Government
Ukrainian city in total blackout after 'massive' Russian assault
The Ukrainian city of Chernihiv is in total blackout following what the authorities describe as a massive assault by Russian missiles and drones, with hundreds of thousands of people affected. Across the wider Chernihiv region, four people are reported to have been killed as residential neighbourhoods were struck in the town of Novhorod-Siverskyi. Ten others were injured, including a 10-year-old girl. The country's most northerly region is the latest to be hit in an intensifying series of attacks on civilian infrastructure as Russia targets energy supplies, the rail network, homes and businesses in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. I personally heard the drones flying overhead, 55-year-old Oleksandr Babich said.
Dutch privacy watchdog warns voters against asking AI how to vote
The Netherlands's data protection watchdog has cautioned citizens against consulting with artificial intelligence on how to vote, warning that popular chatbots provide a "highly distorted and polarised view" of politics. The Dutch Data Protection Authority said on Tuesday that an increasing number of voters were using AI to help decide who to vote for, despite the models offering "unreliable and clearly biased" advice. The research found that the chatbots more often recommended parties on the fringes of the political spectrum when asked to identify the three choices that best matched the policy preferences of 1,500 fictitious voter profiles. In more than half of cases, the AI models identified the hard-right Party for Freedom (PVV) or left-wing Green Left-Labour Party as the top choice, the watchdog said. Parties closer to the political middle ground - such as the right-leaning People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the centre-left Democrats 66 - were recommended much less often, according to the watchdog.
Meta Poaches Key Google AI Researcher
Upon its release earlier this month, OpenAI's Sora 2 model took the Internet by storm, thanks to its ability to generate realistic videos from just a text prompt. But Sora is about more than just capturing eyeballs with viral content. "On the surface, Sora, for example, does not look like it is AGI-relevant," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said on a podcast earlier this month. "But I would bet that if we can build really great world models, that will be much more important to AGI than people think." Altman was speaking to a growing belief inside the AI industry at large: that if you can simulate the world with enough accuracy, you could drop AI agents into those simulations. There, they could learn more skills than they currently can from just text, photos, and videos--because they could interact with a simulated world. That form of training could be highly efficient, in part because simulated time can be accelerated, and because many simulations can be run in parallel.
Salesforce's CEO backtracks after saying Trump should send troops into San Francisco
Salesforce's CEO backtracks after saying Trump should send troops into San Francisco In tech this week: The CEO of the city's largest private employer apologizes, Amazon Web Services' outage and OpenAI's Sora makes waves What I'm watching this week: South Park's caricature of Peter Thiel and his obsession with the antichrist . Read our reporting on the show's inspiration: Thiel's bizarre off-the-record lectures on the subject. And now, let's get into things. The co-founder and CEO of Salesforce, said last week that Donald Trump should make good on his threats to send the US national guard into San Francisco, despite resistance from local leaders. Even Marc Benioff's own public relations manager was aghast at his remarks, according to the New York Times .
How Russia's new tactics pose new winter threat to Ukraine
How successful is Ukraine's'gas war' against Russia? How will Putin travel to Hungary with an ICC arrest warrant? How much of Europe's oil still comes from Russia? How Russia's new tactics pose new winter threat to Ukraine The Russian drone strike was surgically precise and destroyed a giant transformer at a key power station in the Ukrainian capital. "There's nothing left to repair," Mykola Svyrydenko, who lives close to Thermal Station 5, a sprawling, Soviet-era structure with two giant steam pipes that provides electricity and heat to hundreds of thousands of Kyiv's residents, told Al Jazeera.
Want to look confident? Channel your inner John Wayne! 'Tough guy' walk used by western movie heroes makes you appear more powerful
Trump henchman's'Nazi texts' emerge as racist message crisis tears through White House Kate and William lead bid to exile Andrew and Fergie from Royal Lodge as public anger grows at his taxpayer-funded luxury: Waleses'can't abide' Prince and are pushing for him to leave, author claims Meghan's hit a trashy new low. JILLIAN MICHAELS: The trans trend is reversing. Now it's time to admit what's really been driving this extremist fad all along Napa tycoon is accused of slamming Rolls Royce into women because he couldn't find a parking spot... now his scandalous divorce secrets are exposed I know why Prince Harry and Andrew were'cut so much slack' by the late Queen - it's to do with her father and sister, reveals ROBERT HARDMAN The Prince Harry interview that left the Royals reeling and resumed the war against them, with even Downing Street forced to issue a statement! Married Congressman had alleged affair with aide... before she set herself on fire: Bombshell revelation as police block release of 911 call and other evidence Trapped on death island: 'Marooned' Russian troops are starving to death and 5,000 have died after being cut off from other Russian forces in Ukraine Apple Martin's music debut is likened to an'off-key, drunken karaoke performance' and proof that'nepotism is killing art' - as she attempts to follow in Coldplay star dad Chris' footsteps Fox News host Jesse Watters stunned as he admits his MOM joined millions protesting Trump at'No Kings' rally RFK Jr's desperate proposition to Cheryl Hines after his sexting fiasco pushed their marriage to the brink'Woke to blame for Louvre robbery': Female museum security chief accused of being a'diversity hire' comes under fire as politicians say heist has made France'the laughing stock of the world' Bombshell twist in Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's divorce: 'She'd get back with him in a heartbeat,' says insider who's known her for years - as her inner circle reacts to'girlfriend' rumours Bella Hadid under fire over'offensive' social media posts she made as a teenager: 'Should've known better' Ellen Greenberg's parents reveal harrowing final phone call with daughter's ex fiancé after shock suicide ruling The new drug obsessions of the posh'wines and lines' mums: They scoff at cocaine now - but these three vices are the talk of the private school gate: JANA HOCKING Channel your inner John Wayne! 'Tough guy' walk used by western movie heroes makes you appear more powerful When it comes to swagger, nobody does it quite like John Wayne. His distinctive wide-based walk helped solidify his'tough guy' persona that became iconic in his western films.
Tornado hits Paris suburbs leaving one dead
A tornado tore through Val-d'Oise, north of Paris, on Monday, toppling construction cranes, damaging properties and uprooting trees in its path. One person was killed and four others critically injured, authorities said. The town of Ermont, about 20 km (13 miles) northeast of Paris was hardest hit by the sudden twister, which caused damage in multiple districts. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on the X social media platform that it had been a storm of rare intensity. Drone footage shows blaze destroying the historic Bernaga Monastery in Italy.
Government insists it is cutting red tape for business
The Business Secretary has insisted the government is making it easier for businesses by reducing red tape. Peter Kyle defended Labour's approach to business, telling the BBC it will implement changes in a way that is pro-worker and pro-business. Ahead of next month's Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is launching a crackdown on needless form-filling for businesses at the first-ever Regional Investment Summit in Birmingham. The government has been criticised by firms who say increased employers' National Insurance contributions and the Employment Rights Bill add to the burdens facing businesses. The Chancellor will say at the Birmingham summit on Tuesday that the changes will save firms almost £6bn a year.