Pelican Press

Republican Budget Bill Aims to End I.R.A. Clean Energy ***** Republican Budget Bill Aims to End I.R.A. Clean Energy ***** At least 24 factories have been set up in the United States to produce electric cars that qualify for the credit, including a Ford plant making plug-in hybrids in Louisville, Ky., and a General Motors battery plant in Ohio, according to a study from Atlas Public Policy, a research firm. Near Savannah, Ga., Hyundai invested in a $7.5 billion factory to build some of its most popular electric vehicle models, which qualify for the consumer credit. Local politicians, who spent years persuading Hyundai to come to the site, are concerned about possible changes to law. “It’s difficult for a company to invest somewhere and then conditions change,” said Bert Brantley, chief executive of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce. “So our take is that some consistency is helpful for companies as they make large investments.” Still, Mr. Brantley said he hoped that Georgia could continue to be a leader in electric vehicle production regardless of what happens to the tax credits. “This is a long-term play, we hope to be at it for a long time,” he said. Other Energy Technologies in Limbo Over the past three years, the federal government has also been supporting a broad array of emerging energy technologies that are less mature, including low-carbon hydrogen fuels that could power trucks, new processes to make cement and steel without emissions, as well as technologies to pull carbon dioxide out of the air. Many of these projects could potentially qualify for tax breaks in the Inflation Reduction Act. Others have been supported by billions of dollars in grants and loans from the Department of Energy. In Western Minnesota, DG Fuels plans a $5 billion plant to produce aviation fuel from agricultural waste. In Indiana, Heidelberg Materials, a cement maker, wants to capture the carbon dioxide it emits and bury it underground. In Louisiana, a company is planning to make a low-carbon ammonia that could be used for fertilizer. New Orleans, which has become a major hub for exporting natural gas, has seen a ***** in new industries like carbon capture and hydrogen that could help cut emissions in the future. “We’re becoming very diversified,” said Michael Hecht, president of Greater New Orleans, Inc., the economic development agency for southeast Louisiana. Source link #Republican #Budget #Bill #Aims #I.R.A #Clean #Energy #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Republican Budget Bill Aims to End I.R.A. Clean Energy ***** Republican Budget Bill Aims to End I.R.A. Clean Energy ***** At least 24 factories have been set up in the United States to produce electric cars that qualify for the credit, including a Ford plant making plug-in hybrids in Louisville, Ky., and a General Motors battery plant in Ohio, according to a study from Atlas Public Policy, a research firm. Near Savannah, Ga., Hyundai invested in a $7.5 billion factory to build some of its most popular electric vehicle models, which qualify for the consumer credit. Local politicians, who spent years persuading Hyundai to come to the site, are concerned about possible changes to law. “It’s difficult for a company to invest somewhere and then conditions change,” said Bert Brantley, chief executive of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce. “So our take is that some consistency is helpful for companies as they make large investments.” Still, Mr. Brantley said he hoped that Georgia could continue to be a leader in electric vehicle production regardless of what happens to the tax credits. “This is a long-term play, we hope to be at it for a long time,” he said. Other Energy Technologies in Limbo Over the past three years, the federal government has also been supporting a broad array of emerging energy technologies that are less mature, including low-carbon hydrogen fuels that could power trucks, new processes to make cement and steel without emissions, as well as technologies to pull carbon dioxide out of the air. Many of these projects could potentially qualify for tax breaks in the Inflation Reduction Act. Others have been supported by billions of dollars in grants and loans from the Department of Energy. In Western Minnesota, DG Fuels plans a $5 billion plant to produce aviation fuel from agricultural waste. In Indiana, Heidelberg Materials, a cement maker, wants to capture the carbon dioxide it emits and bury it underground. In Louisiana, a company is planning to make a low-carbon ammonia that could be used for fertilizer. New Orleans, which has become a major hub for exporting natural gas, has seen a ***** in new industries like carbon capture and hydrogen that could help cut emissions in the future. “We’re becoming very diversified,” said Michael Hecht, president of Greater New Orleans, Inc., the economic development agency for southeast Louisiana. Source link #Republican #Budget #Bill #Aims #I.R.A #Clean #Energy #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nissan to cut 11,000 more jobs and shut seven factories – BBC Nissan to cut 11,000 more jobs and shut seven factories – BBC Nissan to cut 11,000 more jobs and shut seven factories BBCNissan slashes 15% of its global work force as Japan automaker sinks into losses The HillNissan to suspend operations at some domestic plants as part of restructuring, Nikkei says ReutersNissan Skips Profit Guidance, Shuts Factories as Crisis Deepens Bloomberg.comNissan to cut over 10,000 more jobs globally, NHK reports CNBC Source link #Nissan #cut #jobs #shut #factories #BBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

After promising universal health care, California Gov. Gavin Newsom must reconsider immigrant coverage After promising universal health care, California Gov. Gavin Newsom must reconsider immigrant coverage SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom didn’t expect to be reckoning with another health care crisis. In March, as President Trump and congressional Republicans escalated a nationwide debate over whether to slash health care for poor and disabled Americans, the Democratic governor had to tell state lawmakers that California’s health care costs had spiraled out of control due to major Medicaid initiatives he backed — including the nation’s largest expansion of taxpayer-financed health care for immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. His top officials at the state Department of Finance quietly disclosed to California lawmakers in a letter that the state had borrowed $3.4 billion to pay health insurers, doctors, and hospitals caring for patients enrolled in California’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. Facing rising health care costs amid a deepening state budget crisis, Newsom now must contemplate rolling back coverage and benefits. The second-term governor faces a tough political decision: renege on his promise to achieve universal health care and strip coverage from millions of immigrants who lack legal status or look elsewhere for budget cuts. With nearly 15 million low-income or disabled residents enrolled in Medi-Cal, California has more to lose on health care than any other state. Yet even as Newsom has condemned Mr. Trump’s approach to tariffs and environmental policies, he has been tight-lipped on health policy. Complicating his political tightrope: Polling shows that providing health care coverage for immigrants without legal status has tepid support. And any resulting budget trouble could harm his political legacy should he run for president in 2028. “We all know that the cuts are definitely coming,” said Carlos Alarcon, a health and public benefits analyst with the California Immigrant Policy Center, which has helped spearhead a decadelong campaign in California to expand Medicaid to eligible immigrants without legal status. “The governor should keep his commitment — we’ll be very disappointed if we see cuts and rollbacks. When times get hard, it’s always our marginalized and underserved communities that lose out.” California allows any low-income adults to enroll in Medi-Cal if they earn 138% of the federal poverty level, or $21,597 a year or less, regardless of immigration status. But the costs have been dramatically higher than expected. Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown first expanded Medi-Cal to people age 19 and younger without legal status, but he expressed reluctance to go further because of potential costs. Newsom signed bills into law adding people age 20 and older. An estimated 1.6 million immigrants without legal status are now covered, and costs have soared to $9.5 billion per year, up from $6.4 billion estimated in November. The federal government chips in roughly $1.1 billion of that total for pregnancy and emergency care. “We can expand out of the graciousness of our heart to everywhere and anywhere, but the moment these resources run out, now everybody loses. We’re hitting that breaking point,” said California Assembly member David Tangipa (R-Fresno). “Either we get fiscally responsible, or there’s not going to be services for anybody — and that includes the Californian and the undocumented immigrant.” Democratic leaders responsible for approving the state budget declined interviews. In a statement, state Sen. María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), who championed the expansion in the legislature, said, “Rolling back this progress would be a harmful and shortsighted decision.” Lawmakers are considering freezing enrollment for immigrants without legal status, imposing cost-sharing measures such as drug copays or premiums, or restricting benefits, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified to protect relationships at the state Capitol. However, it’s unlikely Newsom will slash funding in his budget revision set for release on May 14. Instead, cuts would follow if congressional Republicans approve a budget deal with major reductions in federal spending on Medicaid. “This is going to be very problematic for the governor. Budget cuts will disrupt the lives of millions of immigrants who just got health care, but the governor has got to do something, because this is not sustainable,” said Mark Peterson, an expert on health care and national politics at UCLA. “The prospect of cutting other places in order to support immigrants living in the country illegally would be a hard political *****; I don’t see that happening.” Should Newsom, along with the Democratic-controlled legislature, be forced to make cuts, he could argue he had no choice. Mr. Trump and congressional Republicans have threatened states like California with the latest U.S. House proposal cutting Medicaid funding by 10 percentage points for states that provide coverage for immigrants without legal status. For Newsom, political analysts say, Mr. Trump could make an easy scapegoat. “He can blame Trump — there’s only so much money to go around,” said Mike Madrid, an anti-Trump Republican political analyst in California who specializes in Latino issues. “It’s making people look at the health care that they can’t afford and ask, ‘Why the hell are we giving it for free to people who are here illegally?'” The exorbitant cost has come as somewhat of a surprise. In Newsom’s first budget proposal as governor — in which he called for expanding Medi-Cal to young adults without legal status — his administration estimated it would cost roughly $2.4 billion annually to extend benefits to all eligible people regardless of status. But the latest figure reported to legislators was nearly four times as much. Newsom declined to respond to questions from KFF Health News, instead referencing previous comments that leave the door open to scaling back Medi-Cal. The governor noted “sober” discussions with lawmakers and said cutting Medi-Cal is “an open-ended question” that the president will heavily influence. “What’s the impact of Donald Trump on a lot of these things? What’s the impact of federal vandalism to a lot of these programs?” Newsom asked rhetorically in December, suggesting it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to sustain the expansion to immigrants without legal status in future years. Newsom expanded Medi-Cal in three phases, starting with immigrants ages 19 to 25, who became eligible in 2020, resisting pressure from health care advocates for one big, costly expansion. He argued doing it incrementally would ultimately save California money. “It is the right thing morally and ethically,” Newsom said in 2020. “It is also the financially responsible thing to do.” Record budget surpluses in recent years allowed Democrats to continue. Older adults ages 50 to 64 became eligible in 2022, and Newsom closed the gap the following year, approving coverage starting in 2024 for the biggest group, those ages 26 to 49. But the costs have grown tremendously while the budget picture has soured, according to a KFF analysis of the most recent 2023 records available from the state Department of Health Care Services, which administers Medi-Cal. Aside from children, it was more expensive to provide Medicaid coverage to immigrants without legal status than to legal residents. For instance, Medi-Cal paid L.A. Care, a major health insurer in Los Angeles, an average of $495.32 monthly to provide care for a childless adult without legal status and $266.77 for a legal resident without kids. Not only were immigrants without legal status more expensive, California footed most of the cost. The state paid roughly between 60% and 70% of health care costs for a childless adult immigrant covered by L.A. Care, and about 10% for a legal resident without kids. Those costs don’t encapsulate the entire cost of providing care, which can vary depending on where Medi-Cal patients live, and grow higher when filling prescriptions, going to the dentist, or seeking mental health care. These payments also differ by insurer, but the trend holds across the state’s Medi-Cal health insurance plans. Patients in most of the state can choose from more than one health plan. Children without legal status in many cases were cheaper to cover than children who were legal residents. Generally, kids are healthier and require less care. Mike Genest, who served as finance director under former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, argued that the state should have planned for the immense price tag. “The idea that we’d be able to afford in the long run paying for health care for all these undocumented people — it’s beyond unsustainable,” Genest said. While costs are high now, the expansion of Medi-Cal will result in long-term savings to taxpayers and the health care system, said Anthony Wright, who previously lobbied for the expansion as the head of the nonprofit Health Access and is now fighting Medicaid cuts as the executive director of Families USA, based in Washington, D.C. “They’re going to be showing up in our health care system regardless,” Wright said. “Leaving them without health insurance is just going to end in more crowded emergency rooms, and it’s going to cost even more. It doesn’t make any sense economically for them to be uninsured; that takes critical revenue from clinics and hospitals, just causing more problems.” This article was produced by KFF Health News, a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. KFF Health News is the publisher of California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. Source link #promising #universal #health #care #California #Gov #Gavin #Newsom #reconsider #immigrant #coverage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Hackers can steal money and make your bank account look intact Hackers can steal money and make your bank account look intact Hackers have become increasingly sophisticated in targeting bank accounts, sometimes stealing money without the account holder realizing it right away. This raises an unsettling concern among many: could someone actually drain your bank account while making it appear as though your balance remains untouched? As Bruce from Phoenix asks, “Is it true that hackers can wipe out your bank account but make it look like the money is still there?” The short answer is yes, though it’s rare and requires a high level of skill. Still, even the possibility is alarming, especially when you consider how easily people can fall victim to common tactics hackers use to gain access to accounts in the first place. Join the FREE “CyberGuy Report”: Get my expert tech tips, critical security alerts and exclusive deals, plus instant access to my free “Ultimate Scam Survival Guide” when you sign up! A hacker at work There’s a long list of methods cybercriminals use to get into people’s financial accounts, and most of them don’t involve “hacking” in the Hollywood sense. Instead, they rely on tricking you into handing over sensitive information. Here are some of the most common techniques. Fake banking apps and mobile trojans: Some apps are designed to look exactly like your bank’s official app, but they’re actually fakes. If you enter your login info, it goes straight to the scammer. Even more advanced are mobile banking trojans, which hide inside seemingly unrelated apps. Once installed, the ******* watches for when you open your real banking app and then quickly overlays a fake login screen. If you type in your credentials, the ******* grabs them and sends them off to the attacker. Read On The Fox News App Phishing scams: Scammers send emails or texts that appear to be from your bank, asking you to verify a transaction or log in to resolve an issue. These messages often include links to websites that look identical to your bank’s site but are actually fakes. The giveaway is often a small detail, like a misspelled URL. For example, “captial0ne.com” instead of “capitalone.com.” Keyloggers: Keyloggers are a type of malware that silently records everything you type. If one gets onto your device, it can capture your banking username, password and anything else you type, all without you knowing. Man-in-the-middle attacks: These attacks happen when hackers intercept the data being transmitted between you and your bank’s website. This is especially risky if you’re on public Wi-Fi. You may think you’re logging in securely, but a hacker could be watching everything or even redirecting you to a fake version of your bank’s site. SIM swapping: Sim swapping is where a scammer contacts your phone provider, pretends to be you and asks to transfer your number to a new SIM card. If successful, they receive your text messages, including any verification codes sent by your bank. This gives them access to your account, even if two-factor authentication is turned on. A person using a bank card to shop via laptop Sneaky Scammers Drain Bank Account In Sinister Phone Phishing Scheme This is where it gets unsettling. In rare cases, hackers can actually make it look like your bank balance hasn’t changed, even though they’ve already taken the money. How? By targeting the display layer of your banking app or web interface. If malware is installed on your device, it can manipulate what shows up on the screen. That means your balance might look normal, while your actual funds are long gone. This type of attack is extremely rare and usually requires access to a compromised or jailbroken device, but it’s technically possible and just sophisticated enough to delay you from realizing what happened. Bank alert notification on smartphone Preventing This Insidious Email Forwarding Scam That Will Drain Your Bank Account The good news? You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself. Just following these key steps can dramatically reduce your risk. 1) Use official apps only: Cybercriminals will try to trick you with fake banking apps and mobile trojans that overlay fake login screens, so it’s critical to download banking apps exclusively from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Never install apps from links in emails or texts. 2) Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA): SIM-swapping attacks can ******* your phone number and intercept SMS codes, so enable app-based 2Fa to block unauthorized logins even if hackers obtain your password. 3) Get text or app alerts: Hackers can manipulate your account’s display to hide stolen funds, so set up real-time transaction alerts to expose unauthorized withdrawals immediately, especially for microtransactions used to test your account. 4) Use strong, unique passwords: Phishing scams and keyloggers often harvest weak or reused credentials, so use a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here. 5) Avoid clicking suspicious links and install strong antivirus software: Scammers impersonate banks with phishing emails/texts containing misspelled URLs (e.g., “captial0ne.com”), so always navigate directly to your bank’s official website or app instead of clicking embedded links. Strong antivirus software helps protect your devices from fake apps, keyloggers and other threats. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks of the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. 6) Check your accounts regularly: Don’t just glance at your balance. Review recent transactions at least once a week to catch any suspicious activity. 7) Avoid public Wi-Fi for banking: Hackers exploit unsecured networks to launch man-in-the-middle attacks and spoof banking sites, so use a VPN to encrypt your connection if you must bank on public Wi-Fi. VPNs will protect you from those who want to track and identify your potential location and the websites that you visit. For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. 8) Use a personal data removal service: Data brokers sell your contact details and personal information, which hackers can use for targeted phishing attacks or SIM swap scams. These services automatically remove your data from broker databases, reducing the risk of social engineering attempts that could compromise your bank account. While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you. Check out my top picks for data removal services here. Got A Bank Transfer Alert Text? It Might Be A Scam. Here’s What To Do Hackers don’t need to break into your bank’s system; they just need to trick you. Whether it’s phishing, malware or SIM swaps, the goal is always the same: get access to your login and verification codes. Fortunately, you can make it much harder for them by using secure habits and staying alert. Your money belongs with you, not in the hands of a scammer. Has this ever happened to you or someone you know? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact. For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter. Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover. Follow Kurt on his social channels: Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Try CyberGuy’s new games (crosswords, word searches, trivia and more!) CyberGuy’s exclusive coupons and deals Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Original article source: Hackers can steal money and make your bank account look intact Source link #Hackers #steal #money #bank #account #intact Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

iQOO Neo 10 India Price Range, AnTuTu Score Revealed Ahead of May 26 Launch; Specifications Teased iQOO Neo 10 India Price Range, AnTuTu Score Revealed Ahead of May 26 Launch; Specifications Teased iQOO Neo 10 is set to launch in India on May 26 and will go on ***** via Amazon. As the launch date nears, the Vivo sub-brand has hinted at the price range and AnTuTu score of the device. The iQOO Neo 10 is teased to come with a 50-megapixel rear camera and a 32-megapixel front camera. It is also confirmed to ship with a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC and a 7,000mAh battery. It will be available in two colour options and an AMOLED display. The iQOO Neo 10 landed in the China in November last year, but has a different chipset under the hood. Amazon India has a dedicated landing page on its website teasing the arrival of iQOO Neo 10 on May 26. The listing shows that the upcoming Neo series phone will be priced under Rs. 35,000 in the country. It is claimed to be the segment’s most powerful smartphone. It is also said to be the only phone to offer 144fps for gaming in this price range. Further, iQOO states that the iQOO Neo 10 has received an AnTuTu score of more than 2.42 million. It is already confirmed to ship with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset and the company’s Q1 gaming chipset. It will be available in Inferno Red and Titanium Chrome colourways. QOO Neo 10 Specifications iQOO Neo 10 is teased to feature an AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution, 5,500 nits peak brightness and 144Hz refresh rate. It will include a 50-megapixel Sony portrait rear camera with OIS and a 32-megapixel selfie shooter. It is confirmed to house a 7,000mAh battery with 120W wired charging support. This fast charging feature is claimed to fill the battery from zero to 50 percent in 15 minutes. It will have LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.1 storage and a 7,000mm sq vapour cooling chamber for thermal management. It will measure 8.09mm in thickness. iQOO Neo 10 was launched in China in November last year with a starting price tag of CNY 2399 (roughly Rs. 28,000) for the base 12GB + 256GB version. The ******** variant has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC under the hood and sports a 6,100mAh battery with support for 120W charging. It has a 6.78-inch AMOLED display. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #iQOO #Neo #India #Price #Range #AnTuTu #Score #Revealed #Ahead #Launch #Specifications #Teased Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump hints at gatecrashing Zelensky and Putin’s landmark meeting in Turkey – The Independent Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump hints at gatecrashing Zelensky and Putin’s landmark meeting in Turkey – The Independent Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump hints at gatecrashing Zelensky and Putin’s landmark meeting in Turkey The IndependentTrump considers attending Ukraine-Russia talks in Turkey CNNZelensky will only meet with Putin in Istanbul, lower-level talks pointless, aide says The Kyiv IndependentRussia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,174 Al JazeeraTrump’s offer to join Russia-Ukraine peace talks triggers flurry of diplomacy Reuters Source link #UkraineRussia #war #latest #Trump #hints #gatecrashing #Zelensky #Putins #landmark #meeting #Turkey #Independent Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NHS trust cloud plans hampered by Trump tariff uncertainty NHS trust cloud plans hampered by Trump tariff uncertainty A plan by Essex-based Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAH) to move some capacity to Nutanix cloud-based services is blocked by uncertainty over pricing amid US president Donald Trump’s recent flurry of on-off, up-down tariffs. PAH saved £500,000 when it migrated from VMware on end-of-life EMC VNX storage arrays to Nutanix hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) several years ago. Now its plan to use NC2 services from Nutanix is blocked by pricing uncertainty that doesn’t play well with *** public sector procurement processes. Recently, the PAH IT team decided on a plan to replace its existing 16 Nutanix nodes with two five-node clusters, where the second of these would be in the cloud on Nutanix NC2. But, said Jack Ciezak, infrastructure manager at the trust, recent turmoil around tariffs and its effect on pricing have forced the project to be put on hold. “Because of the uncertainty with the cloud and skyrocketing costs, we stopped,” said Ciezak. “We decided we’re going to do this very slowly, meaning we’re going to wait to see what will happen, and right now, we decided to have it on-premise.” NHS procurement Part of the issue here is NHS procurement, which means IT teams must evaluate the market, ask for the release of funds and then have a limited ******* during which they can finalise the purchase. That means, if prices fluctuate wildly, things can go wrong, said Ciezak. “When Nutanix quote, it is based on today’s date and what the dollar is worth,” he said. “And then we have that for 15 or 30 days, but you cannot get everything done within 30 days, especially when your organisation and your executive has to approve it. “It has to go to the ICS [local integrated care system] to be approved by them,” said Ciezak. “And then this needs to be approved by NHS England, and they only meet once a month. So, before you get everything done, they say, ‘Oh, now the price changed’. “And right now, we do not know what is actually going on with the dollar.” How will things be resolved? Ciezak said: “I’m waiting for what will happen in the next one and a half years, when things become stable in global terms. We do not know whether that will happen. And right now, I know that people that went to the cloud five years ago, when it was relatively new, now they’re coming back because they cannot afford it.” PAH’s original move to Nutanix came in 2019, by which time its EMC VNX external storage was seven years old and Dell support had stopped in 2018. Since then, it ditched Microsoft Hyper-V on Nutanix and moved to the hyper-converged infrastructure supplier’s Acropolis hypervisor. Ciezak said he’d never heard of Nutanix or hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) at the time, when he spoke to Computer Weekly at Nutanix’s .Next 2025 event in the US last week. HCI saw compute and storage bundled together in nodes that could connect in grid-like fashion to form clusters, often with server and storage components scalable independently. This was a particularly attractive proposition to customers that lacked deep skillsets as they were relatively easily deployable and scalable. “We went to the market to see what was out there and at the time we never knew who Nutanix was,” he said. “Also, we were bombarded by the big vendors as soon as I mentioned the project on LinkedIn. So, we had everything lined up to go with one of the big boys, but I had a deadline of three weeks, otherwise I’d lose the money allocated [due to procurement system constraints]. Nutanix said they could deliver within three weeks, and they did.” And, according to Ciezak, the trust saved big by going with Nutanix and hyper-converged instead of a traditional storage supplier. “We saved nearly half a million because the other vendors came in at around £1m while we paid around £550,000 for Nutanix,” he said. That was in addition to savings of around 75% on power, cooling and datacentre floorspace as the EMC setup’s 30 nodes and 2x 42U of rack space was reduced to 16 Nutanix nodes. That setup now supports around 450 virtual machines and 260 different applications. Initially, Nutanix was configured with the Microsoft Hyper-V hypervisor because Ciezak was well versed in it, but Nutanix tried to persuade him to go with their Acropolis hypervisor (AHV). “Nutanix offered us AHV,” said Ciezak. “I said, ‘No, I have no idea who you are. You have to do Microsoft Hyper V, because that’s what I know. I spent 11 or 12 years studying this. Maybe later on, when I’ve learned your platform, I will consider AHV.’” After that, some Microsoft Hyper-V functionality became unsupported in Nutanix. That prompted him to consider migrating to AHV, and that took place during the Christmas ******* in 2024. The same number of Nutanix nodes remained – 16 split between two sites – but the hypervisor was migrated from Hyper-V to Nutanix’s AHV. The key benefits for Ciezak were latency, boot time and general ease of management. “Latency between nodes and VM guests on Hyper-V is 15 millisecond-plus. On AHV it is sub-millisecond,” he said. “Hyper-V is a hypervisor over a hypervisor. Using AHV and [Nutanix’s OS] AOS, you don’t have to go through the virtual storage protocols anymore, because you directly access the storage. “That was the biggest gain,” added Ciezak. “To boot in Windows, when we were doing Windows updates on a monthly basis, let’s say server 2016 on Hyper-V, it took about seven minutes to do the boot. Now, it takes 15 seconds or less on AHV.” Source link #NHS #trust #cloud #plans #hampered #Trump #tariff #uncertainty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Some children at obesity clinics have BMI of 50 Some children at obesity clinics have BMI of 50 Getty Images A disproportionate number of children referred to NHS excess weight clinics in England are from the most deprived areas, and a significant number are neurodivergent or have other health conditions, a study has found. Some have a body mass index (BMI) over 50, with 40 deemed to be severely obese. Nearly 4,800 under-18s have been referred to the clinics since they were set up in 2021, according to research carried out by Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds and Bristol universities and presented at the European Congress on Obesity. The clinics provide mental health support and care for other underlying conditions, as well as dietary advice. Specialist excess weight clinics treat severely obese children in England aged 2-17, who are flagged as needing help by their GP or another doctor. The clinics are run by multi-disciplinary teams including paediatricians, psychologists and dieticians. The new research, which looked at 32 of the clinics, found that over 40% of the children attending them lived in the most deprived neighbourhoods. Based on data from more than 3,000 child patients, many had other health conditions: 24% had autism23% a learning disability30% had liver diseasea significant proportion had another health complication “Living with excess weight can cause problems affecting every organ system,” said Professor Simon Kenny, national clinical director at NHS England. “We also know that children living with health problems can have poorer school attendance, which can affect their future employment and life opportunities. “The NHS won’t just sit by and let children and young people become ill adults.” Some of the specialist clinics are using digital technology for weight loss support. For example, children can use ‘smart scales’ at home which do not show their weight. The data is connected to a mobile app to show the trend without the numbers. Only clinicians are able to see the data and provide feedback to the family. In another paper presented to the European Congress on Obesity, presented by Dr Annika Janson from Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden, researchers said giving weight loss jabs to children could be effective. She said that trials of the drugs in children aged 12 and over had shown a loss of 5-16% of body weight after a year, but added it was “difficult to isolate the effect of adding GLP-1 drugs to the plethora of treatments that are already available”. The medicines regulator NICE has not approved weight loss drugs for routine use by children in England, although they can be provided by specialists if there is urgent clinical need. What does BMI mean? Body mass index (BMI) is widely used as a simple way of finding out whether a person is a healthy weight for their height. For adults: a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered to be a healthy weight a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered to be overweight a BMI over 30 is considered to be obese But it’s not accurate for everyone because it can’t tell the difference between **** and muscle, and doesn’t take into account ethnic background. Your waist circumference may be a better guide. Source link #children #obesity #clinics #BMI Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meth user who ran over cop found guilty of manslaughter Meth user who ran over cop found guilty of manslaughter A car thief who was under the influence of meth when he ran over and killed a police officer after a car pursuit has been found guilty of manslaughter. Source link #Meth #user #ran #cop #guilty #manslaughter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025: The Year of the Compact Smartphones in India? OnePlus Answers the Call With 13s 2025: The Year of the Compact Smartphones in India? OnePlus Answers the Call With 13s OnePlus 13s, the company’s first compact smartphone ever, is all set to launch in India soon. Now, OnePlus is a brand that doesn’t have a launch every month and has a very streamlined smartphone line-up catering to consumers in almost every price segment, starting at as low as Rs. 17,999 for the Nord CE 4 Lite to all the way to the OnePlus 13 at Rs. 69,999. With the 13s, OnePlus says it is addressing a key demand where, lately, consumers want a smartphone delivering flagship-level performance in a smaller form factor. However, OnePlus emphasises that “compact” doesn’t mean sacrificing features. Additionally, Counterpoint published a consumer survey last month capturing the gaps in the market when it comes to compact smartphones. While OnePlus commissioned the survey, it was still a great way to gauge consumer reaction and check demand. Ahead of the company’s big launch, Gadgets 360 got to speak to Robin Liu, CEO – OnePlus India, to understand why 13s and why now. We also got a chance to talk to Counterpoint’s Research Director, Tarun Pathak, on the recent survey. OnePlus has been positioning the OnePlus 13s as a strategically placed device in their lineup, offering a balance between flagship performance and affordability in a compact design. We asked Robin about potential demand and observation of OnePlus as a smartphone manufacturer; he explained, “Basis early projections of where the market is headed, 2025 truly looks like the year of the compact smartphones being the popular need of the hour. While ******* screens do have their advantages and have been loved by one and all, consumers and our community members are now also increasingly looking at the convenience of usage as a key aspect when choosing a phone.” Referring to the recent Counterpoint survey stated that users are now seeking smartphones that better align with everyday usability. It said 88% of Indian smartphone users expressed willingness to switch to compact smartphones without compromising performance. We wanted to understand if it was an excellent time for the 13s launch. “It is interesting to see that compact smartphones are yet again gaining popularity amongst a segment of our community owing to the form factor and ease of use they provide, like casual gaming and social media activities, making it a favourable solution for some. This signals an exciting opportunity to reimagine compact flagships that don’t just fit into smaller pockets — but into evolving lifestyles,” Robin said. “The demand is clear: people want a compact phone that fits comfortably in their hands and in their lives. This presents an exciting opportunity to reimagine compact flagships that deliver the best of both worlds: portability and power. At OnePlus, we hear you. And we’re ready for what’s next,” he added. The 13s will be powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite OnePlus 13s to be placed between 13 and 13R We also wanted to clarify the naming of the upcoming 13-series phone. Why was the “s” chosen for this particular model, and where does it fit in the company’s product line-up? Robin clarified, “OnePlus 13s signifies our pursuit for excellence and is born from our unwavering commitment to the ‘Never Settle’ philosophy. This device proudly carries forward the legacy of our flagship OnePlus 13 series – in a smaller, smarter and more powerful form factor. The device has been tailor-made especially for the Indian audience, keeping in mind their needs and is aimed at being their daily driver. It will be sweetly placed between the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R for those who do not wish to compromise on flagship-grade performance while not burning a hole in their pocket.” It will be sweetly placed between the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R, said Robin Liu Next, we wanted to understand that OnePlus isn’t the only brand exploring the compact segment. Several brands are exploring different approaches to compact design, for example, slimming bezels, reducing overall size, and decreasing display dimensions. Which of these approaches do you believe will resonate most strongly with the Indian consumer, and why? Robin started by setting context about the entire compact smartphone ecosystem in India. “In markets like India, where the phone is often the primary device for entertainment and work, consumers are not willing to compromise on performance. Often, when they hear the word ‘compact’, they think it means compromise – because a small form factor may mean compromises in battery, performance, display, etc. With OnePlus 13s, our aim is to equate compact with powerful. A device that is the perfect balance of software and hardware integration and stands for the signature fast and smooth experience that consumers expect of us. And with OnePlus 13s, we have worked on a design philosophy that ensures users don’t have to compromise usability for size.” Robin Liu, CEO, OnePlus India Compact smartphones: The essentials When asked if there’s a significant gap in the Indian market for a truly high-performance compact smartphone that doesn’t compromise on key features, Robin excitedly answers, “Absolutely. Around 68% of Indian users feel the market lacks sufficient options for compact smartphones that deliver flagship-grade specifications, quoting from the recent Counterpoint survey. Most compact options today tend to scale back on critical aspects like processing power, charging speed, or camera quality.” “We are at an intriguing space where we are witnessing that the Indian consumer is evolving rapidly and expects a premium, all-round experience regardless of form factor. When looking at the insights of the Counterpoint report that focuses on compact smartphones, while there is a gap and if worked on, about 74% of the respondents will opt for a compact smartphone as their next purchase, which is a forward-looking statement even when the momentum is currently building and progressing. The task then falls to brands like OnePlus to work on building compact propositions such as the OnePlus 13s that ensure ease of use through its form factor, seamless software integrations that enable ease of high-performance use cases like that of gaming, content creation on-the-go and multitasking,” he added. Considering that 13s will enter a segment with less competition, we asked Robin how OnePlus sees the current competitive landscape for compact smartphones in India and some factors that influence the R&D of the phone. “Currently, the compact smartphone segment in India has yet to realise its full potential. While some devices in a compact form factor are available, consumer preferences indicate an ideal screen size of <6.5 inches when considering a compact phone, hinting at a significant opportunity for innovation. There is a clear demand for a device that strikes the perfect balance between performance and size. Although pricing remains a consideration, consumers increasingly expect flagship-level experiences from their compact smartphones. These insights heavily influenced the R&D behind our latest offering, the OnePlus 13s,” he said. “At OnePlus, it is our ongoing pursuit to ‘Never Settle’ in finding the best solution and provide the best user experience and thus was conceptualised the OnePlus 13s. We see the compact smartphone space as a perfect opportunity for leadership — developing a device that caters to both local users’ needs and delivers global performance standards. The OnePlus 13s embodies our commitment to burdenless design, camera capabilities optimised for selfies and groupfies, and meaningful AI innovations that elevate the overall user experience,” he added. When asked about the biggest challenges in achieving this “smart yet powerful” proposition in a smaller form factor, Robin simplified, “The challenge lies in engineering excellence. Smaller devices constrain internal space, making it harder to accommodate high-end processors, cooling systems, and larger batteries—all without adding bulk. Thermal management, in particular, becomes critical. With the OnePlus 13s, we’ve approached this challenge with precision towards design, rethinking internal architecture and leveraging material innovation to strike the right balance between compact size and uncompromised performance.” The new button is placed on the left side of the phone chassis Understanding the changing consumer preferences (ft. Counterpoint) In an email conversation with Tarun, we asked about the key drivers behind this potential shift towards compact smartphones in the Indian market in 2025. Tarun breaks it down for us, “The shift towards compact smartphones in the Indian market in 2025 is largely driven by changing consumer preferences and evolving usage patterns. As smartphones have become central to daily life—used not just for communication or entertainment but also for banking, health tracking, and productivity—users are now seeking devices that are both powerful and practical for extended, on-the-go use.” He continues, “After years of growing screen sizes, many consumers are now experiencing fatigue with large, bulky phones that are difficult to handle. A compact form factor offers a more comfortable grip, reduces the chances of accidental drops, and enables easier one-handed use—especially valuable for multitasking in transit or during long usage periods. This growing desire for portability, without compromising on performance, is becoming a major purchase driver.” On being asked about the primary pain points of consumers using large-screen smartphones, Tarun added, “A lot of users are starting to feel the requirement for a compact smartphone device. In fact, 53% say they struggle to operate them with one hand, and 47% mention they’ve had issues with grip or even dropped their phones. On top of that, 46% find these phones too bulky to carry around, and 41% say they cause strain on their fingers or wrists. It’s no surprise then that, according to a Counterpoint Research survey, 88% of people would consider switching to a compact smartphone—as long as it offers the same level of performance as a big flagship. Beyond just size, what specific use cases are driving the demand for compact smartphones in India? Tarun responded, “The demand for compact smartphones in India stems not just from their smaller size, built from the convenience they offer in everyday life. Users find them easier to manage during crowded metro rides, for quick one-handed texting while walking, or when taking calls while multitasking at home or work. They’re easy to slip into a small bag or pocket—ideal for travel and jogging. Whether it’s comfortably using the phone while standing in a bus or metro, making UPI payments on the go, or snapping a quick selfie with one hand, these real-life scenarios highlight how a phone that fits well in the hand can make daily interactions smoother and more seamless.” “Alongside these practical use cases, there is a growing niche of users who are often influenced by digital wellness and minimalistic lifestyle trends. They may opt for the compact smartphone to avoid distractions and focus on the essential tasks on their smartphone. For them, the smaller form factor is a conscious choice to encourage more mindful and intentional use of technology,” he added. The company has teased the full design of the OnePlus 13s in India. It will feature a new physical button, which can be synced for particular tasks. Powering the phone will be Qualcomm’s top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, and the screen size is 6.32-inch, making this the company’s smallest offering in India in terms of screen size. Stay tuned to Gadgets 360 for the launch of the OnePlus 13s. Source link #Year #Compact #Smartphones #India #OnePlus #Answers #Call #13s Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin: Is $150,000 a Possible Target Amid ETF Surge and Dollar Weakness? Bitcoin: Is $150,000 a Possible Target Amid ETF Surge and Dollar Weakness? at $150,000: a possible target? Bitcoin continues its upward phase, approaching a new all-time high. This trend should give pause to those still expressing uncertainty, considering that unlike the sharply declining global stock markets, Bitcoin has maintained considerable value. Bitcoin is aiming straight for an all-time high; the target we had in mind is there within reach. Pushing on the accelerator is the money that is coming in: in the United States, spot ETFs have soared by $5.3 billion in the past three weeks, while those targeting the downside (hedge funds) have raised “only” $1.2 billion. The surplus balance thus exceeds $4 billion, thanks mainly to large investors who are accumulating Bitcoin. Prominent among them all is Strategy, what was once MicroStrategy, which now finds itself with as many as 555,450 Bitcoins, a whopping 2.6 percent of all those in circulation. The report also highlights encouraging aspects, such as the shift in investments from gold ETFs to Bitcoin ETFs, rising yields on U.S. Treasury bonds, and acquisitions by major financial institutions such as the Swiss National Bank and Norges Bank. In addition, the devaluation of the is stimulating interest in Bitcoin, which is increasingly seen as a “digital gold” and a viable alternative to classic safe-haven assets. Large capital movements suggest renewed confidence in the stability of cryptocurrencies, which are seen as a viable alternative to traditional forms of investment. At a time of uncertainty for stocks and bonds, Bitcoin is once again attracting investors aiming for yield and capital protection. Technical analysis shows marked growth in Bitcoin, supported by significant capital inflows, as indicated by rising volumes and the crossing of crucial resistance. On-chain analysis supports this interpretation, with record net inflows in spot ETFs, suggesting a structural move rather than a simple technical rebound. There are question marks over Bitcoin regulation. In 2025, cryptocurrency regulation in the United States has held sway, with the SEC and other agencies very active. Although more clarity was expected, some good news has come: New Hampshire has passed a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” law, opening up investment in digital assets. Other states such as Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and Texas are considering similar laws sponsored by a pro-Bitcoin organization. The general mood is somewhat mixed, but there is optimism. Hopefully, quick regulation will give the cryptocurrency market a nice boost. In my wallet, I have both Bitcoin and Chainlink, a cryptocurrency that serves as a decentralized network of oracles. Chainlink aims to improve the performance and security of blockchain smart contracts by providing them with real-world data and external calculations. In essence, Chainlink is an oracle token, created specifically to make smart contracts more useful by giving them the ability to access concrete data such as weather or sports results. Bitcoin’s trend is strongly bullish, with recent increases supported by above-average volumes and with prices above the 200-******* moving average. Forecasts of falling interest rates and more favorable regulation for cryptocurrencies later this year are promising. Under this scenario, I believe the price of Bitcoin could exceed $150,000. Source link #Bitcoin #Target #ETF #Surge #Dollar #Weakness Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Giant puppet herd embarks on 12,000 mile Africa-Arctic migration Giant puppet herd embarks on 12,000 mile Africa-Arctic migration STORY: A spectacular migration from Central Africa to the Arctic Circle is underway. :: The Walk Productions In what organisers are calling the largest-scale public art installation ever attempted, a growing carnival of zoologically-accurate animal puppets are making the 12,000-mile, or 20,000-kilometer journey. The ambitious five-month odyssey aims to raise awareness around the climate emergency. :: THIS EARTH “For many years, the climate debate was led by science.” Amir Nizar Zuabi is artistic director of ‘The Herds’: :: Cape Town, South Africa “And one of the problems with it being about climate and science is scientists are very clever people, and then you also hope they find the solutions for all the problems. Part of what we’re trying to do by saying, ‘No, it’s about nature, it’s about us, it’s us’.” :: The Walk Productions The project began in the Congo Basin – home to the world’s second largest tropical rainforest. Recycled materials have been used to make the creatures – ranging from gorillas to a towering giraffe. “There was something for me that was very tempting or alluring in the fact that they need to be made from very simple materials. They need to almost look like, like earth.” The puppets have also been engineered to move realistically, explains puppetry designer Sipho Ngxola. “So you actually research an animal. Then you really study that animal carefully. You watch it carefully which body parts moves when it’s breathing, and which body parts moves first when it’s about to walk. And there’s three things you will look at the animals. It’s a breath and it’s the way of moving, and what the what the animal does actually.” The procession is making stops as it passes through countries including Nigeria, Senegal and Morocco before crossing into Europe via Spain. In each city it visits, residents will be trained in puppet-making and performance, and will add their own animals. :: The Walk Productions The migration aims to conclude at the Arctic Circle in August – having grown from a handful of species to a diverse array of wildlife that are increasingly threatened by a warming world. Source link #Giant #puppet #herd #embarks #mile #AfricaArctic #migration Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EastEnders star reveals ******* treatment EastEnders star reveals ******* treatment EastEnders actress Heather Peace has revealed she has had surgery and chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast ******* last year. The 49-year-old has played Eve Panesar-Unwin in the BBC soap since 2021, and has also starred in shows including Holby City, Waterloo Road and London’s Burning. “I’ve been on quite a road for many months now,” she wrote on Instagram on Monday alongside a video of having a wig fitted. “I was diagnosed with breast ******* at the beginning of October. “Since then I’ve undergone surgery and recovery over the Christmas ******* and today my chemotherapy journey ended.” She likened the end of her treatment to reaching the finish line in the London Marathon. “To conclude – I’ve just picked up my medal,” she wrote. “But I’m forever changed. During this time I’ve narrowed my world.” She said she had spent “the most precious time” with her wife and three daughters, “just trying to appreciate every moment of them”. “I’ve stayed still,” she continued. “I’ve found joy in the simplest of things. Interactions with others have felt honest and real because I’ve had no capacity for small talk. It has felt like such a personal shift. There have been so many positives.” Peace has also continued to appear on screen in recent months, and thanked the EastEnders team for “going above & beyond”. She also thanked “all of the friends in my local community who’ve been there for me and my family at the drop of a hat (you know who you are)”. She added: “Thank you to the NHS. You are wonderful, skilled people. You treated me efficiently. You gave me dignity and showed me kindness. It’s so appreciated. “Life feels very different now and it’s wonderful. I will continue to cherish and be grateful for all I am blessed with. I feel very lucky.” Her EastEnders co-stars rallied round to send their support, with Lacey Turner – who plays Eve’s ex-wife Stacey Slater – replying: “My superhero!! Love you always mate.” Kellie Bright, aka Linda Carter, added: “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… WARRIOR WOMAN!!!! Love the bones of you.” Diane Parish, known to viewers as Denise Fox, posted: “Tough and courageously vulnerable. That makes a true warrior. Admire you more than you could know. We got you all the way!” Emma Barton, who plays the soap’s Honey Mitchell, wrote: “Love you so much, you beautiful, strong, mental, brave lady… You’re frigging Ace!!!” Navin Chowdhry, who played Nish Panesar, said: “All the love in the world Heather. You are Glowing!! And what a magical team to have by your side.” Source link #EastEnders #star #reveals #******* #treatment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bedford eyes AFL return against Dockers after injury Bedford eyes AFL return against Dockers after injury Toby Bedford is frustrated and forgiving about his eye injury, but warns that any player found guilty of what Lewis Melican did will “get weeks”. The GWS tagger will see an eye specialist on Wednesday and hopes to return for Saturday’s home game against Fremantle. Melican caught him high two weekends ago in the Sydney derby, and the Swans defender is serving a three-game striking ban. Bedford was asked on Tuesday if the incident gave him pause for thought about how he plays. “I don’t think it will change a thing. It’s an accident, and if people are going to continue to do that, they’ll just continue to get weeks,” he said. Bedford also confessed to mixed emotions about having to miss a game because of his eye injury. “It’s a mistake on the field,” he said. “I don’t think he genuinely meant it, but obviously it’s still a bit frustrating. I thought we were coming back into the game nicely and I thought I was making my way into the game nicely as well. “Obviously I’m still quite frustrated around it, but I understand accidents happen.” Bedford initially could not see out of the eye after the high blow. “It’s recovering well. It’s still obviously a little bit red, but I have full sight out of it now, which is great,” he said. The Indigenous player is keen to be back for Sir Doug Nicholls Round and said his teammates “loved” Tuesday’s cultural awareness session. “I always look forward to this time of the year and circle it,” he said. In the same vein, Bedford was disappointed to miss selection for the Indigenous All-Stars team that played Fremantle in February. “Watching that one was extremely hard, because I wanted to be part of it. Definitely I want to be part of that, whenever it happens next,” he said. Bedford also jokingly expressed frustration that GWS coach Adam Kingsley has taken to changing his tagging target mid-game. “I just expect it now – ‘Kingy’ kind of does that to me during the game … I will start on someone and then go to someone else,” he said. “It’s difficult, with different kinds of players.” But Bedford also revealed a new team initiative helps him prepare for whoever he tags. After Finn Callaghan visited the NRL’s Penrith Panthers, GWS have borrowed their game preparation where players, not just coaches, do opposition analysis. “We’ve done some new things this year, which have held us in good stead – players show different (opposition) players and present (to the team),” Bedford said. “It gives a better understanding for all our players, for each week. “It’s not coming from coaches, it’s coming from players, we all understand it better.” Bedford was asked about the possible bond between the two western Sydney clubs. “I hope so. We wouldn’t mind three grand finals in a row,” he said. Source link #Bedford #eyes #AFL #return #Dockers #injury Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rotting rubbish still piling up on Birmingham streets despite council claims Rotting rubbish still piling up on Birmingham streets despite council claims Shocking footage shows piles of rotting rubbish still piling up in Birmingham, *** despite council claims that collections are back to normal. Striking refuse staff have vowed to carry on industrial action indefinitely unless demands are met, with some believing it may be ongoing at Christmas. Birmingham City Council say they have cleared 100 per cent of the large piles of waste in hot-spot areas and 85 per cent of rubbish from the rest of the city. Despite the council’s claims, grim images show overflowing bins, split rubbish bags and rotting food strewn across residential streets. Source link #Rotting #rubbish #piling #Birmingham #streets #council #claims Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kashmiris Return to Rubble After India-Pakistan Truce Kashmiris Return to Rubble After India-Pakistan Truce Kashmiris caught in the middle of the conflict between India and Pakistan sifted through the ruins of their homes, as many feared the cease-fire would be short-lived. Source link #Kashmiris #Return #Rubble #IndiaPakistan #Truce Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mavericks win NBA draft lottery, earning right to select Cooper Flagg – The Washington Post Mavericks win NBA draft lottery, earning right to select Cooper Flagg – The Washington Post Mavericks win NBA draft lottery, earning right to select Cooper Flagg The Washington PostMavericks win NBA draft lottery with 1.8% odds ESPN2025 NBA mock draft: Cooper Flagg to Mavericks; Dylan Harper to Spurs The New York TimesMavericks win NBA Draft Lottery, right to select Duke phenom Cooper Flagg Yahoo SportsMavericks, Nico Harrison strike gold in NBA draft lottery. Wizards and Jazz strike out. USA Today Source link #Mavericks #win #NBA #draft #lottery #earning #select #Cooper #Flagg #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gaza journalist Hassan Aslih killed in Israeli strike on hospital Gaza journalist Hassan Aslih killed in Israeli strike on hospital An Israeli air strike on the emergency department of Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza has killed a well-known ************ photojournalist, medical sources and eyewitnesses say. Hassan Aslih, who was being treated for injuries from a previous Israeli strike, was targeted in what witnesses described as a drone attack on the hospital’s surgical wing. A doctor there confirmed that Aslih had been at the hospital for nearly a month after surviving an air strike on the same facility in April. The Israeli military had previously accused Aslih of involvement in the 7 October ****** attack on Israel. The strike in April killed Aslih’s colleague Helmi al-Faqawi and wounded several other journalists. At the time, Ismail al-Thawabta, director of the ******-run government media office, said Israel’s accusations against Aslih were “false”, adding that Aslih had no political affiliation. “The occupation’s claim that Aslih crossed into the occupied land and took part in the 7 October incidents is part of a policy to discredit and fabricate that the occupation adopts to justify attacks on journalists and media personnel,” Thawabta told Reuters agency on 7 April. Aslih had published dozens of photos and videos documenting the 7 October ****** assault from inside Israeli territory. Aslih worked for years as a freelance photojournalist with both international and local news agencies. He was widely respected in Gaza for his extensive coverage of the conflict, often documenting events from the front lines. He has more than half a million followers on Instagram, where he documents the war. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement it had attacked Nasser Hospital in what it said was “a targeted attack on key terrorists”, but did not name Aslih. It said the hospital was being used by ****** to “carry out terrorist plots against Israeli forces and citizens”. The Israel-Gaza war is the deadliest conflict for journalists in history, according to Brown University’s Watson Institute for Public Affairs, with more than 232 journalists killed in Gaza since the 7 October attacks. Source link #Gaza #journalist #Hassan #Aslih #killed #Israeli #strike #hospital Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley reopens iconic Ivanhoe Crossing to high-clearance vehicles Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley reopens iconic Ivanhoe Crossing to high-clearance vehicles Kununurra four-wheel-drive enthusiasts have a reason to rejoice with the Ivanhoe Crossing open for high clearance vehicles in another sign that the dry season is well and truly upon us. The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley announced on Monday that water levels were low enough to open the crossing to vehicles with a load limit of 15 tonnes, and advisably, 4WDs. Peter Griffiths-Sebastian of Pete’ s Cultural Adventures crossed soon after it opened. “It wasn’t too rough. My car didn’t move. It just went forward and went with the flow,” he said. Mr Griffiths-Sebastian, who takes many tourists over Ivanhoe Crossing, said he expected to see more people heading out to Middle Spring now that they did not have to go the long way around via Valentine Spring Road. “People won’t head out to ****** Rocks Falls as much because it is not really running as much, but they will definitely be going to Middle Spring.” Kununurra Visitor Centre CEO Vivienne McEvoy said residents loved the thrill of crossing the old concrete causeway where you may spot saltwater and freshwater crocodiles. “You are just not allowed to stop on the crossing, due to the force of the water you do need to keep moving but obviously you have to do so slowly so you don’t create a bow wave.” Traversing Ivanhoe Crossing also takes people on an interesting back route to Wyndham, Ms McEvoy said. “On that road you have Middle Spring, ****** Rock Falls, Buttons Crossing and Mambi boat ramp it will also get you to the lower Ord without having to go all the way around, it is a short cut.” Mr Griffiths-Sebastian said the Ivanhoe Crossing had a significant place in local history because it connected the Kimberley’s oldest town of Wyndham with the newest, Kununurra. “Wyndham used to have the old abattoir there — they would take trucks up full of cattle and come back empty,” he said. Since the Ord irrigation project began in the 1960s, the river now flows over the causeway all year round making it impassable during the wet season. SWEK has reminded people that there is no pedestrian access to the causeway, and, if the water is above the marks on the pillars do not cross. In a notice on the SWEK Facebook page the Shire advises, “travel at a steady, low speed — don’t stop”. “These rules are in place to keep you safe! Please note the Shire isn’t responsible for any losses, damage, or injury.” Source link #Shire #Wyndham #East #Kimberley #reopens #iconic #Ivanhoe #Crossing #highclearance #vehicles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Vietnam death row tycoon promises to turn properties into ‘golden goose’ Vietnam death row tycoon promises to turn properties into ‘golden goose’ A Vietnamese property tycoon trying to avoid a death sentence for multi-billion-dollar fraud has promised to turn her property empire into a “golden goose” to help pay back the assets she embezzled, her lawyer said Tuesday. Property developer Truong My Lan lost an appeal in December against the death penalty in a case in which she was found guilty of stealing money from Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB) and fraud amounting to $27 billion. The appeal court ruled there was no basis to reduce her sentence but said she could still escape the death penalty if she paid back three-quarters of the amount stolen. In a letter sent from jail to a state-controlled committee handling her properties, Lan said her assets have been significantly undervalued, causing potential losses to the state and affecting her rights, her lawyer Giang Hong Thanh told AFP. Lan said the government-appointed company that valued 726 of her assets, several of them real estate projects in prime areas of Vietnam’s biggest cities, had estimated their worth at around $9.7 billion. But Lan argued in the wake of new land price guidelines issued by authorities in Ho Chi Minh City, where most of the projects are situated, their value had likely increased by 3-5 times. She added that if her other 440 assets were valued, the state could collect another $7.7 billion at least. “I believe that with my 30-year experience in the real estate business and my thorough legal understanding… I could turn most of the assets into a golden goose so that the state can recover the costs,” Lan wrote in her letter, pleading for authorities to allow her involvement. Tens of thousands of people who invested their savings in SCB lost money, shocking the ********** nation and prompting rare protests from the victims. In a second appeal trial in April this year, Lan’s life sentence in a separate $17-billion money laundering case was cut to 30 years. Prosecutors said she had repaid a quarter of the $1.2 billion she defrauded from thousands of bond investors. tmh/aph/pdw/dhc Source link #Vietnam #death #row #tycoon #promises #turn #properties #golden #goose Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

iPhone Could Get AI-Powered Battery Management Mode With iOS 19: Report iPhone Could Get AI-Powered Battery Management Mode With iOS 19: Report Apple is working on a new feature that could improve battery life on its smartphones when the iOS 19 update rolls out to users later this year, according to a report. The Cupertino company’s upcoming Apple Intelligence features could include a new AI-powered battery management mode that dynamically adjusts power usage based on how a person uses their smartphone. Apple will also reportedly add support for showing how much time it will take to charge an iPhone with the iOS 19 update. Apple’s Upcoming AI-Powered Battery Improvements According to a Bloomberg report that cites people with knowledge of Apple’s plans, the is working on an “AI-powered battery management mode” that will arrive with iOS 19. The feature is said to use battery data collected from users’ smartphones and allocate power efficiently and conserve battery life. The feature is part of the Apple Intelligence platform, according to the report, and it could use on-device processing to analyse app usage and optimise battery life on supported iPhone models. Apple will also reportedly show users the time required to fully charge an iPhone via the lock screen — a feature that is already available on several Android smartphones. While the company’s recent Apple Intelligence features have been limited to recent models that support the AI platform, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro, the Bloomberg report states that the battery improvement “will be available for all iPhones that have iOS 19.” While rivals have increased the size of batteries on their smartphones — the OnePlus 13 packs a 6,000mAh battery — Apple’s flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 4,685mAh battery. Apple makes up for this with OS and chip level optimisations that deliver decent battery life on its larger handsets. However, the company’s upcoming lineup is expected to include a new variant called the iPhone 17 Air (or iPhone 17 Slim) and that handset could arrive with a smaller battery. The publication speculates that the new battery features could be introduced to maximise the battery life offered by what could be Apple’s slimmest smartphone to date. The company is expected to announce details of its iOS 19 operating system next month, at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2025) event. The company will also unveil iPadOS 19, watchOS 12, macOS 16, and other software updates at WWDC, alongside new Apple Intelligence features that are expected to arrive on supported devices when these updates roll out later this year. Source link #iPhone #AIPowered #Battery #Management #Mode #iOS #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Timberwolves beat Warriors, Knicks top Celtics in key Game 4 matchups: Takeaways – The New York Times Timberwolves beat Warriors, Knicks top Celtics in key Game 4 matchups: Takeaways – The New York Times Timberwolves beat Warriors, Knicks top Celtics in key Game 4 matchups: Takeaways The New York TimesCeltics-Knicks: 5 takeaways as Knicks push defending champions to the brink NBAMr. Clutch comes through again for Knicks. Celtics’ hopes hinge on Jayson Tatum’s health. USA TodayCeltics lose Jayson Tatum to apparent serious injury after squandering another double-digit lead to Knicks Fox NewsBrian Geltzeiler on the Knicks Taking a 3-1 Lead The Ringer Source link #Timberwolves #beat #Warriors #Knicks #top #Celtics #key #Game #matchups #Takeaways #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nissan to cut 11,000 more jobs and shut seven factories Nissan to cut 11,000 more jobs and shut seven factories Nissan has said it will cut another 11,000 jobs globally as it shakes up the business in the face of weak sales in its key markets of the US and China. It brings the total number of layoffs announced by Japan’s third-biggest car maker in the last year to about 20,000, or 15% of its workforce. It was not immediately clear where the job cuts will be made, but the carmaker said it would reduce the number of its plants from 17 to 10 by 2027. Nissan currently employs about 133,500 people globally, with about 6,000 workers at its manufacturing operations in Sunderland. Source link #Nissan #cut #jobs #shut #factories Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Binance Pay and Bhutan partner to launch crypto payment system Binance Pay and Bhutan partner to launch crypto payment system ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email Binance CEO Richard Teng says the crypto industry has gained ‘extremely strong’ momentum as clearer regulations and stablecoins drive cheaper, faster cross-border payments. Source link #Binance #Pay #Bhutan #partner #launch #crypto #payment #system Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]