
A Personal Journey into Protecting Our Digital Future
The TOI Entertainment Desk is a dynamic and dedicated team of journalists, working tirelessly to bring the pulse of the entertainment world straight to the readers of The Times of India. No red carpet goes unrolled, no stage goes dark - our team spans the globe, bringing you the latest scoops and insider insights from Bollywood to Hollywood, and every entertainment hotspot in between. We don't just report; we tell tales of stardom and stories untold. Whether it's the rise of a new sensation or the seasoned journey of an industry veteran, the TOI Entertainment Desk is your front-row seat to the fascinating narratives that shape the entertainment landscape. Beyond the breaking news, we present a celebration of culture. We explore the intersections of entertainment with society, politics, and everyday life. Read More Vaani Kapoor stuns in a black dress with 3D roses How to make Chocolate Hazelnut Bark 10 animals to see in Gir National Park other than Asiatic lions Get Christmas ready with Sunny Leone 10 animals found only in China 10 mother-son quotes that will melt your heart away Sonali Bendre mesmerises with her graceful ethnic charm Shriya Saran’s white gown exudes pure elegance Shriya Saran exudes pure bliss in her ethereal white gown avatarCrown Princess Victoria of Sweden dazzles at King Carl Gustaf XVI's Nobel Prize dinner - in a gorgeous high street gown
Cowley Manor Experimental Cotswolds hotel reviewI haphazardly closed up the little house this year. I hurriedly swept the floors, took out the trash, checked the windows, pulled the Dutch door shut and whispered, “Thanks for the memories.” Not long after, a fierce night wind pushed the door open. Blowing snow drifted in and nestled in the corners. Tiny hand-shaped footprints crisscrossed the front porch. With the door ajar, raccoons let themselves in and ransacked the place. They tossed plates and cups, knocked the pan on the stove to the floor and clawed at the tablecloth. So uncivilized. The little house really is just that. It measures 6 feet square and has a ceiling that will graze the head of anyone over 5-foot-2. The front porch, which usually holds a red geranium and child-size wicker chair, runs the width of the little house. We built the little house 35 years ago. It was how we spent a summer vacation not long after moving back to the Midwest. The husband drew meticulous plans, hauled in supplies and was assisted by a crew that played with the hammer, colored all over the blueprints and littered the work site with empty juice boxes and yogurt pouches. Despite all the help, the little house was eventually finished and soon hosting tea parties, secret clubs, bank robberies and foreign invasions. The years flew, the children grew, the gatherings tapered from often to occasional, and the little house was visited less and less frequently. The life and laughter that once shook the walls quietly disappeared. More than a decade passed before a second generation brought the little house back to life. Red, white and blue garlands on the Fourth of July, small bouquets of freshly picked herbs in the summer, a pumpkin on the porch at Halloween. A Vrbo listing would read like this: “Small, aging, rustic cottage. No fridge, heat or running water. Nearest bathroom 20 feet away in the big house. Kitchen fully stocked with plastic food. Decrepit dishware for four and a pink teapot missing the lid. All you need is imagination.” Now, after a busy summer and beautiful fall, the mercury in the thermometer plummeting and wind howling, the little house stands bare and alone. Just when it appears forsaken and forgotten, a small voice asks to use one of those orange electrical cords in the garage. The plan is to lug a space heater to the little house. And could they cut some evergreens? And how soon could I deliver a round of hot chocolate? Once again, the little house bustles with laughter and warmth. At least for one more season.
(WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.) — First it was , then the . Now, again wants . The President-elect is renewing unsuccessful for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark, adding to the list of allied countries with which he's picking fights even before taking office on Jan. 20. In a Sunday announcement naming his ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote that, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." Trump again having designs on Greenland comes after the President-elect suggested over the weekend that the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal if something isn't done to ease rising shipping costs required for using the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He's also been suggesting that Canada become the 51st U.S. state and referred to Canadian Prime Minister as “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.” Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, said Trump tweaking friendly countries harkens back to an aggressive style he used during his days in business. “You ask something unreasonable and it’s more likely you can get something less unreasonable,” said Farnsworth, who is also author of the book “Presidential Communication and Character.” Greenland, the world’s largest island, sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is 80% covered by an ice sheet and is home to a large U.S. military base. It gained home rule from Denmark in 1979 and its head of government, Múte Bourup Egede, suggested that Trump’s latest calls for U.S. control would be as meaningless as those made in his first term. “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale,” he said in a statement. “We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom.” Trump after his was rejected by Copenhagen, and ultimately . He also suggested Sunday that the U.S. is getting “ripped off” at the Panama Canal. “If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question,” he said. Panama President responded in a video that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to,” but Trump fired back on his social media site, “We’ll see about that!” The President-elect also posted a picture of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone under the phrase, “Welcome to the United States Canal!” The United States built the canal in the early 1900s but relinquished control to on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President . The canal depends on reservoirs that were hit by 2023 droughts that forced it to substantially reduce the number of daily slots for crossing ships. With fewer ships, administrators also increased the fees that shippers are charged to reserve slots to use the canal. The Greenland and Panama flareups followed Trump recently posting that “Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State" and offering an image of himself superimposed on a mountaintop surveying surrounding territory next to a Canadian flag. Trudeau about annexing his country, but the pair met recently at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida to discuss Trump's threats to impose on all Canadian goods. “Canada is not going to become part of the United States, but Trump’s comments are more about leveraging what he says to get concessions from Canada by putting Canada off balance, particularly given the precarious current political environment in Canada,” Farnsworth said. “Maybe claim a win on trade concessions, a tighter border or other things.” He said the situation is similar with Greenland. “What Trump wants is a win," Farnsworth said. "And even if the American flag doesn’t raise over Greenland, Europeans may be more willing to say yes to something else because of the pressure.” __ Associated Press Writer Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report.All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may earn affiliate revenue on this article and commission when you buy something. Navigating an endless scroll of on-sale items during Black Friday and Cyber Monday might feel like a chore to some, but for your friends at Vogue Shopping, it serves as the ultimate fashion challenge (just take a look at our editors’ Black Friday picks for proof). Not only are they items that we first spotted (and loved!) on the runways available at our favorite retailers, but they also check out at delightfully discounted prices at the moment, validating any new purchase with ease. Vogue’s Most-Wanted Black Friday 2024 Deals: After combing through the many Black Friday clothing deals , it becomes clear which prized pieces are the undeniable standouts–and amazingly, some of the season’s top-trending items are up for grabs. There is Vince’s slouchy leather bomber jacket that had the street style seal of approval this past fashion month, a pair of cool corduroy pants from Rabanne that are a must-have in any winter capsule wardrobe, Proenza Schouler’s retro sneakers that any self-proclaimed minimalist will love, and so much more. Speaking of cold-weather dressing, make the somewhat daunting task all the chicer by cozying up in Veronica Beard’s festive Fair Isle sweater , Wardrobe.NYC’s x Hailey Bieber’s oversized wool coat, or even Stand Studio’s statement shearling. Shopping for a new soirée staple that will shine at your next holiday cocktail party? Our edit of the most-wanted Black Friday 2024 deals has you covered, from Mango’s shimmering sequin skirt to Jil Sander’s elegant east-west bag. From sleek smoking loafers and polished pencil skirts to notable knit dresses and suede jackets, these are the 15 most-wanted Black Friday 2024 deals to shop now–before they sell out. The Cool Corduroy While we could never fully replace our go-to blue jeans, cool pairs of chocolate brown corduroy pants are slowly, but surely taking the #1 spot in our winter wardrobes. Beloved by both the runways (The Row, Loewe, Toteme) and the street style scene, all eyes are on Rabanne’s wide-leg, one-sale version this early Black Friday. The statement style pairs well with many several of the season’s must-have shoe styles , from Mary Janes to retro sneakers . The Leather Bomber Jacket Add a touch of edge to your seasonal capsule wardrobe with Vince’s high-neck, leather bomber jacket . The sale staple first caught our eye earlier this fall when we styled it with everything from lacy slip skirts and dresses to double-buckle biker boots. The best part? It’s the ultimate transitional piece that will work in your closet now in the depths of winter and then again when spring is on the horizon. The Fair Isle Sweater Season after season, the festive Fair Isle sweater is never not in style. Whether you’re hitting the slopes or sticking to the city streets, Veronica Beard’s cozy crewneck is a chic choice to consider. It achieves that laidback, yet luxurious après-ski look we all know and love during the winter months. The Retro Sneaker The ’90s are calling! Step back into the iconic era in these minimalist white sneakers from Proenza Schouler on sale this early Black Friday. The retro trainer made its debut on the New York-based brand’s fall/winter 2024 runway—and now they can be all yours for a price that’s almost too good. The Oversized Outerwear Option Supermodel and skincare mogul, Hailey Bieber , is no stranger to sporting outstandingly oversized outerwear options. Score her infamous double-breasted wool coat in collaboration with Wardrobe.NYC this early Black Friday sale. Layer it over your chunkiest knits or heavyweight cords—you won’t regret it! The Notable Knit Dress ’Tis the season for notable knitwear! And no, we’re not just talking about cozy crewnecks and polished polos. Try out this Ulla Johnson printed sweater dress instead that was an instant hit on the brand’s fall/winter 2024 runway. Style it with a pointed-toe, knee-high boot, and tailored maxi coat for easy outfit elevation. The Statement Shearling Coat A stunning shearling coat in bone or ivory promises to be the foundation of all your winter white outfits to come. According to Vogue Shopping’s senior fashion market editor, Madeline Fass , “You’ll want one to bundle up in one for party dressing and après-ski seasons ahead.” Apparis’s fluffy find is the one to cop this Black Friday. The East-West Bag Each season, we can always count on a new handbag trend to completely take over our shopping carts. For example, last spring was all about the ladylike , top-handle bag with the spotlight on The Row’s always-out-of-stock Margaux bag. This fall, however, sculptural east-west bags stole the show. Get in on the trend, starting with Jil Sander’s glossy leather shoulder bag. In our opinion, it deserves a spot right next to your trusty everyday black bags . The Sleek Smoking Loafer Our loafers have been getting the sleek treatment for seasons now with a fan base that includes supermodels like Kendall Jenner to Vogue -editors alike. If you’ve yet to get your hands on a pair, consider this croc-embellished pair from J.Crew on sale this early Black Friday. The Suede Blazer It’s no secret that textures thrives during the fall and winter months, but none has outshined the rest quite like suede. Adorned on nearly everything from jackets to handbags, Ralph Lauren Collection’s double-breasted suede blazer is the sumptuous staple of all. Wear it with a casual blue jean, cable-knit sweater, and preppy penny loafer for a look that feels effortlessly put together. The Sequin Skirt This holiday season, we’re not just wearing our most festive pieces at holiday soirées and dazzling nights out. We’re slipping into sequin separates everywhere from the office to casual weekend strolls, pairing them with notable knits, retro sneakers, chic camel coats , and more. For under-$100, Mango’s shimmering sequin skirt will shine bright for many seasons to come. The Leopard-Print Pick There’s no debate–fashion’s going wild for leopard print this fall and winter, from the runways to your favorite It girls. Make a serious sartorial splash this early Black Friday 2024 in Theory’s belted trench coat–a prized pick even minimalists will love. The Minimalist Handbag Sure, there is a time and place for a trendy new It bag. Leopard-print picks, east-west bags, and mini totes are just some of the many statement styles we’ve been loving for fall and winter. However, nothing can beat a truly classic leather shoulder bag in black. With a ’90s-era look and feel, St. Agnis Petit bag is hard to beat–sale season or not. The Drawstring Jean No capsule wardrobe is complete without a pair of Levi’s. Whether you shop them new or vintage, a high-waist, straight-leg pair in an easy blue wash is certainly the wear-everywhere denim you’ll never get tire of. Try this drawstring jean for a fun twist on the classics. The Pencil Skirt Clean-lined, pencil skirts have officially transcended the confines of the cubicle, thanks to designers like Saint Laurent, Toteme, and Tory Burch who put forward polished designs with street style appeal. This winter season, sport Vince’s trouser-esque skirt with a pointed-toe, knee-high boot or glossy smoking loafer, the sleek staple promises to work overtime both on and off the clock.Insurance: Hard nut to crack despite improved technology
The Black List Thinks These Books Should Be Adapted, and We AgreeWASHINGTON – Senate Democrats failed Wednesday to confirm a Democratic member of the National Labor Relations Board after independent Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema opposed the nomination, thwarting their hopes of locking in a majority at the federal agency for the first two years of President-elect Donald Trump's term. A vote to move ahead with the nomination of Lauren McFarren, who currently chairs the NLRB, failed 49-50. Had she been confirmed to another five-year term, it would have cemented a Democratic majority on the agency's board for the first two years of the incoming Trump administration. Now, Trump will likely be able to nominate McFarren's replacement. Recommended Videos The NLRB oversees labor disputes, supervises union elections and has the power to investigate unfair labor practices . The partisan breakdown of the NLRB’s leadership is fiercely contested by businesses and labor groups, as the majority on the board sets the agenda and determines how readily the agency uses its power to investigate and enforce labor laws. “It is deeply disappointing, a direct attack on working people, and incredibly troubling that this highly qualified nominee — with a proven track record of protecting worker rights — did not have the votes," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement. The rejection of McFarren was yet another blow to Senate Democrats and President Joe Biden from Manchin and Sinema, who served as major brakes — and at times outright obstacles — to much of their legislative agenda the first two years of Biden's term. Manchin left the Democratic Party in May, while Sinema withdrew from the party in 2022. Both chose not to run for another Senate term and will be leaving the Congress in January. Some congressional Republicans praised Manchin and Sinema for preventing the confirmation. “This NLRB seat should be filled by President Trump and the new incoming Senate. Not a historically unpopular president and a Senate Democrat Majority that has lost its mandate to govern,” Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, said in a statement after the vote. “Big Labor knows the days of having the federal government do its bidding are numbered,” Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., wrote in a statement. Foxx, who chairs the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said that the incoming Trump administration would focus on “enacting a truly pro-worker agenda.” Business groups also praised the rejection of McFarren. Kristen Swearingen, a vice president at Associated Builders and Contractors, a trade group, called McFarren's policies “harmful” and said the process to nominate her was “flawed.” “Under McFerran’s leadership, the NLRB has issued decisions and expanded interpretations of the National Labor Relations Act that have been rejected by the business community, Congress and federal courts," argued Swearingen. Labor unions decried the vote. Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, the nation's largest consortium of labor unions, said the senators who rejected McFarren's nomination “voted against the working people of this country” and warned that the incoming Trump administration would direct the NLRB to side with management over workers. “Make no mistake: This vote had nothing to do with stopping Chair McFerran’s renomination and everything to do with reversing generations of progress workers have made toward building a fairer and more just economy," Shuler said. Democratic lawmakers, like Schumer, took a dim view of the vote. Some directed their anger directly at Manchin and Sinema. “Shortchanging workers is a bad way to leave,” Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., wrote on social media . ___
15 Most-Wanted Black Friday 2024 Deals to Shop, From Leopard-Print Outerwear to Cool Corduroy PantsTRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey interim Sen. George Helmy, a Democrat appointed when Bob Menendez resigned after a federal corruption conviction , is stepping down this weekend so Sen.-elect Andy Kim can be sworn in early. The move was expected and confirmed what Helmy and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy announced during his appointment this summer — that Helmy would resign early so the winner of November's election could get into office before the start of the new session of Congress next month. Recommended Videos Murphy explained the arrangement, saying he wanted the “democratically chosen winner” of this year's election to have a smooth transition into office. Kim defeated Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw on Election Day. He'll become the first Korean-American in the Senate when he is sworn in on Monday. Helmy is a former chief of staff to Murphy and has said he wasn't interested in pursuing elected office. He counted voting to confirm 20 judicial nominations and resolving more than 100 constituent cases as some of his accomplishments in little more than two months in office. Helmy said he's been working closely with Kim since his election in November to “ensure a seamless transition.” Menendez, 70, used his influence to meddle in three different state and federal criminal investigations to protect the businessmen, prosecutors said. They said he helped one bribe-paying friend get a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund and another keep a contract to provide religious certification for meat bound for Egypt. Menendez has vowed to fight the conviction and recently filed for a new trial , citing improper evidence that was put on a computer used by jurors.Giants' offense explodes in 45-33 win, knocking Colts out of playoff race
The Yamuna, burdened by the poison of human apathy, is frothing in despair. Reverent folk in search of salvation continue to take toxic dips in her polluted waters, hammering home the point that faith is blind, and what we worship is not what we value. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Election Results Jharkhand Election Results Bypoll Election Results In Vedic and Puranic literature, Yamuna is revered as a sacred river who is Surya's daughter and Yama's sister, Yami. Also called Krishnaa and Kalindi, her special relationship with Krishna has shaped her artistic imagination as a dark-hued, beautiful and benevolent river goddess. Early Indian artists imagined her as a beautiful goddess with typical attributes - with her kachchhap-vahana (tortoise-mount) and kalash (vase of water). Often paired with Ganga on temple doorframes from early 5th c. CE, the feminine imagery of these twin rivers honours their divine beneficence, but also represents control, lordship and protection of their waters by gods and kings. An inscription of the early western Chalukya rulers (696 CE), for example, records their victory over northern regions, a feat that resulted in carrying back Ganga and Yamuna pali-dhvaja (insignia-banner) to the Deccan. And Krishna's brother Balarama is known to have forcefully diverted the course of Yamuna with his plough. Yamuna's intimate association with Krishna is best explored in the resplendent world of miniature paintings inspired by the Harivamsa, Bhagavata-purana and Vallabhacharya's Pushti Marg. Krishna-bhakti, as experienced in their verbal and visual imageries, conveys an inseparable and perennial reciprocity between nature, natural rhythms, human existence and emotions. Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Leadership Boosting Startup Revenue with 6 AI-Powered Sales Automation Techniques By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Data Science MySQL for Beginners: Learn Data Science and Analytics Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Tabnine AI Masterclass: Optimize Your Coding Efficiency By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Leadership Crafting a Powerful Startup Value Proposition By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Leadership Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program As Sugata Ray argues in his 2019 book, Climate Change and the Art of Devotion: Geoaesthetics in the Land of Krishna, 1550-1850, natural phenomena over the centuries have had considerable bearing on artistic expression. The earliest set of miniatures to offer a visual equivalent of the 9th-10th c. Bhagavata-purana text is an exquisitely detailed but dispersed group known as the 'Palam Bhagavata'. The series was illustrated by anonymous, highly accomplished artists during circa 1520-40 CE and includes Bhagavata-purana verses written on the rear side (verso). Painted in the early 'Rajput School' of Indian miniature painting, they first came together as a series in art historian Daniel Ehnbom's impressive 1984 University of Chicago doctoral thesis, 'An Analysis and Reconstruction of the Dispersed Bhagavata Purana from the Caurapancasika Group.' The Yamuna appears prominently in these painted folios (photo). She is portrayed in her natural riverine state, not as a beautiful maiden. The 10th part of the Bhagavata includes a vivid description of the time when her waters were poisoned by the lethal venom of the serpent Kaliya , resulting in the death of those who drank from the river. The artist adheres to the text faithfully, but without compromising artistic imagination and creativity. Yamuna is the site where the leela of the Kaliya-Krishna duel unfolds. The flowing, bluish-green waters of the Yamuna are delicately embellished with finely painted white arcs that conjure her rhythmic fluidity. The sole kadamba tree to have survived Kaliya's toxic assault acts as a connecting link between the river and other participants in the narrative. Three registers painted with a solid red background reveal the devastating impact of the ensuing duel on Yashoda, Nanda and the gopas (cowherds) of Braj. A gopa clinging to the tree-trunk, his torso twisted towards the people of Braj appears to communicate to them every turn of event. Near the wavy skyline, the tree leads the eye to the celestial world that celebrates Krishna's eventual victory. Krishna and Kaliya appear thrice each. First, Krishna jumps into the Yamuna as Kaliya spews venom so toxic that even the air above had turned deadly. Next, he allows Kaliya to wrap himself tightly as though suffocating the blue god. Finally, triumphant Krishna dances on Kaliya's hoods before releasing him and his wives to leave the river. Acute nature sympathies of an entire community lie at the heart of this narrative in the land of Krishna nourished by the Yamuna. Today, faith in Yamuna's efficacy can scarcely afford to be blind to a river's lament, yet expect deliverance in her polluted waters. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Poll Results Highlights 2024 Jharkhand Poll Results Highlights 2024Foreign Ministry Spokesman Öncü Keçeli said Türkiye supports and prioritizes the Iraqi Turkmen's rights and interests, as he called on Iraqi authorities to preserve the demographic structure of the province amid population movements of the Kurds toward Kirkuk as the country held a census for the first time after almost four decades. “In this framework, the peace and security of our Turkmen brothers and sisters, who constitute a significant portion of Kirkuk's population and serve as a bridge of friendship between Türkiye and Iraq, are among our main priorities in bilateral relations with this country,” Keçeli said, in response to a question regarding Kurdish population movement toward Kirkuk. He continued by saying that Ankara has been closely following recent developments regarding the issue and even though the census did not collect information on ethnicity, the Iraqi Turkmen and Arab communities were concerned about the mass movements of Kurds. “Clearly, this irregularity would lead to the inclusion of many people who are not originally from Kirkuk in the province's population. This fait accompli would also impact the elections that will be held in the future,” the foreign ministry spokesman said. He noted that the Iraqi Turkmen have been subjected to persecution and massacres in the past century, as he said Ankara expects Iraqi authorities to prevent any injustice toward the Turkmen population. He also said that Türkiye expects Iraq to preserve the demographic structure of the province, prevent any attempts to tamper its current composition and ensure that the residents of Kirkuk live in a framework agreed upon by the original constituents of the province. Turkmen are a Turkic-speaking minority whose total population is estimated to be some 3 million. Northern Iraq’s minorities also complain of the extensive PKK presence in the region, most notably the terrorist group’s collaboration with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), a dominant political party accused of giving more freedom of movement both in the city and rural parts of Sulaymaniyah to the PKK. The PKK, which killed thousands in Türkiye, is a banned organization in Iraq but Türkiye wants its full recognition as a terrorist group. Tensions have been rising between Türkiye and the PUK since the PKK increased its attacks on Turkish troops. Turkmen officials and the Iraqi Turkmen Front have expressed fear of attacks from the PKK and demanded the Baghdad government terminate the group’s existence.
By Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times (TNS) Every day millions of people share more intimate information with their accessories than they do with their spouse. Wearable technology — smartwatches, smart rings, fitness trackers and the like — monitors body-centric data such as your heart rate, steps taken and calories burned, and may record where you go along the way. Like Santa Claus, it knows when you are sleeping (and how well), it knows when you’re awake, it knows when you’ve been idle or exercising, and it keeps track of all of it. People are also sharing sensitive health information on health and wellness apps , including online mental health and counseling programs. Some women use period tracker apps to map out their monthly cycle. These devices and services have excited consumers hoping for better insight into their health and lifestyle choices. But the lack of oversight into how body-centric data are used and shared with third parties has prompted concerns from privacy experts, who warn that the data could be sold or lost through data breaches, then used to raise insurance premiums, discriminate surreptitiously against applicants for jobs or housing, and even perform surveillance. The use of wearable technology and medical apps surged in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, but research released by Mozilla on Wednesday indicates that current laws offer little protection for consumers who are often unaware just how much of their health data are being collected and shared by companies. “I’ve been studying the intersections of emerging technologies, data-driven technologies, AI and human rights and social justice for the past 15 years, and since the pandemic I’ve noticed the industry has become hyper-focused on our bodies,” said Mozilla Foundation technology fellow Júlia Keserű, who conducted the research. “That permeates into all kinds of areas of our lives and all kinds of domains within the tech industry.” The report “From Skin to Screen: Bodily Integrity in the Digital Age” recommends that existing data protection laws be clarified to encompass all forms of bodily data. It also calls for expanding national health privacy laws to cover health-related information collected from health apps and fitness trackers and making it easier for users to opt out of body-centric data collections. Researchers have been raising alarms about health data privacy for years. Data collected by companies are often sold to data brokers or groups that buy, sell and trade data from the internet to create detailed consumer profiles. Body-centric data can include information such as the fingerprints used to unlock phones, face scans from facial recognition technology, and data from fitness and fertility trackers, mental health apps and digital medical records. One of the key reasons health information has value to companies — even when the person’s name is not associated with it — is that advertisers can use the data to send targeted ads to groups of people based on certain details they share. The information contained in these consumer profiles is becoming so detailed, however, that when paired with other data sets that include location information, it could be possible to target specific individuals, Keserű said. Location data can “expose sophisticated insights about people’s health status, through their visits to places like hospitals or abortions clinics,” Mozilla’s report said, adding that “companies like Google have been reported to keep such data even after promising to delete it.” A 2023 report by Duke University revealed that data brokers were selling sensitive data on individuals’ mental health conditions on the open market. While many brokers deleted personal identifiers, some provided names and addresses of individuals seeking mental health assistance, according to the report. In two public surveys conducted as part of the research, Keserű said, participants were outraged and felt exploited in scenarios where their health data were sold for a profit without their knowledge. “We need a new approach to our digital interactions that recognizes the fundamental rights of individuals to safeguard their bodily data, an issue that speaks directly to human autonomy and dignity,” Keserű said. “As technology continues to advance, it is critical that our laws and practices evolve to meet the unique challenges of this era.” Consumers often take part in these technologies without fully understanding the implications. Last month, Elon Musk suggested on X that users submit X-rays, PET scans, MRIs and other medical images to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence chatbot, to seek diagnoses. The issue alarmed privacy experts, but many X users heeded Musk’s call and submitted health information to the chatbot. While X’s privacy policy says that the company will not sell user data to third parties, it does share some information with certain business partners. Gaps in existing laws have allowed the widespread sharing of biometric and other body-related data. Health information provided to hospitals, doctor’s offices and medical insurance companies is protected from disclosure under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act , known as HIPAA, which established federal standards protecting such information from release without the patient’s consent. But health data collected by many wearable devices and health and wellness apps don’t fall under HIPAA’s umbrella, said Suzanne Bernstein, counsel at Electronic Privacy Information Center. “In the U.S. because we don’t have a comprehensive federal privacy law ... it falls to the state level,” she said. But not every state has weighed in on the issue. Washington, Nevada and Connecticut all recently passed laws to provide safeguards for consumer health data. Washington, D.C., in July introduced legislation that aimed to require tech companies to adhere to strengthened privacy provisions regarding the collection, sharing, use or sale of consumer health data. In California, the California Privacy Rights Act regulates how businesses can use certain types of sensitive information, including biometric information, and requires them to offer consumers the ability to opt out of disclosure of sensitive personal information. “This information being sold or shared with data brokers and other entities hypercharge the online profiling that we’re so used to at this point, and the more sensitive the data, the more sophisticated the profiling can be,” Bernstein said. “A lot of the sharing or selling with third parties is outside the scope of what a consumer would reasonably expect.” Health information has become a prime target for hackers seeking to extort healthcare agencies and individuals after accessing sensitive patient data. Health-related cybersecurity breaches and ransom attacks increased more than 4,000% between 2009 and 2023, targeting the booming market of body-centric data, which is expected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, according to the report. “Nonconsensual data sharing is a big issue,” Keserű said. “Even if it’s biometric data or health data, a lot of the companies are just sharing that data without you knowing, and that is causing a lot of anxiety and questions.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A judge has once again rejected Musk's multi-billion-dollar Tesla pay package. Now what?OTTAWA - Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney says Canada didn't live up to its values on immigration over the last few years as it allowed more people into the country than it could absorb. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * OTTAWA - Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney says Canada didn't live up to its values on immigration over the last few years as it allowed more people into the country than it could absorb. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? OTTAWA – Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney says Canada didn’t live up to its values on immigration over the last few years as it allowed more people into the country than it could absorb. Carney, who is currently a special adviser to the Liberal party, made those comments during an event in Ottawa held by Cardus, a Christian think tank. Carney says Canada let newcomers down by admitting more workers and students than it could provide for, including with housing, health care and social services. Earlier this fall, the Liberal government announced a plan to significantly reduced its immigration target for permanent residents and to dramatically scale back the number of temporary residents in Canada. Those changes came about after a period of strong population growth that led to mounting criticism of the Liberal government’s immigration policies. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged that the federal government did not get the balance right on immigration after the COVID-19 pandemic. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. Advertisement