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Fakery and confusion: US political campaigns brace for explosion of AI

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:25 GMT

Dozens of Democratic strategists gathered on Zoom on Wednesday for a novel meeting. The topic: How to combat an expected explosion of AI-generated fake content flooding TV airwaves and mailboxes in 2024.The meeting, hosted by the progressive group Arena, drew more than 70 officials. They talked about how generative AI could produce misinformation and disinformation at a pace and scale campaigns have not experienced before.“I’m much more worried in the short-term,” said Pat Dennis, president of the Democratic-led opposition research group American Bridge 21st Century, pointing to the fact that “we don’t know what’s coming.” Bad actors will have “an exponentially easier time writing more stuff, flooding the zone,” he said.The convention, to which a POLITICO reporter was granted access, wasn’t a gathering of Luddites. Most were clear-eyed about the need to train campaign staff on how to use the technology. But operatives emphasized the need to teach voters how to identify misinformatio...

Kyiv counteroffensive inches ahead; Putin dismisses prospects of peace talks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:25 GMT

Ukrainian forces recaptured the village of Piatykhatky in the southern Zaporizhzhia region on Sunday, a local occupying Russian official said.This is one of Ukraine’s first wins on that front since the start earlier this month of the counteroffensive against Russia’s unlawful invasion of the country.“The enemy’s ‘wave-like’ offensives yielded results, despite enormous losses,” said Russian-installed official Vladimir Rogov on his Telegram channel, Reuters reported.The U.K. Defense Ministry said on Sunday that “heavy fighting has continued, with the most intense combat focused in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, western Donetsk Oblast, and around Bakhmut,” the devastated town that was captured by Moscow last month. The ministry added that in all these areas, Ukraine “has made small advances,” but that “Russian forces often conduct relatively effective defensive operations.”“Both sides are suffering high casualtie...

Why Marty Walsh left the Biden administration to run the NHL players’ union

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:25 GMT

Marty Walsh wasn’t a man in a hurry to leave the Biden administration.Less than halfway through the president’s term, Walsh was in a comfortable spot in the Cabinet as labor secretary. Then he got a call about an interesting opportunity: running the NHL Players’ Association.The former mayor of Boston and longtime Bruins fan was intrigued and earlier this year accepted the role as executive director. Now three months in, Walsh is trying to get to know players and what they care about most, learning about everything from the Arizona Coyotes’ arena situation to the salary cap and future international competition.“This job is more like being the mayor,” Walsh said in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press during the Stanley Cup Final in Las Vegas. “You wake up in the morning, you’re planning on a smooth day and there’s an issue that pops, and that’s the issue of the moment. And then when that...

Orioles place backup catcher James McCann on injured list, potentially adding to Adley Rutschman’s plate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:25 GMT

James McCann caught four innings for the Orioles on Saturday after suffering what proved to be a sprained left ankle. It will be at least 10 days before he catches another.Baltimore placed its backup backstop on the injured list before Sunday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs, a day after McCann twisted his left ankle sliding feet-first into first base on an infield single in the second inning. He stayed in the game until he was pinch-hit for in the sixth.McCann, a 33-year-old who was acquired this offseason in a trade with the New York Mets, has played 31 games for the Orioles, hitting .194 with a .576 OPS across 100 plate appearances.“I think we’re hoping it’s just gonna be the 10 days,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “It’s an ankle sprain. He stayed in the game yesterday with that ankle sprain because he knew that I would’ve had to put [starting pitcher Kyle] Gibson in his spot to hit, so when his spot came around, that’s w...

To a father: ‘I can still hear his voice’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:25 GMT

I look back to July 30, 2003 as the day that my life changed, the day that my beloved father Nick Lupoli passed away. Although he’s been gone for decades now, I can still hear his voice vividly, offering me advice on every decision I make in my company that now employs more than 1,000 people in New England.The idea of one day owning a successful pizza and real estate development business was nurtured by my dad while I was still attending Northeastern University back in the 1980’s. Dad was bedridden at the time, recovering from a second heart attack after operating restaurants in Cambridge and Wellesley. When I told him that I wanted to open a pizza business, he advised me to learn from the best pizza makers in the North End. I attended class each day on Huntington Avenue and then took the T over to Hanover Street for what I called “night school”, being taught to fold and stretch dough from true pizza artisans.When I finally opened my first Sal’s Pizza location in Salem, New Hampshir...

On Father’s Day, Alex Cora wishes he could share Fenway Park with late father

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:25 GMT

“When I was a kid, I hated this day,” Alex Cora said on Sunday morning.It’s Father’s Day, and the Red Sox manager is thinking about his father. José Manuel Cora passed away in 1989, when Alex was only 13 years old.“After I lost my dad, I hated it,” Cora explains. “You know, it’s just like, why us? Why he’s not with us?”But with time, and becoming a father himself, he gained perspective to accompany the pain of losing his.“Now, it’s the other way around. It’s kind of like, you grow up, and you learn, and you understand,” he explained. “We were blessed. I was blessed to have my dad for 13 years.”Cora still wonders what his José’s opinion would be all manner of topics, but has no doubt how his father would feel about his three siblings’ accomplishments.“It’s always… what’s he thinking? We always talk about (big brother) Joey and myself being successful, bu...

Man shot in restaurant bathroom; suspect at large

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:25 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man was shot in a restaurant bathroom in the Ridgeview/Webster neighborhood Saturday evening, authorities said. According to the San Diego Police Department, a 30-year old man was washing his hands in the restroom at 1754 Euclid Ave. when an unknown suspect allegedly opened the door, turned off the lights and shot him. San Diego business among most reviewed LGBTQ-owned bakeries in US: Yelp The man was struck in the upper leg, authorities said. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.According to Google Maps, the address belongs to Faridas Somali Cuisine, which is a casual style restaurant.SDPD says the suspect left after shooting the victim. The man was unable to provide a description as he did not see the suspect. San Diego Police Southeastern Division is investigating the shooting. Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

TTC making significant service changes to east end routes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:25 GMT

Several major infrastructure projects have forced significant changes to TTC bus and streetcar service in the east end of the city. Starting Sunday, there is no bus or streetcar service on Broadview Avenue as work begins to upgrade streetcar tracks from Danforth Avenue to Gerrard Street East. While vehicular access is restricted to northbound-only traffic, the TTC says the lane is too narrow for buses to operate safely. As a result, the following route changes will be in effect until at least November 2023:There will be no 504/304 King or 505 Dundas service at Broadview Station and between Sumach St. and Broadview Station. Customers can take the 72A Pape from Pape Station to King St. E. and Parliament St. to connect to a 504 King Streetcar. The 304 King bus will be extended to Pape Station.72A Pape will be extended to King St. E. and Parliament St. from Pape Station. Service along this route will be increased for frequent travel between King St. and Parliament St. and Pape Station.T...

Thailand’s caretaker government criticized for holding meeting to discuss military-ruled Myanmar

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:25 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand on Monday will host a meeting of regional nations to discuss the violent political deadlock in Myanmar, an initiative that has been criticized for potentially undermining regional peace efforts and for being carried out by a caretaker government.A statement released Sunday by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the purpose of its informal dialogue, being hosted by Thailand for the third time, is to discuss a range of topics to complement the efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to resolve the situation in Myanmar.It said it will will be attended by representatives from Laos, Cambodia, India, China, Brunei and Vietnam, as well as Myanmar — a highly contentious issue because ASEAN leaders had agreed to exclude the ruling generals from their meetings. Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore are among ASEAN members not attending the meeting. They’re among those pushing hardest for more pressure on Myanmar’s military government to implemen...

‘The Flash’ opens to $55 million, a step off the typical superhero pace

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:25 GMT

DC and Warner Bros.’ long-in-the-works superhero movie “The Flash” opened to $55 million in its first three days in North American theaters, according to studio estimates on Sunday. Though a fair amount of money by normal standards, a sizable jump from DC’s last release, the “Shazam!” sequel, and enough for a first place start, it’s also muted by superhero standards where $100 million debut weekends are almost commonplace.It was a crowded weekend at the multiplex overall. In addition to “The Flash” there was the new Pixar family film “Elemental” and the horror-comedy “The Blackening.” The only big win was Wes Anderson’s starry “Asteroid City” which earned $720,000 from just six theaters and the distinction of having the highest per-theater average ($132,211) since the start of the pandemic. “The Flash” faced more complications than marketplace conditions. It has been in the headlines often over the past year, not because of the movie itself but because of its star Ezra Miller’...