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NuScale Power in Rebound Mode With Short-Squeeze a Possibility NuScale Power in Rebound Mode With Short-Squeeze a Possibility NuScale Power’s stock price rebounded following the deep correction posted since late 2024. The rebound has gained traction following the Q1 release and business update, which included numerous positive advances. Among the critical details are supply chain improvements, advancement of Flour’s Phase 2 FEED study (front-end engineering and design), and a target for its first firm order for its nuclear technology by the end of the year. Executives report increasing interest from various businesses, industries, and organizations, including industrial, government, and hyperscalers. The Flour Phase 2 project is one to watch. It is still an early-phase project, but one that is advancing, providing revenue, and is expected to produce positive results. The final decision isn’t expected until early next year, but it will likely be a go. The project will replace a coal-fired power plant with a VOYGR-6 power plant linking six NuScale power modules into a single unit. Other catalysts include the anticipated approval of module design upgrades. The upgrades will increase the power output of the single unit to meet the needs of prospective clients, including hyperscalers and other green-seeking, power-intensive industries. The upgrade will also increase unit efficiency and economics, making them more attractive to a wider range of applications. Short Interest in NuScale Power Is Set Up for a Squeeze Investors and traders should pay attention to the short interest in NuScale. Interest is down from the peaks in late 2024 and early 2025, but elevated historically and trending near record levels. The last report shows short interest rising compared to the prior month, ahead of the Q1 report, but it has likely fallen since, and the short-covering may gain momentum in the wake of the Q1 business updates. Other sell-side interests, including the analysts and institutional activity, align with rising share prices. The analysts rate the stock as a firm Moderate Buy and see it advancing into the high-end range of targets. The consensus assumes fair value at mid-May price levels, providing some market support, while the high-end range adds 25%. Institutional activity is likewise bullish, with them owning almost 80% of the stock and buying on balance in Q1 and Q2 2025. NuScale Power Amid Stock Price Reversal in Late Q2 2025 NuScale Power’s stock price action following the Q1 release is bullish, aligning with a market reversal underway since March. The critical resistance point is near the $19 level and could be tested by the end of May. The question is whether the market will rise to a new high sooner or later, and later is a possibility. The market will correct from the critical resistance point in that scenario, potentially retesting support at or near the $14.50 level, and complete a Head & Shoulders Reversal Pattern by year’s end. NuScale Revenue Surges Triple Digits in Q1; Balance Sheet Well Capitalized NuScale revenue surged by triple digits in Q1 due to the FLOUR Doicestei power project revenue. However, the $13.4 million in revenue is a drop compared to what is expected in future quarters. The critical details include a narrowing net loss, progress on the transition from R&D to operations, and a reaffirmed 2030 target for the first commercial deployment. Other critical details include the balance sheet, which reflects an improved cash position. The only bad news is that dilutive share sales cause the cash buildup. However, the dilutive impact is minor, about 5.6% diluted YOY, and additional sales may be unnecessary. The cash position is sufficient to sustain operations for nearly 15 quarters at the Q1 burn rate. Revenue is expected to ramp in the coming years as commercial contracts are signed and technology licenses begin to take effect, extending the company’s financial runway. Original Post Source link #NuScale #Power #Rebound #Mode #ShortSqueeze #Possibility Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bruce Lee Is Now In Minecraft Bruce Lee Is Now In Minecraft Bruce Lee, the legendary martial artist who passed away in 1973, is now in Minecraft. His family’s Bruce Lee Enterprises has announced a partnership with LogDotZip to bring Lee to the game as part of the Bruce Lee: Dragon Fury DLC in the Minecraft Marketplace. Lee’s daughter Shannon Lee said, “This was a true collaboration and we’re excited for gamers to dive in and play.” Lee is not a playable character, but instead players can toss a spawn egg that summons Lee to battle. He’ll join players as their companion and will follow players and defend them. Every time Lee defeats an enemy, he gets experience points that increase his overall level that in term unlocks more skills. Lee also has a supernatural ability called Dragon Fury, which is a devastating attack that takes down all nearby enemies. You can get a glimpse of this in the video below. Players will also find “Knowledge Scrolls” in the game world that can be opened to hear recordings of Lee’s voice, telling them about the wisdom he accrued over his life. Finally, there are 11 outfits that players can unlock for Lee to wear. The DLC includes voice lines from Lee, outfits based on his movie appearances, and more than 100 martial arts animations. “Defeat opponents, gain wisdom, and unlock the Fury of the Dragon! Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water,” reads a line from the DLC’s description. The Bruce Lee: Dragon Fury DLC is available to buy for 990 Minecoins, which is about $6 USD. Bruce Lee got his own game in 2006 with Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon. In 2014, Lee was added to EA Sports UFC, which upset some fans because he never actually fought competitively. Source link #Bruce #Lee #Minecraft Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This high-end and Snapdragon X Elite-powered Dell XPS 13 drops to $999.99 This high-end and Snapdragon X Elite-powered Dell XPS 13 drops to $999.99 Whenever I’m on the lookout for a new laptop, I’m only looking for two things. The first is high performance. I work my laptop hard, and I don’t want it letting me down. The second is ultra-portability. You won’t find me sitting at the same desk for long, so I need a device that is small and light. The laptop that hits both markers is the Dell XPS 13, which you can now pick up for $999.99 (was $1,199.99). This is a fantastic price for a top-end laptop that boasts one of the latest Snapdragon Elite processors. That means great performance and a long battery life. With a $200 discount, what are you waiting for? Today’s best Dell laptop deal In our Dell XPS 13 (2024) review, our verdict focused on the laptop’s excellent performance and battery life. Much of the praise is due to the built-in Snapdragon X Elite chip that delivers when it counts. We also loved the battery, which lasted up to 20 hours during normal web-surfing use and about 17 and a half hours with video streaming. That means you can leave your charger at home. One of the other highlights of this laptop is how thin and light it is. Weighing about two and a half pounds and just over half an inch thick, this laptop redefines portability. You’ll be able to use it at home, in a coffee shop, or take it into the office. That’s versatility at its best. The Dell XPS 13 is the best Windows 11 laptop in our best laptops list. This deal is for the Snapdragon X Elite model, although the latest version houses an Intel Core Ultra 2nd Gen chip. You can compare the two in our Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350) article. Source link #highend #Snapdragon #Elitepowered #Dell #XPS #drops Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Aeronutrients: The wild idea that we all get nutrition from the air that we breathe Aeronutrients: The wild idea that we all get nutrition from the air that we breathe Could aeronutrients explain the benefits of being in nature? Daniel Ernst/Stills Around 10 years ago, British tabloid newspaper The Sun ran a memorable article about a couple who claimed to be “breatharians”, able to survive on a little water and even less food. Instead, they said, they derived sustenance from air, sunlight and the energy of the universe. The story was picked up by media outlets across the world and propelled the couple and their unusual lifestyle to fame – and no small amount of ridicule. Needless to say, humans – even self-described breatharians – can’t live primarily on air and sunlight, as some practitioners tragically discovered when they died trying. But weirdly, the concept turns out to be more substantial than it first seems. According to a duo of *********** scientists, we can and do derive nutrients from the air – nowhere near enough to live on, but perhaps enough to benefit our health. Is it possible that a source of nutrition has been under our noses all along? “The evidence shows very clearly that we can absorb nutrients from the air we breathe,” says Flávia Fayet-Moore, a nutrition scientist at the University of Newcastle in Australia. Whether or not these “aeronutrients”, as the pair have dubbed them, make a significant contribution to our health isn’t yet clear, she says – but they could in the future. Every day, we breathe around 7000 to 8000 litres of air, a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, water vapour and whiffs of other gases. Our lungs extract oxygen and replace it with… Source link #Aeronutrients #wild #idea #nutrition #air #breathe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Samsung to adopt hybrid bonding for HBM4 memory Samsung to adopt hybrid bonding for HBM4 memory Samsung plans to adopt hybrid bonding technology for its HBM4 to reduce thermals and enable an ultra-wide memory interface, the company revealed at the AI Semiconductor Forum held in Seoul, South Korea. By contrast, the company’s rival SK hynix might delay adoption of hybrid bonding technology, reports EBN. High-bandwidth memory (HBM) stack multiple memory devices on top of a base die. For now, memory dies in HBM stacks are typically joined together using microbumps (that carry data, power, and control signals between stacked dies) and bonding is performed using techniques like mass reflow with molded underfill (MR-MUF) or thermal compression using a non-conductive film (TC-NCF). These dies are also interconnected vertically using through-silicon vias (TSVs) embedded within each die (that carry data, clock, control signals, power, and ground through each DRAM die). However, as HBM gets faster and gains the number of DRAM devices, microbumps become inefficient as they limit performance and power efficiency. You may like This is where hybrid bonding comes into play. Hybrid bonding is a 3D integration technique that directly connects dies by bonding copper-to-copper and oxide-to-oxide surfaces, eliminating the need for microbumps. Hybrid bonding supports interconnect pitches below 10 µm, offering lower resistance and capacitance, higher density, better thermal performance compared to traditional bump-based stacking, and thinner 3D stacks. However, there is a problem. Hybrid bonding is a rather expensive technique and while all three leading makers of HBM memory considered it for 12-Hi HBM3E, Micron and Samsung ended up using TC-NCF, while SK hynix uses MR-MUF. With HBM4, Samsung plans to use hybrid bonding, whereas SK hynix is developing an advanced MR-MUF technique as well as hybrid bonding as a backup process. There is a reason why SK hynix may use traditional molded underfill instead of hybrid bonding. The specialized equipment needed for hybrid bonding is significantly more expensive than conventional packaging tools and requires substantially more physical space in fabs. This impacts capital efficiency, particularly when fab floor area is limited. As a result, SK hynix is proceeding cautiously. If it finds out that its advanced MR-MUF technique provides the same (or similar) performance results and good yields, it will rather stick with MR-MUF for at least one more generation. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Another reason why SK hynix may stick to MR-MUF for one more generation is that its advanced MR-MUF enables thinner HBM memory stacks than previous-generation underfills. This allows the company to produce 16-Hi HBM4 stacks that are compliant with with JEDEC’s HBM4 specifications that mandate maximum package height of an HBM4 package at 775 µm, which is a bit shorter compared to ~800 µm maximum height of 16-Hi HBM3E stacks. If SK hynix can meet JEDEC’s specifications with existing tools and technologies, it makes usage of hybrid bonding considerably less attractive for the company. Samsung has its own maker of fab tools, Semes, which somewhat reduces its fab costs. However, it is unclear whether Semes can produce advanced hybrid bonding tools for its parent company for now. Nonetheless, hybrid bonding is a technology that will be used in the future anyway, so the industry is watching whether Samsung can qualify its HBM4 using hybrid bonding. Successful qualification could reshape the competitive landscape, giving Samsung a technological and commercial edge in performance, thermal characteristics, and signal density. As a result, Samsung may regain market share from Micron and SK hynix with its HBM4 after it initiates its mass production in 2026. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Source link #Samsung #adopt #hybrid #bonding #HBM4 #memory Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Switch 2: Nintendo Warns Of Substantial Negative Impact From Tariffs Switch 2: Nintendo Warns Of Substantial Negative Impact From Tariffs The Switch 2 is launching in early June amid ongoing drama and uncertainty about tariffs, and now Nintendo has put a dollar amount to how much of a negative impact it’s forecasting as a result. Speaking to analysts and investors as part of the company’s latest earnings briefing, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said Nintendo has factored in a negative impact of “several tens of billions of yen at the profit level.” Ten billion yen equals about $67 million, so it’s not a small amount. Furukawa said Nintendo is basing this off the US tariff rates effective April 10. It’s now mid-May, and things have developed since then. Just recently, the US and China reached an agreement that sees the US drop its previous 145% tariff rate on China down to 30%, with China lowering its rate on the US from 125% to 10%. This deal is set to last for 90 days, which would take it beyond the Switch 2 release date. Given Nintendo’s forecast was based on what the tariff rate was on April 10, there might be different calculations going on at Nintendo now that tariffs on goods from China have been lowered massively. This has been a fluid situation for Nintendo and many other companies bringing in goods to the US from China (Switch 2 consoles are manufactured in China, Vietnam, and Cambodia). Furukawa made these comments during Nintendo’s latest earnings briefing on May 8, and the English translation was not posted until today, May 13. The US and China announced their joint trade deal on May 12. Furukawa went on to say that the Switch 2 is expected to have a lower profit margin that the original Switch, which has been on ***** since 2017. “Our basic policy is that for any country or region, if tariffs are imposed, we recognize them as a part of the cost and incorporate them into the price. However, this year marks our first new dedicated video game system launch in eight years, so given our unique situation, our priority is to maintain the momentum of our platforms, which is extremely important for our dedicated video game platform business, and to rapidly expand the install base of our new hardware,” Furukawa said. The executive added that if there are further changes to tariff policies for China and other markets, Nintendo would consider “what kind of price adjustments would be appropriate,” if any. For context, Nintendo is projecting 320 billion yen in operating profit and 380 billion yen in ordinary profit for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, along with 300 billion yen in profit attributable to owners of parent. For the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2024, Nintendo made an operating profit of 528.9 billion yen, an ordinary profit of 680.5 billion yen, and 490.6 billion yen in profit attributable to owners of parent. For the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2025, Nintendo made an operating profit of 282.5 billion yen, an ordinary profit of 372.3 billion yen, and 278.8 billion in profit attributable to owners of parent. Nintendo is expecting to sell 15 million Switch 2 units during the current fiscal year that ends March 31, 2026, and that’s about the same as the original Switch over its first 10 months in the market. Furukawa said the Switch 2’s “relatively high” price compared to the original Switch–it’s $50 more expensive with inflation factored in–represents one of the “challenges to early adoption” of the system. “The limits of our hardware production capacity were not a factor in setting our sales volume forecast. Additionally, the tariff situation in the U.S. or a possibility of a recession did not affect our sales volume forecast either,” Furukawa said. Nintendo held its big Switch 2 Direct on April 2, the same day that US President Donald Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs on China. Responding to this, Nintendo announced that Switch 2 preorders would not begin on April 9, but were instead delayed to later in the month, with many wondering if Nintendo would raise the price of the console as a result. That did not happen, but the company did raise prices on some Switch 2 accessories. Source link #Switch #Nintendo #Warns #Substantial #Negative #Impact #Tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The FBI is getting new technology to see through walls The FBI is getting new technology to see through walls FBI headquarters in Washington DC Shutterstock/Bob Korn The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) plans to buy radar technology that can detect people on the other side of walls, whether they are moving around, standing still or even lying down. The idea of using radar – a system that uses radio waves reflecting off objects to determine their location – in this way has been around for at least 20 to 30 years, says Hugh Griffiths at University College London. But he describes the field tests with this new system as “impressive” in demonstrating how “they’ve solved a lot of the… Source link #FBI #technology #walls Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Manjimup local aims to raise awareness and funds for cystic fibrosis after new lease on life Manjimup local aims to raise awareness and funds for cystic fibrosis after new lease on life A Manjimup woman living with cystic fibrosis is raising awareness about the life-threatening disorder ahead of 65 Roses Day. Cindy Watterson lives with the genetic condition but benefits from a range of research and treatment options, something the Statewide campaign to raise funds supports. Almost a decade ago, Ms Watterson believed she would not make it to 50, but this year, she is set to reach that milestone birthday. “There are still scars, and survivor guilt is very real — some of my friends with CF are having lung, liver and kidney transplants, hospital admissions for pneumonia and here I am living relatively healthily,” she said. Ms Watterson said her life was changed with new treatment, and is raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis WA through 65 Roses Day on May 22. A chef in the past, Ms Watterson now works as a disability carer to help others. “I’m holding myself a surprise 50th birthday in August . . . surprised that I have made it to be able to have a 50th,” she said. “I had a big 40th, and everyone showed up also assuming this would be my last milestone birthday. CFWA aims to sell thousands of fresh and digital roses to support people living with cystic fibrosis, with $2 million recently pledged to fund WA-based research this year. Source link #Manjimup #local #aims #raise #awareness #funds #cystic #fibrosis #lease #life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Video Game Companies Make Key AI Concession In Latest Offer To End Actors’ Strike Video Game Companies Make Key AI Concession In Latest Offer To End Actors’ Strike In the latest offer to end a strike by actors’ union SAG-AFTRA, a consortium of video game companies has made key concessions to strikers. Specifically, the consortium has removed some provisions from the proposed agreement that would have given game companies more ability to create and profit off of “digital replicas”–AI-generated likenesses–of unionized actors. As originally reported in Variety, this proposal is referred to as the “Last, Best, and Final” offer on AI issues, following a “Last and Best” offer sent in late April that quickly sparked a SAG-AFTRA counteroffer. The latest proposal delivered to SAG-AFTRA focuses on the generative AI sticking points that have been central to the union’s demands since the beginning of the strike. Among the changes included in this offer, it eliminates a one-time payment for unlimited digital replica buyout clause, which would have given companies the ability to pay a one-time fee to an actor to own the rights for unlimited use of digital likenesses for a certain ******* of time. SAG-AFTRA asserts that this type of provision would give game companies undue leverage over the vast majority of actors and that buyouts would serve essentially as “a purposeful discount for employers,” according to the previous counteroffer. In the new offer, companies will have to pay more in line with actual usage of digital replicas, bringing the pay structure into closer alignment with how actors are normally paid. Complementing the elimination of the unlimited buyout clause, the latest offer from the companies also removes the requirement that actors pay back the companies if they withdraw consent for digital replica usage during strikes. In essence, the removal of this provision means that if an actor enters into an agreement with a company to use their generated likeness, the company cannot claw back money from the actor if the actor goes on strike and withdraws their consent. This was a source of particular frustration for the union, which argued that it would have allowed companies to force actors to “scab” via their digital likenesses during strikes or risk sacrificing significant portions of their salary. The companies’ latest offer was delivered on May 8 and the union has not yet issued a reply to it. SAG-AFTRA has said that it is working with its members to gauge their feelings on the latest proposal and outline next steps. The strike has been underway for nearly a year, and voice actors from games such as Spider-Man, Resident Evil, and Mass Effect have been vocal about the need for more protections for actors in the shadow of emerging technologies like generative AI. This has been one of the main factors that has pushed the strike toward its 300th day. Source link #Video #Game #Companies #Key #Concession #Latest #Offer #Actors #Strike Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s egg price fiction has suddenly become reality Trump’s egg price fiction has suddenly become reality For months, President Donald Trump has falsely claimed that egg prices are tumbling. It wasn’t true then, but it’s true now. Egg prices fell 12.7% last month, the biggest monthly decline since 1984, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. And they could continue to fall this month, too: The USDA reported last week that a dozen large white-shell eggs now cost $3.30 on average, down a whopping 69 cents from a week before. It’s a remarkable reversal after egg prices surged in each of the past five months – and 17 of the past 19 months – because of a deadly avian flu epidemic that necessitated the mass culling of egg-laying hens. “Maybe the worst of EggGate has passed,” Tyler Schipper, associate professor in economics and data analysis at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, told CNN. Nevertheless, egg prices remain significantly higher now than before the latest bird flu outbreak, and they cost 49.3% more last month than they did a year earlier. Eggs are still more expensive than when Trump took office, according to the BLS. Egg prices this past Easter, which typically rise in the run-up to the holiday, were the highest for any Easter on record, the USDA reported. Well before last month’s decline, Trump had been touting falling egg prices as a sign that his administration’s plan to lower prices for consumers has been working. In February, the USDA announced an initiative to lower egg prices, including increased biosecurity on egg-laying farms, aid to farmers who have lost flocks and temporary lifting of restrictions on egg imports. Despite Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ far more conservative estimate that egg prices would normalize in the summer, Trump last month said, “as you know, the cost of eggs has come down like 93, 94% since we took office.” Those percentage declines Trump stated are not close to accurate – but we now know that consumer egg prices were, indeed, falling sharply when Trump made those remarks (the Consumer Price Index data wasn’t out yet to confirm or deny Trump’s claims). It appears as though Trump may have been talking about wholesale prices, which had been tumbling throughout March before normalizing in recent weeks. Nevertheless, wholesale prices fell by half – not close to the 90%+ figures Trump was citing. Wholesale prices are the costs distributors pay to farmers or middlemen. Consumer prices are what customers pay at grocery stores. Those costs typically make their way through the supply chain at a slower pace, because grocery stores may decide to keep prices at a certain price, even when wholesale prices change, to try to recoup lost profits from prior weeks, according to Kevin Bergquist, sector manager at Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute. The USDA says consumer prices finally fell as demand for eggs decreased and avian flu cases have fallen. Many groceries, including large chains like Costco, had limited customers’ purchases because of egg shortages. So Trump’s claim that consumer egg prices are down is finally true – even if the timing of his claim and the wild percentages he threw around were grossly inaccurate. CNN’s Alicia Wallace contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #Trumps #egg #price #fiction #suddenly #reality Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

UnitedHealth stock drops as CEO Witty is replaced by Hemsley and company suspends financial outlook – Star Tribune UnitedHealth stock drops as CEO Witty is replaced by Hemsley and company suspends financial outlook – Star Tribune UnitedHealth stock drops as CEO Witty is replaced by Hemsley and company suspends financial outlook Star TribuneUnitedHealth CEO steps down for ‘personal reasons’ CNNUnitedHealth Group abruptly replaces CEO Andrew Witty, deepening a terrible year NPRUnitedHealth Group CEO steps down; suspends 2025 outlook on higher-than-expected medical costs 6abc PhiladelphiaUnitedHealth CEO leaves abruptly, company pulls forecast as shares sink Reuters Source link #UnitedHealth #stock #drops #CEO #Witty #replaced #Hemsley #company #suspends #financial #outlook #Star #Tribune Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Underwater camera captures elusive tentacled creature 3 miles below ocean surface Underwater camera captures elusive tentacled creature 3 miles below ocean surface Marine scientists are finding ways to learn more about the most elusive species that live in the deepest depths of the ocean and how they fit into the planet’s biodiversity. Little is known about Iosactis vagabunda, a tentacled deep-sea anemone that resides on the Porcupine Abyssal Plain, a seabed off the coast of Ireland. MORE: Giant tubeworms part of thriving ecosystem found under the seafloor in the Pacific But thanks to cameras built to withstand the deep-sea pressure, researchers were able to capture images and study the mysterious creature, according to a paper published in Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. Losactis vagabunda typically feeds on phytodetritus — or organic particulate matter — from the seabed but also preys on polychaete, a marine worm species that grows to be much ******* than the anemone itself. Images showed anemones using their tentacles to pluck organic particles from the water and eat them with their mouths. Other images showed one anemone, measuring less than an inch, feasting on a 4-inch marine worm over the course of 16 hours. Once eaten, the worm’s bristles were visible through the anemone’s body wall, researchers said. PHOTO: An image from a photographic sequence of subsurface burrowing activity by a Iosactis vagabunda. (Jennifer M. Durden/Brian J. Bett/Henry A. Ruhl ) The anemone, which has 24 tentacles, also spends hours creating new burrows and often moves from burrow to burrow in between feedings — unique from other immobile anemone species, according to researchers. MORE: At least 20 new species identified in recently discovered underwater ecosystem The study encompassed 18 specimens seen in eight-hour intervals over 20 months and one individual specimen in 20-minute intervals over two weeks. Towed-vehicle cameras managed to snap 29,016 usable photos. The anemones are likely the most prevalent species that lives on the Porcupine Abyssal Plain, scientists said. MORE: Award-winning photographer captures hidden underwater gems near urban areas Its feeding and movement patterns make them “critical” carbon cyclers, researchers said. As global warming intensifies and the ocean continues to absorb more heat, further sea floor exploration may be necessary to discover impactful climate mitigation strategies involving the ocean, researchers noted. Underwater camera captures elusive tentacled creature 3 miles below ocean surface originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Source link #Underwater #camera #captures #elusive #tentacled #creature #miles #ocean #surface Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is President Trump allowed to accept $400m luxury plane? – BBC Is President Trump allowed to accept $400m luxury plane? – BBC Is President Trump allowed to accept $400m luxury plane? BBCSenate GOP whip dismisses Schumer’s “idle threat” on Trump nominees AxiosBoeing has a contract to replace Air Force One. What’s the delay? The Washington PostTrump’s free plane is not so free PoliticoQatar’s luxury jet offer to Trump brings Senate hold on DOJ nominees. WTOP Source link #President #Trump #allowed #accept #400m #luxury #plane #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Airbnb launches redesigned app, new services business Airbnb launches redesigned app, new services business Mateusz Slodkowski | Lightrocket | Getty Images Airbnb launched a redesigned app on Tuesday to showcase the company’s push to let travelers book services, like catering and personal training, at their home rentals. The new-look app marks a new chapter for Airbnb to expand beyond home stays. The company has previously announced plans to invest $200 million to $250 million in a new business that it said it hopes will become a significant driver of future revenue growth. “We now feel like we have such a strong foundation that we are capable of building and expanding,” Dave Stephenson, Airbnb’s business chief, told CNBC. The company has previously tried to push beyond home rentals, but dialed back those efforts in 2020 to focus on its core business as the Covid pandemic shuttered borders and pummeled the travel industry. Airbnb shares fell earlier this month after the company issued disappointing revenue guidance in its first-quarter earnings report, saying it saw some “softness” in travel from Canada to the U.S. toward the end of the quarter amid macroeconomic uncertainties. “Until now, our app has really done one thing, which is it lets you book a home,” CEO Brian Chesky said on Airbnb’s May 1 earnings call. “We rebuilt the app from the ground up on a new technology stack. And now we can innovate faster and offer much more than homes.” The Airbnb services tab. Courtesy: Airbnb The app’s new services tab offers 10 categories users can select and book during their rental. The offerings include services such as spa treatments, catered or prepared meals, or personal training sessions. These service offerings will debut in 260 cities worldwide. The company hopes this update will put Airbnb on par with offerings travelers often find at hotels and resorts, Stephenson said. To ensure quality, Airbnb has added to its vetting team, which includes legal professionals, to assess certifications and licensing requirements, which vary from city to city, Stephenson said. Services vendors have 10 years of experience on average, the company said. The app update will also include a homepage tab to emphasize Airbnb’s experiences business. The new tab divides experiences into 19 categories, including live performances, landmark tours, architecture tours and workouts, which are available in 650 cities. The company first launched experiences in 2016. The experience tab will include activities and tours designed by Airbnb, called originals, such as a tour of Notre Dame with a restoration architect in Paris. The company is also partnering to offer experiences and services at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Stephenson said. Airbnb also said it is updating its social features, allowing users to see other guests attending experiences. The new messages section will also enable photo and video sharing and come with updated privacy features for interacting with co-travelers later this year. Source link #Airbnb #launches #redesigned #app #services #business Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Is President Trump allowed to accept $400m luxury plane? Is President Trump allowed to accept $400m luxury plane? Jake Horton, Tom Edgington and Joshua Cheetham BBC Verify BBC US President Donald Trump has said his administration wants to accept a plane worth an estimated $400m (£303m) as a gift from Qatar, calling it “a great gesture” that he would be “stupid” to turn down. The potential move has been labelled “wildly ********” by some members of the rival Democratic Party – something the White House denies – and it has attracted criticism from some of Trump’s supporters. Qatar itself earlier said the reports about the plane were “inaccurate”, and that negotiations were continuing. The news comes as Trump visits several countries in the Middle East, including Qatar. BBC Verify has been looking into the legality of presidents accepting gifts. What do we know about the plane? On Sunday, US media reported that the Trump administration was preparing to accept a Boeing jumbo jet from the Qatari royal family – saying that the plane would be refitted and used temporarily as Air Force One, the name for the plane used by presidents. Trump later posted on Truth Social: “The Defense Department is getting a gift, free of charge, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction.” When questioned by reporters, Trump said: “It’s a great gesture from Qatar. I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.” In February, Trump said he was “not happy with Boeing” about delays to two new Air Force One jets that he is expecting to receive directly from the firm. He added that the White House could instead “buy a plane or get a plane, or something”. Trump toured the plane in Palm Beach back in February The Qatari plane was pictured in Palm Beach, Florida, in February where Trump inspected it. It is currently fitted with three bedrooms, a private lounge and an office, according to its specification summary document from 2015. Getty Images A Qatari official has told CNN the plane is being given from the Qatari defence ministry to the Pentagon, and that it will be modified to meet Air Force One’s safety and security standards. Experts say this is likely to take years, which means the plane may not be ready for use until near the end of Trump’s term. Trump has said the plane will go directly to his presidential library after he leaves office, and that he “wouldn’t be using it” after his presidency. Nonetheless, the move has led to criticism from Democrats as well as some long-time Trump supporters, including Laura Loomer who said: “This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true.” Is the gift legal? Several senior Democrats have claimed that accepting the gift would be ********. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff quoted a section of the US Constitution that said no elected official could accept “any present… of any kind whatever” from the leader of a foreign state without congressional approval. Frank Cogliano, a professor of US history and a constitutional expert at the University of Edinburgh, says this clause “was intended to prevent bribery to influence the government”. “It is certainly stretching the Constitution and we have not seen a gift on this scale, or of this nature”, says Professor Andrew Moran, a constitutional expert at London Metropolitan University. Getty Images Ronald Regan’s Air Force One, the Boeing 707, was moved to his presidential library in 2003 There have been a number of other laws passed by Congress relating to the acceptance of foreign gifts, such as the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act of 1966, which means that congressional consent is required for the acceptance of foreign gifts above a certain value. Currently US officials can accept gifts valued at less than $480 (£363). Although Trump has referred to the plane ultimately going to his “library”, experts have suggested he really means his museum foundation. Ex-presidents typically have a library housing their archive of documents, and a museum – typically funded by private donations – full of memorabilia and open to the public. Experts who BBC Verify spoke to said the fact that the plane could be given to the administration – and not to the president directly – before being transferred to his museum, may not get around the potential violation of the constitution. Getty Images Karoline Leavitt said any donation was always received in full compliance with the law Jordan Libowitz – from the organisation Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington – said any use of the plane by Trump after leaving office would cross a line: “Reagan’s Air Force One ended up in his presidential library, but there’s a difference there. The plane was decommissioned, Reagan never flew on it again, and it sits inside as a museum piece.” The US Justice Department has reportedly drafted a memo explaining why it thinks accepting the jet would be permissible, although this has not been made public. When the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt was asked about the legality of the deal, she said: “The legal details of that are still being worked out, but of course, any donation to this government is always done in full compliance with the law.” What is Trump’s family doing in the Middle East? President Trump is on a four-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE, hoping to drum up investment for the US. His visit follows a series of business deals announced by the Trump Organization, which is run by the president’s sons, Eric and Donald Jr. These include plans to build golf courses and luxury villas in Qatar and the UAE. President Trump is not currently affiliated with the Trump Organization, having handed over management responsibilities to his children after entering the White House on 20 January. Getty Images Eric Trump was in Dubai on 1 May A deal was announced by the Trump Organization at the beginning of May to develop a Trump-branded luxury 18-hole golf course and a collection of luxury villas north of Qatar’s capital, Doha. At the time, Eric Trump said: “We are incredibly proud to expand the Trump brand into Qatar through this exceptional collaboration with Qatari Diar and Dar Global.” Dar Global is a publicly owned Saudi construction company; Qatari Diar is a Qatari state-owned company. Separately, on 30 April, the Trump Organization announced it would build “the region’s first Trump International Hotel & Tower” in the “heart of Dubai” consisting of 80 floors of “luxury living and world-class hospitality”. Eric Trump also visited the UAE recently, speaking at Token 2049, a cryptocurrency conference, on 1 May. Asked if Trump was likely to meet anyone involved in the family business during his trip, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was “ridiculous” to suggest the president was doing anything for his own benefit. Source link #President #Trump #allowed #accept #400m #luxury #plane Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Western *********** of the Year Award: Finalist Lorraine Lekias brings hope to lives of foster kids Western *********** of the Year Award: Finalist Lorraine Lekias brings hope to lives of foster kids A Perth woman whose boundless love for the children in her care inspired her to start a charity from her living room believes everyone can do their bit to foster hope and joy for kids in need. The sight of vulnerable children arriving for a foster care placement with only a few belongings stuffed in a plastic bag broke Lorraine Lekias’ heart. So she started Fostering Hope Australia, which gathers new and donated clothing, nappies, bottles, cots and other items and provides them to children and families. “Having been foster carers at that time for about 20 years, and having many children arrive to us — and they would come with nothing, a few belongings, nothing of their own — we realized that there was a huge need to help families who were having children arrive on their doorsteps, literally in the clothes that they were wearing and nothing else,” Ms Lekias said. “It’s grown exponentially — it’s huge. It’s gone from when we started in our home, and we were supporting friends, and then friends of friends. And then we went on to become an organised, registered charity, and it’s just grown beyond our wildest imagination. “I think we have 18,000 community members on our Facebook page, and over 1100 families that we support on our foster carer page.” Ms Lekias, who still has four foster children at home aged from six to 17, said she was “really stunned, but deeply honoured” to be selected as a finalist for the Alcoa Community Award in the Western *********** of the Year Awards. Being named a finalist was not about recognition for her as a person, she said, but for a whole community of carers, children and volunteers. At a time when many families are struggling financially, even with two parents working, Ms Lekias said foster carers were increasingly harder to find. “It’s difficult to be able to open your hearts and homes to other children, but that’s where we like to bring in the donating, volunteering — that’s all playing a role,” she said. “I believe you don’t need to have a child in your home to be a foster carer. You can support a fostering family, and that’s foster caring.” Fostering Hope, which now operates from purpose-built premises supported by Telethon, provides a “store”, where foster carers or grandparent carers can select clothes, toys, books, car seats or prams at no cost. Not content to stop at one program, Ms Lekias also founded Fostering Joy, to provide kids with picnics, movie days, a car rally and annual Christmas events. “We realised that ‘fostering hope’ was a wonderful thing, but to ‘foster joy’ is what brings the laughter, the light and a sense of normality into the children’s lives,” she said. A third program, Fostering Journey, provides children with their own new suitcase or sports bag to keep. The two other finalists for the Alcoa Community Award are Wheelchairs for Kids Australia founder Brother Olly Pickett and M’Liss Henry, who founded Claremont Therapeutic Riding Centre to support people with disabilities. There are 21 finalists across seven categories, with the winners of each category and overall winner to be announced at the Western *********** of the Year Awards on Thursday, May 29 at Crown Perth. Source link #Western #*********** #Year #Award #Finalist #Lorraine #Lekias #brings #hope #lives #foster #kids Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russian economy in worse shape than Moscow says, report for EU shows Russian economy in worse shape than Moscow says, report for EU shows By Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The Russian economy is in an increasingly precarious state as a result of a shift to a war mode and of Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, a report by the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) said on Tuesday. The report, prepared for talks of European Union finance ministers, said that while still relatively stable, the Russian economy was only superficially resilient and that underlying imbalances and structural weaknesses were growing. “The fiscal stimulus of the war economy has kept the economy afloat in the short term, but the reliance on opaque financing, distortionary resource allocation, and shrinking fiscal buffers makes it unsustainable in the long term. Contrary to Kremlin narratives, time is not on Russia’s side,” it said. The EU has imposed 16 packages of sanctions on Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, targeting Moscow’s main sources of revenue – oil, gas and coal exports. Other Western powers, including the United States, Canada, Britain and Japan also imposed sanctions. Keen to show Western sanctions are pointless, Russia says its gross domestic product grew 4.3% in 2024 after 3.6% expansion in 2023. But Torbjorn Becker, who presented the SITE report to EU finance ministers, said Russian GDP numbers could not be trusted because Moscow was most likely strongly understating inflation which affected real GDP calculations. “Russia claims inflation is 9-10%. Why would they then have a policy rate of 21% at the central bank? Which regular central bank would have a policy rate that’s basically 11.50 percentage points higher than the inflation rate? If any of our central banks were doing something like that, they would be out of their job the next day,” Becker told reporters. “That’s a very clear indication that inflation may not actually be the right number. If you understate inflation, you will then overstate real GDP numbers,” he said. LIKELY HIGHER BUDGET DEFICIT He also pointed to Russia’s budget constraints caused by falling revenues from oil, gas and coal and rising military spending. Since the start of its invasion of Ukraine and despite its massive war effort, Russia has been reporting a budget deficit of 2% of GDP every year. “Fiscal numbers in Russia don’t really correspond to what we think that they are putting into the war effort,” Becker said. He said much of the financing of the war machine was going through the banking system. “So if you add that to the fiscal numbers, their fiscal deficits would be ballpark twice as high as what they have shown in the official statistics,” he said. Story Continues This, in turn, was building up financial risks in the banking system, Becker said, because banks were reporting high credit growth. “These are all indicators that we usually look at when we want to predict the banking crisis,” Becker said. European Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the European Commission agreed with the SITE report. “Their analysis highlights the unreliability of Russian statistics, and how the Russian economy is not performing as well as its official statistics suggest,” Dombrovskis told reporters after the EU ministers’ meeting. “The Commission broadly agrees with this analysis and the overall increasing fragility of the Russian economy. This underlines the importance of the international community’s ongoing efforts to limit the Kremlin’s capacity to continue its war of aggression against Ukraine,” he said. (Reporting by Jan StrupczewskiEditing by Tomasz Janowski) Source link #Russian #economy #worse #shape #Moscow #report #shows Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DOOM The Dark Ages Doomslayer Returns As A Duck DOOM The Dark Ages Doomslayer Returns As A Duck Tubbz has revealed that an new licensed figure casting the DOOM Slayer as a duck has been released. Source link #DOOM #Dark #Ages #Doomslayer #Returns #Duck Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

FDA moves to take prescription fluoride drops and tablets for kids off the market FDA moves to take prescription fluoride drops and tablets for kids off the market Ferlistockphoto | Istock | Getty Images The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced it will begin the process of pulling prescription fluoride drops and tablets for children off the market. The supplements are usually given to kids at high risk for cavities. The federal government and some state legislatures are increasingly drawing attention to what they claim are the risks associated with fluoride, a mineral that’s been used for decades in community water systems, toothpastes and mouth rinses to prevent tooth decay. Dentists fiercely contest that the harms of fluoride outweigh the benefits. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said in a news release that he’s instructing the agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research “to evaluate the evidence regarding the risks of systemic fluoride exposure from FDA-regulated pediatric ingestible fluoride prescription drug products to better inform parents and the medical community on this emerging area.” The news release suggested that ingested fluoride can alter a child’s gut microbiome and cause weight gain, thyroid disorders and “possibly decreased IQ.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary attends a press conference in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Nathan Howard | Reuters “The best way to prevent cavities in children is by avoiding excessive sugar intake and good dental hygiene,” Makary said. The FDA said the evaluation should be completed by Oct. 31. The new action goes after tablets and drops that contain fluoride. According to the American Dental Association, pediatric dentists can prescribe fluoride supplements to kids living in areas with low fluoride levels in drinking water. Dr. Meg Lochary, a pediatric dentist in Union County, North Carolina, said she’s been prescribing more of the drops and tablets since county commissioners voted to stop adding fluoride to its water supply last year. “This is really going to hamper our goal of providing kids with fluoride,” Lochary said. “It’s ridiculous, and it takes away the choice of parents to allow their children to have better dental health. It doesn’t make scientific sense.” “Unlike toothpaste with fluoride or fluoride rinses, these products are swallowed and ingested by infants and toddlers,” the news release said. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously referred to fluoride as “industrial waste” on the social media platform X and said on MSNBC that the faster the mineral goes away, the better. “Ending the use of ingestible fluoride is long overdue,” Kennedy said in Tuesday’s announcement. Utah and Florida recently banned the addition of fluoride to public water systems. Source link #FDA #moves #prescription #fluoride #drops #tablets #kids #market Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Precinct Review – You Are No Longer in the Academy | TNS The Precinct Review – You Are No Longer in the Academy | TNS Overall, The Precinct is an enjoyable GTA-style police sandbox, featuring pulse-pounding car chases, comprehensive crime systems and a gritty city to explore. However, its ambition is often undermined by its small scale, repetitive gameplay and subpar story elements. Source link #Precinct #Review #Longer #Academy #TNS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Airbnb app just got a massive redesign – here are 3 new features to look out for The Airbnb app just got a massive redesign – here are 3 new features to look out for Airbnb has been a disruptor since it hit the scene in 2007. Now, at its annual Summer Release event, it’s redesigning its app to make navigating easier and ultimately leveling up what you might expect from a stay at one of its many properties worldwide. For instance, while you get a bit more space with an Airbnb, you might lose out on some amenities, be it a gym, an attached restaurant, or even some self-care. The tech company’s answer is dubbed Airbnb Services, essentially a way to book a service like a massage, a haircut, or even a chef to arrive at wherever you’re staying. That aims to fill in the missing gap of what you might get from a hotel, but it also gives you, the visitor, a bit more control, with the option of looking through the available options and picking the ones that fit your needs the most. You may like Similarly, Airbnb Experiences aims to replace the mundane with memorable, allowing you to book activities from locals in the cities where you stay to get the most out of them. These seem especially fun, and at a launch event, Airbnb certainly brought out the talent to up this. Then, tying this all together is a redesign app that looks a lot easier to navigate and acts more like a helpful companion. If you have a stay booked, as well as services or experiences, it can bundle them as an itinerary for you, listing important reminders. 1. Book a haircut, massage, or a catered meal with Services (Image credit: Airbnb) Services seem like the most approachable addition, and probably one of the most requested. Rather than finding out if the host approves of a third-party, Airbnb handles the vetting and will offer 10 categories of services at launch. Those include chefs, photographers, massages, spa treatments, personal training, hair treatments, makeup, nails, prepared meals, and catering. It’ll launch in 260 cities across the globe at first and lives directly in the Airbnb app – there is an entire ‘services’ category at the top, and after you book a location, or are considering, you can see recommended services. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Airbnb is vetting the service providers and promises that each has around 10 years of experience in the respective industry. Additionally, each instructor or provider has to go through a verification process and list out applicable trainings or certifications. (Image credit: Airbnb) Services will start at $50 in the US (we’re waiting for exact starting prices to be confirmed in the *** and Australia, but that converts to around £40 / AU$80) and are rolling out now. Airbnb is also encouraging providers to apply to become hosts for services on the platform. The real kicker here, though, and one that potentially could have TaskRabbit concerned, is that you don’t need to book an Airbnb home for a stay to use Services or Experiences (more on this in a bit). If you need a photographer for a birthday party or a shower, you could fire up Airbnb on your iPhone or Android phone, look through reviews, and hire a professional. Same for a hibachi chef for a girls’ night out – at an Airbnb or in your own home – or for a caterer specializing in soup dumplings. 2. Memorable moments dubbed Experiences (Image credit: Airbnb) Next to Services up-top in the Airbnb app will be ‘Experiences’ with a hot-air balloon icon. And similar to the ‘Icons’ homes that Airbnb lets folks enter to win a stay in – like the house from Up or the control room from Inside Out – Experiences is a bit more pie-in-the-sky, in the best way possible. These are unique activities run by folks from where you’re staying that aim to let you really immerse yourself in the locale. It could be a cooking class or a dining experience, but rather than just a meal at a restaurant, it’s interactive and potentially led by a Michelin-star chef, or you can freshen your wardrobe with a celebrity stylist. (Image credit: Airbnb) Similarly, rather than just visiting a historical place, you can be led through the site with a dedicated historian or take a workout class with an expert in that specific field. The idea is to have true experts for a more compelling, well, experience. Experiences will be launched in 650 cities worldwide, and Airbnb says that will be expanding. There will also be a higher tier dubbed Airbnb Originals, which the company promises could lead you to eating barbecue with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City or playing volleyball with an Olympian. There’s no word on pricing for these, but I suppose these might be more similar to Airbnb Icons, in that you enter for the chance to use these. More likely, you’ll find yourself with the more standard Airbnb experiences, which aim to be more than just standard. 3. App redesign (Image credit: Airbnb) Helping to make all of these more appealing, and honestly more integrated into the booking of an Airbnb – maybe a beach bungalow, a fancy loft, or a classic cabin – the app is also getting smarter in some key ways. The layout aims to make this flow a bit easier, and for the app to act as a companion serving up reminders and suggestions. The biggest change, though, is that Airbnb now allows users to search for properties worldwide alongside the best services and experiences all in one place. Under the hood, Airbnb says it’s built an entire new tech stack that adds capacity for these new offerings and sets up a large runway for the future. And I think that hints at the broader play here – Airbnb doesn’t want to be an app you open once or twice a year for a big vacation or trip. Rather, it’s there and is an app with more tools in its chest, allowing you to book more casual everyday services but also more memorable ones, whether you’re on the go or for a staycation. Carolina Milanesi, President and Principal Analyst at Creative Strategies, told TechRadar, “Expanding into services makes a great deal of sense as it allows for a richer experience than the stay itself and can certainly add to it by adding a more visceral component to the stay – say you are using a personal trainer while you travel or organizing a photographer for your girls reunion weekend. The option of booking even when you are not staying shows they are trying to expand and deepen the relationship with a customer by having multiple touch points through the year.” It certainly adds up, and this could grow Airbnb’s user base as well. We’re going hands-on with the new app, and maybe even an experience or two soon, so we’ll report back with more. But if you’re keen to give it a go, update to the latest version of the Airbnb app now. You might also like Source link #Airbnb #app #massive #redesign #features Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Cannes Launches With Muted Opening Night Short on Star Power — And Cleavage – Variety Cannes Launches With Muted Opening Night Short on Star Power — And Cleavage – Variety Cannes Launches With Muted Opening Night Short on Star Power — And Cleavage VarietyCannes Film Festival 2025: Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Lawrence and Tom Cruise to hit red carpet BBCTarantino, De Niro, Binoche among stars at Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony AP NewsThe 21 Movies We Can’t Wait to See at This Year’s Cannes Film Festival IndieWireCannes Film Festival 2025 In Photos: Awards Ceremony, Movie Premieres, Parties & More Deadline Source link #Cannes #Launches #Muted #Opening #Night #Short #Star #Power #Cleavage #Variety Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ori Developer Moon Studios Is Not Actually in Immediate Trouble, Says CEO Ori Developer Moon Studios Is Not Actually in Immediate Trouble, Says CEO Ori developer Moon Studios is not actually in immediate trouble with No Rest for the Wicked, clarified CEO Thomas Mahler. Source link #Ori #Developer #Moon #Studios #Trouble #CEO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kim Kardashian thought she was “going to die” during Paris armed robbery Kim Kardashian thought she was “going to die” during Paris armed robbery Laura GozziReporting fromPalais de Justice court in ParisEPA Kim Kardashian arriving at the court in Paris on Tuesday to give evidence Kim Kardashian has given emotional testimony to a Paris court, telling judges she thought she was going to die at the hands of masked gunmen who stole millions of dollars of jewellery from her in a luxury hotel suite in 2016. The reality TV star and businesswoman – who was bound and had a gun held to her head during the ordeal – faced her alleged attackers for the first time while giving evidence in the case. Nine men and one woman are on trial for the armed burglary of £10m (£7.55m) worth of jewellery, including a diamond engagement ring from her ex-husband Kanye West. Kardashian, who gave testimony in a seat in front of the BBC, spoke for more than three hours in court on Tuesday. Her evidence was at times interrupted by apologies from two defendants. After one of the defendants, Aomar Ait Khedache, 71, sitting metres from Kardashian in the courtroom expressed his regret, she turned to him and said she forgave him. Referencing her activism in the US to improve the justice system and her dreams of becoming a lawyer, she thanked Khedache for his apology letter. “I do appreciate it, I forgive you,” she said to him in the stand, while crying. “But it doesn’t change the emotion, the feelings and the trauma and the way my life has changed.” “I just want to thank everyone, especially the French authorities, for allowing me to testify today and tell my truth,” the TV star told the court on Tuesday which was packed with media. The trial for the crime committed more than nine years ago has been long-anticipated and closely followed by press. Wearing a tailored ****** suit and diamond jewellery, Kardashian was supported in the courtroom by her mother, Kris Jenner, several friends, and a bevy of bodyguards. She faltered at times in her first hour of giving testimony, fidgeting with her long nails, and pausing when overwhelmed by emotion and fighting back tears. However she appeared to relax and gather strength the longer she went on, her voice becoming steadier. She also expressed forgiveness for one of the defendants, who issued an apology to her during her testimony. Tuesday’s session in court was the first time Kardashian had relayed to a criminal court her account of the armed burglary, and the extent of her fears during and after the attack. ‘I was sure they were going to shoot me’ She recounted how she had been in town for Paris Fashion Week on 2 October, and had retired for the night at around 03:00 when two masked gunmen wearing police uniforms burst into her room, dragging with them the hotel’s receptionist who had been bound and gagged. She managed to call her bodyguard before one of the men then took her phone off her. They snatched her engagement ring, which had been lying on the bedside table, and then “picked me up off the bed and grabbed me and took me down the hallway” to look for more jewellery,” she said. One of the men held a gun to her back at this point, and “that was the first moment I thought, should I run for it? But it wasn’t an option so I just stayed,” she said, adding that she realised she should just “do whatever they say” for her safety. Kardashian said she was then thrown onto the bed and her hands bound with zip ties. At this point, she told the concierge: “Please translate to them that I have babies, I have to make it home.” One of the men then pulled her towards him, which opened her robe, under which she wasn’t wearing anything. She told the court she was afraid she was going to be ******, saying she said a prayer to mentally prepare herself. But then her legs were tied together and a gun pointed at her. She said at that point, “I was sure that’s when they were going to shoot me.” She thought of her family at that point, offering them a “prayer” that they would not have to experience her killing. She expressed fear for her sister, Kourtney, having to walk into the hotel room to find that “I would be shot dead on the bed and she would see that and have that memory forever.” When asked by the judge David de Pas if she thought she was going to die she replied in a small voice: “I absolutely did think I was gonna die.” Kardashian said she looked in the eyes of the man who tied her up to try to remember details – and that he told her if she remained quiet, she would be ok. Reuters A court sketch of Kim Kardashian giving evidence in Paris on Tuesday After the robbers took the jewellery, they dashed out of the suite, leaving Kardashian in the bathroom. She said she then managed to free her hands from the cable ties and hopped down the staircase to the first floor of the suite, where her stylist and friend Simone Harouche helped release the other ties. The two then ran out onto the balcony where they called for help while hiding in the bushes. Kardashian said she was worried the men would return, and that when Parisian police turned up, she couldn’t trust them because the robbers had also been wearing police uniforms. During the testimony in the packed courtroom, Kardashian also answered several questions from the judge about why her security were not present at the time. Her usual team had been sent to accompany her sister Kourtney to the club, while Kim had stayed in. She told the court she did not have a bodyguard with her because up until the robbery, she and her family had not believed they needed that level of security. She said she had previously always felt safe to go out on the streets of Paris on her own, and they had been comfortable with their security team staying at a different hotel. “Everything changed” after Paris, she said, noting that she employs up to six people to guard her house at night now, and that she started to get a “phobia of going out” because she thought people would “see me out and know my home was empty”. “I can’t even sleep at night if I know there’s not multiple security” guards, she said, noting her concern about copycat attacks, and that her Los Angeles house was robbed even before the family returned from the Paris trip. Seeking closure Kardashian’s testimony on Tuesday was interrupted at several points by offers of apology from two of the defendants in the court room, who have pleaded guilty to the charge. While she accepted Khedache’s apology, she did not acknowledge the presence of the other defendants who are contesting the charges. She ignored her former driver Gary Madar who is accused of having tipped off the burglary ring about her whereabouts. He has denied the charges. She also expressed anger over one of the defendants who has pleaded guilty, Yunice Abbas, who published a memoir in 2021 prior to the trial titled ‘”I Held Up Kim Kardashian”. Kardashian told the court on Tuesday she was “really shocked when I saw there was a book”. “Not only did he do this, but now [he’s] making money off that – my jewellery, my memories, the watch my dad who passed away gave me when I graduated high school. I can’t get that back.” She also told the court she wanted closure from the trial’s proceedings. “I wanted to be a part of today because I am a victim in this case and it’s the first time I’m able to really hear from everyone and follow along,” she said. “This is what I do. I want to become a lawyer and I do believe everyone has the opportunity to speak their truth, and this is my closure and my opportunity to put this to rest after everything I’ve been through.” Kardashian added that her job is “to tell my truth and hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else”. “It was terrifying and life-changing and I don’t wish that kind of terror on anyone – to think you could be killed or ****** – I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.” Source link #Kim #Kardashian #thought #die #Paris #armed #robbery Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The Precinct review: An enjoyable but repetitive GTA-style police sandbox – Traxion.GG The Precinct review: An enjoyable but repetitive GTA-style police sandbox – Traxion.GG Overall, The Precinct is an enjoyable GTA-style police sandbox, featuring pulse-pounding car chases, comprehensive crime systems and a gritty city to explore. However, its ambition is often undermined by its small scale, repetitive gameplay and subpar story elements. Source link #Precinct #review #enjoyable #repetitive #GTAstyle #police #sandbox #Traxion.GG Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]