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‘Nasal tanners left me suffocating in hospital’ ‘Nasal tanners left me suffocating in hospital’ William Higgens BBC North West Investigations BBC Edith Eagle began using the tanners ahead of a holiday in Fuerteventura A woman has told how she was left in hospital “unable to breathe” after suffering a severe reaction to an unlicensed nasal tanning spray she bought online. Edith Eagle said she felt like she was “suffocating” and “drowning inside her own body” after the allergic collapse she believes was linked to the product. Nasal tanners are designed to be sprayed into the nostrils and claim to work by administering a substance known as Melanotan II, a chemical that darkens skin pigmentation. It is ******** to sell medicinal products containing Melanotan II in the *** but as the tanners are sold cosmetically they fall outside that remit. However, they are not covered by *** cosmetics regulations, meaning they are not subjected to the same scrutiny as other over-the-counter beauty products. Experts have said they have not been fully researched and could contain toxic ingredients. Edith Eagle Ms Eagle suffered a severe reaction she believes was linked to a nasal tanner Ms Eagle said she purchased tanners online believing they would give her a quick and easy bronzed look ahead of a planned holiday to Fuerteventura in April 2023. They had been recommended to her by someone she knew, but she said she did not realise they were unlicensed and unregulated. The 47-year-old, from King’s Lynn in Norfolk, inhaled the spray twice a day, believing it would give her tan “time to build up before we actually get into the sunshine”. But on the second day of the trip she was rushed to hospital after the apparent allergic reaction spiralled. “I literally could not breathe,” she said. “And all what went through my mind was, will I even get to the hospital because I could not breathe. “I can’t even explain it, but I was suffocating inside. It was as if I was drowning within my own body.” The BBC managed to buy several unlicensed nasal spray products over the counter and online Ms Eagle said she became suspicious after her stepdaughter, who also used a tanner, spotted a Facebook post from someone who said they had also suffered a bad reaction. She told her hospital consultant, who asked where she had bought the tanner and what was in it. He also became suspicious, she said. “Of course, there was nothing on it apart from a pretty label on the front, no ingredients whatsoever. There was nothing, really, I could show him. And that was a frightening thing,” she said. “Once I was allowed to go back to the hotel the consultant said ‘Just remember next time, you may not be so lucky’.” ‘Side effects’ The products are promoted on social media and are readily available to buy online, while the BBC has also found beauty salons and tanning shops advertising them for *****. The BBC North West and North East Investigations team visited high street premises to see how easy they were to obtain. In Manchester and on Merseyside, a reporter managed to purchase several sprays from salons for between £20 and £25, sold with minimal instructions and no acknowledgment of any risks or dangers. Lecturer Stephen Childs said any unlicensed product comes with a host of risks In Newcastle, a staff member at a gym sold a reporter an “extreme strength spray” for £25, with verbal instructions to use it before taking a sun bed. Also on Merseyside, the BBC was able to buy a “quadruple strength” spray on offer for £20, with the reporter advised to use it morning and night. Tests at the University of Sunderland found Melanotan II present in varying strengths in six of the 10 samples the BBC had bought. Stephen Childs, a senior lecturer in pharmaceutical chemistry, said: “There’s a massive discrepancy in the amount of this drug in the products people are purchasing. “The higher the dosage, the more risks that are involved and more side effects are likely to be involved.” ******* risk fears He said the samples that did not contain the active ingredient were not necessarily safer as they could include other chemicals that “could be toxic”. “Any unlicensed product really comes with a whole host of dangers. There’s no safety data. There are no long-term studies as to the impact on people’s health,” Mr Childs added. Another concern is that nasal tanners are often promoted for use in conjunction with sessions on sunbeds to maximise their effectiveness as part of a tanning routine. ******* charities believe this could significantly increase the risk of developing skin *******. Kerry Rafferty started the Melanoma-Me charity Kerry Rafferty, who started charity Melanoma-Me after her own diagnosis, described the products as “skin ******* in a bottle”. “It’s absolutely terrifying, you’ve got these tanners that nobody really knows what’s in them and then they [could be] accelerated by the sunbed use, which we know causes melanoma, so it is a big worry,” she said. “I think that this could be one of the reasons that there is an increase in melanoma at the moment.” Data from North West ******* Research showed people in the north-west of England were 13% more likely to develop skin ******* than those in the rest of the country. Alastair Richards said the desire for a tan can lead to people using cosmetic products excessively Chief executive Alastair Richards said the desire for “that tanned look” can often lead people to resort to the excessive use of sunbeds and products like nasal tanners. He said the true effects of using such products might not be clear for years and could pose an increasing risk of *******, including among younger people. “Many of these products are aimed at young people, especially through social media,” he said. “The real danger is that while they might not experience harmful effects now, in the long run they’ll be increasing their risk of skin *******.” None of the stores the BBC visited responded to our requests for comment As nasal tanners are not a medicinal product they do not have to be authorised, approved or registered by the MHRA before being sold. The government’s Department for Business and Trade said: “Nasal tanning sprays are not covered by *** cosmetic regulations and must therefore comply with the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. “This means that anyone selling this product, including online, must ensure they are safe before placing them on the market.” BBC News asked all the stores visited by reporters what steps they had taken to ensure their products met these regulation requirements. None of them have responded. Additional reporting by Colette Howe and Jessica Ure Source link #Nasal #tanners #left #suffocating #hospital Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brown at the double as Glory stun Western United 3-0 Brown at the double as Glory stun Western United 3-0 Perth Glory have earned a surprise 3-0 victory over Western United in the A-League Women, thanks to a Kelli Brown double and a penalty from Susan Phonsongkham. Source link #Brown #double #Glory #stun #Western #United Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Latest Marvel Rivals patch still hasn't fixed this major flaw Latest Marvel Rivals patch still hasn't fixed this major flaw NetEase just released another patch for Marvel Rivals, yet one major issue with the game hasn’t been yet addressed. Source link #Latest #Marvel #Rivals #patch #hasn039t #fixed #major #flaw Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chipmakers fall post earnings despite topping estimates Chipmakers fall post earnings despite topping estimates Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang delivering a keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada on Jan. 6, 2025. Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty Images More than two years into the generative artificial intelligence *****, Wall Street is setting an increasingly high bar for chipmakers. When it comes to earnings reports — most recently from Marvell Technology — good isn’t good enough. That’s because investors previously poured into the companies making the infrastructure and devices at the heart of the AI economy, bidding the stocks up to historically high levels. They’re demanding results. Marvell shares plummeted 20% on Thursday, their steepest slump since 2001, after guidance fell short of some elevated estimates. The company’s revenue forecast as well as its results for the latest quarter were all ahead of the average analyst estimate, according to LSEG, but Wall Street wanted more after the stock soared 83% in 2024. “While Marvell reported a small beat and raise, the guide was definitively below buyside expectations,” analysts at Cantor wrote in a report following the results. Nvidia suffered a similar fate in late February, with its stock dropping 8.5% the day after the leader in AI processors reported earnings and revenue that sailed past estimates. Shares of Advanced Micro Devices fell more than 6% earlier in February after beating expectations. The one troubling number for AMD was a miss in its data center business. Optical supplier Credo Technology plummeted 14% after earnings on Wednesday and another 10% during Thursday’s session despite triple-digit revenue growth and upbeat guidance. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF is down nearly 6% this week following last week’s 7% decline. The ETF, whose leading components are Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Broadcom, soared 72% in 2023 and nearly 39% last year. The challenge on Wall Street for chipmakers underscores the pressure they’re under as the AI buildout stretches into its fourth calendar year. Tariffs from the Trump administration and chip export controls have added to investor concerns. However, not all companies in the space are getting the same treatment. Broadcom shares lost 6% during Thursday’s session in the lead-up to quarterly earnings, but the stock popped 12% after hours on better-than-expected results, including strong infrastructure and semiconductor revenue. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #Chipmakers #fall #post #earnings #topping #estimates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WWE 2K25 Review – Game Rant WWE 2K25 Review – Game Rant Game Rant Writes “WWE 2K25 is a fantastic, fully-featured wrestling game that marks the best entry the series has seen in years.” Source link #WWE #2K25 #Review #Game #Rant Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** lawmaker proposes law to allow ******** companies to hide their foreign suppliers ******** lawmaker proposes law to allow ******** companies to hide their foreign suppliers According to a Bloomberg *** report, Guan Wenhui, a ******** lawmaker, has proposed a new rule under which government-backed firms will be able to keep their foreign suppliers secret. This would help these companies bypass U.S. trade restrictions (or rather for the U.S. and other governments to reveal ******** shipments), which have made it increasingly difficult for China to acquire advanced processors, software, and chip making tools. Guan, a delegate at the National People’s Congress, proposed that companies blacklisted by the U.S. should not be required to reveal their suppliers in public tenders. Instead, purchases should be conducted privately to avoid scrutiny. She argued that disclosing supplier identities could pressure them to cut ties with ******** buyers, limiting access to foreign technology. Guan works for a division of Naura Technology Group, a semiconductor equipment manufacturer that was added to the U.S. export blacklist in late 2024. Truth to be told, but ******** entities (both regular and blacklisted) already smuggle plenty of chips and equipment made in the U.S., Western Europe, and Japan from third countries despite restrictions imposed by foreign governments. In addition, they tend to find loopholes in the restrictions and obtain what they need legally. Another way to get chips to a restricted entity is to ask their developer to sell its chips on wafers to a proxy, then have them diced and packaged by a proxy, and then mark them as if it was designed and made by the restricted entity. The new law will make it harder for various analysts, observers, government agents, and whistleblowers to identify components or software shipped to blacklisted government-owned or government-controlled companies. However, it will hardly make their lives considerably easier in general. Nonetheless, Guan’s proposal highlights a larger trend: increasing secrecy in China’s technology sector. As foreign scrutiny grows, ******** companies and policymakers are making information about imports and even the progress made by domestic companies less accessible. This makes it harder (or impossible) for outsiders to follow the country’s technological advancements. Although proposals from NPC delegates do not always lead to policy changes, they signal important shifts in China’s ********** Party priorities. Guan’s comments indicate that China is actively seeking ways to maintain access to global technology while reducing exposure to U.S. sanctions. This approach, combined with a push for domestic innovation, suggests that China will continue to find ways to work around export restrictions in its ongoing tech competition with the U.S. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #******** #lawmaker #proposes #law #******** #companies #hide #foreign #suppliers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EU summit on Ukraine: Europe seems ready to spend on defense – DW (English) EU summit on Ukraine: Europe seems ready to spend on defense – DW (English) EU summit on Ukraine: Europe seems ready to spend on defense DW (English)Europe scrambles to rearm as Trump threatens security guarantees and Russian threat looms. Here’s what to know CNNEU leaders agree on defence surge, support Zelenskiy after US aid freeze ReutersSpooked by Trump and Putin, Europe rushes to rearm The Washington Post Source link #summit #Ukraine #Europe #ready #spend #defense #English Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple Music gives Britain’s monarch the aux Apple Music gives Britain’s monarch the aux It turns out everyone likes to share their music suggestions, even monarchs. Apple Music has announced a new show called The King’s Music Room, hosted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. Yes, we know you’ve been dying to discover the getting ready playlist he made for the coronation that cost taxpayers £72 million ($93 million). The show’s March 10 release coincides with Commonwealth Day and the playlist reportedly features artists from across continents — the release calls out artists such as Bob Marley, Kylie Minogue and Davido. “Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me,” King CharIes III states during the introduction. “It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories flooding back from the deepest recesses of our memory, to comfort us in times of sadness, and to take us to distant places. But perhaps, above all, it can lift our spirits to such a degree, and all the more so when it brings us together in celebration. In other words, it brings us joy.” He’ll also share his, sure to be fascinating, encounters with some of the musicians. If you’re dying to know what Britain’s longest heir apparent listened to over the years while waiting his turn then tune in to The King’s Music Room on Monday, March 10 at 6AM GMT. It will also air at additional times on Apple Music 1 and Apple Music Hits throughout music and Tuesday. Those looks into the King’s soul are free, though Apple Music subscribers can access it at anytime. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Source link #Apple #Music #Britains #monarch #aux Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Google Gemini wants to read your search history Google Gemini wants to read your search history Google Gemini encompasses many features, but until now, it has not requested access to your Google Search history. This changes with the introduction of the company’s new Gemini Personalization model. Android Authority discovered that this feature is part of the Google app beta (version 16.8.31). When you select the Gemini Personalization model, a confirmation pop-up will appear. If you grant permission, you allow Gemini to access your search history, which enables the chatbot to provide more relevant responses. To use this feature, you must ensure that your Web & App Activity setting is enabled. This experimental version of Gemini is not intended to help Google improve it, and you can disconnect the model from your search history at any time. During its limited tests, Android Authority confirmed that Gemini provided accurate results based on its Google Search history using the new model. However, it also stressed that issues can arise because the Gemini Personalization model is experimental. Screenshots of Gemini Personalization model Android Authority Google has not provided additional details about the new model or announced when it will be available to the public. It may go live later today with the scheduled update for Gemini Advanced users. Like other large language models, Gemini is trained on an extensive dataset comprising text and code. Consequently, it relies on vast information, including search results, to enhance its performance. However, until now, Gemini has not sought permission to access personalized search results to improve its functionality on an individual user basis. It will be interesting to see how users of Gemini Advanced react to the Gemini Personalization model. As an Advanced user myself, I intend to take the opportunity to test it out. However, this will likely raise further questions about AI and privacy. I hope this tool remains an option rather than being integrated into Gemini as a standard feature. Only time will tell. Source link #Google #Gemini #read #search #history Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Palantir Bears Sell the Headlines—Time for Bulls to Buy? Palantir Bears Sell the Headlines—Time for Bulls to Buy? Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:) continues to sell off. On March 6, PLTR stock fell over 10% on nearly double the daily volume, bringing its 30-day decline to over 27%. A drop exceeding 20% places the polarizing stock in a bear market. If the stock were to drop another 5% or so, it would “round trip” its gains in 2025. That happens when the stock price climbs but then falls back to its prior level. Investors never like to see that, but it hasn’t been unusual to see some of the leading technology stocks trade lower in 2025. Alphabet (NASDAQ:) has given up all the gains it’s made since it began to rally in late November. Apple (NASDAQ:) is down nearly 6% (5.86%) in 2025. And even NVIDIA (NASDAQ:) is down more than 12% this year. Despite the drop, Palantir is still trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 290.74 and a price-to-sales of 73.77. That continues to be expensive by any measure. That excessive valuation is why PLTR stock may have to drop further, particularly since the company won’t report earnings until the beginning of May. But it’s not like the company has delivered bad news. In fact, it’s been quite the opposite. Now that bears have sold the headlines, investors who aren’t involved with Palantir will want to see if the bears jump in to buy the actual news. Palantir Had a Good Week The irony of the selling pressure on Palantir stock is that the company has had a good week. Between March 4 and 6, it announced three new deals. March 4 – Palantir announced the successful deployment of its specialized technological solutions for international retail banking activities within the European bank, Societe Generale. March 5 – Palantir announced a joint venture with TWG Global in which the two companies will redefine AI deployment in banking, investment management, insurance, and other financial services. March 6 – Palantir Technologies Spain, SLU, announced a three-year strategic partnership with EYSA, a leader in comprehensive sustainable mobility solutions. EYSA is looking to integrate Palantir’s software to accelerate the development of mobility applications and use cases. That’s a lot of winning, and all the contracts were on the company’s commercial side. It also continues to show what Palantir chief executive officer Alex Karp has maintained: Large language models (LLMs) are becoming a commodity. However, both governments and corporations realize they need an operating system to make LLMs provide meaningful data. Palantir will almost always be on the short list of companies they consider. Two of the contracts are also in Europe. This could be significant because it gives Palantir a foot in the door to European governments at a time when many nations are at least lip service to increasing defense spending. But that didn’t stop institutional investors from selling the stock. The argument is that Palantir needs approximately 40 new contracts every quarter to justify its valuation. So, while three contracts are nice, the skeptics will say it’s insufficient. Short interest is down over the last 30 days, but the dollar volume being sold short is up about 250% year-over-year. Many Retail Investors Are Choosing to Sit This One Out Many investors have been anticipating a reality check for PLTR stock. However, most dedicated Palantir bulls remain unfazed by recent movements. Rather than engaging with bearish sentiment, many are opting to stay on the sidelines. With the stock still trading above $80, there’s little reason for concern. Many retail investors continue to hold gains of 400% or more. While the surge above $120 per share was rewarding, even the most optimistic shareholders expected a pullback. Those unprepared for volatility likely exited long before now. Things won’t start getting serious for these investors unless the stock drops into the $40s. But by that time, institutional investors will be flooding into the stock at its newly “cheap” price. Original Post Source link #Palantir #Bears #Sell #HeadlinesTime #Bulls #Buy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Price of first-class stamp to rise to £1.70 Price of first-class stamp to rise to £1.70 The cost of a first-class stamp will rise by 5p to £1.70 on 7 April, Royal Mail has announced. It will also raise the price of a second-class stamp by 2p to 87p on the same day. The company said the decision carefully considered “balancing affordability with the increasing cost of delivering mail”. Citizens Advice described the change as “yet another blow to consumers”, and said the change to the second class price was “unjust”. The number of letters Royal Mail delivers has fallen from a peak of 20 billion in 2004-05 to 6.6 billion last year. However, the price of stamps has continued to rise. Since 2022, Royal Mail has already hiked the cost of a first-class stamp five times from 85p to £1.65. The next increase, in April, was the result – it said – of delivering fewer letters to more addresses. “We always consider price changes very carefully but the cost of delivering mail continues to increase,” said Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail. “A complex and extensive network of trucks, planes and 85,000 posties is needed to ensure we can deliver across the country for just 87p.” But consumer advocate Citizens Advice said millions of people would be forced to pay more while also suffering from postal delays. “It’s unjust for Royal Mail to raise the price of a second-class stamp, while the regulator Ofcom looks at reducing second-class deliveries to alternate weekdays,” said Tom MacInnes, the charity’s director of policy. “As first-class stamps are becoming unaffordable, people could be forced by price pressures into choosing a slower service.” In January, regulator Ofcom proposed that Royal Mail should only deliver second-class letters every other weekday and not on Saturdays to protect the future of the ***’s postal industry. The one-price-goes-anywhere Universal Service Obligation (USO) means Royal Mail has to deliver post six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, and parcels on five from Monday to Friday. Ofcom has launched a consultation on the new proposals, which is open to the public until 10 April. A decision is expected in the summer. Royal Mail’s parent company is being sold to a business controlled by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky in a deal worth £3.6bn, after the Labour government approved the deal last year. The government will maintain a “golden share” which means Mr Kretinsky’s business will have to get approval for any changes to Royal Mail’s ownership, the location of its headquarters and its tax residency. Royal Mail must also adhere to the USO, which Mr Kretinsky has pledged he will do for “as long as I am alive”. Source link #Price #firstclass #stamp #rise Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘It would be seen as political’: why the Royal Society is torn over Elon Musk | Royal Society ‘It would be seen as political’: why the Royal Society is torn over Elon Musk | Royal Society It is a 365-year-old institution revered the world over, with past members including luminaries such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Dorothy Hodgkin. But now a row over a billionaire maverick has thrown the Royal Society into crisis, splintering the fellowship and raising existential questions about its role in society. A growing number of scientists have called for the academy to investigate the conduct of Elon Musk – who was elected a fellow in 2018 – resulting in a passionate debate at a meeting of the scientific body on Monday evening. Critics claim Musk’s behaviour has violated the Royal Society’s code, citing his incendiary comments about British politicians, his calls for the American doctor and scientist Anthony Fauci to be prosecuted, and his role in slashing research funding through his work with the so-called US “department of government efficiency” (Doge) – among other acts. Several fellows have even called openly for Musk to be ejected from the academy. “I think Elon Musk should be expelled from the British Royal Society,” the Nobel laureate and AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton wrote on X. “Not because he peddles conspiracy theories and makes Nazi salutes, but because of the huge damage he is doing to scientific institutions in the US. Now let’s see if he really believes in free speech.” Musk replied: “Only craven, insecure fools care about awards and memberships. History is the actual judge, always and forever. Your comments above are carelessly ignorant, cruel and false. That said, what specific actions require correction? I will make mistakes, but endeavor to fix them fast.” Perhaps it is just such a volte-face the Royal Society is banking on. Because despite private communcations, an open letter signed by more than 3,500 members of the scientific community, resignations by fellows and journal editors and Monday’s meeting, the academy has yet to comment on the tech entrepreneur. While Musk’s behaviour is very public, the Royal Society insists its handling of concerns remains confidential. Fellows have been instructed not to talk to the press while the academy itself has released only a broad statement after Monday’s meeting outlining fellows’ concerns about cuts to research funding in the US and the need for the society to step up its efforts to advocate for science and scientists. “The society agreed to look at potential further actions that might help make the case for science and scientific research and counter the misinformation and ideologically motivated attacks on both science and scientists,” the statement added. What form that might take is unclear. The Guardian understands a letter will be sent to Musk from the Royal Society (although its contents have yet to be decided) and – at present – no formal proceedings or investigations are under way. It is not the first time Musk has divided opinions among the fellowship. Not everyone was happy when he was proposed for election – an honour apparently bestowed for his work in fields including space travel and sustainable electric transportation. Becoming a fellow of the Royal Society is often seen as the pinnacle of a long research career. But Musk is a businessman, not an academic, and some argue that he is not himself an innovator. At the heart of the latest furore is whether Musk has violated the academy’s code of conduct, which includes the stipulation that fellows shall “not act or fail to act in any way which would undermine the Society’s mission or bring the Society into disrepute”. “I haven’t yet come across anybody who has made a clear argument that actually Elon Musk is not in contravention of the code of conduct,” said Stephen Curry, an emeritus professor of structural biology at Imperial College London, who – while not a fellow – wrote the open letter many fellows signed. Curry said rebuttals had focused on concerns about punishing people for their political views. “But I reject that completely,” he said. The Royal Society is based in Carlton House Terrace in central London. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images Prof Dorothy Bishop, a leading expert on children’s communication disorders, revealed that after she and other fellows initially raised concerns about Musk’s behaviour in the summer of 2024 and a lawyer for the academy determined Musk had not breached the code. The group subsequently set about gathering further evidence of breaches but for Bishop the situation became untenable. She resigned her fellowship in November. In February, another fellow, Prof Andrew Millar, followed suit. The Royal Society’s documents set out that if an investigation into allegations of misconduct is upheld, the matter would pass to the conduct committee, a hearing would take place, and – if misconduct is deemed to have occurred – sanctions would be applied, with expulsion among the options. Yet Bishop said no fellow has been ejected from the academy in more than 150 years. “It does suggest that the statutes are worded so that it is virtually impossible to do anything about fellows who breach the code of conduct,” she wrote in her resignation statement. One of the few fellows to be ejected was Rudolf Erich Raspe, who was booted out in 1775 after being charged with “divers frauds and gross breaches of trust”. Expelling Musk might bring new headaches, not least as he is not the only controversial fellow. In inviting fellows to Monday’s meeting, the academy’s president, Sir Adrian Smith,said: “The business of the society is the advancement of the cause of science through rigorous rational scientific debate and council considers that we are on difficult ground if the society makes judgments as to the acceptability of the views or affiliations of our colleagues.” Expelling Musk could also be politically difficult at a time of heightened tensions between the *** and US. Some in the scientific community are adamant science should not be politicised, and have argued revoking Musk’s fellowship could undermine trust in science. “In a nutshell, my argument is that the public trusts scientists more than politicians because it believes they are impartial and objective experts. Scientists who stray beyond the evidence and become campaigners or advocates for particular policies risk losing that trust,” Fiona Fox, a fellow of the Royal Society and chief executive of the Science Media Centre, wrote. “My worry is that ejecting Musk from the Royal Society would be seen as a political move.” Other scientists who have voiced support for Musk have argued that, despite his actions being reprehensible, Musk has made huge contributions to engineering. At present, the Royal Society insists “any issues raised in respect of individual fellows are dealt with in strict confidence”. But some fellows back public action suggesting that, regardless of whether they launch an investigation – something that is required to be confidential under the organisation’s rules – the Royal Society should release an open letter or public statement condemning Musk’s attack on science. Fundamentally, it seems, the Royal Society must decide, and explain, where its red lines lie – not only in theory, but in practice. Source link #political #Royal #Society #torn #Elon #Musk #Royal #Society Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Why You Should Start Over in 2025 Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Why You Should Start Over in 2025 DivineHand12571d ago (Edited 71d ago ) I think the Ocarina of Time was the better of the 2 Zelda games that came out on the N64. It was so good that I beat the game multiple times, unlocked all the hearts, found all the items including Biggoron’s sword. I also followed fake rumors about how to have link unlock all the Tri force on his palm but going back if that were possible, the story wouldn’t have made sense. I haven’t played Tears of the Kingdom yet, but I loved Breath of the Wild. I enjoyed it so much that I beat all the shrines, found all the dragons, maxed out my equipment’s, found all the fairies, defeated all the lynel and rode all the ridable mounts including the Blupee horse before taking on Ganon. Out of all the Zelda games I have played, I believe the Ocarina of Time and Breath of the wild should be in the top 3. If all the feedback is right about Tears of the Kingdom, then I believe those 3 games should be the top 3 Zelda games of all time. Those are also the games I would recommend to anyone that is interested in getting into the Zelda games though admittedly, I have not played the NES, SNES or the original Gameboy color Zelda games. Source link #Zelda #Tears #Kingdom #Start Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Three wanted over ******* of Scottish businessman Campbell Scott in Kenya Three wanted over ******* of Scottish businessman Campbell Scott in Kenya Kenya Directorate of Criminal Investigations Samuel Musembi Kamitu, left, Benard Mbunga Mbusu, centre, and Alphonse Munyao Kilewa, right, are wanted by Kenyan police in connection with Mr Scott’s death Police in Kenya have named three men wanted in connection with the ******* of a Scottish businessman whose body was found in a sack of pineapples. Campbell Scott was found dead in a forest 60 miles (96.5km) from Nairobi after he went missing from his hotel on 16 February. The country’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has released images of the men, who they believe are linked to the “brutal *******” of the 58-year-old. They have been named as Benard Mbunga Mbusu, Samuel Musembi Kamitu and Alphonse Munyao Kilewa, also known as “Edu”. The DCI posted a statement on X asking for anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact them. Two other men appeared in court accused of using Mr Scott’s bank cards to withdraw money on Saturday. FICO Campbell Scott was found dead in a pineapple sack hidden in a forest in Kenya Mr Scott, from Dunfermline in Fife, was a senior director at the credit scoring firm Fico and had been attending a conference at the JW Marriott Hotel in Nairobi. He went missing after failing to meet colleagues to deliver a presentation having visited a nightclub. His body was found in Makongo Forest with his hands bound. A number of arrests have been made in connection with the investigation. Police initially arrested two men – a taxi driver and a nightclub waiter – who are believed to have been among the last to see him alive. Then on Saturday two other men were arrested in Mombasa, 301 miles (485km) from Nairobi on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast. Officers believe Mr Scott visited a house belonging to one of the men, where he was killed. They allege that the same man withdrew money from Mr Scott’s account at three different locations, working with the second suspect. A court in Nairobi agreed that police could hold the men for 21 days while the investigation into his death continues. A post-mortem examination into his death proved “inconclusive”. Pathologists said samples would be submitted for toxicology testing after it was determined the injuries sustained by Mr Scott were “too minor” to have caused his death. The DCI has asked Interpol to help track Mr Scott’s mobile phone and debit and credit card transactions. Source link #wanted #******* #Scottish #businessman #Campbell #Scott #Kenya Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Knights In Tight Spaces Is So Good It Almost Made My Bladder Explode Knights In Tight Spaces Is So Good It Almost Made My Bladder Explode “Knights in Tight Spaces (KITS) is the latest release from Bristol indie developers Ground Shatter, alongside publishers Raw Fury. Like its predecessor, KITS is a turn-based tactical deckbuilder, but this time with a high fantasy setting.” Mike @ Thumb Culture Source link #Knights #Tight #Spaces #Good #Bladder #Explode Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Watch this AI-driven Maserati go insanely fast for new speed record Watch this AI-driven Maserati go insanely fast for new speed record An empty Maserati MC20 driven by an AI system recently set a new speed record for an autonomous vehicle, reaching a blistering 197.7 mph (318 kph) at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Footage of the achievement (above) shows the self-driving Maserati MC20 hurtling down the runway once used for Space Shuttle landings, with the speedometer gradually ticking all the way up to the record-breaking speed. The feat — the result of a partnership between the Indy Autonomous Challenge, science-tech university Politecnico di Milano, Maserati, and the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida — surpassed the previous record of 192.8 mph (310.3 kph) set at the Indy Autonomous Challenge in 2022. The Maserati used for the drive is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 621 horsepower, and was modified to run autonomously using AI driver software developed by the PoliMOVE-MSU team, which is part of the performance division of AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Driving Autonomous of Politecnico di Milano). “These world speed records are much more than just a showcase of future technology,” Paul Mitchell, the CEO of Indy Autonomous Challenge and Aidoptation BV, said afterwards. “We’re pushing AI-driver software and robotics hardware to the absolute edge. Doing so with a street car is helping transition the learnings of autonomous racing to enable safe, secure, sustainable, high-speed autonomous mobility on highways.” While the Maserati didn’t need to make any turns, stop for lights, or swerve around elderly pedestrians during its high-speed drive, any slight deviation at that speed would need to have been corrected immediately to avoid a catastrophic outcome, proving that the AI was clearly doing its job. While it’s fun to imagine a future of high-speed commuting in a car like this — perhaps while enjoying a relaxing game of Wordle — there are currently few roads long enough and straight enough to safely accommodate such speed, even if an advanced AI system was doing all the work. You can certainly forget hitting those kind of speeds along Pakistan’s terrifying Fairy Meadows Road. Source link #Watch #AIdriven #Maserati #insanely #fast #speed #record Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sydney rookie Porter co-leads in just second LPGA event Sydney rookie Porter co-leads in just second LPGA event *********** LPGA tour rookie Cassie Porter has continued her striking start to just her second outing on the world’s premier women’s circuit, overcoming illness to share the halfway lead at the Blue Bay tournament on China’s southern island of Hainan. The 22-year-old Sydney-born, Queensland-raised prospect, who didn’t make the cut in her first event at the Founders Cup last month, coped superbly with the windy conditions to shoot a four-under par 68 and join Japan’s Nasa Hataoka atop the leaderboard on Friday. After six-time Japanese tour winner Hataoka shot a six-under 66 — the best round of the day — she and Porter were both on a seven-under total of 137 after two rounds, just a shot clear of the field. Japan’s Rio Takeda was their nearest challenger after a 69, while ******** Gabbie Lopez (70) and American Auston Kim (71) were two back. It was a terrific start for Porter, who had even considered pulling out of the event before Thursday’s first round as she was suffering with a flu bug. But she followed up her opening round of 69 with an even better effort, featuring five birdies and a solitary dropped shot. “Yeah, I’m feeling okay. Being a little sick has kind of helped me a little bit, just slowed me down a little,” she explained afterwards. “I always say I get pretty quick if I’m stressed or anything, so it’s kind of forced me to slow down.” Leading at halfway didn’t exactly faze Porter, though. “It’s great. I’m just having fun out here, really. It’s always the goal to be in contention, so I’m not too surprised,” she said. “We work for this, and it’s nice to see some hard work paying off. But there’s a lot of golf to play…” Porter even outshone her illustrious compatriot, two-time major winner Minjee Lee, who was still well-placed at two under, tied for 15th place, after a 72, while another in-form *********** was Hira Naveed, who was joint-eighth on three under following a 70. Jeeno Thitikul, the LPGA’s No.2-ranked player, went round in 73 to sit five off the lead. Source link #Sydney #rookie #Porter #coleads #LPGA #event Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Friday, March 7 NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Friday, March 7 Table of Contents Table of Contents How to play Strands Hint for today’s Strands puzzle Today’s Strand answers Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, you’ll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle. Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. There’s no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If you’re stuck and need to know the answers to today’s Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below. How to play Strands You start every Strands puzzle with the goal of finding the “theme words” hidden in the grid of letters. Manipulate letters by dragging or tapping to craft words; double-tap the final letter to confirm. If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted blue and will no longer be selectable. If you find a word that isn’t a theme word, it still helps! For every three non-theme words you find that are at least four letters long, you’ll get a hint — the letters of one of the theme words will be revealed and you’ll just have to unscramble it. Every single letter on the grid is used to spell out the theme words and there is no overlap. Every letter will be used once, and only once. Each puzzle contains one “spangram,” a special theme word (or words) that describe the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. When you find the spangram, it will be highlighted yellow. The goal should be to complete the puzzle quickly without using too many hints. Hint for today’s Strands puzzle Today’s theme is “All decked out.” Here’s a hint that might help you: You need all 52. Today’s Strand answers NYT Today’s spanagram We’ll start by giving you the spangram, which might help you figure out the theme and solve the rest of the puzzle on your own: Today’s Strands answers PINOCHLE CRIBBAGE CANASTA POKER EUCHRE RUMMY Source link #NYT #Strands #today #hints #spangram #answers #Friday #March Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

We need your help to shape the future of Tom’s Hardware We need your help to shape the future of Tom’s Hardware Tom’s Hardware has been a bona-fide institution when it comes to giving you the latest news, reviews and guides on cutting-edge technology. For almost 30 years, our website has offered best-in-class coverage. Over the years, Tom’s Hardware has had a heap of talented authors writing for us. But, throughout our storied history, our one goal has always been to make sure that you’re getting the best possible coverage from our team of experts. So, we want you to help shape what the future of Tom’s Hardware looks like, so we can keep doing what we do best; offering the best coverage possible. So, we’ve assembled a survey to get to know our readers and forum users. – Take the Tom’s Hardware reader survey None of the data we collect will go towards anything but helping us understand what you like to read, and some information on who you are. It’s anonymous, and you’ll be able to give us strong feedback around the topics we cover. So, whether you are new to Tom’s Hardware, or have been an avid reader for years, we’d like to hear from you, so we can keep doing what we do best: Offering detailed coverage about hardware, and the industry around it. To thank you for your time, you can opt-in to a sweepstakes to win a $300 Amazon gift card at the end of the survey. Our full terms and conditions and privacy policy apply. The survey closes on April 14, 2025, so be sure to complete it and share your feedback with us. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #shape #future #Toms #Hardware Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall Street Says Chipotle Has 30% Upside—Should You Bite? Wall Street Says Chipotle Has 30% Upside—Should You Bite? Chipotle ******** Grill (NYSE:) has been one of the best-performing restaurant stocks over the past decade, but the past year has been more volatile. After hitting an all-time high last summer, the stock failed to push higher and is now down 20% from its December peak. Investors have been watching closely to see whether this is just a temporary setback or a sign that growth is slowing. The most recent earnings report in early February did not help sentiment. While the results were mostly in line with expectations, revenue came in $30 million below estimates, and margins failed to show consistent improvement. Investors had been expecting more, and shares sold off in response. Since then, Chipotle has struggled to gain traction, returning to the same price levels seen last year. Morgan Stanley’s Bullish Call and 30% Upside Target Despite the stock’s recent weakness, Morgan Stanley remains optimistic about its long-term potential. On Monday, the firm upgraded Chipotle to Overweight from Neutral, assigning a $70 price target that suggests a 30% upside from current levels. According to Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Harbour, Chipotle’s core strengths remain intact. The company’s product, marketing strategy, and operational efficiency should drive steady performance into 2025 and beyond. Harbour also believes Chipotle is well-positioned to lead the restaurant industry in automation, a move that could significantly reduce costs, improve margins, and enhance throughput. Unit growth remains another key driver for Chipotle, with international expansion playing a growing role in its strategy. Harbour highlighted the company’s strong balance sheet, which gives it flexibility to invest in store expansion, technology, and capital returns. What’s Holding Chipotle Back? While analysts remain bullish, investors have taken a more cautious stance. The revenue miss and lack of margin expansion suggest that Chipotle’s growth may be slowing, at least in the short term. A second consecutive earnings miss could further erode confidence and put additional downward pressure on the stock. Another factor weighing on sentiment is the broader market’s shift away from high-valuation stocks. Investors are scrutinizing whether companies like Chipotle, which trade at premium valuations, can continue delivering strong growth. Take its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, for example. At 47, Chipotle’s is nearly double that of McDonald’s (NYSE:) P/E ratio of 27. If revenue growth continues to slow or margins tighten further, it could be difficult for Chipotle to justify its current valuation. Can Chipotle Regain Momentum? From a technical standpoint, Chipotle’s RSI is currently at 40, indicating that selling pressure may soon start to ease. The stock has not yet reached oversold levels, but it is approaching a key support zone where buyers could step in. If momentum shifts and buying interest returns, Chipotle could stabilize ahead of its next earnings report. For Chipotle to regain investor confidence, it will need to show stronger revenue growth and improved margin expansion. The company’s ability to execute automation and international expansion will also be closely watched. If it delivers a strong performance in its next earnings report, investors could quickly return to the stock, validating Morgan Stanley’s upside target. Chipotle Faces Short-Term Struggles, But Analysts Remain Bullish Chipotle’s recent struggles have raised concerns, but analysts remain confident in its long-term growth story. Morgan Stanley’s $70 price target suggests that there is still significant upside potential, but much will depend on how the company performs in the coming months. For long-term investors, this pullback could present an opportunity to buy shares at a discount before sentiment shifts again. However, short-term risks remain, and the next earnings report will be a critical test for the stock’s ability to regain momentum. Original Post Source link #Wall #Street #Chipotle #UpsideShould #Bite Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thrust into unemployment, axed federal workers face relatives who celebrate their firing Thrust into unemployment, axed federal workers face relatives who celebrate their firing NEW YORK (AP) — Scrambling to replace their health insurance and to find new work, some laid-off federal workers are running into another unexpected unpleasantry: Relatives cheering their firing. The country’s bitterly tribal politics are spilling into text chains, social media posts and heated conversations as Americans absorb the reality of the government’s cost-cutting measures. Expecting sympathy, some axed workers are finding family and friends who instead are steadfast in their support of what they see as a bloated government’s waste. “I’ve been treated as a public enemy by the government and now it’s bleeding into my own family,” says 24-year-old Luke Tobin, who was fired last month from his job as a technician with the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho’s Nez Perce National Forest. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Tobin’s job loss sent him scurrying to fill prescriptions before he lost his health insurance and filling out dozens of applications to find whatever work he can, even if it’s at a fast-food restaurant. But some relatives reacting to his firing as “what has to happen to make the government great again” has been one of the worst parts of the entire ordeal. “They can’t separate their ideology and their politics from supporting their own family and their own loved ones,” says Tobin. Kristin Jenn got a similar response from members of her family after she learned the National Park Service ranger job she was due to start had been put on hold by the billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency hiring freeze. She thinks it’s likely the job will be eliminated altogether. As she has expressed her disappointment over potentially losing her dream job, some members of her mostly conservative family have unfriended her on social media. Others are giving her the silent treatment. Nearly all favor such cuts even if she’s a victim of them. “My life is disintegrating because I can’t work in my chosen field,” says Jenn, 47, from Austin, Texas. “Lump on top of that no support from family – it hits you very hard.” The strife has extended to Jenn’s mother, a former federal employee herself. When she has criticized the administration’s actions, her mother simply says she supports the president. “She has somehow been convinced that public servants are a parasite and unproductive even though she was a public servant,” says Jenn. The federal job cuts are the work of DOGE, which has been tearing through agencies looking for suspected waste. No official tally of firings has been released, but the list stretches into the thousands and to nearly every part of the country. More layoffs are expected as DOGE continues its work. Eric Anderson, 48, of Chicago, was still absorbing the shock of being fired from his National Parks Service job as a biological science technician when he came across his aunt’s social media post celebrating the DOGE cuts. The gist, Anderson said, was, “Man, it sure is great seeing all this waste being knocked off.” He grows angry thinking about it. “Do you think I’m a waste?” he says, his voice rising as he recalls the post. “There are a lot of people out there that are hurting right now that are not a waste.” Erica Stubbs, who was working as a forestry technician with the U.S. Forest Service in Boulder, Colorado, is avoiding social media after seeing hate for federal workers. Though most people in her life have been supportive since she was fired, some have made passing comments about the necessity of eliminating jobs like hers. “What they tell me is it’s just cutting out the waste, the excess spending — that your job’s not that important,” says 27-year-old Stubbs. “I’m not saying it’s the most important job in the world but it’s my job. It’s important to me.” Social media is teeming with posts reveling the layoffs and urging DOGE: “Fire more!” In a fiercely divided country, many saw the cutbacks through their own political lens. One man’s devastation, it turns out, can be another man’s delight. Riley Rackliffe, who was working as an aquatic ecologist at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada, was buoyed that his firing led so many friends and relatives to reach out, offering to pass his resume along, call their congressman or even help with his mortgage. Mixed with that, though, has been the vitriol. When his firing made the local news, a Facebook posting of the story led to a storm of comments deriding him and championing the layoffs. One person called Riley, who is 36 and holds a Ph.D., a “glorified pool boy” whose job nearly anyone could do. Even some of Rackliffe’s friends paired their expressions of consolation for Rackliffe with support for cutting jobs they contended were unnecessary government bloat. “Hey, I’m sorry you lost your job but I think we really need to cut out some of this waste in the government,” Rackliffe said one friend texted him, saying he supported DOGE’s aims. “He basically said, ’We’ve got to do this. We’ve got to rip off the Band-Aid.” What stings most, Rackliffe says, is the contention that people like him were lazy and worthless, collecting big paychecks for meaningless work. “It’s really hurtful for the president to insinuate that you don’t exist or that your job consisted of sitting at home doing nothing and cashing the paycheck,” he says. “I’d like to see him sifting through spiny naiad in 120-degree weather looking for parasitic snails. He’s the one that goes golfing on the government dime. I don’t even know how to golf.” ___ Matt Sedensky can be reached at *****@*****.tld and Source link #Thrust #unemployment #axed #federal #workers #face #relatives #celebrate #firing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Unvaccinated adult with measles dies in U.S., cause still not confirmed – National Unvaccinated adult with measles dies in U.S., cause still not confirmed – National By Devi Shastri The Associated Press Posted March 7, 2025 9:14 am Updated March 7, 2025 9:15 am 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size An adult who was infected with measles has died in New Mexico, state health officials announced Thursday, though the virus has not been confirmed as the cause. The person who died was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care, a state health department spokesperson said in a statement. The person’s exact age and other details were not immediately released. The person was from Lea County, just across the state line from the West Texas region where 159 measles cases have been identified and a school-age child died last week. New Mexico health officials have not linked the outbreak there to the Texas cases. The person is the 10th in Lea County to have a confirmed measles infection. Seven were unvaccinated. The vaccination status of the other three is unknown. Six of the cases are in adults and the rest are in children younger than 17. 1:36 Another case of Measles confirmed in U.S. this time in Florida Trending Now ‘Not going back’: Ford will cancel Starlink-Ontario deal even if tariffs are lifted Alberta’s premier makes the rounds on U.S. TV networks to defend new booze rules On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that they were sending a team to Texas to help local public health officials respond to the outbreak, which began in late January. Story continues below advertisement Measles is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed, according to the CDC. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing infection and severe cases. The first shot is recommended for children ages 12 to 15 months, and the second for ages 4 to 6 years. “We don’t want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles,” said Dr. Chad Smelser, the deputy state epidemiologist. “The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease.” More on Health More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Unvaccinated #adult #measles #dies #U.S #confirmed #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

SpaceX’s Starship explodes (again) during its eighth test flight SpaceX’s Starship explodes (again) during its eighth test flight SpaceX has lost another Starship, as the vehicle’s eighth test flight ended in an explosion just like its seventh. The first few minutes of the flight went according to plan: SpaceX launched the Starship rocket from its Starbase facility in Texas at 6:30PM Eastern time on March 6, and its first stage Super Heavy booster flew back down and was successfully captured by the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms. The event marked the third time SpaceX was able to capture the booster with the tower’s mechanical appendages. The vehicle’s upper stage called the “Ship” was supposed to deploy four ****** Starship satellites as part of the test run before splashing down into the Indian Ocean around 50 minutes later. But eight minutes into the flight, the Ship lost multiple Raptor engines, causing it to lose altitude until it ultimately exploded over the Caribbean. Several people who witnessed the event posted videos of the Ship’s debris streaking across the sky. To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. As TechCrunch notes, SpaceX revealed in February that the seventh Starship test flight exploded because it suffered from propellant leaks that resulted in fires. The company took several measures to prevent the same thing from happening, such as adding vents and a new purge system to make the ship resistant to leaks. SpaceX also conducted a longer static fire test to make sure its changes and adjustments were working properly. The company posted on X that the Starship’s eighth test flight “experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly” during its ascent burn. However, it it still has to review data from the flight to be able to determine the root cause of the issue. In another statement posted on its website, the company said that “an energetic event in the aft portion of Starship” prior to the ascent burn led to the loss of the engines. SpaceX lost contact with the Ship completely at around nine minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff. The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily halted flights departing from and into some of Florida’s busiest airports due to “space launch debris.” It also told TechCrunch that it’s requiring SpaceX to conduct a “mishap investigation” to determine the cause of the failure, so we’ll likely get a more detailed report from the company in the future. Source link #SpaceXs #Starship #explodes #eighth #test #flight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Expect more volatility, strategists warn Expect more volatility, strategists warn U.S. President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on March 06, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump signed a series of executive orders, including lifting 25% tariffs for all goods compliant under USMCA trade agreement. Alex Wong | Getty Images News | Getty Images Global markets have been rocked by volatility in recent days, as investors try to stay ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs policies. As the White House leader’s long-threatened levies on ********* and ******** goods finally came into effect this week, equity markets around the globe were shaken. Stocks on Wall Street sold off on Thursday, with sweeping losses hitting all major indexes and the Nasdaq Composite sliding into correction territory. European and Asian stocks have also seen choppy trade around Trump’s tariff announcements and policy rollbacks this year. The volatility of Thursday took place even as Trump offered concessions to Canada and Mexico by way of delaying some of the levies until April 2. Strategists told CNBC on Friday that investors should brace for further swings in markets arising from Trump’s trade policies, given the president’s apparent tendency to change tack. “Volatility will stay with us,” Philippe Gijsels, chief strategy officer at BNP Paribas Fortis, told CNBC. “Headlines keep flowing and go in all possible directions. Besides the geopolitical uncertainty there is still the massive economic uncertainty with the U.S. clearly slowing… The situation in Ukraine — are we going to have a ceasefire or will things escalate? [Then there’s] tariffs, on which the ‘strategy’ changes every five minutes.” ‘Risk on risk off’ market environment Jon Cunliffe, head of JM Finn’s investment office in London, agreed that volatility was on the rise with Trump back in the Oval Office — and the trend could be here to stay. “During 2023 and the lead up to the election campaign, 100-day annualized volatility for the S&P 500 was as low as 10%, and we’re now heading up towards 15%,” he said over email. “Under Trump 2.0, it’s likely that this elevated level of volatility will continue, with the tendency to backtrack on policy initiatives creating a ‘risk on risk off’ market environment.” Trump has so far pointed the finger at “globalists” for the latest market jitters, defending that the U.S. is “taking back things that have been taken from us many years ago.” Yet analysts have previously warned the U.S. could also stand to suffer from Trump’s tariff plans, with American duties on imports likely to bleed into higher prices for U.S. consumers. Countries targeted by the levies have also taken or threatened punitive measures that could restrict their demand for U.S. exports. So far, Trump’s duties on ********* and ******** goods — which come in addition to new 20% U.S. tariffs on China and alongside threats from Trump to slap duties on goods from the EU — have prompted talk of retaliatory steps from Canada and Mexico’s leaders. China has also responded with its own tariffs aimed at U.S. goods, with officials warning they are willing to fight “any type of war” with America. “Policy uncertainty and tariff news flow, which are combining to increase concerns about the U.S. growth picture and the prospect of a trade war, is likely to keep volatility elevated,” Thomas McGarrity, head of equities at RBC Wealth Management, told CNBC by email on Friday. “Compounding this is that the U.S. assets are very well-owned, so the unwinding of extended position is also contributing to the weakness of U.S. stocks, following a ******* of exceptional returns over the past two years.” An improving picture in Europe — particularly in light of a drive to reform fiscal policies and incentivize EU defense spending — was also playing into some rotation within equity markets, McGarrity said. Asian, European markets tumble Wall Street appeared calmer ahead of trading hours on Friday, with U.S. stock futures edging higher as investors awaited key jobs data out from the world’s largest economy. However, Asian and European markets both saw share prices tumble on Friday as regional investors digested the latest trade developments out of Washington. “Don’t worry if you feel overwhelmed — you’re not alone,” analysts in Bank of America’s London office said in a note to clients on Friday morning, flagging that the “furious newsflow” of late had had this impact on investors. “Clients we met on our marketing trip this week reported feeling overwhelmed by the rapid succession of high profile macro news,” they said. Both economic data signals — like the Atlanta Fed’s GDP tracker falling into negative territory — and the policy mix — including sweeping government job cuts and escalating trade tensions — were contributing to this, BofA’s analysts said. — CNBC’s Kevin Breuninger, Brian Evans and Alex Harring contributed to this report. Source link #Expect #volatility #strategists #warn Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brazil becomes the latest country to force Apple to allow sideloading Brazil becomes the latest country to force Apple to allow sideloading Apple now has 90 days to allow sideloading in Brazil following a court order They plan to appeal, but have already had to comply with similar rulings in other countries This change would allow users to load apps directly onto their phones, similar to APKs on Android Another brick in Apple’s walled garden has been thoroughly kicked out, as Brazil is the latest country to demand the iOS owner opens up sideloading on its devices. Apple now has 90 days to comply, with the judge in the case pointing out that they were already in compliance with similar rulings in other countries. Naturally, Apple is set to appeal. For those not in the know sideloading essentially means the ability to download and install apps without using a conventional app store. Android users have already benefited from it for years with the use of APKs to install third-party apps directly onto their phones. However, much like with third-party storefronts, Apple has been vehemently opposed to it for years. But after Epic’s lawsuit (now more than five years ago) was levied at Apple it brought the issue of the tech giant’s approach to curating their ecosystem into focus. Peekaboo Apple’s main argument against the ruling is, as always, based on privacy. Like it or lump it, this has been the key sticking point for sideloading, third-party storefronts and more. Back in 2022 apple even shook up the gaming world with their ATT changes that required devs to request permission for advertising and reduced the ability to assign user profiles; something that has drawn regulatory scrutiny in that they were of course exempted. However, despite this push for privacy Apple has still come under fire and now seems to be fighting a losing battle against sideloading, third-party storefronts and other changes. In countries like Vietnam, and the broader EU, it seems that the days of Apple being all bezels and no edges is coming to an end. Better luck next time to them I suppose. But if you’re more concerned about new things to play why not check out our list of the top five new mobile games to try this week for some great launches from the last seven days? Source link #Brazil #latest #country #force #Apple #sideloading Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]