giving

Talks in Geneva between the US and Ukraine aimed at ending the war with Russia have concluded, with officials from both sides reporting “progress” and an intention to continue working.

However, no details have emerged on how to bridge the considerable divide between Moscow and Kyiv over territorial issues and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the “important steps” that had been made but warned that the “main problem” facing the peace talks was Vladimir Putin’s demand for legal recognition of Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine.

“This would break the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty,” he said, highlighting concerns that Moscow could be rewarded for its aggression with land it seized by force.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump suggested on social media that “something good just may be happening”, but with the caveat: “Don’t believe it until you see it.”

The Geneva talks did not involve Russian representatives and the Kremlin said it hadn’t received any information on the outcome of the discussions. Spokesman Dmitri Peskov noted Moscow was aware that “adjustments” were made to the plan that had been welcomed by Putin.

A 28-point peace plan drafted by US and Russian officials was presented to Ukraine last week. Several of its elements seemed heavily geared towards Moscow’s longstanding demands, sparking consternation in Kyiv and its European allies.

Comments by Trump which suggested Ukraine had until Thursday to accept the deal or face serious cuts in US support contributed to creating a sense of urgency across Europe and talks between Ukraine and US officials were hastily convened.

By Sunday evening US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a “tremendous” amount of progress had been made at the talks. “I honestly believe we’ll get there,” he said.

But some European leaders have been more cautious. “I am not sure if we are closer to peace,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said discussions would be a “lengthy, long-lasting process” and that he did not expect any breakthroughs this week.

Europeans were left scrambling for a seat at the table last week, after they were seemingly caught unawares when the US draft peace plan was presented.

A counter-proposal – reportedly drafted by Britain, France and Germany – excluded any recognition of Russian-held regions, raised Ukraine’s allowed army size and left the door open to Ukraine joining Nato.

Rubio said he was not aware of the plan and on Monday Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov rubbished it as “completely unconstructive”.

Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has consistently demanded full Ukrainian withdrawal from the whole of the eastern Donbas region.

But Kyiv and its European partners are weary of any settlement which would jeopardise the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty – and Zelensky has repeatedly warned that giving up the Donbas would leave Ukraine vulnerable to Russian attacks in the future.

Despite last week’s frenzied diplomacy the next steps in the process are unclear.

The expectation is that Zelensky will soon personally speak to Trump, after which a new draft peace plan will be eventually presented to Moscow. There were no plans for a meeting this week between Russian and US negotiators, the Kremlin said.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said there was still work to do for a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine. A virtual “coalition of the willing” meeting will take place on Tuesday to discuss developments, he added.

Nov. 20 (UPI) — Toys that use AI to interact with children might seem like a fun idea, but one organization is warning against them.

The nonprofit Fairplay released an advisory Thursday warning parents to avoid artificial intelligence-based children’s toys this holiday season.

AI toys are chatbots embedded in children’s toys — such as plushies, dolls, action figures, or kids’ robots — and use AI technology designed to communicate like a friend.

Examples include Miko, Curio Interactive’s Grok and Gabbo, Smart Teddy, FoloToy’s Kumma bear, Roybi and Keyi Technology’s Loona Robot Dog. Some of the toys are marketed to children as young as infants, Fairplay said in a statement.

“It’s ridiculous to expect young children to avoid potential harm here,” said Rachel Franz, a Fairplay program director, in a statement to NPR.

“Young children are especially susceptible to the potential harms of these toys, such as invading their privacy, collecting data, engendering false trust and friendship, and displacing what they need to thrive, like human-to-human interactions and time to play with all their senses. These can have long and short-term impacts on development,” she said

Singapore-based FoloToy suspended sales of its Kumma bear after it was found to give inappropriate advice to children, CNN reported Wednesday. The bear’s chatbot talked about sexual fetishes, how to find knives in the home and how to light a match.

FoloToy CEO Larry Wang told CNN that the company had withdrawn Kumma and its other AI toys and is now “conducting an internal safety audit.”

The Toy Association, which represents toy manufacturers, told NPR that toys sold by responsible manufacturers and retailers must follow more than 100 strict federal safety standards and tests, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which governs children’s privacy and data security online.

“The Toy Association urges parents and caregivers to shop only from reputable toymakers, brands, and retailers who prioritize children’s safety above all else,” the statement said. The organization added that it offers safety tips for AI and other connected products.

Fairplay offered more reasons that AI toys are not safe for children.

AI toys are usually powered by the same AI that has already harmed children, and young children who use them are less equipped to protect themselves than older children and teens, Fairplay said.

AI chatbots have caused children to use them obsessively, engaged in explicit sexual conversations, and encouraged unsafe behaviors, violence against others, and self-harm.

AI toys may sabotage children’s trust by pretending to be trustworthy companions or “friends.” Young children are likely to treat connected toys and devices as if they were people and develop an emotional attachment to them.

These “relationships” can disrupt children’s real relationships and resilience by offering “genuine friendship,” which isn’t possible from a machine.

Probably most concerning is that AI toys can invade family privacy by collecting sensitive data using audio and video recording, speech-to-text technology, and even voice, gesture, and facial recognition software, Fairplay said.

A child might talk to the toy and tell it their personal thoughts, emotions, fears, and desires, which will be delivered to a third party. They could also record private family conversations or record other children in the room.

Some toys even have facial recognition and video recording, which could take video of children in the bath or getting dressed.

WAG Taylor Ward has shared a first photo of her newborn baby boy, after giving birth to her second child with footballer Riyad Mahrez. 

This summer Taylor, 27, gathered friends and family for a lavish celebration, where she and husband Riyad, 34, opened a giant box to discover they’re expecting a baby boy.

And now the star has announced his arrival, by posting a sweet black and white snap of them together in the hospital. 

Taylor, daughter of RHOC star Dawn Ward, revealed their son’s name, as she penned to fans: “Khayri Mahrez 🤍 Everything we dreamed of and more.” 

The blonde beauty looked content as she cradled her bundle of joy, with Riyad by her side in the hospital. 

In a second black and white snap, Taylor posted a photo of their daughter Mila, who was born in July 2022, holding her brother.

It’s A…

WAG Taylor Ward shares gender of second child with footballer Riyad Mahrez

HAPPY NEWS

WAG Taylor Ward reveals she’s expecting second child with Riyad Mahrez

Fans and friends flooded the comments with messages of congratulations.

Footballer Jack Grealish penned: “congratulations guys,” followed by blue heart emojis.

And Molly-Mae Hague wrote: “Congratulations special mumma !!!!”

Loose Women star Denise Welch wrote: “Taylor!!! The first boy!!! So wonderful.”

And Taylor’s mum Dawn commented a string of heart eye emojis.

Right winger Riyad – who plays for the Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli – has two other children from a previous marriage with internet personality, Rita Johal.

She initially tied the knot with the footballer in an intimate and low-key religious ceremony in January 2022.

The duo then officially wed in a legal ceremony in September 2023 at The Londoner Hotel.

This was before they celebrated with their family and friends at a lavish ceremony at Lake Como in Italy.

PIXIE Lott oozed elegance in a bejewelled LBD just two weeks after giving birth to her second child.

The Mama Do hitmaker, 34, welcomed her second baby boy with husband Oliver Cheshire, 37, in October.

The popstar beamed as she stepped out in London for the premiere of her new movie, Christmas Karma.

She opted for a floor-length frock with a roll neck and huge silver sequin balloon sleeves for the event at Curzon Mayfair.

Pixie swept her blonde hair into a stylish up-do with front pieces left free to frame her face, and kept her make-up fresh and natural.

She took time to pose for the cameras on the Red Carpet, flashing a cheeky glance over her shoulder before placing her hands on her hips.

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The glowing parent-of-two was then joined by hubby Oliver for a few joint snaps.

Pixie stars in the festive movie based on a modern-day Christmas Carol.

She plays Mary Cratchit, Bob Cratchit’s wife, in the flick to be released today.

The pop princess’ role in the festive flick comes after she revealed she’d written a Christmas song dedicated to her newborn.

Pixie gave the first play of the tune on her Instagram page, as the soundtrack to a video showing her enjoying some tender moments with the tot.

Speaking of the tune, First Christmas, she wrote in the caption: “I just wrote a song for our new baby boy especially for this time of year.

“Pre save now in my bio and get tickets to my Christmas show in December to see it live.”

BABY JOY

Off-screen, the All About Tonight singer announced her happy baby news on her Instagram page last month.

Pixie posted a sweet video of her newborn baby boy and wrote: “He’s here,” with a blue heart emoji.

The clip showed her newborn’s little feet and hands for the first time.

Pixie’s close celebrity pals were quick to congratulate the star.

Gaby Roslin wrote: “Ahhh huge congratulations to you beautiful and your whole family. Big love.”

AJ Odudu posted: “Awww CONGRATULATIONS.”

Earlier this year, the singer revealed she and husband Oliver were expecting their second child.

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The couple are already parents to son Albert, who was born in October 2023.

Previously, Pixie and Oliver only revealed their son’s name a month after his birth when they celebrated his christening.

KIM Kardashian refuses to throw in the book as she returns to studying, after fuming that psychics incorrectly predicted she would pass her exam to qualify as a lawyer.

The billionaire entrepreneur and reality star, 45, posing in a bikini while revising with a textbook, failed her California bar exam after six years of studying.

In a TikTok video, she ranted to her famous family that their clairvoyants were “liars.”

She said: “I’m just letting you guys know that all of the f***ing psychics that we have met with, and that we’re obsessed with, are all f***ing full of s**t.

“They all collectively, maybe four of them, have told me I was going to pass the bar so they’re all full pathological liars. Don’t believe anything they say.”

It comes after her Disney+ drama All’s Fair, about a group of female lawyers, was critically panned and received a four percent rating on review-aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.

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However, The U.S. Sun revealed how this took a drastic turn late Tuesday night heading into Wednesday, when reviews labeling the show the “worst of all time” began going viral.

“The show had a disappointing opening in the first 24 hours. 

“It wasn’t getting as much attention leading up because the media review embargoes weren’t allowed to go up until after the show had already dropped,” the source explained. 

“So all the 0% reviews came out at once, after the episode was already out, and helped draw droves of attention to it. 

“The reaction to all the bad reviews was the best thing that could’ve happened to the show. It basically, right away, doubled overall episode engagement. 

“Including viewership but also the amount of online mentions and social media activity.”

The insider added that producers are taking the critique well, as they know the show is meant to be “campy and fun” and is “not meant to be serious.” 

“No one likes their work being dunked on, but the show welcomes the chatter because it’s driving interest and the viewership is benefiting exponentially,” they added. 

Kim stars on the legal drama as a divorce attorney at an all-female law firm.

In addition to The Kardashians star, the series also includes Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash, Sarah Paulson, and Glenn Close.