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Perth Lynx finish second on WNBL ladder as Alex Ciabattoni hits overtime match winner against Townsville Fire Perth Lynx finish second on WNBL ladder as Alex Ciabattoni hits overtime match winner against Townsville Fire Perth Lynx veteran Alex Ciabattoni has nailed the biggest shot of her career to win her team the game in overtime against Townsville Fire and take second spot on the WNBL ladder. WATCH IT HERE Source link #Perth #Lynx #finish #WNBL #ladder #Alex #Ciabattoni #hits #overtime #match #winner #Townsville #Fire Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

In Europe, ordinary Russians are shunned by wary banks In Europe, ordinary Russians are shunned by wary banks FRANKFURT/LONDON (Reuters) – When Svetlana Sarantseva moved to Portugal from Singapore in 2021, she was looking forward to starting a family and working as a nutrition coach on the Azores archipelago. Having left her native Russia 30 years earlier, little did she imagine that sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine war would turn something as mundane as opening a bank account into an ordeal. Sarantseva is one of thousands of Russians living in the European Union who have struggled to open a bank account or had one closed since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine – even though they are not subject to any sanctions themselves. 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. While wary banks increase scrutiny of anyone with a Russian passport, their zeal runs up against EU rules stating that all the bloc’s legal residents are entitled to a basic account. Reuters has spoken to around two dozen Russian expats or their lawyers, in countries from Portugal to Finland. They include students, a mother of two who has lived in Germany for 20 years and two Russian opposition activists. The reasons banks provide for denying service vary. Sarantseva has contacted six banks since April 2022. She was told by online bank Moey! that only Portuguese citizens could open an account. Rival N26 wrote she could not have a joint account with her ******* husband due to her nationality. Bankinter cited a “lack of commercial interest”. “I knew they would ask a lot of questions but I never expected I’d be rejected,” the 45-year-old told Reuters on a video call. Asked to comment, N26 said it “must adhere to strict industry standards and guidelines, which vary depending on nationality”. Moey! confirmed that it only works with Portuguese nationals but said its brick-and-mortar parent Credito Agricola serves “a wider range of residents”. Both banks declined to comment on individual customers. Bankinter did not respond to a request for comment. Those affected are far removed from the wealthy Russians who stashed billions of euros offshore in Cypriot banks until a decade ago, leading to 160,000 account closures since, according to the Cypriot Association of Commercial Banks. Left with no way of collecting their salary or transferring money, the Russians struggling to open accounts have borrowed from friends and family or even used cryptocurrencies to get by. Those that do obtain an account have often had to go to great lengths, for example by paying for lawyers to plead their case. Citizens from countries such as Iran and Syria, also targeted by sanctions, have long faced a similar plight but for Russians the problem is new. Gera Ugryumova, head of human rights group Iskra in Italy, said her organisation has helped reverse some 5,000 bank decisions against Russians and prepare court cases against 42 lenders since the Ukraine war started. TURNED DOWN In Poland on a humanitarian visa, Russian opposition activist Yuri Vasiliev has tried to open an account with PKO Bank Polski, Mbank and the local units of Santander, Credit Agricole and Citibank. They all turned him down. “Some said it was because of sanctions, some said because of an internal order, some demanded a residence permit, not just a visa,” the 28-year-old said. Credit Agricole Bank Poland said there was no rule barring Russian citizens but it “may refuse to open an account” under laws against money laundering and terrorism financing. The other four banks did not respond to requests for comment. A European Commission directive gives all legal residents the right to a bank account, regardless of whether they hold a residence permit or only a visa. Subsequent guidance specifies this includes Russians. Separately, Russians and Belarusians face a 100,000 euro deposit cap as part of sanctions against their countries unless they have a residence permit. These partly overlapping rules may be making banks overly cautious, lawyers told Reuters. “We think that banks’ legal departments are too nervous about not complying with the sanctions,” said Katja Fohrer, a lawyer at ******* firm Mattil. The European Commission said it was aware of cases in which banks turn down customers “to avoid higher burden for monitoring these accounts” or due to “uncertainty about sanctions”. Sarantseva’s husband, Stefan Zwanzger, complained to regulators and politicians in Portugal and his native Germany before finally managing to open a Portuguese account for his wife after reaching out to banking executives on social media. Germany’s financial regulator told Reuters it received hundreds of complaints every year from people who were turned down by banks and thousands about accounts being closed, but it did not keep a record of the nationality of the complainants. Banco de Portugal said there was no blanket ban on Russian customers who aren’t under sanctions, “without prejudice to (banks’) internal risk management policies”. The European Commission said it had not received many such complaints from Russian citizens but, when it did, it had followed them up with national authorities. (This story has been refiled to complete the sentence in paragraph 24) (Additional reporting by Anne Kauranen in Helsinki and Michele Kambas in Nicosia; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) Source link #Europe #ordinary #Russians #shunned #wary #banks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Latest On Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching Rehab – MLB Trade Rumors Latest On Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching Rehab – MLB Trade Rumors Latest On Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching Rehab MLB Trade RumorsDodgers’ Ohtani throws first bullpen of spring ESPNDodgers’ Shohei Ohtani hits 92-94 mph in 14-pitch bullpen session, making Dave Roberts optimistic Yahoo SportsOhtani throws 1st ‘pen session at camp: ‘The ball was coming out really good’ MLB.com‘Unique’: How the Dodgers will have to get ‘very creative’ with Shohei Ohtani’s rehab The Athletic Source link #Latest #Shohei #Ohtanis #Pitching #Rehab #MLB #Trade #Rumors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

West Coast Eagles practice match: Squad named for Richmond clash as Archer Reid eyes big impact West Coast Eagles practice match: Squad named for Richmond clash as Archer Reid eyes big impact Archer Reid will get a golden chance to stake a claim for an early-season West Coast debut, with the young forward set for a prominent role in a Jake Waterman-less attack against Richmond on Monday. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL EAGLES SQUAD It comes as the teenager admitted it had been an adjustment to put on size and bulk for his sophomore year on an AFL list after being drafted as a “little, skinny bloke”. Reid has impressed West Coast’s coaching staff and teammates this pre-season, with the 203cm forward predicted for big things as part of the next generation at the Eagles. And a strong showing against the young Tigers could thrust him into the frame to play alongside mentors Oscar Allen and Waterman in a new-look attack this year. West Coast have left out several big names for Monday’s scratch match against the Tigers, with midfield star Harley Reid, reigning club champion Jeremy McGovern and All-*********** forward Waterman all sidelined. Recruits Liam Baker, Matt Owies and Jack Graham will all play for the side for the first time, while top draft pick Bo Allan is also set to feature. Elijah Hewett was also named in the squad of 25 after missing all of last year with a foot injury. Drafted with pick No.30 in 2023, Reid’s first season was hindered by a partially torn ACL, but he built into his WAFL campaign strongly and finished with 17 goals in 15 games at the lower level. He’s looking to take the next step this year, starting with making the most of his chances against an inexperienced Tigers outfit at Mineral Resources Park. “I can only really hope for it,” Archer said of a potential debut. “I’ve put a lot of work in the off-season and pre-season. I’ve really just tried to improve every day. “I really just want to show that I can compete with other teams and I will go out there and give it my all.” Camera IconReid in action at WAFL level last year. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West *********** Reid said he had been buoyed by playing the remainder of last season at WAFL level with “no ********” in the wake of his ACL recovery, with a call-up as a travelling emergency for West Coast’s road clash with St Kilda last July further boosting his confidence. He then signed a two-year contract extension at the Eagles, tying him to the club until the end of 2027. Reid said while he was close to playing an AFL game last year, he wasn’t flat to fall short. “I wasn’t too disappointed because I hadn’t done pre-season and came in halfway through the year,” Reid said. “I know that I’m a tall and I need to develop. And I still have a lot of developing to do.” Camera IconReid wrestling with Jack Graham. Credit: Danella Bevis/The West *********** The 19-year-old has spent the summer adding size to his frame and improving his craft while working against the likes of five-time All-*********** defender McGovern. “Over the off-season I was on a diet, eating a lot more than usual, and I’ve been in the gym a lot,” he said. “I was a little, skinny bloke last year, so having to put on size was a bit different, but something you have to do. “Coming into an AFL club, it’s pretty daunting, but over the last year and this pre-season playing on someone like Gov… he’s giving me tips as well out on the ground, telling me where to run and whatnot. My confidence has gone up quiet a bit.” Eagles train-on players Sandy Brock, James Van Es and Jack Henderson will be hoping to put their best foot forward in front of coach Andrew McQualter ahead of the supplemental selection ******* deadline on Friday. EAGLES SQUAD: Liam Baker, Jayden Hunt, Reuben Ginbey, Elijah Hewett, Tyler Brockman, Oscar Allen, Noah Long, Liam Duggan, Matt Owies, Jack Graham, Brady Hough, Jack Petruccelle, Archer Reid, Matt Flynn, Bo Allan, Tom Cole, Clay Hall, Bailey Williams, Jack Williams, Jack Henderson, Sandy Brock**, James Van Es**, Harry Edwards, Tyrell Dewar, Jack Hutchinson. Source link #West #Coast #Eagles #practice #match #Squad #named #Richmond #clash #Archer #Reid #eyes #big #impact Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump’s Verbal Slip Revives His Most Notorious Hot-Mic Scandal Donald Trump’s Verbal Slip Revives His Most Notorious Hot-Mic Scandal A verbal slip from Donald Trump on Thursday unintentionally resurfaced one of his most infamous scandals. While speaking to reporters, the president twice in quick succession mistakenly referred to the social media platform TikTok as “Tic Tac,” the brand of breath mints. The blunder was widely mocked online. For some, though, it reminded them of Trump’s talk of Tic Tacs in his 2005 “Access Hollywood” hot-mic remarks. In footage that leaked just before the 2016 election, but which ultimately had no effect on the outcome of the vote, then-reality TV personality Trump told the show’s then-host Billy Bush that he needed Tic Tacs before greeting “Days Of Our Lives” actor Arianne Zucker. “I better use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her,” Trump said. In the same audio, Trump boasted that his celebrity status let him with women: “Grab them by the ******. You can do anything.” Related… Source link #Donald #Trumps #Verbal #Slip #Revives #Notorious #HotMic #Scandal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Blood of Dawnwalker Devs Are Focusing on Quality over Quantity Blood of Dawnwalker Devs Are Focusing on Quality over Quantity Rebel Wolves revealed Blood of Dawnwalker in January 2025, unveiling an intense vampire-themed game with dark and gritty undertones. It’s set to be an expansive open-world title that offers players the complete freedom to go where they want and kill whoever they desire. The studio is being captained by Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, a former director at CDPR who led the development of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. In a recent interview, Tomaszkiewicz’s brother, Mateusz, sat down to talk about the creative vision for Blood of Dawnwalker, revealing the focus on quality over quantity. ‘Our Games Are Not as Huge’ Rebels Wolves’ representative, Mateusz Tomaskiewicz, explained that Blood of Dawnwalker is not a ‘huge game’ in terms of content and gameplay hours, but it is sizeable. This is Rebel Wolves’ debut project, and as such, it’s a little less ambitious than you might be expecting. In a recent interview with GamesRadar, it was revealed by Mateusz that Blood of Dawnwalker will have a story spanning around 30 – 40 hours, which is nowhere near the 100-hour average playthrough of 2015’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. But that’s fine because Rebel Wolves is focused on creating something that shines rather than something that overwhelms the player with content and options: In terms of quality, we definitely look at AAA, because this is where we are coming from, the quality level of The Witcher 3. Definitely, our games are not as huge in terms of amount of content and gameplay hours – we are a smaller studio, this is our first project, so we definitely are building something smaller. But we want to build something as robust in terms of quality, maybe a bit shorter. This dark fantasy title will have players exploring a dark campaign littered with vampire interactions. The opening trailer released by Rebel Wolves stunned prospective players worldwide, painting the picture of a game that’s oozing with potential. It’ll hopefully be a gem of a title when it’s eventually released, we just don’t know when that will be at present. Are you eager to pick up Blood of Dawnwalker when it’s released? Let us know on the Insider Gaming forum. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out my preview of Chernobylite 2 SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Blood #Dawnwalker #Devs #Focusing #Quality #Quantity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An eruption is possible at Alaska’s Mount Spurr. What we know about the volcano – KTVZ An eruption is possible at Alaska’s Mount Spurr. What we know about the volcano – KTVZ An eruption is possible at Alaska’s Mount Spurr. What we know about the volcano KTVZView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #eruption #Alaskas #Mount #Spurr #volcano #KTVZ Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Paix makes claim for No.9 as Broncos smash Titans Paix makes claim for No.9 as Broncos smash Titans Cory Paix has made a compelling case at hooker to be included in Brisbane’s round-one NRL side after shining in a 50-12 trial win over woeful Gold Coast. Lock Kobe Hetherington, pushing to be the new No.13 for the Broncos, was also outstanding in a dominant display in Toowoomba on Sunday. Paix, a Toowoomba junior, recovered from a lower-leg injury to take his place as starting hooker and was sharp. It was a strong showing all-round from the 25-year-old, who darted over from ******-half to score in front of family and friends. Paix backed it up with a superb second try of his own in a crafty run-around move with prop Corey Jensen in a short but sensational stint when the best players from both sides were on the park. The Broncos have three hookers – Paix, Billy Walters and Tyson Smoothy – in the battle to be No.9 against Sydney Roosters in round one now that other contender Blake Mozer (shoulder) is injured. Paix was overlooked by former coach Kevin Walters for the entire 2024 season, but has already become a favourite of new coach Michael Maguire for his outstanding work ethic and speed. He produced his A-game when the pressure was on. Hetherington, in the mix to play lock if Queensland gun Pat Carrigan moves to prop, was strong. Back-rower Brendan Piakura, in a battle with Jack Gosiewski to partner Jordan Riki in the second row, also boosted his chances. Walters, playing in the halves in the first half, showcased the versatility to line up as a playmaker or ******-half that will be crucial to him winning a spot in the top 17 on a regular basis. The Titans are set to move AJ Brimson to five-eighth in this year’s NRL season, where he played on Sunday, and it was a short kick from the former Queensland star that set up back-rower David Fifita for a late first-half try. That was a minor highlight in a dismal display by the Titans, who lacked punch in the middle and were defensively lamentable. Coach Des Hasler has multiple issues to deal with if the Titans are to make an impact in the 2025 season. Broncos tyro 205cm prop Ben Te Kura, fresh from a superb opening trial game against Burleigh, made a strong run before Walters sent Gehamat Shibasaki over with a slick ball to open the scoring. Te Kura came back on in the second half to score from close range. The Broncos led 24-6 at halftime and carved up in the second stanza as the Titans collapsed in a screaming heap. Source link #Paix #claim #No.9 #Broncos #smash #Titans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Vance Slaps Down Hegseth by Threatening Putin With U.S. Troops Vance Slaps Down Hegseth by Threatening Putin With U.S. Troops Vice President JD Vance issued a stark warning to Russia, threatening the potential deployment of U.S. troops to Ukraine—a move that directly undercut Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who was forced into an embarrassing reversal on his earlier remarks. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Vance said the U.S. may take military action if Russian President Vladimir Putin fails to negotiate a deal that guarantees Ukraine’s long-term independence. “There are economic tools of leverage, there are of course military tools of leverage” Washington could use to pressure Putin, the vice president told the newspaper. “There are any number of formulations, of configurations, but we do care about Ukraine having sovereign independence,” he said. Hegseth had firmly ruled out any U.S. troop involvement in Ukraine, but was left scrambling to walk back his first statement on the world stage after a powerful backlash. Criticism must have also come from inside the administration because the next time he was in front of the cameras he had radically changed his tune. “Any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops,” he said. “Everything is on the table in any future peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, including Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO,” the defense secretary said Thursday in a major shift in tone. He added that negotiations were being led by President Donald Trump. “What he decides to allow or not allow is at the purview of the leader of the free world, of President Trump. So I’m not going to stand at this podium and declare what President Trump will do or won’t do,” he said. Trump announced that he had spoken. to Putin by phone on Wednesday morning, and said they agreed to work “very closely” with each other to kickstart peace negotiations “immediately.” Economist Mark Toth, a national security and foreign policy analyst, told The Daily Beast that the contradictory messaging from Vance and Hegseth signals a deliberate White House strategy to keep adversaries—and allies—off balance. “The White House appears determined to be unpredictable, using the ‘fog of war’—or in this case, the ‘fog of negotiations’—to maintain leverage as they work toward their endgame in Europe,” Toth said. “Ultimately, this approach sets the stage for a strategic pivot to pressing national security threats emerging from the Indo-Pacific and Iran.” However, he warned that such tactics come with significant risks. “One final word of caution—fog, especially self-created fog on the battlefield, always risks its creator becoming lost in it as well. Trump and his national security team would be wise to remember that.” The contradictory messaging from the White House may also be part of the strategy to pressure NATO member states into raising their defense spending from 2 percent to 5 percent of their GDP, Toth said. “This mixed messaging by senior White House officials was likely intentional in design,” he said. “What better way to do that than scaring Brussels that under a Trump Administration going forward that Europe is going to increasingly be more on its own when it comes to confronting Putin’s ambitions in Eastern Europe?” As talks of potential negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow to end the war gained momentum, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of striking the Chernobyl nuclear power plant with an “attack drone with a high-explosive warhead” early Friday. The strike caused major damage to the radiation shelter and caused a fire, Zelensky said. The blaze was later extinguished. Nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on X that radiation levels remain stable and that no casualties were reported. The Kremlin swiftly denied responsibility, accusing Ukraine of staging a false-flag attack—a tactic Moscow has often employed to erode Western support for Kyiv. “Most likely, we are talking about yet another provocation, manipulation—this is exactly what the Kyiv regime loves and sometimes does not hesitate to do,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday. Vance is scheduled to meet Zelensky later on Friday at the Munich Security Conference, where talks on the Russia-Ukraine war and potential negotiations are expected to take center stage. Source link #Vance #Slaps #Hegseth #Threatening #Putin #U.S #Troops Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The ‘Saturday Night Live’ 50th anniversary celebration is finally here. Here’s how to watch – The Associated Press The ‘Saturday Night Live’ 50th anniversary celebration is finally here. Here’s how to watch – The Associated Press The ‘Saturday Night Live’ 50th anniversary celebration is finally here. Here’s how to watch The Associated PressIs Saturday Night Live New Tonight, February 15, 2025? Host and Musical Guest NBC InsiderIs the ‘SNL’ 50th anniversary on tonight? Fans have to wait until Sunday. USA TODAYThe 50 Best ‘Saturday Night Live’ Characters of All Time Rolling Stone Source link #Saturday #Night #Live #50th #anniversary #celebration #finally #Heres #watch #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Disgraced WA MP Barry Urban dies from injuries following alleged assault in Perth Disgraced WA MP Barry Urban dies from injuries following alleged assault in Perth A former MP who was pursuing a fresh start in the tyre industry after his release from prison has died after an alleged assault. Source link #Disgraced #Barry #Urban #dies #injuries #alleged #assault #Perth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A ******* drone manufacturer backed by Peter Thiel says it will double its production capacity in Ukraine in 2025 A ******* drone manufacturer backed by Peter Thiel says it will double its production capacity in Ukraine in 2025 A drone from Quantum Systems.Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images ******* drone maker Quantum Systems says it will double its production capacity in Ukraine in 2025. The company has supplied Ukraine with drones since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. Billionaire Peter Thiel is one of the investors backing the startup. ******* drone manufacturer Quantum Systems has said it will double its production capacity in Ukraine in 2025. In a press release on Friday, the Peter Thiel-backed startup said the planned expansion reflected its “unwavering commitment” to ensure Kyiv gets the technology it needs amid its ongoing war with Russia. Quantum, which has already established two facilities in Ukraine, produces several uncrewed aerial systems used by Kyiv, including the “Vector” reconnaissance drone and the “Trinity” mapping drone. Since the start of the invasion, Ukraine has ordered hundreds of these systems from the company. Quantum’s Vector drone is primarily used for target identification and surveillance. It can fly for up to 180 minutes, allows for real-time video streaming over a range of 35 kilometers (almost 22 miles), and has vertical take-off and landing capability, the company says. The “rucksack portable” drone weighs just 18 pounds and is equipped with on-board AI. The Munich-based company also produces the “Trinity Pro” and “Trinity Tactical,” which are used for mapping and surveying. These drones can cover an area of 700 hectares in one flight and can fly for 90 minutes, Quantum says. They can use a variety of sensors to gather data, such as multi-spectral cameras and LiDAR scanners. They can be deployed to help with environmental and battle damage assessments, as well as surveying and mapping key infrastructure and terrain, among other things. Founded in 2015, Quantum has raised more than $200 million, per Crunchbase. Billionaire and PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel is one of the investors to have pumped money into the company, taking part in a financing round alongside Project A and Sanno Capital in 2022. Speaking at the time, Thiel said: “The future of UAS is in neither software nor hardware alone, but in the intelligent synthesis of the two.” “With that understanding, Quantum-Systems is a leap ahead of its competition,” he added. Quantum’s CEO Florian Seibel previously told Business Insider that the company planned to gain an edge on competitors by taking what he called a “Tesla approach.” “You have to do everything from A to Z,” he said. “You are a hardware company, you are a manufacturing company, you are a data service company. That makes it a very complex business case, but that also makes it very defendable.” Story Continues Drones have played a crucial role in shaping the conflict in Ukraine, providing both sides with standoff weapons and improved surveillance abilities. Their prominence on the battlefield has led Kyiv to significantly ramp up domestic production efforts and imports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in early 2024 the creation of a separate branch of the country’s armed forces dedicated solely to uncrewed systems. Ukraine’s defense ministry said in January that its armed forces would also get an additional UAH 2.5 billion (almost $60 million) a month to procure new drones, in a move designed to enable brigades to purchase the equipment they need directly. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #******* #drone #manufacturer #backed #Peter #Thiel #double #production #capacity #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Justice Department fires 20 immigration judges from backlogged courts amid major government cuts – ABC News Justice Department fires 20 immigration judges from backlogged courts amid major government cuts – ABC News Justice Department fires 20 immigration judges from backlogged courts amid major government cuts ABC NewsTrump administration fires more than a dozen immigration judges Fox NewsTrump Administration Fires Immigration Judges The New York Times Source link #Justice #Department #fires #immigration #judges #backlogged #courts #major #government #cuts #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why the meek surrenders on diversity should raise concern about corporate honesty Why the meek surrenders on diversity should raise concern about corporate honesty The meek rollovers on diversity and inclusion should raise concern about how serious some big companies were about policies they’ve been loudly promoting for several years. Source link #meek #surrenders #diversity #raise #concern #corporate #honesty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Time could flow both backward, forward in quantum realm, suggests study Time could flow both backward, forward in quantum realm, suggests study In our lived reality, we perceive time as a linear progression moving in one direction. While today gives way to tomorrow and the day after and so on in the real world, new findings show that time can flow in opposite directions in the quantum realm. A study conducted by scientists from the School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Surrey in the *** explored the behavior of time for a quantum system using a set of equations. To their surprise, they came across opposing arrows of time. These arrows are theoretical proofs of time’s unusual flow at the quantum level. “Our findings suggest that while our common experience tells us that time only moves one way, we’re just unaware that the opposite direction would have been equally possible,” said Andrea Rocco, one of the authors of the study and an associate professor at the University of Surrey. Flow of time at the quantum level The study authors made two assumptions to understand the unidirectional flow of time in a quantum system. Their first assumption was that the environment surrounding a quantum system is enormous and complex, so to focus on the system, they should skip the details of its environment. The next assumption was related to the flow of energy and information. They assumed that just like in the macroscopic world when energy or some information leaves the system, it never returns. Using these assumptions, the team employed mathematical models to describe the evolution of the quantum system’s state over time. They specifically looked at how the system’s equations behaved when time was considered to move forward versus backward. Surprisingly, despite the quantum system’s openness and the assumptions made, the equations remained unchanged whether time moved backward or forward. This means the basic laws governing the system followed time-reversal symmetry. “In our derivation, two opposing arrows of time are obtained. We demonstrate this by analyzing several examples of reduced Markovian dynamics resulting from microscopic open quantum systems models, which initially possess time-reversal symmetry,” the study authors note. “This discovery provided a mathematical foundation for the idea that time-reversal symmetry still holds in open quantum systems—suggesting that time’s arrow may not be as fixed as we experience it,” they added. A sudden break in time Besides the opposing arrows, researchers noticed another interesting element in their equations. Generally, most physical equations involve smooth, continuous changes. However, their mathematical models highlighted the presence of a time-discontinuous factor—a sudden shift or break in how time is represented in the system. “We also found a small but important detail which is usually overlooked—a time discontinuous factor emerged that keeps the time-symmetry property intact,” said Thomas Guff, lead study author and a research fellow at the University of Surrey. “It’s unusual to see such a mathematical mechanism in a physics equation because it’s not continuous, and it was very surprising to see it pop up so naturally,” he added. These findings reveal that the relationship between time and physics isn’t always consistent, it may change abruptly when we take a deep dive into the quantum world. Therefore, further research is required to improve our understanding of time. The study has been published in the journal Scientific Reports. Source link #Time #flow #quantum #realm #suggests #study Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk says xAI's Grok 3 chatbot to be unveiled on Monday – Reuters.com Elon Musk says xAI's Grok 3 chatbot to be unveiled on Monday – Reuters.com Elon Musk says xAI’s Grok 3 chatbot to be unveiled on Monday Reuters.comView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Elon #Musk #xAI039s #Grok #chatbot #unveiled #Monday #Reuters.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sixers out as Phoenix comeback books NBL Playoffs spot Sixers out as Phoenix comeback books NBL Playoffs spot South East Melbourne overcame the lowest-scoring half in franchise history and a massive deficit to advance to the NBL Playoffs with an 85-75 win over Adelaide. The Phoenix trailed by 20 points just before halftime at John Cain Arena on Sunday, repeatedly hurting their own chances with poor shooting. But Matt Hurt exploded in the second half to spearhead an irresistible fightback – the biggest of the NBL season – with 25 points and nine rebounds. Ben Ayre (17 points) provided a huge spark off the bench and Owen Foxwell helped limit Sixers superstar Kendric Davis after the main break. The Phoenix’s comeback win set up a best-of-three Playoff series against top seeds Illawarra, with a place in the Championship Series on the line. “These guys never stop fighting. I’m so proud of them,” Hurt said. “Down 19 (at halftime), we had no energy, we had no lift. “I take responsibility for that and I’m just glad we got the win because not many teams get to do it like that.” A lot of what Adelaide did right in the first half – especially their hard-nosed defence – deserted them when it mattered. Davis (26 points, six assists) and Montrezl Harrell (17 points, 14 rebounds) had put the Sixers firmly in control early in the piece. But it descended into a blame game on the visitors’ bench as their lead unravelled, ending their season in the process. Both sides were guilty of horror shooting early in the game as Angus Glover nailed the only triple of the first *******. The Phoenix were 22 per cent from the field and 1-of-10 from long range, with Adelaide at 35 per cent and 0-of-6 from three-point land. The Sixers came out firing with a 13-0 start to the second term, sending the lead well into double figures as the hosts’ shooting woes continued. It ballooned to 20 before halftime and the Sixers led 45-26 at the main break following a half-court buzzer-beater from Davis. Hurt threw punches back during the third ******* and the massive margin was overturned early in the fourth as the Phoenix rode momentum with a raucous home crowd behind them. Adelaide’s loss ended the career of retiring guard Jason Cadee after 15 years in the league. Source link #Sixers #Phoenix #comeback #books #NBL #Playoffs #spot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scientists are racing to discover the depth of ocean damage sparked by the LA wildfires Scientists are racing to discover the depth of ocean damage sparked by the LA wildfires LOS ANGELES (AP) — On a recent Sunday, Tracy Quinn drove down the Pacific Coast Highway to assess damage wrought upon the coastline by the Palisades Fire. The water line was darkened by ash. Burnt remnants of washing machines and dryers and metal appliances were strewn about the shoreline. Sludge carpeted the water’s edge. Waves during high tide lapped onto charred homes, pulling debris and potentially toxic ash into the ocean as they receded. “It was just heartbreaking,” said Quinn, president and CEO of the environmental group Heal the Bay, whose team has reported ash and debris some 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of the Palisades burn area west of Los Angeles. 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. As crews work to remove potentially hundreds of thousands of tons of hazardous materials from the Los Angeles wildfires, researchers and officials are trying to understand how the fires on land have impacted the sea. The Palisades and Eaton fires scorched thousands of homes, businesses, cars and electronics, turning everyday items into hazardous ash made of pesticides, asbestos, plastics, lead, heavy metals and more. Since much of it could end up in the Pacific Ocean, there are concerns and many unknowns about how the fires could affect life under the sea. “We haven’t seen a concentration of homes and buildings burned so close to the water,” Quinn said. Fire debris and potentially toxic ash could make the water unsafe for surfers and swimmers, especially after rainfall that can transport chemicals, trash and other hazards into the sea. Longer term, scientists worry if and how charred urban contaminants will affect the food supply. The atmospheric river and mudslides that pummeled the Los Angeles region last week exacerbated some of those fears. When the fires broke out in January, one of Mara Dias’ first concerns was ocean water contamination. Strong winds were carrying smoke and ash far beyond the blazes before settling at sea, said the water quality manager for the Surfrider Foundation, an environmental nonprofit. Scientists on board a research vessel during the fires detected ash and waste on the water as far as 100 miles (161 kilometers) offshore, said marine ecologist Julie Dinasquet with the University of California, San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Things like twigs and shard. They described the smell as electronics burning, she recalled, “not like a nice campfire.” Runoff from rains also are a huge and immediate concern. Rainfall picks up contaminants and trash while flushing toward the sea through a network of drains and rivers. That runoff could contain “a lot of nutrients, nitrogen and phosphate that end up in the ash of the burn material that can get into the water,” said Dias, as well as “heavy metals, something called PAHs, which are given off when you burn different types of fuel.” Mudslides and debris flows in the Palisades Fire burn zone also can dump more hazardous waste into the ocean. After fires, the soil in burn scars is less able to absorb rainfall and can develop a layer that repels water from the remains of seared organic material. When there is less organic material to hold the soil in place, the risks of mudslides and debris flows increase. Los Angeles County officials, with help from other agencies, have set thousands of feet of concrete barriers, sandbags, silt socks and more to prevent debris from reaching beaches. The LA County Board of Supervisors also recently passed a motion seeking state and federal help to expand beach clean ups, prepare for storm runoff and test ocean water for potential toxins and chemicals, among other things. Beyond the usual samples, state water officials and others are testing for total and dissolved metals such as arsenic, lead and aluminum and volatile organic compounds. They also are sampling for microplastics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, that are harmful to human and aquatic life, and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, a group of man-made chemicals shown to cause ******* in animals and other serious health effects. Now banned from being manufactured, they were used in products like pigments, paints and electrical equipment. County public health officials said chemical tests of water samples last month did not raise health concerns, so they downgraded one beach closure to an ocean water advisory. Beachgoers were still advised to stay out of the water. Dinasquet and colleagues are working to understand how far potentially toxic ash and debris dispersed across the ocean, how deep and how fast they sunk and, over time, where it ends up. Forest fires can deposit important nutrients like iron and nitrogen into the ocean ecosystem, boosting the growth of phytoplankton, which can create a positive, cascading effect across the ecosystem. But the potentially toxic ash from urban coastal fires could have dire consequences, Dinasquet said. “Reports are already showing that there was a lot of lead and asbestos in the ash,” she added. “This is really bad for people so its probably also very bad for the marine organisms.” A huge concern is whether toxic contaminants from the fire will enter the food chain. Researchers plan to take tissue fragments from fish for signs of heavy metals and contaminants. But they say it will take a while to understand how a massive urban fire will affect the larger ecosystem and our food supply. Dias noted the ocean has long taken in pollution from land, but with fires and other disasters, “everything is compounded and the situation is even more dire.” ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment. Source link #Scientists #racing #discover #depth #ocean #damage #sparked #wildfires Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukrainians are fearful any Trump-brokered ceasefire will be full of concessions and false promises – CNN Ukrainians are fearful any Trump-brokered ceasefire will be full of concessions and false promises – CNN Ukrainians are fearful any Trump-brokered ceasefire will be full of concessions and false promises CNNTrump upends US policy on Ukraine, says he and Putin have agreed to begin talks on ending the war The Associated PressTeam Trump shakes Europe with Ukraine shift and NATO demands USA TODAYIt Took Trump Only Twenty-four Days to Sell Out Ukraine The New Yorker Source link #Ukrainians #fearful #Trumpbrokered #ceasefire #full #concessions #false #promises #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force captain Jeremy Williams and coach Simon Cron hail Ben Donaldson’s late try Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force captain Jeremy Williams and coach Simon Cron hail Ben Donaldson’s late try Ben Donaldson’s gritty, superb solo try to haul the Western Force off the canvas personified the coach and captain’s vision of what they want the team to be. Source link #Super #Rugby #Pacific #Western #Force #captain #Jeremy #Williams #coach #Simon #Cron #hail #Ben #Donaldsons #late Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple’s first foldable iPhone might disappoint some because of its screen size Apple’s first foldable iPhone might disappoint some because of its screen size This year’s iPhone lineup is about the iPhone 17 Air, expected to arrive this fall. Next year, however, Apple’s first foldable iPhone could debut. Today, we’ve heard more information about this new handset. Whether it’s good or bad will depend on your expectations. According to Android Headlines, Digital Chat Station has revealed that the upcoming “iPhone Fold” will have a 5.49-inch cover display and a 7.74-inch inner display. If correct, this would make it Apple’s smallest non-iPhone SE since the iPhone 8 Plus in 2017. By comparison, the current iPhone 16 features a 6.1-inch display, the iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, the iPhone 16 Plus measures 6.7 inches, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display. Even the anticipated iPhone SE 4, which could launch next week, is expected to have a 6.1-inch display. How would Apple’s new foldable phone compare to those already on the market? The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold feature 6.3-inch cover displays, while the OnePlus Open has a 6.31-inch cover display. You’d have to return to the Pixel Fold to find a cover display on a foldable in the same neighborhood as the one Apple might offer. That phone’s cover display measured 5.8 inches. The first iPhone Fold could also have one of the smallest inner displays available. At 7.74 inches, it would be smaller than the 8-inch screen found on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, for example. It’s almost certainly too early to trust this leak. Even if Digital Chat Station is correct—and it might be—there’s no way to determine whether those are the final dimensions. It could simply be one of many iPhone Fold concepts Apple is testing. Regardless, it’s always nice to hear more about what will likely be the most important iPhone of next year. Let the rumors flow! Source link #Apples #foldable #iPhone #disappoint #screen #size Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tornado watch issued for much of Alabama as severe storms approach – Alabama's News Leader Tornado watch issued for much of Alabama as severe storms approach – Alabama's News Leader Tornado watch issued for much of Alabama as severe storms approach Alabama’s News LeaderTornado Watch Coming for North Alabama Soon alabamawx.comStrong storm line to strike the Gulf Coast this weekend WEARUpdate: Tornado with quarter-sized hail possible in Northwest Alabama Saturday AL.comTornado Watch issued for the area WHNT News 19 Source link #Tornado #watch #issued #Alabama #severe #storms #approach #Alabama039s #News #Leader Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk’s ‘smartest AI on earth’ ready for take-off Elon Musk’s ‘smartest AI on earth’ ready for take-off Elon Musk is ready to release his xAI artificial intelligence chatbot and ChatGPT challenger Grok 3 with a live demo. The billionaire businessman, who founded xAI in 2023 as a challenger to Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Alphabet’s Google, will unveil the chatbot on Tuesday at 3pm Sydney time. Musk also co-founded OpenAI. The confirmation comes after Musk said on Thursday Grok 3 was in the final stages of development and would be released in a week or two. “Grok 3 has very powerful reasoning capabilities, so in the tests that we’ve done thus far, Grok 3 is outperforming anything that’s been released, that we’re aware of, so that’s a good sign,” he said in a video call addressing the World Governments Summit in Dubai. Source link #Elon #Musks #smartest #earth #ready #takeoff Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Clues and answer for Sunday, February 16 Clues and answer for Sunday, February 16 Hey, there! We hope you’re making the most of the weekend. That might include playing the latest edition of Wordle. In case you need a little help with today’s game, here’s our daily Wordle guide with some hints and the answer for Sunday’s puzzle (#1,338). It may be that you’re a Wordle newcomer and you’re not completely sure how to play the game. We’re here to help with that too. What is Wordle? Wordle is a deceptively simple daily word game that first emerged in 2021. The gist is that there is one five-letter word to deduce every day by process of elimination. The daily word is the same for everyone. 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. Wordle blew up in popularity in late 2021 after creator Josh Wardle made it easy for players to share an emoji-based grid with their friends and followers that detailed how they fared each day. The game’s success spurred dozens of clones across a swathe of categories and formats. The New York Times purchased Wordle in early 2022 for an undisclosed sum. The publication said that players collectively played Wordle 5.3 billion times in 2024. So, it’s little surprise that Wordle is one of the best online games and puzzles you can play daily. How to play Wordle To start playing Wordle, you simply need to enter one five-letter word. The game will tell you how close you are to that day’s secret word by highlighting letters that are in the correct position in green. Letters that appear in the word but aren’t in the right spot will be highlighted in yellow. If you guess any letters that are not in the secret word, the game will gray those out on the virtual keyboard. You’ll only have six guesses to find each day’s word, though you still can use grayed-out letters to help narrow things down. It’s also worth remembering that letters can appear in the secret word more than once. Wordle is free to play on the NYT’s website and apps, as well as on Meta Quest headsets. The game refreshes at midnight local time. If you log into a New York Times account, you can track your stats, including the all-important win streak. How to play Wordle more than once a day If you have a NYT subscription that includes full access to the publication’s games, you don’t have to stop after a single round of Wordle. You’ll have access to an archive of more than 1,300 previous Wordle games. So if you’re a relative newcomer, you’ll be able to go back and catch up on previous editions. In addition, paid NYT Games members have access to a tool called the Wordle Bot. This can tell you how well you performed at each day’s game. Previous Wordle answers Before today’s Wordle hints, here are the answers to recent puzzles that you may have missed: Yesterday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, February 15 — CROOK Friday, February 14 — DITTY Thursday, February 13 — RUMBA Wednesday, February 12 — RAPID Tuesday, February 11 — SCORE Today’s Wordle hints explained Every day, we’ll try to make Wordle a little easier for you. First, we’ll offer a hint that describes the meaning of the word or how it might be used in a phrase or sentence. We’ll also tell you if there are any double (or even triple) letters in the word. In case you still haven’t quite figured it out by that point, we’ll then provide the first letter of the word. Those who are still stumped after that can continue on to find out the answer for today’s Wordle. This should go without saying, but make sure to scroll slowly. Spoilers are ahead. Today’s Wordle help Here is a hint for today’s Wordle answer: Adjective for someone who is charming and elegant. Are there any double letters in today’s Wordle? There are no repeated letters in today’s Wordle answer. What’s the first letter of today’s Wordle? The first letter of today’s Wordle answer is S. The Wordle answer today This is your final warning before we reveal today’s Wordle answer. No take-backs. Don’t blame us if you happen to scroll too far and accidentally spoil the game for yourself. What is today’s Wordle? Today’s Wordle answer is… Today’s Wordle answer for Sunday, February 16 – SUAVE SUAVE Not to worry if you didn’t figure out today’s Wordle word. If you made it this far down the page, hopefully you at least kept your streak going. And, hey: there’s always another game tomorrow. Source link #Clues #answer #Sunday #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mac McClung Wins 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Hyped By Fans for Historic 3-Peat – Bleacher Report Mac McClung Wins 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Hyped By Fans for Historic 3-Peat – Bleacher Report Mac McClung Wins 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Hyped By Fans for Historic 3-Peat Bleacher ReportNBA All-Star Saturday: Mac McClung thrills in dunk contest 3-peat with perfect night, dunk over car; Tyler Herro wins 3-point contest Yahoo SportsMcClung’s 4 perfect dunks clinch historic 3-peat; Herro takes 3-pt crown ESPNThe new NBA All-Star format is here, and Sunday night will show whether it works The Associated PressWhere to watch NBA Slam Dunk Contest: Time, TV channel, live stream, picks for 2025 All-Star Saturday night CBS Sports Source link #Mac #McClung #Wins #NBA #Slam #Dunk #Contest #Hyped #Fans #Historic #3Peat #Bleacher #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]