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Pelican Press

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  1. BLM secures $20.67m from quarterly oil and gas lease ***** BLM secures $20.67m from quarterly oil and gas lease ***** The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico State Office has auctioned seven parcels covering 1,317 acres in its latest quarterly oil and gas lease *****, generating $20.67m in total receipts. The proceeds from the combined bonus bids and rentals will be shared between the federal government and the state of New Mexico. Oil and gas lease sales are pivotal for supporting domestic energy production, fortifying US energy independence and contributing to the nation’s economic and military security, according to the BLM. In alignment with Executive Order 14154, titled Unleashing American Energy, the BLM’s lease sales will help in meeting the energy needs of US citizens and maintaining the nation’s status as a leading global energy power. Leasing marks the initial phase in the process of developing federal oil and gas resources. The BLM is tasked with ensuring that oil and gas development complies with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, alongside other relevant legal frameworks. These regulations are in place to safeguard the environment while facilitating resource development. Once awarded, oil and gas leases are valid for a term of ten years and can be extended as long as there is continuous production of oil and gas in paying quantities. The federal government benefits from a royalty, which is set at 16.67% of the value of the produced oil and gas. The BLM conducts its lease sales online via EnergyNet, an established platform for such transactions. The BLM’s jurisdiction spans more than 245 million acres of public land, primarily in 12 western states including Alaska. Additionally, the BLM administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate nationwide. “BLM secures $20.67m from quarterly oil and gas lease *****” was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Source link #BLM #secures #20.67m #quarterly #oil #gas #lease #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  2. Canada pledges $5B in seized Russian assets for Ukraine on war anniversary – National Canada pledges $5B in seized Russian assets for Ukraine on war anniversary – National Canada will send $5 billion in aid to Ukraine using funds from seized Russian assets, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday at a peace and security summit in Kyiv. Trudeau and a dozen other world leaders are in the Ukrainian capital to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, where support for Ukraine to end the war on its terms and with its territory intact remained strong. “This is not a conflict Ukraine wanted, provoked or asked for in any way,” Trudeau said at the summit table. “This is a war started for one reason and one reason only: Russia‘s desire to erase Ukrainian history and expand their empire.” Trudeau also pledged 25 additional light armoured vehicles for Ukraine and a grant to help with energy security as Russia attacks the country’s power grid. Story continues below advertisement Trudeau’s remarks did not touch on Ukraine’s possible membership in the NATO military alliance, which other leaders have been calling for at the ongoing summit. But he repeated his calls for Kyiv to have a direct role in negotiations for a possible end to the war, as European leaders express dismay at Washington holding talks with Moscow. “We cannot return to an era where might makes right,” Trudeau said. “We must do everything in our power to enable Ukraine to secure a just and lasting peace, a peace that cannot be achieved without Ukrainians at the table.” 3:13 Zelenskyy says he’s ‘ready’ to give up presidency if it means peace in Ukraine U.S. President Donald Trump has blamed Ukraine for starting the war, which started when Russian invaded Crimea following pro-democracy protests in 2014, followed by Moscow’s full-scale invasion, which started on this day three years ago. Story continues below advertisement In addition to the 25 new LAV III vehicles, Trudeau is pledging two armoured combat-support vehicles for Ukrainian troops, who will be trained in Germany “shortly” to use the machines. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. He says Canada will provide four F-16 flight simulators in addition to systems for the fighter jet that were recently delivered to Ukraine. The new $5 billion in funds is the first instalment of revenues from frozen Russian assets, after years of Ottawa promising to forfeit holdings associated with Russia’s government and its oligarchs. Canada has been pushing Europeans to forfeit Russian funds held in frozen European accounts, or at least the interest accrued since the full-scale invasion. Trudeau says Canada will continue training Ukrainian troops, so that Russia will not be allowed to end the world order that upheld sovereignty for many countries for decades. Trending Now Trump’s 51st state talk ‘almost never’ comes up in D.C.: Canada’s envoy Cartel activity in Canada ‘very prevalent now,’ former Trudeau advisor says “Once a just peace is secured, Canada stands at the ready to work with our partners around the world to provide Ukraine the security it needs for the peace to last, allowing it to recover, rebuild, and prosper,” he said. “We can’t wait. The moment to stop this war of aggression, the moment to defend democracy, the moment to stand for our shared values — is now. So let us seize it.” 2:02 Ukraine approaching grim anniversary of Russia’s invasion Leaders are giving statements at the opening of the summit, which proceeded despite an audible air-defence siren ringing out in the background. Story continues below advertisement There was a heavy police presence in the streets near the venue where the leaders were meeting. Officers were stationed on every corner. Some streets were blocked off with security only allowing people through after scanning their identification. Trudeau received a quick hug and a handshake from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just prior to the conference beginning. This is Trudeau’s fourth visit to Ukraine since 2022 and almost certainly his last, as he is to be replaced as prime minister when his Liberal party picks a new leader early next month. Zelenskyy told a news conference on Sunday that he will be looking for an update from Trudeau on the G7’s relationship with the U.S. under Trump. Canada is chairing the group of countries this year. More on Canada More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Canada #pledges #seized #Russian #assets #Ukraine #war #anniversary #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  3. Apple to open Texas AI server factory in $500 billion U.S. expansion Apple to open Texas AI server factory in $500 billion U.S. expansion Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc., greets customers during the first day of in-store sales of Apple’s latest products at Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York, US, on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Victor J. Blue | Bloomberg | Getty Images Apple plans to open a new factory for artificial intelligence servers in Texas as part of a $500 billion investment in the U.S., the company said Monday. The U.S. technology giant said it would work with partners to open a 250,000-square-foot server manufacturing facility in Houston to produce servers for Apple Intelligence, its AI personal assistant for iPhone, iPad and Mac computers. The new factory, which is slated to open in 2026, will form part of a major investment plan Apple is committing to over the next four years. In addition to the new Texas facility, Apple said it also plans to hire around 20,000 new employees across the U.S. Most of the new hires will be focused on research and development (R&D), silicon engineering, software development, and AI and machine learning, Apple said. “We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we’re proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country’s future,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement Monday. The move comes after Apple’s chief executive met with President Donald Trump last week. The iPhone maker faces pressure from the Trump administration over where it chooses to manufacture its products. Apple assembles most of its products in China. Earlier this month, Trump signed an order imposing long-threatened 10% tariffs on ******** goods on top of existing tariffs of up to 25% levied during his first presidency. Apple said its $500 billion investment plan will include work with suppliers across the U.S. and production of content for its Apple TV+ media streaming service in 20 states, as well as new hires and research and development (R&D) spending. Apple said it “remains one of the largest U.S. taxpayers, having paid more than $75 billion in U.S. taxes over the past five years, including $19 billion in 2024 alone.” The tech giant also said it would double its U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund to $10 billion from $5 billion currently, create a new manufacturing academy in Michigan, and grow its R&D investments in the U.S. to support cutting-edge fields such as silicon engineering. Source link #Apple #open #Texas #server #factory #billion #U.S #expansion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  4. How To Earn Mecha Break Twitch Drops—All Rewards & How To Get How To Earn Mecha Break Twitch Drops—All Rewards & How To Get You can earn exclusive Mecha Break rewards through the Twitch Drop scheme. These free-to-earn rewards are easy to obtain and can give your mech-mashing multiplayer gameplay a boost. Mecha Break is when you take multiple, deadly fighting mechs and throw them into an arena together to wreak havoc. There’s clearly a market for this kind of mechanical warfare too. Mecha Break hit over 317,000 concurrent players on its first day alone. The open beta continues to do well, and Twitch is doing its best to get involved. You’ve come to the right place if you fancy picking up some straightforward Mecha Break Twitch Drops. How To Get Free Mecha Break Twitch Drops I’ll fight you for them. Credit to Amazing Seasun Games Tune in and watch an officially sponsored Mecha Break live stream on Twitch for a specific amount of time to earn these coveted Twitch Drops rewards. The Twitch Drop rewards program encourages players to engage with affiliated streams. The whole process is easy enough—whether you’ve done this before or not—but this quick guide should help you out: Make sure you have a free Twitch account if you don’t already. Once verified, log into the account on Twitch. Mosey on over to the Mecha Break Twitch page. Look for a channel advertising Twitch Drops in its title. Now, watch the livestream—the length depends on the rewards (more on this below). Be sure to check your logged time using the Drops Inventory page. Once the desired reward hits 100%, you can claim the bonus! Twitch specifies: “Rewards can only be earned on one stream at a time.” I recommend choosing a stream and sticking with it until the allotted time is hit. You also need to Connect your Twitch account with your Mecha Break account. Doing all of this should get you a shiny reward or two. All Mecha Break Twitch Drops Currently, only Mecha Break only has one Mecha Break Twitch Drop reward—Ultimate Maintenance. You have until March 3 to claim this exclusive goodie, and you must “Watch for 15 minutes” to secure the Ultimate Maintenance reward. Once the date passes, the reward will disappear, and be replaced by something new, or you may miss out on Mecha Break Twitch drops reward forever. Have you had a chance to play Mecha Break? Is it as ground-Mecha-breaking as it seems? Are you looking to chase some Twitch Drops? Let us know below. Mecha Break is one of many amazing games, hopefully, arriving in 2025. Others include Lost Soul Aside, Killing Floor 3, Elden Ring Nightreign, and Tales of the Shire A Lord of the Rings Game being others. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Earn #Mecha #Break #Twitch #DropsAll #Rewards Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  5. What is DeepSeek: China’s AI has got people talking What is DeepSeek: China’s AI has got people talking DeepSeek has become one of the world’s best known chatbots and much of that is due to it being developed in China – a country that wasn’t, until now, considered to be at the forefront of AI technology. Having produced a model that is on a par, in terms of performance, with OpenAI’s acclaimed o1 model, it quickly caught the imagination of users who helped it to shoot to the top of the iOS App Store chart. But while it’s more than capable of answering questions and generating code, with OpenAI’s Sam Altman going as far as calling the AI model “impressive”, AI’s apparent ‘Sputnik moment’ isn’t without controversy and doubt. This article was correct as of February 2025. AI tools are updated regularly and it is possible that some features have changed since this article was written. Some features may also only be available in certain countries. What is DeepSeek? When it was unveiled in January 2025, DeepSeek took the tech industry by surprise. First, its new reasoning model called DeepSeek R1 was widely considered to be a match for ChatGPT. Second, with the US having placed restrictions on China receiving the highest-performance chips, the model was said to be running on older chipsets – prompting questions over whether AI really needed the most cutting edge tech. As such, a record $593 billion was wiped off the market value of chip giant Nvidia in a single day and ripples soon spread. DeepSeek’s claim to have spent just $6m/£4.8m/AU$9.4m training its chatbot – far less than that of ChatGPT – certainly startled tech companies in Silicon Valley and it also showed that the US wasn’t necessarily the only country at the forefront of the AI revolution. Since then, however, many governments worldwide have been expressing security and privacy concerns. Worryingly, research conducted by Enkrypt AI found DeepSeek is 11 times more dangerous than other AI chatbots. But there’s still no getting around the fact that DeepSeek was a breakthrough. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. (Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff) What can you use DeepSeek for? DeepSeek can be used for a wide variety of tasks from asking questions about a huge range of topics to searching for information online and within large datasets – as with other chatbots, it has been trained on large amounts of real-world and synthetic data. It’s also capable of generating text from prompts so you can get it to write documents, emails, stories, scripts, poems and more. And, just as with ChatGPT, you can also get it to produce, debug and optimize code, breaking down programming barriers and speeding up development time. Thanks to reasoning capabilities, DeepSeek can think before it answers to inferences and draw conclusions as well. What can’t you use DeepSeek for? You can’t use DeepSeek to ask questions about sensitive political topics related to China. Infamous examples are questions that involve references to the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre – they happened in 1989, led to deaths ranging in number from a few hundred to several thousand, and are well-documented outside of China, but DeepSeek just won’t discuss it. It’ll tend to tell you that it’s beyond its current scope and ask you to talk about something else. How much does DeepSeek cost? Deepseek is open source and you can access the DeepSeek-V3 model for free which is perhaps one of the reasons why it’s had such a rapid rise, because it’s effectively opening powerful AI to all. Money is one thing, but what about the cost in terms of privacy and security? DeepSeek’s privacy policy says “we store the information we collect in secure servers located in the People’s Republic of China”. It’s storing your email address, phone number, date of birth and chat histories. Where can you use DeepSeek? DeepSeek is available to use via a browser but there are also native apps for iOS and Android which you can use to access the chatbot. (Image credit: Octavio Castillo) Is DeepSeek any good? DeepSeek is a very powerful chatbot – if it was poor, the US markets wouldn’t have been thrown into turmoil over it. But questions about this AI go beyond the actual technical nature of it. You just can’t shy away from the privacy and security concerns being raised, given DeepSeek’s deep-seated connection to China. Neither can you ignore claims from OpenAI that DeepSeek was trained on its model which, again, shows there’s a lot we need to know about DeepSeek. TechRadar’s editor-at-large Lance Ulanoff is certainly cautious. “There is no reason to trust DeepSeek and its backers’ claims,” he said. “I think the truth about the time and financial investment it took them to get here will come out.” Use DeepSeek if… You want a free, powerful chatbot that has great reasoning powers and you’re not bothered that it doesn’t have tools offered by ChatGPT such as Canvas or that it can’t interact with customized GPTs. You should also use DeepSeek if you want a simpler experience because it can feel a bit more streamlined when compared to the ChatGPT experience. Don’t use DeepSeek if… You want to generate images, because DeepSeek is purely text-based. For that, you’re better off using ChatGPT which has a superb image generator in DALL-E. You should also avoid DeepSeek if you want an AI with multimodal capabilities (you can’t upload an image and start asking questions about it). And, once again, without wishing to bang the same drum, don’t use DeepSeek if you’re worried about privacy and security. Also consider The best alternative to DeepSeek is obviously ChatGPT – the pair, by and large, do much the same thing but the latter goes further with the likes of image generation and its security and privacy policies feel more reassuring. You may also want to consider Google Gemini. We pitted Gemini 2.0 Flash against DeepSeek R1 so it’s worth seeing how they fared. Want to read more about DeepSeek? Source link #DeepSeek #Chinas #people #talking Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  6. WA election 2025: A smile, a handshake and kind words: Cook and Mettam genial to a fault before tough talk WA election 2025: A smile, a handshake and kind words: Cook and Mettam genial to a fault before tough talk Roger Cook and Libby Mettam were all smiles and genial chat … until the TV cameras turned on and the gloves came off. Source link #election #smile #handshake #kind #words #Cook #Mettam #genial #fault #tough #talk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  7. Dow Jones Futures Rise; Nvidia In Focus After Palantir, Axon Lead Market Sell-Off Dow Jones Futures Rise; Nvidia In Focus After Palantir, Axon Lead Market Sell-Off Dow Jones futures rose Monday morning, along with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures, with Nvidia (NVDA) in focus this coming week. The stock market rally suffered a big setback last week. The S&P 500 hit record highs on Wednesday, but the major indexes ultimately suffered solid to sharp losses, with the Dow Jones, Nasdaq and Russell 2000 breaking key… Source link #Dow #Jones #Futures #Rise #Nvidia #Focus #Palantir #Axon #Lead #Market #SellOff Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  8. Politicians, economists and CEOs react to result Politicians, economists and CEOs react to result 19 February 2025, Berlin: Visitors walk in front of the ******* flag in the dome of the Bundestag. Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images As a new chapter in ******* politics begins following the federal election at the weekend, there’s a distinct feeling of déjà vu in Berlin as a center-right alliance prepares to once again take the reins in Berlin. The conservative alliance made up by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) won 28.6% of votes in Sunday’s ballot, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in second place with 20.8% and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) in third with 16.4% of the vote, according to preliminary results from the Federal Returning Officer. The results, set to be confirmed Monday, mean the CDU-CSU’s Friedrich Merz will likely be Germany’s next chancellor, taking over from the SPD’s Olaf Scholz after his three-party coalition collapsed late last year. The CDU-CSU is no stranger to power having led multiple “grand coalitions” in Germany over the last century. Now, it’s expected to form a new ‘old’ coalition, with the center-left SPD being the most likely partner for the alliance, although the Greens have not been ruled out from partnering with the union. Familiar challenges remain for Germany’s new leadership, however, with a flagging economy and the need to increase domestic spending — much of which is contingent on ******* lawmakers being able to reform a restrictive debt-limiting rule known as the “debt brake” — forming an immediate and pressing concern. Then there’s Germany’s difficult relationship with the world beyond, namely, with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening trade tariffs that will hurt Germany’s limping car industry further. ******* and U.S. politicians, economists and business leaders are in no doubt as to the hurdles a new government faces but the prospect of a new administration has kindled hopes that there will be change for the struggling economy. Here’s a selection of the immediate reaction to the ******* election result: Likely next Chancellor Friedrich Merz:Defeated SPD leader Olaf Scholz: “It is a bitter election result for the Social Democratic Party. It is also an election defeat, [and] I think that needs to be said once clearly, from the start, given a result like this,” Scholz said at the party’s headquarters Sunday night after the SPD’s drubbing in the ballot. “This time the election result is bad and therefore I also have responsibility for this election result,” he added. Carsten Brzeski, global head of Macro, ING Research: “It’s going to be complicated” to form a new coalition, Brzeski told CNBC’s Annette Weisbach in Berlin on Monday. “We only have one option and that is another grand coalition. The problem will be that the SPD is extremely hurt – the worst result ever – so they will be in a kind of existential crisis.” “We will get a bit of cyclical support, we’ll get some tax cuts, we’ll get probably also some investment programs. But the big elephant in the room remains will we get changes to the debt brake? And I think in the current constellation of the next parliament, this will not be possible,” he warned. Siemens Energy Chairman Joe Kaeser: Siemens Energy Chairman Joe Kaeser told CNBC that the new ******* government will face “quite an uphill battle” and needs a long-term agenda to restructure Germany over the next five years. “It is a restructuring case, we need to be honest about this one,” he told CNBC’s Julianna Tatelbaum on Monday. Kaeser said a “2030 agenda” should have five key areas, focusing on the economy, infrastructure and energy, education and innovation, restructuring the pension system and, lastly, “regaining government control and government reforms.” “People in Germany are wondering, is our country safe? And they are wondering whether the government and institution have everything under control. That’s been one of the main reasons why so many people were looking towards this AfD, because they’re wondering whether our government, our state, our country, is still in control.” Arnd Franz, CEO of auto parts maker Mahle: “From our perspective, it’s really time to act, and after yesterday’s election, we wish that the new ******* government will form together quickly and then enter into decisive, immediate action and also a long, clear, long-term vision and a roadmap to really bring Europe’s economy back on track,” he told CNBC’s Carolin Roth on Monday. “I think Germany’s manufacturing sector requires some urgent action in terms of taxes, in terms of energy costs, and also in terms of flexibility of the labor market. There’s three big, big things that are important for everyone in the manufacturing sector. For the automotive industry, of course, regulation is a top issue.” U.S. President Donald Trump: “Looks like the conservative party in Germany has won the very big and highly anticipated election. much like the USA, the people of Germany got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration, that has prevailed for so many years,” President Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday night. “This is a great day for Germany,” he added. John Emerson, former U.S. ambassador to Germany: “I think it’s very good news for Germany. I am actually quite close to Friedrich Merz,” Emerson, former U.S. ambassador to Germany, told CNBC Monday, reacting to Friedrich Merz’s comments on Sunday night that it was “absolute priority” to “strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can achieve real independence from the U.S. step by step”. “I think he is dead serious about where he talked about [Sunday night], in effect, declaring independence from the United States and, I guess [U.S. Vice President] JD Vance and Donald Trump can’t complain,” Emerson, told CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick. “Merz is a free trade guy … so I when I hear him talking about independence, I hear that as much more as ‘we need to get to a point where we can stand alone, that we Europe, can defend ourselves and do more in terms of the spending and building up of the military capabilities.’ I hear that more as a national security issue than an economic issue. Merz also has a second job. That job is to help revitalize Germany’s faltering economy.” Alicia Garcia Herrero, economist at think-tank Bruegel: “What happens with the U.S., tariff-wise, or trade-wise, is extremely important” for Germany, according to Herrero, a senior fellow at economic think-tank Bruegel. “I think Europe is waking up, and Merz is the best example of this,” she told CNBC Monday. “They [European leaders] are realizing that they need to get closer together. And that is the silver lining that could make Europe stronger, that could make Germany stronger, that could force Germany, for once, to really think of a EU level military proposal, which would, however, mean that Germany would need to leave the debt break.” Source link #Politicians #economists #CEOs #react #result Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  9. Apple to open Texas AI server factory in $500 billion U.S. expansion Apple to open Texas AI server factory in $500 billion U.S. expansion Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc., greets customers during the first day of in-store sales of Apple’s latest products at Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York, US, on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Victor J. Blue | Bloomberg | Getty Images Apple plans to open a new factory for artificial intelligence servers in Texas as part of a $500 billion investment in the U.S., the company said Monday. The U.S. technology giant said it would work with partners to open a 250,000-square-foot server manufacturing facility in Houston to produce servers for Apple Intelligence, its AI personal assistant for iPhone, iPad and Mac computers. The new factory, which is slated to open in 2026, will form part of a major investment plan Apple is committing to over the next four years. In addition to the new Texas facility, Apple said it also plans to hire around 20,000 new employees across the U.S. Most of the new hires will be focused on research and development (R&D), silicon engineering, software development, and AI and machine learning, Apple said. “We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we’re proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country’s future,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement Monday. The move comes after Apple’s chief executive met with President Donald Trump last week. The iPhone maker faces pressure from the Trump administration over where it chooses to manufacture its products. Apple assembles most of its products in China. Earlier this month, Trump signed an order imposing long-threatened 10% tariffs on ******** goods on top of existing tariffs of up to 25% levied during his first presidency. Apple said its $500 billion investment plan will include work with suppliers across the U.S. and production of content for its Apple TV+ media streaming service in 20 states, as well as new hires and research and development (R&D) spending. Apple said it “remains one of the largest U.S. taxpayers, having paid more than $75 billion in U.S. taxes over the past five years, including $19 billion in 2024 alone.” The tech giant also said it would double its U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund to $10 billion from $5 billion currently, create a new manufacturing academy in Michigan, and grow its R&D investments in the U.S. to support cutting-edge fields such as silicon engineering. Source link #Apple #open #Texas #server #factory #billion #U.S #expansion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  10. Opioid cash grab: As federal funding dries up, states turn to settlement money Opioid cash grab: As federal funding dries up, states turn to settlement money At a recent Nevada legislative committee hearing, lawmakers faced off with members of the governor’s administration over how to fill gaping holes in the state’s upcoming budget. At issue: whether opioid settlement money — paid by health care companies that were sued for fueling the opioid crisis and meant to help states abate addiction — should be funneled to two counties for a safety net program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which is aimed at helping low-income children and families. Previous funding “will no longer be available after June 30, 2025,” the budget proposal says. By then, billions of dollars in covid-era relief from the federal government — including a set-aside for TANF, which can cover emergency aid, job training, child care, and more — is likely to have expired. Recognizing both the need for and uptake of this assistance, Gov. Joe Lombardo’s budget proposal directs $5 million in opioid settlement cash to shore up the program in the state’s most populous counties, Clark and Washoe. The prospect of such tradeoffs is smacking many states in the face as they embark on budget season. Not only is the river of federal pandemic relief that flowed to public health, education, food assistance, child care, and more over the past few years drying up, but a deluge of actions from the Trump administration has thrown into question once-reliable federal funding for a myriad of social services and health care programs. Congressional Republicans have also threatened cuts to Medicaid, a joint federal and state health insurance program for many low-income people. Together, these financial headwinds have left many states hunting for alternative funds to maintain crucial services. Opioid settlement money can seem like an attractive option. More than $10 billion has landed in state and local government coffers in recent years and billions more are set to arrive over the next decade-plus. But recovery advocates, family members who have lost loved ones to addiction, and legal experts say that money has a specific purpose: to address the ongoing addiction and overdose crisis. Even if $5 million is a small portion of the hundreds of millions Nevada has received, some say spending it elsewhere sets a troubling precedent. Nevada Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager, a Democrat, raised this concern at the February hearing. “There doesn’t seem to be a direct link to opioids” in the governor’s proposal directing these dollars to TANF, he said. Settlement money should not be used “to backfill budget accounts.” Richard Whitley, director of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, insisted at the hearing that this was an appropriate use of settlement dollars. The money flowing through TANF will help “relatives who are raising children whose parents are substance-abusing,” he said. In addition, Elizabeth Ray, a spokesperson for the Republican governor, told KFF Health News that the money would help families at risk of losing custody of their children due to substance use, with the goal of keeping kids in their homes and “ultimately reducing the need for foster care placements.” Implementing this program through the state’s TANF system would “reduce start-up costs and implementation time,” she wrote in a statement. But TANF is available to many families living in poverty and it was unclear how these dollars would be targeted to such a subset. Similar budget conflicts have surfaced in Connecticut — whose Democratic governor, the CT Mirror reports, is asking lawmakers to redirect opioid settlement money to social services that were previously funded through other means, including federal dollars — and Arizona, whose legislature transferred $115 million in settlement money to the state prison system last year to help close a $1.4 billion budget deficit. National recovery advocate Ryan Hampton expects to see more efforts like this nationwide. “I have a very high level of fear that states are going to be tapping into these settlement dollars in every creative way they can to fill some of these budget shortfalls,” he said. “It’s a grave misuse of funds and one that is going to have dire consequences.” Although national overdose deaths have declined recently, tens of thousands of Americans are still dying from overdoses each year. In a few states, including Nevada, such deaths increased in the 12 months leading up to September. “The intent of these dollars is to save lives right now,” said Hampton, who is in recovery from opioid addiction and founded a Nevada-based recovery advocacy organization. He submitted a public comment opposing the Nevada governor’s budget proposal. Hampton and other advocates worry that using opioid funds for services that, even if crucial, are only tangentially related to addiction risks a repeat of the tobacco settlement of the 1990s. At that time, ********** manufacturers agreed to pay state governments billions of dollars annually. Initially, states spent a chunk of that money on anti-smoking programs, said Meg Riordan, a vice president of research at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which tracks states’ spending on tobacco prevention programs. But over time, states encountered budget crunches and many raided or dissolved trust funds they’d set up to protect tobacco money. Instead, they funneled the cash directly into their general funds and spent it on infrastructure projects and budget shortfalls. “Once the funds start going somewhere else, there’s a risk that they won’t come back,” Riordan said. Tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death in America. The opioid settlements have more guardrails than the tobacco settlement did, but KFF Health News’ multiyear investigation found lax oversight and enforcement. Nevada and Connecticut are among 13 states that have explicitly restricted the practice of supplantation, or using opioid settlement funds to replace existing funding streams. Whitley, Nevada’s DHHS director, and the governor’s office have insisted that none of their proposed uses of settlement funds are examples of supplanting. At the February hearing, Whitley repeatedly suggested that the budget proposal was misworded, creating a false impression. “We’ll clean that up with the language,” he said. But he also emphasized the importance of settlement dollars as federal funding sources diminish. “As ARPA [the American Rescue Plan Act] goes away and other flexible funding goes away to address problems, this becomes one that really we have to rely on,” he said. That perspective seems reasonable to JK Costello, director of behavioral health consulting for the Steadman Group, a company that he said is helping about a dozen local governments across the country administer the settlements. Ideally settlement money adds to existing services, he said, but realistically, some safety net programs, even if they don’t directly address addiction, can be a lifeline for people with opioid use disorder. If major cuts in federal spending imperil those programs, using settlement funds to save them could be worthwhile. “Getting people into great treatment when their housing voucher is cut isn’t really that helpful,” Costello said. “Treatment isn’t going to work if they’re not able to eat or feed their kids.” The tricky thing is that many community organizations that work directly on addiction and recovery issues are also feeling the crunch of expiring federal aid and expected federal program changes that would reduce their resources, Costello said. When everyone is strapped, deciding where limited settlement dollars can do the most good becomes increasingly challenging. Some places presciently set aside opioid settlement funds in “emergency” or “sustainability” accounts that could be tapped for addiction services in case of declining federal aid. South Dakota has such a fund with more than $836,000, according to its 2024 opioid report. None of it has been used yet. Kristen Pendergrass, vice president of state policy for the addiction-focused nonprofit Shatterproof, hopes states turn to rainy day funds first, before raiding settlement accounts. Nevada has $1.23 billion in its rainy day fund, more than the national median, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts. “It would be a slippery slope if we stop paying attention now” and allow settlement funds to be used for anything, Pendergrass said. “The money was won to remediate harms and save lives. It should be used that way.” KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. America’s Opioid Epidemic More More Source link #Opioid #cash #grab #federal #funding #dries #states #turn #settlement #money Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  11. France faces its largest child abuse trial, weeks after country was rocked by Pelicot case – CNN France faces its largest child abuse trial, weeks after country was rocked by Pelicot case – CNN France faces its largest child abuse trial, weeks after country was rocked by Pelicot case CNNFrench Doctor Is Accused of Child Rapes The New York TimesSurgeon accused of ********* abusing hundreds of children, some under anesthesia The Washington Post Source link #France #faces #largest #child #abuse #trial #weeks #country #rocked #Pelicot #case #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  12. Libby Mettam beats expectations with strong performance against Roger Cook in fiery Leaders Debate Libby Mettam beats expectations with strong performance against Roger Cook in fiery Leaders Debate Libby Mettam has beaten expectations in a strong debate performance against a nervous, uncertain Roger Cook, in the only head-to-head showdown between the pair ahead of the State election. Source link #Libby #Mettam #beats #expectations #strong #performance #Roger #Cook #fiery #Leaders #Debate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  13. Assassin's Creed Shadows Pre-Load Date & Download Size Revealed Assassin's Creed Shadows Pre-Load Date & Download Size Revealed The pre-load date and download size for Ubisofts upcoming action role-playing game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, have been revealed. Source link #Assassin039s #Creed #Shadows #PreLoad #Date #amp #Download #Size #Revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  14. Here comes supercharged Amazon Alexa AI for investors Here comes supercharged Amazon Alexa AI for investors A turbocharged Amazon Alexa AI is slated to be unveiled at an event in New York City on Wednesday. A source tells Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi that the company will show off a new generative AI assistant that is dubbed Rufus. The company could charge a modest monthly subscription to gain access to Rufus and its unknown capabilities (as of now). Considering Amazon (AMZN) has more than 200 million Prime subscribers worldwide, even if some people sign up for Rufus, it could be a lucrative new revenue stream for Amazon. At the bare minimum, the event is supposed to showcase Amazon’s investments the past two years to improve the intelligence of Alexa given new generative AI technologies. If unveiled, the company would be firing the first shot at Apple which continues to struggle to upgrade Siri. Interestingly, Amazon investors appear to be yawning into the event – shares of the tech beast are down 1.3% year to date compared to a 2% gain for the S&P 500 () and a modest increase for fellow “Magnificent Seven” component Nvidia (NVDA). For full episodes of Opening Bid, listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on our website. Source link #supercharged #Amazon #Alexa #investors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  15. Avowed Review [Capsule Computers] | N4G Avowed Review [Capsule Computers] | N4G Travis Bruno of Capsule Computers writes: “When it comes to Obsidian Entertainment, you never quite know what they’ll have up their sleeves next, especially in recent years. One minute they’ll go from releasing a space-faring RPG to crafting a title all about surviving as a shrunken kid in your own backyard and eventually go on to make a “ye olde” ******* mystery with all kinds of unique elements. As such, when Obsidian revealed that they would be working on a fantasy RPG again and would even be setting it in the same realm and universe as their beloved Pillars of Eternity titles, fans were eager to see what Avowed would become. So now that it has arrived and is set to make its own mark in the Pillars universe, is Obsidian’s latest release worthwhile?” Source link #Avowed #Review #Capsule #Computers #N4G Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  16. Trump's loyalty-first FBI: Dan Bongino named deputy – Axios Trump's loyalty-first FBI: Dan Bongino named deputy – Axios Trump’s loyalty-first FBI: Dan Bongino named deputy AxiosWhat is Dan Bongino’s net worth? Know about his business ventures, luxury cars collection, restaurants, properties Hindustan TimesMAGA Celebrates Dan Bongino FBI Appointment: ‘This. Is. EVERYTHING’ NewsweekRight-Wing Commentator Named F.B.I. Deputy Director The New York Times Source link #Trump039s #loyaltyfirst #FBI #Dan #Bongino #named #deputy #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  17. Jewish mum slams PM for ‘doing nothing’ to address rise in anti-Semitism Jewish mum slams PM for ‘doing nothing’ to address rise in anti-Semitism A Jewish mother-of-four has slammed the Prime Minister for “doing nothing” to address a rise in anti-Semitic behaviour across the country. Source link #Jewish #mum #slams #address #rise #antiSemitism Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  18. ICE operation in Alhambra disrupted by local activists ICE operation in Alhambra disrupted by local activists The Brief Alhambra police were alerted by the FBI about a multi-agency task force operation involving ICE, DEA, and FBI agents. ICE officials stated the operation was part of investigations targeting criminals, not a raid. Union del Barrio accused ICE of detaining non-criminal undocumented individuals, despite ICE’s claims. ALHAMBRA, Calif. – A planned ICE operation involving DEA and FBI agents in Alhambra on Sunday was met with resistance from local activists. Members of Union del Barrio, a long-standing immigrant community activist group, arrived with loudspeakers to protest the presence of federal agents, who eventually left the area. Protecting the community What we know Alhambra police confirmed receiving a call from the FBI about a multi-agency task force gathering at a Target parking lot on W. Main Street for nearby arrests. However, Union del Barrio activists were already on the scene, prepared to intervene. They reported seeing five ICE agent vehicles. The activists, known for their community patrols, quickly mobilized to the scene, using loudspeakers to demand the agents’ departure. The group claims their actions are within legal rights and have been part of their efforts since 1992 to protect communities from perceived threats. Target employees and customers reportedly did not notice the operation, and corporate officials stated they were unaware of any raid, emphasizing that no one in the store was affected. The city of Alhambra, a designated sanctuary city, recently reaffirmed its stance, although city officials were unavailable for comment. No arrests made What they’re saying Ron Gochez, an activist with Union del Barrio, stated, “Our people had megaphones, and they called for backup of our folks and they went to both locations.” The activists’ presence and recording efforts reportedly led to the agents leaving without making any arrests. “We are super happy to report that once the agents saw that they were being recorded, and that people were alerting the community with megaphones, nobody was taken and those ICE agents they retreated and left the community,” Gochez added. Investigations targeting criminals The other side ICE did not comment on the specific incident but clarified that it was not a raid or sweep and was focused on investigations targeting criminals. They stated, “Based on intelligence-driven leads, ICE officers do not target noncitizens indiscriminately.” ICE referred to recent arrests of undocumented immigrants, including a 47-year-old woman in Pomona and a 40-year-old in Vista, both arrested for alleged DUIs. Gochez disputed this, alleging that ICE often detains individuals without documentation who are not criminals. ‘We are the target’ Local perspective Union del Barrio activists remain committed to their cause, asserting that ICE’s claims of targeting only criminals are false. “That’s a lie that they are saying they are only looking for criminals they are going to places, anywhere and everywhere where brown people are that’s what they are looking for, we are the target, we are not going to fall for that lie!” said Gochez. More volunteers sought What’s next Union del Barrio reported another enforcement action in San Fernando that they claim to have stopped. ICE officials have not provided information about any arrests but indicated that updates would be posted on their social media. Meanwhile, Union del Barrio continues to seek volunteers for their community patrols, maintaining their commitment to defending immigrant rights. The Source Information for this story is from an interview with Ron Gochez of Union del Barrio on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 in Alhambra, and ICE. Source link #ICE #operation #Alhambra #disrupted #local #activists Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  19. After Killzone, a Transformers-Themed Automaton Army of Decepticons Is the Logical Next Step After Killzone, a Transformers-Themed Automaton Army of Decepticons Is the Logical Next Step Fresh off the success of their Killzone collaboration, Helldivers 2 developers have dropped a tantalizing hint about their next crossover event. While the details remain classified (even Super Earth’s best intelligence agencies are scratching their heads), given some recent developments in the gaming industry, we can’t help but theorize about a particularly exciting possibility. Arrowhead’s next crossover: More than just fancy cosmetics? | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios The timing couldn’t be more perfect. Just as Arrowhead teases they’re “in the very early stages of something new,” Hasbro announces a partnership that has our democracy-spreading senses tingling. And while we’re not saying the stars are aligning, if they were, they’d be forming a very familiar robotic face. The question isn’t just about what’s next for our beloved bug-squashing simulator—it’s about the potential for something truly transformative. Something that could turn the tide in our endless fight for managed democracy across the galaxy. What’s next for Helldivers 2‘s crossover content When Helldivers 2 launched its Killzone crossover, the community’s initial reaction wasn’t exactly a victory for democracy. Overpriced cosmetics had players ready to file complaints with the Ministry of Truth—but Arrowhead’s swift response to feedback proved they actually listen to their citizens. That’s exactly why a recent Discord exchange has Super Earth’s finest giddy with speculation. When asked about future crossovers, developer Sephez dropped a tease about being “in the very early stages of something new.” And while that could mean anything, the timing lines up suspiciously well with some interesting developments in the robotic sector. Look at how masterfully Arrowhead has already handled diverse enemy factions. The Illuminate’s Overseers don’t just float there looking pretty—they coordinate their forces with a tactical precision that would make even a Decepticon commander jealous. And those Voteless? They’re proof that Arrowhead knows how to make enemies feel unique and threatening. Now imagine those same development chops applied to everyone’s favorite robots in disguise. With Hasbro desperately seeking to revitalize the Transformers franchise through gaming, this could be the perfect chance for both companies to roll out something special. Why Transformers and Helldivers 2 are a match made in mechanical heaven Democracy needs all the help it can get nowadays. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios Speaking of Hasbro, they’ve recently announced something that makes perfect sense for both parties. A fresh partnership with Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 maker Saber Interactive, backed by a cool billion-dollar investment in gaming, suggests the company is dead serious about (fingers crossed) bringing their robots back to the digital battlefield. The timing couldn’t be better. While Super Earth’s forces are stretched thin fighting Terminids, Automatons, and the Illuminate threat across the galaxy, having some Autobot backup wouldn’t hurt. And let’s be honest—who better to help identify Decepticon corruption among the Automaton ranks than Optimus Prime himself? Just imagine the possibilities: Energon-powered stratagems raining from the sky, bot dropships sporting Cybertronian tech, and maybe even some special team-up mechanics with our new mechanical allies. The potential for both cosmetic and gameplay additions is enough to make even the most stoic Helldiver crack a smile. But it’s not just about cool factor. Hasbro needs a win after Rise of the Beasts barely scraped by at the box office and Transformers: Reactivate got canceled before it even launched. To that end, Helldivers 2‘s blend of action and humor could be exactly what the franchise needs. After all, nothing says “freedom” quite like dropping a democracy-spreading orbital strike alongside a transforming truck. What crossover content would you like to see in Helldivers 2? Share your ideas in the comments below! Source link #Killzone #TransformersThemed #Automaton #Army #Decepticons #Logical #Step Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  20. Joel Le Scouarnec: France faces its largest child abuse trial, weeks after country rocked by Pelicot case – CNN Joel Le Scouarnec: France faces its largest child abuse trial, weeks after country rocked by Pelicot case – CNN Joel Le Scouarnec: France faces its largest child abuse trial, weeks after country rocked by Pelicot case CNNFrench Doctor Is Accused of Child Rapes The New York TimesSurgeon accused of ********* abusing hundreds of children, some under anesthesia The Washington Post Source link #Joel #Scouarnec #France #faces #largest #child #abuse #trial #weeks #country #rocked #Pelicot #case #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  21. Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gameplay is Being Leaked Online as Early Copies Are Already in Players Hands Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gameplay is Being Leaked Online as Early Copies Are Already in Players Hands Early physical copies of Assassin’s Creed Shadows have already found their way in players hands, resulting in early gameplay of the game being streamed and uploaded online. According to X (formerly Twitter) user @DannyStevens__, copies of the game are obtainable via Facebook Marketplace. Insider Gaming were unable to find any copies on Facebook’s *** marketplace, Stevens’ claims were backed up with pictures of the games case, the install screen, and several gameplay photos. Those images have since been deleted. After searching for the game online further, it seems that Ubisoft is aware of the situation and is currently DMCA striking a lot of the content posted online. Inevitably though, some gameplay and images will fall through the cracks, so be aware if you’re sensitive of spoilers. RELATED – How to Get Assassin’s Creed Shadows Free Download Bonus Weapon It’s unclear on why copies of the game have started to be sold at such as early stage, as typically, physical copies begin leaked around 2-3 days before launch. Assassin’s Creed Shadows was delayed twice, including a recent delay that moved the game from its February 14 release to March 20, so it’s possible that the game had already been printed on masse. It was said that the second delay was needed to give the game “additional weeks” to implement changes based on feedback received from players during testing. Marc-Alexis Côté said, “since November, we’ve been thrilled to share our progress through Gameplay Overviews, and the overwhelming excitement has truly inspired us. “Each week has brought valuable feedback from our community. While we’ve already made remarkable strides, we believe a few additional weeks are needed to implement that feedback and ensure an even more ambitious and engaging day-one experience.” Assassin’s Creed Shadows is scheduled to release on March 20, 2025 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC. Ubisoft sources tell Insider Gaming that the company is now confident on its new release date. Will you be playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows on release? Let us know in the comments or on the Insider Gaming forum. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Avowed started life as ‘multiplayer Skyrim’ SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Assassins #Creed #Shadows #Gameplay #Leaked #Online #Early #Copies #Players #Hands Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  22. Reform Wales: Ex-leader Nathan Gill paid for Russia support Reform Wales: Ex-leader Nathan Gill paid for Russia support David Deans Political reporter, BBC Wales News Getty Images Nathan Gill was a member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2020 The former leader of Reform *** in Wales has appeared in court accused of accepting bribes in exchange for making favourable statements about Russia in the European Parliament. Nathan Gill is charged with eight counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard allegations he made statements in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine, which were “supportive of a particular narrative” which would “benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine”. During Monday’s hearing, the 51-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address with no pleas being entered to the charges. The defendant is alleged to have been tasked by Oleg Voloshyn on at least eight occasions to make specific statements in return for money. A spokesperson for Reform Wales said Mr Gill “is not a member of Reform ***”. Mr Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on September 13 2021 under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, the court also heard. He was an MEP for almost six years and briefly represented north Wales in the Welsh Parliament. Mr Gill was first elected as a UKIP MEP in 2014 and joined the National Assembly, as it was then called, in 2016. He was an Assembly Member for just over a year, before he was replaced by Mandy Jones in December 2017. He served as UKIP’s leader for Wales and was briefly an independent before joining Reform’s predecessor organisation, the Brexit Party, in 2019. The north Wales politician led Reform’s 2021 Welsh Parliament election campaign. It is not clear precisely when Gill ceased being leader of Reform *** Wales, but the job has not existed for some time. The Crown Prosecution Service said charges were authorised against Mr Voloshyn, but he is not in the jurisdiction. Mr Gill, of Anglesey, was granted bail on the condition that he surrender his passport, is not to obtain international travel documents and not to contact Mr Voloshyn. He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 14 March. Source link #Reform #Wales #Exleader #Nathan #Gill #paid #Russia #support Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  23. Defiant Politician Slams State’s Decision to Ignore Trump’s Trans Sports Policy, Speaks Out Defiant Politician Slams State’s Decision to Ignore Trump’s Trans Sports Policy, Speaks Out A Maine politician is taking a stand against a policy she believes directly contradicts President Donald Trump’s efforts to defend women’s sports. State Rep. Laurel Libby, a Republican, told CBN News the Maine Principal’s Association (MPA), Maine’s governing sports body, is openly flouting Trump’s Feb. 5 executive order titled “Keep Men Out of Women’s Sports.” Trump’s proclamation calls it “demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls” for biological men to take part in female sports. “Following President Trump’s executive order, the Maine Principal’s Association came out and said they were not going to abide by that — that they were still going to allow biological males to participate in girls’ sports,” Libby said. Mike Burnham, executive director of the MPA, reportedly said in a statement that there is a clash between Trump’s order and state law. “The executive order and our Maine state Human Rights Act are in conflict, and the Maine Principal’s Association will continue to follow state law as it pertains to gender identity,” he said. Trump’s order, which made headlines earlier this month, clearly takes a definitive position against such scenarios. “It is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy,” the text reads, in part. “It shall also be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.” Already, Maine is said to be ignoring these rules. Libby said the state held a championship for indoor track this week and claimed a biological male was allowed to take place in the girls’ pole vault — something that motivated her to speak out on the matter. “He actually won the state championship just this past Monday, displacing females, displacing girls from the podium as he won that,” Libby said. “And, in fact, his jump enabled that team to win the entire event by one point.” She said this is not a new issue in Maine, with politicians grappling in recent years over how to handle the intersection of transgender issues and sports. When Libby learned the MPA planned to push back on Trump’s executive order — and that a biological boy competed and won — she took to social media Feb. 17 and her post on the matter, which included a photo of the purported winner, went viral. The reaction to Libby’s advocacy against this win and the issue more broadly has been divided. “I’ve heard from Maine folks on both sides of the issue,” she said. “I’ve heard folks … saying, ‘Thank you so much for speaking up. Our girls deserve to have a fair and level playing field.’ I’ve also heard from folks who are unhappy about my post.” Libby continued, “This is a public event that this individual has chosen to take part in, and the results are public, and this is public information.” She said Democrats have asked her to take down the post, but she has no plans to comply. “Our girls deserve folks standing up and advocating for a fair and level playing field,” Libby said. “And we’ll have legislation coming up this session in the State House to discuss this topic of if boys should be allowed to play in girls’ sports here in Maine, and so there’s going to be plenty of opportunity for folks to stand up and make their voices heard.” Ultimately, Libby believes many people simply don’t realize they’re on the wrong side of the issue, implementing policies and procedures that put biological women at a disadvantage. And despite the debate, the politician plans to continue speaking out. “Maine girls need to know that folks are standing up for them and are willing to advocate on their behalf,” Libby said. “I think we haven’t seen that enough in the past and we need to make sure that they understand it’s safe to speak up and say that they’re not OK with this.” She continued, “These are kids who have worked really hard to become accomplished in the sport that they’ve chosen, and it is not fair. And we need grownups to be the grownups in the room and to stand up and say, ‘This is not right, and we’ll stand there for you.’” Trump has since threatened to cut off federal funding to Maine if the state defies his order. “I heard men are still playing in Maine,” the president said Monday. “I hate to tell you this, but we’re not going to give them any federal money. They are still saying, ‘We want men to play in women’s sports’ and I can not believe that they’re doing that… So we’re not going to give them any federal funding, none whatsoever, until they clean that up.” ***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.*** Source link #Defiant #Politician #Slams #States #Decision #Ignore #Trumps #Trans #Sports #Policy #Speaks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  24. iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max Alleged Renders Suggest Significant Design Changes iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max Alleged Renders Suggest Significant Design Changes iPhone 17 series is likely to make its debut in the second half of this year. The upcoming iPhone family is expected to include a new iPhone 17 Air (or iPhone Slim) to replace the ‘Plus’ version. While there have been several leaks about the unusual design of the iPhone 17 series, we now get a look at the rear camera design for the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max through alleged renders. Three of the four new iPhone 17 models could receive a redesign this year. iPhone 17 Series Design Revealed Through Renders Tipster Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) shared alleged computer-aided design (CAD) renders of the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max (from left to right) on X. As per the renders, the vanilla iPhone 17 appears to look similar to last year’s iPhone 16 with a vertical camera layout. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Air appears to have a single camera on the back with a horizontally aligned camera bump. The new model seems to boast a different design language from its siblings. The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are shown with dual-toned rear panels. They appear to feature squarish camera bumps like the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. We’ve already seen many leaks about the design changes of the iPhone 17 series. A previous leak indicated that the iPhone 17 Pro models could get a Pixel-style camera layout. The lineup is still months away from the expected launch timeline, therefore it is recommended to take these leaks with a grain of salt. We can expect more details about the design change to surface online in the coming months. Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro models are tipped to have an aluminium frame and could run on Apple’s A19 Pro chip alongside 12GB RAM. The standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Slim or Air model could run on an A18 or A19 chip with support for 8GB RAM. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Google Reveals Its Veo 2 Video Generation AI Model’s Pricing on Vertex AI Platform Source link #iPhone #Air #iPhone #Pro #iPhone #Pro #Max #Alleged #Renders #Suggest #Significant #Design Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  25. WA election 2025: Liberal leader Libby Mettam wasn’t word perfect but she landed more hits on Roger Cook WA election 2025: Liberal leader Libby Mettam wasn’t word perfect but she landed more hits on Roger Cook Roger Cook came to the podium with a plan for jobs, literally, but Libby Mettam produced a new line of attack. Source link #election #Liberal #leader #Libby #Mettam #wasnt #word #perfect #landed #hits #Roger #Cook Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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