On The Above Findings, And Ask For A Discount On The Report @ https://www.prudentmarkets.com/discount-request/9169813/ Key Benefits of the Report: This study presents the analytical depiction of the FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors Industry along with the current trends and future estimations to determine the imminent investment pockets. The report presents information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities along with detailed analysis of the FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors Market share. The current market is quantitatively analyzed from to highlight the Global Gardening Pots Market growth scenario. Porter's five forces analysis illustrates the potency of buyers & suppliers in the market. The report provides a detailed FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors Market analysis based on competitive intensity and how the competition will take shape in coming years. Key poles of the TOC: Chapter 1 FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors Market Business Overview Chapter 2 Major Breakdown by Type Chapter 3 Major Application Wise Breakdown (Revenue & Volume) Chapter 4 Manufacture Market Breakdown Chapter 5 Sales & Estimates Market Study Chapter 6 Key Manufacturers Production and Sales Market Comparison Breakdown Chapter 8 Manufacturers, Deals and Closings Market Evaluation & Aggressiveness Chapter 9 Key Companies Breakdown by Overall Market Size & Revenue by Type Chapter 11 Business / Industry Chain (Value & Supply Chain Analysis) Chapter 12 Conclusions & Appendix The report covers the competitive analysis of the market. As the demand is driven by a buyer's paying capacity and the rate of item development, the report shows the important regions that will direct growth. This section exclusively shares insight into the budget reports of big-league members of the market helping key players and new entrants understand the potential of investments in the Global FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors Market. It can be better employed by both traditional and new players in the industry for complete know-how of the market. For In-Depth Competitive Analysis - Purchase this Report now at a Complete Table of Contents (Single User License) @ https://www.prudentmarkets.com/checkout/?id=9169813&license_type=su Free Customization on the basis of client requirements on Immediate purchase: 1- Free country-level breakdown of any 5 countries of your interest. 2- Competitive breakdown of segment revenue by market players. Customization of the Report: This report can be customized to meet the client's requirements. Please connect with our sales team (sales@prudentmarkets.com), who will ensure that you get a report that suits your needs. You can also get in touch with our executives on +91 83560 50278 || USA/Canada(Toll Free): 1800-601-6071 to share your research requirements. In conclusion, the FAKRA Coaxial RF Connectors Market report is a genuine source for accessing the research data which is projected to exponentially grow your business. The report provides information such as economic scenarios, benefits, limits, trends, market growth rates, and figures. SWOT analysis and PESTLE analysis is also incorporated in the report. Contact Us: Allan Carter Andheri, Maharashtra, 400102 USA/Canada(Toll Free): 1800-601-6071 Direct Line: +91 83560 50278 Mail: sales@prudentmarkets.com Web: www.prudentmarkets.com About Us: We are leaders in market analytics, business research, and consulting services for Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, financial & government institutions. Since we understand the criticality of data and insights, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. To be at our client's disposal whenever they need help on market research and consulting services. We also aim to be their business partners when it comes to making critical business decisions around new market entry, M&A, competitive Intelligence and strategy. This release was published on openPR.
Marine Dynamic Positioning System Market to Anchor at $17.6 Billion by 2030, Navigating a 12.5% CAGR: Allied Market ResearchFive-star center Chris Cenac Jr. commits to HoustonFrank Seravalli and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discuss why veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury could be a valuable member on Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster. Frank Seravalli: So, if you’re talking about experience and I don’t know why he hasn’t been mentioned more, but why wouldn’t Team Canada consider someone like Marc-Andre Fleury as the third guy? Maybe he can help talk to these guys in between games. He keeps everything light. He’s really well-liked and God forbid the wheels fall off with the two guys that you pick. Would anyone feel uncomfortable putting Marc-Andre Fleury in the net? Carter Hutton: No, I sure wouldn’t, Frank. And I brought that up before, I thought Marc-Andre Fleury and Cam Talbot were like my number three. I think for the longest time it’s been Binnington, Skinner and Hill, those were our three guys because of recent success. But, Fleury is a guy who’s going to make the room light practice, he’s going to be able to manage these moments. He is a guy that I think anyone across Canada would be fine if it was the final game and someone got hurt or he had to go in and he was your guy you’d be totally fine with it. Carter Hutton: I also like Cam Talbot because I know he doesn’t have the same resume as him, but at this point, Cam Talbot has the capacity to go in there and play and be in those situations. So those are two guys I look for in that number three situation and they’re guys that if they aren’t starting they’re not going to be undermining anyone, they’re going to be there for the benefit of the team and do whatever they can to try to help this team win. This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.
President-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. While immigration officials have used the tech for years, an October letter from the Department of Homeland Security obtained exclusively by The Associated Press details how those tools — some of them powered by AI — help make decisions over whether an immigrant should be detained or surveilled. One algorithm, for example, ranks immigrants with a “Hurricane Score,” ranging from 1-5, to assess whether someone will “abscond” from the agency's supervision. The letter, sent by DHS Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Eric Hysen to the immigrant rights group Just Futures Law, revealed that the score calculates the potential risk that an immigrant — with a pending case — will fail to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The algorithm relies on several factors, he said, including an immigrant’s number of violations and length of time in the program, and whether the person has a travel document. Hysen wrote that ICE officers consider the score, among other information, when making decisions about an immigrant’s case. “The Hurricane Score does not make decisions on detention, deportation, or surveillance; instead, it is used to inform human decision-making,” Hysen wrote. Also included in the government’s tool kit is a mobile app called SmartLINK that uses facial matching and can track an immigrant’s specific location. Nearly 200,000 people without legal status who are in removal proceedings are enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program, under which certain immigrants can live in the U.S. while their immigration cases are pending. In exchange, SmartLINK and GPS trackers used by ICE rigorously surveil them and their movements. The phone application draws on facial matching technology and geolocation data, which has been used before to find and arrest those using the app. Just Futures Law wrote to Hysen earlier this year, questioning the fairness of using an algorithm to assess whether someone is a flight risk and raising concerns over how much data SmartLINK collects. Such AI systems, which score or screen people, are used widely but remain largely unregulated even though some have been found to discriminate on race, gender or other protected traits. DHS said in an email that it is committed to ensuring that its use of AI is transparent and safeguards privacy and civil rights while avoiding biases. The agency said it is working to implement the Biden administration’s requirements on using AI , but Hysen said in his letter that security officials may waive those requirements for certain uses. Trump has publicly vowed to repeal Biden's AI policy when he returns to the White House in January. “DHS uses AI to assist our personnel in their work, but DHS does not use the outputs of AI systems as the sole basis for any law enforcement action or denial of benefits,” a spokesperson for DHS told the AP. Trump has not revealed how he plans to carry out his promised deportation of an estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally. Although he has proposed invoking wartime powers, as well as military involvement, the plan would face major logistical challenges — such as where to keep those who have been detained and how to find people spread across the country — that AI-powered surveillance tools could potentially address. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, did not answer questions about how the incoming administration plans to use DHS’ tech, but said in a statement that “President Trump will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation” in American history. Over 100 civil society groups sent a letter on Friday urging the Office of Management and Budget to require DHS to comply with the Biden administration’s guidelines. OMB did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Just Futures Law’s executive director, Paromita Shah, said if immigrants are scored as flight risks, they are more likely to remain in detention, "limiting their ability to prepare a defense in their case in immigration court, which is already difficult enough as it is.” SmartLINK, part of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, is run by BI Inc., a subsidiary of the private prison company The GEO Group. The GEO Group also contracts with ICE to run detention centers. ICE is tight-lipped about how it uses SmartLINK’s location feature to find and arrest immigrants. Still, public records show that during Trump’s first term in 2018, Manassas, Virginia-based employees of BI Inc. relayed immigrants’ GPS locations to federal authorities, who then arrested over 40 people. In a report last year to address privacy issues and concerns, DHS said that the mobile app includes security features that “prohibit access to information on the participant’s mobile device, with the exception of location data points when the app is open.” But the report notes that there remains a risk that data collected from people "may be misused for unauthorized persistent monitoring.” Such information could also be stored in other ICE and DHS databases and used for other DHS mission purposes, the report said. On investor calls earlier this month, private prison companies were clear-eyed about the opportunities ahead. The GEO Group’s executive chairman George Christopher Zoley said that he expects the incoming Trump administration to “take a much more aggressive approach regarding border security as well as interior enforcement and to request additional funding from Congress to achieve these goals.” “In GEO’s ISAP program, we can scale up from the present 182,500 participants to several hundreds of thousands, or even millions of participants,” Zoley said. That same day, the head of another private prison company told investors he would be watching closely to see how the new administration may change immigrant monitoring programs. “It’s an opportunity for multiple vendors to engage ICE about the program going forward and think about creative and innovative solutions to not only get better outcomes, but also scale up the program as necessary,” Damon Hininger, CEO of the private prison company CoreCivic Inc. said on an earnings call. GEO did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, CoreCivic said that it has played “a valued but limited role in America’s immigration system” for both Democrats and Republicans for over 40 years.Special counsel moves to abandon election interference and classified documents cases against Trump
A Republican senator has blocked the promotion of a general who oversaw the US withdrawal from Afghanistan , according to a source familiar with the matter, as President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to go after the officials involved in the withdrawal. Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma blocked the promotion of Lt. Gen. Chris Donahue to four-star general as the commander of US Army Europe-Africa. Donahue was the last US soldier on the ground in Afghanistan at the end of the withdrawal, according to the Pentagon. The night-vision picture of Donahue boarding a cargo flight out of the Kabul airport become a symbolic image of the end of a 20-year war and a chaotic withdrawal that saw the deaths of 13 US troops in a suicide bombing. Trump said he will demand the resignation of “every single senior official who touched the Afghanistan calamity.” Vice President-elect JD Vance also promised to go after those involved in the withdrawal, saying, “the people who screwed this up are going to suffer some consequences.” Donahue serves as the commander of the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Liberty in North Carolina. At the time of the Afghanistan withdrawal, he was a major general commanding the 82nd Airborne Division. “We are aware that there is a hold on Lt. Gen. Donahue,” Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon press secretary, said at a press briefing Monday. Singh said she is not aware of any other holds on promotions related to the Afghanistan withdrawal. On November 19, the Senate Armed Services Committee announced the advancement of 984 military promotions, including nominations from each of the branches of the military. But Donahue was not on the list of nominees advanced. The Pentagon announced four days earlier that he had been nominated for promotion to general. In addition to leading a storied military corps, Donahue has also been critical in the US effort to help Ukraine, helping to establish the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine. The organization was established in November 2022 as a more long-term extension of the work of 18th Airborne Corps, which deployed to Europe to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank after Russia invaded Ukraine. CNN has reached out to Mullin for comment. On the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing that killed 13 US service members, Mullin said that “not one person has been held accountable for the disaster” and explicitly named Donahue and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley. Republicans have railed against Milley and the Afghanistan withdrawal even though it was Trump who negotiated directly with the Taliban to remove US forces from the country, despite Milley and Gen. Frank McKenzie, former commander of US Central Command, recommending against withdrawing. This story has been updated with additional information.Nittany Lions regulars sustain serious leg injuries at Minnesota
Illinois data breach exposes 1M records, 4,700 Social Security numbers