Author: Eric Mawuli DJIRACKOR

The Federal Trade Commission approved a final order settling its complaint against Rytr for selling an artificial intelligence “Testimonial & Review” service.
The regulator alleged that Rytr violated the FTC Act by providing subscribers to this service with a means to generate false and deceptive content for reviews and that it engaged in an unfair business practice by offering this service, according to a Wednesday (Dec. 18) press release.
The final order prohibits Rytr from engaging in similar illegal conduct and bars it from promoting or selling any service that generates consumer reviews or testimonials, according to the release.
Rytr did not immediately reply to PYMNTS’ request for comment.
The FTC announced its law enforcement action against Rytr in September, saying the move was part of a crackdown on deceptive AI claims and schemes.
The law enforcement sweep was dubbed “Operation AI Comply” and targeted companies that the FTC said use “AI hype” or sell AI technology that can be used in deceptive and unfair ways.
“Using AI tools to trick, mislead or defraud people is illegal,” FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said in a Sept. 25 press release. “The FTC’s enforcement actions make clear that there is no AI exemption from the laws on the books.”
In the case of Rytr, the FTC said in the release that the company’s AI “Testimonial & Review” service generated reviews that contained details that had no relation to the user’s input and that “almost certainly” would be false for those who posted them online.
“In many cases, subscribers’ AI-generated reviews featured information that would deceive potential consumers who were using the reviews to make purchasing decisions,” the release said. “The complaint further alleges that at least some of Rytr’s subscribers used the service to produce hundreds, and in some cases, tens of thousands, of reviews potentially containing false information.”
In July, the FTC said it is using “all the tools at its disposal” to oversee the rise of AI technologies. The commission said it is working “to address the rapid emergence of new technologies powered by AI and their potential risks to consumers and businesses.”
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By Arthur Jones , Multimedia Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media News
Dec. 18, 2024, 2:37 p.m. ·
Santa Claus made an early trip to Lincoln’s Bryan East NICU Wednesday to say hello to the hospital’s smallest residents and their families.
Santa has been visiting the NICU at Bryan Health for over a decade.
“It's just really special to bring the magic of Christmas to them,” Santa said. “Especially to the little ones, since it's their first Christmas, and just being here and just bringing the magic of the North Pole, I think it does wonders.”
Each year, the nurses at Bryan Health’s neonatal intensive care unit decorate the rooms of their smallest patients with Christmas decorations, as well as the patients themselves in festive outfits.
One of the nurses, Rachel Kreikemeier, dresses up as an elf and accompanies Santa while he makes his visits.
“It's so nice to see the parents light up,” said NICU nurse Alex White. “All the staff lights up. It's just, it's so great. It just brings a little bit of holiday and fun to the NICU.”

One patient, Bo Niles, has been at the hospital for 12 weeks. According to White, he amazes them each time he meets another milestone. He was born 17 weeks early.
Bo’s mom, Faith Niles, enjoyed seeing Santa this year.
“I feel like Santa coming today kind of normalizes families who don't have family,” Niles said. “Like all of me and my partner's family are all two and a half and three and a half hours away. So I think it helps us normalize it a little bit with Christmas spirit, and then we have all of his primaries who are like his aunties and family to him. And I think it helps us a lot. Having them around and be in our support.”
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THE NATIONAL Lottery results are in and it's time to find out who has won a life-changing amount of money tonight (December 18, 2024).
Could tonight's jackpot of £5.2million see you handing in your notice, jetting off to the Bahamas or driving a new Porsche off a garage forecourt?
You can find out by checking your ticket against tonight's numbers below. Good luck!
Tonight's National Lottery Lotto winning numbers are: 18, 20, 28, 39, 52, 58 and the Bonus Ball is 38.
Tonight’s National Lottery Thunderball winning numbers are:07, 15, 19, 28, 37 and the Thunderball is 04.
The first National Lottery draw was held on November 19 1994 when seven winners shared a jackpot of £5,874,778.
The largest amount ever to be won by a single ticket holder was £42million, won in 1996.
Gareth Bull, a 49-year-old builder, won £41million in November, 2020 and ended up knocking down his bungalow to make way for a luxury manor house with a pool.
Sue Davies, 64, bought a lottery ticket to celebrate ending five months of shielding during the pandemic — and won £500,000.
Sandra Devine, 36, accidentally won £300k – she intended to buy her usual £100 National Lottery Scratchcard, but came home with a much bigger prize.

The biggest jackpot ever to be up for grabs was £66million in January last year, which was won by two lucky ticket holders.
Another winner, Karl managed to bag £11million aged just 23 in 1996.
The odds of winning the lottery are estimated to be about one in 14million – BUT you've got to be in it to win it.
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Josie Perry is a National Board Certified teacher in Social Studies-His­tory. She teaches AP Human Geography and Honors United States History at Rising Sun High School in Cecil County.

As a kid, I went through a range of future careers, from meteorologist to paleontologist and everything in between. Teaching was never a con­sideration, until I realized it allowed me to do the two things I love most–helping people and continuing to learn.

For many, “profes­sional development” is met with an eye roll and probably an audible groan. I get it! I have been through plenty of PD where it was a six-hour lecture on a “relevant” topic as determined by an “educational expert.” The most transformational PD for me has always been self-selected and self-guided; it has taken me around the world.

A student once asked me about the Armenian genocide and I real­ized I didn’t know much about the often labeled “forgotten genocide.” We found an answer to his ques­tion, but I wanted to know more. I found a free self-directed course offered by Facing History and Ourselves. I grew in my knowledge, but I had more questions. A colleague shared her experience with the Genocide Education Project Fellowship and learning about the genocide and Armenian culture in Armenia. While I wasn’t sure I would be selected, I know there is nothing more pow­erful than place-based learning, so I took a risk and applied for the fellowship—and received it.

To study the genocide at the Armenian Genocide Museum–In­stitute with leading scholars was invaluable to my understanding both the events and the enduring legacy of the genocide that continues to shape geopol­itics today. The museum artifacts tell the stories of not only the victims, but the survivors. In an exhibit on women’s experiences, there was a case containing two sugar cubes that had sustained a small family during one of the many deportation marches into the Syrian Des­ert. There were numerous stories of resistance in the face of Turki­fication, including by children keeping their Armenian names written on small strips of paper hidden in their shoes. When learning about genocide, these stories of survival and resistance are important to move students beyond the numbers and humanize the lives lost and those who survived.
Being surround­ed by a people who have endured so much tragedy yet remain resilient in spite of ongoing threats was inspiring. Whether it was through traditional carpet weaving or the delicious foods served at every meal, the richness and depth of Armenian culture is ever-present. I learned traditional dances, how to create Armenian bird letters, and how to make delicious lavash. I experienced Vardavar, a pre-Christian tradition that is literally a city-wide water fight. Sharing these experiences with my students allows them to see cultures around the world and appreciate them for their uniqueness and commonalities with American culture.
Whether it’s teaching an eco­nomics lesson in the Philippines or helping the Sacred Valley Project clear land for a new dormitory for high school girls in Peru, when I am engaging in PD around the globe, I keep one question at the forefront: How can I bring this experience back to my classroom to enhance my students’ learning experience?

Bringing the world into my class-room allows my students to see that distant countries are not as far away as they may seem. It also helps students see themselves as part of a larger global community because they can see they are more similar than differ­ent from others around the world. When students can see themselves as a part of something bigger that is when true intellectual and social-emotional growth can happen, which is our ultimate goal as teach­ers. Don’t forget the need for your own growth, so take a risk on a new PD experience!
MSEA has members all over the state. Find your affiliate today.

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Youngkin proposes $50 million for private-school vouchers in Virginia  The Washington Post
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Live Briefing: U.N. envoy to Syria expresses ‘hope’ in new rebel-led government  The Washington Post
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Films like “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Spy Kids” will live on forever in cinema’s hall of fame, better known as the National Film Registry.
The National Film Preservation Board announced Tuesday the 25 movies that are joining its sacred list, rounding out the total to 900. This year’s class of movies range over a century and across genres, from the 1885 silent documentary “Annabelle Serpentine Dance” to the 2010 Facebook origin story “The Social Network.”
Horror fans will be thrilled to see the 1974 cult classic “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” while sci-fi fans are rejoicing at the entry of “Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan.”
More than 6,700 titles were considered to join the registry but a surmountable 25 will be cemented on the list, which has long honored classics like “When Harry Met Sally,” “The Lion King,” “Ghostbusters” and “The Godfather.” Films are selected based on their “cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation’s film heritage,” according to Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.
A television special honoring the 25 additions to the National Film Registry will be hosted by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
“The wealth of American film history is sometimes rather overwhelming, and people often wonder: how do you recommend this film or that film?” National Film Preservation Board Chair Jacqueline Stewart said in a news release. “It’s through a lot of research, conversation and discussion, and it’s through a commitment to showing the true diversity of filmmaking.”
The public can submit nominations throughout the year on the Library of Congress’ website, but movies will be only be considered until Aug. 15, 2025. Cast your vote at loc.gov/film.
Last year’s selections included noteworthy movies from “Home Alone” and “Apollo 13” to “12 Years a Slave.”

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Home » News » Ripple USD launches on global stock exchanges
San Francisco-based Ripple, a digital asset infrastructure provider to financial institutions, began being available on global exchanges on Monday as Ripple USD (RLUSD).
RLUSD is stablecoin, a type of cryptocurrency whose value is tied to another currency, commodity, or financial instrument. RLUSD is backed by U.S. dollar deposits, U.S. government bonds, and cash equivalents. An independent auditing firm will conduct third-party attestations of RLUSD’s reserve assets that Ripple will publish monthly.
RLUSD is available on Archax, Bitso, CoinMENA, MoonPay, and Uphold. Listings are expected in the near future on Bitstamp, Bullish, Independent Reserve, Mercado Bitcoin, Zero Hash and other platforms.
“Early on, Ripple made a deliberate choice to launch our stablecoin under the NYDFS (New York State Department of Financial Services) limited purpose trust company charter, widely regarded as the premier regulatory standard worldwide,” Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple CEO, said. “As the U.S. moves toward clearer regulations, we expect to see greater adoption of stablecoins like RLUSD, which offer real utility and are backed by years of trust and expertise in the industry.”
Ripple Payments will use RLUSD to facilitate global payments on behalf of enterprise customers beginning early next year.
Ripple Payments is active in more than 90 payout markets that represent more than 90 percent of the daily foreign exchange market.
Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription.

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Posted by Michael Koh | Dec 18, 2024 | ACC, Basketball, Sports, UNC Sports

Carolina will take the court vs. Florida at the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte on Wednesday night. The Tar Heels are looking for their second straight win in the event.
If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how to follow along at home:
Those hoping to listen on the radio can do so at 97.9 FM and 1360 AM, or by streaming the radio broadcast on chapelboro.com.
97.9 The Hill’s radio broadcast of the game will begin at 6 p.m. with the Tar Heel Sports Network’s Matt Krause hosting the Reed’s Jewelers Pre-Game Show, which runs until tip-off. Krause will also host a brief postgame show after the conclusion of the game.
For more information about WCHL’s sports programming, click here.
Television coverage of the game begins with tip-off at 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU. As of today, Spectrum, AT&T, Dish Network, Xfinity and DirecTV all carry ESPN and ESPNU.
A live stream will be available through the ESPN app or on ESPN.com. You will need to enter TV provider information to access this stream.
Additionally, several cord-cutting options carry ESPNU.
YouTube TV costs $83/month and carries the entire ESPN family of channels, including ESPNU.
Hulu TV starts at $82/month and includes ESPNU, but does not carry MLB Network, NBA TV or NFL Red Zone.
Sling TV is the cheapest at $40/month for the Orange package. Be sure to avoid Sling Blue, as that package does not include ESPN or ESPNU.
 
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati
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The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk’s news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.Read More
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