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☆ Bulletproofing America’s Classrooms
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Emily Baumgaertner | Alex Kalman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

Ballistic armor companies are marketing protective products designed for the military to parents and schools. A snippet from a series of demonstration video on First Line Furniture's website. Bulletproof Collapsible Safe RoomsA snippet from a demonstration video on the KT Security Solutions website. Still, with another back-to-school season in full force, some educational leaders are deeply troubled by the proliferation of armored products. “Arm us with books, counselors and resources, not bulletproof vests,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.

Persons: ’, McGraw Hill, ”, Dewey Cornell, Steve Naremore, you’re, ’ ”, I’m, —, Kenneth Trump, “, Carrie Gaines, Gunnar, Hardwire, Trump, James Bond, Aaron Taormino, Seals, Mr, Daniel Leventry, ’ It’s, we’ll, J.C, Velazquez, Let’s, Ross Kaelin, Steven Lamkin, Randi Weingarten Organizations: National Institute of Justice, “, University of Virginia, Atomic Defense, Tuffy, New York Times, Lineville Elementary, KT, Solutions, KT Security Solutions, 3M, Covenant School, Salisbury Christian School, Police, American Federation of Teachers Locations: United States, Uvalde , Texas, America, Redding, Calif, Parkland, Tampa , Fla, ‘, Alabama, Nashville, Tenn, Maryland, Salisbury, Md, hardwirellc.com

☆ Mary Robin Walter: Kansas cold case ends 44 years later as man is sentenced for killing his former neighbor in 1980
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-15 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office said in a statement Friday that it was Hanks’ admission in new interviews that allowed authorities to charge him in 2022, when he was living in Burden, Kansas. The sheriff said they believe it is the oldest cold case in Kansas to be solved and result in a conviction. In his interviews, Hanks admitted to killing Walter, the attorney general’s office said. The statements from the sheriff and attorney general’s office, and online court records, don’t say whether Hanks ever revealed his motive for killing Walter. Officials with the attorney general’s office and Hanks’ attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press on Saturday.

Persons: Mary Robin Walter, Brian Bellendir, Steven L, Hanks, Steve Johnson, ” Bellendir, “, ” Walter, Detective Adam Hales, David Paden, Walter, Jessica Domme, ” Domme, Bellendir Organizations: Bend , Kansas AP, The, The Kansas Attorney General’s, Police, Wichita Eagle, Kansas Department of Corrections, Associated Press Locations: Bend , Kansas, Kansas, Great Bend, Barton County, The Kansas, Burden , Kansas

☆ Bitcoin could soon hit six figures regardless of who wins U.S. election, investors say
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Despite the increasingly partisan sentiment in the cryptocurrency industry, bitcoin will thrive over the long term regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election in November. It helps that bitcoin became more institutionalized than ever this year with the introduction of U.S. bitcoin exchange traded funds. "If Trump wins in November, will there be an immediate pump? If Harris wins, could there be some immediate sell pressure? Although there are concerns thanks to the Biden administration's position on bitcoin, "I would remind investors ... that bitcoin did great," under the current adminustration, Lubka added.

Persons: That's, Donald Trump's, Steven Lubka, Bitcoin, Lubka, Kamala Harris, James Davies, bitcoin, " Davies, hasn't, Harris, Biden, Tyrone Ross, Trump, Bernstein, Swan Bitcoin, Elizabeth Warren, Gary Gensler, … Organizations: U.S, Swan, Exchange, Investors, Conference, Republican, Trump, Securities Locations: United States, Japan, Nashville, bitcoin

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCrypto will be 'big boon' for financial services over time, Robinhood CEO says: CNBC Crypto WorldCNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what's ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today's show, Steven Lubka, head of private clients at Swan Bitcoin, discusses how each potential outcome in the U.S presidential election could influence crypto prices.

Persons: explainers, Steven Lubka, Swan Bitcoin Organizations: CNBC Crypto, CNBC, Swan

☆ Perseverance rover begins steep climb to study the oldest parts of Mars
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This ascent is something scientists have been looking forward to for years, long before Perseverance landed on Mars. Turning back Martian timeThe impact that created Jezero Crater also generated a lot of heat, partly from the energy of the object that slammed into Mars. The crater rim site of Pico Turquino, as the hydrothermal rocks are called, provides another, different possibility. A panorama shows the area Perseverance will climb in the coming months to crest Jezero Crater’s rim. “For now, we’re just going to pursue our crater rim investigation.

Persons: ”, Thompson, Perseverance, Pico, Hazel Hill, Briony Horgan, “, Horgan, Ken Farley, Pico Turquino, ” Farley, Farley, Steven Lee, ” Lee, ” Horgan, we’re Organizations: CNN, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, JPL, Caltech, University of Arizona, Purdue University, Mars, California Institute of Technology, ASU Locations: Pasadena , California, Mars, Dox, ”, West Lafayette , Indiana, Pico, Jezero

How Online Hatred Toward Migrants Spurs Real-World Violence Social media posts assailing immigrants have fomented a climate of fear and hatred in Britain, Portugal and other countries. It followed months of vitriol on social media that came not only from disgruntled Portuguese, but also from prominent far-right figures inside and outside the country. “It’s not up-to-date for the social media age,” Leo Varadkar, the prime minister then, said. Asked whether he believes his social media posts contribute to violence, Mr. Robinson responded: “I believe the teachings in the Koran contribute to violence. July 29 1:42 p.m.Not much info yet, but it will be a Muslim culprit followed by violence protests 1:49 p.m.

Persons: ”, Rita Guerra, Patience, ” Lee Marsh, “, Elon Musk, X, Musk, TikTok, we’re, ” Tommy Robinson, Donald J, Trump, Joel Finkelstein, Tony Craig, “ It’s, —, ” Leo Varadkar, He now, Ro, rie, Marc, iona, Robinson, e, ari, rance Organizations: YouTube, Spurs, Center for Psychological Research, Italy British, Protesters, Sunderland, PA, Agence France, Institute for Strategic, Elon, Meta, The New York Times, National, Counterterrorism, Security, Network, Research, Staffordshire University, Reuters, Ireland, unc, rit Locations: Portugal, Portuguese, Lisbon, Porto, Britain, Germany, Ireland, Europe, Southport, Liverpool, Syrian, Wales, Italy, The Netherlands, Greenwich, London, United States, Russia, Netherlands, Leeds, Chester, New Jersey, England, Algeria, Dublin, Coolock

The internet was spewing racist and sexist attacks long before Vice President Kamala Harris began her presidential campaign this month, including when Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton sought the job. Since the last major election, however, it has become even more noxious — and more central to American politics. In 2008, Mr. Obama faced an ecosystem in which Facebook had millions of users, not billions, and the iPhone was just a year old. In 2020, when Ms. Harris was Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s running mate, it was far harder to use artificial intelligence to produce the fake pornographic renderings and misleading videos that now claim to portray her. In the week since Ms. Harris — who is Black, of Indian descent and a woman — became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, false narratives and conspiracy theories about her have ricocheted across the digital landscape.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Obama, Harris, Joseph R, Biden, Harris —, — Organizations: Facebook, Democratic

After the assassination attempt against former President Donald J. Trump, calmer voices on both sides of the political spectrum called for “lowering the temperature” of today’s toxic political discourse. By the time President Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race eight days later, the temperature was as scorching as ever. The emergence of Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic front-runner touched off new paroxysms of disinformation and explicitly hateful comments. More than one in 10 posts mentioning her on X on Sunday included racist or sexist attacks, according to PeakMetrics, which tracks activity online. They included false claims about her race and whether she was ineligible to run for the presidency because she was not a citizen.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Biden, Kamala Harris Organizations: Democratic

☆ U.S. and Allies Target Russian Bots Working to Spread Propaganda
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Steven Lee Myers | Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Justice Department said on Tuesday that it had moved to disrupt a covert Russian influence operation that used artificial intelligence to spread propaganda in the United States, Europe and Israel with the goal of undermining support for Ukraine and stoking internal political divisions. In affidavits released with the announcement, officials with the Justice Department, the F.B.I. and the Pentagon’s Cyber National Mission Force linked the effort to Russia’s Federal Security Service and RT, the state television network that has channels in English and several other languages. The disclosure of such a large, global network of bots confirmed widespread warnings that the popularization of rapidly developing A.I. tools would make it easier to produce and spread dubious content.

Organizations: Ukraine, Elon, Justice Department, Force, Federal Security Service Locations: Russian, United States, Europe, Israel, Canada, Netherlands, Ukraine

☆ How Tom Hanks’s Son Spawned a Hateful Meme Online
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Steven Lee Myers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the spring of 2021, Chet Hanks, the singer, actor and son of Tom, posted a series of statements and a music video with a refrain that caused confusion, not to mention a fair bit of cringing. Thousands of posts using the slogan “white boy summer” have appeared on the Telegram app this year. It’s been used by far-right groups to recruit new followers, organize protests and encourage violence, especially against immigrants and L.G.B.T.Q. people, the report said. For many of those who use it now, the phrase represents an unapologetic embrace of white heterosexual masculinity, often at the expense of women and people of color.

Persons: Chet Hanks, Tom, It’s Organizations: Global

☆ New Tactic in China’s Information War: Harassing a Critic’s Child in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Steven Lee Myers | Tiffany Hsu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Deng Yuwen, a prominent Chinese writer who now lives in exile in the suburbs of Philadelphia, has regularly criticized China and its authoritarian leader, Xi Jinping. China’s reaction of late has been severe, with crude and ominously personal attacks online. A covert propaganda network linked to the country’s security services has barraged not just Mr. Deng but also his teenage daughter with sexually suggestive and threatening posts on popular social media platforms, according to researchers at both Clemson University and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. The content, posted by users with fake identities, has appeared in replies to Mr. Deng’s posts on X, the social platform, as well as the accounts of public schools in their community, where the daughter, who is 16, has been falsely portrayed as a drug user, an arsonist and a prostitute. “I tried to delete these posts,” Mr. Deng said of the attacks online, speaking in Mandarin Chinese in an interview, “but I didn’t succeed, because today you try to delete and tomorrow they just switch to new accounts to leave attacking text and language.”

Persons: Deng Yuwen, Xi, Deng, “, Mr, ” Organizations: Clemson University, Meta Locations: Philadelphia, China

☆ Wired's Steven Levy: Apple's AI announcement 'was the most Apple thing ever'
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWired's Steven Levy: Apple's AI announcement 'was the most Apple thing ever'Steven Levy, Wired editor-at-large, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss Apple's AI announcement at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, the company's partnership with OpenAI, the economics behind the partnership, and more.

Persons: Steven Levy Organizations: Wired, company's, OpenAI

☆ Fake News Reports and Videos Seek to Undermine the Paris Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | Steven Lee Myers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

With its athletes barred from competing in the Summer Olympics under the country’s flag, Russia has turned its fury on the Games and this year’s host, Paris. Russian propagandists have created an hourlong documentary, spoofed news reports and even mimicked French and American intelligence agencies to issue fake warnings urging people to avoid the Games, according to a report released on Sunday by Microsoft. The report details the disinformation campaign created by a group the company calls Storm-1679. The campaign appears to have accelerated since March, flooding social media with short videos raising alarms about possible terrorist attacks and stoking fears about safety. The operation, while aimed at the Games, is using various techniques to spread disinformation that could also be employed in European and U.S. elections.

Organizations: Games, Microsoft, Storm Locations: Russia, Paris, American

☆ How East West Bancorp has gained an edge by serving the Asian American community
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

East West Bancorp shares have eked out a small gain in 2024, up 2%. Despite the heightened scrutiny around regional banks, little-known East West Bancorp has been able to pull ahead thanks to a key customer base: Asian Americans. American dream = home ownershipPart of what's helping East West succeed with Asian Americans goes all the way back to its origins. East West Bancorp was founded in 1973 as a federal savings and loan in the Los Angeles area to service the Chinese American and immigrant community struggling to obtain mortgages and business loans. East West also drives cross-border activity between the U.S. and other Asian countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam.

Persons: Alexander Yokum, Wells, Timur Braziler, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, —, Braziler, Christopher Del Moral, Niles, it's, Del, Steven Leung, Leung, CFRA's Yokum, Yokum, Dominic Ng, that's Organizations: East West Bancorp, Regional Banking, Bancorp, West Bancorp, CFRA, Federal Housing Finance Agency, East, East West, U.S, Bancorp's Locations: Southern California, U.S, United States, East, Los Angeles, Asia, FactSet, East West, New York, Beijing, China, Shanghai, Thailand, Vietnam, Washington

☆ Europe Banned Russia’s RT Network. Its Content Is Still Spreading.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Tiffany Hsu | Steven Lee Myers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There, a recent article belittled an international warrant to arrest Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin, for war crimes. It repeated, word for word, an article that had appeared a day before under a different byline on the website for RT, Russia’s global television network. RT, which the U.S. State Department describes as a key player in the Kremlin’s disinformation and propaganda apparatus, has been blocked in the European Union, Canada and other countries since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Sites like Man Stuff News, however, have helped RT sidestep the restrictions and continue reaching European and American audiences, according to a new report. Many of the articles were then further disseminated through social media.

Persons: Beard, Labor ”, ”, Vladimir V, Putin, Alex Jones Organizations: Labor, RT, U.S . State Department, European Union, German Marshall Fund, University of Amsterdam, Institute for Strategic, San, San Francisco Telegraph Locations: Canada, Russia, Ukraine, San Francisco

☆ Once a Sheriff’s Deputy in Florida, Now a Source of Disinformation From Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Steven Lee Myers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A dozen years ago, John Mark Dougan, a former deputy sheriff in Palm Beach County, Fla., sent voters an email posing as a county commissioner, urging them to oppose the re-election of the county’s sheriff. He later masqueraded online as a Russian tech worker with a pseudonym, BadVolf, to leak confidential information in violation of state law, fooling officials in Florida who thought they were dealing with a foreigner. He also posed as a fictional New York City heiress he called Jessica, tricking an adviser to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office into divulging improper conduct by the department. “And boy, did he ever spill ALL of the beans,” Mr. Dougan said in a written response to questions for this article, in which he confirmed his role in these episodes.

Persons: John Mark Dougan, Jessica, Mr, Dougan Locations: Palm Beach County, Fla, Russian, Florida, New York City, Beach

Another group recently compared messages translated by humans and A.I. A Democratic firm tested four versions of a voice-over ad — two spoken by humans, two by A.I. The era of artificial intelligence has officially arrived on the campaign trail. With less than six months until the 2024 election, the political uses of A.I. The Biden campaign said it has strictly limited its use of generative A.I.

Persons: Biden, Trump Organizations: Democratic Locations: Mississippi

The SEC has approved a rule change Thursday that would pave the way for ETFs that buy and hold ether , one of the world's largest cryptocurrencies. The decision comes less than six months after the Securities and Exchange Commission approved bitcoin ETFs. Many of the companies that sponsor bitcoin ETFs — including BlackRock, Bitwise and Galaxy Digital — have also started the process of the launching an ether fund. Specifically, the SEC's order approves applications from various exchanges to list eight different ether funds. Ether ETFs are expected to be smaller, at least initially, than their bitcoin counterparts.

Persons: FactSet, Richard Kerr, Kerr, Ethereum, Steven Lubka, Swan, Lubka Organizations: SEC, Securities and Exchange Commission, Galaxy, Swan Locations: BlackRock, Bitwise, U.S

☆ Russian Disinformation Videos Smear Biden Ahead of U.S. Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | Steven Lee Myers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Last month, a video began circulating on social media purporting to tell the story of an internet troll farm in Kyiv targeting the American election. Speaking in English with a Slavic accent, “Olesya” offers a first-person account of how she and her colleagues initially worked in support of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. Then, she says, after a visit by mysterious Americans who were “probably C.I.A.,” the group began sending messages to American audiences in support of President Biden. “We were told our new target was the United States of America, especially the upcoming elections,” the woman in the video says. U.S. officials say the video is consistent with Russian disinformation operations as internet warriors aligned with Russia appear to be honing their strategy.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, “, Donald Trump Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, United States of America, Russia

An article on a fake online news outlet that Meta has linked to Russia’s information operations attributed the clashes unfolding on American college campuses to the failures of the Biden administration. A newspaper controlled by the Communist Party of China said the police crackdowns exposed the “double standards and hypocrisy” in the United States when it comes to free speech. On X, a spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Kanaani, posted a cartoon of the police arresting a young protester in the guise of the Statue of Liberty. As protests over the war in Gaza have spread across the United States, Russia, China and Iran have seized on them to score geopolitical points abroad and stoke tensions within the United States, according to researchers who have identified both overt and covert efforts by the countries to amplify the protests since they began. There is little evidence — at least so far — that the countries have provided material or organizational support to the protests, the way Russia recruited unwitting Black Lives Matter protesters to stage rallies before the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.

Persons: Biden, Nasser Kanaani, ” Organizations: Communist Party of, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Communist Party of China, United States, of, U.S.A, Gaza, Russia, China, Iran

☆ Can’t sleep? Blame the beaming bright glow of new technology
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Some manufacturers say indicator lights can sometimes serve a practical purpose. For example, an indicator light could show that a device is charging or plugged in and working properly. The light has a long lifespan and doesn’t generate excess heat — important qualities for a technology that’s used every day. “As a manufacturer, adding an LED light does cost something, so to add one just to add one seems quite wasteful. Linhares Jr. also said the lights can be helpful as night lights.

Persons: can’t, ” Steven Lockley, Paul Bogard’s, Kyle Moschen, Vincent van Gogh’s, Kyle Moschen “, Moschen, “, Jonathan King, ” King, —, Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, Shuji Nakamura, ” David Loftus, ” Loftus, Manny Linhares Jr, Legrand, it’s, ”, Linhares, John Towfighi Organizations: Washington CNN, Harvard Medical School’s Division, Sleep, CNN, Logitech, Getty, Electronic Components Industry Association Locations: Seattle, New York, French

☆ The upcoming Bitcoin halving is different from others before it. Here’s what investors need to know.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Bitcoin (BTC), entering its fourth halving period next week. After the 2012, 2016 and 2020 halvings, the bitcoin price ran up about 93x, 30x and 8x, respectively, from its halving day price to its cycle top. The halving occurs when incentives for bitcoin miners are cut by half, as mandated by the code of the Bitcoin blockchain. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwardsThat $30 million assumes a bitcoin price of about $70,000. Diminishing returns from halving to halving Bitcoin has always shot to the moon in the months following its halving – that's what makes it such a celebrated day among enthusiasts.

Persons: Yu Chun Christopher Wong, bitcoin, Antoni Trenchev, it's, Steven Lubka, Swan Bitcoin, Trenchev, Swan's Lubka, Lubka Organizations: S3studio, Wall, Swan, Miners

☆ Riding Rage Over Israel to Online Prominence
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Steven Lee Myers | Tiffany Hsu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Jackson Hinkle has cultivated an online persona so incendiary that he has been kicked off YouTube, Twitch and Instagram. Along the way, he has employed false or misleading content, promoted manipulated images and made comments that watchdog organizations have denounced as antisemitic. He calls himself an American patriot even as he praises American adversaries, including Vladimir V. Putin, Xi Jinping and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “DROP A LIKE if you stand with IRAN in the face of ISRAELI TERRORISM!” he wrote last week on X after an Israeli airstrike in Syria killed several Iranian military officials. A day later he addressed the Houthi leadership in Yemen over video, praising the group for its attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Persons: Jackson Hinkle, Vladimir V, Putin, Xi Jinping, Ali Khamenei, ” Organizations: YouTube Locations: Israel, American, IRAN, Syria, Yemen, Red

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBitcoin rebounds above $70,000, and Uniswap says SEC warned of potential lawsuit: CNBC Crypto WorldCNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what's ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today's show, Steven Lubka, managing director of Swan Private Client Services, discusses spot bitcoin ETF adoption as well as how inflation and interest rate expectations are impacting crypto markets.

Persons: Uniswap, explainers, Steven Lubka Organizations: SEC, CNBC Crypto, CNBC, Swan, Client Services

☆ Momentum for spot bitcoin ETFs will continue: Swan's Steven Lubka
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Talia Kaplan | Jordan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMomentum for spot bitcoin ETFs will continue: Swan's Steven LubkaSteven Lubka, managing director of Swan Private Client Services, discusses spot bitcoin ETF adoption as well as how inflation and interest rate expectations are impacting crypto markets.

Persons: Steven Lubka Steven Lubka Organizations: Swan, Client Services

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