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Treasurer Jim Chalmers defends *********** defence spending after US call Treasurer Jim Chalmers defends *********** defence spending after US call A fresh crack has emerged in the Australia-US relationship, with an incoming senior US defence official calling on Canberra to boost military spending. Source link #Treasurer #Jim #Chalmers #defends #*********** #defence #spending #call Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Malayan Banking Berhad’s (KLSE:MAYBANK) Shareholders Will Receive A ******* Dividend Than Last Year Malayan Banking Berhad’s (KLSE:MAYBANK) Shareholders Will Receive A ******* Dividend Than Last Year The board of Malayan Banking Berhad (KLSE:MAYBANK) has announced that it will be paying its dividend of MYR0.32 on the 26th of March, an increased payment from last year’s comparable dividend. Based on this payment, the dividend yield for the company will be 5.8%, which is fairly typical for the industry. See our latest analysis for Malayan Banking Berhad We aren’t too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time. Having distributed dividends for at least 10 years, Malayan Banking Berhad has a long history of paying out a part of its earnings to shareholders. Taking data from its last earnings report, calculating for the company’s payout ratio shows 73%, which means that Malayan Banking Berhad would be able to pay its last dividend without pressure on the balance sheet. Looking forward, EPS is forecast to rise by 15.2% over the next 3 years. Analysts forecast the future payout ratio could be 73% over the same time horizon, which is a number we think the company can maintain. KLSE:MAYBANK Historic Dividend March 5th 2025 The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn’t look great with cuts in the past. The annual payment during the last 10 years was MYR0.535 in 2015, and the most recent fiscal year payment was MYR0.61. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 1.3% over that duration. We’re glad to see the dividend has risen, but with a limited rate of growth and fluctuations in the payments the total shareholder return may be limited. Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. However, Malayan Banking Berhad has only grown its earnings per share at 2.6% per annum over the past five years. There are exceptions, but limited earnings growth and a high payout ratio can signal that a company has reached maturity. When a company prefers to pay out cash to its shareholders instead of reinvesting it, this can often say a lot about that company’s dividend prospects. In summary, it’s great to see that the company can raise the dividend and keep it in a sustainable range. The payout ratio looks good, but unfortunately the company’s dividend track record isn’t stellar. The dividend looks okay, but there have been some issues in the past, so we would be a little bit cautious. Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. Taking the debate a bit further, we’ve identified 1 warning sign for Malayan Banking Berhad that investors need to be conscious of moving forward. Is Malayan Banking Berhad not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Source link #Malayan #Banking #Berhads #KLSEMAYBANK #Shareholders #Receive #******* #Dividend #Year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon’s cloud unit forms agentic AI group under Swami Sivasubramanian Amazon’s cloud unit forms agentic AI group under Swami Sivasubramanian Swami Sivasubramanian, vice president at Amazon Web Services, speaks during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Aug. 29, 2019 in Shanghai, China. Gao Yuwen | Visual China Group | Getty Images Amazon’s cloud group is establishing a unit that will build software for working with artificial intelligence agents as the company aims to keep pace with competitors in generative AI. Swami Sivasubramanian, an Amazon vice president who has been at the company for about two decades, announced the plans in a Wednesday LinkedIn post. “Agentic systems offer possibilities that extend far beyond today’s chatbots and will drive efficiency like we haven’t seen before,” wrote Sivasubramanian, who most recently was in charge of Amazon Web Services’ database, analytics and AI services. “They will orchestrate complex workflows and solve problems with human-like reasoning, while maximizing performance and cost effectiveness at scale.” On Tuesday, Reuters reported that AWS CEO Matt Garman called agentic AI a potential multibillion-dollar business for AWS, in a memo about the new group. Customers have begun adopting agent software through AWS. Amazon is also a big user internally. For example, the company’s programmers have begun directing AWS’ Q developer service to write or update source code. Sivasubramanian said Amazon has “saved 4,500 developer years using Amazon Q Developer’s code transformation capability to upgrade Java applications.” In November, Microsoft announced an Azure AI Agent Service, and two months later Microsoft-backed OpenAI started allowing paying users try its agent software called Operator. In December, Google said it would provide limited access to its Agentspace tool for a select set of customers. Amazon leads the cloud infrastructure market, with nearly $29 billion in AWS revenue in the fourth quarter, well ahead of Microsoft and Google. Amazon has started promoting a next-generation version of its Alexa voice assistant that will be able to use AI models from AWS and from Anthropic, which is backed by Amazon. Anthropic is handling the most advanced elements of the new Alexa+, CNBC reported last week, though an Amazon spokesperson called the information “false.” WATCH: Clara Shih, head of business AI at Meta, on the ‘agentic’ future of the economy Source link #Amazons #cloud #unit #forms #agentic #group #Swami #Sivasubramanian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chiefs trading Joe Thuney to Bears for 2026 fourth-rounder: Sources – The Athletic – The Athletic Chiefs trading Joe Thuney to Bears for 2026 fourth-rounder: Sources – The Athletic – The Athletic Chiefs trading Joe Thuney to Bears for 2026 fourth-rounder: Sources – The Athletic The AthleticSource: Bears trading for All-Pro guard Thuney ESPNReported NFL Blockbuster Trade Throws Wrench In Patriots’ Plans NESNHow Joe Thuney improves the Bears’ outlook for free agency, the draft and 2025 The AthleticRanking Ryan Poles’ trades during his Chicago Bears’ tenure Windy City Gridiron Source link #Chiefs #trading #Joe #Thuney #Bears #fourthrounder #Sources #Athletic #Athletic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Everything Apple announced since its last event Everything Apple announced since its last event Apple used to treat every public-facing announcement like an event. Even its keynotes — ostensibly for investors and press — were well-orchestrated circuses. If there’s any conclusion to be drawn from the sheer number of new products the company’s launched without any kind of event since the iPhone 16 series was introduced six months ago, the time for hanging on Apple’s every word has passed. Some of it can be chalked up to the company’s new preference for recorded, highly-edited video presentations rather than live shows. Some of it might also have to do with the fact that since Apple started making the chips that power its smartphones, tablets and computers, most of the “new” things it introduces amount to spec bumps. Apple’s managed to announce eight new products since the iPhone 16, nine if you count a new chip that debuted in one of the company’s updated desktop computers. Here’s a look at all of that new hardware, from Apple’s most recent releases to the new computers it used to close out 2024. M4 MacBook Air Apple The MacBook Air is one of Apple’s most popular laptops, so it’s only natural it should get the latest M4 chip. Luckily, that extra power didn’t come at the cost of a more expensive computer. A 13-inch MacBook Air now starts at $999, with the 15-inch model coming in at $1,199, down from the $1,099 you used to have to pay to get an M3 MacBook Air. The new laptops also come with an improved 12MP Center Stage webcam, and a new metallic color option Apple’s dubbed “Sky Blue.” It’s not the most exciting announcement, but a new laptop that’s twice as powerful as Apple’s M1 computers for a lower price is welcome all the same. Mac Studio Apple Apple’s update to the Mac Studio, announced alongside the MacBook Air, is even more of a pure spec bump. No cosmetic changes were made to the Studio: The short and stout computer still has USB ports and an SD card reader on the front, with even more I/O options available on the back. What’s different are the chips powering the Mac Studio on the inside. Apple offers either an M4 Max with a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU or new M3 Ultra chip, which gives the Studio enough wiggle room to handle most professional creative workloads. With the M4 Max you can get up to 128GB of unified memory but if you opt for the M3 Ultra, that can go all the way up to 512GB. All of that power will cost you, though. The Mac Studio with the M4 Max starts at $1,999, while the M3 Ultra version starts at $3,999. M3 Ultra Apple The M3 Ultra is the truly novel part of the Mac Studio update. The late-arriving chip fills the top spot in Apple’s M3 lineup, with a 32-core CPU (24 of which are performance cores), up to a 80-core GPU and a 32-core Neural Engine. Apple claims the M3 Ultra is over two times as powerful as the M1 Ultra, likely because it’s technically two M3 Max chips connected together with the company’s “Ultrafusion” architecture. The new chip also supports Thunderbolt 5 for faster connectivity and specced with up to 512GB of unified memory. Currently, the M3 Ultra is only available on the Mac Studio, which oddly leaves the Mac Pro out of the loop. It’s possible Apple’s most expensive Mac will be updated soon, or maybe there’s an even more powerful chip waiting in the wings. M3 iPad Air Apple The same week Apple updated the MacBook Air and Mac Studio, it also tweaked the iPad Air, giving the 11- or 13-inch tablet a new M3 chip, and an updated version of the Magic Keyboard with a function row and a slightly larger trackpad. The iPad Air was already capable of Apple Intelligence and plenty fast with the M2 chip it received in 2024, so Apple’s announcement mainly keeps it competitive, unless you’re interested in ray-tracing, which admittedly is offered in some console games that have been ported to the iPad. The new iPad Air starts at $599, while the new Magic Keyboard starts at $260, and strangely, only comes in white. iPad Apple Apple’s changes to the entry-level iPad are even smaller. It’s been upgraded from an A14 Bionic chip to an A16, which means the tablet is faster, but still not capable of Apple Intelligence. The new tablet also starts with a larger amount of storage. Rather than the frankly dismal 64GB Apple used to offer at the low-end, you now can’t get an iPad without at least 128GB of storage. That’s not bad, even for Apple’s slightly expensive $349 starting price. Still, besides acting as the go-to option for families looking to buy a tablet for their kids or grandparents, Apple’s basic iPad mainly seems like a way to drive people to a more expensive option. iPhone 16e Brian Oh for Engadget The wait for a replacement to the 2022 iPhone SE was long, and as it turns out, the direction Apple wants to take the idea is a little unexpected. The company started the year by turning the SE into the iPhone 16e, a new low-end for the company’s smartphone lineup. The iPhone 16e is an odd mixture of iPhones old and new. It features the A18 chip, which means it can handle the little Apple Intelligence currently has to offer, it looks like an iPhone 14, but with a singular camera. And for some reason it doesn’t have MagSafe. For $549, the iPhone 16e doesn’t exactly feel like a deal, but is cheaper, and more importantly, interesting, as the first of Apple’s phones to feature its custom C1 modem. M4 Mac mini Devindra Hardawar for Engadget Small computers are always crowd-pleasers and the even more compact M4 Mac mini Apple released at the end of 2024 is no different. The updated Mac mini looks much more like a tall Apple TV than the flat DVD player shape of Apple’s older models and it has front-facing ports, too. For as little as $599, the Mac mini gets you access to the latest M4 chip and up to 64GB of unified memory, a pretty powerful little machine. With the option to slot in an M4 Pro, it can even be your workhorse, too. The Mac mini represents the other side of Apple’s recent focus on specs. A new chip isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but if it can lead to a radically smaller computer, it’s worth it. M4 iMac Steve Dent for Engadget The iMac’s move to M4 was far less of an overhaul than the Mac mini. Apple changed some of the color options, added a 12MP webcam and introduced an optional nano-texture finish to the display, but it’s otherwise the same old 24-inch all-in-one computer. Funnily, the ******* news out of the iMac refresh might have been its accessories. After switching to USB-C ports on basically all of its devices, Apple finally got rid of the Lightning port on the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard. The mouse still charges upside down, but at least you can use the same cable for everything. That’s maybe representative of the new iMac as a whole: It has the same quirks, but it’s definitely better than before. M4 MacBook Pro Devindra Hardawar for Engadget The M4 MacBook Pros were released not long after Apple introduced the iPhone 16 and the new laptops were mainly a vehicle for the introduction of the M4 family of chips as a whole. Apple didn’t really change the design of the MacBook Pro, just gave it more RAM, more Thunderbolt ports and a slightly brighter screen. The MacBook Pro comes in both 14-inch and 16-inch varieties, with either an M4, M4 Pro or M4 Max chip. The cheaper side of things, the M4 chip has a 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU, while the high-end M4 Max has a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU. The M4 MacBook Pros started the cascading wave of spec bumps Apple’s introduced over the last few months, and also the company’s AI focus: The M4 chip has a larger NPU, or Neural Engine, for completing AI tasks, regardless of which version you get. Source link #Apple #announced #event Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Leaders Chelsea brush aside Foxes, stay unbeaten in WSL Leaders Chelsea brush aside Foxes, stay unbeaten in WSL Chelsea have continued their unbeaten season in the Women’s Super League as the leaders beat Leicester City 3-1 at Kingsmeadow. Looking to bounce back from Sunday’s draw against Brighton Hove & Albion, Sonia Bompastor’s side went ahead through Catarina Macario’s deflected free kick. There was concern in the first half for the Foxes after they were forced to make an early substitution when Ruby Mace was taken off on a stretcher. Aggie Beever-Jones’ cool finish early in the second half doubled Chelsea’s advantage and the visitors pulled one back moments later through Yuka Momiki’s fantastic chipped shot before Erin Cuthbert’s shot from outside of the box sealed three points. “This result means a lot,” Bompastor told Sky Sports. “When you just dropped points it’s really important to win the game after and the reaction was good from my players, but I was expecting that.” Chelsea (44 points) remain unbeaten with 14 wins and two draws from 16 league games this season, while Leicester (12) stay just above the relegation zone. Leicester defender Courtney Nevin played a full game, as did fellow Matilda Mary Fowler in Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United. Bunny Shaw looked to have secured victory after coming off the bench to put City ahead 10 minutes from time but Manuela Pavi had the final say with an added-time equaliser to snatch a point for the Hammers. The draw means City (32) missed the chance to return to the top three, and the Champions League spots, while a well-earned point sees West Ham (15), who subbed Aussie veteran Katrina Gorry off in the 79th minute, stay ninth. With AAP. Source link #Leaders #Chelsea #brush #Foxes #stay #unbeaten #WSL Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Suikoden 1&2 HD Remaster(Switch) -Two Of PS1’s Best RPGs Beautifully Preserved, Mostly |NintendoLife Suikoden 1&2 HD Remaster(Switch) -Two Of PS1’s Best RPGs Beautifully Preserved, Mostly |NintendoLife Push Square: “Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars combine two incredible JRPGs from the genre’s golden age on PS1, lovingly remastered and improved for PS5 and PS4. They suffer from the same issues many games did back in the day: unwieldy, occasionally grindy, and sometimes obtuse. Still, the package offers fans the chance to experience these lesser-known gems, and both deserve a place in the collection of any fan, even the least bit interested.” Source link #Suikoden #RemasterSwitch #PS1s #RPGs #Beautifully #Preserved #NintendoLife Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside indicted on felony theft charges Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside indicted on felony theft charges PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside was indicted last month in connection with the theft of thousands of dollars as well as identity theft and forgery, according to court documents. The court documents state that over the course of several incidents in September 2024, Fireside allegedly stole thousands of dollars from a senior man and forged signatures on promissory notes. The charges were first reported by The Oregonian/Oregonlive. Fireside was elected in November as the Clackamas County Commissioner, beating out controversial former commissioner Mark Shull. Forest Grove man who used slingshot to smash out windows of passing cars sentenced According to the court documents, Fireside faces eight charges including first-degree aggravated theft, first-degree theft, two counts of computer crime, two counts of identity theft and two counts of first-degree forgery. No exact amount of money allegedly stolen was given in the court documents. No other details were immediately available. Fireside is expected to appear in court for arraignment on Wednesday. Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Source link #Clackamas #County #Commissioner #Melissa #Fireside #indicted #felony #theft #charges Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jack Daniel's maker says Canada pulling US alcohol off shelves 'worse than tariff' – Reuters Jack Daniel's maker says Canada pulling US alcohol off shelves 'worse than tariff' – Reuters Jack Daniel’s maker says Canada pulling US alcohol off shelves ‘worse than tariff’ ReutersOntario halts US alcohol sales as Trump tariffs take hold The HillDoes Canada supply electricity to US? What to know after lawmaker’s threat of surcharge, shutoff USA TODAYOntario threatens to cut electricity exports to Michigan in response to Trump’s tariffs Detroit Free Press Source link #Jack #Daniel039s #maker #Canada #pulling #alcohol #shelves #039worse #tariff039 #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Liverpool leave it late to stun PSG in Champions League Liverpool leave it late to stun PSG in Champions League Harvey Elliott has scored less than a minute after coming on as a late substitute to fire Liverpool to a 1-0 win at Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. Runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool had survived a barrage of attacks in the French capital on Wednesday night to keep the score at 0-0 going into the final minutes. Elliott was sent on to replace Mohamed Salah in the 86th minute and see out the final moments of the match, but became an unlikely hero when sweeping home a low shot, the Reds’ first of the night on target, with his first touch of the match. How Arne Slot’s side held on will take some analysing but it came down to sheer force of will, an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Alisson Becker and seizing the moment when it finally arose. Becker faced 27 shots and saved 10 of them but at times was the only thing standing in the way of complete annihilation against totally dominant opponents. In the all-******* tie, Bayern Munich took a big step towards the last eight with a 3-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen. Harry Kane ended his four-game scoring drought, heading home Michael Olise’s cross in the ninth minute. Jamal Musiala doubled Bayern’s advantage on 54 minutes and Kane got his second from the penalty spot in the 75th, the England forward’s 30th successfully taken penalty in a row. Elsehwere, ten-man Barcelona beat Benfica 1-0 and Inter Milan won 2-0 at Feyenoord. Pau Cubarsi saw red card in the 22nd minute, but managed to overcome the setback in Lisbon thanks to Raphinha’s winner in the 61st. Lautaro Martinez became Inter’s all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with his 18th goal in European club soccer’s most prestigious competition, overtaking club great Sandro Mazzola’s record. Martinez fired high into the corner of the net in the 50th minute in Rotterdam to double Inter’s lead after Marcus Thuram struck in the 38th. The 2023 finalists could have been in an even more commanding position after the first leg, but Piotr Zielinski’s penalty in the 65th was saved by Timon Wellenreuther. With PA & DPA. Source link #Liverpool #leave #late #stun #PSG #Champions #League Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Millions of dollars worth of heroin and fentanyl seized in huge North Jersey drug bust Millions of dollars worth of heroin and fentanyl seized in huge North Jersey drug bust New Jersey State Police confiscated several million dollars worth of heroin and fentanyl – enough for almost 500,000 doses of the drugs – in the culmination of a three-year investigation, officials said Wednesday. Authorities said they busted four opioid mills in Paterson – at 150 Harrison St., 92 Manchester Ave., 292 West Railway Ave., and 200 Godwin Ave. – as well as one in Garfield at 91 Jewel St. The brand names stamped on the opioid packets connected to the operation have been linked to 109 drug deaths and 143 non-fatal overdoses in the past several years, officials said. State officials said 21 people were indicted on first degree drug crimes because of the investigation. But 10 of those individuals remain fugitives, according to authorities. State news: NJ Transit, locomotive engineers continue to negotiate as strike deadline looms “Drug dealers profit, while people in our state suffer,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin during a press conference in Newark on Wednesday to announce the indictments. Officials at the event did not provide any information about where the street-level drug sales connected to the drug mills were taking place. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ State Police seize heroin and fentanyl in huge drug bust Source link #Millions #dollars #worth #heroin #fentanyl #seized #huge #North #Jersey #drug #bust Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Gausman solid in spring debut; Pirates edge Jays Gausman solid in spring debut; Pirates edge Jays By n The ********* Pressn The ********* Press Posted March 5, 2025 5:38 pm Updated March 5, 2025 5:39 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size BRADENTON – Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman had a short but solid spring debut as the Blue Jays fell 7-6 to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. Gausman didn’t allow a hit, walked one and struck out two over 1 2/3 innings in his first start of spring training before giving way to Josh Walker. Gausman is entering his fourth season with the Jays and the 13th of his career. He rebounded from a rough April last year to finish the 2024 season 14-11 with a 3.83 earned-run average. Related Videos 0:29 Bo Bichette going viral for openly flirting with trade Previous Video Next Video Story continues below advertisement The Pirates took a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning when Oneil Cruz hit a three-run homer with two out, followed by a Joey Bart solo shot. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Down 7-3, Toronto made it close with back-to-back homers in the eighth — a two-run homer from Arjun Nimmala and a solo homer from Alan Roden — but the comeback ended when Davis Schneider ground into a double play to end the ninth. Trending Now Trump exempts Big 3 automakers from Canada, Mexico tariffs for 1 month Trump may meet Canada, Mexico ‘in the middle’ on tariffs Wednesday: Lutnick Alejandro Kirk and Anthony Santander also homered for Toronto while Damiano Palmegiani hit an RBI double. Toronto (6-4) hosts the Boston Red Sox on Thursday afternoon in Dunedin, Fla. This report by The ********* Press was first published March 5, 2025. &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Gausman #solid #spring #debut #Pirates #edge #Jays Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Greeks, Italians, and Phoenicians Coexisted During 8th-Century, Study Shows Greeks, Italians, and Phoenicians Coexisted During 8th-Century, Study Shows Archaeologists have discovered that Greeks, Italians, and Phoenicians coexisted on the Mediterranean island of Ischia, Italy. Credit: Jonathan Melhuish / CC BY-NC 2.0 A new study has revealed that Greeks, Italians, and Phoenicians coexisted on the island of Ischia (now part of Italy), nearly 2,800 years ago, making it one of the earliest multicultural hubs in the Mediterranean. The research provides fresh insights into the region’s migration, trade, and cultural exchange during the early Iron Age. The study, led by the University of Padova in collaboration with several Italian institutions, analyzed human remains from an ancient burial site in Pithekoussai (Greek: Πιθηκοῦσαι), the historic name for Ischia. Researchers used isotope analysis on teeth and bones to trace individual origins and confirm the island’s role as a meeting point for different civilizations. An early center of cultural exchange Founded by Greek settlers from Euboea, Pithekoussai was the first known Greek colony in the western Mediterranean. However, the study confirms that it was not exclusively Greek. Instead, it was a diverse settlement where Greeks, Italians, and Phoenicians lived side by side, influencing each other’s customs and traditions. “This integration of archaeological, anthropological, and biogeochemical data allowed us to reconstruct the movements and interactions between the peoples who populated the island of Ischia with a level of detail never reached before, confirming the image of a Mediterranean of dialogue and mobility during the first millennium BCE,” said Carmen Esposito of the University of Bologna. Archaeologists examined more than 50 individuals from the burial site, some of whom had been cremated while others were buried. The findings indicate that Ischia was not only a destination for merchants but also a place where entire communities, including families, settled and thrived. Women’s role in migration and society The study challenges the long-standing idea that male traders primarily led early migration. The evidence suggests that women also played an essential role in Ischia’s growth, reinforcing the idea that both men and women contributed to the development of the settlement Melania Gigante, a researcher at the University of Padova, highlighted the significance of this discovery. “Thanks to the analysis of the strontium isotopic ratio, our study has identified an important component of foreigners at Pithekoussai, revealing a strongly heterogeneous society,” she said. Unraveling the mystery of the Cup of Nestor Among the most famous discoveries in Pithekoussai’s necropolis is the Cup of Nestor, an artifact inscribed with one of the oldest known examples of Greek writing. The Cup of Nestor at Ischia. Credit: Marcus Cyron / CC BY-SA 4.0 The engraving refers to the legendary chalice of Nestor from Homer’s epics, making it a crucial link in understanding how Greek literacy spread to the western Mediterranean. For years, scholars debated the individual’s identity buried alongside the cup. Recent isotope analysis has determined that at least one person in the tomb was born on Ischia. This discovery reinforces the idea that the island was home to immigrants and a stable local community. A window into the ancient Mediterranean By integrating archaeological, anthropological, and biochemical data, researchers have painted a clearer picture of life on Ischia in the 8th century BC. The island was not just a trading outpost for ancient Greeks but a thriving, multicultural society that played a key role in shaping the history of the Mediterranean. The study provides new evidence of how different cultures coexisted and influenced one another, shedding light on Magna Graecia’s early days and the broader dynamics of the ancient world. Source link #Greeks #Italians #Phoenicians #Coexisted #8thCentury #Study #Shows Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bacterial vaginosis: Common ******** condition is really an STD, study finds – CNN Bacterial vaginosis: Common ******** condition is really an STD, study finds – CNN Bacterial vaginosis: Common ******** condition is really an STD, study finds CNNBacterial vaginosis can be passed to women by men, researchers find The GuardianBacterial Vaginosis May Be ********* Transmitted, New Study Shows The New York TimesCommon Infection May in Fact Be World’s Most Prevalent STI ScienceAlertNew STI impacts 1 in 3 women: Study reveals men are the missing link Medical Xpress Source link #Bacterial #vaginosis #Common #******** #condition #STD #study #finds #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sanctuary city mayors struggle to counter GOP's ‘pro-criminal’ attacks Sanctuary city mayors struggle to counter GOP's ‘pro-criminal’ attacks Democratic mayors, summoned to Washington to answer for their handling of the immigration crisis, struggled on Wednesday to combat Republican allegations their cities are rife with violent crime and in need of rescuing by the GOP administration. It was the culmination of months of relentless attacks by President Donald Trump and his allies, and it sets up further moves by the administration — including Vice President JD Vance’s trip to the southern border Wednesday afternoon — to keep Democrats in a defensive crouch on the issue. Republicans on the House Oversight Committee grilled the chief executives of Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City on the heels of Trump’s victory lap in his joint address to Congress Tuesday evening. There, he proclaimed that his administration had begun “the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history.” Mirroring the administration’s language, Republicans in Congress pulled out isolated incidents of violence by undocumented immigrants to make their case that cities with sanctuary status should open their jails to federal authorities — despite the mayors saying there’s no law requiring local authorities to coordinate with U.S. immigration officials. “Sanctuary cities make us all less safe and are a public safety nightmare,” said House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.). “We cannot let pro-criminal alien policies [and] obstructionist sanctuary cities continue to endanger American communities and the safety of federal immigration enforcement officers.” Democrats countered with nuanced, at times convoluted, legal arguments about where the authority, and responsibility, to deal with the immigration issue lies. “The welcoming city ordinance is pretty straightforward — it allows for our local law enforcement to focus on local policies,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, of his own city’s sanctuary city policies that protect undocumented residents. Ultimately, the events of this week show how Democrats are writhing under the heavy boot of the GOP on immigration, a major electoral issue on which the left has had trouble gaining traction — even as the Trump administration has pursued unpopular efforts like ending birthright citizenship and allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to make arrests in schools and churches. During Wednesday’s roughly six-hour hearing, Massachusetts Rep. Stephen ******, a Democrat, acknowledged that lawmakers were having a hard time coming up with comprehensive immigration policy given Congress’ responsibilities to regulate immigration and the cities’ own authorities. “We’re struggling with this right now — there’s a tension between that authority of Congress to act under Article I of the Constitution, and then your responsibility, nobly taken, to provide a safe environment for the residents and visitors to your cities,” ****** said to the mayors. “How do we reconcile? And I’m asking you for advice.” The mayors had few, if any, answers. Instead, they punted it back to the Republican lawmakers, including by imploring Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill. “Respectfully, congressman, you could pass bipartisan legislation and that would be comprehensive immigration law,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in response to a line of questioning from Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.). “The false narrative is that immigrants in general are criminals, or immigrants in general cause all sorts of danger and harm. That is actually what is undermining safety in our communities.” That plea is almost certain to fall on deaf ears in a Republican governing trifecta, where GOP lawmakers are more focused on reducing ******** immigration than on expanding pathways to citizenship. The administration has its own immigration agenda, with Trump officials dialing up the pressure on Congress to fill resource gaps in the months ahead. The president said Tuesday night that he sent a detailed funding request to Congress and urged GOP leaders to move quickly as he vows to complete the “largest deportation operation in American history.” Vance was in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Wednesday to survey the state of migrant apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border, where he sought to build momentum for the congressional funding ask as the administration’s ability to meet its deportation ambitions has been stymied by lack of resources. “We didn’t need new laws to secure the border, we needed a new president, and thank God we have that,” said Vance, who was on the ground with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Back on Capitol Hill, Democrats throughout the hearing extolled the virtues of immigration. Mass deportations, Wu said, would be “devastating for our economy.” At times, both the Democratic mayors and Democrats on the Oversight Committee tried to change the subject entirely. Wu, for instance, called on Congress to pass gun control legislation and to protect Medicaid, as Republicans are mulling cuts to the health care program. Democratic Rep. ***** Krishnamoorthi, whose Illinois district is not far from Chicago, bemoaned the cost of eggs under the new Trump administration, saying it would soon be cheaper to buy a magazine for an assault rifle than breakfast. Republicans, on the other hand, demanded the mayors account for violence that they argued was the result of lax immigration enforcement, drawing from emotionally charged and graphic examples. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio pointed to the arrest of an alleged Venezuelan gang member charged with a number of crimes around the Denver area. Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina accused the mayors of having “blood” on their hands. And Rep. Clay Higgins spoke beside a photo of a young baby held by her parents, one of whom was killed by an undocumented immigrant in Texas. “He’ll never be here to raise his daughter,” Higgins said, emphatically. “You mayors, you have responsibility not just to your communities and the citizens … but by extension to the entire Republic.” Jordan pressed Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to answer specifically on the Denver case, which Jordan said culminated in the assault of an ICE official. Johnston said he had reviewed video of the incident and offered to sit down with ICE officials if there were procedures his city could change. One mayor received a more friendly welcome by Republicans than the others: New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has found himself allied with the Trump administration on its immigration agenda after the Department of Justice moved to drop the corruption case against him. Comer thanked Adams for his cooperation with the administration on working with ICE, while Democrats accused him of entering into a quid pro quo with the administration in return for the dismissal of his criminal case — an allegation Adams vehemently denied. But the much anticipated hearing, which was hyped with a movie-style trailer from the House Oversight Committee, failed to deliver the same kind of reverberations as the hearing with elite university presidents in late 2023 over allegations of antisemitic activity on their campuses. House Republicans weren’t able to trip up mayors in the same way Rep. Elise Stefanik did when she questioned the college presidents about whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their schools’ codes of conduct. Still, like many other Oversight Committee hearings in this Congress and the previous legislative session, tensions still at times boiled over into testy exchanges. Comer at one point threatened to remove Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley from the hearing, as she tried to read an article to enter materials into the Congressional record. “This trend of you all trying to get thrown out of committees so you can get on MSNBC is gonna end,” Comer said. “We’re not gonna put up with it.” Irie Sentner, Myah Ward, Emily Ngo and Kelly Garrity contributed to this report. Source link #Sanctuary #city #mayors #struggle #counter #GOP039s #procriminal #attacks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Alaska: Three skiers feared dead in massive avalanche as rescue services perform frantic search Alaska: Three skiers feared dead in massive avalanche as rescue services perform frantic search Three skiers who had flown by helicopter to a remote mountain range in Alaska have beenswept away by an avalanche and are dead under the weight of snow nearly as deep as a 10-storey building, state troopers say. If the deaths are confirmed it would be the deadliest US avalanche since three climbers were killed in a slide in Washington’s Cascade Mountains two years ago. While troopers have not been able to assess the site yet, “based on the information provided by the operator, unfortunately, we do not believe that any of the three missing persons survived the avalanche”, said Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Alaska state troopers. The avalanche happened late Tuesday afternoon near the skiing community of Girdwood, located about 65 km south of Anchorage, said Mr McDaniel. Guides from the heli-skiing company attempted to locate the skiers. Using avalanche beacons, the guides identified a probable area where the skiers were buried, at a depth of up to 35 metres, Mr McDaniel said. “The guides were unable to recover the three skiers due to the depth. Due to considerable avalanche risk in this area and limited daylight, no further recovery operations were conducted on March 4,” he said. “If weather and conditions allow for it, troopers plan to assess avalanche conditions from the air and determine recovery options with individuals that have experience making avalanche recoveries.” The avalanche site is 13 km northeast of the airport in Girdwood. Girdwood is the skiing capital of Alaska, and home to the Alyeska Resort, at the base of Mount Alyeska, where people downhill ski or snowboard amid stunning views. Heli-skiing is using a helicopter to reach the top of a mountain in remote areas where there are no ski-lifts, and a person either skis or snowboards down the mountain. Each winter, 25 to 30 people die in avalanches in the US, according to the National Avalanche Centre. Source link #Alaska #skiers #feared #dead #massive #avalanche #rescue #services #perform #frantic #search Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 Piglets Were Left to Starve in a Shocking Art Exhibit. The Artist’s Friend Admits Hatching Plot to Steal Them 3 Piglets Were Left to Starve in a Shocking Art Exhibit. The Artist’s Friend Admits Hatching Plot to Steal Them Three piglets that were being deliberately starved as part of a controversial art exhibition have been stolen, according to the artist. Marco Evaristti, a Chilean artist living in Denmark, told The New York Times this week that the piglets were swiped from his exhibit at a former butcher’s shop in Copenhagen on Saturday, March 1. He told the outlet that a maintenance crew briefly left the room to clean a toilet while animal rights activists were present. “After four minutes, they come out and it was no pigs.” Copenhagen police told the Times that nobody had yet been charged in the theft, but Evaristti claimed in an interview with the Associated Press that they had been stolen with assistance from a friend of his, Casper Steffensen. Reached for comment, Steffensen confirms to PEOPLE he had “arranged” for the Organization Against the Suffering of Animals (OASA) to rescue the piglets from Evaristti, whom he described as his hero. “Marco is very dedicated to his work, and even though he has a big heart for animals, he would sacrifice them to make a greater statement,” Steffensen told PEOPLE in an email. “I couldn’t bare to watch [or] be a part of it — so early Saturday morning before we opened I arranged for OASA to rescue them.” Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. He noted that he had grown fond of the piglets and made the decision to assist in their rescue after his young daughter asked him if Evaristti planned to starve them. Inquiries from PEOPLE to Evaristti and Copenhagen police were not immediately returned. The piglets were trapped in a makeshift cage made of two shopping carts as part of Evaristti’s exhibit, “And Now You Care?,” meant to bring attention to the cruelty of the pork industry in Denmark. More than 27,000 piglets die per day in Danish pig barns, he wrote on Instagram. Evaristti reported receiving “hate messages” related to the project on social media, and the piece was denounced by animal rights campaigners. It’s not Evaristti’s first provocative exhibition. In 2000, Evaristti’s Helena exhibit invited onlookers to press a button on a blender and kill a goldfish swimming inside. Years later, he would make meatballs out of his own body ****, removed via liposuction, and serve them at a dinner party with agnolotti pasta. Read the original article on People Source link #Piglets #Left #Starve #Shocking #Art #Exhibit #Artists #Friend #Admits #Hatching #Plot #Steal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Macron: France must face ‘Russian threat’ with or without US – POLITICO Europe Macron: France must face ‘Russian threat’ with or without US – POLITICO Europe Macron: France must face ‘Russian threat’ with or without US POLITICO EuropeMacron warns Russian aggression ‘knows no borders’ in televised address The GuardianFrance’s Macron says he will hold meeting of European army chiefs in Paris next week ReutersMacron to address nation late on Wednesday over global ‘uncertainty’ FRANCE 24 English Source link #Macron #France #face #Russian #threat #POLITICO #Europe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

'Who needs a number nine?' – How Arsenal scored seven without striker 'Who needs a number nine?' – How Arsenal scored seven without striker Nedum Onuoha analyses Arsenal’s record-breaking 7-1 victory over PSV in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. Source link #039Who #number #nine039 #Arsenal #scored #striker Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gold Coast Suns general manager Wayne Campbell on why Matt Rowell talks are OK Gold Coast Suns general manager Wayne Campbell on why Matt Rowell talks are OK Gold Coast Suns understand the changing landscape of AFL player movement as much as any club and its why the club’s general manager is calm about Matt Rowell speaking with rivals. Source link #Gold #Coast #Suns #general #manager #Wayne #Campbell #Matt #Rowell #talks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk’s DOGE may bring some pain to these 4 high-growth restaurant stocks Elon Musk’s DOGE may bring some pain to these 4 high-growth restaurant stocks The world’s richest person lurks over premium-priced burritos, salad bowls, and hamburgers in Washington, D.C., like a bad case of food poisoning. Billionaire Elon Musk taking a chainsaw to the federal workforce as part of his DOGE initiatives may hit sales at Cava (CAVA), Shake Shack (SHAK), Chipotle (CMG), and Sweetgreen (SG), according to new research from Bank of America analyst Sara Senatore. The reason: an unsavory exposure to the government workforce on the hunt for lunch and dinner. If the workers aren’t there amid getting pink slips from the DOGE team, then these concepts can’t ring the register, so to speak. The four fast-growing restaurant chains boast 231 combined locations in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area. Sweetgreen and Cava have outsized ties to D.C. — with the area measured by BofA representing 11% of their perspective store counts. Listen: Sweetgreen’s co-founder on his robot push Chipotle and Shake Shack, larger chains on a relative basis, have 4% and 3%, respectively, of their locations in the D.C. area. A clock has already begun on each chain possibly feeling the long arms of Musk’s cuts. DOGE ordered federal government agencies to implement a large-scale reduction in workforce on Feb. 13. February to date, initial jobless claims in Washington, D.C., have increased 248% year over year, per BofA. That marks an acceleration from an already robust pace in January, when initial jobless claims jumped 103% compared to the prior year. BofA said the initial claims figure in D.C. could continue to climb as more cuts happen. Traffic already appears to be coming under pressure for not only the aforementioned chains but also restaurants in the area more broadly. BofA’s data shows that foot traffic year to date in D.C. for fast food and quick-service restaurants has fallen 1.6% year over year. That’s more pronounced than the 0.7% year-to-date drop in the U.S. for these restaurant categories. For breakfast, coffee shops, bakeries, and dessert shops, the average year-over-year traffic growth in the D.C. area has declined 0.8% year to date. That contrasts with a 1.2% year-to-date increase for the U.S. The layoffs are “raising concerns among investors about the implications for fast casual chains with relatively large DC area footprints,” wrote Senatore. Watch: Chipotle’s CEO doesn’t rule out robots NYSE – Delayed Quote • USD CMG SG SHAK Shares of Cava, Shake Shack, Chipotle, and Sweetgreen are down an average of 23% year to date compared to a modest drop for the S&P 500 (^GSPC). Sweetgreen has been the worst performer this year, shedding 33%. Source link #Elon #Musks #DOGE #bring #pain #highgrowth #restaurant #stocks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trudeau not willing to lift Canada’s retaliatory tariffs if Trump leaves some tariffs on Canada – The Associated Press Trudeau not willing to lift Canada’s retaliatory tariffs if Trump leaves some tariffs on Canada – The Associated Press Trudeau not willing to lift Canada’s retaliatory tariffs if Trump leaves some tariffs on Canada The Associated PressStock market surges after Trump permits carmakers 1-month tariff exemption ABC NewsTrump news updates: US president tells Canada’s Trudeau ‘not good enough’ Al Jazeera EnglishCanada Won’t Scrap Tariffs Unless All US Levies Are Lifted, Official Says BloombergTrump says Trudeau ‘trying to use’ tariff fight ‘to stay in power’ The Hill Source link #Trudeau #lift #Canadas #retaliatory #tariffs #Trump #leaves #tariffs #Canada #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis in stable condition, resumes some work Pope Francis in stable condition, resumes some work Pope Francis, who has been struggling to overcome double pneumonia for almost three weeks, remains in stable condition and has not had any new breathing crises, the ******** said. The 88-year-old pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that has required continuously evolving treatment. In a relatively upbeat health bulletin on Wednesday, the ******** said the pope had carried out some work and had spent much of the day in an armchair. The last time the ******** specified that the pope had been able to work was on February 27. However, his doctors reiterated that his prognosis was “guarded”, meaning he was not yet out of danger. The ******** also said that Francis would once again be reconnected to non-invasive mechanical ventilation overnight after it was removed during the day, underscoring his continued difficulty in shaking off the dangerous illness. When he is not on mechanical ventilation, which pushes air into the lungs and does not require a patient to be sedated, the pope receives a high-flow of oxygen via a small nasal hose under his nose. For the first time since February 24, the ******** said the pope had made a call to the Catholic parish in Gaza, which he has done frequently during the Israel-****** war. Francis suffered what the ******** described as two episodes of “acute respiratory insufficiency” on Monday, but has had no repeat of this since then. He has not been seen in public since entering hospital, his longest such absence since his papacy started 12 years ago. His doctors have not said how long the treatment might last. His illness has meant that he has already missed a number of Church events, including a service on Wednesday known as Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of a 40-day ******* leading to Easter Sunday and which he normally presides over. Instead, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis stood in for him. “We feel deeply united with him at this time,” De Donatis told the congregation in a Rome church. “We thank him for offering his prayers and his sufferings for the good of the entire Church and the whole world.” Christians receive a sign of the cross in ashes on their forehead during the service – a rite intended to remind people of their mortality. Donatis dwelt on the theme in his sermon. “In many ways, we try to banish death from our societies … Death, however, imposes itself as a reality with which we have to reckon, a sign of the precariousness and brevity of our lives,” he said, in the homily which had been originally prepared for Francis to deliver. The ******** said the pope had also taken part in an Ash Wednesday service in his hospital suite. Francis has experienced several bouts of ill health over the last two years and is prone to lung infections because he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. Double pneumonia is a serious infection in both lungs that can inflame and scar them, making it difficult to breathe. Source link #Pope #Francis #stable #condition #resumes #work Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Experts reveal stunning potential impact of reintroducing predator to landscape for first time in 250 years Experts reveal stunning potential impact of reintroducing predator to landscape for first time in 250 years Wolves, apex predators with fascinating social structures and a side job as pollinators, could be the key to restoring the Scottish Highlands. Reintroducing the creatures to the area would keep deer populations in check, allow saplings to grow, and remove 1 million tonnes (1.1 million tons) of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, according to University of Leeds researchers, The Guardian reported. In the Cairngorms and southwest, northwest, and central Highlands, red deer prevent the natural regeneration of woodlands. Just 167 gray wolves could account for 5% of the carbon removal goal for U.K. woodlands, meaning each animal is worth £154,000 (around $195,000). This idea is not new; reintroducing wolves to the Highlands has been discussed for more than 50 years. The carnivorous canines have been absent from Scotland for approximately 250 years, The Guardian reported. (There are around 18,000 wolves in Western Europe.) In their absence, red deer have exploded, with the population reaching 400,000 in the country alone. Amid such initiatives as a wolf hunt in Sweden, a reintroduction program in Scotland would be welcomed by many. But farmers, rural communities, and hunters may not support such an effort, and the species’ continental comeback — an uptick of 50% over the last dozen years — has sparked concern as well, especially regarding livestock, as the newspaper detailed. Watch now: Giant snails invading New York City? “Our aim is to provide new information to inform ongoing and future discussions about the possibility of wolf reintroductions both in the U.K. and elsewhere,” the study’s co-author Lee Schofield told The Guardian. “We recognise that substantial and wide-ranging stakeholder and public engagement would clearly be essential before any wolf reintroduction could be considered. “Human-wildlife conflicts involving carnivores are common and must be addressed through public policies that account for people’s attitudes for a reintroduction to be successful,” Schofield added. Rewilding Britain reported that wolves not only control deer populations but also help feed other species via carcasses. The Eurasian wolf, a keystone species that reaches speeds of 62 kilometers per hour (39 mph), “can reduce overgrazing and support the establishment of woodlands and mosaic habitats, which in turn boosts biodiversity and transforms landscapes.” Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #Experts #reveal #stunning #potential #impact #reintroducing #predator #landscape #time #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Skylines II ‘will not have a release before summer’ on console, team says Skylines II ‘will not have a release before summer’ on console, team says The latest chapter in the troubled tale of Cities: Skylines II won’t be ending any time soon. The game has still not launched on consoles, despite an initial launch date of for the PC version. Developer Colossal Order delayed the console version to , but the latest post on the forums for publisher Paradox Interactive revealed that the city-building sequel still isn’t ready for its PlayStation and Xbox debut. “We know many of you are eagerly awaiting the console release, but to set expectations clearly: we will not have a release before summer. We want to avoid any premature estimates and instead commit to providing you with reliable information when we’re closer to a launch-ready state,” the team said in the official . “Our goal remains unchanged: to bring Cities: Skylines II to console in the best possible shape.” In addition to the console port needing more time, the planned asset editor for Cities: Skylines II is also not ready yet. The studio is working to resolve technical issues that are impacting game performance and stability with this editor. After creating a strong and mostly positive community around the original Cities: Skylines game, tensions have run high between the players and the studio surrounding this sequel. The community was vocal in their disappointments about technical issues and a . On the side of the developers, those disappointments devolved into personal attacks on team members. The will hopefully calm on both sides once the game reaches a more stable state. Source link #Skylines #release #summer #console #team Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]