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Larry Magid: UN Internet Governance Forum focuses on AI

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:45 GMT

Janice Richardson (left), Larry Magid and Zoe Darme – in-person speakers at AI panel I spent five days last week in Kyoto, Japan, at the 18th annual United Nations Internet Governance Forum. I was there moderating one of several panels on Generative AI (GAI) because, just like the tech industry, policy experts and government officials around the world seem to be fixated on how artificial intelligence can be used to create content as well as the risks it introduces.Related ArticlesBusiness | Magid: Pixel Watch 2 adds health features, improves performance Business | Magid: Polly Klaas tragedy changed how we look for missing children Business | Magid: EV range anxiety is real, but is it based on reality? Business | Magid: Apple’s new iOS 17 increases safeguards for children and teens My session was titled Exploring the Risks and Rewards of Generative AI, and featured Brittan Heller, senior fellow at the At...

House in limbo as Jim Jordan continues speaker bid despite stiff GOP resistance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:45 GMT

(CNN) — The House remains paralyzed with no end in sight to the Republican leadership crisis as Rep. Jim Jordan continues his bid for speaker despite facing stiff resistance. The Ohio Republican, who has made a name for himself as a hardline conservative agitator, has so far vowed to stay in the race despite two failed votes for the gavel. The House could hold a third vote for speaker as soon as Thursday afternoon and Jordan told reporters there would be a vote Thursday, though nothing has been officially scheduled.The House GOP conference will meet at 11 a.m. ET behind close doors to discuss next steps, Jordan told reporters. Multiple GOP sources told CNN that Jordan is bleeding votes and is poised to lose even more Republicans if he goes through with a third ballot. One GOP opponent says there are about 30 GOP no votes as of Thursday morning. Tensions are rising among House Republicans as pressure grows to find a way to resolve the standoff. In a sign of growing opposition t...

4 Pepperdine students fatally struck as they walked near Malibu highway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:45 GMT

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — A 22-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a crash in Malibu killed four college students and injured two other people, officials said Wednesday.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | California man who killed woman, 5 dogs in pursuit crash gets 49 years to life Crashes and Disasters | Driver dies after would-be rescuer disappears in San Joaquin River Crashes and Disasters | Motorcyclist dies in Livermore traffic collision Crashes and Disasters | 2 bicyclists in Napa die after being hit by lumber on flatbed truck Crashes and Disasters | San Jose man’s toxicology results released in double-fatal Santa Cruz County crash The six pedestrians were struck around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday along Pacific Coast Highway about 4 miles east of Pepperdine University, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.Four women were pronounced dead at the scene and ...

Silicon Valley tech CEO sentenced to 8 years in prison following COVID and allergy test fraud scandal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:45 GMT

The former CEO of a Silicon Valley-based tech company was sentenced to eight years in prison after lied about his company’s ability to test for COVID-19 — in a manner similar to the claims that landed former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes behind bars, according to federal prosecutors.While heading up the Arrayit Corporation, Los Altos resident Mark Schena, 60, defrauded investors through his claims that he created a “revolutionary technology” by inventing medical tests that could diagnose virtually any disease through a single drop of the patient’s blood. Schena’s sentence was announced in a news release from Ismail Ramsey, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California.Prosecutors said Schena and his publicists falsely told investors that he was the “father of microarray technology,” that he was on the shortlist for a Nobel Prize and that his company could be valued at $4.5 billion.Schena was unsuccessful in an attempt to develop a COVI...

State Department official resigns over Biden administration’s handling of Israel-Hamas conflict

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:45 GMT

By Sharif Paget | CNNA State Department official has resigned from the agency over the Biden administration’s approach to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the official announced on LinkedIn Wednesday.Josh Paul, who said he has worked in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs for more than 11 years, said in his LinkedIn post that he resigned “due to a policy disagreement concerning our continued lethal assistance to Israel.”“Let me be clear,” Paul wrote. “Hamas’ attack on Israel was not just a monstrosity; it was a monstrosity of monstrosities. I also believe that potential escalations by Iran-linked groups such as Hezbollah, or by Iran itself, would be a further cynical exploitation of the existing tragedy. But I believe to the core of my soul that the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response, and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people ...

California has 11 of largest housing shortages in US, study says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:45 GMT

Buzz: California is home to 11 of 25 US metropolitan areas with the largest housing shortages.Source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed a study of housing underproduction by Up For Growth that looked at construction from 2012 through 2021 for 193 US metropolitan areas – including 23 from California.ToplineThe Golden State’s high housing costs are often tied to construction failing to keep pace with population and economic growth.Here’s the 11 biggest homebuilding deficits in the state, ranked by their shortfall’s share of local housing supply …Ventura County: Home construction has run 12.5% short of local needs (a gap that ranks No. 1 in the US). The deficit translates to the underproduction of 36,161 residential units.Inland Empire: 10.7% short (No. 3 nationally) – or 160,841 units.Madera: 8.8% short (No. 5) – or 4,251 units.Salinas: 8.3% short (No. 7) – or 9,868 units.Merced: 7.9% short (No. 9) – or 7,053 units.Stockton: 7.9% short (No. 9) – or 19,957 units.Visalia: 7.6% short ...

Pac-12 football: Our 15 bold predictions for the second half of an epic season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:45 GMT

Earlier this week, the Hotline offered our midseason review, a look at the best and worst of the Pac-12 at the halfway point of fall like no other.Now, let’s cast an eye to what should be a riveting stretch run.The conference has six ranked teams, three Heisman Trophy contenders, a handful of playoff hopefuls and loads of high-profile games on the schedule.Presenting our predictions for the second half, in rough chronological order.1. Utah quarterback Cam Rising doesn’t set foot on the field this season due to a prolonged recovery from knee surgery. But in their ongoing attempt to keep opponents guessing, the Utes release blurry drone footage of what appears to be Rising in full uniform, working with the first team. Closer inspection reveals it’s actually 305-pound backup right guard Falcon Kaumatule wearing No. 7 and a knee brace. Even without Rising, the Utes win nine games in one of Kyle Whittingham’s finest coaching jobs.2. Oregon State and Washington Sta...

1 person fatally struck by Muni bus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:45 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – One person was fatally struck by a Muni bus on Van Ness Avenue near San Francisco's Tenderloin District around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday.The victim’s name has not yet been released.Both directions of Van Ness Avenue were reopened around 5:20 a.m. along O'Farrell Street after being closed off for up to four hours Thursday morning.This is a developing story. 

SF man charged with attempted murder for allegedly attacking victim with hammer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:45 GMT

(BCN) -- A 38-year-old man could face 13 years to life in prison after he allegedly attacked someone with a hammer in San Francisco, prosecutors said Wednesday.Christopher Redinger allegedly attacked his victim with a hammer in an unprovoked assault in the 700 block of Ellis Street in the Tenderloin neighborhood, according to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. Officers gave first aid to the victim, who was then transported to a hospital for further treatment. Redinger pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted murder on Tuesday. The criminal complaint against him alleges that he personally used a deadly weapon in the commission of this crime and that he inflicted great bodily injury on the victim, prosecutors said in a statement.Redinger's next court date is on Oct. 26 for the preliminary hearing on his case. Prosecutors said they moved to detain him while he faces trial due to the public safety risk he poses. Those with relevant information about the case are urged ...

Europe’s Largest News Aggregator Orders Editors to Play Down Palestinian Deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:45 GMT

As Israeli bombing raids virtually eliminated internet access in the Gaza Strip over the weekend, one of the largest media companies in Europe was pushing its own initiative to limit online news about civilian casualties in Palestine.Upday, the largest news aggregator app in Europe, handed down directives to color the company’s coverage of the war in Gaza with pro-Israel sentiment, according to interviews with employees and internal documents obtained by The Intercept. Leadership at Upday, a subsidiary of the Germany-based publishing giant Axel Springer, gave instructions to prioritize the Israeli perspective and minimize Palestinian civilian deaths in coverage, according to the employees.“We can’t push anything involving Palestinian death tolls or casualties without information about Israel coming higher up in the story.”“We can’t push anything involving Palestinian death tolls or casualties without information about Israel coming higher up in the story,” an employee told The Inter...