Asia
U.S. chip project significant for Japan-U.S. AI edge: Akazawa
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday. Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa on Thursday praised the U.S. semiconductor plant project selected for the third round of Japanese funding in the United States under the two countries' tariff agreement. The project "holds great significance for Japan and the United States to work together to secure a competitive advantage in the age of artificial intelligence," Akazawa said during a news conference. In the agreement concluded last year, Japan pledged to provide the United States with $550 billion in investment and loans in exchange for U.S. tariff cuts for imports from the Asian country. Under the project, led by U.S. semiconductor contract manufacturer GlobalFoundries, two new plants are set to be built in the state of New York with funding of up to $21 billion.
Tech market sell-off deepens amid fears over US inflation and AI debt
A Hana Bank screen shows the Kopsi index with a downward graph line. The tech-heavy South Korean index fell 8% overnight in Asia, triggering circuit breakers and halting stock trades. A Hana Bank screen shows the Kopsi index with a downward graph line. The tech-heavy South Korean index fell 8% overnight in Asia, triggering circuit breakers and halting stock trades. Larry Elliott: the global economy is muddling through.
Starbucks is launching an incredibly sweet Winnie the Pooh collection -- how to buy
Trending Now Say More Look Up In My Bag Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Mashable @Home Mashable Selects Top creators, ranked Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Creator Playbook AI at School Safety Net All Series Starbucks has teamed up with Disney this fall. Joseph Green is the Global Shopping Editor for Mashable. He covers VPNs, headphones, fitness gear, dating sites, streaming, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.
Hundreds of IDF investigations into killings without public outcome, BBC Verify finds
BBC Verify has identified 254 incidents in which the Israeli military has been accused of killing or injuring people in Gaza, Lebanon, the occupied West Bank and Israel that it said it was investigating, but have no public outcome. Using purpose-built AI tools, BBC Verify combed through more than 60,000 news reports and examined hundreds of incidents in which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) faced allegations of harm since the start of the Gaza war. Following extensive manual checking of each incident, we found 300 cases that the military said it was looking into, only 28 of which had outcomes published on the IDF website. For a further 18 incidents it was unclear if the investigation has been concluded. BBC Verify approached the IDF about each case multiple times but only received information on two incidents, which the IDF said are still under review.
OpenAI bugging suspect allegedly booked one-way trip to Saudi Arabia
The Saudi national accused of bugging OpenAI's headquarters booked a one-way flight to Saudi Arabia before his arrest, US prosecutors have alleged. Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former OpenAI engineer, had been scheduled to fly to Saudi Arabia with his wife and another family member on October 12, prosecutors said in a court filing unsealed on Wednesday. Alfozan, 35, has been charged with "using or endeavoring to use an electronic, mechanical, or other device to intercept oral communications". The offence carries a maximum punishment of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors disclosed the alleged flight booking to a judge on October 8 in a motion seeking to seal the criminal complaint against Alfozan, arguing he had the "means - and will have an incentive - to flee" the United States.
What is Starshield, SpaceX's military version of Starlink?
A Ukrainian serviceman prepares a Starlink satellite internet systems near the front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine, in 2024. WASHINGTON - Ukraine said on Wednesday that Elon Musk's SpaceX had restricted "military-grade" Starlink services, hampering Ukrainian drone strike missions and air defenses. The complaint has drawn renewed attention to the distinction between Starlink, SpaceX's commercial satellite internet service, and Starshield, a military version developed for the Pentagon. While Musk has said the two systems are separate, in many cases they share the same underlying satellite technology. "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government," Musk said on Wednesday in a post on social media platform X, adding that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military or the U.S. president.
Banking watchdogs scrutinize AI use amid stability fears, sources say
Banking watchdogs are ramping up their scrutiny of artificial intelligence as fears mount over its effect on stability, sources say. NEW YORK/LONDON - Banking regulators are stepping up efforts to contain growing artificial intelligence risks, six people familiar with the matter have said, with some pointing to the potential for cyberattacks on banks or rogue agents undermining global financial stability. The regulatory scrutiny reflects growing recognition that advances in frontier AI may require costly investments in cyberrecovery, greater attention to dependencies on external technology providers and in some jurisdictions more formal regulatory guidance, sources said. Three top regulators in the United States, including the Federal Reserve, are quizzing banks about their use of advanced artificial intelligence models, two of the people said, which adds to prior scrutiny. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
I'm 12 and I want to try protein powder - should I?
I'm 12 and I want to try protein powder - should I? Twelve-year-old Ben is desperate to try protein powder but there's one hurdle: me, his mum. I've asked about 20 times and you just keep saying no!, he says, claiming it would make him fitter and bigger and that his male friends use it. In recent years, there's been an explosion of products marketed as high protein, including milk, yoghurt, breads, cereals, bars and powders. Social media is flooded with adverts for various supplements, including protein powder. As a health journalist, I'm sceptical and think at Ben's age he must be getting enough protein through his diet.
Dog that hunts invasive 'sea vomit' honoured as animal of the year
Dog that hunts invasive'sea vomit' honoured as animal of the year A working dog from the Scottish Highlands has been named animal of the year by a charity for hunting down an invasive marine creature called the carpet sea squirt. This organism, also nicknamed sea vomit, is particularly harmful to coastal wildlife and economies. Working at low tide with her owner, Dr Texa Sim, black labrador Sgiath has found hundreds of colonies of the sea squirt, which - if left uncontrolled - can smother and kill native species. Sgiath is thought to be the UK's first sea squirt-hunting dog. She's a natural says Dr Sim proudly.