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7-year remembrance: Reflecting on the tragic Pulse nightclub shooting

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:35:22 GMT

Monday, the community remembers the tragic events that unfolded seven years ago at Pulse nightclub. On this day in 2016, a gunman opened fire inside the club, resulting in the loss of 49 innocent lives and leaving another 53 individuals injured.To honor the memory of the victims, both the United States and state flags will be flown at half-staff as a symbol of mourning. Communities in Orlando and throughout the state of Florida have organized various events to pay tribute to those affected by the shooting.These planned events serve as a way to remember the lives cut short and stand in solidarity with the survivors and their families. They are a reminder that love and unity can prevail even in the face of unimaginable tragedy.May the souls of the Pulse nightclub victims rest in peace, and may their families and loved ones find solace and healing in the midst of this remembrance.

OpenAI, DeepMind will open up models to UK government

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:35:22 GMT

LONDON — Google DeepMind, OpenAI and Anthropic have agreed to open up their AI models to the U.K. government for research and safety purposes, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced at London Tech Week on Monday. The priority access will be granted in order “to help build better evaluations and help us better understand the opportunities and risks of these systems,” Sunak said.The announcement came in a speech that championed the promise of AI to transform areas such as education and healthcare and heralded the U.K.’s potential as an “island of innovation.”“AI is surely one of the greatest opportunities before us,” said Sunak. By combining AI models with the power of quantum, “the possibilities are extraordinary,” he marvelled.“But we must and we will do it safely,” he continued. “I know people are concerned.”In March, the U.K. government published an AI white paper which set out a “pro-innovation” approach, but more recently Sunak has emphasized the need for “guardrails.”Sunak s...

Seasonable, Unsettled At Times

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:35:22 GMT

What a beauty of a summery day to finish off the weekend yesterday as highs ran in the 70s and 80s. Today, it’ll be warm again with a bit of humidity in place, but we also have more clouds in the mix and eventually track some scattered showers and storms. With that said, the rain chances are rather low through the day, and go up early this evening as the first batch of scattered showers and storms move in. A few localized downpours are possible overnight as temps stay in the low 60s. Tomorrow, a few early showers and clouds yield to some breaks of sun. Temps will be cooler along the coast/northeast Mass through the day. A spot shower in the afternoon is possible, but most of the midday/afternoon turns out to be dry. Wednesday, the best chance for scattered showers and storms will be in the afternoon/evening. A pop-up shower is possible from time to time Thursday afternoon and a few scattered storms are likely Friday afternoon. No day is a wash-out, but certainly a week to keep...

Orioles reset: How many All-Stars could Baltimore have? These five players deserve a hard look. | ANALYSIS

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:35:22 GMT

In 2016, the Orioles had five players make the All-Star Game. They’ve failed to have more than the minimum of one in the five Midsummer Classics since.All-Star voting is underway, with the first phase of fan voting ending June 22. It’s unlikely the Orioles will have five All-Stars as they did in 2016 with Manny Machado, Mark Trumbo, Matt Wieters, Brad Brach and Zach Britton. But it’s almost certain these Orioles will have more than the one they’ve had in each year since 2017.Through the first 40% of the season, five Orioles players are having All-Star caliber campaigns, and that’s not including center fielder Cedric Mullins, who was perhaps the club’s best player before a right groin strain put him on the injured list.Here are the five Orioles who could represent Baltimore at the All-Star Game this summer in Seattle, from least to most likely.Tyler WellsWith many starting pitchers having outstanding seasons in the American League, Wells’ pat...

Trump to campaign in New Jersey after answering felony charges in Miami

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:35:22 GMT

Hours after he’s due to make an historic appearance in a Miami courtroom Tuesday to face criminal charges alleging he mishandled sensitive classified material, former President Donald J. Trump plans to hit the campaign trail.Trump, 76, of Palm Beach, Florida, is scheduled to surrender himself to authorities in Miami at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, when he is expected to tell U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon he is not guilty of the 37 felony counts leveled against him. A full 31 of those charges pertain to his allegedly deliberate attempts to withhold classified government documents that the National Archives and Department of Justice had both demanded he relinquish after leaving office and which are detailed in a 49 page indictment unsealed ahead of the weekend.Through his campaign on Sunday, Trump announced he would follow the court date in Florida with an appearance at his property in New Jersey.“President Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America, will deliver remark...

Lucas: Chris Christie’s still a longshot, even with Trump indicted

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:35:22 GMT

Chris Christie is back.The question is whether he would be running for president had not Donald Trump, as expected, been indicted again, this time on far out and desperate federal charges over alleged mishandling of classified documents.Still, you have to hand it to the former governor of New Jersey.He is the only one of eight or so Republicans who ran against Donald Trump for president in the GOP primaries in 2016 who is now running again.He did not last very long back then, and probably won’t now, throwing in the towel after coming in sixth in the New Hampshire presidential primary.Yet, Christie, 60, a former two term governor, was in New Hampshire Tuesday where he announced his candidacy for president again.It is a given that Trump gets into people’s heads and drives them loco. This not only includes progressives who hate him, but Republicans like Christie as well.And he is going to drive his opponents even crazier as his popularity soars and his fundraising increases following t...

Mac Jones, Bill O’Brien and 5 things to follow at Patriots minicamp

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:35:22 GMT

School is almost out.The Patriots’ mandatory, three-day minicamp will kick off Monday outside Gillette Stadium before a summer recess. In recent months, Bill Belichick overhauled his offensive coaching staff, bolstered his weapons and restocked his defense with a widely lauded draft class. For the first time this year, the 2023 Patriots will take the field as a complete team.How will it all come together? Here are five things to follow in Foxboro:1. Mac’s chemistrySo far, so good.Mac Jones took every starting rep in Organized Team Activity (OTA) practices open to the media in prior weeks. He reportedly looked sharp and connected with several new targets, including tight end Mike Gesicki. Jones will set the tone for this offense, with his demeanor and work ethic, but most critically his performance.If he’s playing well, that will force everyone around him to elevate their performance, including possibly JuJu Smith-Schuster who did not participate in OTAs. And that m...

Philippines’ Mayon Volcano spews lava in gentle eruption, thousands warned to be ready to flee

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:35:22 GMT

LEGAZPI, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines’ most active volcano was spewing lava down its slopes on Monday, prompting officials to warn tens of thousands of villagers to be prepared to flee from their homes if the gentle eruption turns into a violent and life-threatening explosion.More than 13,000 people have left the mostly poor farming communities within a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) radius of Mayon Volcano’s crater in mandatory evacuations since volcanic activity increased last week. But an unspecified number of residents remain within the permanent danger zone below Mayon, an area long declared off-limits to people but where generations have lived and farmed because they have nowhere else to go.With the volcano beginning to expel lava Sunday night, the high-risk zone around Mayon may be expanded should the eruption turn violent, said Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Bacolcol said if that happens, people in any expanded danger zon...

British man detained after climbing 72nd floor of Seoul skyscraper

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:35:22 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A British man was detained after climbing more than half way up the world’s fifth-tallest skyscraper in Seoul with only his bare hands on Monday, authorities said.More than 90 emergency, police and other personnel were dispatched to Seoul’s 123-story Lotte World Tower, after the man was spotted scaling the building on Monday morning, the Seoul fire agency said in a statement.The man, in his 20s, reached the 72nd floor, which is about 310 meters (1,020 feet) high, before officials took him to a gondola lift and moved him inside the building, the statement said.South Korean media reports identified the man as free climber George King-Thompson. The reports said he was carrying a parachute and told police that he wanted to BASE-jump from the top of the building.Fire and police authorities didn’t immediately confirm the man’s name or his motive. Police confirmed they took custody of the man for an investigation, but didn’t provide further details.The fire agency...

Greece: 90 migrants rescued from US-flagged yacht in distress

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:35:22 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Authorities in southern Greece said Monday that 90 migrants, including 37 children, have been rescued from a U.S.-flagged yacht believed to be sailing from Turkey to Italy.The rescue took place on Sunday after a passenger made a distress call off the Greek island of Kythira, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Athens. The coast guard said three vessels were involved in the rescue of 35 men, 18 women, 27 boys and 10 girls from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iraq, and Egypt.Two of the passengers were later arrested on smuggling charges and detained, while the others were taken to a nearby mainland port for registration.Smugglers in recent years have used yachts and sailboats, often later discovered to have been stolen at Turkish marinas, to try and avoid detection along routes to Europe. They often bypass Greece and head to the southern Italian mainland, which provides easier access to Central European countries.The longer trip to Italy is also more...