India Working to Become World Model for Regulating “Fake News” Online

Freedomist Curator September 1, 2021

New IT Rules prevent fake news, misuse of freedom of press: Centre tells HC

From www.outlookindia.com
2021-08-31 16:14:30

Excerpt:

The Centre has defended the legality of the new Information Technology (IT) Rules before the Delhi High Court, saying that the rules seek to “prevent the misuse of the freedom of press” and protect the citizens from fake news in digital media space which used to be largely unregulated.The Centre, in its counter affidavit filed on a challenge to the constitutional validity of the new IT Rules, has submitted that although the right to freedom of speech and expression, including the freedom of press, is critical for a vibrant democracy like India, citizens “cannot be treated as passive consumers.”

While submitting that there have been “past incidents of disinformation on digital media leading to disturbance of public order”, the Centre has asserted that digital media “allows sensational content being re-circulated in a different context leading to misinterpretation by the audience”, making it susceptible to being used as fake news.

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Now China and Russia Own What the Taliban Does as Supporters for Years

Freedomist Editor September 1, 2021

After Withdrawal: How China, Turkey, and Russia Will Respond to the Taliban

From warontherocks.com
2021-08-31 07:55:29
Michael Kofman
Excerpt:

Having cultivated a good relationship with the Taliban for the past decade, and with a recent high-profile official visit by a Taliban delegation led by the group’s number two leader Abdul Ghani Baradar on July 28, Beijing sees itself as having finally bet on the right horse in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s takeover of the country, China has demonstrated an unprecedented level of positive reception, political endorsement, and diplomatic support of the Taliban. However, there are ferocious debates ongoing in China as to what the best strategy is moving forward vis-à-vis its poor, unstable, and destabilizing neighbor.

Having proclaimed the Afghan Taliban a “critical military and political force in Afghanistan,” China’s abandonment of the former Ghani government, and of its balancing diplomacy, was swift despite high-level engagement with both parties as recently as July. Beijing has not moved to recognize the Taliban, or the Taliban-led regime, yet. However, such recognition is implied in the many messages Beijing has sent. On Aug. 18, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson subtly commented that recognition of a…

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Warner Music IPO Nets $6.6 Billion Winfall for Len Blavatnik

Freedomist Curator September 1, 2021

Len Blavatnik Gets $6.6 Billion Richer on Warner Music IPO – Bloomberg

From www.bloomberg.com
2020-06-03 07:00:00

Excerpt:

Len Blavatnik bought Warner Music Group Corp. for $3.3 billion in 2011, as the global music industry was grappling with plummeting record sales and a transition to digital listening dominated by piracy.

He took the company public Wednesday with the stock pricing at $25. The shares surged 20% to close at $30.12, giving Warner Music a market value of $15.6 billion after its first day of trading.

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Richest Family in World, Waltons, Tilting Their Billions Left

Freedomist Editor September 1, 2021

Data shows some Walton giving leans to left

From www.arkansasonline.com
2020-10-18 07:00:00

Excerpt:

The heirs of Walmart Inc. founder Sam Walton are well known for philanthropic giving, especially in their hometown of Bentonville and throughout Northwest Arkansas. But the nation’s richest family also generously supports candidates, parties and causes across the political spectrum.

Despite the family’s long-standing connection with Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and Walmart board member, the children and grandchildren of Sam and Helen Walton have long backed mainly conservative candidates and groups. However, new data shows some family members shifted their donations more to the left in recent years.

One has given money to the campaign of Democratic presidential nominee former Vice President Joe Biden and another donated to the Lincoln Project, a political action committee formed by Republicans aiming to prevent the reelection of President Donald Trump..

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Home Delivery Robots Take to the Singapore Streets

Parker Davis September 1, 2021

Otsaw Digital Launches Home Delivery Robots in Singapore

From www.army-technology.com
2021-08-31 05:48:39
sumanthkuluru
Excerpt:

Concept: Singaporean robotics technologies startup, Otsaw Digital (Otsaw), has developed an autonomous last-mile delivery robot named Camello that can deliver on-demand parcels and groceries to customer’s homes in Singapore. Otsaw aims to deliver medicines and groceries where there is a labor shortage or if the location is not easily and economically accessible by humans.

Nature of Disruption: Customers who want their goods to be delivered to their homes can very easily book a delivery slot for grocery items like milk and eggs. At the time of delivery, the app notifies the users that the robot has arrived near their home so that they can go to the pick-up point and collect their goods. Camello is equipped with 3D sensors, a camera, and two compartments each capable of carrying up to 20kg (44 lb) of food or parcels ordered…

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Is the US Military Already Using Its Secret Knife Missile, the R9X?

Mark Clouse September 1, 2021

The Telltale Traces of the US Military’s New ‘Bladed’ Missile – bellingcat

From www.reddit.com
2021-08-30 18:15:04
/u/Donpabloescobar
Excerpt:

The R9X, or to give it its full name the AGM-114R9X, is an air-to-ground missile (AGM) with reportedly six blades. There does not appear to be any public images of this missile before it has been fired. However, given that the R9X is a modified version of the well-known Hellfire family of missiles (code 114), and based on fragments recovered from the scene of attacks, it’s possible to make an educated guess about what it looks like.

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CDC Being Turned Into Anti-Gun Agit Prop Mill for DNC

Ivo Fysic September 1, 2021

The CDC’s Framing of Homicide and Suicide As ‘Public Health’ Issues Provides Cover for Biden’s Gun Control Agenda – Reason.com

From reason.com
2021-08-30 19:00:33

Excerpt:

As director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rochelle Walensky has a lot on her plate right now—perhaps too much, given her history of misrepresenting COVID-19 research, promoting dangerously mixed messages about vaccination, issuing confusing and scientifically dubious advice, and laying claim to vast powers that Congress never gave her. But Walensky’s pandemic-related duties did not deter her from publicly switching focus to a highly contentious subject that has always spelled trouble for the CDC: gun violence.

“Something has to be done about this,” Walensky told CNN last week. “Now is the time. It’s pedal-to-the-metal time.”

Although that metaphor suggests hasty action, Walensky emphasized that she is not calling for new gun controls. “I’m not here about gun control,” she said. “I’m here about preventing gun violence and gun death.”

In Walensky’s view, the CDC needs to investigate the causes of gun-related deaths so that…

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DNC Tries Last Push to Legalize Mass Mailer Elections

Parker Davis September 1, 2021

‘Democracy will be in shambles’: Democrats in last-ditch effort to protect voting rights | US voting rights

From www.theguardian.com
2021-08-31 12:40:00

Excerpt:

Democrats are pushing what may be their last chance to hold off voter suppression efforts by Republicans, and say that their control of both the House and Senate is at risk if they do not pass their new legislation to protect elections.

Their bill, which cleared the US House on a party-line vote last week, has now been taken up by a bitterly divided Senate. It would ensure that states with a recent history of voter suppression must obtain federal approval before making any changes to their election systems, while also undoing a recent supreme court decision that makes it harder to challenge laws under the Voting Rights Act.

But Democrats appear unlikely to get more than a handful of GOP votes in the Senate on the bill. They need the support of 10 Republicans to overcome the filibuster, the procedural rule requiring 60 votes to advance legislation. Just one Senate Republican, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, has said she supports reauthorizing the provision, an early signal of how difficult it will be to get Republicans to sign on at a time when state party members are pushing more voting restrictions.

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West Virginia Woman Takes Plea Deal to Capitol Riot Related Charges

Freedomist Editor September 1, 2021

College Senior Who Bragged About Capitol Riot ‘Infamy’ Takes Plea Deal

From www.huffpost.com
2021-08-30 18:04:34

Excerpt:

A college student who bragged about her participation in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol on social media and swiped a “Members Only” sign as she walked through the building pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor as part of a plea deal on Monday.

Gracyn Courtright, a woman from West Virginia who was a senior at the University of Kentucky in January, pleaded guilty on Monday to one count: unlawfully and knowingly entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. As part of the plea agreement, the prosecution and defense agreed that Courtright’s sentencing guidelines would be between zero and six months in prison. As part of the deal, the government will request that the four other counts Courtright faced will be dropped after her sentencing.

Courtright, who pleaded guilty in a court hearing conducted via videoconference, sounded emotional as she spoke to the judge on Monday morning and told the judge she was “shaking.”

Courtright was arrested on Jan. 19, the…

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Military Barracks is Largest American 3D Printed Building

Parker Davis September 1, 2021

America’s Biggest 3D Printed Building Is This New Military Barracks in Texas

From singularityhub.com
2021-08-30 14:00:33
Vanessa Bates Ramirez
Excerpt:

3D printing is picking up speed as a construction technology, with 3D printed houses, schools, apartment buildings, and even Martian habitat concepts all being unveiled in the last year (not to mention Airbnbs and entire luxury communities). Now another type of structure is being added to this list: military barracks.

ICON, a construction technologies startup based in Austin, Texas, announced the project earlier this month in partnership with the Texas Military Department. At 3,800 square feet, the barracks will be the biggest 3D printed structure in North America. It’s edged out for the worldwide title by at least one other building, a 6,900-square-foot complex in Dubai used for municipal offices.

The barracks are located at the Camp Swift Training Center in Bastrop, TX, and are replacing temporary facilities that have already been used for longer than their intended lifespan. 72 soldiers will stay in the building, sleeping in bunk beds, while they train for…