Toshiba is set to delist in Japan after 74 years as part of $14 billion deal
Toshiba said on Thursday that a $14 billion tender offer from private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) had ended in success — a deal which paves the way for the embattled industrial conglomerate to go private.
2023-09-21 15:27
Neuralink’s test monkeys died due to brain implants contrary to Elon Musk’s claims, report suggests
Test monkeys at Elon Musk’s controversial biotech startup Neuralink died due to a number of complications from brain chip implant procedures, counter to the claims made by the multi-billionaire, a new report claimed. Nuralink has been developing chips to be implanted into the skull, claiming that such a computer-brain interface will help restore vision in the blind and paralysed people walk again. The company unveiled the working of its technology in monkey models in the past, including one demonstration of a nine-year-old macaque learning to play the 1970s classic video game Pong. However, the startup is also subjected to complaints by animal rights groups, including the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), which criticised the company’s “inadequate care” of its research monkeys a number of times in the past. In a post on X, the Tesla titan said earlier this month that “no monkey has died as a result of a Neuralink implant” in response to allegations that the neurotech firm was inflicting “extreme suffering” on its primate test subjects. “First our early implants, to minimise risk to healthy monkeys, we chose terminal monkeys (close to death already),” Mr Musk posted on X, the platform previously known as Twitter. In a presentation last year, the multibillionaire also claimed that Neuralink’s animal testing was never “exploratory” but was conducted to confirm scientific hypotheses. “We are extremely careful,” he said at the presentation. However, public documents obtained by PCRM – a nonprofit that advocates against using live animals in testing – present a different picture. The documents, reviewed by Wired, pointed out that a number of monkeys, on whom the implants were tested, were euthanised after suffering various complications, including “bloody diarrhea, partial paralysis, and cerebral edema”. One document reportedly noted that a male macaque was euthanised in March 2020 “after his cranial implant became loose” to the extent that they “could easily be lifted out”. A necropsy report of this monkey pointed out that “the failure of this implant can be considered purely mechanical and not exacerbated by infection”, which appeared to counter Mr Musk’s claim that no monkeys died due to Neuralink’s chips. Another primate, the report noted “began to press her head against the floor for no apparent reason” and lose coordination, with her condition deteriorating for months until she was finally euthanised. A necropsy report, cited by Wired, suggested that this animal was bleeding in her brain and that the neurotech firm’s implants left parts of her cerebral cortex brain region “focally tattered”. However, the company held that its “use of every animal was extensively planned and considered to balance scientific discovery with the ethical use of animals”. Neuralink did not immediately respond to The Independent’s request for comment. The latest report also comes as Neuralink announced on Wednesday that it has started human trials for people with quadriplegia after testing its implants on pigs and monkeys. “We’re excited to announce that recruitment is open for our first-in-human clinical trial,” the company posted on X. “If you have quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), you may qualify,” it said. Read More Elon Musk recruiting humans to trial brain implant Starship rocket launch window revealed by FAA Elon Musk reveals trillion dollar algorithm that explains everything he does Elon Musk’s Neuralink recruiting humans to trial brain implant Elon Musk and the one trillion-dollar algorithm that explains everything he does Elon Musk says monkeys implanted with Neuralink brain chips were ‘close to death’
2023-09-21 15:27
Thailand's weakening baht not all bad for economy - PM
BANGKOK Thailand's central bank is monitoring the weak baht, which is not entirely bad for the economy and
2023-09-21 15:25
From tailoring to florals: 5 key fashion trends to know for autumn/winter
Ready for a wardrobe refresh? Time to phase out your summer staples, rethink your separates and swoon over the spectrum of styles walking down the catwalk. Naturally, most statement pieces will be toned down and reimagined by the time you’re rustling through the rails… but as every style follower knows, they need to be on your radar to sneak a front row seat. Here are five stand-out trends to get in the groove… 1. Bold tailoring This season it’s all about the sharp shoulder. From Saint Laurent to Christian Dior, to David Koma and Dolce & Gabbana, the tailored jacket is a key silhouette. Teamed with a crisp white shirt and sharp tie, pinstripes are also on point. Call it power dressing if you like, the 80s padded shoulder may not be cutting-edge, but suiting signals confidence – and you can always wear yours with a simple white T-shirt. Skinny belts and black court shoes were also seen throughout – think workwear with a sophisticated spin. 2. Fire engine red There’s no rhyme or reason why designers adore red (as do we), it just works. The colour of substance, romance and passion, the hottest ticket in town strutted its stuff down the catwalk at Stella McCartney, Fendi, Bottega Veneta and Valentino, to name a few. Showstopping from top to toe with all eyes on you, a strong red also solves the fashion dilemma of what to wear when you fancy more than a flick of colour for a red carpet look – as illustrated by Ukrainian designer Frolov. Red also sits well with classics… it’s no secret a red handbag is a workhorse wardrobe staple when it’s teamed with neutral tones – and takes you from lunch al desko to date night. 3. Winter Florals Sure to be a huge hit, who can resist the allure of fabulous florals when the leaves start to fall – and you want to look blooming marvellous whatever the weather? Florals featured foremost at Balenciaga, Chanel, Christian Dior and Emilia Wickstead – but even Jil Sander, noted for her understated mannish clothing, couldn’t resist the allure of charming floral prints. Best of all, whether your chosen bouquet is a loosely-fitted trouser suit or printed pleated dress, flowers were flourishing in all their forms… and it’s an easy look to recreate. An added bonus, you can’t go wrong with floral accessories, such as a floral print scarf, as seen at Burberry, teamed with wide-leg trousers as a nod to beautiful buds. 4. Dark drama Black is back, big-time. Proving the undisputed colour of AW23, you can never have too much monochrome, ebony or jet black to don and drape yourself in fashion’s darkest – and most desired shade. For day-to-night dressing, tailored, long black coats (LBC) were central at Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Victoria Beckham – and an investment you can really bank on with its timeless appeal. And then you need to find the perfect long black dress (LBD) or bodysuit. From peak corset all-in-ones and dresses at Alexander McQueen; to sequinned silk chiffon capes at Michael Kors for a ‘liquid look’, to team with trousers, this is black at its sexiest best. 5. Metallics Torn between metallic chains and liquid metal, steely, silvery tones in futuristic form were seen on the runway at Balmain and Paco Rabanne. Most wanted, we’re a sucker for Paco Rabanne’s Silver Mesh Bomber Jacket – and can’t wait for a fast fashion version. One to wear with denim jeans and silver sphere bag with crystals à la Rabanne. Pre-Fall 23 Collection Along with her sculpted shapes, Roksanda also rocked the runway with floor length fluids and high-shine fabrics… And who doesn’t love to razzle-dazzle when darkness falls… and it’s your time to shine and go for all out glam in the run up to party season! Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Cue the damson decor trend to snug up your space Sex Education: What is it like to be a real-life Jean Milburn? King Charles to address French senate in historic first
2023-09-21 15:18
Ed Sheeran and J Balvin are set to drop joint album in 2024
Ed Sheeran and J Balvin are set to "merge two worlds" when they release a joint album next year.
2023-09-21 15:17
'Why are people so evil?' Leslie Jones blasts trolls over Ghostbusters death threats
'Ghostbusters' star Leslie Jones received death threats over her female-led reboot in 2016, and she has blasted Jason Reitman's response.
2023-09-21 15:15
Qantas chairman refuses to quit amid investor pressure - ABC News
Australia's Qantas Airways' chairman has refused to step down even as investors continued to demand his resignation amid
2023-09-21 14:58
Facebook reveals new logo to ‘make F stand apart’ – but can you tell the difference?
Meta is revamping Facebook’s logo to a darker blue with a few small tweaks to create what it claims is a “bolder, electric and everlasting” design. The “subtle” logo change – which at first glance may seem barely noticeable – incorporates a “more confident expression of Facebook’s core blue color,” the social media company said in a blog post. Facebook says the logo change to the lowercase “f” is more visually accessible in the platform’s app with “stronger contrast for the ’f’ to stand apart”. “We wanted to ensure that the refreshed logo felt familiar, yet dynamic, polished and elegant in execution. These subtle, but significant changes allowed us to achieve optical balance with a sense of forward movement.” Dave N, director of design at Facebook said. The social media giant highlighted three “key drivers” behind the evolution of its logo, including a push to “elevate the most iconic elements” of the brand, and to create “an expansive set of colors” anchored in blue. Over the years, the social media platform’s logo has undergone a number of changes, starting from one that had square boundaries to the current circular design. The new logo, the company says, uses its custom typeface – Facebook Sans – and a redesigned wordmark and logo to “create a consistent treatment and improve overall legibility.” The new design has led to some being left puzzled on social media. Some users, however, described the design changes in a little more detail. Facebook says it has also developed a new colour palette with a new set of hues, tones and contrast ratios. “The deep tonal range of secondary blues allows for flexibility while providing balance as a single expression of our brand identity,” the company said. It said more changes to the platform’s “reactions, typography and iconography” are to be rolled out in the future. “All of these refinements will create a more consistent, personal and seamless experience for the billions of people who interact with Facebook daily,” the company said. Meta likely has more changes planned for the brand’s design in the coming days, with the company describing the latest tweaks on Wednesday’s blog as “the first phase of a refreshed identity system” for the app. Read More Meta’s encryption plans will create ‘safe haven’ for paedophiles, Braverman says Elon Musk warns of ‘civilisational risk’ posed by AI at historic gathering of tech giant chiefs Twitter rival Threads’ launch of much-anticipated feature did little to attract more users, data suggests What is ‘Rumble’, where Russell Brand is posting videos? Google sued after man drove off collapsed bridge while following map directions Google’s powerful ‘Bard’ AI can now get into your email
2023-09-21 14:58
Goldman Sachs pushes its forecast for Fed rate cut to Q4 2024
Goldman Sachs economists said they now expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to begin its interest rate-cutting cycle in
2023-09-21 14:46
Analysis-China's economic woes embolden calls for deeper reforms
By Kevin Yao BEIJING China's economic slowdown is polarising government advisers over the best way forward, with advocates
2023-09-21 14:45
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha: India set to approve historic women's quota bill
The proposed law guarantees a third of seats for women in India's parliament and state assemblies.
2023-09-21 14:28
Teenager’s death after drinking too much water was ‘preventable’
The death of a mentally ill teenager after he drank excessive amounts of water may have been prevented if his care and treatment had been delivered differently, an investigation has found. The 18-year-old was admitted out of hours to an adult mental health service inpatient unit in a health board neighbouring his own on 5 December 2018 as there were no local beds available – a move described in the report as a “high-risk action”. On the evening of 7 December, he suffered a seizure after drinking too much water and was transferred to intensive care. He died three days later from the consequences of water intoxication. The teenager, referred to as Mr D, had previous contact with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), where he had been treated after drinking an excessive quantity of water. He was diagnosed with early onset psychosis and received two years of community-based CAMHS care. An anonymised investigation by the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland concluded there were “aspects of the care and treatment delivered by each health board which had it been conducted differently, might have prevented Mr D’s death”. The report, which made 10 recommendations, also said: “A more assertive approach to the treatment of Mr D’s psychotic illness in the two years before his death was warranted.” Mr D’s death came almost two years after he was first admitted as an emergency to an acute general hospital in January 2017 following a seizure due to water intoxication, aged 16. The seizure was induced by drinking large quantities of water, which he believed would remove toxins from his system. This affected his sodium metabolism (blood salts) with near fatal consequences. He later spent more time as an inpatient and turned 18 while still under the care of the CAMHS specialist psychosis service. The transfer of a very unwell young man with a complex clinical history to another health board area during the night was a high-risk action Suzanne McGuinness, Mental Welfare Commission The service was moving away from a treatment model that supported young people with first onset psychosis for at least three years from the point of diagnosis, towards one in which transition to adult mental health services began around the age of 18. He was admitted to a hospital in Scotland in December 2018 while detained under the Mental Health Act. The investigation also found that during the 70 hours after that admission to hospital, Mr D’s case records from his years of contact with the CAMHS community team were unavailable. The report said: “The failure to impart key clinical details to the treating ward staff during his final admission, both in the provision of all relevant case files and the creation of an informed and updated risk assessment and care plan, meant Mr D was able to engage in risky and ultimately fatal psychosis-driven behaviour without mitigations having been put in place.” The report makes recommendations for change to bodies including the health boards involved, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, NHS Education Scotland and the Scottish Government. They include that the Government should set standards within the next six months for the safe transfer to, or management of patients who present from other health boards. Suzanne McGuinness, executive director for social work at the Mental Welfare Commission, said: “This was a tragic death of a young man while he was being cared for in hospital. “Our report details the actions and decisions taken by teams at the two health boards involved in the lead-up to his death.” She said the risks associated with psychotic illness were “not coherently managed”. She added: “We also found that there were problems in Mr D’s transition from child and adolescent mental health services to adult mental health services. Existing guidance was not adhered to. “We found that although the service had no other viable option, the transfer of a very unwell young man with a complex clinical history to another health board area during the night was a high-risk action. “Mr D’s family told us they felt that they had not been listened to. They felt their concerns were not given due credence.” She urged mental health services across Scotland to read the report and take action where they believe they can make improvements. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The death of any person in care is not acceptable. “It is vital that people using our mental health services feel safe and know they will receive the right help, in the right place when they need it. “The relevant health boards and health and social care partnerships in this case have been issued with specific recommendations and learning points alongside general recommendations for all health boards and HSCPs. We expect the commission’s recommendations to be fully implemented. “The Mental Welfare Commission recommended that the Scottish Government set standards for the safe transfer of patients between health boards. “We will publish core mental health standards in the coming weeks to set clear expectations for transitions between and within mental health services.” Read More More parents letting children skip school and take term-time holidays post-Covid Student accused of fatally shooting UNC professor may be mentally unfit for trial Family of man who died while being admitted to psychiatric hospital agrees to $8.5M settlement Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-09-21 13:59
