Skip to main content

US midterms: Polls show Democrats ahead in battle for Congress

Democrats lead Republicans in national polling ahead of Tuesday's United States midterm elections, with new surveys showing the party gaining ground in several closely contested Senate races as voters express dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's handling of the economy. With all 435 House of Representatives seats and 35 Senate seats on the ballot, the elections will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress for the remaining two years of Trump's second term. A RealClearPolling average of surveys conducted through October 30 shows Democrats leading Republicans 52% to 43.1% on the generic congressional ballot, an 8.9-percentage-point advantage. An NBC News survey conducted October 28-30 found Democrats ahead 52% to 45%, while an Emerson College poll conducted October 24-26 put the gap at 10 points. The generic ballot measures nationwide preferences for congressional candidates rather than support in individual districts, meaning a nati...

Suchir Balaji's death raises concerns over impact on OpenAI' copyright cases

Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer known for his crucial role in developing key AI products, died was was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26, 2023.  Police confirmed that the death appeared to be suicide, though the family is still seeking answers. Balaji had recently expressed serious concerns about OpenAI’s use of copyrighted data for training AI models.  Before his death, he had become an outspoken critic of OpenAI’s practices, particularly its handling of copyright law. He had publicly stated that the company’s use of copyrighted data to train AI models, without compensating creators, was illegal. Balaji had expressed his willingness to testify in ongoing copyright infringement cases, including one involving international publication and authors like Sarah Silverman, who accused OpenAI of using their work without permission. Balaji’s tragic passing has raised questions about the legal implications of his potential testimony. According to court filings, he was considered a key witness in these cases and might have had documents that could have supported the claims against OpenAI. His sudden death, just months before potentially testifying, has left many in the tech community wondering what his revelations could have meant for the future of AI legislation. His parents have expressed shock at his passing, describing their son as a "happy, smart, and brave young man," who had recently returned from a hiking trip, leading them to question what prompted his tragic decision. Balaji’s colleagues, including OpenAI co-founder John Schulman, have praised his technical contributions, calling him an indispensable member of the team. While Balaji’s death is still under investigation, his legacy as a whistleblower in the AI space continues to have a lasting impact, particularly as legal challenges against OpenAI progress.

from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/qV3OMRp

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday. The bridge came down Saturday onto a flooded zone at the mine in Lualaba province, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, told reporters. He said 32 bodies had been recovered and more were being searched for. The DRC produces more than 70 percent of the world supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers and mobile phones. More than 200,000 people are estimated to be working in giant illegal cobalt mines in the giant central African country. Local authorities said the bridge collapsed at the Kalando mine, about 42 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the Lualaba provincial capital, Kolwezi. "Despite a formal ban on access to the site because of the heavy rain and the risk of a landslide, wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry," said Mayonde. He said ...

Arab countries, Pakistan likely to observe Eid on same day

The International Astronomy Centre confirmed on Wednesday that the crescent moon of Shawwal will be impossible to sight on Saturday, March 29, across all regions of the Arab and Islamic world. This is due to the moon setting before the sun, with the conjunction occurring after sunset. As a result, observing the crescent moon, whether by the naked eye, telescopes, or other means, will be unfeasible on March 29. For countries requiring an actual sighting to mark the start of Shawwal, Ramadan will likely extend to 30 days, with Eid Al Fitr falling on Monday, March 31. However, in some regions where the conjunction occurs before sunset, allowing the moon to set after sunset, some countries may choose to declare Eid on Sunday, March 30, following traditional moon-sighting practices. Notably, a partial solar eclipse will be visible at noon on Saturday in parts of the western Arab world, including Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. This event serves as definitive proof that the cresce...

New Jersey student achieves highest SAT score ever, earns Presidential Scholar nod

Sahli Negassi, a 17-year-old student from West Orange High School in New Jersey, has accomplished an extraordinary achievement: a perfect SAT score. This accomplishment places him among a rare group of fewer than 1,000 students across the United States who reach this milestone each year. Throughout his time at West Orange High, Negassi managed to balance his academic responsibilities with leadership roles in two clubs and active participation in two sports. His path to a perfect SAT score began with a near-perfect 1590, but after reflecting on his performance, he retook the test and achieved a flawless 1600. “I walked into class and thought, ‘I can do better,’” Negassi said. Despite already having an impressive score, he decided to challenge himself further and succeeded. His drive and determination earned him a place as a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, a prestigious recognition for the nation's most outstanding high school seniors. The SAT is a standardised ...