Pelican Press

Police Union to call on Government to install CCTV at regional-based officers’ properties after home invasions Police Union to call on Government to install CCTV at regional-based officers’ properties after home invasions One of the key asks is the installation of security cameras and **** safes at police homes in regional WA. Source link #Police #Union #call #Government #install #CCTV #regionalbased #officers #properties #home #invasions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** army orders Gaza City suburb evacuated, spurring new displacement wave ******** army orders Gaza City suburb evacuated, spurring new displacement wave By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) – The ******** military issued new evacuation orders to residents in areas of an eastern Gaza City suburb, setting off a new wave of displacement on Sunday, and a Gaza hospital director was injured in an ******** drone *******, ************ medics said. The new orders for the Shejaia suburb posted by the ******** army spokesperson on X on Saturday night were blamed on ************ militants ******* rockets from that heavily built-up district in the north of the Gaza Strip. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. “For your safety, you must evacuate immediately to the south,” the military’s post said. The rocket volley on Saturday was claimed by ******’ armed wing, which said it had targeted an ******** army base over the border. Footage circulated on social and ************ media, which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed residents leaving Shejaia on donkey carts and rickshaws, with others, including children carrying backpacks, walking. Families living in the targeted areas began fleeing their homes after nightfall on Saturday and into Sunday’s early hours, residents and ************ media said – the latest in multiple waves of displacement since the war began 13 months ago. In central Gaza, health officials said at least 10 Palestinians were ******* in ******** airstrikes on the urban camps of Al-Maghazi and Al-Bureij since Saturday night. HOSPITAL DIRECTOR WOUNDED BY GUNFIRE In north Gaza, where ******** forces have been operating against regrouping ****** militants since early last month, health officials said an ******** drone dropped ****** on Kamal Adwan Hospital, injuring its director Hussam Abu Safiya. “This will not stop us from completing our humanitarian mission and we will continue to do this job at any cost,” Abu Safiya said in a video statement circulated by the health ministry on Sunday. “We are being targeted daily. They targeted me a while ago but this will not deter us…,” he said from his hospital bed. ******** forces say armed militants use civilian buildings including housing blocks, hospitals and schools for operational cover. ****** denies this, accusing ******** forces of indiscriminately targeting populated areas. Kamal Adwan is one of three hospitals in north Gaza that are barely operational as the health ministry said the ******** forces have detained and expelled medical staff and prevented emergency medical, food and fuel supplies from reaching them. In the past few weeks, ******* said it had facilitated the delivery of medical and fuel supplies and the transfer of patients from north Gaza hospitals in collaboration with international agencies such as the World Health Organization. Residents in three embattled north Gaza towns – Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun – said ******** forces had blown up hundreds of houses since renewing operations in an area that ******* said months ago had been cleared of militants. Palestinians say ******* appears determined to depopulate the area permanently to create a buffer zone along the northern edge of Gaza, an accusation ******* denies. *******’s campaign in Gaza has ******* more than 44,000 people, uprooted nearly all the enclave’s 2.3 million population at least once, according to Gaza officials, while reducing wide swathes of the narrow coastal territory to rubble. The war erupted in response to a cross-border ******* by ******-led militants on Oct. 7, 2023 in which gunmen ******* around 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages back to Gaza, according to ******** tallies. (Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; editing by Mark Heinrich) Source link #******** #army #orders #Gaza #City #suburb #evacuated #spurring #displacement #wave Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

South Korean man convicted of dodging military service by binge eating South Korean man convicted of dodging military service by binge eating A court in South Korea has found a man guilty of trying to avoid mandatory military service by deliberately gaining weight, local media report. The 26-year-old began binge eating before his physical examination for the draft, a judge in the capital, Seoul, said. He was categorised as obese, allowing him to serve in a non-combat role at a government agency. The defendant received a one-year suspended sentence. A friend who devised a special regimen that doubled his daily food intake got a six-month suspended sentence, the Korea Herald newspaper reports. All able-bodied men in South Korea over the age of 18 must serve in the army for at least 18 months. According to the Korean Herald, the defendant was assessed as fit for combat duty during an initial physical exam. But at the final examination last year, he weighed in at over 102kg (225 lbs, 16 stone), making him heavily obese. The man who recommended binge dieting had denied the charge of aiding and abetting, saying he never believed his friend would through with it, the newspaper adds. Source link #South #Korean #man #convicted #dodging #military #service #binge #eating Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Hype Around Ghost of Yotei and the Success of Ghost of Tsushima Has Fans Begging ******* Punch to Return to the Title That Put Them on the Map The Hype Around Ghost of Yotei and the Success of Ghost of Tsushima Has Fans Begging ******* Punch to Return to the Title That Put Them on the Map ******* Punch Productions, which has been a subsidiary of PlayStation Studios since 2011, has released many iconic video games since its inception in 1997. It is also the studio behind one of the most popular action-adventure games of all time, Infamous. The 2009 hit ***** down the foundation for the legendary Infamous franchise, and shortly after the release of Infamous 2 in 2011, Sony announced its acquisition of the studio. The first Infamous game was well received by the fans as well as the critics (Image via ******* Punch Productions) With support and funding from Sony, ******* Punch developed the third game in the series, Infamous Second Son. The game was released shortly after the release of the PlayStation 4 and quickly became the fastest-selling entry of the Infamous series. It’s been a decade since ******* Punch has touched the Infamous series and yet, many fans remain hopeful that one day, the studio will develop a fourth game in the series. ******* Punch Productions’ Infamous Series Ended In 2014 Throughout the 2000s, ******* Punch Studios developed three Sly Cooper games, successfully establishing itself as one of the best studios in the gaming industry. After the success of the third game, the studio went to Sony and shared their intent of developing a game called True Hero (later known as Infamous). The project was approved and three years later, in 2009, Infamous was released for PlayStation 3, marking the beginning of the popular Infamous franchise. At the time of its release, the game was compared to ******** Entertainment’s Prototype as the two games shared some crucial elements. Thanks to the positive response from gamers all over the world, two more installments were released in 2011 and 2014. After the third game, fans got a standalone expansion to Infamous Second Son called Infamous First Light. It served as a prequel to the third game and was well-received by the fans. ******* Punch Productions Must Revive Its Infamous Series After The Release Of Ghost of Yotei ******* Punch’s next video game, Ghost of Yotei, will be released in 2025 (Image via ******* Punch Studios) It’s been a decade since the release of Infamous Second Son, one of the most popular games on PlayStation 4. ******* Punch Productions has clearly moved on from the series as it is now laser-focused on expanding its Ghost series. After 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, the studio is now developing a sequel, Ghost of Yotei. The Ghost games are indeed exciting but many gamers are eagerly waiting for a fourth game in the Infamous series, so ******* Punch must revive the series after the release of Ghost of Yotei. Comment byu/Crylose from discussion ingaming Comment byu/Crylose from discussion ingaming Comment byu/Crylose from discussion ingaming Comment byu/Crylose from discussion ingaming It’s hard to say if ******* Punch will go back to the Infamous series as the studio might be setting up an *********’s Creed-like franchise with its Ghost series. Ghost of Yotei is a standalone sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, however, the only shared element is the idea of the Ghost as the upcoming game features a brand-new story set centuries later after the first game. This approach will allow ******* Punch to explore different eras and protagonists, extending the franchise’s life. Ghost of Yotei is all set to release for PlayStation 5 in 2025 and as of now, it is unclear what ******* Punch will work on after its release. Source link #Hype #Ghost #Yotei #Success #Ghost #Tsushima #Fans #Begging #******* #Punch #Return #Title #Put #Map Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

E-waste: Burning old TVs – the toxic trade in electrical waste E-waste: Burning old TVs – the toxic trade in electrical waste BBC E-waste is trafficked as reusable goods into several poorer countries then either burnt or dumped after valuable metals have been extracted You can see thick plumes of smoke rise from the Agbogbloshie dumpsite from miles away. The air at the vast dump, in the west of Ghana’s capital Accra, is highly toxic. The closer you get, the ******* it is to breathe and your vision starts to blur. Around these fumes are dozens of men, who wait for tractors to unload piles of cables before setting them on *****. Others climb up a toxic waste hill and bring down TVs, computers and washing machine parts and set them alight. The men are extracting valuable metals like copper and gold from electrical and electronic waste – or e-waste – much of which has made its way to Ghana from rich countries. “I don’t feel well,” says young worker Abdulla Yakubu, whose eyes are red and watery as he burns cables and plastic. “The air, as you can see, is very polluted and I have to work here every day, so it definitely affects our health.” Some dealers at the Agbogbloshie scrapyard say they either ***** or dump plastics from e-waste because they cannot recycle them Abiba Alhassan, a mother of four, works near the burning site sorting out used plastic bottles, and the toxic smoke does not spare her either. “Sometimes, it’s very difficult to breathe even, my chest becomes heavy and I feel very unwell,” she says. E-waste is the world’s fastest-growing waste stream, with 62 million tonnes generated in 2022, up 82% from 2010, according to a UN report. It is electronisation of our societies that is primarily behind the e-waste rise — ranging from smartphones, computers and smart alarms, to automobiles with electronic devices installed, whose demand is steadily on the rise. Annual smartphone shipments, for instance, have more than doubled since 2010, hitting 1.2 billion in 2023, according to a UN Trade and Development report this year. When e-waste is burnt for valuable metals, toxic fumes are released mainly from their plastic parts Most frequently seized item The UN says only around 15% of the world’s e-waste is recycled, so unscrupulous companies are seeking to offload it elsewhere, often through middle men who then traffick the waste out of the country. Such waste is difficult to recycle because of their complex composition including toxic chemicals, metals, plastics and elements that cannot be easily separated and recycled. Even developed countries do not have adequate e-waste management infrastructure. UN investigators say they are seeing a significant rise in the trafficking of e-waste from developed countries and rapidly emerging economies. E-waste is now the most frequently seized item, accounting for one in six of all types of waste seizures globally, the World Customs Organisation has found. Officials at Italy’s Naples port showed the BBC World Service how traffickers mis-declared and hid e-waste, which they said made up around 30% of their seizures. They showed a scan of a container bound for *******, carrying a car. But when port officials opened the container, broken parts of vehicles and e-waste were stacked inside, with oil leaking from some of them. “You don’t pack your personal goods like this, much of it is meant for dumping,” says Luigi Garruto, an investigator with the ********* Anti-****** Office (Olaf), who collaborates with port officials across Europe. Port authorities in Europe say traffickers even grind up e-waste and mix it with plastic flakes to smuggle it out Sophisticated trafficking tactics In the ***, officials say they are also seeing a rise in trafficked e-waste. At the Port of Felixstowe, Ben Ryder, a spokesman for the *** Environment Agency, said waste items were often wrongly declared as reusable but in reality, “broken down for precious metals and then illegally burnt after they reach the destination” in countries like Ghana. Traffickers also attempt to conceal e-waste by grinding it down and blending it with other forms of plastic that can be exported with the correct paperwork, he said. A previous report by the World Customs Organization showed there had been an increase of almost 700% in trafficking of end-of-life motor vehicles – a huge source of e-waste. But experts say such seizures and reported cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Although there has been no comprehensive global study that traces all the e-waste trafficked out of the developed world, the UN e-waste report shows countries in Southeast Asia still remain a major destination. But with some of those countries now clamping down on waste trafficking, UN investigators and campaigners say more e-waste is making its way to ******** countries. In Malaysia, officials seized 106 containers of hazardous e-waste from May to June 2024, according to Masood Karimipour, the UN Office on Drugs and ******’s regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Toxic chemicals from e-waste and its plastic parts are very harmful for humans and the environment But traffickers often outsmart authorities with new smuggling tactics and governments don’t catch up fast enough, UN investigators say. “When ships carrying hazardous waste like e-waste cannot easily offload them in their usual destination, they turn their beacon off when they are in the middle of the sea so that they cannot be detected,” said Mr. Karimapour. “And the ******** shipment is dumped at sea as part of a business model of organised ****** activity. “There are far too many groups and far too many countries profiting from this global ********* enterprise.” E-waste is now the most frequently seized waste item by customs authorities around the world Chemicals of high concern When e-waste is burnt or dumped, the plastic and metals it contains can be very hazardous to human health and have negative effects on the environment, a recent report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. The WHO says many recipient countries also see informal e-waste recycling – meaning untrained people including women and children are doing the job without protective equipment and the right infrastructure, and are being exposed to toxic substances like lead. The International Labour Organisation and WHO estimate that millions of women and child labourers working in the informal recycling sector may be affected. The organisations also say exposure during foetal development and in children can cause neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioural related disorders. From January 2025, global waste treaty the Basel Convention will require exporters to declare all e-waste and obtain permission from recipient countries. Investigators are hopeful that this will close some of the loopholes that traffickers have been using to ship such waste across the world. E-waste and plastic are carried by lagoons and rivers into the sea which then washes them back to the shore But there are some countries including the US — a major e-waste exporter — that have not ratified the Basel Convention – one reason campaigners say e-waste trafficking continues. “As we start to ****** down, the US is now more and more shipping trucks across the border to Mexico,” said Jim Puckett, executive director of Basel Action Network, an organisation campaigning to end toxic trade including e-waste. Back at the Agbogbloshie scrapyard in Ghana, the situation is getting worse by the day. Abiba says she spends almost half the money she earns from collecting waste on medicines to deal with conditions resulting from working at the dump. “But I am still here because this is my means of survival and that of my family.” The Ghana Revenue Authority and Environment Ministry did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Source link #Ewaste #Burning #TVs #toxic #trade #electrical #waste Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US summons for India’s Adani, nephew on bribery claims US summons for India’s Adani, nephew on bribery claims The ******* States Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a summons to Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, indicted on US bribery allegations related to a bombshell federal indictment against him, a court filing shows. The commission is suing the head of the Adani Group and his nephew Sagar Adani, alleging they engaged in hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes to help an Adani company while “falsely touting the company’s compliance with anti-bribery principles and laws in connection with a $US750 million ($A1.2 billion) bond offering”. The summons requires an answer within 21 days, according to the filing dated Wednesday in federal court in the Eastern District of New York. The commission suit seeks unspecified monetary penalties and restrictions on the Adanis from serving as officers of listed companies. Adani Group representatives did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Sunday. The group has denied the ********* charges as “baseless”. The group CFO said the indictment was linked to one contract of Adani Green Energy that made up some 10 per cent of its business, and that no other firms in the conglomerate were accused of wrongdoing. Federal prosecutors issued arrest warrants for Gautam and Sagar Adani, alleging they participated in a $US265 million ($A408 million) scheme to bribe Indian officials to secure power-supply deals. Authorities said Adani and seven other defendants, including his nephew Sagar, agreed to bribe Indian government officials to obtain contracts expected to yield $US2 billion ($A3.1 billion) of profit across 20 years, and develop India’s largest solar power plant project. The crisis is the second in two years to hit the ports-to-power conglomerate founded by Adani, 62, one of the world’s richest people. The fallout was felt immediately, as billions of dollars were wiped off the market value of Adani Group companies and Kenya’s president cancelled a massive airport project with the group. Source link #summons #Indias #Adani #nephew #bribery #claims Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AYN Odin2 Portal: A stunning handheld with 120Hz 1080p AMOLED display AYN Odin2 Portal: A stunning handheld with 120Hz 1080p AMOLED display Vits22h ago It’s odd that the comparison is with the standard Steam Deck instead of the Steam Deck OLED, which has a 90Hz display. That aside, the Ayn Portal seems promising—and just to clarify, before anyone says the name is copying the PlayStation Portal, the Pimax Portal actually came first in 2023. It seems companies just really like naming their devices “Portal,” especially for handhelds. For streaming, the Ayn Portal offers a lot… It supports Wi-Fi 7 and runs on Android, which means it has great connectivity and access to many streaming apps. You can use it for PlayStation local streaming through the PS Play app, Xbox Game Pass Cloud, Moonlight and Steam Remote for local PC streaming, GeForce NOW for PC cloud gaming, and even Antstream for retro game streaming. Plus, it’s powerful enough to run most Nintendo Switch games and other “retro” systems by means of emulation, so it offers a lot for the price. However, early reviews have pointed out some problems. It only has Widevine L3, which means it can’t stream video content in 1080p, making it almost useless for media streaming. HDR also doesn’t seem to work at the moment. According to Ayn support, it should, but so far no one has been able to enable it. Source link #AYN #Odin2 #Portal #stunning #handheld #120Hz #1080p #AMOLED #display Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sarah McBride on handling GOP challenges as first openly transgender member of Congress Sarah McBride on handling GOP challenges as first openly transgender member of Congress Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, who is set to become the first transgender member of Congress, responded to a ***********-led effort to restrict bathroom use on Capitol Hill. In an exclusive interview with Scott MacFarlane, McBride shared the need to focus on legislative priorities amid growing anti-transgender rhetoric. Source link #Sarah #McBride #handling #GOP #challenges #openly #transgender #member #Congress Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Miss The PS1? Try These New Games Miss The PS1? Try These New Games There have been plenty of new titles, especially indie games, that have tried to champion the graphics and ideas of old school gaming. For anyone pining for the glory days of the PS1 but want to experience something new, these are the games for you. Source link #PS1 #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump picks Brooke Rollins to be agriculture secretary Trump picks Brooke Rollins to be agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of America First Policy Institute (AFPI), speaks during a discussion hosted by AFPI and The Abraham Accords Peace Institute, in Washington D.C., on Monday, September 12, 2022. Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute, to be agriculture secretary. “As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect ********* Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country,” Trump said in a statement. If confirmed by the Senate, Rollins would lead a 100,000-person agency with offices in every county in the country, whose remit includes farm and nutrition programs, forestry, home and farm lending, food safety, rural development, agricultural research, trade and more. It had a budget of $437.2 billion in 2024. The nominee’s agenda would carry implications for ********* diets and wallets, both urban and rural. Department of Agriculture officials and staff negotiate trade deals, guide dietary recommendations, inspect meat, ****** wildfires and support rural broadband, among other activities. “Brooke’s commitment to support the ********* Farmer, defense of ********* Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent ********* Small Towns is second to none,” Trump said in the statement. The America First Policy Institute is a right-leaning think tank whose personnel have worked closely with Trump’s campaign to help shape policy for his incoming administration. She chaired the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term. As agriculture secretary, Rollins would advise the administration on how and whether to implement clean fuel tax credits for biofuels at a time when the sector is hoping to grow through the production of sustainable aviation fuel. The nominee would also guide next year’s renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal, in the shadow of disputes over Mexico’s attempt to bar imports of genetically modified corn and Canada’s dairy import quotas. Trump has said he again plans to institute sweeping tariffs that are likely to affect the farm sector. He was considering offering the role to former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler, a staunch ally whom he chose to co-chair his inaugural committee, CNN reported on Friday. Source link #Trump #picks #Brooke #Rollins #agriculture #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Review – Batman: Arkham Shadow (Meta Quest 3) | WayTooManyGames Review – Batman: Arkham Shadow (Meta Quest 3) | WayTooManyGames WTMG’s Jordan Hawes: “This is now the second major exclusive game that Meta has dropped for its Quest 3 headset and just like Asgard’s Wrath 2, Batman: Arkham Shadow is an absolute hit and must-play for any VR fan. The absolute care and quality Camouflaj has put into this title is breathtaking. Being able to fully adapt every aspect that the series fans expect from Arkham games into VR is astonishing. As well as being able to fit in a full length, unique story into the timeline without ruining the other games should be applauded. It’s almost a shame Shadow is exclusive, because everyone should be able to play this, but this is absolutely a ******* app that Meta needs.” Source link #Review #Batman #Arkham #Shadow #Meta #Quest #WayTooManyGames Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Australia v India: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli centuries and late wickets for Jasprit Bumrah put tourists in dominant position on day three of first Test Australia v India: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli centuries and late wickets for Jasprit Bumrah put tourists in dominant position on day three of first Test Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli hit imperious centuries before Jasprit Bumrah took two late wickets as India put themselves in a dominant position against Australia at stumps on day three of the first Test. Opener Jaiswal’s sublime 161 set the tone for India as he and KL Rahul compiled a record first-wicket stand of 201 for India in Australia. That was followed by Kohli’s zen-like unbeaten knock of exactly 100 at Perth’s Optus Stadium as India declared their second innings on 487-6. Set 534 for victory, a weary Australia were left with an awkward 24 minutes to negotiate before the close. Rested and refreshed India stand-skipper Bumrah ran in with menace and trapped Nathan McSweeney lbw with the fourth ball of Australia’s response. Australia captain Pat Cummins then came out as nightwatchman and edged Mohammed Siraj to Kohli at second slip. A fired-up Bumrah struck again in his third over as he had Marnus Labuschagne out lbw, with referal backing up the on-field decision. With two days left to play there is still time for Australia to either bat out for a draw or chase down a record total to win the match. The current highest successful fourth-innings total to win a match is the 418-7 made by West Indies against Australia at St John’s in May 2003. Australia’s highest fourth-innings chase to win a Test was the 404-3 they made at Headingley against England in July 1948. However, with movement and uneven bounce on the pitch India look well positioned to win the opening match of the five-Test series. More to follow. Source link #Australia #India #Yashasvi #Jaiswal #Virat #Kohli #centuries #late #wickets #Jasprit #Bumrah #put #tourists #dominant #position #day #Test Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump picks Brooke Rollins to be agriculture secretary Trump picks Brooke Rollins to be agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of America First Policy Institute (AFPI), speaks during a discussion hosted by AFPI and The Abraham Accords Peace Institute, in Washington D.C., on Monday, September 12, 2022. Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute, to be agriculture secretary. “As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect ********* Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country,” Trump said in a statement. If confirmed by the Senate, Rollins would lead a 100,000-person agency with offices in every county in the country, whose remit includes farm and nutrition programs, forestry, home and farm lending, food safety, rural development, agricultural research, trade and more. It had a budget of $437.2 billion in 2024. The nominee’s agenda would carry implications for ********* diets and wallets, both urban and rural. Department of Agriculture officials and staff negotiate trade deals, guide dietary recommendations, inspect meat, ****** wildfires and support rural broadband, among other activities. “Brooke’s commitment to support the ********* Farmer, defense of ********* Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent ********* Small Towns is second to none,” Trump said in the statement. The America First Policy Institute is a right-leaning think tank whose personnel have worked closely with Trump’s campaign to help shape policy for his incoming administration. She chaired the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term. As agriculture secretary, Rollins would advise the administration on how and whether to implement clean fuel tax credits for biofuels at a time when the sector is hoping to grow through the production of sustainable aviation fuel. The nominee would also guide next year’s renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal, in the shadow of disputes over Mexico’s attempt to bar imports of genetically modified corn and Canada’s dairy import quotas. Trump has said he again plans to institute sweeping tariffs that are likely to affect the farm sector. He was considering offering the role to former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler, a staunch ally whom he chose to co-chair his inaugural committee, CNN reported on Friday. Source link #Trump #picks #Brooke #Rollins #agriculture #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A Survivor in Spain Filmed How the Water Flooded Her Town in Hours A Survivor in Spain Filmed How the Water Flooded Her Town in Hours Rosalía Arenas, a resident of Utiel, recorded on her phone for nearly five hours as deadly floods submerged her street. A boat eventually evacuated Ms. Arena and her 2-year-old child. Source link #Survivor #Spain #Filmed #Water #Flooded #Town #Hours Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Super Mario Party Jamboree update out now (version 1.1.1), patch notes Super Mario Party Jamboree update out now (version 1.1.1), patch notes Super Mario Party Jamboree receives a new update with version 1.1.1, and Nintendo’s patch notes are right here. Source link #Super #Mario #Party #Jamboree #update #version #1.1.1 #patch #notes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Adani CFO says U.S. charges linked to only one business contract Adani CFO says U.S. charges linked to only one business contract Chairperson of Indian conglomerate Adani Group, Gautam Adani, speaking at the World Congress of Accountants in Mumbai on November 19, 2022. Indranil Mukherjee | Afp | Getty Images A U.S. bribery indictment of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani is linked to one contract of Adani Green Energy that makes up some 10% of its business, and no other firms in the conglomerate are accused of wrongdoing, the group’s CFO said on Saturday. On Wednesday, Gautam Adani, one of the world’s richest men, and seven others were indicted for ****** by U.S. prosecutors over their alleged roles in a $265 million scheme to bribe Indian officials to secure power-supply deals. Adani has denied all allegations calling them “baseless”. Group CFO Jugeshinder Singh sought to defend the allegations on Saturday saying none of Adani’s 11 public companies “are subject to indictment” or “are accused of any wrongdoing in the said legal filing”. The allegations in the U.S. indictment relates to “one contract of Adani Green, which is roughly 10% of overall business of Adani Green”, Singh said on X. The U.S. prosecutor charges are the biggest setback for India’s $143 billion Adani Group, which was last year hit by Hindenburg Research’s allegations of improper use of offshore tax havens, claims the company denied. The U.S. indictment has already had a significant impact on the business. The group entity’s shares have plummeted, some global banks are considering temporarily halting fresh credit to Adani and Kenya has cancelled two deals with Adani worth over $2.5 billion. Adani, which has several other global projects, is also charged with misleading U.S. investors about Adani Green’s compliance with antibribery principles and laws. Singh said on Saturday, they became aware of the “specificity” of the U.S. charges only two days ago. “We were aware that something is afoot,” he said, adding the company disclosed as much to investors in its $750 million 2024 bond offering, about $175 million of which was raised from financial institutions in the ******* States. The U.S indictment, however, says the bond offering “contained false and misleading assurance about, among other things, the Indian Energy Company’s (Adani Green’s) ‘corporate governance’ and touted ‘maintaining transparency and compliance in every aspect’.” The charges also put the spotlight on Sagar Adani, a director at Adani Green and millennial scion of the company who kept track of hundreds of millions of dollars of alleged bribes to Indian officials on his mobile phone. Singh said the group would make a more detailed comment once it has legal approval as the matter is before the courts. Source link #Adani #CFO #U.S #charges #linked #business #contract Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero Reveals DLC Characters, and More Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero Reveals DLC Characters, and More NIS America revealed a number of things for Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, including DLC characters, a new mode, and what to expect from post game. – IS Source link #Phantom #Brave #Lost #Hero #Reveals #DLC #Characters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Home of the kelpie Home of the kelpie Sandy Guy brings a place alive through its dogs Source link #Home #kelpie Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Squirrel with a **** review – New Goat in Town | TechStomper Squirrel with a **** review – New Goat in Town | TechStomper Duuro says: “Squirrel With A **** feels like a game built around a Twitter joke that somehow became real. Sure, it has its moments of charm and creativity, but the frustrating controls and repetitive gameplay make it hard to recommend at full price. Consider it only if you’re in the mood for some mindless chaos and don’t mind fighting with the controls to achieve it.” Source link #Squirrel #**** #review #Goat #Town #TechStomper Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why you’re wrong about AI art, according to the Ai-Da ****** that just made a $1 million painting Why you’re wrong about AI art, according to the Ai-Da ****** that just made a $1 million painting Science fiction promised us ****** butlers, but it seems they rather fancy themselves as artists instead. And who can blame them? On November 7, a painting of the mathematician Alan Turing by an AI-powered ****** called Ai-Da sold at auction for a cool $1,084,000 (around £865,000). That’s a more appealing lifestyle than having to sprint around a Boston Dynamics ******** course. The Sotheby’s auction house said Ai-Da is “the first humanoid ****** artist to have an artwork sold at auction.” It probably also set the record the most online grumbling about a painting, which is understandable – after all, shouldn’t robots be sweeping up and making the tea, while we artfully dab at the canvases? The Ai-Da ****** (seen here standing in front of her record-setting ‘AI ****’ painting) uses a combination of cameras in her eyes, AI algorithms, and a robotic arm to make her artworks. (Image credit: Ai-Da) Naturally, the Ai-Da ****** and its maker Aidan Meller don’t agree that art should be ring-fenced by humans. As Marvin from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy once noted: “Here I am, brain the size of a planet and they ask me to take you down to the bridge. Call that job satisfaction? ’Cos I don’t.” But rather than rely on Douglas Adams to fill in the blanks, we asked Ai-Da and Meller what they’d say to those who are skeptical about AI-generated art – and what the landmark ‘A.I. ****’ painting means for the future of creativity… The latest ‘non-artist’ Ai-Da herself usually prefers to let her art do the talking. When we asked her why she paints her answer was: “The key value of my work is in its capacity to serve as a catalyst for dialogue about emerging technologies”. Fortunately, her creator Aidan Meller, a gallerist and veteran of the art world, was more forthcoming on why team Ai-Da doesn’t think the painting or her work should be considered a threat to human artists. The Ai-Da ****** at the AI for Good 2024 summit – YouTube Watch On “Contemporary art has always provoked discussions about what art is and Ai-Da and her work is no different,” Meller told us. “Just her existence is quite controversial for the art world,” he added. Given the reaction to the ‘A.I. ****’ painting, her presence is also pretty controversial for ******** artists, too. Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. Meller prefers to see Ai-Da as the natural successor to the artistic disruptors of the past. “History is littered with artists that society called “non-artists”. Everyone from Picasso to Matisse challenged people’s idea of what art was during their time. Because it didn’t fit into their conception of what art should be,” he told us. “Duchamp challenged the idea of what art could be by putting a urinal in an art gallery and changed the future of art. The Ai-Da ****** challenges the idea of what an artist can be, by creating art using AI technology and creative agency,” he added. But how exactly is AI art created, in Ai-Da’s case, and are humanoid robots a necessary part of it gaining mainstream acceptance? After all, there’s a difference between hitting the ‘create’ button in the best AI art generators and seeing a ****** physically apply strokes to a canvas. Who’s really holding the brush? In reality, Ai-Da’s work is a collaboration between AI, robots and humans, with the latter still a very necessary part of the process. “We had a discussion with Ai-Da about what she might paint in relation to the concept of “AI for Good”, and she came up with Alan Turing,” Meller explained. “We then showed Ai-Da ****** an image of Alan Turning, which Ai-Da responded to by creating the artwork. She painted 15 images of Alan Turing and then selected three to be combined together to form A.I. ****,” he added. A combination of Ai-Da and human artists apply the finishing textures to her artworks – which means she is very much a “machine-human collaboration”, as her creators describe her. (Image credit: Ai-Da) Those three portraits were uploaded to a computer and then printed on a canvas, with Ai-Da then applying marks and textures to finish the painting. Some final bits of texture were added by human assistants, in the parts of the canvas where Ai-Da couldn’t reach. The finished artwork has more in common with Warhol’s ‘Factory’ process, then, rather than a decade-long Da Vinci masterpiece. But what does this all mean for the future of art? The $1 million question Ai-Da’s creator definitely isn’t on the side of the AI cynics like Linux founder Linus Torvalds, who recently slammed AI as “90% marketing and 10% reality”. “I think the response to the painting at auction shows that people understand the importance and power of AI in how it is shaping the world we live in and all of our futures,” Aidan Meller said. “The auction shows that AI is on the rise and it is going to change society enormously”. The painting’s landmark price tag, which shattered its pre-auction estimate of around around $120,000-$180,000 (£100,00-£150,000) suggests something has shifted in art collecting, too. “I think it does also mean that the art world is beginning to accept that AI art is here to stay. It also shows that creativity comes in many forms and that AI has the ability to be creative and to add value to the world,” Meller added. Ai-Da has also perfected the artful side-glance pose perfected by artists over the decades. (Image credit: Ai-Da) That last point ******** up for debate and will remain so indefinitely. The makers of the popular digital art app Procreate, for example, recently said it will never embrace generative AI. In fact, they went a bit ******* than that, with CEO James Cuda stating: “I really f***ing hate generative AI. I don’t like what’s happening in the industry and I don’t like what it’s doing to artists.” Clearly, Ai-Da and her process is few steps beyond the basic generative AI we’re seeing bolted onto consumer apps, but it could be a tough battle to win over skeptics. Then again, Ai-Da’s creator says the point of the ****** is to stimulate debate rather than convince you to swap sides… The ‘fourth industrial revolution’ For many, Ai-Da herself is the art story rather than the $1 million painting she co-created. That’s something Meller echoed when we asked him why Ai-Da was created in the first place. “The key value of Ai-Da as a ****** artist is not necessarily in acceptance, but in the capacity to serve as a catalyst for dialogue about emerging technologies,” he said. Clearly, the art world thinks there’s a monetary value in the results produced by the project, but Meller thinks it goes beyond that. (Image credit: Ai-Da) “One purpose of contemporary art is to ask questions of our time and to challenge the status quo, creating debate,” he said. “So art created by an AI-powered ****** was a good platform to engage audiences into a discussion around the ethical issues surrounding the development of AI technology and our response as a society.” Ai-Da herself isn’t new – we first covered the portrait artist back in 2019 – but the rapid development of AI models has helped transform her skills and make her the face of a hot debate that is sparking controversies on a weekly basis. And Meller admits that Ai-Da is as much as a conduit for debate as an established artist. “We are currently going through the fourth Industrial revolution, and this is resulting in extreme shifts in both technology and human behavior globally,” he said. “So the heart of the project is a ****** artist that explores the impact new technologies are having on society”. Art vs sat-navs The core of the Ai-Da debate revolves around the question of whether there’s something unique, even sacrosanct, about art. For many, art is a communication between humans – the creator and audience – which gives AI-driven art a hollow air of meaninglessness. But Meller disagrees, seeing Ai-Da’s approach as the latest development of how humans are using technology. The Ai-Da ****** using ink and watercolor – YouTube Watch On “Many people look at Ai-Da and think about her being an AI-powered ******, but in many ways humans are becoming more robotic in our use of technology,” he said. “We are transferring our decision-making and our agency onto machines, and in lots of ways as humans we are merging with machines and becoming cyborgs ourselves” he observed, pointing to smartphones as the obvious example. “When sat-nav came out, we didn’t quite trust it, but now we wouldn’t go anywhere without it. AI has infiltrated every part of our lives, from what work we will do, what news we watch, what kind of partner we have, what kind of baby even we might want to have,” he added. “By painting this picture of Alan Turing, Ai-Da ****** is really digging into all of these big ethical issues.” We’ve been here before While some will flinch at parallels being drawn between sat-navs and paintings, there’s no doubt Ai-Da has succeeded in reviving a debate that’s as old as at art itself. The obvious example is the invention of photography in the mid-1800s, which shocked painters who dismissed the mechanized ‘imitation’ of their painterly hand as an art form. Ultimately, photography and art learned to not only co-exist, but to develop a symbiotic relationship. The French painter Degas was influenced by photography, while holding a contempt for the commercialized industry it became. As ‘pictorialist’ photographers sought to imitate traditional watercolors, painters moved towards impressionism. (Image credit: Ai-Da) Will AI-driven art and human artists do the same, rather than seeking to extinguish each other? History would suggest so. Whatever the financial or artistic merits of the ‘A.I. ****’ painting, it’s certainly a lightning rod for debate – and whichever side of the debate you’re on, it’s one that’s worth engaging in. As the Hungarian artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy said in the early 1900s, “anyone who fails to understand photography will be one of the illiterates of the future”. AI-driven art is clearly here to stay and, while we may eventually get our ****** butlers, it’ll probably pay to engage with their artistic cousins in the meantime. You might also like Source link #youre #wrong #art #AiDa #****** #million #painting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump pick Lutnick’s firm in talks with Tether for $2 billion bitcoin lending project, Bloomberg reports Trump pick Lutnick’s firm in talks with Tether for $2 billion bitcoin lending project, Bloomberg reports (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick is in talks to deepen his financial ties with the company operating the world’s largest stablecoin, Tether, by launching a $2 billion project to lend dollars to clients against bitcoin, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday. Lutnick’s financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald is discussing receiving support from Tether to help fund the project, that could potentially reach tens of billions of dollars, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Tether and Cantor did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside business hours. Tether uses Cantor to hold billions of dollars worth of Treasuries that support the value of its stablecoin in a relationship that helps Lutnick’s firm earn tens of millions of dollars annually, Bloomberg reported. Earlier this week, Trump said he would nominate Wall Street CEO Howard Lutnick to lead his trade and tariff strategy as head of the Commerce Department. He would also have “additional direct responsibility” for the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. Lutnick has been known to promote the adoption of cryptocurrency. The Commerce Department oversees a sprawling array of functions with nearly 47,000 employees, from the U.S. Census Bureau to weather forecasting, ocean navigation and investment promotion. (Reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) Source link #Trump #pick #Lutnicks #firm #talks #Tether #billion #bitcoin #lending #project #Bloomberg #reports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vampire Hunters Review | TheXboxHub Vampire Hunters Review | TheXboxHub Games Asylum: “Several developers are currently working on the next evolution of Vampire Survivors-style auto shooters, aiming to refined, expand, and put their own stamp on the genre. The creators of Vampire Hunters are arguably ahead of the curve, presenting the world with a first-person roguelike auto-shooter in which our hero carries numerous weapons at once, populating the top and bottom of the screen. This isn’t as distracting as you may expect, and there’s even a gauge to edge weapons out of view entirely – one of many thoughtful touches present.” Source link #Vampire #Hunters #Review #TheXboxHub Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Your pictures on the theme of ‘autumn walks’ Your pictures on the theme of ‘autumn walks’ We asked our readers to send in their best pictures on the theme of “autumn walks”. Here is a selection of the photographs we received from around the world. Susan Lang Susan Lang: “An afternoon walk in the Cotswolds. The light was beginning to fade so we were heading home down this quiet no through road that’s mainly used by walkers and horse riders. It was eerie in the fog – and we heard something moving around in the wood.” Rudolf van Brederode Rudolf van Brederode: “Having a lovely encounter with a hairy local at Castle Roy near Nethy Bridge [Inverness].” Doris Enders Doris Enders: “In autumn, most of the acorns had already fallen to the ground. This one got stuck on a barbwire.” Paul Richards Paul Richards: “Walk from Goytre Wharf [Monmouthshire].” Catherine Quick Catherine Quick: “Walking through the Bronx Zoo, [New York] the reflections of the autumnal trees in the swirling lake water caught my eye.” Carlos Rodero Carlos Rodero: “Autumn season in the Serranía de Cuenca Natural Park [Spain].” Lukasz Wojtylak Lukasz Wojtylak: “A lone bench in a park near Vysehrad, Prague, Czech Republic. It seems no-one had used it since the autumn began.” Dave Jones Dave Jones: “I’m too lazy to plan photos. But when I pointed my camera along this pleasing row of trees, in early autumn, my good friend Joe unexpectedly leapt into the shot and made it a hundred times better. Thanks Joe.” Jean Crosland Jean Crosland: “My dog Ziggy catching autumn leaves.” Mark Ballett Mark Ballett: “Time for Carol, Milou, and Molly to take a rest after a long walk along the coast.” Ian Hawley Ian Hawley: “King of the castle in Bradgate Park [Leics] keeping a watchful eye over the intruder into his space.” Matthew Logan Matthew Logan: “These towering aspens on Humphrey’s Peak near the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort, outside of Flagstaff, are a major tourist attraction each autumn.” Michael Shaw Michael Shaw: “Autumn stars, leaves on the pavement on an October stroll.” Josh Skelding Josh Skelding: “An autumn walk through the vineyard.” Judith Christy Judith Christy: “My husband and I were being ‘accompanied’ by these ever-hopeful ducks on our walk around Ngatea Water Gardens, in New Zealand.” Sandhya Bhattaram Sandhya Bhattaram: “While strolling through Bushy Park, [London] I was amazed to see a group of deer making their way across a small stream gracefully.” John Lanagan John Lanagan: “Caught in a November downpour, Christchurch Park, Ipswich. Taken from the comfort of Christchurch Mansion.” Helen C Green Helen C Green: “I love walking along the piers in Whitby [N Yorks] especially when the waves are pretty wild. I got a light sprinkling of sea-spray, as I’m sure this walker did too.” David Jenks David Jenks: “I found these acorn cupules during a recent autumn wooded walk and thought they created a nice photo image.” Maria Peer Maria Peer: “I live in Austria, in a foggy area near Linz, and took this picture during one of my regular walks.” Source link #pictures #theme #autumn #walks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

King Kohli rediscovers his magic with sparkling ton King Kohli rediscovers his magic with sparkling ton Virat Kohli has returned to form with an unbeaten 100 off 143 ****** as India push closer to victory in their Border-Gavaskar series opener against Australia. Source link #King #Kohli #rediscovers #magic #sparkling #ton Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Southern California woman arrested, accused of operating brothels disguised as skin care spas Southern California woman arrested, accused of operating brothels disguised as skin care spas A Southern California woman was arrested for allegedly operating brothels at the skin care spas she owned in Ventura and Orange counties. The suspect was identified as Amanda Xia, 44, from Yorba Linda, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. In early 2024, detectives began investigating reports that Swan Spa, located in the 100 block of North Rancho Road in Thousand Oaks, was allegedly operating as a commercial **** establishment. Authorities said evidence was found that confirmed the suspect, Xia, was financially benefitting from the illicit services her employees were offering to customers. Xia also owned three other spa locations which investigators identified as brothels involved in similar ******** **** operations. “Detectives were able to positively identify multiple male individuals suspected of purchasing commercial **** at each of the four locations under investigation,” officials said. Xia was arrested at her Orange County home on charges of pimping, pandering and money laundering. On Nov.13, search warrants were served at the suspect’s home and all four spa locations: Swan Spa – 100 block of North Rancho Road, Thousand Oaks Star Spa – 400 ****** of North Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park Victoria Spa – 23000 block of El Toro Road, Lake Forest Four Seasons Spa – 20000 block of Lake Forest Drive, Lake Forest The coordinated operation involved multiple agencies including the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Xia was taken into custody and is being held on $100,000 bail. “The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their ongoing support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving *******,” officials said. Anyone with additional information can call the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office at 805-654-2380. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Source link #Southern #California #woman #arrested #accused #operating #brothels #disguised #skin #care #spas Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]