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Alibaba Cloud lifts prices, blames AI and hardware costs • The Register
Alibaba Cloud today informed users it will increase prices for many services by up to 34 percent.
“Due to the surge in global AI demand and rising supply chain costs, the procurement costs of core hardware in the industry have increased significantly,” states a price adjustment notice posted on Wednesday. “After careful evaluation, we have decided to adjust the prices of services,” it adds.
Updated price lists record dozens of services and instance types for which costs will rise by five percent. The cost of higher-end instances powered by GPUs will rise by 25 to 34 percent. Even instances running Alibaba’s own software, like the PolarDB cloud-native database, cop the price rise.
The cost of using accelerators in the Chinese cloud will rise by five to 30 percent. The increases even apply to Alibaba’s homebrew Pingtouge Zhenwu 810E, a parallel-processing ASIC for AI applications said to match Nvidia’s dumbed-down-for-China H20 GPU.
Alibaba’s notice says customers who purchased relevant services before April 18 2026, “will not be affected by this adjustment in your current order/billing cycle; the new price will apply at the start of your next renewal cycle.”
That appears to be good news for some Alibaba Cloud customers, as the outfit allows customers to subscribe to cloud services for one-or two-year terms, and in increments of three, six, and nine months.
Alibaba’s price hikes are probably reasonable in the context of surging memory prices which create unavoidable cost increases.
Hiking prices for compute, however, looks a little opportunistic given last November Alibaba Cloud said it can’t install servers fast enough to keep up with demand, and was rationing access to GPUs for customers who spend more money. The Chinese cloud has also previously claimed to possess resource optimization prowess that let it operate more efficiently than rival clouds.
Alibaba Cloud is not the only hyperscaler to have hiked prices of late: AWS classily did it on an early January weekend, sneaking out news of a 15 percent hike for certain machine-learning-centric resources. ®
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Israel bombs central Beirut, killing 6, strafes south, east Lebanon | US-Israel war on Iran News
Wave of Israeli air attacks launched as ground offensive widens in south where Hezbollah are fighting Israeli forces.
Published On 18 Mar 2026
Israel has attacked a building in Bashoura, a neighbourhood in the heart of Beirut, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported, with a blast and smoke rising over the area shortly after Israel issued an evacuation threat for the site.
The attack was part of a deadly wave of Israeli strikes across Lebanon that killed at least 20 people and wounded 24 on Wednesday, according to the country’s Ministry of Public Health, with raids stretching from the capital through southern and eastern parts of the country, a devastating front in the wider United States-Israel war against Iran embroiling the region.
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list of 2 itemsend of listAt least six people were killed in the air strikes in Beirut, with dozens injured.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Beirut, Zeina Khodr, reported that intense Israeli attacks hit multiple regions across Lebanon, including central Beirut, overnight.
Speaking from in front of a 15-storey building struck in one of the attacks, Khodr said its lower floors had been targeted a week earlier. In the early hours, however, the structure was completely demolished, with the Israeli army claiming Hezbollah had stored cash there.
“You can see the widespread damage across this whole neighbourhood,” Khodr said.
Israel’s military said it had launched what it described as limited ground operations in southern Lebanon, issuing evacuation threats for residents of four towns near the Zahrani River and the Tyre area, warning them to head north immediately.
Lebanon’s NNA also reported strikes on Tyre and the nearby area of Al-Burj Al-Shamali in the pre-dawn hours.
At least four people were killed in an Israeli attack that targeted four houses in the town of Sahmar in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.
The intensifying assault has now killed at least 912 people in Lebanon, including 111 children, and wounded more than 2,200 since Israel launched its offensive on March 2, according to Lebanese Health Ministry figures.
More than one million people have been forced from their homes. The United Nations warned on Tuesday that Israeli attacks on residential buildings and civilian infrastructure may constitute war crimes under international humanitarian law.
A spokesperson for the UN human rights office said that deliberately targeting civilians or civilian objects “amounts to a war crime”, adding that Israel’s sweeping displacement orders for southern Lebanon may themselves violate international law.
Khodr said that Hezbollah’s secretary general, Naim Qassem, last night laid down conditions for the war to end, including Israel stopping attacks, displaced people being permitted to return to their homes, those detained over the last two years by Israel being released and the Israeli army withdrawing.
Across southern Lebanon, Khodr said Hezbollah was “still present in the area, trying to repel the Israeli army’s advance”, adding that Hezbollah’s aim was not just territorial control of the region, but preventing Israel from gaining new positions in the country.
The conflict was ignited on February 28 when US and Israeli forces assassinated Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, prompting Hezbollah to launch rockets into northern Israel on March 2.
Israel has since killed more than 2,000 people across Iran and Lebanon in its attacks.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a staunch Israeli ally, added his voice to growing international concern, warning that Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon was an “error” that risked worsening what he described as an already dire humanitarian situation.
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Nine years of Yogi government: CM said – Before 2017, half the population was forced to migrate, we solved the identity crisis – Up: Cm Yogi Adityanath Launched Book On Nine Years Of Bjp Government In Uttar Pradesh.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while addressing the program organized on completion of nine years of BJP government in the state, said that the state has traveled a journey of development in the last nine years. Nine years ago the state was facing an identity crisis and we succeeded in resolving that crisis under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Before 2017, half the population of the state was forced to migrate. We established rule of law in the state. This is the reason why the state is now developing to its full potential.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was addressing the annual book release program on completion of nine years of BJP government in UP at Lok Bhavan in Lucknow on Wednesday.
Read this also – Royal reception: Kuldeep-Vanshika’s entry in a vintage car, chartered plane arranged for the guests, see photos
Read this also – Weather is going to change in UP from tomorrow, warning of rain and thunderstorms with strong winds; Alert issued
Addressing the program, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that if we compare the condition of UP nine years ago with today, we will know how much change has taken place. Earlier, when broken roads started, people used to say that UP has arrived. At the same time, the condition of electricity was such that one week there was electricity during the day and the other week there was electricity at night.
Before this, BJP State President Pankaj Chaudhary said in his address that the public gave a chance to those who served in 2017. The service people were given a chance by removing the service people.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that SP people change colors like chameleons when they are not in power. Before 2017, mafia and goons ruled UP, whereas now there is rule of law.
Painful story of Indore accident: Sethia family came from Bihar for treatment, all burnt alive in the blast – Indore Fire Tragedy Bihar Family Dies In Blast While Undergoing Treatment Incident Shocks City
A heart-wrenching accident took place in Greater Brijeshwari Colony near Bengali Square in Indore in the early hours of Wednesday. Here a total of 8 people, including 6 people from Kishanganj district of Bihar, died in the fire. Let us tell you that around 4 am on Wednesday, an electric car was being charged at the charging point outside the house. During this time a short circuit occurred. Phil caught fire. The fire spread to the house and within no time the three-storey house was completely engulfed in flames. There were explosions in the gas cylinders kept in the house, due to which a part of the house collapsed and the people sleeping inside did not get a chance to escape.
they died
In this accident, eight people including Vijay Sethia (65), Suman Sethia (60), Chhotu Sethia (22), and Rashi Sethia (12), residents of Dharamshala Road, Kishanganj, died. Vijay Sethia was unwell for some time. He was staying with his family at his relative’s (Puglia family) house in Indore for treatment.
mourning in kishanganj
As soon as the news of this accident reached Kishanganj, a wave of mourning ran in the entire city. The family has immediately left for Indore. At present, Indore administration and police are investigating the matter in depth, while three other seriously burnt people are undergoing treatment in the hospital.
Read: Police brutality on the road in Rewa: Inhuman treatment of youth goes viral, questions raised on violent working style
How did the accident happen?
According to the police, the fire spread from the car to the house and engulfed the gas cylinders kept inside. Due to this the cylinders started bursting one after the other. The explosion was so strong that a part of the house collapsed. The digital locks installed in the house could not be opened, due to which the people sleeping inside did not get a chance to get out. Residents said that fire brigade vehicles reached the spot about an hour after the information was given.
CM Mohan Yadav expressed grief
Expressing grief, CM Yadav said that The fire accident in Indore is extremely painful. Humble tribute to the civilians who died in the accident. My condolences are with the bereaved family. I pray to God for peace of the souls of the deceased and speedy recovery of the injured.
MLA Vijayvargiya also expressed grief
Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said that it is a very sad incident. Alarming too, because this is the era of EVs. There is a fire while charging. The entire society is moving towards EV. The Police Commissioner has been asked to form a committee of experts for this, so that it is not repeated. Its SOP should be made after taking complete information about it.
Why is Trump not getting support in Iran war?: Far away from NATO to Europe and Asian countries, know the reason – Iran War Us Israel Donald Trump Nato European Union Eu Europe Asia Us Allies South America Explained News
America is not getting the support of friendly countries in the war against Iran. – Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Tuberville defends controversial post comparing NYC Mayor Mamdani to 9/11
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., on Tuesday sought to defend his social media post comparing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s rhetoric to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Tuberville shared a post last week that juxtaposed a photo of the terror attack on the Twin Towers with an image of Mamdani, who appeared to be hosting a Ramadan Iftar event at City Hall. An account called “End Wokeness” posted the images along with a message that read, “Less than 25 years apart.”
“The enemy is inside the gates,” Tuberville said on X in response to the image.
Asked to explain his post on the social platform X, Tuberville said, “I just go by his rhetoric.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., defended his social media post comparing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to the 9/11 attacks. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“He’s made a lot of statements about his stance with Islam and radical Islam, all the things that go along with what he preaches every day. And I’m just kind of repeating what he’s saying,” the senator told DC News Now’s Reshad Hudson.
“We don’t need a division in this country. We need everybody to go with the Constitution, understand we have moral values. And if we all stick with those –– I don’t care if you’re Muslim or Catholic or Baptist, it makes no difference,” he continued.
He added, “We need to make the country better; we don’t need to divide it. That’s what he’s doing in New York.”
REPUBLICAN SAYS ‘MUSLIMS DON’T BELONG IN AMERICAN SOCIETY,’ DRAWS FIERCE DEMOCRATIC BACKLASH
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said he does not care about a person’s religious background. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
When asked about whether Muslim Americans in Alabama may find his post offensive, Tuberville said he has “some great Muslim friends” and that he spoke to “two Iranians in Alabama this past week about the war. Obviously, they’re Muslim.”
“If you teach and preach Sharia law, if you bow down to the Quran, it teaches death to Americans. That don’t fly with me, okay?” he said, although the Quran makes no reference to the U.S. or Americans.
The Alabama lawmaker and former college football coach reiterated that he does not care about a person’s religious background.
“Hey, you come be part of our country [and] don’t try to divide people, don’t try to push your culture — we already have a culture — [then] I’m all for you,” he added.
Tuberville made several more social media posts on Tuesday targeting Islam.
The senator’s controversial comment prompted criticism from Democrats, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
“Radical Islam is the enemy of any freedom-loving American. The liberal media is running cover for Radical Islamists, but the Quran is pretty CLEAR on its instructions to KILL all non-Muslims,” he said in one post.
“To anyone offended by me calling radical Islamic jihadists the enemy: If the shoe fits, wear it,” he said in another post.
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The senator’s initial “the enemy is inside the gates” post, which was pinned to the top of his X account as of Wednesday morning, prompted a heavy rebuke from Democrats, including Mamdani, who is Muslim.
“Let there be as much outrage from politicians in Washington when kids go hungry as there is when I break bread with New Yorkers,” Mamdani said on X in response to the senator’s post.
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Water company spins out homegrown AI after LLMs failed it • The Register
Tech companies have in recent years developed a reputation for being rapacious rent-seekers, but can also be unwittingly generous because their penchant to prioritize popularity over quality leaves room for others to sell improvements or repairs.
Waterline Development, a water desalination startup, is the beneficiary of this legacy of commercial haste. Having tried AI models and found them wanting, it came up with a fix.
Derek Bednarski, founder and CEO, told The Register in an email that when his company tried to use large language models for materials science research “they were confidently wrong in ways that cost us months.”
Bednarski said his company was trying to build a desalination product that was essentially a water battery – charging the cell would remove ions like salt from the water.
“We were debating between carbon cloth and cast carbon electrodes,” he explained. “Not being PhDs in the space, we read relevant academic papers and used LLMs like Grok and ChatGPT to validate our findings. We chose carbon cloth, which is heavily used in academic papers like the Stanford dissertation we based our initial prototypes on, due to commercial availability.”
That material, he said, turned out to have issues that didn’t exist for cast carbon electrodes, including poor conductivity, water retention that affected ion removal, and poor durability.
“While we were not solely relying on LLMs, they did influence our research meaningfully,” said Bednarski. “LLMs chose statistics from various papers and fields (such as citing the lifespan of a carbon electrode in a capacitor) and put them together in ways that were plausible enough. Ultimately, we spent four months and $200,000 validating this material would not in fact work past pilot scale; cast carbon electrodes would be superior.”
The problem Waterline Development encountered is that commercial AI models are ill-suited to multidisciplinary research, which requires synthesizing expertise from a variety of fields.
“No single AI model does this reliably,” the company explains in a white paper [PDF]. “Frontier language models hallucinate under extended multi-step reasoning. They produce plausible answers that silently break when a problem crosses domain boundaries. At best this wastes time; at worst, it poisons critical decision making.”
Time to build
Rather than trying to integrate domain-specific tools or to make the work of human expert teams more efficient, Waterline created Rozum, a multi-model reasoning system that operates various AI models in parallel and synthesizes their answers through a verification layer.
Rozum, from the Slavic word for “reason” and now an AI startup under Bednarski, is a model orchestration system that operates at inference time. It relies on an ensemble of commercial models, open weight models, and domain-specialized models. These models each process the queries they receive using tools that perform verifiable operations and provide deterministic results that serve to ground answers.
The tool passes answers through a verification layer designed to detect and correct errors and hallucinations, errant claims, miscalculations, and phony citations.
Rozum uses a deterministic verification process to advance a final answer based on the evidence and reasoning from the ensemble of models it employs. According to the white paper, the system can come up with correct answers from a set of partial truths, even if no individual model has the complete, correct answer.
Bednarski said Rozum is not focused on correcting LLMs to the extent they can be used for, say, critical engineering work like bridge construction. Rather, the goal is to empower researchers, engineers, and scientists so they can do their jobs better.
“We are focused on deterministic tool implementation (ex. RDKit for Chemistry), allowing engineers, scientists, and analysts a direct path to verify outputs in a format familiar to them by domain,” he explained.
“Our system orchestration method is heavily focused on deterministic validation (code execution replicated, etc.) of outputs, which roots out hallucinations that plague all models at various times. We see further improvements to this in verifying the methods used in sources we cite as well.”
Rozum can spend minutes or even hours working on its responses, much more time than commercial AI models like Gemini 3.1 Pro or GPT 5.4 require with native tools. So it’s not well-suited for real-time conversations, high-volume commodity queries, or tasks where current frontier models perform adequately.
We are prepared to further increase costs if it drives a meaningful gain in outcomes
As such it costs more, but the cost probably isn’t consequential for the kind of projects to which Rozum is best suited.
“It does cost more than running a single frontier model,” said Bednarski. “However, Rozum is being used by early customers for high-stakes questions and decision-making, like a $3M dollar solar investment or allocating months of engineering time towards one R&D priority or another. In these cases our customers prioritize intelligence over all else. We are prepared to further increase costs if it drives a meaningful gain in outcomes for customers who are making expensive decisions regularly.”
But he claims it gets much better results. Rozum outscored GPT-4, Grok 4, and Gemini 3.1 Pro on the Humanity’s Last Exam benchmark by several percentage points or more in every category but one.
Chart of Rozum performance on Humanity’s Last Exam – Click to enlarge
“When we ran 1,000 PhD-level benchmark questions through the pipeline, the verification layer flagged unsupported claims in 76.2 percent of frontier model responses and couldn’t confirm cited sources in 21.3 percent,” he said. “Only 5.5 percent of questions produced clean consensus across all models.”
That consensus rate – 5.5 percent – underscores how variable AI model responses can be and why AI alone is not enough.
Rozum debuted last week and is currently offered through a wait list. ®
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UP News: ‘No flying zone’ declared at Jewar airport, laser light banned, DM tightens security
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ‘Dream Project’Noida International Airport‘Now it is moving forward rapidly in the direction of its operations. A very important meeting of the Airport Emergency Planning Committee (AEPC) and Environment Management Committee (AEMC) was organized under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate. In this meeting, not only the outline of emergency preparedness of the airport was drawn, but many strict instructions regarding security were also issued.
In this meeting held at the administrative office of YIAPL in Jewar, the security arrangements of the airport were reviewed through a power point presentation. The District Magistrate clarified that ‘strong coordination’ between the police, health department and Yamuna Authority is essential to deal with any emergency.
Strict rules made for security
Strict security rules have been made for this. The airport area has been declared a no flying zone. There is a complete ban on flying drones here. Operation of laser lights will be restricted to a distance of 18 kilometers from the perimeter of the airport, so that there is no risk in the landing and take-off of aircraft. Instructions have been given to Yamuna Authority that the height and color code of buildings in the airport area should be as per the standards.
Special training for emergency services
In the meeting, Airport Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Christoph Schnellmann informed the administration about the key points of emergency preparedness. The DM directed the Health Department to create a network with local hospitals and ambulance services that can respond within seconds in case of a disaster. Besides, now special training will also be given to district level officers so that they can understand the emergency functioning of the airport.
The administration is strict not only on security but also on the environment. Yamuna Authority and Jewar Municipality have been instructed to dispose of garbage around the airport in a scientific manner, so that the danger to birds is reduced and the standards of cleanliness are met.