Pelican Press

WA Election 2025: Libby Mettam denies Basil Zempilas is a distraction, refuses to set target for poll success WA Election 2025: Libby Mettam denies Basil Zempilas is a distraction, refuses to set target for poll success Libby Mettam has denied Basil Zempilas is a distraction during the State Election campaign, as she refused to be drawn on the number of seats she believed would be a victory for the Liberals. Source link #Election #Libby #Mettam #denies #Basil #Zempilas #distraction #refuses #set #target #poll #success Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Flood watch issued for these San Diego areas as atmospheric river approaches Flood watch issued for these San Diego areas as atmospheric river approaches SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Much of San Diego County has been put under a flood watch by the National Weather Service as an atmospheric river is set to bring the season’s first bands of significant rainfall. The advisory is set to go into effect Thursday afternoon, when the second round of rain from this storm system is expected to hit, along the coast and in the mountain areas. While the watch is in place, low-lying and flood-prone areas — like roads, small creeks or rivers — could experience overflow due to excessive runoff during the storm, according to NWS forecasters. Potentially life-threatening debris flows could also occur along recent burn scars. January 2024 flood victims express concerns leading up to heaviest rainfall of season Those living in areas that could see flooding are expected to be prepared, including securing outdoor items vulnerable to be carried away in flood waters, clearing the storm drains on one’s home and layering sandbags if necessary. Forecasters also encourage people to continue monitoring forecasts and road conditions while remaining alert for possible flood warnings, which indicate flooding is imminent. The atmospheric river is expected to dump the most precipitation San Diego has seen so far during the region’s traditional “rainy season.” Aside from some drizzles Tuesday, light showers are expected to begin in earnest as early as Wednesday afternoon, according to NWS. Models are showing as much as one quarter along the coast to one-half inch in the mountains of precipitation during the first day of rain. The heaviest precipitation is not expected until Thursday. For San Diego, rainfall totals are projected to be around 0.75 inches to 1.25 inches in coastal communities to upwards of three inches in the mountains, NWS says. (National Weather Service) MORE: San Diego Weather By Friday, cumulated precipitation totals are expected to range from two inches on the coast to five inches in the mountains. Forecasters note the storm will be on the warmer side, so not much snow is anticipated for mountain areas. Snow levels are anticipated to rise from 4,500 feet Wednesday morning to about 8,000 feet heading into Thursday. However, winds in areas east of the mountains are expected to pick up Tuesday with the onset of the storm. Individual gusts stronger than 55 miles per hour are expected in the county’s desert areas, with the winds diminishing overnight. A wind advisory will be in place for the county’s deserts from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday. 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Source link #Flood #watch #issued #San #Diego #areas #atmospheric #river #approaches Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

In pictures: The 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show – CNN In pictures: The 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show – CNN In pictures: The 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show CNNMonty the Giant Schnauzer Wins Best in Show at the 2025 Westminster Dog Show PEOPLEGiant schnauzer named Monty named America’s top dog in Westminster first The Guardian2025 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show: Best in Show, group winners, more FOX SportsMonty, giant schnauzer from N.J., wins best in show at 2025 Westminster dog show NJ.com Source link #pictures #149th #Westminster #Kennel #Club #Dog #Show #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Police defend taser, baton use in servo arson arrest Police defend taser, baton use in servo arson arrest Police say a woman accused of starting a fire at a service station was a safety risk, and a video circulating online of her arrest doesn’t show the whole event. Source link #Police #defend #taser #baton #servo #arson #arrest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This MMORPG is getting a new player class 28 years after release This MMORPG is getting a new player class 28 years after release After having only four class options for 28 years, the MMORPG Tibia is adding a fifth choice: the Monk class. If you’ve never heard of Tibia, you aren’t alone. The game launched in 1997 as a project for a group of ******* students and grew from there, but it’s been a slow growth. The game only had sound effects added in two years ago (but the main theme does slap.) Even the game’s website feels like something worthy of the Runescape era of online gaming, but there’s a certain classic charm to the art. In a blog post on the site, the developers explained how the decision came to be. “When the idea first came up, it felt like an impossible task. Adding a new vocation to Tibia after all this time would probably be too complex and too risky. The more we talked about it, however, the more it felt actually possible as well as a natural step for the game. Why else would most bosses allow five characters to enter if not for five different vocations?” The developers sought to add a new class that both served as a secondary off-healer and damage dealer, and finally settled on the role of Monk. In their words, “a melee combatant with a spiritual side” seemed like the obvious answer. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming There’s no word on when the class will officially be added to the game, but players are invited to playtest it starting on February 25. The developers say more information will be released in the coming weeks, and they hope that adding a new class to the game after so long can reignite the sense of discovery. Tibia is free-to-play game that kind of looks like Stardew Valley meets World of Warcraft, in a good way. Besides the classic elements of an MMO, it has more modern features like the ability to rent and decorate a house or get married. If you’ve never played a game in this style, the isometric viewpoint can be a bit jarring — but if you’re interested in trying a game that hearkens back to an earlier era, it’s definitely worth checking out. Source link #MMORPG #player #class #years #release Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

This HP ProBook laptop is normally $1,876 — today it’s $769 This HP ProBook laptop is normally $1,876 — today it’s $769 If you’re on the lookout for laptop deals because you need a device for a work-from-home job or to run a small business, you should check out this offer for the HP ProBook 445. Originally sold for $1,876, this dependable machine is down to just $769, for savings of $1,107. We’re not sure how long stocks will last though, as a 59% discount for a powerful laptop will surely attract a lot of attention. If you don’t want to miss out on this bargain, you’ll need to complete your purchase as soon as possible. Why you should buy the HP ProBook 445 laptop HP is firmly in our list of the best laptop brands, and the HP ProBook 445 showcases its reputation for reliable devices with modern designs. The device is powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 7535U processor and AMD Radeon 660M Graphics, along with 16GB of RAM that’s only found in top-tier machines, according to our guide on how much RAM do you need. You won’t have any trouble in carrying out your daily workload with these specifications, especially with the advanced features that you can access with Windows 11 Pro that’s pre-installed in this laptop’s 512GB SSD. Don’t worry — you’ll still have enough storage space for your apps and files. The HP ProBook 445 features a 14-inch touchscreen with WUXGA resolution, and a weight of just over three pounds. This makes the laptop a portable device, which will be very helpful if you’re always on the go. The device also comes with a host of USB-A, USB-C, and HDMI ports, so you’ll be able to connect all your accessories and extra monitors at the same time. While we’ve known that you can get amazing value from HP laptop deals, this offer for the HP ProBook 445 is still pretty shocking. From its sticker price of $1,876, you can get this device for only $769 following a $1,107 discount. There’s no telling when this offer will expire, but we’re sure that this reliable laptop won’t remain available at 59% off for too long. If you want to get the HP ProBook 445 for this special price, we highly recommend proceeding with your transaction for it immediately. Any hesitation may cause you to miss out! Source link #ProBook #laptop #today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Inside the collapse of Nissan and Honda’s $60 billion mega deal Inside the collapse of Nissan and Honda’s $60 billion mega deal By Maki Shiraki, Daniel Leussink and Norihiko Shirouzu TOKYO (Reuters) – Nissan was deep in trouble late last year when rival Honda offered a lifeline: a $60 billion tie-up that would help both Japanese automakers compete against the ******** brands upending the car industry. Years of faltering sales and management turmoil had left Nissan a diminished force, especially after it underestimated demand for hybrids in the U.S., its top market. But the merger talks unravelled in a little more than a month due to Nissan’s pride and insufficient alarm about its predicament, as well as Honda’s abrupt decision to revise the terms and propose that Nissan become a subsidiary, according to six people familiar with the matter. Nissan, which for years until 2020 was Japan’s second-largest automaker behind Toyota, insisted on receiving near-equal treatment in the talks despite its weaker position, three of the people said. Honda pressured Nissan to make deeper cuts to its workforce and factory capacity, but Nissan was unwilling to consider politically sensitive factory closures, three of the sources said. They said they were left with the impression Nissan felt it could recover on its own, despite its mounting difficulties. That intransigence, combined with what Honda management saw as Nissan’s slow decision-making, helped torpedo a deal that would have created one of the world’s largest automakers, three people said. This account of the forces that scuttled the mega merger features previously unreported information, including details about factories Nissan wanted to keep open, its resistance to Honda’s pressure for deeper cuts, and the reaction inside Nissan to some of Honda’s demands. The story is based on Reuters interviews with more than a dozen people, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the topic’s sensitivity. The reporting sheds new light on the thinking inside Nissan as it faces a deepening crisis. The storied carmaker now faces the added threat of U.S. tariffs on vehicles made in Mexico, which account for more than a quarter of its U.S. sales. Both Nissan and Honda are due to report earnings on Thursday. “I think it’s a management problem,” said Julie Boote, analyst at research firm Pelham Smithers Associates, about the turmoil at Nissan. “They’re completely overestimating their position and their brand value, and their ability to turn around the business.” Nissan and Honda declined to comment on the specific aspects of the talks as described by Reuters sources. Story Continues Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida visited his counterpart Toshihiro Mibe last week to say he wanted to end discussions after Honda made the subsidiary proposal. Both automakers have said they would provide an update this month. TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE Nissan stunned investors in November when it cut its profit forecast by 70% due to worsening sales in China and the United States. Its announced a turnaround plan that involved cutting 9,000 jobs and one-fifth of global capacity, which some analysts saw as too little, too late. Uchida promised to forfeit half his pay and said he was focused on making the business leaner and more resilient. In December, Nissan and Honda announced plans to merge, an outgrowth of talks they had been holding since March 2024, when they said they were looking to cooperate on technology. But the merger discussions quickly hit a wall over calculating the shareholding ratio for the combined company, two of the people said. In private, Uchida exhibited doubts about the deal’s prospects, one of the people said. Honda managers complained that Nissan’s decision-making was too slow, four people said. A public update on the talks was originally set for the end of January before being pushed back to mid-February. Honda managers felt Nissan’s turnaround strategy lacked details and were frustrated by what they saw as an insufficient reduction in factory capacity, two sources said. Reuters could not determine whether Honda requested a certain number of job cuts or identified specific factories for capacity reductions. Nissan didn’t want to shut factories because that would force a write-down of their value on paper and hurt its earnings, one person said. The job cuts already promised as part of Nissan’s turnaround plan amounted to 7% of its global workforce. It was telling, one person said, that Honda had cut more people in China over the last two years. Honda, for its part, appeared unwilling to budge on its plans, implying it didn’t consider Nissan an equal, one person familiar with Nissan’s thinking said. KYUSHU VISIT In late January, Nissan executive Hideyuki Sakamoto visited the southwestern island of Kyushu to announce plans for a battery EV plant that would create 500 jobs. Flanked by local politicians, Sakamoto said the automaker wouldn’t reduce capacity at its existing Kyushu plant, either. Kyushu was a “highly competitive base geopolitically” and important for future EV plans, he said. The day after Sakamoto’s visit to Kyushu, Honda’s Mibe told Uchida that Nissan would need to become a Honda subsidiary, a stipulation not in the original merger memorandum of understanding the two companies signed late last year, according to one person. Reuters could not determine whether Mibe’s move was triggered by Nissan’s announcements in Kyushu. Nevertheless, the Kyushu trip crystallised the tensions between the companies over the best way forward. Kyushu wasn’t the only plant that Nissan considered untouchable. Smyrna in Tennessee, Aguascalientes in Mexico and Britain’s Sunderland were all seen as critical to the company’s EV strategy, and the automaker didn’t want to close them or reduce their lines, one source said. Honda’s abrupt change to the deal’s structure reflected its mounting impatience with Nissan over the pace of negotiations, two people said. Nissan was blindsided by that move, given that it went against the previously agreed memorandum, two of people said. Inside Nissan, the proposal was seen as “outrageous” and an affront to the dignity of Nissan, the older automaker, one person said. Renault, Nissan’s top shareholder, said while it was not privy to the discussions, the latest information suggested the transaction would result in a “takeover of Nissan by Honda without a control premium for Nissan shareholders”. Such an outcome was “not acceptable”, Renault said, adding it would “vigorously defend” its interests. NEW PARTNERS It’s not clear what, if anything, could bring the automakers back to the table. It seems likely they would revert to their original agreement to team up on technology, three of the people said. If both companies agree to end the discussions, neither would be liable for a 100 billion yen ($650 million) break-up fee, according to their December memorandum of understanding. Nissan is open to working with new partners, including Foxconn, the Taiwanese contract manufacturer that makes Apple’s iPhones, Reuters has reported. Foxconn did not respond to a request for comment. Foxconn Chairman Young Liu said on Wednesday that its aim was to cooperate with Nissan, not acquire it. The Taiwanese company’s EV business is led by former Nissan executive Jun Seki, who at one point was seen by insiders as a contender to become the carmaker’s CEO. Foxconn would likely be a more generous suitor than Honda because it needs a brand name in the auto industry, and Nissan could be attractive, said Amir Anvarzadeh, a strategist with Japan equity advisory firm Asymmetric Advisors. “No matter what you think about their cars and their balance sheet and so forth, at least the brand is still fairly recognisable,” he said of Nissan. So far, Japan’s government has given little sense of how it sees the breakdown in talks between Honda and Nissan, nor whether it would be open to an acquisition of Nissan by Foxconn, which is also the top shareholder in consumer electronics company Sharp Corp. For Nissan, the question now is what management will do, said Boote. “They don’t have a realistic view of what’s happening in the auto industry and what really needs to happen with Nissan.” ($1 = 153.5600 yen) (Reporting by Maki Shiraki, Daniel Leussink and Norihiko Shirouzu; Additional reporting by John Geddie in Tokyo, Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Gilles Guillaume in Paris; Editing by David Dolan, Nobuhiro Kubo and David Crawshaw.) Source link #collapse #Nissan #Hondas #billion #mega #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Modi Hopes a White House Visit Will Keep India Out of Trump’s Cross Hairs Modi Hopes a White House Visit Will Keep India Out of Trump’s Cross Hairs As he prepared to go to Washington this week, India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, spoke of building on the warm relations he shared with President Trump during his first term in the White House. But Mr. Trump can be a fickle friend. So when Mr. Modi meets with him on Thursday, he is expected to bear offerings designed to ease emerging points of friction and preserve growing U.S.-India ties. One major focus is trade. Indian officials have said that domestic companies are in talks to increase purchases of American energy supplies, particularly liquefied natural gas. The two leaders are also expected to discuss expanded spending on U.S. defense equipment and potentially announce new deals. In addition, Mr. Modi can point to recent reductions in Indian tariffs on high-end American motorcycles — namely Harley-Davidsons — and the prospect of lower duties on goods like bourbon and pecans, which are produced mainly in Republican states. These moves, though largely symbolic in some cases, are intended to placate Mr. Trump’s irritation over the American trade deficit with India and the high import duties that make India a difficult market to enter. On another big source of tension, ******** immigration, Mr. Modi has already offered concessions. India accounts for the largest group of ******** migrants to the United States outside Latin America. The Indian government has made clear it will cooperate with Mr. Trump’s deportation drive, even as it caused a political headache for Mr. Modi last week. The arrival of 100 shackled and handcuffed Indians on an American military plane, just days before Mr. Modi was to go to Washington, left his government scrambling to play down the episode and contain a domestic backlash. India is acutely aware that the trade and immigration issues are a potential double whammy in Mr. Trump’s universe of preoccupations. So far, while Mr. Trump has threatened even close allies with punitive tariffs over these issues, India has managed to stay out of his cross hairs. If any country can walk the tightrope of Mr. Trump’s hurricane-force return to power, India believes it is the one. The two countries, the world’s largest democracies, have grown more closely aligned economically and geopolitically as they see a shared threat in an increasingly assertive China. Mr. Modi will be the fourth world leader to meet with Mr. Trump since he took office about three weeks ago, after a visit to the White House by the Japanese prime minister and talks with the Israeli and Jordanian leaders over war in the Middle East. Mr. Trump and Mr. Modi share much in common. Both are strongman leaders who hold largely transactional views of foreign policy, with a populist’s sense of what plays well with the base. Even as Mr. Modi has shown a willingness to go along with Mr. Trump’s muscle-flexing, he is working to get what India needs out of the relationship. That is particularly true with Mr. Trump’s push to undo a range of Biden-era legal actions. India is also hoping to move on from U.S. legal actions related to accusations of an Indian government plot to assassinate an American citizen on U.S. soil. Even during the Biden administration, officials took pains to deal with the assassination case largely privately, a sign of how important the countries’ trade and defense ties have become. The relationship has enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, including among lawmakers who are now in Mr. Trump’s inner circle and view India as important in sharing the burden of containing China. In addition to the “very close rapport” between Mr. Trump and Mr. Modi, Vikram Misri, India’s foreign secretary, has listed several areas of “convergence of interest” between the two nations. Mr. Misri pointed to expanding technology and trade connections, as well as joint efforts on counterterrorism and on security in the Indo-Pacific region. He also highlighted the increasingly influential Indian diaspora in the United States, as well as the large numbers of Indian students studying there. An important area of alignment that could help both leaders claim victories is defense cooperation, particularly weapons spending. India is the world’s largest importer of military arms, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the global total, according to the Stockholm Institute of Peace Research. For decades, cheap and reliable Russian equipment made up the bulk of India’s defense purchases. American equipment was expensive and out of reach because of longstanding U.S. suspicions over India’s ties to Russia. U.S. defense sales to India now approach $25 billion a year, up from almost nothing in 2008. With India expected to spend more than $200 billion over the next decade to modernize its military, according to the Congressional Research Service, purchases from the United States are likely to only grow. When Mr. Modi spoke with Mr. Trump by phone shortly after his inauguration last month, “the president emphasized the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment,” the White House said in a statement. India, however, has been trying to move past simple purchases of U.S. equipment so that the deals generate much-needed jobs and industrial capacity at home. “If India is to become a net security provider in this part of the world, you have to build capacities as well,” said Ashok Malik, the India chair at the Asia Group and a former foreign policy adviser to the Modi government. Some of the biggest deals in recent years have brought India into the development and production of equipment. In 2023, General Electric announced that it would jointly produce jet engines in India. In its final weeks, the Biden administration also announced that India would become “the first global producer” of Stryker combat vehicles. Concrete steps on these deals, as well as finalizing other purchases — including of patrol and reconnaissance aircraft for the Indian Navy — could be among the announcements that follow Mr. Modi’s meeting with Mr. Trump. “All options are under discussion,” Sanjeev Kumar, India’s defense production secretary, said ahead of the trip. “We certainly wish to expedite the transactions with the U.S.” Alex Travelli contributed reporting. Source link #Modi #Hopes #White #House #Visit #India #Trumps #Cross #Hairs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The best Roguelikes on PS5 The best Roguelikes on PS5 As great as the best single-player games are, they all must come to an end. Sure, you can replay them and maybe get a secret ending, but they will essentially be the same experience as before. Roguelikes (and Roguelites) are games that are designed to be endlessly replayable. Each one approaches things a bit differently, but the most common element they all share is some level of random generation. This could be in the levels, enemies, items, and more, with most opting to randomize almost everything. That makes every run a new challenge that you can never fully predict. These games are some of the most addictive and best PS5 games you can play, but it is also a genre flooded with less-than-great options. We’ve sunk hundreds of hours into Roguelikes to pick out the best ones you can play on PS5 today. Source link #Roguelikes #PS5 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

White House fires USAID inspector general after warning about funding oversight, official says – The Associated Press White House fires USAID inspector general after warning about funding oversight, official says – The Associated Press White House fires USAID inspector general after warning about funding oversight, official says The Associated PressView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #White #House #fires #USAID #inspector #general #warning #funding #oversight #official #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Clash Royale bizarrely partners with Michael Bolton Clash Royale bizarrely partners with Michael Bolton No, we’re not joking. Michael Bolton. The singer. Clash Royale has teamed up with Michael Bolton Yes, that Michael Bolton, the singer And now the Barbarian has become… the Boltarian First came Erling Haaland in Clash of Clans, then Gordon Ramsay in Hay Day, and in their latest attempt to confound and surprise us the folks at Supercell have embarked on their most bizarre celebrity collaboration yet for Clash Royale. Michael Bolton (yes, that Michael Bolton) has released a special music video where he partners with the iconic Barbarian character for a new rendition of his hit love song How Am I Supposed to Live Without You. Not only does this collaboration come with a new music video, made out specifically to players who have lapsed from Clash Royale, but the Barbarian himself also sports a new mullet and handlebar moustache in his role as the (I can’t believe I’m writing this) Barboltian. And no, this isn’t just a parody music video, you’ll also be able to listen to How Am I Supposed to Live Without You on a music streaming service near you! Sadly, no news (yet) on a rewards campaign to bring in lapsed players, so the folks at Supercell are seemingly hoping the golden vocal chords of the Barboltian are enough to bring them in. Sing to win ’em over Alright, (somewhat) humorous and farcical shock over. Certainly, I was genuinely surprised to see Bolton take up such a collab but given the huge names that Supercell has brought on board to promote its top releases over the last year or so, I suppose this shouldn’t really shock me. At the same time as cute as it is I’m not sure a parody music video will do much to bring in lapsed players. So hopefully we might see some sort of return campaign or other in-game promotion that’ll really nab the more hard-hearted of you out there. In the meantime if this has drawn you back into Clash Royale don’t go in unprepared, be sure to check out our constantly updated tier list to see where all the cards are ranked! Source link #Clash #Royale #bizarrely #partners #Michael #Bolton Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

City of Albany rangers seeking owner of ******* shepherd dog over alleged Boatshed Markets attack City of Albany rangers seeking owner of ******* shepherd dog over alleged Boatshed Markets attack City rangers want the public’s help to find the owner of a ******* shepherd that allegedly attacked another dog outside the Boatshed Markets. City ranger coordinator Carl Fjastad said the dog — a medium-sized, ******-and-tan coloured ******* shepherd that had been let off its leash — attacked a small tan spoodle outside the Albany Boatshed between 10.45am and 11am on February 2. The owner is described as a fair-skinned man in his 70s, of slight build, about 162cm tall, and wearing a grey wide-brimmed hat. Mr Fjastad said the spoodle suffered injuries that required veterinary treatment but is “fortunately” recovering well. He said rangers are investigating and reviewing potential CCTV footage that may have captured the incident. Mr Fjastad urged dog owners to take proper responsibility for their pets to avoid “sad and unfortunate” incidents, and to take measures to ensure pets are secure at home and in public. “Whether it’s ensuring fences and gates are secure, or keeping dogs on a leash in public spaces, these are simple steps that make a big difference,” he said. “Dogs are not simply pets to be welcomed into your life without taking on the full responsibility that comes with them. “They are animals that need proper care, training, and attention, particularly when exposed to public environments. “Failing to take proper responsibility for a **** can not only result in significant legal and financial penalties, but also have serious and lasting emotional impacts on all parties involved.” Anyone with information is asked to contact City of Albany Rangers on 6820 3999 or *****@*****.tld Source link #City #Albany #rangers #seeking #owner #******* #shepherd #dog #alleged #Boatshed #Markets #attack Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Influence works in Civilization 7 How Influence works in Civilization 7 One of the foundations of the Civilization franchise has always been learning the tips and tricks for how to engage with the other Leaders. Whether they are players or NPCs, relations between the other major players are unavoidable. You still have the choice to be friendly or hostile, but Civilization 7 introduces a new system that adds even more strategies and options to how you interact called Influence. There are a lot of similarities to Influence as other resources you need to manage, such as Gold and Food, but what you need and use it for is vastly different. We’ll help you be the best leader you can be by explaining everything you need to know about Influence in Civilization 7. How Influence works Influence is a new form of currency you can accumulate in Civilization 7 each turn based on what structures you build, social policies you research, Wonders you make, and more. Anything you see the Influence icon for, which looks like a circle with a grid, will impact your Influence. But, there are ways to lose Influence besides spending it as well. If you do things like surprise attack another civ or razing settlements will cost you Influence. You can see how much Influence you are earning per tern on the top of the screen next to your gold total and income. As you build Influence, you will need to decide how you want to spend it. Your first opportunities will be when you first meet a new civ and are given the option to give them a friendly, neutral, or hostile greeting. Either of the extremes will cost 20 Influence and impact your relationship with them right off the bat. 2K Games After you meet a civ, you can use your Influence in many ways to benefit both parties or negatively impact them. These include Treaties, Endeavors, Sanctions, Treaties, and Espionage. Each one will last a set number of turns and give a chance to improve (or reduce) your relationship with that Leader plus another temporary bonus. For example, improving trade relations can give one or both Leaders bonus gold for a number of turns. The specific outcome is dependent on whether or not the other Leader supports your proposal, which grants you both the bonus, accepts it, which will only benefit one, or reject it and the proposal doesn’t happen. Besides selecting a Leader and choosing to spend Influence on these actions, other Leaders can come to you with the same proposals. When this happens, you have the same three options of support, accept, and reject, but support and reject will cost you a small amount of Influence too. Another use for Influence relates to Independant Powers, which are the new name for the smaller NPC settlements on the map. By default, they are neutral towards you but you can use your Influence to befriend and even incorporate them into your civ. Once you make contact with one (so long as they are not hostile) you can use your influence to begin befriending them. With enough influence, you can become their suzerain and incorporate them as a new town for your civ. Source link #Influence #works #Civilization Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thomson Reuters lands copyright win against AI company. What’s next? Thomson Reuters lands copyright win against AI company. What’s next? The first landmark win in an AI copyright case is here. A Delaware court has ruled that a tech startup used copyright-protected material to build a competing AI-based legal product, which is against the law, handing over a remarkable win to Thomson Reuters. This is the first major victory for a plaintiff fighting against an AI company over what constitutes “fair use” of material owned by another entity. The parent company of the Reuters news agency has been tangled in a lengthy legal case against Ross Intelligence, an AI company that lifted material from Thomson Reuters’s Westlaw platform. The plaintiff argued in court that Ross Intelligence’s usage of material pulled from its database to train an AI-powered legal research tool was not fair use, and that it infringed on copyright-protected material. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends In their ruling, U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas rejected Ross’ claims that its conduct was “innocent infringement,” granting a summary judgment in favor of Thomson Reuters. At the center of the case is the concept of fair use, which is broadly dependent on four factors: (1) The purpose and character of using copyright material, including whether it is commercial or nonprofit (2) The nature of the copyrighted work that was used (3) How much of the work was used and how substantial a part it was relative to the copyrighted work’s whole (4) How does the usage affect the copyrighted work’s value or potential market position The district court’s decision was a 2-2 split between Ross Intelligence and Thomson Reuters, but Judge Bibas ruled that the fourth factor outweighs the rest. The latest court ruling could set the ball rolling for more decisive action in other cases where AI companies have been dragged to court for unfairly using copyright-protected content. The dawn of a new era for AI training battles? Joe Maring / Digital Trends One of the biggest such cases involved The New York Times mounting a legal challenge against OpenAI and its backer Microsoft for using the news outlet’s content without proper authorization to train its AI products such as ChatGPT. Getty’s lawsuits against Stability AI are another example where the “scraping” of content without due licensing or compensation was challenged. Amazon-backed Anthropic also found itself tangled in a copyright battle against the Universal Music Group. Recently, we have seen a new trend where two supposedly warring sides strike a licensing deal to quell the copyright disputes. OpenAI has struck licensing deals with Axios, Hearst, and CondeNast, among others. Perplexity, stung by its own long list of copyright lawsuits, has inked similar partnerships with Fortune and Times, to name a few. Meta, Google, and Microsoft have also signed similar deals with “content” partners. Even the Reuters news agency has entered into a licensing partnership with Meta. But striking licensing deals is merely a stop-gap solution. Experts are still divided and seek further clarity on what constitutes copyright law in the age of AI. For example, if an AI model is regurgitating a paraphrased version of someone’s copyright-protected material, what degree of similarity between the two would trigger a copyright infringement lawsuit? We’ll find out soon. Source link #Thomson #Reuters #lands #copyright #win #company #Whats Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

20-year-old arrested in fatal wrong-way ****** on I-295 in stolen truck 20-year-old arrested in fatal wrong-way ****** on I-295 in stolen truck A 20-year-old has been arrested on multiple charges in the Feb. 4 wrong-way fatality on Interstate 295 in a stolen pickup truck and remained in jail Tuesday in lieu of about $2.6 million bail, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Rodney A. Wesley of the Westside was charged Feb. 6 with vehicular *********, leaving the scene of a ****** involving death, carjacking, two counts of attempted carjacking, grand theft auto, petty theft and resisting an officer without violence. The Florida Highway Patrol reported someone driving a stolen pickup truck the wrong way on Interstate 295 caused a three-vehicle ****** killing a 66-year-old Jacksonville man on a motorcycle. The truck’s driver then tried to steal another vehicle but latched onto the outside of a semi-tractor trailer to get away. Interstate 295 is shut down for hours at 103rd Street in Jacksonville following a deadly wrong-way ****** involving a stolen pickup truck. The truck had been carjacked the same day at about 4:30 p.m. at an Arco gas station on 103rd Street. The victim said when he got out and reached for a pump, the suspect was standing in front of him, according to an arrest report that redacts the next line. He ran into the store with a laceration to his forehead and watched the suspect drive away in his truck. He provided a thorough description of him, including his multi-color backpack. Then following the chain-reaction crashes on I-295, detectives inspected the victim’s truck and found a multi-colored backpack matching the description by the vehicle’s owner. A broken air gun pistol also was located, according to the report. Wrong-way driver: Woman and 3-year-old killed, 3 kids injured in I-95 Jacksonville ****** Two days later detectives with the Gang and Community Problems Response units were actively searching for Wesley due to several warrants for his arrest. One was for a Feb. 3 auto theft on Somerton Court off Ricker Road near 103rd Street. The victim left his car running while he was using an air compressor on the tires. When he had gone inside his home briefly and came back out, his car was gone. A neighbor’s daughter told police the thief went by the nickname “Loyalty,” according to the report. The car was located abandoned the next day on nearby Buttercup Street. One of the unit’s detectives spotted Wesley riding a bicycle on another nearby road, Susie Street, and activated the patrol vehicle’s red and blue lights. But he swerved around the detective. Others in the area blocked his path, causing him to dismount from the bike and run. He was found hiding behind a shed on Osteen Street and arrested. The Public Defender’s Office has been assigned his case but not yet a specific attorney, according to court records as of Tuesday evening. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville man arrested in wrong-way ****** on I-295 in stolen truck Source link #20yearold #arrested #fatal #wrongway #****** #I295 #stolen #truck Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DOGE cuts $900 million from agency that tracks American students’ academic progress – The Associated Press DOGE cuts $900 million from agency that tracks American students’ academic progress – The Associated Press DOGE cuts $900 million from agency that tracks American students’ academic progress The Associated PressMusk’s DOGE Announces Millions in Cuts to Education Dept. Amid Legal Pushback The New York TimesDOGE slashes over $100M in DEI funding at Education Department: ‘Win for every student’ Fox NewsElon Musk’s Team Decimates Education Department Arm That Tracks National School Performance ProPublica Source link #DOGE #cuts #million #agency #tracks #American #students #academic #progress #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best Leaders and Civs to pick in Civilization 7 The best Leaders and Civs to pick in Civilization 7 Table of Contents Table of Contents Best Cultural Leaders and civs Best Military Leaders and civs Best Economic Leaders and civs Best Scientific Leaders and civs Among all the many changes to Civilization 7, such as Ages, Influence, Independant Powers, and more that require a complete rethinking of your ingrained tips and tricks, the one thing that remains mostly unchanged is how you achieve victory. Just like past games, you have the choice to go for one of four major victory conditions through cultural, military, economic, or scientific paths. These are represented by Legacy Paths now and require you to complete multiple milestones along the way before another civ beats you to the punch. This race begins before the first round when you are deciding which of the dozens of Leaders you want to play as and which civ you will use in the first Age. Depending on your choices, you can have much easier time working through these Legacy Paths. There are more possible combinations than ever, so we’ll advise you on the best Leaders and civs to pick in Civilization 7. Best Cultural Leaders and civs 2K Games Augustus – Cultural/Expansionist Our first Leader pick is Augustus who comes with a great general perk of adding +2 production in the capital for each town to help kickstart your growth. Once you expand and set up Towns they can purchase cultural buildings right away to help increase your culture income without having to wait to upgrade them into Cities. The +50% gold discount on purchasing buildings in Towns makes that process even easier.= Jose – Cultural/Diplomatic Jose is another solid pick, though feels a bit more random. His main buff is that narrative events give +20 culture and gold each Age and will get more narrative events than normal Leaders. His other major boon is that celebrations last 50% longer and add +50% happiness, which may or may not include a temporary culture buff. It’s less reliable but has greater payouts when a narrative event or celebration do give you a culture bonus. Egpyt 2K Games For a culture civ, Egypt is your best choice. It comes with plenty of unique structures that increase gold production, which in turn makes building culture centers easier, plus the Mastara which adds culture on its own. Best Military Leaders and civs 2K Games Friedrich, Oblique – Militaristic/Scientific There are a lot of military Leaders, but Friedrich, Oblique has some of the best perks in our opinion. Having army commanders start with a +1 command radius buff might sound minor but scales over the course of the game only get more and more powerful. Add on the almost overpowered trait of getting a free infantry unit when building a science building and you can spin up an army way faster than any other Leader. Trung – Militaristic/Scientific Trung is another solid military choice. His army commander gets 3 free levels and +20% XP which will make early combat encounters very one-sided in your favor. The +10% science in cities in tropical areas, or +20% when you are in a war you formally declare isn’t directly beneficial to your army, but will help you unlock better units and upgrades on the science tree faster. Maurya 2K Games The top military civ is the Maurya. They come with an incredible unique military unit and have a ton of options to keep your Happiness high. Since starting wars will negatively hit your Happiness, this can keep you in the positive. Best Economic Leaders and civs 2k Games Napoleon, Emperor – Economic/Diplomatic The Emperor version of Napoleon comes with a unique Sanction called Continental System which reduces target Leader’s trade route limit to all other Leaders by 1. That indirectly will allow you to push ahead in the econ race while others are unable to keep up. For a more direct buff, you also get +8 gold per Age for each Leader you are unfriendly or hostile with and can reject Endeavors for free. Xerxes – Cultural/Economic Xerxes is a more aggressive economic Leader who starts with +3 combat strength when attacking on neutral or enemy territory. You will also earn 100 Culture and gold for capturing a settlement for the first time each Age, which pairs well with the first perk. Where his economic strenght shines is in getting +10% gold for each settlement, but plus 20% if the settlement is taken over and will be able to hold 1 extra settlement in each Age. Mississippian 2K Games Call us crazy, but the Mississippian civ is your best economic option thanks to its special merchant giving you 25 extra gold for each resource you get per trade route and an extra gold producing building. Best Scientific Leaders and civs 2K Games Benjamin Franklin – Diplomatic/Scientific There are no Leaders with science as their primary focus, but Benjamin Franklin essentially does. He gets +1 science per Age on every production building in a city, plus 50% production on production buildings. You will also earn+1 science per Age for any active endeavors you start or support and can have two endeavors of the same type active at once to basically convert your Influence into science. Himiko – Diplomatic/Scientific Himiko’s traits include a unique endeavor called Friend of Wei that grants you and an ally +25% science and the ability to support endeavors for free. Finally, getting +4 science every Age for every Leader you are friendly or helpful with is a small but important bonus. If you don’t intend on being aggressive in your game, these all synergize amazingly well to rocket your science income. Maya 2K Games Again, no civ is primarily science-focused, but we found Maya to have the best advantages. The main thing you will want to use is the Kuh Nah structure that, if placed well, can be one of the best science-producing structures in the game. Source link #Leaders #Civs #pick #Civilization Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Isabella Jonas-Wheildon was ‘invisible’ to authorities Isabella Jonas-Wheildon was ‘invisible’ to authorities Matt Precey BBC News, East of England PA Media In the final month of her life, Isabella was found by police living on a beach in a tent A toddler who was beaten to death by her mother’s new partner was failed by agencies across four counties not sharing information, a review has found. The lifeless body of two-year-old Isabella Jonas-Wheildon was pushed around in a pushchair for days before she was discovered in a locked bathroom at a housing complex in Ipswich in June 2023. A safeguarding practice review found that several authorities had contact with Isabella, her mother and partner, but opportunities to protect the child were missed. “Isabella’s voice or her lived experience was not seen at all during the last month of her life and not demonstrated in professionals’ actions,” report author Dr Russell Wate concluded. Scott Jeff, 24, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 26 years after he was found guilty of Isabella’s ******* at a trial last December. Her mother, Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, 24, is serving a 10-year prison sentence for admitting, causing or allowing the death of a child. Suffolk Police Scott Jeff and Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell were jailed in December following a seven-week trial at Ipswich Crown Court The review said agencies had operated in “silos” and were not focused enough on the child. Dr Wate added that information was gathered but not shared and “no multi-agency discussions took place”, in particular during the final month of Isabella’s life. He described how Isabella had become “invisible” to the authorities before her death in June 2023. ‘Professional curiosity’ The report also described how Gleason-Mitchell and Jeff had taken the little girl from their home town of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, fleeing to the Norfolk coast. A police officer found them sleeping rough in a tent on Great Yarmouth beach after calls from members of the public, and a “concerned citizen” had also arranged emergency accommodation. Members of Gleason-Mitchell’s family had travelled to the area to look for her and visited Great Yarmouth police station but “felt that help wasn’t forthcoming”, the report continued. The BBC has learned Norfolk Police’s professional standards department is now investigating both interactions. The force said inquiries had begun “following the conclusion of the criminal trial in December last year”. There should have been “professional curiosity about the fact that the family were found camping on the beach in Great Yarmouth and had moved around”, the review said. “This should have alerted the various agencies as to concerns over the parenting of Isabella,” it continued. Despite the interactions between the family and the various agencies, there was a lack of knowledge about Jeff and the potential danger that he posed. His “extreme coercive controlling behaviour” was not identified, Dr Wate wrote, saying discussions focused instead on who should take responsibility “from the respective three local authorities, children’s services, and relevant housing services”. CCTV compiled by police showed the couple’s arrests, and the days leading up to them after Isabella was murdered By 19 June 2023, Jeff and Gleason-Mitchell had travelled to Ipswich, where the council found temporary accommodation for Isabella and her mother. Seven days later, the toddler was dead. On 30 June, Bedfordshire Police contacted counterparts in Suffolk saying a friend of Gleason-Mitchell had “grave concerns” about the child. The body of Isabella was found in her buggy, locked in a bathroom of a hostel, the report said, and she had endured “traumatic injuries”. Ipswich Crown Court had heard how the couple had wheeled Isabella’s body around in a pushchair for four days after her death, before fleeing. Facebook Gleason-Mitchell “failed to protect her daughter”, Ipswich Crown Court heard The review said Gleason-Mitchell had previously made a number of suicide attempts, had engaged in self-harming behaviour – and had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). “These vulnerabilities were not taken into account when professionals were considering (her) parenting capacity and risks to Isabella,” the safeguarding report said. Ipswich Crown Court was told that she had “stood by and did nothing” as her partner beat her daughter. In 2020, Jeff had been assessed as “high risk” by the Community Mental Health Team in Bedfordshire. A previous partner had told police he had subjected her to domestic abuse by controlling her movements and finances, and had assaulted, threatened and strangled her. The information was available in agency records relating to the risks that Jeff posed to others and “if sought/shared” would have “concerned professionals greatly for him to be in a relationship with children present in the household”. In response to the report, the Central Bedfordshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnerships issued a joint statement. The partnerships comprise councils, health services and the police, who collaborate with the shared goal of child protection. This case, the statement said, had “touched many people across our counties, and all the Safeguarding Partnerships involved in this statement have been truly shocked”. “All of the agencies involved accept the review findings and work is already under way to implement the recommendations,” it added. “The Safeguarding Children’s Partnerships will work with agencies to ensure that recommendations are implemented.” If you have been affected by this story or would like support, you can find organisations that offer help and information at the BBC Action Line. Source link #Isabella #JonasWheildon #invisible #authorities Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

LIV's major concessions bridging world golf gap: Koepka LIV's major concessions bridging world golf gap: Koepka Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka has trumpeted LIV Golf’s new major pathways as a sign the rebel league is now part of world golf’s ecosystem. Source link #LIV039s #major #concessions #bridging #world #golf #gap #Koepka Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple Reportedly Working With Alibaba to Bring Apple Intelligence Features to China Apple Reportedly Working With Alibaba to Bring Apple Intelligence Features to China Apple has reportedly partnered with Alibaba to co-develop artificial intelligence (AI) features for its iPhone and other devices in China. As per the report, the Cupertino-based tech giant went through multiple AI-focused companies before finally selecting Alibaba. The duo have reportedly co-developed several AI features that cater to Apple’s ******** user base, and it is currently awaiting regulatory approval. There is still no time frame for when Apple Intelligence could make a debut in the region. Notably, a report earlier this month claimed that the company was also considering DeepSeek for the role. Apple Reportedly Partners With Alibaba Over AI The Information reported that the tech giant has selected Alibaba as its AI partner in China, and will be working together to introduce AI features in its devices. Citing unnamed people with direct knowledge of the decision, the publication also claimed that the iPhone maker has already co-developed AI features with Alibaba. While no details about the developed AI features were shared, the report claimed that the features were submitted to China’s cyberspace regulator for approval. Notably, any AI model or AI-powered feature is required to be approved by the ******** government before it can operate in the country. According to the report, Apple decided to work with Alibaba as the e-commerce giant has a massive amount of personal data containing its users’ shopping and payment behaviour. The Cupertino-based company reportedly believes that the data will allow it to build and provide more customised AI features and services. Notably, Apple had reportedly picked Baidu for the job last year. However, it is said that the iPhone maker was not impressed by the ******** company’s progress in developing AI models for Apple Intelligence. Apart from Alibaba and Baidu, the tech giant had also shortlisted Tencent, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, as well as DeepSeek, the report mentioned. However, DeepSeek eventually did not make the cut as Apple reportedly found the startup to be low on manpower and experience to offer support to its large user base. Apple recently rolled out some Apple Intelligence features in the European Union (EU). Currently, China is the only region where the iPhone 16 series is selling without any AI features, one of the main selling points of the smartphones. This reportedly resulted in a dip in sales during the December quarter, also known as the holiday quarter — the tech giant’s most important ******* in terms of sales. Source link #Apple #Reportedly #Working #Alibaba #Bring #Apple #Intelligence #Features #China Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

405 reopens after fatal wrong-way ****** that caused traffic nightmare 405 reopens after fatal wrong-way ****** that caused traffic nightmare LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – A deadly ****** involving a wrong-way driver forced the closure of the southbound 405 Freeway through the Sherman Oaks area Tuesday morning. The ****** was reported just after 4 a.m. when a motorist was spotted traveling northbound in the southbound lanes, according to the California Highway Patrol. A few minutes later, a three- to four-vehicle ****** was reported near Valley Vista Boulevard. The CHP confirmed one person was killed as a result of the ******, and at least one other person was transported to a nearby hospital in unknown condition. A wrong-way driver caused a fatal ****** on the 405 Freeway on Feb. 11, 2025. (KTLA) A SigAlert was issued for the closure of all southbound lanes shortly before 4:30 a.m. This caused extensive traffic delays across the San Fernando Valley for hours throughout the morning. The impacts extended along the southbound 101 Freeway, Ventura Boulevard, Victory Boulevard and other major arteries, adding more than an hour to normal commute times in some cases. All lanes of the 405 reopened shortly before 10 a.m. “GOOD NEWS! CHP OFFICERS HAVE CLEARED THE ROADWAY. THE SIGALERT HAS BEEN CANCELLED IN SHERMAN OAKS,” the CHP posted on X at 9:41 a.m. The identity of the wrong-way driver was not immediately released, and it was unclear if intoxication was a factor. 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 KTLA. Source link #reopens #fatal #wrongway #****** #caused #traffic #nightmare Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

******** tech giant Baidu to release next-generation AI model this year ******** tech giant Baidu to release next-generation AI model this year Men interact with a Baidu AI robot near the company logo at its headquarters in Beijing, China April 23, 2021. Florence Lo | Reuters BEIJING — China’s Baidu plans to release the next generation of its artificial intelligence model in the second half of this year, according to a source familiar with the matter, as newer players such as DeepSeek disrupt the segment. Ernie 5.0, called a “foundation model,” is set to have “big enhancements in multimodal capabilities,” the source said, without specifying its functions. “Multimodal” AI can process texts, videos, images and audio to combine them as well as convert them across categories — text to video and vice-versa, for instance. Foundation models can understand language and perform a wide array of tasks including generating text and images, and communicating in natural language. Baidu’s planned update comes as ******** companies race to develop innovative AI models to compete with OpenAI and other U.S.-based companies. In late January, Hangzhou-based startup DeepSeek prompted a global tech stock sell-off with the release of its open-source AI model that impressed users with its reasoning capabilities and claims of undercutting OpenAI’s ChatGPT drastically on cost. “We are living in an exciting time … The inference cost [of foundation models] basically can be reduced by more than 90% over 12 months,” Baidu CEO Robin Li said at the World Governments Summit in Dubai this week. That’s according to a press release of his fireside chat with Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE’s minister of state for artificial intelligence, digital economy, and remote work applications. “If you can reduce the cost by a certain percentage, then that means your productivity increases by that kind of percentage. I think that’s pretty much the nature of innovation,” Li noted. Baidu was the first major ******** tech company to roll out a ChatGPT-like chatbot called Ernie in March 2023. But despite initial momentum, the product has since been eclipsed by other ******** AI chatbots from startups as well as large-tech companies such as Alibaba and ByteDance. While Alibaba shares have soared 33% for the year so far, Baidu shares are up 6%. Tencent has notched gains of about 4% for the year so far. ByteDance is not listed. Baidu’s Ernie model already supports the integration of generative AI across a range of the company’s consumer and business-facing products, including cloud storage and content creation. Last month, Baidu said its Wenku platform for creating presentations and other documents had reached 40 million paying users as of the end of 2024, up 60% from the end of 2023. Updated features, such as using AI to generate a presentation based on a company’s financial filing, started being rolled out to users in January. The current version of the Ernie model is Generation 4, released in Oct. 2023. An upgraded “turbo” version Ernie 4.0 was released in August 2024. Baidu has not officially announced plans to release the next generation update. The latest version of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, GPT-4o, was released in May 2024. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a Reddit “ask me anything” session earlier this month that there wasn’t a public timeline for GPT-5’s release. Baidu did not respond to a request for comment. Source link #******** #tech #giant #Baidu #release #nextgeneration #model #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** tech giant Baidu to release next-generation AI model this year ******** tech giant Baidu to release next-generation AI model this year Men interact with a Baidu AI robot near the company logo at its headquarters in Beijing, China April 23, 2021. Florence Lo | Reuters BEIJING — China’s Baidu plans to release the next generation of its artificial intelligence model in the second half of this year, according to a source familiar with the matter, as newer players such as DeepSeek disrupt the segment. Ernie 5.0, called a “foundation model,” is set to have “big enhancements in multimodal capabilities,” the source said, without specifying its functions. “Multimodal” AI can process texts, videos, images and audio to combine them as well as convert them across categories — text to video and vice-versa, for instance. Foundation models can understand language and perform a wide array of tasks including generating text and images, and communicating in natural language. Baidu’s planned update comes as ******** companies race to develop innovative AI models to compete with OpenAI and other U.S.-based companies. In late January, Hangzhou-based startup DeepSeek prompted a global tech stock sell-off with the release of its open-source AI model that impressed users with its reasoning capabilities and claims of undercutting OpenAI’s ChatGPT drastically on cost. “We are living in an exciting time … The inference cost [of foundation models] basically can be reduced by more than 90% over 12 months,” Baidu CEO Robin Li said at the World Governments Summit in Dubai this week. That’s according to a press release of his fireside chat with Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE’s minister of state for artificial intelligence, digital economy, and remote work applications. “If you can reduce the cost by a certain percentage, then that means your productivity increases by that kind of percentage. I think that’s pretty much the nature of innovation,” Li noted. Baidu was the first major ******** tech company to roll out a ChatGPT-like chatbot called Ernie in March 2023. But despite initial momentum, the product has since been eclipsed by other ******** AI chatbots from startups as well as large-tech companies such as Alibaba and ByteDance. While Alibaba shares have soared 33% for the year so far, Baidu shares are up 6%. Tencent has notched gains of about 4% for the year so far. ByteDance is not listed. Baidu’s Ernie model already supports the integration of generative AI across a range of the company’s consumer and business-facing products, including cloud storage and content creation. Last month, Baidu said its Wenku platform for creating presentations and other documents had reached 40 million paying users as of the end of 2024, up 60% from the end of 2023. Updated features, such as using AI to generate a presentation based on a company’s financial filing, started being rolled out to users in January. The current version of the Ernie model is Generation 4, released in Oct. 2023. An upgraded “turbo” version Ernie 4.0 was released in August 2024. Baidu has not officially announced plans to release the next generation update. The latest version of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, GPT-4o, was released in May 2024. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a Reddit “ask me anything” session earlier this month that there wasn’t a public timeline for GPT-5’s release. Baidu did not respond to a request for comment. Source link #******** #tech #giant #Baidu #release #nextgeneration #model #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Luka Dončić gets superstar treatment in Lakers debut as L.A. downs Jazz for sixth straight win – The Athletic Luka Dončić gets superstar treatment in Lakers debut as L.A. downs Jazz for sixth straight win – The Athletic Luka Dončić gets superstar treatment in Lakers debut as L.A. downs Jazz for sixth straight win The AthleticTMZ: Luka Dončić’s Lakers Jersey from Debut Likely Worth $500K-$1M at Auction Bleacher ReportIt’s official: The Luka Dončić trade could not have gone worse for the Mavs in the first week Yahoo Sports5 Takeaways: Luka Dončić’s Lakers debut lights up Los Angeles NBA.ComLuka Dončić sees familiar face in L.A. in former Mavericks teammate Dirk Nowitzki – The Athletic The Athletic Source link #Luka #Dončić #superstar #treatment #Lakers #debut #L.A #downs #Jazz #sixth #straight #win #Athletic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Coca-cola says it could use more plastic due to Trump tariffs Coca-cola says it could use more plastic due to Trump tariffs Coca-Cola may have to sell more drinks in plastic bottles in the US if President Donald Trump’s tariffs end up making aluminium cans more expensive, the company’s chief executive, James Quincey, said in a call with investors. It comes after Trump ordered a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the US, which could end up driving up the price of canned food and drink items in the country. In December, the beverage giant scaled down its sustainability target of using 50% recycled materials in its packaging by 2030, to using 35% to 40% by 2035. Environmental groups have labelled Coca-Cola as the “top global plastic polluter” for six consecutive years. “If one package suffers some increase in input costs, we continue to have other packaging offerings that will allow us to compete in the affordability space,” Quincey said. “For example, if aluminium cans become more expensive, we can put more emphasis on **** [plastic] bottles”. The Coca-Cola boss also sought to minimise the impact of the tariffs on his business saying packaging is only a relatively small component of his company’s costs. In recent years, Coca-Cola had been selling more products in aluminium containers as part of its marketing and sustainability strategies. Despite being generally more expensive, aluminium cans are also a lot more recyclable than plastic bottles over time. The US imports almost half of the aluminium it uses, according to the United States Geological Survey, so a 25% tariff on all imports is likely to cause cans to become even more costly. After Trump first ordered tariffs on steel in 2018, many can-makers won “exclusions” from those import taxes. But this time, Trump has said there will be no exemptions from the rules either for individual products or for particular countries. In a separate move that is likely to contribute to plastic pollution, Trump signed an executive order earlier this week ending a US government effort to replace plastic straws with paper. The order reversed a measure signed by former President Joe Biden, who had called plastic pollution a “crisis”. Source link #Cocacola #plastic #due #Trump #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]