Pelican Press

Zimbabwe facing a big Test against pluck of the Irish Zimbabwe facing a big Test against pluck of the Irish Zimbabwe were reeling at 3-38 at the close of play on the third day as they hunt a victory target of 292 in the one-off Test against Ireland at the Queens Sport Club. The hosts still need 254 runs, with Ireland possibly in a stronger position as they are just seven wickets away from victory. Ireland, resuming at 1-83 in their second innings in Bulawayo on Saturday, were dismissed for 298, with captain Andrew Balbirnie top-scoring with 66 and wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker chipping in with 58. Richard Ngarava was the best of the Zimbabwe bowlers, finishing with figures of 4-55. Zimbabwe, who had a seven-run lead after the first innings, lost openers Ben Curran (4) and Takudzwanashe Kaitano (14) inside the first seven overs as they began their run chase, followed by debutant Nick Welch (5), who had scored 90 in the first innings. Brian Bennett (15 not out) and nightwatchman Trevor Gwandu, who is yet to score, will resume on Sunday. Source link #Zimbabwe #facing #big #Test #pluck #Irish Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Blue Cross Blue Shield will begin sending $2.6B worth of checks to subscribers. Who is eligible? Blue Cross Blue Shield will begin sending $2.6B worth of checks to subscribers. Who is eligible? Blue Cross Blue Shield is sending out settlement checks in class action antitrust lawsuit (Alamy/PA) More than two years after Blue Cross Blue Shield reached a $2.6 billion settlement with its subscribers after a lawsuit alleged the company broke antitrust laws, eligible customers who filed a claim could finally see their payments, USA Today reports. Here’s what to know about the lawsuit, and how to find out if you’re eligible for a payment: The insurance company was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging it broke antitrust laws by limiting market competition. The lawsuit argued this drove up premiums and reduced options for consumers while creating fixed prices for healthcare services. But the defendants — Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies — deny all wrongdoing. A court hasn’t decided whether either party is right or wrong — instead, they settled. Now, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and the companies have established a $2.67 billion settlement fund that will be paid out to customers who filed a claim. “This settlement ends a long-running legal challenge to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association license agreements and related rules,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “We deny the allegations made in the lawsuit. However, to reach a settlement and put years of litigation behind us, we have agreed to make some operational changes and a monetary payment to the provider class involved in the case.” The settlement agreement was finalized in October. Claimants could recieve just over $300 (Alamy/PA) If you’re a subscriber and haven’t already filed a claim in the class action lawsuit, you’re out of luck. The deadline has already passed. If you are one of the six million people who filed a claim ahead of the November 2021 deadline, check your email. Claim determination notices are being sent on a “rolling basis,” according to the claim website. You could receive just over $300 after more than $600 million in attorneys’ fees are deducted from the total fund, USA Today reports. There is also a separate $2.8 billion settlement fund that will be paid to providers, who have until July 2025 to file a claim. If you’re a provider or run a healthcare facility, you can file a claim on the official Blue Cross Blue Shield Provider Settlement website. The Independent has contacted Blue Cross Blue Shield for comment. Source link #Blue #Cross #Blue #Shield #sending #2.6B #worth #checks #subscribers #eligible Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vows to further develop nuclear forces – Reuters North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vows to further develop nuclear forces – Reuters North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vows to further develop nuclear forces ReutersUkraine war briefing: Kim Jong-un vows ongoing support for Russia’s ‘just cause’ The GuardianNorth Korea slams US-South Korea-Japan partnership, vows to boost nuclear program Voice of AmericaNorth Korea’s Kim Reiterates Policy of Developing Nuclear Forces BloombergNorth Korea says its nuclear weapons not a ‘bargaining chip’ as Trump and Ishiba meet The Japan Times Source link #North #Korean #leader #Kim #Jong #vows #develop #nuclear #forces #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Are top recipients too posh and too southern? Are top recipients too posh and too southern? Sean Coughlan Royal correspondent Robert Cuffe Head of data, BBC Verify Getty Images Higher honours, such as CBEs and above, had few recipients in the north of England In the latest New Year Honours only 6% of higher awards went to people in the north of England and only 4% to people from working-class backgrounds, according to a BBC analysis of Cabinet Office data. More than 60% of beneficiaries of “higher” awards, such as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and knighthoods and damehoods, lived in London and south-east England. In response, the government says it will run events encouraging a much wider range of nominations for honours, particularly in communities and places revealed to be under-represented. “The prime minister has been clear that he wants to see representations from the length and breadth of the ***,” said a government spokesman. Sir Keir Starmer wants the honours system to reflect the “extraordinary contributions made across every part of this country”, the spokesman said. The prime minister, who sets the strategic direction for honours, wants them to be “awarded based on merit, regardless of background”. EPA The PM wants honours to recognise people “across every part of this country” The Cabinet Office’s data for the most recent set of higher honours – for CBEs and above – show chief executives, professors and senior civil servants were common recipients. But the government wants to ensure that honours also reach “under-represented communities and would like to see further variety in the types of work rewarded”. “Honours should not be automatic or assumed due to a job or position an individual holds,” says the government. It plans outreach projects and public events, involving ministers, to encourage more nominations from outside London, to reflect the PM’s wish for them to be “properly diverse and reflective of *** society”. “We are getting on with the task by working in under-represented areas to raise awareness of the honours system and encourage more nominations,” said a government spokesman. The analysis of those awarded the 142 most senior honours at New Year – CBEs, Order of the Bath, Companion of Honour, knighthoods and damehoods – reveals a significant regional and social divide: not a single person in the north-east of Englandacross the combined regions of the north, north-east and north-west of England, and Yorkshire and the Humber, there were only 6% of recipients, even though it represents 23% of the ***’s populationthe West Midlands (8% of the population) received 3% of the awardsLondon and south-east England, which accounts for 27% of the ***’s population, was heavily over-represented, with 61% of the higher awardsScotland and Wales had a share of honours similar to their populations. Northern Ireland was under-represented4% of people granted top honours grew up in working-class familiesabout one in 50 people offered an honour last year turned it downthere was much more diversity in the next ranks of honours, such as OBEs, MBEs and BEMs, with 64% outside London and South East and 33% from working-class backgrounds This year’s New Year list was presented as a chance to honour “unsung heroes and community champions” – but in practice the perceived more prestigious awards seem to be concentrated on affluent people from affluent areas. According to the Cabinet Office’s figures, only 4% of recipients of “higher” awards had grown up in a “lower socio-economic” household – defined as parents working in jobs such as delivery driver, postal worker, security guard and retail staff – accounting for almost 40% of the workforce. “It’s deeply unfair. It’s not based on merit; it’s based on the top-down nature of society. It needs to change and it’s out of date,” says Norman Baker, former Home Office minister and critic of the honours system. Anna Daniell said her Humanitarian Medal also recognised the work of her colleagues There is also a two-tier approach to the system of honours awarded to different social groups, he argues. As well as the 142 “higher” awards at New Year, there were more than 1,000 Officers of the British Empire (OBEs), Members of the British Empire (MBEs) and British Empire Medals. “If you’re a senior civil servant you’ll end up with a top honour. If you’re a lollipop lady who works for 60 years in the freezing cold outside a school, you might get an MBE if you’re lucky,” said Mr Baker. Private Eye magazine recently highlighted that while a group of sub-postmasters wronged in the Post Office scandal became OBEs, a senior lawyer from the firm that represented the Post Office had the higher award of CBE. That was described on X as “totally shocking” by Kevin Hollinrake, shadow secretary for levelling up, housing and communities. “It’s time for a system shake-up,” says Rosie Lockwood of the IPPR North think tank. “The honours system is yet another example of how the establishment in this country overlooks people in regions like the North.” Transparency International ***, which campaigns against corruption in public life, says it should be clear who nominated the recipients of honours. Is it from government departments or businesses seeking awards for their own senior staff? How many are really nominated by the public or community groups? “It won’t help to build confidence and trust in the honours system if there’s a perception that the proximity to the seat of power and personal wealth significantly increases your chance of getting a gong,” said the group’s chief executive, Daniel Bruce. Siggy Cragwell was awarded a British Empire Medal, recognising 62 years working on the railways There have also been attempts to make honours more representative – with the public invited to submit nominations. There is a more-or-less even gender split among the honours and across the whole range of honours, 12% were awarded to people from ethnic minorities, compared with 6% a decade ago. The range of honours available is also broader now – the recipients of the first Humanitarian Medals have just been announced. Winners have spoken about the huge positive impact of such awards, not just for themselves but for recognising the efforts of colleagues, too. Anna Daniell, based in Manchester, was among the first group of Humanitarian Medal winners last week. She was recognised for her medical assistance helping survivors of the deadly floods in Libya in 2023. She said it was an “amazing surprise” to receive a medal, but it was also really significant for how it “highlights the importance of humanitarian aid”. Amanda Chadwick, from Manchester, said being made an MBE had changed her life, as it raised awareness of her children’s charity and helped her to reach more people. Railway worker Siggy Cragwell, originally from Barbados, said he’d proudly worn his British Empire Medal awarded to him at the age of 85 last year in recognition of 62 years of working on the railways. He’d been a guest of honour at the unveiling of the Windrush monument at London’s Waterloo Station. But there have also been questions about modernising the titles of medals, particularly about the use of “Empire”. Poet Benjamin Zephaniah turned down an OBE over its associations with colonialism. The Cabinet Office says “about 2% of people refuse to accept honours” but didn’t give the reasons. “Individuals decline honours for a variety of reasons and we respect their personal decision to do so,” said a Cabinet Office spokesman. More than 20 years ago, the House of Commons public administration select committee called for a move away from the term “empire”, a proposal that was subsequently rejected by the then *** government. Additional reporting Avi Holden and David Ainslie Source link #top #recipients #posh #southern Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NZ cricket star recovering after copping ball to face NZ cricket star recovering after copping ball to face New Zealand say Rachin Ravindra is recovering well after taking a ball full in the face during a warm-up match for the Champions Trophy against Pakistan in Lahore. The all-rounder was left bloodied by the blow to his forehead after losing sight of the ball in the floodlights as he attempted a catch in the 38th over of Pakistan’s innings on Saturday. The team said Ravindra had suffered a cut to his face but was “otherwise well” and had passed his first Head Injury Assessment (HIA). “He’s been conscious the whole time, which is fantastic,” his teammate Glenn Phillips told reporters at Gaddafi Stadium. “Obviously it was a pretty terrifying moment, he lost the ball in the lights and unfortunately the ball won that situation this time. He’s being monitored and I’m sure he’ll be raring to go as soon as possible.” Phillips was named Player of the Match after scoring his maiden one-day international century to drive New Zealand to a victory by 78 runs. His unbeaten 106 came from just 74 deliveries and helped the ****** Caps to a bumper score of 330 for six in their 50 overs before they bundled out their hosts for 252. “ODI cricket has been my favourite format growing up and it’s always something I’ve been reaching for to get that century,” said Phillips, who was playing his 37th one-day international. “It was a pretty surreal moment, I’ve been chasing it for a couple of years now, obviously batting at six it doesn’t mean your opportunities to score a hundred are always there. “Thankfully today everything lined up nicely.” New Zealand take on South Africa on Monday at the same stadium in the Tri-Series warm-up for the Champions Trophy, which begin when the ****** Caps take on tournament hosts Pakistan again in Karachi on February 19. Source link #cricket #star #recovering #copping #ball #face Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

There’s a reason why you never see your smartphone in your dreams, according to a study – Stewartville Star There’s a reason why you never see your smartphone in your dreams, according to a study – Stewartville Star There’s a reason why you never see your smartphone in your dreams, according to a study Stewartville Star Source link #reason #smartphone #dreams #study #Stewartville #Star Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Your Partner Your Best Friend? Is Your Partner Your Best Friend? Stephanie Lopez is effusive about her husband’s good qualities. He is a man of character, kindness and integrity, she said. He is a loving father and treats her with respect. But is he her best friend? “No!” said Ms. Lopez, who is 43 and lives on Hawaii’s Big Island. “I don’t have sex with my friends,” she explained. “I don’t pay bills with my friends. And I guarantee you, if I did, it would change the whole dynamic of the relationship.” The belief that your partner should be your best friend pops up everywhere, whether on social media or in the greeting card aisle. It’s not unusual to seek a romantic partner who fulfills more than the role of spouse, co-parent or lover, said Alexandra Solomon, a clinical psychologist and host of the “Reimagining Love” podcast. “We want somebody who sees us and gets us,” Dr. Solomon said. “Well, that’s the same darn thing we want in our friendships. We really are craving that same sense of affinity and admiration.” But is it unreasonable to expect your bedmate to be your best friend, or is it the highest form of intimacy? A Spouse’s Ever-Changing Role Jennifer Santiago, 42, and her husband are best friends. The couple, who began dating in high school, have broken up briefly over the years, taking time apart to get to know themselves and what they want out of life. But their underlying friendship brought them back together every time, said Ms. Santiago, who lives in Orlando. “There was always an empty void when we took a break,” she said. They realized: “Wow, we really, truly do everything together!” Historically, that is a relatively new approach to romantic relationships, said Eli J. Finkel, a social psychologist and the author of “The All-Or-Nothing Marriage: How the Best Marriages Work.” Until the mid-1800s, marriage in the United States mostly revolved around ensuring partners had their basic needs (like food and shelter) met — what Dr. Finkel calls the “pragmatic era.” Between 1850 and 1965, marriage entered the “love-based era” — in which the primary relationship functions were about love and companionship, he said. Since then, we have been in the “self-expressive” era — in which marriage is about not only love, but also personal growth. “The marital relationship has taken on more and more responsibility for our social and psychological needs,” Dr. Finkel said. How to Set Realistic Expectations Is it a good or bad thing that many people now expect their romantic relationships to fulfill so many roles in their lives? Ultimately, that depends on “whether your relationship can deliver,” said Dr. Finkel, who is also a co-host of the “Love Factually” podcast. He feels “delighted” for people who say they want their romantic partners to also be their best friends. But he suggests they consider: Are there other expectations they can let go of? For instance, he said, it is a lot to expect your partner to be the co-chief executive of the household, to split child care, to be your exclusive ******* companion and to be your best friend. “I don’t want to sound like a scold,” Dr. Finkel said. “I just want people to be aware that every additional expectation that you’re throwing on top of your relationship comes with opportunity for enhanced closeness — and it comes with additional risk that the relationship will buckle under the weight of those expectations.” He suggested releasing some of that pressure. Can you lean on other friends for emotional support? Are you OK being emotionally close to your partner, but not necessarily having the spiciest intimate life together? Dr. Solomon believes that friendship, particularly best friendship, is not a requisite for long-term intimacy. But it doesn’t hurt either, she said. Liking your partner — which she described as admiring them, finding them funny, caring about their worldview, and having fun simply being together — can “cushion” the other relationship challenges a couple might face, she said. But Dr. Solomon admitted that while she adores her husband of 26 years, he is not her best friend. “My best friend’s name is Ali, and she lives in Seattle,” she said. “She’s been in that spot since we were 10 years old.” Ultimately, maintaining a tight romantic bond may come down to managing expectations and clearly discussing them, said Adam Fisher, president of the American Psychological Association’s division for couple and family psychology. Dr. Fisher had a mentor who described marriage and relationships as best friendship plus sex. While he thinks that is one “very viable” approach to a relationship, he said, it is by no means the only one. “Couples need some kind of ‘glue’ — commitment, shared values, sex, finances — something,” he said, but it doesn’t need to be friendship. Ms. Lopez is opting out of the bedmate-as-BFF paradigm. “I think we put so many expectations and responsibilities on our partners,” she said. “I’m not here to be everything and all things to you.” Source link #Partner #Friend Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WAFL 2025: East Perth recruit Cooper Stephens to miss entire season after rupturing ACL at training WAFL 2025: East Perth recruit Cooper Stephens to miss entire season after rupturing ACL at training Grand finalists East Perth have been dealt a devastating pre-season blow, with star recruit Cooper Stephens to miss the year after rupturing his ACL at training this week. Source link #WAFL #East #Perth #recruit #Cooper #Stephens #entire #season #rupturing #ACL #training Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

As Buyout Deadline Looms, Federal Workers Gather at D.C. Bar for Cheap Drinks As Buyout Deadline Looms, Federal Workers Gather at D.C. Bar for Cheap Drinks For the 282,000 federal government employees who live in and around Washington, the first weeks of the new Trump administration have been a mix of uncertainty and consternation, as agencies close and job cuts loom. So when the owner of DC9, a local bar and music venue, decided to show his solidarity via rock-bottom prices for a Thursday evening happy hour, a throng of early-career public servants eagerly answered the call. “My team has been through the mud,” said a young woman who worked in the human resources department of a federal agency and wore a purple T-shirt emblazoned with an uplifting message: “You Are Enough.” (Like many other attendees, she feared offering any personal details that could make her the victim of professional retribution.) “Everybody is very nervous.” In recent days, Elon Musk and his lieutenants have hacked away at the federal bureaucracy, including by offering controversial buyouts to government workers. In the now-infamous “Fork in the Road” email sent on Jan. 28 at the apparent behest of Mr. Musk’s new Department of Government Efficiency, some two million federal agency staffers were urged to take a buyout that would supposedly guarantee anyone who accepted a salary through Sept. 30. The deadline to accept the deal was 11:59 p.m. on Thursday. Bill Spieler, who has operated DC9 for two decades, was determined to do what he could for the federal work force as the deadline neared. On Monday afternoon, DC9 announced a “Hold the Line” event to coincide with that deadline. Its social media post appeared to be skeptical of the offer, urging government workers “to be our eyes and ears on what is happening in this administration.” But any government employee, whether they took Mr. Musk’s promised buyout or not, was eligible for “$2 beverages.” A few hours before the deadline, a federal judge in Massachusetts effectively blocked the deal. In response, the White House extended its buyout deadline until next Monday. But Mr. Spieler’s prediction that the last-minute machinations would do little to mitigate the uncertainty or dampen the enthusiasm for cheap beer proved correct. The memories of Dry January, it seemed, were gone. The months to come may be decidedly less parched, if Thursday was any indication. A young woman in a gray sweater and brown paisley scarf who said she worked at the State Department described a confused and demoralized work force. She sat somberly at a table as the bar began to fill. At the door, a DC9 employee verified proof of government employment, giving green bands to everyone who passed muster — Mr. Spieler walked around announcing that, earlier in the day, a benefactor had donated $100 for the event. Early birds were thus rewarded with free drinks. Nearly every attendee appeared to be in their 20s or 30s. Between the tattoos, nose rings and dyed hair, the scene could have easily been in hipster Brooklyn. The bureaucrat of popular imagination, dressed in a flappy suit, was nowhere in sight. Attendees reveled in the chance to show solidarity — and to meet colleagues. Located on the corner of U Street, once known as “****** Broadway” for its thriving cultural scene, DC9 recalls Washington’s hard-core punk rock renaissance, which offered a challenge to Ronald Reagan’s vision of American life during the 1980s. “We’re on the front line now,” Mr. Spieler, 61, said in an interview, adding that his wife had come up with the idea for the happy hour. “If we want to have a democracy like we were brought up with, I’ve got to be a soldier.” None of the people who packed into DC9 seemed remotely interested in taking Mr. Musk’s buyout offer. When asked if he had a message for Mr. Musk and his crew, a fashionably bald and bespectacled government worker used an unprintable four-letter word as he urged them to buzz off. He made sure that his emo band T-shirt would not be recognized in any photographs. Defiance was surging, but so was fear. Nobody believed that Thursday’s court order was the last gasp. Among the very, very few attendees to sport a suit and tie was Dan, an administrative employee of the Central Intelligence Agency. He bristled at the depiction of government work as a taxpayer-funded sinecure. “So many of us easily could have come out of college and done something completely different, making two or three times the amount that we are, but here we are living in one of the most expensive cities in the United States, working for pennies on the dollar to make the country better,” he said, adding that all he wanted was to go back to work, without having to constantly think and talk about his work status. A young man with slicked-back hair and restrained stubble said he had actually thought of leaving government employ only to be persuaded to stay by all the badgering. “I’ve never felt more patriotic in my life than I do right now,” he said. New resolve seemed to be setting in. Sipping drinks on the DC9 rooftop, two colleagues who worked at the National Archives outpost in College Park, Md., had nothing but youthful enthusiasm for their jobs. Neither one of them knew a single colleague who was taking the buyout. Nor did they quite understand what Mr. Musk was after. “We don’t make money for shareholders,” said one of the archivists, Frances, who had brilliant green hair, shaved temples and large hoop earrings. “We serve the public.” Source link #Buyout #Deadline #Looms #Federal #Workers #Gather #D.C #Bar #Cheap #Drinks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Directors Guild of America Awards Winners (Updating Live) – Variety Directors Guild of America Awards Winners (Updating Live) – Variety Directors Guild of America Awards Winners (Updating Live) VarietyDGA Awards: Winners List (Updating Live) Hollywood Reporter2025 DGA Awards winners list in 3 film and 8 TV categories (updating live) Gold DerbyDirectors Guild and Producers Guild Winners Announcing Live Awards DailyDGA Awards Winners List (Updating Live Throughout the Night) IndieWire Source link #Directors #Guild #America #Awards #Winners #Updating #Live #Variety Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kate Moss, Christy Turlington and the New Calvin Klein Kate Moss, Christy Turlington and the New Calvin Klein There hasn’t been a Calvin Klein runway show in almost seven years. Calvin Klein himself has not attended a runway show for his brand in nearly two decades. But on Friday, the brand, now designed by Veronica Leoni, and Mr. Klein returned. It was Day 2 of New York Fashion Week and the official unveiling of the Calvin Klein Collection, the high-end, high-fashion expression of the Klein look. The one that would prove it’s not just about jeans and underwear anymore. It was a homecoming in more ways than one. The show was held on the ground-floor gallery space at 205 West 39th Street, the garment district headquarters where Mr. Klein moved in the 1990s and where the company remains. The space was white, as per the original Calvin minimalist aesthetic, with white benches and a white carpet displaying a new logo in the ****** typeface of the old Obsession perfume ads. Mr. Klein, 82, who sold his company to PVH in 2002 and has mostly been off the fashion grid since then, made his entrance in a natty, ****** three-piece suit and tie like a good-will ambassador from another time. Seated next to him was his former wife, Kelly Klein, and across the runway were his former muses, Kate Moss and Christy Turlington, in tailored ****** Calvin coats; Ms. Moss wore a slip dress beneath her coat. Nearby, Mario Sorrenti, who had photographed her naked Obsession ads back when they were a couple, was chatting to friends. “It’s very emotional,” Mr. Klein said of being back in his old office building and seeing his label back on the runway. It was a reminder of the heady days when Calvin Klein defined a certain kind of breathy, urbane American sportswear and drew the attention of the crowd to New York. The air was replete with nostalgia. So, for both good and bad, were the clothes. In an interview before the show, Ms. Leoni said that her goal was to pick up from the day Mr. Klein last walked out the door. She did so, with a dual-gender collection that acted as a warm-up run through the Calvin playbook of the late 1980s and ’90s: slick, clean-lined C-suite suiting (check); minimal, cocooning outerwear (check); lingerie ********* looks (check); grunge plaids and denim (check). You get the idea. There was even a CK One bottle, in honor of the 1994 perfume that once sold 20 bottles a minute, turned into an evening minaudière and a little pendant worn around the neck like a charm. Ms. Leoni proved she understood the heritage and embraced it. The problem is, since Calvin left and the label went through various iterations under his successor designers — and especially since 2018, when PVH abandoned the high-end collection — many other brands, big and small, have done their own versions of Calvin. Some of them very well. His influence helped shape the Row, Toteme, Phoebe Philo and smaller brands like Kallmeyer. At this point, when a romance with all things ’90s is a ubiquitous cultural phenomenon, it’s understandable that Ms. Leoni would want to pay homage to, and reclaim, the legacy that is rightfully hers. But it’s not enough. She needs to do more than simply engage with the past; she needs to take it into the future. Mr. Klein pushed boundaries in so many ways: with the provocation of putting his name on jeans and underwear, with his overtly ******* ads, with his willingness to strip excess away. To really be true to the brand, Ms. Leoni should push forward, too. There were hints of this in her collection. In, for example, the just-rolled-out-of-bed silk pajama suiting for men and women, ice-blue silks that slithered around the body and made comfort dressing more come-hither. Likewise in the blanket-like wool coats and trenches clutched to the torso, including one terrific look made from hundreds of springy organza loops. Also in a strapless evening dress with a sweetheart neckline and a train of silk fringe looped around one forearm like a sheet hastily wrapped around the body because the doorbell had rung in a … well, delicate moment. A gunmetal-gray long-sleeve T-shirt and skirt covered in enameled paillettes that could be brushed forward and back like a reversible sequin pillow offered decoration without frivolity. It practically begged to be touched. She should lean further into her own more twisted instincts. At the end of the show, Ms. Leoni took her bow and then ran over to Mr. Klein to pay her respects. He kissed her on both cheeks, delighted. They had staked their claim. It was a start. Source link #Kate #Moss #Christy #Turlington #Calvin #Klein Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NIH to cut billions from overheads in biomedical research NIH to cut billions from overheads in biomedical research President Donald Trump’s administration has announced it will slash billions of dollars from overheads in grants for biomedical research as a part of broader cost-saving measures, a move some scientists say will stifle scientific advancements. In a statement on Friday, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said it would cut grants for “indirect costs” related to research – such as buildings, utilities and equipment. “The United States should have the best medical research in the world,” NIH said in its announcement. “It is accordingly vital to ensure that as many funds as possible go towards direct scientific research costs rather than administrative overhead.” The agency estimated that the cuts – which go into effect on Monday – would save $4bn (£3.2bn). The NIH said on Friday that it would cap the rates grants pay for indirect research costs at 15 percent, half of the current average rate of 30 percent. Elon Musk – the leader of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), an unofficial cost-cutting group that Trump has given leeway to slash government spending – has claimed some universities were spending above that 30 percent. “Can you believe that universities with tens of billions in endowments were siphoning off 60% of research award money for ‘overhead’?” Musk wrote on X. “What a ripoff!” Meanwhile, scientists have voiced concerns that the cuts will impact vital medical research. The Association of American Medical Colleges said the government’s prior support of indirect facilities and administrative costs “allows medical research to happen”. The move will “diminish the nation’s research capacity, slowing scientific progress and depriving patients, families, and communities across the country of new treatments, diagnostics, and preventative interventions”, the group said in a statement. Anusha Kalbasi, a lead radiation oncologist at Stanford University, which receives the grants, called the move a “disaster beyond belief”. “Some places have private funds they can use to keep things going for a little while, but otherwise, who pays the electricity, rent, water, admin staff facilities? Dr Kalbasi told BBC Persian. The American Council on Education said in a statement that the grant funding for indirect costs have allowed universities to maintain “cutting-edge laboratories” and advanced technologies needed to stay ahead of foreign competitors and deliver breakthroughs in research. The group’s president, Ted Mitchell, told the Washington Post that some labs had already begun shutting down over the weekend in light of the news. He said groups were expected to file a lawsuit over the cuts as soon as Monday. The suggestion to cap indirect research grant money was included in Project 2025, a “wish list” of conservative priorities written by the Heritage Foundation think tank. “Congress should cap the indirect cost rate paid to universities so that it does not exceed the lowest rate a university accepts from a private organization to fund research efforts,” the proposal states. Source link #NIH #cut #billions #overheads #biomedical #research Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An Italian photographer’s earliest images of the majestic Himalayas An Italian photographer’s earliest images of the majestic Himalayas DAG Sella captured K2, the world’s second-tallest mountain, over a century ago Vittorio Sella was a pioneering Italian photographer whose work at the turn of the 20th Century shaped both mountain photography and mountaineering history. His rare images of the Himalayas remain some of the most iconic ever captured. A new ongoing show in the Indian capital, Delhi, called Vittorio Sella: Photographer in the Himalaya brings to life the breathtaking grandeur of the Himalayas through his lens. Curated by renowned British explorer and author Hugh Thomson and organised by Delhi Art Gallery (DAG), the show is likely one of the largest collection of Sella’s Indian views. It features some of the earliest high-altitude photographs of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain, and K2, the world’s second-tallest mountain, captured over a century ago. DAG A game of polo being played in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, 1909 Born in Biella, a town known for its wool trade in northern Italy, Sella (1859–1930) made his first ascents in the nearby Alps. “Throughout his career Sella made use of his skills in engineering and chemistry that the wool mills and his father had taught him,” says Thomson. By his twenties, he had mastered complex photographic techniques like the collodion process, enabling him to develop large-format glass plates under harsh conditions. His panoramic images, crafted with technical perfection, earned worldwide acclaim. dag A view of Darjeeling and Kanchenjunga, 1889 Sella’s Himalayan journey began in 1899 when he joined British explorer Douglas Freshfield on an expedition circumnavigating Kanchenjunga. Any circumnavigation of the mountain also involved an incursion into Nepal, which was also a closed kingdom. While the team’s climbing ambitions were thwarted by relentless rain, Sella seized the opportunity to capture pristine snow-dusted peaks. He experimented restlessly with technology, trying out telephoto pictures of Kanchenjunga. His images transported viewers to a world untouched by time. DAG Sunset at Broad Peak in Karakoram mountain range, 1909 DAG The K2 pictured from the west by Sella DAG A camp en route to the Karakoram Himalayas, 1909 A decade later, Sella reached new heights – both literally and artistically – on a 1909 expedition to K2 with the Duke of the Abruzzi. His photographs of the world’s most difficult mountain stand as a testament to his skill and resilience. Carrying a camera system weighing nearly 30kg, Sella crisscrossed treacherous landscapes, creating images that defined mountain photography. Jim Curran, author of K2: The Story of the Savage Mountain, calls Sella “possibly the greatest mountain photographer… his name [is] synonymous with technical perfection and aesthetic refinement”. DAG A cane bridge in north Sikkim en route to Kanchenjunga, 1899 DAG A rope bridge on the Pumah river in the Karakoram mountain range, 1909 Sella was known for his extraordinary toughness, traversing the Alps at remarkable speed despite carrying heavy photographic gear. His makeshift camera harness and boots – three times heavier than modern ones – are preserved at the Photographic Institute in Biella. His clothing alone weighed over 10kg, while his camera equipment, including a Dallmeyer camera, tripod, and plates, added another 30kg – more than today’s airline baggage limits. DAG Himalayan peaks as seen from Kashmir, 1909 DAG A Buddhist temple at Tumlong in Sikkim, 1889 On the K2 expedition, Sella captured around 250 formal photographs with his Ross & Co camera over four to five months; on Kanchenjunga, about 200, notes Thomson. “By modern digital standards, this number is nothing extraordinary – and even in the last days of analogue film, it would equate to some eight rolls, what a 1970s photographer could have used in a single morning on a single mountain – but when Sella was photographing, this was a considerable number. “This meant enormous care and thought was given to each photograph, both because he had relatively few plates he could shoot.” DAG The Dras valley below Karah, 1909 DAG Climbers encamping on a glacier in the Himalayas, 1899 Years later, the famous mountaineer-photographer Ansel Adams would write that the “purity of Sella’s interpretations move the spectator to a religious awe”. High-altitude photography came with risks – many of Sella’s most ambitious shots were ruined when humid conditions caused tissue dividers to stick to the negatives. Yet those that survived reveal a masterful eye, notes Thomson. “Sella was one of the first to recognise how tracks in the snow are as much part of the composition as the mountaineers who made them.” Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. Source link #Italian #photographers #earliest #images #majestic #Himalayas Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russia sees no positive steps from US on disarmament Russia sees no positive steps from US on disarmament Russia is yet to see any positive steps from the new US administration on disarmament, Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva says. “We are ready to maintain smooth relations of co-operation with any American administration,” Gennady Gatilov said, according to RIA Novosti an interview published on Sunday. “We would be ready to do this within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament,” he was quoted as saying. “So far, we do not see any positive progress in this regard in Geneva.” The conference, an international disarmament forum that meets in the Swiss city, has negotiated a number of major multilateral arms limitation and disarmament agreements, including on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated after last month’s inauguration of Donald Trump as US president that he sees Trump’s second term as a chance for a new era in US-Russian relations. “We are, of course, closely monitoring the rhetoric and first steps of the representatives of the new US administration,” Gatilov said. “We expect that the Americans will move from words to action, especially since they have said a lot since January 20.” Trump and Putin have both said they are keen to meet in person. The US president said he will end the war in Ukraine, which Russia started with full-scale invasion nearly three years ago, as soon as possible. Gatilov said talks with Washington on nuclear arms control and wider security issues have not resumed. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START, which caps the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can deploy, and the deployment of land- and submarine-based missiles and bombers to deliver them, is due to expire on February 5, 2026. It is the last remaining pillar of nuclear arms control between the world’s two biggest nuclear powers. Source link #Russia #sees #positive #steps #disarmament Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Southlake basketball coach accused of ********* assaulting child Southlake basketball coach accused of ********* assaulting child SOUTHLAKE, Texas – An Aubrey man is accused of having ******* contact with a child while working as a basketball coach. What we know Southlake police say they issued warrants for 28-year-old Mitchell Joseph Allan last week. He was arrested last Saturday by the Elm Ridge Police Department. Police say they received reports of abuse happening while Allan worked as a coach for a private basketball program in Southlake. Allan was booked into the Denton County Jail. He faces two charges of indecency with a child. What we don’t know Police did not say if the charges stemmed from one victim or multiple victims. They did not reveal what private program Allan worked for or for how long. Police say no other information would be released at this time due to the victim’s age and the sensitive nature of the investigation. Southlake police want any parents of children who interacted with Allan and suspect abuse to contact them at 817-748-8235. The Source Information in this article comes from a Southlake Police Department press release. Source link #Southlake #basketball #coach #accused #********* #assaulting #child Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Clemson shocks No. 2 Duke, ends nation's longest winning streak at 16 games as ACC race gets tighter – CBS Sports Clemson shocks No. 2 Duke, ends nation's longest winning streak at 16 games as ACC race gets tighter – CBS Sports Clemson shocks No. 2 Duke, ends nation’s longest winning streak at 16 games as ACC race gets tighter CBS SportsNo. 2 Duke falters, can’t cash in on Auburn loss ESPNGarrett Riley’s perfect tribute to Clemson’s big win over Duke TigerNetCLEMSON BASKETBALL TAKES DOWN NO. 2 DUKE 77-71 Rivals.com – ClemsonHunter, Lakhin Lead Clemson to Upset win over No. 2 Duke The Clemson Insider Source link #Clemson #shocks #Duke #ends #nation039s #longest #winning #streak #games #ACC #race #tighter #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NBL legend Bryce Cotton on verge of fifth MVP crown NBL legend Bryce Cotton on verge of fifth MVP crown Perth Wildcats legend Bryce Cotton is operating in “another stratosphere” to his rivals as he closes in on a fifth NBL MVP award. Only all-time great Andrew Gaze (seven) has more MVP nods to his name than Cotton, who is hot favourite to be crowned the league’s best player again on Monday night. Adelaide guard Kendric Davis, South East Melbourne forward Matt Hurt and Melbourne United sharpshooter Chris Goulding are all in the picture, named by the league on a 12-man short list released last week. But Cotton is almost unbackable after recovering from a rib injury to average 28.6 points and 4.6 assists per game in another outstanding campaign. “He’s MVP. He’s in another stratosphere at the moment,” Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde said. “And that’s not to diminish the work of some other candidates. “I mentioned Matt Hurt a couple of weeks ago, KD (Davis) at Adelaide has been really good, but statistically Bryce has been on another level.” Adelaide coach Mike Wells also showered Cotton with praise, last week likening the 32-year-old guard to the NBL’s version of Michael Jordan. Cotton – who won the Andrew Gaze Trophy in 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2024 – is taking it all in his stride ahead of another finals series with the Wildcats. “I never count my chickens before they hatch, but it’s an honour to be in this conversation again,” he said. “I feel that me and Kendric (Davis) have had historic seasons together, and I think some of the numbers that we’ve put up the NBL hasn’t seen this in the 40-minute era and for a long time. “With us competing it’s been great and this is the most talented era the league’s ever seen, so I always thrive competing against the league’s best.” Cotton, a three-time NBL champion and two-time grand final MVP, also shapes as the key figure in Perth’s opening post-season game against South East Melbourne on Tuesday night. “He’s probably going to be the MVP for a reason,” Phoenix coach Josh King said. “He’s going to score points, he’s going to take a lot of shots. The offence runs through him. “He plays with a lot of confidence. He’s a really good basketball player. “But it’s not just about him. He’s got other teammates on the floor we’ve got to concentrate on too.” Cotton and his Wildcats teammates won’t attend the annual awards ceremony in Melbourne on Monday night, opting to stay in Perth to prepare for the Phoenix clash. Illawarra coach Justin Tatum is the likely winner of the Lindsay Gaze Trophy for coach of the year, having steered the Hawks to a top-of-the-ladder finish for the first time in club history. Melbourne United pair Shea Ili and Matthew Dellavedova are leading candidates for best defensive player, and Sydney’s Kouat Noi is among the nominees for best sixth man. Cairns captain and NBA prospect Taran Armstrong could win multiple titles, in the running for both the next generation award and most improved player. Source link #NBL #legend #Bryce #Cotton #verge #MVP #crown Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What happened to Nissan? And what happens next if a Honda merger is truly dead? What happened to Nissan? And what happens next if a Honda merger is truly dead? Japanese automaker Nissan (NSANY) finds itself at a crossroads. Nissan was poised to participate in a megamerger with rival Honda (HMC), and it was a huge development when the talks were revealed late last year. This was not just some run-of-the-mill consolidation — this would have been like General Motors (GM) and Ford (F) joining forces into one behemoth. Both brands enjoy their own cultures and reputations, and this may have led to the deal’s unraveling, per some reports. Honda, in the more enviable position, looked at Nissan as a troubled partner that needed more cost cuts, which apparently did not happen at the speed that Honda desired. Honda then reportedly wanted to make Nissan a subsidiary, which Nissan wasn’t going to allow. Nissan, after all, has a history with such relationships. It felt like a subsidiary with its alliance partner Renault (RNO.PA), and the company still feels disrespected in some fashion to this day. Both Honda and Nissan say their boards are meeting soon and an announcement will be made shortly. While Nissan potentially scrambles for a new dance partner, the question remains how Nissan arrived at the position it finds itself in now. Feeling dissed? BA Nissan GT-R sports car on display at Brussels Expo in Brussels, Belgium. (Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images) · Sjoerd van der Wal via Getty Images The company behind enthusiast cars like the mighty GT-R, 240Z sports car, and trusty Pathfinder SUV was once in the driver’s seat in the US and in its home market of Japan. However, in the late 1990s, the company found itself in dire financial straits and entered into an alliance with French automaker Renault. Renault held the superior position for some time, eventually leading to resentment from Nissan’s Japan-based leadership. “Nissan’s drive for independence prevented it from fully integrating with Renault [and] from merging with FCA (Fiat Chrysler),” Sam Fiorani, manufacturing expert at AutoForecast Solutions, said to Yahoo Finance. By 2023, Renault eventually sold down its ownership so that Renault held a 15% voting stake in Nissan and Nissan held a 15% voting stake in Renault. After a renaissance during former CEO Carlos Ghosn’s tenure when the company became profitable, Nissan again struggled with sales due to an aging product lineup and rising costs. Nissan never really fully recovered. For example, the company reported that global revenues fell 5% in its most recent quarter from July to September and it had a net loss of $62 million versus a profit a year ago. Operating margins dropped below 0.2%. The company also cut its revenue projection for the 2025 fiscal year by 10%, with the company saying that it is “facing a severe situation” and that it is “taking urgent measures to turn around its performance and create a leaner, more resilient business capable of swiftly adapting to changes in the market.” Nissan said it would cut its global capacity by 20% and reduce its global workforce by 9,000. Story Continues Aging products were an issue for Nissan. “I think sometimes they tend to let their vehicles get a little bit older and put them on longer life cycles than much of the market,” S&P auto analyst Stephanie Brinley told Yahoo Finance. In addition, the Nissan team didn’t step on the accelerator pedal when it came to electric vehicles. “It’s not so much that Nissan is in a bad position for not having more EVs; it’s just they had a lead, and they were early,” Brinley said. “They were early in that segment and then sort of pulled back a little bit, and took a different path, and ended up really letting competitors sort of get out ahead of them.” Though that EV growth story slowed across the industry, Nissan could have had a leadership position behind Tesla (TSLA). Now Ford and GM occupy that space in the US. China woes have also been a concern for Nissan. Moody’s noted that Nissan’s China sales in 2023 were roughly half of its 2019 volume when China accounted for 1 in 3 of Nissan’s global sales. Once a source of growth, those sales tumbled as the industry as a whole felt pressure from growing ******** domestic automakers like BYD. Combined with pressure in the US, an aging product portfolio, heavy debt, and a shrinkage in China brought Nissan to where it is today. Breaking up? Nissan chief executive Makoto Uchida, left, Honda chief executive Toshihiro Mibe, right, during a joint news conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File) · ASSOCIATED PRESS A massive tie-up with Honda, though audacious, was seen as a strong move for Nissan. Nissan would be receiving a lifeline from Honda with potential access to capital and shared development costs. Honda would gain more manufacturing capacity and benefit from cost sharing as well. “The best opportunity there would be for being able to share development costs of new technology, whether that’s battery technology or software,” Brinley said. “They could’ve shared either the research and development cost of that or the deployment cost of that, and then you can get the scale on those systems which are expensive to develop really quickly.” The two combined would take advantage of their strengths and address their weaknesses too. “Each of the manufacturers could harness the other’s strengths providing Honda with body-on-frame vehicles that are popular and wildly profitable in North America while Nissan could harness Honda’s hybrid expertise to help in the current transition to EVs, when both bring technologies together to create profitable electric vehicles when the market is fully ready,” Fiorani said. And scale is key. A potential merger between Nissan and Honda would have created the world’s third-largest automaker, right behind Toyota (TM) and Volkswagen (VWAGY), leapfrogging Korea’s Hyundai-Kia group in total unit sales. Too little too late: The 2023 Nissan Ariya EV (Credit: Nissan) · Nissan If the proposed deal with Honda unravels, what happens next is uncertain. “I’m not quite sure who [steps in],” Brinley said. “It’s got to be the right person to step in.” Like Honda, Brinley surmises it will be a partner that needs the scale that Nissan’s 40+ assembly plants could provide. “Finding a company large enough to make Nissan stable limits the group of eligible mates quickly. Finding one with an automotive focus cuts that list down to very few,” AutoForecast Solutions’ Fiorani said. “Finding one who would be willing to take a $10 billion bet on an automaker with two or three failed marriages eliminates just about everyone.” Speaking of failed marriages, some have advocated that Nissan and Renault should pursue a full merger, not the alliance they currently have in place. Joining forces on development costs, manufacturing expansions, and their global footprints (Renault in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East; Nissan in the US, Japan, and Asia) could provide the right mix to survive in an industry where scale matters. Another possible plan emerged recently: There have been rumors of a Foxconn tie-up, as the tech device contract manufacturer for goods like the Apple (AAPL) iPhone needs a dance partner to build its upcoming EV products. A Foxtron New Model C electric car is displayed during the Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD 24) at the Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying) · ASSOCIATED PRESS Foxconn has a joint venture with Taiwan automaker Yulon Motor, called Foxtron, which showed off an EV concert at CES earlier this year. A former Nissan exec is also running Foxconn’s EV venture. “Instead of merging with another car manufacturer, exploring partnerships with businesses across shared mobility, autonomous driving, and electrification may offer more substantial paths forward,” Edmunds head of insights Jessica Caldwell said to Yahoo Finance. With the deal potentially back on the table, a merger with Nissan would provide the company some much-needed credibility in the space. Nissan is reportedly amenable to a deal. In exile: Carlos Ghosn, former CEO of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, at the Paris Auto Show, in 2018. (REUTERS/Regis Duvignau) · REUTERS / Reuters “If Nissan isn’t willing to give up control to another company and doesn’t want to become a division of a China-based automaker, Nissan needs to find a visionary leader. The last time that happened for them, he was forced out of the country in a storage case,” Fiorani added, alluding to the strange saga of former Nissan and Renault CEO, Carlos Ghosn. A Ghosn comeback is definitely not happening — the notorious leader is exiled in his native Lebanon. But this much is clear: Nissan needs to take any deal it can get. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram. For the latest earnings reports and analysis, earnings whispers and expectations, and company earnings news, click here Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Source link #happened #Nissan #Honda #merger #dead Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

All 10 victims of the fatal Alaska plane ****** have been recovered and identified, officials say – CNN All 10 victims of the fatal Alaska plane ****** have been recovered and identified, officials say – CNN All 10 victims of the fatal Alaska plane ****** have been recovered and identified, officials say CNNAlaska crews race against weather to recover plane ****** victims; 2 passengers identified Fox NewsMissing Alaska flight found with no survivors: What to know The HillAlaska plane ******: Remains of all 10 victims recovered, say authorities Hindustan Times Source link #victims #fatal #Alaska #plane #****** #recovered #identified #officials #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Can you health hack your immune system? Can you health hack your immune system? Emma ******/BBC Braving the 3.9C water on a winter morning at the west reservoir in London It is a cold morning in the depths of winter. And I feel like I’ve left my sanity as well as my warm clothes in the changing room as I stride out to the edge of a reservoir in my swim shorts. A brightly-coloured chalk sign informs me that the water temperature today is a chilly 3.9C, as one of the regulars tells me this is not cold water swimming, it’s “ice” water swimming. How did I end up here? Well, I’ve become enthralled by the idea of enhancing or boosting the immune system. My body has been the living embodiment of the “quademic” that the NHS spent all winter warning us about. It’s been a relentless stream of colds and coughs and one explosive tummy. Our immune systems already do a fantastic job fighting viruses and other nasties. If I collected all the air I breathed out over the course of a minute it would contain 100 to 10,000 bacteria, 25,000 viruses and a single fungi, according to Prof John Tregoning, immunologist at Imperial College London. “You’re breathing these things in all the time, there’s just a swirling mass of pathogens [organisms that cause disease] in the air,” he says. But there’s plenty of foods, supplements and activities that are touted for their “immune-boosting” properties. Can we dial up our protection? Can a cold water swim stop you getting ill?Emma ******/BBC James at the half-way point And that’s why I find myself wading out and pushing off for a chilling blast of breaststroke. The icy water is like fire on my skin and all my brain can think of is making it to the pontoon without needing help from the lifeguards. But studies have shown the adrenaline hit of the cold water does flood the blood stream with infection-fighting cells. White blood cells – which could produce antibodies or attack infected tissue – move out of their normal homes and head out on patrol thinking there could be an infection. So does this mean I’m more protected? “Within a few hours that all goes back to normal,” says Prof Eleanor Riley, an immunologist at the University of Edinburgh. “There is no evidence that people who go cold water swimming have fewer colds or fewer infections.” Regular exercise may give you a younger immune system There might not be the evidence for cold water, but regular exercise may well do the trick. On average adults get two to three colds per year and children between five and eight, says Dr Margaret McCartney, a GP and expert in evidence-based medicine, at the University of St Andrews. “[But] people who do moderate amounts of exercise tend to report fewer viral infections,” she says. There is a lack of conclusive clinical trials, but the data we have is “all pointing in the direction of it being good for you… but not a miracle cure,” according to Dr McCartney. Laboratory studies have suggested regular exercise may slow the ageing of the immune system. Your body’s defences are in decline from our 20s onwards, but research on 80-year-old cyclists suggested they had the immune systems of people decades younger. “I know the trials have not really been done in high enough quality, but I’m going to be doing a lot of cycling,” she says. What about vitamins?Getty Images The first thing that springs to my mind is vitamin C – either by devouring a mountain of oranges or in pill form. “It’s a no from me,” says Dr McCartney. Being deficient may impair the immune system, but for the vast majority there is little to be gained from having extra. The same goes for multivitamins, which says Dr McCartney just make “expensive ******”. However, the evidence around vitamin D is hotly debated rather than being a firm no. Vitamin D levels dip in winter as it is made when our skin is exposed to sunlight. “I think the evidence is pointing towards possible benefits for people who’ve got respiratory disease and who are very low in vitamin D,” says Dr McCartney, but there is “insufficient” evidence that it would help everyone. And while you’re thinking what you might put in the shopping trolley, the jury is still out on whether prebiotics and probiotics that change the good bacteria in your gut also benefit immunity. “I do believe that is a really important area of study, but we are lacking the real world data that would enable you to recommend this,” says Dr McCartney. She also says echinacea, turmeric and ginger shots are not going to give you an immune boost. Keep an eye on the clock? Your immune system’s abilities are not fixed throughout the day. “Our immune system is most effective in the early morning at around the time we wake up, continues to be highly effective through the early part of the day and then later on in the day it starts to wind down,” says Prof Riley. This is why your cold often feels worse in the morning as your symptoms are the result of an immune system firing on all cylinders. The decline kicks in “about four or five o’clock in the afternoon”, so you might have better protection if you are vaccinated, or exposed to someone coughing, in the morning. As the immune system does have this 24-hour cycle, then having “a regular daily rhythm” rather than a mix of late nights and long lie-ins at the weekend “may well help boost your immune system”, says Prof Riley. Stop damaging your immune defences!Getty Images While we are thinking of boosting our immune system we should also remember there are things that actually increase our vulnerability to infection. One of the big ones is smoking because it directly damages the lungs so they are a less effective barrier to viruses. “If you imagine the lungs like a sieve, smoking will break holes in the sieve, so more can get through,” says Prof Tregoning. It also dials up inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation is like a thermostat for the immune system and is a normal part of how the body reacts to an infection. But “uncontrolled inflammation is bad for you” as it disrupts the immune system “so you may respond less well”. Obesity is another factor that can increase susceptibility to infections as well as the severity by ramping up inflammation in the body. “Both of those things can be difficult for people to stop or to reverse, but they are probably the most modifiable ones,” says Dr McCartney. Destress if you canGetty Images Being constantly stressed raises levels of the hormone cortisol in the body. Yet, cortisol dampens the immune system which may leave you more prone to infection. Prof Tregoning says this may be the explanation for why being in nature, going for a walk, spending time with friends – even cold water swimming – may have some beneficial effect. “You’re less stressed, less cortisol, so therefore your immune system is more fit for the role it is trying to do,” he says. Prof Riley adds: “There is absolutely no doubt that being happy, being in a positive frame of mind, has a very, very important effect on our bodily functions.” Squirt some salty water up your nose You have probably seen products in the shop that you can spray up each of your nostrils at the first sign of a cold. A report in the Lancet showed they do work. It gave thousands of people either a salt water (saline) spray or a gel-based one. They could use it up to six times a day whenever they felt they were coming down with something. People who just went about their daily lives without a nasal spray spent an average of eight days being ill during the study. But that fell to six days in those using a either salt water (saline) or a branded gel-based spray. Dr McCartney argues that a branded spray would be no better than a normal saline spray. So can the immune system really be boosted? If you are already doing all the usual things to look after your health – not smoking, eating healthily, exercising regularly – then your immune system is already in the “best possible condition” to respond to an infection, says Prof Riley. “Can you do anything to boost above being a normal, healthy person? There’s just no real evidence that you can,” she says. “But there are things you can do to improve your immunity against particular individual infections and that is to be vaccinated.” And maybe instead of spending your money on the latest immune-boosting craze, she suggests thinking about ways of not getting infected in the first place so “be careful who you socialise with”. Inside Health was produced by Hannah Robins and the programme airs on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesdays at 09:30 GMT and on BBC Sounds. Source link #health #hack #immune #system Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump revokes security clearance for top Biden diplomat Trump revokes security clearance for top Biden diplomat Security clearances have been removed for former US secretary of state Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan who was the national security advisor from 2021 to 2025. Source link #Trump #revokes #security #clearance #top #Biden #diplomat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The 1 Thing To Never Do With Your 401(k) The 1 Thing To Never Do With Your 401(k) Albert H. Teich / Shutterstock.com Money put aside in your 401(k) plan is for retirement and retirement only, according to money expert Suze Orman. Despite that, recent IRS changes have made it easier to access a portion of your funds. Consider This: Avoid This Retirement Savings Mistake That’s Costing Americans Up To $300K Find Out: 4 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money That Actually Work If financial needs arise, it can be tempting to tap into these funds, but she has strongly advised against it. GOBankingRates breaks down Orman’s argument against ever withdrawing funds from your 401(k) account. Since Jan. 1, 2024, you’ve been able to take one distribution per calendar year from a qualified retirement plan for personal or family emergency expenses, without incurring a 10% early withdrawal penalty. You’re able to take up to $1,000 per calendar year from a vested account balance over $1,000. If you can swing it, you have three years to pay the money back, but you’ll lose any compound interest you would’ve earned with the money sitting in the account. You’ll also need to include the withdrawal in your gross income when you file your tax return. Learn More: Cutting Expenses for Retirement? Here’s the No. 1 Thing To Get Rid of First While the money is yours, and now more easily accessible, Orman doesn’t want you to rely on it for pre-retirement expenses. In a blog post, she emphasized the importance of having at least $1,000 in an emergency fund, so you don’t have to tap into your 401(k) plan. “I want you to eventually have far more than $1,000 in your emergency savings fund, but if you’ve yet to get started, I think $1,000 is a terrific savings goal to set for yourself,” she wrote. “Once you have the $1,000 in your savings account, you won’t need to tap your retirement savings if an emergency expense does arise.” Despite warning against taking money out of your 401(k) before retirement, Orman expressed that sometimes it can’t be avoided. Whether you’re hit with unexpected costs or stuck in a ******* with a lower-than-usual income, she wrote that things happen. To emphasize, she doesn’t want you to withdraw money from your 401(k) for an emergency personal expense — she’s very against this. However, she noted that having the ability to do so can serve as a relief, if you have no other financial resources to fall back on. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Suze Orman: The 1 Thing To Never Do With Your 401(k) Source link #401k Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tsunami advisory canceled for Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands after magnitude-7.6 earthquake in the Caribbean – CNN Tsunami advisory canceled for Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands after magnitude-7.6 earthquake in the Caribbean – CNN Tsunami advisory canceled for Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands after magnitude-7.6 earthquake in the Caribbean CNNM 7.6 – 209 km SSW of George Town, Cayman Islands USGS Earthquake Hazards ProgramPowerful earthquake in Caribbean triggers “tsunami threat” for Cuba, Honduras and Cayman Islands, officials say CBS NewsMajor earthquake shakes Caribbean with islands watching for tsunami potential Fox Weather Map: Tracking a Potential Tsunami in the Caribbean The New York Times Source link #Tsunami #advisory #canceled #Puerto #Rico #Virgin #Islands #magnitude7.6 #earthquake #Caribbean #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

UFC 312: WA fighter Quillan Salkilld scores 19-second knockout victory over Anshul Jubli UFC 312: WA fighter Quillan Salkilld scores 19-second knockout victory over Anshul Jubli Broome product Quillan Salkilld has made an incredible first impression in the UFC, scoring an amazing 19-second knockout on debut in Sydney on Sunday morning. Before most of his home state of WA awoke, Salkilld (8-1) sent the mixed martial arts world into a spin when he landed a one-punch win over Indian Anshul Jubli (7-2) in the opening bout of UFC 312 at Qudos Bank Arena. Salkilld set up Jubli with a jab to the body before landing a massive right hook to his ear, which sent the 30-year-old lightweight to the mat and ended the bout. “I have no words for it. The perfect ending to my debut in Sydney,” Salkilld said “I knew he leads with his lead hand, his lead hand is always away from his face. “Dream come true. The only thing that would make it better is an extra $50,000 in the bank for a one-punch knockout.” The incredible win is the second fastest KO by a lightweight debutant in UFC history. It continues an incredible ride for Salkilld, who earned a UFC contract in September when he defeated Gauge Young by unanimous decision as part of Dana White’s Contender Series. A former EMMA Lightweight Champion, Salkilld is on an eight-fight win streak — having not lost since his professional debut — and will likely now look for another fight in 2025. Fellow West *********** Cody Haddon was also set to be on the card in Sydney, but was forced to withdraw late after he broke his foot while sparring in preparation. Source link #UFC #fighter #Quillan #Salkilld #scores #19second #knockout #victory #Anshul #Jubli Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

UnitedHealthcare Threatens Legal Action Against Doctor Who Says They Interrupted Her in the Middle of Surgery UnitedHealthcare Threatens Legal Action Against Doctor Who Says They Interrupted Her in the Middle of Surgery In the aftermath of its CEO’s stunning assassination, UnitedHealthcare is now threatening legal retaliation against those who criticize the insurance giant online. Last month, Texas plastic surgeon Elisabeth Potter posted on TikTok and Instagram that she had just been interrupted in the middle of a procedure for a breast ******* patient with a supposedly “urgent” call. On the other line was a UHC representative, who asked her if it was absolutely necessary that her patient stay overnight post-surgery — a question that appalled the doctor and most everyone who saw the video. A month after going viral, Potter made an entirely different social media post explaining that she had been contacted by UHC, accused of libel, and subjected to thinly veiled threats of legal retaliation if she didn’t comply with the company’s demands. In the letter, the surgeon was told that UHC had never asked her to step out of surgery and only called her because the company believed that her request for her patient’s overnight stay — a claim that was eventually denied — was made in error. Furthermore, the company accused Potter of knowingly sharing “misinformation” and hosting threats against the company’s executives because people made references to Luigi Mangione, the alleged assassin of UHC CEO Brian Thompson, in the comments of her videos. “Your claims are false. You clearly know they are false. You falsely laid the blame for your office’s error on UnitedHealthcare publicly, unleashing a firestorm of dangerous misinformation,” the letter, which Potter posted in full on her Instagram, reads. “We expect you to promptly correct this publicly by removing your videos and posting a public apology.” This “gaslighting and harassment,” as the surgeon calls it, has only strengthened her resolve to speak out about healthcare inequities — and she’s going to need it. As Bloomberg reported around the same time that Potter posted the cease and desist letter, UHC had hired preeminent defamation law firm Clare Locke — the one that got Dominion Voting Systems a nearly $800 million settlement in 2023 in its defamation case against Fox News — to handle its case against Potter. Along with taking Potter to task, Clare Locke also sicced the Securities and Exchange Commission on billionaire investor Bill Ackman after he shared the surgeon’s video on his own X account. “I would not be surprised,” Ackman wrote in since-deleted post, “to find that the company’s profitability is massively overstated due to its denial of medically necessary procedures and patient care.” More on UHC: UnitedHealth Is Asking Journalists to Remove Names and Photos of Its CEO From Published Work Source link #UnitedHealthcare #Threatens #Legal #Action #Doctor #Interrupted #Middle #Surgery Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]