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Supporters of a proposed San Francisco initiative that would speed up some housing development say they expect to qualify for the November ballot.

Called Affordable Homes Now, the measure seeks to cut several years off the approval timeline for qualifying housing projects that are 100% affordable, are for teachers or are mostly market-rate but have 15% more below-market rate units than the city would otherwise require under affordability mandates.

The measure is backed by Mayor London Breed, who tried and failed to get the Board of Supervisors to put it on the ballot first. It was her third attempt to streamline housing production through an amendment to the City Charter.

After a supervisors committee rejected Breeds proposal in January, in part because they said community stakeholders hadnt vetted it, supporters began circulating petitions instead. Theyll need 52,000 valid signatures to make the November ballot. The campaign says it has 48,000 confirmed signatures so far but is collecting 600 to 700 a day, so it expects to clear the threshold on Tuesday and submit the signatures on June 27.

The ballot measure is part of a broader fight between Breed and some supervisors over San Francisco residential development as the city continues to face an acute housing and homelessness crisis and looming state mandates over home building. The city is now detailing how it expects to meet its housing goals of accommodating 82,000 units between 2023 and 2031, a threefold increase over the current eight-year cycle.

Amid the pressure, Breed has accused supervisors of getting in the way of much-needed home construction. Some supervisors have backed a competing ballot measure to streamline some housing development. Even if that measure doesnt make it on the ballot, they may campaign against the Breed-backed streamlining push.

Breeds housing fights with progressive supervisors grabbed headlines when they rejected nearly 500 units at the site of a Nordstrom parking lot near Sixth and Market streets. That site is where Breed and supporters announced the signature milestone on Thursday.

Standing in front of the Stevenson Street parking lot surrounded by workers in bright vests and hard hats, Breed said her support for the measure came from what she saw as a native San Franciscan.

I watched as we saw this city grow and as we saw this city become way too expensive, Breed said. As it grew, there wasnt enough housing that grew with it.

Breed also drew a straight line between the citys uneven housing development and the recent redistricting controversy, in which the task force drawing new supervisor districts broke up the Tenderloin and SoMa. She said she would have liked to see the Tenderloin and SoMa remain in District Six. But she called the split a necessary result of housing growth being too concentrated on the east side of the city which made District Six far too populous.

Thats what you get. Thats what happens, Breed said. So we have 10 years to fix this. Ten years for the next redistricting process to see other parts of the city grow, too.

Progressive supervisors who have opposed the mayors housing policies generally argue that theyre trying to make sure San Francisco is building as much truly affordable housing as possible, rather than allowing too much market-rate development that could further gentrification in traditionally low-income areas.

Last month, Supervisor Connie Chan introduced her own ballot measure to streamline some housing development, with support from at least two of her colleagues. Chans measure includes stricter affordability requirements than the measure backed by Breed. At least six supervisors would have to vote to put it on the ballot, where it could compete with Affordable Homes Now.

Chan said in a statement that her measure would accelerate the process to build real affordable housing that San Francisco working families can afford.

This measure will be a safeguard against any deceitful attempts to mislead San Franciscans about market-rate housing as affordable, and further displace working people, Chan said.

Ron Rowlett of the Nor Cal Carpenters Union dismissed the potential competing measure as an attempt to tank the one his union and Breed are supporting.

Theyre not looking to build homes, he said of the rival ballot measure. It was more another political thing to try and confuse the voters and make sure that (Affordable Homes Now) doesnt pass.

In addition to Nor Cal Carpenters Union, the coalition backing Affordable Homes Now includes GrowSF, Habitat for Humanity, the Housing Action Coalition, SPUR and YIMBY Action.

J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris

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Mayor Breed-backed SF affordable housing measure expected to qualify for the ballot, sparking fight with progressives - San Francisco Chronicle

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval attended a BRICS meeting with his Chinese counterpart NSA Yang Jiechi on Wednesday wherein he emphasised on the need to bolstercooperation against terrorism "without any reservations". Hewelcomed the cooperation among the five-nation grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to address the issue of terrorism, as per news agency ANI sources. During thevirtual meeting which was hosted by China on the second anniversary of the Galwan Valley clash, bothDovaland Jiechi affirmed "strengthening political and security cooperation" with other members of the union as officials fromBrazil, Russia and South Africa were also present in the meeting.

It is to mention that during the Galwan Valley clash, the Chinese and Indian troops engaged in aggressive melee, face-offs, and skirmishes at locations along the Sino-Indian border.Russian news agency TASS claimed that at least 20 Indian soldiers and 45 Chinese servicemen were killed during the clashes in eastern Ladakh.

Further, both Indian and Chinese NSAs underscored the importance of reforming the multilateral system in order to address global issues with credibility, equity and accountability. Meanwhile, Doval also talked about the COVID-19 pandemic and the drastic shift in climate change and called on the world to work collectively to address the global challenges. The Indian NSA urged the BRICS members to strengthen their cooperation in the areas of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and outer space and maritime security in order to prevent any terror attacks.

The meeting of NSAs came a week ahead of the BRICS summit which is due to be held on June 24 with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of Brazil and South Africa. Though the Indian PM and Putin had held several telephonic conversations after the onset of the war, this would be the first time when the trio -- India, China, and Russian leaders-- would meet on a common platform along with other BRICS leaders.

Last week, the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the BRICS nations published a joint statement during a virtual conference wherein the members agreed to increase financial collaboration and boost macroeconomic policy coordination. The summit urged the global community to expand partnerships, highlighting that macro-policy coordination is essential in guiding the world economy out of crisis and constructing a robust, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive post-pandemic economic recovery.

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NSA Ajit Doval calls for cooperation against terrorism 'without any reservations' at BRICS - Republic World

17 Opposition parties to field a candidate for Presidential poll

Kick-starting the consultations on putting up a joint candidate for the Presidential election, 17 Opposition parties attended a meeting hosted by West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee in New Delhi on Wednesday. At the end of the 90-minute meeting, the parties came up with a statement expressing their intent to field a common candidate, but no name was finalised.

ED summons Rahul again on June 17

As former Congress President Rahul Gandhi went in for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the National Heraldnewspaper for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, there were tense moments at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters as Delhi police personnel barged into its premises and dragged out workers, including a former Lok Sabha member. Mr. Gandhi has been summoned again on Friday for further questioning.

Ajit Doval attends meeting hosted by China

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval attended a virtualBRICSmeeting hosted by Chinese NSA Yang Jiechi on Wednesday, aimed at strengthening political and security cooperation within the five-nation grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. An official statement said multilateralism and global governance, new threats and challenges to national security, and governance in new domains were on the agenda for discussions.

Presidential polls | Rajnath speaks to Pawar, Mamata, Kharge

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J.P. Nadda on Wednesday began theconsultation process, on behalf of the NDA, for the upcoming polls for electing thenew President of India, by dialling key Opposition leaders, NDA allies and neutral parties such as the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Three-year Bachelors degree programme for Agnipath recruits

A day after the Cabinet approved the Agnipath scheme for temporary recruitment to the armed forces, the Ministry of Education on Wednesday said it will launch a three-year bachelors degree programme that will give credits to serving defence personnel who avail the scheme.

Presidential polls | 11 nominations filed on day 1

Eleven people filed their nominations on Wednesday for the Presidential election to be held on July 18, according to Rajya Sabha sources.

Plea in Supreme Court seeks stringent population control law

A Mathura resident has asked the Supreme Court to direct the government to ascertain the feasibility of enacting a stringent population control law. Devkinandan Thakur Ji, the petitioner, said such a law would secure the fundamental rights of citizens, including the right to peaceful sleep along with clean air, water, food, health and shelter. Mr. Thakur said the injury caused by population explosion for women especially was extremely large.

Daughter of Himachal judge held in murder case

Kalyani Singh was under the scanner of the agency for long as it had emerged during the probe that a woman was accompanying Sidhus killer.

U.S. Federal Reserve attacks inflation with its largest rate hike since 1994

The move announced by the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise its benchmark short-term rate to a range of 1.5% to 1.75%.

JharKhand govt. seeks explanation from Ranchi SSP over putting up posters of violence accused

A day afterJharkhand police put up posters carrying photographsof those allegedly involved in the recentviolent protests in Ranchi, the States Home Secretary Rajiv Arun Ekka on Wednesday evening sought an explanation from the SSP over the unlawful act.

BJP expels Rajasthan MLA for cross-voting in Rajya Sabha elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday expelled its Rajasthan MLA Shobharani Kushwah for cross-voting in favour of a Congress candidate in the elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from the State held recently.

Myanmar not part of ASEAN meet

The Foreign Minister of Myanmar is unlikely to be part of the 24 thASEAN-India Ministerial here on Thursday, an official source indicated.Myanmars representation at the meeting has been in focus as India has been under pressure to avoid inclusion of Myanmar in the high-level meeting.

Prithvi-II missile successfully test-fired during night time

India on Wednesday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed, nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile during night time as part of a user training trial from a test range off the Odisha coast. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said: Prithvi-2 missile test-fired successfully and the test met all parameters.

Biden announces another $1 billion military aid to Ukraine

Joe Biden said on Wednesday the U.S. will send another $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, the largest single tranche of weapons and equipment since the war began. The aid will include anti-ship missile launchers, howitzers and more rounds for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems - all key weapons systems that Ukrainian leaders have urgently requested.

K.L. Rahul to miss England test, Hardik Pandya in line for captaincy during Ireland T20Is

Senior opener K.L. Rahul is all set to miss the fifth Test against England in Birmingham next month as he is unlikely to recover from a groin injury that forced him out of the ongoing T20I series against South Africa.

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Morning Digest | 17 Opposition parties to field a candidate for Presidential poll; ED summons Rahul again tomorrow, and more - The Hindu

With modern chess engines operating at hundreds of points stronger than the best human players, its clear we mere mammals are officially a relic of the past. While computer scientists and technological hobbyists push the limits of existing Artificial Intelligence to uncover as much of the infinite unknown hidden in a single game of chess, a new forefront of AI is emerging in the chess world.

Its not a meticulous exploration of a 300-move theoretical rook-bishop endgame between Leela and AlphaZero no, its a nightmarish, meme-driven flight of fancy powered by DALL-E mini, a free AI-based image generating program.

In a world of proliferating doctored images and deepfakes, this kind of tool could bend chess culture and history, especially in an age where reality and illusion blur more seamlessly each day. But at what cost may we wield such power?

In the name of science, we at Chess Life Online have decided to put DALL-E mini to the test to see what awaits us in this new frontier. The premise is simple: type in a prompt and DALL-E will create the image for you. Sometimes it gives you exactly what you want. Other times, well just look below.

We'll be sure to keep exploring this technology as it continues to evolve and inevitably haunts our dreams. Is there a prompt you'd want to see or have already tried? Share it with us below or tweet it to us @USChess.

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The Nightmarish Frontier of AI in Chess - uschess.org

It had to happen sometime.

All four games were drawn today at the 2022 FIDE Candidates Tournament in Madrid, Spain. Some games like the 30 move snoozefest from GMs Teimour Radjabov and Ian Nepomniachtchi were limp affairs from the get-go.

Image Caption

courtesy FIDE / Stev Bonhage

Others, like the draw between GMs Fabiano Caruana and Jan-Krzysztof Duda, showed a bit of promise from the outset, but soon sputtered, never really getting going.

Image Caption

courtesy FIDE / Stev Bonhage

But GM Ding Liren will look back on Sundays third round as an opportunity lost. After gaining an edge in a topical Grnfeld, Ding struggled when GM Richard Rapport muddied the waters, and after finding the correct move on the 22nd move, he missed the critical continuations on moves 23 and 27, and the game was draw after the time control.

The game of the day was undoubtedly the battle between GMs Alireza Firouzja and Hikaru Nakamura. Our guest annotator GM Jacob Aagaard provides a pithy, accurate description of the encounter.

Nakamura has played this variation many times and so far held all the games against his colleagues. It is the most solid corner of his repertoire. Firouzja comes with an interesting idea, but does not manage to rattle Nakamura, who finds all the right moves. But low on time in the endgame, Black gets into some problems, which he had to solve with great accuracy to draw the game. This was definitely the best effort of the day.

Will this near-miss haunt Firouzja? Will it energize Nakamura? He seemed fairly chipper in his post-game recap for his YouTube channel, saying he was pleased with his play and the result.

Monday is a rest day in Madrid, the first of four during the event. Caruana and Nepomniachtchi lead at this first interval at 2/3, but of course no one (save perhaps Radjabov) is out of contention so early in the contest.

Play resumes Tuesday at 9 a.m. Eastern. Pairings are:

Rapport NakamuraNepomniachtchi FirouzjaDuda RadjabovDing Caruana

FIDE Candidates homepageUS Chess Candidates homepageCandidates Overview (including streaming links)Lichess analysis study (Aagaard)Round 1Round 2

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Four Draws in Round Three of 2022 Candidates | US Chess.org - uschess.org