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Elon Musk hails Rishi Sunak’s ‘essential’ decision to invite China to UK AI summit

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:34:21 GMT

LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has closed the world’s first AI Safety Summit by getting backing from Elon Musk.In Lancaster House in central London, where the wifi was sparse, but the gold trim abundant, Musk sat down for a one-on-one interview with the British PM on Thursday evening.The billionaire owner of Tesla, SpaceX and X described Rishi Sunak’s decision to invite China to the Bletchley Park summit as “essential” and said AI had the potential to “create a future of abundance” if governments stepped in to act as referees and safeguard the technology.He predicted a world where nobody would need to work and there would be a “universal high income.”“There will come a point where no job is needed,” Musk said. “You can have a job if you want to have a job… but the AI will be able to do everything. I don’t know if that makes people comfortable or uncomfortable,” provoking nervous laughter from Sunak. Just under four hours earlier the prime mi...

Russian ordered daubing of Stars of David in France: report

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:34:21 GMT

Two Moldovan nationals were arrested in Paris last Friday after admitting they painted Stars of David on a wall on the orders of an unidentified individual, the Paris prosecutor’s office told POLITICO Wednesday. “An individual in Russia” directed the 33-year-old man and 29-year-old woman to carry out the act in Paris’ 10th arrondissement, according to French radio station Europe 1.The two, who have not been identified publicly, were arrested over “property damage” connected to “origin, race, ethnicity or religion,” after a local resident saw them “daubing a blue star” on a wall, which was erased the same day, the Paris prosecutor’s office said. The office added that legal proceedings against the couple were terminated “due to a sanction of another nature” — namely their “expulsion” from the country.The suspects, the prosecutor’s office said, were in the country without legal permission and were taken to an administrat...

The Netherlands squeezes Schiphol by cutting thousands of flights

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:34:21 GMT

Dutch authorities on Thursday confirmed they will slash the number of flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport in a bid to cut noise pollution — a step that has airlines suing and calling for Washington to retaliate.Europe’s fifth-largest airport will allow about 9,100 fewer flights on next summer’s schedule, eventually hoping to cut movements to about 452,500 a year.The cuts are part of a broader effort to cut noise from the airport in the densely populated country, adding to a plan to ban take-offs and landings late at night, reduce access for private aircraft, and bar noisy airplane models. The airport said this summer that measures already in place have cut the negative impact of flights, with fewer public complaints.But airlines and analysts warn the cuts could rock the Dutch economy and cost Schiphol business.“What is going on in the Netherlands for us is absolutely incomprehensible,” Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith said last week. “We can’t understand why t...

Tent removal at Mass and Cass complete as new tent ban takes effect

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:34:21 GMT

The removal of tents in the troubled part of Boston known as Mass and Cass was complete on Thursday after police began enforcing a new ban on tarps and tents in the area earlier this week. SKY7-HD was over the scene, capturing a much different view of the site that has previously seen encampments of people living in tents. City officials said they were able to find shelter for 102 people before encampments were removed. Moving forward, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said there will be a mobile command center in the area for the next 20 days to keep watch and make sure that tents don’t start popping up again. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also said the city is providing resources to make sure everyone gets the help they need. “Over the course of the last several days, what you saw was moves that were made from people who were living in tents here as the temperature was dropping to now being in safe, warm placements with a roof over their head,” Wu said. Ca...

82-year-old man arrested after bullet pierces apartment wall in Marlborough, NH

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:34:21 GMT

An 82-year-old Marlborough, New Hampshire man was arrested Wednesday after police said a gun he was handling went off, sending a shot through an apartment wall and into a neighboring apartment. Marlborough police in a statement said the shooting happened around 7:15 p.m. on Frost Street in town. Police said several people were in the adjoining apartment, including four young children and several adults. No one was hurt. But police said the bullet ended up lodged in a television set. Marlborough police shared photos of some of the damage, showing the damaged TV and a wall with a hole in it.The man who was handling the gun has been charged with one felony count of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon and has been cooperating with investigators, according to police. “[T]here is no reason to believe that there is any ongoing threat to the public,” police said. Police said the man was released on personal recognizance and is due in court at a later date.Anyone with inform...

Patriots-Commanders injury report: Trent Brown, DeVante Parker miss second straight practice Thursday

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:34:21 GMT

Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux missed Thursday’s practice with a new illness.He was one of four non-participants, including offensive tackles Trent Brown and Calvin Anderson and wide receiver DeVante Parker. Brown, Anderson and Parker all sat out for a second straight day.Backup tight end Pharaoh Brown (back) returned in a limited capacity after missing Wednesday’s practice. Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (hamstring) and cornerbacks Jonathan Jones (knee) and Myles Bryant (chest) continued to be limited.In Washington, Commanders wide receiver Curtis Samuel missed his second straight practice. Both teams’ complete injury reports are below.PATRIOTSDid not participateWR DeVante Parker, ConcussionOT Trent Brown, Ankle/KneeDL Davon Godchaux, IllnessOL Calvin Anderson, IllnessLimited participationLB Ja’Whaun Bentley, HamstringRelated ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte opens up about benching, indicates he’ll play ...

National Association of Realtors CEO resigns amid new legal pressures

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:34:21 GMT

Lizzie Kane | Chicago TribuneBob Goldberg, CEO of the Chicago-based National Association of Realtors, resigned Thursday, more than a year before his expected departure.The announcement follows reported allegations of sexual harassment at NAR, which led to the resignation of former NAR President Kenny Parcell and staff members calling for executives including Goldberg to resign in September.It also comes days after a federal jury in Missouri ruled NAR and several large real estate brokerages would have to pay $1.8 billion in damages after finding they conspired to artificially inflate the commissions of real estate agents, a decision that could significantly change the business of home buying and selling. NAR has said it plans to appeal the case.Goldberg announced in June that he would retire at the end of 2024, having served as CEO since 2017. NAR is the nation’s largest trade association and has more than 1.5 million members.“After announcing my decision to retire earlier this year...

Breonna Taylor’s neighbor testified son was nearly shot by officer’s stray bullets during 2020 raid

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:34:21 GMT

By DYLAN LOVAN (Associated Press)LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Breonna Taylor’s neighbor recalled her horror as police bullets flew into her apartment near her sleeping son as a federal trial for the former Louisville officer who fired those shots began Thursday.Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison fired 10 shots during the botched raid in March 2020 that left Taylor dead, though it was another officer who fatally shot the 26-year-old Black woman. Hankison, 47, is charged with two federal civil rights violations for endangering Taylor, her boyfriend and Taylor’s neighbors, who shared a wall with her apartment. None of Hankison’s shots hit anyone.Federal prosecutors are attempting to do what Kentucky prosecutors couldn’t — convict Hankison for his actions on the night Taylor was shot to death by white officers. In the 2022 state trial, Hankison was acquitted of charges that he endangered Napper and her family.In this federal case, the stakes ar...

Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte opens up about benching, indicates he’ll play Sunday

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:34:21 GMT

It’s been seven weeks since Patriots rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte saw game action.That streak should end Sunday.With Kendrick Bourne lost for the season to a torn ACL and DeVante Parker still sidelined by a concussion, it’s expected Boutte will be active against the Commanders. The sixth-round rookie out of LSU has been a healthy scratch ever since Week 1, when he earned four targets but didn’t catch a pass.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots-Commanders injury report: Trent Brown, DeVante Parker miss second straight practice Thursday New England Patriots | Source: Patriots signing Buffalo Bills draft pick to fill open 53-man roster spot New England Patriots | Can the Patriots’ young receivers finally help the offense open up? New England Patriots | Callahan: Could Bill Belichick coach the Washington Commanders next season? New England Patriots | Patriots-Commanders injury...

This off-grid hot springs spot in Oregon is the perfect autumn getaway

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:34:21 GMT

Gregory Scruggs | (TNS) The Seattle TimesDETROIT, Ore. — Has life been a sprint since Labor Day? The post-summer rush is exhilarating but also exhausting. One cure: a getaway for a mid-autumn reset. For a thorough recharge, spend 48 hours in a digital and physical detox.That’s what I did recently at Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center in central Oregon on a regimen of no internet, cell service, meat, alcohol or caffeine. The off-grid wooded property along the Breitenbush River is dotted with rustic accommodation, a cozy lodge and a constellation of 100-110 degree, clothing-optional geothermal pools perfect for soaking during an autumn chill.But my visit was a small miracle. In September 2020, a devastating wildfire engulfed Breitenbush and nearly wiped it off the map. Valiant firefighters drawn from the Breitenbush ranks saved the community from total annihilation in one of the worst fires in Oregon’s history. The setting looks a little different today between the ...