Pelican Press

Zelensky urges tougher sanctions on Russia as airstrikes continue Zelensky urges tougher sanctions on Russia as airstrikes continue Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday renewed calls for stronger sanctions against Russia, emphasizing the need to protect lives and bolster air defences in response to continued attacks. Following a Russian air raid on a mining town in eastern Ukraine that reportedly killed at least 11 people late on Friday, Zelensky wrote on Facebook: “Such attacks show that Russia’s goals have not changed.” “That is why it is crucial that we continue to do our best to protect lives, strengthen our air defences and tighten sanctions against Russia.” Following the recent suspension of US military aid to Ukraine, experts suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin is seizing the opportunity to accelerate his war objectives. A key goal is to gain full control over the contested regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which remain partially occupied by Russia troops. Source link #Zelensky #urges #tougher #sanctions #Russia #airstrikes #continue Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ex-Inmates And People In Corrections Are Sharing The Things About Prison That Most People Don’t Know Ex-Inmates And People In Corrections Are Sharing The Things About Prison That Most People Don’t Know Content warning: Discussions of *******, *****, and assault. Recently, we featured stories from formerly incarcerated people who shared the things about prison that most people don’t realize. The responses were honest, sobering, and, at times, completely challenged the depictions we see on TV. Group of people in a dramatic prison setting, standing with determined expressions. They wear casual prison attire, surrounded by a gritty environment Since sharing that story, hundreds more ex-inmates and people who have worked in corrections shared their own experiences, too. From survival tactics to prison relationships, here’s what everyone had to say about life on the inside: 1.”I was incarcerated from 2020-2023 at a medical facility (though I wasn’t there for medical reasons). The saddest part is seeing all the old, sick people who have been in 20-30 years and are still waiting for their release dates. The biggest shock upon getting out is how prison kinda locks your perception of time in place.” “It’s crazy how much life on the outside can change when you expect to walk out to the world you left. Being institutionalized is a real thing, too; I’ve met people who were afraid to leave because they had become more comfortable with their prison life than the thought of life on the outside.” —Anonymous 2.”I had nobody on the outside, and at least I had a community and sense of belonging in prison, which I didn’t get on the outside. Isolation on the outside is almost worse.” Two people in casual, warm clothing sit inside a vehicle, looking pensive. One person rests their head on the other’s shoulder —Anonymous 3.”The worst thing is the boredom. The Department of Corrections should realize that if they don’t keep inmates busy with work, classes, exercise, etc., with the amount of time they are locked down (especially in county jails), all they are doing is making better criminals. Cause all you do is sit around, compare stories, and realize better ways to do crime.” —Anonymous 4.”Many of the women I met in prison were actually there because of their partner. Some had suffered tremendous abuse and finally, in an act of self-preservation, murdered them. Some were taking the fall for crimes their partner committed. A few were actually guilty of the crime they were in for.” “You lose all rights, including the right to respect and autonomy. It’s also isolating, even in the crowded common area. The world outside continues while the prisoner is stuck in Groundhog Day. Only one person in my family ever visited, and I cut it short because it was a shaming event. You are truly on your own inside, and programs to help folks are inconsistent.” —freshpunk528 5.”Women who are incarcerated present differently. Most of us have endured some form of trauma, which results in self-destructive behavior. Once incarcerated, the male guards continue to traumatize females by yelling, isolating, and even ********* assaulting them.” “There was a guard who had to do cavity checks. She would have us put our leg up on a wall and cough while she looked inside of us with the flashlight.” —oldswan425 6.”Not prison, but I spent 56 days in county jail and one of the comments I heard several times was other prisoners’ wish that they would just get transferred to the prison sooner rather than later. In county jail, three people were in a cell, with one on the floor. In prison, each inmate got their own cell and could purchase things for their cell, like TVs and stereos. There was actually less danger of being targeted as well, despite media portrayals. With one or two exceptions, everyone I met in jail was polite and friendly. The guards were the ones who were disrespectful and cruel.” A person in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs is escorted by an officer through a hallway with a visible cell in the background —parryboucher 7.”I turned 17 in juvenile hall. I was able to prove I was innocent, but not until a week later. I found it surprising that they were going to just give me a pap smear without consulting my parents (I asked if they knew anything about it, and they said no). They also didn’t make it seem optional. The only thing that kept them from doing it was that I had just happened to get my ******* earlier that day. The bathroom/showers were in a huge room with a short two-foot divider between toilets and small dividers between showers. They gave me one squeeze of soap on a piece of toilet paper to use for our whole body.” “We had to leave our shoes and pants outside our door at night, and the lights never turned off. We went to ‘school,’ but it was a classroom where the ‘teacher’ wouldn’t acknowledge us. The food was bland, of course, and people stuck with those of the same ‘race.’ The bristles of the toothbrush they gave us would fall off so easily that you’d have to ***** them out. They weren’t unnecessarily mean or anything, but unsurprisingly, they weren’t particularly nice. It was all so transactional. I’m 33 now, but I’ll never forget it.” —xquexpex 8.”I worked healthcare for corrections. We saw individuals break the law, hoping for a sentence in prison so they could obtain healthcare. It does happen. I worked primarily in state facilities, where we housed men aged 18-55. It was a tough experience. Lots of assaults and fights occur on a daily basis. It was young men we saw over and over with the same story.” “‘I fell off my bunk,’ they’d say, but be beaten almost to the point of non-recognition. They’d be transferred for CT scans and a higher level of care and come back in a day or two with their jaws wired shut due to fractures, sutures, casts, you name it. Officers also contributed to the problem by not reporting and walking away. They didn’t want to do the paperwork. It was a very sad situation.” —Anonymous 9.”Message from the other side of the coin: I was a mental health counselor in a maximum security prison in the northeast. First, many of those incarcerated didn’t think they would get caught. Denial can be used as a defense mechanism. Second, many inmates in a maximum security institution aren’t incarcerated for the first time. The term ‘been there, done that’ applies. They know the ropes and the rules. Third, getting mental health care can be seen as a sign of weakness to some other inmates. Fourth, lifers tend to be the least disruptive members of the inmate population.” “Most want to get out of their cells, get an inmate job, and quietly do their time. Fifth, the younger inmates doing short sentences (called skid bids) sometimes have to establish themselves within the population and tend to fight more, engage in more inappropriate behavior, and get more disciplinary reports as a result. Street credibility within the inmate population is important but can be overrated. Life in prison isn’t easy for anybody, but it is ‘managed’ by most inmates who try to remain under the radar. In most cases, what you see on television does not accurately portray the daily lives of most inmates.” —Anonymous 10.”Former corrections officer (CO). The best way to manage the pod is to talk to them. They hate being embarrassed in the pods. And word travels. How you treat them gets talked about. I tried to be respectful to everyone and avoided looking at their charges for that very reason. I didn’t want a subconscious bias to impact my ability to manage them.” A uniformed correctional officer talks to a woman in beige prison attire in a hallway setting “They’ll wait to start ***** to avoid paperwork for you if they like you. If they hate you, you’re gonna have a long shift. The other piece is what happens once they’re released and you run into them in public. I was fortunate that no one ever sought revenge on me in public. And I’ve run into multiple former inmates when I was with my child in public. So, I must have been doing something right in there as an officer.” —Anonymous 11.”If you treat the staff like human beings, they tend to treat you like a human being. COs were cool with me because I was cool with them. Respect goes a long way in prison.” —Anonymous 12.”Simply put: If you don’t know, let it be. It’s best you never find out.” —Anonymous 13.”Some, and probably most first-time inmates, just want to get through their time. A lot of inmates who are on their third or more incarceration sentencing are almost comfortable with their outcome, and they are able to do their sentence without any urgency to be released.” —Anonymous 14.”I spent some time in and out of prison from 18-22 because of drugs (Over 30 years ago. Life is great now.). I met some guys in there that I would never want around my loved ones. I also met some very remorseful, generous, kind-hearted human beings. Many guys that screwed things up because of drugs or alcohol but who were great people once sober.” —Anonymous 15.”You get a 3-inch pad for the bed, no pillow, food is the worst, handcuffs are **********, and toilet paper is a hot item to have. It’s better to have money on you when you go in. And remember, you have no clue what problems the guy next to you has.” —Anonymous 16.”I had a lot more freedom than I had expected to. As long as you’re where you’re supposed to be when it’s time for count, you can pretty much go anywhere on the grounds you want if you’re in minimum security.” A group of people in tan prison uniforms and one in a light gray hoodie converse outside near brick buildings “I was a little fearful for my life when I first arrived after being told by a somewhat heavyset woman that she was going to r**e me in the shower… Aside from that and the male guards coming in and pulling the curtains aside while you’re showering, it wasn’t really that bad.” —Anonymous 17.”Until you have walked in someone’s shoes, you really have no room to judge, and even then, prison makes you realize how easy it can be to end up there, so judgment is not your responsibility. The freedoms they show on TV shows are unrealistic…you do not get to roam about freely, nor do you regularly shower without a stall separating you. The food is mediocre at best, and they do not serve fresh fruit and vegetables regularly.” “In fact, some of the food that comes into the kitchen is labeled ‘not for human consumption.’ The decent corrections officers know that being incarcerated is your punishment, and it is not their job to make your life worse. However, rules are in place for everyone, even when ridiculous. Women at the Tennessee prison I was in were lucky to get two rolls of toilet paper a week, while the men never did without. I could write a book.” –Anonymous 18.”It honestly depends on the type of facility that you’re in. State prisons sound like they are the worst, according to the stories I’ve heard. I was in a federal camp, so it wasn’t all bad. I mean, it’s clean and not all that uncomfortable, but it’s still prison. I was fortunate and blessed enough to get into a program that made my days go much faster and cut an entire year off my sentence. If you don’t have anything to do, then you’re screwed. Time is going to drag, and you’re going to get into trouble. There are cliques, just like anywhere else. You meet some interesting people, for sure. The first unit I was in was like a free-for-all. It was loud and crazy and full of people. The correctional officers didn’t even care about the noise or the madness. It was awful.” Group of women in beige prison uniforms at an event, with two at the front reacting with boredom, hands on their ears “But when I moved into a unit that was designed for the program I was in, everything changed. It was calm and quiet. It was like a college dorm sometimes. Until someone did something stupid, and we got put on lockdown or had to have our lockers and beds raided. And the seven minutes you get to take a shower is ridiculous!!! You learn your way around that, too!” (Cont’d) “What amazed me the most was the food you could buy from the commissary. The creativity of some of these women was incredible! So, if you didn’t feel like having dinner at 4:30 p.m., you could whip something up from your locker! Dinner parties were lots of fun. Most of the women I was in with were pretty nice people. You learn the rules and who to stay away from.” “The very worst part about prison is leaving your family behind. Thank god for phone calls, video visits, and visitation. That’s the only thing that kept me going. I’ve been home for almost seven years, and I’m still dealing with the aftermath of having to leave my teenage daughter for almost two years.” —Anonymous 19.”I was locked up in a women’s prison. Something I can tell you that is true whether many admit it or not: a lot of women swing both ways! When no men are around, you gotta do what you gotta do. It gets mighty lonely in there. Many women had husbands and kids who would see them every week and then go back to their girlfriends in their cell block. I mean, they had full-on relationships and wifeys and all that.” “I’m married to a man now with children of my own, but I was curious and lonely at the time (and single). I don’t regret it, but I don’t talk about it either. It’s my dirty little secret.” —Anonymous And lastly: 20.”I spent just over two years at a medium-security state prison…not to be confused with ‘jail,’ which is usually county level and has a mix of convicts and inmates waiting for trial. I suffer from mental health issues stemming from childhood trauma compounded by genetics. For decades, I left it either untreated or tried to treat symptoms individually (like anger management). It eventually led to my arrest and conviction, which destroyed my marriage and upended my family life. My experience in prison was certainly not what I expected.” “Since this was a medium-security prison, there were no ultra-violent caricatures of hardened criminals. There were no prison gangs. Even those who were part of adversarial gangs ‘outside the fence’ had a nominal truce inside. During my two years, there was violence, but it was not a common occurrence. Yet you never felt safe; there was a looming threat of violence. While not necessarily directed at me, it felt like I could get dragged into something anytime.” (Cont’d) I got to know many of the inmates during my time. I had six different bunk mates who I got to know particularly well. While most were from lower-income urban areas, it was not exclusively so. Included in the mix were suburbanites and poor, rural people. Most of us were just trying to keep our heads down and serve our time as quietly as possible. The common refrain was if you sleep 12 hours a day, you only do half the time.” Person lying on a cot in a tank top and pants, arms behind head. Tattoo visible on arm. The setting appears minimalist and possibly institutional “Many of the inmates were there for crimes committed while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Another large group was associated with offenses related to selling drugs (including **********). A group that I didn’t expect to find but turned out to be a growing number of inmates was the elderly. People who were convicted decades ago with horrific minimum sentences are now just shuffled around from prison to prison. Inmates so institutionalized they wouldn’t have any idea how to survive outside.” (Cont’d) “Mental health issues were rampant across the board. Whether it was drug misuse or poverty, nearly every person suffered from some form of mental illness, whether they would admit it or not. I believe that untreated mental health issues directly result in recidivism. In my time, I saw multiple people paroled and returned to prison for the same crimes. The environment in prison is not conducive to rehabilitation of mental health issues. Prison is oppressive. It’s designed that way. Removing personal agency hampers the belief that you can improve your mental well-being.” “The oppressive nature of prison doesn’t only affect inmates but also correctional officers (COs). Most COs were impassive. Some were sadists. While I doubt they started off that way, I think the requirements of the job and environment led them to adopt these attitudes. In fact, I experienced a change in a rookie officer from sympathetic to apathetic in the course of 18 months.” (Cont’d) “My reality in prison was to bottom out. I hit my low and knew I needed to get help. Fortunately, the prison had some very competent therapists, but I had to completely commit to it and fight to keep it. I had to file innumerable forms and petitions to keep access to the therapists. Fortunately, I was able to continue on my road to recovery.” “After release, I further leaned into it. I know it will always be a continuing effort, but it has been successful. I think the lasting impact of being in prison was to realize and be grateful for the privileges I had and now have and to be far more empathetic. Mental health cannot be taken for granted; be aware of yourself and get help when you need it.” —Anonymous Have you ever been or worked within prisons? Let us know your experience in the comments or at this anonymous form. Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity. If you or someone you know has experienced ******* assault, you can call the National ******* Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE), which routes the caller to their nearest ******* assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here. The National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline is 1-800-950-6264 (NAMI) and provides information and referral services; GoodTherapy.org is an association of mental health professionals from more than 25 countries who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy. Source link #ExInmates #People #Corrections #Sharing #Prison #People #Dont Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Star pair fire late as United sink Hawks in GF opener Star pair fire late as United sink Hawks in GF opener Chris Goulding and Matthew Dellavedova have caught fire late to guide Melbourne United to an upset 96-88 win over Illawarra in game one of the best-of-five NBL grand final series. Goulding and Dellavedova were off the boil for most of Saturday night’s match at the WIN Entertainment Centre, with the Hawks leading by 10 points at halftime. But it was Melbourne who dominated the second half, with their final-quarter display particularly impressive. Goulding and Dellavedova both nailed two long-range bombs apiece in the final term as the visitors outscored Illawarra 32-21 for the quarter. Dellavedova finished with 18 points but on 6-of-17 shooting, while Goulding’s 10 final-quarter points took him to 15 for the match. Marcus Lee (14), Shea Ili (13) and Ian Clark (13) also chipped in. For Illawarra, Sam Froling (16 points), Todd Blanchfield (13), Wana Swaka Lo Buluk (11) and Will Hickey (14) were the only ones to hit double figures, with the Hawks scoring just 35 points in the second half. Trey Kell finished with just six points on 3-of-11 shooting in a poor display, while Tyler Harvey was held to nine points. Game two will be held in Melbourne on Wednesday night, with United looking to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Melbourne United had some early headaches on Saturday night. Goulding picked up his second foul just three minutes into the game, and Dellavedova missed his first four shots. United were able to erase an early six-point deficit, but a three-pointer on the buzzer from Blanchfield gave the Hawks a 29-26 lead at quarter-time. Blanchfield went 8-of-12 from three-point land in Illawarra’s game three semi-final win over South East Melbourne. The 33-year-old’s hot hand continued in the second quarter against Melbourne United, nailing another pair of three-pointers and a spin-away two-pointer as the lead ballooned to 11 points. Illawarra went into half-time with a 53-43 advantage, despite star guard Kell being held to just two points. For United, Goulding scored just two points in the first half, and Jack White had just four points to his name, including a missed dunk on the half-time siren. Melbourne went on a 6-0 run to start the third quarter, with Illawarra’s offence becoming disjointed as the visitors started feeling comfortable for the first time in the match. Goulding’s 10-point haul in the final quarter proved pivotal as Melbourne stormed to victory on enemy territory. Source link #Star #pair #fire #late #United #sink #Hawks #opener Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Who is Doge’s muscle as they force their way through federal offices? Who is Doge’s muscle as they force their way through federal offices? As members of DOGE continue to move through federal agencies, firing employees and eliminating funding, they make use of what is reported to be U.S. Marshals to force their way into buildings barred against them. Ryan Reilly, NBC News justice reporter, joins Rachel Maddow to discuss whether these are actual marshals and who they report to. Source link #Doges #muscle #force #federal #offices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jonas vs Price highlights: Welsh world champion unifies welterweight division Jonas vs Price highlights: Welsh world champion unifies welterweight division Watch highlights as Welterweight Lauren Price easily outpoints Natasha Jonas to settle their domestic rivalry and become a unified world champion in a changing of the guards moment for women’s boxing at the Royal Albert Hall. Pictures courtesy of Sky Sports. READ MORE: World champion Price cruises past Jonas to unify division Available to *** users only. Source link #Jonas #Price #highlights #Welsh #world #champion #unifies #welterweight #division Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Secretive US Space Force X-37B space plane ‘breaks new ground’ as it returns to Earth after 434 days in orbit (photos) Secretive US Space Force X-37B space plane ‘breaks new ground’ as it returns to Earth after 434 days in orbit (photos) When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The U.S. Space Force’s X-37B space plane is seen on a runway at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California after returning to Earth in the wee hours to end its OTV-7 mission on March 7, 2025. | Credit: U.S. Space Force The U.S. Space Force’s robotic space plane X-37B returned to Earth has returned to Earth after spending more than 434 days in orbit on a classified mission. This was the seventh mission for the X-37B space plane, officially designated X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 (OTV-7), which landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, today (March 7). Touchdown occurred at 2:22 a.m. EST (0722 GMT). During the mission, the Boeing-built X-37B performed a novel “aerobraking maneuver” that demonstrated its robust maneuver capability. In the aerobraking maneuver, X-37B used the drag caused by Earth’s atmosphere to change its orbit more efficiently. “Mission 7 broke new ground by showcasing the X-37B’s ability to flexibly accomplish its test and experimentation objectives across orbital regimes,” Chief of Space Operations Chance Saltzman said in a statement from Space Force. “The successful execution of the aerobraking maneuver underscores the U.S. Space Force’s commitment to pushing the bounds of novel space operations in a safe and responsible manner.” Related: Space Force’s secretive X-37B space plane: 10 surprising facts The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 (OTV-7) at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on March 7, 2025. | Credit: US Space Force It wasn’t just the flexibility of X-37B in the air that was under scrutiny during this mission. This was the first time that the space plane had launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to a highly elliptical (flattened) orbit. From there, the plane conducted what Space Force describes as “space domain awareness technology experiments that aim to improve the United States Space Force’s knowledge of the space environment.” SpaceX launched the X-37B OTV-7 mission on Dec. 28, 2023. The aerobraking maneuver was used to take X-37B from the highly elliptical orbit to a low Earth orbit while conserving fuel. After conducting further experiments, the plane deorbited and returned to Earth. Technicians in bulky protective suits approach the U.S. Space Force X-37B space plane after its landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to end a secret 434 day mission on March 7, 2025. | Credit: U.S. Space Force Related Stories: — Space Force’s mysterious X-37B begins ‘aerobraking’ to lower orbit. Here’s how it works (video) — Space Force’s secretive X-37B space plane soars past 1 year in orbit — SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launches mysterious X-37B space plane for US Space Force after delays “Mission 7’s operation in a new orbital regime, its novel aerobraking maneuver, and its testing of space domain awareness experiments have written an exciting new chapter in the X-37B program,” X-37B Program Director Blaine Stewart said. “Considered together, they mark a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the U.S. Space Force’s dynamic mission capability.” Despite it’s long 434-day mission, the X-37B’s OTV-7 flight wasn’t the longest flight for the robotic space plane. That record was set during the OTV-6 mission, which spent 908 days in orbit between May 2020 and November 2022. In fact, every X-37B flight since 2011 has spent a longer time in space than OTV-7, with only the first flight — the 224-day OTV-1 mission — spending less time in orbit. The U.S. Space Force currently has two X-37B space planes to fly those autonomous space missions. Source link #Secretive #Space #Force #X37B #space #plane #breaks #ground #returns #Earth #days #orbit #photos Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘The NRL are dealing with that’: Dragons may be forced to ramp up David Klemmer bid following devastating injury update on young forward ‘The NRL are dealing with that’: Dragons may be forced to ramp up David Klemmer bid following devastating injury update on young forward Dragons coach Shane Flanagan says he’ll leave it with the club to decide whether to ramp up their bid to sign veteran prop David Klemmer, with St George Illawarra in desperate need of quality middles after a young star suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury against the Bulldogs on Saturday night. Klemmer has been linked with a move to the Red V and did not play for the Tigers in reserve grade on Saturday, with speculation the former international front-rower could switch clubs as soon as next week. The Dragons are already without Francis Molo who has requested an immediate release from the club, while there are fears local junior Ryan Couchman ruptured his ACL and could miss the rest of the season. “It looks like he’s done his ACL, so it’s not real good,” Flanagan said. “He’s a young kid at the start of his NRL career and he’s such a competitor. It’s not a great thing.” New recruit Emre Guler is on report for a hip-drop tackle on Jacob Preston, although Flanagan isn’t too concerned about a potential ban which would see him miss next week’s match against Souths. If he is charged, Klemmer’s signature becomes even more crucial as they look to bank their first win of the year, although the club can’t sign the veteran until they move Molo off their books. “That’s something for the club to deal with,” the veteran coach said. “I’m here to coach the footy team. I don’t know where it’s heading, the NRL are dealing with that. “It’s not my business, to be honest.” Camera IconThe Dragons are trying to sign David Klemmer as soon as possible. Richard Dobson Credit: News Corp Australia The injury was the low point in their 28-20 loss to the Bulldogs, with Flanagan pleased with their attack late on but disappointed with their poor completion rate. “We beat ourselves,” he said. “There were too many yardage errors and we didn’t give ourselves a chance by dropping the ball on kicks and coming out of our own end.” Meanwhile, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo was thrilled with his side’s start to the season and isn’t too worried about skipper Stephen Crichton who was placed on report for leading with the knees in a tackle and then limped off in the final 10 minutes with cramps. “I didn’t look at it too many times because I was just trying to see how they scored,” Ciraldo said. “He was going across to save the try and I think his knee hit the ball so I don’t think there’s too much to worry about. “I thought it (the win) was awesome for us. “It gave us a chance to show everyone what we’ve done over the pre-season. “We got to 28-6 and I was pretty proud with what we’d done, but it was good because we had to win it again in the last 20 minutes and I think we showed a lot of bravery and had to stay calm when the momentum went back to them.” Source link #NRL #dealing #Dragons #forced #ramp #David #Klemmer #bid #devastating #injury #update #young Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Manly dismantle Cowboys in early-season statement Manly dismantle Cowboys in early-season statement Manly have sounded an early NRL premiership warning, blowing apart North Queensland with a 42-12 flogging at Brookvale. Two days after Brisbane put the cleaners through the Sydney Roosters in an early title statement, Manly repeated the dose on Saturday night. Where once Des Hasler wanted to fly under the radar at Brookvale, the Sea Eagles smashed it in the first 11 minutes of their season against the Cowboys. They took a 16-0 lead in that opening *******, at one stage running in three straight tries without the Cowboys touching the ball. Manly had been considered the dark horses of the pre-season, with enough attacking threats to challenge the NRL’s best teams. And that was the clear case on Saturday, against a Cowboys side who also reached the second week of the finals last year. Tom Trbojevic was at his damaging best while fit and firing, and Haumole Olakau’atu and Daly Cherry-Evans joined him in terrorising the Cowboys’ right edge. Trbojevic finished the night with a hand in four tries, with the fullback twice breaking into space from inside his own half in the lead-up to Ethan Bullemor and Reuben Garrick four-pointers. Olakau’atu set the tone when he charged on to a Cherry-Evans pass and beat Jaxon Purdue for the Sea Eagles’ first try, before busting five tackles for the night. And while Manly’s middles also steamrolled the Cowboys, with Taniela Paseka particularly dominant, it was Lehi Hopoate who came up with the play of the night. Leaping high to take a Cherry-Evans bomb from the clutches of Scott Drinkwater, the 20-year-old then flicked the ball out the back for Ben Trbojevic to score. Hopoate has made a habit of pulling off similar feats since his debut last season, and while he is Manly’s future No.1 he looms as an X-factor on the wing for now. Manly ran in seven tries for the night, with all coming in the first 57 minutes, before the Sea Eagles put the cue in the rack while 42-0 up. In contrast, it was a nightmare start to the season for Todd Payten’s Cowboys, who looked shell-shocked from the start of Manly’s opening onslaught. While their left edge was torn apart defensively, they spent the night playing catch-up football in attack during a tough debut for 21-year-old halfback Thomas Duffy. After being forced to wait 32 minutes for an attacking set in good ball, too many chances either ended with passes going into touch or the hands of Manly players. The Cowboys’ only points came in the final 10 minutes, when Drinkwater and Braidon Burns both put on long-range efforts to lower the margin. Source link #Manly #dismantle #Cowboys #earlyseason #statement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Victory pile pain on battling ALM champs Central Coast Victory pile pain on battling ALM champs Central Coast Melbourne Victory have charged to a 3-0 A-League Men’s win over Central Coast to leave the two-time defending champions’ title defence on the brink. Arthur Diles’ decision to swing changes after a disappointing 1-1 away draw to lowly Brisbane was vindicated as Nishan Velupillay and Bruno Fornaroli scored on their return to his starting line-up. Zinedine Machach added a blistering strike in the 92nd minute to rub salt into the Mariners’ wounds. Victory (33 points) charged to fourth on the table with Saturday’s impressive win at AAMI Park, behind Auckland FC (40), Western United (35) and Melbourne City (34). But Mark Jackson’s Mariners (21 points, goal difference of -16) are in strife, sitting 10 points behind sixth-placed Western Sydney with six games to go – starting with next Sunday’s trip to Auckland. Victory had 24 shots (nine on target) and Mitch Langerak didn’t need to make a save, with the Mariners registering just one shot, and none on target. Diles dropped Zinedine Machach, Nikos Vergos and Santos for Socceroos trio Velupillay, Fornaroli and Daniel Arzani. New loan signing Alex Badolato, the player of the tournament in the Young Socceroos’ U20 Asian Cup trumph, came off the bench for his Victory debut and impressed in his half-hour on the pitch. Victory’s opener, in the ninth minute, was all but gift-wrapped. Mariners goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen passed up the centre for Haine Eames but the 16-year-old didn’t properly control the ball and it spilled into the path of Velupillay, who made him pay with a fierce first-time strike. Fornaroli bounced an audacious bicycle kick over the bar in the 34th minute, but seven minutes later doubled Victory’s lead. The striker timed his run to perfection, latching onto a long ball from Brendan Hamill with a wonderful first touch, before turning Brian Kaltak inside out and coolly lashing home. Tempers threatened to boil over after the break with Mariners substitute Nicholas Duarte in the thick of everything. Victory should have made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute but Santos couldn’t quite control a wonderful ball from Badolato, while Peraic-Cullen brilliantly denied Vergos in the 90th. But there was no stopping Machach when he received the ball 25 yards out and slammed into the top corner. Victory next play the Wanderers away on Saturday. Source link #Victory #pile #pain #battling #ALM #champs #Central #Coast Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Best Loadout for Fortnite Ballistic in Chapter 6 Season 2 Best Loadout for Fortnite Ballistic in Chapter 6 Season 2 Over the years, Fortnite has evolved from just another Battle Royale into an all-around complete gaming experience. One of the exciting new additions is the Ballistic mode, a thrilling tactical FPS mode that combines precision, strategy, and teamwork in a 5v5 environment. The mode provides players with a variety of weapons to select from. | Image Credit: Epic Games As players engage in fast-paced rounds of attacking and defending, picking the right loadout plays a crucial part in securing victory. The choices you make, including selecting the best weapons and gadgets, can make all the difference. With Chapter 6 Season 2 bringing new balancing changes, it’s important to know which weapons work best now. To help you out, here’s a guide to the best weapons for your Ballistic loadout. Best weapons to use for Fortnite Ballistic Loadout In Fortnite Ballistic, weapon selection directly influences your performance during each round. Whether you’re attacking or defending the site, using the right loadout can help you gain a tactical edge over the opponents and increase the chance of securing a round win. Here are the top weapon picks for the best loadout in Chapter 6, Season 2: Striker AR (2,500 Credit): This is a top pick in almost every scenario, offering consistent performance. It provides a high fire rate, and good ammo capacity, making it a perfect choice for nearly every scenario players find themselves in. Nemesis AR (2,500 Credit): While it’s a toss-up between Nemesis and Striker for being the best, its slightly slower fire rate holds it back a bit. Otherwise, this weapon also provides high damage, a large magazine, and versatility. Hyper SMG (1,800 Credit): For players who like to play fast and aggressively this might just be the weapon for them. With its very fast fire rate and quick reload time at only 1,800 credits (increased from 1,500 this last patch), it allows players to outpace and dominate close-quarters confrontations. Enforcer AR (2,000 Credit): For the players who love precision and one-taps, this is a weapon for them. With high damage and a decent price, this weapon provides players with an opportunity to save some credit, while maximizing effectiveness. Reaper Sniper Rifle (4,700 Credit): This is a top pick for those who want to live the life of a sniper. This weapon can easily one-shot players, even with full shields. However, its drawback is its high cost (which was reduced recently). This means players have to sacrifice other essential or versatile equipment, so use it wisely. Frenzy Auto Shotgun (1,500 Credit): This is a reliable choice for close-range combat, especially for players who excel in tight situations. Its automatic firing mode allows for continuous shots, and with its high damage output, killing opponents can never be this easy. Hand Cannon (800 Credit): This is a pistol that excels in damage and accuracy, making it ideal for pistol rounds or early match phases. For just 800 Credits, it’s an affordable weapon that allows players to save for later rounds while still dealing significant damage with well-placed headshots. While there are other weapons as well, it’s important to manage your Credits effectively in Ballistic mode. Also don’t forget, this mode also gives you access to a variety of tactical gadgets that can turn the tide of battle, from a flashbang to a smoke grenade and even a recon grenade. In the end, selecting the best loadout for your tactics will increase your chances of securing victory. Stay adaptable and stay ahead of your opponents to dominate in Chapter 6, Season 2 of Fortnite Ballistic. Source link #Loadout #Fortnite #Ballistic #Chapter #Season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Cartwright, Bancroft star as WA turn tables on NSW Cartwright, Bancroft star as WA turn tables on NSW Hilton Cartwright has struck a dazzling ton and fit-again opener Cameron Bancroft has the chance to join him in the century club after Western Australia took control of their Sheffield Shield clash with NSW. WA went to stumps on day two at 2-209 in their second innings, an overall lead of 144 with one day remaining in the crunch clash at the WACA Ground. Cartwright is unbeaten on 108 off 199 ******, while Bancroft is 85 not out off 260 ******, with the pair’s partnership now 181. It marked a successful return for Bancroft, who fractured his shoulder and broke his nose during a sickening outfield collision with his Sydney Thunder teammate Daniel Sams on January 3. Cartwright’s century came at a perfect time, given how crucial the match is to Western Australia’s title hopes. WA (32.63) sit third on the Shield table, just behind NSW (32.87) with only one more round to play after this one. If WA lose to NSW, their hopes of a four-peat are over, but a win or a draw will keep them alive heading into next week’s clash with fourth-placed Victoria (30.64 points). NSW started play on Saturday nicely placed at 8-258 in their second innings – an overall lead of 62. But they were only able to add three more runs to their tally before their innings was brought to a close. Bancroft juggled a catch at slip to send Chris Green packing for 25. And Jack Edwards (48) was out four ****** later when Sam Fanning held on to a spectacular one-handed catch at short leg. Fanning’s heroics meant star WA paceman Lance Morris ended the innings with impressive figures of 5-26 from 20.3 overs. Under strict Cricket Australia management plans, the injury-prone Morris will be limited to about 30 overs for the match. It means Morris will need to cause mass destruction from limited opportunities when NSW bat again on Sunday. WA were in deep trouble at 2-28 in their second innings following the quick departures of Sam Whiteman (9) and Jayden Goodwin (0) at the hands of Liam Hatcher (2-26). But Bancroft and Cartwright dug in, the pair’s patient stand lifting WA out of trouble and into a position of strength. Source link #Cartwright #Bancroft #star #turn #tables #NSW Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Daredevil’s One Ability Makes Him the Perfect Nightmare for Invisible Woman, Loki, Scarlet Witch, Psylocke Mains Daredevil’s One Ability Makes Him the Perfect Nightmare for Invisible Woman, Loki, Scarlet Witch, Psylocke Mains Daredevil is one of the most beloved characters in the Marvel IP and recently got his very own show in the MCU with the release of Daredevil: Born Again. But one area where the character has been largely ignored is in the video game side of things. But luckily for us, Marvel Rivals might change that soon. Scarlet Witch mains will not breathe easy if Daredevil joins in in the lobby | Image Credit: NetEase Games But what would Daredevil’s abilities be in Marvel Rivals? The new hit hero shooter title by NetEase games is full of imbalanced characters designed purely for chaotic fun. One way that Matt Murdock could fit in this formula is if we could use his enhanced senses to target elusive characters like Invisible Woman, and more. Daredevil could be such a nuisance in Marvel Rivals Daredevil is also one of the most requested characters for the game. | Image Credit: Disney+ Daredevil’s abilities in Marvel lore make him an obvious counter to stealthy characters. Unlike heroes who rely on sight, Daredevil “sees” the world through a sonar-like ability. This lets him detect even the smallest movements. In Marvel Rivals, this could translate to an ability that lets him sense invisible or escaping characters like Invisible Woman, Scarlet Witch, and Psylocke. MARVEL RIVALS GIVE US DAREDEVIL AND MY LIFE IS YOURS pic.twitter.com/94rjfVJxuF — MasterShifu (@MasterShifu1st) March 6, 2025 Who knows, this could even work against Loki. In the comics, Daredevil can differentiate between real and fake enemies by sensing their heartbeats, body heat, and even the way they move. If this ability carries over into Marvel Rivals, it would make Loki’s illusions far less effective. This would make him an important counter to such characters. The biggest concern with adding a character who counters stealth so effectively is that he might feel too strong. If Daredevil completely negates invisibility, it could make characters like Invisible Woman and Loki much weaker overall. However, NetEase could balance this by making his detection ability require a cooldown or have limited range. There’s a lot of content in the pipeline for Marvel Rivals It’d be fun to see Daredevil amidst all the other characters. | Image Credit: NetEase Games Characters in Marvel Rivals are all very strong because NetEase has put an importance on making them fun to play instead of nitpicking the balancing side of it. Daredevil could continue this trend with an ultimate that gives his team X-ray vision of an area to see enemies through walls and other obstacles. That would be pretty crazy. ‘Nelson & Murdock’ has been spotted in Marvel Rivals. Would you like to see Daredevil come to the game? pic.twitter.com/dsSxjHYIj6 — Daredevil Updates (@DDevilUpdates) January 8, 2025 There are already hints that Daredevil could be coming to Marvel Rivals. The game’s Midtown map features a billboard for Nelson & Murdock Attorneys at Law, a direct reference to Matt Murdock’s civilian identity. This isn’t really unique to Daredevil since there are lots of other references in the game. But it is something to note. It won’t be anytime soon though, we’ll probably get Blade first. The timing for Daredevil’s inclusion couldn’t be better. Daredevil: Born Again was recently released on Disney+, and Marvel Rivals has a perfect opportunity to introduce Matt Murdock to the game. Marvel games have often overlooked Daredevil, but this could break that trend. It would be a major missed opportunity if NetEase didn’t capitalize on Daredevil’s resurgence. Marvel Rivals has done a lot of things right, and it’s no surprise that it has become one of the biggest games in recent memory. Daredevil would be the perfect addition to this success. Source link #Daredevils #Ability #Perfect #Nightmare #Invisible #Woman #Loki #Scarlet #Witch #Psylocke #Mains Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Waratahs open season with three wins in a 16-year first Waratahs open season with three wins in a 16-year first The NSW Waratahs have hung tough to achieve a 16-year first with a spirited 34-10 Super Rugby Pacific victory over the Western Force. Overcoming the first-half loss of skipper Jake Gordon and in-form No.8 Langi Gleeson, the Waratahs ran in six tries to one to open the season with three straight wins for the first time since 2009. Wooden spooners last season, the Waratahs are now flying high in second on the ladder under first-year coach Dan McKellar and his star-studded line-up featuring a dozen Wallabies. Even without prized signing Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii the Tahs had too much firepower for the Force, who had also won their first two games in their best start to a Super season. McKellar won’t be getting carried away, though, knowing full well his charges have been presented with – and capitalised on – a dream draw to start their 2025 campaign. The Waratahs’ scalps thus far have been the Highlanders, Fijian Drua and now the Force, three teams not expected to make the finals, with all the wins coming on home turf. Sterner tests are still to come, starting with a blockbuster derby next Saturday in Brisbane against the Queensland Reds before four more clashes with New Zealand heavyweights the Hurricanes, the ladder-leading Chiefs, Crusaders and defending champion Blues. McKellar will be sweating on Gordon and Gleeson not joining Suaalii (foot) in missing the Reds showdown. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt also watched anxiously at Allianz Stadium as Gordon iced a knee before Gleeson limped off soon afterwards with a leg injury of his own. Force and Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch also failed to see out the game, replaced midway through the second half with an apparent knee problem in another potential concern for Schmidt. A try-scoring double from electric winger Max Jorgensen, including a thief-in-the-night intercept to put the Tahs up 15-5 at the break, punctuated an otherwise dour forward battle in the opening 40 minutes. Blindside flanker Rob Leota crashed over for the Waratahs’ other first-half try, with powerhouse openside Carlo Tizzano further enhancing his Wallaby claims with his sixth try of the season for the Force. Tizzano remains the competition’s leading try-scorer after crossing for a fifth straight match stretching back to last season. But there wasn’t much else for Force fans to cheer about. Their only other five-pointer came after the fulltime siren had sounded – and after the home team had racked up three more tries in the second half through Darby Lancaster, Andrew Kellaway and Felix Kalapu. Flyhalf Lawson Creighton enjoyed a mixed debut for the Waratahs, setting up Jorgensen’s first try with a beautiful double cut-out pass, but landing only two conversions from six shots at goal. Source link #Waratahs #open #season #wins #16year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Voters deserve to know the truth about the nation’s fiscal crisis Voters deserve to know the truth about the nation’s fiscal crisis John Hood RALEIGH — Every citizen who meets the basic requirements — adulthood, residency, and the completion of sentence after a felony conviction — can cast a ballot in North Carolina. There’s no test of civic knowledge required to exercise the civil right to vote, nor should there be. (Our state constitution still contains a Jim Crow-era literacy test to vote, but it’s vestigial and unenforceable.) That having been said, effective self-government is difficult to sustain when voters lack basic information about candidates, issues, and our constitutional system. Surveys show such ignorance is especially prevalent among young people. In a recent poll of Americans aged 18 to 24, only a quarter knew the vice president breaks ties in the U.S. Senate. Most thought the Electoral College had responsibilities other than electing presidents, such as regulating campaign finance or certifying congressional elections. Here in North Carolina, the latest High Point University poll tested the political knowledge of state residents. Some of the results, while troubling, fell short of catastrophic. Most respondents to the survey, conducted in late January, knew that Republicans currently control the U.S. House of Representatives, though 13% said the Democrats did and 22% were unsure. Two-thirds identified the GOP as the more conservative party and 55% knew that the U.S. Supreme Court was the federal branch empowered to declare a law unconstitutional. But North Carolinians flubbed this question: “As far as you know, does the federal government spend more on Social Security or foreign aid?” More from John Hood: Federal and state constitutions aren’t ‘mirror images’ | Opinion Just 21% knew the correct answer. Social Security accounts for one-fifth of total federal spending. Foreign aid is about 1%. Alas, most North Carolinians thought either that foreign aid was the ******* expenditure (41%) or that the U.S. spent about the same on foreign aid and Social Security (10%). The rest admitted they didn’t know. I concede that civic knowledge isn’t a game of Jeopardy. Voters need not know which president prosecuted the ********-American War (North Carolina’s own James K. Polk) or was the first to be impeached (another native Tar Heel, Andrew Johnson) in order to exercise their franchise responsibly. Still, as America continues to stumble toward a fiscal crisis of unprecedented magnitude, far too few of us have a firm grasp on its primary causes and probable consequences. If present trends continue, publicly held federal debt (excluding debts owed by one part of the government to another) will hit a record 106% of gross domestic product in 2027 and shoot up to 122% of GDP by 2034. Washington is now spending more on interest payments to bondholders than on national defense. More from John Hood: NC needs to make changes to remain a true citizen legislature | Opinion The U.S. House has just approved budget targets that, if fully implemented in subsequent legislation, would extend the tax cuts enacted during President Trump’s first term (generally good) and reduce future spending growth by trillions of dollars (also good). Unfortunately, under all reasonable scenarios, it also guarantees multi-trillion-dollar deficits as far as the eye can see. Why aren’t voters more upset about all this? The reason isn’t a lack of concern. The vast majority say they worry “a great deal” or a “fair amount” about federal spending and deficits. The problem is that they misunderstand the causes and underestimate the necessary remedies. Far too many left-leaning people think it’s largely a revenue matter and can be addressed by hiking taxes on millionaires and billionaires. As I’ve pointed out many times, doing so might realistically nudge federal revenues up modestly as a share of GDP, by a percentage point or so. But our deficits are running closer to 7% of GDP. Far too many right-leaning people believe combating fraud and axing a few programs like foreign aid will do the job. Nah. The sum of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, national defense, and debt service represents 76% of all federal spending. Eliminate every other federal expenditure and that still wouldn’t balance the budget (Washington currently finances nearly 30% of its budget by borrowing). Voters deserve to know the truth. They deserve politicians willing to speak it. John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His books Mountain Folk, Forest Folk, and Water Folk combine epic fantasy with American history (FolkloreCycle.com). This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Cutting foreign aid won’t end the nation’s fiscal crisis | Opinion Source link #Voters #deserve #truth #nations #fiscal #crisis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Vital drugs due in the country after year’s delay Vital drugs due in the country after year’s delay People affected by leprosy in Nigeria should be able to get hold of vital drugs to treat the disease for the first time in a year from this weekend, the World Health Organization has said. The country, which reports more than 2,000 new cases a year ran out of supplies partly because drugs were held up after new regulations were introduced. The WHO said it had asked Nigeria to briefly lift its new testing policy and it expects the drugs to arrive from India on Sunday. Leprosy is curable with a combination of different antibiotics, but if left untreated the patients’ health can deteriorate with sores and nerve damage that cause deformities. The treatment can last between six and 12 months. But because of the lack of drugs in Nigeria, patients have been sent home from hospitals. As the drugs suppress transmission this increases the risk of the disease spreading. Dr Samimu Msheliza, a public health expert and medical advisor at the ********* branch of the Leprosy Mission, highlighted the urgent need for medication. “We have thousands of newly diagnosed leprosy patients across various cities who are just waiting for this drug,” he told the BBC. “The quicker we have [the drugs], the better, because currently these people are suffering, their transmission is ongoing because they are not being treated,” Dr Msheliza said. The Reuters news agency spoke to one woman at a hospital in Nasarawa state, who said her condition had got much worse since she was not able to get hold of the combination of drugs. All Awwal Musa’s fingers were clawed and her legs discharged pus. “Before last year, my wounds were getting healed but now they are getting worse. The pain is worse,” Ms Musa is quoted as saying. The nerve damage may be irreversible. Nigeria’s drug authority introduced new regulations for medicines aimed at tackling the importation of counterfeit and sub-standard drugs. In recent years, several medicines have been recalled for failing to meet safety standards. But the new measures have had an impact on the availability of crucial treatments, including those for leprosy. Source link #Vital #drugs #due #country #years #delay Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Watch: 'You can't skate – you're too old' – the woman who took up skateboard aged 61 Watch: 'You can't skate – you're too old' – the woman who took up skateboard aged 61 Meet the mums who are on a mission to make skate boarding more accessible for older women. Source link #Watch #039You #can039t #skate #you039re #old039 #woman #skateboard #aged Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

All Difficulty Levels in Helldivers 2 and How to Change Them All Difficulty Levels in Helldivers 2 and How to Change Them Helldivers 2 features multiple difficulty levels, with each difficulty being progressively more challenging than the other. Other than the usual fun challenge, playing Helldivers 2 at higher difficulties does reward players with boosted amounts of Medals, EXP and Samples – which makes the effort all the more worthwhile. Changing difficulty levels in Helldivers 2 result in a change across multiple parameters, ranging from rewards to enemy aggression and types. There are a total of 10 such difficulty levels available in the game. All difficulty levels In Helldivers 2 explained Helldivers 2 features 10 difficulty levels | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios The 10 difficulties in Helldivers 2 range from Trivial to Super Helldive, and can be found explained further below: Difficulty Level Enemies and objectives Rewards EXP Bonus Trivial Primary objectives and enemy patrols One medal and common samples – Easy Allied tactical objectives and light outposts 2 medals with common samples – Medium Allied tactical objectives and light outposts 6 medals (full completion) and common samples +25% Challenging Enemy tactical objectives with heavy outposts and heavily armored enemies 8 medals (full completion), rare and common samples +50% Hard Operation modifiers, massive and heavily armored enemies 18 medals (full completion), rare and common samples +75% Extreme Tactical objectives increased, massive and heavily armored enemies 36 medals (full completion), common, rare, and Super rare samples +100% Suicide Mission tactical objectives increased, massive and heavily armored enemies 21 medals (full completion), common, rare, and Super samples +150% Impossible Boosted enemy presence, operation modifiers, and heavily armored enemies 24 medals (full completion), common, rare, and Super samples +200% Helldive 29 medals (full completion), common, rare, and Super samples 33 medals (full completion), rare, common and Super samples +250% Super Helldive Boosted enemy presence, operation modifiers and Mega Nest/Fortresses – with more Elite and Heavy spawns 36 medals (full completion), common, rare and Super rare samples +300% While higher difficulties offer increased reward (and the rarity of the said reward), they are quite a fair bit more painful to deal with. Higher difficulties can be quite rewarding | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios Most players would find it in their best interests to play through missions in the Trivial and Easy modes first, in order to get used to the terrain and general enemy formations. Super Helldive is no joke though, and players are recommended to be prepared when attempting quests at this difficulty. How to change difficulty in Helldivers 2 Helldivers 2 lets players adjust the in-game difficulty | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios Here are the steps you need to follow when changing difficulties in Helldivers 2: Log in to Helldivers 2, and head to the main user interface. Interact with the Galactic War Table. A difficulty bar can be found at the bottom central part of the UI – click on it. Choose between the listed difficulty levels, and confirm your selection. Swap between difficulty levels using the L!/R1 or LB/RB buttons for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S respectively. Those on PC can use the Q and E buttons instead. Keep in mind that you must have completed a mission in the previous difficulty in order to advance to the next one. Source link #Difficulty #Levels #Helldivers #Change Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force drop second straight game as Waratahs hand out a 34-10 thrashing Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force drop second straight game as Waratahs hand out a 34-10 thrashing Western Force have been brought crashing back to earth as they lost their second-straight Super Rugby Pacific match, falling 34-10 to the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium. Source link #Super #Rugby #Pacific #Western #Force #drop #straight #game #Waratahs #hand #thrashing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A Painter Whose Work Is Never Finished A Painter Whose Work Is Never Finished The day before Janiva Ellis’s exhibition opened in Cambridge, Mass., on Jan. 31, most of her paintings weren’t done. Most of them still aren’t. In fact, that’s intentional: The 14 pieces gathered for “Fear Corroded Ape,” on view at the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts through April 6, had been knocking around her studio in New York, unfinished for years, at least one since 2019. She had continued to push and pull the pigments, scraping away with solvent and rags. She layered in mythological figures and biblical torments, fractal architecture and cavernous vaults in the desaturated hues of a Renaissance sketch. Faces piled on faces. “Some of them are done,” she said. “Some of them are actually not done. Some of them are not done, but I’ll never work on them again.” It’s hard to tell the difference. Ellis interweaves styles and references with internet-brained liquidity. Formally, her canvases are belabored yet raw, even the finished ones. “A lot of the lights in my paintings are just pulling the paint back so that the canvas can create the white,” she said, which suggests “an ethereal glow from within.” The show’s premise came to her spontaneously, Ellis said. But as the idea developed, she realized, “I want to be vulnerable.” She liked that her works in progress would hang in the same building where Harvard painting students hone their craft. She thought such an exhibition might undermine art’s traditional emphasis on mastery. Ellis, 37, had her first solo show in 2017. That exhibition, “Lick Shot” at 47 Canal gallery in Manhattan, began her career in earnest. People buzzed about her torrential, fractured way of building cartoonish figures, and the simmering threat in her Day-Glo landscapes and interiors that recall the psychedelic satire of Robert Colescott or Peter Saul. Invitations to the 2018 New Museum Triennial and the 2019 Whitney Biennial quickly followed. Her hypercolor panorama “Uh Oh, Look Who Got Wet” was a Biennial highlight. The charged composition features a rubbery figure carrying another through a river under ominous cherry skies, while a reclining nude dissolves in the foreground. “The ambiguity is one of the most important parts of the painting,” said Rujeko Hockley, a curator of the Biennial. “Is it a person holding a baby? The baby is kind of a cartoon. It’s real but not real.” Hockley praised Ellis’s knack for packing her images with foreboding and tension. Stephanie Seidel, a curator of Ellis’s first institutional solo show, in 2021, at the ICA Miami, said that the painter, “in addressing sociopolitical questions, of course, surrounding Blackness and structural racism, remains an incredibly important voice.” Ellis and I spoke in New York at Dimes, a restaurant near her Chinatown studio that gives the downtown micro-scene Dimes Square its name. Ellis, who has silver piercings and linework tattoos, is laid-back and incisive — and, when discussing her work, both circumspect and open. Ruin and Potential Ellis was born in Oakland, Calif., and raised by her mother in Hawaii. “It’s really physical. It’s really energetically vibrating,” she said. Kauai, where she lived from age 10 to 16, “is primarily developed on the perimeter, and then the center is a canyon and a rainforest.” After graduating from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco in 2012, she spent time in Hawaii, New York and Los Angeles. Ellis turns down most group shows, she told me. Sometimes the theme seems thin or exploitative. Or she might see interesting connections in a proposal but not what her work would contribute. That’s how she met Dan Byers, who originated her Carpenter show when he was the director there (he’s now a curator at the Williams College Museum of Art). He reached out in 2019 about an exhibition of figurative painting. Ellis responded with “a really thoughtful set of reasons why it wasn’t the right context” for her work, he said. But they kept talking and doing studio visits. Their dialogue convinced Ellis that the Carpenter would be a supportive place to experiment, and exhibit raw ideas. One untitled painting at the Carpenter is inspired by her grandfather John H. Beyer, an architect who has helped restore historic gems including Grand Central Terminal and the Clock Tower at 346 Broadway. He was studying at Harvard while the Carpenter, designed by Le Corbusier, was under construction. Ellis’s canvas, a labyrinthine jumble of pencil marks, sea foam washes and scratchy diagonals, hangs in a hallway within view of the Carpenter’s painting studios, rhyming with the building’s lines. The painting, itself left under construction, is emblematic of the exhibition, and of the way Ellis assembles space in her recent works. The paintings imply both ruin and potential, like the strangely decayed pastoral cottage in “Impressions in Spring,” which she said isn’t and won’t be finished; or the gothic arches above a Minotaur in “Whimsy.” (“That one’s done,” she said. “Someone bought it. I guess I’m legally not allowed to touch it.”) ‘Optimistic and Sensual’ There’s one unfinished painting in Ellis’s studio that she isn’t ready to show. It’s a larger-than-life portrait of Surya Bonaly, a ****** figure skater known for explosive back flips. “She was my hero when I was a kid,” Ellis said. “She was clearly a really good skater, but her talent was used against her.” Her signature move wasn’t considered valid in competition. Ellis made the Bonaly painting for her 2021 exhibition at the ICA Miami in a studio she had set up in Miami shortly before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Then she decided not to show it, wary of how her work might be tokenized. She recalled noticing that her debut in 2017 coincided with several exhibitions by ****** women. The trend intensified in 2020 after George Floyd’s ******* and the rise of the ****** Lives Matter movement. Rizvana Bradley, an art historian who will join Ellis in a public conversation in early April, told me that art discourse often “couples identity and resistance when it comes to discussing work made by ****** artists.” In other words, galleries and curators see exhibiting work by people of color as a form of social justice in itself. But Ellis’s complex, atmospheric paintings “strain against fixing any kind of subject in place,” she said, challenging narrow reads of the work as simply about the artist’s identity. Ellis’s ICA Miami show was a turning point, both stylistically and in terms of her attitude toward institutions. It left her feeling trapped and flattened. The show explored angst — an emotional register that, she observes, almost always has a white face. She painted crucifixion scenes, indulged nü metal and grunge vibes, and tried on abstract expressionist swaths. The electric strokes of her previous canvases tumbled into the sepia hues of rubble and rust. Ellis described feeling pressure from the ICA to explain her work, especially in terms of race. “There was very little faith in the audience,” she told me. “There was language around framing the show that was like: This is about the paradox of being a ****** woman.” When I mentioned a jagged little painting at the Carpenter titled “Rat Hands,” Ellis lit up. “That one I made in Miami,” she said. “I was feeling frustrated. And I was like, what if this whole show is just paintings of rats?” She didn’t go through with it, or include the painting. But she did title the show “Rats.” Inevitably, Ellis said, she paints with the perspective of a ****** woman in America, but her work is “not about ****** identity as something that can be quantified or qualified. That’s not the subject any more than paint or music or existentialism.” Ellis said one of her central questions is *******: “How do we not subjugate ourselves as human beings?” At the Carpenter, the painting “Gay Orpheus,” with its brash title and swirls of thorns, pokes fun at reductive labels. Tropes from Greek mythology reappear in her paintings, Ellis said, for their “cheesiness,” but also their “undying relevance.” Maybe the reference in her painting is also to “****** Orpheus,” an art house film from 1959. Or maybe that’s the sort of interpretive leap she is satirizing. Maybe it’s both. A shelf at the Carpenter displays a handful of books by ****** writers that resonate with Ellis’s show — Fred Moten, Hortense J. Spillers. Another paperback sticks out: a glaring red edition of “Atlas Shrugged,” Ayn Rand’s tale of white male genius and inflexible selfishness. Ellis said she listened to Rand’s novel while painting the work for “StackedPlot,” her show at 47 Canal last fall. (One of those paintings, “20-24,” is also at the Carpenter.) The ruthless individualism Rand promoted, the opposite of the communalism Ellis values in art, nightlife and music, has found traction with alt right political figures. The painter said she feels secure enough to explore ideas she disagrees with. These influences add tones of menace to her work’s mix. “Fear Corroded Ape,” the Carpenter show’s title, is snipped from a monologue in “Atlas Shrugged.” It has the cubist quality of Ellis’s paintings, shifting between angles and viewpoints, at once poetic and commanding. That’s where Ellis is right now. “I’m feeling, like, optimistic and sensual, and I want to reflect that,” she said. “Maybe just try it. Try it out. Figure it out. And then explode the things I’ve learned.” Janiva Ellis: Fear Corroded Ape Through April 6. Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, 24 Quincy Street, Cambridge, Mass.; 617-496-5387, carpenter.center. Source link #Painter #Work #Finished Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 Reasons Tech Investors Shouldn’t Worry Too Much About Tumbling Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks This Week 3 Reasons Tech Investors Shouldn’t Worry Too Much About Tumbling Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks This Week Technology investors had gotten used to a good thing — positive momentum that seemed unstoppable. Giants in the industry led the Nasdaq to two years of double-digit gains — and the individual stocks themselves offered shareholders mind-boggling returns. For example, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), the world’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) chip designer, saw its stock surge 1,600% over the past five years, and Palantir Technologies, an AI-driven software player, advanced more than 800% since its 2020 market debut. And that’s just to mention two of the standout players. Many others also generated great gains for investors. Why such outstanding performance? Investors piled into these stocks on optimism about the future of AI, a technology that could join others like electricity or the internet on the list of “game changers.” That’s because AI offers the potential to save time, energy, and costs for companies — and even lead to new discoveries. In recent weeks, though, various headwinds weighed on stocks in this dynamic field. Investors worried about U.S. export controls on chips to China, the U.S. implementation of tariffs to three major trade partners, and general uncertainty about the economy. All of this has led the Nasdaq to a decline of more than 7% over the past two weeks as some of its biggest members tumbled. But before you turn your back on the tech sector, hold on. Here are three reasons tech investors shouldn’t worry too much about the recent declines in AI stocks. Image source: Getty Images. As mentioned, one major theme weighing on the market is President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada and a 20% tariff on imports from China. Tech companies produce many of their parts and products outside of the U.S., meaning they could soon face higher prices. The White House says the tariffs are in response to a flow of lethal drugs into the U.S. and noted that the move was “until the crisis is alleviated.” We don’t yet know how long the current trade war will last, but this is an initial sign that the tariffs are temporary. So, yes, the tariffs represent a challenge today, but some of the world’s biggest and highly profitable tech players such as Nvidia or Apple should be able to manage these times — and succeed over the long term. As for export controls on chips to China, these may not be temporary, but they might be manageable. Implemented in 2022, they already have reduced Nvidia’s sales in that country by half compared to pre-control days, but Nvidia still delivered worldwide triple-digit growth to $130 billion, a record, in the latest fiscal year, showing the problem hasn’t been disastrous for earnings. Story Continues Of course, before investing in a chip player, it’s important to see exactly how dependent the company is on China. But if, like Nvidia, it’s growing significantly through sales in other parts of the world, the player still may make a great investment. Though the AI ***** has already delivered billions of dollars in revenue to companies such as Amazon, Alphabet, and, of course, Nvidia, we actually are in the early days of this hot technology’s story. Today’s $200 billion AI market is expected to reach beyond $1 trillion by the end of the decade, which offers AI giants a lot of room for growth. It’s also important to remember we’re still in the infrastructure build-out stage, with cloud service providers expanding data centers to meet demand and customers launching new AI programs. But at the same time, we’re advancing into another key growth stage involving the application of AI to real world problems. Here, AI agents, or software designed to solve a complex problem and put a solution into action, are ready to go to work at certain companies, streamlining their operations and boosting revenue. For example, in a call center, an AI agent may handle initial queries and questions. Providers of chips to power and design these agents and companies using them both should benefit from growth as this phase develops. All of this means the AI opportunity is far from over, and many companies should continue generating significant revenue growth. The positive signs, indicating investment and growth, have been piling up in recent weeks. Meta Platforms said it plans to invest as much as $65 billion this year to support its AI initiatives. The company aims to build a data center that’s so big it would cover a major part of Manhattan, and Meta will end the year with more than 1.3 million graphics processing units (GPUs), or chips to power AI. OpenAI earlier this year announced the Stargate Project, a project aimed at investing $500 billion over the coming four years to build out the AI infrastructure in the U.S. And Nvidia recently said demand for its new Blackwell architecture was “extraordinary,” and the platform generated $11 billion in revenue in its first quarter of commercialization. These are just a few examples, but they reflect the general AI scene where investment and development continue at a fast pace and high level. As shown by the Blackwell revenue figure and through multibillion-dollar revenue at Alphabet and Amazon’s cloud businesses, AI investments are bearing fruit. This and the above two points mean now may not be the time to turn away from AI investing but instead to jump in and buy on the dip. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $286,710!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $44,617!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $488,792!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. Continue » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 3, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Adria Cimino has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Reasons Tech Investors Shouldn’t Worry Too Much About Tumbling Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks This Week was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Reasons #Tech #Investors #Shouldnt #Worry #Tumbling #Artificial #Intelligence #Stocks #Week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Fifa World Cup 2026: Donald Trump says co-host tensions will make tournament ‘more exciting’ Fifa World Cup 2026: Donald Trump says co-host tensions will make tournament ‘more exciting’ Trump was speaking alongside Fifa president Gianni Infantino at the signing of an executive order to establish a taskforce that will oversee preparations for the tournament. Trump will chair the task force, which will “co-ordinate with federal agencies in planning, organising and executing” the tournament. Forty-eight teams will compete in the expanded World Cup in 2026. Eleven of the 16 host cities are in the United States, with Toronto and Vancouver in Canada also set to stage matches, as will Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico. Azteca Stadium in Mexico City will host the opening match on 11 June with the final being played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July. The United States will also host the 2025 Club World Cup in June and July. Source link #Fifa #World #Cup #Donald #Trump #cohost #tensions #tournament #exciting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

My Day With J. Lo My Day With J. Lo I was gazing into J. Lo’s brown eyes. We were inches away from each other, locked in an even gaze, her face tilted up slightly toward mine. I could smell her hair spray. Then the director called, “Cut!” It was the summer of 2016, and I was acting in an episode of an NBC crime drama called “Shades of Blue.” I use the term “acting” loosely because I had exactly one line. I had never watched “Shades of Blue” before I tried out for it. All I knew was that it was a cop show set in New York City starring Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta. To be honest, I thought of the role as a potential stopgap at a time when I was in a figuring-things-out phase of my life. Although I had appeared on a soap opera years earlier, since its cancellation I had mostly checked out of the audition circuit. The audition was held in an office building in Midtown. The casting director, Rob, had me read for three roles: “F.B.I. Commander,” “Bailiff” and (horrifyingly) “Old Cop.” Before I left, Rob told me: “Look, if you get one of these, just be cool, OK? Be cool.” There were no callbacks. I was hired for the part of “Bailiff.” My duties consisted of asking a character named Harlee, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” Once I got the part, I Googled “Harlee on ‘Shades of Blue’” and gasped. Harlee was played by Jennifer Lopez. This sent my imagination off the deep end, as I briefly entertained the notion of bonding with Jenny from the Block. I thought of all the things I could say to her: You were terrific in “Selena.” I cried at the end of “Maid in Manhattan.” You never should have been with Marc Anthony anyway! Then I stopped myself. I was hired for a job. I was a professional. I was going to be cool. Besides, even small TV jobs were hard to get, and I was determined not to mess this one up. The shoot took place at the Bronx County Courthouse. When I got there, I put on my assigned uniform and was ushered into a courtroom for rehearsal. I met the actor playing the judge and a young woman who was Ms. Lopez’s stand-in. Before I could ask her name, I was distracted by the props guy, who pulled me aside and pinned a badge on my uniform. Then he handed me a ******, and the director called, “Places!” I returned to my spot in front of the courtroom. A buzz swept through the background actors playing spectators in the courtroom. In a moment, I was face to face with my scene partner. She smiled, extended her hand and said, “Hi, I’m Jennifer.” I nodded and shook her hand. I felt like an ******, because I couldn’t verbalize a simple greeting. Then the director started rehearsal. I held out the ****** and we did a run-through. The star of the scene was not me or even Ms. Lopez. It was her left hand, which she placed on the ******. This gesture had its own close-up, and the director spent much time making sure he got the shot. “Raul, can you raise the ******? Great. Now, er, Raul, can you lower it a bit? Great.” Again and again, a woman tended to J. Lo, applying makeup, lotion and a nail spray. My hand was perspiring, and my arm was cramping from holding the ****** in place. We spent well over an hour on this shot. Perhaps because she had heard the director shouting my name from across the set, Ms. Lopez glanced at my name tag, which read “Smith.” “Oh, that’s not you, right?” she asked with a laugh. I shook my head. I still wanted to introduce myself, or speak actual words like a normal person, but I couldn’t. “Ha-ha, that’s funny,” she said. Then a small army of hair and makeup personnel helped get her camera-ready. They fussed over her, like bees swarming a hive. She had one makeup artist whose sole responsibility seemed to be her lashes. During a break, a young production assistant mentioned that the day was going well, because there were no fans or paparazzi lurking outside the courthouse. “We don’t list Jennifer on the call sheet,” she said, “because it might get leaked, and then we have to shoo off these weirdos.” At lunchtime, the cast and crew ate in the courthouse basement. Although the atmosphere was convivial, I was annoyed at myself for having been so flustered in J. Lo’s presence. I was fine once the cameras were rolling. It was only when I had to engage as a real person that I was inept. I resolved to be cool around her in the afternoon. After lunch, we continued the courtroom scene, where Harlee took the stand and was cross-examined by a handsome prosecutor. Their dialogue crackled. Envious of their rapport, for a second I wished I had his part. Later, as the cameras were being repositioned, Ms. Lopez, the actor playing the judge and I sat down on canvas chairs in a nearby hallway. The judge asked J. Lo for a selfie, and she obliged. I pulled out my book. Next to me, Jennifer was texting and conferring with an assistant. It was warm in the hallway, because the building’s air-conditioning had been shut off for shooting. I tugged at my collar. Jennifer looked over and asked, “What are you reading?” Once again unable to speak, I held out the book, showing the title. “Nice!” she said. Right then, I could’ve punched myself. I was probably one of the few people she had encountered who acted aloof with her. What was wrong with me? As I was leaving at the end of the day, I passed her and her assistant as they were walking back to their trailer. “Thank you,” I managed to say. “Bye!” she said. When the episode aired, it was titled “Eye of the Hurricane.” The courtroom scene was interspersed with steamy shots of Harlee in bed with the handsome prosecutor. I was only briefly on camera, in a single wide shot. My line was practically a voice-over. J. Lo’s hand looked great. Raul A. Reyes is a contributor to NBC Latino and CNN Opinion. Source link #Day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Book Review: ‘Stag Dance: A Novel and Stories,’ by Torrey Peters Book Review: ‘Stag Dance: A Novel and Stories,’ by Torrey Peters STAG DANCE: A Novel and Stories, by Torrey Peters In an 1817 letter to his brothers, the poet John Keats defined the concept of negative capability as “when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason.” This is a quintessential trait of a great writer, who must know everything but create characters who know nothing, or only the wrong things, or different things on different pages. In her discomforting new collection, “Stag Dance,” Torrey Peters excels at this particular kind of unknowing. Hopscotching through genres and decades, Peters, across three short stories and a novella, summons up characters whose ideas about sex, gender and sexuality exist beyond (or before, or to the side of) our current orthodoxies. Set in the early 1900s, the titular novella explores what happens when a restless winter camp of “timber pirates” decides to throw a gender-bending soiree. Any man can declare himself a “skooch” for the night and be courted by the others, but when the biggest, ugliest lumberjack, ***** Bunyan, steps up first, it upsets the camp’s surprisingly fragile hierarchy of manhood. ***** Bunyan knows the other men expect (and even want) Lisen, the youngest, slightest, most feminine axman to take the role of skooch. Bunyan’s own desires are unclear even to him. He wants to play the skooch, and he wants the men to court him, but more than anything, Bunyan wants Lisen to recognize that they are the same in some essential way that he can’t define. Plaintively, he wonders, “How do you beg when you don’t even know the words to beg with?” When this desire for sisterhood gets thwarted, the stag dance becomes a violent competition. “We were rivals,” Bunyan reflects of his new dynamic with Lisen. That, in a way, is his dream achieved. Because “to be rivals is to be something the same.” Source link #Book #Review #Stag #Dance #Stories #Torrey #Peters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Freeze on Aid to Nuclear Inspectors Undercuts His Iran Policy Trump Freeze on Aid to Nuclear Inspectors Undercuts His Iran Policy Starting in late January, President Trump suspended two programs that provide American aid to international nuclear inspectors, potentially undermining his own goal of preventing Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal. Though one of the programs has since been restored, the outcome of the actions has been to weaken confidence in an effort that for decades has exposed Iran’s strides toward the production of nuclear weapons. Some experts now worry that the disruptions will scare away talented professionals from the field of nuclear nonproliferation and hinder the global fight against the spread of nuclear arms. Overall, the freezes have thrown uncertainty and confusion into programs that have had bipartisan support for decades. And now, for the first time, the people relying on global teamwork have to contend with the possibility that other vital collaborations may be discontinued or come under fire. “These are disastrous policies,” said Terry C. Wallace Jr., a former director of Los Alamos nuclear laboratory in New Mexico. “They go against science and partnerships that lift a nation.” The specific pauses in aid, and their partial reversals, were described by current and former U.S. government nuclear experts who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The inspection unit of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is part of the United Nations and based in Vienna, has long received aid from Washington to help it block, counter and respond to a wide range of global nuclear threats. Recently, at four sites in Iran, the team’s sleuths found traces of highly processed uranium, raising new questions around whether Tehran harbors a clandestine nuclear program to make atomic bombs. Hours after taking office, Mr. Trump signed an executive order that halted U.S. foreign aid programs for a 90-day assessment that could lead to their restructuring or termination. Most notably, the freeze has upended humanitarian programs that fight disease and hunger in developing countries. But the U.S. government nuclear experts said the president’s order also suspended aid from Energy Department labs that support the I.A.E.A. inspector corps. The two frozen programs recruit atomic inspectors, train them, supply them with equipment, teach them advanced methods of environmental sampling and use sophisticated lab devices to examine the samples they gather for clues. Overall, the two programs act as intermediaries. They connect the Vienna detectives, who inspect nuclear sites around the globe as part of the I.A.E.A’s Department of Safeguards, to America’s network of nuclear labs, including Los Alamos. In essence, they direct world-class expertise and technical aid to Vienna — or did until Mr. Trump cut off foreign aid. Both American programs, though located at Energy Department labs, are funded by the State Department. The I.A.E.A. declined to comment on the aid interruptions, as did federal officials. In a statement, the State Department said the Trump administration makes U.S. national security a top priority. “For that reason,” it added, “certain U.S. assistance to programs that support International Atomic Energy Agency efforts and capabilities to inspect nuclear facilities worldwide, including in Iran, are continuing. The work of the I.A.E.A. makes America and the world safer.” The statement said nothing about the atomic freezes and seemed to imply that some aid programs would be discontinued. On Thursday, Wired magazine reported that the Pentagon was considering parallel moves. The magazine said documents it obtained showed that the Defense Department was weighing whether to slash the number of U.S. programs that work with global partners to curb the spread of chemical, biological and nuclear arms. Countering Iran’s nuclear advances is among the Trump administration’s top foreign policy objectives. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during his confirmation hearing in January that a nuclear-armed Iran “cannot be allowed under any circumstances.” It’s unclear whether administration officials understand the depth of the relationship between the United States and the I.A.E.A. American aid helps the Vienna agency develop its inspector corps, whose staff, in turn, can go where American government experts may be unwelcome. The inspectors have exposed Iran’s hidden nuclear progress and helped the Eastern European nation of Moldova seize an illicit shipment of highly enriched uranium, which can fuel atomic bombs. It’s a two-way street. In addition, the nuclear aid helps place American citizens in jobs at the Vienna agency. By statute, the I.A.E.A. promotes the peaceful uses of atomic energy, including nuclear reactors that light cities. It also has the responsibility to prevent those activities from being used surreptitiously to build atomic bombs. U.S. programs that counter the global spread of weapons of mass destruction have grown steadily into a vast federal enterprise. The top players now include the departments of State, Energy, Defense and Homeland Security as well as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which trains people from more than 50 countries. The programs have helped build supersensitive radiation detectors and promote the fight against atomic theft and sabotage. For this fiscal year alone, the National Nuclear Security Administration, an arm of the Energy Department, laid out a detailed plan to spend $2.5 billion on nuclear nonproliferation. “These programs enhance U.S. security,” said Laura Holgate, a former American ambassador to the I.A.E.A. and a top adviser to President Barack Obama on nuclear terrorism. She added: “This is not charity. It’s in our self-interest.” In recent decades, many Republicans have railed against the global nonproliferation apparatus, calling it bloated and ineffective. In April 2020, during his first presidential term, Mr. Trump proposed a budget that would have slashed funding for the Pentagon’s flagship effort to counter the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Early in 2023, the Heritage Foundation published its “Mandate for Leadership,” a force behind its Project 2025 that many Trump loyalists helped write. The document called on the next administration to “end ineffective and counterproductive nonproliferation activities like those involving Iran and the United Nations.” Mr. Trump’s executive order that halted U.S. foreign aid, signed on Jan. 20, made no direct mention of foreign nuclear aid suspension. And since then, with one exception, no lab directors or federal officials have alluded publicly to the freeze. In late January, the freeze hit the recruiting program, which is based at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island. Its International Safeguards Project Office not only signs up Americans to work as inspectors or associated personnel for the I.A.E.A., but also trains inspectors of all nationalities. In addition, the program draws on the national lab network to devise inspection gear. Early on, it designed a hand-held device that became an I.A.E.A. favorite. On Feb. 12, Kimberly Budil, director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, referred to the Brookhaven freeze in a House hearing. She said a nonproliferation program in her lab set up through Brookhaven had been suspended pending Trump administration review. “This is about a $1 million effort,” Dr. Budil told a House subcommittee on energy. “We don’t know if it will be restarted.” The press affairs office at the Livermore lab gave no substantive answers to repeated queries for details on the suspended aid. As for the Brookhaven suspension, the lab’s office of press affairs; Raymond Diaz, the head of the lab’s International Safeguards Project Office; and the Energy Department declined to comment. The second American program upended by the freeze is run by Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. Unlike Brookhaven, it specializes in the use of sophisticated lab equipment to analyze swabs collected by I.A.E.A. inspectors for invisible traces of nuclear materials and readings that might point to illicit atomic work. The Oak Ridge program is the U.S. intermediary for what the I.A.E.A. calls its Network of Analytical Laboratories, which it relies on to double-check and confirm its findings. Brian W. Ticknor, who runs the Oak Ridge program, declined to comment on the freeze, directing all questions to the State Department. The current and former government nuclear experts said that the State Department reinstated the entire Oak Ridge lab program in late February. Similarly, they added, the Brookhaven program received a few waivers to resume work on specific efforts related to Iran, but most of its work and funding for other global nonproliferation programs remain on hold. The experts said they expected that in the coming weeks, the full Brookhaven program would be unblocked. The current holdup at the State Department for approval of that step, they said, was now administrative rather than substantive. The freeze reversals, they added, were rooted in Trump administration officials’ coming to see the importance of the I.A.E.A. in monitoring Iran’s secretive moves to make atomic bombs. Source link #Trump #Freeze #Aid #Nuclear #Inspectors #Undercuts #Iran #Policy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WA election 2025: Voters cast their ballots as pre-polling trend hits democracy sausage WA election 2025: Voters cast their ballots as pre-polling trend hits democracy sausage As punters filtered through the hundreds of polling booths across the State, there was one question on everyone’s lips: Has pre-polling killed the democracy sausage? Source link #election #Voters #cast #ballots #prepolling #trend #hits #democracy #sausage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]