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‘Go after the game’, Ryles tells No.1 Iongi ‘Go after the game’, Ryles tells No.1 Iongi Jason Ryles has told Parramatta No.1 Isaiah Iongi to “go after the game”, giving the rookie freedom to strike in a new-look Eels attack. Iongi passed his first full audition with flying colours on Friday night, setting up a try and beating four men to score another in the Eels’ trial against Wests Tigers. A long-time apprentice behind Dylan Edwards at Penrith, Iongi will be thrust into the spotlight this year as the man asked to replace long-time Eels fullback Clint Gutherson. But first-time coach Ryles is confident Iongi is ready, and wants the 21-year-old to try to take the game on in attack in his first full season. “One of Issy’s strengths is that he goes to the game, gets the footy and plays, and we just want to encourage him to keep doing that,” Ryles said. “We’re starting to see little bits of what we will see, but we’ve got to be patient with him. “He’s done a really good apprenticeship in (NSW) Cup with around 60 games and he sat behind arguably the best fullback in the comp for a number of years. “He’s had a really good grounding, but it’s just a matter of getting the reps in first grade now.” Ryles admitted Parramatta’s attack had looked disjointed on Friday night, while missing halves Dylan Brown and Mitch Moses. Brown was in New Zealand for his brother’s wedding, while Moses is still fighting to overcome foot soreness before the start of the season. Parramatta’s attacking structure will also change significantly under Ryles this year, after 11 seasons of Brad Arthur as coach and Gutherson the team’s fullback since 2017. “It’s a bit of a different way of how we want to attack compared to what they’re used to, so we’ll just keep working on that,” Ryles said. “It all goes back to the strengths of our footy team. We’ve got speed, we’ve got an experienced set of halves and we’ve got a young hooker. “We’ll keep evolving. “There’s no timeline on our attack. It’ll have its days where it’s not so great, but it’ll have its days (of) ‘Wow, that was good’.” Source link #game #Ryles #tells #No.1 #Iongi Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Suspects wanted after shots fired at State Police in Dauphin County; search in Schuylkill County Suspects wanted after shots fired at State Police in Dauphin County; search in Schuylkill County SAINT CLAIR, Pa. (WHTM) — Pennsylvania State Police are seeking two teens after a multi-county incident and officer-involved shooting in the Midstate. State Police say around 12:40 p.m. a driver on north on I-81 near mile marker 57.1, Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County, observed a passenger in a red Toyota Tundra pointing a firearm at other motorists. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This vehicle was located by a State Police-Harrisburg Trooper on I-81 near mile marker 78 in West Hanover Township and a traffic stop was initiated. The Toyota stopped on the shoulder, however fled shortly thereafter. The vehicle fled off I-81 to a location in the 7000 block of Manor Drive, West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, where Troopers say an occupant from within fired multiple rounds from a pistol, striking one patrol vehicle. The fleeing vehicle reentered I-81 North, later exiting near Frackville, becoming disabled near a Walmart in St Clair Township, Schuylkill County. Memorial grows for West York Borough officer killed at UPMC Memorial Hospital Four subjects fled the vehicle on foot and two subjects were taken into custody. Troop L Frackville is leading efforts to apprehend the remaining two subjects. Troopers from Troop H, Troop L, and PSP Aviation assisted in this incident. No Troopers were injured in this incident and a perimeter was established. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The Walmart and Coal Creek Commerce Center were both locked down during the incident. There, troopers told Nexstar’s WBRE/WYOU the incident started in Carlisle, leading to a police pursuit to Saint Clair. Route 61 reopened, but heavy police activity is still seen in the area of the Coal Creek Commerce Center. Get daily news, weather, breaking news and alerts straight to your inbox! Sign up for the abc27 newsletters here Brownback and Trooper Megan Frazer, Troop H Public Information Officer, said more information will be released later. This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Source link #Suspects #wanted #shots #fired #State #Police #Dauphin #County #search #Schuylkill #County Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******* election results explained in graphics – DW (English) ******* election results explained in graphics – DW (English) ******* election results explained in graphics DW (English)Conservative opposition wins ******* election and the far right is 2nd with strongest postwar result The Associated PressDAX Futures Gain With Euro in Asia After ******* Vote Outcome BloombergEighty Percent of Germans Voted Against the Far Right. Can That Happen Here? Mother Jones Source link #******* #election #results #explained #graphics #English Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Labor promises funds to Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre, Flinders Park Primary School and Torbay Hall Labor promises funds to Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre, Flinders Park Primary School and Torbay Hall Albany Labor candidate Rebecca Stephens has confirmed more promises for smaller Albany community groups as she campaigns to secure a second term in her seat, offering more than $230,000 in February so far. Source link #Labor #promises #funds #Rainbow #Coast #Neighbourhood #Centre #Flinders #Park #Primary #School #Torbay #Hall Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Bonkers FBI Announcement Has Critics Asking WTF?! Trump’s Bonkers FBI Announcement Has Critics Asking WTF?! President Donald Trump on Sunday left many observers baffled by naming former Secret Service agent and current right-wing podcast host Dan Bongino to be deputy director of the FBI. Trump called him “a man of incredible love and passion for our Country” in a post on his Truth Social website announcing the selection, which comes days after far-right conspiracy theorist Kash Patel was confirmed as FBI director. Bongino, 50, had a career in law enforcement before turning to politics. He lost three races, but ended up as a fixture in right-wing media, and at one point hosted a weekend show on Fox News. He is perhaps currently best known for his podcast, which Edison Media ranked at 18th in weekly listeners for 2024, and for his trolling presence on social media. “My life is all about owning the libs now,” he said in 2018, during the contentious nomination hearings for Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh. His elevation to a leading position within the FBI drew harsh reviews from critics on social media: Source link #Trumps #Bonkers #FBI #Announcement #Critics #WTF Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zelensky seeks Trump meeting, questions terms of U.S. mineral deal – The Washington Post Zelensky seeks Trump meeting, questions terms of U.S. mineral deal – The Washington Post Zelensky seeks Trump meeting, questions terms of U.S. mineral deal The Washington PostZelensky says he’s “ready” to resign if it brings peace or Ukraine joins NATO AxiosZelenskyy ready to exchange presidency for peace ABC NewsHear Zelensky’s response when asked if he’d resign as president of Ukraine CNNZelenskyy says he would step down if Ukraine can join NATO, blasts Trump mineral pitch USA TODAY Source link #Zelensky #seeks #Trump #meeting #questions #terms #U.S #mineral #deal #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Over 160 have tried, but Luai can be man to save Tigers Over 160 have tried, but Luai can be man to save Tigers Apisai Koroisau couldn’t be blunter in welcoming the renewed expectations around Wests Tigers this year. “There should be expectations, because we’re not a park football team,” the Tigers captain asserted earlier this month. “We’re in the NRL. “And if there aren’t expectations around what we can do, then there is something wrong.” The reality though is that for more than a decade, the Tigers have been guilty of over-selling and delivering only near-misses and wooden spoons. It has now been 13 long seasons since the joint venture played finals football, making for the longest active drought in the NRL. Since they were knocked out of the 2011 finals by a young Shaun Johnson, a whole generation of players have come and gone in the NRL. Some 167 men have run out for the Tigers, from James Tedesco’s painful debut at the start of 2012 to the last of the 2024 rookies in Tanous Sukkar last September. There have been seven coaching stints split between six men, overseen by four separate CEOs. But no man may be more important than the Tigers’ biggest recruit of the decade in Jarome Luai. “He knew he had to do things to change this club,” Koroisau said. “He has come in and hasn’t held back. Everyone looks up to him, everyone loves him. I think he has really taken that role on and done really well. “His footy IQ, the way he can convey what he wants to get out, his ideas or what we think we should do are incredible. “He hasn’t been shy about anything. If he needs to say something then he will, and that takes real leadership and courage.” Luai is the latest in a long line of Tigers charged with turning the club around, ahead of his first game against Newcastle at Campbelltown Stadium on March 7. Koroisau himself was one of them when he arrived as a three-time premiership-winner in 2023, before it became painfully obvious he couldn’t do it alone. Now-coach Benji Marshall was meant to turn things around when he came back in 2018, while Robbie Farah’s dream return also ended in disappointment. And no man has been burdened more by the pressure of having to revive the Tigers than Luke Brooks, who shouldered the expectation for 11 years before moving to Manly in 2024. But even Brooks can see a difference in the way Luai will be able to deal with the weight of saving the Tigers. “For him he’s going off the back of winning premierships,” Brooks has told AAP previously. “He’s got that confidence. He doesn’t have that baggage behind him. “He’s someone who seems to me that he likes that spotlight. He will probably enjoy it. He’s come from success, so he knows what it looks like.” The other aspect for Luai is that to many of the Tigers’ youngest players, he has been a bona-fide superstar since their mid-teens. Already fielding the youngest side in the competition last year, the likes of halves partner Lachlan Galvin were aged 14 when Luai began to help lead the Penrith dynasty. “The first couple of days he came in, it was like ‘wow he is a superstar’,” Galvin said. “He’s already (lifted standards). In the change rooms and walking around the joint, how much fun he is but also how much he wants to win. “I’m just learning off the back of him. I can’t wait to get out there and show the competition what we can do.” Galvin himself has the most to gain by Luai’s arrival. How those two combine could be crucial for the Tigers’ future, given Galvin has previously requested releases from the club and is a free agent in November. More than anything the 19-year-old wants to win, having come through the junior grades lifting titles and going nowhere near wooden spoons. “He knows what it is to win comps,” Galvin said. “He will control the team and just let me play my game. He’s said ‘you do you’ and I play off the back of him. “I can’t wait to just get on the field and play with him. (Once he got here) I felt like I had my best sessions of the summer with him.” Luai is also not alone in his bid to turn around the joint venture. Terrell May has arrived as an off-season gift from Sydney Roosters, needing to combine with Royce Hunt and Fonua Pole in laying a platform for Luai and Galvin. Jahream Bula has all the potential at fullback, while Sunia Turuva offers both strike and power out wide that the Tigers have long been missing. And Koroisau remains one of the best hookers in the NRL, shining at a club that has only won 10 games in the past two years. “There are expectations on the outside, but we know as a club that is going to get you nowhere,” Koroisau said. “All we can focus on is the week to week and the process of what we do.” Source link #Luai #man #save #Tigers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Luigi Mangione’s ‘Loafers,’ ‘Outfit’ and ‘Ankles’ Go Viral as His Unexpected Fashion Influence Persists After Latest Court Appearance Luigi Mangione’s ‘Loafers,’ ‘Outfit’ and ‘Ankles’ Go Viral as His Unexpected Fashion Influence Persists After Latest Court Appearance The internet obsession with Luigi Mangione’s fashion choices gained a new chapter on Friday after he appeared for a hearing at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City. The man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare chief executive officer Brian Thompson wore a dark green knit sweater, khaki pants and brown loafers to the courtroom — a look that soon went viral. Luigi Mangione at the Manhattan Criminal Court hearing on Feb. 21, 2025, in New York City. In less than 24 hours since his last court appearance, searches for “luigi mangione outfits” spiked by 350 percent on Google. His shoe choice, however, seems to have grabbed most of the attention, with searches for “luigi mangione loafers” spiking by 1,400 percent, and luigi mangione ankles” surging by 500 percent. More from WWD On X (formerly known as Twitter), users didn’t waste time to show how one can “steal Luigi Mangione’s look” or praise his latest outfit. “He is such a fashionable hero,” said one tweet. A view of the ankle cuffs and shoes worn by Luigi Mangione at the Manhattan Criminal Court hearing on Feb. 21, 2025, in New York City. This is the second time Mangione has gone viral with his outfit. On Dec. 23, he appeared for his arraignment at the Manhattan courtroom, wearing a burgundy sweater that prompted an online discussion. While TikTok users discussed what brand Magione’s outfit was from, Nordstrom and Maison Margiela sold out similar burgundy sweaters online. Levi’s, Peak Design, Tommy Hilfiger and Monopoly were also previously referenced in news stories and social media posts about the case. While his fashion choices continue to go viral, Mangione’s courtroom style has remained conservative. Both dark green and burgundy, the colors of his sweaters, are considered respected and recommended colors for a courtroom appearance. Luigi Mangione at the Manhattan Criminal Court hearing on Feb. 21, 2025, in New York City. Mangione was arrested on Dec. 9 at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pa., following a five-day manhunt. He faces 11 counts in New York, including first-degree ******* in furtherance of terrorism. Mangione pled not guilty to all his charges. On Feb. 14, Mangione made his first formal statement since his arrest on a website launched by his New York defense team. Luigi Mangione at the Manhattan Criminal Court hearing on Feb. 21, 2025, in New York City. “I am overwhelmed by — and grateful for — everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support,” he said in the statement. “Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe. While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive.” A trial date has yet to be set in the case. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Source link #Luigi #Mangiones #Loafers #Outfit #Ankles #Viral #Unexpected #Fashion #Influence #Persists #Latest #Court #Appearance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brothers of Israeli hostages still waiting for release of loved ones – CBS News Brothers of Israeli hostages still waiting for release of loved ones – CBS News Brothers of Israeli hostages still waiting for release of loved ones CBS NewsUpdates: ****** shuts down Gaza talks until 620 Palestinians freed by Israel Al Jazeera EnglishIsrael and ****** Trade Accusations of Violating Fragile Cease-Fire The New York Times Source link #Brothers #Israeli #hostages #waiting #release #loved #CBS #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former West Coast midfielder Jai Culley lands at Melbourne after AFL grant special SSP exemption Former West Coast midfielder Jai Culley lands at Melbourne after AFL grant special SSP exemption Melbourne have handed former West Coast mid-season draftee Jai Culley an AFL lifeline after they were granted permission by the league to put him on their list. Source link #West #Coast #midfielder #Jai #Culley #lands #Melbourne #AFL #grant #special #SSP #exemption Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Four people pronounced dead at Bloomington, Illinois residence. Here’s what we know Four people pronounced dead at Bloomington, Illinois residence. Here’s what we know Four people people were pronounced dead at a residence in Bloomington, Illinois, on Sunday, Feb. 23. The Bloomington Police Department and the McLean County Coroner’s Office are investigating the deaths in the 900 block of North Lee Street, according to a news release. Four people were pronounced dead at the scene by the McLean County coroner. Identification of the four people will not be released until the next of kin are notified, and autopsies are pending. A preliminary investigation suggested there was no threat to the public as of Sunday night. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives today,” Bloomington police Chief Jamal Simington said in a statement. “Our detectives continue to diligently investigate this unfortunate incident in an effort to get some answers for the victims’ loved ones and our community.” The Bloomington Police Department and the McLean County Coroner’s Office are continuing to investigate. Those with information may contact Detective Kevin Raisbeck at 309-434-2593 or *****@*****.tld. To submit a crime tip and remain anonymous, contact the Crime and Intelligence Analysis Unit at 309-434-2963 or email *****@*****.tld. More: ‘Hurt our community:’ Mayor candidates react to federal job cuts at Peoria Ag Lab This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Four people pronounced dead at Bloomington, Illinois residence Source link #people #pronounced #dead #Bloomington #Illinois #residence #Heres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Germany Election Maps: How Conservatives Regained Power Germany Election Maps: How Conservatives Regained Power How the 630 seats will be distributed Germany’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) won Sunday’s election as voters rebuked the nation’s left-leaning government for its handling of the economy and immigration. Provisional results by party Party Votes Pct. Seats CDU/CSU 14,158,432 28.52 208 AfD 10,327,148 20.80 152 SPD 8,148,284 16.41 120 Greens 5,761,476 11.61 85 Die Linke 4,355,382 8.77 64 Others 2,273,817 4.58 1 BSW 2,468,670 4.97 0 **** 2,148,878 4.33 0 Voters gave the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party the second-highest number of seats in Parliament, ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens, according to provisional results. Change in vote share since 2021 The Christian Democrats, AfD and Die Linke won more votes than in the last general election. There were smaller surprises, including the last-minute surge of the far-left party Die Linke. The liberal and pro-business Free Democrats (****), who had been a part of the last government until November, did not meet the 5 percent vote threshold they would need to maintain seats in Parliament. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), a pro-Russia splinter from the old ******* left that formed last year, also fell just short of qualifying for parliamentary seats. Highlighting the widespread discontent with Mr. Scholz’s government over the last three years, all three parties in the coalition — the Social Democrats, the Greens and **** — lost support. Vote shifts since 2021 Germans cast two votes when they go to the polls. The first vote goes to elect a direct representative for their district, while the second vote is cast for a party. Arrows show the increase or decrease in each party’s vote share in the second vote, compared with the last general election. Support for the Social Democrats plunged everywhere, but nowhere more than in the east. The Christian Democrats made gains throughout the southern and western districts. The coalitions The Christian Democrats will need to build a coalition to govern because they did not win an outright majority of seats. Given Sunday’s results, the most likely pairing is the CDU and the incumbent Social Democrats. That combination, known as a grand coalition, is historically stable and has been repeatedly tested, most recently during Angela Merkel’s final term as chancellor. Mainstream two-party coalitions CDU/CSU and SPD 328 total seats CDU/CSU and Greens 293 total seats Three party coalitions SPD and Greens 205 total seats CDU/CSU and Greens 293 total seats CDU/CSU, SPD and Greens 413 total seats Unlikely coalitions CDU/CSU and AfD 360 total seats 316 seats neededfor majority The largest possible coalition, the one between the Christian Democrats and AfD, is politically not an option, as mainstream parties have pledged not to work with the far-right party. Source link #Germany #Election #Maps #Conservatives #Regained #Power Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SAG Awards 2025 Snubs and Surprises: Timothée Chalamet Triumphs, ‘The Bear’ Flops and ‘Only Murders’ Shocks – Variety SAG Awards 2025 Snubs and Surprises: Timothée Chalamet Triumphs, ‘The Bear’ Flops and ‘Only Murders’ Shocks – Variety SAG Awards 2025 Snubs and Surprises: Timothée Chalamet Triumphs, ‘The Bear’ Flops and ‘Only Murders’ Shocks VarietyThe 2025 SAG Awards balanced jokes with the heaviness of the world CNNWhat You Missed During the 2025 SAG Awards: Jeremy Strong, Timothée Chalamet and More PEOPLESAG Awards 2025 Full Winners List: ‘Conclave,’ ‘Only Murders in the Building’ and ‘Shōgun’ Take Home Top Honors VarietyDemi Moore, Selena Gomez, Brooke Shields and more stars shine on the red carpet Fox News Source link #SAG #Awards #Snubs #Surprises #Timothée #Chalamet #Triumphs #Bear #Flops #Murders #Shocks #Variety Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Demi Moore, Timothée Chalamet and Conclave win gongs Demi Moore, Timothée Chalamet and Conclave win gongs Steven McIntosh Entertainment reporter Getty Images Conclave cast left to right: Sergio Castellitto, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini and Ralph Fiennes Pope selection drama Conclave won the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards on Sunday, leaving the Oscars race too close to call with one week to go. It won the ceremony’s biggest prize, best ensemble, continuing its late-season momentum after taking best film at last week’s Baftas. Other winners included Demi Moore and Timothée Chalamet, both of whom head into next week’s Academy Awards with a boost of momentum. British actor Ralph Fiennes accepted the prize for Conclave, which is voted on by fellow actors, thanking director Edward Berger for his “perception, insight and care”. Earlier in the ceremony, his co-star Isabella Rossellini said the film’s cast “want to wish Pope Francis a quick recovery” after he was diagnosed with pneumonia. In a night peppered with celebrations of the actors’ union, Fiennes said: “We do recognise the supreme importance of community in our work and in the world.” Conclave, which focuses on a group of gossipy and scheming cardinals in Rome, failed to win any other awards, but its victory in the top category leaves it in a strong position ahead of the Academy Awards on 2 March. The best picture race has been wide open this year, with The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez winning at the Golden Globes, Conclave at Baftas and now SAG, and Anora at a string of industry guilds including those voted by producers, writers and directors. Getty Images Demi Moore won for playing an ageing aerobics instructor struggling to stay relevant in The Substance Moore’s win for body horror The Substance is the latest twist in a tight best actress race – the category is seen as a dead heat between her and Mikey Madison, who won the Bafta. “This is extraordinary, and so deeply meaningful,” Moore said as she collected her SAG trophy. She recalled getting her first SAG card aged 15 “changed my life because it gave me meaning, it gave me purpose, and it gave me direction”. “I was a kid on my own who had no blueprint for life, and I certainly knew nothing about acting. But I watched, and I listened and I learned from all of you. “You have all been my greatest teachers, and I am so grateful that I have continued over these so many years that to be able to try, and sometimes succeed and sometimes fail, but to be able to keep going.” The film sees Moore play an ageing aerobics instructor who takes a ****** market drug to create a younger and more beautiful version of herself. Getty Images Timothée Chalamet won for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown Elsewhere, Chalamet was a surprise winner in best actor thanks to his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, beating Adrien Brody who has been winning the category throughout awards season. “I know the classiest thing would be to downplay the effort that went into this role and how much this means to me,” Chalamet said in his speech. “But the truth is, this was five and a half years of my life, I poured everything I have into playing this incomparable artist, Mr Bob Dylan, an American hero, and it was the honour of a lifetime playing him.” He concluded: “The truth is, I’m really in pursuit of greatness. I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats, I’m inspired by the greats. “This doesn’t signify that, but it’s a little more fuel, a little more ammo to keep going.” Getty Images Culkin gave a humorous speech where he thanked Jesse Eisenberg’s sister for recommending him for the role A Real Pain star Kieran Culkin was named best supporting actor for his performance as one of two cousins travelling across Poland in remembrance of their grandmother. “Thank you Sag-Aftra for this incredibly heavy award,” he joked as he was handed his trophy on stage. He described the award as a “huge honour”, and thanked the sister of his director Jesse Eisenberg for suggesting him for the role. “He cast me in this movie without auditioning me, or seeing my work in anything… but he cast me because his sister told him to, so yes thank you for Jesse for putting me in this movie, but I want to take a moment to thank your sister Hallie. “Thank you Hallie for thinking of me and putting my name in your stupid brother’s ear.” Getty Images Zoe Saldaña had already won the Golden Globe and Bafta for best supporting actress Zoe Saldaña continued her dominance of the supporting actress category for her performance in Spanish-language musical Emilia Pérez, about a ******** drug lord who changes gender. “I’m proud to be part of a union that allows me to be who I am,” Saldaña said. “I believe everyone has the right to be who we are, and Emilia Perez is about truth and it’s about love. “Actors now more than ever before have to tell stories that are beautiful and thought provoking and live within the spectrum of artistic freedom.” Getty Images Colin Farrell delivered a heartfelt speech after winning for his performance in TV series The Penguin Elsewhere, Jamie Lee Curtis announced the winner of best actor in a limited series by saying: “And the award goes to the man who gave me Covid at the Golden Globes… Colin Farrell.” “Guilty as charged,” joked Farrell as he took to the stage, “but Brendon Gleeson gave it to me, so I was just spreading the love.” Accepting his trophy for The Penguin, Farrell said being an actor meant “you don’t get to fully grow up, you get to keep the dream of a child alive to try to figure out what it is to be human. “It sounds cheesy to say, but we’re all supporting actors. I get it, the big parts go to leads, smaller parts go to day players and extras, but we all support each other.” Getty Images Jessica Gunning won for her role in Baby Reindeer, but her co-star Richard Gadd missed out British winners included Jessica Gunning, who was recognised for playing a stalker named Martha in Baby Reindeer, one of the biggest TV hits of last year. “I feel like such a lucky bunny to be in this room, let alone be nominated,” Gunning said. She recalled working in an office when she was starting out as an actress, and creating a vision board using power point which featured inspirational people she wanted to work with. “Cate Blanchett, Kathy Bates and Jodie Foster were on that vision board,” she noted, referring to her fellow nominees. “And so to be listed alongside them today, really means more to me than I can ever express.” She concluded: “Thank you to everybody involved in Baby Reindeer for changing my life, and thank you to [writer and creator] Richard Gadd for making my dreams come true.” Getty Images Shogun’s three wins included best drama TV actress for Anna Sawai Elsewhere, Shogun swept the TV drama categories, with individual prizes for its stars Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai. “I’m very happy, but also kind of sad, because this is probably the last time I’m able to celebrate the work with you guys,” Sawai told her co-stars from the stage. Accepting the TV drama ensemble award, Sanada said: “It was a great journey, and 70% Japanese with the subtitles, it must have been a big gamble. “But Shogun and this award showing us that acting is a universal language.” Best comedy series went to Only Murders In The Building, with its star Selena Gomez appearing shocked to have won as she accepted the award. “We never win, this is so weird,” she said. “I am so grateful, the writers, everyone deserves this, I’m bringing this back to New York for season five.” The ceremony was hosted by Nobody Wants This star Kristen Bell, who opened the ceremony by welcoming Los Angeles firefighters in the audience. The Los Angeles Fire Department workers were invited to the event in recognition of their service during the city’s recent wildfires which left 29 people dead and thousands of homes destroyed. Getty Images Jane Fonda gave an impassioned speech stressing the importance of community Jane Fonda was this year’s recipient of the lifetime achievement prize, the acting union’s highest honour. “I love acting, we get to open people’s minds to new ideas, take them beyond what they understand of the world, and help them laugh when things are rough,” she said. “And for a woman like me, who grew up in the 40s and 50s when women weren’t supposed to have opinions and get angry, acting gave me a chance to play angry women with opinions, which as you know is a stretch for me,” she joked. “I’m a big believer in unions, they have our backs, they bring us into community, and they give us power. This is really important right now when workers’ power is being attacked and community is being weakened.” In an impassioned speech which indirectly referenced political turmoil, Fonda concluded: “We mustn’t kid ourselves about what is happening. “We must not isolate, we must stay in community, help the vulnerable, we must find a way to project an inspiring vision of the future.” Source link #Demi #Moore #Timothée #Chalamet #Conclave #win #gongs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Winners at the Screen Actors Guild Awards Winners at the Screen Actors Guild Awards Conclave has taken out the top film award at the Screen Actors Guild awards, propelling it to favourite to win the category at next week’s Oscars ceremony. Source link #Winners #Screen #Actors #Guild #Awards Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bus carrying IU Indianapolis men’s basketball team catches fire on way back from road loss Bus carrying IU Indianapolis men’s basketball team catches fire on way back from road loss A bus carrying the IU Indianapolis men’s basketball team caught fire on Sunday on the way home from a road loss at Northern Kentucky (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) The bus carrying the IU Indianapolis men’s basketball team caught fire along Interstate 275 on Sunday evening as the Jaguars were traveling home from a game at Northern Kentucky earlier in the day. A video posted to social media shows a towering plume of smoke emanating from the bus and fire crews shutting down traffic as they attempt to put out the fire. Photos shared by @WISHNews8 show the charred shell of a charter bus with burned seats and no windows or roof remaining. The IU Indy men’s basketball team bus caught fire during their trip back to campus after their game at Northern Kentucky Thankfully everybody exited the bus in time. Some players and staff members lost their wallets and phones. All the team gear burned up. The athletic… pic.twitter.com/uJQ8mNZveH — The College Experience (@TCEonSGPN) February 24, 2025 All members of the IU Indianapolis traveling party evacuated the bus without injury, according to an athletic department statement released Sunday evening. IU Indianapolis athletic director Luke Bosso described the incident to Yahoo Sports as “scary and chaotic” and said that players and staff lost anything from laptops, to cell phones to gear in the fire. “Most importantly everyone is ok,” Bosso said. A “mechanical issue” caused the fire, the IU Indianapolis statement said. When asked if he could provide any further specifics, Bosso said, “That’s all we have right now.” Bosso said the IU Indianapolis basketball team arrived home safely late Sunday night. The charter bus company sent a second bus to pick up the Jaguars and bring them back to Indianapolis. To add to the misery for IU Indianapolis, the Jaguars lost at Northern Kentucky 71-67 on Sunday to fall to 9-20 this season. IU Indianapolis has two home games left in the regular season, one against Robert Morris on Thursday and the other against Wright State two days later. Source link #Bus #carrying #Indianapolis #mens #basketball #team #catches #fire #road #loss Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Acer Swift 14 AI Review: Good Work Laptop with Long Battery Life Acer Swift 14 AI Review: Good Work Laptop with Long Battery Life Laptop manufacturers should really stop over-using the term AI to market their products. The recently launched Acer Swift 14 AI, for example, even has an AI activity indicator that glows when performing AI tasks. Luckily, the Swift 14 AI is a lot more than its AI branding. It’s got excellent battery life, a good display, plenty of ports, a sleek design, and decent performance. The Acer Swift 14 AI has the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors. Our review unit, which has the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, costs Rs. 89,999, whereas the top-end variant with the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU costs Rs. 104,999. Should this be your next work laptop? Read on to find out. Acer Swift 14 AI Design The Swift 14 AI sports a simple design that won’t turn many heads, though some might be curious about the unusual logo on the lid (other than the Acer branding) or the glowing one on the trackpad. It features an aluminium chassis with a matte finish that can pick up fingerprints and smudges but is easy to clean. The lid is sturdy and has no flex The lid is sturdy with barely any flex, and there’s a 180-degree hinge that also feels durable. And for those wondering, yes, you can lift the lid with one finger. The 180-degree hinge also means that you can lay the laptop flat if needed. The 180-degree hinge seemed durable I also liked the chamfered metal edges around the display. The bottom is removable and is also made of metal. There’s no flex on the inside unless you press hard at the centre of the keyboard. It’s a well-built laptop despite not using an unibody construction. It does offer MIL-STD-810 durability, which is nice. The lid features a chamfered bezel that adds to the design The intake ports are on the bottom, whereas you’ll find the exhaust ports are placed at the rear. You’ll also find large rubber feet and dual bottom firing speakers at the bottom. The design incorporates subtle curves but largely follows a flat, angular aesthetic. At its thinnest point, the Swift 14 AI measures just 9.7 mm. The laptop has downward-firing dual speakers There are enough ports to connect all kinds of peripherals: an HDMI 2.1 port, dual USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4) connectors, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Above the display is a 1440p QHD IR camera, a physical privacy shutter, and dual microphones. You get plenty of ports on the Swift 14 AI On the inside, you’ll find a full-size, backlit keyboard that’s actually nice to type on. There’s enough spacing between the keys, and they also offer a good amount of key travel. The keyboard is nice to type on thanks to the adequate travel and spacing between keys The backlight is adjustable and can be turned off. You also get the Copilot key and an AcerSense key on the keyboard. The power button also doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which worked quite well during my review. Below the keyboard is an adequately sized touchpad. It supports multi-touch gestures as usual, is protected by Gorilla Glass, and has an ‘Activity indicator’ as Acer calls it. The indicator is located at the top right corner of the touchpad and glows whenever you turn on the laptop, use Copilot or AI apps, or use the NPU. The Activity Indicator pulsates whenever there’s any AI-related activity Although this indicator doesn’t serve any purpose, it does look cool. Acer Swift 14 AI Performance Our Acer Swift 14 AI review unit comes with the Series 2 Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, Intel Arc 130V GPU, 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, and 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen 4 SSD. There’s also a variant with the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V chipset, which gets the Intel Arc 140V GPU, 32GB RAM, and 1TB storage. We ran our usual set of synthetic benchmarks to see how it compared to some of the other laptops that we’ve tested with the Series 2 chipsets. The tests were performed with the laptop set to Performance mode. Benchmark Acer Swift 14 AI Asus Zenbook S 14 HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 Geekbench 6 Single 2,446 2,520 2,744 Geekbench 6 Multi 9,478 10,688 10,957 PCMark 10 6,338 6,836 7,008 3DMark Night raid 32,549 34,727 29,096 3DMark Steel Nomad Light 2,405 3,243 2,622 Cinebench R23 Single 1,784 N/A 1,733 Cinebench R23 Multi 6,151 N/A 6,608 Geekbench AI (NPU) 27,064 (Quantized) N/A 28676 (Quantized) The laptop performed quite well when it came to browsing, streaming content, YouTube, and some light gaming. With regular usage, the laptop barely heated up. However, during benchmarks, when playing more demanding games and running multiple apps, the laptop got slightly warm, and the fans kicked up. You can play games on the laptop thanks to the Intel Arc 130V GPU. I played Forza Horizon 4, and the laptop delivered around 30-40fps in low settings. I wouldn’t recommend using the laptop for gaming, though. You could, however, play indie games that are light on graphics. The laptop performs well in day-to-day tasks Talking about graphics, the 14-inch OLED display on the laptop is excellent for viewing content. I enjoyed streaming Netflix and Amazon Prime content on the Swift 14 AI. The colours are vivid, and you also get HDR support. The display offers 1920 x 1200 pixels resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate and 400 nits brightness. The top-end model gets a 3K OLED display. The OLED panel is one of the best features of the laptop The laptop runs Windows 11 Home and offers several AI features such as Copilot, Cocreator, Live Captions, and Windows Studio Effects. Acer has also baked in some AI features, such as AcerSense, which even gets a dedicated button. This lets you change system settings and more. You also get Acer LiveArt 2.0, Acer VisionArt, and Acer User Sensing 2.0. The web camera performed well in good lighting conditions, with decent colour reproduction and dynamic range. However, there is a lot of noise in low-light scenarios. The IR sensor also enables face unlock via Windows Hello, but I preferred the fingerprint scanner on the keyboard as it was more accurate. The laptop features a physical privacy shutter for the web camera In terms of audio performance, the Acer Swift 14 AI has dual downward-firing speakers, which are below average. They aren’t loud, nor do they deliver any thump. Acer has also provided DTS:X Ultra Audio support, but that doesn’t do anything to improve the audio performance. The sound on the laptop is a big letdown. Lastly, the Swift 14 AI’s 65W battery impressed me. The laptop easily lasts a full day of work. When the battery is low, you can quickly charge it using the included 65W USB Type-C charger. Acer Swift 14 AI Verdict The Acer Swift 14 AI is a very good work laptop with good build quality, an excellent OLED display, long-lasting battery life, and decent performance across all kinds of apps. The laptop is great value for money, no doubt, but it’s not because of the AI branding or features. Don’t buy the laptop for the AI features, buy it for all the other useful features that it offers. However, if all you need is a good laptop for work or home use, the Swift 14 AI is great. Source link #Acer #Swift #Review #Good #Work #Laptop #Long #Battery #Life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump administration eliminating 1,600 USAID jobs in the US – Reuters Trump administration eliminating 1,600 USAID jobs in the US – Reuters Trump administration eliminating 1,600 USAID jobs in the US ReutersTrump admin to slash 1,600 USAID positions just before midnight Fox NewsTrump Appointees Fire 2,000 U.S.A.I.D. Employees and Put Others Worldwide on Leave The New York TimesUSAID will place thousands on administrative leave after judge lifts block on Trump administration’s plan CBS News Source link #Trump #administration #eliminating #USAID #jobs #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Acer Swift 14 AI Review: Good Work Laptop with Long Battery Life Acer Swift 14 AI Review: Good Work Laptop with Long Battery Life Laptop manufacturers should really stop over-using the term AI to market their products. The recently launched Acer Swift 14 AI, for example, even has an AI activity indicator that glows when performing AI tasks. Luckily, the Swift 14 AI is a lot more than its AI branding. It’s got excellent battery life, a good display, plenty of ports, a sleek design, and decent performance. The Acer Swift 14 AI has the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors. Our review unit, which has the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, costs Rs. 89,999, whereas the top-end variant with the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU costs Rs. 104,999. Should this be your next work laptop? Read on to find out. Acer Swift 14 AI Design The Swift 14 AI sports a simple design that won’t turn many heads, though some might be curious about the unusual logo on the lid (other than the Acer branding) or the glowing one on the trackpad. It features an aluminium chassis with a matte finish that can pick up fingerprints and smudges but is easy to clean. The lid is sturdy and has no flex The lid is sturdy with barely any flex, and there’s a 180-degree hinge that also feels durable. And for those wondering, yes, you can lift the lid with one finger. The 180-degree hinge also means that you can lay the laptop flat if needed. The 180-degree hinge seemed durable I also liked the chamfered metal edges around the display. The bottom is removable and is also made of metal. There’s no flex on the inside unless you press hard at the centre of the keyboard. It’s a well-built laptop despite not using an unibody construction. It does offer MIL-STD-810 durability, which is nice. The lid features a chamfered bezel that adds to the design The intake ports are on the bottom, whereas you’ll find the exhaust ports are placed at the rear. You’ll also find large rubber feet and dual bottom firing speakers at the bottom. The design incorporates subtle curves but largely follows a flat, angular aesthetic. At its thinnest point, the Swift 14 AI measures just 9.7 mm. The laptop has downward-firing dual speakers There are enough ports to connect all kinds of peripherals: an HDMI 2.1 port, dual USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4) connectors, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Above the display is a 1440p QHD IR camera, a physical privacy shutter, and dual microphones. You get plenty of ports on the Swift 14 AI On the inside, you’ll find a full-size, backlit keyboard that’s actually nice to type on. There’s enough spacing between the keys, and they also offer a good amount of key travel. The keyboard is nice to type on thanks to the adequate travel and spacing between keys The backlight is adjustable and can be turned off. You also get the Copilot key and an AcerSense key on the keyboard. The power button also doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which worked quite well during my review. Below the keyboard is an adequately sized touchpad. It supports multi-touch gestures as usual, is protected by Gorilla Glass, and has an ‘Activity indicator’ as Acer calls it. The indicator is located at the top right corner of the touchpad and glows whenever you turn on the laptop, use Copilot or AI apps, or use the NPU. The Activity Indicator pulsates whenever there’s any AI-related activity Although this indicator doesn’t serve any purpose, it does look cool. Acer Swift 14 AI Performance Our Acer Swift 14 AI review unit comes with the Series 2 Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, Intel Arc 130V GPU, 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, and 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen 4 SSD. There’s also a variant with the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V chipset, which gets the Intel Arc 140V GPU, 32GB RAM, and 1TB storage. We ran our usual set of synthetic benchmarks to see how it compared to some of the other laptops that we’ve tested with the Series 2 chipsets. The tests were performed with the laptop set to Performance mode. Benchmark Acer Swift 14 AI Asus Zenbook S 14 HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 Geekbench 6 Single 2,446 2,520 2,744 Geekbench 6 Multi 9,478 10,688 10,957 PCMark 10 6,338 6,836 7,008 3DMark Night raid 32,549 34,727 29,096 3DMark Steel Nomad Light 2,405 3,243 2,622 Cinebench R23 Single 1,784 N/A 1,733 Cinebench R23 Multi 6,151 N/A 6,608 Geekbench AI (NPU) 27,064 (Quantized) N/A 28676 (Quantized) The laptop performed quite well when it came to browsing, streaming content, YouTube, and some light gaming. With regular usage, the laptop barely heated up. However, during benchmarks, when playing more demanding games and running multiple apps, the laptop got slightly warm, and the fans kicked up. You can play games on the laptop thanks to the Intel Arc 130V GPU. I played Forza Horizon 4, and the laptop delivered around 30-40fps in low settings. I wouldn’t recommend using the laptop for gaming, though. You could, however, play indie games that are light on graphics. The laptop performs well in day-to-day tasks Talking about graphics, the 14-inch OLED display on the laptop is excellent for viewing content. I enjoyed streaming Netflix and Amazon Prime content on the Swift 14 AI. The colours are vivid, and you also get HDR support. The display offers 1920 x 1200 pixels resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate and 400 nits brightness. The top-end model gets a 3K OLED display. The OLED panel is one of the best features of the laptop The laptop runs Windows 11 Home and offers several AI features such as Copilot, Cocreator, Live Captions, and Windows Studio Effects. Acer has also baked in some AI features, such as AcerSense, which even gets a dedicated button. This lets you change system settings and more. You also get Acer LiveArt 2.0, Acer VisionArt, and Acer User Sensing 2.0. The web camera performed well in good lighting conditions, with decent colour reproduction and dynamic range. However, there is a lot of noise in low-light scenarios. The IR sensor also enables face unlock via Windows Hello, but I preferred the fingerprint scanner on the keyboard as it was more accurate. The laptop features a physical privacy shutter for the web camera In terms of audio performance, the Acer Swift 14 AI has dual downward-firing speakers, which are below average. They aren’t loud, nor do they deliver any thump. Acer has also provided DTS:X Ultra Audio support, but that doesn’t do anything to improve the audio performance. The sound on the laptop is a big letdown. Lastly, the Swift 14 AI’s 65W battery impressed me. The laptop easily lasts a full day of work. When the battery is low, you can quickly charge it using the included 65W USB Type-C charger. Acer Swift 14 AI Verdict The Acer Swift 14 AI is a very good work laptop with good build quality, an excellent OLED display, long-lasting battery life, and decent performance across all kinds of apps. The laptop is great value for money, no doubt, but it’s not because of the AI branding or features. Don’t buy the laptop for the AI features, buy it for all the other useful features that it offers. However, if all you need is a good laptop for work or home use, the Swift 14 AI is great. Source link #Acer #Swift #Review #Good #Work #Laptop #Long #Battery #Life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Karratha Kangaroos ready to bounce into 2025 season with new identity and big plans Karratha Kangaroos ready to bounce into 2025 season with new identity and big plans The Karratha Kangaroos Junior Rugby League Club is gearing up for an exciting 2025 season, with registrations now open and a packed calendar of events ahead. Source link #Karratha #Kangaroos #ready #bounce #season #identity #big #plans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 shot at Goose’s Acre pub in The Woodlands, suspect in custody 3 shot at Goose’s Acre pub in The Woodlands, suspect in custody Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways The Brief Three people were injured in a shooting at The Woodlands early Sunday morning. Bystanders held the suspect after the shooting until deputies could arrive. The investigation is ongoing. THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Just after midnight on Sunday morning, deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office were called to Goose’s Acre in The Woodlands for a report of a shooting. Mutliple victims in The Woodlands shooting What we know When deputies arrived, they found a 29-year-old man who had been shot at least five times in the chest, a 31-year-old man who was shot in the arm, and a 27-year-old woman who had been shot multiple times. Police say witnesses on the scene quickly provided medical aid to all three victims. They were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The suspect, a 27-year-old man from Houston, was taken to a different hospital for treatment for injuries he got from bystanders who held him until law enforcement could arrive. The suspect is in custody. The investigation is ongoing. What we don’t know The names of the victims and the suspect are not being released at this time. What they’re saying Sheriff Doolittle said, “We want to extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families as they receive medical care. We appreciate the swift response of our deputies and first responders and the cooperation of the community as we work through this investigation. We urge anyone with information, video footage, or details about this incident to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 936-760-5876 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-STOP. “ The Source Information in this article is from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Source link #shot #Gooses #Acre #pub #Woodlands #suspect #custody Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Tipped to Get a Redesigned S-Pen With a Thicker Body Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Tipped to Get a Redesigned S-Pen With a Thicker Body Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is rumoured to be in development ahead of its expected launch later this year. The successor to 2024’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 may come with a redesigned S-Pen which could have a thicker body, as per the claims by a tipster. Although it remains unknown whether this change is just an ergonomic tweak or to include new features, it is likely to be the second major redesign Samsung’s stylus goes through in a year, following the removal of Bluetooth capability and the battery from the S-Pen on the company’s new flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7’s S-Pen This information comes from @PandaFlashPro’s post on X (formerly Twitter). As per the tipster, the purported Galaxy Z Fold 7’s S-Pen will be thicker compared to the current variant on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Unlike the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the South Korean technology conglomerate’s flagship foldable does not come with a holster for the stylus, which means it can be designed in any way possible. The S-Pen is speculated to come with a new tip for an improved writing experience, as per the tipster. Its support is said to be introduced with the purported Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. The stylus could enter production in June, a few months before the company launches its flagship foldables, including the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, likely to be at a Galaxy Unpacked event in July, if previous trends are believed to be followed again. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Specifications (Expected) As per past reports, the purported Galaxy Z Fold 7 may come with screens having 2,600 nits of peak brightness levels. All global variants of the handset are expected to be powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options. It may run on Android 15-based One UI 7.1. The purported phone may feature an improved hinge, main camera and screen than its predecessor, along with internal structure improvements. The battery capacity and the charging speed of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is claimed to “remain the same” which means that it could carry the same 4,400mAh battery as the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Source link #Samsung #Galaxy #Fold #Tipped #Redesigned #SPen #Thicker #Body Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Demi Moore's Leather Gown at the 2025 SAG Awards Had a Surprising Drop-Waist Silk Skirt – Yahoo Entertainment Demi Moore's Leather Gown at the 2025 SAG Awards Had a Surprising Drop-Waist Silk Skirt – Yahoo Entertainment Demi Moore’s Leather Gown at the 2025 SAG Awards Had a Surprising Drop-Waist Silk Skirt Yahoo EntertainmentView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Demi #Moore039s #Leather #Gown #SAG #Awards #Surprising #DropWaist #Silk #Skirt #Yahoo #Entertainment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brett Blundy’s fast fashion jewellery pedlar Lovisa marked down as profits battle to match store growth Brett Blundy’s fast fashion jewellery pedlar Lovisa marked down as profits battle to match store growth Brett Blundy’s fashion jewellery pedlar Lovisa Holdings is battling to put the bling on its ambitious global expansion as financial returns fall short of store growth. Shares in the Melbourne-based fast fashion player came under pressure on Monday after it unveiled a 6.5 per cent rise in half-year profit to $56.9 million and revenue growth of 8.8 per cent to $405.9m. This result for the six months to December 31 came after store numbers jumped from 854 to 943, a growth of 10.4 per cent over 12 months, as it more than doubled its presence in Canada and built on its north-western European network. A trading update indicates its shop performance is battling to keep up with inflation, with comparable stores sales up 3.7 per cent in the first seven weeks of the new calendar year and total sales up 12.9 per cent from the opening weeks of 2024. Lovisa shares were down more than 6 per cent by late morning. This is despite chief executive Victor Herrero saying the company had “once again been able to deliver solid sales and profit growth” and highlighting “outstanding” gross margins. Mr Herrero credited the strong margin growth to a “focus on pricing and promotion management”. “We will continue to focus on store profitability and action stores not delivering to required levels of return on investment,” he said. Lovisa’s gross profit margin in the December half was 82.4 per cent — compared with 80.7 per cent a year earlier. This margin helped lifted gross profit by 11.1 per cent to $334.67m, seemingly making the most of revenue growth. But Lovisa’s costs were higher as it increased its spend on digital marketing and events and battled with inflationary pressures. Operating expenses were up 11.3 per cent to $244.4m, with employee costs surging 11.8 per cent to $115.1m. Property expenses jumped 22 per cent to $24.7m as it increased its store numbers in higher cost areas. Lovisa grew its *********** store numbers from 175 to 180 in 2024, lifted its French shop count from 80 to 88, and added six stores in both Germany and the *** to a total of 53 and 57, respectively. Lovisa added just two stores in the US, taking its total number to 209, while it grew ********* stores numbers from 10 to 23. Mr Herrero said Lovisa continued to focus on expanding its store and digital sales network, “with structures in place to drive this growth in existing and new markets and expect store rollout momentum to continue”. It had opened 16 new stores since December 31, while closing two stores and relocating one store. This took the total store count to 956. Source link #Brett #Blundys #fast #fashion #jewellery #pedlar #Lovisa #marked #profits #battle #match #store #growth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Qualcomm Partners With Croma to Launch First Snapdragon Experience Zone in India Qualcomm Partners With Croma to Launch First Snapdragon Experience Zone in India Qualcomm recently announced the launch of its first-ever Snapdragon Experience Zone in India in partnership with Croma, a leading consumer electronics retail chain. Located at Croma Store in Juhu, Mumbai, it is part of the company’s wider plans of introducing more Snapdragon Experience Zones across the country. With this collaboration, visitors can experience showcased devices powered by Snapdragon SoCs and get a demonstration of their capabilities, including those powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Croma’s Snapdragon Experience Zone As per the company, the Snapdragon Experience Zone showcases ecosystem products such as smartphones, PCs, wearables, and audio products powered by Qualcomm’s processors. The store includes staff that have been trained to provide demonstrations of the chip’s capabilities, including their on-device AI prowess. Customers can interact with these devices, get a hands-on experience and also seek expert advice from the staff. At launch, Savi Soin, President of Qualcomm India said, “This initiative allows customers to experience the transformative power of on-device AI, showcasing the cutting-edge capabilities of the Snapdragon ecosystem.” The company has confirmed that it plans to launch more Experience Zones in India soon although plans about their proposed locations remain unknown. Notably, this announcement comes prior to the launch of the Snapdragon X CPUs in India today (February 24) in partnership with Asus at an event held in New Delhi. Similar to their global counterparts, the Snapdragon X CPUs are likely to offer support for AI features, leveraging a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU). The platform is expected to be scalable across a wide range of thermal designs and form factors. The company expects its new platform to power laptops priced under $600 (roughly Rs. 51,400) globally, and a similar strategy could also be adopted for the Indian markets. The event has been labelled “AI PCs for Everyone”, which suggests that the new processors could be targeted towards offering AI performance at an affordable price tag. Source link #Qualcomm #Partners #Croma #Launch #Snapdragon #Experience #Zone #India Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]