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Europe wants to be part of AI race against China and U.S. Europe wants to be part of AI race against China and U.S. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron at Station F, during an event on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, France, Feb. 11, 2025. Aurelien Morissard | Via Reuters PARIS — Music was blaring and people were cheering at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris on Monday as French President Emmanuel Macron declared France is “back in the AI race.” The bold call comes after Macron touted a 109 billion euro ($112.8 billion) investment in AI in the country. But it also underscores Europe’s desire, led by France, to be a part of the conversation around AI leadership and innovation that has so far been dominated by the U.S. and China. Last month, America’s $500 billion Stargate announcement made headlines globally, followed by DeepSeek’s AI model, which sent shock waves across financial markets and highlighted China’s ability to keep apace with U.S. innovation. Europe has long been seen by its critics as a place that has regulated the tech industry too heavily to the detriment of innovation. Though that image has not entirely been changed, there are some in the technology industry who think Europe is moving in the right direction. “As a European region, at least, we are starting to see global leaders emerge, and that’s the thing we really need,” Victor Riparbelli, CEO of AI video company Synthesia, told CNBC in an interview on Monday. There are a number of key companies in Europe, ranging from self-driving technology startup Wayve in the U.K. to OpenAI rival Mistral in France. “So I think it’s great that we invest more in infrastructure. I don’t think it’s the sole solution to the problem. … But what I think is really great is that there’s political will to actually do something,” Riparbelli added. ‘Fork in the road’ Last year, economist and politician Mario Draghi released a report that urged more investment in the European Union in order to boost competitiveness. Draghi’s report noted that there are innovative ideas, but startups are “failing to translate innovation into commercialisation, and innovative companies that want to scale up in Europe are hindered at every stage by inconsistent and restrictive regulations.” Chris Lehane, chief global affairs officer at OpenAI, told CNBC on Monday that based on his experience at the AI Action Summit, there is tension between Europe at the EU level and the countries within it. “You can get this sense that there’s almost this fork in the road, maybe even a tension right now between a Europe at the EU level that is looking at a fairly significant, heavier regulatory approach. And then some of the countries, a France, a Germany, a ***, though not technically the EU, certainly European, they’re looking to maybe go in a little bit of a different direction that actually wants to embrace the innovation,” Lehane told CNBC. He said that previous AI summits hosted by the U.K. and South Korea have focused on the safety around AI, but the Paris edition has a change of tone. “I think this conference, you’re beginning to see maybe a different definition or consideration, that perhaps the ******* risk right now is missing out on the opportunity,” Lehane added. Europe the ‘referee’ Still, the image of Europe as a burdensome place for tech regulation has not been shaken. The EU’s AI Act was the first major law in the world governing artificial intelligence to go into effect in 2024. It has been criticized by companies as well as individual countries such as France which have said that the legislation could stifle innovation. “One of the metaphors I sometimes use you look at AI as a World Cup football match between the U.S. and China. And if all Europe is trying to do is be the referee, there’s two problems. One, they never win, and two, no one really likes the referee,” Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn and an investor at venture capital firm Greylock, told CNBC on Monday. Christel Heydemann, the CEO of telecommunications firm Orange, told CNBC in an interview on Tuesday that there is too much regulation in Europe. “So that’s that’s slowing us down, especially when you think about the potential of the European market,” Heydemann said. She did, however, strike an optimistic tone on Europe’s position on AI. I don’t think, in the end, it’s a race between U.S. and China. Actually, the president of the European Commission has been very clear, Europe wants to be a continent of AI, and the race is not over yet,” Heydemann added. Source link #Europe #part #race #China #U.S Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Captain America: Brave New World’ First Reactions After Premiere: “A Thrill Ride From Start to Finish” – Hollywood Reporter ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ First Reactions After Premiere: “A Thrill Ride From Start to Finish” – Hollywood Reporter ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ First Reactions After Premiere: “A Thrill Ride From Start to Finish” Hollywood Reporter‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Draws Mixed First Reactions, Some Praising as an ‘Absolute Blast’ and Others Saying its ‘Slightly Empty’ VarietyWhat to Know About the MCU Ahead of ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ NewsweekCaptain America: Brave New World: TV Spot Teases Adamantium Importance Bleeding Cool News‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Will Throw His Mighty Shield Around The Globe To $190 Million Opening – Box Office Preview Deadline Source link #Captain #America #Brave #World #Reactions #Premiere #Thrill #Ride #Start #Finish #Hollywood #Reporter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Federal Government injects $2.2m into Shire of Denmark’s Berridge Park youth precinct plan, completes funding Federal Government injects $2.2m into Shire of Denmark’s Berridge Park youth precinct plan, completes funding A plan to revitalise and upgrade Denmark’s Berridge Park is now fully funded after receiving more than $2 million from the Federal Government’s Growing Regions Program. Source link #Federal #Government #injects #2.2m #Shire #Denmarks #Berridge #Park #youth #precinct #plan #completes #funding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Children living in poverty are the worst affected by air pollution in Asia Children living in poverty are the worst affected by air pollution in Asia A recent analysis by the U.N. children’s agency found that more than 500 million children in East Asia and Pacific countries breathe unhealthy air and the pollution is linked to the deaths of 100 children under 5 every day. (AP video shot by Hau Dinh, Jerry Harmer, Al Emrun Garjon and Aniruddha Ghosal) Source link #Children #living #poverty #worst #affected #air #pollution #Asia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Musk touts DOGE transparency but downplays his own potential conflicts of interest – CNN Musk touts DOGE transparency but downplays his own potential conflicts of interest – CNN Musk touts DOGE transparency but downplays his own potential conflicts of interest CNNTrump orders “large-scale” cuts to federal workforce and gives DOGE more power AxiosMusk’s son ‘Lil X’ steals spotlight in the Oval Office ABC News Source link #Musk #touts #DOGE #transparency #downplays #potential #conflicts #interest #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Truck driver dies after vehicle rolls and bursts into flames on North West Coast Highway in Gascoyne region Truck driver dies after vehicle rolls and bursts into flames on North West Coast Highway in Gascoyne region Police say a red and white Kenworth truck was travelling northbound on North West Coast Highway — about 45km north of Minilya Roadhouse — when it left the carriageway, rolled over and caught fire on Tuesday. Source link #Truck #driver #dies #vehicle #rolls #bursts #flames #North #West #Coast #Highway #Gascoyne #region Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Real Madrid star continues as suspect in child ************ distribution case Real Madrid star continues as suspect in child ************ distribution case Real Madrid star continues as suspect in child ************ distribution case Despite reports coming out in recent months that Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio was no longer being investigated for the distribution of child ************, the investigating magistrate has rejected an appeal to drop him as a suspect. Asencio, 21, is one of four suspects in the case that is investigating four Real Madrid academy products for the distribution of child ************, which began in late 2023. The case has been under investigation for some time, but it had been reported that Asencio was no longer under suspicion for his role in events. Image via Eurosport / Getty Images However, as reported by El Pais, as carried by Diario AS, an appeal to drop Asencio as a suspect due to insufficient evidence has been rejected. Source link #Real #Madrid #star #continues #suspect #child #************ #distribution #case Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A former RNC executive is President Trump's pick to be national cyber director – Axios A former RNC executive is President Trump's pick to be national cyber director – Axios A former RNC executive is President Trump’s pick to be national cyber director AxiosTrump picks Sean Cairncross for national cyber director CyberScoop Source link #RNC #executive #President #Trump039s #pick #national #cyber #director #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google Pixel 9a Leaked Renders Suggest New Rear Camera Design, Four Colour Options Google Pixel 9a Leaked Renders Suggest New Rear Camera Design, Four Colour Options Google Pixel 9a is expected to arrive in the markets by next month. Over the past few weeks, several leaks and reports have hinted at key features of the handset. Recently, images of the official covers for the purported smartphone surfaced online. Now, renders of the phone itself have leaked, showing the complete design and expected colour options. The anticipated Google Pixel 9a, tipped to come with a Tensor G4 SoC, will succeed the Pixel 8a, which was unveiled in May 2024. Google Pixel 9a Leaked Renders An Android Headlines report has shared leaked design renders of the anticipated Google Pixel 9a. The phone appears in four colour options including Iris, Obsidian, Peony and Porcelain. It is seen with a flat rear camera module, flush with the rear panel of the handset. This is a notable departure from the visor-like camera island on the preceding Pixel 8a. The Google Pixel 9a is said to measure 154 x 73 x 8.9mm in size. This is larger than the existing version and a ******* battery is claimed to be the reason behind the size upgrade. It is expected to house a 5,100mAh battery, the largest in a Pixel phone yet. The upcoming handset is tipped to maintain the 23W wired and 7.5W wireless charging support, the same as the Pixel 8a. Previous reports have suggested that the Google Pixel 9a will likely get a Tensor G4 SoC alongside a Titan M2 security chip. Pre-orders for the handset are tipped to begin on March 19 and it is expected to go on ***** on March 26. The price of the phone is said to start at $499 (roughly Rs. 42,000) for the 128GB storage option. For optics, the Google Pixel 9a is expected to carry a 48-megapixel primary rear sensor alongside a 13-megapixel ultra-wide Sony IMX712 sensor. The front camera is expected to use a 13-megapixel sensor as well. The phone may come with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. Source link #Google #Pixel #Leaked #Renders #Suggest #Rear #Camera #Design #Colour #Options Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Car brands face $2.8 billion bill under new emissions regulations – peak body Car brands face $2.8 billion bill under new emissions regulations – peak body One of the peak bodies in Australia’s automotive industry has claimed car brands could pay a total of $2.8 billion in penalties by 2029 if they can’t meet upcoming emissions regulations. A study by Blueflag – published by the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) in its pre-Budget submission to the Federal Government – claims all brands combined will be hit with penalties totalling $2.8 billion, based on the targets of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). However, that figure is based on carmakers not making “further adaptation of product offerings”, applying only to the current model lineups and announced plans of carmakers, not future vehicles which are yet to be publicly confirmed. “These projections can, and should, continue to improve as car companies modernise their lineups,” the MTAA said in a media release for the Federal Budget submission. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert The MTAA pointed to Toyota announcing its passenger vehicle lineup going hybrid-only – albeit only for models with petrol engines available – and the upcoming plug-in hybrid version of Ford’s best-selling Ranger ute as examples of adaptation in the market. While the NVES came into effect on January 1, 2025, carmakers won’t be penalised for exceeding CO2 targets until July 1, 2025. All new passenger and light commercial vehicles sold with a mass of less than 4.5 tonnes are covered under the scheme. If carmakers exceed an average carbon emissions target on the vehicles they sell each year, they will be penalised $100 per g/km of CO2 for every vehicle which exceeds the target. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert For 2025, the mandate for passenger cars (Type 1) is 141g/km of CO2, with light commercial vehicles and heavy-duty SUVs (Type 2) set at 210g/km or less. These CO2 caps will reduce every year until 2029, when they will be much lower at 58 and 110g/km respectively, forcing manufacturers to sell increasingly efficient vehicles. Brands can also earn emissions ‘credits’ by beating their fleet-wide targets, which can then be used in a subsequent year to help meet tighter CO2 targets, or sold on to other brands to help them reach their emissions targets. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Unusually, the study finds GWM is “unlikely” to meet the Type 2 target for 2025 despite having a hybrid ute and off-roaders and, soon, a plug-in hybrid ute. It says, however, that it’s “possible” Toyota will meet it despite having no hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric off-roaders or light commercial vehicles, while Isuzu Ute and Mitsubishi are highly likely to despite also lacking such vehicles. According to the the study, Hyundai is Australia’s only “leading brand” which it deems highly likely to meet the 2029 Type 2 commercial vehicle target. No brands are set to meet the Type 1 passenger vehicle target, the peak body claims. Kia could meet the Type 2 target if it makes “reasonable changes”, with Toyota and MG falling under the same category for Type 1 vehicles. However, based on the current forecast, the MTAA believes Ford, Hyundai, GWM, Kia, Nissan, Mazda and Mitsubishi are among the best-selling brands that’ll miss the Type 1 vehicle target. Likewise, it’s given the same prediction for Type 2 vehicles from Ford, GWM, Isuzu Ute, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert In its pre-Budget submission, the MTAA called for greater protections for car dealers, based on the claimed increased costs of carmakers meeting the NVES requirements. “How manufacturers will manage these additional costs remains uncertain. However, given the highly competitive nature of the market, passing the full cost onto consumers may not be a viable option for all manufacturers,” the MTAA said. “Instead, strategies may include absorbing costs, trading credits with EV-only brands, adjusting product lineups, or re-evaluating dealership structures to maintain profitability. “Regardless of how these fines are managed, reduced profit margins for manufacturers will inevitably trickle down to dealerships, making an already challenging business environment even more difficult. “Dealerships, which operate on tight margins and depend on strong sales volumes, may face increased financial strain, potential consolidation, or even closures if profit pressures continue to rise. Given this increasingly challenging environment, dealers need greater protections than ever before.” MORE: What the first federal emission standard means for Aussie car buyersMORE: Industry body data shows the carmakers set to miss emissions targetsMORE: All our coverage on the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Source link #Car #brands #face #billion #bill #emissions #regulations #peak #body Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Motley Crue Singer Vince Neil’s Jet ****** Cause Revealed After Pilot Dies, Rocker’s GF Is Injured Motley Crue Singer Vince Neil’s Jet ****** Cause Revealed After Pilot Dies, Rocker’s GF Is Injured A private jet owned by Mötley Crüe‘s Vince Neil was involved in a fatal plane ****** at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona, and the cause has since been revealed after one pilot died and the rocker’s girlfriend, Rain Hannah Andreani, was injured. “According to initial reports, the Learjet’s left main landing gear failed upon landing, leading to the collision [with a Gulfstream G200 jet],” the City of Scottsdale said in a statement on Tuesday, February 11, revealing the Learjet flight was arriving just before 3 p.m. on Monday, February 10, after a trip from Austin, Texas. The private jet containing two pilots and two passengers “veered off the runway,” the Federal Aviation Administration noted after a video showed the aircraft skidding and having difficulty stopping safely before colliding with a parked Gulfstream G200 jet. Vince, 64, was not onboard the private jet at the time. His girlfriend, Rain, 43, with whom he has been in a relationship for nearly 14 years, suffered five broken ribs, sources close to the musician told TMZ. It is reported that her friend Ashley, who was also onboard the private jet, is being hospitalized as well as the jet’s copilot. The dogs the women were traveling with survived the tragic incident. Vince Neils Jet ****** Cause Revealed After GF Rain Is Injured “There were no injuries on board the Gulfstream, but external damages were sustained to the aircraft,” read a statement from Jet Pros, LLC. “We are cooperating fully with airport authorities and relevant agencies as they conduct a thorough review of the situation.” All flights were initially suspended at Scottsdale Airport but reopened approximately six hours after the ******. “More specific details regarding the collision are not available as this is a rapidly evolving situation and there is an ongoing investigation. Mr. Neil’s thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved, and he is grateful for the critical aid of all first responders assisting today,” Vince’s representative Worrick Robinson said on the rocker’s behalf on February 10. “While details are still emerging, our hearts go out to the families of both the pilot who lost his life and the passengers who suffered injuries,” the band shared after the incident. “Mötley Crüe will announce a way to help support the family of the deceased pilot — stand by for an announcement very soon.” Fellow rocker Bret Michaels, famed singer from the band Poison, sent his well-wishes to all those impacted. “My deepest sympathy and condolences to the pilot that just passed away in Scottsdale Airpark and the other pilot who was injured, as well as my thoughts and prayers to our family friend Rain, her friends and all those that were injured in the tragic landing.” Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky also spoke out to express her heartbreak for the family of the pilot who tragically died in the ******. “On behalf of the city of Scottsdale, we offer our deepest condolences to those involved in the accident and for those who have been taken to our trauma center for treatment. We will keep all affected by this tragedy in our prayers,” she said. “I would also like to thank our first responder community for their quick action and service in this situation.” Source link #Motley #Crue #Singer #Vince #Neils #Jet #****** #Revealed #Pilot #Dies #Rockers #Injured Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

North Korea condemns Trump's Gaza takeover proposal as 'bluster' – Reuters North Korea condemns Trump's Gaza takeover proposal as 'bluster' – Reuters North Korea condemns Trump’s Gaza takeover proposal as ‘bluster’ ReutersOpinion | What’s Most Frightening About Trump’s Gaza Ravings The New York TimesNorth Korea condemns Trump’s Gaza takeover plan as ‘slaughter, robbery’ Al Jazeera English’Hell worse than what we have already?’ Gazans reject Trump plans Reuters‘It’s so ridiculous’: Human rights expert says Trump’s plan to ‘take’ Gaza will never work The Independent Source link #North #Korea #condemns #Trump039s #Gaza #takeover #proposal #039bluster039 #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Football’s second-tier *********** Championship launched Football’s second-tier *********** Championship launched Football’s new national second tier competition has a name – the *********** Championship – but as yet there is no road map towards promotion and relegation with the A-League Men. Launched by Football Australia on Wednesday, the competition kicks off on October 10 and will “complement” and sit between the ALM and the National Premier Leagues. As previously flagged, the competition is no longer the pitched full home-and-away format, but will instead feature four groups of four teams. Former NSL powerhouse South Melbourne and fellow Victorian clubs Preston and Avondale are joined by NSW counterparts Marconi, Sydney United 58, Sydney Olympic, APIA Leichhardt and Wollongong as eight foundation clubs. The other eight clubs are made up of premiers from the respective NPL competitions around the country, with each group to have two foundation clubs and two premiers. The groups will play a home-and-away format, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for finals, and the grand final taking place on the weekend of December 6-7. All 16 teams will have access to travel subsidies from FA for their away games. The *********** Championship is clearly connected to the NPL competition, while extending it to a full home-and-away format will depend on its success. But there is no definitive timeline of completing the football pyramid through promotion and relegation to the ALM, with Football Australia focused on delivering the first season. Chief executive James Johnson said the *********** Professional Leagues, who run the ALM, had supported an October kick-off. He stressed how the competition evolved in the future would also depend on the success of the first season. “In terms of the connectivity, right now, the focus has been on getting the second tier up and running and moving it from a conversation to something that is tangible, which we’re doing at the moment,” he said. “We have deliberately connected it to the NPL and that’s the first step. “In terms of how that connection works with the APL, that’s something we don’t want to be prescriptive about at the moment, simply because we want the second tier to work. “We don’t want that complication – because that’s a complicated discussion. We want to get the second tier up and running. We want it to be successful. “We want it to connect with the NPLs but also with the community. That’s our focus right now. We want to focus on what is in our control now, what we can do, and what we can do to actually make this exciting competition that we all want.” Source link #Footballs #secondtier #*********** #Championship #launched Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

South Wichita restaurant is closed ‘until further notice’ after a Monday-night fire South Wichita restaurant is closed ‘until further notice’ after a Monday-night fire An electrical fire that broke out in the attic of the Jimmie’s Diner at 1419 George Washington Drive on Monday evening could have been much worse, the owners say. But they’re not sure how long it will take to clean up the damage left behind and are closing the restaurant until further notice. “We are blessed no one was injured, and that’s the main thing,” said Linda Davidson, who owns the restaurant — and the original Jimmie’s Diner at 3111 N. Rock Road — with her husband, Jack, and son, Joe. Customers who frequent the Jimmie’s Diner at Harry and George Washington Drive will find it closed until further notice after a Monday-night fire. Joe Davidson said that he got a call from the alarm company at 9:05 p.m. on Monday. A motorist passing by the restaurant had noticed heavy smoke coming out of the vents and called 911. The restaurant had closed at 8 p.m., and workers had locked the building up and left around 8:05 p.m., he said. Fire crews got to the scene quickly and were able to extinguish the fire, which did not spread beyond the attic and appears to have been sparked by an electrical fire in one of the furnaces. But the restaurant now has water and smoke damage, and the dining room smells strongly of burned wire, Joe Davidson said. On Tuesday morning, restoration crews were at the restaurant assessing the damage. The Davidsons don’t know how long the restaurant will be closed, but they definitely plan to reopen it as soon as they can, they said. The Davidson family opened the south location of their Jimmie’s Diner in the former Toc’s Coffee House space in 2012. Until its reopen, customers who frequent the south-side Jimmie’s Diner can visit the Rock Road restaurant, which is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Duo will open a third Wichita location of this eatery on the east side — but with a twist Wichita mom of 10 opens gluten-free cafe and bakery using her family’s favorite recipes Here’s the 2025 list of Valentine’s Day specials being offered at Wichita restaurants Source link #South #Wichita #restaurant #closed #notice #Mondaynight #fire Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gurman: iPhone SE 4 Coming 'By Next Week,' Other Announcements Starting Tomorrow – MacRumors Gurman: iPhone SE 4 Coming 'By Next Week,' Other Announcements Starting Tomorrow – MacRumors Gurman: iPhone SE 4 Coming ‘By Next Week,’ Other Announcements Starting Tomorrow MacRumorsApple’s Long-Awaited Overhaul of iPhone SE Nears Release BloombergiPhone SE 2025 Launch Schedule Latest: Exactly When To Expect The New iPhone ForbesI revisited the iPhone SE in 2025 – and the SE 4 may be an even ******* hit ZDNetiPhone SE release, January CPI preview: Asking for a Trend Yahoo Finance Source link #Gurman #iPhone #Coming #039By #Week039 #Announcements #Starting #Tomorrow #MacRumors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Albany Racing Club president Alan Smith believes financial issues can be resolved amid racing suspension Albany Racing Club president Alan Smith believes financial issues can be resolved amid racing suspension The president of the under-fire Albany Racing Club is confident financial issues which have forced an immediate racing suspension can be rectified quickly. Alan Smith took over as ARC president at the start of this season but Racing WA announced on Tuesday the Great Southern venue has had its racing suspended because of the “club’s ongoing financial challenges”. The ARC also confirmed to the Advertiser acting general manager Karen Short resigned on Monday, but said the decision had nothing to do with Tuesday’s decision by the State’s racing body. Smith holds strong hopes the club will be back racing before its marquee slot race, The Bluff Knoll, on March 16. He said board members would attend a meeting on Wednesday night. “We are having meetings to decide how we rectify and solve the issues,” he said on Wednesday. “We will work through the issues at a meeting (Wednesday). . . we have support coming from a lot of areas but I’m confident we will be back racing shortly. “(The Bluff Knoll coming) is why we need to get it solved quickly, and I believe we can and be back racing soon.” Camera IconKaren Short has quit as ARC acting manager. Credit: Cameron Newbold Short has taken on the role as acting general manager for this season, replacing Mark Bayliss. Smith said Short was on a six-month contract but resigned on February 10. “I want to stress that (Racing WA) taking these meetings off us is not the reason,” Smith said. “Karen’s resignation has nothing to do with the financials or this decision by (Racing WA).” Smith said the club was already advertising for a new general manager. The club’s next meeting on February 21 has been moved to Mt Barker, and its only other meeting before The Bluff Knoll is on February 28, which also appears unlikely. Other major meetings the club still has planned this season include the Albany Cup on April 20, and the Jericho Cup Qualifier on April 27. Source link #Albany #Racing #Club #president #Alan #Smith #believes #financial #issues #resolved #racing #suspension Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hegseth didn’t request over $137,000 in upgrades to his new military residence, official says Hegseth didn’t request over $137,000 in upgrades to his new military residence, official says WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not request more than $137,000 in repairs and upgrades to military housing at Fort McNair that will become his official residence, according to a U.S. official familiar with the work order, who says the Army undertook the repairs on its own since the more than 100-year-old home had sat vacant for a year and needed security upgrades. The cost of the repairs — including almost $50,000 being spent on new paint — came to light in a Jan. 30 notification to Congress from the Army. The notification prompted calls for greater transparency by some Democratic lawmakers who sought answers on why the cost was necessary and whether Hegseth would reimburse the government through rental payments for the military-provided housing, as other senior executive service defense officials are required to do. 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. The Army chose the home on Fort McNair for Hegseth based on what was available, and Hegseth didn’t seek the repairs, some of which are needed to bolster safety for the defense secretary, who is sixth in the line of succession, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss details of Hegseth’s housing and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Hegseth’s immediate predecessor, Lloyd Austin, elected to live in a private residence he purchased. In a statement, the Army said it “performs routine maintenance and repairs to all residences between tenants to meet occupancy standards, regardless of rank and position. Historic homes typically have higher costs due to their size and the intricate details associated with the era they were constructed.” The expense comes, however, as the Trump administration is slashing costs across government agencies. President Donald Trump has said he will ask Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency to review the Pentagon’s spending. It also comes as deteriorated military on-base housing worldwide continues to be an issue, with mold, lack of timely repairs and aged infrastructure often cutting into service members’ quality of life. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat who was among those seeking answers on the housing upgrades, said in a statement to the AP that Hegseth “certainly should know what his preferred residence will cost our taxpayers. If he wants hardworking Americans to cover that expense, it’s rank hypocrisy. He and the president can’t preach to our families that they must go without vital funds and services, then not practice it themselves.” “We look forward to the Secretary’s answers to all our housing and rental cost questions and welcome a firm commitment to help service members who live with mold and rodents to get the same, swift housing treatment that he did,” Wasserman Schultz said. Fort McNair is the nation’s third-oldest Army installation. Its historic row of white-columned, three-story general officer quarters overlook the Washington Channel. The homes date back to 1902 and have been used over the years to house members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant commanders. It is less usual to have a member of the Cabinet reside in one, though former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo chose to live at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall during Trump’s first term, and his move there required similar security upgrades to that residence. Source link #Hegseth #didnt #request #upgrades #military #residence #official Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sam Altman doesn’t think Elon Musk is ‘a happy person’ Sam Altman doesn’t think Elon Musk is ‘a happy person’ Andrew Martonik / Digital Trends Following Monday’s news that an Elon Musk and xAI-backed group offered OpenAI’s board $97.4 billion for control over the company, CEO Sam Altman has declared OpenAI “not for *****.” While the board will have to review the offer, it is unclear if they will seriously consider an off that effectively amounts to a hostile takeover of the company. “Elon tries all sorts of things for a long time. This is the latest — you know, this week’s episode,” Altman said during a Bloomberg TV interview at the Paris AI Action Summit Tuesday. “I think he’s probably just trying to slow us down.” Previously, Musk cosigned an open letter demanding that the AI industry as a whole enact a six-month hiatus in developing models more complex than GPT-4 before launching his xAI company almost exactly six months later. More recently, Musk disparaged OpenAI’s $500 billion Stargate Project, claiming that the consortium backing the plan did not have the funds to do so. When asked about those comments in the interview, Altman said “I’m not the one who tweeted funding secured. I just actually try to show up and build,” referencing Musk’s infamous Tesla tweet. OpenAI currently operates as a nonprofit organization that controls the subsidiary OpenAI LP for-profit company. The for-profit LP company is what helped OpenAI develop from a bare-bones research startup to an industry leader valued at around $100 billion. The company now intends to flip that hierarchy on its head with the for-profit entity controlling the non-profit arm as a subsidiary, a matter over which Elon Musk is currently suing. “It’s time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was,” Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff, told CNBC. As part of the offer, Musk’s own generative AI company, xAI, would merge with OpenAI (with, presumably, Musk at the helm instead of Altman). “I wish he would just compete by building a better product, but I think there’s been a lot of tactics,” Altman said in the Bloomberg interview. “Many, many lawsuits, all sorts of other crazy stuff, now this. And we’ll try to just put our head down and keep working.” When asked whether Musk’s strategy against OpenAI comes from “a position of insecurity,” Altman took a moment to savage his business rival. “Probably his whole life is from a position of insecurity. I feel for the guy,” he said. “I don’t think he’s, like, a happy person. I do feel for him.” Source link #Sam #Altman #doesnt #Elon #Musk #happy #person Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump orders "large-scale" cuts to federal workforce and gives DOGE more power – Axios Trump orders "large-scale" cuts to federal workforce and gives DOGE more power – Axios Trump orders “large-scale” cuts to federal workforce and gives DOGE more power AxiosMusk shows why he’s such a powerful ally for Trump and would be an even more menacing enemy CNNTrump EO directs agencies to submit reorganization plans, prepare for RIFs Federal News NetworkEnjoying the Pinnacle of Power, Musk Holds Court on Trump’s Stage The New York Times Source link #Trump #orders #quotlargescalequot #cuts #federal #workforce #DOGE #power #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tropical Cyclone Zelia: Extreme winds and heavy rainfall expected as severe weather event makes landfall Tropical Cyclone Zelia: Extreme winds and heavy rainfall expected as severe weather event makes landfall The weather bureau is expecting “erratic motion” as Tropical Cyclone Zelia makes landfall, with warnings issued over extreme winds and significant flooding in the North West. The large tropical cyclone has been classed as a category two system and was around 180 kilometres north of Port Hedland at 11am on Wednesday. The weather system is forecast to intensify into a severe tropical cyclone before making landfall late on Thursday through Friday night. Bureau of Meteorology WA manager James Ashley said areas between Karratha and Wallal Downs, including Port Hedland, were at the highest risk for the cyclone to cross. He warned those in the Pilbara to expect wind gusts above 200km/h and rainfall over 500mm. “We’re expecting erratic motion and there’s low confidence on the future path of the system,” he said. “We appreciate that uncertainty is challenging for people dealing with this system in the north of the state but what we do know is that wind will increase (on Wednesday) across coastal parts of Pilbara, particularly in the East Pilbara, with destructive wind gusts in excess of 125km/h possible. “Coastal parts could see elevated wind speeds for a prolonged ******* because of that slow motion of the system. “If the system crosses the coast as a severe tropical system, we could see wind gusts in excess of 200km/h but regardless of intensity, we expect this system to produce very heavy rainfall and areas close to the path could see in excess of 500 millimetres over the course of this event.” This very heavy rainfall will cause significant flooding, which is expected to shut major arterial roads including the North West Coastal Highway for up to a week depending on the damage. Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Darren Klemm said additional supplies were being sent to pharmacies and grocery stores as well as triple road train permits being established for extra supply trucks to get into the North West. Camera IconDFES commissioner Darren Klemm Credit: The West *********** “DFES has significantly boosted its resources in the Pilbara and the Kimberley with additional personnel into our incident management teams in both Broome and Karratha, as well as operational on the ground personnel and rapid damage assessment teams into Nullagine as well as Marble bar and the Pilbara,” he said. “We’re also bringing in additional capabilities like flood boats into the Pilbara over the course of (Tuesday) and (Wednesday) and (Thursday), where we also have additional aircraft on standby in the Pilbara for incident response efforts. “Two rotary wing aircraft are based in Newman and one fixed wing aircraft is based in Karratha. We’ve also established a rescue helicopter capable of winching based in Broome.” People living in the warning areas are urged to keep up to date through Emergency WA, which can be downloaded as an app. The cyclone warning is currently at an advice level but is expected to escalate as Tropical Cyclone Zelia gets closer to the coast. An evacuation centre will open in Port Hedland once the cyclone warnings are escalated to a watch and act level. People have been urged to get ready for dangerous weather by preparing their home inside and out, including securing items that are outdoors, ensuring their emergency kit is complete and that they have a plan in place for when the cyclone hits. Travellers, visitors, and tourists should stay informed about conditions and reassess their travel plans. Expect disruptions and check the Main Roads Travel Map for the latest updates. Travellers in the affected area should consider leaving the warning area. If driving, obey road closure signs and do not drive into water of unknown depth and current. Never walk, swim or play in floodwaters as they are dangerous. For more information visit the Emergency WA website. Source link #Tropical #Cyclone #Zelia #Extreme #winds #heavy #rainfall #expected #severe #weather #event #landfall Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Quantum computing startup QuEra closes $230 million funding round Quantum computing startup QuEra closes $230 million funding round (Removes extraneous word in the headline) (Reuters) – QuEra Computing said on Tuesday the neutral-atom quantum firm has completed a funding round in excess of $230 million, with investment from Google’s Quantum AI business unit and SoftBank Vision Fund, among others. The valuation of the company at which it raised the money was not disclosed. Neutral-atom quantum computing makes it easier to scale up the system and reduces error rates compared to other quantum systems. It achieves this by using lasers to manage small, uncharged atoms such as rubidium or strontium. The Boston-based startup said that $60 million out of the $230 million will be received in the near future upon satisfying a prerequisite funding condition, currently in progress. QuEra expects to use this funding, among other things, in the development of fault-tolerant quantum computing technology, which refers to quantum computers that can reliably perform computations even in the presence of errors. Google, Microsoft and IBM are leading supporters of quantum computing among major tech companies, as they believe it has potential to deliver faster computing speeds than the most advanced systems available today. In December, Google said it overcame a key challenge in quantum computing with a new generation of chips. The company said last week that commercial quantum computing applications will be released in the next five years. Quantum AI startup SandboxAQ raised $300 million in December, valuing the startup spun off from Alphabet at $5.6 billion. (Reporting by Rishi Kant in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore) Source link #Quantum #computing #startup #QuEra #closes #million #funding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft Erases “Edge uninstall” page following user backlash Microsoft Erases “Edge uninstall” page following user backlash After user backlash, Microsoft removed the “Edge uninstall” document, which contained instructions on how to uninstall the browser but only had text promoting it, as Tech Radar reports. We mentioned the online document yesterday, so it’s clear Microsoft didn’t waste time taking it down. When you read the document, you saw only information promoting Edge over Chrome, with no instructions on how to remove it. Now, when you visit the site, you are welcomed with Microsoft’s Edge portal and the button to try Edge at the very top. If you live in Europe, you can uninstall Edge, but that’s not the case for everyone else because other bits of the operating system depend on the code in Edge, as Microsoft claims. The Edge browser is great—it even tops our list of the best browsers. But when a company tries too hard to encourage you to use it, it has the opposite effect. In fact, Edge beats Chrome with features such as vertical tabs and more, but the misleading title frustrates many users. Moreover, Microsoft has not officially released a statement mentioning why it pulled the online document, and there is a good chance they will not. This is a clear case of bait-and-switch, as users were promised one thing and met with another. However, this isn’t the first time Microsoft has gone overboard in trying to push Edge on users. Not too long ago, it used full-screen pop-ups to try to convince you to make the switch. So, we’ll see what pops up next. Source link #Microsoft #Erases #Edge #uninstall #page #user #backlash Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Musk shows why he’s such a powerful ally for Trump and would be an even more menacing enemy – CNN Musk shows why he’s such a powerful ally for Trump and would be an even more menacing enemy – CNN Musk shows why he’s such a powerful ally for Trump and would be an even more menacing enemy CNNTrump orders “large-scale” cuts to federal workforce and gives DOGE more power AxiosTrump EO directs agencies to submit reorganization plans, prepare for RIFs Federal News NetworkEnjoying the Pinnacle of Power, Musk Holds Court on Trump’s Stage The New York Times Source link #Musk #shows #hes #powerful #ally #Trump #menacing #enemy #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

You can preorder a GeForce RTX 50 series laptop on February 25 You can preorder a GeForce RTX 50 series laptop on February 25 Nvidia revealed the next generation of gaming laptops powered by RTX 50 series GPUs at CES this year, and now we have a date. On February 25, manufacturers will open up preorders for laptops powered by RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 GPUs. GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop pre-orders start Feb 25 from OEMs. Stay tuned for more details! pic.twitter.com/P3frtYPmSy — NVIDIA GeForce (@NVIDIAGeForce) February 11, 2025 According to CEO Jensen Huang, the RTX 5070 will deliver RTX 4090-level performance in a $1,299 laptop. In other words, he’s promising that your new laptop GPU will run games as well as a flagship desktop GPU from just two years ago — and it’s AI that makes this possible. Nvidia has been improving its Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) tech for years now, and it seems like the company is planning to do crazy things with it for these gaming laptops. With DLSS 4 and fifth-gen Tensor cores to power it, Huang promises boosts in both quality and efficiency. The GPU in your laptop will render and ray trace a much lower resolution version of a game, resulting in higher FPS, lower latency, and all-around better performance — and then the neural model will generate the remaining pixels needed to achieve your desired resolution. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming The crazy part is that judging by Huang’s claims, it seems that Nvidia has refined the tech enough now that it can achieve high-quality results even when upscaling from a very low resolution — however low is needed to hit RTX 4090 levels of performance on a laptop. If that sounds utterly insane to you, you’re not alone — I can’t wait to see if this really works as advertised. As for the more expensive GPU models in the lineup, I’m not even sure what to expect from a $2,899 laptop with 1,850 AI TOPS. It will be super interesting to compare the performance of the RTX 5070 to the RTX 5090 and see just how much of a difference that extra AI power can make. In terms of specific models, plenty of manufacturers showed off their RTX 50 series gaming laptops at CES, including MSI, Acer, Alienware, Asus, Lenovo, and Razer. Source link #preorder #GeForce #RTX #series #laptop #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Legal showdown looms as Trump tests limits of presidential power Legal showdown looms as Trump tests limits of presidential power Anthony Zurcher and Kayla EpsteinReporting fromWashington, DC and New York CityGetty Images Trump shows an executive order he has just signed In the first weeks of his second term, President Donald Trump has wasted no time in flexing his political muscle. That much is clear. Since taking office in January, he has ordered the suspension of all new asylum claims, cancelled refugee resettlement, frozen government hiring and spending, gutted agencies established by Congress, banned gender transition care for teenagers and offered a buyout deal for hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The whirlwind of unilateral action on his campaign promises has pushed the limits of presidential power – and prompted legal challenges from Democrats, unions and legal groups. So far the federal courts have been the only substantive roadblocks to Trump’s agenda, as judges have temporarily suspended some of the most contentious proposals, including an end to automatic citizenship for anyone born on US soil. But Trump is pressing on – and seems headed for a showdown with the judiciary that could eventually end in the highest court in the land. This week, a Rhode Island judge said the Trump administration was clearly and openly defying his court order to unfreeze billions in federal funds. The White House responded by saying that “every action” the president took was “completely lawful”. If Trump’s orders do reach the US Supreme Court, six of the nine justices there – including three appointed by Trump in his first term – are conservative. Just last term, the court issued a decision holding Trump, and all future presidents, largely immune from prosecution for official actions while in office. At the time, it was a landmark expansion of presidential authority. But some observers have suggested that Trump’s latest moves could be part of a strategy to expand his powers even further. If the high courts agree to uphold some of his executive orders, it could strengthen his ability to enact policy changes without the help of Congress. And even if the courts rule against the president, says Ilya Shapiro, a constitutional expert at the Manhattan Institute, those legal defeats might be politically advantageous. “There could be political benefits to being challenged in court and then even losing in court because then you can run against judges and make political hay of it.” There is another scenario, however. Trump could simply refuse to comply with any court that tries to stop his exercise of unfettered presidential power. In Oval Office comments on Tuesday, the president hinted that this might be an option, in his typically oblique way. “We want to weed out the corruption,” Trump said. “And it seems hard to believe that a judge could say we don’t want you to do that.” “Maybe we have to look at the judges,” he continued. “I think it’s a very serious violation.” On Sunday, Trump’s vice-president, JD Vance, was even more blunt. “Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power,” he posted on the social media site X. That view was similar to one Vance expressed in a 2021 podcast, when he said that if Trump returned to power he should refuse to comply with any court order that prevented him from firing federal workers. Directly defying a court ruling, however, would cut against centuries of US history and amount to the opening skirmishes in a constitutional crisis that pits the president against the branch of government designed to establish and interpret the law of the land. “My read is that President Trump is testing the outer boundaries of what he might be able to get away with, doing a lot of things that are blatantly against the law and maybe some things that are closer to the line,” said Fred Smith, a professor at the Emory School of Law. “They are breaking a lot of norms,” Smith added of the nascent Trump administration. “Why he is doing that, only he knows fully. But he is doing it.” Getty Images A judge has temporarily halted some aspects of Trump’s moves to shut down the US Agency for International Development So far, Trump and his allies have made aggressive comments about unfavourable court decisions in the public and in legal filings, but have yet to be sanctioned for disobeying a court. When Trump was the target of multiple prosecutions over the past four years, he frequently questioned the legitimacy of the presiding judges, but his courtroom lawyers adhered to the law and legal procedures. The federal judge in Rhode Island, who had placed a temporary hold on another Trump order to freeze some federal spending, did warn in court filings Monday that the administration was violating his temporary restraining order but stopped short of finding them in contempt. Conservative legal scholar Ed Whelan wrote on X that it would be “extremely grave” for the Trump administration to defy a federal court order. “I’m open to the argument that truly extraordinary circumstances (the makings of a wild hypothetical) might justify defiance,” Mr Whelan wrote. “But in our constitutional system there should be an overwhelming presumption in favour of executive-branch compliance with federal court orders.” Watch: Musk defends government cuts in surprise White House appearance Should Trump disobey, and therefore delegitimize, the courts, the decision could come back to bite him when the time comes for the president to see his own lawful agenda enforced, some legal experts say. Democratic states like California, for instance, might be inclined to ignore White House directives and federal laws they don’t like – and Trump would be hard pressed to use the courts to bring them to heel. “If the executive decides it will obey some court orders but not others, it will find it won’t get any court orders that it wishes to obey,” said Philip Bobbitt, a constitutional scholar at Columbia University Law School. “I just don’t think they thought that through.” When Donald Trump redecorated the Oval Office to his liking in January, he reinstalled a portrait of President Andrew Jackson that had hung on the wall across from the Resolute Desk in his first term. The seventh US president is remembered for a critical moment of defiance against the United States Supreme Court. When the justices decided a dispute between the state of Georgia and Cherokee Indian governments in 1832, Jackson did not seem interested in following its direction. Jackson allegedly said of the Chief Justice’s ruling, “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!” Nearly 200 years later, Trump himself has found himself on his own collision course with America’s judiciary. Source link #Legal #showdown #looms #Trump #tests #limits #presidential #power Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]