LOS ANGELES — Hollywood’s simmering unease over artificial intelligence reignited this week after the debut of Tilly Norwood, an AI generated actor created by Dutch comedian Eline Van der Velden, sparked backlash from stars including Emily Blunt, Natasha Lyonne, and Whoopi Goldberg. The digital persona, designed to mimic a young actress with girl next door … Read more
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan will not agree to a proposal by the United States that calls for half of the world’s semiconductor production to be relocated to US soil, a senior Taiwanese trade negotiator said Wednesday, emphasizing that the idea was never formally discussed during recent tariff negotiations in Washington. Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun, who … Read more
BEAVERTON, Ore. — Nike Inc. reported Tuesday that its quarterly profit dropped 31 percent despite a modest increase in revenue, as the sportswear giant continues to navigate rising costs and execute a broad turnaround strategy under its relatively new leadership. The footwear and apparel company said net income for the quarter ended Aug. 31 fell … Read more
SAN FRANCISCO — OpenAI on Tuesday unveiled Sora 2, the latest version of its artificial intelligence model for generating video and audio, alongside a new mobile app that allows users to create and share AI generated clips featuring “cameos” of themselves and others. Introduced during a livestreamed event, Sora 2 builds on the company’s earlier … Read more
QUANTICO, Virginia — US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday told senior military leaders that the US armed forces would uphold a warrior ethos by enforcing uniform, high physical standards, acknowledging that some women may not meet the requirements. Standards must be uniform, gender neutral, and high, Hegseth said during an address to hundreds of … Read more
NEW YORK — Stock futures fell Tuesday as investors braced for a potential US government shutdown, even as Wall Street’s major indexes remained on track to close out September with solid gains. The pullback comes amid heightened political uncertainty and cautious optimism about the broader economy. The S&P 500, which typically struggles in September, has … Read more
SAN FRANCISCO — In a notable shift in Silicon Valley’s artificial intelligence ecosystem, more than twenty AI researchers have left leading companies including OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Meta to join a new startup called Periodic Labs. The move underscores growing interest in AI technologies aimed not just at automating work but accelerating real world scientific … Read more
LOS ANGELES — Oscar winning actress Nicole Kidman and country music star Keith Urban have separated after 19 years of marriage, various news outlets reported Monday, citing unnamed sources. The couple, long celebrated for their high profile careers and private family life, reportedly began living apart earlier this summer, with Urban moving out of their … Read more
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan has plunged into a nationwide telecom blackout after the Taliban government shut down internet and mobile networks, cutting off millions from communication and information access. The disruption, confirmed by internet watchdog NetBlocks, follows weeks of intermittent fiber optic outages that the Taliban said were part of efforts to curb immorality online. … Read more
NEW YORK — Wall Street faces uncertainty as the US government shutdown 2025 looms, threatening to halt crucial economic data releases and clouding the outlook for markets already balancing interest rate expectations and slowing growth. The Labor Department confirmed Monday that if Congress fails to reach a funding deal, it will suspend economic data publications … Read more