Daily Digest
DoubleVerify partners with IWF to drive greater ad ecosystem safety and strengthen ...
Date Published: 2025-04-25T16:24:14Z | Category: illegal content
Quote: "The fight against illegal and harmful content online requires not just talk, but ongoing, collective action," - Mark Zagorski
"Given its role in the digital advertising ecosystem, DoubleVerify will help lead the way in how adtech companies can help prevent the monetization of CSAM," - Derek Ray
DoubleVerify and IWF partner to combat spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material online
Date Published: 2025-04-25T16:12:20Z | Category: illegal content
Quote: "The fight against illegal and harmful content online requires not just talk, but ongoing, collective action," - Mark Zagorski
"Given its role in the digital advertising ecosystem, DoubleVerify will help lead the way in how adtech companies can help prevent the monetisation of CSAM," - Derek Ray
Asked to predict the next pope, AI bots hedge bets - GMA Network
Date Published: 2025-04-24T23:15:17Z | Category: bot
Quote: "Based on current analysis and prominent discussions, Cardinal Pietro Parolin emerges as a strong contender," said Gemini. But it also listed some eight others -- including ChatGPT's leading pick. "If I had to make a prediction based on current trends, influence, and the direction the Church has taken under Pope Francis, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle stands out as the most likely candidate," Open AI's ChatGPT said. Tagle is Asia's frontrunner for the papacy and like Francis, seen as a leading advocate for the poor, migrants and marginalized people. But one similarity in the chatbots' responses stood out. Each emphasized the near impossibility of forecasting the outcome. "It's important to understand that while AI can analyze data and identify patterns, predicting the next Pope involves factors that go beyond data analysis," - Gemini
Everett School Wins 2025 FIRST Robotics World Championship
Date Published: 2025-04-24T20:40:53Z | Category: bot
Quote: "Our seniors have worked together for four long years," - Public Relations Officer Alexandra Balan
"We are incredibly proud of the momentous success of our own Team 2910," - Principal Sechin Tower
"Everybody on the team went into the event excited and focused; we were going to be competing with and against the best teams in FRC," - Coach Steve Kaneb
"We strived to make no mistakes and reviewed every match for improvement," - Driver and Programming Lead Sudhir Chebiyyam
Israelis protest against Gaza war with rare outcry over Palestinian casualties - The Guardian
Date Published: 2025-04-25T18:15:45Z | Category: gaza
Quote: "There has been a complete unwillingness among many here to engage with the human cost of the war in Gaza, even anger to anyone who expresses empathy for Palestinians, but I think after the government restarted the war, something is beginning to shift," - Green
"It’s unbearable to see the faces of these children, who are no different to my children, who were killed by us," - Noa First
"There was nothing new about this attempt to silence any mention of Gaza – the only difference this time was that the police foolishly put it in writing," - Alon
"The saying is never again; that means never again for anybody. That’s really what we’re standing here for," - Ilana Drukker Tokotin
Will Hamas really give up power? – DW – 04/24/2025
Date Published: 2025-04-25T12:00:57Z | Category: gaza
Quote: "Hamas has signaled its readiness to hand over governance of Gaza to any Palestinian entity agreed upon 'at the national and regional level'." The officialtold the BBCthat this could be the Palestinian Authority, or PA, which runs theoccupied West Bank, or a newly formed body of some kind. Israeli PresidentBenjamin Netanyahuhas repeatedly said he rules out any role for the PA in Gaza. The comments came in the context of ongoing, indirect ceasefire negotiations being led by Egypt and Qatar. According to the official who spoke to the BBC, the new ceasefire proposal "envisages a truce lasting between five and seven years, the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, a formal end to the war, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza." Since the October 7, 2023, attacksby Hamas on Israel that resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and thekidnapping of over 200, Israel has been conducting a retaliatory military mission in Gaza. The Israeli military assault has caused the deaths of over 51,266 people, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, with nearly a third of the dead under the age of 18. The UN has said these death and casualty numbers are reliable and that there could in fact be many more dead, as many bodies remain buried under rubble. Hamas is classified as a terrorist group by Israel, the US, Germany and other countries. One thing seems clear: Hamas is under increasing pressure inside the enclave, according toAl-Hayat Al-Jadida, a newspaper run by the PA. The media outlet, which regularly criticizes Hamas because the PA sees the group as an antagonistic competitor, notedthe increasing number of demonstrationsduring which protesters demanded Hamas' expulsion from Gaza. Previously, Hamas cracked down on such dissent. Butas the BBC noted, "some of the more recent protests suggest that civilians, driven to the edge of madness by a year and a half of Israeli bombardment, are losing their fear of Hamas." Al-Hayat Al-Jadidanewspaper also suggested that Iran, which has supported Hamas in the recent past, will soon be giving up on its various allies in the region, due to renewed nuclear negotiations with the US. This would weaken Hamas further. But is Hamas' power really fading? A voluntary, substantial surrender of power by Hamas seems unlikely, said Peter Lintl, an expert on the Middle East at the Berlin-based German Institute for International and Security Affairs. The biggest hurdle to that is the demilitarization of the group that Israel is demanding, he said. On the other hand, Lintl could imagine Hamas being prepared to pass on political power to a technocratic government of sorts. "But that Hamas would allow for its own disarmament seems doubtful to me," Lintl told DW. "And with that comes the question of who would be responsible for internal and external security if Hamas does retain its weapons. They would probably be stronger than any armed state security." Marcus Schneider, who heads the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's regional project for peace and security in the Middle East, is also skeptical about the idea of Hamas voluntarily giving up power. It is possible that Hamas might leave Gaza, but then the question is who would take their place, he asked. "Inside theGaza Stripitself there really isn't any alternative," - Schnieder
Faustin Nsabumukunzi: Rwandan beekeeper arrested in US over genocide charges - BBC
Date Published: 2025-04-25T14:52:02Z | Category: genocide
Quote: "heinous acts of violence abroad" when he served as a local leader at the start of genocide, the Justice Department said. The 65-year-old suspect was also charged with visa fraud and attempted naturalisation fraud when he moved to the US in 2003. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on bail. "Nsabumukunzi repeatedly lied to conceal his involvement in the horrific Rwandan genocide while seeking to become a lawful permanent resident and citizen of the United States," said John Durham, a federal prosecutor. In just 100 days in 1994, about 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda by ethnic Hutu extremists. The mainly Tutsi forces who took power following the genocide were alleged to have killed thousands of Hutu people in Rwanda in retaliation. Nsabumukunzi is alleged to have set up roadblocks during the genocide to detain and kill Tutsis and to have participated in killings, prosecutors said, citing witnesses. "Nsabumukunzi used his leadership position to oversee the violence and killings of Tutsis in his local area and directed groups of armed Hutus to kill Tutsis," the federal prosecutors said. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to life in prison in absentia by a Rwandan genocide court, according to US legal papers. The suspect was arrested on Thursday at his home in Bridgehampton, New York, where he had settled as a gardener and beekeeper in an exclusive enclave on Long Island, according to the US media. Prosecutors said he had lied to US officials in his immigration application, including by falsely denying any involvement as a perpetrator of the Rwandan genocide when he sought refugee status in 2003. He allegedly repeated those lies in his subsequent applications for a green card and naturalisation. "For over two decades, he got away with those lies and lived in the United States with an undeserved clean slate," - prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York
After deadly Kashmir attack, India reports exchange of fire with Pakistani soldiers - NPR
Date Published: 2025-04-25T16:08:16Z | Category: kashmir
Quote: "maximum restraint" between Pakistan and India, the Indian military reported an exchange of fire with Pakistani soldiers on Friday across the de-facto border of the disputed region of Kashmir. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have soared after India blamed Pakistan for a militant attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Tuesday that killed 26 men. Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack, one of the deadliest on Indian civilians in years. In a briefing Thursday, Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres,told reportersthat the U.N. was appealing to both countries "to ensure that the situation and the developments we've seen do not deteriorate any further." Friday'sbrief exchangeof gunfireappeared to endwithout casualties, according to the Indian military and media. Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the firing at apress briefing in Islamabad, saying he would defer to the Pakistani military for formal confirmation. Some Indian analysts warned of the possibility of more serious military action in the coming days. "One thing we can say with pretty much absolute certainty is that there will be a military response," - Siddharth Varadarajan
Kashmir attack: Local victims talk with FOX 26 about what happened
Date Published: 2025-04-25T15:25:54Z | Category: kashmir
Quote: "On 19th of January 1990, the whole population came onto the road. They used loud speakers to scare us. They use derogatory slogans," said Surinder Kaul, who moved from Kashmir and lives in Katy. Kaul is the co-founder of the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora, which is a civil society movement with the goal to move the world’s conscience about plight of their Kashmiri Hindu community. "What is very disturbing is that the terrorists, they identified the victims whether they are Hindus or Muslims. That is very painful," said Kaul. Dig deeper: There’s a tumultuous history for the last 700 years. In 1990, during civil unrest and genocide, Kashmiri Hindus were given the choice to convert, leave or be killed. Amit Raina who lives in Houston, like Kaul, was one of the hundreds of thousands Kashmiri Hindus that fled. "It's a grim reminder of the brutal past we had. It took me back to 1990 where I was a 8-9 year-old kid, and my experiences and what we had to go through back then. The pain, the anguish, the brutality. Our community had to go through that genocide," - Raina
Pahalgam attack: Kerala police book Muslim League leader for casting aspersion on Sangh Parivar
Date Published: 2025-04-25T14:58:20Z | Category: muslim
Quote: "wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot", after he, in a Facebook post, cast aspersion on Sangh Parivar groups in the Pahalgam terror attack. Basheer, who is also the president of the party's Kanhangad Assembly constituency committee, said the massacre at Pahalgam meadows was driven by political interests, and called for an investigation to identify the people in the attack that claimed 26 lives. The FIR, registered under Section 192 of the BNS, is based on a complaint filed by Hindu Aikya Vedi’s Kasaragod district president Shaji S P. If convicted, Basheer will face up to six months in prison and/or a fine. "I’m disappointed the police invoked only a petty charge when my complaint clearly alleged anti-national activity during a national crisis. I’ll now approach the NIA," said Shaji. "Basheer is the Muslim League's district representative. He attends the meetings called by the Collector and the District Police Chief. The police should have taken stricter action," said Shaji. Basheer put out the post on April 23, a day after the terror attack, and deleted it on April 24, when rightwing media and organisations highlighted it. "Basheer saw 'conspiracy' behind terrorists asking for the religions of the victims, when survivors, speaking to the media, said the terrorists indeed checked the religious identity," - the Hindu Aikya Vedi leader
Agra Muslim victim's cousin recognised the killer in gau rakshak video, called police
Date Published: 2025-04-25T14:22:52Z | Category: muslim
Quote: "If they wanted to take revenge for the Pahalgam attack, they could have beaten him up. Broken his arms and legs. At least he’d still be alive," - Ghulfam
"He was the prime breadwinner of our family. He had dreams of getting his children the best education and a good life. He never thought beyond that," - Shahid
"We are seeking justice from the Yogi government. If no action is taken in a week. We will come out on the road and protest," - Shahid
Israelis protest against Gaza war with rare decry over Palestinian casualties - The Guardian
Date Published: 2025-04-25T15:15:45Z | Category: palestinian
Quote: "There has been a complete unwillingness among many here to engage with the human cost of the war in Gaza, even anger to anyone who expresses empathy for Palestinians, but I think after the government restarted the war, something is beginning to shift," - Green
"It’s unbearable to see the faces of these children, who are no different to my children, who were killed by us," - Noa First
"There was nothing new about this attempt to silence any mention of Gaza – the only difference this time was that the police foolishly put it in writing," - Alon
"The saying is never again; that means never again for anybody. That’s really what we’re standing here for," - Ilana Drukker Tokotin
Trump's plans to assess tariffs on imported drugs could raise prices, cause drug shortages
Date Published: 2025-04-25T15:13:02Z | Category: pharmaceutical
Quote: "major tariff on pharmaceuticals" imported to the U.S. And he predicted drug companies would move factories to the United States to avoid paying duties on imports. Whilespeaking to reportersfrom the Oval Office on April 9, Trump said, "We don't make our drugs and our pharmaceuticals in this country." He added, "We're going to put tariffs on the pharmaceutical companies, and they are going to all want to come back." And April 14, Trump's Department of Commerce said in a Federal Registerfilingit's investigating whether imports of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients pose a threat to the United States' national security. The Department of Commerce filing opened a 21-day public comment period seeking input on how much Americans rely on foreign supply chains for their prescription drugs. The investigation will seek to address how trade policies impact domestic drug production and whether tariffs are needed to protect national security. The Trump administration has used these filings − section 232 of the 1960s-era Trade Expansion Act − to assess industry-specific tariffs on imports of steel, aluminum and the auto industry. Under section 232, the administration must complete the investigation within 9 months, but Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick saiddrug tariffs will comein "a month or two." Should the administration impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals, the impact will likely ripple to hospitals and doctors, pharmacy chains and consumers, pharmaceutical industry experts say. "There are clearly going to be tariffs that impact pharmaceutical supply chains," said Tom Kraus, vice president of government relations of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, which represents hospital pharmacists. Kraus said brand-name drugs that already command higher prices are less likely to be impacted by tariffs. Generic drugs − which account for the vast majority of prescriptions filled by U.S. consumers − have small profit margins and are more likely to feel the financial squeeze from tariffs, Kraus said. Drug pricing experts warn generic drugs face greater risk of tariff-related price increases and possible shortages. Brand-name drugs are protected by patents allowing drug companies to exclusively sell medications without direct competition. Drug companies have no limits when setting prices for brand-name drugs, but the amount consumers pay depends on negotiations hashed out with insurers and pharmacy benefit managers. Once a drug is no longer eligible for patent protection, generic manufacturers can make and sell similar versions of branded drugs, which lowers prices for consumers. Tariffs are more likely to disrupt prices and production of generic drugs because these medications rely on lower-cost materials, ingredients and manufacturing in China and India, said Mariana Socal, associate professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Whether tariffs impact how much U.S. consumers pay for prescriptions is a "question that will probably keep everyone awake at night." Americans pay "the highest prices in the world for our drugs," Socal said. "We pay three to four times higher prices than than other comparable countries." Brand-name drugs typically drive prescription drug expenses. Most consumers have health insurance, which typically charges a copay for consumers when they fill a prescription. Many also must pay coinsurance, which is a percentage of a total drug's cost. Socal said said global competition keeps generic prices lower for consumers. If generic drugmakers and distributors must pay tariff-related costs, they might need to further cut production costs. That could mean generic manufacturers ship a "lower quality product that has a lower cost," Socal said. With a tariff on generic imports, "it's likely millions and millions of people will be affected by this," Socal said. Generics accounted for 90% of U.S. prescriptions but 13.1% of total drug spending, according to a 2024reportreleased by the Association for Accessible Medicines, which represents generic drugmakers. John Murphy III, President and CEO of the generic drugmakers group, said a reliable supply of generic medicines is "critical to patient health, U.S. healthcare and national security interests. Tariffs, however, will only amplify the problems that already exist in the U.S. market for affordable medicines," Murphy said. The U.S. health care system has grappled with periodic drug shortages formore than two decades. The number of drugs in shortage peaked at 323 during thefirst three months of 2024, but dropped to 270 as of March, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The reasons for the shortages ranged fromdisruptions caused by hurricanesto factory contamination that shut down production lines. In some cases, drug manufacturers stopped making a drug. Marta Wosińska, a health economist and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, worries tariffs could lead to drug shortages. If generic manufacturers face higher costs and can't pass those costs on to consumers, they might choose to discontinue production of critical drugs, according to Wosińska. "What I worry is that thresholds, the comfort level that manufacturers might have for walking out of a market, might change," due to the tariffs, Wosińska said. "They were basically forced into that situation." Two years ago, more than a dozen cancer drugswere in shortage, including cisplatin and carboplatin, used to treat lung, breast, prostate and gynecologic cancers. The National Cancer Institute said cisplatin and similar drugs are prescribed for 10% to 20% of all cancer patients. Generic drug manufacturers also face financial pressure from federal programs such as the 340B, which requires manufacturers to discount drugs. Another wild card on pricing is Trump'sexecutive orderreleased April 15 that aims to lower drug prices. Among other strategies, the order calls on expanding imports of cheaper drugs from Canada, although it's unclear how or whether tariffs would apply to such imports. The executive order "demonstrates this administration’s commitment to exploring innovative approaches to reduce prescription drug costs for American patients," - Vianca
Great Falls College hosts Holocaust survivor - KRTV
Date Published: 2025-04-25T16:08:35Z | Category: refugee
Quote: "This history is just really important for everybody to know, but especially the younger generations that are coming up in our schools, on our campus," - Communication faculty
China forces Weibo account for gay community to drop 'comrade' from name
Date Published: 2025-04-24T22:57:30Z | Category: uyghur
Quote: "The sudden ban on the use of the name can be seen as another example of China’s suppression of human rights," - human rights activist Pan Jiawei
"...the government wants the voices of sexual equality and sexual minority groups to fade out of Chinese society, which is related to the government’s hostility to Western ideology," - Li
