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Warren Buffett offers Donald Trump some advice while celebrating Berkshire Hathaway’s success Warren Buffett offers Donald Trump some advice while celebrating Berkshire Hathaway’s success OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — In his annual letter to shareholders Saturday, Warren Buffett celebrated the successes of Berkshire Hathaway’s companies last year and in the 60 years since he took over a struggling New England textile company and began converting it into a massive conglomerate while offering some advice to President Donald Trump. Buffett opened the letter by acknowledging that he has occasionally made mistakes over the years without offering many specific examples, but he assured shareholders that the man he has chosen to one day succeed him as CEO, Greg Abel, isn’t one of them. He wrote that Abel will be ready to act whenever he spots significant investment opportunities. Buffett hardly reflected on his long tenure as CEO in the letter — unlike 10 years ago when he and his longtime investing partner Charlie Munger, who died in 2023, issued separate reflections on the company. Buffett cited the fact that Berkshire paid zero income tax in the decade before he took over in 1965 as a sure sign the investment was a mistake, but over time the amount Berkshire pays to the IRS has grown along with the conglomerate to hit $26.8 billion last year — “far more in corporate income tax than the U.S. government had ever received from any company — even the American tech titans that commanded market values in the trillions.” Buffett has hardly mentioned politics and current events in his recent letter — preferring to stay away from anything controversial that might hurt Berkshire’s companies, but Saturday he urged the government to be responsible with the money he sends it. “Thank you, Uncle Sam. Someday your nieces and nephews at Berkshire hope to send you even larger payments than we did in 2024. Spend it wisely. Take care of the many who, for no fault of their own, get the short straws in life. They deserve better. And never forget that we need you to maintain a stable currency and that result requires both wisdom and vigilance on your part,” Buffett wrote. CFRA Research analyst Cathy Seifert said, “I thought honestly in a very subtle way that was a powerful message.” Abel will have plenty of resources to work with when he eventually takes over given that Berkshire now holds $334.201 billion cash after selling off much of its Apple and Bank of America stock in the past year and continuing to generate money from all its subsidiaries that include Geico insurance, BNSF railroad, a collection of major utilities and an assortment of major manufacturers and well-known retail businesses that include brands like Dairy Queen and See’s Candy. That’s almost double the $167.6 billion cash Berkshire held a year ago. Story Continues Buffett did find a few things to use some of that cash on last year by spending $3.9 billion to acquire the rest of its utility business from the estate of a former partner and another $2.6 billion to buy the rest of the Pilot truck stop chain. Buffett said he also increased Berkshire’s investment in five major Japanese conglomerates. Berkshire has now spent $13.8 billion over the past six years on those Japanese investments that are now worth $23.5 billion. But while Buffett has struggled to find major acquisitions in recent years he affirmed that he has no plans to offer a dividend. In what might be a nod to the 94-year-old Buffett’s age, the legendary investor announced that this year’s shareholder meeting in May that routinely attracts tens of thousands of people will be shorter. Buffett and Berkshire’s two vice chairmen will only answer questions from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. — several hours less than usual. Buffett also acknowledged using a cane these days to avoid “falling flat on my face.” Buffett began buying Berkshire stock for $7.60 a share in 1962. The stock grew to be the world’s most expensive shares because of Buffett’s remarkable success in building Berkshire and his aversion for splitting the stock. Berkshire’s Class A shares closed at $718,750 apiece on Friday, but the company does have a more affordable Class B stock that sells for $478.74. Buffett promises shareholders a chance to buy a special 60th anniversary book filled with untold stories and lessons from the company’s history at the annual meeting. Source link #Warren #Buffett #offers #Donald #Trump #advice #celebrating #Berkshire #Hathaways #success Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Delta Force: ****** Hawk Down Preview: A Solid Job of Reviving a Classic Military FPS Campaign – IGN Delta Force: ****** Hawk Down Preview: A Solid Job of Reviving a Classic Military FPS Campaign – IGN IGN : Delta Force: ****** Hawk Down does genuinely capture the spirit of an old-school, turn-of-the-century shooter campaign, but there are still enough unanswered questions that being guardedly optimistic is the only answer we could come up with after our time with it. Source link #Delta #Force #****** #Hawk #Preview #Solid #Job #Reviving #Classic #Military #FPS #Campaign #IGN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Seagate’s fraudulent HDD scandal expands: IronWolf Pro hard drives reportedly also affected Seagate’s fraudulent HDD scandal expands: IronWolf Pro hard drives reportedly also affected A scheme involving the resale of used Seagate Exos enterprise-grade hard drives as new was uncovered earlier this month, but we have now learned that it reportedly affects not only Exos HDDs but also Seagate’s IronWolf Pro HDDs, according to an investigation conducted by Lutz Labs from ComputerBase. Fraudsters erase usage records, alter serial numbers, and modify labels to deceive buyers, but it is still possible to determine that the particular drive had been in use, and by now, there are multiple ways to detect such falsified HDDs. Both Exos and IronWolf Pro are extremely reliable hard disk drives. Seagate’s Exos HDDs are aimed at enterprises and hyperscale cloud service providers and are meant to operate 24/7, whereas IronWolf Pro is designed for enterprise-grade NAS environments that also work in 24/7 mode. While these drives share a lot in terms of hardware platforms, they have different firmware. Given the reliability, performance, and capacity points of IronWolf Pro HDDs, they are good candidates for use in Chia mining. As such, the current theory is that Chia miners are selling off used hard drives from mining farms, and it would make sense they may have both Exos and IronWolf Pro devices. Falsified Seagate’s Exos and IronWolf Pro hard drives are sold by retailers in different countries and generally look almost like new. The drives appear unused to the software because their internal usage logs, specifically SMART parameters, were wiped. However, a closer look at these drives may reveal slight dents and scratches on the chassis as well as scratches on their SATA connector, which are clear signs of previous use. Also, the QR codes on counterfeit units have been tampered with. Instead of linking to Seagate’s usual verification page, they redirect to a warranty check that does not display the serial number or storage capacity, making it harder to verify authenticity. Since the labels on the drives are false, there are slight variations in label alignment and scaling. Finally, tools like smartmontools that can read Seagate’s FARM (field-accessible reliability metrics) values reveal that some had operated for over 50,000 hours. So far, no similar cases have been reported for Toshiba or Western Digital. However, detecting tampering in these brands is more difficult since they lack Seagate’s FARM values (which are only available on Exos, IronWolf, IronWolf Pro, and perhaps SkyHawk drives, according to ComputerBase), which store extensive usage history. Seagate has acknowledged the problem, stating that fraudulent practices involving IronWolf-series drives are not new. The company is conducting an active investigation into how these modified drives enter the market. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Seagates #fraudulent #HDD #scandal #expands #IronWolf #Pro #hard #drives #reportedly #affected Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New DNA evidence frees Hawaii man after 30 years in prison for ******* – CBS News New DNA evidence frees Hawaii man after 30 years in prison for ******* – CBS News New DNA evidence frees Hawaii man after 30 years in prison for ******* CBS NewsMaui man freed from prison after 30 years using new DNA technology Hawaii News NowMaui Man Released After 30 Years In Prison For A ******* He Says He Didn’t Commit Honolulu Civil BeatMaui man walks free after 30 years behind bars, with help of Hawaiʻi Innocence Project Maui NowHawaii man celebrates ‘freedom Friday’ after new DNA evidence ends 30-year prison stint Sky News Source link #DNA #evidence #frees #Hawaii #man #years #prison #******* #CBS #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Flowers Foods completes acquisition of Simple Mills Flowers Foods completes acquisition of Simple Mills Flowers Foods (FLO) announced that it has completed the acquisition of Simple Mills. “The addition of Simple Mills to our brand portfolio increases our presence in better-for-you and attractive snacking segments, diversifies our category exposure, and enhances our growth and margin prospects,” said Ryals McMullian, chairman and CEO of Flowers Foods. “We look forward to supporting the Simple Mills team as they embark on a new phase of growth by broadening distribution, accelerating innovation, and amplifying brand awareness, while advancing their mission.” Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Read More on FLO: Source link #Flowers #Foods #completes #acquisition #Simple #Mills Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Berkshire Hathaway’s cash pile hits record as Warren Buffett dumps stocks – Financial Times Berkshire Hathaway’s cash pile hits record as Warren Buffett dumps stocks – Financial Times Berkshire Hathaway’s cash pile hits record as Warren Buffett dumps stocks Financial TimesWhy Did Warren Buffett Just Sell Investments He’s Recommended Millions of Others Buy? Yahoo FinanceThis is an invitation for investors to go ‘shopping for the best names,’ expert says Fox BusinessWarren Buffett Just Issued His Most Daunting Warning to Wall Street Yet. It Couldn’t Be Any Clearer The Motley Fool Source link #Berkshire #Hathaways #cash #pile #hits #record #Warren #Buffett #dumps #stocks #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Warren Buffett amasses more cash and sells more stock, but doesn’t explain why in annual letter Warren Buffett amasses more cash and sells more stock, but doesn’t explain why in annual letter Warren Buffett walks the floor and meets with Berkshire Hathaway shareholders ahead of their annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 3rd, 2024. David A. Grogen | CNBC The mystery over Warren Buffett’s surprisingly defensive stance deepened over the weekend. The 94-year-old CEO of Berkshire Hathaway sold more stocks in the latest quarter and grew a record cash pile even larger to $334 billion, but failed to explain in his highly anticipated annual letter why the investor known for his astute equity purchases over time was seemingly battening down the hatches. Instead Buffett said that this posture in no way represented a move away from his love for stocks. “Despite what some commentators currently view as an extraordinary cash position at Berkshire, the great majority of your money remains in equities,” Buffett wrote in the 2024 annual letter released Saturday. “That preference won’t change.” Berkshire’s monstrous ownership of cash has raised questions among shareholders and observers especially as interest rates are expected to fall from their multi-year highs. The Berkshire CEO and chairman in recent years has expressed frustration about an expensive market and few buying opportunities. Some investors and analysts have grown impatient with the lack of action and have sought an explanation why. Despite his repeated selling of stock, Buffett said Berkshire will continue to prefer equities to cash. “Berkshire shareholders can rest assured that we will forever deploy a substantial majority of their money in equities – mostly American equities although many of these will have international operations of significance,” Buffett wrote. “Berkshire will never prefer ownership of cash-equivalent assets over the ownership of good businesses, whether controlled or only partially owned.” Shareholders will have to wait a little longer it seems as the Omaha-based conglomerate net sold equities for a ninth consecutive quarter in the final ******* of last year, according to the company’s annual report, which was also released on Saturday. All told, Berkshire sold more than $134 billion worth of stocks in 2024. This is mainly due to the sales of Berkshire’s two largest equity holdings — Apple and Bank of America. Meanwhile, it appears Buffett is not finding his own stock attractive either. Berkshire continued its buyback halt, repurchasing no shares in the fourth quarter or in the first quarter through Feb. 10. This is despite a massive increase in operating earnings reported by the conglomerate on Saturday. ‘Often, nothing looks compelling’ Buffett’s sitting on his hands amid a raging bull market that’s seen the S&P 500 gain more than 20% for two years in a row and move into the green again so far this year. Although, some cracks have begun to develop in the past week with some concerns about a slowing economy, volatility from rapid policy changes from new President Donald Trump and overall stock valuations. Berkshire shares were up 25% and 16% respectively the last two years and are up 5% so far this year. Buffett did offer perhaps a small hint about stock valuations being a concern in the letter. “We are impartial in our choice of equity vehicles, investing in either variety based upon where we can best deploy your (and my family’s) savings,” wrote Buffett. “Often, nothing looks compelling; very infrequently we find ourselves knee-deep in opportunities.” In this year’s letter, Buffett did endorse designated successor Greg Abel in his ability to pick equity opportunities, even comparing him to the late Charlie Munger. “Often, nothing looks compelling; very infrequently we find ourselves knee-deep in opportunities. Greg has vividly shown his ability to act at such times as did Charlie,” Buffett said. At last year’s annual meeting, Buffett surprised many by announcing that Abel, vice-chairman of non-insurance operations, will have the final say on all Berkshire’s investing decisions, including overseeing the public stock portfolio. Some investors and analysts have speculated Buffett’s conservative moves in the last year are not a market call, but him preparing the company for Abel by paring outsized positions and building up cash for him to deploy one day. Buffett did signal he would be deploying capital in one area: the five Japanese trading houses he began buying nearly six years go. “Over time, you will likely see Berkshire’s ownership of all five increase somewhat,” he wrote. Source link #Warren #Buffett #amasses #cash #sells #stock #doesnt #explain #annual #letter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump fires top US general in unprecedented Pentagon shakeup – National Trump fires top US general in unprecedented Pentagon shakeup – National President Donald Trump on Friday fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, and pushed out five other admirals and generals in an unprecedented shake-up of U.S. military leadership. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he would nominate former Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine to succeed Brown, breaking with tradition by pulling someone out of retirement for the first time to become the top military officer. The president will also replace the head of the U.S. Navy, a position held by Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead a military service, as well as the air force vice chief of staff, the Pentagon said. He is also removing the judge advocates general for the Army, Navy and Air Force, critical positions that ensure enforcement of military justice. Trump’s decision sets off a ******* of upheaval at the Pentagon, which was already bracing for mass firings of civilian staff, a dramatic overhaul of its budget and a shift in military deployments under Trump’s new America First foreign policy. Story continues below advertisement While the Pentagon’s civilian leadership changes from one administration to the next, the uniformed members of the U.S. armed forces are meant to be apolitical, carrying out the policies of Democratic and Republican administrations. Brown, the second ****** officer to become the president’s top uniformed military adviser, was serving a four-year term meant to end in September 2027. A U.S. official said Brown was relieved with immediate effect, before the Senate confirms his successor. Reuters in November was first to report that the incoming Trump administration planned a sweeping shakeup of the top brass, with firings including Brown. More on Politics More videos Democratic lawmakers condemned the decision by Trump, a Republican. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. “Firing uniformed leaders as a type of political loyalty test, or for reasons relating to diversity and gender that have nothing to do with performance, erodes the trust and professionalism that our servicemembers require to achieve their missions,” said Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Representative Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat, said the firings were “un-American, unpatriotic, and dangerous for our troops and our national security.” “This is the definition of politicizing our military,” he said. During last year’s presidential campaign, Trump spoke of firing “woke” generals and those responsible for the troubled 2021 pullout from Afghanistan. But on Friday, the president did not explain his decision to replace Brown. Story continues below advertisement “I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Trump wrote. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had been skeptical of Brown before taking the helm of the Pentagon with a broad agenda that includes eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military. In his most recent book, Hegseth, a former Fox News personality and military veteran, asked whether Brown would have gotten the job if he were not ******. “Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt – which on its face seems unfair to CQ. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really much matter,” he wrote in his 2024 book “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.” Trending Now Bank of Canada governor’s tariff warning: ‘There won’t be a bounceback’ Canadians call Wayne Gretzky a ‘traitor’ after tense 4 Nations hockey final Brown, a former fighter pilot who has held commands in the Middle East and Asia, recounted experiencing discrimination in the military in an emotional video posted online after the 2020 killing of George Floyd, which sparked nationwide protests for racial justice. Brown was on official travel when Trump made the announcement. Hours before Trump’s announcement, Brown’s official X account had posted images of him meeting troops on the U.S. border with Mexico, deployed in support of Trump’s crackdown on ******** immigration. Story continues below advertisement “Border Security has always been critical to the defense of our homeland. As we navigate unprecedented security challenges… we will ensure our troops at the border have everything they need,” Brown posted. A spokesperson for Brown did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Franchetti was the first woman to command the U.S. Navy. Her 2023 nomination by then-President Joe Biden had been a surprise. Pentagon officials had widely expected the nomination to go to Admiral Samuel Paparo, who at the time led the navy in the Pacific. Paparo was instead promoted to lead the U.S. military’s Indo Pacific Command. On his first day in office, Trump fired Admiral Linda Fagan as head of the U.S. Coast Guard. She had been its first female commanding officer. Last month, Trump’s Pentagon lashed out Mark Milley, a retired Army general and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, by revoking his personal security detail and security clearance. It also removed his portrait from the walls of the Pentagon. Milley, who served as the top U.S. military officer during some of Trump’s first presidential term, became a leading critic of him after retiring as a four-star general in 2023 during Biden’s administration and has faced death threats. It is unclear whom Trump administration will pick to become the new judge advocates general for the Army, Navy and Air Force. In his 2024 book, Hegseth was highly critical of military lawyers, saying most “spend more time prosecuting our troops than putting away bad guys.” Source link #Trump #fires #top #general #unprecedented #Pentagon #shakeup #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘At Least I Have a Job’ ‘At Least I Have a Job’ White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and former CNN anchor Jim Acosta are engaged in an ongoing war of words, with Leavitt taking aim at Acosta during an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday. Acosta, a former White House correspondent, dissed Leavitt earlier this week, calling her a “kid” who is “telling a tall tale.” Although he received a lot of backlash for his comments, it seems like Leavitt had the last word. During a CPAC interview with Mercedes Schlapp, Trump’s former White House strategic communications director, the topic of Acosta’s dismissal from CNN was broached. “Since you brought up Jim Acosta: He’s been saying some not-so-nice things about me online, and I’ve resisted responding,” said Leavitt. “But since you brought him up, I’d like to say: Jim, at least I have a job, Jim. OK? Just saying.” Her response was met with applause and laughter from the audience. US President Donald Trump, accompanied by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaks to reporters on Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews, on Jan. 27, 2025. / MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images The former CNN host, who left the network last month in the midst of schedule changes, slammed Leavitt on Wednesday during an interview with liberal outlet MeidasTouch. He claimed that Trump’s 27-year-old press secretary was only trying to be more like those who filled the role before her—including Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who were both part of what Acosta described as an “all-star team of liars.” Acosta also suggested that Leavitt, who is the youngest White House press secretary in history, “might be on the bench right now, but if she keeps working hard, does her homework, she just might make it onto the team.” The 53-year-old’s comments follow others he made earlier this week when he joked that Leavitt should appear on Saturday Night Live because she is such a “bad liar.” “The skit writes itself,” he said, adding, “It’s a sad and sorry state of affairs.” US President Donald Trump (R) gets into a heated exchange with CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta (C) as NBC correspondent Peter Alexander (L) looks on during a post-election press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on Nov. 7, 2018. / MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Acosta did not stop there though. He went on to compare Leavitt to a child, saying: “When your kid is telling you a tall tale and you’re just looking at them like, ‘OK, Johnny. Sure, yeah, I believe you,’ and you just walk away saying, ‘What the hell? That kid’s… not telling me the truth.‘” Acosta’s attacks were met with instant retaliation from Leavitt’s MAGA clan. “​​Oh Jim’s a boob who will never stop whining,” wrote one Leavitt supporter on X. “He’s got a bad case of TDS,” referring to Trump Derangement Syndrome. Source link #Job Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bethesda’s Oblivion Remake Won’t Hurt Skyblivion Because It’ll Give Fans Two Unique Ways to Revisit a Classic Bethesda’s Oblivion Remake Won’t Hurt Skyblivion Because It’ll Give Fans Two Unique Ways to Revisit a Classic After more than a decade of development, Skyblivion is finally coming out sometime this year. If you haven’t heard of Skyblivion yet, it is the ambitious fan-made remake of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in Skyrim‘s engine. The massive mod has been a passion project for a dedicated team led by Kyle ‘Rebelzize’ Rebel and it’s almost here. Oblivion is just one of those classic games of the 2000s. | Image Credit: Bethesda Game Studios If you’re familiar with Skyblivion then you’ve probably also heard that there might be an official Bethesda remake coming. Well about that, Rebelzize doesn’t think it’ll affect their own project. Instead, he believes that an official remake could actually benefit Skyblivion by giving players more ways to experience the classic RPG. Skyblivion‘s developers aren’t worried about an official Bethesda port The fan-made project looks really good. | Image Credit: @Rebelzize/YouTube The Skyblivion project began in 2012 as an effort to port Oblivion into Skyrim’s engine. But the project has gone from being a mere port to a full remake in the decade-long ******* that it has been in development. From the recent update that the developer Rebelzize released on YouTube, the project is now in its final stretch, with 93% of Cyrodiil’s world space completed. With the Niben Basin and Valley complete all of Cyrodiil’s landscape has had at least a first pass. Next up: Improve previously worked areas of the map to bring them to higher standards. Credit: @Rebelzize #Skyblivion #Skyrim #Oblivion #PCGaming #ElderScrolls pic.twitter.com/uMtMGzPj6p — Skyblivion (@TESRSkyblivion) February 20, 2025 In a recent interview with VG247, Rebelzize talked about the rumored remake of Oblivian that Bethesda is allegedly working on. He addressed the main concern of how it would affect the Skyblivion project by saying it wouldn’t be a big problem for the fan project. “I think whether the rumors are true or not doesn’t affect us much.” Rumors of an official Oblivion remake have been circulating ever since Microsoft’s legal battle with the FTC in 2023. There were some leaked documents at the time that mentioned it but we haven’t seen anything about it since. There have been more recent rumors that it could feature a Soulslike-inspired blocking system and launch in June 2025. But Bethesda hasn’t said a word. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake is reportedly real, and built in Unreal Engine 5. The remake is developed by Virtuos and will feature improvements to gameplay systems like stamina, blocking, and stealth in addition to remade visuals. (Source: [Hidden Content]) pic.twitter.com/ODKSHvBci7 — KAMI (@Okami13_) January 13, 2025 Rebel has said that Skyblivion only exists because of the dedication of its team. The project has been cooking for a long time and the mod is now in its final stages. We share his excitement to finally experience the years of work that has gone into recreating Oblivion with improved visuals, and updated mechanics. Bethesda may be releasing its own remake but they support Rebelzize It’d be cool to have an official remake too. | Image Credit: @Rebelzize/YouTube Bethesda’s stance on this fan project has been largely supportive. Over the years, the Skyblivion team has been in contact with the studio. Rebel has also said that Bethesda has been one of the most encouraging companies when it comes to modding and recognizing the passion and effort that go into massive fan projects like Skyblivion. And we can’t argue. Skyblivion is also similar to other large-scale mods like Fallout: London, which launched last year for Fallout 4. That project faced several delays and technical issues before finally being released. The Skyblivion team has studied Fallout: London’s launch and is considering alternative distribution methods so that we the players can benefit better. Aside from the question of an official remake, Skyblivion itself still has work left to do. While we know that most of the game is complete, the devs are most likely giving the final polish to the game. We can expect more news throughout the weekend because the devs will showcase the project at the Community Creations ****. Source link #Bethesdas #Oblivion #Remake #Wont #Hurt #Skyblivion #Itll #Give #Fans #Unique #Ways #Revisit #Classic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sepsis a threat in pope’s pneumonia battle as ******** Holy Year celebrations march on without him Sepsis a threat in pope’s pneumonia battle as ******** Holy Year celebrations march on without him The ******** carried on with its Holy Year celebrations without the pope Saturday, as Pope Francis battled pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection that doctors say remains touch-and-go and will keep him hospitalized for at least another week. Francis slept well overnight, ******** spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a brief early update Saturday. But doctors have warned that the main threat facing the 88-year-old Francis would be the onset of sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking, the pope’s medical team said in their first in-depth update on the pope’s condition. “He is not out of danger,” said his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone. “So like all fragile patients I say they are always on the golden scale: In other words, it takes very little to become unbalanced.” Francis, who has chronic lung disease, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and then the onset of pneumonia in both lungs. They prescribed “absolute rest” and a combination of cortisone and antibiotics, along with supplemental oxygen when he needs it. Carbone, who along with Francis’ personal nurse Massimiliano Strappetti organized care for him at the ********, acknowledged he had insisted on staying at the ******** to work, even after he was sick, “because of institutional and private commitments.” He was cared for by a cardiologist and infectious specialist in addition to his personal medical team before being hospitalized. Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of medicine and surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said the biggest threat facing Francis was that some of the germs that are currently located in his respiratory system pass into the bloodstream, causing sepsis. Sepsis can lead to organ failure and death. “Sepsis, with his respiratory problems and his age, would be really difficult to get out of,” Alfieri told a press conference Friday at Gemelli. “The English say ‘knock on wood,’ we say ‘touch iron.’ Everyone touch what they want,” he said as he tapped the microphone. “But this is the real risk in these cases: that these germs pass to the bloodstream.” “He knows he’s in danger,” Alfieri added. “And he told us to relay that.” Deacons, meanwhile, were gathering at the ******** for their special Jubilee weekend. Francis got sick at the start of the ********’s Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century celebration of Catholicism. This weekend, Francis was supposed to have celebrated deacons, a ministry in the church that precedes ordination to the priesthood. In his place, the Holy Year organizer will celebrate Sunday’s Mass, the ******** said. And for the second weekend in a row, Francis was expected to skip his traditional Sunday noon blessing, which he could have delivered from Gemelli if he were up to it. “Look, even though he’s not (physically) here, we know he’s here,” said Luis Arnaldo Lopez Quirindongo, a deacon from Ponce, Puerto Rico who was at the ******** on Saturday for the Jubilee celebration. “He’s recovering, but he’s in our hearts and is accompanying us because our prayers and his go together.” Beyond that, doctors have said Francis’ recovery will take time and that regardless he will still have to live with his chronic respiratory problems back at the ********. “He has to get over this infection and we all hope he gets over it,” said Alfieri. “But the fact is, all doors are open.” Source link #Sepsis #threat #popes #pneumonia #battle #******** #Holy #Year #celebrations #march Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ionic Wind explores ionized air for cooling servers, claims a 60% cost reduction Ionic Wind explores ionized air for cooling servers, claims a 60% cost reduction Ionic Wind Technologies, a company formed by a Swiss research group, is experimenting with ionized air cooling (sometimes called ‘ionic wind’), a solid-state fanless active cooling technology. Ionic Wind’s technology relies on the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) principle: it uses electric fields to ionize air molecules and then move them, creating a flow of air without traditional mechanical fans, reports Heise.de. Ionic Wind claims that its technology could reduce the costs of data center cooling by 60%. But there are a couple of catches. The vast majority of today’s data centers use traditional air coolers and air conditioners. Air coolers do the job, but they struggle with the latest high-performance AI GPUs, such as Nvidia’s B200. Many of them are needed to generate high-pressure airflows, and sometimes, they fail. Air conditioners are powerful enough to cool down modern data centers, though they consume a lot of power. As processors get more complex and hotter, the usage costs will go up. Enter ionized air cooling. Ionic wind cooling (also called electrohydrodynamic or EHD cooling) uses high voltage to create a strong electric field that ionizes air molecules. In practice, a thin wire or sharp needle is charged to thousands of volts, causing electrons to be stripped from — or added to — nearby air molecules in a process known as corona discharge. The resulting ions are then pulled through the electric field toward a collector electrode, and in moving, they collide with and push neutral air molecules. This continuous movement of charged and neutral particles creates a small airflow — ionic wind — without relying on mechanical fans. Because there are no moving parts, ionic wind cooling can, in theory, offer silent operation and a slimmer form factor. Ionic Wind Technologies refined the ionic wind cooling method by replacing standard wire electrodes with custom-made tungsten needle tips embedded in the housing. These tungsten tips generate air currents moving at twice the speed of traditional electrodes while using less power and the compact size of these electrodes allows for a more streamlined design, making it easier to integrate into actual systems. The electrodes also feature small rounding at their tip to create some asymmetry of the electrostatic field to direct and amplify airflows. “Our custom-made needle tips achieve up to twice the airflow speed compared to conventional electrodes—and with even less energy,” Donato Rubinetti from Ionic Wind told Heise. “A tip is never infinitely sharp; it always has a slight rounding at the end. This plays an extremely important role in the performance of the needle electrodes.” The system also takes advantage of the Coandă effect, a phenomenon that causes moving air to adhere to surfaces. According to Ionic Wind Technologies, this principle—used in airplane wings and Dyson’s bladeless fans—helps direct airflow in a controlled manner to enhance cooling performance while minimizing turbulence and energy loss. One common inefficiency in data centers is unwanted airflow leakage, where cooled air bypasses equipment. Ionic Wind says it can reduce this problem and reduce the airflow required, potentially cutting the energy bill for cooling. While the technology looks interesting on paper, a number of practical challenges arise. First up, we are talking about relatively low airflow volumes compared to traditional fans. Secondly, there are particles in the air (dust, aerosols, etc.), and charged particles tend to attract each other with opposite charges or are attracted to surfaces that have an opposite (or grounded) charge. This greatly increases the risks of accelerated dust accumulation, and dust not only traps heat but can cause short circuits or corrosion of components. As high voltages are required to charge particles, they can create byproducts like ozone, and they can be harmful to electronic components, corroding metals, and degrading plastics or rubber over time. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. As a result, while EHD cooling has been explored in niche applications and research prototypes, it is not widely adopted in mainstream computing due to these reliability and performance tradeoffs. Ionic Wind Technologies, of course, hopes that its custom-made tungsten needle tips will help its technology overcome the traditional problems of EHD. However, in addition to applying its ionic wind cooling to traditional servers, it also explores applications like air purification (a negative side effect for cooling is a positive effect for air purification) or drying for sensitive materials. It also explores airflow creation in extreme conditions where traditional fans can fail. Source link #Ionic #Wind #explores #ionized #air #cooling #servers #claims #cost #reduction Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Warren Buffett amasses more cash and sells more stock, but doesn’t explain why in annual letter Warren Buffett amasses more cash and sells more stock, but doesn’t explain why in annual letter Warren Buffett walks the floor and meets with Berkshire Hathaway shareholders ahead of their annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 3rd, 2024. David A. Grogen | CNBC The mystery over Warren Buffett’s surprisingly defensive stance deepened over the weekend. The 94-year-old CEO of Berkshire Hathaway sold more stocks in the latest quarter and grew a record cash pile even larger to $334 billion, but failed to explain in his highly anticipated annual later why the investor known for his astute equity purchases over time was seemingly battening down the hatches. Instead Buffett said that this posture in no way represented a move away from his love for stocks. “Despite what some commentators currently view as an extraordinary cash position at Berkshire, the great majority of your money remains in equities,” Buffett wrote in the 2024 annual letter released Saturday. “That preference won’t change.” Berkshire’s monstrous ownership of cash has raised questions among shareholders and observers especially as interest rates are expected to fall from their multi-year highs. The Berkshire CEO and chairman in recent years has expressed frustration about an expensive market and few buying opportunities. Some investors and analysts have grown impatient with the lack of action and have sought an explanation why. Despite his repeated selling of stock, Buffett said Berkshire will continue to prefer equities to cash. “Berkshire shareholders can rest assured that we will forever deploy a substantial majority of their money in equities – mostly American equities although many of these will have international operations of significance,” Buffett wrote. “Berkshire will never prefer ownership of cash-equivalent assets over the ownership of good businesses, whether controlled or only partially owned.” Shareholders will have to wait a little longer it seems as the Omaha-based conglomerate net sold equities for a ninth consecutive quarter in the final ******* of last year, the company’s annual report, also released this weekend, revealed. All told, Berkshire sold more than $134 billion worth of stocks in 2024. This is mainly due to the sales of Berkshire’s two largest equity holdings — Apple and Bank of America. Meanwhile, it appears Buffett is not finding his own stock attractive either. Berkshire continued its buyback halt, repurchasing no shares in the fourth quarter or in the first quarter through Feb. 10. ‘Often, nothing looks compelling’ Buffett’s sitting on his hands amid a raging bull market that’s seen the S&P 500 gain more than 20% two years in a row and move into the green again so far this year. Although, some cracks have begun to develop in the past week with some concerns about a slowing economy, volatility from rapid policy changes from new President Donald Trump and overall valuations. Berkshire shares were up 25% and 16% respectively the last two years and are up 5% so far this year. Buffett did offer perhaps a small hint about stock valuations. “We are impartial in our choice of equity vehicles, investing in either variety based upon where we can best deploy your (and my family’s) savings,” said Buffett. “Often, nothing looks compelling; very infrequently we find ourselves knee-deep in opportunities.” In this year’s letter, Buffett did endorse designated successor Greg Abel in his ability to pick equity opportunities, even comparing him to the late Charlie Munger. “Often, nothing looks compelling; very infrequently we find ourselves knee-deep in opportunities. Greg has vividly shown his ability to act at such times as did Charlie,” Buffett said. At last year’s annual meeting, Buffett surprised many by announcing that Abel, vice-chairman of non-insurance operations, will have the final say on all Berkshire’s investing decisions, including overseeing the public stock portfolio. Some investors and analysts have speculated Buffett’s conservative moves in the last year are not a market call, but him preparing the company for Abel by paring outsized positions and building up cash for him to one-day deploy. Source link #Warren #Buffett #amasses #cash #sells #stock #doesnt #explain #annual #letter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Medical Mysteries: Her maddening cough had an unexpected cause – The Washington Post Medical Mysteries: Her maddening cough had an unexpected cause – The Washington Post Medical Mysteries: Her maddening cough had an unexpected cause The Washington Post Source link #Medical #Mysteries #maddening #cough #unexpected #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** chipmaker unveils Optane-like storage class memory ******** chipmaker unveils Optane-like storage class memory Officially, the development of mainstream storage class memory (SCM) like Intel Optane has been suspended at big companies like Intel and Micron, but it looks like China-based Numemory, also known as Xincun Technology, has quietly introduced a new Optane-like memory. The company’s first SCM memory devices wed the performance of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and the non-volatile capabilities of NAND flash memory. But it looks like at a high price. Good performance, not enough capacity (yet?) As for general performance, South China Morning Post claimed last fall, citing the company, that Numemory’s NM101 chips can be used for SSDs that can load a 10GB high-definition video in just one second. This is in line with what modern performance-mainstream SSDs with a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface can do. However, there is no word about the new memory’s data retention rates or possible endurance limitations regarding the number of writes. Because Numemory’s NM101 seems to use an industry-standard NAND interface with a standard 1.2 volts I/O (typical for internal voltages of low-power M.2 SSDs), it is possible to use these devices for SSDs, provided that there is a controller (and firmware) that supports this memory, it is possible to build SSDs that will be drop-in compatible with existing PCs. However, 64Gb (8GB) and 128Gb (16GB) memory devices are not exactly economically viable for SSDs these days. One needs 128/64 ICs to build a 1TB SSD. This may not be a problem for an enterprise-grade U.2, ruler, or add-in card SSD that can accommodate loads of NAND packages. But M.2-2280 modules can only house up to four memory packages on one side and four on another side, so it is probably impossible to build 1TB M.2-2280 drives based on Numemory’s NM101 and NM102. However, judging how rapidly Numemory has managed to double the capacity of its devices, the company can indeed become a contender for high-performance SSDs. Also, if some clients in China would like to use SCM for some performance and relatively capacity-hungry applications that do not necessarily need an M.2-2280 form factor, they can certainly do so, unlike their peers elsewhere now that Intel’s Optane (3D XPoint) is gone. Then again, Intel’s 2nd Generation Optane memory also had two decks and offered 128 Gb per device, so building truly high-capacity storage devices using such memory was hard, too. Yet, Intel sold boatloads of Optane-branded products. 64Gb and 128Gb devices with a 3200 MT/s interface Xincun Technology’s 1st Generation Numemory device emerged back in September last year. The NM101 is a 64Gb (8 GB) single-level cell (SLC) 3D-stacked memory IC with an industry-standard 3200 MT/s NAND interface. The operating voltage of the memory array is 5.3/4.5 volts (which points to a mature process technology used to make the IC), whereas the I/O voltage is 1.2 volts, an industry standard. Since 64Gb (8 GB) capacity is hardly enough for more or less high-capacity storage devices, the company quickly followed up with its 2nd Generation product earlier this year. The NM102 memory chip features a 128Gb (16 GB) capacity yet retains an SLC architecture and a 1.2V I/O voltage. Numemory does not disclose the operating voltages for its NM102, so we can only make guesses. 128Gb is the capacity of Intel’s 2nd Generation Optane (3D XPoint) memory devices. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Xincun does not disclose further specifications of its devices, only briefly mentioning ‘ultra-fast microsecond-level response times,’ which is a very vague description of latency, to put it mildly. To put the number into context, Intel’s Optane promised 10 ~ 15 microseconds read latency and over 200-microsecond write latencies, whereas modern 3D TLC NAND can boast 80 microseconds read latency and write latencies that are in the ballpark of hundreds of microseconds. By contrast, the latency of DDR5 SDRAM is 10 to 20 nanoseconds, depending on the exact memory subsystems. No details about architecture Unlike the vast majority of SCM producers, Xincum does not reveal the underlying architecture of its devices (impedance memory, phase-change memory, MRAM, FeRAM), so we do not know how close this SCM is to DRAM and how far away it is from SLC 3D NAND. Yet, the manufacturer states that its memory is a ‘a promising next-generation non-volatile storage technology for large-scale mass production.’ Speaking of mass production, it is also unclear whether Xincun has its own production capacity or has outsourced manufacturing to a foundry. As the company has 220 employees and 80% of them are R&D personnel, we doubt the firm has its own fab. Xincun Technology was established in Wuhan in July 2022 with the aim of developing storage class memory, which was then missing from the portfolio of commercially available memory technologies developed in China, which strives to become self-sufficient in terms of critical chip supply. Production of Xincun’s chips can be considered a notable achievement in China’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its semiconductor capabilities in general and develop unique technologies in particular. Source link #******** #chipmaker #unveils #Optanelike #storage #class #memory Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Young Socceroos book U20 World Cup place after worldie Young Socceroos book U20 World Cup place after worldie Australia’s young soccer stars are celebrating a huge double prize in China after a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Iraq not only booked them a place in the Under-20 Asian Cup semi-finals but also ensured they’ll play in the U20 World Cup later this year. In a game of stunning goals in Shenzhen on Saturday, the crowning moment for the Young Socceroos came with a belting 75th minute volley from Melbourne Victory’s Alex Badolato that sealed a terrific quarter-final triumph in which they’d twice had to battle back from a goal behind. The victory, which sparked huge celebrations among Trevor Morgan’s enterprising young team in the Baoan Sports Centre Stadium, ensures the Aussie teenagers will face either Japan or Iran in the semi-finals on Wednesday. But most importabtly, the win also seals their spot at the Under-20 World Cup in Chile in September and October, the first time Australia have competed in the global showpiece since 2013. Yet it didn’t start well for the Young Socceroos when Amoori Faisal put the Iraqis ahead with a superb curling strike on the quarter-hour after the Aussies had been caught in possession in midfield. Within seven minutes, though, Adelaide United prospect Luka Jovanovic delivered an astonishing riposte, earning a free-kick about 30 metres out and then trying his luck with a thunderbolt set-piece strike that caught Iraq keeper Wisam Ali napping. But the Iraqis went back ahead in the 26th minute when Mustafa Qabeel latched on to fine lofted through ball from Layth Mahmood, outpaced Sebastian Esposito, then turned the same *********** defender inside out again before firing home. Iraq had their chances to increase their lead but Karrar Jaafar’s volleyed effort was blocked by Paul Okon-Engstler and after Musa Toure had missed a headed chance for Australia, the equaliser came just a few minutes later after the half-hour mark when Iraq failed to clear Okon-Engstler’s cross. That left Badolato to set up Panagiotis Kikianis for a curling right-footed finish that any central defender would have been proud of. Steven Hall, once the youngest goalkeeper in A-League Men history at Adelaide and now at Premier League Brighton, did his bit with a couple of key saves, one from ******* Mousa’s header. Then just two minutes later, Mousa’s headed clearance at the other end only fell kindly for Badolato, the Victory midfielder who’s just signed on loan from Western Sydney, and his thunderous volley from just outside the box ripped into the net for the most spectacular of winners. Source link #Young #Socceroos #book #U20 #World #Cup #place #worldie Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia explains the missing ROPs — defective silicon in 0.5% of RTX 5090 and 5070 Ti GPUs Nvidia explains the missing ROPs — defective silicon in 0.5% of RTX 5090 and 5070 Ti GPUs Several Nvidia GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs have been missing ROPs, suggesting that some GB202 and GB203 chips used in those cards are defective. This has led to many graphics cards from different manufacturers, including Zotac, MSI, Gigabyte, and even Nvidia’s Founders Edition GPUs, having eight fewer ROPs than specified. The company has stated Tom’s Hardware, saying this only affected a few of its GPUs. “We have identified a rare issue affecting less than 0.5% (half a percent) of GeForce RTX 5090 / 5090D and 5070 Ti GPUs, which have one fewer ROP than specified. The average graphical performance impact is 4%, with no impact on AI and Compute workloads,” an Nvidia representative told Tom’s Hardware. “Affected consumers can contact the board manufacturer for a replacement. The production anomaly has been corrected.” So, the problem is indeed caused by an issue in production and quality control, which allowed a few defective GB202 and GB203 chips to pass inspection and be installed on GPUs. It’s a good thing that the issue was caught early, though, as Nvidia said that even its RTX 5070 Ti GPUs, which were released a couple of days ago, were also affected. Consumers who bought any affected cards would not get the expected performance. Team Green said those affected by the missing ROPs should contact their board manufacturer to RMA their less performant GPUs. Hopefully, they won’t have to wait long to get a proper replacement despite the ongoing RTX 50-series shortage. A few retailers expect supply to stabilize in four months. This has been one of the many issues plaguing the RTX 50 series since its highly anticipated launch. A major concern returning from the RTX 4090 is the melting power cable problem, which the company has previously claimed was already fixed. Several RTX 50-series GPUs are also experiencing crashes and instability, resulting in BSODs and ****** screens. Nvidia said it’s already investigating the issue but hasn’t yet released a timeline for a fix. Many gamers and enthusiasts are predictably disappointed with this launch. Many say that the performance improvements do not match the price increases. With all these issues cropping up less than a month after their release, Nvidia has its hands full, trying to fix them. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Nvidia #explains #missing #ROPs #defective #silicon #RTX #GPUs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

While Rockstar and Sony Are Busy Taking Down Popular Mods, Bethesda’s Support for Skyblivion Is Refreshing While Rockstar and Sony Are Busy Taking Down Popular Mods, Bethesda’s Support for Skyblivion Is Refreshing In the world of gaming, mods play a huge role in keeping games alive long after their initial release. Whether it’s through adding new features, expanding existing worlds, or creating entirely new experiences, mods offer something that even the most polished official releases often can’t: player-driven content. The studio gives full support to the modding community. | Image Credit: Bethesda Some studios have embraced modding, fostering environments where fan-created content can thrive. Bethesda is one such company, known for its active promotion and support of modding communities. However, not all studios share this philosophy, with some even opting to crack down on mods entirely. Skyblivion is the latest testament to Bethesda’s support for mods The studio even promotes various fan projects. | Image Credit: Bethesda’s Skyrim One of the most impressive examples of a fan-driven project in recent years has got to be Skylivion. It is a mod that aims to bring an iconic Bethesda title, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion a new life by making it in Skyrim’s modern engine. While the mod is not fully complete yet, it’s nearing completion after a decade of hard work. In a recent interview with VG247, Kyle ‘Rebelzize’ Rebel, the lead modder behind the project shared some insights, revealing the team received a lot of support from Bethesda. We have had plenty of contact with Bethesda over the years. I’d like to think we are on very good terms with them. Generally speaking, Bethesda has been one of the most supporting communities when it comes to modding. This level of collaboration goes to show that the studio understands the critical role modding plays in extending the life of its games. So, by fostering relationships with modders, the studio ensures that fan-driven projects have the resources and recognition they need to succeed. Skyblivion itself is a prime example of this collaboration. The mod has been in development for over 10 years, with a team of volunteers working tirelessly to bring Oblivion into a more modern engine. Bethesda has gone beyond mere encouragement, actively promoting the mod through their official channels. This not only shows its support for the project but also encourages others to show their creativity and love for the games. Sony and Rockstar show a stark contrast in their approach While one studio is promoting, others are shutting down various fan projects. | Image Credit: FromSoftware’s Bloodborne While one studio is here actively promoting and supporting modders, other studios are not showing the same open mind. They are even going out of their way to crack down on popular fan projects that enhance or add features to the game. Recently, Sony made headlines by taking down several fan projects related to beloved Bloodborne, including a demake and a 60 FPS mod. This decision has left many fans outright frustrated and annoyed, especially given that the game has not yet received a proper remaster or sequel, despite widespread demand. Similarly, Rockstar has made waves by shutting down the Liberty City mod for Grand Theft Auto V, which aimed to bring an entire recreated Liberty City into the game. Instead of celebrating this fan-driven passion project, the studio chose to remove it, prioritizing control over creative collaboration. This contrast from all the studios shows the growing divide in the gaming industry. Studios need to understand that modding isn’t just about adding new content or modifying the game files, it’s about keeping games relevant and engaging long after their official lifecycle has ended. In the end, as modding continues to evolve, Bethesda’s example proves that collaboration, not control, is the key to a game’s lasting legacy. Source link #Rockstar #Sony #Busy #Popular #Mods #Bethesdas #Support #Skyblivion #Refreshing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US Air Force gives F-22s a much-needed engine boost to reverse 20-year readiness low US Air Force gives F-22s a much-needed engine boost to reverse 20-year readiness low Pratt & Whitney, a business unit of RTX, has secured a three-year contract valued at up to $1.5 billion to support the maintenance of F119 engines that power the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor fighter jets. This agreement aims to enhance the operational readiness of an F119 fleet exceeding 400 engines, which has collectively logged over 900,000 flight hours. Jill Albertelli, president of Military Engines at Pratt & Whitney, highlighted the critical nature of the F119 engines’ readiness and reliability, stating, “We are focused on improving both while lowering lifecycle costs.” This initiative reflects a commitment to help the U.S. Air Force retain the F-22’s advantage in combat scenarios. A much-needed engine boost The F-22 Raptor has two F119 engines that produce more than 35,000 pounds of thrust each. This powerful engine configuration allows the aircraft to reach altitudes above 65,000 feet while maintaining impressive speed and agility. A distinctive feature of the F-22 is its ability to achieve and sustain supersonic speeds without the need for afterburners, a capability referred to as supercruise. This conserves fuel and extends the aircraft’s operational range, making it a formidable presence in the skies. As part of its strategy to reduce costs, Pratt & Whitney has implemented a Usage-Based Living program that utilizes real-time data to optimize maintenance processes and extend the lifespan of the engines. In addition, engine control system updates have enhanced its kinematic performance. This new contract is expected to support ongoing efforts to improve readiness and cut expenses while emphasizing safety, accessibility, straightforward maintenance, and modernization efforts. 20-year readiness low The contract’s announcement comes when the U.S. Air Force grapples with significant challenges in maintaining high operational availability across its aircraft fleets, reportedly reaching their lowest availability levels in two decades. The average mission-capable rate dropped to only 67.15% during fiscal year 2024, marking a decline of nearly two percentage points from the previous year and the lowest statistic since 2004. The mission-capable rate indicates how well an aircraft can perform at least one of its core functions based on U.S. Air Force planning. Factors influencing these rates include the availability of maintenance personnel, spare parts, and crew training levels. During fiscal year 2024, the U.S. Air Force operated 65 different aircraft types, with 29 showing a reduction in their mission-capable rates. The CV-22 Osprey reported the lowest availability, consistent with the aircraft’s history of technical failures and limitations. Conversely, 26 aircraft types improved operational readiness, with the C-12, C-21, MC-12, and UV-18 achieving a commendable 100% operational availability rate. F-22, F-35 woes The trend among the Air Force’s stealth fighter fleets, notably the F-22 and F-35, is of particular concern. The F-22’s operational availability plummeted from 57.4% two years ago to a concerning 40.2% recently. Analysts explain this decline because of congressional restrictions preventing the retirement of older, high-maintenance units until 2028. The F-35, however, registered a slight improvement in availability, increasing by 0.5 percentage points to reach 51.5%, attributed to a better supply of spare parts. Additionally, the bomber fleet has faced reliability challenges, with availability rates for the B-1B, B-2A, and B-52H all decreasing. In the reconnaissance category, aging platforms scheduled for retirement, such as the EC-130H and E-3G AWACS, are experiencing similarly low operational capabilities as they await newer replacements. The military underscores the importance of these metrics for maintaining a robust and ready fleet in the face of evolving global threats. Source link #Air #Force #F22s #muchneeded #engine #boost #reverse #20year #readiness Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

New Proposal for Ukraine’s Minerals Is Nearly Identical to Rejected Version – The New York Times New Proposal for Ukraine’s Minerals Is Nearly Identical to Rejected Version – The New York Times New Proposal for Ukraine’s Minerals Is Nearly Identical to Rejected Version The New York TimesTrump says deal with Ukraine for US access to its rare earth minerals is ‘pretty close’ Fox NewsU.S., Ukraine near deal to grant mineral rights to Washington The Washington PostDraft US-Ukraine rare earth minerals deal not one President Zelensky would accept, source says CNNTrump ramps up Zelenskyy attacks as US official says mineral deal close Al Jazeera English Source link #Proposal #Ukraines #Minerals #Identical #Rejected #Version #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Family of woman found murdered in Las Vegas home speaks after arrest made in case Family of woman found murdered in Las Vegas home speaks after arrest made in case LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The family of a woman found murdered in a home this week spoke with 8 News Now Friday about their efforts to remember her. “She was always happy,” Mariana Rodriguez said. “With a smile.” Rodriguez is remembering a life stolen, sharing everything she will miss about her daughter, 26-year-old Marisela Rodriguez. The mother of three was found dead inside a home near Rancho Drive and Oakey Boulevard Sunday. Man arrested in Arizona after body found in Las Vegas home following party Las Vegas Metropolitan Police told 8 News Now a person living there discovered Rodriguez in a bedroom after a house party the previous night. The Clark County Coroner reported her cause of death as a gunshot to the head. Marisela Rodriguez, 26, was found dead in a home near Rancho Drive and Oakey Boulevard Feb. 16, 2025. (KLAS) Mariana Rodriguez described the moment she knew something had gone horribly wrong after she stopped hearing from her daughter and later arrived at the crime scene. “I felt it and I was like, ‘that’s my daughter in that house,’” she recalled. “The next day they called me and they were able to tell me that it was my daughter.” 23-year-old Steven Flores was arrested in connection with the case Thursday in Dolan Springs, outside of Kingman, Arizona. According to court records, he faces one charge of open ******* with a deadly weapon. His extradition to Las Vegas is pending. The family of a woman found murdered in a home this week spoke with 8 News Now Friday about their efforts to remember her. (KLAS) “The emotion,” Mariana Rodriguez said. “To know that they had somebody already in custody.” Rodriguez said her family is doing its best to find closure, but they are now struggling to handle ******** costs. “We didn’t expect this,” she said. “And it’s hard.” She added that those who loved Marisela most are relying on each other as they continue to mourn her life. “You think that you’re alone in this,” Rodriguez concluded. “But you’re not.” Marisela’s family is holding two fundraising events to help raise money for her ******** and burial expenses. They are hosting a car wash and accepting donations on Saturday at 10 a.m. at 4884 E. Lake Mead Boulevard. A second fundraising event will be held at the same location March 2. It will feature music and food starting at 10:00 a.m. A GoFundMe account titled “Help Alejandro lay his daughter to rest” was set up by her family. 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 KLAS. Source link #Family #woman #murdered #Las #Vegas #home #speaks #arrest #case Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Unity price target raised to $32 from $26 at Morgan Stanley Unity price target raised to $32 from $26 at Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley raised the firm’s price target on Unity (U) to $32 from $26 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. Unity will start rolling out Vector, its new GPU-enabled ad algorithm, in Q1 and this is a “clear” near term catalyst to reaccelerate Unity’s ad business and “potentially position the company as a GenAI/GPU winner” for 2025, the analyst tells investors. Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See today’s best-performing stocks on TipRanks >> Read More on U: Source link #Unity #price #target #raised #Morgan #Stanley Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

As Conflict Rages in Congo, President Offers U.S. Minerals Deal – The New York Times As Conflict Rages in Congo, President Offers U.S. Minerals Deal – The New York Times As Conflict Rages in Congo, President Offers U.S. Minerals Deal The New York TimesSecurity Council urges Rwanda to stop supporting M23 in eastern DR Congo UN NewsUN Security Council demands rebels withdraw from captured Congolese cities Voice of AmericaInflux of 40,000 fleeing Congo war worsens Burundi humanitarian plight, UN says ReutersInstitute for the Study of War Institute for the Study of War Source link #Conflict #Rages #Congo #President #Offers #U.S #Minerals #Deal #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Berkshire operating earnings surge 71% in fourth quarter, cash hoard balloons to record $334 billion – CNBC Berkshire operating earnings surge 71% in fourth quarter, cash hoard balloons to record $334 billion – CNBC Berkshire operating earnings surge 71% in fourth quarter, cash hoard balloons to record $334 billion CNBCBerkshire Hathaway’s Operating Profit Jumps as Rates Lift Income BloombergWarren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway On Deck. What To Expect. Investor’s Business DailyWarren Buffett celebrates Berkshire Hathaway’s success over 60 years as CEO while admitting mistakes Yahoo Finance Source link #Berkshire #operating #earnings #surge #fourth #quarter #cash #hoard #balloons #record #billion #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Samurai Pizza Cats: Blast From The Past! Announced For All Major Platforms Samurai Pizza Cats: Blast From The Past! Announced For All Major Platforms The Samurai Pizza Cats are back with a brand new 2D action-RPG featuring the original voice cast! Source link #Samurai #Pizza #Cats #Blast #Announced #Major #Platforms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]