Nicholas Academic Centers employees multitasked on Tuesday, Nov. 25. They worked the drive-up distribution line at Valley High School, providing several hundred Santa Ana students and their families with Thanksgiving groceries and gift cards. Then, the employees rotated into their tutoring roles, helping students complete college applications in time for the upcoming deadline. Usually, the NAC provides a sit-down Thanksgiving meal for students, but this year, there is greater economic need, Rodolfo Duarte, its executive director, said. They decided instead on a drive-up distribution line, a concept borrowed from the pandemic. “Groceries go a longer way,” he said. “Instead of one or two plates of food, we are feeding a family of six.” The NAC was started in 2008 by the Henry T. Nicholas Education Foundation with a mission of providing academic support, mentoring and college success services in an after-school setting. Henry T. Nicholas III is a co-founder of the technology company Broadcom.
https://www.ocregister.com/2025/11/25/thanksgiving-food-for-students-and-a-focus-on-their-future/
Tag: applications
‘No words’: Expert horrified as Trump deports woman victimized by domestic abuse
The Trump administration left an immigration expert floored after deporting a woman who had gone to the police to secure justice against her husband for leveling death threats—despite Congress having created a visa program explicitly to protect people in that precise situation.
The case, originally reported by the Los Angeles Times, concerns an undocumented woman known only as “Carmen.” Carmen’s abusive husband came home drunk one night last summer. He pounded and kicked the door, threatening to kill her as her young son watched in horror. She called the police and eventually obtained a restraining order.
Months later, he returned and beat her again. Police intervened once more, and he was eventually deported, reported Rachel Uranga.
Thinking she had finally escaped his cruelty, Carmen applied for what is known as a U-Visa. This visa provides crime victims a way to stay in the United States legally.
However, according to the report, her application was left to gather dust. During a regular immigration check-in in June, Carmen was detained. Two months later, she was put on a plane with her 8-year-old son, who had just completed second grade. She was headed to her home country, terrified that her husband would find her.
Carmen is one of several deportees represented by a group of lawyers who, in October, sued the Trump administration in the Central District of California. The lawsuit challenges the detention and deportation of survivors with pending visa applications, some of whom have already been granted status to stay—and sometimes work—in the United States.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-deportation-2674261236/
Fire TV: Amazon to block piracy apps in the future
Anyone who has installed an app on their Fire TV device or player that allows illegal access to copyrighted content must expect to no longer be able to use it in the future. Starting today, Amazon will actively take action against such piracy apps.
To achieve this, the manufacturer will compare the applications installed on devices with a blacklist maintained by the anti-piracy coalition ACE (Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment). This coalition includes numerous major media and streaming companies such as Apple TV+, BBC Studios, Canal+, Comcast, Fox, HBO, Hulu, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, and Amazon itself.
In response to inquiries, Amazon explained that it has always worked to ban piracy from its app store. As part of an expanded program led by ACE, Amazon is now blocking apps that demonstrably provide access to pirated content, including those downloaded outside the app store. This initiative builds on Amazon’s ongoing efforts to support content creators and protect customers, since piracy can also expose users to malware, viruses, and fraud.
### Two-Stage Process
Amazon does not block the offending apps immediately. Instead, it first notifies the user for a certain period that these applications should not be used. The company has not yet commented on the exact duration users will receive this notification before the application is blocked.
Amazon understands that this is a valuable tool for developers, so the new measures are intended to target only piracy apps, minimizing impact on legitimate developers.
### Sideloading Still Possible
The option to sideload apps will remain available on Fire TV devices running Amazon’s new operating system, Vega OS. However, this feature is generally limited to developers.
In this context, Amazon emphasized that, contrary to rumors, there are no plans to upgrade existing Fire TV devices from Fire OS to Vega OS. Users of current devices can expect the existing operating system to remain in place.
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By enforcing these new policies, Amazon aims to create a safer, more secure viewing environment for Fire TV users while protecting the rights of content creators worldwide.
https://www.heise.de/en/news/Fire-TV-Amazon-to-block-piracy-apps-in-the-future-10964878.html
Which Type Of Bender In “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Are You?
Or are you the Avatar?
This post was written as part of the BuzzFeed Community Creator Program. Interested in joining? Sign up here to be notified when applications open up for the next round of Community Creators!
https://www.buzzfeed.com/gryffinpuff20/which-type-of-bender-in-avatar-the-last-airbender
Don’t need China for most rare earth needs, says Taiwan
**Taiwan Says It Doesn’t Need China for Most Rare Earth Materials**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | October 12, 2025, 5:19 PM*
Taiwan’s economy ministry is currently evaluating the impact of China’s recent expansion of rare earth export restrictions on its critical semiconductor industry. According to the ministry, the majority of Taiwan’s rare earth materials are sourced from Europe, the United States, and Japan. However, officials are still assessing how the latest Chinese restrictions may affect supply chains and production costs in this sector.
**China Tightens Rare Earth Export Controls**
China has recently expanded its control over rare earth exports by adding five new elements to the restricted list. The country has also increased scrutiny specifically targeting chip manufacturers and users. This move comes ahead of high-stakes talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, intensifying concerns over supply chain stability.
The Taiwanese economy ministry emphasized that “the impact on the operation of the semiconductor industry still requires further stocktaking and assessment,” highlighting the need to carefully analyze potential disruptions.
**Impact on Taiwan’s Semiconductor Industry**
Taiwan is home to the world’s largest contract chipmaker, TSMC, which produces a majority of the advanced chips used in artificial intelligence applications globally. Any disruption in rare earth supply chains or increased costs resulting from China’s new restrictions could have significant repercussions for Taiwan’s semiconductor sector and the broader technology industry.
**China’s Defense of Export Restrictions**
Earlier today, China defended its export curbs on rare earth elements and related equipment. The Chinese government stated that the restrictions are motivated by concerns over the military applications of these metals amid what it described as “frequent military conflict.” This rationale reflects Beijing’s strategic considerations tied to national security.
As Taiwan continues to monitor the situation, industry stakeholders are closely watching the developments, given the critical role rare earth materials play in semiconductor manufacturing and advanced technology production.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/taiwan-assesses-impact-of-china-s-rare-earth-export-curbs/story
Claude’s technical usage in India higher than rest of world
**Claude’s Technical Usage in India Significantly Higher Than Global Average**
By Dwaipayan Roy | Oct 11, 2025 | 05:29 pm
Guillaume Princen, Global Head of Start-ups and Head of Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at Anthropic, has revealed that half of the usage of their AI tool, Claude, in India is for technical purposes. These tasks include user interface (UI) design, code debugging, and software development. This percentage is notably higher compared to the global average, where only 30% of Claude’s usage involves such technical applications.
**India: Anthropic’s Second Largest Market**
India, home to the world’s fourth-largest developer community, stands as Anthropic’s second largest market after the United States. Princen highlighted that approximately 33% of all Claude conversations globally occur in India, underscoring the scale and reach of their services within the country.
**Plans for Expansion in Bengaluru**
To strengthen its presence in India, Anthropic plans to open an office in Bengaluru by the first quarter of 2026. The new office aims to expedite the launch of key offerings tailored to one of Anthropic’s largest markets.
Princen said, “You’ll see more of us because we really want to have a local presence.” He added that the company intends to be closer to its users and will be building teams focused on community support across the board.
This expansion reflects Anthropic’s commitment to growing its footprint in India’s vibrant tech ecosystem and enhancing user engagement with Claude’s AI capabilities.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/half-of-claude-s-usage-in-india-is-technical-anthropic/story
Osaka Faces Turmoil Over Short-Term Rental Clampdown
The city has increased temporary staff to cope with the rising demand, but real estate operators warn that the decision could slash profits by 30 percent and force a shift from minpaku operations to traditional rentals.
Unlike regular minpaku, which are limited to 180 days of operation per year, Osaka’s special district minpaku have no such cap. This makes them a vital accommodation alternative in a city experiencing high inbound tourism.
To meet surging demand, Osaka’s public health office expanded application counters in August and hired nine additional temporary staff last month. The city expects applications to rise further as businesses rush to submit before the suspension takes full effect. Officials are preparing additional support to handle the influx.
Among those affected is Li Dianlong, a real estate operator in Osaka’s Nishinari Ward. Originally from China, Li began operating special minpaku five years ago and now runs an 83-room building that is fully booked by foreign visitors. He had planned to build two more dedicated minpaku properties in the area, but those plans are now on hold. Instead, the new buildings will be converted into rental apartments, a change he estimates will reduce revenue by about 30 percent.
The impact of the city’s decision extends beyond individual businesses. The Japanese government aims to attract 60 million foreign visitors annually by 2030—more than 1.6 times the record set last year—raising questions about how Osaka and other major destinations will meet future accommodation demand.
The future of the city’s special minpaku system remains uncertain as authorities and businesses navigate the fallout.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/147227.php