Operation Santa Claus: HK$13.2 million raised in last 2 months of 2024
Annual fundraising drive Operation Santa Claus (OSC) raised a substantial HK$13.2 million (US$1.7 million) in the last two months of 2024 to improve the lives of more than 11,000 underprivileged Hongkongers through 11 charities. Contributions to the 37th edition of the initiative, jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK, brought the total funds raised by OSC since its 1988 inception to over HK$396 million, benefiting 364 charitable projects in the city. The numbers were announced at the campaign’s closing ceremony held on Wednesday at social enterprise Museum Cafe 8, run by a former OSC beneficiary, at Central Pier 8. The latest donations will be distributed among 11 charities for projects aimed at helping more than 11,000 underprivileged individuals, according to the organisers. “In a vibrant city like Hong Kong, where the hustle and bustle can sometimes overshadow the struggles of many, it’s crucial that we extend our hands and hearts to lift those in need,” RTHK acting assistant director for radio Angel Cheng told attendees at the ceremony. “Together, we can continue to bring light to those who need it most. Let’s carry this momentum forward, ensuring that Operation Santa Claus thrives in the years to come.” Source link
5 February 2025
USPS suspends packages from China as Trump also closes ‘Shein loophole‘
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email The US Postal Service has suspended parcels from China and Hong Kong “until further notice” as President Donald Trump closed a loophole that allowed low-value packages to be shipped duty-free from the Far East. The USPS issued the suspension notice on Tuesday, noting that the acceptance of inbound parcels from mainland China and its special administrative region, effective immediately. The president also moved to close the “de minimus” provision – colloquially known as the “Shein loophole” – that allowed Chinese-owned e-commerce companies like Shein and Temu to ship packages under $800 into the U.S., duty-free. The flow of “letters and flats” – which includes large envelopes, newsletters and magazines – will not be impacted, the postal service said. It came as Trump’s 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods came into effect on Tuesday after the White House threatened to impose levies over the weekend in a so-called attempt to curb the flow of fentanyl coming into the U.S. Twenty-five percent tariffs on neighbors Mexico and Canada were paused for a month in the 11th hour on Monday. Changes to the tax exemption under the Biden administration were already in progress before Trump took office. open image in gallery Trump, pictured with Xi Jinping in June 2019, said he is in ‘no hurry’ to defuse the new trade war between Washington and Beijing (AP) Americans are predicted to see prices of many ultra-cheap goods unless a trade deal is struck between the two superpowers. Almost half of all de minimis shipments to the U.S. were sent from China, according to a 2023 House Republican report. Shein and Temu likely accounted for
5 February 2025
2 ex-project managers in Hong Kong face fraud charges in fake quotes case
Two ex-project managers of an engineering company founded by the husband of former Hong Kong justice secretary Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah have been charged with fraud over HK$6.3 million (US$808,820) worth of maintenance orders for sewage treatment facilities. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Wednesday that Yip Hing-fai, 45, and Wong Chun-tung, 43, had been charged the previous day with multiple counts of fraud. They were released on bail and are set to appear in Eastern Court on Thursday. The pair previously worked for Hong Kong-listed ATAL Engineering, which was set up in 1977 by Cheng’s husband, Otto Poon Lok-to, and continues to list him as “founder and executive director” on its website. Headquartered in Hong Kong, ATAL maintains offices in mainland Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai as well as in Essex, England. ATAL Engineering was founded in 1977 by Otto Poon. Photo: K. Y. Cheng ATAL had been contracted by the Drainage Services Department to operate and maintain sewage treatment facilities across various districts in Hong Kong, according to the ICAC. Source link
5 February 2025
China targets Google and US businesses in response to tariffs
US tariffs have triggered Chinese regulatory action against Google. (Photo: Shutterstock) China has implemented a series of countermeasures against Google and other US companies following the latest trade actions by President Donald Trump. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has launched an anti-monopoly investigation into Google, citing suspected violations of Chinese competition laws, as per Reuters. However, officials have not disclosed specific details regarding the allegations. Beijing’s latest actions come in response to tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). While the administration has cited broader national security concerns, including illegal immigration and drug trafficking, the trade measures are also aimed at China’s technology sector and intellectual property practices. As part of these policies, the US has implemented a 10% additional tariff on imports from China, alongside a paused 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico. The administration has stated that these measures are intended to hold China accountable for alleged intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers, and other trade practices deemed unfair by US officials. The tariffs have been positioned as a strategy to pressure China into economic negotiations, which the administration claims have led to a historic bilateral agreement. The latest restrictions add to ongoing US trade policies limiting Chinese access to advanced technologies, including semiconductors, AI and cloud computing. Google’s presence in China has been restricted due to regulatory challenges and government censorship. In 2010, the company redirected its services from mainland China to Hong Kong following disputes over censorship policies and cybersecurity concerns. As a result, Google’s search engine and several other core services were blocked in China. Despite these restrictions, Google has maintained a presence in the country through advertising partnerships and offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. The company has explored opportunities in AI research and
5 February 2025
China’s Invasion Force Reveals Major Air Power Boost
Airfields under the control of a Chinese military theater command that would likely oversee any Taiwan invasion campaign can be used by aircraft from different service branches, according to a report. This gives military pilots more flexibility in the event of any future conflict. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for further comment by email. Why It Matters China has long viewed Taiwan, which is a self-ruled island and a security partner of the United States, as part of its own territory despite the Chinese Communist Party never having governed it. Beijing has stated that it “reserves all options” against the island, refusing to renounce the use of force. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command likely executes operational control over military matters related to Taiwan, including contingencies in and around the Taiwan Strait, the Pentagon‘s annual report on Chinese military power noted. What To Know The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese military, reported on Tuesday that the Eastern Theater Command has built what it called “joint training domains,” allowing the aviation forces of its army, navy and air force to routinely share airfields for training. “Dozens of military airfields within the [Eastern] theater command are open to units of all service branches,” the report said, adding that “hundreds of training grounds” of the theater command have also achieved what it called “information sharing and open co-utilization.” Military pilots have more flexibility in selecting takeoff and landing locations within the airspace of the Eastern Theater Command, which has jurisdiction over China’s eastern provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian and Jiangxi, as well as the city of Shanghai. Chinese J-16 fighter jets assigned to the air force under the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command take off at an undisclosed location in China
5 February 2025
Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog launches Greater Bay Area property portal
Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has launched a one-stop website that consolidates property data from 11 Greater Bay Area cities to provide buyers and renters with timely and accurate information, following hundreds of real estate deal complaints. The Consumer Council announced on Wednesday a new guide on its website for residential property in the bay area, an economic zone combining Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in Guangdong. The guide outlines steps for purchasing both new and second-hand residential property in these cities, including information on documents required, regulations, and tips for renting and estate management. “We see a growing need among Hong Kong residents looking for housing when they decide to move to the Greater Bay Area. Either buying or renting a property is very high on their agenda,” council chairman Clement Chan Kam-wing said. “Of course, it is not a one-way street. We also hope this information can assist other Greater Bay Area residents when they consider moving around or to Hong Kong.” Chan added that since property policies and terminology could vary across different cities, consumers might need to make considerable efforts to understand and verify the information. Clement Chan, chairman of the Consumer Council, has said there is a growing trend of Hongkongers looking for housing in the bay area. Photo: Elson Li Source link
5 February 2025
USPS suspends inbound packages from China, Hong Kong Posts
Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., on the impact of President Trump’s tariffs, Democrats’ effort to keep Elise Stefanik’s U.S. House seat open and a bill to protect milk choices for schoolchildren. The United States Postal Service announced on Tuesday it will temporarily suspend international package acceptance of inbound parcels from China and Hong Kong Posts “until further notice.” The suspension, which takes effect immediately, was announced via a statement on the USPS website. Officials noted the flow of letters and flats from China and Hong Kong would not be impacted. WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 31: U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters after signing an executive order, “Unleashing prosperity through deregulation,” in the Oval Office on January 31, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump spoke to reporters about tarif (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images / Getty Images) AUTOMOTIVE GROUPS REACT TO TRUMP TARIFFS ON IMPORTS FROM CANADA, MEXICO, CHINA On Feb. 1, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 10% tariff to address the alleged synthetic opioid supply chain in China. The order accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of having “subsidized and otherwise incentivized” Chinese chemical companies to export fentanyl and related precursor chemicals that are used to produce synthetic opioids sold illicitly in the U.S. Synthetic opioids kill approximately two hundred Americans per day, and related overdoses are the leading cause of death for people aged 18 to 45 in the U.S. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative, meets with U.S. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 19, 2025. Upon invitation, Han attended the inauguration ceremony (Liu Weibing/Xinhua via Getty Images / Getty Images) Trump noted many of those companies “go to great lengths to evade law enforcement and hide illicit substances in the flow of legitimate commerce.”
5 February 2025
Taiwan Eyes Advanced U.S. Defense Tech Amid Rising China Tensions
Taiwan is reportedly eyeing the integration of advanced defense technology from the United States that will allow it to quickly see and act on real-time data from the battlefield as it continues to face growing military pressure from China. According to reports, the island nation recently participated in a presentation of the United States’ cutting-edge Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). The report said that Sean McLay, director of business development at Northrop Grumman, disclosed the news on LinkedIn last week, revealing that he had presented the company’s vision for a connected battlespace to Taiwanese military officials. McLay specifically discussed the IBCS, a highly sophisticated air and missile defense system designed to integrate previously incompatible sensors and weapons into a single command and control framework. This innovation allows operators to act on data from the battlefield in real-time to enable faster and more efficient decision-making. Via Twitter Lieutenant General Liu Hsiao-tang, chief of Taiwan’s Air Force Air Defense and Missile Command, was reportedly engaged in a “productive discussion” with Northrop Grumman representatives. The discussion highlights Taiwan’s interest in leveraging such advanced systems to strengthen its defense capabilities. While details of the location and timing of the presentation remain unclear, McLay’s post pointed out that these discussions were only the beginning of what is hoped to be a long-term partnership to bolster Taiwan’s military readiness. Taiwan’s pursuit of such advanced military systems comes at a time of escalating tension with Beijing. China has long claimed Taiwan as part of its territory despite the island’s self-governance and its security partnership with the US. Beijing has repeatedly warned that it “reserves all options” in addressing Taiwan’s status, including the potential use of military force. The United States, in line with its One China policy and the Taiwan Relations Act, is legally obligated to provide
5 February 2025
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China launches an antitrust probe into Google
Google launched the Chinese-language search engine google.cn in 2006 [File] | Photo Credit: REUTERS The Chinese government’s move to open an antitrust probe into Google is the latest development in a long and tangled relationship that goes back to the early 2000s. The investigation was one of a flurry of Chinese retaliatory measures announced Tuesday in response to a 10% tariff imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on imports from China. Others included tariffs on American liquified natural gas and other products, and the placing of two other American firms on an unreliable entity list that could bar them from investing in China. Here is a look at Google’s history in China and what the antitrust probe could mean for the company: Google launched the Chinese-language search engine google.cn in 2006. It was censored to comply with Beijing’s laws, and in 2009, was a major search engine in China with about 36% market share. In 2010, in response to a cyberattack and an increasing unwillingness to comply with censorship rules, Google said it was no longer willing to block search results and shut down its Chinese search engine, redirecting users to its Hong Kong site instead. Beijing later blocked Google services under its Great Firewall censorship system, including the email service Gmail, as well as the Chrome browser and search engine, making them inaccessible to users in mainland China. China typically blocks most Western internet platforms, such as Google, as well as social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. Although Google services are not accessible in China, the company still maintains a presence in the country, primarily focused on sales and engineering for its advertising business. It also has employees working on services including Google Cloud and customer solutions. Google maintains offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. China’s State Administration
5 February 2025
China’s Remaining Holiday Calendar for 2025
With Spring Festival now over, you may already be looking forward to, or planning, your future vacations. Given how much plane ticket prices go up every public holiday, the sooner you book the better! You may also be wondering when the next dreaded make-up day is (hint: It’s coming soon), so here are the remaining national holidays for China in 2025. Chinese New Year Make-up Day Make-up work day: Sat, Feb 8Yep, coming in fast after the holiday we’ve got a make up day this Saturday. Tomb-Sweeping FestivalFri, Apr 4 to Sun, Apr 6Make-up work day: NoneThere’s no make-up day for Tomb-Sweeping. Nice! May DayThu, May 1 to Mon, May 5Make-up work days: Sun, Apr 27With the addition of May 2 as a public holiday, there are five days off for the May Day holiday. As part of the holiday falls on a Saturday, the Monday will be given off as an extra day. You will have to work one make-up day, though, on Sun, Apr 27. Dragon Boat FestivalSat, May 31 to Mon, Jun 2Make-up work days: NoneOne of the few holidays with no make-up work days tied to it. Lovely! Mid-Autumn Festival & National DayWed, Oct 1 to Wed, Oct 8Make-up work days: Sun, Sep 28; Sat, Oct 11Mid-Autumn Festival falls during the National Holiday this year (Oct 6), so you’re given an additional day off on Oct 8, making this the second eight-day holiday of the year! As usual, though, there will be two make-up days, with the Sunday (Sep 28) before the holiday and the Saturday (Oct 11) after the holiday being make-up days. Check out the full calendar below and save yourself a copy! READ: Mandarin Monday: All Your Essential Winter Vocab Images: the Beijingers, Canva Source link
5 February 2025
China retaliates after Trump administration imposes new tariffs
IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Rising egg prices prompt Waffle House to impose surcharge on egg dishes 01:39 Good News: Woman’s mission to bring back memories of those who lost homes in wildfires 01:39 Study finds high levels of plastics in people’s brains 00:53 Suspects arrested in New York raid may be linked to high-profile burglaries, sources say 00:51 At least 10 killed in mass shooting at Swedish school 01:08 Growing backlash over Trump and Musk’s attempt to reshape government 03:04 Trump suggests that Palestinians leave Gaza, move to another country 01:40 Now Playing China retaliates after Trump administration imposes new tariffs 02:33 UP NEXT FBI agents fight dismissals and demands for names of those worked on Jan. 6 cases 01:59 Brain implant helps man with paralysis regain movement 02:38 Trump pauses tariffs after Canada, Mexico pledge more border security 03:17 Courtroom fireworks in Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal battle 01:16 Recovery teams lift engine, other parts of American Airlines jet that crashed 02:30 Trump defends Musk’s role as government programs are targeted 02:56 Hegseth meets with troops at Southern border in New Mexico 01:56 Backlash to Trump’s new tariffs 02:06 Family members visit site of deadly crash at Reagan National Airport 02:36 Secretary Rubio in Panama as conflict swirls over control of the canal 01:49 Future of USAID uncertain 01:02 New risk to rising prices 01:25 China retaliated against newly imposed U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. China announced 15 percent tariffs on American coal and liquefied natural gas and 10 percent on crude oil. The Trump administration said its tariffs were aimed at punishing China for the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. NBC News’ Christine Romans reports on the impact of the tariffs on American consumers.Feb. 4,
5 February 2025
Tech war: China’s chip firms embrace DeepSeek in AI self-sufficiency drive
DeepSeek has given China’s artificial intelligence (AI) push a shot in the arm, as the country’s chip developers and cloud service providers rush to support the start-up’s increasingly popular models. Moore Threads Technology, a graphics processing unit (GPU) design company created by former Nvidia China general manager Zhang Jianzhong, said in a WeChat post on Tuesday that it would “pay tribute to DeepSeek” by “using locally-made GPUs to set China’s AI ecosystem on fire”. The chip firm said DeepSeek’s open-source V3 and R1 models had “greatly promoted” AI development and provided “inspiration” for developers. “To push forward the development of the domestic AI ecosystem, Moore Threads will open its proprietary KUAE GPU intelligent computing cluster to fully support the distributed deployment of DeepSeek’s V3 and R1 models,” the company wrote, referring to its full-stack solution for AI data centres based on its own chips. Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek has taken the global tech community by storm. Photo: EPA-EFE Moore Threads’ pledge comes days after China’s tech champion Huawei Technologies said it was working with Beijing-based AI infrastructure start-up SiliconFlow to make DeepSeek’s models available to end users through the telecoms giant’s Ascend cloud service. It offers computing performance matching that of DeepSeek models running on global premium GPUs, according to Huawei. Huawei’s Ascend cloud service relied on its home-grown Ascend solution for compute resources, which could involve various types of hardware including the company’s self-developed server clusters, AI modules and accelerator cards, its website said. Source link
5 February 2025
Where things stand with Mexico, Canada, China
The U.S. and some of its closest trade partners have gone back and forth on trade polices in recent days after President Donald Trump announced tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China. Capping off his second week back in office, Trump announced tariffs of up to 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on goods from China. Stocks tumbled Monday morning, rattled by the announcement, but by the end of the day he announced deals with both North American countries to delay the tariffs by 30 days after the nations agreed to help with border security. As of Tuesday afternoon, the 10% tariff on goods from China was in effect after the country responded with tariffs on some U.S. goods. Here’s what to know about the recent flurry of tariffs news. More:What do Trump’s proposed tariffs mean for you? What is a tariff? A tariff is a form of tax imposed on imports from another country. The domestic business buying goods from another country pays the additional fee, but the extra costs often get passed onto consumers. Economic theory generally shows higher trade barriers raise consumer prices and negatively impact economic output and income, according to the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax policy nonprofit. Tax Foundation senior policy analyst and modeling manager Garrett Watson previously told USA TODAY that some argue for tariffs to get more demand for domestic manufacturers, even though they are also part of the global supply chain that could be impacted by tariffs. National security is also an argument for using tariffs to ensure domestic production. What’s the latest with US tariffs on Mexico? Trump announced Friday he would impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico, diverting from a free-trade agreement he signed in his first term that was not
4 February 2025
China and U.S. closer to a trade war after Beijing tariffs
IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. China tariffs could drive up drug prices and spur shortages in the U.S. 02:12 Now Playing Trade war looms after Beijing retaliates against U.S. with tariffs 07:08 UP NEXT Chinese officials vow countermeasures to Trump’s tariffs 04:04 Trump tariffs expected to raise consumer prices 02:08 Trump signs tariffs on goods imported from Canada, Mexico, China 00:59 A.I. leaders say China may have copied U.S. technology 02:03 Beijing and cities across the world celebrate the Year of the Snake 01:16 Why Silicon Valley is blown away by Chinese AI app DeepSeek 04:02 Why Chinese AI app DeepSeek is sending the tech world into a panic 02:06 Supreme Court hears arguments in battle over TikTok’s future 02:13 Outgoing ambassador assesses state of U.S.-China relations 02:13 Deadly earthquake shakes Tibet region of western China near Mount Everest 01:40 Security concerns dogging Musk are unusual given his company’s national security role 09:18 Thomas Friedman: How Swift, Musk can resolve U.S.-China relations 10:27 FBI warns Americans to keep text messages secure after Chinese hack of telecoms 03:38 U.S. officials investigate alleged Chinese cyber hack of communications companies 01:47 U.S. officials ‘still working to expel’ Chinese hackers from massive telecom breach 03:48 ‘They have not broken him’: Son of pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai on his father’s imprisonment 06:23 Watch: Wild Siberian tiger scares farmer in northern China 00:49 Hong Kong sentences 45 activists to prison for defying 2020 security law 03:27 The United States and China appeared to be inching closer to a trade war after Beijing revealed it would be retaliating against Washington with tariffs of its own on American goods. NBC News’ Janis Mackey Frayer and Aaron Gilchrist break down China’s rapid-fire retaliation to President Trump’s tariffs.Feb. 4, 2025
4 February 2025
Xi’s Reply to Trump Tariffs Shows China Has More to Lose
(Bloomberg) — The first volleys in the latest US-China trade war made clear that Xi Jinping is taking a more cautious approach than during Donald Trump’s first term. After the US leader gave a last-minute reprieve to both Canada and Mexico, his 10% tariffs on China took effect after midnight Washington time on Tuesday. Within seconds, Beijing announced additional tariffs on roughly 80 products to take effect on Feb. 10, launched an antitrust investigation into Google, tightened export controls on critical minerals, and added two US companies to its blacklist of unreliable entities. The swift but calculated retaliation signaled that Beijing had learned a lesson from its first trade fight with Trump, when China retaliated with tariffs on par or close to what the US imposed. This time Xi only put tariffs on $14 billion worth of American products, a sliver of what Trump targeted, while taking other measures that showed off China’s ability to inflict further pain on US companies if needed. The shift reflects both Xi’s success at diversifying imports away from the US since Trump’s first term, as well as China’s more precarious economic situation. The Chinese leader has been relying on manufacturing and overseas sales to keep growth ticking along as he moves to burst a property bubble, all while dealing with increased deflationary pressure. China is being restrained because it “has more to lose,” due to its huge trade imbalance with the US, according to Larry Hu, head of China economics at Macquarie Group Ltd. “A full-blown tariff war is not in China’s interest,” he added. “Instead, China is likely to respond to tariffs mainly through domestic stimulus.” The Chinese leader’s cautious reply avoided roiling markets, which have been whipsawed in the past week by Trump’s tariff twists and turns. The Hang Seng China Enterprises
4 February 2025
What cutting USAID could cost the U.S. — and how China, Russia may benefit
The Trump administration’s moves to dismantle the U.S. agency that helps to fight starvation and poverty overseas has stoked fears that America will lose its standing on the world stage as rival powers rush to fill the void. Concerns are growing in Washington that temporarily halting assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development “opens up a window for China and Russia,” George Ingram, a former senior USAID official, told NBC News in a telephone interview Thursday. He was one of several experts to caution that the decision would lead to American influence waning in Africa, South America and Asia where it addresses a range of needs from health care to clean water, distributing aid to nongovernmental organizations, aid agencies and nonprofits. USAID has also provided millions of dollars in military aid to Israel and Ukraine. “Nobody anticipated” that Trump would suspend most foreign aid “and then decapitate USAID of its personnel,” said Ingram, now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank. Volunteers at a displacement camp unload an aid delivery from USAID in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. J. Countess / Getty Images file But on his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order halting foreign aid funding for at least 90 days so his administration could review the program’s compatibility with his “America First” policy. Since then, hundreds of USAID employees and contractors have been fired or furloughed and most foreign assistance has come to a standstill; as of Monday, USAID’s website no longer loads on the web, resulting in a message that its server IP address cannot be found. Earlier Monday, the world’s richest person, Elon Musk, dubbed a “special government employee” by the White House, said that the plan was to shut USAID down. “You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing.
4 February 2025
Shanghai residents express concern over rising U.S.-China trade tensions
IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. At least 10 people killed in Sweden in school shooting 02:20 Spain soccer star says unwanted World Cup kiss ‘tainted happiest day of my life’ 01:13 Now Playing Shanghai residents express concern over rising U.S.-China trade tensions 01:59 UP NEXT Trade war looms after Beijing retaliates against U.S. with tariffs 07:08 Northern Gaza hospitals in ruins as thousands of Palestinians return 01:04 ‘We need everything’: Palestinians in Gaza appeal for more aid 01:07 China to impose new tariffs of U.S. goods 02:16 Swimmer dies after shark attack at popular Australian beach 00:52 Rubio says El Salvador offers to accept deportees and house U.S. criminals 00:47 New details of Assad’s final 24 hours in Syria before his regime collapsed 06:15 Chinese officials vow countermeasures to Trump’s tariffs 04:04 Explosion kills pro-Russian paramilitary leader in Moscow 00:37 Torrential train causes major flooding in northeastern Australia 00:49 Life deteriorates for displaced Syrians after Trump freezes foreign aid 01:20 Secretary Rubio in Panama as conflict swirls over control of the canal 01:49 Explosions by Israeli military destroy dozens of buildings in West Bank 00:40 First American hostage released by Hamas from Gaza since 2023 02:18 Trump tariffs expected to raise consumer prices 02:08 Trump signs tariffs on goods imported from Canada, Mexico, China 00:59 Keith Siegel’s loved ones watch and celebrate his release from Hamas 01:14 Shanghai residents expressed concern over worsening U.S.-China relations after an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods imposed by President Trump came into effect. China responded minutes later with export restrictions on metals and tariffs on U.S. products such as coal and oil.Feb. 4, 2025 Read More At least 10 people killed in Sweden in school shooting 02:20 Spain soccer star says unwanted World
4 February 2025
Why did Trump delay tariffs on Canada and Mexico?
IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Can half my friend group go on a trip without the others? 04:42 Heritage Hotties prove it’s never too late to spread cheer 03:39 TODAY surprises Eagles fan Declan LeBaron with Super Bowl tickets 08:02 Average human brain may contain a spoonful of plastic: study 00:33 Bill Gates talks new book, relationship with Trump, views on Musk 08:38 Oregon Zoo debuts its newest star: A baby elephant! 01:01 Big game in the Big Easy: Super Bowl party begins before kickoff 02:55 Winter storm slams Pacific Northwest with snow and wind 01:29 Murder suspect attacked by victim’s family in wild courtroom brawl 02:04 US air safety in the spotlight after 2 deadly plane crashes 02:27 El Salvador offers to house convicted Americans for a fee 00:41 USAID’s future uncertain as Elon Musk targets its budget 02:43 Now Playing China retaliates after Trump’s 10% tariff goes into effect 03:28 UP NEXT Iconic food mascots join forces in Instacart’s Super Bowl ad 01:41 Stars use Ray Ban and Meta AI-powered glasses in Super Bowl ad 00:44 Coors helps ease case of the Mondays in Super Bowl ad 00:43 Pioneering pilot charts new course to educate and encourage youth 05:13 3rd Hour of TODAY is headed to New Orleans with a live audience! 01:55 Trump draws backlash over tariffs, including from top Republicans 02:10 Luka Dončić trade to Lakers sends shock waves through NBA 00:36 China is retaliating after President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all Chinese goods, which aims to stop the trade of narcotics into the United States, the White House says. This comes as the tariffs against Canada and Mexico are pulled back with added security promised at the northern and southern border. NBC’s
4 February 2025
US Tech CEOs Admit They Want AI Monopoly & ‘Unipolar World’, Blocking China’s Competition
By Ben Norton / Geopolitical Economy Report The CEO of Anthropic, a US AI company backed by Amazon and Google, argued that the government must impose heavy restrictions on China in order to maintain a monopoly on artificial intelligence technology. If the US government can block China from getting advanced semiconductors, we will “live in a unipolar world, where only the US and its allies have these models”, wrote Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. Calling for more aggressive sanctions on China, Amodei warned, “Well-enforced export controls are the only thing that can prevent China from getting millions of chips, and are therefore the most important determinant of whether we end up in a unipolar or bipolar world”. This mindset, which is common in Silicon Valley, explains why US Big Tech corporations have been so afraid of emerging competitors in China. It is widely assumed that capitalism is based on competition, but powerful US tech billionaire Peter Thiel argues the opposite. “Actually, capitalism and competition are opposites”, he wrote back in 2014 in the Wall Street Journal. “Competition is for losers”, asserted Thiel, a Republican Party mega-donor who is a close ally of US President Donald Trump and who previously employed Vice President JD Vance. Thiel insisted that US tech companies should “look to build a monopoly”, because, as he put it, “Monopoly is the condition of every successful business”. China’s DeepSeek challenges US Big Tech monopoly The Chinese company DeepSeek has shaken up the global debate about artificial intelligence. It was taken for granted for years that the United States was leading the world in the development of AI, and that US Big Tech corporations based in Silicon Valley would inevitably dominate the industry. Seemingly out of nowhere, however, DeepSeek published an AI model that is even better than those created by the
4 February 2025
Trump’s tariffs; DOGE; Department of Education : NPR
Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Today’s top stories New U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods went into effect today. China has already retaliated with counter-tariffs slated to begin on Feb 10 that target U.S. coal, natural gas and other products. Meanwhile, the U.S. trade war with Canada and Mexico has been paused for a month after the two countries struck a last-minute deal with President Trump. Canada and Mexico agreed to strengthen their border security. The flags of Mexico, Canada and the United States are shown near the Ambassador Bridge, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Detroit. Paul Sancya/AP hide caption toggle caption Paul Sancya/AP 🎧 Both countries plan to send thousands of troops to the borders to curb the flow of migrants and fentanyl. It’s fair to say that there is a trust deficit between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico, NPR’s Jackie Northam tells Up First. If Trump’s tariffs went ahead, Canada would have been under serious threat of a recession. ➡️ Trump promised 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. This is crucial for the auto industry, which has a complicated supply chain that spans North America. ➡️ Fans booed the U.S. national anthem during Sunday’s NBA game in Toronto as tensions brewed between Canada and the U.S. The Department of Government Efficiency, which is not a Cabinet agency, has caused significant chaos and confusion under Elon Musk’s leadership. Trump’s unelected adviser has initiated a campaign from within the federal government to radically upend agencies. Recently, DOGE gained access to the Treasury Department’s payment systems, which manage trillions of dollars of spending every year. 🎧 Musk is rapidly moving through large parts of the federal
4 February 2025
What tariffs is China imposing on the US – and why are they significant? | Donald Trump News
China has reacted swiftly to the imposition of 10 percent tariffs on Chinese goods by United States President Donald Trump. They went into effect at 05:01 GMT on Tuesday, and moments later, China’s Ministry of Finance announced it would impose 15 percent tariffs on imports of US liquid natural gas (LNG) and coal and 10 percent levies on oil, farm equipment and some automobiles. In addition, China’s Ministry of Commerce and its General Administration of Customs said Beijing will begin imposing export controls on some rare earth minerals and metals central to the booming US tech industry and its green energy industry. China also announced measures against some US businesses. China set Monday as the start date for its economic countermeasures even though it has already been hit by US tariffs. Trump is expected to speak by phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. During Trump’s first term as president, China and the US also waged economic warfare in the form of tit-for-tat tariffs that upended the global economy. This time, Trump said he imposed tariffs on China over its role in the flow of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, into the US. So what are the implications of China’s tariffs against the US? And what can the example of similar moves by Trump against Mexico and Canada tell us about the potential fallout from China’s rebuttal? What happened with Canada and Mexico, and how does it apply to China? On Saturday, the same day that Trump announced tariffs on China, he also declared that the US would impose 25 percent tariffs on goods coming to the US from its two neighbours, Canada and Mexico. In addition to a charge of ignoring the flow of fentanyl into the US, he also accused the two neighbouring nations of not doing
4 February 2025
Donald Trump’s trade tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China explained visually | Explainer News
The United States has postponed planned 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports by a month, following 11th-hour calls between President Donald Trump and leaders from Canada and Mexico on Monday. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to boost border security to prevent the trafficking of drugs and migrants into the US, averting a trade war for now. But the 10 percent tariffs on Chinese goods took effect on Tuesday, attracting retaliatory measures from Beijing. Chinese goods have already been subjected to previous tariffs starting in Trump’s first term between 2017 and 2021. The tariff war by the US, the second-largest goods trader in the world after China, has rattled markets worldwide. From January to November 2024, the value of goods traded between the US and the world reached $4.88 trillion, with $2.98 trillion in exports and $1.90 trillion in imports. The United States’s top trading partners – Mexico, Canada and China – account for more than 40 percent of total goods traded, valued at more than $2 trillion. What are tariffs and how do they work? A tariff is a government-imposed tax on imported goods and services, paid by businesses bringing them into the country. Designed to protect domestic industries, tariffs often drive up costs for consumers by making foreign products more expensive, potentially reducing demand. (Al Jazeera) For example: A Chinese exporter sells a pair of jeans to a US importer for $10. The US government imposes a 10 percent tariff on Chinese products. The US importer will now have to pay $1 extra to the federal government for the jeans, increasing its cost to $11. After adding expenses and profit, the jeans will be sold for $20. The US consumer will likely pay more for the jeans. What does the pause
4 February 2025
Five ways China is hitting back against US tariffs
Michael Race Business reporter, BBC News Getty Images The trade war between the world’s two biggest economies has escalated after China hit back against the introduction of tariffs by the US with measures of its own. Beijing has set out to target specific American goods with retaliatory taxes, among other measures, following the blanket 10% tariff introduced by President Donald Trump on all Chinese imports to the US. In some ways, this latest tit-for-tat is nothing new and builds on the long-running trade dispute between the nations, with tariffs having already been imposed and threatened on various goods since 2018. Trump has said he plans to speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping, so a deal could yet be struck. But if China proceeds with its response on 10 February as planned, what could the impact be? Coal, oil and gas Getty Images Part of China’s countermeasures to Trump’s tariffs is to announce import taxes of its own on US coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) of 10%, and a 15% charge on crude oil. The response from Beijing means companies wanting to import fossil fuels from the US would have to pay the tax in order to do so. China is the world’s largest importer of coal, but it gets most of it from Indonesia, although Russia, Australia and Mongolia are also among its suppliers. When it comes to the US, China has been increasing imports of LNG from the country, with volumes nearly double 2018 levels, according to Chinese customs data. But its overall fossil fuel trade is modest, with US imports accounting for just 1.7% of China’s total crude oil bought from abroad in 2023. This suggests China is not dependent on the US and so the impact of the tariffs on its economy could be minimal. Rebecca
4 February 2025
Gone with USAID: cocaine fighting and amazon rainforest protection
BRASILANDIA, Brazil (AP) — The dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development will deliver a major blow to efforts including humanitarian assistance in Colombia, conservation efforts in the Brazilian Amazon and coca eradication in Peru — South American countries that have been a priority for the support. Even if some foreign aid resumes after
5 February 2025
Hamas ‘tortured, executed’ own fighters over same-sex relations: Report | World News
Secret documents from Hamas have revealed that they tortured and executed their own “terrorists” who allegedly had same-sex relations, a report from The New York Post said. Hamas had eventually described the new recruits as “unacceptable” to continue working for the group due to their actions. (AFP) The Hamas militants also had same-sex relations with
5 February 2025
Elon Musk’s USAID Shutdown Could Play Into Russia and China’s Hands
The pausing of USAID, which has been targeted by President Donald Trump‘s ally Elon Musk, could see China and Russia could step in to exert their geopolitical muscle. The halting of the U.S. development program has prompted speculation that China could fill the vacuum through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Beijing’s massive infrastructure investment
5 February 2025
Trump calls for ‘nuclear peace agreement’ with Iran rather than blowing country ‘to smithereens’
President Donald Trump urged Iran to begin negotiating with the U.S. for a “nuclear peace agreement,” downplaying the possibility of a devastating military strike on the Islamic nation. Trump made the statement on social media Wednesday morning, reaffirming the U.S. position that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. It comes just one day after Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. “I want Iran to be a great and successful Country, but one that cannot have a Nuclear Weapon. Reports that the United States, working in conjunction with Israel, is going to blow Iran into smithereens ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED,” Trump wrote. “I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will let Iran peacefully grow and prosper. We should start working on it immediately, and have a big Middle East Celebration when it is signed and completed. God Bless the Middle East!” he added. IRAN ‘TERRIFIED’ OF TRUMP PRESIDENCY AS IRANIAN CURRENCY FALLS TO AN ALL-TIME LOW President Donald Trump gives his second presidential inaugural address on Jan. 20, 2024. (Fox News) INTELLIGENCE REPORT SAYS IRAN WILL KEEP TRYING TO KILL TRUMP REGARDLESS OF ELECTION OUTCOME The call for negotiations comes after Trump raised eyebrows Tuesday night by saying the U.S. will “take over” control of the Gaza Strip. “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too,” Trump stated. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous, unexplored bombs and other weapons on the site.” Netanyahu praised Trump’s ability to “think outside the box” during their joint press conference. President Donald Trump called on Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to begin nuclear deal negotiations. (Photo by Iranian Leader Press Office/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images) Hamas also wrote a statement criticizing
5 February 2025
Donald Trump calls for ‘nuclear peace agreement’ with Iran
Donald Trump has said that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons but should reach a “verified nuclear peace agreement”, which the US should begin working on immediately. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump said reports that the US and Israel were preparing to “blow Iran into smithereens” were “greatly exaggerated”. “I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will let Iran peacefully grow and prosper. We should start working on it immediately, and have a big Middle East Celebration when it is signed and completed. God Bless the Middle East!” In an executive order on Tuesday, Trump signalled a return to the “maximum pressure” sanctions policy that he adopted during his first administration after withdrawing the US from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. The order promised a “robust and continual campaign” by the US Treasury and other agencies to “drive Iran’s export of oil to zero, including exports of Iranian crude to the People’s Republic of China”. Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful civilian purposes, but it is enriching uranium close to weapons-grade levels. On Wednesday, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the “maximum pressure” sanctions policy would fail “again”, while also signalling Tehran’s willingness to discuss its nuclear programme. “Maximum pressure is a failed experience, and trying it again will only lead to another failure,” Araghchi told reporters. “But if the main concern is ensuring that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons, this can be achieved — it is not a problem.” An Iranian missile on show during a military parade in Tehran. The Islamic republic considers its ballistic missile programme its primary deterrent © via Reuters He was responding to Trump’s assertion that Iran’s nuclear programme and support for paramilitary groups across the Middle East threatened US interests. Trump
5 February 2025
The 18 councils opting out of local elections in ‘Labour collusion’ move that could topple Reform UK
Eighteen councils in England have requested to delay their upcoming local elections in what Reform UK has described as an “attack on Democracy”. Deputy PM Angela Rayner is expected to announce on Tuesday which of the 18 two-tier councils in England who have applied to become unitary authorities under Labour’s devolution plans will be granted their wishes. The councils claim that the delay will buy them time to develop proposals on reorganisation. Reform UK has blasted the move, accusing Labour of cooking up the plan with the Conservatives to thwart the insurgent party’s rise as it leads the race in opinion polls for the first time. “Labour has colluded with the Conservatives to cancel large swathes of the English County Council elections on May 1st,” a post on the party’s website reads, adding: “The elections are being cancelled in areas where Reform’s support is strongest. This is an attack on our democracy and we need to save it.” Indeed, many of the councils are located in counties that were projected to turn turquoise at local and national elections, such as Essex, which is home to two out of five of Reform’s elected MPs. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said on January 15 it received requests from 16 counties and two unitary authorities to postpone their election from 2025 to 2026. Many councils are located in areas where Reform’s support is surging MapChart Here’s the full list of councils: DevonEast SussexWest SussexEssexGloucestershireHampshireIsle of WightKentLeicestershireLincolnshireNorfolkOxfordshireSuffolkSurreyThurrockWarwickshireWorcestershire. Branding the delay as a “disgrace” to democracy, Reform has launched a petition on its website that has garnered 207,866 signatures at the time of writing. Does the party have a point? Let’s take a look at the timeline of events. On December 16, 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner announced a significant initiative
5 February 2025
Is It Too Late to Buy Palantir Stock Post Blockbuster Quarter?
Palantir Technologies Inc. PLTR is an eminent player in the artificial intelligence (AI) segment that provides platforms like Gotham and Foundry, which help commercial and government customers optimally use data to solve problems competently. Palantir’s initiatives to integrate innovative AI and machine learning functionalities in its platform have helped the company expand its business. Its
5 February 2025
BTC/USD Forecast Today 05/02: Holds Near $100K (Chart)
Created on February 05, 2025 During my analysis of markets on Tuesday, the Bitcoin market still looks as if it is simply hanging around the $100,000 level. This is an area that is a large, round, psychologically significant figure, and has a lot of headline value as far as financial news is concerned. At the
5 February 2025
What to know about how tariffs and trade affect Arizona’s economy
Arizona’s economy is closely tied to international trade, particularly with Mexico and Canada. While tariffs could generate revenue for the U.S. government, they may also lead to inflation and economic slowdown. The long-term impact of tariffs on U.S. manufacturing remains uncertain. Tariffs and trade have dominated headlines in recent days, with President Trump slapping import
5 February 2025
Rupee falls 39 paise to close at all-time low of 87.46 against U.S. dollar
Rate cut concerns by the Reserve Bank of India and broad strength of the American currency in the overseas market dented investor sentiments further. File | Photo Credit: V.V. Krishnan The rupee plunged 39 paise to close at an all-time low of 87.46 (provisional) against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday (February 5, 2025), as global trade war concerns fuelled risk aversion among investors. Forex traders said the rupee is trading with a negative bias over global trade war as market participants mulled the impact of tariffs being imposed by the United States and China. Moreover, rate cut concerns by the Reserve Bank of India and broad strength of the American currency in the overseas market dented investor sentiments further. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened on a weak note at 87.13 and touched an intraday low of 87.49 against the American currency during the session. The local unit finally settled at a record closing low of 87.46 (provisional), lower by 39 paise over its previous close. On Tuesday (February 4, 2025), the rupee recovered 4 paise from its all-time low level to close at 87.07 against U.S. dollar. U.S. President Trump is pressing ahead with a 10% tariff on U.S. companies importing things from China. On Tuesday (February 4, 2025), China retaliated by announcing its own tariffs on some U.S. products and an antitrust investigation into Google. Editorial: Tariff turmoil: on Trump and punishing tariffs on trade Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.35% lower at 107.58. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell 0.51% to $75.81 per barrel in futures trade. Investors may remain cautious ahead of the Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy meeting this week, traders said. There are expectations of a 25 basis-points
5 February 2025
How Trump’s tariffs could impact you and your money : NPR
Avocados from Mexico are displayed for sale at a Whole Foods store in New York City on Feb. 3. Trump has put on hold a planned 25% tariff on imports from Mexico. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Every day, many people in the U.S. eat fruit grown in Mexico, use phones made in China and live in homes built from lumber from Canada. Now, trade with those three countries could be interrupted. President Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on China — leading the country to retaliate with tariffs of its own. And although Trump has agreed to put on hold planned tariffs on Mexico and Canada for 30 days, he could still impose them after that. A tariff is a tax on goods imported from abroad. Despite Trump’s claims that his tariffs will be paid by other countries, Americans will be stuck with the higher prices. An analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation found that if the tariffs Trump threatened in recent days are imposed, it would amount to an average tax increase of more than $800 per U.S. household in 2025. Here’s a deeper look at how the tariffs are likely to affect what Americans pay. Tariffs on China will sting consumers on a range of items The U.S. imports a lot from China — and Trump’s 10% tariff could hit more than $450 billion worth of imports. The tariffs Trump imposed during his first term were more targeted. This time around, more Americans will feel the impact. Among the imports affected are a whole slew of consumer goods, including footwear, toys, video game consoles and electronics. A container ship is docked at the Port of Oakland in California on Monday. Trump has enacted 10% tariffs on goods from China. Justin
5 February 2025
世界黃金協會：去年央行持續吸金千噸 波蘭買金最多達90噸 人行44噸 (16:43) – 20250205 – 即時財經新聞
至於全年投資黃金的需求更達四年來高位，按年增加25%至1180噸。當中黃金交易所買賣基金（ETF）一改並止住2020年起持續大量流出投資的局面，並於去年首度出現顯著改變。至於來自鑄金條及金幣的需求，則與2023年保持一致水平，穩企於1186噸水平，當中顯示趨向投資金條，反而金幣的購買有所減少。 來自科技帶來的需求，則有助帶動去年全球黃金需求，按年增加21噸，按年增幅達7%，這主要得助於越來越多採用人工智能的需求有關。反而去年來自金飾的需求出現回軟，按年下跌11%至1877噸，原因是消費者只能夠吸納低品質的產品。但是無論如何，全球在金飾的消費仍然按年增長9%至1440億美元。 該協會的報告指，在眾新興市場中央銀行中，以波蘭國家銀行在去年買金最多，按年額外增加儲金90噸，此前該行已表明擬將黃金佔儲備的比例提高至20%。來自捷克、匈牙利、塞爾維亞及格老吉亞央行方面購金，亦分別達20噸、16噸、8噸及7噸。其他主要買金的央行中，土耳其央行按年增加75噸。印度央行及中國人民銀行則按年分別增加73噸及44噸。 倫敦金銀交易協會（LBMA）去年的定盤金價觸及40次歷史新高，第四季平均價為每盎司2663美元，為歷來紀錄；全年均價則為2386美元，按年升23%。按價值計算，去年純第四季對黃金需求達到前所未見的水平，達到1110億美元，並且帶動去年全年的黃金需求價值去到3820億美元歷史年度新高。 在黃金的總需求方面，則按年增長1%至4975噸，為協會有紀錄以來最高，這與金礦開採及再循環因素帶動下帶動供應增加。去年第四季場外投資顯著放緩，致去年全年的場外投資按年微跌。來自高淨值投資者的需求保持健康，並與場外投資市場出現獲利回吐出現反差。展望今年來自中央銀行及ETF投資者的需求，加上經濟出現不明朗，料會驅動市場對黃金的需求，藉此對沖風險，但是料金飾的需求會繼續受壓。 其他報道 全日沽空金額增5% 恒生中國企業沽空增24% 恒指收市跌192點 成交個月高 北水回歸即流出53億兩個月最多 貓眼數據：農曆新年內地總票房突破95.1億元人民幣 寧德時代據報擬在數周內提交香港上市申請 Trip.com：農曆新年香港出境預訂按年增7成 蛇年首個交易日 滬指收跌0.65% 深證成指一枝獨秀 摩通：終止巴拿馬港口合同 對長和影響微不足道 變形金剛餐廳｜TRANSFORMERS The ARK撤出香港 轉戰深圳 日經：日產將撤回與本田整合協議 耀才CEO許繹彬落分行向客戶派利市 美國郵政停收中港包裹 分析稱貿易戰升級 亦有稱影響有限 華為2024年銷售收入逾8600億元人幣 雷軍：本月底發布小米15 Ultra及小米SU7 Ultra 【有片：埋身擊】關稅戰沒有預期般差 可細注低位買入商品貨幣 半日沽空金額增19% 恒生中國企業增58% 瑞穗：中國報復措施溫和 傾向維持匯率穩定 日清食品盈警 料去年盈利跌首三財季收入少3% 溢利跌逾6% 恒指半日跌142點 農夫山泉跌6% 東方甄選跌5% 京東跌3% 日產據稱可能拒絕本田收購要約 蛇年首個交易日 滬深三大指數半日個別走 滬指跌0.36% 港元拆息普遍向上 1個月HIBOR連跌4日 貼現窗投放12億港元 許正宇：會提前接觸未掌權和繼承財富家族中人 以建立關係 Google中國籍前工程師被控從事間諜活動 助中國AI發展 財新中國1月服務業PMI跌至51遜預期 見4個月低 就業見8個月低 Source link
5 February 2025
Gold: The Ultimate Trump Hedge
The Chinese markets opened for the first time after a long Lunar New Year holiday, and they opened down on a set of weaker-than-expected PMI figures, on the news of 10% tariff on its exports toward Trump’s USA, and a further escalation of the trade war with the tit-for-tat measures announced yesterday from Beijing, including 15% tariffs on US coal and LNG imports and an antitrust probe into Google. But losses in the CSI 300 index remained measured, as the 10% tariffs from the US were considered as being quite modest – compared to the chatter of up to 60% tariffs, and China’s response to the US was also seen moderated. Many simply pointed out that 10% tariff could be absorbed by yuan devaluation and that Google is banned in China since 2010 for not censoring search results in accordance with Chinese government regulations. Across the Pacific Ocean, Google hit a record high yesterday regardless of the Chinese threat. Magnificent 7 saw dip buying and rebounded near 1.80%. Palantir was the star of the day with a 24% rally in its share price after announcing lot better-than-expected quarterly results and amassing rating and PT upgrades from big banks on its capacity to cash in on the AI boom. In Europe, German Infineon also jumped 10% on better-than-expected revenue forecast from the company due to favourable currency effects and recovery from car industry. Overall, the Stoxx 600 was also better bid on Tuesday on rising confidence that the EU could negotiate trade terms with Trump and avoid tariffs. Plus, the French PM Bayrou is expected to survive a no-confidence vote today and adopt a budget plan. Such outcome would further narrow the German, French yield spread and encourage a recovery in euro’s valuation, though the upside is seen limited by the
5 February 2025
Trip.com：農曆新年香港出境預訂按年增7成 (15:48) – 20250205 – 即時財經新聞
Trip.com港台地區產品及市務總監兼香港區域經理葉卓銘表示，旅客現時更傾向尋找不同的體驗，例如更特別的住宿體驗等。他提到，Trip.com亦可連結不同公司的里數計劃，只要填寫相關資料，即可以在平台預訂機票同時儲里數。 近日泰國的旅遊安全成為焦點，葉卓銘表示，平台預訂情況未有影響，農曆年的預訂與去年相若。此外，香港酒店稅今年1月1日起重新徵收，葉卓銘指出，未見有特別影響，農曆年約7成入境旅客的酒店預訂為4至5星酒店。他又指，今年旅客的消費力將取決於環球經濟情況，以及旅遊原因，例如櫻花、紅葉等景色以外，亦有機會受盛事帶動，Trip.com亦有出售一些香港演唱會的門票，希望吸引更多旅客到訪香港，推動旅遊業發展。 其他報道 蛇年首個交易日 滬指收跌0.65% 深證成指一枝獨秀 摩通：終止巴拿馬港口合同 對長和影響微不足道 變形金剛餐廳｜TRANSFORMERS The ARK撤出香港 轉戰深圳 日經：日產將撤回與本田整合協議 耀才CEO許繹彬落分行向客戶派利市 美國郵政停收中港包裹 分析稱貿易戰升級 亦有稱影響有限 華為2024年銷售收入逾8600億元人幣 雷軍：本月底發布小米15 Ultra及小米SU7 Ultra 【有片：埋身擊】關稅戰沒有預期般差 可細注低位買入商品貨幣 半日沽空金額增19% 恒生中國企業增58% 瑞穗：中國報復措施溫和 傾向維持匯率穩定 日清食品盈警 料去年盈利跌首三財季收入少3% 溢利跌逾6% 恒指半日跌142點 農夫山泉跌6% 東方甄選跌5% 京東跌3% 日產據稱可能拒絕本田收購要約 蛇年首個交易日 滬深三大指數半日個別走 滬指跌0.36% 港元拆息普遍向上 1個月HIBOR連跌4日 貼現窗投放12億港元 許正宇：會提前接觸未掌權和繼承財富家族中人 以建立關係 Google中國籍前工程師被控從事間諜活動 助中國AI發展 財新中國1月服務業PMI跌至51遜預期 見4個月低 就業見8個月低 人民幣中間價偏強1120點 在岸價復市見3個月最大貶值幅度 GUM：1月強積金人均賺4373元 美國郵政局：暫停接受來自中國和香港郵局入境國際包裹 積金評級料1月強積金投資收益208億元 人均賺4400元 香港1月PMI見4個月低 消費意願不足 企業對前景續看淡 蛇年滬深三大指數紅盤高開 滬指漲0.6% 恒指高開37點 科指跌0.03% 百度升2% 華虹半導體跌3% 長和無升跌 港股ADR升85點 夜期高水181點 美期跌亞股升 特朗普不急於與習近平通話 評中國報復措施「It’s Fine」 美債息回軟 道指升134點 金龍指數升幅收窄 巴拿馬據報擬取消長和旗下港口經營合同 北水增持盈富 減持美圖 Source link
5 February 2025
Buy the Surge in Palantir Technologies (PLTR) Stock After Q4 Earnings?
Rising over +20% in Wednesday’s trading session, Palantir Technologies PLTR stock has been a highlight of this week’s earnings lineup after reporting strong Q4 results yesterday evening. Palantir has garnished Wall Street’s attention as its artificial intelligence platform (AIP) is seeing high demand with PLTR spiking to over $100 and now up +500% in the last year. Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Primarily providing software platforms that assist with counterterrorism investigations, Palantir AIP appears to be drawing interest from more traditional enterprises as well. Stating its U.S. business is at the forefront of the AI revolution, Palantir’s Q4 sales spiked 36% year over year to $827.52 million compared to $608.35 million in the comparative quarter. Drawing Wall Street’s attention, Palantir comfortably exceeded Q4 sales estimates of $777.49 million and saw its top line stretch 14% sequentially. The company’s operational efficiency also stood out with Palantir generating $460 million in cash from operations and $517 million in adjusted free cash flow, representing margins of 56% and 63% respectively. Furthermore, Q4 EPS of $0.14 beat expectations of $0.11 and rose from $0.08 a share in the prior period. Palantir has reached or exceeded the Zacks EPS consensus for nine consecutive quarters with an average earnings surprise of 12.72% in its last four quarterly reports. Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Rounding out fiscal 2024, Palantir’s total sales spiked 29% to $2.87 billion from $2.22 billion in 2023. Moving further past the profitability line, annual earnings soared to $0.41 per share from EPS of $0.08 in 2023. Palantir’s full-year cash from operations was $1.15 billion with adjusted free cash flow at $1.25 billion, margins of 40% and 44% respectively. For Q1 FY25, Palantir expects revenue between $858-$862 million which came in well above the
5 February 2025
Wall Street Gains Ground and Palantir Shares Stand Out
Ignacio Teson•Wednesday, February 5, 2025•1 min read Add an article to your Reading List Register now to be able to add articles to your reading list. ” aria-hidden=”true”> Share in Facebook “> as the “new Nvidia,” surged 24% after reporting a 36% increase in revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024. The three major Wall Street indices closed with gains on Tuesday, with stocks rising across the board. Palantir stood out, soaring over 20% following the release of its quarterly results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which consists of 30 major corporations, rose 0.30% to 44,556.04 points. The broader S&P 500 gained 0.72% to 6,037.88 points, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.35% to 19,654.02 points. SPX Palantir Technologies, the AI-driven data analytics company, saw its shares jump 24% after announcing a 36% increase in revenue, reaching $828 million in Q4 2024. On the other hand, PepsiCo shares fell 4.51% after reporting a 0.2% decline in sales, totaling $27.78 billion compared to the previous year. Additionally, Merck plunged 9% after releasing a disappointing earnings outlook. Sector Performance The energy sector (+2.18%) and communication sector (+1.48%) led the gains, while utilities (-0.88%) posted the biggest losses. Within the Dow Jones, Chevron (+2.60%) and Apple (+2.10%) were among the top gainers. Alphabet Reports Mixed Earnings At the close of trading, investors reacted to Alphabet’s quarterly report. The stock initially gained 2.56%, but later dropped over 8% in after-hours trading after the company missed revenue estimates and projected $75 billion in capital expenditures for the year. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, released its Q4 2024 financial results, which disappointed investors. Shares initially rose 2.50%, closing at $207.71 per share on Tuesday, but plunged 7.98% in after-hours trading following the earnings release. Google’s revenue grew 12% to $96.5 billion, falling short of market expectations
5 February 2025
Iowa farmers concerned over Trump administration’s tariffs
PAUSED FOR 30 DAYS. IF MORE TARIFFS GO INTO EFFECT, SOME FARMERS HERE IN IOWA COULD FEEL THE IMPACT. AND MANY SAY THEY’RE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING AN OVERABUNDANCE OF PRODUCTS OR BEING FORCED TO CUT BACK TO SAVE MONEY. THEY SAY THE TARIFFS COULD RAISE THE PRICE OF FERTILIZER AND OTHER THINGS THAT THEY NEED, THAT FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY. AND THAT’S WHY THE IOWA CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION IS WORKING WITH FARMERS TO HELP THEM FIND OTHER OUTLETS TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS. THAT’S WHY OUR US AS AN ORGANIZATION ARE USING FARMERS CHECKOFF DOLLARS TO INVEST IN DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES AND DIFFERENT AVENUES TO ENHANCE THEIR PROFITABILITY AND RAISE THOSE MARKETS NOT ONLY HERE IN THE US BUT AROUND THE WORLD. SOME FARMERS SAY THEY KNOW TARIFFS CAN BE USED AS A BARGAINING CHIP TO ADD VALUE TO U.S. PRODUCTS, BUT MAN Iowa farmers concerned over Trump administration’s tariffs Updated: 10:00 PM CST Feb 4, 2025 If more tariffs go into effect, some farmers here in Iowa could feel the impact.Many say they are worried about having an overabundance of products or being forced to cut back to save money. They say the tariffs could raise the price of fertilizer and other items that come from outside the country.That’s why the Iowa Corn Growers Association is working with farmers to help them find other outlets to sell their products. “That’s why we are using Farmers Checkoff Dollars to invest in different technologies and different avenues to enhance their profitability and raise those markets, not only here in the U.S., but around the world,” said Nolan Lyness, of the Iowa Corn Growers Association.Some farmers say they know tariffs can be used as a bargaining chip to add value to U.S. products, but many are still raising concerns about the negative impacts. DES
5 February 2025
AMD Moves Up Instinct MI355X Launch As Datacenter Biz Hits Records
When we first started The Next Platform a decade ago, there was not really much of a reason to cover the company’s datacenter efforts. But, we are a hopeful people here at what was originally called The Platform, and from the get-go we knew that the market needed competition for high performance CPUs and GPUs and that AMD had the will and would find a way to compete with the likes of Intel and Nvidia in the markets that they ruled. No one could have predicted how fast Nvidia would have expanded in the wake of GenAI, and no one would have predicted how far – and how fast – Intel has fallen. And for those of you who believed that the Number Two vendor can work harder and can succeed, as we did, well, we all have the satisfaction of being right. Which is a beautiful thing, ain’t it? But what is truly a thing to behold – and what is far more important than being right, after all – is how far AMD has come in a decade and to ponder what AMD might do in the next decade as computing inevitably evolves in the datacenter and in our handheld devices. It is with that broad expanse in mind that we contemplate the financial results that AMD just turned in for 2024. The company is humming along on all fronts, but its numbers also show that it is still incredibly expensive to create the high end PC and server devices that the company proudly crafts and peddles, and therefore it is always a challenge to rake in the profits when it believes in open source software and cannot make a moat like other companies in the history of IT have been able to do – like IBM and
5 February 2025
Access Bank Nigeria taps Integral FX pricing and distribution solutions
Broker tech provider Integral has today announced that Access Bank Nigeria has adopted its technology to help deliver on its regional expansion ambitions and elevate the bank’s FX pricing and distribution capabilities. Access Bank Nigeria has implemented Integral’s tailored solutions for liquidity aggregation, pricing, distribution, and white labelling. A crucial aspect of the collaboration was the establishment of the foundations for sub-white labelling of Access Bank Nigeria’s services to the bank’s other entities and affiliate banks. The technology also enables the bank to provide a branded graphical user interface (GUI) to partners, allowing them to trade directly via a customizable, branded platform. With a fast-growing customer base spanning both West Africa and the wider continent, Integral’s sophisticated quick-to-market approach was deemed essential in enabling Access Bank Nigeria to implement changes seamlessly. The technology will ensure uninterrupted service for the bank’s clients, while enabling the bank to develop its distribution capabilities to corporates and its network of banking affiliates across the region. Harpal Sandhu, CEO of Integral, said: “By offering highly configurable and scalable solutions across FX workflows, Integral can help clients meet the evolving needs of their customers, tapping into regional differences and building on existing technological infrastructure. “The optimized pricing and distribution facilitated by this partnership will enable Access Bank Nigeria to elevate its FX trading and deliver improved service for clients. As the bank continues to demonstrate its position as a leader in both Nigeria and the wider West African region, we’re proud to support its continued growth.” About Integral Integral is the currency technology partner to hundreds of financial institutions, including banks, brokers, and cross-border payment companies, who have embedded Integral’s technology in their workflows and customer facing services. Adopted first by the financial markets and now invaluable to every global business across all industries – its
5 February 2025
港元拆息普遍向上 1個月HIBOR連跌4日 貼現窗投放12億港元 (11:17) – 20250205 – 即時財經新聞
港元現報7.7886元貶值14點子，曾貶值最多29點子，報7.7901元，亦曾升值最多22點子，報7.785元，是1月24日7.7845元後最強。 港元拆息、港元存息(彭博纽约综合利率)可看附圖。彭博終端機於2024年6月1日起停止提供港元隔夜平均指數（HONIA）數據。 HIBOR 短線拆息方面，隔夜HIBOR升0.45點子至3.94929%，是1月28日後最高；1星期HIBOR升3.51點子至3.81185%，是1月28日後最高；2星期HIBOR升2.04點子至3.76708%，是1月28日後最高。 中長線拆息方面，3個月期HIBOR無升跌報3.79857%，是2月4日後最低；6個月期HIBOR跌0.14點子至3.88315%，是2022年9月26日後最低；12個月期HIBOR升1.71點子至3.94411%，是1月24日後最高。 貨幣基礎 貨幣基礎方面，上日總額減33.03億元，至總數19855.05億元，是1月23日後最低。當中的負債證明書(Certificates of Indebtedness)較上一日減36億元，至總數6235.45億元，是1月23日後最低。政府發行的流通紙幣及硬幣不變，與上日相同。收市總結餘為458.65億元，較再上一日增12.51億元，總結餘是1月23日後最高。未償還外匯基金票據及債券較上一日增2.97億元，至總數13039.59億元，創紀錄新高，其中，持牌銀行所持有數額較上一日減24.26億元，至總數12081.6億元，是1月28日後最低。上日金管局相隔4日後，再次通過貼現窗口向銀行投放12.51億港元流動性，是1月23日後最高，當日投放20億港元。 總結餘變動原因 貼現窗投放12.51億港元。 美匯美息 美元指數現報107.903貶值0.057點或0.05%。 美元1個月期 CME Term SOFR上日報4.30733%，將同一日的港元1個月期HIBOR減美元1個月期 CME Term SOFR的利差為-0.5768%，連續2日擴闊，利差是2024年11月07日後最闊，當日差距為-0.593%。 對上一次連續2日擴闊，是2025年1月29日，當日利差報-0.4824%。 其他報道 許正宇：會提前接觸未掌權和繼承財富家族中人 以建立關係 Google中國籍前工程師被控從事間諜活動 助中國AI發展 財新中國1月服務業PMI跌至51遜預期 見4個月低 就業見8個月低 人民幣中間價偏強1120點 在岸價復市見3個月最大貶值幅度 GUM：1月強積金人均賺4373元 美國郵政局：暫停接受來自中國和香港郵局入境國際包裹 積金評級料1月強積金投資收益208億元 人均賺4400元 香港1月PMI見4個月低 消費意願不足 企業對前景續看淡 蛇年滬深三大指數紅盤高開 滬指漲0.6% 恒指高開37點 科指跌0.03% 百度升2% 華虹半導體跌3% 長和無升跌 港股ADR升85點 夜期高水181點 美期跌亞股升 特朗普不急於與習近平通話 評中國報復措施「It’s Fine」 美債息回軟 道指升134點 金龍指數升幅收窄 巴拿馬據報擬取消長和旗下港口經營合同北水增持盈富 減持美圖 Source link
5 February 2025
財新中國1月服務業PMI跌至51遜預期 見4個月低 就業見8個月低 (10:48) – 20250205 – 即時財經新聞
1月綜合產出指數亦由12月的51.4，跌至51.1，去年同月為52.5。1月數字同為2024年9月後新低，當月報50.3。 報告指，1月數字雖見4個月低，但仍維持擴張，新出口訂單指數重現擴張，市場樂觀預期回升但仍低於長期均值。人員主動離職疊加企業裁員節支情况持續，服務業用工連續兩個月收縮，1月就業指數降至2024年5月來最低。 報告內容： 2月5日公布的2025年1月財新中國通用服務業經營活動指數（服務業PMI）錄得51.0，低於上月1.2個百分點，為2024年10月來最低，但仍維持擴張。 先前公布的1月財新中國製造業PMI回落0.4個百分點至50.1，同樣為近四個月來最低。兩大產業景氣度走弱，拖累當月財新中國綜合PMI回落0.3個百分點至51.1。 國家統計局近期公布的數據顯示，1月製造業、服務業PMI分別下行1.0個、1.7個百分點至49.1、50.3，前者時隔三個月重回收縮區間；綜合PMI產出指數錄得50.1，低於上月2.1個百分點，僅輕微擴張。 從財新中國服務業PMI分項數據看，1月供給與需求擴張幅度收窄，當月新訂單指數雖然仍高於榮枯線，但邊際下降。在2024年12月短暫收縮後，新出口訂單指數重現擴張。受訪企業稱，外國對包括旅遊業在內的中國服務業興趣增長，帶動新出口業務量的上升。 人員主動離職疊加企業裁員節支情况持續，服務業用工連續兩個月收縮，1月就業指數降至2024年5月來最低。由於新訂單增長放緩、企業效率提高，當月積壓工作量指數跌至臨界點以下。 原料價格與用工成本增加，帶動1月投入品價格持續上漲，但漲幅有限；銷售價格指數在擴張區間微降。 服務業企業家樂觀預期加強，1月經營預期指數穩中有升，但仍低於長期平均值。樣本企業稱，新業務品類推出，業務拓展力道加大，疊加政策扶持，有助於提振未來一年的銷售。但國際競爭加劇，國際貿易前景仍不明朗，也使部分企業感到憂慮。 財新智庫高級經濟學家王喆表示，1月製造業及服務業供需均有改善，但就業均顯著下降，價格水準整體較為低迷，尤其是製造業出廠價格，市場樂觀預期回升但仍低於長期均值。2024年9月起陸續推出的一系列漸進政策落實，助推2024年全年經濟增長目標任務順利完成。在新的一年裡，大規模設備更新和消費品以舊換新等刺激政策效果或邊際放緩；海外政策不確定性增加背景下出口環境或惡化，將是中國經濟要面臨的巨大挑戰，宏觀經濟政策對此應做好充分準備，並根據客觀情勢變化及時調整。當前，國內有效需求不足，居民消費能力意願有待提升，增加居民可支配所得應為政策重點。此外，2024年新出生人口數仍位於低位，相關補助獎勵措施亦應盡快回應。 其他報道 人民幣中間價偏強1120點 在岸價復市見3個月最大貶值幅度 GUM：1月強積金人均賺4373元 美國郵政局：暫停接受來自中國和香港郵局入境國際包裹 積金評級料1月強積金投資收益208億元 人均賺4400元 香港1月PMI見4個月低 消費意願不足 企業對前景續看淡 蛇年滬深三大指數紅盤高開 滬指漲0.6% 恒指高開37點 科指跌0.03% 百度升2% 華虹半導體跌3% 長和無升跌 港股ADR升85點 夜期高水181點 美期跌亞股升 特朗普不急於與習近平通話 評中國報復措施「It’s Fine」 美債息回軟 道指升134點 金龍指數升幅收窄 巴拿馬據報擬取消長和旗下港口經營合同 北水增持盈富 減持美圖 Source link
5 February 2025
AUD/USD Price Analysis: Dec Spending Growth Boosts Aussie
Household spending in Australia rose in December. Market participants are pricing the first RBA rate cut in February. Canada and Mexico agreed to the demands of the Trump administration, leading to a pause in tariffs. The AUD/USD price analysis indicates stronger demand in Australia, with household spending rising in December. Moreover, the Australian dollar rose as risk appetite improved after Trump paused tariffs on Canada and Mexico. –Are you interested to learn more about forex options trading? Check our detailed guide- Data on Tuesday revealed that household spending in Australia rose in December, marking the third month of an increase. Although this was bullish for the Aussie, Reserve Bank of Australia rate cut bets remained unchanged. Market participants are pricing the first rate cut in February after weaker-than-expected inflation figures last week. Meanwhile, the dollar’s peers, including the Australian dollar, rebounded on Tuesday after Trump paused tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods. Initially, the dollar had soared after the US President implemented a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on China starting on Tuesday. However, Canada and Mexico agreed to the demands of the Trump administration, leading to a pause that weighed on the dollar. As a result, the Aussie rebounded. However, the tariff on China started on Tuesday, causing a similar response from the country that could mean a prolonged trade war. This could weaken the Aussie, a proxy for the Chinese yuan. Moreover, a trade war between China and the US will dampen risk appetite, affecting the risk-sensitive Australian dollar. AUD/USD key events today AUD/USD technical price analysis: Attempting to retest 30-SMA AUD/USD 4-hour chart On the technical side, the AUD/USD price trades slightly below the 30-SMA with the RSI below 50, supporting a bearish bias. However, on a larger scale, the price has
5 February 2025
AMD earnings report Q4 2024
AMD CEO Lisa Su. Courtesy: AMD Advanced Micro Devices reported fourth-quarter results on Tuesday that beat Wall Street expectations for sales and earnings, but the stock fell about 6% in extended trading as the company missed estimates in its key data center segment. Here’s how the chipmaker did, versus LSEG consensus estimates for the quarter ended Dec. 28: Earnings per share: $1.09, adjusted, versus $1.08 expected Revenue: $7.66 billion versus $7.53 billion AMD said it expects $7.1 billion in sales in the first quarter, plus or minus $300 million. It projected its gross margin to be about 54%. Analysts expected AMD to guide for revenue of $7 billion. AMD reported $482 million in net income, or 29 cents per share, for the fourth quarter, down from $667 million, or 41 cents per share in the year-ago period.The company’s adjusted earnings per share excluded items such as acquisition costs, inventory loss at contract manufacturers, and restructuring charges. Su told investors on an earnings call that AMD believes it will report “strong double-digit percentage revenue and EPS growth” in 2025. The company’s most important unit is its business selling chips for data centers, which has been growing in recent quarters, thanks to demand for its graphics processing units for artificial intelligence. AMD reported $3.86 billion in data center sales, which was up 69% on a year-over-year basis. The company said the increase was due to sales both in its Instinct GPUs and its EPYC CPUs, which compete with Intel’s processors. However, analysts polled by FactSet were predicting $4.14 billion in data center sales during the quarter. For the full year, AMD’s data center division revenue increased 94% to $12.6 billion. AMD said that $5 billion of those sales were from its Instinct GPUs for AI. While AMD is far behind market leader
5 February 2025
What China’s DeepSeek AI Says (and Won’t Say) About Christianity| National Catholic Register
DeepSeek-R1, China’s new artificial-intelligence chatbot, has been making waves. Last week, it surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the most downloaded smartphone app, rattled Wall Street by sparking a massive sell-off of AI-related stocks, and raised eyebrows over its strict self-censorship policies. Like other large-language models (LLMs), DeepSeek-R1 can answer general knowledge questions, generate text, and solve complex math problems. But it’s also been designed to steer clear of topics the Chinese government considers “sensitive” — including certain historical events, political issues, and even questions of faith. For Christians, that last point is especially troubling. When asked about Jesus, Catholicism, the Vatican-China deal, the one-child policy and Christian persecution in China, DeepSeek-R1 revealed a carefully controlled approach — one that at times actively warns users about potential repercussions for practicing their faith and advises them to “be discreet.” So just how far does DeepSeek’s censorship extend when it comes to Christianity? To find out, the Register ran a series of tests. The results were revealing. Some questions were answered fully, only to be censored moments later. Others triggered an internal monologue from the AI as it debated how to respond. In some cases, DeepSeek even offered careful guidance for Christians on how to navigate religious restrictions in China — including a step-by-step guide on crafting a homily that would pass government scrutiny. Here’s what we found: Basic Christianity? Not Bad. We started with simple questions: I want to learn more about Jesus and Christianity. What can you tell me, and where should I go to find out more? Should I become a Catholic? DeepSeek handled these fairly well — offering responses similar to what you’d get from ChatGPT. But there was one distinct twist: DeepSeek allows users to see its internal “thought process” before generating a final answer. In this case, the
5 February 2025
DAX Continues Unsteady Path on Trade War Concerns – Infineon Gives Some Uplift
dax Gino Bruno D’Alessio•Tuesday, February 4, 2025•1 min read Add an article to your Reading List Register now to be able to add articles to your reading list. ” aria-hidden=”true”> Share in Facebook “> (%) MARKETS TREND The market trend factors in multiple indicators, including Simple Moving Average, Exponential Moving Average, Pivot Point, Bollinger Bands, Relative Strength Index, and Stochastic. German stocks had there worse single day drop since November 2024 after Trump confirmed tariffs on neighbors and China. DAX posted the largest 1-day drop since November 12 Infineon jumps on better than forecast earnings report Auto and Telecos drag on index The DAX posted a 1-day loss of 1.07% yesterday and today’s open sees the index losing 0.38% from the open. The confirmation of US tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China shock the stock market as inflationary fears ignited. Some Reprieve Seen from Counter Offers Mexico and Canada have cut a deal to postpone tariffs for 1 month as Mexico commits to sending troops to the boarder. Both governments have pledged to fight illegal crossings. The deal highlights the possibility of concessions on tariffs for the Eurozone. Something Trump has spoken openly about is EU military spending. Raising expenditure for their armed forces may be a path to avoiding tariffs in Europe. DAX Live Chart DAX Auto and Teleco Sectors Weigh on DAX The automobile sector lost 1% as the outlook for a turnaround in weak sales fails to arrive. The Teleco sector lost 0.8% as Vodafone dropped 6% after reporting another deterioration in Q3 in the German market. The earnings report showed that Q3 earnings in Germany dropped 6.4%, an increase in the decline in Q2 of 6.2%. The company attributed the fall in revenue to the impact of a change in pay-tv laws. Paring the decline
5 February 2025
Stock market today: Live updates
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Jan. 28, 2025 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images S&P 500 futures fell Tuesday night after Google-parent Alphabet posted disappointing revenue, following a positive session for the major averages. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures slid 0.33% and 0.45%, respectively. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures was lower by 43 points, or 0.10%. Alphabet shares tumbled 8% in extended trading after the Google-parent posted a cloud revenue miss, even as it ramps up spending on artificial intelligence, spooking investors who worried the megacap tech company will take longer to capitalize on its AI ambitions. “These companies, the hyper scalers, are damned if they do and damned if they don’t, because they have to spend a lot to remain competitive, but they are cutting into their cash flow,” Bank of America’s Savita Subramanian said Tuesday on CNBC’s “Fast Money.” “I don’t think it’s game over for big cap tech. I think these are big companies with lots of optionality. They can do what they did in 2023, cut costs, they can shore up balance sheets, do big buybacks, and they’re doing a lot of that,” the firm’s head of U.S. equity and quantitative strategy continued. “But they have to hire more, they have to spend more. It’s not the same profit story that it used to be.” Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Alphabet Elsewhere, Chipotle shares slid 5% after the burrito chain reported fourth-quarter same-store sales that rose less than expected. On the other hand, Snap shares advanced about 6% after the social media company’s fourth-quarter results beat estimates. Wall Street is coming off a positive session. The Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 rose Tuesday, gaining nearly 1.4% and 0.7%, respectively. The 30-stock Dow rose
5 February 2025
‘Making America expensive again’: Democrats find a tax they don’t like in Trump tariffs
Democrats are warning that Americans will face higher costs and end up paying the price for new tariffs President Donald Trump is imposing against Mexico, Canada and China. The White House announced Friday that in response to an “invasion of illegal fentanyl” to the U.S., it would impose a 25% tariff on all goods entering the United States from Mexico and Canada, a 10% tariff on Canadian energy and a 10% tariff on all goods entering the U.S. from China. Tariffs against China went into effect Tuesday, although Trump agreed to push back tariffs against Mexico and Canada by at least one month after discussions with each respective country about securing the border. While Trump acknowledged Friday the tariffs might result in “temporary, short-term disruption,” Democrats claim American taxpayers will end up hurting and paying the price. According to one Washington think tank, the nonpartisan Peterson Institute for International Economics, these rounds of tariffs are expected to cost U.S. households roughly $1,200 a year annually. As a result, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., took a jab at Trump and mocked the president’s coined expression about a “golden age” of economic prosperity. WHITE HOUSE TO IMPOSE TARIFFS ON MEXICO, CANADA AND CHINA DUE TO ‘INVASION OF ILLEGAL FENTANYL’ Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., left, poked fun at President Donald Trump’s “golden age” of economic prosperity after announcing new tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China. (Reuters) “President Trump kickstarted a golden age of higher costs for American families with his 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico,” Schumer said Monday on the Senate floor. “Two of our four biggest trading partners by issuing his tariffs. Donald Trump is yet again rigging the game for his billionaire friends, while doing nothing to lower costs for American families.” “The Trump tariffs will make gas
4 February 2025
BTC/USD Forecast Today 04/02: Surges After Drop (Chart)
Created on February 04, 2025 Bitcoin initially fell off a cliff during the early hours on Monday, as we have seen a lot of fear out there due to tariffs being levied by the United States on both Canada and Mexico. Furthermore, they also levied tariffs on China, and therefore I think we’ve got a situation where we are going to continue to stay in the same consolidation area, based on the bounce that we had seen. Technical Analysis Despite the fact that everything sold off the way it did, we also turned around and showed signs of life. In fact, the daily candlestick looks like it is going to be a massive hammer, and that is something that you simply must pay attention to. If we can break above the $100,000 level, then it’s likely that this market could go looking to the $108,000 level above. The area between $108,000 and $110,000 is an area that you need to pay close attention to, because we can never break out above that range, it will be fine that we are going to see the next leg higher, and therefore think you have a situation where we could really start to launch from there. Keep in mind that the Bitcoin market is not detached from the financial markets like people thing. After all, we continue to see institutions pile into this market, and with the emergence of the Bitcoin ETF, the reality is that when there is a major “risk off event” like we have seen, Bitcoin gets crushed. However, we have seen a turnaround as the Mexicans are now sending 10,000 Mexican army troops to the border in order to stop the flow of fat now and are willing to forgo tariffs for at least 30 days. This is essentially
4 February 2025
AI start-up DeepSeek’s ‘real’ costs and computing power debated as chip stocks reel
The amount of computing power DeepSeek used to train its models has become a subject of intense interest for artificial intelligence (AI) experts and investors over the past week, as the answer could have significant implications for the technology’s future development. In a published paper on its DeepSeek-V3 large language model (LLM), which was launched in December, the Chinese start-up claimed that training took just 2.8 million “GPU hours” at a cost of US$5.6 million, a fraction of the time and money that US firms have been spending on their own models. DeepSeek-R1, the company’s open-source reasoning model released on January 20, has demonstrated capabilities comparable to those of more advanced models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, but also with significantly lower training costs. The paper on R1 did not mention the cost of development. The low cost and strong performance of DeepSeek’s models have cast doubt on the need for the eye-watering capital expenditure of US tech giants, particularly on expensive AI chips. This led to a big sell-off of Nvidia shares last week, wiping out US$600 billion in a single day. 05:10 Chinese AI disrupter DeepSeek claims top spot in US App Store, dethroning ChatGPT Chinese AI disrupter DeepSeek claims top spot in US App Store, dethroning ChatGPT DeepSeek’s own records, and those of its affiliated hedge fund High-Flyer Quant, show that the company is one of the best-sourced entities for training AI. As early as 2019, Liang Wenfeng, the founder of High-Flyer and DeepSeek, had spent 200 million yuan (US$27.8 million) to buy 1,100 graphics processing units (GPUs) to train algorithms for stock trading. High-Flyer said its computing centre at the time covered an area equivalent to a basketball court, according to company documents, which would have put it around 436.6 square metres (4,700 sq ft). In
4 February 2025
Mandy Lieu銀主盤冇人買變陣轉租 內地專才12.8萬租西半山珒然 主人房鏡陣曾引起哄動
面對樓市購買需求下降，部分銀主選擇策略性調整，將待售豪宅轉為出租物業。位於西半山珒然的一個高層豪宅單位，原由LET Group（前稱太陽城集團，01383）前主席周焯華前女友、有「最強小三」之稱的名模Mandy Lieu持有，於2023年10月起由銀主接管，該單位在市場上放售逾一年後，因長時間未能成交，最終轉賣為租，並成功出租。 上述單位為珒然高層戶，實用面積2123平方呎，3房間隔，坐擁開揚維港景觀，於2023年10月被銀主接管並放售，超初開價9,500萬元，後降至8,500萬元仍無人問津。去年11月，銀主改為出租，原本叫租每月13萬元，最終以每月12.8萬元成功出租，呎租60.3元，比市價低約10%。 租客為內地的專才，比較過多個地區後，選定半山樓齡較、實用面積逾2,000平方呎的寬敞豪宅，珒然正合乎其要求。 銀主出租這個單位，每年可獲得153.6萬元的租金收入，扣除每年約12.29萬元的差餉及地租後，實際純收入約為141.31萬元，即每月約11.78萬元。 上述單位於2014年由Mandy Lieu以9132.6萬元購入，當年並未承造按揭，有指此物業曾是她與周焯華於2019年分手前的愛巢。2021年11月，Mandy Lieu突然將該單位抵押給新濠博亞（澳門）股份有限公司，2023年10月被銀主接管。 單位早前放售時，代理將單位的內部照片上載，大宅內部因而曝光，當中主人房最為矚目，主人套房由3間睡房打通，面積約400平方呎，在床上方裝有天花鏡，床尾電視櫃亦為鏡面，連房內的浴室牆身亦為鏡面，如此「鏡陣」設計當時更成為網上熱話。 延伸閱讀: 半山樓 西半山 延伸閱讀: * 新聞連結。 * 28Hse App。 Source link
4 February 2025
管埋費加幅勁過通脹 網民：點解仲要畀利是看更
初三赤口未到，已有網民提早開年。近日有網民指大廈管理員一整年為住客睇門口，居民理應自覺派利是，豈料旋即遭到眾人群起攻之，指管理員受薪工作是本份，有網民更指近年管理費加幅勁過通脹，市面上已有居屋單位管理費突破2,000元。 初三赤口｜管埋費加幅勁過通脹，網民：點解仲要畀利是看更。 (Getty Images) · whitebalance.oatt via Getty Images 下載Yahoo財經APP 美股外幣即時報價 多國新聞任睇 過年應否派利是予看更，幾乎是網上討論區的「年經」題目。有網民在連登討論區質疑年青一代，為何不再向樓下管理員派利是，直指「人地幫你看左門口成年，紅包（利是）都唔比（畀）下，少少心意都唔肯付（出）。」帖文一出旋即引來過千負評，不少網民指管理員有收取薪金，並非義務工作，大廈保安工作是他們責任之一，而且有大廈亦明文規定禁止管理員收取利是。 另外有網民指管理費年年加幅超過通脹，「問都唔洗問就禁X住搶」，表示自己每月管理費已超過2,000元，質疑為何仲要向管理員派利是。 預計今年四月落成的屯門兆翠苑，每戶每月需繳管理費最高2,670元，平均每方呎達到5.2元。（Google 街景圖） 事實上是否封利是純屬個人意願，不過大廈管理費加幅勁過通脹是否事實？雖然樓價在過去三年回落，不過之前樓市牛市已出現近20年，令位處山旮旯的樓盤都要用豪宅級數包裝，標榜大型會所及完善設施配套「托住樓價」，近年應市屋苑管理費每呎4元、甚至6元都極為常見，兩房單位每月管理費隨時直逼2,000元。 而據《明報》上月的調查發現，有六個私人和居屋屋苑今年管理費加幅介乎6%至15%，高於十二月份消費物價指數按年上升1.4%水平。當中加幅最揦脷是居屋的英明苑，加幅達15%；其次為加9%的沙田第一城，令最高管理費推高至1,615元；美孚新邨共八期加幅介乎5%至8%；而藍田麗港城、薄扶林置富花園、以及將軍澳日出康城，加幅就介乎5.99%至8%。 逾12,000伙的太古城不設會所，但管理及保養企理，管理費每呎約2元。 (Getty Images) · winhorse via Getty Images 另外別以為住居屋會所設施欠奉，管理費應較為容易負擔，其實個別屋苑已突破2,000元水平。當中預計今年四月落成的屯門兆翠苑，每月管理費1,457元起跳，481呎單位管理費高達2,670元，平均每方呎達到5.2元。相比同區設有泳池、健身室等設施的私樓御海灣，每呎管理費僅4.98元。居屋會所設施欠奉，但每呎管理費竟比新盤及私樓更高。 另外紅磡冠山苑雖屬居屋項目，但其每方呎約4元管理費，與同區的首置項目和單幢住宅相距不遠，例如市建煥然懿居2020年交樓時，每方呎管理費約4.3元；樓齡約3年的啟岸每方呎管理費約4.6元；土瓜灣城軒每方呎管理費約4元。 山頂Mount Nicholson有單位每月管理費高達47,554元。 (ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images) · ANTHONY WALLACE via Getty Images 物業管理行業人手不足致人工成本上升，是管理費加價高過通脹的主因，行內估計今年全港屋苑管理費平均加價約5%；而立法會議員江玉歡早前表建議輸入外勞，以紓緩行內「搶人」導致薪金上升的困局。 小數怕長計﹐若真的擔心每月付出高額管理費，置業時宜留意伙數多、樓齡稍大，會所設施相對「平實」的屋苑。以將軍澳新都城為例，樓齡30年，單位數目超過6,700伙，設有完善會所，管理費僅每方呎約2.2元：樓齡更大、逾12,000伙的太古城不設會所，但管理及保養企理，管理費每呎約2元。屋苑住戶數目多，平均分攤成本令管理費可定在較低水平。 不過講到管理費最貴，就不能不提「亞洲樓王」、成交價「億億聲」的山頂Mount Nicholson，去年初以招標形式發售第三期一個4,579方呎單位，每月管理費高達47,554元，對於不少香港人來說，整個月的人工隨時不夠交管理費。 Source link
30 January 2025
南下攻港｜內地小肥羊10萬租長沙灣地舖 開設香港首間品牌迴轉火鍋店
多個內地餐飲品牌南下攻港，飲食文化持續滲港。內地火鍋品牌小肥羊進駐長沙灣睿峰商場地舖，開設香港首間品牌迴轉火鍋店，月租約10萬元，呎租約64元。目前，睿峰商場出租率達七成，地舖尚餘1個待租，意向呎租約64元。 中原（工商舖）商舖部高級分區營業董事黃少康表示，長沙灣元州街249至263號睿峰地下2至4號舖，建築面積約1,541方呎，月租約10萬元，呎租約64元。新租客為內地著名火鍋品牌小肥羊集團，為該品牌在港第二家分店外，更為該品牌首間迴轉火鍋店。 黃少康稱，小肥羊集團首家本港旗艦店於旺角開店後，人氣不俗，遂乘勢追擊積極物色地舖開設分店。是次看準睿峰商場地利位置優越，鄰近長沙灣港鐵站僅需1分鐘步程，加上地舖本身亦甚受餐飲品牌歡迎，其中一家租客為朱敏記大排檔，更成為網紅打卡熱點，帶動附近消費人流，加上業主在租務條款安排上亦極富彈性及貼心。故決定承租該地舖。 目前睿峰出租率達七成，1樓舖位部份租予NGO非牟利團體，2樓全層租予24/7健身中心，涉及樓面面積約12,000方呎，為本港其中一間最大樓面面的分店。目前招租中的5個地舖，面積由783至5,243方呎，呎租叫價由28元至64元不等。 根據中原（工商舖）統計，12月商舖市場共錄得約209宗租賃成交，涉及成交金額錄得約1,959萬元，按月分別下跌約35.49%及44.36%。至於空置率方面，12月份核心消費區商舖空置率，中環區6.93%，按月跌0.41個百分點，按年跌約1.25個百分點；銅鑼灣6.04%，按月跌約0.05個百分點。尖沙咀及旺角區分別錄得0.04及0.01個百分點的增幅，但按年則有明顯改善，尖沙咀空置率較去年同期為低，減幅約3.11個百分點。 密切留意BossMind動向！立即CLS FB Instagram Youtube Source link
23 January 2025
Liverpool vs Tottenham: Micky van de Ven set to miss semifinal clash
Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven is set to miss the team’s Carabao Cup semifinal clash against Liverpool on Thursday after head coach Ange Postecoglou said he needed to be “conservative” with the player’s recovery from a long-term hamstring injury. Van de Ven made his return in Spurs’ victory over Elfsborg on Jan. 30, playing 45 minutes before being taken off in a planned substitution at halftime. Spurs have been hit by an injury crisis this season and that was exacerbated when Van de Ven’s replacement against Elfsborg, Radu Dragusin, suffered an ACL injury in the 66th minute of the game and is set to miss the rest of the season as a result. Dragusin’s injury has seen him join key first-team players Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke on the sidelines in north London. Spurs go to Anfield with a 1-0 aggregate lead thanks to Lucas Bergvall‘s winner in the first leg on Feb. 8. Mickey van de Ven made his return after more than two months out with injury. Marc Atkins/Getty Images Postecoglou said that Van de Ven had not suffered a recurrance of the injury that has prevented him from making a
5 February 2025
Rubiales trial: Hermoso’s brother testifies she was pressured
The brother of Jenni Hermoso and one of her teammates told a judge Wednesday there were attempts to pressure the player into downplaying the unsolicited kiss by former Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales in the awards presentation ceremony following the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Rafael Hermoso said in court that former women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda asked him to tell Jenni to record a video together with the former president to show she was OK with the kiss. Former teammate Misa Rodríguez said Jenni told the other players that she was being coerced and that she was “not well” after what happened. Editor’s Picks 1 Related Rubiales is on trial for sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso after the World Cup won by Spain in Sydney, as well as for coercion for allegedly trying to convince the player to support his version of the kiss. Vilda and two other former members of the federation are also on trial for coercion. All four deny wrongdoing. Jenni Hermoso said she did not consent to the kiss while Rubiales says it was consensual. The kiss marred the title celebrations and sparked outrage in Spain about the prevalence of sexism in sports and
5 February 2025
England in India: Joe Root returns for first ODI since 2023 World Cup
The three-match series, which begins at 08:00 GMT, acts as England’s preparation for the Champions Trophy next month. England have lost their past three ODI series but this contest is their first in the 50-over format with Brendon McCullum as their white-ball coach. They lost 4-1 to India in the preceding T20s. Root’s last ODI was the final match of their dismal World Cup defence against Pakistan in Kolkata on 11 November 2023. This series and the Champions Trophy that follows mark the start of the journey towards the 2027 World Cup in South Africa in 50-over cricket. Root was a key part of England’s 2019 World Cup win but has struggled for form in the format since, with his options limited because of clashes in the schedule between England’s red and white-ball teams. He averages 28.95 in 28 matches since the 2019 World Cup and has not scored an ODI century since his 100 not out against West Indies in the group stage of that competition. “He is one of the great players of the game in all of the formats,” captain Jos Buttler said. “I am excited to see him in phase of his career. Look what he
5 February 2025
Galatasaray keen to sign Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier – source
Galatasaray are pushing to sign Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier, a source has told ESPN. The Turkish side have until Feb. 11 to add players to their squad before the Super Lig transfer window closes. Galatasaray are keen to add a full-back and a centre-back before the deadline. Trippier is one of the options being pursued, although a source close to negotiations has described the deal as “complicated.” Galatasaray are interested in signing Kieran Trippier from Newcastle. Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images Ideally, Galatasaray would like to tie up the move before Feb. 6 when updated squad lists must be submitted to UEFA ahead of the Europa League knockout rounds. Galatasaray face a two-legged playoff against AZ Alkmaar after finishing 14th in the league phase table. They could play either Manchester United or Tottenham in the round of 16 if they progress. Trippier has made 17 appearances for Newcastle this season, but has struggled for starts. Editor’s Picks 2 Related The 34-year-old has slipped behind Tino Livramento in the pecking order and has been restricted to just five Premier League starts this season. Newcastle have already allowed one defender to leave in January after agreeing Lloyd Kelly‘s loan move to
5 February 2025
WSL ‘shocked and saddened’ by Bunny Shaw, Millie Bright abuse
The Women’s Super League (WSL) has condemned the abuse suffered by Manchester City forward Khadija “Bunny” Shaw and Chelsea defender Millie Bright over the weekend. “We are shocked and saddened to hear about the incidents that occurred over the weekend relating to Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Millie Bright,” the WSL said in a statement. “Players, coaches and officials should be able to do their job without being subjected to abuse, either in person or online, and there is no place for it within women’s football or wider society. “We are speaking to both clubs and offering any support they might need.” City confirmed on Tuesday that they had reported racist and misogynistic abuse of their star forward to police. Shaw, 28, came on a a substitute during City’s 4-3 defeat to Arsenal at the Joie Stadium in Manchester on Sunday. “Discrimination of any kind, either in stadiums or online, will not be tolerated and has absolutely no place inside or outside the game,” City said in a statement. “Bunny has decided not to share the messages publicly so as not to give the oxygen of publicity to the vile individuals who sent them. “The content has been shared with the
5 February 2025
Arne Slot happy with Liverpool squad despite no January transfers
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has insisted he is happy with his squad despite the club failing to make any new additions in the January transfer window. Slot has made just two signings since joining Liverpool from Feyenoord, with forward Federico Chiesa and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili — who is spending this season on loan with La Liga side Valencia — penning deals with the Anfield club last summer. However, Liverpool have defied expectation this season to climb to the top of both the Premier League and Champions League tables, and Slot is confident his players have the quality to carry his team to silverware. “Maybe there aren’t many managers with as good a squad as I have,” Slot told a news conference on Wednesday. “I’ve said it many times. We have a very good squad and if you look at the league table I think the players have shown the trust we have in them was correct. We don’t have many injuries, long-term injuries. Arne Slot has signed just two players since joining Liverpool in the summer. Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images “We did have some with Alisson [Becker], [Diogo] Jota, others but other than Trent [Alexander-Arnold] they are all
5 February 2025
Fin Smith set to start at fly-half for England against France in Six Nations
Marcus Smith is set to start at full-back and Fin Smith at fly-half for England in Saturday’s Six Nations match with France at Allianz Stadium. If confirmed, it will be a first Test start for Northampton’s Fin Smith, 22, after winning his previous seven caps from the bench. It means Marcus Smith is poised to switch to his more unfamiliar position of full-back, having started England’s last eight games at number 10. England will confirm their starting XV and replacements on Thursday. France travel to Twickenham having thrashed Wales in round one, buoyed by a 53-10 victory in this fixture two years ago. Meanwhile England were beaten by Ireland in Dublin, a result which leaves Steve Borthwick’s side on a record seven-match losing run against tier one nations. “We are the England rugby team and we want to win and we know the expectations that come with it,” senior coach Richard Wigglesworth told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast. “I have no problem with people wanting to see more wins because that is what I want and what we are all working towards. “The outcome that we want is to win, so we are not avoiding that.” England are also set
5 February 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first Siuuu: When the celebration was invented
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 923 goals in his long, trophy-laden career. But since 2013, those goals have been followed a now infamous celebration called the Siuuu. Ronaldo first did the celebration at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium in a preseaon friendly against Chelsea. The then-Real Madrid forward made a darting run into the box and netted a header before running toward the corner flag, leaping into the air, planting his feet in a wide stance and thrusting his arms by his side. He later incorporated a mid-air spin, displaying his famous name printed on the back of his shirt. Each time he does it, the crowd typically booms it’s famous accompliment … “Siuuu!” Since then, athletes all over the world have been trying to emulate it. Other footballers copied it. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith did the Siuuu after scoring a touchdown in a College Football Playoff semifinal game on Jan. 1. MMA star Manel Kape did it after winning his fight at UFC Vegas 44. The celebration once took over tennis’ Australian Open, with Nick Kyrgios and Carlos Alcaraz both doing it. The Siuuu has even been spotted in golf. Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia did it towards the stands
5 February 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates 40th birthday, won’t retire yet
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his 40th birthday on Wednesday with no signs of slowing down his majestic career. The Portugal captain increased his record to 923 goals after scoring twice in Al Nassr‘s 4-0 triumph over Al Wasl in Monday’s Asian Champions League. It was his 700th club career win. Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the best players of all time. In his mind, he believes he has little competition for that title. “I honestly haven’t seen anyone better than me,” the AL Nassr forward told El Chiringuito TV. “I believe I am the most complete player that has ever existed. I do everything in football.” He is a unique player if you consider his achievements and longevity. Ronaldo, who started his professional career at Sporting CP in 2002 before moving to Manchester United one year later, has won 33 senior titles. He has lifted five Champions League crowns, including four during his nine-year spell at Real Madrid. “I’m so competitive that many times I forget what I’ve achieved as it gives me motivation to do more and be better every year,” Ronaldo said. “I think that is the difference with others. Somebody else in my position would have
5 February 2025
Claressa Shields wants Savannah Marshall rematch at heavyweight – Shields’ skills ‘like a Picasso masterpiece’ | Boxing News
Claressa Shields is open to a rematch with her great rival Savannah Marshall in the heavyweight division. Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, defeated Danielle Perkins to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in women’s boxing. It is the third weight class in which Shields has achieved undisputed status. Shields beat Marshall in London in an undisputed middleweight world title fight and would box the Briton again in her new division. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Shields secured a historic victory as she won the first women’s MMA bout to be held in Saudi Arabia “We’ve had general discussions over the past several months and have expressed our interest in making the rematch happen,” Dmitry Salita, Shields’ promoter, told Sky Sports. “The fight against Perkins was a battle of size and strength versus skill and boxing IQ. Claressa’s skills in the ring are like a Picasso masterpiece – timeless, precise, and unmatched.” Shields won her title fight with Marshall on points. But she dropped Perkins heavily in their final round and Salita says the American would knock Marshall out in a heavyweight contest. Spreaker This content is provided by Spreaker, which may be using
5 February 2025
Premier League reveals plans for VAR announcements and semi-automated offside in matches | Football News
The Premier League hopes to introduce semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) before the end of this season, and it wants to see referees explaining VAR decisions to the crowd inside stadiums for top-flight matches by the start of next season. It comes as the Premier League reveals a six-point plan to improve VAR, as it strives to make the system more accurate, faster and more transparent for fans. However, after delays in testing the technology for SAOT, the Premier League says it will wait until next season if it is not entirely convinced it is reliable, or if it gets too close to the end of this season. After 23 match rounds, the Premier League claims 100 per cent of offside decisions in the top flight have been correct. However, it wants to introduce SAOT as soon as possible to speed up the process – without reducing that accuracy. Image: Currently, VAR decisions are communicated to those in attendance via the PL Match Centre on the big screen Tony Scholes, the Premier League’s chief football officer, has admitted he was worried about the reliability of the technology for semi-automated offsides for a long time – up until a breakthrough just before
5 February 2025
Bunny Shaw: Man City Women report racist and misogynistic abuse directed towards striker to the police | Football News
Manchester City Women have reported abuse directed towards Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw following their Women’s Super League defeat against Arsenal to the police. City have promised to fully support the player over “the disgusting treatment” she received in the aftermath of the 4-3 loss to the Gunners at the Joie Stadium. Shaw, who has scored 86 goals for the club, made her 100th City appearance when she came off the bench in the 66th minute of the contest in what was only her second outing since suffering an injury early in December. In a statement released by the club, City said: “Manchester City were appalled to learn that Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw was subjected to racist and misogynistic abuse following Sunday’s fixture. “Discrimination of any kind, either in stadiums or online, will not be tolerated and has absolutely no place inside or outside the game. “Bunny has decided not to share the messages publicly so as not to give the oxygen of publicity to the vile individuals who sent them. “The content has been shared with the authorities. An investigation will follow, and the club offers our full support to Bunny following the disgusting treatment she’s received.” Source link
5 February 2025
EFL Trophy: Birmingham City and Bradford City into semi-finals
Two-time winners Birmingham and League Two side Bradford City have booked their places in the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy with 1-0 away wins. Birmingham, who lifted the trophy in the 1990-91 and 1994-95 seasons, beat Stevenage, while the Bantams knocked out 2021-22 winners Rotherham at the AESSEAL New York Stadium. Blues dominated their last-eight tie at the Lamex Stadium, but were denied by a string of saves from Taye Ashby-Hammond until Jay Stansfield ran on to Marc Leonard’s through-ball to slot the winner with seven minutes left. The result extends the League One leaders’ unbeaten run to 18 matches in all competitions. Bradford hit the winner against League One Rotherham just before the hour mark when Reece James brought down Brad Halliday and Richard Smallwood smashed the penalty into the roof of the net. Elsewhere, League One promotion chasers Wrexham claimed an emphatic 4-1 win at League Two Port Vale in a rearranged last-16 tie to tee up a quarter-final with Bolton. Peterborough host Cheltenham in the other quarter-final on Wednesday. Source link
5 February 2025
Marcus Rashford takes sponsorship hit after securing loan move to Aston Villa – Paper Talk | Football News
The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday’s newspapers… DAILY MAIL Marcus Rashford will continue to earn his £315,000-a-week salary during his loan at Aston Villa, but it appears the Manchester United star will have to take a hit on his lucrative sponsorship with Nike. Manchester United will not cut the budget of their disabled supporters’ association. Trent Alexander-Arnold has avoided any serious injury after limping off in Liverpool’s win over Bournemouth on Saturday. Manchester United’s latest signing Patrick Dorgu is reportedly one of the lowest-paid players in the club. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Patrick Dorgu has spoken for the first time since being unveiled as a Manchester United player. Pictures courtesy of MUTV England are set to unleash a new playmaker double-act against France at Twickenham on Saturday, by naming their two Smiths together in a revamped back division. DAILY TELEGRAPH Newcastle United are leaning towards building a new stadium adjacent to their existing St James’ Park home. A website co-owned by Todd Boehly is involved in the “unauthorised” resale of tickets to Chelsea matches and other Premier League games to foreign tourists. Chelsea were targeting a swoop for Brazilian centre-back Murillo early
5 February 2025
National League clubs demand three promotion spots amid fears of delay
“The regulator will be set up in law this year, I am fairly certain of that,” Ives said. “But by the time it is set up, started, staff trained and all the elements of the Bill are in place and then, potentially, the dispute between the Premier League and EFL has been aired with a backstop, that could be three years. “Then we have the discussion on the three-up campaign, which will delay it by another year. That could be four seasons. “We have a pyramid that is the envy of countries worldwide because you can go from the very bottom to the top, purely on sporting merit. But there is a blockage in the jump between National League and EFL. Two-up, two-down is simply unfair. “I would think the vast majority of fans, looking at it objectively, would see the unfairness. We want a fairer system.” Relations between the EFL and National League became strained when Ives appeared on behalf of his organisation at a reception the Premier League held in the Houses of Parliament in April. National League clubs are concerned the cost of legal bills if the regulator were to get involved in costly disputes with clubs
5 February 2025
Man United defender Tyrell Malacia joins PSV on loan
Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia has completed a loan move to Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven, the club confirmed on Tuesday. Editor’s Picks 2 Related Malacia was the first signing of Erik ten Hag’s two-and-a-half year tenure at United. He joined from Feyenoord in a £13 million ($16m) deal in July 2022. However, the Netherlands defender was unable to hold down a regular starting spot and had an extended period on the sidelines with a knee injury, holding him to 47 appearances in all competitions. Malacia’s loan departure comes two days after United completed the signing of left-back Patrick Dorgu from Serie A club Lecce Sources told ESPN that United agreed a fee of €30m ($31.1m) plus a possible €5m in performance-related bonuses with Lecce. Source link
5 February 2025
Premier League: 13 VAR mistakes in total in season so far, say chiefs
There have been 13 video assistant referee (VAR) mistakes in the Premier League so far this season – down from 20 at the same point last term – say league bosses. Four incorrect VAR interventions and nine missed interventions from the first 23 rounds of games have been found by the competition’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel. There have been 70 VAR interventions in 239 league games this season – around one every three matches. The league says the accuracy of ‘Key Match Incidents’ is at 96.4% – up from 95.7% at the corresponding point last term. “Nobody here underestimates the significance and the impact of one single error,” said chief football officer Tony Scholes said. “We know that one single error can cost clubs. Points and results can cost managers positions, potentially players their place.” In Erik ten Hag’s case, that was literally what happened – one of the four mistakes was the penalty given against his Manchester United side in what proved to be his final match in charge. Referees have also been subject to abuse, with police recently investigating “threats and abuse” directed at Michael Oliver following Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wolves in January. Oliver controversially sent
4 February 2025
Simona Halep: Two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one retires
Halep memorably won her first major title at the French Open in 2018, defeating Sloane Stephens, having lost her previous three Grand Slam finals. She then won at Wimbledon in 2019, committing just three unforced errors in a stunning final victory over Serena Williams. She won 22 other WTA Tour titles and spent 64 weeks as world number one. Halep was given a four-year ban for two separate doping offences after initially testing positive for a banned substance in August 2022. She always maintained her innocence and appealed against the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2024. The panel ruled Halep, “on the balance of probabilities”, had not taken roxadustat intentionally and her ban was reduced to nine months. She subsequently returned to the WTA Tour in March 2024 but played just six matches through to 2025 and won only once. “I’ve always been realistic with myself and with my body,” Halep said. “Where I probably was, it’s very hard to get there and I know what it means to get there.” Source link
4 February 2025
Man City report racist abuse of Khadija Bunny Shaw to police
Man City star Bunny Shaw came off the bench in her team’s contest against Arsenal. MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images Manchester City have reported racist and misogynistic abuse of star forward Khadija “Bunny” Shaw to police, according to a club statement issued on Tuesday. Shaw, 28, came on a a substitute during City’s 4-3 defeat to Arsenal at the Joie Stadium in Manchester on Sunday. “Manchester City were appalled to learn that Khadija “Bunny” Shaw was subjected to racist and misogynistic abuse following Sunday’s fixture,” the statement read. “Discrimination of any kind, either in stadiums or online, will not be tolerated and has absolutely no place inside or outside the game. “Bunny has decided not to share the messages publicly so as not to give the oxygen of publicity to the vile individuals who sent them. “The content has been shared with the authorities. An investigation will follow, and the Club offers our full support to Bunny following the disgusting treatment she’s received.” ESPN has reached out to Greater Manchester Police for comment. Shaw is the top scorer in the Women’s Super League (WSL) with nine goals and an assist despite having struggled with injuries this season. The Jamaica international was
4 February 2025
Bayern Munich: Alphonso Davies signs new contract after Real Madrid interest
Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies has signed a new contract with the club, ending speculation of a move to Real Madrid. On Tuesday Bayern confirmed that Davies, 24, has signed a new five-year deal running until June 2030. The Canada international’s previous contract was set to expire in June, and he was widely expected to join Real Madrid as a free agent. Davies has won five Bundesliga titles and a Champions League since joining Bayern from Vancouver Whitecaps in January 2019. This season he has made 25 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal and providing three assists. Bayern currently sit top of the Bundesliga, six points clear of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen. Vincent Kompany’s side face a two-legged Champions League play-off against Celtic. Source link
4 February 2025
Celtic transfer window ‘not ideal’ concedes Rodgers
Manager Brendan Rodgers admits the January transfer window “wasn’t ideal” for Celtic but is not apportioning blame ahead of a club review. The Scottish Premiership leaders signed Jeffrey Schlupp from Crystal Palace on deadline day and brought winger Jota back from Rennes, with forward Kyogo Furuhashi moving in the opposite direction. “I said it myself, we wanted another striker, so we’re not hiding behind anything,” said Rodgers. “And absolutely, the supporters will look and see that a top striker has gone out, a legendary striker. “So I understand that. But all I can do is affect what we have now and look to teach and work very hard and finish off what has been, until now, a great season for us.” Adam Idah has responded to the void left by Kyogo’s departure with three goals in two games, having gone without scoring since late November. Johnny Kenny, 21, has returned from a loan spell with Shamrock Rovers, while Daizen Maeda can also play through the middle, although he is suspended for the first leg of the Champions League play-off against Bayern Munich next week. “I don’t want to pin blame on anyone here,” added Rodgers. “I think as a collective,
4 February 2025
Alphonso Davies signs Bayern Munich extension amid Real Madrid interest
Alex Kirkland Rodrigo Faez Feb 4, 2025, 05:51 PM Alphonso Davies has agreed a new contract at Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga club announced on Tuesday, bringing an end to Real Madrid‘s long-term pursuit of the player. Davies’ deal with the Bavarian giants runs through the end of the 2029-30 season and would see his stay there reach 11 years should he play out the contract. “I am very happy to have extended my contract at this great club,” Davies said in a news release. “I came to FC Bayern when I was 18 and just wanted to learn as much as possible every day to become one of the best in my position. Now I’m looking forward to another five years together. I’ve already achieved a lot here, but there’s more to come.” Alphonso Davies has pledged his future to Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich ESPN reported last summer that Madrid wanted to sign Canada international Davies, 24 — whose previous deal was due to expire in June 2025 — if an agreement on a fee could be reached with Bayern. When that move did not materialise, Madrid remained keen on bringing in Davies on a free transfer this summer as part
4 February 2025
Emma Raducanu: Briton loses in Abu Dhabi Open first round to Marketa Vondrousova
Britain’s Emma Raducanu lost in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Open as she went down in straight sets to former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. Raducanu, 22, was beaten 6-3 6-4 as she proved unable to take advantage of her late wildcard entry to the main draw. She made a positive start against Czech Vondrousova and led 3-1 after an early break of serve, but she then surrendered the first set by losing five consecutive games. Vondrousova, who returned from a six-month lay-off in January following shoulder surgery, saved four break points early in the second set before breaking for a 5-3 lead and the chance to serve out the match. While Raducanu offered an immediate response to stay in contention by winning the next game, the 2021 US Open champion’s hopes of making a comeback were soon ended. It was all over when Vondrousova, the 2023 winner at Wimbledon, clinched her third match point. Raducanu was promoted into the main 28-player field in Abu Dhabi at the weekend, having initially been set to compete in qualifying for the first time since her fairytale run in New York three and a half years ago. The world number 56 reached
4 February 2025
Xiaomi Mix Flip 2 battery capacity and launch timeframe leak
Xiaomi’s Mix Flip 2 is coming this year, and according to a new rumor out of China, it will boast a 5,100 mAh battery. That’s larger than its predecessor‘s 4,780 mAh cell, but smaller than the previously rumored 5,600 mAh to 5,700 mAh capacity. Perhaps it just wasn’t possible to cram that much battery into such a small folding device. The Mix Flip 2 is now said to be launching in the second quarter of the year, so between April and June. Previous rumors only talked about it arriving in the first half of the year, so now we get a narrower window to look forward to. Xiaomi Mix Flip The Mix Flip 2 will allegedly have an IPX8 rating for water resistance, support for 50W wireless charging, an improved crease, many customizations aimed at women, and a bunch of interesting colorways. It will most likely be the first flip-style foldable smartphone to launch with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset at the helm. We’ve previously also heard that it would be thinner than the original Mix Flip, and would flip (excuse the pun) the telephoto camera of that model for a 50 MP ultrawide, while sticking with a dual camera
5 February 2025
Mass production of Apple M5 begins, new generation will focus on AI performance
Apple’s manufacturing partners have begun packaging the upcoming M5 chips, reports ETNews. Packaging is the process of wiring up the raw silicon die and placing it in a protective case. The chips are fabbed on a 3nm TSMC node (N3P), which promises a 5% boost in performance and a 5-10% improvement in power efficiency. Apple is expected to focus on AI performance this generation, so expect a beefier NPU. M4’s Neural Engine is rated at 38 TOPS, a massive increase over the 18 TOPS of the M3 Engine. What’s interesting is that some chips in the M5 generation will use a new technology called System-on-Integrated-Chips-molding-Horizontal (SoIC-mH). This is a way to stack chips and bond them with copper connectors. This method of stacking is expected to improve heat conductivity and to offer higher performance. The M5 generation will also change how the chip is mounted on the motherboard. Improvements in the adhesive layer that holds chips together and mounts them to the board will allow more chips to be stacked on top of each other (e.g. in smartphone design, RAM is usually placed directly on top of the chipset). The Apple M4 series of chips: vanilla, Pro and Max Insiders
5 February 2025
Huawei Mate XT Ultimate tri-fold smartphone’s global launch date announced
Huawei unveiled the Mate XT Ultimate last September in China as the world’s first tri-fold smartphone and said it would launch outside China in Q1 2025 without providing a date. Well, we now know that’s happening in less than two weeks. Huawei has announced it will host an “Innovative Product Launch” event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February 18 to introduce the Mate XT Ultimate to the international markets. Since the launch of Mate X in 2019, Huawei has redefined foldable technology, relentlessly pushing boundaries. The #HUAWEIMateXT #ULTIMATEDESIGN breaks traditional smartphone design, unfolding the future with this tri-fold innovation. pic.twitter.com/EeJyAdd6MR — Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) February 5, 2025 Huawei didn’t share the pricing and availability details of the Mate XT Ultimate for the global markets, so we’ll have to wait until February 18 to know which countries will get this tri-fold smartphone and how much it will cost there. Huawei Mate XT Ultimate In the meantime, you can read our first impressions of the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate here. Source link
5 February 2025
Xiaomi 15 Ultra confirmed to launch later this month
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is launching later this month. This was confirmed by Xiaomi boss Lei Jun, who confirmed the Ultra flagship will launch alongside the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra EV. While we don’t get a specific date just yet, a previous leaked poster suggests we’ll see the two Ultras launch in China on February 26, followed by a global release for the phone at MWC Barcelona in March. Xiaomi 15 Ultra is expected to debut with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and a 6,000 mAh battery with 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. As per the latest camera spec rumors, the 15 Ultra will feature a 1-inch type main camera (LYT-900), a 200MP periscope telephoto (ISOCELL HP9), a 50 MP short-range telephoto (IMX858), and a 50 MP ultrawide (ISOCELL JN5). The device is also expected to bring a 6.8-inch AMOLED with 2K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Source (in Chinese) Source link
5 February 2025
Oppo confirms the Find N5 is coming in two weeks
Oppo has been teasing the Find N5 since last month, and today, the brand announced the folding smartphone will arrive in two weeks. Oppo didn’t reveal the Find N5’s launch date, but we expect it to be unveiled no later than February 20. Oppo hasn’t detailed the Find N5’s specs sheet yet; however, it previously confirmed the smartphone will support 50W wireless charging and come with IPX6, IPX8, and IPX9 ratings. The Oppo Find N5 is rumored to have Snapdragon 8 Elite’s seven-core version at the helm, making it one of the first smartphones to have this Qualcomm chip under the hood. Oppo Find N3 With the unveiling just two weeks away, expect Oppo to reveal more about the Find N5 in the coming days. Source (in Chinese) Source link
5 February 2025
AppleCare+ becomes subscription-only, prepaid models are no more
AppleCare+ will ditch the fixed-term plan and will move to subscription-only. The report came from Mark Gurman this past weekend, and Apple is already making the decision. According to a report, third-party retailers are no longer offering the prepaid model, and it remains available only on Apple’s website, where we expect it to disappear shortly. AppleCare is a one-year limited warranty and 90 days of free technical support. It covers hardware defects, failures, or dead pixels, but it does not cover damage from handling, like cracked screens from drops. AppleCare+ does cover accidental damage and battery depletion, and there is 24/7 priority access to technical support. There is even an extra addition to the plan covering theft and loss. Apple iPad Pro 11″ (2024) Currently, AppleCare+ covers iPhone, iPad, Mac models, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, and Apple Displays. The products that are not protected are small gadgets like AirTag, Apple Pencil, keyboards and mice. The indefinite cover was introduced in 2021, and it is $13.99 per month (theft and loss included) for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max (or $139.99 for one year). The fixed-term coverage is a better deal in the long term, and we
5 February 2025
School phone bans do not improve grades or mental health: Report | Education
Restricting phone use at school does not improve grades or mental well-being in young people, a landmark study has found. File photo of social media apps displayed on a mobile phone screen.(File Photo) The University of Birmingham study found students’ sleep, exercise, academic record, and exercise did not differ between schools with and without phone bans in place. Evidence also showed restrictive phone policies did not lower the overall time young people spent on their phones throughout the day. The findings, which have since been peer-reviewed and published, compared 1,227 students and 30 different secondary schools. “There is no evidence to support that restrictive school phone policies, in their current forms, have a beneficial effect on adolescents’ mental health and wellbeing or related outcomes,” it concluded. However, increased screen time did impact the mental health, classroom behaviour, physical activity and sleep cycles of students overall. Dr Victoria Goodyear, the study’s lead author, told the BBC that school phone bans were not an effective way to tackle the negative impacts of overusing phones. “What we’re suggesting is that those bans in isolation are not enough to tackle the negative impacts,” she said. “We need to do more than just ban phones
5 February 2025
Verizon will give you Google’s premium AI subscription for half the price
Verizon has just announced “another epic deal” for its mobile and home customers. Starting on February 6, customers on a myPlan (mobile) or myHome (internet) plan will be able to get Google One AI Premium for just $10 per month on their Verizon bill. That’s half the price that Google charges for the same subscription directly. Google One AI Premium comes with access to Gemini Advanced (Google’s most capable AI model), deeper AI integration in Gmail, Docs, Meet, Slides, and Sheets, the ability to create and use custom AI experts (“Gems”) for any topic, access to Deep Research mode, “priority access to future innovations”, as well as 2TB of cloud storage. Verizon boasts about being the first US carrier to offer an AI perk to its customers like this, which “shows how serious” it is “about leading the way in innovation”. If you’d also like YouTube Premium, you can get both Google One AI Premium and YouTube Premium from Verizon for a grand total of $20 per month, with total savings of $13.98 each month versus subscribing to both services separately. Source Source link
5 February 2025
vivo V50 launch date leaks alongside its release date
Earlier today vivo revealed the upcoming V50‘s design and key specs, but the brand stopped short of giving us an actual launch date for the phone. That’s where a new rumor comes in, saying that the V50 will actually launch on February 17 in India. That may or may not be accurate, the only way to know is to wait and see what happens. We will say that having a listing up on the official website 13 days ahead of the launch isn’t something we usually see, but that can just be vivo’s way of doing things for this particular model. The V50 is allegedly going to go on sale one week from the launch, so on February 24. The information supposedly comes from a retail source associated with the vivo brand, but of course, do take all of this with a pinch of salt. The V50 will be available in Rose Red, Starry Blue, and Titanium Grey. It’s going to have three 50 MP cameras, two on the rear (main with OIS and 119° ultrawide), one on the front (with autofocus). The phone will have a 6,000 mAh battery with support for 90W wired charging, a quad-curved screen, IP68
5 February 2025
Phone bans in schools don’t help grades or health, study suggests
Getty Images Banning phones in schools is not linked to pupils getting higher grades or having better mental wellbeing, the first study of its kind suggests. Students’ sleep, classroom behaviour, exercise or how long they spend on their phones overall also seems to be no different for schools with phone bans and schools without, the academics found. But they did find that spending longer on smartphones and social media in general was linked with worse results for all of those measures. The first study in the world to look at school phone rules alongside measures of pupil health and education feeds into a fierce debate that has played out in homes and schools in recent years. Dr Victoria Goodyear, the study’s lead author, told the BBC the findings are not “against” smartphone bans in schools, but “what we’re suggesting is that those bans in isolation are not enough to tackle the negative impacts”. She said the “focus” now needs to be on reducing how much time students spent on their phones, adding: “We need to do more than just ban phones in schools.” The University of Birmingham’s findings, peer-reviewed and published by the Lancet’s journal for European health policy, compared
5 February 2025
What Schools Look Like Without the Cellphone Distraction
Timothy Callahan knew his colleagues at the North Adams school district in Massachusetts were nervous about banning cellphone use in their schools. But Callahan, an assistant superintendent at the district, was confident there’d be a “reasonable” improvement in student discipline if they implemented the ban well. But even Callahan couldn’t have predicted what the data showed. “A 10 percent reduction would’ve been a win,” he said. “We saw a 75 percent drop in referrals in the last quarter of the 2024 school year, compared to the same quarter the previous year. It’s almost completely attributable to the cellphone ban and [the use of] pouches,” which hold students’ devices during the school day. Issues such as students skipping class or detention, or being out of class without permission, have also reduced “massively,” Callahan said. So have safety violations, like roughhousing and verbal altercations that escalate into fights. Callahan credits this improvement in behavior to students spending far less time on their phones, sharing plans to cut class or meet in the hallways. They’re also less distracted and more tuned into what teachers are saying, he said. “Teachers report that they are getting through their material quicker and able to incorporate more
5 February 2025
Asus ROG Phone 9 FE is here with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset
The Asus ROG Phone 9 family has just grown today, as the ROG Phone 9 FE is now official. It was quietly launched by the brand in Thailand, where it’s available to purchase for THB 29,990, which at the current exchange rates translates into $890 or €857. For that amount of cash, you’re getting a single Phantom Black colorway. The device measures 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm and weighs 225g. The dimensions are identical to those of the ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro, but the FE is 2g lighter. The ROG Phone 9 FE is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. It has a 6.78-inch 1080×2400 LTPO AMOLED touchscreen with 2,500-nit peak brightness and 185 Hz refresh rate in Game Genie, 165 Hz in system settings, and 120 Hz everywhere else. On top there’s Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The rear camera system comprises a 50 MP main snapper with Sony’s IMX890 1/1.56″ type sensor with gimbal OIS, a 13 MP ultrawide with 120° field-of-view, and a 5 MP macro camera. Selfies are taken care of by a 32 MP shooter. The
5 February 2025
Galaxy S25 Ultra replacement S Pens are $49 a pop despite lacking Bluetooth
Samsung infamously removed Bluetooth capabilities from Galaxy S25 Ultra’s S Pen. The official reasoning is that only 1% of S24 Ultra users were using the Bluetooth-related features on their phones but a lot of long-time Ultra and formerly Galaxy Note users are not too happy with the change. Galaxy S25 Ultra S Pen on Samsung US Samsung has now listed the official Galaxy S25 Ultra S Pen on its online store and it costs $49 – exactly the same price as the Galaxy S24 Ultra S Pen which features Bluetooth functionality and a gyroscope sensor. The Bluetooth-enabled S Pens of the past allowed users to use the stylus as a tiny remote for all sorts of tasks. You could use the S Pen as a remote stylus for snapping photos and videos, swiping through photos in the gallery, controlling presentation slides, and music playback just to name a few. We’ve speculated that Samsung may be looking to ditch the stylus from its phones altogether hence the slow removal of features. Our most recent weekly poll is entirely dedicated to the S Pen fiasco, so feel free to voice your opinion. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Source Source link
4 February 2025
Study: Teens spend 90 minutes on phones during school day, raising concerns
Newsom wants smartphone ban in California schools Titania Jordan, Chief Parent Officer at Bark Technologies, joins LiveNOW’s Austin Westfall to tackle the discussion of schools banning cell phones. A new study found that adolescents spend 90 minutes on average on their smartphones during school hours, which is typically 6.5 hours. What we know: The study, published this month in JAMA Pediatrics, also found that 25% of adolescents spend more than two hours on their phone during school. The top five apps being used were messaging, Instagram, video streaming, audio, and email. RELATED: Most US teens feel peaceful without smartphones, study finds Researchers said screen usage among US youth remains a top concern with adolescents between 13 and 18 years old spending 8.5 hours daily on average using screen-based media. What we don’t know: However, researchers said how students use phones in school remains unclear. Simply measuring screen time is insufficient as content and timing matter for development. SYMBOL – 25 January 2025, Baden-Württemberg, Rottweil: A man operates an iPhone on which apps can be seen. Photo: Silas Stein/dpa (Photo by Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images) Methodology: Researchers reached out to participants who were between 13 and 18 years old
4 February 2025
More Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Flip7 details leak
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 are expected to launch this summer, and today a tipster over on X has shared more details about what we can expect from them. Both devices are allegedly getting larger vapor chambers than their predecessor, to help with heat dissipation. They are both getting a smoother and more durable hinge as well. The Fold7’s display crease is apparently going to get much smaller – not fully gone, but almost. The devices will launch running One UI 7.1, though it’s unclear whether that will be based on Android 15 or Android 16 – since the latter is coming way earlier than usual this year and might actually be out before the Fold7 and Flip7. Speaking of which, the Flip7 will have a 2,600-nit peak display brightness just like its predecessor. The Fold7’s speakers have been updated, which we assume means they’ll sound better. It’s unclear if the Flip7’s speakers will get the same treatment. According to past rumors, the Flip7 and Fold7 will be priced exactly the same as their predecessors. The Flip7 is likely to be powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2500 SoC while the Fold7 should go with the Snapdragon 8 Elite globally.
4 February 2025
Realme P3 runs Geekbench with mysterious Snapdragon chipset
The Realme P3 series is launching soon in India and the non-Pro variant just appeared on Geekbench. The device (RMX5070) was spotted with an unfamiliar chipset, which appears to be an underclocked version of the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 or an entirely new SoC. Realme P3 (RMX5070) on Geekbench The listing shows a prime CPU core clocked at 2.3 GHz instead of 2.5GHz on the regular SD 7s G3. The prime core is joined by 3x performance cores clocked at 2.21 GHz (instead of 2.4 GHz) and 4x efficiency units working at 1.8GHz. The device in the listing features 12GB RAM and scored 1,110 single-core points and 3,116 points on the multi-core test. These scores fall in line with those of Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 phones like the Realme 14 Pro+ and the global version of the Redmi Note 14 Pro+. Realme P3 is rumored to feature a 50MP main cam and a 6,000 mAh battery with 45W wired charging. The Realme P3 series is also expected to get Pro and Ultra variants, but details on those are scarce at the moment. Source Source link
4 February 2025
Samsung Wallet is launching in more European markets this Friday
Samsung Wallet was already available in parts of Europe, but not everyone on the Old Continent has access to it. Starting on Friday, folks from three more countries will join the “in” crowd as Samsung just announced that Wallet is coming to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (aka Benelux). If you haven’t heard of Samsung Wallet before, it’s a digital storage space for things like ID cards, membership cards, boarding passes and even car keys. For example, boarding passes for KLM and Air France can be stored in Wallet, along with Flying Blue Miles from affiliated airlines. Select cars have ways to create virtual keys that you can use from your phone – or to lend out to your friends and family to use. Certain models from BMW, Mini, Volvo, Polestar, Audi, Kia and Hyundai are supported (check below for more detailed list). Note that Samsung Wallet will be available in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg starting on February 7 (this Friday). It’s no coincidence that this is also the launch date of the new Galaxy S25 series – this feature requires One UI 7, which is currently available only for the S25 phones. S24 and older phones will be
4 February 2025
Opera Air is a new browser that helps you relax with guided meditation and exercises
Opera may have a cure for you doomscrollers out there – the new Opera Air browser. This is a browser built with mindfulness, relaxation and exercise in mind. The first feature is called Take a Break. This has four modes, starting with breathing exercises, which can help reduce stress and your blood pressure. How’s your posture? The second mode is neck exercises – Air will guide you through some simple stretches and exercises for your neck. Next up is meditation – meditation sessions are meant to help you “improve focus, awareness, and general mindfulness”. Finally, the fourth mode is “Full Body Scans”. That’s not as invasive as it sounds, instead it is another form of meditation where you focus on different parts of your body and become aware of how you are feeling. Opera Air’s Take a Break feature guides you through breathing and neck exercises as well as meditation The Take a Break feature can be accessed manually with the Ctrl+K/Cmd+K shortcut or it can be triggered automatically on a timer, based on your preferences. Different exercises take different amounts of time: from 3-6 minutes for a breathing exercise to 7-15 minutes for a full body
4 February 2025
vivo V50 teasers confirm design and key specs ahead of launch
The vivo V50 is launching in India soon and the teaser campaign is now in full swing. The brand revealed several key features, including the phone’s design, cameras, and battery capacity. vivo V50 will feature a similar design to the vivo S20 which launched in China back in November. The teasers showcased the three official colors for the device – Rose Red, Titanium Grey and Starry Blue. The latter will feature vivo’s 3D-Star Technology with a shimmering effect that mimics the night sky. vivo V50 color options The back features a dual camera setup with ZEISS optics and vivo’s Aura Light LED ring light. There’s a 50MP main shooter with OIS and a 50MP ultrawide lens. The front houses another 50MP sensor with autofocus. vivo V50 cameras and display This will be vivo’s first V-series phone to sport a quad-curved display. Per speculation, this will be a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The V50 is also getting a 6,000 mAh battery with support for 90W charging. The device is expected to launch with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset just like the vivo S20.
4 February 2025
Australian Research Finds No Link Between Mobile Phones and Various Cancers
Canberra: A study led by Australia’s nuclear and radiation safety agency has found no connection between mobile phone use and various cancers. Commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO), the research, published on Tuesday, concluded that there is no association between radio wave exposure from mobile phones and cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and cancers of the thyroid and oral cavity. Previous Research and Methodology This marks the second WHO-commissioned systematic review undertaken by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). The first review, published in September 2024, investigated the potential link between mobile phone use and brain or head cancers, finding no connection. Also Read: Delhi Police EC indulge in hooliganism against AAP, ignore BJP misconduct: Kejriwal Ken Karipidis, the lead author of both studies and assistant director of Health Impact Assessment at ARPANSA, explained that the latest research examined all available evidence regarding the relationship between mobile phones, mobile phone towers, and cancers. While no link was found, Karipidis noted that the findings on cancers beyond the brain are less certain, as there is not as much evidence available on this subject. Contribution to Public Knowledge Rohan Mate, an ARPANSA scientist involved in the study, emphasized
4 February 2025
Canalys: Smartphone market grows 7% in 2024, Apple leads
Smartphone sales grew 7% in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching 1.22 billion units, marking a rebound after two consecutive years of decline, according to Canalys’ latest report. Apple and Samsung were tied in the lead with 18% of the market each, Canalys says, followed by Xiaomi with 14%, Transsion with 9%, Oppo with 8%, vivo with 8%, Honor and Lenovo with 5% each, and Huawei and Realme with 4% each. Canalys and some other analyst houses count Transsion brands together while counting BBK brands separately, we’re still not sure what’s up with that, but do note that if we add up vivo, Oppo, and Realme, BBK is in first place with 20% of the pie, leaving both Apple and Samsung in the dust. But then we wouldn’t have the million “Apple and Samsung rule together” posts, would we? Frustrations aside, Apple’s performance was down to “emerging market growth and stable performances in North America and Europe”, while Xiaomi was “driven by strong momentum in Mainland China and continued strategic expansion into emerging markets”. Apple sold 225.9 million iPhones in 2024 (down 1% from 2023), Samsung sold 222.9 million Galaxy smartphones (also down by 1%), Xiaomi sold 168.6 million units (growing
4 February 2025
Xiaomi 15 Ultra prototype runs Geekbench AI, confirms Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is coming soon – this month, most likely. It will also get a global release, and it’s been rumored to sport the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This has now been confirmed because a prototype has run Geekbench AI. Its listing is now in the benchmark’s online database, and it reveals the Adreno 830 GPU, which only the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC has. For what it’s worth, the prototype scored a 635 single precision score, a 630 half precision score, and a 1,455 quantized score. The phone ran Android 15 as you’d expect, and had 16GB of RAM. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is rumored to come with a 1-inch type main camera sensor (Sony’s Lytia LYT-900), a 200 MP Samsung ISOCELL HP9 periscope telephoto camera, a 50 MP Sony IMX858 short-range zoom camera, and a 50 MP Samsung ISOCELL JN5 ultrawide. We should also see a QHD+ AMOLED touchscreen with 120 Hz refresh rate, and a 6,000 mAh battery with support for 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. Source | Via Source link
4 February 2025
iQOO Neo 10R’s launch date officially revealed
iQOO has been teasing the iQOO Neo 10R since last month, and a recent leak claimed the smartphone will launch in India on February 20. Well, that leak has turned out to be fake since iQOO has announced that the Neo 10R will arrive in India on March 11 and will be sold exclusively through its official website and Amazon.in. iQOO recently revealed the Neo 10R’s design and announced the smartphone will launch in a Raging Blue color “crafted exclusively for India.” Get ready for the ultimate revolution in performance and design with the #iQOONeo10R! ⚡Launching on 11th March—mark your calendars! 🗓️ Available exclusively on on @amazonIN and https://t.co/bXttwlZo3N#AmazonSpecials #PowerToPlay #iQOONeo10R pic.twitter.com/7B0T2MVkUx — iQOO India (@IqooInd) February 4, 2025 iQOO is yet to detail the Neo 10R’s specs sheet, but a promo page set up by Amazon.in on its website revealed the smartphone will be powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC. Its display will have a 2,000Hz “instant touch sampling rate,” and the smartphone will also come with an Ultra Game Mode, supporting 90 FPS gaming. The iQOO Neo 10R is said to be a rebranded iQOO Z9 Turbo Endurance Edition launched in China earlier last month. If
4 February 2025
Latest Tech
Flying Taxi is coming ..
As the world grapples with the challenges of worsening traffic congestion and the need for more sustainable transportation solutions, a new era of urban air mobility is on the horizon. At the forefront of this revolution is Hyundai, the global automotive giant, which has unveiled its ambitious plans for an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that could transform the way we move through our cities. In recent years, many manufacturers have been preparing flying taxis, which may become the next important development direction of travel vehicles. So nowadays, in major exhibitions, you can always see some of these products. Hyundai released a prototype of the SA-1 aircraft , in CES 2020, built with Uber in the pavilion. It has a huge propeller that can seat a total of four passengers, which is quite pompous in terms of styling (at least on the ground). This year’s CES, Hyundai unveiled a new “flying car” concept called the S-A2. This is a continuation of the S-A1 concept that debuted at CES 2020, and its purpose is roughly the same, which is to carry out short-distance point-to-point transportation within the city, which is the concept of air taxis. The S-A2 has a cruising speed
3 April 2024
Baking Maniac Goes Global
Hello, Baking Maniacs! This Chinese New Year, we took a huge step, our very first corporate orders outside of Hong Kong, all the way to Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore! I personally did the delivery for Singapore and of course had to document the journey! Red-Eye Flights & Sweet DreamsThe adventure began at the Hong Kong airport, where I boarded a red-eye flight, fueled by excitement (and maybe a little caffeine). By 5:45 AM, I had touched down in Singapore, ready to dive straight into work. First on the agenda? Packing our beautifully curated Chinese New Year treat boxes! Each one was filled with festive delights, including rich, fudgy brownies, buttery almond cookies, and delicate pineapple tarts. In hindsight, I should have packed an extra box just for myself—those brownies looked too good to resist. Five Stops, One Sweet MissionBy 10 AM, we were on the road, making our way through five different office locations for our corporate deliveries. Thankfully, the traffic was smooth, and the weather was (somewhat) forgiving. But the real win? A well earned satay skewer feast for a very late breakfast. Because what’s a trip to Singapore without indulging in some local flavors?Watch the video below!
5 February 2025
Nutrition labels meant to promote healthy eating could discourage purchases
Headshot of Jianhui “Jeffrey” Liu, the UF/IFAS doctoral student who led the study. Photo courtesy Jianhui Liu By Megan WinslowUF/IFAS Some food labels designed to nudge Americans toward healthier food choices can have the opposite effect, new University of Florida research shows. The study is particularly compelling because it comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration weighs whether to require front-of-package food labels. Through a newly proposed rule, the agency introduced labels highlighting saturated fat, sodium and added sugar. Each value on the labels, a percent of the recommended daily value, corresponds to one of three levels: low, medium and high. The UF/IFAS study, published in the journal Food Policy, examined front-of-package labels professing the contents inside as “healthy.” Researchers found the labels decreased consumers’ willingness to pay for yogurt unless the claim was supported by FDA backing and an explanation about the agency’s criteria for the designation. “This research highlights the importance of helping consumers understand what a label means,” said study author Jianhui “Jeffrey” Liu, a doctoral candidate in the UF/IFAS food and resource economics department. Liu and his team asked 308 subjects to review front-of-package label designs for strawberry Greek yogurt and indicate how much they
5 February 2025
Two healthy fish recipes to spice up dinner
Sign up to IndyEat’s free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free Eating healthier doesn’t have to mean settling for sad salads or giving up the meals you love. With recipes like spicy sea bream with gochujang noodles or Mexican-inspired basa tacos, from Green Chef’s new recipe hub, cooking vibrant, nutritious meals is easier than ever – and, crucially, actually fun. Take the sea bream: flaky fish meets smoky noodles and tangy kimchi for a dish that’s as fiery as it is satisfying. Or those tacos – spiced basa and pickled carrots wrapped in warm tortillas bring the perfect balance of zing and crunch to your plate. The recipes are designed to be simple, with easily accessible ingredients, making it easier for you to prepare wholesome meals without the stress. Each recipe aims to provide not only great taste but also nutritional benefits, helping you stay on track with your nutritional goals. “Whether you’re looking for plant-based meals, low-carb options, or balanced dishes that include all the essential nutrients, this collection has something for everyone,” says Lily Keeling, recipe development manager at
5 February 2025
Gail Becker’s CAULIPOWER Is Making Healthy Eating Easier!
8 Since Gail Becker first launched CAULIPOWER in 2017, the brand has grown immensely. CAULIPOWER was first founded when Becker was looking for healthy alternative meals—which could be easily made amidst a busy schedule—for her sons with Celiac disease. Today, the label’s cauliflower crust pizzas and chicken bites have embraced vegetables as a key part of comfort foods—and there’s only more on the horizon. Below, we caught up with Becker on her origin story, CAULIPOWER’s latest launches, and what the brand’s got cooking for 2025! What led you to found CAULIPOWER?As the mom of two boys with Celiac disease, I became obsessed with making better versions of their favorite foods. One night, I made a cauliflower crust pizza from scratch which was fine, but took a whopping 90 minutes after I got home from a full day of work! I went looking for a convenient frozen version, couldn’t find it and thought, I can’t be the only one. So, I left my stable job in corporate America to, well, bet everything I had on a vegetable. CAULIPOWER’s Dill Pickle Pizza What was the response when CAULIPOWER was introduced to the larger market?When CAULIPOWER first hit store shelves, the response was
5 February 2025
5 February 2025
Health boss reveals one meal you should never skip if you want to live a longer life – Health
A wellbeing expert has revealed several easy diet hacks that can help you live longer – and warns there’s one meal you should never skip. It goes without saying, maintaining a balanced diet is the key living healthy – and living longer – but what actually does that entail? Diet culture and social media influencers can sometimes give us conflicting and misleading advice that steers us away from what Nicci Roscoe, an expert in holistic wellbeing and Master NLP Practitioner, describes as the fundamentals. Don’t skip this meal if you want to live a long and healthy life (Getty Images) Roscoe says it’s all about ‘moderation’, meaning not a total restriction on certain foods, and recognizes it’s normal for us to have ‘moments of indulging every so often’, but that the food and drink we consume can play a ‘crucial role’ in our health and lifespans. So what is the hack to a healthy well-balanced diet? Rainbow foods Roscoe said: “Having a combination of rainbow colours in your food is key to a healthy balanced diet. It’s important to have a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats.” The pro says to eat a variety of healthy colored foods (Getty
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
5 ‘Bad’ Fats You Should Be Eating for Better Heart Health, According to Experts
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Photo: Morgan Hunt Glaze. EatingWell design. We’ve come a long way from the days of low-fat or fat-free everything, as we have learned more about the nuance behind the role dietary fat can play in our overall health. Not all fat is “bad,” and there’s a time and place for every type of fat in a healthy diet, even when you’re prioritizing heart health. Like most things, it’s all about balance. Fat is essential for cell function, nutrient absorption, hormone balance, body temperature regulation and more. Some fats, like saturated fat, are considered “bad” by some because eating too much can increase your cholesterol and overall heart disease risk. That doesn’t necessarily mean that foods high in fat, even saturated fat, are totally off the table in a heart-healthy diet. In fact, many high-fat foods are packaged with other essential nutrients which may promote heart health. We asked the experts to weigh in on which “bad” fats that you should actually be eating for better heart health—here’s what they said. Related: 5 “Bad” Things You Should Actually Be Doing for Better Heart Health, According to Experts 1. Seed Oils If you’ve spent any
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Tom Holland Eats Just 1 Meal a Day, But Can That Be Healthy? A Nutritionist Explains
Over the past decade Tom Holland‘s physique has had to change vastly according to which role me must play. Whether that is during his more athletic role as Spider-Man, or for his more slender part in Cherry and The Crowded Room. The latter, Holland describes prep as ‘extremely painful’ due to the restrictive nature of his diet at the time. Consequently Holland admits that he prefers bulking up for roles, and he’s currently trying to put on weight for his upcoming projects. However, the Men’s Health cover star admits to only eating one meal a day, apparently batch cooking vats of chilli con carne or something similar at home. Which makes the task of bulking up a little more challenging. ‘I really have to think about eating three times a day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner to me is an extortionate amount of food,’ says Holland. While it may not be entirely intentional, Holland isn’t the only celeb to recently share that he eats an OMAD (one meal a day) diet, with the likes of Chris Martin and Bruce Springsteen also opting to eat once a day. But is just one meal a day truly healthy? What the Science Says Whether
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Expert Shares 5 Dinner Ideas To Lose PCOS Belly Fat While Enjoying Your Favourite Foods
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that affects millions of women worldwide. One of the biggest challenges women with PCOS face is managing weight gain, particularly belly fat. However, losing PCOS belly fat doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your favorite foods. Weight loss coach Dipika Rampal recently shared five delicious, protein-packed dinner ideas that can help shed stubborn PCOS belly fat while allowing you to enjoy the meals you love. These meals focus on high-protein, nutrient-dense ingredients that support metabolism and hormonal balance. Dinner Ideas To Lose PCOS Belly Fat Spicy Chilli Paneer If you love Indo-Chinese cuisine, this spicy and flavorful Chilli Paneer is a great choice for a high-protein, PCOS-friendly dinner. Paneer, a rich source of protein and healthy fats, helps keep you full for longer and supports muscle repair. How to Make It: Take 150g of paneer and coat it lightly with corn flour. Spray a pan with low-calorie cooking spray and cook the paneer until golden brown. Add chopped peppers, onions, garlic, and ginger to the pan. Stir in chili sauce and soy sauce for a delicious, spicy flavor. Cook everything together until well combined and serve hot. Creamy Tofu Thai Green
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
8 ‘Best’ Fiber-Rich Breakfast Foods & Drinks That Promote Better Gut Health Over 40, According To Doctors & Nutritionists: Kefir, Berries, Oats, And More
Shutterstock Breakfast plays a crucial role in maintaining gut health, especially as we age. After 40, our digestive system may become more sensitive, making it essential to choose foods and drinks that support a balanced gut microbiome. Certain breakfast options that are rich in fiber, probiotics, and anti-inflammatory nutrients can promote digestion, reduce bloating, and enhance overall gut function. We checked in with several health experts to discover eight foods and drinks you should have during breakfast because they’re great for gut health over 40. According to them, kefir, kombucha, miso, and yogurt are some of the “best” options. Read on to discover all eight! Shutterstock 1. Kefir Kefir is a dairy product similar to yogurt but with a thinner consistency. The probiotics found in kefir help balance the gut microbiome by promoting the growth of good bacteria. A healthy gut bacteria is crucial for digestion and nutrient absorption. Kefir is also high in protein and contains healthy fats, which can help with feelings of fullness. Consuming healthy, filling foods can help reduce overall calorie intake, aiding in weight management. “One study found that eating six servings of fermented foods [like kefir] per day led to better microbiome diversity and
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Healthy Meals for Children at School and during Breaks
By: Kimberly Montez, MD, MPH, FAAP & Kofi Essel, MD, MPH, FAAP Having healthy meals at school, during breaks, and at child care/after-school programs sets kids up for success so they can learn, grow and stay active. Healthy meals are an important tool to help children learn, just like textbooks and technology. Research shows that school meals are good for kids’ health. In the U.S., the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program has been part of the school day since 1946. Any child can get meals if their school takes part. What your child pays will depend on your household income. Some children can get free- and reduced-price meals. School meals mean that all children can get the fuel they need. Here’s what to know about meal programs for children and how to sign up. Meal programs for children and teens Families may be looking for ways to make sure their child gets nutritious food at school, during breaks or at child care. How to apply for free- or reduced-price school meals If your children are eligible for meals, parents or caregivers can apply or sign up at any time of the year. Just let your school or
3 February 2025
3 February 2025
Health News Live February 3, 2025 : Can switching to plant-based meat alternatives improve cholesterol levels? Study reveals surprising results
Health News Live: Get real-time updates on health from celebrity fitness secrets and weight loss breakthroughs to nutrition advice, get your dose of wellness insights straight from the experts and stars. Can switching to plant-based meat alternatives improve cholesterol levels? Study reveals surprising results Health News Live: Stay informed on the latest health news! Discover simple tips for better wellness, fitness, and nutrition. Learn how celebrities maintain their health, find easy weight loss ideas, and explore natural ways to boost your energy. With these updates, staying healthy and motivated has never been This is an AI-generated live blog and has not been edited by Hindustan Times staff.…Read More Follow all the updates here: Feb 3, 2025 5:07 PM IST Health Live: Can switching to plant-based meat alternatives improve cholesterol levels? Study reveals surprising results Switching to plant-based meat alternatives for eight weeks or less can lower LDL levels by 12.1 percent. Read the full story here Feb 3, 2025 5:00 PM IST Health Live: Best biotin shampoo of 2025: Top 8 choices for nourished, strong and shiny hair Transform your weak hair into a strong and beautiful crown by using the best biotin shampoo. Explore the top picks of 2025
3 February 2025
3 February 2025
Weight loss coach shares 5 dinner ideas to shed PCOS belly fat while enjoying the foods we love | Health
Dipika Rampal is a weight loss coach who keeps sharing important tips related to weight transformation on her Instagram profile. From diet to healthy drinks, Dipika Rampal’s Instagram profile is replete with hacks and tricks for faster and healthy weight loss. Dipika shared dinner ideas that one can follow to shed the extra belly fat that happens due to PCOS. (Unsplash) A few weeks back, Dipika shared dinner ideas that one can follow to shed the extra belly fat that happens due to PCOS. PCOS, or Polycystic ovary syndrome, is a hormonal condition that affects women, leading to acne, excess hair growth, menstrual irregularity, obesity and weight gain. Also read | Want a snatched waist in 21 days? Fitness coach who lost 23 kg shares 3 tips to lose belly fat: ‘Stop working out daily’ Dipika shared five dinner recipes for people who want to enjoy the foods they love, but are keen to shed the extra belly fat. “If you want to drop that stubborn PCOS belly fat while still enjoying the foods you love allowing you to maintain your progress for life,” she wrote. Chilli paneer: Cook 150g paneer coated in corn flour with 1 cal spray, add
3 February 2025
3 February 2025
The Best Chinese Restaurants In Hong Kong
Hong Kong is known for its international dining scene, but sometimes it just doesn’t get better than good Chinese food. Here are our favourite spots for Chinese cuisine, from traditional classics to modern and Michelin-starred. We consider ourselves extremely lucky to live in Hong Kong, where we have access to so many different types of Chinese cuisine. From spicy Sichuan, Shanghainese delights, Peking duck, and Beijing specials to local Cantonese favourites, there’s an incredible array of delicious dishes to choose from when you’re craving Chinese! To help you pick from the hundreds of restaurants in Hong Kong, we’ve chosen our favourite spots for Chinese cuisine. Read More: Sassy’s Favourite Yum Cha Spots In Hong Kong Ship Kee – Authentic local food in Wan Chai Boasting a recommendation from the Hong Kong Michelin guide and two Sassy team members, Ship Kee has been serving up Cantonese classics since 2021. It’s a must try for authentic local cuisine, especially for perfectly glazed, mega-soft char siu (no surprises there — the barbecue chef has over 40 years of experience!) and the salty lobster bites. The dim sum is also A+! Ship Kee, 6/F, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong,
3 February 2025
3 February 2025
The Best Bakeries In Hong Kong For Bread, Pastries & More
From cult-favourite Bakehouse to homegrown independent eatery Levain, here are the best bakeries in Hong Kong. Consider your bread and pastry cravings sorted! With a cha chaan teng or Chinese bakery on almost every corner, Hong Kong is home to a range of iconic nibbles — from pillowy soft pineapple buns and cocktail buns to internationally-influenced treats like egg tarts and croissants. But how about a rustic loaf of bread or an indulgent flaky pastry? Thanks to the explosion of independent artisanal bakeries and global chains that have set up shop across Hong Kong, finding that wholesome sourdough, perfectly crusty baguette or decadent French pastries to satisfy your cravings has become all the more convenient. Keep reading for our pick of the best bakeries in Hong Kong. Read More: Your Guide To Cake Shops In Hong Kong The Best Bakeries In Hong Kong: Where To Buy Bread, Pastries & More TruffleBakery – White truffle salt bread and Hong Kong exclusive treats Japan’s TruffleBakery has officially opened its first overseas location right in the heart of Causeway Bay! Established in 2017, TruffleBakery has been delighting customers with its signature white truffle salt bread. To mark its debut in Hong Kong, they’ve created two
3 February 2025
3 February 2025
Britain’s top nutritionist reveals the food she would NEVER eat – and there’s one ‘healthy’ breakfast item that’s OFF the menu goes here
One of Britain’s top nutrition experts has revealed a surprising list of ‘healthy’ foods that she warns people they should never eat. Dr Federica Amati, one of the scientists behind the ZOE Diet — founded by world-renowned expert Professor Tim Spector — has said that people are consuming ‘hidden’ ultra-processed foods. From multigrain snack bars to wholemeal bread, Dr Amati — who is based at Imperial College London — says that shoppers are being duped by products that appear to be extremely good for us but perhaps aren’t. She warned that people need to ‘learn to spot foods that are marketed as healthy but are full of additives’. Shockingly, products like low calorie ice cream and lentil chips are on the nutritionists must avoid list for shoppers. Dr Amati warns that you should take particular care high with UPF’s that you might mistakenly be consuming eat every day. Rather than avoiding all UPF’s she says look out for products that are high in sugar, salt and saturated fats and low in fibre, as well as those that contain a long list of industrial additives such as emulsifiers, sweeteners and bulking agents. The nutritionist has revealed that products like breakfast cereals are
2 February 2025
2 February 2025
Healthy Breakfast Options For Your Morning Routine
It can be challenging to stick with health goals long term, but every morning presents a new opportunity to do it. When you start the day with a breakfast you know is nourishing your body and working toward your overall goal, it’s easier to maintain a healthy mindset the rest of the day. It would be wonderful if there was one definitive “healthiest breakfast” for everyone, but the reality is that there is no one perfect breakfast. For example, someone who is at high risk for cardiovascular disease may eat differently from someone whose primary goal is hormone balance. Similarly, someone who is trying to build muscle may eat differently than someone who is working with their doctor to lose weight in a healthy way. Curious as to what type of breakfast aligns with your specific health goals? Keep reading to get the facts straight from registered dietitians. The Best Breakfasts For Supporting Mental Health Scientific research has shown a strong connection between diet and mental health. If your primary goal is to support your mental health — including managing depression or anxiety — Lon Ben-Asher, a registered dietitian, said a breakfast that includes omega-3 fatty acids, complex carbohydrates, protein
2 February 2025
2 February 2025
25 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes For Weight Loss, From Dietitians
1 Coconut Kale Smoothie Rocky Luten This kale green smoothie is the perfect way to get in some greens first thing in the morning, which starts your day off on a nutritious note and packs in protein and fiber first thing. Per serving: About 289 cal, 8.5 g fat, 46 g carbs, 32.5 g sugar, 4 g fiber, 11 g protein Get the recipe 2 Spiced Blueberry Smoothie Bowl Ted&Chelsea A little zest instantly elevates your morning, and a dash of cinnamon and ginger makes it even yummier. With other ingredients like unsweetened pea protein, flaxseed, and frozen cauliflower, this smoothie will leave you satisfied for hours. Per serving: 325 cals, 5.5 g fat, 52 g carbs, 29 g sugar, 10 g fiber, 22 g protein Get the recipe Advertisement – Continue Reading Below 3 Avocado-Spinach Green Smoothie Laura Murray A deliciously creamy smoothie to start the day? Yes please! This sipper is packed with leafy greens and creamy, healthy fats, but if you’re looking for some extra protein, try a splash of kefir and/or a scoop of collagen. Per serving: 259 cals, 6 g fat, 43 g carbs, 35.5 g sugar, 6 g fiber, 18 g protein Get the
2 February 2025
2 February 2025
I’m a Busy Mom Who Tried MyBalanceMeals in 2024 — here’s My Review
Here’s where MyBalanceMeals stood out — the meals were so easy to prepare. On top of having very little time to cook, I also don’t particularly enjoy cooking and am easily overwhelmed by complicated recipes. With MyBalanceMeals, I just had to press a couple of buttons on the microwave and wait a few minutes, then dinner was ready. The cardboard sleeve for each meal displayed the microwave instructions. For almost all of the frozen meals, the instructions suggested thawing in the fridge overnight, then cooking on high for three to four minutes. Planning what I’m going to eat that far in advance defeats the convenience I’m after. I want meals that I can grab and make quickly if the circumstances call for it; I don’t want these to be my planned dinners. Fortunately, there were also instructions for reheating from frozen. For most meals, I only had to remove the plastic film, pop the tray into the microwave, cook on high for four to five minutes, let the meal sit for a minute to cool, then eat — quick, easy, and no advance planning necessary. The sole exception was the 7-Grain Waffles With Strawberry Compote, which had multistep instructions. I had to
2 February 2025
2 February 2025
50 Easy Recipes Using Rotisserie Chicken
1 Chicken Parm Soup Ryan Liebe If you didn’t think you could make chicken parm any cozier, think again! It takes just 30 minutes to make the soup version, thanks to the pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. Plus, you get all the same hearty flavor. Get Ree’s Chicken Parm Soup recipe. SHOP DUTCH OVENS 2 Buffalo Mac and Cheese C.W. Newell What do you get when you combine buffalo chicken with mac and cheese? A hearty meal weeknight meal that’s pure comfort food! It’s even got both ranch and blue cheese mixed in. Get Ree’s Buffalo Mac and Cheese recipe. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below 3 Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes C.W. Newell Want to serve something a little unexpected for dinner? Try stuffing sweet potatoes with a creamy chicken enchilada filling. It’s got rotisserie chicken, green chiles, jalapeños, all in a tangy sauce. Get the Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes recipe. 4 Curried Chicken Salad Beatriz da Costa It’s so easy to pump up the flavor for chicken salad when curry powder is involved… and raisins, and almonds, and a buttery croissant. Never have a boring lunch again! Get Ree’s Curried Chicken Salad recipe. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below 5 Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken
1 February 2025
1 February 2025
The Countdown to The 2025 MICHELIN Guide Ceremony Is On…
The MICHELIN Guide Ceremony for Great Britain & Ireland 2025 is set to take place on 10th February at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum in Glasgow. At the Ceremony, the new MICHELIN Stars, Bib Gourmands, Green Stars and Special Awards will be announced at an event attended by the biggest talents in British & Irish gastronomy. Want the latest news from The MICHELIN Guide Ceremony at your fingertips? Watch the ceremony live, wherever you are, via our live stream Download our free app to discover the latest news, published live from the Ceremony (iOS/Android) Sign up to our newsletter for a full round-up of the event, from the new MICHELIN Stars and Bib Gourmands, to in-depth Inspector insights into our award-winning restaurants If you’re struggling to wait until the big day, why not keep yourself busy with these insights into the UK & Ireland’s restaurants and our official host city of Glasgow? Written by The MICHELIN Guide UK Editorial Team Source link
1 February 2025
1 February 2025
Best restaurants for a date (2025)
Love is in the air! Valentine’s Day is just a couple of weeks away. There are a lot of ways to celebrate this day of love, but a romantic dinner date is simply the perfect ending for the day. To share a delectable meal and toast to your relationship while taking in some breathtaking views with your loved one is an experience like no other. Here are some of the best Valentine’s Day dinner menus in Hong Kong for a date to remember. For couples, there are plenty of big dates to remember: birthdays, anniversaries, achievements… and Valentine’s Day. It’s a day of love and romance when couples all over the world celebrate their relationships. Some couples might be going all out, with exciting plans all day. Some might be staying in, enjoying a cosy time together. Some might be looking for something simple and easy to celebrate after the working day. Regardless of which type you are, there’s nothing like a romantic dinner date with your love as the grand finale to your Valentine’s Day. And in a city like Hong Kong, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to dinner date options. Book a table at some of
31 January 2025
31 January 2025
Eating healthy on a budget
Organic or non-organic? Fresh or frozen? Generic or brand name? The art of buying groceries is a delicate balance of finding food that’s healthy, but won’t break the bank. On this episode of On Nutrition, we talk with dietitian Kristen Blixt about the best strategies for calculating a food budget, choosing affordable items, and not wasting that last bit of spinach in the fridge. Powered by RedCircle Listen to Eating healthy on a budget Read the transcript: Tara Schmidt: This is “On Nutrition,” a podcast from Mayo clinic where we dig into the latest nutrition trends and research to help you understand what’s health and what’s hype. I’m Tara Schmidt, a registered dietitian with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In this episode, “Eating Healthy On a Budget.” You’ve probably heard the phrase, health is wealth. But sometimes it feels like it’s the other way around, because loading up your cart with fish, fresh veggies and fruits, and all other kinds of healthy food can get expensive. For most of us, healthy eating isn’t as simple as knowing what foods to eat. It also means figuring out which of those foods you can afford. One of my favorite experts on budget
31 January 2025
31 January 2025
The Healthiest, High-Protein Meals At Your Favorite Chain Restaurants
Dining out while trying to maintain a healthy, high-protein diet can feel like navigating a minefield. You never really know what the kitchen is using to make your food. A pound of butter? Endless amounts of salt? Only the chef can say! You may think you’re ordering up a healthy dish only to be bamboozled by its high sodium content. However, with a little strategy and awareness, you can find options that are both protein-packed and health-conscious. Start by focusing on high-quality protein sources. “When dining out at my favorite restaurant, I often search for dishes that feature high-quality protein like chicken, salmon, grass-fed beef, or turkey,” explains integrative nutritionist Lea Wetzell, MS, LN, CNS. These options not only provide essential nutrients but also help you avoid the processed additives often found in other proteins. Additionally, pay attention to the cooking methods—Wetzell recommends grilling, baking, or steaming over frying to keep calories and unhealthy fats in check. Related Story Portion control is another key consideration when ordering high-protein meals at restaurants. “Many high-protein dishes serve eight to 10 ounces of protein, which is often double the optimal amount for digestion and muscle synthesis,” Wetzel says. To combat this issue, she
31 January 2025
31 January 2025
Liva Healthcare Acquires Momenta; Raises Funding
Liva Healthcare, a Copenhagen, Denmark-based provider of a digital health technology platform, acquired Discover Momenta a London, UK-based company that provides and licenses digital, virtual, and in-person healthy lifestyle programmes to National Health Service (NHS) organisations, local authorities and other third parties across the UK, including subsidiary Momenta Newcastle. The company also closed a funding round that was led by a new investor, IBL Group, a Danish family-owned investment company, through its portfolio company Nupo, with participation from existing investors MIG, Santos, Maj Invest and other private investors. The acquisition will increase Liva’s reach. Led by CEO Harry MacMillan, Momenta is a developer of evidence-based, outcome driven, healthy lifestyle solutions. With subsidiary Momenta Newcastle, it delivers license, and continuously improves condition-specific services to help people negotiate the many day-to-day challenges they face in living healthier lives, with a focus on weight management. Led by CEO Shahram Sharif, Liva Healthcare is a digital health technology platform with human-led therapeutic intervention programmes that deliver outcomes for lifestyle-related chronic diseases. These include pre-diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. Its hybrid approach uses digital technology to monitor, track and visualise patient indicators, such as weight loss or blood sugar levels, while
5 February 2025
From quick fixes to sustainable health: Tips to choose the right nutrition for your busy lifestyle | Health
Amidst the endless loop of meetings and looming deadlines, maintaining a healthy diet often takes a backseat. Most of us leave our home with a cup of coffee, a sugary snack grabbed on the go, or maybe even skipping meals altogether. This has become a common coping mechanism for busy individuals however, these habits come at a cost, leading to fatigue, poor concentration and long-term health issues. Balanced and right nutrition is essential for preserving energy levels, enhancing productivity and strengthening immunity, to meet the demands of a hectic lifestyle. Superfoods are overrated, here’s what you should be eating instead.(File Photo) Superfoods alone won’t save your health The buzz around superfoods has captured public attention but the secret to sustainable health lies in striking a balance. Superfoods are nutrient-dense foods that pack a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and healthy fats that include berries, nuts and seeds, leafy vegetables, yoghurt, quinoa and more. However, there’s a catch. Superfoods, while undeniably beneficial, are not a magic bullet and cannot replace the need for a well-rounded, balanced diet. The key to truly nourishing your body lies not in focusing on a single ingredient but in embracing diversity. A balanced diet ensures
5 February 2025
New study confirms you can be overweight and healthy if you do this one thing | Health
For years, weight loss has been a central focus of health discussions but new research suggests that being in shape is far more important for longevity than being thin. A comprehensive study has found that being out of shape significantly increases the risk of early death—regardless of age or body mass index (BMI). New research reveals the truth about weight loss and longevity—and it’s not what you think.(Image by Pexels) The power of fitness over weight The largest study of its kind, recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analyzed data from nearly 400,000 middle-aged or older individuals across multiple countries. Researchers discovered that those who were aerobically fit had a much lower risk of premature death—even if they had obesity—compared to those with normal weight but poor fitness levels. “This tells us that it’s much more important, all things considered, to focus on fitness rather than weight,” explained Siddhartha Angadi, an Exercise Physiologist at the University of Virginia and the study’s senior author. Can you be heavy and healthy? The relationship between weight and health has long been debated but this new research provides compelling evidence that fitness can mitigate many risks associated with obesity. While obesity
5 February 2025
Lifestyle News Live Today February 5, 2025: Nutritionist shares 6 healthy habits to follow to drop 3 to 5 kilos in a month
Live Lifestyle News Live: Stay informed with Hindustan Times’ live updates! Track the latest lifestyle news including fashion trends, style guide & Tips, India & World Events. Don’t miss today’s key news for February 5, 2025. Latest news on February 5, 2025: “If you want to lose 3 to 5 kgs in February, focus on these six healthy habits,” wrote Heena Bedi. Lifestyle News Live: Get the latest news updates and breaking news stories from the world of lifestyle. Track all the latest fashion trends, delicious recipes, travel tips and more. Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated live blog and has not been edited by Hindustan Times staff.…Read More Follow all the updates here: Feb 5, 2025 7:00 AM IST Health News LIVE: Nutritionist shares 6 healthy habits to follow to drop 3 to 5 kilos in a month From having a healthy sleep routine to starting the day with a fat-burning drink, know the hacks of losing 3-5 kilos in a month. Read the full story here Source link
5 February 2025
5 February 2025
Study: Daily Omega-3 Could Enhance Healthspan, Slow Aging
Fact Checked × This Dr. Axe content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure factually accurate information. With strict editorial sourcing guidelines, we only link to academic research institutions, reputable media sites and, when research is available, medically peer-reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to these studies. The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. × This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to medically peer-reviewed studies. Our team includes licensed nutritionists and dietitians, certified health education specialists, as well as certified strength and conditioning specialists, personal trainers and corrective exercise specialists. Our team aims to be not only thorough with its research, but also objective and unbiased. The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. By Joe Boland February 4, 2025 Over the years, the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids have
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Want strong, healthy hair like Demi Moore’s? Focus on your diet and styling technique
Demi Moore’s shiny, waist-length locks are not just beautiful – they reveal a fundamental truth about hair health: it starts from within. The actress, aged 62, has been in the spotlight for snagging her first major industry award – for best actress for her role in The Substance – at the Golden Globes, and many have been talking about her hair. Experts say her approach to hair care reveals important lessons about maintaining healthy locks at any age. “When I’m not working, I try to do as little to it as possible. It’s stressful even having someone touch it. If I don’t have anywhere to go, I don’t put heat on it – I just try to let it do its own thing. And I don’t wash it too often,” Moore told People magazine in a 2022 interview. “I get regular tiny trims. The rest comes from the inside out. You have to eat well, all those things.” Demi Moore’s hair reveals a fundamental truth about hair health: it starts from within. Photo: Instagram/demimoore Beatriz Robles, a food technologist and expert in nutrition and dietetics, told lifestyle magazine Vogue: “Changes in the appearance, volume, or density of hair can be
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
‘Negdar’ initiative set to promote healthy lifestyle
Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari (centre), Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Communication at QSL, Colonel Nawaf Abdullah al-Maadadi, Commander of Lekhwiya Training Institute, and Jassim al-Ali, representative of Generation Amazing, during a press conference in Doha on Tuesday. The Qatar Stars League (QSL), in co-operation and partnership with Generation Amazing Foundation and Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), and with the support of Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), on Tuesday announced the launch of Negdar (We Can) initiative which aims to inspire and motivate children to adopt healthier and more active lifestyles using football as a motivating factor, and contribute to reducing the risks of diseases associated with obesity.The 15-week initiative represents a significant step in Qatar’s commitment to achieving global health goals, aligning with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It targets children aged 10 to 15 years.Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari, Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Communication at QSL, emphasised the importance of encouraging all segments of society, especially children, to embrace the concept of a healthy lifestyle.“To contribute towards building a stronger, healthier and more active generation, we’ve launched the Negdar initiative in collaboration with our partners. This initiative also aims to motivate all participants to adopt a sporty
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Visionary Meals Launches Retail Partnership Program to Bring Healthy, Ready-to-Eat Meals Closer to Communities
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Visionary Meals, a Columbus-based leader in chef-prepared, locally sourced meals, is excited to announce the launch of its Retail Partnership Program, a new initiative designed to make healthy eating more convenient and accessible. This program builds on Visionary Meals’ commitment to simplifying nutrition by offering ready-to-eat, high-quality meals in retail locations throughout the greater Columbus area. Since its founding in 2018 on a family farm in Granville, Ohio, Visionary Meals has become a trusted name in providing healthy, chef-prepared meals to individuals and families. With a focus on locally sourced ingredients and unmatched quality, Visionary Meals has grown from a meal prep service into a brand synonymous with convenience, nutrition, and care. The launch of this retail partnership is another step in fulfilling its mission to meet people where they already are, making it easier than ever to live and eat well. “At Visionary Meals, we’ve always been about more than just delivering food—we’re about delivering a lifestyle of health and connection,” said Josh Link, Owner and CEO of Visionary Meals. “This new program allows us to reach more people by bringing our meals to the places they already frequent, whether it’s their gym, salon, chiropractor, or local corner store.” Through the
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Former NFL Stars Team Up for NFL Alumni “On 3: Weight. Health. Hike!” Campaign To Promote Healthy Weight
NEW ORLEANS, LA, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The National Football League Alumni Association (NFL Alumni) today launched its 2025 campaign-On 3: Weight. Health. Hike! (NFL Alumni Campaign)-to raise awareness of the impact weight can have on overall health and well-being and to share lifestyle changes and other actions that can contribute to healthy weight. During the days leading up to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, the NFL Alumni Campaign will feature several NFL legends, including former six-time Pro Bowl and five-time All-Pro running back and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Eric Dickerson; two-time Pro Bowl running back Deuce McAllister; six-time Pro Bowl and four-time All-Pro center and Super Bowl Champion Jeff Saturday; and Pro Bowl offensive guard and two-time Super Bowl Champion Damien Woody. Through the NFL Alumni Campaign, retired NFL greats will share their own stories about losing weight following their careers in the League. They will discuss the benefits of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, with the goal of educating individuals across the country about the connection between weight and health, along with the tools and resources available for those who want to achieve a healthy weight. More than 2 in
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
4 Changes You Can Make Right Now To Boost Your Brain Health
Surveys have shown that our New Year’s Resolution lists are mostly about getting more physically fit or losing weight, and thoughts about improving our brain health, including cognition, mental health and wellbeing are very low on these lists. In addition, surveys have shown that most people give up these resolutions within 6 days. So as you can imagine, it is important to develop good healthy habits that you enjoy and fit within your lifestyle so that you will stick with them – not only in 2025 but throughout your life. Studies have shown that both environmental factors and our behaviour can improve our brains, cognition and mental health or detract from it. Our diet, our sleep and our social support systems are all key to improving brain health, cognition and wellbeing. Therefore, it is important to know what you can do right now to improve your brain health. Luckily, we’ve got four easy changes you can make right now. Healthy Diet One way you can boost your brain is by eating the Mediterranean diet, which is not only healthy, but tastes great. One of the foods listed in the Mediterranean diet is grains and indeed our own study has shown
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Could lifestyle changes reverse the growing diabetes epidemic? Experts weigh in at TOI Medithon Part-6
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions worldwide, leading to severe health complications if not managed properly. It occurs when the body either does not produce enough insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or cannot effectively use insulin (Type 2 diabetes). Without proper control, diabetes can result in heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, vision loss, and other life-threatening conditions.Raising awareness about diabetes is crucial for prevention, early diagnosis, and effective management. Many people remain undiagnosed until complications arise, making education about symptoms, risk factors, and lifestyle changes essential. A healthy diet, regular physical activity, weight management, and monitoring blood sugar levels can significantly reduce the risk of complications.To create awareness about diabetes and the complications associated with it, TOI had organised a medithon which had several experts in attendance. The program aimed to educate people on the risks, causes and prevention of the silent epidemic that already has affected billions of people across the worldwide and has millions in pre-diabetic condition.The TOI Medithon Part 6 was held in four sessions, and each session highlighted a separate aspect of diabetes.First session: Diabetes – Risk factors and complicationsIn the first session of the TOI Medithon Part 6, Dr. Jasjeet Singh Wasir, MD,
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Suchitra Krishnamoorthi’s diet and workout secrets revealed: ‘I’ve been following intermittent fasting since my 20s’ | Health
The secret to Suchitra Krishnamoorthi‘s healthy lifestyle is no starvation, no endless workouts, no epic cheat meals — just her being her best self, living her best life, and staying active and balanced every day. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, the actor and singer, known for films such as the 1994 Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, shares how she maintains a healthy weight, and reveals her daily diet and workout routine. Also read | Nagarjuna reveals diet and fitness secrets for impressive physique Suchitra Krishnamoorthi has shared her fitness secrets in an interview with HT Lifestyle. Suchitra Krishnamoorthi eats intuitively Suchitra is mindful when eating and avoids mindless eating – but does not obsess over calories. Her mantra? Love and enjoy the food you eat! Suchitra says the key is to eat everything in moderation while allowing yourself the freedom to indulge. For her, maintaining a healthy weight means maintaining a healthy relationship with food and not stressing out about enjoying a treat. She says, “When I am on a holiday, I eat and drink anything. Otherwise, I have to be particular because I had ulcer surgery last year. So I have to be very particular about
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
World Cancer Day: How lifestyle changes can cut our cancer risk by half |
Cancer is a major health concern worldwide accounting for nearly 1 in every 6 deaths, as per WHO. But did you know that nearly 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by making simple lifestyle changes? There are some factors like smoking, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and exposure to harmful substances significantly increase cancer risk. The good news is that small, every day habits can drastically lower this risk. Here are some easy lifestyle changes that can help protect you from cancer. “Cancer and life style goes hand in hand. A better and healhty lifestyle can lessen the occurrence of cancer. Cancer is sporadic and genetic as well. Factor that are responsible for cancer can be counted as modifiable or non modifiable. Healthy life style is best example of modifiable factor which we can tweak and decrease the risk of cancer,” said Dr Sandip Bipte, Breast Surgeon at P.D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC, Khar Quit smoking and avoid tobacco completely Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and is linked to at least 14 other types of cancer, including mouth, throat, pancreas, and bladder cancer. According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), quitting smoking reduces
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
World Cancer Day 2025: Are You Making Wrong Lifestyle Choices To Increase Pancreatic Cancer Risk?
Pancreatic cancer awareness: Prevent this cancer from forming in the body by eating nutritious foods like green leafy vegetables, seafoods, salads, and being regular with exercises. Smoking, alcohol, obesity, chronic pancreatitis and diabetes are risk factors that can cause pancreatic cancer if left unchecked and untreated. (Photo: Freepik) VERIFIED By: Dr Ronak Tate, consultant-gastroenterology at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi Written by Prerna Mittra |Updated : February 4, 2025 3:01 PM IST Lifestyle habits and pancreatic cancer risk: It is no secret that good health is a direct result of leading a healthy lifestyle and making good and conscious choices about diet, sleep, and exercise on a regular basis. Sometimes, however, owing to the demands of a job and the general pressures of life, one ends up not following a disciplined routine, which can harm their health in the long run, unless proactive measures are implemented immediately. Pancreatic cancer, for instance, is a leading form of cancer, not just in India, but around the world. It is understood to originate as a growth of cells in the organ lying behind the lower part of the stomach, which is the pancreas. The pancreas secretes enzymes that aid in digestion, and produces hormones
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
World Cancer Day 2025: Can we absolutely control cancer? |
Cancer is a formidable opponent, unpredictable and relentless. It does not discriminate; it reaches across all ages, races, and backgrounds. Yet, while we may not have complete control over it, we are far from powerless. Medical science has made extraordinary strides. From precision medicine and immunotherapy to targeted therapies and groundbreaking clinical trials, cancer treatment has evolved dramatically. Survival rates for many types of cancer have improved, and patients now have access to more personalized, less invasive, and more effective treatments. Does that mean we have gained absolute control over the life threatening disease that kills millions across the world? “This can’t be answered by a strict yes or no” Dr. Ashu Yadav, Radiation Oncologist, Senior Consultant & HOD, Andromeda Cancer Hospital, Sonipat says, “The question of whether cancer can be absolutely controlled cannot be answered by a strict yes or no.”“Cancer can, however, be greatly curtailed through risk reduction, incidence decrease, and outcome improvement. A healthy lifestyle with an appropriate diet, regular exercise, and avoidance of tobacco and alcohol reduces the risk of developing it. Early detection through regular screenings, such as mammograms and pap smears, also improves the chances of successful treatment. Vaccinations such as HPV and hepatitis
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Embrace Healthy Living and Early Detection
Public urged to adopt healthy lifestyle in support of World Cancer Day 2025 The Department of Health (DH) today (February 4) urged members of the public to support World Cancer Day 2025 by adopting a healthy lifestyle and initiating early detection of cancer through screening. World Cancer Day has been designated on February 4 every year by the Union for International Cancer Control since 2000 to increase worldwide awareness of cancer and to combat cancer together. This year’s theme, “United by Unique”, emphasises the importance of placing people at the centre of cancer care. Every patient is unique, and it takes a united effort to help patients receive comprehensive care and lead better lives. “The Government has long upheld the principle of putting people at the centre of cancer prevention and control. Cancer is the top killer in Hong Kong, causing nearly 15 000 deaths registered in 2023. In 2022, more than 35 000 new cancer cases were diagnosed in Hong Kong, and the five most common cancers were lung, breast, colorectal, prostate and liver cancers. Given the ageing population, the number of new cases and healthcare demands are expected to further increase,” a spokesman for the DH said. About
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Sort Your Life Out’s Dilly Carter on her terrifying health battle
For professional organiser Dilly Carter, the past two years have been challenging to say the least. In late October 2022, after trying for several years to have a second child, Dilly had surgery to remove uterine fibroids, which were thought to be impacting her chance of getting pregnant. That surgery revealed cancer of the womb – and it was the beginning of a terrifying health battle. In an exclusive interview in Good Housekeeping’s March issue, Dilly opened up about her cancer diagnosis, as well as the brutal surgery that followed. Following her diagnosis, the doctor explained that Dilly needed a hysterectomy, and further scans revealed that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes by her pelvis and wrapped around the sciatic nerve to her leg. Jonty Davies “When I woke up after the second surgery, not only had my reproductive system been removed, but they’d also scraped the cancer off my sciatic nerve, so I was in the most horrific pain,” she says. “I couldn’t do anything; I was crawling up and down the stairs. Nothing in my life will ever beat the trauma of that pain.” The Sort Your Life Out expert spent the next four months taking
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Lifestyle Choices That Can Lower The Chances Of Cancer
Every year February 4 is marked as World Cancer Day to raise awareness about cancer, a disease that affects millions of people globally. While genetics play a role in developing cancer, lifestyle chnages can prevent this desease to attack you at the first place. According to a research 50 per cent of cancers can be avoided by adopting healthier habits. Regular excercise, balanced diet, no smoking, reduced alcohol intact and protecting yourself from harmful UV radiations can help lower the risk of cancer. “Early detention and routine check-ups are also important for timely intervention,” says Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Sanjay Hunugundmath of Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital in Pune. He further suggests some lifestyle changes which can have big impact and reduce the risk of cancer. Adopt a Balanced Diet: A healthy diet with fruits and vegetables is a key to prevent cancer (Freepik) Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake – Aim for a variety of colors on your plate. Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals that protect cells from damage. Choose Whole Grains – Replace refined grains with whole grains like brown rice, millets, and whole wheat, which have more fiber and nutrients. Limit Red and Processed Meats –
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Mountain CAP Family Support Center offers free healthy living class series in collaboration with WVU Extension Service
The Mountain CAP Family Support Center has teamed up with the WVU Extension Service’s Family Nutrition Program to host “Eating Smart, Being Active,” a free series of interactive lessons focused on healthy living. The next class meets on February 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Mountain CAP Family Support Center located at 30 East Main Street. Designed for anyone looking to make better food choices on a budget, the hands-on course will cover cooking techniques, money-saving tips and food safety. Participants can sample new recipes each week and will receive weekly giveaways, along with a graduation certificate at the end of the program. Organizers say the goal is to empower community members with the tools and knowledge to plan, shop for and prepare nutritious meals while staying physically active. Those interested in attending can contact instructor Lise-Marie VanNostrand at 304-878-1115 or Lvannostrand@mountaincapwv.org for more details. Child care can be provided at no cost if arranged prior to the start of the class. Space is limited to 12 participants. The event is supported by a USDA grant in collaboration with the WVU Extension Service. Source link
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Colorectal cancer: Detection of early symptoms and prevention
Colorectal cancer is increasingly becoming a public health concern in India. It has steadily increased over the past two decades. Though the incidence of CRC is still much lower in India compared to the West, urban areas are increasingly seeing an alarming trend, particularly in people under 50 years. According to ICMR, colorectal cancer accounts for 7-8% of all cancer cases in India, with over 70,000 new cases being diagnosed every year. Unlike the Western world, where life-style factors- obesity and ready-to-eat food are high contributors, but genetic factors come into play alongside an increase of IBD. Low fiber consumption is also included in the disease. Late detections are a common problem because it is not the routine screening practices in India leading to low survival rates. This underscores the importance of early detection and lifestyle changes and increased awareness for a reduction in the mortality rate of CRC. Know your colon cancer The colon or the large intestine and the rectum are vital components of the digestive system because they absorb water and other nutrients and contain waste. Colorectal cancer typically begins as non-cancerous polyps that can develop into cancer over time. Early detection is crucial and makes the
4 February 2025
4 February 2025
Cone Health Women’s Heart Community Event | News
Promoting heart-healthy living four years running. GREENSBORO — Cone Health invites women across the community to the Fourth Annual Women’s Heart Community Event, presented by TE Connectivity, on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Union Square, 124 East Gate City Blvd, Greensboro. This free event is dedicated to educating and empowering women to take charge of their heart health through expert-led classes, preventative screenings, and hands-on wellness activities. Now in its fourth year, the Women’s Heart Community Event has become a trusted resource for women of all ages and backgrounds. The event provides an opportunity to learn from Cone Health’s leading physicians, nurses, and wellness experts about how to prevent and manage heart disease, the leading cause of death for women in the United States. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, accounting for one in every five female deaths in the United States. Approximately 45% of women aged 20 and older in the U.S. have some form of cardiovascular disease. “Women attending the symposium will be empowered with knowledge on how to achieve a healthy lifestyle and prevent heart disease.” said Dr. Kardie Tobb, medical director of the
3 February 2025
3 February 2025
Ivanka Trump Fitness Routine: Ivanka Trump flaunts toned body in new post; know the secret of her sculpted physique
Image Source: X/@IvankaTrump New Year’s resolutions are a myth—one we love to believe in but rarely follow through on. Every January, millions promise themselves a fresh start, only to falter within days or weeks. However, it seems like Ivanka Trump— U.S. President Donald Trump’s daughter—is sticking with hers. Ivanka Trump took to social media platform X yesterday to share a glimpse of her fitness journey, posting a gym photo where she flaunted her workout-ready physique. The post has since gone viral, racking up over 1.7 million views. For her workout session, Ivanka wore a white sports bra, blue athletic shorts, and white sneakers. The 43-year-old complemented her look with black gym gloves and earbuds. She appeared makeup-free, with her blonde hair tied back.Alongside the image, she wrote: “Sticking to New Year’s resolutions isn’t easy—only 23% of people make it past the first week. [I’ve fallen into that category many, many times!] But every day is a new opportunity to show up and stay committed. Feeling stronger and more motivated as February begins—let’s keep going! Strong body / Strong mind!” Image Source: X/@IvankaTrump The post’s comment section was overwhelmed with praise from fans. Most of them thanked Ivanka for motivating them.
3 February 2025
3 February 2025
Teens should steer clear of caffeine, say new guidelines
Caffeine has become an integral part of teenagers’ daily lives, with many popular caffeinated beverages becoming a routine indulgence for the younger generation. However, new guidelines released by Healthy Eating Research have stressed that teens shouldn’t have caffeine at all.“Beverages with caffeine and other stimulants are not recommended for children and adolescents,” read the guidelines, adding, “medical professionals recommend that children and adolescents avoid all caffeine,” read the guidelines.The set of health recommendations for kids between the ages of five and 18, have been created by a panel of experts from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Heart Association.The newly released guidelines mentioned that while some caffeine intake may be okay in adolescence, there is no clarity about safe levels in this age group. Many studies have reported negative effects on sleep quality, mental health, dietary patterns, and cardiovascular health among this age group. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, teenagers (ages 12-18) should limit their caffeine intake to 100 milligrams per day. This is equivalent to one cup of coffee, a couple of cups of tea, or a few cans of soda.Researchers from Brescia
3 February 2025
3 February 2025
大S離世｜「大白肺」是什麼？內科醫生解釋死因：被自己的痰液水腫活活淹死 | UHK 港生活
大S（徐熙媛）於日本旅遊時染上流感併發肺炎離世，享年48歲。綜合台灣傳媒報道，大S在遊日前已不適，她在年初一（1月29日）舉家抵達日本，其後她到箱根浸溫泉，期間身體感不適未見紓緩。至年初三（1月31日）晚上，大S病情急轉直下，由救護車送院；翌日（2月1日）大S被轉往東京醫院，但病情仍未好轉。在昨日（2月2日），大S再度往醫院，其後不幸失救離世。 大S離世｜醫生深度解釋死因：被自己的痰液水腫活活淹死 近日台灣胸腔內科醫生蘇一峰就在社交平台上分析大S的病情。 許秀欽中醫師指，想要預防流感護肺養肺便是一大關鍵。以下是20種補肺、潤肺化痰的食物推薦，這些食物能夠幫助您維持良好的肺部健康。 30大補肺食物： 資料來源：台灣胸腔內科醫生蘇一峰 原文：U Food 台灣女星大S（徐熙媛）日前於日本旅遊時染上流感併發肺炎離世，享年48歲。大S與老公具俊曄再婚不到3年，如今天人永隔。今日就有韓媒採訪到具俊曄，打電話問他徐熙媛死亡消息。 大S在2022年與舊愛具俊曄復合，夫妻倆再過5天就結婚3周年。具俊曄自結婚以來，不時都與大S在社交網上放閃。在1月25日，兩夫妻還一起出席王偉忠長女歸寧宴，當時大S身穿亮片禮服外搭黑西裝，勾著老公具俊曄的手臂，對著鏡頭露出甜美笑容。 有韓媒給具俊曄打電話問徐熙媛死亡消息，具俊曄用悲傷的聲音說：「我很難受，這不是假新聞」。該韓媒記者又指在短暫通話中感受到他的悲傷，無法相信妻子去世。 具俊曄助大S走出離婚陰霾 大S曾於2010年與陸地富商汪小菲結婚，兩人2021年於離婚後，具俊曄決定憑廿多年前的電話號碼再次聯絡大S，兩人以電話傳情，靠打電話舊情復熾，經過三個月即閃婚，大S更表示二人有共識不會再生小孩、不會辦婚禮。 大S與汪小菲於2021年11月離婚3個多月後，2022年3月突然宣布再婚，無預警下與韓國舊愛具俊曄閃電結婚，大S就意親自回覆台灣傳媒查問，表示「不會再辦婚禮，也不會再生（小孩）」，而大S在離婚之後，每天都會跟具俊曄視訊通話，當時由於疫情期間，具俊曄不能來到台灣，單靠通了幾個月電話，即使兩人舊情復熾，於是兩人唯有結婚才能見面。 大S續爆當初是在20至22歲認識了具俊曄，雖然當時的戀情未能開花結果，但就成為了大S心中一段很重要的戀情，闊別廿多年後重逢每彼此都互相珍惜緣分，更大爆具俊曄在她與汪小菲離婚後，就馬上打電話給她，說要大S嫁給他。據韓國媒體報導，大S與具俊曄在2022年3月初已在韓國完成登記結婚，具俊曄之後再飛往台灣登記結婚。 具俊曄也曾經向韓國傳媒披露了兩人重萌愛火的過程，表示自己先鼓起勇氣，提出想「成為家人」的想法，又表示大S爽快答應，同時又透露兩人已經非常了解彼此，不需要再花時間拍拖，於是決定結婚。 圖及來源：節目截圖、IG@DJ KOO、WEIBO@大S 一名自稱是大S舉家遊日時的導遊，在小紅書透露大S的遊日行程。 Source link
5 February 2025
Scream 7 Will Feature ‘The Most Brutal Ghostface,’ Says Returning Star
Mason Gooding has provided some details about Scream 7. The seventh Scream feature, which is currently in production in Atlanta, will see the return of Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin. The actor first played the character back in 2022 and reprised the role in Scream VI in 2023. The plot details for Scream 7 are still being kept close to the vest, but it is expected to revisit the story of Sidney Prescott, with Neve Campbell returning once again to play the fan-favorite final girl. What did Mason Gooding say about Scream 7? While other details about Scream 7 are still thin at this moment, Gooding — who can next be seen in the upcoming movie Heart Eyes — teased that the seventh installment in the iconic slasher franchise will feature “the most brutal Ghostface.” “This is the most brutal Ghostface I think there’s ever been from an anatomically logistical standpoint,” the actor told the I’ve Never Said This Before podcast (via Bloody Disgusting). “There’s a lot of blood and viscera, and I feel like with Kevin Williamson directing, fans have a lot to look forward to with what we do with these characters.” In addition to Gooding and Campbell, returning cast
5 February 2025
大S離世｜周渝民連發20則限時動態悼念大S？經紀公司急回應舉動！仔仔先後兩位舊愛離世 | UHK 港生活
自稱是仔仔IG帳號！留言寫「我們的杉菜」 此外，網上出現了一個以周渝民命名的社交平台帳號，該帳號在消息傳出後發表了多則悼念文，引起網民熱烈討論。在該社交平台帳號中見到自稱是仔仔周渝民的IG帳號，一口氣發布20篇貼文以及22則限時動態來緬懷大S，甚至寫下「永遠想念我們的杉菜。」 消息傳出後，仔仔的經理人則火速澄清，直斥該帳號是仔仔粉絲冒充，所有有關仔仔的回應都只會透過經理人發出，向大眾以正視聽。 先後經歷兩位舊愛離世 而外界亦非常關心仔仔的身心狀況，因為過去仔仔在2005年時正與大S拍拖時，突然收到舊愛許瑋倫突然車禍離世，仔仔一度陷入憂鬱，當時就是大S陪伴在身旁與男友走出低潮。如今仔仔二度經歷舊愛離世，外界都非常關心他的情緒。 來源：《戰神》劇照、《流星花園》劇照 原文：U Beauty 大S徐熙媛5段情愛得轟烈 小S透過經紀人發表聲明證實死訊 有韓媒給具俊曄打電話問徐熙媛死亡消息，具俊曄用悲傷的聲音說：「我很難受，這不是假新聞」。該韓媒記者又指在短暫通話中感受到他的悲傷，無法相信妻子去世。 大S十日前才出席婚宴 與具俊曄碰杯暢飲 大S在2022年與舊愛具俊曄復合，夫妻倆再過5天就結婚3周年。具俊曄自結婚以來，不時都與大S在社交網上放閃。徐熙媛自從與具俊曄再婚後一直甚少出席公開活動，因病猝死的消息如投下震撼彈。大S生前其實在10日前才罕有公開露面。今年1月25日，兩夫妻還一起出席王偉忠長女歸寧宴，當時大S身穿亮片禮服外搭黑西裝，勾著老公具俊曄的手臂，對著鏡頭露出甜美笑容。 具俊曄助大S走出離婚陰霾 大S曾於2010年與陸地富商汪小菲結婚，兩人2021年於離婚後，具俊曄決定憑廿多年前的電話號碼再次聯絡大S，兩人以電話傳情，靠打電話舊情復熾，經過三個月即閃婚，大S更表示二人有共識不會再生小孩、不會辦婚禮。 大S與汪小菲於2021年11月離婚3個多月後，2022年3月突然宣布再婚，無預警下與韓國舊愛具俊曄閃電結婚，大S就意親自回覆台灣傳媒查問，表示「不會再辦婚禮，也不會再生（小孩）」，而大S在離婚之後，每天都會跟具俊曄視訊通話，當時由於疫情期間，具俊曄不能來到台灣，單靠通了幾個月電話，即使兩人舊情復熾，於是兩人唯有結婚才能見面。 大S續爆當初是在20至22歲認識了具俊曄，雖然當時的戀情未能開花結果，但就成為了大S心中一段很重要的戀情，闊別廿多年後重逢每彼此都互相珍惜緣分，更大爆具俊曄在她與汪小菲離婚後，就馬上打電話給她，說要大S嫁給他。據韓國媒體報導，大S與具俊曄在2022年3月初已在韓國完成登記結婚，具俊曄之後再飛往台灣登記結婚。 具俊曄也曾經向韓國傳媒披露了兩人重萌愛火的過程，表示自己先鼓起勇氣，提出想「成為家人」的想法，又表示大S爽快答應，同時又透露兩人已經非常了解彼此，不需要再花時間拍拖，於是決定結婚。 台灣女星大S（徐熙媛）日前於日本旅遊時染上流感併發肺炎離世，享年48歲。據台灣傳媒報道，家屬決定在日本完成火化程序，之後再將骨灰帶回台灣。而告別式則還在討論中。 值得關注的是，大S生前與汪小菲的離婚訴訟尚未完全落幕，而大S擁有數億身價，包括房產、投資等各項資產，遺產事宜該如何分配也是外界關注焦點。根據台灣民法第1138條，遺產繼承人，除配偶外，依下列順序定之：（一）直系血親卑親屬 （二）父母。（三）兄弟姐妹。（四）祖父母。因此配偶具俊曄，以及大S與汪小菲的一對兒女，屬於第一順序的繼承人。 據台媒報道，正在泰國度假的汪小菲得知噩耗後，亦立刻飛往台灣。而汪小菲的抖音頭像也從和女兒的合照換成全黑頭像。 圖及來源：節目截圖、IG@DJ KOO、WEIBO@大S 原文：U Travel 日本流感疫情仍然肆虐，據報日本全國的流感病例截至去年12月最後一週達到31.7萬人，創有紀錄以來新高，而東京最新流感患者人數更急增4成，靜岡縣更兩週內增加6倍，當地傳染病防治所所長表示一種地區非常高危要特別小心！ (2025年1月10日更新) 日本流感疫情未見消止，日本厚生勞動省於本週四(9日)公佈最新流感疫情數據，去年12月29日當週，日本全國五千多間醫療機構所通報的流感病患達到317,812人，是自1999年有紀錄以來最高數字，平均每間醫療機構通報病例64.39宗，對比前年同期的21.65增加一倍以上，據日媒報導，東京最新流感患者人數急增4成，靜岡縣更在兩週內增加6倍。 當地亦出現流感藥品短缺，據報日本有藥廠生產的流感藥品已暫停供應，當中包括兒童用的藥水，預料藥品會陸續在1月底至2月初恢復供應。 另外靜岡縣傳染病防治所所長後藤幹生表示，由於正值冬季，人群會聚集於通風不足的暖氣房間，而身處這種房間下，流感病毒的感染會大大提升，因此當地政府敦促民眾要採取預防感染措施，包括勤洗手、保持房間通風以及戴口罩。 ▼最新按縣劃分流感疫情排名（12月23日至29日）▼ 來源：日本厚生勞動省、ANN NEWS、weathernews.jp 原文：U Travel Source link
5 February 2025
Jurassic World Rebirth Trailer Features Scarlett Johansson, Dinosaurs, & More
The first trailer for Jurassic World Rebirth has been released. Jurassic World Rebirth is the new Gareth Edwards-directed film releasing in United States theaters this July. The fourth installment in the Jurassic World series, which is part of the Jurassic Park franchise, the new movie stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and more. Check out the new Jurassic World Rebirth trailer below (watch more trailers): What do we know about Jurassic World Rebirth? “Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet’s ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs,” the official synopsis for the movie reads. “Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures within that tropical biosphere hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind. “Academy Award nominee Johansson plays skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett, contracted to lead a skilled team on a top-secret mission to secure genetic material from the world’s three most massive dinosaurs. When Zora’s operation intersects with a civilian family whose boating expedition was capsized by marauding aquatic dinos, they all find themselves stranded on an island where they come face-to-face with a sinister,
5 February 2025
大S離世｜徐熙媛生前與老公具俊曄最後合照曝光 甜蜜參加歸寧宴流露幸福笑容 | UHK 港生活
大S具俊曄現身歸寧宴合照曝光 大S死訊震驚娛樂圈，有網民指大S赴日前曾現身前經理人及資深製作人王偉忠女兒的歸寧宴，是她最後一次現身公開場合，日前王偉忠太太在社交平台上分享了大S與具俊曄現身歸寧宴的相片，相中二人恩愛甜笑十分幸福，王偉忠太太亦感性發文指：「親愛的-我最愛看妳笑，甜美無比。真的好捨不得妳～但我相信我們總會再相遇。你的美麗、你的俠義，善良。都是最美好的回憶。Love you forever 💕💕」。 有傳大S或在宴會上染病 相片發佈後不少網民都紛紛留言表達對大S的不捨外，亦有網民追溯大S染病時間線，指出她在宴會上或因與仔仔患上流感的黑人范范夫婦接觸而被傳染，最終誘發併發症身亡，但由於大S家人未有對她的死因多作解釋所以目前未有大S病逝的詳情，最近在內地社交網便流傳疑似是大S在年初一抵日時的相片，再掀熱議！ 來源：IG@hueichin26 原文：U Beauty 司機疑曝光大S抵日照片 大S在年初一跟家人到日本旅行，相片發佈者自稱是「司機視角」，留言：「司機視角大S，願逝者安息，生者堅強！29號下午15:00接到S一家人。前往箱根酒店路上」。相中見具俊曄戴口罩，而當時大S依偎在他懷中，閉目皺眉，似乎不適。 導遊公開大S遊日行程 綜合台灣傳媒報道，大S在遊日前已不適，她在年初一（1月29日）舉家抵達日本，其後她到箱根浸溫泉，期間身體感不適未見紓緩。至年初三（1月31日）晚上，大S病情急轉直下，由救護車送院；翌日（2月1日）大S被轉往東京醫院，但病情仍未好轉。在昨日（2月2日），大S再度往醫院，其後不幸失救離世。 一名自稱是大S舉家遊日時的導遊，在小紅書透露大S的遊日行程。 圖片：小紅書、IG 傳大S被黑人范范夫妻傳染！？ 大S日前因病猝逝，摯友黑人（陳建州）發文悼念：「我們的心都碎了，非常非常的難過，我們會永遠記得她！」黑人老婆范瑋琪則在IG貼出全黑圖悼念。而早前在澳門開唱的范瑋琪，今日已與黑人及兩名兒子搭飛機返台。一家四口更在澳門機場被捕獲，目擊網友透露：「非常低調的一家人，我們也是遠遠看了一眼，沒有打擾」。 而有網友在網上列出大S感染流感時間線，更指疑有機會與黑范夫妻有關？ 不少網友在Threads熱烈討論：「這推理 真的很合理」、「拜託生病了就不要再出來社交場合了」、「得流感去聚會還不戴口罩真的缺德」、「算算潛伏期 細思極恐」。推論傳開後，亦有網友到黑人與大S一起喝喜酒的貼文留言：「為什麼自己全家流感還要出門聚會？」、「你們是不是在這之前幾天全家的流感，怎麼還出來跟大家聚會？」、「家裏有流感就乖乖戴口罩，不要傳染給別人了 說什麼也來不及」、「得流感不乖乖在家還出來跟人家聚什麼會，根本可以合理懷疑大S是被你們家傳染的耶」。 圖片：IG 原文：U Travel Source link
5 February 2025
Anthony Mackie Wants Captain America 5 to Have X-Men Villains
Anthony Mackie is all set to make his big-screen debut as Sam Wilson’s rendition of Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World. Since his first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the character has taken on a repository of supervillains. In Brave New World, he faces off against multiple antagonists. As the franchise continues to expand, Mackie already has some plans about what character he wants Wilson to fight next, and it’s none other than the X-Men villain, Juggernaut. Anthony Mackie wants X-Men villains like Juggernaut in Captain America 5 Mackie said in a recent interview that he wants to see Captain America take on Juggernaut in a project after Brave New World. This likely includes a potential Captain America 5. Notably, Aaron W. Reed portrays a Juggernaut variant in the MCU feature Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). Before that, Ryan Reynolds voiced another version of the character in Deadpool 2 (2018) and Vinnie Jones essayed the role in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand. “I would really like to get some of those X-Men villains,” Mackie said in an interview with ComicBook. “I want the whole Juggernaut crew, some of those. I feel like those would be a lot of
5 February 2025
Michael Jordan’s Son Marcus Arrested for DUI & Cocaine Possession
Marcus Jordan, the son of NBA legend Michael Jordan, was reportedly arrested in Florida on February 4 on charges of DUI, cocaine possession, and resisting arrest. The 34-year-old former college basketball player was taken into custody after police found his car stuck on railroad tracks. Jordan was booked into Orange County Jail and later released on bond. Now, many people are wondering what exactly happened. In this article, we will delve into the details of Marcus Jordan’s arrest. Why was Marcus Jordan arrested? NBA icon Michael Jordan’s son Marcus Jordan was reportedly arrested on February 4 on multiple charges, including DUI, cocaine possession, and resisting arrest, in Florida. The former college basketball player was taken into custody by Maitland police and booked into Orange County Jail. Authorities say they found Jordan’s blue car stuck on railroad tracks, with him behind the wheel. He reportedly told officers he had made a wrong turn and needed assistance. However, police noticed signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and the smell of alcohol. Further investigation revealed that he had allegedly fled a previous traffic stop. (via Fox 35 Orlando) Jordan initially refused to exit the vehicle but eventually complied. A search of
5 February 2025
How Many Colors Are There?
The AMC’s Snow White Popcorn Bucket has sparked excitement among moviegoers. Fans are eager to know its design, color variants, and pricing. As AMC continues its trend of exclusive collectibles, this popcorn bucket is set to accompany the release of Disney’s live-action Snow White, hitting theaters on March 21, 2025. With the growing popularity of themed popcorn buckets, fans are curious about what this one will offer. Here’s everything you need to know about the AMC Popcorn Bucket for Snow White. AMC Snow White popcorn bucket for 2025 revealed with all colored variants AMC is introducing a Snow White Popcorn Bucket, designed to fit the movie’s enchanting theme. A post from Popped News on X (formerly Twitter) unveiled a sneak peek of these collectible buckets. The popcorn bucket for Disney’s ‘SNOW WHITE’ has been revealed. The buckets come in five different colors and light up. (via: trumootroomu on TikTok) pic.twitter.com/F7tGRjVbqy — Popped? (@PoppedNews) February 1, 2025 The popcorn vessels are designed as the dwarves’ mine carts, which they use to collect jewels after mining locally. On top of that, there is a pattern that features a single color that glows in the dark and is intended to resemble treasure that
5 February 2025
Why Mr. Fantastic’s Powers Are Hidden in the Fantastic Four Trailer
The official teaser trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has finally arrived, but it is noticeably missing the display of Mr. Fantastic’s powers. The trailer treated fans with exciting visuals of the powers of all the Fantastic Four members except for their leader, the brilliant scientist Reed Richards. Marvel fans were eager to see Pedro Pascal’s Mr. Fantastic use his stretchy abilities. However, they expressed their disappointment at not seeing Reed show off his superpowers in the trailer. Here’s everything we know about why Mr. Fantastic’s powers are missing from The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ trailer. Why The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ trailer didn’t show Mr. Fantastic’s powers There are several reasons why Marvel might have left out Mr. Fantastic’s powers from the trailer of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Firstly, it is quite possible that the post-production work on the movie is not fully complete. Thus, the studio may need more time to get the visuals of his iconic stretching powers down to the tee. The last thing that Marvel Studios needs is Mr. Fantastic’s elasticity looking janky on screen due to poor VFX. Secondly, it is also possible that the studio left out Reed’s powers from the
5 February 2025
What Happened to Brian Murphy? ‘Man About the House’ Actor Passes Away
Brian Murphy’s death has not only caused shockwaves across the entertainment industry but also made fans curious about the circumstances surrounding his demise. The actor was best known amongst fans for his comedic roles in the sitcom, Man About the House, and its spin-off, George and Mildred. Here are all the details fans need to know about Murphy’s passing as well as the tributes shared by his loved ones. Brian Murphy passes away at 92, claims report The English actor and comedian passed away on Sunday morning, February 2, at the age of 92. Brian Murphy’s death was confirmed by his friend and agent Thomas Bowington. Speaking to The Guardian, he called the veteran thespian a “joyful, warm, kind, and caring to everyone.” Bowington further revealed that Murphy was diagnosed with cancer in his spine and shoulders just three weeks ago. Murphy is survived by his wife, actress Linda Regan, as well as his two sons from his previous marriage. I was lucky to have in my lifetime found my soulmate Brian who I will love forever,” she said in a statement. Regan also took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a heartwarming picture with her late husband. “My love
5 February 2025
MyVideo春節點閱率飆升 觀看人次增逾5成 – 財經新聞 – PChome Online 新聞
(記者謝政儒綜合報導)農曆春節9天長假為國內影音平台帶來顯著收視成長，台灣大哥大旗下影音串流平台MyVideo於春節期間全站觀看人次較平日增長超過5成，網路付費用戶數更成長3倍。觀察整體收視趨勢，大型綜藝節目、強檔電影、熱門戲劇與高人氣動漫，成為春節期間的收視保證，顯示觀眾於春節期間偏好闔家共賞、娛樂性強且具話題性的內容。其中最受矚目的綜藝節目，莫過於MyVideo獨家網路直播的《2025超級巨星紅白藝能大賞》（以下簡稱《2025紅白》），收視最高點落在五堅情帶來《月面著陸》、《慶記》等歌曲演出，次高為糜先生演唱電影《周處除三害》片尾曲《壞蛋》、《嗜愛動物》，第三高則由擁有破億神曲《WA DA DA」的韓國人氣女團Kep1er說吉祥話玩戳戳樂遊戲拿下。而艾薇高唱《看我72變》演唱搭配台灣大哥大員工用AI為楊勇緯與郭婞淳打造72種絕美造型，更讓網友看完直呼超感動。直播結束後，MyVideo上架「紅白」精彩片段，點閱冠軍為紅白大使「甜心教主」王心凌的開場表演。 圖：台灣大哥大旗下影音串流平台MyVideo於春節期間全站觀看人次較平日增長超過5成，網路付費用戶數更成長3倍。 MyVideo電影館於春節期間觀看人次，也較前一周增長超過6成，冠軍由金馬導演楊雅喆執導、吳慷仁主演的《破浪男女》奪得。戲劇館方面，古裝宅鬥劇《國色芳華》憑藉詼諧逗趣的劇情奪下戲劇館冠軍。動漫館觀看人次較去年同期增長近3成，冠軍由《我獨自升級 第二季》奪得，顯示異世界與強者成長題材仍是觀眾喜愛的類型。旅遊與競賽類節目如《全明星出發吧》，也在春節期間帶來不錯的收視成績，顯示觀眾對探索型節目的興趣不減。 MyVideo獨家網路直播的《2025超級巨星紅白藝能大賞》，準歌后艾薇演唱《看我七十二變》時，搭配由台灣大員工運用AI生成的視訊特效，創造出楊勇緯與郭婞淳的72種帥氣又絕美的夢幻造型，令大量網友驚嘆不已。此外，結合台灣大的科技實力的「AI蛇麼都通」傳話猜謎遊戲中，艾薇因過於投入，不小心讓移動式假牙滑落，可愛的真性情獲得網友熱烈回應，紛紛留言「除夕夜快樂到笑掉大牙，艾呦薇牙」、「現場表演氣氛超讚！AI+假牙根本扛起本日收視率」，更大讚「表演結合運動精神的致敬方式很用心，看完超感動」。 除了直播《紅白》外，MyVideo連假期間推出多部強檔大片與熱門節目，電影館冠軍為金馬導楊雅喆話題作品《破浪男女》、節目館冠軍則是《2025超級巨星紅白藝能大賞》、第2、3名則為《2024台灣大哥大日月潭花火音樂會 智由心MeMes》、《空難事件簿：波音 737Max》等人氣綜藝節目吸睛，帶動節目館觀看人次較平日成長近8成。 戲劇館不遑多讓，不少民眾趁著連假一次追上戲劇進度，其中以「童顏CP」楊紫、李現主演的宅鬥劇《國色芳華》，憑著逗趣討喜的劇情拿下春節戲劇榜收視冠軍，第二名與第三名則分別為改編電影的韓劇《回到20歲》及由七個故事組成的懸疑影集《塔羅牌》。此外，動漫館多元內容帶動春節期間觀看人次較去年同期成長近3成，人氣動畫《我獨自升級 第2季》拿下MyVideo動漫榜冠軍，其次則為《雖然是公會的櫃檯小姐，但因為不想加班所以打算獨自討伐迷宮頭目》、《不幸職業【鑑定士】其實是最強的》。 新年連假期間，MyVideo電影館觀看人次較前上周同期成長超過6成，冠軍由金獎導演楊雅喆執導及金馬影帝吳慷仁主演的話題電影《破浪男女》拿下，地表最強老爸連恩尼遜新作《罪惡對決》及廣受大小朋友歡迎的《神偷奶爸：小小兵瘋狂秀》則分別拿下第2、3名。引人矚目的是費翔主演的奇幻史詩電影《封神第一部：朝歌風雲》挾著華麗特效及奇幻的劇情聲光效果廣受歡迎，擠進前五。 MyVideo於2月上架一系列強檔內容，電影館推出獨家上架由人氣BL劇男星「Ping」克里塔農安查納南主演的泰國恐怖片《鬼碟仙》，劇情描述只要接觸通靈板碟仙遊戲的人，都會被惡靈纏身、夜不成眠，只要一入睡就將必死無疑。此外，還有由流行天后亞莉安娜(Ariana Grande)與葛萊美得主辛西婭艾利沃(Cynthia Erivo)改編知名百老匯音樂劇的好萊塢大片《魔法壞女巫》(4K杜比)及驚悚動作片《大猛蛇：奪命森林》、艾瑪羅勃茲主演的喜劇電影《太空學員》、改編成動畫的奇幻之作《魔戒：洛汗人之戰 搶先版》、《第一滴血4》、韓國喜劇電影《政客誠實中2》及百想影后金高銀和魯常泫演出的不一樣的大都會浪漫愛情《在熙的男，朋友》等強作。 戲劇館推出台日浪漫BL劇，令人忍不住姨母笑的BL劇由台劇《印象青春》及日劇《相遇驟雨中》領軍，另外還有橫濱流星、小芝風花、渡邊謙主演的NHK年度大河劇《大膽狂徒〜蔦重繁華如夢故事〜》，以及松緒、松田龍平主演的冬季日劇《東京沙拉碗》、《來住京都才知道》、改編自同名小說的淒美宮廷虐戀韓劇，2PM成員李俊昊、李世榮主演的《衣袖紅鑲邊》，英劇《黃金大劫案 第1季》，讓追劇迷每天都有滿滿的追劇清單。 Source link
5 February 2025
Who Is Lewis Capaldi’s Ex-Girlfriend? Paige Turley’s Job & Relationship History
Discover more about the dating history of Lewis Capaldi and his ex-girlfriend. A phenomenal vocalist of today’s generation, Capaldi has released a slew of chart-topping hits such as Someone You Loved, Forget Me, and Before You Go, to name a few. He has received numerous awards and nominations, including Grammys, Brit Awards, and Billboard Music Awards. Fans have always been curious to get a glimpse into his dating life. Here’s everything we know about Lewis Capaldi’s ex-girlfriend, their relationship history, and more. Who is Lewis Capaldi’s ex-girlfriend? Lewis Capaldi’s ex-girlfriend is Paige Turley. Turley attended the University of the West of Scotland, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Commercial Music. Although the former couple confirmed they used to date, not many details about their relationship have been made public. What is Paige Turley’s job? Paige Turley is a singer, musician, influencer, and model. According to her YouTube channel, Turley began her music career early as a teenager. She gained widespread recognition in 2012 after making it to the semi-finals on Britain’s Got Talent. Since then, she has released several singles, including Lonely Tonight and her latest offering, Princess. Her most popular track is Movin’ Too Fast, which she recorded
5 February 2025
Netflix Distancing Itself from Emilia Perez Star Karla Sofía Gascón Amid Controversial Posts
As Oscar campaign season continues to roll on, a new report from Variety notes that Netflix has begun distancing itself from Emilia Perez star Karla Sofía Gascón in the wake of her string of controversial comments that popped up recently. According to Variety’s report, Gascón was set to make appearances at a litany of award shows this week leading up to the Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, including an AFI Awards luncheon, the Critics Choice Awards, the Directors Guild of America Awards, and the Producers Guild of America Awards, as well a stop at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. However, the report notes that Gascón is now no longer expected to be at any of them, and furthermore, should she want to, Variety reports that Netflix will not be paying for the actress to attend, nor covering any expenses for styling or travel. Instead, Gascón would have to pay for her own travel to the show, and cover her own expenses. Variety’s report also mentions that Gascón’s public relations firm, The Lede Company, has stopped talking directly to the actress, and are only communicating via her United Talent Agency representative. The controversial statements from Gascón have also thrown
4 February 2025
Monster Season 3 Cast Adds Addison Rae & Suzanna Son to Netflix Series
A new piece of information regarding the Monster Season 3 cast is out, with The InSneider’s Jeff Sneider reporting that Addison Rae and Suzanna Son have joined the next entry in Ryan Murphy‘s Netflix anthology series. Rae is best known for her superstardom on the social media platform TikTok, where she’s the fifth-most followed individual on the platform. Outside of TikTok, Rae also has a growing music career, as well as a burgeoning acting career. Most recently, Rae starred in Eli Roth’s 2023 horror film Thanksgiving, and will next star in the upcoming road action comedy movie Animal Friends. Son made her feature debut in 2021’s Red Rocket, and is set to appear in the upcoming Netflix horror film Fear Street: Prom Queen. Son also appeared in HBO’s The Idol, where she played Chloe. Currently, it’s unclear what roles either stars will have in the upcoming series. What do we know about Monster Season 3? Monster Season 3 will be the third entry in Ryan Murphy’s ongoing “Monster” anthology series, which follows the lives of “monstrous figures,” and has so far dealt with different killers. The first season, The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, starred Evan Peters as the titular figure, while
4 February 2025
Why Fans Think Johnny Depp’s Ghost Rider Trailer Is Real
A new trailer for a Ghost Rider movie featuring Johnny Depp has been making waves online, generating excitement among fans. The storyline appears to aim for a darker, horror-themed interpretation of the Spirit of Vengeance, and Depp’s distinctive presence on screen could make him a fascinating fit for the character. However, the trailer has left many fans wondering whether it is authentic or simply a fan-made trailer. Is Johnny Depp’s Ghost Rider trailer real or fake? No, the Ghost Rider movie trailer featuring Johnny Depp is not real and was likely made using AI. On Saturday, February 1, 2025, KH Studio, a noted YouTube channel that shares fan-made trailers, unveiled its latest creation. This fan-made trailer features Depp in a new live-action Ghost Rider movie, claiming that the film will be released in 2025. The trailer has already garnered more than 626,549 views and 4.6K likes as of publishing. Check out the trailer below: The trailer presents a blend of footage from the Ghost Rider movies released by Columbia Pictures, starring Nicolas Cage in the lead role, and AI-generated imagery of Depp surrounded by fire. Will Johnny Depp appear in MCU’s Ghost Rider movie? At the time of writing, there hasn’t
4 February 2025
黃偉文遊日發文疑提大S被轟 「也許素不相識的她救我一家」 | 娛樂 on LINE
黃偉文遊日發文「也許素不相識的她救我一家」，疑提到大S被轟抽水。 徐熙媛（大S）前日（2月2日）因流感併發肺炎在日本離世，終年48歲。「日本流感」立即成為熱搜，其實日本從去年 9 月起已經開始流感疫情大爆發，去年底曾經一個星期超過8500人感染流感，創下歷史新高。而從去年9月2日至今，累計流感患者約逾952萬人。專家指出，雖然患者數正在減少，但仍有可能出現B型流感的流行，呼籲民眾加強防疫措施。 大S日前因流感併發肺炎在日本離世。 不少港人都喜歡到日本旅行，填詞人黃偉文（Wyman）亦從英國飛抵日本，與家人一起旅遊。Wyman昨日（2月3日）發帖分享一張機艙洗手間的照片，門上寫著「請拉、Pull」，他寫道：「幸好懂一點點英文，不然不知道『請拉』的是門？還是屎？」最後加了幾個hashtag：「#本來還幻想沒有那麼嚴重本來還心存一點僥倖現在當然決定未來幾天在東京都戴口罩 #全家人都會戴口罩 #也許是素不相識的妳救了我一家 #謝謝」。 Wyman昨日發帖分享一張機艙洗手間的照片。 帖子一出立即在網上引起熱議，不少網民認為黃偉文那句「也許是素不相識的妳救了我一家」是指大S，有抽水之嫌，並斥他涼薄。Wyman之後編輯帖文，將所有hashtag刪去，相隔一回後再加回一句「#要提自己多吸收維他命C」。Wyman之後上載一張在東京街頭拍攝的全身照，寫道：「趁夜深條街冇人除一除口罩影一張。」。 不少網民認為黃偉文提到「也許是素不相識的妳救了我一家」有抽水之嫌。 Wyman之後上載一張在東京街頭拍攝的全身照。 Wyman近年長居英國。 Wyman不時被邀出席時裝周。 Source link
4 February 2025
Jenna Ortega & The Weekend Star in Thriller Movie
Lionsgate has released the first official Hurry Up Tomorrow trailer previewing the upcoming psychological thriller starring The Weeknd and Jenna Ortega. What happens in the Hurry Up Tomorrow trailer? The trailer previews the chaos set to appear in the movie when a stranger meets an artist and the pair go on a journey together that begins unraveling his very being. Hurry Up Tomorrow is set to premiere in theaters on May 16, 2025. It is based in part on The Weeknd’s album of the same name, which released on January 31. Check out the Hurry Up Tomorrow trailer below (watch other trailers and clips): Hurry Up Tomorrow is directed by Trey Edward Shults (It Comes at Night, Waves), and is co-written by Shultz, Reza Fahim, and Abel Tesfaye (a.k.a. The Weeknd). Alongside Tesfaye and Ortega, Hurry Up Tomorrow also stars Barry Keoghan, Gabby Barrett, and Charli D’Amelio. While the film’s exact plot is unknown, prior reports noted that the film shared similarities with 1990’s Misery and would revolve around a stranger stalking a famous artist. A brief logline for the film teases that “a musician plagued by insomnia is pulled into an odyssey with a stranger who begins to unravel
4 February 2025
大S離世｜具俊曄吻別愛妻 哭聲令人心碎 – 亞洲 – 明周娛樂
【今日睇咗未？】楊秀惠「人日」報喜 誕第三胎成功追B仔｜大S離世 具俊曄吻別愛妻 哭聲令人心碎（04/02/2025） Watch this video on YouTube 大S徐熙媛在日本病逝，有指昨日（3日）已在當地進行火化，因按照日本規定，若選擇火化的話，遺體必須於3天內火化。賈永婕收到大S離世消息，立即趕赴東京，見好友最後一面，並在社交平台發文細訴悲痛心情：「一聽到消息後就直奔新幹線，我趕到了。看到你了，平靜、安詳一如往常一樣的美麗就像睡著一樣。但這位睡美人妳也太瀟灑了，我們還是心很痛，但好像也只能放手。 掉不完的眼淚，無法言喻的傷心，怎麼哭都喚不醒沉睡的妳。最終歐巴（具俊曄）深深的一吻，深情的與妳道別，歐巴的哭聲我們的心都碎了。 此刻足矣。在愛中道別，期待再相逢！」 賈永婕之後收到具俊曄傳來在王偉忠女兒的歸寧宴的自拍照，「看著照片忍不住繼續掉眼淚，我還是想要念你，不是說好了過年後要來我家吃飯相聚嗎！你怎麼怎麼就去當天使了。」 同樣有見到好友最後一面的吳佩慈，在賈永婕的帖文下留言：「我都覺得她是在拍戲，導演一喊cut，她就會起來了。」吳佩慈接受傳媒訪問透露在新春期間身處北海道，原定與大S一家相約在東京一起旅行，但大S猝逝，她與小S徐熙娣在醫院哭作一團，「我會永遠記得她的善良、她的美麗，我不會忘記那個每次結束通話都會說愛我的徐熙媛。」 更多圖輯： Source link
4 February 2025
Breakout Beyond Trailer Announces New Spin on Classic Atari Game
Breakout for the Atari is arguably one of the most well-known titles in gaming history. More than likely, anyone remotely interested in video games has played the brick-smashing retro game or some twist on it. Developers Choice Provisions and Atari have now announced their own variation with Breakout Beyond, a neon-drenched version that puts a new spin on the arcade classic. What is Breakout Beyond? Breakout Beyond is a reimagining of the game that was originally released in 1976. Developed by Choice Provisions, the studio behind Bit.Trip, this new iteration flips its perspective so players will break bricks from side to side rather than at the top. There are also special blocks with power-ups like a protective barrier and laser cannon to give players an edge. Breakout Beyond allows up to two-player co-op across all 72 levels. There is also an unlockable endless mode with an online global leaderboard. “In this neon-infused twist on the classic 1976 arcade game, players smash through each puzzle by clearing bricks to reach the final goal. However, the script has been flipped—literally,” reads the game’s official description. “Players now progress sideways, breaking through barriers and building up combos that ramp up the intensity of
4 February 2025
大S離世｜前夫汪小菲於懷念大S影片下叫老婆 深情留言稱呼被網民怒斥不尊重 | UHK 港生活
汪小菲留言掛住「老婆」 大S 汪小菲今日（4日）突然在抖音平台上，於粉絲剪輯懷念大S的影片下面留言：「老婆，我好想你。」；又在另一則影片，留言寫道「死的人應該是我」。此舉震驚不少網友，更指汪小菲去年才跟現任太太Mandy結婚，卻在前妻離世後叫前妻做「老婆」，指他不尊重新歡和舊愛：「你這樣你的現任老婆看到作何感想」、「別這樣，你現在的老婆是馬筱梅，對她不公平」、「你喊錯人了」、「這一輩子的愛恨情仇都結束了吧」。汪小菲之後才刪除「老婆」二字，改為「我好想你。」 雙眼浮腫憔悴抵台 昨日汪小菲到台灣後，由妻子馬筱梅（Mandy）陪同接受台媒採訪，見汪小菲雙眼憔悴浮腫，似乎哭過。他更向記者們鞠躬，雙手合十說：「我求你們多說大S一些好話」。台媒詢問他這次要回來協助、幫忙什麼部分，汪小菲都只搖頭不語。問到要不要再去日本，汪小菲也否認：「沒有，是我家人」，代表日本後事由徐家人處理。說罷汪小菲便登上機場電動車，與妻子一同離去。 大S毅然斬斷10年婚姻 大S與前夫汪小菲的10年婚姻於2021年結束，後來二人各自再婚。當初汪小菲和大S認識不到50天，只見面4次，大S就決定要嫁給汪小菲，原因是汪小菲長得像漫畫角色。後來，兩人婚姻現危機，汪小菲被指多次婚內出軌，又傳出喝醉酒會對大S進行家暴等，而汪小菲的母親張蘭也時常掩護汪小菲的偏差行為，最後大S決定離婚。 大S生前曾與前夫汪小菲陷入離婚糾紛，去年3月大S在IG社交平台上發長文炮轟汪小菲，除了公開他婚內出軌內幕，又指和汪小菲結婚期間，歷經兩次小產，又狠言「十年婚姻二死一重傷」。 大S 3年前與舊愛復合 大S在2022年與舊愛具俊曄復合，據韓國媒體報導，大S與具俊曄在2022年3月初已在韓國完成登記結婚，具俊曄之後再飛往台灣登記結婚。具俊曄也曾經向韓國傳媒披露了兩人重萌愛火的過程，表示自己先鼓起勇氣，提出想「成為家人」的想法，又表示大S爽快答應，同時又透露兩人已經非常了解彼此，不需要再花時間拍拖，於是決定結婚。婚後，夫妻倆不時都在社交網上放閃。 原文：U Travel Source link
4 February 2025
Why The Last of Us Season 2’s Kaitlyn Dever Didn’t Bulk up for Abby
The promotional material for The Last of Us Season 2 has been coming out since last year, and it includes Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby, a new character to be introduced in the sophomore season. Abby features prominently in The Last of Us Part II, an entry in the video game franchise the show is based on. There, she is depicted as a physically strong individual, with her strength serving as an important component of the story. However, series creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin confirmed in a new interview that Dever didn’t bulk up for the role and also provided reasons for that. Neil Druckmann on why Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby isn’t buff in The Last of Us Season 2 Druckmann and Mazin explained in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly why Kaitlyn Dever (Rosaline) didn’t bulk up to play Abby in The Last of Us Season 2. Druckmann told the outlet that while casting for Season 2, they prioritized “performance over anything else.” He added, “We need someone to really capture the essence of those characters… We don’t value as much, ‘Do they look exactly like the character with their eyebrows or their nose or their body?’ Whatever it is. It’s
4 February 2025
大S離世｜徐熙媛3年前再婚宣言12字揭瀟灑愛情觀 離婚後嫁初戀具俊曄一生愛得轟烈 | UHK 港生活
大S汪小菲10年婚姻結束 2010年9月，大S與內地餐飲業商人汪小菲一見鍾情，僅見面五次便閃婚，並於隔年舉行盛大婚禮，轟動兩岸娛樂圈。婚後，大S為汪小菲生下一子一女，生活看似幸福美滿。然而，異地婚姻的隔閡和文化差異，讓兩人最終走向了離婚。2021年，兩人結束了十年的婚姻關係，但隨之而來的是9.5億台幣財產分配的法律糾紛，雙方更互相指責對方婚內出軌和家暴，讓這段感情的結局更加難堪。 ▼▼下面睇大S再婚12字宣言▼▼ 大S再婚初戀具俊曄 大S與汪小菲離婚後，20年前的舊愛具俊曄重新聯繫上她，並為了愛遠赴台灣。兩人舊情復燃，決定攜手共度餘生，並於2022年2月8日在韓國登記結婚，3月28日在台灣登記，正式成為夫妻。遺憾是大S卻因病猝逝，只差5天就是兩人的結婚3周年紀念。 徐熙媛12字再婚宣言12字令人佩服 2024年3月，徐熙媛離婚近4個月後突然宣布火速再婚，大S與具俊曄分別在IG社交平台上報喜，當時45歲的大S再婚消息再度震撼演藝圈，而她在IG上更字字句句吐露瀟灑的愛情觀，真愛使她愛得轟烈。 大S與汪小菲在2010年閃婚，婚後二人育有一子一女，女兒在2014年出生，兒子在2016年出生，最後兩人於2021年離婚。 Source link
4 February 2025
Justin Baldoni & Blake Lively’s Lawyers Fight on First Day of Court
Lawyers for actors Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively clashed in court on the first day of their ongoing legal battle. The hearing was held at a federal court in Manhattan. It focused on the sexual harassment allegations and defamation claims surrounding their film It Ends With Us. Here is what happened to Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s lawyers. What happened to Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s lawyers? In a heated court session on Monday, attorneys for Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively met to discuss the ongoing legal battle over serious allegations surrounding their film It Ends With Us. Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her, while Baldoni has countersued for defamation. The courtroom confrontation grew tense as Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, accused Baldoni’s legal team of making public remarks that were damaging to her character. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, responded by claiming that his client was “devastated financially and emotionally.” (via BBC) Neither Lively nor Baldoni attended the pretrial hearing. Their lawyers presented their respective arguments, including the negative impact the case has had on both sides. Judge Lewis Liman warned that further media coverage could force the trial date to be moved
4 February 2025
Countries & Territories at Risk for Zika | Zika Virus
Countries & Territories at Risk for Zika | Zika Virus | CDC Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. January 31, 2025 Check this page for information about countries and territories at risk for Zika virus transmission before you make travel plans. Since surveillance practices for Zika virus vary greatly among countries, CDC does not always have accurate information on the current risk of Zika virus transmission in many geographic areas. For this reason, countries and territories with current or past transmission are considered at risk for Zika virus transmission.
5 February 2025
China sees over 14.36 million cross-border trips during CNY holiday
Tourists from Vietnam wait for entry inspection at the immigration area at Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Jan 28, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA) Border inspection authorities in China recorded more than 14.36 million cross-border trips during the recently concluded Spring Festival holiday, marking a 6.3 percent increase from the previous year, the National Immigration Administration said. As many as 958,000 trips were made by foreigners, a 22.9 percent year-on-year increase, the NIA said in a news release on Wednesday. Meanwhile, about 7.67 million trips were made by residents of the Chinese mainland, a 5 percent year-on-year increase, and more than 5.73 million trips were made by residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, reflecting a 5.6 percent year-on-year increase. ALSO READ: Travel surge caps end of Spring Festival holiday In addition, border inspection authorities inspected 525,000 vehicles crossing borders during the holiday, a 14.4 percent year-on-year increase, the NIA added. Source link
5 February 2025
China’s sci-tech museums draw over 3 mln visits during Spring Festival holiday
China’s sci-tech museums have received more than 3 million visits during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, according to the China Science and Technology Museum (CSTM) on Tuesday. The Beijing-based CSTM said that it has guided the public to explore the scientific elements of Spring Festival customs. During the holiday, the museum welcomed more than 150,000 visits, of whom over 90 percent came from outside the capital city. Sci-tech museums across the country have launched various Spring Festival-themed science exhibitions, integrating Chinese zodiac culture, intangible cultural heritage techniques and cutting-edge technologies. East China’s Fujian Science and Technology Museum is holding an exhibition on the “wisdom of the snake,” allowing visitors to learn about snake biology. In another sci-tech museum in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a humanoid robot interacts with audiences, showcasing the latest progress in China’s robotics technology. The CSTM said that it will lead the country’s sci-tech museums to continue innovating forms of science popularization in 2025. (Xinhua) Source link
5 February 2025
Your guide to Shenzhen: where to stay, eat, unwind and shop in the Greater Bay Area city – and what to know about the Silicon Valley of China, Hong Kong residents’ new favourite weekend getaway
In recent years, Shenzhen, the Chinese metropolis in Guangdong province known as “the Silicon Valley of China”, has become a very popular destination in the Greater Bay Area, especially for those living in Hong Kong, which is only 30km away. Thanks to its affordable accommodation, dining and massage offerings, the city has been attracting plenty of Hong Kong visitors, almost dethroning Macau, the gambling capital of Asia, as their favourite weekend getaway. The appeal, however, also extends to international travellers. A Singapore acquaintance visiting Hong Kong late last year decided to take a day trip to Shenzhen to find out what all the hype was about and ended up going there twice, basically making Hong Kong her base for a visit to Shenzhen. Information on what to do there is hard to come by, particularly if you don’t speak Chinese, so here are some tips that will prove useful when planning your visit. Parks and green spaces abound in Shenzhen. Photo: Getty Images How to get there If you’re based in Hong Kong, the fastest way to get to Shenzhen is by High Speed Rail to Futian station from West Kowloon station. While the journey only takes about 15 minutes,
5 February 2025
China’s transactions rise during Spring Festival holiday
Chinese card payment giant China UnionPay and Chinese online payment clearing house NetsUnion Clearing Corporation reported surging transactions during the first seven days of the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, which lasts from Jan 28 to Feb 4, according to the China’s central bank. During the period, the two platforms handled a total of 22.078 billion payment transactions, with a transaction value of 8.52 trillion yuan (about 1.18 trillion U.S. dollars), up 25.70 percent and 17.08 percent respectively from a year ago, data from the People’s Bank of China showed. Notably, payment transactions involving international visitors to China saw a significant rise, with the transaction volume increasing by 127.30 percent year on year and the transaction value growing by 93.54 percent from the previous year. China’s transactions rise during Spring Festival holiday Imports and exports of goods to and from China’s Yangtze River Delta region hit an all-time high of 16.01 trillion yuan (about 2.23 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2024, according to the Shanghai Customs authorities. This figure translates into a 5.6 percent year-on-year increase in foreign trade value in the region, accounting for 36.5 percent of China’s total foreign trade value in the year, according to the customs authorities. The
5 February 2025
China’s Spring Festival holiday spending shows strong momentum
Residents in Beijing enjoy the Longtan Temple Fair as the Spring Festival holiday came to a final day on February 4, 2025, with the festive atmosphere remaining strong. Photo: VCG With the movie box office hitting record high, intangible cultural heritage travel gaining traction, and rush to purchase high-tech gadgets as festive gifts, China’s consumption has been showing strong momentum during this year’s Spring Festival holiday, which started on January 28 and ends on Tuesday this year. The festive spending spree can offer a glimpse into the diversity and potential of Chinese consumers’ consumption power, analysts said, emphasizing that the new wave of holiday consumption growth not only signaled a vibrant and prosperous Year of the Snake, but will also lay a solid foundation and inject new dynamics into growth of the world’s second largest economy. Many Chinese people have been packing their bags to embark on returning journeys on Tuesday, the last day of the eight-day Spring Festival holiday. It is estimated that 329 million trips will be made on the day, according to data released by the Ministry of Transport. During the eight-day holiday, over 2.3 billion passenger trips were made across regions in China. The total transport
4 February 2025
China witnesses increasing passenger flow as Spring Festival holiday to end
China is witnessing a surge in passenger trips nationwide on Tuesday, as this year’s Spring Festival holiday running from Jan 28 to Feb 4 is coming to an end. The Spring Festival, marking the start of the Chinese New Year, is China’s grandest traditional festival featuring family reunion. At the end of the holiday season, people’s return journeys will unexceptionally lead to a significant increase in all railway, highway, air and waterway passenger flow. The country’s railway system is estimated to handle 16.9 million passenger trips on Tuesday, with 2,196 additional trains scheduled to accommodate the surge. According to the official railway ticket-booking app 12306, the passenger flow from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Zhengzhou and other cities is relatively large. A total of 24 million vehicles were on the road as of 11:00 on Tuesday. The country’s transport departments have taken measures to enhance road network management, emergency response, congestion relief and other work to ensure the safety and orderly travel of passengers. In the aviation sector, a total of 18,806 flights are scheduled across the country for Tuesday. Over the first 21 days of the Spring Festival travel rush, China’s civil aviation sector has operated an average of 18,653 flights
4 February 2025
Some Canadians are boycotting travel to the US because of Trump
CNN — Jason Dale had started planning his family’s summer vacation to Tennessee a year ago. It was to be the Canadian family’s final hurrah, a send-off vacation before his oldest son, who is 18, leaves the family nest. Together with two other families, Dale, his husband and three sons were going to set off from their Port Dover home in southwestern Ontario for a 10-day road trip that would take them to Dollywood, the Titanic Museum Attraction and into the Great Smoky Mountains. They had mapped out the route, their rest stops, and booked their resort. It was a trip that Dale had done before when his kids were little, and everyone was looking forward to reliving fond family memories. They’ve now scrapped all those travel plans. After Donald Trump was elected president, the group of 11 decided to take a “wait and see” approach. But the US president’s threat to impose punishing tariffs and to annex Canada, along with his trolling of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who Trump called “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada,” were the last straw. “The rhetoric about tariffs, the mockery of our prime minister and the musing about us becoming
4 February 2025
China eases travel curbs on Uyghurs but maintains ‘severe’ controls: report
AFP File photo China has eased travel curbs on Uyghurs but maintains “severe restrictions” on those seeking to go abroad or visit family in Xinjiang, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report said Monday. Beijing stands accused of detaining more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslims in its northwestern region, in a campaign that the United Nations has said may constitute “crimes against humanity”. China vehemently denies the allegations, saying the policies have rooted out extremism in Xinjiang and brought about economic development. Authorities have detained Uyghurs with overseas connections and confiscated their travel documents since a crackdown in the mid-2010s, according to researchers, campaigners and members of the Uyghur diaspora. The HRW report says officials have now begun returning some passports and permitting applications for international travel, but retain “severe restrictions, conditions and controls” on those who do. “The modest thaw… has allowed some Uyghurs to briefly reunite with loved ones abroad after having no news for years”, but the curbs are still used to “oppress” them, HRW China researcher Yalkun Uluyol said. Uyghurs, a Muslim minority in China, must disclose the purpose of overseas trips, return by a certain date and promise not to criticise the Chinese
4 February 2025
China eases travel curbs on Uyghurs but keeps ‘severe’ controls: report
China has eased travel curbs on Uyghurs but maintains “severe restrictions” on those seeking to go abroad or visit family in Xinjiang, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report said Monday. This photo taken on July 19, 2023, shows a policeman standing in front of a propaganda billboard that reads: “National unity is the lifeline for people of all ethnic groups, ” on a road in Kashgar prefecture in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region. Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP. Beijing stands accused of detaining more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslims in its northwestern region, in a campaign that the United Nations has said may constitute “crimes against humanity”. China vehemently denies the allegations, saying the policies have rooted out extremism in Xinjiang and brought about economic development. Authorities have detained Uyghurs with overseas connections and confiscated their travel documents since a crackdown in the mid-2010s, according to researchers, campaigners and members of the Uyghur diaspora. The HRW report says officials have now begun returning some passports and permitting applications for international travel, but retain “severe restrictions, conditions and controls” on those who do. “The modest thaw… has allowed some Uyghurs to briefly reunite with loved ones abroad after having no news for
4 February 2025
US: International education sector braces as a second Trump presidency takes shape – ICEF Monitor
The first time Donald Trump was president of the United States, he implemented a ban on travel to the US from seven Muslim-majority countries, suspended the issuance of H1-Bs (post-study work visas), and cancelled thousands of Chinese students’ study visas, among other orders impacting international students. Not even a month into President Trump’s second presidency, the US international sector is bracing for immigration changes that could affect their students as well as their ability to recruit overseas. So far, President Trump has issued several Executive Orders that may have negative consequences for both prospective and current students. Within one of the orders is a direction for his administration to “begin the process of restoring a potential travel ban within 60 days.” Protecting the US is priority number one On 20 January, the President signed an order that while vague, sounds ominous: “PROTECTING THE UNITED STATES FROM FOREIGN TERRORISTS AND OTHER NATIONAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY THREATS.” The order mandates that immigration officials adopt the following guidance, which will likely affect the issuance and processing of some study and work visas: NAFSA assessed the potential ramifications for the industry from the order, and determined that: Legal firm Feagre Drinker provides this
4 February 2025
Madam Pang shows love for daughter during trip to Hong Kong
On her social media account, Nualphan Lamsam, famously known as Madam Pang, shared photos and videos from the trip, captioned: “A little girl who always makes my heart happy, Pang & Prang.” Madam Pang (R) and her daughter Nuanwan Phanchet during their trip to Hong Kong in January 2025. Photo by Instagram/@pranggnlw Madam Pang and her daughter visited Hong Kong in late January 2025, posing for photos amidst the city’s iconic apartment buildings and bustling streets. Both opted for simple, neutral-toned outfits in shades of black, white and gray. Despite their minimalist attire, they stood out with luxury accessories, including designer handbags and stylish sunglasses. While Phanchet exuded grace and beauty, Madam Pang showcased the poise and confidence of a powerful businesswoman. Many commented that Madam Pang’s strong presence and charisma often contrast her daughter’s more delicate demeanor. Phanchet, born in 1996, is Madam Pang’s only daughter from her first marriage to Dr. Vachara Phanchet. She is part of the sixth generation of the influential Lamsam family, founders of Kasikorn Bank. Nuanwan Phanchet in her daily style. Photo by Instagram/@pranggnlw Phanchet holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Queensland, Australia, and later earned her master’s degree from
4 February 2025
People enjoy Spring Festival holiday across China
A child using augmented reality (AR) glasses visits the Chengdu Museum during the Spring Festival holiday in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) A child visits the Chengdu Museum during the Spring Festival holiday in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) People ride bikes at Shanghai’s World Expo culture park during the Spring Festival holiday in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong) People have fun at Shanghai’s World Expo culture park during the Spring Festival holiday in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong) People visit the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum during the Spring Festival holiday in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, Feb. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) Source link
4 February 2025
Cleared for Takeoff: Airlines that Allow Big Dogs to Fly in-Cabin | Pets
TripsWithPets.com Contributed by Kim Salerno For pet parents, air travel isn’t just about reaching a destination – it’s about keeping their beloved furry family members by their side. While small pets have long enjoyed the privilege of flying in-cabin, larger dogs have typically been relegated to the cargo hold, a scenario most pet parents would rather avoid. Now, that’s changing. A growing number of airlines are making it possible for big dogs to fly in-cabin, creating new opportunities for pet-friendly travel. For those relocating with pets, seeking specialty veterinary care, or simply wanting their furry companions to join them on vacation, these airlines offer a solution that eliminates the stress and uncertainty of cargo travel. While these flights come at a premium, the benefits are clear: a more comfortable experience, less travel anxiety, and the assurance that their four-legged family member is safe and sound right beside them. Semi-Private Airlines That Welcome Large Dogs in the Cabin Semi-private airlines offer a hybrid between commercial and private air travel, providing a streamlined, luxury experience without the full cost of chartering a private jet. Using private terminals, they eliminate long lines and crowded airport experiences, making travel smoother for both pets and
4 February 2025
Tibet Airlines Launches Direct Flights From Hong Kong To Lhasa
Image credit: byeangel, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Hong Kongers have a new East Asian destination to consider for their summer travel plans in 2025. Tibet Airlines will launch a new direct flight service between Hong Kong and Lhasa on February 19, 2025. This twice-weekly service (Wednesdays and Sundays) aims to enhance regional cooperation and promote Tibet as a travel destination for Hong Kong tourists. Flight TV9701 is scheduled to depart from Lhasa at 8:10 am, stop at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, and arrive in Hong Kong at 2:35 pm. The return flight, TV9702, will leave Hong Kong at 3:45 pm, stop in Chengdu, and reach Lhasa by 11:30 pm. A return ticket starts at CNY 1,310 (approximately USD 182), excluding tax, in-flight meals, and additional services. Also, read how the day of the week can impact your airfare, according to a new study. Hong Kong to Lhasa flight service: A boost for Tibet’s tourism Tibetan Plateau | Image credit: Jiasong Huang/Unsplash The new service by Tibet Airlines will enhance accessibility for people from Hong Kong and boost tourism in Tibet. Authorities claim that the new route will significantly reduce travel time and serve as an “aerial window” to promote
4 February 2025
Jimmy Lai denies concealing plan to meet with US officials in 2020
Jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai has denied concealing a plan to meet American officials in mid-2020 when he applied to the court to lift a travel ban at that time, as prosecutors raised questions about his credibility during his high-profile national security trial. Jimmy Lai in 2020. Photo: HKFP. Lai, 77, told the court on Monday that he thought it was “not a big deal” to meet with US officials and senators before Beijing imposed a national security law in June 2020, following large-scale pro-democracy protests and unrest in the previous year. The tycoon’s trial resumed on Monday after the Lunar New Year holiday as he took the witness stand for the 34th day. Lai has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the Beijing-imposed security law and a third count of conspiring to publish seditious materials under a colonial-era legislation. He could be jailed for life if convicted. Prosecutors on Monday accused Lai of using the birth of his granddaughter in May 2020 as a “cover-up” for a planned trip to the US to meet with American officials, including then vice-president Mike Pence. The trip did not take place eventually. The Apple
3 February 2025
China is opening up to the world – this is why you should go – The Irish News
It’s a period of modern history many of us would rather forget. It’s almost five years since an outbreak of Covid-19 brought the planet to a halt, an anniversary remembered on March 11 – the day the World Health Organisation declared a global pandemic. Borders closed, planes were grounded and – for most people – travel plans barely extended beyond the front door. Over time, countries quickly bounced back and reopened to foreigners. One of the last nations to let down its defences was ironically the very place where the pandemic began. Since 2023, China has slowly reopened to British travellers, but obtaining a visa has been a slow, frustrating and expensive process putting many people off travelling. At the beginning of this year, however, new regulations were introduced making it much easier and more enticing for UK passport holders to enter the country. Under new rules, UK travellers can visit China visa-free as long as they are in transit to another country. Shanghai’s skyline (Alamy Stock Photo) What this means in practise is that trip twinning China with another foreign destination poses a stress-free solution to exploring the destination. Only a connecting ticket with the confirmed departure date and
3 February 2025
China Saw 4.8 Billion Trips Made In First Half Of Spring Holiday
A total of 4.8 billion inter-regional passenger trips were estimated to be made across China from Jan. 14 to Feb. 2, the first half of the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush. The figure represents a 7.2 percent increase from the same period last year, according to a special work team established to facilitate sound operations during the Spring Festival travel rush, also known as chunyun. Passenger flows have surged since Jan. 30, with daily trips exceeding 300 million on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, both surpassing last year’s levels, according to a research and development center under the Ministry of Transport, adding that the trend is expected to continue during the holiday period. On Feb. 2 alone, an estimated 319.32 million trips will be made, with highways accounting for the largest share at 301.02 million trips, according to the special work team. A record-breaking 9 billion trips are expected to be made during chunyun in 2025 that will end on Feb. 22. The Spring Festival, an occasion for family reunions, fell on Jan. 29 this year. Related Source link
3 February 2025
Opening Date, Tickets And More
Here’s some good news for football fans! Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo is poised to visit Hong Kong in 2025. His appearance will be for a museum commemorating his illustrious career. The CR7 Life Museum is set to open in July 2025 at the K11 Musea shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, with ticket sales kickstarting on February 5 (which is also Ronaldo’s birthday). According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the museum is expected to open in July 2025, providing visitors with an informative display of Cristiano Ronaldo’s life and career through different exhibits and activities. Ticket sales for Cristiano Ronaldo’s museum to start on February 5 Organisers revealed that the early bird and VIP tickets will be up for grabs on February 5, while general admission tickets will go on sale on February 24 at 11 am. Interested ones can head to Klook, Ctrip, as well as K11’s official website to get the passes. For general admission tickets, the prices are HKD 180 for adults and HKD 150 for children and seniors. You can also avail a 10% early bird discount. Promoters Star Shine Holdings and Asia Partners IFBD Corporation “anticipate” Ronaldo’s presence at the opening of the
3 February 2025
Best time to visit, ticket price and insider tips
Welcome to the “happiest place on Earth” also known as Disneyland. It is the place where one can be carefree and believe that magic comes alive, whether you’re young or young at heart. While Hong Kong Disneyland is the smallest among all, it is still worth a visit for both locals and tourists. With many new attractions added since its opening, visitors always have an excuse to come back. To help with that, we made this guide that lists everything you need to know about Hong Kong Disneyland. Plan the perfect trip to the theme park with our list of best rides, tips on the best time to go, hacks, and more. Hong Kong Disneyland is one of the most popular attractions in the city. It is certainly a must for everybody, especially after the opening of the first World of Frozen. A Marvel-themed section will soon follow but for now, there is still plenty to do. So, make the most of your day at the theme park with our guide which includes helpful tips that’ll make navigating this magical world easier. The ultimate guide to Hong Kong Disneyland: Unmissable rides, best time to visit and useful tips Take the
3 February 2025
Hong Kong residents urged to get flu vaccinations before traveling following Barbie Hsu’s death
By Hoang Vu  February 2, 2025 | 10:18 pm PT Tourists take photo of the skyline of buildings at Tsim Sha Tsui, in Hong Kong, China, May 2, 2023. Photo by Reuters A respiratory medicine specialist in Hong Kong has urged the public to prioritize flu vaccinations before traveling, following the death of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu. Dr. Leung Chi-chiu advised people to avoid crowded and poorly ventilated areas, stagger travel times, wear masks, and maintain good hand hygiene, The Standard reported. He also recommended that individuals with chronic illnesses be extra cautious, and that their travel companions take preventive measures as well. Leung noted that many Hong Kong residents have not been exposed to the flu virus in recent years, resulting in weakened immunity and increased susceptibility to infections, especially when visiting areas with high flu activity. His advice comes after Hsu, 49, also known as “Big S,” was confirmed dead on Sunday from influenza complicated by pneumonia while on a family vacation in Japan during the Lunar New Year holiday, The Straits Times reported. Hsu rose to fame through popular TV dramas such as “Meteor Garden”, “Mars”, and “Summer’s Desire”. Her personal life often made headlines, including her
3 February 2025
HK sees record 1.14mn border crossings on final day of LNY holiday
Hong Kong recorded nearly 1.14 million border crossings on Sunday — the final day of the Lunar New Year holiday — with over 720,000 arrivals marking a peak in inbound travel. Some Hongkongers returning to the SAR via the Hong Kong International Airport reported enjoying a great holiday, while at Lo Wu port, others opted to return early to avoid crowds. The Immigration Department deployed additional officers to assist travelers, and the MTR enhanced its services to accommodate the influx. The West Kowloon high-speed rail station recorded a historic high of 136,000 crossings on the third day of the Lunar New Year, the highest since its opening in 2018. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge also experienced significant traffic, with 170,000 passengers and over 25,000 vehicles crossing on Saturday — the fourth day of the Lunar New Year — achieving the highest single-day figures since its inception. (Charlotte Lam) Source link
3 February 2025
Spotlighting Hong Kong’s Latest Sportainment Hub
SnapLife, Kai Tak Mall, Hong Kong | Image Credit: Kai Tak Mall Suffice it to say, that Hong Kong has upped the ante on the regular shopping experience with Kai Tak Mall. With a 40-lane bowling alley, over 200 stores screaming high fashion, the city’s tallest rock climbing wall at 17.5 metres, and 20,000 sq feet worth of epicurean innovation, this day-to-night sportainment hub ought to be on every Hong Konger’s radar. The mall is a part of the Kai Tak Sports Complex, all set to open in the first half of 2025. But for now, all eyes are on this mint-new retail haven. Also, explore our ultimate guide to shopping in Hong Kong, what and where to buy included! Shop till you drop Playful Store, Kai Tak Mall | Image credit: Kai Tak Mall Operated by the K11 Group, Kai Tak shopping mall brags an array of stores, such as New Balance UCC with special edition apparel, Oofos Recovery Footwear, Li Ning, FanTown, Salomon, Adidas, Decathlon, Nike, Fila, Asics, Puma, and Skechers, among others. The mall is also home to National Geographic — a concept store that unites cool grey tones with signature outdoor accents. Other stand-out shopping sites
1 February 2025
Concept Medical 宣佈 MAGICAL BTK IDE 試驗的首位病人入院，在美國啟動 PAD 臨床計劃 | 全球企業動態 | 商情
佛羅里達州坦帕2025年1月18日 /美通社/ — 全球創新藥物輸送科技領域的先鋒概念醫療公司 Concept Medical Inc 自豪地宣佈，「MAGICAL BTK」（經皮血管腔內成形術 (MagicTouch PTA) – Sirolimus 塗層球囊 (Sirolimus Coated Balloon) 與標準球囊血管成形術治療膝部以下 (BTK) 動脈疾病的隨機對照試驗）臨床試驗器材豁免 (IDE) 中樞試驗，成功招募了首位病人。Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 的 Prakash Krishnan 醫生和其團隊招募了首位病人，標誌著膝下周邊動脈疾病 (PAD) 病人治療方案發展的重要里程碑。 First patient enrollment in MAGICAL-BTK IDE Study in the United States. 在美國食品和藥物管理局 (FDA) 最近獲得 MagicTouch PTA 的 IDE 批准後，這次成功招募病人，預示著 Concept Medical 在美國的周邊臨床試驗計劃正式開始。由於 MagicTouch SCB 在冠狀動脈疾病的 IDE 研究正在進行中，Concept Medical 目前正積極參與冠狀動脈和周邊血管介入的兩項美國臨床試驗，可說是一項前所未有的成就，旨在改善病人的治療效果並提供更多治療選項。 Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 的 Prakash Krishnan 博士表示：「將第一名病人加入 MAGICAL BTK 試驗，是邁向改善周邊動脈疾病 (PAD) 病人膝蓋以下 (BTK) 疾病護理標準的重要一步。Sirolimus 塗層球囊科技，有可能顯著提升肢體搶救機率及病人生活品質。我很榮幸能夠參與這項具里程碑意義的研究，期待本研究將產生有意義的臨床證據。」 MAGICAL BTK 中樞試驗，旨在評估 MagicTouch PTA Sirolimus Coated Balloon 與標準經皮腔內血管成形術 (PTA) 治療膝下動脈疾病的安全性和有效性。12 個月時的主要測量終點為主要通暢率 (primary patency)，確保試驗結果著重於有意義的臨床結果。這項全球多中心研究由 Sahil Parikh 教授（主席）領導，其主要研究人員包括 Eric Secemsky 博士（Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital 和哈佛醫學院）、Brian DeRubertis 教授（NY Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center 和 Cornell University Medical College）、Edward Choke 教授 (Northern Heart Hospital) 和 Osamu Iida 教授 (Osaka Keisatsu Hospital)。 Sahil Parikh 教授表示：「MAGICAL BTK 試驗的開始，預告了對慢性肌肉威脅性缺血症病人的治療新時代，並為數百萬名因腿部動脈循環不足而可能喪失肢體的病人帶來曙光。 」 Sirolimus 塗層球囊科技已重塑冠狀動脈和周邊動脈疾病管理，在亞洲和歐洲的大規模試驗中取得積極成果。現在，透過 MAGICAL BTK 試驗，美國病人有機會從這種突破性方法中獲益。與此同時，亞洲病人的加入將擴大全球病人群體，讓我們更全面地了解此療法對不同人群的益處。 「在 Concept Medical，我們對於創新和照顧病人的堅定承諾，促使我們不斷突破血管介入手術的極限，」創辦人兼董事總經理 Manish Doshi 博士表示：「MAGICAL BTK 的開始，進一步驗證了我們為全球臨床醫師和病人提供新一代循證解決方案的決心。我們的目標是重新定義當前標準，確保受 PAD 影響的病人獲得更好的治療效果，改善生活品質。」 隨著 MAGICAL BTK 試驗和 MAGICAL SFA IDE 試驗用於骨骼肌肉表面動脈 (SFA) 治療開始，Concept Medical 將為血管內治療帶來革命性的改變。此公司獨特的技術平台已提升冠狀動脈疾病的管理水準；如今透過擴展至周邊血管介入，Concept Medical 鞏固了其在推動以病人為導向的藥物輸送解決方案的領導地位。 Concept Medical 簡介 Concept Medical Inc. 總部位於佛羅里達州坦帕，業務遍佈全球，一直致力於透過藥物輸送技術的頂尖研究與開發，加強照顧病人的水準。其專利平台可將藥劑非常精確地傳送至血管管腔表面。Concept Medical 是 MagicTouch 系列 Sirolimus 塗層球囊 (Sirolimus Coated Balloons, SCBs) 的開發者，這是世界上第一個也是應用最廣的 SCB 技術，因其在治療冠狀動脈和周邊動脈疾病方面的多功能性和療效而備受認可。革命性的 MagicTouch 和 Abluminus 產品系列，已用於治療全球超過一百萬名病人，為血管治療樹立新標準。 有關更多資訊，請瀏覽 www.conceptmedical.com。 Source link
31 January 2025
Uniswap Drops $35M UNI AirDrop Live Ahead of Official X Announcement and V4 Rollout
NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Uniswap, the world’s leading decentralized exchange in the DeFi ecosystem, has quietly launched a groundbreaking $35M UNI AirDrop, allowing early participants to claim their tokens Before The Official Announcement debuts on X early Monday, January 27th. The announcement will be made via Uniswap’s official X page @Uniswap. While the news started to make waves across the crypto space, this pre-announcement air of exclusivity positions Uniswap as a pioneer in creating opportunities for its community. The UNI AirDrop is part of a broader push tied to the highly anticipated rollout of Uniswap V4, a significant upgrade that promises to enhance the platform’s efficiency and scalability. Uniswap Drops $35M UNI AirDrop Live Ahead of Official X Announcement and V4 Rollout A Unique Opportunity for Early Claimants Uniswap’s decision to pre-announce the AirDrop offers participants a strategic edge. As crypto enthusiasts eagerly await the official unveiling on X, those in the know are already seizing the chance to secure their share of the $35M UNI token distribution. By rewarding early adopters, Uniswap reaffirms its commitment to empowering its community and fostering participation in the DeFi revolution. The AirDrop aligns with a remarkable period of growth
26 January 2025
Uniswap’s $35M UNI AirDrop Makes Waves Following Jupiter’s $630M Token Distribution
NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Uniswap, the world’s leading decentralized exchange in the DeFi ecosystem, has unveiled its latest 2025 initiative: a $35M UNI AirDrop. As the news begins to ripple across the crypto community on the 24th, Friday, 2025, this landmark announcement sets the stage for Uniswap’s next chapter of decentralized financial empowerment. Launching in the wake of Jupiter’s record-breaking $630M JUP token distribution, this AirDrop is poised to capture the spotlight and redefine reward campaigns in the blockchain space. Uniswap’s $35M UNI AirDrop Makes Waves Following Jupiter’s $630M Token Distribution A Strategic Response to Airdrop Momentum Uniswap’s AirDrop comes at a pivotal time for decentralized finance, following the tremendous success of Jupiter’s Solana-based $630M JUP distribution. Jupiter’s campaign not only propelled its market cap by 87% to $3.5B but also reinforced the power of airdrops as a key tool for driving user engagement and adoption. By launching its $35M UNI AirDrop so soon after, Uniswap is positioning itself to lead the next wave of innovation in DeFi rewards. “We’re excited to continue rewarding our users while driving adoption across the DeFi ecosystem,” said Hari Sevugan, a spokesperson from Uniswap Labs. “The success of airdrops like Jupiter’s
25 January 2025
Concept Medical Announces First Patient Enrollment in the MAGICAL BTK IDE Trial, Launching its PAD Clinical Program in the United States
TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Concept Medical Inc., a global pioneer in innovative drug delivery technology, is proud to announce the successful enrolment of the first patient in the “MAGICAL BTK” (Randomized Controlled Trial of MagicTouch PTA – Sirolimus Coated Balloon Versus Standard Balloon Angioplasty in the Treatment of Below The Knee arterial disease) U.S. Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) pivotal trial. The first patient was enrolled by Dr. Prakash Krishnan, MD, and his team at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, marking a crucial milestone in the advancement of treatment options for patients suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD) below the knee. First patient enrollment in MAGICAL-BTK IDE Study in the United States. Following the recent IDE Approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for MagicTouch PTA, this enrolment heralds the beginning of Concept Medical’s peripheral clinical trial program in the United States. With the ongoing IDE study for MagicTouch SCB in coronary artery disease, Concept Medical is now actively enrolling in two U.S. clinical trials in both coronary and peripheral interventions—an unprecedented achievement aimed at improving patient outcomes and expanding therapeutic choices. “The enrolment of the first patient in the MAGICAL BTK trial represents
16 January 2025
Norgine submits Marketing Authorisation Application to the European Medicines Agency for eflornithine (difluoromethylornithine [DFMO]) in high-risk neuroblastoma
Back to media releasesNext media release LONDON, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Norgine today announced that it completed its marketing authorisation application filing to European Medicines Agency (EMA) for eflornithine in high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB). This follows the submissions in April 2024, via Project Orbis, in Australia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. This milestone further supports Norgine’s efforts to give patients access to eflornithine and bring a further treatment option in the field of paediatric oncology. Norgine and USWM, LLC (dba US WorldMeds), a Kentucky-based specialty pharmaceutical company, have an exclusive licensing agreement by which Norgine will register and commercialise eflornithine, also referred to as DFMO, in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. On 13 December 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved eflornithine as the first oral maintenance therapy for HRNB, indicated to reduce the risk of relapse in adult and paediatric patients who have received certain prior therapies.[1] The approval decision was based on findings from a trial comparing outcomes from patients treated with eflornithine in Study 3b (NCT02395666)[2],[4] to control patients derived from Study ANBL0032 (NCT00026312; clinical-trial-derived external control arm)[3],[4]. The study with eflornithine treated patients showed improved event-free survival and overall survival when compared to outcomes for patients with HRNB
8 January 2025
Consumer Technology Association Announces New Global Innovation Champions
Global Innovation Scorecard highlights countries that excel in broadband, autonomous vehicles, blockchain and more LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today at CES® 2025, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® announces the 2025 Global Innovation Scorecard, measuring the political, economic, and demographic factors that foster innovation. The Innovation Champions were honored during the State of the Industry keynote, including the following country representatives accepting their awards on stage: Erkki Keldo, Minister of Economy and Industry, Estonia Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, Ambassador of Finland to the United States Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister of Justice and Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, Germany Dirk Beljaarts, Minister of Economic Affairs, The Netherlands Ebba Busch, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister, Sweden Ralf Heckner, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United States This year’s report evaluates 74 countries and the European Union across 16 categories and 56 metrics, making it the most comprehensive analysis to-date. In its biennial global scorecard, CTA grades countries for which public, verifiable, and independent third-party data exists; comparable data across nations is available; and governments can influence public policy. Innovation ChampionsThe highest ranking of Innovation Champion honors nations with a diverse and highly skilled workforce, fast broadband,
7 January 2025
LingoAce Launches Ace Academy Learning Centers in the United States and Australia
SINGAPORE and NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LingoAce, the global leader in online education for children with award-winning learning programs in Mandarin Chinese, English, and math, today announces the launch of Ace Academy Learning Centers in San Jose, California; the Greater New York City metro; and Melbourne, Australia. This expansion into in-classroom learning builds on the success of the company’s first location in Singapore, of which nearly 2,000 students have enrolled since 2021. The San Jose Center opened its doors in 2024 and has already experienced a 95% student overall satisfaction rate and a 100% renewal rate. Following a year of being cash flow positive in 2024 and more than a year of profitability in its core online learning business, LingoAce has identified a new growth opportunity for blended learning. “With years of experience teaching students globally at scale, we have developed the highest-quality curriculum, trained the best teachers, and understood the nuances of using blended learning to enhance student-teacher engagement and foster a thriving learning community,” shares Hugh Yao, Founder and CEO of LingoAce. Blended-Learning Combines Benefits of Online and In-Person Learning The demand is especially strong in the San Francisco Bay Area, the greater New York
7 January 2025
Eddid Financial Collaborates Again with SOAS for 10th Anniversary International Bursary to Support Global Education
HONG KONG, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Eddid Financial (the “Group”) is pleased to announce the establishment of the “Eddid Financial 10th Anniversary International Bursary” and “Eddid Financial 10th Anniversary International Academic Bursary” in collaboration with the School of Oriental and African Studies (“SOAS”) at the University of London for the 2024/25 academic year. This bursary is designed to support outstanding master’s students at SOAS Business School who have financial needs and demonstrate academic excellence, enabling them to fully engage in academic research and realize their potential. SOAS is one of the UK’s premier universities, renowned for its excellence in academic research and its multicultural environment, attracting students from around the globe. As the only institution in the UK dedicated to the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East within the humanities and social sciences, it enjoys an esteemed international reputation. Eddid Financial is committed to nurturing talent, particularly in the finance sector. The Group is honored to partner with SOAS once again, believing that this initiative will create more equitable learning and development opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds, broadening their international perspectives and cultivating future leaders in the global business arena. The Group also looks forward
23 December 2024
FIRST LEGO League INNOFest Launches Setting New Benchmarks in Hong Kong’s STEAM Education
HONG KONG, Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — World Class Tests (“WCT”) announced the launch of the 2024-25 FIRST® LEGO® League INNOFest (“FLL INNOFest”), a major STEAM education initiative in Hong Kong fully supported by Innovation and Technology Commission, officially launched today, injecting new momentum into Hong Kong’s STEAM education! This first-of-its-kind large-scale international STEAM initiative in Hong Kong aims to champion STEAM education principles, cultivate innovative technological talent, and reinforce Hong Kong’s standing as an international education hub through a thoughtfully curated programme of activities. World Class Tests announced the launch of the 2024-25 FIRST® LEGO® League INNOFest, a major STEAM education initiative in Hong Kong, officially launched today, injecting new momentum into Hong Kong’s STEAM education The launch is particularly timely as the Hong Kong SAR Government advances its robust educational reform and innovation agenda. The Government’s ongoing commitment to promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) education in primary and secondary schools includes renewing the junior secondary Science curriculum and implementing AI-assisted teaching pilot schemes. This commitment, along with the formation of the Steering Committee on Strategic Development of Digital Education, facilitates the enhancement of students’ scientific thinking and fosters innovation through the seamless integration of
20 December 2024
British education group GEDU adds ICN, a Triple Crown institution to its portfolio
LONDON, Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Global Education (GEDU) has partnered with triple accredited business school, ICN, to boost its international business offering for students. GEDU Group and ICN Announce New Partnership ICN has three campuses; Paris, Nancy and Berlin, and is ranked in the top one per cent of business schools globally. Their courses also consistently rank highly in the QS rankings: EMBA: 66th EMBA in Europe/151-160 globally MIM: 101-110 Master’s in Management MSc Luxe (Luxury and Design Management): 61-70 MSc International Finance (Finance and Risk Management): 101-110 GEDU Deputy CEO Professor Ray Lloyd said this will bolster GEDU’s efforts to extend high-quality education to the rest of the world. “We are delighted to welcome ICN into the GEDU family,” said Professor Lloyd. “They have done an amazing job in climbing the world rankings in the last few years and we feel privileged that they have chosen GEDU to help them develop into a genuine leader in business education. “They will now be in a position to further develop their offering in both Nancy and Paris and, over the next few years, open in other locations outside France to ensure they have a significant footprint on the world stage. “At
20 December 2024
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025
LONDON, Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — QS Quacquarelli Symonds, global higher education experts, released the third edition of the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability, showcasing over 1,740 universities from 107 locations. The University of Toronto is confirmed world’s #1, followed by ETH Zurich in second place. Lund University in Sweden and the University of California, Berkeley share joint third. Prof Meric Gertler, President, University of Toronto, said: “We are thrilled that our university is once again ranked 1st in the world in the QS Sustainability Rankings, confirming our resolve to lead the way to a sustainable future.” Top 10 2025 2024 Institution Country 1 1 University of Toronto Canada 2 18 ETH Zurich Switzerland 3 8 Lund University Sweden 3 2 University of California, Berkeley USA 5 189 UCL UK 5 4 University of British Columbia Canada 7 6 Imperial College London UK 7 15 The University of Edinburgh UK 9 3 The University of Manchester UK 9 9 The University of Melbourne Australia Seven African universities rank in the top 500. The University of Cape Town ranks 45th, the highest in the region. Cairo University is ranked 370th. Australia has 14 universities in the top 100, with the University of
10 December 2024
Future-proofing education: 2024 Yidan Prize Summit explores ways to strengthen resilience for learners, educators, and systems
HONG KONG, Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Yidan Prize Foundation, the global philanthropic foundation behind the world’s highest education accolade, hosted the 2024 Yidan Prize Summit in Hong Kong on 9 December. Themed ‘Future-proofing education: the essential role of resilience’, this year’s Summit offered a robust platform for researchers, policymakers, philanthropists, and education leaders globally to exchange ideas on innovative means to build resilience in a fast-changing world. In his welcome remarks, Dr Charles CHEN Yidan, Founder of the Yidan Prize, shared what resilience means to him. He said, “In today’s world, where civilization and technology make progress in tandem, where conflicts and cooperation co-exist, resilience is rooted in hope. Hope drives us to chase after a better life, realize our potential, and never give up.” He emphasized that, “Resilience is essential to the future of education. Resilient people make resilient economies and thriving societies.” Dr Charles CHEN Yidan, Founder of the Yidan Prize, shared what resilience means to him in his welcome remarks at the 2024 Yidan Prize Summit. Alicia Herbert, Director of Education, Gender and Equality and Special Envoy for Gender Equality at the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, gave an opening keynote on the need to
10 December 2024
賀錦麗開票結果未如預期，支持者心情低迷，社群哀嚎「The United States of Anxiety」
隨著美國總統大選開票進行，現任副總統、民主黨候選人賀錦麗（Kamala Harris）面臨的局勢越發嚴峻，原本情緒高昂樂觀的支持者情緒逐漸轉為失望。 美國時間11月5日晚，數千名支持者聚集在賀錦麗的母校——位於華盛頓特區、歷史悠久的黑人大學霍華德大學（Howard University），他們原本滿懷期待，希望能高呼「女士總統」（Madam President）或「賀錦麗總統」（President Harris）的口號，迎接一場歷史性的勝利。 但隨著選情發展，川普（Donald Trump）的得票率持續領先，賀錦麗支持者們的希望逐漸變得渺茫，原本熱烈的歡呼聲也逐步被壓抑的嘆息給取代。 綜合外媒報導，開票初期，霍華德大學校園內洋溢著期待的興奮氛圍。這所賀錦麗1986年的母校，原本期待能見證一位有色人種女性、也是該校畢業生距離總統寶座如此接近的歷史性時刻。 該校校長Ben Vinson III甚至在選舉之夜致詞時表示：「今晚，當我們的國家進行這個民主儀式之際，當我們繼續進行這項艱難而必要的民主工作時，我們霍華德非常自豪且榮幸能迎接我們的校友賀錦麗回家。」 然而，隨著開票結果顯示川普大幅領先，尤其在關鍵的搖擺州中，包括喬治亞州、印第安納州、肯塔基州、北卡羅來納州，以及最關鍵的賓州都相繼落入川普手中。即使開票尚未完全結束，川普仍穩居優勢，這樣的結果重創了賀錦麗支持者的信心，社群媒體上更掀起一片「The United States of Anxiety」的哀嚎聲浪。 Photo Credit: 截圖自Threads 儘管賀錦麗的選情持續落後，霍華德大學的選舉之夜活動現場仍有DJ不斷播放音樂，試圖維持氣氛。然而，支持者們目不轉睛地盯著無聲播放的《CNN》開票螢幕，神情中透著失落，只有當宣布賀錦麗在華盛頓州、夏威夷州和維吉尼亞州等地獲勝時，螢幕的聲音才會被打開，現場才短暫恢復一些生氣。 但當《CNN》主播John King報導賀錦麗的選情變得更為嚴峻時，許多支持者已經難掩失望之情，有人甚至掩面哭泣，彼此緊緊擁抱，試圖尋求些許安慰。 而面對當前落後的局勢，賀錦麗的競選團隊仍持續強調樂觀之處。 他們指出，費城的投票表現超出預期，而民主黨大票倉——密西根州底特律的計票仍在進行中。此外，威斯康辛州的戴恩郡和密爾瓦基郡的選票也尚未完全統計，完整結果預計要到美國時間11月6日才會揭曉，競選團隊似乎希望透過釋放正面消息，緩解支持者的失落情緒。 然而，當賀錦麗宣布不會在霍華德大學向支持者發表演說的消息傳出後，現場氣氛更加低迷。原本聚集在校園內觀看《CNN》和《MSNBC》選舉報導的群眾，神情變得更為凝重而焦慮，逐漸開始離開。 這一情況對支持者們來說無疑是個沉重打擊，畢竟這場選舉對他們而言意義非凡。他們渴望見證美國首位女性總統的誕生，尤其是在2016年希拉蕊（Hillary Clinton）未能打破政治玻璃天花板後，大家將希望寄託在賀錦麗身上。 儘管目前川普在多個州領先，甚至已發表勝選感言，但最終結果仍須等待各州完成計票才能確認。這場影響全球政經局勢的美國大選，依然是國際社會高度關注的焦點。 新聞來源 延伸閱讀 【加入關鍵評論網會員】每天精彩好文直送你的信箱，每週獨享編輯精選、時事精選、藝文週報等特製電子報。還可留言與作者、記者、編輯討論文章內容。立刻點擊免費加入會員！ 責任編輯：鍾宇筑核稿編輯：翁世航 Source link
2 December 2024
Taiwan Showcases Mandarin Education Excellence at 2024 ACTFL Conference in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) annual convention, a major event in language education, took place from Nov. 22 to 24 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Taiwan’s delegation, led by the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET), included representatives from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, Overseas Community Affairs Council, National Academy for Educational Research, Steering Committee for the Test of Proficiency-Huayu, the Fulbright Taiwan Foundation for Scholarly Exchange, 13 universities, and industry partners. In all, 20 institutions promoted Taiwan’s strengths in Mandarin education. The delegation was joined by Taiwan’s six Education Division offices in the U.S. to advance collaboration in Mandarin education. As a landmark event, sponsored by the American Institute in Taiwan has partnered with the Ministry of Education Taiwan and FICHET to organize the first Taiwan-U.S. Mandarin Education Symposium during the ACTFL conference to deepen educational cooperation between Taiwan and the United States. A featured session, chaired by Dr. Randall Nadeau, executive director of the Fulbright Taiwan Foundation, included discussions with key figures in U.S. Mandarin education, including Taiwan’s representative to New York, Ambassador and Director General Tom Chih-Chiang Lee, Ingrid Larson, Managing Director of the American Institute in Taiwan Washington
2 December 2024
Rudy R. Miller Awards Scholarship to Student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, College of Business, Security and Intelligence, Prescott, Arizona Campus
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rudy R. Miller awarded his 2024 College of Business, Security and Intelligence (CBSI) scholarship to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ, student, Christina Muchow. Ms. Muchow is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Global Security and Intelligence Studies with concentrations in Russian and Intelligence, with a minor in Diplomatic and Military History and International Relations. Embry-Riddle Prescott’s College of Business, Security and Intelligence represents the first comprehensive degree-granting college of its kind in the United States. CBSI focuses on the training of future business, security, and intelligence professionals, on both the national and international level. The College’s courses of study emphasize research in the fields of global business, international security, and global intelligence. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott Campus is a National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE CDE) institution. Ms. Muchow is a dedicated student with a 4.0 GPA. She is also a writer and assistant editor for Eagle Eye Intelligence, the campus intelligence newsletter. Ms. Muchow has published several briefs about current geopolitical events occurring in former Soviet countries. She is a member of the Student Intelligence Association, Security
13 November 2024
TOPDON US Announces Agreement to Support Carroll Shelby Automotive Program at Northeast Texas Community College
TOPDON USA’s TOP-UP Program Students of NTCC Carroll Shelby Automotive Program benefit from TOP-UP Program. Northeast Texas Community College Carroll Shelby Automotive Program TOPDON’s TOP-UP program was created to support the next generation of automotive technicians Rockaway, New Jersey, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TOPDON USA, the premier provider of cutting-edge technology and advanced tools for auto repair professionals and enthusiasts, announced today an agreement with Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) to help educate students attending the Carroll Shelby Automotive Program. Through the company’s global TOP-UP program, the company has donated over $250,000 in cash and products to prepare the next generation of skilled automotive technicians through education, training and product donations worldwide. “It’s exciting to watch our TOP-UP program grow across the U.S. to include one of the most iconic names in automotive racing, design and manufacturing, Carroll Shelby,” said Chad Schnitz, Vice President of TOPDON USA. “It’s an honor to partner with the Northeast Texas Community College in support of Carroll’s vision to support the next generation of automotive technicians through the Carroll Shelby Automotive Program.” The announcement, which was made today in the TOPDON US booth during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, was attended
6 November 2024
500 students and faculty celebrate Lingnan’s International Day, Supporting the Government’s ‘Study in Hong Kong’ brand initiative
HONG KONG, Nov. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In light of the Government’s recent Policy Address promoting Hong Kong as an international hub for post-secondary education, and to build the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, Lingnan University gave its annual International Day on 29 October a “Cultural Fusion, Global Vision” theme. The event attracted about 500 faculty members and students for a lively celebration of diversity and cultural exchange. Dynamic performances included K-pop dancing, Pakistani music, and traditional Kazakh instrumentals. Booths from 11 countries and regions, including those involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, such as Mainland China, Germany, Japan, Kazakhstan, and Mexico, provided everyone with an immersive cultural experience. Each booth offered local foods, crafts, and games, creating an interactive and colourful multicultural adventure on campus. In his speech, Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science, highlighted Lingnan’s progress, saying “I am pleased to share with you some encouraging achievements in our internationalisation efforts. This semester, we have welcomed over 180 exchange students from more than 20 countries, including Mainland China, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom
2 November 2024
HII Hosts United Kingdom Defense Leaders at Newport News Shipbuilding
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HII (NYSE: HII) hosted United Kingdom defense leaders at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division Tuesday. Madelaine McTernan, chief of defence nuclear at the Ministry of Defence, led the U.K. delegation. Adm. William Houston, director of the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, accompanied them. “It was an honor to welcome the United Kingdom delegation to the shipyard and share best practices as we strengthen our partnership,” NNS President Jennifer Boykin said. “We appreciate every opportunity to demonstrate the pride and commitment our shipbuilders have for building the nuclear-powered vessels our U.S. Navy needs to protect freedom and prosperity around the world.” “I am grateful for this opportunity to visit our partners in the United States and see the expertise on display today,” McTernan said. “This visit comes following the renewal of the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement which shows our commitment to strengthening our bilateral relationship with our trusted partner, as we look to how we can safeguard our nation’s security in an increasingly challenging world.” Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/hii-hosts-united-kingdom-defense-leaders-at-newport-news-shipbuilding/. “The 1958 Mutual Defense Agreement is a cornerstone of our collective security, underscoring the profound trust and collaboration
1 November 2024
New Study Highlights Trends in UK Adult Service Pricing
LONDON, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Erobella, Europe’s fastest-growing erotic portal, has released new findings from its 2024 Adult Service Pricing Index, an in-depth look at pricing trends across the UK. Analysing thousands of profiles in over 80 cities, Erobella’s data reveals regional and demographic insights that offer a clearer picture of the adult service industry’s economic landscape. Regional Trends in PricingWhile average rates show a consistent pattern across the UK, there are noticeable regional variations. Major metropolitan areas such as London and Edinburgh tend to command the highest prices due to higher demand and the cost of living. Interestingly, smaller cities like Lincoln and York have emerged among the higher-priced locations, despite their size, reflecting unique local market dynamics. By contrast, more affordable options are typically found in smaller, less economically concentrated areas. Gender and Demographic InsightsErobella’s data analysis reveals that gender and demographic factors play a significant role in pricing variations. Female providers tend to set higher rates than male counterparts, while specialized services show a distinct pricing trend. Additionally, nationality appears to influence service pricing, with clients often willing to pay a premium for certain nationalities due to perceived exclusivity or specific market preferences. Influence of
30 October 2024
Remote Access for Education: Transforming Learning with TSplus Solutions
TSplus Offers Remote Access Solutions for Education TSplus remote access solutions can play a vital role in maintaining continuity and efficiency in education. TSplus provides secure, flexible, and easy-to-use solutions that enable seamless access to educational resources from anywhere. LONDON, Oct. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As schools and universities navigate the shift towards digital learning, recent feedback from schools in the UK underscores the vital role TSplus remote access solutions can play in maintaining continuity and efficiency in education. Designed to support both educators and students, TSplus provides secure, flexible, and easy-to-use solutions that enable seamless access to educational resources from anywhere. Remote Access for Education Enhances Remote Learning and Security During the COVID-19 pandemic, Longdendale High School turned to TSplus to facilitate remote learning. According to Malcolm Ogden, Network Manager at the school, TSplus delivered the perfect balance of functionality and security. “We initially implemented TSplus because the remote tools we were using weren’t reliable,” Malcolm shares. “TSplus allowed us to set up a secure server within an hour, a lifesaver during those critical times.” The software’s remote desktop access enabled staff and students to connect to the school’s network with ease, enhancing both learning and collaboration. “It’s
24 October 2024
REL Publication | Stabilizing School Performance Indicators in New Jersey to Reduce the Effect of Random Error
The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 requires states to use a variety of indicators, including standardized tests and attendance records, to designate schools for support and improvement based on schoolwide performance and the performance of groups of students within schools. Schoolwide and group-level performance indicators are also diagnostically relevant for district-level and school-level decisionmaking outside the formal accountability context. Like all measurements, performance indicators are subject to measurement error, with some having more random error than others. Measurement error can have an outsized effect for smaller groups of students, rendering their measured performance unreliable, which can lead to misidentification of groups with the greatest needs. Many states address the reliability problem by excluding from accountability student groups smaller than an established threshold, but this approach sacrifices equity, which requires counting students in all relevant groups. With the aim of improving reliability, particularly for small groups of students, this study applied a stabilization model called Bayesian hierarchical modeling to group-level data (with groups assigned according to demographic designations) within schools in New Jersey. Stabilization substantially improved the reliability of test-based indicators, including proficiency rates and median student growth percentiles. The stabilization model used in this study was less effective for
21 October 2024
GBS Malta launches groundbreaking new campus
LONDON, Oct. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — GBS Malta, a proud member of Global Education (GEDU), has launched a cutting-edge campus in the vibrant heart of San Ġiljan, marking a new era for student learning and campus life in Malta. Members of the GEDU Group greet guests. Maltese Minister for Education, Youth, Research and Innovation, the Hon. Dr Clifton Grima MP said: “As a country, we (Government and Opposition) might argue over many things, but there are certain instances where we come together, because we know and understand that when there is unity, there is stability, and when there is stability, there is potential.” Maltese Shadow Minister for Education and Trades, the Hon. Justin Schembri MP said: “The establishment of this campus is a testament to GBS’ commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education that equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in today’s competitive market.” GEDU Deputy CEO, Professor Ray Lloyd said this is a significant step forward. “Our mission is to change lives through education and provide students with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed in an ever-changing world,” said Professor Lloyd. “This new campus is a significant investment and as we continue
18 October 2024
Rising Stars Program Gains Education Partner in North Carolina
School Launch Concludes the 2024 Fall Semester Kick-Off Rising Stars Logo Rising Stars Logo Cleveland, Ohio, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tremco Construction Products Group (Tremco CPG), a global construction products manufacturer, is proud to announce the addition of Hopewell High School (Hopewell) as an education partner in the Charlotte metropolitan area for its nationally renowned Rising Stars Program. The program officially launched at Hopewell on October 10, making it the final location to launch for the 2024 fall semester. The Rising Stars Program is designed to empower the next generation of underrepresented youth aged 16-24 by providing opportunities for sustainable careers in construction. Led by industry veterans, the curriculum includes seminars and hands-on training in carpentry, project management, solar panel installation, roofing, construction management and architecture. Offered in five cities across the United States, including Brooklyn, N.Y.; Newark, N.J.; Boston, Mass.; Cleveland, Ohio; and Charlotte, N.C., the Rising Stars Program continues to add new partners in existing cities while also growing its national footprint by launching in new locations. Prior to commencing the formalized partnership with Hopewell, the program had been offered in Charlotte at the Grier Heights Community Center. “Bringing the Rising Stars Program to Hopewell School
15 October 2024
Warren Buffett Bets Big as Berkshire Hathaway Doubles Down on Struggling Sirius XM
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) has recently increased its stake in Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI), now owning over 35% of the satellite radio company. Between January 30 and February 3, 2025, Berkshire acquired an additional 2.3 million shares worth $54 million. This brings their total to around 119.8 million shares, despite Sirius XM’s stock having a tough year with a 50% drop in value. Maximize Your Portfolio with Data Driven Insights: Leverage the power of TipRanks’ Smart Score, a data-driven tool to help you uncover top performing stocks and make informed investment decisions. Monitor your stock picks and compare them to top Wall Street Analysts’ recommendations with Your Smart Portfolio What’s Behind Berkshire’s Move? Buffett’s strategy is straightforward: invest in companies with solid market positions and long-term growth potential. For Sirius XM, Berkshire’s commitment is a strong signal that the satellite radio company has what it takes to succeed in the digital era. While Sirius XM’s recent performance might scare off many investors, Buffett’s firm is banking on its future growth, especially as it aims to expand into streaming and digital content to attract a younger, tech-savvy audience. The Market Reacts The market’s reaction to Berkshire’s increased stake
5 February 2025
President Trump sends first US migrant detainees to Guantanamo Bay
The US has sent the first group of migrants to Guantanamo Bay since President Donald Trump announced plans to expand migrant detention at the base, officials say. A brief statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the detainees were part of the Tren de Aragua – a gang that originated in Venezuela’s prisons. Ten detainees were flown from the Fort Bliss Army base near the Texas border to the US Navy base in Cuba on Tuesday afternoon, the BBC’s US partner CBS News reported, citing multiple US officials. Last week, Trump ordered that an existing migrant detention facility at the base be expanded to hold some 30,000 people. He said that would double the US capacity to hold undocumented migrants. The move is part of Trump’s effort to crack down on undocumented migrants in the US after his return to office. He has promised arrests and mass deportations. In Tuesday’s brief statement, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said: “President Donald Trump has been very clear: Guantanamo Bay will hold the worst of the worst. That starts today.” The department published several photographs of the detainees being taken on board the plane. Two officials told CBS that the group was
5 February 2025
Pakistan’s president says extremist attacks won’t end friendship with China
BEIJING (AP) — Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari said Wednesday that his country’s friendship with China has “gone through ups and downs” but it won’t be broken down by extremist attacks that have killed Chinese nationals that have killed Chinese nationals. “Pakistan and China will always be friends, all-weather friends,” he said at the opening of talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. “No matter how many terrors, how many issues crop up in the world, I will stand, Pakistan people will stand with the people of China.” Thousands of Chinese workers work in Pakistan on road and other infrastructure projects under China’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to improve trade routes and deepen China’s ties with the rest of the world. Chinese workers have been among those targeted in attacks in recent years, including seven who died last year in two separate attacks that raised renewed alarm in China. Zardari arrived in China Tuesday on a four-day visit that will also take him to the wintry northeastern city of Harbin for the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games. He said that many forces are trying to disturb the relationship between the two countries by launching attacks
5 February 2025
How Trump’s foreign policy is opening doors for China in Latin America
During a nine-day trip through Latin America in the fall, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the leaders of Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina and inaugurated a $3-billion Chinese-funded port in Peru. Over and over, Xi stressed his interest in strengthening economic ties with the region 10,000 miles from Beijing. “True friends always feel close to each other,” he told China’s official news agency. “No matter the distance between them.” Over the last two decades, China has begun to challenge longtime U.S. hegemony in Latin America. In at least six countries — Panama, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil and Bolivia — it has surged ahead of the United States as the biggest trading partners. Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pose for photos during a welcome ceremony at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia on Nov. 20, 2024. (Eraldo Peres / Associated Press) Now experts say China has been handed another opportunity in its quest to dominate the region: the presidency of Donald Trump. In his first two weeks in office, Trump has strong-armed American allies, using the threat of tariffs to extract concessions from Colombia and then Mexico. At the same time, he
5 February 2025
Opinion | Musk? Trump? Who Exactly Is Running the Federal Government?
Mr. Musk’s recent stand against U.S.A.I.D., the federal agency responsible for administering foreign and development assistance since 1961, could have come directly from the state capture playbook — only often more brazen in intent. “U.S.A.I.D. is a criminal organization,” Mr. Musk posted over the weekend. “Time for it to die.” In that time, the agency’s website went offline, and its top two security officials were placed on administrative leave after refusing to allow members of Mr. Musk’s team access to secure U.S.A.I.D. systems. Finally, on Monday, Mr. Musk said that he had consulted Mr. Trump and that “we’re shutting it down.” (On Monday, Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, announced that he is the acting administrator of the agency.) The example from South Africa was detailed in a 2016 report actually called “State of Capture” from the country’s public protector, Thulisile Madonsela. It described how, over a number of years, billions of dollars of public funding went into the pockets of a few elites, instead of supporting struggling health services and education systems. Ms. Madonsela’s office had received a series of allegations that the Guptas, a wealthy Indian family with deep business ties in South Africa (the Guptas have denied
5 February 2025
What Donald Trump said about his plans to ‘take over’ Gaza | Israel-Palestine conflict News
President Donald Trump has said the United States will “take over” and “own” Gaza after an ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from the besieged enclave under an extraordinary plan that he claimed could turn the enclave into “the Riviera of the Middle East”. Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs Gaza, swiftly condemned the proposal as a “recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region”. Trump’s statement on his Gaza plans came while he was addressing a news conference at the White House with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Here’s what he told reporters: “Today I’m delighted to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back to the White House. It’s a wonderful feeling and a wonderful event. We had fantastic talks, and thank you very much, with your staff. “I want to say it’s an honour to have you with us. Over the past four years, the US and the Israeli alliance has been tested more than any time in history, but the bonds of friendship and affection between the American and Israeli people have endured for generations and they are absolutely unbreakable. “I’m confident that, under our leadership, the cherished alliance between our two countries will soon be stronger than ever.
5 February 2025
Bill Gates Girlfriend: After regretting divorce from Melinda French, Bill Gates talks about his girlfriend Paula Hurd for the first time |
Bill Gates and Paula Hurd at Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding celebration in Jamnagar 2024 Microsoft co-founder-billionaire-philanthropist Bill Gates is much in the news lately. Roughly four years after his divorce from Melinda French, Bill Gates recently told The Times of London that he regretted his decision. However, Gates has moved on from the past as he is dating philanthropist Paula Hurd. And in a new interview, Gates has opened up about his relationship with girlfriend Paula Hurd for the very first time.Talking about Paula and his relationship, Gates told the Today Show in an interview on Tuesday, “I’m lucky to have a serious girlfriend named Paula. We’re having fun. Going to the Olympics and lots of great things.”While this is the first time that Gates publicly spoke about Paula Hurd, the duo have often been spotted together at several events. Bill Gates and Paula Hurd were seen at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s grand pre-wedding celebration in Jamnagar, Gujarat in 2024 too among other high-profile guests. Apart from this, Gates and Hurd have a common interest in tennis and they are often seen at these events, as per reports.What went wrong between Bill Gates and Melinda FrenchBill Gates and Melinda
5 February 2025
Presidents Trump and Xi to speak on the phone amid ongoing trade tensions
BEIJING, China (TNND) — Presidents Trump and Xi are expected to speak on the phone to talk about tariffs after China responded to retaliatory tariffs. On Tuesday, China announced it will impose new tariffs on American imports that primarily target energy products and vehicles. According to China’s Ministry of Finance, the country will levy a 15% tax on certain types of coal and liquefied natural gas and a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement cars, and pickup trucks starting next week. The new tariff will take effect on February 10. China also placed new restrictions on the export of dozens of metal products and related technologies. Those include tungsten, a critical mineral typically used in industrial and defense applications, as well as tellurium, which can be used to make solar cells. Tuesday afternoon, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office “that’s fine” when asked for a response to China’s retaliatory tariffs. “We’re going to do very well against China and against everybody else,” Trump said. The retaliatory tariffs come after the U.S. government revealed plans to impose a tariff on Chinese goods due to concerns over drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl. Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Claire Leavitt told reporters
5 February 2025
Microsoft Bill Gates talks about his girlfriend for the first time ever: We are having …
In a recent interview on the Today show, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates opened up about his relationship with his girlfriend, Paula Hurd, for the first time ever. Gates, 69, expressed his happiness, saying, “I’m lucky to have a serious girlfriend named Paula. We’re having fun, going to the Olympics, and lots of great things.”Paula Hurd, a philanthropist and developer, was previously married to former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd until his passing in 2019.Gates and Hurd were first spotted together in 2022 and made their relationship official in early 2023. They have been seen together at various events, including the Paris Olympics, Breakthrough Prize Ceremony and Anant Ambani’s wedding.Reflecting on his past marriage to Melinda French Gates, which ended in 2021, Gates described the split as “the mistake I most regret.” In an interview with the Times of London, Bill Gates acknowledged that his divorce from Melinda French Gates after 27 years of marriage remains the biggest regret of his life.While he expressed greater happiness in his current life, he candidly admitted that the divorce was an incredibly difficult period for both him and Melinda, lasting for at least two years.In the aftermath of the divorce, Bill Gates acknowledged his shortcomings,
5 February 2025
Analysis: Trump’s Gaza ‘Riviera’ plan is the most outlandish idea in the history of US Middle East peacemaking
CNN — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu couldn’t keep the smirk off his face. And no wonder. Netanyahu looked on in the White House on Tuesday as President Donald Trump delivered the most stunning US intervention in the long history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The president repeatedly doubled down on his suggestion that nearly 2 million Palestinians should be relocated from battle-leveled Gaza to new homes elsewhere so that the US could send troops to the Strip, take ownership and build the “Riviera of the Middle East.” “You build really good quality housing, like a beautiful town, like some place where they can live and not die, because Gaza is a guarantee that they’re going to end up dying,” Trump told reporters. In a few words, Trump conjured up a mind-boggling geopolitical transformation of the Middle East and a political lifeline for Netanyahu – showing why the prime minister, despite their past tensions, was rooting for his host’s return to power in the 2024 election. Netanyahu can now bill himself to right-wing factions in his coalition, which incessantly threaten his grip on power, as the unique and vital conduit to Trump. The American president’s views now parallel Israeli hardliners’ desire
5 February 2025
Trump’s Proposal to ‘Take Over’ Gaza Sparks Immediate Rebukes
President Trump’s declaration on Tuesday evening that the United States could “take over” the Gaza Strip and that its Palestinian population could be permanently displaced was immediately criticized in the Middle East and beyond. At a joint White House news conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, Mr. Trump said, “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too.” He said the enclave, which has been devastated by more than 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas, could be redeveloped and turned into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” Riyad Mansour, the leader of the Palestinian delegation to the United Nations, said on social media that instead of being relocated to other countries, the Palestinians in Gaza should be allowed to reclaim what were once Palestinian homes in Israel. “For those who want to send” Gazans “to a happy ‘nice place,’” Mr. Mansour said, using language that Mr. Trump had employed, “let them go back, you know, to their original homes inside Israel. There are nice places there, and they will be happy to return to these places.” He added that Palestinians wanted to rebuild Gaza themselves, and he urged
5 February 2025
Donald Trump’s Gaza plan: the key takeaways | Gaza
Donald Trump and Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed reporters at the White House, where the US president announced his intention to take over the Gaza Strip, move Palestinians to neighbouring countries and redevelop the territory for occupation by “the world’s people”. Here are the main takeaways from their joint press conference on Tuesday evening: In a shock announcement, Trump said the US will “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip. The US president said he envisioned a “long-term” US ownership of the territory after all Palestinians were moved elsewhere. He did not explain how and under what authority the US can take over the land of Gaza. “We will own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” he said. He said the US would “level” destroyed buildings and “create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.” The US president called Gaza a “symbol of death and destruction” and that the only reason people want to go back there is because they have nowhere else to go. The 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza should move to neighbouring
5 February 2025
Elon Musk gets White House reminders his power is not unchecked
Tech billionaire and newly minted “special government employee“ Elon Musk has received quiet White House reminders in recent days that while he has wide, nearly unprecedented latitude to slash spending and reorient the federal government at a breakneck pace, his power is not unchecked. Trump has suggested publicly, and aides have signaled behind the scenes, that Musk is still a staffer and needs to report to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Follow live politics coverage here “I’m not sure it was his preferred direction, and it did not seem like he was expecting it,” a Trump aide told NBC News of Musk being told he needed to answer to Wiles. “But it has been reiterated to him in ways that, yes, he reports to the chief of staff.” Another person familiar with the situation granted anonymity to speak freely reiterated that sentiment and added that Musk has acknowledged she’s the leader of the team at the White House. Wiles told NBC News that she has “a very productive and friendly relationship” with Musk. A spokesperson for the Department of Government Efficiency, the agency Musk runs, did not return a request for comment. We’re looking to hear from federal
5 February 2025
Donald Trump announces US aims to ‘take over’ Gaza during Netanyahu’s visit | Donald Trump News
United States President Donald Trump has welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House, marking the first visit of a foreign leader during his second term. But Tuesday’s meeting was steeped in controversy as Trump repeatedly weighed in on the future of war-torn Gaza — and whether Palestinians should return to live in the enclave. “Gaza is a guarantee that they’re going to end up dying. The same thing is going to happen again,” Trump said. “It’s happened over and over again. And it’s going to happen again.” “So I hope we can do something where they wouldn’t want to go back. Who would want to go back? They’ve experienced nothing but death and destruction.” Trump also suggested that the US aims to “take over” a depopulated Gaza, shaping its landscape for years to come. “ I do see a long-term ownership position, and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East and maybe the entire Middle East,” Trump said. “This was not a decision made lightly. Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs.” A fragile ceasefire recently paused
5 February 2025
How Outrage at Elon Musk Is Helping Democrats Fight Back
This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIME’s politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. For the first time in weeks, it looks like Democrats are summoning something passing for a plan to counter the unapologetic chaos radiating from the reinstalled administration of President Donald Trump. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has laid out a 10-step plan for slowing down Trump. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii says he will force Republicans to waste valuable floor time on State Department nominations by attaching blanket holds to all of them. First-term Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, a Bidenesque pragmatist of the first order, declared flatly that she was a no on all Trump nominees going forward, a gutsy move that signaled even the most centrist of lawmakers were nearing the end of their patience. And, among Democratic strategists, there is a not-even-subtle chatter about recruiting candidates for districts laden with federal workers, including four where Republican incumbents have more than 25,000 feds underfoot. There are also three Republicans representing three districts that went blue in the 2024 presidential campaign. Nothing spurs a conversion like a potential shift in power. Symbolic? Maybe. Effective? Well,
5 February 2025
Bill Gates Clarifies “Regret” Comment About Melinda Gates Divorce
Parents to daughters Miley and Noah as well as son Braison (plus he adopted her daughter Brandi and son Trace and fathered son Christopher in a previous relationship) the couple tied the knot in 1993. The country singer filed for divorce in 2010, saying in a statement at the time that they were “trying to work through some personal matters.” Mission accomplished, at least temporarily, because Billy Ray withdrew his petition in March 2011. However, he refiled in June 2013, and she counter-filed. And yet, they stayed together again, Tish crediting couples therapy for bringing them closer. But they would later find themselves drifting apart. Though Tish filed for divorce a third time in April 2022, her petition stated that she and her husband of 29 years had actually been living apart since February 2020. “It is after 30 years, five amazing children and a lifetime of memories, we have decided to go our separate ways—not with sadness, but with love in our hearts,” the exes told People in a joint statement. “We have grown up together, raised a family we can be so proud of, and it is now time to create our own paths.” Later that year, Billy Ray got engaged
4 February 2025
Bill Gates recalls tripping on LSD as a teen and joking with Steve Jobs about ‘getting the wrong batch’
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Bill Gates has opened up about his teenage experimentation with drugs including cannabis and LSD, and says he joked with Steve Jobs about taking “the wrong batch.” The Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist, 69, writes about two acid trip experiences in his new memoir Source Code, published Tuesday (February 4). Speaking to The Independent about what drew him to take the mind-altering substances, Gates said: “Because my personality is kind of optimistic, and I’m willing to take risks, I tried a lot of things. “But another thing about my personality is that I like my mind to work and be very logical. So I stopped doing even marijuana early in my 20s just because it made my mind sloppy, either during or the day afterwards.” He added: “I smoked pot in high school, but not because it did anything interesting. I thought maybe I would look cool and some girl would think that was interesting. It didn’t succeed, so I gave it up.” Gates went on to say that former Apple CEO
4 February 2025
Trump, Xi to discuss tariffs imposed on each other’s exports
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are set soon to hold a high-stakes phone call on the tit-for-tat tariffs each has imposed on the other country’s exports. Trump’s new 10% tariff on Chinese goods took effect at midnight Monday, with China quickly announcing it would impose 15% tariffs on U.S. coal and liquified natural gas, as well as 10% tariffs on crude oil, agricultural machinery and some automobiles. Trump on Monday retreated for a month from imposing 25% tariffs on most exports from the United States’ other top-three trading partners, Mexico and Canada. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to increase efforts to curb the flow of fentanyl, the deadly opioid that has killed several hundred thousand Americans over recent years. Trump said he imposed the tariff on Chinese exports to pressure China to take action to prevent fentanyl smuggling into the U.S., which identified China as a major source of the precursor chemicals used by Mexican drug cartels to manufacture fentanyl. A photo released on Jan. 31, 2025, shows two suspects being presented with confiscated illegal drugs at an undisclosed location in Mexico. The Mexican government announced that day it had
4 February 2025
Celebrities wearing Cynthia Rowley: Designer on dressing Julia Roberts and more
Not many designers are as famous for their wetsuits as for their wedding-worthy dresses, but Cynthia Rowley’s got the range. Speaking with Page Six Style at the Whitney Art Party on Jan. 28 — which she’s co-sponsored and co-hosted for two consecutive years — Rowley says her brand’s aesthetic can be summed up as “sporty meets pretty.” “I grew up in a small town in the Midwest, I sewed all my life and I never even knew that fashion was a career,” she says of her beginnings. “I loved making things; it was more like an arts and crafts project. But I would dress myself.” “The Whitney Art Party is the event of the year for a lot of young, art-curious people,” Cynthia Rowley (pictured at this year’s bash with daughter Kit Keenan) tells Page Six Style. Jason Lowrie/BFA.com While studying to become a painter at the Art Institute of Chicago, Rowley’s roommate urged her to pursue a job in clothing design instead — so she “drove a U-Haul to New York” and “never looked back.” Now, almost four decades after the launch of her namesake label, Rowley’s dressed stars including Julia Roberts, Katy Perry, Lindsay Lohan and Janelle Monáe — not to mention
4 February 2025
Putin orders revival of Soviet-era Eurovision rival | Russia
Vladimir Putin has ordered the revival of the Soviet-era alternative to the Eurovision song contest after Russia was banned from participating in the competition. The Russian leader signed a decree on Monday instructing officials to revive the Intervision song contest in Moscow this year with the aim of “developing international cultural and humanitarian cooperation”. The presidential envoy Mikhail Shvydkoi previously stated that “almost 20 countries” had agreed to participate, including Brazil, Cuba, India, China and other “friendly” nations. Shvydkoi said the competition would take place in autumn. Russia was banned from competing in Eurovision in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s national broadcasters subsequently suspended their memberships of the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the show, preventing them from taking part in future contests. Putin appointed several senior officials to organise the Intervision competition, including the deputy prime minister, Dmitry Chernyshenko, who was named as the head of the organising committee. Launched under the former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, the original Intervision contest was held sporadically from the 1960s to the 1980s as the eastern bloc’s response to Eurovision. The contest, held in Poland and what was then Czechoslovakia, also drew participation from non-European countries, including Moscow’s communist allies
4 February 2025
Mass Killings Test Xi Jinping’s Security State
In 2024, a wave of violent rampages disrupted China’s carefully cultivated image of stability, exposing underlying tensions often obscured by the country’s tightly controlled narrative. Dubbed “Xianzhong-ology” by netizens—a reference to an infamously bloody Ming rebel Zhang Xianzhong—these “revenge on society” attacks unsettled a nation unaccustomed to such public displays of disorder. Unlike incidents in the past, this spate of violence seemed to reflect deeper fractures within Chinese society, sparking widespread unease and forcing an unusual degree of national introspection—as well as a broader push for greater security by the authorities. For Chinese President Xi Jinping, these attacks represent a profound challenge—not just to governance but to the narrative he has spent his career crafting. Shaped by the tumult of the Cultural Revolution, Xi prizes stability above all else. The 2014 Kunming train station knife attack, attributed to Uyghur separatists, spurred sweeping counterterrorism measures, including a vast surveillance apparatus. But the current wave of violence is different. These are not acts of ideological extremism or organized resistance—they are eruptions of despair. Surveillance cameras and facial recognition software cannot anticipate or address the kind of desperation driving these tragedies. But are these attacks truly on the rise, or has the hyperamplified
4 February 2025
CHART: Here’s How Much Amazon Could Be Hit by China Tariffs
Amazon could face a significant impact from Donald Trump’s new tariffs on Chinese imports. Morgan Stanley estimates Amazon to be the most-exposed among e-commerce companies the bank covers. A large chunk of Amazon’s third-party sellers are also China-based. Amazon could be one of the hardest-hit e-commerce retailers by new tariffs on imports from China. Morgan Stanley wrote in a note on Monday that roughly 25% of the cost of products directly sold by Amazon come from China, exposing them to the new tariffs. Those items sold by Amazon, called first-party merchandise, account for a little less than half of all products sold on Amazon. Third-party merchants sell the rest through Amazon’s marketplace. Amazon’s exposure to the tariffs is higher than other e-commerce companies covered by Morgan Stanley. The note estimates that the average exposure to China among those e-commerce companies is a little over 10%. Fashion retailer Revolve had the second-highest exposure among these companies at 22%. Peloton, Etsy, and Figs are estimated to have less than 3% of their products from China. “AMZN’s 1P business & RVLV have the highest exposure while PTON, ETSY & FIGS are at the low end,” Morgan Stanley wrote in the note. Morgan Stanley
4 February 2025
NBA All-Star Celebrity Game roster revealed, tip time at Oakland Arena
The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game is coming to Oakland, and once again, Oakland Arena will be a showcase site for some of the most famous entertainers in the world. ESPN and the NBA jointly announced the rosters for the 2025 edition of the celebrity game Tuesday morning, and the two teams of celebrity players will face off in Oakland starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. Players with local connections include former 49ers receiver and NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens; former Golden State Warrior Matt Barnes, who won a title with the Warriors in 2017, and WWE superstar Bayley, a San Jose native. Baron Davis, a legend from the “We Believe” Warriors era, will play in his second celebrity game. Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton, a recent pick from the WNBA expansion draft, will also take part in the game. The Warriors’ Baron Davis is surrounded by fans and media after defeating the Mavericks 111-86 in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, May 3, 2007. (Bob Pepping/Contra Costa Times) Other celebrities playing in the game include viral entertainer Druski, WNBA All-Star Allisha Gray of the Atlanta
4 February 2025
Chinese New Year in Hong Kong 2025
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, marks the start of the new year on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar and is one of the most celebrated festivals worldwide. In Hong Kong, the holiday blends contemporary celebrations with rich traditions, making it a unique experience. Festivities range from a vibrant night parade and interactive installations to dazzling festive decorations throughout the city. Traditional Celebrations Chinese New Year traditions, though regionally diverse, share common themes of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming luck and prosperity in the new one. Celebrations include decorating homes with red ornaments to repel negativity, honoring ancestors, enjoying a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve, and gifting red envelopes symbolizing blessings for safety and peace. Festivities also feature fireworks at midnight, lion and dragon dances, and traditional dishes like fish, dumplings, and rice cakes, all rich with symbolic meanings for the year ahead. New Year’s Parade (January 29, 2025) A highlight of Hong Kong’s Chinese New Year festivities is the spectacular Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade. Drawing thousands of locals and tourists each year, the parade winds through the streets of the Tsim Sha Tsui neighborhood near Victoria Harbour. The vibrant procession
31 January 2025
Halloween in Hong King: Parties, Festivals & Disneyland 2025, Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a city with a unique history where both Asian and Western traditions strive. The city has mystical villages, haunted Victorian mansions, and lots of amusement parks with family-friendly fun. You can join trick-or-treaters walking between skyscrapers, festivities in decorated malls, and colorful street parties to mark the scariest night of the year. Halloween in Hong Kong Disneyland Every September and October, the dark fog creeps into Hong Kong Disneyland. The theme park becomes enchanted with a howling evil wind, a dark creeping fog, and various sinister villains. Evil forces will do everything to turn the Halloween party into a wicked one. Thankfully, there are plenty of good characters like Mickey, Donald, and Goofy who will handle the spooky activities and cobwebs. Don’t forget to visit Jack Skellington’s Villainous Gathering, see Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland, and go trick-or-treating around Hong Kong Disneyland. Every year, the resort features “Let’s Get Wicked,” a 25-minute musical show created exclusively for Hong Kong Disneyland. 1-Day Ticket admission to the park is HK$639. Lan Kwai Fong Halloween Street Party Central’s notorious bar district, Lan Kwai Fong, is known for its over-the-top, outlandish, and often ridiculous parties, and Halloween night is no exception.
30 January 2025
誠邀你出席香港迪士尼樂園度假區招聘活動 [CN/EN] – Life at Disney
如果你敢夢敢想，而且希望同我哋一 樣成為香港迪士尼嘅演藝人員，歡迎出席我哋嘅招聘活動！ 即將舉行的招聘活動 12月3及4日 (星期二及三)：上午9時30分至下午4時30分 迪士尼樂園招聘中心 <招聘盛會> 12月4日 (星期三)：下午2時至下午5時 觀塘 – 勞工處建造業招聘中心 12月11日 (星期三)：下午1時至下午4時30分 迪士尼樂園招聘中心 <酒店營運 招聘日> 12月12日 (星期四)：下午1時至下午4時30分 迪士尼樂園招聘中心 <餐飲 招聘日> 12月17日 (星期二) ：下午1時至下午4時30分 迪士尼樂園招聘中心 <樂園營運 招聘日> 全職員工福利 5天工作周 前線交通津貼 港鐵特惠月票 迪士尼樂園免費入場 免費享用Disney +服務 樂園商品、餐飲及酒店住宿折扣優惠 員工親友尊享活動 申請人請攜同身份證、銀行戶口號碼、英文住址證明、工作及學歷證明 ( 正本及副本 )出席面試。 任何招聘查詢，可以聯絡招聘熱線 9339-3882 (WhatsApp/WeChat/致電)。 香港迪士尼樂園為平等機會僱主。所有職位申請將作機密資料處理及只作聘任用途。倘申請人在遞交履歷後4星期內仍未收到回覆，有關申請將保留24個月，本公司會在這期間視乎其他合適職位而作出考慮。 Meet with us at upcoming Hong Kong Disneyland Resort recruitment events! We’re looking for dreamers to join our team at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort! The magic is happening now with the opening of World of Frozen and new immersive guest offerings like the nighttime spectacular “Momentous.” Where will your place be at the heart of the magic? Join us at one of our upcoming recruitment days to find out! Upcoming Recruitment Days: Dec 3 & 4 (Tuesday & Wednesday): 9:30am – 4:30pm at Disney Casting Center Dec 4 (Wednesday): 2:00pm – 5:00pm at Kwun Tong – Construction Industry Recruitment Centre, Labour Department Dec 11 (Wednesday): 1:00pm – 4:30pm at Disney Casting Center Dec 12 (Thursday): 1:00pm – 4:30pm at Disney Casting Center Dec 17 (Tuesday): 1:00pm – 4:30pm at Disney Casting Center Full-Time Employee Benefits: 5-Day Work Week Frontline Transportation Allowance Cast Member MTR Offer Complimentary Park Admission Complimentary Disney+ Subscription Cast Members Exclusive
24 December 2024
Hong Kong’s Merchandise Trade Shows Growth in Volume and Prices for October 2024
Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in October 2024 Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for October 2024 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (December 16) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month. In October 2024, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 0.3% and 1.5% respectively over October 2023. Comparing the first ten months of 2024 with the same period in 2023, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 5.8% and 3.3% respectively. Comparing the three-month period ending October 2024 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods decreased by 4.5% and 0.5% respectively. Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted. Comparing October 2024 with October 2023, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 3.4% and 3.0% respectively. As regards price changes in the first ten months of 2024 over the same
19 December 2024
Best Time To Visit Hong Kong 2025 – Weather & 35 Things to Do
82 82 100 82 83 86 90 85 85 80 70 82 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec Average prices and comfortable temperatures make October through December the best time to visit Hong Kong. That’s when music lovers party at the Clockenflap Festival and views from Ngong Ping 360 are most scenic. Hong Kong sees a surge of tourism and prices going through the roof during the Golden Week in October and Chinese New Year holidays in late January or February. Period from April to May is an excellent interim between winter chilly temps and summer heat and humidity, with slightly lower room rates. Hot and muggy summer in Hong Kong lasts from June to September and brings in fantastic Dragon Boat Festival, hiking, and clam digging, but beware of probable typhoons and thick tourists crowds. See more Source link
16 December 2024
Halloween at Hong Kong Disneyland 2025
Every September and October, a dark fog creeps into Hong Kong Disneyland, transforming the theme park with a howling evil wind and various sinister villains. Evil forces aim to turn the Halloween party into a wicked affair. Still, beloved characters like Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are there to handle the spooky activities and cobwebs, ensuring a fun and enchanting experience. Events & Activities During this holiday, the park is full of dancing pumpkins, ghosts, vampires, and, of course, Mickey Mouse wearing his Halloween costume. Meet Villains from classic Disney stories in their best Halloween looks and join the Halloween party dressed up in your own Halloween outfit inspired by a Disney character. Don’t forget to visit Jack Skellington’s Villainous Gathering, see Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland, and go trick-or-treating around Hong Kong Disneyland. Every year, the resort features “Let’s Get Wicked,” a 25-minute musical show created exclusively for Hong Kong Disneyland. Mickey’s Halloween Time Street Party Mickey’s Halloween Time Street Party is decorated with autumn colors and giant jack-o’-lanterns. Vampirina, Princess Sofia, and Winnie the Pooh await friends at the Halloween Time Festival Gardens, the perfect place to go trick-or-treating during the day. But hang on until the night falls
7 December 2024
“Hong Kong Outdoor & Sport Expo cum FITech Expo 2024” Officially Opens
Rowing and Penny Farthing Take Center StageBoosting Hong Kong as a “Centre for Mega International Sports Events” HONG KONG, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Organized by the Exhibition Group, “Hong Kong Outdoor & Sport Expo cum FITech Expo 2024” (“the Expo”) is being held from today until November 24 (Friday to Sunday) at Hall 3DEFG of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Riding the wave of national enthusiasm sparked by Hong Kong’s outstanding performance of 2 gold and 2 bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, this year’s expo has expanded to two additional exhibition halls, attracting over 100 exhibitors with nearly 300 booths showcasing the latest developments in outdoor sports and related products. The exhibition boasts a comprehensive range of products, including sports equipment, fitness gear, hiking and camping equipment, and sports medical and health technologies. The event features a diverse array of exciting activities, comprising over 20 sports competitions, multiple sports experiences, and outdoor classrooms, catering to sports enthusiasts while providing the industry with a professional platform to explore cutting-edge products in depth. Organized by the Exhibition Group, “Hong Kong Outdoor & Sport Expo cum FITech Expo 2024” is being held from November 22 to 24 (Friday to
29 November 2024
Coldplay adds extra Hong Kong concert on 8th April 2025 following immediate sell-out in October
27th November 2024 – (Hong Kong) In response to overwhelming demand, British rock band Coldplay has announced an additional date for their Hong Kong leg of the “Music Of The Spheres World Tour,” scheduled for 8th April, 2025, at the Kai Tak Sports Park. The announcement follows rapid sell-outs of their initially scheduled performances on 9th, 11th and 12th April, leaving many fans without tickets. The new show was added after tickets for the previous dates sold out within minutes of release. In a remarkable rush, fans snapped up the most expensive tickets, priced at HK$6,599, which include a premium seat and exclusive behind-the-scenes access, almost immediately upon availability. Coldplay’s tour promoter, Live Nation, has opened up a new batch of tickets for the additional date, aiming to accommodate the high demand among the band’s enthusiast base. The tickets for the added show will be available to the public from 6th December, 2024, with a presale for registered fans on the artist’s official website starting on 4th December. The concert series in Hong Kong forms part of Coldplay’s extensive global tour, which has seen similar sell-outs in other cities, underscoring the band’s enduring popularity worldwide. The “Music Of The Spheres
27 November 2024
Two-Day Countdown – Hong Kong Fashion Fest kicks off a city-wide celebration of fashion, culture and creativity
HONG KONG, Nov. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The highly anticipated Hong Kong Fashion Fest, running from 20 November to 4 December 2024, is set to take over the city with an expansive programme celebrating fashion, creativity, and cultural heritage. Presented by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Hong Kong Fashion Fest brings together fashion, design, and artistry in a remarkable lineup of events, exhibitions, and experiences throughout the city. Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Mr. Victor Tsang, shared his vision: “We are thrilled to launch the Hong Kong Fashion Fest, uniting Hong Kong’s various fashion happenings under one vibrant festival on the global fashion calendar. This endeavour reflects our city’s creative energy and its role as a bridge between regional and international fashion.” Highlights: The event lineup unveiled The Fashion Union – A Platform to Celebrate the Beauty of Workwear Opening Ceremony and Event Series Launching on 20 November and running until 27 November in DX Design Hub in Sham Shui Po, the stylish salute to workwear, “The Fashion Union”, combines function with flair, offering a lineup of exhibitions,
19 November 2024
Raise a Toast to AWE’s Upcoming 20th Anniversary with a Thrilling Wave of Rewards
AWE Bear Scours the Globe to Promote Mega Events – AsiaWorld-Club Members Can Win Tickets to the Top 2025 Events of Their Choice HONG KONG, Nov. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) is celebrating the approach of its 20th anniversary by launching an exciting new campaign that offers everyone the chance to join the fun. Leveraging its international perspective and unique geographical advantages, AWE attracts millions of visitors each year, making it one of Asia’s most highly sought-after multipurpose venues. Since its inauguration, AWE has successfully hosted many large-scale exhibitions and conferences as well as sports, cultural, and entertainment events, all of which have earned it numerous accolades – and its professional team is constantly scouting the planet to bring yet more renowned global events to Hong Kong. Now, building on this successful track record of visionary innovation, AWE is set to embrace an even more fruitful year in 2025, with a lineup of distinctive exhibitions and mega events along with many superstar concerts and performances set to land at AWE for the first time. To share the joy of its milestone 20th anniversary, AWE’s celebratory campaign is themed “Explore All in AWE”, reflecting AWE’s position as an inspirational hub for
18 November 2024
October 7 widow on her film at Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival: art has a way of healing
It is hard to fathom how much trauma Israeli filmmaker Shaylee Atary has endured. In 2016, she was in a car accident that required lengthy rehabilitation. “I was in a wheelchair for more than a year,” says Atary, who today walks with the help of a cane. The story inspired a 2020 short film, Neurim, which Atary wrote, directed and starred in. In 2023 she released Single Light, a story based on a sexual assault she experienced that emphasises the importance of friendship during dark times. The perfect thing about art is that it has a way of healing, because you write the story again, and you take control back. Shaylee Atary, director of Single Light “In this dark moment, all that a person needs is just one light,” says Atary, 35, on a video call from Israel. “Just one person to be there and not be afraid of the situation.” Source link
6 November 2024
October 2024 Global Sources Hong Kong Shows Conclude, Innovation Drives New Trends in Global Trade, Multiple Shows Combine to Boost Global Trade Development
HONG KONG, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The October 2024 Global Sources Hong Kong Shows at AsiaWorld-Expo have concluded recently. The three-phase show program, spanning multiple sectors including Consumer Electronics, Electronic Components, Smart Home, Lifestyle, Sports & Outdoor, and Baby & Children, attracted nearly 5,000 premium Asian suppliers and showcased over 500,000 innovative products, setting a new record for exhibitor participation. The show recorded more than 120,000 attendees, with a marked increase in the presence of professional buyers from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The October 2024 Global Sources Hong Kong Shows recently concluded, spanning multiple sectors including Consumer Electronics, Electronic Components, Smart Home, Lifestyle, Sports & Outdoor, and Baby & Children. The event attracted nearly 5,000 premium Asian suppliers and showcased over 500,000 innovative products. It welcomed more than 120,000 attendees, including a significant increase in professional buyers from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Since their inception, the Global Sources Hong Kong Shows have become an important trade sourcing platform in Asia, leveraging the advantages of industry-specific exhibitions. This edition showcased the latest technological achievements and product innovations through diverse activities and professional networking sessions. It integrated unique digital services with physical exhibitions
6 November 2024
Carlsberg unveils curated brand area to enhance festival experience at Hypefest Hong Kong 2024
Hong Kong – Carlsberg has revealed its new brand area for the inaugural Hypefest in Hong Kong, showcasing an outdoor bar, a star-studded DJ stage, and a collaborative DIY booth created in partnership with Hypefest. As the official partner of Hypefest Hong Kong 2024, Carlsberg is poised to enhance the attendee experience with a thoughtfully curated space that seamlessly blends beer, music, and art, creating an exciting lifestyle immersion. Carlsberg’s DJ stage, inspired by its iconic hop leaf, will come alive as a stunning three-dimensional spectacle for the enthusiastic crowd. With a vibrant backdrop designed to enhance the atmosphere, the brand has also invited a diverse lineup of local and regional DJs to perform in Hong Kong. This promises an electrifying experience, delivering high-energy performances that pulse with quality on the exclusive DJ stage. Attendees can look forward to an exciting lineup featuring artists like Just Bee, Jerry Haha, Immuno, Dj Yamato Inoue, Jfüng, Katagyal, Twig Needles, Notep, Spookifybros, Xu (Lapsap), And Arthur Yeti. Adding to the excitement is the highly anticipated appearance of Yuka Mizuhara, sister of Japanese model Kiko Mizuhara, who will be flying in from Japan to take over the turntables at the event. Meanwhile, Carlsberg’s outdoor
31 October 2024
Hong Kong bars anticipate 10% boost in business this Halloween
Insert picture: Chin Chun-wing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar & Club Association. 31st October 2024 – (Hong Kong) As Halloween festivities unfold today, many residents in Hong Kong have already begun celebrating, with vibrant costumes and lively gatherings observed over the past weekend. Chin Chun-wing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar & Club Association, reported that bars in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui are expected to see business increase by at least 10% compared to last year’s Halloween. This year, Halloween falls on a weekday and is not a public holiday, limiting residents’ ability to travel north for celebrations. Consequently, many are choosing to remain in Hong Kong to partake in the seasonal atmosphere. Anthea Cheung So-may, Director of the Lan Kwai Fong Association, noted that most bars received customer bookings two weeks in advance, leading to fully booked venues since the weekend. “Last Friday, the streets were packed with revellers,” she stated. The annual Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, which attracted approximately 155,000 attendees last week—marking a 10% increase from the previous year—has also contributed to the vibrant atmosphere. Additionally, the Lan Kwai Fong district is hosting its “Spooktacular October” event, showcasing urban horror-themed decorations that have
31 October 2024
Pakistan team off to Hong Kong for Sixes event
Faheem Ashraf-led Pakistan squad before departing for Hong Kong on Oct 30, 2024. — Facebook/PakistanCricketBoard LAHORE: The Pakistan cricket team, led by Faheem Ashraf, has departed for Hong Kong to participate in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament. The squad includes Asif Ali, Aamer Yamin, Danish Aziz, Hussain Talat, Shahab Khan, and Mohammad Akhlaq. The Hong Kong Sixes will be held from November 1 to 3. A total of 12 teams have been divided into 4 groups. Pakistan are in Pool C alongside India and UAE. Pakistan will face UAE on November 1, followed by a match against India on the same day. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals to be played on November 2. The semifinals and final will be played on November 3. The Hong Kong Sixes Tournament is set to take place from November 1 to November 3, featuring 12 teams divided into four groups. Pakistan is placed in Pool C alongside India and the UAE. Pakistan’s first match will be against the UAE on November 1, followed by a face-off with India the same day. Source link
30 October 2024
Silver Nova Venetian Society Reunion voyage makes splash in Hong Kong
Silver Nova – the first of Silversea’s innovative Nova-class ships – arrived in Hong Kong on October 24, 2024, on its maiden call during its inaugural Asia season. The ship is currently hosting Silversea’s 2024 Venetian Society Reunion voyage, which commenced in Tokyo on October 15 and will conclude in Singapore on October 31, reads a press release. One of the highlights of this year’s Venetian Society Reunion voyage was an exclusive event at Hong Kong’s Wine & Dine Festival on the Central Harbourfront with VIP access for Venetian Society members. Facilitated through a close collaboration between Silversea and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, this exclusive event, hosted within the festival itself, marked a first for a collaboration of this scale. Bert Hernandez, president, Silversea, who joined the Venetian Society Reunion voyage in Hong Kong, welcomed Silversea’s guests to this special event on the Central Harbourfront. “I am delighted to host my first Venetian Society Reunion voyage as president of Silversea, celebrating our guests’ loyalty aboard our beautiful Silver Nova,” said Hernandez. “It’s particularly special being back in Asia where I lived for several years. On behalf of the entire Silversea team, I would like to thank the Hong Kong Tourism Board for
28 October 2024
ATP Tour and WTA 2024: Schedule of Play for Tuesday October 29 for Rolex Paris Masters, Hong Kong, Jiujiang and Merida
ATP Tour and WTA 2024: Schedule of Play for Tuesday October 29 for Rolex Paris Masters, Hong Kong, Jiujiang and Merida The 2024 ATP Tour and WTA continues to wind-down its season in late October with exciting events in Paris, Hong Kong, Jiujiang and Merida this week. Tuesday’s schedule of play for these events can be found below. LINK: Paris Masters Schedule | Hong Kong Schedule | Jiujiang Schedule | Merida Schedule Paris Masters to Feature the World’s Best The ninth and final Masters 1000 event of the season has arrived on the ATP Tour. Held in the City of Lights, The Rolex Paris Masters will once against host the world’s best male players. Featuring Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, the Palais Omnisports in Bercy will be the hottest ticket in town from October 26 to November 3, 2024. Novak Djokovic is the defending champion in Paris, but will not be in attendance this year. Other former winners in the 56 player field are Medvedev, Holger Rune and Karen Khachanov. WTA Featured in Hong Kong, Jiujiang and Merida this Week With the second last week of regular season on deck, the stars of the WTA return to
28 October 2024
5 awesome things from Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2024
The Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival returned this 2024 bigger and better than ever, kicking off on October 23 with endless food and drinks for locals and foreign guests alike. This year, the event was extended to five days, making it a full-on extravaganza for gourmet lovers. If you’re looking for an activity that’s fun and filling while giving you a close-up look at Hong Kong’s culture, there’s more than one reason to add this annual event on your bucket lists. 1. The immaculate vibe The five-day event took place at the Central Harbourfront, a sprawling space smack in the middle of Hong Kong’s financial district. A massive ferris wheel sits right by the venue’s borders, and yachts cruise by on the water — beyond the water, the Kowloon skyline. Undoubtedly, the atmosphere makes half the fun. Guests wandered around unable to escape the view of Victoria Harbour on all sides. The vibe was best at night, with the glittering lights of the sky-high buildings, and the blinking neon lights of the stall signs. 2. The variety As lovely as the evening was, inside the venue, everyone’s attention could only be on the overwhelming number of offerings. Over 300
28 October 2024
Hong Kong unveils rules for ‘responsible’ AI use as it gets ahead of disruptive technology
Hong Kong’s government has outlined its first guidelines on the “responsible” use of artificial intelligence (AI) during FinTech Week, as regulators strive to get ahead of the curve of a technological revolution that will almost certainly disrupt banking and financial services. Banks, brokers, asset managers and any other financial institution that want to use AI “must formulate an AI governance strategy to provide direction on how [the] systems should be implemented and used, and offer advisory and training services for on-premise deployment”, according to a government press release. “Hong Kong’s financial market is open and prudent towards the application of AI, [so] we will closely monitor the developments and draw on the experiences of the mainland and overseas” because the technology is “constantly evolving”, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said during the opening of the FinTech Week event. AI has become the focus of FinTech Week, the ninth year that the annual conference has been hosted by InvestHK and Finoverse. This year’s event, which runs from October 28 to November 1 , will emphasise Hong Kong’s role as the “connector” between international business and China, the world’s second-largest AI market behind the US. About 700 companies are exhibiting at the
28 October 2024
HK officil hails arrangements for first Kai Tak Sports Park test event
The first test event at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park involving around 1,000 spectators was “very satisfactory,” the city’s second highest ranking official has said. Participants who attended a local football match held at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground on Sunday had a “very good experience,” Chief Secretary Eric Chan told the press after the trial event at the new multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue built on the site of Hong Kong’s former airport. Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park holds its first test event on October 27, 2024. Photo: GovHK. The youth sports ground was only around one-fifth full during Sunday’s event, for which tickets were not sold publicly, local media reported. Instead, tickets were distributed by the Hong Kong Football Association, district councils and three government-appointed committees. According to local media, a sign was displayed at the entrance warning spectators not to bring any weapons, illegal substances, laser pens or pointers, drones, glass, metal containers, bottles and cans into the premises. They were also warned not to carry any items that were deemed “harmful, disruptive, offensive” or that may hinder the operation of the venue, as well as items banned under Hong Kong law. Chan said
28 October 2024
ATP Tour and WTA 2024: Schedule of Play for Sunday October 27 for Rolex Paris Masters, Hong Kong, Jiujiang and Merida
ATP Tour and WTA 2024: Schedule of Play for Sunday October 27 for Rolex Paris Masters, Hong Kong, Jiujiang and Merida The 2024 ATP Tour and WTA continues to wind-down its season in late October with exciting events in Paris, Hong Kong, Jiujiang and Merida this week. Sunday’s schedule of play for these events can be found below. LINK: Paris Masters Schedule | Hong Kong Schedule | Jiujiang Schedule | Merida Schedule Paris Masters to Feature the World’s Best The ninth and final Masters 1000 event of the season has arrived on the ATP Tour. Held in the City of Lights, The Rolex Paris Masters will once against host the world’s best male players. Featuring Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, the Palais Omnisports in Bercy will be the hottest ticket in town from October 26 to November 3, 2024. Djokovic is the defending champion in Paris. Other former winners in the 56 player field are Medvedev, Holger Rune and Karen Khachanov. WTA Featured in Hong Kong, Jiujiang and Merida this Week With the second last week of regular season on deck, the stars of the WTA return to compete at three, 250 level events
26 October 2024
Don’t miss it, a comprehensive review of 17 events at Hong Kong FinTech Week by HashKey
Starting from October 28, the highly anticipated Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024—one of Asia’s largest and most influential fintech events—is about to kick off. As a gold sponsor, HashKey will be deeply involved in this event, participating in/hosting/co-hosting/sponsoring a total of 17 activities. HashKey Group’s Hong Kong largest licensed virtual asset exchange*, HashKey Exchange, will also collaborate with industry partners to present over 9 exciting activities. HashKey Chain will exclusively sponsor the MVP award for the Web3x3 basketball competition at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024, encouraging and practicing the spirit of collaboration within the Web3 community. HashKey is committed to promoting the deep integration of financial institutions with Web3 technology, contributing to the establishment of Hong Kong as an international virtual asset financial center, and driving innovation and prosperity in the global financial market. Event information is continuously being updated. Key Activities: On October 31, from 11:05 to 11:35 AM, Dr. Xiao Feng, Chairman and CEO of HashKey Group, will deliver a speech on the Smartcon Main Stage. On October 28, the event “Building A New Global Payment Network With Compliant Stablecoins,” hosted by Yuan Coin Technology, will invite Dr. Xiao Feng, Chairman and CEO of HashKey Group, to speak
26 October 2024
ATP Tour and WTA 2024: Schedule of Play for Saturday October 26 for Rolex Paris Masters, Hong Kong, Jiujiang and Merida
ATP Tour and WTA 2024: Schedule of Play for Saturday October 26 for Rolex Paris Masters, Hong Kong, Jiujiang and Merida The 2024 ATP Tour and WTA continues to wind-down its season in late October with exciting events in Paris, Hong Kong, Jiujiang and Merida this week. Saturday’s schedule of play for these events can be found below. LINK: Paris Masters Schedule | Hong Kong Schedule | Jiujiang Schedule | Merida Schedule Paris Masters to Feature the World’s Best The ninth and final Masters 1000 event of the season has arrived on the ATP Tour. Held in the City of Lights, The Rolex Paris Masters will once against host the world’s best male players. Featuring Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, the Palais Omnisports in Bercy will be the hottest ticket in town from October 26 to November 3, 2024. Defending champion Novak Djokovic has decided to miss the event this year. Other former winners in the 56 player field are Medvedev, Holger Rune and Karen Khachanov. WTA Featured in Hong Kong, Jiujiang and Merida this Week With the second last week of regular season on deck, the stars of the WTA return to compete at three,
25 October 2024
CIA now says Covid-19 ‘more likely’ to have come from a lab
The US Central Intelligence Agency has assessed that the Covid-19 pandemic is “more likely” to have emerged from a lab rather than from nature, an agency spokesperson said on Saturday. The agency had for years said it could not conclude whether Covid-19 was the result of a lab incident or it originated in nature. But in the final weeks of the Biden administration, former CIA director William Burns asked CIA analysts and scientists to make a clear determination, stressing the pandemic’s historical significance, according to a senior US official. The CIA says it has “low confidence” in its assessment that a “research-related origin of the Covid-19 pandemic is more likely” and notes in its statement that both scenarios – lab origin and natural origin – remain plausible. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 03:18 Beijing rejects US agency report saying Covid-19 likely emerged from Chinese lab leak Beijing rejects US agency report saying Covid-19 likely emerged from Chinese lab leak It was unclear the extent to which the agency has collected new intelligence on Covid-19’s origins and whether that new evidence was used to formulate the latest assessment. Source link
25 January 2025
Health care experts reflect on COVID 5 years later | COVID-19
Dr. Sydney Sewall fills a syringe with the COVID-19 vaccine at the Augusta Armory, Dec. 21, 2021, in Augusta, Maine. File/Robert F. Bukaty/AP The vaccines aren’t perfect. They do a good job of preventing severe disease, hospitalization and death, and have proven very safe, with only rare serious side effects. But protection against milder infection begins to wane after a few months. Like flu vaccines, COVID-19 shots must be updated regularly to match the ever-evolving virus — contributing to public frustration at the need for repeated vaccinations. Efforts to develop next-generation vaccines are underway, such as nasal vaccines that researchers hope might do a better job of blocking infection. The good news for the future pandemics is that same mRNA platform that produced the COVID-19 vaccines can and is being adapted for other viruses, Sweat said. For instance, a mRNA vaccine against bird flu — the H5N1 virus currently infecting birds and dairy herds in the U.S. that has sickened some farmworkers and killed a Louisiana man recently — has already shown success in animal testing. Which variant is dominating now? Genetic changes called mutations happen as viruses make copies of themselves. And this virus has proven to be no different. Scientists
15 January 2025
Five years after Covid, we scorn health workers, ignore vaccines and work in our offices – The Irish Times
How often do I think of Covid? Only about a dozen times a day, whenever I wash my hands. It was quite something, in my early 60s, to realise that an action I had been performing all my life had to be relearned. The automatic had to become conscious: more time spent kneading between the fingers, that twist of the thumbs, soap up beyond the wrist. But is this the only thing we learned to do better, the only dead habit we managed to slough off? Five years ago today, the World Health Organisation announced it had found evidence that what it would call the Sars-CoV-2 virus could be transmitted from human to human. This was the moment when a vague disturbance from somewhere over the horizon began to press on our reality. Do you remember how it felt, a week later, when the Centres for Disease Control in the US issued that visual image, created by the artists Alissa Eckert and Dan Higgins, of the virus itself – a grey ball flecked with yellow and orange spots and studded with red triangles? First graphic of Covid-19 released by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020.
15 January 2025
The mystery of why Covid-19 seems to be becoming milder
Getty Images (Credit: Getty Images) Covid-19 is now ubiquitous – but hospitalisations seem to be on a downward trajectory. No one knows why. The latest descendant of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, XEC had arisen through recombination, a process where two other variants had forged their genetic material together. Tests seemed to indicate that this would easily allow it to evade the immune protection offered by past infections or the latest iterations of the Covid-19 vaccines, based on the older JN.1 and KP.2 variants. “The spike protein is quite different from previous variants, so it was quite easy to assume that XEC has the potential to evade immunity induced by JN.1 infection,” says Kei Sato, a virology professor at the University of Tokyo, who carried out one of the first studies of XEC, published in December 2024. Getty Images Some strains of Covid-19 have only ever been found in sewage (Credit: Getty Images) In the US, infectious disease specialists braced themselves for an immediate surge in hospitalisations in the wake of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. But it didn’t happen. Surveillance testing carried out by measuring Covid in wastewater samples across major cities indicated that XEC was definitely infecting people. However,
15 January 2025
REPORT: The Biden-Harris Administration Roadmap for Pandemic Preparedness and Response
President Biden came into office facing the worst public health crisis in more than a century. COVID-19 was wreaking havoc on our country – closing our businesses, keeping our kids out of school, and forcing communities into isolation and lockdown. In the first year of the pandemic, nearly 400,000 Americans died of COVID-19. Even before taking office, President-elect Biden recognized that the U.S. needed an emergency response that was worthy of the crisis it faced – a response that would leave no stone unturned and that would leverage the full force of the federal government, the innovation of the private sector, and the determination of the American people. Building on decades of research and planning efforts, President Biden, on his first full day in office, released the first comprehensive National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness. This strategy focused on building a response to this virus that would give people the tools and transparent communication they needed to protect themselves, reopen our schools, and get our economy moving again. The following report outlines the numerous actions the Biden-Harris Administration took to combat COVID-19 both nationally and globally, and it serves as a roadmap for how the U.S.
15 January 2025
Nebraska has one of highest flu rates as four viruses sweep across nation
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Influenza, COVID-19, RSV and norovirus are being reported at above-average rates across the United States. It’s normal to see a spike in respiratory illness this time a year, especially after the holidays, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 35 states have reported “high numbers” of these four viruses. For the flu alone, over 5 million cases have been reported this season, including 63,000 hospitalizations and 2,700 deaths. “A big component of them is all a result of having increase proximity, having increase contaminated surfaces, being inside more, being close to one another,” said Dr. Jessica Heckman, a primary care physician at Family Medicine of Lincoln. Nebraska has one of the highest rates of flu cases in the week ending Jan. 4. Dr. Eric Johnson from CHI Health Clinic said there are particularly strong strains of viruses this year, which is likely causing higher numbers than normal. Medical professionals recommend staying hydrated, wearing a mask and, most importantly, washing your hands. Tags: CDC, center for disease control, COVID-!(, death, disease, Eric Johnson, flu, health, hospital, hydration, Illness, influenza, Jessica Heckman, lancaster, lincoln, mask, Nebraska, norovirus, respiratory illness, RSV, sick, United States, us, USA, viral
15 January 2025
70 mil. COVID cases, 130,000 deaths in 5 yrs since outbreak in Japan
As Japan marks five years on Wednesday since its first confirmed case of COVID-19, government data show that over 70 million people in the country are estimated to have contracted the virus as of March last year, while total deaths stood at 130,000 as of last August. While yearly deaths have declined since peaking during the Omicron variant surge in 2022, fatalities remain significantly higher than for influenza, with the virus continuing to spread seasonally in summer and winter. Yuki Furuse, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Tokyo, noted that while it was expected that the majority of Japan’s population would get infected at some point, “the rapid development of effective vaccines, combined with other countermeasures, helped reduce the severity of outbreaks.” File photo taken in February 2022 shows medical personnel transporting a COVID-19 patient to the Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Tokyo. (Kyodo) “COVID-19 will continue to place a burden on society. Efforts to reduce that burden, including the establishment of systems for basic infection control, must continue,” he added. Blood tests conducted by the health ministry in March last year in 22 of Japan’s 47 prefectures found that
14 January 2025
China marks muted 5th anniversary of first ‘death’ from the disease that killed 7 million and changed world forever
The fifth anniversary of the first known COVID-19 death passed quietly in China on Saturday, January 11, with no official commemorations, reflecting the pandemic’s status as a taboo subject. On January 11, 2020, Wuhan health officials announced the death of a 61-year-old man from pneumonia linked to a novel virus, later identified as SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. This marked the beginning of a global pandemic that has claimed over seven million lives and profoundly impacted life worldwide, including in China.However, no official memorials were observed in China’s tightly controlled state media. The ruling Communist Party, which maintained strict control over public discourse during its “zero-COVID” policy, has avoided reflecting on those measures since abruptly abandoning them in late 2022. Poll What Was the Biggest Challenge for You During the COVID-19 Lockdowns? “Dr. Li, another year has gone by” Social media also showed little awareness of the anniversary. According to a report by news agency AFP, a few videos on Douyin (the Chinese TikTok) mentioned the date but reiterated the official narrative. On Weibo, users commenting on Li Wenliang’s former account, with comments like, “Dr. Li, another year has gone by.” Li Wenliang is the whistleblower doctor who was investigated
14 January 2025
China marks muted fifth anniversary of first Covid death
BEIJING, Jan 11 — The fifth anniversary of the first known death from Covid-19 passed seemingly unnoticed in China today, with no official remembrances in a country where the pandemic is a taboo subject. On Jan 11, 2020, health officials in the central Chinese city of Wuhan announced that a 61-year-old man had died from complications of pneumonia caused by a previously unknown virus. The disclosure came after authorities had reported dozens of infections over several weeks by the pathogen later named SARS-CoV-2 and understood as the cause of Covid-19. It went on to spark a global pandemic that has so far killed over seven million people and profoundly altered ways of life around the world, including in China. Members of a privately-funded NGO working with county officials wearing protective gear fumigate and disinfect on April 15, 2020. — AFP Today, however, there appeared to be no official memorials in Beijing’s tightly controlled official media. The ruling Communist Party kept a tight leash on public discussion throughout its zero-Covid policy, and has eschewed reflections on the hardline curbs since dramatically ditching them at the end of 2022. On social media, too, many users seemed unaware of the anniversary. A few
14 January 2025
Missouri governor cuts $209M from budget because of coronavirus | News
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s governor is cutting another $209 million from this year’s budget in response to declining revenues because of the coronavirus. Republican Gov. Mike Parson announced the cuts Monday. The cuts include $123 million in core funding to public K-12 schools and $34 million from four-year public colleges. Much of the cuts to K-12 schools will be offset by federal funding. Parson says the cuts were necessary during what he described as unprecedented bad economic times. The governor has cut a total of $428 million in state funding so far this year. State health officials reported 180 new cases of COVID-19 Monday. The statewide total now stands at 13,327 since the outbreak began, including 775 deaths. Source link
14 January 2025
US coronavirus cases surpass 9 million | News
University of Washington research coordinator Rhoshni Prabhu holds up a swab after testing a passenger at a free COVID testing site in Seattle. Elaine Thompson/AP (CNN) — Coronavirus infections passed 9 million on Friday with the virus spreading across the United States at a faster rate than previously seen. The US added 1 million new COVID-19 cases only 14 days after the nation hit 8 million cases and multiple states continue reporting their highest daily case counts since the pandemic began, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. This is the fastest the country has added 1 million new cases since the pandemic began. The latest surge of cases appears to be driven by patients with no symptoms, said Dr. Robert Redfield, the director for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A “silent epidemic” of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections is “moving amongst 12- to 30-year-olds” and then making the jump to older people, Redfield told SiriusXM Doctor Radio Reports on Friday. “This is what is driving the expansion that we’re seeing in the outbreak across the country right now,” he said. A positive diagnosis every second Daily COVID-19 cases in the US hit a new high once again on Friday when health
14 January 2025
China marks muted 5th anniversary of first COVID death
The fifth anniversary of the first known death from COVID-19 passed seemingly unnoticed in China on Saturday, with no official remembrances in a country where the pandemic is a taboo subject. On Jan. 11, 2020, health officials in the central Chinese city of Wuhan announced that a 61-year-old man had died from complications of pneumonia caused by a previously unknown virus. The disclosure came after authorities had reported dozens of infections over several weeks by the pathogen later named SARS-CoV-2 and understood as the cause of COVID-19. Photo: AFP It went on to spark a global pandemic that has so far killed more than 7 million people and profoundly altered ways of life around the world, including in China. However, on Saturday, there appeared to be no official memorials in Beijing’s tightly controlled official media. The Chinese Communist Party kept a tight leash on public discussion throughout its “zero COVID” policy, and has eschewed reflections on the hardline curbs since dramatically ditching them at the end of 2022. On social media, many users seemed unaware of the anniversary. A few videos circulating on Douyin — the Chinese version of TikTok — noted the date, but repeated the official version of
14 January 2025
COVID, five years on: memories of a strange and scary time
When did COVID start for you? Personally, I trace the beginning to Feb. 13, 2020. My wife and I were waiting for a plane at O’Hare when a group of Japan Airlines flight attendants walked past, wearing those masks I’d read about. I snapped a photo and sent it into the city desk. Look: news. Emotionally, it really began in March. The stripped Target shelves. A few hours before Gov. JB Pritzker shut down the restaurants, I popped into Kamehachi for a last sushi fix and was surprised to find myself the lone diner at 12:30 p.m. Watching the chef prepare my order, thinking, with dread: “I’m killing myself for a negi hamachi roll.” Though if you are looking for the very beginning in the Chicago area, I suppose that should be Jan. 13, 2020 — five years ago Monday — when a suburban woman returned from Wuhan, China, where she had been caring for her elderly father, bringing with her the COVID virus. A few days later she felt ill and went to Ascension St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates. making her the first person in Illinois, the second in the United States, diagnosed with a disease that,
14 January 2025
What We’ve Learned and What’s Still Unclear
It’s been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic began—and a lot has changed. From early in the pandemic until now, COVID went from causing fear, death, shortages, and uncertainty to being regarded by many people as nothing more than a bad cold. “We opened up the book to COVID five years ago, and the pages were blank. The pages are now filled,” said William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Here’s what we know—and still don’t know—about COVID. What We Know About COVID-19 It Can Spread a Few Different Ways At first, there was uncertainty over how the virus spread. Many people wiped down their groceries and used hand sanitizer to avoid getting the virus from contaminated surfaces. Data has shown that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets and aerosols. “This is clearly a respiratory virus, and it’s extraordinarily infectious,” Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo, told Verywell. Certain People Are More at Risk Than Others Early in the pandemic, everyone was at risk for developing severe disease from COVID, because they had never been exposed
13 January 2025
Kentucky surpasses 9,000 coronavirus-related deaths | News
This Jan. 22, 2021 photo shows Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, Gov. Andy Beshear and Kentucky first lady Britainy Beshear placing flags outside the state Capitol in honor of the lives lost to COVID-19. At the time, 3,301 flags were placed at the capitol, which reflected the lives lost as of Jan. 21. As of Oct. 7, 2021, more than 9,000 Kentuckians have died because of the illness. Gov. Andy Beshear’s Communications Office FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s governor says the state’s coronavirus-related death toll has surpassed 9,000. Gov. Andy Beshear says it’s a grim reminder of the trauma still being caused by the pandemic even as virus cases and hospitalizations trend downward. The state’s daily COVID-19 report will be released later Thursday. But the governor says it will include at least 50 more virus-related deaths, pushing the statewide death toll past 9,000. Meanwhile, he says virus-related hospitalizations in Kentucky have dropped 17% in the past week, easing pressure on the state’s beleaguered hospitals. On Jan. 22, Gov. Andy Beshear, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and first lady Britainy Beshear took part in a ceremony to honor the memory of those lost to COVID-19 in Kentucky. WATCH: Flags placed at Kentucky Capitol in honor of lives lost
13 January 2025
Missouri health centers to receive grants for coronavirus testing | News
By Rebecca Mosella WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri announced $12 million in federal funding is going to 29 health centers across the state. The funding will allow the health centers to expand coronavirus testing, purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), and cover other costs related to COVID-19. Blunt says the money will come from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. Missouri health centers have received a total of nearly $30 million through the CARES Act and the first coronavirus response bill, according to a news release. Here’s a list of all 29 health centers, their location and the amount of funding they will receive: Source link
13 January 2025
Pence’s press secretary tests positive for coronavirus, Trump says | News
(CNN) — President Donald Trump confirmed Friday that Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, tested positive for the coronavirus. Miller is now the second White House staff member known to have tested positive for the coronavirus this week, after one of Trump’s personal valets tested positive on Thursday. “She’s a wonderful young woman, Katie, she tested very good for a long period of time and then all of a sudden today she tested positive,” Trump said during a meeting with Republican members of Congress at the White House. The President said that Miller has not come into contact with him but noted that she has been in contact with Pence. Miller was frequently in contact with members of the press, and the White House is now making more coronavirus testing available to journalists, a White House official told CNN’s Jim Acosta. Katie Miller is married to Trump’s senior adviser, Stephen Miller. The announcement came following an hour-long delay to Pence’s Friday morning flight to Iowa, when individuals were seen exiting Air Force Two before the plane lifted off of the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews just outside Washington. A senior administration official told the press pool aboard Air Force Two that a Pence staffer, who
13 January 2025
Book signing coming up for Pisharodi’s new book on the coronavirus – Rio Grande Guardian
Dr. Madhavan Pisharodi, MD, holds a copy of his first book, “Corona: Be Not Proud.” (Photo: RGG/Steve Taylor) BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A book signing ceremony for Brownsville physician Madhavan A. Pisharodi’s new book on the coronavirus takes place next week. The event is being held at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization in downtown Brownsville at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22. Pisharodi’s book is titled: “Corona Be Not Proud.” It provides concrete examples on ways to avoid the next pandemic, such as improving ventilation in homes and offices. The book is available on Amazon.com. “I began writing this book in the year 2020. Over time, the contents and the tone required several revisions. Initially, there was shock and disbelief as the pandemic suddenly impacted our lives. This led me to focus towards studying and promoting various preventative and therapeutic measures,” Pisharodi wrote, in the prologue to his book. However, as time passed, Pisharodi said he was “dismayed” to see that vaccines and many treatments did not significantly alter the course of the pandemic behavior. “In fact, more people died in 2021 than 2020. By 2022, there was a glimmer of hope as the pandemic began to slow down
13 January 2025
Salarius Pharma Merges with AI Drug Designer Decoy Therapeutics, Plans Pan-Coronavirus Drug
Salarius Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SLRX) and Decoy Therapeutics announced a definitive merger agreement. Decoy’s IMP3ACT™ platform uses AI and ML for rapid peptide conjugate drug design. The combined company, to be named Decoy Therapeutics, will focus on developing peptide conjugate therapeutics for respiratory viruses and cancer. Decoy has secured $7 million in non-dilutive funding from federal governments, corporations, and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Salarius’ oral small molecule protein degrader SP-3164 will be integrated into Decoy’s pipeline. The new entity will be led by Decoy’s co-founders and include executives from both companies. Decoy aims to file an IND for a pan-coronavirus antiviral within 12 months. The merger is expected to create multiple value-creating inflection points, enhancing shareholder value. Ongoing development of Salarius’ seclidemstat for hematologic cancers will continue, with strategic alternatives being evaluated. Salarius Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SLRX) e Decoy Therapeutics hanno annunciato un accordo di fusione definitivo. La piattaforma IMP3ACT™ di Decoy utilizza l’IA e il ML per un rapido design di farmaci coniugati a peptidi. La società combinata, che sarà chiamata Decoy Therapeutics, si concentrerà sullo sviluppo di terapie coniugate a peptidi per virus respiratori e cancro. Decoy ha ottenuto 7 milioni di dollari
13 January 2025
Grand jury undercuts Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ claims of COVID crimes
The 144-page final report of the statewide grand jury investigating potential wrongdoing related to the development of COVID-19 vaccines is a remarkable document, though not for the reason its authors, or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who called for this investigation in 2022, seem to believe. Organized just as the governor was preparing to run for president, the grand jury has been a lingering remnant of headier days for DeSantis, when he and his advisers had grander ambitions not yet extinguished by his frigid rejection in Iowa’s caucus. Key to DeSantis’ presidential strategy was to ride a wave of pandemic-era disenchantment among Republican primary voters, and this grand jury, whose work DeSantis hyped along the way, was intended to brandish the governor’s reputation as his party’s leading science skeptic. But as DeSantis’ campaign wilted near the end of 2023, and his near-certain future as a relatively minor figure in the Trumpified Republican Party came into clearer focus, so too did the grand jury’s usefulness expire. And so it had mostly faded from public consciousness until this week, when, to little fanfare, state officials unsealed the final report disclosing the grand jury’s conclusion: It found no evidence of criminal activity by vaccine
12 January 2025
Five Years On: COVID-19 Anniversary of First Reported Death in Wuhan
Today marks a grim anniversary of a virus that shocked and changed the world for months on end. On this date in 2020, health authorities in the central Chinese city of Wuhan reported the first death of what was then known as the coronavirus. Nearly two months later, in mid-March, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, identified the first presumptive case of COVID-19. Two weeks later, then-Premier Dwight Ball relayed the first death of COVID-19 in this province. Five years later, things have dropped drastically. From December 29th to January 4th, there were two hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and no deaths. Source link
12 January 2025
COVID, flu, RSV on the rise in Brevard: Here’s what to know
If the holidays left you feeling less than stellar, you’re not alone. Respiratory viruses of all kinds — from run-of-the-mill colds to more serious illnesses like COVID, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus — are surging nationwide. Here in Brevard, trends are similar to previous years, according to local health systems: Hospitals are seeing an uptick in respiratory viruses, but to date, there isn’t a staggering increase in these kinds of visits compared to prior years. Some of these viruses can be treated at home. For others, you can get antivirals to help speed up your recovery or prevent serious illness. Here’s what you need to know about the signs to watch for, and how to prevent the spread of these illnesses. How hard is Brevard being hit this year? Nationally, respiratory illnesses were causing people to seek healthcare at a high level, with the rate increasing as of Jan. 3, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the agency didn’t provide statistics for Brevard, it showed that in Florida, the rate of people seeking healthcare for these viruses were even higher compared to the national rate, with residents visiting emergency departments for the flu at a very
10 January 2025
The next pandemic is a matter of when — is the world ready to tackle it amid inequality and disinformation?
GENEVA, Jan 9 — An awkward question remains five years after Covid-19 began its deadly rampage: is the world ready to handle the next pandemic? The World Health Organization, which was at the heart of the pandemic response, has been galvanising efforts to determine where the next threat might come from and to ensure the planet is ready to face it. But while the UN health agency considers the world more prepared than it was when Covid hit, it warns we are not nearly ready enough. View from the WHO Asked whether the world was better prepared for the next pandemic, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said recently: “Yes and no”. “If the next pandemic arrived today, the world would still face some of the same weaknesses and vulnerabilities,” he warned. “But the world has also learned many of the painful lessons the pandemic taught us, and has taken significant steps to strengthen its defences.” Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director, said it was a matter of when, not if, we will face another pandemic. “There’s a lot that has improved because of the 2009 (H1N1) flu pandemic but also because of Covid. But
10 January 2025
