All posts tagged: definition

Polymarket withholds payouts as debate erupts over definition of Venezuela ‘invasion’

Polymarket withholds payouts as debate erupts over definition of Venezuela ‘invasion’

Published by skeptic

Polymarket is reportedly refusing to pay out on bets related to whether the U.S. military will invade Venezuela, citing discrepancies in terminology. The operator is currently disputing the mission to capture the former president, Nicolas Maduro, who represented an invasion of Venezuela, and the company will only settle a contract if the military actually takes control of the country. One successful trader won $400,000 following Maduro’s capture after betting more than $32,000 that the former president would be removed from power by the end of January. This was trading at an average of 7 cents before the market eventually paid out at 100 cents when he was flown out of the country. As such, the mystery trader won $400,000, but there is controversy surrounding the bet regarding the definition of “invade.” Polymarket states that it will resolve the “Will the US invade Venezuela by . . .?” prediction contract if the country “commences a military offensive intended to establish control over any portion of Venezuela” by one of three dates. Because it didn't happen. There is no scam …

FT Exposes The Literal Definition Of Ponzi-Scheming In Private Equity

FT Exposes The Literal Definition Of Ponzi-Scheming In Private Equity

Published by Jenni Sidey

In what can only be described as the financial industry’s most brazen act of self-dealing since the last crisis, private equity giants are now openly selling assets to themselves at record pace, propping up their crumbling empire with a tactic that reeks of pure Ponzi desperation. According to the Financial Times, roughly one-fifth of all private equity exits this year involved firms raising fresh cash from new suckers investors to buy portfolio companies from their own aging funds. That’s a sharp jump from the 12-13% seen in prior years, with Raymond James’ Sunaina Sinha Haldea predicting a staggering $107 billion in these incestuous transactions for 2025, blowing past last year’s $70 billion. These so-called “continuation vehicles” let PE barons hand money back to restless limited partners in older funds while keeping control of the assets – and, crucially, resetting the clock on lucrative management fees and carried interest. It’s the ultimate have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too scam: cash out the old money, lock in the new money, and keep milking the same cow indefinitely. “This year is set to break …

NSS concerned by leaked anti-Muslim hostility definition

NSS concerned by leaked anti-Muslim hostility definition

Published by Sam Flores

The National Secular Society has raised concerns about the reported wording of a definition of anti-Muslim hostility being considered by the Government. A working group tasked with developing a definition of anti-Muslim hatred / Islamophobia is understood to have delivered its findings to the Government in October. According to the BBC, the wording of the definition endorsed by the working group omits the term ‘Islamophobia’ – a move welcomed by the NSS, and says: “Anti-Muslim hostility is engaging in or encouraging criminal acts, including acts of violence, vandalism of property, and harassment and intimidation whether physical, verbal, written or electronically communicated, which is directed at Muslims or those perceived to be Muslims because of their religion, ethnicity or appearance. “It is also the prejudicial stereotyping and racialisation of Muslims, as part of a collective group with set characteristics, to stir up hatred against them, irrespective of their actual opinions, beliefs or actions as individuals. “It is engaging in prohibited discrimination where the relevant conduct – including the creation or use of practices and biases within …

NSS seeks Government assurances on anti-Muslim hatred definition

NSS seeks Government assurances on anti-Muslim hatred definition

Published by Sam Flores

The National Secular Society has called on the Government to guarantee a new definition of anti-Muslim hatred will be subject to public consultation. A working group, tasked with developing a definition of anti-Muslim hatred / Islamophobia is understood to have delivered its findings to the Government in October. Writing to Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the NSS raised concerns that the Government’s handling of the process to reach a finalised definition risked “limiting necessary discussion and debate”. It asked Reed to guarantee that any proposed definition will be subject to a “full, open, and transparent public consultation before being adopted or implemented in any form”. The NSS has consistently warned that ‘Islamophobia’ definitions and terminology stifle freedom of speech relating to religion, highlighting how accusations of Islamophobia have already been used to suppress lawful and necessary public debate. It has met with the working group to raise its concerns. Reed has previously said he would reject any definition that restricts freedom of expression, stating that people “don’t have a …

EHRC opposes ‘Islamophobia’ definition | National Secular Society

EHRC opposes ‘Islamophobia’ definition | National Secular Society

Published by Sam Flores

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has set out strong opposition to a proposed non-statutory definition of ‘Islamophobia’. Responding to a consultation from a Government appointed working group on Islamophobia / anti-Muslim hatred, the EHRC said no definition should be adopted. The National Secular Society has long campaigned against adopting a definition of Islamophobia. It also engaged and met with the working group to express its concerns. Definition risks “being unhelpful or merely duplicative” The EHRC noted the Equality Act 2010 and the criminal law already protects Muslims. A non-statutory definition “risks being unhelp or merely duplicative”, it said. Both the Government and the working group failed to identify “what specific problem a new non-statutory definition would solve” and had not “provided analysis of why existing statutory provisions are insufficient”. A definition “could have a chilling effect on freedom of expression” and, if applied by public authorities, “could lead to unlawful restrictions on political speech”. This could lead to “further harm to community cohesion”. It also stated that Islamophobia is not a form of …

NSS welcomes ministers’ caution on ‘Islamophobia’ definition

NSS welcomes ministers’ caution on ‘Islamophobia’ definition

Published by Sam Flores

Ministers have expressed reservations about the adoption of an official definition of ‘Islamophobia’, following engagement with the National Secular Society. This year, former deputy prime minister and communities secretary Angela Rayner appointed a working group to create a definition of ‘anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia’. The plans have been broadly criticised since their announcement, over fears the definition will inflame community tensions by restricting free speech and giving ‘special status’ to one religious group. Rayner’s successor as communities secretary, Steve Reed, has now told the Telegraph he will reject the definition if it would restrict freedom of expression. He said free speech “must come first” and people “don’t have a right not to be offended”. He added: “I’m not going to bring in blasphemy laws by the backdoor.” The working group is chaired by Dominic Grieve, who wrote the foreword to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims’ report on defining Islamophobia. The APPG definition is widely opposed by free speech campaigners. The NSS met with the working group earlier this year to share its concerns …

NSS backs open letter against ‘Islamophobia’ definition

NSS backs open letter against ‘Islamophobia’ definition

Published by Sam Flores

The National Secular Society has signed an joint letter urging the Government to abandon plans to adopt an ‘Islamophobia’ definition. The Government has appointed a working group to create an official, non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia. The open letter to the Government says the move “risks fuelling division rather than fostering social cohesion” at a time of “rising tensions, deepening mistrust, and urgent social challenges”. Islam “must be open to scrutiny, criticism, mockery and even condemnation” The letter says the signatories “strongly oppose racism and discrimination in all their forms”, and warns adopting an ‘Islamophobia’ definition “will do little to tackle prejudice and much to exacerbate problems by encouraging censorship, identity-based grievance, and the policing of speech”. It says the proposed definition “blurs the crucial distinction between race and religion”. “Islam is a belief system that, like all others, must be open to scrutiny, criticism, mockery and even condemnation,” it says. The letter highlights several incidents demonstrating the “danger of this confusion”, including the abuse faced by former University of Bristol professor Steven Greer after …