Pelican Press

At City Ballet, a Swan Is Born and a Firebird Flies Into the Sunset At City Ballet, a Swan Is Born and a Firebird Flies Into the Sunset “It was pandemonium,” Maria Tallchief wrote in her memoir about her “Firebird” debut, in 1949. “The theater had turned itself into a football stadium, and the audience was in a frenzy.” The only thing that went wrong was that they hadn’t rehearsed the curtain calls. Tallchief was New York City Ballet’s first star, a thrilling dancer and a part of why the company rose to become the most important in the country. This season, City Ballet paid tribute to Tallchief’s centennial with a program of ballets that George Balanchine created for her: “Scotch Symphony” (1952),“Sylvia: Pas de Deux” (1950) and “Firebird.” Tallchief, of Osage descent, was a force, a testament to what American ballet could be. As the company’s associate artistic director, Wendy Whelan, said in a curtain speech, “Her discipline, musicality, power and integrity will forever be our north star.” Throughout City Ballet’s winter season, there were performances that inspired real celebration, if not quite pandemonium — especially Alexei Ratmansky’s “Paquita,” a valiant experiment pairing Balanchine’s 1951 “Minkus Pas de Trois” with his own restaging of the Grand Pas Classique, the final act of “Paquita.” Ratmansky rejuvenated ballet while pushing his dancers to become better versions of themselves. To witness each cast, especially the formidable Mira Nadon in the ballerina role, was enlightening because the dancing was so alive — a fresh take on how a ballet, even a historical one, could be progressive. The season’s other new offering, Justin *****’s “Mystic Familiar,” was hardly that — its quest for innovation landed it in a place as earnest as its title. I could have lived without the photographer Elizaveta Porodina’s banners and prints, presented as part of the company’s Art Series, which turn dancers into blurry, interchangeable beings. But the range and beauty of City Ballet comes from the individuals that make up its ranks, including two glamorous talents who were promoted to principal dancer this season: Miriam Miller, a towering, willowy blond; and Gilbert Bolden III, whose exceptional partnering and exuberant dancing make him indispensable. He is an artist who always gives his all. The winter season wrapped up Sunday with “Swan Lake.” Here are some highlights. ‘Scotch Symphony’ Indiana Woodward and Jovani Furlan Indiana Woodward, as a soft, floating sylph, and Jovani Furlan, the man she encounters in a misty Scottish forest, had a sweet lavishness in “Scotch Symphony.” Woodward, with exquisite detail and musicality, shone from her beautiful, open face to her finely etched arabesques and traveling bourrées, in which she drifted across the floor untethered by gravity. The pairing of Mira Nadon and Miriam Miller in Balanchine’s 1941 classic set to Bach’s Double Violin Concerto in D minor — the lead women, in a display of vivid syncopation, illustrate the violins — was a ray of sunshine. The two dancers, with Miller making her debut, performed with shining ebullience. The smiles! The camaraderie! As dancers in the corps de ballet, Miller and Nadon always performed with a joyful warmth; here, together, they turned the heat on high. ‘Sylvia: Pas de Deux’ Megan Fairchild and Joseph Gordon This Balanchine gem, in the classical structure of a grand pas de deux, is 12 minutes of dazzling virtuosity made all the more piquant by the clean, effortless dancing of Megan Fairchild and Joseph Gordon. Fairchild, 40, who sometimes feels like City Ballet’s gracious, unofficial host, has announced her plans to retire in 2026, which makes her performances — including her eloquent “Divertimento No. 15” — treasured occasions. THE STANDOUT Mira Nadon This young principal dancer exists in a category all her own. In “Concerto Barocco,” her sleek footwork mirrored the notes of the violin. In her star turn in “Paquita,” above, dancing with Joseph Gordon, she imbued the ballerina role with sophistication along with a sassy sort of swing. And in her “Swan Lake” debut, Nadon’s rich dancing was full of details and imaginative nuance; straightening her arms overhead like raised wings, she seemed to grow taller. Falling backward into the arms of Peter Walker, her distinguished Prince Siegfried (so improved in his partnering), she seemed weightless, as if she were suspended, for a fearless moment, in the air. Never static, Nadon possessed a wildness, too — a mix of the seductive and the serious that made every moment gripping and new. THE NEXT WAVE Dancers to Watch The pleasure of City Ballet comes not just from the principals, but also from soloists and members of the corps de ballet who are always being tested. This season, there were many memorable standouts, including the lovely star-in-the-making Dominika Afanasenkov in “Paquita” and the Pas de Trois in “Swan Lake,” which also featured Allegra Inch, with her sparkling jump; Alexa Maxwell’s exacting and eerie rendition of the Novice in Jerome Robbins’s “The Cage”; Charlie Klesa and Andres Zuniga, green yet striving to meet the challenges of Balanchine’s “Divertimento No. 15”; Rommie Tomasini, debuting in the role of the small Scottish dancer in “Scotch Symphony” with pert **********; and the heaven-sent David Gabriel, whose detail and spirit in Balanchine’s “Minkus Pas de Trois” as part of “Paquita” were tremendous. ‘SWAN LAKE’ Debuts and a Radiant Veteran Peter Martins’s “Swan Lake” never completely flies — the garish, squiggly sets and costumes are an eyesore — but there is more dancing than milling around (as you see in some productions), and that’s a good thing. And this year, there were five casts and an array of debuts to soak up, an experience that always feels like the thrill of the unknown. Of the Odette-Odiles, Nadon was like watching a dream, while Unity Phelan, so luxurious in “Paquita” earlier in the season, seemed harried and rushed. Tiler *****, dancing with Roman Mejia in a stylishly understated debut, was less enthralling as Odette than as Odile. Miriam Miller and Chun Wai Chan — both new in this production — had breathtaking moments and room to grow. And then there was Sara Mearns, a veteran Odette-Odile, whose rendition was so fragile, so heart-rending, and was tinged with maturity and melancholy that my breath was caught for days. She was unforgettable. A Farewell Ashley Bouder Ashley Bouder, a crisp, virtuoso dancer of daring and taste who spent 25 years at City Ballet, retired after a final, startling performance of “Firebird,” a ballet she was thrown into with little notice at 17. Vivacious and all the more splendid for it, she has never been the kind of dancer to take things slowly, but in this last “Firebird” Bouder fixated on the details with a quiet focus that honored Balanchine and his choreography — in a way, more than herself. During her final, heartbreaking exit, Bouder, arched in a backbend with her gaze tilted up and with a spellbinding pause, she accomplished the unimaginable: She stopped time. Source link #City #Ballet #Swan #Born #Firebird #Flies #Sunset Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Why European Starlink rival Eutelsat shares are rocketing Why European Starlink rival Eutelsat shares are rocketing A satellite dish in a ground network of satellites at Eutelsat’s Madeira office. Photographer: /Bloomberg via Getty Images Zed Jameson | Bloomberg via Getty Images Shares of French satellite operator Eutelsat skyrocketed almost 390% last week — and a potential change of tack in European defense has been helping the rally. The firm’s stock price saw wildly volatile moves last week, up by as much as 77% on Tuesday and by another 120% on Wednesday. From its closing price on Feb. 28 to last Friday’s close, shares have risen an eyewatering 387%. Eutelsat’s shares continued to climb on Monday, jumping more than 22% as of 1:00 p.m. local time in Paris. What’s behind Eutelsat’s huge share price gains? CNBC runs through all you need to know. What is Eutelsat? Eutelsat is a French company that produces satellites for data connectivity. The business sends its satellites to space using rockets from the likes of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, deploying them into both low earth orbit (LEO) and into geostationary orbit (GEO). Following a deal to combine its operations with British satellite firm OneWeb in 2023, Eutelsat became the world’s third largest satellite operator in terms of revenues. It competes with Musk’s Starlink satellite internet venture, a subsidiary of SpaceX. Why are shares skyrocketing? Last week, reports surfaced suggesting that Eutelsat was in the running to potentially replace Musk’s Starlink in the embattled Ukraine. For years, Starlink has offered Ukraine’s military satellite its internet services to assist with the war effort amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. However, relations between the U.S. and Ukraine have soured recently following the election of President Donald Trump. Musk serves as head of the newly instated Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory body assisting the administration. Last week, Trump paused all military aid to Ukraine following a clash with the country’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The confrontation happened after Trump shifted U.S. policy on Ukraine and Russia by reopening talks with Moscow. In February, reports said that U.S. negotiators had raised the possibility of cutting Ukraine’s access to Starlink if the two countries aren’t able to successfully negotiate a deal for the U.S. to secure access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. On March 4, Eutelsat said that it was in talks with the European Union to supply additional internet access to Ukraine. The French company’s shares had already begun surging the day prior, on the back of speculation that Eutelsat could serve as a replacement for Starlink in Ukraine if negotiations with the U.S. fracture further. Will Eutelsat replace Starlink? For now, it’s not entirely clear. The company is discussing an expansion of its services in Ukraine with the EU. “Everyone is asking us today, ‘Can you replace the large number of terminals of Starlink in Ukraine,’ and we are looking at that,” Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke told Bloomberg in an interview last week. Eutselsat arguably has the scale to offer additional support for Ukraine in terms of satellite-based connectivity. The firm says it currently has a fleet of 35 GEO satellites, in addition to an LEO constellation of more than 600 satellites. Over the weekend, Musk and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a spat with Poland’s foreign minister on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, which Musk owns. The tech billionaire said that Ukraine’s “entire front line” would collapse if he were to switch off Starlink. In response, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said his country pays Starlink for services to Ukraine, which Warsaw has supported in its battle against Moscow’s invasion since 2022. Sikorski added Poland may have to seek alternative suppliers if Starlink proves to be an “unreliable provider.” Rubio disputed Sikorski’s claims, saying “no one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink” and urging gratitude — while Musk dubbed the Polish politician a “small man.” On Monday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended his foreign minister, saying Sikorski “calmly” explained the “Polish raison d’état to officials from another country.” Source link #European #Starlink #rival #Eutelsat #shares #rocketing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Where to recycle your used and unwanted gadgets Where to recycle your used and unwanted gadgets Every new gadget you buy comes at a cost to your wallet, but there’s a hefty environmental price to pay as well. Every phone and laptop out there is a non-compostable mass of metal and plastic, and every new generation of them means more rare earth metals pulled out of the ground. Then there’s the human labor required to put them together, and the water and fuel used in manufacturing and shipping. It all adds up, but you can help bring that cost down a bit by recycling your old devices. Fortunately, companies and governments alike have made it possible to dispose of your old devices responsibly. You can take your items to a recycling center, drop them off at a store, or even mail them in. Here’s how to find places that will take your old gadgets. National chains There is no national electronics recycling law at this time, so you won’t find any federal programs to assist you with getting rid of old devices. The USPS does run a program for federal agencies and their employees, but it’s not available to the general public. Instead, the rest of us have to rely on nationwide retailers to toss out our old stuff. Best Buy With more than 1,000 locations in the United States, there may be a Best Buy close to you, in which case, you can go to a location to drop off items to be recycled. You just need to take it to the customer service counter. They’ll issue you a receipt, but keep in mind that you can’t claim the drop-off as a deduction on your taxes because Best Buy isn’t a charity. As of 2025, Best Buy also has a mail-in option. You can purchase a small- ($23, up to 6 pounds) or medium-sized ($30, up to 15 pounds) box from the retailer, fill it up with as many approved gadgets as you can (while staying under the weight limit) and ship it back to Best Buy to be recycled. You can either drop off your boxes at a UPS drop-off point or schedule a UPS pickup (do not drop the boxes off at a Best Buy store). You can even recycle televisions and monitors, though in most places you’ll be charged a fee of $30 per item to cover the higher costs of transporting and disassembling them. Best Buy’s in-house TV brands, Insignia and Dynex, will always be accepted for free, though, as long as they’re smaller than 50 inches. (Consumers in California are not charged the $30 fee, while locations in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan charge the fee but offer a $30 gift card as reimbursement. Connecticut locations will only accept Insignia and Dynex sets for recycling.) If you’re turning in any desktops, laptops or PC gaming accessories, you’ll get a voucher for 20 percent off toward the purchase of a new Logitech mouse, keyboard, webcam or headset. Just be aware that Best Buy limits you to three items per household per day, including up to two televisions or monitors. Staples Recycling your stuff at Staples is similar to Best Buy — just bring your products to the checkout counter and an associate will help you out. But you can only bring in seven items a day, and the store won’t accept televisions at all (monitors are allowed). Staples Easy Rewards members also receive points for bringing in goods to be recycled or shredded; the points can be redeemed at checkout for discounts on purchases (200 points = $1 off). If you can’t make it to a store, Staples also offers a mail-in program. You’ll need to purchase a recycling box first, which starts at $14 for a small box and goes up to several hundred for a full pallet (only available for commercial locations). You can put as much as you want into a box as long as it fits inside and doesn’t exceed the weight limit (a large box can accept up to 70 pounds). A “serialized” option is also available for an additional charge, which includes an inventory list for everything you send back. The boxes are shipped to you and then back to Staples at no extra cost; just drop off the sealed packages at your local UPS drop-off point or call for a pickup. Office Depot / OfficeMax Office Depot and OfficeMax have almost 1,000 locations around the United States but, unlike Staples and Best Buy, the company won’t recycle your old gadgets for free. If you’re only getting rid of a few phones, batteries or ink and toner cartridges, those can be turned in at any Office Depot or OfficeMax store for no charge. For everything else, you must purchase a Tech Recycling Box ($8.39 for small, $18.29 for medium, and $28 for large) even if you’re already at the store. Once you have the box, you can fill it with as many items as you can fit inside, including smaller televisions, as long as it doesn’t exceed the weight limit. So it’s a great deal if you have a lot of stuff you want to dispose of. These must be turned in at an Office Depot or OfficeMax store; an associate will check to make sure all the items are acceptable and prepare the box for shipping (you’ll be asked to fill out a form). You can also return used ink and toner cartridges and get $2 each, up to 10 a month, if you’re a rewards member and spend at least $10 in-store on products within the same month. Home Depot and Lowes You can dispose of old rechargeable batteries, old phones and CFL bulbs in the dropoff boxes at any of 2,300 Home Depot or 1,700 Lowe’s locations. The bins are usually located in the front of the store, and Home Depot has an 11-pound limit on individual items, while batteries must be under 300Wh. Target Target locations have drop-off bins for recyclables located near the entrance; in addition to bins for paper and plastics, there is a specially-designated bin for e-waste like cellphones and used ink cartridges. Manufacturers If you can’t make it to a retail location, especially when you need to get rid of only one or two items, many companies offer recycling programs for their own products. They’ll even pay for shipping. Some run their own programs while others use outside organizations. We’ve outlined policies from a handful of manufacturers below. Amazon Amazon would love for you to use its trade-in program and, if you’re looking to recycle Amazon-branded products like Kindles, Fire TVs and even Ring doorbells, you absolutely should. Amazon will send you a gift card as well as promotional discount to use on a future Amazon device purchase, even if the returned product is non-functional. For products from other manufacturers that can’t be resold, Amazon offers mail-in recycling through its partner Re-Teck. You can send in your busted phones and tablets, as well as select peripherals like keyboards and mice. You’ll just need to fill out some forms online and generate a shipping label, which you can slap on any box. Drop it off at a UPS location, and you’re good to go; Amazon will cover all the costs. Apple Apple If your iPhone or MacBook is still in good shape, you should consider selling it, but if it’s too old or beat up you can still score a gift card by using Apple’s trade-in program. For iPhones (as well as select handsets from Samsung and Google) and iPads, you’ll be asked to fill out a form attesting to the product’s condition and given a trade-in quote (at the time of writing this, a working iPhone 8 snags you a $40 gift card and an iPhone 12 scores you $170). For Macs and Apple Watches, you’ll be asked to provide a serial number as well. Though Apple won’t give you cash for anything it deems too old, broken or otherwise unacceptable, you can still mail it in or bring it to any Apple Store so it can be responsibly disposed of. Dell Dell offers drop-off recycling via a partnership with Goodwill. Not every location participates, but there are more than 2,000 that do. And, because it’s a charity, you may even be able to deduct it as a donation on your taxes. Dell also has a mail-back program on its site where you can generate and print out a shipping label and drop the package off at a FedEx location instead. Epson You can ship old products back to Epson by simply creating a shipping label on its site and dropping it off at a FedEx location. If you’re located in New York, you can even get free packaging sent to you by calling 866-922-8252. Epson also recommends getting in touch with a local charity via Digitunity, where your old equipment may be refurbished for use by people in need. HP If you can, HP recommends taking its products to the nearest Best Buy. HP does have a trade-in program, but it’s geared toward business customers looking to upgrade equipment that still has market value and individual consumers will be redirected to other recycling methods. Ink and toner cartridges can be returned by mail; the company will mail you an envelope that can hold between three and eight ink cartridges and can be dropped off in a mailbox or at the post office. For toner and large quantities of ink cartridges, you can print out a label and use your own box, or request a box be sent directly to you, which you’ll fill with items and drop off at a UPS location. Other manufacturers Many other companies use outside recyclers to dispose of their products, and you’ll often see the same names popping up again and again across different manufacturers. This should simplify things in some cases — you should be able to send in products from multiple sources in one package. You just need to fill in the make and model to generate a prepaid shipping label. However, different states have different rules on what you can return, so the drop-downs for selecting your product may vary by area. Two major recycling companies you’ll notice a lot are RLG, which covers Acer, Google, Intel, Lenovo, and Microsoft; and MRM, which recycles products for Brother, Hisense, Hitachi, HTC, Logitech, Panasonic, TCL and Wacom. States There may not be a national law dictating that you must recycle your electronics, but at least 26 states have passed rules that vary widely on what they demand of manufacturers and consumers. Almost all states that do collect products for recycling provide this service free, with the bill footed by the companies in some way. Most provide some local programs to help you get rid of your stuff, regardless of whether recycling your gadgets is required or optional. States where you can no longer dispose of electronics in the regular trash and must recycle them include: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The following states have laws requiring manufacturers to pay for recycling, but you, the consumer, are not actually required to recycle your electronics: Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. The following states have some special circumstances worth noting: Connecticut Does not allow recycling centers to charge you a fee for turning in electronics, so many organizations and retailers that would usually charge for recycling televisions and monitors do not accept them. Because you cannot dispose of them curbside, you can take them to a municipal transfer station for free. New York New York State has a law making it ******** to charge a fee at recycling centers, so this is your best bet for disposing of old televisions (retailers can still charge for the service). If you live in a New York City apartment building with 10 or more units, contact your landlord about getting an ecycleNYC drop-off box installed in your building. It’s super convenient and free. Pennsylvania Does not allow retailers to charge you a fee to recycle, so places like Best Buy and Staples will not accept most televisions or monitors. Many recycling centers have also closed as a result of underfunding, so check the list of open locations first. Some nonprofit recyclers may still accept the items, and you should check to see if your local government is hosting any drop-off events. Lancaster and Dauphin Counties also still run civic recycling programs. Virginia This state does not have a dedicated statewide recycling program, but some localities run their own programs including Fairfax, Loudoun and Rockbridge counties, and cities like Arlington. Check each municipality’s site for details. Cell phones Cell phones are the easiest gadget to recycle — if you haven’t already decided to sell yours off on eBay or via sites like Decluttr and ecoATM. But, if these options don’t appeal to you, you can send it to: Call2Recycle, which has drop-off centers all over the country in many chain stores, including Lowes, Home Depot and Staples. It will also accept rechargeable batteries. Cell Phones for Soldiers accepts phones in any condition and sells them to refurbishers or recyclers. The proceeds go toward purchasing phone cards for troops so they can call their friends and family back home. To be clear, the phones are not given directly to the soldiers. You can donate via mail: If you’re sending less than 10 devices, you’ll need to pay for shipping. More than 10 devices, and Cell Phones for Soldiers will give you a prepaid mailing label. You can also just drop it off at one of more than 3,000 locations. The three major US carriers — Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — all offer free recycling. You can trade in your old device in-store or send it in for a credit toward a new phone, or let them straight up recycle it. AT&T also participates in Cell Phones for Soldiers. If you do decide to try your luck with ecoATM to see if your old phone is still worth a few bucks and it turns out it’s worth nothing, you can at least rest easy knowing that the company will also recycle your phone responsibly. Source link #recycle #unwanted #gadgets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘You can’t really watch the stock market’ ‘You can’t really watch the stock market’ President Donald Trump and other senior White House officials have spent the past several days bracing Americans for a potential economic slowdown that they say will then lead to stronger growth ahead. With fears brewing over the potential tariff impact, the labor market slowing and indicators pointed toward a possible negative growth in the first quarter, the president and his top lieutenants are projecting a mostly optimistic outlook tempered with warnings about near-term churning. “There is a ******* of transition, because what we’re doing is very big,” Trump said Sunday on the Fox News show “Sunday Morning Futures.” “We’re bringing wealth back to America. That’s a big thing. … It takes a little time, but I think it should be great for us.” Asked whether he thinks a recession is imminent, Trump said, “I hate to predict things like that.” He later added, “Look, we’re going to have disruption, but we’re OK with that.” U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he walks to board Marine One, while departing the White House en route to Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 7, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters The comments come during a tumultuous ******* for markets, with stocks riding a continuing roller coaster depending on the news of the day. Major averages slid again Monday, with the most recent White House assurances doing little to assuage jangled market nerves. While Trump used Wall Street as a continuous barometer of his progress during his first term in office, he discouraged making it a yardstick this time around. “What I have to do is build a strong country,” he said. “You can’t really watch the stock market.” ‘A detox *******’ from spending An emerging theme from the administration is that any slowdown or reversal in growth is a legacy from Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden and his debt-and-deficit fueled stimulus. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called for a “rebalancing” of the economy away from fiscal and monetary largesse. “There’s going to be a natural adjustment as we move away from public spending to private spending,” Bessent said Friday on CNBC. “The market and the economy have just become hooked and we’ve become addicted to this government spending, and there’s going to be a detox *******.” That adjustment could come sooner rather than later. The Atlanta Federal Reserve’s closely followed GDPNow gauge of incoming economic data is tracking a 2.4% decline in the growth rate for the first quarter. If it holds up — the measure can be volatile, particularly early in the quarter — it would be the first quarter to go negative in three years and the biggest retrenchment since the Covid pandemic. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, in a Monday interview with CNBC, called the GDPNow outlook “a metric of the inheritance of President Biden” and “a very, very temporary phenomenon.” “There are a lot of reasons to be extremely bullish about the economy going forward,” he said. “But for sure, this quarter, there are some blips in the data, including the negative GDPNow, which are related both to the Biden inheritance and to some timing effects that are happening ahead of tariffs.” Speaking Sunday to NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, “There’s going to be no recession in America. … If Donald Trump is bringing growth to America, I would never bet on recession, no chance.” Worries about jobs and the consumer One big mover for the Fed model was a surge in the trade deficit to a record $131.4 billion in January, in part the product of a jump in gold imports as well as companies stockpiling ahead of the tariffs. However, there also are rising concerns about consumer spending following a pullback in January. Consumer activity accounts for more than two-thirds of GDP, so any further decline would be added cause for concern. At the same time, a decent headline payrolls gain in February of 151,000 masked some underlying trouble spots for the economy. While the commonly cited unemployment rate just nudged up to 4.1%, the so-called real rate that measures discouraged workers and those at work part-time but would rather have full-time jobs soared to 8%, a half percentage point gain to the highest level since October 2021. The increase came as rolls of those holding part-time jobs for economic reasons rose by 460,000, a 10% increase to the highest level since May 2021. Most of the move in the category came from those citing slack work or business conditions. Further, the level of those reporting at work full-time slumped by 1.2 million while part-timers spiked by 610,000. Market veteran Jim Paulsen, a former economist and strategist with Wells Fargo and other firms, noted in a Substack post that the labor market is approaching “stall speed” and that the gains in the real unemployment rate are consistent with a recession, though that’s not necessarily his forecast. The increase, he wrote, “highlights increasing stress in the U.S. jobs market. Moreover, this is yet another indicator which will fan recession fears among investors and boost worries about a potential bear market.” Few economists on Wall Street are expecting a recession. Goldman Sachs, for instance, cut its GDP outlook for 2025 to 1.7%, down half a percentage point from the previous forecast, while nudging up the 12-month recession probability to just 20%, from 15%. Trump administration officials insist the current soft patch, including the tariff uncertainty, is part of a broader strategy. “What we’re doing is we’re building a tremendous foundation,” Trump said on the Fox show. Source link #watch #stock #market Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Call of Duty Warzone’s iconic Verdansk map returns next month, Activision confirms Call of Duty Warzone’s iconic Verdansk map returns next month, Activision confirms Activision has officially announced the date that Verdansk will return to Call of Duty: Warzone. It’s long been known that Verdansk, which was the original map in Warzone, would be making a return at some point, with Activision announcing back in August 2024 that it planned to bring the map back in Spring 2025. The publisher has now finally announced when exactly this will happen, stating on social media that the map will return in a month’s time. “As we celebrate Call of Duty: Warzone’s 5 Year Anniversary, it’s time to revisit a place of unforgettable memories,” the official Call of Duty account wrote on X. “Verdansk returns to Call of Duty: Warzone on April 3.” The release will coincide with the launch of ****** Ops 6 and Warzone Season 3, which was widely expected to launch on March 20 but was then delayed by two weeks. Last week Activision stated that Season 3 was “a big moment for Call of Duty: Warzone and ****** Ops 6” and that it was “taking the time to deliver a great experience starting on April 3”. As we celebrate Call of Duty: Warzone’s 5 Year Anniversary, it’s time to revisit a place of unforgettable memories Verdansk returns to Call of Duty: Warzone on April 3 pic.twitter.com/Ot7i77VOtd — Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) March 10, 2025 Last month, CharlieIntel reported that content creators had been playtesting Verdansk ahead of its anticipated launch alongside Season 3. ****** Ops 6 and Warzone Season 2 launched on January 28 with relatively little on offer for battle royale players in terms of new content. Activision explained at the time that Warzone updates previously planned for Season 2 had “been shifted to create bandwidth to address foundational issues” with the game. That meant there was to be a focus on gameplay tuning, quality of life improvements and bug fixes, with their release staggered across Season 2. Source link #Call #Duty #Warzones #iconic #Verdansk #map #returns #month #Activision #confirms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk’s social platform X is down for some users Elon Musk’s social platform X is down for some users Elon Musk’s social media platform X experienced several outages on Monday morning, leaving some users unable to load the site. Nearly 40,000 users reported problems with the platform around 10 a.m. ET, according to the analytics platform Downdetector, which gathers data from users who spot glitches and report them to the service. Around 28,000 people were experiencing issues as of 11:30 a.m. ET. A cause for the outages was not immediately clear. X did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. Musk acquired X, formerly known as Twitter, for $44 billion in 2022. The Tesla CEO slashed the company’s headcount by about 80% from 7,500 employees to 1,300 workers, and just 550 full-time engineers, by January 2023. X has experienced several large-scale outages since Musk’s takeover. Users reported problems with the platform in December of 2022 and with the site’s desktop app in July 2023, for instance. Watch: Elon Musk on X subscriptions: ‘Free speech isn’t exactly free it costs a little bit’ Source link #Elon #Musks #social #platform #users Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin’s Market Cap Nears $1.65T—Is a ******* Comeback Ahead? Bitcoin’s Market Cap Nears $1.65T—Is a ******* Comeback Ahead? Recently, experienced an increase of 3.15%, pushing its value to $83,308.89. This rise comes after a notable dip to a day low of $80,126.02, showcasing the digital currency’s volatility. The market witnessed a volume of over $44 billion, slightly below its average, indicating a robust interest in trading activities. With a market cap nearing $1.65 trillion, Bitcoin remains a dominant force in the cryptocurrency sector, despite its price being well below the yearly high of $109,114.88. Bitcoin’s Price Action Remains Volatile Bitcoin’s recent performance highlights its volatile nature, with prices swinging between $80,126.02 and $83,740.66 in a single day. This volatility is not new to seasoned investors who have seen the cryptocurrency fluctuate significantly over the years. The 50-day average price stands at $95,982.76, indicating a downward trend from earlier highs, while the 200-day average is slightly above the current price, suggesting potential resistance levels. The trading volume, although below average, reflects a continuing interest in the asset, driven by both short-term traders and long-term investors. President Trump Announces Strategic Bitcoin Reserve In recent news, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve, utilizing seized assets as a starting point. This move signifies a shift in governmental perception towards cryptocurrencies, potentially paving the way for more institutional involvement. However, the announcement did not include plans for immediate market purchases, leading to mixed reactions from the crypto community. Some investors express disappointment, while others see it as a step towards legitimizing Bitcoin’s role in the global economy. The establishment of a Bitcoin reserve suggests a growing recognition of digital assets as strategic financial instruments. This development could influence other countries to consider similar strategies, thereby increasing Bitcoin’s legitimacy and integration into traditional financial systems. However, it also raises questions about regulation, as governments balance fostering innovation with ensuring financial stability and security. The market’s reaction to these developments underscores the ongoing debate about the role of cryptocurrencies in the global financial landscape. *** Disclaimer: The author does not hold or have a position in any securities discussed in the article. All stock prices were quoted at the time of writing. Source link #Bitcoins #Market #Cap #Nears #1.65TIs #******* #Comeback #Ahead Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sources: Chargers, Mack reach 1-yr, $18M deal – ESPN Sources: Chargers, Mack reach 1-yr, $18M deal – ESPN Sources: Chargers, Mack reach 1-yr, $18M deal ESPNKhalil Mack staying with Chargers on one-year deal NBC SportsReport: Khalil Mack, Chargers Agree to $18M Contract Ahead of 2025 NFL Free Agency Bleacher ReportKhalil Mack to re-sign with Chargers USA TODAYChargers To Re-Sign Khalil Mack profootballrumors.com Source link #Sources #Chargers #Mack #reach #1yr #18M #deal #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Six Nations: England match is like Wales’ World Cup final – Jamie George Six Nations: England match is like Wales’ World Cup final – Jamie George Wales have yet to win this Championship, but George is wary of the improvements they have made since Matt Sherratt’s appointment as interim boss. “Everyone has seen the progress in the team, so they are not going to roll over and give it to us,” he added. “So we are going to have to be ready. It is a six-day turnaround and there are challenges there, but we will be ready to go in Cardiff. “For us we are going there looking to win the tournament. “Obviously there are certain things we can’t control with that, but we will be highly motivated.” Despite Wales’ travails over the past 18 months, World Cup winner Matt Dawson says England must expect a backlash at the Principality Stadium. “I have a sneaky suspicious something weird could happen down at the Principality,” Dawson said on Rugby Union Weekly. “Wales have no right to beat England in the current form. And yet I couldn’t call it.” Source link #Nations #England #match #Wales #World #Cup #final #Jamie #George Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

God Of War’s 20th Anniversary Event Will Have Donuts And Beach Towels, But No New Announcements God Of War’s 20th Anniversary Event Will Have Donuts And Beach Towels, But No New Announcements Sony Santa Monica and Gallery Nucleus are collaborating on an exhibition to celebrate God of War’s 20th anniversary later this month, but don’t expect any new announcements. “With such a stellar lineup and all the anticipation we’ve seen around the anniversary, we do want to be clear that there are no planned announcements for this event,” Sony Santa Monica clarified on Twitter. The exhibition runs between March 15-23, with a panel cast and game dev taking place on March 15 and 22. While there won’t be any new announcements, attendees will be able to check out and grab limited edition prints, Phantasy Arcade Cabinets, God of War-themed donuts from Moonbridge, and a Kratos beach towel. Sony Santa Monica has been silent on what it’s been working on since it launched God of War Ragnarok in 2022. However, the studio is reportedly working on its first new IP since the debut of God of War back in 2005. There are rumors that the games in the original God of War trilogy are being remastered and that the reveal would occur around the franchise’s anniversary, but Sony has now confirmed that there won’t be any planned announcements during the exhibition. However, it’s possible that there could be announcements outside of the event. Bluepoint Games, the studio behind the ******’s Souls remake, was also reportedly working on a God of War live-service game that was ultimately canceled. Source link #God #Wars #20th #Anniversary #Event #Donuts #Beach #Towels #Announcements Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Huawei reportedly acquired two million Ascend 910 AI chips from TSMC last year through shell companies Huawei reportedly acquired two million Ascend 910 AI chips from TSMC last year through shell companies Although Huawei cannot legally obtain advanced chips made by TSMC, the company used shell companies last year to obtain compute chiplets for its Ascend 910 AI chips. The conspiracy was discovered by TechInsights and TSMC, which ceased to ship chiplets to Huawei’s proxies and initiated an internal investigation. However, it was not clear how many chiplets it supplied to Huawei. According to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Huawei obtained as many as two million Ascend 910 AI chiplets. “However, TSMC manufactured large quantities of Huawei Ascend 910B chips on behalf of Huawei shell companies and shipped the chips to China in violation of U.S. export controls,” the report by CSIS reads. According to the report, “government officials told CSIS that TSMC manufactured more than 2 million Ascend 910B logic dies and that all of these are now with Huawei. If true, this is enough dies to make 1 million Ascend 910C units. […] Even though Huawei likely has the more than 2 million Ascend 910B logic dies made by TSMC, there is a question as to whether it has enough HBM to integrate with those dies […] It seems likely that Huawei does, however, since the U.S. plan to restrict all advanced HBM sales to China on a country-wide basis was leaked to Bloomberg in August 2024 and did not go into effect until December of that year, giving Huawei ample time to legally acquire HBM chips as part of a stockpiling strategy.” Although the report seems correct about Huawei’s stockpiling strategy and even gives us an insight into how many chips TSMC produced for Huawei’s intermediaries, it still contains several inaccuracies that lead to wrong conclusions. The progression from the Ascend 910 to the Ascend 910C Huawei’s original HiSilicon Ascend 910, which was launched in 2019, consists of a Virtuvian AI chiplet, a Nimbus V3 I/O die, four HBM2E memory stacks, and two ****** dies. TSMC produced Virtuvian chiplets for Huawei from 2019 to September 2020, using its N7+ process technology, a 7nm-class node with some EUV layers. After the U.S. government put Huawei on its Entity List in 2020, Huawei had to redesign its Virtuvian chiplet to make it at SMIC, which used its N+1 technology (1st Generation 7nm-class process) to build it. GPUs with the new Virtuvian chiplet are called HiSilicon Ascend 910B and have nothing to do with TSMC. Later, Huawei developed a more sophisticated version of its Virtuvian chiplet for its Ascend 910C, which SMIC makes using its 2nd Generation 7nm fabrication technology (N+2). Contrary to the report, the Ascend 910C has only one compute chiplet. Again, the Ascend 910C has nothing to do with TSMC. As Huawei managed to deceive TSMC, the latter produced the original Ascend 910 chiplet for the company in 2023 – 2024, as discovered by TechInsights. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Ascend 910B and Ascend 910C yields are poor Another noteworthy thing about Huawei’s Ascend 910B and Ascend 910C is that their yields are not exactly high, so most parts are shipped with some compute elements disabled. Also, only 75% of Huawei’s AI chips survive advanced packaging, which is not a good result. “However, the advanced packaging process by which two Ascend 910B dies and HBM are combined into a unified Ascend 910C chip also introduces defects that can compromise the functionality of the chip,” the report says. “Industry sources told CSIS that roughly 75% of the Ascend 910Cs currently survive the advanced packaging process.” Nonetheless, Huawei continues to acquire millions of Ascend 910B and Ascend 910C for its internal AI projects and external customers. For example, DeepSeek claims that the Ascend 910C delivers 60% of the performance offered by Nvidia’s H100, which may not be enough for training large language models but is good enough for inference workloads. Source link #Huawei #reportedly #acquired #million #Ascend #chips #TSMC #year #shell #companies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall Street drops amid trade conflict concerns Wall Street drops amid trade conflict concerns Wall Street’s main indexes have fallen as US President Donald Trump’s comments over the weekend stoked fears that a trade war could spark an economic slowdown, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq and the benchmark S&P 500 near five-month lows. In early trading on Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 307.75 points, or 0.72 per cent, to 42,492.47, the S&P 500 lost 74.89 points, or 1.30 per cent, to 5,695.31, and the Nasdaq Composite lost 371.78 points, or 2.03 per cent, to 17,826.75. Mega-cap growth stocks felt the heat. Nvidia fell 2.2 per cent while Meta and Amazon.com were down more than 3.0 per cent each. Tesla was down 7.0 per cent, the lowest since November 5, after UBS cut its forecast for the car maker’s first-quarter deliveries and lowered its price target on the stock. The technology sector lost 2.6 per cent, leading sectoral declines on the S&P 500. The domestically focused small-cap Russell 2000 index fell 1.0 per cent. JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs declined more than 3.0 per cent each, weighing on the broader banks index. In an interview on Sunday, Trump declined to predict whether the US could face a recession, at a time when investors are concerned that his fluctuating trade policies on Mexico, Canada and China could dampen consumer demand and corporate investment. China’s retaliatory tariffs on select US imports are set to take effect on Monday, with US tariffs on certain base metals anticipated later in the week. “It’s been a very rough patch for markets and all of that centres around uncertainty over tariffs,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth. A Reuters poll showed 91 per cent of economists expect higher recession risks due to Trump’s shifting trade policies. HSBC also downgraded US stocks, citing uncertainty around tariffs. The S&P 500 recorded its largest weekly drop since September on Friday. On Monday, the Nasdaq fell more than 10 per cent from its December high, on course for confirming a correction. Since last week, the CBOE Volatility index has been at levels not registered since December. Data on inflation, job openings and consumer confidence are due later in the week. On Friday, investors took some comfort from Fed chair Jerome Powell’s comments that the economy was on a strong footing but he also underscored the need for caution on lowering borrowing costs. The Federal Open Market Committee will convene next week and traders expect policy rates to be left unchanged for the first half of this year, according to data compiled by LSEG. US-listed ******** stocks such as Alibaba fell 3.1 per cent and Bilibili lost 5.0 per cent after data from China heightened concerns about a recovery in the world’s second-largest economy. Crypto stocks such as MicroStrategy slid 10 per cent while Coinbase fell 9.0 per cent and Riot declined 5.2 per cent, tracking lower bitcoin prices. Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 2.83-to-1 ratio on the NYSE. On the Nasdaq, declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 2.98-to-1 ratio. The S&P 500 posted three new 52-week highs and one new low while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 10 new highs and 40 new lows. Source link #Wall #Street #drops #trade #conflict #concerns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Link All is a casual, but challenging, puzzler out now on iOS and Android Link All is a casual, but challenging, puzzler out now on iOS and Android Link All is a new casual puzzler that has a simple concept, but increasingly challenging execution Simply move the line to touch all the nodes and reach the end intact But more complex layouts, different nodes and more make this an increasingly challenging puzzler I think if I had to make a submission for a new puzzle subgenre I might suggest “Games that are seemingly simple but twist basic mechanics to make them challenging.” Think something like Wordle, or Checkers. And Link All is very much in the same vein, with a simple concept that’s still deeply challenging as it goes on. Out now on iOS and Android, the premise of Link All is simple; draw a line that manages to connect to every single node within its path. Don’t cross over the line, and reach the end. It’s as basic as you can get and has echoes of something like the classic arcade release Snake. But, of course, therein lies the challenge. Whether it’s Obstacles blocking your path, Repeat Nodes that require more than one visit or Bridges that let you cross over nodes, there’s a wealth of different twists on this simple formula for you to contend with! With its constantly evolving challenge, it looks as if Link All has a lot to offer in a minimalist package. Linked up As I wrote, Link All is part of that somewhat niche genre of puzzles which eschews complex rulesets in favour of increasingly modifying the challenge. Whether or not that’s a good thing depends on your opinion, but I think that formats like this help ease otherwise casual players into some genuinely challenging brain-cell busters. Indeed, I think choosing to slowly introduce new types of nodes but keeping the core concept intact, is a bit more accessible than just having an extremely complex set of rules from the get-go. But if it still isn’t pulling you in, don’t fret. Instead, why not dig into our own lists of the top puzzle games for iOS and Android? Be it casual brain ticklers or full-on neuron busters. Source link #Link #casual #challenging #puzzler #iOS #Android Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Secretary of state says 83% of USAID programs are being canceled Secretary of state says 83% of USAID programs are being canceled Secretary of State Marco Rubio said early Monday that 83% of programs funded by U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, are being canceled, in the latest for the beleaguered agency that provides humanitarian aid overseas and has become the target for the Elon Musk-helmed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Rubio said on his personal X account that the cancellations come after a six-week review, and that “the 5200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States.” Rubio also said that in consultation with Congress, the State Department intends for the remaining 1,000 programs to be administered “more effectively” under the State Department. “Thank you to DOGE and our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform,” Rubio posted. A worker removes the U.S. Agency for International Development sign on their headquarters on Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images The State Department said two weeks ago that 5,800 USAID contracts had been canceled, a 92% reduction. Rubio on Monday did not give any explanation for the difference in numbers. USAID has been the target of DOGE, the agency created in an executive order signed by President Trump on his first day in office. DOGE is supposed to be tasked with eliminating government waste and posted in February a “wall of receipts” outlining the money allegedly saved by cutting government programs. CBS News has found that the “wall of receipts” contained multiple errors, and DOGE’s purges have faced numerous challenges in court. USAID, which was founded in 1961 by President Kennedy, provided humanitarian aid to more than 100 countries, including disaster relief, health and medical aid, and emergency food programs. In fiscal year 2023, USAID managed more than $40 billion in appropriations, the Congressional Research Service said, a figure that is less than 1% of the federal budget. Mr. Trump accused USAID as being run by “radical left lunatics.” Musk, meanwhile, said it was “beyond repair.” Three U.S. officials have told CBS News that Mr. Trump plans to merge USAID into the State Department and severely reduce its staff and budget. In early February, two top security officials were placed on administrative leave after they refused to allow DOGE access to classified information, sources confirmed to CBS News. Matt Hopson, tapped by Mr. Trump to be USAID chief of staff just two weeks earlier, resigned shortly afterward and USAID’s website went dark. By the end of that week, nearly all of the agency’s staff were put on administrative leave and all of its overseas staff were ordered to be shuttered. Meanwhile, a USAID deputy administrator was put on administrative leave in February for issuing memos saying the agency had failed to implement humanitarian assistance due to “political leadership” at the agency and DOGE. Mr. Trump signed an executive order his first day in office that froze federal funding for foreign assistance for 90 days amid a review of foreign aid, although the State Department later issued a waiver for “life-saving “life-saving humanitarian assistance,” defined as “life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance.” The Supreme Court last week declined to halt a lower court order that required the Trump administration to unfreeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid funding, which could clear the way for reimbursements for organizations that have done work for USAID overseas. Arguments in the lower court case are still ongoing. Caroline Linton Caroline Linton is an associate managing editor on the political team for CBSNews.com. She has previously written for The Daily Beast, Newsweek and amNewYork. Source link #Secretary #state #USAID #programs #canceled Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Will European cars be exempt from 25% levies? Will European cars be exempt from 25% levies? Volkswagen ID.7 electric cars are seen at the Volkswagen (VW) electric fleet lead plant in Emden, Germany, Feb. 18, 2025. Carmen Jaspersen | Reuters Automakers Volkswagen and Stellantis have confirmed that their vehicles made in North America will be exempt from U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly rolled out 25% tariffs, while BMW says it will face levies, as European car manufacturers grapple with new trade rules. The newly returned White House leader has long been threatening to slap tariffs on major U.S. trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and the EU. Last week, new duties on goods from Mexico, Canada and China came into effect. The threat of import tariffs has raised alarm bells in Europe, as vehicles and machinery are the European Union’s biggest exports to the United States. In 2023, the EU had a 102 billion euro ($110.6 billion) trade surplus in machinery and vehicles with the U.S., with the category accounting for 41% of its exports to America. However, some of the region’s automaking giants may be able to — at least temporarily — skirt around the new duties. Last week, the White House granted a one-month tariff delay to automakers whose vehicles comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA — a trade deal between the three countries. Under its terms, if at least 75% of a vehicle’s parts originate from North America, it can be exempted from new tariffs imposed on imports from Canada and Mexico. “Our North American assembled VW-brand vehicles meet the USMCA rules of origin and are exempted from the 25% tariffs,” a Volkswagen spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “As a global automotive manufacturer, we are monitoring developments in North America very closely and assessing any potential effects on the automotive industry and our company as a result of the tariffs announced for the USA, Canada, Mexico and the European Union.” Aside from its flagship brand, Volkswagen owns various major vehicle brands including Skoda, Audi and Bentley. “We stand ready to work with policymakers to find solutions that support the U.S. industry while preserving economic opportunities for workers, businesses and consumers alike,” the auto giant told CNBC. Meanwhile, Stellantis — known for its Jeep and Dodge vehicles — thanked Trump for granting the USMCA exemption in a statement on Friday and pledged to grow its U.S. operations. The carmaker was one of the major companies given a one-month exemption from the levies, ahead of so-called reciprocal tariffs coming into effect on April 2. “We share the President’s objective to build more American cars and create lasting American jobs,” the firm said at the time. “We look forward to working with him and his team.” Shares of Stellantis, which has multiple plants in Mexico, popped after Trump announced the exemptions for carmakers last week. The stock was up more than 2% on Monday afternoon in London. ‘Volatile and complex’ situation On the other hand, ******* auto giant BMW said that, if the USMCA regulation remains, it will be subject to levies. “The current situation regarding the introduction of import tariffs in North America is very volatile and complex,” BMW said in an emailed statement. “The linkage of import tariff to compliance with USMCA rules is the most recent announcement. If this regulation remained in effect, the BMW Group would be one of the affected companies.” “Our position remains unchanged: Free trade, which has always been a guiding principle for the BMW Group, is of immense importance worldwide,” the company added. “It is one of the most crucial drivers of growth and progress. Tariffs, on the other hand, hinder free trade, slow down innovation, and set a negative spiral in motion. In the end, they are detrimental to customers, making products more expensive and less innovative.” In a note to clients on Friday, UBS analysts estimated that 10% of U.S. unit sales for BMW were imported from Mexico at a fairly low price tag, largely for the company’s 2 and 3 series models. “It is worth highlighting that BMW’s U.S. imports from Mexico were already subject to a tariff before,” they said. “The incremental tariff should, all else equal, result in an EBIT impact of ~€400m (before price increases), relatively small in a group context (4%). The ******* potential threat for BMW and the other ******* OEMs is the potential tariff on EU-made cars, which is facing a deadline on 2 April.” Trump’s rollouts and reversals of tariffs aimed at Canada and Mexico — where many global carmakers have manufacturing plants — has sparked volatile trade of regional auto stocks. Last month, after the president announced a 30-day delay to the levies, global markets saw a major sell-off of auto shares, with valuations falling sharply. Source link #European #cars #exempt #levies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Split Fiction Reaches Major Sales Milestone Split Fiction Reaches Major Sales Milestone · · March 10, 2025 Split Fiction, the latest co-op game from Hazelight Studios, has hit a major sales milestone. The developers have announced that Split Fiction sold over one million copies in its first 48 hours of availability. Hazelight Studios launched on March 6, meaning that the current number is likely higher than the one million mark set on March 8. “The love you all show for our game is overwhelming!” the studio said via social media. “Everyone here at Hazelight are beyond happy – and we can’t stop enjoying your amazing reactions!” PODCAST: The Future Of Call of Duty—Insider Gaming Weekly Split Fiction is available now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game features cross-platform multiplayer, and those who want to play with a friend only need to own one copy of the game to enjoy online co-op. Have you played Split Fiction yet or are you still waiting to check it out? Let us know down below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more Insider Gaming, check out the release date for Death Stranding 2 and check out the first trailer for the return of Verdansk to Call of Duty: Warzone. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Split #Fiction #Reaches #Major #Sales #Milestone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cargo vessel collides with oil tanker off *** coast, causing huge fire – CNN Cargo vessel collides with oil tanker off *** coast, causing huge fire – CNN Cargo vessel collides with oil tanker off *** coast, causing huge fire CNNThirty-two casualties brought ashore and vessels ablaze after collision in North Sea – live The GuardianOil tanker, cargo ship collide causing fire; crews to abandon ship in North Sea USA TODAYNorth Sea latest: Tanker and cargo ship collide in North Sea – with more than 30 casualties reported and vessels on fire Sky News Source link #Cargo #vessel #collides #oil #tanker #coast #causing #huge #fire #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Beast Abandoned High Rise Parkour Like in Harran and Villedor The Beast Abandoned High Rise Parkour Like in Harran and Villedor The Dying Light series is known for its intense survival against hordes of zombies, but what makes these battles even more engaging and nerve-wracking are the game’s dynamic parkour mechanics. In the previous titles, players could parkour through city lines and scale skyscrapers to escape danger. While there is no release date, the game is set to release in the Summer of 2025. | Image Credit: Techland However, with Dying Light: The Beast, the studio is taking a different route. Instead of reaching for even higher buildings, the developers are focusing on offering a fresh experience by removing the towering skylines. This time, the experience will be more grounded and tactical, unlike anything seen before. Dying Light: The Beast brings a shift in perspective From the tallest skyscrapers in Harran to the dangerous rooftops of Villedor, players spend most of their time climbing, vaulting, and sliding between high-rise buildings to survive the night in the previous titles. However, that won’t be the case in Dying Light: The Beast. In an interview with TrueAchievements, director Tymon Smektala revealed that the upcoming title in the series is taking a more balanced approach. Instead of bringing more skyscraper climbs, they are focusing more on varied horizontal movement. You won’t have towering skyscrapers, but we’ve designed the environment to encourage creative movement — fallen trees, cliffs, industrial ruins, and makeshift parkour routes. This is an intentional design shift that aims at creating a more immersive and tactical movement experience. Since the game takes players into Castor Woods, a forest setting without the towering urban landscape, players will find themselves in scenarios they have never encountered in the series. From sprawling valleys and cliffside paths to ruined industrial structures, players will have to navigate through all of them to survive. This will allow for a mix of horizontal and vertical movement, resulting in a more expansive and fluid traversal system. But parkour is still a key part of survival. And yes, when Volatiles are on your tail, knowing how to weave through the terrain effectively will be the difference between life and death. No longer are players confined to skyscrapers, they can explore the environment in new ways. In this rural setting, they will have more room to move around, creating an entirely new dynamic in terms of strategy and freedom. While there will still be some vertical elements (abandoned factories and buildings), the focus on horizontal movement means that players’ agility, speed, and resourcefulness will play a key role. A new kind of challenge for the fans Players are excited to try out the game. | Image Credit: Techland For long-time fans, the loss of towering cityscapes like in Harran and Villedor may feel like a step backward for the series. However, if they think about it, this actually introduces new kinds of challenges that will add an element of surprise to the game. In Dying Light: The Beast, parkour isn’t just about escaping from the zombies, it’s about survival and resourcefulness in the wilderness. The developers are committed to offering fresh hurdles that will require players to think outside the box. This makes every encounter feel more dynamic and engaging, as players need to outthink and outmaneuver the zombies, rather than simply jumping between rooftops or climbing the stairs. While players still have the vehicles to cover larger distances, parkour remains the key. The players will encounter elements like fallen trees and hidden parkour routes in the environment, adding yet another layer to the experience. In the end, there may not be skyscrapers to leap between, but the upcoming title promises to bring the series’ defining heart-pounding action. The only difference this time: the thrill comes from outsmarting the undead and rival factions in the dangerous wilderness of Castor Woods. Source link #Beast #Abandoned #High #Rise #Parkour #Harran #Villedor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Plastic surgeon Jonathan Peter Brooks tried to kill colleague, court told Plastic surgeon Jonathan Peter Brooks tried to kill colleague, court told Liam Barnes BBC News, Nottingham YouTube Jonathan Peter Brooks did not appear in court for the trial A plastic surgeon broke into the house of colleague before pouring a “highly flammable liquid” over the floor and stabbing him, a trial has heard. Jonathan Peter Brooks is accused of attacking Graeme Perks at his home in Halam, Nottinghamshire, on 14 January 2021. A trial at a court in Loughborough was told Dr Brooks “hated” Mr Perks, who was a witness in disciplinary hearings against him. The 61-year-old has denied two counts of attempted *******, one of attempted arson with intent to endanger life and one count of possession of a bladed article. The court heard the defendant – who despite being a surgeon had asked to be referred to as Dr Brooks, against usual conventions – is a consultant surgeon with a specialisation in burns and plastics, and was a colleague of Mr Perks. Tracy Ayling KC, opening the prosecution, said he left his house on his bicycle “in the early hours of a cold snowy morning” and went to his colleague’s home. “The defendant was dressed in full camouflage jacket, trousers and hat,” she said. “He had a head torch. He got on his bike armed with a crowbar, cans of petrol, matches and a knife. “His intention was, say the Crown, to break into Mr Perks’s house, set fire to it and if necessary, stab Mr Perks. “In short, he intended to kill Mr Perks by either or both those means.” Ms Ayling said Mr Perks was woken by the defendant breaking in through the conservatory and initially mistook the defendant for his son. She said Dr Brooks stabbed him in the abdomen and, having already spread the liquid around the ground floor of the house, he “made his escape”. Mr Perks’s wife and son “raised the alarm” after being woken and he was transferred to hospital where he underwent surgery and was not discharged for more than a month. “Because of quick action and amazing surgical skill, [Mr] Perks lives,” said Ms Ayling. Police were called to the family home on 14 January 2021 In the days before, which was during a Covid pandemic lockdown, the court heard disciplinary proceedings against Dr Brooks had been taking place in online hearings. Statements from Mr Perks formed part of the evidence against him, the trial heard. Ms Ayling said the defendant “was clearly frustrated” by the hearings and wanted his colleague “out of the way”. “It is clear that the defendant hated [Mr] Perks,” she said. Dr Brooks was found sleeping on a bench on a patio outside a house in Southwell at about 08:05 GMT on 14 January, when an ambulance was called. Ms Ayling said his wife reported him missing to police later that morning after she “reported finding an amount of blood in their garage”. He was found at King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield, “receiving treatment for hypothermia and injuries to his right hand”. He was arrested soon afterwards and his clothing and a ****** rucksack found in his possession was taken for analysis. Ms Ayling said forensic evidence found a flammable liquid was “thrown up the stairs, in the hall and in the conservatory”, which she argued showed the defendant’s motive. “It was in the middle of night [and] the only exit point for those sleeping upstairs would have been the stairs,” she said. “The purpose must have been to kill the occupants of that house and to stop them escaping.” During the opening of the trial, Judge Edward Pepperall also addressed jurors on the absence of the defendant and barristers on his behalf. He told jurors not to “speculate about the reason that Dr Brooks is not here” and noting he had been offered the chance to be represented. “The combination of these circumstances is highly unusual,” he said. “His absence is not evidence against him.” The trial continues. Source link #Plastic #surgeon #Jonathan #Peter #Brooks #kill #colleague #court #told Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Area cleared as Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire erupts Area cleared as Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire erupts Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire is erupting, with authorities relocating nearly 300 families while warning that another 30,000 people in the area could be at risk. There is no immediate report of casualties after the eruption started overnight. The 3763-metre-high volcano is one of the most active in Central America. It last erupted in June 2023. A 2018 eruption killed 194 people and left another 234 missing. The volcano is 53km from Guatemala’s capital. The flow of volcanic material is weak to moderate but expected to increase, Guatemala’s disaster agency said. Source link #Area #cleared #Guatemalas #Volcano #Fire #erupts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AI can detect minute brain abnormalities to treat epilepsy AI can detect minute brain abnormalities to treat epilepsy STORY: :: King’s College London/UCL This MRI scan of a human brain shows in red an area that could be a potential lesion, and a possible cause of epilepsy. And a new artificial intelligence tool developed in the *** can help spot the sometimes minute and difficult-to-pinpoint abnormalities that can cause epilepsy, and prompt methods of treatment. :: ON AI :: Dr Konrad Wagstyl, King’s College London “The crucial thing is, if you can find the brain abnormality, you can offer surgery which might cure the seizures. And what our AI tool can do is find two thirds of those abnormalities that doctors might miss.” Dr Konrad Wagstyl is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London. He’s worked to develop this tool, called MELD Graph. It came together with the help of 23 hospitals around the world that shared their records of brain abnormalities with researchers. That helped them construct a dataset on which to train the AI algorithm on what to look for. “It can take a new scan, point out where it thinks the abnormality is on that scan, and also really importantly, how confident it is, nine out of ten, ten out of ten that it’s a brain abnormality. But also what it’s using to make that decision. Is the brain a bit too thick in this area? Is it a bit brighter than it’s expecting? Then a radiologist can go back to that report and have a look at the scan and say, ‘yes, I think this is causing the seizures. Maybe we can discuss surgery now’.” Epilepsy affects around 1 out of every 100 people globally, with 1 in 5 epilepsy cases being caused by a structural abnormality in the brain. The variations can be minuscule. “…an MRI scan is maybe 10 million pixels and they’re looking for something that’s maybe 100 pixels at its smallest. And that can be very subtle. So for context, if you took, an example might be a novel, a 200 page novel has 100,000 words in it and they’re looking for one word that’s slightly the wrong size or slightly the wrong font. So you could see how having an AI to point out potential areas can really speed up that process and also pick up things they might have missed.” While the tool is not yet clinically available, the team has made the software open-source and is training clinicians and researchers worldwide on its use. Source link #detect #minute #brain #abnormalities #treat #epilepsy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wanderstop Review – Game Rant Wanderstop Review – Game Rant Game Rant Writes “Ivy Road’s new cozy game Wanderstop offers satisfying and simple gameplay while giving players ample time to rest and contemplate.” Source link #Wanderstop #Review #Game #Rant Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Worries about Tesla sales grow as two more analysts reiterate sell ratings Worries about Tesla sales grow as two more analysts reiterate sell ratings More names on Wall Street are souring on Tesla as the electric vehicle maker’s losses continue to pile. UBS and Redburn Atlantic reiterated their sell ratings on Tesla ahead of the company’s April delivery report and first-quarter results, citing sluggish Model Y delivery forecasts and a lack of near-term growth catalysts. UBS slashed its price target by $24 to $225, which suggests 14% potential downside ahead for Tesla, while Redburn’s significantly more bearish $160 price target suggests the stock can fall more than 39%. “We foresee another year of stalled volumes without an imminent new vehicle launch,” Redburn analyst Adrian Yanoshik wrote. “Sluggish registration data to-date may flag a lingering demand challenge. Meanwhile, we expect cash flows to strain under higher inventories into refreshed Model Y deliveries, which began in March. Possible U.S. tariffs on imports from Mexico adds a cost overhang.” Tesla shares declined nearly 9% on Monday, bringing its year-to-date plunge to more than 40%. If trends don’t reverse, the stock could head for an eighth consecutive week of declines after giving up its post-election gains , its longest losing streak in 15 years as a publicly traded company. Several firms last week, including Bank of America, Baird and Goldman Sachs, also lowered their price targets on Tesla last week. TSLA 1Y mountain Tesla stock. Tesla is facing stiff competition from autonomous carmakers in China, concerns over falling vehicle sales in the U.S. and in Europe, and protests over Musk’s political activity. It’s added doubt on the Tesla bull case, which has long relied on the vision of being a company that’s more than just an automaker. Visions of AI-powered robotaxis and humanoid robots are still a far off reality, analysts have said, however. “While the long-term story at TSLA has shifted to AI (robo-taxis and humanoid robots) and progress there continues, we believe these are longer dated opportunities that the premium multiple already (more than) considers,” UBS analyst Joseph Spak said, adding that the stock is currently trading at a valuation that is “too high.” Spak lowered his 2025 delivery forecast to incorporate softer demand for Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y in key markets. He expects some auto gross margin recovery in the second quarter, but says pricing pressures on older Model Ys could still weigh on Tesla’s results. Plans of the company’s “lower-cost” vehicle would likely be a lower margin venture, he added. Of the 54 analyst ratings on Tesla, three rate the stock a sell, nine give it an underperform and 16 have hold ratings, according to LSEG. Twenty-six maintain either a buy or a strong buy rating, it said. Source link #Worries #Tesla #sales #grow #analysts #reiterate #sell #ratings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wanderstop Review – TheGamer Wanderstop Review – TheGamer TheGamer Writes “Slow and steady.” Source link #Wanderstop #Review #TheGamer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Syria operation against Assad loyalists ends after deadly violence Syria operation against Assad loyalists ends after deadly violence Syria’s defence ministry says it has completed a military operation in the country’s western coastal region, after days of violence in which hundreds of people have been killed. Security forces had “neutralized” loyalists of former president Bashar al-Assad in several towns in Latakia and Tartous provinces and were “paving the way for life to return to normal”, a ministry spokesman said. A monitoring group says more than 1,400 people have been killed since Thursday, including 973 civilians. Gunmen loyal to the Sunni Islamist-led government have been accused of carrying out revenge killings against members of Assad’s ********* Alawite sect following a deadly ambush on a security patrol. The interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has said he will set up an independent committee to investigate the killings and insisted the perpetrators would be held accountable. The violence is the worst in Syria since Sharaa led the lightning rebel offensive that overthrew Assad in December, ending 13 years of devastating civil war in which more than 600,000 people were killed and 12 million others were forced to flee their homes. Defence ministry spokesman Hassan Abdul Ghani announced on X that the security operation in Latakia and Tartous had ended after “achieving all the specified objectives”. “Our forces have neutralised the security cells and remnants of the former regime from the town of al-Mukhtareyah, the town of al-Mazairaa, the area of al-Zobar, and other locations in Latakia province, as well as Dalia town, Tanita town, and Qadmous in Tartous province, resulting in the thwarting of threats and securing the area,” he said. He also said that public institutions in the region were now able to resume their work, adding: “We are preparing for the return of normal life and working to reinforce security and stability.” Abdul Ghani promised that security forces would also “give the investigating committee the full opportunity to uncover the circumstances of these incidents, verify the facts and deliver justice to the oppressed”. The government launched the operation in Latakia province in response to a growing insurgency by Assad loyalists in recent weeks. The region is the heartland of the Alawite sect, to which many of the former regime’s political and military elite belonged. On Thursday, security personnel were ambushed by gunmen in the town of Jableh as they tried to arrest a wanted Assad regime official. At least 13 officers were reportedly killed. Security forces responded by sending reinforcements to the region, who were joined by armed supporters of the government. Over the next four days, they stormed many Alawite towns and villages, where residents said they carried out revenge killings and lootings. A widely shared video showed the bodies of at least two dozen men in civilian clothing, piled in the yard of a house, in al-Mukhtareyah. Elsewhere, accounts emerged of fighters searching for Alawite members and killing entire families on the spot. Hiba, an Alawite woman in Baniyas, told the BBC that Chechen fighters loyal to the government had attacked her neighbourhood. “Our neighbours were killed including children. They came and took everything, gold, everything… They stole all of the cars in the neighbourhood. They even went to the supermarket and they took everything from the shelves.” “We were waiting for our turn. We didn’t know when it would come. We saw death, we saw people dying in front of us and now all of our friends, our neighbours, are gone,” she added. “They killed innocent people in cold blood who had nothing to do with any of this.” An Alawite man whose family lives in Baniyas said in a voice message that a relative was kidnapped from his home by gunmen from Sharaa’s Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who went door to door searching for Alawites. “His mother made a mistake opening the door when she did. An HTS member fired between her legs… so she screamed,” he said. “Her son… ran to see what happened with her. When they [saw] him, they took him with them and disappeared. And they didn’t return.” He also said residents of Alawite neighbourhoods of Baniyas were still hiding in their houses on Monday morning because they were too afraid to venture outside to see if it was safe. The bodies of those killed had been buried in a mass grave near a shrine on the outskirts of the town, while those who were kidnapped had not yet returned, he added. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a ***-based monitoring group, reported that more than 1,450 people have been killed in Latakia, Tartous, Hama and Homs provinces. They included 973 civilians, who it said had died as a result of “killings, field executions and ethnic cleansing operations” by security personnel or pro-government fighters, as well as 231 security personnel and 250 pro-Assad fighters. Security sources also told Reuters news agency that 300 security personnel had been killed. The BBC has been unable to independently verify the death tolls. State news agency Sana said a mass grave containing the bodies of security personnel had been found in the former president’s hometown of Qardaha on Sunday. Turkey-based Syria TV cited residents as saying Assad loyalists had buried police killed in the recent fighting there. UN human rights chief Volker Türk said his office had received “extremely disturbing reports of entire families, including women, children and hors de combat fighters, being killed”. “There are reports of summary executions on a sectarian basis by unidentified perpetrators, by members of the caretaker authorities’ security forces, as well as by elements associated with the former government,” he added. He demanded swift action by Syria’s interim authorities to protect civilians and hold those responsible for the killings and other violations to be held to account. Source link #Syria #operation #Assad #loyalists #ends #deadly #violence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]