May232017

Battle between China’s Go champion and computer begins

East Asia
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Battle between China's Go champion and computer begins

Ke Jie is playing Go with AlphaGo. [Photo by Ma Si/chinadaily.com.cn]

The final battle between man and machine has begun with the world’s top Go player taking on Google’s AlphaGo.

China’s Ke Jie, 19, has started the first game in a best of three contest against Google’s AlphaGo Tuesday in China, the birth place of the 3,000-year-old board game.

The showdown, in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province is the latest contest between elite human Go players and AlphaGo developed by Google’s DeepMind.

The program defeated South Korean Go master Lee Se-dol 4-1 in March 2016.

On the eve of the much-anticipated game, world-title holder Ke posted on his Weibo account: “No matter win or lose, this will be my final contest with AI”.

“I believe the future belongs to AI for it is leaping forward at a pace far beyond our imagination,” he said.

“But it is still a machine. I can’t feel its love and passion for Go. I will fight against it with all of my enthusiasm. I will never give up,” Ke said.

At the opening ceremony of the contest, Demis Hassabis, chief executive of Google DeepMind, said he hoped the match will help man and machine jointly explore the mysteries of Go together.

“Many Go players come up with new moves they have never thought of before after competing against AlphaGo. Whether man loses or wins, it is a victory for human beings,” he said.

May232017

The Shrubbery – 200th Anniversary

Fraser Macpherson
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Celebrating the 200th anniversary of The Shrubbery, Elaine Kuwahara is opening her beautiful garden on Magdalen Yard Road for three days, with all proceeds to charity, including Friends of Camperdown House and Scotland’s Gardens.
The opening will be on Friday 26th May by former Lord Provost John Letford and the event will run until Sunday 28th May.

Home of famed Dundee artist McIntosh Patrick for many years, the garden and house were the subject of several of his paintings. The Georgian townhouse was designed and built by Dundee architect David Neave in 1817.
The garden has been sympathetically restored to McIntosh Patrick’s time and features mainly herbaceous perennials and shrubs. It also includes surviving fruit trees from its original layout as a working garden. There is a pond with goldfish and koi carp.

Don’t miss it – more details here.

May232017

Statement from Jeremy Corbyn on the suspected terrorist attack in Manchester

Labour
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Jeremy
Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, said:

“I am
horrified by the horrendous events in Manchester last night. My thoughts are
with families and friends of those who have died and  been injured.

“Today
the whole country will grieve for the people who have lost their
lives. 

“I
have spoken with Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, who has fully briefed
me on the operational response in the city.

“I
would like to pay tribute to the emergency services for their bravery and
professionalism in dealing with last night’s appalling events.

“I
have spoken with the Prime Minister and we have agreed that that all national
campaigning in the general election will be suspended until further notice.”

May232017

China to form global satellite navigation system by 2020

East Asia
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China will launch some 18 Beidou navigation satellites by 2018, a leading navigation satellite expert said Tuesday.

Six to eight Beidou satellites will be sent into orbit in the second half of this year, said Wang Li, director of the China Satellite Navigation System management office, addressing the eighth China satellite navigation academic annual meeting.

The Beidou satellite navigation system will be able to provide services for countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative by 2018, Wang said.

By 2020, the Beidou satellites will form a complete global satellite navigation system, Wang added.

The output value of China’s satellite navigation and locating services reached 210 billion yuan (30.5 billion yuan) in 2016, with the Beidou system contributing more than 30 percent of the total value.

The sector is forecast to have about 400 billion yuan in annual output value by 2020.

China started building its own satellite navigation system in 2000 when it sent two orbiters into space as a double-satellite experimental positioning system to end its dependence upon the U.S. GPS system.

Since 2012, Beidou has provided navigation, time and text messaging services in the Asia and Pacific region.

May232017

News story: Home Secretary’s statement on the Manchester attack

HM Government
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“I know that some people will only just be waking up to the news of the horrific attacks in Manchester last night.

This was a barbaric attack, deliberately targeting some of the most vulnerable in our society – young people and children out at a pop concert.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and the victims who have been affected, and I know the whole country will share that view.

I’d like to pay tribute to the emergency services who have worked throughout the night professionally and effectively – they have done an excellent job.

Later on this morning, I will be attending COBRa, chaired by the Prime Minister, to collect more information – to find out more – about this particular attack, and I can’t comment any more on that at the moment.

The public should remain alert but not alarmed. If they have anything to report, they should approach the police.

But I have two further things to add.

The great city of Manchester has been affected by terrorism before. Its spirit was not bowed; its community continued.

This time it has been a particular attack on the most vulnerable in our society – its intention was to sow fear – its intention is to divide. But it will not succeed.”