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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 28, 2024-- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating whether the sale of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATSG) to Stonepeak for $22.50 per share in cash is fair to Air Transport shareholders. Halper Sadeh encourages Air Transport shareholders to click here to learn more about their legal rights and options or contact Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or sadeh@halpersadeh.com or zhalper@halpersadeh.com . The investigation concerns whether Air Transport and its board of directors violated the federal securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders by failing to, among other things: (1) obtain the best possible consideration for Air Transport shareholders; (2) determine whether Stonepeak is underpaying for Air Transport; and (3) disclose all material information necessary for Air Transport shareholders to adequately assess and value the merger consideration. On behalf of Air Transport shareholders, Halper Sadeh LLC may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits. We would handle the action on a contingent fee basis, whereby you would not be responsible for out-of-pocket payment of our legal fees or expenses. Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241228416984/en/ CONTACT: Halper Sadeh LLC One World Trade Center 85th Floor New York, NY 10007 Daniel Sadeh, Esq. Zachary Halper, Esq. (212) 763-0060 sadeh@halpersadeh.com zhalper@halpersadeh.com https://www.halpersadeh.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LEGAL SOURCE: Halper Sadeh LLC Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/28/2024 03:44 PM/DISC: 12/28/2024 03:44 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241228416984/enSHAMED ref David Coote won’t appeal the decision to sack him, it emerged last night. Referees’ body the PGMOL gave him the boot this month after a probe into videos of him snorting white powder and a foul-mouthed rant about ex Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp . Sources last night said the 42-year-old Premier League official had decided to accept his sacking - rather than fight to keep his old job, the Daily Mail reported. The PGMOL - Professional Game Match Officials Board - showed Coote the door after examining evidence provided by The Sun. We exclusively revealed a film of him snorting what appears to be cocaine during the Euros in Germany this summer . In the eight-second WhatsApp clip, he was wide-eyed as he used a rolled-up US banknote to snort a four-inch line of the substance in his Uefa-funded hotel room. READ MORE ON DAVID COOTE The previous day, the official had acted as a VAR for France's quarter-final shootout win over Portugal. Days before that exposé, footage emerged on social media showing him calling former Liverpool boss Klopp a “German c***”. Coote had also tried to arrange a drugs party during Tottenham’s win over Manchester City on October 30 . He was the fourth official for the Carabao Cup clash. Most read in Football Official body PGMOL said the ref - also subject of a separate betting probe - was sacked after his actions were found to be in breach of contract. In a statement, they said: “David Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable. "Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare.” Coote has been lying low near his Midlands home since the video emerged. Referees body the PGMOL, who examined evidence provided by The Sun, sacked him on Monday following a probe into his sweary rants and white powder abuse. Coote was then the subject of a new probe over allegedly issuing a yellow card to order. The loss of Coote’s career is set to cost him £1m over the next few years in loss of earnings. First video First man : "What did you think of the Liverpool game earlier when you were fourth official?" Second man (allegedly Coote) : "Erm Liverpool were s***." First man : "What did you think of Jurgen Klopp?" Second man (allegedly Coote) : "C***, absolute c***." First man : "Why would you say that Jurgen Klopp is a c***?" Second man (allegedly Coote) : "Erm, aside from having a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown. "Then, he accused me of lying and then just had a right f***ing pop at me - and I’ve got no interest in speaking to somebody whose f***ing arrogant. "So I do my best not to speak to him. [James] Milner is alright, I get on with Milner." First man : "James Milner, he gets on with James Milner." Second man (allegedly Coote) : "You can see me there with mask on." First man : "Mask on, obviously." Second man (allegedly Coote) : "Yea Covid, got to be done. Social distancing right? We’re two meters apart." First man : "We have to social distance." Second man (allegedly Coote) : "Yep, so but [exhales] my God. German c***, f*** me." First man : "Long story short, Jurgen Klopp’s a c***, Liverpool are all f***ing b******s, we hate Scousers." Second video Second man (allegedly Coote) : "Right just to be clear, that f***ing last video cant go anywhere, seriously." First man : He’s a Premier League referee, let's not f***ing ruin his career. "Like let's face we’re good blokes but we can’t ruin a bloke’s career. We’re not that bad. Also he’s a f***ing legend." Second man (allegedly Coote) : "So, yeah." First man : "So lets not ruin his career."CMG: Top 10 military news stories from China and the world in 2024UC-MSCs is under clinical development by Wuhan Hamilton Bio-technology and currently in Phase I for Osteoarthritis. According to GlobalData, Phase I drugs for Osteoarthritis have an 84% phase transition success rate (PTSR) indication benchmark for progressing into Phase II. GlobalData tracks drug-specific phase transition and likelihood of approval scores, in addition to indication benchmarks based off 18 years of historical drug development data. Attributes of the drug, company and its clinical trials play a fundamental role in drug-specific PTSR and likelihood of approval. UC-MSCs overview The therapeutic candidate is under development for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. The therapeutic candidate comprises of umbilical cord (UC)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). It is administered by intravenous and intra-articular route. The therapeutic candidate was also under development for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy and pneumonia caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). For a complete picture of UC-MSCs’s drug-specific PTSR and LoA scores, This content was updated on 12 April 2024 From Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors. , the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article. GlobalData’s Likelihood of Approval analytics tool dynamically assesses and predicts how likely a drug will move to the next stage in clinical development (PTSR), as well as how likely the drug will be approved (LoA). This is based on a combination of machine learning and a proprietary algorithm to process data points from various databases found on GlobalData’s .

NEW YORK, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Licensing International , the leading trade association for the $356-billion global brand licensing industry, and the Licensing International Foundation , which supports the education of future licensing leaders, today celebrated the induction of Joseph Kaminkow, Maca Rotter, and Stu Seltzer to the Licensing International Hall of Fame. Held at Gotham Hall in New York City, the 2024 Hall of Fame Induction and Rising Star Awards gala also honored the future of brand licensing, recognizing Rising Stars in the licensing business and celebrating the 2024 Licensing International Foundation scholarship recipients. Joseph Kaminkow is the Chief Innovation Officer at Aristocrat Gaming. Kaminkow’s career began when he started his own game development company, Logical Highs, before joining Williams Games. Noticing a resurgence in pinball games in the mid-1980s, Kaminkow partnered with Gary Stern to found Data East Pinball (now Stern Pinball). He was then recruited by International Game Technology to revolutionize slot machines using licensed titles. Kaminkow went on to found Spooky Cool Labs in Chicago, which was acquired by Zynga, before leaving in 2022 to devote himself full-time to Aristocrat Gaming, where he expanded his efforts to bring pop-culture icons to life on the casino floor. Kaminkow resides in Las Vegas with his wife Benita. "Reflecting back on my decades in the gaming industry, licensing has been at the center of much of the work that I’ve done,” said Kaminkow. “Even as consumer preferences and pop culture trends have evolved, licensing has moved with the changing tide. It fills me with pride to have adapted some of the most iconic properties in the world into a gaming format that brings people joy, and it is an honor to receive this recognition from Licensing International." Kaminkow was presented by Eugene Jarvis, President of Raw Thrills, and Gary Stern, Founder, Executive Chairman, and EVP of Stern Pinball. Maca Rotter is President & CEO of La Panadería Licensing. Rotter has more than 25 years of experience in marketing, branding, and licensing. Often referred to as the Queen of Licensing in Mexico, she has achieved great success in founding, developing, and expanding domestic and international markets by implementing innovative and strategic approaches. To establish a legacy and set a standard in the industry for the Hispanic community, Rotter authored the first and only Spanish-language book about consumer products structure and business models in 2014. Rotter served as the first Latin woman on Licensing International’s board of directors and founded the Licensing Association chapter in Mexico. "I know firsthand the power that brand licensing holds in connecting fans and consumers with the properties they cherish, and expanding this industry through Mexico has provided me an incredibly gratifying career,” said Rotter. “Working alongside Licensing International, I am dedicated to continue contributing to this remarkable industry while helping to shape its future growth.” Rotter was presented by Omar Faker, SVP of Non-Scripted Entertainment and Music at TelevisaUnivision. Stu Seltzer is the president of Seltzer Licensing Group, a global agency he has guided for over 25 years. The group is renowned for its expertise in brand licensing, partnership marketing, and strategic alliances. His understanding of the licensing field and adept negotiation skills were honed through pivotal roles at organizations like Yves Saint Laurent and the DC Comics division at Warner Bros. His strategic insights have driven substantial returns on marketing investments for clients, including Unilever, Scotts Miracle-Gro, and the American Red Cross. Seltzer has contributed significantly as an award-winning professor at New York University, where he has taught a course on brand licensing to undergraduates for over 20 years. "Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of collaborating with exceptional brands to build impactful licensing programs,” said Seltzer. “It’s a true honor to have made a difference in this industry and I’m energized by the future as we continue pushing boundaries and creating innovative partnerships together.” Seltzer was presented by Dan Romanelli, Founder of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. Established in 1989, the Licensing International Hall of Fame is home to the most esteemed global licensing executives of the last three decades. Inductees are selected by a committee of industry executives based on nominations received from the global licensing community at large; the Licensing International Board of Directors reviews all recommendations before making a final selection. Joseph Kaminkow, Maca Rotter, and Stu Seltzer join industry luminaries including Kathy Ireland, Martha Stewart, George Lucas, Walt Disney, and Charles Schultz. “Joseph, Maca, and Stu are pioneers in the global brand licensing industry, whose contributions have not only resulted in significant innovation but have also set the standard for leadership and integrity,” said Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “They have brought iconic brands to life in ways that continue to resonate across generations. This induction is a fitting recognition of their profound impact, as each of them has left an indelible mark on our industry, inspiring countless others to follow in their footsteps.” In addition to honoring Kaminkow, Rotter, and Seltzer, the 2024 Hall of Fame event recognized rising talent making strides in the licensing industry. The event celebrated the eight 2024 Rising Star Award recipients as announced in October . For more than a decade, the Rising Star program has recognized young professionals from around the world who have been nominated by their peers and selected by the Rising Star committee members for their contributions to the global brand licensing industry. Ten students—Nora Atwa, Cameron Faconer, Owen Fu, Andreaz Glasgow, Maycon Gomes da Silva, Skylar Grady, Britney Huston, Remy LeMaire, Matt Stein, and Sophia Rodriguez—were also celebrated as the recipients of the Licensing International Foundation 2024 Scholarship, awarded to accomplished students exploring a career in brand licensing. Licensing International thanks the generous donors that made the event possible, including Gold Sponsor Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences, Silver Sponsor Raw Thrills, and Mattel, the Champion-Level Sponsor for the Rising Star Awards. Nominations for the 2025 Hall of Fame are now open . To learn more about the Licensing International Foundation and support its ongoing mission to educate and inspire the next generation of licensing leaders, visit LicensingInternational.org/About/Foundation . About Licensing International Licensing International is the leading trade organization for the $356+ billion global licensing industry. Licensing International’s mission is to foster the growth and expansion of licensing around the world, raise the level of professionalism for licensing practitioners, and create greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large. Founded in 1985, Licensing International members in over 40 countries enjoy access to an array of benefits, including extensive educational programming and worldwide networking events. Visit LicensingInternational.org for more information and to utilize licensing’s definitive online resource. About Licensing International Foundation The Licensing International Foundation was established in 2020 to mark a new chapter in the global association’s charitable initiatives and to continue its decades-long support of the brand licensing community. The Foundation is focused on the education of future licensing leaders through the Licensing International Scholarship Program, which awards grants to deserving individuals who are interested in a career in brand licensing. Visit https://licensinginternational.org/about/foundation/ for more information or to make a donation. Contact Licensing International Elizabeth Foster EFoster@licensing.org A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0614c3d0-64cf-48aa-9e90-980c1c45a7d3

Nelistotug by GSK for Recurrent Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Likelihood of ApprovalThe Aurora City Council is set to vote on a contract for a pilot program to give kindergarten students in the city a $50 savings account to go toward education after high school. Known as Aurora Promise, the program is based on a similar one that has been going on in San Francisco for a number of years. There are 128 similar programs in 38 states across the country, serving about five million children, Aurora officials said. This program would be the first in Illinois. “This is still a new idea; we’re doing a pilot program,” said Mayor Richard Irvin, who announced the program earlier this year. “We start small, and get bigger where we can include every child and every family that wants to participate.” At next week’s regular council meeting, aldermen will vote on a 20-year contract of not more than about $1.96 million with Operation Hope to manage the program. Operation Hope manages a similar program in Atlanta, and was the only organization to respond to the city’s request for proposals to manage the program. The city would seed the beginnings of savings accounts for post-secondary education for every kindergarten student in the city with $50. It would be for any post-secondary schooling – college or a trade school. The plan would be for parents to then begin adding to the savings over the years, and the city would look for corporate sponsors to help. Viviana Ramirez, Aurora’s chief Community Services officer, and Martha Paschke, Innovation and Strategy director for the city, said the idea of the program is to incentivize people to save money, and get them in that habit. “It underscores the importance of planting a seed to nurture that belief,” Ramirez said. “It’s not only planning for the children, it’s educating the parents.” Paschke said the oldest program in the country is in San Francisco, where the first group of kids in it just turned 18, and has its first high school graduates. The program shows more college enrollment. A study by the Center for Social Development at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis showed that even when families have saved less than $500, low- to moderate-income children are three times more likely to enroll in college and more than four times more likely to graduate from college than those with no savings account. “It’s not necessarily about the amount of funds they have, but the habit of savings,” Paschke said. Paschke said Operation Hope is “very qualified and a good fit” to manage the Aurora program. “We can benefit from their experience,” she said. “We hope to learn from them over time.” Mike Smith, vice president of finance and accounting for Operation Hope, said the organization will “do the exact same thing” in Aurora as it does in Atlanta. The pilot would start strictly in West Aurora School District 129 and East Aurora School District 131. West Aurora has just under 500 kindergarten students who live in the city, and there are about 600 kindergarten students in the East Aurora district. Eventually, the program would include all six school districts in the city. Part of the Oswego School District, Indian Prairie School District, Batavia School District and the Kaneland School District are in Aurora. The program would be only for public school children, officials said. While there is no income guideline for Aurora Promise (some of the other programs do have a guideline), the target is low-income students and public schools serve a higher number of them. Also, the program requires a partnership between the districts and the city. One of the main parts of that is data sharing by the district with the city, which has to be worked out. Ald. Patty Smith, 8th Ward, who represents an area entirely in Indian Prairie School District 204, said she thinks the idea is “a wonderful program” and she would “truly support” it, but also said she hopes the city quickly moves to include the other school districts. “We have schools that are in need,” she said. Paschke said organizers are “very aware of students” in the other school districts, and plan to include them after the first 18 months of the pilot program. Ald. Michael Saville, 6th Ward, asked about students who move into the different districts after their kindergarten year. Paschke said the goal is to have every student included, so organizers will have “to consider” what to do about students moving in. As another part of the pilot, parents will have to opt-in to it to begin with. In fact, Paschke said one reason city staff pushed through consideration of the contract straight to the City Council Committee of the Whole was to get the opt-in selection on school registration forms for the 2025 school year. The reason for making it opt-in is to make parents aware of the program. Eventually, officials want it to be an opt-out program – students would automatically be in unless they opted out. The initial funding for the savings part of the program would come from money the city got as a local share from Columbia Care, when it opened the first marijuana cultivation facility in Aurora about nine years ago. The money was a contribution related to when the original company that opened the facility, Curative Health, was sold early in Irvin’s first term as mayor. The amount is about $145,000, which would seed the program, Irvin has said. Eventually, the city would look for corporate donations for the program, he said. slord@tribpub.comBucs rout Panthers, keep pace in race for first in NFC South

Nigerians Nominate Obaseki For ThisDay ‘Governor Of The Year’ AwardThis story was originally published by Mountain State Spotlight. Get stories like this delivered to your email inbox once a week; sign up for the free newsletter at mountainstatespotlight.org/newsletter Two years ago, the DSL internet at Aeriell Turner’s home in rural Raleigh County grew increasingly unreliable as she began to rely on her phone’s mobile hotspot for work. “The lines where I live are notoriously bad,” she said. But then, Turner, an insurance agent who works remotely, switched to Starlink. Now, as she turns on her computer at the beginning of each work day, a sleek white router softly blinks in her living room reminding her that her internet troubles are far behind. She now answers video calls and interacts with her clients without interrupted service. “A good internet connection is a literal lifeline,” she said. For West Virginians like Turner, Starlink promises a solution to their desperate need for fast and reliable internet access. Residents say they’ve turned to the company, despite the high price tag, while they wait for faster, more reliable internet from traditional providers. However, federal regulators concluded that the company couldn’t meet promised speeds and rejected its application for nearly $900 million in subsidies in 2022. Now, as West Virginians continue to search for answers, Starlink could soon be in line for more of the flood of federal dollars to expand broadband. The company’s owner, Elon Musk, is not only the richest person in the world, but he spent $200 million to help Donald Trump get back to the White House. And Trump has already said he plans to appoint a Musk ally to run the Federal Communications Commission. SpaceX, which owns Starlink, did not respond to a request for comment. State officials are in the midst of a $1.2 billion push to bring high-speed internet to every corner of West Virginia by 2029. However, the roll-out has been hindered by disputes between utility companies and internet service providers on the ground. Starlink hasn’t released exact numbers for how many customers they have in West Virginia. The company is not required to share that information, said Del. Daniel Linville, chair of the House Infrastructure and Technology Committee. But, the number of subscribers is increasing monthly in the state, he said. Kensey Bergdorf-Smith, director of the West Virginia Science and Technology Policy Initiative, said despite its growing popularity, satellite internet still has challenges compared to other broadband options. A dish must be properly positioned and be free of interference like trees and bad weather for the strongest service, she said. “The concern with satellite internet is that it’s not super reliable,” she said. “It doesn’t always reach the speeds that it needs to, and it’s also pretty pricey compared to standard broadband options.” Starlink was denied millions in federal subsidies In 2022, Starlink’s long-form application for a $885 million contract from the FCC through its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was denied . The fund was created to expand broadband to rural communities and the subsidies would have been released over 10 years. The company was to deploy internet service to over 600,000 homes and businesses across 35 states with speeds of at least 100 megabits per second download and 20 megabits per second download upload. Those speeds are defined as the bare minimum to qualify as broadband following new standards passed by the FCC earlier this year. Federal officials determined the company would be unable to provide high-speed internet to the amount of homes it had proposed. The FCC affirmed that decision last year. “The agency also has a responsibility to be a good steward of limited public funds meant to expand access to rural broadband, not fund applicants that fail to meet basic program requirements,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a press release . Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the FCC, dissented from the agency’s ruling writing that the decision follows the Biden administration’s pattern of “regulatory harassment” against Elon Musk. This week, President-elect Donald Trump named Carr as the new chairman of the commission. As chairman, Carr could exert influence over decisions with the potential to send hundreds of millions of dollars in federal subsidies to Starlink. Starlink service is expanding from space, while internet providers hit snags on the ground From outer space to deep inside a holler, high-speed internet can reach homes without traditional infrastructure like poles and cables using satellites that bounce signals as long as there is a clear view of the sky. The company offers residential plans for $120 a month with unlimited data and charges a $349 upfront cost for hardware like the router and mountable disk. In a 2023 survey of over 2,000 West Virginians by state broadband officials, 15% said they use satellite internet and generally paid more than people using other providers. Alex Cain, owner of Country Roads Satellites in Clarksburg, said that his team travels across the state installing Starlink mounts on homes, and most customers have resorted to satellite service because they’ve had unreliable, slow internet connections. “When Starlink came out, it was kind of a game changer just because the speeds are 20 times faster,” he said. “We’ve been doing five to six installs a week.” Starlink’s satellites circle the planet in a much lower orbit than older satellite internet providers. That means Starlink satellites should be faster than competitors. Outside of Durbin on the northern end of Pocahontas County, Elizabeth Stewart lives with her husband in a wooded area and uses Starlink to work from home. They’ve put their dish in a clearing where there isn’t interference from trees in the yard. She said she’s been a customer for three years despite other providers offering cheaper plans and doesn’t mind paying the higher cost. “You have to shell out about 500 bucks to get the service and a lot of people can’t afford to do that,” she said. “But, online is my life, and it’s how I’m able to work from home.” Reach reporter Tre Spencer at tre@mountainstatespotlight.org

By Harsh Gour On December 8, 2024, the European Union (EU) implemented the revised product liability directive (Directive (EU) 2024/2853). This brings in a significant change in product liability rules. This update expands on the concepts outlined by the 1985 guideline. Nonetheless, it amends them to handle the difficulties of developing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), software and the Internet of Things (IoT). The world is becoming more entwined with digital and interconnected technology. These new directives guarantee that liability laws develop to protect consumers while encouraging technological innovation and sustainability. The present article explores the key aspects of the revised EU product liability directive, how it addresses AI and software, its applicability to the Indian regulatory landscape, and how other jurisdictions are dealing with similar challenges. The revised EU product liability directive officially came into force on December 8, 2024. However, its application will be gradual. EU member States must incorporate the provisions into their national laws by December 9, 2026. This gives governments ample time to adapt existing frameworks and introduce new regulations compatible with the directive’s requirements. From this date, the new rules will govern products placed on the market within the EU, meaning that businesses will have to comply with the revised liability standards for products launched after this period. The revised directive significantly broadens the scope of what constitutes a ‘product’. It incorporates risks presented by modern technologies and sustainability concerns: Digital products: The directive now explicitly includes software, AI systems and digital files as products subject to liability rules. This is a critical step as software and AI are central components in many modern devices, from autonomous vehicles to home automation systems. For instance, if an AI-driven car’s algorithm causes a crash due to a defect, the manufacturer could be held liable under this directive. Sustainability and circular economy: In line with the EU’s commitment to sustainability, the directive covers not only new but also refurbished, remanufactured and reused products. This aligns with the growing emphasis on the circular economy, where product lifecycle management becomes crucial. Products reused or refurbished must meet the same safety and liability standards as new ones, ensuring that consumers are protected regardless of a product’s age or origin. IoT and connected systems: One of the most significant updates is including interconnected systems, such as IoT devices. The directive recognises that interconnected devices, ranging from home appliances to industrial machines, can present complex risks. If a defect in one component of an interconnected system causes harm, the manufacturer of the faulty component can be held liable. A primary objective of the revised directive is to strengthen consumer protections while simplifying the process of filing liability claims. The following changes have been made to address the challenges that consumers face when seeking compensation: Simplified claims process: In the past, consumers were often required to provide complex technical evidence to prove a product was defective. Under the new rules, consumers no longer need to offer intricate technical proof. Courts can now infer a defect or causation if the evidence is inaccessible. This will simplify claims, especially in cases involving AI and IoT systems where the technical details can be beyond the average consumer’s understanding. Wider coverage of damages: The revised directive extends liability coverage to include personal injuries, property damage and data loss, resulting from defective products. This is particularly relevant in the digital age, where the failure of a software system or IoT device can lead to significant data breaches or personal harm. Accountability for systemic failures: The directive holds manufacturers accountable for product defects, software bugs, cybersecurity breaches and failures in interconnected product ecosystems. For example, if a security vulnerability in an IoT device leads to a widespread data breach, the manufacturer could be held liable for the damage caused. AI and digital products have presented new challenges for liability laws, especially when these systems evolve and learn autonomously. The revised directive explicitly addresses these challenges, providing clarity on the responsibilities of developers, manufacturers and businesses. Ongoing risks and lifecycle: One of the key challenges with AI systems is that they can evolve or learn after they are launched into the market. This creates ongoing risks, as developers may lose control over the system’s operation once it starts self-learning. The new directive clarifies that developers are responsible for ensuring the safety of AI products throughout their lifecycle, even after the launch. For instance, if an AI system in a healthcare application leads to incorrect diagnosis due to an evolving algorithm, the developer remains liable for the defect. Black box nature of AI: Many AI systems operate as ‘black boxes’, meaning their decision-making processes are not transparent or easily understandable. This can make it challenging to trace defects or determine faults. However, the directive helps to address this by allowing courts to infer liability based on circumstantial evidence. This will make it easier to hold developers accountable, even when the exact cause of failure is difficult to determine. Algorithmic risks: The directive explicitly covers the risks posed by biased algorithms, faulty data inputs and cybersecurity flaws in AI systems. For example, if a financial AI system makes discriminatory lending decisions based on biased data, the system’s creators can be held liable for the harm caused to affected individuals. Developers: The directive significantly burdens AI developers to ensure their systems are rigorously tested, validated and monitored. Developers must maintain clear documentation about how their systems work, the potential risks, and the safeguards to mitigate them. Failure to comply could result in liability for harm caused by defects or malfunctions. Businesses using AI: Organisations implementing AI systems must ensure that these systems are safely integrated into their operations. For instance, a company that adopts an AI-based facial recognition system must be responsible for ensuring that the system functions as intended and does not cause harm, such as wrongly identifying individuals. Shared accountability: In cases where multiple entities contribute to the development of an AI system, such as developers, data providers and hardware manufacturers, the directive holds all parties accountable for any defects that arise. This shared liability ensures that no one party can evade responsibility for harm caused by AI failures. As India continues to develop its technology sector, it faces a growing need to modernise its product liability laws to keep pace with digital and AI-driven products. There are several lessons that India can draw from the EU’s revised product liability directive: India’s current legal framework, which focuses on tangible goods and physical defects, must expand to cover digital and AI-based products. For instance, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 must be updated to address the unique risks posed by software, AI and IoT products. India’s legal system should ensure that developers and manufacturers of digital and connected products are held to clear standards of safety and accountability. India should adopt provisions similar to those in the EU directive that simplify the claims process. Consumers often face challenges when dealing with complex technical products, particularly in AI and IoT cases. Simplifying the evidence requirements for claims and allowing courts to infer defects would make the process more accessible to ordinary consumers. While India encourages innovation, particularly in AI and IoT, it is equally essential to ensure consumer safety. India can draw inspiration from the EU’s balanced approach, which encourages innovation while setting clear standards for accountability. Developers and companies should be incentivised to create new technologies that are effective, safe and ethical. The US handles product liability through tort law, relying heavily on strict liability, negligence and warranty claims. However, the rise of AI and digital products has created gaps in the legal framework. As in the EU, the US needs to adapt its laws to address the risks posed by AI and IoT products. Some states, such as California, have taken steps toward regulating AI through data protection and transparency laws, but there is still a long way to go. The UK has taken a proactive approach to AI accountability, mandating risk assessments and monitoring for AI systems. In its AI strategy, the UK government has emphasised the need for clear regulations on AI safety, which will likely influence future product liability frameworks. India can adopt similar guidelines to ensure the safe deployment of AI in both private and public sectors. Japan has long been a leader in technology and innovation, and its legal framework for product liability reflects this. Japan focuses on continuous monitoring and risk assessment of AI and IoT products, ensuring that products are tested and certified before entering the market. India can benefit from this approach by establishing a robust system of pre-market and post-market assessments for AI-driven products. The revised EU product liability directive represents a significant step forward in ensuring that consumers are protected in the digital age, where the risks associated with AI, software and IoT devices are constantly evolving. The EU’s approach balances consumer safety with fostering innovation and sustainability. However, as technology evolves, the challenge will be maintaining this balance while accounting for new risks and promoting continued growth in the technological sector. Adopting similar measures is crucial for India, aligning with global standards and ensuring the country can harness its technological potential while safeguarding consumers. The lessons from the EU’s revised directive offer a solid foundation for India to develop a legal framework that embraces innovation without compromising safety, accountability and fairness. With the proper legal updates, India can navigate the complexities of the digital age while protecting its citizens and promoting technological advancement. (IPA Service

Jailed PKK Leader open to working with Turkey, DEM SaysCentral Connecticut’s defense makes 7 interceptions to earn NEC’s bid to FCS playoffs

Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensusColandrea announced Monday on social media that he’d be leaving UVa and that he’d enter the portal on Dec. 9 when it opens for undergraduate athletes. It was first reported on Sunday that Colandrea was on his way out . His choice to leave came on the heels of Elliott’s move to start veteran Tony Muskett against rival Virginia Tech this past Saturday. “Unfortunate situation with [Colandrea],” Elliott said Wednesday during his signing day press conference. “The intention was never for him to — with the decision I made — entertain or think about the portal. I was planning on him coming back and being the guy for us going forward. “But, things change,” Elliott continued, “so we now, we will have to go find a veteran guy in the portal.” Muskett is out of eligibility, too, so he’s no longer around, leaving New Mexico State transfer Gavin Frakes as the only scholarship signal-caller on the Cavaliers’ roster currently. He joined the Hoos last offseason, but had started five times in 2022 for New Mexico State and served as the backup in 2023 to Diego Pavia there. Walk-on Grady Brosterhous, who had a role as a short-yardage, running quarterback this past season, is still on the roster as well. The two quarterbacks UVa signed on Wednesday as part of its 2025 class in Deerfield Academy’s (Mass.) Cole Geer and Bishop Moore Catholic’s (Orlando, Fla.) Bjorn Jurgensen don’t arrive in Charlottesville until the summer. “I wish [Colandrea] well,” Elliott said. “He’s leaving here on good terms from my perspective. But it’s unfortunate because my intent was not for [Colandrea] to leave the program. I was excited about getting back to work this offseason and helping to get him to a place of getting his confidence back at the highest level. I knew I had a responsibility this offseason to put some more pieces in place around him, but unfortunately, we’ll be doing that with another veteran quarterback.” There are graduate transfers already in the transfer portal, and undergraduate portal recruiting can begin as soon as those players officially enter next week. As for Geer and Jurgensen, they complement each other well, according to Elliott who praised Geer’s toughness and athleticism, and lauded Jurgensen’s production. Jurgensen threw for 5,175 yards and 56 touchdowns compared to only 12 interceptions over the last two years. “We had to work hard to keep some of the bigger [schools] off of him,” Elliott said of Jurgensen. He initially committed to UVa over Appalachian State, Florida Atlantic and James Madison, and at the time of his commitment, Big 12 programs Baylor and Houston were recruiting him also. Geer chose the Hoos over other offers from Boston College, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Virginia Tech. Elliott said he was transparent with both players that he’d be taking two quarterbacks in the class. “You just got to be honest,” Elliott said when asked about how he’ll handle dealing with the two QBs, “give them a fair opportunity to compete and then go compete. “And I think we had a great example in Tony Muskett and what it should be all about,” Elliott said. “As big of a competitor as he is and even though he only started one game for us this year, he had a tremendous impact on our roster. I met with him this morning and told him that. I said I don’t think you can understand and comprehend what you did for this program with the way you conducted yourself. So, both of these guys [Geer and Jurgensen] knew on the front end.”With Trump’s victory, Ellen DeGeneres will never return to America: report

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Evan Barringer was 14 years old when he stumbled onto Full House, a South Korea romcom where two strangers are forced to share a house. Sitting in his house in Memphis, he hit play assuming it was an Asian remake of a beloved American sitcom from the 1980s. It wasn’t until the third episode that he realised they had nothing in common save the name. But he was hooked. That accidental choice changed his life. Twelve years on, he is an English teacher in South Korea - and he says he loves it here: “I have got to try all the foods I’ve seen in K-dramas, and I’ve gotten to see several of the K-pop artists in concerts whose lyrics I used to study Korean.” When Evan discovered Full House in 2012, South Korean entertainment was a blip in the world’s eye. Psy’s Gangnam Style was the best-known Korean pop export at the time. Today, there are more than an estimated 220 million fans of Korean entertainment around the world – that’s four times the population of South Korea. Squid Game, Netflix's most popular show ever, has just returned for a much-anticipated second season. How did we get here? The so-called Korean Wave swept the world, experts say, when the success of streaming met American-inspired production value. And Korean entertainment – from pop music and mushy dramas to acclaimed hits built around universal themes – was ready for it. BTS and Blackpink are now familiar names on the global pop circuit. People are swooning over sappy K-dramas from Dubai to India to Singapore. Overseas sales of all this Korean content - including video games - is now worth billions. Last month, after 53-year-old poet and novelist Han Kang won the Nobel Prize for her literature, online boards were full of memes noting South Korea’s “Culture Victory” — a reference to the popular video game series Civilisation. And there were jokes about how the country had achieved the dream of founding father Kim Koo, who famously wrote that he wished for Korea to be a nation of culture rather than might. As it turns out, this moment had been in the making for years. After South Korea’s military dictatorship ended in 1987, censorship was loosened and numerous TV channels launched. Soon, there was a generation of creators who had grown up idolising Hollywood and hip-hop, says Hye Seung Chung, associate professor of Korean Film Studies at the University of Buffalo. Around the same time, South Korea rapidly grew rich, benefitting from an export boom in cars and electronics. And money from conglomerates, or chaebols as they are known, flowed into film and TV production, giving it a Hollywood-like sheen. They came to own much of the industry, from production to cinemas. So they were willing to splurge on making movies without worrying much about losses, Prof Chung says. K-pop, meanwhile, had become a domestic rage in the mid-90s, propelling the success of groups such as HOT and Shinhwa. This inspired agencies to replicate the gruelling Japanese artist management system. Scout young talent, often in their teens, and sign them onto years-long contracts through which they become “perfect” idols, with squeaky clean images and hyper-managed public personas. As the system took hold, it transformed K-pop, creating more and more idols. By the 2000s, Korean TV shows and K-pop were a hit in East and South East Asia. But it was streaming that took them to the world, and into the lives of anyone with a smartphone. That’s when the recommendation engine took over – it has been key in initiating Korean culture fans, taking them from one show to the next, spanning different genres and even platforms. Evan says he binged the 16 hour-long episodes of Full House. He loved the way it took its time to build the romance, from bickering banter to attraction, unlike the American shows he knew. “I was fascinated by each cultural difference I saw - I noticed that they don’t wear shoes in the house,” he recalls. So he took up Netflix’s suggestions for more Korean romcoms. Soon, he found himself humming to the soundtracks of the shows, and was drawn to K-pop. He has now begun watching variety shows, a reality TV genre where comedians go through a series of challenges together. As they work their way through the recommendations, fans are immersed in a world that feels foreign yet familiar – one that eventually includes kimchi jiggae, a spicy kimchi stew, and kalguksu, a seafood and kelp noodle broth. When Mary Gedda first visited South Korea, she went looking for a bowl of kimchi jjigae, as she had seen the stars do on screen numerous times. “I was crying [as I ate it]. It was so spicy,” she says. “I thought, why did I order this? They eat it so easily in every show.” Mary, an aspiring French actor, now lives in Seoul. Originally a K-pop fan, she then discovered K-dramas and learned Korean. She has starred in a few cameo roles as well. “I got lucky and I absolutely love it,” she says. For Mary, food was a big part of the appeal because she saw such a variety of it on K-dramas. Seeing how characters build relationships over food was familiar to her, she says, because she grew up in the French countryside in Burgundy. But there is also the promise of romance, which drew Marie Namur to South Korea from her native Belgium. She began watching K-dramas on a whim, after visiting South Korea, but she says she kept going because she was “pretty much attracted to all those beautiful Korean men”. "[They] are impossible love stories between a super-rich guy and a girl who is usually poor, and, you know, the guy is there to save her and it really sells you a dream." But it is Korean women who are writing most of these shows – so it is their imagination, or fantasy, that is capturing the interest (and hearts) of other women across the world. In Seoul, Marie said she was “treated like a lady”, which hadn’t happened “in a very long time”, but her “dating experience is not exactly as I expected it to be”. “I do not want to be a housewife. I want to keep working. I want to be free. I want to go clubbing with my girlfriends if I want to, even though I'm married or in a relationship, and a lot of guys here do not want that.” International fans are often looking for an alternative world because of disappointment with their own society, Prof Chung says. The prim romances, with handsome, caring and chivalrous heroes, are drawing a female audience turning away from what they see as hypersexual American entertainment. And when social inequality became a stronger theme in Korean films and shows - such as Parasite and Squid Game – it attracted global viewers disillusioned with capitalism and a yawning wealth divide in their countries. The pursuit of a global audience has brought challenges as well. The increasing use of English lyrics in K-pop has led to some criticism. And there is now a bigger spotlight on the industry's less glamorous side. The immense pressure stars face to be perfect, for instance, and the demands of a hyper-competitive industry. Creators behind blockbuster shows have alleged exploitation and complained about not being fairly compensated. Still, it’s great to see the world pay attention to Korea, Prof Chung says. She grew up in a repressive South Korea, when critics of the government were regularly threatened or even killed. She escaped into American movies. When Parasite played in the cinema of the small American town where she lives, she saw on the faces of other moviegoers the same awe she felt as a child watching Hollywood films: “It feels so great that our love is returned.”

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