News from October 28, 2025

Editorial cartoon for Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Today's Paper EditorialEditorial Cartoons Editorial cartoon for Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Last updated Share on Facebook Share by email CAGLE CARTOONS See more:Editors' Picks Subscriber Favorites 2 teen fishermen who died off Kaena Point are identified Man, 42, dies in Nimitz Highway crash Trump rules out 2028 VP run, hints at third term 2 young fishermen die off Kaena Point Amazon targets as many as 30,000 corporate job cuts, sources say More Editors' Picks Hawaii jobless claims hint at shutdown fallout Historic drought strains Upcountry Maui water systems Talks slow for North Shore first-responder hub, city says Hawaii commission alleges MLP water violations University of Hawaii basketball team battles past Chaminade Looking Back Oct. 15, 1956: No casualties after Pan Am flight from Honolulu ditches in Pacific

None 5 days ago

Technology

Kamehameha cruises by Kapolei into state girls volleyball quarterfinals

Kalaweloilehua Chock and Sauimoana Purcell pounded 12 kills each as Kamehameha swept Kapolei 25-13, 25-18, 25-18 in the opening round of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championships presented by the Hawaii Army National Guard. Chock hit .286, adding six digs, one ace and one block. Purcell hit .321 with five digs and one ace. Senior Shaye Teves got the start at setter and led the Warriors with 15 assists, adding three digs. Alayah Wilson tallied 11 assists and Faith Iokia chipped in six. Wilson had a team-high 11 digs. “Kapolei is a very tough team. They have a lot of great players. For us to come out with a 3-0 sweep is a testament to the work we put in,” Kamehameha coach Chris Blake said. “We expected a lot out of Kapolei and they didn’t disappoint.” Two-time defending state champion Kamehameha (32-9) finished second in the ILH and drew the OIA’s fifth-place team. The Warriors will meet Kamehameha-Hawaii, champion of the BIIF, in the quarterfinal round on Thursday at 7 p.m. at McKinley. Kamehameha saw its contemporaries from the Big Island at the Labor Day Classic and the Durango Fall Classic, but the teams have not met on the court yet this season. “Very, very skilled. Lots of great things they’re doing. We need to make sure we concentrate on our side of the net,” Blake said. “They’re undefeated and champions of their league. They’ve got a couple of good kids, a great setter and they’re very well coached. It’s going to be a matter of us putting things together and hopefully taking that next step.” A pensive, almost solemn home crowd at Kekuhaupio Gymnasium saw the Warriors unveil a slightly different starting lineup. More than a week of practice time opened the door to more competition, something Blake and staff have mastered over a two-decade period. Their teams have often peaked during the state tournament. “We’re trying to find what’s going to be best for us. It’s a matter of finding the right combination of players in order for us to improve. Even at this part of the season, we’ve been working hard. Last week was a blessing for us. It’s been awhile since we got six days of training. To be able to work on things is important. We’ve got a couple more days before we play on Thursday,” Blake said. “Iron sharpens iron.” Kapolei spent the entire season in the Star-Advertiser Top 10, but finished in a tie for first place in the OIA West. The tiebreaker formula left the Hurricanes as the third seed, and in their second playoff match they lost to Moanalua. After grinding out wins in the consolation bracket, Kapolei earned the OIA’s fifth and final state berth, only to draw Kamehameha. Senior Kiliohu Kopa- Kaawalauole and freshman Jerae-Honey Gonzales led Kapolei (27-6 overall) with seven kills apiece. Amy Scott, a junior setter, dished 21 assists and had team highs of 15 digs and two aces. Hope Lamaota added 13 digs. Middles Ema Presley Gibson, a 6-foot-2 senior, and Asa Parks, a 6-1 senior, chipped in four kills each against a resistant Kamehameha defense. The Warriors limited Kapolei to .029 hitting. The ‘Canes finished with 23 hitting errors against a relentless block. “Their setter is exceptional. She puts the ball all over the place to the right spots. They have a couple of good middles. When they’re in system, those two caused us a little bit of problems,” Blake said. “We made adjustments, made sure we had hands (up) and served a lot tougher. We keyed in on their big players, their middles.” Kapolei brought grit and length, but inefficiency slowed the Hurricanes. “I think our team, we knew it was going to be a rough game coming into this. It wasn’t the best outcome, but we put our heart out there and played our hardest,” said Gibson, a co-captain. “I’m going (to miss) playing with our girls. We had fun, laughing and joking.” Kamehameha opened the match with a 9-4 run, and after a back row kill by Chock and a kill by Purcell, the home team led 14-6. The ’Canes had four hitting errors and one service error at that point. Kamehameha’s balanced attack operated fluidly with Teves setting. Purcell had six kills (.600) and Chock had three kills and one ace after one game. In set two, Kamehameha opened a 12-6 lead, but this time the Hurricanes got a torrent of kills from Kopa-Kaawalauole to pull within 20-18. Kamehameha closed the game with a 5-0 run, including a block by middle Kealoha Lyons, an ace by Kalena Diaz and a roof by middle Bella Amey. Kalamaku Crabbe’s kill opened Kamehameha’s lead to 2-0 in the match. Kapolei led set three 8-5, but Kamehameha’s consistency and efficiency were big factors. Purcell’s ace gave the Warriors a 9-8 lead and they never looked back. Despite two aces by Scott, the ‘Canes had nine hitting errors and Kamehameha closed the match out. Since missing the state tournament in 2022, Kamehameha has swept every non-ILH opponent in bracket play. In 2023, the unseeded Warriors posted a four-set win over ILH champion Punahou in the final. In ’24, they were unseeded again and took down ILH champion ‘Iolani in four sets for the state title. Kapolei is ranked No. 10 in this week’s Star-Advertiser Top 10. Kamehameha is No. 2. Other state matches Mililani 3, Konawaena 2 Maile Malone had 15 kills, Kira Wayfer had 14, and Ivy Taylor and Sydney Matsuda tallied 12 kills apiece as the Lady Trojans hung on for a 25-16, 25-23, 21-25, 23-25, 15-13 win over the Wildcats at Col. Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium in Kealakekua. Kadence Wilson had a team-high 29 digs, while Kealanaea Stephens dished 61 assists. Harley Vila and Kwyn Greig had three aces each. Mililani will play top-seeded ‘Iolani on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Moanalua’s gym. Naiya Beymer had 18 kills to lead Konawaena. Lyla Kahele-Alapai and Kaulaloa Hooper added 14 kills each. Campbell 3, King Kekaulike 2 Kailie Theler had 15 kills, Miah Chong had 13 and Emalia Salima added 10 as the Lady Sabers pulled a 24-26, 19-25, 25-14, 25-21, 15-9 reverse sweep victory in Pukalani. Kiralei Smith had five aces and 17 digs, while Zsiare Lakalo dished 39 assists. Campbell will play OIA champion Kahuku, the second seed, on Thursday at 5 p.m. at McKinley in the quarterfinals. Gwyneth McKillip had 14 kills, Nanea Guarin tallied 12 kills and Naleeya Lund added 11 kills for MIL runner-up King Kekaulike. Moanalua 3, Hilo 0 Alessandra Siazon led Na Menehune with nine kills, while Surfia Grounds racked up six aces in a 25-19, 25-21, 25-16 sweep. Miya Waikiki added five aces. In all, OIA runner-up Moanalua finished with 15 aces. Meleotu Olevao led the Lady Vikings with six kills. Moanalua advances to the quarterfinal round and will host fourth-seeded Kamehameha-Maui on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Paul Honda 5 days ago

Technology

State proposes rules to reopen waters to aquarium fishing

The reopening of waters off Hawaii’s Kona coast to aquarium fishing took a step closer to reality after a state board decided to put forth a set of proposed rules for public hearings. The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday voted unanimously to approve the proposed rulings, a required step in the process of opening up waters again to the harvesting of fish from local waters to be sold as pets in saltwater aquariums worldwide. BLNR’s decision came after hours of testimony, mostly in opposition to the controversial practice, which environmentalists and Hawaiians consider destructive and extractive to Hawaii’s reef, and which animal activists consider cruel to the fish themselves. The commercial collection of aquarium fish has essentially been banned due to requirements statewide in Hawaii since 2017. Since then, there have been a series of legal battles over permits and environmental impact statements and more recently, questions over BLNR’s authority to prohibit commercial aquarium collections in Hawaii for good. In December 2023, BLNR unanimously approved a petition from various community groups seeking to put the prohibition in place, but was subsequently told by the state Attorney General’s office that they did not have the authority to do so. With BLNR’s approval of the rules on Friday, two public hearings on the proposed rules are now to be scheduled early next year — one in-person on Hawaii island and one to take place virtually statewide. The precise dates have not yet been announced, but the state can revise the proposed rules based on public testimony. “The Board’s decision is disappointing, given the overwhelming weight of public testimony urging the Board to fundamentally rethink these rules before sending them out to the public,” said West Hawaii resident Mike Nakachi, a cultural practitioner long opposed to aquarium fishing, in a statement. “But we will be ready as a community to show up and testify in strong opposition to these rules; DLNR better make sure they have a big room and plenty time for these public hearings.” The board’s vote signals a significant move toward opening up waters again for commercial aquarium fishing, an about-face from 2023, according to Nakachi, a party in past lawsuits who opposes the practice for both ecological and cultural reasons. “For us, as Hawaiians, you take what you can from the ocean to enjoy it that day, to feed yourself that day,” he said. “I go back to something real simple in traditional customary Native Hawaiian practices and three major pillars — No. 1, aloha aina; No. 2, malama aina; No. 3, aina momona — unconditional love of this aina, to take care of what we have, and the third, which is more critical than anything, you want the aina to be in abundance.” He added, “There are none of those traditional or customary practices that apply to the aquarium trade. It’s the polar opposite.” Those pushing to reopen West Hawaii waters to aquarium fishing said, however, that it can be sustainable. They also said the process has been unfair, given that the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council did complete an environmental impact statement, then revised it with scientific and cultural considerations. Kim Koch testified the number of species allowed was reduced from 40 to eight, and quantities reduced to such a small amount that “it is equivalent to death by a thousand cuts.” BLNR rejected the first EIS submitted by PIJAC, now known as the Pet Advocacy Network, in 2020, and were split 3-3 on a revised EIS submitted in 2021 which was thus, accepted by default. Aquarium fish collectors said it has been a blow to their livelihoods, and that they are being unfairly DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources said Friday that an independent review of aquarium fishing with proposed catch limits conducted in April 2024 found overall risks to the major population and ecosystem impacts to be low. Additionally, DAR found that with the proposed rules, the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area would be “the most intensively managed fishery occurring in state waters.” Before taking a vote, BLNR made two amendments to the proposed rules in response to testimony. The board reduced the eight aquarium fish species that would be allowed for collection to five, removing those considered Hawaiian food sources, including the Chevron tang, the goldring surgeonfish, and orangespine unicornfish. The five species to be collected under the proposed rules include the yellow tang, the bird wrasse, Potter’s angelfish, Thompson’s surgeonfish, and brown surgeonfish. Additionally, the total annual catch quota for yellow tangs was reduced from 200,000 to 100,000 as they are being raised in captivity. The battle over aquarium fishing will continue to play out in the courts. Earthjustice attorney Mahesh Cleveland said he’s filed suit to clarify whether BLNR can or cannot prohibit aquarium fish collections through administrative rules. According to Earthjustice, a recent poll found 84% of Oahu and Hawaii island residents support permanently banning the commercial capture of reef fish for the aquarium pet trade. The proposed rules run contrary to public opinion, Earthjustice said, in addition to BLNR’s prior decision to accept a community-led ban proposal. Earthjustice said robust populations of reef fish are crucial to supporting ecosystems already challenged by ocean heat waves, pollution, and decades of commercial extraction. Additionally, commercial collectors target juvenile native fish species using fine-meshed nets, Earthjustice said, and the fish are bagged and shipped via air freight to pet stores, with evidence suggesting most die within the first year in home Nakachi said Hawaiians have witnessed firsthand that populations of fish in certain areas have not yet rebounded from all of those years of commercial extractions.

Nina Wu 5 days ago

Technology

EC Issues Notice To Prashant Kishor For Being Enrolled As Voter In 2 States

Bihar Polls: The Election Commission on Tuesday served a notice to political strategist-turned politician Prashant Kishor after his name was found in the voter lists of both Bihar and West Bengal ahead of Bihar assembly polls. The Jan Suraaj chief has been asked to submit his response within three days, officials said on Tuesday. According to official records, Kishor is enrolled in West Bengal at 121, Kalighat Road — the address of the Trinamool Congress headquarters in Kolkata’s Bhabanipur constituency, which is Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s seat. “His polling station is listed as St. Helen School on B Ranishankari Lane,” news agency PTI reported, citing an election official. During the 2021 assembly elections in West Bengal, Kishor had worked as a political consultant for the TMC. Kishor is registered at his native place, Kargahar assembly segment under Sasaram parliamentary constituency in Rohtas district of Bihar, the poll official said, adding that his polling booth is Madhya Vidyalaya, Konar. The EC’s notice cited Section 17 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which prohibits an individual from being registered as a voter in more than one constituency. Officials also referred to Section 18, which bars multiple entries within the same constituency. Under the law, a person changing residence must apply for inclusion in the new constituency through Form 8, declaring that their name be deleted from the previous electoral roll. Jan Suraaj Responds To Row Reacting to the controversy, Jan Suraaj Party spokesperson Kumar Saurabh Singh said the matter reflected a lapse on the EC’s part. “The onus is on the Election Commission. It had launched SIR in Bihar with so much of fanfare. So many names were dropped on the ground of deletion. When they can leave room for a lapse in case of a well-known personality like Prashant Kishor, one can imagine the diligence of the EC elsewhere,” he said as quoted by news agency PTI. He, however, evaded a direct reply to a pointed query as to whether Kishor had applied for deletion of his name from the voters’ list in West Bengal, prior to applying for inclusion in the electoral roll of Bihar. “Prashant Kishor is an educated man. He understands his responsibilities well. That he was stationed in West Bengal earlier, as a poll strategist for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is well known. Let the EC approach us if it thinks that there has been wrongdoing on our part. Our legal team will respond,” he added. Political Parties React The row also drew reactions from political parties across Bihar’s spectrum. JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar questioned why Kishor was registered in West Bengal. “It is amusing that someone hailing from Bihar and having establishments in Delhi chose to be a voter in Bengal. Was it because he hoped to secure a Rajya Sabha seat after helping Mamata Banerjee in 2021?” he alleged. BJP leader Neeraj Kumar termed the alleged dual registration “no minor oversight but a heinous crime.” He accused Kishor of “a vile conspiracy with the TMC to undermine Bihar elections” and demanded a rigorous EC probe. RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari, meanwhile, said the controversy exposed the shortcomings of the EC’s voter list revision drive. “This shows the farce of the SIR. Many NDA leaders have been found with multiple voter registrations. Kishor, who we suspect is working covertly for the BJP, now joins the list,” he alleged. The EC has acknowledged that duplication of voter entries is a recurring issue and cited it as one reason for launching the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls throughout the country. The SIR, which started in Bihar, was completed with the publication of updated rolls on September 30, resulting in the removal of about 68.66 lakh entries, including roughly seven lakh cases of voters registered in multiple places. (With inputs from agencies)

News18,Shobhit Gupta 5 days ago

Technology

Why Premier League could see reduced Boxing Day schedule

The usual busy Boxing Day football schedule could look very different this year as a result of congestion in the Premier League calendar. Traditionally at least half of the matches on the Christmas round of fixtures are played on Boxing Day, but only one is likely to take place this season, The Times reports. Boxing Day falls on a Friday this year, when there is only one broadcast space reserved for a Premier League fixture. That means that the other nine matches are likely to be delayed until the weekend on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December. The Premier League is obliged to provide 33 weekends of fixtures every season as a result of its broadcasting commitments, with only five rounds of midweek fixtures. The league is struggling to find alternative weekends as a result of the expansion of the Champions League and new commitments to the FA Cup, which now takes up extra space in the calendar since the scrapping of replays, now having exclusive scheduling on weekends for the fourth and fifth rounds and quarter-finals. Weekend fixtures in the Premier League are typically played at 3pm on Saturday, with some reserved for specific broadcast slots. All ten matches for the round 18 fixtures are currently pencilled in the calendar for Saturday 27 December with the final calendar not yet released. The last time Boxing Day fell on a Friday was in 2014, when all ten Premier League matches were played on the day. Previously 1981 featured the lowest number of games on Boxing Day since the end of the Second World War, with only two played. Normal service is expected to resume next year with Boxing Day taking place on a Saturday. Games in the rest of the English Football League and National League will still go ahead on Boxing Day.

Flo Clifford 5 days ago

Technology

Bengaluru Tunnel Road Won’t End Traffic Woes, Move People, Not Vehicles: Tejasvi Surya To Shivakumar

After a war of words on the proposed 17-km twin tunnel underground project between North Bengaluru’s Hebbal and Southen Bengaluru’s Silk Board, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya on Tuesday met Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. Surya said he had a “very cordial, very meaningful meeting” as the two leaders discussed long-term strategies to decongest Bengaluru and promote sustainable transport solutions. The MP submitted that the tunnel will affect one of Bengaluru’s oldest green lungs, causing severe ecological imbalance and affecting a three-million-year-old monolith. Surya said the idea that “more roads mean less traffic” is a myth and the real fix lies in better public transport. He urged the government to fast-track Metro expansion, which he claims can cut congestion by more than 60 per cent. Tejasvi Surya’s 5-point plan Surya laid out a five-point plan for Bengaluru’s mobility crisis: Don’t reinvent the wheel — improve execution of existing projects. Move people, not vehicles. Prioritise public transport. Integrate systems — Metro, BMTC, suburban rail — under one unified plan. And most importantly, make pedestrians the focus, not cars. According to Surya, a single light rail track (LRT) — like a tram — can move 16 to 22 times more commuters than private cars. His presentation focused on how the Rs 18,500-crore tunnel project for serving only four-wheelers while overlapping with the Namma Metro and suburban rail routes and was not workable. Surya pointed out that for ecological impact study of the project has not been conducted. It also has no drainage design, and an unrealistic 50-month deadline set up. He also said the cost estimates ignore 25 years of projected traffic growth. The MP also flagged safety and disaster management concerns, questioning whether any seismic risk assessment has been done. The tunnel’s Detailed Project Report claims a travel time saving of just 13 minutes by 2031 and 15 minutes by 2041. But an IISc study estimates that by 2060, only about 11,351 vehicles per direction will use the 18-km tunnel, showing it will be massively underutilised. And the cost? The tunnel will drain Rs 1,058 crore per kilometre, while the Red Line Metro — running on the same stretch — costs Rs 696 crore per km. Even the fares tell the story: Rs 330 for a one-way tunnel toll versus Rs 50-60 on the Metro. Surya says the comparison makes it clear — rapid transit systems are cleaner, quieter, cheaper, and far more efficient. A Metro can carry 69,000 passengers an hour per direction. The tunnel road? Barely 1,800 people an hour. What are Surya’s four recommendations? Use mixed infrastructure like underpasses and flyovers to fix traffic bottlenecks. Commission a feasibility report for a tram or light rail system. Fast-track Metro projects — especially the Red Line. Double BMTC’s fleet from 7,000 to 16,000 buses and expand Metro coverage to 300 km with three-minute frequency. Surya said Bengaluru needs smarter solutions, not expensive experiments underground. Speaking to CNN News18 after the meeting, Surya said the discussions focused on enhancing public transport infrastructure, which he described as the only sustainable solution for improving urban mobility. “We have discussed in detail how public transport and increase in public transport footprint is the only sustainable solution for effective commute and mobility in city,” he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP said he requested the Deputy Chief Minister to redirect funds earmarked for the proposed tunnel road project towards mass rapid transport systems such as the metro. Surya proposed practical interventions to ease congestion on the Outer Ring Road (ORR), one of the city’s most clogged corridors. “On the ORR, which is the most congested bottlenecked area, we have two metro stations, KR Puram and Silk Board stations at two ends. Between these two stations, if 5–10 minute loop buses with dedicated bus lanes are made then it will greatly help a lot of people easily reach places, bringing down traffic and bringing down commute time in ORR,” he said. He also urged the state government to appoint a chairman for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA), which he described as the most important agency for coordination between different transport parastatals. “BMLTA should be empowered,” he said. Yesterday, DCM Shri @DKShivakumar asked me for my plan of action for Bengaluru. He has asked me for alternate solutions. In this regard, I have sought time from his office to present ideas on how Bengaluru should address its traffic congestion, among other problems. I have… pic.twitter.com/twnQQHHWDG — Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) October 26, 2025 ‘Bipartisan approach to fix traffic problems’ Highlighting the importance of pedestrian and road infrastructure, Surya said, “Our footpaths and roads need top priority, we should work on a mission mode, and efforts to make it best in the country or world. Vision should be to have 300 km of metro with three-minute frequency for city, people will be able to access it very easily and will also be affordable.” He reiterated that investments should prioritise sustainable and long-term solutions. “Money should be spent on sustainable projects for long-term solutions, not short term,” he said. On environmental and civic concerns regarding the tunnel road, Surya said Shivakumar had assured him that there would be no damage to Lalbagh and that no commercial establishments would be allowed there. “He has assured me that in this tunnel project which I have repeatedly requested to drop in favour of a rail-based transport, he assured that there is not going to be any damage to Lal Bagh, and I also mentioned to him about reports that there may be commercial establishment at Lal Bagh which he has assured to me that it won’t be there,” he said. Clarifying his stance, Surya said his opposition to the tunnel road was not merely based on environmental grounds. “We are not opposing this tunnel road project just based on environmental concerns, we want more sustainable projects, not build more roads, we support public transport,” he said. “This is a bipartisan approach to fix traffic problems in a sustainable manner which will actually yield more results,” he said. Surya added that political differences would continue but good ideas should be supported regardless of party lines. “Political attacks asking the Opposition questions will continue because that is the nature of our responsibilities. But we must support good ideas as responsible citizens, the Bengaluru Business Corridor, we will support it, the Peripheral Ring Road is needed for mobility,” he said. He, however, maintained firm opposition to the tunnel road project, which he said would cost Rs 47,000 crore for a 30-35 km stretch. “Our opposition to tunnel road continues as Rs 47,000 crore is proposed to be spent to build a 30-35 kms tunnel road? It’s still a road. I’ve asked him to drop this idea, this won’t do good for the city. Well, I hope that he will drop the idea, we want to promote public transport, 18 kms tunnel road won’t be solution to Bengaluru traffic,” he said. Surya mentioned how Shivakumar recollected the time when he had played a key role during Chief Minister SM Krishna and Ananth Kumar’s time in planning Bengaluru’s metro project. “He recollected how he had played key role when Chief Minister SM Krishna and Anant Kumar were planning to bring metro to Bengaluru and his report helped. He agrees wholeheartedly public transport is the only the solution. I hope he will drop tunnel road project,” Surya said.

Manjiri Joshi,News18,Rohini Swamy And Afreen Hussain 5 days ago

Technology

US Senator Sanders challenges Bezos, Amazon on automation's job impacts

SAN FRANCISCO :U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders on Tuesday called on Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos to account for what the Vermont independent said were hundreds of thousands of potential lost jobs due to automation. "If Amazon succeeds on its massive automation plan, it will have a profound impact on blue-collar workers throughout America and will likely be used as a model by large corporations throughout America," Sanders wrote in a letter to Bezos, which was exclusively reviewed by Reuters. Sanders, who caucuses with the Democrats, was referring to a New York Times article published earlier this month that cited documents and interviews showing that Amazon executives believe 500,000 jobs could be cut over time by replacing warehouse workers with robots. Amazon employs 1.55 million people, the majority of whom are hourly workers. An Amazon spokesperson said the company had no immediate response to the letter. However, Amazon has said its automation goals are to assist workers and create new jobs. On Monday, Reuters reported Amazon planned to cut as many as 30,000 corporate jobs beginning Tuesday, as it pares expenses. It announced an initial cut of some 14,000 jobs tied in part to efficiency gains from its use of artificial intelligence software, according to a note posted to the company's website. In the letter, Sanders asked Bezos whether Amazon planned to provide laid-off workers with sufficient severance payments and some continuation of their health-care coverage. He also noted that Amazon workers have received federal subsidies for food, housing and health care and the company has received “billions of dollars” in federal contracts. “What are Amazon’s plans to provide help and support for the many hundreds of thousands of workers you’ll be replacing with robots and AI?” said Sanders, referring to artificial intelligence software. Bezos is now executive chairman and no longer runs day-to-day operations at Amazon after the company appointed Andy Jassy as chief executive in 2021. Jassy said earlier this year that advancements in AI would lead to a shrinking corporate workforce at the Seattle-based firm. Sanders has frequently sparred with Amazon and Bezos, particularly over warehouse working conditions, but also what he has called union-busting tactics.

Unknown 5 days ago

Technology

Netflix and Amazon Prime are using AI algorithms that hide content from some users, media executive says

Jyoti Deshpande, a film producer and president of media and content business at Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, said during a Sunday panel at the Fortune Global Forum in Riyadh that AI-powered algorithms on streaming platforms are limiting some audiences from watching certain shows and movies. “The larger problem comes in distribution and the use of algo when content is being shown,” she said. Algorithms have become a ubiquitous and key tool in keeping users engaged on streaming platforms. According to a survey of 2,000 American streaming-service subscribers commissioned by user-experience testing platform UserTesting and conducted by Talker Research, a subscriber spends an average of 110 hours per year scrolling on their streaming platforms, with half of respondents saying the amount of content available is overwhelming. In May, Netflix had its first major home screen update in more than a decade, which shows fewer titles, but more animation and video features. The update also includes “responsive recommendations” that generate titles based on what subscribers have been searching for and watching in the recent past. Algorithm blind spots Deshpande suggested that while streaming algorithms like Netflix’s are good at identifying what is within a subscriber’s tastes, the algorithm may limit what that user is exposed to, to the detriment of studios trying to produce films. The Reliance Industries executive used the example of Laapataa Ladies, a film she produced that became India’s entry into the International Feature Film category of the 2024 Oscars. While the movie was promoted heavily because of its nomination, Deshpande said Laapataa Ladies was not made readily available to some users, such as those in the U.K., because the platform’s algorithm determined those users would not be interested in the film. In 2024, about 70% of Hollywood’s global revenue came from international markets, but according to Deshpande, for certain international film producers, the opposite is true. She suggested the onus to make international content more available to diverse audiences is on streaming platforms. “Ours is the reverse,” she said. “And I would say it would be the same for Arabic content: more revenues from the domestic market and less from the international markets. “If these large platforms, Amazon Prime, Apple, Netflix—the big boys—if they don’t openly promote this content and make it discoverable to everyone, how do we get there?” Deshpande concluded. The changing global box office According to Netflix, the platform employs a “local for local” strategy that intentionally shows audiences content from their home country that is culturally specific, but that international titles such as RRR and Squid Game have found Western audiences because of their popularity. Apple and Amazon did not respond to Fortune’s requests for comment. Hollywood’s hold on the global box office may be starting to change. Two decades ago, U.S. films had a 92% share of the global box office compared with today’s still-dominant 66%, Bloomberg reported last month. In late August, KPop Demon Hunters, an animated film, became Netflix’s first No. 1 box office title. “It was the superfans who watched the movie and repeat-watched the movie that drove the recommendation engine that got it in front of more superfans who also fell in love with the movie,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said during the company’s earnings call last week.

Sasha Rogelberg 5 days ago

Technology

Only Holy Crosses For Dani Alves From Now! Ex-Barcelona Star Finds Redemption Through Faith After Acquittal

Former Barcelona and Brazil star Dani Alves has found a new calling — one far removed from the bright lights of football. Once celebrated for his flair on the pitch, the 42-year-old now takes the stage in a very different arena: preaching at the Elim Evangelical Church in Girona, where he shares testimony of how faith helped him rebuild his life. Alves was acquitted on March 28, 2025, after a three-year legal battle and 14 months in prison over allegations of assault in a Barcelona nightclub. Since his release, he has devoted himself to evangelical Christianity, describing his transformation as a pact with God. “You have to have faith — I’m proof of that,” Alves told a cheering congregation during a recent service. “At my lowest point, I said to God: I will serve you, but take care of my house.” El exjugador del Barça, Dani Alves, se ha convertido en predicador en una iglesia de Girona. Fue absuelto de un delito de agresión sexual este año. “Hay que tener fe en Dios. Yo soy una prueba de ello. Yo hice un pacto con Dios”. pic.twitter.com/H6KjoJXyaH — Albert Ortega (@AlbertOrtegaES1) October 27, 2025 The former Sevilla, Juventus and PSG defender has also reconciled with his partner Joana Sanz, with the couple recently announcing they are expecting a child: a new beginning that Alves credits to faith. His newfound spirituality now defines his public image. Alves’s Instagram bio reads “Disciple of Christ Jesus,” and his feed is filled with Bible verses and messages of hope. During a testimony that went viral online, Alves spoke about finding purpose in pain: “I will serve you, but take care of my house,” he says, was the agreement. The former Barça player repeatedly proclaimed “the power of God” and linked it to the birth of his son. “Love is loving when one doesn’t deserve it,” Alves continues, concluding that “in the midst of the storm”, a messenger led him to the Church.

News18,Siddarth Sriram 5 days ago

Technology

8th Pay Commission: Cabinet Approves Terms Of Reference, Panel To Submit Report In 18 Months

8th Pay Commission Update: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC), which will revise the salaries of nearly 50 lakh central government employees and benefits for about 69 lakh pensioners. Announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the ToR had been finalised following extensive consultations with various ministries, state governments, and the staff side of the Joint Consultative Machinery. The Commission is expected to submit its recommendations within 18 months from the date of its constitution. Earlier, in January, the Cabinet had approved the formation of the 8th Pay Commission to review and recommend changes to the pay structure, allowances, and pension benefits for central government employees and retirees. The government had informed Parliament in July that it sought inputs from key stakeholders, including the defence and home ministries, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), and state governments, before finalising the ToR. Responding to a query on the timeline for the implementation of revised pay scales, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary had clarified that the process would commence “once the recommendations are made by the 8th CPC and accepted by the government.” The Central Pay Commission is typically set up every ten years to review the remuneration structure of government employees. The 7th Pay Commission, constituted in February 2014, had its recommendations implemented from January 1, 2016. Following this trend, the 8th Pay Commission’s recommendations are expected to come into effect from January 1, 2026. Meanwhile, central government employees continue to receive dearness allowance (DA) to offset inflationary pressures, with the DA rate revised every six months based on the inflation rate.

Aparna Deb,News18,Varun Yadav 5 days ago

Technology

[Watch live]: Official launch of Cedi@60 celebration

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is officially launching the year-long activities to mark the 60th anniversary of the Ghana Cedi (GHS) at a ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) today (October 28). The celebration, themed "The Cedi: 60 Years of Currency in Ghana", is aimed at highlighting the currency's historical significance and its role in economic development and at educating the public on its features and proper handling. The event, presided over by Governor Dr. Ernest Addison, has brought together government officials, financial sector leaders, traditional rulers, and economic stakeholders. The celebration marks six decades since Ghana moved from the British West African pound to its own national currency, the Cedi, in 1965. Watch the event below

David Apinga,Governor Dr. Ernest 5 days ago

Atlanta journalist says he ‘won’t be the only’ one deported by Trump officials

Emmy award-winner Mario Guevara warns administration ‘has the power’ after he was arrested and sent to El Salvador

Ramon Antonio Vargas 5 days ago

Houseplant clinic: what’s wrong with the leaves on my rubber plant?

Dropped leaves and speckled dots indicate a thrips infestation. Luckily, there is plenty you can do about it

Gynelle Leon 5 days ago

‘Drinking was big!’ Pub landlords – one gen Z, one 66 – discuss how they stay open in an age of sobriety

Last year, more than 400 pubs closed in England and Wales, as rising costs kept customers at home and drinking rates among young people declined. Can any remain afloat? Two landlords from different generations discuss the problems and possibilities

Sammy Gecsoyler 5 days ago

Zohran Mamdani represents the future of the Democratic party | Robert Reich

Democratic party leaders like Chuck Schumer refuse to endorse Mamdani. And The New York Times wrongly cautions against him. Both are wrong

Robert Reich 5 days ago

Technology

Marcus Trescothick says bowler-friendly Ashes wickets could suit England

Assistant coach Marcus Trescothick insisted spicier, bowler-friendly wickets in the Ashes could play into England’s hands. Stand-in Australia captain Steve Smith pointed out conditions in the last three to four years are different to the flat pitches England have had on past tours and now tend to favour the pacemen. “It’s probably been as challenging for batters as we’ve seen in a long time,” Smith told reporters this week. “We’ve got some guys that will be able to exploit the conditions. The bowlers are experienced, very good at what they do. It’s going to make for hard work for the batters.” During last winter’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, who won 3-1, India’s Jasprit Bumrah collected a remarkable 32 wickets in five Tests in a series that was dominated by the quicks on both sides. Trescothick, though argued England have the gameplan that can offset whatever Australia throw at them, highlighting Harry Brook’s majestic 135 in 101 balls in Sunday’s first ODI against New Zealand. While the rest of England’s batting line-up floundered in seaming conditions in Mount Maunganui as they slipped 1-0 down in the series, Brook’s counter-attacking innings for the ages made it a close-run contest. “When ball is dominating the bat, then to try to be aggressive and put pressure on is something that we do really well,” Trescothick said, ahead of Wednesday’s second ODI in Hamilton. “I think Harry’s biggest strength is probably his bravery and his attitude to be in that situation and trying to be aggressive. To be able to make it happen in the fashion he does, it changes games. “I don’t have a problem with (Australia producing bowler-friendly pitches) because it obviously makes for quicker games and entertaining cricket, which kind of suits us.” Much of the early Ashes hype has centred on Joe Root’s Test record in Australia, where he has made no hundreds and averages a respectable 35.68, albeit lower than his excellent career figure of 51.29. A number of former Australia players have recently had their say on Root – second on the list of all-time Test run-scorers behind only Sachin Tendulkar – but Trescothick gave short shrift to the anomaly. “It has no bearing on what people believe,” Trescothick, who was instrumental in England’s 2005 Ashes win but never made a Test century against Australia, said. “His record speaks for itself, he’s a wonderful player in all formats and in all countries around the world that he’s played.” Pat Cummins will miss the first Ashes Test in Perth, starting on November 21, with Australia’s fast bowling captain not recovering from a back injury in time, and Smith will deputise as skipper. “It’s been in the news for a period of time but I don’t think it’s really made any difference with what we’re trying to do because we’re focused on the white-ball series (in New Zealand),” Trescothick added. “As we get over to Australia in a couple of weeks then we’ll start prepping and looking after our own team and what we’re trying to do. I’m not too worried about what Australia are doing.”

David Charlesworth 5 days ago

Technology

3 Growth Stocks That Could Be 10-Baggers in 10 Years

Many investors dream about finding the next growth stock that could climb tenfold over the next 10 years. But for every stock that becomes a 10-bagger, plenty of other hopeful stocks fizzle out. Therefore, it's smarter for investors to spread out those long-term bets across some of the market's speculative plays instead of getting too attached to a single growth story. I won't pretend that I know which growth stocks will net 10-bagger gains over the next decade, but those potential winners should have disruptive advantages and growing moats. I believe three underappreciated growth stocks fit that description: Symbotic (SYM +8.40%), Serve Robotics (SERV +3.04%), and Nio (NIO +2.17%). 1. Symbotic Symbotic, which went public by merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in 2022, develops fully autonomous warehouse robots for processing pallets and cases. It claims a $50 million investment in one of its modules (which include its robots and software) can generate $250 million in savings over 25 years. Walmart is Symbotic's largest customer. The retail giant accounted for 87% of its revenue in fiscal 2024 (ended last September), which mainly comes from a long-term contract to automate all 42 of its U.S. regional distribution centers by 2034. That customer concentration is worrisome, but Symbotic has also been providing robots for Target, Albertsons, C&S Wholesale, and GreenBox -- a warehouse-as-a-service joint venture it formed with SoftBank. Those newer deals could gradually reduce its dependence on Walmart's massive automation project. From fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2027, analysts expect Symbotic's revenue and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to grow at a CAGR of 24% and 71%, respectively. But it still trades at just 24 times next year's adjusted EBITDA. That modest valuation suggests that investors aren't convinced that Symbotic can diversify its business away from Walmart and maintain its current momentum. But if it proves the bears wrong, it could defend its early-mover advantage in the warehouse automation market and generate big multibagger gains for patient investors over the next decade. 2. Serve Robotics Serve Robotics, which went public via a reverse merger in 2023, develops autonomous delivery robots. It was founded as a subsidiary of Postmates, became a part of Uber (UBER +2.50%) after its takeover of Postmates in 2020, and was spun off as an independent company in 2021. However, Serve's top customer is still Uber Eats. Its newest Gen 3 delivery robots can travel up to 11 miles per hour, last up to 48 miles on a single charge, and carry 15 gallons of cargo. They're also resistant to extreme weather conditions. Serve initially only provided deliveries in the Los Angeles region, but it now operates in Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, and Chicago. It expects to enter another major metro area by the end of this year. Serve plans to have 2,000 robots deployed for Uber Eats by the end of 2025, a near 20-fold increase from roughly 100 robots at the end of 2024. Over the next few years, it could reduce its dependence on Uber by striking similar delivery deals with other businesses or delivery services. From 2024 to 2027, analysts expect Serve's revenue to surge at a CAGR of 241% from $2 million to $71 million as its scales up its business. Serve's stock might seem a bit pricey at 11 times its projected sales for 2027, but it's clearly established an early-mover advantage in its niche market -- and the stock could soar even higher if it attracts more partners and expands into more markets. Nio is a major producer of electric vehicles (EVs) in China. It sells a wide range of sedans and SUVs, but it differentiates itself from its competitors with removable batteries that can be quickly swapped out at its own battery-swapping stations. That makes it a much faster alternative to traditional charging stations. Nio's annual deliveries more than doubled in both 2020 and 2021, then rose by more than 30% in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Its recent growth was driven by its robust sales of its higher-end ET-series sedans, Onvo mid-sized SUVs, and Firefly compact cars in China. It also continues to expand in Europe, even as its margins get squeezed by higher tariffs. From 2024 to 2027, analysts expect Nio's revenue to grow at a CAGR of 30% as its adjusted EBITDA turns positive by the final year. That's an impressive growth trajectory for a stock that trades at less than 1 times next year's sales, but its valuations are likely being compressed by the persistent trade tensions between the U.S. and China. But if those tensions finally ease, Nio's stock might command a much higher valuation and deliver massive multibagger gains over the next decade.

Leo Sun 5 days ago

Technology

Get lifetime access to essential Microsoft Office apps for less than $50

TL;DR: Give yourself a much-needed productivity boost with this lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows, now just $49.97 (reg. $219.99). Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License Save $170.02 With the holidays right around the corner, you’ve probably used up most of your PTO for the year. If there were ever a time to invest in something that can help you get your work done, it’s now. That’s exactly what Microsoft Office brings to the table: apps geared toward making your workday more productive.Luckily, a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows is currently on sale for just $49.97 (reg. $219.99). A few Microsoft Surfaces are now under $200 This Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows license outfits your PC with a suite of eight powerful apps to help you tackle personal and professional tasks. Some of these tools have been around for nearly four decades, while some newer additions have become workplace essentials.Curious what’s included in this version of Microsoft Office? You’ll receive access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, OneNote, Publisher, and Teams. The apps have been redesigned to make them effective for everyone, from designers to data analysts, so don’t worry about the year of this edition.Unlike Microsoft 365, this version lets you own the apps instead of just renting them. You’ll receive an instant download so you can always keep them accessible on your device. This also gives you the option to work offline if needed. Just ensure your device is running Windows 10 or 11 before purchasing.Let Microsoft Office staples streamline your workflow with this lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows, on sale now for just $49.97 (reg. $219.99).StackSocial prices subject to change.

Live bowl leads to a dead green

“Monday’s TV Guide promises an episode of Return to Paradise in which, ‘A tense game of bowls turns to chaos when a player is killed on the green in broad daylight’,” notes Don Bain of Port Macquarie. “Brought on a wave of nostalgia for this old trundler.” “Someone I know very well locked his keys inside the car (C8), but had also left the engine running,” writes Debbie Rudder of Maroubra. “I had to catch a cab (this was long before the Uber era) from University of NSW to the Australian Museum to rescue him from both a parking fine and running out of petrol.” Even though October 27 is widely recognised as the dedicated “Day of the Dead for Pets” or Día de Muertos para Mascotas, it was nonetheless a terrible day for Donna Wiemann of Balmain when “my precious fifteen-year-old Jack Russell, Will, went to dog heaven, leaving me in hell. So there is some justice in this crazy, screwed up world. I asked him to have a quick word in God’s ear about Trump. Let’s see how that works out.” John Constable of Balmain is getting hot under the collar: “The Windsor knot (C8) is anathema to any well-dressed gentleman to whom the skewiff schoolboy knot is the epitome of style.” On the back of Pasquale Vartuli (C8) never having seen Sir Les Patterson and Federal front-bencher Don Farrell in the same room, Merilyn McClung of Forestville wonders if politicians really do have alter egos: “I always thought Scott Morrison was a dead ringer for Benny Hill’s Fred Tuttle.” In appearance or deed?

Unknown 5 days ago

Technology

PFAS pollution lowers sperm count in mice, alters their embryos: study

“If we can take away all the excuses that [research] doesn’t perfectly mimic what’s going on outside, then maybe what we could find might help fill that gap, and we’ll be able to better actually provide information or knowledge to these individuals who are making these big decisions,” Martin said. “In terms of it being diluted, it depends on where you’re getting it because not only could you be exposed in the environment, but you could be exposed from your workplace, from the things that we’re buying in the shop, a non-stick pan or waterproof clothing, for example. You wouldn’t necessarily just be getting it from that one source.” The work backs up global retrospective analysis that suggests PFAS can disrupt human fertility, including reduced hormones and sperm count, but also reveals a potential new avenue of harm – that paternal PFAS exposure alone could have consequences for children, even if the children themselves are not directly exposed. The researchers used the sperm from the exposed male mice to fertilise eggs from females that had not been exposed, and these early embryos showed abnormal gene expression that could affect birth weights.

Caitlin Fitzsimmons 5 days ago