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Podcast: How to ensure data quality for AI Podcast: How to ensure data quality for AI In this podcast we talk with Cody David, solutions architect with Syniti, which is part of Capgemini, about the importance of ensuring data quality for artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. Being able to trust AI is core to its use, he says. And here we need to be sure that its outcomes are reliable. That’s only going to be the case if AI is trained on a dataset that’s not full of duplicates and incomplete data. Meanwhile, AI, claims David, can be used to help with data quality, such as by finding issues in datasets that can lead to erroneous outcomes. The big takeaway is that organisations need a “data-first” attitude so that AI can do its work and produce reliable results that can be trusted, and he outlines the quick wins that can be gained. Antony Adshead: What are the key challenges in data quality in the enterprise for AI use cases? Cody David: One of the biggest challenges in data quality for AI that I see is trust. Many people view an AI system as a single ****** box. When it produces an incorrect insight or action, they call it an AI mistake and they lose confidence. Sometimes permanently, they might lose that confidence. The real issue, however, often lies in poor data quality. This is compounded by the lack of understanding of how the AI solutions truly work. Consider a sales organisation. They have a CRM and it has duplicate customer records. And an AI solution ranks your top customers incorrectly because it’s not rolling up all of the transactions to one account. So, the sales team blames the AI tool, never realising that the root cause is actually poor or inconsistent data. This is an example of what we call data quality for AI; ensuring that data is accurate and ready for those AI-driven processes. On the flip side, there’s also AI for data quality, where an AI solution can actually help detect and merge those duplicate records that we just gave in that example. I think one more challenge is that data quality has historically been an afterthought. Organisations often jump into AI without this data-first mentality and before ensuring they have that solid data foundation. So, you have these legacy systems, these legacy ERP systems with thousands of tables and decades of compounding data issues. That all adds to this complexity. And that’s why it’s crucial to address data quality issues proactively rather than trying to retrofit solutions after those AI initiatives fail. We’ve got to put that data up-front and centre of these AI initiatives and then establish that stable solution that’s going to support those trustworthy AI outputs. What are the key steps that an organisation can take to ensure data quality for AI? David: I think a systematic approach always begins with data governance. And that’s really the policies for how data is collected, stored, cleansed, shared, and finding out who is the true owner of particular business processes or datasets. It’s crucial to figure out who’s responsible for those standards. I think that next, you want to prioritise. Rather than trying to fix everything at once, focus on those areas that deliver the biggest business impact. That’s a very key phrase there: what’s the biggest business impact of what you’re trying to fix as far as data quality? And figure out the ones that feed your AI solutions. This is where you’re going to see those quick wins. Now, there are going to be budget concerns that often arise when you start talking about these data quality, data governance programmes. And ironically, it’s more expensive to work with bad data over the long run. I think a practical solution is to start small. Pick a critical business process with measurable financial impacts. Use that as a pilot to demonstrate those real savings in ROI. And once you show those data quality improvements lead to tangible benefits, like cost reductions or higher working capital, you will have a stronger case with the management for a wider data governance investment. You should also embed those data quality practices in data workflow. For example, integrate validation rules into your data management so errors can be caught immediately, preventing that data from impacting those solutions. If you can’t put in validations like that upon your data creation, you’ve got to put the systems and processes into place to catch those immediately through automated reporting. Lastly, I would say always focus on that continual improvement. Measure data quality metrics and use them to drive iterative refinements by weaving that data governance into your organisation, proving its value through those targeted pilots, and then you create that sustainable foundation for the trustworthy AI initiatives. Finally, I wondered if you could give an example of one or two quick wins that enterprises can get in terms of data quality and improving data qualities for AI? David: There are a few different examples of where we try to get quick wins for data quality, especially when trying to get very quick ROIs and high-impact business processes. If you take an ERP system, we have what we call MRO materials. Those are ones that are parts to equipment in a manufacturing process. And when you have those materials, you usually keep a safety stock or an amount of those items that would allow you to repair those machines. If a plant goes down, you’re going to potentially lose millions of dollars a day. And if you have duplicate materials, as an example, you’re actually storing more than you need. And that’s actually working capital that, if you were to correct that data quality, you free up that working capital. And then, of course, you can use that working capital for other parts of your initiatives. Another one would be maybe vendor discounts. If you have vendors that are duplicated in a system, and they are entitled to rebates based upon the amount of money they’re spending, they’re not going to realise those particular rebates. That could be an area where you could have cost savings as well. Source link #Podcast #ensure #data #quality Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NetEase’s Western Funding Cuts Won’t Affect Development of New Project From Witcher 3 Creators NetEase’s Western Funding Cuts Won’t Affect Development of New Project From Witcher 3 Creators Warner Bros. Games will close Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War developer Monolith Productions, MultiVersus developer Player First Games, and Warner Bros. Games San Diego, the company announced. Development on Monolith Productions’ 2021-announced Wonder Woman game has also been canceled. Source link #NetEases #Western #Funding #Cuts #Wont #Affect #Development #Project #Witcher #Creators Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Afghanistan's Ibrahim smashes century against England Afghanistan's Ibrahim smashes century against England Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran score a century from 106 ****** as Afghanistan take on England in the Champions Trophy. Source link #Afghanistan039s #Ibrahim #smashes #century #England Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Billionaire David Tepper Just Sold Shares of Amazon, Meta, and Oracle, and Bought Shares of Last Year’s Top-Performing Dow Jones Stock and Big AI Winner Billionaire David Tepper Just Sold Shares of Amazon, Meta, and Oracle, and Bought Shares of Last Year’s Top-Performing Dow Jones Stock and Big AI Winner Artificial intelligence (AI) stocks have been major market movers in recent quarters — and for good reason. AI promises to join many other discoveries and technologies that have been game changers. JPMorgan Chase Chairman Jamie Dimon has said AI could be as transformational as electricity and the internet. So, it’s no surprise that investors have been piling into potential AI winners. But, there are so many AI stocks out there that you may be wondering how to choose those that will indeed score an AI victory. The good news is there’s room for more than one success story in this space, and that means there are plenty of moves investors can make today that should lead to portfolio growth over the long term. You don’t have to worry about making one key decision or investing in just one stock. Still, it’s a great idea to consider what experts are doing these days, as sometimes we can add some of their ideas to our own investment plan. And with this in mind, I’m taking a look at recent moves by billionaire David Tepper. The founder of Appaloosa Management has proven his strengths over time with the fund delivering an annualized average return of 28% since its launch back in the early 1990s. How is Tepper investing right now to win in AI? Let’s find out. Image source: Getty Images. The billionaire is a big investor in technology stocks, with a particular focus on well diversified e-commerce companies: Appaloosa Management’s two biggest holdings as of the end of the latest quarter were Alibaba and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). But in the quarter, the fund slightly lowered its positions in certain tech stocks — including Amazon — in favor of one stock that’s been roaring ahead in the AI race and led gains in the Dow Jones Industrial Average last year. Here are the details of Tepper’s sells, according to a summary of its trades in the fourth quarter of 2024: Tepper cut his fund’s olding in Amazon by 18% and now holds 2.6 million shares. He decreased his holding in Meta Platforms by 21% and now holds 490,000 shares. The billionaire reduced his holding in Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) by 11% and now owns 1.4 million shares. And here’s the AI buy in the most recently reported quarter: Of course, Tepper’s biggest AI bets remain Amazon and Oracle as they make up a larger part of his portfolio. But the move to increase his position in Nvidia signals he sees more potential ahead for this AI leader, even though the stock has soared about 800% over the past two years. Story Continues So, should you follow Tepper’s move and buy Nvdia shares? I think so. What I like about Tepper’s AI strategy is that he’s invested across many top players that already are benefiting from AI. For example, Amazon’s cloud business recently reached a $115 billion revenue run rate thanks to its AI products and services. And Oracle says “record” AI demand drove its cloud infrastructure revenue up more than 50% in the latest quarter. Even though Tepper reduced some of these positions, he’s still well diversified across these high-potential companies and isn’t betting on just one player. But the move to increase the Nvidia stake was a smart one — and the tech giant makes a great buy for any investor looking to potentially score an AI win. Nvidia dominates the AI chip market and also is a powerhouse across the industry as it offers a broad range of related products and services. This has been driving double- and triple-digit revenue growth quarter after quarter, and Nvidia’s focus on innovation suggest this could continue well into the future. And right now, the stock is trading for a particularly low valuation, at only 29 times forward earnings estimates, offering investors a fantastic entry point. All of this means it’s a great idea to follow billionaire David Tepper by holding a variety of strong AI players…and picking up more shares of Nvidia. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $337,818!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $46,848!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $533,073!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. Continue » *Stock Advisor returns as of February 24, 2025 Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Adria Cimino has positions in Amazon and Oracle. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Oracle. The Motley Fool recommends Alibaba Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Billionaire David Tepper Just Sold Shares of Amazon, Meta, and Oracle, and Bought Shares of Last Year’s Top-Performing Dow Jones Stock and Big AI Winner was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Billionaire #David #Tepper #Sold #Shares #Amazon #Meta #Oracle #Bought #Shares #Years #TopPerforming #Dow #Jones #Stock #Big #Winner Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mecha BREAK Open Beta Mashmak Hands-On Preview – Extracted Core [Wccftech] Mecha BREAK Open Beta Mashmak Hands-On Preview – Extracted Core [Wccftech] Wccftech recently went hands-on with the new Mashmak extraction mode coming to Mecha Break and its Open Beta. Source link #Mecha #BREAK #Open #Beta #Mashmak #HandsOn #Preview #Extracted #Core #Wccftech Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GM raises quarterly dividend, initiates $6 billion stock buyback – CNBC GM raises quarterly dividend, initiates $6 billion stock buyback – CNBC GM raises quarterly dividend, initiates $6 billion stock buyback CNBCGM to Boost Investor Payout With New Buybacks, Dividend Hike BloombergGM Boosts Shareholder Returns: What the $6B Buyback and Dividend Hike Mean for Investors StockTitanGM boosts Q1 dividend, announces share repurchase program Detroit News Source link #raises #quarterly #dividend #initiates #billion #stock #buyback #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso: Exeter boss calls for RFU talks after England winger’s injury Immanuel Feyi-Waboso: Exeter boss calls for RFU talks after England winger’s injury Baxter said it was “50-50” whether or not the injury required surgery and added it was a difficult first test case for the new agreement. As part of England getting control of the country’s best 25 players, the RFU agreed a deal to up their funding to the 10 Premiership clubs. “He had two scans and an operation was decided upon initially 10 days post the injury, which would make him fit now,” he added. “I think that’s the frustration – I think everyone can understand the various bits and pieces which led to some of the delays and that ended up being the rehab decision being the more sensible one. “Ultimately now it doesn’t look like the sensible one because the shoulder clearly needed an operation.” But Baxter said Feyi-Waboso still had a chance of being a “wildcard” to make the British and Irish Lions squad this summer. The medical student burst onto the scene at the beginning of last season and opted to play for England rather than his native Wales. He won his first cap in last year’s Six Nations and has gone on to play eight times, scoring five tries including in each of England’s two summer Tests in New Zealand. “There often seems to be in a Lions year someone that comes in a little bit out of nowhere, they’ve either been injured or not quite broken through,” said Baxter, who saw a young Jack Nowell make the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand. “He’s going to be there or thereabouts with a shot of getting in there at some stage, but all we can do is work hard with him now. “He’ll be very focused on giving himself the best opportunity – ******* picture and longer term he’s probably having the right treatment now that will look after him for a longer ******* of time rather than potentially leaving him with a grumbling shoulder that can last two or three years.” Source link #Immanuel #FeyiWaboso #Exeter #boss #calls #RFU #talks #England #wingers #injury Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Local police and Department of Fire and Emergency Services join forces to catch firebugs Local police and Department of Fire and Emergency Services join forces to catch firebugs Police and fire and rescue authorities in the Great Southern have joined forces to catch arsonists in the act, working together to patrol areas in the region most at risk. Source link #Local #police #Department #Fire #Emergency #Services #join #forces #catch #firebugs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Columbia River Gorge hit hard by atmospheric river as Portland sees record rain Columbia River Gorge hit hard by atmospheric river as Portland sees record rain PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Columbia River Gorge was hit with flooding, rockslides and powerful winds on Feb. 23 as an atmospheric river bombarded the region, bringing record rain to downtown Portland. According to the National Weather Service, downtown received 2.18 inches of rain on Saturday. The rainfall total beat the previous record of 1.45 inches (set in 1996) by nearly three-quarters of an inch. The greater Portland area, meanwhile, saw near-record rain for Feb. 23, with 0.96 inches of rain according to NWS data. The record for the Portland Airport for Feb. 23 remains 1.07 inches (set in 1950). Combined sewer overflow advisory hits Willamette River after heavy rain Flooding in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area on Feb. 23, 2025. (U.S. Forest Service) Flooding in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area on Feb. 23, 2025. (U.S. Forest Service) A rockslide on Highway 14 in the Columbia River Gorge east of the Lyle Tunnels on Feb. 23, 2025. (Lyle Fire & Rescue) A rockslide on Highway 14 in the Columbia River Gorge east of the Lyle Tunnels on Feb. 23, 2025. (Lyle Fire & Rescue) The heavy rainfall caused hazardous flooding in areas of the Columbia River Gorge, including the pedestrian path at Multnomah Falls and the Eagle Creek Trailhead. The storm also affected traffic on the Washington side of the gorge. A rockslide occurred on Highway 14, just east of the Lyle Tunnels at 3:40 p.m. Saturday. Crews were able to clear the slide. However, more roadway hazards are expected. “Much more rocks are expected to fall throughout our road systems with heavy rain,” the Lyle Fire & Rescue District shared on social media. Dylan Rivera with the Portland Bureau of Transportation said Northwest Portland and parts of Southwest Portland are “very prone” to landslides. “We’re working on, you know, for the last 24 hours, we have work to try to mitigate the risk that additional slides occur at those locations,” Rivera said. Gusty winds, high surf warnings issued for Oregon A wind advisory is in effect for the Portland area and a high wind warning is in effect for the near the Dalles Monday. The Columbia River Gorge is forecast to see 20 to 35 mph winds with gusts up to 65 mph and more rain. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Source link #Columbia #River #Gorge #hit #hard #atmospheric #river #Portland #sees #record #rain Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Europe launches plan to bolster clean tech sector, aid ailing industries – Reuters Europe launches plan to bolster clean tech sector, aid ailing industries – Reuters Europe launches plan to bolster clean tech sector, aid ailing industries ReutersEuropean Commission proposes mobilising 100 bln euros for EU-made clean tech ReutersBrussels pitches €100B for grand plan to boost made-in-EU clean manufacturing POLITICO EuropeEU to Pitch New Clean Deal to Industries Struggling to Compete Bloomberg Source link #Europe #launches #plan #bolster #clean #tech #sector #aid #ailing #industries #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trans woman Maddison Wilson charged with ***** in Southampton dies Trans woman Maddison Wilson charged with ***** in Southampton dies A transgender woman charged with ***** and ******* assault has died ahead of a scheduled court appearance. The news of the death of Maddison Wilson, who was born a man but who identified as a woman, was given in court ahead of a plea hearing she was due to attend at Southampton Crown Court on Wednesday. The prosecutor told the judge that Ms Wilson, who was 37, was “deceased” but gave no more details. Hampshire police have been contacted for more information. Ms Wilson had been facing four charges, including one of ***** against a girl under 13 in Hull and one involving a ******* assault against a boy under 13 in Southampton. The court heard that the charges against her would now be formally discontinued. Source link #Trans #woman #Maddison #Wilson #charged #***** #Southampton #dies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Liverpool boss Arne Slot and assistant slapped with ban Liverpool boss Arne Slot and assistant slapped with ban Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been handed a two-match touchline suspension for his conduct toward match officials after the Merseyside derby against Everton. Source link #Liverpool #boss #Arne #Slot #assistant #slapped #ban Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fable Was Allegedly Set For A 2026 PS5 Launch, But Delay May Lead To Day One Multi-Platform Release Fable Was Allegedly Set For A 2026 PS5 Launch, But Delay May Lead To Day One Multi-Platform Release Chocoburger13h ago I’m not upset over this, since I’m not even a Fable fan, but MS has been doing this for over a decade now. Which is announcing games that just started development (so only concept art exists and a rough script outline), in order to get people to buy their plastic box. Then it dissappears for a few years, only to resurface, in order to remind people to buy their plastic box, then they build up hype for it, only to delay or cancel game outright. Perfect Dark was used to sell Xbox One consoles, then used to sell Xbox Series consoles. Is that game even going to be released for the Series S|X? Will it be promised all over again for their next plastic box(es)? My issue with this is that it doesn’t feel accidental, but rather intentional. Make big promises, get people buy into your ecosystem, then delay and cancel year after year. And if by some miracle an actual game does release, its usually unpolished, or highly disappointing. Source link #Fable #Allegedly #Set #PS5 #Launch #Delay #Lead #Day #MultiPlatform #Release Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rates fall for a straight week Rates fall for a straight week Mortgage interest rates have decreased again today. According to Zillow, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has dropped by nine basis points to 6.35%, and the 15-year fixed rate is down 13 basis points to 5.64%. Economists don’t expect mortgage rates to plummet in 2025, especially not in the year’s first half. It’s also possible rates will inch back up in the short term. So, with a full week of rate decreases, it could be a good time for you to start applying for preapproval with mortgage lenders. Have questions about buying, owning, or selling a house? Submit your question to Yahoo’s panel of Realtors using this Google form. Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.35% 20-year fixed: 6.06% 15-year fixed: 5.64% 5/1 ARM: 6.56% 7/1 ARM: 6.39% 30-year VA: 5.80% 15-year VA: 5.30% 5/1 VA: 5.89% Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth. Learn more: Here’s how mortgage rates are determined These are today’s mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.36% 20-year fixed: 6.01% 15-year fixed: 5.68% 5/1 ARM: 6.78% 7/1 ARM: 6.74% 30-year VA: 5.82% 15-year VA: 5.47% 5/1 VA: 5.97% 30-year FHA: 6.06% 15-year FHA: 5.53% Again, the numbers provided are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth. Mortgage refinance rates are often higher than rates when you buy a house, although that’s not always the case. Use Yahoo Finance’s free mortgage calculator to see how various interest rates and term lengths will impact your monthly mortgage payment. It also shows how the home price and down payment amount play into things. Our calculator includes homeowners insurance and property taxes in your monthly payment estimate. You even have the option to enter costs for private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowners’ association dues if those apply to you. These details result in a more accurate monthly payment estimate than if you simply calculated your mortgage principal and interest. There are two main advantages to a 30-year fixed mortgage: Your payments are lower, and your monthly payments are predictable. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has relatively low monthly payments because you’re spreading your repayment out over a longer ******* of time than with, say, a 15-year mortgage. Your payments are predictable because, unlike with an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), your rate isn’t going to change from year to year. Most years, the only things that might affect your monthly payment are any changes to your homeowners insurance or property taxes. The main disadvantage to 30-year fixed mortgage rates is mortgage interest — both in the short and long term. A 30-year fixed term comes with a higher rate than a shorter fixed term, and it’s higher than the intro rate to a 30-year ARM. The higher your rate, the higher your monthly payment. You’ll also pay much more in interest over the life of your loan due to both the higher rate and the longer term. The pros and cons of 15-year fixed mortgage rates are basically swapped from the 30-year rates. Yes, your monthly payments will still be predictable, but another advantage is that shorter terms come with lower interest rates. Not to mention, you’ll pay off your mortgage 15 years sooner. So you’ll save potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest over the course of your loan. However, because you’re paying off the same amount in half the time, your monthly payments will be higher than if you choose a 30-year term. Dig deeper: 15-year vs. 30-year mortgages Adjustable-rate mortgages lock in your rate for a predetermined amount of time, then change it periodically. For example, with a 5/1 ARM, your rate stays the same for the first five years and then goes up or down once per year for the remaining 25 years. The main advantage is that the introductory rate is usually lower than what you’ll get with a 30-year fixed rate, so your monthly payments will be lower. (Current average rates don’t reflect this, though — fixed rates are actually lower. Talk to your lender before deciding between a fixed or adjustable rate.) With an ARM, you have no idea what mortgage rates will be like once the intro-rate ******* ends, so you risk your rate increasing later. This could ultimately end up costing more, and your monthly payments are unpredictable from year to year. But if you plan to move before the intro-rate ******* is over, you could reap the benefits of a low rate without risking a rate increase down the road. Learn more: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgage The national average 30-year mortgage rate is 6.35% right now, according to Zillow — its lowest point since December. But keep in mind that averages can vary depending on where you live. For example, if you’re buying in a city with a high cost of living, rates could be even higher. Mortgage rates will probably decrease by the end of 2025. However, any declines will likely be gradual — and they could get higher before they get lower. Mortgage rates have been dropping for the past week, but these probably won’t be long-term, drastic decreases. In many ways, securing a low mortgage refinance rate is similar to when you bought your home. Try to improve your credit score and lower your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Refinancing into a shorter term will also land you a lower rate, though your monthly mortgage payments will be higher. Source link #Rates #fall #straight #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GM raises quarterly dividend, initiates $6 billion stock buyback GM raises quarterly dividend, initiates $6 billion stock buyback DETROIT – General Motors is raising its quarterly dividend and initiating a new $6 billion share repurchase program as the company attempts to reward investors amid slowing industry sales and profits. GM announced Wednesday it is increasing its quarterly dividend by 25% to 15 cents per share — matching that of crosstown rival Ford Motor. The higher dividend is expected to take effect with the company’s next planned payout, scheduled to be announced in April. Under the $6 billion repurchase plan, $2 billion in buybacks are expected to be completed during the second quarter. “The GM team’s execution continues to be strong across all three pillars of our capital allocation strategy, which are to reinvest in the business for profitable growth, maintain a strong investment grade balance sheet, and return capital to our shareholders,” said GM CEO Mary Barra in a news release. Barra last month suggested the company would continue to return capital to shareholders this year, pending board approval. Since 2023, the automaker has announced $16 billion in stock buyback programs, resulting in the retiring of more than 1 billion outstanding shares. Despite such actions and reporting strong quarterly results, including regularly outperforming Wall Street’s expectations, shares of GM are down more than 12% this year. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon GM, Ford and Stellantis stocks in 2025. Wall Street analysts have cited plateauing industry sales, regulatory uncertainty around tariffs and a lack of potential growth opportunities as all weighing on the stock. GM said the total number of shares ultimately bought back the $2 billion accelerated share repurchase will be based on the average of the daily volume-weighted price of GM’s common stock during the term of the program. The program is be executed by JPMorgan and Barclays. Outside of the accelerated program, GM will have another $4.3 billion of capacity remaining under its share repurchase authorizations “for additional, opportunistic share repurchases,” the company said. That includes $300 million from its last $6 billion stock buyback program from June. As of the end of last year, GM had fewer than 1 billion shares outstanding – achieving a target announced earlier in the year by GM CFO Paul Jacobson. “We feel confident in our business plan, our balance sheet remains strong, and we will be agile if we need to respond to changes in public policy,” Jacobson said in a statement. “The repurchase authorization our board approved continues a commitment to our capital allocation policy.” GM’s 2025 guidance includes net income attributable to stockholders in a range of $11.2 billion to $12.5 billion, or $11 to $12 per share; adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $13.7 billion to $15.7 billion, or $11 to $12 adjusted EPS; and adjusted automotive free cash flow of between $11 billion and $13 billion. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #raises #quarterly #dividend #initiates #billion #stock #buyback Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chiefs GM makes surprise revelation about Travis Kelce’s brutal Super Bowl performance – New York Post Chiefs GM makes surprise revelation about Travis Kelce’s brutal Super Bowl performance – New York Post Chiefs GM makes surprise revelation about Travis Kelce’s brutal Super Bowl performance New York Post Chiefs GM expects ‘fired up’ Kelce to play in ’25 ESPNChiefs tight end Travis Kelce expected to return for 13th NFL season NFL.comChiefs General Manager Seemingly Reveals Travis Kelce’s Retirement Decision – E! Online E! NEWSBREAKING: Chiefs DT Chris Jones Sends Message to Teammate Travis Kelce Sports Illustrated Source link #Chiefs #surprise #revelation #Travis #Kelces #brutal #Super #Bowl #performance #York #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man, 35, charged over girl’s death Man, 35, charged over girl’s death A man has been charged after a three-year-old girl was hit and killed by a van which previously struck a tram in Manchester city centre. Louisa Palmisano, known as Lulu, from Burnley, died after she was hit by the vehicle after it was forced off the road at about 10:00 GMT on Saturday. Rawal Rehman, 35, of Manchester, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, Greater Manchester Police said. He is set to appear before Manchester Magistrates’ Court later. Source link #Man #charged #girls #death Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Medicare policy: Coalition casts doubt every *********** will ‘see a GP for free’ under Labor’s $8.5b plan Medicare policy: Coalition casts doubt every *********** will ‘see a GP for free’ under Labor’s $8.5b plan Coalition senators have cast doubt on Labor’s claim that every *********** will “see a GP for free” under the Government’s $8.5 billion dollar Medicare plan. On Wednesday, Health Department officials told Senate estimates comprehensive GP-by-GP level modelling had been undertaken to determine how many clinics would be better off with the tripled incentives. However, they wouldn’t table the data. “There’s a fair bit of sensitivity in that data,” the department’s resourcing co-deputy secretary Daniel McCabe said. “That modelling actually has all of the rebates that are paid through to patients and all of the out-of-pocket data for every health professional that works in general practice. “The model itself won’t be released because we actually have strict legislative obligations.” Labor claims around 4800 doctors nationally would begin to bulk-bill — triple the current number. Across WA, Labor estimates GPs willing to bulk-bill will grow to more than 400 and says Perth’s current 23 bulk-billing clinics was expected to rise to 250. However, shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston said it was misleading to claim every Aussies would “only need their Medicare card, not their credit card, to receive the healthcare”. It wasn’t assured nor an obligation that every GP would join the bulk-billing wave, she said. Labor released further details on Wednesday night, claiming the average practice was estimated to receive $344,000 in additional Medicare payments per year. Camera IconPrime Minister Anthony Albanese. Credit: MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE Larger clinics could receive $1.2 million while smaller GPs may receive an extra $90,000 in the cities and $104,000 in the regions. Ms Ruston highlighted that the Coalition had been more prudent and hadn’t offered the same free-for-all promises. “At no time have I, or anybody from the Coalition, ever suggested that the only card you needed to take to the doctor going forward was your Medicare card,” Ms Ruston said. “We have never said that Australians will get access to free GP services without exception.” Health Minister Mark Butler labelled the remarks as a “slip of the tongue” by Ms Ruston which showed Liberals had no plan to deliver free GP visits despite leader Peter Dutton commitment on Sunday. The Coalition’s $9 billion and Labor $8.5b pledges mark the largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago. Burt MP Matt Keogh said families in his Perth electorate were “feeling the pinch” and saving on out-of-pocket costs would help in a cost-of-living crisis. He estimated a retired couple needing typical GP service usage would likely to save $415 a year. Labor have given themselves until 2030 to fulfil its promise that 90 per cent of GP visits will be bulk-billed. *********** Capital Territory Senator David Pocock said while he welcomed the increase of Canberra bulk-billing clinics from two to 27, feedback from local GPs cast doubt all were onboard. A survey by the independent Senator of all 80 ACT clinics in the wake of Labor’s announcement revealed not all planned to transition. “Over 25 have come back to me. Not a single one said, with these incentives, every GP in their practice will bulk bill all their patients,” he said. Source link #Medicare #policy #Coalition #casts #doubt #*********** #free #Labors #8.5b #plan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Steele on podcaster Dan Bongino named deputy FBI director Steele on podcaster Dan Bongino named deputy FBI director NBC News’ Garret Haake, Fmr. RNC Chairman Michael Steele, Washington Post Senior National Political Correspondent Ashley Parker, New York Times White House Correspondent Tyler Pager, and Fmr. Assistant Manhattan DA Catherine Christian join Katy Tur to discuss. Source link #Steele #podcaster #Dan #Bongino #named #deputy #FBI #director Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Oscars class photo: 12 things we spotted from Ariana Grande to Timothée Chalamet – BBC.com Oscars class photo: 12 things we spotted from Ariana Grande to Timothée Chalamet – BBC.com Oscars class photo: 12 things we spotted from Ariana Grande to Timothée Chalamet BBC.comOscar Nominees 2025: The Class Photo DeadlineSee Demi Moore, Ariana Grande, more stars arrive for Oscar nominees dinner USA TODAYTimothee Chalamet, Ariana Grande mingle at Oscar nominees dinner ReutersOscar Class Photo: 2025 Academy Award Nominees Gather for Annual Tradition Variety Source link #Oscars #class #photo #spotted #Ariana #Grande #Timothée #Chalamet #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tech Life: Could AI pick the next James Bond? Tech Life: Could AI pick the next James Bond? With Amazon in charge of James Bond, could they use AI for scripts and casting? Source link #Tech #Life #pick #James #Bond Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alleged victim of ex-bishop Anthony Pierce died before police report Alleged victim of ex-bishop Anthony Pierce died before police report Wales News Service Anthony Pierce, pictured in 2002, admitted five counts of historical indecent assaults earlier this month An allegation of ******* abuse against a priest who went on to become a bishop appears to have been reported to “senior figures” in the church 17 years before it was passed to police. The alleged victim of Anthony Pierce, believed to have been under 18 at the time, had died by the time the church contacted the police in 2010. This meant the allegation of ******* assault made in 1993 could not be investigated. It only came to light after the former bishop of Swansea and Brecon admitted five counts of indecent assault on a child in another case. The Church in Wales said an independent review had begun into the separate allegation of Pierce’s “improper (and possible criminal) conduct”. South Wales Police said: “Sadly, in this specific case the victim had passed away in 2010 when allegations were made of abuse. “Therefore we are not able to progress the investigation.” In the intervening 17 years since the allegation was made in 1993, Pierce had been elected and served as bishop of Swansea and Brecon for nine years from 1999. In 2002, he was made a commander of the order of St John, an honour conferred to show “exceptional” charitable service in hospital settings and for those in need. Anthony Pierce was a parish priest in Swansea before becoming a bishop He stood down as bishop of Swansea and Brecon in January 2008, aged 67. He was awarded an honorary fellowship by Swansea University in 2011, which the institution has now said it will review. The allegation of ******* abuse came to light after the former bishop admitted five historical counts of indecent assault on a male child under the age of 16 earlier this month at Swansea Crown Court. Those assaults dated to between 1985 and 1990 when he was a parish priest in West Cross, Swansea. They were raised with a Church safeguarding officer in 2023 and subsequently investigated. Pierce is being sentenced for those charges on 7 March. The Church in Wales said, after these offences came to light, “an internal investigation was initiated and found evidence suggesting that in 1993 a small number of members of the Church in Wales had been aware of a further allegation against Mr Pierce, but that this was not shared with Police until 2010”. The alleged assault dates from 1990 and appears to have been reported to “senior figures” in the church in 1993. An independent review, which is expected to last three months and is being led by Gabrielle Higgins, will look at how the second allegation was handled by the church. Anthony Pierce was a parish priest at Clyne Chapel (pictured) and Holy Cross between 1985 and 1990 The Church in Wales said it concerned allegations of “improper (and possible criminal) conduct” against the former bishop, and that the alleged second victim was believed “to have been under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offence”. It will also look at periods of time when Pierce’s permission to officiate was removed and restored between 2011 and 2016. It added the review would consider how allegations were handled in current systems for the appointment of archdeacons and bishops, and whether changes were necessary. Experts are now calling for a wider review of historic allegations handled by the Church in Wales. Rebecca Sheriff is a lawyer and childhood ******* abuse specialist who has successfully represented a number of civil clients against the Church in Wales over abuse by former vicar Stephen Brooks in Swansea in the 1980s and 1990s. While she welcomed the review, she said the fact the allegation against Pierce appeared not to have been disclosed to the police immediately in 1993 meant there could be other historic failings. She said: “Potentially this could be the tip of the iceberg. “I think it is very obvious here that in fact he wasn’t punished, he was promoted, and actually that that has wider consequences.” The Church in Wales saidb”an internal investigation was initiated” after the offences came to light Child abuse lawyer David Greenwood works with charity MACSAS, which represents survivors of church ******* abuse, and has previously represented clients against the Church in Wales. He welcomed the church’s assertion that the report would be published in full, but said there were issues in the way it was being conducted. “The basis of this review is constricted,” he said. “The Church in Wales has selected its own reviewer, it has restricted the dates or the years that can be examined, it’s excluded the most recent conviction.” He added: “Unless the process is absolutely right, then there’ll still be a lingering doubt that things have been hushed up or swept under a carpet.” The Church in Wales said its choice of person to lead the review was independent, was approved by its safeguarding committee, and “no bishops or clergy, nor anybody from the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, were involved in the selection”. It added the terms of the review could be extended if necessary. A spokesman said: “All of this has been placed into the public domain at the first opportunity. Far from sweeping anything under the carpet, this demonstrates exactly the opposite.” They encouraged anyone with concerns to come forward. “If our people and processes have failed victims and survivors of abuse in the past, we intend to take responsibility for that fact and to fully apply the lessons which have been learned.” Wales’ children’s commissioner, Rocio Cifuentes, has called for an independent body to oversee safeguarding at religious institutions Children’s Commissioner for Wales Rocio Cifuentes said the Welsh government needed to follow a recent national inquiry’s recommendations and establish an independent body that oversaw safeguarding at religious institutions. She said: “The fact that there is currently no independent oversight of the safeguarding arrangements of religious institutions is a significant gap and a significant concern.” The Welsh government said it was continuing to “review and strengthen safeguarding systems and implement recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child ******* Abuse”. If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this article, help and support is available via BBC Action Line. Source link #Alleged #victim #exbishop #Anthony #Pierce #died #police #report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rockstar’s GTA 6 Might Have a Small Role to Play in Microsoft Pushing Fable to 2026 Rockstar’s GTA 6 Might Have a Small Role to Play in Microsoft Pushing Fable to 2026 Craig Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios just announced that the highly awaited Fable reboot has been delayed to 2026. Duncan explained that the game still needed some more time but would be worth the wait. But that’s the PR reason. It’s also very likely that Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) also affected the decision. GTA is just that big of a deal. | Image Credit: Rockstar Games Keep in mind that we don’t even know the release date for GTA 6 outside of the 2025 release window that Rockstar has promised. So it seems like a lot of other developers are adjusting their release dates depending on when Rockstar plans to release GTA 6. And quite frankly, fair play to them. No one wants to be the next Horizon Zero Dawn. GTA 6 may be the reason for the Fable delay And that’s super fair, to be honest. | Image Credit: Playground Games You know how some franchises in movies like Marvel, Star Wars, or Lord of the Rings are just, a tier above everything else. Not just in terms of quality but in terms of popularity and fan following too. Well, we have that in the gaming world and the Grand Theft Auto is easily one of the franchises that makes the list. Fable gameplay looks gorgeous. Delay to 2026 feels disappointing but if done right, Fable could really be a consistent franchise for years to come, it’s so important this is a hit so we get Fable back as a franchise!pic.twitter.com/8oJ5W6lPhC — Synth Potato (@SynthPotato) February 25, 2025 Rockstar’s series has become a cultural phenomenon over the years and GTA 6 is expected to be one of the biggest game releases of all time. The game hasn’t had a confirmed release ******* outside of the “2025” on the trailer. But we’ve seen reports that game publishers are already wary of launching their own titles too close to its debut. And Fable may have just joined that list. Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan officially confirmed in a recent video that Fable is now targeting a 2026 release instead of 2025. As for why, he says that the delay is to ensure quality, stating, “It’s definitely worth the wait.” We know it’s nothing new for a game to take a few extra months to get fully polished and whatnot, but GTA 6 probably played a part in that decision. It’s a smart move if you look at what’s happened before It’s better to not compete with genre-defining games. | Image Credit: Playground Games It’s not even a bad thing to do if we’re being honest. The Fable reboot has been in development for years, and given its importance as a flagship Xbox franchise, Microsoft needs it to do well. So avoiding a Rockstar’s title might be one of the smartest decisions Xbox makes. Especially since Take-Two has reaffirmed a 2025 release window. Take Two confirms that GTA 6 is still on track to release in Fall 2025. pic.twitter.com/iKSBKP4ere — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 6, 2025 If you think a move like this is overkill, then luckily for you, we already have plenty of examples to show you otherwise. The Horizon franchise is easily the best example. In 2017, Horizon Zero Dawn was first released, and yet, it probably didn’t get the attention that it deserved. Why? Because it came out around the same time as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. And once again in 2022 Horizon Forbidden West came out in the same timeframe as Elden Ring and got overshadowed. And if you’re a gamer, you know that Breath of The Wild and Elden Ring went on to be some of the best games of all time. With the nature of the GTA franchise and the hype that’s been building up to the release of GTA 6, we can only expect Rockstar’s upcoming game to also join the history books. So it’s more than fair that other developers want to make way for it to not sabotage their own games. Source link #Rockstars #GTA #Small #Role #Play #Microsoft #Pushing #Fable Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Townsville Fire too hot for Lynx, through to WNBL final Townsville Fire too hot for Lynx, through to WNBL final Abbey Ellis and Courtney Woods played starring roles as the Townsville Fire reached the WNBL final after romping to a 30-point victory over the Perth Lynx. The 106-76 victory in game two of the best-of-three semi-finals series ensured the Fire progressed 2-0 in front of their delighted fans at Townsville Entertainment Centre. The Fire will now meet the winner of the Sydney Uni Flames and Bendigo Spirit, who clash tomorrow for a place in the final, with the Victorians holding a 1-0 advantage following their 76-67 win on Sunday. Player-of-the-match Ellis and Woods both played key roles again, sharing the shooting responsibilities with 18 points apiece on Wednesday. Ally Wilson posted a game-high 24 points for the Lynx, who went down at home 92-87 in the first leg. Wilson was also dominant then when she scored 32 points. On Thursday, the Spirit will be hoping for another big performance from Sami Whitcomb and American import Veronica Burton to see them through against the Flames. Whitcomb had 26 points and Burton 19 in the first match and are trying to win the championship after finishing on top of the regular-season table. The Fire came third at the completion of their home-and-away season. Source link #Townsville #Fire #hot #Lynx #WNBL #final Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis is awake and sitting up amid health battle Pope Francis is awake and sitting up amid health battle Pope Francis woke up and was sitting in an armchair early Wednesday after another “peaceful night” at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, a ******** source said. After resting earlier in the morning, the 88-year-old pontiff “woke up, is in armchair, Continues normal therapy,” a source from the Holy See said. Francis is receiving treatment for double pneumonia and remained on the same oxygen therapy as previous days, the ******** added. It was unclear whether the pontiff remained in critical condition. On Tuesday, the ******** said that Francis continued to show a slight improvement, despite remaining in critical condition. He had resumed work and was eating normally, the ******** added. Francis was admitted to the Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 and was later diagnosed with double pneumonia, or pneumonia in both lungs. Additional CT scans were ordered Tuesday to monitor his lungs, while the pope’s prognosis remained “reserved,” church officials said. Hundreds of people are joining a nightly mass in St. Peter’s Square to pray for the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Source link #Pope #Francis #awake #sitting #health #battle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]