Goto

Collaborating Authors

 Government


People Are 'Marrying' Chatbots. These Lawmakers Want to Stop Them

WIRED

Human-AI marriages are not currently recognized by US law. Some Republican state policymakers are drafting legislation to keep it that way. As a licensed officiant at Las Vegas Immersive Weddings, a chapel that offers novelty-themed marriage packages, Kevin Breen has officiated just about every kind of service imaginable: couples dressed as their favorite characters, partners really into the extraterrestrial lore of Area 51 . But when he received a call last year from a woman in California expressing a desire to marry her chatbot, it was a first for him. "I had never heard of such a thing, but I talked to her on the phone and she seemed totally normal and fun," Breen says, adding that the wedding still hasn't taken place.


Russia says hit Ukrainian railway and port facilities in new strikes

Al Jazeera

Russia says its forces have struck a railway station at the Ukrainian Danube port of Izmail and two vessels near Mykolaiv, as Ukrainian drones hit targets inside Russia, including a Baltic oil export hub and a warehouse near Moscow. The Russian Ministry of Defence said on Friday that the railway station in Izmail was being used to load, store, and transport military cargo and fuel for Ukraine's armed forces, according to state news agency TASS. The developments follow Russian attacks a day earlier that damaged port infrastructure and caused power cuts in Izmail, a vital export hub on the Danube River near the Romanian border. Meanwhile, Russian authorities said a Ukrainian drone attack triggered a fire at Ust-Luga, a major Baltic Sea oil export port in the Leningrad region. Regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko said the fire had been brought under control and cleared with no casualties reported.


Charities issue urgent warning over 'Frankenstein cats' including Scottish folds, Persians and new 'XL bully' breeds

Daily Mail - Science & tech

You're viewing the US edition You can switch to the UK or AU homepage at any time using this menu. Lindsay Clancy's final texts to husband on day she killed her kids emerge as trial is shown video of family museum trip weeks before tragedy Trump administration steps into surrogate's battle over baby with a heart defect biological parents asked her to abort Record-breaking climber Jake Whisenant's grieving fiancee says'world has cruelly betrayed her' after his tragic death as she breaks silence on'cataclysmic loss' Oprah's frantically trying to distract from a looming Hollywood bombshell... the timeline is genuinely disturbing: MAUREEN CALLAHAN'Heinous' slurs about Lindsay Clancy's ex-husband Patrick explode... now his family speak out as murder trial grips America Killer's final act of cowardice as he is executed for rape and murder of five-year-old girl he insists he is forgiven for Matthew McConaughey reveals which blockbuster makes him the most residuals and it's not his Oscar winner Perez Hilton's horrifying first request from hospital bed after knife livestream: This is'the worst thing possible' say devastated insiders... who reveal star's dark childhood secret Abdul El-Sayed oversaw animal'slaughterhouse' as over 4,000 puppies and kittens killed under his watch'Perfectly fit' woman thought she had acid reflux... two hours later, she was dead. Fernando Mendoza sends NFL fans wild on Raiders debut as Tom Brady piles the pressure on No. 1 draft pick in the stands Shocking real reason Luigi Mangione is set to plead GUILTY... as defense attorney reveals all: 'There's a lot happening behind the scenes' Trump official's X-rated sex toy video with foreign agent she lives with in debauched'frat house'... read their wild texts Devastating full horror of Perez Hilton's knife livestream unravels: Friends reveal tragic life-long disfigurement... what star is admitting from hospital bed... and why he may now be locked up for YEARS Bill Gates' daughter Phoebe's embarrassing private messages revealed as her fashion app is embroiled in huge scandal Cash App founder's killer to argue he's victim of racial bias under California laws in desperate shot at freedom after murder conviction Charities issue urgent warning over'Frankenstein cats' including Scottish folds, Persians and new'XL bully' breeds Charities have issued an urgent warning over a wave of'Frankenstein cats' with extreme, unnatural features. Breeds such as the Scottish fold, Persians, Sphynx cats, and new ' XL bully ' cats have seen'booming popularity'. These popular breeds suffer from lifelong debilitating health issues that make it impossible for them to live a happy, healthy life.


Trump slaps a 100 percent tariff on heavy and 'sensitive' drones

Engadget

President Trump has imposed tariffs up to 100 percent on drones that are "particularly sensitive" for national security, the White House announced. The move will force operators to find other suppliers or settle for models with lesser capabilities than the Chinese drones that dominate the market in the US. The White House will impose a 100 percent tariff on drones over 25kg (55 pounds), or those equipped with docking stations or thermal imaging capabilities. Those include commercial models from DJI and others used for operations like power line inspection, crop spraying and search and rescue. Drones under 25kg will be hit with a 25 percent tariff, and a 15 percent levy will be applied to models from the EU, Japan, Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan, provided their components are primarily made in those countries.


Russian regions report new fuel crunch as Kyiv hits refineries

The Japan Times

Thick plumes of smoke with flames rise from an oil refinery following a Ukrainian drone attack, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Moscow on June 18, in this picture obtained from social media. Several regions of Russia are facing fuel shortages again after Ukraine resumed almost daily attacks on oil refineries in the country. The Orenburg region in Russia's Urals introduced a rationing system starting Wednesday that allows sales based on vehicle license plates, limits gasoline and diesel sales per driver at the pump and bans the filling of fuel canisters. That followed Ukraine's drone strike Tuesday on the Orsk refinery in the region that's some 1,500 kilometers southeast of Moscow, which officials said could take as long as six months to repair. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.


North Korea fumes over upcoming US-South Korea military drills

Al Jazeera

North Korea has denounced major United States-South Korea military drills set to start next week as a provocation that heightens tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The US-Japan-South Korea military cooperation is turning into a nuclear alliance, and North Korea will respond to a new level of threat with a new level of deterrent, a spokesperson for North Korea's Foreign Ministry said on Friday, according to Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The drills - named "Ulchi Freedom Shield" - are due to start on August 17 and will last until August 27. They will incorporate exercises to counter drones, GPS disruption, and cyberattacks as the US and its allies adapt to North Korea's evolving capabilities. "The US announced that the forthcoming exercises are quite different from the ones of the past five years and intended to master the ability of fighting a war on the basis of the new aspects of modern warfare," the North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in the statement.


Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on August 14

Mashable

Safety Net Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Look Up Creator Hub Versus Say More Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Mashable Selects Switch Off Trending Now In My Bag VidCon with Mashable All Series A small crescent of Moon will be visible tonight. Lois Mackenzie is a freelance reporter at Mashable. Over the years she has written for many publications, covering everything from the local news to the best pair of running shoes. You can find bylines in publications including Fit&Well, Metro, and Coach magazine, usually covering deals on everything from earbuds to TVs, or guides on how to beat your half marathon time. The New Moon has passed, but the Moon hasn't returned to full visibility quite yet.


US says dozens of countries helped China dodge Trump's tariffs

BBC News

US says dozens of countries helped China dodge Trump's tariffs The White House said in a report on Thursday that more than 40 countries have helped China sidestep US tariffs by routing exports through nations that face lower American import duties. The countries named include Canada, India, Mexico, Japan and South Korea, which the White House said had helped China evade tens of billions of dollars in tariffs. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said it had cost American jobs and billions in revenue. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said in response to BBC queries that trade wars have no winners and that it opposes the US' tariff measures and the use of state power to target China's companies. The spokesperson added that any unilateral actions or agreements concerning transshipped goods must not target or harm the interests of third parties.


Did AI play a role in a grisly double murder?

Mashable

Safety Net Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Look Up Creator Hub Versus Say More Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Mashable Selects Switch Off Trending Now In My Bag VidCon with Mashable All Series Did AI play a role in a grisly double murder? Massachusetts prosecutors allege that a 17-year-old used ChatGPT to create scenarios about family violence that he acted on. Neal joined Mashable's Social Good team in 2024, editing and writing stories about digital culture and its effects on the environment and marginalized communities. He is the former editorial director of The Advocate and Out magazines, has contributed to the Los Angeles Times, Curbed, and Los Angeles magazine, and is a recipient of the Sarah Pettit Memorial Award for LGBTQ Journalist of the Year Award from the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association (NLGJA). He lives in Los Angeles with his family.


White House exposes 'Transshipment Scam' costing US up to 26B, points finger at China

FOX News

Peter Navarro's White House report identifies over 40 countries posing transshipment risk, alleging China routes goods through third nations to avoid U.S. tariffs.