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☆ Christie’s cancels auction of jewelry linked to Nazi-era fortune
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The sale of over 400 pieces of jewelry once owned by late art collector Heidi Horten broke records at a series of auctions earlier this year. But amid ongoing criticism from Jewish advocacy groups and human rights organizations over the source of the Austrian billionaire’s wealth, Christie’s auction house announced Thursday that it has canceled the final part of the controversial sale. (Christie’s had initially predicted that Horten’s entire collection, featuring over 700 jewels, would sell for over $150 million.) Prior to May’s sales, the American Jewish Committee had called for the auction to be put on hold until “a serious effort” was made to investigate the Hortens’ wealth. The Heidi Horten Collection did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.

Persons: Heidi Horten, Helmut, ” Christie’s, ”, ” Anthea Peers, Christie’s, Van, Helmut Horten, Forbes Organizations: CNN, American Jewish Committee, Twitter, Washington D.C, ” Locations: Austrian, Nazi Germany, German, Europe, East, Africa, Geneva, Switzerland, Nazi, Washington, Vienna, Austria

☆ Jimmy Buffett Died of Rare Form of Skin Cancer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Ben Sisario | More About Ben Sisario | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Jimmy Buffett died of skin cancer at his home in Sag Harbor, N.Y., on Long Island, according to a statement on the singer-songwriter’s website. After Mr. Buffett died on Friday at age 76, his site announced the death but did not give a cause or specify where he died. In an update over the weekend, the website said that he had Merkel cell carcinoma for four years. A rare and aggressive form of skin cancer, Merkel cell is diagnosed only about 2,500 times a year in the United States, and until recent years it had carried a life expectancy of five months. He sold at least 23 million albums in the United States alone, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, on par with Jimi Hendrix and the Beastie Boys.

Persons: Jimmy Buffett, Buffett, Merkel, Jimi Hendrix Organizations: Recording Industry Association of America, Beastie Locations: Sag Harbor, N.Y, Long, United States, Paradise

☆ A $1.7 million prefab tiny home community was designed to help solve homelessness in an expensive Southern California city. A year later, half of its residents have found homes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

One year ago, DignityMoves opened a prefab tiny home community to house Santa Barbara, California's unsheltered residents. Of the 66 people who have stayed at the community, 36 have gone on to find permanent housing. Take a look around the tiny home community. Santa Barbara is a slice of oceanside paradise in Southern California, about a two-hour drive north of Los Angeles. As you might expect, it's as picturesque as any coastal and expensive Southern California city.

Persons: DignityMoves, California's Organizations: Service, Santa Barbara Locations: Santa Barbara, Wall, Silicon, Santa Barbara , California, Santa, Southern California, Los Angeles

☆ Jimmy Buffett Was More Than Beaches and Booze
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Jon Pareles | More About Jon Pareles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Jimmy Buffett built a pop-culture empire on the daydream of “wastin’ away again in Margaritaville”: just hanging out on a tropical beach, drink in hand, a little wistful but utterly relaxed. Buffett leveraged it into a major brand for restaurants, resorts, clothing, food and drink, as well as a perpetual singalong on his robust touring circuit, where his devoted fans — the Parrot Heads — gathered eagerly in their Hawaiian shirts. Buffett cannily marketed his good-timey image; it made him a billionaire. He came up with wry song premises like the one behind “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” which starts as the lament of an attempted vegetarian who can’t resist carnivorous impulses. But Buffett’s songwriting wasn’t all smiley and one-dimensional.

Persons: Jimmy Buffett, wastin ’, “, ”, Buffett, Buffett cannily, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Zac Brown, I’ve Locations: Margaritaville ”, Paradise, “, Paris

☆ Why American families are leaving the US for Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Finally, Pennsylvanian Alan Andrew and his Belgian husband, Vincent Proost, bought a rundown farmhouse in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Young hearts run freeThere comes a day in all our lives when we’ve taken our final vacation, whether we realize it at the time or not. From next year, it won’t even be free to travel to Europe. The new ETIAS visa waiver program will allow entry into EU countries for fees starting at $7.70.

Persons: who’ve, Dawkins, Nadine, Kim, –, Alan Andrew, Vincent Proost, we’ve, Terry Ward, you’re, We’ve, It’s, CNN Riiya Shukla, Arabia ”, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Labor, Pearl, Auckland, Auckland Airport Locations: United States, Texas, Latronico, North Carolina, Umbria, Belgian, Alentejo, Portugal, Florida, Canada, Italy, Europe, Asia, Bhutan, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Tokyo, Kong’s, New Zealand, Norway, Arabia, Antalya, Instagram

☆ Fans Remember Jimmy Buffett, ‘a Poet of Paradise’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Rebecca Carballo | More About Rebecca Carballo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“I’ll always be grateful for his kindness, generosity, and great performances through the years, including at the White House in 2000,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “My thoughts are with his family, friends, and legion of devoted fans.”Major sports franchises and fellow entertainers also recognized the singer’s death on social media. Mr. Leritz recalled that Mr. Buffett said: “I’ve never done this before. Any tips?” He said he advised Mr. Buffett to treat the scene like a normal conversation — deliver the lines and genuinely listen to what the other actor is saying. Eventually Mr. Leritz pieced together whom he had been talking to, and now, he said, it’s a memory he holds dear.

Persons: “, Jimmy Buffett, Biden, Bill Clinton, “ I’ll, ”, Buffett, Jimmy, Toby Keith, ” Lawrence Leritz, Leritz, didn’t, “ I’ve Organizations: ”, White, White House, Miami Heat N.B.A Locations: American

Before heading into the second international leg of her ongoing Summer Carnival Tour, the "So What" singer will also embark on a North American Trustfall Tour. Pink's Summer Carnival Tour is already well underway, as the artist kicked off her eighth concert tour in England on February 8. How to get tickets for Pink 2023 concert tourYou can get original tickets to Pink's 2023 concert tour through Ticketmaster. Pink 2023 tour schedulePink still has 10 United States concert dates remaining in her 2023 Summer Carnival Tour. Here's a breakdown of the VIP packages available for Pink's Summer Carnival Tour and Trustfall Tour on Ticketmaster's website.

Persons: we've, Pink, Montréal, KidCutUp, Brandi Carlisle, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, Orlando Brandi Carlisle Organizations: Pink, Ticketmaster, Pink's San, United, San, AZ, Kansas City, KY, FL Locations: American, England, Toronto, Canada, Oceania, Pink's San Antonio, Houston, United States, North America, Philadelphia, Nashville, TN, Antonio, Arlington, TX, San Diego, Inglewood, CA, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Francisco, Tacoma, WA, Vancouver, BC, Denver, Kansas, York, NY, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Louisville, Charlotte, NC, Miami, Orlando, Philadephia, San Antonio, Paradise, Denver , Kansas City, Montréal , New York City, Cleveland , Louisville, Sunrise, Montréal, Australia, New Zealand

AdvertisementAdvertisementI love cruises as a vacation option with an affordable fixed price, and my Virgin Voyages cruise was great. Vacations often come with surprise expenses — cruises are a great value and make it easy to know exactly how much you'll spend in advance, and my Virgin Voyages cruise was a great value. While the cruise ship itself offered plenty to see and do, I thought the four included stops were some of the best I have ever visited on a cruise. Finally, we loved the inclusiveness the Virgin Voyages brand builds into their cruise product, which helped make the cruise more carefree and fun. Now all I have to do is start planning how we'll spend days in port on our next Virgin Voyages cruise in February.

Persons: Richard Branson's, Jeff Bezos, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Usher, That's, Burger, we'll Organizations: Service, HBO, Virgin, Voyages, Virgin Voyages Locations: Wall, Silicon, Athens, Greece, Dubrovnik, Split, Croatia, Kotor, Montenegro, Corfu, Old, Montenegro Kotor, Town, San Juan , Puerto Rico, St, Croix , Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Bahamas

The suits allege that downed power lines operated by the company contributed to the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. The wildfire risk posed by aboveground power lines is well documented. Lives lost, billions in damagesThe Maui fires have killed at least 115 people with hundreds still missing. But Mitchell said insulating aboveground power lines with a protective covering is also an effective solution that is cheaper and can be rolled out more quickly. There is also technology coming to market that can de-energize power lines automatically when there's a problem, he said.

Persons: Mike Blake, Fitch, Berkshire Hathaway's, Paul Starita, They're, Singleton Schreiber, Alexandra von Meier, von Meier, Marshall, Michael Dougherty, Bob Frenzel, Xcel, Berkshire Hathaway, PacifiCorp, aboveground, Scott Aaronson, Aaronson, Joseph Mitchell, Mitchell Organizations: Reuters Electric, Hawaiian Electric, National Weather Service, Hawaii Electric, . Pacific Gas & Electric, PG, Xcel Energy, U.S . Forest Service, University of California, Moody's, Fitch, Electric, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Xcel, Marshall Fire, Marshall, Boulder, Labor, Fire, American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE, The Edison Electric Institute, California Public Utilities Commission Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Maui County, Hurricane, California, Berkshire, Berkshire Hathaway's PacifiCorp, Oregon, Colorado, Berkeley, Minnesota, Boulder County, Paradise, Golden

☆ How forensic investigators use DNA, fingerprints and other methods to identify remains after a fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

“DNA has been really extremely helpful for us, with the Rapid DNA,” said Alison Galloway, professor emerita of anthropology at the University of California-Santa Cruz, who helped identify remains during the Camp Fire. “If you don’t have that … then it’s a lot more difficult.”In general, forensic experts rely on DNA, dental analysis, fingerprints, medical hardware or circumstantial evidence to try to identify remains. “We’re still diligently working trying to make sure that we can identify (remains), and that’s why that DNA is so important, because we got fingerprints from three,” he said. Galloway, the forensics professor, said one of the advantages of the Rapid DNA technology is in quickly determining whether a DNA swab is usable. Maui asks for family members to come forwardFor Rapid DNA to work, family members of the missing have to willingly submit to DNA swabs.

Persons: ”, Alison Galloway, Santa Cruz, Josh Green, CBS’s, Sarah Salmonese, Go Nakamura, Ken Alba, Jae C, Yuki Iwamura, Patrick T, Fallon, Bryan Anselm, Mike Blake, Matthew A, Foster, Rick Bowmer, Lauren Haley, Makalea Ahhee, Justin Sullivan, Max Whittaker, Zoltan Balogh, Robert Gauthier, Mengshin Lin, Evelio Contreras, CNN Vixay Phonxaylinkham, Lana, Phonoxaylinkham, Marco Garcia, Claire Rush, Myrna Ah Hee, Sui, Ty O'Neil, Ku'u Kauanoe, ZUMA, Matthew Thayer, John Pelletier, “ We’re, Stephen Meer, Sudhin, –, Meer, we’ve, you’ve, you’re, ” Meer, Jonathan Masaki Shiroma, what’s, …, Robert Quinn, “, Robert Quinn’s Organizations: CNN, University of California, New York Times, Getty, Reuters, Staff, US Army National Guard, Maui Police, Facility, AP Volunteers, Grace Baptist, Volunteers, Los Angeles Times, AP, Washington Post, Kahului Airport, Technologies, Kahului, AP Helicopters, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters Residents, ZUMA Passengers, Maui News, ANDE Corp, Forensic Science, Fire, FBI, Maui Emergency Management Agency Locations: Maui, California, Santa, Hawaii, Lahaina , Hawaii, Lahaina, AFP, Wahikuli, Wailuku, Kula , Hawaii, Kula, Kihei, West Maui, Grace, Napili, Honokowai, Honolulu, Maalaea, Kahului, Las Vegas, Church, Lahaina Hongwanji, Paradise , California, Galloway, Ukraine, ”, Butte County

☆ Mega pickleball merger between Major League Pickleball and PPA is in jeopardy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Professional Pickleball Association and Major League Pickleball are now at odds after announcing in November that they would join forces and merge team competition leagues. The PPA told CNBC that MLP has not yet signed the partnership deal they verbally agreed to 10 months ago. "I don't know what Steve Kuhn's intentions were the entire time," Connor Pardoe, PPA Tour CEO told CNBC. Kuhn told CNBC that there are "numerous misrepresentations of reality" taking place, without providing specifics. He said if the PPA is willing to pay their players more, he's willing to talk about aligning with the league.

Persons: There's, Major League Pickleball, Tom Dundon, Steve Kuhn, Steve, Connor Pardoe, Pardoe, Kuhn, we'll, Julio DePietro, Zubin Mehta Organizations: Seattle Pioneers, Los Angeles Mad, Premier League, Professional Pickleball Association, Major League, PPA, CNBC, MLP Locations: San, San Clemente , California

☆ The Best New Places to Drink in New York This Fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Robert Simonson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Portrait BarA new cocktail bar inside the Fifth Avenue Hotel is inspired by London landmarks and decorated with an array of portraits, hence the name. The drinks program is by Darryl Chan, who for many years worked at Bar Pleiades on the Upper East Side. 250 Fifth Avenue (28th Street). 100 Second Avenue (Sixth Street). 640 Manhattan Avenue (Nassau Avenue), Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Persons: Darryl Chan, Andrew Carmellini, Brandy Crusta, Kavé Pourzanjani, Ray Sakover, Shirley, Josh Vera, Janice Locations: London, Greenpoint, Nassau, Greenpoint , Brooklyn

☆ Maui government files lawsuit, accuses Hawaiian electric company of causing Lahaina wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Maui County is seeking damages from HECO that may total tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, according to John Fiske, an attorney representing the county in the lawsuit. “Our primary focus in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy has been to do everything we can to support not just the people of Maui, but also Maui County. We are very disappointed that Maui County chose this litigious path while the investigation is still unfolding,” a spokesperson from Hawaiian Electric told CNN in a statement. Hawaiian Electric Company is a for-profit company that serves 95% of Hawaii’s customer base and trades on the New York Stock Exchange. This isn’t the first time a utility company has been blamed for its alleged role in a powerful wildfire in recent years.

Persons: “ inexcusably, John Fiske, “, ” Jim Kelly, Fiske, ”, CNN’s Anna, Maja Rappard, Natasha Chen, Afshar Organizations: CNN, Hawaiian Electric Company, National Weather Service, Watch, Hawaiian Electric, New York Stock Exchange, Pacific Gas Locations: Maui County, HECO, Maui, Hawaiian, California, Lahaina, Kula, Olinda

In the aftermath of the Camp fire that destroyed Paradise, Calif., in 2018, the tally of the missing reached almost 1,300. But by releasing the names of the unaccounted for, the authorities were able to slowly whittle down the list. Of the more than 1,000 still missing in the Lahaina fire, officials from the county of Maui said they did not have any estimate of how many were presumed dead. They did say they had not identified any minors in official tallies of the missing. Classes at four schools on West Maui had been canceled the morning of the fires because of high winds and power outages, according to local news reports.

Persons: ” Steven Merrill, whittle Locations: ’, Honolulu, Maui, Calif, Lahaina, West Maui

☆ The looming crisis that's going to crush homeowners from coast to coast
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Taylor Dorrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

To maintain profitability, insurance companies have to take in more in monthly premium payments from customers than they pay out in damage claims. This has prompted insurance companies to back out of certain markets or pressure states to raise caps on premiums. Without robust rate caps such as those in California, insurance costs have risen by over 200% while DeSantis has been in office. He also signed legislation in December that protects insurance companies from liability claims and disincentivizes homeowners from filing claims to begin with. Despite these policies, insurance prices have continued to go up and insurers have continued to flee the market.

Persons: Cinda Larimer, Larimer's, Larimer, Anthony Roach, Larimer's who's, I've, Roach, Chubb, Justin Sullivan, Benjamin Keys, Anita Waters, Waters, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Desantis, Hurricane Ian, Dale, Deb Weideling, they've, Keys, Philip Mulder, Jeffrey Greenberg, Jeff Goodell, Xavier Cortada, I'm, Cortada, we're, Betsy, Cinda Larimer wasn't, , haven't, Taylor Dorrell Organizations: Navy, Insurance, Rush, Allstate, American International Group, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, US Army Corps of Engineers, . Farmers Insurance, AAA, Washington Post, National Bureau of Economic Research, US Treasury, Universal, Getty, Miami, Dakotas, Nationwide, Penn, National Flood Insurance, FAIR, Bay Area Locations: Paradise , California, Paradise, Sacramento, California, , California, . State, Florida, South Carolina, South Florida, Fort Myers Beach, Hurricane, In Miami, States, Louisiana , Oregon, Colorado, Hawaii, Coast, Minnesota, Midwest, Bay, Columbus , Ohio

☆ Fyre Festival 2 tickets are now on sale – and selling out – according to embattled founder Billy McFarland
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Founder of the disastrous 2017 Fyre Festival Billy McFarland appears ready for round two. “Since 2016 FYRE has been the most talked about festival in the world. Many of the musicians who were expected to perform ended up backing out of the festival because of the chaotic planning. Prosecutors said in a statement at the time that McFarland defrauded Fyre Festival investors and ticket vendors of about $26 million, and that he’d participated in a separate “sham ticket scheme” in which he sold bogus tickets to fashion, music and sporting events while out on bail. McFarland was released from prison in 2022 after serving nearly four years of his six-year sentence.

Persons: Billy McFarland, McFarland, ”, FYRE, Major Lazer, – who’d, –, he’d Organizations: CNN, Southern, of New, Prosecutors, Fyre Locations: McFarland, Caribbean, Exumas, of New York

Loeffler fears a land grab on Maui would mean the loss of Hawaiian culture. Affordable housing advocates such as Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) are calling for a moratorium on foreclosures. At stake is the survival of Hawaiian culture, said Kaliko Baker, an associate professor at the University of Hawaii. "If people buy land and build their own Lahaina does that include Hawaiian language schools?" Loeffler plans to rebuild her plantation-style family home with insurance money so Lahaina can again "look like Lahaina."

Persons: Deborah Loeffler, Liliana Salgado, Loeffler, Josh Green, Marlena, Sterling Higa, Andrew Rumbach, Kaliko Baker, Baker, Sam, Andrew Hay, Rachel Nostrant, Daniel Trotta, Jonathan Allen, Donna Bryson, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Hawaii Alliance, Progressive, Consumer, Reuters, Housing, Urban Institute, University of Hawaii, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Kaanapali, Hawaii, U.S, Maui, Paradise , California, New Mexico, Maui County, Oklahoma City, Florida, Honolulu, Washington, Loeffler, Taos , New Mexico

☆ Antalya and Bodrum: The bohemian paradise that became a magnet for superyachts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Richard Quest | Joe Minihane | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNNWhile the hotels and beaches are what most travelers come to Antalya for, you don’t need to go far for proper Turkish traditions. A Turkish breakfast is something to behold. Then, you can read your newspaper or do whatever and then you can lay down and have a little nap.”Dilek Gorpe: Turkish breakfast is best consumed slowly. There is a deep respect for the landscape and the old ways, which makes Antalya feel very special indeed. CNNBack in Antalya, there’s the chance to feel that sense of wonder afforded by Bodrum’s bohemian side, but in a wholly different setting.

Persons: Dilek Gorpe, CNN Gorpe, It’s, extraordinaire Sahir Erozan, ”, didn’t, Sahir Erozan, CNN Erozan, “ It’s, it’s, Cemil İpekçi, ” Bodrum, “, Alexander the Great, Paul Organizations: CNN, Ottomans, ” Locations: Antalya, Bodrum, Europe, Turkish, Perga

☆ Dentist Sentenced to Life for Murdering His Wife on Hunting Trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Livia Albeck-Ripka | More About Livia Albeck-Ripka | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A wealthy dentist who was found guilty of fatally shooting his wife on a hunting trip in Zambia in 2016 has been sentenced to life in prison for murder, the Justice Department said on Monday. “Larry is innocent,” the lawyers, David O. Markus and Margot Moss, said in a statement. “He did not murder his wife.”Image Larry Rudolph’s lawyers, David Oscar Markus, left, and his co-counsel, Margot Moss, outside court on Monday after the sentencing. Credit... David Zalubowski/Associated PressDr. Rudolph, formerly of Paradise Valley, Ariz., collected nearly $4.9 million in life insurance benefits after his wife died during a trip to Kafue National Park in western Zambia. His wife, Bianca Rudolph, a big game hunter, had been hoping to add a leopard to her trophy collection, according to court documents.

Persons: Lawrence Rudolph, Rudolph, “ Larry, David O, Markus, Margot Moss, “, Larry Rudolph’s, David Oscar Markus, David Zalubowski, Bianca Rudolph Organizations: Justice, District of Locations: Zambia, U.S, District of Colorado, Paradise Valley, Ariz

☆ Hawaii wildfires: Fights over water amid west Maui's charred ruins ignite new fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Bill Weir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Wailuku, Hawaii CNN —On a Hawaiian tourist brochure, fire and water are selling points for a volcanic paradise where lava flows and waterfalls mist. “There has been a great deal of water conflict on Maui for many years,” Hawaii Gov. “It’s disaster capitalism at its finest.”A rushing canal is seen on Hokuao Pelligrino's family farm in Wailuku on Maui on August 20, 2023. After watching Pellegrino and his Wailuku community litigate their streams back to life, locals around Lahaina followed suit. You restore the water and families are going back to their ancestral land.”Hokuao Pellegrino poses for a portrait on August 20, 2023.

Persons: Josh Green, Green, ” Hokuao Pellegrino, “, ”, Evelio Contreras, Eha, Pellegrino, ’ ”, they’ll, Glenn Tremble, couldn’t, ” Pellegrino, Taro, Joe Biden’s Organizations: Hawaii CNN, ”, Maui Land Company, New York Times, CNN, West Maui Land Company Locations: Wailuku, Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, ” Hawaii, Venice, Hawaiian Kingdom, West Maui, Maui County

☆ AI-generated art can't by copyrighted, federal judge rules, with potential consequences for Hollywood studios
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Plaintiff Stephen Thaler sued the US Copyright Office to try and have his AI system listed as the creator of an artwork. But a federal judge ruled against him, because "human authorship is a bedrock requirement of copyright." A federal judge ruled that a piece of art generated by AI can't be copyrighted, a decision that could have consequences for Hollywood studios. In Friday's ruling, US District Judge Beryl Howell upheld the Copyright Office's decision to reject Thaler's copyright application. But if studios can't gain copyright protections over any work produced by AI, that could temper such ambitions.

Persons: Stephen Thaler, Thaler, Beryl Howell, Howell, David Slater Organizations: US, Office, Hollywood, The Hollywood Locations: Hollywood

An AI (Artificial Intelligence) sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. Only works with human authors can receive copyrights, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell said on Friday, affirming the U.S. The Copyright Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. The Copyright Office has also rejected an artist's bid for copyrights on images generated through the AI system Midjourney, despite the artist's argument that the system was part of their creative process. Howell agreed with the Copyright Office and said human authorship is a "bedrock requirement of copyright" based on "centuries of settled understanding."

Persons: Aly, Beryl Howell, Stephen Thaler, Thaler, DABUS, Ryan Abbott, Howell, Blake Brittain, Alexia Garamfalvi, Conor Humphries Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, United, Washington , D.C, District, Autonomous, Copyright, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, United States, U.S, Washington ,, United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Washington

Warning: This episode contains descriptions of death. When fires swept West Maui, Hawaii, many residents fled for their lives — but soon discovered they had nowhere to go. Thousands of structures, mostly homes, have been reduced to rubble. Husks of incinerated cars line the historic Front Street in Lahaina, while search crews nearby make their way painstakingly from house to house, looking for human remains. Ydriss Nora, a resident of Lahaina, recounts his experience fleeing the inferno and Mike Baker, the Seattle bureau chief for The Times, explains how an extraordinary set of circumstances turned the city into a death trap.

Persons: Ydriss Nora, Mike Baker Organizations: The Times Locations: West Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, Seattle

☆ Maui wildfires made Hawaii's housing market crisis worse — residents already feared being priced out
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The wildfires that destroyed Lahaina last week exacerbated a housing crisis in Hawaii. Many Native Hawaiians and locals can't buy a home in Maui, where the average cost is $1 million. A woman digs through rubble of a home destroyed by a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii. Rick Bowmer/Associated PressHiga rents a home with his family in Haiku on the North Shore of Maui that was spared from the wildfires. He also serves on a working group that the governor convened in July after declaring Hawaii's affordable-housing shortage an emergency .

Persons: Josh Green of, he'd, Green, Sterling Higa, Higa, Rick Bowmer Organizations: Service, Maui, Gov, Housing, Press Locations: Lahaina, Hawaii, Maui, Hawaiian, Josh Green of Hawaii, United States, Lahaina , Hawaii, Shore

☆ Fact Check-Drone video shows California, not Hawaii
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A video showing an area of destroyed buildings surrounded by pine trees in Paradise, California, has been miscaptioned online to say it shows Maui, Hawaii, following the wildfires in August 2023. The Maui wildfires have become the deadliest in the US in more than a century, killing at least 99 people and forcing thousands to evacuate (here). But the video circulating online shows the impact of the Camp Fire, a devastating wildfire in November 2018 that hit the Northern California town of Paradise (here). An aerial photograph from coverage of the 2018 blaze in California shows the same area (here), (see image 18 in the gallery), (ibb.co/XVHrRw8). This video shows the aftermath of the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, in 2018.

Persons: Greg Crutsinger, Crutsinger, Read Organizations: NBC, KCRA, Reuters Locations: Paradise , California, Maui, Hawaii, “ Hawaii, Northern California, Paradise, California

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