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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — In an era of rising authoritarianism, at the heels of a six-hour martial law decree that unfolded while many South Koreans slept, something noteworthy happened: Democracy held. The past week in Seoul, officials and academics warn, is what a threat to democracy looks like in 2024. It's a democratically-elected president declaring martial law over the nation he leads, asserting sweeping powers to prevent opposition demonstrations, ban political parties and control the media. It's members of the military attempting to block lawmakers from exercising their power to vote on cancelling the power grab. And here's what it took to defeat President Yoon Suk Yeol 's lurch toward government by force: Unified popular support for democracy. Legislators storming the National Assembly past midnight, live-streaming themselves climbing over fences. A politician grabbing at a soldier's rifle and yelling “Aren't you ashamed?” until he retreated. And finally, decisively, Parliament assembling a quorum and voting unanimously to cancel martial law. It was a victory for a hard-won democracy — and for the idea that checks and balances among branches of government must work to counteract each other's ambitions, as the American founders wrote in the Federalist Papers in 1788. But as the drama played out in Seoul, the scaffolding of democracy rattled around the world. It said something about the rule of law In other countries, the grab for power might have worked. Other would-be authoritarians might have been better prepared than Yoon. In deeply polarized societies — the United States, for example, where Republicans are staunchly loyal to president-elect Donald Trump — there might not have been decisive support from the public or the opposition. The military might have used force. And the members of the legislature might not have voted as one to snuff out the attempted takeover. “President Yoon's attempt to declare martial law reveals the fragility of the rule of law in divided societies, especially those with governments in which the chief executive cannot be easily dismissed by the legislature," said Tom Pepinsky, a government professor at Cornell University who studies backsliding among democracies in Southeast Asia. Notably, he said in an email, “No members of President Yoon’s own party were willing to defend his actions in public." Nevertheless, Yoon’s surprise attempt to impose martial law revealed both the fragility and resilience of the country’s democratic system. Within three hours of his stunning announcement to impose military rule — claiming the opposition was “paralyzing” state affairs — 190 lawmakers voted to cancel his actions. In so doing, they demonstrated the strength of the country’s democratic checks and balances. Yoon’s authoritarian push, carried out by hundreds of heavily armed troops with Blackhawk helicopters and armored vehicles sent to the National Assembly, harked back to an era of dictatorial presidents. The country’s democratic transition in the late 1980s came after years of massive protests by millions that eventually overcame violent suppressions by military rulers. Civilian presence was again crucial in shaping the events following Yoon’s late night television announcement on Tuesday. Thousands of people flocked to the National Assembly, shouting slogans for martial law to be lifted and Yoon to step down from power. There were no reports of violent clashes as troops and police officers. “We restored democracy without having a single casualty this time,” said Seol Dong-hoon, a sociology professor at South Korea’s Jeonbuk National University. It's not that easy to become a dictator It’s virtually impossible for any leader of a democracy to pull off a transition toward martial law without a public willing to support it, or at least tolerate it. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, attracted millions of views as he began live-streaming his journey to the National Assembly, pleading for people to converge to the parliament to help lawmakers get inside. The shaky footage later shows him exiting his car climbing over a fence to get onto the grounds. The vote at the National Assembly was also broadcast live on the YouTube channel of Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik, who also had to scale a fence to get in. Yoon’s sense of crisis clearly wasn’t shared by the public, whose opinions, Seol said, were shaped predominantly by the shocking videos broadcast to their devices. “Ultimately, democracy is all about moving public opinion,” he said. “What was most crucial in this case was that everything was broadcast live on smartphones, YouTube and countless other media.” Opposition lawmakers are now pushing to remove Yoon from office, saying he failed to meet the constitutional requirement that martial law should only be considered in wartime or a comparable severe crisis — and that he unlawfully deployed troops to the National Assembly. On Saturday, an opposition-led impeachment motion failed after most lawmakers from Yoon’s party boycotted the vote. Yet the president’s troubles persist: The vote’s defeat is expected to intensify nationwide protests and deepen South Korea’s political turmoil, with opposition parties preparing to introduce another impeachment motion when parliament reconvenes next Wednesday. Han Sang-hie, a law professor at Seoul’s Konkuk University, said the martial law debacle highlights what he sees as the most crucial flaw of South Korea’s democracy: that it places too much power in the hands of the president, which is easily abused and often goes unchecked. It's called a ‘self-coup’ Political scientists call what happened in South Korea an “autogolpe” — a “self-coup” — defined as one led by incumbent leaders themselves, in which an executive takes or sponsors illegal actions against others in the government. Yoon qualifies because he used troops to try to shut down South Korea's legislature. Self-coups are increasing, with a third of the 46 since 1945 occurring in the past decade, according to a study by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Penn State University. About 80% of self-coups succeed, they reported. In 2021, a power grab by Tunisian President Kais Saied raised similar concerns around the world after the country designed a democracy from scratch and won a Nobel Peace Prize after a largely bloodless revolution. In the United States, some have expresed worry about similar situations arising during the second administration of Donald Trump. He has vowed, after all, to shake some of democracy's pillars . He's mused that he would be justified if he decided to pursue “the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.” That’s in contrast to the oath of office he took in 2017, and will again next year, to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution” as best he can. Nearly half of voters in the Nov. 5 election, which Trump won, said they were “very concerned” that another Trump presidency would bring the U.S. closer to authoritarianism, according to AP Votecast survey data. Asked before a live audience on Fox News Channel in 2023 to assure Americans that he would not abuse power or use the presidency to seek retribution against anyone, Trump replied, “except for day one," when he'll close the border and “drill, drill, drill.” After that, Trump said, "I'm not a dictator.” ___ Kellman reported from London.A woman visits an exhibition titled “The Countless Aspects of Beauty in Ancient Art” at the National Museum of China in Beijing. — Xinhua photo BEIJING (Dec 17): “From differences results the most beautiful harmony.” Niu Dong, 13, mused before the words of Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher who lived around 500 BC. The junior high school student from Beijing was visiting an exhibition on Hellenic art and life at the National Museum of China. Though an avid enthusiast of Chinese history, Niu was amazed by the timeless appeal of Greek aesthetics. The quote, displayed prominently on a wall, seemed to set the tone for a journey into an intriguing world of pottery, gold and silverware, murals and sculptures. In China, there is rising interest in cultural things, with museums becoming increasingly popular. “The demand for a deeper knowledge of culture, history and art at museums has soared in recent years,” said Wang Xi, who works for the National Museum of China. During the summer of 2024, an average of 1.6 million people applied for the 26,000 tickets in the daily quota of the museum. People visit an exhibition titled “The Countless Aspects of Beauty in Ancient Art” at the National Museum of China in Beijing. — Xinhua photo Cultural confidence Guan Jian, a sociology professor at Nankai University, called this phenomenon “cultural awakening.” He attributed it to the country’s economic success in recent decades, which offers more resources and opportunities for cultural pursuits. At the National Museum of China, Niu also visited an exhibition on ancient China. He was captivated by the bronze masks that dated back to around 3,000 years ago. He was amazed at the skillful use of phosphorus and welding in bronze ware, which he said shows the technological sophistication of ancient Chinese people. Li Chaoyang, a 30-year-old resident in Beijing, saw the Hellenic exhibition as an opportunity to broaden his horizons. “Exploring how other societies evolve, their perspectives on beauty, and their pursuit of it helps us see the world in a fresh way,” he said. The exhibition, themed “beauty,” showcases 279 relics that illustrate ancient Greece’s aesthetic evolution from the late Neolithic period to the first century BC. Spectators can breathe in Hellenic scents from rose and myrrh, while enjoying an art film in a small Hellenic-style theater at the exhibition’s finale. In the first three weeks since its opening on Nov. 6, the exhibition had received more than 45,000 visitors, with 62 percent of them under the age of 35. It runs until June 5, 2025. People visit an exhibition titled “The Countless Aspects of Beauty in Ancient Art” at the National Museum of China in Beijing. — Xinhua photo Exchanges and resonance As he strolled among the exhibits, 25-year-old Zhang Guyu noticed the many parallels between Chinese and Western mythology, reminiscent of what Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung called the “collective unconscious.” Pointing to figures of Zhurong in Chinese mythology and Prometheus in Greek mythology, who are both revered as bringers of fire to humanity, Zhang said such cultural resonances reflect a universal quest to understand the world and humanity’s place within it. “Themes of love, beauty and sacrifice for the greater good run through all these myths,” said Zhang, an English interpreter. In 2023 alone, China added 268 new museums. Numerous high-profile exhibitions were held this year, including a showcase of the ancient Inca civilization in Shenzhen and an exhibition on ancient Egypt in Shanghai. Nationwide, 6,833 museums in the country logged 1.29 billion visits in 2023. A woman visits an exhibition titled “The Countless Aspects of Beauty in Ancient Art” at the National Museum of China in Beijing. — Xinhua photo Many of the young visitors at the Hellenic exhibition were there in part to complement their studies. For example, Niu’s visit was inspired by the upcoming history curriculum of next semester. Similarly, Wang Yudan, a senior high school student from Chengdu in Sichuan, traveled here over the weekend to experience the artifacts firsthand. “Seeing the objects in person is more inspiring than reading about them in textbooks,” she said. “It makes history more engaging and easier to absorb.” Gao Zheng, director of the National Museum of China, emphasized the relevance of ancient civilizations to modern challenges. The wisdom contained within these artifacts holds unique value for addressing the problems of the times, he said. As one visitor wrote in the Hellenic exhibition guest book: “One can see as far into the future as one can into the past.” — XinhuaBy TravelPulse (TNS) While 2024 was a year that brought about significant, continued post-pandemic recovery for the travel industry, it was also a period of time marked by instability in some locations around the world. From attacks on the rail lines during the Paris Olympics to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, not to mention the war in Ukraine, the global travel realm in 2024 was fraught with challenges. It is against this backdrop that the international security and medical services provider Global Guardian recently released its 2025 Global Risk Map. Published annually, the map is meant to help travelers better understand the current global risk landscape. In order to develop its guidance, experts at Global Guardian assess a long list of country-specific security risk factors and indicators, including crime, health, natural disasters, infrastructure, political stability, civil unrest and terrorism. For 2025, Global Guardian’s assessment results underscore the reality that disruption globally and domestically continues to increase, and now more than ever travelers need to be prepared when exploring the world. As part of the latest assessment, Global Guardian highlighted a handful of specific global regions that are at particular risk of destabilization over the next year and beyond. Here’s a closer look at those regions, along with insights from Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner, who recently spoke with TravelPulse at length about the risks travelers may face in 2025. Here are the regions at risk of destabilization in 2025: Middle East/North Africa Israel’s existential battle against Iran is set to continue into 2025, says the Global Guardian report. “In July 2024, Israel assassinated Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) safehouse in Tehran, and Iran has pledged revenge,” the report explains. “This comes as Iran and its web of regional proxies took their war on Israel out of the shadows and into the open following October 7, 2023, with seven live fronts.” Global Guardian also predicts that Israel’s regional war will shift from Gaza to the West Bank and Lebanon in the year ahead, heightening tensions with Hezbollah, while Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean will persist. The report adds that as “we enter 2025, Israel may assess that its strategic window to prevent a nuclear Iran is rapidly closing and choose to act.” The ongoing civil war in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is also of concern, according to Global Guardian’s risk analysis. The conflict “has created a dire humanitarian situation with ethnically motivated violence on the rise,” says the report. Latin America Some of the areas of concern in the Latin American region include Venezuela and Mexico, according to Global Guardian. The risk in Venezuela is tied to the country’s long-standing territorial dispute with neighboring Guyana, says the report. “Since 2019, the U.S. Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from U.S. Embassy Caracas and suspended all operations,” explains Buckner. “Violent crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, are common in Venezuela. Shortages of gasoline, electricity, water, medicine, and medical supplies continue throughout much of Venezuela. Simply put, Venezuela is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Western travelers and should be avoided.” In Mexico, meanwhile, the problems include drug cartel-related violence and theft, among other issues, says the report. Mexico recently inaugurated its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, and like her predecessors she will face challenges “reining in cartel violence, corruption, extortion, theft and kidnapping,” says the report. “As such, security continues to be a top concern in Mexico’ ” says the report, which categorizes Mexico as “high risk” when it comes to travel for 2025. Countries classified as high risk experience regular conflict, criminal activity or civil unrest — and have not effectively managed those risks. The Global Guardian report also suggests there may be heightened risks in Mexico now that Donald Trump has been reelected U.S. president. “Bilateral relations between the U.S. and Mexico could dramatically deteriorate. Trump has promised a mass deportation operation, which could sour relations between the U.S. and Mexico, increasing risks to businesses operating in Mexico,” the report adds. Asked to comment on Mexico’s high-risk designation, Buckner stressed that the situation in the country is extremely nuanced, adding that it’s a vast oversimplification to call the entire country high risk. “There are pockets of Mexico that are wildly safe and wonderful to visit and people shouldn’t hesitate to go,” Buckner told TravelPulse. “And there are also pockets that are unsafe and dangerous.” The good news, added Buckner, is that Mexico’s new president is focusing a great deal of effort and energy on addressing the problems surrounding drug cartels, which are the source of a great deal of the risk. Buckner was quick to add however, that as long as there’s demand for drugs, the drug cartel situation is likely to remain problematic. “The U.S. is driving the drug demand — we consume more drugs then the rest of the world,” explained Buckner. “It’s really overly simplified to paint Mexico as the bad guy, because if there wasn’t demand, we wouldn’t need the supply. But the demand is real and violence comes with that.” Representatives for Global Nexus, a government and public affairs consultancy that advises travel and tourism companies and interests in Southern Mexico, told TravelPulse that while drug-related violence has been known to occur, it involves members of the drug cartel targeting each other, they’re not targeting tourists. “There is an ongoing battle between small drug vendors who use the beach to sell product to tourists hanging out on the beach,” explained Ruben Olmos, Global Nexus president and CEO, in reference to the Quintana Roo region, which is popular with tourists. “There have been cases where gunfire has been exchanged between these groups. They are targeting themselves. They are fighting over ‘This is my beach’ and they initiate a shootout.” However, added Olmos, that the U.S. State Department’s risk categorization for Quintana Roo (which is separate from the Global Guardian risk assessment) has not changed. Located on the State Department’s Mexico page, the risk assessment for Quintana Roo remains in the “Exercise Increased Caution” category, which is below the top risk categories of “Do Not Travel” and “Reconsider Travel.” The Exercise Increased Caution designation means “Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security,” explains the State Department’s website. Olmos also pointed out that Mexico is the only country that has a map on the U.S. State Department website that covers every single state in the country, providing details for travelers about which states are safest. Sub-Saharan Africa In June 2024, thousands of young people took to the streets in Kenya to protest a controversial tax bill. The protesters were met with heavy-handed policing, including the use of live fire and mass arrests, says the Global Guardian risk report. Despite the local security response, protests continued. The success and tenacity of the Kenyan movement has triggered similar protests or dissent in other countries including Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, and Nigeria, says Global Guardian. That is just a portion of the risk Global Guardian sees for Sub-Saharan Africa over the course of 2025. “With multiple conflicts escalating across the continent, aging leaders leaving behind unclear successions, and entrenched regimes with dissipating legitimacy, Sub-Saharan Africa now looks much like the North African and Arab world in the early 2010s,” says the report. “While the dynamic unfolding in Africa might not yet merit the label of “African Spring,” a significant change to the continent’s political status quo is coming.” A complete list of extreme and high-risk designations Several countries received an extreme or high-risk designation on the new Global Guardian risk map for 2025, including more than a few that are popular with leisure travelers or tourists. Extreme risk countries are those that Global Guardian says are “actively engaged in conflict, while also experiencing severe criminal activity and civil unrest.These countries are insecure; state institutions are too weak to manage militant groups or large-scale disasters.” They include Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Lebanon, Mali, Niger, Somalia, Ukraine, West Bank, Gaza and Yemen. The current list of high-risk countries, which are countries that experience regular conflict, criminal activity or civil unrest and have not effectively managed those risks, includes Bangladesh, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Libya, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, South Sudan, Uganda, Venezuela Officials from the Jamaica Tourist Board provided a statement to TravelPulse in response to Global Guardian’s designation of the country. “Last month, Global Guardian, a private security provider, released its 2025 Global Risk Map, which included Jamaica, amongst other destinations,” said the Tourist Board. “It is important to note that the crime rate against visitors is notably low at 0.01% and the majority of Jamaica’s tourism product remains unaffected.” The country’s tourism officials added that Jamaica has welcomed 3 million visitors this year and boasts a high repeat visitor rate of 42%. “The island is consistently ranked among the top destinations for international travel and visitors continue to come with confidence to enjoy all that Jamaica has to offer,” the statement adds. When it comes to Jamaica, Buckner offered similar comments to those of Mexico, noting that the situation is impacted by drug-related violence and the experience on the ground is nuanced and cannot be painted with a broad brush. “In the same vein as Mexico — Jamaica can be a wonderful place to visit,” says Buckner. “There are pockets of beauty and low crime and as long as you are careful, it’s a very low threat.” Bottom line on travel risks for 2025 Buckner, a retired Army colonel, maintains that the world is indeed a more risky place heading into 2025. The challenges in the Middle East and Ukraine are at the forefront of the instability, but are hardly the only cause for concern. “Israel has now gone to Gaza and cleaned out Hamas, they’re now moving north into Lebanon, and we are convinced Israel will strike Iran,” Buckner said during an interview that took place prior to Israel’s strike on Iran. “If that occurs you are going to see violence across the Middle East.” “But there are over 100 conflicts across the globe,” continues Buckner. When you combine that reality with other challenges the world is currently grappling with, including the destabilizing influences of climate change, there are plenty of risks for travelers to bear in mind when planning a journey for the coming year. He wraps up by offering a few tips for travelers, a check-list of sorts, to work through when planning or considering travel to a specific country in 2025: — If you don’t know who to call or how you are going to negotiate if someone is kidnapped, you shouldn’t go there. — Consumers need to read the fine print on travel insurance because it does not cover war zones, terrorism or natural disasters, says Buckner. And travelers are often surprised and find out too late that these types of events are not covered. — If you get stuck or stranded, if you don’t know who you are going to call to get you out of that situation, know what organizations locally or internationally are available to help you. ©2024 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BSPE Legal Marketing Releases Article on Using Free AI Tools for Effective Website Content Creation 12-16-2024 10:44 PM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: ABNewswire BSPE Legal Marketing ( https://bsplegalmarketing.com/using-free-ai-tools-for-website-content-creation/ ) has highlighted the potential of free AI tools to help law firms develop optimized, engaging website content. As digital landscapes become increasingly competitive, creating high-quality content consistently is a priority for businesses, particularly within legal services. BSPE Legal Marketing discusses how AI tools, including content generators, grammar tools, and SEO optimizers, can streamline content creation processes, making it faster and more cost-effective. These AI resources enable law firms to produce engaging content tailored to their audience, a process that traditionally consumes extensive time and resources. Content generators such as ChatGPT and Copy.ai, as highlighted by BSPE Legal Marketing, provide initial drafts for various content formats, from blog posts to social media. This approach reduces the time needed for initial drafting, allowing law firms to focus more on content refinement and strategy development. Grammar and style tools such as Grammarly and Hemingway are also pivotal in BSPE Legal Marketing's approach. These tools contribute to creating clear, error-free content by identifying common grammar issues and enhancing readability. "Grammar and style enhancement tools help maintain the quality and readability of content, essential for a trustworthy brand presence," explains BSPE Legal Marketing in the article. For the legal industry, where accuracy and professionalism are vital, tools like these help ensure that the content reflects a firm's quality standards and brand image. In addition to content generation and readability improvements, SEO tools such as Ubersuggest and Google Keyword Planner play a critical role in content strategy. According to BSPE Legal Marketing, these tools allow law firms to focus on keywords that boost search rankings, enhancing online visibility. SEO optimization is essential for firms looking to attract clients actively searching for legal services online. Keyword-focused content not only improves search rankings but helps firms connect with potential clients seeking relevant services. Using free AI tools also offers cost advantages for small and mid-sized law firms that may not have the budget for full-time content creators or outsourced marketing agencies. Adopting these tools can allow law firms to maintain a steady flow of high-quality, SEO-optimized content while controlling expenses. AI-based assistance in legal marketing, particularly when combined with professional oversight, enables firms to maximize their marketing budgets effectively. BSPE Legal Marketing emphasizes that integrating AI with human oversight is crucial to maintain brand voice and legal precision. AI can facilitate efficient content drafting, but lawyers and marketing teams must review and refine AI-generated material to help ensure accuracy and alignment with the firm's values. This human involvement is especially important for maintaining an authentic brand voice that resonates with clients and avoids content that appears overly automated or impersonal. However, BSPE Legal Marketing also acknowledges some challenges that come with AI reliance. For instance, automated tools sometimes lack the contextual understanding necessary for legal topics, making human review essential for accuracy. The article advises law firms to avoid excessive reliance on AI alone, as this could lead to generic, uninspired content. "While AI tools can help create engaging content, human oversight is essential to help ensure the information is accurate and aligned with effective SEO practices," states BSPE Legal Marketing. Combining AI efficiency with a human touch allows the content to remain both precise and engaging, reinforcing the credibility clients seek in a legal professional. To harness AI effectively, BSPE Legal Marketing recommends a balanced approach. Clearly defining content objectives and regularly monitoring AI outputs can allow law firms to use these tools to complement rather than replace their existing processes. AI's capabilities are valuable for initial drafts, SEO enhancements, and performance tracking, but human input enables the final content to meet the high standards expected in legal practice. AI can reduce the time spent on routine tasks, allowing firms to focus on strategic initiatives that enhance their digital presence. BSPE Legal Marketing offers a comprehensive guide for law firms seeking to use free AI tools effectively while keeping quality and professional standards intact. AI-based content creation can indeed elevate a firm's marketing efforts, making it easier to attract clients and improve search rankings. For law firms ready to take advantage of these tools, BSPE Legal Marketing can provide essential insights and strategies to create an efficient content workflow that aligns with the firm's overall goals. About BSPE Legal Marketing: BSPE Legal Marketing is a leading marketing agency dedicated to supporting law firms in achieving their digital marketing goals. Through a combination of the latest AI technologies and industry-specific strategies, BSPE Legal Marketing can help law firms enhance their online presence, reach potential clients, and grow their business. Embeds: Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkFecM0lo38 GMB: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=11135734906977613205 Email and website Email: viktoria@bspelegalmarketing.com Website: https://bsplegalmarketing.com/ Media Contact Company Name: BSPE Legal Marketing Contact Person: Viktoria Altman Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=bspe-legal-marketing-releases-article-on-using-free-ai-tools-for-effective-website-content-creation ] Phone: (312) 820-3772 Address:875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60610 City: Chicago State: Illinois Country: United States Website: https://bsplegalmarketing.com/ This release was published on openPR.
Mariah Carey is setting the record straight. On Dec. 5, Carey took to X to call out social media users who claimed she used artificial intelligence, aka AI , to make her Spotify Wrapped video. In the 20-second clip, Carey, dressed in a red and white outfit, thanked fans who regularly listen to her music for their support and blew a kiss at the camera. The video dropped Dec. 4 as part of the annual Spotify Wrapped, a roundup of personalized stats for the streaming platform's users. Some fans thought the video wasn't actually Carey, however, with several X users posting that they thought the clip was an example of AI. “Bad lighting and a red lip have you all thinking this is AI??” Carey said on X Thursday while re-sharing the clip. "There’s a reason I’m not a fan of either of those things! About to celebrate #Christmastime with my Boston #lambily!" Lambily is the name that Carey uses to refer to her fans. It's a mixture of the words "lamb" and "family." Online, people thanked Carey for clearing up the confusion. "For half a second, I literally thought this was AI earlier lol you just look so perfect!" one X user said. Another wrote , "I thought it was AI too. But I’m glad you did the message!" "The real ones knows mother," one fan wrote. "I got your message on @Spotify and I knew it was you and loved the out of character red lipstick but knew it was for a festive occasion. Loved it and appreciate you and all you do for the lambily!" a nother added . (In response, Carey shared an emoji of two red hearts .) Spotify released Spotify Wrapped on Wednesday, Dec. 4. This year, Taylor Swift was crowned the platform’s most-streamed artist for the second year in a row, while Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" was hailed the most-listened-to song on Spotify in 2024. While Carey says her video was not created via AI, aspects of Spotify Wrapped this year did involve artificial intelligence. This year's roundup offered features that use generative AI, including the Spotify Wrapped AI podcast, a personalized overview of each user's listening habits, and the Wrapped AI playlist, which can generate playlists based on prompts.A flag-raising ceremony and proclamation were held Monday to mark the start of 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence, HIV Awareness Week and also the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The event was hosted at city hall by two local non-profit groupss, Réseau ACCESS Network and YWCA Sudbury. It featured a speech from Mayor Paul Lefebvre, who spoke about the collective commitment to raising awareness of HIV. Marvelous Muchenje, a person living with HIV, also shared her perspective on the impact these systemic issues have on women. The Wrapped in Courage campaign runs throughout the month of November, with a flag raised at the start of the 16 Days of Activism on November 25th. (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC) Muchenje, originally from Zimbabwe, said the event serves as a reminder of the work still needed to address these issues, particularly in marginalized and immigrant communities. "When people like myself come and talk and people who might not have seen someone else living with HIV, they will see and say oh, I can survive this," said Muchenje. "I've always said to people when I see the word HIV to me, the 'H' stands for hope, the 'I' stands for is and the 'V' stands for vital." HIV support groups struggle for funding as transmission rates rise in Manitoba She stressed the importance of addressing these issues, noting that they often lead to complex challenges, including difficulties accessing healthcare and support services. "I've had experiences where when you go to the hospital, some people even wear two gloves when they want to do blood work or they want to touch you... the moment you say that you are HIV positive, some dentists do not even take you. I would expect that people in the hospital will know that they can use any universal precaution that they used for everyone else," said Muchenje. Mayor Paul Lefebvre spoke on the collective commitment to raising awareness about HIV. (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC) HIV Awareness Week is observed annually during the last week of November, leading up to December 1, which marks World AIDS Day—a global initiative to honour those living with HIV and those who have passed away. Heidi Eisenhauer, executive director of Réseau ACCESS Network, said the focus of the week is to educate people about HIV prevention, testing pathways and advancements in treatment. "We have the ability to live long, healthy lives. But the importance of prevention is knowing your status. Once you know your status, then you can make those choices for your own healthcare and wellness," said Eisenhauer. The event was also designed to show solidarity for the 16 Days of Activism, a campaign aimed at supporting women survivors of gender-based violence. Marvelous Muchenje spoke about the impact these systemic issues have on women who struggle with HIV and GBV, particularly newcomers. (Rajpreet Sahota/CBC) Marlene Gorman, executive director of YWCA Sudbury, said the non-profit group will also launch a social media campaign to advocate for action from provincial and federal governments. "We need to increase our housing stock. We need safe, affordable housing somewhere for women currently living in emergency shelters for gender-based violence, somewhere that they have to move to. Their stay is longer because we're a bottleneck and there's nowhere for them to go," said Gorman. According to the two non-profits, HIV and gender-based violence are interconnected. Gender-based violence increases women's vulnerability to HIV through forced sex, lack of control and limited access to prevention. HIV-positive individuals, particularly women, may face more violence due to stigma and power imbalances. A purple flag with the words "End All Gender-Based Violence" was raised outside city hall, and will remain until December 10th.
Five players netted goals as St. Ambrose routed Oakland City 5-0 in first-round action of the NAIA national soccer tournament in Spring Arbor, Mich., on Thursday. The Bees, who extended their winning streak to 12 games, got goals from Isabelle Crawford and Kendall Wendt in the first half. Kaitlyn Brunson assisted on both. St. Ambrose iced the decisive win, their 15th of the season in 22 matches, with goals by Jenna Horst, Charlise Martel and Addie Kerkhoff in the second half. Olivia Infante and Sophia Roszkowski assisted on Martel’s goal in the 77th minute. Keeper Grace Kuchar stopped all seven shots she faced in the game as the Bees improved to 15-5-2 overall. St. Ambrose held a 14-7 edge in shots on goal in the contest. The Bees have a quick turnaround for their second-round match, facing host Spring Arbor (16-3) at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The winner advances to the Round of 16 at the championship final site in Pensacola, Fla., beginning Dec. 2. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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