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New British Cycling rules bar transgender women from competing in elite female events

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:33:41 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Riders who were born male will be prevented from racing in British Cycling’s elite female events under a new transgender and non-binary participation policy published by the governing body on Friday.New rules for competitive events, due to be implemented this year, will see racing split into “open” and “female” categories, with transgender women, transgender men, non-binary individuals and those whose sex was assigned male at birth eligible to compete in the open category.The female category will remain for those whose sex was assigned female at birth and for transgender men who are yet to begin hormone therapy.The current men’s category will be consolidated into the open category, in which those whose sex was assigned as female at birth can also compete if they so wish.The new policy is the result of a nine-month review which included a consultation process with riders and stakeholders, including members of Britain’s team, as well as a study of avai...

Everything to know about Friday's risk for severe storms in metro, Front Range

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:33:41 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Friday is a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day as strong and severe storms move into the Denver metro and Front Range.The Pinpoint Weather team is tracking a stormy start to the Memorial Day weekend.Friday will start out sunny with highs climbing to the upper 70s. But be warned, a big change arrives in the early afternoon. This is the most common activity in lightning deaths The metro and Front Range have moved into the slight risk category for a severe storm.What does a slight risk mean?When it comes to spring storms in Colorado, it’s important to understand the different categories as described by the National Weather Service.NWS describes storms that are under the slight risk category as a storm with increased confidence that some areas will see storms that produce damaging winds, severe hail and a potential tornado. This risk can be experienced a few times per year.Timing and locationMeteorologist Travis Michels said the storms are expected to form between 1 p.m. and ...

Police continue search for Ms. Cheezious vandal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:33:41 GMT

The Miami Police Department continues to search for a person who vandalized a business and they are asking for the public’s help.On May 13, around 4 a.m., surveillance video captured a man wearing black clothing walking up to Ms. Cheezious, located at 7418 Biscayne Blvd., and spitting on the glass.Moments later, he returned to throw a rock at the establishment which shattered a window. The man immediately ran away after the vandalization.Police believe him to be a white man in his mid-50s with short black hair that stands at 5 feet, 8 inches and weighs about 200 pounds.If you have any information on this crime, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

Billionaire Rob Hale surprises UMass Boston graduates with $1,000 and a challenge

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:33:41 GMT

 BOSTON (WBZ) — UMass Boston graduating seniors got a surprise they likely won’t forget during their commencement ceremony on Thursday.Speaker Rob Hale surprised all 2,523 graduates with two envelopes apiece.One of the envelopes included $500 as a gift to the outgoing students. The second envelope for each graduate was $500 to give to a person or organization in need.“For us the greatest joys we’ve had in our life has been the gift of giving. So each of you is getting $1,000 cash right now,” Hale told graduates, prompting screams of excitement from the crowd.Hale is CEO of Granite Telecommunications, which he founded in 2002. He was among 10 people from Massachusetts on the 2023 Forbes billionaires list with a net worth of about $5 billion.

Deputy faces criminal charges after man catches fire following taser deployment at gas station

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:33:41 GMT

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. (WSVN) – A startling incident at a Florida gas station has resulted in a law enforcement officer facing criminal charges. Deputy David Crawford of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office finds himself under scrutiny after a man caught fire when the deputy deployed his taser while attempting to make an arrest. However, the man’s lawyer argues that the punishment does not match the crime.The chain of events unfolded when deputies were in pursuit of Jean Barreto Baerga, who was allegedly driving recklessly, including driving toward oncoming traffic. The pursuit led them to a Wawa gas station where they confronted Baerga. Aware of the potential risks, the deputies decided to employ a taser.Eyewitnesses recalled the chaotic scene as Crawford fired the taser, causing Baerga’s body to ignite in flames. The desperate cries for help filled the air as onlookers scrambled to douse the fire and prevent further harm.Remarkably, the only parts of Baerga’s ...

ChatGPT boss vows not to leave Europe

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:33:41 GMT

The man behind popular artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT said his company OpenAI had no plans to leave Europe, after previous comments sparked criticism in the EU capital. “Very productive week of conversations in Europe about how to best regulate AI! We are excited to continue to operate here and of course have no plans to leave,” Sam Altman tweeted Friday. On Wednesday, Altman reportedly said OpenAI could consider leaving the bloc if the EU’s upcoming legislation on artificial intelligence — known as the AI Act — is too stringent. Members of the European Parliament have added last-minute requirements to the text to regulate generative AI systems such as ChatGPT. The legislation now needs to be negotiated with representatives of EU countries before it becomes final. The EU’s Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton had criticized Altman’s original comments: “There is no point in attempting blackmail — claiming that by crafting a clear fr...

Belgium swaps convicted terrorist to free aid worker jailed in Iran

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:33:41 GMT

Iran has released Olivier Vandecasteele, a Belgian humanitarian worker who had been detained in Iran for more than a year, in exchange for convicted terrorist Assadollah Assadi, who had been imprisoned in Belgium.“Olivier Vandecasteele is on his way to Belgium,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Friday. “If all goes as planned, he will be with us tonight.”Vandecasteele is expected to land at the Melsbroek military base between 9 and 9:30 p.m. Friday night, the Belgian government said during a press conference.The authorities confirmed that the Belgian aid worker had been exchanged for Assadi, but without using a controversial bilateral agreement which would allow Iranians convicted in Belgium to serve their sentence in Iran, and vice-versa.Instead, the government used an article from the Belgian constitution that gives it the power to rule over foreign policy matters, making the exchange possible.No ransom was paid to free Vandecasteele, the Belgi...

Encinitas coastal bike lane controversy stirs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:33:41 GMT

ENCINITAS, Calif. -- Highway 101 above the famous Swami’s Beach surf spot in Encinitas is undergoing a major change. Four bike paths and a protected walking pathway have been created, but the parallel parking spaces on the east side of Pacific Coast Highway have been shut down. What’s the forecast for Memorial Day weekend? “What we are putting in is going to be safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, and people who are coming to the beach,” said Encinitas Mayor Tony Kranz. Local surfers are frustrated with the idea of altering an area that always struggles with parking.“What they’ve done is they’ve kind of made a war on surfers. You’re going to see a lot of guys really upset,” said Paul Ambrogio, a longtime Swami’s surfer. The bike lanes can seem complicated and it may take some time for people to get use to the new system. For example, FOX 5 witnessed a driver driving in the protected biking lane. While some complain of the loss of parking, the mayor says technically there is more...

Stock market today: Tech lead more gains in early trading on Wall Street

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:33:41 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are opening higher on Wall Street, led by more gains in technology stocks as another chipmaker reported strong demand related to artificial intelligence. The S&P 500 was up 0.3% in the early going Friday, and the Nasdaq composite was up 0.4%. The Dow rose 80 points, or 0.3%. Marvell Technology jumped 23% after the chipmaker said it expects AI revenue in fiscal 2024 to at least double from the prior year. That follows Thursday’s report from fellow chipmaker Nvidia, which gave a big forecast for upcoming sales related to AI. Treasury yields rose after another tick higher in inflation.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.Wall Street followed world markets modestly higher early Friday, lifted by optimism that Congress and the president will strike a deal to unlock a vote for lifting the U.S. government’s debt ceiling and avert a potentially calamitous default.Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 each rose...

Poland’s lawmakers to decide on contentious laws regarding top court and targeting opposition

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:33:41 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish lawmakers on Friday were weighing two contentious draft bills — on the work of a top court and on Russia’s alleged influence in Poland — that may affect Warsaw’s chances of obtaining European Union recovery funds and the outcome of fall parliamentary elections.Critics say that the two draft laws on which votes are planned violate Poland’s constitution and are clear examples of how the right-wing ruling party, Law and Justice, is using the law to its own ends.The government’s policies, especially in the judicial system, have already put Warsaw at odds with the EU, which says they go against the principles of rule of law and democracy. The two drafts to be voted on Friday could add to the rift.The lower chamber, or Sejm, was debating a bill, proposed by the ruling party, that lowers the required quorum of the Constitutional Court. It is intended to speed up work on legislation that is stalled by divisions inside the court, which has been put under po...