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Stanford launches emerging-tech project co-led by Hoover Institution’s Condoleezza Rice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:04 GMT

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is helping lead a new Stanford University initiative to provide “one-stop shopping” for government, businesses and the public to obtain timely information about new and evolving technologies.“We have never experienced the convergence of so many technologies with the potential to change so much, so fast,” said the Stanford Emerging Technology Review project’s inaugural annual report on 10 technologies, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics and semiconductors.The initiative aims to translate information and insights from experts across the university’s departments into easily digestible materials for lay people. Although focused on technology, the project will draw on expertise from other academic disciplines including social and political sciences to examine how emerging technologies will play out in the world, its leaders said.Speaking to media last week, Rice, who described hers...

SF tech exec forced assistant to sign sex 'slave contract,' lawsuit alleges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:04 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A San Francisco technology company's former CEO, Christian Lanng, was slapped with a bombshell lawsuit accusing him of sadomasochistic-style rapes and torture.Lanng's accuser is identified in court documents as "Jane Doe." She claims Lanng hired her as his executive assistant at Tradeshift, manipulated her into signing a sex "slave contract," and sent her life down into a "dark abyss" of "sexual horrors."The lawsuit states, "This is a case about Christian Lanng, who was the powerful CEO of a billion-dollar market cap 'unicorn' Tradeshift, a cloud-based supply-chain software tech company—entering into a slave contract with a female employee, Jane Doe."The lawsuit, filed Thursday in San Francisco Superior Court, accuses Lanng, Tradeshift, and other Tradeshift executives of sex trafficking, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and sexual assault.(KRON4 image) A Tradeshift spokesperson told KRON4 on Tuesday, "Tradeshift denies the allegations in the clai...

Preliminary 2.6 magnitude earthquake recorded near Santa Rosa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:04 GMT

(KRON) -- An earthquake registering a preliminary magnitude of 2.6 shook the North Bay Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake was epicentered about four miles east of Santa Rosa and eight miles northeast of Rohnert Park, the USGS said. Space Force missile launch visible across Bay Area: video There were no initial reports of injuries or damages.Earlier on Tuesday at 10:47 a.m., a 2.0 quake also registered near Santa Rosa.

Retail theft led to six arrests on various charges 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:04 GMT

(KRON) -- The Santa Rosa Police Department has arrested six people on multiple charges stemming from a retail theft.Santa Rosa officers responded to a retail theft at a clothing store located in the 2400 block of Magowan Drive at 11:50 a.m. on Dec. 11. Santa Rosa police arrest woman for alleged possession of loaded, gun narcotics According to police, witnesses reported two men entered the business and stole dozens of designer jackets. The estimated value of the stolen jackets was around $10,000. Police were advised that the suspects fled into a car driven by a woman. A witness to the theft provided the license plate of the getaway vehicle. Property Crimes Investigations Team detectives and SRPD officers patrol searched for the involved vehicle throughout that afternoon. At approximately 5:39 p.m., an officer located the vehicle and made a traffic stop near Cleveland Avenue and College Avenue. The female suspect in the theft was driving the car. However, the oth...

How Biden’s State Department Conceals Its “Human Rights Black Hole” in the Middle East

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:04 GMT

Last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted a meeting with leaders of human rights organizations to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations. But through subtle stage management, the State Department arranged for Blinken’s praise for human rights to be recorded and promulgated — while the world was not able to hear the retorts from human rights advocates who criticized America’s backing of Israel’s war on Gaza.The Universal Declaration was a landmark in history. While it was only a statement of principles, and so did not have legal force in itself, it was broadly inspirational and has formed the basis for numerous subsequent treaties and laws. According to Guinness World Records, it’s been translated into more languages than any other document — over 550, from Abkhaz to Zulu.After the December 7 meeting, the internet exploded in bitter laughter at Blinken, and it’s easy to understand why. A...

With Ukraine aid in peril, Zelenskyy pleads his cause on Capitol Hill and at the White House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:04 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — His country’s future at stake, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used inspirational words, optimistic resolve and a nod to Christmas in appealing Tuesday to leaders in Congress for U.S. aid for his fighters in the war with Russia. But after hours of talks on Capitol Hill, additional American support appeared in grave doubt as Zelenskyy arrived at the White House to huddle with President Joe Biden. The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his grinding invasion more than 21 months ago, but Republicans are insisting on linking any more money to strict U.S.-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry. The White House is warning that if new money isn’t provided by year’s end it will have swift consequences for Ukraine’s capacity to hold its territory, let alone take back land captured by Russia. Meeting with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, Biden said, “Mr. President, I call on ...

Live updates | Israel plans to keep fighting as UN General Assembly votes for a cease-fire in Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:04 GMT

Israel pressed ahead Tuesday with an offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers that it says could go on for weeks or months. But later in the day, the U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to demand a humanitarian cease-fire in a strong demonstration of global support for ending the Israel-Hamas war. The vote also shows the growing isolation of the United States and Israel.More than 17,700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory. About 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced within the besieged territory, where United Nations agencies say there is no safe place to flee. With only a trickle of humanitarian aid reaching a small portion of Gaza, residents face severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods. Israel says 97 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civi...

A look at violent incidents against referees around the world

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:04 GMT

MADRID (AP) — The Turkish Football Federation suspended all league games on Tuesday after the president of a first-division soccer club punched a referee in the face.MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca was arrested after attacking referee Halil Umut Meler following a 1-1 draw in a Super Lig game against Caykur Rizespor. Meler fell to the ground and also was kicked in a melee that occurred after fans invaded the pitch when Rizespor scored a last-minute equalizer.Here is a look at other incidents of violence against referees in soccer and other sports around the world:ATTACKS IN SOUTH AMERICABrazil’s sports court suspended the president of fourth-division club Sergipe for 30 days after he came onto the pitch and punched a referee in a Brazilian Cup match against top-flight team Botafogo in March.In a Colombian league derby between first-division clubs Deportivo Cali and Atletico Nacional in August, a linesman had to be treated by doctors after being hit in the head by an object thrown...

RHPs Seth Lugo, Chris Stratton agree to deals with Royals, AP sources say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:04 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals general manager J.J. Picollo made it clear after a 106-loss season that Kansas City was in desperate need of pitching.On Tuesday, they landed someone to start games and another to help finish them.The Royals agreed with right-hander Seth Lugo on a $45 million, three-year deal to fill one of their open spots in the starting rotation, then landed reliever Chris Stratton on a $4 million deal, two people with knowledge of the contracts told The Associated Press. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because the deals were pending physicals.Lugo can opt out after the 2025 season, one of the people said, while Stratton will get $3.5 million for this season and has a $4.5 million player option with a $500,000 buyout for 2025.With one of the best curveballs in the game, Lugo is coming off a strong year with the Padres, where he went 8-7 with a 3.57 ERA while proving he could be a full-time starter. The 34-year-old started games early in his career but had large...

Packers have tougher path to playoffs after momentum-stopping loss to Giants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:04 GMT

Even after perhaps their most disappointing loss of the season, the Green Bay Packers still have an opportunity to make the playoffs.But their margin for error is much narrower.The Packers (6-7) ended a three-game winning streak in desultory fashion Monday night, falling 24-22 to the New York Giants. Green Bay still would have the NFC’s third and final wild-card playoff berth if the season ended today, thanks to various tiebreakers.Atlanta, New Orleans, Seattle, Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Rams are also 6-7. The Buccaneers visit Lambeau Field on Sunday.“This one hurt, but we’ve got a short turnaround,” receiver Romeo Doubs said. “We’ve just got to go hard, figure out what the issue was and just progress from that point on forward.”There were plenty of issues in every phase that hindered the Packers on Monday.On defense, the Packers allowed the Giants to run wild and failed to get a sack against a team that has allowed a league-high 69 of them. On offense, the Packers turned the ba...