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New York state will monitor its use of AI after signing new bill into lawWASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Monday announced that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump , an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. The move spares the lives of people convicted in killings , including the slayings of police and military officers, people on federal land and those involved in deadly bank robberies or drug deals, as well as the killings of guards or prisoners in federal facilities. The decision leaves three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. “I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system,” Biden said in a statement . “Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole. These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.” Reaction was strong, both for and against. A Trump spokesperson called the decision “abhorrent.” “These are among the worst killers in the world and this abhorrent decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones." said Trump spokesman Steven Cheung. "President Trump stands for the rule of law, which will return when he is back in the White House after he was elected with a massive mandate from the American people.” Heather Turner, whose mother was killed during the 2017 robbery of a Conway, South Carolina, bank, blasted the decision in a social media post, saying Biden didn't consider the victims of these crimes. “The pain and trauma we have endured over the last 7 years has been indescribable,” Turner wrote on Facebook, describing weeks spent in court in search of justice as “now just a waste of time.” “Our judicial system is broken. Our government is a joke,” she said. "Joe Biden’s decision is a clear gross abuse of power. He, and his supporters, have blood on their hands.” Some of Roof's victims supported Biden's decision to leave him on death row. Michael Graham, whose sister Cynthia Hurd was killed by Roof, said Roof's lack of remorse and simmering white nationalism in the U.S. means Roof is the kind of dangerous and evil person the death penalty is intended for. “This was a crime against a race of people who were doing something all Americans do on a Wednesday night — go to Bible study,” Graham said. “It didn’t matter who was there, only that they were Black.” The Biden administration in 2021 announced a moratorium on federal capital punishment to study the protocols used, which suspended executions during Biden's term. But Biden actually had promised to go further on the issue in the past, pledging to end federal executions without the caveats for terrorism and hate-motivated, mass killings. While running for president in 2020, Biden's campaign website said he would “work to pass legislation to eliminate the death penalty at the federal level , and incentivize states to follow the federal government’s example.” Similar language didn't appear on Biden's reelection website before he left the presidential race in July. “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden's statement said. “But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vice president, and now president, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.” He took a political jab at Trump, saying, “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.” Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has spoken frequently of expanding executions. In a speech announcing his 2024 campaign , Trump called for those “caught selling drugs to receive the death penalty for their heinous acts.” He later promised to execute drug and human smugglers and even praised China's harsher treatment of drug peddlers. During his first term as president, Trump also advocated for the death penalty for drug dealers . There were 13 federal executions during Trump's first term, more than under any president in modern history, and some may have happened fast enough to have contributed to the spread of the coronavirus at the federal death row facility in Indiana. Those were the first federal executions since 2003. The final three occurred after Election Day in November 2020 but before Trump left office the following January, the first time federal prisoners were put to death by a lame-duck president since Grover Cleveland in 1889. Biden faced recent pressure from advocacy groups urging him to act to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The president's announcement also comes less than two weeks after he commuted the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and of 39 others convicted of nonviolent crimes, the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. The announcement also followed the post-election pardon that Biden granted his son Hunter on federal gun and tax charges after long saying he would not issue one, sparking an uproar in Washington. The pardon also raised questions about whether he would issue sweeping preemptive pardons for administration officials and other allies who the White House worries could be unjustly targeted by Trump’s second administration. Speculation that Biden could commute federal death sentences intensified last week after the White House announced he plans to visit Italy on the final foreign trip of his presidency next month. Biden, a practicing Catholic, will meet with Pope Francis, who recently called for prayers for U.S. death row inmates in hopes their sentences will be commuted. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has long called for an end to the death penalty, said Biden's decision is a “significant step in advancing the cause of human dignity in our nation” and moves the country “a step closer to building a culture of life.” Martin Luther King III, who publicly urged Biden to change the death sentences, said in a statement shared by the White House that the president "has done what no president before him was willing to do: take meaningful and lasting action not just to acknowledge the death penalty’s racist roots but also to remedy its persistent unfairness.” Madeline Cohen, an attorney for Norris Holder, who faced death for the 1997 fatal shooting of a guard during a bank robbery in St. Louis, said his case “exemplifies the racial bias and arbitrariness that led the President to commute federal death sentences,” Cohen said. Holder, who is Black, was sentenced by an all-white jury. Weissert reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, and Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, contributed to this report.
IOC needs to take a binary position on transgender participation in women’s sportBiden gives life in prison to 37 of 40 federal death row inmates before Trump can resume executions(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Sara Harmouch , American University (THE CONVERSATION) The fall of President Bashar al-Assad has left a critical question: After a half-century of brutal dynastic rule has come to an end, who speaks for Syrians now? One group staking a major claim for that role is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , which, under the leadership of Abu Mohammad al-Golani, spearheaded the opposition advance that toppled Assad. But what does the group stand for? And who is al-Golani? The Conversation turned to Sara Harmouch , an expert on Islamist militant groups, for answers. What is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham? Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has its roots in the early stages of the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011 as a popular uprising against the autocratic government of Assad. The group originated as an offshoot of the Nusra Front, the official al-Qaida affiliate in Syria. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham was initially recognized for its combat effectiveness and its commitment to global jihadist ideology, or the establishment of strict Islamic rule across the Muslim world. In a shift in 2016, the Nusra Front publicly cut ties with al-Qaida and adopted the new name Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which means “Front for the Conquest of the Levant.” The following year, it merged with several other factions in the Syrian war to become Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or the “Organization for the Liberation of the Levant.” This rebranding aimed to move away from al-Qaida’s global jihadist agenda, which had limited the group’s appeal within Syria. It allowed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to focus on issues specific to Syrians, such as local governance, economic issues and humanitarian aid. Despite these changes, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s core ideology continues to be rooted in jihadism, with the primary objective of overthrowing the Assad government and establishing Islamic rule in Syria. Who is al-Golani? How central is he to the group’s success? Abu Mohammed al-Golani was born Ahmed al-Sharaa in 1982 in Saudi Arabia. Al-Golani spent his early years in Damascus, Syria, after his family returned from Saudi Arabia in 1989. His jihadist career began in Iraq, where he joined fighters aligned with al-Qaida after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion . In 2011, under the direction of Iraqi militant and then-al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, al-Golani was tasked with establishing the Nusra Front in Syria. The group quickly became a formidable force within the Syrian civil war. It was under al-Golani’s leadership that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham sought to portray itself as pragmatic, less focused on global jihad and more on governance issues in the region of Idlib, Syria’s largest rebel stronghold. This shift in strategy forms part of al-Golani’s effort to transform his national and global image from that of a jihadist leader to a more politically viable figure in Syrian politics. Al-Golani’s shift toward a more pragmatic approach, particularly post-2017, has been crucial in helping Hayat Tahrir al-Sham control territories and assert itself as a regional governing force. His recent moves, like adopting a more moderate persona and engaging in traditional public service, reflect al-Golani’s central role in the military and the political evolution of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – underpinning the group’s hold on power and its efforts at gaining legitimacy both locally and internationally. How did the group rise to become a major force in Syria? To keep power over the territories it controlled, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham employed a mix of strategies that includes establishing governance systems that could provide stability and services while legitimizing their control in the eyes of local populations. Aiming to expand and take more territory, the group’s leaders concluded that it needed to win over the international community to minimize international opposition and effectively work with the broader Syrian revolutionary movement. This involved working with other actors in Syria, aiming to present a united front that could be more palatable to international observers and potential allies. To do that locally, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham brought many groups within Syria under its control. Regionally and internationally, it reshaped its image through public relations campaigns, such as engaging in social services. Since 2017, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has been the prevailing force in Idlib , which, after government forces retook control of Aleppo in December 2016, emerged as the last major bastion for various rebel groups. Over the years, the group has solidified its control in the region by functioning as a quasi-governmental entity , providing civil services and overseeing local affairs – such as controlling highways and collecting duties on commercial trucking – despite reports of human rights abuses. In recent years, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s propaganda has emphasized protecting Syrian territory and its people from the Assad government. This has helped the group enhance its position among local communities and other rebel groups. In an effort to further burnish its image, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ramped up its public relations efforts, both at home and abroad. For example, it has engaged with international media and humanitarian organizations to negotiate – and film – aid deliveries to the areas it governs. Doing so helped Hayat Tahrir al-Sham gain some local support , positioning itself as a defender of Sunni Muslim interests. Meanwhile, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham bolstered its military capabilities by establishing a military academy, reorganizing its units into a more conventional military structure and creating specialized forces adept at executing coordinated and strategic attacks. The recent advance appears to be proof that this strategy has paid off. What does the US think of the group and al-Golani? The U.S. has long listed al-Golani as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and the Nusra Front as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. In May 2018, the U.S. State Department expanded this designation to include Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. As a result of these designations, the group and its members face legal restrictions, travel bans, asset freezes and banking restrictions. Additionally, the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is offering up to US$10 million for information on al-Golani. However, news has been circulating that the U.S. is considering removing the $10 million bounty on the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader, while the United Kingdom is thinking of removing the group from its terror list. What happens if al-Golani emerges as a post-Assad leader? First, we should note that these are very early days, and it remains unclear what Syria will look like post-Assad. But based on my years researching Islamic history and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, I’m willing to venture a few educated guesses. Historically, Islamic empires have used distinct governance frameworks to drive their expansion and administration, which might inform Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s approach to mirroring these successful strategies. First, I think al-Golani is likely to strive for authentic religious leadership, positioning himself as a leader whose personal piety and adherence to Islamic principles align with the religious sentiments of the population at large. This could be complemented by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham emphasizing the role of Sunni Islam in Syria’s state functions and integrating religious legal practices into the nation’s laws. Just as it has established on a localized scale, effective administration might become a cornerstone of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham governance. In Idlib, for example, the group established systems for taxation and community engagement. This is essential for building trust, especially among previously marginalized groups. Additionally, by allowing some autonomy for regions within Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham could mitigate the risk of unrest, balancing strict Islamic law enforcement with Syria’s cultural and ethnic diversity. Overall, should Hayat Tahrir al-Sham under al-Golani try to steer the formation of Syria’s new government, we might expect a governance approach that aims for a blend of traditional Islamic governance and modern statecraft, striving to stabilize and unify the diverse and war-torn country. However, the group’s controversial status and history of militant activities could pose significant challenges in gaining widespread international recognition and internal support. Sections of this article were first published in an article for The Conversation on Dec. 2, 2024. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/abu-mohammed-al-golani-may-become-the-face-of-post-assad-syria-but-who-is-he-and-why-does-he-have-10m-us-bounty-on-his-head-245612 . Licenced as Creative Commons - attribution, no derivatives.The great race is on. It isn’t the one on television, but it is one that has put the world’s wealthiest companies in fierce competition to secure market share in artificial intelligence. The handful of big-tech companies and their satellites may have spent as much as $1 trillion on machine-learning and data center infrastructure to stuff their AI systems with billions of bits of information hoovered up from public and private sources on the internet. These companies — Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and OpenAI among them — are rich and have made their creators rich beyond compare because of information technology. Their challenge is to hold onto what they have now and to secure their futures in the next great opportunity: AI. An unfortunate result of the wild dash to secure the franchise is that the big-tech companies — and I have confirmed this with some senior employees — have rushed new products to market before they are ready. The racers figure that the embarrassment of so-called hallucinations (errors) is better than letting a competitor get out in front. The challenge is that if one of the companies — and Google is often mentioned — isn’t on the leaderboard, it could fail. It could happen: Remember MySpace? The downside of this speedy race is that safety systems aren’t in place or effective — a danger that could spell operational catastrophe, particularly regarding so-called backdoors. According to two savants in the AI world, Derek Reveron and John Savage, there is a clear-and-present danger presented by this preference for market speed over preventing dangerous consequences. Savage is the An Wang professor emeritus of computer science at Brown, and Reveron is chair of the National Security Affairs Department at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Reveron and Savage have been sounding the alarm on backdoors, first in their book, “Security in the Cyber Age: An Introduction to Policy and Technology,” published by Cambridge University Press early this year, and later in an article on Binding Hook, a British website with a focus on cybersecurity and AI. “AI systems are trained neural networks, not computer programs. A neural net has many artificial neurons with parameters on neuron inputs that are adjusted (trained) to achieve a close match between the actual and the desired outputs. The inputs (stimuli) and desired output responses constitute a training set, and the process of training a neural net is called machine-learning,” the co-authors write. Backdoors were initially developed by telephone companies to assist the government in criminal or national security cases. That was before AI. Savage told me that backdoors pose a grave threat because, through them, bad actors can insert malign information — commands or instructions — into computers in general and backdoors into machine-learning-based AI systems in particular. Some backdoors can be undetectable and capable of inflicting great damage. Savage said he is especially worried about the military using AI prematurely and making the nation more vulnerable rather than safer. He said an example would be a weapon fired from a drone fighter jet flying under AI guidance alongside a piloted fighter jet where the weapon fired by a drone could be directed to do a U-turn and come right back and destroy the piloted plane. Extrapolate that to the battlefield or to an aerial bombardment. Savage says that researchers have recently shown that undetectable backdoors can be inserted into AI systems during the training process, which is a new, extremely serious, and largely unappreciated cybersecurity hazard. The risk is exacerbated because feeding billions of words into big-tech companies’ machine-learning systems is now done in low-wage countries. This was highlighted in a recent “60 Minutes” episode about workers in Kenya earning $2 an hour, feeding data to machine-learning systems for American tech companies. The bad actors can attack American AI by inserting dangerous misinformation in Kenya or in any other low-wage country. Of course, they can launch backdoor attacks here, too, where AI is used to write code, and then control for that code is lost. In their Binding Hook article, Reveron and Savage make a critical point about AI. It isn’t just another more advanced computer system. It is fundamentally different and less manageable by its human masters. It lacks an underlying theory to explain its anomalous behavior, which is why the AI specialists who train machine-learning systems cannot explain this behavior. Deploying technology with serious deficits is always risky until a way to compensate for them has been discovered. Trouble in is trouble out. Llewellyn King is executive producer and host of “White House Chronicle” on PBS. He wrote this for InsideSources.com .
Psychoanalysis explains why Donald Trump is taunting Canada and ‘Governor Justin Trudeau’Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu will testify three times a week, the court said, despite the Gaza war and possible new threats. TEL AVIV - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is set to take the stand on Dec 10 for the first time in his long-running corruption trial under a court order that is likely to force him to juggle between the courtroom and war room for weeks. Israel has been waging war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza for more than a year, during which Mr Netanyahu had been granted a delay for the start of his court appearances. But on Dec 5, the judges ruled that he must start testifying. Charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust, Mr Netanyahu will testify three times a week, the court said, despite the Gaza war and possible new threats posed by wider turmoil in the Middle East, including in neighbouring Syria. Mr Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in three cases involving gifts from millionaire friends and for allegedly seeking regulatory favours for media tycoons in return for favourable coverage. He denies any wrongdoing. In the run-up to his court date, Mr Netanyahu revived familiar pre-war rhetoric against law enforcement, describing investigations against him as a witch hunt. He denies the charges and has pleaded not guilty. “The real threat to democracy in Israel is not posed by the public’s elected representatives, but by some among the law enforcement authorities who refuse to accept the voters’ choice and are trying to carry out a coup with rabid political investigations that are unacceptable in any democracy,” he said in a statement on Dec 5. At a Dec 9 night press conference, Mr Netanyahu said he had waited eight years to be able to tell his story and expressed outrage at the way witnesses had been treated during investigations. Before the war, Mr Netanyahu’s legal troubles bitterly divided Israelis and shook Israeli politics through five rounds of elections. His government’s bid last year to curb the powers of the judiciary further polarised Israelis. The shock Hamas attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, and the ensuing Gaza war swept Mr Netanyahu’s trial off the public agenda as Israelis came together in grief and trauma. But as the war dragged on, political unity crumbled. In recent weeks, while fighting abated on one front after Israel reached a ceasefire with Hamas’ Lebanese ally Hezbollah, members of Mr Netanyahu’s cabinet, including his justice and police ministers, have clashed with the judiciary. In power almost consecutively since 2009, Mr Netanyahu, 75, is Israel's longest serving leader and its first sitting prime minister to be charged with a crime. His domestic legal woes were compounded last month when the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him and his former defence chief Yoav Gallant along with a Hamas leader, for alleged war crimes in the Gaza conflict. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now
Playoff game at Ohio State has sold 34% more tickets than Notre Dame game on StubHubAccording to Matt Perrott , CEO and co-founder of BuildPass: "Compared to ZoomInfo, Firmable has much wider coverage, accuracy, and depth of local data for only a fraction of the price." G2 , the largest and most trusted business software comparison site, recently recognised Firmable's position as a market leader by awarding High Performer Badges in the Sales Intelligence and Lead Management categories on customer satisfaction in the Australian market. Firmable was also named Easiest to Do Business With based on exceptional customer ratings. These accolades reflect Firmable's commitment to delivering unparalleled value and service to its customers. Leigh Jasper , co-CEO and co-founder of Firmable, remarked: "Firmable was founded to tackle one of the biggest challenges we observed in the Australian market - access to reliable and accurate B2B data. Australian businesses deserve a local solution that truly understands their needs, and Firmable is delivering exactly that." "We created Firmable to solve a problem we experienced firsthand: the lack of accurate and reliable B2B data for Australian businesses," said Tara Salmon , Chief Revenue Officer of Firmable. "The impact is clear - our outbound sales team has achieved exceptional results, using Firmable as their own data tool, generating $160K in monthly pipeline per SDR, despite an ACV of < $10,000 . This efficiency highlights how the right data and tools enable more effective B2B sales." Looking ahead to 2025, Firmable plans to continue scaling its operations while introducing innovative AI-driven tools, including predictive signals and AI agents. These enhancements will empower users to target leads more effectively and improve their sales efficiency, further cementing Firmable's position as a market leader. "Our lean approach and internal use of AI have enabled us to focus on growth without overextending," added Salmon. "By equipping our Go-To-Market team with the tools and data they need, we've created a streamlined process that's delivering results at scale." With plans to deepen its database and expand its product offerings, Firmable is positioned for accelerated growth in 2025. The company's focus on delivering value through local expertise and innovative technology has resonated with Australian businesses, making Firmable the go-to choice for B2B data. About Firmable Firmable is Australia's definitive B2B database platform, helping businesses drive smarter decisions and outperform by knowing more about their leads, customers, and candidates than ever before. The platform provides access to the largest database of Australian companies in one place with a rich set of attributes, allowing sales and marketing teams to accelerate growth, better engage with their customers, and save time by leveraging reliable market intelligence.
Serenity Psychotherapy Group Now Offers Telehealth Therapy in Navy Yard 12-10-2024 12:06 AM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: The SED Society Image: https://www.getnews.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1733758657.jpg Serenity Psychotherapy Group, a leading mental health provider, is now offering telehealth therapy services to residents of Navy Yard and the surrounding areas. Serenity Psychotherapy Group [ https://serenitypsychotherapygroup.com/service-area/navy-yard/ ], a leading mental health provider, is now offering telehealth therapy services to residents of Navy Yard and the surrounding areas. This expansion of their services aims to make quality mental health care more accessible and convenient for individuals who may face challenges in attending in-person therapy sessions. Remote Mental Health Services With the growing demand for remote mental health services [ https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=38.131944,-79.330838&z=3&t=m&hl=en&gl=NG&mapclient=embed&cid=12943743491501790968 ], Serenity Psychotherapy Group has embraced telehealth technology to provide online counseling and virtual therapy sessions. Their licensed therapists understand that making it to an in-person appointment isn't always possible due to busy schedules or distance. Telehealth therapy bridges this gap, allowing clients to receive the same quality care from the comfort of their own homes. Flexibility and Privacy Telehealth counseling brings the therapeutic conversation to clients through live video sessions. These appointments offer the flexibility to fit into busy lives and the privacy to discuss sensitive topics. Sarah Charmchi, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a cornerstone of Serenity Psychotherapy Group's telehealth counseling team states, "We recognize that many individuals face barriers to accessing traditional in-person therapy. Our telehealth services provide a convenient and effective alternative, ensuring that everyone can receive the support they need." Diverse Telehealth Options In addition to video therapy sessions, Serenity Psychotherapy Group offers other forms of telehealth therapy, including phone calls, online apps, and text-based therapy. These diverse options cater to the varying preferences and needs of their clients, making mental health support more accessible than ever before. Telehealth Technology and Regulations Serenity Psychotherapy Group has invested in secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth technology to ensure the confidentiality and privacy of their clients' information. They strictly adhere to telehealth regulations and best practices to maintain the highest standards of care in the digital health landscape. Dedicated Therapists At the heart of Serenity Psychotherapy Group's online telehealth therapy services is a team of dedicated therapists. Sarah Charmchi, with her rich educational background and holistic approach to treatment, exemplifies the expertise and commitment of their telehealth counseling team. Clients can expect compassionate, personalized care tailored to their unique needs and goals. Teletherapy Platforms and Telepsychology Serenity Psychotherapy Group leverages advanced teletherapy platforms to facilitate seamless, interactive sessions between therapists and clients. Their team of professionals is well-versed in telepsychology best practices, ensuring that the therapeutic alliance and treatment efficacy are maintained in the virtual setting. Telemedicine and Mental Health The integration of telemedicine into mental health care has proven to be a game-changer, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Serenity Psychotherapy Group recognizes the importance of adapting to the evolving healthcare landscape and is committed to providing accessible, high-quality mental health services through telehealth channels. About Serenity Psychotherapy Group Serenity Psychotherapy Group is a leading mental health provider based in Navy Yard, offering a wide range of therapy services to individuals, couples, and families. With a team of highly skilled and compassionate therapists, they are dedicated to promoting mental well-being and helping clients navigate life's challenges. Their commitment to excellence, combined with their embrace of telehealth technology, positions them as a trusted partner in the journey toward healing and personal growth. Location: https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d25709401.892755475!2d-79.33083800000001!3d38.131944!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x264eab7aeb83e787%3A0xb3a16a206abd16f8!2sSerenity%20Psychotherapy%20Group%2C%20LLC!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sng!4v1729766223172!5m2!1sen!2sng Location: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1z9eqgB4lS26-ahs5S6Qp19eCYSdoYC4qFH7bKoHrGPA/edit?usp=sharing Media Contact Company Name: Serenity Psychotherapy Group, LLC Contact Person: Sarah Charmchi Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=serenity-psychotherapy-group-now-offers-telehealth-therapy-in-navy-yard ] Phone: 202-990-2707 Address:10604 Drumm Ave. City: Washington State: DC Country: United States Website: https://serenitypsychotherapygroup.com/ This release was published on openPR.
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A new petition has called for food allergy measures to be issued in California after Disney influencer Dominique Brown died due to an allergic reaction at a holiday food event. Brown, 34, experienced the allergic reaction at an event hosted by retailer BoxLunch in downtown Los Angeles on December 5. According to the Daily Mail , fellow influencers at the event said the item she ate was unmarked, and she was allegedly told that the food item did not contain the ingredient she was allergic to. The influencer, who frequently posted about her love for Disney on her social media accounts , received CPR at the event before 911 was contacted, People reported. Following Brown’s death, her close friend Marcus Medley shared a Change.org petition aiming to “mandate life-saving food allergy measures at all food establishments.” The petition already has more than 19,000 signers as of Monday (December 9). “Allegedly, despite informing staff of her life-threatening allergy, she was served a dish containing the allergen,” Medley wrote about Brown in the petition’s description. “Allegedly, the establishment lacked critical life-saving tools like epinephrine autoinjectors (EpiPens) and trained staff to respond effectively.” The petition has called for legislation requiring three demands, the first being “mandatory epinephrine autoinjectors at all establishments that serve food.” Supporters are also urging for “staff training on recognizing and treating allergic reactions,” and “real-time ingredient transparency, including clear communication protocols between chefs, servers, and patrons to ensure all ingredients in a dish are disclosed.” Speaking to local California news station KTLA , Medley said that while food allergies have been treated as “a preference,” they’re actually “life or death serious.” “Domo’s story isn’t unique, and that’s why we want justice and change. People should be able to eat out without fear that their next meal could be their last,” he said. A representative for BoxLunch told the outlet that when Brown suffered her allergic reaction, emergency services were immediately called. The DJ at the event reportedly made two announcements to ask if someone had an EpiPen, as well as measures taken to ensure the venue knew all of the guests’ allergies. The spokesperson said the company is arranging grief counseling for its team, and an investigation into the incident has been launched. Following the event, BoxLunch also issued a statement about Brown’s death and sent condolences to her family. “We are devastated by the passing of Dominique Brown, a beloved member of the BoxLunch Collective, who suffered a medical emergency at an event hosted by BoxLunch on Thursday in Los Angeles,” the company said in the statement. “Our hearts go out to her family and friends, and we will do everything we can to support them and the members of the BoxLunch Collective and our team during this painful time.” The Independent had contacted BoxLunch for comment. Brown was a long-time Walt Disney World enthusiast, with more than 21,000 followers on Instagram . The influencer was also the co-creator of the account Black Girl Disney, which she ran with her friend Mia Von, who’s based in Texas. Last month, she attended the premiere of Moana 2 at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. Her final Instagram post was a video of herself at a Disney store. Brown was seen wearing a hat featuring the Disney cartoon Winnie the Pooh , along with a yellow and brown Winnie the Pooh -themed sweater and brown pants. “Since this Winnie the Pooh hat is now available on @disneystore website, you should get it!” she wrote in the caption.NoneNew Jersey gambling regulators have handed out $40,000 in fines to two sportsbooks and a tech company for violations that included taking bets on unauthorized events, and on games that had already ended. In information made public Monday, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement fined DraftKings $20,000. It also levied $10,000 fines on Rush Street Interactive NJ and the sports betting technology company Kambi. According to documents released by the state, Rush Street accepted 16 bets worth $1,523 in Nov. 2021 on a college basketball game between the University of North Carolina-Asheville and Tennessee Tech University after the game had already concluded with a UNC victory. Kambi told the enforcement division that a trader had failed to manually remove that game from its betting markets, saying it had stopped receiving messages from its own sports data provider due to a network connectivity error. Kambi said it has updated its guidelines and retrained its traders to prevent a recurrence. Kambi, which is based in Malta, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday. Rush Street declined comment, and DraftKings had no immediate comment Monday. DraftKings stopped using Kambi in 2021. In March 2022 Rush Street took seven bets totaling just under $2,900 on three Magic City Jai Alai games after the results were already known. Kambi told the division it experienced a connectivity issue that allowed the bets to be accepted after the games were over. An explanation of what Kambi did to address the situation was blacked out in documents released by the division. A month earlier Rush Street took 13 wagers worth $8,150 with pre-match odds on a Professional Golf Association match after the event had already begun. In this case, Kambi told the division a newly hired trader failed to enter the correct closing time time for bets on the event. The trader and a supervisor underwent retraining. DraftKings was fined for taking bets on unapproved events including Russian basketball for nine months in 2020 and 2021. It eventually voided over $61,000 in bets and returned the money to customers after being directed to do so by the state. In this case, Kambi told the division it misidentified this particular Russian basketball league as one that was approved for wagering in New Jersey. DraftKings told the state it did not catch the error, either. In 2020, DraftKings accepted 484 wagers on unapproved table tennis matches. Kambi incorrectly enabled the events for wagering without conditions required by the state, the division said. In Feb. 2022, the division said DraftKings took pre-season NFL bets involving specific players but did not give the state specific information on what information was to be included in the bets, drawing 182 wagers worth nearly $7,000 that were later voided and refunded to customers. ___ Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC Stocks shook off a choppy start to finish higher Monday, Former President Bill Clinton was admitted Monday to Georgetown University New Jersey gambling regulators have handed out $40,000 in fines On Tuesday, Dec. 10, The Business Journal hosted its 11th
