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Holden parent 'aware' of Commodore theft crisis, solution no closer Holden parent 'aware' of Commodore theft crisis, solution no closer General Motors, former parent of Holden, say it’s aware of Australia’s Commodore theft epidemic – but it doesn’t have a solution for owners. Source link #Holden #parent #039aware039 #Commodore #theft #crisis #solution #closer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘I Can Say All This S*** Now’: Dr Disrespect Fires Shots at Midnight Society As Studio Closes ‘I Can Say All This S*** Now’: Dr Disrespect Fires Shots at Midnight Society As Studio Closes Dr Disrespect still hasn’t clawed his way back into the good graces of gamers worldwide and probably never will. Regardless, he’s still trying to retain some semblance of a streaming career across Rumble and YouTube, and recently, he secured monetisation again on YouTube several months after losing it in the face of ‘minor messaging’ allegations. During a recent live stream, Guy ‘Dr Disrespect’ Beahm levelled some accusations at Midnight Society, the studio that he fronted until last June when things turned awry for him. In his words, ‘I can say all this s*** now.’ ‘Don’t Get Me Started With That Guy’ Last summer, Dr Disrespect found himself embroiled in (another) controversy, this one concerning events that occurred in 2017. It was alleged that the supersized streamer had used Twitch’s ‘Whisper’ mechanic to inappropriately message a minor, which the creator copped to shortly after – in a way. That prompted him to lose tens of thousands of followers, be dropped by sponsors, and get cut out by fellow streamers. Fast-forward several months, and Midnight Society, the studio that Dr Disrespect was a prolific part of until the allegations surfaced, is closing down. For a couple of years, Dr Disrespect provided a massive marketing pull, getting players around the world to invest in ‘DEADROP’, an NFT-backed extraction shooter that will now never see the light of day. During a recent stream, Dr Disrespect went in against Midnight Society: It was handled extremely poorly by leadership. It’s unfortunate. That tweet that weekend, it should have never gone out. It was never approved by me. They say, ‘after fully investigating’, whatever — they didn’t investigate nothing. I can say all this s*** now. Then, the creator fired shots at Robert Bowling, the former Call of Duty dev who co-founded Midnight Society: Don’t get me f***ing started with that guy. Don’t get me started with that guy. Recently, data showed that while Dr Disrespect’s airtime has gone up, his viewership and peak counts are dropping rapidly, suggesting that there’s no comeback in store for the disgraced creator. Are you still watching Dr Disrespect and are brave enough to admit it? Let us know on the Insider Gaming forum. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out how to sign up for Battlefield 6 playtests SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Disrespect #Fires #Shots #Midnight #Society #Studio #Closes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former Ohio State cornerback admits strangling woman during alcohol-fueled argument Former Ohio State cornerback admits strangling woman during alcohol-fueled argument A former Ohio State University football player who became a third-round NFL draft pick pleaded guilty Monday to a felony charge for strangling a woman he knew. Derek Ross, 45, pleaded guilty on Monday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to strangulation. As part of a plea agreement, a ******* assault charge was dismissed. Common Pleas Judge Carl Aveni will sentence Ross in March. Ross is currently being held in the Franklin County jail. He faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison. Court records say around 1:30 a.m. on April 5, 2024, Ross returned to his Hilliard home “extremely intoxicated.” A woman who lived in the home told Hilliard police that Ross picked her up and threw her onto a bedroom floor after another scuffle on a staircase. Derek Ross (7), Mike Doss (2) and Donnie Nickey (25) upend University of Michigan receiver Calvin Bell in the Ohio State University Buckeyes’ victory in 2001. Court records say the woman, who went to the Hilliard police station several hours later to report the incident, had visible bruises and injuries on her arms. The woman also told police that Ross had put his hands around her neck and choked her to the point of losing consciousness. Court records say the woman had visible marks on her neck. Hilliard police went to the home and arrested Ross without incident. Ross was released from bond on house arrest, court records show, but that bond was revoked in November after another woman called Columbus police. Court records say that woman told police she and Ross had gotten into an argument after going out for several drinks at a bar and Ross had put his hands around her neck, choking her. A strangulation charge was filed against Ross for that incident in Franklin County Municipal Court, records show, but was later dismissed. Ross played cornerback for Ohio State University between 1999 and 2001. During his time at Ohio State, Ross had several issues, including academic ineligibility and missing spring practices because of misdemeanor traffic violations and giving false information to police. After his junior season, Ross declared for the NFL draft, where he was selected in the third round by the Dallas Cowboys. Ross struggled in the NFL, getting released by the Cowboys in 2003 and then signing with four other teams for short stints, including a 24-hour tenure with the New Orleans Saints, who released Ross after he missed a flight to join the team. Since his time in the NFL, Ross has had a number of legal issues in several states, including convictions for felony domestic violence in Ohio, jumping bail during a drug arrest in Texas and trafficking in ********** in his home state of South Carolina, court records show. *****@*****.tld This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former Ohio State cornerback admits strangling woman during argument Source link #Ohio #State #cornerback #admits #strangling #woman #alcoholfueled #argument Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

China enacts counter tariffs on numerous U.S. products China enacts counter tariffs on numerous U.S. products White House touts concessions after tariff threats White House touts concessions gained from Mexico and Canada after tariff threats 01:36 China’s Ministry of Commerce announced Tuesday it was implementing counter tariffs against the U.S. on multiple products and announced other trade-related measures, including an investigation into Google. The government said it would implement 15% tariff on coal and liquified natural gas products, as well as a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-displacement cars. “The U.S.’s unilateral tariff increase seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organization,” the statement said. “It is not only unhelpful in solving its own problems, but also damages normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.” The 10% tariff that President Trump ordered on China was set to go into effect Tuesday, though he planned to talk with ******** President Xi Jinping in the next few days. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation on Tuesday said it is investigating Google on suspicion of violating antitrust laws. While the announcement didn’t specifically mention any tariffs, the announcement came just minutes after Trump’s 10% tariffs were to take effect. Mr. Trump paused his plans Monday to implement steep tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for at least a month after talks with the leaders of both countries. Source link #China #enacts #counter #tariffs #numerous #U.S #products Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nintendo Switch 2 in focus as gaming giant posts profit miss Nintendo Switch 2 in focus as gaming giant posts profit miss Nintendo has kept players interested in its ageing Switch console series through key games with characters such as Super Mario and Zelda. Charly Triballeau | AFP | Getty Images Nintendo on Tuesday reported weaker-than-expected top and bottom results for its fiscal third quarter, slashing its forecast for the Switch console ahead of the release of its succesor. Here’s how Nintendo did in its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31 versus LSEG estimates: Revenue: 432.92 billion Japanese yen ($2.8 billion), compared with 498.22 billion yen expected.Net profit: 128.53 billion yen, versus 136.16 billion yen expected. All eyes are on developments regarding the Nintendo Switch 2, the successor to the Switch, which was first released in 2017, and has become one of the Japanese gaming giant’s most popular consoles in history. Nintendo last month teased the Switch 2 in a trailer showing off the hardware. Notably, Nintendo announced that some Switch games will be compatible with the Switch 2. The company has yet to announce a price or release date for the new console. Nintendo has attempted to maintain momentum for the Switch by releasing slightly updated versions of it and by boosting the appeal of its characters like Super Mario through movies. However, interest in the nearly 8-year-old console is beginning to wane. Nintendo previously cut its forecast for Switch sales for the current fiscal year which ends in March 2025. This is a breaking news story. Please check back for more. Source link #Nintendo #Switch #focus #gaming #giant #posts #profit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China to levy tariffs of up to 15% on select U.S. imports starting Feb. 10 – CNBC China to levy tariffs of up to 15% on select U.S. imports starting Feb. 10 – CNBC China to levy tariffs of up to 15% on select U.S. imports starting Feb. 10 CNBCChina imposes tariffs on US imports including crude oil, agricultural machinery CNNChina hits back at U.S. with new tariffs as Trump policy kicks in Nikkei AsiaChina imposes 15% tariffs on coal, LNG in response to Trump’s tariffs The Associated Press Source link #China #levy #tariffs #select #U.S #imports #starting #Feb #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Colchester and Pitsea crashes mark worst day in group’s history Colchester and Pitsea crashes mark worst day in group’s history Lewis Adams BBC News, Essex Essex Police, Essex Rebels Basketball, TikTok (Clockwise from top left) Eva Darold-Tchikaya, TJ Hibbert, Makyle Bayley and Daljang Wol “touched the lives of so many” at the University of Essex A road safety group said the deaths of six young people in one day marked the worst 24 hours in its history. Four students from the University of Essex died after the car they were in crashed into a building in Colchester on Saturday. Almost 14 hours later, nine-year-old Darcie Casselden and her brother Roman, 16, were fatally struck by a car in Pitsea, near Basildon while riding an e-scooter. “There has never been this many people killed on our roads in a single day in the 43 years we have on record,” the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) said. Alan Bolster Four students died when the car they were in crashed into a building near Colchester city centre on Saturday The group has a long-held ambition of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries on the county’s roads by 2040. It brought together organisations including Essex Police, National Highways and local councils to campaign for road safety. Essex Police Magdalen Street was closed in the aftermath of the ****** on Saturday as inquiries began TJ Hibbert, 24, Makyle Bayley, 22, Daljang Wol, 22, and 21-year-old Eva Darold-Tchikaya died in the ****** in Colchester on Saturday. They had been in a car travelling in Magdalen Street when it left the road at about 04:40 GMT. Prof Maria Fasli, vice-chancellor at the university, said they “touched the lives of so many”. The ****** came about 14 hours before the accident in Pitsea. A man and a woman, both in their 20s, were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of the incident in connection with the ******. Jodie Halford/BBC Bunches of flowers and messages have been left at the scene of the ****** in Pitsea “We are collectively grieving these six tragic losses of lives,” SERP said in a statement posted on Facebook. “Behind every number is a family facing unimaginable grief and our hearts go out to them.” The campaign group said the incidents served as a reminder “to work tirelessly” towards eliminating all road deaths. It urged motorists to “pause and reflect on the tragedy of this weekend” when they got behind the wheel. “These deaths are not acceptable, and we know the devastation and excruciating pain will have a ripple effect across so many people,” SERP added. Source link #Colchester #Pitsea #crashes #mark #worst #day #groups #history Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Coalition renews push for mandatory jail terms as Parliament condemns anti-Semitism Coalition renews push for mandatory jail terms as Parliament condemns anti-Semitism The Coalition is considering plans to introduce a private members bill to call for mandatory minimum sentencing for terrorism to boost the national fight against anti-Semitism. The move comes as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on Tuesday clashed with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over his Government’s response to an alarming nationwide surge of anti-Semitic crimes including the firebombing of synagogues and a childcare centre. The Coalition, and leading members of the Jewish community, are ramping up pressure on Labor to take tougher action to combat anti-Semitism, accusing it of being too slow to act — accusations the Government vehemently denies. Calls for unity in Parliament to wipe out the scourge of anti-Semitism were railroaded by emotionally charged rhetoric as the House and Senate’s opening sessions were dominated by heated debate over how to handle a crisis the security services believe has not yet plateaued. Mr Albanese opened proceedings by denouncing anti-Semitism as having “no place in our nation”, pledging the Government would “combat it with the full force of our laws” and would not tolerate “cowards and criminals engaged in these low acts of hatred.” In a direct message to Jewish Australians, he said: “We know that anti-Semitism has given dark shadows across generations. I say to Jewish Australians, they proudly stand tall. You belong here, and Australia stands with you.” But a fired-up Mr Dutton hit back that Australia has never seen the level of “hatred and racism” it was experiencing now, and that the crisis should have been snuffed out sooner. Holocaust survivors and their descendants “for the first time since 1945 say that they feel unsafe in this country,” he said. “There are people otherwise, within the Jewish community that I’ve spoken to, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, now across the rest of the country, who are talking about leaving our country. “People who were born here, who know little of Israel and little of that life, they’re talking about leaving our country and going to Israel because they feel safer in a country that’s under nuclear threat from Iran.” Similar scenes played out in the Senate, where independent Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie gave an impassioned plea to lay aside political division as she tabled a motion deploring the “appalling and unacceptable rise” in anti-Semitism. “This is about sharing the love with the Jewish community,” she said. “It’s about coming together on something so important, to let them know we are all standing together as one. That’s what today is about.” In recent weeks, Mr Dutton has repeatedly called for minimum jail terms as a part of a “zero tolerance” strategy against anti-Semitism. The Nightly understands if the Coalition tables a private members bill it would likely reflect a failed amendment by opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson to Ms Lambie’s motion. This demanded the strengthening of the sentencing regime for terrorism with a mandatory minimum term of 6 years imprisonment for all acts of terrorism under Commonwealth law. It also called for the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences of 12 months jail for the display of prohibited anti-Semitic and terrorist organisation symbols and related behaviour in public, and to increase the maximum penalty to 5 years prison. A private bill, in what is likely to be the last parliamentary sitting before the Federal election, would never become law and was more likely to be motivated by political point-scoring, suggested a Labor source. The Government has pointed to a suite of actions it has already taken to reassure *********** Jews, including the appointment of a special envoy, setting up Operation Avalite to investigate antisemitic attacks, and a $57m fund to improve security at Jewish schools and synagogues. This week it is set to pass a bill to create new criminal offences and strengthen protection against hate crimes, as the latest step to prevent and punish anti-Semitism. The hate crimes bill is expected to receive cross-party support but the vote may be pushed towards the end of the week to allow time for debate on amendments by independent MP Allegra Spender and the Coalition to strengthen it. Ms Spender has proposed to expand the legislation to criminalise acts that promote hatred. On Tuesday, she said the bill as it stood offered additional protection for the community but added: “I do believe that this is a moment to have this conversation about how much further should we go?” Shadow foreign minister David Coleman has tabled amendments to include the urging or threatening of force, violence or damage to places of worship. The Prime Minister has signalled he would not oppose this. “I’ve been talking about the need to protect places of worship very clearly. I’ve made the government’s position on that very clear,” he said. Source link #Coalition #renews #push #mandatory #jail #terms #Parliament #condemns #antiSemitism Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Inheritance tax raid on pensions to hit 150,000 families with higher bills Inheritance tax raid on pensions to hit 150,000 families with higher bills Rachel Reeves will apply inheritance tax to pension wealth from April 2027 – Jeff Overs/AFP Labour’s pensions inheritance tax raid will hit 150,000 grieving families with higher death duty bills, figures show. Rachel Reeves’s decision to apply inheritance tax to pension wealth from April 2027 will drag 31,200 families into paying the levy for the first time by 2030, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information request. Some 121,500 families that already pay inheritance tax will also see their bill rise as a result of the change. The policy means that estates with relatively modest assets and pension savings are likely to face either new or higher inheritance tax liabilities. Inheritance tax is usually paid at a rate of 40pc on an estate above the “nil-rate band”, which is currently set at £325,000. Someone with a mortgage-free property worth £300,000 – just above the national average – and a pension worth £100,000 would face an inheritance tax liability of £30,000 from 2027, according to analysis by investment platform Interactive Investor. This would rise by £80,000 to £110,000 if they had a pension valued at £300,000. The figures assume the full nil-rate band is available, and that the additional residence nil-rate band of £175,000 – if you pass a family home to direct descendants – does not apply. The nil-rate band or residence nil-rate band allowances are set to remain frozen at their current levels until 2030. Currently, pensions inherited by beneficiaries of those who died aged 75 or older are subject to income tax at the beneficiary’s marginal rate. From April 2027, this will apply after inheritance tax has been deducted, as beneficiaries withdraw income or lump sums from the inherited pension. As a result of this “double -hit”, some taxpayers could face marginal tax rates as high as 90pc on inherited pensions, according to accountancy firm RSM. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates that in the 2027-28 tax year alone, the average inheritance tax liability is expected to be £169,000, increasing by around £34,000 when pension assets are included in the value of the estate. However, the OBR estimates do not account for potential behavioural changes following the announcement of these measures, such as individuals drawing down pension funds more quickly or making greater use of exemptions or reliefs to reduce their estate’s overall inheritance tax liability. Inheritance tax receipts have already soared to record highs, hitting £6.3bn between April and December 2024, £600m higher than the same ******* in 2023. Pensions were previously considered a tax-efficient way to pass on wealth. But experts have warned that the risk of a large tax bill on death will reduce the incentives for people to save for retirement. Story Continues Source link #Inheritance #tax #raid #pensions #hit #families #higher #bills Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple Now Offers Six Months of Apple Music for $2.99 in Its ‘Biggest’ Deal Yet Apple Now Offers Six Months of Apple Music for $2.99 in Its ‘Biggest’ Deal Yet Apple Music can be subscribed to for six months at a highly affordable price for a limited time, the company announced on Monday. Calling it the “biggest offer ever”, the Cupertino-based technology giant has rolled out this offer for new and eligible subscribers in the US to commemorate Kendrick Lamar’s Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show which takes place on February 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, and his Road to Halftime collection, now available on the music streaming platform. Apple Music Offer for Six Months Apple announced the details of its new Apple Music offer in a newsroom post. The iPhone maker says that new and eligible users in the US can subscribe to the music streaming service by paying just $2.99 (roughly Rs. 260). It is valid between January 29 – February 27, 2025. However, the promotion is not available for people that are eligible for a 3-months-free Apple Music offer. Notably, Apple Music price starts at $5.99 (roughly Rs. 522) per month for the Student plan, while the Individual plan costs $11.99 (roughly Rs. 1,044) a month. Users can also subscribe to a family plan, allowing up to six people unlimited access to Apple Music on their devices, at $16.99 (roughly Rs. 1,480) a month. Apple says the plan will auto-renew at the price of the Individual plan once the six month-offer ******* ends. However, it remains unclear if it can be bundled with the Apple One plan. The subscription grants users access to features like a catalogue of over 100 million songs, offline availability of tracks, lossless audio streaming, and time-synced lyrics. Subscribers can listen to Apple Music on the app available on Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Alternatively, music streaming is also available at music.apple.com. In addition to Apple devices, the app is also available on Android smartphones, streaming devices, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and other platforms. Source link #Apple #Offers #Months #Apple #Music #Biggest #Deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

China puts tariffs on US LNG and coal as trade war heats up – Financial Times China puts tariffs on US LNG and coal as trade war heats up – Financial Times China puts tariffs on US LNG and coal as trade war heats up Financial TimesChina imposes 15% tariffs on coal, LNG in response to Trump’s tariffs The Associated PressChina imposes 15% tariffs on U.S. coal and LNG as trade war with Trump heats up AxiosChina to levy tariffs of up to 15% on select U.S. imports starting Feb. 10 CNBC Source link #China #puts #tariffs #LNG #coal #trade #war #heats #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Six Nations: British and Irish Lions possibles press claims Six Nations: British and Irish Lions possibles press claims Russell toured with the Lions in South Africa four years ago and, after missing out on the matchday squads for the first two Tests, he was thrust into the decider with Dan Biggar injured in the first 10 minutes. Russell mixed his game-breaking moments with shrewd game management on that occasion, even if he could not avert a 19-16 defeat that sent the series south. He is still the leading contender to steer the tourists’ ship this time around, but Saturday’s show did not strengthen his grip on the shirt. There was the obvious mistake: throwing a brain-fade pass straight into Ignacio Brex’s hands cost his team seven points. But there were other slips, with an offload into touch, a failure to put Stafford McDowall into a gaping hole just before Darge’s try and two, admittedly tricky, conversions missed. “I don’t think any fly-half really lit it up this weekend, but Russell has a lot in the bank and I think he will start at 10 in the summer,” said Warburton who, like Barclay, preferred an Irish option at fly-half on the basis of this weekend’s performances. Source link #Nations #British #Irish #Lions #possibles #press #claims Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Respiratory Care WA urges teachers and staff to be prepared for asthma flare-ups as kids head back to school Respiratory Care WA urges teachers and staff to be prepared for asthma flare-ups as kids head back to school Schools are being urged to ensure teachers and other staff are prepared to handle asthma flare-ups and emergencies in the classroom, as thousands of students prepare to return this week. In WA, one in 13 children have asthma and it is one of the most common reasons for kids needing to go to hospital. Asthma made up 39 per cent of emergency department attendances for 0-17 year olds in 2022. With hospital visits for asthma-related issues usually increasing 20 per cent in February, Respiratory Care WA is urging teachers to take steps to understand common triggers and know the right first aid responses. Asthma is also a leading cause of school absenteeism among children aged 5-14 years, with students with asthma having double the number of days off school than kids without the chronic lung condition. Respiratory Care WA chief executive Anne Hallam said teachers and school staff having the right knowledge can help ensure students can participate in activities such as outdoor excursions and sports — areas they’ve often been excluded from due to concerns over their condition. Camera IconRespiratory Care WA chief executive Anne Hallam. Credit: Anne Hallam/LinkedIn “Asthma flare-ups can occur at any time, and in a classroom setting, quick and confident action from teachers can make a life-saving difference,” she said. “Studies have found that teachers often feel uncomfortable managing children with asthma due to a lack of training and clear policies on asthma management. “That’s why we’re urging schools to implement annual in-service asthma training for all staff. This will increase teacher knowledge and confidence in managing acute asthma attacks.” Respiratory Care WA want teachers and school staff to join its free one-hour sessions covering essential topics such as recognising asthma symptoms and flare-ups, medication and triggers, asthma first aid and more. These sessions can be conducted online or in person and are fully customised to meet the unique needs of each school’s student demographics. “The more schools we can reach, the more children and their families in Western Australia can be confident at school and live their best lives,” Ms Hallam said. Source link #Respiratory #Care #urges #teachers #staff #prepared #asthma #flareups #kids #school Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Eight *******-fighting foods you can start eating now Eight *******-fighting foods you can start eating now Food plays a major role in our health, providing us essential nutrients, vitamins, fibre, and energy to maintain our wellbeing and get us through every single day. In the long term, eating a healthy and balanced diet can also help us fight off disease and lower the risk of certain conditions. ******* is one health condition that has close links to food. Eating too much of certain foods that are considered unhealthy may raise the risk of developing ******* – for example, red meat and processed meat have been linked to an increased risk of bowel *******, while ultra-processed foods that are high in salt, sugar and **** can lead to overweight and obesity, which increases the risk of 13 different types of *******. However, there are some foods that are said to have *******-fighting properties, which can help reduce, but not eliminate, your ******* risk. With ******* rates continuing to rise in the ***, it’s important to ensure your risk of developing the disease stays as low as possible. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. On World ******* Day, here are eight *******-fighting foods you can incorporate into your diet today. 1. Berries Berries are a rich source of antioxidants. (Getty Images) Berries are a great source of phytochemicals. These are compounds found in a number of plants and research suggests they can help prevent chronic disease, including some types of *******. A 2016 study concluded that berries have been shown to “extend chemoprevention in *******”, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract and breasts. Berries were also seen to benefit the liver, prostate, pancreas, and lungs, although to a lesser degree. 2. Broccoli Eating broccoli is a great way to add more fibre to your diet. (Getty Images) It may be a controversial vegetable (especially among children), but studies have suggested that broccoli can significantly lower a person’s chances of getting *******. Dr Vijaya Surampudi, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Human Nutrition at UCLA Health, said researchers have found “anticarcinogenic properties” in this green tree-like vegetable. “With broccoli, specifically, there is a high amount of a phytochemical called sulforaphane, which is a *******-fighting plant compound that has been linked to reducing the risks of prostate *******, breast *******, colon *******, and oral cancers,” Dr Surampudi said. 3. Kale Kale, and other Brassica vegetables, is full of antioxidants. (Getty Images) Often hailed as a “superfood”, the dark green leaves of kale are rich in antioxidants, including beta-carotene, vitamin C, flavonoids and polyphenols. A 2018 study published in the journal Immunity also found that kale and other Brassica vegetables produce a chemical that can help protect against gut inflammation and colon *******. The chemical, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), is produced when the vegetables are digested. Senior author Dr Gitta Stockinger, group lead at the Francis Crick Institute, said that the effect of diet on gut inflammation and colon ******* was “profound” and “very striking”. “These findings are a cause for optimism; while we can’t change the genetic factors that increase our risk of *******, we can probably mitigate these risks by adopting an appropriate diet with plenty of vegetables.” 4. Beans, peas and lentils Eating beans, peas and lentils are important for a fibre-rich diet. (Getty Images) Pulses, which include all sorts of beans, peas and lentils, are a great source of fibre and protein. The World ******* Research Fund praises the fibre content in pulses as a means of helping reduce the risk of *******. Scientific evidence shows that eating high-fibre foods, like pulses, can reduce the risk of bowel *******. Eating pulses can also help reduce the risk of weight gain, overweight and obesity – doing so can help protect us against 13 types of *******, including breast *******, colon *******, kidney *******, liver *******, and more. 5. Tomatoes Eating tomatoes, which are rich in lycopenes, could help reduce the risk of certain cancers. (Getty Images) This bright red, summery fruit is a good source of phytochemicals, as well as lycopene, a natural pigment found in the skin of tomatoes. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant. In 2020, a study found that eating cooked tomatoes can play a significant role in reducing a man’s risk for developing prostate *******. Tomatoes have also been previously linked to a lower risk of lung and stomach cancers. 6. Olive oil Olive oil is common in Mediterranean diets. (Getty Images) Aside from making food delicious, olive oil has a big role to play in a healthy and balanced diet. It contains monosaturated fatty acids, which can help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. Olive oil also contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Researchers have found that people who eat the most olive oil are associated with 31% lower likelihood of any *******, adding that “olive oil consumption seems to exert beneficial actions in terms of ******* prevention”. 7. Tofu A study suggests that tofu could be particularly beneficial for women. (Getty Images) Regular consumption of soy products like tofu have been associated with a 31% reduced risk of *******, particularly in women. A 2024 study found that there were notable risk reductions in gynaecological cancers, such as ovarian cancers, as well as cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, prostate and lungs. 8. Purple sweet potatoes Purple sweet potatoes are nutrient rich and can be part of a healthy diet. (Getty Images) You may be familiar with yellow sweet potatoes, but it’s time to add purple sweet potatoes to your regular rotation. A study has shown that purple sweet potatoes could play a role in reducing the risk of colorectal *******. These brightly coloured tubers are full of flavonoid phytochemicals and anthocyanins which are thought to help fight ******* cells. The study found that the purple sweet potato contains twice the variety of anthocyanins compared to other types of sweet potatoes. Read more about ******* and health: Source link #cancerfighting #foods #start #eating Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DeepSeek breakthrough emboldens open-source AI models like Meta Llama DeepSeek breakthrough emboldens open-source AI models like Meta Llama Omer Taha Cetin | Anadolu | Getty Images DeepSeek’s powerful new artificial intelligence model isn’t just a win for China — it’s a victory for open-source versions of the tech from the likes of Meta, Databricks, Mistral and Hugging Face, according to industry experts who spoke with CNBC. Last month, DeepSeek released R1, an open-source reasoning model that claims to rival the performance of OpenAI’s o1 model using a cheaper, less energy-intensive process. The development caused the market values of Nvidia and other chipmakers to plummet on fears that it could lead to reduced spending on high-performance computing infrastructure. DeepSeek is a ******** AI lab that focuses on developing large language models with the ultimate aim of achieving artificial general intelligence, or AGI. It was founded in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, co-founder of AI-focused quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer. AGI loosely refers to the idea of an AI that equals or surpasses human intellect on a wide range of tasks. What is open-source AI? Since OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the scene in November 2022, AI researchers have been working hard to understand and improve upon the advances of the foundational large language model technology that underpins it. One area of focus for many labs has been open-source AI. Open source refers to software whose source code is made freely available on the open web for possible modification and redistribution. Plenty of firms from tech giants like Meta to scrappier startups such as Mistral and Hugging Face have been betting on open-source as a way to improve on the technology while also sharing important developments with the wider research community. How DeepSeek empowered open source DeepSeek’s technological breakthrough has only made the case for open-source AI models stronger, according to some tech executives. Seena Rejal, chief commercial officer of AI startup NetMind, told CNBC the ******** firm’s success shows that open-source AI is “no longer just a non commercial research initiative but a viable, scalable alternative to closed models” like OpenAI’s GPT. “DeepSeek R1 has demonstrated that open-source models can achieve state-of-the-art performance, rivaling proprietary models from OpenAI and others,” Rejal told CNBC. “This challenges the belief that only closed-source models can dominate innovation in this space.” Rejal isn’t alone. Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scientist, said DeepSeek’s success represents a victory for open-source AI models, not necessarily a win for China over the United States. Meta is behind a popular open-source AI model called Llama. “To people who see the performance of DeepSeek and think: ‘China is surpassing the U.S. in AI.’ You are reading this wrong. The correct reading is: ‘Open source models are surpassing proprietary ones’,” he said in a post on LinkedIn. Read more DeepSeek coverage “DeepSeek has profited from open research and open source (e.g. PyTorch and Llama from Meta). They came up with new ideas and built them on top of other people’s work. Because their work is published and open source, everyone can profit from it. That is the power of open research and open source.” Open-source AI going global Cut off by Washington from accessing advanced chips needed to train and run AI models, China has turned to open-source technology to boost the appeal of its AI models. Many ******** firms — DeepSeek included — are pursuing open source models as a way to increase innovation and spread their use. But the trend of companies turning to open-source technologies for success in AI isn’t limited to China. In Europe, an alliance of academics, companies and data centers have partnered on developing a family of high-performing, multilingual large language models, called OpenEuroLLM. The alliance is led by Jan Hajič, a renowned computational linguist at Charles University, Czechia, and Peter Sarlin, the co-founder of Silo AI, an AI lab that was bought by U.S. chipmaker AMD last year. The initiative forms part of a broader push for “AI sovereignty,” in which countries are encouraging investment in their own domestic AI labs and data centers to reduce a reliance on Silicon Valley. What’s the catch? There are downsides to open-source AI, however. Experts warn that, although open-source tech is a good thing for innovation, it is also more prone to cyber exploitation. That’s because it can be repackaged and modified by anyone. Cybersecurity firms have already discovered vulnerabilities in DeepSeek’s AI models. Research that Cisco released last week revealed that R1 contained critical safety flaws. Using “algorithmic jailbreaking techniques,” Cisco’s AI safety research team says it got R1 to provide affirmative responses to a series of harmful prompts from the popular HarmBench “with a 100% attack success rate.” “DeepSeek R1 was purportedly trained with a fraction of the budgets that other frontier model providers spend on developing their models. However, it comes at a different cost: safety and security,” Cisco researchers Paul Kassianik and Amin Karbasi wrote. Data leakage is also a concern. Data processed by DeepSeek’s R1 model via its website or app is sent straight to China. ******** tech firms have long been dogged by allegations that Beijing uses their systems to spy on Western entities and individuals. “DeepSeek, like other generative AI platforms, presents a double-edged sword for businesses and individuals alike,” said Matt Cooke, cybersecurity strategist EMEA at Proofpoint. “While the potential for innovation is undeniable, the risk of data leakage is a serious concern.” “DeepSeek is relatively new, and it will take time to learn about the technology; however, what we do know is feeding sensitive company data or personal information into these systems is like handing attackers a loaded weapon,” Cooke added. NetMind’s Rejal told CNBC that open-source AI models introduce cybersecurity risks which businesses need to consider, including software supply chain attacks, prompt jailbreaking and so-called “data poisoning” events that try to introduce biases or harmful outputs. WATCH: Why China’s DeepSeek is putting America’s AI lead in jeopardy Source link #DeepSeek #breakthrough #emboldens #opensource #models #Meta #Llama Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Swiss giant UBS posts $770 million in net profit, launches $1 billion share buyback in first half – CNBC Swiss giant UBS posts $770 million in net profit, launches $1 billion share buyback in first half – CNBC Swiss giant UBS posts $770 million in net profit, launches $1 billion share buyback in first half CNBCUBS Boosts Share Buyback as Fourth Quarter Profit Beats Estimate BloombergUBS AG (UBS) call put ratio 1 call to 3 puts with a focus on May 25 puts into quarter results StreetInsider.comUbs: Q4 Cet1 Capital Ratio 14.3%, Group Rote At 3.9%… -February 04, 2025 at 12:45 am EST Marketscreener.com Source link #Swiss #giant #UBS #posts #million #net #profit #launches #billion #share #buyback #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israeli hostage’s family demand answers over fate of his wife and children Israeli hostage’s family demand answers over fate of his wife and children Reuters Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas embraces loved ones after being released by ****** The family of an Israeli hostage freed over the weekend have made a plea for information over the fate of his wife and children. Yarden Bibas, 34, was released on Saturday along with two other hostages being held by ****** in exchange for 183 ************ prisoners held by Israel, as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal. His wife Shiri and two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, were also kidnapped by ****** during the 7 October 2023 attack. ****** claimed in November 2023 they had been killed in an Israeli air strike, without providing evidence. The Israeli military has not confirmed the report. Shiri’s sister Dana Silberman-Sitton told reporters at the Sheba hospital in central Israel the family would “no longer accept uncertainty”. Reuters Yarden Bibas is reunited with his loved ones at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel. “We demand answers. We demand them back,” she added, as she accused the state of “failing to protect” her family. Shiri, 33, two-year-old Kfir and Ariel, five, were named along with Yarden on the list of 33 Israeli hostages to be released in exchange for ************ prisoners during the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which is to last six weeks. However, last month the Israeli military’s chief spokesman said it was “extremely concerned” about their ********. Kfir was only nine months old when he was kidnapped, the youngest of the 251 hostages taken by ******. “The state has been failing for almost 16 months to bring them home,” Ms Silberman-Sitton said. “It’s the responsibility of the government and the state to Shiri, Ariel and Kfir, to Yarden, to me and our entire family, and to all the citizens of Israel,” she added. Ofri Bibas Levy, Yarden’s sister, added: “My brother returned, but my sister in-law and nephews have not. Yarden asks about them and I have no answers for him.” Gal Hirsch, the government’s hostage coordinator, said on Saturday “we have been searching for them for a long time” and demanding “information about their condition from the mediators”. Reuters Placards of Kfir, Shiri and Ariel appeared in Israel on 18 January to mark Kfir’s 2nd birthday. An Israeli government spokesman said on 27 January that eight of the remaining 26 hostages due to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire deal were dead, citing a list received from ****** that matched with Israeli intelligence. He said their families had been informed but did not name them. Israeli President Isaac Herzog described Mr Bibas’s return as “simply heartbreaking”, saying his country remained “deeply concerned” about their fate. Israeli-American Keith Siegel and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon were the other two hostages held by ****** who were released on Saturday. So far, the 13 Israeli hostages released since the start of the ceasefire have all been alive. Five Thai hostages have also been freed by ******, but not as part of the agreement with Israel. Some 251 hostages were taken by ****** when it attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people. Israel responded with a 15-month military offensive that killed 47,460 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s ******-run health ministry, and devastated the coastal enclave. Source link #Israeli #hostages #family #demand #answers #fate #wife #children Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

El Salvador offers to take in US criminals and migrants El Salvador offers to take in US criminals and migrants Reuters Marco Rubio met El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele at his residence at Lake Coatepeque El Salvador has offered to take in “dangerous criminals” held in American jails – including those with US citizenship, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says. After meeting President Nayib Bukele on a visit to the Central American country, Rubio said the US was “profoundly grateful”, adding that “no country’s ever made an offer of friendship such as this”. El Salvador will also accept for deportation migrants of any nationality who are criminals and in the US unlawfully, the secretary of state said. Rubio has praised Bukele for his policies on gang violence which have dramatically reduced crime rates in El Salvador – once the ******* capital of the world – but have been criticised by human rights groups. Rubio told reporters: “He has offered to house in his jails dangerous American criminals in custody in our country, including those with US citizenship and legal residency.” “We are profoundly grateful. I spoke to President Trump about this earlier today,” he said. Rubio is on his first overseas tour as the US top diplomat, and has been seeking to assert the Trump administration’s priorities in the region, including demanding that Panama make “immediate changes” to what he calls the “influence and control” of China over the Panama Canal. Rubio said Bukele was willing to take back citizens from El Salvador as well as migrants from other countries, and appeared to suggest the focus would be on Latin American gang members – such as MS-13 or Tren de Aragua. Since his return to the White House, President Donald Trump has focused on speeding up the removal of unlawful migrants, with the promise of “mass deportations”. In allied moves, more active duty troops have been sent to fortify the US-Mexico border and the president has sought to halt the processing of migrants and asylum seekers via an executive order. Bukele suggested to reporters that his offer on prisons went further than a 2019 agreement on accepting migrants. And in a post on X, he said he had offered the US an opportunity to “outsource part of its prison system”. “We are willing to take in only convicted criminals (including convicted US citizens) into our mega-prison… in exchange for a fee.” Bukele, a former mayor of the capital, San Salvador, first won power in 2019 on a pledge to create a “new era” for El Salvador, take on gang violence and corruption and foster better relations with the US. He saw his popularity soar after launching a crackdown on crime and gangs, turning El Salvador from the ******* capital of the world into one of the region’s safest countries. His government carried out sweeping arrests of anyone suspected of being involved in gang activity during his first term in office. An estimated 75,000 people have been arrested under emergency measures that have been repeatedly extended, alarming human rights groups. Amnesty International criticised the “gradual replacement of gang violence with state violence” in the country. Source link #Salvador #offers #criminals #migrants Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gemini Extensions Will Now Work on the Lock Screen of Android Devices Gemini Extensions Will Now Work on the Lock Screen of Android Devices Gemini extensions are now being expanded to function on the lock screen of Android devices. While Gemini could perform some tasks on the lock screen earlier, such as turning on the flashlight or setting an alarm, these were routed through Google Assistant. Now, the Mountain View-based tech giant has enabled extensions on the lock screen, allowing the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot to perform these tasks independently. Notably, some tasks — mainly those needing the AI assistant to use personal information from apps — will still require users to unlock their devices first. Gemini Extensions Now Work on the Lock Screen In a support page, Google detailed the new Gemini AI assistant feature. The company is now enabling the Gemini extensions to work even on the lock screen of Android devices. Extensions were first rolled out last year, and they let Gemini connect to different apps and functions of a device to perform tasks. So far, these extensions have been available on the web client, the Android app, as well as on the Gemini AI assistant. But these did not work on the lock screen. As a result, completing even basic tasks such as setting an alarm would require Gemini to activate Google Assistant. Gemini on the lock screen With this new feature, users will find a more seamless Gemini experience while accessing the assistant on the lock screen. Gadgets 360 staff members were able to confirm that extensions were working on their Android lock screen. Gemini AI assistant can now complete tasks such as answering general queries, setting a reminder, getting quick navigation details, or finding a nearby store right from the lock screen. Once activated via the usual methods, the redesigned Gemini interface appears. However, it automatically opens the full-screen interface while completing the task. The functionality should be turned on by default for those users who have been using Google Assistant on the lock screen. However, those who have not used the virtual assistant when the device is locked will have to turn on the feature manually. This can be done by opening the Gemini app, tapping the profile icon, then going to Settings > Gemini on lock screen > and turning on Use Gemini without unlocking. Notably, any task that requires accessing another app or drawing personal information from those apps will still require users to first unlock their device. Source link #Gemini #Extensions #Work #Lock #Screen #Android #Devices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man About the House actor dies aged 92 Man About the House actor dies aged 92 Brian Murphy, the actor and comedian best known for his role in the 1970s British sitcoms Man About the House and George and Mildred, has died aged 92. Murphy, who passed away at his home in Kent on Sunday morning, worked closely with theatre director Joan Littlewood throughout his early career. More recently, he appeared in episodes of BBC medical drama Holby City, sketch programme The Catherine Tate Show and ITV sitcom Benidorm, as well as comedy show Last of the Summer Wine. Paying tribute to his “talent and humanity”, Murphy’s friend and agent Thomas Bowington described him as a “joyful and profoundly good-hearted man”. Born on the Isle of Wight in 1932, Murphy’s acting career began in the 1950s when he became a member of the pioneering Theatre Workshop. Founded by Joan Littlewood and her partner Gerry Raffles, it was dedicated to modernising theatre and reaching working-class audiences. Murphy performed in many Shakespeare productions directed by Littlewood, and acted in her only feature film, the kitchen sink comedy Sparrows Can’t Sing. He was best known for his role in Man About the House, an ITV sitcom exploring the dynamics of one man and two women flat-sharing in the 1970s. He went on to star in the spin-off George and Mildred, in which Murphy played a henpecked George Roper opposite fellow Theatre Workshop actress Yootha Joyce as his wife. He is survived by his wife, Hi-de-Hi! actress Linda Regan, and his two sons. Ms Regan said: “I was lucky to have in my lifetime found my soulmate. Brian who I will love forever.” Source link #Man #House #actor #dies #aged Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wentworth MP Allegra Spender calls for strengthened hate speech laws to cover serious vindication Wentworth MP Allegra Spender calls for strengthened hate speech laws to cover serious vindication A Sydney MP, whose electorate has faced a spate of anti-Semitic attacks, has called for Australia to toughen its hate speech laws, saying “words matter”. Source link #Wentworth #Allegra #Spender #calls #strengthened #hate #speech #laws #cover #vindication Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Card Guardians revamps Oriana to give your spells more oomph in v3.19 update Card Guardians revamps Oriana to give your spells more oomph in v3.19 update Update v3.19 adds tweaks to cards Oriana has been revamped Combine elements and spell combos Tapps Games has announced Update v3.19 for Card Guardians, letting you unlock Oriana’s full potential by evolving her with some fresh new cards. You can spice up your adventure throughout the roguelike deck-builder by unleashing a variety of combos on your unwitting opponents, all while flexing your strategic prowess to blow them all away. I personally adore card games, and with Card Guardians’ lovely art style – which reminds me so much of Scott Pilgrim for some reason – it’s not hard to see why this would appeal to any fan of the genre. With this new update, you can not only look forward to new cards for Oriana, but also special tweaks to a few others to keep things interesting. Oriana, in particular, can wreak havoc by combining elements and spells, and when used alongside her temporary effects and her Special Power, you might just be unstoppable. Now, before you get too excited, there’s one important thing to note – if you’re playing a Chapter adventure using Oriana at the moment, it’s best to clear that first before you update if you don’t want to forfeit that adventure. Does all that sound fab to you? Are you hungry for something similar? Why not take a look at our list of the best card games on Android to get your fill? In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by downloading it from the App Store and on Google Play. It’s free-to-play with in-app purchases. You can also join the community of followers on the official Reddit 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. Source link #Card #Guardians #revamps #Oriana #give #spells #oomph #v3.19 #update Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Tipped to Get Under-Display Camera (UDC) Similar to Galaxy Z Fold 6 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Tipped to Get Under-Display Camera (UDC) Similar to Galaxy Z Fold 6 Samsung Galaxy S25 series will go on ***** later this week, but initial leaks about next year’s Galaxy S26 lineup have already started circulating online. Samsung hasn’t introduced any significant upgrades to the front camera setup on its flagship phones in recent years, but the latest leak suggests that the Galaxy S26 Ultra could change this trend. The early prototypes of the Galaxy S26 Ultra are said to be missing the selfie camera cutout in their displays, which could mean that next year’s Ultra model could borrow a feature from the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra May Offer Full-Screen Experience Tipster Kro on X suggested that Samsung is testing a UDC (Under Display Camera) for its Galaxy S26 Ultra. The display of the prototype is said to lack a notch or a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. Samsung already employed an under-display camera unit on the inner screen of Galaxy Z Fold smartphones. The feature was introduced with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. By keeping it hidden under the display, the UDC allows users to enjoy videos or games uninterrupted by any cutout. It is primarily used for video calls and facial recognition for unlocking the device. Apart from the UDC, Samsung is said to be evaluating a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera with a 1/1.5-inch sensor size for the Galaxy S26 Ultra model. The Galaxy S26 series is expected to feature 65W wired fast charging. This would be a considerable improvement over the 45W charging offered by the Galaxy S25 lineup. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is also said to be the brand’s first bar-type smartphone to feature the latest Colour Filter on Encapsulation (CoE) technology, which is claimed to reduce power consumption and increase light transmittance. It could run on Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon hardware. The non-ultra models in the Galaxy S26 series, on the other hand, are rumoured to ship with the company’s in-house Exynos chips. Source link #Samsung #Galaxy #S26 #Ultra #Tipped #UnderDisplay #Camera #UDC #Similar #Galaxy #Fold Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Strongman’ leaders of Europe don’t look so strong anymore ‘Strongman’ leaders of Europe don’t look so strong anymore Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban looks on as he attends a press conference during the informal EU Summit at the Puskas Arena, in Budapest, Hungary, November 8, 2024. Marton Monus | Reuters So-called “strongman” leaders of Europe — most of whom are allied with the likes of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin — look increasingly weak, analysts say, with their popularity waning ahead of key elections. Trump’s inauguration was expected to give a shot in the arm to nationalist-populist leaders and parties such as Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Slovakia’s Robert Fico, Germany’s right-wing AfD party and Marine Le Pen and her National Rally party in France. But such a boost is not a foregone conclusion, as domestic pressures and economic challenges weigh on their popularity and power. “The re-election of Donald Trump for a second term in the U.S. had seemed to be a clarion call for a structural political shift towards similarly populist, MAGA style movements across Europe,” Timothy Ash, senior emerging markets strategist at RBC Bluebay Asset Management, said in emailed comments Thursday. MAGA refers to “Make America Great Again” — a slogan that has historically underpinned Trump’s nationalist campaign. “Actually what we are seeing is a somewhat mixed picture across Europe, and actually with many of Trump’s apostles being on the back foot,” Ash said. ‘Strongman’ leaders no more? The leaders of Hungary and Slovakia – President Viktor Orban and Prime Minister Robert Fico – are often classed as being of the “strongman” variety and akin to President Putin, with whom they have continued to have warm relations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Though European Union members, both countries have pushed back against the bloc’s initiatives to cut ties with Moscow, such as reducing imports of Russian gas and oil. The nations have instead opted to maintain supplies amid fears of mounting energy costs at home. Both leaders have also been vocally critical of giving more military and financial assistance to Ukraine and have threatened to refuse to back an extension of sanctions on Russia although, last Monday, Orban backed down from that position after being given energy security assurances by the bloc. In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico (L) prior to their talks in Moscow on December 22, 2024. Gavriil Grigorov | Afp | Getty Images Orban and Fico are seeing dwindling popularity ratings at home and rising dissatisfaction with their leadership among the public and in parliament. Orban’s poll ratings have been falling, while those of his main political rival Péter Magyar have been on the rise. Fico, meanwhile, narrowly avoided a vote of no confidence motion in January after his political opponents abandoned the move. Both men could face defeat at the ballot box in the near-future, analysts say, with parliamentary elections due to be held next year in Hungary and in 2027 in Slovakia, although a vote could take place earlier. “The future of Fico’s government is increasingly uncertain due to a slim parliamentary majority, which is further threatened by disagreements among governing coalition parties as well as Fico’s increasingly erratic rhetoric and behavior,” Andrius Tursa, Central and Eastern Europe advisor at risk consultancy Teneo, said in emailed comments. “Fico himself has mentioned the possibility of an early parliamentary election in the spring unless his coalition partners resolve internal differences,” he added. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and European Council President Charles Michel pose following a press conference during the informal EU Summit at the Puskas Arena, in Budapest, Hungary, November 8, 2024. Marton Monus | Reuters Hungary’s Orban is under increasing domestic pressure this year, with the rapid increase in popularity of opposition leader Peter Magyar and his Tisza Party, indicating that the anti-EU populist could lose the 2026 election. Polling from November showed Tisza with 35%-45% support among decided voters — about four to six percentage points ahead of Orban’s Fidesz party, Eurasia Group noted. “Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban will face his most significant constraints since taking office in 2010 … This will further undermine his ability to *******—let alone drive—the EU’s agenda as the bloc’s preeminent populist leader,” analysts at the political risk consultancy said in a note in January. Eurasia Group said Orban and Fidesz would likely continue to attack Magyar’s credibility and could pursue fiscal easing aimed to bolster the support of Fidesz’s core voter groups. “This, however, will happen against the backdrop of a weakening economy, a situation the EU is exploiting by withholding funds and further augmenting investors’ concerns. These conditions are also causing Orban to be more financially dependent on China at a time when Trump is likely to push the EU toward a U.S.-style decoupling,” they noted. A reprieve for Brussels? Populist parties across the EU have gained significantly in popularity over the last decade, with the rise in prominence of Germany’s AfD party and France’s National Rally — both of which, after undeniable electoral successes, now wield considerable influence over the respective policy directions of their national governments. Euroskepticism and anti-immigration sentiment was largely fueled by public dissatisfaction with the EU’s response to undocumented migration to the continent. Joint Press Conference of President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council Antonio Costa and Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban after the end of the European Council Summit, the meeting of the EU leaders at the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium on December 19, 2024. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Forthcoming elections in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic could see populist anti-EU parties gain more ground this year, but anti-EU governments will remain well short of the blocking ********* needed in the European Council to seriously upset EU decision-making, Eurasia Group noted: “Where they are in government, they have tended to shift toward the political center, with the notable exception of Hungary. Much of the far right’s prospects will therefore depend on whether governments can find more effective ways to deal with the slow-burning migration crisis that is the strongest driver of populist support in the EU,” analysts said. Source link #Strongman #leaders #Europe #dont #strong #anymore Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

DeepSeek breakthrough emboldens open-source AI models like Meta Llama DeepSeek breakthrough emboldens open-source AI models like Meta Llama Omer Taha Cetin | Anadolu | Getty Images DeepSeek’s powerful new artificial intelligence model isn’t just a win for China — it’s a victory for open-source versions of the tech from the likes of Meta, Databricks, Mistral and Hugging Face, according to industry experts who spoke with CNBC. Last month, DeepSeek released R1, an open-source reasoning model that claims to rival the performance of OpenAI’s o1 model using a cheaper, less energy-intensive process. The development caused the market values of Nvidia and other chipmakers to plummet on fears that it could lead to reduced spending on high-performance computing infrastructure. DeepSeek is a ******** AI lab that focuses on developing large language models with the ultimate aim of achieving artificial general intelligence, or AGI. It was founded in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, co-founder of AI-focused quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer. AGI loosely refers to the idea of an AI that equals or surpasses human intellect on a wide range of tasks. What is open-source AI? Since OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the scene in November 2022, AI researchers have been working hard to understand and improve upon the advances of the foundational large language model technology that underpins it. One area of focus for many labs has been open-source AI. Open source refers to software whose source code is made freely available on the open web for possible modification and redistribution. Plenty of firms from tech giants like Meta to scrappier startups such as Mistral and Hugging Face have been betting on open-source as a way to improve on the technology while also sharing important developments with the wider research community. How DeepSeek empowered open source DeepSeek’s technological breakthrough has only made the case for open-source AI models stronger, according to some tech executives. Seena Rejal, chief commercial officer of AI startup NetMind, told CNBC the ******** firm’s success shows that open-source AI is “no longer just a non commercial research initiative but a viable, scalable alternative to closed models” like OpenAI’s GPT. “DeepSeek R1 has demonstrated that open-source models can achieve state-of-the-art performance, rivaling proprietary models from OpenAI and others,” Rejal told CNBC. “This challenges the belief that only closed-source models can dominate innovation in this space.” Rejal isn’t alone. Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scientist, said DeepSeek’s success represents a victory for open-source AI models, not necessarily a win for China over the United States. Meta is behind a popular open-source AI model called Llama. “To people who see the performance of DeepSeek and think: ‘China is surpassing the U.S. in AI.’ You are reading this wrong. The correct reading is: ‘Open source models are surpassing proprietary ones’,” he said in a post on LinkedIn. Read more DeepSeek coverage “DeepSeek has profited from open research and open source (e.g. PyTorch and Llama from Meta). They came up with new ideas and built them on top of other people’s work. Because their work is published and open source, everyone can profit from it. That is the power of open research and open source.” Open-source AI going global Cut off by Washington from accessing advanced chips needed to train and run AI models, China has turned to open-source technology to boost the appeal of its AI models. Many ******** firms — DeepSeek included — are pursuing open source models as a way to increase innovation and spread their use. But the trend of companies turning to open-source technologies for success in AI isn’t limited to China. In Europe, an alliance of academics, companies and data centers have partnered on developing a family of high-performing, multilingual large language models, called OpenEuroLLM. The alliance is led by Jan Hajič, a renowned computational linguist at Charles University, Czechia, and Peter Sarlin, the co-founder of Silo AI, an AI lab that was bought by U.S. chipmaker AMD last year. The initiative forms part of a broader push for “AI sovereignty,” in which countries are encouraging investment in their own domestic AI labs and data centers to reduce a reliance on Silicon Valley. What’s the catch? There are downsides to open-source AI, however. Experts warn that, although open-source tech is a good thing for innovation, it is also more prone to cyber exploitation. That’s because it can be repackaged and modified by anyone. Cybersecurity firms have already discovered vulnerabilities in DeepSeek’s AI models. Research that Cisco released last week revealed that R1 contained critical safety flaws. Using “algorithmic jailbreaking techniques,” Cisco’s AI safety research team says it got R1 to provide affirmative responses to a series of harmful prompts from the popular HarmBench “with a 100% attack success rate.” “DeepSeek R1 was purportedly trained with a fraction of the budgets that other frontier model providers spend on developing their models. However, it comes at a different cost: safety and security,” Cisco researchers Paul Kassianik and Amin Karbasi wrote. Data leakage is also a concern. Data processed by DeepSeek’s R1 model via its website or app is sent straight to China. ******** tech firms have long been dogged by allegations that Beijing uses their systems to spy on Western entities and individuals. “DeepSeek, like other generative AI platforms, presents a double-edged sword for businesses and individuals alike,” said Matt Cooke, cybersecurity strategist EMEA at Proofpoint. “While the potential for innovation is undeniable, the risk of data leakage is a serious concern.” “DeepSeek is relatively new, and it will take time to learn about the technology; however, what we do know is feeding sensitive company data or personal information into these systems is like handing attackers a loaded weapon,” Cooke added. NetMind’s Rejal told CNBC that open-source AI models introduce cybersecurity risks which businesses need to consider, including software supply chain attacks, prompt jailbreaking and so-called “data poisoning” events that try to introduce biases or harmful outputs. WATCH: Why China’s DeepSeek is putting America’s AI lead in jeopardy Source link #DeepSeek #breakthrough #emboldens #opensource #models #Meta #Llama Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]