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AI will ‘change everything,’ Tony Blair warns world’s politicians

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:56:26 GMT

LONDON — Artificial intelligence will spark “revolutionary change,” former British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Wednesday, as he urged politicians around the world not to get caught short by the rapidly-advancing tech.“How you understand, master and harness this technology revolution will define the place of this country and the shape of the world,” said Blair, who was speaking at a Chatham House event in London.Blair — who led the U.K. from 1997 to 2007 and remains influential on the current opposition Labour Party — said he was sometimes asked by people on the center-left, “how can we be ambitious? What’s our mission in this world of turmoil?”“This is your mission,” Blair replied. “This is going to change everything.” The future of politics will not, Blair argued, be about “a little bit more on tax, a little bit less on tax, a little bit more on spending, a little bit less on spending.” Instead, he said: “It’s going to...

Scientists pinpoint gene that protects humans from bird flu

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:56:26 GMT

BTN3A3 — its name is a mouthful but this gene may be the reason you’ve never contracted bird flu.Researchers from the University of Glasgow have discovered the BTN3A3 gene in humans helps to stop the avian influenza virus from replicating inside human cells, making it more difficult for the disease to spread to other people. The discovery could help health authorities stay one step ahead of the virus and improve efforts to monitor and control the disease. Bird — or avian — flu regularly circulates in wild birds, which can then infect chickens and pose a risk to humans because of close contact with poultry on farms. It’s a cousin to the regular flu, though more deadly to humans. However, it’s rare that it makes the jump to infecting people, and even rarer that it starts to spread.Nevertheless, experts consider bird flu to be a prime candidate for the next pandemic. There have been periodic flare-ups of the disease, such as the 2013 outbreak in China that killed more...

State, city leaders discuss concerns regarding upcoming Sumner Tunnel closure

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:56:26 GMT

State and city leaders gathered at the MBTA’s Wonderland station in Revere Wednesday to address concerns about a nearly two-month closure of the Sumner Tunnel that is slated to begin next week.The main artery connecting East Boston to the rest of Boston is slated to shut down from July 5 to Aug. 31 to make way for needed repairs. Weekend closures already in place on most weekends for the past year have given drivers a preview of what to expect. On Wednesday, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was among other officials discussing the closure and mitigation measures set to take effect when the tunnel shuts down to traffic. “Our biggest fear is that people don’t realize this is coming and that they won’t have time to plan before they’re stuck,” Wu said. “We need everyone’s help spreading the word about all of the alternatives that are available,” she later continued.State officials have announced mitigation measures ahead of the Tunnel closure, including plans to run fare-fre...

Delta plane lands with nose gear up at Charlotte airport

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:56:26 GMT

(CNN) — A Delta Air Lines flight landed with its “nose landing gear up” at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina on Wednesday morning, the FAA says.There were no injuries as a result of the incident, but the runway remains closed. Crews with the airport continue to work on removing the plane from the runway and getting it reopened, CLT shared in a post on Facebook.The plane departed from Atlanta around 7:25 a.m. and stopped on the runway in Charlotte around 8:58 a.m., according to a Delta spokesperson. There were 96 customers, two pilots and three flight attendants on board.“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people,” Delta said in a statement to CNN. “While this is a rare occurrence, Delta flight crews train extensively to safely manage through many scenarios and flight 1092 landed safely without reported injuries. We apologize to our customers for their experience.”The FAA will investigate why the nose gear did not come dow...

Somerville man creates virtual treasure hunt of local unique items

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:56:26 GMT

A different kind of treasure hunt is underway in Somerville as a man aims to help others find unique items and pieces of history in the city through a virtual treasure map. The project started when Eric Haines went for walks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Haines said he saw many cool things and wanted to share the experience with others. Now, he has created the Somerville Sights map with the locations marked. “It amazes me how much I’ll walk by that I just don’t notice at all,” Haines told 7NEWS.“There’s a sort of great mix in Somerville of arts council and others who are sort of actively trying to make the city a more interesting place to live,” he continued. Haines spent years taking what he called “interesting pictures” of things in the city. Then, he decided to share his work with others.“My basic goal is to try to inspire people to go out and walk around and look around,” he said. Haines said the project brings the com...

Ukraine accuses local man of directing missile strike that killed 11 at popular pizza restaurant

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:56:26 GMT

By HANNA ARHIROVA (Associated Press)KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday arrested a man they accused of helping Russia direct a missile strike that killed at least 11 people, including three teenagers, at a popular pizza restaurant in eastern Ukraine.The Tuesday evening attack on Kramatorsk wounded 61 other people, Ukraine’s National Police said. It was the latest bombardment of a Ukrainian city, a tactic Russia has used heavily in the 16-month-old war.The strike, and others across Ukraine late Tuesday and early Wednesday, indicated that the Kremlin is not easing its aerial onslaught, despite political and military turmoil at home after a short-lived armed uprising in Russia last weekend.There has been no apparent military push by Ukraine to exploit that turmoil, though the government has been tight-lipped about recent battlefield developments as it seeks to gain momentum in its recently launched counteroffensive.The Kremlin reeled from the weekend mut...

Five infielders, three spots: Jordan Westburg’s promotion presents pileup for Orioles to sift through | ANALYSIS

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:56:26 GMT

On the final day of Joey Ortiz’s most recent stint with the Orioles, his manager made an admission.“I just haven’t gotten him in there enough,” Brandon Hyde said Sunday after praising the infielder’s defense.Ortiz was optioned to Triple-A the following morning in favor of Jordan Westburg, another top 100 infield prospect. After making his MLB debut in late April, Ortiz was on Baltimore’s roster for 24 games across three stints as he yo-yoed between Triple-A and the majors. In that time, he totaled just 34 plate appearances.Could the same thing happen to Westburg?The promotion of the club’s No. 4 prospect, according to Baseball America, on Monday was uplifting, as Westburg checked several boxes, including his first RBI, hit and web gem. In the wake of the excitement, though, are tough decisions the Orioles’ brass and Hyde have to make regarding the daily construction of their infield.When Ortiz, the club’s No. 5 prospect, was in t...

Michigan Legislature approves ban on ‘conversion therapy’ for LGBTQ+ minors

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:56:26 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan lawmakers gave final approval to legislation banning so-called conversion therapy for minors as Democrats in the state continue to advance a pro-LGBTQ+ agenda in their first months in power.The legislation would prohibit mental health professionals from engaging youths in the scientifically discredited practice of trying to convert people who are LGBTQ+ to heterosexuality and traditional gender expectations. The Michigan Senate approved the ban on a 21-15 vote — with one Republican siding with Democrats — late Tuesday after the state House previously approved the legislation. It now awaits final approval by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has previously called the therapy a “dangerous practice.”Democratic state Rep. Jason Hoskins, a sponsor of the bills, told The Associated Press when the legislation was first introduced that conversion therapy “works on the false premise that LGBTQ+ children are wrong and they need to be fixed.”“Banning it is ju...

Nearly a dozen Texas deaths blamed on heat, which is expected to ease by the weekend

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:56:26 GMT

Parts of Texas could see scorching temperatures that are blamed for nearly a dozen deaths return to a more typical level by the weekend as a heat dome is expected to move eastward, a National Weather Service meteorologist said Wednesday.Daily temperatures have exceeded 100 degrees (38 degrees Celsius) and heat indexes have topped 115 degrees (46 degrees Celsius), leading to deaths that include nine people in Webb County, which includes Laredo.“We don’t see this in our county. Laredo knows heat. Webb County knows heat,” county Medical Examiner Dr. Corine Stern told county commissioners during a meeting Monday. “These are unprecedented temperatures.”Two Florida hikers also died while hiking in extreme heat at Big Bend National Park The scorching temperatures were brought on by a heat dome that has taxed the Texas power grid and brought record highs to parts of the state, according to meteorologists. That dome is spreading eastward and by the weekend is expected to be centered ov...

Delta flight has a rough but safe landing in Charlotte without gear extended

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:56:26 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C.. (AP) — A Delta flight landed roughly but safely at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Wednesday without part of its landing gear extended, officials said.The airport said in a tweet that the runway was closed following a mechanical issue with Delta Air Lines. No injuries were reported and all passengers were taken to the terminal. The airport said it was working to remove the aircraft and reopen the runway.Photos from the scene show wheels on the ground under the wings, but the nose of the aircraft on the runway. An inflatable slide extends from a door of the plane and firefighters appear to be helping passenger disembark on the slide.The Boeing 717 aircraft left from Atlanta with 96 passengers, two pilots and three flight attendants and was on its way to Charlotte, Delta said.“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people,” Delta said in a statement. “While this is a rare occurrence, Delta flight crews train extensively to safely...