Pelican Press

University Student Dies After Reportedly Being Punched During Fraternity Ritual University Student Dies After Reportedly Being Punched During Fraternity Ritual Caleb Wilson’s father, Corey Wilson, right, mourns alongside other grieving family members during a vigil for the 20-year-old at Southern University on March 5, 2025, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Javier Gallegos/The Advocate via AP Police are investigating the death of a 20-year-old college student as a possible hazing incident, according to multiple reports. According to nola.com, on Feb. 27, Caleb Wilson, a junior at Southern University and A&M College, and about 10 other Omega Psi Phi fraternity pledges were punched in the chest during a fraternity ritual at a warehouse during an off-campus event. Wilson collapsed during the ritual and was unresponsive when he was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment. CBS affiliate WAFB reported that fraternity members allegedly lied to police, initially saying Wilson and other pledges were at a park, not the warehouse. The university said in a statement that it has launched an internal investigation “immediately after reports of unsanctioned off-campus activities.” The school has suspended all fraternity, sorority and student organization activities on campus, according to Fox affiliate WVUE. “The University has begun the student judiciary process as prescribed by the University’s student code of conduct and aligned with Louisiana law,” the university wrote in a post on Facebook. “As stated in University policies, all organizations on campus are required to undergo rigorous anti-hazing training and are held to high standards related to membership intake processes. Any breaches of these policies prompt disciplinary sanctions. Southern University is actively and fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in their criminal investigation.” Wilson’s family wrote that the 20-year-old’s “passion for life, his dedication to his studies, and his love for music and the Southern University ‘Human Jukebox’ Marching Band were just a few of the many qualities that made him an extraordinary person.” Omega Psi Phi did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but in a statement on Instagram, Ricky L. Lewis, international president of the fraternity, said, “Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all who were touched by him.” Lewis continued: “We recognize that many of you may have questions, and we are actively working to gather accurate information. In the meantime, we ask for your patience, your prayers, and solidarity as we honor Caleb’s memory and support those grieving his loss.” Related… Source link #University #Student #Dies #Reportedly #Punched #Fraternity #Ritual Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Suspends Mexico and Canada Tariffs on USMCA Goods for a Month – The New York Times Trump Suspends Mexico and Canada Tariffs on USMCA Goods for a Month – The New York Times Trump Suspends Mexico and Canada Tariffs on USMCA Goods for a Month The New York TimesCanada’s tariffs to remain despite Trump postponing tariffs on many imports from Canada for a month The Associated PressTrump tariffs: U.S. pauses tariffs on some *********, ******** imports until April 2 CNBCTrump delays tariffs for goods under Mexico, Canada trade deal Reuters Source link #Trump #Suspends #Mexico #Canada #Tariffs #USMCA #Goods #Month #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Aid should have continued during review process, International Rescue Committee CEO says Aid should have continued during review process, International Rescue Committee CEO says Aid should have continued during review process, International Rescue Committee CEO says – CBS News Watch CBS News Human rights organizations are warning the Trump administration’s massive cuts in international aid relief could imperil millions living in global crisis zones. David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, joins to discuss. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Aid #continued #review #process #International #Rescue #Committee #CEO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why are whales getting tangled up in ropes? Why are whales getting tangled up in ropes? Steven McKenzie & Jennifer Bowey BBC Scotland News BBC Volunteers attempted to free the whale from ropes that were wrapped around it A ****** whale which died on Monday after washing up on the island of Raasay had been entangled in ropes. It was the latest in a series of whale entanglements off the Scottish coast in the last few months. What is behind such incidents and how common are they? What happened on Raasay? The 15m-long (49ft) ****** whale was spotted off Skye last Thursday. It was entangled in ropes, some of them trailing up to 20m (66ft) behind it. Volunteers from wildlife charity British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) managed to reach the whale in a small boat on Saturday. They successfully freed it of five ropes, but others remained wrapped around its head. On Monday, the whale was discovered stranded on the shoreline near Oskaig, on Raasay, a small island off Skye’s east coast. BDMLR said a rope was found tightly wrapped around the whale’s mouth. It said this would have prevented it from feeding and it was likely to have been malnourished for some time. ****** whales are a deep-diving species and prey on large squid. BDMLR had hoped that, once free of all the remaining ropes, the whale would refloat on a rising tide. But it died later on Monday. Rescuers said it appeared to take its last breath moments after being disentangled. Where might the rope have come from? More ropes were removed from the whale after it was found stranded on Raasay Entanglements can involve creel fishing gear or ghost gear – rope and nets that have been lost or abandoned by fishing boats. A ****** whale that died after stranding on the Isle of Harris in November 2019 had a 100kg “litter ball” in its stomach. Fishing nets, rope, packing straps, bags and plastic cups were among the items discovered in a compacted mass during an investigation by Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (Smass). And a humpback whale that died after coming ashore near Thurso, in Caithness, in 2019 may have become entangled in fishing gear thousands of miles away. Scientists who examined the carcass said it was tightly wrapped in creel rope. A buoy attached to the rope had contact details for a fisherman in Nova Scotia, Canada. Are more whales getting entangled? A humpback whale was freed from fish farm gear off Skye in January Since Christmas, the Scottish Entanglement Alliance (Sea) has recorded five humpback entanglements – in addition to the incident involving the ****** whale. Only one of the previous five died. Of the others one was disentangled by BDMLR, two were freed by fishermen and one had no material on it but it did have scars on it suggesting it had been involved in a serious entanglement. The project’s co-ordinator Ellie MacLennan said: “It’s unusual to see this number over such a short space of time.” She said the increase could be due to a number of reasons, including that whale populations are recovering following the end of commercial whaling in the 1980s. Ms MacLennan said: “It could be their distribution is changing so they are moving more into inshore water where they are more likely to overlap with fishing gear. “That might be down to prey availability and factors to do with climate change and warming seas.” She added: “This time of year we wouldn’t expect to see humpbacks hanging around for so long. “We know there have been humpbacks in the Inner Sound area of Skye since October last year. “That’s quite unusual.” Ms MacLennan said an incident in January when a humpback got into difficulty at a Skye fish farm was particularly unusual. “An entanglement in a fish farm is very rare,” she said. “I think it was only the second one we’ve had in Scotland.” Can entanglements be prevented? Fishermen rescued a humpback whale off Skye in February The entanglement alliance has been working with the inshore fishing industry for a number of years to raise awareness. It encourages people in the industry to report incidents and to find out how they might be able to assist in disentanglements through workshops. Ms MacLennan said: “These animals can pose a financial threat to fishers if these whales take off with their gear or damage their gear.” It has also been working with the fishing industry on possible solutions. Whales can become caught in rope that runs between shellfish creels on the seabed to a buoy on the surface. Trials have been done using “ropeless creels” which have the main line in a container along with a buoy and these are lowered to the seabed with the creels. The buoy is released electronically and rises to the surface, bringing the rope with it when the creels need to be retrieved. The technology was developed initially for fisheries in the US and Canada where endangered North Atlantic right whales have died in entanglements. Source link #whales #tangled #ropes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bar & Bites: Funk brothers get fresh with their first beer, a paddock-to-pint Farmers Ale Bar & Bites: Funk brothers get fresh with their first beer, a paddock-to-pint Farmers Ale After more than a decade of making cider, Martin and Dustin Michael launch debut brew Funk Farmers Ale and offer a ‘year of beer’ for the best farm yarn Source link #Bar #amp #Bites #Funk #brothers #fresh #beer #paddocktopint #Farmers #Ale Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Losing! Trump cuts and runs in self-inflicted ‘trade war’ as markets call the shots Losing! Trump cuts and runs in self-inflicted ‘trade war’ as markets call the shots Facing massive backlash from the markets and voters, Trump reversed course on his own tariff agenda and paused tariffs on Mexico and Canada. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on Trump’s tariff whiplash and its effect on the market. (The Beat’s YouTube playlist: Ari: / arimelber Beat merch: www.msnbc.com/Beat5) Source link #Losing #Trump #cuts #runs #selfinflicted #trade #war #markets #call #shots Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Japan AI unicorn Preferred Networks has big plans in trucking, robots Japan AI unicorn Preferred Networks has big plans in trucking, robots Toru Nishikawa (right), co-founder and chief executive officer of Preferred Networks, and Daisuke Okanohara, co-founder and chief executive researcher, with a Fanuc Corp. robotic arm at their company’s headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, March 16, 2018. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Preferred Networks is a little-known name outside of Japan, but the Toyota-backed artificial intelligence unicorn has big plans to use deep learning to fix “real-world” issues — with the end goal of going global. “For the past 10 years, we have been working on using AI to solve real-world problems,” chief executive researcher, Daisuke Okanohara, told CNBC’s “Managing Asia.” The company has ventured into industries as varied as trucking, health care and robots. Preferred Networks has drawn the attention of big names such as automotive giant Toyota, which in 2017 invested 10.5 billion yen ($95.4 million) in the company on top of an initial 1 billion yen in 2015. Preferred Networks is one of the few unicorns in Japan. Though Japan’s startup ecosystem has grown, Japanese companies valued at over $1 billion make up just 0.5% of the world’s total, according to an International Monetary Fund working paper published in December. The deep-learning startup is also in a joint venture with trading house Mitsui & Co. in the field of autonomous driving. The two have invested in a company, T2, in order to address challenges associated with the trucking industry, including “extremely long” working hours that stretch into the night and a declining pool of drivers, said CEO Toru Nishikawa. But competition in the car industry was also a factor. Acknowledging the company’s current limitations, Okanohara added, “If we were to tackle the problem of regular cars, it would be extremely difficult. There are many companies working on autonomous driving, and it is a very competitive field.” Preferred Networks’ AI ambitions have since gone much further afield. But compared with other AI solutions in the digital space, in which it is “relatively easy to achieve results with users,” dealing with real-world problems requires more time, Okanohara said. When asked how long it takes for the company’s technologies to start making money, Nishikawa said it could take as many as five years in a field like AI-based materials discovery. “First, we start joint research with companies and then assess whether or not it can be commercialized. Once we determine that it can be commercialized, we work to create services and products that can be provided to customers,” he said, adding that “in total, this process takes about three to five years before commercialization and practical launch.” As for the latest AI developments, Okanoharo said that Preferred Networks had recognized DeepSeek’s “very good technology” and “paid close attention to it” before it was catapulted to fame, adding that “various players” will soon enter the chip industry. Preferred Networks is hoping to be among them. Recognizing that Nvidia’s generative AI strategy has fared well thus far but has a graphics processing unit design that is not yet “optimal,” Nishikawa said Preferred Networks is in the midst of “creating more advanced processors” to gain a competitive advantage. IPO plans Whether the company will be able to achieve the scale of its ambitions remains to be seen. For now, it’s eyeing foreign investors, and is receiving “a lot inquiries in the fields of entertainment, semiconductors and computers,” according to Nishikawa, who noted that “there are limits to what we can do in Japan alone, and the global market is much ******* than the Japanese market.” Getting an initial public offering is one of the company’s goals, he added. When asked for a time frame, Okanohara said, “I think that the need for huge funds will come at the time when we introduce our hardware products, such as semiconductors, to the world. So I think we will aim to go public at that timing,” adding that could take about three to five years. Source link #Japan #unicorn #Preferred #Networks #big #plans #trucking #robots Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

New Zealand Dismisses Top Diplomat in U.K. After His Remarks on Trump – The New York Times New Zealand Dismisses Top Diplomat in U.K. After His Remarks on Trump – The New York Times New Zealand Dismisses Top Diplomat in U.K. After His Remarks on Trump The New York TimesNew Zealand fires top diplomat in London over Trump remarks The HillNew Zealand’s high commissioner to the *** loses job after Trump comments The GuardianNew Zealand fires ambassador to U.K. for asking whether Trump ‘understands history’ The Washington PostNew Zealand fires top diplomat in London for questioning Trump’s grasp of history during Ukraine chat CBS News Source link #Zealand #Dismisses #Top #Diplomat #U.K #Remarks #Trump #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Johnson seeks support for temporary measure to avoid government shutdown Johnson seeks support for temporary measure to avoid government shutdown Johnson seeks support for temporary measure to avoid government shutdown – CBS News Watch CBS News If Congress doesn’t pass legislation by midnight next Friday, portions of the federal government will cease operations. House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to scrounge up support for a vote to fund the government through September. Caitlin Huey-Burns has the latest. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Johnson #seeks #support #temporary #measure #avoid #government #shutdown Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Supervised toothbrushing expanded to reach schools in poorest areas Supervised toothbrushing expanded to reach schools in poorest areas Smitha Mundasad Health reporter, BBC News Getty Images School and nursery staff in the most deprived areas of England will be asked to supervise young children while they brush their teeth, under a national toothbrushing programme. Schemes are already running in some schools – but now dedicated central funding will reach the poorest areas where children are most at risk of tooth decay, the government says. Dental experts said the move would “save children from pain and the NHS a fortune”. But the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) union said caution was needed to avoid shifting “what is ultimately a parental responsibility on to the burden on schools”. National supervised toothbrushing programmes have been running in Scotland since 2006 and Wales since 2009. And in Northern Ireland, some nursery staff have been supervising toothbrushing since 2016, in a funded programme targeting the poorest 20% of areas. Teachers and other staff demonstrate and help, without directly brushing the children’s teeth, at some point during the school day. Tooth decay The idea, according to experts, is not to replace toothbrushing at home but to help build skills, good habits and confidence. But in England, provision is patchy, partly because of logistical problems but also a lack of staff and dedicated funding. About one out of every four five-year-olds in England has had tooth decay – and in poorer areas, it is one in three. Tooth decay is the most common reason five-to-nine-year-olds in England are admitted to hospital. And in many areas, access to an NHS dentist has become increasingly difficult. ‘Lifelong impact’ Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said focusing on prevention would help give children the best start in life. “It is shocking that a third of five-year-olds in the most deprived areas have experience of tooth decay – something we know can have a lifelong impact on their health,” he said. “It’s why we’re delivering supervised toothbrushing to young children and families who are most in need of support, as part of our wider plans to revive the oral health of the nation.” The government says it is also working to reform the dental contract, so dentists take on more NHS work. From April, local authorities will be given £11m funding and asked to identify schools and nurseries most in need. The aim is to reach about 600,000 three-to-five-year-olds a year. For every £1 spent on the scheme, £3 in treatment costs will be avoided – adding up to more than £34m over the next five years, the government says. Some children will use the 23 million toothbrushes and toothpastes donated by Colgate to the programme. The British Dental Association welcomed the move but said more needed to be done to tackle food marketing and labelling. Eddie Crouch, who chairs the association, said: “Supervised toothbrushing is tried and tested policy that will save children from pain and our NHS a fortune. “The only concern is why it’s taken a century to get here.” ‘Parental responsibility’ Paul Whiteman, of the NAHT, agreed there was a crisis in children’s dental health and the government was right to prioritise it. “However, we cannot keep loading increasing expectations on schools,” he said. “Nor can we keep looking to schools to fix all of society’s ills. “Most people would see toothbrushing as a basic part of parenting and we must be careful not to shift what is ultimately a parental responsibility on to the shoulders of schools.” Mr Whiteman urged the government to find other ways to support parents and focus on “rebuilding NHS dentistry”. Dr Katie Dalrymple, lecturer in nutritional sciences, at King’s College London, said the initiative would have a positive impact – but to truly protect children, the focus must be on reducing exposure to high-sugar foods and drinks. The government is also expanding water fluoridation across north-east England, following a public consultation. How to brush young children’s teethYou can start brushing as soon as teeth come throughUse fluoride toothpaste – a pea-sized amount for three-to-six-year-oldsMaking a game of it or brushing your teeth at the same time can help ***** out toothpaste after but do not rinse with water, which can wash away the fluoride Help children brush their teeth until they are confident and doing it well, around the age of seven Source: NHS Source link #Supervised #toothbrushing #expanded #reach #schools #poorest #areas Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

God Of War Director Says Starfield Possibly Has The Best Single-Player Game Narrative Ever God Of War Director Says Starfield Possibly Has The Best Single-Player Game Narrative Ever Vince DiCola’s name is synonymous with some of the most iconic soundtracks in film, from the high-octane training montages of Rocky IV to the emotional, synth-heavy score of Transformers: The Movie. As a composer, DiCola has shaped the sound of the ‘80s, leaving a lasting impact on cinematic and later gaming experiences. His journey into music composition was anything but conventional—starting as a keyboardist in a cover band and eventually finding himself at the heart of two legendary franchises. Beyond his film work, DiCola has also contributed to major video game titles, from Angry Birds Transformers to Transformers: Devastation and a few others, further solidifying his influence on the auditory landscape of gaming. In this exclusive interview, DiCola opens up about his musical influences, the challenges of scoring iconic films, and how his work has evolved in the gaming industry. Through it all, DiCola’s music continues to resonate with fans across generations, connecting the past with the present in unforgettable ways. Source link #God #War #Director #Starfield #Possibly #SinglePlayer #Game #Narrative Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Emily Cockerham: The girl whose brains are falling out of her skull because she has Chiari malformation Emily Cockerham: The girl whose brains are falling out of her skull because she has Chiari malformation She’s the girl whose brains are literally falling out of her skull. Meet Emily Cockerham, who has a rare and painful condition whereby the lower part of her brain falls out of her skull and puts pressure on the spinal canal. But it took years of doctors visits and dead ends before the 19-year-old was finally diagnosed. She has Chiari malformation. It is a chronic condition with treatment varying. In Emily’s case, brain and spinal surgery has been needed. How did it all start? Up until Emily was seven, she was a healthy girl. But it all changed when jumping on her trampoline at home in Devon, England, one day. She got a splitting headache. From then on, she would get a headache within minutes of bouncing on her trampoline. Camera IconEmily Cockerham suffers from Chiari malformation. Credit: Emily Cockerham/Facebook “When I would bounce on my trampoline, I noticed I was getting headaches after only just 10 minutes of playing,” Emily told The Sun. “At the time I thought this was normal, so I didn’t tend to complain of my head pain to my parents. “So, unfortunately, they weren’t aware of my first signs of Chiari malformation until years later.” As the years wore on, the headaches became more severe and by the time she was 11, the pain had spread to her neck and shoulders. “I often complained about my pain but my parents — along with me— just believed these were growing pains or from playing too much netball,” Emily said. By the time she 14, the pain was frequently leaving her bedridden. “I became almost bedbound and could barely even sit up due to the severity of the pain, dizziness, fatigue, neck and back pain, and many more symptoms,” she said. “I would also often drop to the floor due to pain, which is called a drop attack.” Despite repeated visits to various doctors, Emily’s condition remained undiagnosed until October 2021. “I was so relieved to have answers and didn’t know how severe it was or how much it would control my life,” she said. “I also didn’t realise at this point that there was no permanent cure and it is a chronic condition.” Just days before her 16th birthday, Emily had surgery to relieve pressure on her brain. “I wasn’t worried to have the surgery because I was at the point where my symptoms were so bad that I was desperate for relief,” she told The Sun. “In the surgery, a piece of my skull and top part of my spine was removed — these were the pieces of bone pushing against my brain — then my brain lining was opened and a small piece of my cerebellum was removed. “My brain lining was then expanded using a skin graft from inside my head, to give my brain space — meaning spinal fluid was able to flow around my brain to relieve the pressure in my skull.” While the operation brought improvement, within a year her painful symptoms were back. In November 2024, she raised $35,000 to have an procedure done in Barcelona, Spain. It worked and her condition, for now, is not worsening. But she is still unable to work. Camera IconEmily Cockerham after undergoing surgery. Credit: Emily Cockerham/GoFundMe “Thankfully, this surgery has prevented my condition from worsening and has already started to improve my symptoms and pain,” Emily said. “I am currently unable to work, which is very frustrating as I don’t feel as in control of my earnings and don’t feel as independent as I wish to. “Also, due to my symptoms, I haven’t managed to pass my driving test yet as I can only attend lessons when I feel well enough, which has not been often enough to learn properly.” But Emily holds out hope for a brighter future. “Growing up, I missed a lot of secondary school because of my pain and this led to missing out on a huge part of my social life as well,” she said. “I felt extremely left out watching everyone else my age move on to college, work and start to drive. “I feel quite behind on everything I should’ve been doing as a teen. “I’ve been going swimming in a hydrotherapy pool once a week to help improve my symptoms and speed up my recovery. “I feel like I’m finally catching up on everything I’ve missed, which is a big relief for me.” Source link #Emily #Cockerham #girl #brains #falling #skull #Chiari #malformation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

European leaders hold emergency summit after U.S. pauses military aid to Ukraine European leaders hold emergency summit after U.S. pauses military aid to Ukraine European leaders hold emergency summit after U.S. pauses military aid to Ukraine – CBS News Watch CBS News A deadly Russian missile attack in the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a gruesome, real-time example of why European leaders gathered for another emergency meeting, fearing that without strong U.S. support, Russia’s aggression could land at their door. Imtiaz Tyab has the latest. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #European #leaders #hold #emergency #summit #U.S #pauses #military #aid #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New York State Police Troop D commander reassigned, facing investigation New York State Police Troop D commander reassigned, facing investigation New York State Police Troop D Commander Robert Major Simpson is being reassigned and is facing a pending administrative investigation. In a statement from New York State Police, it was confirmed Simpson’s reassignment is pending and Captain Jason Place will serve as acting troop commander until a new troop commander is appointed. Simpson was appointed as Troop D Commander on March 14, 2024. New York State Police Troop D covers seven counties in Central New York, including Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego. Operating from 27 facilities, the men and women of Troop D provide service to 167 towns, 89 villages, and five cities. Death investigation: Madison County Sheriff’s Office investigating fatal ****** on State Route 31 in Lenox Prisons in America: Oneida County NAACP against closing Marcy Correctional, says problem is systemic State police officials would not elaborate as to the nature of the investigation. This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: New York State Police troop commander reassigned, facing investigation Source link #York #State #Police #Troop #commander #reassigned #facing #investigation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SpaceX loses another Starship in latest launch – ABC News SpaceX loses another Starship in latest launch – ABC News SpaceX loses another Starship in latest launch ABC NewsSpaceX Starship megarocket upper stage lost again during 8th test flight; booster catch is successful Fox BusinessFAA briefly halts flights to several Florida airports after SpaceX rocket testing failure CNBCSpaceX’s Starship spacecraft explodes midflight for a second time CNNSpaceX’s Starship Rocket Disrupts Florida Airports With Unsuccessful Test Flight The New York Times Source link #SpaceX #loses #Starship #latest #launch #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Are Scottish students using AI to cheat their way to a degree? Are Scottish students using AI to cheat their way to a degree? Kayleigh Harvey BBC Scotland News Getty Images Academics say AI poses a real challenge More than 600 Scottish students were accused of misusing AI during part of their studies last year – a rise of 121% on 2023 figures. According to a freedom of information request by BBC Scotland, less than 10 students were kicked off their courses at both Robert Gordon and Glasgow universities in the last year – the first time AI-linked expulsions have been recorded at any Scottish university. So when does turning to the internet to help find the answer to a question cross the line into cheating? That’s the big issue facing Scottish universities, as day-to-day reliance on generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as Chat GPT, becomes the norm. What are the penalties?Dylan Walch Dylan Walch says the number of staff and students seeking advice around the use of AI is increasing Dylan Walch is an education advisor with the University of Edinburgh’s Students’ Association and said the number of staff and students seeking advice around the use of AI was on the rise. He says students who are already using AI often come to the association to seek clarity around its use, while a ********* have been caught misusing it. He told BBC Scotland News that low-level cases would prompt a discussion with a lecturer which might lead to a small mark deduction, but in more severe cases the university would interview the student in front of a panel. “It can be quite intimidating and quite a big procedure and they can lose anywhere from 10 to 50 marks,” he said. What else can universities do? Scotland has a student population of 292,240. Figures among AI misuse remain low, but academics say it poses a real challenge around keeping the grading process “fair”. Prof Sian Bayne is leading the research around the use of AI in higher education at the University of Edinburgh and says it is a “complex” debate. “The most high-profile concern has been around misconduct and cheating in assessments by generating essays and coursework,” she said. “I think one of my main concerns is there’s increasing research which shows that it enables a cognitive offloading, instead of reading a complex text and analysing it, it’s much easier to put a complex text into generative AI and get that generative AI to do that complex work for them.” Prof Sian Bayne said there was concern about misconduct and cheating in assessments by using AI to generate essays and coursework Only two universities in Scotland, Robert Gordon and Abertay, have dedicated software to help detect the misuse of AI, yet misuse rates remain higher at other universities – with Stirling recording the highest level at 262 cases in the last year. “Some institutions are thinking about investing in generative AI detection software,” Prof Bayne said. She said lecturers were “pretty good” at spotting work turned in using AI, but warned that would become more difficult as the technology evolved. She said: “At the moment we are thinking about ways which we can redesign assessment so that we’re using more multi-model methods like images, audio and video or more oral assessments or more in-person exams, as other ways of protecting against that kind of misconduct”. What do students think about AI? Students say using AI as part of their studies can be useful, but were concerned about its level of accuracy BBC Scotland News met a group of Edinburgh university students who argue that AI serves them more as a tool than a shortcut when it comes to their learning. Masters student George Karabassis, 26, uses AI to assist with translation as English isn’t his first language. He said: “If I don’t understand a certain question I can copy and paste a certain phrase and ask Chat GPT, for example; ‘could you please explain this in simpler terms’ so I can understand it.” Akrit Ghimire, 18, said many of his friends used AI to help with their studies. He said: “Some of the best prompts that they use is ‘now explain it to me like I’m a five-year-old or a 14-year-old’.” Getty Images Academics say the use of AI can cause issues in making sure the grading process is kept “fair” Others in the group also use AI, but warned about the accuracy of some of the search results that they received. Law student Hannah *****, 20, said she had come across false content in her use of AI. “Sometimes if you search for cases they don’t really exist and even if you do find cases that do exist then AI gives you lack of context,” she said. The group told the BBC they wanted better guidelines set out from institutions on AI, and its use, to keep everyone on a level playing field. In less than three years, generative AI has flipped the conversation on technology and education, but the debate on how best to tackle its use in coursework continues. Source link #Scottish #students #cheat #degree Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

********* premier threatens to slap 25% tariffs on electricity to American states ********* premier threatens to slap 25% tariffs on electricity to American states ********* premier threatens to slap 25% tariffs on electricity to American states – CBS News Watch CBS News President Trump paused Mexico and Canada tariffs until April 2, but Doug Ford, premier of Ontario, Canada, isn’t satisfied. He spoke to Ed O’Keefe about the trade war and his threats to increase tariffs on ********* energy to several U.S. states, telling Americans to blame Mr. Trump for their higher electric bills. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #********* #premier #threatens #slap #tariffs #electricity #American #states Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Combat veteran worried Trump’s VA cuts will impact care Combat veteran worried Trump’s VA cuts will impact care Combat veteran worried Trump’s VA cuts will impact care – CBS News Watch CBS News The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to cut 15% of its workforce by the end of September, according to an internal memo. Carter Evans spoke to a combat veteran who is worried about the implications. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Combat #veteran #worried #Trumps #cuts #impact #care Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Indian film showing the bride’s ‘humiliation’ in arranged marriage The Indian film showing the bride’s ‘humiliation’ in arranged marriage Courtesy: Sthal The film centres around Savita, a young woman striving for an education and a career in a patriarchal society It is often said that marriages are made in heaven. But in India, where a majority of marriages are arranged, the process of match-making can feel like a passage through hell for a woman and her family. That’s the premise of Sthal: A Match, the 2023 gritty Marathi-language film that has won several prestigious awards at festivals in India and abroad. It is releasing for the first time in theatres in India on Friday. Set in rural Maharashtra state, the film centres around Savita, a young woman striving for an education and a career in a patriarchal society, and the attempts by her father Daulatrao Wandhare – a poor cotton farmer – to find a good husband for his daughter. “He wants a good price for his crop and a good match for his daughter,” says director Jayant Digambar Somalkar. The film is notable for the unflinching way it portrays what its lead actress calls the “very humiliating” experience of many young women, unlike other Indian movies about arranged marriage. Sthal has also grabbed attention as its entire cast is made up of first-time actors chosen from the village where it is shot. Nandini Chikte, who plays Savita, has already won two awards for her brilliant performance. Courtesy: Sthal With eyes downcast, Savita sits on a wooden stool facing a group of men who’ve come to assess her for marriage The film opens with a sequence where Savita is interviewing a prospective groom. Along with her female relatives and friends, she watches as the young man serves them drinks from a tray. They laugh when he, visibly nervous, fumbles during questioning. Rudely awakened from what turned out to be a dream, Savita is told to get ready as a group of men are coming to see her. In reality, the gender roles are completely reversed, and in a scene that’s replayed several times in the nearly two-hour film, Savita’s humiliation comes into sharp focus. The prospective groom and other men from his family are welcomed by Savita’s father and male relatives. Guests are fed tea and snacks and once the introductions are done, Savita is called in. Dressed in a sari, with eyes downcast, she sits down on a wooden stool facing her interrogators. Questions come, thick and fast. What’s your name? Full name? Mother’s clan? Date of birth? Height? Education? Subject? Hobbies? Are you willing to work on the farm? The men step out, to hold a discussion. “She’s a bit dark. She had makeup on her face, but did you not see her elbow? That is her real colour,” says one. “She’s also short,” he goes on to add. Others nod in agreement. They leave, telling Daulatrao that they will respond in a few days to let him know their decision. According to her parents, “this is the fourth or fifth time someone has come to see Savita” – all the earlier meetings have ended in rejection, leading to heartbreak and despair. The scene rings true. In India, men often have a laundry list of attributes they want in their brides – a glance at the matrimonial columns in newspapers and match-making websites shows everyone wants tall, fair, beautiful brides. Courtesy: Sthal In the film cotton farmer Daulatrao Wandhare (left) and his wife’s main aim in life is to find a good husband for their daughter Savita’s protestations – “I don’t want to get married, I first want to finish college and then take civil services exams and build a career” – carry no weight in her rural community, where marriage is presented as the only goal worth having for a young woman. “Marriage is given far too much importance in our society,” Chikte told the BBC. “Parents believe that once the daughter is married, they will become free of their responsibility. It’s time to change that narrative.” She says she found it “very humiliating” that Savita was made to sit on a stool to be judged by all those men who discussed her skin colour, while there was no discussion about the prospective groom. “I was only acting, but as the film progressed, I lived Savita’s journey and I felt angry on her behalf. I felt insulted and disrespected.” The film also tackles the social evil that is dowry – the practice of the bride’s family gifting cash, clothes and jewellery to the groom’s family. Though it has been ******** for more than 60 years, dowries are still omnipresent in Indian weddings. Parents of girls are known to take out huge loans or even sell their land and house to meet dowry demands. Even that doesn’t necessarily ensure a happy life for a bride as tens of thousands are killed every year by the groom or his family for bringing in insufficient dowries. In the film too, Daulatrao puts up a “for *****” sign on his land, even though farming is his only source of livelihood. Courtesy: Sthal The film’s entire cast is made up of first-time actors chosen from the village where it is shot Director Somalkar says the idea for his debut feature film is rooted in his own experience. Growing up with two sisters and five female cousins, he had witnessed the ritual far too many times when prospective grooms visited his home. “As a child you don’t question tradition,” he says, adding that the turning point came in 2016 when he accompanied a male cousin to see a prospective bride. “This was the first time I was on the other side. I felt a bit uncomfortable when the woman came out and sat on a stool and was asked questions. When we stepped out for a discussion, I felt the conversation about her height and skin colour was objectifying her.” When he discussed the issue with his fiancée at the time – who is now his wife – she encouraged him to explore it in his work. Courtesy: Sthal Writer-director Jayant Digambar Somalkar says the idea for his debut feature film is rooted in his own experience In a country where 90% of all marriages are still arranged by families, Sthal is not the first to tackle the subject on screen. IMDB has a list of nearly 30 films about arranged marriage made by Bollywood and regional film industries just in the past two decades. More recently, the wildly popular Netflix show Indian Matchmaking focused entirely on the process of finding the perfect partner. But, as Somalkar points out, “weddings are hugely glamourised” on screen. “When we think of weddings in India, we think of the big **** wedding full of fun and glamour. We think of Hum Aapke Hain Koun,” he says, referring to the 1990s Bollywood blockbuster that celebrates Indian wedding traditions. “And the Netflix show only dealt with a certain class of people, the ones who are wealthy and educated and the women are able to exercise their choice. “But the reality for a majority of Indians is very different and parents often have to go through hell to get their daughters married,” he adds. His reason for making Sthal, he says, is to “jolt society and audiences out of complacency. “I want to start a debate and encourage people to think about a process that objectifies women who have very little freedom to choose between marriage and career,” he says. “I know one book or one film doesn’t change society overnight, but it can be a start.” Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook. Source link #Indian #film #showing #brides #humiliation #arranged #marriage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

SpaceX’s Starship failed launch: Florida airports halt flights SpaceX’s Starship failed launch: Florida airports halt flights US aviation authorities have halted all flights at several Florida airports over concerns about debris from SpaceX’s Starship, which spun out of control shortly after launch. A ground stop was in effect for airports in Orlando and Miami after the failed launch over the Atlantic Ocean. In a statement, SpaceX confirmed that the ship had suffered “a rapid unscheduled disassembly” during its ascent into space, and lost contact with the ground. A statement from the Federal Aviation Administration said the flights in and out of airports would be delayed due to a “space launch incident”. Source link #SpaceXs #Starship #failed #launch #Florida #airports #halt #flights Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Why Trump wants to eliminate the Education Department Why Trump wants to eliminate the Education Department Why Trump wants to eliminate the Education Department – CBS News Watch CBS News President Trump is expected to sign an executive order as soon as this week with the goal of dismantling the Education Department. Nancy Cordes explains what’s at stake. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Trump #eliminate #Education #Department Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump signs order to set up strategic bitcoin reserve Trump signs order to set up strategic bitcoin reserve US President Donald Trump is expected to formally announce plans to build a strategic reserve containing bitcoin and four other cryptocurrencies. Source link #Trump #signs #order #set #strategic #bitcoin #reserve Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kennedy touts unconventional therapies for measles linked to disciplined Texas doctor Kennedy touts unconventional therapies for measles linked to disciplined Texas doctor A team from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention arrived in Texas this week to aid in the response to a growing measles outbreak, and US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged that they would talk to “front-line doctors and see what is working on the ground” and learn about therapeutics “ignored” by the agency. There is a highly effective vaccine that prevents measles but no specific antiviral to treat it. Kennedy has previously pushed the use of vitamin A, and in an interview with Fox News this week, he endorsed an unconventional treatment regimen for measles including a steroid, an antibiotic and cod liver oil, which is rich in vitamin A. In the interview, which was posted in full on Fox Nation, Kennedy praised two West Texas doctors who he said were using this remedy on their patients and had seen “almost miraculous and instantaneous recovery.” He said these doctors had “treated most of the patients” in the current outbreak, which has now reached 159 reported cases. One of the doctors Kennedy is apparently taking cues from has troubled history. He was disciplined by the Texas Medical Board in 2003 for “unusual use of risk-filled medications.” Kennedy said HHS would do a clinical trial on the steroid budesonide, the antibiotic clarithromycin and cod liver oil therapies and said “we recommend to local physicians that they consider vitamin A and their protocols. He also suggested that vitamin A may work “as a prophylaxis,” although doctors say it does not prevent measles. However, Kennedy says measles vaccination, which can prevent most cases, is a personal choice. “At this point, we are recommending that people in those [undervaccinated] communities get vaccines. We understand a lot of them will not, and we’re going to try to make sure that they’re taken care of through the best therapeutic interventions that we can provide them or recommend for them,” Kennedy said in the Fox interview. Doctor was disciplined over treatments One of the doctors Kennedy praised, Dr. Richard Bartlett, has a history of using unconventional treatments. Bartlett faced disciplinary action from the Texas Medical Board more than two decades ago for “unusual” prescribing of antibiotics and steroids in five patients, including two children. None of the patients had measles; they came in with a variety of complaints including diabetes, back and neck pain, sinus pressure, inflamed tonsils and other cold symptoms, obesity and uncontrollable hunger, according to the medical board’s investigation. After reviewing the patients’ medical records, the board found that Bartlett misdiagnosed their symptoms and mismanaged their care, ordering unnecessary tests and treatments. In a 2003 order, the board cited Bartlett for inappropriately using medications such as powerful IV antibiotics and “multi-day doses” of long-acting steroids “without any documentation in the records of the weighing of risk versus benefits of this care.” Bartlett did not respond to CNN’s request for comment on the medical board’s disciplinary action, or on the basis of his use of steroids and antibiotics for the treatment of measles in West Texas. The board’s final order stated that the “respondent maintains that he treated the patients appropriately, with no adverse outcomes, considering that he was providing care to a relatively underserved area with limited resources and medical support.” Bartlett was cleared to return to practice without supervision in 2005 after adhering to the board’s requests, such as completing additional medical education and having another doctor chosen by the medical board monitor him for at least a year. He also indicated that he would modify his practice accordingly. During the pandemic, Bartlett said he treated Covid-19 patients with what he called his silver bullet: an experimental combination of budesonide, which is a steroid; the antibiotic clarithromycin; and aspirin. Bartlett often talked about the treatment on podcasts and in interviews, including some widely shared on social media. An independent fact-checking group found that his claims about the therapy were unsupported by scientific evidence. Both measles and Covid are caused by viruses. Antibiotics, which kill bacteria, are powerless against viral infections. Medical experts say antibiotics can sometimes be helpful if a viral infection causes a secondary bacterial infection, such as an ear infection or pneumonia. But they’re not appropriate or helpful in every case. Steroids have been tried in people with measles who develop a very rare complication that leads to brain swelling, but using them in milder cases may be harmful because they dampen the body’s immune response just when it is needed to fight the virus. A virus ‘that doesn’t really discriminate’ There is no specific treatment for measles. In severe cases, doctors may offer treatments such as supplemental oxygen and fluids to help patients get through the worst of their illness. Dr. Lara Johnson, Covenant Health’s chief medical officer, said its Lubbock, Texas, hospital has treated more than 20 patients and that hospital physicians have followed recommended treatment protocol. The CDC recommends two doses of physician-administered vitamin A in cases of severe measles, such as people who are hospitalized. Infectious disease experts also recommend vitamin A in these cases, but they note that the vitamin is most useful in impoverished countries where children are significantly malnourished. The HHS secretary said the people in West Texas who were getting sick, including a school-age child who died last week, may have had malnutrition. “It’s very, very difficult … for measles to kill a healthy person,” Kennedy said. However, the state health department reported that the child who died had no underlying conditions, and local doctors disagree with the secretary’s assessment of the population. “Our children are actually very well nourished. [That’s] another concerning comment, because I think it makes people have a false sense of, ‘Well, my kid is well nourished, so they’re not going to get this,’” said Dr. Leslie Motheral, a pediatrician in Lubbock, where the outbreak is growing. “Whether you have underlying medical problems or you are healthy, measles can be detrimental. It’s the kind of virus that doesn’t really discriminate.” Kennedy claimed in the Fox interview to have seen “studies that show [vitamin A] is good for prophylaxis,” but medical experts say it has no use for measles prevention. High doses can even be toxic. “There’s not evidence that vitamin A has any preventative benefits,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital. “The worry is that it’s being weaponized by the health and wellness industry.” The only way to prevent measles is to get the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to experts. Kennedy is “talking about treatment for children with or anyone with measles, treatment of people with measles that can be prevented by vaccines,” said Dr. William Moss, a pediatrician and infectious disease expert at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “Vaccines actually prevent people from getting measles, so you don’t need to treat them.” Vaccines prevent measles, vitamin A doesn’t Kennedy’s soft sell of the measles vaccine amid an outbreak has stunned public health experts. Two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles. Immunity from the shot is long-lasting, too. When the vaccine is used by enough people within a community, measles has nowhere to spread. It can be eliminated. Experts say Kennedy’s emphasis on treatments has muddled the message. In a post on X, Admiral Dr. Brett Giroir, a pediatrician and former US assistant secretary for health during the first Trump administration, thanked Kennedy for “emphasizing the critical importance” of the measles vaccine. “But please do not rely on #VitaminA to save your child in the US – helps in Africa where there is a deficiency-not here. I have both treated and buried children with measles,” he wrote. In Kennedy’s interview on Fox, the HHS secretary was also eager to talk about vaccine injuries and risks. “The CDC, in the past, has not done a good job at quantifying the risk of vaccines,” Kennedy said. “We are going to do that now so that people can make a real, informed choice about what’s best for them, for their families and their communities.” Experts said that hearing this from the nation’s top public health official was distressing. “He didn’t talk about the effectiveness and safety of the MMR vaccines, then pivoted to vitamin A and talking about how it was sanitation improvements that are bringing down measles rates in the US, and all this other kind of nonsense, and you just don’t do that kind of stuff in the middle of an epidemic,” Hotez said. “It was really disheartening to see that.” Others echoed that sentiment. “If it were someone on the sidelines kind of calling this out, I guess it would be less surprising, but to have the secretary of Health and Human Services, who is really responsible for the public’s health to tout this misguided treatment regimen for measles and downplay the role of vaccines and preventing measles,” Moss said. “It’s mind-blowing.” HHS said it would review a detailed list of CNN’s questions about Kennedy’s statements in the interview posted on Fox Nation but did not respond with answers. Understanding infectious disease Kennedy made other misstatements in the Fox interview that downplayed infectious diseases and their effects, too. He suggested that bird flu has long been a threat, saying it has “been around for 100 years,” although H5N1 was identified in 1996 in China. It’s not clear whether Kennedy was referring to other flu types that could be carried by birds, a natural reservoir for the viruses. Kennedy further said that about 70 people are known to have gotten sick with bird flu, and “almost all of them were involved in culling operations.” In fact, more dairy workers have caught the virus than people involved in the culling or depopulating of birds. He said the bird flu strain that originally spread in cattle during the ongoing outbreak, B3.13, “is not very dangerous to humans” because people who have caught it have not been very sick. Dr. Michael Osterholm, who directs the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, says that statement demonstrates that Kennedy doesn’t understand the threat. “Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of not being afraid of these viruses,” Osterholm said. “We have to take all of them very seriously as a potential cause of the next influenza pandemic. “As long as they’re circulating as they are, that just gives each one of these viruses unlimited shots at the genetic roulette table,” he added. The more people they infect, in other words, the more chances they have to change and become more efficient human pathogens. Kennedy maintained his message that he would tackle chronic disease and “get the really bad stuff out of the food as quickly as possible.” He questioned why the US had the “highest death rate on the planet” from Covid: Was it the infection itself or actually underlying disease in the population at large? “Was it really Covid that was there killing them? Or was it that they were so sick that they were hanging off the cliff and Covid just came and stomped on their fingernails?” he asked. “If you are healthy, it’s almost impossible for you to be killed by an infectious disease,” Kennedy said. Experts say this typical of Kennedy’s communication: He starts with a kernel of truth, but his conclusions on an issue are often incorrect. Kennedy is right that people with underlying health conditions are more likely to get sicker when they get an infectious disease. But it’s not true that people who are in good health are impervious to viruses. “He’s saying some truth, right? He’s saying things that are wrong, but there’s some truth to it,” said Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease expert and distinguished professor of medicine at Emory University. Measles is an infection that can make even healthy children very sick. “I really want to plead to mothers to vaccinate their kids,” del Rio said. “That is a highly effective strategy. In this country, in 2025, we should not see measles.” CNN’s Amanda Sealy, Meg Tirrell and Nadia Kounang contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #Kennedy #touts #unconventional #therapies #measles #linked #disciplined #Texas #doctor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The M3 MacBook Air is officially discontinued, but the M2 MacBook Air will live on elsewhere and that’s good news The M3 MacBook Air is officially discontinued, but the M2 MacBook Air will live on elsewhere and that’s good news Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Air with M4 starts at $999 or $1,199 for the 15-inch The previous-generation MacBook Air with M3 is discontinued The even earlier M2 MacBook Air, which previously started at $999, will live on via other retailers New Apple devices typically mean the previous generation drops to a lower price point or is discontinued altogether. However, with the Mac lineup – especially the MacBook – since Apple Silicon hit the scene, some of the older models have a way of sticking around. With the launch of the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M4, Apple is discontinuing the 13-inch and 15-inch M3 MacBook Air. Before the launch, there was some talk of the 13-inch version of that laptop sticking around, but Apple’s overall price decrease is causing waves as that model is discontinued. Further, since the starting price of the 13-inch MacBook Air with M4 is $999 in the United States, Apple is taking the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 off its virtual and physical store shelves. But here’s where things get interesting. Like the M1 MacBook Air – which is still an incredible deal from retailers like Walmart – the M2 MacBook Air will be available at select authorized retailers – aka other purchasing channels – in select countries, including the United States. Furthermore, it will be cheaper than the starting cost of the M4 MacBook Air. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) This means you can get a modern MacBook Air design with M2 speeds and other tricks for an excellent price. You’ll just need to be okay with no Sky Blue, but hey, you can still get it in Space Gray. In fact, as of this story publishing, Amazon in the United States has the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of solid-state storage in Midnight for just $699 – a sweet 30% off the previous MSRP of $999. Plus, you’ll get free fast shipping if you’re a Prime member. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. If you need Starlight or Space Gray that same configuration is $799, which is still a deal but not as big of a discount. Similarly, the Silver version is a lot more expensive at $924, only an 8% discount. While Apple hasn’t announced or confirmed the price of what the M2 MacBook Air will normally be at through these channels, the M1 MacBook Air can give us a good idea. Since its Walmart exclusivity, it’s regularly had a list price of $699 but is nearly always discounted additionally. Right now, in Silver, Space Gray, or Gold, it’s just $629 for the M1 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of solid-state storage. So if you don’t need the latest chip from Apple, that fancy new shade of Sky Blue (though it is lovely), or a CenterStage capable camera, the M2 should definitely at least be considered. Especially since it comes standard with 16GB of RAM, which is a lot better than the previous 8GB. You can see our review of the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 here, and check out our first look at the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 here. You might also like Source link #MacBook #Air #officially #discontinued #MacBook #Air #live #good #news Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Inside the ******* plant that’s cracked recycling old polyester clothes Inside the ******* plant that’s cracked recycling old polyester clothes When polyester was invented, the goal was to create a durable and resistant fabric that could retain its colour and shape — without wrinkles. Almost 85 years later, polyester is everywhere. According to standards body Textile Exchange, polyester is the clothing industry’s most popular fabric. About 49% of clothing contains the synthetic fabric. Unfortunately, polyester is not biodegradable. Only 1% of clothes are recycled into new garments, meaning about 92 million tons of textile is wasted every year. That figure is expected to exceed 134 million by the end of the decade, according to a 2024 report from the Waste and Resources Action Programme. American business tech leader IBM and French engineering company Technip Energies have partnered up to help solve this problem. Together, they created Reju, a textile-to-textile recycling operation focused on polyester. “What’s unique about Reju is our ability to take what is one of the biggest problems in society today, which is post-consumer waste, textile waste, and take the polyester out of the waste,” Reju CEO Patrik Frisk told CNBC’s Converge. “Our ability is to take the polyester out and then depolymerize the polyester,” he added. The approach is based on IBM’s VolCat technology. Short for volatile catalyst, the process uses a mix of ethylene glycol and heat to dissolve **** (polyethylene terephthalate) into molecules. The molecules can then be arranged together again, with the aim of creating new polyester. Reju opened its first demonstration plant, Regeneration Hub Zero, in Frankfurt, Germany in September 2024. Funded by Technip Energies with an intitial investment of 100 million euros, the hub has the capacity to produce 1,000 tons per year of the brand’s proprietary product, Reju Polyester. Watch the video above to learn more about how these companies are working together, as well as an inside look at Regeneration Hub Zero. Source link #******* #plant #cracked #recycling #polyester #clothes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]