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News18
2 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
US Defence Secy's Warning To Indo-Pacific: 'China Eyeing To Alter Power Balance By Military Force'
Last Updated: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned the Asian countries that China is preparing to potentially use military force to alter power balance in the Indo-Pacific region. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Saturday called upon the Asian countries to 'upgrade their own defences" to boost their deterrence against China, warning that Beijing is preparing to use its military force to 'alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific". He also warned China that any such attempt by the communist country to conquer Taiwan would lead to 'devastating consequences" for the region and the world. Referring to a potential Chinese takeover of Taiwan, Hegseth reiterated the US's commitment to increase its presence in the Indo-Pacific. His remarks came while addressing the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore, where no senior Chinese delegate was present at this year's conference. 'US allies in the Indo-Pacific can and should upgrade their own defences," Hegseth said, The Guardian reported. 'It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. Any attempt by communist China to conquer Taiwan by force will result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. There's no reason to sugar coat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent," the Defence Secretary added. Hegseth also announced several new joint initiatives, including expanding access to military ship and aircraft repair facilities, including in Australia. 'Asian countries should look to allies in Europe as a newfound example. Deterrence doesn't come on the cheap… Time is of the essence," he said. A new study by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, which is organising the Singapore event, has found that defence spending across Asia is currently surging. This rise comes on top of what has been a relatively steady annual average of 1.5% of GDP spent on weapons and research. First Published: May 31, 2025, 09:29 IST
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ozzy Osbourne, 76, Undergoing Physical Therapy Ahead of Farewell Show
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne is preparing for his final performance, which is set to take place on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. However, things haven't been easy for Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2019. On the May 28 episode of SiriusXM's Ozzy Speaks, the Black Sabbath frontman shared an update on his health as he looks forward to the upcoming show. "I've got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal," Osbourne said. "It's hard going, but he's convinced that he can pull it off for me. I'm giving it everything I've got." When co-host Billy Morrison asked Osbourne if he was stressing about the show, the rocker candidly replied, "Sometimes, but what I do, if I start obsessing all the time, I'll be insane by Friday, you know? So, I'm just taking it one day at a time and when I do it one day at a time. You know, when we were talking about this [obsessive-compulsive disorder], whatever. I have that badly. All I can say is I'm giving 120%. If my God wants me to do the show, I'll do it." Osbourne's comments come weeks after he chatted with The Guardian about his current health. "I have problems walking. I also get blood pressure issues from blood clots on my legs. I'm used to doing two hours on stage, jumping and running around. I don't think I'll be doing much jumping or running around this time. I may be sitting down," he told the outlet. Osbourne hasn't played a show since Osbourne, 76, Undergoing Physical Therapy Ahead of Farewell Show first appeared on Men's Journal on May 30, 2025
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Fake footage of massive 'TACO' skywriting over Mar-a-Lago likely AI-generated
Claim: Authentic footage from May 2025 depicts the word "TACO" spelled out in the sky above Trump's Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago. Rating: On May 29, 2025, footage allegedly showing the word "TACO" spelled out in contrail vapor above U.S. President Donald Trump's residence in Florida, Mar-a-Lago, circulated the internet. The video spread across multiple platforms, including X (archived), TikTok (archived), Facebook (archived), Instagram Threads (archived) and YouTube. The first post of the video (archived) appeared on X account @SkylineReport, where it garnered more than 1 million views, as of this writing. We were unable to reach the account's owner for comment. Investors began popularizing the term "TACO" ("Trump Always Chickens Out") to characterize claims that whenever Trump faces a market backlash, he will back down. Although several users in the comments appeared to believe that the video was authentic, the footage was fake — and likely AI-generated. First, Google search results of the terms "Trump," "Taco," and "above 'Mar-a-Lago'" yielded no results pertaining to the footage from any reputable news outlet. The results only related to Trump's response to reporters' questions about the term as well as unverified social media posts of the video or similar claims in question. ( Second, there were indications in the video itself of AI-generation. Jet engine vapor trails form letters out of condensation, but an aircraft does not appear in the video until the very end, when it spontaneously appears next to the letter "O" approximately four seconds into the video. If the video were authentic, the aircraft would be visible throughout the video. The video shows dozens of people on the ground beneath the letters. If the footage were authentic, individual social media users would have posted their own footage. Rather, the only footage on the internet is from one angle. The fake footage also depicts a distinctly long building beneath the letters supposedly on the Mar-a-Lago property, but Google Earth imagery of Mar-a-Lago does not appear to show any such building. (Google Earth) Lastly, we ran a screenshot of the video through AI-detection software Hive, and the results were 99.9% likely to be AI-generated. ( Fact Check: FAKE Video Shows 'TACO' in the Sky Over Mar-a-Lago | Lead Stories. 30 May 2025, Accessed 30 May 2025. Jolly, Jasper. '"Trump Always Chickens out": Taco Jibe Ruffles President's Feathers'. The Guardian, 29 May 2025. The Guardian,
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oreo maker sues Aldi over alleged copycat cookie packaging
The maker of Oreos, Chips Ahoy cookies, Ritz crackers and other popular snacks is suing Aldi, alleging the supermarket chain is using packaging that "blatantly copies" their products. Mondelēz International filed the civil complaint on May 27 in an Illinois federal court. According to the complaint, obtained and reviewed by USA TODAY, the Chicago-headquartered company said Aldi's alleged actions are "likely to deceive and confuse consumers and dilute the distinctive quality of Mondelēz's unique product packaging." Aldi, which sells low-priced private-label cookie and cracker snacks, has a "pattern and practice of selling products in packaging that are unacceptable copies of Mondelēz's," the manufacturer alleges in the complaint. Mondelēz said in the court filing that it has contacted Aldi on "numerous occasions" objecting to the supermarket chain's alleged use of "confusingly similar packaging" and demanding that it cease and desist its "unlawful infringement." The snack maker is seeking monetary damages and a court order effectively stopping Aldi from selling products that infringe on its trademarks. USA TODAY contacted Aldi and Mondelēz on May 30 but has not received a response. The popular snack brands Mondelēz is alleging Aldi copied include Oreos, Wheat Thins, Nutter Butters, Chips Ahoy, Nilla Wafers, Ritz, Premium Saltine Crackers, Teddy Grahams, Belvita biscuits, Tate's Bake Shop cookies and Triscuit crackers, according to the complaint. After being contacted by Mondelēz, Aldi discontinued and/or changed certain of the alleged infringing products, the complaint says. However, Aldi continued to sell products in packaging that resembles Mondelēz's snacks, which are trademarked, the court document continued. Mondelēz is informed and believes that at least some of the products in its lawsuit are manufactured and distributed nationally to Aldi stores from a supplier or suppliers in Ohio, the complaint reads. Throughout the complaint, Mondelēz includes side-by-side comparisons of its trademarked snack packaging and Aldi's alleged infringing products, including Oreos and the supermarket chain's "Original Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Vanilla Filling." Mondelēz is not the only company to sue Aldi, as an Australian federal court ruled a year ago that the supermarket chain infringed on the copyright of Baby Bellies snack puffs for young children, according to The Guardian and Associated Press. In the Baby Bellies case, Aldi's packaging featured a cartoon owl with colors similar to the name-brand packaging, the outlets reported. Hampden Holdings, the owner of Baby Bellies, sent the supermarket chain a letter alleging copyright infringement, subsequently prompting the company to take Aldi to court concerning 11 product designs, according to The Guardian. 'Aldi sought to use for its own commercial advantage the designs that had been developed by a trade rival,' the federal judge said, per The Guardian. 'Although Aldi may have intended, if possible, to avoid infringement and legal liability, it took the risk that its use of the Bellies designs would exceed what the law allows. I consider Aldi's conduct to be flagrant.' Federal courts in the United Kingdom and Australia ruled in favor of Aldi in 2018 after the cosmetic company, Moroccanoil Israel, alleged the discount supermarket chain's product packaging and branding were too similar to theirs. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oreo maker sues Aldi, alleges trademark infringement of packaging
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Belgium says 52 babies born from sperm donor with cancer-linked gene
At least 10 cases of cancer have reportedly been identified among the 67 children born from a Danish man's sperm donations between 2008 and 2017. PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO BRUSSELS - A Danish sperm donor with a potentially cancer-causing gene fathered 52 children in Belgium between 2008 and 2017, the country's health ministry revealed on May 30, in a case potentially involving several other children across Europe. According to a recent investigation by The Guardian, at least 10 cases of cancer have been identified among the 67 children born from his donations between 2008 and 2017. The man was reportedly in good health with no known family history of cancer, and had been tested in line with regulations in place at the time of the donations. But he was later found to carry a mutation of the TP53 gene that causes Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), a rare hereditary disorder that significantly increases cancer risks, including for breast cancer or leukaemia. An alert was issued in 2023 after cancers were identified in some children conceived from his donations at a clinic in Denmark, and Belgium's Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products was notified that year. But Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke has said he learned about the case on May 26, and the government has declined to say how many Belgian cases involve confirmed cancer diagnoses. The scandal has exposed apparent breaches of Belgian law, which since 2007 has limited a single donor's sperm to no more than six women. 'That rule was exceeded nationally and within individual centres,' the health ministry said. An internal review has identified 37 affected families in Belgium, leading to 52 births. Authorities noted that not all children necessarily reside in Belgium. The donor's sperm was also reportedly used in at least nine other countries – Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Ireland, Greece, the Netherlands and Poland. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
