LEHI, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 4, 2024-- Gabb , the leading provider of safe tech for kids, celebrated their 2nd “Kid CEO for the Day” by handing the reins of the company to 9-year-old Nova Evenson, an aspiring leader from Naples, Florida, who has used Gabb technology to build connections with others. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204205495/en/ Nova Evenson, of Naples, FL, serving as Gabb's Kid CEO for the Day. Source: Gabb During her time as CEO, Nova led the monthly companywide meeting where the department leads shared with Nova Gabb’s 2024 reports for her approval. She also led meetings with Gabb executives, product brainstorming sessions, and discussions on safe tech for kids. Because she loves step tracking with her Gabb Watch, she challenged the team to increase their daily steps through “walking meetings.” Nova pitched a campaign to collect everyone’s favorite text messages from their families and friends. This idea was inspired by a treasured text message from her grandfather, who recently passed away. The day also included a service project fulfilling gift wishes and providing free safe tech for the nonprofit Utah Parent Center’s holiday program for kids with disabilities facing financial challenges. “It was so wonderful,” said Nova about her day as CEO. “I wasn’t expecting anything like that. The people made it so great.” Nova and her mom, Angel, and dad, Eric, shared with the company how the Gabb Watch 3 she got for Christmas last year has helped her stay connected after her family moved and how it gave them peace of mind after a particularly challenging bullying situation. “Seeing an entire organization rally around my daughter and all children and place what’s best for them at the forefront means everything to me as a mom,” said Angel Evenson. “We get one shot at this parenting thing, and knowing we have organizations and people helping us do the best we can is comforting. I’ve never felt more surrounded by like-minded people than I did yesterday.” Gabb also celebrated Nova with a special playlist on Gabb Music+ titled Boss Beats . The special edition playlist not only featured a walk-on song but also a collection of inspiring, uplifting and empowering songs from across the family-friendly Gabb Music streaming catalog. “Our Gabb CEO for the Day reminds us all that the heart of our company is safe connections,” said Gabb CEO Nate Randle. “Nova’s Gabb Watch connects her with her family and provides support during tough challenges, but she is the hero of her story. She has exemplified bravery and great leadership. She has left a lasting impact on our Gabb team.” About Gabb Gabb® is safe tech for kids. Founded in 2018, Gabb is a rapidly growing tech company focused on keeping families Safely ConnectedTM by providing safephones, safewatches, apps, and software for kids and teens. Gabb’s flexible, safe technology meets kids and teens where they are, allowing them to focus on their personal development and growth without the risks associated with social media and other harmful digital influences. Discover more at gabb.com . Gabb Kid CEO Photo https://gabb.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Gabb-CEO-for-Day.png Broll https://youtu.be/0felIfimw2U View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204205495/en/ CONTACT: Brandon Jeppson brandon.jeppson@gabb.com KEYWORD: UTAH FLORIDA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: WEARABLES/MOBILE TECHNOLOGY SECURITY PARENTING OTHER TECHNOLOGY CHILDREN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE FAMILY INTERNET HARDWARE CONSUMER CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SOCIAL MEDIA TECHNOLOGY MOBILE/WIRELESS ONLINE PRIVACY COMMUNICATIONS APPS/APPLICATIONS SOURCE: Gabb Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/04/2024 06:25 PM/DISC: 12/04/2024 06:25 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204205495/enGovernment to block incinerators that do not contribute to green plans
The expanded Big Ten is poised to be a major player in this season's College Football Playoff. The 18-team conference had three of the top-four teams in the AP poll this week — No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Penn State. A one-loss Indiana team is ranked 10th but is still very much a contender to make the playoff, given how many Southeastern Conference teams have three defeats or more. Indiana's rise has been perhaps the Big Ten's biggest story this season. Much of the spotlight was on newcomers Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington, but aside from the top-ranked Ducks, that foursome has struggled to impress. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers won their first 10 games under new coach Curt Cignetti before losing at Ohio State last weekend. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 back in October, and if the Buckeyes beat rival Michigan this weekend, they'll earn a rematch with the Ducks for the Big Ten title. And it's entirely possible another matchup between those two teams awaits in the CFP. Dillon Gabriel has quarterbacked Oregon to an unbeaten record, throwing for 3,066 yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 games. But don't overlook Iowa's Kaleb Johnson and his 21 rushing TDs, and quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been a big part of Indiana's improvement. Penn State's Abdul Carter has eight sacks and two forced fumbles and could be one of the top edge rushers drafted this year. Oregon (11-0, 8-0), Ohio State (10-1, 7-1), Penn State (10-1, 7-1), Indiana (10-1, 7-1), Illinois (8-3, 5-3), Iowa (7-4, 5-3), Michigan (6-5, 4-4), Minnesota (6-5, 4-4), Washington (6-5, 4-4), Southern California (6-5, 4-5), Nebraska (6-5, 3-5) and Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) have already reached the six-win mark for bowl eligibility. Michigan State (5-6, 3-5) and Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5) can join them. There may not be many firings in general at the top level of college football. The prospect of sharing revenue with athletes in the future might lead schools to be more judicious about shedding one coach and hiring a new one. Who should be most worried in the Big Ten? Well, Lincoln Riley is struggling to stay above .500 in his third season at USC. Purdue is 1-10, but coach Ryan Walters is only in his second season. Maryland's Mike Locksley has been there six years and his Terrapins are 4-7, but this was his first real step backward after guiding the team to three straight bowl wins. Cignetti has shown it is possible for a coaching change to push a previously moribund program to some impressive heights in a short amount of time — but the improvement has been more incremental at Michigan State following Jonathan Smith's arrival. Sherrone Moore wasn't a completely unknown commodity at Michigan after he won some massive games in place of a suspended Jim Harbaugh last year. But in his first season completely at the helm, the Wolverines have declined significantly following their national title a season ago. The Big Ten is home to one of the most dynamic freshmen in the country in Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. He has 52 catches for 899 yards and nine touchdowns. Highly touted quarterback Dylan Raiola has teamed up with fellow freshman Jacory Barney (49 catches) to lead Nebraska to bowl eligibility. Ohio State is on track to land the Big Ten's top class, according to 247 Sports, but the big news recently was quarterback Bryce Underwood flipping from LSU to Michigan. If the Wolverines do in fact keep Underwood in his home state, that would be a big development for Moore. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Prince Harry: Meghan and I Are Staying in the U.S.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Darren Rizzi would be an unconventional choice to take over the New Orleans Saints' head coaching job on a permanent basis. That doesn't mean it can't happen. The Saints (4-7) had been on a seven-game skid when Rizzi, the club's special teams coordinator, was promoted. They've since won two straight, and as the club entered its Week 12 bye, prominent players were already discussing their desire to continue improving Rizzi's resume. “He’s definitely had an impact on our football team,” quarterback Derek Carr said after New Orleans' 35-14 victory over Cleveland last weekend. “We want to keep winning so that maybe he gets a chance to be the coach here for a long time. “That’s what we want as players,” Carr continued. "Hopefully, we can continue to have success, keep winning and give him that opportunity.” Before the Saints' demoralizing defeat at Carolina precipitated the firing of third-year coach Dennis Allen , Rizzi had never been a head coach at the NFL or major college level. The north New Jersey native and former Rhode Island tight end got his first head coaching job at Division II New Haven in 1999. He also coached his alma mater in 2008 before moving to the NFL with Miami in 2009 as a special teams assistant. By 2010, he was the Dolphins' special teams coordinator and added the title of associate head coach in 2017 before ex-Saints coach Sean Payton lured him to New Orleans in 2019. A common thread shared by Payton and Rizzi is that both worked under Bill Parcells. Parcells — known best for winning two Super Bowls as coach of the New York Giants — was coaching the Dallas Cowboys when Payton was his offensive coordinator. Rizzi, who grew up a Giants fan during the Parcells era, got to know his childhood idol during his first couple years in Miami, where Parcells executive vice president of football operations. Since his promotion, Rizzi has spoken to both Payton and Parcells. And he has begun to employ motivational techniques reminiscent of Payton, who left New Orleans in 2022 as the franchise leader in wins (152 in the regular season and nine in the postseason — including New Orleans' lone Super Bowl triumph). Payton as a big believer of symbolic imagery and motivational props, from baseball bats distributed before contests that were expected to be especially physical to gas cans left in the lockers of aging veterans whose performance was key to the club's success. Rizzi, who describes himself as a “blue collar” guy, has his own spin on such things. He began his tenure by asking players to accept individual responsibility for the metaphorical hole the team had dug itself and asked them all to embrace the idea of filling it up — one shovelful at a time. He even has brought a shovel — as well as a hammer, tape measure, level and other construction tools — to team meetings to help make his points. Saints tight end Taysom Hill, who also plays on special teams, has gotten to know Rizzi well during a half-decade of working together. Hill doesn't sound surprised to see Rizzi's combination of work ethic, enthusiasm and personal touch resonating across the entire team now. He also made a lot of changes , from weekly schedule adjustments to reconfiguring players' lockers by position. “He has a really good pulse on what we need collectively as a team to get ready for a football game," said Hill, who scored three touchdowns and accounted for 248 yards as a runner, receiver, passer and returner against Cleveland. “Guys have responded to that.” Because Rizzi's first victory came over the first-place Atlanta Falcons , and because the Falcons lost again last week, the Saints now trail Atlanta by just two games with six to play. Suddenly, the idea of the Saints playing meaningful football down the stretch is not so far-fetched. “We’re starting to get our swag back, and that makes me happy,” Rizzi said. ”We’re going to have some downtime now to kind of press the reset button again and see if we can make a push here." When the Saints return to action at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec 1, they'll do so with a level of momentum and positivity that seemed to steadily drain out of the club between their first loss of the season in Week 3 through the six straight setbacks that followed. While Saints players have tended to blame themselves for Allen's demise, they've been quick to credit Rizzi for the turnaround. “He’s pointed us and steered the ship in the right direction,” Carr said. “Hopefully, we can just keep executing at a high level for him, because we love him.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflBig Ten could place four teams in playoff, thanks to IU's riseThe Winnipeg Jets have placed Dylan Samberg on injured reserve with a broken foot. Samberg suffered the injury in the second period of Winnipeg’s Saturday matchup against Nashville, blocking a Steven Stamkos slapshot with his skate and immediately leaving the ice. Winnipeg has also recalled the oft-injured Ville Heinola from an AHL conditioning stint in a corresponding move, setting him up to make his season debut after starting the year on the season-open non-roster list. Heinola had surgery on his ankle in September. Samberg has served a top role for Winnipeg all season long, recording six points through 21 games while averaging over 20 minutes of ice time. He’s once again serving next to Neal Pionk , the same role that Samberg recorded a career-high 31 points in last season. He’s dug his feet in as yet another evergreen defensive-defenseman in the Jets lineup. That role was stamped this summer when the Jets signed Samberg to a four-year, $19.6M contract extension. He’s recorded 83 points across 316 games with Winnipeg, bringing his career totals to 147 points in 575 games. Heinola will offer a quick substitute for Samberg, returning to the NHL after scoring one assist in two games on his AHL conditioning stint. Heinola spent all of the 2023-24 campaign in the minors, scoring 27 points in 41 games with the Manitoba Moose. He’s yet to vindicate a 20th-overall selection in the 2019 NHL Draft despite being in North American pros since 2019-20. He jumped into the NHL right away, recording five points in his first eight games with the Jets – but failed to maintain that scoring through injury and moves to the AHL and a return to Finland’s Liiga during the COVID-19 season of 2020-21. Heinola played in five NHL games at the tail-end of that year, going without any scoring — even despite 11 points in 19 AHL games. He’s since bounced between Winnipeg and Manitoba, intercut by routine trips to injured reserve. Heinola has totaled 11 points in 35 career NHL games and a much more productive 103 points in 154 AHL games. This article first appeared on Pro Hockey Rumors and was syndicated with permission.
Boom Supersonic's new jet, Overture, is set to slash transatlantic flight times, promising a London to New York trip in just three and a half hours. The Colorado -based company aims to have the aircraft operational by 2030, marking a return to supersonic passenger flights since the retirement of Concorde. Earlier this month, a scaled-down prototype, dubbed "Baby Boom," successfully completed its maiden test flight over California 's Mojave Desert. During the 12-minute flight, the XB-1 prototype hit speeds of 283 mph and climbed to 7,000 feet, testing its cutting-edge design and carbon-fibre construction. CEO Blake Scholl announced: "This is the most significant step yet in bringing supersonic travel back to passengers." With a cruising speed of Mach 1.7, the Overture may not match Concorde's pace but will still fly twice as fast as standard aircraft. It's expected to halve the current New York journey time and whisk passengers from London to Miami in under five hours. Designed to seat up to 80 people and cover nearly 5,000 miles, the jet will primarily serve over-water routes to avoid sonic boom restrictions. Over 600 routes are feasible, with carriers like United, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines already on board, having ordered 130 jets. Supersonic flight has laid dormant since the iconic Concorde ceased operations in 2003, notorious for its swift travel time but marred by issues of high expenses, flagging interest, and safety worries underscored by a deadly accident in 2000. Boom Technology is poised to sidestep these pitfalls with cutting-edge tech and an eco-conscious approach, positing that its Overture aircraft could revolutionize expedient, long-haul trips. Test aviator Bill Shoemaker extolled the XB-1's maiden voyage, declaring: "This is a proud moment for the team and a big step forward in making supersonic travel a reality again."
Ruijie Networks' Cloud Platform Flaws Could Expose 50,000 Devices to Remote AttacksBy Tony Leys | KFF Health News GLENWOOD, Iowa — Hundreds of people who were separated from society because they had disabilities are buried in a nondescript field at the former state institution here. Disability rights advocates hope Iowa will honor them by preventing the kind of neglect that has plagued similar cemeteries at other shuttered facilities around the U.S. The southwest Iowa institution, called the Glenwood Resource Center, was closed this summer in the wake of allegations of poor care . The last of its living residents were moved elsewhere in June. But the remains of about 1,300 people will stay where they were buried on the grounds. The graveyard, which dates to the 1800s, covers several acres of sloping ground near the campus’s brick buildings. A 6-foot-tall, weathered-concrete cross stands on the hillside, providing the most visible clue to the field’s purpose. On a recent afternoon, dried grass clippings obscured row after row of small stone grave markers set flat in the ground. Most of the stones are engraved with only a first initial, a last name, and a number. “If somebody who’s never been to Glenwood drove by, they wouldn’t even know there was a cemetery there,” said Brady Werger, a former resident of the facility. During more than a century of operation, the institution housed thousands of people with intellectual disabilities. Its population declined as society turned away from the practice of sequestering people with disabilities and mental illness in large facilities for decades at a time. The cemetery is filled with residents who died and weren’t returned to their hometowns for burial with their families. State and local leaders are working out arrangements to maintain the cemetery and the rest of the 380-acre campus. Local officials, who are expected to take control of the grounds next June, say they’ll need extensive state support for upkeep and redevelopment, especially with the town of about 5,000 people reeling from the loss of jobs at the institution. Hundreds of such places were constructed throughout the U.S. starting in the 1800s. Some, like the one in Glenwood, served people with disabilities, such as those caused by autism or seizure disorders. Others housed people with mental illness. Most of the facilities were built in rural areas, which were seen as providing a wholesome environment. States began shrinking or closing these institutions more than 50 years ago. The shifts were a response to complaints about people being removed from their communities and subjected to inhumane conditions, including the use of isolation and restraints. In the past decade, Iowa has closed two of its four mental hospitals and one of its two state institutions for people with intellectual disabilities. After closures in some other states, institutions’ cemeteries were abandoned and became overgrown with weeds and brush. The neglect drew protests and sparked efforts to respectfully memorialize people who lived and died at the facilities. “At some level, the restoration of institutions’ cemeteries is about the restoration of humanity,” said Pat Deegan, a Massachusetts mental health advocate who works on the issue nationally . Deegan, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager, sees the neglected graveyards as symbolic of how people with disabilities or mental illness can feel as if their individual identities are buried beneath the labels of their conditions. Deegan, 70, helped lead efforts to rehabilitate a pair of overgrown cemeteries at the Danvers State Hospital near Boston, which housed people with mental illness before it closed in 1992. More than 700 former residents were buried there, with many graves originally marked only with a number. The Massachusetts hospital’s grounds were redeveloped into a condominium complex. The rehabilitated cemeteries now have individual gravestones and a large historical marker, explaining what the facility was and who lived there. The sign notes that some past methods of caring for psychiatric patients seem “barbarous” by today’s standards, but the text portrays the staff as well-meaning. It says the institution “attempted to alleviate the problems of many of its members with care and empathy that, although not always successful, was nobly attempted.” Deegan has helped other groups across the country organize renovations of similar cemeteries. She urges communities to include former residents of the facilities in their efforts. Iowa’s Glenwood Resource Center started as a home for orphans of Civil War soldiers. It grew into a large institution for people with disabilities, many of whom lived there for decades. Its population peaked at more than 1,900 in the 1950s, then dwindled to about 150 before state officials decided to close it. Werger, 32, said some criticisms of the institution were valid, but he remains grateful for the support the staff gave him until he was stable enough to move into community housing in 2018. “They helped change my life incredibly,” he said. He thinks the state should have fixed problems at the facility instead of shutting it. He said he hopes officials preserve historical parts of the campus, including stately brick buildings and the cemetery. He wishes the graves had more extensive headstones, with information about the residents buried there. He would also like to see signs installed explaining the place’s history. Two former employees of the Glenwood facility recently raised concerns that some of the graves may be mismarked . But officials with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, which ran the institution, said they have extensive, accurate records and recently placed stones on three graves that were unmarked. Department leaders declined to be interviewed about the cemetery’s future. Spokesperson Alex Murphy wrote in an email that while no decisions have been made about the campus, the agency “remains committed to ensuring the cemetery is protected and treated with dignity and respect for those who have been laid to rest there.” Glenwood civic leaders have formed a nonprofit corporation that is negotiating with the state over development plans for the former institution. “We’re trying to make the best of a tough situation,” said Larry Winum, a local banker who serves on the new organization’s board. Tentative plans include tearing down some of the existing buildings and creating up to 900 houses and apartments. Winum said redevelopment should include some kind of memorial sign about the institution and the people buried in the cemetery. “It will be important to us that those folks be remembered,” he said. Activists in other states said properly honoring such places takes sustained commitment and money. Jennifer Walton helped lead efforts in the 1990s to properly mark graves and improve cemetery upkeep at state institutions in Minnesota . Some of the cemeteries are deteriorating again, she said. Activists plan to ask Minnesota legislators to designate permanent funding to maintain them and to place explanatory markers at the sites. “I think it’s important, because it’s a way to demonstrate that these spaces represent human beings who at the time were very much hidden away,” Walton said. “No human being should be pushed aside and ignored.” Related Articles A stroke changed a teacher’s life. How a new electrical device is helping her move Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too CDC chief urges focus on health threats as agency confronts political changes New rule allows HIV-positive organ transplants Biden proposes Medicare and Medicaid cover costly weight-loss drugs for millions of obese Americans On a recent day, just one of the Glenwood graves had flowers on it. Retired managers of the institution said few people visit the cemetery, but amateur genealogists sometimes show up after learning that a long-forgotten ancestor was institutionalized at Glenwood and buried there. Former grounds supervisor Max Cupp said burials had become relatively rare over the years, with more families arranging to have deceased residents’ remains transported to their hometown cemeteries. One of the last people buried in the Glenwood cemetery was Kenneth Rummells, who died in 2022 at age 71 after living many years at the institution and then at a nearby group home overseen by the state. His guardian was Kenny Jacobsen, a retired employee of the facility who had known him for decades. Rummells couldn’t speak, but he could communicate by grunting, Jacobsen said. He enjoyed sitting outside. “He was kind of quiet, kind of a touch-me-not guy.” Jacobsen helped arrange for a gravestone that is more detailed than most others in the cemetery. The marker includes Rummells’ full name, the dates of his birth and death, a drawing of a porch swing, and the inscription “Forever swinging in the breeze.” Jacobsen hopes officials figure out how to maintain the cemetery. He would like to see a permanent sign erected, explaining who is buried there and how they came to live in Glenwood. “They were people too,” he said.Fears of AI-generated misinformation ran rife ahead of this historic election year. With more than half of the global population expected to head to the polls, including voters in the U.S., U.K., India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, media outlets and experts warned deepfakes, fake audios, and other AI-manipulated content might deceive and sway voters. Many expected an "AI armageddon." But this did not materialize. AI misinformation proved far less widespread than expected, making up less than one percent of fact-checked content on Meta platforms and just 1.35 percent of Logically Facts' total of 1,695 fact-checks. As the election year ends, Logically Facts assesses the pertinent question: how did AI influence voters worldwide, if at all? AI amplified existing partisan sentiment in the U.S. In the lead-up to the U.S. presidential election, AI-generated images were prevalent, with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in particular targeted by fabricated visuals. Notable examples included AI-manipulated photos depicting Harris alongside controversial figures like Jeffrey Epstein and Diddy and AI-generated claims alleging Harris's history as a sex worker . Though some posts leaned towards satire or dark humor rather than attempting to deceive, they reflected the underlying misogyny Harris was subjected to throughout the campaign. Screenshots showcasing AI-generated images targeting Kamala Harris. (Source: X/ Modified by Logically Facts) As such, AI tools were used less for outright misinformation and more as a means to ridicule and amplify partisan sentiment, entrenching already existing beliefs. "AI makes it easier to create these illustrations, but I don't see it as a game changer, and it won't sway voters," Dr. Sacha Altay, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Zurich's Digital Democracy Lab, told Logically Facts. "I've seen much more AI slop, AI jokes, AI art, and AI porn than genuine AI-driven election misinformation," Altay continued. "Many of these are problematic, especially the non-consensual porn, but most are ultimately harmless." These AI-generated images were often shared by accounts known for regularly spreading misinformation, signaling that rather than intending to sway committed voters, these depictions of Harris largely reinforced already existing biases. Why do some people fall for these often poorly executed visuals? "The biggest stumbling block for people is their own biases and emotions," Alex Mahadevan, director of MediaWise, a digital media literacy initiative, told Logically Facts. "It's easy to fall for poorly made AI images if you're angry or vindicated." Fake celebrity endorsements emerged as another prolific strain of AI-generated misinformation during the run-up to the election. One example was amplified by Donald Trump, who reposted a series of AI-generated images portraying Taylor Swift fans wearing "Swifties for Trump" t-shirts. However, a month later, Taylor Swift publicly endorsed Kamala Harris. According to a YouGov poll , 53 percent of surveyed Americans believed Swift's endorsement of Harris could help her campaign. While measuring the electoral impact of individual AI-generated media or narratives is difficult, polls during the Harris-Trump race showed no significant shifts or sudden drops in support for either candidate, suggesting limited influence. Screenshot of Donald Trump's post amplifying fake Taylor Swift endorsement. (Source: TruthSocial/ Modified by Logically Facts) Deepfakes, the cause of most AI-related concerns leading up to the election year, proved less prevalent than expected. The most high-profile deepfake was Joe Biden's " robocalls " in February 2024, aimed at dissuading voters from participating in the New Hampshire Democratic primary. This was quickly debunked. Speculation about an "October surprise" involving a convincing deepfake circulated in the media , but these fears did not materialize. Although meager, AI misinformation wasn't just domestic—evidence also points to some foreign interference. Logically Facts debunked an AI-manipulated video of a supposed former aide to Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, falsely alleging government plans to rig the election for Kamala Harris. The video was traced to a group linked to former Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Meanwhile, the U.S. government seized 32 internet domains used in Russian government-directed influence campaigns, which relied on AI-generated content, influencers, and advertisements to undermine Harris' campaign and boost Donald Trump. In an election security update 45 days before the election, the U.S. government stated that Russia had produced the most AI content related to the presidential race among foreign actors. Some social media companies took proactive steps to limit the spread of deepfakes, with Meta among them. In the month leading up to election day, Meta blocked 590,000 attempts to use its Imagine AI generator for deepfakes targeting figures such as Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, and Joe Biden. OpenAI also said it had disrupted 20 influence operations and deceptive networks that attempted to use its models globally since the beginning of the year. European and U.K. elections saw little meaningful AI misinformation In Europe, the EU vigorously prepared for June's European Parliament elections, anticipating an "AI armageddon." Yet again, the actual impact of AI misinformation was minimal—a Centre for Emerging Technology and Security (CETaS) report identified just 11 viral cases in the EP and French elections combined. In August 2024, two months after the election, the European Union's AI Act—the first comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence—officially took effect. Emmie Hine, a Research Associate at the Yale Digital Ethics Center, told Logically Facts that this legislation may have incentivized platforms to take rapid action on AI misinformation. "While the AI Act didn't explicitly prohibit the use of AI in elections, it emphasized the responsibility of platforms to combat election-related misinformation and disinformation," Hines said. Similarly, the July 4 general election in the United Kingdom demonstrated a limited influence of AI-driven misinformation. Traditional forms of misinformation, such as spreading unsubstantiated rumors or fabricating fake articles , dominated instead. According to the same report by CETaS, only 16 confirmed instances of AI-generated disinformation or deepfakes went viral during the election period. Logically Facts debunked nine false claims throughout the campaign, with just three involving verifiable AI-generated content, focusing on key voter issues like immigration and religious tensions . Similarly to AI-generated misinformation in the U.S., AI was used to visually communicate the sentiment of some voters across the U.K., not necessarily to mislead others. A screenshot of an AI-generated image showing Muslims praying by the U.K. Prime Minister's office. The emphasis is placed on expressing criticism rather than ensuring photorealistic accuracy. (Source: X/ Modified by Logically Facts) Indian enforcement authorities fail to take action on electoral AI India's seven-phase general election, running from April 19 to June 1, saw the country of 1.4 billion people with 820 million active internet users go to the polls - with concerns about AI disinformation impacting the elections running rife. During the campaign, AI was used in many ways, including real-time translations , AI-powered hyper-personalized avatars , and speeches by deceased leaders . However, in a report by the Washington Post from April 2024, Divendra Singh Jadoun, a prominent AI deepfake creator in the country, has said that more than half of the requests he received by political parties for AI content were "unethical". This included fake audios of opponents making gaffes on the campaign trail, pornographic images of opponents, and some campaigns requesting low-quality fake videos of their own candidates to cast doubts on real videos of these candidates with negative consequences. Examples of AI deepfake videos during the Indian elections of popular actors and news anchors supporting a particular party or announcing false results. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts) This maelstrom operated with little to no intervention from the Election Commission of India (ECI), the autonomous constitutional authority that monitors and conducts elections. The ECI sent a letter to political parties warning against the use of misleading AI content and urging parties to take posts down within three hours if they are found to be AI. However, the body failed to bring in any specific regulations against misleading deepfakes. A report by an Indian digital rights body, the Internet Freedom Foundation, noted that action against political actors for violating the electoral code of conduct was "delayed and inadequate." The Delhi High Court has also expressed its concerns about AI this year while hearing two public interest cases about the non-regulation of AI. In October 2024, the court observed that with India's population, it will face problems with AI in the absence of legislation or regulation. It has since asked the central government to create a panel to examine the regulation of deepfakes. Prateek Waghre , a tech policy researcher, says that AI is "another layer" to an already "extremely problematic information ecosystem" in the country that will only be exacerbated with time. According to him, enacting new laws when existing systems are already weak and subject to misuse by political powers is not the way forward. "Where legislation has come in, anti-disinformation and anti-fake news legislation, they have often been used to target political opponents or dissidents or activists or journalists," Waghre told Logically Facts. He points to an example from the recently concluded Maharashtra state elections in November 2024, where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party shared a fake AI audio of political opponent Supriya Sule discussing misusing funds from a cryptocurrency fraud to influence the state elections. This went viral before being debunked, but the ECI has taken no action as of December 9. The South Asian situation: How elections went for India's neighbors Pakistan and Bangladesh both saw general elections this year amid a volatile political climate - Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in August 2023, engendering widespread protests, while Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted after violent protests in August of this year. In the case of these two countries, local fact-checkers told Logically Facts that AI disinformation, while not a major issue, was used for negative campaigning purposes. Sameen Aziz , a senior fact-checker and producer at Soch Media, Pakistan's only IFCN signatory, told Logically Facts that the major narratives centered on deepfakes attributed to political representatives, especially calling for election boycotts just before voting. The biggest challenge with these videos was their rapid dissemination and the lack of tools to combat them. Screenshots of viral AI-generated claims from the Pakistan elections of PTI leaders, Basharat Raja (left) and Imran Khan (right), announcing election boycotts. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts) Screenshots of viral AI-generated claims from the Pakistan elections of PTI leaders, Basharat Raja (left) and Imran Khan (right), announcing election boycotts. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts) "Detecting altered audio required specialized tools and expertise that were not always readily accessible; the same thing also happened with deepfakes," Aziz said. "Fact-checkers also encountered resistance from partisans who dismissed corrections as biased." The lack of reliable technology also presented issues in Bangladesh, according to Sajjad Chowdhury , the Operations Lead and Senior fact-checker at RumorScanner. "One of the most significant challenges involved the claims of leaked phone records of political and administrative figures," Chowdhury told Logically Facts. "Due to the absence of reliable technology for audio detection, verifying these claims was not possible." Aziz is also concerned that amended legislation aiming to combat online misinformation could limit individual freedoms if misused by the government. "Balancing regulation with freedom of expression will be critical in navigating this complex issue," she said. AI misinformation: an ever-present threat Ultimately, the disinformation apocalypse with an AI harbinger did not come to pass in 2024's general elections. Traditional methods of disinformation were still preferred by most actors and made up the mass of disinformation on platforms. However, AI disinformation remains a threat in countries without the framework in place to protect the common voter from manipulation. While regulation and education could enhance information quality on social media, Altay emphasizes that "the problem lies more with the actors than the technology." AI is simply another tool to illustrate existing misconceptions, not the source of misinformation—although Mahadevan worries this could change as technology advances. "I am worried that this tech will allow bad actors to target individuals more precisely with AI-generated content tailored to their hopes and fears," he said. Altay, however, has higher hopes. "Instead of focusing exclusively on the potential negative effects of AI, I think we should find ways to use AI to promote the quality and diversity of public discourse," he told Logically Facts. This report first appeared on logicallyfacts.com , and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.
The pressure was on for COP29 to deliver a new climate finance package as the clock ticks towards an uncertain deadline Friday for the conclusion of the latest climate change negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan. But Pacific voices remain loud and clear in the negotiation rooms, as Pacific leaders, negotiators and delegates continue to fight for the survival of their communities on the front line of climate change impacts. A key and contentious issue is the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance. On Thursday, a new draft of the COP29 NCQG was released by the COP Presidency. While it is more streamlined than previous versions, it still does not include an agreed target figure for the final goal. Pacific countries are amongst vulnerable nations seeking US$1.3 trillion to deal with damage from climate change and to adapt to it. The figure is being debated along with other details such as how much is grants or loans, and who contributes. The COP Presidency convened a special plenary to hear views from parties and negotiators. “We’ve said this before and we will say it again here, we have got to keep the 1.5-degree goal within reach,” said Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister, Biman Prasad, who expressed serious concern with the mitigation text and objected to backsliding on commitments. He noted that “we are not at the beginning of this process, we are at the twilight to deliver,” and “through the work we are doing, the special circumstances of SIDS and LDCs must be protected in line with the principles of the Convention and Paris Agreement.” Samoa, as Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), reminded that the stakes are incredibly high as COP29 work to deliver a package that meets the world’s urgent needs. “The time for political games is over,” said Samoa’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster. “Implementing all aspects of the Paris Agreement requires the sense of urgency that the global climate crisis demands. “The package needs to protect the space for deep emissions reductions and stronger mitigation efforts on the ground in this critical decade. If we lose these elements, the implementation of the Paris Agreement’s goals will fall out of balance.” On the NCQG, while AOSIS appreciates the efforts to streamline the text, Minister Toeolesulusulu said an “overall number” is the critical missing piece of the puzzle. Tuvalu’s Minister of Home Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment, Hon. Maina Talia, reiterated that his country continues to suffer from the impacts of climate change. “We cannot delay action,” he said. This is a life and death issue for us. The world needs to move away from fossil fuels, there is no future in fossil fuels, all that’s found there is death and destruction.” Marshall Islands Climate Envoy, Tina Stege said the text released on Thursday is disconnected and is unacceptable in the view of negotiators like herself, and many colleagues from the Pacific, who travel for days every year to attend these COP meetings. “We cannot play geopolitics with the lives of our citizens,” she said. “The package as it stands fails the people of Marshall Islands.” Vanuatu, as the Chair of Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), said the progress of COP29 has been quite frustrating and for negotiators, it has been a stressful process. Vanuatu’s Head of Delegation, Abraham Nasak, said while it has been good to see a text giving negotiators an idea of common landing space on many of the thematic areas, the sprint to the final hour will be intense. He underscored that the dialogue on GST implementation must establish a process for follow-up on all GST outcomes to keep the 1.5°C goal alive. The Pacific’s lead negotiator on climate finance, Wayne King, of the Cook Islands, said negotiators will need to buckle up for the remaining hours of COP29. “There are two things that need to happen, one is that the Presidency needs to be strong and determined, and we don’t know if that’s happening at this stage. The second thing is for AOSIS, together with LDCs, which is half of G77 and China, is to make it known that our circumstances need to be reinforced,” said King. “From here onwards, we will continue into the day and into the night to try and reach an agreement on this text. The text so far in terms of NCQG for the Pacific is looking pretty reasonable because it’s got our stuff in it. In terms of mitigation, it’s pretty weak.” Joseph Sikulu, 350.org Pacific Director and Pacific Climate Warrior, said the text comes with no clear grant-based core money. “Nothing less than one trillion dollars in grants per year will be enough to see those most impacted by climate change on a just transition towards a safe, equitable future,” he said. “Rich countries must stop dithering, and start delivering – this is not charity, it’s time for them to pay their debt.” Niue’s Minister for Natural Resources, Mona Ainuu, who is the Pacific’s political champion for gender, however, remains optimistic. “I’m hoping that the final text, and I know there is going to be a lot of work that will go into it, will reflect the importance of why we are here, firstly to voice our concerns, as well as to find solutions for disparities we have for our women and our girls,” she said. “For me I’m hoping that whatever happens in the next 48 hours we can come to some solutions because at the end of the day, nature doesn’t wait for anyone, we are all impacted, especially for women and girls.” Critics say a lot of the tough issues that are unlikely to be agreed upon in Baku will be moved to the next COP in Brazil next year. Minister Ainuu said the work must continue. “This is an ongoing process, and we will not solve everything in one meeting so if it means we will continue next year in Brazil so be it,” she said. “I will never stop fighting for our communities, and for women and girls who are impacted by climate change because I have a 13 year girl who is swimming in the ocean this morning and I want her to continue that, and I want other girls like her to enjoy the same privilege, whether they’re from Saudi Arabia, Eastern Europe, Asia, or wherever. So, let’s hope there will be some good outcomes, and we will continue to keep pushing, said Minister Ainuu.... PACNEWS/SPREPSurging Flyers take aim at Panthers, who may be without top goalie
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Jammu, Dec 25: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today paid tribute to former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya on the occasion of their birth anniversary. Addressing a commemorative event at Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya Inter College in Ghazipur, the Lieutenant Governor said, Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee represent the conscience of Bharat. He said the vision of the two giant leaders paved the way for socio-economic transformation of the nation. “Mahamana’s relentless pursuit to public welfare and nation building had shaped the idea of self-reliant, modern and united India. The vision of Mahamana had opened up new frontiers in education, technology and industrial development of the country,” the Lieutenant Governor said. Paying homage to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Lieutenant Governor spoke on the lifelong campaigns of the former Prime Minister dedicated to nation building and public welfare. “Nation should be supreme for an individual. To ensure this Atal Ji gave us the principles of ‘Indianization’ and ‘Nation-First’. Every section of society should work together to make the country self-reliant with undivided loyalty,” he said. The Lieutenant Governor called upon the people, especially the youth to rededicate themselves to the ideals of Mahamana and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and strive to build a progressive society and work unitedly to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat. “We do not have to live in the past but we must take inspiration from history to build a brighter future,” he said. He highlighted that the Youth have a very important role to play in taking public services to the grassroots levels. To achieve this, we need to start shaping a new framework for Jan-Bhagidari and use new technologies for transparency and accountability at all levels, he added. “Unity is our greatest strength. Young generation must unite the society with determination. I want to see every hand working like a skilled sculptor to create a beautiful, victorious and prosperous India. I want to see a sense of responsibility, steadfastness towards duties and steely determination in every youth towards nation-building,” the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that our cultural ideals and values should be paramount for the new political and economic system. “Today is the opportunity for us to build a brighter tomorrow for the country and to ensure that societal attitude is changed towards responsibilities. Whole of Government Approach should be adopted to achieve socio-economic goals,” the Lieutenant Governor observed
Student arrested after allegedly bringing gun into Wisconsin high schoolDonald Trump is planning to kick all transgender members out of the US military, it has been claimed. And the unprecedented executive order could be launched on his first day back in the White House on January 20. Experts suggest there are over 15,000 active service personnel who are transgender. They would be given a special medical discharge, which would determine them unfit to serve in the US military, a source reportedly claims. Trump, 78, is also expected to go one further and issue an outright ban on transgender people joining the military - at a time when many US Army branches are struggling to hit recruitment targets. CIA fires whistleblower 'who said she was assaulted in a stairwell of the spy agency' Three Americans arrested in Venezuela for alleged plan to 'destabilize' country The incoming US president has slated what he claims are 'woke' military practices and suggested that some top brasses are often more concerned about diversity, equality and inclusion than fighting. Several sources reportedly told the Times even those with decades of service will be removed from their posts. One reportedly said: “These people will be forced out at a time when the military can’t recruit enough people. Only the Marine Corps is hitting its numbers for recruitment and some people who will be affected are in very senior positions.” Earlier this week Donald Trump Jr. accused Joe Biden of trying to start WWIII before his father can take office after the president allowed Ukraine to fire US-supplied missiles into Russia. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter. The decision is a major US policy shift and comes just two months before Donald Trump returns to the White House after winning the US election. Even before moving back into the Oval Office the president-elect has vowed to limit American support for Ukraine and end the war as soon as possible. In a statement posted on social media, Trump Jr. said: "The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives," he tweeted. "Gotta lock in those $Trillions. Life be damned!!! Imbeciles!” He was joined by Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene. She said: “On his way out of office, Joe Biden is dangerously trying to start WWIII by authorising Ukraine the use of US long-range missiles into Russia. The American people gave a mandate on November 5th against these exact America last decisions and do NOT want to fund or fight foreign wars.” Their comments echoed concerns among some officials in Washington who believe that allowing Ukrainian forces to use long-range US weapons on Russian soil could escalate the conflict beyond current borders. They warned that this could lead Russian President Vladimir Putin to respond with increased force, potentially targeting American assets or allies.