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Book Review: ‘Stone Yard Devotional,’ by Charlotte Wood Book Review: ‘Stone Yard Devotional,’ by Charlotte Wood STONE YARD DEVOTIONAL, by Charlotte Wood The mice are everywhere. Rooting through the chicken feed and the lettuce bed and the compost bucket; running up bedposts and bare legs; spewing from cars and church organs; waves of small bodies scurrying across paved roads like “a wide river of silver water.” Where there aren’t mice, there are their effects: electrical cords and bags of flour torn apart; magpies dead after eating the poisoned carcasses; a nest inside an old piano, woven from pieces of felt chewed off its hammers. The sounds of their scratching in the walls “like dried leaves falling.” It has a ring of magical realism to it, but the rodent infestation in Charlotte Wood’s somber, exquisite seventh novel, “Stone Yard Devotional,” is nonfiction. In 2021, as the world faced the Covid pandemic, eastern Australia was contending with an additional contagion — a great surplus of mice ravaging crops and communities alike, thanks to heavier-than-normal rains and warmer temperatures that pushed the crisis further and further south. That crisis is just one of three “visitants” to arrive on the doorstep of Wood’s unnamed narrator, an atheist in her 60s who has left behind her husband and her career as a wildlife conservationist in Sydney to live in a convent near her rural hometown in New South Wales. The second is a casket carrying the bones of Sister Jenny, a nun who disappeared 20 years earlier, after abandoning the convent to run a women’s shelter in Bangkok. The third, a childhood classmate named Helen Parry, whom the narrator once bullied, has since become a nun herself, though of the celebrity-activist kind the other nuns don’t trust. Any one of these arrivals on its own would be enough to puncture the fantasy of “escape” the narrator seeks among this sisterhood, but together their confluence descends on the novel with the force of a biblical flood. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize last year (the novel was published in 2023 in Australia and England), “Stone Yard Devotional” is the diary of a person with more days behind her than ahead, tired of trying and failing to rescue the planet from man-made destruction, wanting to make her way home. Apocalypse is not so much the plot of the book as its anchor, grounding the novel’s ruminations on forgiveness and regret, on how to live and die, if not virtuously, then as harmlessly as possible. The novel is, in many ways, an extended meditative vigil. At the convent, in place of noise and action there is what the nuns call prayer, and the narrator simply calls thinking. Short chapters often begin in the present and then digress into episodes from the narrator’s mostly stable, untroubled past. Here is her mother composting before it was cool and visiting with a blind woman in her trailer for hours at a time. Here is the narrator in a high school sewing class, ganging up on the “friendless” Helen Parry while knowing the girl is being ritually abused and abandoned by her poor, single mother. These memories appear and recede as fluidly as human thoughts, without reason or chronology or obvious connection to what’s happening outside her head (mostly emptying mouse traps, taking meals, spats between sisters, chasing government permissions to bury Sister Jenny’s remains). A part but not one of them, the narrator witnesses the nuns’ rituals, the circadian rhythms of the liturgy, with the receptive curiosity of the hypnotized, or the converted. “But how do they get anything done?” she thinks, Wood’s sedate, unpretentious prose bending sparingly, invitingly, into the outsider’s wry humor. “All these interruptions day in, day out, having to drop what you’re doing and toddle into church every couple of hours. Then I realized: It’s not an interruption to the work; it is the work. This is the doing.” Distance from the world is no antidote to the narrator’s despair; it merely gives her room to acknowledge it. She’s forlorn about her parents’ deaths more than 30 years ago; about her dissolving marriage; about her increasing disillusionment with her Threatened Species Rescue Center. “At every step of my every attempt I have only worsened the destruction,” she decides. “Every email, meeting, press release, conference, protest. Every minuscule action after waking means slurping up resources, expelling waste, destroying habitat. … Whereas staying still, suspended in time like these women, does the opposite. They are doing no harm.” Well, except for the nun wielding a leaf blower outside her window; or the “morally appalling” task of drowning mice in buckets of water; or the racist hatred she feels emanating from a particularly dogmatic nun. Except for the Aboriginal cultures displaced and the mass graves around the world that spring to her mind when she buries a chick found dead from frost. “I thought of those babies and those poor girls, and the savagery of the Catholic Church came flooding in once again. Yet here I am. Wrestle, wrestle.” The wrestling in this novel is with the nature and meaning of penance, atonement. Upon learning that Helen will be the one to transport Sister Jenny’s bones back to Australia, the narrator recalls their last encounter, decades ago, at a protest against logging. It’s an excruciating scene of absolution sought and denied, of quiet humiliation: “I told her that I was to this day ashamed of what we had done, and that I was deeply sorry for my part in it,” she says, but it takes Helen a minute to even remember her. “I can see why that might have been a big … incident … for you,” she finally replies, as intimidatingly self-assured now as she was as a child. “But for me, that day was nothing.” Activism, abdication, atonement, grace: In this novel no one of these paths is holier than another; Wood is more invested in noticing the human pursuit of holiness itself. “Not denounced, not forgiven,” the narrator and her sins swing in the uncomfortable uncertainty of the living. Nothing can exempt a person from this moral stain, from mortality — not even being a nun on the edge of the earth. STONE YARD DEVOTIONAL | By Charlotte Wood | Riverhead | 295 pp. | $28 Source link #Book #Review #Stone #Yard #Devotional #Charlotte #Wood Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Preppy Fashion Is Back (With a Twist) Preppy Fashion Is Back (With a Twist) This season, classic staples like argyle sweaters and trench coats pair up with recycled leather, edgy hardware and other unexpected flourishes. Source link #Preppy #Fashion #Twist Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Controversial Drax power station gets more government subsidies Controversial Drax power station gets more government subsidies The government has agreed a new subsidy arrangement with the controversial wood-burning Drax power station in north Yorkshire. The power station, a converted coal plant, generates about 5% of the ***’s electricity and has received billions of pounds in subsidies because wood-burning is classed as a source of renewable energy. But though there are plans to eventually capture the carbon emitted from Drax, its emissions are currently unabated, making the power station the ***’s largest single source of the climate warming gas CO2. The government said the new arrangement, which goes through to March 2031, would see the power station be used less and projected it would cost half the current amount. Source link #Controversial #Drax #power #station #government #subsidies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best cameras for 2025 The best cameras for 2025 Camera launches have been plentiful as of late, with Canon, Nikon, Sony and other major brands releasing important new models recently. In 2024, we saw some notable improvements in areas like autofocus and video, along with some new trends in creating interesting looks for videos and photos in-camera. All told, there were over 20 new cameras launched last year which joined the many outstanding models on the market from years prior. The question is, which one is right for the type of videography or photography you do? Whether you’re an aspiring action or wildlife photographer, an extreme sports junkie or a content creator, we’ll help you find the perfect camera to match your budget and requirements. What to consider before choosing a camera Though smartphones get better for video and photos every year, full cameras still have an edge in many ways. The larger sensors in mirrorless cameras let more light in, and you have a wide choice of lenses with far superior optics. Dedicated cameras are also faster for shooting things like sports or wildlife, offer superior video for content creators and create more professional results. Sensor size There are a few key things to consider to get the most out of a camera. The first is sensor size: in general, the larger the sensor, the better (and usually more expensive) the camera. Full frame is the largest sensor size for mainstream cameras, and it’s available on models like the new Panasonic S9, the Nikon Z III and Canon EOS R5 II. At a size equivalent to 35mm film (36 x 24mm), it offers the best performance in terms of image quality, low-light capability and depth of field. But it’s also very expensive and finicky. While bokeh looks incredible at an aperture of f/1.4, the depth of field is so razor thin that your subject’s eyebrow might be in focus but not their eye. This can also make shooting video difficult. The next size category is APS-C (around 23.5 x 15.6mm for most models and 22.2 x 14.8mm for Canon), offered on Fujifilm’s X Series lineup, the Canon R10, the Sony ZV-E10 II and the Nikon Z50. It’s cheaper than full frame, both for the camera body and lenses, but still brings most of the advantages like decent bokeh, high ISOs for low-light shooting and relatively high resolution. With a sensor size the same as movie cameras, it’s ideal for shooting video, and it’s easier to hold focus than with full-frame cameras. Micro Four Thirds (17.3 x 13mm), a format shared by Panasonic and Olympus, is the next step down in sensor size. It offers less bokeh and light-gathering capability than APS-C and full frame, but allows for smaller and lighter cameras and lenses. For video, you can still get reasonably tight depth of field with good prime lenses, but focus is easier to control. The other common sensor size is Type 1 (1 inch), which is actually smaller than one inch at 12.7 x 9.5mm. That’s used mostly by compact models like Sony’s ZV-1 vlogging camera. Finally, action cameras like the GoPro Hero 11 and DJI’s Osmo 3 have even smaller sensors (1/1.9 and 1/1.7 inches, respectively). Autofocus For photographers, another key factor is autofocus (AF) speed and accuracy. Most modern mirrorless cameras have hybrid phase-detect AF systems that allow for rapid focus and fast burst speeds. The majority also offer AI features like eye-detect AF for people and animals, which locks in on the subject’s eyes, face or body to keep them in focus. However, some models are faster and more reactive than others. Displays The electronic viewfinder (EVF) and rear display are also crucial. The best models have the sharpest and brightest EVFs that help you judge a shot before taking it. For things like street photography, it’s best to have as bright and sharp a rear display as possible, so it’s easy to see your subject and check focus in all manner of lighting conditions. You may also want a screen that flips out rather than just tilting, too. Lenses DSLRs and mirrorless cameras let you change lenses, but you’re stuck with what’s built into a compact camera. While that’s great for portability, a single lens means you’re going to sacrifice something along the way. The Fujifilm X100V, for instance, has a fast but fixed 35mm-equivalent f/2.0 lens and no zoom. The Sony RX100 V has a 24-70mm zoom, but it’s slower at the telephoto end (f/2.8) and less sharp than a fixed focal (prime) lens. When choosing a lens for a mirrorless camera, you’ll need to consider the focal or zoom length, along with the minimum aperture. Smaller numbers like f/1.4 for a prime lens or f/2.8 for a zoom are best, as they let you work in darker environments and maximize background blur to isolate your subject. However, those lenses are more complex and thus more expensive. Video recording When it comes to video, there are other factors to consider. Some cameras combine or skip over pixels (line skipping or pixel binning) for video recording, which is not ideal because it can reduce sharpness. Better cameras tend to read out the entire sensor and then “downsample” to improve video sharpness (camera manufacturers don’t often say if video is pixel binned, but will say if it’s downsampled). Another important factor is sensor speed, as slower sensors tend to have more rolling shutter that can create a “jello” effect that skews video. In addition, how’s the battery life? How do you like the handling and feel? How long can you shoot before the camera heats up or stops? Does it support 10-bit HDR video? Is there a microphone and/or a headphone jack? (If you record a lot of interviews, it’s preferable to have both.) How’s the video autofocus? All of these things play a part in your decision. Best cameras Best mirrorless cameras Mirrorless is the largest camera category in terms of models available, so it’s the best way to go if you’re looking for something with the most advanced features. Canon and Nikon recently announced they’re discontinuing development of new DSLRs, simply because most of the advantages of that category are gone, as I detailed in a video. The biggest selling feature of a mirrorless camera is the ability to change lenses depending on the type of shooting you want to do. Canon My top pick under $1,000 is still the 24.2-megapixel Canon R10, which is a great model for both photographers and content creators. It can shoot bursts at up to 23 fps in electronic shutter mode, and offers 4K 10-bit at 30p with supersampling and no crop, or 4K 60p with a 1.5x crop. It has a fully articulating display for vlogging, along with a 2.36-million dot electronic viewfinder. It uses Canon’s Dual Pixel AF with subject recognition mode that works in both photo and video modes. The main drawback is a lack of in-body stabilization. $980 at Amazon Nikon Though not quite as pretty and compact as my previous pick, the 21-megapixel Nikon Z fc, the new Z50 II offers improved performance and more advanced tech across the board. That means you can now shoot 4K video at up to 60 fps instead of just 30 fps (albeit with a crop) and shoot bursts (JPEG only) at up to 30 fps. Autofocus has been overhauled to be more responsive and now includes 3D tracking with AI modes for animals, birds and vehicles. There’s also an auto mode that selects the subject for you — a handy feature for beginners. $907 at B&H Photo Sony The Sony ZV-E10 II just hit the market, but for content creators, it’s worth waiting a couple of weeks. It comes with a 26-megapixel APS-C sensor that’s much faster than before, so rolling shutter wobble is mostly a non-issue. You can shoot supersampled 4K video at up to 30p using the full sensor width, or 4K 60p with a small 1.1x crop. It also supports 10-bit S-Log3 video capture, LUt imports and more. The main drawbacks are the lack of an electronic viewfinder and mechanical shutter. $998 at B&H Photo Sony Though it was released over two years ago, the Sony A7 IV still has the best combination of image quality, performance and video powers. The 33-megapixel sensor has the highest resolution in its price range, and dynamic range is also near the top. At the same time, you can shoot at up to 10 fps in mechanical shutter mode. For creators, 10-bit 4K video is available at up to 60 fps, and it offers the best autofocus in its class, both for video and photos. A negative point is rolling shutter distortion that occurs with the electronic shutter or video. $2,198 at Macy’s Nikon Think of the Nikon Z6 III as a mini Z8, thanks to the incredible performance of what the company calls a partially stacked sensor. You can shoot RAW bursts at up to 20 fps in electronic shutter mode while nailing sharp shots thanks to the much-improved autofocus. On the video side, it supports 6K RAW at up to 60 fps, or 4K 120p. The only thing holding it back from dethroning Sony is image quality that’s compromised a bit by the relatively low resolution and reduced dynamic range. $2,497 at B&H Photo Panasonic Content creators should seriously consider the full-frame Panasonic S5 IIX. It’s the company’s first camera with hybrid phase-detect AF designed to make focus “wobble” and other issues a thing of the past. You can shoot sharp 4K 30p video downsampled from the full sensor width, or 4K 60p from an APS-C cropped size, all in 10-bit color. It even offers 5.9K 30p video, along with ProRes capture to an external SSD. You also get a flip-out screen for vlogging and updated five-axis in-body stabilization that’s the best in the industry. Photo quality is also good thanks to the dual-gain 24-megapixel sensor. The main drawback is the slowish burst speeds. $1,898 at Amazon Canon The Canon EOS R5 II is the company’s best camera in years thanks to improvements in areas like autofocus and video. It comes with a high-resolution 45-megapixel stacked sensor, but still lets you shoot blackout-free bursts at up to 30 fps (and it can pre-capture up to 15 photos when you half press the shutter button). Most of those shots will be in focus as well, thanks to the updated autofocus with AI tracking that’s now as good as anything offered by Sony. It’s also a capable camera for video, with up to 8K 60p RAW and 4K 120p shooting, with the heating issues of the previous model largely gone. The eye-tracking tech is a bit of a gimmick and it’s expensive at $4,200, but it’s Canon’s best-ever mirrorless camera — and that’s saying a lot. $4,299 at B&H Photo Nikon The Nikon Z8 is an interesting mirrorless camera because it carries the same specs as the company’s Z9 flagship but costs a lot less. It’s one of the highest resolution full-frame cameras with 45 megapixels, but is also one of the fastest with burst speeds up to 30 fps. At the same time, it has powerful video capabilities with 8K RAW video at up to 60 fps. Autofocus isn’t on par with Sony’s A1, but the Z8 is a better camera for the price. $3,997 at B&H Photo Sony For the ultimate high-resolution camera, check out Sony’s A7R V. With a 61-megapixel sensor, it shoots sharp and beautiful images at a very respectable speed for such a high-resolution model (10 fps). It has equally fast and reliable autofocus, the sharpest viewfinder on the market and in-body stabilization that’s much improved over the A7R IV. Video has even improved, with 8K and 10-bit options now on tap, albeit with significant rolling shutter. If you don’t need the video, however, Sony’s A7R IVa does mostly the same job, photo-wise, and costs a few hundred dollars less. $3,498 at Amazon Best action camera or gimbal camera The most important features to look for in an action cam are image quality, stabilization and battery life. GoPro has easily been beating all rivals recently in all those areas, but DJI has taken a lot of its business with the Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal camera. DJI Late in 2023, DJI unveiled the Osmo Pocket III and I called it “maybe the only vlogging camera you need.” It has a big 1-inch sensor, the same size found on Sony’s ZV-1 II compact camera. That boosts image quality considerably, particularly in low light. It also has a new, large swiveling touchscreen that makes it easier to switch between horizontal and vertical video. What really makes it great for vlogging are the follow modes combined with face tracking. If you’re working solo, you can simply set it up and it’ll rotate and tilt to follow you around. That also applies for walk-and-talk vlogging, so you don’t have to worry about focus or even pointing the camera at yourself. The main drawbacks are the reduced resolution (which means it’s not ideal for photos) and a price that’s considerably higher than the previous model. $469 at Amazon GoPro GoPro’s Hero 13 ****** hasn’t changed much from the Hero 12 on the inside, but its outside is a whole new story. It’s now available with a new family of modular lenses called the HB series (ultra-wide, anamorphic and macro), making it far more versatile for action creators. It also has a slightly ******* battery that allows longer capture times, up to 90 minutes for 4K 30fps video. Other specs remain the same, including up to 5.3K at 60 fps in 10-bit color with high data rates, and 8:7 capture that uses the entire sensor. Otherwise, the Hero 13 still has the best digital stabilization (aka Hypersmooth) of any action camera, a full-color front screen and still offers the best image quality in its class. $325 at Amazon Best compact camera This category has fewer cameras than it did even a few years ago and many models are older, as manufacturers focus instead on mirrorless models. However, I’m still a big believer in compact cameras. They’re a noticeable step up from smartphones quality-wise, and a lot of people will take a compact traveling or to events when they’d never bother with the hassle of a DSLR or mirrorless camera. Compacts largely have type 1-inch sensors, but a few offer larger options, particularly Fujifilm’s XF-100V. Another popular model, Sony’s XV-1, is primarily aimed at content creators looking to step up. In any case, desirable qualities include image quality, a fast lens, relatively long zoom, flip-out display, good battery life, a high quality EVF, decent video and good pocketability. Fujifilm The Fujifilm X100 VI is a near-perfect update to the X100 V, keeping everything users liked while adding features like a 40-megapixel sensor and in-body stabilization. Image quality is excellent and the improved resolution is much appreciated for things like street and tourist photography. Meanwhile, the in-body stabilization makes it more useful in low light and helps you create blur effects when shooting handheld. Video is solid for such a small camera, with up to 6K 30p capture. The only downsides are mediocre battery life and autofocus that can be a bit slow. $1,599 at B&H Photo Sony The 20-megapixel Sony ZV-1 II is a follow-up to the company’s ZV-1, a compact camera based on the RX-100 series that uses a 1-inch sensor. It does that job well thanks to a lightweight body, built-in high-quality microphone, flip-out display, 4K 30p video, best-in-class autofocus and excellent image quality. The 18-50mm f/1.8-4.0 lens is sharp and wider than on the ZV-1, so it’s better for vlogging. One very nice feature is the built-in neutral density filter, but it does lack optical image stabilization and a headphone port. $798 at Amazon Source link #cameras Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump Is Freezing Money for Clean Energy. Republican States Have the Most to Lose. Trump Is Freezing Money for Clean Energy. Republican States Have the Most to Lose. In less than three weeks, President Trump has thrown the U.S. clean energy industry into chaos, with much of the economic damage hitting Republican states and districts. In a quest to eliminate any funding linked to climate change, the Trump administration has frozen federal grants for everything from battery factories to electric school buses and issued executive orders that have halted federal approvals for wind and solar projects. Mr. Trump and Republicans in Congress are also working to repeal the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which is projected to pour hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade into low-carbon energy technologies through tax credits, loans and grants. So far, Republican-voting communities have benefited the most from that law. In the nearly three years since it was passed, private companies chasing the law’s tax breaks have announced plans to spend $165.8 billion to build factories that make solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles and more, according to new data from Atlas Public Policy, a research firm. Roughly 80 percent of those investments are in Republican congressional districts, where they are creating a once-in-a-generation manufacturing *****. The Inflation Reduction Act, along with a separate 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, also provided tens of billions of dollars in grants that have since been awarded by the federal government to private companies, states and nonprofit organizations. These are legally binding obligations that have allowed companies to make investments, sign leases and hire workers, with the expectation that they would be reimbursed by the government. Two federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to end its freeze and release money from programs authorized by Congress, but there is evidence that several agencies are still blocking funding. The uncertainty is delaying projects and halting investments in areas that voted for Mr. Trump. In Montana, a biofuels plant did not receive on time a $782 million payment it was owed, the first part of a $1.67 billion federal loan guarantee. In Georgia, $1 billion in projects to modernize the power grid are on hold. In Nevada, a half-dozen large solar projects on federal lands are caught in a permitting freeze. The upheaval has put Republicans in the tricky position of defending a White House that deems money for clean energy a “waste of taxpayer dollars” while working behind the scenes to protect their towns from the loss of new manufacturing jobs. “This is where we get a test of whether the Republican Party is a real political party serving its constituents, or a personality cult,” said Jason Walsh, executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance, a coalition of labor unions and environmental advocacy groups. “I expect thousands of people to be laid off, I expect workers to be furloughed, and I expect construction projects to halt,” Mr. Walsh said. The political turmoil could put planned manufacturing projects at risk, analysts said. Of the nearly $30 billion in clean technology factories that were scheduled to come online in 2025 — including manufacturing facilities for solar, wind, batteries and electric vehicles — more than half are now predicted to face delays or cancellations, according to a new report by BloombergNEF, a research firm. That’s not solely because of Mr. Trump. Some factories were already struggling with weaker-than-expected demand for electric vehicles, rising costs or foreign competition. But many manufacturers now face “significant political uncertainty” on top of that, as companies wonder whether the Trump administration will repeal or modify federal loans and tax incentives, said Antoine Vagneur-Jones, head of trade and supply chains at BloombergNEF. “Bringing a lot of this manufacturing back to the United States would be tricky even in the best case,” Mr. Vagneur-Jones said. “You need massive amounts of political determination and policy clarity to pull this off. And when that’s lacking, things start to get very messy.” At the Environmental Protection Agency, programs funded through the Inflation Reduction Act remain paused despite the recent court orders, according to internal emails. That included grants to states for reducing air pollution at ports and schools, monitoring pollution levels in neighborhoods next to industrial facilities and installing solar panels in low-income communities. And at the Energy Department, employees said money for various grants and awards was still frozen. The Interior Department has stopped permitting for solar and wind projects on public lands and waters for at least 60 days, saying it was conducting a review. At the Army Corps of Engineers, permitting for 168 renewable energy projects was paused last week. On Thursday that pause was lifted, but not for wind power projects, said Doug Garman, an agency spokesman. The White House declined to comment. Neither the E.P.A. nor the Department of Energy responded to requests to explain why they halted legally binding contracts despite the judge’s order. The uncertainty over whether Republicans might repeal major clean-energy incentives to pay for Mr. Trump’s tax cuts and immigration policies is also making investors nervous. In the Midwest, a ********* solar manufacturer called Heliene that has already built one factory in Minnesota has held off on deciding whether to build a larger solar cell factory in the region, citing the possibility that Congress might modify key manufacturing tax credits. In the Northeast, offshore wind companies are pulling back plans for multibillion-dollar investments after Mr. Trump issued a sweeping executive order halting approvals for turbines in the ocean. On Monday, New Jersey abandoned plans to award new offshore wind contracts after Shell withdrew from the most promising project. While many planned offshore wind farms would be in Democratic-led states like New York and Massachusetts, the projects themselves support a $25 billion supply chain that includes steel mills, shipbuilders and other manufacturers across 40 states, including Ohio, Louisiana and Texas, according to a report by the Oceanic Network, a nonprofit group that represents the offshore wind industry and its suppliers. “When a big, multibillion dollar project doesn’t move forward, there are so many downstream investments that are affected,” said Stephanie Francoeur, a spokeswoman for Oceantic. The freeze has put Democrats in the unusual position of insisting that money continue to flow to their political rivals. “It is ******** and we’re not going to stand for it,” said Representative Kathy Castor, a Florida Democrat. “We’re going to fight back to make sure that these dollars get to where they are supposed to go.” Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act on a party-line vote in order to fight climate change. But many of the economic benefits ended up flowing to Republican districts, which often have more available land, a skilled manufacturing work force and friendlier permitting processes. The Biden administration also strategically directed grant money to Republican states, hoping to make the law more durable. Yet Republicans whose districts have projects that are now on the chopping block have refrained from publicly criticizing Mr. Trump’s actions. “There might be some things in there that are worth saving,” said Representative Michael Rulli, Republican of Ohio, whose district has $415 million in private investment spurred by federal incentives, including a $230 million auto parts manufacturing facility in Dover that is expected to create 650 new jobs. “That’s going to take a little time to figure out,” Some have supported Mr. Trump’s spending freeze. Representative Rick Allen, Republican of Georgia, represents a district that has received $1.6 billion in private investments since the law’s passage, with one company receiving a $670.6 million loan from the Energy Department for a new facility that makes equipment to reduce the risk of electrical-vehicle fires. Asked about the spending freeze, Mr. Allen claimed without evidence that the Biden administration had doled out money improperly. “All we want to do is know where the money is going, how the grants were applied for and whether they were applied for lawfully,” Mr. Allen said. “Don’t you think when you apply for a grant it should be a lawful application?” On Wednesday, more than 160 solar energy executives met with Republican and Democratic lawmakers to pitch them on the economic benefits of maintaining federal tax credits for solar projects as well as for the factories that produce them. “We got a very receptive hearing on the Republican side,” said Abigail Hopper, the chief executive of the Solar Energy Industries Association, a trade group. “We talked about how electricity demand is growing and we need more energy for energy security and national security. And solar and storage is one of the fastest resources we can develop.” Other companies hope to persuade the administration that their projects fit the theme of “energy dominance,” one of Mr. Trump’s goals. Take KORE Power, a battery cell developer. During the Biden administration, the company won a conditional commitment for an $850-million loan from the Energy Department to build a factory in Arizona that could produce lithium-ion cells for batteries on the electric grid. Batteries can help store electricity for times when power demand spikes, sometimes reducing the need to burn natural gas. But the loan wasn’t finalized before Mr. Trump took office, and this month the company canceled plans for the Arizona plant, citing rising construction costs. Jay Bellows, the chief executive of KORE Power, said that the company would instead try to expand battery production elsewhere in the country at a lower cost by retooling older factories. The company hopes to finalize its loan with the Trump administration, though it will need to renegotiate the terms. “Even if we’re shifting the mind-set away from renewables, we’re still going to need energy storage on the grid,” Mr. Bellows said. “And we’re a U.S. company with U.S. products, right? I think this falls perfectly in line with what this administration is looking to achieve.” Behind the scenes, energy lobbyists said Republican lawmakers were aware of the damage that a halt in clean energy investments could do to their hometowns. “We just met with more than a dozen key Republican offices, and I can tell you nobody wants to kill jobs,” said Bob Keefe, executive director of E2, a nonpartisan group of business leaders and investors. “They don’t want to have to go back and face constituents and tell them that the factory I just cut the ribbon on might not be coming. That’s going to put them in a hard place.” Source link #Trump #Freezing #Money #Clean #Energy #Republican #States #Lose Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Oppo Find X8 Ultra Tipped to Ditch Alert Slider in Favour of Apple-Like Action Button Oppo Find X8 Ultra Tipped to Ditch Alert Slider in Favour of Apple-Like Action Button Oppo’s Find X8 Ultra is all set to replace the currently available Find X7 Ultra, which we reviewed last year, even though it did not go on ***** in India. One of the more unique features that the Find X7 Ultra introduced when launched in early 2024, was a new VIP mode which could be activated using its Alert Slider, a hardware feature borrowed from the OnePlus parts bin. The Alert Slider also made its way to other BBK Electronics flagships like Vivo’s X100 Pro, X200 Pro, and the X Fold 3 Pro. Turns out Oppo now has other plans for the Alert Slider, which may see it getting replaced by an iPhone-esque Action Button instead. According to popular tipster Digital Chat Station (via GizmoChina), Oppo is planning on launching its most high-end camera flagship sans the Alert Slider. Oppo will reportedly go with an Action Button-like hardware feature that will offer the same functionality. The tipster asserts that unlike Apple’s Action Button, which is restricted to specific preset functions, Oppo may allow users to customise this button to their preferences. Since the button is said to replace the Alert Slider, we can expect its primary function to toggle between silent/ringer/VIP mode profiles. The tipster also mentions the presence of a flat display, unlike the curved edge panels on present and previous models. It isn’t clear whether the switch from the iconic Alert Slider to a button would be a decision welcomed by fans of the brand. Oppo could be doing this for a number of reasons. The OnePlus 13 proved that it is possible to deliver an IP68 and IP69 rating even with a mechanical switch in place. So, it is definitely not down to technical reasons, but more about Oppo distancing itself from sister brands (OnePlus, Vivo) by offering something unique given the phone’s premium placement. Oppo did something similar with its Find X8 Pro by offering a new Quick Button for camera control. However, in our review, we found it fidgety and distracting at best. It remains unclear as to which markets the Oppo Find X8 Ultra will be launched in. As per a recent report, the phone will feature a new telephoto macro camera, which would also make it to the upcoming Oppo Find N5 book-style foldable. Both smartphones are expected to be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Oppo #Find #Ultra #Tipped #Ditch #Alert #Slider #Favour #AppleLike #Action #Button Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

In Europe, New Trains and a Streamlined Booking App In Europe, New Trains and a Streamlined Booking App European passenger rail travel continues to expand, with a flurry of new routes opening and competition heating up on key routes, including on the rail line that runs below the English Channel. Plans to streamline the booking process across Europe could also make rail travel easier and more efficient. The European Commission is encouraging the push. At his confirmation hearing in November, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the new European commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, said that connecting European cities by high-speed rail is “a top priority.” He also vowed to present draft regulation for a single digital booking and ticketing system for European rail before the end of his first year in office, which will fall on Dec. 1. Demand for train travel is strong and growing. Cross-border passenger rail traffic within Europe increased 7 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, according to the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies, a Brussels-based industry group. Passenger rail traffic within individual countries increased by about 3 percent. Victor Thévenet, the rail policy manager at Transport and Environment, a Brussels-based environmental group, described the possibility of a single booking and ticketing system as “the big thing on the agenda in 2025.” “In a single ticket, you will be able to buy a journey that links different train operators, and you will be sure to have your passenger rights protected if something goes wrong during the journey,” Mr. Thévenet said, noting that the system would work for all long-distance and regional trains across Europe. He added that public consultations on such a plan are happening this year, and that the proposed legislation should go to the European Parliament in 2026. Paris to Milan, and beyond For rail-loving travelers, there are plenty of new routes to choose from. A direct daytime service between Paris and Berlin that clocks in at roughly eight hours started in December. Tickets for the route — which also stops at Strasbourg, France, and Karlsruhe and Frankfurt in Germany — start at 60 euros, or about $62. The new route is in addition to the slower overnight service that connects the French and ******* capitals, which opened in late 2023. Alberto Mazzola, the executive director of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies, the industry group, described the new Paris-Berlin route as “an important connection between two major European capitals.” But he added that the route is only partially high speed; with the right infrastructure, the travel time could drop to as little as five hours. “There is an opportunity to do even better,” he said. Paris will soon see other new services, particularly as the Italian rail operator Trenitalia increases its presence in the French market. Trenitalia and S.N.C.F., France’s national railway company, will reopen competing services between Paris and Milan this spring, more than 18 months after a landslide in the French Alps forced the line to close. S.N.C.F.’s Paris-Milan service will begin on March 31, with tickets starting at 29 euros; Trenitalia’s service will open the following day. Both operators will include stops in Lyon and Turin, among other cities, along the route. Elsewhere in France, and also in competition with S.N.C.F., Trenitalia will begin running a service between Paris and Marseille on June 15, with stops in Lyon, Avignon and Aix-en-Provence. The Spanish operator Renfe is also making inroads in France. The company has announced that it will soon begin running a high-speed service between Barcelona and Toulouse, in southwestern France. The three-and-a-half-hour journey will include stops in Perpignan and Carcassonne in France, and Girona in Spain, among other cities. It will run seasonally, beginning in the second quarter of this year and continuing through mid-September. High-speed connections are also in the works between Belgrade and Budapest; Lisbon and Porto; and Prague and Brno in the Czech Republic. New sleeper services are also getting started this year. The private operator European Sleeper has opened a seasonal overnight rail connection between Brussels and Venice, offering two services per week in February and March. The company already runs a year-round sleeper train between Brussels and Prague, a service that began last year. The resurgence of sleeper trains has spread to Portugal and Spain, where the governments are working to reopen overnight service between their two countries. The services — which link Lisbon, Madrid and the French town of Hendaye, on the border with Spain — were discontinued when pandemic lockdowns hit in March 2020, but they could begin running again as soon as the first half of this year. Cross-Channel competition Competition is heating up along one of Europe’s iconic rail routes: the line that runs under the English Channel. Travelers hoping to go by train between London and the continent might one day travel with a rail operator other than Eurostar, though not before 2029 at the earliest. Eurostar, which has had a monopoly on the cross-Channel route since the line opened in 1994, is seeing strong demand. Across its network — which includes connections between London and Paris, and London and Brussels, among other services — the operator hosted 19.5 million passengers in 2024, an increase of more than 5 percent from the year before. The company could see another boost this year, as its direct service between London and Amsterdam starts up this month, following a pause of nearly eight months because of infrastructure upgrades at Amsterdam’s Centraal Station. But the company, which shrank its network during the pandemic, is still facing challenges. In a December report released by Transport and Environment, Mr. Thévenet’s nonprofit, Eurostar came last in a ranking of 27 European rail operators, earning low points for price, reliability and its strict policies on bicycles. (Fully assembled bikes aren’t allowed on the Paris-London service, because of security restrictions beyond Eurostar’s control. On other routes, Eurostar permits bicycles “in limited numbers and under certain conditions,” including the removal of both wheels.) Eurostar’s chief executive, Gwendoline Cazenave, wrote in an email that she disagreed with the findings of the report, and noted the ranking “failed to acknowledge Eurostar’s major environmental contributions,” including “eliminating flights between Brussels and Paris and sharply reducing flights between London and Paris.” Competitors are lining up. The two out front are Virgin Trains — part of Virgin Group, founded by Richard Branson — and Evolyn, a new operator led by the Spanish Cosmen family, travel-industry heavyweights. Phil Whittingham, the managing director of Virgin Trains, said the company expects to close a deal for 12 high-speed trains in the first half of this year. He added that Virgin has applied for access to Temple Mills, a maintenance depot in London, where Eurostar trains are currently serviced. Gaining access to the depot is an essential step to launching a cross-Channel service. “We do believe there’s room to get in there,” Mr. Whittingham said. “We think competition would be good for them, and good for us.” Lisa O’Brien, a spokeswoman for Britain’s Office of Rail and Road, confirmed that both Virgin and Evolyn had applied for space in the Temple Mills Depot. She added that the government regulator has appointed external consultants to determine the depot’s capacity to handle more trains. “Our next steps will depend on the outcome of that capacity study,” she said. Richard Bowker, a former chair of Britain’s Strategic Rail Authority and now a co-host of the Green Signals railway podcast, said that there have been unsuccessful challengers to Eurostar in the past, but “this time feels different.” Mr. Bowker, who has also worked for Virgin Group, noted the company’s “well-earned track record of being a disrupter” as well as the Evolyn team’s depth of experience in the transport sector. “It’s exciting,” he said. “It suggests growth, and more journey opportunities, and potentially better deals for the consumer.” Paige McClanahan is the author of “The New Tourist: Waking Up to the Power and Perils of Travel.” Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2025. Source link #Europe #Trains #Streamlined #Booking #App Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Press briefing on this week’s plenary session | News Press briefing on this week’s plenary session | News When: Monday 10 February at 16.30 Where: Daphne Caruana Galizia Press room and via Interactio Key topics this week include: Debate on the Commission work programme for 2025 and recent proposals to boost the EU’s competitiveness Debate on the EU’s continued support for Ukraine after three years of Russia’s war of aggression Debate on the continued repression of Russia’s democratic opposition one year after the ******* of Alexei Navalny, and on providing support to EU regions bordering Russia, Ukraine and Belarus Debate on the upcoming EU strategy for the Middle East Debate on EU-US trade relations and the EU’s potential responses if the US imposes tariffs on European products Debate with ECB President Christine Lagarde on the state of European and global economic affairs, followed by a vote on the ECB annual report 2024 Debate on the EU-Mercosur Trade agreement Interpretation of the press briefing will be available in English, French, *******, Italian, Spanish and Polish. Journalists wishing to actively participate and ask questions, please connect via Interactio by using this: You can follow it live from 16.30 on Monday in Parliament’s Daphne Caruana Galizia press room or via Parliament’s webstreaming and EbS+. Information for the media – Use Interactio to ask questions Interactio is only supported on iPad (with the Safari browser) and Mac/Windows (with the Google Chrome browser). When connecting, enter your name and the media you are representing in the first name / last name fields. For better sound quality, use headphones and a microphone. Interpretation is only possible for interventions with video. Journalists who have never used Interactio before are asked to connect 30 minutes before the start of the press conference to perform a connection test. IT assistance can be provided if necessary. When connected, open the chat window (upper right corner) to be able to see the service messages. For more details, check the connection guidelines and recommendations for remote speakers. Source link #Press #briefing #weeks #plenary #session #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ireland put Zimbabwe in a spin for third straight win Ireland put Zimbabwe in a spin for third straight win Ireland have wrapped up their third Test win in a row, spinner Matthew Humphreys starring with a six-wicket haul against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Left-armer Humphreys took two of the three wickets needed to finish things off on the final day, trapping Newman Nyamhuri (8) lbw before bowling top-scorer Wessly Madhevere for 84 on Monday. Madhevere had been Zimbabwe’s best hope of pursuing a tricky target of 292, but his departure effectively ended their hopes of running things close, as they fell to a 63-run loss. Humphreys finished with outstanding second-innings figures of 6-57, a new Test best for Ireland, but it fell to Andy McBrine to complete the win. McBrine, who previously held the Irish bowling record of 6-118, cleaned up Richard Ngarava to complete an accomplished all-round display from the 31-year-old that included four wickets and 106 runs in the match. Ireland paceman Barry McCarthy also had a great game, taking 4-56 in the first innings and following up with 2-22 in the second. Having waited until their eighth Test to experience a first victory at this level, captain Andrew Balbirnie’s side have now racked up a hat-trick of wins, having seen off the same opposition in Belfast last summer and Afghanistan in early 2024. Source link #Ireland #put #Zimbabwe #spin #straight #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 Ways to Track Your Fitness Over Time 3 Ways to Track Your Fitness Over Time Maintaining your enthusiasm for a long-term fitness goal is challenging for any exerciser. Whether you are hoping to run a marathon or do your first pull-up this year, you need a plan to get there. That means setting up a series of benchmarks, like how many push-ups you can do, with assessments along the way to track your progress. “I like to think of a benchmark as a snapshot of your fitness at a specific time,” said Dr. Tamanna Singh, co-director of the Cleveland Clinic Sports Cardiology Center. “Having an objective measure of current strength and cardiovascular health is key to building a safe exercise program.” But the first step is knowing and accepting your starting point, she said. It’s easy to overestimate. Plan to track progress, and adjust accordingly. Albert Matheny, a strength and conditioning specialist and co-founder of SoHo Strength Lab in New York, said a good timeline to retest your benchmarks is every four to eight weeks. How quickly you progress depends on your current fitness level and how often you work out, but it often takes six to 10 workouts to see lasting improvement, Mr. Matheny said. So if you train three times a week, you could see improvement in just two weeks. It isn’t always a steady progression though; jumps and plateaus are normal. “It’s a waste of time if you aren’t pushing your body,” Dr. Singh said. “Discomfort is where we grow.” If you’re new to exercising and have never used fitness benchmarks, below are three simple progressions, designed by Mr. Matheny. If level one feels too easy, find one that feels challenging, but can still be performed with good form. When you can complete an exercise in the allotted time or do all of the reps without fatigue, move on to the next level. Below are three sets of benchmarks, designed by Mr. Matheny, for lower and upper body strength, and cardiovascular fitness: a squat, push-up and running. Start at a level that feels just beyond your ability. Lower Body Strength: Squat Take the sit-to-stand test and count the number of repetitions you can do. If you can only do 10 in 30 seconds, or cannot get up out of the chair without using your hands, start at level 1. Level 1: Start seated in a chair. Stand and then sit back down without using your hands. Perform 10 times in 30 seconds. Level 2: Do a full body weight squat. Start with one round of 10 repetitions. Increase to three rounds of 10, with 60 to 90 seconds rest in between. Level 3: Add weight — be it a dumbbell, kettlebell or backpack with books. Select a load where you can do five squats with good form. Work up to 15. Progress to three sets of 15 with a two-minute rest between sets. Level 4: Increase by no more than 10 percent of the weight you had been lifting, Mr. Matheny said. Build up to three rounds of 15 sets, with two-minute rests. Keep going: You can continue to increase the weight. Or try a sumo squat, where your stance is wider and toes are turned out, to target your glutes and inner thighs. Challenge your balance with single-leg variations like a split squat; build power by doing jump squats. Upper Body: Plank to Push-Up Level 1: Place your hands about shoulder-width apart on a table. The higher the surface, the easier it will be. Step your feet back until your arms are completely straight. Build up to holding for 30 seconds. Level 2: Place your hands on the seat of a chair and hold for 30 seconds. Work up to 60 seconds. Level 3: Hold a plank on the floor with straight arms for 30 seconds. Work up to three rounds of 60 seconds with 60 to 90 seconds rest in between sets. Level 4: Start with three kneeling push-ups. Build up to three sets of 10 with 60 to 90 seconds rest in between sets. Level 5: Aim to do three regular push-ups. Work up to three rounds of 10 reps with 60 to 90 seconds rest. Keep going: Elevate your feet on a short stool, about one foot off the ground, then a chair and eventually a stability ball, which will challenge your core. Target your triceps with narrow, or diamond push-ups, where you hold your hands together with your thumbs and forefingers touching; add weight by wearing a weighted vest or placing a small weight on your back. Cardiovascular Endurance: Walk to Run Level 1: Progress to walking for 10 minutes with no rest. Continue until you can do this at a pace where you can hold a conversation without losing your breath. Level 2: Continue adding walking increments of five minutes. Aim to walk continuously for 30 minutes. Level 3: Maintain the same time or distance but add a weighted vest or backpack. Or walk hills or an incline on a treadmill. Level 4: Walk-jog on a flat surface. Start with 30 seconds of jogging and one minute of walking. When you can do this at a conversational pace for five minutes, try jogging for one minute and walking for 30 seconds. Aim to do this at a conversational pace for 30 minutes. Level 5: Jog for five minutes and walk for one and repeat four times. Add time or take out the walking. Keep going: Challenge your fast-twitch muscle fibers by incorporating sprints. Try hills and stairs or running with a weighted pack. Source link #Ways #Track #Fitness #Time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Okami director Kamiya says he doesn’t want people playing the Wii version Okami director Kamiya says he doesn’t want people playing the Wii version Okami director Hideki Kamiya has told players he doesn’t recommend the Wii version of the game. Okami was originally developed by Clover Studio for the PS2, with Kamiya serving as director. The game was released in 2006, with a Wii version released two years later. The Wii port was handled by US studio Ready at Dawn, and had players using the Wii Remote’s pointer features for the game’s unique Celestial Brush features, instead of the PS2’s left analogue stick. Ready at Dawn staff have previously discussed the challenges in the bringing the PS2 version to the Wii – it’s claimed the team “started with no assets” and had to reverse-engineer the game – and Kamiya doesn’t appear to be happy with the results. A follower recently sent Kamiya a message on X, telling him that they had started playing Okami HD on PC. The follower asked Kamiya if he recommended they play the Wii version instead, or continue playing the PC version. “The Wii version is not the original”, Kamiya replied. “I made the PS2 version. “If you’re going to play it now, the best version is the HD version. Personally, I don’t want you to play the Wii version.” The Wii version of Okami is also notorious for its box art, which has an IGN watermark on it. Kamiya is currently leading development on a sequel to Okami under a new studio called Clovers, in partnership with Capcom. Kamiya left PlatinumGames in October 2023, saying he made the decision after “a lot of consideration based on my own beliefs” and suggested that he would continue to make games. Source link #Okami #director #Kamiya #doesnt #people #playing #Wii #version Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here Is What to Know About U.S. Foreign Aid and the Trump Freeze Here Is What to Know About U.S. Foreign Aid and the Trump Freeze President Trump’s executive order freezing most U.S. foreign aid for 90 days has thrown into turmoil programs that fight starvation and deadly diseases, run clinical trials and seek to provide shelter for millions of displaced people across the globe. The U.S. Agency for International Development, or U.S.A.I.D., is the main government organization that provides humanitarian aid, such as food, medical assistance and disaster relief. It has been hit the hardest by the freeze. Mr. Trump has accused the agency of rampant corruption and fraud, without providing evidence. The billionaire Elon Musk, who has been given the task of cutting federal budgets and programs, boasted online of “feeding U.S.A.I.D. into the wood chipper.” The Trump administration ordered thousands of the agency’s workers to return to the United States from overseas, put them on indefinite administrative leave and shifted oversight of the agency to the State Department. How much foreign aid does the U.S. provide? In total, the United States spent nearly $72 billion on foreign assistance in 2023, which includes spending by U.S.A.I.D., the State Department and programs managed by agencies like the Peace Corps. As a percentage of its economic output, the United States — which has the world’s largest economy — gives much less in foreign aid than other developed countries. U.S.A.I.D. spent about $38 billion on health services, disaster relief, anti-poverty efforts and other programs in fiscal year 2023 — about 0.7 percent of the federal budget. In 2021, before the war in Ukraine, it accounted for 0.4 percent. Who are the recipients? Mr. Trump’s freeze on U.S. foreign aid does not apply to weapons support for countries like Israel and Egypt. Emergency food assistance is supposed to be exempt, but many such programs have suffered because of disruptions to the government’s payment systems. In 2023, the last year for which full data is available, Ukraine, which has been waging a war against Russia since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, received $16.6 billion, the most U.S. assistance of any country or region. The bulk of that went to economic development, followed by humanitarian aid and security. Israel — which was attacked by ******-led militants on Oct. 7, 2023, setting off a 16-month war in Gaza — received the second-highest amount of U.S. assistance: $3.3 billion in 2023, mainly for security. How is the money spent? U.S. foreign aid can be structured as direct financial assistance to countries through nongovernmental organizations; military support; food and medical aid; or technical expertise. Foreign aid can be a form of soft power, serving a country’s strategic interests, strengthening allies and helping to prevent conflicts. In the case of U.S.A.I.D., money has gone toward humanitarian aid, development assistance and direct budget support in Ukraine, peace-building in Somalia, disease surveillance in Cambodia, vaccination programs in Nigeria, H.I.V. prevention in Uganda and maternal health assistance in Zambia. The agency has also helped to contain major outbreaks of Ebola and funded conservation and environmental programs. Contrary to a claim by Mr. Trump, U.S. money has not been used to send condoms to Gaza for use by ******, health officials say. In a statement late last month, the International Medical Corps said that it had received more than $68 million from U.S.A.I.D. since October 2023 for its work in the enclave but that “no U.S. government funding was used to procure or distribute condoms.” Instead, the group said, the money was used to operate two field hospitals, treat and diagnose malnutrition, deliver more than 5,000 babies and perform 11,000 surgeries. Why was the freeze ordered? For years, conservative critics have questioned the value of U.S. foreign aid programs. “Every dollar we spend, every program we fund and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a recent statement. “Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?” The Trump administration and allies in Congress argue that the halt to foreign aid is necessary to investigate any waste. Many of their claims are misleading or lacked context. Mr. Rubio, who previously spoke out in support of the agency, blamed its employees for “deciding that they’re somehow a global charity separate from the national interest.” He has insisted, however, that the takeover was “not about getting rid of foreign aid.” He said during a recent Fox News interview, “We have rank insubordination” in the agency, adding that U.S.A.I.D. employees had been “completely uncooperative.” As organizations across the globe reeled, the Trump administration switched gears. Mr. Rubio announced that “lifesaving humanitarian assistance” could continue but that the reprieve would be “temporary.” But by then, hundreds of senior officials and workers who help distribute American aid had already been fired or put on leave, and many aid efforts remain paralyzed. What have been the effects of the aid freeze? The immediate disruptions caused by Mr. Trump’s foreign aid freeze have rippled across health care, security and humanitarian programs worldwide. The long-term consequences could reshape global health, research and political stability in many countries. Health: Many global clinical trials rely on U.S.A.I.D. funding. The abrupt stop-work order has left thousands of people in vulnerable medical conditions without care, and with no system in place to monitor for adverse effects. Doctors now face a legal and ethical dilemma: Comply with the Trump freeze or risk harm to patients. In South Africa, researchers were forced to shut down an H.I.V. prevention trial, leaving women with experimental implants inside their bodies and without ongoing medical oversight. In Uganda, children enrolled in a tuberculosis treatment trial were cut off from potentially lifesaving medication. In Bangladesh, a cholera treatment trial has been abandoned, leaving patients with no plan for next steps. The damage is compounded by Mr. Trump’s announcement that the United States would withdraw from the World Health Organization, which then announced its own cost-cutting measures. Security: In Syria, the executive order threatens a U.S. program supporting security forces inside a notorious camp, known as Al Hol, in the Syrian desert that holds tens of thousands of Islamic State members and their families, Syrian and U.S. officials said. Stability: American aid accounts for 15 percent of economic output in South Sudan, 6 percent in Somalia and 4 percent in the Central African Republic, according to Charlie Robertson, an economist who specializes in Africa. The U.S. ambassador in Mozambique told Mr. Rubio that proposed U.S.A.I.D. cuts would cause “major vulnerability” in Africa. Climate and migration: Many U.S.A.I.D. programs focused on helping people in poor countries cope with extreme weather caused by climate change, in the hopes that it would relieve the pressure to migrate to the United States. What was the reaction to the Trump order? Democratic lawmakers said the moves to dismantle U.S.A.I.D. or merge it with the State Department were ********. Two unions representing U.S.A.I.D. employees on Thursday filed a lawsuit arguing that the reduction in personnel and the cancellation of global aid contracts were unconstitutional and violated the separation of powers. It argued that U.S.A.I.D. cannot be unwound without the approval of Congress. On Friday afternoon, Judge Carl Nichols of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a temporary restraining order pausing the administrative leave of 2,200 U.S.A.I.D. employees and a plan to withdraw nearly all the agency’s overseas workers within 30 days. The agency has funded election-monitoring groups, anticorruption watchdogs and independent news outlets — exactly the kind of oversight that authoritarian leaders detest. Leaders in Russia, Hungary and El Salvador welcomed the Trump administration’s assault on U.S.A.I.D. Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, who has embraced strongman tactics to crack down on gang violence, said in a post on X that the agency’s funds had been “funneled into opposition groups, NGOs with political agendas and destabilizing movements.” Source link #U.S #Foreign #Aid #Trump #Freeze Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*** broadband majors, altnets accelerate gigabit in non-metro areas *** broadband majors, altnets accelerate gigabit in non-metro areas Freedom Fibre has connected its first customers in North Shropshire as part of the *** government’s Project Gigabit scheme, while premises in Exmouth can now access Virgin Media’s gigabit broadband services for the first time. The plan for *** the fibre to the premises (FTTP) wholesaler is to build a reliable, resilient and lightning-fast full-fibre network for homes and businesses across the North West and West Midlands. After a strategic merger with VX *** in early 2024, Freedom Fibre claims an “innovative” approach to designing complex networks, and has onboarded a range of internet service providers, including Freedom Fibre’s retail subsidiary, LilaConnect. Following months of detailed design, survey work and community engagement, Freedom Fibre commenced the build phase of the project to bring full-fibre to North Shropshire in March 2024. The connectivity project has been made possible by £24m of *** government funding as part of the £5bn Project Gigabit programme, and the altnet aims to reach 12,000 homes and businesses that would have otherwise been left with slower, outdated broadband networks. Introduced in 2021 with the aim of accelerating the ***’s recovery from Covid-19, Project Gigabit aims to boost high-growth sectors such as tech and the creative industries, and levelling up the country, spreading wealth and creating jobs. On its launch, the scheme looked to prioritise areas with slow connections that were seen as being left behind in commercial broadband companies’ plans, and give communities in so-called hard-to-reach places access to the fastest internet on the market, helping to grow the economy. The first 1,600 homes in Hadnall, High Ercall, Walton, Shawbury and Bowmere Heath – included in the Project Gigabit contract – are now ready to connect to Freedom Fibre’s full-fibre network. Additionally, hundreds more homes can access more reliable broadband with speeds up to 1GB through Freedom Fibre’s commercial build, available from a variety of internet service providers. With further growth said to be on the horizon as a result of Project Gigabit contracts awarded from Building Digital ***, as well as rolling out gigabit-capable broadband in North Shropshire, Freedom Fibre has been awarded £43m to upgrade broadband infrastructure in rural Cheshire. On the south west coast of England, more than 12,000 more homes in Exmouth can now access Virgin Media’s gigabit broadband services, capable of signing up for services including Gig2 broadband, which offers top speeds of 2Gbps. The network has been built on behalf of Nexfibre, which is investing £4.5bn to deliver high-speed fibre to the home connections to five million homes across the *** by 2026, with the opportunity to expand to an additional two million homes. The fruits of a £4.5bn investment from Virgin Media O2 shareholders, Liberty Global and Telefónica, alongside investment firm InfraVia Capital Partners, Nexfibre was launched to create the ***’s first national-scale challenger to BT Openreach, boosting choice and competition in the market. Nexfibre recently announced it had reached a total of two million premises passed and ready for service, becoming the second-largest alternative network operator in the ***. Source link #broadband #majors #altnets #accelerate #gigabit #nonmetro #areas Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

S&P 500: ‘Bull Trap’ Prevails as Recent Challenge Fails S&P 500: ‘Bull Trap’ Prevails as Recent Challenge Fails We are two-for-two for the pushing beyond 6,100 resistance – this week was nearly an exact repeat of last week – just as things looked ready to push on, sellers returned. Supporting technicals are net bullish, which leaves just price to do its thing. What happens at converged 20-day/50-day MAs will be important, because there can only be one winner here. The () doesn’t have a ‘bull trap’ to contend with, but it does have its 50-day MA to overcome. And like with the S&P, it only found rejection at the moving average on higher volume distribution. Technicals are mixed; bullish, with the exception of On-Balance-Volume. action was similar to the S&P, except it’s not challenging highs. There was a clear trend break in December, but since then, the index has been moving sideways. A break of 18,700 level results in a bear trend, and 20,100 is the switch to a bull trend. If you wanted a hint as to what comes next, Friday’s volume ranked as distribution. The is caught a little in the middle with a fresh trend break. There was a trend break in December, but then the index came back to challenge all-time highs. However, it’s again drifting into a new trend break. Bears are likely to be in control early next week, but we won’t see any trend shift for a while, at least until markets clear their trading ranges. The financial media will focus on the noise, but it will be a few weeks before we know the true picture. Source link #Bull #Trap #Prevails #Challenge #Fails Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russia launches drone attacks on Kyiv, Sumy, Ukrainian officials say – Reuters Russia launches drone attacks on Kyiv, Sumy, Ukrainian officials say – Reuters Russia launches drone attacks on Kyiv, Sumy, Ukrainian officials say ReutersUkraine-Russia war latest: Russia disputes Trump claim that peace talks are progressing Sky NewsFirefighters tackle blaze after Russian attack on Ukraine’s Sumy region YahooEnemy drone hits production facility in Sumy region UkrinformFire breaks out in Solomianskyi district of Kyiv due to drone wreckage Ukrainska Pravda Source link #Russia #launches #drone #attacks #Kyiv #Sumy #Ukrainian #officials #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

8 Charts Sending a Warning Sign to Mega Cap Tech Stocks 8 Charts Sending a Warning Sign to Mega Cap Tech Stocks This week: tech turbulence, flows, volume, rotation, , mega-cap, risk premium, Buffett Indicator 2.0, investor expectations, mood shifts, and market regime swings. Learnings and conclusions from this week’s charts: Sentiment seems to be shifting (bull/bear trend change). US Tech stock warnings are sounding (volumes, dollar, flows). ******** Tech stocks are turning up from prior bear market. The US equity risk premium is at multi-decade lows. Record high consensus expects US equities to outperform vs global. Overall, this week’s charts take a distinct cautionary hue as an aging bull contends with multiple hurdles, and topping risk flags begin to wave. But take a look for yourself and let me know what you think in the comments. Too bearish? Not bearish enough? Too early to say? 1. Mag-7 Volume Warning: Starting off with an intriguing eye-catcher, this chart shows the 1-year rolling average trading volume in Mag 7 Stocks. The concern is it seems to be doing a similar thing to what it did late-2021 into the pandemic stimulus frenzy peak. Taken by itself you might dismiss it, but there are a few other points to ponder on this… Source: @i3_invest via @dailychartbook 2. China vs USA — Tech Rotation? I highlighted the other day the point that ******** tech stocks are cheap (valuations trading at the bottom end of the range and big discount to US), and more interestingly more recently the DeepSeek breakthrough is effectively a paradigm shock to the notion of China being the supreme imitator and USA being the supreme innovator. It throws those narratives into question and even begins to raise some doubts around US tech supremacy. With ******** tech stocks cheap and US tech stocks expensive, maybe a rotation trade is not entirely out of the question. Source: Chart of the Week – China Tech Surprise 3. Tech Top Fund Froth: And this all comes at a time where sentiment on US tech stocks is frothy to say the least. Record inflows and allocations to US tech funds, consensus expectations of eternal exponential earnings growth, and hefty helpings of AI Hype. Even if this isn’t a top or turning point, it’s the type of setup that makes a market vulnerable to any change of mind in the masses. Source: Weekly Macro Themes Report (Tech Turbulence topic no. 2 & 3) 4. US Dollar Doomer: Call it a coincidence or a cautionary, the US dollar index is back toward levels where it got to at the peak of the dot com bubble back in 2000. To think it through, the way this could work logically would be if a strong dollar reflected excess optimism and foreign flows into US assets (which there is definitely evidence of), but also the valuation aspect (expensive dollar, expensive stocks = high hurdle, cheap foreign currencies, cheap foreign stocks = low hurdle for future outperformance). There’s also the financial conditions aspect; if the dollar surges stronger for longer enough then it can present headwinds to the economy. Source: Jeff Weniger 5. The Mega Cap Pendulum Swings: Meanwhile another parallel with the dot com peak is the rolling 10-year performance spread between non-mega vs mega cap stocks. Currently mega cap stocks’ relative performance is a stretched levels. And there sure seems to be a cycle there. Source: Slimming Down a Top-Heavy Market 6. No Risk Premium, No Problem? Looking at US equities as a whole, the equity risk premium is squeezing down to multi-decade lows… at a time when policy uncertainty is high and rising and likely to stay higher for longer as the new Trump administration and friends push through what is basically a reform agenda; of the type that can be short-term pain for long-term gain). The question we need to ask is if we are happy with the anticipated compensation for taking on equity risk? (over and above lower-risk/risk-free alternatives such as bonds and cash). Source: @IanRHarnett 7. The new Buffet Indicator: If you ask Warren Buffet he might tell you no — Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:) cash levels are at record highs (maybe this is the new or the real “Buffett Indicator”). And while actually if you look at the path of the line in that chart it doesn’t seem to be a precise timing indicator it does give pause to ponder on investing philosophy: “He thinks of cash as a call option with no expiration date, an option on every asset class, with no strike price. Once an investor looks at cash as an option, it is less bothersome that it earns almost nothing.” Source: @TidefallCapital 8. What to Expect when Everyone’s Expecting: And if it wasn’t all enough already, check this one out — the crowd consensus at Goldman Sachs’ investment conference reckons the US will be the best-performing equity region this year. And that’s after a prolonged, substantial, and stretched run of relative outperformance by the US vs global —and at a time where relative valuations are at a record deep discount for global vs US. I mean, talk about hindsight/recency bias and top-ticking sentiment-checks Source: Goldman Sachs via @MikeZaccardi 9. Mind the Mood Swing: Meanwhile, if you peer below the surface it looks like the mood is already shifting. The combined surveyed sentiment signal has rolled over from extreme optimism to now murmuring pessimism, and even portfolio allocations are starting to quietly turn the corner too. Is that it? (is that the turning point?) Original Post Source link #Charts #Sending #Warning #Sign #Mega #Cap #Tech #Stocks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

TPG outage: Thousands experiencing problems with major *********** broadband provider TPG outage: Thousands experiencing problems with major *********** broadband provider A major *********** internet provider is experiencing a mass outage, with thousands of customers unable to access the broadband service. More than 14,000 TPG customers reported experiencing problems with the service about 2.30pm on Monday. TPG confirmed they are working to resolve the disruption. “Our technical teams are working to resolve an issue causing disruption to fixed broadband services for our customers,” TPG wrote on X. “We will keep customers up to date on our progress towards restoring services and apologise for the inconvenience.” Outraged customers took to X to give the internet provider a piece of their mind. “That took you 2 hours to communicate? Pathetic,” wrote one. “I could help you with your clearly inadequate crisis management setup… It’s really not that hard.” “I expect free wifi for a year in compensation,’ another said. “Might have been a bit easier if you told everyone as soon as it happened,” a third said. Source link #TPG #outage #Thousands #experiencing #problems #major #*********** #broadband #provider Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Risks Too High? Here’s How Investors Avoided a 30%+ Wipeout on These Big Cap Names Risks Too High? Here’s How Investors Avoided a 30%+ Wipeout on These Big Cap Names Is the market about to peak? Will DeepSeek mark the end of the AI bullish cycle? Are tariffs about slash market gains? Is this the time for a Big-Short type of move? Quite frankly, no one knows – despite all the opinions out there. And, to be even more frank, if you are running your investments chasing these headlines, you’re probably in for a rude awakening when the market suddenly flips on its head (trust me, it eventually will). But here’s a dose of good news: none of that should matter if you have your strategy and risk-return proposition correctly aligned with your goals. This is exactly where InvestingPro members have been getting significant leverage against the market. For less than $9 a month, they have been following a LIVE list of the Most Undervalued and Most Overvalued stocks in the market (now available for local stock markets as well). *InvestingPro member can jump straight to the list by clicking on the links. To these investors, the math has proven quite simple: Risks are high? Take profits on some of the most overvalued names you hold. Increase your exposure to undervalued, revenue-generating stocks. Hold the stocks that are fairly valued. Increase your cash holdings for buying unfairly punished names when the market trend turns (hey, Buffett is doing it). Differently from headlines and individual opinions, the Fair Value score is based on 15+ different industry-recognized financial metrics combined to bring investment-grade analysis for every stock in the market. That’s why it has a proven track record of flagging overpriced stocks before major selloffs, helping investors lock in profits before sentiment turns. Now, let’s dive into some of the latest success cases from our InvestingPro members who followed the Most Overvalued sign and were saved from a 30%+ loss: 1. AMD – Fair Value Helps Lock in Gains Before Chipmaker’s Stock Falls Out of Favor Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:) has been one of the best semiconductor trades of the past decade. Investors who bought in at $2.53 in January 2013 saw the stock skyrocket 8,456%, hitting an all-time high of $211 in March 2024. But after that meteoric rise, the rally lost steam. The reason? Well, the stock became overvalued, according to our metrics. Since peaking, AMD has struggled to reclaim its highs, facing strong resistance at $185 in July 2024 and again at $173 in October. Each attempt to break through ended in a sharp selloff, erasing significant gains. On January 26, 2024, Fair Value flagged AMD as overvalued, predicting a potential 36.07% downside. The stock failed to break out and instead entered a prolonged downtrend, ultimately losing 36.81% over the next 13 months. Mounting competition only made things worse. AMD’s Q4 earnings disappointed, with a weak outlook for its data center business—an area where it continues to trail AI computing giant Nvidia (NASDAQ:). Investors grew even more cautious as DeepSeek, a ******** startup with a cheaper alternative, entered the market. Now, after a prolonged downturn, is AMD finally nearing a buying opportunity? Tracking Fair Value’s assessment of the stock near current price levels could help answer that question. Moving on to our next stock on the list, here’s how the stort for Boeing’s stock played out. 2. Boeing: Fair Value Call a Picture-Perfect Warning Few stocks generate as much controversy as Boeing (NYSE:). But while headlines focused on its troubles, Fair Value had already picked on the company’s financial troubles before the stock plunged. On December 16, 2023, the tool flagged a -32.17 % downside, and Boeing’s stock followed suit, tumbling off a cliff and going on to shed nearly 31% in 14 months. This was no fluke. The Fair Value tool identified a stock whose fundamentals couldn’t justify its steep climb. At the time, Boeing was grappling with persistent financial struggles, and the company’s challenges were only getting worse. Before the drop, Boeing’s Q3 earnings underscored its ongoing troubles. The company had endured 19 consecutive quarters of disappointing results. Its defense segment, a key business unit, posted just $474 million in operating profit on $129 billion in revenue—an anemic 0.4% margin. The selling pressure accelerated after a high-profile safety incident rattled investors. A fuselage section tore off a brand-new Boeing 737 Max 9 mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing. While the 171 passengers and six crew members landed safely, the incident was a stark reminder of Boeing’s quality control issues. These Are Not Isolated Cases InvestingPro members who followed our models were able to spot hundreds of other losers before their fortunes turned, saving them from a serious wipeout. Check out these other real-world cases that occurred in the exact same timeframe as the other two stocks cited above: Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:) Previous Fair Value (FV) Date: 06/06/2023 Current Date: 02/05/2025 Fair Value downside signaled (from Previous Date): -57.83% Actual correction: -49.97% Getty Images Holdings Inc (NYSE:) Previous Fair Value (FV) Date: 12/22/2023 Current Date: 02/05/2025 Fair Value downside signaled (from Previous Date): -47.44% Actual correction: -49.05% Quantumscape Corp (NYSE:) Previous Fair Value (FV) Date: 01/05/2024 Current Date: 02/05/2025 Fair Value downside signaled (from Previous Date): -47.23% Actual correction: -42.58% e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:) Previous Fair Value (FV) Date: 02/04/2024 Current Date: 02/05/2025 Fair Value downside signaled (from Previous Date): -45.04% Actual correction: -48.57% Rogers Corporation (NYSE:) Previous Fair Value (FV) Date: 06/09/2023 Current Date: 02/05/2025 Fair Value downside signaled (from Previous Date): -44.32% Actual correction: -42.89% Verve Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:) Previous Fair Value (FV) Date: 11/04/2023 Current Date: 02/05/2025 Fair Value downside signaled (from Previous Date): -39.97% Actual correction: -44.61% NET Power Inc (NYSE:) Previous Fair Value (FV) Date: 09/06/2023 Current Date: 02/05/2025 Fair Value downside signaled (from Previous Date): -39.48% Actual correction: -41.45% Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:) Previous Fair Value (FV) Date: 03/30/2023 Current Date: 02/05/2025 Fair Value downside signaled (from Previous Date): -39.39% Actual correction: -40.00% Conclusion The past has shown that blindly chasing market momentum can lead to painful losses, especially when stocks trade well above their intrinsic value. The key to long-term success? Making data-driven decisions based on a stock’s true worth—not hype or speculation. InvestingPro’s Fair Value tool has consistently helped investors avoid overhyped stocks before major corrections. Its advanced financial modeling—similar to what analysts at top investment banks use—cuts through the noise to highlight both overvalued and undervalued opportunities. So, don’t wait until the next market selloff to take action. Subscribe to InvestingPro now for less than $9 a month and get real-time access to the most overvalued stocks today. Source link #Risks #High #Heres #Investors #Avoided #Wipeout #Big #Cap #Names Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump Throws A Super Fit At Taylor Swift In ‘Unforgiving’ Post-Game Rant Trump Throws A Super Fit At Taylor Swift In ‘Unforgiving’ Post-Game Rant Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways President Donald Trump taunted pop star Taylor Swift on Sunday night after the Super Bowl, which they both attended. “The only one that had a tougher night than the Kansas City Chiefs was Taylor Swift. She got BOOED out of the Stadium,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after the Philadelphia Eagles crushed KC in a 40-22 blowout. He added: “MAGA is very unforgiving! Trump also shared a pair of videos: One of him basking in cheers at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, while the other showed the crowd jeering Swift, who is dating Chiefs’ star Travis Kelce. Trump has long had a fascination with Swift, going on and on about how “beautiful” she is in one interview in which he also questioned whether or not she is liberal or if it’s “just an act.” Trump has reportedly told people around him that he’s more popular that Swift, warned that she would be “disloyal” if she endorsed then-President Joe Biden, and declared “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT” when she backed then-Vice President Kamala Harris in last year’s election. Swift had largely shied away from politics for much of her career, and didn’t endorse anyone in the 2016 election, when Trump defeated Hillary Clinton. She became more vocal about her progressive views during Trump’s first term in office, and endorsed Biden in 2020. Source link #Trump #Throws #Super #Fit #Taylor #Swift #Unforgiving #PostGame #Rant Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump says US might lose patience with ceasefire deal – Reuters Trump says US might lose patience with ceasefire deal – Reuters Trump says US might lose patience with ceasefire deal ReutersHolocaust becomes political bludgeon as Netanyahu returns to a country at crossroads CNNHamas releases 3 frail-looking Israeli hostages for ************ prisoners under Gaza ceasefire The Associated PressChoking, Hanging, Starvation: Hostages Reportedly Faced Severe Torture in ****** Captivity Haaretz Source link #Trump #lose #patience #ceasefire #deal #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Critical minerals refining tax breaks become law after Albanese Government wins Greens’ support Critical minerals refining tax breaks become law after Albanese Government wins Greens’ support Critical minerals companies that set up downstream processing and refining will get a tax break from mid-2027 after the Government won agreement from the Greens to pass its Budget centrepiece. The 10 per cent production tax incentives for critical minerals and green hydrogen projects passed the Senate late on Monday night with a minor tweak to explicitly prevent uranium projects from receiving any of the benefits. Under the plan, projects will get a tax break for up to 10 years on production starting in 2027-28 for the materials needed to build things like batteries, solar panels and wind turbines. Resources Minister Madeleine King, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the $17.5b measure was one of the largest ever packages of support to the sector. “This is all about seizing the vast economic and industrial opportunities from the global net zero transformation and strengthening our economic resilience,” they said in a joint statement. “It’s also about making sure the benefits from the investment flow to local workers, industries and communities around Australia.” Greens leader Adam Bandt said support for the crucial sector was what he wanted to see from a government in a climate emergency. The Coalition opposed the tax breaks, which are expected to largely benefit projects in WA. Opposition senators attempted to add a ban on union agreements being made a condition for projects to get the incentives but were unsuccessful. The legislation will need final approval from the lower house on Tuesday because of the amendments. Source link #Critical #minerals #refining #tax #breaks #law #Albanese #Government #wins #Greens #support Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Super Bowl 59: Philadelphia Eagles celebrate Super Bowl win in locker room Super Bowl 59: Philadelphia Eagles celebrate Super Bowl win in locker room BBC Sport’s Nesta McGregor speaks to Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, cornerback Cooper DeJean and offensive tackle Jordan Mailata as they celebrate their Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans. READ MORE: Swift, Trump and a dynasty in ruins – how Super Bowl 59 unfolded Source link #Super #Bowl #Philadelphia #Eagles #celebrate #Super #Bowl #win #locker #room Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Barcodes: How they could be your latest mathematical party trick Barcodes: How they could be your latest mathematical party trick Shutterstock/Scott Rothstein Sometimes there are hidden patterns in numbers you might not immediately notice. One example of this is in barcodes, the sequences of digits we use to identify products. Try it yourself – find an object with a 13-digit barcode. (If you are in the US, a 12-digit barcode will also work, if you imagine an extra 0 on the front of it.) Books won’t work, since they use a slightly different system, but magazines do, so you can use a copy of New Scientist. Add together the first, third, and fifth digits and so on, to get the sum of… Source link #Barcodes #latest #mathematical #party #trick Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fremantle captain Alex Pearce ruled out of Indigenous All Stars clash with ankle injury Fremantle captain Alex Pearce ruled out of Indigenous All Stars clash with ankle injury Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has been officially ruled out of Saturday’s pre-season Indigenous All Stars clash at Optus Stadium with an ankle injury. Pearce, who has lineage to the Palawa people of Tasmania, had been selected to represent the Indigenous All Stars against the Dockers. The 29-year-old key defender tweaked an existing ankle injury in an intra-club practice match last Friday and was ruled out of the showpiece pre-season fixture following scans over the weekend. While the club said the injury was “minor”, it would assess his availability for their next intraclub game on February 23 and their second official pre-season hit out against Melbourne on March 2. The Dockers open the season against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on March 15. Pearce looked solid for almost three-quarters of match simulation at Cockburn before landing awkwardly on his left ankle attempting to spoil. He ran off the ground immediately where he was looked at by doctors and spent the last quarter on the bench with his ankle on ice. Camera IconFremantle Football Club – pre-season intraclub game in Cockburn Central. Captain Alex Pearce. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West *********** Pearce tweaked the ankle a week earlier, just days before being reappointed club captain for a third season, and had hopes of getting through the intra-club match unscathed so he could represent the All Stars. Fremantle veteran Michael Walters will captain the All Stars, while gun recruit Shai Bolton is also hopeful of playing managed minutes. Walters will be joined by Charlie Cameron (Brisbane), Bradley Hill (St Kilda) and Jarman Impey (Hawthorn) in the All Stars leadership group. West Coast’s Tim Kelly, Liam Ryan and Coen Livingstone are also in the All Stars squad. The All-Stars squad features 31 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players from 16 clubs. It will be the first All Stars game since 2015 when West Coast won a close game in front of 10,000 fans and Shaun Burgoyne won the Polly Farmer Medal as best afield. Bouncedown is at 4.30pm on Saturday. Source link #Fremantle #captain #Alex #Pearce #ruled #Indigenous #Stars #clash #ankle #injury Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMS Data Reveals Charged Particle Variations in Heliosphere Over Solar Cycle AMS Data Reveals Charged Particle Variations in Heliosphere Over Solar Cycle Variations in charged particles moving through the heliosphere over an 11-year solar cycle have been identified by researchers analysing data from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. Shifts in the heliospheric magnetic field and their impact on particle movement have been examined, with trends observed in antiproton and cosmic nuclei fluxes. The findings are based on 11 years of data collected by the AMS, highlighting the influence of solar modulation on cosmic rays. Charged Particle Behaviour in the Heliosphere According to two research papers published in Physical Review Letters, fluctuations in the heliospheric magnetic field affect the movement and interaction of charged particles within the heliosphere. These particles originate from both the sun and galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) entering from beyond the solar system. The AMS has measured variations in mass and energy, revealing how these charged particles respond to solar activity. Impact on Antiprotons and Cosmic Nuclei The study identified trends in antiproton behaviour, showing changes in flux levels based on heliospheric conditions. Data indicate that antiproton fluxes exhibit notable temporal variations up to approximately 10 GV, with decreasing fluctuations at higher rigidity levels. Cosmic nuclei, including helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen, were also analysed, showing similar patterns in flux variations. Correlations were established between changes in solar modulation and fluctuations in cosmic nuclei fluxes. Long-Term Observations of Solar Modulation The AMS data set spans more than a single solar cycle, providing an opportunity to study long-term variations. Changes in the heliospheric magnetic field have been observed to influence the behaviour of GCRs, affecting their energy levels and interactions. The study’s findings contribute to a deeper understanding of cosmic ray propagation and solar activity’s role in shaping the space environment. Source link #AMS #Data #Reveals #Charged #Particle #Variations #Heliosphere #Solar #Cycle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]