Three men charged in US with using AI to impersonate CEOs and steal millions

Posted on by

Men allegedly impersonated voices and images of executives to convince employees to send large payments

Three foreign nationals were arrested and charged with using AI to allegedly impersonate corporate CEOs and attorneys to steal over $100m, according to an indictment that was newly unsealed by the US Department of Justice.

According to a press release from the United States attorney’s office for the southern district of New York, three men – Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit – were arrested for using AI to alter and impersonate the voices and images of executives and attorneys at various companies in order to convince employees to send over large payments. Soall and Hazan were arrested in Spain over the summer, while Sheetrit was arrested in the United Kingdom in September. The alleged fraud took place between 2024 and 2026.

Continue reading...

Several Democrats renew calls for datacenter pauses after blue wave

Posted on by

Tech industry fears delays to its multi-trillion dollar infrastructure buildout meant to power artificial intelligence

Several newly elected Democrats and Senator Bernie Sanders have renewed calls for datacenter moratoriums in the days after the US midterm elections. The sweeping Democratic victory, which was buoyed in part by backlash to the tech industry, has added momentum to efforts to slow down the multi-trillion-dollar buildout of the controversial facilities.

On the social media platform X, Sanders posted a call for an immediate national datacenter moratorium this week. “Americans don’t want Big Tech oligarchs wrecking the environment, gutting jobs and threatening humanity’s future,” Sanders said on Wednesday.

Continue reading...

Cornell faculty declares ‘no confidence’ in school leaders in fallout from alleged gang-rape

Posted on by

Faculty senate passed resolution expressing deep discontent with school’s response to alleged fraternity rape

Cornell University’s faculty senate approved a resolution on Friday declaring “no confidence” in the school’s top leaders, a symbolic gesture reflecting deep discontent on campus in the wake of a former student’s lawsuit saying she was gang-raped at a fraternity party in 2024.

The resolution passed 75-50, with five faculty senators abstaining and five others not voting, according to an email sent to members of the faculty senate on Friday afternoon.

Continue reading...

Thomas Markle, Meghan’s father, arrested in Florida on charges related to child sexual abuse material

Posted on by

Father of the Duchess of Sussex was taken into custody near Tampa, US prosecutors said

Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was arrested by US federal agents in Florida on Friday and charged in connection with possession of child sexual abuse material, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Markle, 82, was taken into custody at a senior care facility in Polk county early on Friday, and made a brief initial appearance in federal court in Tampa on Friday afternoon, the Associated Press reported.

In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453 or visit their website for more resources and to report child abuse or DM for help. For adult survivors of child abuse, help is available at ascasupport.org. In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International

Continue reading...

Stephen Miller, architect of Trump’s immigration crackdown, to become White House chief of staff

Posted on by

US president confirms Susie Wiles, current chief of staff and first woman to serve in the role, will step down

Stephen Miller, Donald Trump’s most controversial aide and the architect of his sweeping immigration crackdown, will become his new White House chief of staff days after Republicans lost control of the US Congress in US midterm elections.

The president announced the extraordinary appointment on Friday, confirming that Susie Wiles – his current chief of staff, and the first woman to serve in the role – had been ousted.

Continue reading...

Russell Brand barrister reports himself to watchdog over clash with journalist

Posted on by

Ian Winter KC told Rosamund Urwin of the Sunday Times, whose investigation led to Brand’s victims coming forward: ‘I hope you are pleased with yourself’

Russell Brand’s barrister has reported himself to his professional regulator after being accused of launching a tirade at a journalist shortly after his client had been found guilty of rape.

Ian Winter KC “confronted” the Sunday Times journalist Rosamund Urwin, whose investigation led to Brand’s victims coming forward, telling her: “I hope you are pleased with yourself.”

Continue reading...

Sebastián Lelio, director of A Fantastic Woman and Gloria, dies aged 52

Posted on by

The Chilean film-maker, whose films starred Florence Pugh, Julianne Moore and Rachel Weisz, died at his home in Santiago

Chilean film-maker Sebastián Lelio has died at the age of 52.

He was best known for the Oscar-winning trans drama A Fantastic Woman and his English-language films included Gloria Bell and The Wonder.

Continue reading...

Russell Brand suspected to have attacked at least 10 other women

Posted on by

Met police chief says ‘many more’ victims could come forward, as actor and comedian awaits sentencing

Police are bracing themselves for more victims of Russell Brand to come forward, with at least 10 more women suspected of having been attacked by the disgraced star.

Brand, 51, will be sentenced on Monday to what is expected to be a lengthy jail sentence for rape and sexual assaults after he abused his fame to become a “predator” targeting women, and got away with it for years.

Continue reading...

Want to have a better chat? Scientists say the secret is ‘pink noise’

Posted on by

The most enjoyable conversations strike a balance between exploring a topic and pulling in fresh ideas, study finds

As an early stab at rules for conversation, Cicero did a fine job: watch your tone, never look bored, never lose your temper and never ramble on, particularly about yourself, he advised.

Now scientists have followed in the great orator’s footsteps and discovered a telltale signature of an enjoyable chinwag. The secret of a mutually satisfying exchange is a healthy dose of pink noise, they say.

Continue reading...

Activists break into building site of Microsoft datacentre in Amsterdam

Posted on by

Separate actions also take place outside fence and across Europe in backlash against impact of AI boom

Activists have stormed the site of a Microsoft datacentre being built in Amsterdam, as the backlash to the social and environmental harms of the AI boom spreads across Europe.

Protesters from Geef Tegengas, a Dutch direct action group, clashed with police while breaking into a construction site at Westpoort, Amsterdam, where some members climbed a crane, lit flares and tied helium balloons to equipment.

Continue reading...

Poised for breakout moment in Latin America, Pope Leo also faces test of health – The Washington Post

Posted on by
  1. Poised for breakout moment in Latin America, Pope Leo also faces test of health  The Washington Post
  2. Pope Leo’s Latin America trip will take him above 11,000 feet, weeks after lung cancer surgery  CNN
  3. 12 Planes in 12 Days: Pope Begins Major Latin America Tour, Weeks After Surgery  The New York Times
  4. What to know about Pope Leo XIV’s trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru  AP News
  5. The Pope Confronts One of His Toughest Political Challenges  The Atlantic
Posted in Uncategorized

Denmark’s top court to rule on ‘parallel societies’ after ‘non-western’ people evicted – The Guardian

Posted on by
  1. Denmark’s top court to rule on ‘parallel societies’ after ‘non-western’ people evicted  The Guardian
  2. Why is Denmark separating ‘Western’ and ‘non-Western’ citizens?  Al Jazeera
  3. Denmark's 'hard ghettos' row reaches Supreme Court  France 24
  4. Denmark’s Supreme Court to consider whether ‘non-western’ classification falls under discrimination law  Mezha.net
Posted in Uncategorized

EU charges TikTok with failing to protect users’ mental health

Posted on by

Regulator’s initial ruling says algorithm ‘can be harmful’ and led young and vulnerable viewers ‘down rabbit holes they can’t easily escape’

TikTok has been charged by the European Commission with failing to protect users’ mental health by exposing them to a relentless stream of content that risks worsening eating disorders and anxiety in a case that strikes at its business model.

Issuing a preliminary ruling on Friday, the EU regulator said TikTok’s algorithm “can be harmful” and was leading young and vulnerable users “down rabbit holes they cannot easily escape from”.

Continue reading...