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Tropical Cyclone Alfred puts AFL season opener between Brisbane and Geelong in doubt Tropical Cyclone Alfred puts AFL season opener between Brisbane and Geelong in doubt AFL bosses are sweating on a cyclone in Queensland that is threatening to derail Thursday’s season opener between Brisbane and Geelong. Tropical Cyclone Alfred is predicted to hit the region this week, with the Bureau of Meteorology was forecasting up to 40mm of rain in Brisbane on Thursday. It means the Lions could face a wet reception as they get set to unfurl last year’s premiership flag, but there is a possibility the game could be postponed. “We will continue to monitor the situation over the coming days and be in step with Government advice,” an AFL spokesperson said on Sunday. The game is set to mark the first time Brisbane has hosted the opening match of the season since 2005. Source link #Tropical #Cyclone #Alfred #puts #AFL #season #opener #Brisbane #Geelong #doubt Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Indian businessman wins *** extradition appeal over torture concerns Indian businessman wins *** extradition appeal over torture concerns LONDON (Reuters) – An Indian businessman on Friday won his appeal against extradition from Britain, with London’s High Court ruling there was a risk of torture or other mistreatment in his homeland. London-based Sanjay Bhandari, 63 and described by his lawyers as a defence sector consultant, is wanted in India on charges of tax evasion and money laundering. He previously sued French defence and technology firm Thales in France, claiming payment for his help in obtaining a fighter jet maintenance deal in India, which Thales denied. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. After being picked up at India’s request, British ministers ordered Bhandari’s extradition in January 2023. But he successfully appealed to the High Court, which ruled that extraditing him would breach his human rights because of the high risk of mistreatment in custody in India. The court’s ruling contains stinging criticism of the Indian justice system, saying torture is used to obtain confessions, prisoners are at high risk of extortion and inmates have been killed by or in front of prison officers. India’s High Commission in London and Bhandari’s lawyer did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The judges, Timothy Holroyde and Karen Steyn, said in a written ruling that the use of torture to obtain confessions was endemic. “It is apparent that the acceptance in India of torture or other serious mistreatment as a method of evidence-gathering extends beyond the police and investigating bodies, such that it is unlikely that the appellant (Bhandari) could look to prison officials for protection from the organisations that are engaged in investigating him,” their ruling said. They also referred to conditions at New Dehli’s Tihar jail, where Bhandari would be held and where his lawyers said there was a culture of violence and extortion. The court cited a prisoner’s ******* in front of guards in 2023. (Reporting by Sam Tobin; additional reporting by Catarina Demony; editing by Andrew Cawthorne) Source link #Indian #businessman #wins #extradition #appeal #torture #concerns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Saturday Night Live’ Skewers Trump-Zelensky Oval Office Showdown With A Cameo From Mike Myers As Elon Musk – Deadline ‘Saturday Night Live’ Skewers Trump-Zelensky Oval Office Showdown With A Cameo From Mike Myers As Elon Musk – Deadline ‘Saturday Night Live’ Skewers Trump-Zelensky Oval Office Showdown With A Cameo From Mike Myers As Elon Musk Deadline’SNL’ Cold Open Takes On Trump/Zelenskyy, Mike Meyers as Elon Musk Variety‘SNL’ Spoofs Trump-Zelensky Oval Office Showdown With Cameo From Mike Myers as Elon Musk Hollywood Reporter‘SNL’ Cold Open: Mike Myers Crashes Zelenskyy Meeting as Elon Musk | Video Yahoo Entertainment‘SNL’ Cold Open: Mike Myers’ Elon Musk Clumsily Waves Chainsaw Around Trump’s Head Rolling Stone Source link #Saturday #Night #Live #Skewers #TrumpZelensky #Oval #Office #Showdown #Cameo #Mike #Myers #Elon #Musk #Deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Government’s tradie bonus scheme lures hundreds from eastern states and dozens from New Zealand Government’s tradie bonus scheme lures hundreds from eastern states and dozens from New Zealand Hundreds of eastern states tradies and dozens of Kiwis have seized on $10,000 sweeteners to move to WA, it can be revealed. The State Government opened applications for qualified building and construction workers on the first day of the new year in a bid to ramp up housing supply. Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk — who is locked in a fierce battle with an independent to hold onto her seat of Fremantle — revealed there were 268 applications in the first 49 days of the scheme. Of these, 205 are from other states or territories, largely New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, and 63 are from New Zealand. Fifty-five have been approved, 180 are still being assessed and 33 were knocked back for being ineligible. There are 58 eligible occupations, with foreign applicants required to meet visa conditions. “It’s encouraging to see such a positive response to our Build a Life in WA incentive, which will help to get more boots on the ground so we can get homes built sooner for West Australians,” Ms McGurk said. Camera IconHousing approvals grew in December but not by enough to reach the Albanese’s 240,000 new homes a year target. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia “Since the scheme opened in January, we’ve seen the most interest from carpenters, electricians, plumbers, bricklayers, and construction project managers.” The program provides a $5,000 payment for when a skilled worker gets a job with a WA employer and then another $5000 when they complete six months employment in the State’s building industry. As housing shaped up as a major election issue, WA Labor released a series of programs to boost housing and rental stock. In addition to the tradie incentive, the Government also offered grants to turn vacant homes and short stay rentals, such as Airbnbs, onto the long-term rental market. There have been 473 properties added to the long-term market from the short-term scheme and another 199 added under the vacant property scheme. Perth’s rental vacancy rate hit 2 per cent at the start of 2025 after dropping to a suffocating 0.7 per cent a year earlier. A balanced market typically has a vacancy rate between 2.5 and 3.5 per cent. Source link #Governments #tradie #bonus #scheme #lures #hundreds #eastern #states #dozens #Zealand Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rates dropped by 28 basis points in February Rates dropped by 28 basis points in February Most mortgage rates have decreased again today. According to Zillow data, the current 30-year fixed interest rate is 6.27% — down 28 basis points since the beginning of February. The 15-year fixed rate is 5.57%, which is 31 basis points since this time last month. So, will mortgage rate keep dropping? It’s hard to say. There are a lot of economic and political unknowns right now, and various factors could push rates up or down. Overall, housing experts don’t think home loan rates will nosedive in 2025. Since rates are down over the last month, this could be a good time to buy a house. Have questions about buying, owning, or selling a house? Submit your question to Yahoo’s panel of Realtors using this Google form. Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.27% 20-year fixed: 5.98% 15-year fixed: 5.57% 5/1 ARM: 6.53% 7/1 ARM: 6.62% 30-year VA: 5.72% 15-year VA: 5.18% 5/1 VA: 5.91% Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth. Learn more: 5 strategies for getting the lowest mortgage rates These are today’s mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.27% 20-year fixed: 5.88% 15-year fixed: 5.58% 5/1 ARM: 6.73% 7/1 ARM: 6.84% 30-year VA: 5.68% 15-year VA: 5.33% 5/1 VA: 6.09% 30-year FHA: 6.06% Again, the numbers provided are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth. Mortgage refinance rates are often higher than rates when you buy a house, although that’s not always the case. You can use Yahoo Finance’s free Yahoo’s free mortgage calculator to see how various interest rates and term lengths will impact your monthly mortgage payment. It also shows how the home price and down payment amount play into things. Our calculator includes homeowners insurance and property taxes in your monthly payment estimate. You even have the option to enter costs for private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowners’ association dues if those apply to you. These details result in a more accurate monthly payment estimate than if you simply calculated your mortgage principal and interest. There are two main advantages to a 30-year fixed mortgage: Your payments are lower, and your monthly payments are predictable. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has relatively low monthly payments because you’re spreading your repayment out over a longer ******* of time than with, say, a 15-year mortgage. Your payments are predictable because, unlike with an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), your rate isn’t going to change from year to year. Most years, the only things that might affect your monthly payment are any changes to your homeowners insurance or property taxes. The main disadvantage to 30-year fixed mortgage rates is mortgage interest — both in the short and long term. A 30-year fixed term comes with a higher rate than a shorter fixed term, and it’s higher than the intro rate to a 30-year ARM. The higher your rate, the higher your monthly payment. You’ll also pay much more in interest over the life of your loan due to both the higher rate and the longer term. The pros and cons of 15-year fixed mortgage rates are basically swapped from the 30-year rates. Yes, your monthly payments will still be predictable, but another advantage is that shorter terms come with lower interest rates. Not to mention, you’ll pay off your mortgage 15 years sooner. So you’ll save potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest over the course of your loan. However, because you’re paying off the same amount in half the time, your monthly payments will be higher than if you choose a 30-year term. Dig deeper: 15-year vs. 30-year mortgages Adjustable-rate mortgages lock in your rate for a predetermined amount of time, then change it periodically. For example, with a 5/1 ARM, your rate stays the same for the first five years and then goes up or down once per year for the remaining 25 years. The main advantage is that the introductory rate is usually lower than what you’ll get with a 30-year fixed rate, so your monthly payments will be lower. (Current average rates don’t necessarily reflect this, though — in some cases, fixed rates are actually lower. Talk to your lender before deciding between a fixed or adjustable rate.) With an ARM, you have no idea what mortgage rates will be like once the intro-rate ******* ends, so you risk your rate increasing later. This could ultimately end up costing more, and your monthly payments are unpredictable from year to year. But if you plan to move before the intro-rate ******* is over, you could reap the benefits of a low rate without risking a rate increase down the road. Learn more: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgage First of all, now is a relatively good time to buy a house compared to the last couple of years. Home prices aren’t spiking like they were during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you want or need to buy a house soon, you should feel pretty good about the current climate. Mortgage rates aren’t predicted to fall drastically throughout 2025 like people were expecting a few months ago. Now could be just as good a time to buy as in a couple of months from now, especially since rates fell a bit in February. The best time to buy is typically whenever it makes sense for your stage of life. Trying to time the real estate market can be as futile as timing the stock market — buy when it’s the right time for you. Read more: Which is more important, your home price or mortgage rate? According to Zillow, the national average 30-year mortgage rate is 6.27% right now. But keep in mind that averages can vary depending on where you live. For example, if you’re buying in a city with a high cost of living, rates could be higher. Mortgage rates are expected to go down in general in 2025, though they probably won’t significantly drop anytime soon. Mortgage rates have been dropping over the last couple of weeks, and they’re down overall since February 1. In many ways, securing a low mortgage refinance rate is similar to when you bought your home. Try to improve your credit score and lower your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Refinancing into a shorter term will also land you a lower rate, though your monthly mortgage payments will be higher. Source link #Rates #dropped #basis #points #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Monster Hunter Wilds Launched With a Typo in Its Configuration File on PC, Players Claim Fixing It Improves FPS and Performance – TheGamePost Monster Hunter Wilds Launched With a Typo in Its Configuration File on PC, Players Claim Fixing It Improves FPS and Performance – TheGamePost Monster Hunter Wilds Launched With a Typo in Its Configuration File on PC, Players Claim Fixing It Improves FPS and Performance TheGamePostMonster Hunter Wilds Review IGN‘My air fryer is more optimized than this’: Monster Hunter Wilds players are suffering from performance issues Polygon‘Monster Hunter Wilds’ Is Already Steam’s 6th Biggest Game Ever, With A Catch ForbesMonster Hunter Wilds live launch coverage: Server status, hunting tips, and all the latest release day news PC Gamer Source link #Monster #Hunter #Wilds #Launched #Typo #Configuration #File #Players #Claim #Fixing #Improves #FPS #Performance #TheGamePost Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former bikie turns in Peake performance to win NZ Open Former bikie turns in Peake performance to win NZ Open Former bikie Ryan Peake has gone bogey-free for 55 holes to win the New Zealand Open in remarkable fashion. Source link #bikie #turns #Peake #performance #win #Open Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rubio signs declaration to expedite delivery of $4 billion in military aid to Israel Rubio signs declaration to expedite delivery of $4 billion in military aid to Israel WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday he had signed a declaration to expedite delivery of approximately $4 billion in military assistance to Israel. The Trump administration, which took office on January 20, has approved nearly $12 billion in major foreign military sales to Israel, Rubio said in a statement, adding that it “will continue to use all available tools to fulfill America’s long-standing commitment to Israel’s security, including means to counter security threats.” Rubio said he had used emergency authority to expedite the delivery of military assistance to Israel to its Middle East ally, now in a fragile ceasefire with ****** militants in their war in Gaza. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. The Pentagon said on Friday that the State Department had approved the potential ***** of nearly $3 billion worth of bombs, demolition kits and other weaponry to Israel. The administration notified Congress of those prospective weapons sales on an emergency basis, sidestepping a long-standing practice of giving the chairs and ranking members of the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees the opportunity to review the ***** and ask for more information before making a formal notification to Congress. Friday’s announcements marked the second time in recent weeks that President Donald Trump’s administration has declared an emergency to quickly approve weapons sales to Israel. The Biden administration also used emergency authority to approve the ***** of arms to Israel without congressional review. On Monday, the Trump administration rescinded a Biden-era order requiring it to report potential violations of international law involving U.S.-supplied weapons by allies, including Israel. It has also eliminated most U.S. humanitarian foreign aid. The January 19 Israel-****** ceasefire agreement halted 15 months of fighting and paved the way for talks on ending the war, while leading to the release of 44 Israeli hostages held in Gaza and around 2,000 ************ prisoners and detainees held by Israel. Hours after the first phase of the agreed ceasefire was set to expire, Israel said early on Sunday it would adopt a proposal by Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for the Ramadan and Passover periods. Israel and ****** have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, casting doubt over the second phase of the deal meant to include releases of additional hostages and prisoners as well as steps toward a permanent end of the war. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by William Mallard) Source link #Rubio #signs #declaration #expedite #delivery #billion #military #aid #Israel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Head of federal watchdog agency fired by Trump should remain on the job, judge rules – CNN Head of federal watchdog agency fired by Trump should remain on the job, judge rules – CNN Head of federal watchdog agency fired by Trump should remain on the job, judge rules CNNFederal judge rules Trump’s firing of head of special counsel was unlawful, will maintain his job Fox NewsJudge Rules Trump Can’t Fire Head of Federal Watchdog Agency Without Cause The New York Times Source link #federal #watchdog #agency #fired #Trump #remain #job #judge #rules #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is coming: thousands on alert Tropical Cyclone Alfred is coming: thousands on alert Tropical cyclone Alfred is tipped to make landfall as a category two system and coastal communities have been put on alert amid concerns about strong flooding. Source link #Tropical #Cyclone #Alfred #coming #thousands #alert Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gervonta Davis v Lamont ****** Jr: WBA lightweight championship – live buildup – The Guardian Gervonta Davis v Lamont ****** Jr: WBA lightweight championship – live buildup – The Guardian Gervonta Davis v Lamont ****** Jr: WBA lightweight championship – live buildup The GuardianGervonta Davis vs Lamont ****** live updates, time, fight card results TennesseanGervonta ‘Tank’ Davis Vs. Lamont ****** Jr Results: Fight Card Results ForbesTank Davis vs. Lamont ****** Pay-Per-View: How to Watch the Premier Boxing Champions Live Online VarietyGervonta Davis vs. Lamont ****** Jr. fight predictions, odds, undercard, start time, preview, expert picks CBS Sports Source link #Gervonta #Davis #Lamont #****** #WBA #lightweight #championship #live #buildup #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Haiti police raid gang leader Barbecue’s stronghold in capital Haiti police raid gang leader Barbecue’s stronghold in capital The government of Haiti says police have launched a large-scale operation in a shantytown controlled by powerful gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, who is widely known as Barbecue. The authorities say several gang members have been killed in the Lower Delmas area of the capital Port-au-Prince. Local reports say military drones carrying explosives are being used in the operation. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé praised the assault. He said it was the work of a special task force created two days ago to tackle insecurity. Chérizier, aged 47, is the feared leader of Viv Ansam (Live Together), a coalition of gangs that control much of the city. It is not clear whether Kenyan police officers deployed in Haiti last year to help fight the gangs are involved in the security operation. Last week, a Kenyan police officer – who was on patrol with the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission – was killed in a confrontation with gang members. Gang control in Port-au-Prince has led to an almost complete breakdown of law and order, the collapse of health services and emergence of a food security crisis. More than 5,500 people were killed in gang-related violence in the Caribbean nation in 2024 and more than a million people have fled their homes. Haiti’s transitional presidential council, the body created to re-establish democratic order, has made little progress towards organising long-delayed elections. Source link #Haiti #police #raid #gang #leader #Barbecues #stronghold #capital Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fremantle’s $30 million ferry and arts precinct Fremantle’s $30 million ferry and arts precinct Labor has insisted its new $30 million plan for the B-shed at Fremantle’s Victoria Quay is locked in, after the 2021 election promise to build a film studio was axed and moved to Malaga instead. Source link #Fremantles #million #ferry #arts #precinct Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Draft prospect who says he’s the ‘next Aaron Donald’ gets awesome message from the legend himself Draft prospect who says he’s the ‘next Aaron Donald’ gets awesome message from the legend himself There’s a lot of pressure on draft prospects this time of year. From meeting with teams to on-field workouts at the combine to pro days, these are arguably the most important few months of their lives. Aaron Donald went through it and now Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolen is, too. Donald, having dominated the NFL combine in 2014 and gone on to become one of the best ever, had a surprise message for Nolen at the combine this week. He shared some words of wisdom for the young defensive tackle, who called himself “the next Aaron Donald” at the Senior Bowl. “Whattup, Walter? Aaron Donald, man. Just wanted to reach out to you and tell you good luck at the combine. Do you thing. Have fun. It’s the same thing you’ve been doing all your life. It’s only football, right? So whatever you did on the field this year to get you this far, it’s for a reason so be confident, believe in your abilities and go out there and just do your thing. “I heard you said you’re the next Aaron Donald, man. So keep doing your thing, man. Hopefully you have a long career, a better career than what I had. I’ll be looking out for you, I’ll be watching for you and see how this thing turns out for you.” To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. As you’d expect, Nolen loved Donald’s message and was in awe that he got those words of encouragement from a legend like Aaron. “Man, that’s crazy. That’s crazy. I ain’t going to lie, that just made me even more ready,” Nolen said. Nolen opted to skip workouts at the combine but he still looks like a premier prospect in this year’s class, likely landing in the first round like Donald. This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL draft prospect gets special message from Aaron Donald at combine Source link #Draft #prospect #hes #Aaron #Donald #awesome #message #legend Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy willing to ‘restore dialogue’ with Trump as European leaders head to *** for defence summit – The Guardian Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy willing to ‘restore dialogue’ with Trump as European leaders head to *** for defence summit – The Guardian Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy willing to ‘restore dialogue’ with Trump as European leaders head to *** for defence summit The GuardianZelenskyy meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London following Trump Oval Office clash Fox NewsStarmer to Urge Europe to Face New Reality After Zelenskiy Talks BloombergUK, Ukraine sign loan agreement after ‘meaningful and warm’ visit The Hill Source link #Ukraine #war #briefing #Zelenskyy #restore #dialogue #Trump #European #leaders #defence #summit #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Public service hiring freeze in DOGE-like cost move Public service hiring freeze in DOGE-like cost move An *********** state will not hire any “non-essential” public servants for months and isn’t ruling out sacking others as it eyes budget austerity. The Tasmanian government has announced a hiring freeze within the state public service from Sunday until the May 29 state budget. Treasurer Guy Barnett stressed the freeze was restricted to “non-essential” workers and not frontline roles such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, teachers, police and firefighters. “We need a right-sized public service of the right shape to deliver for Tasmania … we need to be more productive, more efficient,” he told reporters in Launceston. Agency secretaries and the head of the public service will decide who are deemed non-essential employees. Tasmania’s public service workforce has blown out by 18 per cent to about 36,000 full-time, part-time and casual staff since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mr Barnett said. Comparatively, the population of Tasmania has grown by about five per cent. “We’ve had a very significant increase in the size of the public service in the last five years,” the treasurer said. While there will be no forced redundancies during the freeze, Mr Barnett wouldn’t rule out job losses after the budget and did not say how much the move would save the state. “There will be a lot of decisions that will become very clear. I won’t pre-empt the budget,” he said. Tasmania’s jobless rate is four per cent, in line with the national rate and lower than Victoria’s 4.6 per cent – the highest of all *********** states and territories. The Victorian Labor government flagged in February it would slash up to 3000 public service jobs – about five to six per cent of its total workforce – in a bid to save billions of dollars. As the state hardest hit by COVID, it is on a path to reach $187.8 billion in net debt by mid-2028 Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has also vowed to slash 36,000 Commonwealth public service jobs to save $24b over four years, ahead of the looming *********** election. He has flagged one of his biggest priorities as prime minister would be to “cut government waste”, in an apparent nod to to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The 2024 Tasmanian budget forecast the state’s net debt would double to $8.6b in 2027/28. The Liberals, re-elected in ********* in March 2024, inherited zero net debt when they came to power in 2014. The decision was a concession from Liberals that they had “destroyed” the budget and would lead to poorer service delivery, shadow treasurer Josh ******* said. He said budget repair was necessary but the Liberals were taking the “easy option” to outsource the problem to unelected bureaucrats instead of getting unions and businesses together to make strategic decisions. “They’ve put Tasmania in this situation,” he said. “They own the problem, they should actually do something about it rather than giving it to someone else.” Source link #Public #service #hiring #freeze #DOGElike #cost #move Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former Intel directors strongly oppose TSMC takeover, call for Intel fabs spinoff Former Intel directors strongly oppose TSMC takeover, call for Intel fabs spinoff When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Intel Intel’s stock has surged over 20% recently as investors anticipate a possible company split amidst a rumor suggesting that the Trump administration might push Intel and TSMC to form a joint venture that would take over Intel’s manufacturing capacity. Four former directors of Intel wrote a column in the Fortune magazine explaining that this is a terrible idea and proposed spinning off Intel manufacturing to a separate company that would be owned by American investors instead. Speculation has arisen that the new U.S. government might pressure Intel and TSMC to form a joint venture that would take over Intel’s semiconductor production facilities, which are valued at approximately $108 billion. These facilities span multiple U.S. locations, including Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon, with an additional site under development in Ohio. In addition, Intel has fabs in Israel and Ireland. The Trump administration has denied its involvement and said that it would not welcome a Taiwanese company taking over Intel fabs. TSMC’s management also denied interest in taking control over Intel’s manufacturing capacity. Former Intel directors David B. Yoffie (a professor at Harvard Business School, has an extensive background in high-tech business strategy), Reed Hundt (a former chairman of the FCC), Charlene Barshefsky (a lawyer and a former U.S. Trade Representative), and James Plummer (a professor of electrical engineering and former dean of the School of Engineering at Stanford University, has a rich semiconductor background and holds 20 appropriate patents), wrote a column for Fortune magazine condemning the idea of handling Intel manufacturing capacity to TSMC and calling to spin it off and sell to a group of Western investors. A TSMC-controlled semiconductor industry poses significant risks. Concentrating leading-edge semiconductor production in the U.S. under a foreign entity could weaken American technology firms by creating a near-monopoly, the former directors believe. While companies like Apple, AMD, and Nvidia rely on TSMC today, they still benefit from competitive pressure on the market that is created by Samsung Foundry and will be supported by Intel Foundry if the latter is a success. Intel presents little competition for TSMC as it has only two production nodes to offer. However, if Intel disappears completely, American firms could face reduced bargaining power, the former directors suggest. The former Intel directors think that a more strategic approach would be for Intel to separate its manufacturing division from its design business. In fact, they go as far as saying that the U.S. government should require the company to spin off its production operations and sell them to a Western private investor group. To make this viable, Washington should provide $10 billion in capital as non-voting equity, similar to the 2008 bank bailouts, ensuring taxpayers benefit if the venture succeeds. Additionally, major U.S. semiconductor firms, including Intel’s design division, must commit to placing orders to guarantee profitability. The former members of the Intel board of directors believe these measures would make the business attractive to investors while preserving American semiconductor production capabilities. Story Continues On paper, spinning off Intel’s manufacturing operations to a separate company sounds like a plausible idea. However, significant technological and business barriers will likely prevent this from happening smoothly, if at all. Intel’s semiconductor production fab chain costs around $108 billion (maybe a bit less if we subtract the cost of office buildings and other non-production assets). Finding an investor willing to buy these manufacturing assets for their value will be hard, to put it mildly, as $100 billion M&A transactions are not common. Of course, it would be easier to persuade a consortium of investors to invest in Intel Foundry if a group of leading American companies would commit to using its services for years to come. However, committing to an unknown Intel Foundry is a huge risk for companies like AMD, Apple, Intel, and Nvidia, as this might slow down their progress and hinder their growth. Something that happened to AMD’s commitment to GlobalFoundries back in the day. The proposal to handle Intel’s manufacturing facilities to TSMC completely omits that Intel has its own process technologies — Intel 14nm (and older), Intel 10SF/10ESF, Intel 4, and Intel 3 — and already makes chips in high volumes. Also, the company is about to launch high-volume manufacturing of its Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest, with its 18A process technology, and get third-party 18A tape-ins in mid-2025. Discussions about spinning off Intel’s fabs to a separate entity run by TSMC would hurt Intel’s negotiations with potential 18A customers. But let’s assume that Intel and TSMC agreed to form a joint venture to run Intel’s fabs., and that Intel keeps making chips on its Intel 4, Intel 3, and 18A process technologies, but TSMC would like to also make chips on Intel’s capacity as well. Transferring TSMC’s fabrication technology to Intel’s U.S. factories with EUV capabilities would be highly complex. Although both companies use EUV lithography, their equipment setups, fab configurations, and vendor-specific modifications differ significantly. ASML’s lithography tools, for instance, are custom-calibrated for each company. Intel and TSMC also have distinct etching, deposition, and process control methods, all of which influence production tools. A joint venture would hurt TSMC’s profit margins. The only reason TSMC might consider working with Intel is if a Trump administration introduced tariffs forcing it to manufacture its advanced 3nm and 2nm chips in the U.S. However, Intel lacks sufficient EUV production capacity in the U.S. to meet demand for both its own products and those of TSMC’s clients. Instead, TSMC is accelerating its own Arizona fabs to support 3nm and 2nm production, which is a more viable business strategy, as industry analysts have suggested. Even if TSMC was compelled to take control of Intel’s capacity, its most advanced research would remain in Taiwan, and over time, it might close Intel’s factories and lay off most of its workforce. It should be kept in mind that Intel also has non-EUV capacity designed to produce Intel’s own products. TSMC will unlikely be able to port its nodes to production lines meant for Intel 14nm (and older) and Intel 10SF/10ESF (at least, not in a financially viable way). These production capacities are worth billions for Intel as they produce sellable products. For an external company (whether TSMC or a group of investors), they will unlikely pose that much value as Intel would remain the only customer for those nodes and fabs. Meanwhile, at some point, those fabs will either have to be upgraded (which means additional investments), or shut down (something that the former members of the board mentioned above), which means writing off billions of dollars. Source link #Intel #directors #strongly #oppose #TSMC #takeover #call #Intel #fabs #spinoff Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont ****** Jr. start time: Live stream, PPV price, undercard, where to watch, TV channel – CBS Sports Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont ****** Jr. start time: Live stream, PPV price, undercard, where to watch, TV channel – CBS Sports Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont ****** Jr. start time: Live stream, PPV price, undercard, where to watch, TV channel CBS SportsGervonta Davis vs Lamont ****** live updates, time, fight card results TennesseanFive moments that shaped Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis’ boxing career ESPNGervonta ‘Tank’ Davis Vs. Lamont ****** Jr Results: Fight Card Results ForbesTank vs. ****** Results: Live updates of the undercard and main event MMA Fighting Source link #Gervonta #Davis #Lamont #****** #start #time #Live #stream #PPV #price #undercard #watch #channel #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Halva: Greece’s Lenten Sweet, from its Ancient Roots to the Dubai Chocolate Version Halva: Greece’s Lenten Sweet, from its Ancient Roots to the Dubai Chocolate Version One of Greece’s Dubai Chocolate halva versions is sandwiched between two layers of dark chocolate, while the halva mixture is pistachio-flavored and loaded with minuscule shreds of roasted kataifi. Credit: Greek Reporter Whether plain, with chocolate swirls, or loaded with nuts and dried fruit, among other variations, Greek halva is a scrumptious sweet treat and the big edible star during Greek Lent ahead of Orthodox Easter. The age-old delicacy in its sesame version is not only loaded with the nutrients contained in tahini (sesame paste), its main ingredient. This traditional sweet has moved with the times, with new and creative varieties popping up, vowing to impress even the most demanding foodies. This year, some Greek halva manufacturers have even embraced the viral Dubai Chocolate trend, creating another fusion sweet treat that makes sesame halva irresistible for every Greek lenten table. Sesame halva may be made with simple ingredients, such as tahini (sesame seeds grounded into a paste after their skin is peeled off), sugar syrup, and a small quantity of soapwort root powder (τσουένι or tsoueni in Greek), which is widely used in Greece for the making of halvas. But it’s the unique and traditional kneading process that gives this treat its smooth and stringy texture. For its most basic version, the sugar syrup is slowly roasted in specially made copper caldrons until it becomes caramelized and is then mixed with the sesame paste and the soapwort. The mixture must have a temperature of about 60 to 70 degrees Celsius and is transferred to special basins where it is slowly and painstakingly traditionally kneaded to become stringy and crumbly and feel like it’s melting inside the mouth when tasted. Vanilla flavor, cocoa, almonds, and pistachios can be added for an extra mouth-watering experience. The sesame and caramelized sugar mixture is transferred to special basins where it is slowly and painstakingly kneaded to become stringy, as seen in this traditional halva store in Drapetsona, near Piraeus. Credit: Greek Reporter And this is where its more present-day additions pop up. As many modern Greeks have been looking for healthier alternatives, halva manufacturers use whole sesame seeds, which retain many more nutrients, carob syrup, honey, brown sugar, or stevia, a natural sugar substitute derived from a plant. Moreover, they create more complex halva flavors for more demanding customers, including hazelnuts, dried cranberries, orange, and cookies, either alone or in combinations, often topped with dark chocolate. Halva is usually sold in blocks and by the kilo, with its price depending on the complexity of the ingredients. This year, some manufacturers, responding to the global trend of the Dubai Chocolate that has been sweeping Greece as well, created a Dubai version of sesame halva. Dubai Chocolate is enveloped in milk chocolate in its original recipe. But because Greeks are not allowed to eat animal-derived ingredients during Lent, one of the Dubai Chocolate halva versions is sandwiched between two layers of dark chocolate. The halva mixture in the middle is pistachio-flavored and loaded with minuscule, crunchy shreds of roasted kataifi. In other versions, the shredded kataifi is added atop the halva and then covered in dark chocolate. Halva in Greece is also made with semolina instead of sesame paste. Another famous version is the traditional “halvas Farsalon,” (also known as “soapy halvas”), a type of jelly-like halva sweet made with corn starch and lots of milk butter and thus, cannot be eaten during Lent. Halva, as seen at this traditional workshop in Drapetsona, is usually sold in blocks and by the kilo, with its price depending on the complexity of the ingredients. Credit: Greek Reporter The age-old origins of halva, Greece’s beloved sweet during Lent Derived from the Arabic word halwa, which means sweet confection, halva’s origins are widely debated, as many Middle Eastern countries have claimed the treat as their own. Some scholars have suggested it originated near Byzantium some time before the 12th century, while some food historians say it was found around 3,000 BC. Evidence exists that it originally was a somewhat gelatinous, grain-based dessert made with flour, oil, and sugar. Some say it appeared in 7th century Arabia, referring to a mixture of mashed dates and milk, while others claim it originated in Persia (modern day Iran). The first known, written halva recipe appeared in the early 13th century in the Arabic cookbook Kitab-al Tabikh, The Book of Dishes, and included seven variations. Halva was adopted by the Ottoman Turks, including the sesame-based version, and soon spread throughout their empire and ultimately across the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Central Asia. In each place, the ingredients and name are slightly changed. It was called halawa and mixed with pistachios, almonds, or pine nuts in Egypt. Indians, on the other hand, shortened the name to halva and flavored it with local products such as ghee and coconut. To this day, Turkey remains one of the world’s leading helva (as it’s called in Turkey) manufacturers with countless variations, including the famous floss halva, which is fine strands of flour roasted in butter into pulled sugar, known as pismaniye. It comes in different flavors, like pistachio. Credit: Greek Reporter One of the sweet’s most prominent enthusiasts was Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566), the Ottoman Empire’s longest-reigning sultan. He had a special kitchen built next to his palace, the helvahane (house of halva), where some 30 varieties were produced. It was made with sesame tahini, adopted by Ottoman-ruled Romanians who passed it on to Ashkenazi Jews in Europe and finally reached America in the early 20th century. It is this version that has been widely adopted in Greece. To this day, Turkey remains one of the world’s leading helva (as it’s called in Turkey) manufacturers with countless variations, including the famous floss halva, which is fine strands of flour roasted in butter into pulled sugar, known as pismaniye. It comes in different flavors, including chocolate, pistachio, and pomegranate. Nikos Gavrilis and his associates have been maintaining in Drapetsona the only remaining traditional halvas workshop of the many that once existed in Piraeus. Credit: Greek Reporter One of Greece’s oldest halva workshops preserving a century-old tradition Most of the owners of Greece’s oldest, handmade halva workshops originated from Constantinople or Asia Minor, where the sesame confection was perfected over the centuries and became an indispensable part of daily life. One of them is in Drapetsona, near the port of Piraeus, founded in 1924 by Kostas Mezardasoglou, a man from Asia Minor from where he moved to Greece after the Catastrophe. At a shop on the Turkish coast across from Greece, he had learned the art of handmade halva, which he brought with him in Drapetsona. Over the years, he passed on the art to his son, George, who eventually took over the workshop after his father could not continue due to his old age. In 1984, George collaborated with Evmorfios Kosmidis, who, after he retired in 1986, passed on the workshop to Nikos Gavrilis, also of Asia Minor origin. He and his associates have maintained the only remaining traditional halvas workshop of the many that once existed in Piraeus since 2002. “We conserve the tradition that our ancestors brought,” Gavrilis tells Greek Reporter from his workshop. “They brought the art and the civilization with them from Asia Minor.” Every year, ahead of Clean Monday, the beginning of Lent in Greece, huge lines of Greeks begin to appear outside Gavrilis’ halvas workshop, probably the most famous across the country. These are by far the busiest days for Gavrilis for one simple reason: “In Asia Minor they were eating halva all the time, in Greece it is only consumed for a few days throughout the year. It is a seasonal sweet, and that is not good,” he says. Source link #Halva #Greeces #Lenten #Sweet #Ancient #Roots #Dubai #Chocolate #Version Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Reds Superman Tate McDermott earns rave reviews Reds Superman Tate McDermott earns rave reviews Queensland Reds scrumhalf Tate McDermott has earned rave reviews and given his Wallabies stocks a further boost after producing a star display in his team’s last-gasp 28-24 win over the Western Force. An 80th-minute try to winger Filipo Daugunu got the Reds out of trouble in Saturday night’s match, handing them a perfect 2-0 start to the Super Rugby Pacific season. Although Daugunu was the last-minute hero, it was McDermott’s huge efforts throughout the match that proved the difference between victory and defeat for the Reds. McDermott’s piercing darts and smart offloads broke open the Force’s defence time and again, ensuring Queensland had enough opportunities to score despite their lack of territory and possession. The 26-year-old was used primarily as the reserve No.9 by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt last year. And if his performance against the Force is anything to go by, McDermott will be front and centre of Schmidt’s plans for this year’s series against the British and Irish Lions. “He was superb,” Reds coach Les Kiss said. “And I don’t want to embarrass him too much here, but it was necessary, the type of game that Tate played. “And away from the game, the leadership and the quality of that captaincy that Tate showed was essential for us too. “There were moments we could have lost our head, but we needed the calm voices and to stay focused and refocus back on what our job was. “At halftime, we had a chat. He (McDermott) seemed in control and calm and just knew what we had to do. So it was a quality performance.” Reds centre Josh Flook scored two tries against the Force, but he’s in doubt to take on the Crusaders in New Zealand next Sunday after limping off in pain in the second half. Force scrumhalf Nic White was left to rue his team’s inability to capitalise on their many chances. The Force led 14-0 after 22 minutes but couldn’t push on after that despite dominating the game for long periods. “To be honest, pretty hard to get past the disappointment,” White said of the result. “We were in a really good position to win that game. “I really feel like that was a game we lost. They didn’t necessarily come and take it from us. “I felt like we were in control for a lot of that game, and yeah, we’ve coughed that one up. “There’ll be some learnings from this one. It hurts, and that’s got to drive us into Monday and into the next week.” The Force (2-1) take on the unbeaten NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday before facing the Crusaders in Christchurch a week later. Source link #Reds #Superman #Tate #McDermott #earns #rave #reviews Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pac-Man Fan Video Shows the Secret Level Episode Fumbled Big Time By Not Bringing True Horror Pac-Man Fan Video Shows the Secret Level Episode Fumbled Big Time By Not Bringing True Horror When there’s a discussion about bringing video game adaptations to big screens, you wouldn’t think of Pac-Man as a choice. It’s a simple game that’s repetitive and doesn’t bring in terms of the story or characters. However, Pac-Man was picked by Prime Video’s Secret Level as one of the franchises to be focused on. Secret Level featured a unique take on Pac-Man. (Image via Prime Video) Secret Level didn’t feature a faithful adaptation of Pac-Man. The show shook a radically different direction by featuring Pac-Man as a titular who’s trying to make it out of a maze that has no exits and is filled with bloody battles and extreme gore. It was undoubtedly a horrifying experience, but it still doesn’t come close to a fan-adaptation that will truly scare you for life. Secret Level‘s Pac-Man fails against this fan adaptation Secret Level should have featured a darker story for Pac-Man. (Image via Prime Video) Over on Instagram, user bpsikorik has posted their own take on the story of Pac-Man. The clip opens up with Pac-Man, where he announces that his crew is dead. He states that they were aboard a survey vessel, and he was the planetary assessment coordinator, or the Pac-Man, as they said. Pac-Man reveals that the ship was struck down by an asteroid that left them stranded in space. The impact was so deadly that it completely ruptured the ship’s food storage bay. Even though the crew sealed off the breach, they had no way of sustaining themselves. What could Secret Level’s season 2 bring to the table? Well, we don’t know anything. Amazon hasn’t bothered to share any further details about the potential release window or when the plot will be revealed. In the past, the show’s creatives, Dave Wilson and Tim Miller, have been keen on many video gaming projects that they would love to work with in future episodes. With that said, do you think Secret Level‘s Pac-Man adaptation didn’t hit the mark? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #PacMan #Fan #Video #Shows #Secret #Level #Episode #Fumbled #Big #Time #Bringing #True #Horror Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mystery of Gene Hackman’s Death Brings Grief and Bewilderment to Santa Fe – The New York Times Mystery of Gene Hackman’s Death Brings Grief and Bewilderment to Santa Fe – The New York Times Mystery of Gene Hackman’s Death Brings Grief and Bewilderment to Santa Fe The New York TimesGene Hackman Death Case: Pills Found by Wife’s Body Identified YahooOscar-winner Gene Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were dead for some time, warrant shows The Associated PressFriends of Gene Hackman and wife say couple were ‘alive and well’ in recent meeting CNN Source link #Mystery #Gene #Hackmans #Death #Brings #Grief #Bewilderment #Santa #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The real winners and losers The real winners and losers Mark Savage Music Correspondent Getty Images Nudity, swearing, petulance, club anthems, more nudity and a woman dressed as a horse – the 2025 Brit Awards had it all. Charli XCX was the big winner, taking home five prizes in all – including best artist, best album and song of the year. US star – and the BBC’s Sound of 2025 – Chappell Roan picked up two awards; while Ezra Collective, The Last Dinner Party, Fontaines DC and Stormzy got one apiece. But no-one’s only interested in all that. Here’s what really went down at the 2025 ceremony at London’s O2 Arena. Most predictable winner: Charli XCXGetty Images Listen, this was never going to be anything other than Charli’s night. The pop star’s seventh album, Brat, captured the cultural zeitgeist in a way that few artists ever manage. Released in June, the record combined abrasive dance-floor beats, soaring hooks and meme-friendly artwork; as the 32-year-old assessed her place in the music industry, the real and imaginary rivals she’s accumulated along the way, and whether or not to leave it all behind to have a baby. In the star’s own words, the album was “chaos and emotional turmoil set to a club soundtrack”. Just as everyone was absorbing that, she hired a bunch of guest stars – Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Lorde, Addison Rae, Bon Iver – and re-recorded an entirely new, sometimes superior, version of the album. Critics called it “pop music for the future” and praised the way its “painfully relatable” lyrics captured Charli’s coming of age. Knowingly trashy, yet surprisingly deep, it was easily the best British album of the last 12 months – and one that proved Charli’s detractors wrong. “I feel like dance music, electronic music, gets a really bad rep because everyone is like, ‘It’s not that deep, is it? And I kind of feel it is,” she said after collecting her second award. “This genre of music, for me, is euphoric, it allows me to escape, it allows me to feel on such a deep level.” Best visual pun: This coatGetty Images Teddy Swims, swimming in teddy bears. We see what he did there. Least practical dress: ***** Thirlwall ***** Thirlwall discovers that a voluminous dress and vertiginous stairs don’t mix ***** Thirlwall was the last of the Little Mix crew to launch a solo career, but she’s been giving it her all. As well as winning best pop artist at Saturday’s ceremony, she put on one of the night’s highest-concept performances – a five-act melodrama about the cruelty of the music industry and her creative rebirth. Over the course of the night, she wore six different outfits. But she chose the wrong one for climbing the stairs to pick up her trophy. Thank goodness the Sugababes were there to help. Sneakiest host: Jack WhitehallGetty Images Jack Whitehall made a welcome return as the ceremony’s host, after four years away. As ever, his jokes were close to the bone… including a passing reference to allegations surrounding some presenters on Brits broadcaster ITV. “ITV had so many of its presenters cancelled this year that they had to come crawling back to an ex, and what an honour it is to be hosting again the biggest night in British music,” he joked. Later, he described Youtuber-turned-musician KSI as “an inspiration”. “Because you listen to Kendrick Lamar and you’re like, ‘I couldn’t do that in a million years’. Then I listen to your song and I’m like, ‘Oh, I could do this’.” Speaking before the show, Whitehall revealed a sneaky secret: He uses a fake script during rehearsals. “Previously I used to do the actual script in rehearsal, and then you’d have an hour of people from record labels and publishers coming and knocking on the dressing room door going, ‘You can’t say this, you can’t say that’,” he told Heart radio. “So now I just do this fake script, which if you heard it, you’d be like, ‘This is the lamest script ever’, because it’s all me just complimenting everyone and going, ‘Oh, our next award is the best musician I’ve ever heard. They’re great.'” Ouchiest injury: StormzyGetty Images “I’m wearing shades because I mashed up my eye playing padel [ball],” said Stormzy, as he accepted the prize for best rap/hip-hop artist. “I’ve got a very sore eye. I’ve got a bruised cornea. “My eye’s sore under here, I’m not being a mad man with shades on inside.” Most overworked censors: ITVGetty Images Sabrina Carpenter pretended to pleasure a Beefeater. Charli XCX gave a speech in a see-through top, with no bra. One of ***** Thirlwall’s dancers mooned at the camera. Danny Dyer uttered one of the English language’s most offensive swear words. I’d guess that ITV’s responses to Ofcom are going to make an interesting read. Word of the censor’s concerns even filtered through to the arena during the show, much to Charli’s annoyance. “I heard that ITV were complaining about my nipples,” she said from the podium. I feel like we’re in the era of free the nipple though, right?” As fans applauded, the singer grimaced: “They put the clap track on, cool. Thanks for being on my side.” Most criticised industry: The music industryITV / Brit Awards The Brits were set up in 1977 to celebrate the British Music Industry, and they are run by the BPI – an organisation funded by, and representing, the biggest record labels in the country. But lots of the winners on Saturday used their speeches to criticise the way they are being treated. “Are we building careers, or are we just chasing moments – because moments fade and careers take time,” said Myles Smith. “So please stick with artists past a viral hit.” Chappell Roan, who won best international artist, had a similar plea. “I had to write a lot of bad songs to get to the good ones – and artists deserve that freedom, to explore horrible concepts, and to flop, and rise, and not be pressured into making music based off of what’s trending.” Charli XCX’s multiple victories proved their point. Signed at the age of 14, she had to fight to make the music she wanted – after years of being told her songs were too abrasive and uncommercial. “It feels really nice to be recognised on this album, when I haven’t made any sacrifices,” she said. “I’ve been doing my own thing in my own corner of the industry – and I guess, this time, culture caught up with us.” Humblest brag: Myles SmithGetty Images Myles Smith has had an incredible 12 months. After giving up his job to pursue music, his feel-good pop anthem Stargazing went viral. So viral that it ended up as the best-selling British song of 2024. Asked about the moment he realised it had taken on a life of its own, he told us: “I got new wi-fi the other day, and they put me on hold… and it was Stargazing. “And that said two things. One: This is like, the most irritating thing. But at the same time, I had made it to hold.” “Did you sing it for the operator when they picked up?” we asked. “No, I was passed to seven more people.” See? Being a pop star doesn’t give you any shortcuts in the world of broadband service provider call centres. Weirdest red carpet encounter: Jared Leto Jared Leto shows the BBC how to do a posh British accent Why did Jared Leto open his red carpet interview by trying to teach us an English accent? To find out, you’d have to ask Jared Leto and, frankly, we’re too scared. Most fabricated award: Sabrina CarpenterGetty Images Sabrina Carpenter was the night’s biggest star – opening the show with a cheeky wink, a phalanx of Beefeaters and a vaudevillian mash-up of Espresso, Bed Chem and… er, Rule, Britannia. But was the decision to hand her the “global success” award a thinly-veiled ploy to tempt her back on to the stage? The prize was originally created in 2013 to recognise British acts who had sold millions of records and concert tickets abroad. The previous recipients were One Direction (2013-14), Sam Smith (2015), Adele (2016-17) and Ed Sheeran (2018-19). Six years ago it was abandoned altogether… until they needed something to honour Sabrina. To be fair, the singer racked up an incredible 21 weeks at number one in the *** singles chart last year – more than anyone has ever achieved in a single calendar year – so her trophy wasn’t entirely undeserved. Horsiest girl: HorsegiirLGetty Images A lot of viewers were left perplexed when Jack Whitehall sat down with Danny Dyer and what appeared to be his date: A woman with a horse for a face (we’re not being unkind, see above for proof). Well, it turns out that Danny’s neighbour was a ******* DJ who goes by the name of HorsegiirL and keeps their identity hidden behind a mask. Sort of like Deadmau5, but with fetlocks. Maybe next year she can come back to do a duet with Foals. Best speech: Ezra Collective Ezra Collective made history by becoming the first jazz band to win the Brit Award for best group – beating previous title-holders like Coldplay, The Cure and Bring Me The Horizon. Taking to the stage, frontman Femi Koleoso had a few words to say about cuts to music education, and the lack of funding for youth clubs like Tomorrow’s Warriors – where his band got their start. “I’ll bang this drum a bunch of times and I’ll continue to do so until the entire country gets it”, he said. “This moment right here is because of the great youth clubs, and the great teachers and the great schools that support young people playing music. “The reason we continue to bang this drum is because so many of the problems that face greater society in the ***… we’re unsure of how to fix it, but the solution lies with giving a young person a trumpet, the solution lies in giving a young person a saxophone. “Because when you do that, you give them a dream, an aspiration and a goal.” To prove his point, he invited the London youth group Kinetika Bloco onto the stage of the O2, to blast through Ezra Collective’s infectiously upbeat jazz anthem Shaking Body. Best photocall: Charli XCXGetty Images This year’s Brit Award trophies, designed by Gabriel Moses, were cast in bronze… And they were heavy. Weighing 1.6kg each, you could break a toe if you dropped one. And Charli had to pick up four of the things for her winner’s photo. It took approximately six people to arrange them in her arms (“don’t push them between my boobs”, she squealed at one point) before she was ready for the flashbulbs. “Is this lame?” she asked at the last moment. “It feels lame.” Then she dropped them all and fell to the floor in a fit of giggles. Source link #real #winners #losers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Out of reach’: Aussies saddled with debt in retirement ‘Out of reach’: Aussies saddled with debt in retirement Homeowners are facing the new norm of retiring in debt, but there are some things Aussies can do to get ahead. Source link #reach #Aussies #saddled #debt #retirement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Taking this super common over-the-counter drug while pregnant has been linked to ADHD in kids Taking this super common over-the-counter drug while pregnant has been linked to ADHD in kids Expectant mothers might want to think twice the next time they’re in the pharmacy. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a common behavioral condition that affects approximately 7 million US children, including about a million kids diagnosed since 2016. The reason for the recent rise in diagnoses is under debate — a new study in the journal Nature Mental Health suggests the culprit could be in your medicine cabinet. Pregnant women who use common, over-the-counter drugs containing acetaminophen have a much greater risk of giving birth to children with ADHD, according to a new study. Maksym – stock.adobe.com Researchers analyzed blood samples from 307 pregnant women between 2006 and 2011 and found that children born to mothers who used acetaminophen during pregnancy had an 18% prevalence of ADHD, compared to 9% in children whose mothers did not take the popular over-the-counter pain reliever. Notably, the likelihood of an ADHD diagnosis was more than three times greater in children whose mothers had detectable acetaminophen levels in their blood. Even more remarkable is that daughters were six times more likely to develop ADHD if the mom used acetaminophen during pregnancy, while the effect was less pronounced among sons. Acetaminophen treats fevers, headaches, muscle aches and menstrual cramps. It’s the primary active ingredient in Tylenol, which is commonly prescribed to expectant mothers to relieve discomfort. An estimated 40% to 60% of pregnant women take Tylenol at some point in their pregnancy. While the drug is considered generally safe to use during pregnancy, lead study author Brennan Baker, a researcher at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, noted that previous research relied on self-reported data, which may not accurately reflect acetaminophen use. ADHD is a common behavioral condition that affects approximately 7 million US children, including about a million kids diagnosed since 2016. LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – stock.adobe.com “This medication was also approved decades ago and may need reevaluation by the FDA,” said co-author Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a pediatrician at SCRI. “Acetaminophen was never evaluated for fetal exposures in relation to long-term neurodevelopmental impacts.” Previous research on the potential link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and ADHD has produced mixed results. For instance, a large Swedish study found no correlation, while Norwegian research did identify a connection. In 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration said studies on the safety of using Tylenol while pregnant were “too limited to make any recommendations.” But the agency recommended that pregnant women seek advice from their doctor before taking Tylenol. “Because of this uncertainty, the use of pain medicines during pregnancy should be carefully considered,” the FDA statement said. “We urge pregnant women to always discuss all medicines with their health care professionals before using them.” Source link #super #common #overthecounter #drug #pregnant #linked #ADHD #kids Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]