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BBC bosses to demand answers over Gaza film’s ****** link BBC bosses to demand answers over Gaza film’s ****** link Tim Davie and other BBC executives have demanded a meeting over the airing of a Gaza documentary fronted by a ****** minister’s son. Mr Davie will chair crisis talks with other executives over how the corporation came to air the controversial documentary, which has been branded ****** propaganda by critics. On Friday, the broadcaster removed Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone from BBC iPlayer, having already issued an apology over its failure to disclose the links of the child narrators to the ******-run government. Mr Davie and Samir Shah, the BBC chairman, are both said to have demanded an explanation for the fiasco amid mounting accusations of BBC bias. A source close to the board told The Sunday Times: “The BBC is currently doing additional diligence on the documentary and the board will want to see the outcome of that work once complete.” They continued: “The board has a scheduled meeting later this week where this matter is on the agenda.” Documentary makers ‘had full editorial control’ The documentary, which originally aired on Monday evening and was scheduled to show again two days later, provided an account of the conflict through the eyes of three ordinary ************ children. The corporation subsequently issued an apology on Wednesday night, after it emerged the central figure and narrator, the then 13-year-old Abdullah al-Yazouri, was the son of Ayman al-Yazouri, the deputy minister of agriculture in the ******-run government. It then emerged that another of the three children who are the central protagonists of the film was the daughter of a former captain in the ******-run police force, while the third had been photographed posing with ****** fighters. The corporation issued an apology on Wednesday night after it emerged Abdullah al-Yazouri’s father is a ****** minister – BBC/Amjad Al Fayoumi The BBC said it “had not been informed” of the connection by the documentary’s producers before it was broadcast. Following growing criticism, the corporation added a disclaimer to the film, admitting Abdullah’s family link to ****** but continuing to insist the documentary makers had “full editorial control”. As further revelations emerged about the other children, critics demanded it be pulled entirely from the BBC’s schedules. Dozens of prominent media and broadcasting figures signed an open letter to the BBC’s director-general urging him to withdraw the documentary. On Thursday, Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, said she would hold urgent discussions with the broadcaster over the documentary to emphasise the importance of “getting it right”. The BBC eventually pulled the programme and said it was “conducting further due diligence with the production company”. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Source link #BBC #bosses #demand #answers #Gaza #films #****** #link Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This $5 Steam game about digging a hole has consumed my life This $5 Steam game about digging a hole has consumed my life Over the weekend, I went out to a bar for a friend’s surprise birthday party. When I greeted him, he told me that the event had interrupted his other plans for the evening: digging a hole. He went on to tell me about a new $5 Steam game called A Game About Digging a Hole, in which players dig a hole. I could not tell if he was joking or if this was a real thing that existed. I laughed it off and went on with the night. Days later, I was so focused on my Steam Deck screen that I missed my subway stop and showed up late to a movie screening. A Game About Digging a Hole is one of those games whose appeal is nearly impossible to describe. It’s in the same niche tent as Powerwash Simulator, taking a mundane premise and turning it into something hypnotic. I don’t even know if it’s something I should be formally recommending, as it’s best discovered by accident and bought on a curious whim. Just pretend I’m relaying everything I’m about to write to you in the back corner of a bar between drinks. Cyberwave If you can read the game’s title, you have most of the premise down. Some fast story setup tells me that my character has bought a new house for dirt cheap, and it came with a bonus: There’s treasure buried in the backyard. With a battery-powered trowel in hand, I begin digging into a small patch of grass outside. My holes are shallow at first, only deep enough to uncover stones. I can take those rocks to my computer and sell them, netting me cash that can be used to upgrade my gear. I can get a ******* shovel, increase my inventory, get a ******* battery, and eventually pick up a jetpack. Cash can also be spent to top off my battery (which explodes when it hits zero) and health, as well as buy **** and lamps — useful tools once I get deeper. What quickly emerges is a deconstruction of Steamworld Dig, where I need to keep digging for rare rocks, selling them, and incrementally growing my toolset. It’s almost like an idle clicker game in progression structure, but with a shovel instead of a mouse. Within an hour, I’ve dug an enormous, messy hole in the backyard and begun finding more valuable materials like silver to sell. Whether inadvertent or intentional, developer Cyberwave finds surprising depth in minimalism. Digging becomes a complicated engineering puzzle that requires strong spatial awareness. Before I get my jetpack, I need to dig carefully so as to make sure I can climb out of the hole if I get too deep. I start making stair step footholds to achieve that, though I need to maintain it while I expand the hole. As I get deeper, I begin forming tunnels in the dirt as opposed to simply digging straight down. That’s dangerous, as it sends me through dark spaces that are easy to get lost in. I’m almost creating my own liminal space akin to The Backrooms — a maze of claustrophobic dirt paths that would trigger someone’s trypophobia. It’s not a horror game by any stretch, but you can trick yourself into seeing it as one. Cyberwave More than anything, though, A Game About Digging a Hole simply taps into a simple joy. There is something primal about sitting in a sandbox as a kid and feeling compelled to dig. I don’t know what makes it such an engrossing act. Maybe it’s just the possibility that I’ll discover something down there, a possibility instilled in me from years of marveling over dinosaur bones as a kid. My humble mission here makes me feel like I’m on an excavation mission, with the promise of a big discovery dangled in front of me. Is there really something worth find under all that dirt? I wouldn’t dare spoil that for you. Pick up a shovel and find out for yourself. A Game About Digging a Hole is available now on PC. Source link #Steam #game #digging #hole #consumed #life Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump puts Ukraine in a vice – Axios Trump puts Ukraine in a vice – Axios Trump puts Ukraine in a vice AxiosDonald Trump’s Putinization of America The New YorkerA Terrible Milestone in the American Presidency The AtlanticWhat the potential outcomes of ending the Ukraine-Russia war might look like ABC NewsOpinion | Who Will Stand Up to Trump on Ukraine? The New York Times Source link #Trump #puts #Ukraine #vice #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Her son died in the deadliest terror attack on a plane before 9/11. She created a massive group sculpture of grieving mothers Her son died in the deadliest terror attack on a plane before 9/11. She created a massive group sculpture of grieving mothers Editor’s Note: Watch the final two chapters of the four-part CNN Original Series, “Lockerbie: The Bombing of Pan Am 103,” tonight at 9pm ET/PT on CNN. Suse Lowenstein was working on a sculpture in her home studio in New Jersey when she received a phone call that would forever shatter her family. It came from a friend. In a trembling voice, she asked Lowenstein which flight her son, Alexander, was on from his semester studying abroad in London. “Pan Am Flight 103,” Lowenstein said. Her friend let out a piercing scream. “Haven’t you heard?” she cried. It was four days before Christmas in 1988. Lowenstein listened in shock and horror as her friend told her the unthinkable: The plane Alexander was on had exploded in the sky over Lockerbie, Scotland, less than 40 minutes after takeoff. Shattered, Lowenstein crumpled to the ground of her studio in Mendham Township, whispering, “no, no.” She later learned that Alexander was among 270 people killed when a terrorist’s bomb tore the plane apart. He was 21, and one of 35 Syracuse University students aboard the flight. The plane ****** killed 190 Americans in what was the deadliest terror attack on US civilians before September 11, 2001. A Libyan terrorist was convicted of the bombing and sentenced to life in prison. Authorities are still pursuing other suspects. The tragedy was back in the news last month when President Donald Trump gutted a citizens advisory committee established by Congress to examine aviation safety issues after the Pan Am 103 bombing. Alexander Lowenstein was 21 and an English major at Syracuse University. – Courtesy Suse Lowenstein And nearly four decades later, the grief remains woven throughout Lowenstein’s life. As an artist, she’s grappled with it the only way she knows how: by making art. As part of her healing journey, Lowenstein spent years creating a massive sculptural installation showing the raw emotion of 76 women who lost loved ones that day. The artwork, titled Dark Elegy, captures their expressions of pain, grief and rage the moment they heard the news. It started as a tribute to those who lost children on the flight but has evolved into a symbol of all grieving women, she says. “You never forget that instant in which you are told. The exact feeling, the posture of your body. It is what is depicted in Dark Elegy,” she says. “When your child is murdered, that grieving process never ends. In my case, I made it part of who I am and part of me. It’s inside of me. I live with it. I go with it. I make it mine.” Before the attack, she had an ‘incredible need’ to see her son Lowenstein still wears the bright red jacket her son had on when he boarded the flight. It hangs in her home studio in Montauk, New York, scarred by burn holes and rips from the ******. The letter “A” for Alexander, scribbled on the care label, is still visible. As the oldest of two children, Alexander was time-conscious and punctual. With no cell phones at the time, her husband, Peter Lowenstein, held on to hope that their son had missed his flight and had no way to notify them. But Suse Lowenstein says she knew her son would never fail to get to the airport on time, and she knew he was gone the moment she received the phone call. Officials released a passenger list days later, confirming their worst fears. Lucas Lowenstein, seen here with his mother Suse, lost his older brother and only sibling in the Lockerbie bombing. – CNN Alexander was an English major at Syracuse University and had been in London for the fall semester. Two weeks before his death, his mother flew to London to spend time with him. They traveled to her native Germany, where Alexander met some of his cousins and extended relatives for the first time, she says. “I was overcome with this incredible need to go over to London and be with him,” Lowenstein says. “I couldn’t explain the feeling and it didn’t make any sense, but I did it and I got to spend a magnificent week with him.” In the wake of his death, her overwhelming urge to visit her son that month suddenly made sense, she says. The Lowensteins struggled to process their loss. Alexander’s only sibling, younger brother Lucas, had attended Syracuse with him and was deeply affected by their last conversation. At the time, the brothers were not getting along due to what Lucas describes as typical sibling squabbles. “The last thing we said to one another was that we hated one another, but obviously that was not accurate,” says Lucas Lowenstein, now 56. “We loved one another. It’s just unfortunate that that was the last thing we said to each other. He and I were the best of friends, but as siblings who were similar in age, we had our moments.” Alexander’s sudden death turned Lucas into an only child who struggled with survivor’s guilt. The loss affected every part of his life, he says. “From not having a brother to talk to about things that come up with my parents, to depression and anxiety issues that I’ve suffered from over the years,” he says. “There was a lot of pressure — the hopes and dreams my parents had for their two sons sort of fell onto my shoulders. I don’t mean to make it sound overly dramatic, but I miss him and more so as our parents got older.” Her son’s diary offered a glimpse into his final months In the days after the bombing, Suse Lowenstein agonized over her son’s final moments. She says she fixated on questions she knew would likely never be answered. She wondered: Did he realize what was happening? Considering his seat number – 20D – was he among the first people to fall from the sky when the plane broke apart? She worried that wild animals in the sprawling debris field would find his remains before the investigators. “For days we wondered … what would remain of our beautiful son? Thankfully, and I know that is a strange word to use, it meant something to us that he was found in one piece,” she later wrote as part of a memorial tribute for Syracuse University. An autopsy report concluded that Alexander likely died instantly. His body was found days later in a four-feet deep crater on a Lockerbie farm and brought home, she says. He’s buried in East Hampton, New York, a short drive from the family home. A photo of this popular London landmark was found in Alexander Lowenstein’s luggage at the ****** site. – Courtesy Suse Lowenstein Scottish authorities and a team of volunteers in Lockerbie painstakingly cleaned the ash and other debris from the victims’ belongings and returned them to their families. Alexander’s box of items gave his family a glimpse into his final days. In addition to the red jacket, the Lowensteins received several other items salvaged from the scene, including Alexander’s British rail pass, about five pages of his diary and photographs of the beaming student at Stonehenge and other tourist sites. For his parents, the diary was a precious window into Alexander’s innermost thoughts and feelings. He wrote about a “beautiful blonde California woman” who’d caught his eye. There was also an entry about his “crazy mother” randomly whisking him off to Germany weeks before, Suse Lowenstein tells CNN, her eyes filling with tears. The family donated the items to Syracuse University as part of an archive dedicated to victims of the tragedy, because they believed the school would preserve their son’s memory long after they are gone. The FBI and Scottish officials are still pursuing leads decades later Much of the airplane’s fiery wreckage rained down on a quiet Lockerbie neighborhood around dinnertime, crashing into homes with deadly force. Of the 270 fatalities, 11 were killed on the ground. The ****** scattered debris over 845 square miles, creating a massive crime scene that required thousands of American and Scottish investigators. Some of the evidence was collected as far as 80 miles from Lockerbie, the FBI says. “It was like a battlefield. Nothing could have prepared you,” Scottish detective Harry Bell said on the 30th anniversary of the bombing. The Pan Am Boeing 747 crashed into the town of Lockerbie, Scotland, after a bomb was detonated on board. Of the 270 people killed in the disaster, 11 were on the ground. – PA/AP For years, international law enforcement officials traversed the globe tracking down suspects in 16 countries. Forensic experts recovered a scrap of clothing with bomb damage in the debris. In the piece of fabric was a tiny fragment of a circuit board, the FBI says. The scrap of clothing was linked to a suitcase and traced to a shop in Malta, giving investigators a crucial break that led to the arrest of two Libyan intelligence operatives, the FBI says. Investigators later determined that the bomb was hidden in a cassette recorder and packed in a suitcase that was loaded on a plane from Malta to Frankfurt, Germany, with no accompanying passenger. It was later transferred onto a flight to London’s Heathrow airport, where it was ultimately loaded onto the ill-fated flight to New York. In 1991, Britain and the US charged two Libyan men in the bombing, which investigators believed was in retaliation for US actions against the nation’s then-dictator, Moammar Gadhafi. One was convicted of 270 counts of ******* in 2001 and sentenced to life in prison, while the second one was acquitted. The convicted bomber died in 2012. Years later, the case remains open and active. Some experts and victims’ relatives remain skeptical that the suspects arrested were the true perpetrators. In the past five years, authorities have arrested two more suspects, one of whom has pleaded not guilty and is set to go on trial in May. The FBI says it continues to pursue leads indicating that more people may have been involved in the attack. “The FBI and our partners … have never forgotten the Americans harmed and we will never rest until those responsible are brought to justice,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement in December 2022. Decades later, she froze a dark moment in time Lucas Lowenstein’s youngest son is named after his late brother. The family meets every February 25 to celebrate Alexander’s birthday. Their patriarch, Peter Lowenstein, died five years ago. Alexander would have turned 58 next week, and the family will gather for a meal like they have in the past. Suse Lowenstein says they choose “something joyful” to embody his free spirit. Alexander loved the ocean and spent most of his free time surfing and scuba diving. His tombstone in East Hampton reads: “You were always the sunshine.” The site where Alexander Lowenstein’s body was found in Lockerbie. – Courtesy Suse Lowenstein Meanwhile, Suse Lowenstein lives with the Pan Am Flight 103 tragedy every day. Her Dark Elegy installation sits in her yard in Montauk, where people can visit between 10 a.m. and noon daily. She left New Jersey a decade after the terror attack, but her son Lucas still lives in the northern Jersey borough of Mountain Lakes. In the years after the bombing she invited 75 women who lost loved ones in the Lockerbie bombing to her studio, where they stepped on a platform, disrobed and relived their anguish from December 21, 1988. She asked each woman to recreate the position they assumed when they got the devastating news. Some screamed, begged and prayed. Others curled into a ball, raised their fists or covered their face with their hands. Some wept quietly. Lowenstein says she asked the women to undress because grief strips people of everything. “It was a very delicate process because they had to relive that exact moment when they learned their loved one had died,” she says. “The screams, the ******** on the floor, the pulling of the hair … And I would quietly go around the figure and photograph it from all sides so that I could portray it truthfully.” She worked on the sculptural work for 15 years because it gave her an outlet for her grief, she says. The figures are arranged together in a circular pattern about 65 feet in diameter. Each figure is inscribed with the name of the woman and the person they lost in the bombing. Suse Lowenstein created a sculptural portrait of herself as a part of her piece, Dark Elegy. It depicts her crumpled in grief at the moment she learned her son’s plane had been bombed. – Courtesy Suse Lowenstein Inside each figure – in the chest, near the heart – Lowenstein placed a plastic bag containing a memento of the person who died: including a shoelace, a sock, an earring and photos. She says she hopes the items will be found years from now and remind people of the tragedy. Lowenstein is part of the sculpture, too. Her figure shows her on her knees, doubled over at the waist in anguish. She placed a photo of her with Alexander in its heart. “It’s a reminder of the tragic loss and brings mixed emotions of grief and sorrow,” she says of the large-scale artwork. “But it’s also a source of connection and comfort because it represents a gift to the victims.” She can see the sculptures from nearly every room in her house. And on days when she especially misses Alexander, she walks through her garden while wearing his red jacket. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #son #died #deadliest #terror #attack #plane #created #massive #group #sculpture #grieving #mothers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

NYT Connections: hints and answers for Sunday, February 23 NYT Connections: hints and answers for Sunday, February 23 Table of Contents Table of Contents How to play Connections Hints for today’s Connections Today’s Connections answers NYT Connection FAQs Connections is one of the best puzzle games from the New York Times. The game tasks you with categorizing a pool of 16 words into four secret (for now) groups by figuring out how the words relate to each other. The puzzle resets every night at midnight and each new puzzle has a varying degree of difficulty. Just like Wordle, you can keep track of your winning streak and compare your scores with friends. Some days are trickier than others — just like other NYT Games favorites The Mini and Strands. If you’re having a little trouble solving today’s puzzle, check out our Connections tips and tricks guide for some good strategies or check out the hints for today’s Connections puzzle below. And if you still can’t get it, we’ll tell you today’s answers at the very end. How to play Connections Connections is a daily game about finding common threads between words. Players must select four groups of four words without making more than three mistakes. Play now. pic.twitter.com/CqObVOqeUs — The New York Times (@nytimes) November 3, 2024 Please enable Javascript to view this content You can play Connections on the New York Times website or with the NYT Games app on iOS or Android. In Connections, you’ll be shown a grid containing 16 words — your objective is to organize these words into four sets of four by identifying the connections that link them. These sets could encompass concepts like titles of video game franchises, book series sequels, shades of red, names of chain restaurants, etc. There are generally words that seem like they could fit multiple themes, but there’s only one 100% correct answer. You’re able to shuffle the grid of words and rearrange them to help better see the potential connections. Each group is color-coded. The yellow group is the easiest to figure out, followed by the green, blue, and purple groups. Pick four words and hit Submit. If you’re correct, the four words will be removed from the grid and the theme connecting them will be revealed. Guess incorrectly and it’ll count as a mistake. You only have four mistakes available until the game ends. Hints for today’s Connections We can help you solve today’s Connection by telling you the four themes. If you need more assistance, we’ll also give you one word from each group below. Today’s themes RUB TOGETHER WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD BREAKFAST CONDIMENTS PROVERBIAL THINGS THAT ARE SPILLED One-answer reveals RUB TOGETHER – GNASH WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD – CAN BREAKFAST CONDIMENTS – BUTTER PROVERBIAL THINGS THAT ARE SPILLED – BEANS New York Times Today’s Connections answers Still no luck? That’s OK. This puzzle is designed to be difficult. If you just want to see today’s Connections answer, we’ve got you covered below: RUB TOGETHER – GNASH, GRATE, GRIND, SCRAPE WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD – CAN, FERMENT, FREEZE, PICKLE BREAKFAST CONDIMENTS – BUTTER, HOT SAUCE, JAM, SYRUP PROVERBIAL THINGS THAT ARE SPILLED – BEANS, GUTS, MILK, TEA Connections grids vary widely and change every day. If you couldn’t solve today’s puzzle, be sure to check back in tomorrow. NYT Connection FAQs What time does the Connections puzzle change? The puzzle changes daily at midnight local time. Who edits the NYT Connections game? Wyna Liu, who has been editing puzzles at The New York Times since 2020, edits Connections daily. “A few months ago, a new assignment crossed my desk: Create the game boards for Connections, a category matching game that had recently been greenlighted and was in search of an editor,” wrote Liu in an article explaining her process in June 2024. Most of my puzzle experience has been working with crosswords, and I was excited at the chance to try something different. I’ve enjoyed learning how puzzle editing plays out once a game is greenlighted, and seeing how our team fits into a larger ecosystem.” On the one-year anniversary of Connections launching earlier this year, Liu posted this TikTok about her favorite puzzles so far: Source link #NYT #Connections #hints #answers #Sunday #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Weight-loss drugs aren’t just slimming waists. They’re shifting the economy. – The Washington Post Weight-loss drugs aren’t just slimming waists. They’re shifting the economy. – The Washington Post Weight-loss drugs aren’t just slimming waists. They’re shifting the economy. The Washington PostHow will weight loss drugs impact foodservice? FootprintWeight-loss drugs are great, but real food still matters The Guam Daily PostKroger & Walmart expect GLP-1 drugs to grow pharmacy sales but hurt grocery Modern RetailIs Ozempic Killing Restaurants? San Diego Magazine Source link #Weightloss #drugs #arent #slimming #waists #Theyre #shifting #economy #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Sunday, February 23 NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Sunday, February 23 Table of Contents Table of Contents How to play Strands Hint for today’s Strands puzzle Today’s Strand answers Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, you’ll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle. Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. There’s no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If you’re stuck and need to know the answers to today’s Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below. How to play Strands You start every Strands puzzle with the goal of finding the “theme words” hidden in the grid of letters. Manipulate letters by dragging or tapping to craft words; double-tap the final letter to confirm. If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted blue and will no longer be selectable. If you find a word that isn’t a theme word, it still helps! For every three non-theme words you find that are at least four letters long, you’ll get a hint — the letters of one of the theme words will be revealed and you’ll just have to unscramble it. Every single letter on the grid is used to spell out the theme words and there is no overlap. Every letter will be used once, and only once. Each puzzle contains one “spangram,” a special theme word (or words) that describe the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. When you find the spangram, it will be highlighted yellow. The goal should be to complete the puzzle quickly without using too many hints. Hint for today’s Strands puzzle Today’s theme is “Oh, this old thing?” Here’s a hint that might help you: get the complete set. Today’s Strand answers NYT Today’s spanagram We’ll start by giving you the spangram, which might help you figure out the theme and solve the rest of the puzzle on your own: Today’s Strands answers PLUSHIE COMIC COIN VINYL STAMP BOBBLEHEAD Source link #NYT #Strands #today #hints #spangram #answers #Sunday #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israel expels residents of three West Bank refugee camps Israel expels residents of three West Bank refugee camps Israel has expelled the residents of three refugee camps in the occupied West Bank as it steps up a major month-long operation in the ************ territory. Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the camps in Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams were now “empty” and would be occupied by the Israeli military for the coming year. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it has deployed a tank division around the city of Jenin – the first time it has done so since 2002. The ************ Authority condemned the move. The UN said earlier this month that Israel’s operation, which began on 21 January and was intensified in recent days, had led to the “forced displacement” of 40,000 people. “So far, 40,000 Palestinians have evacuated from the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams, which are now empty of residents,” Israel Katz said in a statement. “I have instructed [troops] to prepare for a prolonged presence in the cleared camps for the coming year and to prevent the return of residents and the resurgence of terrorism.” He also said that Israel had instructed the UN’s ************ refugee agency (Unrwa) to stop operating in the area. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for ************ President Mahmoud Abbas, described the decision to deploy tanks as a “dangerous Israeli escalation that will not lead to stability or calm”. The IDF said in a statement that its forces are “continuing the operation to thwart terrorism” and are expanding their “offensive activity” – which so far has involved drones, tanks, special forces, border police, and operatives from the intelligence agency Shin Bet. The UN said on Thursday that since Israeli operations began on 21 January, 51 Palestinians, including seven children, have been killed in Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas governorates, as well as three Israeli soldiers. The offensive has caused severe damage to water and sanitation infrastructure, disrupting access to water to “tens of thousands of people”, it said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Tulkarm refugee camp on Friday and ordered the army to intensify “operational activity”, his office said. “We are entering terrorist strongholds, flattening entire streets that terrorists use, and their homes. We are eliminating terrorists, commanders,” Netanyahu said. His visit followed the explosion of three buses in Tel Aviv, which Israeli officials described as a “suspected terror attack” that was caused by bombs of the kind previously found in the West Bank. Israel occupied the West Bank in the 1967 Six Day War and has since built about 160 settlements housing some 700,000 Jews. The settlements are considered ******** under international law, although Israel disputes this. Source link #Israel #expels #residents #West #Bank #refugee #camps Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Sunday, February 23 NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Sunday, February 23 Love crossword puzzles but don’t have all day to sit and solve a full-sized puzzle in your daily newspaper? That’s what The Mini is for! A bite-sized version of the New York Times’ well-known crossword puzzle, The Mini is a quick and easy way to test your crossword skills daily in a lot less time (the average puzzle takes most players just over a minute to solve). While The Mini is smaller and simpler than a normal crossword, it isn’t always easy. Tripping up on one clue can be the difference between a personal best completion time and an embarrassing solve attempt. Just like our Wordle hints and Connections hints, we’re here to help with The Mini today if you’re stuck and need a little help. Please enable Javascript to view this content Below are the answers for the NYT Mini crossword today. NYT Mini Crossword answers today New York Times Across Sing like “Boopity-bop-dee-doo-dee-doo-bee” – ***** Hawk’s claw – TALON The “U” in U.K. – UNITED “Hey, that’s cheating!” – NOFAIR Rapper with the songs “Hot in Herre” and “Air Force Ones” – NELLY Down Surprise greatly – STUN Officially accepted storylines – CANON “Get ___!” (“Stop being so boring!”) – ALIFE Sum amount – TOTAL Astronaut Armstrong – NEIL Free of moisture – DRY Source link #NYT #Mini #Crossword #today #puzzle #answers #Sunday #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Crypto exchange seeks help in finding $1.5bn stolen from digital wallet | Cybercrime Crypto exchange seeks help in finding $1.5bn stolen from digital wallet | Cybercrime The cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has called on the “brightest minds” in cybersecurity to help it recover $1.5bn (£1.2bn) stolen by hackers in what is thought to be the biggest single digital theft in history. The Dubai-based crypto platform said an attacker gained control of a wallet of Ethereum, one of the most popular digital currencies after bitcoin, and transferred the contents to an unknown address. Bybit immediately sought to reassure its customers that their cryptocurrency holdings were safe, while its chief executive said on social media that Bybit would refund all those affected, even if the hacked currency was not returned. “Bybit is solvent even if this hack loss is not recovered, all of clients assets are 1 to 1 backed, we can cover the loss,” Ben Zhou, Bybit’s co-founder and chief executive, posted on X. He added that the company held $20bn in customer assets, and would be able to cover any unrecovered funds itself or through loans from partners. Bybit, which has more than 60 million users worldwide and is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, said news of the hack had led to a surge in withdrawal requests. Zhou wrote that the company had received more than 350,000 requests from customers to withdraw their funds, which could lead to delays in processing. Bybit said the hack occurred when the company was making a routine transfer of Ethereum from an offline “cold” wallet to a “warm” wallet, which covers its daily trading. An attacker exploited security controls and was able to transfer the assets. Zhou said all other wallets on the exchange were unaffected. The price of Ethereum dropped by nearly 4% following news of the hack on Friday, but has since almost returned to previous levels. The company has called on “the brightest minds in cybersecurity and crypto analytics” to help it try to recover the hacked funds, and is offering a reward of 10% of the amount recovered, which could total $140m if the entire hacked amount was retrieved. “Bybit is determined to rise above the setback and fundamentally transform our security infrastructure, improve liquidity, and be a steadfast partner to our friends in the crypto community,” Zhou said in a statement. The hack is a setback for the crypto industry, which has rebounded in recent months after benefiting from Donald Trump’s return to the White House, and his promises to make the US the “crypto capital of the planet” amid ******* regulation. Although the identity of the Bybit attacker is unknown, some reports have suggested that the perpetrators could be North Korean state hackers, such as the Lazarus Group, who have been blamed for previous large-scale heists, including the $615m theft from the blockchain project Ronin Group in 2022. Source link #Crypto #exchange #seeks #finding #1.5bn #stolen #digital #wallet #Cybercrime Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NASA May Cancel Boeing’s Big $82 Billion Space Opportunity NASA May Cancel Boeing’s Big $82 Billion Space Opportunity “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” — Mark Twain First published more than 125 years ago, the great author’s quip about his rumored demise applies well to the situation today with NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), a 322-foot tall rocket designed to carry astronauts to the moon, and built by Boeing (NYSE: BA) and its partners. I’ve written at least a half dozen stories, dating back as far as 2018, highlighting various political efforts to cancel the SLS program and its $82 billion worth of future NASA contracts. Just last year, for instance, the NASA Office of Inspector General called the SLS excessively expensive, while former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg lambasted it as likely unnecessary. And yet the program lives on. But perhaps not for much longer. Image source: Getty Images. About a week ago, Boeing SLS program manager David Dutcher called an all-hands meeting of the 800 or so employees working on the rocket and warned that as many as half their jobs could soon go away. Admittedly, this is not Boeing’s intention. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires large U.S. employers to give 60 days’ notice to workers if there’s a possibility the company will conduct a mass layoff. Dutcher’s meeting was apparently called in response to this requirement, given the fear that the Trump administration may end Boeing’s SLS contracts in March. Dutcher acted in the context of the ongoing work by the Department of Government Efficiency to cut federal spending, as well as the expected March release of the Trump administration’s 2026 budget proposal, which may or may not include funding for the SLS. However, canceling the SLS program doesn’t seem to be part of NASA’s plan, at least not yet. Soon after the Boeing meeting took place, NASA released a statement confirming that it sees the SLS as “essential” to Project Artemis. And a Bloomberg article published on Feb. 12 reported that Boeing thinks as few as 200 employees might end up getting laid off. Still, NASA couldn’t assure Boeing that all its SLS project workers’ jobs were safe. “NASA defers to its industry contractors for more information regarding their workforces,” said the space agency. It’s hard to overstate how great the risk is here for Boeing. Ars Technica’s Eric Berger estimates that NASA spends about $3 billion a year developing and keeping the SLS program going, which is equal to about $1 out of every $8 that Boeing’s defense, space and security division makes. And that’s not even counting the $4 billion-plus cost each time this rocket launches. Story Continues At a minimum, if the SLS program were canceled (and not replaced by other rocket programs), that would save the government more per year than the sum of all the cuts made so far by the Trump administration based on the recommendations of Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency.” (That’s according to an estimate from Musk’s own Grok AI, by the way). Over the entire anticipated length of Project Artemis, with 20 missions planned, the revenues lost to Boeing and its partners could add up to $82 billion. So whether you’re a shareholder in Boeing, which oversees the SLS program, or in Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), which builds the rocket’s solid rocket boosters, L3Harris (NYSE: LHX), which makes the main engines, or Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), which builds the Orion space capsule that it carries, ending the SLS program would sap billions of dollars of revenue from your space stock’s top line. Image source: Getty Images. That said, it’s not all bad news for space investors. Canceling SLS wouldn’t necessarily mean canceling Project Artemis. It doesn’t mean America isn’t going back to the moon — just that it wouldn’t be using SLS rockets to get there. Funds originally designated to pay for fewer than two dozen SLS launches could, and likely would, be retargeted toward launches (maybe even more launches) by companies not named Boeing. Musk’s SpaceX would presumably be a prime beneficiary, given that it already has NASA contracts to build two moon landers, and possesses at least one rocket (Falcon Heavy) capable of reaching the moon, as well as a second rocket (Starship) that’s undergoing test flights. Blue Origin is another likely beneficiary. Jeff Bezos’ space company has already launched one New Glenn rocket with a payload to orbit capacity greater than the Falcon Heavy’s. Blue Origin also has a NASA contract to produce landers for Project Artemis. And then there’s Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR), which is building smaller landers, as well as Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) and a whole host of other small space companies that would probably love to bank some of that sweet, sweet Project Artemis money. Not all of these companies are publicly traded. SpaceX and Blue Origin, for instance, may still be years away from their IPOs. But you can already invest in Intuitive Machines and Rocket Lab today. Come to think of it, if the SLS gets canceled, maybe you should. Before you buy stock in Boeing, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Boeing wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $823,858!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 917% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of February 21, 2025 Rich Smith has positions in Rocket Lab USA. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends L3Harris Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Lockheed Martin and Rocket Lab USA. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. NASA May Cancel Boeing’s Big $82 Billion Space Opportunity was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #NASA #Cancel #Boeings #Big #Billion #Space #Opportunity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What To Expect in the Markets This Week – Investopedia What To Expect in the Markets This Week – Investopedia What To Expect in the Markets This Week InvestopediaNvidia earnings and the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge: What to know this week Yahoo FinanceNvidia, Salesforce, Hims & Hers, and more stocks to watch this week QuartzFutures: All Eyes On Nvidia After These Stocks Lead Sell-Off Investor’s Business DailyCramer’s week ahead: Earnings from Nvidia, Dell and Home Depot CNBC Source link #Expect #Markets #Week #Investopedia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Estonia in new push to get EU to seize Russian assets for Ukraine Estonia in new push to get EU to seize Russian assets for Ukraine By Andrew Gray BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Estonia has launched a new push to get fellow EU members to agree to seize frozen Russian assets and use them to help Ukraine, dismissing a Russian idea on how the money could be used as part of a peace deal. The Baltic country has sent a discussion paper on the issue to European Union partners and will raise it at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, officials said. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Some 210 billion euros ($219.62 billion) in Russian assets are immobilised in the EU by sanctions as part of an international crackdown on Moscow for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Last year, the G7 group of nations – including the EU – agreed to use profits from frozen Russian assets to fund a $50 billion loan for Ukraine. But the assets themselves remain untouched. “The decision to use the windfall profits was a step in the right direction. I see that the time is ripe now to take the next step,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told Reuters. On Friday, Reuters reported that Moscow could agree to allow Russian assets frozen in Europe to be used for reconstruction in Ukraine but would insist part of the money is spent on the part of the country controlled by its forces. Tsahkna dismissed that idea. “Giving Russia some of the assets to use in the occupied areas means accepting Russia’s occupation of some parts of Ukraine,” he said. The EU has insisted Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be respected in any peace deal. Several EU countries, including Baltic states and Poland, have said they are ready to consider seizing the assets. But Germany, France, Belgium and the European Central Bank have been wary, warning of legal challenges and undermining the euro as a reserve currency. Belgium-based clearing house Euroclear holds most of the Russian assets frozen in Europe. But the issue has resurfaced on the political agenda, particularly as the Trump administration has said it expects Europe to take on a larger share of support for Ukraine. The Estonian paper, seen by Reuters, tries to address its partners’ concerns. It says asset seizure can be justified under international law, as a countermeasure to Moscow’s war and because “Russia refuses to engage in reparations”. It also says joint action by the EU and international partners could mitigate any risk to the euro as a reserve currency. ($1 = 0.9562 euros) (Reporting by Andrew Gray; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) Source link #Estonia #push #seize #Russian #assets #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Russia launches largest drone attack of war on Ukraine – BBC.com Russia launches largest drone attack of war on Ukraine – BBC.com Russia launches largest drone attack of war on Ukraine BBC.comKyiv repels Russia’s largest drone attack of the war, Zelenskiy says YahooRussia launches 267 drones into Ukraine, setting new record ahead of invasion’s anniversary ABC NewsAs U.S. and Ukraine Haggle Over Minerals, Russia Attacks With Drones The New York TimesUkraine-Russia war live: Moscow launches largest drone attack of three-year conflict The Independent Source link #Russia #launches #largest #drone #attack #war #Ukraine #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump right to engage Putin on peace talks, says Labour minister Trump right to engage Putin on peace talks, says Labour minister Sam Francis Political reporter EPA US President Donald Trump was right to re-establish links with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to set up peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, a senior Labour minister has said. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said there could be “no negotiated peace without Russia” and that Trump’s approach had brought “Russians to the table”. The US president has faced a backlash for excluding Ukraine from talks after his aides met Russian officials in Saudi Arabia this week. Trump has also suggested Ukraine may be a bystander, saying it has “no cards” in the deal. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will meet Trump in Washington this week and press for Ukraine to be “at the heart” of any peace talks. Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Phillipson said that Trump thawing diplomatic ties with Russia and Putin was “the right approach”. “President Trump has brought the Russians to the table,” she added. When asked by Kuenssberg if welcoming Putin back was the right move, Phillipson said, “absolutely”. “There can be no settlement, no negotiated peace, without Russia,” she said. She added “any lasting settlement where it comes to peace does require Ukrainian voices, President Zelensky’s voice to be a central part of that. “There can be no settlement unless we have a negotiation involving both Russia and Ukraine. “We are however, also clear of the risk that Russian President Putin poses to our interest.” This weekend, Sir Keir assured Zelensky of the ***’s “ironclad” support for Ukraine in a phone call. His comments came ahead of a big week of diplomacy, as Sir Keir heads to the White House on Thursday shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron visits Washington on Monday. But Sir Keir has also said Trump was right that European nations must take greater responsibility for their security and increase defence spending. In a speech to the Scottish Labour Conference in Glasgow on Sunday, Sir Keir said “the US is right” that “we Europeans – including the United Kingdom – have to do more for our defence and security”. The *** also must stand “ready to play our role if a force is required in Ukraine once a peace agreement is reached”, he said. Source link #Trump #engage #Putin #peace #talks #Labour #minister Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘God Doesn’t Make Mistakes’: Born With Just One Arm, Woman Proves Absolutely Every Critic Wrong ‘God Doesn’t Make Mistakes’: Born With Just One Arm, Woman Proves Absolutely Every Critic Wrong Katelyn Pavey is a real-life inspiration. Born with one arm, she persevered, overcame her struggles — and, against all odds, played college softball. Pavey’s incredible journey is told in “I Can,” a film that shows God’s grace throughout life’s many trials. For years, she rebuffed attempts to make a movie about her story, believing she didn’t really have anything special to share. Listen to the latest episode of “Quick Start” “I didn’t want to be seen as sitting on a pedestal,” she said. “And I also thought there were more people in our congregation that needed their story to be told — and it wasn’t only me who denied it three times. It was also my dad.” But her pastor, Tyler Sansom — who is also the director of “I Can” — was successfully able to convince Pavey to take part. However, it wasn’t easy, as the family was at first hesitant to open up their story, as elements of it could be seen as unflattering. But she and her dad, Eric, realized they could make an impact. “[Tyler] said, ‘Well, if you can inspire one person and if you can help one person find and follow Jesus, would you do it?’” she recalled. “And I said, ‘Absolutely.’” At the center of Pavey’s story is a difficult reality. “I was conceived out of wedlock due to an affair,” she said. “Both my parents were married previously, and then when they got together, they had me.” Adding to the complexity of the situation is the feeling her parents had that her being born with one arm was somehow a punishment for their sin. But her paternal grandmother reminded Eric of something important about Pavey, despite her disability: “God doesn’t make mistakes.” While Eric’s guilt over the past initially held back a movie like “I Can” from being made, Eric came to realize the importance of telling the family’s story and Pavey’s incredible ability to overcome the odds. Despite the past, Pavey grew up in a Christian household, with the family attending church weekly. Being born with one arm, of course, presented challenges. “Gowing up, I faced a lot of adversity,” she said. “I faced a lot of challenges that I had to overcome and adapt to.” Pavey’s parents told her she could do anything she set her mind to, even if it might look different from others. But even in kindergarten, she had a teacher who complained about tying Pavey’s shoes for her; the educator asked the parents to send their daughter with velcro sneakers. Rather than give up, Pavey doubled down and learned how to tie her shoes. “The next day, I walked up to my teacher and I said, ‘Look, I can tie my shoes,’” she recalled. “So it was just things — I call them ‘I can’t moments’ that I had to face growing up.” Sometimes, parents even stopped their children from playing with her because she looked different. Over time, she had to learn to adjust to such moments. “You continue to adapt to any adversity that you’re thrown in life, and you overcome that, you become successful,” Pavey said. “You don’t go back to your old ways, you don’t give up, you keep pushing on to be successful, to show people that you can. And that’s just what I did my whole life, especially through the sport of softball.” Pavey’s love for softball started when she was just 3 years old, with her skills already on full display. Eventually, she honed her talents, learning how to adapt to playing with just one arm. “[It] took just countless hours in the backyard with my dad, countless times just after practice,” Pavey said. “And it was about when I was like 8 years old, I started playing more competitively. I started on a travel team.” She continued, “But that’s when there was a lot of words from parents, words from other players, words from coaches.” And those words weren’t always encouraging. “I vividly remember I was playing a team, and the coach called timeout, and I was up to bat, and he moved all of his players in,” Pavey said. “He’s like, ‘Move in, move in, move in. She can’t hit, she can’t hit!’” She naturally felt disrespected simply because of her arm. At other moments, parents would complain about her — to the point that one coach asked her to leave the team. “I don’t like drama on my team,” the coach said. “You’re causing a lot of drama. … Parents are complaining that a girl with one arm is playing over their daughter with two and they just don’t understand, and I can’t deal with this drama on my team. So I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.” This sort of dynamic would be enough to break some people, but Pavey persisted, using negative words and treatment as “fuel to get better” at the sport. “Those words hurt — they hurt a lot, and it did make me sad, and it did make me feel bad,” she said. “But I knew that I had a greater purpose. I knew I had a talent in softball. I knew that God gave me this talent and I wanted to use those words as fuel to prove to them that I deserve to be out there, and I deserve to play.” After leaving the team, Pavey kept working and training, building up her skills and stamina. Soon, her goals became loftier, with hopes of playing college softball. Again, though, she hit roadblocks. “I’m hearing the same thing from college coaches — ‘Man, you have great skills, I would love to have you on my team, but’ — and there was always a but — ‘I don’t know how to coach a girl with one arm,’ or ‘I don’t know how my players will react to having a teammate with one arm.’” Pavey continued, “So coaches would never give me a chance.” But she continued forging toward her goals, becoming an all-state player during her high school career and eventually signing a college scholarship to play softball — a full-ride to Cincinnati Christian University. It’s truly the ultimate overcome story, and viewers can experience it through “I Can.” Pavey hopes the movie leaves audiences deeply inspired. “God doesn’t make mistakes,” she said. “And it doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from. God has a purpose for your life, and He made you in his perfect image.” Pavey continued, “And you just need to trust in Him that He has that plan for you.” She wants people to feel inspired to push past their struggles to reach their destinies. Source link #God #Doesnt #Mistakes #Born #Arm #Woman #Proves #Absolutely #Critic #Wrong Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ukraine’s envoy calls on Australia to ‘stand with’ Kyiv as Russia’s war enters third year Ukraine’s envoy calls on Australia to ‘stand with’ Kyiv as Russia’s war enters third year Ukraine’s ambassador is calling on Australia to continue to “stand with” his country as its fight against invading Russian forces enters a third year against a backdrop of crumbling US support. Donald Trump last week echoed Kremlin talking points when he called Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” and falsely accused the Ukrainian President of starting the war with Russia. The remarks came after Mr Zelensky refused to sign a deal giving the US access to Ukraine’s enormous critical minerals deposits. Kyiv’s other Western allies, including Australia, have pledged to continue backing it despite the change in Washington. With the war on another continent and threats, such as China, nearer to Australia, Ukraine’s envoy Vasyl Myroshnychenko has been keen to stress the commonality of the conflict. Camera IconUkrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko says the war in his country is ‘about protecting a way of life that Australians also share’. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia “This war isn’t about some distant territory or fancy narratives,” he told NewsWire. “At its core, it’s about protecting a way of life that Australians also share – democratic, peaceful, and prosperous – from dictatorship and destruction of the global rules. “Putin wants ****** rule of the world to prevail — the world needs to make the Mafioso fail.” Camera IconThe Albanese government has pledged to continue backing Ukraine. X @AlboMP Credit: X Mr Myroshnychenko assumed the posting in Canberra in early April 2022, a little more than a month after Russia’s blitzkrieg-style invasion. Since his arrival, Australia has given Ukraine north of $1.5bn-worth of aid, including scores of *********** designed and built Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles. Meanwhile, some 11,400 Ukrainians fleeing the war have found safe haven in Australia. Senior government ministers have also visited Kyiv, which is subject to near nightly drone and missile attacks, mostly thwarted by air defence systems provided by the West. With Ukraine staring down an enemy that openly questions its right to exist, Mr Myroshnychenko had a simple message for Australians. “On the third year since the full-scale invasion started, my message to Australia is: thank you for standing up for what we share and what we aspire to,” Mr Myroshnychenko said. “Please continue to stand with us against those who would rip our future apart. Help us achieve stability through strength. “I have seen Bushmasters make a massive difference to Ukraine’s defence. “The frontline soldiers have told me how effective they are. “Each one given by Australia is an investment in a world safer from Putin and any other state-based mobsters, including in the Pacific region.” The nod to the Pacific comes as Canberra demands answers from Beijing about three ******** warships lurking of Australia’s east coast that carried out live fire drills in the Tasman Sea. Events marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion have been taking place across Australia since as early as Thursday. Among the events set for Monday are commemorations in Sydney and Adelaide and a rally in Melbourne. A protest has also been planned outside the Russian Embassy in Canberra. Source link #Ukraines #envoy #calls #Australia #stand #Kyiv #Russias #war #enters #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Warren Buffett sounds warning to Washington as Berkshire reports record profit, cash Warren Buffett sounds warning to Washington as Berkshire reports record profit, cash By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) – Berkshire Hathaway on Saturday reported record annual profits and boosting its cash stake to $334.2 billion, as Warren Buffett used his annual shareholder letter to caution Washington to spend money wisely and take care of those who get the “short straws in life.” Buffett’s admonition came as many investors worry U.S. lawmakers won’t rein in soaring fiscal deficits, and could make them worse by extending tax cuts backed by President Donald Trump. The 94-year-old Buffett, the world’s sixth-richest person and arguably its most famous investor, also acknowledged his advanced age, telling shareholders he uses a cane and will spend less time fielding their questions at Berkshire’s annual meeting on May 3. He nonetheless assured shareholders they would be in good hands after he turns over the conglomerate’s reins to Vice Chairman Greg Abel, saying the 62-year-old Abel has “vividly shown his ability” to deploy capital. “It won’t be long” before Abel takes over, Buffett said. Buffett’s letter was accompanied by Berkshire’s annual report, where it reported a third straight record annual operating profit, rising 27% to $47.44 billion. Quarterly operating profit rose 71% to $14.53 billion, also a record, and which analysts viewed as solid. Net income for the full year totaled $89 billion, including gains from Berkshire’s common stock investments such as Apple and American Express. Berkshire’s cash stake reflected high business valuations and nine straight quarters of selling more stocks than it bought. The selling included Apple, which remained its largest stock investment. “Often, nothing looks compelling; very infrequently we find ourselves knee-deep in opportunities,” Buffett wrote. ‘FISCAL FOLLY’ This year is Buffett’s 60th at the helm of Berkshire, which he transformed from a failing textile company into a $1.03 trillion conglomerate with dozens of businesses in insurance, railroad, energy, industrial, retail and other sectors. “Berkshire’s activities now impact all corners of our country. And we are not finished,” Buffett said. Buffett said Berkshire will continue preferring equities, primarily U.S. stocks, over cash, even as it resists paying a dividend to shareholders, which it has not done since 1967. He said reinvesting in Berkshire is one reason the Omaha, Nebraska-based company paid $26.8 billion of federal taxes last year, 5% of all payments by corporate America. Buffett himself is worth $149.5 billion, Forbes magazine said, Story Continues But he also sent a cautionary message to Washington, lamenting how capitalism “has its faults and abuses–in certain respects more egregious now than ever,” with malfeasance by “scoundrels and promoters” in full force. He urged lawmakers to help preserve a stable U.S. dollar, saying “fiscal folly” can destroy the value of paper money and the country has at times “come close to the edge.” Buffett said long-term success of Berkshire and the American economy, which he called the “American miracle,” has depended on people’s ability to participate. That, he said, is something Uncle Sam can encourage, or take away. “Take care of the many who, for no fault of their own, get the short straws in life. They deserve better,” Buffett wrote, addressing the government. “And never forget that we need you to maintain a stable currency and that result requires both wisdom and vigilance on your part,” he added. Cathy Seifert, an analyst at CFRA Research who rates Berkshire “hold,” said: “Talking about the business of America being messy was his way of addressing the political landscape and its impact on the macroeconomic environment. He is warning Washington: Be careful where you tread.” FEWER BUYING OPPORTUNITIES While Berkshire has not made a major purchase of an entire company since 2016, Buffett said it is likely to increase its combined $23.5 billion of investments in five Japanese trading houses: Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Sumitomo. Other stocks appear pricey, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 hitting a new high on Wednesday and the Nasdaq just 3% below its December 16 peak. Berkshire’s size also inhibits its shares from trouncing the indexes, as they did decades ago. The company’s stock price has risen 15% in the last year, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 18%. Over the last decade, Berkshire’s stock price has risen 225%, while the index rose 241% including dividends and 185% excluding dividends, Reuters data show. “They will have lots of buying opportunities but Berkshire will never be the large double-digit compounder it had been,” said Bill Smead, chief investment officer at Smead Capital Management in Phoenix. At Berkshire’s annual meeting, Buffett will spend less time on the stage in a downtown Omaha arena where he, Abel and Vice Chairman Ajit Jain will answer shareholder questions. Tens of thousands of people attend the meeting and a weekend of shareholder events, including shopping. Buffett told Fortune magazine last month that he was still having fun and able to do a few things reasonably well, while other activities had been “eliminated or greatly minimized.” The meeting will also not feature the traditional movie created by Buffett’s daughter Susie. In discussing his age, Buffett said he talks regularly on Sundays with his 91-year-old sister Bertie, using an old-fashioned phone. “We cover the joys of old age and discuss such exciting topics as the relative merits of our canes,” he said. “In my case, the utility is limited to the avoidance of falling flat on my face.” (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel, in New York; Writing by Carolina Mandl in New York; Editing by Diane Craft) Source link #Warren #Buffett #sounds #warning #Washington #Berkshire #reports #record #profit #cash Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mario & Luigi: Brothership 1.0.1 update out now, patch notes Mario & Luigi: Brothership 1.0.1 update out now, patch notes Mario & Luigi: Brothership gets its first update with version 1.0.1 a few months after its launch, and here are the patch notes. Source link #Mario #amp #Luigi #Brothership #1.0.1 #update #patch #notes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Luka Dončić looks like ‘killer’ for first time since Lakers trade: ‘He’s back’ – The New York Times Luka Dončić looks like ‘killer’ for first time since Lakers trade: ‘He’s back’ – The New York Times Luka Dončić looks like ‘killer’ for first time since Lakers trade: ‘He’s back’ The New York TimesLakers get first big performance from Luka Dončić in win over Nuggets Yahoo SportsDoncic says his breakout in Denver is only the start as he develops chemistry with LeBron and Lakers The Associated PressNikola Jokic says Nuggets might have “tricked ourselves” with 9-game win streak. The Denver Post Source link #Luka #Dončić #killer #time #Lakers #trade #Hes #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Job Simulator Dev Says 'We're Close' To Mass Market Immersive VR Job Simulator Dev Says 'We're Close' To Mass Market Immersive VR Job Simulator dev says we’re close to mass market immersive VR. Source link #Job #Simulator #Dev #039We039re #Close039 #Mass #Market #Immersive Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Huge crowds gather for Hezbollah leader’s ******** Huge crowds gather for Hezbollah leader’s ******** Reuters People have gathered at a stadium in Beirut for a commemoration of Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine Large crowds have gathered for the ******** of Hezbollah’s former leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Beirut in September. Mourners dressed in ****** flocked to a stadium on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital on Sunday. They also paid their respects to Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s successor, who was killed in a separate Israeli strike before he could assume his post. Nasrallah, the former leader of the Lebanese militant Shia Islamist group, was one of the most influential figures in the Middle East. Hours before the ******** began at 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT), Israel launched air strikes in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers. Reuters Posters of Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine were on display The Camille Chamoun Sports City stadium, which has a capacity of almost 50,000 people, was nearly full hours before the ceremony was set to begin. Prior to his death, Nasrallah had not been seen in public for years because of fears of being assassinated by Israel. The late leader had close personal links to Iran and played a key role in turning Hezbollah into the political and military force it is today. He was revered by the group’s supporters. Under Nasrallah’s 30-year leadership, Hezbollah – which is banned as a terrorist organisation in the ***, US and other countries – helped train fighters from the ************ armed group ******, as well as militias in Iraq and Yemen, and obtained missiles and rockets from Iran for use against Israel. He died aged 64 in Dahieh, a closely-guarded suburb of Beirut. Nasrallah’s coffin was paraded through huge crowds of ******-clad mourners, many of whom waved flags or held portraits of him. Reuters The mass ******** is an apparent show of strength for Hezbollah, which suffered a series of major setbacks during Israel’s campaign in Lebanon last year. Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote on X that Israeli planes were flying over the stadium while the ******** took place to “convey a clear message: whoever threatens to destroy Israel – that will be the end of them”. Israel’s incursion into Lebanon came after almost a year of cross-border hostilities sparked by the war in Gaza. Lebanon was subject to an intense Israeli air campaign and a ground invasion of the country’s south. Dozens of senior figures were killed when Israeli-made walkie-talkies were detonated in a surprise attack in September 2024. Many of Hezbollah’s most senior military and political leaders were also killed during the latest conflict with Israel. The offensive killed around 4,000 people in Lebanon – including many civilians – and led to more than 1.2 million residents being displaced before a ceasefire deal was struck in November. Representatives from Iran, Iraq and Yemen are expected to attend his ********. Source link #Huge #crowds #gather #Hezbollah #leaders #******** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Split Fiction Pre-Load Date & Download Size Revealed Split Fiction Pre-Load Date & Download Size Revealed Learn about the power of friendship in Split Fiction, a boundary-pushing co-op adventure from Hazelight Studios, the masterminds behind It Takes Two. The heroes of Split Fiction, Mio and Zoe, don’t get along at first, but soon enough they become each other’s only hopes. This journey will throw unexpected twists at them and if they want to make it through, they’ll need to have each other’s backs. Source link #Split #Fiction #PreLoad #Date #Download #Size #Revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lost Soul Aside PC Specs Revealed, PS5 Pro Optimization Confirmed Lost Soul Aside PC Specs Revealed, PS5 Pro Optimization Confirmed The system specs for the PC version of Sony Interactive Entertainment and UltiZeroGames’ Lost Soul Aside have been revealed. Source link #Lost #Soul #Specs #Revealed #PS5 #Pro #Optimization #Confirmed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

RTX 5070 Ti manufacturing defect cuts performance by up to 10% — 88 ROPs vs 96 ROPs (design) RTX 5070 Ti manufacturing defect cuts performance by up to 10% — 88 ROPs vs 96 ROPs (design) As Nvidia confirmed yesterday, a handful of RTX 50 GPUs have been affected by a manufacturing defect resulting in fewer ROPs than specified. The impacted GPUs, per Nvidia, include the RTX 5090 and the RTX 5070 Ti; the RTX 5080 is seemingly unaffected, with no reports having emerged yet. Meanwhile, a user at ComputerBase forums discovered that their RTX 5070 Ti was affected and offered several performance benchmarks for analysis. The out-of-spec RTX 50 series GPUs news broke when a user at TechPowerUp’s forums reported a missing ROP partition (eight ROPs) on their RTX 5090. All attempts through software such as driver reinstalls, and switching vBIOS versions, were in vain. As the news spread, more users started to double-check their units, kicking in the domino effect. Eventually, Nvidia confirmed that this “rare” issue resides at the hardware level and only impacts 0.5% of GPUs produced; claimed to decrease performance by 4%. It’s unclear how Nvidia greenlit defective GB202 and GB203 chips, which are also subject to testing by AIB partners. In any case, a user with the alias “Der Zeitgeist“ reported their MSI RTX 5070 Ti Gaming Trio had defective silicon, containing 88 ROPs instead of the specified 96, as confirmed by the Nvidia white paper. The user provided several benchmarks of their “nerfed” unit, and the performance gap can be as high as 12% in some scenarios. (Image credit: ComputerBase) In 3DMark Time Spy, the cut-down RTX 5070 Ti accumulated 24,755 points, 10% lower than ComputerBase’s MSI Ventus OC variant with all 96 ROPs present. In other benchmarks that aren’t exactly ROP-intensive, the difference is minimal but still noticeable. What’s intriguing is that the RTX 5080 remains unaffected, built using the same GB203 chip as the RTX 5070 Ti. This hardware defect may explain Nvidia’s decision to push the budget RTX 5070 back to early March. Affected customers have been asked to contact their respective board partners for a replacement, which might take a while given the ongoing Blackwell shortages. Melting concerns, PCIe stability issues, lack of supply, and now defective silicon have plagued the RTX 50 family launch. The silver lining is that the supply aspect of these problems is rumored to improve starting next month, coincidentally aligning with AMD’s RDNA 4 launch. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #RTX #manufacturing #defect #cuts #performance #ROPs #ROPs #design Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]