Mois : décembre 2024

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Organo di Informazioni Politiche ed Economiche
In an era where the lines between faith, politics, and ethics are increasingly blurred, there are profound implications for democracy and global security. Ricardo Baretzky, President of the European Centre for Information Policy and Security (ECIPS), highlights this precarious nexus with his declaration: “In fact, there is only one stable judgment: no excuses for those who make the deception and conflict on earth, for those who consider themselves to be at the head of the whole world, those who consider themselves to be representatives of God on Earth, although they themselves do not believe in God; only one thing remains, Bring Judgement Day Unto them!” This powerful statement encapsulates the urgent need to scrutinize the entanglement of religion, politics, and corruption, especially in the context of the challenges facing democracies worldwide.
The Corruption of Faith
Religion has always played a dual role in the history of humanity: as a source of moral guidance and as a tool for manipulation. Throughout history, various religious institutions and leaders have exploited faith for personal or political gain. This manipulation often leads to a corrupt understanding of faith, where doctrines are twisted to justify unethical behavior, from systemic abuse to outright violence.
Religious corruption manifests in numerous ways, including the exploitation of followers for financial gain, the use of religious justifications for violence, and the fostering of divisive ideologies that undermine social cohesion. This is evident in various locales across the globe—from the collusion of political leaders with extremist religious groups to the commodification of faith through megachurches that prioritize profit over spirituality.
Radicalization and Its Threats
One of the most significant dangers posed by the corruption of religion is the rise of radicalized believers who present themselves as representatives of God. These individuals often exploit the vulnerabilities of their communities, finding traction in disenfranchised populations, and foster ideologies that can lead to extremist behavior.
Scientists and scholars continue to investigate the complexities of belief systems and the nature of faith; yet, the existence of God remains a deeply subjective and unprovable assertion. This scientific ambiguity presents a unique challenge. Those who claim to have definitive knowledge of divine will often wield that power to justify acts of violence, discrimination, and even terrorism. The consequences of such radicalization are dire, creating real security threats that can destabilize nations and lead to loss of life.
Political Exploitation of Faith
The intertwining of religion and politics is nowhere more pronounced than in the behavior of certain politicians who co-opt religious narratives to gain favor and manipulate populations. This can involve invoking divine authority to legitimize questionable policies, pressing for legislation that favors specific religious beliefs, or even engaging in rhetoric that heightens societal divisions.
For example, in several democratic nations, leaders have appealed to religious sentiments to rally support, bypassing empirical evidence and endorsing policies that may prioritize a religious ideology over the common good. This tactic can breed mistrust in democratic institutions and promote a culture of intolerance, undermining the foundational principles of democracy itself—pluralism, secularism, and the rule of law.
The European Union’s Struggle with Religious Matters
In the context of the European Union (EU), we see a tapestry of different beliefs and practices. However, this diversity has also become a breeding ground for conflict and division, exacerbated by political exploitation of religion. The EU has faced challenges in fostering unity amid starkly different cultural and religious backgrounds. The mismatch between democratic ideals and the manipulation of faith by some political leaders poses a significant threat to the EU’s stability.
The failure of the EU to effectively address the misuse of religion for political ends has undermined its credibility as a democratic institution. The rise of populist leaders in various member states—who often invoke religious identities to consolidate power—illustrates how religion can distort political processes. Rather than fostering cooperation and understanding, such tactics can deepen divisions, directly challenging the EU’s commitment to democracy and human rights.
The Global Landscape: Case Studies
Taking a closer look at specific case studies reinforces the issues surrounding the intersection of religion and corruption.
1. Middle East: In regions of ongoing conflict, such as the Middle East, religious extremism often intertwines with local and international politics. Groups claiming divine authority, such as ISIS and al-Qaeda, have used religious rhetoric to recruit followers and justify acts of extreme violence. This has not only threatened regional stability but has also had reverberating effects on global security, inciting fear that can lead to broader conflicts.
2. Philippines: In the Philippines, political leaders have been known to align themselves with specific religious groups, utilizing their influence to gain political capital. This symbiosis has led to a culture of corruption and nepotism, undermining democratic institutions. The rise of violence, often justified through the lens of faith, creates a climate of fear and instability.
3. United States: In the United States, the manipulation of religious sentiment for political gain can be observed with increasing frequency. The rise of the Christian Right and their influence on elections reveals how faith can be weaponized to create political narratives, often sidelining scientific inquiry and rational discourse in favor of predetermined beliefs.
The Real Security Threats
The dangers posed by radical believers extend beyond direct violence; they also threaten social cohesion and democratic discourse. In societies where radical ideologies take root, divisions become deeper, leading to polarization that can undermine public trust in institutions. This erosion of trust is particularly dangerous in democratic societies, as it can lead to disenfranchisement and apathy among citizens, weakening the very fabric of democracy.
Moreover, acts of terrorism and violence conducted in the name of religion create an atmosphere of fear, which can lead to further radicalization. As public perceptions shift toward hostility against particular religious communities, cycles of violence and retribution can ensue. This toxic environment not only endangers lives but also threatens the democratic principles of liberty and equality.
A Call for Accountability and Reflection
Baretzky’s assertion that there should be “no excuses for those who make the deception and conflict on earth” is a clarion call for accountability. It urges individuals and institutions alike to scrutinize how faith is wielded as a weapon of manipulation and deceit. The misuse of religious authority by those in power must be challenged, with emphasis placed on promoting ethical standards and true representation of democratic values.
The challenge we face is the recalibration of society’s collective understanding of faith, politics, and ethics. This requires engaging in dialogues that promote genuine religious understanding rather than divisive rhetoric. Establishing educational programs that encourage critical thinking about religion and politics can foster an engaged citizenry better equipped to navigate these complex relationships.
At the heart of our contemporary challenges lies a need for introspection and re-evaluation of how we perceive faith, authority, and governance. Baretzky’s words call us to “Bring Judgement Day Unto them!”—a metaphorical indictment of those who misuse religious narratives for nefarious ends. The intersection of religion and politics presents intricate challenges for democratic societies, but through vigilance, dialogue, and a renewed commitment to ethical governance, we can work towards a future that values truth, trust, and accountability, standing firm against the hearts and minds that seek to exploit faith for personal or political gain. In doing so, we reaffirm our commitment to the core principles of democracy and the security that stems from a united and informed populace, free from the chains of deception and radicalization.
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A Movie and Television News/Commentary Site
A Movie and Television News/Commentary Site
Transformers One continues a trend of live-action and animated prequels being better than the previous live-action Transformers films. The film is currently available to purchase or rent on digital and will be available to take home December 17 on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD.
I have to say first and foremost that my introduction to Transformers were through the live-action series starting in 2007. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to watch the 1986 film or the earlier TV series. As of now, there are way too many Transformers series to keep up with so I’m sticking to the feature films, for better or worse. Oversaturation tends to be terrible for a franchise. This film, first announced years ago, came over a year after Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. It was probably way too soon for releasing another prequel. Remember the five-month difference between Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Solo: A Star Wars Story? Or Marvel fatigue coming with too many films and TV series making their way to theaters or Disney+. At some point, executives have to pull back and ask themselves if it is too much.
What Transformers One does is tell Optimus Prime/Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron/D-16’s (Brian Tyree Henry) origin story. The two sworn enemies used to be friends and mining bots before their worlds changed. By the end of the film, they are both taking on their current identities. It’s fascinating to watch their arcs play out on Cybertron and how, even then, they hint into what they’ll become. Not only this but we also see the origins of other Transformers such as B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key), better known as Bumblebee or Bee. Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson) is first introduced as a supervisor to both Orion Pax and D-16. The Transformer was previously seen in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Orion Pax and D-16 journey from the Energon mines to the largely forbidden surface. It’s an attempt to find the vanished Matrix of Leadership. What they don’t know is that there’s more here than meets the eye. Orion idolizes Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm) but he’s in for a rude awakening after Alpha Trion (Laurence Fishburne) tells them the truth. Sentinel Prime is not the heroic leader that he leads the Cybertron population to believe. When the two mining bots compete in the Iacon 5000, they inspire their fellow minors into working harder. Ultimately, the only one their ruse benefits is Sentinel Prime because it leads to more retrieving more Energon. Without giving it all away, what becomes the end of the agreement with the Quintessons ends up becoming another long-running civil war between Optimus Prime’s Autobots and Megatron’s Decepticons.
The Transformers films have not been without comedy of some sort. They really lean into the comedy in this film, especially through Keegan-Michael Key. That’s the actor’s real voice, too. He gets room to improvise, naturally, but he is using his real voice for the film. Given how Bee’s voice is damaged in earlier movies, I love that he gets his voice back. Chris Hemsworth has never done voicework for an animated film to my knowledge but he’s got tremendous chemistry with Brian Tyree Henry. The Thor star also reunites with Avengers co-star Scarlett Johansson.
My introduction to Sentinel Prime was in 2011’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon. It would lead to my being done with the series until returning with the fifth live-action film. If one goes by this film being canon with the live-action series, Sentinel Prime’s appearance in the 2011 film no longer makes any sense. Sentinel Prime is almost certainly as good as dead by the end of this film. In theory, the film should be the first in a trilogy of films leading into the 2007 movie. However, its underperformance at the box office probably means that this might not be the case. The sad part is that the franchise really benefits from animation over live-action. No offense to Bumblebee and last year’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts but this film may just be the best of the three prequels.
Perhaps producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura was onto something. According to the production notes, the producer comments:
“But we always knew it wasn’t realistic to think it would be a live-action film. Animation gave us the ability to do things we have never been able to do, like create a whole new world that has never been seen before, but that somehow feels organic.”
I just cannot imagine making this film in live-action. It isn’t just that it would also be a very expensive film to make but animation allows filmmakers to do things that just is not really possible in live-action. The other thing is that there is not the bang-bang action that we see in Michael Bay’s previous movies. I think this is the thing that I’ve found so refreshing with the prequels. Once you get away from Bay’s style and let filmmakers bring their own style on board, they’ve become a breath of fresh air so to speak.
The market has been oversaturated with Transformers films for a number of years but Transformers One continues a trend of making a better prequel film.

Bonus Features

• In The Beginning — Witness the origin story of OPTIMUS PRIME (ORION PAX) and MEGATRON (D-16) and the evolution of their relationship from brothers-in-arms to sworn enemies. Filmmakers discuss the vision for the film and how it was brought to life.
• World Building On CYBERTRON — Hear from director Josh Cooley, the production design team, and the visual effects team about rendering the colorful world of CYBERTRON in a way that fans have never seen before.
• Together As One — Meet the A-list voice cast for each of the TRANSFORMERS: Chris Hemsworth (ORION PAX/OPTIMUS PRIME), Brian Tyree Henry (D-16/MEGATRON), Scarlett Johansson (ELITA-1), and more!
• The Iacon 5000 — Behold the most epic TRANSFORMERS race ever as competitors vie for the ultimate prize!  Go behind the scenes with the filmmakers as they break down this breathtaking action sequence.
• The Battle For CYBERTRON — Cast and filmmakers take you through the film’s epic climax as OPTIMUS PRIME and MEGATRON battle for CYBERTRON’s future.

DIRECTOR: Josh Cooley
SCREENWRITERS: Eric Pearson and Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari
CAST: Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, with Laurence Fishburne and Jon Hamm
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TECHNOLOGY
Satya Nadella highlights Google’s dominance in browser and search markets, earning more from Windows than Microsoft.
Pravrajya Suruchi
Updated : Dec 17, 2024, 04:55 PM IST
In a recent podcast, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella shared an intriguing insight, revealing that Google generates more revenue from the Windows operating system than Microsoft itself. He highlighted this surprising fact while discussing Microsoft’s strategy to regain market share in the browser and search engine market.
“Google makes more money on Windows than all of Microsoft,” Nadella remarked, referring to the dominance of Google’s Chrome browser over Microsoft’s offerings. He reflected on the past, noting how Microsoft once won the browser battle against Netscape, only to later lose to Google. Nadella emphasized that the company is now working to regain lost ground through tools like the Edge browser and its AI assistant, Co-Pilot.
He explained that Windows, being an open system, allows a level playing field for all AI tools, whether it’s OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini. This openness, according to Nadella, is key to fostering innovation and competition.
Nadella also touched upon his efforts to secure a search partnership with Apple over the years. While Microsoft was unsuccessful in striking a deal, he expressed his happiness when OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, secured an agreement with Apple. “It’s better to have ChatGPT get that deal than anybody else,” he said, pointing out Microsoft’s strong ties with OpenAI.
Discussing the broader AI landscape, Nadella acknowledged the fierce competition among companies like Google, Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI. He described the race as highly competitive but not one where a single player will dominate. Nadella also highlighted the shift from traditional search engines to AI-powered tools, noting that platforms like ChatGPT are becoming more “stateful,” offering richer, more interactive experiences.
Despite Google’s strong distribution network through mobile and default settings on Apple and Android devices, Nadella expressed confidence in Microsoft’s ability to make a comeback. “We get to relitigate,” he said, referring to the opportunity to reclaim browser market share, calling it a promising scenario for Microsoft’s shareholders.
Nadella’s remarks come after his testimony in a 2022 antitrust trial, where he criticized Google’s dominance in the search market. He warned about the risks of monopolistic behavior, likening Google’s position to a deeply ingrained habit: “You get up in the morning, you brush your teeth, and you search on Google.”
Microsoft’s renewed efforts signal its determination to challenge Google’s stronghold and reshape the dynamics of both the browser and AI-driven search markets.
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Pittsfield man sentenced in 2023 assault, larceny, cruelty to animals’ case  NEWS10 ABC
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The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 16, 2024, results for each game:
09-30-33-57-61, Powerball: 17, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
03-16-29-31-33, Lucky Ball: 09
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
05-17-18-34-50, Star Ball: 08, ASB: 05
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Nifty Island, an innovative gaming platform built on Ethereum, is gearing up for the launch of its native token, ISLAND, set for December 17.
Nifty Island, an innovative gaming platform built on Ethereum, is gearing up for the launch of its native token, ISLAND, set for December 17. This new ERC-20 token aims to enhance the in-game economy of its vibrant metaverse, which has already captured the attention of various Web3 communities.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of ISLAND, the upcoming airdrop, and what participants can expect.
ISLAND is the utility token for the Nifty Island ecosystem, designed to provide holders with various in-game benefits and incentives.
With a total supply of one billion tokens, ISLAND will launch on the Ethereum blockchain and utilize LayerZero's omnichain technology, allowing it to operate on Ethereum layer-2 networks like Base and potentially on Solana in the future.
The token generation event for ISLAND is scheduled for December 17 at 10 a.m. ET. This event marks a significant milestone for the Nifty Island community, which has been eagerly anticipating the rollout of this utility token.
The ISLAND tokens will be primarily distributed to different groups within the ecosystem, with the community receiving the largest share—40.1% of the total supply.
This allocation totals over 400 million tokens and will be divided among three community groups, including a rewards pool, ecosystem incentives, and the play-to-airdrop campaign.
A notable aspect of the distribution is the play-to-airdrop campaign, which accounts for 12.6% of the supply. Participants who engaged in this nine-month campaign will be rewarded based on their gameplay and engagement levels, specifically through the collection of Blooms, an in-game resource. A snapshot taken on December 16 will determine eligibility and collector tiers for the airdrop.
Players who held eligible NFTs from partner communities during a previous snapshot may also qualify for ISLAND tokens as part of an expanded play-to-airdrop initiative.
An additional 175 million tokens (17.5% of the total supply) will be allocated to a rewards pool, which will facilitate real-time earnings through gameplay.
Furthermore, 10% of the supply (100 million ISLAND) is earmarked to attract developers and creators to the platform, starting with a contribution to Animoca Brands’ Mocaverse community.
Over 300 million ISLAND tokens are reserved for investors and advisors, with a significant portion locked for two years to promote long-term commitment. The Nifty Island team will receive 19.5% of the tokens, with similar lock-up periods to ensure stability.
The project treasury will hold 9.2% of the supply, aimed at funding future expansions and promotional efforts. Notably, just 1% of the tokens will be set aside for centralized exchange liquidity.
Participants can claim their ISLAND tokens directly on the Nifty Island website. The utility of ISLAND extends beyond mere ownership; holders who stake their tokens will enjoy enhanced rewards, access to exclusive resources, and other benefits.
Staking also provides governance opportunities, allowing players to vote on decisions that shape the future of Nifty Island.
In conclusion, the ISLAND token launch represents a significant development for Nifty Island and its community. With a robust distribution plan and a focus on rewarding genuine engagement, the platform is poised to enhance its gaming ecosystem and provide exciting opportunities for players and creators alike.
Keep an eye on December 17 for the token generation event and prepare to dive into the world of Nifty Island.
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Meta has been fined €251 million (around $263 million) in the European Union for a Facebook security breach that affected millions of users which the company disclosed back in September 2018.
The penalty, issued on Tuesday by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) — enforcing the bloc’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — is far from being the largest GDPR fine Meta has been hit with since the regime came into force over five years ago but is notable for being a substantial sanction for a single security incident.
The breach it relates to dates back to July 2017 when Facebook, as the company was still known then, rolled out a video upload function that included a “View as” feature which let the user see their own Facebook page as it would be seen by another user. 
A bug in the design allowed users making use of the feature to invoke the video uploader in conjunction with Facebook’s ‘Happy Birthday Composer’ facility to generate a fully permissioned user token that gave them full access to the Facebook profile of that other user. They could then use the token to exploit the same combination of features on other accounts — gaining unauthorized access to multiple users’ profiles and data, per the DPC.
Between September 14 and September 28, 2018, the watchdog said unauthorised persons used scripts to exploit this Facebook vulnerability and gained the ability to log on as the account holder to approximately 29 million Facebook accounts globally — around 3 million of which were based in the EU/European Economic Area, meaning they fall under the DPC’s enforcement powers.
Categories of personal data impacted by the breach included Facebook users’ full names; email addresses; phone numbers; location; places of work; dates of birth; religion; gender; posts on timelines; groups of which they were a member; and children’s personal data.
The broad sweep of impacted personal data is likely to have influenced the size of the fine.
On Tuesday the Irish regulator issued final decision on two inquiries it opened into the 2018 incident: one decision covers Meta’s breach notification, as the GDPR requires prompt and comprehensive reporting of major security incidents — the second concerns the rules on data protection by design and default.
In both cases the DPC found Meta infringed the bloc’s GDPR.
The full sanction breaks down as follows: Meta has been fined €11 million in relation to its first decision, with the DPC finding that Meta’s breach notification did not include all the information it “could and should have”; nor did the company fully document the facts of the breach and the steps taken to remedy the issue.
On top of that, Meta has been fined €240 million in relation to the second decision where the DPC confirmed the company violated GDPR principles of data protection by design as it did not have appropriate measures in place to protect people’s data from unintended processing.
Commenting in a statement, DPC deputy commissioner Graham Doyle said: “This enforcement action highlights how the failure to build in data protection requirements throughout the design and development cycle can expose individuals to very serious risks and harms, including a risk to the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals.
“Facebook profiles can, and often do, contain information about matters such as religious or political beliefs, sexual life or orientation, and similar matters that a user may wish to disclose only in particular circumstances. By allowing unauthorised exposure of profile information, the vulnerabilities behind this breach caused a grave risk of misuse of these types of data.”
Another notable element of the enforcement under the DPC’s two commissioners, Dr. Des Hogan and Dale Sunderland — who took over from (formerly the sole) commissioner Helen Dixon earlier this year — is that no objections were raised to Ireland’s draft decision by peer authorities.
“The DPC is grateful for the cooperation and assistance of its peer EU/EEA supervisory authorities in this case,” the regulator wrote in a press release.
Critics of the DPC under Dixon accused the regulator of routinely under-enforcing the GDPR on Meta and other tech giants. And many of its draft decisions on Big Tech at that time were disputed by its peers. A number of enforcements against Meta specifically entailed very lengthy dispute proceedings — with some requiring binding decisions from the European Data Protection Board to conclude the process.
So it’s notably that this latest enforcement against Meta, which the DPC says was submitted as a draft decision to the GDPR cooperation mechanism in July 2024, pass through unscathed.
Reached for a response to the penalty, Meta spokeswoman Emily Westcott emailed a statement in which the company wrote: “This decision relates to an incident from 2018. We took immediate action to fix the problem as soon as it was identified, and we proactively informed people impacted as well as the Irish Data Protection Commission. We have a wide range of industry-leading measures in place to protect people across our platforms.” 
Back in September, the DPC issued another decision against Meta vis-a-vis a 2019 security breach — in that instance the company was fined €91 million in relation to an incident in which “hundreds of millions” of users’ passwords had been stored in plaintext on its servers. 

The 10 largest GDPR fines on Big Tech

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Senior Reporter
Natasha is a senior reporter for TechCrunch, joining September 2012, based in Europe. She joined TC after a stint reviewing smartphones for CNET UK and, prior to that, more than five years covering business technology for silicon.com (now folded into TechRepublic), where she focused on mobile and wireless, telecoms & networking, and IT skills issues. She has also freelanced for organisations including The Guardian and the BBC. Natasha holds a First Class degree in English from Cambridge University, and an MA in journalism from Goldsmiths College, University of London.
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More Californians are freezing to death: Experts point to more older homeless people  Medical Xpress
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