What is Chinese AI startup DeepSeek?
DeepSeek says its models were trained using innovative techniques to overcome the gap in the quality and quantity of its chips
The latest artificial intelligence (AI) models launched by Chinese startup DeepSeek have spurred turmoil in the technology sector following its emergence as a potential rival to leading U.S.-based firms.
DeepSeek wrote in a paper last month that it trained its DeepSeek-V3 model with less than $6 million worth of computing power from what it says are 2,000 Nvidia H800 chips to achieve a level of performance on par with the most advanced models from OpenAI and Meta.
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China’s new, high-powered DeepSeek AI spooks U.S. markets
Chipmakers, AI-connected industries saw stocks drop Monday amid concerns over Chinese startup
Advanced microchip developers and a slew of tech concerns watched their stock prices tumble early Monday amid concerns Chinese AI startup DeepSeek was already outpacing U.S.-developed artificial intelligence tools based on newly released performance assessments.
Little is known about the computing hardware supporting DeepSeek, which launched last month. But the company claims it developed its large language model in two months for less than $6 million. The company released a free, open-source LLM in December and, according to a report from Associated Press, DeepSeek’s app had already hit the top of Apple’s App Store chart by early Monday morning. Analysts told AP such a feat would be particularly impressive given how the U.S. government has restricted Chinese access to top AI chips. |
 NATO’s hypocrisy brings direct clash with Russia closer — foreign ministry
Ukraine is at the heart of the Russia-NATO standoff, and Kiev’s troops are being supplied with long-range weapons that are in fact being operated by Western military specialists, the ministry said
MOSCOW, January 24. /TASS/. NATO’s hypocritical policies are fueling escalation in Europe, increasing the risk of a direct military confrontation between Russia and the North Atlantic alliance, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry said that last year, NATO "continued its confrontational policy with regard to Russia" by "boosting its military forces near Russia’s borders."
"This hypocritical and provocative policy is continuously fuelling escalation and tensions on the European continent, raising the risk of a direct military confrontation between Russia and the alliance," the ministry said.
"Washington and its allies view Russia as their biggest direct security threat in all areas, in the long-term perspective," the Russian diplomats continued.
Ukraine is at the heart of the Russia-NATO standoff, and Kiev’s troops are being supplied with long-range weapons that are in fact being operated by Western military specialists, the ministry added.
"At the same time, NATO officials keep claiming that such actions allegedly are not enough to make the alliance a party to the conflict," it said. |
Military operation in Ukraine 24 Jan, 15:32
Russian military splits Velikaya Novoselka in two, blocking Ukrainian troops — ministry
Russian troops have already hoisted the Russian flag on a recently liberated building in the settlement’s center
MOSCOW, January 24. /TASS/. Russian battlegroup East’s assault teams have managed to split the settlement of Velikaya Novoselka in the Donetsk People’s Republic in two, blocking Ukrainian troops there, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"The battlegroup’s assault units have managed to split the settlement in two parts, blocked Ukrainian armed groups and started their elimination," the ministry said.
Russian troops have already hoisted the Russian flag on a recently liberated building in the settlement’s center. |
Military operation in Ukraine 27 Jan, 04:10
Russia eliminates 7,200 Ukrainian soldiers, mercenaries on LPR borders in week — expert
Marochko added that during the abovementioned period Russian fighters also destroyed 20 tanks
LUGANSK, January 27. /TASS/. Russian servicemen eliminated over 7,200 Ukrainian soldiers and foreign mercenaries who tried to infiltrate the territory of the Lugansk People's Republic last week, military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS.
"Analysis of the special military operation course on the borders of the Lugansk People's Republic for the past week. On January 18-24, 2025, <...> Russia’s battlegroups North, South and West eliminated more than 7,240 Ukrainian fighters and mercenaries, which is 60 more than in the previous reporting period. The battlegroup West eliminated the most enemy troops. The battlegroup North also contributed to the Ukrainian manpower losses. Geographically, the most militants were liquidated in the Kharkov Region," he said.
Marochko added that during the abovementioned period Russian fighters also destroyed 20 tanks, which is 14 more than in the week of January 11-17, one hundred field artillery guns, six electronic and counter-battery warfare stations, 21 field ammunition depots, as well as over 300 different enemy combat vehicles. |
Billionaire James Dyson Says Tax Hike Will Kill British Family Businesses
James Dyson, one of Britain’s best-known entrepreneurs, is accusing the Labour government of destroying family businesses and untold billions in tax revenues with its recent changes to the nation’s tax regime.
Dyson said in a letter to The Times on Monday that the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is “killing the geese that lay the golden eggs.” |
Watch how Labour stopped Reform MP Rupert Lowe for exposing Labour in Parliament
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Talk's international editor Isabel Oakeshott questions whether Britain is going 'bankrupt', as councils across the UK hike taxes up.
"Britain Is Going BANKRUPT!" | Isabel Oakeshott BLASTS UK Councils For Hiking Tax Rates
TalkTV
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Lush co-founder’s son accuses Chancellor of ‘asset stripping’ businesses
Lush executive Jack Constantine has accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves of “asset stripping” businesses following the government’s changes to inheritance tax.
The chief digital officer, who is the son of co-founders Mark and Mo Constantine, told The Telegraph that the government was “sucking” profits out from companies and pushing them away from being entrepreneurially run.
In last year’s Budget, Reeves revealed plans to reduce the relief entrepreneurs can claim when passing their company on to their children with any assets above £1m subject to a 20% tax.
The new measures coming into force in April 2026 are expected to affect Lush, which is majority-owned by the Constantine family. |
VIDEO
"A Big HEADACHE Coming For Rachel Reeves!" | Chancellor Tells Brits To Be "Optimistic" Like Trump
TalkTV |
It is high time that all these green subsidies and taxes were stopped, if the windmill industry is that good at producing electricity there is no need at all for us to subsidise it like we do, it does not bring costs down to keep them, it just puts them up as these 'subsidies' will inevitable increase over time in order to keep the inefficient systems working.
Serica to buy North Sea assets as UK ‘can’t get any worse’
erica Energy (AIM: SQZ) boss Chris Cox aims to buy up aging UK assets as “the fiscal regime in the North Sea can’t really get any worse than it is right now.”
The Serica chief executive explained how his firm has changed its attitude towards the UK as it laid out plans to explore merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in the North Sea.
“The UK, we think, holds some opportunity,” Cox told Energy Voice.
“Part of the reason there’s an opportunity is that it’s not very attractive for very many people.”
The firm, which was once looking to pick up assets in Norway, now sees an opportunity to pick up bargains as investors abandon the basin.
“There are people that want to exit, there are people that want to reduce their exposure to the North Sea, there are folks that are looking to partner,” he added.
Unrealistic Norwegian prices and optimism for UK assets
In recent months, UK oil and gas players have attempted to shield themselves from the country’s steep 78% tax rate. |
Banks Will Dump Billions Starting Monday!
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JP Morgan & BlackRock | Trump Demands 0% Interest Rates | New Executive Orders
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Colombia caves on deportations after Trump's threats
US President Donald Trump had earlier threatened sanctions of 25 percent after Colombian President Gustavo Petro had turned back two US military aircraft with repatriated Colombians.
Colombia's leftist president, Gustavo Petro, had earlier said he would only take back citizens "with dignity," such as on civilian planes, and had turned back two US military aircraft with repatriated Colombians.
Trump, less than a week back in office, responded furiously and threatened sanctions of 25 percent that would quickly scale up to 50 percent against Latin America's fourth-largest economy.
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo told a late-night news conference that his country had "overcome the impasse" and would accept returned citizens. |
CITYam.com
CBI: Businesses prepare to cut staff as they brace for slowdown
A persistent slowdown in activity among private sector firms could weigh on economic growth over the coming months, with businesses set to cut staff and raise prices, according to a survey.
The upcoming increase to national insurance contributions has prompted firms to assess their budgets urgently, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said.
Output across the private sector is expected to drop over the next three months, having fallen over the previous three-month period, the survey found.
Activity has been flat or falling since the middle of 2022, reflecting a prolonged period of stagnation.
The CBI, a membership organisation which represents large chains through to small businesses, surveyed 990 firms between December and January. |
Agency predicts carnage on the high street unless the government acts now
Government’s decision to cut the retail, hospitality and leisure business rates reliefs from 75% to 40% from 1 April will mean thousands of shops, restaurants, pubs, gyms and nightclubs will see business rates bills rise by 140% or more in the year ahead, according to Colliers.
Colliers has calculated this will mean that retailers currently benefiting from the relief will see their business rates bills increase in April on average from £3,751 a year to £9,003, and restaurants will see a rise on average from £5,563 to £13,351 a year. The average pub will also see its rates bill go up –from £4,017 to £9,642 a year.
Colliers says such rises will be unsustainable for many. According to the Centre for Retal Research store closures in 2025 are forecast to be as high as 17,349 surpassing previous years- with business rates increases cited as the final blow to a sector already hit by increases in the employer national insurance contributions and increases in the minimum wage.
And the outlook for pubs also looks grim. Numbers are already at an all-time low following over 400 pubs shutting in 2024 – around 34 a month. According to analysis by insolvency specialists Price Bailey more than 1 in 10 British pubs are in imminent risk of closure this year.
And the outlook for pubs also looks grim. |
AI fraud time bomb is ticking warns expert
There is a growing gap between awareness and actions when it comes to AI-driven identity fraud which is leading to a “ticking time bomb”.
A new report from Signicat report found while over 76% of fraud decision-makers recognise the growing threat of AI in fraud, only 22% of organisations have started implementing AI-driven fraud prevention measures. This delay in action leaves companies vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated fraud techniques as they enter 2025.
The report The Battle Against AI-driven Identity Fraud is based on a survey of over 1,200 fraud decision-makers across banks, fintechs, payment providers, and insurance companies in Europe. Despite a high awareness of the threat, the findings reveal a significant gap between understanding the issue and take action.
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Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January
AUSCHWITZ: The Complete DISTURBING Tour | WARNING: Actual footage |
How The Last Weekend Of January Began For The Ukrainian Army
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From 24 to 25 January 2025, the situation in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict remained extremely serious. However, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are under significant pressure from Russian forces on virtually all fronts.
In the Kursk region, Russian troops have advanced into the forested areas south-east of the village of Nikolaevo-Darino, dislodging the AFU from several strongholds. Fighting is continuing near the village of Cherkasky Porechny, which, according to local assessments, is the last AFU outpost in a sector that is opening up operational space. Over the past day, the AFU has redeployed more than 300 personnel to the Kursk region. Missile strikes were carried out against concentrations of enemy forces in the Sumy region.
In the Belgorod region, an FPV drone attack shattered windows and damaged the roof of a residential building in the village of Yasnye Zori. Another drone attack targeted the village of Otradnoye. In the village of Oktyabrsky, a civilian was injured by the detonation of ammunition.
North of the town of Kupiansk, Russian forces are making gains in the area of the village of Zapadnoye on the right bank of the Oskol River. In the town of Chasiv Yar, fighting is taking place for the micro-district of Novoseverny. South of the Chasiv Yar refractories, Russian troops are advancing near a residential area. North of the Velkov dacha pond, the AFU is conducting assault operations near a fortification in the tree line.
In Toretsk, Russian forces are moving towards the northern outskirts of the city. In the direction of Pokrovsk, the main developments are around the junction of the Pokrovsk-Kostyantynivka road (north of the village of Vozdvizhenka) and south-west of the city of Pokrovsk. Russian forces are trying to increase pressure around the village of Kotlino, where heavy fighting is taking place.
The village of Velyka Novosilka is under the control of Russian forces and clearance operations are underway. The capture of this village signals the imminent conclusion of the battle for Vremivsk, where fierce clashes have been going on for months.
In the Donetsk People’s Republic (Horlivka), one civilian was killed and another 12 injured today as a result of Ukrainian aggression. The AFU carried out shelling with cluster munitions from artillery. Residential buildings and five civil infrastructure facilities in the Nikitovsky and Central-City districts were damaged.
Russian air defence forces shot down 11 AFU drones over the Black Sea. The drones were eliminated between 10:45 and 11:20.
The rest of the front remained generally unchanged, with both sides exchanging fire and suffering troop losses. In particular, there are reports that combat operations are gradually approaching the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region, a development that has been repeatedly reported by various sources in the West, as well as in Russia and Ukraine.
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Reeves to seek billions for growth from corporate pension surpluses
More than £60bn could be released from blue-chip company retirement schemes under proposals to be outlined by the chancellor this week, Sky News learns. |
The last time Labour were in power they ended all the private sector final salary defined benefit schemes by their meddling and they seem intent on ruining private sector pensions again this time..
Reeves to seek billions for growth from corporate pension surpluses
More than £60bn could be released from blue-chip company retirement schemes under proposals to be outlined by the chancellor this week, Sky News learns.
Rachel Reeves will this week announce plans to unlock tens of billions of pounds from corporate pension schemes as part of government plans to kickstart economic growth.
Sky News has learnt that the chancellor will use a crucial speech on Wednesday to disclose that she wants to use so-called surplus release to boost investment in the economy.
Government sources said it could unlock more than £60bn of pension surpluses held in defined benefit (DB) schemes, while other estimates suggested the figure could be in the region of £100bn.
The surplus release plan could be included in a pension schemes bill expected to be published in the coming months. |
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