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Meta and X questioned by lawmakers over lack of rules against AI-generated political deepfakes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:10 GMT

Deepfakes generated by artificial intelligence are having their moment this year, at least when it comes to making it look, or sound, like celebrities did something uncanny. Tom Hanks hawking a dental plan. Pope Francis wearing a stylish puffer jacket. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul sitting on the Capitol steps in a red bathrobe.But what happens next year ahead of a U.S. presidential election? Google was the first big tech company to say it would impose new labels on deceptive AI-generated political advertisements that could fake a candidate’s voice or actions. Now some U.S. lawmakers are calling on social media platforms X, Facebook and Instagram to explain why they aren’t doing the same. Two Democratic members of Congress sent a letter Thursday to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X CEO Linda Yaccarino expressing “serious concerns” about the emergence of AI-generated political ads on their platforms and asking each to explain any rules they’re crafting to curb the harms to free ...

Russian strike on cafe kills 49 people as Ukraine’s president urges stronger Western support

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:10 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — At least 49 civilians were killed Thursday in a Russian rocket strike on a village store in eastern Ukraine, one of the deadliest attacks in recent months that came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended a summit of around 50 European leaders in Spain to drum up support from the country’s allies.Zelenskyy denounced the attack on the store and cafe in the village of Hroza as a “demonstrably brutal Russian crime” and “a completely deliberate act of terrorism.”He urged Western allies to help strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, saying that “Russian terror must be stopped.”“Russia needs this and similar terrorist attacks for only one thing: to make its genocidal aggression the new norm for the whole world,” he said. “Now we are talking with European leaders, in particular, about strengthening our air defense, strengthening our soldiers, giving our country protection from terror. And we will respond to the terrorists.”Presidential chief of staf...

All Trump, all the time? Former president’s legal problems a boon to MSNBC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:10 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — During a recent “Morning Joe” discussion of another development in the four indictments of former President Donald Trump, NBC News reporter Ken Dilanian predicted, “we are in for a real show next year.”MSNBC is not just counting on that to be true. The network is built around it.The news outlet is hyper-focused on Trump’s legal jeopardy, with a team of experts ready to dissect every ruling, every filing, every comment. The approach has seen success — even with some Republicans — with potential for more and the obvious questions of what happens when the bubble bursts.“MSNBC has pretty well-established themselves as the leading anti-Trump network, certainly of late,” said Jon Klein, a former CNN president and news analyst. “Once you’ve chosen your lane, you may as well go for it.”Certainly, the recipient of its attention has noticed.In a late September post on Truth Social, Trump complained about “one-sided and vicious coverage” on NBC News and, particularl...

India says it’s firm on Canada reducing diplomatic staff in the country but sets no deadline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:10 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India said Thursday it has set no deadline so far but remains determined to reduce Canada’s diplomatic presence in the South Asian country amid a confrontation over Canadian accusations that India may have been involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in suburban Vancouver.New Delhi has dismissed the accusations as absurd.India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters at a news conference on Thursday that the two countries are discussing “modalities on achieving” parity as to the levels of diplomatic representation. “I wouldn’t like to get into details of the conversation,” he said.Earlier this week, a Canadian official said India has told Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country.Bagchi did not reply when asked whether Canada has provided credible evidence to back up its accusations but only reiterated New Delhi’s stand that it is open to look into “anything relevant and specific” that Ca...

Bangladesh gets first uranium shipment from Russia for its Moscow-built nuclear power plant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:10 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh on Thursday received the first uranium shipment from Russia to fuel the country’s only nuclear power plant, still under construction by Moscow. Once finished, the plant is expected to boost Bangladesh’s national grid and help the South Asian nation’s growing economy. The Rooppur power plant will produce 2,400 megawatts of electricity — powering about 15 million households — when the twin-unit facility goes fully online. The plant is being constructed by Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation. Moscow has funded the construction with a $11.38 billion loan, to be repaid over two decades, starting from 2027.Once Rooppur starts production, Bangladesh will join more than 30 countries that run nuclear power reactors. The uranium, which arrived in Bangladesh late last month, was handed over to the authorities at a ceremony in Ishwardi, where the plant is located, in the northern district of Pabna on Thursday. Bangladesh’s Pri...

Drone attacks in Syria kill and wound officers and civilians at a military ceremony

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:10 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A drone attack Thursday struck a packed graduating ceremony for military officers in the Syrian city of Homs, killing an unspecified number of civilians and military personnel and wounding dozens of others, Syrian state television reported.Syria’s military said in a statement that drones laden with explosives targeted the ceremony as it came to an end. They accused insurgents “backed by known international forces” for the attack, and said that some of the wounded were in critical condition, including women and children.They didn’t specify the number of casualties and didn’t accuse anyone in particular of carrying out the deadly strike. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.However, Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that seven officers were killed, and another 20 were wounded. They added that among the personnel at the ceremony was Syria’s defense minister.The Syrian military in...

After biting incidents, Biden's dog Commander is no longer at White House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s dog, Commander, is “not presently on the White House campus” following a series of biting incidents involving White House staff and U.S. Secret Service officers, a spokesperson for first lady Jill Biden said late Wednesday.Elizabeth Alexander, the first lady’s communications director, said Biden and his wife care deeply about the safety of White House staff and those who protect them every day.“They remain grateful for the patience and support of the U.S. Secret Service and all involved, as they continue to work through solutions,” she said in an emailed statement, adding, “Commander is not presently on the White House campus while next steps are evaluated.”President Joe Biden's dog Commander, a German shepherd, sits at the Truman balcony of the White House, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)Alexander did not say where the dog was sent. The 2-year-old German shepherd was last seen Saturday on an u...

Dean's Throwback Thursday A-List Interview: William Friedkin ahead of "The Exorcist: Believer"

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:10 GMT

Check out Dean's Throwback A-List Interview with film director WIlliam Friedkin ahead of the new "The Exorcist: Believer."Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

SH-71 westbound near AUS closed for several hours after deadly crash; Airport traffic impacted

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A person died after a rollover crash on State Highway 71 near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Thursday morning. Austin-Travis County EMS said on social media at 5:07 a.m. that medics pronounced an adult patient dead on the scene. The westbound lanes of the highway are shut down near Brandt Drive due to the crash. Drivers should expect delays or choose alternate routes. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, or AUS, said on social media traffic exiting the airport is backed up, causing back-ups for those dropping off travelers as well. AUS suggested drivers give themselves extra time to make it to the airport. REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAP The Austin Police Department said it was a single-vehicle crash, and the driver of the vehicle was the person who died. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Kali Uchis no longer performing at ACL 2023; Major Lazer added to Weekend 1 lineup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin City Limits music festival begins Friday, but last-minute adjustments are being made to the lineup.Kali Uchis, a R&B/soul singer-songwriter, said she would no longer be performing at ACL. Major Lazer was added to the time slot Uchis was originally slated for during Weekend One, according to a social media post from ACL Festival. What to know before attending the 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival In a social media post, Uchis said her Wednesday show in El Paso would be the final stop on her “Red Moon in Venus” tour.“Austin I will not be going to ACL,” Uchis said.ACL Festival confirmed in a post on X that Uchis would not be performing. According to the original lineup, Uchis was slated to perform each Friday at 6:10 p.m. during weekends one and two.In another post on X, ACL Festival announced Major Lazer would take the American Express stage at 6:10 p.m. on Friday during the first weekend. Major Lazer is an EDM and DJ trio consisting of Diplo and...