Silver insists NBA will 'fix' tanking issue before next season, says he likes 65-game rule
NEW YORK (AP) — Tanking is going to be addressed. The 65-game rule might remain. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver insisted Wednesday that the league will change its draft process and address its tanking problem before the start of next season. And he pointed to the league’s player participation policy as proof of how the league can make effective fixes. The league’s board of governors discussed tanking — the issue of teams trying not to win in order to enhance their odds of landing the best possible draft pick — at its two-day meeting that ended Wednesday. Silver says votes were taken and no fingers were pointed at any specific teams.
Melania Trump shares the spotlight with a robot at an education and technology event
WASHINGTON (AP) — Melania Trump often commands the attention of any room she enters, but on Wednesday, she shared the spotlight with a robot. The humanoid robot Figure 03 accompanied the first lady on Wednesday as she arrived at the White House East Room for the second day of a summit she had convened with counterparts from around the world through her Fostering the Future Together global initiative. They have been discussing ways to empower children through education, innovation and the use of technology, including artificial intelligence. The robot thanked Melania Trump for the invitation to the White House.
One of the largest salt mines in the world exists under Lake Erie
CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) — The Whiskey Island salt mine in Cleveland is critically important to providing enough road salt to keep streets safe during the harsh winters of the Northeast and Great Lakes states. And it has been a very busy season, with lower temperatures and more snow and ice in many communities served by the salt. The mine is one of the largest salt mines in the world, producing 3 million to 4 million tons per year. But demand can be greater than even that during especially tough winters like the one that mercifully came to a close this month.
OpenAI pulls the plug on Sora, the viral AI video app that sparked deepfake concerns
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — OpenAI is shutting down its social media app Sora, which went viral last fall as a place to share short-form videos generated by artificial intelligence but also raised alarms in Hollywood and elsewhere. OpenAI said in a brief social media message Tuesday that it was “saying goodbye to the Sora app” and that it would share more soon about how to preserve what users already created on the app. The company behind ChatGPT released Sora in September as an attempt to capture the attention, and potentially advertising dollars, that follow short-form videos on TikTok, YouTube or Meta-owned Instagram and Facebook.
A pink veil across the fields: Thousands flock to Greece’s peach blossoms
VERIA, Greece (AP) — A veil of blossoming trees unfolds each spring across the plains of Greece’s largest peach-producing region. Veria Tourism Club President Gianna Pilitsidou says the plain stretching 170 square kilometers turns completely pink. The trees create a spectacular sight that attracts visitors every year. The visiting tree enthusiasts are mostly from Greece but increasingly also come from around Europe. Over two weekends, thousands of visitors wander among the blooming peach trees around Veria. The northern city is located 72 kilometers west of Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki. The events aim to promote the region and support farmers involved in peach production.
Epic Games lays off more than 1,000 amid slowing Fortnite engagement
Fortnite publisher Epic Games said Tuesday it is laying off 1,000 employees to save money as it grapples with industry-wide and company-specific challenges. The North Carolina video game publisher said in a memo to employees that the job cuts are not related to AI. Rather, they stem from industry-wide challenges such as slower growth, weaker spending, and tougher cost economics. Games like Fortnite are also competing for people's attention with social media and other forms of online entertainment.
Rescuers try to refloat a stranded humpback whale in Germany’s Baltic Sea
BERLIN (AP) — Rescue teams in northern Germany are working to refloat a humpback whale stranded in shallow water in the Baltic Sea. Experts gathered at Timmendorfer Strand beach on Tuesday after a midnight high tide failed to lift the animal free. German news agency dpa reports crews were trying to find ways to pull the whale back into deeper water. Rescuers had already tried on Monday afternoon with police boats and inflatable boats. Firefighters also use drones to help guide the effort. Sea Shepherd’s Carsten Mannheimer says the whale is alive and keeps breathing and making sounds. Experts think it is a young male.
OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky dies of cancer at 43
Leonid Radvinsky, the billionaire owner of adult content platform OnlyFans, has died at age 43. A company spokesperson said he died “peacefully after a long battle with cancer." Radvinsky transformed the pornography industry with OnlyFans’ subscription-based model after acquiring a majority stake in the platform in 2018. Born in Ukraine, Radvinsky grew up in Chicago and studied economics at Northwestern University, where he graduated as his class valedictorian. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, he also supported several philanthropic organizations. Little is known about Radvinsky’s personal life and he seldom spoke publicly, but his family has requested privacy via a company spokesperson.
Now a true pop star, Miley Cyrus returns to her 'Hannah Montana' roots to fete anniversary special
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Miley Cyrus went back to her “Hannah Montana” blond mane and to her roots as Miley Stewart, the tween with a big secret. The now real-life pop star reunited Monday evening with cast members in Los Angeles to celebrate the “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.” The original show was launched in 2006 on the Disney Channel. In it, middle-schooler Miley led a double life as a pop singer. Cyrus is now 33 and reflected to The Associated Press how the milestone has given her a new perspective on the show that launched her stardom. The anniversary special began streaming Tuesday on Disney+ and Hulu.
NHL mourns the death of Minnesota Wild reporter Jessi Pierce and her 3 children from a house fire
The National Hockey League is morning the death of 37-year-old Minnesota Wild reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children from a weekend house fire. Firefighters in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, responded to 911 calls from neighbors who saw flames coming through the roof. An adult, three children and a dog were found dead inside the home. Pierce covered the Wild for NHL.com and was a prominent podcaster among several other roles she held in sports media. Pierce's husband and the father of their children ages 8, 6 and 4 was out of town on a work trip at the time.
