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OpenAI boss downplays fears ChatGPT maker could leave Europe over AI rules

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

LONDON (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Friday downplayed worries that the ChatGPT maker could exit the European Union if it can’t comply with the bloc’s strict new artificial intelligence rules, coming after a top official rebuked him for comments raising such a possibility. Altman is traveling through Europe as part of a world tour to meet with officials and promote his AI company, which has unleashed a frenzy around the globe. At a stop this week in London, he said OpenAI might leave if the artificial intelligence rules that the EU is drawing up are too tough. That triggered a pointed reply on social media from European Commissioner Thierry Breton, accusing the company of blackmail. Breton, who’s charge of digital policy, linked to a Financial Times article quoting Altman saying that OpenAI “will try to comply, but if we can’t comply we will cease operating.”Altman sought to calm the waters a day later, tweeting: “very productive week of conversations in europe a...

Céline Dion cancels European concerts ‘until I’m really ready to be back on stage’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

Céline Dion has canceled all her scheduled tour dates through April 2024 as she continues treatment for a rare neurological disorder.“I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again,” the singer said in a statement on social media. “I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%. It’s not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to be back on stage again.A total of 42 European dates have been canceled, including stops in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Austria, England, Scotland and Ireland.Earlier this year, Dion said stiff person syndrome was causing spasms that affect her ability to walk and sing.“Unfortunately, the spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and...

Stock market today: Tech leads more gains in early trading on Wall Street

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose in morning trading on Wall Street Friday, led by more gains in technology stocks as another chipmaker reported strong demand related to artificial intelligence.The S&P 500 rose 0.7%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 240 points, or 0.7%, at 33,003 as of 10:08 a.m. Eastern and the Nasdaq rose 1%.Technology stocks were the doing much of the heavy lifting for the benchmark S&P 500. Marvell Technology surged 25% after the chipmaker said it expects AI revenue in fiscal 2024 to at least double from the prior year. That follows Thursday’s report from fellow chipmaker Nvidia, which gave a big forecast for upcoming sales related to AI.Wall Street remains focused on Washington and ongoing negotiations for a deal to lift the U.S. government’s debt ceiling and avert a potentially calamitous default. Officials said President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy were narrowing in on a two-year budget deal that could open the door to lifting the nation...

Fire still burning at Montreal heritage building that once housed monastery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

MONTREAL — A major fire at a Montreal heritage building that broke out Thursday evening was still not out as of early today.The fire broke out just before 5 p.m. at the Monastère du Bon-Pasteur, a 19th century former monastery, and quickly became a five-alarm blaze requiring the intervention of 150 firefighters.The building located in the heart of downtown Montreal was built in 1846 and retained its religious vocation until the 1960s.It was formally recognized as a heritage site in 1979 and now serves as a multiservice centre that includes a residence for seniors, a housing cooperative, a daycare centre and condominiums.The chapel, located in the center of the complex, is now a concert hall that is part of the city’s cultural centre network. Environment Canada has issued a special bulletin for poor air quality due to the smoke created by the fire.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2023.The Canadian Press

Russia offers support to Somalian army in fight against terrorist groups

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia is ready to supply Somalia’s army with military equipment in its war against terrorism, Russia’s foreign minister said Friday.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the offer after talks with his Somali counterpart Abshir Omar Jama in Moscow.Russia’s top diplomat said Moscow reaffirmed its readiness to meet the material needs of the Somalian army in its fight against extremists that remain on Somalian territory including al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda.”The offer further underscores Russia’s growing interest in the African continent upstaging the west in countries facing conflict.Currently, Russian mercenaries Wagner are present in the Central African Republic, Mali, Mozambique and Libya.Somalia has faced numerous attacks from al-Qaida’s East Africa affiliate group, al-Shabab and recently the government embarked on what has been described as the most significant offensive against the al-Shabab extremist group in more than a decade.The extremist gr...

Competition Bureau recommends changing THC limits for edibles, easing pot packaging

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s competition watchdog says the federal government should consider easing restrictions on cannabis packaging and limits on how much of pot’s psychoactive component can be edible products.The Competition Bureau says the moves would boost consumer choice, foster innovation and further reduce illicit market activity by bolstering the legal cannabis industry.It says adjusting tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) limits would allow pot producers to better meet consumer demand and compete with the illicit market.It adds easing restrictions on cannabis promotion, packaging and labelling would give producers more room to innovate and help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions.The Competition Bureau’s recommendations are part of an ongoing review of the Cannabis Act, which set cannabis purchase and possession limits and established safety requirements for growing, selling and transporting the substance.When legalization legislation came into effect in 2018, it i...

Pennsylvania baseball player fatally struck in the face while dismantling unapproved dugout

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A college baseball player died after he was struck in the face when a makeshift dugout he was helping to dismantle collapsed on him this week. Angel Mercado, 19, was a middle infielder who had just completed his freshman season at Division II Central Penn College. He had been playing in a summer recreation league that held its games and practices in a park in Harrisburg.The coach of Mercado’s team had built a makeshift dugout there out of wood on Sunday, but city officials told him it wasn’t allowed. Mercado was among a group of players dismantling the structure Monday afternoon when it unexpectedly collapsed and he was struck in the face.Mercado suffered a traumatic head injury and was taken to a hospital, where he died on Tuesday. The Cumberland County coroner’s office ruled the death an accident.“Nothing criminal happened here,” city spokesman Matt Maisel said. “No charges will be filed against the coach. No charges will be filed against a...

Russian court data: US journalist Evan Gershkovich appeals extension of detention on spying charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has appealed a three-month extention of his detention on espionage charges, a Russian court data website indicated Friday. Gershkovich, a 31-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested in March while on a reporting trip in Russia. He, his employer and the U.S. government have denied the charges. A Moscow court on Tuesday extended his detention until Aug. 30. According to the court website the appeal was filed at the Lefortovo district court on Thursday. There was no information whether a date has been set for a hearing. Gerhskovich’s case has been wrapped in secrecy. Russian authorities haven’t detailed what — if any — evidence they have gathered to support the espionage charges.Various legal proceedings in the case have been closed to the media. State news agency Tass said Tuesday’s hearing was held behind closed doors because the reporter was accused of possession of “secret materials.” The Wall Street Journal reporte...

Special counsel Durham to testify before Congress next month about his report on Trump-Russia probe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former special counsel John Durham is scheduled to testify before a House committee next month about his recently completed report on the FBI’s investigation of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.Durham is due to appear on June 20 in a closed-door session with the House intelligence committee and will testify publicly the following day before the House Judiciary Committee, according to a person who discussed the dates on the condition of anonymity because they had not been publicly announced. Durham was appointed in 2019 by then-Attorney General William Barr to investigate possible government mistakes and misconduct in the investigation into potential ties between Russia and the Trump campaign.His report concluded that the FBI acted too hastily and without sufficient justification to launch a full investigation in 2016. But many of the errors that it identified were also flagged in an earlier 2019 report by the Justice Department’s inspecto...

Germany orders 18 new Leopard 2 tanks to replace vehicles sent to Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — The German military has ordered 18 new Leopard 2 tanks to replace vehicles that were sent to Ukraine earlier this year, a leading defense company said Friday.Kraus-Maffei Wegmann said a contract for the Leopard 2A8 tanks was signed with the federal office for military equipment. It didn’t give financial details, but the German parliament’s budget committee on Wednesday approved funding of some 525 million euros ($563 million).The company said that delivery of the new tanks is scheduled to start in 2025, and that the deal includes options for another 105 Leopard 2A8 tanks. Kraus-Maffei Wegmann also will produce 12 new self-propelled howitzers for the German military as part of an option agreed to in March, the company said.Germany’s defense minister pushed for new tanks to be acquired as quickly as possible after the government agreed in late January to provide 14 Leopard 2A6 battle tanks to Ukraine. That number was increased a few weeks later to 18 as Berli...