News from October 30, 2025

Technology

Girl, 5, critical after being hit by ute outside Sydney school

A five-year-old girl is in a critical condition after she was struck by a ute while riding a scooter outside Rouse Hill Public School in Sydney’s north-west. Emergency services were called to the school campus on Clower Avenue about 3.45pm on Thursday following reports a child had been hit by the car. NSW Police said the girl, who is understood to be a student of the school, had been riding a scooter on the footpath. Multiple ambulance crews attended with a medical team and treated her at the scene, before taking her to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in a critical condition.

David Barwell 5 days ago

Technology

Netflix's The Witcher season four review: Liam Hemsworth isn't the biggest problem

The latest season of Netflix's fantasy adaptation of The Witcher is starting to suffer some of the same problems as later seasons of Game of Thrones, the show it's always had an eye on to replicate. However, despite serious fan concern, the biggest issue is not the arrival of Liam Hemsworth . The Australian actor makes his long awaited debut as Geralt of Rivia, replacing the fan favourite Henry Cavill. The Superman actor was a well-documented fan of the books written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski as well as the video game interpretation by developer CD Projekt Red. Viewers praised his take on the lead character and were less than pleased when he announced his departure following three seasons. Hemsworth admitted he has a huge job to take on the role and his approach is sensible. He does not have the same presence or range to take on a character as complex as Geralt, but he makes a worthwhile attempt at a stand-in for Cavill. So much so, with the many flaws to be found in The Witcher's fourth season, he is not one of them. According to Netflix's synopsis, after the Continent-altering events of season three, Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri find themselves separated by a raging war and countless enemies. As their paths diverge, and their goals sharpen, they stumble on unexpected allies eager to join their journey. While Hemsworth may be sure of what his job is, the show itself still doesn't quite know its own identity. After facing criticism for the many changes it makes from the original books and the theories behind Cavill's exit, it almost begins in apologetic fashion. It acknowledges more than ever its novel origins, even adopting a literary framing device used in the books that the show's writers have largely ignored. Although it's not as impactful or accurate as on the page and is disappointingly discarded aside quickly, only to be picked up again when not needed. This kind of inconsistency dogs the fourth season almost constantly. Just like Game of Thrones' divisive final season, The Witcher season four begins by hurtling through the latter stages of Sapkowski's Witcher saga, largely taking its lead from the penultimate two novels. However it still finds time to halt the main action for nonsensical distractions and dragging of feet. Throw in the unforgivable sin of characters telling us what the show's themes and ideas are when the time to be shown them has flown by. This also sparks a recurrence of an old problem from past seasons, in that it can be extremely difficult to keep up with what's actually going on. Partner this with countless nameless faces dressed in dark clothing and cloaks, along with a bewildering take on how magic is used in this world and a refusal to set out Ciri's abilities or what everyone actually wants her for despite repeating the word 'destiny'. Action set pieces are still a highlight for The Witcher but unfortunately they are not all made equal. The best are naturally saved for the opening episode and the finale. One battle in particular should become a quick favourite among viewers. Not just for its spectacle but it impressively becomes one of the episodes most faithful to the original tale with something extra for flourish of course. It can be done! It does leave an exciting prospect for those who know what is to come based on the final book. But with a show that is so happy to make drastic changes for the sake of it, who knows? The Witcher's fourth season is full of fodder for fans to dissect over in reddit threads - 'Why is everyone appearing from thin air?', 'All these things didn't happen in the book', 'What's happening with the portals?', 'Who is that again?', 'What are the rules with magic in this place?' There will be one final season of The Witcher on Netflix and while it will not be a Stranger Things level event, there is enough for fans to turn up. Dedicated readers will still continue grumbling about what could have been and wonder if Game Of Thrones' worst finale crown will be passed on. The Witcher is streaming on Netflix.

Peter Harris 5 days ago

UK woman who booked Oslo flight but did not fly loses child benefit ‘because she emigrated’

Exclusive: HMRC told Lisa Morris-Almond there was no record of her return to UK, but she did not take the trip

Lisa O’Carroll 5 days ago

Heart the Lover by Lily King review – a love story to treasure

A companion novel to the brilliant Writers & Lovers, this delightfully witty tale of college romance matures into midlife poignancy

Rebecca Wait 5 days ago

Technology

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: dust-resistant and more durable foldable phone

Book-style Android with cutting-edge AI, good cameras and great tablet screen for media and multitasking on the go

Samuel Gibbs Consumer technology editor 5 days ago

Business

Business and charity leaders urge ministers to lead England’s transition to four-day week

Open letter signed by more than 100 leaders comes after local government secretary criticised a council for switching to shorter week

Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent 5 days ago

Business

Benefits of a four-day week are ever clearer, despite Steve Reed’s stance

Housing secretary’s criticism of trial in South Cambridgeshire council ignores its many positives

Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent 5 days ago

Technology

Legenda sukan bakal sertai ‘Walk With Al-Sultan Abdullah: The King of Sports’

Inisiatif diraja berteraskan gaya hidup sihat itu akan dipimpin oleh Sultan Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah bagi meraikan warisan sukan dan perpaduan negara. PETALING JAYA: Acara 'Walk With Al-Sultan Abdullah: The King of Sports' berlangsung di Stadium Merdeka pada 5 Nov ini bakal dihadiri kira-kira 150 peserta termasuk legenda dan bekas atlet kebangsaan yang pernah mengharumkan nama Malaysia di pentas antarabangsa. Inisiatif diraja berteraskan gaya hidup sihat itu akan dipimpin sendiri oleh Sultan Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah bagi meraikan warisan sukan dan perpaduan negara. Antara yang dijangka hadir termasuk legenda bola sepak Santokh Singh dan Soh Chin Aun, bekas pelari pecut G Shanti serta legenda badminton Rashid Sidek. Turut serta bekas ratu terjun negara Leong Mun Yee, bekas kapten skuad hoki lelaki kebangsaan, Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin serta bekas kapten ragbi kebangsaan dan pasukan Selangor era 1970-an dan 1980-an, Jagjit Singh. Acara itu anjuran agensi terkemuka dalam perhubungan awam, ShekhinahPR dengan kerjasama Yayasan Al-Sultan Abdullah (Yasa) bertujuan menyatukan rakyat Malaysia dalam satu acara yang meraikan nilai kesihatan, komuniti dan semangat kebangsaan. Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif, Christopher Raj, berkata ia bukan hanya dapat meraikan warisan sukan negara dengan mengiktiraf jasa atlet yang telah membentuk sejarah Malaysia malah juga menggalakkan gaya hidup sihat serta memperkukuh hubungan antara institusi diraja bersama legenda sukan negara. “Walk With Al-Sultan Abdullah: The King of Sports bukan sekadar acara, tetapi satu inisiatif yang meraikan perpaduan, kesihatan dan warisan melalui aktiviti yang paling sederhana. "Ia dijangka menjadi satu acara yang memperingati sejarah negara, semangat kesukanan dan perpaduan nasional sekaligus mengingatkan kita bahawa langkah paling bermakna ialah langkah yang diambil bersama-sama," katanya. Acara itu turut disokong oleh Bata, FWHS Medik, Merdeka 118, DCS Entertainment, Etika, dan Prince Court Medical Centre, selaras dengan matlamat memupuk gaya hidup sihat, memperkukuh warisan serta menyemai semangat perpaduan dalam kalangan rakyat Malaysia.

FMT Reporters 5 days ago

Technology

Forgotten Scotland cap delivers statement performance in first start for Premier League club in three years

Calvin Ramsay marked his first Liverpool appearance in almost three years with a statement performance despite being on the end of a 3-0 defeat. The 22-year-old Scotland cap was handed a surprise start by head coach Arne Slot for the Carabao Cup fourth round match against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday night. Deployed at right-back, Ramsay's display was hailed as one of the few bright spots on an otherwise dismal night for the Reds as they suffered a sixth defeat in seven matches to bow out of the competition. Ismaila Sarr’s first-half brace put Oliver Glasner’s Palace in control, with Yeremy Pino’s first goal for the club wrapping up a 3-0 fourth-round win after home substitute Amara Nallo was sent off. Despite the result, Liverpool fans flooded social media to lavish praise on Ramsay, who joined the Merseyside club from Aberdeen in a £4.2million transfer back in the summer of 2022. He made his debut as a substitute against Napoli in the Champions League and played all 90 minutes of a Carabao Cup tie with Derby County. Both these games were in November 2022, a month in which he also made his full Scotland debut, winning his first and only cap to date in a 2-1 friendly defeat to Turkey. A series of injuries have since derailed both his club and international career and also limited his game time during loan spells at Preston, Bolton, Wigan and Kilmarnock. Ramsay has spent the campaign so far with the Liverpool U21 squad, wearing the captain's armband on occasions, and was one of 10 changes for the cup clash as Slot opted for squad rotation with first-choice right-back Jeremie Frimpong injured and stand-in Connor Bradley rested. “I think Calvin had a very, very decent performance," Slot said afterwards. "Calm on the ball. Played with composure. First half we had better chances than them and he was part of that. A decent to good game for him." Liverpool fans were even more complimentary online. One post on X read: "A terrible night for Liverpool but I thought Calvin Ramsay made a statement tonight with his performance. Looked great on the ball, made the most recoveries (7) for #LFC and also won 6/9 duels. 100% took his chance." Another supporter posted: "First time I’ve seen Calvin Ramsay play football in 3 years and he looks like our best right back and I’m not even exaggerating." One Liverpool fan account with over 370,000 followers added: "Calvin Ramsay has got something about him. Really good talent."

Matthew Elder 5 days ago

Technology

What time is Celebrity Traitors on today? BBC schedule and when the next episode is

Celebrity Traitors is nearing its conclusion. The penultimate episode is almost here. But when can you tune in? Celebrity Traitors is preparing to wrap-up yet another week of action in the Scottish Highlands. The all-star version is nearing the end of its debut season - and it has been a complete smash hit. A date for the feature-length finale has been announced by the BBC. It will see the very first winner or winners of the spin-off crowned in a super-sized episode. Sign up for our daily national newsletter - in your inbox Mon-Fri But when can you tune in and when exactly will the show end? Here’s all you need to know: What time is Celebrity Traitors on today? The hit BBC show will continue with its penultimate episode this evening (October 30). It will once again start at 9pm and is due to run approximately an hour, finishing at 10pm. Celebrity Traitors will be broadcast on BBC One/ One HD yet again. For those who watch on iPlayer it can also be tuned into live, or on demand. A preview for the episode, via Radio Times, reads: “As the game nears the end, the murders become increasingly harder for the traitors. With time running out to increase the final prize pot, the celebrity players take on a mission where one mistake could cause heads to roll. “At the round table, the faithful have one final chance to discover the identity of the banished player.” When is Celebrity Traitors on TV next? Unlike the regular version, Celebrity Traitors has just two episodes - max - per week and will have nine in total. The episode airing this evening will be the eighth and penultimate one. Celebrity Traitors will return for its grand finale on Thursday, November 6. It is due to start at 9pm and will run for a super-sized 75 minutes. The show is not scheduled to be on next Wednesday, so there will be a nearly week-long gap between episodes. Remind yourself of every player who has left Celebrity Traitors so far. It includes a full list of murders and banishments.

Matthew Mohan,Matthew Mohan-Hickson 5 days ago

Technology

From ‘greenwashing’ to ‘greenhushing,’ clean energy momentum advances despite political roadblocks

One big change is the switch from empty promises of net-zero carbon goals to the more practical applications of green energy that make business sense and include positive returns on investment, they said. “This bump in the road in this green agenda is being driven by this myth that if we continue to do things in a green way it’s going to be more expensive for the economy and cause people to lose their jobs,” said Jose La Loggia, EMEA group president for the HVAC giant Trane Technologies. That myth is not true, he said, arguing that Trane’s more efficient combined heat and power, or cogeneration, systems can be 400% more energy efficient and quickly pay themselves off. “It’s greener, cheaper, and better for everyone,” La Loggia said, arguing that the biggest challenge is often overcoming humanity’s fear of change. “We shouldn’t be negligent of the thought that people really don’t like change, and we really have to work on that.” Faisal Sultan, president of Lucid Motors Middle East, noted that the electric vehicle industry is facing the recent loss of tax breaks for EVs in the U.S. The EV sector got lazy for a while and didn’t do enough to advance its technologies in battery charging, driving range, and luxury perks. Those areas are where Lucid is most heavily focused. And the rest of the EV industry is realizing it needs to catch up so people choose EVs for their quality and not just because they’re better for the environment, he said. “EVs are definitely growing, but they’ll grow much more practically.” Still, Sultan said governments need to have more consistent, long-term policies and not change on a dime depending on the political winds. “We need policies that are going to be long-term policies,” Sultan said. “The one thing we need to agree on is the climate because the world has to exist. “There are some people who think we can live on Mars,” he continued, seemingly referencing Elon Musk and Lucid rival Tesla, “but we shouldn’t give up on our Earth so fast.” Overcoming the ‘blip’ Mohammed El Zarkani, the United Nations resident coordinator for Saudi Arabia, said land degradation, droughts, and other impacts of climate change cost the global economy $900 billion annually. “That’s not abstract. That’s factories shutting down because of water shortages, that’s shipping routes being disrupted, that’s food shortages spiking, and that’s supply chains breaking under distress,” he said. So it makes economic sense to protect the environment with a much greater focus on green energy, El Zarkani said. “Environmental risk is business risk.” The current political pushback is a “blip,” he said, because it’s coming from older politicians and not the world’s youth. The momentum from younger people is continuing. There is growing resistance around the AI boom, La Loggia said, because data centers are big energy consumers. At the same time, he said, AI-controlled software management can help reduce 25% or more of the energy that’s wasted. Industries must use the technology for good. “We have to stop wasting energy,” he said.

Jordan Blum 5 days ago

Technology

Frank Lampard could have been next Gary Lineker but is proving managerial decision right

Even before he had finished playing, television companies had their eyes on Frank Lampard. In particular, there were certain executives at Sky Sports who had a masterplan. The Premier League’s main broadcasters since day one, Sky have always had a stellar roster of pundits - the best in the business. But they have not had a Gary Lineker, a blue-chip footballing name who could actually carry a programme, not just appear on it. Lineker was the face of BBC Sport. There would have been a lot of imponderables and hurdles to get over but there were some at the channel who envisaged Lampard as the face of Sky Sports. And whenever Lampard has appeared as a pundit, he has come across very well, as you would expect. But television has always been a way for Lampard to keep his footballing mind ticking over when between proper jobs. If his fantastic start to the Championship with Coventry City this season does not convince you that Lampard is a very capable manager, it should at least remind you of his perseverance. For him, there is always an easier gig waiting in front of a TV camera. And after the strictly underwhelming year at Everton - where he won only 12 of 44 games in charge - and a disastrous return to Chelsea where he won only one of 11 matches (losing eight), there were some who thought Lampard might turn to TV with more serious intent. But it seems it has never been in his plan to do a full Wayne Rooney, who now appears to have fully embraced a media career after largely undistinguished managerial efforts at Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle. There is nothing wrong with the path Rooney has taken, of course. And he is proving himself adept at punditry. Plus, having an unsuccessful CV as a manager should not stop someone passing judgement on a current manager’s work. After all, plenty do it without ever having managed. But there can be no doubt a working manager being criticised by Rooney will find it a touch ironic. And perhaps that is one of the reasons why Lampard has always been determined to prove himself. Don’t forget, he did reasonably well at Derby before his first managerial stint at Chelsea came too soon. His Everton time and stand-in spell at Stamford Bridge were setbacks but he is doing a fantastic job at Coventry. When he took over in late November of last year, the Sky Blues were 17th in the Championship. Lampard took them to the play-offs where they were narrowly beaten by Sunderland (losing to a goal in the 122nd minute of the second leg). To kick on from that agonising loss is outstanding, especially when you consider Coventry’s summer spending amounted to a mere £3.5million. And even the very basic statistics tell you Lampard has constructed a team - and masterminded a game plan - that makes Coventry the most exciting team in the Championship. After 12 matches, his unbeaten side have scored 34 goals, 14 more than any other team in the division and four more than the combined total scored by Middlesbrough and Millwall, who sit second and third in the table. Unsurprisingly, Coventry head the stats tables when it comes to shots, shots on target and chances created. On Friday night, they face a Wrexham team who have managed only three Championship wins. Lampard is not getting carried away, as you would expect. But in a season in which the teams relegated from the top flight appear to be struggling, the path to the Premier League looks inviting. There is a long way to go but Lampard is at least proving that it is nowhere near time for life in the TV studio. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Andy Dunn 5 days ago

Technology

RNZ Pacific News at 8pm for 30 October 2025

RNZ Pacific News at 8pm for 30 October 2025 | RNZ about 1 hour ago RNZ Pacific News at 8pm for 30 October 2025 From World & Pacific News, about 1 hour ago The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use. Recent stories from World & Pacific News RNZ Pacific News at 4pm for 30 October 2025 RNZ Pacific News at 3pm for 30 October 2025 RNZ Pacific News at 2pm for 30 October 2025 RNZ Pacific news at 11am for 30 October 2025 RNZ Pacific news at 10am for 30 October 2025 Get the RNZ app for easy access to all your favourite programmes Subscribe to World & Pacific News Podcast (MP3) Oggcast (Vorbis)

Unknown 5 days ago

Technology

Race-by-race preview and tips for Wagga on Friday

1. Scarli Japali has been racing well with a third at Newcastle before a last start fourth at Warwick Farm against handy opposition. This looks a nice race. 3. Valentine John has been thereabouts of late and isn’t out of this. 4. Will To Excel arrived in the nick of time to win on the Riverside track when last produced. 5. Goofinator was edged out by Will To Excel when last produced and is worth plenty of thought. How to play it: Scarli Japali WIN. 10. Roonami is lightly raced with four starts, and she hit the line well enough when a last start third at Canberra. She looks hard to hold out. 9. Hip Hip Ole debuted with a fourth at Bathurst and isn’t out of this. 5. Belnera has been placed in five of 14 starts and looks capable of figuring in the money. 1. Noir Vitesse resumed from a long spell with a second on the Riverside track and is worth plenty of thought here.

John Schell 5 days ago

Technology

Baker hopes change in luck gives Golden Eagle contender a sniff

Baker has no doubt Stefi Magnetica, which more than eased the pain of that defeat with victories in the $5 million Doncaster Mile and $2 million Invitation, “would have won”. Asked if he was due good luck in the Golden Eagle, he said: “Well, we got luck in the Stradbroke [before that], so maybe that was karma. “But you’ve got to look forward, not back, and that’s racing. You can’t get the perfect run all the time. Fingers crossed, it’s a tough race and hopefully Perfumist can run up to her best.” Perfumist, a go-forward mare, looks likely to make her own luck up on speed, especially after drawing the rails barrier. Rachel King has the ride on the $16 (TAB) chance, which raced through the grades last preparation with four consecutive wins. She failed to fire in her first two runs back, but has been excellent since, finishing a close fourth before running quick time to win at Randwick over the mile in benchmark 94 grade. She was best of the rest behind Idle Flyer last start in the group 3 Angst Stakes over the same trip.

Craig Kerry 5 days ago

Technology

Trump tells Pentagon to immediately resume testing US nuclear weapons

BUSAN: US President Donald Trump ordered the US military on Thursday to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons after a gap of 33 years, minutes before beginning a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump made the surprise announcement on Truth Social while he was aboard his Marine One helicopter flying to meet Xi for a trade negotiating session in Busan, South Korea. He said he was instructing the Pentagon to test the U.S. nuclear arsenal on an “equal basis” with other nuclear powers. “Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately,” Trump posted. “Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.” Nuclear testing sites to be determined later Later, on his way back to Washington, Trump said testing was needed to ensure Washington keeps up with its rival nuclear powers. “With others doing testing, I think it’s appropriate that we do also,” Trump said aboard Air Force One, adding that nuclear test sites would be determined later. Asked whether the world was entering a more risky phase around nuclear weapons, Trump dismissed the threat, saying US stocks were “well locked up” before adding he would welcome denuclearisation. “I’d like to see a denuclearisation because we have so many and Russia’s second and China’s third and China will catch up within four or five years,” he said. “We are actually talking to Russia about that and China would be added to that if we do something.” It was not immediately clear whether Trump was referring to nuclear-explosive testing, which would be carried out by the National Nuclear Safety Administration, or flight testing of nuclear-capable missiles. China more than doubled nuclear arsenal in last 5 years Trump’s decision to restart nuclear weapons testing follows a rapid expansion by China of its nuclear stockpile in recent years, and came just after Russia announced what it called a successful test of a nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable cruise missile as well as a nuclear-powered torpedo. Trump addressed the Russian moves aboard Air Force One earlier this week, telling reporters that President Vladimir Putin should be working to end the war in Ukraine “instead of testing missiles.” Beijing has more than doubled the size of its arsenal to an estimated 600 nuclear weapons in 2025 from 300 weapons in 2020, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. It said U.S. military officials estimate that China will have over 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030. A Victory Day parade in September revealed five nuclear capabilities that can all reach the continental United States, CSIS said. The Washington-based Arms Control Association says the United States has a stockpile of 5,225 nuclear warheads and Russia has 5,580. Putin said on Wednesday Russia had successfully tested a Poseidon nuclear-powered super torpedo that military analysts say is capable of devastating coastal regions by triggering vast radioactive ocean swells. As Trump has toughened both his rhetoric and his stance on Russia, Putin has publicly flexed his nuclear muscles with the test of a new Burevestnik cruise missile on October 21 and nuclear launch drills on October 22. NEGATIVE REACTIONS TO TRUMP’S POST The reaction to Trump’s announcement on testing was swift. Representative Dina Titus, a Democrat from Nevada, said on X: “I’ll be introducing legislation to put a stop to this.” Daryl Kimball, director of the Arms Control Association, said it would take the United States at least 36 months to resume contained nuclear tests underground at the former test site in Nevada. “Trump is misinformed and out of touch. The U.S. has no technical, military, or political reason to resume nuclear explosive testing for the first time since 1992,” Kimball said on X. He added Trump’s announcement could “trigger a chain reaction of nuclear testing by U.S. adversaries, and blow apart the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.” Apart from providing technical data, a U.S. test would be seen in Russia and China as a deliberate assertion of U.S. strategic power. Putin has repeatedly said that Russia will test if the United States does. In August, Trump said he had discussed nuclear arms control with Putin and wanted China to get involved. Beijing responded by saying it was “unreasonable and unrealistic” to ask the country to join in nuclear disarmament negotiations with the two countries, since its arsenal was much smaller. Trump had first laid out his intention to pursue nuclear arms control efforts in February, saying he wanted to begin discussions with both Putin and Xi about imposing limits on their arsenals. The United States last tested a nuclear weapon in 1992. Most major nuclear powers except North Korea stopped explosive nuclear testing in the 1990s. North Korea conducted its last nuclear test in 2017. Russia’s last confirmed test was in 1990, followed by the last U.S. test in 1992, and by China’s in 1996. The United States opened the nuclear era in July 1945 with the test of a 20-kiloton atomic bomb at Alamogordo, New Mexico, and then dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 to force Japan to surrender in World War Two.

Reuters 5 days ago

Entertainment

Brazilian singer Vanessa da Mata to perform with the Macao Chinese Orchestra

Renowned Brazilian singer Vanessa da Mata will perform with the Macao Chinese Orchestra in a special concert at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium on 15 November. The fusion between Brazilian and Chinese music forms a highlight of the 7th Encounter in Macao, a Sino-Lusophone arts festival. The performance will be led by the orchestra’s music director Zhang Lie. Da Mata’s songs will be arranged for Chinese musical instruments in what’s being billed as a perfect fusion of Brazilian and Chinese music. Da Mata is a Latin Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter who is a celebrated figure in Música Popular Brasileira, a genre known for blending traditional Brazilian rhythms with international influences like jazz and rock. [See more: The 7th Encounter in Macao gets underway with a rich cultural programme] Tickets for the concert are priced at 400, 300 and 200 patacas and can be purchased via Enjoy Macao Ticketing. A 50 percent discount is offered for holders of a Macao ID, Teacher Card, valid Student Card, Senior Citizen Card, or Disability Assessment Registration Card. Those who have tickets for the festival, or those who are members of CCM Friends, OM Friends, Friends of the Macao Chinese Orchestra can enjoy a 20 percent discount. This year’s Encounter in Macao offers a varied programme, spanning genres from film to dance, fine art and the culinary arts.

Staff Reporter 5 days ago

Technology

Trump says Nvidia’s high-end Blackwell chip did not figure in talks with China’s Xi

GYEONGJU: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he did not discuss chipmaker Nvidia’s state-of-art Blackwell artificial intelligence chip during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He was walking back the previous day’s remarks about potentially helping the company to export a scaled-down version of its current flagship GPU processor, a key component in the AI race. But Nvidia’s hopes to get approval from the United States and China to sell a scaled-down version of its most powerful AI chip yet took a hit from Trump’s comments on Thursday. “We’re not talking about Blackwell chips,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, after leaving the meeting with Xi, their first since he returned to the White House. En route to South Korea on Wednesday, he said he might discuss the chip with the Chinese leader.

Reuters 5 days ago

Technology

AirAsia plans up to US$600mil bond to replace private credit

AirAsia has sought a RM6.8 billion restructuring to create a new listed entity that will simplify operations by combining its various airline units. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Aviation Group plans to raise as much as US$600 million, replacing a private credit facility with a lower-interest bearing bond, according to people familiar with the matter. "The Malaysian budget carrier operator is targeting a coupon rate of below 10% for the proposed note," said the people, who requested anonymity. "AirAsia is taking advantage of the improved travel numbers to get cheaper refinancing," they added. The company received a US$443 million dual-tranche private financing last year to use partly for refurbishing planes grounded during the pandemic, with borrowing costs as high as 11%. "AirAsia continues to explore various financing initiatives, including potential options in the public bond markets, and will make further announcements in due course should there be any material developments," deputy CEO Farouk Kamal said in an emailed response to Bloomberg’s request for comment. The budget carrier’s bond plan comes as the Federal Reserve delivered another interest rate cut yesterday, with yields on the benchmark 10-year US Treasuries now down over 70 basis points from a January high. The group is also seeking a RM6.8 billion (US$1.6 billion) restructuring to create a new listed entity that will simplify its operations by combining its various airline units. "AirAsia is holding non-deal investor meetings in Hong Kong on Nov 18, and in Singapore on Nov 21," Kamal said in the email. “Our strong earnings performance despite a challenging environment has generated significant investor interest and demand,” he wrote. Deutsche Bank AG is the sole arranger for the proposed bond, said the people familiar with the matter. The bank declined to comment. As part of the borrowing facility AirAsia secured last year, private credit funds Ares Management Corp and Indies Capital Partners Pte Ltd provided a US$200 million tranche while aircraft lessors supplied the other US$243 million portion. The private credit tranche of the securitised deal pays a coupon of 11% per annum and has a four-year tenor. The lessor piece offers 7% per year and carries a two-year maturity.

Bloomberg 5 days ago

Technology

STAR info chief to challenge Masidi in Karanaan

GRS secretary-general Masidi Manjun (left) has been representing Karanaan since 2004, while the upcoming state polls is set to be STAR information chief Anuar Ghani's first venture into an election. PETALING JAYA: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) is expected to field its information chief Anuar Ghani for the Karanaan seat long held by state finance minister Masidi Manjun in the upcoming Sabah state election. STAR's Karanaan division had unanimously nominated Anuar as its candidate for the seat, saying he understood the local community's heartbeat and had a solid professional background. If approved by the party, this could set up one of the fights to watch out for in the state polls as Masidi had been representing the constituency for five terms since its inception in 2004. Masidi, the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah secretary-general, is widely expected to seek a sixth term as Karanaan assemblyman. In the 2020 state election, he defended the seat and won with a 4,814-vote majority. At the time, he was still in Sabah Bersatu. Anuar, a lawyer by training, was formerly political secretary to deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan, the president of STAR. This is set to be his first venture into an election. He is the son of the late former federal minister Abdul Ghani Gilong of the United Sabah National Organisation, or Usno.

FMT Reporters 5 days ago