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AI poses extinction risk similar to nuclear war or pandemics, warn tech leaders

Artificial intelligence poses a similar risk of human extinction as pandemics and nuclear war, experts have warned.The boss of the firm behind ChatGPT, the head of Google's AI lab, and CEO of Anthropic - another major AI firm, have all signed an open letter. It reads: "Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war."The Center for AI Safety, which published the statement, said it hoped to open up the discussion as "it can be difficult to voice concerns about some of advanced AI's most severe risks".British computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio, considered by many to be the "godfathers" of AI, have also put their names to the warning. More than 350 people working in the field as engineers, researchers or executives have signed up.AI's rapidly growing capabilities have prompted similar concern from other high-profile figures in recent months - although not everyone in the industry believes it poses an existential threat. More from Science & Tech Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:46 AI is getting 'crazier and crazier' And Elon Musk joined a group of experts in March to call for a six-month pause in the training of large language AI models - the type used by ChatGPT and similar chatbots.That letter warned of "profound risks" and said powerful systems should only be developed when it could be assured "their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable". Advertisement The spread of disinformation, the loss of millions of jobs, through to existential threats to the human race are often cited as potential dangers if AI continues to evolve rapidly.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has met the heads of leading AI companies, as well as Google boss Sundar Pichai, about the need to regulate the technology and mitigate risks. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:16 Will this chatbot replace humans? Read more:Paralysis breakthrough astonishing - and AI is the keyArtificial intelligence to hit workplace 'like freight train'Fake AI image of explosion near US Pentagon goes viral Though still in its infancy, the technology has already received attention for its ability to produce convincing fake images and video, as well as cloned music tracks.The popularity of ChatGPT is also said to have left teachers "bewildered" as they struggle to assess the benefits and risks to the education system.Last week, ChatGPT's capability grew again when it gained access to real-time search data, meaning it can give answers based on up-to-date news and current affairs.

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Anti-gay legislation that could mean the death penalty in some cases signed into law in Uganda

New anti-gay legislation that could mean the death penalty in some cases has been signed into law in Uganda, amid outcry by LGBT charities.The version of the bill signed by President Yoweri Museveni doesn't criminalise those who identify as LGBTQ, which had been a key concern for campaigners who condemned an earlier draft of the legislation as an egregious attack on human rights. But the new law still prescribes the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality," which is defined as cases of sexual relations involving people infected with HIV as well as with minors and other categories of vulnerable people.A suspect convicted of "attempted aggravated homosexuality" can be imprisoned for up to 14 years, according to the legislation.Parliamentary Speaker Anita Among said in a statement that the president had "answered the cries of our people" in signing the bill. "With a lot of humility, I thank my colleagues the members of parliament for withstanding all the pressure from bullies and doomsday conspiracy theorists in the interest of our country," the statement said.Homosexuality was already illegal in Uganda and the country has some of the strictest punishments. It is one of more than 30 African countries where it is criminalised.Read more on Sky News:On board the mission to rescue 600 people from overcrowded fishing boat Four dead as boat carrying British tourists overturns on Italian lakeThe US has warned of economic consequences over legislation described by Amnesty International as "draconian and overly broad". Advertisement The leaders of the UN AIDS program, the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund in a joint statement Monday said they "are deeply concerned about the harmful impact" of the legislation on public health and the HIV response."Uganda's progress on its HIV response is now in grave jeopardy," the statement said.

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Joe Biden and Kevin McCarthy reach ‘agreement in principle’ on raising US debt ceiling

President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have reached an "agreement in principle" on raising the US debt ceiling, according to sources in Washington.The tentative deal would bring to an end the months-long stalemate between the Republican controlled Congress and Democrat run White House. Currently, the debt ceiling stands at $31.4trn (£25.4trn) with the new limit yet to be announced.Mr Biden and Mr McCarthy held a 90-minute phone call on Saturday evening to discuss the deal, as the 5 June deadline looms.Following the conversation, the speaker tweeted: "I just got off the phone with the president a bit ago. "After he wasted time and refused to negotiate for months, we've come to an agreement in principle that is worthy of the American people."During a very brief press conference on Capitol Hill Mr McCarthy said they "still have more work to do tonight to finish the writing of it", adding that he expects to finish writing the bill on Sunday, then hold a vote on Wednesday. More on Joe Biden Related Topics: The deal would avert an economically destabilising default, so long as they succeed in passing it through the narrowly divided Congress before the Treasury Department runs short of money to cover all its obligations.Republicans have pushed for steep cuts to spending and other conditions, including new work requirements on some benefit programmes for low-income Americans and for funds to be stripped from the Internal Revenue Service, the US tax agency. Advertisement They said they want to slow the growth of the US debt, which is now roughly equal to the annual output of the country's economy. Read more:Biden cancels visits to Australia and Papua New Guinea to deal with debt crisisCould US default on its debt? UK should be praying it doesn'tExact details of the deal were not immediately available, but negotiators have agreed to cap non-defence discretionary spending at 2023 levels for two years, in exchange for a debt ceiling increase over a similar period, according to Reuters news agency.The impasse frightened the financial markets, weighing on stocks and forcing the US to pay record-high interest rates in some bond sales.A default would take a far heavier toll, economists say, likely pushing America into recession, rocking the world economy and cause unemployment to spike.

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Pope meets director Scorsese as pontiff resumes audiences after fever

Pope Francis has met film director Martin Scorsese as the pontiff resumed holding audiences after a bout of fever forced him to cancel engagements this week.A Vatican schedule of his appointments for Saturday showed the 86-year-old pontiff had received one Vatican-based archbishop and four groups. Among those he greeted was Scorsese, whose films include Taxi Driver, Goodfellas and The Last Temptation of Christ, during a conference promoted by the publication La Civilta Cattolica and Georgetown University.Concerns for the health of Francis had been raised after he missed meetings on Friday.The Vatican said he had felt tired and unwell the previous day after insisting on individually meeting a large number of people from his school foundation. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a Vatican spokesman, said: "He wanted to greet all of them and probably at a certain point lost his resistance."It was back in March when Francis last suffered a serious fever. He was taken to hospital at the time and found to have acute bronchitis.After receiving intravenous antibiotics he was released three days later and returned to his duties, which included a three-day trip to Hungary at the end of April.He is due to preside over Pentecost Mass on Sunday in St Peter's Basilica, and hold an official audience with Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday. Advertisement Francis, who became pope 10 years ago, is missing part of one lung.It was removed when he was a young man in his native Argentina.Read more:'Selfish' young Italians should have more children, Pope saysSex is a 'beautiful thing', Francis says in documentary Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:08 From April: 'I'm still alive,' says Pope Originally called Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis was archbishop of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires from 1998 until he was elected pope in 2013.Since he assumed the papacy, he has been forced to cancel some events, sometimes at the last minute, because of illness.He was first hospitalised as pope in 2021 for an operation to remove part of his colon.Last year he hinted he may resign if his health continued to deteriorate.That suggestion came after he was pictured using a wheelchair for the first time in public due to mobility issues caused by a flare-up of sciatica - a nerve condition that causes leg ache.The late Benedict XVI became the first pope to resign for more than 600 years in 2013 instead of ruling for life.

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Celine Dion ‘heartbroken’ as she cancels rest of world tour

Celine Dion has said "it breaks my heart" after cancelling the remaining concerts of her world tour because of a rare neurological illness.The Canadian singer, 55, suffers from so-called stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a rare incurable progressive neurological disorder which "causes severe and persistent muscle spasms, and has prevented her from performing," a statement on her website said. "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," the statement said on Friday. Image: Singer Celine Dion performs during her first Courage World Tour show on 18 September 2019 in Quebec. Pic: AP "I want you all to know, I'm not giving up… and I can't wait to see you again!"I'm so sorry to disappoint all of you once again. I'm working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you're 100%." She was due to perform in more than 20 cities across Europe, spread across this year and next, during the Courage World Tour, including playing eight shows in the UK and six in Paris.Read more: How Tina Turner inspired domestic violence survivorsThe trauma and triumph of music legend Tina TurnerHer statement said she was cancelling them "with a sense of tremendous disappointment"."Celine is working hard on her recovery, but at this time is unable to successfully prepare for and perform the remainder of the tour," the statement added."We do have every hope that someday soon, Celine will be able to come to all of these cities in Europe to perform for her amazing fans, but that time simply is not now." Advertisement Dion, known for her hit power ballads including Think Twice, Because You Loved Me, My Heart Will Go On, and It's All Coming Back To Me Now, delayed a Las Vegas residency in 2021 and postponed tour dates in 2022 due to health issues.

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‘Killer’ bear spared death after being linked to two attacks on humans

A bear that was due to be killed after being blamed for the death of a runner has been granted a reprieve by an Italian court.The 17-year-old female, known as JJ4, was captured by park rangers after DNA evidence linked her to the death of Andrea Papi on 5 April. She had been due to be put down but the court in the city of Trento has now postponed a cull until at least 27 June after environmental groups lodged an appeal.It comes after the body of 26-year-old Mr Papi was found in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of the Italian Alps.His worried girlfriend had reported him missing after he failed to return from a jog. Along with his body, a search party reportedly discovered a bloodstained branch at the scene, leading investigators to believe he may have tried to use it to fight the bear off.JJ4 has also been implicated in an attack on a father and son as they hiked in the region back in 2020.Local officials said the bear needed to be culled due to her history of attacking humans. But activists argued she should be moved to a reserve - either in Italy or abroad - instead.Mr Papi's family also previously said they did not want the bear to be killed. Advertisement At a hearing on Friday judges agreed to postpone JJ4's death for at least a month to give both parties more time to submit evidence.Read more:Man attacked by bear survives after managing to grab his gunBear meat sold at vending machine at station for £13Polar bear kills woman and boy in a remote villageThe court said it would hold a fresh hearing in December. Animal rights groups said that meant the animal could not be killed before then, but officials did not confirm this.JJ4 was captured almost two weeks after Mr Papi's death when she was lured to a trap, before being sedated and taken to a holding centre.Her three cubs that with her at the time were later freed, unharmed. Image: The bear's capture last month. Pic: PAT Press Office Archive Another bear at largeJudges further ordered a similar suspension for another bear suspect, known as MJ5, which has yet to be captured.That bear is also facing a cull order after being accused over an attack on a man in March, who was injured - but managed to escape - while walking his dog on a mountain path.The area was re-populated with bears from 1999 under an EU-funded programme following concerns that numbers were dwindling to the point of near extinction.The region had around 100 wild bears in 2021, with numbers increasing about 10% a year since 2015, according to official figures.Trentino governor Maurizio Fugatti is under pressure to reduce their population after he said the area had an "excess" amount of bears and claimed the optimal number would be around 50.

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Boy, 11, ‘shot in the chest’ by police officer he had called for help

An 11-year-old boy who was shot by a police officer has returned home from hospital after almost a week of treatment.Aderrien Murry spent five days in hospital with a collapsed lung, lacerated liver, and fractured ribs after the officer shot him in the chest early on Saturday, lawyer Carlos Moore said. Aderrien was well enough to leave hospital on Wednesday, and is continuing his recovery at home in Indianola, about 95 miles northwest of Jackson, Mississippi.Mr Moore said the family is "demanding justice"."An 11-year-old black boy in the city of Indianola came within an inch of losing his life - he had done nothing wrong and everything right." Mr Moore said that Aderrien's mother Nakala had asked him to call police at about 4am on Saturday after a previous partner had showed up at home.Ms Murry felt threatened, Mr Moore said, and the child had "called the police to come to his mother's rescue, he called his grandmother to come to his mother's rescue, the police came there and escalated the situation". More from US Two police officers arrived and one kicked the front door before Ms Murry opened it, telling them that the man had gone but her three children were inside.Child does not understand why a police officer shot him Advertisement Mr Moore said that Sergeant Greg Capers, who is black, yelled out that anyone inside should come out with their hands up.When Aderrien walked into the living room with nothing in his hands, Capers shot him in the chest, Mr Moore said.Indianola City Attorney Kimberly Merchant confirmed to Indianola's Enterprise-Tocsin newspaper that Capers was the officer who shot the little boy and Mr Moore said on Thursday that Capers had been suspended with pay while the incident is investigated.Ms Murry said her son is "blessed" to be alive but he does not understand why a police officer shot him.'That's my child, y'all'She described what had happened as "the worst moment in my life", adding: "I feel like nobody cares - that's my child, y'all."Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said its agents are looking into what happened and will share their findings with the Attorney General's Office.

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Hippos and killer whales among five more species to be added to ivory ban list

Trading ivory from a hippo, walrus, narwhal, killer whale and sperm whale will soon be illegal, the government says.The Ivory Act of 2018 came into force last June to protect elephants and now it will be extended to cover those five other species. Naturalist and TV presenter Steve Backshall said: "This is an important moment in the conservation of these iconic species."There is widespread public support for the ivory ban and today by extending it further we are sending a clear message that there is no place in the UK for this vile trade."The change will take effect "in due course" depending on the availability of parliamentary time, with punishment for breaching the act being an unlimited fine or up to five years in jail. Biodiversity minister Trudy Harrison said: "This is a pivotal moment in delivering one of our key manifesto commitments on international conservation."The Ivory Act is one of the toughest bans of its kind in the world and by extending greater legal protections to five more species, we are sending a clear message the commercial trade of ivory is totally unacceptable. More from UK "The UK has long led the way in conservation and our ban shows continued global leadership in doing all we can to protect the world's most endangered species."Read more:More than £60,000 seized from man who traded in illegal ivory'Landmark' ivory ban comes into force - but has it arrived too late? Advertisement Hippos are the most at risk of ivory exploitation after elephants, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.The International Union for the Conservation of Nature's red list classes hippos as vulnerable, along with the walrus and sperm whale, all of them being threatened by pollution, shipping lanes, climate change and human conflict.'A good day for conservation'Frances Goodrum, head of campaigns and programmes at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said early indications are that the ban is having "a significant impact" on the trade in elephant ivory."Yet other species are still poached globally to meet an unnecessary demand for luxury ivory products, including the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, sperm whale and killer whale."We welcome Defra's decision to extend this powerful legislation, which will go a long way in cracking down on a damaging trade."Today is a good day for conservation and a step change towards international commitments to safeguard our natural world."

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Zelenskyy’s visit to the G7 has paid dividends – he can fly home confident in the West’s support

"Russia will feel it when our counteroffensive comes". The warning from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has now completed diplomatic preparations for the long awaited Ukrainian counterattack.His whirlwind tour of allies that ended in Hiroshima, Japan, this weekend has paid dividends. Finally, they have accepted the logic behind his demands for modern warplanes. They won't be there for months, possibly not even this year, but the significance is huge. The West is now all in.Read more:Ukraine war latest: Defiant Zelenskyy says 'warriors' remain in BakhmutOnce again Britain has led the way. Rishi Sunak's promise to start training Ukrainians to fly state-of-the-art fighter jets has prompted others, most importantly America, to follow. Never mind that it will take months and as Sky News reported last week, the training has not even begun yet.Just as with tanks, the UK's initiative has brought Washington round. Joe Biden has given the go ahead for allies to train Ukrainians on F16 fighter jets and for the planes themselves eventually to follow. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:43 Are F-16s a game changer for Ukraine? The move signals to Moscow that the West is not backing down. "We are not going away," as Mr Sunak told Sky News at Chequers last week.The G7 summit will be seen as consequential for the move over jets alone. Advertisement But also because it demonstrates the unity of the Western alliance more than a year into a conflict many had feared, as Vladimir Putin had fervently hoped, would divide it.It is all a far cry from the fractious and fractured summits of the Trump era, when allies had seemed weak and disunited.Read more:Bakhmut is 'not occupied': Zelenskyy denies claim Russia has taken control of Ukrainian cityRishi Sunak says China poses 'biggest challenge' to global securitySudan's warring factions agree to seven-day ceasefireThat legacy and political uncertainty in individual nations - not least the UK - had led to severe misgivings about the West's ability to hold together at the onset of Russia's invasion.But Joe Biden has stewarded the alliance skilfully, helped and nudged by the UK.He has not forced the pace, reluctant himself to arm Ukraine too fast and mindful of the dangers of alienating doveish allies.That approach may well be vindicated in the months ahead if Ukraine can launch a counteroffensive that is decisive. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 31:26 Zelenskyy's press conference in full If not there will be regrets Kyiv was not given the weapons it wanted when it said it needed them.President Zelenskyy can fly home confident he has shored up support from allies and won a hugely significant commitment.It is too early to say if he has also managed to talk ambivalent fence sitters like India and Brazil to support him. Image: F-16A Fighting Falcon fighter jet His military is thought to be completing its shaping operations, sounding out enemy weaknesses and degrading its logistics.If effective operations to expel the invaders then start to follow, he can be reasonably confident the airborne cavalry will be on its way towards the end of the year to help finish the job.

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95-year-old woman using walking frame tasered by police at care home in Australia

A 95-year-old grandmother is in a critical condition after being tasered by police in Australia.Officers were called to a care home after staff discovered Clare Nowland outside her room holding a steak knife. They talked to her for several minutes - but when she failed to drop the knife and began approaching the officers, one of them fired a taser, knocking her to the ground.She was using a walking frame at the time and suffers from dementia.Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter said: "At the time she was tasered she was approaching police but it is fair to say at a slow pace." Ms Nowland has since been taken to hospital and is said to be fading in and out of consciousness, with her family by her bedside.It happened at the Yallambee care home in Cooma, which is about 186 miles (300km) southwest of Sydney. More from World The officer who fired the taser has been taken off duty, and the homicide squad is now involved.Although body cameras recorded the incident, New South Wales Police said it isn't the public interest to release the footage because an investigation is ongoing. Advertisement

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Four children, including 11-month-old baby, found alive in jungle – weeks after plane crash

Four indigenous children in Colombia have been found alive - more than two weeks after the plane they were travelling in crashed in thick jungle.An 11-month-baby was among those rescued - as well as children aged four, nine and 13. The plane - a Cessna 206 - was carrying seven people when it issued a mayday alert due to engine failure in the early hours of 1 May.President Gustavo Petro said the discovery followed "arduous searching" by the military - and he described the news as "a joy for the country".Three adults, including the pilot, died as a result of the impact and their bodies were found inside the plane. Preliminary information from the Colombian civil aviation authority, which coordinated the rescue efforts, suggests the children escaped the plane and set off into the rainforest to find help.Rescuers, supported by sniffer dogs, had previously found discarded fruit the children ate to survive, as well as improvised shelters made with jungle vegetation.Aeroplanes and helicopters from both Colombia's army and air force participated in the rescue operations. Advertisement

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Sunak rejects calls from Truss to fast-track Taiwan’s entry to trading bloc

Rishi Sunak has rejected Liz Truss's calls for Taiwan to be fast-tracked into a trans-Pacific trading bloc.The UK is in the process of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which includes countries like Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Japan. Both China and Taiwan have applied to join the bloc as well, leading to political difficulties for the two administrations, building on existing tensions.Politics latest:PMQs descends into exchange of insultsSpeaking during her controversial visit to Taiwan, former prime minister and foreign secretary Ms Truss made the case for Taiwan to be fast-tracked into the CPTPP. But talking to journalists ahead of a G7 summit in Japan, Mr Sunak said that while he had not "actually seen the details" of Ms Truss's speech, "I tell you that our approach to Taiwan is long-standing and it hasn't changed".He added: "And again, it's an approach that is completely aligned in substance and in language with all our allies."Allowing Taiwan into CPTPP would anger the Chinese Communist Party, which sees the island as part of its territory - with growing concerns they will take the republic by force.A recent visit by US politician Nancy Pelosi to the island led to the CCP hosting numerous military drills. Advertisement Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:57 Truss: 'You can't believe a word they say' Pushed on whether he would back Taiwan joining CPTPP, Mr Sunak said: "I think that we have a very strong, unofficial relationship with Taiwan as our allies do."I think that our position is united and aligned with our allies, and will continue."Ms Truss has also called for an "economic NATO" to be constructed in the Pacific in order to counter China's influence.Mr Sunak said he is "probably going to lead the session on economic security" at the G7, and that such talks would be an "increasing theme of discussions when you think about the challenges and threats we face now".And speaking about the UK's physical presence in the region, he said: "We have a strong and increasing footprint in the security of the Indo-Pacific region."We have a strong interest in a free and open Indo-Pacific."We do not believe in any change in the status quo by force or coercion, and we will continue to work with our allies in making sure that that's what happens."The current prime minister also rejected calls from his predecessor to call China a "threat" - as Mr Sunak did when he was running against Ms Truss in the race to take over from Boris Johnson last summer.Instead, the government's integrated review refresh called China an "epoch-defining and systemic challenge" - while the foreign secretary said it would be a "betrayal of our national interest" to isolate the authoritarian regime. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:31 How could a China-Taiwan war hurt the economy? Mr Sunak said: "If you look at the language that we use in the integrated review, the language the Americans use, the Australians, the Canadians, the Japanese, there was a lot of dialogue between us as we were all developing our strategies."The language is very similar and I think we ultimately are very well aligned."

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