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Elon Musk's DOGE asks for access to IRS taxpayer data, sources say – ABC News Elon Musk's DOGE asks for access to IRS taxpayer data, sources say – ABC News Elon Musk’s DOGE asks for access to IRS taxpayer data, sources say ABC NewsIRS Memo Sets Stage for Musk Adviser to Access Taxpayer Data BloombergCould DOGE, Trump administration close the IRS? NewsNation NowMusk’s DOGE seeks access to personal taxpayer data, raising alarm at IRS The Washington Post Source link #Elon #Musk039s #DOGE #asks #access #IRS #taxpayer #data #sources #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump makes first Supreme Court appeal in test of his power to fire officials Trump makes first Supreme Court appeal in test of his power to fire officials Reuters Hampton Dellinger was fired in a one-sentence email this month President Donald Trump’s attempts to shrink the federal bureaucracy are heading to the Supreme Court, according to US media. He has filed an emergency appeal to the country’s highest court to rule on whether he can fire the leader of an independent whistleblowing agency. Hampton Dellinger, head of the US Office of Special Counsel, sued the Trump administration after he was fired by email this month. Trump has also sacked more than a dozen inspectors general at various federal agencies along with the jobs of thousands of employees across the US government. Mr Dellinger, who was nominated by Joe Biden, the former president, argues that his removal broke a law that protects leaders of independent agencies from being fired by the president, “except in cases of neglect of duty, malfeasance or inefficiency”. A federal judge in Washington DC issued a temporary order on Wednesday allowing Mr Dellinger to hold on to his position while the case is being considered. On Saturday, a divided US Court of Appeals in the nation’s capital rejected the Trump administration’s request to overrule the lower court. That has led to the justice department filing an emergency appeal to the conservative-dominated Supreme Court. It is the first case the president has taken to the justices since he took office last month. “This court should not allow lower courts to seize executive power by dictating to the president how long he must continue employing an agency head against his will,” Sarah M Harris, acting solicitor general, wrote in the filing provided by the Department of Justice to the Washington Post. “Until now, as far as we are aware, no court in American history has wielded an injunction to force the president to retain an agency head,” the acting solicitor general wrote, according to the Associated Press news agency. Watch: Trump’s motorcade drives lap of Daytona 500 racetrack The Republican president’s orders on immigration, transgender issues and government spending have also become bogged down in dozens of lawsuits in the lower courts. Those cases may ultimately wind up at the Supreme Court, too. Trump’s efforts to reduce and reshape the 2.3 million-strong civilian federal workforce continued over the weekend. Workers in various health agencies who are still within their probation periods received letters on Saturday evening informing them they would be terminated, sources told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner. “Unfortunately, the agency finds that you are not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge and skills do not fit the agency’s current needs, and your performance has not been adequate to justify further employment at the agency,” read the letters. At least 9,500 workers at the departments of Health and Human Services, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Interior and Agriculture have been fired by Trump, according to a tally from Reuters news agency. Another 75,000 workers have taken a buyout offered to get them to leave voluntarily, according to the White House. The cost-cutting initiative has been led by department of government efficiency, or Doge, a task force led by Elon Musk. Source link #Trump #Supreme #Court #appeal #test #power #fire #officials Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Can Europe conjure a united front on Ukraine’s future? Can Europe conjure a united front on Ukraine’s future? Getty Images French President Emmanuel Macron will be hosting European leaders in Paris for urgent talks on Ukraine’s future Europe’s leaders are scrambling. Their hastily convened security summit in Paris on Monday is proof of that. They are still reeling from not being invited by the US to talks with Russia over the future of Ukraine. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he could be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin “very soon”. Can Europe, under pressure, put political differences and domestic economic concerns aside, and come up with a united front on security spending and on Ukraine’s future, including potentially sending troops there – to force themselves a spot at the negotiating table? They are going to try. The Trump administration is clearly not 100% sure what it wants to do about Ukraine. There were a number of mixed messages over the weekend. This allows Europe a tiny window of opportunity to try to persuade the American president it’s an invaluable partner. It hopes to do that via this Paris meeting, getting the ball rolling on two major issues demanded by Donald Trump: That Europe spend and do more for its own defence, and that Europe send troops to Ukraine after a ceasefire. Europe’s leaders insist Kyiv be directly involved in ceasefire talks too. They’ve long maintained the view that “there can be no decisions about Ukraine, without Ukraine”. But it’s about even more than that for Europe. It is the cold realisation – much dreaded, but not entirely unexpected – that the Trump administration does not prioritise relations either with European partners, or their defence. Europe has relied on a security umbrella provided by the US since World War Two. Depending on the parameters of the Russia-US talks over Ukraine, and how emboldened Putin feels by them, there is also a European fear this could end up changing their continent’s security architecture. Putin historically resents the spread of Nato eastwards. Russian neighbours – the tiny, former Soviet Baltic States and also Poland – now feel particularly exposed. Not all European countries will be at Monday’s summit. Just those with military heft: the ***, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark – which is expected to represent the Baltic and Nordic nations, plus the EU Council president and the secretary general of the defence alliance, Nato. Other countries will reportedly have later, follow-up meetings. Even at the small Paris gathering, it will be hard, if not impossible, to agree concrete defence spending increases. Poland plans to spend 4.47% of its GDP on defence in 2025. The *** is struggling towards, and hasn’t yet reached, 2.5% of its GDP. But leaders can pledge to coordinate better, spend more inside Nato and shoulder most of Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. The EU is expected to bolster its defence effort too. A large part of the Paris meeting will also focus on the question of sending troops to Ukraine after a ceasefire. The idea being discussed is not for peacekeeping troops but rather a “reassurance force”, stationed behind, rather than on, any eventual ceasefire line. The aim of a European troop presence would be three-fold. To send a message to Ukrainians: that they are not alone. Another message to the US, to show that Europe is “doing its bit” for defence of its own continent, and the last message to Moscow, to warn that if it breaks the terms of an eventual ceasefire, it won’t be dealing with Kyiv alone. Getty Images Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian towns and cities have suffered heavy bombardment But it’s a controversial concept and may not be popular with voters. In Italy for example, 50% of people asked don’t want to send any more weapons to Ukraine, never mind sending sons and daughters, sisters and brothers there. There are so many as yet unanswered questions: How many troops would each European country have to send, for how long, and under whose command? What would their mission statement be – for example if Russia broke the terms of an agreed ceasefire, would that mean European soldiers would be directly at war with Russia? Would the US have their back if so? Europe would want a US security guarantee before deploying soldiers to Ukraine. It may not get one. It’s far too much to be decided on Monday. And leaders, including *** Prime Minister Keir Starmer, come to Paris with their own domestic concerns – can they afford extra defence spending, do they have the troops to send to Ukraine? Germany is nervous about making concrete commitments just before a heated general election. But this summit is more broad brushstrokes than fine print. The conversation can at least get started publicly. Will Donald Trump be paying attention? Hard to know. There’s talk of sending an envoy to Washington after the Paris meeting to make Europe’s case. Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, is close to the Trump administration, for example. Sir Keir Starmer has a planned visit to Washington in a few days. This could be his chance to act as a bridge between Europe and the US. The Paris meeting also offers an opportunity for the *** and other European leaders to further mend relations after the bitterness of Brexit. Mark Leonard, head of the European Council on Foreign Relations, notes that Starmer could “demonstrate that Britain is a responsible stakeholder for European security … Something that will be noticed and translate into goodwill when it comes to negotiations on other issues”. Issues like trade relations and law enforcement co-operation which the *** hopes to improve with the EU going forward. Host nation France is feeling confident. President Macron has long advocated that Europe be less reliant on outside countries for supply chains, tech capabilities and very much so when it comes to defence. He made headlines a year ago by first mooting the idea of troops on the ground in Ukraine. France is “fiercely proud” that its intelligence and security services are not intertwined with the US, unlike the ***, says Georgina Wright, deputy director for international studies at the Institut Montaigne. That makes it less complicated to untangle, now that Trump is in the White House, demanding that Europe take care of itself. Getty Images The summit in Paris follows the Munich Security Conference, where US declarations caused discord among European leaders The US has sent a document to European allies consisting of six points and questions, such as which countries would be willing to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a peace settlement, and which governments would be prepared to increase sanctions on Russia, including more strictly enforcing existing ones. But Julianne Smith, until recently the US ambassador to Nato, says this kind of complicated diplomatic work normally takes weeks of meetings and can’t be organised by filled-in forms. She adds that whatever Europe’s leaders achieve in Paris, if they use that to demand a seat at the negotiating table over Ukraine, their hand is weak. “If Trump blinks and says no, does Europe refuse to help altogether? They can’t cut off their nose to spite their face.” Essentially, if the US plans to turn away from Ukraine and from Europe more broadly in terms of security, they will have to significantly up their defence game anyway. If Donald Trump isn’t watching, Vladimir Putin certainly is. Source link #Europe #conjure #united #front #Ukraines #future Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dodd warns Souths attack won’t hit top gear immediately Dodd warns Souths attack won’t hit top gear immediately Lewis Dodd has warned it will take time for South Sydney’s combinations to click, but insists the Rabbitohs have the attacking balance to regain their strike. Dodd featured in his first game for Souths in Saturday’s pre-season loss to Manly, playing close to 65 minutes in a side largely made up of fringe first-graders. The halfback had 26 touches, with his most significant impact being a cross-field kick that was dropped over the line by centre Declan Casey. He also put Casey into a hole from inside his own half in the lead up to a long-range try late in the match. The No.7 is expected to line up again in the Charity Shield against St George Illawarra on Saturday, with more regular NRL starters expected to feature. Dodd will be one of the most scrutinised players in the competition this year, arriving from England and trying to take the foundation club back to the finals. But his preparations have not been helped by Cody Walker’s calf injury, limiting the involvement of Dodd’s halves partner at training for the past month. Walker is considered some chance of facing the Dolphins in round one on March 7. “It will take time for not only me, but all of us, to get to a level we’re confident in that can go far and deep into a finals run,” Dodd said. “It was good to get out there and blow the cobwebs out a little bit leading into next week and round one. “When you’ve got the calibre of players we’ve got here it’s pretty easy (to build combinations). “They’re good people as well. When you’re off the field you can enjoy them, when you’re on the field you can work. “I am very lucky we have some of the biggest superstars in the NRL here and hopefully we get a few of them back week by week and build those connections.” Dodd expects the most significant differences between the NRL and Super League were the need to be patient and ice a higher percentage of chances. The 23-year-old was largely error free on Saturday, solid without adding any significant injection to the Rabbitohs’ attack. Playing on the right edge, the left-footer took on the bulk of the kicking and regularly put Manly in their own corner in the first half. “You’d like to score a lot of tries and put a load of assists on. But one thing I’ve learned is you’re not going to get many chances against top sides,” Dodd said. “It is a percentage game over here and it is a test of your discipline and not just your skill. “You’ve got to be willing to get to the fifth play and kick in the corner and chase, and you’ve got to be willing to do that for 65 or 75 minutes.” Source link #Dodd #warns #Souths #attack #wont #hit #top #gear #immediately Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Modesto man who beat young robbery victim with metal bat in Turlock park guilty of ******* Modesto man who beat young robbery victim with metal bat in Turlock park guilty of ******* A Modesto man, one of four defendants originally charged in the 2017 beating death of a young man in Turlock’s Donnelly Park, has been convicted of ******* and multiple robberies, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office reported. Shaun Mark Santos, 29, is set to be sentenced April 7 and faces life in prison, according to a news release. On Dec. 4 of that year, Santos and three others who’d committed violent robberies the month prior went to Donnelly Park to find more victims. They approached Cameron Tracy, age 21, and his girlfriend. The robbers brandished a replica gun and ordered the victims to strip and hand over all of their belongings. At some point, Santos got behind Tracy and repeatedly struck him in the back of the head with a metal bat. Tracy’s girlfriend was able to escape and contact 911. Santos and the other suspects stole Tracy’s Apple watch, car keys and cellphone before fleeing. Tracy was taken to a hospital, where he died more than a week later. The Turlock Police Department investigated, resulting in the capture of the four suspects, who detectives were able to connect to the previous violent robberies. Another of the defendants pleaded guilty in January 2020 to a lesser charge, voluntary manslaughter, and was sentenced to six years in prison. “The resolution of the case against Terry Van Meter for voluntary manslaughter was … based on the fact that he was not the actual killer,” a deputy district attorney told The Bee at the time. Van Meter, a Manteca resident, was 16 at the time of the attack on Tracy. Van Meter, Santos and Modesto resident Lavinia Perez, then 38, were charged with ******* and two counts of robbery for the attack on Tracy and his girlfriend, as well as with two other robberies at the park the week before. A 15-year-old from Modesto was also arrested. The day Tracy was killed, he and his family were packing up to move to Utah four days later, according to Bee reporting of Van Meter’s conviction. No information was immediately available last week from the DA’s Office on the status of Perez’s case or that of the 15-year-old charged in the crimes. The Bee in 2020 reported that the youngest defendant’s case would remain in juvenile court because he was under 16 at the time of the killing. Source link #Modesto #man #beat #young #robbery #victim #metal #bat #Turlock #park #guilty #******* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. and Russian officials to discuss how to end Ukraine war – The Washington Post U.S. and Russian officials to discuss how to end Ukraine war – The Washington Post U.S. and Russian officials to discuss how to end Ukraine war The Washington PostSaudi Arabia to host US-Russia talks on Ukraine, as *** says it’s ‘ready and willing’ to put troops on ground CNNTrump says he could meet Putin ‘soon’ as Ukraine, Europe reel from outreach Al Jazeera EnglishUkraine, Europe will be part of ‘real’ peace talks, says Rubio, as US weighs Putin’s motives ReutersRubio leading US delegation to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russia on Ukraine, according to AP source The Associated Press Source link #U.S #Russian #officials #discuss #Ukraine #war #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ref standards prompt Macarthur captain Germain to quit Ref standards prompt Macarthur captain Germain to quit Macarthur’s bid for an A-League Men finals berth has been dealt a hammer blow, with captain Valere Germain citing *********** refereeing standards as reason to terminate his contract. Bulls officials confirmed to AAP that Germain’s request has been granted, with the 34-year-old forward expected to take up a contract offer in Japan. Germain was due to face a Football Australia (FA) hearing this week after being handed a show-cause notice for allegedly making a lewd gesture at an FA match official. But Macarthur have since advised FA they would not be pursuing their appeal, with Germain asking for and receiving a release. It is not the first time Germain has fallen foul of *********** match officials, missing the club’s Australia Cup final win after being sent off in a semi-final win over South Melbourne earlier this season. While his hot-headedness has landed him trouble, there is no doubting the Frenchman has been a valuable member of the Bulls squad since his arrival from Europe for the start of the 2023-24 season. The striker has registered 19 goals across 45 ALM games and Macarthur have been pleased with his mentoring of the club’s young players. Jed Drew and Ariath Piol have secured overseas moves since coming into the Macarthur first team and playing alongside Germain. With Piol, Drew and now Germain leaving, Macarthur’s frontline is set to undergo a major shift as coach Mile Sterjovski tries to keep the Campbelltown-based club in the hunt for the finals. Macarthur are seventh on the ALM ladder on goal difference but have just one win in their past five outings following Sunday’s defeat to the eight-placed Western Sydney Wanderers. Source link #Ref #standards #prompt #Macarthur #captain #Germain #quit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Uganda military chief threatens to attack eastern Congo town of Bunia Uganda military chief threatens to attack eastern Congo town of Bunia NAIROBI (Reuters) – Uganda will attack the town of Bunia in neighbouring eastern Congo unless “all forces” there surrender their arms within 24 hours, the chief of Ugandan defence forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, said in a post on X on Saturday. Kainerugaba, who has a history of posting provocative comments on foreign policy, said he had the authority of President Yoweri Museveni, who is also his father. A spokesman for Uganda’s military said he could not comment on the matter. Earlier on Saturday, Kainerugaba had said, without providing evidence, that people from the Bahima ethnic group were being killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 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. “My people, the Bahima are being attacked. That’s a very dangerous situation for those attacking my people. No one on this earth can kill my people and think he will not suffer for it!” he said. “Bunia will soon be in UPDF hands,” he said in a separate post, referring to the Uganda People’s Defence Force. Congo’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa told Reuters on the sidelines of an African Union summit on Saturday that her government had “no comment to make” on Kainerugaba’s remarks. The threat from Uganda’s top military officer, who is widely believed to be Museveni’s heir apparent, has stoked fears that a conflict between Congolese forces and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels could flare into a wider regional war. On Friday, an M23 leader said the rebels had entered Bukavu, the second-largest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, following the capture of Goma, the largest city, at the end of last month. Citing U.N. sources, Reuters reported earlier in February that Uganda had deployed more than 1,000 extra soldiers in eastern Congo under the auspices of an operation to help Congo fight Islamist militants. But U.N. experts say Uganda has also backed the ethnic Tutsi-led M23. ‘SENDING A MESSAGE’ Kainerugaba has been publicly supportive of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, who has denied accusations that Rwandan troops are fighting alongside M23. In 2022, Kainerugaba referred to M23 as “brothers of ours” fighting for the rights of Tutsis in Congo. Observers said the posts were aimed at sending a message about Uganda’s economic and geopolitical interests in Congo’s Ituri province, of which Bunia is the capital. “Uganda seems to be sending a message that it’s claiming ‘its territory’,” Kristof Titeca, a professor at the University of Antwerp, told Reuters. “All of this is concerningly similar to 1998 and the Second Congolese war, when there was a similar division of territory among Uganda and Rwanda.” Kainerugaba routinely makes inflammatory posts on social media, including a threat in 2022 to invade neighbouring Kenya. Last month Kainerugaba said he wanted to behead Uganda’s most prominent opposition leader, Bobi Wine. He later apologised for that threat and sometimes says that certain posts are meant ironically. (Reporting by Nairobi newsroom; additional reporting by Sonia Rolley in Paris and Dawit Endeshaw in Addis Ababa; writing by Ammu Kannampilly; editing by Kirsten Donovan and Gareth Jones) Source link #Uganda #military #chief #threatens #attack #eastern #Congo #town #Bunia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Musk's DOGE seeks access to IRS database housing Americans' tax information, sources tell ABC News – ABC7 Los Angeles Musk's DOGE seeks access to IRS database housing Americans' tax information, sources tell ABC News – ABC7 Los Angeles Musk’s DOGE seeks access to IRS database housing Americans’ tax information, sources tell ABC News ABC7 Los AngelesMusk’s DOGE seeks access to personal taxpayer data, raising alarm at IRS The Washington PostElon Musk’s DOGE asks for access to IRS taxpayer data, sources say ABC NewsIRS Memo Sets Stage for Musk Adviser to Access Taxpayer Data Bloomberg Source link #Musk039s #DOGE #seeks #access #IRS #database #housing #Americans039 #tax #information #sources #ABC #News #ABC7 #Los #Angeles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lendlease back in ****** but warns of construction hiccups Lendlease back in ****** but warns of construction hiccups Property giant Lendlease has limped back to the ****** as it tries to focus on its *********** development and investment operations after a series of costly foreign forays. Posting a $48 million profit for the December half, the Sydney-based group claimed to have made “strong progress” on its focus on higher-performing businesses unveiled in May last year. The modest profit compares with a loss of $136m for the December half of 2023 and a massive improvement on the $1.5 billion bottom line losses after Lendlease acted on an investor revolt over failed ***, US and European forays. And Lendlease is preparing to take on the *********** Tax Office over $120m of assessments for allegedly unpaid capital gains tax on the partial sales of its retirement living operation. In notes to the profit result, Lendlease said it had received “independent legal advice” on its position and it believed its tax treatment on its retirement village dealing was in line with the law and a ruling by the tax office in 2022. Lendlease would “contest the matter through litigation” if its objections to the tax office were unsuccessful. “The group intends to vigorously defend its position,” it told the stock exchange. Former Bunnings boss John Gillam took over from Michael Ullmer as Lendlease chair in November last year as investors forced action over plunging profits and the share price falling by two-thirds this decade. The latest result shows the construction division is still battling, suffering a a $26m loss as revenue slipped by $331m to $1.55b. Chief executive Tony Lombardo said material costs inflation and subcontractor issues hit profits, pointing to two projects having “negatively impacted financial performance”. While not identifying those two projects, Mr Lombardo said his team was in the “process of recovering some of those losses” related to fixed price *********** contracts secured in 2020/21. “Some of those discussions are commercially in confidence,” he said. “There’s been supply chain, insolvencies and productivity issues. They’ve been impacted by hyper inflation in construction.” Mr Gillam said the problems with the projects were identified “well after” Lendlease released its full -year results in August and he expected the *********** construction division to be profitable in the second half. “We believe that, based on the thorough review of all projects, that the problems isolated these two projects,” he said. The Lendlease bosses said in the results announcement to the stock exchange that known loss-making projects would completed in the June half and project losses had been fully recognised in the December half result. The Lendlease development segment enjoyed a $95m half-year net profit, up from a $29m loss, thanks in large part of settlements on two big apartment projects beside Sydney Harbour. Mr Gillam and Mr Lombardo painted an optimistic picture for the developments division, saying it was well-placed for new mixed-use and residential projects. Lendlease shares were trading about 1.2 per cent down on Monday morning. Source link #Lendlease #****** #warns #construction #hiccups Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Serial dollar store burglar caught in the act, says JSO Serial dollar store burglar caught in the act, says JSO A man accused of robbing several dollar stores in Jacksonville has been arrested, according to police. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says the first break-in happened earlier this month at a dollar store on Blanding Blvd. Surveillance video obtained by police reportedly showed 36-year-old Michael Wilt smashing the glass front door, breaking open a display case, and stealing cigarettes. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Similar cases were later reported at several other dollar stores in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JSO says its District 4 Violent Crime Task Force managed to catch Wilt while staking out a store on 103rd street. He was arrested on February 6th, according to JSO jail logs, after being observed breaking the front door of that location the same way. Wilt is being charged with grand theft, resisting an officer, and at least 7 counts of burglary. Read: Wreckage of plane in deadly Flagler County ****** being transported to Jacksonville Read: Structures at site of new Jacksonville Fairgrounds partially collapse during storm [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Source link #Serial #dollar #store #burglar #caught #act #JSO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rubio meets with Netanyahu in Israel Rubio meets with Netanyahu in Israel Rubio meets with Netanyahu in Israel – CBS News Watch CBS News Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Sunday to discuss Middle East policy. Rubio and Netanyahu appeared to signal they will move ahead with the controversial plan to try to move the entire population of Gaza out of the territory. Chris Livesay reports. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #Rubio #meets #Netanyahu #Israel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

South Korea’s data protection authority suspends local service of DeepSeek South Korea’s data protection authority suspends local service of DeepSeek Deepseek’s logo on Jan. 29, 2025. Andrey Rudakov | Bloomberg | Getty Images South Korea’s data protection authority on Monday said it had temporarily suspended the domestic service of ******** AI app DeepSeek since Saturday. The service of the app will be resumed once improvements are made in accordance with the country’s privacy law, the authority said in a media briefing. Source link #South #Koreas #data #protection #authority #suspends #local #service #DeepSeek Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PM 'ready' to put troops on ground in Ukraine to protect peace – Yahoo PM 'ready' to put troops on ground in Ukraine to protect peace – Yahoo PM ‘ready’ to put troops on ground in Ukraine to protect peace YahooUK military too ‘run down’ to lead Ukraine peace mission – ex-Army chief BBC.comUK ‘ready’ to send peace-keepers to Ukraine, PM Starmer says POLITICO EuropeUK Prime Minister Keir Starmer willing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after war USA TODAYEU Seeks a Military Revival Under Pressure From Putin and Trump Bloomberg Source link #039ready039 #put #troops #ground #Ukraine #protect #peace #Yahoo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

More federal workers expected to be laid off More federal workers expected to be laid off More federal workers expected to be laid off – CBS News Watch CBS News Thousands more federal workers are expected to be laid off next week as President Trump continues his effort to shrink the federal workforce. But his plans are facing dozens of lawsuits nationwide, with critics saying some of his administration’s actions are ********. ******* James Inman reports. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link #federal #workers #expected #laid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The treasure trove of art worth billions ‘hidden’ in Tehran The treasure trove of art worth billions ‘hidden’ in Tehran Armen Nersessian BBC World Service Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images The collection includes Jackson Pollock’s Mural On Indian Red Ground It has been dubbed one of the world’s rarest treasure troves of art but few people outside its host country know about it. For decades, masterpieces by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock have been kept in the basement of a museum in Iran’s capital Tehran, shrouded in mystery. According to estimates in 2018, the collection is worth as much as $3bn. Only a small portion of the work has been exhibited since the 1979 Iranian Revolution but in recent years, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art has been showcasing some of its most captivating pieces. The Eye to Eye exhibition at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, which opened in October 2024, was extended twice due to overwhelming public demand, running until January 2025. The display was widely regarded as one of the most significant exhibitions in the history of the museum, and it also became its most visited. The showcase featured more than 15 works unveiled for the first time, including a sculpture by Jean Dubuffet – marking its first-ever appearance in an Iranian exhibition. Fatemeh Bahrami/Getty Images Some of Pablo Picasso’s works have been displayed in the museum From abstract expressionism to pop art, the collection at the museum serves as a time capsule of pivotal artistic movements. Among the artwork is Warhol’s portrait of Farah Pahlavi – Iran’s last queen – a rare piece blending his pop art flair with Iranian cultural history. Elsewhere, Francis Bacon’s work called Two Figures Lying on a Bed with Attendants shows figures appearing to spy on two naked men lying on a bed. On the opposite wall in the basement of the museum, a portrait of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is on display in juxtaposition. Atta Kenare/Getty Images A portrait of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini faces works by the late artist Francis Bacon The museum was built in 1977 under the patronage of Pahlavi, the exiled widow of the last Shah of Iran who was overthrown during the revolution. Pahlavi was a passionate art advocate and her cousin, architect Kamran Diba, designed the museum. It was established to introduce modern art to Iranians and to bridge Iran closer to the international art scene. Alex Bowie/Getty Images Andy Warhol’s portrait of Farah Pahlavi in her former residence in Tehran in 1979 The museum soon became home to a stunning array of works by luminaries including Picasso, Warhol and Salvador Dali, alongside pieces by leading Iranian modernists, and quickly established itself as a beacon of cultural exchange and artistic ambition. But then came the 1979 revolution. Iran became an Islamic republic as the monarchy was overthrown and clerics assumed political control under Ayatollah Khomeini. Many artworks were deemed inappropriate for public display because of nudity, religious sensitivities or political implications. Kamran Diba The construction of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art was completed in 1977 Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Gabrielle with Open Blouse was deemed too scandalous. And Warhol’s portrait of the former queen of Iran was too political. In fact, Pahlavi’s portrait was vandalised and torn apart with a knife during the revolutionary turmoil. After the revolution, many of the artworks were locked away, collecting dust in a basement that became the stuff of art world legend. Morteza Nikoubazl/Getty Images A detail of a self-portrait by Dutch painter Rembrandt on display It was only in the late 1990s that the museum reclaimed its cultural significance during the reformist presidency of Mohammad Khatami. Suddenly the world remembered what it had been missing. Art lovers could not believe their eyes. Van Gogh, Dali, even Monet – all in Tehran. Some pieces were loaned to major exhibitions in Europe and the United States, briefly reconnecting the collection with the global art world. Hamid Keshmirshekan, an art historian based in London, has studied the collection and calls it “one of the rarest treasure troves of modern art outside the West”. Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images Sculptures by Henry Moore in the grounds of the museum The collection includes Henry’s Moore’s Reclining Figure series – an iconic piece by one of Britain’s most celebrated sculptors – and Jackson Pollock’s Mural on Indian Red Ground, a vibrant example of the American’s painting technique pulsing with energy and emotion. Picasso’s The Painter and His Model – his largest canvas from 1927 – also features, a strong example of his abstract works from the post-cubism *******. And there is Van Gogh’s At Eternity’s Gate – one of the very rare survivals of his first printmaking campaign during which he produced six lithographs in November 1882. Fatemeh Bahrami/Getty Images Visitors view Vincent Van Gogh’s At Eternity’s Gate But for art lovers in Britain, the collection is out of reach. The *** Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran and says British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention. Having a British passport or connections to the *** can be reason enough for detention by the Iranian authorities, it says. Challenges remain for the museum which operates under a tight budget. Shifting political priorities mean that it often functions more as a cultural hub than a traditional museum. Yet it continues to be a remarkable institution – an unlikely guardian of modern art masterpieces in the heart of Tehran. Source link #treasure #trove #art #worth #billions #hidden #Tehran Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Cleared of serious damage’: Taniela Paseka given the green light for round 1 after injury setback in the trials ‘Cleared of serious damage’: Taniela Paseka given the green light for round 1 after injury setback in the trials The Sea Eagles are breathing a huge sigh of relief with confirmation towering prop Taniela Paseka is available for their season opener after he was cleared of serious damage to his shoulder. There were fears Manly’s man mountain would miss the game against the Cowboys on March 8, but the club has confirmed he’s in no doubt for the round 1 clash. “Taniela Paseka will be available for round 1 in the NRL premiership after sustaining a minor injury in Saturday’s Pre-season Challenge match against the Rabbitohs,” a club statement read. “The Sea Eagles prop left the field clutching his left shoulder but has since been cleared of serious damage, suffering a grade one AC joint injury. “Paseka is unavailable for Friday night’s trial against the Panthers but will be ready for the team’s season-opener against the Cowboys.” Source link #Cleared #damage #Taniela #Paseka #green #light #injury #setback #trials Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New details emerge in deadly D.C. plane ****** New details emerge in deadly D.C. plane ****** The National Transportation Safety Board has released a minute-by-minute report of the deadly midair collision between a military ****** Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane near Ronald Reagan National Airport. The report was created with flight data and recovered ****** box recorders. Source link #details #emerge #deadly #D.C #plane #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Steve Martin opens ‘SNL’ 50th special with hilarious monologue featuring ********* Martin Short dragged away by ICE – New York Post Steve Martin opens ‘SNL’ 50th special with hilarious monologue featuring ********* Martin Short dragged away by ICE – New York Post Steve Martin opens ‘SNL’ 50th special with hilarious monologue featuring ********* Martin Short dragged away by ICE New York Post SNL 50 Red Carpet Fashion: See Every Celebrity Arrive (Live Updates) E! NEWSSabrina Carpenter, Paul Simon Perform Tender ‘Homeward Bound’ to Open ‘SNL50’ Rolling StoneStars come out for ‘SNL’ 50th anniversary special CNN Source link #Steve #Martin #opens #SNL #50th #special #hilarious #monologue #featuring #********* #Martin #Short #dragged #ICE #York #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Relief in Karratha as Cyclone Zeila spares city while south-east Pilbara faces flood destruction Relief in Karratha as Cyclone Zeila spares city while south-east Pilbara faces flood destruction Karratha locals breathed a sigh of relief as unpredictable Cyclone Zeila spared the city, while the category four system made landfall about 12.30pm on Friday about 55km north-east of Port Hedland. Source link #Relief #Karratha #Cyclone #Zeila #spares #city #southeast #Pilbara #faces #flood #destruction Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

S$0.052 (vs S$0.046 in 1H 2024) S$0.052 (vs S$0.046 in 1H 2024) Revenue: S$78.8m (up 4.7% from 1H 2024). Net income: S$12.1m (up 12% from 1H 2024). Profit margin: 15% (up from 14% in 1H 2024). The increase in margin was driven by higher revenue. EPS: S$0.052 (up from S$0.046 in 1H 2024). SGX:BQM Earnings and Revenue Growth February 17th 2025 All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) ******* Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 7.1% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 11% growth forecast for the Commercial Services industry in Asia. Performance of the market in Singapore. The company’s shares are down 4.2% from a week ago. You should always think about risks. Case in point, we’ve spotted 1 warning sign for Tiong Woon Corporation Holding you should be aware of. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Source link #S0.052 #S0.046 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chance for wintry mix in the Piedmont Triad next week – WGHP FOX8 Greensboro Chance for wintry mix in the Piedmont Triad next week – WGHP FOX8 Greensboro Chance for wintry mix in the Piedmont Triad next week WGHP FOX8 GreensboroWeather Impact Alert: Wintry mix in Charlotte Wednesday and Thursday WCNC.comFirst Alert Weather Day Wednesday for winter weather potential Fox Carolina Source link #Chance #wintry #mix #Piedmont #Triad #week #WGHP #FOX8 #Greensboro Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Mega money’: MP accused of lie over slice of $48m deal ‘Mega money’: MP accused of lie over slice of $48m deal Disgraced former MP Daryl Maguire lied about his expected cut of a $48 million property after recorded calls revealed he asked a contact to push for a higher commission, a court has been told. The former member for Wagga Wagga – whose clandestine relationship with ex-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian helped lead to her political downfall – is facing one charge of giving misleading evidence to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption in July 2018. A three-day hearing that began in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Monday was played a covertly recorded phone call between Maguire and then-Canterbury councillor Michael Hawatt from May 2016. Maguire could be heard telling Hawatt he had a buyer interested in major residential developments, which the court heard was a ********-owned company, Country Garden. “Can you do me a favour, I need a few things to feed my friends,” the Liberal politician said in the call. “What have you got on your books? Have you got anything DA-approved?” The pair then discussed a particular development in Campsie, in Sydney’s inner southwest, before Maguire asked: “What’s the margin in it for you?” The development involved 300 units priced at up to $160,000 each, the court heard, which the pair calculated equalled a total ***** of $48 million. Hawatt said he expected to receive up to two per cent of the proceeds for selling the units on behalf of property developer Charbel Demian. “That’s alright. That’s better than nothing,” Maguire said in the call. “It’s a quick f***ing *****. My client is mega big and has got mega money.” Hawatt then suggested the commission might be as high as three per cent, an amount Maguire urged him to pursue. “1.5 per cent isn’t enough divided by two, if you know what I’m talking about,” Maguire said. Prosecutors allege these statements were evidence Maguire was expecting to be paid and his later denials to ICAC were misleading enough to have a material impact on its investigation. “The evidence demonstrates that Mr Maguire believed that he and Mr Hawatt would share a commission if they identified property that could be purchased by Country Garden,” prosecutor Phil Hogan told the court. The recording of the call was made by ICAC under Operation Dasha, which probed allegations of corruption at the local council and whether then-councillors dishonestly exercised their official functions over planning proposals and applications. Maguire resigned from NSW parliament in 2018 after a separate ICAC investigation, which also led to his secret romantic relationship with Ms Berejiklian coming to light. She also stood down from her role and was later found by ICAC to have breached public trust in failing to disclose the relationship. Speaking outside court before Monday’s hearing, Maguire said he continued to deny the allegations of misleading ICAC and maintained his plea of not guilty. “It’s nearly seven years since I was invited by ICAC to give evidence as a witness and not as a person of interest,” he said. “I’ve always maintained that I did not give misleading evidence. “My legal team will be putting my case to the magistrate.” The hearing continues. Source link #Mega #money #accused #lie #slice #48m #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Meta Platforms and Google Just Shared Fantastic News for Broadcom Investors Meta Platforms and Google Just Shared Fantastic News for Broadcom Investors Big tech is planning a massive spending spree in 2025. Four of the largest tech companies in the world are targeting a combined $320 billion in capital expenditures (capex) this year, and most of that spending will go toward building and refreshing artificial intelligence (AI) data centers for training and using generative AI. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) is sure to be a big winner from all of that spending. Practically all of the big tech companies reiterated the importance of their relationships with the leading designer of graphics processing units (GPUs). But comments from the management of Meta Platforms and Google parent Alphabet suggested a bright future for another chipmaker. Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) could end up being a big winner from the increase in spending by big tech in 2025 and beyond. Here’s what Meta and Google said, and what it means for Broadcom investors. Image source: Getty Images. Broadcom makes a lot of different types of semiconductors. When it comes to AI data centers, it plays an essential role. It makes chips for network switches, the devices that make sure data moves quickly and efficiently among servers. In effect, Broadcom’s chips make sure Nvidia’s chips are working as effectively as possible in Meta’s and Google’s data centers. But Broadcom also makes some other chips that Meta and Google deploy in their data centers. Its technology is behind Meta’s custom AI chip, the Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA). Google, meanwhile, has been working with Broadcom since 2015 to develop its Tensor Processing Unit (TPU). Both Meta and Google had good things to say about their custom chips during their fourth-quarter earnings calls. During Meta’s call, chief financial officer Susan Li told analysts: “In 2024, we started deploying MTIA to our ranking and recommendation influence workloads for ads and organic content. We expect to further ramp adoption of MTIA for these use cases throughout 2025.” Over the long run, Meta sees its chips taking over more and more of its AI data centers from Nvidia and general GPUs. “Next year, we’re hoping to expand MTIA to support some of our core AI training workloads, and over time, some of our GenAI use cases,” Li said later in the call. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said that in the fourth quarter, “We saw strong uptake of Trillium, our sixth-generation TPU.” The company only launched its newest TPUs to the general public in December, giving developers less than three weeks to ramp up use before the end of the quarter. So, the comments suggest 2025 could be a big year for TPUs. Story Continues Custom AI accelerator chips are more efficient than general-purpose GPUs for many types of AI workloads. As big tech scales up its data centers, eking out small efficiencies can have a big impact on the bottom line. As a result, expanding the uses for custom chips and having full control over the technology stack become increasingly important as capex budgets grow. Alphabet and Meta aren’t the only companies partnering with Broadcom to build custom AI accelerators. TikTok parent company ByteDance is one of its three largest customers. And during the fourth-quarter earnings call, Broadcom management announced two new customers building their own next-generation chips with its help. Many believe those are Apple and OpenAI. Apple is notably a fan of Broadcom’s chips. It used Google’s previous-generation TPUs to train its Apple Intelligence system last year. A push by Apple to take more control of its AI training and development could quickly turn it into one of Broadcom’s biggest customers. The company expects the market for custom AI accelerators to grow to between $60 billion and $90 billion within three years. Last year, Broadcom accounted for roughly 70% of custom AI accelerators and generated about $12 billion in sales. For reference, its total sales across its diversified operations for 2024 were just $51.6 billion, so the growth in AI chips alone could nearly double its revenue if it maintains its share of the market. But even with a bright future, valuation still matters. Broadcom’s stock trades for 37 times forward earnings as of this writing. And while the chipmaker is poised to see very strong earnings growth over the next few years, it’s hard to justify paying such a premium for the stock. If the stock price came down to a value closer to 30 times 2025 earnings, it may be worth buying considering analysts expect more than 30% earnings growth this year, giving it a price/earnings-to-growth ratio of around 1. Or if adoption of Broadcom’s custom chips proves even stronger than expected at this point as Meta and Google look to expand their use in their data centers, it could end up growing into that valuation. Broadcom is certainly a company and a stock to keep an eye on for investors interested in the future of artificial intelligence. But right now, it’s too expensive to recommend buying. Before you buy stock in Broadcom, 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 Broadcom 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 $850,946!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 959% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list. Learn more » *Stock Advisor returns as of February 7, 2025 Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Adam Levy has positions in Alphabet and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Meta Platforms and Google Just Shared Fantastic News for Broadcom Investors was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Meta #Platforms #Google #Shared #Fantastic #News #Broadcom #Investors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds step out for ‘SNL’ 50th anniversary special amid Justin Baldoni legal battle – CNN Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds step out for ‘SNL’ 50th anniversary special amid Justin Baldoni legal battle – CNN Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds step out for ‘SNL’ 50th anniversary special amid Justin Baldoni legal battle CNNBlake Lively, Ryan Reynolds Make Red Carpet Appearance At ‘SNL50’ Anniversary Special Amid Justin Baldoni Dispute Yahoo EntertainmentBlake Lively Looks Dazzling in First Red Carpet Appearance Since Justin Baldoni Lawsuit CosmopolitanBlake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Make Appearance at ‘SNL’ 50th Special amid Justin Baldoni Legal Battle PEOPLE Source link #Blake #Lively #Ryan #Reynolds #step #SNL #50th #anniversary #special #Justin #Baldoni #legal #battle #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]