Category: News

Mark Zuckerberg is to be heard in a major lawsuit concerning artificial intelligence and copyright, brought by several authors, including comedian Sarah Silverman.

Mark Zuckerberg Must Face Deposition in Sarah Silverman's AI Lawsuit Against Meta https://t.co/AYmfuQfJf4

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 25, 2024

On September 25, a judge rejected the defense’s request to prevent the deposition of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, pointing out that he would have played a central role in the company’s decisions regarding its artificial intelligence technology.

Sarah Silverman, along with two other authors, Chris Golden and Richard Kadrey, filed a lawsuit in July 2023 against OpenAI and Meta, accusing them of copyright infringement.

In particular, the authors claim that these companies have illegally copied their books and used them to train AI systems without their consent, attribution or compensation.

In his decision, the judge states that the evidence presented by the plaintiff, including an article published in the New York Times, suggests that Zuckerberg would have directly and intensively supervised the development of artificial intelligence at Meta.

This evidence is deemed sufficient to warrant a court hearing.

This artificial intelligence dispute deserves particular attention, as the development and use of this technology has grown explosively in recent years, raising important ethical questions.

Notably, recently, a voice strongly resembling Scarlett Johansson’s was used without her consent for an OpenAI voice feature, which the latter vigorously denounced.

Donald Trump claims to have been informed by US intelligence officials that there are allegedly serious threats against his life orchestrated by Iran.

Donald Trump Says Iran Is Trying to Assassinate Him | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/rxM4U8R5qa

— TMZ (@TMZ) September 25, 2024

Trump responded to the threats by posting on his social networks that Iran poses a great threat to his life and that all US military personnel are “attentive” to the situation.

According to Trump, Iran has already tried to assassinate him, but it didn’t work and, he believes, they will try again.

It’s impossible to know at present whether the two assassination attempts against him are linked to Iran, apart from the fact that Ryan Routh, the suspect in the failed assassination attempt on his Florida golf course, is said to have written in a book calling on Iran to assassinate him after the death of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike ordered by Trump on January 20, 2020.

According to a statement, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence warned Trump’s team of real and specific threats from the Iranian government, as well as attempts to interfere as part of a broader effort to destabilize the United States.

Hackers associated with the Iranian government also reportedly stole sensitive data to pass on to other candidates and media outlets.

Trump also expressed gratitude for Congress’s approval of additional funding for the Secret Service, a bipartisan measure he was keen to highlight.

Trump said he was now surrounded by more men, guns and weapons than he had ever seen before.

An error that occurred when the absentee voting system for foreign voters and military personnel in Montana went online caused concern, but the election authorities quickly took steps to remedy the situation.

Online overseas ballots for Montana voters briefly didn’t include Kamala Harrishttps://t.co/Y93Z47SeTi pic.twitter.com/9i4SAvYzXh

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) September 24, 2024

According to reports, online ballots for Montana overseas voters did not initially include Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris among the candidates.

In fact, it was thanks to a voter who received the online ballot and noticed Kamala Harris’s absence that election authorities were alerted shortly after the launch last Friday.

Montana’s Secretary of State, Republican Christi Jacobsen, has been heavily criticized for the error, which could have had serious consequences for the integrity of the electoral process.

It also raises questions about Jacobsen’s oversight of the electoral process, a Republican elected official, at a time when Republicans, led by Trump, are working hard to cast doubt on the reliability and validity of elections.

Jacobsen spokeswoman Richie Melby said the system had been taken offline to give the supplier time to resolve the problem. The system was back online on Friday afternoon and the error only affected the online platform, according to Melby.

Melby also assured that Kamala Harris’ name would appear on printed general election ballots.

Jacobsen’s rival for the next election, Jesse Mullen, publicly denounced Jacobsen’s negligence.

He demanded a full explanation of how this error occurred and what steps will be taken to prevent it from happening again in the next election, while expressing his distrust of the Secretary of State.

I ask that Secretary Jacobsen provide a public explanation of how this error happened, whether or not processes are being followed to prevent it from happening in future elections, and proof that those processes were followed in prior elections. https://t.co/vQb6IIbm3z

— Jesse James Mullen (@jmullen2) September 23, 2024

The incident has also sparked discussion about the transparency and confidence of many Republican elected officials in the integrity of elections.

Cases of whooping cough, or Pertussis, are now a major public health problem in the USA and Canada.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of cases reported in the USA has quadrupled compared to the previous year.

The U.S. is experiencing more than four times as many whooping cough cases compared with last year — a spike that some experts attribute to post-pandemic vaccine fatigue. https://t.co/qPPns9xhNv

— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 20, 2024

Nearly 15,000 cases were reported in the USA this year, a dramatic increase on the 3,475 reported the previous year.

This increase in cases reflects both the trends towards a return of pertussis, as well as the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with declining levels of vaccination in particular.

Many children were unable to receive their usual vaccinations due to reduced medical consultations during the pandemic. At the same time, some parents became increasingly wary of vaccines.

In the United States, it’s most evident in New York, Pennsylvania and California. Pennsylvania alone has reported over 2,000 cases this year.

Canada is also facing difficulties, with over 12,000 cases reported in August, compared with the usual 1,000 to 3,000 infections per year. Provinces such as Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick are seeing a worrying increase in cases. Quebec alone recorded more than 6,000 cases this year, according to data published in August.

It’s important to remember that pertussis symptoms can mimic those of other common respiratory conditions, making early diagnosis more difficult and increasing the risk of transmission. As the disease progresses, people may experience a strong cough, often accompanied by a sound when out of breath, and this cough may persist for several months. More severe symptoms may require hospitalization.

The CDC and Health Canada recommend updating immunization records with DTaP for young children or Tdap for older children and adults.

Florida residents are bracing themselves for the impact of Helene, which is forecast to strengthen into a powerful hurricane.

Currently moving through the Caribbean, Helene is expected to hit Florida in the coming days.

Tropical Storm Helene forms in the Caribbean just days before a potentially devastating strike on Florida as a major hurricanehttps://t.co/MqiIRqmBjN

— CNN (@CNN) September 24, 2024

Experts believe, based on their observations of Tropical Storm Helene, that the system has become more organized, with thunderstorms becoming more concentrated near the center, making Helene likely to intensify rapidly and significantly.

Helene is expected to hit several areas of the Caribbean, including Cancun in Mexico and western Cuba. The storm will reach its maximum intensity on Thursday, when it arrives in the Big Bend region of northern Florida.

Forecasts indicate that Helene could strengthen into a major hurricane as it enters the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, potentially reaching Category 3, before making landfall in Florida on Thursday.

9/24 11AM EDT: There is risk of life-threatening storm surge from Tropical Storm #Helene for the coast of the Florida Panhandle and the Florida west coast, where a Storm Surge Watch is in effect. Residents in those areas should follow advice given by local officials. pic.twitter.com/MdClvhsA69

— NHC Storm Surge (@NHC_Surge) September 24, 2024

The storm will reach its maximum intensity on Thursday when it arrives in the Big Bend region of northern Florida. According to computer models, it is expected to bring dangerous storm surges and flooding over a wide area.

Residents of several affected areas are under imminent evacuation orders in anticipation of the storm.

Residents of the southeastern U.S., including Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Kentucky, will be affected by the system, with heavy rains and powerful winds that could persist for several days.

According to Donald Trump’s financial disclosures, his wife Melania, who makes very few public appearances and is rarely by her husband’s side, was paid $237,500 to speak at an event at Mar-a-Lago last April organized by the Log Cabin Republicans.

Melania Trump was paid $237,500 to speak at a fundraiser for a LGBTQ+ conservative group, but the source of the paycheck remains a mystery.https://t.co/lxCQN3CA6o

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) September 23, 2024

Melania Trump, who was already at the center of discussions due to her absence from her husband’s political life this year, making only a brief appearance on the final day of the Republican convention without speaking, finds herself once again in controversy with this story linked to an event held at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year.

Attendance and compensation raise controversy on both sides of the political spectrum, but for distinct reasons.

Many are shocked that a political representative’s spouse would collect such a sum for attending campaign fundraising events. On the other hand, many conservative Republicans are expressing outrage that the event in question was related to the LGBTQ+ community, a group whose rights many seek to restrict.

Campaign finance and ethics experts have also criticized Trump and his wife for receiving a six-figure payment to speak at the event, which could violate ethics rules if funding sources aren’t clearly disclosed.

Questions about Melania Trump’s speaking fees are legitimate, especially as it appears that the Log Cabin Republicans did not directly pay for her attendance, and the source of that sum remains unknown.

The lack of transparency regarding the funding of speeches raises ethical questions, particularly with regard to potential conflicts of interest and transparency.

This isn’t the first time Melania Trump has publicly appeared at an event for her husband while receiving significant financial benefits. Most notably, she reportedly received $250,000 for an event in December 2022, plus additional income from a Trump-affiliated super PAC.

Several members of the Trump family have already been paid for their participation in events related to Donald Trump’s political interests.

For example, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancée, received $60,000 for attending the “Stop the Steal” rally on… January 6, 2021.

The Trumps have recently been criticized for taking financial advantage of their supporters. In particular, Donald Trump has stepped up his game with sales of $60 Bibles, $300 sneakers, $100 NFTs and $100 silver coins, all while launching a business… in cryptocurrencies.

For her part, Melania Trump, who is preparing to publish her memoirs, has also joined this trend by selling a necklace for $600!

Olivia Nuzzi, New York Magazine’s Washington correspondent, has been placed on leave after revealing that she had a personal relationship with RFK Jr. for much of 2024.

The scandal has raised concerns about conflicts of interest in journalism, given that RFK Jr. featured in one of her recent stories.

New York Magazine put Washington, D.C., correspondent Olivia Nuzzi on leave after learning she allegedly engaged in a romantic relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a source told THR https://t.co/TTJzwHwqpu

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 23, 2024

In fact, New York Magazine issued a statement justifying its decision to place Nuzzi on forced leave, confirming that the journalist had failed to meet its disclosure standards regarding personal relationships that could influence her reporting on the election campaign.

News of an intimate relationship between RFK Jr. 70, and Olivia Nuzzi, 31, emerged amid reports that they had traded personal messages shortly after Nuzzi published a story on RFK Jr.

These personal exchanges reportedly began in December 2023 and continued until the end of August.

Although he wasn’t her main subject during their alleged secret relationship, she continued to cover the 2024 presidential race, when RFK Jr. was a candidate.

New York Magazine points out that if the magazine had known about the relationship, she would not have continued her coverage of the presidential campaign.

RFK Jr. has been married to Cheryl Hines, the actress known for her role as Cheryl David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, since 2014. She is 59 years old. Olivia Nuzzi, meanwhile, was engaged to Politico Playbook journalist Ryan Lizza, but they broke off their engagement.

It’s unclear whether these events were related to their separation. Politico and Lizza himself have stated that, because of his connection with the affair, he would not cover stories about Kennedy.

At a time when the media faces a variety of challenges, including criticism of its credibility, this affair certainly raises many questions from the public about Olivia Nuzzi’s journalistic ethics.

Former President Donald Trump, 78, said in an interview that he would not run for president again in 2028 if he were to lose to Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

NEW: Donald Trump says he doesn’t believe he would run for office again in four years if he loses the November election.

“No, I think that that will be, that will be it. I don’t see that at all,” he says in a recent interview. https://t.co/Cwlvk2oopn

— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 23, 2024

Trump made the statement when interviewed by Full Measure’s Sharyl Attkisson. Although he expressed his prospects of winning the 2024 election, he seems to have clearly closed the door on a possible 2028 bid, saying in part:

“That will be it.”

At his age, Trump is the oldest candidate to run for president of a major political party, following the withdrawal of 81-year-old Joe Biden. Many observers note that he no longer displays the same energy as he did in 2016 or 2020. He has drastically reduced the number of rallies he used to hold, and while he has always been able to galvanize his supporters with hard-hitting speeches on his controversial policies, his current speeches often seem less dynamic and coherent.

His supporters frequently leave his speeches before they end, and his rallies are now marked by more controversial and rambling remarks.

The future of the Republican Party, for which Trump has been the nominee in the last three national elections and which has profoundly transformed the party over the past eight years, remains uncertain if it loses next November’s elections.

Traditional Republicans blame Trump for sowing chaos and for being directly responsible for several major defeats, including in the 2020 election and the 2022 mid-term elections.

Recent polls show the race tightening ahead of the November elections, with Kamala Harris having momentum and a lead over Trump, unlike Joe Biden’s situation before his withdrawal.

What’s more, she has managed to raise record funds and gather large crowds at her many events.

In contrast, Trump’s campaign appears far less dynamic in all these respects.

The question driving discussion is certainly whether Trump can win back the White House, while his legacy and leadership will remain important and controversial issues in American politics.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine dispatched state troops to support overwhelmed police officers due to several reported bomb threats, including in Springfield schools.

These alerts were triggered by misleading statements made by former President Donald Trump, which were heard by over 67 million viewers during the presidential debate broadcast by ABC News.

From @TheAthletic: Wittenberg University, located in Springfield, Ohio, has canceled all athletic events because of security concerns. The concerns began last week when Donald Trump spread a baseless rumor that Haitian immigrants in Springfield ate pets. https://t.co/oOT8x8yWz7

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 17, 2024

The city of Springfield, Ohio, has reportedly received more than 30 bomb threats to date, thankfully unfounded, since Trump relayed rumors, reported by his running mate JD Vance, that local Haitian immigrants were eating local pets and geese in city parks, plunging the city into chaos and fear.

In response to these threats, which fortunately turned out to be hoaxes, DeWine stressed the importance of protecting students and announced the deployment of 36 Ohio State Highway Patrol officers to the Springfield school district, which should provide some reassurance to parents.

Enhanced security measures will include a thorough inspection of each school before students arrive, as well as a continuous presence throughout the day.

Many, however, have decided not to send their children to school…

The governor, who recently asked Trump and JD Vance to stop spreading false rumors to no avail, asserted that the children of this community, in the grip of a stressful situation, deserve to go to school, and that parents need to be reassured that their children are safe.

He also stressed the importance of taking every threat seriously, even if it turns out to be unfounded.

DeWine said that, despite the increase in threats, none of the reported incidents fortunately proved valid. The majority of the bomb threats appear to have been made by foreign actors seeking to sow chaos within the Springfield community and the United States.

The FBI and local police are working together to investigate these worrying incidents, and bomb-detecting dogs have been deployed in the area since the events began.

Since Trump and his running mate JD Vance’s controversial remarks, Springfield schools have suffered evacuations and temporary closures, as have local hospitals and municipal buildings.

Tensions within the community have been exacerbated by statements made by Trump and JD Vance, who have stepped up racist rhetoric against the region’s Haitian immigrants, calling them illegal when they are legally settled, while calling for their mass deportation if elected.

Clearly, since the unfounded allegations against its immigrants, Springfield has been living in fear.

Disinformation videos designed to influence American voters and undermine their confidence in Vice President Kamala Harris have emerged in recent weeks. According to Microsoft, these videos were produced by tech groups linked to Russia.

A new Microsoft report finds that Russia is now throwing all of its disinformation resources behind operations designed to undermine the Harris-Walz campaign.https://t.co/uinsE6cj2f

— Axios (@axios) September 17, 2024

Microsoft reports that foreign operations, which initially struggled to adjust their tactics after President Joe Biden withdrew from the election race, have now become more aggressive in targeting Kamala Harris.

Their strategies include amplifying alleged leaks and hacked documents with the aim of distorting public perception and generating negative opinion of Kamala Harris.

Among these videos, one stands out for its disturbing content and the fact that it has been seen and shared by millions. It tells the story of a young black girl who claims that Kamala Harris paralyzed her following a car accident involving an alleged hit-and-run in San Francisco in 2011.

The video was released by KBSF TV, a fictitious company allegedly based in San Francisco, created by the Russians a few days before it was posted, according to the Microsoft report. In addition to this fabricated video, the website offered plagiarized articles to reinforce its appearance of credibility.

In addition, the evidence presented in this fictitious story, including X-rays, came from medical journals, and the spelling of the alleged victims’ names was incorrect.

Microsoft’s report confirms that this story is a fabrication of a Russian disinformation operation called Storm-1516.

Another story fabricated by the Storm-1516 operation showed in a video an attack at a Donald Trump rally, allegedly orchestrated by Kamala Harris supporters against an event attendee.

Also according to the report, Storm-1679, another Russian operation that targeted the Paris Olympics, recently redirected its forwards to Kamala Harris.

One of the many videos associated with Storm-1679 showed a fake billboard in New York broadcasting false claims about Harris’ policies. This video was seen by thousands of users on X shortly after its initial post… on Telegram.

While Microsoft claims that the goal in publishing these reports is to foster education and defend institutions from foreign interference, this report reveals that major tech companies actually hold far more information on this subject than the public imagines.