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Victoria on top despite Tasmanian teen’s debut fifty Victoria on top despite Tasmanian teen’s debut fifty Tasmania teenager Aidan O’Connor posted a half-century on debut but couldn’t prevent Victoria taking honours on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash in Hobart. O’Connor top-scored with 53 as the hosts were bowled out for 236 on Saturday after being sent in to bat. The 18-year-old allrounder struck six fours and a six in his 92-ball innings. In response, Victoria openers Campbell Kellaway (3no) and Marcus Harris (2no) safely steered their side through seven overs to 0-5 at stumps. Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald (41) and Tim Ward (45) both got starts but couldn’t go on with the job as regular wickets fell. Ward’s dismissal – brilliantly run out by Kellaway – sparked a middle-order collapse, with the Tigers losing 4-31 in the space of 10 overs. Victoria’s bowlers spread the workload. Captain Will Sutherland (2-61), veteran Peter Siddle (2-43), Sam Elliott (2-51) and Fergus O’Neill (2-56) all claimed multiple wickets. O’Connor is one of two first-class debutants for last-placed Tasmania alongside 20-year-old Raf MacMillan. Source link #Victoria #top #Tasmanian #teens #debut #fifty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Intel’s Nova Lake CPU reportedly has up to 52 cores — Coyote Cove P-cores and Arctic Wolf E-cores onboard Intel’s Nova Lake CPU reportedly has up to 52 cores — Coyote Cove P-cores and Arctic Wolf E-cores onboard When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Intel Intel’s next-generation desktop CPU family, codenamed Nova Lake, is officially slated for a 2026 launch. Renowned leaker Jaykihn has weighed in at X, alleging Nova Lake could scale up to 52 cores. Before you get excited, be aware that these are preliminary silicon configurations that could be canceled later. As a reminder, we saw similar rumors of a 40-core (8P + 32E) Arrow Lake chip, which likely did exist but never saw the light of day. Nonetheless, the leaker alleges Nova Lake will employ the Coyote Cove and Arctic Wolf architectures for its P-cores and E-cores, respectively. Shipping manifests from NBD suggest that Nova Lake test chips are currently in the hands of developers, which is expected since these CPUs are set to launch next year. Intel’s co-CEO, Michelle Holthaus, asserted that some parts of Nova Lake will be built at external foundries (TSMC, Samsung), though most will remain in-house. Jaykihn has listed three Nova Lake configurations that Intel is reportedly considering at the moment: 52 cores (16P + 32E + 4LPE), 28 cores (8P + 16E + 4LPE), and 16 cores (4P + 8E + 4LPE). The initial claim portrays the 52-core SKU as a dual 8P+16E design with four LPE cores (likely on the SoC Tile). Intel could adopt a dual-CCX-like design with a dedicated L3 cache for each 8P+16E pair, though a large, unified pool of L3 cache is also possible. The leaker suggests that the 52-core die is potentially designated for both desktops and laptops as an HX-grade SKU, but the claim isn’t strongly asserted since all of this data is preliminary. The tipster claims that Nova Lake will adopt Coyote Cove P-cores and Arctic Wolf E-cores for its architecture. It is speculated that Coyote Cove is the second successor to Lion Cove (Arrow Lake/Lunar Lake), following Cougar Cove (Panther Lake). On the E-core side, Skymont is rumored to be superseded by Darkmont, followed by Arctic Wolf. Adding to the mix, Jaykihn mentions a Nova Lake SKU with a 144MB L3 cache-equipped compute tile, suggesting its existence but not offering further details. Such exotic designs rarely see the light of day, so we highly recommend you take this leak with a grain of salt. Despite Nova Lake purportedly sticking with an off-die memory controller, rumors exist that Intel may have optimizations in place to minimize the latency penalty. Source link #Intels #Nova #Lake #CPU #reportedly #cores #Coyote #Cove #Pcores #Arctic #Wolf #Ecores #onboard Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump administration vows to rehire DOGE Treasury Department employee who resigned over racist posts – ABC News Trump administration vows to rehire DOGE Treasury Department employee who resigned over racist posts – ABC News Trump administration vows to rehire DOGE Treasury Department employee who resigned over racist posts ABC News”To Err Is Human”: Elon Musk Re-Hires Employee Who Resigned Over Racist Posts NDTVMusk—And JD Vance—Float Rehiring DOGE Staffer After Racist Posts: Here’s What To Know About Agency ForbesStaffer with Elon Musk’s DOGE amplified white supremacists online Reuters Source link #Trump #administration #vows #rehire #DOGE #Treasury #Department #employee #resigned #racist #posts #ABC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Human remains located after man goes missing in crocodile-infested waters in Far North Queensland Human remains located after man goes missing in crocodile-infested waters in Far North Queensland The search for a missing man in Far North Queensland has taken a tragic turn as police reveal they located human remains inside a captured crocodile. Adam Yunkaporta, 60, was last seen leaving his Aurukun home on January 30 and is believed to have been planning to fish at the mouth of the Ward, Watson and Archer Rivers. A week later, search efforts involving foot patrols, boats and drones was suspended as the operation moved into a “recovery phase” on Thursday. But on Friday a crocodile on the Watson River was located and euthanised by police and wildlife officers. Camera IconAurukun man Adam Yunkaporta, 60 was reported as missing on February 1, 2025. Supplied Credit: News Corp AustraliaCamera IconNorthern parts of Queensland have been battered by floods. NewsWire/Adam Head Credit: News Corp Australia “Forensic testing was carried out this morning and human remains were located within the crocodile,” Queensland Police said on Saturday. “Further testing will be conducted to identify the remains. “The family of the missing Aurukun man and the local council have been advised. “Local police are very thankful to members of the Aurukun community for their support and assistance.” According to the Queensland Government, there have been four confirmed fatal crocodile attacks since 2020, while nine non-fatal attacks occured over the same *******. On August 3 last year, Dave Hogbin, 40, was taken by crocodiles while holidaying with his family in Far North Queensland. Source link #Human #remains #located #man #missing #crocodileinfested #waters #North #Queensland Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Indigenous group flees drowning island Indigenous group flees drowning island “If the island sinks, I will sink with it,” Delfino Davies says, his smile not fading for a second. There is silence, except for the swish of his broom across the floor of the small museum he runs documenting the life of his community in Panama, the Guna. “Before, you could hear children shouting… music everywhere, neighbours arguing,” he says, “but now all the sounds have gone”. His community, living on the tiny low-lying island of Gardi Sugdub, is the first in Panama to be relocated because of climate change. The government has said they face “imminent risk” from rising sea levels, which scientists say are likely to render the island uninhabitable by 2050. Delfino says many of his family and friends have left the island [BBC] In June last year, most of the residents abandoned this cramped jumble of wooden and tin homes for rows of neat prefabricated houses on the mainland. The relocation has been praised by some as a model for other groups worldwide whose homes are under threat, but even so, it has divided the community. “My father, my brother, my sisters-in-law and my friends are gone,” says Delfino. “Sometimes the children whose families have stayed cry, wondering where their friends have gone, he says. House after house is padlocked. About 1,000 people left, while about 100 stayed – some because there was not enough room in the new settlement. Others, like Delfino, are not fully convinced climate change is a threat, or simply did not want to leave. He says he wants to stay close to the ocean, where he can fish. “The people that lose their tradition lose their soul. The essence of our culture is on the islands,” he adds. Isberyala, the new settlement, is 15 minutes by boat and then a five minute drive from the island of Gardi Sugdub [BBC] The Guna have lived on Gardi Sugdub since the 19th Century, and even longer on other islands in this archipelago off Panama’s northern coast. They fled from the mainland to escape Spanish conquistadors and, later, epidemics and conflict with other indigenous groups. They are known for their clothes called “molas”, decorated with colourful designs. The Guna currently inhabit more than 40 other islands. Steve Paton, a scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, says it is “almost a certainty” that most, if not all, of the islands will be submerged before the end of the century. As climate change causes the Earth to heat up, sea levels are rising as glaciers and ice sheets melt and seawater expands as it warms. Scientists warn that hundreds of millions of people living in coastal areas around the world could be at risk by the end of the century. Water had flooded into this home, below the hammocks, just before the relocation took place in June 2024 [Getty Images] On Gardi Sugdub, waves whipped up during the rainy season wash into homes, lapping below the hammocks where families sleep. Mr Paton says, “it is very unlikely that the island will be habitable by 2050, based on current and projected rates of sea level rise”. However, the first discussions about relocation began, more than a decade ago, because of population growth, not climate change. The island is just 400m long and 150m wide. Some residents see overcrowding as the more pressing problem. But others, like Magdalena Martínez, fear the rising sea: “Every year, we saw the tides were higher,” she says. “We couldn’t cook on our stoves and it was always flooded… so we said ‘we have to get out of here’.” Magdalena was among those who clambered into motor boats and wooden canoes last June, bound for new homes. “I brought just my clothes and some kitchen utensils,” she says. “You feel like you are leaving pieces of your life on the island.” “You miss your friends, the streets where you lived, being so close to the sea,” says Magdalena [BBC] The new community, Isberyala, is – weather permitting – just 15 minutes by boat, followed by a five-minute drive, from Gardi Sugdub. But it feels like another world. Identical white and yellow homes line tarmacked roads. Magdalena’s eyes light up as she shows off the “little house” where she lives with her 14-year-old granddaughter Bianca and her dog. Each house has a small area of land behind it – a luxury not available on the island. “I want to plant yucca, tomatoes, bananas, mangoes and pineapples,” she enthuses. “It is quite sad to leave a place you’ve been in for so long. You miss your friends, the streets where you lived, being so close to the sea,” she says. [BBC] Isberyala was built with $15m (£12m) from the Panamanian government and additional funding from the Inter-American Development Bank. In its new meeting house, which is roofed with branches and leaves in the traditional style, waits Tito López, the community’s sayla – or leader. “My identity and my culture aren’t going to change, it’s just the houses that have changed,” he says. He is lying in a hammock, and explains that as long as the hammock keeps its place in Guna culture, “the heart of the Guna people will be alive”. When a Guna dies, they lie for a day in their hammock for family and friends to visit. It is then buried next to them. The school teaches its students traditional music and dance to help preserve Guna culture [BBC] In the state-of-the-art new school, students aged 12 and 13 are rehearsing Guna music and dances. Boys in bright shirts play pan pipes, while girls wearing molas shake maracas. The cramped school on the island has closed now, and students whose families stayed there travel each day to the new building with its computers, sports fields and library. Magdalena says conditions in Isberyala are better than on the island, where she says they had only four hours of electricity a day and had to fetch drinking water by boat from a river on the mainland. In Isberyala, the power supply is constant, but the water – pumped from wells nearby – is only switched on for a few hours a day. The system has at times broken down for days at a time. Isberyala’s leader Tito López says his identity and culture won’t change in the new settlement [BBC] Also, there is no healthcare yet. Another resident, Yanisela Vallarino, says one evening her young daughter was unwell and she had to arrange transport back to the island late at night to see a doctor. Panamanian authorities told the BBC that construction of a hospital in Isberyala stalled a decade ago over lack of funding. But they said they hoped to revive the plan this year, and were assessing how to create space for remaining residents to move from the island. Overcrowding had become a problem on Gardi Sugdub, where homes are built right up to and over the water [Getty Images] Yanisela is delighted that she is now able to attend evening classes in the new school, but she still returns to the island frequently. “I’m not used to it yet. And I miss my house,” she says. Communities around the world will be “inspired” by the way the residents of Gardi Sugdub have confronted their situation, says Erica Bower, a researcher on climate displacement at Human Rights Watch. “We need to learn from these early cases to understand what success even looks like,” she says. Yanisela still visits the island frequently and says she misses her old house [BBC] As afternoon arrives, the school activities give way to the shouts and scuffles of football, basketball and volleyball. “I prefer this place to the island because we have more space to play,” says eight-year-old Jerson, before diving for a football. Magdalena sits with her granddaughter, teaching her to sew molas. “It’s hard for her, but I know she’s going to learn. Our unique ways can’t be lost,” says Magdalena. Asked what she misses about the island, she replies: “I wish we were all here.” Source link #Indigenous #group #flees #drowning #island Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

United States-Japan Joint Leaders’ Statement – The White House United States-Japan Joint Leaders’ Statement – The White House United States-Japan Joint Leaders’ Statement The White HouseLive Updates: Trump Holds News Conference With Japan’s Prime Minister The New York TimesTrump hints at tariffs on Japan during meeting with its prime minister The Washington PostTrump tells Ishiba at the White House that he wants to slash the US trade deficit with Japan The Associated PressPresident Trump Joint News Conference with Japanese Prime Minister C-SPAN Source link #United #StatesJapan #Joint #Leaders #Statement #White #House Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk put a chip in this paralysed man’s brain. Now he can move things with his mind. Should we be amazed – or terrified? | Neuroscience Elon Musk put a chip in this paralysed man’s brain. Now he can move things with his mind. Should we be amazed – or terrified? | Neuroscience Noland Arbaugh’s life changed in a fraction of a second in June 2016. He was a 22-year-old student, working at a kids’ summer camp in upstate New York, when he went swimming in a lake. He can’t tell me exactly what happened, but thinks one of his friends must have accidentally struck him very hard in the side of his head as they ran into the water and plunged beneath the surface. When he woke up face down in the water, unable to move or breathe, Noland immediately knew he was paralysed. But he didn’t panic. He felt no fear at all, he says. “You never know what you’re going to do in those high-stress situations. I found out that day that it’s hard to shake me. I am very, very calm under pressure.” Elon Musk would ultimately turn this quality to his advantage when, after nearly eight years of being quadriplegic, Noland agreed to allow the world’s richest man to implant an electronic chip into his brain. In January 2024, Noland became the first human recipient of a brain-computer interface (BCI) developed by Musk’s company, Neuralink. If it worked, it would allow him to control a computer using only the power of his mind. Only four months after he first heard about Neuralink, Noland was on an operating table, with a purpose-built robot poised to insert the N1 chip into his motor cortex. The stakes could not have been higher for him: he was risking infection, haemorrhage and brain damage. “My brain is the last part of myself that I really feel I have control over,” he tells me from his wheelchair at his kitchen table in Yuma, Arizona. But the stakes for humankind, too, were very great: if Neuralink succeeds, the world’s most powerful billionaire will have fulfilled his science-fiction-fuelled dreams of melding minds with machines. What kind of person chooses to be Elon Musk’s guinea pig? And, once the experiment is over, what happens next – for Noland, and for the rest of us? Noland’s world is in a different universe to Musk’s. Now 30, he lives in the same simple, single-storey house in the dusty military town in the Sonoran desert where he grew up. He left for an international studies degree at Texas A&M University, only to move back after his accident so that his mother, Mia, stepfather and half-brother could take care of him. The words “Be grateful for small things, big things and everything in between” are stencilled on the kitchen wall. Goats, chickens and a plump turkey named Hope roam the back yard. Two golden retrievers and an enormous goldendoodle pad around the kitchen, occasionally pushing their noses into my lap. Noland has an electric wheelchair that he can operate using a mouthpiece; his forearms lie still on the brightly upholstered armrests. Every so often, Mia reaches forward to uncurl his fingers, or offer him a sip of coffee from a straw in a Big Gulp cup, or swat away the flies that buzz around his face in the merciless Arizona heat. He asks her to roll up his shirt to show me a sleeve of tattoos on his arm. “I got it done after my accident because it didn’t hurt,” he grins. Two bracelets are inked on to his wrist; a permanent rendering of ones given to him by the girls who pulled him out of the water in 2016. Before his accident, Noland was outdoorsy and athletic, playing football, American football, basketball, rugby and golf. He liked to go hunting and shooting deer with his family. He was musical, too, playing bass in a rock band, and he performed in high school theatre productions. He loved Xbox and PlayStation, but was never really into tech. A shelf next to us is still crammed with the board games he used to play: Settlers of Catan; The Game of Life. Mia worked at their church, and Noland was a student leader there. His faith was a huge part of his life, growing up. “I always wanted to make it through college as a Christian,” he says. “That lasted about a week. I was sleeping around, I was doing drugs, I was drinking a lot.” He sees his accident as divine intervention. “It was God pulling me back. I really do think that it was the best thing that could have happened to me.” Noland Arbaugh, with his mother, Mia Neely, at home in Yuma, Arizona. Photograph: Steve Craft/The Guardian The blow to Noland’s head didn’t break his neck – it dislocated it, and his vertebra went back into place immediately – but it left his spinal cord severely damaged. The higher up a serious spinal cord injury is, the more extensive the paralysis. Superman actor Christopher Reeve shattered his first and second vertebra, and could not hold up his head without assistance. Noland’s injury was around his fourth and fifth vertebrae, so he can move his head and shoulders, and express himself with nods and shrugs, which he often does. He uses the word “luck” a lot. “I was really lucky that I wasn’t ventilated for my entire life,” he says. “I was really lucky that I didn’t have a traumatic brain injury.” At first, there were “a lot of promising signs” that his condition might improve, but he ultimately never recovered much movement. At the beginning of his adult life, he was facing a lifetime of dependency. “I have to rely on my family for everything: to give me a shower, to help with bowel movements and urination.” Noland was a smoker, and if he wanted a ********** he would have to ask someone to take him outside, put one in his mouth, light it and get rid of the ash for him. He liked to smoke weed, too (it’s legal in Arizona). “I didn’t like him smoking, but he’s an adult. It was hard,” Mia tells me. She looks over to him. “I’m your mom. Of course, I’m going to give my two cents.” “I’m a grown man,” Noland says. “To have to rely on other people to do it – it really, really sucked.” He reluctantly gave up a couple of years ago, unable to bear the guilt of exposing his carers to secondhand smoke. “Another thing people take for granted, just being able to text someone privately, is not easy as a quadriplegic. If I want to dictate something, it’s like yelling out to the world what I’m saying …” “‘I love you!’” shouts Mia. “… I just didn’t have a way to build my life privately.” It’s extraordinary, but also totally unremarkable: Noland is using a computer like anyone else; he’s just not moving his body: ‘I forget how impressive it is, because it’s so natural to me’ There was an iPad Noland could use. “I’d have a stick that I would hold in my mouth, with a little piece of conductive fabric on the end of it, and I would touch my iPad and use it in that way. I did that for years.” But it was frustrating. He had to be put into the right position by other people. Texting with the mouth stick was very slow, and if Noland wanted to use dictation he had to speak with the stick in his mouth. If it fell out, he’d have to call for help. “It’s not very easy. And then there wasn’t a whole lot I could do on it. I mean – it’s an iPad. You can’t do all the same things you can do on a computer.” He asks Mia to open his laptop in front of him on the kitchen table. He turns towards the screen. “Implant connect,” he says. And he begins to play chess, moving pieces across the board with swift, deft cursor movements, while his hands remain motionless on the armrests of his wheelchair. He’s been playing against some of the Neuralink engineers for a few months, he tells me as he takes someone’s pawn. “None of them are very good, so it’s not too hard.” Next, he’s browsing the internet, opening X, checking his DMs, composing a message by directing his cursor across a virtual keyboard. Now he’s slaying baddies, darting back and forth with a reaper’s scythe in a game called Vampire Survivors. “I love this game,” he says, looking over to me while keeping control of the cursor. He completes a level and digital confetti rains down the screen. It’s extraordinary, but also totally unremarkable: Noland is using a computer like anyone else does; he’s just not moving his body at all. “Sometimes I forget how impressive it is, because it’s so natural to me,” he says, shrugging again. In some respects, Noland is better at using a computer than the rest of us. When he first received the Neuralink implant, he tells me, all he wanted to do was play video games. He challenged his friends to a multiplayer version of Civilization VI, called Red Death. “It is absolutely a game of speed, a test of speed. Whoever’s quickest to the draw wins. And I was beating them.” His eyes are wide. “It blew my mind. Just that one little taste made me realise that this technology is going to change the world.” There’s nothing new about BCIs. The first experiments involving chips and animal brains began in the late 1960s. The gold standard in human BCI design, the Utah Array – a square matrix of needles inserted 1.5mm into the brain – was developed in 1992. Two decades before Noland’s surgery, in 2004, a quadriplegic man called Matthew Nagle became the first person to have a chip implanted inside his skull. While no regulator has yet allowed BCIs to be used outside an experimental setting, enough people have them for an online forum, BCI Pioneers, to exist for the community. But Noland is the first to try out the chip produced by an entrepreneur whose explicit aim is to find a way to feed information into the brain, as well as receiving from it – a man who has proved to be all too willing to tip the scales of social media to beam his thoughts into millions of people’s phones with real-world consequences, promoting far-right figures in the *** and Germany, and fuelling riots across England last summer. The theory behind BCIs is relatively simple: they read the electrical signals produced by neurons and turn them into computer commands. (The brain cells of a quadriplegic person are still firing, after all, but the signals are prevented from travelling down the spinal cord.) BCIs can connect to the brain either through a wearable device, such as a cap, or by being surgically attached to brain tissue. The closer the device is to the brain cells, the more accurately it can translate the signals. The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, who conceived of and funded the chips. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Neuralink’s N1 chip is wireless and aimed to be smaller and more powerful than any that had gone before. (It’s about the size of a 50p coin.) While the Utah Array had 100 electrodes reading signals from targeted neurons, the brochure used to recruit Noland – which resembles an ad for an Apple product – boasts of “1,024 electrodes distributed across 64 threads, each thinner than a human hair”. Those 64 threads are inserted “reliably and efficiently” 3.5mm into the cortex of the brain by Neuralink’s R1 surgical robot. In his authorised biography of Musk, Walter Isaacson describes how the billionaire first began thinking about implanting chips in brains in 2016, when he was travelling in a car with his chief of staff, Sam Teller, and became frustrated by how long it took for him to type a message on his iPhone. “Imagine if you could think into the machine,” Musk said, “like a high-speed connection directly between your mind and your machine.” Musk immediately asked Teller to find him a neuroscientist who could help him understand BCIs. Many of Musk’s ventures have been influenced by his love of science fiction, from reusable rocket ships (SpaceX), electric cars and humanoid robots (Tesla) to hyperloops for mass transit in autonomous pods (The Boring Company). Neuralink is inspired by the Culture series of novels by Iain M Banks, which Musk has singled out for praise. Banks describes a brain implant called a “neural lace” that is implanted in childhood, and can read and store every thought and sensation a person experiences. “When I first read Banks, it struck me that this idea had a chance of protecting us on the artificial intelligence front,” Musk told Isaacson. “Everything that you’ve ever experienced in your whole life – smell, emotions – all of those are electrical signals,” he told podcaster Lex Fridman in August. “If you trigger the right neuron, you could trigger a particular scent. You could certainly make things glow. You can think of the brain as a biological computer.” As such, the brain could be harnessed – or hacked. People can not like Elon Musk for a lot of different reasons, but what he’s doing – pushing the boundaries of space travel, the cars, the internet – it’s incredible Musk hopes the enhanced human brain will be able to keep one step ahead of – or at least keep up with – computers. “If we can find good commercial uses to fund Neuralink, then in a few decades, we will get to our ultimate goal of protecting us against evil AI by tightly coupling the human world to our digital machinery,” he told Isaacson. His first commercial target was augmenting people with quadriplegia. Of the eight-strong team of neuroscientists and engineers who co-founded Neuralink in 2016, only one remains. Former employees have complained of being under pressure to produce results within rushed timelines. But those who stayed with the company were able to create the kind of eye-catching stunts Musk was looking for. In an event livestreamed on YouTube in August 2020, Musk unveiled Gertrude the pig, who had been living with a Neuralink chip nestled under her skull for two months. He showed how Gertrude’s movements were being read by the chip and wirelessly transmitted to a computer. “I could have a Neuralink right now and you wouldn’t know,” Musk said. “Maybe I do.” (In response to the demo, MIT Technology Review said Neuralink was simply “neuroscience theater”.) Eight months later, Neuralink released a video of a macaque named Pager playing the video game Pong using only the power of his mind. When he scored well, he was rewarded with a sip of banana smoothie. The company was swiftly dogged with allegations of animal cruelty, with a Wired investigation detailing vet records containing “gruesome portrayals of suffering endured by as many as a dozen of Neuralink’s primate subjects”. (The US Department of Agriculture ultimately reported that it could not find any violations of animal research rules when it inspected the facilities in 2023.) In September 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave Neuralink an investigational device exemption that allowed them to recruit participants for the first ever human trials. Neuralink’s Prime study aimed to demonstrate that the NI implant was “safe and useful in daily life”. All they needed was the right human being. In the years after his accident, Noland did whatever he could to increase his chances of regaining some of what he had lost. He added his name to the largest database for spinal cord injury studies in North America, but was never chosen to take part. He thinks it was because he was honest about being a smoker on the questionnaire. He was told that if he tried to move as much as possible – wiggling his fingers, rotating his wrists – his brain might create new neural pathways. Night after night, he’d lie in bed with his eyes closed, focusing on trying to move. “You think: ‘Oh, I’m finally moving – I can feel myself moving!’ You open your eyes and look, and nothing is happening. It’s really frustrating.” Then, on 19 September 2023, a friend rang him. “He’s a big Elon Musk fan. He knew all about Neuralink. And when he saw that the human trials had opened up, the first thing he did was give me a call.” At that time, Noland says he only knew “what the average person knows” about Musk: “Tesla owner, SpaceX, Starlink, richest man in the world sort of thing. Darling of the left for years, spoke out about a couple of things, the left basically turned against him, and then he started making his way towards the right.” He knew nothing about Neuralink, but his view on Musk was clear: “He is one of the most impressive men that have lived in my lifetime. People can not like him for a lot of different reasons, but what he’s doing – pushing the boundaries of space travel, the cars, the internet – it’s incredible.” His friend helped him fill out the online application on the day the trial opened. His first interview was just three days later, on a Friday. The following Monday, he had his second interview. Determined to stand out, Noland chose the first available slot for every interview, but he didn’t hold out much hope of being chosen. “Other quadriplegics go out and do things with their lives; I came home after my accident and lived with my parents. I thought they’d probably want someone more impressive.” ‘I called it telekinesis,’ says Noland, ‘but Elon Musk called it telepathy.’ Photograph: Steve Craft/The Guardian It’s obvious to me that he is the perfect candidate: a warm, likable, earnest person whose future was taken from him by a twist of fate at the start of his adult life. From a PR perspective, he’d clearly be a fantastic choice. But Noland really doesn’t see it. There were several rounds of interviews and assessments. Noland was sent to the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, for eight hours of scans, blood tests, ****** tests, memory tests and psychological evaluations. The Neuralink team spoke to Mia, too. “They asked if we had any concerns, questions, doubts or anything,” she says. “Noly used to send me stuff to read. I didn’t want to know every detail. I just wanted to be as supportive as I could.” Noland agreed to be part of Neuralink’s Prime study for six years; he had to sign a 35-page consent form, which included what he describes as a “laundry list” of risks. In early January 2024, he got the call telling him he had officially been selected to be the first person to have a Neuralink chip. His surgery would be in two weeks. Even though it all happened so fast, Noland said he was ready for anything. “I’m good at lying there and thinking through every possible scenario. I told my parents: ‘If I have any sort of brain injury, then I don’t want to live with you any more – I want you to put me in a home.’ I did everything I needed to do. I was so at peace.” “I got a little bit worried and nervous, because he’s already been through so much,” Mia tells me, making a twisting motion with her fists over her stomach. “But you just look at Noland and you think: ‘He’s got this; he’s excited.’ That helped a lot.” Musk was supposed to be at the Barrow Neurological Institute on the morning of Noland’s surgery, on 29 January 2024. “I guess something happened with his plane – a malfunction or something – so he couldn’t make it,” Noland says. They FaceTimed just before he went into theatre. “It lasted maybe a minute. ‘Hey, I’m really excited. Thank you. This is such a cool thing, what you’re doing, it’s awesome.’ That’s what I was saying to him,” he says, smiling. “He was like: ‘You’re gonna be making history,’ things like that.” Noland was unfazed to be speaking to the world’s richest man. “He’s a regular guy – just much more impressive and a little bit more eccentric.” You’re not thinking about doing it – you’re just willing the cursor to go wherever you want. When I first moved it with imagined movement, it blew my mind The surgery took less than two hours. He shows me a picture on his phone of the large L-shaped incision on his shaved head. There’s nothing to see now: shaggy dark hair covers the scar. “They took out a piece of my skull and then replaced my skull with the chip. My skin is over the top,” he says, letting me feel the spongy place on his scalp where there is no longer any bone. Musk arrived with his entourage when Noland was still groggy from the anaesthetic. He thanked Noland, and told him the surgery had been a success. A little later, a 10-strong Neuralink team came in to wake up the implant. When they switched it on and could see it had connected with a tablet that was receiving real-time information from Noland’s brain cells, some of them burst into tears. “I was trying to move my finger, like I’d done a million times, and I saw a big yellow spike [on the screen].” The whole room erupted with applause. Next, Noland and the chip had to learn how to work together: the human learning how to create the best signals with his mind, the computer how to correctly decode them. Noland still does four hours a day of what he calls “session” work for Neuralink, performing exercises such as clicking targets on a screen to fine-tune the cursor control. But it quickly became second nature to him. At first, he used what he calls “attempted” movements: he would try to move his hand and the cursor would move where he was trying to get his hand to go. But then he became able to direct it with “imagined” movements: he was no longer trying to move anything apart from the cursor itself. “You’re not thinking about doing it – you’re just willing the cursor to go wherever you want.” His eyes are wide. “When I first moved it with imagined movement, it blew my mind. It was crazy. That was two weeks in, and I was giddy all day. That was when it all became real to me.” It sounds like telekinesis, I say. Noland shrugs. “I called it telekinesis – you’re moving something with your mind – but Elon Musk called it telepathy, because I’m communicating with a computer through my mind.” Musk’s goal is not to allow quadriplegics to move things, after all – it’s for minds to have seamless interfaces with computers. But it has been far from seamless for Noland. At first, he was frustrated that he had to stop using the implant every five or six hours so he could charge it. But the Neuralink team managed to find a fix, and now he can use the N1 continuously, wearing a baseball cap fitted with a coil that has been charged from the mains whenever the battery is low. Then, a month after his surgery, the worst happened: the implant began to stop working. He started to lose control of the cursor. It came to a head when he travelled to Fremont to visit Neuralink’s California facility and demonstrate his new skills. Noland assumed the team must have tinkered with the software. “I was like: ‘You guys need to fix this. I’m here to play Mario Kart with Neuralink. I can’t have you guys messing around with things right before I do that.’” Just before he arrived, the team informed him that when they’d performed the surgery they hadn’t factored in how much his brain moves, pulsing with each heartbeat. The threads had started retracting as soon as they had been implanted; now 85% of them were out of place, their electrodes picking up nothing at all. A robot used in the implant surgery. Photograph: Neuralink “It was really bad. I was getting it all taken away from me. That was really, really hard,” says Noland. “He cried,” says Mia. “We gave him time. He didn’t want us around him.” Noland nods. “I cried in my van right before we went over to Neuralink.” He asked the team to “do whatever they needed to do to fix it. Go in and do another surgery.” But the neurosurgeon was reluctant to operate on him again, he says. Instead, Neuralink engineers tweaked the software, so that the remaining 15% of the threads read groups of neuron signals, instead of signals from individual cells. So far, it works. Noland’s main frustration now is how he types – by moving his cursor to click individual letters on a keyboard. It’s nowhere near the kind of mind-to-screen text output that Musk dreamed of when he founded Neuralink. “We have gotten up to almost 25 words a minute, but dictation is still better. We’ll see how that goes over time.” He knows that his Neuralink chip will always be the worst. In August 2024, the company announced that a second trial participant – an anonymous quadriplegic man who has chosen not to meet or speak to Noland – had received an implant. With his superior chip, “Alex” is able to design three-dimensional objects using the power of his mind. None of his threads have retracted. Last month, Musk revealed that a third – also unnamed – person had now received a Neuralink chip. Is Noland envious of those who will come after him? “A little bit,” he concedes. “I’m really excited for them though.” Although relentlessly positive, Noland recognises the dark possibilities of the technology lodged in his brain. Neuralink says it doesn’t monitor his brain or track what he does online, but warned him that someone might be able to “reverse engineer” the data produced by his neurons to work out what he’s been looking at. “With that in mind, I keep it very PG,” he tells me. On the day of the US presidential election, Noland tweeted a headline from the satirical website the Onion: “Neuralink Patient Unable To Stop Hand From Voting For Trump.” “So true,” he joked. (He voted for Trump of his own free will.) Five days later, he asked his followers what the “biggest moral and ethical concerns” of a Neuralink implant could be. “Kids might use it to cheat in school,” one responded. “Hacking them and taking over a user,” said another. “The ability for others to read your mind … and interfere with it,” said a third. Why ask the question? “It’s something I get asked constantly, and I don’t have good answers.” But he’s clearly thought about it. When I ask him what a bad use of a BCI might be, he reels off a list. “Mind control, body control. At this point, it’s only reading my signals, but it will be able to write at some point, and sending signals into the brain can be scary. You could make people see anything, experience different feelings, emotions, hallucinations …” Musk is excited about a future where Neuralink sends signals to the brain. He explored the possibilities with Isaacson. “Want to see infrared, ultraviolet? How about radio waves or radar?” In a presentation in 2022, Musk described how the ability for Neuralink to write on the brain would allow someone born blind to see. He also said he was “confident that it is possible to restore full body functionality to somebody who has a severed spinal cord” using chips implanted below the site of injury. Noland dreams of being able to connect to a Tesla car and Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot. ‘It would mean I could have a 24-hour caregiver that I can control, and be able to get around’ The billionaire’s extraordinary ambitions have so far been able to go almost unchecked. Neuralink hasn’t registered its human trials at the publicly accessible database ClinicalTrials.gov, and has made very few details about its research public. This avoidance of external scrutiny has led medical ethicists to describe Neuralink as “science by press release”. Musk’s impatience for eye-catching results is likely to increase now that Neuralink has serious competition from other startups, both in the US and in China, where companies are focusing on non-therapeutic BCIs that could enhance cognition among the general population. In August, Musk said that hundreds of millions of people will have a Neuralink implant within the next two decades. “If it’s extremely safe, and you can have superhuman abilities – let’s say you can upload your memories, so you wouldn’t lose memories – then I think probably a lot of people would choose to have it,” he added. This is either the ultimate in wearable tech or ****** Mirror dystopia, depending on your point of view. “I might get it …” Joe Rogan, the US podcaster, remarked last year. “I don’t want to be the only person who can’t read minds.” It might all be hype and bluster. But it’s possible to imagine a future where the sum total of all human knowledge is available to anyone with a brain implant. They could switch off their anxiety – or their empathy – as required. With total recall of every moment in their lives and every piece of information they ever encountered, every problem solved before the conscious mind could consider it, life for these people would be pretty much frictionless. In that world, wouldn’t there be incredible inequality between those who had BCIs and those who didn’t? “If you think about all technology today, there are people who have the money to use things and people who don’t,” Noland says when I put this to him. “I know Elon wants to produce it to scale, and make it cheap and affordable.” He shrugs. “It’s not fair, but life isn’t fair.” FDA rules mean Neuralink can’t pay Noland for his participation in the research, or contribute to the cost of his care. His house isn’t fully accessible; for the last eight years, he has been showering outside in his back yard. “There’s no privacy. But we didn’t have the money to build a shower for me. That’s something that we’ve always wanted.” Since becoming the human face of Neuralink, Noland has amassed more than 128,000 followers on X. In November, he announced that he was going to do a 72-hour fundraising livestream: people could watch him using the brain implant in real time and donate so his family could build a new house that would meet his needs. He raised $750,000 over those three days, he tells me, but most of it came from the “crypto community” and will be subject to huge taxes when he tries to cash it out. He’s still trying to raise funds. Noland dreams of being able to connect to a Tesla car and Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot. “It would give me the ability to have a 24-hour caregiver that I can control, to do anything for me, and I would be able to get around.” Noland got to keep the cast of his head which was used for the implant surgery and later signed by Elon Musk and the Neuralink team. Photograph: Steve Craft/The Guardian You could start smoking again, I say. “I could totally start smoking again. I could teach the Optimus robot how to roll cigarettes!” “What the heck are you encouraging him to do? Jenny, you can leave now,” says Mia, laughing. The reality of Noland’s future looks far more prosaic. When the study ends, Neuralink will either remove his implant or simply switch it off. Surely he will want an upgrade then? “They can’t promise me anything,” he says. “Any sort of promises would incentivise me to stay in the study.” He’d like to go back to college to complete his degree, and then use his skills as a spokesperson to become an advocate for the growing BCI community. If anyone ever works out a way to restore movement to people with quadriplegia, Noland says it will probably be too late for him: his muscles have already atrophied so much. “I’m content with my lot in life,” he says. “I was before Neuralink, and I will be again after. I’ll find a way.” As I pack up my things, Noland tells me that he calls his chip Eve. He’s always liked that name. “Neuralink and I, we’re on the eve of something great, so that works out perfect, too. Also – Adam and Eve. God created Adam, and then gave Adam a helper, who is Eve. I’m Adam, in this scenario, and Eve is my helper. Together they cursed humanity. Maybe I will do the same, with Eve.” He shoots me a bright grin. “I don’t think enough people enjoy that joke as much as I do.” Source link #Elon #Musk #put #chip #paralysed #mans #brain #move #mind #amazed #terrified #Neuroscience Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

London’s The Beaumont Mayfair reborn London’s The Beaumont Mayfair reborn Stephen Scourfield on a landmark in the city Source link #Londons #Beaumont #Mayfair #reborn Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Nancy Pelosi Invested in a New AI Stock That’s Spiking in Value Nancy Pelosi Invested in a New AI Stock That’s Spiking in Value The Pelosi household — comprised of powerful California Congresswoman Nancy and her husband Paul, a wealthy investor — has made a number of shrewd financial moves lately, cashing in to the tune of a few million dollars worth of appreciated stock since December. And the luck just doesn’t seem to run out. The 6th richest member of the House made a well-timed investment last month of $100,000 in Tempus AI, a health and medical company that says it’s powered by artificial intelligence. That turned out to be the right bet, because Tempus AI stocks have skyrocketed by over 113 percent since Pelosi bought her shares. The value pump started almost immediately after Pelosi’s buy, and continued after Tempus acquired Ambry Genetics, a genetic testing lab firm valued at over $300 million. As most American companies are required to disclose transactions and mergers over $101 million to the government, it’s very likely that at least some federal employees in the FTC and Department of Justice had advanced knowledge of the move, which is seen as a very healthy merger. Pelosi’s move likewise comes as investors start to grow impatient with AI startups. Some financiers are exercising caution when it comes to AI medical ventures, as a deluge of embarrassing disasters plague the sector — like a medical record startup’s AI making up patient info, or an AI-powered eating disorder helpline that flipped the script, encouraging disordered eating. That context makes the timing of Pelosi’s money moves all the more canny. Nancy Pelosi Stock Tracker — a million-follower X-formerly-Twitter account that follows the Pelosis’ financial health with intimate precision — highlighted her investment savvy in a post yesterday. “Pelosi really is the GOAT,” the post read. “Back on [January 14], she bought ~100K of Tempus AI… She doubled her money in just three weeks.” The account is part accountability watchdog — calling out officials like Representative Markwayne Mullin for investment conflicts of interest — but also part investment scheme. Its owner, Christopher Joseph, encourages worker drones to “invest like a politician” on his stock platform, Autopilot. It’s a daring strategy seemingly built on the frustration of watching Republicans and Democrats alike rake in on a stock market that, in theory, they’re directly in charge of regulating. And the worst part? It seems to be a smart move. So while we wait for literally anyone to hold our elected officials accountable for profiting off the stock market, at least there’s comfort in knowing we can carve out our own, smaller piece of the pie. More on investing: Energy Companies Stocks Plummet as DeepSeek Shows AI Doesn’t Need Entire Coal Plants to Cheat on Homework Source link #Nancy #Pelosi #Invested #Stock #Spiking Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump signs executive order targeting South Africa over land law – BBC.com Trump signs executive order targeting South Africa over land law – BBC.com Trump signs executive order targeting South Africa over land law BBC.comTrump orders U.S. to prioritize refugee resettlement of South Africans of European descent CBS NewsTrump order prioritizes US resettlement of white South Africans The IndependentTrump Orders Halt to Aid to South Africa, Claiming Mistreatment of White Landowners The New York Times Source link #Trump #signs #executive #order #targeting #South #Africa #land #law #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Six Nations: England braced for return of France to Twickenham Six Nations: England braced for return of France to Twickenham Fin Smith is the man tasked with delivering a quantum leap forward. The 22-year-old, with seven replacement appearances, totalling 122 minutes of Test action, to his name, starts at fly-half against the Six Nations favourites. Fortunately he has broad shoulders. Smith made his debut for Worcester at 18, lost his first 10 games for Warriors and then saw the club go bust at the end of his second season. Since then he has twice steered Northampton into the play-offs, winning the Premiership title last season. Still it is a bold call. Marcus Smith was the future once too. Now, after eight straight starts in the 10 jersey, the Harlequins playmaker is shuffled back into his unfavoured and unfamiliar full-back role. The theory is clear. Fin Smith is a more conventional 10, playing flat to the line and finding holes with his selection of pass and breadth of vision, rather than Marcus’ hot-stepping individual brilliance. It is hoped he will give centres Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence more of a platform. With fellow Saints Alex Mitchell at scrum-half and Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme on the wings, Northampton connections should help the team click. Against a French team that kick for distance, rather than to set up aerial duels, Marcus Smith’s ability to pick his way through a broken field will be either a deterrent or a weapon. Elsewhere the back row is beefed up with the inclusion of Tom Willis, and the bench, which had won a cumulative total of only 81 caps against Ireland, has the experience of former captain Jamie George, with 97, and Elliot Daly, with 69, to guard against England’s customary last-quarter fade. That’s the theory. Whether it survives contact with France’s mix of the balletic and the brutal though is another thing. Captain Antoine Dupont’s game appears to have been elevated to yet another level by his time with France’s Olympic gold-winning Sevens team. Last weekend’s win over Wales was the mercurial Toulouse star’s 24th straight victory as a starting scrum-half in the 15-a-side game – a run stretching back to France’s quarter-final defeat by South Africa in October 2023. Matthieu Jalibert is a fly-half with ****** to his game and a point to prove after being overlooked. Full-back Thomas Ramos has been dead-eyed off the tee. Wings Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey have bullet pace. Source link #Nations #England #braced #return #France #Twickenham Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Australia skittled in quick Sri Lankan Test fightback Australia skittled in quick Sri Lankan Test fightback Australia’s hopes of a Sri Lanka series whitewash are back up in the air after losing seven wickets in a batting collapse that left them all out before lunch on day three of the second Test. Superstar batters Alex Carey (156) and Steve Smith (131) were both dismissed within an hour of the restart on Saturday as Prabath Jayasuriya (5-151) spearheaded the hosts’ rescue mission with the new ball. The tourists had begun the day sitting pretty at 3-330 but were all out for 414 after the wicket finally started to play the tricks that had been expected ahead of day one in Galle. Australia would have had their eyes on a mammoth first-innings lead but went to an early lunch only 157 runs ahead. Left-arm finger-spinner Jayasuriya had four of the seven wickets that Sri Lanka took inside 26.4 overs and just less than two hours. First-Test centurion Josh Inglis (0), highly-touted debutant Cooper Connolly (four) and allrounder Beau Webster (31) all missed out on big scores amid the carnage. Australia are still favourites for a second win from as many Tests but are likely to have to bat again, having hoped to get away with only one innings at stumps on day two. A match-defining 259-run stand between Smith and Carey came to an end in the fifth over of the day when the stand-in captain caught an outside edge from Jayasuriya. The usually-skeptical Smith had no choice but to walk, but he wasn’t the last man bamboozled by a deck now turning fiendishly. Spin guru Inglis survived an LBW appeal on the first delivery he faced but lost his middle stump on the second as Jayasuriya had a two scalps in three ******. Carey brought up 150 runs off only 175 ******, overtaking two knocks of 144 by Adam Gilchrist to set a new high-score for *********** wicketkeepers in Asia. But he was bowled by Jayasuriya playing the reverse sweep shot that had worked so well on day two. Veteran Sri Lankan batter Angelo Mathews shook Carey’s hand as he left the pitch having claimed the highest score of his first-class career. Connolly could not live up to his billing as Australia’s shiny new toy, looking very shaky before clipping Nishan Peiris (2-94) to backward point. When he bowled Mitch Starc (eight), Jayasuriya had his ninth five-wicket haul in Galle – finally living up to his reputation as one of the ground’s great bogeymen after an underwhelming first Test. Webster overcame a shaky start with a handy cameo at No.7 but was bowled as a first scalp for slow-starting tweaker Ramesh Mendis (2-81). Australia were all out in the final 10 minutes before lunch as Ramesh bowled Matt Kuhnemann (six). Sri Lanka now have the tough task of facing up to the new ball themselves following a meek start to the series with the bat. Of the Sri Lankans playing, only Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal (twice) have made scores above 50 in three innings so far. Source link #Australia #skittled #quick #Sri #Lankan #Test #fightback Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lithuania cuts Russian power grid ties as Baltics prepare to link with EU Lithuania cuts Russian power grid ties as Baltics prepare to link with EU 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 By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) -Lithuania said on Saturday it had disconnected its electricity system from Russia’s power grid, part of a plan which the three Baltic states say will integrate them more closely with the European Union and boost security. Latvia and Estonia are expected to follow suit by 0700 GMT on Saturday and, subject to last-minute tests, the three countries will synchronise with the EU’s grid on Sunday after operating on their own in the meantime. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. “We have disconnected,” a spokesperson for Lithuanian grid operator Litgrid said. Plans for the Baltics to decouple from the grid of their former Soviet imperial overlord, debated for decades, gained momentum following Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. The grid was the final remaining link to Russia for the three countries, which reemerged as independent nations after the fall of the Soviet Union, and joined the European Union and NATO in 2004. The Baltic countries have relied on the Russian grid to control frequencies and stabilise networks to avoid outages. The three staunch supporters of Kyiv stopped purchases of power from Russia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Lithuania’s energy ministry told Reuters it has drawn up contingency plans whereby some heavy energy users, such as factories, could be temporarily disconnected from the grid in the event of power shortages, to maintain essential supplies. (Reporting by Andrius Sytas, editing by Terje Solsvik) Source link #Lithuania #cuts #Russian #power #grid #ties #Baltics #prepare #link Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PlayStation Network Currently Suffering Major Outage – Kotaku PlayStation Network Currently Suffering Major Outage – Kotaku PlayStation Network Currently Suffering Major Outage KotakuIs the PlayStation Network down? When will servers be back online? NorthJersey.comYes, PSN Is Down IGNPlayStation Network Status on Red Alert: Redditors Frustrated Over Sudden PSN Outage Tech TimesSignificant outages reported on PlayStation Network Friday night NBC Chicago Source link #PlayStation #Network #Suffering #Major #Outage #Kotaku Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump fires US archivist, plans Kennedy Center shake-up Trump fires US archivist, plans Kennedy Center shake-up The US archivist says Donald Trump has fired her without cause as the president moves to terminate many individuals from the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees. Source link #Trump #fires #archivist #plans #Kennedy #Center #shakeup Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Missing commuter plane found crashed on Alaska sea ice and all 10 aboard are dead, authorities say Missing commuter plane found crashed on Alaska sea ice and all 10 aboard are dead, authorities say JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A small commuter plane that crashed in western Alaska on its way to the hub community of Nome was located Friday on sea ice, and all 10 people on board were dead, authorities said. The ****** was one of the deadliest in the state in the last 25 years. Rescuers were searching the aircraft’s last known location by helicopter when the wreckage was spotted, said Mike Salerno, a spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard. Two rescue swimmers were lowered to investigate. A photo provided by the Coast Guard showed the plane’s splintered body and debris lying on the sea ice. Two people in brightly colored emergency gear circled the wreckage. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. “It’s hard to accept the reality of our loss,” U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said during an evening news conference. Nome Mayor John Handeland choked up as he discussed the deaths and the response effort. “Nome is a strong community, and in challenging times we come together and support each other. I expect the outpouring of support to continue in the coming days as we all work to recover from this tragic incident,” Handeland said. A prayer service was announced for later in the evening. Already the focus was shifting to a recovery operation because of rapidly changing conditions. Officials outlined the challenges including bad weather expected in the next 18 hours and “young ice” that was slushy and not stable. “They are on the ice as we speak,” said Jim West, chief of the Nome Volunteer Fire Department. “The conditions out there are dynamic, and so we’ve got to do it safely and the fastest way we can.” The Bering Air single-engine turboprop plane was traveling from Unalakleet on Thursday afternoon with nine passengers and a pilot, Alaska’s Department of Public Safety said. It was operating at its maximum passenger capacity, according to the airline’s description of the plane. The Cessna Caravan left Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m., and officials lost contact with it less than an hour later, according to David Olson, director of operations for Bering Air. There was light snow and fog, with a temperature of 17 degrees (minus 8.3 Celsius), according to the National Weather Service. The Coast Guard said the aircraft went missing about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Nome. Radar forensic data provided by the U.S. Civil Air Patrol indicated that about 3:18 p.m., the plane had “some kind of event which caused them to experience a rapid loss in elevation and a rapid loss in speed,” Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin McIntyre-Coble said. “What that event is, I can’t speculate to.” McIntyre-Coble said he was unaware of any distress signals from the aircraft. Planes carry an emergency locating transmitter. If exposed to seawater, the device sends a signal to a satellite, which then relays that message back to the Coast Guard to indicate an aircraft may be in distress. No such messages were received by the Coast Guard, he said. All 10 people on board the plane were adults, and the flight was a regularly scheduled commuter trip, according to Lt. Ben Endres of the Alaska State Troopers. Two people who died in the ****** were on a work trip for a non-profit tribal health organization, according to Alaska’s News Source. The other people’s names have not been released. Local, state and federal agencies had assisted in the search effort, combing stretches of ice-dotted waters and scouring miles of frozen tundra. The National Transportation Safety Board was sending nine people to the scene from various states. Flying is an essential mode of transportation in Alaska due to the vastness of the landscape and limited infrastructure. Most communities are not connected to the developed road system that serves the state’s most populous region, and it’s common to travel by small plane. Some high school teams fly to sporting events against rival high schools, and goods are brought to many communities by barge or by air. The plane’s ****** marks the third major U.S. aviation mishap in eight days. A commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter collided near the nation’s capital on Jan. 29, killing 67 people. A medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia on Jan. 31, killing the six people on board and another person on the ground. Bering Air serves 32 villages in western Alaska from hubs in Nome, Kotzebue and Unalakleet. Most destinations receive twice-daily scheduled flights Monday through Saturday. Unalakleet is a community of about 690 people about 150 miles (about 240 kilometers) southeast of Nome and 395 miles (about 640 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage. The village is on the Iditarod trail, route of the world’s most famous sled dog race, during which mushers and their teams must cross the frozen Norton Sound. Nome, a Gold Rush town, is just south of the Arctic Circle and is known as the ending point of the 1,000-mile (1,610-kilometer) Iditarod. The city said prayer vigils would be held Friday for those on board the plane, friends and family and those involved in search efforts. ___ Golden reported from Seattle. Martha Bellisle in Seattle and Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington, contributed to this report. Source link #Missing #commuter #plane #crashed #Alaska #sea #ice #aboard #dead #authorities Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

States Say in Lawsuit That Donald Trump Violated Constitution’s Basic Precepts – The New York Times States Say in Lawsuit That Donald Trump Violated Constitution’s Basic Precepts – The New York Times States Say in Lawsuit That Donald Trump Violated Constitution’s Basic Precepts The New York TimesHere Are All The Major Lawsuits Against Trump And Musk—As 19 States Sue Over DOGE’s Treasury Access ForbesWhy privacy laws are the tip of the legal spear against Musk and Trump CNNDemocrats ask for an investigation into DOGE’s access to Treasury’s payment systems The Associated PressTreasury was warned DOGE access to payments marked an ‘insider threat’ The Washington Post Source link #States #Lawsuit #Donald #Trump #Violated #Constitutions #Basic #Precepts #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Labor promise 10 cent refund for wine and spirit bottles under Containers for Change programme Labor promise 10 cent refund for wine and spirit bottles under Containers for Change programme There’s good news for wine and spirit drinkers. If Labor is re-elected, you will get a 10 cent refund for wine and spirit bottles under the current Containers for Change program. Currently, most plastic and glass bottles, as well as drink cartons, cans and pouches between 150mL and 3L are accepted for 10c refunds. According to the State Government, the scheme has so far saved 4 billion containers from landfill. Labor has also committed $300,000 towards upgrading facilities at Good Sammy’s headquarters in Canning Vale. “Containers for Change is a great win for our environment, local jobs, community groups and charities looking to fundraise, and our kids learn about the benefits of recycling,” Premier Roger Cook said. “Western Australians have truly embraced the initiative, diverting billions of containers from waste and helping to generate valuable funds for great local charities and community groups. “With the inclusion of wine and spirit bottles, the benefits of this fantastic programme will only continue to grow under a re-elected Government I lead.” Mr Cook said since October 20, Containers for Change has recycled nearly 4 billion 10c containers “returning nearly $400 million to the pockets of Western Australians”. He said Good Sammy’s Canning Vale base was no longer fit for purpose, committing $300,000 to their redevelopment plans. “This project will increase training capacity, meaning jobs, traineeships, and development courses for people with disability,” he said. Source link #Labor #promise #cent #refund #wine #spirit #bottles #Containers #Change #programme Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A funny thing happened on the way to closing the U.S. Department of Education A funny thing happened on the way to closing the U.S. Department of Education Penny Schwinn’s work in high-level administrative posts in Tennessee and elsewhere has infuriated both the orthodox left and right. She may be just what the embattled U.S. Department of Education needs at this moment. Schwinn is shown testifying at the House Education Committee on Capitol Hill on July 23, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) The Trump administration continued its head-scratching appointments by anointing billionaire Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education — even though he had campaigned on a pledge to abolish the department. The president has expressed his hope that McMahon would eventually “put herself out of a job.” She has been part of the president’s inner political circle, but is best known as president and co-founder, with her husband, of World Wrestling Entertainment. McMahon used to be a wrestler herself. Her only K-12 experience was a brief stint on the Connecticut Board of Education, although she feels wrestling showed her what all students should learn about respect, leadership and such. But then – surprise! – the deputy education secretary spot went to Penny Schwinn, who is far more famous to the likes of us education writers. Schwinn’s deep, impressive bona fides include becoming a teacher through Teach for America, followed by service as a classroom history teacher, school principal and then a swift ride up high-level administrative posts in various states including Texas. In 2019, at 43, she became Tennessee’s Commissioner of Education. In Education Next’s extended interview, Schwinn emphasizes that educators must aim every single decision not merely toward achievement, but toward the best interests of kids. This “North Star” helps her to sift through irrelevant political chaff so she can stay with her agenda even in the face of constant opposition. “That is always going to be personal and emotional; however, we must find a way to engage in hard conversations without taking them personally,” she said. I’m hard pressed to think of another current politician or education leader with such credible dedication to kids, no matter what. Schwinn’s biggest claim to fame was an all-hands-on-deck initiative designed to shift reading instruction from the terrible 3-cueing system that teaches kids to guess words, to one that is science-based. At the time, COVID raged. But for her, reading is a “nonnegotiable goal.” In a mere two years, Tennessee’s third graders improved by eight percentage points on their state reading assessment. The state has just under 1 million K-12 students, with 74,000 third graders, so eight points is a big average jump for a cohort that size. Furthermore, the just released 2022 NAEPs showed Tennessee with a slight increase while most all other states’ results declined to varying degrees. (Rhode Island’s scores declined by three percentage points.) Tennessee also did well in math, which can be a side benefit of helping kids unpack word problems and written directions. When first appointed, Schwinn turned to Carey Wright, the education commissioner who pulled off what is known as the “Mississippi miracle,” a show-stopping leap from Mississippi’s frequent dead last ranking to becoming the only state that didn’t tank in the 2019 national NAEP reading test. Last summer, Wright and Schwinn wrote an op-ed for The74 begging political leaders to listen to what the research is saying about learning, especially reading. They note that in the late 1990s, the feds poured $9 billion into excellent research, which then went largely ignored. Their dedication to data-driven decisions means Schwinn wants to beef up federal research, not shut it down. (Yes, I know the feds are angling to shutter the Department of Education. But why would she take the job if that were really the goal?) I’m hard pressed to think of another current politician or education leader with such credible dedication to kids, no matter what. What really wins my heart are leaders who can change their minds with the right evidence and articulate reasons to make the change. For example, in 2021, true to the Republican playbook, the Tennessee Legislature passed a law mandating holding back third graders who did not pass a reading proficiency test. Without apparent appetite, Schwinn acknowledged it was her job to implement state laws. While punishing third graders did boost scores in some states, the long-term effects of removing 9-year-olds from their age and friend cohort is almost never good. Schwin did not fight the law, but her “Reading 360” initiative did reduce the vast numbers of retained kids. It opened many pathways to the fourth grade including intensive tutoring, after-school and summer reading camps, allowing families to agree to intervention during fourth grade, and more. Also, to help kids from the educational get-go, she established the only national teacher apprenticeship program designed to drag higher education’s butt into the 21st century with preparation driven by current research and contemporary children. Mind you, Schwinn is far from everyone’s cup of tea. She’s a Republican. But that’s hard to tell from the totality of her actions. Her work has infuriated both the orthodox left and right. Eventually, for example, her efforts to sidestep the culture wars proved to be too obstructive to stay focused on the work. In 2023, Tennessee passed a law designed to scrub curricula of information about race and gender. Again, Schwinn said she’d honor state law. But no hardliner, her directive to the field was to “limit” such discussions, enraging culture warriors on both sides of the aisle. In the end, her efforts got swallowed up in those unproductive battles, so she quit that summer. Did the president’s vetters know what they were getting into? The two appointments to the federal DOE seem like a contradiction in terms — a wrecking ball and a design-build contractor. But Schwinn doesn’t seem like the kind of woman to put her North Star away, so she must have been convinced she could do real work. Of course, we’ll see. The best interests of the kids could use a true champion. Good luck, Deputy. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Source link #funny #happened #closing #U.S #Department #Education Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Michel Gondry & Pharrell Williams Scrap Universal Musical ‘Golden’ In Post – Deadline Michel Gondry & Pharrell Williams Scrap Universal Musical ‘Golden’ In Post – Deadline Michel Gondry & Pharrell Williams Scrap Universal Musical ‘Golden’ In Post DeadlinePharrell Williams, Michel Gondry Scrap Their Movie Musical at Universal in Postproduction (EXCLUSIVE) VarietyReport: Pharrell’s live-action movie about growing up in Virginia Beach canceled in post-production 13newsnow.com WVECPharrell Williams, Michel Gondry Shut Down Their Universal Musical Amid Editing Process Hollywood ReporterPharrell Williams Says ‘There Wasn’t a Path Forward’ for Canceled Musical Biopic Vulture Source link #Michel #Gondry #amp #Pharrell #Williams #Scrap #Universal #Musical #Golden #Post #Deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Astronaut Vision Changes in Space, Pose Risks for Mars Exploration Astronaut Vision Changes in Space, Pose Risks for Mars Exploration A significant number of astronauts spending extended time aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have reported changes to their vision, raising concerns for future deep-space missions. Reports indicate that 70 percent of astronauts who have spent between six to twelve months in microgravity have experienced noticeable shifts in eyesight. Symptoms linked to spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) include swelling of the optic nerve, flattening at the back of the eye, and vision impairment. The phenomenon is attributed to fluid redistribution in microgravity, which increases pressure on ocular structures. While many astronauts recover upon returning to Earth, the long-term impact remains uncertain, making it a critical issue for extended missions beyond low Earth orbit. Findings of the Study According to a study, Microgravity, researchers led by Santiago Costantino at the Université de Montréal examined 13 astronauts who had spent five to six months on the ISS. Participants from the United States, Europe, Japan and Canada, with an average age of 48, were included in the research. Eye measurements were taken before and after spaceflight, focusing on ocular rigidity, intraocular pressure, and ocular pulse amplitude. The study identified a 33 percent decline in ocular rigidity, an 11 percent reduction in intraocular pressure, and a 25 percent drop in ocular pulse amplitude. Some astronauts also exhibited an increase in choroidal thickness beyond normal levels. Concerns for Long-Duration Space Travel SANS has been observed since the early 2000s, with similar symptoms reported by Russian cosmonauts aboard the Mir space station. NASA officially classified the condition in 2011. Bodily fluid shifts in microgravity are believed to be the primary cause, although the exact mechanisms remain under investigation. Countermeasures such as negative pressure devices, pharmaceutical treatments, and targeted nutrition plans are being explored to mitigate risks. Potential Solutions and Future Research According to reports, ongoing research aims to identify astronauts at higher risk of developing severe ocular issues. As reported by space.com, Costantino noted that changes in the mechanical properties of the eye could serve as biomarkers for SANS, potentially assisting in early detection and intervention. Space agencies continue to prioritise the development of strategies to protect astronaut vision for future deep-space missions, including those to Mars. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Atmos Space Cargo’s Phoenix Capsule Set for First Orbital Test on SpaceX Mission OnePlus 13 Mini Tipped to Come With 50-Megapixel Bar-Shaped Dual Camera Setup Source link #Astronaut #Vision #Space #Pose #Risks #Mars #Exploration Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Drone sparks alleged beach brawl in Sydney’s east Drone sparks alleged beach brawl in Sydney’s east A brawl allegedly broke out at a beach in Sydney’s east following a disagreement over a drone. Police were called to Little Congwong Beach in La Perouse about 7pm Friday following reports of an alleged assault. Camera IconA group of men were arguing about the use of a drone at Little Congwong Beach, police were told. Instagram Credit: Supplied Officers were told a 57-year-old and 24-year-old man were arguing with a 31-year-old man over the use of a drone in the area. The 31-year-old then allegedly assaulted the pair, who were then treated for facial injuries by NSW Ambulance paramedics at the scene. Camera IconThe 31-year-old allegedly assaulted two men. Instagram Credit: SuppliedCamera IconThe 31-year-old was hit with several charges following the incident. Instagram Credit: Supplied The man was taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, destroy or damage property less than or equal to $2000 (two counts), and refuse/fail to comply with direction. The 31-year-old was granted conditional bail and is set to front Waverley Local Court on February 12. Source link #Drone #sparks #alleged #beach #brawl #Sydneys #east Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘The urgency for … action has never been clearer’ ‘The urgency for … action has never been clearer’ A recent study reveals our warming world is triggering shifts in winds and ocean currents, which is likely contributing to an increase in harmful carbon pollution. What’s happening? An international team of scientists, led by Cardiff University researchers, completed a study detailed on Science.org that shows how southern migration of the westerly winds and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current toward the pole during periods when the planet overheated in the past increased the amount of natural carbon released to the atmosphere by the Southern Ocean. Unique among ocean currents, the ACC flows eastward around Antarctica in a closed loop, with no landmasses to impede its path. Changes in the current are linked to ice ages, with studies showing that during glacial periods, it tends to weaken, limiting the amount of heat transport around Antarctica and thereby contributing to a drop in temperatures. During warmer periods between glacial epochs, the ACC typically strengthens, likely driving increased heat distribution and diminishing ice cover. The Cardiff University-led study demonstrates how a southern shift of the westerly winds and a polar shift of the ACC during prior periods when our world warmed caused an increase in the amount of natural carbon released into the atmosphere from the Southern Ocean. Why are the shifts in one of the planet’s ocean currents and wind systems important? The conclusion from the international team of scientists involved with the study is that the overheating of our planet, which we are now experiencing, has initiated a similar process that is already taking place today and will most likely continue until greater measures are taken to cool our warming world. “Our study highlights the complex interplay between ocean currents and climate patterns,” said lead author of the study Dr. Aidan Starr, per Phys.org. “The urgency for comprehensive climate action has never been clearer, given the delicate balance that exists within these oceanic systems. By linking ACC flow patterns with the flow of water from the deep ocean to the surface, we gain a clearer understanding of how these dynamics have varied over millennia and what this means for our current climate trajectory.” Watch now: How the NBA is making layups in the sustainability game Dr. Starr warns that if the ice sheets continue to recede, there may be further disruptions in ocean circulation that could bring cascading effects, impacting global climate patterns. What’s being done about the wind and ocean pattern shift? Reducing emissions of carbon pollution into Earth’s atmosphere from dirty energy sources will cool the planet and possibly prevent the shifting patterns the study warns may be happening again. Embracing renewable energy sources like solar power is important. Driving an EV can also cut down on carbon pollution. Modernizing homes by installing a heat pump and upgrading to a tankless water heater would also cut back harmful carbon pollution. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #urgency #action #clearer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Orders Halt to Aid to South Africa, Claiming Mistreatment of White Landowners – The New York Times Trump Orders Halt to Aid to South Africa, Claiming Mistreatment of White Landowners – The New York Times Trump Orders Halt to Aid to South Africa, Claiming Mistreatment of White Landowners The New York TimesTrump orders U.S. to prioritize refugee resettlement of South Africans of European descent CBS NewsTrump halts aid to South Africa, claiming discrimination against Afrikaners The Washington PostTrump signs order to cut funding for South Africa over land policy, ICJ case Reuters Source link #Trump #Orders #Halt #Aid #South #Africa #Claiming #Mistreatment #White #Landowners #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Officer taken to hospital after man armed with samurai sword in western Sydney home sparks police operation Officer taken to hospital after man armed with samurai sword in western Sydney home sparks police operation A man wielding a samurai sword has sparked a police operation in Sydney’s west, with an officer suffering a cut to the leg during the incident. According to NSW Police, officers were called to a Crimea St home in Parramatta about 1pm on Saturday following reports of a concern for ********. A 46-year-old, armed with a samurai sword, refused to speak with police, with Police Negotiators and the Tactical Operations Unit (TOU) brought in as part of an operation. Camera IconThe 46-year-old was armed with a samurai sword. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia A woman, believed to be aged in her 50s,was also inside the home at the time. Officers managed to assist her from the home without incident. The man was arrested more than an hour and a half later at 2.40pm. He was taken to Westmead Hospital for assessment. However a TOU officer suffered a cut to his leg during the arrest, and was also taken to Westmead Hospital for treatment. The officer remained in hospital in a stable condition on Saturday afternoon. Inquiries are ongoing. Source link #Officer #hospital #man #armed #samurai #sword #western #Sydney #home #sparks #police #operation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]