Latest news with #Bates
The Hill
21 hours ago
- Business
- The Hill
Judge won't block DOGE access to sensitive government data
A federal judge ruled Friday that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) can continue to access sensitive data on millions of Americans at certain agencies, handing at least a temporary defeat to the labor unions that have sued to block the practice. Judge John D. Bates of the U.S. District Court in D.C. declined to grant the plaintiffs a preliminary injunction against the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services, pending further proceedings in the case. The AFL-CIO and other unions filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent DOGE employees from accessing information such as medical files, financial histories, social security numbers, and addresses. In his ruling, Bates said that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated sufficient evidence of harm to merit an injunction, although he remained concerned about the prospect of DOGE's access. 'Absent evidence those personnel will imminently misuse or publicly disclose that information, the Court cannot say that irreparable harm will clearly occur before the Court can make a final determination on the merits,' he wrote. 'And without irreparable harm, a preliminary injunction cannot issue.' Still, Bates acknowledged the sensitivity of the data access, writing that the 'DOGE Affiliates have their hands on some of the most personal information individuals entrust to the government.' '[T]he Court's concerns are as grave as ever, and it stands ready to remedy plaintiffs' harm should they ultimately succeed on the merits,' he wrote. Bates asked the parties to propose a schedule for reaching summary judgment. The ruling is yet another setback for the labor unions, who first brought their suit in February and have been twice denied temporary restraining orders. Bates himself has ruled on a number of Trump-related cases and has at times drawn ire from the president. He has ordered the administration to restore certain government websites and ruled that Trump's executive order targeting the law firm Jenner & Block was unconstitutional. A host of lawsuits over DOGE's access to private government data are slowly playing out across federal courts. A federal judge ruled last week that the government must submit a report detailing DOGE's level of access to personally identifiable information at the Office of Personnel Management in response to another lawsuit filed by the AFL-CIO. The Supreme Court earlier this month allowed DOGE to proceed in its efforts at the Social Security Administration, staying a preliminary injunction in a case brought by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Nothing finally reveals how Glyph Matrix on Phone 3 will work- Details
The Nothing Phone 3 launch is next week, on July 1, 2025, and we have all been waiting to know more about the company's first-ever flagship smartphone. As we get closer to the launch, Nothing is gradually revealing Phone 3's unique features and upgrades, and one of them is the new Glyph Matrix. We all know by now that Nothing is killing its signature Glyph Light interface, which consisted of strips of customisable LED lights. Now, with Glyph Matrix, Nothing is reported to bring micro-LED cluster lights, giving the smartphone a new twist, or a new thing to be curious about. But, how does it work in real life? Nothing, Head of Design, Adam Bates, finally reveals the working of Glyph Matrix in a new interview, giving a short preview of how it will work. Nothing Phone 3 is officially ditching Glyph Light interface for Glyph Matrix.(Nothing) Also read: Meta and Oakley's new AI smart glasses: Are Americans ready for wearable AI in everyday life? Adam Bates, in an interview with Design Milk, revealed the working of Glyph Matrix and how it will be programmable and expressive for users. It was revealed that the Nothing Phone 3 will include a dense cluster of micro-LEDs on the top right corner of the phone, as shown in the teasers. The Matrix will enable users to set different symbols, customise animations, and bring reactive lighting depending upon the nature of the sound or notification. Also read: Apple reportedly planning to buy Perplexity AI to power future Siri upgrades and AI-driven search features Bates said, 'The Glyph Matrix carries that vision forward but in a more expressive and intentional way. Instead of predefined light strips, we now have a dense field of programmable micro-LEDs, a canvas for real-time, glanceable communication that feels alive, playful, and deeply personal.' This is expected to make the device more communicative with the user, as they can set lighting effects for their most-used app notifications. Therefore, we can say that it works somewhat similarly to the Glyph Light interface. Bates added that Glyph Matrix, 'something that doesn't just alert you, but communicates with you.' This new addition not only brings custom features but also saves a lot of space internally to store other crucial features and gives the smartphone a visual identity that appeals to buyers. Also read: Apple to launch major Siri AI upgrade with iOS 26.4 by March 2026 Nothing Phone 3: What's coming The Nothing Phone 3 is confirmed to be powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, which may offer a significant performance boost over the Phone 2 model. This year, Nothing may bring a triple camera setup, which could also include a 50MP telephoto lens. Additionally, we can expect a bigger battery and upgraded charging support.
Winnipeg Free Press
20-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sword attack at Brandon school racially motivated, police confirm
BRANDON — Police say a gruesome sword attack on a student at Neelin High School was part of a plot by the 16-year-old accused to target people of colour and immigrants. Brandon police Chief Tyler Bates said there is digital and eyewitness evidence that the accused was 'anti-immigration' and specifically targeted people of colour at the school June 10. A 15-year-old Black student was viciously assaulted. 'When you have an offender that is armed, that is walking past Caucasian students and having no intent to harm those students, but actively pursuing students of colour, you know that certainly speaks to a racialized motive,' Bates said Friday. On June 10, Chinonsu Onuke, 15, was rushed to hospital with stab wounds to his chest, forearms, hands and thighs after a fellow student allegedly stabbed him with a sword. Onuke is recovering with his family at home. Bates said it's still early in the investigation, but investigators have found a significant amount of evidence that the teen's 'racial and political ideologies' were motivating factors behind the attack. 'This is disturbing, and no one should ever fear for their safety because of the colour of their skin, and no child should be made to feel unsafe in a place of learning,' Bates said. 'There is no place in our community for racism, hate, or violence of any kind.' The 16-year-old remains in custody; he has been charged with attempted murder, uttering threats, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and disguise with intent. Police gave an update on the investigation one day after Premier Wab Kinew went to Brandon to apologize in person to the victim and his family 'on behalf of the Indigenous people.' Multiple sources at Neelin High School have confirmed the accused is Indigenous. TIM SMITH / THE BRANDON SUN FILES Chinonso Onuke is held by close friend Leland Henderson and his twin brother Chiemeka during his first visit back to the school on Friday. TIM SMITH / THE BRANDON SUN FILES Chinonso Onuke is held by close friend Leland Henderson and his twin brother Chiemeka during his first visit back to the school on Friday. Police have said the assault was stopped before more people could be hurt. At the time, the school had gone into lockdown. Police arrived in about three minutes and used a stun gun to arrest the teen. Bates said he understands the community's concern and thanked people for their support. He said BPS is working diligently and making sure no detail is overlooked in the investigation. 'The mortal danger encountered at Neelin High School has affected us all, but has united Brandonites in resilience, kindness and opposition to racism and hatred,' he said. Bates said it's clear there is work to be done to ensure students' safety at school, and BPS will continue to work alongside partners in education, mental health and community organizations to keep schools safe and inclusive. In an interview with the Brandon Sun, Bates said no hate-related charges have been laid against the accused, and if the Crown attorneys decided to add them, it could take months. MATT GOERZEN / THE BRANDON SUN FILES Neelin High School Grade 10 student Chinonso Onuke, right, and his twin brother Chiemeka Onuke watch Premier Wab Kinew handle a Premier's Challenge Coin during a visit to the Onuke family home near Sprucewoods on Thursday. MATT GOERZEN / THE BRANDON SUN FILES Neelin High School Grade 10 student Chinonso Onuke, right, and his twin brother Chiemeka Onuke watch Premier Wab Kinew handle a Premier's Challenge Coin during a visit to the Onuke family home near Sprucewoods on Thursday. Bates said the accused is a 'youth in crisis' and needs help and support to get him into a healthy state of mind. 'There were many that were at risk that day just by virtue of their complexion, and that's a sad statement for that to have transpired in the city of Brandon and one that I think is a sobering reality that we have to be mindful of,' Bates said. In an email sent to parents, the Brandon School Division said it is 'profoundly troubled' by the finding that the attack was racially and politically motivated. 'The intentional targeting of individuals based on race is abhorrent and fundamentally contradicts the values, vision and mission of the division,' the email said. 'The severity and intent of this act will inevitably affect the overall sense of security within our community.' The division said that community and support resources, including school social workers and psychologists, will continue to be provided for students and staff, as well as additional crisis supports from Prairie Mountain Health. — Brandon Sun
AU Financial Review
18-06-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Navigating Australia's evolving data landscape under new compliance pressures
In addition, fragmented systems create blind spots. This not only undermines compliance, but also makes it harder to detect security threats, innovate with confidence, or respond quickly to operational disruptions. 'Australian organisations are flooded with data. Data runs through every system [and] decision,' says Craig Bates, senior vice-president and general manager of Asia Pacific at Splunk, a leader in cybersecurity and observability. 'But the reality is, they're drowning in data but starving for insights.' Aurélie Jacquet, chair of the Standards Australia committee representing Australia at the International Standards on Artificial Intelligence, says many of these issues stem from a lack of continuous quality oversight. 'In the age of AI, ongoing data-quality management is inescapable,' she says. 'It is key for organisations [to] demonstrate how they manage data quality in a safe and responsible manner.' Governance gaps and regulatory pressure Poor enforcement of basic data policies remains a major vulnerability. According to the same Splunk report, many organisations still struggle to enforce key controls like where data should be stored, who should have access, and how long it should be retained. Bates says the pressure isn't just coming from local regulators. 'Global policies like the EU's General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR] are also shaping expectations, particularly for multinationals and any business working with customer data or deploying AI models.' Jacquet adds that regulatory pressure is accelerating a needed shift, pushing organisations to take a more deliberate, end-to-end approach to operational risk management, especially as AI becomes more deeply embedded in business operations. '[Organisations need to be asking:] What is good enough data quality that is appropriate to build data products or train AI systems safely and responsibly?' 'What are our data blind spots? How can we address them to ensure we deliver quality products and services?' Bates adds that leading organisations are finding ways to balance control and agility. 'They've put the right guardrails in place – and this includes clear policies, data quality standards, and visibility across environments.' Rising costs, slower decisions 'Today's biggest challenges – service disruptions, security incidents, flawed AI outputs – are all symptoms of poor data management,' says Bates. Disjointed data environments are costing Australian organisations in more ways than they realise. According to Splunk's report, 88 per cent of ANZ respondents say their data-management spend has increased in the past year. Bates says the cost burden goes beyond dollars and cents; it's also about speed and resilience. 'Compliance still matters, but it's not the full picture,' he says. 'More organisations are recognising that if they can't access reliable data quickly and securely, they're unable to respond effectively to threats, disruptions or even to change.' That's because fragmented systems obscure critical signals and force teams to work in silos. This slows down detection, delays recovery efforts, and makes it harder to launch or scale new initiatives. Practices like data federation — enabling organisations to access and analyse data without migrating — offers a path forward. Despite its benefits, only 20 per cent of ANZ respondents say they've fully implemented such capabilities. Those who have are seeing measurable gains including faster access to data. In fact, Australian organisations with a federated strategy have saved an average of AUD $1.9 million. Data governance in daily operations Clearly, navigating these fault lines successfully isn't just about technology. It's also about strategy and discipline. The organisations making real progress have moved beyond surface-level fixes. Governance is meaningfully embedded into daily operations. Visibility and data quality are also central. They prioritise trusted access to support confident decisions – and faster, more resilient responses. They also invest in modern data management practices like data reuse and tiering: global organisations that employ reuse are 46 per cent less likely to face hurdles with high data volumes, while 50 per cent of those using tiering report reduced storage costs. '[They've] made a clear decision to get their data house in order,' says Bates. 'Teams can get the right data at the right time, without delays or second-guessing.' Jacquet says positive progress is underpinned by intentionality and rigour. 'The more mature organisations have developed data-quality models,' she says. 'When they create or acquire datasets, these organisations set data-quality goals, data requirements and measurements that are specific to their use case.' From compliance to capability For leading organisations, compliance is only part of the puzzle. 'Make data your priority,' says Bates. 'If there's one thing to get right, it's building a trusted, usable data foundation that supports how your business actually runs. Without that, you can't scale AI responsibly, respond to data breaches quickly, or recover from downtime with confidence' he adds. 'Start small if you need to. But start.'
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy Bob Thornton shocks Kathy Bates by revealing that he nearly starred in 'Misery 'with her: 'You did not!'
Billy Bob Thornton and Kathy Bates almost crossed paths earlier in their careers — but it wasn't meant to be. "There was a time I went in and read for [director] Rob Reiner for Misery," Thornton revealed when the stars sat down to catch up for Variety's Actors on Actors series. The Matlock actress, who played the female lead in Misery and scored an Oscar for her performance, was stunned, replying, "You did not!" "I swear to God," Thornton confirmed. Thornton's revelation comes after three decades of knowing Bates. They first shared the screen in 1998's Primary Colors, the Mike Nichols dramedy about a presidential campaign. Eighteen years later, they would reunite for Bad Santa 2. But according to Thornton, they could have starred together in a movie as early as 1990. "Originally, Richard Farnsworth, who played the sheriff [in Misery], had a deputy," he explained. "I saw Rob Reiner for it. And Rob said right in the room, 'You're the guy. We can send everybody else home.' I was very excited." Unfortunately, creative choices led to his character getting cut from the script before filming even began. "I got a call from Rob Reiner — not many directors would do this — he called me and he said, 'Listen, I've been looking at the script and been planning out what I'm going to do with this movie,'" Thornton recalled. "He said, 'You can come up here and shoot this for the money or the insurance or whatever you need, but I'm just telling you it's not going to be in the movie.'" The Landman star continued, "He said, 'I don't want you to come up here expecting that this is going to be in the movie. And I didn't want you to be disappointed.'" In the end, Thornton declined to join the shoot, but he was grateful for Reiner's handling of the situation. "I thought that was very cool of him," he said. Bates agreed, "Yeah, very cool." Based on the Stephen King horror novel of the same name, Misery stars Bates as Annie Wilkes, the "number-one fan" of romance author Paul Sheldon (James Caan), who saves him after a car wreck, only to jail him in her home and torture him. The film marked a career-defining moment for Bates, who earned the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role. Though Thornton didn't get to bask in the glory of Misery, he achieved his own Oscar success within the same decade, racking up international acclaim for writing, directing, and starring in 1996's Sling Blade. He not only won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay, but also got a nod for Best Actor. He would be nominated again just two years later for his supporting role in A Simple stars had accolades and big careers ahead of them when they came together for Primary Colors. And though their characters never come together in the movie, Bates has only fond memories of starring alongside Thornton. "There was one day, we were in the house, and we were waiting, and you and I were lying on the floor. I remember that," she said. "You were this way, and I was that way, and our heads were [together], and we were just talking." "I remember," Thornton replied with a smile. "I don't know what we were talking about," said Bates, "but that was fun." Watch Thornton and Bates reunite and reminisce in the video above. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
