Category Archives: general

general

Ripple Acquires Crypto Wallet and Custody Firm Palisade

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Ripple Expands Custody Capabilities with Acquisition of Palisade

Blockchain-based financial technology company Ripple announced on Monday its acquisition of digital wallet provider and custody firm Palisade, marking another significant addition to its recent series of mega-purchases. This strategic move is set to enhance Ripple’s custody capacity, enabling the firm to better serve crypto-native companies, fintech firms, and other corporations.

“Secure digital asset custody unlocks the crypto economy and is the foundation that every blockchain-powered business stands on — that’s why it’s central to Ripple’s product strategy,” said Ripple President Monica Long. She emphasized that corporates are poised to drive the next massive wave of crypto adoption. “Just as we’ve seen major banks go from observing to actively building in crypto, corporates are now entering the market, and they need trusted, licensed partners with out-of-the-box capabilities.”

Palisade’s wallet-as-a-service (WaaS) offering — which includes multi-party computation (MPC) and multi-blockchain support — will be integrated directly into Ripple Custody and Ripple Payments, two of Ripple’s key business solutions. According to Long, “The combination of Ripple’s bank-grade vault and Palisade’s fast, lightweight wallet makes Ripple Custody the end-to-end provider for every institutional need, from long-term storage to real-time global payments and treasury management.”

This latest acquisition follows several key deals for Ripple earlier this year. In April, Ripple acquired prime broker Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, broadening its services to institutional clients and providing access to dozens of cryptocurrencies in the U.S. In August, Ripple purchased Canadian stablecoin platform Rail for $200 million. Just two weeks ago, the company acquired treasury management firm GTreasury for $1 billion, further expanding its financial technology offerings.

Besides its acquisition spree, Ripple also recently concluded a four-year legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), ending all appeals in August. This legal resolution coincided with XRP, Ripple’s native crypto asset, reaching a new all-time high earlier this year, climbing above $3.40 for the first time since 2018 to $3.65. Although it has since corrected by approximately 38% to around $2.30, XRP remains the fourth largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization at $140.5 billion.

With Palisade now part of its portfolio, Ripple continues to solidify its position as a leading fintech provider in the rapidly evolving crypto economy.
https://decrypt.co/347216/ripple-acquires-crypto-wallet-custody-palisade

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Simu Liu Calls ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ A “Love Letter To The Entire Genre Of Superhero Movies”

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Simu Liu is set to reprise his role as Shang-Chi in the upcoming Marvel film *Avengers: Doomsday*, teasing fans ahead of its 2026 release. In a recent interview, Liu shared his excitement about reuniting with a vast array of actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and offered insights into what viewers can expect from the film, directed by Joe Russo and Anthony Russo.

“I mean, there are just so many actors in it, and getting to work with those people as peers is really incredible because I grew up watching so many of them,” Liu told ScreenRant. Among the star-studded cast, Liu will share credits with Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Vanessa Kirby (Susan Storm), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), and Florence Pugh (Yelena), among many others.

Describing the film, Liu said, “It feels, in a lot of ways, like a love letter to the entire genre of superhero movies. And I think there’s something really fun about that.” He added that *Avengers: Doomsday* is “for all the misfits and the weirdos and the underdogs that grew up reading comic books and feeling like there was hope for them somehow—that it didn’t matter if they didn’t fit in. I think there’s just always a special place in my heart for that entire genre.”

*Avengers: Doomsday* is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026. The film is being directed by the Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony, with a script penned by Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely.

Joining Liu and the previously mentioned stars, the film also features Lewis Pullman (Sentry), Danny Ramirez (Joaquín Torres / Falcon), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier / Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), James Marsden (Cyclops), and Channing Tatum (Gambit).

With such an extraordinary ensemble and a heartfelt narrative, *Avengers: Doomsday* promises to be a memorable addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans can look forward to an exciting and emotional journey when the film hits theaters later this year.
https://deadline.com/2025/11/simu-liu-avengers-doomsday-love-letter-superhero-movies-1236605870/

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ArXiv Blocks AI-Generated Survey Papers After ‘Flood’ of Trashy Submissions

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**ArXiv Limits AI-Generated Review Papers in Computer Science Category Amid Surge in Submissions**

ArXiv, the free research repository founded at Cornell University and widely used by scientists and technologists around the world, has announced a significant policy change for its Computer Science category. Starting immediately, the platform will no longer accept review articles or position papers unless they have already undergone peer review and been accepted at a recognized journal or conference.

The policy shift, announced on October 31, comes in response to a dramatic increase in AI-generated survey papers, which moderators describe as “little more than annotated bibliographies.” Whereas historically ArXiv received a small number of high-quality review articles—typically authored by senior researchers—the repository now faces hundreds of these submissions every month.

An official statement on ArXiv explained the situation: “In the past few years, ArXiv has been flooded with papers. Generative AI/large language models have added to this flood by making papers—especially papers not introducing new research results—fast and easy to write.”

Thomas G. Dietterich, an ArXiv moderator and former president of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, elaborated on X (formerly Twitter): “We were driven to this decision by a big increase in LLM-assisted survey papers. We don’t have the moderator resources to examine these submissions and identify the good surveys from the bad ones.”

The rise of AI-assisted research writing is supported by recent studies. Research published in *Nature Human Behaviour* found that nearly a quarter of all computer science paper abstracts showed signs of large language model modification as of September 2024. Similarly, a study in *Science Advances* reported a sharp increase in AI use in research papers published in 2024 following the launch of ChatGPT.

ArXiv relies on volunteer moderators who filter submissions based on scholarly value and topical relevance but do not perform peer reviews. While review articles and position papers were never officially accepted content types, moderators previously allowed exceptions for work from established researchers or scientific societies. However, this discretionary system has become unsustainable given the volume of AI-generated content.

The research community’s reaction to the new policy has been mixed. Some, like AI safety researcher Stephen Casper, worry it may unfairly impact early-career researchers and those working on ethics and governance—groups that frequently produce review and position papers. “Review/position papers are disproportionately written by young people, people without access to lots of compute, and people who are not at institutions that have lots of publishing experience,” Casper noted in his critique.

Others have sharply criticized ArXiv’s decision as misguided or shortsighted, while some support stricter measures, including the use of AI detection tools to identify generated content. However, AI detection tools remain unreliable and prone to high false-positive rates, risking wrongful rejection of legitimate research. Adding to the complexity, a recent study found that researchers failed to detect one-third of ChatGPT-generated medical abstracts as machine-written. Furthermore, the American Association for Cancer Research reported that fewer than 25% of authors disclosed AI use in their papers, despite mandatory disclosure policies.

Under the new ArXiv policy, authors wishing to submit review or position papers to the Computer Science category must provide documentation of successful peer review, including journal references and DOIs. Reviews from workshops will not satisfy this standard.

Importantly, ArXiv clarified that this policy change currently applies only to the Computer Science section, though similar measures may extend to other categories if they experience comparable surges in AI-generated submissions.

—

*This update reflects ArXiv’s efforts to maintain the quality and integrity of its repository amid rapidly evolving challenges posed by AI-assisted research writing.*
https://decrypt.co/347196/arxiv-blocks-ai-generated-survey-papers-flood-trashy-submissions

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Gerry Turner defends Mel Owens over his controversial ‘Golden Bachelor’ age limit

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**Bachelors Stick Up for Each Other: Gerry Turner Weighs In on Mel Owens’ Controversial Comments**

Gerry Turner, the first “Golden Bachelor,” recently shared his thoughts on his Season 2 successor Mel Owens’ controversial remarks.

“Well, I don’t really know what to think about it,” Turner told The Post exclusively. “I feel like he’s done a great job of reestablishing what his true opinion is. I think perhaps that his comments could have been taken a bit out of context.”

Owens, 66, faced backlash before his season premiered after he said he wouldn’t date women over 60. “If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them. This is not ‘The Silver Bachelor,’ this is ‘The Golden Bachelor,’” the Season 2 star stated in June.

A former Los Angeles Rams player from 1981 to 1989, Owens added that the women had “to be fit, because I’m staying in shape and work out and stuff. And I told them [to] try and stay away from artificial hips and the wigs.”

His comments quickly sparked criticism online. One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “He doesn’t seem like the type for ‘in sickness and in health.’” Another added, “Awful. I won’t watch with a jerk in the lead.” A third user commented, “Sounds like a real winner. Shocking ABC doesn’t care that they’re going to make women fight over a shallow sexist jerk.”

In response, Owens told Fox News Digital, “I apologized when I met the women on the first night,” and emphasized, “there’s no age to love.” He explained that his earlier remarks were “unfair, and I apologized and went forward and asked them to let me earn it back and, hopefully, I did on the season.”

Turner, who starred in Season 1 of “The Golden Bachelor,” told The Post, “Maybe he was judged a bit too harshly about what he had to say. I think his actions on the show are a far more important indicator of who he is as a person.”

However, Turner admitted he hadn’t watched more than “the first episode” of Season 2 due to recent travel. “I have the other episodes recorded, but I haven’t been home to watch them. It is on my to-do list this week with Lana and I, to catch up on that show,” he said, referring to his current fiancée, Lana Sutton.

Turner met Sutton after splitting from his Season 1 choice, Theresa Nist, 72. After marrying during the show, Turner and Nist divorced just three months later.

Reflecting on his own experience, Turner expressed sympathy for Owens dealing with public criticism.

“There were times when it was very difficult. Not only some of the comments directed at me, but also those comments out there that I knew my daughters and granddaughters saw,” he said.

“The general public sometimes can be very cruel in their comments and only know a small portion of the story and give the most negative aspects of the story the most life,” the Indiana-based reality TV star added. “But that’s just kind of the way things are. I think anyone who has some public appearance or public stature has to kind of expect that, to a certain extent.”
https://nypost.com/2025/11/03/entertainment/gerry-turner-defends-mel-owens-over-his-controversial-golden-bachelor-age-limit/

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Trade Group Representing Studio Ghibli, Other Japanese Companies Tells OpenAI to Stop Using Their Content to Train Sora 2 Video Generator

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Japanese content trade group CODA, whose members include the award-winning animation house Studio Ghibli, has issued a letter to OpenAI demanding that the AI company stop using their content to train Sora 2.

CODA, the Content Overseas Distribution Association, also criticized OpenAI’s opt-out system. A representative expressed strong disapproval, stating, “If you really want to make creepy stuff you can go ahead and do it. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all.” He further added, “I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.”

Founded in 2002, CODA’s members produce content that spans a wide range of media, including anime, movies, TV, music, video games, and publishing. Notable companies within the group include Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.-owned Aniplex Inc., NTT DoCoMo Studio & Live, Kadokawa, Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co., Square Enix, Studio Ghibli, Tokyo Broadcasting Systems Television, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo, Toei Co., Toho Co., TMS Entertainment, Nippon Television Network, Japan Broadcasting Corp., Bandai and Bandai Namco Filmworks, Fuji Television Network, Universal Music, and Yomiuri Telecasting Corp.

The letter from CODA to OpenAI, dated October 28, was first reported by the tech news site The Verge.

*Pictured above: Studio Ghibli’s “My Neighbor Totoro”*
https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/studio-ghibli-openai-sora2-japanese-trade-group-coda-letter-1236568751/

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How a father’s injury led his son to help others in his career

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When Garreth Bell was asked in a fourth-grade school assignment who his hero was, he didn’t hesitate to say: his dad, Stephen.

Garreth had a question for his dad: Why are you in a wheelchair? The answer dates back long before Garreth was born.

In 1992, Stephen was just 22 years old when he woke up with extreme back pain between his shoulder blades. It turned out that a blood vessel had burst in his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.

“I was in rehab for about two months, learning how to just live again. I gained a whole new perspective on the world,” Stephen recalled.

In his school assignment, Garreth wrote, “It’s like he’s still walking because he takes care of himself and the family.” Those words profoundly changed how Stephen felt about himself.

In an email to CBS News contributor David Begnaud, Stephen explained how much Garreth’s words meant to him.

**Son gives dad a special memory**

“When I read it, I felt seen for the first time in a long time. It was as if he understood what I had gone through and how I battled daily to continue to provide for our family regardless of the circumstances,” Stephen wrote.

The assignment also shaped Garreth’s future. He wrote, “Poppa, I’ve been watching you suffer my whole life. I should become someone who can do something about it so that others don’t have to go through what you went through.”

True to his word, Garreth went on to pursue a path to help others. He attended the University of Miami and became a physical therapist. Today, he helps run adaptive beach days—events that assist people with disabilities in getting into the water.

Recently, Garreth helped his dad experience the ocean firsthand for the first time in more than 25 years.

“They had to keep me from jumping out of the chair and swimming,” Stephen said. “It was just like heaven for me.”

“It was the biggest smile I’ve ever seen,” Garreth added, grateful for the special moment.

Since that first swim, Stephen has returned to the beach several times. He considers his son’s compassion and empathy his greatest qualities.

“I was surprised that he said I’m his hero because looking back, if I had to say it again, I’d say I want to be like him when I grow up,” Stephen said. “I strive to be the person that he actually sees.”

For Garreth, the answer to who his hero is remains the same today.

“He taught me how to be a man. He was my role model growing up, and he still is,” Garreth said.

—

David Begnaud loves uncovering the heart of every story and continues to highlight everyday heroes in his exclusive CBS Mornings series, *Beg-Knows America*. Every Monday, get ready for moments that will make you smile or even shed a tear.

Do you have a story about an ordinary person doing something extraordinary for someone else? Email David and his team at DearDavid@cbsnews.com.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dad-inspires-son-career-injury/

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How to spot November’s supermoon, the closest of the year

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NEW YORK — The moon will appear slightly bigger and brighter Wednesday night during the closest supermoon of the year.

The moon’s orbit around the Earth isn’t a perfect circle, causing it to get nearer and farther as it swings around. A so-called supermoon occurs when a full moon is closer to Earth in its orbit. This makes the moon look up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year, according to NASA.

November’s supermoon is the second of three supermoons this year and also the closest. The moon will come within just under 222,000 miles (357,000 kilometers) of Earth.

Tides may be slightly higher during a supermoon because the moon is closer to Earth, said astronomer Lawrence Wasserman with Lowell Observatory. However, the difference isn’t very noticeable.

No special equipment is needed to view the supermoon, provided skies are clear. But the change in the moon’s size can be tough to discern with the naked eye.

“The difference is most obvious as a comparison between other images or observations,” said Shannon Schmoll, director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, in an email.

Supermoons happen a few times a year. One in October made the moon look somewhat larger, and another in December will be the last of the year.

https://abc7.com/post/how-spot-novembers-supermoon-closest-year/18108832/

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Thunder Guard Gives Details on Terrifying Burglary

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While the Oklahoma City Thunder have been cruising to victory on the court, star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been facing challenges off the court. The Thunder have won seven straight games to start the season, just a year after capturing the NBA title. Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to shine as the best player on the league’s top team, but recently, he has had to deal with a serious personal issue.

### Break-In at Gilgeous-Alexander’s Home

Just before Halloween, while the Thunder were playing a game against the Washington Wizards, there was a break-in at Gilgeous-Alexander’s home. This incident comes amid a wave of high-profile burglaries linked to alleged organized criminal activities. Fortunately, Gilgeous-Alexander was not at home during the break-in.

Speaking to reporters after a win against the New Orleans Pelicans, he provided a reassuring update on the situation:
“Long story short, everybody’s safe, and that’s all that really matters in the whole thing. Everything else can come and go, but my loved ones are safe, so I’m OK. I’m happy.”

### Staying Focused on the Court

Despite the unsettling incident, Gilgeous-Alexander’s on-court performance has remained unaffected. He scored 30 points in just 30 minutes against the Pelicans, demonstrating his resilience and focus. His dedication is a key reason the Thunder have started the season unbeaten at 7-0, the last undefeated team remaining in the NBA.

With this current streak, the Thunder haven’t lost since Game 6 of the NBA Finals in June against the Indiana Pacers. Last season, Oklahoma City won 68 games and they appear even stronger this year.

### Ongoing Investigation

At this time, it is unknown whether any items were stolen during the break-in or if anyone else was home at the time. The Associated Press reports that the police have not released further details, and no arrests have been made yet.

### Thunder’s Historic Start Thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Oklahoma City’s play on both ends of the floor has been exceptional. The team boasts the second-best defense in the league, allowing under 110 points per game, while ranking seventh in scoring.

Though this break-in is undoubtedly unsettling for Gilgeous-Alexander, there is little indication he will take time away from basketball to handle the situation. It remains to be seen what security measures or actions he will pursue in response to the break-in.

### Looking Ahead

Coming into the season as favorites to repeat as NBA champions, the Thunder have so far lived up to expectations. They have started healthy, a contrast to some other contenders, and continue to build momentum.

As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder as they aim to defend their title and maintain their historic winning streak.
https://heavy.com/sports/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-guard-gives-details-terrifying-burglary/

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MacKenzie Scott gifts $80 million to Howard University, marking one of the school’s largest donations in its 158-year history

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On Sunday, Howard University announced that Scott, who is worth an estimated $35.6 billion, donated $80 million to the historically Black college. True to Scott’s style, the gift is unrestricted, meaning the university can use the resources as it chooses. Of the $80 million, $63 million will go toward Howard University, and $17 million will be allocated to the school’s College of Medicine.

This marks one of the largest single donations to Howard in its 158-year history.

“This historic investment will not only help maintain our current momentum, but will help support essential student aid, advance infrastructure improvements, and build a reserve fund to further sustain operational continuity, student success, academic excellence, and research innovation,” said Wayne A. I. Frederick, Howard’s interim president and president emeritus, in a statement.

Howard University says the gift comes at an “opportune time,” as the federal government shutdown has delayed annual federal appropriations that the school receives to support student success, academic programming, research, and the operations of the university and Howard University Hospital.

Due to the shutdown that began on October 1, new grant awards from the Department of Education have been halted because nearly 95% of non-student aid staff were furloughed, leaving only essential staff working. Key programs like the HBCU Capital Financing Program, which offers renovation and construction loan subsidies, are now left in limbo.

The timing is particularly unfortunate considering that in September, the Education Department announced a $495 million increase for HBCUs and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) for FY 2025.

At the same time, however, education experts find this action difficult to reconcile with the Trump administration’s desire to dissolve the Department of Education.

“If [the Trump administration] actually cared about HBCUs and tribal colleges, then you would not see such a big attack on other sectors of higher education,” Mike Hoa Nguyen, an associate professor of education at UCLA, recently told The American Prospect.

### MacKenzie Scott’s DEI Dedication

Scott’s gift to Howard builds on other recent DEI-focused donations. She donated $42 million to 10,000 Degrees, a Bay Area nonprofit focused on expanding college access for low-income and largely non-white students, alongside other eight-figure commitments to Native student scholars and HBCU endowments through the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).

In September, Scott made a $70 million donation to the UNCF as part of a campaign to bolster pooled endowments across 37 HBCUs. This strategy is designed to increase revenue streams and narrow historical wealth and funding gaps.

In October, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund announced a $40 million gift from Scott—twice the size of her previous donation to the organization in 2021—representing 20% of its fundraising so far.

Scott emphasizes, though, that while the dollar amounts are high, they don’t fully represent their level of impact.

“When my next cycle of gifts is posted to my database online, the dollar total will likely be reported in the news,” she wrote in an October 15 essay on her organization Yield Giving’s site. “But any dollar amount is a vanishingly tiny fraction of the personal expressions of care being shared into the world this year.”

“The potential of peaceful, non-transactional contribution has long been underestimated, often on the basis that it is not financially self-sustaining, or that some of its benefits are hard to track,” she continued. “But what if these imagined liabilities are actually assets?”
https://fortune.com/2025/11/03/mackenzie-scott-80-million-gift-howard-university/