Pelican Press

‘Project Runway’ star Sha’Vi Lewis dead at 39: ‘We are in a state of disbelief’ – New York Post ‘Project Runway’ star Sha’Vi Lewis dead at 39: ‘We are in a state of disbelief’ – New York Post ‘Project Runway’ star Sha’Vi Lewis dead at 39: ‘We are in a state of disbelief’ New York Post Sha’Vi Lewis, ‘Project Runway’ Contestant, Dies at 39 PEOPLEShaVi Lewis Dies: ‘Project Runway’ Season 18 Designer Was 38 DeadlineShaVi Lewis, ‘Project Runway’ Season 18 Contestant and Fashion Designer, Dies at 38 Yahoo EntertainmentProject Runway’s ShaVi Lewis Dead at 38 — Read Touching Tributes From Castmates and Family TVLine Source link #Project #Runway #star #ShaVi #Lewis #dead #state #disbelief #York #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cop admits to lying in Jack de Belin sex assault case Cop admits to lying in Jack de Belin sex assault case A former police officer has pleaded guilty to giving false evidence during an NRL star’s ******* assault criminal proceedings, a court has been told. Source link #Cop #admits #lying #Jack #Belin #sex #assault #case Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Quantum Machines raises $170M, says it’s working with more than half of all quantum computing companies Quantum Machines raises $170M, says it’s working with more than half of all quantum computing companies Quantum computing remains a holy grail in the world of technology. But thanks to some important breakthroughs in the last several months, investors are betting on promising startups in the space to make the concept of super-efficient, particle- and electron-based computing a reality. Now, Quantum Machines, an Israeli startup that provides quantum control solutions to others in the field, has raised $170 million. Led by PSG Equity with participation from Intel Capital, Red Dot Capital Partners, and existing investors, this all-equity Series C round is one of the biggest funding rounds raised by a quantum computing company to date. One reason for the size of the round is because of the startup’s business funnel. Quantum Machines’ technology is now used by more than half of all the companies in the world that are working on quantum computers and quantum computing, according to its CEO, Dr. Itamar Sivan, who co-founded the company with CTO Dr. Yonatan Cohen and chief engineer Dr. Nissim Ofek. “We serve every category of company in the field,” he said in an interview, “large corporates, startups building quantum computers, national labs globally, and universities.” Quantum Machines’ hardware may be best known for its traction with customers and partners like Nvidia who want to reduce errors in their own quantum computing research. This is a critical role in the wider ecosystem as researchers get closer to building functional, super-fast quantum computers that do not fall over with high fail rates. Sivan declined to name any of those specific customers — although the list of tech companies backing the startup might be a good hint. However, he noted that its hundreds of clients also include companies that are not owners or developers of quantum computers themselves, but banks and others that are running research on third-party machines, in the cloud, and use Quantum Machines to keep that work on track. Sivan would not disclose the valuation of his startup, but he confirmed it was raised with a “significant uplift” compared to previous rounds. For some more context, when we and others first heard about the round earlier this year, the value was pegged at $100 million. Prior to this round, the company had raised around $93 million, per Crunchbase data. Valor Equity Partners, Alumni Ventures, Battery Ventures, Samsung NEXT, and Qualcomm Ventures are among its backers. Quantum computing had a burst of cold wind in January, when Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang made a public prediction that the technology was still “decades away” from being useful (despite his company’s work with Quantum Machines, Google, and others). It was a statement that sent quantum stocks and overall outlook tumbling. Story Continues Yet, we’ve since seen several positive developments that might pave the way for a different timeline. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google — which unveiled a quantum chip it called Willow in December — earlier this month said a realistic time frame for “useful” quantum computers was five to 10 years from now. Microsoft followed that up just last week by unveiling its own quantum processor that’s built using what it described as “a new state of matter” called the Majorana particle. The company said it holds promise in building processors that contain 1 million qubits — a thousand times ******* than the typically 1,000 qubit processors being used today. Some have raised questions about Microsoft’s claims due to a lack of evidence, but it’s still an important development that underscores the work that is being done. Meanwhile, a number of startups have been raising large rounds. These include Alice & Bob in France raising $104 million and Google-backed QuEra raising $230 million in a debt round. There remain question marks over the best approaches in the space. For example, some are building along a few different theoretical trajectories around how to construct processors and the best approaches for addressing errors. But as Sivan points out, this is what makes Quantum Machines effective: Bypassing those questions, it positions itself as agnostic to all those approaches, and as a mediator for reducing noise, both figuratively and literally. This is one reason the startup has attracted the investment that is has, said Rotem Shacham, a director at PSG. “In the last few years the pace of tech breakthroughs in quantum computing have increased significantly,” she said in an interview. “We’re getting closer to end user values. We don’t like to invest decades away. But with Quantum Machines the market is already there.” Source link #Quantum #Machines #raises #170M #working #quantum #computing #companies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Luka Doncic leads the Lakers against the Mavericks in their first meeting since the trade – The Associated Press Luka Doncic leads the Lakers against the Mavericks in their first meeting since the trade – The Associated Press Luka Doncic leads the Lakers against the Mavericks in their first meeting since the trade The Associated PressJordan Brand brings Luka Doncic-themed statement piece outside of Crypto.com Arena ESPNMavs watch party and “Luka-like” contest CBS NewsMavericks vs. Lakers score, live updates: Luka Dončić takes on Dallas for the first time since blockbuster trade to Los Angeles Yahoo SportsLuka Doncic Reportedly Motivated by Rumors After Lakers Trade: ‘A Beast Was Awakened’ Bleacher Report Source link #Luka #Doncic #leads #Lakers #Mavericks #meeting #trade #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Reflecting on the Freedom Ride’s legacy, 60 years later Reflecting on the Freedom Ride’s legacy, 60 years later In 1965 a bus filled with students arrived at the University of Sydney. They were returning from a two-week journey through regional NSW, drawing attention to racism in towns where Aboriginal people were barred from swimming pools, cinemas, pubs and RSL clubs. Inspired by the civil rights movement in the United States, the Freedom Ride, was led by activist, Charles Perkins. Gary Williams started at the University of Sydney in 1963, alongside Mr Perkins, forming the Student Action for Aborigines collective, which then formed the idea of the Freedom Ride. They were the first Aboriginal students to attend the university. Although Mr Williams was unable to join his fellow Freedom Riders for the entirety of the journey, he remembers meeting up with the group in Bowraville, where Aboriginal people were banned from the pub and the local cinema was segregated. “I was walking up the street – I’d hitchhiked from Nambucca to Bowraville,” he told AAP. “When they called for volunteers to go into the hotel the local mob said ‘he’ll do it’. “So I went in and Brian (Aarons) was there, we went in and ordered … there were reporters and journalists there so nothing happened.” The pair were served their drinks and a photo snapped as Mr Williams sipped his beer. Mr Williams reunited with Mr Aarons as well as fellow Freedom Riders Professor Ann Curthoys and Jim Spigelman on Wednesday, 60 years after their journey ended, to reflect on its impact. Mr Williams said he can see the “generational legacy” of the Freedom Ride. “It’s good to see not only with the Aboriginal community, but the wider community, embracing what was done in 1965,” he said. Prof Curthoys remembers confronting the “evident racism” throughout the country towns during her time on the Freedom Ride, as well as being warmed by the welcome from the Aboriginal community along the way. “People arguing very explicitly that Aboriginal people didn’t have the right to go to the swimming pool or go to the cinema or go to the RSL,” she said. “It was a really weird mixture of some very warming things and some very chilling things that you encounter as you go through those towns.” Looking back, Prof Curthoys said the Freedom Ride had a greater impact than the students had initially realised. “The impact that we wanted to have was to draw attention to the situation, which we did, and to generate debate, which we did,” she said. “It’s a long way from that to solving the issues, and that’s by no means happened, but we did, I think, bring consciousness of these issues to the *****.” To commemorate the legacy of the Freedom Ride, the University of Sydney announced a new scholarship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, on Wednesday. The scholarship will provide $8,500 each year to two undergraduate students for the duration of their degree. “This scholarship is about more than financial support – it is recognition of the courage and impact of the original Freedom Riders,” interim deputy vice-chancellor of Indigenous Services and Strategy, Professor Jennifer Barrett said. “It is also about empowering those who might follow in their footsteps.” Source link #Reflecting #Freedom #Rides #legacy #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Watch video of hairy situation Watch video of hairy situation A Colombian man was arrested for attempting to smuggle ******** worth thousands under his toupee, officials announced on Monday. The suspect was caught before taking a flight to Amsterdam from Cartagena’s Rafael Nunez International Airport, according to Reuters and Sky News. “This individual is profiled by one of our experts and subjected to the procedure,” Gelver Yecid Pena Araque for the Metropolitan Police of Cartagena said in a statement translated by Reuters. “There, through the scanner and a body search, the wig was found, which contained more than 220 grams of ******** that he intended to take to this country [Amsterdam] and with this, criminal profits got hit,” he continued. Hair-raising: Watch video of man caught hiding drugs under toupee Busted: Texas customs officers scramble plans, stop at least 90 from smuggling eggs into the US Man had more than a dozen tablets under his toupee The 40-year-old was taken into custody on manufacturing and carrying ********* substances and suspicion of trafficking charges, the outlets reported. The video shows an officer cutting the man’s hairpiece, exposing 19 drug-filled tablets. Police said the ******** was worth an estimated 10,000 euros, or about $10,515 in U.S. dollars, per the reports. Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at *****@*****.tld. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man busted smuggling ******** under toupee in airport: Watch video Source link #Watch #video #hairy #situation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis' friends around Rome pray for him as he fights pneumonia – Yahoo Pope Francis' friends around Rome pray for him as he fights pneumonia – Yahoo Pope Francis’ friends around Rome pray for him as he fights pneumonia YahooVideo: Dr. Gupta breaks down the big concern with Pope Francis’ health CNNPope Francis in critical but stable condition, has CT scan, ******** says Fox NewsAnxious Prayers as Pope Francis Lingers in Critical Condition The New York Times Source link #Pope #Francis039 #friends #Rome #pray #fights #pneumonia #Yahoo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Farmer finds rare, critically endangered species while clearing pest traps: ‘I was … stunned’ Farmer finds rare, critically endangered species while clearing pest traps: ‘I was … stunned’ A day in New Zealand’s Ashburton Lakes region led to an unexpected discovery when farmer John Evans stumbled upon a new population of critically endangered Canterbury knobbled weevils, according to Miami Herald. The tiny beetles, once believed to be limited to a single site, were found clinging to speargrass plants as Evans was clearing pest traps in November. Evans took photos and shared them on a bug ID forum. Experts quickly responded. Weeks later, The New Zealand Department of Conservation confirmed the beetles were critically endangered Canterbury knobbled weevils. “I was like a stunned mullet when I learned these were such a rare species,” Evans told Miami Herald. The Canterbury knobbled weevil is one of New Zealand’s most elusive insects. Once thought to be extinct for nearly 100 years, it was rediscovered in 2004 at Burkes Pass, roughly 50 miles from Evans’ recent find, according to the Department of Conservation. The weevils also face threats from invasive predators and the decline of their only food source, speargrass, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A second population opens new doors for conservation. Watch now: How bad is a gas stove for your home’s indoor air quality? The DOC has put funding toward studying the Canterbury knobbled weevil, looking at its population size, habitat conditions, and potential threats. Researchers and conservationists plan to restore speargrass, manage invasive species, and monitor the weevils. Insect conservation supports soil health and food chains. A 2021 study from Nature Communications found that global insect declines impact pollination, soil health, and ecosystems. “At this stage, we don’t yet know how big or secure the new population is,” DOC science adviser Tara Murray told Miami Herald. “Both populations are small, so they could easily be wiped out by fire or a few years of bad growing conditions for the speargrass plants they rely on.” The weevil’s return signals hope for insect conservation in New Zealand. With continued conservation, the species has a chance to survive. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #Farmer #finds #rare #critically #endangered #species #clearing #pest #traps #stunned Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tech Stocks Continue Lower on Tariff Uncertainty and Economic Concerns – Nasdaq Tech Stocks Continue Lower on Tariff Uncertainty and Economic Concerns – Nasdaq Tech Stocks Continue Lower on Tariff Uncertainty and Economic Concerns NasdaqStock market today: Nvidia, Tesla lead Nasdaq lower as bitcoin sinks, consumer confidence plummets Yahoo FinanceWall Street ends mixed in the face of mounting uncertainties ReutersStocks Hit as Bonds Rally on Weak Consumer Data: Markets Wrap BloombergStocks Decline on Weakness in Tech Stocks Nasdaq Source link #Tech #Stocks #Continue #Tariff #Uncertainty #Economic #Concerns #Nasdaq Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Traditional track walk back for Melbourne F1 fans Traditional track walk back for Melbourne F1 fans *********** Grand Prix organisers have lifted a ban on fans entering the Albert Park track after the Formula One race in a return to tradition. Motor sport fans haven’t been able to enter the Melbourne track to celebrate with the podium drivers since 2023, when spectators broke through safety fences and barriers and entered the track before all cars had finished the race. Following a safety investigation by the sport’s governing body, organisers announced Wednesday the “track walk” was back for the F1 season-opener on March 16. “The track walk is a unique and cherished experience for our fans, and we are very excited to be able to welcome it back for 2025 and have this incredible moment shared around the world,” said *********** Grand Prix Corporation boss Travis Auld. “There is nothing quite like seeing the passionate fans join in the celebration following the race and we can only hope that this year they’re celebrating an Aussie on the podium.” Organisers said there would be a range of measures to ensure the track walk would be safe, including purpose-built barrier gates to control access to the track and increased security. The 2024 Grand Prix attracted a crowd of 452,055 people, beating the previous record set in 2023 by more than 7,000 while this year’s event has already sold out on for racing on Saturday and Sunday. Source link #Traditional #track #walk #Melbourne #fans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The 30-year rate is finally under 6.5% The 30-year rate is finally under 6.5% Mortgage rates are down across the board today. According to Zillow, the average 30-year fixed rate has dropped by six basis points to 6.44% — meaning it has dropped below 6.50% for the first time since mid-December. The end of February could be a good time of year to buy a house. Not only are interest rates down, but you’d be getting ahead of peak home-buying season that usually picks up in March and April. By beating the rush, you might not have to deal with as much competition from other home buyers. As a result, you could get a home you like with fewer chances of a bidding war. Dig deeper: 2025 housing market — Is it a good time to buy a house? Here are the current mortgage rates, according to our latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.44% 20-year fixed: 6.12% 15-year fixed: 5.77% 5/1 ARM: 6.49% 7/1 ARM: 6.37% 30-year VA: 5.91% 15-year VA: 5.42% 5/1 VA: 6.04% Remember that these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth. Read more: How to get the lowest mortgage rates possible Have questions about buying, owning, or selling a house? Submit your question to Yahoo’s panel of Realtors using this Google form. These are the current mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.46% 20-year fixed: 6.11% 15-year fixed: 5.77% 5/1 ARM: 6.48% 7/1 ARM: 6.40% 30-year VA: 5.90% 15-year VA: 5.58% 5/1 VA: 6.01% 30-year FHA: 6.06% 15-year FHA: 5.53% Again, the numbers provided are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth. Refinance rates are usually higher than purchase rates. Limited-time offer: Earn Southwest’s Companion Pass as a credit card welcome bonus A mortgage calculator can help you see how various mortgage term lengths and interest rates will affect your monthly payments. Use the free Yahoo Finance mortgage calculator to play around with different outcomes. Our calculator also considers factors like property taxes and homeowners insurance when calculating your estimated monthly mortgage payment. This gives you a better idea of your total monthly payment than if you just looked at mortgage principal and interest. As a rule of thumb, 15-year mortgage rates are lower than 30-year mortgage rates. When comparing 15- versus 30-year mortgage rates, know that the shorter term will save you money on interest in the long run. However, your monthly payments will be higher because you’re paying off the same loan amount in half the time. For example, with a $400,000 mortgage with a 30-year term and a 6.44% rate, you’ll make a monthly payment of about $2,513 toward your mortgage principal and interest. As interest accumulates over decades, you’ll end up paying $504,503 in interest. If you get a $400,000 15-year mortgage with a 5.77% rate, you’ll pay about $3,326 monthly toward your principal and interest. However, you’ll only pay $198,667 in interest over the years. If that 15-year mortgage monthly payment is too high, remember you can always make extra mortgage payments on your 30-year loan to pay off your mortgage faster and ultimately pay less interest. With a fixed-rate mortgage, your rate is locked in from day one. However, you will get a new rate if you refinance your mortgage. An adjustable-rate mortgage keeps your rate the same for a set ******* of time. Then the rate will go up or down depending on several factors, such as the economy and the maximum amount your rate can change according to your contract. For example, with a 7/1 ARM, your rate would be locked in for the first seven years, then change every year for the remainder of your term. Adjustable rates sometimes start lower than fixed rates, but once the initial rate-lock ******* ends, you risk your interest rate going up. ARM rates have also been starting higher than fixed rates recently, so they’re not as good of a deal as usual. Dig deeper: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgage — Which should you choose? Mortgage rates have been ticking down for about a week, but there haven’t been significant drops for a while. In 2024, mortgage rates trended downward from early August to the Sept. 18 Federal Reserve meeting, when the central bank announced a 50-basis-point slash to the federal funds rate. Since that announcement, mortgage rates have mostly increased or held steady. The Fed decreased its rate again at its November and December meetings (by 25bps each time). The trajectory of future mortgage rates will largely depend on the Federal Reserve’s decision on whether or not to cut the federal funds rate at its 2025 meetings. The Fed decided not to cut the fed funds rate at its Jan. 29 meeting. According to the CME FedWatch tool, there’s currently a 95.5% chance that the rate remains unchanged at the March meeting too. This means rates probably won’t significantly drop in the next couple of months. Dig deeper: Understanding the Fed’s rate decisions — Do we want high or low interest rates? According to Zillow data, today’s 30-year fixed rate for purchases is 6.44%, and the 30-year refinance rate is 6.46%. These are the national averages, so keep in mind the average in your state or city could be different. Your rate will also vary depending on your personal finances. Mortgage rates will probably gradually drop throughout 2025, but they’re unlikely to plummet anytime soon. Mortgage rates should go down in 2025, though probably not as drastically as previously expected. Any decreases may be relatively small depending on the economy, inflation, and the Fed. Source link #30year #rate #finally Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

SpaceX rocket to send Intuitive Machine's second lunar lander to the moon – Fox Business SpaceX rocket to send Intuitive Machine's second lunar lander to the moon – Fox Business SpaceX rocket to send Intuitive Machine’s second lunar lander to the moon Fox BusinessNASA Sets Coverage for Intuitive Machines’ Next Commercial Moon Launch NASAMIT engineers prepare to send three payloads to the moon MIT NewsLive coverage: SpaceX to launch Intuitive Machines’ Moon lander on Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center Spaceflight Now Source link #SpaceX #rocket #send #Intuitive #Machine039s #lunar #lander #moon #Fox #Business Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

West Coast Training Notes: Elliot Yeo strides out as Eagles prepare for North Melbourne test West Coast Training Notes: Elliot Yeo strides out as Eagles prepare for North Melbourne test West Coast prepared for their final pre-season game of with a 90-minute session at Mineral Resources Park on Wednesday. Here’s what we saw… Source link #West #Coast #Training #Notes #Elliot #Yeo #strides #Eagles #prepare #North #Melbourne #test Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Elder Scrolls 6 Will Have One Ground-Breaking Advantage Over Skyrim if Todd Howard Chooses Hammerfell as the Setting The Elder Scrolls 6 Will Have One Ground-Breaking Advantage Over Skyrim if Todd Howard Chooses Hammerfell as the Setting Six years have flown since Bethesda Softworks released an announcement trailer for The Elder Scrolls 6 (TES VI). In the vacuum of official news, speculations and rumors have become a lifeblood for the community to stave off collective madness. A map of Hammerfell | Image Credits: Bethesda Softworks Amongst these rumors is the potential for TES VI to be placed in the province of Hammerfell. The region is bordered by High Rock in the north, Skyrim to the northeast, and Cyrodiil to the southeast, and is home to the Redguards. Hammerfell as a potential location for Elder Scrolls 6 If the TES VI is indeed in Hammerfell, it could offer developers tons of opportunities for world-building and mechanics. Bethesda has a knack for letting the culture of the region shape not only the game but also the gameplay itself. Take for example Morrowind, where the dogmatic and rigid hierarchical cultural rankings shaped the quest structure and even the social dynamics. Similarly, in Skyrim, the Norse influence bled heavily in combat mechanics and architecture. The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard | Image Credits: Bethesda Softworks Hammerfell with its rich coastal geography and maritime history makes it ripe for introducing seafaring mechanics. Previous installments of Elder Scrolls set in Hammerfell, i.e. The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard, had us play as a mercenary named Cyrus on the island of Stros M’Kai, off the coast of Hammerfell. The game had several pirate-inspired elements, including hidden coves, shipwrecks, and a rebellious atmosphere, however, it lacked the ability for players to commandeer and sail their ship. How the culture can influence the mechanics The limitations of the technology at the time might have been the culprit, but today’s advancements open up a world of possibilities. After Starfield, Bethesda laid down its foundations and has received valuable experience in designing and implementing complex vehicle mechanics, shipbuilding, and naval combat. Picture the thrill of navigating the seas in your customized ship tailor-made to suit your needs and preferences, with each crew member adding their unique skills and personality to the journey. Starfield’s ship-building mechanics | Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks Todd Howard, the director and executive producer at Bethesda Game Studios has also stated that TES VI will have “procedurally generated elements”. This could be similar to how the worlds of Skyrim and Starfield used procedural generation to auto-populate large areas with random terrain while handcrafting key elements to create a large world. Comment byu/SiegeRewards from discussion inElderScrolls This system of creating worlds could benefit the developers who can use procedural generation to fill the Iliac Bay and Abecean Sea with pirate hideouts, treasure islands, and other places with immersive lore and secrets. The rich culture of seafaring of the Redguards can even influence the mechanics of the game. The deep knowledge can be seamlessly integrated through the use of unique tools or magical abilities that they use to navigate or battle dynamic forces of nature. Imagine harnessing the magical abilities of the wind to enhance the speed of your ship or stave it away from danger. Or the power to calm storms like the Dragonborn used to in Skyrim. These elements could make seafaring not only an essential part of the game but also authentic to the Redguard culture. The Dragonborn from Skyrim | Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks With elements such as this, TES VI has the potential to reinvigorate the series through bold experimentation. Many current fans of the Elder Scrolls have begun their journey with Skyrim, and have since not attempted to try the older titles. The Elder Scrolls 6 set in Hammerfell would change this by a big margin and would invite new fans to explore the world of Tamriel its deeply connected culture and world beyond the well-trodden path of dragons and nords of Skyrim. Source link #Elder #Scrolls #GroundBreaking #Advantage #Skyrim #Todd #Howard #Chooses #Hammerfell #Setting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China says Taiwan seeks to give away chip industry to US China says Taiwan seeks to give away chip industry to US BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Wednesday that Taiwan was seeking to give away the island’s semiconductor industry to the United States as a “souvenir” and leverage it to seek political support from Washington. U.S. media have said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world’s largest contract chipmaker and a major supplier to companies such as Apple and Nvidia, has been in talks for a stake in Intel. Neither TSMC nor Intel has confirmed the reports and Taiwan’s government says it has not received information about any overseas investment application from TSMC. U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised Taiwan for taking away American semiconductor business, saying he wants the industry to manufacture more in the United States. Speaking at a regular news conference in Beijing, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said, without offering evidence, that people in Taiwan were concerned TSMC could become “United States Semiconductor Manufacturing Co”. “In order to seek selfish gain, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have freely made demands from external forces, using Taiwan’s semiconductor industry and powerful companies to get a foot in the door to relying on foreign countries to seek independence, and even give them away as souvenirs,” Zhu said, referring to Taiwan’s ruling party. While China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, despite the strong objections of the government in Taipei, Beijing has no say in foreign investment approval decisions by Taipei. Zhu said Taiwan was trying to “sell out” Taiwanese companies. “This sort of shameless selling out of Taiwan is in actuality pandering to the United States,” she said. Neither Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council nor TSMC immediately responded to requests for comment. The United States is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, though it does not formally recognise the island’s government. (Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing and additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Source link #China #Taiwan #seeks #give #chip #industry Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Looking For A Faster Route To US Citizenship? Trump Proposes A $5 Million ‘Gold Card’ To Let The Rich Buy Their Way In – Swarajya Looking For A Faster Route To US Citizenship? Trump Proposes A $5 Million ‘Gold Card’ To Let The Rich Buy Their Way In – Swarajya Looking For A Faster Route To US Citizenship? Trump Proposes A $5 Million ‘Gold Card’ To Let The Rich Buy Their Way In SwarajyaTrump to introduce ‘gold card’ visa for wealthy investors with $5 million price tag: ‘Route to citizenship’ Fox BusinessTrump Plans ‘Gold Card’ Alternative to Green Cards for ‘High Level People’ The New York TimesTrump: Russian oligarchs eligible for $5 million residency ‘gold cards’ FRANCE 24 English Source link #Faster #Route #Citizenship #Trump #Proposes #Million #Gold #Card #Rich #Buy #Swarajya Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

McCartin the man to help Swans move forward: Amartey McCartin the man to help Swans move forward: Amartey Sydney forward Joel Amartey has given updates on Tom McCartin, Callum Mills and Tom Papley ahead of the Swans’ clash with the Gold Coast Suns on Friday. Source link #McCartin #man #Swans #move #Amartey Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Content creator’ filmed herself urinating on food at New Hampshire grocery store, police say ‘Content creator’ filmed herself urinating on food at New Hampshire grocery store, police say A 23-year-old “content creator” filmed herself urinating on products at a New Hampshire grocery store and posted the “disturbing” videos online, prompting a food recall, authorities said. Kelli Tedford, of Keene, is facing a felony charge of criminal mischief in connection with an alleged incident at Monadnock Food Co-Op at 34 Cypress Street in Keene, according to the Keene Police Department. Police said they learned that Tedford had recorded herself “contaminating” items at the store “with her ******” after receiving a report from an anonymous person on Valentine’s Day. The business, with the help of police and the town health department, then rushed to remove the affected products from store shelves and issued a recall for three types of quinoa, cornmeal, polenta, coconut shreds, and raw walnuts. “Upon notification from law enforcement, we immediately reviewed store video, identified affected products, removed them from our shelves, and sanitized all surfaces,” the store wrote in the recall notice. “No fresh produce, meat, seafood, prepared foods or refrigerated products were affected.” The Monadnock Food Co-Op said it sustained a financial loss of over $1,500 in destroyed merchandise and cleaning costs. An investigation into the suspect’s history of content creation revealed that “it appears likely” similar incidents occurred in Keene and surrounding communities “where Tedford contaminated items and/or surfaces with ******.” Police noted that several of Tedford’s videos appear to be recorded as early as 2021 and that additional charges could be filed against her. Tedford was released on personal recognizance. She is due in court for arraignment in April. Anyone who witnessed suspicious incidents involving Tedford or purchased a contaminated item is urged to contact Keene police detective Don Lundin at 603-357-9813. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Source link #Content #creator #filmed #urinating #food #Hampshire #grocery #store #police Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Over 50 deaths linked to 'unknown disease' in Congo – ABC News Over 50 deaths linked to 'unknown disease' in Congo – ABC News Over 50 deaths linked to ‘unknown disease’ in Congo ABC NewsUnknown Deadly Illness Strikes Western Congo The New York Times‘Unknown disease’ that can kill within days leaves 53 dead in Congo The Washington PostUnknown illness kills more than 50 in north-west DRC The GuardianHealth Matters: Mystery illness kills over 50 people in DRC Global News Toronto Source link #deaths #linked #039unknown #disease039 #Congo #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

High profile builder Wayne Geoffrey Dwyer avoids jail for $26k supply of meth to houseboat contractors High profile builder Wayne Geoffrey Dwyer avoids jail for $26k supply of meth to houseboat contractors A builder supplied drugs to contractors working on his houseboat – taking the price of the drugs out of their remuneration. Source link #High #profile #builder #Wayne #Geoffrey #Dwyer #avoids #jail #26k #supply #meth #houseboat #contractors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

House approves ‘big, beautiful bill’ budget after wild whip effort House approves ‘big, beautiful bill’ budget after wild whip effort House Republicans approved a budget framework for President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic policy agenda Tuesday — a major victory for Speaker Mike Johnson who worked with Trump and fellow leaders in a chaotic last-ditch effort to win over naysayers within the GOP ranks. The vote went almost entirely along party lines, 217-215, with every Democrat voting against the measure and only GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky joining them. Adopting the budget measure is a key step toward passing the “big, beautiful bill” that Trump and Johnson have called for — one that includes border security, tax and energy provisions that the president campaigned on. The Senate passed a competing plan last week, and the Republicans in the two chambers must now reconcile the significant differences between the two fiscal blueprints. “We’re going to celebrate tonight,” Johnson told reporters after the vote, adding that House Republicans will “roll up their sleeves” as they prepared to reconcile their plans with the Senate. Tuesday night’s vote came after a wild scene on the House floor that played out over the course of hours. Around 6:30 p.m. members were called to the floor to begin voting on an unrelated measure, with the budget plan to follow. But that unrelated vote was held open for more than an hour as the GOP whip team worked to win over the holdouts. Democrats screamed “regular order” as the planned 15-minute vote stretched on and on. Shortly after 7:30 p.m., the vote was closed and members were informed the budget vote was canceled. Minutes later, leaders sent out another alert saying the vote was back on. The holdouts included Reps. Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Warren Davidson of Ohio, and Victoria Spartz of Indiana, as well as Massie. All four voiced public opposition to the budget plan Tuesday and could be seen on the House floor during the evening vote series speaking to various Republican leaders. The fiscal hawks all raised objections about inadequate spending cuts in the measure; Davidson also aired concerns about how Republican leaders plan to handle the impending March 14 government funding deadline. Trump spoke over the phone at various points with several of the holdouts, according to two Republicans familiar with the whip effort — Johnson later said the calls were “a big help.” Because of the House GOP’s tiny majority and the united opposition of Democrats, those four members could together block action. But Johnson and Trump managed to win them over, one by one. Spartz said in a online post that she came around because Trump had a “personal commitment to save healthcare and make it better for physical and fiscal health for all Americans. … I trust his word.” Davidson said in his own post that he “finally received the assurances I needed that there will be cuts to discretionary spending” ahead of the March funding deadline “and that we will work together to develop a plan for further discretionary spending cuts that could survive passage in the Senate.” And Burchett told reporters that Trump “committed to me that he is going to go after the spending in a lot of these big departments” and that more generally Republicans are “going in the right direction.” “It’s not everything I wanted, but in this game, you’re either at the table or on the menu,” he said. “It’s time to get at the table.” Only Massie remained unconvinced. Meanwhile, a different faction of the GOP conference — moderate Republicans, many representing swing districts — had aired qualms about the scale of the Medicaid cuts implied by the budget plan. That group, however, quickly softened: On Monday night, some said that a presentation from House leaders had moved them closer to supporting the budget plan, and by midday Tuesday, House leaders were confident enough to move toward a final vote. After it was all over, top Democratic leaders said Republicans had betrayed Americans by advancing a plan that they said would cut taxes for the richest while cutting benefits for the poor and middle class. “They chose their billionaire puppet masters over the American people,” said ********* Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “Democrats were unified, and we will remain unified throughout this process, because this reckless Republican budget will bring nothing but destruction to the American people.” Several Democrats who have faced health challenges and missed recent House votes rushed back to Washington for the budget showdown. That forced Johnson to scrounge up every vote he could. Tuesday’s vote sets up a harsh reality check between House and Senate Republicans, who all want to push the president’s agenda forward but still have profoundly different approaches to key issues. The Senate, for instance, is looking to avoid the deep cuts to Medicaid that the House is leaning on for significant cost cutting. Senate Republicans are also insisting that they won’t support a final measure that only extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts temporarily. That could require making significant changes to the House blueprint, putting the fragile GOP support for the measure in jeopardy. Senate Majority Leader John Thune congratulated the House GOP “for moving our team one step closer to advancing the president’s agenda” while also calling for a permanent extension to the Trump tax cuts — a goal that will be difficult to carry out under the House budget plan. The House and Senate must adopt identical budget resolutions to unlock the power of reconciliation — which allows parties with unified control of Congress and the White House to pass massive policy bills along party lines, sidestepping the Senate filibuster. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report misstated the vote tally on the budget resolution. Source link #House #approves #big #beautiful #bill #budget #wild #whip #effort Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mystery illness that kills within 48 hours spreading in Congo Mystery illness that kills within 48 hours spreading in Congo More than 50 people have died in north western Congo from an unknown illness which has been killing victims within 48 hours. The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched a team of experts to the area to take samples and try to determine the cause. The WHO’s Africa office said the first cases in the town of Boloko began after three children ate a bat and quickly died following haemorrhagic fever symptoms, Associated Press reported. There have been 419 cases and 53 deaths since the outbreak began on Jan 21. Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, a regional monitoring centre said the interval between the onset of symptoms and death had been 48 hours in the majority of cases, and “that’s what’s really worrying”. The outbreak also flared in the town of Bomate from Feb 9, and samples from 13 cases have been sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, for testing. All samples have reportedly been negative for Ebola or other common haemorrhagic fever diseases like Marburg. However, 56 per cent of those tested had proven positive for malaria, Actualite.cd, a Congolese news site reported. Symptoms had included fever, chills, aches and pains and sore joints. A similar mystery outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) late last year eventually turned out to be severe malaria. That outbreak sickened around 500 and killed at least 149 as it spread in Panzi, Kwango, a remote part of the DRC. Experts said that the country’s threadbare health system and lack of services meant that the malaria outbreak had been difficult to diagnose and treat even though the disease and suitable medicines are widely known. Bats are a well known reservoir for viruses that can potentially jump into humans and cause outbreaks of disease. The flying mammals have been found to harbour the rabies virus, coronaviruses such as the one which caused Covid-19, Marburg, Nipah, Hendra and Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers). Fruit bats are also a common reservoir for the deadly Ebola virus. There have long been concerns about viruses jumping from wild animals such as bats to humans in areas where they have close contact, or where people kill and eat them. The number of such outbreaks in Africa has surged by more than 60 per cent in the last decade, the WHO said in 2022. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Source link #Mystery #illness #kills #hours #spreading #Congo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

White House takes control of the press pool covering Trump – Reuters White House takes control of the press pool covering Trump – Reuters White House takes control of the press pool covering Trump ReutersThe White House is now deciding who can cover the president, reversing decades of precedent CNNTrump administration says it will take control of White House press pool Al Jazeera EnglishTrump admin guts White House Correspondents Association in bid to end ‘monopoly’ of ‘DC journalists’ Fox NewsWhite House Moves to Pick the Pool Reporters Who Cover Trump The New York Times Source link #White #House #takes #control #press #pool #covering #Trump #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Suvo cements deal with WA wind farmer to supply low-carbon concrete Suvo cements deal with WA wind farmer to supply low-carbon concrete Suvo Strategic Minerals’ new low-carbon concrete joint venture with pre-cast manufacturer PERMAcast R&D has scored its first deal, signing a binding two-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with West *********** wind farm developer Wind With Purpose (WWP). WWP is involved in the potential construction and installation of 3 gigawatts (GW) of onshore power and 2GW of offshore capacity in WA, which would require up to 500 turbines that would each use more than 1000 cubic metres of concrete for their foundations. The MOU will explore the use of low-carbon concrete in the foundations and towers of the wind turbines. It gives Suvo a first right of refusal to supply low-carbon concrete subject to a pilot project proving the technology meets *********** engineering standards and is economic. Conventional concrete is valued at about $300 per cubic metre, offering a significant market opportunity if the joint venture can pull off the deal. Suvo and PERMAcast formed their joint venture – dubbed PERMAcast Future Industries – last October to pull together Suvo’s low-carbon “geopolymer” cement product with WA-based PERMAcast’s experience in manufacturing pre-cast concrete. Suvo’s eco-friendly cement is made from nickel slag mining waste. The cutting-edge technology produces low-carbon cement and concrete, designed to slash the reliance on traditional Portland cement – a major carbon dioxide emitter around the world. We’ve demonstrated we can successfully create formulations and manufacture products of low-carbon concrete and now we are developing the pathway to revenue. The joint venture partners are actively exploring ways to incorporate precast technology into the manufacture of the wind turbines’ footings and towers rather than pouring them onsite. Management says if its pilot trials are successful it could speed up assembly of the wind farms, improve their structural integrity and drive significantly greater demand for low-carbon concrete – a view echoed by PERMAcast’s chief executive officer Darren Hedley. Suvo, meanwhile, has been busy growing its Victorian-based hydrous kaolin business and recently locked in two significant contract renewals on increased volumes. The first offtake agreement with Norwegian paper and pulp major Norske Skog was refreshed for three years and includes a 30 per cent volume increase to 24,000 tonnes. A second deal with ******** distributor Chaozhou Chengcheng Industrial Co doubled sales to 8750t of hydrous kaolin across five years. The expanded orders from existing clients come at a handy moment given Suvo recently completed an upgrade to its Pittong plant in Victoria. The plant can now handle 60,000t a year. The MOU further strengthens Suvo’s positioning in the emerging sustainable construction materials sector, which is gaining momentum as industries transition toward low-emission alternatives. As governments worldwide push for net-zero carbon policies, the market for geopolymer and alternative cement products appears set for substantial growth. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: *****@*****.tld Source link #Suvo #cements #deal #wind #farmer #supply #lowcarbon #concrete Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Scientists Say These Factors Are What Really Age You. And It’s Probably Not What You Think. Scientists Say These Factors Are What Really Age You. And It’s Probably Not What You Think. “Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links.” It feels like everyone is obsessed with turning back the clock lately, whether that means booking a botox appointment, leveling up your supplement game, or going full throttle on all kinds of fancy longevity treatments. And thanks to a growing body of research, we now know that it is possible to hack your health and slow down the pace of cellular aging (a.k.a. biological aging) to a certain extent. But while the rate at which we aging has always been attributed to the unique combination of genetics, lifestyle factors, and your environment, a new scientific study suggests it might not be that complicated—and your genes might actually be the least important factor. That’s great news if certain illnesses run in your family (disease can be a major component in cellular aging). It also means that you might have more control over aging than you think. Here’s what the study found, plus the factors that seem to matter more in cellular aging than others. Meet the experts: M. Austin Argentieri, PhD, lead study author and a research associate at the Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities; Cornelia van Duijn, PhD, study co-author and professor at the University of Oxford Nuffield Department of Population Health; Alfred F. Tallia, MD, MPH, professor and chair of family medicine and community health at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School What did the study find? The study, which was published in Nature Medicine, looked at data from about half a million people who participated in the *** Biobank, a biomedical database that contains genetic, health, and lifestyle information. Using that data, researchers analyzed the influence of nearly 165 environmental elements and genetic risk factors across 22 major age-related diseases and incidences of premature death. There were a lot of different findings, but the most striking was that the factors related to lifestyle and a person’s environment played a ******* role in biological aging than their genetics did. “Environmental factors explained 17 percent of the variation in risk of death, compared to less than 2 percent explained by genetic predisposition,” says Cornelia van Duijn, PhD, study co-author and professor at the University of Oxford Nuffield Department of Population Health. What kind of environmental factors contribute to aging? Environmental factors include the things that surround you in your day-to-day life that can influence your health, like the amount of air pollution you’re exposed to or where you live. The researchers found that the following environmental factors had the biggest influence on aging: Whether people lived with a partner What kind of lifestyle factors contribute to aging? Lifestyle factors usually refer to daily habits and personal choices a person makes that can influence their health. The biggest contributors to aging included: Level of physical activity Going to the gym at least once a week This particular study didn’t look at diet, which is usually considered a big lifestyle factor. “Diet was a very difficult factor to assess in our study. We don’t have a lot of answers on diet,” says M. Austin Argentieri, PhD, lead study author and a research associate at the Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities. “This does not mean that diet might not be important for mortality and aging—it probably is—but rather that we just did not have reliable enough assessments of diet in the *** Biobank to satisfy our strict quality control criteria,” Argentieri says. How do these factors impact our cellular and brain aging? Experts agree that environmental and lifestyle factors clearly play a “huge role” in aging, says Alfred F. Tallia, MD, MPH, professor and chair of family medicine and community health at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. But exactly how they impact our bodies and aging depends on which one you’re looking at, van Duijn says. One big factor? “We find major differences if we zoom in on diseases,” she says. Disease can cause cells to age faster, because the stress of fighting illness can lead to cellular damage, inflammation, and disruptions in normal cellular processes, explains Dr. Tallia. For example, smoking is a major player in some diseases (it can increase the odds of developing certain cancers, among others), but it wasn’t the major player in every disease. And environmental stressors, like toxins from air pollution, can greatly also accelerate aging and play a factor in the development of illnesses like cardiovascular disease and *******, Dr. Tallia says. Lifestyle factors—think, smoking, drinking, lack of exercise—can also accelerate aging. Do genes play a role at all? Yep, genes still play a role, especially because they can contribute to the development of certain genetic diseases. Still, the amount that genetic risk contributes to some chronic disease varies by disease, says Argentieri, adding, “dementia, breast *******, and ovarian ******* are much more influenced by genetics than diseases of the lung, heart, and liver.” But it can be hard to pin down exactly how likely someone is to develop a disease or condition based on genetics alone, Dr. Tallia says. That’s why lifestyle and environmental factors are so important. “The more an individual can take control in their lives and create healthy lives through adapting to stressors in a resilient way, the better,” he says. Is it possible to reverse biological aging? Research into biological aging is still ongoing, but there’s some data to suggest that you can dial back your biological age by making these lifestyle changes: Aim for at least seven hours of sleep a night Try to maintain a healthy weight Get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week Maintain good oral hygiene Do your best to stay on top of your stress levels Ultimately, doctors just recommend doing your best when it comes to making lifestyle choices that influence your biological age and disease development risk. Even smaller changes can have a big impact down the road. You Might Also Like Source link #Scientists #Factors #Age Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]