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  • Al Jazeera launches new integrative AI model, ‘The Core’ | Media News

    Al Jazeera launches new integrative AI model, ‘The Core’ | Media News

    Al Jazeera Media Network says initiative will shift role of AI ‘from passive tool to active partner in journalism’.

    Al Jazeera Media Network is launching a new integrative artificial intelligence (AI) model in collaboration with Google Cloud.

    Al Jazeera said on Sunday that it was expanding its collaboration with Google Cloud on the network’s new initiative, dubbed “The Core”, that will integrate AI into its news operations.

    “The Core” aims to shift the role of AI “from a passive tool to an active partner in journalism”, Al Jazeera said.

    Relying on six pillars, the initiative will integrate AI systems to help Al Jazeera journalists process complex data, produce immersive content, gain access to analytical context and automate internal workflows, among other things.

    “Al Jazeera is committed to establishing a global technological ecosystem that cements our leadership in the AI era,” said Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal Al Thani, director general of Al Jazeera Media Network.

    “‘The Core’ is the embodiment of this vision – an integrated model where human expertise and artificial intelligence work in tandem to modernize journalism,” Al Thani said.

    “Google Cloud’s proven expertise in AI make it the ideal partner to help us execute this ambitious transformation, ensuring our journalism remains agile, accurate, and deeply engaging for our global audience.”

    Alex Rutter, AI managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Google Cloud, welcomed Al Jazeera’s decision to build “The Core” platform as a “pivotal step in developing the next generation of intelligent media”.

    “This transformational program leverages our advanced AI tools to reshape how journalists report and create news, and how audiences consume it. Together, Google Cloud and Al Jazeera are setting a new future direction for digital journalism,” Rutter said.

    Ahmad Al-Fahad, executive director of technology and network operations at Al Jazeera, added: “Al Jazeera is committed to keeping pace with the technological advances shaping the media industry. We consistently strive to integrate the latest tools and best practices into content production across our channels and platforms.”

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  • Gunmen kill nine in Johannesburg township in South Africa’s second mass shooting this month | South Africa

    Gunmen kill nine in Johannesburg township in South Africa’s second mass shooting this month | South Africa

    Nine people have been killed after gunmen opened fire at a bar near Johannesburg in the second mass shooting in South Africa this month.

    Ten more were wounded in the early morning attack at the tavern in the impoverished Bekkersdal township in a…

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  • Elon Musk becomes world’s first $700 billion person after court restores Tesla pay deal

    Elon Musk becomes world’s first $700 billion person after court restores Tesla pay deal

    By Reuters  &nbspDecember 20, 2025 | 09:28 pm PT

    Tesla CEO Elon Musk boards Air Force One with U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) as they depart for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, U.S., March 22, 2025. Photo by Reuters


    Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s net worth surged to $749 billion late Friday after the Delaware Supreme Court reinstated Tesla stock options worth $139 billion that were voided last year, according to Forbes’ billionaires index.

    Musk’s 2018 pay package, once worth $56 billion, was restored by the Delaware Supreme Court on Friday, two years after a lower court struck down the compensation deal as “unfathomable.”

    The Supreme Court said that a 2024 ruling that rescinded the pay package had been improper and inequitable to Musk.

    Earlier this week, Musk became the first person ever to surpass $600 billion in net worth on the heels of reports that his aerospace startup SpaceX was likely to go public.

    In November, Tesla shareholders separately approved a $1 trillion pay plan for Musk, the largest corporate pay package in history, as investors endorsed his vision of morphing the EV maker into an AI and robotics juggernaut.

    Musk’s fortune now exceeds that of Google co-founder Larry Page, the world’s second-richest person, by nearly $500 billion, according to Forbes’ billionaires list.



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  • President Zardari reaches Baghdad on official visit, to hold bilateral meetings with Iraqi leadership – Dawn

    1. President Zardari reaches Baghdad on official visit, to hold bilateral meetings with Iraqi leadership  Dawn
    2. Pakistan, Iraq vow to fight extremism, terrorism and narco trade, step up bilateral cooperation  The Express Tribune
    3. President to visit Iraq…

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  • President Zardari reaches Baghdad on official visit, to hold bilateral meetings with Iraqi leadership – Dawn

    1. President Zardari reaches Baghdad on official visit, to hold bilateral meetings with Iraqi leadership  Dawn
    2. Current levels of bilateral trade do not reflect the true potential of Pakistan-Iraq relations: President Zardari  Dawn
    3. Pakistan, Iraq…

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  • Stanford Faces Oregon in San Francisco – Stanford Cardinal

    Stanford Faces Oregon in San Francisco – Stanford Cardinal

    THE GAME: Stanford (10-2) plays its penultimate nonconference contest against Oregon (12-1) in the Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic at Chase Center on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. Beth Mowins and Andraya Carter have the call on ESPN and Tim…

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  • What is WhatsApp ghost pairing? The new silent way scammers use to secretly access your messages and photos

    What is WhatsApp ghost pairing? The new silent way scammers use to secretly access your messages and photos

    A new WhatsApp threat, ‘ghost pairing,’ is silently compromising user privacy. Scammers trick individuals into linking their accounts via fake verification codes or QR scans. This allows attackers to view conversations in real-time without the victim’s knowledge. Users must remain vigilant, regularly check linked devices, and never share sensitive codes to prevent data misuse and privacy breaches.

    WhatsApp has become like our companion, next ‘click’ that helps us communicate in personal and professional settings. The green white interface integrated with various features and generative Meta AI is probably also one of the most recognised by children who use the app for chatting with friends and be connected in school groups.But with the platform’s growing popularity every day, the methods used by cybercriminals exploit trust and familiarity. One such emerging threat is WhatsApp ghost pairing. It is not something that becomes immediately obvious. Instead, it works quietly in the background, often going unnoticed until real damage is done.The problem has become pretty alarming as the victims may unknowingly continue using WhatsApp normally. They might remain unaware that someone else is watching their conversations in real time. Unlike traditional hacking, this does not always involve stealing passwords or breaking security systems directly.

    WhatsApp ghost pairing

    WhatsApp ghost pairing: What does this mean and how to protect yourself from the scam

    How WhatsApp ghost pairing works

    WhatsApp ghost pairing uses the “Linked Devices” feature. A scammer tricks a user into sharing a verification code or scanning a QR code, mostly through fake messages pretending to be support or known contacts. Once linked, the attacker’s device silently syncs with the victim’s WhatsApp. The victim continues chatting as usual, unaware that messages, media, and sometimes even contacts are being mirrored in some other unwanted device.

    Why is it hard to detect

    Ghost pairing is dangerous because it leaves very few visible signs. There is no sudden logout or app crash. Notifications and chats work normally, which never let’s theuser doubt what malicious is going on behind their suspicion. Many users rarely check their linked devices, allowing attackers prolonged access. Since the pairing uses a legitimate WhatsApp feature, victims often realise something is wrong only after data misuse, fraud, or leaked private conversations.

    Representative Image

    Representative Image

    What are some common tactics used by scammers

    Scammers depend mostly on human psychology, posting situations of utmost urgency. They create a necessity by claiming account verification issues, job offers, or urgent requests from “friends.” Some hackers might even impersonate WhatsApp officials or company HR teams. The goal is to make users act instantly without giving them much time for deliberation. Then, once the user trusts the scenario and scans the code, the devices get synced.

    How to stay safe from ghost pairing

    Prevention starts with just being aware. Never share WhatsApp verification codes or scan QR codes sent by others. Regularly check the “Linked Devices” section and remove devices that might look fishy and problematic. Enable two-step verification for increased protection. Most importantly, it is necessary to rethink when messages create panic or urgency. A few seconds of verification and cross-checking can prevent weeks of damage and loss of privacy.

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  • Late Surge Spurred by Neuendorf Pushes Men’s Basketball Past Valley City State on the Road

    Easton Neuendorf attempting a tough shot

    Photography by ThirDWheel Photo


    VALLEY CITY, N.D. — Dakota Wesleyan Men’s Basketball traveled to North Dakota to face the Valley City State Vikings in the second matchup of their home-and-home out-of-conference…

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