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Sunak the influencer: How the UK’s AI summit surprised the skeptics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:37 GMT

BLETCHLEY PARK, England — As Rishi Sunak lined up for a photo-op at Bletchley Park on Thursday alongside world leaders and tech execs while the sky drizzled outside, you could forgive him for feeling smug.In the weeks and months leading up to the summit, the British PM had faced a barrage of criticism over the event: Rights campaigners didn’t like the laser focus on unrealized catastrophic risks; diplomats grumbled it risked taking away from existing initiatives, like at the G7.But as the curtain closed on the two-day summit at Bletchley Park, the home of the U.K.’s World War II codebreakers, it was difficult to see this as anything other than a coup for Britain’s under-fire leader.By the time proceedings were wrapping up on a drab Thursday evening, he’d managed to get almost 30 countries — including the U.S. and China — to sign a shared communiqué outlining the risks, set up a new global network of AI researchers, and secured a landmark agreement to allow governments to get under t...

North Korea sends Putin tons of ammo. Europe can’t do the same for Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:37 GMT

In the race to arm allies, North Korea has beaten the EU to a million artillery shells.Despite pledging to support Ukraine with a million rounds of ammunition within a year to help it beat back Russia’s invasion, the EU’s weapons manufacturers are nowhere near the kind of output needed to hit that target by March.“I’m also very worried about the production of ammunition,” Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who first proposed the target, said on the sidelines of last week’s EU leaders summit. “The promise that we have given to Ukraine to deliver 1 million artillery rounds … this is behind.”Meanwhile, North Korea is shipping vast amounts of ammunition to Russia; a South Korean lawmaker reckons Pyongyang has already sent a million shells. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers at a closed-door parliamentary audit on Wednesday that North Korea had made at least 10 arms transfers to Russia since August.​​“North ...

Stoneham knocks off second-seeded Abington on the road

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:37 GMT

ABINGTON – On a frigid November night, No. 15 Stoneham rallied after three first-half fumbles to pull off a 22-14 upset over No. 2 Abington in the first round of the MIAA Division 6 football tournament.Early in the season, this would have seemed unlikely at the very least. The Spartans started out 0-4 and had to win the final four contests of the season just to reach the tournament. Head coach Bob Almeida said that the improvement the team has shown since the early struggles is night and day.“The things that we weren’t able to do earlier in the year we are able to do now,” Almeida said.Stoneham stormed down the field via the rushing attack and put a quick six points on the board. The Green Wave struggled on the next drive and punted back to the Spartans but forced a fumble just plays later.Abington would have more success this time, pushing down the field before a 29-yard connection from Michael Reilly and A.J. Nash would even the score. Stoneham would fumble the ball again early on...

Ravens nearing full strength with return of Odell Beckham Jr., Gus Edwards and others to practice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:37 GMT

The Ravens waived cornerback Kevon Seymour on Thursday, which in and of itself wasn’t a major transaction — the 29-year-old had played just 13 defensive snaps, though he was a stalwart on special teams. The decision was telling, however, about the state of Baltimore’s once-depleted secondary.Eight games in, the Ravens (6-2) are near the healthiest they’ve been all year after suffering a glut of injuries during the preseason and through the first few weeks of the regular season.They took another step forward with the return of four players to practice Thursday, as wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder), running back Gus Edwards (toe), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (shoulder) and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (ankle/knee) were all full participants in Owings Mills after none of the four practiced Wednesday.Running back Keaton Mitchell (hamstring) and safety Daryl Worley (shoulder) were also full participants for a second straight day, while safety Marcus Willi...

Family seeks answers after two teens shot dead at Halloween house party

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:37 GMT

EL CAJON, Calif. -- A family member of one of two teens shot dead at a Halloween house party in El Cajon last Saturday is speaking out.“Still feels like it's the worst nightmare that we still haven't really woken up from," said Jennifer Way, the aunt of 16-year old victim DayShan Thomas. The family has established a GoFundMe account.According to El Cajon Police, there was a party with more than 100 young people at a short-term rental home on Mahogany Drive.Chaos erupted as Thomas and 18-year-old Ismael Cruz were shot.“As soon as he arrives, literally getting out of the car from a family member that was dropping him off, didn't even make it to the stop sign before they heard shots," Way said. Victim, suspect identified in deadly downtown stabbing Police say the shooter ran away, then sped off in a car that was parked nearby.As partygoers ran from the area, officers found one victim in the yard and the other in the street. Both died at the scene.Police say the shooting was gang-rela...

Over $3 million worth of marijuana found in clay pots at border

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:37 GMT

TECATE, Calif. -- A 53-year-old commercial tractor-trailer driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further processing after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized over $3 million worth of marijuana last week, authorities said. The drug bust occurred on Oct. 27 around 8:49 a.m. at the Tecate Cargo Facility, CBP said in a news release Wednesday.CBP officers conducted a secondary inspection of a commercial tractor-trailer that was carrying decorated clay planters. A CBP K-9 unit and non-intrusive scanning technology helped officers find a total of 132 suspicious packages within the pots, officials said. Kids in San Diego County can trade in their Halloween candy for cash Authorities tested the packages which came out positive for marijuana. The drugs, which weigh 1,719.16 pounds, has an estimated street value of $3,400,000, CBP confirmed.“Our CBP officers are at the forefront of this fight and rise every day to face challenges withtenacity and...

Driver seriously hurt in Sorrento Valley crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:37 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A 67-year-old driver was seriously hurt Thursday when his vehicle slammed into a traffic pole in Sorrento Valley, authorities said.The crash occurred around 10:15 a.m. at the intersection of Camino Sante Fe and Carroll Canyon Rd., David O'Brien with the San Diego Police Department said in a news release.Police say a solo driver of a 2018 Mini Cooper was traveling northbound on 9400 Camino Sante Fe, when his vehicle swerved to the right and hit a traffic signal pole on the northeast corner of the intersection. Victim, suspect identified in deadly downtown stabbing The driver suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital, authorities confirmed. His injuries are not considered life threatening.Police are investigating on what prompted the man to lose control of his vehicle as driving under the influence is not suspected in the crash.Anyone with information related to the collision is encouraged to call the listed Command handling the investigation or Crime Stopp...

California jury awards $332 million to man who blamed his cancer on use of Monsanto weedkiller

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:37 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A California jury has awarded $332 million to a man who sued chemical giant Monsanto Co. contending that his cancer was related to decades of using its Roundup weedkiller.A San Diego Superior Court jury awarded damages Tuesday in a lawsuit filed by Mike Dennis, 57, of Carlsbad. He was diagnosed in 2020 with a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.His lawsuit contended that his illness was related to Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate.Dennis had treatment and has been in remission for nearly three years but there is no cure, Adam Peavy, one of his attorneys, told KNSD-TV.“His doctors have told him it’s going to come back and we’re just waiting to see if that happens,” Peavy said.The jury found that Monsanto, which is now a division of pharmaceutical and biotechnology giant Bayer, failed to provide warnings of Roundup’s risks. But jurors also ruled partially in Bayer’s favor by finding the product design wasn’t defective and the compan...

St. Lawrence Seaway workers ratify three-year collective agreement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:37 GMT

St. Lawrence Seaway workers have ratified a new collective agreement.A tentative agreement was reached on Sunday between the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. and Unifor, with help from federal mediators.Unifor says the three-year deal includes annual wage increases of five per cent, four per cent and four per cent, retroactive to April 1, 2023, along with a $2,000 signing bonus.The agreement covers about 360 workers on the St. Lawrence Seaway, a major trade route connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean.A strike shuttered operations in the seaway for about a week in late October.The seaway management corporation says it has been working to clear the backlog of waiting vessels since employees returned to the job on Monday morning.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2023.The Canadian Press

Dynasties on display as United Center prepares for spotlight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:37 GMT

CHICAGO — When you think of dynasties and the United Center, the Chicago Bulls championships of the 1990s and the Blackhawks Stanley Cup wins in the 2010s likely come to mind. But there are other dynasties that have played a pivotal role in creating the Madhouse on Madison and will once again be front and center when the stadium hosts the Democratic National Convention in August.“This is a big deal,” said typically understated Bulls president and chief operating officer Michael Reinsdorf as he sat alongside Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz. “The United Center becomes the epicenter with all the eyes watching around the world,” Wirtz said.  “Chicago has a real good opportunity to step-up and show what we’re all about.”The two come from famous families in the world of Chicago sports. Their fathers - who were close friends - formed the partnership that paid for, built and still operates the United Center. Reinsdorf remembers attending the last national political convent...