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OpenAI launches Sora video generation tool in *** amid copyright row | Artificial intelligence (AI) OpenAI launches Sora video generation tool in *** amid copyright row | Artificial intelligence (AI) The artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT has launched its video generation tool in the *** amid a deepening row between the tech sector and creative industries over copyright. Beeban Kidron, the film director and cross-bench peer, said the introduction of OpenAI’s Sora in the *** added “another layer of urgency to the copyright debate”, in a week the government faced strong criticism over its plans for letting AI firms use artists’ work without permission. San Francisco-based OpenAI is making Sora available to *** users who pay for ChatGPT. The tool stunned film-makers when it was revealed last year, with the film and TV mogul Tyler Perry pausing an $800m (£634m) expansion of his Atlanta studio complex after saying the tool might make building sets or travelling to locations unnecessary. It was launched in the US publicly in December. Users are able to make videos on Sora by typing in simple prompts such as asking for a shot of people walking through “beautiful, snowy Tokyo city” where “gorgeous sakura petals are flying through the wind along with snowflakes”. OpenAI announced the *** release as it released examples of Sora’s use by artists from across the *** and mainland Europe, where the tool is also being released on Friday. Josephine Miller, a 25-year-old British digital artist, created a two-minute video of models wearing bioluminescent fauna and said the tool would “open a lot more doors for younger creatives”. ‘Biolume’: Josephine Miller uses OpenAI’s Sora to create stunning footage – video However, Kidron said the launch underlined the importance of the debate over copyright and AI in the ***, which centres on government proposals to let AI firms use copyrighted work to train their models – unless creative professionals opt out of the process. “Comments made by YouTube last year make clear that if copyrighted material was taken without licence to help train Sora it would have breached their terms of service. Sora would not exist without its training data which means it is built on stolen goods. At some point YouTube may want to take action on that,” she said. Last year the head of the video platform said it would be a violation of its terms of service if YouTube content had been used to train Sora. However, asked if YouTube clips had been used in this way, Neal Mohan told Bloomberg: “I don’t know.” The chief executive added: “It does not allow for things like transcripts or video bits to be downloaded, and that is a clear violation of our terms of service.” The Guardian reported on Tuesday that ministers were considering offering concessions over copyright to certain creative sectors. skip past newsletter promotion A weekly dive in to how technology is shaping our lives Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Sora also offers users the option to make clips of varying lengths, from five to 20 seconds, which can then be extended to make longer videos. Features include displaying the clip in a variety of aesthetic styles, including “film noir” and “balloon world” where objects are represented as inflatables. Self-proclaimed ‘AI degenerated artist’ Caroline Rocha showcases Sora’s capabilities – video Clips can take a minute to generate at a low resolution and four minutes or longer at a higher resolution. A “storyboard” option allows users to tweak the video by editing a more detailed version of the prompt created by the underlying AI model that powers Sora. OpenAI said use of copyrighted material to build Sora complied with copyright law and the tool was built using a wide range of datasets, including publicly available data. The company, which also announced the latest version of ChatGPT on Thursday, admitted last year that it would be impossible to create tools like its groundbreaking chatbot without access to copyrighted material. Source link #OpenAI #launches #Sora #video #generation #tool #copyright #row #Artificial #intelligence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Herd on the Terrace: Woodside, Meg O’Neill follows Donald Trump line by expunging Gulf of Mexico Herd on the Terrace: Woodside, Meg O’Neill follows Donald Trump line by expunging Gulf of Mexico Meg O’Neill’s Woodside team vow to embrace Gulf of America as politics trumps geography, history. Source link #Herd #Terrace #Woodside #Meg #ONeill #Donald #Trump #line #expunging #Gulf #Mexico Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 Low-Volatility Stocks to Hedge Against S&P 500 Swings 3 Low-Volatility Stocks to Hedge Against S&P 500 Swings Regimes are changing in the market, and this could mean a few things, but today, it means that volatility is back. Whenever these shifts come, specifically to the , investors tend to decrease their exposure to riskier stocks to look for more defensive names in the market to cushion some of the risks that come with these volatility spikes. This is where names in the sector usually come into play. These stable and predictable business models and product lines usually carry low betas, compressing the volatility that comes with them even with a broader market selloff like the one experienced in recent weeks. Therefore, they are more attractive buy targets for investors to consider, which is why today’s list is important as well. By keeping an eye on names like Realty Income (NYSE:) to represent a portfolio of stable and predictable holdings in the real estate sector or other product offerings like tobacco and convenience names through Altria Group (NYSE:) and even a staples beverage brand of soda like PepsiCo (NASDAQ:) all align to offer investors some of this perceived safety that will be chased as volatility shows it’s here to stay for a little while longer. 1. Realty Income Offers Investors a Compounding Chance Investors can see the benefits of holding Realty Income stock, not only through its low volatility profile but also because of its income potential. As a real estate investment trust (REIT), Realty Income offers shareholders a payout of up to $3.21 per share today. This not only represents a dividend yield of as much as 5.7%, but investors also benefit from this payout being issued monthly rather than the typical quarterly payouts that other companies choose to use instead. Even with these attractive features, the stock trades cheaply enough at 86% of its 52-week high to offer a double-digit upside. Such as the one being called for by analysts from Stifel Nicolaus, who decided to not only reiterate their buy rating on Realty Income stock as of January 2025 but also place a valuation of up to $66 per share on it. Now, this price target would represent a new 52-week high on the stock and also a net upside of as much as 18% from where it trades today. 2. Institutional Capital Chose Altria Group Stock As of February 2025, reports show that allocators from the Royal Bank of Canada decided to boost their holdings in Altria Group stock by as much as 17.4%, bringing their net position to a high of $466.8 million today. This is a bullish sign of confidence that investors should consider in this new flight to safer names amid volatility. However bullish this may seem, it’s not the best feature that Altria stock brings to the table today. Like Realty Income, this company’s stability and predictability also enable its management to offer its shareholders a dividend payout of as much as $4.08 per share today. Considering today’s prices, which are a bullish 95% of their 52-week highs, Altria Group stock’s dividend would translate into an annualized yield of up to 7.44% to beat inflation and make up for any further volatility that the S&P 500 index may bring to portfolios in the coming months. 3. Pepsi Stock’s Discount Won’t Last Forever Even though Pepsi stock now trades at 83% of its 52-week high, which may not seem that bearish at all, other valuation metrics show that the company offers a value entry like no other in the past seven years. When considered from a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) basis, today’s 18.3x multiple falls into the bottom range of regular valuations. A multiple closer to 23.0x on a forward P/E basis would be normal for Pepsi stock, showing investors how this household name with a low beta can be a perfect addition to this volatility compression portfolio strategy today. Then, there was the recent collapse of the company’s bearish sentiment. Investors can note that up to 22.9% of Pepsi’s short interest collapsed over the past month alone, a clear sign of bearish capitulation in the face of a bullish skew in the stock’s risk-to-reward ratio. This could be especially the case as analysts from Citigroup reiterate their buy rating on Pepsi stock, this time also keeping a valuation of up to $170 per share on the name. Calling for the stock to flirt with its 52-week high of $183.4 per share, these analysts imply that Pepsi can deliver up to 12.2% from where it trades today, bringing an unusual double-digit upside potential in a defensive name. Original Post Source link #LowVolatility #Stocks #Hedge #Swings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

India in talks for 10 more Airbus C-295 aircraft in ageing fleet revamp, sources say India in talks for 10 more Airbus C-295 aircraft in ageing fleet revamp, sources say By Aditya Kalra, Shivam Patel and Tim Hepher NEW DELHI/PARIS (Reuters) – India is in talks to purchase 10 more Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft than the 71 it had planned, as the country ramps up efforts to replace its ageing fleet with locally built planes, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The discussions come as a boost for Airbus’ partnership with Indian conglomerate ***** Group after they jointly opened an assembly line for the C-295 in the western state of Gujarat last year. India’s government in 2021 struck a $2.52 billion deal for 56 C-295 aircraft for the Air Force, and last year gave an initial nod for 15 more for its navy and coast guard. Now, talks are on to add up to 10 aircraft to the 2024 order, said the three sources, who declined to be named as the talks are private. One source said the additional planes are for the Indian Air Force. “The Indian Air Force has significant transport capability requirements; they need a lot of aircraft,” said Laxman Behera, a defence expert at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. Airbus and ***** Advanced Systems, which is running the project, declined to comment. India’s defence ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Going by the deal value of the 2021 purchase of 56 aircraft, an expanded order for 25 C-295s could be worth $1.1 billion. India is the world’s biggest arms importer but has been trying to boost domestic production and self reliance as it looks to counter neighbouring China’s rapidly growing military. The C-295 is a multi-role transport aircraft that can carry up to 70 troops or eight tonnes of cargo and can carry out missions such as airborne warning, surveillance and reconnaissance. Airbus has said the Indian Air Force will soon become the largest C-295 operator, and that in India, all of the aircraft’s structural components are being made locally. AIR FORCE’S GROWING NEEDS The source who said the expanded order was for the Air Force also said the Indian government is likely to place more orders for C-295s, while a separate industry source, familiar with the Ministry of Defence’s thinking, said New Delhi wants up to 75 more C-295s, above the 56 ordered in 2021. Sixteen C-295s from the 2021 order are due to come from Airbus’ site in Spain while the remaining are expected to be assembled at the Airbus-***** facility in India by 2031. The new purchased C-295s could come solely from the Gujarat assembly line, but if New Delhi wants delivery faster, some may still need to come from Spain, the first source added. Story Continues The C-295 replaces India’s legacy fleet of 56 Avro HS-748, which were first introduced in 1961 and formed the backbone of the Air Force’s transport fleet. The Indian Air Force chief this year criticised slow deliveries of fighter jets from state-run warplane maker Hindustan Aeronautics and has emphasised increasing production speed and called for opening up warplane manufacturing to private firms to boost competition. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra, Shivam Patel and Tim Hepher; Additional reporting by Aditi Shah; Editing by Gerry Doyle) Source link #India #talks #Airbus #C295 #aircraft #ageing #fleet #revamp #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Spectre of Trump's tariffs hammers risk currencies, crypto – Reuters Spectre of Trump's tariffs hammers risk currencies, crypto – Reuters Spectre of Trump’s tariffs hammers risk currencies, crypto ReutersSudden $1 Trillion Crypto Market Shock Sees Bitcoin Plunge Under $80,000 Price ForbesCrypto prices tumble as Trump-fuelled euphoria fades ReutersPi Coin’s hype vs reality: A game-changer or just speculation? The Economic TimesBitcoin Down 25% From All-Time High as Crypto Rout Worsens Yahoo Finance Source link #Spectre #Trump039s #tariffs #hammers #risk #currencies #crypto #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pamila-Raye Jetta: Woman admits shocking attack on toddler at East Victoria Park shopping centre Pamila-Raye Jetta: Woman admits shocking attack on toddler at East Victoria Park shopping centre A 21-year-old woman has admitted a shocking attack on a toddler at an East Victoria Park shopping centre. Source link #PamilaRaye #Jetta #Woman #admits #shocking #attack #toddler #East #Victoria #Park #shopping #centre Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump signals U.S., U.K. could reach ‘real trade deal’ without tariffs Trump signals U.S., U.K. could reach ‘real trade deal’ without tariffs U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump at a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House on Feb. 27, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Carl Court | Getty Images News | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump signaled the U.K. could broker a “real trade deal” and escape tariffs amid ongoing negotiations sweetened by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Thursday visit to the White House. When asked during a joint press briefing whether Starmer had convinced Trump to avoid additional levies on Britain, Trump said, “He tried! He was working hard, I’ll tell you that. He earned whatever the hell they pay him over there. But, he tried … I think there is a very good chance that in the case of these two great friendly countries, I think we could end up with a real trade deal that … where the tariffs wouldn’t be necessary. We’ll see.” The Washington leader stressed that he was “very receptive” to the overtures of Starmer — whom he repeatedly lauded as “very, very special person” and a “very tough” negotiator — and noted that the two countries could arrive at “a deal that could be terrific.” “I think we’ll have something, maybe even, in terms of possibilities, agreed to very shortly,” Trump said. The warm rapprochement with the U.K. stands in sharp contrast with Trump’s otherwise punitive tariff-led approach to redefining the U.S.’ trade relationships globally since his return to the Oval Office in January. The Washington leader earlier on Thursday revealed plans to impose proposed 25% levies on imports from Mexico and Canada on March 4 after a one-month suspension of the initiative. He also announced that China — assiduously targeted on trade during Trump’s first mandate — will face an additional 10% in duties on the same date next week. Trump advocates tariffs as a means to reshape commercial relations, eliminate trade deficits and promote domestic manufacturing. But analysts warn that the U.S. consumer could end up picking up the tab, by way of higher prices on goods and the potential heating of inflation in the world’s largest economy. “We’ve been treated very unfairly in trade,” Trump said Thursday, noting that this applied to “friend and foe” alike. Amid the increase in tensions, Trump has also threatened tariffs on the U.S.’ longstanding transatlantic partners, leaving the European Union and the U.K. in a diplomatic race to avoid such measures. In a Thursday escalation, the U.S. president said the European bloc, whose roots date back to the 1993 enforcement of the Maastricht Treaty, was ” formed in order to ****** the United States … that’s the purpose of it, and they’ve done a good job of it.” In response, the EU Commission noted that the bloc had benefitted the U.S. in the past. Starmer, whose White House charm offensive included a letter from Britain’s King Charles inviting Trump on an unprecedented second state visit to the U.K., struck a conciliatory tone on Thursday, saying the two leaders had “had a really good discussion, a productive discussion, a good discussion” on trade. “I think you’re trying to find a divide between us that doesn’t exist,” he told reporters, noting: “Our trading relationship is not just strong, it’s fair, balanced and reciprocal.” U.S. trade with the U.K. has been balanced on average, seesawing between surplus and deficit in recent years and leading British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves to reassure in late January that her country is “not part of the problem” for Washington. Ukraine in focus The two heads of states’ Thursday talks also touched on a second key concern for Trump — accelerating the denouement of the war in Ukraine and European proactivism in increasing defense spending. In that vein, he congratulated Britain’s Tuesday announcement that it will increase its defense contributions to 2.5% of the national gross domestic product from April 2027 — exceeding the formal 2% NATO target many allies have struggled to meet. “In this new era, you’re also right that Europe must step up,” Starmer said. Trump, who has vexed Western allies by quickly reinstating discussions with a previously isolated Russia, on Thursday stressed that Washington was laying the groundwork for a “longtime peace agreement” between Kyiv and Moscow and is hoping for a ceasefire as part of next steps. European allies have questioned whether Washington’s expedited negotiations and warm Kremlin diplomacy could result in an unfavorable or unilateral peace deal that could force Ukraine into territorial concessions. In the interim, the White House leader has also prioritized raking in returns for the U.S.’ military and foreign aid contributions to Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Trump said his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy would visit the White House on Friday to sign a deal on critical rare earth minerals. Zelenskyy, separately, described this “framework agreement” as underpinning plans to create a joint investment fund in the U.S., in which Ukraine would pour 50% of revenues reaped from the future monetization of its natural resource assets. “We’ll be signing a historic deal that will make the United States a major partner in developing Ukraine’s minerals and rare earths and oil and gases,” Trump reassured on Thursday. “We’ll be digging, dig-dig-digging. Dig we must.” Source link #Trump #signals #U.S #U.K #reach #real #trade #deal #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Strategy Is Down 50% From Its Highs. What Does It Mean for Its $43B Bitcoin Holdings? Strategy Is Down 50% From Its Highs. What Does It Mean for Its $43B Bitcoin Holdings? Disclaimer: The analyst who wrote this piece owns shares of Strategy (MSTR). Bitcoin’s sharp price declines have dominated news headlines this week, but major corporate BTC holder Strategy (MSTR) has been in a downtrend for more than three months. Trading around the $250 level on Wednesday, Strategy is lower by about 55% since peaking at $543 on Nov. 21. Investors in leveraged MSTR products have suffered even greater losses. The Defiance Daily Target 2x Long MSTR ETF (MSTX) has plunged 90%, while the T-REX ETF (MSTU) has declined 85%. Despite the decline in bitcoin, Strategy’s BTC acquisition remains profitable. Since initiating purchases in August 2020, the company is up 32% on its holdings, with an average cost basis of $66,300 per BTC and an unrealized profit of $10.65 billion at bitcoin’s current price of about $87,000. A closer look at Strategy’s convertible debt highlights potential “liquidation prices” or forced bitcoin sales. Notably, all of the company’s 499,096 BTC remain unencumbered, meaning Strategy has not pledged any bitcoin as collateral. An earlier convertible note using bitcoin as collateral with Silvergate Bank was fully repaid. According to Bitcoin Overflow on X, Strategy has $8.2 billion in total outstanding debt, backed by 499,096 BTC, currently valued at $43.4 billion. The short answer: As long as the value of Strategy’s bitcoin exceeds its debt levels, the company would not need to sell any of its BTC holdings. In other words, bitcoin would have to decline all the way to approximately $16,500, or roughly another 80% from current levels. Taking a more detailed look, two of the six outstanding convertible bonds—the 2029 and 2030 issues—are below their offering price. They’re large bonds, though, accounting for $5 billion out of the $8.2 billion total. Even then, the debt does not mature until 2029, allowing time for recovery. And in theory, Strategy could roll over more paper, if that were to happen. If the value of the company’s bitcoin were to drop below debt levels at the time the convertible bonds matured, and the MSTR stock price was below the conversion price (which would be very likely in that scenario), Strategy — in order to prevent massive dilution in its stock — would likely decide to sell bitcoin to repay the bonds in cash rather than converting them into equity. Read more: In Defense of the ‘MicroStrategy Premium’ Source link #Strategy #Highs #43B #Bitcoin #Holdings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Slender Threads Review – Alternative Magazine Online Slender Threads Review – Alternative Magazine Online With wonderful graphics and voice acting bringing Harvey Green’s waking nightmare to life, Slender Threads is easy to recommend – especially to those who like their point-and-click adventures with a dark edge. It’s undoubtedly a little bit too easy and a touch too short, but the production values (including the subtle soundtrack) and script are excellent throughout. Source link #Slender #Threads #Review #Alternative #Magazine #Online Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China vows to retaliate as necessary after Trump threatens tariffs China vows to retaliate as necessary after Trump threatens tariffs ******** President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump. Dan Kitwoodnicholas Kamm | Afp | Getty Images China’s Ministry of Commerce said Friday that it “firmly opposes” U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest threat to ramp up tariffs on ******** goods and vowed retaliation if necessary. “If the U.S. insists on its own way, China will take all necessary countermeasures to defend its legitimate rights and interests,” a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said in a statement, translated by CNBC. “We urge the U.S. side to not repeat its own mistakes, and to return as soon as possible to the right track of properly resolving conflicts through dialogue on equal footing,” it said. The statement followed Trump’s announcement on Thursday that the U.S. would impose an extra 10% duty on ******** imports starting March 4. That coincides with the start of China’s annual parliamentary meetings. The new tariffs would come on top of the 10% additional tariffs Trump levied on China on Feb. 4. Trump announced the two rounds of China tariffs over the country’s role in the fentanyl trade. The addictive drug, precursors to which are mostly produced in China and Mexico, has led to tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year in the U.S. “In the short term, China’s response will likely include raising tariffs on select U.S. imports, adding more American firms to its unreliable entity list, and potentially further tightening export controls on critical minerals,” Neil Thomas, a fellow on ******** politics at Asia Society, said in an email. But he expects Beijing’s retaliation will likely remain “measured,” as ******** President Xi Jinping has an incentive to meet with his American counterpart and initiate negotiations to avoid measures that put greater pressure on growth. China’s exports have been a rare bright spot in an otherwise slowing economy. The U.S. is China’s largest trading partner on a single-country basis. While Beijing may maintain a “restrained” stance, upcoming moves will likely target industries that matter the most to Trump supporters, said Alfredo Montufar-Helu, head of China center at The Conference Board. China would prefer to leave some room for further negotiations as they hope to avoid even higher import tariffs and other “corrective” measures by Washington, he said. After the first round of tariffs earlier this month, China’s retaliatory measures included raising duties on certain U.S. energy imports, and putting two U.S. companies on an unreliable entities list that could restrict their ability to do business in the Asian country. China has also increased controls on exports of critical minerals that the U.S. needs. “The sharpest arrow that China has in its quiver would be to restrict U.S. access to critical minerals that can’t readily be sourced elsewhere,” said Stephen Olson, a visiting senior fellow at Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and a former U.S. trade negotiator. A stronger tone Despite the lack of specifics, China’s Ministry of Commerce statement on Friday struck a stronger tone than its response to the initial 10% duties earlier this month. The Commerce Ministry on Friday defended China’s drug control efforts and called the latest tariff threat — on grounds of ******** fentanyl flows — as “purely shifting the blame” without helping the U.S. solve its own drug problems. It also denounced the additional tariffs for “adding to the burdens on American businesses and consumers and disrupting the global supply chain.” The latest statement “sends a clear message that the ******** government is ready to respond in defense of national interests, and they won’t ‘bend the knee,'” said Montufar-Helu. In contrast, the ministry’s statement dated Feb. 2 urged Washington to manage fentanyl issues “objectively and rationally” while cautioning the tariffs could damage normal China-U.S. economic and trade relations. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also toughened its tone in a response to the tariffs Friday. The U.S. act of “pressuring, coercing and threatening” China with tariffs will only backfire, spokesperson Lin Jian said in ********, reported by state media and translated by CNBC. Trump’s announcement of extra tariffs will “push China into a position of assuming that a deal may not be possible or may not be achievable in the near term,” Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at Hinrich Foundation, told CNBC. “That leaves Beijing with two options: either roll out continued measured responses in the hope of avoiding further escalation and maybe even rolling back existing measures; or going much *******,” she added, as the previous “modest measures weren’t enough and the threat for future escalation wasn’t taken seriously enough.” More tariffs likely At the start of his second term, Trump has ordered his administration to investigate Beijing’s compliance with a trade deal struck during his first presidency in 2020. The final result of the assessment will be delivered to Trump by April 1. That could set the stage for further actions of what Trump called “reciprocal tariffs,” raising duties on various countries including China to match their existing levies on U.S. imports. In a social media post Thursday, he confirmed that “The April Second Reciprocal Tariff date will remain in full force and effect.” Source link #China #vows #retaliate #Trump #threatens #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Gran Turismo 7 update 1.56 available today Gran Turismo 7 update 1.56 available today The update brings three new cars, extra Café Menu, World Circuit Events, GT Sophy AI update, and more. Source link #Gran #Turismo #update #today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mexico extradites notorious drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero and dozens of cartel members to the US – CNN Mexico extradites notorious drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero and dozens of cartel members to the US – CNN Mexico extradites notorious drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero and dozens of cartel members to the US CNNNotorious ******** drug lord among 29 cartel members extradited to US BBC.comMexico releases 29 high-level organized crime operatives into US custody The GuardianMexico sends major drug capos to US as Trump tariff threat looms Reuters Canada Source link #Mexico #extradites #notorious #drug #lord #Rafael #Caro #Quintero #dozens #cartel #members #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ASX Runners of the Week: Wide Open, Pacific Edge, Forbidden Foods & Olympio ASX Runners of the Week: Wide Open, Pacific Edge, Forbidden Foods & Olympio The ASX has finished off an uneasy week of trading on further shaky footing, as bank stocks continued to release weak December data and United States consumer sentiment began to sour. Shipping logistics giant WiseTech – which exploded into prominence post COVID-19 lockdowns as global trade routes went into turmoil- endured yet another week of public lambasting, which saw tens of billions of dollars wiped from its market cap. This week’s pandemonium came at the hands of four board directors, who sensationally quit on Monday citing “intractable indifferences” around founder and former-CEO Richard White’s role at the company. Following revelations about the founder and largest shareholder’s not-so-private-life in October last year, White stepped down as CEO to the company he helped build – only to come roaring back in style this week as its new executive chairman. In a departure from February’s flavour of the month gold stocks, and despite another all-time-high gold price on Monday, this week’s Bulls N’ Bears ASX Runners of the Week list was overrun by two *********** sustainable and health food companies. Wide Open Agriculture Ltd (ASX: WOA) 260% up (from 0.5c to 1.8c) This week’s Bulls N’ Bears ASX Runner of the Week is sustainable foods company Wide Open Agriculture. The company jumped out of the blocks on Tuesday, announcing its high-protein lupin isolate powder had received approval from China’s customs administrator for export into the giant ******** market. China’s plant-based protein market was valued at a staggering US$4.2 billion (A$6.76 billion) last year. It is predicted to continue as a massive growth market and is currently fetching a handy 12.4 per cent compound annual growth rate. More than $4 million Wide Open shares were traded this week, pushing the company’s share price to a high of 1.8 cents per share on Wednesday, up a massive 260 per cent from a close of 0.5c last week. Wide Open says its lupin protein isolate has proven commercial applications including as a base for protein powders, plant-based milks, yoghurts and ice-creams. The company intends to sell the product into plant-based dairy markets. It is also marketing an alternative tofu product, which utilises lupins instead of soy. As China’s increasing middle-class prioritises health and fitness, plant-based protein shakes are becoming popular amid a booming gym culture – not dissimilar to the ***** western fitness industries experienced throughout the 2010s. The company will now provide product samples to ******** food and beverage distributors and continue its discussions on further Asian market saturation. It seems this small, WA-based innovative, sustainable foods company is uniquely positioned to convert its industry knowhow into servicing what could potentially become the world’s largest health foods and fitness market. Pacific Edge Ltd (ASX: PEB) 125% up (from 6c to 13.5c) Fast-finishing Pacific Edge took out silver on the week’s Runners list. The ******* diagnostics company’s share price surged on Friday after the American Urological Association (AUA) included its Cxbladder Triage test as the standard of care in the association’s clinical guideline for managing patients at risk of bladder *******. Pacific’s share price saw an instant re-rate on the news on Friday morning spiking to a high of 13.5c, up a massive 125 per cent from the same time last week when it closed at 6c per share. The company’s Cxbladder test uses a ******-based biomarker that can rule out bladder ******* in at-risk patients by detecting blood in their ******. It eliminates the need for an invasive and uncomfortable bladder cystoscopy. The cystoscopy procedure involves a doctor inserting a cystoscope camera along the urethra and into a patient’s bladder – which understandably most patients would prefer to avoid. Pacific’s tumour marker technology means those with intermediate risk factors can do just that – and get their all-clear much faster. Pacific was recently worth nearly $1 billion but has had a tumultuous few years. US Medicare administrator Novartis announced Cxbladder would no longer be covered from April, which saw Pacific’s share price tank to below a $50m valuation in recent weeks. AUA positions Cxbladder Triage as the only ****** biomarker backed by “Grade A” evidence from a recent randomised control trial, enabling its inclusion in the association’s standard of care guidelines for future treatment. The guidelines were last revised five years ago. Could this news be the start of things to come for the company? The AUA’s resounding stamp could be the turnaround Pacific needs to see its product return to clinical use and even return the company’s $1b market valuation. Forbidden Foods Ltd (ASX: FFF) 100% up (from 0.55c to 1.1c) Forbidden Foods charged into third spot on the Runners podium this week. The health foods company was issued with a “please explain” notice by the market overlords at the ASX on Wednesday, after the share price closed up 80 per cent on a day when no news was released to the market. Camera IconForbidden Foods major shareholder Steve Smith with the company’s recently acquired oat milk range, Oat Milk Goodness – ****. Credit: File Forbidden Foods promptly replied to the good people down at the ASX, noting that it had recently completed a successful capital raising to major shareholders, including top shareholder of the recently acquired Oat Milk Goodness range (****), *********** cricket legend Steve Smith. Forbidden’s shares finished off the week for a high of 1.1c, up a more than handy 100 per cent for the week, on nearly $1m of stock traded. Other than being only one of four men to smash more than 10,000 runs for Australia, it would seem Smith knows a thing or two about health food products and has been backing his oat milk business on market. A change of substantial notice on Tuesday highlighted the star batsman had been buying even more shares on market post the recent capital raising. Forbidden Foods says the recently acquired **** is the only *********** oat milk on the market that does not contain recently maligned industrial seed oils, which have been linked to chronic health problems and inflammatory diseases. The **** range is actively pursuing international expansion opportunities, with an initial focus on India, which is a major growth market. Management is off to Delhi next week, where they should be able to comfortably leverage Smith’s profile in the cricket-mad nation’s burgeoning health products market. Olympio Metals Ltd (ASX: OLY) 92% up (from 4c to 7.7c) Gold junior Olympio Metals just missed out on a podium finish on the Bulls N’ Bears Runners of the Week list. The company’s share price flew up on Wednesday after it announced the acquisition of an 80 per cent interest in the Bousquet gold project in Quebec, Canada. It was inevitable that our Runners list would feature at least one goldie, after the yellow metal touched a record A$4650 an ounce price on Monday. Olympio’s share price spiked to a high of 7.7c on the announcement, up a considerable 92 per cent from the previous week’s close, on more than $500,000 of stock traded. Olympio says its Bousquet project in Quebec is just a stone’s throw from both its Rouyn-Noranda gold mining centre and the Bousquet Mining Camp, which includes the more than 15-million-ounce La Ronde and 2.4m-ounce Westwood gold mines. The company believes high-grade gold mineralisation at Bousquet is quartz vein-hosted. Numerous visible gold intersections were historically recorded across its prospective project area. One standout intersection noted 9 metres of mineralisation running an impressive 16.96 grams per tonne gold from 178m at its Paquin East prospect. Olympio says the project consists of numerous drill-ready targets. The company will begin drill permitting immediately to test what it says are multiple geophysical IP anomalies in the historical data. Olympio’s price has come back from its spike. It will be interesting to see how long that lasts, as the sub-$5m market capped gold and copper minnow should be drilling in no time within a world-class region endowed with the flying commodities of copper and gold. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: *****@*****.tld Source link #ASX #Runners #Week #Wide #Open #Pacific #Edge #Forbidden #Foods #Olympio Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Qatar Airways says crew handled dead passenger ‘appropriately’ Qatar Airways says crew handled dead passenger ‘appropriately’ Qatar Airways says an internal review has found that its crew “acted quickly, appropriately and professionally” when they placed the body of a woman who died mid-flight next to an *********** couple. The airline issued the statement to the BBC on Friday, after the couple told Australia’s Channel Nine that they were traumatised by the experience on the Melbourne to Doha flight. Qatar Airways had apologised in a previous statement for “any inconvenience or distress this incident may have caused”. The incident sparked debate over procedures on dealing with deaths aboard planes. Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, who were travelling to Venice for a holiday, said the cabin crew had placed the dead woman, covered in blankets, next to Mr Ring for the last four hours of a 14-hour flight. The woman collapsed then died along the aisle beside them. Afterwards, the crew tried but failed to move her body to the business class section because “she was quite large lady and they couldn’t get her through the aisle”, Mr Ring said. They then asked Mr Ring to move over and placed the lady in the seat he was in. While Ms Colin was invited by another passenger to sit beside her across the aisle, Mr Ring said the plane’s staff did not offer to move him elsewhere even though there were vacant seats around. Qatar Airways said on Friday that the crew’s handling of the woman’s death was “in line with training and industry standard practice”. “Passengers were accommodated to other seats, and a crew member was sitting at all times with the deceased passenger for the duration of the flight until landing in Doha,” its statement said. “It is an unfortunate reality that unexpected deaths do sometimes occur on board aircraft across the aviation industry and our crew are highly trained to deal with these situations with as much respect and dignity as possible.” The airline also said that they have offered support and compensation to the family of the deceased and other passengers who were directly affected by the incident. “We totally understand that we can’t hold the airline responsible for the poor lady’s death, but surely after that there has to be a protocol to look after the customers on board,” Ms Colin said in the televised interview with Channel 9. When the plane landed, Mr Ring said passengers were asked to stay put while medical staff and police came on board. Ambulance officers then started pulling blankets off the woman and he saw her face, he said. “I can’t believe they told us to stay,” he said, adding that he thought they would have let the passengers leave the plane first before letting medical staff handle the body. Barry Eustance, a former Virgin Atlantic captain, earlier told the BBC that in his experience “the crew would normally try to isolate the body, so there is no passenger exposure to the body and vice versa, for respect and privacy but also for medical reasons”. According to the guidelines by the International Air Transport Association on dealing with deaths on board a flight, the deceased person should be moved to a seat, preferably one with few other passengers nearby, and covered with a blanket or body bag up to the neck. The body could also be moved to another area that does not obstruct an aisle or exit. Upon landing, the association recommends that other passengers disembark before the body is attended to by local authorities. Additional reporting by Fan Wang. Source link #Qatar #Airways #crew #handled #dead #passenger #appropriately Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pokémon Champions is an upcoming battle sim set to release on Nintendo Switch and mobile Pokémon Champions is an upcoming battle sim set to release on Nintendo Switch and mobile Pokémon Champions is a PvP battler for competitive fans Take part in high-stakes matches like in Pokémon Stadium Pokémon Home integration will also be available On Pokémon Day, The Pokémon Company unveiled exciting details about Pokémon Champions, a thrilling new entry in the Pokémon franchise. The announcement came during a special Pokémon Presents presentation streamed globally, celebrating the original launch of the Pokémon video games in 1996. Developed by The Pokémon Works in collaboration with Game Freak, Pokémon Champions promises to bring the core excitement of Pokémon battles into a focused, multiplayer experience, perfect for fans of competitive play. It carries forward the legacy of trainers challenging each other to showcase their strategic skills. Unlike traditional ones in the series, this new experience is dedicated to battling, providing players with a streamlined format to compete in high-stakes matches. It is being built for seasoned trainers and newbies alike, offering familiar mechanics such as Pokémon types, Abilities, and moves, which create a dynamic environment where strategy is key. Another cool feature about Pokémon Champions is its compatibility with Pokémon Home. This cloud-based service, which connects the core Pokémon franchises across platforms, allows you to bring in your favourite Pokémon from past games. However, only certain Pokémon available through Pokémon Home will be usable in Pokémon Champions, at least in the beginning. While not every Pokémon will make the cut, you’ll still have plenty of options to assemble a team of classics and new partners for your battles. Pokémon Champions will be available on both the Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, allowing for cross-platform play on the go. With multiple modes likely to be available, there’s something for every trainer, whether you enjoy quick duels or more in-depth strategic matches. While you wait, check out this list of the best Pokémon games to play on Android and iOS right now! Though Pokémon Champions is still in development and lacks a confirmed release date, it’s already shaping up to be a must-play for fans of the competitive side of the Pokémon universe. You can visit the official website to stay updated on the development. Source link #Pokémon #Champions #upcoming #battle #sim #set #release #Nintendo #Switch #mobile Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis has restful night amid clinical improvements – ******** News – English Pope Francis has restful night amid clinical improvements – ******** News – English Pope Francis has restful night amid clinical improvements ******** News – EnglishPope reaches 2-week mark at hospital with pneumonia and doctors suggest he’s overcome the worst YahooPope’s Illness Is Surrounded by Intrigue Over Possible Resignation The New York TimesPope Francis’ medical condition continues to improve, ******** says Catholic News AgencyPope Francis continues to improve in the hospital, ******** says ABC News Source link #Pope #Francis #restful #night #clinical #improvements #******** #News #English Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kansas man dies after being stabbed multiple times; no one in custody, police say Kansas man dies after being stabbed multiple times; no one in custody, police say A 33-year-old Kansas man has died after being stabbed multiple times Tuesday in Dodge City. The man was identified as Cody Holt, and his death is being investigated as a *********, Dodge City deputy police chief Jerad Goertzen said Wednesday. Officers responded at 9:14 p.m. to a medical emergency call in the 500 block of Sunnyside, in the south part of the city. They found Holt outside of a house with multiple stab wounds. A passerby noticed him and called 911. Life-saving measures were performed, but he died at the scene, police said. The circumstances behind his death are not known, and no one is in custody at this time. Goertzen said the department is “following several leads.” Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to call the DCPD at 620-225-8126 or 620-227-4646. Dodge City’s population is roughly 27,514 and is about 150 miles west of Wichita. Source link #Kansas #man #dies #stabbed #multiple #times #custody #police Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Notorious ******** drug lord among 29 cartel members extradited to US – BBC.com Notorious ******** drug lord among 29 cartel members extradited to US – BBC.com Notorious ******** drug lord among 29 cartel members extradited to US BBC.comMexico extradites notorious drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero and dozens of cartel members to the US CNNMexico releases 29 high-level organized crime operatives into US custody The GuardianMexico sends major drug capos to US as Trump tariff threat looms Reuters CanadaMexico Releases Cartel Operatives, Including Rafael Caro Quintero, Into U.S. Custody The New York Times Source link #Notorious #******** #drug #lord #among #cartel #members #extradited #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bureau of Meteorology issues heatwave warning for WA Bureau of Meteorology issues heatwave warning for WA Temperatures could soar above 40 degrees celsius across vast stretches of WA this weekend as a heatwave grips and expands over the continent. The Bureau of Meteorology, in its latest update from Friday afternoon, said low and severe intensity heatwaves would cover much of WA over the March 1 weekend, with severe heatwaves forecast for the mining-rich Pilbara region. “Maximum inland temperatures in the low to mid forties, with overnight minimum temperatures in the mid to high twenties,” the bureau’s alert states. “Along the coast maximum temperatures are in the mid thirties to low forties and minimum temperatures in the low to high twenties. “Severe heatwave conditions are expected to increase in area and intensity over the weekend and into the new week. “Locations likely to be impacted include Denham, Exmouth, Kiwirrkurra, Newman and Paraburdoo.” BOM meteorology Miriam Bradbury said Perth would dodge the soaring temperatures and likely enjoy a top of 31 degrees celsius on Saturday. “It will be more unsettled and hotter further north,” she said. Camera IconBoM’s three-day heatwave forecast for WA from February 28, 2025 onwards. Yellow denotes a low intensity heatwave, orange a severe heatwave and red an extreme heatwave. BOM Credit: News Corp Australia “Those severe to locally intense heatwaves continue, particularly through parts of the Gascoyne, Pilbara, parts of the Kimberley and interior districts as well as that heat continues.” Forecaster Weatherzone said temperatures could exceed 45 degrees in parts of the state during the opening days of Autumn. “A large pool of heat that has been building over northern and central Australia during the final week of summer will send temperatures soaring in the opening days of autumn,” the forecaster stated. “Computer model guidance suggests that temperatures could reach about 46 to 47 degrees celsius in WA’s Pilbara district this weekend and early next week.” Elsewhere, most of the country will likely enjoy more benign temperatures over the weekend, Ms Bradbury said. Brisbane will likely experience a maximum temperature of 31 degrees, she said, while Sydney will enjoy a top of 29. Melbourne will see a top of 25, Hobart 23 and Adelaide 27. Camera IconTropical Cyclone Alfred continues to sit off the Queensland coast. BOM. Credit: Supplied But the Northern Territory will experience “very hot conditions”, she said, with Darwin forecast to experience a max of 34 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. In Queensland, Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to rage off the Queensland coast and the bureau has warned boaties and rock fishers to stay out of the water due to hazardous surf conditions. “Strong winds and large seas and swells, pushing up the southeast and central coast of Queensland, Ms Bradbury said. “We are seeing strong to gale force winds, coastal erosion hazards and hazardous surf, all coming into play on those coastal areas.” For Saturday, a hazardous surf warning is in place for the Capricornia Coast, K’gari Coast, Sunshine Coast Waters and Gold Coast Waters. Source link #Bureau #Meteorology #issues #heatwave #warning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Starship Traveller has just released on PC and mobile, transforming the 1984 novel into a sci-fi gamebook Starship Traveller has just released on PC and mobile, transforming the 1984 novel into a sci-fi gamebook Take the role of a starship captain lost in the vast universe Manage seven crew members and send them out in space New game on Eye of the Dragon to follow in a few weeks The Fighting Fantasy Classics library is growing once again, this time with Starship Traveller. Stephen Jackson’s popular work from 1984 has been adapted by Tin Man Games into a sci-fi gamebook for modern platforms. You can jump into the intergalactic adventure now on Steam, Android, and iOS. In Starship Traveller, you take on the role of a starship captain stranded in an unknown part of the universe after being pulled through the Seltsian Void. With no clear way home, you’ll have to explore alien worlds, negotiate with unfamiliar civilizations, and fight your way through deep-space battles. Every decision affects your survival, your crew, and your ship. The studio has modernised Starship Traveller using its Gamebook Adventures Engine, enhancing the experience while still staying true to the original. You’ll manage up to seven crew members, sending them on dangerous missions to unfamiliar planets. A built-in tracking system handles stats, ship-to-ship combat, and maps, so you can focus on the adventure. If that’s too daunting and you want a more laidback experience, the Free Read mode will be perfect. With classic dice rolls and adjustable difficulty settings, it is built for those who prefer a relaxing adventure. Speaking of dice rolls, they are physics-based and interactive, making you feel the weight of your actions. For similar experiences, check out this list of the best narrative adventure games on mobile! The Fighting Fantasy Classics library isn’t stopping here either. In about six weeks, Eye of the Dragon, written by Ian Livingstone, will be added to the collection. This dungeon-crawling adventure sends you in search of the legendary Eye of the Dragon, a powerful gem hidden deep in a labyrinth filled with traps, monsters, and challenges. If you enjoy classic fantasy gamebooks, it’ll be one to watch. Download Starship Traveller now by clicking on your preferred link below. Visit the official Steam page for more information. Source link #Starship #Traveller #released #mobile #transforming #scifi #gamebook Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

South Korean police summon Japanese woman for kissing BTS member without consent South Korean police summon Japanese woman for kissing BTS member without consent South Korean police said Friday they are summoning a Japanese woman for questioning over allegedly kissing Jin, a member of the K-pop supergroup BTS, without consent during a free hug event last year. A police officer who answered the phone at Seoul’s Songpa police station said it requested the woman to appear for questioning over an allegation of ******* harassment. The police station refused to disclose her identity citing privacy. The station said it had launched an investigation after receiving an online complaint and refused to provide further details because an investigation was under way. Media reports said that South Korean police were able to confirm the identity of the woman with the help of Japanese police. The reports said the woman, who is in her 50s, was refusing to appear for questioning. A day after finishing his mandatory 18-month military service in June 2024, Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok-jin, celebrated his discharge and the band’s 11-year anniversary by offering free hugs to his fans at an event in Seoul. During the event, reportedly attended by 1,000 people, a woman abruptly kissed Jin, on his cheek. Video footage that went viral showed Jin apparently looking uncomfortable. The woman wrote in an online blog post that “My lips touched his neck. His skin was so soft,” according to Yonhap news agency. BTS was created in 2013 and has a legion of global supporters who call themselves the “Army.” Jin, 32, is the oldest member of the band. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #South #Korean #police #summon #Japanese #woman #kissing #BTS #member #consent Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia slumps and Trump confirms tariffs Nvidia slumps and Trump confirms tariffs Nvidia headquarters in Santa Clara, California, on May 21, 2024. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he would give tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which are temporarily paused, the go-ahead, while separately threatening on Wednesday to slap a 25% levy on the European Union. Those are some of the U.S.’ closest allies and biggest trade partners. Expect geopolitical friction and economic fallout if the tariffs are implemented. Some of the repercussions might have begun already. Jobless claims in the U.S. for the week ended Feb. 22 rose more than expected and were the highest since early October. Big Tech companies, such as Google, Meta and Microsoft, have announced layoffs this year — while such cost-cutting measures may not have been a direct response to tariffs, they are an early sign of what things could look like when companies try to deal with increased import prices. Nvidia might also be staring down the barrel of a gun. Most of Nvidia’s advanced artificial intelligence chips are manufactured by TSMC in Taiwan. Trump, on his campaign trial, has complained that the island stole the U.S.’ chip business, and said he would impose tariffs on chips from Taiwan. Shares of Nvidia plummeted Thursday after the chipmaker announced earnings Wednesday, wiping out billions in market capitalization. If tariffs on Taiwan are implemented as well, the picture will look much uglier, and not just for the chipmaker. What you need to know today Nvidia loses $273 billion in valueNvidia shares plunged 8.5% on Thursday, wiping out $273 billion in value and giving the company a market capitalization of $2.94 trillion. That makes Apple the only member of the $3 trillion club. So far in 2025, Nvidia shares have lost 10% of their value, as the company faces investor concerns about export controls, tariffs, more efficient artificial intelligence models and an overall slowing pace of growth. Trump says tariffs will go aheadU.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said in a Truth Social post on Thursday morning that his proposed 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada will go into effect March 4. He also said China will face an additional 10% tariff — on top of that the country already faces — on the same date. Reciprocal tariffs, which will apply to U.S.’ global trade partners, will kick in April 2, Trump added. Meanwhile, Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on the European Union. Markets slump over tariffs and NvidiaU.S. markets were jolted on Thursday by tariff jitters and a plunge in Nvidia shares. The S&P 500 retreated 1.59%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.45% and the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.78%. On Friday, Asia-Pacific markets followed Wall Street’s slide. Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost around 2.9%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was down roughly 3.2% and the Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 closed 1.16% lower. Higher-than-expected jobless claimsU.S. jobless claims for the week ended Feb. 22 totaled a seasonally adjusted 242,000, up 22,000 from the previous week’s revised level and higher than the Dow Jones estimate for 225,000, according to a U.S. Labor Department report Thursday. Separately, Google told staffers this week in its “People Operations,” the company’s human relations division, and its cloud unit that it is planning layoffs, CNBC has learned. Bitcoin’s week-long routBitcoin fell 3.45% to around $80,500 in early Asia trading, nearly 25% lower than the all-time high hit in mid-December after Trump’s election victory. Prices have slipped as investors shun assets perceived to be risky given the weakness in global equity markets and uncertainty around Trump’s tariffs. Investor sentiment was also soured by news that Bybit, a major cryptocurrency exchange, suffered a $1.5 billion hack. [PRO] Gold might hit $3,000, analysts sayCentral banks from around the world have been scooping up gold in recent years, lifting the precious metal to record levels. Now, with persistent geopolitical tensions, along with inflation and trade concerns, bullion could soon reach $3,000 for the first time, analysts think. There are a few ways for investors to gain exposure to gold, with each having their own fees and risks. And finally… Gold Bullion from the American Precious Metals Exchange in New York on Sept. 15, 2011. Mike Segar | Reuters America’s appetite for gold is ‘sucking’ bullion out of other countries The threat of tariffs on gold has spurred U.S. banks, investors and traders to shift the gold into the Commodities Exchange Centre and other vaults in New York, when it would otherwise usually be stored in London. “There are concerns that imminent tariffs on Canada and Mexico will affect both gold and silver,” said Nicky Shiels, head of metals strategy at MKS Pamp. Canada and Mexico are among the largest exporters of gold to the United States. Since Trump’s election victory last November, U.S. gold futures have largely outpaced their international counterparts, creating arbitrage opportunities for those able to shift large quantities of bullion into the U.S., according to industry watchers CNBC spoke to. Source link #Nvidia #slumps #Trump #confirms #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

South Korean Police Investigate Japanese Woman for Kissing BTS Star Jin South Korean Police Investigate Japanese Woman for Kissing BTS Star Jin The South Korean police have summoned a Japanese woman for questioning after she was accused of kissing Jin, a member of the K-pop supergroup BTS, without consent during a public event last year. The Japanese woman, whose name was not revealed, was in a crowd of fans at the event in Seoul ​last June that celebrated Jin’s discharge from the South Korean military after his mandatory 18 months of service. Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok-jin,​ was offering hugs to his fans when the Japanese woman abruptly kissed him on his​ cheek. Video footage that went viral showed Jin looking uncomfortable when a couple of female fans tried to kiss him. Subsequently, someone filed a formal legal complaint on a government website, which the authorities can react to if they consider them worthy of investigation. The South Korean police have since identified a Japanese woman with the help of Japanese police, said the Songpa police station in southern Seoul. BTS member Jin during the event where the incident took place in Seoul, in June in 2024, in this still image obtained from a social media video.Credit…@Seoshoom, via X, via Reuters If the ​woman accepts the summons, she ​will face questioning on possible charges of ******* harassment, the police station said. They didn’t say what additional steps they might take if she did not oblige. It did not provide personal details on the woman, but South Korean news media said the woman ​was in her 50s ​and bragged online about how her lips had touched Jin’s “soft” skin. ​Hybe, the firm that created and manages the boy band, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Despite historical disputes rooted in Japan’s colonial rule of Korea in the early ​20th century, South Korea and Japan maintain ​brisk tourist exchanges. South Korean TV dramas and K-pop groups like BTS are a major attraction for Japanese fans, who visit locations where the dramas were​ filmed or attend K-pop fan meetings. BTS has a legion of global fans who call themselves the BTS “Army.” ​ Like all other eligible young South Korean men, the seven boy-band members were obliged to finish military service. That led to a pause for one of the biggest musical acts in the world​. Jin, 32, the oldest member of the band​, was the first to join the military in 2022.​ The band’s management has said that the group would ​reconvene this year once all its members are back from military service. Source link #South #Korean #Police #Investigate #Japanese #Woman #Kissing #BTS #Star #Jin Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ChatGPT-4.5 is here for Pro users now and Plus users next week, and I can’t wait to try it ChatGPT-4.5 is here for Pro users now and Plus users next week, and I can’t wait to try it OpenAI has launched GPT-4.5, but only for ChatGPT Pro users right now. Plus users get it next week GPT-4.5 is supposedly smarter and more emotionally intuitive than earlier AI models but lack deep reasoning power OpenAI claims GPT-4.5 will provide better conversations and fewer hallucinations than ever OpenAI has officially launched GPT-4.5, the most advanced version of its AI models, but it has no deep reasoning ability, because it’s designed to be an all-purpose model. The latest model is available on ChatGPT, though for now, you’ll need to be a Pro subscriber to access it. The model is being rolled out as a “research preview,” which means it’s imperfect, and OpenAI hopes users will help sort out any bugs or awkwardness. Even so, the company claims early testers report that GPT-4.5 feels more natural, intuitive, and emotionally intelligent. This is a welcome upgrade for those of us who have ever asked ChatGPT for information and felt like the response was just an outdated Wikipedia page. GPT-4.5 is supposed to be even better at understanding context and recognizing social cues than its predecessors. The overall feeling is supposedly all but indistinguishable from chatting with a real person. It certainly seems to have impressed OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who called it “the first model that feels like talking to a thoughtful person” in a post on X. Altman added that GPT-4.5 will come to ChatGPT Plus and Team subscribers next week, but you’ll need to pay $200 a month to play with it for now. GPT-4.5 is ready!good news: it is the first model that feels like talking to a thoughtful person to me. i have had several moments where i’ve sat back in my chair and been astonished at getting actually good advice from an AI.bad news: it is a giant, expensive model. we…February 27, 2025 Fewer hallucinations, more empathy Notably, GPT-4.5 is not only supposedly smarter and more creative, but it should also produce fewer hallucinations. That last part is particularly important because hallucinations were often a sticking point for tentative ChatGPT users who didn’t want to rely on a chatbot that might confidently make things up. Performance-wise, GPT-4.5 is supposed to be a big step up and really good with general knowledge. However, that doesn’t mean it can handle coding and problem-solving as well as OpenAI’s o1 and o3 models or rival options like DeepSeek’s R1. Instead, GPT-4.5 specializes in empathy, with a high emotional quotient (EQ). AI still can’t feel things, but GPT-4.5 is supposed to be better at picking up on nuance. If you’re venting about a bad day, it won’t just reply, “I’m sorry you feel that way.” Instead, it’s designed to offer more thoughtful responses. Whether that makes it feel more like a conversation partner or just a particularly well-trained customer service bot remains to be seen. As for how to measure the EQ, OpenAI quite literally depended on “vibes.” “By vibes, really mean the model’s EQ, how collaborative it feels and how warm its tone is,” OpenAI engineer Rapha Gontijo Lopes explained in a livestream demonstration of GPT-4.5. “We measured this by selecting an opinionated set of prompts and screening our trainers for the ones that most align with our vibes.” If you’re a ChatGPT Pro user, you’ll be among the first to see whether GPT-4.5 truly has the vibes of a human and lives up to the hype. If you’re not spending quite that much, you’ll get a chance soon enough. Either way, with Amazon announcing a more chatty, AI-powered Alexa+ yesterday, the AI arms race just heated up again, and this time it’s looking like the chatbots will be able to mimic how you feel more realistically than ever. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. You might also like Source link #ChatGPT4.5 #Pro #users #users #week #wait Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Shopping blackout: Economic protest Friday targets major retailers from Amazon to Walmart – Axios Shopping blackout: Economic protest Friday targets major retailers from Amazon to Walmart – Axios Shopping blackout: Economic protest Friday targets major retailers from Amazon to Walmart AxiosConsumers are planning a one-day economic blackout on Feb. 28. Here’s what to know. USA TODAYToday’s ‘economic blackout’ began from an unlikely source. But it’s tapped into Americans’ anger CNN Source link #Shopping #blackout #Economic #protest #Friday #targets #major #retailers #Amazon #Walmart #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]