********** LAW **********
return to top
Algorithms Are Coming for Democracy—but It’s Not All Bad
2024-12-03T12:00:47Z
In 2025, AI is poised to change every aspect of democratic politics—but it won’t necessarily be for the worse.
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, has used AI to translate his speeches for his multilingual electorate in real time, demonstrating how AI can help diverse democracies to be more inclusive. AI avatars were used by presidential candidates in South Korea in electioneering, enabling them to provide answers to thousands of voters’ questions simultaneously. We are also starting to see AI tools aid fundraising and get-out-the-vote efforts. AI techniques are starting to augment more traditional polling methods, helping campaigns get cheaper and faster data. And congressional candidates have started using AI robocallers to engage voters on issues. In 2025, these trends will continue. AI doesn’t need to be superior to human experts to augment the labor of an overworked canvasser, or to write ad copy similar to that of a junior campaign staffer or volunteer. Politics is competitive, and any technology that can bestow an advantage, or even just garner attention, will be used...
With Trump returning to the White House, only mass commutations will stop another federal execution spree.
The post Biden Has “Pardoned” Eight Turkeys. Will He Spare the Lives of 40 Human Beings? appeared first on The Intercept.
Nottingham Playhouse
This uplifting production feels both improvised and polished, with John Elkington’s Dame Daisy camping it up to perfection as Jack’s mother
It’s not often that a latecomer to the stalls is heckled by a pantomime dame – and a magnificently ad-libbing one at that. “Don’t tell me you were getting ready. I’m in this,” Dame Daisy Trott shoots out to the offender, pointing to her elaborate dress, piled so high with fruit and vegetation that she looks like a campy Carmen Miranda.
From the moment John Elkington flounces on as Dame Daisy, the mother of Jack (Finton Flynn) and his simpleton brother (Bradley Judge), Elkington holds the audience in the palm of his hand and tickles us silly with his off-the-cuff jokes and glorious costumes (a hot-air balloon at one point, a glamorous green bean at another).
Continue reading...Both sides have traded fire and accused the other of breaching the truce. Plus, Tori Amos talks about trauma, Trump and Neil Gaiman
Good morning.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appears increasingly at risk after the two sides traded fire and accused each other of breaching the truce less than a week after it came into force.
Meanwhile, what is happening in Syria? Russian strikes pounded hospitals and neighborhoods in the rebel-held northern region of Idlib as insurgents continued to fight Bashar al-Assad’s forces, against whom they have made significant and surprising gains in the past week.
Why is a Delaware judge involved? While Musk has moved Tesla’s physical headquarters from California to Texas, like many other US companies it files its incorporation paperwork in the state of Delaware for tax purposes.
Continue reading...Saki Kumagai, Frida Maanum and Croix Bethune all feature as we publish the first 30 players of our annual countdown
By drawing attention to the troubling behaviour of a male celebrity, Kirsty Wark recalls the spirit of #MeToo
Famous men should not take advantage of their status to engage in sexually inappropriate behaviour, or make explicit remarks, at work. If and when this happens, their bosses should ensure that it is stopped. This might seem obvious. But in an interview for BBC News last week, Kirsty Wark, the former Newsnight host, described how when she was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011, she complained to the production company about the show’s co-presenter Gregg Wallace. She thought a sexualised monologue he delivered early one morning on set was so ill-judged that it made her angry, and worried that staff on short-term contracts would not feel able to object.
BBC News also heard from 12 other people making various allegations. That it has taken so many years for these claims to emerge strongly suggests that the impunity enjoyed by celebrities is an ongoing cultural problem in the media industry. Mr Wallace has apologised for a video made at the weekend, in which he suggested the complaints against him came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”. He is cooperating with an investigation by MasterChef’s production company, Banijay UK.
Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
Continue reading...Vanuatu envoy makes claim as hearing gets under way at international court of justice in The Hague
A handful of countries should be held legally responsible for the ongoing impacts of climate change, representatives of vulnerable states have told judges at the international court of justice (ICJ).
During a hearing at the Peace Palace in The Hague, which began on Monday, Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s special envoy for climate change and environment, said responsibility for the climate crisis lay squarely with “a handful of readily identifiable states” that had produced the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions but stood to lose the least from the impacts.
Continue reading...Draconian new laws allow mass incarceration of women and children forced to beg because of work ban
Destitute Afghan women arrested for begging under draconian new Taliban laws have spoken of “brutal” rapes and beatings in detention.
Over the past few months, many women said they had been targeted by Taliban officials and detained under anti-begging laws passed this year. While in prison, they claim they were subjected to sexual abuse, torture and forced labour, and witnessed children being beaten and abused.
Continue reading...When asked directly in a CNN interview, Jason Miller said ‘that would never be something that I would weigh in on’ and asserted Trump did ‘nothing wrong’
Notre Dame Cathedral will reopen in Paris on Saturday with incoming US president Donald Trump set to attend the ceremony marking the resurrection of the Gothic masterpiece five years after a devastating fire.
The Republican confirmed Monday he had accepted an invitation from French president Emmanuel Macron to attend the grand re-opening of the 850-year-old edifice which was nearly lost to flames in April 2019.
Continue reading...The US is somewhat unique in letting its chief executive pardon without having to get signoff – here’s what to know
Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter on Sunday for any federal crimes “he committed or may have committed” between 1 January 2014 and 1 December 2024 has brought renewed focus on the expansive power the US constitution gives the president to grant official clemency.
It’s a power that presidents have deployed since George Washington, who pardoned those involved in the Whiskey Rebellion, to Donald Trump, who pardoned his political allies.
Continue reading...Climate Justice Alliance was the only program grantee to speak out on Palestine — and the only one whose funding is delayed.
The post Biden Makes His Own Attack on Nonprofit Over Palestine appeared first on The Intercept.
The PRESS Act, a federal reporter shield bill, already passed the House unanimously. Trump wants it dead.
The post Congress Could Protect Journalists From Surveillance. Trump Is Lobbying to Stop Them. appeared first on The Intercept.
After 250 years of armed attacks, forced relocations, ethnic cleansing, and genocide of Native Americans, the U.S. military wants to celebrate.
The post Happy Native American Heritage Month From the Army That Brought You the Trail of Tears appeared first on The Intercept.
The U.S. has a long tradition of shielding Israel (and itself) from war crime allegations — and threatening The Hague.
The post War Crimes Have Never Stopped the U.S. Before appeared first on The Intercept.
Local police across New York state regularly work with ICE. Before Trump can start rounding up immigrants, advocates are pushing for change.
The post The Fight to Stop New York Cops From Conspiring With ICE appeared first on The Intercept.
The OSHA heat regulation was one of the few to have broad public support, but Democrats can’t ever seem to get their act together.
The post Biden Made “Record Time” on Worker Protections for Heat. Trump Could Quickly Stamp Them Out. appeared first on The Intercept.
The Intercept’s lawsuit argues that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act prevents OpenAI from stripping a story’s title or byline.
The post The Intercept’s Lawsuit Against OpenAI Advances on Claim It Removed Reporters’ Bylines appeared first on The Intercept.
Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., discusses Biden’s lame-duck session and erecting barriers to Trump’s agenda on The Intercept Briefing podcast.
The post Rep. Summer Lee on the Fight of Our Lives appeared first on The Intercept.
ESA and Thales Alenia Space have signed a contract amendment today at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan to extend the Lunar View refuelling module for the lunar Gateway.
Members of the national assembly reportedly banned from entering building after president announces ‘emergency martial law’
The US, south Korea’s most powerful ally, has not yet commented on the martial law declaration. About 28,500 American troops are stationed in south Korea to guard against north Korea, led by Kim Jong Un.
The Yonhap News Agency is reporting that members of the national assembly have been banned from entering the building, with the South Korean military having reportedly announced the suspension of all parliamentary activity. We have not yet independently verified this information. The parliament speaker is traveling to parliament and plans to convene a session, according to local broadcaster YTN TV.
Continue reading...A wonderfully crackly Washington leads Scott’s frenetic, macho action flick, as part of an experimental FBI unit that hopes to use time travel to stop a terrorist attack
In a 2005 interview with the Sunday Times, the late Tony Scott reflected on the key artistic difference between himself and his older brother Ridley: “[He] makes films for posterity … they’ll be around for a long time. I think my films are more rock’n’roll.”
While the elder Scott’s movies certainly tend to be classical and operatic in their scope and style, the younger brother’s films are marked by a much more experimental edge – a rebellious desire to create beauty out of divine chaos. The pinnacle of this creative ethos may be his 2006 work Déjà Vu, a high-octane sci-fi action hybrid which asks the question: would you risk your life to go back in time and save a person you loved?
Continue reading...Carmaker, which has faced backlash over rebrand, will reveal production-ready version of Type 00 in late 2025
Jaguar’s design boss has said the car brand has shown “fearless creativity” as he unveiled a much-hyped electric vehicle that had attracted an online backlash over its unusual marketing campaign.
Gerry McGovern, who is in charge of design for Jaguar’s parent company, told a launch event on Monday in Miami: “Some may love it now, some may love it later and some may never love it. That’s what fearless creativity does.”
Continue reading...Cab companies run by women provide safe rides in a country with one of the worst rates of sexual violence in Latin America
The first hint that something was wrong came when Jacqueline Diaz received a call at work from a friend. “You need to come here, to my shop, now. It’s urgent,” she was told. Diaz rushed to her friend’s shop in La Paz, Bolivia, where she found her daughter, Michelle, who was 12 at the time, crying and in shock.
That morning, on her way to school, a van had pulled up, the door opened and two men pulled her inside before speeding off.
Continue reading...Recordings by biologist Heike Vester reveal how oil and gas exploration as well as cruises, fishing boats and even whale-watchers are adding to the din underwater
From the moment that the biologist Dr Heike Vester presses play, the sound of the static of the fjord fills the room. First comes the constant, steady rumbling of a boat engine. Then, every eight seconds, like a foreboding bass drum, comes the explosion of seismic airguns – extremely loud blasts used in oil and gas exploration that can travel vast distances underwater.
And finally, dancing above it all – and at times drowned out by it – are the soaring vocalisations of whales.
Heike Vester at home in Bodø, Norway. Her love of whales comes partly from her interest in matrilineal societies. Photograph: Marthe Mølstre/The Guardian
Continue reading...Palestinians from Gaza feel relief for the people of Lebanon. We are also heartbroken that we are still being slaughtered.
The post There’s a Ceasefire in Lebanon, but Israel Keeps Gaslighting Palestinians About Ending the Assault on Gaza appeared first on The Intercept.
The U.S. has a long tradition of shielding Israel (and itself) from war crime allegations — and threatening The Hague.
The post War Crimes Have Never Stopped the U.S. Before appeared first on The Intercept.
When it comes to female fashion, think comfort, culture, weather and colour – all key considerations when exploring this diverse corner of the world
South-east Asia has it all: thanks to the dazzling variety in landscapes, cultures and religions, both within and between nations, it’s one of the most diverse regions on the planet. It’s what makes it such an extraordinarily popular place to holiday – there really is something for everyone. But its many blessings in that regard can potentially make it feel like a packing nightmare … because, how on earth do you prepare your suitcase for the free-wheeling eclecticism of itineraries that could take you from a mountain hike in the morning to rice paddy mid-afternoon, then a beach for the sunset, before a dance at the hotel bar?
Well, it might sound obvious but whether you’re looking to discover archaeological wonders, bargains in a market, or moonlit raves, before you venture out, really research and think about what is a bucket-list must for you so that you bring the right clothes, plus (very importantly!) the appropriate footwear. Because you’ll probably find there are a couple of sites and sights you didn’t even know existed (did you know Thailand has an ancient temple guarded by a giant catfish? I’ll bet you didn’t.)
Continue reading...It’s the smallest country in south-east Asia, but this tropical island’s vibrant diversity, modern architecture and warm hospitality creates a wealth of opportunities for travellers of all kinds
For such a small country – the smallest in south-east Asia – Singapore sure packs in a lot. In the 59 years since independence, it has gone from post-colonial minnow to roaring Asian powerhouse where gleaming skyscrapers and sprawling malls rub up against heritage-listed shophouses and leafy neighbourhoods.
Predominantly Chinese, Indian and Malay populations share this spotlessly clean, lush and green multicultural melting pot of a tropical island. Your visit starts when you land at Changi airport, frequently voted the world’s best, from where it’s a quick cab ride to the city centre. The island’s compact size (and amazing public transport system) means it’s a breeze to get around, and visitors can fit in plenty in just a few days.
Continue reading...Welcoming more than 20 million tourists a year, Thailand’s capital is a playground for holidaymakers of all kinds – and these swanky hotels make the perfect base for exploring all this bustling city has to offer
Colourful, cacophonic and a round-the-clock adventure – in Bangkok gilded royal palaces are sited next to shopping malls containing their own theatres and urban parks. Bangkok lives large: it plays in sky bars, night markets and open-air theatres. It prays at Buddhist temples, Catholic churches, ornate mosques and Hindu temples. In a city that serves up one fast-paced adventure after another – travellers will need a place of calm where they can retreat from the melee. Three standout hotels promise a serene respite from the hustle and bustle – all you need to do is choose your holiday style …
Explore history and culture from Millennium Hilton Bangkok
The Chao Phraya river – or the River of Kings – courses through a city of 11 million to connect palaces, temples and major historical sights. The cultural must-see is the Grand Palace. From 1782, this gilt-edged complex hosted the kings of Siam – the historic name of Thailand – amid pavilions, a throne room and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
The Grand Palace
Continue reading...From biking adventures to city breaks, get inspiration for your next break – whether in the UK or further afield – with twice-weekly emails from the Guardian’s travel editors. You’ll also receive handpicked offers from Guardian Holidays.
From biking adventures to city breaks, get inspiration for your next break – whether in the UK or further afield – with twice-weekly emails from the Guardian’s travel editors.
You’ll also receive handpicked offers from Guardian Holidays.
Continue reading...A wonderfully crackly Washington leads Scott’s frenetic, macho action flick, as part of an experimental FBI unit that hopes to use time travel to stop a terrorist attack
In a 2005 interview with the Sunday Times, the late Tony Scott reflected on the key artistic difference between himself and his older brother Ridley: “[He] makes films for posterity … they’ll be around for a long time. I think my films are more rock’n’roll.”
While the elder Scott’s movies certainly tend to be classical and operatic in their scope and style, the younger brother’s films are marked by a much more experimental edge – a rebellious desire to create beauty out of divine chaos. The pinnacle of this creative ethos may be his 2006 work Déjà Vu, a high-octane sci-fi action hybrid which asks the question: would you risk your life to go back in time and save a person you loved?
Continue reading...Launched in Japan in December 1994, the record-breaking PlayStation started out as a CD add-on for the Super Nintendo – but ended up ushering video games into a new era all on its own
If you were an obsessive video game fan in the summer of 1994, you’ll remember where you were when Edge magazine’s August issue dropped. By then, Sony had already announced its intention to develop the PlayStation console – the previous October – but it was the cover feature in the world’s most forward-looking game publication that really blew open the possibilities of the machine. As well as listing its specifications in full, Edge secured enthusiastic statements of support from Capcom, Namco and Konami. One breathless developer told the mag: “It’s going to revolutionise the way computers are at the moment.” Suddenly, the whole structure of the console games business was being threatened. All it needed was a push.
Sony’s entry into the video game industry has become the stuff of legend (and probably, one day, the stuff of a passable Netflix movie). In the late 1980s, the company was keen to get a foothold in an increasingly profitable business after the failure of its MSX games computer, so when the chance came up to build a CD-Rom drive for the soon-to-be-released Super Nintendo (SNES) console, Sony leapt at it. In the background, however, Sony’s engineering genius Ken Kutaragi, was also designing a standalone system, the PlayStation, capable of playing SNES games as well as a new CD format that Sony itself would control.
Continue reading...
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are the most popular digital assets today, capturing the attention of cryptocurrency investors, whales and people from around the world. People find it amazing that some users spend thousands or millions of dollars on a single NFT-based image of a monkey or other token, but you can simply take a screenshot for free. So here we share some freuently asked question about NFTs.
NFT stands for non-fungible token, which is a cryptographic token on a blockchain with unique identification codes that distinguish it from other tokens. NFTs are unique and not interchangeable, which means no two NFTs are the same. NFTs can be a unique artwork, GIF, Images, videos, Audio album. in-game items, collectibles etc.
A blockchain is a distributed digital ledger that allows for the secure storage of data. By recording any kind of information—such as bank account transactions, the ownership of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), or Decentralized Finance (DeFi) smart contracts—in one place, and distributing it to many different computers, blockchains ensure that data can’t be manipulated without everyone in the system being aware.
The value of an NFT comes from its ability to be traded freely and securely on the blockchain, which is not possible with other current digital ownership solutionsThe NFT points to its location on the blockchain, but doesn’t necessarily contain the digital property. For example, if you replace one bitcoin with another, you will still have the same thing. If you buy a non-fungible item, such as a movie ticket, it is impossible to replace it with any other movie ticket because each ticket is unique to a specific time and place.
One of the unique characteristics of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) is that they can be tokenised to create a digital certificate of ownership that can be bought, sold and traded on the blockchain.
As with crypto-currency, records of who owns what are stored on a ledger that is maintained by thousands of computers around the world. These records can’t be forged because the whole system operates on an open-source network.
NFTs also contain smart contracts—small computer programs that run on the blockchain—that give the artist, for example, a cut of any future sale of the token.
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) aren't cryptocurrencies, but they do use blockchain technology. Many NFTs are based on Ethereum, where the blockchain serves as a ledger for all the transactions related to said NFT and the properties it represents.5) How to make an NFT?
Anyone can create an NFT. All you need is a digital wallet, some ethereum tokens and a connection to an NFT marketplace where you’ll be able to upload and sell your creations
When you purchase a stock in NFT, that purchase is recorded on the blockchain—the bitcoin ledger of transactions—and that entry acts as your proof of ownership.
The value of an NFT varies a lot based on the digital asset up for grabs. People use NFTs to trade and sell digital art, so when creating an NFT, you should consider the popularity of your digital artwork along with historical statistics.
In the year 2021, a digital artist called Pak created an artwork called The Merge. It was sold on the Nifty Gateway NFT market for $91.8 million.
Non-fungible tokens can be used in investment opportunities. One can purchase an NFT and resell it at a profit. Certain NFT marketplaces let sellers of NFTs keep a percentage of the profits from sales of the assets they create.
Many people want to buy NFTs because it lets them support the arts and own something cool from their favorite musicians, brands, and celebrities. NFTs also give artists an opportunity to program in continual royalties if someone buys their work. Galleries see this as a way to reach new buyers interested in art.
There are many places to buy digital assets, like opensea and their policies vary. On top shot, for instance, you sign up for a waitlist that can be thousands of people long. When a digital asset goes on sale, you are occasionally chosen to purchase it.
To mint an NFT token, you must pay some amount of gas fee to process the transaction on the Etherum blockchain, but you can mint your NFT on a different blockchain called Polygon to avoid paying gas fees. This option is available on OpenSea and this simply denotes that your NFT will only be able to trade using Polygon's blockchain and not Etherum's blockchain. Mintable allows you to mint NFTs for free without paying any gas fees.
The answer is no. Non-Fungible Tokens are minted on the blockchain using cryptocurrencies such as Etherum, Solana, Polygon, and so on. Once a Non-Fungible Token is minted, the transaction is recorded on the blockchain and the contract or license is awarded to whoever has that Non-Fungible Token in their wallet.
You can sell your work and creations by attaching a license to it on the blockchain, where its ownership can be transferred. This lets you get exposure without losing full ownership of your work. Some of the most successful projects include Cryptopunks, Bored Ape Yatch Club NFTs, SandBox, World of Women and so on. These NFT projects have gained popularity globally and are owned by celebrities and other successful entrepreneurs. Owning one of these NFTs gives you an automatic ticket to exclusive business meetings and life-changing connections.
That’s a wrap. Hope you guys found this article enlightening. I just answer some question with my limited knowledge about NFTs. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below. Also I have a question for you, Is bitcoin an NFTs? let me know in The comment section below
RSS Rabbit links users to publicly available RSS entries.
Vet every link before clicking! The creators accept no responsibility for the contents of these entries.
Relevant
Fresh
Convenient
Agile
We're not prepared to take user feedback yet. Check back soon!
