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On the edge of the Arctic, the West strives to control AI

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

LULEÅ, Sweden — Top European and American officials gathered in Sweden for tech and trade talks on Wednesday and tried to hammer out an answer to one of the toughest problems facing the world: how to police artificial intelligence.Over an hour-long lunch of cod loin and chocolate praline, officials from Washington and Brussels worked up a voluntary “code of conduct” designed to prevent harm, including from the most advanced artificial intelligence technology known as generative AI — like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard. Within months, the tech has taken the public by storm, triggering hopes as well as anxieties for the future of humanity. While some have been thrilled by AI’s potential to generate computer code and solve medical problems, others fear it will put millions of people out of work and could even threaten security. “Democracy needs to show we are as fast as the technology,” Margrethe Vestager, Europe’s digital commissioner, told reporters a she entered the EU-U....

Closed airspace, limited overnights: Moldova hosts Europe’s leaders in Russia’s shadow

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

CHIȘINĂU — Gathering more than 40 European leaders in Moldova on Thursday will be a symbolic thumb in Vladimir Putin’s eye — a sign of collective commitment to join hands against Moscow.It’s also a major risk. Literally and metaphorically, the so-called European Political Community’s second summit is taking place in Russia’s backyard, a region Putin sees as part of Moscow’s sphere of influence. That makes getting several dozen world leaders in and out no easy task.  Moldova has closed its airspace for the duration of the summit and NATO surveillance planes will keep a watchful eye — a nod to the constant threat of Russian incursions. Access to the main airport has been restricted — a recognition of the myriad fake bomb alerts there since the start of the war. And most leaders won’t stay overnight — preferring to keep their visit to a minimum.The measures illustrate Europe’s daunting task as it tries to embrace a wider community of countries. The o...

UMass Challenged By Cost, Enrollment Trends

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

Declining enrollment and swelling employee expenses are causing budget woes for the University of Massachusetts and financial help from Beacon Hill may be needed, according to a top university official.Salary and fringe benefits constitute 60 percent of UMass’s expenses in fiscal 2024, an increase of $186 million compared to the fiscal 2023 projection. Joe Skrzek, assistant budget director at UMass, attributed the figure to an 11 percent hike to the state fringe rate and an 8 percent union wage increase.The costs will need to be funded in future budgets, Skrzek told UMass trustees Wednesday during a virtual Committee on Administration and Finance meeting.“Addressing these challenges will require active management and continued advocacy for a change to the cost-sharing arrangement with the commonwealth,” he said.Overall enrollment at UMass is slated to decrease by 0.3 percent in fiscal 2024, capping a three-year downward trend, Skrzek said. That’s fueled by a ...

The Ford Bronco is being recalled because people may get ‘discouraged’ trying to use the seatbelts

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

New York (CNN) — Ever have a car with a difficult-to-reach seatbelt? This recall is for you.Ford is having to recall 176,000 of its Ford Bronco SUVs, model years 2021 to 2023, because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that drivers and front seat passengers can have difficulty reaching the metal portion of the belt when it is in the retracted position.“The customer may experience some dissatisfaction or be discouraged if they are unable to easily access the seatbelt… in its stowed position. Driving without the use of a seatbelt increases the risk of injury in a crash,” said the notice from the federal safety regulator.The recall involves only the five-door version of the Bronco.Ford didn’t have any comment on the recall except to say that the problem is only when the front seats are in one certain position, not all positions, though the company did not specify the offending seat position. The issue can be addressed by putting a barrette clip, or a sliding ...

Red Sox offer chance to celebrate a dad in your life with free Sox-Yankees tickets

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

The Boston Red Sox are giving ten lucky dads a chance to take in a free Sox-Yankees game via a special “Father’s Day Out at Fenway Park.”The Father’s Day contest is free to enter, with participants asked to nominate a father figure in their life for a chance to win tickets to Fenway on Sunday, June 18, when the New York Yankees are in town for a three-game series.The form on the Red Sox website also asks participants to tell the team why they’re nominating their respective dad or father figure in 600 characters or less.Those who are picked for the Father’s Day Out will receive two tickets to the game, a “complimentary pregame meal,” and a $100 gift card to the team store.The deadline for nominating a dad is Monday, June 5, at 11:59 p.m.The nomination form can be found here.

Boston police look to ID suspect who stole woman’s jewelry, including her late husband’s wedding ring

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

The Boston Police Department is looking to identify a suspect who allegedly stole jewelry off of a woman in Roxbury, including her late husband’s wedding ring.In a news release, the department said it was around 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, May 28, when the suspect approached the victim on Blue Hill Avenue in Roxbury outside of a church and stole a chain from her neck.The chain also had the wedding band of her late husband attached to it, according to police.Image provided by the Boston Police DepartmentThe department said the suspect also attempted to steal the woman’s purse, but fled towards Maywood Street after the victim defended herself.Boston PD described the suspect as a “Hispanic male in his mid-twenties with a stocky build, wearing white shirt and denim shorts.” He is also believed to have a large bruise on his left leg and may be walking with a limp.As an investigation continues, officials ask that anyone with information contact the department’s Dis...

Putnam Investments sold for $925M

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

Great-West Lifeco has agreed to sell Boston-based Putnam Investments for $925 million to global asset manager Franklin Templeton.Franklin Templeton said in an investor presentation that it is “committed to a significant presence in Boston” and that its execution plan is designed to “minimize disruption to investment teams and client relationships.”“Combining Putnam’s asset management business with Franklin Templeton’s scaled and diversified platform is an exceptional opportunity for our company,” Putnam CEO Robert Reynolds said in a statement on Wednesday.Franklin Resources Inc., whose subsidiaries operate as Franklin Templeton, is based in California and has offices in more than 30 countries. It had about $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of April 30.The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023. At the end of April 2023, Putnam had $136 billion in assets under management.  

DeSantis plays up his personal side and swipes at Trump in campaign blitz across Iowa

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

By THOMAS BEAUMONT and WILL WEISSERT (Associated Press)SALIX, Iowa (AP) — Ron DeSantis was making a four-stop blitz through Iowa during his first full day of presidential campaigning on Wednesday, aiming for a personal connection with voters while intensifying his criticism of former President Donald Trump.The Florida governor’s first appearance was the floor of Port Neal Welding in Salix, a rural town near Sioux City, in the heart of the most Republican-heavy part of the state. Lining the highway outside the welding shop were metal structures including a towering Jesus, a version of the Statue of Liberty and the Minions.DeSantis talked up his efforts to push his state farther to the right. But he often barreled through his 30-minute speech in workmanlike fashion, leaving few pauses for applause from the audience of a bit more than 100 people, some wearing caps bearing seed company logos. The governor is opening his campaign trailing Trump in the polls. He’s also f...

Peter Durant plans to announce Senate run next week for Anne Gobi’s seat, source says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

State Rep. Peter Durant, a Spencer Republican, plans to announce next week a run for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Sen. Anne Gobi, who is leaving the Legislature to join the Healey administration, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.Republicans view Gobi’s district as a prime opportunity to pick up a seat in the Senate, where there are only three Republicans and Democrats hold a super majority. Durant’s decision to run will pit him against his House colleague, Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik, a Gardner Democrat.Durant did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.All three of the Senate’s Republicans told the Herald last week that they are confident a Republican can win a race in what they view as a competitive district.As of the end of April, Zlotnik reported $32,114 in campaign cash and Durant reported $828 on hand, according to state campaign finance records.Durant is a sixth-term state lawmaker who serves as the ranking minority member on both the Judi...

MIAA state baseball tournament pairings

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

 BASEBALL DIVISION 1SEEDS: 1. Franklin (19-3); 2. Taunton (16-4); 3. Westford Academy (18-0); 4. Central Catholic (19-3); 5. Xaverian Brothers (13-7); 6. Saint John’s (16-4); 7. Boston College High (12-8); 8. Weymouth (17-5); 9. Bridgewater-Raynham (16-4); 10. St. John’s Prep (12-8); 11. Milford (12-8); 12. Andover (15-5); 13. Chelmsford (14-6); 14. Lincoln-Sudbury (12-10); 15. Natick (15-5); 16. Wachusett Regional (13-7); 17. Walpole (12-8); 18. Springfield Central (16-2); 19. Saint Paul Diocesan (13-7); 20. Boston Latin (13-7); 21. Methuen (11-9); 22. Beverly (15-5); 23. Braintree (10-10); 24. Bishop Feehan (11-9); 25. Shrewsbury (11-9); 26. Barnstable (13-7); 27. Waltham (12-8); 28. Algonquin (9-11); 29. Attleboro (9-11); 30. Winchester (14-6); 31. Durfee (9-11); 32. Lexington (13-9); 33. Hingham (10-10); 34. Lynn Classical (17-3); 35. Marshfield (10-10); 36. Doherty Memorial (9-9); 37. Acton-Boxborough (10-10); 38. Newton South (12-8); 39. Cambridge Rindge ...