Latest news with #NextGen
Otago Daily Times
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Exclusive T-shirts to benefit future designers
A model wears the T-shirt designed by Huffer's Steve Dunstan. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Some exclusive T-shirts, created by some of the country's best designers, will help raise money for the next generation of fashion talent. The Hokonui Fashion Awards, which take place this weekend, is leading the initiative, launching the Next Gen collective. At the heart of the project is a range of exclusive T-shirts, designed by New Zealand's leading fashion minds. The designers lending their creative weight to the venture represent the very best of New Zealand fashion, the awards said in a statement. Jacqui McKinney. From labels such as TAYLOR, Twenty Seven Names, Kathryn Wilson, New Lands, and Huffer's Steve Dunstan, each contributor brings a distinct voice, vision, and legacy to the collection. MLT Hokonui Fashion Awards chairwoman Jacqui McKinney brought together the design talent with a shared purpose: "This is what happens when creativity and collaboration collide. These T-shirts represent New Zealand's design excellence while raising the profile of the talented young creatives who will shape our industry's future," she said. Steve Dunstan. Funds raised from the collection will go directly into creating opportunities for emerging designers — nurturing creativity, innovation, and a sustainable future for New Zealand fashion. "Our designers have poured their talent into this initiative because they believe in the power of paying it forward," she said. "The Next Gen Collective is about more than a single project — it's about fostering creativity, and championing talent, and ensuring our design industry continues to lead the way." The exclusive T-shirts will soon be available to buy, launching this weekend to tie in with the Hokonui Fashion Awards. — APL
Al Etihad
21 hours ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
MBZUAI NextGen Summer Program empowers future generations of advanced technology leaders
22 July 2025 15:06 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has launched its NextGen Summer Program, a week-long initiative designed to introduce high school students in Grades 10–12 to the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence, innovation, and emerging at the MBZUAI campus in Abu Dhabi, the immersive programme brings together 38 high-performing students from across the UAE, for hands-on workshops and expert-led sessions. The students were selected from more than 150 applications, highlighting the programme's competitiveness. They will collaborate on projects requiring real-world AI applications in sectors such as healthcare, mobility, climate, and the creative sets the programme apart is its strong focus on real-world relevance. Under the guidance of MBZUAI faculty and industry mentors, students will use platforms like Python, Google Colab, and Kaggle to work with real datasets and explore how AI models are designed, tested, and evaluated. Sessions on AI ethics, bias, and future career paths will reinforce the importance of using technology thoughtfully and with awareness of their broader societal AlMeraikhi, Director of Outreach at MBZUAI, said: "We designed NextGen to spark curiosity, build skills, and give students a realistic glimpse into the future of AI, not just as a technology, but as a tool to create meaningful change. It's a unique opportunity for students to build confidence, explore their potential in one of the world's most impactful fields, and potentially become the next MBZUAI students and future leaders in AI.' The programme supports the UAE's broader vision to build national capabilities in advanced technology, in alignment with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, which aims to position the country as a global leader in AI innovation and adoption. It also aligns with Abu Dhabi's ambition to become the world's first fully AI-native government by 2027.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds mixes up its ensemble in a strong season 3 premiere
Things have changed a lot since Star Trek: Strange New Worlds aired its cliffhanger season-two finale back in August 2023. Discovery and Lower Decks both wrapped up with their fifth and final seasons, and Strange New Worlds now has an end date in sight too. Paramount+ announced that the series would also be ending with its fifth season—news that understandably sent some fans into a spiral. But things aren't quite as bleak as they seem. For one thing, before we get to that shortened six-episode final season, we've got two full 10-episode ones to get through. Seasons three and four were basically shot back-to-back, with production on the final batch of episodes set to begin later this year. That means we're in for a nice steady run of 26 episodes to send out this sunny series on a high note. For another, more so than any other Trek show, Strange New Worlds has always been building toward a set endpoint. Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) has known his fiery future since he set foot on the Enterprise for his final five-year mission. And ever since the show introduced Paul Wesley's James T. Kirk in its first-season finale, Strange New Worlds has embraced an Avengers-style subplot about seeing the crew of the 1960s original series come together too. Martin Quinn's Montgomery Scott joined at the end of last season, and I wouldn't be surprised if we get a Sulu or even a (slightly timeline bending) Chekov before this one is over. (It feels like Bones has to be last, right?) Where a lot of Trek shows are about limitless potential, Strange New Worlds has always been a true prequel running on limited time. And, in a way, I think knowing things are ending is only going to make the final run of episodes that much stronger. True, I suspect that if the show knew it would be taking a two-year strike-induced delay between its second and third seasons, it probably wouldn't have ended on a cliffhanger. (It's crazy to think there were only three months between the Locutus of Borg twist and its resolution in Next Gen's 'The Best Of Both Worlds.') But I suspect that's part of the reason we're getting a two-episode premiere this week. Strange New Worlds has a Gorn invasion storyline to wrap up, but it also wants to remind us how much episodic fun it can have too (especially when paying homage to Trek history.) To that end, 'Hegemony, Part II' opens with the sort of big impressive space battle that has become a hallmark of Alex Kurtzman-era Trek. There's nothing like playing chicken with a Gorn ship to kick off a season. Immediate crisis averted, there are three dangling problems for the intrepid Enterprise crew to work through after their terrifying experience on the mid-century-inspired human colony Parnassus Beta. And each allows the show to embrace a slightly different tone for a different set of Strange New World characters. On the medical-drama side, Pike's girlfriend Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano) has been infected with Gorn eggs that will hatch in less than a day. On the action-movie front, security chief La'An Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), helmsman Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia), and xenoanthropologist Samuel Kirk (Dan Jeannotte) have been taken aboard a Gorn ship to be harvested. And in the political-thriller arena, the Gorn have drawn a line of demarcation that could be the start of an all-out war if the Federation doesn't handle the situation correctly—something Pike, first officer Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn), and communications officer Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) tackle while leading the Enterprise on an 'off-the-record' rescue mission into Gorn space. It's a setup that feels like a statement of purpose about how the show wants to tackle its storytelling moving forward. While Strange New Worlds' second season was filled with high points (I'm still smiling thinking about the Lower Decks crossover episode), it also sometimes felt like a selection of special, high-concept character episodes strung together rather than a true ensemble show. 'Hegemony, Part II,' however, gives everyone a chance to shine by pairing them up in clever ways—from Scotty's funny but also quietly heartbreaking dynamic with his ageless former engineering professor Pelia (Carol Kane) to Spock (Ethan Peck) and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) going full Grey's Anatomy melodrama in the sick bay. My favorite is actually the La'An/M'Benga/Ortegas/Sam quartet just because it's so unexpected. I feel like there are characters in that group we've barely seen interact before, but thrusting them together into a high-stakes escape mission highlights both what they bring to the table as individuals and how Starfleet's collaborative nature allows any set of the Enterprise crew to work in harmony. La'An and M'Benga provide the badass quotient, while Ortegas and Sam bring the comedic relief. And their dedication to saving the rest of the trapped colonists gives appropriately Star Trek-y stakes to their fight against the first true adult Gorn we've seen in the series. (No rubber masks in sight!) Even in their greatest moments of trauma, the Enterprise crew are still thinking about others—like Ortegas fighting through her life-threatening injuries to fly her friends to safety. Indeed, part of the joy of any Star Trek show is watching how a crew of people with very different skillsets and expertise come together to handle a crisis. That's what happens when Pike realizes that Una and Uhura's research into Gorn hibernation/hunting patterns could be the key to stopping a full-on armada invasion of Federation space. His plan involves Scotty and Pelia turning the ship into an artificial star that will trigger the Gorn to, well, go to sleep instead of going to war (thus leaving the Gorn as a future problem for Kirk to tackle in 'Arena'). It's a perfect example of science, strategy, engineering, and a little hope—plus some modifying of the deflector shields, of course—solving the problem the Starfleet way. More than anything, 'Hegemony, Part II' is an episode about relying on faith to get you through seemingly impossible odds. ('We'll just turn it off before we blow up,' Pike only half-jokes.) And while you could imagine a different version of this episode that lets at least one thing go wrong (particularly Spock and Chapel's improvisational surgery on Batel), it feels right that a big splashy premiere lets our heroes win on every front. There will presumably be days when the Enterprise can't do it all. But that's not this day. And though the resolution to the Gorn invasion is perhaps a little anticlimactic, especially given how they've been built up over the show's run, the balance of character storylines is really impressive—and I'd argue that matters even more. It helps that 'Wedding Bell Blues' lightens things up without totally forgetting about the fallout of the Gorn defeat. The episode jumps three months into the future, which gives the Enterprise and its crew a chance to heal up (and get some new hairdos). The time jump also gives Nurse Chapel the chance to return from her archeological medicine fellowship with her new boyfriend Dr. Roger Korby (Cillian O'Sullivan) in tow. And thus begins this season's signature Spock comedy episode—a grand tradition that has so far given us the fiancé body swap in season one and the Spock-becomes-human twist in season two. As with the premiere, however, there is a real ensemble focus here. It's not just Spock who gets in on the hijinks this week. The crew is abuzz ahead of the Federation Day Centennial and the gala Pike is throwing to celebrate it. La'An ballroom dances! Uhura flirts with Ortegas' filmmaker little brother Beto (Mynor Luken)! The sick bay adds an adorable new nurse (Chris Myers)! Everybody wears fashion-forward civilian clothes! The Enterprise gets a three-armed bartender! Compared to all that, Spock's arc is downright dramatic at first, as he basically lives through the Joseph Gordon-Levitt plot of (500) Days Of Summer—watching the non-committal woman he thought he could win over instead get serious with someone else. But that all changes when an impish bartender (Rhys Darby styled like Trelane, the all-powerful 19th century fanboy from the original series episode 'The Squire Of Gothos') pours him a drink that seems to port him over to an alternate universe where Spock and Chapel are getting married. I'll get to the Trek canon of it all in a minute, but the most interesting choice 'Wedding Bell Blues' makes is to turn this into a two-hander for the men in Chapel's life. Though I was expecting Spock to be shocked waking up next to Chapel, at first it's only Korby who realizes this isn't an alternate timeline but a mass delusion cast over all the guests at the gala. Once he's able to snap Spock out of the spell ('Oh no,' Peck deadpans), they're forced to team up—and match raised eyebrows—to get things back to normal. It's not totally dissimilar from when M'Benga and Hemmer were the only two people who realized something was amiss when the Enterprise turned into a children's fairy tale back in season one. Only here there's a much more compelling reason for Spock and Korby to be paired together. This isn't an episode about Chapel choosing between the two men—she's already made that choice. But it is an episode about Spock coming to understand what Chapel sees in Korby, who's devoted, pragmatic, funny, and relatably exacerbated throughout the whole madcap experience. (As in his brief role on Daredevil: Born Again, O'Sullivan has an insane amount of onscreen charisma.) With its focus on canapés and bachelor parties, 'Wedding Bell Blues' mostly keeps things in goofy Father Of The Bride comedy mode rather than delving too deep into its character work. But it makes Korby seem like a likable, worthy partner for Chapel—even for the Spock/Chapel 'shippers out there. And it's genuinely heartbreaking to watch Spock break the spell by repeating the Pablo Neruda poetry he knows will remind Chapel of her love for Korby. There's always been a slight note of self-sacrifice to Spock (even before we get his literal self-sacrifice in Wrath Of Khan). And 'Wedding Bell Blues' emphasizes that understated character trait within an over-the-top comedic setting. He comes to understand that Korby has an inner confidence and calmness that lets him serve as a safe harbor for Chapel in a way that Spock just can't be right now. It's also a really nice touch to bring everything back to Spock and La'An—both because it returns to their newfound ballroom dancing partnership and because we know she experienced a similar kind of heartbreak in the musical episode, when Kirk revealed he's dating a pregnant Carol Marcus. Spock and La'An know what it's like to feel a connection that doesn't work out because of bad timing. ('It's no one's fault,' as Chapel puts it.) And their burgeoning friendship is another lovely example of Strange New Worlds mixing up its ensemble in unexpected new ways this season. As for the cause of all that wedding chaos? It seems like Strange New Worlds might be tying two of its iconic all-powerful imps together. Like 'The Squire Of Gothos,' this episode ends with a glowing parental orb showing up to chastise a peevish child. Only this one is voiced by John de Lancie, who's always said his performance as the all-powerful Next Gen antagonist Q was inspired by William Campbell's work as the similarly puckish Trelane. Q actually also had a son on Voyager, who popped up in petulant-teen form in the episode 'Q2.' So this episode could be saying that Darby is literally Trelane who's also literally Q Junior. (He does get to deliver Trelane's iconic catchphrases 'Tallyho!' and 'Greetings and felicitations.') Or maybe it's just operating as a fun homage. Nobody gets named, and Darby disguises himself to the crew so there's plausible deniability on all fronts. But, honestly, with all the Godlike Beings who popped up in the original series, why couldn't one of them have been a Q? Regardless, Darby has an absolute blast chewing the scenery, and the de Lancie voice cameo is a lovely celebration of the franchise's long, winding history. In their own ways, 'Hegemony, Part II' and 'Wedding Bell Blues' are both optimistic episodes that serve as a welcome reminder of what Strange New Worlds does best. (And by that I mean having the whole cast dance to 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,' of course.) The final shot emphasizing Ortegas' Gorn-related PTSD suggests this season won't just be warm and fuzzy. In fact, anybody who remembers Roger Korby's role in the original-series episode 'What Are Little Girls Made Of?' already knows that. But, for now, Strange New Worlds is here to remind us just how much fun it is to spend time with this crew. That's a great way to kick off this second half of the show's run. As Pike might say—hit it. Stray observations • Welcome to weekly coverage of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds! I couldn't be more thrilled to be here. I'm a lifelong Star Trek fan who was raised on TNG, Voyager, DS9, and TOS and once even made myself watch Enterprise all the way through too. But this is my first time actually covering a Trek show weekly, and I apologize in advance for any references I miss. I've been revisiting a bunch of Trek ahead of this premiere, but, as you all know, there's a lot of it out there! • Keeping Pike in his militarized space suit for 'Hegemony, Part II' is a nice way to differentiate between the harrowing wrap-up to season two and the true fresh start to season three. • I know Kirk says as much in 'Arena,' but it feels crazy that the Gorn invented warp drives, right? They're literally lizards! Do they have schools? Captain training programs? Pilot licenses? • The second season of Discovery introduced the idea that Pike's dad was a science teacher who also taught comparative religion, which is why he delivers the little 'okay dad, you win' before starting to pray for Batel. • The final shot of Pike and Batel's heads transitioning into the binary stars was a lovely way to end the premiere. • Spock gets a swanky new science lab! Personally, I would've put a couple chairs in there, but I guess that's not the Vulcan way. • One day Scotty will be able to drink aliens under a table, but, for now, he's not much of a drinker. • In case there aren't enough in-jokes here: Korby quips that the wedding planner might wish them into a cornfield, which is a reference to the classic Twilight Zone episode 'It's A Good Life.' (Spock must have missed that one.) • I thought Pike was going to turn Spock/Chapel's abandoned wedding into an impromptu ceremony for him and Batel. Instead, he just gives a speech about how first contact can sometimes be a little awkward. Hilarious. More from A.V. Club In Godzilla Destroys The Marvel Universe, the King Of The Monsters returns to stomp us, again Whisper Of The Heart left a lo-fi legacy unique to Studio Ghibli Billie Eilish says she's working with James Cameron on some sort of 3D concert thing Solve the daily Crossword
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
NextGen Digital Announces Treasury Strategy to Incorporate Crypto Assets, Acquires $1.0 Million in Bitcoin
Vancouver, B.C., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NextGen Digital Platforms Inc. (CSE:NXT) (OTCQB:NXTDF) (FSE:Z12 ) (' NextGen ' or the ' Company ') a digital asset and fintech platform focused on bridging traditional capital markets with Web3 infrastructure, is pleased to announce the acquisition of $1.0 million worth of Bitcoin ('BTC') to be held on its balance sheet as part of its corporate treasury strategy that incorporates the acquisition of certain crypto assets — including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and/or Solana (the ' Crypto Assets '). As part of a broader and more diversified approach to managing its corporate reserves, the Company will be allocating a portion of its excess cash into Crypto Assets. These digital assets are being recognized by the Company as potential long-term stores of value and as a hedge against systemic financial risk. In taking this step, the Company joins a growing number of publicly listed companies integrating digital assets into their treasury frameworks alongside traditional holdings such as cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. Pursuant to a strategy approved by the Company's board of directors, the Company may allocate up to 80% of its treasury holdings to Crypto Assets. All assets will be custodied through a regulated, institutional-grade custodian, and will be held in compliance with applicable laws and industry best practices related to security, custody, and reporting. The Company believes that this allocation reflects a proactive approach to treasury management, particularly during a period of elevated fiscal instability, inflationary pressure, and increasing institutional demand for decentralized financial alternatives. The Company views this move as a means to enhance the resilience and diversification of its balance sheet while aligning with a broader global shift toward the adoption of digital assets. 'We believe Bitcoin is a unique monetary asset that offers long-term resilience and upside as a treasury reserve. Our decision to allocate capital into Bitcoin reflects our confidence in the long-term value and relevance of decentralized assets in the global economy,' said Matthew Priebe, Chief Executive Officer of NextGen. This strategic initiative is not expected to impact the Company's current development activities or the execution of its business plans. The Company will disclose any material acquisitions of Crypto Assets in future news releases if and as required under applicable laws. About NextGen Digital Platforms Inc. NextGen Digital Platforms Inc. (CSE: NXT) (OTCQB:NXTDF) (FSE:Z12) is a publicly listed fintech and digital asset company that provides investors with exposure to a diversified portfolio of Web3 technologies, blockchain infrastructure, and digital currencies. The Company is committed to developing innovative structures that align with the future of decentralized finance, while providing transparency, regulatory compliance, and value creation for shareholders. It also operates e-commerce platform and a hardware-as-a-service business supporting the artificial intelligence sector, called Cloud AI hosting. For More Information: Matthew Priebe, Chief Executive Officer (416) 300-7398 info@ The Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's intention to allocate a portion of its treasury to crypto assets (including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and/or Solana); the Company's belief in the long-term value of crypto assets; the expected benefits of holding crypto assets as part of a diversified treasury strategy; the potential allocation of up to 80% of treasury holdings to crypto assets; the expectation that this initiative will not impact the Company's development activities or business execution; and that all crypto assets will be custodied through a regulated, institutional-grade custodian in compliance with applicable laws and industry best practices. Forward-looking information is frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements herein except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements herein.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Newark airport disruption grounds United Airlines' Q3 forecast
Agencies United Airlines trimmed its third-quarter profit forecast on July 17 after continuing operational disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport dented its performance for a second straight quarter. The airline cited infrastructure issues, air traffic control bottlenecks, and severe weather impacts that disproportionately hit its busiest hub. According to Reuters, United now expects a 0.9 percentage point decline in Q3 profit margin due to Newark-related complications—after a 1.2-point hit in the second quarter. This has led to adjusted earnings per share forecasts falling below Wall Street expectations. United operates over 70% of its domestic flights through Newark, making any issues at the airport disproportionately harmful to its operations. The problems aren't new: earlier in the year, a combination of runway construction, aging ground equipment, and limited radar coverage caused cascading flight delays. According to CNBC, over 30% of United's flights through Newark experienced delays in June and early July, far higher than the national average. In a call with investors, United CEO Scott Kirby described the situation as 'a perfect storm of systemic issues,' noting that persistent problems at Newark could limit growth despite otherwise strong travel demand. He emphasized the need for FAA and Port Authority coordination to resolve traffic bottlenecks, calling the current state 'unsustainable for a global hub.' Despite the Newark-specific challenges, United's overall demand outlook remains healthy. Passenger revenue grew 6.3% year-over-year in Q2, and international routes — particularly across the Atlantic and South Pacific — remain profitable, according to Yahoo Finance. Business travel recovery continues, albeit unevenly across regions. The airline said it expects full-year capacity to increase by 5%, although operational issues could limit peak-season availability. The carrier is also facing increased labor costs, including a new union agreement with pilots approved earlier this month, which adds long-term cost pressure. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has acknowledged the strain at Newark and has floated plans to reduce scheduled flights during peak hours. However, United argues this approach punishes carriers rather than addressing root problems like outdated air traffic control systems and slow infrastructure modernization. Newark, operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has lagged behind other major airports in upgrades, despite recent renovations to terminals. United is calling for federal investment in radar and control tower technology to modernize the hub. As The Wall Street Journal reports, airline industry groups have also lobbied for new NextGen satellite-based navigation to reduce stock fell about 3% in premarket trading following the profit warning, and analysts have started adjusting earnings models to reflect persistent Newark underperformance. Bank of America downgraded the stock to 'Neutral', citing 'execution risk tied to Newark throughput and infrastructure reliance.' Still, the airline remains profitable and sees room for margin expansion — if disruptions ease. Its cargo operations also posted a 9% YoY gain, and loyalty revenue from its MileagePlus program continues to grow. United is working with regulators to explore temporary slot adjustments, rerouting options, and more automation on the ground to manage turnaround times better. However, until Newark's issues are fixed, the hub's challenges are likely to remain a drag on earnings — even as the broader travel market continues to recover.
