Pelican Press

Hundreds of tractors block Westminster Hundreds of tractors block Westminster Farmers from across the *** protesting in London against changes to inheritance tax. Source link #Hundreds #tractors #block #Westminster Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD CEO Lisa Su joins board of Arabian AI university AMD CEO Lisa Su joins board of Arabian AI university The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has appointed a new Board of Trustees, including AMD’s chief executive, Lisa Su, and leaders from some of Abu Dhabi’s most influential AI and investment entities. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chief executive officer and managing director of Mubadala Investment Company (which controls AI firm G42 and contract chipmaker GlobalFoundries), now chairs the board, which has expanded to nine members, reports MiddleEastNews. The new Board of Trustees includes business, high-technology, and academic leaders. It also contains trustees with stronger ties to Abu Dhabi’s executive and investment leadership, signaling a shift towards deeper integration with the emirate’s economic and technological initiatives. The restructuring marks the departure of key figures involved since the university’s formal establishment in 2019 and the incoming of new people, such as Lisa Su and Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak. In addition, the new board includes: Peng Xiao (chief executive of G42, a major UAE-based AI company) Daniela Rus (director of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)) Eric Xing (an American computer scientist specializing in machine learning, computational biology, and statistical methodology, one of the founders of MBZUAI) Martin Edelman (a lawyer specializing in real estate and corporate mergers and acquisitions transactions) Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi (the Chairman of the Department of Finance – Abu Dhabi) Saif Saeed Ghobash (Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council) Rima Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi (Executive Director of the Strategic Affairs Unit of the Executive Affairs Authority (EAA) and the chairman of Tamkeen). Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, is the most noticeable addition to the board, whose influence in the global semiconductor industry is well recognized. She led AMD’s transformation from an underdog CPU developer into a leading supplier of CPUs for client and data center computers. Her appointment certainly raises MBZUAI’s global visibility and strengthens its connection with the semiconductor and AI hardware industries. For Su, serving on the same board with the head of G42 and Abu Dhabi politicians potentially means finding additional markets for the company’s AI hardware — Instinct MI GPUs — that yet have to gain traction in the industry and compete for head-to-head against Nvidia’s Hopper and Blackwell GPUs. The MBZUAI board restructuring ensures the university remains a key player in Abu Dhabi’s long-term vision for AI-driven economic growth while maintaining strong ties to global technology advancements. The emirate recently committed $3.54 billion to integrating AI into government systems, reinforcing its focus on digital transformation. Additionally, MGX — Abu Dhabi’s $100 billion AI investment fund — shares four board members with MBZUAI (Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Peng Xiao, Martin Edelman, and Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi), further linking the university to the region’s AI industry. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #AMD #CEO #Lisa #joins #board #Arabian #university Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Judge directs Trump officials to comply with earlier order halting funding freeze Judge directs Trump officials to comply with earlier order halting funding freeze Washington — A federal judge in Rhode Island said Monday that the Trump administration has not complied with an earlier order that blocked its freeze on federal assistance and ordered agencies to immediately restore any paused or withheld dollars during continuing legal proceedings. The move from U.S. District Judge John McConnell comes in a case brought by a group of 22 states and the District of Columbia challenging the legality of a memo based on President Trump’s executive orders and issued by the Office of Management and Budget last month, which directed federal agencies to temporarily pause grants, loans or federal assistance programs. While the budget office rescinded the memo, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said only its directive was being unwound and the broader funding freeze would remain in effect. McConnell, who is overseeing the case involving the states, issued a temporary restraining order late last month that forbade the Trump administration from stopping federal dollars from flowing to states, nonprofits and other entities that had been receiving assistance. But last week, the states told the judge in a filing that the Trump administration was not complying with that order because they continued to be denied access to federal funds. The states said that the Trump administration viewed assistance authorized through the Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law — both of which were enacted under the Biden administration — as outside the scope of McConnell’s order and therefore still subject to the funding freeze. Several grants funded by the two laws and awarded to states and local governments remained inaccessible in the federal payments portal, they said. In other instances, Head Start programs in Michigan and Vermont were not able to access federal funds from the Department of Education, as of Feb. 5, and the National Institutes of Health canceled a review meeting with Brown University’s School of Public Health for a $71 million grant for dementia care research, the states said. McConnell agreed to demand the Trump administration restore the still-frozen funds, noting that the order he entered “prohibits all categorical pauses or freezes in obligations or disbursements based on the OMB Directive or based on the president’s 2025 Executive Orders.” The judge reiterated his finding that the pause on federal assistance is likely unconstitutional and has caused harm to “a vast portion of this country.” “These pauses in funding violate the plain text of the [temporary restraining order],” McConnell wrote. Under his most recent order, the Trump administration must immediately restore frozen funding while his temporary restraining order is in effect and end any federal funding pause. The judge directed the Trump administration “immediately take every necessary step” to comply with his temporary restraining order, including clearing administrative or technical obstacles, McConnell wrote, and restore withheld assistance, including federal dollars appropriated in the Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure law. He ordered the Trump administration to resume funding of institutes or other federal agencies covered by his restraining order. The case before McConnell is one of two brought in response to the White House budget office’s memo freezing federal assistance. A second court fight, brought by a coalition of nonprofit organizations, is underway in Washington, D.C. The judge in that case also temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing the pause on government aid. Melissa Quinn Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for outlets including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal and Alexandria Times. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts. Source link #Judge #directs #Trump #officials #comply #earlier #order #halting #funding #freeze Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I inherited $110,000. The first thing I bought was a convertible — here’s how I saved, invested, and spent the rest. I inherited $110,000. The first thing I bought was a convertible — here’s how I saved, invested, and spent the rest. Leland Bobbe/Getty Images Susan von Seggern used a $10,000 inheritance to buy a convertible and start saving for a home. She turned her initial inheritance into significant wealth, investing in property and a brokerage. Last year, she received another inheritance of $100,000, which she’s used mainly to fix up her home. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Susan von Seggern, a 56-year-old publicist and CFO in Los Angeles. It has been edited for length and clarity. My grandmother indirectly helped me become financially smart by leaving me $10,000 when she died in 1993. While on her deathbed, she couldn’t satiate her four grandchildren with sumptuous meals anymore, so she literally brought some fortune into our lives in her last bittersweet days. I was 25 but wise enough not to waste the money on something that would only gratify me for the short term. Instead, I bought a convertible I had been eyeing for a long time and devised a plan to save money for a future townhouse. They shaped my parents into people who’d spend their money only if absolutely necessary. My money foundation was based on spending and investing money wisely. In my early 20s, I drove an old Nissan Sentra around Los Angeles. I longed for a Geo Metro LSI convertible but knew that taking anything from the money I was making at that time as a publicist was impossible, and the only other option was going into debt. The risk of opting for either was greater than the happiness I would’ve experienced from buying this car. Once I received $10,000 from my grandmother, I sold my Nissan for $2,000 and combined that with my inheritance to buy the convertible. I’m so glad I bought the car I wanted with great features, not a car other people wanted me to buy. I chose a car based on my desire, budget, and preference. I kept saving this specific amount until the end of 1995 as if I were paying a car payment. I had a minimalist lifestyle, so I could save even more sometimes just by spending or not spending intelligently. All my drinks, parking, and business lunches were paid for due to having an expense account through work. Things just kept aligning financially for me after I used the inheritance. No matter what I wanted to buy, I’d find myself having that amount saved because of how I utilized my money and saved it. After saving for a few years, I set aside about $25,000 to cover the down payment, which was $17,500, for my first condo and other related expenses, such as moving and furniture. I bought the condo for $175,000 in 1995. Story Continues My husband and I started a boutique PR agency together, which we ran until it was extinguished when the dot-com bubble burst and also due to the 9/11 recession. The condo’s value increased gradually, and I secured a home-equity loan for $75,000. With that, I settled my agency debts. The condo’s value accelerated to around $400,000, and my loan also increased to $225,000. I sold the condo in 2007 for $715,000, which wouldn’t have been possible without my inheritance money. After I paid the agents and the bank, I was left with around $450,000, which I used to pay off my then-to-be fiancé’s debts, which were about $50,000. I put the $400,000 in a brokerage account and let it grow. When the pandemic hit, the market crashed, and we lost 10% of the total. We bought a new home in 2021, paid a $160,000 down payment, and were left with $200,000. After purchasing and moving expenses, we had $160,000 left, which we put into our brokerage account again. We balanced our mortgage out every month with it and the profits we were generating. The equity value of our new house is around $300,000. We’ve been making use of the $100,000 for various purposes. We spent around $25,000 on our house, including a new roof, AC unit, and water heater. We also invested around $20,000 in my husband’s startup and spent around $10,000 on medical purposes. Both my husband and I are still working. This inheritance is more than enough for us to handle our future and present personal and professional needs and wants. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #inherited #bought #convertible #heres #saved #invested #spent #rest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A2 Hosting VPS and Shared Hosting Review A2 Hosting VPS and Shared Hosting Review Every new website (and migration) starts with a simple question: shared hosting, or VPS? Shared hosting is cheaper, but it skimps on dedicated resources. VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting is more expensive, but you enjoy more control over the server and better performance. There was a time when choosing a VPS basically meant “here is the server, set it up yourself.” Happily, things have progressed, and managed VPS servers are now available. This makes subscribing to a VPS simpler, but it can also make the choice between shared and VPS a little trickier to discern. A2 Hosting offers a selection of different hosting types, and varied plans within each. So, as well as shared and VPS hosting, you could opt for WordPress hosting or dedicated hosting. The latter option is quite an expensive proposition in most cases, while the WordPress hosting option is really little more than a shared host with WordPress preinstalled. Once a plan is selected, you can sign up and set up or migrate your site. The real difference to how users experience the site, however, is in performance. We’ve assessed one of A2’s shared hosting plans and one of its VPS plans. This evaluation – the results of which you can read below – covers everything from hardware spec and pricing and support to server, database, and benchmarking tests. Swipe to scroll horizontally Plans We Tested Header Cell – Column 0 VPS Shared Plan Name Takeoff 4 StartUp (no longer offered) Price $76.99/month / 35.99/month for 12-months $10.99/month CPU 2 cores N/A RAM 4GB 1GB Storage 150GB SSD 10GB SSD Bandwidth 2TB Unlimited Database Limit None 5GB A2 Hosting VPS Plan Available in A2 Hosting’s VPS selection are an incredible six managed VPS plans. We look at its basic Takeoff 4 option, available from $76.99 a month on a rolling contract, and for $35.99/month if you choose to pay for 12 months. The company’s more expensive plans offer increased performance, bandwidth, and storage. The Takeoff 4 plan gives you a VPS with 2 CPU cores, 4GB of RAM, and 150GB of storage on an SSD. For most websites, this should be adequate, or at least be an enticing introduction to VPS hosting. 2TB of bandwidth (which A2 Hosting calls “transfer”) is available, and there is no limit on database size with the VPS plan. (This is, of course, restricted by the size of the plan’s storage – a database larger than the available storage would not be permitted.) Hosting companies often apply limits to the size of databases. A2 Hosting’s VPS plan has no limits, however. They told us that “VPS has no limitations for the database size.” Of course, too many databases would be a different matter, as eventually this would breach the physical capacity of the plan’s storage. The table below outlines the specification of the A2 Hosting managed VPS plans. Note that the Soar packages use NVMe SSD storage, which has superior bandwidth than standard SATA SSD interfaces. Swipe to scroll horizontally Managed VPS Plans Header Cell – Column 0 Takeoff 4 Takeoff 8 Takeoff 16 Soar 8 Soar 16 Soar 32 Price (monthly) Row 0 – Cell 1 Row 0 – Cell 2 Row 0 – Cell 3 Row 0 – Cell 4 Row 0 – Cell 5 Row 0 – Cell 6 CPU 2 cores 6 cores 8 cores 2 cores 6 cores 8 cores RAM 4GB 8GB 16GB 8GB 16GB 32GB Storage 150GB 250GB 450GB 150GB 250GB 500GB Bandwidth 2TB 3TB 4TB 3TB 4TB 5TB Signing up to the A2 Hosting VPS plan gives you a CloudLinux server, with a free cPanel control panel and automated server backups. Daily system updates are also provided, applied without rebooting the server. The included cPanel is a really nice plus as many other companies charge extra for cPanel and its server-controlling sibling, WHM. The plan we looked at, from the Takeoff group, comes with a free SSL certificate, Imunify360 security, and LiteSpeed website acceleration. For migrating from an existing web host, A2 Hosting offers free and easy site transfer. The Soar group of plans come with the same additional software and cPanel, but clearly have a higher general spec. It is worth noting that A2 Hosting also offers a pair of unmanaged VPS hosting plan groups. Launch starts at $2.99/month, while Ascent starts at $29.99/month. These plans have a choice of Linux distro, and root-level command line access for direct server management. You also get manual security and backup options, and complete control over the operating system and its updates. Control might seem good, but unless you have a preconfigured environment to clone across or know exactly what you’re doing, relying on A2 Hosting’s managed VPS seems far smarter. A2 Shared Hosting Shared Plan We tested the StartUp Shared plan which, at press time, was no longer available but which costed $10.99 a month or a ridiculous $35.88 per year when we signed up for it a few months ago. The least expensive shared plan right now is the Ignite plan, which should offer similar features and performance to those we tested. Ignite offers a single website, with 1GB of RAM, RAID-10 10GB SSD storage, and a “comprehensive” security suite provision. Automatic backups are supported, along with performance tools and LiteSpeed Cache, which can help with speed and has plugins for WordPress and other CMS tools. Curiously, A2 Hosting lists PHP Workers as a feature, but this really just means that PHP is supported and resources are allocated for scripts and website software that relies on it. This doesn’t set the hosting apart from any comparable plans from other providers. If your web project requires multiple databases, a limit is in place. We spoke to the A2 Hosting sales team, who informed us that “databases hosted as part of Shared Web Hosting are limited to five (5) gigabytes per database.” This, of course, is further limited by the storage available in the plan you choose. Swipe to scroll horizontally Shared Hosting Plans Header Cell – Column 0 Ignite Accel Turbo Velocity Turbo Nitro Price (monthly) Row 0 – Cell 1 Row 0 – Cell 2 Row 0 – Cell 3 Row 0 – Cell 4 Storage 10GB Unlimited 50GB NVMe 250GB NVMe Monthly Traffic Max Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited DB Size Limit 5GB 5GB 5GB 5GB Shared plans from A2 Hosting also include migration from an existing web host. A free SSL certificate is included with shared plans, and your admin login can be protected with two-factor authentication. Once logged in, the website can be managed via cPanel, from where the software (either manually, or via the Softaculous script repository) you install can be overseen, along with integrations with things like Google Apps. There is support for QUIC.Cloud CDN and CloudFlare, but these are optional, third party extras. Statistics from AWStats, Webalizer, and others are also available, and the shared plans can run WordPress, WooCommerce, phpBB, and various other CMS, online shopping, and forum software. Note that A2 Hosting has limits on inodes, or files. So, a limit of 300,000 exists on the Ignite plan, and 600,000 on the other plans. The impact of this is that your project will need to be – and remain – pretty compact if you have chosen the Ignite plan. In the case of WordPress sites, any plugins and themes that are not used will need to be deleted, and image optimizing plugins are best avoided. The sheer volume of files in a WordPress site will push the 300,000 very quickly. If you need something a little more elaborate, Accel or one of the Turbo plans would be more suitable. In addition, A2 Hosting offers managed WordPress hosting plans, which are not reviewed here. Database, WordPress and Scripting Performance A2 Hosting’s range of shared and VPS hosting plans potentially offer everything you need to launch a website and ensure it grows as intended. But hardware specifications don’t always deliver on the expected performance. To find out if A2 Hosting is suitable for your project – whether VPS or shared hosting – we designed a series of tests to carry out on each plan. The first of these required us to install a copy of WordPress and then upload ****** content. Once this was done, we attempted to insert 87 million rows of Tom’s Hardware page view data into the WordPress database. A successful result would be fast – the faster, the better. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) As you can see, both A2 plans were markedly slower than the competition, both shared and VPS. Next, we pushed things further with the addition of 87 million random numerical values into each of the rows. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Again, A2 is much slower than competitors. However, interestingly, the shared plan was more than twice as fast as the VPS plan. We follow with a more test that judges the database server’s ability to efficiently JOIN two tables as a MySQL query. Bringing the traffic and data tables together, a SQL SUM command is then executed, with the result hopefully delivering page views for each article on different dates. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Testing the WordPress software specifically provides information about the installation. Running this right after installing the CMS provides a good baseline for comparison should performance issues occur later. We used the WordPress Hosting Benchmark Tool (WPB), a freely-available WordPress plugin. When run, it provides a score on key benchmarks, rated 0 to 10. The test we ran looked at network speed, database speed, and file system speed. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) A VPS should perform well with WordPress benchmarking, with most of the competing hosts we’ve looked at scoring 7 and above. A2 Hosting has managed a pretty low 6.3 by comparison. The Shared hosting package, meanwhile, managed 3.5 – other shared hosting plans on the market have scored between 6.5 and 7.5 in the same test. This is disappointing. A2 Website Loading Speed, Script Timeout A commitment is given on the A2 Hosting website for 99.9% uptime. This implies that spikes in traffic and cyberattacks on the web server can be handled with the minimum of downtime. To see how quickly our sample WordPress site loaded, we used Dotcom-Tools’ Website Speed Test, which records the load time, time to first paint and time to network response. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Here, A2 performed reasonably well. The Shared and VPS sites loaded in 1.4 and 1.5 seconds with the time to network response being just 0.5 seconds. It’s also important to know that if you need to run a script at the command prompt, both the shared and VPS plans do not have a script timeout. When we ran an endless script that logs the time for many hours, neither stopped it. A2 Hosting Support Pricing, features, and server performance are important, of course, but what about customer support? No one wants to sign up to what appears to be an excellent web host, only to find that when the worst happens, there is no one around to help you pick up the pieces. A collection of support tools are available with A2 Hosting. The most prominent of these is its knowledge base. This is a searchable resource that includes explanations and solutions to everything from adjusting WordPress memory limits to managing secondary accounts on cPanel. Beyond the knowledge base, A2 Hosting also publishes a regular blog. Here, you’ll find a combination of web hosting and web management articles and webinars. While these may not provide direct answers, the articles in particular can provide useful background information. Direct support can be accessed via the support page. Here, you’ll find FAQs for shared hosting and VPS packages, as well as direct access to the support team. You can chat within a chat box, or call A2 Hosting. Support is stated as being available 24/7, 365 days a year. If you sign up and are unhappy within the first 30 days, you’re eligible for the money-back guarantee. Our experience with the support team was good, and they quickly answered our questions about database limits. Bottom Line With such a wide selection of hosting options for both shared and VPS plans, A2 Hosting at first seems a great option. Surely, there is something for everyone here? But poor benchmarking performance and inconsistent results in the other tests are something of a red flag. Low WordPress Benchmark scores and leave us thinking that A2 Hosting probably isn’t suitable for performance-sensitive websites. While its support provision seems knowledgeable and reliable, this cannot outweigh those performance concerns. Price-wise, A2 Hosting’s VPS plans are more expensive than better-performing competitors while its shared plans are not impressive either. Ultimately, better performing hosting options are available, both for shared and VPS plans, particularly if performance and reliability are top priorities. Source link #Hosting #VPS #Shared #Hosting #Review Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

French antitrust agency probing Microsoft over Bing access French antitrust agency probing Microsoft over Bing access A view of the Microsoft headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, a suburb southwest of Paris, France on January 13, 2025. Mohamad Salaheldin Abdelg Alsayed | Anadolu | Getty Images France’s antitrust agency is investigating Microsoft over concerns that it is degrading the quality of results when smaller rivals pay to use Bing technology in their own search-engine products. “We are fully cooperating with the Autorite’s investigation,” a Microsoft spokesperson said, referring to the regulator’s French name. Bloomberg reported the investigation earlier on Monday. Microsoft, though not a major player in the general market, is a leader in the search-engine syndication sector. The competition authority declined to comment. The investigation could yield formal charges and a fine against the U.S. tech giant. Source link #French #antitrust #agency #probing #Microsoft #Bing #access Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Retro Soccer 96 brings stylish football simulation to the palm of your hand, out now on Android Retro Soccer 96 brings stylish football simulation to the palm of your hand, out now on Android Retro Soccer 96 brings simple, stylised football simulation to mobile Experience different teams with skill levels based on historical real-world data Journey through matchups spanning a ten-year ******* in World Cup and Euro Tournaments As Monday rolls around many of you over in the United States are likely still experiencing the hangover (figurative or literal) from the Super Bowl. But here on the continent and beyond it’s another type of football we’re more focused on! And for fans of the beautiful game, it’s Retro Soccer 96 that seeks to capture your attention, out now on Google Play. Retro Soccer 96 is nothing much to look at, but that belies a surprising depth of gameplay and a focus on the simple fun of football. While it offers simple controls and graphics you’ll be able to perform slides, tackles, diving headers, curling shots and more intense manoeuvres that’ll have you playing like a pro. And just because Retro Soccer 96 is themed after Simple Soccer doesn’t mean it’s simple. You’ll be able to play through World Cup and Euro Tournament matchups spanning 1986 to 1996, create your own custom cups, leagues or friendlies and experience differing skill levels for each team based on real-world data. Simply football Yes, while Retro Soccer 96 intends to be as simple as possible it doesn’t look to lack anything you would want from a classic soccer simulator. I think the fact that this, and other throwbacks to older football titles is emblematic of a desire to return to simpler times, when footballing and its simulation were all about numbers. Nowadays the focus on fancy graphics, big-name teams and other accoutrements means it can feel a bit more like a fantasy world than something real. Good thing then that for those of you who feel that way, there are options like Retro Soccer 96. Still, if you’re hankering for more sports simulation there are plenty of options out there. Why not dig into our list of the 20+ best sports games for iOS and Android? Source link #Retro #Soccer #brings #stylish #football #simulation #palm #hand #Android Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump says he ordered Treasury Department to stop producing new pennies – The Washington Post Trump says he ordered Treasury Department to stop producing new pennies – The Washington Post Trump says he ordered Treasury Department to stop producing new pennies The Washington PostTrump Orders Treasury to Halt Minting New Pennies to Cut Waste The New York TimesHow much do pennies cost to make? Here’s what to know as Trump calls for pause on production USA TODAYGetting rid of the penny introduces a new problem: nickels CNNThe Penny Debate: Does Making Cents Make No Sense? TIME Source link #Trump #ordered #Treasury #Department #stop #producing #pennies #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mapi Leon: Barcelona defender accused of violating privacy of Espanyol’s Daniela Caracas Mapi Leon: Barcelona defender accused of violating privacy of Espanyol’s Daniela Caracas Espanyol have accused Barcelona and Spain defender Mapi Leon of “violating the privacy” of their player Daniela Caracas following an incident during a Liga F game. In the 15th minute of the derby match between the Barcelona-based clubs on Sunday, Leon and Caracas collided while the Espanyol player defended a set-piece. Leon then appeared to touch Caracas around the groin area. Espanyol expressed their “total discontent and condemnation” of the incident – a clip of which has gone viral on social media. Colombian centre-back Caracas has been “subject to hundreds of social media insults” as a result, Espanyol said. The statement published on the Espanyol website, external reads: “This is an action that we consider unacceptable and that should not go unnoticed. “Although Caracas was unable to react at the time… later, when she came to terms with what had happened, she became aware of the seriousness of the gesture, but chose not to react angrily to avoid a disciplinary sanction and harm to the team.” Source link #Mapi #Leon #Barcelona #defender #accused #violating #privacy #Espanyols #Daniela #Caracas Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Several South West firefighters head east to battle Queensland floods and Victorian bushfires Several South West firefighters head east to battle Queensland floods and Victorian bushfires Ten South West firefighters and emergency services workers have joined a battalion of WA emergency services personnel heading east to battle Queensland floods and Victoria bushfires. Source link #South #West #firefighters #east #battle #Queensland #floods #Victorian #bushfires Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chocolate Dessert Recipes for Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dessert Recipes for Valentine’s Day Yossy Arefi’s chocolate lava cakes can be made for two, a perfectly romantic dessert.Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Published Feb. 7, 2025Updated Feb. 7, 2025 Milk chocolate is great for a quick hit of nostalgia or sugar, but dark chocolate is for real chocolate lovers. The desserts below highlight the true complexity of this ingredient — its savoriness, its fruitiness and acidity, and its **********. Make these chocolate-forward desserts for the friend, family member or partner who has really stuck with you through life’s bitter moments — and its sweet ones. Read on for dark chocolate recipes that let this ingredient’s richness shine and, yes, satisfy on a level of pure deliciousness, too. Mark Weinberg for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi. This elegant dessert from Yossy Arefi puffs up like a soufflé in the oven before you allow it to intentionally collapse. The resulting cake has a rich, ******* center and a light, crisp exterior you won’t soon forget. And to make it even more memorable — and chocolaty — use chocolate with around 70 percent cacao. Recipe: Chocolate Soufflé Cake David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. These Valentine’s Day classics from Eric Kim are a crowd pleaser, sure. But they’re also an education: Making them will also teach you how to temper chocolate, and knowing this crucial technique — which provides that shiny, perfectly snappable chocolate coating you see in professionally made candy — will pay dividends in future desserts. Recipe: Chocolate-Covered Strawberries David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Hadas Smirnoff. This two-ingredient dessert from David Tanis is the perfect thing to make and stash in your freezer. Throw it on a platter with berries and your favorite store-bought cookie, and you’ve got a totally hands-off dessert the next time you host guests or need an emergency sweet snack. Recipe: Pistachio Chocolate Bark Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. This warming chocolate beverage was first prepared thousands of years ago by Mesoamerican women who drank it for its medicinal properties. This version, which Kiera Wright-Ruiz adapted from Churrería El Moro in Mexico City, is best made with Celyon cinnamon, which is milder and sweeter than cassia cinnamon. Commenters point out that you can riff on the original recipe and make it spicier by adding ****** pepper, cayenne or cloves. Recipe: ******** Hot Chocolate Yossy Arefi for The New York Times (Photography and Styling) For a dessert that delivers both sophistication and a touch of nostalgia, make Yewande Komolafe’s sandwich cookies. Marshmallow fluff nestled between malted chocolate shortbread evokes childhood cups of hot cocoa, but a dark chocolate ganache topping makes these full of chocolaty intensity fit for adults. Recipe: Malt Chocolate and Marshmallow Sandwiches Craig Lee for The New York Times This Melissa Clark recipe, like many chocolate cake recipes before it, harnesses the power of espresso to make the chocolate flavor all the deeper. It also calls for soaking the cake in ********, which adds notes of caramel, praline and booze. The ******** flavor is prominent, so make sure to use one you really love. Recipe: ********-Soaked Bundt Cake Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. The pieces of 70 percent dark chocolate folded into the batter are only the start when it comes to sophisticated, savory flavors. The pastry chef Zoe Kanan also includes nutty ingredients like ****** sesame paste, sesame seeds and rye flour. Your cookie eaters probably won’t be able to identify seaweed’s flavor outright, but the saltiness and umami flavor will have them coming back for more. Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies With ****** Sesame and Seaweed Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times Light and fluffy but still so rich, chocolate mousse is one of those kitchen wonders that seem like they should be achievable only in restaurants — but it’s actually so easy to make at home. Here, David Tanis forgoes folding in whipped cream (as many recipes call for), opting instead to use egg whites for lift. As a result, you get a more robust chocolate flavor. Splashes of espresso and citrus add intrigue, and the candied ginger, a lovely garnish, also lends a welcome kick. Recipe: Dark Chocolate Mousse With Candied Ginger Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times Homemade ice cream can feel intimidating, and to minimize that intimidation factor, Melissa Clark skips the fussy custard-making in this recipe. A few tablespoons of bourbon come to the rescue, softening the texture of the ice cream and ensuring that it won’t freeze solid. Recipe: Bittersweet Chocolate Ice Cream Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Photographer: Simon Andrews. Lava cakes were something of a restaurant fad in the ’90s, but that’s part of their appeal. It’s romantic to make Yossy Arefi’s take on this dessert in a 10-ounce baking dish perfectly sized to serve two. But you can also divide the recipe into two cakes and bake them in ramekins. In fact, here’s an idea: Have one cake solo on the night of Valentine’s Day, then eat the other for breakfast the next day. Recipe: Chocolate Lava Cake for Two Yossy Arefi for The New York Times (Photography and Styling) Several complex flavors join forces in this recipe from Samantha Seneviratne — Earl Grey, orange zest, and, of course, dark chocolate. The Earl Grey adds subtle floral notes, but some commenters suggest increasing the amount of tea to make it more prominent. Fold in chopped pieces of dark chocolate rather than using chips so you get delightful, uneven pockets of melty richness. Recipe: Earl Grey Tea Cake With Dark Chocolate and Orange Zest Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times Cherries and chocolate are a beloved flavor combination for a reason, and these buttery shortbread bars from Melissa Clark bear that out. Cherry jam provides a bright pop against a rich, ******* ganache. That said, you can choose any flavor of jam you want. It’s optional to add a splash of booze to the ganache, but if you do, choose one that matches your jam flavor, like Kirsch for cherry and Grand Marnier for orange. Recipe: Dark Chocolate-Cherry Ganache Bars Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times This pudding from Melissa Clark combines the deep chocolate flavor of a French chocolate custard with the ease of an American stovetop chocolate pudding. Heavy cream and brown sugar give this an extra *******, fudgy texture. Top with crème fraîche for a bright contrast to the rich chocolate. Recipe: Dark Chocolate Pudding Andrew Purcell for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne Sometimes you want an easy dessert; others, you want to make a showstopper. For those times, there’s this chocolate truffle tart from Erin Jeanne McDowell. A press-in crust and an easier-than-it-looks ganache filling make this achievable even for beginner bakers. You can top the tart with homemade truffles rolled in cocoa powder, chopped nuts, and vibrant freeze-dried fruit powder for a fun project, but it’s also fine to use store-bought truffles. Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Tart Follow New York Times Cooking on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Pinterest. Get regular updates from New York Times Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice. Source link #Chocolate #Dessert #Recipes #Valentines #Day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump says Palestinians won’t have the right to return to Gaza under his plan: “I would own this” Trump says Palestinians won’t have the right to return to Gaza under his plan: “I would own this” President Trump said Saturday that Palestinians won’t have the right to return to Gaza, and “I would own this,” expanding on his statements last week that the U.S. would “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip, and that Palestinians should not return. The president made the comment during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier that was recorded Saturday, but the latest portion was released Monday. The president’s remarks come as Israel and ****** continue to carry out a tenuous ceasefire and hostage deal. ****** still holds captives from its Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel. “We’ll build beautiful communities for the 1.9 million people,” the president told Baier. “We’ll build beautiful communities. Safe communities. Could be five, six. Could be two, but we’ll build safe communities a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is. In the meantime, I would own this. Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land—” Baier asked Mr. Trump, “Would the ************ have the right to return?” “No, they wouldn’t, because they’re going to have much better housing, much better. In other words, I’m talking about building a permanent place for them,” Mr. Trump responded. “Because if they have to return now, it’ll be years before you could ever — it’s not habitable. It could be years before it could happen.” Mr. Trump repeated his assertions that Jordan and Egypt might spend the money to resettle and house Palestinians, though both countries have so far rejected the idea. And it’s not clear where the approximately 2.1 million Palestinians who live in Gaza would be housed while dwellings for them were being built elsewhere. The president’s latest suggestion that he individually would own any of the land or real estate developments in Gaza under his plan is new, although the president has repeatedly suggested that Palestinians should live elsewhere. His response that Palestinians don’t have the right to return is his furthest-reaching statement on the matter yet and constitutes an implicit rejection of a two-state solution. The president’s words are likely to spark anger from the ************ community. Many have hoped the land would become an independent ************ state, and in the past, Mr. Trump has expressed support for a two-state solution. Israel has welcomed Mr. Trump’s proposal that the U.S. take over the land, while some families of the hostages captured by ****** have expressed fear that Mr. Trump’s remarks could hinder the release of the remaining hostages. Last week, during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr. Trump said of Palestinians in Gaza that they should be resettled “permanently” in a “beautiful area” and “nice homes.” He added, “Just can’t go back. If you go back, it’s gonna end up the same way it has for a hundred years.” “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too,” Mr. Trump said Tuesday. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings — level it out. Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area. Do a real job. Do something different.” Kathryn Watson Kathryn Watson is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Trump #Palestinians #wont #return #Gaza #plan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Judge says Trump administration violating order to lift spending freeze Judge says Trump administration violating order to lift spending freeze A federal judge says the Trump administration has been violating his order to resume funding federal grants that the White House attempted to block with a blanket spending freeze last month. U.S. District Judge John McConnell ordered the administration to “immediately restore frozen funding” while his order remains in effect, including to the National Institutes of Health and to fulfill the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Improvement and Jobs Act. “The broad categorical and sweeping freeze of federal funds is, as the Court found, likely unconstitutional and has caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to a vast portion of this country,” McConnell ruled. “These pauses in funding violate the plain text of the [order].” The order follows a claim by a group of Democratic state attorneys general that the Trump administration had continued to block spending that McConnell’s order was intended to release. The Trump administration responded that it is attempting to root out fraud in the programs, but the judge said that reasoning is not sufficient to justify defying the order. “The freezes in effect now were a result of the broad categorical order, not a specific finding of possible fraud,” he said. McConnell hinted at the possibility of contempt for officials who he deems as continuing to defy his order, citing a 1975 court ruling that noted “Persons who make private determinations of the law and refuse to obey an order generally risk criminal contempt even if the order is ultimately ruled incorrect.” Source link #Judge #Trump #administration #violating #order #lift #spending #freeze Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Stellantis was the only automaker to advertise Why Stellantis was the only automaker to advertise Actor Harrison Ford touts Jeep and Americana while taking a dig at another Detroit automaker during Stellantis Stellantis DETROIT — A CEO’s exit, electric vehicles making the industry run around like “headless chickens” and a company’s U.S. revival all came together to make Ram and Jeep parent Stellantis the only automaker with a Super Bowl 59 commercial. That’s according to Stellantis Chief Marketing Officer Olivier Francois, who said while other automakers abandoned this year’s big game amid industry uncertainty and cost cutting, it was critical for the embattled Transatlantic carmaker to return to the Super Bowl. Francois said Stellantis Chairman John Elkann, a scion of Italy’s Fiat carmaker, called him after CEO Carlos Tavares’ abrupt departure in December and told him to advertise during the big game as a recommitment to the automaker’s business in the U.S. “We were not set to make a commercial. John Elkann called me in December, saying, you know, ‘I want something. I want to make a comeback. We want to show, to express, that comeback story. We want to show America how much it is important to the Stellantis group,'” Francois told CNBC. Stellantis, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler, has become well-known under Francois for symbolic, nontraditional ads that feature iconic celebrities that tell a story beyond just attempting to sell new cars and trucks. Chairman of Ferrari and Stellantis John Elkann attends an event to inaugurate Ferrari’s new ‘e-building’ facility where the luxury sportscar maker is testing lines before an expected start of car production in early 2025, in Maranello, Italy, June 21, 2024. Daniele Mascolo | Reuters It started when the automaker was attempting to make a comeback from its 2009 bankruptcy. It aired a surprise two-minute Super Bowl ad in 2011 featuring rapper Eminem and the city of Detroit — tying the company’s revival to the Motor City’s grit and rebirth. The ad also featured a now discontinued Chrysler sedan called the 200. Francois said Elkann, who’s leading the search for a new CEO, told him to recapture that kind of “comeback” spirit for the automaker, following years of cost-cutting and lackluster sales in the U.S. Elkann, Francois said, also told him to think of late-Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne when creating the automaker’s ads this year. Marchionne, who died in 2018, was a supporter of Francois and past Super Bowl ads. “There is a kind of philosophy attached to Sergio, which is that he believed in playing like you have nothing left to lose. He used to say, ‘Mediocrity is not worth the trip,'” Francois said. “So this year’s Super Bowl creative execution and investment are very much the essence of the spirit.” Bruce Springsteen (left) with Olivier Francois, chief marketing officer of Stellantis, during filming of the company’s Super Bowl LV ad for Jeep. Rob DeMartin for Jeep Since Eminem, the company’s Super Bowl ads have featured actors such as Clint Eastwood, Bill Murray and singer Bob Dylan, among others. Those spots haven’t necessarily prominently featured any specific vehicle, but they’ve discussed culturally relevant topics such as political divides and patriotism. Stellantis’ Ram Trucks ad this year was a more traditional, comedic Super Bowl commercial. It starred “Twisters” and “Top Gun: Maverick” actor Glen Powell reimagining “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” with trucks. But the automaker’s two-minute Jeep ad starring featuring “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” actor Harrison Ford was a true return to form for Francois. Jeep Super Bowl ad Francois said Ford turned down an initial pitch for a different ad. That’s when Francois said he and friend Edward Razek, a former marketing executive for Victoria’s Secret owner L Brands who resigned amid controversy in 2019, wrote the first version of the ad that aired. CMOs don’t typically write scripts. It’s more common for those executives to approve a script from an agency, with guidance. Francois said agencies did assist ahead of the final ad, but the script and ideas started inside the automaker. In the ad, Ford discusses freedom, heroes and people writing their own stories in life because there is no “Owner’s Manual,” which is the title of the commercial. As Ford opined, several Jeep models can be seen driving and off-roading, including one that passes a Ford Bronco SUV — a newer competitor to the Jeep Wrangler SUV — while the actor talks about inspiring others. “I said ‘yes’ to doing this commercial because of the script. It’s a very straightforward communication about life and ends with getting in a Jeep vehicle, that’s the hook. It didn’t require me to reintroduce myself, point to the fact that in my life I’ve been many things and known for specific projects or roles,” Ford said in a statement. “It’s just a quiet talk from somebody sharing an idea. I love the way it developed.” Stellantis Chief Marketing Officer Olivier Francois (right) with “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” actor Harrison Ford, who starred in a Super Bowl 59 ad for the automaker’s Jeep brand. Stellantis The Wrangler passing the Bronco is one of two references to the Jeep rival. The other comes from the actor at the end of the ad: “Choose what makes you happy. My friends, my family, my work make me happy. This Jeep makes me happy — even though my name is Ford. That’s my owner’s manual. Get out there, write your own.” The Jeep ad was shot over two days with Ford in Santa Clara, California, in early December, according to Stellantis. ‘Headless chickens’ Automotive has historically been one of the top segments for Super Bowl advertising. Even during the Great Recession in 2008 and 2009 when the industry was hit hard, several companies such as Toyota Motor, Hyundai Motor and Audi aired ads. Francois believes other automakers likely didn’t participate in the Super Bowl this year because of a lack of payoff in prior years, when many automakers, including Stellantis, touted all-electric vehicles that weren’t on *****. “In the last years, there was plenty of automakers, all of them [touting] EVs, EVs that didn’t even exist,” Francois said. “These guys are obviously running like headless chickens: EVs, EVs, EVs. I mean, that’s where we all were.” Automakers regularly advertised during the NFL regular season and playoffs, including with sponsorships such as Toyota being the “Official Automotive Partner of the NFL.” But none, other than Stellantis, advertised during Sunday’s game. Both of Stellantis’ Super Bowl ads this year featured electric vehicles, but they also included traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines as well as plug-in hybrid models such as the Jeep Wrangler. Francois said it may have been a blessing that Elkann called him in early December instead of months earlier because it allowed him to be more relevant in the messaging, rather than just touting EVs. “The moment had changed, and I was lucky enough to have the possibility to rewrite the scripts. To rewrite history, to say, to not run like a headless chicken,” Francois said. “I was able to improvise in the moment.” Stellantis declined to disclose how much money it spent on the production or broadcast of the ads, which were selling for up to $8 million for 30 seconds of air time during Super Bowl 59. But Francois said Elkann has told advertising and marketing leaders at Stellantis that “Marketing is no longer a cost. It is an investment.” Source link #Stellantis #automaker #advertise Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

****** says it is postponing next hostage release, claiming Israel has broken terms of deal – CNN ****** says it is postponing next hostage release, claiming Israel has broken terms of deal – CNN ****** says it is postponing next hostage release, claiming Israel has broken terms of deal CNNHamas accuses Israel of ceasefire violations and says it will delay next hostage release The Indian ExpressTrump says US might lose patience with ceasefire deal ReutersHamas says it will stop releasing hostages, accuses Israel of ceasefire violations USA TODAYMiddle East: ****** indefinitely postpones hostage releases DW (English) Source link #****** #postponing #hostage #release #claiming #Israel #broken #terms #deal #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

June’s Journey brings heartwarming stories and more for Valentine’s day in newest event June’s Journey brings heartwarming stories and more for Valentine’s day in newest event June’s Journey is set to lean into the romance with a new Valentine’s Day event There’s a shrub-gifting competition and all-new Travels event taking you to Monaco And, of course, decoration sales and a seven-day celebration with daily in-game prizes Wooga’****** hidden-object puzzler June’s Journey is set to mark one of the most romantic events of the year as Valentine’s Day rolls around. With a whole new event and a packed calendar of romantic activities to engage in, there’s no reason not to leap in and find out what romantic escapades your favourite characters are getting involved in. Little surprise that Wooga, who hit gold by mixing hidden object gameplay with dramatic storylines, are also spicing up their cast’s love life with this new Valentine’s event. You can indulge in the new shrub gifting competition to express affection and strengthen connections. An all-new Travels event will take you to Monaco, and you’ll find new lovey-dovey drama between June & Jack. But that’s not all of course, because there’s also themed decoration sales, a seven-day celebration with daily in-game prizes and a whole lot more, all expertly created to add to that romantic atmosphere. Off the back of some other great seasonal events over Christmas, it seems the folks at Wooga are hoping to start the year off in a big way! Journeyman Having heard firsthand from Wooga how the addition of story-based content and plenty of melodrama helped boost June’s Journey, it’s not exactly surprising they’re leaning into the Valentine’s Day season. Given the focus on romance and the plentiful, fertile ground for drama and heartwarming story events I’ll expect there are plenty of you already chomping at the bit to jump in. But once you’re done, if you’re still hankering for drama and mystery why not expand your pallette a bit? Check out our list of the top 25 best detective games for mobile to enjoy some thrilling mysteries and skullduggery. Or see what competition June’s Journey has with the top 15 best hidden object games on mobile! Source link #Junes #Journey #brings #heartwarming #stories #Valentines #day #newest #event Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dolly Parton musical halted over ‘homophobic abuse’ Dolly Parton musical halted over ‘homophobic abuse’ A Dolly Parton-themed musical had to be suspended mid-show when homophobic abuse was hurled at the stage, an actor in the production has claimed. Stevie Webb said an incident at the Opera House in Manchester during Here You Come Again saw the whole cast “leave the stage, because a woman was so disgusted there was a gay character on the stage”. Mr Webb, posting on social media platform TikTok, said the incident last Wednesday was followed by similar trouble on Saturday, when a man had to be removed from the audience. ATG Entertainment, which runs the venue, said it took a “zero tolerance” approach to such incidents. Mr Webb, who plays a superfan of the country music superstar in the show, said there had also been problems during the London run of the production. He described an incident involving a man shouting an offensive slur and adding: “I just want to see Dolly Parton.” Parton has long been an ally of LGBT and other progressive causes, and in 2014 spoke out in favour of gay marriage. Mr Webb said the incidents had “really opened [his] eyes”. “We’re in such a bubble in this industry. But travelling the country and seeing how many people literally cannot bear to see a gay person depicted on stage – it’s wild.” Publicity for Here You Come Again described the show as the story of “a diehard fan whose fantasy version of international icon Dolly Parton gets him through trying times”. The Opera House said such incidents were “rare” and that anyone engaging in abusive behaviour would be removed “immediately”. Source link #Dolly #Parton #musical #halted #homophobic #abuse Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Advocate, foodie and philanthropist Vince Garreffa is this year’s Harvey Harvest Festival ambassador Advocate, foodie and philanthropist Vince Garreffa is this year’s Harvey Harvest Festival ambassador Foodie, philanthropist and advocate for *********** agricultural industries, Vince Garreffa has been announced as the ambassador for the 2025 Harvey Harvest Festival. Source link #Advocate #foodie #philanthropist #Vince #Garreffa #years #Harvey #Harvest #Festival #ambassador Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Schumer lays out Senate Democrats’ strategy to push back against Trump Schumer lays out Senate Democrats’ strategy to push back against Trump Washington — Senate ********* Leader Chuck Schumer outlined Democrats’ strategy to push back against the Trump administration on Monday, detailing efforts to combat what he called a “coordinated assault” by President Trump and his administration that “is not what most Americans and our constituents voted for in November.” “Senate Democrats have a responsibility to fight back on behalf of American families as Republicans look the other way in obedience to Donald Trump. And we are,” Schumer wrote in a letter to colleagues, laying out how the “fight is being waged across multiple fronts.” Schumer, a New York Democrat, lambasted the president and his “cronies, sycophants, and radicals” who he alleged are pursuing a coordinated agenda to “hollow out the government and cut off critical services to American communities across the country” for the benefit of the most wealthy. He cited the administration’s gutting of federal agencies and programs, and granting Elon Musk’s team access to Treasury Department data, among other things. “Make no mistake about it: The Republicans’ entire agenda is to further enrich the rich and powerful by cutting investments in working families and handing our democracy over to 21st century robber barons,” Schumer added. Senate ********* Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at a press conference with House ********* Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Democratic efforts to combat DOGE in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 4, 2025. Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images Schumer outlined that Senate Democrats are responding on four fronts. With oversight, he said Senate committees are leveraging congressional authority to probe the “intent, legal justification and real-world impact” of the Trump administration’s actions. And he pledged that Democrats are committed to working with whistleblowers with the launch of a new portal to field reports of corruption, abuses of power and threats to public safety. The New York Democrat also pointed to litigation, saying Senate Democrats are working to support courts as the “first line of defense” against the administration’s actions. On legislation, since Republicans hold a 53-seat majority short of the 60-vote threshold needed on most bills, Schumer said Democrats will use their votes “to help steady the ship for the American people in these turbulent times.” He noted that Democrats will support legislation to fund the government and prevent a shutdown, with a deadline next month. Lastly, Schumer said Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Cory Booker of New Jersey are spearheading a “coordinated, aggressive” communications and mobilization effort to “keep Senate Democrats informed, united, and amplifying the truth behind the Trump Administration’s agenda,” crediting the effort for the halting of the Office of Management and Budget memo that directed all agencies to temporarily pause federal assistance last month. The push comes in the aftermath of the 2024 elections, which delivered key victories for Republicans, and spurred a reckoning among the Democratic party on its path forward — and who should be its new standard-bearer. But the party has appeared to harness momentum following recent Trump administration actions geared toward making the government more efficient in recent weeks that have spurred confusion through corners of the federal government and beyond. Nikole Killion contributed to this report. Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Schumer #lays #Senate #Democrats #strategy #push #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NASA to study “city-killer” asteroid as odds of hitting Earth go up NASA to study “city-killer” asteroid as odds of hitting Earth go up Astronomers are enlisting the help of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to study an asteroid that has a small chance of striking Earth less than eight years from now. Characterized as a potential “city-killer,” the asteroid was first detected in December and its odds of impacting our planet have increased slightly since then, according to the European Space Agency. The space rock is formally named 2024 YR4. Scientists say it currently carries a 2% risk of making contact with Earth when it eventually reaches this part of the solar system on Dec. 22, 2032. Although the asteroid will most likely pass by without issue, those tasked with monitoring its physical attributes and potential have shifted upward the probability of a ****** since 2024 YR4 was initially discovered. The European Space Agency in January placed the asteroid’s odds of hitting Earth at roughly 1%, before NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory estimated the risk was more like 1.6% at the tail end of the month. Officials at both agencies acknowledge the unlikelihood of 2024 YR4 causing problems, with the ESA saying that current risk estimates are probably unnecessarily high because the people studying it are still uncertain about some of the asteroid’s key features. Right now, astronomers estimate the asteroid is between 40 meters and 90 meters wide, which is roughly 130 to 295 feet wide. For reference, an American football field measures 100 yards — or 300 feet — long. “It is very important that we improve our size estimate for 2024 YR4,” the ESA said in a statement Monday, which noted “the hazard represented by a 40 m asteroid is very different from that of a 90 m asteroid.” On the slim chance the asteroid does strike Earth in 2032, its impacts would be localized. But 2024 YR4 has nonetheless received a Level 3 rating, out of 10, on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, which is a fairly rare distinction meant to represent “a close encounter” that warrants public and scientific attention. The yellow dots show the position uncertainty of asteroid 2024 YR4 when it encounters Earth in 2032, based on observations up to January 31, 2025. Only 2% of this region, at most, intersects the Earth, which is the small dot at the center of the Moon’s orbit. / Credit: NASA “An asteroid this size impacts Earth on average every few thousand years and could cause severe damage to a local region,” the ESA said a previous statement about 2024 YR4. If the asteroid does hit the planet, NASA said its potential impact sites could include areas over the eastern Pacific Ocean, northern South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Arabian Sea and South Asia. CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood said if it landed in a populated area, it would “be truly catastrophic,” but the effects would be localized. “It wouldn’t be something like the rock that killed the dinosaurs,” Harwood said. “It wouldn’t affect the global climate, but it would certainly be a disaster of every proportion. So we’re all hoping that doesn’t happen.” In order to gain a greater understanding of the asteroid and better prepare for whatever is to come, astronomers will use the Webb Telescope to collect data on its size that could not be observed as accurately without the telescope’s technology, the ESA said. Where scientists are generally limited to observing the asteroid based on the amount of visible light it reflects from the sun, with brighter light typically signaling a larger asteroid, the Webb telescope can calculate its infrared emissions, allowing for more accurate estimates. Webb will begin studying the asteroid in March, when it appears brightest, and again in May, according to the ESA. 2024 YR4 will disappear from view for a while after that, and astronomers will take time to interpret the telescope’s data and determine what it could mean for the asteroid’s route before it shows itself again in 2028. How Democrats in Congress are tacking Trump’s massive government changes How major events like the Super Bowl bridge the political divide New poll on Trump approval rating as steel, aluminum tariffs set Source link #NASA #study #citykiller #asteroid #odds #hitting #Earth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marvel Rivals Developers Detail Season And Half-Season Ranks Marvel Rivals Developers Detail Season And Half-Season Ranks With the first half of Season 1 drawing to a close, Marvel Rivals developer NetEase has published a new update regarding ranks. This update helps players understand what to expect at the end of the half and in the second half of the inaugural season and beyond. In a post on the game’s website, the studio said that the first half of the season will end on February 21. At that time, all rankings will be locked and players ranked Gold and higher will get a costume reward. Those Grandmaster and higher as well as the Top 500 will receive the “Crest of Honor”. “In the second half of the season, we will be rolling out new costume rewards for Gold rank players, along with brand new Crests of Honor,” NetEase said. “These Crests will recognize players at Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All (the top 500), each with its own unique design to celebrate your skill!” After the first-half ranks are settled, they will all be reason when the second half of Season 1 starts that day. When it starts, NetEase says that players will see their rank drop by four divisions. In future seasons, that drop will be six divisions at the beginning and then a drop of four at the start of the second half of each season. Lastly, the studio says that in order to make sure only players who actually play during the current season can earn rewards, players will need to play at least 10 matches in competitive mode along with meeting required ranking conditions. What do you think of how Marvel Rivals is handling in-season ranks? Let us know down below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more information from Insider Gaming, read about Sony turning down the Resistance 4 pitch and check out the 2025 roadmap for Phasmophobia. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Marvel #Rivals #Developers #Detail #Season #HalfSeason #Ranks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump to pause enforcement of law banning bribery of foreign officials Trump to pause enforcement of law banning bribery of foreign officials President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press in the Oval Office of the White House on Jan. 30, 2025. Kent Nishimura for The Washington Post | Getty Images President Donald Trump is set Monday to sign an executive order directing the Department of Justice to pause enforcing a law that prohibits American companies to bribe officials of foreign governments. The pause will be implemented to avoid putting U.S. businesses at an economic disadvantage to foreign competitors. The Bloomberg news service first reported the planned executive order related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. A White House official confirmed the report, telling CNBC, “A pause in enforcement to better understand how to streamline the FCPA to make sure it’s in line with economic interests and national security.” This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates. Source link #Trump #pause #enforcement #law #banning #bribery #foreign #officials Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Love and Deepspace’s latest event, Tomorrow’s Catch-22, is now live with a new all-character banner Love and Deepspace’s latest event, Tomorrow’s Catch-22, is now live with a new all-character banner Love and Deepspace’s latest event here with Tomorrow’s Catch-22 This returning event offers great new rewards and opportunities for players But hurry because it’s only on offer until February 26th! Fans of Love and Deepspace can cheer up because Infold Games’ fan-favourite otome has begun its latest and perhaps largest event yet. Featuring an all-character banner that sees Caleb, Zayne, Rafayel, Xavier and Sylus take centre-stage in new five-star memories, it’s sure to spice up a lonely winter. The headlining part of this event that runs from February 10th to the 26th is, of course, the all-character 5-Star Memory Wish Pool. Every love interest’s Memory is up for grabs with no waiting and no rotations to deal with. You can select three memories for boosted drop rates, switching them up whenever you want to ensure the best chance to nab those unforgettable moments. But that’s not all! Several special events are also on offer to bring exciting action to all players. Lanternet Day brings a vibrant festival atmosphere to Linkon City, with limited-time messages, emails, and daily check-ins available. Keep an eye out for Azure Echo Day and the Limited-Time Memory Growth Bonus that’s coming too! Post-apocalyptic But I’m sure more of you are intrigued by Savage Overture, which throws you into a post-apocalyptic city full of danger and mystery. Encounter the Predators who’ve been turned to madness by the radiation. You’ll find a whole new story and missions to engage in as well as plenty of rewards to grab as you raise Trust Levels to unlock special testimony, intimate interactions and dynamic portrait poses. Rewards for savage overture include: Deepspace Wishes, Diamonds, dynamic portrait poses, ‘My’ outfits, an exclusive title, Chibi avatars and more! You can also complete event challenges to earn Mugshot Boards that you can swap for even more limited-time rewards at the Supply Center. Want to get ahead in Love and Deepspace? Be sure to check out our list of Love and Deepspace codes to get yourself a head-start. Source link #Love #Deepspaces #latest #event #Tomorrows #Catch22 #live #allcharacter #banner Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

A passenger was accused of assaulting a flight attendant, opening a door, and jumping from a plane heading to the runway A passenger was accused of assaulting a flight attendant, opening a door, and jumping from a plane heading to the runway A passenger was accused of opening a door and jumping off an Iberia flight while it was preparing to take off. The incident, which was said to have occurred Friday, was first described by Airlive.net. Iberia said it could “confirm the information” in the report but did not comment further. A passenger was accused of assaulting a flight attendant and opening an emergency exit before jumping onto the taxiway while a flight was preparing to take off. Airlive.net first described the incident involving an Airbus A320neo operated by the Spanish airline Iberia, which was about to depart Paris Orly Airport for Madrid on Friday. An Iberia spokesperson told Business Insider the airline could “confirm the information” in the report but did not comment further. The plane was about to turn onto the runway when passengers heard a loud sound, Airlive.net reported. In a video obtained by the outlet that appeared to have been taken by another passenger, emergency vehicles can be seen surrounding the aircraft. Passengers deplaned after two hours and were sent to nearby hotels, per the report. Flight IB578 took off from Paris five hours later than scheduled, according to data from Flightradar24. Aéroports de Paris, which administers Orly Airport, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from ***. In January, a similar incident occurred on a JetBlue flight that was about to take off from Boston. The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane was on a taxiway when a passenger opened an emergency exit, causing the slide to deploy. Last August, a passenger in Australia opened an emergency exit when his plane had just arrived at the gate, getting out and walking along one of the jet’s wings. In 2023, a Southwest Airlines passenger caused panic after jumping out of an emergency exit and running across the tarmac before attempting to steal a truck. Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #passenger #accused #assaulting #flight #attendant #opening #door #jumping #plane #heading #runway Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Man who lost $780 million in Bitcoin in a landfill now wants to buy the entire dump before city closes the site Man who lost $780 million in Bitcoin in a landfill now wants to buy the entire dump before city closes the site A Welsh landfill dump where 8,000 Bitcoins are thought to be buried will be repurposed, at least partly, into a solar farm. According to BBC News, the local council will close the landfill in the 2025-26 financial year, and then it will be capped. Planning permission has been secured to develop a solar farm at the capped site. However, the man who lost the massive Bitcoin haul on a discarded portable HDD today said he was surprised by the council’s plans and has proposed a buyout of the site ‘as is.’ We last reported in January on the tale of this buried digital treasure trove worth over $780 million at today’s exchange rate. We thought we might have read the last chapter of this sad tale, as a high court ruling appeared to dash former crypto miner James Howells’ last hopes of getting his BTC HDD back (or any financial compensation). However, we now have an epilogue where the land above the buried BTC becomes a solar farm. Rather poetically, the new solar farm will reclaim some of the energy frittered away by crypto mining. This seems to be an interactive novel, though, as an alternative ending to the saga was provided today, with Howells’ proposal to purchase the landfill site, which is hoping to dig up the old HDD and recover its digital treasure. (Image credit: Robin Drayton / Newport City Landfill Site) Howells expressed his surprise at the imminent landfill closure plans. “If Newport city council would be willing, I would potentially be interested in purchasing the landfill site ‘as is,'” said the lost BTC HDD’s original owner, optimistically. He said he had already spoken to his investment partners about a buyout: “It is something that is very much on the table.” Previous reports indicated that Howells and his consortium were willing to spend about $13 million on a site excavation lasting up to 36 months to recover the drive. We would expect a site purchase figure to be even higher. A buyout today would also save the council the expense of capping the site, where multiple layers of aggregates, barriers, and pipework are used to cover the enormous plot of waste safely. The BBC report says Newport Council secured planning permission for the solar farm on part of the land last August. The harvested solar energy is hoped to power the council’s electric bin lorries (or refuse trucks, dustcarts, RCVs, or whatever else you might call them). Newport already has seven electric lorries in its fleet and hopes to phase out diesel vehicles over the coming years. The nearby household recycling center will remain operational. Keeping a Bitcoin wallet on a portable HDD in a desk drawer might not be the worst idea if not for any calamitous mishap. However, trusting your crypto with other people, businesses, or organizations can be hazardous. Over the relatively short history of cryptocurrencies, coin holders have lost huge fortunes through hacks and bankruptcies of prominent exchanges, channels, and platforms like the Ronin Network, the Binance BNB Bridge, FTX, and the infamous Mt. Gox. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Man #lost #million #Bitcoin #landfill #buy #entire #dump #city #closes #site Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]