Marrakech – Directly after returning from the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he finished as the top scorer with 8 goals, Moroccan international Soufiane Rahimi has been named the UAE Pro League’s best player for the 2023-2024 season.

The 28-year-old forward’s exceptional performances have not only earned him individual accolades but also helped his club, Al Ain, secure both the UAE Pro League title and the Asian Champions League trophy.

During the 2023-2024 UAE Pro League season, Rahimi appeared in 18 matches, scoring 8 goals and providing 4 assists.

His contributions were even more impressive in the Asian Champions League, with the Moroccan netting 13 goals and delivering 6 assists in 22 matches, matching the record for most goals in a single AFC Champions League season.

This stellar performance in the tournament earned him the AFC Champions League 2023/24 Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer awards.

Rahimi’s outstanding form has not gone unnoticed, with rumors circulating about a potential move away from Al Ain.

However, the club’s sporting director, Ahmed El Shamsy, has dismissed these speculations, stating that the player remains under contract with Al Ain and that the relationship between the two parties goes beyond a simple contract.

These rumors about Soufiane Rahimi’s departure remain media speculations. The player is still under contract with Al Ain, and both parties want to continue this beautiful adventure. Once the contract expires, we will discuss it further, El Shamsy told the sports channel Arryadia on Sunday.

Rahimi’s success at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he led the Moroccan Olympic team to a bronze medal finish, has only increased interest in the prolific striker.

He finished well ahead of his closest competitors in the tournament’s scoring charts, with Spain’s Fermín López and France’s Jean-Philippe Mateta netting 6 and 5 goals, respectively.

SYDNEY – A helicopter on an unauthorised flight crashed into the roof of a Hilton hotel in Australia’s northern tourist town of Cairns on Monday, killing the pilot and forcing hundreds of guests to evacuate after a blaze, authorities said.

Emergency crews were called at about 2 a.m. after the twin-engine helicopter hit the roof of the hotel, setting part of the structure on fire and triggering the evacuations, Queensland state police said in a statement.

Police said the helicopter had been taken from its hangar at Cairns airport for an unauthorised flight, but did not elaborate. The pilot, who has yet to be identified and was flying alone, was declared dead at the scene.

Police said the flight was an isolated incident and there was no threat to public safety. They added that the pilot’s intent was unknown, as was the manner in which the aircraft was taken.

The crash took place at Hilton’s Double Tree Hotel in Cairns, a gateway city on the route to the Great Barrier Reef, staff at its reception desk said. At 5:30 p.m., it was still closed, with guests moved elsewhere, they added.

Two hotel guests, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s, were discharged after being taken to hospital, state broadcaster ABC said, adding that two of the helicopter’s rotor blades came off, with one landing in the hotel pool.

The forensic crash unit will work with Australia’s transport safety regulator to establish the details, police said.

Helicopter owner Nautilus Aviation said it was co-operating with police investigating the unauthorised use of the craft.

(Writing by Renju Jose and Lewis Jackson; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

The Cosmos AI project is a groundbreaking experiment that aims to explore the opportunities and risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence in the media industry. By utilizing a sophisticated AI system, Cosmos seeks to enhance its science communication efforts and provide readers with accurate and informative content.

The project involves the development of an AI model, known as Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), which assists in the creation of science explainers based on the extensive archive of articles available to Cosmos. This innovative approach not only streamlines the content creation process but also ensures the accuracy and reliability of the information presented to readers.

While the integration of AI in journalism presents exciting possibilities, it also raises important ethical and practical considerations. Cosmos is committed to maintaining high journalistic standards by incorporating human oversight into the AI-driven content creation process. Trained science communicators carefully fact-check and edit the explainers generated by the AI system, guaranteeing the authenticity of the final product.

Through the Cosmos AI project, the publication aims to provide valuable insights into the potential of AI in the media industry and contribute to the ongoing conversation surrounding responsible AI use. By engaging in this experiment, Cosmos is taking a proactive stance in shaping the future of science communication and upholding the principles of journalistic integrity.

As the project continues to evolve and generate valuable data, Cosmos remains dedicated to transparency, accountability, and learning from the feedback received from its audience. By embracing AI technologies while upholding ethical standards, Cosmos is at the forefront of innovation in science journalism, paving the way for a more informed and engaged global community.

As we stand on the precipice of this new era, one thing is clear: the world of creativity and innovation is about to undergo a profound transformation, and we must be prepared to adapt and evolve alongside these remarkable AI systems.

In a recent interview, Microsoft’s Chief Scientific Officer Eric Horvitz made bold predictions about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and its creative capabilities. His statements have sparked intense discussion in the tech community and beyond, challenging our understanding of creativity and innovation.

Horvitz asserted, AI systems are impressively creative and they will become even more so, even more imaginative over time. This declaration comes at a time when AI’s ability to generate original content, from art to music to written works, is already making waves across various industries.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Horvitz’s comments is his comparison between AI’s creative process and human creativity. He posed a thought-provoking question: If you say, ‘that system is just combining ideas of various kinds,’ isn’t that what we do? This perspective challenges the notion that AI’s creative output is somehow less authentic or valuable than human-generated content.

Horvitz went on to draw parallels between AI systems and human creative thinkers, stating, Our most creative folks, even when we’re thinking out of the box, we’re combining thinking patterns and methods of various kinds in the same way. This comparison suggests that the fundamental process of creativity might not be as uniquely human as we once thought.

Perhaps the most striking part of Horvitz’s interview was his prediction about the pace of AI development. He advised skeptics to hold onto your seats and check back in 18 months, implying that we are on an exponential curve of AI capability growth. This rapid pace of advancement suggests that we may soon witness AI creativity that surpasses our current expectations.

Horvitz’s comments also hint at a broader technological revolution. He stated, I think we all have a sense that we are coming up onto a new plateau. This idea of a new plateau in AI development could have far-reaching implications across various fields, including material science and bioscience.

However, Horvitz also acknowledged that we are riding a different kind of wave right now. This statement underscores the unique nature of the AI revolution – unlike previous technological advancements, AI has the potential to fundamentally alter how we approach problem-solving, innovation, and creativity across all domains.

As we stand on the brink of this new era, questions arise about how we will harness and integrate these rapidly advancing AI capabilities. Will AI become a collaborative partner in human creativity, or will it redefine the very nature of innovation? How will industries adapt to leverage AI’s creative potential?

Moreover, Horvitz’s predictions raise important ethical and philosophical questions. As AI systems become increasingly creative and imaginative, how will we define and value human creativity? Will there be a shift in our understanding of intellectual property and artistic ownership?

While the full implications of AI’s creative potential are yet to be realized, Horvitz’s insights provide a glimpse into a future where the boundaries between human and artificial creativity may become increasingly blurred.

As we move forward, it will be crucial for society to engage in thoughtful dialogue about how to navigate this new landscape, ensuring that we harness the benefits of AI creativity while addressing potential challenges.

In conclusion, Eric Horvitz’s comments serve as a wake-up call to both AI enthusiasts and skeptics alike. They paint a picture of a rapidly approaching future where AI’s creative capabilities may surpass our current imagination.

The proportion of adults who vape in the UK is at its highest level, with the number who both smoke and vape doubling over the past three years, according to analysis.

The number of smokers who use both cigarettes and vapes has increased from 17% in 2021 to 32% in 2024 – the equivalent of 2.2 million people.

The analysis, which was conducted by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) and was based on data collected by YouGov, found 5.6 million adults in Britain vape, about 11% of the adult population.

According to the research, more than half (53%) of those who vape are former smokers, which is the equivalent of 3 million people.

Among all former smokers – including those who still vape or no longer vape – the median length of time spent using e-cigarettes is two years.

However, in the last three years, Ash found more than half of vapers who were former smokers had been vaping for more than three years. This compared with 18% in 2017 when the question was first asked as part of the analysis.

Several US troops and other members of a US-led coalition were injured in a Friday drone attack on a US base in northeast Syria, Reuters reported on Saturday.

The US military initially said there were no casualties in the attack but later found minor injuries, including smoke inhalation, and some personnel are being evaluated for traumatic brain injuries.

No one has taken credit for the attack on the base, known as the Rumalyn Landing Zone. Iraqi Shia militias have launched similar operations against US bases.

On Sunday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said a strike in eastern Syria’s Deir Ezzor province killed five pro-Iran fighters, a reference to Iran-allied Shia militias that operate in the area. The SOHR didn’t attribute blame for the strike. Both the US and Israel have a history of launching airstrikes in that area, but neither country has taken credit.

The attack on the US base in Syria came a few days after four US troops and an American contractor were injured in Iraq when rockets hit the Ain al-Asad air base. The attack in Iraq came after US airstrikes killed four members of the PMF, an umbrella group of mostly Shia militias that are part of Iraq’s security forces.

The US has vowed it would respond to the Iraq attack, which could mean more airstrikes. The Iraqi government said it arrested five people in connection to the attack, signaling Baghdad is working to oppose more US strikes on the PMF, which it strongly opposes.

The violence comes amid heightened tensions as the region awaits Iran’s reprisal attack for the Israeli killing of Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran. The US has vowed to defend Israel and has deployed more military assets to the region, making it more likely US troops will continue to be targeted.