Disney agreed to invest $1bn (£740m) in OpenAI as part of a deal which will let people use many of its iconic characters in the chatbot ChatGPT and video-generation tool Sora. It is the first major studio to license parts of its catalogue to the tech giant, in a move which could have major implications for the studio’s future plans. It means fans will be able to generate and share pictures and videos of more than 200 characters from Disney’s franchises, including Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. The move comes as OpenAI faces mounting questions about how its rapidly advancing…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
Ethiopian police have arrested a sixth popular TikTok creator days after five other influencers were detained over allegations of wearing “indecent attire” at a public event in the culturally conservative country. Adonay Berhane, 25, is a lifestyle and motivational creator with close to four million followers, who was named “TikToker of the Year” at the TikTok Creative Award 2025 – the same ceremony now at the centre of the controversy. Police said on Wednesday evening that he was under investigation. The detentions have ignited widespread debate across Ethiopian social media. Supporters argue the arrests violate freedom of expression and stifle…
A federal judge in Maryland ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE custody “immediately,” according to a Thursday court filing, a significant development in the case concerning the El Salvadoran mistakenly deported this year before being returned to the United States. “Since Abrego Garcia’s return from wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been re-detained, again without lawful authority,” district Judge Paula Xinis wrote. “For this reason, the Court will GRANT Abrego Garcia’s Petition for immediate release from ICE custody.” “Abrego Garcia’s case demands judicial intervention,” Xinis said. “Because Abrego Garcia has been held in ICE detention to…
President William Ruto conferred the rank of Senior Counsel on 54 advocates of the High Court of Kenya at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday. He told the newly conferred senior counsel that their elevation brings an even greater responsibility to safeguard democracy, strengthen institutions of justice, support necessary reforms, and widen access to justice. “The Senior Counsel Conferment Rules, particularly Rule 7, set an even higher bar for you: They require sustained excellence in active practice, distinguished advocacy before the superior courts, dedicated mentorship of younger advocates, faithful service to the Law Society of Kenya, meaningful scholarly contribution, and an…
The tax man announced new appointments aimed at enhancing their operations for revenue collection. A statement from the Kenya Revenue Authority said the appointments had been approved by the board as the institution organisational transtormation, technows modemizaton and evidence driven policy agenda. Brian Omooria Nyakeri was appointed as the Commissioner for Business Strategy, Technology and Enterprise Modernization Department, effective January 12, 2026. The statement said Nyakeri brings over 20 years of extensive experience from the private sector, with a distinguished career in digital transformation, enterprise architecture, clond technologies, and large-scale systems modernization. His most recent posting was at Agile Cloud…
Bolivia’s former president, Luis Arce, has been arrested in La Paz as part of an investigation into alleged graft, the government has said. The investigation relates to when Arce, 62, was economy minister under then-president Evo Morales, who was in office from 2006 to 2019. He is accused of authorising transfers from the public treasury to the personal accounts of political leaders. Arce, who left office last month, is yet to comment but his former colleague María Nela Prada said he was innocent and described the arrest as a “total abuse of power”. The Attorney General’s office requested Arce be…
Japanese police have suspended the car driving licences of nearly 900 cyclists after they were caught riding bicycles under the influence of alcohol, local media report. Authorities deemed that the offenders were “likely to pose a significant danger when driving a car”. The number of suspended car driving licenses from January to September rose sharply compared to last year, as Japan imposed new traffic laws that imposed stricter penalties on cyclists. Under the new rules introduced in November last year, those who cycle while under the influence of alcohol can face up to three years in jail or a maximum…
Pakistan’s former spy chief has been sentenced to 14 years in prison by a military court, on charges including violation of state secrets and interfering in politics. Faiz Hameed led Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency from 2019 to 2021, during the tenure of now-jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. He was known to be a staunch supporter of Khan, and took early retirement shortly after Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022. It is the first time that an ISI chief in Pakistan has been court martialled. The ISI chief is seen as the second most powerful position…
Ghana has deported three Israeli nationals who arrived in the country on Wednesday in what appears to be a tit-for-tat move over the alleged mistreatment of Ghanaian nationals at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel. Seven Ghanaians, including four members of an official delegation attending a cyber-security conference in Tel Aviv, were allegedly detained without explanation. They were released after five hours, while the three others were deported, according to Ghana, which condemned their “humiliating treatment”. Ghana’s foreign ministry says a senior diplomat from the Israeli embassy in Accra was summoned over the incident, and both countries have agreed to…
Every homeowner wants a fair property valuation. When the assessment seems higher than expected, it becomes important to understand the protest process clearly. Mistakes in this process can reduce the chances of getting a favorable decision, so preparation plays a key role. A Houston property tax protest allows homeowners to request a review of their appraised value. The process requires attention to detail, clear evidence, and timely action. Knowing what to avoid can make the process smoother and more effective for Houston residents. Ignore The Protest Deadline One of the biggest errors is missing the protest deadline. Houston property owners…
Storing items away for a season or for an extended period often seems straightforward: box them up, label the lid, and place everything neatly into a unit. But anyone who has ever returned months later to discover damaged items, warped materials, moisture issues, or unexpected odors knows the process requires more intention. The planning phase is where most challenges can be avoided, and for many people, that research begins with basics like learning how to prevent mold in a storage unit before deciding what, where, and how to store long-term. Once that foundation is set, the rest becomes easier, almost…
When Human Comfort Meets Responsible AI Design Many adults searching online for ai girlfriend sex chat options end up on platforms feeling unsafe. Unpredictable. Poorly moderated. Concerns around privacy, harmful stereotypes, and unreliable AI behavior push many users to search for better options. People hope for a space offering emotional presence without chaos. My Dream Companion steps forward as an AI companion platform shaped around stable interaction. Grounded personality design. Private conversations staying within the user’s control. The Need for Safe Digital Companionship People exploring AI companions often want more than entertainment. Some look for emotional comfort. Some want a…
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced its third interest rate cut of the year as policymakers moved forward with the cut to support the labor market despite elevated inflation. Fed policymakers voted to lower the benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a new range of 3.5% to 3.75%. The move follows rate cuts of that size in September and October, which were the first of the year. Policymakers have been tracking economic datashowing a slowdown in the labor market in recent months as companies adjust to shifts in trade and immigration policy. Meanwhile, inflation has trended higher…
Men accounted for the majority of homicide victims in 2024, underscoring a deeply rooted violence crisis. A study conducted by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) found that men were the primary victims, especially in cases related to cattle rustling, communal conflicts, drunken altercations, land-related conflicts and many mob violence cases resulting from suspicions of theft. Women were predominantly killed in incidents of domestic violence, land/property succession disputes, love triangles and other crime-of-passion related incidents. “In some places, the perpetrators targeted people in employment and the business persons/community. In other places, elderly women, especially those living alone in rural areas…
At least 15 Kenyans living in the United States are among individuals branded the “worst of the worst”. This is after they were arrested pending deportation by the Trump administration. The 14 men and one woman find themselves on an initial list of 10,000 whose names, images and criminal histories have been published by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on a webpage called “Worst of the Worst,” which was launched on Monday. The crimes for which they are listed include driving under the influence, fraud and robbery. Naserian Montet appears on the initial list of 10,000 criminal aliens…