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NHL 4 Nations Face-Off: How to Watch USA vs. Finland Tonight – CNET NHL 4 Nations Face-Off: How to Watch USA vs. Finland Tonight – CNET NHL 4 Nations Face-Off: How to Watch USA vs. Finland Tonight CNETPreviewing USA-Finland in 4 Nations Face-Off: Stats, top players, key matchups ESPN4 Nations Face-Off Game Post #2: United States vs. Finland All About The JerseyMarner, Canada recover, top Sweden in OT in 4 Nations Face-Off opener NHL.comHow to watch US-Finland in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off: Time, streaming New York Post Source link #NHL #Nations #FaceOff #Watch #USA #Finland #Tonight #CNET Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

See through smoke and around corners See through smoke and around corners Chris Baraniuk Technology Reporter Sylvia Zhang Prof Mingmin Zhao (right) has been working on a radio vision system for robots If you want to find out whether your robot can see through smoke, well, you’re going to need some smoke. But a University of Pennsylvania student got a shock when they began setting up a late night experiment to test such a robot. Shortly after flicking the switch on the smoke machine, a loud fire alarm went off. “The whole building got triggered,” says Mingmin Zhao of the University of Pennsylvania, smiling. “My student called me. He was very surprised.” The incident was a minor setback for the team developing a robot equipped with a innovative radio-based sensing system. Radio waves could allow robots or autonomous vehicles to see through thick smoke, intense rain – or even around corners. Such waves can even detect concealed weapons. But simulating visual imagery based on radio waves is an unusual approach for robots and autonomous vehicles. Much more established in those fields are regular optical cameras, light detection and ranging (Lidar), and other sensors. However, Prof Zhao and his students have developed a potentially powerful way for robots to see using radio waves. Of course radar, which uses radio waves, has been used for decades to track aircraft, ships and the weather. But the spinning array on Prof Zhao’s robot throws radio waves in all directions. An on-board artificial intelligence (AI) system then builds a 3D view of the environment with this information. “What we have been trying to do here is basically help robots obtain superhuman vision – to see in scenarios where human eyes or traditional visual sensors cannot,” explains Prof Zhao. He suggests the technology could help a future search-and-rescue robot save people from a burning building. Subsequent tests of the bot used a clear plastic box full of smoke placed around the its spinning equipment, in order to avoid triggering any nearby fire alarms. Sylvia Zhang Radio waves combined with AI create a 3D picture for the robot Although humans can’t see them, radio waves are a form of light in the sense that they are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which also includes X-rays and gamma rays. Only a small part the spectrum is classed as visible light. Being light, radio waves can reflect off surfaces and materials, though in a slightly different way to visible light. Prof Zhao and his colleagues have designed their robot so that it can sense these radio wave reflections. The crucial factor here is that radio waves are much longer than visible light waves meaning they are not blocked by tiny smoke particles. Prof Zhao says he has also been working on adapting the technology so that the robot can see part of the way round a corner. Think of it like a hall of mirrors, he suggests, just for radio waves rather than visible light. “It’s really very interesting work and quite impressive,” says Friedemann Reinhard at the University of Rostock in Germany, who was not involved in the work. In 2017, Prof Reinhard and colleagues described how Wi-Fi signals could allow spies to see into private rooms. One slight limitation is that the spinning array cannot, by definition, see in all directions at once. Prof Reinhard says that a lot of data processing carried out by the system appears necessary to clean up the image that results from this spinning device. However, the robot sends out radio waves in the millimetre wave band (waves that are between one and ten millimetres long). This is the same technology used for some 5G installations. “That’s potentially very attractive, it’s a very well understood, cheap technology,” says Prof Reinhard. “I certainly would love to see a self-driving car driving only on radar.” Wavsens Fabio da Silva’s firm is working on a radio-based imaging system But it is possible to avoid using spinning radio-emitting devices to get a full picture, says Fabio da Silva, founder and chief executive of US firm Wavsens, which is also developing radio-based sensing technology. “We created an algorithm that allows you to sense the entire space instantaneously and continuously so we don’t have to spin our antennas,” he says. He describes the system as akin to echolocation, used by bats. It sends out radio waves and “listens” to how the waves come back, which reveals the shape of whatever they have hit. Some researchers have used radio waves to detect concealed weapons such as hidden handguns and knives. Radio waves can even “fingerprint” the details of a room. Then, if scanned again later, this would reveal whether any objects in the room have been moved. Last year, scientists in Germany proposed that countries use this method to scrutinise other countries’ management of their nuclear weapons stockpiles. It would be one way of knowing whether someone had been moving the warheads around, for example. Getty Images Radio systems could be a useful addition to scanners on autonomous cars Separately, Luana Olivieri at Loughborough University has explored using a different form of non-visible electromagnetic radiation, terahertz waves. These are shorter than radio waves but longer than visible light waves. “This wavelength is particularly unexplored,” says Dr Olivieri. It is possible to see through objects and analyse materials using this form of radiation, she adds. Such a system could even, in theory, identify specific drugs by detecting their chemical structure. But while seeing through materials could help a rescue bot find a trapped person in some future disaster, it also has other applications. Police forces and militaries have access to radio-based technology that allows them to see through doors and walls, to some extent. “Warfighting is definitely one market that it caters to. It can be used to find and kill someone,” says Mr da Silva. He has exhibited Wavsens’ technology to the US Department of Defense and the Israeli Ministry of Defense, he says. And yet these applications are not entirely surprising, suggests Prof Reinhard, who points out that a range of emerging technologies have, in principle, made it easier to detect and attack people. “Maybe radar sounds scary – but drones and cheap cameras are the much more dangerous thing,” he says. Source link #smoke #corners Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jetstar launches huge surprise ***** for Valentine’s Day with flights as low as $54 Jetstar launches huge surprise ***** for Valentine’s Day with flights as low as $54 Aussie Airline announces a flash ***** on popular domestic routes this Valentine’s Day, with some fares as low as $54. Source link #Jetstar #launches #huge #surprise #***** #Valentines #Day #flights Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Reporters Laugh as Trump Lambasts CNN Star Kaitlan Collins to Her Face Reporters Laugh as Trump Lambasts CNN Star Kaitlan Collins to Her Face So much for solidarity. CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent was drowned out by laughter from her colleagues in the Oval Office on Thursday after her line of questioning about Russia’s war in Ukraine prompted President Trump to tear into her and the network. Trump was fielding questions regarding his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin when a journalist asked him if he believes Putin wanted peace. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine first exploded in 2014 and reached a climax in 2022, when Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of the country. Trump’s statement that Putin was indeed interested in peace prompted CNN star Kaitlan Collins to fire off a quick follow-up. “Do you trust President Putin?” Collins asked. Seemingly put off by Collins’s question, Trump cut off the CNN news anchor and called her a friend of fomrer President Joe Biden, who he blamed for the war. Trump then insulted CNN’s “credibility.” “I believe that, uh yeah, I believe that he would like to see something happen. I trust him on the subject. I think he’d like to see something happen. I think it could have happened a long time ago. I think Biden… number one it shouldn’t have started, but it did. And now all those cities are knocked down like demolition sites,” the president said, speaking over Collins’ follow-up question. “All those beautiful golden towers are knocked down. There’s nothing going to replace them. But much more importantly, you lost millions of people. A lot of soldiers, but you lost millions of people. When they knocked down those cities, and they’re all laying down on the side, they’re laying down in ashes, and all crumbled up concrete, they literally look like a world-class demolition site,” Trump continued. “And many of them, almost all of them, but many of them. And this should have been done by Biden years ago. This should have never been allowed to happen,” the president said, adding pointedly to Collins: “I know he’s a friend of yours.” “But couldn’t Putin just withdraw his…” Collins tried to interject, ignoring his slight, but was cut off by Trump, who quipped about Biden: “He’s a friend of CNN, and that’s why nobody watches CNN anymore because they have no credibility.” His remarks were met with laughter, leaving Collins’ questions unanswered. Source link #Reporters #Laugh #Trump #Lambasts #CNN #Star #Kaitlan #Collins #Face Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

State Department halts plan to buy $400M worth of armored vehicles from Musk’s Tesla – The Associated Press State Department halts plan to buy $400M worth of armored vehicles from Musk’s Tesla – The Associated Press State Department halts plan to buy $400M worth of armored vehicles from Musk’s Tesla The Associated PressTesla Removed From $400M Federal Contract Amid Musk Scrutiny TIMEState Department slams the brakes on potential $400 million armored Tesla purchase — ‘No government contract has been awarded to Tesla’ FortuneUPDATED: “Armored Tesla” (was) forecast to win $400 million State Department contract after Trump’s election Drop Site News Source link #State #Department #halts #plan #buy #400M #worth #armored #vehicles #Musks #Tesla #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dance intake frozen as uni audits performing arts Dance intake frozen as uni audits performing arts At the 2032 Olympics, Queensland will have to entertain the world. But the only university in the state to offer a dance degree isn’t taking new students. Source link #Dance #intake #frozen #uni #audits #performing #arts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man whose wife was killed in a hippo attack in Africa sues the US company that booked the trip Man whose wife was killed in a hippo attack in Africa sues the US company that booked the trip A New Jersey man whose wife was killed in a horrific hippopotamus attack last year during a safari in Africa is suing the U.S. company that arranged the trip, alleging it failed to ensure their safety and did not adequately screen and supervise the tour guides. Craig and Lisa Manders were on a guided walk in Zambia in June when a hippo charged out of the water, grabbed Lisa Manders by its mouth and crushed her head and body with its bite, according to the lawsuit filed against African Portfolio, a safari tour company based in Greenwich, Connecticut. The company denies the lawsuit’s allegations. The lawsuit, filed Feb. 5 in Stamford, Connecticut, alleges that as a horrified Craig Manders watched the attack, the tour guides — including at least one armed with a rifle — walked away without helping the couple. Lisa Manders, 70, suffered catastrophic injuries and died shortly after, the lawsuit says. 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. “We’re doing this because this should never have happened,” said Paul Slager, an attorney who is representing Craig Manders with his law partner, Nicole Coates. “There are basic safety standards that businesses are expected to follow, and that includes people in the safari tour industry. And those were not followed, and the consequences here were absolutely devastating.” Slager said the lawsuit seeks monetary damages that have not yet been determined, as well as accountability for Lisa Manders’ death and keeping others safe in the future. He said Craig Manders was not giving interviews. The Manderses, of Cranford, New Jersey, were on a special anniversary trip and it was their first time in Africa, Slager said. Lisa Manders had worked in the financial industry for over 40 years and loved cooking, traveling and visiting New York City, where she was born in Queens in 1953, according to her obituary. The couple had three children and a granddaughter. The company’s lawyer, Rodney Gould, said it was not negligent or reckless in connection with Lisa Manders’ death. He said African Portfolio only arranged the couple’s lodging and the owners of the lodging, Chiawa Safaris in Zambia, provided the tour guides. “It’s a horrible tragedy when somebody goes on one of these trips and is injured or killed. It’s awful,” Gould said. “I think it’s important to understand what African Portfolio’s role in this is. It’s a tour operator. It arranges trips. It puts together the pieces.” He added, “My client didn’t conduct the safari. It arranged it. It booked all the components.” Gould also said the company was not negligent in vetting Chiawa, because it has an excellent reputation. He said African Portfolio will either ask a judge to dismiss the lawsuit or request that the matter go to arbitration, which was a condition of an agreement the Manderses signed for the trip. In a statement, African Portfolio did not directly address the lawsuit. It said Chiawa arranged the walking safari and guests were accompanied by an experienced and highly trained guide, a ranger and an armed National Park scout. It said Chiawa told authorities that safety measures were implemented before the attack and “repeated warnings” were issued to guests to return to the safety of the vehicle “during the incident.” Asked whether the guests were warned about the hippo before the attack, African Portfolio said in an email only that “the statement is an accurate reflection of the events as we understand them.” Gould declined to comment. The company also said its founder flew to Zambia immediately after the attack and joined Chiawa’s owner in ensuring that “everything possible was being done to support the family and all those involved. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the family, and everyone else involved in this tragic incident.” The lawsuit, which does not mention Chiawa, says African safaris are “inherently dangerous activities” because of the unpredictability and sometime aggressive nature of wild animals, and they require careful planning and execution to be completed safely. It says African Portfolio vetted and oversaw the tour guides and vouched that they were competent, qualified and trained to keep people safe. The suit alleges that African Portfolio “encouraged and/or permitted” the Manderses to be exposed to an “avoidable and highly dangerous encounter with a dangerous hippopotamus in the Zambian wilderness.” It also accuses the company of failing to provide safe conditions during the wilderness walk and failing to ensure that the tour guides were adequately selected, screened, supervised and trained to provide a safe experience. African Portfolio also failed to take adequate steps to protect the Manderses before and during the attack, the suit alleges. Hippos are the world’s second-largest land mammals after elephants, measuring about 11 feet (3.5 meters) long and about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall, according to International Fund for Animal ********. The average male hippo weighs about 7,000 pounds (3,200 kilograms). Hippos are known to be territorial and aggressive at times. A year before Lisa Manders died, seven people were killed in the southern African nation of Malawi when a hippo charged into a canoe and capsized it on a river. Estimates of how many people are killed by hippos each year vary, with lower figures beginning at around 500. Lisa Manders suffered “significant premorbid fear and emotional pain, suffering and mental anguish” before her death, the suit says. Craig Manders suffered severe and debilitating emotional and psychological injuries that have made it difficult for him to cope with daily routines, it says. The lawsuit is seeking damages on allegations of negligence and recklessness. “He’s suing both for the loss of his wife and the impact that has on him and his life,” Slager said. “And he also has a claim for having witnessed what happened to her, having seen the attack, which is unthinkable. It’s unimaginable.” Source link #Man #wife #killed #hippo #attack #Africa #sues #company #booked #trip Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Read The Letter From Emil Bove Accepting Danielle Sassoon’s Resignation, Annotated – The New York Times Read The Letter From Emil Bove Accepting Danielle Sassoon’s Resignation, Annotated – The New York Times Read The Letter From Emil Bove Accepting Danielle Sassoon’s Resignation, Annotated The New York Times‘Courageous and necessary’: Elie Honig on US attorney quitting after defying Trump orders CNN3 federal prosecutors resign after DOJ order to drop NYC mayor’s case Axios Source link #Read #Letter #Emil #Bove #Accepting #Danielle #Sassoons #Resignation #Annotated #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Super League: Rugby league players take on club crest challenge Super League: Rugby league players take on club crest challenge They are well known for their creativity on the field, but what about off it? Super League players Aidan Sezer, George Williams, Tom Johnstone, Zac Woolford and 2024 Man of Steel Mikey Lewis take on BBC Sport’s 60-second club crest challenge. The new Super League season begins on Thursday, 13 February across BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website, with live BBC Two coverage of St Helens v Salford on Saturday, 15 February from 17:15 GMT. Source link #Super #League #Rugby #league #players #club #crest #challenge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Legally Blonde prequel casts star to play Elle Woods Legally Blonde prequel casts star to play Elle Woods Lexi Minetree has been cast as Elle Woods in the Legally Blonde prequel series. The role of the sorority-girl-turned lawyer was initially played by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 film, and the Hollywood star told Lexi on Thursday that she will be starring in the title role of the upcoming Amazon series ‘Elle’. “Your audition tape was amazing, and as we talked about we had to make a really hard decision the other day and we wanted to tell you in person because you just worked really hard,” she said. “We just wanted to tell you that you don’t have to audition anymore, because you got the part. You’re Elle Woods.” Prior to landing the coveted role, Minetree had studied theatre at the University of Southern California and appeared in the TV movie The Parademic Who Stalked Me as well as an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit in 2024. The starlet burst into tears upon learning the news that she had landed the part in the upcoming series, and said: “Wait, I want to call my mom!” Witherspoon spoke to Minetree’s mother Anne, and she was in disbelief that The Morning Show star was on the phone to her. “When I saw her tape, I was like ‘Are we the same person? This is so weird!'” she said. Legally Blonde started life as a 2001 novel by Amanda Brown and follows party girl Elle as she follows her boyfriend to Harvard Law School when he breaks up with her to attend the prestigious establishment, and she cracks a ******* trial in the process. It was quickly adapted into a film and became a sleeper hit for MGM. Witherspoon reprised the role in 2004 for the sequel Legally Blonde: Red White, and Blonde, and direct-to-video movie Legally Blondes starring former Disney Channel actress Rebecca and Camilla Rosso in 2009. A musical adaptation opened on Broadway in 2007 with former Wicked actress Laura Bell Bundy in the main role, and when she left, MTV headed up a reality TV show called The Search For Elle Woods, where Bailey Hanks won the part. Source link #Legally #Blonde #prequel #casts #star #play #Elle #Woods Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nissan CEO says it will be ‘difficult to survive’ without partnerships after Honda merger collapses Nissan CEO says it will be ‘difficult to survive’ without partnerships after Honda merger collapses The big merger between Nissan (NSANY) and Honda (HMC) is no more. In a statement on Thursday, the boards of both companies said they decided to mutually terminate their memorandum of understanding signed last August for a proposed tripartite deal that would have included Mitsubishi as well. Honda and Nissan claim they will form a strategic partnership to collaborate on electric vehicles and other technologies, but the loss of the deal is a huge blow to Nissan — and even Honda. Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe tried to strike a positive tone at a media briefing. “While the outcome is unfortunate, we now have a mutual appreciation of our synergies that can be utilized in our existing strategic partnership.” Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida was more blunt about what the future holds for Nissan without a major partner. “It will still be difficult to survive without leaning on future partnerships,” he said. Honda US-listed shares were trading higher on Thursday, while Nissan shares in Japan slipped. Despite both Honda and Nissan’s desire to make a deal, the two Japanese icons have their own cultures and reputations, which may have led to the deal’s unraveling, per some reports. Honda, in the more enviable position, looked at Nissan as a troubled partner that needed more cost cuts, which apparently did not happen at the speed Honda desired. Honda was also concerned a merged entity would not be nimble enough to respond to a rapidly evolving auto market. “We need to be speedy, and we thought this structure [where both brands operated under a new holding company] wouldn’t function well to achieve that objective,” Mibe said at the briefing. Honda then reportedly wanted to make Nissan a subsidiary, which Nissan wasn’t going to allow. Nissan felt like a subsidiary with its alliance partner Renault (RNO.PA), and the company still feels disrespected in some fashion to this day. Nissan Motor CEO Makoto Uchida speaks during a press conference on Thursday in Yokohama, Japan. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images) · Tomohiro Ohsumi via Getty Images “With the proposal suggesting Nissan would become a wholly owned subsidiary, we were not confident that our autonomy would be preserved or Nissan’s potential could be truly maximized,” Nissan’s Uchida said. Even Renault balked at the terms of the merger, claiming there wasn’t enough premium paid for its Nissan shares. Honda ruled out a nuclear option as well, claiming a hostile takeover was off the table. Nissan is left with few options at this point. Taiwanese device maker Foxconn said it was interested in an investment with Nissan in order to build out its EV production capabilities. “If cooperation requires [purchasing Nissan shares], we will consider it,” Foxconn chairman Young Liu told reporters on Wednesday. Liu was quick to add that Foxconn desired cooperation, not that it needed to buy shares to achieve this outcome. Story Continues FILE – Visitors look at a series of Foxconn’s Foxtron electric cars during the Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD 24) at the Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei, Taiwan, Oct. 8, 2024 as Foxconn showcases its latest electric car and other technology products. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File) · ASSOCIATED PRESS Big Tech as a partner is new, but it could be the future for the automakers. “As technology advances players may need to consider more steps towards manufacturing ‘robots on wheels’ rather than combustion engine vehicles, it could well be the case that Big Tech companies and electronic components manufacturers — such as Foxconn — become crucial partners in automotive M&A,” said Lucinda Guthrie, head of financial analytics firm Mergermarket. Nissan may have another suitor waiting in the wings, however. Per a new Bloomberg report, private equity firm KKR is considering investing in Nissan, with talks ongoing. While KKR or Foxconn wouldn’t be the major partner Nissan requires, smaller deals with fresh injections of cash are certainly needed. On Thursday, Nissan cut its annual profit forecast for the third time as fiscal Q3 profit fell 78% from a year ago. Meanwhile, Honda maintained its operating profit and profit forecasts for its fiscal year ending on March 31. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram. For the latest earnings reports and analysis, earnings whispers and expectations, and company earnings news, click here Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Source link #Nissan #CEO #difficult #survive #partnerships #Honda #merger #collapses Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Stock futures are flat as Wall Street heads for winning week after Trump delays new tariffs: Live updates – CNBC Stock futures are flat as Wall Street heads for winning week after Trump delays new tariffs: Live updates – CNBC Stock futures are flat as Wall Street heads for winning week after Trump delays new tariffs: Live updates CNBCWall Street ends higher after Trump unveils tariff plan ReutersStock market rallies to close on relief Trump stops short of imposing reciprocal tariffs USA TODAYStock market today: Wall Street rallies near a record after yawning at Trump’s latest tariff threat The Associated Press Source link #Stock #futures #flat #Wall #Street #heads #winning #week #Trump #delays #tariffs #Live #updates #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Prosecutor resigns after being told to drop case against NYC mayor Prosecutor resigns after being told to drop case against NYC mayor The top US prosecutor in Manhattan has resigned days after the US justice department told her office to drop a corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Danielle Sassoon, a conservative lawyer recently promoted by Donald Trump, said dismissing the case would have set a “breathtaking and dangerous precedent”. Adams is alleged to have accepted gifts totalling more than $100,000 (£75,000) from Turkish citizens in exchange for favours, such as waiving safety regulations at the Turkish consulate in the city. He denies the charges. On Monday, a Department of Justice official said the case “restricted” the mayor’s ability to address “******** immigration and violent crime” in the city. The order from Emil Bove, the acting deputy attorney general, did not address the merits of the case against Adams, a Democrat, and noted that the department would reserve the right to reinstitute the charges after New York City’s mayoral election in November. Sassoon refused to drop the case, however, setting out her reasoning in a letter to Bove’s boss, Attorney General Pam Bondi, on Thursday. “Because the law does not support a dismissal, and because I am confident that Adams has committed the crimes with which he is charged, I cannot agree to seek a dismissal driven by improper considerations,” she wrote. Sassoon’s said she had a duty to enforce the law impartially, “and that includes prosecuting a validly returned indictment regardless whether its dismissal would be politically advantageous, to the defendant or to those who appointed me.” Bove shot back in a letter accepting her resignation. He accused Sassoon of attempting to “continue pursuing a politically motivated prosecution despite an express instruction to dismiss the case”. He also said that other prosecutors who worked on the Adams case would be placed on leave and subject to an internal investigation – and that Sassoon would investigated as well. The New York mayor met with Trump in Florida days before his inauguration, and then attended his swearing in ceremony on 20 January. Adams denied at the time that he discussed his legal issues with the incoming president. Later on Thursday, Trump told reporters that he had not asked for the case against Adams to be dropped. However Bove’s letter described his instructions as “direct orders implementing the policy of a duly elected President”. Adams also met Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan on Thursday to discuss the administration’s immigration crackdown. After the meeting he said he would allow federal immigration authorities to re-establish an office at the city’s Rikers Island jail. In a statement, Adams said: “I want to work with the new federal administration, not war with them, to find common ground and make better the lives of New Yorkers.” Adams was indicted in September 2024 on charges of wire fraud, bribery, and receiving campaign contributions from foreigners. According to a 57-page indictment, the mayor allegedly accepted more than hotel stays, lavish meals and airline upgrades from Turkish nationals beginning in 2016, when he was president of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. In one instance, Adams is alleged to have paid $600 for a two-night stay at a luxury hotel in Istanbul, a visit that was valued at approximately $7,000. Source link #Prosecutor #resigns #told #drop #case #NYC #mayor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump talks trade with Modi after ordering new tariffs Trump talks trade with Modi after ordering new tariffs Jude Sheerin BBC News Reporting fromWashington DC Watch: Trump and Modi say meeting will revolve around trade US President Donald Trump is hosting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House for talks on trade. Modi’s two-day visit comes as Trump ordered that US trading partners should face reciprocal tariffs – ****-for-tat import taxes to match similar duties already charged by those countries on American exports. Immigration was high on the agenda, with Trump expected to ask India to take back thousands of undocumented immigrants. Writing earlier on X, Modi said he had also discussed space, technology and innovation at a meeting with Trump ally Elon Musk. Trump and Modi have developed a personal rapport over the years, despite friction over trade. “We’ve had a wonderful relationship,” Trump said as he welcomed his visitor to Washington DC on Thursday. Modi said: “I firmly believe with Trump we will work with twice the speed we did in his first term.” “They’re going to be purchasing a lot of our oil and gas,” Trump added. “They need it. And we have it.” Shortly before their bilateral, Trump ordered his advisers to calculate broad new tariffs on US trading partners around the globe, warning they could start coming into effect by 1 April. Watch: Trump says tariffs could cause prices to ‘go up short term’ In a news conference in the Oval Office, the president told reporters that “our allies are worse than our enemies”, when it comes to import taxes. “We had a very unfair system to us,” the Republican president said before meeting Modi. “Everybody took advantage of the United States.” The White House also issued a news release that fired a trade shot across the bows of India and other countries. The document noted that the average US tariff on agricultural goods was 5% for countries to which Washington had granted most favoured nation (MFN) status. “But India’s average applied MFN tariff is 39%,” the White House fact sheet said. “India also charges a 100% tariff on US motorcycles, while we only charge a 2.4% tariff on Indian motorcycles.” Watch: Elon Musk meets with Prime Minister Narenda Modi in DC On Thursday Trump acknowledged the risks of his tariff policy, as economists warned such import taxes could drive up consumer prices. “Prices could go up somewhat, short term, but prices will also go down,” he said in the Oval Office. But he argued the policy would boost American manufacturing and the country would be “flooded with jobs”. Trump has already placed an additional 10% tariff on imports from China, citing its production of fentanyl, a deadly opioid that has stoked a US overdose epidemic. He has also readied tariffs on Canada and Mexico, America’s two largest trading partners, that could take effect in March after being suspended for 30 days. On Monday, he removed exemptions from his 2018 steel and aluminum tariffs. Source link #Trump #talks #trade #Modi #ordering #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025 Audi Q8 review | The West *********** 2025 Audi Q8 review | The West *********** Say hello to the ‘new’ Audi Q8, although you might struggle to tell it apart from the model it replaces. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert To be fair, there wasn’t much wrong with the original design of Audi’s flagship ‘Sportback’ SUV, even if it dates back to 2018, but now mid-way through its lifecycle it has received a mild refresh to keep it ‘young’ and ‘hip’. Perhaps more substantial than the design updates are the revisions to its specifications, which make the latest Q8 a better value offering alongside the likes of the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, as well as an updated ‘TFSI e’ plug-in hybrid hero that gets a more powerful electric motor and a ******* battery offering more electric driving range. Otherwise, much of the Q8’s formula stays the same. It’s a big, stylish thing that shares its bones with the likes of the Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus, for a substantially lower entry price. How does it stack up in 2025? We joined the *********** media launch in New South Wales to find out. How much does the Audi Q8 cost? The updated Audi Q8 range kicks off from $143,415 before on-road costs, with the V6 petrol and diesel versions now achieving price parity. Compared to the pre-update range, the ‘base’ models are about $6000 dearer. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert For reference, the most affordable BMW X6 starts from $143,600, while the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe kicks off from a much higher $161,700 – all prices exclude on-road costs. To see how the Audi Q8 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool What is the Audi Q8 like on the inside? If you thought the exterior design changes were minor, you’d be forgiven for thinking nothing has changed inside. There are some minor revisions, however. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert Where rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz have started integrated their driver cluster and infotainment displays into tablet-style housings and removing as much physical switchgear as possible, Audi has found a halfway house. The layout is conventional but the tech is quite new-age, and personally I think Audi’s user interface is one of the best in the business – that’s probably why it serves as the basis for Bentley and Lamborghini systems. You could be forgiven for thinking the Audi MMI software is all carryover, because it largely is. But, there are a few changes for this facelift which could make a meaningful difference. In the upper infotainment display there’s a new tiled main homescreen menu which is more like a smartphone, allowing you to have connected app information front and centre when you turn it on. There’s also integration for Spotify and YouTube applications – though the latter is only available when the vehicle is parked. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert Ahead of the driver, Audi’s latest 12.3-inch ‘virtual cockpit’ digital instrument cluster receives a new driver assistance display option, which has a real-time projection of your Q8 within its lane and surrounding traffic. It can detect and display different types of lane markings, and other cars, trucks and motorcycles either ahead of you or in adjacent lanes, and it’ll even do cute little animations for the brake and indicator lights when activated. This is nothing new, but it’s a nice addition and Audi has designed it to look different from similar displays in Tesla and BMW vehicles. The clicky haptic feedback on the touchscreens is also as ‘real’ in feel as it gets. Audi’s knack for clicky and high-quality switchgear has definitely carried over to its digitised controls. I will say, however, that the low-set climate controls aren’t in the best position if you want to actually look where you’re pressing. While they’re tactile in feel, if you’re toggling something on the move it does require you to take your eyes well off the road. Overall though, the design, material and perceived build quality is excellent, and presentation is top-notch even in ‘boring’ ******. The frameless windows are also a nice sports car-esque touch. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert Storage is alright without being standout – there’s a shallow cubby under that centre armrest, which also houses the wireless phone charger, plus decent door pockets, and a pair of cupholders on the centre console with a nicely weighted lid. We didn’t spend much time in the second row, but being a full-size SUV with a 3004mm wheelbase pays dividends if you’re transporting grown adults often. Like its platform mates – think Audi Q7, Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne – the Audi Q8 easily accommodates above average-sized humans (like 6’1″ me) with plenty of knee and leg room, as well as sufficient headroom despite the tapered rear roofline. Standard amenities in the rear include a third zone of climate control with directional air vents, a pair of USB-C chargers with a 12V outlet. You also get netted back pockets on the backs of the front seats. You can also slide and recline the rear seats for added comfort, and also extend the cargo area should you need the extra load-lugging capacity. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert Speaking of which, the Audi Q8 offers a healthy 605 litres of boot space with the second row in place, expanding to 1755 litres with it folded. It’s nice and square, and there’s no hump between the floor and seat backs when folded. All models come with a space-saver spare wheel under the boot floor, too. To see how the Audi Q8 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool What’s under the bonnet? The standard Q8 range (excluding the SQ8) is available with three drivetrains in Australia, all of them V6 engines featuring varying forms of electrification, and all of them paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert *Figures taken from global specification To see how the Audi Q8 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool How does the Audi Q8 drive? While we samples all three powertrain variants on our launch drive from Sydney to Bowral and back, the biggest changes are reserved for the updated plug-in hybrid. Camera Icon55 TFSI S line Credit: CarExpert Our first stint behind the wheel, however, was largely a transit leg from Sydney to Bowral in the Q8 55 TFSI, with its rev-happy and silky-smooth petrol V6 augmented by eager 48V mild-hybrid tech. With a healthy 250kW and 500Nm available – the latter on tap from just 1350rpm – the petrol-powered Q8 gets up and going quickly, making relatively light work of its 2175kg unladen weight. It doesn’t feel quite as effortless as the diesel though, so it needs to be revved out quite a bit, which doesn’t help fuel consumption. It also means the eight-speed auto has to drop an extra cog or two to keep you in the sweet spot. The bent six also has a sweet but muted note when pushed. It’s a pretty smooth operator that does away with the muted clatter of the oiler, should that be a turn off for you (and for some, it is). Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert With standard air suspension, despite the big optional 22-inch wheels fitted to our test car, the Q8 55 TFSI remained comfortable and relatively insulated from wind and road noise – even if some muted tyre roar permeated the cabin over some rougher country NSW highway. There’s a wonderful feeling of security and stability at high speeds, thanks to the big footprint and grippy 285/40 tyres wrapped around the larger wheels. Rain or shine, the Q8 feels hunkered down and sure-footed. It was a similar experience with the 50 TDI diesel I drove on the first of the more dynamic legs after arriving in Bowral. Audi’s V6 oiler is incredibly refined and barely makes its compression ignition known, and offers better low-down shove than its petrol-fuelled counterpart. Fuel consumption was notably better with the diesel as well, showing in the 7-8L/100km realm while driving through some more spirited sections of the Southern Highlands, while the 55 TFSI was showing indicated consumption in the nines even with a healthy freeway stint – mind you, neither were indicative of mixed real-world conditions. Camera Icon50 TDI quattro Credit: CarExpert Regardless of the variant, the Q8 feels like a big, substantial wagonr. Despite being strictly a five-seater, it’s pretty much the same size as the seven-seat Q7 dimensionally. Still, it handles pretty well despite its stocky dimensions and 2.1-tonne heft. In the city it wafts along without feeling clumsy or cumbersome, but it couldn’t hide its immense size in bustling inner-city Sydney. The 48V MHEV system is very active in the 50 TDI and 55 TFSI, though doesn’t seem be caught napping during low-speed coasting the way earlier versions of these drivetrains used to. On the windier stuff, the Q8 handles well given its size and weight. The 50 TDI and 55 TFSI ride on standard adaptive air suspension, which errs on the firmer side but that also translates to keener handling and minimal body roll. That means it’s well controlled over high-speed undulations like you’ll find on country highways in Australia, minimising the bouncing motion that can plague some heavier vehicles on such roads. The steering is quite light and lacking in outright feel, but it turns in accurately and doesn’t manage to feel vague or wooden. You can also have the Q8 with rear-axle steering, which tightens the turning circle by turning the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the fronts at low speeds – making this big thing quite manoeuvrable in town – and also promotes high-speed stability. Camera Icon60 TFSI e Credit: CarExpert Finally, we got a stint in the updated 60 TFSI e PHEV, with its more powerful yet more efficient plug-in system. Effectively the 55 TFSI with a battery pack, the TFSI e is silent and refined in EV mode, and very punchy when you flick it into ‘dynamic’ mode, which primes both power sources for maximum attack – it’s freaking quick, if a little quiet. The immediacy of response from the uprated electric motor makes this big SUV feel a lot more sprightly, given it offers all its torque from the moment you hit the throttle. Audi quotes 130kW/465Nm from the new motor, which is almmost the max torque of the 3.0 TFSI petrol engine but from rest. With its larger battery, the Q8 TFSI e quotes an all-electric driving range of 74km according to the WLTP standard, which is a big step up over the outgoing model’s 59km NEDC-based claim. We didn’t do a full range test to assess the claim, but even a real-world figure of 60-something kilometres is good for a vehicle of this size. The PHEV also gets a lower and firmer ‘air suspension sport’ tune as standard, which no doubt contributed to the tighter feel and reduced ride compliance over some of the patchy and pockmarked roads near Bowral. Whether that’s a good or bad thing will likely depend on your personal preferences. Camera Icon60 TFSI e Credit: CarExpert As for driver assistance systems, the Q8 is pretty much decked out across the range. And, it’s all pretty darn good. The adaptive cruise assist system combines active cruise and lane centring assists for semi-autonomous highway driving, while the standard 360-degree cameras and blind-spot monitoring with rear traffic alert mean you don’t really have any excuse for kerb-rashing an alloy wheel or swiping barriers or other cars in shopping centre car parks. Finally, there are standard matrix LED *********** with adaptive high -beam, and while we didn’t get to try these out we’re confident this enhanced front lighting tech will illuminate poorly lit roads far better than the outgoing car’s standard fixed LED units – Audi’s high-end lighting is art almost as much as it’s a tech feature. To see how the Audi Q8 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool What do you get? The 50 TDI and 55 TFSI are effectively the same spec bar the engines under the bonnet, while the 60 TFSI e adds a few extra sprinkles beyond its partial EV capabilities. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert 2025 Audi Q8 50 TDI + 55 TFSI S line equipment highlights: 21-inch alloy wheelsS line exterior packageAdaptive air suspensionMatrix LED headlightsElectric tailgate incl. gesture functionBody-coloured bumpersS line interior packageColour ambient interior lighting package3-zone climate controlSeat heating – frontRear seat bench plusElectric steering adjustmentMMI navigation plusAudi connect plus12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpitAudi phone box lightDAB radioCamera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert Q8 60 TFSI e adds: Red brake calipersBlack exterior styling packageAdaptive air suspension – sport7.2kW on-board chargerType 2 charge cable for public chargingWall bracket for mounting charger at homeOptions The Q8 is available with a pair of main option packages, in addition to single-item options. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert Luxury seat package: $3900 S sport seats incl. integrated headrestValcona leather, diamond stitchingFront seat ventilationHeated outer rear seats Premium plus package: $6900 22-inch alloy wheelsAdaptive air suspension – sport (50 TDI, 55 TFSI)Dynamic all-wheel steeringBlack exterior styling packagePower assisted doors Metallic paints (all but Carrara white) command a hefty $2400 premium, while premium metallic finishes (Ascari blue and Sakhir gold) cost an extra $4000 – ouch. To see how the Audi Q8 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Is the Audi Q8 safe? The Audi Q8 has a five-star safety ANCAP safety rating, though this applies only to 3.0-litre petrol and diesel models and is based on testing conducted in 2019. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert Standard safety equipment includes: Autonomous emergency brakingAdaptive cruise assistBlind-spot monitoringLane-keep assistParking sensors – front, rearParking system plusRear cross-traffic alertSafe exit warningSurround-view camerasTraffic sign recognition To see how the Audi Q8 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool How much does the Audi Q8 cost to run? The Audi Q8 is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert To see how the Audi Q8 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool CarExpert’s Take on the Audi Q8 The Audi Q8 could well be my dream dad car… I just don’t have kids to fill it with yet. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert It remains the understated choice among its peers, with a more hatchback-like tailgate compared to the coupe-like silhouettes of the X6 and GLE Coupe – and personally I think it’s all the better for it. While the changes are minor, there wasn’t much wrong with the Q8 to begin with. It’s still gorgeous to look at, cuts a fine line in traffic without being brash or tacky, and has a wonderfully classic, high-quality interior that blends the brand’s latest tech. The mild-hybrid V6s are lovely to drive, and personally I’d pick the diesel for its effortless performance and better efficiency. The improvements to Audi’s plug-in hybrid powertrain also make it a viable option if you’re going to make the most of the improved EV range, but you’d need to really want the extra performance to justify the $11,000 premium. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert For all its strengths, the lifeless steering feel and tyre noise are minor criticisms of an otherwise lovely all-rounder. But the extra charges for the premium paints seem a little steep – and that’s before you go the Audi exclusive bespoke route. However, that’s not unusual for this class of vehicle, and the Q8 remains pretty solid value against its direct competitors. Further, it has the added drawcard of sharing its DNA with properly premium, boutique SUVs that cost substantially more. If you don’t need three rows of seating but want a luxury SUV that stands out from the crowd without breaking the bank too much, you could do a lot worse than the Audi Q8. Camera Icon2025 Audi Q8 Credit: CarExpert Interested in buying an Audi Q8? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Audi Q8 ProsStill a stunnerStill beautifully madeStill relatively good valueConsDull steering, tyre noise on big wheelsSome pricey optionsHard to distinguish from the old one Source link #Audi #review #West #*********** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘If you ain’t with us, you just gotta go.’ ‘If you ain’t with us, you just gotta go.’ Days after Mayor Brandon Johnson signaled he would fire top holdovers appointed by past mayors, he announced Thursday that two key city department leaders are stepping down from their jobs. The mayor’s press office announced Department of Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee will retire in April. Moments later, the office released another statement announced Jose Tirado “will be transitioning out of his position” as executive director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communication. Rhee, a Rahm Emanuel appointee, oversaw O’Hare and Midway airports, key drivers of the city’s economy. More recently, she has helped lead an effort to overhaul large parts of O’Hare that has at times pitted Johnson against the Illinois Congressional delegation. In a statement, Johnson praised Rhee for leaving an “indelible mark on our airports and our city.” He then thanked Tirado for helping to oversee reductions in crime and a “successfully hosted” Democratic National Convention. But just days earlier, he hinted at leadership changes to come while telling a church crowd he wished he would have “cleaned house faster” during his first two years in office. Asked Monday night during a “Faith in Government Tour” conversation at New Covenant Missionary ******** Church about what he regrets in his first term, Johnson told Pastor Stephen J. Thurston II that he kept on some staffers who did not “agree with [him] 100%” when he became mayor in an effort to show “godly presentation” and his ability to work with others. He then hinted he would soon make key staff changes. “If you ain’t with us, you just gotta go. So now, I’m in a position now where I’ll be making some decisions in the days to come, because playing nice with other people who ain’t about us, it’s just a waste of exercise,” Johnson said. “Everybody don’t have that Joseph anointing,” Johnson quipped. “There’s a whole bunch of people who are like, ‘Oh, shoot, who’s about to get fired?’ Well, you’re about to find out, stay tuned.” Asked whether Johnson’s comments forecast Rhee’s departure, the mayor’s press office did not immediately respond Thursday. In a statement shared alongside Johnson’s, Rhee thanked her staff and said she is “eternally grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded to me and am extremely proud of the work that’s been accomplished.” The seven-year veteran commissioner oversaw Chicago’s airports as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, marking some of the most challenging moments in recent memory for air travel. As activity began to rebound from pandemic lows, the recovery at O’Hare, long a linchpin in the nation’s air system, remained sluggish, as business travel was slow to return and one of the airport’s major airlines began to shift focus elsewhere. By November 2024, the most recent month of data available, the number of travelers at O’Hare for the year was closer to pre-pandemic levels, reaching 95% of 2019 numbers. Passenger traffic at Midway had surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Rhee also oversaw major construction projects at the two airports, including the completion of a redesign of O’Hare’s runways to reduce delays at the congested airport nearly 20 years after the project was announced. Another major O’Hare construction project during Rhee’s tenure has yet to take off. Work to replace Terminal 2 with a new Global Terminal and add two satellite concourses is set to be the centerpiece of an overhaul of the airport’s terminals. Already behind schedule, the effort became mired in months of contentious negotiations and drew the attention of Illinois’ Congressional delegation when Chicago’s two main airlines pushed back against rising construction costs. The city and airlines ultimately agreed to change the order of construction, a move that initially raised fears outside of City Hall that a second satellite concourse could be cut from the project. Source link #aint #gotta Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

From AI to 16K screens, tech is disrupting the movie industry From AI to 16K screens, tech is disrupting the movie industry The multibillion-dollar global film industry is at the advent of another technological revolution, set to make movie-making easier than ever before. One innovator in the space is prestigious camera and production supplies company, ARRI, which opened a groundbreaking stage just outside London in 2021. The stage features a 30-meter wide, 16K resolution screen. “It replaces the need to work within green screen, so the actors love the environment. They’re interacting with what they’re seeing around them,” ARRI production specialist Robert Payton told CNBC’s Converge. ARRI partnered with live events operations company, Creative Technology, to meet the growing demand for virtual production facilities. “We’re a display business, so we work in LED screens, which is kind of our core market, and obviously ARRI are at the forefront of the cinematic world,” said Connie Glover, the head of film and TV for Creative Technology. “So, we joined forces and we both used our strengths to come up with this space,” Glover added. Of course, virtual production is not the only innovation disrupting filmmaking. Artificial intelligence is a source of contention within the industry, but its advocates say the tech is democratizing creativity. “What AI and Gen AI will hopefully be doing is allowing more people to have more opportunities to enter the industry, with a much lower barrier to entry,” said David Webster, creative consultant for the Singapore-based organization, AI Create. Watch the video above to see how virtual production and AI are changing filmmaking. For information on CNBC’s Converge Live event which takes place in Singapore 12-13 March 2025, click here. Source link #16K #screens #tech #disrupting #movie #industry Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stock market today: Wall Street rallies near a record after yawning at Trump’s latest tariff threat – The Associated Press Stock market today: Wall Street rallies near a record after yawning at Trump’s latest tariff threat – The Associated Press Stock market today: Wall Street rallies near a record after yawning at Trump’s latest tariff threat The Associated PressView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Stock #market #today #Wall #Street #rallies #record #yawning #Trumps #latest #tariff #threat #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Sick of making the same justifications and excuses’: Cameron Murray opens up on horror 2024 season ‘Sick of making the same justifications and excuses’: Cameron Murray opens up on horror 2024 season Souths skipper Cameron Murray has opened up on the “dark moments” at the club over the past 18 months and has vowed to repay the loyalty shown by fans who had to listen to him “make the same justifications and excuses” after games last year without much improvement. It’s incredibly raw honesty from a man who bleeds red and green and is desperate to turn things around after a stunning collapse from a team who led the league after 11 rounds in 2023 but missed the finals that year. Things only got worse, with the Rabbitohs managing just one victory through 11 rounds last year, with coach Jason Demetriou already sacked by that point. A shocking injury toll, a couple of key suspensions and the turmoil around their coach’s departure led to things spiralling before Souths mounted a mini surge thanks to Latrell Mitchell before a foot injury ended his campaign. Having hundreds of thousands of eyeballs on you during games was hard enough, but the truly tough examination came after that when Murray was forced to answer the same questions each week about the team’s struggles, Mitchell’s availability and if there was a light at the end of the tunnel. “Everyone hates losing, so to sit there and answer the same questions every week (was hard),” Murray told the NewsWire after he endured a rough season where he had a career-low winning percentage of 21.43 from his 14 games. “But you also get sick of making the same justifications and excuses without any results. It’s hard to talk to your fans and to tell everyone to keep the hope and keep supporting us like they always have if we keep dishing up the same results. “It’s been a hard 18 months for everyone involved in the club, so we want to make sure that we’re repaying the loyalty and the commitment that the fans have always shown us through the good times and the bad with good results. “That’s one of our big motivations this year. Another motivation is me not sitting in the press conference having to answer questions after a loss.” Murray had his own injury issues last season and is battling a wrist concern that has him in doubt for round 1, with his young family providing some respite for the challenges he had to deal with in 2024. Camera IconMurray’s young family kept him grounded last season. Credit: Supplied “They were good distractions,” he said. “Nothing really makes (losing) OK, but my daughter and my partner definitely make it bearable. “Coming home to them and spending some quality family time with them (was great), although there were probably some times when it’s hard for footy to not affect you away from training and the bright lights when the results are like that. “But they were definitely my saving grace during some of those dark moments.” Having guys like Campbell Graham and Junior Tatola back this season will help greatly, but there are two men who will ultimately dictate how Souths perform. One is Mitchell, who has trained the proverbial house down and is tipped to have a huge year as the main man in attack. “He’s doing everything off the field right, he’s committed and he’s a competitor when it comes to training,” Murray said. “We’re all doing everything right to make sure that we’re building confidence and building that base that we need for what’s going to be a big season.” Camera IconLatrell Mitchell has impressed everyone at Souths during the pre-season. Rabbitohs Digital Credit: Supplied The other is master coach Wayne Bennett, who returns to the club that he took to the grand final in 2021. He has kept it simple in the pre-season, with defence and discipline the two key areas of concern after Souths had 12 players sin binned last year when they narrowly avoided the wooden spoon. “He’s not much different at all. He’s pretty much the same,” the tireless lock said. “He’s given us the same messaging, he’s got the same presence and it has the same impact, so he’s been really good. “He’s really driving the fundamentals to be right because everyone knows that if you’re fit and you get the basics right, then you’ll go a long way to winning games. “You definitely need that blueprint before you head into games. “We probably had career-high errors and discipline issues last year which put our defence under the pump, and it was a snowball effect from there.” Source link #Sick #making #justifications #excuses #Cameron #Murray #opens #horror #season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

US congressmen sound the alarm on ‘secret’ Apple order from ***. Read their letter. US congressmen sound the alarm on ‘secret’ Apple order from ***. Read their letter. Tulsi Gabbard was urged to challenge the ***’s order for Apple data access. ***’s request could compromise American data security, risking espionage threats, the letter said. Apple reportedly faces penalties for disclosing ***’s “secret order,” raising privacy concerns. Tulsi Gabbard was sworn in as the Director of National Intelligence on Wednesday, and she’s already received a warning from congressmen about the safety of Americans’ data. A letter from Ron Wyden, a Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Andy Biggs, a Republican on the House Judiciary committee, urged Gabbard to demand the *** government retract an order that would grant them access to the cloud content of any Apple user in the world. The Washington Post was the first to report on the order, which it said was issued in January, and which would allow the British government to view encrypted material. Wyden and Biggs asked Gabbard to push back on the “secret order.” If Apple were to build a ********* for the ***, the congressmen said, it would undermine Americans’ right to privacy, “expose them to espionage by China, Russia, and other adversaries,” and threaten government agencies that use Apple products. The tech giant is reportedly not allowed to acknowledge the order. “The company faces criminal penalties that prevent it from even confirming to the US Congress the accuracy of these press reports,” the letter said. Wyden and Biggs told Gabbard to give the *** an ultimatum: “Back down from this dangerous attack on US cybersecurity, or face serious consequences.” They also asked her office to answer three questions about the Trump administration’s awareness of the order and its understanding of the 2018 CLOUD Act, which allows the US to enter bilateral agreements with foreign allies to request data information from companies without going through diplomatic channels. Business Insider reached out to the British Home Office and the White House for comment. The White House did not immediately respond. The Home Office provided a statement to *** on Thursday: “We do not comment on operational matters, including for example confirming or denying the existence of any such notices.” Apple CEO Tim Cook has been a big proponent of data encryption on iOS devices. The tech giant pushed back against the US government’s request for a ********* into iPhone users’ personal information. After a 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Apple was asked by the FBI to provide access to the shooter’s data. Cook said that Apple complied with the request, but he stood firmly against building a ********* to the iPhone. Cook said it would be “too dangerous to create” such a thing, considering it could fall into the hands of hackers. “Compromising the security of our personal information can ultimately put our personal safety at risk. That is why encryption has become so important to all of us,” Cook wrote in 2016. Read the full letter sent to Gabbard: Dear Director Gabbard: We write to urge you to act decisively to protect the security of Americans’ communications from dangerous, shortsighted efforts by the United Kingdom (***) that will undermine Americans’ privacy rights and expose them to espionage by China, Russia and other adversaries. According to recent press reports, the ***’s Home Secretary served Apple with a secret order last month, directing the company to weaken the security of its iCloud backup service to facilitate government spying. This directive reportedly requires the company to weaken the encryption of its iCloud backup service, giving the *** government the “blanket capability” to access customers’ encrypted files. This order was reportedly issued under the ***’s Investigatory Powers Act 2016, commonly known as the “Snoopers’ Charter,” which does not require a judge’s approval. Apple is reportedly gagged from acknowledging that it received such an order, and the company faces criminal penalties that prevent it from even confirming to the US Congress the accuracy of these press reports. These reported actions seriously threaten the privacy and security of both the American people and the US government. Apple does not make different versions of its encryption software for each market; Apple customers in the *** use the same software as Americans. If Apple is forced to build a ********* in its products, that ********* will end up in Americans’ phones, tablets, and computers, undermining the security of Americans’ data, as well as of the countless federal, state and local government agencies that entrust sensitive data to Apple products. The Salt Typhoon hack of US telephone carriers’ wiretapping systems last year — in which President Trump and Vice President Vance’s calls were tapped by China — provides a perfect example of the dangers of surveillance backdoors. They will inevitably be compromised by sophisticated foreign adversaries and exploited in ways harmful to US national security. As the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the FBI confirmed last November, People’s Republic of China (PRC)-affiliated actors were involved in “copying of certain information that was subject to US law enforcement requests pursuant to court orders.” The risk does not just come from wiretapping systems — when sensitive data is stored by third parties, without end-to-end encryption, it is vulnerable to theft when those service providers are hacked. That is exactly what has happened in 2023, when PRC-affiliated hackers broke into Microsoft’s systems storing federal agencies’ emails. As the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Safety Review Board documented, the foreign spies “struck the espionage equivalent of gold,” enabling them to access “the official email accounts of many of the most senior US government officials managing our country’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China” and “downloaded approximately 60,000 emails from State Department alone.” After years of senior US government officials — from both Republican and Democratic Administrations — pushing for weaker encryption and surveillance backdoors, it seems that the US government has finally come around to a position we have long argued: strong end-to-end encryption protects national security. Indeed, in the wake of the Salt Typhoon hack, CISA released public guidance which recommended that high-value targets, including Members of Congress, solely use end-to-end encrypted communications tools, like Signal. While the *** has been a trusted ally, the US government must not permit what is effectively a foreign cyberattack waged through political means. If the *** does not immediately reverse this dangerous effort, we urge you to reevaluate US-*** cybersecurity arrangements and programs as well as US intelligence sharing with the ***. As the *** Parliament’s intelligence oversight committee described in a December, 2023 public report, the *** benefits greatly from a “mutual presumption towards unrestricted sharing of [Signals Intelligence]” between the US and *** and that “[t]he weight of advantage in the partnership with the [National Security Agency] is overwhelmingly in [the ***’s] favour.” The bilateral US-*** relationship must be built on trust. If the *** is secretly undermining one of the foundations of US cybersecurity, that trust has been profoundly breached. You stated at your confirmation hearing that “backdoors lead down a dangerous path that can undermine Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights and civil liberties.” And you wrote in response to a written question that “[m]andating mechanisms to bypass encryption or privacy technologies undermines user security, privacy, and trust and poses significant risks of exploitation by malicious actors.” We urge you to put those words into action by giving the *** an ultimatum: back down from this dangerous attack on US cybersecurity, or face serious consequences. To inform ongoing Congressional oversight, please also provide us with unclassified answers to the following questions by March 3, 2025: 1. Was the Trump Administration made aware of this reported order, either by the *** or Apple, prior to the press reports and, if so, when and by whom? 2. What is the Trump Administration’s understanding of *** law and the bilateral CLOUD Act agreement with regard to an exception to gag orders for notice to the US government? 3. What is the Trump Administration’s understanding of its obligation to inform Congress and the American public about foreign government demands for US companies to weaken the security of their products, pursuant to the CLOUD Act? Sincerely, Ron Wydon Andy Biggs Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #congressmen #sound #alarm #secret #Apple #order #Read #letter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China’s pain threshold for tariffs lower than U.S.: former Trump advisor China’s pain threshold for tariffs lower than U.S.: former Trump advisor China’s pain threshold for tariffs is “a lot lower” than the U.S.’, according to Stephen Moore, a former economic advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking at a Delivering Alpha event in Dubai, Moore said that China was Trump’s main target regarding tariffs. He described the foreign economic policy as a “negotiating tool” from the Trump playbook and said it represents a “battle for global economic dominance and supremacy.” Moore, who waivered over labeling the current dispute a trade war, said it’s more likely to evolve into a “trade skirmish.” China “can’t win” the game of escalating tariffs as the country has an economy that is “not doing all that well,” he added. “China is going to feel the effects of these tariffs,” he told CNBC’s Dan Murphy. “Trade wars are not good for either country. But their pain threshold is a lot lower than ours is.” Moore served as a senior economic advisor during Trump’s first election campaign in 2016 and is currently a visiting senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation — an influential right-wing think tank in Washington and the engine behind Project 2025 which, among its 900-page mandate, calls for sweeping changes to the federal government. Europe must ‘make a choice’ Moore also lambasted Europe’s position on China, claiming that “Europeans and the Brits and the Australians will have to make a choice” between the U.S. and China. “I hope that the Europeans understand that this is about the survival of the planet, that we don’t allow China to take over Asia,” he said. Beijing and the European Union are also involved in a trade spat over tariffs on electric vehicles, however. Economists have shared grim warnings over the trade escalating tensions, with Capital Economics’ Paul Ashworth saying Trump’s initial tariff announcement was “just the first strike in what could become a very destructive global trade war.” Moore also backed the U.S. President’s motivations for potential tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China in what the administration has described as a bid to clamp down on imports of fentanyl and heroin drugs. “If Trump can actually get Canada [and] Mexico to help keep these lethal drugs out of the U.S., it’s worth… paying more for the goods that come in from those countries,” he said. China has pushed back on Trump’s comments about fentanyl, describing it as a “domestic issue,” while Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum rebutted Trump’s claim of Mexico’s alleged alliances with criminal cartels as “slander.” Trump said he would suspend tariffs on Canada and Mexico as the countries agreed to work to prevent the trafficking of fentanyl into the U.S., although his tariffs on China have gone ahead. China has retaliated with its own tariffs on certain imports from the U.S. Trump has since said he will introduce duties on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. Source link #Chinas #pain #threshold #tariffs #U.S #Trump #advisor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Read Danielle Sassoon’s Letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Annotated – The New York Times Read Danielle Sassoon’s Letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Annotated – The New York Times Read Danielle Sassoon’s Letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Annotated The New York TimesProsecutor who quit after refusing to drop Adams case says she’s confident he ‘committed the crimes’ The Associated PressActing US attorney in New York and two other prosecutors quit after being told to drop Eric Adams case CNN Source link #Read #Danielle #Sassoons #Letter #Attorney #General #Pam #Bondi #Annotated #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rear passenger dies in three-car ****** in Melbourne Rear passenger dies in three-car ****** in Melbourne A back-seat passenger has died and their driver is seriously injured following a horror three-car ******. Source link #Rear #passenger #dies #threecar #****** #Melbourne Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Founder of NYC nonprofit indicted for taking millions in kickbacks under city-funded COVID housing program Founder of NYC nonprofit indicted for taking millions in kickbacks under city-funded COVID housing program During the height of the pandemic, the founder of a city-funded nonprofit aiding people released from jail allegedly took $2.5 million in cash kickbacks, plus other gifts, including home and luxury car loan payments to funnel tens of millions in public funds to two corrupt businesspeople, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn charged Thursday. Julio Medina, the executive director and founder of Exodus Transitional Community, solicited and accepted the cash and gifts from hotel executive Weihong Hu, an associate of Mayor Adams’ aide Winnie Greco, and security company president Christopher Dantzler. In exchange, Medina funneled to them about $51 million in city contracts meant to provide housing and other services to people released from jail during the pandemic, the indictment said. Photos contained in the indictment show Medina, a former chairperson of the city Board of Correction, allegedly accepting an envelope of cash from Hu at one of the hotels used to house people released from jail during the pandemic. The nonprofit received roughly $122 million through the emergency housing program overseen by the city, the indictment said. Under the program, people were released from jail into hotels and given reentry services. “The defendants’ brazen and ******** kickback scheme stole money from the City of New York that was intended to provide emergency housing and support services during the pandemic,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District John Durham. “Shamefully, the defendants saw the pandemic as an opportunity to line their pockets with stacks of cash, finance a luxury vehicle, purchase homes and pay off personal debts.” Prosecutors allege the scheme began as early as April 2020 as the pandemic forced citywide shutdowns and led Mayor de Blasio to order the release of hundreds of detainees from the city’s jails, driving the system’s population to below 4,000 for the first time in memory. The scheme continued for the next four years, with regular, surreptitious meetings between Medina, Hu and Dantzler to exchange money. The indictment contains four surveillance photos of Medina meeting with Hu at one of Hu’s hotels in Queens on Sept. 11, 2020. The images show Hu pulling a stack of cash from her wallet, placing it in a manila envelop and sliding it over to Medina, the indictment said. Both appear to be wearing Adidas tracksuits. Medina is wearing a New York Yankees baseball cap. Medina then passed over purported checks from the emergency housing program. Two days later, the indictment said, the checks were deposited in Hu-controlled accounts. Between August 2021 and September 2021, Dantzler, previously an electrician, allegedly paid $75,000 to pay off debts owed by Medina and family members, including a mortgage and a car loan. In November 2021, Hu used one of her businesses to finance a luxury car for Medina worth $107,000. She then made monthly payments of more than $50,000, the indictment said. In May 2023, Dantzler paid $750,000 to buy and renovate a home for Media upstate in Clifton Park, the indictment said. In return, Medina submitted fraudulently inflated budgets to obtain multiple contracts through the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, which was overseeing the housing program. The contracts were inflated to account for the cost of the bribes and kickbacks paid by Dantzler and Hu, the indictment alleges. To avoid detection of the scheme, Medina submitted false statements to the city claiming no one in Exodus received any financial benefit from the contracts, the indictment said. At one point, on May 22, 2023, Medina, worrying the scheme was unraveling, unloaded on one of Hu’s employees in a text message. “Don’t call me no more. I don’t f—ing trust you!” he ranted. “You know I’m under investigation. You are f—ing with the wrong person!” One of Hu’s hotels was raided by the feds in November, weeks after the mayor was indicted on corruption charges. Hu was a major fundraiser for the mayor’s 2021 campaign and has extensive ties to Winnie Greco, a senior adviser to Adams whose homes were also raided by the feds in February 2024. As first reported by the news outlet The City, Greco at one point lived for free in a room at one of Hu’s hotels that was supposed to be reserved for homeless individuals. Under a Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice homeless outreach program, the hotel room Greco stayed in was paid for with taxpayer dollars. Greco resigned from her position in the Adams administration in October 2024. Some donors who gave to Adams’ 2021 campaign as part of fundraisers hosted by Hu were reportedly reimbursed by her, a practice known as “straw donating” that is ********. Source link #Founder #NYC #nonprofit #indicted #millions #kickbacks #cityfunded #COVID #housing #program Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stock market today: Live updates Stock market today: Live updates Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 13, 2025. NYSE S&P 500 futures were little changed Thursday night after President Donald Trump held off on imposing new reciprocal tariffs. Futures linked to the 500-stock index were marginally lower, as were Dow Jones Industrial Average futures. Nasdaq 100 futures dipped 0.1%. During the day’s regular session, the S&P 500 added 1.04%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose 1.5%. The Dow advanced 0.77%, hitting its session highs after Trump signed a presidential memorandum on reciprocal tariffs but fell short of enacting them for the time being. Investors were also relieved after January’s producer price index, as well as Wednesday’s consumer price index report, seemed to suggest a softer reading for the personal consumption expenditures price index. The PCE price index is the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, and it is due later this month. While markets managed to end Thursday higher, Mark Malek, chief investment officer at Siebert, believes that this relief and positive momentum over a pause in retaliatory tariffs may be short-lived. “The market will have pressure on Friday — there was not enough clear stimulus for the market to trade this way … nothing that would justify this late-day move. I listened very carefully to the president speaking, and there was nothing in there that stood out to me as great for the market,” he told CNBC in an interview. “Friday is going to be one of those days where people are going to try to figure out what this all means.” For now, the major averages are all on pace to end the week higher. The S&P 500 and the Dow are respectively set for a gain of about 1.5% and 0.9%. The Nasdaq is 2.2% higher week to date. Biopharma giant Moderna will report earnings Friday before the bell. Traders will also watch out for the latest retail sales data. Source link #Stock #market #today #Live #updates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]