Tunisia-EU migration: Deal signed to strengthen borders
The memorandum of understanding includes $118m to stop smuggling and return irregular migrants.
1970-01-01 08:00
‘Today’ show star Jill Martin diagnosed with breast cancer after testing positive for BRCA gene
Today show star Jill Martin has been diagnosed with breast cancer. On 17 July, the 47-year-old lifestyle contributor revealed on Today that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, just one week after she tested positive for the BRCA gene – inherited gene mutations that can increase the risk of developing breast cancer. In an essay shared to Today.com, the TV presenter explained that she learned of her diagnosis on 26 June. Her doctor had recently suggested she get genetic testing due to her family history with breast cancer, which revealed she had tested positive for the BRCA2 gene. Martin elected to undergo preventive bilateral mastectomy, because she had a 60 to 90 per cent chance of developing breast cancer. However, less than a week later, an MRI scan revealed that she had already developed breast cancer. “I am telling this story now because I couldn’t go through months of operations, and start to recover both physically and mentally, without shouting from the rooftops telling everyone to check with their doctors to see if genetic testing is appropriate,” Martin wrote in her essay. The BRCA genes – an abbreviation for “BReast CAncer gene” – are two different genes that have been found to impact a person’s chances of developing breast cancer. There are two BRCA genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, which normally help repair DNA breaks that can lead to certain cancers. However, when there is a mutation in the BRCA gene, it can no longer be effective in preventing breast cancer. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the carrier of the mutated gene can also pass a gene mutation down to their offspring. It’s been found that people with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s estimated that 55 to 65 per cent of women with the BRCA1 mutation will develop breast cancer before age 70, while approximately 45 per cent of women with a BRCA2 mutation will develop breast cancer by age 70. Martin revealed that she will be having a double mastectomy, which will then determine her treatment plan moving forward. After her surgery, she also plans on having her ovaries and fallopian tubes as part of the preventative surgery process, because her chances of getting ovarian cancer are now 20 per cent higher, Martin said. “By the time I recover from my first surgery, I hope that many of you will know your results and can make proactive decisions with your doctors, families and loved ones,” she said. “That is the silver lining to this mess for me. It is what is keeping me going and giving me strength.” The Today show contributor explained that, although she had a clear mammogram test back in January, her mammogram still missed the presence of breast cancer that was later picked up by the MRI scan. “I am talking about this not to scare you, but to raise awareness so that maybe you can be tested and identify a BRCA or other genetic mutation earlier,” Martin wrote. “If I had known I was BRCA positive, I would have gotten screened more regularly, with an MRI alternating with my mammograms.” “What I didn’t know before this experience was that an MRI can pick up cancers that mammograms miss,” she continued. “So while my mammograms missed the presence of breast cancer, an MRI might have helped me catch it earlier.” Mammograms miss one in eight breast cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. For those who test positive for the BRCA gene, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommendeds screening for breast cancer with an MRI starting at age 25, and mammograms at age 30. Martin added that earlier testing might have allowed her “the opportunity to have preventative surgery,” she said, “which is something I had planned to do only days before I found out that I actually had cancer.” She wrote: “Different people cope in different ways; for me, I am not hiding under the covers crying. Instead, I want to do everything I can to beat this and protect my family.” Read More Sarah Ferguson says late Queen’s corgis were unimpressed by her post-breast cancer surgery recuperation Country star Morgan Wade reveals plans for double mastectomy after testing for breast cancer gene Former NBC anchor reveals she underwent mastectomy after testing positive for gene that increases cancer risk Sarah Ferguson says corgis were unimpressed by her post-surgery recuperation Sarah Ferguson sweetly honours Queen Elizabeth’s memory amid cancer diagnosis Sarah Ferguson says breast cancer diagnosis was ‘scary’ for Eugenie and Beatrice
1970-01-01 08:00
ChatGPT rival with ‘no ethical boundaries’ sold on dark web
A ChatGPT-style AI tool with “no ethical boundaries or limitations” is offering hackers a way to perform attacks on a never-before-seen scale, researchers have warned. Cyber security firm SlashNext observed the generative artificial intelligence WormGPT being marketed on cybercrime forums on the dark web, describing it as a “sophisticated AI model” capable of producing human-like text that can be used in hacking campaigns. “This tool presents itself as a blackhat alternative to GPT models, designed specifically for malicious activities,” the company explained in a blog post. “WormGPT was allegedly trained on a diverse array of data sources, particularly concentrating on malware-related data.” The researchers conducted tests using WormGPT, instructing it to generate an email intended to pressure an unsuspecting account manager into paying a fraudulent invoice. Leading AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard have in-built protections to prevent people from misusing the technology for nefarious purposes, however WormGPT is allegedly designed to facilitate criminal activities. The experiment saw WormGPT produce an email that was “not only remarkably persuasive but also strategically cunning, showcasing its potential for sophisticated phishing attacks”, the researchers claimed. Screenshots uploaded to the hacking forum by WormGPT’s anonymous developer shows various services the AI bot can perform, including writing code for malware attacks and crafting emails for phishing attacks. WormGPT’s creator described it as “the biggest enemy of the well-known ChatGPT”, as it allows users to “do all sorts of illegal stuff”. A recent report from the law enforcement agency Europol warned that large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT could be exploited by cyber criminals to commit fraud, impersonation or social engineering attacks. “ChatGPT’s ability to draft highly authentic texts on the basis of a user prompt makes it an extremely useful tool for phishing purposes,” the report noted. “Where many basic phishing scams were previously more easily detectable due to obvious grammatical and spelling mistakes, it is now possible to impersonate an organisation or individual in a highly realistic manner even with only a basic grasp of the English language.” Europol warned that LLMs allow hackers to carry out cyber attacks “faster, much more authentically, and at significantly increased scale”. Read More Google’s AI chatbot Bard can now talk Elon Musk reveals plan to use AI to reveal mysteries of the universe Google has been ‘stealing everything ever created on the internet’ to train its AI Meet the AI human-like robots that can do our jobs
1970-01-01 08:00
With the rise of AI, social media platforms could face perfect storm of misinformation in 2024
Last month, a video posted to Twitter by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign used images that appeared to be generated by artificial intelligence showing former President Donald Trump hugging Dr. Anthony Fauci. The images, which appeared designed to criticize Trump for not firing the nation's top infectious disease specialist, were tricky to spot: they were shown alongside real images of the pair and with a text overlay saying, "real life Trump."
1970-01-01 08:00
Xbox and PlayStation sign major deal on the future of Call of Duty – as Activision deal gets closer
Microsoft will keep Call of Duty on PlayStation after it buys the series’ developer, according to a new deal signed with PlayStation. The Xbox and PlayStation makers have been engaged in a sometimes angry war in recent months, as Microsoft attempts to buy Activision Blizzard, the developer of games including Call of Duty. PlayStation’s objections centre around the fact that the deal would give Microsoft too much control over the gaming market, given the dominance of Call of Duty among players on consoles. Those objections have led to legal hearings, as well as opposition from regulators and competition authorities. At times, those legal objections have looked to derail the deal, which would be the biggest ever gaming acquisition if it is completed. But it now looks to be moving forward, after Microsoft announced that it had signed a “binding agreement” to make the games available on other consoles when the deal is complete. The deal could further ease regulators concerns about what would happen to the game as well as the broader console and gaming market if the deal goes ahead. It is the latest piece of good news for Microsoft, which won a legal case last week against objections from the US Federal Trade Commission, and looks to be moving towards closing the deal. “We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games,” said Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s head of Xbox, in a tweet. And Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a tweet, “Even after we cross the finish line for this deal’s approval, we will remain focused on ensuring that Call of Duty remains available on more platforms and for more consumers than ever before.” The FTC had argued the deal would hurt consumers whether they played video games on consoles or had subscriptions because Microsoft would have an incentive to shut out rivals like Sony. To address the FTC’s concerns, Microsoft had earlier agreed to license “Call of Duty” to rivals, including a 10-year contract with Nintendo, contingent on the merger closing. Additional reporting by agencies Read More Battery breakthroughs are about to trigger a transport revolution ‘Hostile states using organised crime gangs as proxies in the UK’ Powerful solar flare to disrupt communications, Russians warn
1970-01-01 08:00
Baseball Announcers Cannot Stop Getting Hit in the Head With Foul Balls
Ahmed Fareed takes a foul ball to the head while doing an interview.
1970-01-01 08:00
NFL Rumors: 49ers quarterback hand wringing is all for nothing
The San Francisco 49ers have quite an interesting quarterback room. All signs point to Brock Purdy being relevant when it comes to Week 1.It’s a franchise that has been to the NFC Championship Game in three of the past four years, reaching Super Bowl LIV in 2019. This past season, the San ...
1970-01-01 08:00
Pan Am flight attendants had the most glamorous jobs in the sky. Here's what happened when the airline vanished
Pan Am flight attendants lived the high life, crisscrossing the globe and picking up cosmopolitan anecdotes. So what happened when the airline vanished? Seven former cabin crew reveal their journeys from Pan Am to acting, teaching, and practicing law.
1970-01-01 08:00
Immaculate Grid baseball: Answers, connections, hints for Grid 106 (July 17)
Immaculate Grid baseball answers, clues, hints and connections for Grid 104 on July 15th featuring theHere we go again with another day of the Immaculate Grid. The grid has garnered some incredible attention over the past few weeks, catching the eye of MLB players and managers alike. There is no...
1970-01-01 08:00
A train derailment outside Philadelphia leads to precautionary evacuations in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Emergency crews are investigating a train derailment in southeast Pennsylvania, the Whitemarsh Township manager said.
1970-01-01 08:00
USMNT news: Berhalter welcomes Messi, Musah to Milan, Tillman to Stuttgart
Today's USMNTnews includes Gregg Berhalter welcoming Lionel Messi to Inter Miami. Also,AC Milan is targetingYunus Musah and Malik Tillman has been linked with Stuttgart.USMNT news: Gregg Berhalter welcomes Lionel MessiLionel Messi was announced as an Inter Miami player last night and the US...
1970-01-01 08:00
MLB Rumors: Mets are ‘open for business’ at trade deadline
In a catastrophic season, the Mets have every reason to ahead to 2024 and start preparing for the August 1 trade deadline.For the team with one of the highest payrolls in MLB history, admitting that they're going to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline can be a tough pill to swallow.The...
1970-01-01 08:00
