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Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa Plus to cost non-Prime users $20 a month – The Washington Post Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa Plus to cost non-Prime users $20 a month – The Washington Post Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa Plus to cost non-Prime users $20 a month The Washington PostAmazon debuts gen AI-powered Alexa+ as it seeks to breath life into its aging assistant Yahoo FinanceAmazon Revamps Alexa—but Not Her Business Model The InformationAlexa gets smarter: Amazon turns command-taker into plan-maker with Alexa+ launch USA TODAYAmazon announces AI-powered Alexa Plus The Verge Source link #Amazons #AIpowered #Alexa #cost #nonPrime #users #month #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

When can Liverpool secure the 2024-25 Premier League title? When can Liverpool secure the 2024-25 Premier League title? Liverpool’s march to the Premier League title seems inevitable now – after they increased their lead to 13 points. No team in English top-flight history, going all the way back to 1888-89, have been this far clear at this stage of the season and not won the title. “It’s becoming less of a title race and more of a procession isn’t it?” said Match of the Day host Gary Lineker. The Reds have only lost once in the league all season – and beat Newcastle 2-0 on Wednesday. Second-placed Arsenal have dropped points in each of their past two games – including their goalless draw with Nottingham Forest. Forest legend Martin O’Neill, watching that game for **** Sport, said: “I think tonight is the result that finished it. “I cannot see Arsenal catching Liverpool, not at all.” Liverpool boss Arne Slot said: “It is still a long way to go, 10 games. In March we only play one Premier League game – so we are not focused on the long term. “Now the players have some days off and then we focus on Paris St-Germain [Champions League opponents] more than we do on the table in the Premier League.” Gunners boss Mikel Arteta must know the jig is up but said before the Forest game he would concede the title “over [his] dead body”. After the game, he told the BBC: “It was same a week ago, two weeks ago, three months ago. The only thing we can do is win our matches and see how many points we get.” Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman, meanwhile, said Liverpool are “unstoppable” and “in cruise control”. “Everyone else is falling away and helping them,” he added. Forest are third, six points behind Arsenal, and Manchester City – who have won the past four titles – are another point back. Only one team have ever been 13 points clear in the Premier League and not won the title – with Arsenal beating Manchester United to the title in 1997-98 – but that was earlier in the season. BBC Sport looks at when Liverpool could wrap up their second Premier League title. Source link #Liverpool #secure #Premier #League #title Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Busselton eco-friendly boutique Desert to Ocean set to go international Busselton eco-friendly boutique Desert to Ocean set to go international A Busselton-based fashion creator is set to take her wares overseas after impressing the world of sustainable fashion last year. Desert to Ocean owner Karen Ashcroft started creating sustainable fashion as a passion project, inspired by her love for both travelling and protecting oceans and the planet. Since 2021, the business has focused on sustainable yet stylish apparel and its label collection was shown at Eco Fashion Week Australia in November. Following that success, Ashcroft has been invited to take part in the Closet Of The Anthropocene travelling fashion art exhibition and runway show in Florence in May. “I have a strong background in retail and decided to develop a retail shop, but I wanted to focus on sustainability and environmentally-friendly choices,” Ashcroft said. “We support a lot of brands that do amazing things in this sphere and many of them give back to charity and causes. “We just want to provide choices to our customers so that they can have something that is beautiful and functional, but also is kinder to the Earth.” Ashcroft said she was thrilled to be able to take her brand overseas and expected to head to Italy from May 16 to 18 as part of EFWA’s partnership with Antico Spedale Del Bigallo Estate in Florence and Atelier Biologico. “We’re so excited to join the other *********** designers and showcase our products over there,” she said. “We’re also excited to take part in their initiatives over there over three full days of sustainable fashion, exhibitions, artists talks and fashion workshops.” Source link #Busselton #ecofriendly #boutique #Desert #Ocean #set #international Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump takes fight over foreign aid funding to U.S. Supreme Court Trump takes fight over foreign aid funding to U.S. Supreme Court U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters from the Resolute Desk after signing an executive order to appoint the deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration in the Oval Office at the White House on January 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images News | Getty Images President Donald Trump’s administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to put on hold a federal judge’s order requiring the government to pay foreign aid funds to contractors and grant recipients for past work. The administration filed a request urging the justices to halt Washington-based U.S. District Judge Amir Ali’s order, arguing that it amounted to judicial overreach. Ali’s order gave the administration a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday night. Source link #Trump #takes #fight #foreign #aid #funding #U.S #Supreme #Court Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Two in hospital after road rage incident, shooting in Prairie Village Two in hospital after road rage incident, shooting in Prairie Village KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two suspects are in the hospital after a road rage incident that led to shots being fired in Prairie Village Tuesday night, according to police. Prairie Village police say officers were called to 75th and State Line Road just before 8:30 p.m. According to a news release, a driver told police they were stopped at a red light and two suspects on a motorcycle pulled up and opened the driver’s side door. KCKPS employee on leave after alleged bank robbery The victim said they were able to shut the door and drive away. Prairie Village police initially said this was an attempted carjacking investigation but now believe it’s strictly road rage. Police say one of the suspects fired several shots at the driver. The driver was not hit. The suspects went into Kansas City, Missouri and later crashed where KCPD officers arrested them. Police say the suspects were hospitalized and will be in custody pending charges. 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Source link #hospital #road #rage #incident #shooting #Prairie #Village Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pokemon Presents February 2025: Everything Announced Pokemon Presents February 2025: Everything Announced · · February 27, 2025 On Thursday, February 27, The Pokemon Company held its Pokemon Presents event for February 2025. The event coincides with Pokemon Day, a day to honor the original Japanese release of Pokemon Red and Green on February 27, 1996. While nothing was confirmed for the event, it should be expected that players will get a new look at Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Pokemon Go, Pokemon TCG Pocket, and, possibly, a look at Pokemon gameplay running on Nintendo Switch 2. There is also speculation of a remake of Pokemon ****** and White in the works along with the next games in the “Let’s Go” series. Follow along as everything is announced. Because this is a running article throughout the show, make sure you refresh starting at 9am ET/2pm GMT for everything announced. And be sure to let us know your thoughts on the showcase in the comments or join the discussion further in the Insider Gaming Forums. It’s worth noting that everything is in the order it was shown. RELATED: ID@Xbox Showcase February 2025: Everything Announced Everything Announced At Pokemon Presents For February 2025 Check back as announcements are made during the 2025 Pokemon Presents event. For more Insider Gaming, read our exclusive interview with a developer responsible for skill-based matchmaking in the Call of Duty franchise. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Pokemon #Presents #February #Announced Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump takes fight over foreign aid funding to U.S. Supreme Court Trump takes fight over foreign aid funding to U.S. Supreme Court U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters from the Resolute Desk after signing an executive order to appoint the deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration in the Oval Office at the White House on January 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images News | Getty Images President Donald Trump’s administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to put on hold a federal judge’s order requiring the government to pay foreign aid funds to contractors and grant recipients for past work. The administration filed a request urging the justices to halt Washington-based U.S. District Judge Amir Ali’s order, arguing that it amounted to judicial overreach. Ali’s order gave the administration a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday night. Source link #Trump #takes #fight #foreign #aid #funding #U.S #Supreme #Court Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump administration seeks Supreme Court’s intervention in foreign aid freeze dispute Trump administration seeks Supreme Court’s intervention in foreign aid freeze dispute Washington — The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to intervene in a dispute involving an estimated $2 billion in foreign assistance funds from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris asked the high court to put on hold an order from a federal district judge that required the Trump administration to pay all invoices and funding requests to the State Department and USAID contractors for work finished before Feb. 13. The judge, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, gave the State Department and USAID until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to pay its bills. In its request for emergency relief from the Supreme Court, Harris said that Ali’s order covers an estimated $2 billion and said his Wednesday night deadline “moved the goalposts.” “It is not tailored to any actual payment deadlines associated with respondents’ invoices or drawn-down requests, or anyone else’s. And it has thrown what should be an orderly review by the government into chaos,” she wrote. Harris said that officials at the “highest levels of government” are involved in the matter and told the Supreme Court that the Trump administration is “undertaking substantial efforts to review payment requests and release payments.” “The Executive Branch takes seriously its constitutional duty to comply with the orders of Article III courts,” she wrote. But she warned that the district court’s deadline “makes full compliance impossible,” in part because restarting funding related to canceled or suspended agreements requires multiple steps, multiple agencies and documentary evidence. The acting solicitor general requested an administrative stay, which would maintain the status quo, “to ensure that the agencies are not placed in the position of violating a federal court order requiring payments on thousands of requests within a 30-some-hour deadline, despite their efforts, while this court reviews the merits of their challenge.” The Trump administration had already appealed the district judge’s order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and asked it to pause the lower court’s decision. But the D.C. Circuit had yet to act by Wednesday evening. Harris said the administration was seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention “in light of that extraordinary circumstance.” But shortly after the Trump administration formally asked the high court for emergency relief, the appeals court declined the Trump administration’s request to pause the district court’s decision. The three-judge panel on the D.C. Circuit said Ali’s orders could not be appealed. Ali, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden in 2024, is overseeing the case brought by a group of companies, nonprofits and other organizations that receive money from the State Department and the USAID. He issued a temporary restraining order earlier this month that prevented the Trump administration from freezing foreign aid funds for contracts and other awards while proceedings continued. But the contractors told Ali earlier this week that foreign aid funding was still not flowing despite his order, and sought prompt payment for work they completed weeks ago. The international development groups said they were owed millions of dollars for invoices and reimbursements, and warned the Trump administration’s failure to reinstate the funding forced them to furlough workers and end critical programs overseas. Ali granted their motion to enforce his earlier order and gave the State Department and USAID 36 hours to pay the bills related to foreign aid contracts and grants. Justice Department lawyers said in a separate filing that they estimated the payments covered by Ali’s order approached $2 billion, and for the challengers alone, the amount at issue was at least $250 million. “This new order requiring payment of enormous sums in less than 36 hours intrudes deeply into the prerogatives of the Executive Branch and the president’s obligation under Article II to take care that the laws are faithfully executed,” they wrote in a filing to the D.C. Circuit. Peter Marocco, director of foreign assistance at the State Department, said in a declaration that the administration is undertaking an “individualized review” of contracts and grants, and warned determining the course of those awards is a “cumbersome, multi-step process.” He said that it would take the federal government “multiple weeks” to make the payments required by the district court judge. “Restarting funding related to terminated or suspended agreements is not as simple as turning on a switch or faucet,” Morocco wrote in his declaration, adding that USAID and State Department payment systems are “complicated” and involve disbursements by numerous other agencies. Melissa Quinn Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for outlets including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal and Alexandria Times. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts. Source link #Trump #administration #seeks #Supreme #Courts #intervention #foreign #aid #freeze #dispute Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Syrians emerging from dictatorship bristle at new threat from Israel – The Washington Post Syrians emerging from dictatorship bristle at new threat from Israel – The Washington Post Syrians emerging from dictatorship bristle at new threat from Israel The Washington PostIsrael Strikes Syria Hours After Country’s Leader Demands Withdrawal The New York TimesIsraeli warplanes strike south of Damascus ReutersNetanyahu says Israel won’t allow Syrian forces ‘south of Damascus’ The Associated PressHow will Israel’s airstrikes in Syria affect region? – analysis The Jerusalem Post Source link #Syrians #emerging #dictatorship #bristle #threat #Israel #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Instagram considers standalone Reels app to take on TikTok Instagram considers standalone Reels app to take on TikTok Instagram is reportedly considering launching its short-form video feature, Reels, as a separate app as the future of ********-owned TikTok remains uncertain in the US. The social media platform’s boss Adam Mosseri told staff about the potential move this week, according to technology industry–focused business publication The Information, which cited a person who heard the remarks. Instagram’s parent company Meta did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment. In January, US President Donald Trump granted TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with a law signed by then-President Joe Biden that requires a ***** or ban of the platform. At the time, he floated the possibility of a joint venture running the company, saying he was seeking a 50-50 partnership between “the United States” and its ******** owner ByteDance. But he did not give any further details on how that might work. The Biden administration had argued that TikTok, which has 170 million US users, could be used by China as a tool for spying and political manipulation. Opponents of a ban have cited freedom of speech as a reason for keeping the platform open. In 2018, Meta launched a standalone app called Lasso to compete with TikTok but it was later shut down. Source link #Instagram #considers #standalone #Reels #app #TikTok Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

England 1-0 Spain: ‘A proper English performance’ secures Nations League win England 1-0 Spain: ‘A proper English performance’ secures Nations League win Goalscorer Park was one of many England players who will have come off the pitch brimming with confidence. Lauren James was exceptional out wide, Millie Bright unbeatable in defence and Lucy Bronze was tireless in dealing with Spain forward Salma Paralluelo. It was a performance which encapsulated the best of England and was the perfect response to Friday’s underwhelming 1-1 draw with Portugal. “After the last game, we wanted to be even more connected. We spoke about just being proper English tonight,” said Bright. “I mean that fight and that desire to defend for each other, to work hard for each other and to be hard to beat. It’s so important to be hard to beat.” Wiegman agreed it felt like “a proper English” performance and highlighted the “fight and togetherness” to compete with Spain. “It was an absolute team performance and we fought for every yard,” she added. “I think the fight and the togetherness is the most important thing and it always starts with that. Of course it gives a boost when you win.” England’s players celebrated on the pitch afterwards, Bright dancing with team-mate Chloe Kelly, while Bronze fist-pumped towards the stands. They were applauded heavily at half-time and again when the final whistle went, while Spain’s players stood looking dejected in the centre of the pitch. It was only the second match of the Nations League campaign and this result does not impact things heavily yet but it is a significant boost to England’s Euro 2025 preparations. Source link #England #Spain #proper #English #performance #secures #Nations #League #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Women’s Asian Cup: Optus Stadium to host Matildas in tournament opener in 2026 Women’s Asian Cup: Optus Stadium to host Matildas in tournament opener in 2026 The Matildas will open their 2026 Women’s Asian Cup campaign in Perth, with Optus Stadium earning the honour of hosting the opening ceremony of the tournament. Two-and-a-half years on from the Matildas’ 8-0 thrashing of The Philippines in front of 59,155 fans, the *********** national team will return to Optus Stadium for the cup’s opening game. It will be one of 10 games Perth will host during the marquee event, with Optus Stadium to host a semifinal as well. HBF Park will also get in on the action as it prepares to host six group stage games – including four double-headers – and a pair of quarter-finals. Sydney’s Stadium Australia will host the final and the Matildas’ final group stage game. As hosts, Australia have been drawn in Group A, which means they will not leave Sydney after the knock-out stages if they finish atop their group. Japan, China and South Korea are the other three teams who have already qualified for the 12-team tournament. Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said the release of the match schedule marked the start of an exciting countdown. “With the Matildas set to play in all three host cities, fans across the country will have the opportunity to witness world-class football as we showcase the very best of women’s football in Asia,” he said. “This tournament is not only about the competition on the pitch – it is about uniting communities, celebrating our diversity, and building a lasting legacy for the growth of the women’s game in Australia. “We look forward to welcoming Asia’s finest teams and creating an unforgettable experience for players, fans, and football lovers alike.” Source link #Womens #Asian #Cup #Optus #Stadium #host #Matildas #tournament #opener Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ex-Sheriff Who Pulled on Woman’s Arm at Town Hall Gets Backlash Ex-Sheriff Who Pulled on Woman’s Arm at Town Hall Gets Backlash A woman was dragged out of a Republican town hall by three security guards. Now, the sheriff who ordered her removal is under scrutiny. Sheriff Robert Norris tugs hard on the woman’s arm, but he’s drawing in $150,000 a year in disability payments from Los Angeles County. In 2014, Norris retired as a lieutenant in the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department with shoulder and other physical injuries. Inside Edition’s Steven Fabian has more. Source link #ExSheriff #Pulled #Womans #Arm #Town #Hall #Backlash Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia’s earnings are solid but U.S. consumer’s shaky Nvidia’s earnings are solid but U.S. consumer’s shaky Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang arrives to attend the opening ceremony of Siliconware Precision Industries Co. (SPIL)’s Tan Ke Plant site in Taichung, Taiwan Jan. 16, 2025. Ann Wang | Reuters Nvidia’s revenue in 2024 more than doubled compared with a year earlier, beating analysts’ expectations. Moreover, the company expects sales in the current quarter will continue to grow at a faster rate than Wall Street’s estimates. Much of that falls upon Nvidia’s new Blackwell artificial intelligence chip, which Big Tech companies are pouring billions into. The chipmaker also downplayed concerns over DeepSeek, saying that more efficient AI models still require plenty of processing power in the long run. Meanwhile, consumer surveys from the Consumer Board and the University of Michigan show intensifying concerns over the economy and inflation. That’s culminated in the 10-year Treasury yield passing below that of the 3-month note, causing an “inverted yield curve” — an accepted, and largely accurate, sign of an impending recession within 18 months. Even as Nvidia is raking in revenue and Big Tech is powering ahead with capex, confidence in the U.S. economy seems to be wobbling slightly. It remains to be seen if tech can stabilize that. What you need to know today Nvidia beats expectations, provides rosy guidanceNvidia reported fourth-quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday that beat Wall Street expectations. Net income during the quarter rose to $22.09 billion, an 80% jump from the $12.29 billion in same ******* a year earlier. Quarterly revenue rose 78%, and full fiscal-year revenue for Nvidia rose 114% to $130.5 billion. Nvidia also offered guidance for the current quarter that is higher than LSEG estimates. But its rate of growth is slowing — shares fell around 1.5% in extended trading. Salesforce’s sales fell shortSalesforce on Wednesday reported weaker-than-expected quarterly revenue and gave disappointing guidance, causing its shares to slump more than 5% in extended trading. Quarterly revenue came in at $9.99 billion, a 7.6% increase from a year ago in the quarter that ended Jan. 31, but fell short of the $10.04 billion expected. Salesforce’s target for adjusted earnings per share and revenue in fiscal 2026 were also below LSEG consensus expectations. S&P and Nasdaq break losing streakOn Wednesday, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite broke their four-day losing streaks. The broad-based index ticked up 0.01% and the Nasdaq advanced 0.26%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, fell 0.43%. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index climbed 0.99%. Germany’s Dax rose 1.71%, extending its rally that started after the country’s federal election over the weekend. U.S. yield curve invertedThe 10-year Treasury yield passed below that of the 3-month note in Wednesday trading, giving rise to an “inverted yield curve.” It’s seen as a predictor for recessions. In fact, the New York Fed considers it such a reliable indicator that it offers monthly updates on the relationship along with percentage odds on a recession occurring over the next 12 months. [PRO] Nvidia shares to shake markets Nvidia’s earnings, which came out after the bell, will have a larger-than-usual effect on the stock market over the next two days, according to data from Goldman Sachs. Two reasons are behind Nvidia’s outsized influence this time. And finally… FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S., September 27, 2024. Shannon Stapleton | Reuters Trump says Zelenskyy will visit the U.S. Friday to sign critical rare minerals deal U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would visit the United States on Friday to sign a deal on critical rare earth minerals. Referring to the trip as “confirmed,” Trump said during his first Cabinet meeting: “We’re going to be signing an agreement which will be a very big agreement, that’ll be on rare earth and other things.” Officials in Kyiv said Wednesday that Ukraine and the U.S. have prepared a draft deal over access to Kyiv’s deposits of rare earth minerals and a joint investment fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Describing the draft deal as a “framework agreement,” Zelenskyy told reporters that the agreement included the intention to create a joint investment fund with the U.S., into which Ukraine would contribute 50% of all revenue earned from the future monetization of its natural resources assets. Source link #Nvidias #earnings #solid #U.S #consumers #shaky Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

For one Atlanta grocery store owner who relies on undocumented immigrants, the future is murky For one Atlanta grocery store owner who relies on undocumented immigrants, the future is murky Atlanta, Georgia — Inside El Progreso Supermarket in Atlanta, Georgia, the price of a gallon of milk can at times be what brings in or drives customers away. Luz Hernandez opened her first grocery store in 2014, one of four she owns across the Atlanta metropolitan area. She says high food prices are the No. 1 problem her customers are currently dealing with. “They used to come in to buy food…with $100,” Hernandez said. “Now it’s $300.” At El Progreso, essentials like milk and cheese are staples for her mainly Latinos customers. The products provide a taste of home for Hernandez, an immigrant from El Salvador who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 1996 at the age of 16. She became a U.S. citizen in 2012. Now a business owner, Hernandez says she is focused on what is ahead. She says she voted for President Trump last November because of his stance on the economy. “Because the economy is one thing, and immigration is another thing,” Hernandez explained. “And you have to, like an owner, decide what is more affect right away to my customer.” Since taking office, Mr. Trump has implemented a major crackdown on ******** immigration, and more than half of Hernandez’s employees are undocumented. It’s a fact she knows could have a major impact on the future of her business. “If Donald Trump say he’s going to fix the economy,” said Hernandez on how she balances her feelings on those two issues. “I don’t think he is going to fix the economy without my customers.” Mr. Trump has vowed to enact the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history. However, Hernandez doesn’t see a world where the president can fix the economy while deporting many undocumented immigrants. And she admits such a scenario could potentially require her to close her stores. “I cannot handle it with no employees,” Hernandez said. “And I cannot handle it with no customers. Impossible.” Nicole Valdes Nicole Valdes is a correspondent based in Nashville. Valdes was most recently a weather correspondent with FOX Weather. Since joining FOX Weather in 2021, Valdes covered breaking and developing weather-related news for the streaming service. Valdes reported from nearly 40 states, leading network coverage of Hurricane Ian’s impact on Florida, as well as countless tornadoes, flood, and wildfires. As a proud bilingual journalist, Valdes put her skills forward to produce and report an in-depth piece on Hurricane Maria’s impact to Puerto Rico. Prior to this role, Valdes worked as a reporter and fill-in anchor in Phoenix, Arizona, where she led the station’s coverage of the 2020 Presidential election. She was also a multimedia journalist for the CBS-affiliate in Fort Myers, Florida. Valdes graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville. Source link #Atlanta #grocery #store #owner #relies #undocumented #immigrants #future #murky Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Unvaccinated Child Dies of Measles in Texas Outbreak – The New York Times Unvaccinated Child Dies of Measles in Texas Outbreak – The New York Times Unvaccinated Child Dies of Measles in Texas Outbreak The New York TimesChild in West Texas is first US measles death in a decade CNNConfirmed case of measles reported in Rockwall County CBS NewsTrack the latest measles numbers in Texas KSAT San AntonioMeasles death is a red flag for NY Newsday Source link #Unvaccinated #Child #Dies #Measles #Texas #Outbreak #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Which strikers could Arsenal buy in the summer to lead them to the title? Which strikers could Arsenal buy in the summer to lead them to the title? Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge looks all but over this season, even if manager Mikel Arteta will not publicly admit it. The second-placed Gunners are 13 points adrift of leaders Liverpool after a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest again saw the conversation centred around their lack of striking options. In their last two Premier League matches, Arsenal have had 33 shots, but just three on target and no goals. It is the first time since May 2023 they have failed to score in back-to-back league games, with midfielder Mikel Merino forced to play up front due to having no available strikers. Arteta said: “We dominated the game. We tried in many different ways. We insisted but lacked that spark, that final pass to unlock a well-organised team. We have to generate more shots on target.” While Arsenal undoubtedly have not been helped by injuries to forwards Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, there seems little doubt they will be stepping up their search for a goalscorer in the summer. Former Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live admitted: “We have always needed a striker. We tried in the transfer window and now hopefully there is one lined up in the summer, but that will be a bit too late. “It will be the final piece of the jigsaw. That will hopefully be what makes it (winning the title) happen next season.” But with Premier League rivals Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Aston Villa also likely to be in the market for a striker this summer, finding that missing piece is not going to be easy for Arsenal. Here are some options of forwards likely to dominate the transfer market this summer… Source link #strikers #Arsenal #buy #summer #lead #title Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘I got it down’: Jack Howarth lifts id on controversial grand final call and gruesome injury that stalled his pre-season ‘I got it down’: Jack Howarth lifts id on controversial grand final call and gruesome injury that stalled his pre-season Storm sensation Jack Howarth has opened up on the controversial no-try ruling in last year’s grand final, with the young gun set for an even ******* 2025 despite dealing with a gruesome injury in the pre-season. As he approaches his second full season in the NRL, Howarth reflects on rising high, his injured eye and whether that moment in the grand final was actually a try. LOST CONFIDENCE Howarth was one of the most in-demand teenagers on the market, which is why the Storm splashed the cash to sign him on a five-year deal worth $500,000 a season. The *********** Schoolboys star was tipped to slot straight into the Storm side and dominate from the get-go like so many of his teammates from that stacked junior side. But Howarth played just one game in 2023 and added another two bench appearances in the first 14 rounds of the 2024 season as he dealt with injuries and questions on social media about whether he fitted the Storm system. But he finally got another crack in round 15, and the rest was history as he settled in at left centre and proved to his coach that his talent more than matched the hype. “I think he took the pre-season a little bit more seriously. I think he was more invested,” Bellamy said after a win over the Tigers last year. “I don’t like to say this because it might not be right, but I will say it anyway – I think because of his schoolboys footy, he was up on a pedestal because of his athleticism and his speed and his size. “But perhaps he didn’t work as hard as he could have. I think this pre-season he realised that if I’m going to be playing first grade then I’m going to have to work a bit harder than what I am.” Howarth admits it was hard not being in the team, but there’s a sense of vindication now that he’s a crucial part of the Storm’s squad. “When people start to question you, you do start to lose that confidence,” the 22-year-old told the NewsWire ahead of the new season. “When I got my shot, I felt like I took the opportunity and I started to play consistently, and that’s when I regained some of that confidence. “I started to believe in myself again, and I think I started to lose some of that when I wasn’t playing and I started to question why I wasn’t playing. “It was very exciting at the time and I felt like I was just happy to be in the team and to be a part of it. “But looking back now, I’m excited for this year. Just having that experience, I understand the game a lot better.” FLYING HIGH Howarth stole the show with one of the tries of the season in Melbourne’s big win over the Roosters in the preliminary final, but that ecstasy turned to pain a week later when the Storm was outplayed by the Penrith machine. The centre ran for 166m but made three errors as he learnt some valuable lessons about what’s needed to win grand finals. “I felt like that was another level of footy. In those games, there are big moments that you can probably get away with in other games during the year,” he said. “But when you mess up big moments in a grand final, you don’t get a second chance. “I realised the difference between normal games during the year, the prelim and the grand final. Certain moments are so important, and all those little things are actually more important than a lot of the big plays.” TRY OR NO TRY There was no ******* moment in the low-scoring decider than a crucial second-half decision to deny Howarth a try that caused plenty of controversy online and at the ground. Replays showed what looked to be him getting the ball down, but the NRL presented a different angle after the game that suggested he was held up by the defence. “Initially, I genuinely thought I had scored. I couldn’t get up to celebrate because there were five of them on me, but I thought I scored,” he said. “I turned around and Jahrome (Hughes) came up to me and he asked me, and I said ‘I got it down’. “There were angles that showed I got it down and angles that showed I didn’t, so I guess it is what it is.” EYES ON THE PRIZE Storm players have returned hungrier than ever to go one better in 2025, with that healthy competition at training resulting in Howarth fracturing an eye socket after Sua Fa’alogo and Jonah Pezet tried to come up with a big defensive play. “I was just about to score a try in the corner. I don’t know if it was Sua’s knee or Jonah Pezet trying to wrap the ball up as I was trying to put the ball down, but I copped a knee or a fist to the eye,” he revealed. “Either way, it didn’t feel too great. “It was a bit frustrating because I felt like I was still able to train, but because you have to be very careful with an eye – you don’t want to put too much pressure on it when you fracture it – but I didn’t miss too much training. Camera IconHowarth suffered a setback during pre-season as a result of some friendly fire. Instagram Credit: Supplied “I couldn’t blow my nose or anything because it’s all linked to your eye socket, so I had to be very careful with stuff. I couldn’t get fatigued or breathe very heavily.” That desire to fight for little moments at training is a trademark sign from the Storm who have an incredible record of bouncing back the year after losing a decider. “I felt like when everyone came back, everyone was really fit and a lot of people were getting really good scores in our fitness testing,” Howarth said. “There’s been a very competitive environment for spots because we’ve got such depth within our team, so it created such a hungry competitive. “That’s good because I felt it was a very healthy environment and it’s pushed us. I think we’ve looked better in pre-season than we have in the past.” Source link #Jack #Howarth #lifts #controversial #grand #final #call #gruesome #injury #stalled #preseason Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Billionaire Bill Ackman Just Bought 30.3 Million Shares of This Soaring Growth Stock Billionaire Bill Ackman Just Bought 30.3 Million Shares of This Soaring Growth Stock Because of his long-term track record, retail investors closely follow the moves of Bill Ackman. The billionaire hedge fund manager runs Pershing Square Capital Management, which managed $12.6 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2024. Ackman is known for running a concentrated portfolio full of what he believes are high-quality businesses. This is why it’s worth pointing out that so far this year, the investment firm has purchased more than 30 million shares of one growth stock, which is a new position for the hedge fund. Let’s look at this compelling company and whether or not it makes sense for your individual portfolio. As of this writing on Feb. 21, Pershing Square’s 30.3 million shares give it a $2.4 billion stake in Uber (NYSE: UBER). Ackman has been a longtime customer of the ride-hailing and delivery service, and he’s pleased with the job CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has done turning Uber into a profitable growth enterprise. Ackman went so far as to post on X that he and his team believe that this is one of the “highest quality businesses in the world.” Those are some positive comments from a powerful hedge fund manager that definitely put Uber in a very favorable light. Investors should focus on the key financial drivers of Ackman’s thesis. Perhaps the most important factor is the belief that Uber’s earnings per share (EPS) will surge in the years ahead. The view is that revenue will grow in the mid- to high-teens, thanks to the simple formula of more customers and greater usage and spend per customer. Ongoing operational efficiencies should boost the bottom line. Uber’s operating margin was 6.4% in 2024, more than double the year before. Controlling costs supports Ackman’s estimate of more than 30% annual EPS growth in the years ahead. This will lead to tremendous free cash flow generation. Ackman also highlighted Uber’s network effect, which helps support the company’s leading industry position. This is precisely what makes up Uber’s economic moat, which provides a durable competitive advantage that allows the business to keep rivals at bay. As of Dec. 31, 2024, Uber had 170 million active users on the platform, with 8 million drivers in 70 countries. The ability to match rider demand with driver capacity is strengthened by a growing network of more users. If more drivers are available, wait times and prices are reduced for riders. And with more riders on the app, drivers spend less time idle and benefit from the ability to make more money. Story Continues Besides the quality of the business that drew Ackman’s attention, his company started acquiring shares because of the compelling valuation. In the past 12 months, Uber shares are up just 3% (as of Feb. 21). However, consensus analyst estimates for 2025 EPS have jumped 21% in that time. The elephant in the room when looking at Uber stock is the potential impact advancements in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology can have. Here’s where Ackman and his team provide a direct response to that threat. In Pershing Square’s view, AVs are still a long way from commercialization. Safety is a big concern, but there are also technical, infrastructure, and regulatory hurdles to clear. What’s more, as has been the case thus far, Uber is looking like the partner of choice for AV companies. It already has many partners in the space that all likely realize the powerful position Uber has due to its direct relationship with consumers who have built habits using the platform. That’s hard to beat. If Tesla or Alphabet’s Waymo want their AV technology to gain broad adoption quickly, working with Uber might be the best ticket, as opposed to creating a new ride-hailing app from scratch. The latter will undoubtedly take time to scale up. It’s easy to be bullish on Uber after learning Ackman’s thinking. Investors who agree should consider buying shares. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $328,354!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $46,837!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $527,017!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. Continue » *Stock Advisor returns as of February 24, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Neil Patel and his clients have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Tesla, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Billionaire Bill Ackman Just Bought 30.3 Million Shares of This Soaring Growth Stock was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Billionaire #Bill #Ackman #Bought #Million #Shares #Soaring #Growth #Stock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What’s likely to move the market What’s likely to move the market Stocks @ Night is a daily newsletter delivered after hours, giving you a first look at tomorrow and last look at today. Sign up for free to receive it directly in your inbox. Here’s what CNBC TV’s producers were watching as the S & P 500 narrowly ended a four-day losing streak and what’s on the radar for the next session. The markets since Inauguration Day The Dow Jones Industrial Average , S & P 500 , Russell 2000 , Nasdaq Composite , Nasdaq 100 and Dow Transports are now all down since President Donald Trump took office last month. The Dow, S & P 500, Nasdaq Composite and Nasdaq 100 are still positive since the election. .DJI 1M mountain The Dow Jones Industrial Average in the past month Oh Canada’s banks ********* Imperial Bank of Commerce , Royal Bank of Canada and Toronto-Dominion all report Thursday morning before the bell. Royal Bank of Canada is the biggest company by market cap north of the border. TD is No. 3. In February, Toronto-traded shares of CIBC are down 5.2%. The stock is 9% from the December high. Toronto-traded shares of Royal Bank of Canada are down 3.25% in February. The stock is 5% from the December high. TD Bank’s Toronto-traded shares are up 3% this month. The stock is 2.5% from the September high. Nvidia Nvidia reported quarterly results Wednesday afternoon, beating estimates and showing strong sales growth. CNBC’s Jon Fortt interviews CEO Jensen Huang Wednesday night. There will be full highlights online and on CNBC TV Thursday. NVDA 3M mountain Nvidia over the past three months Salesforce The company’s forecast was below what Wall Street was hoping for. Salesforce is down in after hours. Shares are down 10% in February. Ambarella The semiconductor maker reported revenue that jumped 62%. The company also issued strong guidance. The stock is up 10% after hours. Counting the after-hours move, Ambarella is up 23% in the past three months. AMBA 3M mountain Ambarella in the past three months Snowflake The software company beat expectations and issued strong guidance. Snowflake is up 10% after hours. Lemonade CNBC producer Dawn Giel is tracking insurance company Lemonade after it missed on earnings per share but beat revenue expectations. CEO Daniel Schreiber was upbeat on the post earnings call and said Q4 was the company’s best on record. The stock got squeezed, falling 1.6% Wednesday. The stock is 41% from the November high. LMND 3M mountain Lemonade in the past three months Vistra CNBC TV’s Pippa Stevens covers Vistra ‘s earnings Thursday morning before the bell. The stock was a top-performer in 2025. It is up 200% in the last 12 months, but it’s now 26% from the Jan. 23 high. The stock is down about 9% in the past three months. Archer Aviation CNBC TV’s Phil LeBeau will track the numbers when the electric vertical take-off and landing company launches its earnings report. Archer is up 13% in three months and 34% from the Jan. 7 high. Source link #Whats #move #market Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Breaking down the Supreme Court “reverse discrimination” case Breaking down the Supreme Court “reverse discrimination” case Breaking down the Supreme Court “reverse discrimination” case – CBS News Watch CBS News The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Marlean Ames, a woman who alleges her ******* orientation as a straight person led to discrimination at work. Jessica Levinson explains. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Breaking #Supreme #Court #reverse #discrimination #case Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DOJ tells judges it can’t meet deadline to release frozen funding DOJ tells judges it can’t meet deadline to release frozen funding The Trump administration said in a court filing Wednesday it cannot comply with a federal judge’s order to release foreign aid funding by midnight, despite being directed to do so almost two weeks ago. Lawyers for the Justice Department made the claim in papers filed to a federal appeals court seeking a stay of the lower court’s ruling. The filing said that if the D.C. U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals doesn’t pause the order, the government won’t be able to make the deadline because it will take “weeks” to free up the money it owes. “[R]egardless whether this Court stays the district court’s order, agency leadership has determined that the ordered payments ‘cannot be accomplished in the time allotted by the district court,” their filing said. “Additional time is required because restarting funding related to terminated or suspended agreements is not as simple as turning on a switch or faucet. Rather, the payment systems of USAID and State are complicated and require various steps before payments are authorized,” the government said in another filing, estimating the process would take “multiple weeks.” The government estimated the total amount of money it would have to free to be in compliance is about $2 billion. It said it expects to be able to free up roughly $15 million by the end of the day. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali had set the midnight deadline after aid groups and businesses argued that the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development had not been complying with his Feb. 13 order immediately blocking a blanket freeze on foreign aid. The judge directed the government to comply in two other orders last week. At a hearing Tuesday, attorneys for the aid groups said their clients had reached a crisis point, and had been forced to lay off employees while staffers faced legal – and in some instances physical – threats for non-payment from vendors and other creditors in some of the countries they operate in. The judge asked a Justice Department lawyer about what steps the government had taken to comply with his order, and the attorney said he was “not in a position to answer that question.” Ali then set the Wednesday night deadline. The government asked him to stay his order while it appeals to the higher court, a request the judge rejected in an order earlier Wednesday that questioned the government’s contention they would need weeks to comply. “This is not something that Defendants have previously raised in this Court, whether at the hearing or any time before filing their notice of appeal and seeking a stay pending appeal,” he wrote. “If Defendants wanted to propose a different schedule for achieving compliance, that is something they could have proposed to this Court and that the Court could have considered alongside Plaintiffs’ showings. Any such schedule would have to take into account that Defendants have already had nearly two weeks to come into compliance, apparently without taking any meaningful steps to unfreeze funds,” the judge added. The aid groups urged the appeals court panel not to stay Ali’s ruling. “By halting disbursements to Plaintiffs — American businesses and nonprofits — even for work they had already performed, and which already had been reviewed and cleared for payment, the funding freeze plunged Plaintiffs into sudden financial turmoil. Without funds to meet their operating expenses, which in many cases they must continue to incur under the terms of their awards, the funding freeze has left them facing imminent collapse. Already, Plaintiffs have had to furlough or lay off thousands of American workers,” their filing said. “Meanwhile, many of those who depend on their programming face starvation, disease, and death.” The groups also said the government’s assertion that it would take so long to release the cash “beggars belief.” “For twelve days, Defendants have stonewalled and abjectly defied the district court’s unambiguous temporary restraining order,” they contended, adding “it makes no sense that the State Department and USAID — which have had no trouble timely disbursing payments for decades before the unlawful funding freeze — would now be unable to do so, but for Defendants’ deliberate efforts to halt payments.” “Defendants have erected numerous new barriers to compliance at every turn. This conduct cannot be explained as anything other than willful defiance of the Court’s orders,” the plaintiffs said in another filing. The Justice Department maintains it is in compliance with the judge’s order. It said Wednesday that Ali had targeted the “blanket” nature of the funding freeze, and since then the State Department and USAID had conducted “a good-faith, individualized assessment of [each] contract or grant and, where the terms or authority under law allows, taking action with respect to that particular agreement consistent with any procedures required.” “As of this morning, that process has been completed for USAID and State Department” and Secretary of State Marco Rubio “has now made a final decision with respect to each award, on an individualized basis, affirmatively electing to either retain the award or terminate it.” The filing puts the total number of the awards that were reviewed at over 12,000, and said that over 10,000 of them had been terminated. The plaintiffs called the claim that Rubio reviewed all those awards far-fetched. It “would be impossible for one person or even a group of people to meaningfully review all of these contracts and awards in such a short *******,” they said. They’ve asked to call Rubio as a witness at a hearing in the case next week, a request the government says should be rejected. “[T]op executive department officials should not, absent extraordinary circumstances, be called to testify regarding their reasons for taking official actions,” the government said. The orders by Ali marked the second time a judge found the administration was not complying with a court order. Earlier this month, a federal judge in Rhode Island found officials were not following his directive to lift a broader spending freeze. The findings sparked concern that the administration would not follow court orders, worries that were exacerbated by a social media post earlier this month from Vice President JD Vance, who wrote, “Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.” Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office earlier this month, Trump said his administration would follow court orders. “I always abide by the courts. Always abide by them, and we’ll appeal,” he said. Source link #DOJ #tells #judges #meet #deadline #release #frozen #funding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Michelle Trachtenberg, ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Buffy’ Actress, Dies at 39 – The New York Times Michelle Trachtenberg, ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Buffy’ Actress, Dies at 39 – The New York Times Michelle Trachtenberg, ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Buffy’ Actress, Dies at 39 The New York TimesMichelle Trachtenberg dead at 39 — former ‘Gossip Girl,’ ‘Harriet the Spy’ star recently underwent liver transplant New York Post Michelle Trachtenberg’s Co-stars Break Silence Following Her Shocking Death: ‘I Wish I Could Have Helped’ Yahoo EntertainmentMichelle Trachtenberg Had a Liver Transplant Months Before Death at Age 39 PEOPLEMichelle Trachtenberg was ‘really sick’ and ‘down emotionally’ due to ‘health issues’ prior to her death: report Page Six Source link #Michelle #Trachtenberg #Gossip #Girl #Buffy #Actress #Dies #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Inside the Taliban’s surveillance network monitoring millions Inside the Taliban’s surveillance network monitoring millions Mahjooba Nowrouzi BBC Afghan Service, Kabul BBC Thousands of cameras are now being used to monitor the movements of Kabul residents In a crowded control centre, surrounded by dozens of TV screens, the Taliban’s police force proudly shows off its newly-acquired network of 90,000 CCTV cameras – used to watch over the day-to-day lives of millions of people. “We monitor the entire city of Kabul from here,” says Khalid Zadran, a spokesperson for the Taliban police chief, pointing to one of the screens. The authorities say such surveillance will help fight crime, but critics fear it will be used to clamp down on dissent and to monitor the strict morality code enforced by the Islamist Taliban government under their interpretation of Sharia law. The BBC are the first international journalists allowed to see the system in action. Inside the control room, police officers sit in rows watching the live streams from thousands of cameras, keeping tabs on the lives of the six million people who live in Kabul. From car licence plates to facial expressions, everything is monitored. “In certain neighbourhoods, when we notice groups of people and suspect they might be involved in drug use, criminal activities, or something suspicious, we quickly reach out to the local police,” says Zadran. “They arrive swiftly to investigate the nature of the gathering.” Under the previous government, Kabul was threatened daily with attacks from the Taliban and so-called Islamic State militants, as well as high profile kidnappings and car-jackings. When the Taliban retook power in 2021, they promised to crack down on crime. The dramatic increase in the number of surveillance cameras in the capital is a sign of growing sophistication in the way the Taliban enforce law and order. Before their return, just 850 cameras were in place in the capital, according to a spokesman for the security forces that were driven from power. However, in the past three years, the Taliban authorities have also introduced a range of draconian measures limiting people’s rights and freedoms, especially those of women. The Taliban government has not been formally recognised by any other country. Taliban spokesperson Khalid Zadran says the surveillance system is being used to reduce crime The surveillance system the BBC is shown in Kabul features the option to track people by facial recognition. On the corner of one screen images pop up with each face categorised by age range, gender, and whether or not they have a beard or a face mask. “On clear days, we can zoom in on individuals [who are] kilometres away,” says Zadran, highlighting a camera positioned up high that focuses on a busy traffic junction. The Taliban even monitor their own personnel. At a checkpoint, as soldiers popped open the trunk of a car for inspection, the operators focused their lenses, zooming in to scrutinise the contents within. The interior ministry says the cameras have “significantly contributed to enhancing safety, curbing crime rates, and swiftly apprehending offenders”. It adds the introduction of CCTV and motorcycle controls have led to a 30% decrease in crime rates between 2023 and 2024 but it is not possible to independently verify these figures. However, rights groups are concerned about who is being monitored and for how long. Amnesty International say installing cameras “under the guise of ‘national security’ sets a template for the Taliban to continue their draconian policies that violate fundamental rights of people in Afghanistan – especially women in public spaces”. By law women are not allowed to be heard outside their houses, although in practice this is not being strictly enforced. Teenage girls are prevented from accessing secondary and higher education. Women are barred from many forms of employment. In December, women training as midwives and nurses told the BBC they had been ordered not to return to classes. While women continue to be visible on the streets of cities like Kabul, they are required to wear a face covering. Fariba is worried the cameras will be used to monitor women’s adherence to strict rules around the way they dress in public Fariba*, a young graduate who lives with her parents in Kabul, has been unable to find work since the Taliban came to power. She tells the BBC there is “significant concern that surveillance cameras may be used to monitor women’s hijabs [veils]”. The Taliban say only the city police have access to the CCTV system and the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Ministry – the Taliban’s morality police – does not use it. But Fariba is concerned the cameras will further endanger those opposed to Taliban rule. “Many individuals, especially ex-military members, human rights advocates and protesting women, struggle to move freely and often live in secrecy,” she says. “There is significant concern that surveillance cameras will be used to monitor women’s hijabs too,” she says. Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, says Afghanistan does not have the data protection laws in place to regulate how the collected CCTV footage is held and used. The police say the data is kept only for three months, while, according to the interior ministry, the cameras do not pose a threat to privacy as they “are operated from a special and completely confidential room by a specific and professional person in charge”. The cameras appear to be ********-made. The control room monitors and branding on the feeds the BBC saw carried the name Dahua, a ******** government-linked company. Earlier reports that the Taliban were in talks with China’s Huawei Technologies to buy cameras were denied by the company. Taliban officials refused to answer BBC questions about where they sourced the equipment. Some of the cost of installing the new network is falling on ordinary Afghans who are being monitored by the system. In a house in central Kabul the BBC spoke to Shella*, who was asked to pay for some of the cameras installed on the streets near her home. “They demanded thousands of afghanis from every household,” she says. It’s a large amount in a country where those women who have jobs may earn only around 5,000 afghanis ($68; £54) a month. Shella says she was asked to pay for the cost of some of the cameras The humanitarian situation in Kabul, and in Afghanistan in general, remains precarious after years of war. The country’s economy is in crisis, but international aid funding has been largely stopped since the Taliban came back to power. According to the United Nations, 30 million people are in need of aid. “If families refused to pay [for the cameras], they were threatened with water and power cuts within three days,” Shella adds. “We had to take loans to cover the costs. “People are starving – what good are these cameras to them?” The Taliban say that if people do not want to contribute, they can put in an official complaint. “Participation was voluntary, and donations were in the hundreds, not thousands,” Khalid Zadran, the Taliban police spokesperson, insists. Despite the assurances, rights campaigners both inside and outside Afghanistan continue to have concerns over how such a powerful surveillance system will be used. Jaber, a vegetable seller in Kabul, says the cameras represent another way in which Afghans are made to feel powerless. “We are treated like trash, denied the opportunity to earn a living, and the authorities regard us as worthless,” he told the BBC. “We can do nothing.” *The names of the women interviewed for this piece were changed for their safety With additional reporting by Peter Ball Source link #Talibans #surveillance #network #monitoring #millions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hackers are using AI to breach systems faster than ever Hackers are using AI to breach systems faster than ever AI is helping hackers breach systems faster than ever and in under an hour, according to new research from ReliaQuest. The report also indicates that hackers are shifting from ransomware to data theft, making attacks harder to detect and defend against. Phone-based and phishing scams are also rising, making businesses rethink their security strategies to protect sensitive information. The report found that hackers are moving away from ransomware and focusing on selling stolen data rather than demanding ransoms, as it is more profitable. 80% of breaches involve data theft, while only 20% include data encryption. This change implies companies are less likely to pay the ransom, as only around 7% recover their data. Phishing is currently the top way hackers steal data, with 30% of attacks including credentials theft. As attackers use AI, it only takes them four hours to steal the data and six hours to encrypt it. Another rising threat is voice phishing, which now accounts for 14% of breaches and primarily targets the manufacturing sector. Recurring IT dealings and permissive help desk policies are possible causes for the rise in “voice phishing.” But it’s not all bad news. The report says that defenders have made progress this year. ReliaQuest says it’s using AI and automation to tackle threats, making it possible for customers to achieve threat containment in only three minutes. As the attacks grow, it’s paramount that organizations improve their defenses. The report outlines three steps organizations can take to stay safe: incorporating AI and automation into security operations, barricading common entry points, and eliminating blind spots. ReliaQuest says it aims to help organizations strengthen their security strategies and improve threat detection and response. Source link #Hackers #breach #systems #faster Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]