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Jefferies upgrades Airbnb as travel company expands into experiences Jefferies upgrades Airbnb as travel company expands into experiences Airbnb shares could rebound as the company accelerates its bookings growth and launches new products, according to Jefferies. Analyst John Colantuoni upgraded shares to buy from hold and increased his price target by $20 to $185, which suggests the stock can gain more than 37% from its latest close. This year, the stock is up 2.3% — outperforming the broader market and making a slight recovery from its 18.5% loss over the past 12 months as investors remain impressed by the Airbnb’s stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings . “ABNB’s attractive growth, impressive free cash flow generation, and large competitive moat justify a premium multiple,” Colantuoni said in a Monday note to clients. He said his estimates on Airbnb’s lodging business are justified given the company’s insulation from artificial intelligence. But beyond lodging, the analyst noted that investors aren’t exactly pricing in Airbnb’s new products, such as experiences. “We believe lodging share gains will be augmented by increased adoption of experiences, an opportunity ABNB is uniquely well positioned to capture,” he said. “In addition, we [estimate] that growth is further bolstered by take rate upside, driven mostly by the launch of sponsored listings. Our analysis shows the core lodging business alone is worth ABNB’s current value, implying zero is being ascribed to experiences or take rate.” ABNB 1Y mountain Airbnb stock performance. Most of Colantuoni’s bullish price target relies on his forecast that there’s significant room for Airbnb to grow its lodging business. The analyst noted that the company has delivered bookings growth for four straight years and saw its bookings growth accelerate to its highest level in nearly two years in the last quarter, benefiting from investing in expansion markets. “Recent results underscore ABNB’s long runway for share gains in lodging, driven by demographic tailwinds, investments in underpenetrated markets, diversification into new marketing channels, and potential expansion into new listing types (e.g. hotels),” Colantuoni wrote. Aside from lodging growth, Colantuoni believes Airbnb has a strong opportunity to meaningfully expand its offerings of travel experiences, such as tours and day trips, by 2030. The company can also drive revenue from sponsored listings, host and guest services, and expanding insurance, he added. Source link #Jefferies #upgrades #Airbnb #travel #company #expands #experiences Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Households near new pylons to get hundreds off energy bills Households near new pylons to get hundreds off energy bills Becky Morton Political reporter Getty Images People living near new pylons in Great Britain will get hundreds of pounds off their bills, as part of government plans to boost energy infrastructure. Households within 500m of new or upgraded pylons will get discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years, equivalent to £250 a year. The government said such incentives could help reduce opposition and delays to new projects, which are needed to deliver more clean energy. However, rural campaign groups said it was “impossible to put a price on the loss of a landscape”. The bill discounts are expected to be in place from 2026. The idea forms part of the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which is due to be published this week. The legislation aims to speed up the building of new homes and infrastructure by cutting red tape and simplifying the planning process, and the government has put the changes at the heart of its push for economic growth. Alongside money off bills, the government will publish new guidance on how developers should provide benefits to communities hosting transmission infrastructure, by funding projects like sports clubs, educational programmes or leisure facilities. The government said this would mean communities could get £200,000 worth of funding per km of overhead electricity cable in their area, and £530,000 per substation. The government is also looking at how communities near onshore wind farms and other energy infrastructure can receive benefits. The plans were welcomed by RenewableUK, which represents the sector. The group’s head of policy, James Robottom, said bill discounts would “help to enable the roll-out of much-needed new grid infrastructure at a faster pace, so that we can make the most of the vast amounts of clean power we’re producing”. However, Jackie Copley, campaign lead at CPRE, the countryside charity, said: “Investing in local green spaces or improving community infrastructure would be a better way to spend this money. “Paying individuals comes with many problems, including questions of fairness, likely legal challenges, and the fact that it’s impossible to put a price on the loss of a landscape.” Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: “It is no longer a question of whether we build the new infrastructure we need but a question of how and this must be done in lockstep with local communities. “This government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill will slash energy bills for local people living near new projects, so they benefit as we drive forward in our mission to achieve a more prosperous and energy secure future for the next generation.” Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the plans would also “benefit the whole country by ensuring we build the clean power system we need”. The idea of giving people living near new pylons money off their energy bills was also proposed under the previous Conservative government. A government survey in 2024 suggested 78% of people would find an energy infrastructure project more acceptable if they were offered discounts on their bills. Some energy companies already offer bill discounts to customers who live near infrastructure like wind turbines, while grants are also available for local communities affected. Source link #Households #pylons #hundreds #energy #bills Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Goverment overhauls AI funding to drive agility Goverment overhauls AI funding to drive agility To tie in the TechUK Tech Policy conference, the government said it plans to overhaul how artificial intelligence (AI) experiments and digital projects are funded in the public sector. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) wants to cut down waste in taxpayer funding, boost efficiency through innovation, and to improve services for the public to deliver on Labour’s Plan for Change. The review into funding aims to stop public sector’s technology money being spent on projects that fail to deliver intended outcomes for the public. The overhaul in funding follows the publication of a “blueprint for a modern digital government”, which set out how technology will be used to improve public services, drive growth and deliver the Plan for Change. The blueprint revealed that one in four of the digital systems used by central government are outdated. For the worst affected organisations, this figure is almost triple (70%). Technology secretary Peter Kyle said: “Technology has immense potential to build public services that work for citizens. But a decades-old process has encouraged short-sighted thinking and outdated tech, while stopping crucial innovation before it even gets going. “These changes we’re making ensure innovation is the default. We will help give AI innovators in government the freedom they need to chase an exciting idea and build prototypes almost immediately.” Following publication of the funding review, which reported that many digital projects face overly complex spending approval processes, among the changes the government is putting in place is what DSIT describes as “a startup mindset”, which it said will offer a route to simplify how government funds small AI projects. The government plans to put in place four new approaches to funding innovation that it will start testing from April. These approaches build on the success of Gov.*** Chat, the government’s experimental generative AI chatbot, to provide “staged funding” for innovation. The government said it will focus on developing new outcome metrics and evaluation plans for major digital projects to ensure that these deliver value for money for the taxpayer. DSIT hopes that a more agile funding process will speed up building and testing of initial prototypes. If early trials of a project show the potential to save money and improve public services for citizens, the government plans to increase support through larger tests. Chief secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, said: “This government is determined that digital transformation of the state and our public services will deliver better outcomes for people, and ensure every pound of taxpayers’ money is spent well.” As the government continues to work out the best route to support *** tech innovation and make use of such innovation to improve digital services across the public sector, a study for TechUK reported that the tech sector has a broadly positive view of the *** government – twice as many tech businesses think the new Labour government has performed well (52%) than poorly (23%). However, a third of small and mid-side businesses polled believe the government is performing poorly. The poll of 250 businesses reported that issues such as high implementation costs (41%), the complexity of new technologies (37%), and energy costs associated with new technology (34%) were the major barriers that tech sector customers face. Source link #Goverment #overhauls #funding #drive #agility Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Reform row poses danger for party that wants to win Reform row poses danger for party that wants to win Political parties led by Nigel Farage are prone to the occasional outbreak of spectacular acrimony and the most colourful rows. In 2016, there were allegations of a punch up between two *** Independence Party members of the European Parliament. In 2014, a UKIP councillor suggested the legalisation of gay marriage had caused a spate of bad weather. Nigel Farage used to be the leader of UKIP. This current **** for tat spat involving the Reform *** leader Farage and the MP for Great Yarmouth, Rupert Lowe, has seen both sides flinging a lot of mud at each other. So far, so conventional. But, in a novel twist, I revealed that the referee has now got involved too. When I say the referee, I mean the senior lawyer hired by Reform *** to look into an element of the row. Vitriol, insults and anger are there for all to see, from pretty much everyone involved. Let’s be clear: Reform *** are not unique when it comes to volcanic rows – just ask the Conservatives or Labour within the last decade. And both those parties will tell you the impact it has. It is a cliché to say divided parties don’t win elections because it is broadly true and Nigel Farage gets that. This is more than just a clash of personalities too. There are differences of policy instinct between the two men. Lowe has advocated mass deportations, something Farage doesn’t think is practical or popular. Lowe has praised the jailed far right activist Stephen Yaxley Lennon, known by his supporters as Tommy Robinson. Farage refuses to have anything to do with him. One of the standout trends in British politics since the general election last July has been the rise and rise of Reform ***. Granted, opinion polls years and years out from the next general election should be treated with some scepticism, but Reform’s growth in popularity has been sustained and has certainly been enough to spook their political rivals. But this is a turbulent moment for the party. Farage criticised Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky for not wearing a suit at the White House and the Reform leader’s critics like to point to admiration he has expressed in the past for the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s abilities as a “political operator”. He has also made much of his closeness to and admiration for President Trump, when opinion polls in the *** suggest America’s leader is not popular here. Both Labour and the Conservatives have seized on this in various ways – keen to point to instincts from Farage that are not wildly popular. And some opinion polls suggest Reform’s march upwards in popularity may be easing. Now this humdinger of a row with Rupert Lowe. Nigel Farage’s parties have bounced back from spats like this one before. The question this time is whether these are growing pains of a rapidly expanding and professionalising outfit or something more chronically limiting. To Nigel Farage’s admirers, he is one of the politicians of his generation without which Reform and its predecessors would be nothing. To his critics, he is allergic to rival tall poppies and has a long history of provoking simmering resentments and colossal bust ups. If Reform is to achieve its stated ambition of winning the next general election, it will need to channel all of what Farage offers and much, much more – and not descend into the kind of bickering which opponents will quickly seize upon and exploit. Source link #Reform #row #poses #danger #party #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ubisoft Confirms Assassin’s Creed Shadows Post-launch Support Will Be Different Than Valhalla Ubisoft Confirms Assassin’s Creed Shadows Post-launch Support Will Be Different Than Valhalla As the release date for Assassin’s Creed Shadows approaches, anticipation for this controversial title is increasing for various reasons. Some are excited about the long-awaited setting of feudal Japan, others are waiting to see if it will be another failed title from Ubisoft, who has been on a bad streak. The game is set to release on March 20th. | Image Credit: Ubisoft After delays and new commitments made by Ubisoft, the recent gameplay looks better than ever, and excitement for the title is growing. To further elaborate on the changes made during delays, associate game director Simon Lemay-Comtois revealed plans for the post-launch updates for Shadows. A fresh approach to post-launch support for Assassin’s Creed Shadows The developers revealed that they aim to prioritize players’ feedback for post-launch updates. | Image Credit: Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed Shadows is arriving with a host of exciting new features, such as dual protagonists, a wide variety of weapons from Japan’s Sengoku *******, a deeper approach to the stealth system, and a new Canon Mode. However, it’s not just the core gameplay mechanics and different modes that are going to set the title apart from the previous installment in the series. In an interview with GameRant, associate game director Simon Lemay-Comtoi shared some valuable insights about post-launch updates. He shared that Ubisoft will give utmost regard to player feedback. After the release of the planned expansion, Claws of Awaji, and a few more special events, the team will carefully analyze the feedback and introduce a host of quality-of-life updates. Our plan is to listen to and support our community as best as we can, with quality-of-life updates, gameplay tweaks, and additional options. This marks a significant shift from previous titles in the series like Valhalla, with the developers promising to actively engage with the community to refine and enhance the experience further. Unlike the more structured, larger-scale expansions seen in Valhalla, Shadows will focus on smaller, more frequent updates aimed at improving gameplay and responding to the needs of the player base. A long-awaited journey to feudal Japan Fans are looking forward to the release. | Image credit: Ubisoft While many fans have harsh words (much deserved) for how Ubisoft has handled the introduction of this fascinating new setting to the series, it is still a long-awaited dream come true for fans. Although the start has been rocky, the recent commitment to supporting the Assassin’s Creed community after launch highlights that the studio has learned from its mistakes. The plan to continuously update the game based on player feedback is proof of that. Unlike Valhalla, where larger content updates and expansions were the primary form of post-launch support, Shadows will take a more reactive approach, with regular quality-of-life updates and improvements based on player input. This shift in post-launch strategy also marks a new chapter for the franchise, one that values community engagement and aims to deliver an immersive experience for fans. In the end, for those eager to explore feudal Japan and its rich history, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is shaping up to be a thrilling addition, both at launch and beyond. Source link #Ubisoft #Confirms #Assassins #Creed #Shadows #Postlaunch #Support #Valhalla Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Are AI-generated video games really on the horizon? | Games Are AI-generated video games really on the horizon? | Games Another month, another revolutionary generative AI development that will apparently fundamentally alter how an entire industry operates. This time tech giant Microsoft has created a “gameplay ideation” tool, Muse, which it calls the world’s first Wham, or World and Human Action Model. Microsoft claims that Muse will speed up the lengthy and expensive process of game development by allowing designers to play around with AI-generated gameplay videos to see what works. Muse is trained on gameplay data from *** studio Ninja Theory’s game Bleeding Edge. It has absorbed tens of thousands of hours of people’s real gameplay, both footage and controller inputs. It can now generate accurate-looking mock gameplay clips for that game, which can be edited and adapted with prompts. All well and good, but in an announcement video for Muse, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer caused confusion when he said that it could be invaluable for the preservation of classic games: AI models, he implied, could “learn” those games and emulate them on modern hardware. It’s not clear how this would be possible. Further muddying the waters, Microsoft’s overall CEO Satya Nadella then implied in a podcast interview that Muse was the first step in creating a “catalogue” of AI-generated games. But Muse, as it stands, can’t create a game – it can only create made-up footage of a game. So just what is this new gaming AI tool? A swish addition to game developers’ tool belts? Or the first step towards an era of AI-generated gaming detritus? The idea is that designers (or indeed players) can try out ideas with Muse without spending hours (or days) in a gameplay engine implementing something that might not feel good or even work. If a designer wants to see what, say, a power-up would look like in-game, they could generate mock video showing what that might look like, with the AI filling in the gaps. “Game engines are complicated, messy things and it takes a lot of time to simulate things – they’re not built for that,” comments Julian Tongelius, associate professor in computer science and engineering at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering. “[Working with] a simulation of the game can be much easier and faster. The opportunities opened up by this kind of study are pretty big, but the limitations are also real.” AI gameplay simulations aren’t totally new – Google’s GameNGen project created a playable version of Doom that ran without a game engine in 2024. But the problem has always been consistency. Google’s Doom simulation worked well at first, but the longer you played, the more the AI would “dream up” game elements that weren’t accurate. This is what Microsoft claims to have solved with Muse, but it comes with a massive caveat. “This particular model is trained on 500,000 game sessions, so likely around 100,000 hours of gameplay. But it only works because you have so much data. If you move far beyond what’s been recorded, simulations generally stop behaving well,” explains Tongelius. Microsoft has stated that it is already using Muse to develop real-time playable AI models trained on its other first-party games. But while Muse is great for live-service games such as Bleeding Edge, with access to thousands of hours of live gameplay, for smaller games and single-player titles, it would be a monumental and probably pointless effort to train a generative AI model in each and every specific game. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Pushing Buttons Keza MacDonald’s weekly look at the world of gaming Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion “It’s an amazing technical hurdle that they’ve jumped, but it kind of feels like they’re going through their Zoom moment: a product coming into a market that doesn’t really have a purpose,” says Ken Noland, the veteran game designer and self-described AI realist who runs AI Guys, an AI-focused co-development company. “The technology is cool, and don’t get me wrong, video generation is not an easy thing to do … I just don’t see its target audience. Game developers won’t be able to use it for rapid production because it doesn’t actually, aside from visualising a particular thing, address any underlying game development issues.” Ultimately, there appears to be a disconnect between Spencer and Nadella’s comments and what Muse actually does at the moment. Unless something significant changes, it doesn’t appear capable of creating playable simulations of classic games, and it certainly doesn’t create entirely “new” AI-generated games. It isn’t even clear how Muse’s generated videos could be translated into actual gameplay. AI-generated video games may yet be on the horizon. Google quietly released Genie 2 a few months back, which is capable of generating “playable worlds” – but that’s not what Muse does, at least for now. “I will choose to graciously interpret what Satya said as visions of what could be done in the future,” says Tongelius. “It’s entirely possible that we will get to some version of that, but it’s not around the corner. What Microsoft has done in this paper is a foundation stone.” Source link #AIgenerated #video #games #horizon #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Really unfortunate injury’: Scans confirm Ryan Couchman will miss rest of season ‘Really unfortunate injury’: Scans confirm Ryan Couchman will miss rest of season The Dragons will up the ante in their pursuit of David Klemmer after scans confirmed a rising talent will miss the rest of the season due to injury. Source link #unfortunate #injury #Scans #confirm #Ryan #Couchman #rest #season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Live X outage: is Twitter down? Live X outage: is Twitter down? The start of Elon Musk’s tenure as owner of Twitter has not been without its struggles and chaos. And so far, the chaos Twitter currently finds itself in shows no signs of letting up anytime soon. So it seems fitting that the latest news on the Twitter front is that signups for the microblogging platform’s $8-per-month Twitter Blue subscription have reportedly been suspended. On Friday, Forbes reported that new signups for Twitter’s newly revamped Blue subscription have apparently been disabled, having “verified that users have not been able to sign up to the service for more than an hour,” and also citing that the option to sign up for Blue on the iOS app had disappeared as further proof of the suspension. The Verge also noted that some users may still see the option to subscribe, only to then be met with an error message. One of the editors at Digital Trends said the option to sign up for the service is just missing from his iOS app’s menu, noted that it had been like that “since at least 8 p.m. PT last night,” and shared the following screenshot: Source link #Live #outage #Twitter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Anna Foster replaces Mishal Husain on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Anna Foster replaces Mishal Husain on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Anna Foster is to join BBC Radio 4’s Today programme as one of the programme’s main presenters, following the departure of Mishal Husain in December. Foster is a former Middle East correspondent and has also previously presented BBC Radio 5 Live Drive and Radio 1’s Newsbeat, as well as the corporation’s flagship TV news bulletins. She will present many editions of Today from Salford, as part of the BBC’s efforts to better represent more areas of the *** beyond London. In a statement, Foster said: “There are few more exciting opportunities for a journalist than presenting Today, and I’m thrilled to be joining the team. “I’ve always loved making important, agenda-setting, engaging radio, and there’s nowhere better to do that. It’s such a beloved programme to so many people, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.” The BBC said that, in addition to presenting Today, Foster would “continue to play a key role in helping to lead the BBC’s coverage of foreign news” and will still be seen on TV news bulletins for major stories. Bosses are reported to have been keen to ensure the presenter replacing Husain had a similar level of international reporting knowledge and experience. “She brings important international reporting experience at a time when it is needed so urgently by listeners to Radio 4,” said the station’s controller Mohit Bakaya. Foster is one of several correspondents and presenters who have co-hosted episodes of Today in recent weeks following Husain’s departure. Simon Jack and Jonny Dymond are the most frequent stand-in presenters on Today, however the Sunday Times reported bosses were keen to appoint a female host to replace Husain to maintain gender balance on the programme. The other current presenters of Today are Emma Barnett, Justin Webb, Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson. The BBC’s director of live and daily news, John McAndrew, said Foster had “tremendous range and rich, varied experience” spanning more than 20 years, after she joined the BBC in 2002. As a foreign correspondent, Foster has reported on the Turkish earthquake, the Israel-Gaza war, the Ebola outbreak, the famine in South Sudan and the conflict in Ukraine. Husain joined the Today programme in 2013, but left the BBC last year for a new role at Bloomberg. Source link #Anna #Foster #replaces #Mishal #Husain #BBC #Radio #Today #programme Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

JBL just announced two new portable speakers that support AI Sound Boost technology JBL just announced two new portable speakers that support AI Sound Boost technology JBL just announced a pair of portable speakers that take advantage of the company’s AI Sound Boost technology. This software analyzes the signal and maxes out the driver while minimizing distortion. The company says this creates a boost in sound quality. The Flip 7 features an interchangeable strap and carabiner and an updated control placement when compared to the previous generation. The Flip 6 easily made our list of the best portable Bluetooth speakers, so any improvement is just icing on the cake. It also includes an upgraded woofer with more output power, which should further improve the sound. The battery life is solid, at 14 hours of use per charge. There’s a Playtime Boost feature that dials back the bass to add another two hours of use. The Flip 7 offers the ability for multi-speaker output that’s powered by Auracast and it can play lossless audio over USB-C, just like the Beats Pill. Preorders are open right now, with shipments going out on April 6. This speaker costs $150. JBL The Charge 6 also includes a new design with an updated button layout and a detachable and reconfigurable strap. Just like the Flip 7, it includes a redesigned woofer for an audio upgrade. The battery life here is astounding, at 24 hours of use per charge. This is several hours more than the Charge 5. It also includes Playtime Boost, for even more juice, and a quick-charge feature. This speaker can be used as part of a larger system via Auracast. Preorders are available right now and shipments go out on April 6. That extra battery life does tick the price up a bit, as the Charge 6 costs $200. Source link #JBL #announced #portable #speakers #support #Sound #Boost #technology Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD’s RX 9070 XT beats Nvidia’s $1,000+ GPU, but there’s a catch AMD’s RX 9070 XT beats Nvidia’s $1,000+ GPU, but there’s a catch AMD’s RX 9070 XT hit the shelves last week, and the response has been largely positive. The GPU was expected to perform on around the same level as Nvidia’s RTX 5070 Ti, making it capable of beating some of the best graphics cards. However, a known overclocker just managed to push the GPU to new heights, helping it beat Nvidia’s $1,000+ RTX 5080. Der8auer took the RX 9070 XT out for an extensive spin and achieved interesting results. Prior to launch, many thought the RX 9070 XT would rival the RTX 5070 at best, but now, we’ve seen it beating not just the RTX 5070 Ti but also the RTX 5080 in today’s test. The catch? Not only did Der8auer use a premium card, but the GPU was also overclocked and undervolted. RX 9070 XT: Undervolting Is Impressive, but OC Is Completely Broken Overclocking a GPU is a whole process, as is undervolting. It can be very rewarding (it certainly was in this case), but also scary if you’re not used to it. Der8auer’s goal was to push the GPU to the advertised maximum clock speed, which is at 3,060MHz for the PowerColor RX 9070 XT Red ****** model. Just overclocking didn’t do the trick though; the YouTuber only achieved 3.1GHz when increasing the power limit to 110%. He then undervolted the card by 200mV, which caused it to ******. In the end, he was able to achieve a stable overclock when running at -170mV. At that voltage, the RX 9070 XT hit an impressive 3.4GHz, which is a frequency previously unheard of for many GPUs. der8auer The undervolting/overclocking did wonders for the RX 9070 XT. It managed to top the ranking of Der8auer’s benchmarks, beating even Nvidia’s RTX 5080 Founders Edition (albeit by a tiny, tiny margin). This is a great result when you consider that the RTX 5080 costs $999 in the Founders Edition model. Meanwhile, the RX 9070 XT starts at $599, but this particular model adds a whopping $200 to that price tag, selling for $790. Both cards are currently sold out everywhere, so it’s a moot point, but still — it’s a smaller gap than you’d think. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Der8auer also didn’t use ray tracing or path tracing in his Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark, which could’ve given the RX 9070 XT a bit of an edge, as Nvidia is historically better at handling RT tasks. Besides, the RTX 5080 wasn’t overclocked, so it would’ve won if it was — but it’s still a nice win for AMD. Source link #AMDs #beats #Nvidias #GPU #catch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Flood veteran caught out by latest natural disaster Flood veteran caught out by latest natural disaster A resident who has lived through every major southeast Queensland flood in 50 years has been caught off guard by the latest natural disaster to impact his home. Source link #Flood #veteran #caught #latest #natural #disaster Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Okami sequel doesn’t mean Clovers Studio will only focus on sequels in the future, Kamiya says Okami sequel doesn’t mean Clovers Studio will only focus on sequels in the future, Kamiya says Clovers Studio head Hideki Kamiya says the fact his new studio is working on an Okami sequel doesn’t mean it’ll focus solely on existing IP in the future. Kamiya, who left PlatinumGames a year and a half ago to form the new studio with former Platinum colleague Kento Koyama, says he doesn’t want to give the impression that the newly founded Clovers Studio will specialise in sequels and spiritual successors. In a new interview with Japanese publication GameSpark, Kamiya and Koyama were asked how they felt about the studio’s relationship with existing IP. Koyama replied that Clovers’ key stance is that it “will not close off any possibilities when it comes to making games”, and that when it comes to considering what to work on next, the studio may think it could be interesting to make a sequel to an existing IP, or a spiritual successor, or an entirely new IP altogether. “Basically, I don’t think that we limited the methods we use in our approach to our policy of creating interesting games,” Koyama said (via translation). Agreeing, Kamiya stressed that the most important thing wasn’t whether the game was based on an existing series, but whether it’s interesting. “If we were asked to make a game that uses an existing IP, and if it looked like it would be interesting to ‘Cloverize’ it in our own way, then we would do it,” he said. “But of course, if we get a project proposal that we really want to work on, and the desire to go it grows, then we’ll do an original work too. So I think it’s appropriate to say we won’t close off any possibilities – in the end, it all comes down to whether or not we get a ‘wow’ feeling from it.” Kamiya concluded by saying he understands by creating a studio that immediately starts work on a sequel to one of his previous games, some people will get the impression that this is Clovers Studio’s goal with all its future games, but that this isn’t the case. “We’re only working on one thing at the moment, and it just so happens that it’s an IP I was involved with in the past, so I think it’s inevitable that that impression is strong,” he explained. “The fact that we’re attracting attention because of that expectation is something we’re grateful for, but I want to reiterate that just because this is our first shot, it doesn’t mean that this is all we have to offer.” Source link #Okami #sequel #doesnt #Clovers #Studio #focus #sequels #future #Kamiya Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

My Mac Pro hopes have been dashed, and Apple can’t save it this year My Mac Pro hopes have been dashed, and Apple can’t save it this year Last week, Apple revealed a new Mac Studio equipped with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. No, that’s not a typo — the company really did launch a new Mac with chips from two different generations, where the less powerful chip is from the newer iteration. As I’ve written before, it’s a confusing, ridiculous situation, and one that must be driving Apple’s marketing division mad. But at first, it seemed like there was a glimmer of reasoning behind the decision: Apple could save the rumored M4 Ultra chip for the Mac Pro and bring back some proper differentiation to the Mac lineup. Instead of having the Mac Studio and the Mac Pro offer the same maximum performance (as we have now), the Mac Pro would finally get a sizeable boost to tempt power-hungry pro users. As Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman put it in his recent Power On newsletter, the M4 Ultra would boast “a newer architecture, far speedier graphics, dramatically better computing performance and superior AI capabilities.” That could be exactly what the Mac Pro has been crying out for. Brittany Hose-Small / AFP via Getty Images Except it now looks like we’ll never see that situation come to fruition, as Gurman says the M4 Ultra appears to be completely off the cards. Over the last few days, Apple told Ars Technica that it won’t be offering an Ultra chip in every Apple silicon generation. If that didn’t hint that the M4 Ultra isn’t on the way, the company also confirmed to French site Numerama that the M4 Max isn’t built with Apple’s UltraFusion tech, which means Apple can’t simply combine two M4 Max chips together to make the M4 Ultra. Apple used conjoined M2 Max chips to make the M2 Ultra, but it looks like that won’t be happening with the M4 generation. Gurman’s newsletter added that Apple is reluctant to create an M4 Ultra chip from scratch. Doing so would require a difficult, expensive production process and result in a niche chip that probably wouldn’t sell well, making it hard to rationalize for Appe. Why buy the Mac Pro? Apple So, where does this leave us? Unfortunately, pretty much right back to where we were before. In the M2 generation, the Mac Studio and the Mac Pro were capable of the same maximum performance, yet the Mac Studio came with a much lower asking price . Why would you buy the Mac Pro, then? It has more PCIe expansion and additional ports, but does that really justify the much higher cost? For most people, probably not. Previously, Gurman speculated that the Mac Pro would get the M4 Ultra to differentiate it from the Mac Studio. Now, they’ll have the same chip again. And once again, it’s very hard to justify the Mac Pro over the Mac Studio. And it’s not just about the power. As Gurman points out, other specs are affected. Right now, the Mac Studio tops out at 512GB memory and 16TB of storage. The Mac Pro, on the other hand, maxes out at 192GB of memory and 8TB of storage. Apple Ironically, those configurations make the Mac Studio more expensive than the Mac Pro, despite it being positioned as the less-high-end product. If you go on the base configurations, though, the Mac Studio (M3 Ultra) is more powerful than the Mac Pro (M2 Ultra) despite costing almost half the price. The Mac Pro’s memory and storage options will improve when it gets the M3 Ultra, but that might not be until the fall at the earliest. Until then, the selection of desktop Macs aimed at professionals is a bit of a mess. The good news is that the Mac Studio will still get you a fantastically powerful computer (even if its chip situation is on the baffling side) that costs a fraction of the Mac Pro. If you’re in the market for a Mac Studio and don’t need the Mac Pro’s PCIe slots or extra Thunderbolt ports, there’s no compelling reason to get the Mac Pro, and there likely won’t be one for the foreseeable future. But for Mac Pro fans, the situation is far less attractive. With Apple waiting two chip generations and at least two years between pro-level Mac upgrades, it looks like we’ll have a long while before the Mac Pro can properly stand above the Mac Studio. Source link #Mac #Pro #hopes #dashed #Apple #save #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

More couples are choosing lab-grown diamonds vs. natural for engagement rings More couples are choosing lab-grown diamonds vs. natural for engagement rings Fg Trade | E+ | Getty Images More couples are saying “yes” to lab-grown diamonds. In 2024, 52% of couples surveyed said their engagement ring featured a lab-grown diamond, according to the 2025 Real Weddings Study by The Knot. The popularity of lab-grown diamonds increased by 6% from last year and by 40% since 2019, the bridal site found. In addition to data from prior reports, the Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study includes insights from nearly 17,000 couples in the U.S. who got married in 2024 and data from couples getting married in 2025. Many couples end up buying a lab-grown diamond ring because of the lower price tag, according to experts. On average, a proposer looking to buy a lab-grown engagement ring could expect to spend about $4,900 compared with $7,600 for a mined diamond ring, the Knot found. More from Personal Finance: Couples leverage ‘something borrowed’ to cut wedding costs Some couples are having ‘micro weddings’ Why couples avoid talking about financial issues In general, lab-grown diamonds can sell for around one-tenth the price of a comparable natural diamond, according to Paul Zimnisky, a global diamond industry analyst and founder of Paul Zimnisky Diamond Analytics. In the first quarter of 2025, an unbranded, round, 1-carat lab-grown diamond costs about $845, according to Zimnisky’s proprietary data and analysis. A similar natural diamond would cost about $3,895. Lab-grown diamonds possess the same chemical properties and hardness as naturally mined diamonds, and thus are subject to the same “four C’s” — cut, color, clarity and carat — grading system as natural gems. The big question — can you tell if a diamond was human-made or mined? Both stones are optically the same, meaning they will look the same to the naked eye, experts say. However, under the proper testing conditions, scientists and jewelers with the expertise can tell them apart, according to Ulrika F.S. D’Haenens-Johansson, a research scientist and senior manager of diamond research at the Gemological Institute of America. If you’re in the market for an engagement ring this year, here are some key factors you should consider about lab-grown diamonds versus a natural diamond, according to experts. Pros and cons to a lab-grown diamond A major advantage to lab-grown diamonds over natural diamonds is the lower cost. Prices for lab-grown diamonds have been dropping as manufacturers increase the supply. “The price has become enticing for a lot of people,” said Amanda Gizzi, director of public relations and events at the Jewelers of America, a trade organization. However, there are other factors to consider when it comes to lab-grown diamonds: Ethics: For some shoppers, lab-grown stones helped provide an option for those concerned about “blood diamonds,” or diamonds mined in war zones and used to fund conflict and human rights abuses. However, experts noted that the diamond industry has come a long way from how diamonds are sourced. The Kimberley Process is an international trade regime created in 2003 to add oversight to the diamond supply chain and eliminate the trade of diamonds sold by rebel groups or their allies. Environmental impact: While lab-grown diamonds have gained a reputation for being a “greener” way to purchase diamonds, it’s uncertain how truly sustainable they are. “Lab-grown [diamonds] require higher energy consumption because they’re growing in a laboratory that [is] powered by fossil fuels,” Gizzi said. If sustainability is important, Zimnisky said, consider a second-hand or repurposed diamond for “the lowest environmental impact.” Value over time: Engagement rings are typically purchased for sentimental reasons and are not considered investments. But it’s worth noting that lab-grown diamonds do not hold their value and will likely sell for less than what you initially paid for, Gizzi said. A high-quality natural diamond or gemstone may hold its value, or even appreciate. What to consider when ring shopping The first thing you should do is set a realistic budget, said Lauren Kay, executive editor at The Knot. “You should determine what price you’re comfortable with,” she said. The rule of thumb about spending “three months’ salary” on a diamond ring is an outdated myth, she said. Gizzi agreed: “I haven’t used that in a decade.” Whether you pick a lab-grown diamond or a natural one, “buy the best diamond that your budget can afford,” as the ring is a piece of jewelry your significant other will appreciate for a long time, Gizzi said. “It’s not something that you’re going to upgrade a year later,” Gizzi said. If you’re in the process of buying a ring, here are two more things to consider when shopping for engagement rings: 1. The four C’s The four C’s, the color, carat, clarity and cut, can influence the overall cost of the diamond. Knowing which of the qualities matters most to you and your significant other can help you bring down the overall cost, The Knot’s Kay said. 2. The metal The metal of the ring you choose can also influence the price, Kay said. For example, while platinum and white gold look similar, platinum is “rarer and stronger” and can cost more, she said. But you also want to consider the longevity of the jewelry piece, she said. Even though white gold can be a cheaper metal and can lower upfront costs, you may want to consider long-term maintenance into the price, she said. For instance, a durable metal like platinum is unlikely to change color over time, Gizzi said. White gold, on the other hand, will require you to periodically re-plate the ring to restore the original finish. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #couples #choosing #labgrown #diamonds #natural #engagement #rings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

iPhone-assembler Foxconn unveils first large language model iPhone-assembler Foxconn unveils first large language model STORY: Taiwan’s Foxconn launched its first large language model on Monday (March 10). It said it plans to use the technology to improve manufacturing and supply chain management. Foxconn said in a statement the model is called “FoxBrain,” and they completed it in about four weeks. it’s a major step for the tech giant, which already produces Nvidia’s AI servers and assembles iPhones for Apple. Foxconn said the model is based on Meta’s Llama 3.1 architecture. It’s Taiwan’s first large language model with reasoning capabilities. And is optimized for traditional ******** and Taiwanese language styles. Foxconn said there was a slight performance gap compared with the distillation model made by China’s DeepSeek. But added its overall performance is very close to world-class standards. The firm now plans to work with tech partners to expand the model’s applications. Source link #iPhoneassembler #Foxconn #unveils #large #language #model Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses design is an expensive disappointment The new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses design is an expensive disappointment Ray-Ban and Meta have created a new smart glasses design with Coperni It features a translucent ****** frame and mirrored lenses It’s limited to 3,600 units and costs $549 / £519 / AU$859 Following last week’s teaser, the new limited-edition Ray-Ban Meta glasses design just dropped – and I’m more than a little disappointed with the result. Though at least that means you shouldn’t be too upset if you miss out on nabbing one of the only 3,600 pairs being sold. We had predicted the new shape might draw inspiration from A$AP Rocky – Ray-Ban’s new creative director – but instead Ray-Ban and Meta have collabed with Coperni to create a reskin of its Wayfarers which debuted last night (Sunday, March 9) at Coperni’s Paris Fashion Week show. Much like Meta and Ray-Ban’s previous limited-edition smart specs, these glasses boast a translucent frame – though they opt for a translucent ****** rather than the completely clear frame we saw previously. They also come with grey mirrored lenses and feature the Coperni logo on the end of each arm. Hardware-wise they’re identical to Meta and Ray-Ban’s other smart specs, so you can rely on them as open-ear speakers for music, a first-person camera for photos and videos, and a wearable AI assistant which can help with tasks like live translation. (Image credit: Ray-Ban / Meta / COperni) I won’t pretend the limited edition smart glasses are anything but stylish, but they’re a lot more bland than I expected. There’s no new frame shape or interesting unique design detail that lives up to my expectations from Meta and Ray-Ban’s first-ever smart glasses collab with a third brand. And this disappointment is compounded by the $549 / £519 / AU$859 cost which is not only much pricier than the standard Ray-Ban Wayfarer smart glasses (at $299 / £299 / AU$449) but also much more expensive than the $429 / £429 price of its previous limited-edition frames (they weren’t available in Australia). Making matters worse, I’d argue those previous cheaper limited-edition specs were a better deal because they boasted transition lenses – which are ideal for smart glasses as you aren’t limited to wearing them in one weather condition unlike the reflective lenses the new pair use which are only practical in the sun. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. If you completely disagree with me and love the new Coperni collab then you’ll probably want to act fast. With only 3,600 available across the US, Canada, ***, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Australia, they’re likely to sell out soonish. You might also like Source link #RayBan #Meta #smart #glasses #design #expensive #disappointment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

A dividend ETF and a bond market play to ride out the stock turmoil and possible stagflation A dividend ETF and a bond market play to ride out the stock turmoil and possible stagflation (This is a wrap-up of the key money moving discussions on CNBC’s “Worldwide Exchange” exclusive for PRO subscribers. Worldwide Exchange airs at 5 a.m. ET each day.) Investors focused on the possibility of a recession are looking at divided-focused investments and protection for inflation with “TIPS” bonds. Also former Fed Official Loretta Mester gives her view on Jerome Powell’s comments from Friday and how the central bank should respond to recession concerns. Pick: ProShares Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) Simeon Hyman of Proshares sees opportunities in the dividend focused ETF as market volatility continues to rattle investors. “While their prices have lagged the Mag 7, their fundamentals have not,’ said Hyman on Worldwide Exchange. Hyman’s pick of the NOBL ETF holds stocks that raise their dividend every year. It has outperformed the S & P 500 year to date. Two notable names in the NOBL: Coca-Cola and IBM, which each have a 2% dividend yield and have both seen double digit gains in 2025. “This is in the middle of the ‘style box’ which means even if we are surprised to the upside and a lot of this uncertainty clears up that doesn’t mean you’ll be left behind,” said Hyman. Time for “TIPS”, Treasury Inflation Protected Securities? Callie Cox from Ritzholtz Wealth Management says investors worried about a potential recession or other major economic slowdown and higher inflation — often referred to as ‘stagflation’ — should look to the bond market. “The bond market is interesting right now because we are staring at inflation risks,” said Cox on Worldwide Exchange, adding that Treasury Inflation Protected Securities or ‘TIPS’ could be a wise investment with the uncertainty of tariffs and other economic policies. “TIPS are that hedge against unexpected inflation and there are a lot of unexpected headlines floating around. You have to be tactical here, treasuries are the classic economic hedge, I think you have to look at the belly of the curve when you are hedging,” said Cox. Loretta Mester says “Fed Well Positioned” Former President of the Cleveland Reserve Bank Loretta Mester gave her take on Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments from Friday that the Central Bank sees the economy as ‘strong’ and is taking a wait and see approach to Trump Administration policies before making any rate decisions. “I think he has it basically right, I think what people are concerned about is where is the economy going, not necessarily where it is now. But I think the Fed is well placed to respond either way no matter what happens,” said Mester. Mester added: “The chaos from DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), the uncertainty of the tariffs, that uncertainty could reduce spending and reduce hiring and we are already starting to see that when you talk to businesses… when you do scenario analysis and what could be happening to the economy going forward you have to be contemplating that there could be a more marked slowdown. Not my base base, but you have to entertain that.” Source link #dividend #ETF #bond #market #play #ride #stock #turmoil #stagflation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Formula 1: *********** rookie Jack Doohan laments Daniel Ricciardo’s absence for *********** Grand Prix Formula 1: *********** rookie Jack Doohan laments Daniel Ricciardo’s absence for *********** Grand Prix Son-of-a-gun Jack Doohan says he soaked in plenty of advice from West *********** pace ace Daniel Ricciardo in 2024 but still wishes the eight-time race winner could line up as a third Aussie on the grid at Albert Park on Sunday. For the second year in a row, the *********** Grand Prix will feature two *********** drivers on the starting grid: Doohan and McLaren prodigy Oscar Piastri. Piastri raced alongside Ricciardo in 2024, but since being replaced at RB mid-season, Ricciardo has taken an indefinite break from the sport and, until recently, the public limelight. However, the West Aussie’s advice is sure to be ringing in Doohan’s mind ahead of his first home Grand Prix. The son of 500cc motorcycle world champion Mick is lining up for his first full season in the hot seat, having debuted in the final round of last season. “(Ricciardo and I) spoke quite a bit at the end of last year,” Doohan said. “I saw him when I was out in LA before heading to (Las) Vegas as well; we caught up briefly there. But since I haven’t had a lot of communication recently. “He has been doing his thing, enjoying his post-F1 life. Not having to deal with everything going on as it normally would be for him. “It is great to have another Aussie on the grid. It would have been amazing with DR (Ricciardo) still here (as well), but at least there are still two of us. Camera IconJack Doohan of Australia and Alpine F1 is interviewed in the Press Conference during day two of F1 Testing. Credit: Clive Rose/Getty Images “Oscar has been doing exceptional, especially last year, and the McLaren car was fast. Hopefully, we’re able to challenge him in the near future and it’s great to be on the grid with him.” However, despite having just one race to his name, Doohan is already facing intense pressure to hold his seat after Alpine secured Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver over the winter off-season. Colapinto stunned in a nine-race stint with Williams in late 2024, with speculation swirling that Alpine bosses want him in a seat sooner rather than later. Given that Doohan is a fellow rookie who has replaced Esteban Ocon, who moved to Haas, he is the easiest option for making way for the star Argentine. The *********** Grand Prix on Sunday will see Doohan and Piastri lined up together for the first time since the last two F2 rounds in 2021 before Piastri jumped to F1 as a reserve driver. The pair also both came through the Alpine Academy and started their careers in F1 as reserve drivers for the French-based team. “We are both driving for teams based in the ***, yet far apart,” Doohan said. “We are not exactly as close as we would be if we were in Australia, but we get along well.” Source link #Formula #*********** #rookie #Jack #Doohan #laments #Daniel #Ricciardos #absence #*********** #Grand #Prix Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

*** government vows to clean up Lake Windemere after beauty spot clogged with sewage *** government vows to clean up Lake Windemere after beauty spot clogged with sewage LONDON (AP) — The U.K. government pledged Monday to clean up Lake Windermere, a sewage-clogged beauty spot that has come to symbolize the filthy state of Britain’s waterways. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said the aim was to stop all sewage discharges into England’s largest lake. The lake, flanked by steep-sided hills, is part of the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in northwest England that draws millions of visitors a year. The region’s landscape of woods, fields, stone walls and sheep inspired poet William Wordsworth and children’s writer Beatrix Potter. 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. But Windermere is regularly flooded with human waste when storms overwhelm the local sewage system. Last year the BBC revealed that the local water company, United Utilities, had discharged more than 140 million liters (37 million gallons) of sewage into the lake between 2021 and 2023. U.K. water firms are under growing pressure to stop frequent sewage overflows into rivers and oceans that have literally caused a stink, sickened swimmers and polluted fishing streams. Clean-water campaigners say creaking Victorian pipes, growing populations and more intense downpours linked to climate change are a recipe for environmental disaster, exacerbated by a lack of investment by the private companies that control Britain’s water system. Sewage spills into England’s rivers, lakes and seas more than doubled in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the Environment Agency. The Labour government, elected last year, has vowed to clean up Britain’s waterways. Its plan involves using private investment and fines levied on polluting water firms to restore and replace crumbling infrastructure. Reed said United Utilities will invest 200 million pounds ($258 million) to upgrade wastewater treatment works at Windermere and a new pipe will be built to take sewage away from the lake. He acknowledged it could take years before the waters are safe to swim in again. Matt Staniek, founder of the campaign group Save Windermere, said the government’s announcement was “a very, very welcome first step.” “But we all know what politicians are like. Until something is legally binding and set in stone, it’s just a promise at this point,” he told the BBC. Source link #government #vows #clean #Lake #Windemere #beauty #spot #clogged #sewage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Advantage, Alexa – Apple’s smart home hub reportedly ‘postponed’ due to Siri slowdown Advantage, Alexa – Apple’s smart home hub reportedly ‘postponed’ due to Siri slowdown Apple is working on a smart home hub powered by Siri Now, the hub could be delayed for the foreseeable future That’s because it relies on Siri features that Apple recently postponed Apple was reportedly looking to expand further into the smart home space in 2025 with a home hub device that would combine a speaker with a display, potentially making it one of the best smart speakers around. Unfortunately, there’s been some bad news for those looking forward to it, as Apple has reportedly delayed the device for the foreseeable future. The news comes via Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter. There, Gurman explains that Apple “had hoped to announce this product in March.” Yet with more than a third of the month already gone, that’s now looking highly unlikely – and it seems to delays could drag on due to Apple’s problems with rolling out its AI-infused Siri. Apple’s home hub will apparently rely heavily on some of the upgraded Siri capabilities that Apple teased last June at its WWDC 2024 conference. Those features include understanding your personal context and performing in-app tasks. Yet news emerged last week that Apple would be postponing those features. In a statement to Apple blog Daring Fireball, Apple explained that “It’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year.” According to Gurman, Apple feels that the smart home hub is unviable without those missing features. That means we’ll have to wait for the upgraded Siri experience later in the year before the hub makes an appearance. Apple vs Amazon (Image credit: Shutterstock) And it could get worse. In a report released last week, Gurman stated that some senior Apple execs are so concerned about the state of Siri’s promised features that the entire system might have to be scrapped and rebuilt from the ground up. If that happens, the features might not arrive until 2026. That could potentially mean Apple losing significant ground against rivals like Amazon. The company recently announced the Alexa+ smart home assistant, which infuses Amazon’s home devices with artificial intelligence (AI) powers. That’s exactly the area Apple’s smart home hub is targeting, and Apple won’t want to lose too much of the initiative here. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. That said, it sounds like the hardware of Apple’s home hub is closer to a finished state than its software. Gurman reported in his Power On newsletter that select Apple employees have been taking the hubs home for in-situ testing and evaluation. That suggests that the device itself isn’t too far from being ready, even if its Siri software is a long way off. As for when we’ll see this product hit store shelves, that’s anyone’s guess. If Apple can perform a miracle and fix up Siri in the coming months, we might not have to wait too long. But judging by Gurman’s reporting, we may have a lengthy delay on our hands. You might also like Source link #Advantage #Alexa #Apples #smart #home #hub #reportedly #postponed #due #Siri #slowdown Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

A one-day strike at 13 ******* airports, including the main hubs, brings most flights to a halt – The Associated Press A one-day strike at 13 ******* airports, including the main hubs, brings most flights to a halt – The Associated Press A one-day strike at 13 ******* airports, including the main hubs, brings most flights to a halt The Associated PressAirport strike to all but freeze ******* air travel on Monday ReutersGerman Air Traffic Grinds to Halt as Airport Labor Unions Strike BloombergHamburg Airport Halts All Flights as Ground Staff Strike The New York TimesAir traffic upended in Germany as strikes hit 13 airports Yahoo Source link #oneday #strike #******* #airports #including #main #hubs #brings #flights #halt #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

NSW Police make arrests over explosive-laden caravan found in Dural with alleged list of Jewish targets NSW Police make arrests over explosive-laden caravan found in Dural with alleged list of Jewish targets A caravan found laden with explosives seemingly bound for a synagogue that put the nation on high alert over fears of a large-scale anti-Semitic attack, has been instead revealed as a “fabricated terror plot” masterminded by organised crime figures. Speaking at a press conference Monday, *********** Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed the incident was “essentially, a criminal **** job”. “Regardless of the motivation of those responsible for this fake plot, it has had a chilling effect on the Jewish community,” she said. This twisted self-serving criminality has terrorised Australians. “What organised crime has done to the Jewish community is reprehensible, and it won’t go without consequences.” The news came after NSW Police revealed 250 investigators carried out 11 search warrants on Monday, resulting in 14 people in custody and 49 charges related to Strike Force Pearl — the anti-Semitism investigation — and Operation Kissinger — the caravan explosives investigation. The caravan was discovered in the semi-rural suburb of Dural in NSW on January 19, along with a note allegedly listing a number of synagogues as targets. The Sydney man who found the caravan towed it onto his property, waiting weeks before cutting open the padlocked door, finding the explosives. At the time, police said the amount of explosives inside the caravan could have created a 40m blast zone, which would have been a “potential mass casualty event”. Camera IconAustralian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barret. Credit: *********** Federal Police/*********** Federal Police However, within hours of the caravan being found, Ms Barrett said any perceived threat was mitigated. “Almost immediately, experienced investigators within the joint counter-terrorism team believed that the caravan was part of a fabricated terrorist plot, essentially a criminal **** job,” she said. “This was because of the information they already had, how easily the caravan was found and how visible the explosives were in the caravan. Also, there was no detonator. “ She revealed the caravan was “never going to cause a mass casualty event but instead was concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal benefit”. “The caravan plot was an elaborate scheme contrived by organised criminals domestically and from offshore,” Ms Barrett said. When asked about motive, the Deputy Commissioner said while the investigation was ongoing, it was possible those involved wanted to “leverage the exchange of information to law enforcement” for “some sort of personal gain mostly around sentence reduction”. “We believe the person pulling the strings wanted changes to their criminal status but maintained a distance from their scheme and hired alleged local criminals to carry out parts of their plan,” she said. Ms Barrett said while that could have been the case, it never reached that point as police were alerted to the caravan. While a number of arrests have been made in relation to Operation Pearl anti-Semitic offences, the person believed to be “pulling the strings” in relation to the caravan plot, Operation Kissinger, has not yet been arrested. Investigations are ongoing. “We are looking at a number of targets offshore, and looking at how that is interacting with local organised crime figures,” Ms Barrett said, adding there were also targets onshore and “ongoing strategies in play”. “A number of people have been identified as part of this fake terrorism plot and the AFP is working with local and overseas law enforcement officials in our bid to have all of those responsible brought to justice,” she said. NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said he hoped the 14 arrests made would offer “some comfort” to the Jewish community. “There were a variety of charges across the 14 individuals,” he said. “They range from participating in a criminal group to conducting arson attacks to providing vehicles, to stealing vehicles, to claiming vehicles and a variety of other offences including some matters that we detected at the execution of the search warrant such as drugs and other things.” The deputy commissioner said the fake plot “was about causing chaos within the community, causing threat, and causing angst”. “It was about diverting police resources away from their day jobs, to have them focus on matters that would allow them to get up to or engage in other criminal activity,” he explained, reiterating it was out of personal gain. About 100 State and Federal police and ASIO officers were tasked with investigating the caravan, during a rise of anti-Semitic attacks across the country, mostly in Sydney and Melbourne. “It is deeply distressing this is happening in this State,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said at the time the caravan was discovered. “I never thought in Australia, in 2025, we would see this level of racism or anti-Semitism.” Mr Minns assured the community at the time that those committing “hateful acts of violence, graffiti, malicious damage in our community will be met with the full force of the law”. Source link #NSW #Police #arrests #explosiveladen #caravan #Dural #alleged #list #Jewish #targets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Global manufacturing is repositioning — but it’s complicated Global manufacturing is repositioning — but it’s complicated Trade experts share thoughts on the challenges of China Plus One under the Trump administration. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) The shifting dynamics of global manufacturing and supply chain strategies have created an unprecedented moment of change for logistics professionals, businesses and policymakers alike. The China Plus One strategy, which encourages companies to diversify their manufacturing footprint beyond China, has gained traction due to rising labor costs, trade policy uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. However, as highlighted in discussions with Dimerco Express Group executives and industry experts, the execution of this strategy is far from simple. From infrastructure limitations and workforce shortages to regulatory hurdles and freight market volatility, companies pursuing diversification face a multitude of challenges. For years, multinational manufacturers have explored alternatives to China, but recent trade disputes and tariff policies have accelerated the transition. According to Kathy Liu, global sales and marketing director at Dimerco, the strategy began with labor-intensive industries, such as textiles and footwear, moving to countries like Vietnam and Thailand. More recently, high-value sectors, including electronics and semiconductors, have started shifting production to new markets. However, this transition is not merely a cost-cutting maneuver; it represents a structural shift in global supply chains that requires long-term planning and investment​. One major factor is the U.S.-China trade war, with tariff announcements threatening to impose up to 60% higher duties on ******** imports. While many manufacturers initially sought tariff relief by relocating production to Vietnam, India and Malaysia, trade compliance expert Karen Kenney warned that these so-called “tariff-friendly” locations are becoming increasingly vulnerable to reciprocal tariffs, making the long-term benefits of relocation uncertain. “The president specifically said that folks would no longer be able to transship goods. What he meant by that was you won’t be able to build a majority of the products in China and ship it through another country to get any sort of tariff benefit,” Kenny explained. Additionally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is cracking down on transshipment practices, ensuring that companies cannot simply reroute ********-made components through another country to avoid tariffs​. “CBP knows where product components are coming from. They’ve invested in AI programs, and they have access to a lot of data. So even if you don’t know where your products’ components are coming from, CBP does, and eventually they’re going to catch up with it,” Kenney said. Relocating manufacturing is not as simple as setting up a new factory. Dimerco executives emphasized that China has spent decades building an extensive supply chain ecosystem, including well-developed ports, highways and logistics hubs that cannot be easily replicated elsewhere. Infrastructure gaps in alternative manufacturing destinations lead to higher transportation costs, longer lead times and logistical bottlenecks. For example, limited deep-water ports in Southeast Asia prevent larger cargo vessels from docking, requiring costly transshipment through hubs like Singapore​. Additionally, the availability and skill level of the workforce in new markets present a challenge. This level of coordinated workforce development is largely absent in many China Plus One destinations. “In China, once there’s a big factory planned for a location, they will have a deal with the government to create a local school to train those people. Then they will be transferred to that factory right after the training process. The government is very supportive in making sure that the workers in those factories are skilled and well trained. … I don’t see this kind of arrangement in Southeast Asian countries,” said Liu. Companies shifting production to Vietnam or India must navigate cultural differences, language barriers and labor law variations that affect factory productivity. Some businesses moving to Mexico, for instance, have struggled with worker shortages and cultural differences in labor expectations, prompting a return to China​. “I have one client who has moved roughly 60% of their production to Mexico, and they’re moving back to China because of the labor challenges they are experiencing there …,” Kenney said. “Those challenges are twofold. One is a lack of skilled labor in their product line, and then the second is a cultural challenge [around working]. The staff are used to working fixed hours on a fixed schedule. There’s more of a ‘Do whatever it takes to get it done’ mentality in some places, and in others it is if my job is X, I’m just doing X.” Given the vast number of variables at play, companies are increasingly turning to experienced logistics providers to manage the complexities of diversification. Deep regional expertise allows providers to offer customized solutions, such as multimodal transportation strategies that combine cross-border trucking with airfreight to bypass capacity constraints. For example, some companies in Thailand and Vietnam are leveraging Singapore’s airport infrastructure to move goods more efficiently, while others are routing shipments through China to take advantage of its superior cargo capacity​. Providers also play a crucial role in assisting businesses with factory relocations, particularly in handling the customs complexities associated with moving machinery and production equipment across borders. As Liu noted, many manufacturers underestimate the bureaucratic and compliance challenges of shifting operations. Regulations vary widely among countries, and navigating customs procedures in multiple jurisdictions can lead to significant delays if not properly managed​. “We see the crisis, but we also see the opportunity because over the last 54 years, we have made Asia Pacific logistics our strength,” said Jeffrey Shih, CEO of Dimerco. While the China Plus One strategy remains a compelling risk management approach, recent developments suggest that companies are treading carefully. Many businesses have opted for a hybrid approach, maintaining some operations in China while gradually expanding into new markets to avoid overcommitting to any single region. This cautious approach is driven by uncertainty surrounding future tariff policies and the unpredictable nature of global trade relations​. What’s more, as geopolitical pressures mount, there is growing concern over foreign investment in infrastructure projects. Countries like China continue to play a major role in financing logistics and port developments in Southeast Asia, raising questions about long-term supply chain independence. The U.S. government, in particular, is wary of China’s influence in global infrastructure investments, adding another layer of complexity to an already intricate supply chain landscape​. Kenney pointed to the Panama Canal as an example of the U.S. being wary of ******** influence. The discussions with experts reveal that while China Plus One offers opportunities for supply chain resilience, the path forward is fraught with challenges. “The original idea of China Plus One is to avoid risk and to diversify the production line, which has become a good strategy now under the current U.S.-China trade war,” said Liu. Additionally, Kenney said, “I would diversify your supply chain right now. I just wouldn’t overcommit in any single market, and proceed slowly and plan carefully.” Articles by Grace Sharkey Retailers see both danger and potential in Trump’s tariffs Flexport CEO: ‘Every single member on your team should be using AI’ Reports: Freight forwarder Forto looking for a buyer The post Global manufacturing is repositioning — but it’s complicated appeared first on FreightWaves. Source link #Global #manufacturing #repositioning #complicated Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What to know about March's full "Blood Worm Moon," a total lunar eclipse – CBS News What to know about March's full "Blood Worm Moon," a total lunar eclipse – CBS News What to know about March’s full “Blood Worm Moon,” a total lunar eclipse CBS NewsThis month’s ‘blood moon’ eclipse mirrors one Christopher Columbus used to scare indigenous people with in 1504 Space.com’Blood moon’, total lunar eclipse spectacle set to dazzle sky-watchers in Coastal Virginia 13newsnow.com WVECTotal lunar eclipse 2025: What to know about this week’s ‘blood moon’ USA TODAYTotal lunar eclipse: Here’s when Ohioans can see the celestial event 10TV Source link #March039s #full #quotBlood #Worm #Moonquot #total #lunar #eclipse #CBS #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]