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Patterson scores 33, Northwestern State takes down Southern University at New Orleans 89-79The safety of TikTok users “is at the core of the platform”, one of the social media giant’s executives has said as it announced 175 million people now use the platform each month. Christine Grahn, TikTok’s head of European public policy, said users needed to feel safe in order to properly use a platform, and this was a key factor for the company. She was speaking as the shortform video giant held its European Safety Forum in Dublin , where the company discussed upcoming new safety features, including looking into ways of using new machine learning technology to better spot under-13s trying to join the service, and announced plans to add more age restrictions to some facial effects and provide more information to younger users on how an effect might alter their appearance if applied. “If people don’t feel safe, they are not going to bring their authentic selves to the platform and express themselves, and that means that we don’t have the platform that we’re hoping to create,” Ms Grahn told the PA news agency. “In order for us to achieve the best result, which is, at the end of the day, safety for our users, we have everything to gain from working with partners of various sorts. “We adapt our products based on the research that comes out of that work, and we also work with academic partners to integrate their experience. “The end result is going to be so much better if we work together as a society to address societal issues rather than trying to do so in silos.” Richard Collard, associate head of policy for child safety online at the NSPCC, said it was “encouraging” to see TikTok looking to tackle age-related online safety issues. “Given the well documented risks and harmful content that proliferates on some social media platforms, it’s vital that tech companies do everything in their power to ensure the youngest children are not accessing their sites,” he said. “However, age limits only work if they are meaningfully enforced. It’s encouraging to see TikTok recognising this challenge and taking responsibility by using technology to help them uphold their own terms and conditions and keep children safer. “This is just the tip of the iceberg. Other social media sites must step up and find effective ways to assess the ages of their users. “Ofcom and the Government also have an important role to play in compelling tech bosses to deliver age-appropriate experiences for all their users.” Despite its efforts on safety, concerns have been raised in the US and elsewhere about the platform’s possible links to China – TikTok’s parent company is the China-based ByteDance – and critics have raised concerns TikTok could be pressured into handing over data to the Chinese government. TikTok remains banned from government devices in the UK, and its future in the US remains uncertain over a law that requires the site to be sold by ByteDance by January or face being banned in the United States – although it is unclear if president-elect Donald Trump will uphold these plans when he takes office in the same month. In response to these concerns, TikTok has repeatedly denied it does or ever would share data with the Chinese government, and has begun a £10 billion scheme to move its European user data to data centres in Europe to further enhance its security credentials. The scheme also includes independent oversight by a British cybersecurity firm, NCC Group, something Ms Grahn hailed as “unprecedented”. “We’re very proud of this industry-leading data security project, that aims to keep our users even more secure,” she told PA. “There’s a number of different parts in this project, but maybe one of the most interesting is this unprecedented third-party external oversight by British cybersecurity company NCC Group. “They are continuously monitoring the security gateways that surround the European enclave where we store European TikTok user data.” She added: “From our perspective, this has been a massive undertaking – 12 billion euros over the course of 10 years – and we are quite proud of the fact that we’re building out this model, and we do see it to be truly industry leading. “I think some of the aspects of this will also be industry-wide challenges, but we’re happy to be on this journey and we’re quite proud of the progress that we’ve made so far.”
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5 Best Meme Coins to Invest in Right Now: Don’t Miss Out on These Viral Meme Coins That Are Redefining CryptoVancouver's Bench Accounting abruptly shuts down, with hundreds of jobs lostCallan Rydz has revealed Dimitri Van den Bergh's pre-match mind games lit the fuse that sparked his third round demolition . Rydz did not drop a set in his first two matches at the PDC World Darts Championship as he breezed past Romeo Grbavac and Martin Schindler. However, No. 11 seed Van den Bergh presented a much tougher challenge for Rydz. Well, at least on paper. Once the game began, it looked like Rydz was the man who deserved the high seeding and not Van den Bergh. The 26-year-old was dominant from start to finish as he decimated Van den Bergh 4-0 and recorded a sensational three-dart average of 105.31 on his way to victory. It wasn't even Rydz's highest figure of the tournament, having averaged 107.06 in his first round match against Grbavac. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Rydz revealed it was a pre-match comment from Van den Bergh that played a key role in his blistering performance on Sunday afternoon. Recalling how his rival's use of mind games came to his attention, Rydz said: "It was one of my best friends. "He went, 'Have you seen Dimitri's interview?' I went, 'No.' He went, 'He called you unstable.' "I went, 'He's not wrong,' but I think that was the fire in the belly that I needed." Although Rydz has presented himself as a cool customer on the oche at the World Championship, he has had his struggles with the mental side of the game in recent years. At the 2024 Hungarian Darts Trophy, Rydz cut a devastated figure after he blew a 5-2 lead to eventually lose 6-5 to Florian Hempel in the first round. The 26-year-old bit into the collar of his shirt and punched his darts case on his way off the oche. After the match, Rydz sparked concerns for his well-being with an emotional message on social media. "Bah it's a lonely f****** place, but f*** me, when you lose, the s*** you get is not good for anyone," Rydz wrote. "Am just trying to make a living an (sic) not sure it's worth bothering fighting for anymore. "If you have my number and need me, text me. I won't be on social media for a long time." Rydz has since improved the mental side of his game and it certainly showed against Van den Bergh. It was no more evident than how composed he remained despite Van den Bergh's attempts to dictate the pace of the match, even when Rydz continued to storm ahead. "I knew what he was going to do," Rydz said. "I knew that he was going to try to not slow us down, but compose himself. "But I knew it was coming so I was ready for every little thing that was coming. I settled down after I replied with the 180 in the first leg and it shows that I can do it. "I know that some people write us off, but I know where my game is at, I can match it with anyone." Rydz will now face Robert Owen in the fourth round on Monday.Originally appeared on E! Online Kristin Cavallari is kissing and telling about her experience dating Morgan Wallen. "The Hills" alum shared NSFW details about her past romance with the country star, more than a month after seemingly confirming they had at one point been involved. "He's a great f--- buddy," Cavallari said on the Dec. 29 episode of Bunnie XO's "Dumb Blonde" podcast. "He was good in bed." Wallen, 31, has not commented on the "Very Cavallari" star's remarks. Cavallari also shared details about her first date with the "Love Somebody" singer, who, she added, is a "good guy" with a "big heart." "The first date that we went on, he was a true gentleman," the 37-year-old told Bunnie, "and he was like, 'I'll pick you up, I'll pick the place,' like, just f---ing handled business." Cavallari, who shares children Camden, 12, Jaxon, 10, and Saylor, 8 with ex-husband Jay Cutler , said Wallen did indeed pick her up and met her kids before they went out. "My kids were so excited," Cavallari said. "It was so cute." READ Kristin Cavallari Admits She's in Her "Villain Era" After Dating Confessions She said that Wallen got the two a private room at the venue they visited, without naming it, and that they were accompanied by his bodyguard. The singer later dropped her off, she said. But the date did not end there. "He kissed me in the rain," she said, "and it was the sweetest thing." CAvallari did not specify when the date occurred or how long their romance lasted. She also said she has not spoken to him in "probably a year." "But," she added, "I have nothing but good things to say about him." In November, more than a month after confirming her breakup from Montana Boyz TikToker Mark Estes and amid romance rumors about her and Wallen, Cavallari seemingly admitted that she had dated the 2025 Grammy nominee . In a video posted on her social media, she and BFF Justin Anderson took part in a viral trend in which people call out truths about one another. In the clip, Cavallari is seen jogging as her friend is heard saying, "Suspect let Morgan Wallen hurt her feelings, and she kept going back." She bursts out laughing and covers her mouth in response. On Bunnie's podcast, Cavallari offered some context into the claim. "God, I'm so sorry, Morgan. He didn't hurt my feelings," she began. "I'll be honest with you — Morgan was the first guy in my entire f---ing like that wasn't just completely enamored with me. And I was like, 'What in the f--- is going on?' It really threw me." The "Uncommon James" founder added, "I love having the upper hand and I feel like with him, I didn't have the upper hand. The only time in my life. So it really f---ed with me."
The former England footballer, 39, said he was “proud” of how Coleen was doing in the Australian jungle in a post on social media on Saturday. The couple, who first met at school and began dating aged 16, share four sons – Kai Wayne, Klay Anthony, Kit Joseph and Cass Mac. Proud of on she’s doing great ❤️ Me and the boys would love to see her doing a trial and we know she’d want to put herself to the test. If you can download the app and let’s get voting! 🗳️🕷️🐍 — Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) “Proud of @ColeenRoo on @imacelebrity she’s doing great”, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, alongside a collage of photos of her on the show. “Me and the boys would love to see her doing a trial and we know she’d want to put herself to the test. “If you can download the #ImACeleb and let’s get voting!” During the first task of the series, BBC Radio 1 presenter Dean McCullough chose to partner up with TV personality Coleen as he hailed her as “Wagatha Christie”. Rooney, 38, was given the nickname when she accused Rebekah Vardy, who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, of leaking her private information to The Sun in a viral post on social media. In July 2022, a judge at the High Court found the post was “substantially true”. During Vardy’s stint on I’m A Celebrity, she became the third celebrity to leave, saying the series helped her become more tolerant. Earlier this week, Liverpool-born Coleen told her fellow campmate that going to court over her feud with Vardy was her “worst nightmare” as she felt she was “putting on a show for the whole world”. However, she said she was not scared about making the viral post which kicked off the dispute, saying: “I just didn’t think it would have the impact it did, because I was just that sick and tired of it, it was draining.” Later in the episode, Rooney became emotional over the loss of her sister Rosie, after boxing star Barry McGuigan spoke about the death of his daughter. I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues on ITV1 and ITVX.
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CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A growing number of U.S. colleges and universities are advising international students to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, over concerns that he might impose travel bans like he did during his first administration. More than a dozen schools have issued advisories, even though Trump’s plans remain uncertain. At some schools, the spring semester begins before Trump will take office, so students may have to be back in class anyway. But for anyone whose ability to stay in the United States depends on an academic visa, they say it's best to reduce their risks and get back to campus before Jan. 20. Here’s a look at what Trump has said and done and how schools and students are preparing for his second term: Trump issued an executive order in January 2017 banning travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries — Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. Travelers from those nations were either barred from getting on their flights or detained at U.S. airports after they landed. They included students and faculty as well as business people, tourists and visitors to friends and family. Trump later removed some countries and added others to the list — 15 nations were affected at some point during his presidency. More than 40,000 people were ultimately refused visas because of the ban, according to the U.S. State Department. President Joe Biden rescinded the orders when he took office in 2021. More than 1.1 million international students were enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities during the 2023-24 school year, according to Open Doors, a data project partially funded by the U.S. State Department. Students from India and China have accounted for more than half of all international students in the U.S., and about 43,800 come from the 15 countries affected by Trump’s travel restrictions. Jacky Li, a third-year environmental studies major at University of California, Berkeley, will be traveling home to China Dec. 21 and returning Jan. 16. Though he made his plans months before Berkeley officials sent the advisory, he said worry is growing among international students. “There’s a fear that this kind of restriction will enlarge into a wider community, considering the geopolitical tensions nowadays around the world, so the fear is definitely there,” said Li, who urged Trump to support, rather than thwart, important academic research. “If the U.S. is really a champion of academic freedom, what you should do is not restrict this kind of communications between different countries of the world,” he said. Trump's transition team did not respond to questions on the topic this week, but in the past he has said he’ll revive the travel ban and expand it, pledging new “ideological screening” for non-U.S. citizens to bar “dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots and maniacs.” “We aren’t bringing in anyone from Gaza, Syria, Somalia, Yemen or Libya or anywhere else that threatens our security,” Trump said at an October 2023 campaign event in Iowa . Trump also vowed to “revoke the student visas of radical anti-American and anti-Semitic foreigners at our colleges and universities” in response to campus protests. School officials have advised international students heading home for winter break to return before Inauguration Day and to prepare for possible delays at immigration control. The list includes Ivy League universities such as Harvard and Brown, Boston schools such as Northeastern University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and other schools around the country, from Johns Hopkins University to the University of Southern California. Some offer classes that begin the day after Inauguration Day. Cornell University told its students that a travel ban involving the 13 nations Trump previously targeted “is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration,” and that new countries could be added to the list, particularly China and India. It advised students, faculty and staff from those countries to return to campus before the semester starts Jan. 21. Other schools didn’t go so far as to say a ban is likely but instead advised students to plan ahead and prepare for delays.
Botcha calls Vizag drugs container allegations high ‘drama’, demands probe by CentreInter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi isn’t hiding his ambition to reach the Champions League final after another win in the competition against RB Leipzig. The Nerazzurri coach spoke to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews , after his team’s 1-0 win. Two seasons ago, Inter reached the final of the Champions League. There, they only narrowly lost to Manchester City to miss out on lifting the trophy. That run to the final really put Inter on the map as serious candidates to win the Champions League. And it also meant that last season, Inter’s elimination from the Champions League at the round of sixteen stage was seen as a disappointment, and even a surprise. However, this time around Inter have once again started the campaign widely considered to be among the favourites to win the competition. And the Nerazzurri’s performances and results so far have lived up to those expectations. Inter have yet to taste defeat in the Champions League. And they have also gone five matches without conceding a goal – the only side to do so. Inter Coach Simone Inzaghi: “We Want To Reach Champions League Final Again” As far as reaching the final again, Inzaghi said that “That’s every team’s objective, including Inter.” “Then, playing every two days has a lot of difficulties.” “I’m lucky enough to have the players I do,” the Inter coach said. “But playing Saturday, Tuesday, and then Sunday isn’t easy.” “But everyone gives everything.” Meanwhile, as far as his team’s inability to kill off the game with a second goal against Leipzig, Inzaghi noted that “There was the chance Dumfries had at the start of the second half.” “That could have made it a much different match.” “Then there was the disallowed goal from Mkhitaryan, which didn’t seem like it had a foul to me. But these kinds of situations happen in football.” “We played with an awareness of our quality against a top opponent.” “We saw Openda when we faced Lens [in a friendly] and it was clear that he’s a great player. As are Sesko, Nusa, and their two midfielders.” “They reached the semifinal in 2020,” Inzaghi noted of Leipzig. “And they’ve been in the Champions League for six years.”
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AFP AT 89 President Marcos, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. take a look at some of the military’s latest acquisitions on display at Camp Aguinaldo on Friday. The President was here for a conference and program on the eve of the AFP’s 89th founding anniversary, which was highlighted by a parade.—MARIANNE BERMUDEZ The military’s modernization program should not only upgrade its defense capability and reduce the country’s dependence on other nations, but should also transform how the Armed Forces of the Philippines thinks and operates, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday, the eve of the AFP’s 89th anniversary. “This administration is committed to ensuring that you are prepared for that future. Through the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Program, we aim to reduce our dependence on foreign sources and empower the AFP to develop its own capabilities,” Mr. Marcos said in a speech before the assembled troops at Camp Aguinaldo, ahead of his meeting with the brass. READ: AFP 89th anniversary: Marcos tells military to stay true to sworn duty “To enhance our capabilities and preparedness, we are harnessing the latest technologies, reinforcing our strategies, and enhancing the skills of every soldier, every sailor, every airman. This ensures that we are ready to succeed in the battles on the field and in cyberspace, for the peace of mind of our people,” he added. The AFP was organized 89 years ago on Saturday with the enactment of the National Defense Act of 1935 on Dec. 21 that year—also known as Commonwealth Act No. 1 of the Philippine Commonwealth. The President reminded the military to have a keen understanding of their role in a rapidly changing modern age, and to address evolving challenges that are “complex, multifaceted, and at times invisible.” “The threats we face today are no longer confined to our shores or to the traditional battlefield. They are now complex, multifaceted and, at times, invisible,” he said, as he cited not only geopolitical tensions but also cybersecurity threats to the country’s sovereignty and national security. The President commended the AFP for becoming an “agile and responsive force, attuned to the shifting demands of our security landscape.” “We look to the AFP as defenders of our nation and as examples of courage and integrity. We rely on you to set the standard for patriotism in action—soldiers who serve not for glory, but for the enduring promise of a better nation,” Mr. Marcos said. “[W]e will provide the tools, the resources, the support necessary to help you succeed. We will ensure that your sacrifices are met with tangible action—the modernization of our assets, the protection of your families’ welfare, and the recognition of your invaluable contributions to our shared future,” he added. For its anniversary this year, the AFP has adopted the theme, “Sandigan ng Sambayanan Tungo Sa Bagong Pilipinas”—the People’s Foundation Toward a New Philippines. This theme is in line with Mr. Marcos’ “New Philippines” slogan which, in turn, references the “New Society” theme of his father and namesake during the martial-law era in the 1970s. Another highlight of the AFP anniversary ceremonies was the launching of the newly renovated AFP Museum at Camp Aguinaldo, featuring various weapons, vehicles and equipment used by the Armed Forces throughout its history. Also featured in the museum is the “Bongbong Rocket”—after the President’s nickname—which the government of Marcos Sr. developed before martial law as a rocket research program using local materials to reduce the country’s dependence on imported defense equipment. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . The President also posthumously conferred the Medal of Valor on 1st Lt. Dhell Jhun Evangelista of the Philippine Army, who was killed in an encounter 15 years ago with the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.St. Petersburg council approves $23M repair to hurricane-ravaged Tropicana Field roof