[VOA] Yaounde, Cameroon -- An estimated 8 million voters in Chad go to the polls Dec. 29 in legislative, local and district elections. Female leaders and activists, however, say women candidates are being underrepresented.

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MUMBAI: India’s Supreme Court on Wednesday strongly criticised states which were demolishing properties of suspected criminals, a practice critics say targets mostly minority Muslims, and issued guidelines to authorities.

The verdict came in response to many petitions filed after demolitions in states ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in recent years.

BJP governments in the states have torn down what they say are illegal houses or shops of people accused of crimes, many of them Muslims, in what has come to be popularly known as “instant, bulldozer justice”.

Rights groups and opposition parties have denounced the practice, saying it targets mostly poor Muslims while circumventing the judicial process.

Verdict comes in response to many petitions filed after demolitions targeting Muslims

BJP governments have rejected the accusations and said such properties were in violation of local laws and the owners had been served notices.

On Wednesday, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the state and its officials cannot take arbitrary action against suspects or convicts without following the due process of law. It also laid down guidelines, including issuing prior notice and taking a video of the demolition process. “It is not a happy sight to see women, children and aged persons dragged to the streets overnight. Heavens would not fall on the authorities if they hold their hands for some period,” the court said. There was no immediate reaction to the verdict from the BJP.

Bulldozer action

Calls for India to enshrine Hindu supremacy in law have rapidly grown louder after Modi government’s success in 2014. Hindu nationalist groups were emboldened in their campaign against Muslim religious structures.

“Bulldozer action”, popularly known as “bulldozer justice”, were actions observed by many practitioners as a campaign against the Muslim minority, bulldozing their homes, mosques and shopfronts.

The practices were mainly observed after Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and a saffron-robed Hindu monk seen as a potential successor to Prime Minister Modi, championed the bulldozer as a symbol of his commitment to law and order and as a potential tool to use against “trouble-makers” in 2017. Since then “bulldozer politics” have spread elsewhere in the country and demolition campaigns have begun quickly following on the heels of outbreaks of religious unrest.

Officials said the spate of demolitions were lawful as they only targeted buildings constructed without legal approval. But victims of the campaign deny that their dwellings are illegal, and say they are not given the legally required notice period to dispute demolition orders.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2024

“I think they got chicken.”

Sarah Palin was very nervous before her VP debate with Biden in 2008 and then she realized she just had to memorize the talking points on each issue and give that answer no matter what the specific question was. Are we sure that's not what Kamala Harris did this entire campaign?

Nvidia, Oracle, Google, Dell and 13 other companies reported how long it takes their computers to train the key neural networks in use today. Among those results were the first glimpse of Nvidia’s next generation GPU, the B200, and Google’s upcoming accelerator, called Trillium. The B200 posted a doubling of performance on some tests versus today’s workhorse Nvidia chip, the H100. And Trillium delivered nearly a four-fold boost over the chip Google tested in 2023.

The benchmark tests, called MLPerf v4.1, consist of six tasks: recommendation, the pre-training of the large language models (LLM) GPT-3 and BERT-large, the fine tuning of the Llama 2 70B large language model, object detection, graph node classification, and image generation.

Training GPT-3 is such a mammoth task that it’d be impractical to do the whole thing just to deliver a benchmark. Instead, the test is to train it to a point that experts have determined means it is likely to reach the goal if you kept going. For Llama 2 70B, the goal is not to train the LLM from scratch, but to take an already trained model and fine-tune it so it’s specialized in a particular expertise—in this case, government documents. Graph node classification is a type of machine learning used in fraud detection and drug discovery.

As what’s important in AI has evolved, mostly toward using generative AI, the set of tests has changed. This latest version of MLPerf marks a complete changeover in what’s being tested since the benchmark effort began. “At this point all of the original benchmarks have been phased out,” says David Kanter, who leads the benchmark effort at MLCommons. In the previous round it was taking mere seconds to perform some of the benchmarks.

Performance of the best machine learning systems on various benchmarks has outpaced what would be expected if gains were solely from Moore’s Law [blue line]. Solid line represent current benchmarks. Dashed lines represent benchmarks that have now been retired, because they are no longer industrially relevant.MLCommons

According to MLPerf’s calculations, AI training on the new suite of benchmarks is improving at about twice the rate one would expect from Moore’s Law. As the years have gone on, results have plateaued more quickly than they did at the start of MLPerf’s reign. Kanter attributes this mostly to the fact that companies have figured out how to do the benchmark tests on very large systems. Over time, Nvidia, Google, and others have developed software and network technology that allows for near linear scaling—doubling the processors cuts training time roughly in half.

First Nvidia Blackwell training results

This round marked the first training tests for Nvidia’s next GPU architecture, called Blackwell. For the GPT-3 training and LLM fine-tuning, the Blackwell (B200) roughly doubled the performance of the H100 on a per-GPU basis. The gains were a little less robust but still substantial for recommender systems and image generation—64 percent and 62 percent, respectively.

The Blackwell architecture, embodied in the Nvidia B200 GPU, continues an ongoing trend toward using less and less precise numbers to speed up AI. For certain parts of transformer neural networks such as ChatGPT, Llama2, and Stable Diffusion, the Nvidia H100 and H200 use 8-bit floating point numbers. The B200 brings that down to just 4 bits.

Google debuts 6th gen hardware

Google showed the first results for its 6^th generation of TPU, called Trillium—which it unveiled only last month—and a second round of results for its 5^th generation variant, the Cloud TPU v5p. In the 2023 edition, the search giant entered a different variant of the 5^th generation TPU, v5e, designed more for efficiency than performance. Versus the latter, Trillium delivers as much as a 3.8-fold performance boost on the GPT-3 training task.

But versus everyone’s arch-rival Nvidia, things weren’t as rosy. A system made up of 6,144 TPU v5ps reached the GPT-3 training checkpoint in 11.77 minutes, placing a distant second to an 11,616-Nvidia H100 system, which accomplished the task in about 3.44 minutes. That top TPU system was only about 25 seconds faster than an H100 computer half its size.

A Dell Technologies computer fine-tuned the Llama 2 70B large language model using about 75 cents worth of electricity.

In the closest head-to-head comparison between v5p and Trillium, with each system made up of 2048 TPUs, the upcoming Trillium shaved a solid 2 minutes off of the GPT-3 training time, nearly an 8 percent improvement on v5p’s 29.6 minutes. Another difference between the Trillium and v5p entries is that Trillium is paired with AMD Epyc CPUs instead of the v5p’s Intel Xeons.

Google also trained the image generator, Stable Diffusion, with the Cloud TPU v5p. At 2.6 billion parameters, Stable Diffusion is a light enough lift that MLPerf contestants are asked to train it to convergence instead of just to a checkpoint, as with GPT-3. A 1024 TPU system ranked second, finishing the job in 2 minutes 26 seconds, about a minute behind the same size system made up of Nvidia H100s.

Training power is still opaque

The steep energy cost of training neural networks has long been a source of concern. MLPerf is only beginning to measure this. Dell Technologies was the sole entrant in the energy category, with an eight-server system containing 64 Nvidia H100 GPUs and 16 Intel Xeon Platinum CPUs. The only measurement made was in the LLM fine-tuning task (Llama2 70B). The system consumed 16.4 megajoules during its 5-minute run, for an average power of 5.4 kilowatts. That means about 75 cents of electricity at the average cost in the United States.

While it doesn’t say much on its own, the result does potentially provide a ballpark for the power consumption of similar systems. Oracle, for example, reported a close performance result—4 minutes 45 seconds—using the same number and types of CPUs and GPUs.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) went live on X Wednesday, giving the public a way to question and see how tax dollars are being spent.

Interest rate policy divergence is a re-emerging threat for the Canadian dollar

House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to run the Justice Department, issued his resignation letter on Wednesday.

The Jets are in the midst of another disappointing season, but a former member of Gang Green is sharing some words of wisdom with the team’s standout cornerback.

Five players accused of sexually assaulting a woman after a London, Ont., gala celebrating their 2018 world junior hockey win will now stand trial beginning in April 2025, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Live bidding will be private, and the future owner of Jones' company will be public once court papers are filed. The proceeds will go to pay Sandy Hook families who won defamation cases against Jones.

The experience provides a three-hour adventure where guests can explore the Colosseum after hours, beginning with a ceremonial welcome before delving into the ancient structure’s underground chambers

Diabetes: Don’t blame it on your genes  Ahmedabad MirrorView Full coverage on Google News

1. 800 million diabetics worldwide and most aren't getting treatment, finds study  The Times of India
2. India has the highest number of diabetic people in the world, even more than China: Report  The Economic Times
3. Indians account for quarter of world’s adult diabetes patients: Lancet study  Hindustan Times
4. Why have diabetes rates doubled over the past 30 years – and what can be done about it?  The Guardian
5. One-fourth of people living with diabetes globally are in India, study estimates  The Hindu

1. 'Australia, we have arrived!': Team India announces as Border-Gavaskar Trophy prep in full swing  The Times of India
2. Watch: Virat, Bumrah and others grind hard in Perth ahead of 1st Test vs Australia  India Today
3. 'Australia, We Have Arrived': After Claims Of Secrecy, India Release Video Of Training Session And Send Mes  News18
4. Black veil of secrecy: India begin training in privacy in Perth  ESPNcricinfo
5. 'Practice Session Open To All': BCCI Refutes Aussie Media's Reports Of Closed Door Sessions  Times Now

1. ‘Cricket at crossroads. Keep egos in check…’: Afridi attacks India without taking names for Champions Trophy row  Hindustan Times
2. Should Men In Blue play in Pakistan?  The Times of India
3. Champions Trophy 2025: ‘Not BCCI’s Issue, It Is…’ – Former PCB Chairman Najam Sethi Makes Controversial Claim  News24
4. "Countries Once Divided...": Shahid Afridi's Big Appeal To BCCI Amid Champions Trophy Row  NDTV Sports
5. ‘ICC should snatch hosting rights from India and Pakistan for 8 years’: Rashid Latif to HT on Champions Trophy muddle  Hindustan Times

1. Horoscope 14th November, 2024: Check astrological prediction for Virgo, Sagittarius and other signs  The Indian Express
2. Horoscope Today: November 14, 2024  VOGUE India
3. Love and Relationship Horoscope for November 14, 2024  Hindustan Times
4. Horoscope Today, November 14, 2024: Read your today's astrological predictions  The Times of India
5. Aries Daily Horoscope Today (Mar 21 – April 19), November 14, 2024: Relationships will be comfortable!  India Today

1. LG launches three new XBOOM Series speakers in India: Check price, details  Business Standard
2. LG launches three XBOOM series speakers: Price, features and more  The Times of India
3. LG launches XBOOM speaker series, headlined by the 1000W XL9T: Price and features  The Indian Express
4. LG XBOOM XL9T, XO2T and GO XG2T portable Bluetooth speakers launched in India  FoneArena
5. LG unveils XBOOM series speakers in India, from rugged to stylish; see price and features  Business Today

1. iPhone SE 4 is expected to launch in March 2025, according to the latest report  India TV News
2. iPhone SE 4 leaks: 7 big upgrades  India Today
3. iPhone SE 4 launching in 2025: Refreshed design, powerful specs—minus the premium price  Mint
4. Apple iPhone SE 4 to launch next year, likely to become the cheapest iPhone to support Apple Intelligence...  Moneycontrol
5. iPhone SE 4 Camera Production to Begin Soon Ahead of Anticipated Debut in March 2025: Report  Gadgets 360

1. Rajasthan Congress rebel Naresh Meena ‘slaps’ local SDM during bypolls  The Indian Express
2. Rajasthan bypolls: SDM assaulted, stones pelted, vehicles torched in Tonk; 60 arrested  Hindustan Times
3. SDM slap row: 10 cops hurt in stone-pelting in post-poll violence in Rajasthan's Samravata village  The Times of India
4. Video: Rajasthan Official Slapped By Independent Candidate Outside Booth  NDTV
5. India News Today Live Updates: Tonk violence: 60 arrested after Naresh Meena ‘slaps’ SDM, stones pelted at cops; candidate warns 'would've beaten him…'  Mint

1. SC bans ‘bulldozer justice’, calls it unconstitutional, drafts norms  The Times of India
2. Poetry To UK Precedent: What Went Into Landmark 'Bulldozer Justice' Verdict  NDTV
3. Right To Shelter A Facet Of Article 21; State Must Satisfy Why Entire Property Needs To Be Demolished :...  Live Law - Indian Legal News
4. Supreme Court verdict on bulldozer demolitions: Jamiat hails verdict, victims seek compensation  The Hindu
5. SC lays down path, timeline that bulldozers must follow  The Times of India

Actor, who played Joey Gladstone on the hit ABC sitcom, said he is currently undergoing rounds of chemotherapy

For Canadian men's soccer goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, it's all about winning the small contest in front of you, and accumulate enough of those wins in succession, and greatness will follow.

The Guardian announced it will no longer be active on X (formerly Twitter) — all its editorial accounts will stop posting on the platform. Users can, of course, still share the outlet's articles on X, and journalists working for The Guardian may link to or embed X posts in their articles or continue using the platform to gather news.

According to the statement, X has become rife with “far-right conspiracy theories and racism” and is simply not worth sinking more resources into. The newspaper would rather spend its time and energy on less "toxic" platforms. Additionally, The Guardian cites Elon Musk as a major reason for moving away, since the results of the recent US presidential election have allegedly shown how Musk "has been able to use its influence to shape political discourse." Essentially, the concern appears to be that continuing to post would be adding fuel to a propaganda machine.

The Guardian isn’t the only news outlet to ditch X: NPR and PBS both left in 2023. Corporations like Apple, IBM, Disney and others still post, but no longer advertise on X. These companies have historically been the social media platform’s biggest source of ad income, as reported by Axios.

The Guardian claims it's able to make this decision because it doesn’t rely on advertising as its main business model. But Twitter was always more about influence than driving traffic, and the returns on investment for publishers have only gotten worse with time.

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's border czar says there is an "extreme national security vulnerability" along the Canada-U.S. border that he plans to deal with the moment the new Republican administration takes power.

The need for a strong, centralized regulatory structure for India's pharmaceutical industry has taken center stage, with experts calling for the establishment of a Central Drug Regulatory Cadre and a Central Drug

A Will can be revoked at any time by the testator/testatrix during his/her lifetime.

In preparation for the January 2025 CA Intermediate Examinations, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Board of Studies has announced two rounds of mock test papers, scheduled to begin on November 18, 2024. ...

Highlights: Diabetes management involves significant daily challenges affecting mental health A holistic approac

A third of the more than 300 million electrocardiograms (EKGs) conducted annually worldwide are performed in the United States. The technology behind

Learn how the innovative wireless EKG patch matches or exceeds traditional EKG accuracy, offering improved ease of use and reducing errors.

Millions with diabetes face daily challenges that impact their physical and mental well-being. This World Diabetes Day, let's prioritize holistic care.

Men often face challenges during the transition to fatherhood due to a lack of information and emotional support tailored to their specific needs, suggests

Sensex was trading at 78,260 after slipping 414 points and Nifty was trading at 23,706 after dropping 167 points.

Ramreddy Meka's insights shed light on a future where technology not only sustains but significantly enhances the quality of life for dialysis patients, transforming renal care into a more holistic and patient-focused experience.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, has arrived to hold talks with External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar.

India is likely to see implementation of one of the biggest infrastructure programmes in 21st century, amongst the largest economies and creating fiscal sources of capital would be key to this initiative, according to a KPMG report.

Mercedes-Benz India is on course to close the current year with a double-digit jump in sales, as demand for luxury cars increased.

Total two-wheeler sales in the country surged by a robust 14.2 per cent to 21.64 lakh units in October this year, compared to 18.96 lakh units in October 2023, according to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Wednesday.

India accounts for per cent of the global total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and it is expected to increase by 4.6 per cent in 2024, according to a new report released on Wednesday, ahead of the UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

More than 4 in 5 Indians, or 86 per cent of Indians living with diabetes have experienced anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition as a result of their diabetes, according to a report, ahead of World Diabetes Day.

Shares of Hyundai Motor India, that were listed at Rs 1,931 apiece, have slipped more than 10 per cent from its IPO price.

India hosted senior cancer physicians and policymakers from BIMSTEC countries during the annual meeting of National Cancer Grid (NCG) held at Mumbai's Tata Memorial Hospital.

In a recent development, Salman Khan's representative has clarified that the actor has no association with the show "The Great Indian Kapil Show" on Netflix.

1. Lancet study says about a quarter of diabetics globally are Indians  The Indian Express
2. Indians account for quarter of world’s adult diabetes patients: Lancet study  Hindustan Times
3. India capitalof untreated diabetics: Lancet  The Times of India
4. Large gaps in diagnosis, effective treatment: World's largest number of diabetic patients in India  Deccan Herald
5. More than 800 million people around the world have diabetes, study finds  The Guardian