OpenAI delays rolling out its 'Voice Mode' to July

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Ambar Warrick

US stock futures steady after Nvidia rebound boosts Wall Street

AuthorAmbar Warrick

Stock Markets

Published 06/25/2024, 07:54 PM

US stock futures steady after Nvidia rebound boosts Wall Street

NDX

1.19%

US500

0.39%

DJI

-0.76%

FDX

-0.02%

NVDA

6.76%

ESU24

0.02%

1YMU24

-0.07%

NQU24

0.10%

IXIC

1.28%

LCID

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RIVN

8.63%

© Reuters.

NDX

1.19%

US500

0.39%

DJI

-0.76%

FDX

-0.02%

NVDA

6.76%

ESU24

0.02%

1YMU24

-0.07%

NQU24

0.10%

IXIC

1.28%

LCID

-2.34%

RIVN

8.63%

Investing.com-- U.S. stock index futures steadied in evening deals on Tuesday after a rebound in market darling Nvidia and other chipmakers supported Wall Street indexes.

But investors remained on edge before key inflation data due later in the week, which is likely to factor into the outlook for interest rates.

S&P 500 Futures steadied at 5,535.75 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures were flat at 19,973.50 points by 19:17 ET (23:17 GMT). Dow Jones Futures fell 0.1% to 39,484.0 points. 

Nvidia rebound buoys Wall Street 

Artificial intelligence darling NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) surged nearly 7% on Tuesday, rebounding from three straight days of steep losses, which were sparked by profit-taking and creeping doubts over AI demand. 

Gains in the stock spilled over into its chipmaking peers, and also helped bolster Wall Street indexes against losses in other sectors. Nvidia rose 0.9% in after-hours trading. 

Economically sensitive sectors remained weak in anticipation of PCE price index data later this week. The reading is the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, and is likely to factor into the central bank’s plans to begin trimming interest rates.

Markets widely expect the Fed to announce at least one 25 basis point cut in September, although the central bank has given no such signal. The Fed had recently also slashed its outlook for rate cuts this year. 

The S&P 500 rose 0.4% to 5,469.30 points, while the NASDAQ Composite surged 1.3% to 17,720.05 points on Tuesday. The economically sensitive Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged, falling 0.8% to 39,112.16 points.

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While Wall Street’s trajectory is likely to be determined by the path of interest rates, an AI-fueled boom in tech kept the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq close to record highs.

Fedex surges on positive profit forecast

Delivery and logistics giant FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) surged in aftermarket trading, rising 14% after it forecast its fiscal 2025 profit just above Wall Street estimates. 

While the company clocked stronger quarterly earnings as it slashed expenses and tightened its operations, demand for package deliveries still remained weak. Fedex is seen as a bellwether for U.S. economic activity, especially through its delivery volumes, which remained weak. 

Among other aftermarket movers, electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive Inc (NASDAQ:RIVN) jumped 46% after it entered a joint venture with Volkswagen AG (ETR:VOWG), which will see the German automaker invest an initial $1 billion in Rivian. 

Rival Lucid Group Inc (NASDAQ:LCID) rose 10%.

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Waymo's autonomous ride-hailing service now available to all in San Francisco

Stock Markets

Published 06/25/2024, 01:29 PM

Updated 06/25/2024, 08:16 PM

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Front quarter panel sensors are seen on Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles at Waymo's operations center in the Bayview district of San Francisco, California, U.S. October 19, 2021. Picture taken October 19, 2021. REUTERS/Peter DaSilva/File Photo

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(Reuters) - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)'s Waymo said on Tuesday its autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, is now available to everyone in San Francisco, nearly four years after a similar move in Phoenix, Arizona.

Driverless vehicles are expected to drive commercial success for automakers even as regulatory scrutiny remains tight amid concerns of investors about growing investments in the nascent technology.

Waymo had started a test service with its research-focused program in San Francisco in 2021, which included an autonomous specialist on board for all rides at that time, as it looked to commercialize the technology.

The company said that about 300,000 people had signed up to ride with Waymo since it first opened a waitlist in the city, signaling strong demand. Now with open access, anyone can request a ride on its app.

The company had opened access to everyone in Phoenix, Arizona without a waitlist in 2020.

Mountain View, California-based Waymo is a self-driving technology pioneer, which started its first U.S. driverless taxi service in 2020 over a decade after it was born in 2009 as a project inside Google.

In March, the company received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to start its Waymo One in Los Angeles and some cities near San Francisco.

Rivals including General Motors-backed Cruise and Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN)'s Zoox are accelerating a race to succeed amid probes by auto regulators involving the performance of autonomous driving cars.

Last month, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it had learned of nine additional incidents raising concerns about the performance of Waymo self-driving vehicles.

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Published 06/25/2024, 06:39 PM

 

India to host inaugural international solar festival in September

newindian.in/india-to-host-inaugural-international-solar-festival-in-september

June 25, 2024

“India is a global leader, and we are committed to sustainability,” stated Bhupender Bhalla, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Subhadra Srivastava

| Updated: 25 June, 2024 9:19 pm IST

New Delhi will host the first International Solar Festival on September 5-6

NEW DELHI: New Delhi will host the first International Solar Festival on September 5-6, as announced by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) on Monday. This event underscores India’s commitment to transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy, with a particular emphasis on solar power.

“India is a global leader, and we are committed to sustainability,” stated Bhupender Bhalla, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. He reiterated India’s ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil energy by 2030, of which 300 GW will come from solar energy. “Nuclear energy will be a small component of that goal. We must quadruple our solar capacity in the next six years,” Bhalla added.

The festival will bring together stakeholders from around the world, including countries from Africa and the West, and institutions like the Asian Development Bank, United Nations, and World Bank. These organizations are expected to provide financial support to enhance the renewable energy sector globally.

ALSO READ: Misa Bharti becomes first Lalu family member in Lok Sabha in 15 Years

Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General of ISA, emphasized the significance of the event in uniting various stakeholders to explore opportunities in the green energy sector. “Solar is one of the fastest emerging power sectors. Festivals like the International Solar Festival will deliberate on this,” he said. Mathur highlighted the potential of solar energy to provide reliable electricity, particularly in rural areas, and to be cost-effective in applications like cold storage and solar pumps.

India has been proactive in promoting solar energy through substantial subsidies for solar system installations. This move aims to reduce average household power consumption and foster sustainable living.

The festival will also address the broader issue of climate change, a topic of increasing global concern. Platforms like G20 and COP28 have been discussing ways to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Bhalla noted that solar energy plays a major role in large-scale energy generation and serving remote rural populations, providing reliable electricity for lighting, cooking, and other essential uses.

ALSO READ: PM Modi to release Rs 20,000 Cr under PM-KISAN scheme during Varanasi visit

ISA, a global intergovernmental organisation dedicated to advancing solar power adoption, currently has 119 members and signatory countries. Its mission is to unlock $1 trillion of investments in solar by 2030, focusing on setting up solar projects in countries most impacted by climate change, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

“Climate change is impacting us like never before,” Mathur said, highlighting the urgent need for renewable energy solutions. He expressed hope that the festival would stimulate local economies, reduce energy imports, and lower emissions. “Our hope is to have a light in every household. We have a lot of success stories to celebrate and share, and that is why we now have a festival.”

ISA was conceived as a joint effort by India and France during the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It aims to mobilize efforts against climate change through the deployment of solar energy solutions.

India Ready To Host The International Solar Festival: India's Leap In Renewable Energy | India Today

 

Afghanistan Cricket: Afghan Refugees Embrace Cricketing History with Joy | Delhi News

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/afghan-refugees-embrace-cricketing-history-with-joy/articleshow/111270356.cms

Priyangi Agarwal / Jun 26, 2024, 04:57 IST

New Delhi: Mohammad Nasir woke up early on Tuesday to watch the cricket T20 World Cup match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The 25-year-old Afghani burger seller in Lajpat Nagar had little expectations from the match though. “My hopes soared only after Afghanistan took eight Bangladesh wickets,” said an elated Nasir. “At the end, my friends and I had tears in our eyes.It was a historic moment for our country, securing a semi-final slot of the World Cup for the first time. I’ve never felt so happy in my life."

He chatted on, "I want either Afghanistan or India to win the World Cup as both are my countries. Rashid Khan and Virat Kohli are my favourite players." Afghanistan will take on South Africa for a place in the final against either India or England, who are playing the other semi-final.

While hundreds poured into the streets in Afghanistan to celebrate the thrilling win, the atmosphere was electrifying in Bhogal and Lajpat Nagar, home to many Afghan refugees. Even those who do not follow cricket promised to watch the semi-final match and cheer their country on.

India has had a big role in Afghanistan's success with the Board of Control for Cricket in India providing training and infrastructure, including ‘home grounds’ in Greater Noida and Dehradun, for the neighbouring country.

Faizal Wari, a Lajpat Nagar restaurant employee, decided to host a party at his home on Tuesday night to celebrate the triumph. He also phoned his relatives back home to share the joy. "Since morning, the only conversation I’ve been having with anyone in Delhi and Afghanistan is about our team’s rise in world cricket," said Wari, a Delhi resident since 2020.

The restaurants, which have traditional Afghani delicacies on the menu, saw customers hailing the nail-biting win. Aryan Safi, 18, a Class XII student, and three friends visited a restaurant in Bhogal. He said, "I didn’t watch the match, but after waking up, I learned on Instagram that Afghanistan had entered the semi-finals. I will watch that match for sure. Since it’s a big achievement for our neighbours, we decided to celebrate it at an Afghan restaurant."

Safi’s friend, Ahmad Sanjar, 20, claimed he was a “distant relative” of Afghan team captain Rashid Khan. "I am proud to be kin to Rashid, who is my father’s cousin. I last met him in Nov last year in a hotel in Lucknow. Due to high security, I could only shake hands with him, but that still was a special moment for me," said Sanjar.

Another Rashid fan, Khwaza Zameeruddin, manager of Pakeeza Restaurant in Bhogal, said, "The Afghan team playing in the World Cup semi-finals is a massive moment for everyone. Rashid Khan is our hero. I watched the match on TV early in the morning and then watched the highlights again on my phone."

Zia-ul-Haq, who left his birth country in 2014, became interested in cricket only after the formation of Afghanistan’s national cricket team. On Tuesday, he had “no words to express my happiness”. He rejoiced, “Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq have brought glory to the nation."

Class VII student Hanzala Almyar, 12, took to cricket after shifting to Delhi around six years ago. "I watch all the matches played by Afghanistan and India. The Afghan team performed well this year, even beating champions Australia. Our entire family is overjoyed, " smiled Almyar. Yalda Talash too had a bright smile. The 23-year-old tour company employee said the spirit of the Afghan community in Delhi was at a high and smiled as she said, "I hope our team wins the trophy."

Afghan students in various institutions in NCR were delirious with joy. "My Indian friends and classmates shared my ecstasy at Afghanistan’s win and I felt like this was my second home," exulted Azizullah Dawar, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in law at Sharda University.

Like many others from his country who watched the match in and near their colleges and universities, Dawar said, "The moment will remain in my heart forever. Now we hope to watch the semi-final against South Africa on university campus on a big screen. "

Ahmed Shadab, also of Sharda University, was overwhelmed by the occasion. “It felt surreal. But the moment would have been more joyful if I had shared it with my family, which has struggled a lot in India. The warmth of my Indian friends on the day will remain in my memory,” said Shadab.

Like him, Surgal Shah at Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida couldn’t contain his excitement, exclaiming, "My country made history today! I cannot be prouder or happier for the team. The way Rashid Khan led and took the team to the last four will give the younger generation a big reason to love cricket." MBA student Muzda Ahmedi of Sharda University was calmer. "This victory is a testament to the resilience and determination of our people,” he declared.

Dr Ajit Kumar, director, PR, Sharda University, said, “We will arrange a telecast of the next match on various screens across the campus. We hope the relationship between the two countries becomes deeper.”

(With inputs from

Ayantika Pal)

 

WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Pleads Guilty In US Court

ndtv.com/world-news/wikileaks-julian-assange-plea-bargain-hearing-begins-at-us-court-5970631

Agence France-PresseJune 26, 2024

WikiLeaks' Julian Assange landed in Saipan for US plea-deal court hearing on Wednesday.

Saipan, US:

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleaded guilty in a US court in Saipan on Wednesday, AFP reporters said, in a plea bargain that will leave him a free man after years of legal drama.

The 52-year-old admitted to a single count of conspiracy to obtain and disseminate national defence information in the courtroom in the Northern Mariana Islands, a Pacific US territory.

"Guilty to the information," Assange said, later joking to the judge during the proceedings that whether he is satisfied "depends on the outcome of the hearing".

Assange has long been wanted by Washington for releasing hundreds of thousands of secret US documents from 2010 as head of the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.

He was released Monday from a high-security British prison where he had been held for five years while he fought extradition to the United States.

On Wednesday, he is expected to be sentenced to five years and two months in prison, with credit for the same amount of time he spent behind bars in Britain.

Assange's wife Stella said he would be a "free man", thanking supporters who have campaigned for his release.

"We weren't really sure until the last 24 hours that it was actually happening," she told BBC radio, saying she was "just elated".

The Northern Mariana Islands was chosen because of Assange's unwillingness to go to the continental United States and because of its proximity to Australia, a court filing said.

After the hearing is done, Assange will fly to Canberra in Australia, WikiLeaks said on social media platform X, adding that the plea bargain "should never have had to happen."

The Australian government said his case had "dragged on for too long" and there was "nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration".

- End of an ordeal -

Since 2010 Assange has become a hero to free speech campaigners and a villain to those who thought he had endangered US security and intelligence sources.

US authorities wanted to put Assange on trial for divulging military secrets about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He was indicted by a US federal grand jury in 2019 on 18 counts stemming from WikiLeaks' publication of a trove of national security documents.

The United Nations hailed Assange's release, saying the case had raised "a series of human rights concerns".

Assange's mother Christine Assange said in a statement carried by Australian media that she was "grateful that my son's ordeal is finally coming to an end."

But former US vice president Mike Pence slammed the plea deal on X as a "miscarriage of justice" that "dishonors the service and sacrifice of the men and women of our Armed Forces."

The announcement of the deal came two weeks before Assange was scheduled to appear in court in Britain to appeal against a ruling that approved his extradition to the United States.

- Extradition battle -

Assange had been detained in the high-security Belmarsh prison in London since April 2019.

He was arrested after spending seven years in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced accusations of sexual assault that were eventually dropped.

The material he released through WikiLeaks included video showing civilians being killed by fire from a US helicopter gunship in Iraq in 2007. The victims included a photographer and a driver from Reuters.

The United States accused Assange under the 1917 Espionage Act and supporters warned he risked being sentenced to 175 years in prison.

The British government approved his extradition in June 2022 but, in a recent twist, two British judges said in May that he could appeal against the transfer.

The plea deal was not entirely unexpected. US President Joe Biden had been under growing pressure to drop the long-running case against Assange.

The Australian government made an official request to that effect in February and Biden said he would consider it, raising hopes among Assange supporters that his ordeal might end.

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In the first official US reax to the plea deal, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that as the case is about to go before a judge, "I think it's appropriate for me to not comment on the matter at this time."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)