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All day long, ferries come and go, dropping off hundreds of people on the tiny Italian island of Capri. Tourists crowd into restaurants and shops and line up for a scoop of gelato or a ride on the funicular. Foot traffic is sparse. And then the magic hour arrives.In the early evening, the last ferry leaves, signaling the changing of the guard. The day-trippers have left and the night’s guests are beginning to emerge from their voluntary isolation. They are taking possession of Capri again, at least for the night.If you come in the evening, you’ll see a completely different…

Gina Gershon is a bit of an enigma — literally.When she appears on Zoom for our interview, she’s shrouded in darkness. “It looks like I’m in the witness protection program,” she jokes. It’s not clear where Gershon is calling in from, though it seems like it may be from her home, given her repeated interjections of “Hey, stop that!” to someone — maybe her beloved cat, Louie? — off-camera.For someone who’s been working consistently for decades since breaking through with a bit part in 1986’s “Pretty in Pink,” remarkably little is known about her private life. And even more remarkably,…

A new study analyzed pollen from 57 North American plant species, identifying which ones are most nutritionally beneficial to bees, which could inform conservation efforts and wildflower restoration projects.Based on their findings, the researchers recommend emphasizing roses (Rosa sp.), clovers (Trifolium sp.), red raspberries (Rubus idaeus), buttercups (Ranunculus acris), and Tara vine (Actinidia arguta) in wildflower restoration projects, citing their ideal protein-to-lipid ratios in pollen for wild bee nutrition. Research has shown that bees need a diverse diet from multiple plant sources to obtain a balanced intake of essential fatty acids and amino acids, as no single plant species provides…

China has become the dominant force in generative artificial intelligence (AI) patents, far outpacing its global competitors, according to a new report from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The study found that Chinese inventors filed more than 38,000 GenAI patents between 2014 and 2023, more than six times the number filed by their closest rivals in the United States. WIPO’s Patent Landscape Report, which analyzes global trends in GenAI patent filings, paints a picture of rapid technological advances and intense competition in a field that has captured global attention. GenAI, the technology behind popular apps like ChatGPT, Google Gemini,…

India, Indonesia and Turkey have expressed concerns over the EU’s draft waste shipment regulation, which some say goes beyond the legitimate objective of protecting the environment by subjecting hazardous waste and waste used for the recycling industry to the same measures, sources said. The issue was raised by countries in the WTO Committee on Goods. “The opposing countries pointed out that the EU was perfectly entitled to make every effort to protect public health and the environment from the risks posed by unregulated transport of waste. They said that if the objectives were legitimate, the measures should not unnecessarily hamper…

SAN FRANCISCO — Fun fact: The closest thing to a theme song for this newspaper is this John Philip Sousa march that you’ve probably heard. It’s a classic, to be sure, but maybe you can do better.Unfortunately, I’m not a songwriter, so I turned to AI.This week, Suno, an artificial intelligence startup that lets you create songs by simply inserting a small amount of starting text, launched an iOS version of its app. In doing so, Suno has arguably made it easier than ever for regular people like you and me to create music on the fly.That news probably didn’t…

A prominent group of political donors, civic leaders and business executives founded to protect the institutions of American democracy sent a letter to President Biden Friday morning urging him to “cement his legacy” by ending his reelection bid.“We respectfully urge you to withdraw your candidacy for re-election for the sake of our democracy and the future of our nation,” wrote 168 signatories of the private letter, which continued to gain signatures after it was delivered to senior White House officials.The letter was written by the Leadership Now Project, a group founded in 2018 in response to growing concerns about threats…

A man died Thursday night while handling fireworks on Chicago’s northwest side, and in Alabama, a pyrotechnician was airlifted to a hospital after a shell was accidentally fired during a fireworks display, injuring him and canceling the city’s show.These incidents are among numerous cases of fireworks-related injuries and deaths reported across the country during this year’s Fourth of July festivities. Here’s a look at major fireworks-related injuries reported across the country as of Friday morning:Fireworks-related deathsIn Illinois, a man died after handling fireworks on Chicago’s northwest side around 10 p.m. Thursday. The Chicago Police Department told USA TODAY that officers…

Strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and Fiji requires a multidimensional diplomatic approach encompassing economic, cultural, educational, technical, environmental, defence and trade dimensions. High-level diplomatic visits are a critical starting point for this endeavour. Regular interactions between officials of the two countries can facilitate the identification of mutual interests and pave the way for collaborative initiatives. This, in turn, strengthens diplomatic ties and establishes a framework for addressing bilateral issues. The strategic importance of maintaining high-level dialogue cannot be overstated, as it ensures alignment of the two nations’ shared objectives and fosters more effective collaboration. Economic cooperation is another key area…

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — One person died and eight others were injured in a July 4 mass shooting in Southwest Philadelphia Thursday night.Police say nine people, four juveniles and five adults, were shot in Southwest Philadelphia Thursday night.Police say nine people, three juveniles and six adults, were shot near the intersection of 60th Street and Kingsessing Avenue at 11:40 p.m.Police officers on routine patrol say they found a victim lying on the ground.Other victims were discovered by responding officers, and other victims arrived at area hospitals.Action News has learned that the minors are between the ages of 14 and 16.The victim…