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Spain says adios to short-haul flights

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

The formation of a new coalition government in Spain portends big changes for the country’s short-haul flights.The Socialist Workers’ Party of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has signed a coalition deal with the far-left Sumar party that includes some 230 policy promises covering the next four years — including a pledge to limit short flights within the country.The idea is similar to a program in France, and would scrap domestic flights where there is a rail alternative that takes less than two-and-a-half hours.“The train will be the means of transport of the 21st century,” said Sumar leader Yolanda Díaz, insisting that short-haul flights “must end.”But the plan — like its French predecessor — is riddled with loopholes, and activists fear it won’t do much to limit flights.The target is flights from cities like Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Seville to Madrid, routes currently operated by Iberia, Vueling and Air Europa. For other domestic routes, such as ...

Where’s Elon? Musk a no-show on day two of UK’s AI Safety Summit

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

BLETCHLEY PARK, England — Rishi Sunak got the family photo he’s long been waiting for as U.S. VP Kamala Harris shuffled up alongside EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and nearly two dozen political leaders and tech execs at Bletchley Park on Thursday. But one figure was conspicuous by his absence.Although Elon Musk had been slated to attend both days of Sunak’s AI Safety Summit, the tech tycoon failed to appear at day two of the Bletchley Park summit, two U.K. government officials said.One of those officials, a No. 10 staffer, played down Musk’s absence, claiming day two was more for international leaders — but execs from Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Deepmind, Meta, Anthropic, OpenAI and InflectionAI all turned out for the family photo.The billionaire owner of X, formerly Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX appeared at the first day of the summit, but was quiet during closed-door roundtables, according to those present. On Thursday a more select group of tech execs and representatives f...

British deputy PM throws backing behind open source AI

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

BLETCHLEY, England — Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has said there should be a “high bar” on restrictions to open source artificial intelligence. Speaking to POLITICO on the sidelines of Rishi Sunak’s AI Safety Summit in Bletchley Park on Thursday, Dowden said he saw “huge potential” in open source AI in driving innovation and economic growth. “It’s not just economies like the U.K. and other European countries that benefit from open source. I see it in so many applications that are being created right now. I see tiny startups that are already billion dollar plus companies within a matter of literally months off the back of open source.“It’s also the case if we want to make sure it spreads globally, in terms of the developing world. So I think there was a very high bar to restrict open source in any way,” said Dowden.The battle between open and closed source AI has emerged as one of the key fault lines from the summit. Closed system companies like OpenA...

Suspect accused of fatally shooting Salem State student pleads not guilty as prosecutors reveal new details in case

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

A suspect accused of fatally shooting a Salem State University student pleaded not guilty Thursday as prosecutors outlined how the alleged shooter and victim were connected.Missael Pena Canela, 18, was charged with murder after he was taken into custody less than 24 hours after police responded to Forest Avenue and found Carl Hens Beliard suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.Beliard, also 18, had been driving in a sedan when the shooting occurred sometime before 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, leaving bullet holes in the driver’s side of the car as well as its back window.Canela was arrested later that night and arraigned Thursday morning in Salem District Court.During the proceedings, which lasted some ten minutes, the prosecution described how Beliard had been travelling with a woman at the time of the shooting, who the defendant had an on-again, off-again relationship with.Authorities said Canela had been looking for the woman that night, and that he allegedly admitted to police ...

Ex-gang leader charged in Tupac Shakur killing pleads not guilty in Las Vegas

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A former Southern California street gang leader pleaded not guilty Thursday to orchestrating a drive-by shooting that killed Tupac Shakur in 1996 in Las Vegas.Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis, the only person still alive who was in the vehicle from which shots were fired and the only person ever charged with a crime in the case, stood in shackles before Clark County District Judge Tierra Jones.Special public defenders Robert Arroyo and Charles Cano represented Davis in court Thursday. Davis lost his bid to hire defense attorney, Ross Goodman. Two weeks ago, Goodman had said prosecutors lack witnesses and key evidence, including a gun or vehicle, for the killing committed 27 years ago.Before entering his plea Thursday, Davis stood in dark-blue jail garb and answered a short series of questions, telling the judge that he attended “a year in college,” was not under the influence of any drugs, medication or alcohol, and that he understood he has been...

Red Sox standouts Rafael Devers, Triston Casas named Silver Slugger finalists

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

Two Red Sox players have been named finalists for the Silver Slugger Awards, which are presented annually to the league’s top hitters at each position.Rafael Devers and Triston Casas were among the finalists announced by Louisville Slugger and Major League Baseball on Thursday. The awards are voted on by MLB managers and coaches, with the finalists reflecting each position’s leading contenders according to baseball’s coaching community.Devers is now a three-time finalist who won the award in 2021, and this season he finished fifth in the American League with 33 home runs and led all qualifying AL third basemen in OPS (.851) and RBI (100). The other AL third base finalists include Houston’s Alex Bregman, Cleveland’s José Ramírez and Tampa Bay’s Isaac Paredes.Casas’ first finalist nod caps off an excellent rookie season in which he emerged as one of baseball’s most impactful hitters in the second half. The 23-year-old batted .263 with 24...

Prosecutor: Former Memphis officer pleads guilty to state and federal charges in Tyre Nichols’ death

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

By JONATHAN MATTISE (Associated Press)MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A former Memphis police officer changed his plea to guilty Thursday in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, becoming the first of five officers charged to reverse course.Desmond Mills Jr. entered his plea during a hearing at the Memphis federal courthouse as part of a larger agreement to settle charges in state court as well. It wasn’t immediately clear how the four other officers planned to respond and specifically whether they would follow suit. Their attorneys declined to comment on Mills’ guilty plea.Mills pleaded guilty to federal charges of excessive force and obstruction of justice on Thursday and has agreed to plead guilty to related state charges. Prosecutors are recommending a 15-year sentence for the former officer, although the final sentencing decision rests with the judge. Caught on police video, the Nichols beating in January was one in a string of violent encounters between police and Black p...

Suspect in Salem State University murder of basketball player held without bail

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

The suspect accused of murdering a freshman on the Salem State University men’s basketball team early Wednesday is being held without bail.Missael Peña Canela, 18, of Salem, pleaded not guilty to shooting and killing Carl-Hens Beliard during an arraignment at Salem District Court Thursday.Authorities arrested Canela on the murder charge Wednesday evening, less than 24 hours after they found Beliard, 18, inside a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound blocks away from campus.Emergency responders took Beliard to Salem Hospital where medical personnel pronounced him dead.A female inside the vehicle at the time shots were fired is said to have had an “on-again, off-again relationship” with Canela, according to prosecutor Erin Bellavia, assistant district attorney for Essex County.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Salem State University basketball player shot and killed in car near campus Crime & Public Safety | Salem outlasts Lynn Classical in 48...

Ways to recover from a financial shock and be prepared next time

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

By Kimberly Palmer | NerdWalletFinancial shocks come in many different forms: An unexpected medical bill, house repair or job loss are among the typical ones. The reasons for financial shocks may be common, but recovering from them can be unexpectedly challenging.“These things happen once or twice over a financial lifetime,” says Spencer Betts, a certified financial planner and financial consultant with Bickling Financial Services in Lexington, Massachusetts. “They can be pretty big, even for a relatively well-off person.”To recover from a financial shock and to protect yourself from the impact of one before it happens, consider these guideposts from financial experts:Turn to your emergency fund or start oneBetts recommends using an emergency fund as a first line of defense against financial shocks. “The general guideline is to have three to six months of your expenses set aside,” he says, adding that the money can be kept in an interest-bearing account so it continues to grow.If yo...

Five questions the Orioles will face this offseason

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

The Orioles’ offseason began much sooner than they hoped it would. Its true start is approaching.With the World Series over, the MLB offseason is set to begin. The Orioles will enter it coming off a campaign in which they won 101 regular-season games and the American League East only to lose their only three playoff games to the eventual champion Texas Rangers.Despite the season generally being a success, plenty of questions hang over the club this winter. Here are five of the most significant.What happens first: Mike Elias signs a player to a long-term deal or John Angelos signs a long-term lease?The Orioles, as both a team and a business, are lacking long-term commitments.Next month will mark five years since Elias became the Orioles’ executive vice president and general manager. In that time, the only guaranteed multiyear major league contracts Baltimore has given out have gone to a pair of pitchers who were about to miss significant time because of Tommy John elbow r...