Super Bowl 59: President Trump, Taylor Swift watch Philadelphia Eagles beat Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl 59: President Trump, Taylor Swift watch Philadelphia Eagles beat Kansas City Chiefs
Last season’s Super Bowl was watched by a record 123m as the Chiefs edged the San Francisco 49ers in overtime to win their second straight Lombardi Trophy.
It was an illustration of their recurring ability to find their best form when it mattered.
After another commanding season, the Chiefs hoped to be the first team to win three in a row – but they wilted in the New Orleans heat.
After a quiet first quarter, the Eagles defence exploded in the second, bullying and battering the Chiefs’ offensive line and panicking the NFL’s most reliable quarterback Patrick Mahomes into a catalogue of uncharacteristic errors.
In that *******, the 28-year-old threw two interceptions, one that was immediately returned for a touchdown by a brutal Eagles defence and the other turned into a score by receiver AJ Brown from the resulting play.
It left the scoreless Chiefs well beaten before Kendrick Lamar’s half-time stage had even been assembled.
By the time Worthy finally got the Chiefs on the board, the Eagles had extended their lead through DeVonta Smith and a field goal from Jake Elliott, the kicker later adding two further scores.
The Eagles did not even need a performance from Saquon Barkley, their brilliant running back who only had 57 yards on the ground but still managed to break Terrell Davis’ record for most rushing yards in a season, including the play-offs.
While Mahomes ended up with three late touchdowns, he was tackled for a loss a career-high six times and was intercepted twice as Philadelphia dethroned the king of the NFL – and thoroughly humbled their former head coach Andy Reid.
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Mihocek armed and dangerous for forward-looking Magpies
Mihocek armed and dangerous for forward-looking Magpies
Now he can use his arm again, Brody Mihocek is keen to lend a hand to what he calls Collingwood’s “Tim and Dan Show”.
The Magpies’ five-time leading goalkicker is itching for an AFL return after last season ended disastrously in early July.
Mihocek suffered a ruptured pectoral tendon against Essendon and it needed surgery.
He had hoped to sneak in a late-season return, but once Collingwood’s finals hopes ended so did his 2024 campaign.
Mihoceck only played 11 games last season, easily the fewest of his seven seasons at Collingwood, and was one of a number of injuries that helped cruel the Magpies’ premiership defence.
The recruitment of Tim Membrey from St Kilda and Dan McStay’s successful return late last year from a knee reconstruction means the Magpie forwards have had plenty of time in the off-season figuring out how they will work together.
“Very excited – you don’t realise how much you miss football until it’s taken away from you,” Mihocek said on Monday.
“We were hoping to make finals (in 2024) and I was hoping to maybe sneak in, but realistically it probably would have been hard.
“The ‘pec’ probably took a while longer than I thought it would, but it’s fully healed now.”
The surgery initially meant Mihocek’s arm would be in a sling for six weeks, although he managed to get that down to a month.
Nevertheless, it was hard going.
“It’s up there. Painful … it feels good now,” Mihocek said.
He is enthusiastic about what Collingwood will come up with in attack this season, downplaying his own importance to their forward structure.
“It’s always a long pre-season, figuring out where everyone is going to play,” Mihocek said.
“We (himself, Membrey and McStay) all know our roles and we’re starting to build really good chemistry.
“I’m happy to take a back seat and watch the ‘Tim and Dan Show’ – let them kick all the goals.
“I do love a goal myself. I play my best footy when I’m helping others out, so I’m looking forward to setting them up and snagging a few myself.”
Mihocek will return on February 26 in the Magpies’ charity match against Richmond at Ikon Park.
The game is a fundraiser for Foodbank, which provides food for Victorians in financial strife.
The Tigers jokingly created the Pineapple Cup for the game and the Magpies did not know quite what to think when they were presented with it as the winning team last year.
“We weren’t really sure what we were being handed,” Mihocek said.
“But all the boys loved the Pineapple Cup and it sets off the season.
“We all just want to be playing football. We’re all doing match practice now.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out there – it’s really exciting, even just to do the practice game against Richmond, and I’m really looking forward to opening round.”
Collingwood open their 2025 AFL campaign on March 9 against the GWS Giants in Sydney.
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Google Messages Could Reportedly Allow Users to Make Video Calls via WhatsApp
Google Messages Could Reportedly Allow Users to Make Video Calls via WhatsApp
Google Messages is reportedly working on adding a new feature that will allow users to make video calls via WhatsApp. As per the report, the feature is not currently active and was found within the code of the app. It reportedly activates when the caller does not have Google Meet installed on their device. This feature is said to make the video-calling process on the Mountain View-based tech giant’s first-party app easier for users. Separately, a report claimed that the app recently merged the camera viewfinder and the gallery picker when opening the camera option.
Google Messages Could Reportedly Integrate WhatsApp Video Calling
According to an Android Authority report, Google Messages could soon integrate WhatsApp’s video calling feature into Google Messages. The publication spotted the feature within the Google Messages version 20250131. A flag for the feature was found within the code, which was activated. As such, it is currently not available for users to try out.
Google Messages WhatsApp integration Photo Credit: Android Authority
Based on screenshots shared by the publication, a prompt suggesting users make video calls via WhatsApp shows up when they tap the video call icon in Google Messages. However, the feature reportedly only shows up if the caller does not have Google Meet installed. Notably, currently, users can only make video calls via Meet, and if they do not have it installed, the app prompts them to install the app and try again.
With this new feature, when making a video call via WhatsApp, the app does not take the user to the messaging app. Instead, it is said to directly open the video call interface in full-screen. This feature could save users several clicks if their primary messaging app is Google Messages.
However, the report claimed that the feature only works in individual chats. In group chats, the app can initiate video calls via Meet only. Additionally, if the person on the other end does not have WhatsApp installed, Google Messages reportedly does not prompt the WhatsApp video call pop-up.
Notably, the feature has not been officially announced by Google and some of the reported behaviours can be different, in case the feature ever makes it to the public domain.
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New Zealand loosens ‘golden visa’ rules to attract investors – Financial Times
New Zealand loosens ‘golden visa’ rules to attract investors – Financial Times
New Zealand loosens ‘golden visa’ rules to attract investors Financial TimesNew Zealand Locks Out Foreign Home Buyers Even as Golden Visa Rules Eased BloombergNew Zealand to Scrap English Test, Slash Investment Requirements for Investor Visa Investment Migration InsiderNew Zealand to loosen visa rules to lure foreign investors Reuters.comNew Zealand’s new visa rules: What it means for travellers and investors The Times of India
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Archaeologists Find Roman Artefacts in Spain’s Cova De Les Dones Cave
Archaeologists Find Roman Artefacts in Spain’s Cova De Les Dones Cave
Roman-era inscriptions and a coin have been discovered by archaeologists inside a partially flooded cave in Spain. The findings, estimated to be nearly 1,900 years old, suggest the site was used for ritual purposes. Researchers exploring the Cova de les Dones, located in eastern Spain, found a corroded Roman coin embedded in a fissure between the ceiling and a stalactite. Additionally, 15 inscriptions were identified, carved into the rock by inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula during the Roman occupation. Experts believe these inscriptions and the placement of the coin indicate that the cave functioned as a sanctuary.
Discovery of Roman Artefacts in Cova de les Dones
As reported by Live Science, researchers exploring Cova de les Dones found a corroded Roman coin wedged between a crack in the ceiling and a stalactite. The coin, dated to the reign of Emperor Claudius between A.D. 41 and 54, was likely placed there as an offering. In addition to the coin, 15 inscriptions were found etched into the rock, believed to have been made during the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. Their meanings remain unclear, but experts suggest they indicate the cave was regarded as a sanctuary.
Historical Significance of the Cave
Findings from previous excavations indicate human activity in the cave dates back thousands of years. Iron Age ceramics and prehistoric rock art, including depictions of an auroch and a stag, have been documented. A study published in 2023 recorded over 110 cave paintings, some believed to be more than 24,000 years old due to overlapping cave bear claw marks.
Expert Analysis on the Discoveries
In an interview with Levante, Aitor Ruiz-Redondo, a professor of prehistory at the University of Zaragoza, stated that the inscriptions and the coin confirm the cave’s continued use as a ritual site during the Roman *******.
Further Exploration and Future Findings
The inscriptions are located approximately 200 metres from the cave’s entrance. Cova de les Dones consists of a single chamber extending 500 metres and opening onto a steep canyon. Large sections remain unexplored, with researchers anticipating further discoveries in the coming years. Reports indicate that only a fraction of the prehistoric artwork has been studied in detail so far, leaving room for new insights into the site’s extensive history.
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Ne Zha 2 rakes in $1bn in days and stirs national pride
Ne Zha 2 rakes in $1bn in days and stirs national pride
An animated film about a boy who battles demons with his magical powers has become China’s highest-grossing film ever and a source of national pride.
Ne Zha 2, based on a ******** mythological character, has raked in more than 8 billion yuan ($1.1bn; £910m) during the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, according to ticket sales tracker Maoyan.
It broke the record set by 2021’s The Battle of Lake Changjin, a propaganda film about the 1950s Korean War, which earned about $900m.
Ne Zha 2 is being hailed as a symbol of progress in ******** film, which has long trailed Hollywood despite a massive domestic market.
Hot off its domestic success, Ne Zha 2 will be shown overseas next week, including in the US, Canada and Australia.
To ******** viewers, Ne Zha 2 shows how locally-made films are becoming competitive globally.
“It not only showcases the strong power of ******** animation after its rise, but also demonstrates the infinite possibilities of traditional ******** mythology in the modern context,” reads one review on IMDB.
Some hope it could earn another $1bn and surpass the world’s highest-grossing film of all time, 2009’s Avatar.
“Now it’s over to the ******** people overseas to chip in,” read one comment on Weibo.
Movie ticket sales in China surge during the Lunar New Year festivities. This season saw ******** films rake in $1.3b during the weeklong holiday *******, underscoring an increase in consumer spending that ******** authorities have been hoping for.
Aside from setting a new box-office benchmark in China, Ne Zha 2 is also the first movie ever to cross $1bn in a single market, according to Hollywood publication Deadline.
Ne Zha 2 has been praised for its script and visual effects. Figurines of the movie’s characters have flown off the shelves as fans flock to cinemas.
It builds on the success of the 2019 film Ne Zha, which made more than $725m and is China’s fifth highest-grossing film of all time.
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Not Just Drake, Kendrick Lamar Also Has a Message for PlayStation in His Super Bowl Halftime Show
Not Just Drake, Kendrick Lamar Also Has a Message for PlayStation in His Super Bowl Halftime Show
While football fans eagerly anticipated Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance, nobody anticipated the artist’s subsequent jab at Drake with a PlayStation Easter Egg the size of a stadium. Expectations were met for the most part of the rapper’s set. As the audience applauded to spins on songs from albums like GNX and DAMN, the show reached new heights thanks to cameos from SZA and Samuel Jackson.
Kendrick Lamar performed at the recently concluded Super Bowl halftime show. | Credit: YouTube/@NFL.
There were, of course, many allusions to Lamar’s notorious feud with Drake from 2024, but what spectators were surprised by was how the Super Bowl performer decided to end things with the former Degrassi star. PlayStation’s recognizable cross, circle, triangle, and square symbols were visible on the stage as the lights went down, and the words “Game Over” were illuminated on the stadium’s side.
Kendrick Lamar ends beef with Drake with a PlayStation Easter Egg
Lamar used the reference to PlayStation to diss Drake. | Credit: YouTube/@NFL.
When it came to his feud with Drake, Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance was always going to be viewed as a victory lap, but it felt particularly cruel to include Sony in the fray in order to finally end that chapter in a spectacular manner.
the stage for Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance has the PlayStation controller buttons pic.twitter.com/DnkrJGRDtI
— Radec (@realradec) February 10, 2025
Fans of music and video games have taken to social media to express their admiration for the jab, even though it’s unclear why the To Pimp a Butterfly artist decided to seemingly channel PlayStation for the conclusion of his year-long battle. When you realize that the stage is a major video game reference, Lamar’s already fantastic performance might even be better on repeat.
Serena Williams, Samuel Jackson, PlayStation references, the GNX, the whole stadium yelling “AMINORR” ugh the dancers in red, white & blue, SZA?! Thank you Kendrick. The revolution will be televised. pic.twitter.com/cKazFowRIC
— Nelly J. (@Xo__Jenny) February 10, 2025
Given that Lamar’s show has finally put an end to the feud, it’s difficult not to consider this weekend to be among PlayStation’s biggest—and most peculiar—ever. In addition to its unexpected appearance during the Super Bowl halftime show, the gaming company made headlines on Friday and Saturday morning when players were prevented from accessing PSN for a long time.
Fans were unable to play any online games for almost a whole day due to the impromptu event, which caused one of the longest outages since the 2011 scandal. Later yesterday, the long-hailed console company finally managed to restore PSN online, and it announced that it would be giving PS Plus subscribers an extra five days to extend their subscriptions.
PSN is now finally live
PSN is well and truly back. | Credit: Sony.
Sony’s official PSN status page (08/02/2025) states that PSN is operational again. In the last few hours of the outage, players were posting that while some services seemed to be returning, this was not the case for everyone. But just in time for the remainder of that weekend, Sony seems to have finally restored PSN.
Downdetector reported that PSN experienced a 24-day outage. All services, including sign-in, gaming, and the PS Store, were unavailable, according to the PSN service page. Sony also responded to this situation with a tweet.
We are aware some users might be currently experiencing issues with PSN. For more details: [Hidden Content]
— Ask PlayStation (@AskPlayStation) February 8, 2025
Publishers alerted their players to the outage because the situation was so dire. Users may experience trouble launching games, apps, or network features “due to PlayStation server’s emergent issue today,” according to a message shared by NetEase Games, the company that created Marvel Rivals. “We are actively communicating with the PlayStation team and will restore the game once we receive a solution plan from the PlayStation team,” NetEase said.
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Red Metal drilling hits thick rare earth intersections from surface
Red Metal drilling hits thick rare earth intersections from surface
Red Metal’s latest infill drilling program has unearthed thick intersections of valuable magnet rare earths at the Kary zone within the company’s Sybella project, 20 kilometres from the Queensland mining town of Mount Isa.
Multiple long intervals up to 162 metres thick containing the four magnet metals were encountered from surface or shallow depths from the infill drilling, with many holes ending in mineralisation.
The consistent mineralised hits produced several standout intervals, including a whopping 162m run grading 337 parts per million (ppm) of neodymium-praseodymium and 30ppm of the more valuable heavy rare earth metals dysprosium-terbium from 18m to end of hole.
An interval of 108m going 349ppm neodymium-praseodymium and 38ppm dysprosium-terbium from surface to end of hole, along with 72m at 338ppm neodymium-praseodymium and 34ppm dysprosium-terbium from surface indicate the sizeable width of mineralisation found within the project’s ground.
Management previously outlined the discovery of an eastern zone, now called Kary zone, extending for more than 4.8km along strike and with a width of up to 1.5km.
A 7.2km-long Western zone, now known as Templeton, comprises widths varying from 400m to more than 1.6km that show the project’s rare earths potential.
The interpreted surface areas at the site are at least 3.6km for the eastern zone that remains open to the southeast and 7.6km for the western zone.
Management says the total magnet rare earth grades and widths from the recent infill program align with previous results from drilling to the north and south and boost its confidence even further in an inferred resource revealed in October.
Red Metal is now eagerly awaiting the results from pH optimisation bottle-roll leach tests completed on composite samples from this campaign, due in March, to determine the optimal low-acid solution to use in its next stage column leach testwork.
The vitally important column leach testing is the company’s current priority. It plans to replicate the outcome from a heap leaching process, which can often take months to maximise the extraction of metal from the ore. Heap leaching is expected to be used for processing at scale if the project moves into a mining operation.
Results from column leach testing can take a similar duration and are costly to achieve, so it is important to have nailed down the correct low-acid solution to optimise results straight off the bat.
Plans are underway to obtain enough ore for the column leach testing by drilling large diameter diamond core holes.
The company is aiming to have the column leach testwork completed by mid-year.
The infill program was cut short due to a large bush fire on the project area near the end of the field season. Three separate lines of drilling were completed across the eastern Kary zone.
Management believes drill spacing within the three completed lines is sufficient to qualify it for an indicated resource status. It says the consistency of the mineralisation warrants drilling the remaining portion of the area it was unable to access due to the fire.
Red Metals plans to use its combined drill results in its calculations to upgrade the overall zone to the indicated category.
Confirming the continuity of the wide zones of higher-grade rare earth mineralisation at Sybella is an essential step towards realising its potential for bulk tonnage heap leach mining. Repeating our positive early-stage metallurgical results with pH optimisation tests on composited samples representative of a larger area is the next key step.
The company previously conducted intermittent bottle-roll tests on reverse circulation (RC) drill chips from weathered and fresh granite samples, which showed the ore to be ideal for a heap leach processing operation.
It last year engaged metallurgical specialists ANSTO Minerals to validate its breakthrough leach results using chip samples from Sybella.
The company says ANSTO’s supplementary findings back up its phase one testwork – completed by Core Resources and revealed early in 2024 – that showed high recoveries and low impurities using low levels of acid consumption for both valuable magnet and heavy rare earth oxides.
Promising early metallurgical testing indicates that 21 per cent of the project’s mineral basket value comes from high-demand heavy rare earth elements, such as dysprosium and terbium.
Red Metal has tabled a massive 4.8-billion-tonne rare earths resource for the Sybella project at 302ppm neodymium-praseodymium and 28ppm dysprosium-terbium, using a 200ppm neodymium-praseodymium cut-off grade.
By increasing the cut-off grade to 360ppm neodymium-praseodymium , the resource was estimated at 209 million tonnes grading 377ppm neodymium-praseodymium and 34ppm dysprosium-terbium.
Management says the bulk of the resource material starts at surface and remains open at depths below 100m, which provides an option for early, low-cost mining.
The company believes abundant granite-hosted soft ore in its ground provides the Sybella project with a compelling edge and offers simple crushing and processing options.
The Sybella deposit sits on 12km-by-3km granite-pervasive ground with ore susceptible to simple low-temperature processing, pointing to a likelihood of a low-capex operation.
If Red Metal can keep expanding the size of the prize and get the processing side right, the sky could well be the limit for Sybella.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: *****@*****.tld
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BP shares rise after reports Elliott has taken a stake in the British oil major
BP shares rise after reports Elliott has taken a stake in the British oil major
A general view of the BP logo and petrol station forecourt sign on January 22, 2024 in Southend, United Kingdom.
John Keeble | Getty Images News | Getty Images
BP shares jumped at the market open following weekend reports that activist investor Elliott Management has built a stake in the struggling oil major and could pressure the energy company to shift gears on its core oil and gas businesses.
BP stock was up 8.06% at 8:32 a.m. London time.
The company has declined to comment on the reports, which do not specify the size of the stake accrued by Paul Singer’s hedge fund. CNBC has reached out to Elliott Management for comment.
The British oil major, which is set to unveil its fourth-quarter results on Tuesday, last month issued a trading update warning of higher corporate costs, lower fourth-quarter realized refining margins and one-off charges linked to its bio-ethanol acquisition.
This breaking news story is being updated.
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Ecuador election ends in a 'tie' prompting run-off in April – BBC.com
Ecuador election ends in a 'tie' prompting run-off in April – BBC.com
Ecuador election ends in a ‘tie’ prompting run-off in April BBC.comEcuador’s conservative incumbent and a leftist lawyer are leading early presidential voting results The Associated PressEcuador set for run-off vote as leftist candidate pushes president close in tight election CNNEcuador presidential race set for run-off as leftist outperforms Reuters Canada
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Six Nations: Sir Chris Hoy & Elliot Daly feature in week two best moments
Six Nations: Sir Chris Hoy & Elliot Daly feature in week two best moments
Watch the best moments from week two of the Six Nations including Elliot Daly’s winning try for England against France at the Allianz Stadium.
WATCH MORE: Late Daly try secures dramatic England victory against France
Watch highlights on Six Nations Rugby Special on BBC iPlayer.
Available to *** users only.
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Why the *** must lead on data to unlock AI’s full potential
Why the *** must lead on data to unlock AI’s full potential
The *** government holds some of the world’s most valuable datasets, including official statistics, cultural heritage records and NHS health data. These datasets have powered scientific breakthroughs, business innovation, and improvements in public services.
With the publication of the much-anticipated AI Opportunities Action Plan, the transformative potential of government data for AI has never been more apparent. However, recent research by the Open Data Institute (ODI) reveals critical shortcomings in how government datasets are prepared and published for AI.
Government data and AI’s reliability challenge
Foundation models (FMs), such as ChatGPT and Gemini, are increasingly used to provide information on public policies and services. Yet, the ODI’s research highlights that while these models scrape government data repositories, they often fail to deliver accurate outputs based on them. Instead, models draw on secondary or unreliable sources, such as social media posts or opinion articles, or simply fabricate answers.
The consequences are significant. Citizens using AI tools to understand benefit entitlements, for example, may receive misleading or incomplete advice, undermining public trust in both AI and government services. This is particularly concerning given the *** government’s emphasis on improving public service delivery through AI innovation.
Data deficits in the AI ecosystem
The AI Opportunities Action Plan, authored by Matt Clifford, rightly emphasises the role of the National Data Library (NDL) as a means to unlock government data for AI innovators. Yet, the current state of government datasets presents significant barriers to achieving this vision.
ODI analysis of CommonCrawl, a key dataset repository for AI models, found that it scraped 13,556 pages from data.gov.*** as of April 2024. However, these pages rarely contributed to accurate model outputs. Across 195 test queries, models correctly referenced data.gov.*** statistics in only five cases.
This issue arises because government data is often not published in AI-ready formats. While technologies such as DCAT are used to make datasets discoverable, scraping infrastructure like CommonCrawl does not fully support these technologies. As a result, AI models rely on less authoritative sources, perpetuating misinformation. The ODI’s findings suggest that the ***’s ambition to lead in AI innovation could falter unless this disconnect is addressed.
Evidence from ODI experiments
The ODI conducted two experiments to examine how government data supports AI models and, in turn, how AI models are enabled to support residents of the ***.
The first experiment analysed how important *** government websites are for AI. Researchers conducted an ablation study utilising a ‘machine unlearning technique’ to remove gov.*** websites from a selection of FMs’ training data.
The results revealed a 42.6% increase in models’ inaccuracy when deprived of gov.*** content, leading to fundamental errors. For example, one test found that models that did not have access to government websites misinformed users about their eligibility for Child Benefit.
In contrast, the second experiment found that government datasets are currently unknown to AI models. This experiment, a study of models’ ability to recall specific statistics from data.gov.***, found that out of 195 queries, models accurately referenced official government statistics releases just five times.
The conclusion from these experiments was that while government websites are vital for AI accuracy, government statistics datasets are underutilised despite their enormous value and potential in delivering public services. If we want to realise the potential of AI to deliver benefits such as improving care quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness in the NHS, the government must prioritise improving the quality, accessibility, and usability of its data.
The path forward
The adoption of FAIR principles – ensuring data is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable – has long been championed by data.gov.*** and remains a strong foundation. Emerging tools like Croissant, a machine-readable metadata format designed for machine learning, can further enhance discoverability and integration into developers’ workflows. If dataset descriptions are improved, they will be more usable for human and machine users.
The government must incentivise responsible data sharing to ensure equitable access to high-quality data. This could include tax incentives for private-sector data sharing, mandates for publicly funded projects to make their data open where appropriate, or even a levy on AI-generated content to fund trusted information sources. We must use privacy-enhancing technologies such as Solid, which offer individuals direct access and control of their data – for example, their well-being and health data – to ensure access to sensitive data without compromising personal privacy, commercial sensitivity, or national security. This could provide important benefits, such as using machine learning to identify personal risk factors for health conditions, enabling preventative action. Data Trusts can be built on top of Solid to aggregate data. This aggregated data can be collated into datasets with Croissant metadata to prepare it for research use.
Aligning with the Action Plan
The AI Opportunities Action Plan’s emphasis on high-quality data and strong governance aligns with the ODI’s longstanding commitment to socio-technical solutions integrating advanced data infrastructure with public trust. To support the development of interoperable systems, AI-ready datasets, and privacy-enhancing technologies, the ODI is advocating for a ten-year National Data Infrastructure Roadmap. This roadmap would support the Action Plan’s focus on driving AI innovation through investing in long-term data infrastructure.
However, the Action Plan leaves several gaps unaddressed. It does not fully detail how the National Data Library will incorporate user input or engage diverse stakeholders to ensure it delivers public benefit. There is limited detail about formal standards for data quality and provenance, which are critical for ensuring AI-ready datasets. Furthermore, while the Action Plan highlights the need to support AI innovators, it could more explicitly foster data-centric startups specialising in data preparation and governance tools. We hope these gaps are addressed as the government rolls out the recommendations.
International leadership through collaboration
The ODI’s research highlights the global importance of data-centric approaches to AI governance. However, few nations prioritise this focus, risking undermining the broader adoption of open and shared data practices. Without robust data-centric governance, the foundations of transparent and accountable AI systems could weaken.
The ODI has launched the Global AI Policy Data Observatory to address this. This initiative provides practical resources to support policymakers in developing data-centric AI governance. By offering insights into machine-readable metadata, toolkits for responsible data use, and best practices for transparency, the Observatory aims to strengthen the global evidence base for data-centric AI.
Realising the ***’s AI potential
Access to high-quality government data is essential for realising AI’s potential in public service delivery. By improving data publication practices and investing in long-term infrastructure, the *** can position itself as a global leader in data provision for AI. This leadership will unlock transformative economic and social benefits, aligning with the ambitions of the AI Opportunities Action Plan.
The full report is available to download at ODI Report: The *** Government as a Data Provider for AI.
Elena Simperl is the director of research at the ODI. Neil Majithia is a researcher at the ODI.
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Lithium Universe inks key ********* cement additive deal
Lithium Universe inks key ********* cement additive deal
Lithium Universe has inked a non-binding memorandum of understanding to exclusively supply a key cement additive to Canada’s biggest cement manufacturer, Lafarge Canada.
Aluminosilicate is made up of silica, aluminium oxide and ferric oxide and will be a secondary byproduct from the lithium carbonate production circuit at Lithium Universe’s planned Bécancour refinery in Quebec.
The byproduct adds substantial value to the cement manufacturing industry as it significantly enhances the building material’s load-bearing strength and reduces its production costs.
Because of its fine particle size and large specific surface area, aluminosilicate also improves reactivity and utility in cement production.
Studies have shown that infusing cement with 30 per cent aluminosilicate can ratchet up its load-bearing strength by a remarkable 132pc in a 28-day ******* and 174pc after three months compared to ordinary Portland cement.
Lafarge Canada is set to also make significant cost-savings, as partially replacing traditional cement raw materials with aluminosilicate lowers production costs and reduces the carbon footprint of cement manufacturing.
This collaboration with Lafarge will not only advance our focus on building Bécancour Lithium refinery’s secondary product supply chain but also strengthens local supply chains, fostering a more circular economy in Québec and contributing to greener construction materials.
Lithium Universe commissioned *********-based engineering consultants Hatch Ltd to design its lithium refinery, which it hopes will exactly mirror the processing plant previously developed by the same engineers for the Jiangsu lithium carbonate facility in China. The successful ******** plant has since set a global benchmark for lithium refineries.
By leveraging proven technology, Lithium Universe is setting itself an ambitious target to produce up to 18,270 tonnes per year of green battery-grade lithium carbonate, initially focusing on supplying lithium iron phosphate batteries for the booming EV sector.
A prefeasibility study handed down a few months ago delivered a pre-tax net present value of US$779 million (A$1.24 billion) and an annual EBITDA of US$147m (A$235m).
The company has assumed a medium price assumption of US$1170 per tonne (A$1872/t) for spodumene concentrate and US$20,970/t (A$33,500/t) for battery-grade lithium carbonate. Based on a capital cost of A$790m the company expects a payback ******* of 3.5 years for the 20-year operation.
Its operating costs are expected to level out at a healthy US$3976/t (A$5978/t) of lithium carbonate, with hydroelectric power provided by Hydro Québec reducing the plant’s greenhouse gas emissions by 95pc.
The refining process will generate nearly 130,000t of aluminosilicate byproduct annually. In turning this waste into cash, management says its manufacturing plant will power the future of batteries and build a greener construction industry.
Since Canada’s cement sector is going through a stage of rapid growth, Lithium Universe says the MoU has landed at an opportune moment.
Canada’s building sector is booming, with revenues from the ***** of the building material soaring to C$12.3 billion (A$1.35b) in 2021 – a 14pc jump from the previous year. At the same time, production volumes surged to 13.8 million metric tonnes in 2022, fuelled by major infrastructure investments and a growing shift toward eco-friendly construction solutions.
As negotiations between Lithium Universe and Lafarge move towards a definitive supply agreement, the company is continuing with its plans to prepare for what some see as the inevitable revival of the lithium price driven by increased lithium carbonate demand on the back of the global energy transition.
Lithium Universe’s strategy is counter-cyclical, since a plan to move its project forward during time of market downturns gives the company plenty of time to complete and capitalise on future market recoveries.
With feedstock sourced from North America, Brazil and Africa, Bécancour is being positioned to contribute significantly to the North American lithium supply chain. By adding an additional revenue stream with aluminosilicate production, Lithium Universe is also potentially buying itself significantly improved project economics.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: *****@*****.tld
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Eagles will wish Kellen Moore well in New Orleans despite Nick Sirianni’s plea – NBC Sports
Eagles will wish Kellen Moore well in New Orleans despite Nick Sirianni’s plea – NBC Sports
Eagles will wish Kellen Moore well in New Orleans despite Nick Sirianni’s plea NBC SportsSources – Saints expected to hire Eagles’ Kellen Moore as head coach ESPNSuper Bowl: Nick Sirianni pleads with OC Kellen Moore to ‘run this s*** back’ after win, links to Saints job Yahoo SportsKellen Moore has reportedly made a decision on whether he wants the Saints job NOLA.comEagles owner believes OC Kellen Moore is leaving to become Saints coach – The Athletic The Athletic
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More WW2 bombs found at Wooler children’s playpark
More WW2 bombs found at Wooler children’s playpark
Jo Lonsdale
BBC News, North East and Cumbria
Mark Mather
Almost 180 “practice” bombs have been found at the site so far
A total of 176 World War Two bombs have now been discovered under a children’s playpark and it is feared more will be unearthed.
The first of the practice devices, which still contain a charge, was discovered in Wooler, Northumberland, in January and was followed by much larger finds.
It is believed the area was used as a Home Guard training ground and the ordnance was buried at the end of the war.
Conservative councillor Mark Mather said: “I never thought as a parish councillor I’d be dealing with bomb disposal.”
In December, Wooler Parish Council secured a grant to build a £150,000 fully inclusive playpark to be added to the existing play area in Scotts Park.
But on 14 January staff found the first suspicious object while digging foundations.
Mather said: “It’s quite something to think the children have been playing on bombs and it’s been a really challenging situation.
“We’ve only cleared about a third of all the park and we could still find another pit with more bombs in.”
Mark Mather
The ordnance still carries a charge and therefore needs to be recovered and disposed of
Experts from Catterick Barracks confirmed the first device was a training bomb.
The next day another device was found and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said a full site survey was needed.
Specialist contractor Brimstone Site Investigations was appointed, initially for a two-day survey, and immediately found a further 65 bombs, each weighing 10lbs (4.5kgs).
The pit was extended and 90 more bombs were found on the second day.
Mark Mather
The investigation work is likely to continue until at least the middle of February
“They are called practice bombs so they’re not live,” Mather said, “but they do still carry a charge and were found with the fuse and contents intact so they could be hazardous.
“The story we’re getting from locals is that Wooler was a centre for Home Guard training and officers came here from all over the country.
“After the war it looked like they just buried all the ordnance in one of the pits.”
Mark Mather
All the debris found has to be carefully examined and the objects identified
It is anticipated work will continue until at least the middle of February and Mather said it was not clear initially who would pay for it.
“The Army will not support us in any way, either looking for the ordnance or removing it, which has been extremely disappointing,” he said.
“We thought it would bankrupt the parish council but the county council has agreed to cover the cost, so at least we won’t lose the park.”
Mark Mather was concerned the work might bankrupt the parish council
The MoD was asked about the parish council’s claims and the ministry’s involvement, but would only confirm a team attended the site twice in January.
A Northumberland County Council spokesperson said: “Clearly this find was unexpected, but we are pleased to have been able to find the extra funding to allow this crucial work to be done safely.”
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McKail ******: Man sustains minor injuries after crashing into power pole causing mass power outage
McKail ******: Man sustains minor injuries after crashing into power pole causing mass power outage
A Western Power spokeswoman said 233 customers were affected by outages.
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No on-field kisses for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at this Super Bowl – The Associated Press
No on-field kisses for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at this Super Bowl – The Associated Press
No on-field kisses for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at this Super Bowl The Associated PressView Full Coverage on Google News
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Trump tells Treasury to stop minting ‘wasteful’ pennies
Trump tells Treasury to stop minting ‘wasteful’ pennies
The US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been told to stop minting one-cent coins, or pennies as they are widely called, by US President Donald Trump in an announcement on his Truth Social media account.
“Let’s rip the waste out of our great nations budget, even if it’s a penny at a time,” Trump’s post said, describing the move as a cost-cutting measure.
It comes after Elon Musk’s unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) drew attention to the cost of minting pennies in a post on X last month.
The debate over the cost and usefulness of pennies has been a long-running one in the US.
“This is so wasteful,” Trump’s Truth Social post said.
“I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies.”
According the US Mint’s 2024 annual report, making and distributing a one cent coin costs 3.69 cents.
US government officials and members of Congress have in the past proposed discontinuing the penny without success.
While its detractors have argued that the zinc and copper coin is a waste of money and resources, those who support it say that the coin keeps prices lower and boosts fund-raising for charities.
Other countries have discontinued similar coins. Canada ditched its one-cent coin in 2012 citing the cost of minting it and its falling purchasing power due to higher prices.
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AI race must be led by ‘western, liberal, democratic’ countries, says Peter Kyle | Artificial intelligence (AI)
AI race must be led by ‘western, liberal, democratic’ countries, says Peter Kyle | Artificial intelligence (AI)
The artificial intelligence race must be led by “western, liberal, democratic” countries, said the *** technology secretary in a veiled warning over China’s role in the contest, before a global AI summit in Paris.
Peter Kyle spoke as political leaders and tech company bosses gather in France, and after the emergence of a new ******** force in AI, DeepSeek, rattled US investors and upended assumptions about Silicon Valley’s leadership in the technology.
The tech minister told the Guardian he would use the summit to explain why Britain should be at the forefront of developing AI.
As well as allowing global leaders and companies to “come together and learn from each other”, the summit would give the *** a chance to show why it had the “skills and the scientific pedigree” that were “going to be essential if western, liberal, democratic countries are to remain at the forefront of this critical technology”, he said.
Kyle added that AI would have an impact on every part of the economy and society, including national security and defence.
“Government does have agency in how this technology is developed and deployed and consumed. We need to use that agency to reinforce our democratic principles, our liberal values and our democratic way of life,” he said, adding that he was under no illusion. There were “some [other] countries that seek to do the same for their ways of life and their outlooks”, he said.
Kyle said he was not “pinpointing one country”, but it was important that democratic countries prevailed so “we can defend, and keep people safe”.
The advances made by DeepSeek were described as a “sputnik moment” for the AI industry by one US investor after the ******** company released a model last month that performed comparably or better than US rivals and was developed at lower cost. Kyle also confirmed last month that British officials would scrutinise the national security implications of DeepSeek and its eponymous chatbot.
Kyle said the emergence of DeepSeek would spur countries and companies at the forefront of the AI race to redouble their efforts in developing the technology. “I am enthused and motivated by DeepSeek. I’m not fearful,” he said.
The AI Action Summit on 10 and 11 February will be co-hosted by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi. Also attending will be the US vice-president, JD Vance, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, and the ******* chancellor, Olaf Scholz. China will be represented by the vice-premier, Zhang Guoqing. Leading tech figures attending include the Google boss Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman, the chief executive of the company behind ChatGPT, OpenAI. Google’s Nobel prize-winning AI head, Demis Hassabis, will also be at the summit, as well as senior academics and civil society groups.
Peter Kyle said government had ‘agency in how this technology is developed and deployed and consumed’. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian
Kyle defended Keir Starmer’s decision not to attend, saying the *** prime minister had “indisputably” shown leadership on AI by playing a leading role in developing the government’s recent AI action plan. “People shouldn’t underestimate [Starmer’s] personal achievements when it comes to this agenda, which will be a leading part of the discussion in Paris and beyond,” he said.
The summit will not focus as heavily on safety as the inaugural 2023 gathering at Bletchley Park in the *** and will instead centre on issues such as jobs, culture and global governance.
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Announcements are also expected on making AI development – an energy-intensive process – more environmentally friendly, and launching a fund to make AI (the term for computer systems performing tasks that typically require human intelligence) broadly accessible worldwide. The use of copyrighted material to build AI models, one of the most contentious features of AI development, is also on the agenda at the summit.
Kyle was speaking as the government officially opened bidding for “AI growth zones” that will host new datacentres for training and operating AI models and systems. The tech secretary said he hoped “left behind” regions, or parts of the country that have lost formerly strong industries, would be at the forefront of bidding.
“We are putting extra effort in finding those parts of the country which for too long, have been left behind when new innovations, new opportunities are available,” he said. “We are determined that those parts of the country are first in the ****** to benefit … to the maximum possible from this new wave of opportunity that’s striking our economy.”
The government said there was already interest from sites in Scotland, Wales, and the north-east and north-west of England. Kyle said parts of the country that had “formerly energy-intensive” regions could benefit from connections to the national power grid. Datacentres – the central nervous system of AI technology – are power-intensive, and the government said it would “work with network operators” to boost energy provision in growth zones to more than 500MW, enough to power about 2m homes.
The Oxfordshire-based Culham science centre, which is the *** Atomic Energy Authority’s headquarters, has already been singled out by the government for a potential trial as a growth zone.
An early draft of a statement to be released at the end of the summit, seen by the Guardian, refers to “making AI sustainable for the people and the planet” and making AI “open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy”. Amid concerns among some experts that the summit is not focusing enough on safety, the draft declaration refers to continuing to advance “trust and safety”.
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Albany mayor wants some of $50 million Federal Government Rex Airlines bailout to go to city
Albany mayor wants some of $50 million Federal Government Rex Airlines bailout to go to city
Albany’s mayor has said he hopes the city will recoup some of the money owed to it by the embattled Rex Airlines, as the Federal Government takes on $50 million of the airline’s $500 million bill.
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#Albany #mayor #million #Federal #Government #Rex #Airlines #bailout #city
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Fatberg causes Bryan Adams Perth show to be cancelled
Fatberg causes Bryan Adams Perth show to be cancelled
Fans of Bryan Adams were left upset after a fatberg resulted in the cancellation of the singer’s concert in Australia.
The Grammy winner was set to perform at the RAC Arena in Perth on Sunday but concertgoers were told that they could not go inside the venue as the Water Corporation was working to resolve a “large blockage of ****, grease and rags” in the sewers.
A fatberg, according to the Oxford dictionary, is a “large lump or mass consisting chiefly of cooking **** that has congealed and hardened after being poured down a domestic drain”.
A major chunk of wastewater blockages seen in Perth are caused by fatbergs. The Water Corporation repeatedly urges residents to throw away fats, oils, rags, and wet wipes in the trash instead of down the drain.
Adams was scheduled to take the stage at 9pm. His support act, James Arthur, was to start performing at 7.45pm.
A trunk sewer technician holds a ‘fatberg’ taken from a sewer in London in December 2014 (AFP via Getty)
Concertgoers complained they were informed too late about the cancellation and spent hours waiting outside the venue. One fan identified only as Belinda told ABC Radio Perth that while they had been told there would be a delay due to a leak in the septic tanks, the first alert arrived 30 minutes after the doors were supposed to open. “They had a loudspeaker going, but because there were so many people it wasn’t loud enough for everyone to hear what was actually happening,” she said.
The alert was a message from the venue about an “external Water Corporation issue”.
“Due to an external Water Corporation issue, doors continue to remain closed for the time being. All efforts are being made to resolve the issue. We will continue to keep you informed,” it said.
Finally, concertgoers received a message at 9pm confirming that the concert had been postponed because the water issue “could not be resolved”.
The Water Corporation said the show was cancelled due to the “risk of sewage backing up within the venue toilets, posing a potential public health risk”.
“People should avoid contact with pooled water in the area of Wellington Street, Perth, as it may be sewage following a major blockage on a sewer main,” the agency said on its website.
Fans were appalled at how long they were made to wait. “Bryan Adams: Please forgive me, it’s the summer of s*** and ******,” one fan commented.
“People have been waiting ages to get into RAC Arena, so this should have been released, I don’t know, HOURS ago,” said another.
Adams is scheduled to play more shows in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne this week.
The concert promoter confirmed on Monday that the show would not be rescheduled and that fans would be refunded for tickets. “Frontier Touring regret to advise that the sold-out Bryan Adams concert on Sunday 9 February is unable to be rescheduled,” it said. “The cancellation of the show is bitterly disappointing, and we thank fans for their understanding that while every effort was made for the show to proceed, the matter was outside of the control of Bryan Adams, Frontier Touring and RAC Arena.”
Perth Water Corporation chief executive Pat Donovan said they became aware of the blockage near the concert venue at 6pm after wastewater overflow in the underground car parking was reported.
“I assure you that our people worked really hard to clear a large blockage, which is called a fatberg, in one of our key water mains under Wellington Street,” he told 6PR on Monday morning. “We were looking at backup contingencies, which included tankering the wastewater away, but what we realised is we wouldn’t be able to keep up with 16,000 people in the venue.”
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Pikmin Bloom launches Valentine’s Day events with lots and lots of chocolate
Pikmin Bloom launches Valentine’s Day events with lots and lots of chocolate
V-Day events abound until February 28th
Collect seedlings and dress up your Mii
What do those Mystery Boxes contain?
Chocolate always sweetens the deal, it seems, especially when Valentine’s Day is just around the corner – which is exactly what Pikmin Bloom’s latest update is banking on this month. From now until February 28th, you can look forward to clearing Event Challenge missions to score precious seedlings that will reward you with Chocolate Decor Pikmin, so you’d best get your sweet tooth ready.
Now, if you’d rather dress up your Mii this month, Pikmin Bloom is also offering event-specific costumes you can obtain by collecting Cocoa Beans from special missions. Clearing these activities will net you some nifty Gold Seedlings for Valentine Sticker Decor Pikmin and costumes for your Mii.
And speaking of Cocoa Beans, you can also destroy Magnificent Mushrooms you encounter to score Mystery Boxes, which, in turn, will contain Cocoa Beans, flower petals, and more.
Apart from Valentine’s Day-themed postcards, there’s also a bunch of Web Store Exclusive Deals that will last throughout the month. So if you’d like to shell out a little bit of extra cash, there’s the Web Store Exclusive Valentine’s Event Complete Pack to consider along with the Pikmin Collection Special Pack.
There’s definitely loads more to look forward to during this season of love, which you can learn more about from the official blog post. Or, why not take a look at our list of the best gardening games for more greenery?
In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by downloading Pikmin Bloom from Google Play and the App Store. It’s free-to-play with in-app purchases.
You can also join the community of followers on the official Facebook page to stay updated on all the latest developments, visit the official website for more info, or take a little peek at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the vibes and visuals.
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Tech firms call for zonal electricity pricing in *** to fuel AI datacentres | Energy industry
Tech firms call for zonal electricity pricing in *** to fuel AI datacentres | Energy industry
Tech companies are putting pressure on the *** government to encourage an AI datacentre ***** in remote areas of Great Britain by offering some of the cheapest electricity prices in Europe.
A report paid for by the tech companies Amazon and OpenAI has called on ministers to overhaul the ***’s electricity market by splitting it into different zones so that prices become more expensive in areas where power is in short supply, and cheaper in those where it is ample.
This market arrangement, known as zonal pricing, would make areas such as Scotland a hotspot for AI datacentres – which use vast amounts of electricity – because of an abundance of windfarms and low population density, according to the report by the Social Market Foundation (SMF) thinktank.
Keir Starmer said last month that artificial intelligence would be “mainlined into the veins” of the nation after putting in place a sweeping action plan to make the *** a world leader in the technology.
However, the plans to host datacentres have attracted some scepticism, in part because the *** has some of the highest industrial electricity prices in the world and is pressing targets to virtually eliminate fossil fuels from the power system by the end of the decade.
The SMF report pointed to research by the tech-focused energy supplier Octopus Energy that claimed zonal pricing would mean a datacentre in Aberdeen would have electricity costs 65% lower than one in Slough, and make Scotland’s electricity prices the lowest in Europe.
The backing for zonal pricing is among a range of measures put forward by the cross-party thinktank to accelerate the rollout of AI datacentres, including steps to connect more low-carbon electricity to the grid at pace and fix planning delays.
The report has also backed the government’s plan, set out last week, to allow small modular reactors (SMRs) to be built outside the ***’s legacy nuclear power zones to help power the rollout of datacentre hubs across England and Wales.
Sam Robinson, a senior researcher at the SMF, said: “Datacentres are the critical infrastructure that underpins the digital economy and emerging technologies like AI. Without urgent action to address skyrocketing energy costs and planning delays, the *** risks losing its position as a global leader in tech innovation and adoption.”
He added: “A forward-thinking strategy that makes energy affordable, accelerates planning and boosts green energy investment is essential to securing our future as an AI superpower.”
The support for zonal pricing from the SMF and its tech company clients has emerged amid a government consultation on the future of the electricity market, which has divided opinion in the industry.
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Supporters of the plan believe that different pricing zones could encourage high energy users such as datacentres and factories into areas of the country with low energy prices, creating new job opportunities beyond south-east England and making sure that windfarms in remote areas do not need to be turned off because of low demand to avoid overwhelming the local grid.
However, clean energy companies preparing to spend billions on building new wind and solar farms are concerned that the changes could make projects planned for remote areas of the country less profitable and put investments in clean energy at risk.
The government is expected to make a decision on how to proceed in the coming months.
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Tariffs make 2025 “choppy year” for Singapore’s biggest bank: DBS CEO
Tariffs make 2025 “choppy year” for Singapore’s biggest bank: DBS CEO
Piyush Gupta, chief executive officer of DBS Group Holdings Ltd., during a news conference in Singapore, on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. DBS shares jumped after the lender reported earnings that met expectations and unveiled a investor payout plan.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
After a sterling 2024 when Singapore’s biggest bank by assets booked record net profits, DBS CEO Piyush Gupta said that the bank needs to have “agility” and “nimbleness” to navigate a “choppy” 2025 amid unpredictable tariff and monetary policies from the U.S.
Speaking in an exclusive interview to CNBC’s JP Ong, Gupta said “we are actually quite conscious of the fact that the Trump administration could use economic tools as [a] weapon, and therefore tariffs and tax policies, etc., can change.”
Gupta’s comments come as Southeast Asia’s largest bank by assets posted a solid showing in its full-year results, with net profit reaching a record high.
For the financial year ended Dec. 31, the bank saw an 11% rise in full-year net profit to 11.4 billion Singapore dollars ($8.4 billion), while revenue booked a 10% increase to SG$22.3 billion.
Gupta described the performance as “great” and added that he was “quite pleased with the breadth of the performance.”
DBS attributed the increase to several factors, including a record high fee income and treasury customer sales reaching a new high. The bank’s net interest income, which is the interest a bank earns on loans minus that which it pays for deposits, rose 5% year on year to SG$15.04 billion.
DBS shares surged to a record intraday high of SG$46.5 following the results.
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Furthermore, due to reduced expectations of interest rate cuts from the U.S. Federal Reserve, DBS expects net interest income in 2025 to be higher than 2024 levels.
“Interest income is always difficult to predict because the impact of rates is manifold,” Gupta said, adding that DBS had originally projected four rate cuts by the Fed in 2025, but has reduced that forecast to two cuts in its earnings report released Monday.
Following the stellar results, the bank proposed a final dividend of 60 Singapore cents per share for the fourth quarter, an increase of six cents from the previous payout.
This would mean that DBS’ total dividend for the 2024 financial year will stand at SG$2.22 per share, a year-on-year increase of 27%.
On top of the regular dividend, DBS announced a new “capital return” dividend of 15 Singapore cents per share for each quarter in 2025, as part of measures to manage excess capital.
“In the subsequent two years, it expects to pay out a similar amount of capital either through this or other mechanisms, barring unforeseen circumstances,” the bank added.
Gupta said the bank’s capital adequacy is currently at 17%, more than the 13% that DBS said that is its operating range.
Capital adequacy is the ratio of capital a bank has, reported as a percentage of a bank’s risk-weighted credit exposures.
“Therefore, we do have a lot of excess capital, and we have promised shareholders that over time we will be judicious and return the excess stock of capital that we have. So most shareholders have been waiting on our commitment to return that excess capital,” he added.
This results announcement will be Gupta’s last as DBS’ CEO. He will be handing over the reins of the bank to deputy CEO Tan Su Shan on March 28 at the bank’s annual general meeting.
When asked about his plans after 15 years at Southeast Asia’s largest bank, Gupta did not reveal any details, but told CNBC, “I’m going to take a deep breath, spend three or four months, give myself some time to chill a bit, and then we take it from there.”
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