Latest news with #Caldas
New York Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Texas Attorney General sues US Masters Swimming after trans athlete controversy in San Antonio
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday he is suing US Masters Swimming (USMS), a competitive swimming membership organization with over 60,000 adult swimmers. The lawsuit is a response to an event in San Antonio where a biological male trans athlete won five women's gold medals. Advertisement Multiple female competitors told Fox News Digital after the meet they did not know the athlete was a biological male. 'I'm suing US Masters Swimming for engaging in illegal practices by allowing men to compete in women's competitions,' Paxton said in a post on X announcing the lawsuit. 'The organization has cowered to radical activists pushing gender warfare, and this lawsuit will hold USMS accountable for its actions.' Paxton's statement alleges USMS engaged in 'false, deceptive, and misleading practices by allowing men to compete in women's events.' Fox News Digital has reached out to USMS for comment. Advertisement In June 2023, Texas passed the Save Women's Sports Act, which bans trans athletes from competing in girls and women's sports and only allows students to compete in the gender category listed on their birth certificates. The law only allows schools to recognize changes made to birth certificates that were made to correct a clerical error. 4 Transgender swimmer Ana Caldas won five gold medals at a US Masters Swimming championship in San Antonio. Paxton previously launched an investigation into USMS after the conrtoversial April incident. Advertisement The trans swimmer, 47-year-old Ana Caldas, dominated all five races the athlete competed in, taking gold in the women's age 45-49 category in five races, including the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke, freestyle and the 100-yard individual medley. Louisiana woman and long-time swimmer Wendy Enderle said she filed a request for an eligibility review after finding out that Caldas was transgender through a news article about the April incident. 'I feel betrayed. Plain and simple,' Enderle previously told Fox News Digital. 4 The 47-year-old trans swimmer dominated all five races that the athlete signed up for. FINIS Advertisement Enderle said she did not introduce herself to Caldas until a USMS meet in Little Rock, Arkansas, in January. Upon meeting Caldas, Enderle noticed the athlete's muscles and height but still assumed Caldas was a female. 'I knew there was something, but I didn't know what, I had no idea she was a trans female up until this past Wednesday after the meet,' Enderle said. 'I was shocked. … It makes me concerned, it makes me mad.' 4 Some biological women who competed said they did not know Caldas was a biological male. Fellow USMS women's swimmer Angie Griffin also swam with Caldas in April without knowledge of Caldas' birth gender. The shock of learning the news about Caldas prompted Griffin to write a formal letter of complaint to USMS. The letter also asked the organization to 're-evaluate' the recent Spring National Championship and overhaul its gender eligibility policy. Advertisement Griffin competed against Caldas in three races in San Antonio and finished behind the trans athlete in the 50-yard breaststroke and 100-yard individual medley. 'I couldn't stop thinking about how the integrity of individual competition had been compromised. Why doesn't USMS follow the same competitive standards as the rest of the world and NCAA? Why are athletes asked to accept less transparency and fairness?' Griffin previously told Fox News Digital 'I paid my entry fees, airfare and hotel, trusting I'd be competing in a women's division defined by biological sex. I deserved to know the truth before stepping onto the blocks.' The US Masters Swimming Board of Directors and Rules Committee updated its participation guidelines last month. Advertisement 'USMS allows members to register for the competition category that aligns with their gender identity and/or expression and to participate in sanctioned events in that category,' the new guidelines state. 4 Swimmer Angie Griffin wrote a formal letter of complaint to USMS. USMS 'However, swimmers will not be included in Recognition Programs (as defined above) unless they are swimming in the competition category that aligns with their sex assigned at birth or they meet the eligibility requirements.' To be eligible for the US Masters Swimming's women's recognition programs, the policy states, 'Members of the Female Sex are eligible for Recognition Programs in the women's category, regardless of their gender identity or gender expression. 'Members with 46 XY DSD whose gender identity or gender expression is female are eligible for Recognition Programs in the women's category if they can establish to USMS's comfortable satisfaction that their sex assigned at birth is female.'
Globe and Mail
23-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Collective Mining Earns 100% in the Guayabales Mining License by Accelerating the Terms of the Agreement
TORONTO , June 23, 2025 /CNW/ - Collective Mining Ltd. (NYSE: CNL) (TSX: CNL) ("Collective" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has accelerated its agreement with the vendor of the Guayabales mining license and as a result will affect the transfer of 100% of the mining license into its name. The Guayabales license, which host the Company's flagship Apollo system, is one of three major contiguous licenses that make up the Company's Guayabales Project, located in Caldas, Colombia. The original agreement for the Guayabales mining license was signed between the Company and the vendor in June 2020 and entitled the Company to earn a 100% ownership in the exploitation phase mining license in 2032 by making a series of scheduled payments and committing to certain exploration expenditures. Under the amendment, the total financial consideration owed to the vendor remains the same as the original agreement, however, the payment schedule has been accelerated as follows: $2 million payable immediately. An additional $2 million is payable within one month provided the title transfer request to the Colombian National Mining Agency ("ANM") has been filed. An additional $2.3 million is payable within two months following the submission of the title transfer request. The remaining $3.5 million will be payable in six equal installments over the following three years from the date of the execution of the amendment to the agreement. The title transfer approval is expected within 60 days following the request being made to the ANM. Ari Sussman , Chairman of the Board commented: "Accelerating the agreement and earning 100% of the mining title today made a lot of sense for the Company given our strong treasury of approximately $78 million at the end of Q1, 2025, and our confidence that Apollo will evolve into a future mine. Given the fact that this mining license is in its exploitation phase, the Company intends to leverage the license to its advantage in its future permitting efforts. We would like to thank the vendor for their support in this matter, and we look forward to our continued collaboration as we advance the project." About Collective Mining Ltd. To see our latest corporate presentation and related information, please visit Founded by the team that developed and sold Continental Gold Inc. to Zijin Mining for approximately $2 billion in enterprise value, Collective is a gold, silver, copper and tungsten exploration company with projects in Caldas, Colombia . The Company has options to acquire 100% interests in two projects located directly within an established mining camp with ten fully permitted and operating mines. The Company's flagship project, Guayabales, is anchored by the Apollo system, which hosts the large-scale, bulk-tonnage and high-grade gold-silver-copper-tungsten Apollo system. The Company's objectives are to improve the overall grade of the Apollo system by systematically drill testing newly modeled potentially high-grade sub-zones, expand the Apollo system by stepping out along strike to the north and expanding the newly discovered high-grade Ramp Zone along strike and to depth and drill a series of less advanced or newly generated targets including Trap, the Knife and X. Management, insiders, a strategic investor and close family and friends own 44.5% of the outstanding shares of the Company and as a result, are fully aligned with shareholders. The Company is listed on both the NYSE American and TSX under the trading symbol "CNL". Information Contact: Follow Collective Mining (@CollectiveMini1) on X, (Collective Mining) on LinkedIn, and (@collectivemining) on Instagram This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; future operations; future recovery metal recovery rates; future growth potential of Collective; and future development plans. These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding future events including the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business; the Company's formative stage of development; the Company's financial position; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, precious and base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets; change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formation pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the annual information form of the Company dated March 24, 2025 . Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CIOs tackle talent strategies, org structures as AI takes hold
This story was originally published on CIO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CIO Dive newsletter. Cambridge, Mass. — The rapid pace of AI development is putting CIOs in a tricky spot: Not only are they responsible for deploying tools that can boost productivity, they're also working to ensure the tools can be utilized once deployed. The dynamic has made workforce upskilling efforts a priority. It's up to tech leaders to help shape a culture that enables AI experimentation, according to Monica Caldas, global CIO at Liberty Mutual Insurance. "I do not believe that AI thrives in heavily authoritarian, top-down environments," said Caldas, speaking last week at the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium. "I think the way people pick it up is through play." Along with encouraging experimentation, the risk profile of AI necessitates guardrails as businesses tackle change management. "It's not anarchy, but it's also not authoritarian," Caldas said. "You have to hit that sweet spot, and that's where adoption really starts." Other businesses are preparing their employees through targeted training programs. More than half of leaders said they plan to upskill their workforce ahead of AI implementation plans, according to a January survey from Revature. More than 4 in 5 decision-makers flagged access to talent as a top concern. Potential productivity wins can help existing staff embrace upskilling efforts, said Dimitris Bountolos, chief information and innovation officer at infrastructure company Ferrovial. "What we have seen is an excitement of staff to be self-sufficient in activities that were really bureaucratic," Bountolos said. The deployment of generative AI tools caused a rush of interest in prompt engineering roles. Interest has since fizzled, as businesses began to understand that learning to prompt generative AI systems is a core skill that should be developed more broadly. AI savviness should be embraced by the entire organization, according to Reshmi Ramachandran, head of partnerships and go to market strategy at consulting firm Cprime. "When we consult with companies we often tell them: never do prompt engineering in isolation. It's not an isolated job, it is actually a cross-functional skill," Ramachandran said. "You get some of your best prompts from marketing leaders, from HR, because that's where the context is." In addition to changes in job functions, departmental structures are also evolving. The wave of AI adoption is helping to accelerate a shift away from the established pyramid-shaped organizational structures in software development, according to Aamer Baig, senior partner, Chicago, at McKinsey & Company. "In the last decade or so, we've proven that is not the most effective and economical way of delivering software," said Baig. A diamond-shaped model with a team of somewhere between eight to 12 was identified as the most effective. But with the influx of agentic AI, that organizational structure is also changing. "Now, we have a new model, which is enabled and powered by AI, that has a product person, product builders and many, many agents to support, which can deliver as much output as a diamond-shaped team does," Baig said. In addition to serving as CIO, tech executives will need to take on additional roles including "chief influencing officer, chief change management officer" as organizations adjust to shifts in their core talent and operational structures. "The ability to move that sort of organization and that complexity forward will differentiate the winners and the losers in large companies," Baig said.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ecopetrol Will Acquire Ten Renewable Energy Firms from Norway's Statkraft
CEO Ricardo Roa of Colombia's state-owned oil company Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE:EC) stated on Tuesday that the two companies had reached an agreement to acquire ten wind and solar energy project development companies from Statkraft of Norway. A portfolio of renewable projects with a combined capacity of up to 1.3 gigawatts is part of the agreement, which aims to provide for the firm's domestic energy needs. There was no disclosure of the transaction's value. One project is now underway, and others have no set timeframe but are expected to begin in 2026 or 2027. Legal and regulatory approvals of the agreement are still pending. A fleet of tanker ships crossing the sea as they deliver oil and gas to their destinations. The acquisition reduces Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE:EC)'s dependency on bilateral agreements and spot market purchases while assisting with its shift to low-emission energy. The projects are spread in the departments of La Guajira, Sucre, Cordoba, Caldas, and Magdalena. Roa claims that the agreement improves the business's energy independence in a market that is very competitive. Jose Castellanos, Statkraft's Colombian representative, stated that the sale marks the Norwegian company's complete withdrawal from the Colombian market. As part of a larger move toward renewable energy, Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE:EC) also signed an agreement with AES Colombia in April to acquire a 49% stake in the Jemeiwaa Ka'I wind cluster and is currently negotiating the purchase of another wind project with Enel of Italy. While we acknowledge the potential of EC to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than EC and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this READ NEXT: and Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Musclebound trans swimmer Ana Caldas wins all 5 races at women's swim nationals
Unmatched Performance at National Meet Ana Caldas , a 47-year-old transgender swimmer , won all five races she entered at the us. Masters Swimming Spring National Championship last weekend in San Antonio, Texas. Competing in the women's 45-49 age group, Caldas took gold in the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke, the 100-yard freestyle, and the 100-yard individual medley. She won some events by margins rarely seen at this level, such as over four seconds in the breaststroke and three seconds in the freestyle. Footage circulating online showed her leading far ahead of other swimmers, drawing both applause and outrage. Critics quickly drew parallels to Lia Thomas, the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I swimming title in 2022, sparking renewed debate over fairness and inclusion in women's sports. — hecheateddotorg (@hecheateddotorg) A Familiar Debate Reignites Lia Thomas's collegiate victories once marked a significant moment for trans athletes but also triggered nationwide controversy. Her 2022 NCAA win in the women's 500-yard freestyle led to a federal investigation. The us. Department of Education found that the University of Pennsylvania violated Title IX by allowing her to compete in the women's division, ordering the school to strip her records and honors from that season. This ruling raised significant questions about how athletic bodies should balance fairness and inclusion, questions now resurfacing with Ana Caldas's dominance. Some supporters view her success as a display of determination and resilience. Others, however, see it as another example of transgender athletes potentially holding physiological advantages over cisgender women, particularly in short-distance events where milliseconds usually separate winners. Public Backlash and Athlete Reactions The reaction online has been swift and polarizing. Prominent women's sports advocate Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer, dismissed Caldas's gender identity and tweeted, 'He won them all.' Another critic, Beth Bourne, likened the situation to a 'real-life South Park episode,' a reference that quickly went viral on social media as viewers expressed disbelief at the race footage showing Caldas outpacing competitors by multiple body lengths. Bourne, who is an outspoken advocate for women's rights in sports, also called the results 'insanity,' noting, 'Anyone who competes in swimming at the national level knows this is unheard of in a 50-yard race where wins are often measured in a tenth or a hundredth of a second' at national-level events, not in multiple seconds. A spokesperson for the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS) told Reduxx, 'He's just laughing at these women,' referring to Caldas's performances. ICONS also sent a letter to us. Masters Swimming (USMS), warning that allowing her to compete might violate fair competition principles. Governing Policies and a Complex Legacy Under USMS policy, transgender women may compete in women's events if they meet specific hormone-level criteria . Caldas was allowed to compete under these rules. But critics argue those standards do not adequately offset physiological advantages carried over from male puberty. Her athletic history adds further fuel to the debate: before transitioning, Caldas, born Hugo Caldas, competed in men's sports and even made three appearances at the CrossFit Games, narrowly missing a spot in the 2012 London Olympics. This background, combined with her recent dominance, has intensified calls for sporting bodies to revisit their policies. Supporters of transgender inclusion maintain that exclusion based on gender identity is discriminatory. However, critics insist that fairness for female athletes must remain a top priority. As Ana Caldas becomes the latest flashpoint in a growing cultural and legal debate, sports organizations are being pushed to clarify how best to respect identity while preserving the integrity of competition.
