Marrying Human Interaction and AI with Navid Alipour – Healio

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April 20, 2023

43 min listen

Disclosures: Jain reports no relevant financial disclosures. Alipour reports he is the founder of CureMatch.

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In this episode, host Shikha Jain, MD, speaks with CureMatch CEO Navid Alipour about the rise of AI in the health care space, how technology can elevate the ways in which we diagnose and deliver health care and more.

Navid Alipour is the co-founder and CEO of CureMatch, a company focused on artificial intelligence (AI) technology. He is also a founder of an AI-focused VC fund, Analytics Ventures.

Wed love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to Dr. Jain at oncologyoverdrive@healio.com. Follow us on Twitter @HemOncToday and @ShikhaJainMD. Alipour can be reached at curematch.com and curemetrix.com, or on Twitter @CureMatch and @CureMetrix.

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Marrying Human Interaction and AI with Navid Alipour - Healio

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Microsoft reportedly working on its own AI chips that may rival Nvidia’s – The Verge

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Microsoft is reportedly working on its own AI chips that can be used to train large language models and avoid a costly reliance on Nvidia. The Information reports that Microsoft has been developing the chips in secret since 2019, and some Microsoft and OpenAI employees already have access to them to test how well they perform for the latest large language models like GPT-4.

Nvidia is the key supplier of AI server chips right now, with companies racing to buy up these chips and estimates suggesting OpenAI will need more than 30,000 of Nvidias A100 GPUs for the commercialization of ChatGPT. Nvidias latest H100 GPUs are selling for more than $40,000 on eBay, illustrating the demand for high-end chips that can help deploy AI software.

While Nvidia races to build as many as possible to meet demand, Microsoft is reportedly looking in-house and hoping it can save money on its AI push. Microsoft has reportedly accelerated its work on codename Athena, a project to build its own AI chips. While its not clear if Microsoft will ever make these chips available to its Azure cloud customers, the software maker is reportedly planning to make its AI chips available more broadly inside Microsoft and OpenAI as early as next year. Microsoft also reportedly has a road map for the chips that includes multiple future generations.

Microsofts custom SQ1 processor. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Microsofts own AI chips arent said to be direct replacements for Nvidias, but the in-house efforts could cut costs significantly as Microsoft continues its push to roll out AI-powered features in Bing, Office apps, GitHub, and elsewhere.

Microsoft has also been working on its own ARM-based chips for several years. Bloomberg reported in late 2020 that Microsoft was looking at designing its own ARM-based processors for servers and possibly even a future Surface device. We havent seen those ARM chips emerge yet, but Microsoft hasworked with AMD and Qualcommfor custom chips for its Surface Laptop and Surface Pro X devices.

If Microsoft is working on its own AI chips, it would be the latest in a line of tech giants. Amazon, Google, and Meta also have their own in-house chips for AI, but many companies are still relying on Nvidia chips to power the latest large language models.

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Microsoft reportedly working on its own AI chips that may rival Nvidia's - The Verge

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Deepfake porn could be a growing problem amid AI race – The Associated Press

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NEW YORK (AP) Artificial intelligence imaging can be used to create art, try on clothes in virtual fitting rooms or help design advertising campaigns.

But experts fear the darker side of the easily accessible tools could worsen something that primarily harms women: nonconsensual deepfake pornography.

Deepfakes are videos and images that have been digitally created or altered with artificial intelligence or machine learning. Porn created using the technology first began spreading across the internet several years ago when a Reddit user shared clips that placed the faces of female celebrities on the shoulders of porn actors.

Since then, deepfake creators have disseminated similar videos and images targeting online influencers, journalists and others with a public profile. Thousands of videos exist across a plethora of websites. And some have been offering users the opportunity to create their own images essentially allowing anyone to turn whoever they wish into sexual fantasies without their consent, or use the technology to harm former partners.

The problem, experts say, grew as it became easier to make sophisticated and visually compelling deepfakes. And they say it could get worse with the development of generative AI tools that are trained on billions of images from the internet and spit out novel content using existing data.

The reality is that the technology will continue to proliferate, will continue to develop and will continue to become sort of as easy as pushing the button, said Adam Dodge, the founder of EndTAB, a group that provides trainings on technology-enabled abuse. And as long as that happens, people will undoubtedly ... continue to misuse that technology to harm others, primarily through online sexual violence, deepfake pornography and fake nude images.

Noelle Martin, of Perth, Australia, has experienced that reality. The 28-year-old found deepfake porn of herself 10 years ago when out of curiosity one day she used Google to search an image of herself. To this day, Martin says she doesnt know who created the fake images, or videos of her engaging in sexual intercourse that she would later find. She suspects someone likely took a picture posted on her social media page or elsewhere and doctored it into porn.

Horrified, Martin contacted different websites for a number of years in an effort to get the images taken down. Some didnt respond. Others took it down but she soon found it up again.

You cannot win, Martin said. This is something that is always going to be out there. Its just like its forever ruined you.

The more she spoke out, she said, the more the problem escalated. Some people even told her the way she dressed and posted images on social media contributed to the harassment essentially blaming her for the images instead of the creators.

Eventually, Martin turned her attention towards legislation, advocating for a national law in Australia that would fine companies 555,000 Australian dollars ($370,706) if they dont comply with removal notices for such content from online safety regulators.

But governing the internet is next to impossible when countries have their own laws for content thats sometimes made halfway around the world. Martin, currently an attorney and legal researcher at the University of Western Australia, says she believes the problem has to be controlled through some sort of global solution.

In the meantime, some AI models say theyre already curbing access to explicit images.

OpenAI says it removed explicit content from data used to train the image generating tool DALL-E, which limits the ability of users to create those types of images. The company also filters requests and says it blocks users from creating AI images of celebrities and prominent politicians. Midjourney, another model, blocks the use of certain keywords and encourages users to flag problematic images to moderators.

Meanwhile, the startup Stability AI rolled out an update in November that removes the ability to create explicit images using its image generator Stable Diffusion. Those changes came following reports that some users were creating celebrity inspired nude pictures using the technology.

Stability AI spokesperson Motez Bishara said the filter uses a combination of keywords and other techniques like image recognition to detect nudity and returns a blurred image. But its possible for users to manipulate the software and generate what they want since the company releases its code to the public. Bishara said Stability AIs license extends to third-party applications built on Stable Diffusion and strictly prohibits any misuse for illegal or immoral purposes.

Some social media companies have also been tightening up their rules to better protect their platforms against harmful materials.

TikTok said last month all deepfakes or manipulated content that show realistic scenes must be labeled to indicate theyre fake or altered in some way, and that deepfakes of private figures and young people are no longer allowed. Previously, the company had barred sexually explicit content and deepfakes that mislead viewers about real-world events and cause harm.

The gaming platform Twitch also recently updated its policies around explicit deepfake images after a popular streamer named Atrioc was discovered to have a deepfake porn website open on his browser during a livestream in late January. The site featured phony images of fellow Twitch streamers.

Twitch already prohibited explicit deepfakes, but now showing a glimpse of such content even if its intended to express outrage will be removed and will result in an enforcement, the company wrote in a blog post. And intentionally promoting, creating or sharing the material is grounds for an instant ban.

Other companies have also tried to ban deepfakes from their platforms, but keeping them off requires diligence.

Apple and Google said recently they removed an app from their app stores that was running sexually suggestive deepfake videos of actresses to market the product. Research into deepfake porn is not prevalent, but one report released in 2019 by the AI firm DeepTrace Labs found it was almost entirely weaponized against women and the most targeted individuals were western actresses, followed by South Korean K-pop singers.

The same app removed by Google and Apple had run ads on Metas platform, which includes Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. Meta spokesperson Dani Lever said in a statement the companys policy restricts both AI-generated and non-AI adult content and it has restricted the apps page from advertising on its platforms.

In February, Meta, as well as adult sites like OnlyFans and Pornhub, began participating in an online tool, called Take It Down, that allows teens to report explicit images and videos of themselves from the internet. The reporting site works for regular images, and AI-generated content which has become a growing concern for child safety groups.

When people ask our senior leadership what are the boulders coming down the hill that were worried about? The first is end-to-end encryption and what that means for child protection. And then second is AI and specifically deepfakes, said Gavin Portnoy, a spokesperson for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which operates the Take It Down tool.

We have not ... been able to formulate a direct response yet to it, Portnoy said.

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Deepfake porn could be a growing problem amid AI race - The Associated Press

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AI cameras: More than 2 on two-wheelers, even if children, will invite fine – Onmanorama

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Two-wheelers ferrying more than two, including children, will be penalised as the Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras that become operational in Kerala from April 20 will treat those as a traffic violation.

A total of 726 AI cameras have been installed on state and national highways in Kerala.

Transport Commissioner S Sreejith said the fines will be imposed on five types of violations. The fine for more than two persons travelling on a two-wheeler is Rs 2,000.

"More than two persons travelling on a two-wheeler is a traffic violation even now. But a such loose executive of the law will not be allowed once the AI cameras are operational," said S Sreejith.

"Helmetless travel, mobile phone usage, not using seat-belts, red light violation and more than two persons riding a two-wheeler are the violations that will be penalised in the first phase. The visuals of those who follow the rules will not be captured by the cameras," he said.

'Change the culture'The Transport Commissioner said it was about time two-wheeler users adopted safe practices on the road. "We have to stop the culture of ferrying a whole middle-class family in a two-wheeler. If four people need to travel, arrange an appropriate vehicle or use two two-wheelers," said Sreejith.

Bluetooth calls okThe seat-belt usage among front seat passengers will be checked in the first phase, said S Sreejith. "Using the Bluetooth system to make calls will not be a violation. But other practices will be penalised."

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AI cameras: More than 2 on two-wheelers, even if children, will invite fine - Onmanorama

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Upheld complaints – About the ABC

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2023AprilABC News, 7th March 2023Summary published: 4th April 2023

Complaint: A complainant challenged the accuracy of an ABC Newcastle news report which stated that Anambah House in Maitland was being considered for listing on the NSW Heritage Register.

Complaint: An RN listener raised accuracy concerns in relation to a segment Anti-semitism on the rise.

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns that the online story Bruny Island land clearing unites locals in opposition, as developer fined was inaccurate and defamatory.

Complaint: An ABC News Channel viewer complained about the lack of warning prior to distressing footage.

Complaint: An ABC Radio Melbourne listener raised concern that the ABC broadcast a news report on an undercover video released by US-based group Project Veritas and described the group as an investigative news organisation.

Complaint: Two ABC Radio Perth listeners complained that an interview included inappropriate content for the timeslot in which it was aired.

Complaint: Several audience members complained about ABC coverage of a town meeting in Alice Springs. Concerns raised included that coverage unduly favoured one perspective at the meeting that it was racist and failed to fully inform the audience of the range of relevant views at the event. Some complainants also said that an inaccurate estimate of the number of attendees at the meeting was reported.

Complaint: An ABC NewsRadio listener complained that a report inaccurately made a link between Z t-shirts worn by a small number of Australian Open spectators and antisemitism.

Complaint: An ABC Radio listener complained that a news report provided an inaccurate reason as to why the Australian public will be voting in a referendum on the Voice to Parliament.

Complaint: A triple j listener challenged the accuracy of a News report about a Sam Smith concert paid for by the South Australian government.

Complaint: An audience member complained that a report from the Garma Festival in 2022 inaccurately stated that Aboriginal Australians were granted citizenship under the 1967 Referendum.

Complaint: Two listeners complained that the presenter was critical of the gifting of watches by the former CEO of Australia Post while endorsing the former Prime Minister Scott Morrison for his actions regarding the matter.

Complaint: Two viewers challenged the accuracy of a statement that Australia is the largest carbon emitter per capita in the world.

Complaint: An ABC Radio Hobart listener challenged the accuracy of statements made by the presenter in relation to the late mining magnate Lang Hancock and his daughter Gina Rinehart.

Complaint: Two online readers complained that the ABC North West Qld story Queensland kangaroo harvesters struggling to keep up with demand lacked impartiality and contained multiple inaccuracies.

Complaint: An ABC Far North listener complained that a segment included inappropriate commercial references.

Complaint: Two complainants raised privacy concerns in relation to a story about a court hearing: Gregory Roser claims he feared for his own life as he fed Bruce Saunderss body through woodchipper.

Complaint: An ABC Radio Brisbane listener expressed concern about the inclusion of coarse language in a segment.

Complaint: A Double J listener complained that a track with inappropriate content was played on a Sunday afternoon.

Complaint: An ABC Central Victoria listener complained that a court report relating to charges of sexual assault and rape included inappropriately explicit details of the alleged offences.

Complaint: A complainant said that the report Flood victims frustrated at lack of buyback detail inaccurately stated that the NSW Independent Flood Inquiry 2022 criticised the Bureau of Meteorologys rain and river gauges as not fit for purpose.

Complaint: An ABC Radio Sydney listener pointed out inaccuracies across two segments in relation to a recent overseas trip by the Prime Minister.

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns about ABC Gippsland Breakfast content, including that it inaccurately associated the East Gippsland Shire Councils Service Centre and Library Review with its Draft Budget, that the presenter expressed a biased view, and that the Council was not afforded a timely right of reply to claims made about its Draft Budget proposal to increase charges for the Raymond Island ferry.

Complaint: Two complainants raised concerns about an ABC Sport story originally published with the headline Trans womens participation in sport has been framed as an election issue. This is what the science says. The concerns included that the story inaccurately minimised performance differences in sport between cisgender and transgender women and that it lacked impartiality.

Complaint: A viewer expressed concern that a story on the heatwave in Europe included footage from Spain that showed a man on fire running from a wildfire that was gaining momentum.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a story which focussed on a violent confrontation between the Israeli police and mourners at the funeral of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh lacked context and showed anti-Israel bias.

Complaint: An ABC RN listener complained that a news item stated that The Palestinian Authority advised that a seventeen year old youth was shot by Israeli troops but failed to present comment from the Israeli authorities.

Complaint: A viewer expressed concern that a report on coercive control inappropriately included footage of the burning car in which a victim and her three children were murdered.

Complaint: A listener complained that a caller to the program made false claims regarding COVID-19 death statistics and vaccinations without being corrected by the program presenter.

Complaint: An online reader complained that the headline of an ABC Rural story about a cotton grower who was fined by the water regulator for stealing water inaccurately stated that the grower was fined for stealing water in drought.

Complaint: Four viewers complained that a report about an AFL players conduct that caused him to receive a fine from the Collingwood Football Club inappropriately included offensive footage of the players behaviour.

Complaint: Four viewers complained that reports inaccurately described Nick Kyrgios as having a chance to become the first Australian since Lleyton Hewitt twenty years ago to win the Wimbledon tournament.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a report inaccurately stated that millions of Russians had left Russia due to the conflict with Ukraine.

Complaint: An ABC NewsRadio listener challenged the accuracy of a reporters reference to Victorians being subject to no grounds evictions.

Complaint: An online reader complained that the story Anthony Albanese extends term of General Angus Campbell as Chief of the Defence Force inaccurately stated that the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Forces (IGADF) Afghanistan Inquiry report found that Australian special forces murdered at least 39 prisoners and civilians during the Afghanistan war.

Complaint: An online reader complained that the story Scott Morrisons use of blessed thrust NDIS back into spotlight, raising questions neither side is prepared to answer inaccurately stated that there is no Medicare-style levy to help pay for the NDIS.

Complaint: A listener complained that a caller to the program made racist comments and that the presenter failed to challenge or correct him.

Complaint: A complainant said that a triple j newsreader misrepresented Simon Holmes Courts involvement in funding the teal independent candidates campaigns in the 2022 federal election.

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns about a discussion of the Bureau of Meteorologys operations, funding and infrastructure. The concerns included that the discussion inappropriately called into question the scientific integrity and authority of the Bureau and enabled non-experts to speculate on important matters of public safety without the Bureau being afforded an opportunity to participate. The complaint identified a number of statements expressed in the discussion which the complainant considered inaccurate.

Complaint: Several audience members complained that ABC News coverage presented across a range of programs and services inaccurately referred to a train shutdown in New South Wales as a strike.

Complaint: A complainant expressed concern about coverage of an incident in which a child was injured in a play centre. The complaint went to accuracy, impartiality, privacy and harm and offence.

Complaint: A complaint from multiple signatories raised concerns that an interview about tensions between Ukraine and Russia did not provide listeners with sufficient context about the interviewees support of the Russian leadership and its policies and repeatedly allowed him to present contestable and prejudicial opinions as facts.

Complaint: An online reader complained that the story originally headlined NT Government proposes changes that would require more builders to hold university qualifications inaccurately stated that builders would need university qualifications.

Complaint: A listener complained that a commentator made sexist comments about AFLW players.

Complaint: An ABC Radio Perth listener complained that finance reports over several days incorrectly gave the ASX figures when referring to the All Ordinaries index figures.

Complaint: An ABC Far North Queensland listener complained that an edition of Breakfast which featured coverage of the governments proposed Religious Discrimination Bill lacked balance and impartiality.

Complaint: An online reader complained that a Chinese language ABC News story was misleading and showed support for Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Complaint: A complainant raised several concerns in relation to the story Defence confirms criminal investigation into conduct of Australian commando platoon in Afghanistan, including that it contained false and misleading information.

Complaint: An ABC NewsRadio listener complained that The Hon Peter Dutton MP was inaccurately referred to as a backbencher in a news report.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a segment included misinformation in that images of US commentator Ben Shapiro were shown at the same time as reference was made to various conservative influencers in the US having made claims that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was part of a government plan to repress unvaccinated populations.

Complaint: Two listeners complained that the program included racist and offensive content.

Complaint: Nine ABC Sport listeners complained that a cricket commentator made inappropriate and sexist comments.

Complaint: A listener complained that a story Trans lives matter: Netflix staff walk off the job included factual errors, misrepresentation, and was biased.

Complaint: An ABC Radio Perth listener complained that a segment about an anti-vaccination protest at a school included an allegation that was subsequently treated as fact.

Complaint: A viewer complained that an item about a disagreement between the commonwealth and state and territory governments over hospital funding during the COVID crisis omitted relevant context and lacked impartiality.

Complaint: A complainant challenged the accuracy of a triple j Hack website post published with the headline Why is the internet so shit in the regions? The complainant also questioned the tone of the headline and its wilful mistaking of pure political spin for established fact.

Complaint: A complainant said that a story inaccurately reported his testimony to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The complainant made a subsequent complaint that a correction to the story introduced a further error.

Complaint: An audience member complained that the story What is the Elf on the Shelf and where did the Christmas tradition come from? amounted to an advertorial for a commercial product.

Complaint: A complainant said that an ABC Radio Sydney segment included misleading and inaccurate claims and provided a platform for the promotion of illegal mountain bike riding.

Complaint: A complainant said that he was mischaracterised as a conservative Christian doctor from Idaho, who specializes in diabetes in the segment The Australians transgender coverage.

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns about a story initially published with the headline Josh Frydenberg was alerted less than three months into JobKeeper that unqualified companies were receiving support, including that it contained inaccuracies, was misleading, mischaracterised JobKeeper, lacked impartiality and sought to discredit the scheme.

Complaint: A complainant raised concern that the article After leaving her marriage Maya ended up homeless and locked out of her accounts included unverified and false claims.

Complaint: An online reader complained that an analysis piece, originally published with the headline Are climate change warriors fuelling the rise of COVID 19 anti-vaxxers?, linked support for action on climate change with anti-vaccination activism without providing evidence for such a link.

Complaint: Three ABC Radio Adelaide listeners complained about an interview with an ABC presenter about his book, which included a discussion about sex work in South Australia. Concerns raised were that the interview included inaccuracies as well as degrading and misogynistic comments.

Complaint: An ABC Far North Queensland listener raised concerns about an interview with a member of Reignite Democracy Australia (RDA), including that dangerous misinformation was broadcast without being adequately challenged.

Complaint: Two viewers complained that a presenters new book was inappropriately promoted.

Complaint: A listener complained that news updates aired on ABC Radio Brisbane incorrectly stated that hundreds of people were killed in the 11 September 2001 attacks when the toll was close to three thousand.

Complaint: An ABC Far North Queensland listener complained that a contributor to a segment made racist comments and that the presenter failed to call the contributor out.

Complaint: A complainant said that the ABC Sport story Swimming Australia faces questions after tough week, but allegations of toxic culture need backing up contained numerous inaccuracies and lacked balance.

Complaint: An ABC Radio Brisbane listener complained that during discussion of the appointment of Queenslands Chief Health Officer as that states next Governor, the presenter inaccurately stated that the Queensland constitution had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and implied that the appointment was improper.

Complaint: A complainant expressed concern that during an interview with an academic on ABC Radio Newcastle, inaccurate claims were made around the use and effectiveness of ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment.

Complaint: Former Senator Cory Bernardi complained that an edition of the program included misleading and false allegations about him and that he was not given a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations.

Complaint: A complainant raised accuracy and impartiality concerns in relation to a range of ABC coverage of issues relating to timber harvesting by VicForests.

Complaint: A complainant raised accuracy and impartiality concerns in relation to the ABC News story Superannuation changes have passed Parliament. Here's what that means.

Complaint: A complainant challenged the accuracy of an ABC Radio Sydney presenters statement that the Institute of Public Affairs was funded by Rupert Murdoch. The complainant also raised concern that the program made allegations without providing a fair opportunity to respond.

Complaint: An audience member expressed concern that the episode Women of the Revolution available on ABC iview unnecessarily included violent content and that a warning was not provided.

Complaint: A complainant said that an online video about the launch of the HMAS Supply was edited in way that falsely implied a dance group performed in front of dignitaries.

Complaint: A listener complained that radio news reports on AFL results inaccurately stated that St Kilda defeated Melbourne by eighteen points.

Complaint: Three viewers complained that a sports report broadcast on Good Friday included comments that were insensitive and offensive to Christians.

Complaint: An ABC News Channel viewer complained about the inclusion of distressing details in a report on the sentencing of a woman who killed her mother.

Complaint: Two ABC Radio Adelaide listeners complained that a news bulletin included instances of swearing by the news presenter.

Complaint: A listener complained that a report on the trial of the former police officer charged with the murder of US man George Floyd included inappropriate content without warning.

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns about the story JobKeeper payments for prisoners, the dead and other fraud cases probed by ATO, including that it was inaccurate on several counts, was sensationalised and misleading, lacked impartiality, and undermined the ABCs integrity.

Complaint: An ABC Radio Sydney listener complained that a presenter made comments that were offensive and racist.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a story about domestic violence and concussion included a dramatisation that was offensive and gratuitous.

Complaint: An online reader complained that the article The rise of Aldi: two decades that changed supermarket shopping in Australia appeared to be PR marketing for the company.

Complaint: Two complainants raised concerns about an edition of ABC Radio Melbournes The Conversation Hour titled Should Victorians eat kangaroo if its a native Australian animal? The concerns included that the program contained inaccuracies and that it favoured the consumption of kangaroo meat and the commercial slaughter of kangaroos.

Complaint: An ABC Radio listener complained that news reports inaccurately stated that a planned reduction in JobSeeker payments would affect two million Australians.

Complaint: An online reader expressed concern that the ABC Illawarra story Help escaping domestic violence, a simple bag of essentials called Escape bags included an insensitive and inappropriate subheading.

Complaint: Four complainants raised concerns about a story on the 2021 Victorian duck hunting season. Concerns included that the story contained inaccuracies, lacked balance and was biased against duck hunters.

Complaint: Two triple j listeners raised concerns about an interview with the front man for System of a Down, including that he made unsupported and one-sided claims about contemporary and historical conflicts between Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Complaint: Three complainants raised several concerns about an ABC Science article Deforestation in Australia: how does your state (or territory) compare?. The concerns included that the article contained inaccuracies, was misleading and was biased against forestry activities.

Complaint: A viewer expressed concern that a report covering the trial of a woman accused of murder included disturbing details.

Complaint: An ABC NEWS Channel viewer complained that an edited clip was shown during coverage of the US Presidential election campaign which misrepresented remarks made by candidate Joe Biden.

Complaint: Three ABC NEWS Channel viewers complained about a banner on a story about Cardinal George Pells return to Rome, which referred to Cardinal Pell as disgraced.

Complaint: A listener complained that a commentators reference to Gorilla Grip adhesive during a game in the AFL Indigenous round had racist implications as well as being a form of product placement.

Complaint: A complainant raised a number of concerns in relation to the publication of her opinion piece on the ABC Religion and Ethics website. The concerns included that the piece she submitted to the ABC was passed on without her knowledge or consent to a lobby group which was commissioned to write a response.

Complaint: An ABC NEWS Channel viewer expressed concern that a story on unrest in Belarus included distressing images of a mans injuries without warning.

Complaint: Several listeners complained that the program host made inaccurate claims in relation to state border controls which were in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some also complained that the hosts comments reflected bias.

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Upheld complaints - About the ABC

New Book Offers the CATHOLIC Case for ID – Discovery Institute

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Image: Thomas Aquinas, via Aquinas.Design.

We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary.

Order a copy now or download a free chapter.

The world indeed, the universe is charged with grandeur. Everything speaks of its beauty, power, and purpose of its exquisite and intelligent design. Yet many scientists today flatly deny that the world was intelligently designed. Even some Christian scientists and theologians downplay or deny the evidence nature supplies of intelligent design, especially in biology. Out today from Sophia Institute Press, Gods Grandeur: The Catholic Case for Intelligent Design is a thought-provoking anthology that shows why they are wrong, why it matters, and why intelligent design provides a compelling way to reconcile science and faith in todays culture.

Of interest to Catholics and non-Catholics alike, Gods Grandeurchallenges the claim that Gods design in nature is hidden and cannot be detected. It presents convincing scientific evidence of intelligent design in cosmology, the origin of life, and biology. It clears up common misunderstandings about how Catholic theology relates to debates over science, evolution, and intelligent design.

Edited by Discovery Institute biologistAnn Gauger,Gods Grandeurfeatures chapters by an array of distinguished Catholic scientists, philosophers, theologians, and laypeople, including Lehigh University biochemistMichael Behe, author ofDarwins Black BoxandDarwin Devolves; award-winning brain surgeonMichael Egnor; noted theologianJohn Bergsma, author ofStunned by Scripture: How the Bible Made Me CatholicandA Catholic Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament;Fr. Pedro Barrajn, LC, Rector of the European University in Rome;Jay Richards, co-author ofThe Privileged Planetand editor ofGod and Evolution; Fr.Michael Chaberek, author ofAquinas and Evolution;Benjamin Wiker, author ofThe Catholic Church and Scienceand Director of Human Life Studies at Franciscan University of Steubenville; philosopherJ. Budziszewski, author of numerous commentaries on works by Thomas Aquinas for Cambridge University Press;Bruce Chapman, founder and chairman of Discovery Institute; andAnthony Esolen, translator ofDantes Divine Comedyand author ofReclaiming Catholic Social Teaching,The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization, and other books.

Gods Grandeurstimulates us all to investigate current scientific knowledge with the question of how a loving God made His most beloved children. Since we are not an accident, then how we came to be is a most important question of our times. Surely this discussion needs to occur with vigor and intellectual honesty within the Church itself.

The most compelling case yet for an intentional and intelligent Designer.

Without an acknowledgement of intelligent design, one cannot have an objective ethic which is universally binding on all people. This book should be read by every teacher in Catholic schools, and essays from the book should be assigned to students in the upper grades. These essays will contribute greatly to confirming in peoples minds that there is a Creator God who can be known by the intelligibility of what we encounter in the order of nature and that living out an objective morality is essential for human happiness.

A most welcome gift to all of us who have been searching for a long time for a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to this fascinating and important subject.

A new science-faith synthesis is needed, andGods Grandeuroffers a welcome contribution to the formation of this synthesis.

Gods Grandeur shows up the lack of empirical evidence for Darwinism and specifically makes clear to Catholics what are the philosophical and theological consequences of kowtowing to it. I hope that many Catholics (and other truth seekers) will read it.

InGods Grandeur,scientists of all kinds will help you to see and appreciate the grandeur of the divine art and the Divine Artist. Thanks be to God for these Catholics, all professionals in their respective fields, who have the courage to bring the light of truth to shine This collection of essays should be read and reread by every Catholic Bishop and educator in America!

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New Book Offers the CATHOLIC Case for ID - Discovery Institute

House Republicans Target Bragg, NYC ‘Crime Wave’ in Field Trip to … – The New York Sun

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House Republicans holding a field hearing Monday in downtown Manhattan on crime in New York City are expected to wade into the debate over bail and criminal justice reform measures at the state level that some in law enforcement say are making the job of policing the city harder instead of easier.

After President Trump was indicted last month by the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, the House Judiciary Committee announced that it would hold the hearing to examine Mr. Braggs track record in keeping criminals off the streets as he targets Mr. Trump. The committee is headed by an Ohio Republican, James Comer, who is one of Mr. Trumps most vociferous supporters on Capitol Hill.

In an appearance on MSNBCs The Sunday Show, the New York police commissioner, Keechant Sewell, said that violent crime is actually down in the city, but the perception remains that it is less safe now than it was only a couple years ago. He said bail reform measures that make it harder to keep people incarcerated championed by Democrats in New Yorks capital, Albany, are complicating the job of policing the city.

There are a limited number of people in this city that continue to commit a disproportionate number of crimes, Ms. Sewell said. I have said over and over again that judges should have the ability to determine whether someone is a public safety threat, when they determine whether they should remand, set bail, or release.

I think those [bail] reforms were well-meaning, but there are people taking advantage of those reforms, and its causing detriment to our city, the commissioner added.

Ms. Sewells comments come the same day that the New York Times reported that a substantial number of shoplifting arrests in the city in 2022 involved a small number of repeat offenders. A study by the police department found that only 327 people were responsible for nearly a third of all shoplifting arrests last year. Collectively, those 327 people were arrested more than 6,000 times during the year and released to reoffend almost immediately.

Despite the decline in violent crime, petty theft rates in New York have been skyrocketing in recent years. Complaints have nearly doubled over the past five years, peaking at 64,000 last year. Only about 34 percent resulted in arrests, about half of the rate of arrests only five years ago. Under New York law, shoplifting less than $1,000 of merchandise is considered a misdemeanor.

Criminal justice reform advocates argue that shoplifting is a victimless crime borne out of necessity by people either struggling financially or trying to feed an addiction. Police, though, say the crime increasingly is being carried out by organized criminal gangs and repeat offenders, most of whom escape jail time under new bail laws in the state.

The Times reported that these smash and grab gangs that often break windows and grab expensive items in display windows disproportionately targeted specific stores last year. Seven chain pharmacies and 18 department stores accounted for about 20 percent of all shoplifting complaints.

Small retailers in the city are also scared, the Times reports, and are often powerless to stop the shoplifting. One of the witnesses expected to testify at Mondays judiciary committee hearing is bodega owner Jose Alba, who was charged by Mr. Bragg with murder after he stabbed an assailant who assaulted him in his store last year.

Mr. Alba spend several days at New Yorks infamous Rikers Island jail when he was unable to come up with the $250,000 bail demanded by Mr. Braggs office. Following public pressure in the case, the charges were dropped.

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House Republicans Target Bragg, NYC 'Crime Wave' in Field Trip to ... - The New York Sun

As I See It: Guns, drugs and death in America – Pine and Lakes Echo Journal

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For any law that prohibits or inhibits previously accepted or allowed behavior to be effective, it must be logical, proportional, enforceable and actually enforced.

If it meets those criteria, it has a good chance of being accepted by most of the populace. If it fails to meet one or more of those criteria, it will prove to be ineffective.

But the political forces behind the ineffective laws will congratulate themselves and eventually try again without learning the lessons of past failures. The history of gun control laws in the United States pretty much demonstrates that fact.

The only certain way to eliminate these crimes is to totally prohibit private ownership of guns and we know that is unachievable in our country.

If much stricter gun control laws would drastically reduce the tragedy of individual and mass shootings in the United States, I would most certainly support them.

But they will not, because the real problems that result in death resulting from firearms are deeply rooted in our culture.

While were looking for all things like systemic racism, we might want to notice the systemic anger and hatred permeating our fellow men and women.

Pour into this all the recent societal disruption of abortion, national elections, COVID-19, woke, gender versus sexual identity and others, and some measure of chaos is unavoidable.

The following statistics are from different years, but they are close enough for effective comparison. In 2020, gun deaths totaled 45,222; 54% were suicides and 47% were murders. The remaining 3% were the result of law enforcement actions or undetermined.

The real headline getter is now mass shootings. Im not saying they shouldnt be reported, but they shouldnt be goryfied or glorified to the point that another disturbed individual decides he, she, him or her wants their name in lights with a higher body count.

Drugs play their own part in gun deaths.

We seek to convince ourselves that illegal drugs are victimless crimes that should not be prosecuted; besides, those laws are difficult to enforce.

Deaths from drug overdoses are now close to 100,000 per year an estimated 1 million have died from drug overdoses since 1999.

It doesnt seem to matter to us that much of the illegal drug trade involves child labor, coercion of native populations, political and law enforcement corruption that puts Al Capone to shame, turf wars that kill more Blacks than any other races and perhaps as many innocent bystanders as guilty drug runners and dealers.

Meanwhile, from the fentanyl labs in China, to the poppy fields of Afghanistan, and on to the coca plantations of South America, and within our own harmless marijuana fields and farms the producers produce and peddle their mind-altering wares, adding other dangerous substances to get you higher and higher before you spin, crash and burn in an ash heap of another wasted human life!

Is this the freedom you aspire to live?

The grand prize for death will always go to abortion! In the United States alone in 2019, 630,000 children were aborted. They are not something less than human, they are real human beings.

I will never stop writing and speaking about the evils of abortion simply because it is truly evil.

After Satan enticed Eve to take a bite of the apple and she convinced Adam to do the same, radical feminist philosophers have moved way beyond that to convince others that their body matters more than any other on the face of the planet even more than the child growing within her that will leave a part of himself or herself inside her until death.

What is it inside of us that convinces most of us that we are somehow better, more righteous, more worthy, more deserving, more anything than any other person on the planet?

These feelings of superiority lead to discrimination, racism, anger, hatred, envy and other forms of pure evil.

Show me the politicians, political parties or anyone in power who is actually working to change the culture to eliminate these evils.

Seems like the few who are trying to help are drowned out in the cacophony of resistance from all those who profit from evil.

Thats the way I see it.

Echo Journal Columnist / Pete Abler

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As I See It: Guns, drugs and death in America - Pine and Lakes Echo Journal

Glamourizing fraudsters hurts victims of fraud, and society – tripwire.com

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We seem to be fascinated by fraudsters, and recent documentaries prove this. The documentary landscape is populated with many fraud-centered stories, such as The Tinder Swindler, Fyre, The Con, Fake Heiress, The Inventor, and many others. Some have even been made into series, such as the story of Elisabeth Holmes in The Dropout, and the story of Anna Delvey in Inventing Anna. We just cant get enough of it, and who can blame us? These stories are fascinating, entertaining, and engaging. We want to know how these fraudsters achieved their deceptive goals, and how they managed to fool so many people. And whilst part of this fascination may be down to consuming knowledge and wanting to know what to avoid, should such situations happen to us, there are parts that are deeply worrying. Some fraudsters have started to get our admiration and sympathy, while their victims received the blame for the victimization.

I recently watched Inventing Anna, a Netflix series about the frauds committed by Anna Sorokin, also known as Anna Delvey, who stole large sums of money from various people and establishments. Whilst it is debatable to what degree Netflix followed and depicted the actual events, what alarmed me was their depiction of one of Annas victims, who is currently suing Netflix for this very reason. The series glamourized Annas fraudulent endeavors and depicted her as clever, interesting, and mysterious; someone who we wanted to figure out and understand. At the same time, one of the victims was painted as greedy, and blamed for selling their story and profiting from the experience.

Victims of fraud already suffer unfair treatment by the society and the authorities. They are often seen as gullible, stupid, and greedy. This paints fraud, which is a terrible and often cunning crime, as a victimless crime. Since there are no visible injuries, people assume that the victim emerges unscathed, but this is wrong. Fraud victims experience a lot of pain and anguish, often suffering long-term consequences as well. Apart from the financial loss, which can cause terrible financial troubles for the victim, e.g., financial hardship, homelessness, bad credit etc., there are unseen, psychological consequences caused by deception. These include self-blame, long-lasting anger, disappointment, and loss of trust in society and fellow humans. Deception erodes innocence and trust and lowers ones empathy towards people. Once you are scammed, you will never see the world the same way. Victims suffer from hypervigilance, cynicism, and mistrust, avoiding certain activities they associate with victimization and closing themselves off as a way of protection. And on top of that, they have to deal with being seen as gullible or greedy by society. Whilst victims of other crimes have our sympathy, this is a luxury many fraud victims dont get. Therefore, many fraud victims keep the victimization a secret.

What people dont understand is that deception fraudsters use is extremely harmful. Anna created a persona to prime her victims for fraud. This was also the Tinder Swindlers modus operandi. Money taken from people is used to create a wealthy and generous persona, so that the con can continue, and victims dont suspect anything when they are asked for money. Essentially, this is akin to a pyramid scheme, only the money is invested in building a persona.

Generosity extended to potential victims during fraud is not generosity or friendship, it is a type of grooming. And moreover, it is grooming with money gained by defrauding other people. In this grooming stage, fraudsters do favors for their victims or buy them elaborate gifts. But make no mistake, rather than being generous, they are using a specific persuasion technique to gain power over the victim. This not only builds trust, but also establishes expectations.

The false generosity and unsolicited gifts are how fraudsters slowly groom the intended victim to feel obliged to return the favor at some point. This is why we often feel uncomfortable when someone gives us something for free. Reciprocity is a social norm which is ingrained in us. Subconsciously we know that we need to reciprocate favors, because this is what decent people do. Those that dont are seen as selfish and self-centered, and most people will reciprocate even when they dont want to, in order to avoid cognitive dissonance, e.g., being seen as selfish.

Scammers know this and use this persuasive psychological technique all the time, with much success. Typically, the longer they groom the victim and more money they invest in grooming and creating a persona, e.g., expensive clothes, expensive vehicles, expensive things etc., the bigger the payout is. But many people dont understand that this is not true generosity, it is an elaborate scamming technique.

Thus, blaming the victim for accepting fraudsters generosity is wrong. The victim was sold a believable lie. That is their only weakness. The gifts, and the false generosity are a part of a grooming stage. People that defraud others are not friends, they are criminals who use psychological manipulation. We can be fascinated by their techniques, even learn to avoid them, but fraudsters should not get our sympathy at the expense of their victims.

Despite suffering psychological and financial consequences, fraud victims get little justice or attention after reporting the crime. Many are passed between agencies. Almost all crimes can be reported to police, but in most cases, fraud isnt one of them. Finding the right avenue to report specific fraud to can be frustrating and confusing. Often, reporting fraud is handled by specific reporting agencies, such as Action Fraud in the UK, and State Consumer Protection Office or the Federal Trade Commission in the U.S. After making the report, many fraud victims reach a dead end. There are usually no updates on the case, no information on whether any investigation will take place, no dedicated detective you can reach to find out how the case is going. Nothing but silence. This can be disheartening, especially as reporting is already low due to feelings of shame. Additionally, some of these agencies have received bad reputations for their unfair and cruel treatment of fraud victims.

Fraud is also rarely prosecuted. Only about 3% of all U.S. federal prosecutions are for white collar crimes. And when it is prosecuted, fraudsters typically get paltry sentences. For example, Anna Delvey was sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison but was released after two years. This must be especially hurtful to the victims and businesses she defrauded, because she showed little remorse or guilt for her actions. In fact, Anna even stated that she doesnt see anything wrong with what she has done; she doesnt see it as a crime. Similarly, Tinder Swindlers 15 month sentence was already lenient, but he ended up serving only 5 months for allegedly defrauding many women, totaling as much as $10 million.

Fraud can be difficult and complex to prosecute. It often crosses borders, so jurisdiction can be difficult to establish. For example, fraudsters commit fraud in several countries or from another country, which adds to the complexity of the crime. But low prosecution rates are also down to the fact that as a society, we see fraud as a victimless crime, especially when it happens to private individuals. But it is not. Many research studies, mine included (Dove 2018, Button, Lewis, and Tapley, 2014, Button, and Cross, 2017), outlined harmful effects of fraud, some of which included suicide, financial ruin, and severe psychological consequences, including impact to self-esteem. These consequences can be harder to recover from, than physical injuries, especially when victims are made to feel shame and are criticized when they speak up.

Speaking about fraud victimization is vital. It helps to warn people of fraudulent schemes and manipulations and gives fraud victims that speak up about their experience a voice, and a little bit of their power back. But how we speak about fraud victimization matters. Glamourizing clever fraudsters normalizes fraud and makes it appear somewhat acceptable; criticizing victims does too. Fraud is a crime. But despite being found guilty of a serious crime, Annas lawyer said she is seen as a role model by many people, and he is probably right. But should we praise and look up to people who deceive and defraud others, and falsify documents to procure loans and overdrafts. After all, this hurts us all in the end. As a result, procedures become more arduous and complicated, people become more cynical and bitter, affecting how we trust and cooperate with each other. This may affect and limit future opportunities and growth.

When we sympathize with fraudsters, we are saying that some types of crimes are acceptable as long as the criminal is charismatic, well dressed, or smart. When we criticize fraud victims for falling for a scam or for speaking out, we are saying that some people deserve to be defrauded and that they should accept their fate. But ask yourself why do you feel this way? If a charming and mysterious fraudster stole your parents life savings, would you still feel they deserved it for not being more vigilant or more careful? What about if the same fraudster befriended them, gave them gifts, took them out for dinners and then stole their pension? Would that make it OK? Would you blame your parents for accepting gifts and friendship or would you see them as victims of a conman that was good at deception and manipulation? Sometimes, fraud needs to strike close to home for us to realize that it is a dirty game, full of tricks and psychological manipulations.

The way we think about fraud and the way we punish fraud matters. An insensitive society, and paltry prison sentences ensures that fraud is seen as relatively risk-free and less morally wrong than other types of crimes, helping it flourish. Fraud is not a victimless crime. Its also not a crime that affects only direct victims. We all pay for fraud through higher interest and insurance rates, or higher prices for goods and services. Therefore, instead of blaming victims of fraud and focusing on their behavior, we should be shaming fraudsters.

Editors Note:The opinions expressed in this guest author article are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of Tripwire, Inc.

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Glamourizing fraudsters hurts victims of fraud, and society - tripwire.com

Stolen Irish Identities On Sale For 25 On The Dark Web – Extra.ie

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Irish identities are being stolen and sold online for 25, the Irish Daily Mail can reveal.

Major data breaches have resulted in a significant number of Irish customers bank login details, passwords, PPS numbers and addresses being packaged together and the information sold on the dark web.

The package, which is referred to as a fullz in criminal slang, contains a persons real name, address, and form of ID. Credit card numbers, copies of passports and drivers licences are also on sale.

Niamh Davenport, from the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI), said: You can buy credit card details on there for something like 10 pounds or euro. Now, that card might not work but some people think its worth the risk. Theres a cost-of-living crisis. Someone might be using that card for relatively small amounts, maybe something like going to going to Tesco and putting food on the table.

People think this is a victimless crime and that the person whose money you are taking will get it back from the bank but that is not always the case.

The availability of data on the dark web is really brazen. Weve seen all sorts but people dont really know who theyre giving that money to.

Ms Davenport also explained that the use of money mules people who allow their accounts to be used to move illegally obtained money between bank accounts has also become a huge problem.

She said: Younger people especially dont really see the problem with it. They think its a few bob in their pockets. But they can be helping drug dealers or even human traffickers.

Sources told the Irish Daily Mail that officers attached to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) are aware of the trade in identities and are actively investigating.

However, probes into these crimes can prove difficult. Often many people do not make an official statement to garda if they have been scammed following their data being used and others dont even know they had been targeted.

Those advertising the details for sale are charging relatively small sums of money for the information. However, this is due to risk and rewards factors associated with the illegal sale of documents and details such as credit cards.

A security source with knowledge of the investigative practices explained why people place these details online instead of using them for their own personal gain.

He said: Most people posting credit card details online are not just taking one persons details and putting them online.

The vast majority of people have a massive amount of information that has been scraped from data breaches. So, while you can put something up for 25, this seller will be advertising hundreds if not thousands of these. They also minimise the risk of not being caught as they deal solely in cryptocurrency which is notoriously difficult to track.

The National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) liaises with the GNECB and regularly sends bulletins regarding people who they suspect are involved in some form of fraud.

Many of the scammers are also hard to nail down as they use cryptocurrency for their transactions. The more organised crime gangs also hire money mules to move their illicit cash.

In recent weeks, large volumes of information were posted following a data breach at the Munster Technical University. It is believed that the breach allowed the fraudsters to access financial details and medical records.

It is not known if personal data from that breach is among that being sold on the dark web. Other ways in which information gets stolen is through traditional phishing emails and smishing (fraudulent text messages).

A huge Facebook hack in 2021 resulted in more than 500 million people having their details stolen and placed online for sale.

A source with knowledge of the investigation into these scammers told the Irish Daily Mail: Its the case that data from any hack in the last few years will end up online. Someone has a site on the dark web where you can search the data via name, address and phone number.

There is also a lot of data harvested via phishing and smishing. It costs around 50 to send 10,000 text messages.

If you get 100 people to bite, the original scammer might use 10 full sets of personal information and sell the rest.

A BOI spokesman said: Monitoring of the dark web is a standard fraud detection and prevention measure undertaken by the bank.

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Stolen Irish Identities On Sale For 25 On The Dark Web - Extra.ie

Designer clothing fraudster bought historic Hampstead house – This is Local London

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Arif Patel and 23 members of his criminal empirehave been convicted of fraud worth some 150 million.

Patel, 55, used the proceeds to buy property across Preston and London including a five-storey terrace on Pilgrims Lane in Hampstead.

The property once belonged to Edwardian painter Sir William Nicholson and has a blue plaque signifying that he lived therebetween 1904 and 1906.

The neighbourhood is one of the most exclusive in the entire country, with Harry Styles and Benedict Cumberbatch living nearby.

Former residents of Pilgrims Lane also include ex-Labour leader Michael Foot and cellist Jaqueline du Pr.

Patel and his gang tried to steal 97 million through VAT repayment claims on false exports of textiles and mobile phones.

They also imported and sold fake designer clothes that would have been worth at least 50 million if they were genuine.

On April 11 Patel was found guilty of false accounting, conspiracy to cheat the public revenue, the onward sale of counterfeit clothing and money laundering.

He was convicted in his absence as he remained in Dubai throughout his trial, after he travelled there in July 2011 and never returned.

Mohamed Jaffar Ali, 58, from Dubai, was also found guilty of conspiracy to cheat the Revenue and money laundering.

HMRC has recovered more than 78 million of the gangs UK assets and signalled their intention to recover more proceeds of their crimes.

Richard Las, director of the Fraud Investigation Service atHMRC, said: These guilty verdicts close a significant chapter in one of the biggest tax fraud cases ever investigated by HMRC.

For more than a decade HMRC and our partners have worked tirelessly and together to bring this gang to justice.

Arif Patel lived a lavish lifestyle at the expense of the law-abiding majority. Tax crime is not victimless and fraudsters like this pair steal the money that funds the NHS and other vital public services we all rely on.

Our work doesnt stop here. We have more than 78 million of the gangs UK assets restrained and have begun the process to recover all those proceeds of crime.

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Designer clothing fraudster bought historic Hampstead house - This is Local London

Releasing prisoners to honour Ramadan – The Malaysian Insight

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DURING Ramadan the gates of heaven are opened and that of hell closed, with the devils chained for added measure, goes an ahadith. That reflects Allahs generosity. It is also a soothing balm for believers who have lost their loved ones during this holy month. To me however, that prophetic wisdom encapsulates the essence of Ramadan a season for charity, forgiveness, and generosity.

It is no surprise that many Muslim countries grant clemency to their prisoners during Ramadan. Iran, as in past years, pardoned thousands, a magnanimity worthy of an Islamic state. The late Shah Pahlavi imprisoned and tortured many, especially his opponents during Ramadan, mocking its sanctity. The Saudis, already with the highest per capita execution rates, also have a similar forgiveness programme during Ramadan. That aside, they created an uproar recently when in an unprecedented action executed a prisoner during this holy month.

Self-professed Islamic Malaysia has yet to demonstrate such magnanimity. The best she could muster was in 2009, when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong deferred the caning of one Kartika Shukarno till after Ramadan. Her crime? Drinking beer in public!

Caning is cruel, inhuman, and degrading, an affront to human dignity. Kartika was sentenced in a shariah court, not a criminal hence very Islamic, as Malaysia defines it. The outcry (locally and abroad) was not that she was to be caned (thousands of Malaysians have endured that) rather that she was a young mother, and it was to be done publicly during Ramadan.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has a splendid opportunity to imprint an Islamic face to Malaysia this Ramadan, his first as a prime minister. Institutionalise this spirit of generosity and forgiveness by initiating a formal clemency tradition. Commute the sentences of at least 99 prisoners, hence opening their gates to heaven (restoring their cherished freedom) and closing their hellish past. That number has special significance for Muslims, as with the 99 names of Allah. I cannot think of any other gesture worthy of Islam Madani, and what a legacy that would be for Anwar!

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi went through five Ramadans as prime minister, yet this proponent of Islam Hadhari did not see fit to grant a single pardon, not on Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Merdeka Day. Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad dismissed with undisguised contempt by the Islamists, released a few political prisoners during Ramadan, most notably Kassim Ahmad and Syed Hussin Ali. Never mind that Dr Mahathir had jailed them without trial in the first place, a very un-Islamic practice.

A Ramadan pardon would have a tremendous positive impact on the prisoners, prison system, and society. It gives them hope, a sparse and precious commodity in a prison. Even the slimmest hope would motivate them to behave, easing the wardens job. At another level, those prisoners would now have another reason to look forward to Ramadan.

Canada, a secular society, goes further. Apart from the governor-generals pardon powers, those convicted could, after they have served their sentence, apply to have their criminal record expunged after a specified period of being law abiding, thus giving them a fresh slate. That is a powerful incentive for them to remain on the straight path, as our Quran puts it. Indeed the recidivism rates of those pardoned is only 4%, compared to the historical 20. An important provision with Canadas programme is that victims of those criminals would have a major voice at the pardon hearing. For those who committed victimless crimes, their approval would be statutorily routine.

Former prime miniister Najib Razak was jailed for corruption pilfering public funds. That is not a victimless crime. Millions, especially the poor, suffer as a consequence. As such his pardon should not be decided by the Agong alone. Najibs victims should and must have a major say.

I am reminded of the story of Caliph Omar on one of his famous late night anonymous walkabout management. He spotted an amorous unmarried couple and barged in, pronouncing them guilty of adultery, punishable by stoning to death, at least for the lady. Unperturbed, her male companion wagged his finger at the Caliph. Yes Sir, I have sinned against Allah, but you have wronged us by breaching our privacy. A Merciful Allah may forgive you, but we will not! At which point the Caliph, the great leader that he was, apologised and withdrew. Caliph Omar implicitly acknowledged that certain inherent and inalienable rights of citizens (in this case to privacy) trumped over their sins against Allah, or the Caliphs presumed knowledge of His dictates.

Canadas pardon programme reflects generosity and forgiveness, as well as the trust leaders have in their followers, even those who have initially stumbled. Those are also the values cherished in our Quran. April 13, 2023.

* M. Bakri Musa reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.

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Releasing prisoners to honour Ramadan - The Malaysian Insight

Faster, higher, smaller: Europe’s ‘tiny Olympics’ you’ve probably never heard of before – Euronews

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For Magaly Meynadier, next month will not only be a shot at redemption following a long recovery, but a "special" chance to don the national jersey and represent her nation.

Meynadier, now 31 and an integral part of the Luxembourg women's basketball squad, still remembers the first time she paraded with fellow athletes while thousands of fans cheered.

It was at the Games of Small States of Europe (GSSE), a biennial sporting event featuring nine small European sovereign states.

"When it [GSSE] happened in Luxembourg, we were in the big football stadium and we all had to go around and people were cheering for us, Meynadier tells Euronews, reminiscing about her first games in 2013 as a part of the gold medal-winning side.

Representing one's nation is a great achievement, even more so when it comes to countries with smaller populations, which can be significantly disadvantaged in major global tournaments.

That is the case with Malta, Iceland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Montenegro, Cyprus, Andorra, Monaco, and Meynadiers Luxembourg the nine nations that will show up in Malta in May to compete in the 19th GSSE.

Spots at the Olympics come at a premium and the competition to win is fierce. Only a few countries manage to qualify with full squads, and can end up dominating the medals tally.

For nations with a limited talent pool to work with, qualifying for the sporting gala is tough, and reaching the podium even more of a long shot.

And that's wherethe GSSE comes in.

Founded by eight independent Olympic committees in 1984, the rules to participate in the games are simple an Olympic committee has to be independent, a member of the European Olympic Committee and should represent nations with populations of less than a million.

Montenegro joined in 2009 with the Olympic committees of the Vatican City and Faroe Island are actively seeking to tick the boxes to join the mix.

In addition to having a handful of Olympic sports, the games also follow similar opening ceremony rituals to their 'full-sized' Olympic games: with a Parade of Nations, artistic displays, and speeches.

But that is not the only reason why competing athletes prefer to term it the tiny Olympics.

Throughout the entire process of preparing, racing and being there, the Olympic spirit shines bright and that's what makes it special, Icelandic swimmer Anton McKee tells Euronews.

Mckee, 29, has competed in multiple GSSEs over the years and won 10 medals in the 2015 games held in Iceland.

The most special thing is that for many athletes from countries that are underrepresented, it's their time to shine, he adds.

Despite the affable nature of the games, the GSSE is becoming more competitive.

Now, most countries send athletes to win medals rather than just to participate. In the beginning, it was different. But now it is definitely to compete for medals, Julian Pace Bonello, President of the Maltese Olympic Committee, tells Euronews.

By providing a platform for athletes to compete, the GSSE plays a part in stepping up the level of the competing countries. San Marino's heroics at the Tokyo Olympics, winning two silvers and a bronze to become the smallest country by population to win an Olympic medal, is a testament to that.

We never say that the GSSE is the end of the road. We say it's the stepping stone to being able to compete at a higher level, Bonello adds.

As an athlete, McKee agrees that the GSSE helped him in competing in several international championships, including the Summer Olympics: GSSE was one of the breakout meets for me as an athlete. Being able to get the medals by going up against swimmers that I thought I couldn't beat was proving to myself that I was one of the best swimmers of that calibre.

The sense of competitiveness also reflects in the medal tally. McKees Iceland has won the most gold medals, dominating aquatic and athletic sports.

As the Maltese capital of Valletta prepares to host its third GSSE, the organising committee is keen on tapping into the positive impacts that sporting events are capable of bringing.

Facilities that were made for the 2003 games in Malta bolstered the country's sporting capabilities and helped to spark interest among the locals.

"When it's your turn to host the games, you have the government come on board. You'll get additional funding, you'll get facilities upgraded, you get new facilities which are not only for the games, they will be used after the games are over," MOC president Bonello explains.

The biennial host cities also take the opportunity to exhibit the local culture and national identities. The mascot for the 2023 games, Lampuka, is derived from Puka, a dorado fish native to the waters of Malta. The 2019 games in Montenegro hadSmokvi, the energetic fig as the mascot with the slogan "How Big We Are".

Similarly, there are positives for athletes too.

The spotlight on the Luxembourger women's basketball team significantly increased following the 2013 triumphant home games. For a team with many part-time athletes, Magaly Meynadier says the interest has helped the team compete and increased the participation of women in different sports.

"After what we did in Luxembourg, we could see that the people were coming to actually watch us when we were playing at home. It is not the only gold that weve won, but it was very nice to see the growing interest in the womens basketball team," she says.

Francesco Sansovini vividly remembers the moments he became a GSSE gold medalist in 2019.

Sansovini, then 19, ran the final leg of the men's 4x100 metre relay, with a strained hamstring threatening both his performance and confidence. The Sammarinese sprinted despite the stinging pain, with the thought of bringing the medal home.

He ended up crossing the finishing line first, and the gold medal hangs in his bedroom.

"Every morning, I see the gold medal and aspire to do better in Malta," he says.

Since countries show up with full squads at the GSSE, single athletes like Sansovini also compete in relays - a feat made impossible due to quotas in other major tournaments.

Like San Marino, GSSE Iceland also gets to send full rosters, and that is what makes the games particularly special for Anton McKee.

"In GSSE, the relays are one of the most exciting aspects racing with your teammates and racing against other countries. There's something special about it. You forget your own ego and aspirations. You just want to win a race as fast as you can for your team and your country," he says exuberantly.

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Faster, higher, smaller: Europe's 'tiny Olympics' you've probably never heard of before - Euronews

Pope: 2024 Olympics a chance to bear joyful witness to Christ – Vatican News

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Pope Francis sends a message to Catholics in France ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, and praises sport for creating opportunities to bring people together and engender fraternity.

By Devin Watkins

As France prepares to host the 33rd Olympic Games in the summer of 2024, Pope Francis has sent a message to French Catholics to urge them to get involved in the sporting event.

The Popes message was signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and released on Tuesday.

Paris hosts the Summer Olympics on 26 July to 11 August 2024, along with 16 other cities across metropolitan France and Tahiti, an island within French Polynesia.

In his message, Pope Francis expressed his hopes that the Olympics may be an occasion for profound and fruitful encounter between people from all walks of life, belonging to different peoples, cultures, and religions.

The Pope said it should be a joy to welcome the whole world to France for the Games, as well as a responsibility.

He invited Catholics in France to join forces to make the unique event a positive experience for everyone.

You will be invited to become volunteers, to open your churches, schools, and homes, said the Pope.

Above all, open your hearts, he added. By the gratuitousness and generosity of your welcome and dedication, you will bear witness to Christ who lives in you and who shares His joy with you.

In conclusion, Pope Francis urged Catholics in France to find ways to help integrate people with disabilities and the poor and marginalized into this beautiful festival of sport.

The Pope said he hopes the 2024 Olympic Games may offer the opportunity, through sport, to bear witness to an authentic expression of fraternity, which the world greatly needs.

And he wrapped up his message by extending his Apostolic Blessing upon the Olympic organizers and volunteers who will take part in the quadrennial sporting event.

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FIBA bans Russia men’s basketball from 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris – CBS Sports

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FIBA, the international governing body of basketball, has chosen to ban Russia men's basketball from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. On Tuesday, FIBA announced that Russia would not be allowed to participate in the qualifying tournament this year.

In its announcement, FIBA cited the International Olympic Committee's recommendation that Russia and Belarus be prohibited from participating in team sports in 2024.

"Following the IOC recommendations on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions published on 28 March, the FIBA Executive Committee has decided to not allow the registration of the Russian men's national team in the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournaments 2023," FIBA said in its press release.

Bulgaria will take the place of Russia at the Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament this summer.

Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine last year, FIBA has suspended it from international play. Now, neither Russia nor Belarus will be sending basketball teams to the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The last time Russia sent basketball teams to the Olympics was at the 2012 Games in London. The men's team won bronze, and the women's team finished fourth.

While athletes from those countries won't be able to participate in team sports, the IOC has laid out plans that would create a path for individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate under a neutral flag.

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Copper Country Senior Olympics opens monthlong event schedule – Silver City Daily Press and Independent

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Posted on April 18, 2023 (Press Staff Photo by Juno Ogle)Lilly Fernandez, of Silver City, left, throws the shot put as fellow contestant Beverly Woods, of Deming, watches Saturday during the Senior Olympics at Fox Field. The competitive games for older adults saw track and field events Saturday including sprints and longer distance runs, shot put, high jump, javelin and soccer accuracy.

By The Daily Press StaffThis spring, tens of thousands of athletes from across the country compete, seeking the coveted gold medals of greatness promised at the National Senior Games aka the Senior Olympics.Started in 1970 by a small group of seven people in St. Louis, Mo., to promote healthy adult lifestyles through fitness and sports, the Senior Olympics has since grown into a nationwide organization that last year saw over 12,000 athletes compete at the national games hosted in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which included people hailing from Copper Country the southwest corner of New Mexico.Copper Country Senior Olympics offers 38 events from air gun to racquetball and huachas to pickleball and for the die-hard Olympiad fans there are the more traditional sports of cycling, bowling, basketball, and softball with myriad track and field events tossed in to appeal to any fitness level.The best thing about the Senior Olympics is anyone can compete no matter where you live even interstate residents so if you are a snowbird baking in the Arizona desert or a Texan whos apt to wander the West, you can register and compete in Copper Country.In the U.S., the senior competitors bracket is expanding at an exponential rate as the last of the baby boomer generation once our nations largest population demographic crosses over the age threshold of 50 years to qualify and compete in the games. Currently, seniors are the fastest-growing population in New Mexico, which promises to flood the field with competitors who seek the glory of a gold medal.Demings Beverly Woods has been competing for about 25 years and dreams of bringing home the gold. She has participated in shot put and cycling at the local and state levels, and she holds three New Mexico records.Currently, Woods is registered to compete at this years National Senior Olympics, scheduled for July in Philadelphia, Pa. Competitors must qualify in local and state competitions to qualify for the national games.Last year, I was second in shot put at the national games, and I brought home the silver medal in shot put, Woods said of her continuing quest for glory, which has netted her seven gold and two silver medals over her Senior Olympics career. Woods trains at the gym and rides her bicycle in between a little exercise at home.Use it or lose it, is what I say, Woods noted of her reason to keep participating in the games. The Senior Olympics helps motivate me to stay more active.Studies have found seniors engaging in physical activity can improve their overall physical health, and regular exercise has shown to increase balance and dexterity two important aspects that can keep seniors on their feet and lower their chance of falls and subsequent injuries thus extending their lives.Most Senior Olympians report the positives of physical activity is only one of numerous reasons they compete.Ive always been a sports fanatic, Silver City Senior Olympian Fidel Quintana admitted, but there are other things I like about participating like the comradery.One of Fidels favorite memories is running the 100-yard dash against his brother, Mario.He was 10 years younger than me, but it was still a close race, Fidel said of the unforgettable footrace. He regularly trains at Silver City Fox Field for his races and plays horseshoes for which he took home the national bronze medal at Bataan Memorial Recreational Park.Last year we had 132 participants, and this year we are hoping for more now that COVID restrictions have backed off, Mario said.For more information, visit grantcountysenior.wix.com/Olympics or on Facebook at bit.ly/3xn06aZ.

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U of M ice skater, recovering from devastating knee injury, has her sights set on Olympic glory – CBS News

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SHAKOPEE, Minn. -- A champion figure skater and University of Minnesota student had to put her dreams to compete in the Olympics on pause after a devastating injury last summer.

Now, she's back on the ice at Shakopee Ice Arena thanks to determination and a physical therapist who put in the extra work to get her there.

Eugenia Garza started her week practicing at Shakopee Ice Arena. She did endless spins, jumps and dips, a moment that felt impossible to get back to last July.

"I was doing a program, one of my routines, and I just hit my toe pick, and I tripped and fell straight on my kneecap," Garza said.

Her journey to represent Mexico, her hometown, at the World University Games came to a complete stop.

"To have all that momentum just stop, just stop and do nothing for three months while you heal," Garza said.

This all could have defeated Garza's spirit and drive, if she was left to recover alone.

"It was really hard to come back. It felt a little hopeless at times, but I had a great support system," she said.

Part of her support system was Hanwen Wong, a physical therapist at M Health Fairview. As a former dancer, Wong knew this sport needed a specific treatment plan to bounce back to peak performance.

"Eugenia is actually my first figure skater [patient]," said Wong, "I did my homework, I watched videos, I asked her as many specific questions as I could, like when you're landing this particular jump, are you on this side of your foot, or the inside, where is your weight?"

Both Wong and Garza commited to healing and being back to peak performance level, and it worked.

"It made me feel a lot more confident that we were going to get me back to a place where I was ready to go compete," Garza said.

Her coach, Lorie Charbonneau, was amazed by her turnaround.

"To see her skating skills and even the spins still at a world-class level, is really remarkable," Charbonneau said.

Next up for Garza is that she'll be competing in the Mexican Open International in May. Her long-term goal is to compete in the 2026 Olympic Games.

Marielle Mohs is thrilled to be telling stories in her home state of Minnesota. She grew up in Eden Prairie and South Minneapolis.

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Brisbane Olympics leader marks 1 year in long run up to 2032 – Fremont Tribune

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JOHN PYEAssociated Press

BRISBANE, Australia In the 12 months since becoming president of the organizing committee for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, Andrew Liveris has refined his vision of what the Summer Games will look like in nine years.

He foresees a bit of Barcelona, a little dose of London and lot more of what makes Australia and the Oceania region tick.

As well as helping establish a board containing 22 people, including stakeholders from three tiers of government, and recruiting CEO Cindy Hook, Liveris has been asking plenty of questions and benchmarking previous Olympic hosts to get a sense of where Brisbane will be similar and where itll be different.

A year in, I see well use the best of Barcelona and the best of London, but we are developing something which actually is going to be very unique and hopefully seen as very much us, Liveris said in an interview with The Associated Press.

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Liveris, a former chairman of the Dow Chemical Company a former top Olympic sponsor said local organizers had already conducted about 2,500 branding interviews and the feedback embodies what he describes as the lifestyle superpower of Brisbane and the surrounding coastal cities of southeast Queensland state.

Whats coming out is the warm, generous hospitality of the people ... and then the amazing nature that we live in that we maybe take for granted, he said.

Some of Australias top tourism destinations, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Gold Coast, are in Queensland state and will offer backdrops for Olympic events.

Addressing the general assembly of the Oceania National Olympic Committees in Brisbane on Tuesday, Liveris said those characteristics were shared across the region. And he emphasized how sports, tourism and business across Oceania could benefit from Brisbane hosting the Games.

Australia has already hosted the Olympics twice, at Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000. Brisbane, Australias third-biggest city, was awarded the 2032 Games in July 2021 as the preferred candidate selected to fit the IOCs so-called New Norms reforms which aim to avoid excessive spending and potential white elephant projects.

Brisbane is central to one of the fastest growing regions in the country, is an established gateway to people from the Pacific, and was already in the process of reshaping itself with construction of a new subway rail line and a new metro system due for completion next year.

The federal government and Queensland state have already agreed to a 50-50 funding split on a deal worth about 7 billion Australian dollars ($4.7 billion U.S.) to build or remodel venues for the Olympics, including a revamp of the Gabba Stadium the states long-time cricket and Australian rules football headquarters and construction of a 17,000-seat downtown indoor arena.

Both major projects will adjoin the new transport infrastructure.

Well blend a Melbourne, which was an urban games, to a Sydney, which was a warm, hospitable beautiful environment games, Liveris said. We can be both, because were recreating our center. The center of this city will be nothing like it is now. This is a very livable city, but (the Olympics) will make it a livable city for the 21st century.

Brisbanes Olympics follow Paris next year and Los Angeles in 2028. Organizers will start revising their plans with the IOC in June and have them finalized within 18 months.

We're delivering updates and highlights on the Summer Olympics daily to your inbox, including What to Watch, live coverage, schedules and medal counts.

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Russia basketball teams banned through Olympic qualifying – Home of the Olympic Channel

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Russias ban from international basketball has lasted long enough that its mens and womens five-on-five teams cannot qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics under current rules.

FIBA, the sports international governing body, said Tuesday its executive committee will not allow Russia into an early round of Olympic mens qualifiers that it would have otherwise been eligible for.

A FIBA press release stated that the committee acted after the IOC recommended last month that teams of Russian and Belarusian athletes should remain barred from international competition, as they have been since March 2022.

The IOC recommended possible returns only for individual athletes who do not support the war.

Russias mens basketball team last qualified for the Olympics in 2012, winning bronze with a roster that included since-retired NBA veteran Andrei Kirilenko. Russia was 12th at the last FIBA mens World Cup in 2019.

Russias womens basketball team was already eliminated from 2024 Olympic contention, as rules stand, when it was left out of a draw for a European qualifying tournament.

Russias women also last qualified for the Olympics in 2012, finishing fourth with a team that included Becky Hammon, who is now the Las Vegas Aces head coach.

Russian teams in 33 basketball, which made its Olympic debut in Tokyo, could still qualify for the Paris Games if the ban is lifted. A 33 team of Russian women, playing as the Russian Olympic Committee rather than Russia due to the nations doping violations, took silver to the U.S. in Tokyo.

In gymnastics, the ban on Russian athletes has already run long enough to preclude them from qualifying full teams for Paris, though individual Russian gymnasts can still qualify should the ban be lifted. Teams of Russian gymnasts won the Olympic mens and womens titles in Tokyo.

Russia has also traditionally been strong in Olympic team events in artistic swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, volleyball and handball.

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Tour de France, Worlds, Olympics, Monuments – The sky is the limit … – Cyclingnews

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The sky is the limit for Lizzie Deignan, who returns to racing eight months after the birth of her second child and continues to raise the bar for her own cycling career and pave the way for future athlete mothers across all sports.

The Olympic medallist and former world champion has revealed her hopes to compete at the upcoming Tour de France Femmes and World Championships in Glasgow, along with the Olympic Games in Paris next summer.

And there is no cap on her competitive dreams, also suggesting that if organisers RCS Sport launch women's versions of Milan-San Remo and Il Lombardia, she would attempt to add them to her tally of victories alongside Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Lige-Bastogne-Lige, to capture all five of cycling's Monuments.

"The things that motivate me obviously the same objectives like the World Championships and Olympics, but it'd be exciting for me to take part in the Tour de France and also new opportunities that I hope are still going to come," Deignan said ahead of Flche Wallonne, her first race since October of 2021.

"I'm the rider with the most Monuments at the moment. So I'd like to try and go for new Monuments. We don't have, or maybe we do, but we don't know yet. Milan-San Remo and Lombardia. So I would love to be able to aim for five Monuments in my career, that would be special."

Deignan won the road world title in 2015 and the Tour of Flanders in 2016, and then went on to show the world what athlete mothers can do when given the opportunity winning Lige-Bastigne-Lige and Paris-Roubaix, all after the birth of her first child in 2018.

Competing at Flche Wallonne and Lige-Bastogne-Lige in April was a surprise to Deignan, who initially planned on starting her comeback to racing at La Vuelta Feminina on May 1. However, due to illness and crashes among her teammates at Trek-Segafredo, the team asked if she could prepare to be ready for the final two Ardennes Classics.

"I planned to have a bit longer to prepare for and to start in the Vuelta. I just thought that would have been an easier, nicer transition. But you know, professional sport isn't about what's easier or nicer all the time. At the end of the day, I'm a teammate, and it's important for me to support my teammates," Deingan said.

"I could see that they were struggling in terms of filling the spots because of bad luck with crashes and sickness, and it would be silly for me to be at home training when I can get the same things I need from racing.

"It just means that I'm, obviously, not going to be as comfortable in starting or as prepared as I would have liked. But the Vuelta is only two weeks away. So it's not like I've been called up two months early, it's just two weeks.

"There's a little bit of a gap in my preparation in terms of the real intensity that I would have liked to have had before these races, but I'll just use the races for intensity. There's no pressure on me to be there in the final or to have a result. It's really about just doing what I can for the team, and I'm more than happy to do that."

Deignan suggested that she and Lucinda Brand will be in support roles at both Ardennes events, while Elisa Longo Borghini, Shirin van Anjooij, Amanda Spratt and Gaia Realini will play more active roles as contenders in both races.

As for reunion with her Trek-Segafredo in Huy, Deignan said it's felt "secure," "safe," and "welcomed back," even if the cycling world seems somewhat unchanged in her absence compared to the magnitude of changes at home now managing a family with two children.

"It's really strange to be back at the same hotel we always stay in. Like, you know, nothing has really changed here, but so much has changed in my life outside of it," Deignan said.

"It's nice and familiar, it's like I've never been gone, really, I suppose. You know, it was just nice to see everyone with the same smiling and happy faces."

Deignan feels prepared enough to start racing again but said that it's taken a little longer to gain her power back this time due to a more challenging second pregnancy, though she expects it will return quickly once the racing begins.

"Physically, I'm good. Like training has gone well. And all of my endurance numbers are good. I feel physically fit, but in terms of the top-end, race-punch fitness, I don't have that, and I cannot ignore that. I haven't made those steps yet in training to be here to win a race. I hope physically that I'm strong enough to support the team," she said.

She hinted at some curiosity about how her power and strength would stack up against competitors, given the growth in depth among the peloton since she last raced.

"It'll be nice to see some of my competitors, but it's just gonna be a brutal introduction for me, like, I'm not naive. It's going to be difficult. So I don't think I'll be riding around chatting," Deignan said.

She's watched the races this spring where SD Worx have dominated the one-day racing with 11 victories and is curious to gauge her performances against the field throughout the rest of the Ardennes and into the bigger goals this summer.

"The last time I had a year away from racing, there was a definite jump in the strength of the peloton. I knew my numbers in training coming back were competitive in terms of comparison to myself, but it had dropped in terms of where it was in the pecking order in the peloton, so I'm curious to see if that's happened again," Deignan said.

As an athlete and mother, Deignan's ability to manage a family and world-class cycling career has served as an inspiration to many other women in sports. Asked who inspires her, Deignan said she looked up to British rower Helen Glover.

Glover's rowing career has spanned nearly 15 years and includes two gold medals at the Olympic Games in 2012 and 2016 and three world titles between 2013-2015.

"She's got three kids under the age of three or something ridiculous. So yeah, I think, you know, she's proven to be a phenomenal force to be reckoned with in rowing and a huge inspiration to me," Deignan said.

In previous interviews, Deignan has said that she also looked up to now-retired American track and field athlete Allyson Felix as an athlete, mother and role model.

"I think something about managing the chaos of having more than one child, and it's just helpful when you see that it is possible because there are moments, obviously, particularly in the middle of the night, where you think you've bitten off more than you can chew and it's great when there are examples that you can follow."

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Tour de France, Worlds, Olympics, Monuments - The sky is the limit ... - Cyclingnews