China’s frontier artificial intelligence labs are ending the lunar year on a high note, racing to release a series of new AI models in the last few weeks of the Year of the Snake as the country gears up to celebrate the start of the Year of the Horse. Beijing-based Zhipu AI and Shanghai-quartered MiniMax , which just made their stock exchange debuts in Hong Kong, would be the next to update their ...
China’s frontier artificial intelligence labs are ending the lunar year on a high note, racing to release a series of new AI models in the last few weeks of the Year of the Snake as the country gears up to celebrate the start of the Year of the Horse. Beijing-based Zhipu AI and Shanghai-quartered MiniMax , which just made their stock exchange debuts in Hong Kong, would be the next to update their flagship AI systems with across-the-board enhancements, according to sources familiar with their release plans. Zhipu AI , known as Z.ai internationally, is set to launch the fifth iteration of its flagship GLM model series, GLM-5, in the next two weeks, before the Lunar New Year starts the week of February 15. Advertisement GLM-5 was expected to come with comprehensive and significant improvements in creative writing, coding, reasoning and agentic capabilities, according to two sources. Meanwhile MiniMax would release its M2.2 – a minor update to its M2.1 model with coding-focused enhancements – before the holiday, said the sources, who requested anonymity as they were not authorised to speak with the media. Advertisement Zhipu AI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. MiniMax declined to comment.
Concerns about Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking have emerged in Japan after a pregnant woman was allegedly tracked down and murdered by her ex-boyfriend using a GPS device hidden in a toy. The death of Haruka Komatsumoto, a 31-year-old manicurist who was allegedly beaten on the head and stabbed in the neck by her ex-boyfriend in her own flat on December 31, 2025, has shocked many people. T...
Concerns about Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking have emerged in Japan after a pregnant woman was allegedly tracked down and murdered by her ex-boyfriend using a GPS device hidden in a toy. The death of Haruka Komatsumoto, a 31-year-old manicurist who was allegedly beaten on the head and stabbed in the neck by her ex-boyfriend in her own flat on December 31, 2025, has shocked many people. The alleged killing has become a widely discussed topic in the country. Advertisement Komatsumoto reportedly suffered from bruises on her arms in an attempt to protect her baby. No property was stolen. On January 21, the police in Ibaraki prefecture arrested the suspect, Komatsumoto’s 28-year-old ex-boyfriend, Takumi Ouchi. The Global Positioning System device which led to the alleged killing was hidden in a teddy bear. Photo: Shutterstock They dated for less than a year and split in 2024.
phongphan5922 Asian stock markets fell on Monday due to an AI-driven sell-off and weak sentiment from Wall Street. Investors reacted to mixed signals from China's factory activity data. Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) fell below $76,000 in early February, hitting its lowest level since early April 2025, amid weakening demand and thinning liquidity. Gold slid more than 5% to below $4,630 per ounce on Monday, e...
phongphan5922 Asian stock markets fell on Monday due to an AI-driven sell-off and weak sentiment from Wall Street. Investors reacted to mixed signals from China's factory activity data. Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) fell below $76,000 in early February, hitting its lowest level since early April 2025, amid weakening demand and thinning liquidity. Gold slid more than 5% to below $4,630 per ounce on Monday, extending losses from the prior session when the precious metal suffered its steepest fall in more than a decade. Japan ( NKY:IND ) fell 1.03% to above 54,000, while the broader Topix Index gained 0.9% to 3,598 on Monday, recouping losses from last week as the yen weakened sharply, boosting the outlook for Japan’s export-heavy economy. The Japanese yen depreciated past 155 per dollar on Monday, extending a sharp decline from the previous session. The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing PMI was 51.5 in January 2026, stable from the preliminary reading and higher than December’s 50. This indicated the first growth in factory activity since last June, bolstered by new orders rising for the first time since May 2023. The Bank of Japan’s risk of falling behind the curve has not increased markedly, a summary of opinions at its January meeting showed. China ( SHCOMP ) fell 1.82% to around 4,100, while the Shenzhen Component dropped 0.8% to 14,090 on Monday, extending losses from the previous session as investors digested January manufacturing data, and the offshore yuan strengthened to around 6.95 per dollar on Monday, reversing the previous week’s losses and approaching a thirty-three-month high, after strong manufacturing PMI data boosted sentiment. The RatingDog China General Manufacturing PMI rose to 50.3 in January 2026 from 50.1 in December, indicating slight factory growth and the fastest progress since last October, driven by increased new orders and export orders. In contrast, China’s official NBS Manufacturing PMI fell to 49.3, suggesting a decline in factory activity due to w...
More than 2.8 million people in the UK are too sick to work, and have been off for the long-term because of their health. We’ve seen this level of sickness absence since the second half of 2023, but the figures are far higher than any other time since the ONS started measuring it in 1993. Back then just 1.8 million were signed off with long-term sickness. Unsurprisingly, ill-health takes a huge to...
More than 2.8 million people in the UK are too sick to work, and have been off for the long-term because of their health. We’ve seen this level of sickness absence since the second half of 2023, but the figures are far higher than any other time since the ONS started measuring it in 1993. Back then just 1.8 million were signed off with long-term sickness. Unsurprisingly, ill-health takes a huge toll on our financial resilience. According to the Hargreaves Lansdown Savings & Resilience Barometer, households headed by someone in poor health have just £4 left at the end of the month – compared to those in good health who have an average £189 to spare. Meanwhile, 24% are behind on bills or debt repayments, only 22% have enough emergency savings, and just 33% are on track to have a big enough pension in retirement. In some cases, this is because they need to work fewer hours, or compromise over the jobs they can take. In others it’s because they can’t work at all. There are all kinds of conditions that can force people out of the workplace. Among young people it’s most commonly mental health issues, and as we get older it’s more likely to be musculoskeletal. But illness can strike at any time, and take you out of the picture for weeks, months, or even years. It means we all need to consider what would happen if we were too sick to work. Read more: Savings challenges to boost your finances in 2026 The first step is to check what you might get from your employer. They might offer sick leave for shorter illnesses and income protection, which will cover a proportion of your income for a longer period if you’re too ill to work. The good news is that the Hargreaves Lansdown Barometer shows 74% of people have enough of this cover in place. Some employers also offer critical illness cover, which is a lump sum that pays out on the diagnosis of specific illnesses, although only 20% of people actually have this cover. If you discover that your employer’s offer falls short of what y...
Chewy is a pure play in the pet industry, while Walmart covers a lot more ground. Chewy (CHWY 3.42%) and Walmart (WMT +1.47%) both specialize in retail, but Chewy is more niche since it exclusively focuses on the pet industry. While Walmart also offers many pet products, it's more known for being a retail location that can fulfill all of your shopping needs. Groceries, clothing, and consumer goods...
Chewy is a pure play in the pet industry, while Walmart covers a lot more ground. Chewy (CHWY 3.42%) and Walmart (WMT +1.47%) both specialize in retail, but Chewy is more niche since it exclusively focuses on the pet industry. While Walmart also offers many pet products, it's more known for being a retail location that can fulfill all of your shopping needs. Groceries, clothing, and consumer goods are some of the many products that line Walmart's aisles. Grandview Research projects a 5.1% compound average growth rate (CAGR) for the pet care market from now until 2030. But while Chewy is a pure play in the industry, Walmart looks like the better stock. Chewy relies too much on the pet industry There's nothing wrong with Chewy gaining market share in the pet industry. However, it becomes a concern when you compare Chewy with Walmart. The pet industry has low profit margins, which limit future growth opportunities. For instance, Petco and Chewy have delivered net profit margins in the low single digits for several years. Freshpet has mid-single-digit net profit margins. Chewy is addressing the issue by diversifying into pet health, which has an average net profit margin of 20%. Chewy currently has more than 20 veterinary practice locations. Expand NYSE : CHWY Chewy Today's Change ( -3.42 %) $ -1.03 Current Price $ 29.11 Key Data Points Market Cap $12B Day's Range $ 28.65 - $ 30.45 52wk Range $ 28.65 - $ 48.62 Volume 9.2M Avg Vol 7.6M Gross Margin 28.58 % While Chewy specializes in pet food and health services, Walmart has more opportunities to grow. It's the largest grocery chain in the U.S., and since many people go to Walmart for their food, they have many opportunities to fill their shopping carts with other items. People don't shop at Chewy as often, and Walmart can fulfill many pet owners' needs just as effectively. Walmart also has low margins as a retailer, but its online advertising segment can change that narrative. Walmart's global advertising sales increased...
Stanislav Gvozd/iStock via Getty Images Oil prices fell over 5% on Monday, set for the largest single-session decline in over six months, after President Trump noted that Iran was “seriously talking” with Washington, signaling potential de-escalation with the OPEC member. Brent crude futures ( CO1:COM ) were down 5.3% at $ 65.66 per barrel at press time, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude ( ...
Stanislav Gvozd/iStock via Getty Images Oil prices fell over 5% on Monday, set for the largest single-session decline in over six months, after President Trump noted that Iran was “seriously talking” with Washington, signaling potential de-escalation with the OPEC member. Brent crude futures ( CO1:COM ) were down 5.3% at $ 65.66 per barrel at press time, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude ( CL1:COM ) fell 5.5% to $ 61.62 per barrel. Both contracts slid from multi-month highs after Trump’s weekend comments eased military strike fears. "The distinct shift in his messaging has eased concerns of supply disruptions. This removed some risk premium out of the market, even as US military presence in the region continues to build," ANZ analysts said in a note. "Nevertheless, tension remains high. Iran’s supreme leader warned of a “regional war” if the US were to attack. The market is also mindful of the OPEC meeting over the weekend that ended up ratifying plans to keep production steady in March, the last part of a three-month pause in production hikes." At a meeting on Sunday, OPEC+ agreed to keep its oil output unchanged for March. In November the grouping had frozen further planned increases for January through March 2026 because of seasonally weaker consumption. ETFs: ( USO ), ( BNO ), ( UCO ), ( SCO ), ( USL ), ( DBO ), ( DRIP ), ( GUSH ), ( USOI ), ( UNG ), ( BOIL ), ( KOLD ), ( UNL ), ( FCG ), ( XLE ) More on Crude Oil Futures Europe's Shift To U.S. Crude Fuels NYMEX WTI Benchmark Growth Geopolitical Environment Supports Oil As Weather Sends Gas Soaring Commodities: Oil Increasingly Nervous About Potential U.S. Action In Iran Volatility skips stocks as gold, currencies and oil swing wildly OPEC+ holds output steady through March despite rising geopolitical tensions
Cn0ra/iStock via Getty Images Millicom International Cellular ( TIGO ) has structurally altered its financial profile through a multi-year operational reset. However, despite strong momentum over the past year, it is still being valued as a turnaround story. Headline metrics show structurally supported changes already. EBITDA margins are approaching 49%, with multiple core markets already deliveri...
Cn0ra/iStock via Getty Images Millicom International Cellular ( TIGO ) has structurally altered its financial profile through a multi-year operational reset. However, despite strong momentum over the past year, it is still being valued as a turnaround story. Headline metrics show structurally supported changes already. EBITDA margins are approaching 49%, with multiple core markets already delivering margins above 50%. Free cash flow is no longer volatile - it is already showing recurring strength with $750 million targeted for the full year 2025. This inflection is led by renewed service revenue growth rather than margin expansion supported by cost efficiencies alone. With leverage now more comfortably placed at ~2.1x levels, Millicom's narrative has shifted to capital allocation and shareholder returns. Despite the transformation, even improved valuations still reflect emerging markets turnaround positioning, in my view. I think Millicom is already positioned as a stabilized, cash-generating telecom business. There is potential for rerating and execution-led earnings growth. Dividends should cushion fresh buys. Business Model Reset Millicom's multi-year transformation includes structural cost efficiencies based on procurement, capex, and operational discipline. The impact is visible in operating leverage. SG&A is no longer scaling with revenue, confirming that Millicom's cost base has been structurally reset and incremental growth is flowing straight into profits. Data by YCharts This efficiency playbook is structurally leading to margin gains across Millicom's portfolio, not just a one-off regional phenomenon. Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Honduras, and Nicaragua are all operating above 50% EBITDA margins. Colombia is historically a weak market, but there too margins are now in the mid-forties. The Cash Flow Inflection The single metric that carries my Buy thesis is the visible step jump in what was inconsistent free cash flow over most of the past decade into a st...
The rise of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) is accelerating automotive innovation. To keep pace, automotive developers are adopting a shift-left approach that enables software validation and testing earlier in the design cycle. AMD today announced new capabilities designed to support shift-left development for automotive software using cloud-based simulation and digital twin technologies on the M...
The rise of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) is accelerating automotive innovation. To keep pace, automotive developers are adopting a shift-left approach that enables software validation and testing earlier in the design cycle. AMD today announced new capabilities designed to support shift-left development for automotive software using cloud-based simulation and digital twin technologies on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. By enabling a shift-left approach, OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers can improve efficiency, reduce development risks, and accelerate time-to-market for SDVs.
Elon Musk-led Tesla Inc. has now planned to foray into the business of solar cell manufacturing, the top managemrnt of the company recently revealed their new cleantech initiative plan with its investors in its earning call. As per the plan of the US-based electric vehicle and clean energy major, Tesla, Inc. has indicated plans to become a large-scale manufacturer of solar cells in the United Stat...
Elon Musk-led Tesla Inc. has now planned to foray into the business of solar cell manufacturing, the top managemrnt of the company recently revealed their new cleantech initiative plan with its investors in its earning call. As per the plan of the US-based electric vehicle and clean energy major, Tesla, Inc. has indicated plans to become a large-scale manufacturer of solar cells in the United States, with a long-term ambition of 100 GW per year of integrated solar cell production. Advertisment This is a part of its broader push to build resilient domestic energy and manufacturing supply chains. Speaking during the company’s latest investor conference call, CEO Elon Musk said Tesla is working towardsend-to-end solar manufacturing, spanning raw materials through to finished panels. Musk said that the move underscored the company’s belief that solar generation paired with batteries represents the fastest and most scalable way to strengthen grid capacity.' Advertisment "The solar opportunity is underestimated,” Musk said, adding that Tesla sees solar and storage—on Earth and eventually in space—as core pillars of future energy abundance. Advertisment Solar Cell Foundry Still Early-Stage The company however, did not give any timelines or capital outlay for the planned entry into solar manufavturing. Vaibhav Taneja, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO)clarified thatsolar cell manufacturing investments are not yet included in Tesla’s projected over $20 billion CapEx for 2026, suggesting the solar foundry remains in theplanning and evaluation phase. Advertisment “These are infrastructure plays,” Taneja said, referring to both solar cell manufacturing and semiconductor fabrication, indicating Tesla is assessing funding structures beyond internal cash for these long-gestation assets. Industry watchers note that a US-based solar cell foundry would align with supply-chain localization trends, trade protection measures, and rising demand for domestically manufactured clean energy h...