Visa plugs its payment network into ChatGPT, letting AI agents shop and pay for users
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Visa is embedding its payment network into ChatGPT, allowing the chatbot to shop and complete transactions for users. This collaboration enables ChatGPT to make purchases at any merchant accepting Visa, unlike previous attempts limited to specific retailers. OpenAI will provide the technology for decision-making and purchasing, while Visa ensures secure transactions. The companies haven't disclosed financial terms or fees. Concerns include potential overspending and unauthorized purchases, but Visa plans to implement safeguards like spending limits. This move could impact businesses, with AI agents authorized to procure items and handle invoicing. Mastercard is also developing AI-shopping features.
Police blast water cannons at Belfast protesters as unrest flares again after stabbing
BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Police have used water cannons on protesters in Northern Ireland after violence erupted a second night over a stabbing in Belfast. A Sudanese man, Hadi Alodid, appeared in court Wednesday charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing Stephen Ogilvie with a knife and leaving him partly blind. The incident has sparked anti-immigrant violence, with masked men setting fires and attacking police. Authorities have increased police presence and called for calm. Politicians condemned the violence, emphasizing the importance of unity. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and others have denounced the attacks, urging people not to let this incident fuel further division.
An underground detector in China unveils its first major findings about mysterious ghost particles
NEW YORK (AP) — A massive underground detector aimed at understanding the mysterious ghost particles in our universe has released its first major findings. The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory in China has made some of the most precise measurements to date of how neutrinos switch between three varieties, or flavors, as they zip through space. Scientists are hoping the detector will help resolve a longstanding mystery: how heavy each neutrino flavor is. The initial results haven’t answered that question just yet, but they show what the detector is capable of. Results were published Wednesday in the journal Nature.
Honda recalls more than 880,000 cars due to a problem with rear suspension components
Honda is recalling more than 800,000 vehicles because rear suspension components may fail and cause drivers to lose control, increasing the chances of a crash or injury. American Honda Motor Co. said the recall covers certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The recall includes 880,514 vehicles. Honda has had no warranty claims and no reports of an injury or death related to the problem. Honda and Acura dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a reinforcement kit if necessary, or repair or replace the rear subframe components at no cost to vehicle owners.
FDA OKs first new sunscreen ingredient in more than 25 years
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health regulators have signed off on the first new sunscreen ingredient for the U.S. market in more than 25 years. The announcement Tuesday by the Food and Drug Administration will give Americans access to a skin-protecting chemical long used in Europe. The FDA says the chemical, bemotrizinol, meets the agency’s standards for protecting from dangerous sun rays while causing little irritation. It will initially be sold in the U.S. under the brand name Parsol Shield. Efforts to introduce new sunscreen products have long been delayed by the FDA’s bureaucratic system for updating its list of safe drug ingredients
Carney says the new Canadian-built bridge across Detroit River that Trump threatened will open
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says a new Canadian-built bridge across the Detroit River that U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to block will open soon. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Gordie Howe International Bridge is set to take place Friday while the bridge itself is expected to open to traffic later this month. Trump demanded in February that Canada turn over at least half the ownership of the bridge to the U.S. federal government and agree to other unspecified demands in his latest salvo over cross-border trade issues. The bridge connects Ontario and Michigan and would be a vital economic artery between the two countries. It had been expected to open in early 2026. Carney made his comments on Tuesday.
MIT researchers channel AI to turn hand gestures into robot training data
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Humanoid robots struggling with tasks like grasping a cup have a new teacher — a person wearing an ultrasound wristband that captures the movement of muscles, tendons and ligaments beneath the skin. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed the tool to collect data of human hand motion that could eventually help robots achieve the dexterity that has been difficult for machines to master. As much of the tech world is still captivated with artificial intelligence assistants that are taking on computer-based tasks, the researchers are among the scientists trying to imbue AI with more sensory data from the physical world.
Japanese city captures bear that caused fear and school closures
TOKYO (AP) — A wandering bear that scared residents of a Japanese city just north of Tokyo has been captured after several days of panic during which all schools were closed. The bear was first spotted on Saturday near a park in Utsunomiya, a city north of Tokyo with a population of half a million. City officials have said they received dozens of reports of bear sightings in the following days, including near a library, schools and a community center, causing them to close all city-run schools Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday afternoon, the bear was found on a private property and shot by a veterinarian with a tranquilizer gun, city official Ryuhei Irie said. Nobody was injured.
Hulk Hogan died of natural causes Florida police report says in closing investigation
MIAMI (AP) — A report by Florida police has found that professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died of natural causes last year. The findings formally close the investigation into his death. The Clearwater Police Department released a 72-page report on Friday summarizing an exhaustive review of statements, medical records, surveillance footage and a visual inspection of the body. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died last July at age 71. Family members told investigators that Hogan had been suffering from multiple heath issues in the weeks before his death, including leukemia, an irregular hearth rhythm, pneumonia and kidney failure. He had also undergone many hospitalizations and surgeries in the years before his death.
Knicks say the winning bid for 2 celebrity row seats for Game 3 of the NBA Finals is $1 million
NEW YORK (AP) — In the NBA Finals, celebrity row property is worth $1 million. The New York Knicks announced that was the winning bid in an auction for two seats for Game 3 on Monday night, the first NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden since 1999. The winning bid was split by the law firm Gibson Dunn and private-equity firm Veritas Capital. The fundraiser benefited the Garden of Dreams Foundation, and the Knicks said it was the largest single donation in the history of the foundation, which works with MSG’s companies to assist children at need in the tristate area.
