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Algorithm Used in Jordanian World Bank Aid Program Stiffs the Poorest

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:06:00 GMT

A program spearheaded by the World Bank that uses algorithmic decision-making to means-test poverty relief money is failing the very people it’s intended to protect, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch. The anti-poverty program in question, known as the Unified Cash Transfer Program, was put in place by the Jordanian government.Having software systems make important choices is often billed as a means of making those choices more rational, fair, and effective. In the case of the poverty relief program, however, the Human Rights Watch investigation found the algorithm relies on stereotypes and faulty assumptions about poverty.“Its formula also flattens the economic complexity of people’s lives into a crude ranking.”“The problem is not merely that the algorithm relies on inaccurate and unreliable data about people’s finances,” the report found. “Its formula also flattens the economic complexity of people’s lives into a crude ranking that pits one household against another, ...

Mayor of Mexican border city of Tijuana to live at army base after receiving threats

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:06:00 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The mayor of the Mexican border city of Tijuana said she has decided to go live at an army base for her own safety, after she received threats.Mayor Montserrat Caballero announced the decision after confirming that police had found seven dead bodies stuffed in a pickup truck on Monday. “I have received threats, so I am going to live at the base,” Caballero said. Local media reported the army base is on the southern edge of Tijuana, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the city hall.Caballero did not say who the threats had come from. But it is well known that several drug cartels are waging turf battles in Tijuana, across the border from San Diego, California.Killings in Tijuana have risen by about 9% in the last 12 months, according to the federal public safety department. Tijuana has more homicides that any other city in Mexico, with 1,818 killings in the 12-month period ending in May.Caballero has acknowledged the cartels’ strong presence in the past. In 2022, aft...

FIFA makes 1st payment from finance house aiming to help small clubs, clean up transfer market

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:06:00 GMT

ZURICH (AP) — The first money processed by a new FIFA finance department was the 159,900 euros ($172,400) paid to a French amateur club on Monday from the transfer of former youth player Benoît Badiashile to Chelsea.The Paris-based FIFA Clearing House was created by soccer’s governing body to bring more transparency to deals and ensure about $300 million extra each year is paid to lower-ranked clubs.Clubs worldwide have been missing out on their cut from sales of players they once trained who move in the often-murky multi-billion dollar transfer market.Badiashile played for eight years at SC Malesherbois before signing for Monaco at the age of 15, according to his profile on the national team website. Monaco sold Badiashile, now 22, to Chelsea in January for a reported fee of about $40 million.FIFA transfer rules entitle clubs which train players to get a share of future transfer fees. However, the process has been complex and many clubs were unaware of their entitlement.On Monday, ...

Fox News sends Tucker Carlson ‘cease-and-desist’ letter over Twitter series: Reports

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:06:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fox News sent Tucker Carlson a “cease-and-desist” letter over his new Twitter series, Axios reported Monday, amid reports of a contract battle between the conservative network and its former prime-time host.Carlson was ousted from Fox in late April, less than a week after Fox agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems nearly $800 million to settle an explosive defamation case. The network provided no explanation for the firing, but a wave of reports on damming text messages and other statements Carlson made during his time at Fox have since piled up.Since leaving Fox, Carlson kicked off a “Tucker on Twitter” series — arguing that Twitter was “the only” major remaining platform that allows free speech as he denounced news media. The series, which has published two episodes so far, has appeared to escalate contract tensions between Carlson and Fox.Fox has demanded Carlson to stop posting videos to Twitter, The New York Times also reported Monday — as the network’s l...

Police say at least 100 killed when boat capsizes in northern Nigeria

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:06:00 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A boat capsized in northern Nigeria killing at least 100 people, police said Tuesday, as a search for survivors intensified.The boat capsized early Monday morning on the River Niger close to neighboring Niger state, Kwara state police spokesman Okasanmi Ajayi said. oSource

Surveillance has caught hackers and fentanyl smugglers, White House says in promoting spying law

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:06:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has used electronic surveillance programs to catch fentanyl smugglers and the hackers who temporarily shut down a major U.S. fuel pipeline, the White House said Tuesday as part of its push to have those programs renewed by Congress.Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act expires at the end of this year. President Joe Biden’s administration is trying to convince Congress to renew the law, which authorizes spy agencies to capture huge swaths of foreign emails and phone calls. But lawmakers in both parties have concerns about protecting Americans’ privacy from warrantless searches after a series of FBI errors and misuses of intelligence data.As part of its public campaign, the Biden administration released what it said were newly declassified examples of how U.S. intelligence uses Section 702. And the FBI announced new penalties for employees who misuse intelligence data in advance of a closely watched Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on th...

Stock market today: Wall Street rises as inflation keeps cooling

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:06:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose Tuesday after a cooler reading on inflation cemented Wall Street’s bets for the Federal Reserve to hold off on hiking interest rates this week.The S&P 500 was 0.7% higher in late morning trading, ticking further into heights it hasn’t touched since April 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 176 points, or 0.5%, at 34,248, as of 11:13 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.8% higher.The U.S. stock market has been on a roll amid hopes the economy can avoid a severe recession and inflation will fall enough for the Federal Reserve to take it easier on its rate increases. Tuesday’s report showed that food, fuel and other prices for consumers were 4% higher in May than a year earlier, the latest slowdown from its peak above 9% last summer.The data pushed traders to immediately amp up bets for the Fed on Wednesday to announce no change to interest rates. If it does, that would mark the first meeting in more than a year where it doesn’t ...

Police say boat capsizes in northern Nigeria killing at least 100 people

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:06:00 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Police say boat capsizes in northern Nigeria killing at least 100 people.Source

US volleyball star Jordan Larson returning to Nebraska as assistant coach

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:06:00 GMT

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Three-time Olympian Jordan Larson will return to Nebraska to be a full-time assistant, coach John Cook announced Tuesday.Larson starred with the Cornhuskers from 2005-08 before excelling on the international level. She was team captain and named most valuable player for the U.S. team that won its first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2021.The 36-year-old Larson plans to play in September qualifiers for the 2024 Olympics and then will join the Huskers’ staff.She grew up an hour north of Lincoln, in Hooper, and led Nebraska teams that were the NCAA runner-up in 2005 and national champion in 2006. She was on the Olympic teams that took the silver medal in 2012 and the bronze in 2016, and she helped lead the United States to the 2014 world championship.“I am very excited to be returning to Nebraska,” Larson said. “I can’t wait to learn and help the next generation of volleyball players. It has felt so good to be home even for a short time, and I can’t wait to j...

10 people shot in LoDo after Denver Nuggets win NBA Finals

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:06:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver Police are investigating multiple shootings that sent 11 people to the hospital after thousands flocked downtown in celebration of the Denver Nuggets' historic NBA Finals win.10 shot in 2000 block of Market StreetJust before 1 a.m. Tuesday, DPD tweeted that they were investigating a shooting in the 2000 block of Market Street. DPD said nine gunshot victims were located. Police said they identified a suspect who also sustained a gunshot wound. Three victims remain in critical condition at a local hospital, and the other victims appear to have non-life-threatening injuries, according to DPD. Photos: Denver Nuggets celebrate championship win At around 1:11 a.m., DPD said they were investigating a shooting in the area of 17th Street and Blake Street where one person was shot. However, officers provided an update that the victim was actually shot in the 2000 block of Market Street and self-transported to the hospital.DPD said shots were fired in the area of 17th...