Hilarious family fun when Rude Science touring show hits the stage

Rude Science offers some hilarious family fun when it comes to Baths Hall in Scunthorpe on its latest tour.The naughtiest, funniest, most revolting science show in the world is coming to the area in the spring.Brace yourselves for TV gastronaut Stefan Gates and his hilarious, high-tech, highly-explosive new family show, packed with science stunts, spectacular experiments and bizarre props.It’s a thoroughly educational science extravaganza based on the acclaimed book Rude Science: Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About the Science No-one Ever Talks About.[embedded content]Expect enormous bottoms, snot cocktails, vast whoopee cushions, urine-powered fireworks and vomiting mannequins in this celebration of the fascinating bodily science essential to life.The show transforms complex biology, physics and chemistry into educational hilarity using Stef’s signature stunts, mindblowing demonstrations and bizarre props.Stefan Gates is an award-winning TV presenter and STEM author renowned for his clever, high-octane, educational shows that inspire young audiences to fall in love with science.His unpatronising delivery is adored by young audiences. He revels in tackling the fascinating science that no-one dares to talk about, whilst staying firmly on the right side of BBC editorial guidelines.Stefan Gates is not to be missed when he visits the area with his latest Rude Science live show.He has presented more than 20 BBC TV series including Incredible Edibles, Gastrolab and Gastronuts and written 13 books including Fartology and Science You Can Eat.Stef has lit up dozens of programmes from BBC Breakfast to Newsnight with spectacular science demos, all fully risk-assessed, insured and tested.He’s a trusted, knowledgeable and hugely enthusiastic interviewee who has won a bunch of gongs. Rude Science is recommended for those aged six and over.For more on how to get tickets to see the show’s visit to Baths Hall, go to www.scunthorpetheatres.co.ukContinue Reading

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Rudyard Griffiths: World, meet DeepSeek, China’s AI answer to American tech domination

Well, that was fun while it lasted.
On January 20, the day of Trump’s second inauguration, America’s global dominance of “artificial intelligence” technology ended, spanning all of 26 short months. The culprit (or saviour depending on your POV) was the debut of the new Chinese machine learning model everyone in technology is buzzing about: DeepSeek.
It is hard to overstate the potential impact of DeepSeek on AI, U.S. Big Tech companies, and geopolitics in the months to come. It is, by every measure, a killer app that flips assumptions about the future of AI as a primarily American-led and controlled innovation and in the process, significantly levels the all-important technological race that is underway between China and the U.S.
Why is DeepSeek a game-changer in AI? Quite simply it can do as much or more than the most powerful machine learning tools created by the likes of Open AI, but with less of everything—fewer chips, less energy, fewer server farms. Yet it delivers the same or more “intelligence” to the end user at a fraction of the cost of its U.S. competitors. Its chatbot version is available online, free for anyone anywhere in the world versus $100 USD or more a month for OpenAI’s identical product. Programmers can also access its operating system as open-source software, meaning they can see how it is “thinking,” modify and share its underlying code, and even download powerful versions to a personal iPhone or computer. And finally, it does all these things using non-sanctioned chips that are readily available in China and globally.

It is easy, even for a sometimes AI pessimist like me, to get excited about DeepSeek. The first and obvious consequence of its debut is an overnight collapse of the cost of accessing high-quality AI. OpenAI’s latest proprietary model currently charges users $15 USD per million tokens (or unit of data) inputs and $60 per million token outputs. DeepSeek crushes these costs to $0.55 per input and $2.19 per output. If this Chinese company has indeed cut the cost of good quality consumer AI by “10x” then it has the potential to expand rapidly into all kinds of different processes and activities that previously would not have warranted investment, given high costs and smaller returns.
In short, we could be witnessing a radical democratization of the technology, making it much more than a tool for big business and big money.
The other immediate non-technological benefit of DeepSeek’s “great leap forward” is to radically disrupt Silicon Valley’s global AI monopoly. For the last 26 months, since the arrival of OpenAI’s first chatbot in November 2023, a handful of American companies have dominated machine learning and its commercial applications. This was the result of the massive cash investment, numbering now in the hundreds of billions of dollars, required to purchase millions of advanced chips, build massive data processing centres, and secure large and abundant supplies of energy.
These activities required vast amounts of capital accessible to only a handful of big tech oligopolies—like Google, Microsoft, and Meta—who have been richly rewarded by investors due to the lack of credible AI competitors who could function at the required scale. U.S. government bans on the sale of high-end microprocessors to China further entrenched the view that America and its Tech Titians alone would dominate the commanding heights of AI technology, potentially for years to come.

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Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, speaks alongside President Donald Trump, Masayoshi Son, SoftBank Group CEO, and, Larry Ellison, chairman of Oracle Corporation and chief technology officer, at the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo.

In a move right out of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, China quietly cut the feet out from under America’s global AI monopoly, and on Inauguration Day no less (talk about sending a message). Specifically, by demonstrating state-of-the-art machine “intelligence” can be achieved at one-tenth the cost to the end user while requiring a fraction of processing power, DeepSeek pulled off the equivalent of a digital Pearl Harbor, blowing up the competitive moat protecting U.S. AI dominance while rendering export bans on microchips all but obsolete.
Setting aside for a moment the geopolitical implications of this singular event in the early history of AI, there is genuine cause for celebration. The innovations pioneered by DeepSeek open up the possibility of much more competition in AI with smaller companies challenging the big U.S. incumbents on price, transparency, and functionality. More importantly for a country like Canada, the technology DeepSeek has made available free to the world opens up the transformative benefits of machine learning to smaller nations and economies that don’t have gargantuan tech companies and America’s deep capital markets, or what just a few weeks ago were towering barriers of entry to obtaining state-of-the-art AI. In this vein, investors in “Mag7” are already thinking hard about DeepSeek’s impact on sky-high tech stock valuations and the fate of trillions of sunk capital if U.S. companies have lost their pricing power when it comes to providing the world with high-grade consumer AI.
It is also worth considering some of the risks, if not outright threats, that flow from DeepSeek’s debut. This is undoubtedly a massive soft power win for China as it seeks to entrench the tool as a powerful, efficient, and most importantly cheap AI alternative in the global south and elsewhere. Make no mistake about it, you will not be able to generate from the Chinese chatbot anything approaching a balanced summary for the search parameter “Taiwanese independence” or “Tibet nationhood,” for example. Like with TikTok, we have no idea of how DeepSeek is editorially and otherwise controlled by the Communist Party of China.1That said, it is not as if the AI chatbots of large U.S. tech firms are models of transparency, accountability, or ideological balance.

The other risk I will be watching is how the Trump administration reacts to China’s AI breakthrough. From EVs to critical minerals to microchips to solar panels, America is increasingly quick to either ban or tariff technologies that threaten domestic incumbents. These very same firms are adept at special pleading for protectionist policies to entrench what in many cases are outright oligopolies. Open AI’s Sam Altman, like any good Silicon Valley CEO, is already courting massive government subsidies (e.g. Stargate) and musing about the need for homegrown AI champions.
If DeepSeek turns into the OpenAI killer that some tech commentators are predicting, expect a ban on Chinese AI chatbots in 2025. This would be bad for consumers, bad for innovation, and entrench unmerited American “Big Tech” oligopolies. In a worst-case scenario, Canada and other “allies” may be coerced into banning innovative and inexpensive Chinese AI in order to get access to U.S. markets.
Love it or hate it, DeepSeek shows that the disruptive effects of machine learning are far from over. The certainties of a week ago can be overturned with the arrival of a new innovation or breakthrough. Once powerful incumbent companies and governments can find themselves suddenly playing defence. All this change ultimately has to be for the good. AI is following at breakneck speed the path of so many other human innovations, from steam power, electricity, and the original microchip—that of relentless diffusion and democratization.

A blossoming business

The Floral Cafe is a new and unique addition to Main Street in Williamstown.Set to open its doors on Feb. 1 with a grand opening event from noon to 4 pm, this floral cafe combines fresh flowers, complimentary coffee, and a welcoming environment for the community.For owner Charleigh Taylor, the journey to opening her storefront has been a creative and community-supported endeavor.“I’ve always had a passion for art, and floral design gives me an outlet to express my creativity,” she said.Taylor began her business last year under the name “From the Ground Up,” starting with a small flower farm.As she gained experience making bouquets for proms and weddings and selling fresh flowers at events, demand continued to grow, eventually inspiring her to take the next step.“Social media is a major part of a successful business, but being able to let people also explore their creativity and interact with customers is another ball game that I am so excited for,” Taylor said.She also credited her time working at Ivy Leaf Florist in Dry Ridge for teaching her valuable skills that have prepared her for this new venture.“I got the opportunity to work at Ivy Leaf Florist in Dry Ridge for a few months and learned a lot,” Taylor said.The storefront will offer a variety of services and products, including everyday floral arrangements, funeral flowers, lanterns, wedding services, and event florals.Additionally, locally made t-shirts and small gifts will be available for purchase.But The Floral Cafe is more than just a flower shop. The space features a coffee bar offering free espresso and coffee options, two tables for seating, and free WiFi.“Our goal is to create a carefree environment to hang out, drink some coffee, and work on school or work projects,” Taylor said. “We eventually plan to add a small menu and a selection of books as well.”The idea of combining flowers and coffee isn’t new to Taylor.“Throwback to high school,” she said. “I was in a floral design class junior year. Part of our grade was to draw to scale a flower shop and what we would want it to be like. Maybe I took it too literally, but I knew immediately that I wanted a coffee shop inside the store.”The grand opening event on Feb. 1 will feature a 40% discount on all fresh flowers, complimentary coffee, and the opportunity to explore the new space.Taylor hinted at a few surprises, including a unique product that combines the cafe’s floral and coffee themes.“One of the main products I’m excited to see come to life is going to be our own coffee cups with water in them as a vase,” she said. “You get to pick out your own stems to fill your coffee cups.”Taylor is also planning to include outdoor vendors at the event, creating an even more festive atmosphere for the community to enjoy.Community support has played a significant role in bringing The Floral Cafe to life.“The engagement has been insane,” Taylor said. “I am so grateful to everyone who shared my post. I cannot express it enough. I’m also excited to give back to the community and for everyone to see exactly what they’re supporting.”The cafe is also collaborating with local businesses, including Kitchen on Main LLC., for a special Valentine’s Day dinner.The dinner, hosted at the restaurant, will feature floral bud vases designed by Taylor.“Me and Jackson (the restaurant’s owner) have been friends for as long as I can remember,” she said. “We’re trading our skills to better our businesses, and I could not be more proud of him and his restaurant.”Taylor hopes to collaborate with more businesses on Main Street.One idea she’s excited about is offering fresh flowers paired with drinks from neighboring establishments.“Looking forward I hope to be able to collaborate with more businesses on the strip to offer fresh flowers with their drinks,” she said.As Taylor prepares for the grand opening, her hopes for the future of The Floral Cafe are simple but heartfelt.“My hope this year is that I get my name out there,” she said. “A storefront is so exciting, but it takes a lot of business to keep it open. I am hopeful that the community will have my back as they already have and continue to support me.”Long-term, Taylor dreams of adding homemade bakery items and a curated selection of books to the cafe.“Long-term goals would be to add a selection of different homemade bakery items, and also books of course,” she said.For now, she’s focused on creating a welcoming space for everyone.“Again, I am just so thankful for everyone that has supported me. I cannot wait to see everyone, and for them to see what I have been working on.”With creativity, community support, and a passion for floral design, The Floral Cafe is set to become a beloved addition to Williamstown’s Main Street.Be sure to stop by on Feb. 1 to see this exciting new space and experience the charm of flowers and coffee brought together.

Science and technology key for data management

A company in Hà Tĩnh central province applies technology in data management system, so issuing invoices is very convenient. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Ngà

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has proposed a preferential policy for developing research and applying science, technology and innovation in data construction, development, protection, management, processing and use.The proposal was made in a draft Decree regulating scientific, technological and innovation activities, data products and services.According to the draft decree, individuals and organisations doing research and applying science, technology and innovation in data building, developing, processing and use will receive the most support in the high-tech industry, and are entitled to a 5 per cent bonus from the National Data Development Fund on the value of approved innovative solutions within five years.They will also earn funding, including loans and loan guarantees, from the National Technology Innovation Fund, the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund and other funds to carry out research and innovation activities.These groups will also enjoy preferential tax policies for scientific and technological innovation.Attracting highly qualified workersThe draft decree noted that the State prioritises supporting investment and improving education and training quality, ensuring a high-quality workforce to meet requirements for scientific and technological development and innovation in building, developing and using data.The Ministry of Education and Training will set up training programmes and specialised training centers to supply highly skilled staff.The centres will have scholarships to attract students and public-private cooperation in training in the fields of information technology, cybersecurity, data science and artificial intelligence.The MPS will issue a special mechanism to attract overseas Vietnamese and highly qualified foreigners in the fields of data construction, development, protection, administration, processing and use to work and live in Việt Nam.It will also set up a network of domestic and international experts and scientists.The ministry will preside over and coordinate with other relevant ministries and agencies to support incubation and the start-up ecosystem in data science, technology and innovation.National Data Development FundThe MPS is drafting a Decree regulating the National Data Development Fund, which is a non-budgetary and not-for-profit State financial fund established and managed by the ministry.The fund’s objective is to support, develop and apply artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain and other data processing technologies to serve state, national and public interests as well as socio-economic growth.It will promote data application to serve the national digital transformation.The fund will invest in businesses and individuals researching solutions to enhance data protection, transferring data technology and developing data-related technology applications.It aims to reward organisations and individuals with achievements in these fields and support international cooperation on data management.The State budget provides a minimum of VNĐ1 trillion (US$39.8 million) for the fund, which is supplemented annually to ensure this funding is maintained at the beginning of each year.Financing will come from expenditures for development investment, out of State-owned enterprises’ revenues and public service units trading in data products and services after submission to the State budget.Other sources outside the State budget are legal revenues from the fund’s operating results, loan interest, loan guarantee fees, deposit interest, non-refundable grants, aid, contributions and gifts from organisations and individuals. — VNS

MCCPL announces upcoming book arrivals — Jan. 26, 2025

MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY — The McCracken County Public Library has announced a new set of books available next week.The newly available books are listed below:Beast of the North Woods written by Annelise RyanGate to Kagoshima written by Poppy KurokiIf Tomorrow Never Comes written by Allison AshleyOld Soul written by Susan BarkerRachel Carson and the Power of Queer Love written by Lida MaxwellSo I Lied written by Chelsea Ichaso
MCCPL is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends; the library is located at 555 Washington St, Paducah, KY 42003.The library can be reached by phone at 270-442-2510.For more information about resources, events, programs, and materials, visit the McCracken County Public Library website.

Texarkana Chamber of Commerce presents 10 business awards at annual banquet

TEXARKANA, Texas — The Texarkana Chamber of Commerce recognized a number of business and community leaders Saturday at its annual banquet, “Wild Wild Texarkana.”
Banquet host Dr. Robin Hickerson, Chamber CEO and president, presented each recipient, while co-host Derrick McGary made statements on why each awardee was deserving of the honor.
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2024 TEXARKANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS AWARDS
Ambassador of the Year: Britain Koller. Ambassadors volunteer their time helping at Chamber events and advocating for the organization. McGary described Koller as a remarkable leader. He said her “ability to inspire and collaborate with our team as been nothing short of outstanding.”
Industry Appreciation Award: Nash Industrial Development Corp. The agency has been instrumental in fostering fostering economic growth since 1999, including attracting 30 diverse businesses to Nash Business Park, McGary said.
Nonprofit of the Year: Texarkana Resources for the Disabled. For more than six decades, the organization has been a beacon of hope and empowerment for people with disabilities, McGary said. He credited Texarkana Resources for the Disabled with helping to make the city more inclusive and compassionate.
Restaurant of the Year: Lost Pizza. “Lost Pizza is a shining example of what a business can achieve when driven by values,” McGary. The restaurant’s efforts to provide relief for victims of Hurricane Helene is proof that a “restaurant can be so much more than a place to eat,” he said.
Locally Owned Business: Café Lucille. McGary described the restaurant as a driving force behind the revitalization of downtown Texarkana and a poster child of growth and innovation in the Texarkana region.
Manufacturer of the Year: Smith-Blair. The company has achieved 100% reuse of processed water and 100% reliability on electricity from renewable sources, making it an example in sustainability, according to McGary.
Small Business of the Year: Cooper Fine Jewelers. The jeweler is a symbol of dedication and excellence, “a place where everyone feels welcomed and pampered,” McGary said.
Large Business of the Year: Red River Army Depot. In 2024, the depot, which has more than 2,100 employees, achieved $635 million in revenue, McGary said. It estimates generating $667 million in revenue in 2025, he said.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: Cassie Meisenheimer, publisher of Texarkana Magazine. “This amazing city could have no better ally.”
Chamber Choice: Tough Kookie Foundation. “Their award reminds us of the power of compassion and community,” McGary said. “Thank you for being a lifeline to so many.”

Tax: UBA Hosts Knowledge Series for SMEs, Business Owners

Oluchi Chibuzor

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, is set to host a Knowledge Series webinar specifically dedicated towards informing and educating Small and Medium business owners on the 2024 withholding Tax Regulations recently implemented by the federal government. 

This special webinar themed, “2024 Withholding Tax Regulations, Specific Emphasis on How They Affect SMEs,” is scheduled to hold online on Thursday, January 30, 2025, by 12noon prompt.

The bank in a statement said business owners and SMEs who will like to be a part of the eye-opening event can access the session on Zoom via the link:  https://ubagroup.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6gAJ6SYeQXaaYanXykBuiQ. 

The knowledge series, it said, is a regular seminar/workshop organised by the bank as part of its capacity-building initiatives, where leading business leaders and professionals share well-researched insights on relevant topics and best practices for running successful businesses.

“This edition seeks to educate business owners on the implications of the new tax regulations and how UBA’s offerings can effectively support their growth. Renowned leaders from diverse industries, including, UBA’s Head, SME Banking, Babatunde Ajayi; Financial Analysts with Anderson Consulting, Adeyemi Adediran and Vincent Okoukoni will be on ground to share their rich insights and explain how businesses can thrive in the new tax regime,” said UBA’s Group Head, Retail and Digital Banking, Shamsideen Fashola who spoke ahead of the webinar. Fashola emphasised the importance of this edition, noting that it will provide a platform for businesses, especially SMEs, to learn more about the new tax regime, implications for their business and attendant benefits for them and the economy at large.

He said, “Getting first -hand knowledge from experts on this important subject, as put together by UBA, will be invaluable for any business owner looking to build a lasting enterprise”

Also speaking on the upcoming workshop, UBA’s Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo noted that the sessions frequently organised by the bank, continues to resonate with SME’s and business owners, and has in more ways than one, helped them take major leaps that has helped engender success.

Ladipo said, “At UBA, we remain resolute in our commitment to empowering businesses of all sizes, and that is why we have decided that we will help guide our customers towards making better business decisions and embracing more opportunities in 2025” that will take them to new highs. 

“We have assembled an esteemed panel of speakers who will do justice to this topic by sharing their vast wealth of experience and insights on how best to navigate the new tax regime,” she noted, adding that “this is a must-attend event for anyone serious about the long-term success of their enterprise.”

Business leader for inking FTA, PTA with BD

PESHAWAR: Former Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali has called for signing of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Bangladesh to promote bilateral trade between both brotherly Islamic countries.In his welcome address to the Bangladeshi High Commissioner Iqbal Hussain Khan here at Mohmand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) are like to separate bodies with single heart. The land of both states is fertile with hardworking people, he said.

He said that the business community of Pakistan and particularly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are anxious for close and strong economic, social and trade relations.

Haji Ghulam Ali, who is also a former president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI) said that the Dr Mohammad Yunus, Head of the Interim Government of Bangladesh is also keen on promotion of trade and economic relations with Pakistan.

He said that the business community of Pakistan respect the restored trade relations between both countries. He said that the meeting of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with Dr Mohammad Yunus was a turning point in the promotion of friendly diplomatic and trade relations, saying the people of Pakistan looking to it with honour and the trading community will no stone unturned in coming up to the expectations of their respective countries.

He said that keeping in view the huge population of both countries, they will work for the promotion of bilateral trade and keen to see progress on signing FTA and PTA between both countries.

Haji Ghulam Ali also called for easing of visa issuance policy for Pakistani business community by Bangladesh.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025