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At least 32 people are dead and more than 60 are injured after a fiery multiple-vehicle crash in Northern Egypt involving a passenger bus, according to authorities. The deadly pile-up — which saw several vehicles collide and then go up in flames — took place Saturday morning about 100 miles north of the capital Cairo on the main highway that connects Cairo to Alexandria, Egypt’s second-largest city. Video from the horror smash shows several vehicles engulfed in flames and heavy black smoke billowing high up into the hazy air. Dozens of bystanders can be seen looking on as sirens ring out in the background while in other videos circulating on social media people can be seen pushing broken-down vehicles away from the deadly scene.  MASSIVE FIRE ENGULFS POLICE FACILITY IN NORTHEASTERN EGYPT, INJURING DOZENS Twenty ambulances were dispatched to the location to help those injured, Egypt’s health ministry said via X, formerly known as Twitter. The crash unfolded in morning fog when the bus — which was on its way to Cairo via the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road — slammed into a parked vehicle on the highway, according to Al-Jazeera, citing local media and authorities. An oil leak from one vehicle may have contributed to the collision, the publication reported, citing the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper. LOUISIANA ‘SUPER FOG’ PILEUP ON INTERSTATE LEAVES 8 DEAD, 63 INJURED, OVER 160 VEHICLES DAMAGED In a clip of the aftermath, the charred remains of the bus and several other vehicles can be seen at the eerie scene. The crash occurred in the vicinity of Wadi El-Natroun, a desert valley area in northern Egypt, the country’s health ministry said.



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Publish date : 2023-10-28 17:35:36

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University of Illinois Associate Prof. Charles Roseman and biologist Cara Ocobock questioned the existence of two genders in a controversial op-ed for the prestigious magazine Scientific American.  In an op-ed headlined, “To Understand Sex, We Need to Ask the Right Questions,” the two authors claimed that the “answer to the question of how many sexes exist differs depending on the context.” The authors argued that “binaries” about sex in humans, such as there being two genders, male and female, “start to fail us once we move into questions about how organisms live out their lives.”  RILEY GAINES RIPS NCAA PRESIDENT CHARLIE BAKER’S SENATE TESTIMONY AS ‘ENTIRELY DISINGENUOUS’ “So, if ‘sex’ is the answer, what is the question?” the two authors wrote. “This is not so clear, and we have no warrant to make authoritative declarations on this issue from a scientific standpoint that is uninformed by ethical, moral or social considerations. We are in good company here because sex encompasses such a range of questions that we doubt any one medical, scientific or humanistic practitioner would be able to come up with a question that encompasses all of the ways in which humans are affected by sex, however it is construed.” “This can be seen in the example of transgender athletes,” the authors continued. “Arguments revolving around including or excluding trans athletes often rest on notions of strict binary differences in hormone type and concentration that associate female individuals with estrogen and male ones with testosterone. This assumes testosterone is at the root of athletic performance. These hormones do not hew to a strict binary, however.”  They argued that “[f]emale and male people need both estrogen and testosterone to function, and they overlap in their hormone concentrations. If we are interested in how estrogen and testosterone affect athletic performance, then we need to examine these respective hormone levels and how they correlate with athletic outcomes. We cannot rely on gross average differences between the sexes as evidence for differential athletic success. Adherence to a sex binary can lead us astray in this domain of inquiry.” NCAA PRESIDENT CHARLIE BAKER DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM PREDECESSOR’S POLICIES ON TRANS ATHLETES The op-ed was harshly criticized online by political commentators and researchers. “Sexes imply anisogamy, a difference in gamete size, and therefore, a difference in the reproductive contribution,” Paradox Institute founder Zachary Elliott wrote, rebutting the argument in the op-ed. “There has never been a species observed that has more than two sexes. Across different species, the two sexes can exist in separate individuals or in the same individual.” “This magazine should not be allowed to call itself Scientific American,” radio host Christopher Calvin Reid wrote, adding that the name of the magazine is “fraudulent and dishonest.” “I thought by the name that this might have something to do with science, but it looks like it’s actually pure ideology,” author John Hawkins wrote.  Some female athletes, like Riley Gaines, a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer and five-time SEC Champion, have become famous across the country for their opposition to transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.  Gaines recently called out the NCAA and current president Charlie Baker in response to his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday where he was asked specifically about the issues Gaines has raised about her experience swimming against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in 2022.  For more Culture, Media, Education, Opinion and channel coverage, visit foxnews.com/media.



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Publish date : 2023-10-28 13:00:39

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U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King of Maine said Friday after law enforcement discovered Lewiston, Maine, mass shooting suspect Robert Card dead that residents of the state can now breathe a sigh of relief. The 40-year-old Card was found dead Friday night from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound near a dumpster at a Lisbon, Maine, recycling plant where he worked at one point. He is the primary suspect in Wednesday’s mass shooting in Lewiston at Schemengees Bar and Grille and the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley in which 18 people were killed and another 13 were injured. Collins, a Republican, said in a statement, “Mainers can breathe a collective sigh of relief thanks to the brave first responders who worked night and day to find this killer.” The GOP senator said President Biden had informed her Card had been found Friday night and that she and the president expressed appreciation for the first responders’ efforts to locate the suspected gunman. MAINE MASS SHOOTING SUSPECT ROBERT CARD FOUND DEAD WITH APPARENT SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND “When President Biden called me this evening to tell me the perpetrator of the heinous attacks in Lewiston had been found, we both expressed our profound appreciation for the courage and determination of these brave men and women,” she wrote. Collins also thanked Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, for her “steadfast leadership,” and the health care workers, city officials and the people of Maine “who came together in the wake of this attack.” “To the families who lost loved ones and to those injured by this attack, I know that no words can diminish the shock, pain, and justifiable anger you feel,” she said. “It is my hope that you will find solace and strength in knowing that you are in the hearts of people throughout Maine and across the nation.” In a statement of his own, King, an Independent, expressed relief that the suspect was found and said the people of Maine are appreciative of law enforcement and first responders who worked to find the suspect. “Tonight, I join my neighbors and friends in a communal sense of relief,” King wrote. “We are grateful to law enforcement and first responders, for fifty hours of nonstop dedication and determination that brought us this relief. It will take a long, long time to process this pain, but Maine people have grit, resolve and heart and we will come together through this difficult grieving period and hope for brighter, calmer days.” Maine State Police found Card Friday night at about 7:45 p.m. His body was found after a 2-day-long manhunt in connection with the mass shootings. ELITE BORDER UNIT JOINS MANHUNT FOR MAINE MASS SHOOTING SUSPECT ROBERT CARD Hundreds of law enforcement officers, including the FBI, SWAT and the BORTAC Border Patrol unit worked to locate Card, who was described by officials as armed and dangerous during the manhunt. The governor said in a press conference that she informed the four federal lawmakers representing Maine that the suspect had been located. “This discovery is entirely thanks to the hundreds of local, county, state and federal law enforcement members from all over and people from other states as well, people who searched tirelessly to arrive at this moment,” Mills said. Maine officials identified the victims in the shootings as Ronald Morin, 55; Peyton Brewer Ross, 40; Joshua Seal, 35; Brian MacFarlane, 41; Joseph Lawrence Walker, 57; Arthur Fred Strout, 42; Maxx Hathaway, 35; Stephen Vozella, 45; Thomas Ryan Conrad, 34; Michael R. Deslauriers II, 51; Jason Adam Walker 51; Tricia Asselin, 53; William Young, 44; Aaron Young, 14; Robert Violette, 76 and Lucille Violette, 73; William Frank Brackett, 44; and Keith Macneir, 64. Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden said in a statement that “the people of Lewiston and the surrounding communities can feel safe that this threat has ended.” “I know that we will all continue to pray for and care for the families who have lost loved ones, for the wounded, and for the survivors who experienced this terrible shooting. This is a time for mourning the loss of life and to honor the memory of each one of these members of our greater community,” he wrote. “I want to express gratitude to local law enforcement agents and all who responded from across the state and the country to put their lives at risk to protect our community, and also to the EMT and medical professionals who responded to this crisis. Earlier this week, Golden reversed his stance on gun ownership after the mass shooting in Maine and said he now supports a ban on “assault” weapons. Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that she is thankful for the “many law enforcement personnel, medical professionals, local leaders, journalists and residents for their tireless work this week and in the days to come.” “We will hold the Mainers lost forever in our hearts as we begin to try to heal and, importantly, work to put an end to the uniquely American gun violence epidemic,” she continued. “Please, stay safe and stay #MaineStrong.”



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Publish date : 2023-10-28 09:25:34

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The MLB postseason belongs to Adolis Garcia. The American League Championship Series MVP picked up right where he left off in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night, giving the Texas Rangers a victory in an instant classic. After driving in a record 15 runs in the ALCS, he blasted a walk-off home run on Friday night to give the Rangers a 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Garcia hit the homer shortly after the Diamondbacks brought in Miguel Castro from the bullpen – Garcia was the first batter Castro faced. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Garcia has now homered in five consecutive games, hitting six in that span – he had two in Game 7 of the ALCS. The Rangers were down two runs in the ninth inning, but when Arizona closer Paul Sewald walked the nine-hitter, Corey Seager launched a two-run home run to tie the game. With the first extra-innings game this postseason, the “Manfred Man” on second base is non-existent. Rangers closer Jose Leclerc tossed a 1-2-3 10th, and Kyle Nelson walked the leadoff man in the bottom of the inning. He then induced a double play, but allowed the next two guys to reach base, bringing Seager to the dish. But he grounded out on a 2-0 pitch to bring it to the 11th. Leclerc again retired the side in order, and the second batter of the bottom half of the 11th in Garcia went deep. The Rangers got on the board in the first, as rookie sensation Evan Carter doubled in the first run of the World Series. The next batter in Adolis Garcia followed with an RBI single. But the snakes answered back in the third with a two-run triple by likely NL Rookie of the Year in Corbin Carroll. Ketel Marte then drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to give them the lead. In the bottom half, the Rangers drew a walk with the bases loaded to tie it right up. It was the first runs Sewald had allowed all postseason. Tommy Pham belted a solo home run to put the D-Backs back on top in the fourth, and in the fifth, Marte tied an MLB record by extending his postseason hitting streak to 17 straight games with an RBI double. He joined Manny Ramirez, Derek Jeter, and Hank Bauer as the only players in MLB history to have a hit in 17 consecutive postseason contests. That was the last run of the game until Seager’s ninth inning heroics. Garcia had three hits on the night – he’s hitting .357 with a 1.204 OPS this postseason. He now has 22 RBI this postseason, an MLB record. It was the first walk-off home run in the World Series since Max Muncy did so for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the 2018 Fall Classic. Ironically, Nathan Eovaldi, the Rangers’ starter on Friday, allowed that homer. GEORGE W. BUSH THROWS OUT CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH BEFORE GAME 1 OF WORLD SERIES Eovaldi’s night was finished after 4.2 innings – it was his shortest outing of the postseason, as he allowed five earned. But the Rangers bullpen, which has been suspect all season, hunkered down. Dane Dunning, Cody Bradford, Jon Gray, Will Smith, and Leclerc combined for 6.1 scoreless innings in relief. Jordan Montgomery will look to keep up his hot pitching when he toes the rubber for the Rangers in Game 2 on Saturday night. Merrill Kelly will start for Arizona. It figures to be a pitching duel, as Kelly’s ERA this postseason is 2.65, while Montgomery has pitched to a 2.16 number.



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Publish date : 2023-10-28 04:33:57

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Plainclothes police officers who were training nearby when a gunman opened fire inside a Maine bowling alley on Wednesday night were the first to respond to the calls for help. On Friday evening, Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck said that four plainclothes officers were the first to respond to the shooting rampage at Sparetime Recreation bowling in Lewiston, Maine “about a minute-and-a-half” after hearing calls for help. Sauschuck said that plainclothes officers responded to the bowling alley before on-duty officers arrived at the location, following the first desperate 911 call at 6:56 p.m. Wednesday. “That initial 911 call occurred at 6:56 p.m. and by the CAD system, or the computer aided dispatch system, Sauschuck said. “The first officer, the first Lewiston officer, arrived based on that system at 7 p.m., so 4 minutes later.” ELITE BORDER UNIT JOINS MANHUNT FOR MAINE MASS SHOOTING SUSPECT ROBERT CARD “The reality there, however, is that there were four plainclothes police officers that were shooting on the range in that general area, they hear that call come in, and they’re walking into the bowling alley in about a minute and a half,” Sauschuck said. Sauschuck explained that the four plainclothes officers did not have their radios and were not in uniform at the time of the shooting. Sauschuck said that when they arrived they “addressed the threat and cleared the building.” “They hear it as they’re at the range. They respond to the threat and address it immediately and clear the building,” Sauschuck said. The Maine commissioner said that at 7:01 p.m. eight more officers arrived at Sparetime, and at approximately 7:08 p.m. the first Maine State Police trooper arrived. VICTIMS OF MAINE MASS SHOOTING RANGED IN AGE FROM 14 TO 76, MEDICAL EXAMINER SAYS “So 11 minutes later, our first trooper arrives, which is not uncommon, actually,” Sauschuck said. “And that’s a pretty good response time considering it’s an urban atmosphere and troopers aren’t here.” At 7:08 p.m. the initial 911 call from Schemengees Bar and Grill came in and authorities arrived five minutes later. “Now we’re saying that everybody starting to roll in about the same time. And about 10 officers are responding to the bar and grill,”Sauschuck said. “Immediately thereafter, you got the first folks and then people are just showing up from the police department and other locations.”



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Publish date : 2023-10-28 00:51:31

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A woman is taking meal-prepping to the next level by preparing for annual Christmas dinner months in advance.  Gubba Homestead is a 23-year-old who lives outside Seattle, Washington, and started preparing for her Christmas meal in late summer.  The content creator told SWNS that she lives on a 30-acre farm where she can harvest vegetables in the late summer months — and can them until days before the holiday.  GARDENING 101: GROW YOUR OWN FOOD AS INFLATION MAINTAINS A HISTORIC HIGH “This is my harvest season,” she said.  “I get everything preserved [and] ready to go.” Homestead, who said she used to live in a big city, can make Christmas dinner for free using this technique — as opposed to spending up to $500 as she used to, she said.  “It’s a Christmas dinner for free — apart from my time,” she said to SWNS. HOW TO PREPARE YOUR YARD AND GARDEN FOR SPRING  Homestead went on to say that she moved out of big-city living after the pandemic — and taught herself how to grow her own fruits and vegetables to prepare for potentially other future world disasters.  “I have apple, pear, peach, tangerine and cherry trees,” she listed. “I grow raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.” In August, Homestead harvest vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and corn to preserve.  GARDENING FOR ADVANCED GROWERS: 10 TIPS FOR GROWING YOUR OWN VEGETABLE GARDEN In September, the content creator picks apples and cooks her apple pie filling.  In October, she collects and preserves flowers, pine and branches to make fresh garland for the holiday season, she said.  And on Christmas day, Homestead said she cooks up the preserved food she’s been working on for months.  CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The 23-year-old said the way in which she preserves her food varies — it’s including, but not limited to, canning and freeze-drying items.  She told SWNS that her family thoroughly enjoys apple pies, so she makes sure to prepare for that dessert on Christmas.  “I cook the apple pie filling, put it in a clear gel to preserve it for canning — [then] it’s ready to pour into the pie,” she said.  Along with her food, Homestead said she prepares her Christmas gifts early as well by making hampers for her friends and family using household items to fill with homemade jams and chutneys.  “I’m filling it with jams and chutneys, I harvested honey and I’ll be making jerky, too,” she told SWNS.  All of these actions are in an effort to prove that things can be prepared in advance to make life easier — something Homestead said helps her be prepared for any situation.  Fox News Digital reached out to Homestead for further comment.  For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle. 



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Publish date : 2023-10-27 20:06:24

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An acquaintance has been charged in the death of a Philadelphia journalist who went from sleeping on the street to working for the mayor to writing columns on the city’s most pressing social issues. Robert Edmond Davis, 19, faces murder, weapons counts and related charges in the death of Josh Kruger, 39, who was shot and killed at his Philadelphia home Oct. 2. A warrant had been issued for Davis four days later and authorities have said they have video of him in the area of Kruger’s home before the shooting. Davis was arrested at his South Philadelphia home Wednesday night. Authorities have said the motive behind the killing remains unclear but that the pair were in a relationship. MURDERED PHILADELPHIA JOURNALIST JOSH KRUGER ‘WAS A CHEERLEADER’ FOR THE CITY, FORMER COLLEAGUE SAYS PHILADELPHIA JOURNALIST SHOT DEAD INSIDE HOME AT AGE 39 It was not clear Thursday if Davis has retained an attorney. His mother, Damica Davis, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that if her son did kill Kruger, there’s no excuse, noting “it’s tragic what happened, but I feel like my son is a victim in this, as well.” Kruger was shot seven times at about 1:30 a.m. and collapsed in the street after seeking help, police said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later. The slaying was felt deeply at City Hall and among people involved in the many causes he cared about: addiction, homelessness, HIV and LGBTQ+ advocacy, journalism and bicycling, to name a few. “One of the worst parts of being homeless in urban America is feeling invisible. When people don’t recognize your humanity, you begin to question it yourself,” he wrote in a 2015 column for The Philadelphia Citizen, just three years after he himself slept outside a law firm near Rittenhouse Square. FORMER PA POLICE OFFICER FACES REINSTATED MURDER CHARGE LINKED TO MOTORIST SHOOTING In more recent columns, he condemned City Council members as cowards for banning supervised injection sites in most parts of the city; dismissed debates about politically correct language over homelessness as beside the point; and, in a final column, dove into the city’s collective grief over the sudden death last month of Temple University’s acting president JoAnne Epps. Kruger handled social media for the mayor and communications for the Office of Homeless Services from about 2016 to 2021. He left city government to focus on writing projects. He wrote at various times for Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia City Paper, The Philadelphia Inquirer and other publications, earning awards for his poignant and often humorous style. On his website, he described himself as a “militant bicyclist” and “a proponent of the singular they, the Oxford comma, and pre-Elon Twitter.”



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Publish date : 2023-10-27 15:35:55

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Newly-minted House Speaker Mike Johnson told FOX News in his first television interview since gaining the gavel that the U.S. stands firmly behind Israel, while back at home, lawmakers and the Biden administration alike must find common ground and acknowledge “God is not done” with America yet. Johnson told “Hannity” the House is primed to proffer a $14.5 billion support bill for Israel, slightly more than what the Louisiana Republican said Israel – via the White House – has asked for. However, a key difference between the House appropriation and other federal support is that the money will come in exchange for “pay-for’s” in the budget, rather than simply printing the money. Johnson said the figure is a “very specific number tied to very specific measures” and that each dollar should be offset by a cut elsewhere. BLACK FORMER MISS ISRAEL TEARS INTO BLM FOR SUPPORTING PALESTINIANS In terms of potential U.S. military involvement in Israel’s fight for survival against Iran-backed Hamas, Johnson said he is hopeful to avert a boots-on-the-ground situation, but added that during a White House meeting Thursday he reminded President Biden’s staff that they have limited ability to directly respond without congressional approval. The Founding Fathers, he said, envisioned a “multitude of wise counsel” in such matters, which he noted is why Congress has the power to declare war, not the executive branch. Johnson added that he has met previously with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and agreed that while Americans talk of “existential threats” stateside, Israel faces one or more daily. “Their neighbors want to eliminate them,” he said. “America will back [Netanyahu] up – they tell us when we’re in Israel the reason we’re able to sustain ourselves and survive is because everybody knows our big ally is America.” The perception America must continue to depict is that of the premonition that the United States will defend freedom, in an effort to stave off true military conflict, Johnson went on – citing former President Ronald Reagan’s platform in that regard. As for Republicans in his caucus who lean toward a more isolationist foreign policy, Johnson said he understands their concern that America “cannot be dropping money out of helicopters” with a $33.6 trillion debt, but also that we must show our regard for “nations of free people around the world.” FLASHBACK: CALLS MOUNT FOR ‘HOUSE SPEAKER DONALD TRUMP’ “But, we have to take care of our own house first,” he added. In terms of such domestic issues, Johnson said intentional policy choices in the time since former President Donald Trump left office have led to the current economic malaise, and a potential housing bubble cited by host Sean Hannity. “[During] the Trump administration, we had the greatest economy in the history of the world,” he said, adding it was “not by happenstance” – but through tax cuts, reining in regulation and expansion of energy production. “We can achieve that again, but you have to do almost exactly the opposite of what the Biden administration is doing… we are trying to urge our Democratic colleagues to take a look the basic facts …” Regarding the GOP’s slim majority, Johnson made clear that each faction within the caucus must understand they will not get everything legislatively they want, going on to reference another Reagan idiom regarding the preference of 80 percent of what someone wants versus “going over the cliff with the flag waving.” In that way, he also said the U.S. will still have better days ahead, saying that “God is not done with America yet.” “I think right now we’re in very desperate times – I think the hour is late and the crisis is great,” the Shreveport lawmaker said. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP He called for a “Ben Franklin moment” – in which Americans inside and outside of government humble themselves to steel through the challenges ahead. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Pennsylvania’s Franklin notably said, “the longer I live, the more convincing proof I see that God governs in the affairs of men [and] without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.” When the Founders had issues, they sought “divine guidance,” Johnson recounted, adding the same was true during the Civil War, Great Depression and the two World Wars. “We have ‘In God We Trust’ right above the rostrum [in the Capitol],” he went on, adding that the slogan is “not a quaint saying” but one that differentiates America from Communist, Marxist and monarchical regimes. For more Culture, Media, Education, Opinion and channel coverage, visit foxnews.com/media.  



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Publish date : 2023-10-27 11:00:56

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As artificial intelligence continues to gain popularity with individuals and companies, more stars are speaking out about its use. In an interview with The Associated Press, Cher expressed her fears about the technology after she heard someone use her voice to cover a song by Madonna. “Someone did me doing a Madonna song, and it was kind of shocking,” she said.  “They didn’t have it down perfectly. But also, I’ve spent my entire life trying to be myself, and now these a–holes are going to go take it? And they’ll do my acting, and they’ll do my singing? It’s just, it’s out of control.” WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? She continued, “I’m telling you, if you work forever to become somebody — and I’m not talking about somebody in the famous, money part — but an artist, and then someone just takes it from you, it seems like it should be illegal.” Marva Bailer, an AI expert, told Fox News Digital that stars do have legal recourse when it comes to unauthorized use of their likeness or voice. “The laws that exist in place are already – you need permission to use someone’s likeness, and a likeness could be their song, their voice, their image or performance. Those laws exist,” she said.  WATCH: AI expert explains how artificial intelligence is outpacing the current laws protecting celebrity likenesses “But what we’re seeing now is with the use of AI, the amount of access of tools to the general public to create these real images or performances is now really available. And before it wasn’t, you had to have knowledge and use of these more complicated editing tools. Now we can take our phone, and we can wipe somebody out of a picture with one swipe. So what’s happening now is it’s just really the access. So the laws do exist, but you need to find what is being done wrong to that image and likeness.”  CHER INSISTS NO ‘BEEF’ WITH MADONNA DESPITE VIDEO FEATURED ON MATERIAL GIRL’S NEW TOUR Bailer added the onus is on the performer to prove they were not involved in the creation of the project in the first place, but it can be hard to find and identify the situation. Some may find Cher’s concerns about the technology ironic, as her Grammy-winning song “Believe,” released in 1998, is credited with the first use of autotune.  Cher, in her interview with the AP, pointed out that it was called a “pitch machine” at the time, and she had argued with producer Mark Taylor about using the technology. “It started and it was like, ‘Oh my God, this is the best thing ever.’ And I thought, ‘You don’t even know it’s me. This is the best thing ever.’ And then we high-fived,” she recalled. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Bailer notes Cher’s computer-altered voice on the song was clearly planned. “That is the choice of the artist for someone to now take their voice or take their performance and make it into something that they did not authorize is absolutely not the same thing.” WATCH: AI expert explains why the general public needs to be on the look out for deepfakes to stay safe Selena Gomez also recently declared the use of her voice in an AI-generated cover version of a song “scary.” A social media account created a version of the 2016 song “Starboy” by her ex-boyfriend, singer The Weeknd, using her voice. SELENA GOMEZ VOWS SHE’LL ‘NEVER BE A MEME AGAIN’ AFTER BEING CAPTURED GRIMACING AT CHRIS BROWN VMA NOMINATION The clip featured the fake Gomez voice singing the song’s pre-chorus, “House so empty, need a centerpiece / Twenty racks a table, cut from ebony / Cut that ivory into skinny pieces / Then she clean it with her face, man, I love my baby, ah / You talkin’ money, need a hearin’ aid / You talkin’ ’bout me, I don’t see the shade / Switch up my style, I take any lane / I switch up my cup, I kill any pain.”  The caption on the video translated from Turkish read, “How did you find Selena’s viral cover of starboy voiced with artificial intelligence?” In the comments on the post, Gomez responded, simply writing, “Scary.” Bailer explains part of the concern for an artist when it comes to random AI-generated songs popping up is distraction from their actual work. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS In Gomez’s case, she released her latest song, “Single Soon,” in August, two months after the AI fake of “Starboy.” “What’s really concerning right now in the current Selena Gomez situation is she as an artist, is trying to launch a new song. And we want the attention on the new song and the performance. We don’t want it on all this noise in the background. And that’s where it gets really challenging, where a publicist has a whole plan scenario, and then these bad actors are coming in, and they’re really interrupting that flow and misguiding the attention of the fans,” Bailer explained. However, those same fans can play a role in protecting their favorite artists. Gomez has 420 million Instagram followers and is in the top 20 of those followed on X, giving her a vast number of eyes on anything related to her, authorized or not. AFTER ‘FAKE DRAKE’ OPENS COPYRIGHT QUESTIONS, LAWYER ANSWERS IF ARTISTS CAN PROTECT THEIR STYLE AGAINST AI “Fans now have the opportunity to find people that are causing harm to their stars,” Bailer said. “Because at the end of the day, when someone is using AI or computer graphics to use a performance that is not authorized, the fans are going to know, and they’re going to be the first ones to call foul on this. And so it really has a balance of there’s lots of people trying to now harm the artists in a large scale. But then on the other side, you have the fans that are really protecting these artists because these artists are family to them.” Coincidentally, The Weeknd had his voice and style, along with rapper Drake, mimicked by AI earlier this year. In April, a song titled “Heart on my Sleeve” went viral on TikTok, and the lyrics were focused on Gomez.  The creator of the song goes by @GhostWriter on TikTok and has shared multiple videos on the account using the new song. ICE CUBE SAYS AI IS ‘DEMONIC,’ WILL GET ‘BACKLASH FROM REAL PEOPLE’ The original video announcing the song currently has 10 million views. Three other videos shared by @GhostWriter each have just over a million views. In Bailer’s view, Gomez keeps popping up in these scenarios due to her popularity. “What people are doing is they’re creating these stories using music, and they’re putting innuendos in these stories to get a reaction,” she said. “And then they have a reaction back in this kind of back-and-forth. And they’re doing it to get attention. And it’s bad attention.” That attention can also apply to anyone not in the world of celebrity. Bailer explains that people are used to memes, photoshopped images and other creations, but there is a downside.  “Where it gets challenging is when it’s then used as something where monetary involvement is involved, or it’s being used to actually make decisions and present itself as a person of authority,” she said. “And that’s not okay. So we really, as the general public, need to be on the lookout for misguided actors and keep ourselves safe.”



Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/cher-selena-gomez-slam-unauthorized-ai-use-their-voices

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Publish date : 2023-10-27 06:00:55

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An unidentified 31-year-old American man has been charged with murder and other offenses for attacking two female U.S. tourists near a castle in Germany in June. Prosecutors announced Thursday that the American suspect is facing charges of murder, rape with fatal consequences, attempted murder, and possession of child pornography after pushing the women into a ravine, and fatally injuring one of them. NEW HAMPSHIRE ‘MOUNTAIN DEW MAN’ CONVICTED IN DOUBLE MURDER OF RETIRES COUPLE ON HIKING TRAIL Officials say the attack took place on June 14 near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge close to Neuschwanstein Castle, and is said to be one of Germany’s most famous tourist attractions. Prosecutors say the suspect met the two female tourists, ages 21 and 22, by chance on a hiking path and lured them off the trail.  In a statement, German prosecutors say that the man forced the older woman to the ground and tried to undress her. PEPPERDINE CRASH: FORMER MALIBU BASEBALL PROSPECT CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR MOWING DOWN 4 SORORITY SISTERS A scuffle then started and prosecutors say the suspect allegedly pushed her down a steep slope. She fell about 165 feet and sustained minor injuries. According to officials, the suspect then allegedly strangled the younger woman until she was unconscious and raped her before pushing her down the slope. She succumbed to her injuries and died.  Prosecutors said they also secured a laptop and cellphones from the suspect containing child sexual abuse material. Authorities say the women did not know the man before they met, and the suspect was arrested shortly after the attack. Due to Germany privacy laws, the suspect’s name has not been released. Prosecutors say the case was filed at the state court in Kempten, which will have to decide whether and when to send the case to trial. The Associated Press contributed to this story.



Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/world/man-charged-murder-other-offenses-attack-abroad-two-women-near-famous-castle

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Publish date : 2023-10-27 02:28:44

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