Latest news with #STEP
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Yahoo
The U.S. just issued a rare global travel warning — here's what it means for your summer plans
If you're planning to travel internationally this summer, you're one of many Americans planning to travel abroad — and now, the U.S. government wants you to be more cautious than ever as you head out. On June 22, the U.S. Department of State issued a rare "worldwide caution" alert, warning all Americans traveling overseas to exercise increased vigilance. The reason? High and escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly following U.S. airstrikes on nuclear facilities in Iran. According to officials, the threat environment has shifted in ways that could impact American citizens abroad — and even at home. Unlike a country-specific warning, this global alert doesn't ban travel or recommend canceling trips. Instead, it serves as a general advisory, noting the potential for terrorist attacks, political demonstrations, or violence aimed at Americans or Western travelers. Travelers are also being told to watch for disruptions in air travel and potential airspace closures — which could upend flight routes without much notice. The Department of Homeland Security echoed the alert, issuing its own statement, which noted the potential for cyberattacks and homegrown violent extremism lasting through the summer. While all of will unnerve many travelers, it's not necessarily a reason to cancel your travel plans. Instead, it's a reminder to stay informed and be prepared. If you're heading abroad, here are a few smart moves to make now: Enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which gives you real-time safety updates and helps the local U.S. embassy reach you in an emergency. Check the Travel Advisories page for up-to-date safety guidance for your specific destination. Leave a copy of your itinerary with someone at home, and have a backup plan in case you need to reroute. In uncertain times, knowledge — and preparation — are power.
Express Tribune
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
AI chatbot launched for persons with disabilities
The Special Talent Exchange Programme (STEP) has officially launched Pakistan's first AI-based chatbot for persons with disabilities. This initiative has been developed in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), and with generous support from the European Union (EU). The launch event took place at the National University of Science & Technology (NUST), where representatives from government, civil society, and academia were present. The chatbot is launched under the theme "An Initiative for a Peaceful and Inclusive Society." Designed as a multilingual and accessible digital support tool, NOOR AI is the first-of-its-kind in Pakistan. It addresses the specific needs of persons with disabilities, especially women, who often face systemic exclusion in accessing vital services. The chatbot also offers confidential, rights-based guidance on disability rights, inclusive education, employment opportunities, legal aid, gender-based violence (GBV) protection and awareness around preventing violent extremism (PVE). In his opening remarks, STEP Executive Director, Muhammad Atif Sheikh, called NOOR AI "an empowering digital platform for women and youth affected by disability and marginalisation. Sharing insights from STEP's broader initiative, "Empowering Women with Disabilities in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE)," especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he pointed out how national action plans and CVE policies in Pakistan often overlook disability, despite the double marginalisation that women with disabilities face - both due to their gender and their disability. "NOOR AI is not just a chatbot; it's a peace-building tool. It addresses gaps in digital access, legal awareness, and psychosocial support, all of which are critical to inclusive resilience," he noted. STEP Director Programmes, Abia Akram, emphasised the urgency of disability-inclusive policy reform in Pakistan. She stressed the need to ensure that persons with disabilities are not only beneficiaries but also leaders in digital and peacebuilding spaces.
Telegraph
15-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Scrap ‘unfair' inheritance tax on infected blood scandal victims, Labour urged
An 'unconscionable' oversight that will see victims of the infected blood scandal pay inheritance tax on compensation payments must be scrapped, expert lawyers have urged. Two professional bodies representing lawyers and advisers have been in discussion with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about fixing an issue that results in families of the infected 'unfairly' paying inheritance tax on compensation payments. About 30,000 people contracted HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s after being given contaminated blood products. The Government set aside £11.8bn for the victims last year, and promised the compensation payments would be free from inheritance tax. But in practice, only the first payment to the victim or the victim's estate escapes the 40pc charge. So-called 'second' transfers do not. This means that if a victim died years ago and their estate now received compensation, that sum would be subject to inheritance tax when the person inheriting their estate also passed away. The Government has taken so long to compensate the victims that many of those affected are now in their later years. As a result, some could pass away soon after receiving compensation. This could then lead to their families paying back 40pc of the sum to the Government. The Association of Lifetime Lawyers and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) have sent a report to HMRC and a letter to the chair of the inquiry pushing for a solution through the introduction of secondary legislation. Jade Gani, of STEP, said: 'We will continue to work with HMRC, the inquiry team and other partners to ensure the law changes as swiftly as possible, and are encouraged by the progress so far. 'We hope that the Government will act swiftly to ensure that bereaved families aren't unfairly penalised at such a difficult time.' In a damning report published this week, the inquiry chair, Sir Brian Langstaff, warned that victims had been 'harmed further' by injustices in the compensation scheme. The latest figures from the Infected Blood Compensation Authority show that so far only 460 people have received compensation payments, worth hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions, of pounds. The inquiry has not referenced the inheritance tax issue in its reports so far. However, 'many infected and affected parties' could be impacted, according to the lawyers. The Telegraph previously highlighted the problem in April. One woman in her late 60s said she was entitled to £1m in compensation through the estate of her brother who died in the 1990s after being infected with HIV. But under the current rules rules, her family would be hit with a £400,000 bill if she died following the payout. She said it was 'completely morally wrong' that inheritance tax should be applied to her brother's compensation. In the letter sent to Sir Brian on July 10, Ms Gani wrote: 'Compensation for infected blood scandal victims should never be taxed, whether in life or death.' She continued: 'Given that one of the most damaging aspects of the infected blood scandal has been how exceptionally long it has taken for government bodies to acknowledge the harm caused and provide redress, and we continue to see delays with compensation payments being issued, we believe it to be highly unconscionable that those infected and affected should be negatively impacted by tax technicalities only created by such a long delay in making these payments.' Sir Brian has called for an overhaul of the compensation scheme. He made several recommendations in his report including that victims should be allowed to apply for compensation rather than having to wait for an invitation, and that older or seriously ill victims and family members should get priority. A government spokesman said: 'The victims of this scandal have suffered unspeakable wrongs. We have designed a comprehensive compensation scheme and so far, have paid over £300m to victims. 'Infected and affected victims are not taxed on their compensation. But, like many other compensation schemes, intestacy laws apply.'
New York Post
14-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
NY scraps race-based STEM program after Asians claim discrimination
State education officials have scrapped New York's race-based admissions policy for advanced STEM classes for middle- and high-school students after a lawsuit by Asian parents, The Post has learned. The state-funded Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) admits 11,000 seventh- to 12th-grade students a year for classes at 56 participating colleges and medical schools statewide, with a related College Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP). The pre-college enrichment program aims to 'increase the number of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students prepared to enter college and improve their participation rate' in math, science, tech and health fields, according to its website. Advertisement 3 Yiatin Chu, a co-founder of the Asian Wave alliance, praised the decision by New York state education officials to scrap a race-based admissions policy for advanced STEM classes. James Messerschmidt But while black, Hispanic and Native American students could apply regardless of family wealth, Asian and white schoolkids needed to meet certain income criteria — indicating they are economically challenged — or be excluded. A federal lawsuit filed in January accused New York of engaging in blatant discrimination against Asian and white students under the program. Advertisement 'Progress!' crowed Yiatin Chu — a co-founder of the Asian Wave alliance who said her daughter was one of the students discriminated against because of the race-based policy — to The Post. Chu said her then-seventh-grade daughter was 'able and ready' to apply for admission to the summer 2024 STEP program at New York University but couldn't 'because her race makes her ineligible. 'It was unfair and racist for my daughter to be subjected to a low-income requirement just because she is Asian when her black and Hispanic classmates weren't,' Chu said Sunday. 'I'm glad that my lawsuit instigated revisiting these decades long, race-based standards.' Another Asian parent said her daughter was enrolled in 11th grade abd had an overall grade-point average above 80 in math, science, and English but was 'unable to complete an application for admission' to CUNY's Baruch College 'because she was required to satisfy a family income threshold. Advertisement 3 Chu said her daughter wasn't able to apply for the summer 2024 STEP program because of her race. 'I instead paid thousands of dollars to enroll her in an alternative summer science program,' said the parent, who asked not to be identified. A top state education official, noting the still-pending litigation over the program, has already urged directors and administrators of STEP and CSTEP to stop using race or 'historically underrepresented minority status' to determine admissions and instead use only family income as admission criteria. 'As many of you are aware, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) is currently engaged in active litigation concerning the eligibility criteria for participation in the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP),' wrote Anael Alston, the education department's assistant commissioner of the Office of Access, said in a July 8 memo to directors and administrators. Advertisement 'The litigation challenges certain aspects of our longstanding eligibility guidelines related to student race and ethnicity,' Alston said. 'While NYSED remains committed to defending the STEP and CSTEP programs and their historic mission to increase access and opportunity for historically underrepresented students in the scientific, technical, and health-related professions, we recognize the need to provide clarity and support to the field during this period of legal uncertainty.' The new guidance from Alston said 'effective immediately and until further notice, STEP and CSTEP grantees may determine student eligibility without regard to historically underrepresented minority status, race, or ethnicity.' 'Instead, grantees are encouraged to base eligibility decisions solely on indicators of economic disadvantage, in alignment with applicable state and federal guidelines,' Alston wrote. 'Recruitment, selection, and enrollment of new students may proceed using economic-based eligibility criteria only. Collection or use of race, ethnicity, or minority status data is not required for eligibility.' But Alston also appeared to defend the mandatory race-based admission policy she just eliminated. 'NYSED will continue to vigorously defend the mission and intent of STEP and CSTEP in court,' the official said. Advertisement The lawyers for the opposing Asian parents said state officials capitulated because they know the race-based policy is illegal. But the parents' reps complained that state officials still left wiggle room to continue discriminating against students by using words such as 'may' and 'encouraged.' 3 A federal lawsuit filed in January accused New York of engaging in blatant discrimination against Asian and white students under the program. Andrew Schwartz / 'The state of New York has raised the white flag of surrender in our lawsuit, but not high enough,' said William Jacobson, founder of Advertisement 'Word games are not acceptable,' Jacobson said. 'The state must do away with the racially discriminatory eligibility requirements completely and permanently, or we will ask the court to order it.' Erin Wilcox, a senior lawyer at Pacific Legal Foundation, said, 'The state should be requiring all schools to stop this illegal discrimination immediately, not giving them the option to continue.' In 1985, New York lawmakers passed legislation aimed at boosting interest in STEM and healthcare among low-income and underrepresented minority students. But racial-preference programs — aimed at correcting historic injustices or underrepresentation of blacks and other minorities — have come under the microscope after the US Supreme Court last year struck down college affirmative action programs aimed at boosting minority representation as discriminatory.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Strength Seen in Oportun Financial (OPRT): Can Its 8.6% Jump Turn into More Strength?
Oportun Financial Corporation (OPRT) shares soared 8.6% in the last trading session to close at $7.69. The move was backed by solid volume with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This compares to the stock's 0.7% gain over the past four weeks. Oportun extended its gains for the third consecutive session, climbing higher yesterday after the company issued a letter to shareholders reaffirming its support for CEO Raul Vazquez. In the letter, Oportun urged investors to vote in favor of retaining Vazquez on the board, countering efforts by Findell Capital Management to oust him. The show of confidence in the CEO appeared to boost investor sentiment, pushing OPRT stock higher. This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.21 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +162.5%. Revenues are expected to be $239.79 million, down 4.2% from the year-ago quarter. While earnings and revenue growth expectations are important in evaluating the potential strength in a stock, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. For Oportun Financial, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. And a stock's price usually doesn't keep moving higher in the absence of any trend in earnings estimate revisions. So, make sure to keep an eye on OPRT going forward to see if this recent jump can turn into more strength down the road. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> Oportun Financial belongs to the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry. Another stock from the same industry, StepStone Group Inc. (STEP), closed the last trading session 0.1% higher at $57.08. Over the past month, STEP has returned -1.8%. For StepStone Group, the consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming report has remained unchanged over the past month at $0.41. This represents a change of -14.6% from what the company reported a year ago. StepStone Group currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Oportun Financial Corporation (OPRT) : Free Stock Analysis Report StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
