Category: IT

  • Columbia, Trump Administration in Funding Battle: The New York Times, March 17, 2025.

    Columbia is in a dispute with the Trump administration over funding, The New York Times reports. The funding dispute is hindering the American media company’s plan to construct a new building that would house the school’s journalism and business programs. This would be the first physical change to the campus since the current president, Lee Bollinger, took office in 2003. In response to the funding dispute, Columbia, along with three organizations advocating for science and health research, has announced a lawsuit to challenge the administration’s “three five” rule. This rule seeks to limit funding for universities, with Columbia in particular affected by restrictions on its stem cell and fertility research programs. However, the fight is not just against the Trump administration, as right-wing Republicans in Congress seek to cut education budgets for community college and feel good programs for the poor. The lawsuit is aimed at blocking both these restrictions and the “three five” rule.

    The original article

  • Make Harvard’s Free-Tuition Benefit Permanent, Un‐Carceral Activists Say

    123456abcd
    Harvard Vows Free Tuition for All Students, a First Among Ivy League Schools

    Harvard pledged to fully pay for tuition for all undergraduates, an unprecedented move among Ivy League schools and a fund-raising goal the university hopes will extend its dominance in recruiting the nation’s best and brightest students.
    The $100 million commitment would apply to low and middle-income students, and would take effect in the 2019-2020 academic year. Harvard disclosed the plan in a letter sent to students on Thursday.
    The plan would cover tuition, currently $47,734, and will make the school’s latest price increase redundant. It would be financed by donations, drawing in more ways to attract money for the world’s richest educational institution.
    Howard University offers full-tuition help to its entire undergraduate student body, but it relies mostly on federal dollars, and does not offer the same full loan forgiveness or other scholarships that Harvard will provide.
    The new methodology will extend the same financial assistance to the children of alumni, a critical factor in maintaining giving levels by parents of current students or prospects. But it would also extend those financial cushions more broadly for parents who earn three times the federal poverty line, or roughly $75,000 per year for a family of four — a higher bar than where the school now sets its limits.
    Harvard officials estimated that in the current year alone, the move could lead to an increase in the student body of five to 10 families nationwide, or 15 to 30 students.
    The Ivy League schools, which are located in affluent areas with relatively low costs of living, already have among the nation’s lowest prices for a private education.
    The school has already lowered its financial aid barrier for undergraduates, which currently crosses a threshold after parents’ income has crested $180,000, and assigns no loans in its student aid packages.
    For some scholars who study wealth inequality, Harvard’s big move Thursday only shined a brighter light on an already contentious issue: the limited value of a college degree in narrowing economic opportunity.
    John B. King Jr., who oversaw the Obama administration’s efforts to make college more affordable, echoed others, noting that the prices of college-related expenses, including housing, medical costs and textbooks, have risen faster than tuition in recent years.
    Harvard’s new financial aid plan also represented a rare ideological shift among Ivy League schools, whose own tuition has risen far faster than inflation or wages over the last decade.
    Cornell, Yale and Columbia failed to generate much enthusiasm yesterday for Harvard’s example, making clear that they intend to pause before taking similar steps themselves.
    Rothman said she might consider following Harvard’s lead someday — “especially because we have so many folks from our region who can’t afford to pay,” she said in an interview yesterday afternoon from Albany, N.Y. “But as long as there are large gaps in income, overseas students are continuing to be more economically competitive, and there are part-time job opportunities, I don’t see how you can make it tuition-free and not loans.”
    Albright hailed Harvard for its “commitment to bringing our very best students here” and said he once considered going to graduate school to teach at the Ivy League campus, he “was unfortunately turned away due to my inability to afford tuition.” But even with its full financial aid package, he added, “I knew Harvard was unaffordable for me.”
    The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts expressed admiration for Harvard’s plan, saying it has greatly influenced the Ivy League fiscal terrain.
    Harvard’s plan also comes during a difficult moment in higher education, as the Trump administration makes its priorities clear — including a steep spending freeze that affects education construction projects and academic research.
    The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities is concerned that about 10,000 school districts now have cumulative deficits greater than $50 billion.
    Can you summarize Harvard’s plan to fully cover tuition for all undergraduates in one sentence?

    The original article

  • Holding Trump Responsible for Invitation of Ukrainian Crisis: NYT Calls for Accountability in 2025

    trump-ukraine-invasion-accountability: Personal accountability should be prioritized in relation to President Trump’s involvement in Ukraine’s invasion. [NYT]

    As reports continue to surface concerning President Trump’s conduct in relation to Ukraine’s invasion, it is critical that both he and other officials who have been implicated be held accountable for their actions. Recent revelations from whistleblowers and reports from various media outlets have shed light on a pattern of attempts to pressure Ukraine into opening investigations into an opposition political figure in the 2020 election, while withholding critical military aid. This kind of behavior, if proven, would be a clear violation of the president’s oath of office and would undermine the”national security” that he has sworn to uphold. Addressing this issue will require a thorough and impartial investigation, potentially involving Congress and the Department of Justice. While it is ultimately up to the courts to determine guilt or innocence, it is the responsibility of all Americans to demand that those in positions of power are held accountable for their actions during times of crisis. By prioritizing personal accountability and ensuring that all individuals are treated equally under the law, we can restore trust in our government and work towards a more just and equitable society. Official link to the article: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/us/politics/trump-ukraine-invasion-accountability.html
    Disclaimer: This summary was generated using an automated system and may not wholly reflect the opinions and values of the NYT or its staff.

    The original article

  • Hacking at the Heart of Ukraine’s Corruption: Russian Government Tied to Large-Scale Cyber Campaign Targeting Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Efforts

    “politics, international relations, ukraine, russia, donald trump, democrats, controversy, investigation, whistleblower, impeachment, white house, communication, role of president, phone call, security aid, transcript, nsa, interpretation, public disclosure”

    President Donald Trump has been criticized by Democrats and his former Defense Secretary, James Mattis, for his July 25th phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, where he allegedly urged Putin to investigate the son of former Vice President and current Democratic frontrunner, Joe Biden. This call, alongside his request for security aid, has sparked renewed interest and controversy surrounding Ukraine, as a whistleblower report reveals that the President may have used his position to make potentially improper requests of a foreign leader. Despite the White House’s initial refusal to provide transcripts of the conversation, which has led to accusations of obstruction and subsequent House impeachment inquiry, a rough transcript was eventually released by the NSA. However, the public is still questioning its accuracy, particularly regarding communication between the men. The role of the President in this situation has become increasingly scrutinized, with some arguing that he has the power to communicate with foreign leaders as he sees fit and others arguing that it is a potential violation of national security protocols. Regardless, the controversy surrounding the nature of the President’s conversation with Putin highlights ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the ongoing investigation into the President’s actions following an election cycle in which accusations of foreign election interference were a key issue.

    The original article

  • The Dilemma of Family Detention in a Trump Era: White House Pushes for Indefinite Child Lock-Ups

    ISD Scales back Family Detention Center Expansion, Ending Expansion Plans for Family Residential Center at Karnes County.
    The management team of South Texas Family Residential Center (Karnes County) and Dilley Family Residential Center, both owned and operated by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and managed under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), announced on Wednesday to significantly scale back both facilities. This news comes in the wake of significant and growing scrutiny targeted these facilities as they are at the center of a prolonged legal challenge by every major children’s and immigrant rights organization in America over family detention.
    Previously, the U.S. government entered into a contract with CCA to construct and operate a new 900-bed capacity family detention facility at Karnes County. This new facility was set to open in June 2015, would be capable of detaining well over 1,000 adults and children. And with an option for an additional 400 beds, the requested construction capacity totals well over 1,400 beds.
    In light of continued legal challenges, fierce political opposition, and increasing public pressure to end the family detention program, ICE announced on Tuesday that it was reducing the capacity of the Karnes Expansion from 900 to 246 beds and that detained mothers with children would not be transferred to this new facility. ICE also announced the construction of family housing units, capable of holding up to 60 families, and youth and recreational facilities would be operational by March 20. Currently family members are housed in a separate area of the Karnes County facility.
    Meanwhile at Dilley Family Residential Center in south Texas, these facilities currently house almost 2,300 mothers and children. In October 2014 the company signed an agreement with ICE to build a second 2,400-bed capacity family detention facility in Dilley. After the company completed the first phase, construction on Phase 2 came to a halt. Today, in a surprise move and after reviewing the architecture and construction plans for Phase 2, ICE made the decision to terminate the remainder of the construction project.
    “The fight against this program is far from over,” said Roma Tuma Arenas, Senior Policy Counsel at the National Immigration Law Center. “We will continue to push for the complete closure of these inhumane facilities and continue to defend mothers and children from this cruel and abusive practice. Detention is not the answer and we know that communities are safer when immigrant families are welcome in them.
    The nation’s major pediatricians group issued a formal policy statement last November in opposition to family detention, saying that locking children and their mothers up for long periods constituted “a serious risk to the health and well-being of children,” and calling on federal officials to replace detention with noncustodial alternatives.
    South Texas Family Residential Center and Karnes County Residential Center, owned and operated by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), managed under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
    Dilley Family Residential Center is also owned and operated by CCA, managed under a contract with ICE.

    The original article

  • Unpacking the Headlines: Deportations, Crypto’s Doge Phenomenon, and Penguin Population Dip

    The Headlines: March 17, 2025 Edition
    The Headlines is a daily news podcast that brings listeners fresh analysis and expert opinion to navigate the most important events in the news each weekday morning. Host Tariq Panja delivers a concise, clear, and trustworthy report on the headlines while also exploring the underlying issues at stake.
    This edition covers issues including: the recent passage of legislation that will dramatically reduce deportations, the rise and fall of dogecoin, and the need to classify penguins as marine mammals to protect them.
    Deportations: In a surprising turn, Congress passed a law that will significantly reduce the number of undocumented immigrants being deported over the coming years. The new legislation aims to prioritize removal of individuals with criminal convictions over those with less serious offenses, and will create a pathway to permanent residency for those who have been living in the U.S. for extended periods.
    DogeCoin: The prices of Dogecoin, which once seemed destined for the digital dustbin, have skyrocketed in recent weeks. The cryptocurrency, which was launched as a joke, has been embraced by Reddit’s r/WallStreetBets community, sending its value surging. However, analysts warn that Dogecoin’s rise may not be sustainable in the long term.
    Penguins: By changing penguin classification, scientists hope to increase protections for these threatened species. With the new classification, it is hoped that laws that currently protect marine mammals will also apply to penguins, which will make it easier to enforce conservation policies. However, there is still debate about whether penguins should be classified as fully marine creatures or instead as waterbirds.

    The original article

  • Increased Investment in Clean Energy with Biden’s Tax Credits: Countering Trump’s Detrimental Policies

    climate, clean energy, tax credits, biden, trump, policy, united states, green jobs, renewable energy, environmental protection, sustainability, economic development

    In the midst of a climate crisis and pressing concerns about the environment, the United States government under President Joe Biden aims to ramp up its efforts to encourage clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of tax credits for clean energy and green jobs.

    In a significant move, the Biden Administration recently proposed over $100 billion in new tax credits for renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. These incentives are expected to provide meaningful support to the clean energy sector, which has struggled in recent years due to a lack of sustained financial backing and policy support under the previous administration.

    President Biden has named addressing climate change as a key priority and has been vocal in his support for renewable energy and green jobs. The proposed tax credits align with the administration’s broader goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and to fight to ensure that the United States continues to be a leader in the environmentally responsible solutions that will drive economic growth and development for future generations.

    The proposed tax credits come at a crucial time for the environment and the global economy, particularly as the short- and long-term effects of climate change continue to be felt worldwide. They are not only a necessary step in driving progress towards sustainability but also in promoting economic development and job growth that have been disproportionately impacted by the global pandemic.

    At the heart of this issue, however, is former President Trump’s ongoing legacy and the unchecked damage that was done to the environment during his time in office. Despite widespread scientific evidence on climate change, Trump weakened environmental protection efforts and deregulated the use of fossil fuels, contributing significantly to the U.S.’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and jeopardizing international relations.

    While the new administration has signaled a strong reversal and counterbalance to the environmental policies of the past, the road to progress is not without its challenges. For the proposed tax credits to take effect, Congress will have to approve them during upcoming budget negotiations, which have a long and volatile history, exacerbated by partisan divides and obstacles that exist in both chambers.

    Additionally, to ensure the long-term efficacy of these tax credits, there are several critical areas that need further consideration, including the promotion of research and development in clean energy, more robust and specific targets for emissions reductions, and the development of widespread and coordinated public infrastructure aimed at increasing the accessibility and affordability of clean energy.

    In conclusion, the proposed tax credits for clean energy and green jobs represent a positive step forward in the right direction. These policies provide an opportunity for the United States to bolster the clean energy sector and redirect its focus towards solutions that address climate change and promote sustainable economic growth on a global scale. The success and impact of these initiatives will depend on their passage through Congress and the effective implementation and enforcement of the policies over time.

    The original article

  • Implications of Trump’s Call for Nuclear “Engineers and Scientists” Federal Job Cuts”

    The unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information by federal employees and contractors surged last year, according to US government data. Over 31 million records were exposed in 2021, a nearly 300% increase versus the previous year. The growing magnitude of breaches involving sensitive data has troubling implications for national security and public trust. Cybersecurity experts recommend training programs, background checks, and accountability measures.
    Keywords: cybersecurity, breaches, data leaks, sensitive information, national security, public trust, federal employees, contractors, training, background checks, accountability measures

    The original article

  • A New Challenge for the FBI and Candidate Patel: A potential link to Trump’s former adviser, raising fresh questions about political pressure.

    [politics, FBI, Donald Trump, Sandra Gonzalez, Dan Bongino, GOP, Republicans, Sean Hannity, Fox News]
    In a stunning turn of events, GOP nominee for the newly vacated New York Congress seat and ex-police officer, Dan Bongino, has expressed his distrust towards the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
    Bongino, a former Secret Service agent under the Obama administration, made the allegation whilst appearing as a guest on Sean Hannity’s show on Fox News. He was prompted to make such a shocking claim in response to reported incidents of suspicious package deliveries, addressed to some of the most high-profile Democratic lawmakers in the country over the past three weeks.
    As of now, one explosive device has been located and safely defused; however, the suspect responsible for sending them remains unknown. Reports suggest that intelligence authorities led by the FBI are actively investigating the situation, and embarking on the expansive task of tracking down the individual, or individuals, responsible.
    Despite this, Bongino, a vocal critic of President Obama’s law enforcement ideologies, drew shock and gasps from Hannity and his fellow audience members by stating that “time and time again, the bureau undermined good Republicans,” triggering a flurry of debate and ground-swelling criticism.
    Amidst this controversy, Bongino’s nomination for the New York seat has itself come under scrutiny, with increasing numbers of Republicans expressing their concerns and voicing their opposition. The situation was aggravated by the Republican National Convention’s chair, Sandra Gonzalez, who expressed her disapproval towards Bongino due to his ideological disagreements with President Trump.
    The FBI, however, denies these allegations and has gone on record to assert that their agents regularly “keep their political leanings to the minimum,” permitting them to remain impartial and adhere to the highest standards of professionalism while handling sensitive cases.
    Additionally, the FBI has released a statement disputing Bongino’s claims of partisan behaviour, insisting instead that their highest priority is to uphold the law and safeguard the nation from any potential threats.

    The original article

  • Pedaling in Style: The Renowned Shintaro Yamamoto’s Kid-Loved Shoe Line Gaite

    ldap://ldap1.mydomain.com:389
    $#$result =
    dn: CN=admin,DC=example,DC=test,DC=com
    DN: CN=admin,DC=mydomain,DC=com
    uid: xxxx
    cn: xxxx
    mail: xxxx
    sn: xxxx
    username: username
    uidnumber: 12345
    gidnumber: 12345
    homedirectory: /home/username
    loginshell: /bin/bash
    objectclass: top
    objectclass: person
    objectclass: organizationalPerson
    objectclass: inetorgperson
    objectclass: posixaccount
    objectclass: shadowAccount
    userpassword: cAJpodk1ozQpF93MfUhd:17386:0:enter password:
    $#$end of result$#$
    The third shoe brand in Japan is starting to leave a big footprint overseas.
    The third shoe brand in Japan is starting to leave a big footprint overseas. Shintaro Yamamoto is cleaning up in stores around Manhattan.
    Men’s buys are up sharply this year at Opening Ceremony, the trendsetter boutique, and at Basketball,atures-xt’s downtown staple since 1983. Adis, a retro-sporting shop on Lafayette, has also begun carrying Mr. Yamamoto’s classically crafted shoes, which are imbued with a precise, mathematic order (square, angular toes; parallel linesхоsequently in short supply in Japan).
    Next Month, Mr. Yamamoto’s line will join a handful of Japanese labels from Issey Miyake to Comme des Garçons, at Dover Street Market, which is expanding its man section in New York.
    Shintaro Yamamoto is a master of the foot, but he doesn’t wear size 42. He’s a diminutive 4-foot-8 who pens ladies’ shoes, too, using miniature lasts to sculpt everything from suits and bags to portable silk-screening equipment for kids who love Gaite, a girl’s manga TV series.
    When Yamamoto wasn’t scribbling cartoons in school, he was intent on shoes. “From the time I was nine, all I thought about was an ‘implement’ that could change your body image, physical abilities and so forth by putting on a certain kind of apparel. Clothing did not interest me at all,” said Mr. Yamamoto, who opened his eponymous brand of women’s shoes in 2002 and men’s in spring 2006.
    Now, men from the ages of 17 to 80 anxiously await his biannual drops. “His shoes are as popular with the guys as the girl shoes — like with old men, who aren’t into strange shapes and big color palettes, but his designs just seduce them. They don’t know why, but shoes from Mr. Y — basically that’s what he goes by — seem to fit. I could almost say each shoe is made for an individual person,” says Basketball’s Chicago-born owner, Wanda Walton, 47.
    A FAN OF FEW LAYERS, Mr. Yamamoto prefers, above all, functionality. “I spent 10 years analyzing the world of sports shoes — Nike, Adidas, Puma, I loved them — and found that they really didn’t have a culture. When keeping a sporty item for fashion, the highest you can aspire to design-wise is the Air Jordan, right?” he said, relating one of his earliest inspirations, the basketball legend Michael Jordan’s long-decided collaboration with Nike. “Jorsan is a fine example of a product sold on the basis of function. This is what makes sneakers so popular,” Mr. Yamamoto said.
    Some eight years and more than 100 styles later, Mr. Yamamoto has racked up two boutiques in his hometown of Yokohama and organically grown a sales network that includes at least 90 shops in Japan. Mr. Yamamoto has mainly invested his profits back in tuning his lines, or in the faces of Coca-Cola and Panasonic or on TV quiz shows, like one in 2009 where he made it to the final round.
    While few local designers are content merely to stay small, Mr. Yamamoto insists that his footwear rubs shoulders with only the most select company. “I’m the third Japanese shoe maker to focus on the West as our main market. It took me a long time to realize this,” he said. “The first was Issey Miyake with #### with Autism. ; Foot binding practice during the Ming and Qing dynasties. ; in high regard would be closer to the German idea of making something by limiting oneself,” he said.
    “My days mood reborn white garment for home dresses long sleeve .. Click charm bracelets for Kids from daintygrace.com!”
    “My days mood reborn white garment for home dresses long sleeve Click dainty bracelets for Girls and Boys from daintygrace.com!”

    The original article