Pelican Press

Summer Wars Amazon-Exclusive 4K Steelbook Preorders Now Only Cost $30 Summer Wars Amazon-Exclusive 4K Steelbook Preorders Now Only Cost $30 Cult-classic anime film Summer Wars is getting a pair of new physical editions on April 1, including an Amazon-exclusive Limited Edition Steelbook that brings the movie to 4K UHD resolution for the first time. Preorders for Summer Wars Limited Edition Steelbook are available now for $30. Amazon is also taking preorders for a new standard 1080p Blu-ray edition for $22 (was $27). The Limited Edition initially cost $37, but Amazon has since dropped the price. If you preordered at the original price, Amazon will automatically adjust your order total to reflect the lowest offered price from the time you preordered to release. You won’t be charged until your order ships. $30 | Releases April 1 First released in Japanese Theaters all the way back in 2009, Summer Wars was a massive critical and commercial hit at the time. The film tells the story of Kenji–a moderator for a virtual reality world that has become entwined with everyday life–who gets roped into a scheme to pose as a fake boyfriend to his friend Natsuki. Things go haywire for Kenji after a rogue AI program steals his online identity and he’s accused for hacks that lead to real-world catastrophes, and he has to unite Natsuki’s family to help him stop an imminent cyber-apocalypse. $22 (was $27) | Releases April 1 While this will be the first time Summer Wars has released on 4K, it’s not the first standard 1080p Blu-ray release. Funimation published the first Blu-ray edition back in 2011, and it has been reissued in the years since. That said, Summer Wars has been out of print for a while now. The standard Blu-ray edition releases alongside the Limited Edition Steelbook on April 1 and is up for preorder for $22 (was $27). $20.54 (was $25) Summer Wars director Mamoru Hosoda adapted the story into a serialized manga that began around the same time the film hit theaters. Fans of Summer Wars should check it out if they want to spend more time in its world. There’s a cheap and convenient way to get the full run, too. The 589-page Summer Wars: Complete Edition paperback omnibus is available for only $20.54 (was $25) at Amazon. Summer Wars earned rave reviews for its vibrant animation and story that examined life in a digital age. The new editions don’t have much in terms of extras, but if you like interviews, there are several with the film’s original cast of voice actors as well as with Hosoda. Summer Wars Bonus Features Interviews with voice actors Interview with director Mamoru Hosoda Teaser trailers and TV spots Summer Wars was Hosoda’s second feature-length anime following the 2006 cult hit The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. Hosoda also directed two Digimon short films, including Digimon Adventure, which debuted right before the Digimon Adventure series kicked off. Source link #Summer #Wars #AmazonExclusive #Steelbook #Preorders #Cost Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SpaceX Will Launch Two New Moon Landers on One Rocket: What to Know SpaceX Will Launch Two New Moon Landers on One Rocket: What to Know A space twofer took place early Wednesday morning — two lunar missions for the price of one rocket launch. A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off from the NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 1:11 a.m. Eastern time, carrying the Blue Ghost lander built by Firefly Aerospace of Austin, Texas, and the Resilience lander from Ispace of Japan. Why did two moon landers share one rocket? That was the result of fortuitous scheduling by SpaceX and not something that was planned by Firefly or Ispace. Firefly had purchased a Falcon 9 launch to send its Blue Ghost lander to the moon. At the same time, Ispace, to save on the costs for the mission, had asked SpaceX for a rideshare, that is, hitching a ride as a secondary payload on a rocket launch that was going roughly in the right direction to get its Resilience lander to the moon. That turned out to be Blue Ghost’s trip. “It was a no-brainer to put them together,” Julianna Scheiman, the director for NASA science missions at SpaceX, said during a news conference on Tuesday. After the Falcon 9 rocket reached orbit, the second stage fired again for a minute so it could deploy Blue Ghost in an elliptical orbit around Earth, about an hour after launch. The rocket stage fired once more, for just a second, to adjust the orbit for the deployment of Resilience, about 1.5 hours after launch. On Wednesday morning, Firefly and Ispace announced that their spacecraft successfully turned on, established communications with ground stations on Earth and were operating as expected. What are Firefly and Blue Ghost? Firefly Aerospace is one of the new space companies that have popped up over the past few years. It has developed and launched a small rocket called Alpha several times. In 2023, Firefly demonstrated that it could prepare and launch a payload for the United States Space Force within days — a capability that the Department of Defense is looking to develop so that it could quickly replace satellites that come under attack. Blue Ghost — named after a species of fireflies — is a robotic lander that Firefly has developed to take scientific instruments and other payloads to the surface of the moon. This mission is headed to Mare Crisium, a flat plain formed from lava that filled and hardened inside a 345-mile-wide crater carved out by an ancient asteroid impact. Mare Crisium is in the northeast quadrant of the near side of the moon. NASA will pay Firefly $101.5 million if it takes 10 payloads to the lunar surface, and a bit less if it does not fully succeed. The NASA payloads include a drill to measure the flow of heat from the moon’s interior to the surface, an electrodynamic dust shield to clean off glass and radiator surfaces, and an X-ray camera. The lander will operate for about 14 days — the length of a lunar day — until darkness descends at the landing site. What are Ispace and Resilience? This is Ispace’s second attempt to place a commercial lander on the surface of the moon. Its Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander tried to set down near the Atlas crater on the near side of the moon. But the landing software was confused when it passed over the crater rim, which is two miles higher than the surrounding terrain. The spacecraft ended up hovering far above the ground, after thinking it had landed, and then crashed when it ran out of propellant. Resilience — also known as the Hakuto-R Mission 2 lander — has essentially the same design as the Mission 1 spacecraft, but with different payloads. Ispace officials said they were confident that the mistakes that led to the ****** in 2023 had been fixed. The payloads on Resilience include a water electrolyzer experiment, which splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, from the Takasago Thermal Engineering Company in Japan, and a small rover named Tenacious that was developed and built by Ispace’s European subsidiary. Although this is not a NASA mission, it will collect two soil samples — one scooped up by the rover, the other just soil that settles on the landing pads — and sell them to the agency for $5,000 each. The transactions have no scientific value, because the samples will remain on the moon. Instead, they are meant to help strengthen the United States government’s position that while no nation on Earth can claim sovereignty of the moon or other parts of the solar system under the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, nations and companies can own and profit from what they extract from the moon. Resilience and Tenacious are also designed to operate for one lunar day, or 14 Earth days. Which mission will arrive at the moon first? Blue Ghost should get to the moon first, on March 2. For the first 25 days, it is to circle around Earth as the company turns on and checks out the spacecraft’s systems, before heading on a four-day journey to the moon. Then it will orbit the moon for 16 days before trying to land, 45 days after launch. Resilience will take a longer, winding path that consumes less energy and propellant, gradually stretching out its elliptical orbit until the farthest point of the orbit reaches beyond the moon. As a secondary payload on the Falcon 9, it will need to perform a flyby of the moon to get into the correct position to be captured into lunar orbit. The vehicle is to land on a plain named Mare Frigoris about four to five months after launch. Both Blue Ghost and Resilience might be beaten by a spacecraft from Intuitive Machines of Houston that is not scheduled to launch until late February. Despite its later start, it will take a direct, quicker path to the moon. Intuitive Machines placed Odysseus, its first lander, on the moon in a trip sponsored by NASA last year. It was still successfully able to contact Earth despite tipping over. Why are private companies landing on the moon? By hiring private companies, NASA hopes to send more devices to the moon at a lower cost to perform experiments and test new technologies. A second aim of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, or CLPS (pronounced “clips”), is to jump-start a commercial industry there that would not otherwise develop. NASA officials expect failures along the way, and some have already occurred. The first CLPS mission by Astrobotic Technology of Pittsburgh suffered a catastrophic propulsion failure soon after launch and never made it close to the moon. The tipping of the first Intuitive Machine lander during the second CLPS mission prevented the scientific instruments aboard from collecting the data they were sent to measure. The American subsidiary of Ispace is collaborating with Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, Mass., for a CLPS mission that is scheduled to launch next year. Source link #SpaceX #Launch #Moon #Landers #Rocket Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump considering allowing ***** of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel Trump considering allowing ***** of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel President Trump is considering allowing Japan’s Nippon Steel to complete its $14.1 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, according to multiple sources. Approval of the transaction isn’t definite, and Mr. Trump has not made a final decision, sources say. He is meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Friday and is expected to discuss the merger, along with automotive issues and tariffs. In the Oval Office, seated next to the Japanese prime minister, Mr. Trump told reporters he hasn’t changed his mind on the *****. It’s not immediately known if Nippon has offered further concessions, as it did last month when it proposed giving the U.S. government direct veto authority over any changes to U.S. Steel’s production capacity. The proposal represented a minor change to a recommendation from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a review panel known as CFIUS. That change was intended to allay concerns that Nippon Steel’s proposed purchase of U.S. Steel could lead to a decline in domestic steel output and a reduction in its U.S. workforce. The proposed change in the so-called mitigation agreement would give all of the decision-making power on changes to production capacity to the U.S. government. This is a developing story. Jennifer Jacobs Jennifer Jacobs is a senior White House reporter at CBS News. Source link #Trump #allowing #***** #U.S #Steel #Nippon #Steel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Transportation Department suspends $5 billion EV charger program – The Hill Transportation Department suspends $5 billion EV charger program – The Hill Transportation Department suspends $5 billion EV charger program The HillTrump admin hits brakes on $5B electric vehicle charging station program Fox BusinessTrump Halts Funding to Build More Electric Vehicle Chargers Nationwide Scientific American‘Just causing havoc’: Transportation Department suspends EV charger program The Washington PostTrump refuses to disperse EV transportation funds, deepening concern over constitutional crisis Yahoo! Voices Source link #Transportation #Department #suspends #billion #charger #program #Hill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Civilization 7 Trophy List—All Achievements And Trophies Civilization 7 Trophy List—All Achievements And Trophies In Civilization 7, you must develop life, and also collect Trophies and Achievements if you’re dedicated enough. 2K’s long-running world-building sim franchise is back for more human being advancement and era-defining decisions, and along the way you can earn a lot of tough Civilization 7 Achievements and Trophies. Civilization 7 is back to bring you more of what you love. World-bending crisis’, new ways to keep everyone alive, and a refined gameplay structure. You need to spend minutes agonizing over decisions that affect the thousands of years ahead. While you do this, you also need to bear in mind Civ 7’s extensive list of extra accomplishments. Whether this is your first attempt at Civilization completionism or not, fear not, it’s going to be tough for everyone. How Many Civilization 7 Trophies & Achievements Are There? Every choice matters. Credit to 2K There are 33 PlayStation Trophies and 32 Xbox Achievements to unlock for Civilization 7. As with every Trophy and Achievement list, the Platinum Trophy is the difference here. A fun, extra Trophy given to players for going above and beyond and getting every extra objective done on PlayStation. You still get a ton of Gamerscore on Xbox, so it’s not all too bad! What is bad is the list itself. Every Civilization 7 Achievement & Trophy Civilization 7 looks to be an extremely time-sapping list. You need to win with a variety of leaders, complete milestones, and win on Deity difficulty. This is fitting as I wonder if any fabled Gods would have a chance at ticking off every Trophy and Achievement on the list. This is not for me to debate. However, this list is for you to read, so check it out. Trophy & Achievement Name Description Trophy Rarity Gamerscore Value The Test of Time Earn all other Trophies Platinum N/A Woman-o-war Win the modern age as Amina Silver 35G Budding Buddhist Win the modern age as Ashoka Silver 35G Roman of the Hour Win the modern age as Augustus Silver 309G Postmaster and Commander Win the modern age as Ben Franklin Silver 218G Lived up to the Name Win the modern age as Catherine the Great Silver 35G Magne Squeeze Win the modern age as Charlemagne Silver 309G Proverbial Wisdom Win the modern age as Confucius Silver 178G On the ****** Win the modern age as Friedrich II Silver 35G Ground Breaker/ Freedom Fighter Win the modern age as Harriet Tubman Silver 35G Suted for Battle Win the modern age as Hatshepsut Silver 35G Radiance of the Sun Win the modern age as Himiko Silver 35G Son of a Duck Win the modern age as Ibn Battuta Silver 35G Inquisitor Queen Win the modern age as Isabella Silver 35G Can’t Touch This Win the modern age as Jose Rizal Silver 35G Had the last Lafayette Win the modern age as Lafayette Silver 309G Hit Mach 10 Win the modern age as Machiavelli Silver 309G Eat, Inca, and be Merry Win the modern age as Pachacuti Silver 35G Sisters Before Misters Win the modern age as Trung Trac Silver 35G Sailed the Seven Xerxes Win the modern age as Xerxes Silver 35G One Hit Wonder Complete all Milestones of the Cultural Legacy Path in Antiquity Silver 31G Trade Secret Complete all Milestones of the Economic Legacy Path in Antiquity Silver 45G Pax a Wallop Complete all Milestones of the Military Legacy Path in Antiquity Silver 44G Book Smart Complete all Milestones of the Scientific Legacy Path in Antiquity Silver 36G Relic Hunter Complete all Milestones of the Cultural Legacy Path in Exploration Silver 101G Coin Toss Complete all Milestones of the Economic Legacy Path in Exploration Silver 78G Settled the Score Complete all Milestones of the Military Legacy Path in Exploration Silver 72G Science in the Suburbs Complete all Milestones of the Scientific Legacy Path in Exploration Silver 88G All Over the Map Complete all Milestones of the Cultural Legacy Path in Modern Silver 176G Ride the Rails Complete all Milestones of the Economic Legacy Path in Modern Silver 124G Big Stick Ideology Complete all Milestones of the Military Legacy Path in Modern Silver 176G It’s Not Rocket Science…Yet Complete all Milestones of the Scientific Legacy Path in Modern Silver 72G Playing God Win a game on Deity difficulty Gold 95G Well, what do you make of the Civilization 7 list? Is it as daunting as I made it out to be? Is it worse than you imagined? Share your thoughts with a comment below. Keep up to date with more Civ 7 news and content such as its DLC and Roadmap, the system requirements, and a full Factions guide. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Civilization #Trophy #ListAll #Achievements #Trophies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jeff Bezos’ Successful Blue Origin Launch Silences Skeptics Jeff Bezos’ Successful Blue Origin Launch Silences Skeptics On Thursday morning, at a time when most people in the United States were sleeping, Jeff Bezos’ space company sent its first rocket into orbit. At 2:03 a.m. Eastern time, seven powerful engines ignited at the base of a 320-foot-tall rocket named New Glenn. The flames illuminated night into day at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The rocket, barely moving at first, nudged upward and then accelerated in an arc over the Atlantic Ocean, lit up in blue, the color of combustion of the rocket’s methane fuel. Thirteen minutes later, the second stage of New Glenn reached orbit. The launch was a major success for Blue Origin, Mr. Bezos’ rocket company. It should quiet critics who say that the company has been too slow compared with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which has dominated global spaceflight industry in recent years. New Glenn could prove a credible competitor with Mr. Musk’s company and win launch contracts from NASA and the Department of Defense, as well as commercial contracts. For at least one moment, however, the two richest people in the world warmly cheered each other. “Congratulations on reaching orbit on the first attempt!” Mr. Musk wrote on X, the social media site that he owns. “Thank you!” Mr. Bezos replied. Mr. Bezos posted a series of pictures and videos. “Beautiful,” Mr. Musk commented on one of the images. The upward flight appeared almost flawless, but Blue Origin’s stretch goal of landing the booster stage on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean failed. As planned, the booster fired three of its engines to slow down, but then the stream of data stopped, indicating that the booster had been lost. “We’ll learn a lot from today and try again at our next launch this spring,” Dave Limp, the chief executive of Blue Origin, said in a statement. For years, Mr. Bezos has talked of an ambitious vision of millions of people working and living in space, sending spacecraft to the moon and building space stations. Skeptics, however, pointed out that Blue Origin had not sent a single thing to orbit since the company was founded nearly a quarter-century ago, two years before SpaceX. Now it has. “There was reason to doubt before this launch if Blue Origin actually had the technical capability,” said Todd Harrison, a space policy analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington think tank. “And now they’ve proven that they do.” Until now, Blue Origin had launched only its smaller New Shepard rocket, which sent space tourists and science experiments on suborbital jaunts to the edge of space, providing a few minutes of floating. Mr. Bezos was among the first passengers on a New Shepard flight in 2021. New Glenn, named after John Glenn, the NASA astronaut who was the first American to orbit Earth, dwarfs New Shepard. Indeed, a New Shepard could fit within New Glenn’s payload area in the nose cone. Reaching the speed to circle the Earth is a much more complex task than the New Shepard vehicle has achieved. “All of the sudden, you’ve graduated to a new level of credibility,” said Phil Smith, a space industry analyst at BryceTech, a consulting firm in Alexandria, Va. When Mr. Bezos announced plans for the rocket, he said it would be ready by the end of 2020. A huge Blue Origin rocket factory rose just outside NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but there were scant signs of the rocket itself. The original target date came and went. Blue Origin was selected to launch a NASA mission — ESCAPADE, which is to take measurements of the Martian atmosphere — in October last year. But NASA pulled the spacecraft off the inaugural flight when it became uncertain that Blue Origin could be ready in time. Instead, this launch took to orbit a prototype of Blue Ring, a vehicle that could move satellites around in Earth orbit. For this flight, the prototype — Blue Origin calls it a “pathfinder” — remained attached to the rocket’s second stage testing the communication, power and flight computer systems. Blue Origin says that in the future Blue Ring will be able to move payloads between very different orbits, including those that go out as far as the moon and perform a variety of tasks. The Blue Ring prototype worked as expected during the six-hour mission, Blue Origin said. Blue Origin still lags far behind SpaceX in accomplishments — Mr. Musk’s company launched more than 100 times last year. But New Glenn could offer long-awaited competition for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, which currently dominate the launch industry. ”The only remaining question, I think, is how fast they can ramp up the launch rate,” Mr. Harrison said. In an interview on Sunday, Mr. Limp said that, with a successful inaugural launch of New Glenn, Blue Origin is aiming for a second launch in the spring and that he wanted six to eight launches this year. “That would be a good year for us, I think,” he said. “Jeff would like us to do more, so we’re pushing,” Mr. Limp added, referring to Mr. Bezos, who was sitting next to him. “That’s very realistic,” Mr. Bezos said. One of Blue Origin’s contracts is with Mr. Bezos’ other company, Amazon, to launch satellites for Project Kuiper, a constellation of internet satellites. It will compete with SpaceX’s Starlink system. Blue Origin officials have not yet announced what will be going up this year, but the launches could include an uncrewed moon lander. Blue Origin is working on a spacecraft that is to take NASA astronauts to the surface of the moon a few years from now. During an interview last year on the CBS News program “60 Minutes,” a Blue Origin official revealed that the company was developing a small lunar lander that it called Blue Moon Mark 1, scheduled to launch to the moon in 2025. Mr. Limp said that was still the plan, and the spacecraft is currently under construction. A full-scale model of the Mark 1 lander dominates the lobby of the Blue Origin building in Florida. “It’s supposed to go this year,” Mr. Bezos said. “I think it will go this year.” Source link #Jeff #Bezos #Successful #Blue #Origin #Launch #Silences #Skeptics Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Horseback police chase after suspected drug dealer in Florida Horseback police chase after suspected drug dealer in Florida Bodycam video released by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Florida has captured a dramatic horseback police chase. Officers galloped after the suspected drug dealer who tried to escape on foot. The chase led them across traffic, a fast food drive-thru and a parking lot, before the man eventually surrendered. Source link #Horseback #police #chase #suspected #drug #dealer #Florida Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Final Fantasy XIV Reveals First Details About Update 7.2 Including New Large-Scale Content Final Fantasy XIV Reveals First Details About Update 7.2 Including New Large-Scale Content Square Enix announced its financial results for the first nine months of the fiscal year, related to the ******* between April and December. Mobile did badly. HD games still lose money. FFXIV is still a solid rock, and Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is the real hero. Source link #Final #Fantasy #XIV #Reveals #Details #Update #Including #LargeScale #Content Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

F.A.A. Temporarily Halts Launches of Musk’s Starship After Explosion F.A.A. Temporarily Halts Launches of Musk’s Starship After Explosion The urgent radio calls by the air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration office in Puerto Rico started to go out on Thursday evening as a SpaceX test flight exploded and debris began to rain toward the Caribbean. Flights near Puerto Rico needed to avoid passing through the area — or risk being hit by falling chunks of the Starship, the newest and biggest of Elon Musk’s rockets. “Space vehicle mishap,” an air traffic controller said over the F.A.A. radio system, as onlookers on islands below and even in some planes flying nearby saw bright streaks of light as parts of the spacecraft tumbled toward the ocean. Added a second air traffic controller: “We have reports of debris outside of the protected areas so we’re currently going to have to hold you in this airspace.” The mishap — the Starship spacecraft blew up as it was still climbing into space — led the F.A.A. on Friday to suspend any additional liftoffs by SpaceX’s Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. The incident raises new questions about both the safety of the rapidly increasing number of commercial space launches, or at least the air traffic disruption being caused by them. It also is the latest incident highlighting the conflicts that Elon Musk’s new role in the Trump administration will bring. He will have the remit to recommend changes, and potentially budget cuts, to government agencies including the F.A.A. That tension could hamper investigations like the one announced on Friday. Mr. Musk, who is preparing to travel to Washington to participate in Mr. Trump’s inauguration, expressed confidence even as of Thursday night that SpaceX would resolve questions about the explosion quickly and restart test flights. “Nothing so far suggests pushing next launch past next month,” Mr. Musk wrote on his social media site, X. Mr. Musk also made fun of the spectacle the explosion created, as the debris fell toward Turks and Caicos Islands. “Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!” he wrote atop a video of the fiery debris falling toward earth. The explosion happened after the Starship’s second stage — which is slated to carry cargo or even astronauts on their way to the moon during future missions — separated from the lower Super Heavy booster, and was flying at about 13,250 miles per hour, 90 miles above the Earth. The Starship had already fired its own rockets to finish the trip into orbit, according to SpaceX’s ship tracking information, suggesting that at the time it blew up, it weighed somewhat more than 100 tons, which is the Starship’s approximate mass without fuel. SpaceX and F.A.A. officials on Friday did not respond to questions submitted in writing and in interviews by The New York Times as to whether the explosion and falling debris may have represented a threat to any aircraft or people on the ground. It is unclear how much of the spacecraft might have burned up as it fell. The agency did say there were no reports of injuries but is investigating reports of property damage on Turks and Caicos. It also said that several aircraft that were asked to hold in an area away from the falling debris ended up having to divert and return to other airports because of low fuel. SpaceX, in a statement about this seventh Starship test flight, said that early data suggested that a fire had started in the rear section of the spacecraft, resulting in the explosion and the landing of debris in an area that SpaceX and the F.A.A. had already identified as liable to such hazards. Closer to the South Texas launch site, at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, all flights were already banned at the time of the launch. Starship was about 10 times higher than the altitude of commercial flights when it exploded, meaning there should have been time to warn any planes in the area to steer clear before any remaining debris approached. SpaceX will be in charge of the mishap investigation, but it will be overseen by the F.A.A., which could allow it to resume test flights even before the investigation is complete, if SpaceX can document that the accident did not create a safety hazard. Mr. Musk has previously expressed frustration at how long it takes the agency to approve Starship launch licenses. Now he will be a prominent member of the Trump administration, through his perch as a co-leader of an advisory group called the Department of Government Efficiency, with the power to evaluate federal spending and regulations. “What this new administration might do is push this review to its conclusion faster,” said Todd Harrison, a former space industry executive at America Enterprise Institute. He added that he expected some at F.A.A. might want to put new demands on SpaceX related to what time future Starship test flights launch, or broader restrictions on flights along more of the flight path. Tim Farrar, a satellite industry consultant, said the incident showed the complications the United States is going to face as it ramps up space launches, both for the Pentagon as it builds out space warfighting capacity, and major commercial companies like SpaceX and Amazon that are building constellations with thousands of satellites to create global broadband internet access from orbit. “How much can you realistically increase the tempo of these launches?” Mr. Farrar said. There were 145 launches reaching orbit last year from the United States, compared with just 21 five years ago. An extraordinary 133 of those orbital launches were by SpaceX, which is now the world’s dominant space company, according to data collected by Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist who tracks launches globally. Most of those SpaceX launches were by the Falcon 9 rocket, which is deploying Starlink communications satellites and Pentagon payloads and was not impacted by Friday’s F.A.A. order. Blue Origin, the launch company created by Jeff Bezos, had its own rocket test on Thursday, reaching orbit for the first time with its spacecraft called New Glenn. But it launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 2:03 a.m., in part because there were fewer planes in the air then. The surge in launch frequency, even before Thursday, has been generating complaints from airlines, including Qantas, the ***********-based carrier, which told reporters this month that it has had to delay several flights between Johannesburg and Sydney at the last minute because of debris from SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets. “While we try to make any changes to our schedule in advance, the timing of recent launches have moved around at late notice which has meant we’ve had to delay some flights just prior to departure,” the Qantas executive said in a statement. Hannah Walden, an Airlines for America spokeswoman, said the commercial airlines are tracking this issue closely. “Safety is the top priority for U.S. airlines, and we are committed to ensuring the safety of all flights amidst the growing number of space launches,” she said in a statement. “We continuously collaborate and coordinate with the federal government and commercial space stakeholders to ensure the U.S. airspace remains safe for all users.” Bill Nelson, the Biden-era National Aeronautics and Space Administration director, praised the test flight. The space agency has more than $4 billion worth of contracts with SpaceX to twice use Starship to land astronauts on the moon. “Spaceflight is not easy,” he wrote Thursday night on Mr. Musk’s X platform. “It’s anything but routine. That’s why these tests are so important — each one bringing us closer on our path to the Moon and onward to Mars.” Mark Walker contributed reporting. Source link #F.A.A #Temporarily #Halts #Launches #Musks #Starship #Explosion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

ASRock feels the heat as it moves manufacturing out of China to counter U.S. tariffs ASRock feels the heat as it moves manufacturing out of China to counter U.S. tariffs In response to the United States’ recent imposition of a 10% tariff on ******** imports, ASRock has announced plans to shift its manufacturing operations out of China. This move aims to circumvent the increased costs associated with the new tariffs, threatening to raise consumer prices and disrupt the company’s supply chain. The new tariff applies to any existing import duties previously levied on select ******** products. As a result, prices of essential goods, including electronics and computer hardware, are expected to rise sharply. In an email to PCMag, ASRock stated, “As for the 10% tariff applied to other products like GPU cards, we need some time to transfer the manufacturing to other countries.” The company also mentioned plans to work with manufacturers in Vietnam and Taiwan, although it may take years to migrate production to other markets fully. For any manufacturer, the relocation process involves significant logistical planning and investment. The company must establish new supply chains, ensure quality control in new facilities, and navigate different regulatory environments. Despite these challenges, the move is deemed necessary to maintain market share and protect profit margins in the face of escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China. While relocating manufacturing operations can help companies avoid tariffs, it may increase production costs in the short term due to the expenses associated with setting up new facilities and training workforces. However, in the long run, diversifying manufacturing locations can enhance operational resilience and reduce dependence on any single country. Additionally, this shift may lead to some initial supply chain disruptions, potentially affecting product availability in specific markets. Consumers may also see temporary fluctuations in pricing as companies adjust to new manufacturing conditions. However, ASRock and other companies making similar moves hope that these efforts will ultimately stabilize costs and improve efficiency. “In the transition *******, we may absorb some of the cost and increase some prices to reflect the increased cost. Since the market is still highly competitive, it is not easy to raise price,” said ASRock. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. As the geopolitical landscape evolves, tech companies closely monitor trade policies and adjust their strategies accordingly. ASRock’s proactive approach reflects a broader industry effort to adapt to changing economic conditions and maintain stability in a highly competitive global market. Source link #ASRock #feels #heat #moves #manufacturing #China #counter #U.S #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Apple AirPods 4 hit an all-time low of $100, plus the rest of the week’s best tech deals The Apple AirPods 4 hit an all-time low of $100, plus the rest of the week’s best tech deals This is the best price we’ve seen for Apple’s newest wireless earbuds. Engadget’s audio expert Billy Steele gave the AirPods 4 a score of 88 in his review last September, and they remain well worth a look for iPhone owners who hate the feeling of traditional in-ear headphones that dig into the ear canals. They sound clearer and more balanced than most open-back earbuds, and they still offer the usual suite of Apple-friendly conveniences: faster pairing and device switching with other Apple gadgets, hands-free Siri, Find My tracking, spatial audio support and so on. That said, they lack wireless charging and built-in volume controls, the five-hour battery life isn’t great and the open design means they let in lots of outside noise by default. You still need to be all-in on Apple to get the most out of them. But if you can live with that, they’re a decent value with this discount. Also at Target and Best Buy. The noise-canceling version of the AirPods 4 is also on ***** for $149. That’s $10 more than the lowest price we’ve tracked but $20 below the pair’s regular street price. This version includes all the same features as the base model, plus active noise cancellation (ANC), a wireless charging case and a few other perks. That ANC is inherently limited compared to earphones that seal off the ear canal, so it won’t grant you total silence, but it’s surprisingly useful for an open-back pair. Battery life takes a ******* hit with ANC active, though, checking in around four hours. Source link #Apple #AirPods #hit #alltime #rest #weeks #tech #deals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Asteroid 2024 YR4 Could Strike Earth, Researchers Say, But the Odds are Small Asteroid 2024 YR4 Could Strike Earth, Researchers Say, But the Odds are Small You may hear about a large asteroid headed toward Earth. Don’t panic. Just after Christmas Day, astronomers spotted something zipping away from Earth: a rock somewhere between 130 feet and 330 feet long that they named 2024 YR4. Over the next few weeks, they simulated its possible future orbits. They now say, based on the most up-to-date information, that there is a 1.3 percent chance that this asteroid will strike somewhere on Earth on Dec. 22, 2032. Should this keep you up at night? “No, absolutely not,” said David Rankin, a comet and asteroid spotter at the University of Arizona. The object’s current odds of striking Earth may sound scary — and it’s fair to say that an asteroid in this size range has the potential to cause harm. Should it strike a city, the damage would not cause anything close to a mass extinction, but the damage to the city itself would be catastrophic. But a 1.3 percent chance of a hit is also a 98.7 percent chance of a miss. “It’s not a number you want to ignore, but it’s not a number you need to lose sleep over,” Mr. Rankin said. And the odds may diminish over time, as astronomers gather new data about the object. For now, experts say, calm is warranted. The asteroid has been spotted several years ahead of its close shave with Earth — and that’s a good thing. “The international systems we’re putting in place to find, track and characterize — and, if it comes to it, mitigate the impacts of — hazardous asteroids and comets are working as intended,” said Andy Rivkin, an astronomer and planetary defense researcher at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland. Here’s what you need to know about 2024 YR4. How was this asteroid discovered? It was identified by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, or ATLAS, four telescopes around the world that hunt near-Earth objects and are funded by NASA. Its telescope in Chile found 2024 YR4 on Dec. 27, just two days after a close approach to Earth. It’s now speeding away from the planet and getting fainter by the day. How big is 2024 YR4? According to the European Space Agency’s Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre, it is between 130 and 330 feet long. This size range is based on the amount of sunlight it is reflecting. Without knowing exactly how reflective 2024 YR4’s surface is, only a range of sizes can be given. A more accurate estimate could be made using radar, but that won’t be possible until the asteroid makes another close, but perfectly safe, pass by Earth on Dec. 17, 2028. Is an asteroid of this size a concern? Yes. A 130-foot asteroid is comparable to the Tunguska impactor, a meteor that exploded over a remote patch of Siberia in 1908 and decimated an 800-square-mile forest (that’s over twice the size of New York City). A 330-foot asteroid would cause far greater localized damage: A strike on a city would destroy much of it. If the object survives its journey through the atmosphere and strikes the ocean just offshore, the resulting tsunami could devastate nearby coasts. How do we know there is a chance of an impact in 2032? The Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, is home to America’s asteroid and comet cartographers. Using sophisticated software, they track the motion of all known near-Earth objects. One of their programs, Sentry, assesses the possible orbits of known near-Earth objects and determines whether they stand even a tiny chance of striking Earth within the next century. Those whose impact odds cannot be confidently reduced to (essentially) zero remain on the Sentry Risk List. “The possibility that 2024 YR4 might impact in 2032 was identified right after discovery,” said Davide Farnocchia, a navigation engineer at the NASA center. But based on just a few observations, the prediction uncertainties for 2032 were initially very large. As the number of observations grew to the hundreds, he said, “the impact probability has gradually increased over the last month and has now surpassed 1 percent, an important threshold.” The Torino Scale is a tool for communicating how concerned the public and policymakers should be about an asteroid. It ranges from 0 (the likelihood of a potentially deadly collision is effectively zero) to 10 (a collision is certain and may imperil all of human civilization). 2024 YR4 currently sits at 3: a close encounter, less than a decade away, meriting attention by astronomers, one that has a chance of 1 percent or greater of a collision capable of localized destruction. This is the second-highest rating ever given to an asteroid. Only Apophis, an asteroid once thought to be a threat, briefly reached a 4. But as we learned more about Apophis, we found it had no chance of striking Earth for at least a century. When can we expect the impact odds to change? What normally happens is that the impact odds plummet to zero as more observations come in and the asteroid’s orbit is better known with more precision. The same story will probably unfold with 2024 YR4. “The most likely outcome is that further observations will rule out an impact,” Mr. Rankin said. 2024 YR4 is getting extremely faint as it travels away from Earth, meaning most telescopes are going to struggle to track it. “However, given this is a special case, members of the community have requested (and received) time on some of the larger and more capable facilities,” Dr. Rivkin said. “Those should do OK through April.” Astronomers will also have an even greater opportunity to refine their predictions during the December 2028 flyby. But until then, it’s possible that an impact in 2032 won’t be entirely ruled out. “We expect the impact probability to go to zero rather than 100 percent,” Dr. Rivkin said. “But it may take a few years before we get the data to show that.” Ultimately, should we be worried about 2024 YR4? No, not at present. It’s very likely to miss the planet in 2032. And if we find out that it will hit, “we might be able to do something about it,” Mr. Rankin said. One option, if space agencies had enough time to mount an operation, would be to attempt to alter the asteroid’s path by crashing a spacecraft into it. If that failed, or wasn’t possible, and governments worked out a precise impact location, they could evacuate people who might be at immediate risk. Robin George Andrews is the author of “How to Kill an Asteroid,” a book about the science of planetary defense. Source link #Asteroid #YR4 #Strike #Earth #Researchers #Odds #Small Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What is Physical Security and How Does it Work? What is Physical Security and How Does it Work? Physical security protects personnel, hardware, software, networks, facilities and data from physical actions and events that could cause serious loss or damage to an enterprise, agency or institution. This includes protection from fire, flood, natural disasters, burglary, theft, vandalism and terrorism. While most of these events are covered by insurance, physical security’s prioritization of damage prevention avoids the time, money and resources lost because of these events. Physical security is fundamental to an organization‘s success. It safeguards valuable assets and sensitive information by limiting facility access and monitoring activities. It ensures the confidentiality, integrity and availability of all types of data and information and also ensures the safety and protection of employees and others who work on premises. With the right security measures in place, an organization can ensure a safe and secure workplace. What is a physical security framework? A physical security framework outlines the policies, procedures and technologies used to protect an area from unauthorized access, intrusion or damage. Core elements of a physical security framework typically include the following: 1. Deterrence Deterrence means creating a visible security presence that makes an intruder think twice about trying to breach physical security. Companies deter criminals from attempting physical security breaches and unauthorized access by surrounding corporate campuses and remote buildings with visible physical security systems, such as tall perimeter fences, gates and security signage. 2. Detection Surveillance is one of the most important physical security components for prevention and post-incident recovery. In this case, it refers to the technology, personnel and resources that organizations use to detect intrusion and monitor the activity of different real-world locations and facilities. Examples include patrol guards, heat sensors, motion detectors, cameras and other notification systems. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are a common type of physical security control that records activity in certain areas. These video surveillance cameras are as valuable in capturing criminal behavior as they are in defending it. Threat actors who see a CCTV camera are less inclined to break in or vandalize a building out of fear of having their identity recorded. Similarly, if a particular asset or piece of equipment is stolen, surveillance cameras can provide visual evidence to identify the culprit and their tactics. 3. Delay Using tactically placed obstacles, organizations can make it more difficult for attackers to access valuable assets and information. Similarly, these barriers increase the time it takes for threat actors to successfully carry out acts of thievery, vandalism or terrorism. The more obstacles in place, the more time organizations have to respond to and contain threats and potential threats to physical security. Safes, vaults, walls and fences can help slow down physical intruders. Walls and fences can also harden buildings against environmental disasters, such as earthquakes, mudslides and floods. Organizations that divert resources toward such hardening measures should balance the cost and benefit of their implementation before investment. 4. Defend Protecting physical assets begins by limiting and controlling what people can access — whether a site, data center or other facility. Access control encompasses the measures taken to give only authorized personnel access to certain physical assets. These corporate barriers often include ID badges, keypads and security guards. However, these obstacles can vary significantly by method, approach and cost. More sophisticated access controls involve a technology-supported approach. Security teams can use physical authentication methods, such as security ID card scanners and near-field communication ID cards, to verify the identities of individuals entering and exiting various facilities. Why is physical security important? As businesses become more dependent on the internet of things (IoT) and edge computing, the need for digital and physical security grows. With IoT and edge computing providing industrial automation in manufacturing plants, remote offices and the field, a company’s responsibility for physical security has expanded. IoT sensors and devices, as well as new technologies like drones, the data they collect and the servers that store that data as well as where these technologies are deployed, must all be protected. For companies outsourcing their systems and applications to the cloud, agreements must be in place with all cloud vendors. They should require cloud vendors to maintain optimum physical security at their data centers and for the networks, physical storage and servers they use. Third-party cloud provider data centers require physical security to avoid data losses and uptime failures. Client companies should request reports of cloud data center physical security audits regularly. Types of physical security threats Physical security threats and risk points can come in many different forms, including the following: Human oversight Employees can forget to lock doors or sign off systems, leaving these assets open to intruders. In remote sites, such as manufacturing plants, it isn’t uncommon for employees to forget to return critical equipment, such as robots or servers, to securely locked cages after a shift ends. Equipment failures Security sensors in the field can malfunction. For example, a sensor might fail in temperatures below zero, or a visual sensor won’t work in snow. Also, door and vault locks or high-security fencing can fail. When these types of surveillance mechanisms malfunction, they create vulnerabilities in physical security that a perpetrator could penetrate. Natural and man-made disasters Disasters such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, chemical spills and fires can all affect the operations of equipment and facilities and compromise physical security. In these circumstances, companies need to take immediate steps to protect employees and minimize further damage to equipment and infrastructure. Developing a physical security plan Before a physical security plan is developed, it’s important to assess all corporate physical assets for level of risk and refine the scope of the plan by addressing the following questions: Is surveillance installed at every mission-critical point throughout the enterprise and its satellite facilities? Are data centers and IT equipment in remote areas secured from unauthorized access? Are all physical security monitoring and check-in technologies such as badge scans, in-field sensors, cameras and vault locks in perfect working order? Are employees properly trained in physical security practices for their work areas? Are there written procedures for extenuating circumstances like storms or fires that would cause a loss of physical security? Are physical security guidelines and procedures documented in the corporate disaster recovery and business continuity plan, and are employees regularly refreshed on this plan and how it works? Are physical security systems regularly tested? Are the organization’s physical assets insured for loss? Physical security best practices The following best practices can help an organization address its physical security needs: Use log and trail maintenance security. Keeping a record of what is accessed and by whom is a reliable way to discourage unauthorized users and create a forensic-friendly data environment. Organizations can monitor and record multiple failed login attempts and attempted access to gather crucial evidence to pinpoint security weaknesses. Adopt an approach based on risk management. This data analysis technique evaluates scenarios based on a person’s risk profile. If a business is particularly risk-averse — such as a credit union or a restaurant — it might opt to invest in a more expensive physical security system that’s more equipped to mitigate risk. Therefore, the amount of resources a company dedicates to its physical security using a risk-based approach should be equivalent to the value it places on risk mitigation. Tie access control to individuals. An organization can improve its visibility over personnel activity by tying access control to individuals. Imagine a particular room can only be accessed by a single key that’s given to only two people. If an asset in that room goes missing, only those two people are accountable for its disappearance. Perform regular security testing. Regular security testing is increasingly important. Fire drills are necessary for schools and buildings because they help to coordinate large groups and their methods of response. These tests should be conducted regularly so participants know exactly what to do in a physical emergency. Physical security deterrent equipment such as sensors, door locks, security cameras, badge and scanning systems should also be regularly tested. Train employees. Employees should be regularly trained on the physical security measures they should take in their work areas. This reduces the likelihood of human error or omission. Maintain an updated plan. Each year, companies acquire new physical assets and retire old ones. A company might open a new warehouse or acquire a server for a remote location. Regardless of the situation, the company’s physical assets are always changing, so the plan for securing them must change, too. Determine who is in charge of physical security. In many companies, physical security, even in data centers, is maintained by a separate maintenance or facilities department. In other cases, IT might be in charge of the data center, and a facilities group might handle other physical assets. Early on, it’s essential to know who is in charge of what. Don’t forget about the cloud. Most companies discuss physical security with their cloud vendors during the service evaluation and sign-up *******. However, after that, there’s often a tendency to assume that the vendor is maintaining proper physical security of the organization’s assets. A better course of action is to review the vendor’s security audits annually so the organization knows that physical and other security has been addressed and maintained. Use AI with physical security. The capabilities of physical security are changing. This transformation is largely being driven by the addition of artificial intelligence (AI) to physical security technology. Examples include advanced video surveillance systems, smart access control systems and biometric readers. AI motion sensors and cameras do more than monitor and report on motion. They also observe employee movements and determine if anything is irregular. Learn the pros and cons of biometric authentication and the best ways to protect biometric data. Source link #Physical #Security #Work Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

House Dems physically denied entry to Education Department building House Dems physically denied entry to Education Department building House Dems physically denied entry to Education Department building lead image Source link #House #Dems #physically #denied #entry #Education #Department #building Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gino D’Acampo’s ITV shows removed from schedule Gino D’Acampo’s ITV shows removed from schedule Gino D’Acampo’s upcoming shows have been removed from ITV’s schedule, after the celebrity chef was accused of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour on set. Friday night’s ITV2 episode of Family Fortunes has been replaced by Wheel of Fortune, an ITV spokesperson told BBC News, adding that Sunday’s two episodes of Secrets of the South, are no longer in the ITVBe schedule. On Thursday, ITV News published an investigation which said it had spoken to “dozens” of people who accused him of “unacceptable”, “distressing” and “horrendous” comments. In a statement to ITV News via his legal team, D’Acampo “firmly denied” the “deeply upsetting” allegations. BBC News has approached D’Acampo’s representative for comment. D’Acampo, 48, has been a regular on *** television since the early 2000s. He has primarily worked for ITV, including on a number of cooking and travel shows, as well as making appearances on other entertainment programmes. The Italian-born chef and broadcaster has also made appearances on BBC programmes. It is understood that there are now no repeats featuring D’Acampo in ITV’s linear schedule. However, some of his programmes are still available on ITVX, the broadcaster’s streaming service. A new series of Family Fortunes, filmed in October, hasn’t been broadcast yet, and it’s understood there are currently no plans to air it. ITV News published a number of allegations from anonymous accusers who said they had worked with D’Acampo on TV productions. BBC News has not spoken to his accusers nor has it verified their claims. They accused him of aggressive behaviour, using abusive language during outbursts on set and using sexualised language. His behaviour allegedly left some production staff fearful and uncomfortable, ITV News reported. It added that most people it spoke to were freelancers and had been too scared to complain at the time for fear of risking future employment. Responding to the investigation, D’Acampo’s representatives told ITV News that he “firmly denied” the claims. He said he had “never been made aware of these matters previously”. A statement continued: “I am a father, husband and have worked with well over 1,500 people on around 80 productions in my career, which I have been so proud of. “I take such matters extremely seriously,” he said, adding that the suggestion that he acted in an improper way was “deeply upsetting”. In a statement, ITV said production companies “have the primary responsibility for the duty of care of everyone they work with”. The broadcaster said it had “strengthened” policies about what standards they expect from production companies it works with in the last five years. A statement continued: “All of the concerns and complaints raised by those who have spoken to ITN [the producer of ITV News] describe behaviour which is inappropriate and unacceptable. “Most of them were not reported to ITV at the time. Where issues have been raised with ITV action has been taken.” Source link #Gino #DAcampos #ITV #shows #removed #schedule Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Kingdom Come 2 Dev On Denying Instant Gratification, Elder Scrolls: Morrowind Influence Kingdom Come 2 Dev On Denying Instant Gratification, Elder Scrolls: Morrowind Influence If you’ve started playing Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and you noticed how much freedom of choice you’re given, you may also think it seems reminiscent of earlier Elder Scrolls games. According to Kingdom Come 2 senior designer Ondřej Bittner, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion were both major influences for the game. Bittner told GamesRadar that he favors Morrowwind over Oblivion, but both titles made an impact on the creative team behind Kingdom Come 2. “Most of our designers are in their mid 30s–like, 30s to 40s–so these games had a huge impact on us,” noted Bittner. He went on to explain that Kingdom Come 2’s aversion to making side quests readily available at every turn was a deliberate choice inspired by those Elder Scrolls games. “Instant gratification in games has become a problem where, to sustain dopamine for people, you have to constantly bombard [players] with stuff,” added Bittner. “One day they wake up and go, ‘Oh, this is all really obnoxious,’ and they shut it all down. So we kind of go back to the roots of RPGs where it’s sort of like: ‘Well, you can do whatever you want, and maybe go and do the main story.” Bittner went on to share his belief that the game is more fun when it doesn’t tell players where to go, and he noted that this approach clashed with a younger generation of players who prefer being guided on their gaming journey. Bittner also said that his team’s approach goes back to the core RPG experience “with less hand-holding.” So far, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is off to a hot start on Steam, with over 150,000 players concurrently. It also sold 1 million copies in a single day. Players seem to enjoy even the smallest details, including NPCs’ aversion to your character if you don’t bother to bathe. Warhorse Studios has also laid out its roadmap for Kingdom Come 2’s post-release content. Source link #Kingdom #Dev #Denying #Instant #Gratification #Elder #Scrolls #Morrowind #Influence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ransomware payment value fell over 30% in 2024 Ransomware payment value fell over 30% in 2024 The total value of payments made to cyber criminal ransomware gangs fell dramatically in the back half of 2024, and according to statistics released this week by Chainalysis, a supplier of blockchain and crypto services, less than half of victims of recorded incidents even made a payment. Chainalysis found that over 2024 as a whole, ransomware gangs collectively made about $813.6m (£652.7m), down from 2023’s $1.25bn, and although payments were up by 2.4% in the first half of the year, in the second half, they dropped by 37.5% in the second. Its analysts suggested that both a growing number of law enforcement actions and the effects of international cooperation on ransomware were likely important factors in the fall. Additionally, they said, more victims seem to be refusing to pay. However, wrote the report’s authors, this does not mean that cyber criminal operations are shutting up shop. “In response, many attackers shifted tactics, with new ransomware strains emerging from rebranded, leaked or purchased code, reflecting a more adaptive and agile threat environment,” they said. “Ransomware operations have also become faster, with negotiations often beginning within hours of data exfiltration.” Coveware senior director of incident response Lizzie Cookson, who shared insight with the Chainalysis team for the report, said the market had never really recovered following the downfall of the LockBit and ALPHV/BlackCat gangs. “We saw a rise in lone actors, but we did not see any group(s) swiftly absorb their market share, as we had seen happen after prior high-profile takedowns and closures,” said Cookson. “The current ransomware ecosystem is infused with a lot of newcomers who tend to focus efforts on the small- to mid-size markets, which in turn are associated with more modest ransom demands.” Improved cyber security hygiene and resiliency may also be playing a role here. The increased profile of ransomware attacks in daily discourse means organisations are investing more and better in defensive countermeasures, and hence find themselves better able to resist cyber criminal demands, negotiate to reduce the final payments, or explore other options such as ignoring the gangs and restoring from backups when they get hit. Christian Geyer, founder and CEO at Actfore, a Washington DC-area cyber forensics specialist, said: “Organisations have increasingly implemented comprehensive data backup solutions, so the business can rapidly recover their systems through a wipe-and-restore process. “Many are becoming more tech-driven when it comes to incident response services, enabling them to identify the breached data much faster,” he told Computer Weekly. “Digital forensics is not only becoming more advanced and precise, but data mining services and incident response are evolving to be more efficient and proactive. Technology is allowing organisations to better understand the contents of the stolen data before proceeding down the road of ransom payment.” Geyer also said victims may be resisting demands out of concern over the ethical and legal ramifications of sending large ransomware payments to unknown, unidentified actors. “For instance, if the threat actor is a foreign nation-state sponsored terrorist group, then it could be seen as ******** to be paying money to those adversaries,” he said. “The playing field becomes more level when you have more data to make decisions about whether to pay or not.” Changing behaviour Chainalysis’s insight into how cyber criminals exploit the world of crypto in their attacks may also explain some of the changes. The team said they observed significant changes in how ransomware gangs “off-ramp” their funds, with a significant decline in the use of so-called mixers in 2024 – likely testament to the impact of sanctions and police action. A far higher proportion of ransomware funds are now flowing through centralised exchanges, and personal wallets, while cross-chain bridges are replacing mixers as a means of obscuring where the money is heading. The use of personal crypto wallets is particularly interesting, said Chainalysis, and likely a big factor in the decline. “Curiously, ransomware operators, a primarily financially motivated group, are abstaining from cashing out more than ever,” they said. “We attribute this largely to increased caution and uncertainty amid what is probably perceived as law enforcement’s unpredictable and decisive actions targeting individuals and services participating in or facilitating ransomware laundering, resulting in insecurity among threat actors about where they can safely put their funds.” Getting speculative Finally, Jon Miller, CEO and co-founder of ransomware prevention specialist Halcyon, suggested there may be another factor to partially explain the decline. “2024 was a major election year in the US, with a lot at stake for nation-states like Russia, who give safe harbour to ransomware operators,” he said. “The 2022 ‘lull’ has in part been attributed to Russia redirecting some cyber criminal resources to conduct more state-supported operations against Ukraine and their western supporters, so this decline in payments could also be in part the result of the most talented ransomware operators being yet again pulled off their cyber criminal activities to support Russian state priorities around the US election, so the drop was most precipitous in the second half of the year.” Source link #Ransomware #payment #fell Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025 Space and Astronomy Events Calendar 2025 Space and Astronomy Events Calendar Jump to: The New York Times has offered this calendar to readers since 2017. It’s a collection of newsworthy events in spaceflight and astronomy curated by the paper’s journalists. The entries below these instructions will be updated regularly to adjust dates and revise information. New events will be added and entries will be removed after they conclude or are indefinitely postponed. The easiest way to use this calendar is to add this page to your web browser’s bookmarks or favorites, and revisit it regularly. Instructions for common web browsers are below, along with additional instructions and answers to common questions. Answers to common questions we’ve received How do I bookmark this calendar on my browser? Here are bookmarking instructions for four of the most common browsers: What happened to the Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and Outlook calendar feeds? The Times has paused the use of the feed that puts the events from this calendar on your personal digital calendar. If we resume use of such a feed, we will post instructions for it at this page. How do I unsubscribe from the digital calendar feed? You can follow the instructions included in last year’s edition of the calendar. How do I submit feedback, or suggest another important space or astronomy event that I think you missed? Email us at *****@*****.tld. Show more The Dream Chaser, built by Sierra Space, undergoing testing at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. The company hopes it will carry cargo to the International Space Station for the first time this year.Credit…Jef Janis/NASA Our species called this latest 366-day journey around the sun “2024” and packed into it a ton of astronomical and spaceflight excitement. A solar eclipse crossed North America. Two robotic landers reached the lunar surface, largely intact. The most powerful rocket booster ever built was caught by a pair of mechanical arms nicknamed “chopsticks.” A journey began to Jupiter’s icy ocean moon Europa. And private astronauts conducted a daring spacewalk. Can this revolution around the sun we name “2025” compare? We’ll let you be the judge of how enthusiastic to get about the events you can expect on the launchpads and in the night sky. For updates on these and other events, you can make regular visits to The Times Space and Astronomy calendar. Jeff Bezos enters the arena The New Glenn vehicle was rolled out at Cape Canaveral, Fla., in February to undergo a series of tanking and mechanical system tests.Credit…Blue Origin Through SpaceX, Elon Musk has dominated spaceflight around the planet in recent years. But the extraplanetary ambitions of the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos could present a challenge to Mr. Musk soon. The space company started by Mr. Bezos, Blue Origin, has a powerful rocket called New Glenn that may at last get off the ground in 2025. Like SpaceX’s Falcon 9, the booster stage is designed to be fully reusable so it can fly again and again and reduce the cost of launches. The rocket could launch national security satellites for the U.S. military and spacecraft for NASA, including orbiters to Mars and moon landers. Another thing New Glenn will carry is satellites for Amazon, where Mr. Bezos is still executive chair. The company’s Project Kuiper involves plans to build a mega-constellation of satellites beaming internet down from space, in competition with SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. Amazon also plans to launch Kuiper satellites using rockets from many of Blue Origin’s competitors, including United Launch Alliance, Arianespace of France and even SpaceX. Rubin’s first light The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, in the Coquimbo region of Chile, in January 2024.Credit…Javier Torres/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Astronomers atop a mountain in central Chile are wrapping up construction of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which might capture its first views of the night sky this year, as early as July 4. Formerly the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, the observatory was renamed in 2020 to honor Vera Rubin, who died at 88 in 2016. Dr. Rubin’s work persuaded astronomers of the existence of dark matter, which makes up a vast majority of mass in the universe, but no one knows what it is. The name is fitting. With the largest digital camera in the world, scientists will use the Rubin Observatory to create a time-lapse motion picture of the Southern sky. Such images would help researchers understand the nature of dark matter, as well as dark energy, the unknown force pushing the cosmos apart. The trove of data will also help reveal the story of our galaxy’s birth and catalog asteroids and comets in our solar system, including those that could slam into Earth one day. The moon, and Trump, come back around The core stage of NASA’s Space Launch System, the rocket that will be used for the Artemis II moon mission, at Cape Canaveral, Fla., in July.Credit…Chandan Khanna/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images During the first administration of Donald J. Trump, American space policy refocused on lunar exploration. President Biden’s administration sustained that direction. But as Mr. Trump returns to the White House in January, the country’s existing space plans could be upended by canceling the expensive rocket NASA has been developing for more than a decade. Alternatively, Mr. Trump could more radically shift NASA’s focus to sending people to Mars. Getting to the Red Planet is the primary goal of Mr. Musk, who has been advising the president-elect. For all that potential uncertainty, a series of robotic space missions are planned to the moon early in the year. The first two, a pair of landers from the American company Firefly Aerospace and the Japanese company Ispace, will launch on the same SpaceX rocket as soon as mid-January. The mission by Firefly will be the first trip of its Blue Ghost lander and will carry cargo paid for by NASA. The lunar trip by Ispace will be its second attempt after the company’s first lander crashed into the moon’s surface in 2023. Later in the year’s first quarter, Intuitive Machines may try to put another robotic lander on the moon after the company’s Odysseus lander reached the surface intact, but tilted over, last February. The company’s second lander, named Athena, also will carry NASA-financed instruments, including a drill that will try to find samples of ice. Athena will share a SpaceX launcher with Lunar Trailblazer, a NASA orbiter that will study water on the moon. Vigils for Voyagers 1 and 2 Clockwise from top left: Uranus, seen by Voyager 2 on its way to visit Neptune in 1986; the “Pale Blue Dot” of Earth as seen by Voyager 1 in 1990; Jupiter, Io and Europa seen by Voyager 1 in 1979; Voyager 2 in a clean room of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., in 1977. Voyagers 1 and 2, twin spacecraft that inspired a generation of cosmic wonderers, were launched in 1977. After decades of exploring the outer solar system before charting the unknown frontier of interstellar space, the two spacecraft are showing signs of age. Early in their journey, the pair swooped past Jupiter and Saturn, and Voyager 2 later visited Uranus and Neptune. But perhaps the mission’s most iconic gift to the world was a photo taken of Earth, a tiny pixel against the expanse of space, leading the famed astronomer Carl Sagan to coin the image “Pale Blue Dot.” In recent years, the robotic explorers have each blinked in and out of contact with NASA. Communication with Voyager 2 was purposefully shut down in 2020 for months, then lost by accident for a couple of weeks in 2023 before it was restored. Voyager 1, on the other hand, gave mission specialists a scare this year when it stopped sending data back to Earth. Instruments on both spacecraft have been shut down to conserve power. But NASA isn’t giving up on them yet. When they are eventually interred in the space between the stars, it would be an apt resting place given how the duo has ventured where no other spacecraft had gone before. India’s orbital objective Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India in February shaking hands with members of the planned Gaganyaan mission: from left, Prasanth Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Pratap and Shubhanshu Shukla.Credit…Press Information Bureau Handout/EPA-EFE, via Shutterstock India’s space program has landed a robot on the moon and put a spacecraft into orbit around Mars. The country’s most immediate priorities are much closer to Earth, but that doesn’t mean they are less ambitious. India is focusing on human spaceflight. A member of the nation’s astronaut corps, Shubhanshu Shukla, is to spend up to 14 days this spring aboard the International Space Station during a commercial mission with the company Axiom Space. Mr. Shukla and his fellow Indian astronauts are hoping to be the first to launch to low Earth orbit on its homegrown rockets. India said in December that an orbital vehicle from that program, known as Gaganyaan, was being prepared for a test launch with no astronauts aboard. A successful flight could lead the way to a crewed Indian astronaut launch as early as 2026. New milestones and new spacecraft SpaceX’s large rocket booster returning to the launchpad for a “chopsticks” catch in Boca Chica, Texas, after a test flight in October.Credit…Eric Gay/Associated Press SpaceX wowed the world in November during Flight 5 of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built. Expect the company to try to repeat the stunning “chopsticks” catch of its massive Super Heavy booster. SpaceX may also attempt to catch the upper-stage Starship vehicle after it completes an orbit of Earth and returns to the launch site in South Texas for the first time. SpaceX said it was aiming for 25 launches of Starship in 2025 as it prepares the spacecraft to land astronauts on the moon under the company’s contract with NASA. Other new rockets and spacecraft may take flight in 2025. One is Neutron, a reusable rocket being developed by Rocket Lab, which was founded in New Zealand. The company routinely carries satellites to orbit aboard its small Electron rocket, and could conduct a first flight of the new vehicle from a launch site in Virginia. Another is Dream Chaser, a space plane built by Sierra Space. After delays in 2024, the company hopes it will carry cargo to the I.S.S. for the first time this year. Show more A view of the Odysseus lander during the final moments of its landing on the moon in February 2024.Credit…Intuitive Machines The company Intuitive Machines put its robotic Odysseus lander on the moon’s surface intact, but tilted over, last February. It was the first American vehicle to make a soft landing on the moon in more than 50 years. Its second lunar lander, named Athena, will head there carrying NASA-financed instruments including a drill that will try to find samples of ice. Athena will share a SpaceX launcher with Lunar Trailblazer, a NASA orbiter that will study water on the moon. The launch is currently scheduled for a four-day launch window that opens on Feb. 26. NASA’s SPHEREx space observatory at BAE Systems in Boulder, Colo., in November 2024, after completing environmental testing.Credit…BAE Systems If astronomers could study space in more colors, they’d gain a better understanding of cosmic physics and planetary science. That’s the goal of NASA’s SPHEREx mission, imaging the sky in 102 colors, many of which are infrared and aren’t visible to humans. SPHEREx stands for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer. We will provide a more precise launch date for this mission when NASA and SpaceX announce one. You’ll need binoculars or a telescope to find Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.Credit…Martin Kornmesser/I.A.U., via European Pressphoto Agency Some stargazers are calling it a planetary parade: Every other planet in our solar system can be seen in the sky tonight. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter will be visible with the unaided eye. Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will be up there, too, but require binoculars or a telescope to find. A lunar eclipse over the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland in September 2024.Credit…Grzegorz Momot/EPA, via Shutterstock Earth’s shadow will cross over the moon, creating the effect that some call a blood moon. The eclipse will be most visible across parts of the Americas and the Pacific, but also experienced in Europe and western Africa. Earth at the vernal equinox.Credit…Robert Simmon/NASA Earth Observatory The vernal equinox is one of two points in Earth’s orbit where the sun creates equal periods of daytime and nighttime across the globe. Many people mark it as the first day of the spring. See what it looks like from space. People gathered to watch the total solar eclipse from Washington Square Park in Manhattan in April 2024.Credit…Amir Hamja/The New York Times If you saved your eclipse glasses from last April’s Great North American Eclipse, you might get a chance to use them again for this partial solar eclipse. But you’ll have to wake up early and hope for clear skies not long after sunrise for this one. Do not look directly at a partial eclipse. Along many parts of the East Coast, the eclipse’s effect will be modest. There will be only about a 20 percent bite out of the sun in New York City. You’ll have to venture high into Canada’s Maritime Provinces to find a place where the sun nears a total eclipse. The scientific core of the NASA-ISRO synthetic aperture radar, or NISAR, satellite inside a clean room at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., in 2023.Credit…Mario Tama/Getty Images The NASA-ISRO SAR mission, or NISAR, is a collaborative project between the American and Indian space agencies. Launching from an Indian rocket, the spacecraft will carry a variety of sensors, some provided by NASA, to study shifts in Earth’s land- and ice-covered surfaces using synthetic aperture radar. NASA says the launch will most likely occur in March. The flight was delayed last year after additional work on its instruments. We will provide a more precise launch date for this mission when NASA and India’s space agency, ISRO, announce one. The Axiom-2 mission heading to the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in 2023.Credit…Joe Skipper/Reuters Visits to the International Space Station are valuable, and would-be astronauts and their countries can wait a long time for the opportunity. Now an American company, Axiom Space, is organizing trips there for wealthy adventurers and for people from countries that have seldom or never had astronauts aboard the orbital outpost. Most notable among the crew of the company’s Ax-4 flight is the Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who has been tapped to fly to orbit on his country’s first crewed spaceflight mission, called Gaganyaan. He will share a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule with Slawosz Uznanski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The Lyrid meteor shower over Burg on the Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn off Germany in 2018.Credit…Daniel Reinhardt/DPA, via Associated Press Active from April 15 to April 30. Peak night: April 21 to 22. Best seen from the Northern Hemisphere, the Lyrids are caused by the dusty debris from a comet named Thatcher and spring from the constellation Lyra. During this year’s ******* of peak activity, viewers may have a more difficult time seeing meteors from this shower because the moon will be 40 percent full. Halley’s comet over Easter Island in 1986. The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is the result of debris from Halley’s tail.Credit…W. Liller/NASA Active from April 20 to May 21. Peak night: May 3 to 4. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is known for its fast fireballs, which occur as Earth passes through the rubble left by Halley’s comet. Sometimes spelled Eta Aquariid, this shower is most easily seen from the southern tropics. But a lower rate of meteors will also be visible in the Northern Hemisphere close to sunrise. The moon will be nearly half full on the night of the show. Earth at the summer solstice.Credit…Robert Simmon/NASA Earth Observatory It’s the scientific start to summer in the Northern Hemisphere, when this half of the world tilts toward the sun. Read more about the solstice and why it happens. How much the Earth’s orbit deviates from a perfect circle is measured by its eccentricity. The higher the eccentricity, the more elliptical the orbit.Credit…Terry Virts/Johnson Space Center, via NASA Even as the Northern Hemisphere experiences the heat of summer, our planet is at aphelion, the farthest it will get from the sun during its elliptical orbit. Read more about aphelion, why it happens and why it’s decreasing. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile.Credit…Olivier Bonin/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, via Reuters In Chile, an American-funded telescope is coming into operation that will use the largest digital camera in the world. Scientists will use the Rubin Observatory to create a motion picture of the southern sky, helping them understand the nature of dark matter, the invisible glue holding our universe together, as well as dark energy, the unknown force pulling the cosmos apart. That trove of data will also reveal the story of our galaxy’s birth and become a catalog of asteroids and comets in our solar system that could one day be hazardous to Earth. Originally named the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, the observatory was renamed in 2020 to honor Vera C. Rubin, whose work convinced astronomers of the existence of dark matter. Dr. Rubin died in 2016 at 88. A meteor streaking across the night sky in Sydney, Australia, in late July 2022, during the peaks of the Southern Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids showers.Credit…Saverio Marfia/Getty Images Southern Delta Aquarids active from July 18 to Aug. 12. Alpha Capricornids active from July 12 to Aug. 12. Peak night for both: July 29 to 30. Two meteor showers peak at the end of July: the Southern Delta Aquarids, best seen in the Southern Hemisphere in the constellation Aquarius, and the Alpha Capricornids, which are visible from both hemispheres in Capricorn. With the moon around 27 percent full, viewing opportunities could be favorable. But the Southern Delta Aquarids, sometimes spelled Aquariids, tend to be faint, and the Alpha Capricornids rarely create more than five meteors an hour. Hunting the night sky for meteors during the Perseid shower at Kozjak Lake, North Macedonia, in August 2024.Credit…Georgi Licovski/EPA, via Shutterstock Active from July 17 to Aug. 23. Peak night: Aug. 12 to 13. A favorite among skywatchers, the Perseids are one of the strongest showers each year, with as many as 100 long, colorful streaks an hour. It is a show best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. This year, observers may have to contend with light from the moon, which will be nearly 84 percent full on the night the Perseids peak. The blood moon of a total lunar eclipse outside Melbourne, Australia, in November 2022.Credit…William West/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Earth’s shadow will cross over the moon, creating the effect that some call a blood moon. The eclipse will be most visible in Asia and parts of Australia, but also experienced in Africa and Europe. Equinoxes occur twice each year, in March and September, when Earth reaches a point in its orbit where the sun shines directly on the Equator.Credit…NASA The autumnal equinox is one of two points in Earth’s orbit where the sun creates equal periods of daytime and nighttime across the globe. Many mark it as the first day of the fall. Learn five facts about the autumnal equinox here. The Orionids meteor shower as seen from Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2009.Credit…Petar Petrov/Associated Press Active from Oct. 2 to Nov. 12. Peak night: Oct. 22 to 23. The Orionids are well loved by meteor shower aficionados because of the bright, speedy streaks they make near the group of stars known as Orion’s Belt. Like the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, which peaked in early May, the Orionids result when Earth passes through debris from Halley’s comet. This shower can be seen from both hemispheres. Viewing conditions may be excellent this year because the moon will be only about 2 percent full. The Leonid meteor shower viewed from North Macedonia in November 2020.Credit…Georgi Licovski/EPA, via Shutterstock Active from Nov. 3 to Dec. 2. Peak night: Nov. 16 to 17. The Leonids produce some of the fastest meteors each year, at 44 miles per second, with bright, long tails. Meteors from the Leonids can be spotted in the constellation Leo, and will be visible from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This year, the moon will be 9 percent full, which is good news for those trying to spot the Leonids. A meteor over Lukeville, Ariz., during the Geminids meteor shower in December 2023.Credit…Go Nakamura/Reuters Active from Dec. 1 to Dec. 21. Peak night: Dec. 12 to 13. Caused by debris from an asteroid, the Geminids are one of the strongest and most popular meteor showers each year. This shower is best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, but observers south of the Equator can also witness the show. The Geminids peak when the moon is nearly 40 percent full. Earth at the winter solstice.Credit…Robert Simmon/NASA Earth Observatory It’s the scientific start to winter in the Northern Hemisphere, when this half of the world tilts away from the sun. Read more about the solstice. A rendering of the orbit followed by the Ursids meteor shower. The white line shows the shower’s path, and the bright blue line in the middle represents the Earth’s orbit.Credit…Ian Webster and Peter Jenniskens Active from Dec. 16 to Dec. 26. Peak night: Dec. 21 to 22. A winter solstice light show, meteors from the Ursids appear near the Little Dipper, which is part of the constellation Ursa Minor. Only skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere will have a chance of seeing this shower. The moon will be 3 percent full. Enjoying the Perseid meteor shower at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.Credit…Michael Ciaglo for The New York Times Our universe might be chock-full of cosmic wonder, but you can observe only a fraction of astronomical phenomena with your naked eye. Meteor showers, natural fireworks that streak brightly across the night sky, are one of them. Where meteor showers come from There is a chance you might see a meteor on any given night, but you are most likely to catch one during a shower. Meteor showers are caused by Earth passing through the rubble trailing a comet or asteroid as it swings around the sun. This debris, which can be as small as a grain of sand, leaves behind a glowing stream of light as it burns up in Earth’s atmosphere. Meteor showers occur around the same time every year and can last for days or weeks. But there is only a small window when each shower is at its peak, which happens when Earth reaches the densest part of the cosmic debris. The peak is the best time to look for a shower. From our point of view on Earth, the meteors will appear to come from the same point in the sky. The Perseid meteor shower, for example, peaks in mid-August from the constellation Perseus. The Geminids, which occur every December, radiate from the constellation Gemini. How to watch a meteor shower Michelle Nichols, the director of public observing at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, recommends forgoing the use of telescopes or binoculars while watching a meteor shower. “You just need your eyes and, ideally, a dark sky,” she said. That’s because meteors can shoot across large swaths of the sky, so observing equipment can limit your field of view. Some showers are strong enough to produce up to 100 streaks an hour, according to the American Meteor Society, though you probably won’t see that many. “Almost everybody is under a light-polluted sky,” Ms. Nichols said. “You may think you’re under a dark sky, but in reality, even in a small town, you can have bright lights nearby.” Planetariums, local astronomy clubs or even maps like this one can help you figure out where to get away from excessive light. The best conditions for catching a meteor shower are a clear sky with no moon or cloud cover, at sometime between midnight and sunrise. (Moonlight affects visibility in the same way light pollution does, washing out fainter sources of light in the sky.) Make sure to give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to seeing in the dark. Ms. Nichols also recommends wearing layers, even during the summer. “You’re going to be sitting there for quite a while, watching,” she said. “It’s going to get chilly, even in August.” Bring a cup of cocoa or tea for even more warmth. Then sit back, scan the sky and enjoy the show. Show more The setting sun, at perihelion, in Ankara, Turkey, on Jan. 4, 2022.Credit…Cagla Gurdogan/Reuters Even as the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter’s chill, our planet on Saturday will be at perihelion, the closest it gets to the sun during its elliptical orbit. Learn more about planetary orbits and the search for life around the galaxy. Source link #Space #Astronomy #Events #Calendar Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Clean energy industry shifts marketing message from saving planet to money and jobs Clean energy industry shifts marketing message from saving planet to money and jobs Saving the planet is so 2024. Clean energy leaders across the globe are now tailoring their messages to emphasize the greener side of green: wealth-building. It’s an idea that sells far better in the new world of nationalism and tycoon leaders. Messaging from the U.S. renewable energy industry and the United Nations on climate change has typically focused on the urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions for the sake of environmental and human health. To bolster the argument, they cite record-shattering heat around the world, the frequent climate disasters costing billions of dollars and the human toll of it all. But a sharper emphasis on profit potential has become evident as President Donald Trump stormed into office with a flurry of rollbacks to clean energy initiatives and an emphatic declaration of plans to “unleash” oil, gas and mining. In a lobbying blitz in Washington this week, solar, wind, hydropower and other clean-energy interests touted their role in a “robust American energy and manufacturing economy” and sported lapel pins that said “American energy dominance” — a favorite Trump phrase. Meanwhile, in a major policy speech Thursday in Brazil, the U.N.’s top climate official played up the $2 trillion flowing into clean-energy projects and recalled a friend telling him that appealing to people’s “better angels” only goes so far. That friend, according to U.N. Climate Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, added: “In the great horserace of life … ‘always back self-interest … what’s in it for me.’ “ Paving the Way to a More Sustainable World 09:32 It’s not that clean energy backers haven’t made the case before. But a different landscape, especially in the U.S., stands to make it more potent. “It’s a very winning message for outreach to conservatives because it’s really true,” said former U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis, a South Carolina Republican who founded the conservative climate group RepublicEN.org. “If we play your cards right and lead the world to this, we can create a lot of wealth, create a lot of jobs here in America.” Inglis pointed to Elon Musk’s empire-building on electric cars, solar panels and batteries. “When right-of-center people hear, ‘you know, you can you make a profit at this’ then it makes sense. Otherwise, it’s like, why are people giving stuff away?” Inglis said. Jobs especially have long been a big selling point for solar and wind energy and electric cars, but there’s a push to not think of self-interest as a dirty word — and instead to harness it, United Nations officials said. When Stiell mentioned the $2 trillion in his speech for clean energy, he called it “unstoppable because of the colossal scale of economic opportunity it presents.” Princeton University climate scientist Michael Oppenheimer, who is also a professor of international affairs, said climate change is such a difficult problem, “if some people feel the need to cater to narrower self-interests which can be bundled into a solution to the problem, why not?” In letters and at more than 100 congressional meetings this week, industry leaders from the Solar Energy Industries Association, Oceantic Network and other organizations appealed to keep crucial tax incentives in place so their projects can be globally competitive. The appeal targets lawmakers who might dismiss climate change but be open to an economic rationale, said Jessie Stolark, executive director of the Carbon Capture Coalition, which spearheaded a letter. “In the past administration, obviously, we emphasized the common interest around climate mitigation,” Stolark said. “The messaging with this current administration and with the Republicans is shifting more to that energy piece, the economic piece, the jobs piece. “I think you want to meet an audience where they are, what’s important to them, what’s going to drive the conversation forward.” Liz Beardsley, senior policy counsel at the U.S. Green Building Council that was part of the sweeping lobbying effort, said the economy has always been a core component of its messages, and that “doing good is also good for business.” To Lisa Sachs, director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, messaging that climate efforts were strictly for the planet was actually disingenuous. “The honesty and coherence of the business and financial sectors in making the economic case for the transition is refreshing, at least, after years of doublespeak, greenwashing and confusion,” Sachs said. “It’s not a perfect strategy from a climate or social perspective, as the private sector cannot on its own fully decarbonize the economy … But under this administration, it’s probably our best bet for progress.” President Trump may not be reachable, but his Energy and Interior secretaries are and they have power, said Frank Maisano, a longtime Washington spokesman for energy interests from oil and gas to wind and batteries. It’s time for a change, said Joanna Depledge, a climate historian at Cambridge University in England: “******** on about the catastrophic climate crisis is obviously doing no good at all.” ___ St. John reported from Detroit. ___ Associated Press reporter Tammy Webber contributed to this report. ___ Read more of AP’s climate coverage at [Hidden Content] ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Source link #Clean #energy #industry #shifts #marketing #message #saving #planet #money #jobs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

There’s room for both me and Inglis in future: Carey There’s room for both me and Inglis in future: Carey Alex Carey is hopeful both he and Josh Inglis can co-exist in future Test teams as Australia braces for a selection squeeze after the Sri Lanka series. Carey has been Australia’s wicketkeeper since the summer of 2021/22, with back-up gloveman Inglis having had to wait for a Test debut as a specialist batter in the two-match series in Galle. Inglis made 102 in his first Test knock in the series opener, announcing himself as a selection option for the World Test Championship Final in June and beyond. “Josh is a great mate of mine, so to get see him score a Test hundred was just amazing,” Carey said. But things mightn’t be as easy as just keeping Inglis in the team, with Sam Konstas pushing for a recall at the top of the order after Travis Head was shifted up from No.5 for Sri Lanka. Allrounder Cameron Green should also be fit to bat by the time of the WTC final against South Africa, while Nathan McSweeney is pushing for a first Test in his preferred middle-order spot. Things would become even cloudier if Cooper Connolly hit a big score on Test debut this week. One option might have been to play Inglis as wicketkeeper in Carey’s place if he showed better form with the bat. But Carey made a blistering and unbeaten 139 on day two of the second Sri Lanka Test in Galle on Friday – a new Test high-score for the incumbent keeper. “I stuck to a plan and process and kept it pretty simple,” Carey said as Australia went to stumps at 3-330, 73 runs ahead of the hosts. Australia will have the WTC final and a three-match series against West Indies to refine their XI for the home Ashes. Inglis was picked in Sri Lanka largely for his expertise against spin but Carey was hopeful there would be space for both himself and his mate going forward. Australia previously employed a wicketkeeper as a specialist batter with Matthew Wade playing in the middle order during Tim Paine’s Test captaincy. Carey and Inglis have played in tandem in one day internationals as recently as the spring tour of the ***. “He’s playing really well. He’s a great batsman,” Carey said. “I feel like if I can continue to improve as well and play as long as possible, and we’ve done it in white ball cricket as well, I think we can certainly co-exist. “We both know our roles in the team and trying to play them both as best we can.” Australia’s preference is for Carey to remain wicketkeeper, with the 33-year-old taking his tidy form from the home summer into the Sri Lanka series. Carey’s three stumpings in the first Test were the most by any *********** keeper in a match in Sri Lanka. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s his job,” said stand-in captain Steve Smith ahead of the second Test. “From my point of view, I think he’s keeping as well as I’ve ever seen him keep. “He’s batting beautifully too.” Source link #room #Inglis #future #Carey Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bill Ackman reveals he's been building a more than $2 billion stake in Uber Bill Ackman reveals he's been building a more than $2 billion stake in Uber Bill Ackman reveals he’s been building a more than $2 billion stake in Uber Source link #Bill #Ackman #reveals #he039s #building #billion #stake #Uber Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ingram trade an ‘incremental step’ for Raptors Ingram trade an ‘incremental step’ for Raptors TORONTO – It’s not the type of trade rebuilding teams generally make. Yet the Toronto Raptors (16-35) flipped the script on Thursday, sending the New Orleans Pelicans a 2026 first-round pick from Indiana, their own 2031 second-round pick and veterans Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk for pending free agent Brandon Ingram. For a Raptors team that sits 13th in the Eastern Conference and may be paying more attention to its draft lottery odds than its playoff chances, the trade at first blush did not seem to add up. But general manager Bobby Webster said Friday that the move for Ingram is simply one checkpoint along the rebuild path. “It takes a lot of really good players to win in this league, and so this is just sort of an incremental step along the way, as opposed to some big flag-in-the-sand type move,” Webster said. “But listen, we’ve opened up a lot of ability for our young guys to play.” Story continues below advertisement Webster added that the team has already been in conversation with Ingram’s agent about a contract extension. “Brandon wants to be here. I think this was an intentional effort and decision by him, so we appreciate that,” Webster said. The oft-injured Ingram has appeared in just 18 games this season, averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per contest. He has been out since early December with a left ankle sprain. “I think we feel like we’ll be able to get the best out of him,” Webster said. “From afar, obviously, you never know for sure. We did have the benefit of having (Golden State Warriors assistant Jerry) Stackhouse here, who is close to him. So there’s enough people around Brandon that you’re sort of able to get a picture of his love for the game of basketball. Related Videos 1:32 Toronto Raptors players surprise students in Kahnawake Previous Video Next Video Story continues below advertisement “Obviously, you don’t get to that level of skill without an immense amount of hard work and sort of skill development. And so we’re always going to bet on those types of characteristics.” Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Across 495 career games with the Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers, Ingram has averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists. The Kinston, N.C., native was selected second overall out of Duke by the Lakers in the 2016 NBA draft. After three seasons in Los Angeles, he was dealt to New Orleans as part of the Lakers’ package for star forward Anthony Davis. More on Sports More videos While he won the most improved player award after the 2019-20 season, Ingram’s time with the Pelicans was mostly marred by injury and team underperformance. Webster dismissed Ingram’s time with the Pelicans as a stretch of bad luck. He said Ingram’s place next to franchise linchpin Scottie Barnes is a “natural fit.” “Scottie wants to share ball, Brandon wants to score the ball. … You can never have too many difference makers, high IQ players, great feel for the game, long, athletic. So our kind of guy,” Webster said. Webster was also bullish on Ingram’s fit with RJ Barrett, another scorer who typically likes to operate in the mid-range. “The spacing that (Ingram) provides with his ability to shoot the ball, whether it’s from three or from the midrange, I think opens things up for both RJ’s cutting, RJ’s ability to finish around the rim, and then Scottie’s natural passing ability,” Webster said. Story continues below advertisement “But at the same time I think we need a lot of good players and we need a lot of good difference makers. And so this just adds to that group.” Trending Now Calgary woman fends off porch pirates in her bathrobe: ‘Adrenaline took over’ Conservatives still on top, but race tightens after Trudeau’s departure: Ipsos The Raptors also dealt point guard Davion Mitchell to the Miami Heat in exchange for P.J. Tucker — who has had two previous stints with the team — a 2026 second-round pick (via the Los Angeles Lakers) and cash considerations. Webster said Tucker, who has not played this season, is not expected to report to the Raptors. In their third and final deal on deadline day, Toronto acquired James Wiseman and cash considerations from the Indiana Pacers. Wiseman was immediately waived. With Olynyk, Brown and Mitchell now out of the picture, Webster said there would be more playing time for the team’s five rookies, sophomore Gradey ***** and third-year pro Ochai Agbaji over the final 31 games of the season. The Raptors remain 5.5 games back of the 10th seed, which is the final spot in the play-in tournament. Toronto’s record is fifth-worst in the NBA as it returns to the court Friday for a game in Oklahoma City against Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the West-leading Thunder. Ingram won’t play as he continues to recover from his ankle sprain. Story continues below advertisement As things currently stand, Toronto has a 42.1-per-cent chance of getting a top-four pick in the NBA draft lottery and a 10.5-per-cent chance of selecting first overall. The Ingram trade, on paper, looks like the type of move that could negatively affect those odds. But Webster said the Raptors have identified the 2025 draft class as “particularly strong.” “That’s mission No. 1 now is let’s go out and travel the world and figure out which of these guys (to draft). Takes me back a little bit to the Tampa year when you start to identify Scottie around this time,” Webster said. “And obviously, the lottery ****** and lottery gods will determine where we end up, but that’s our job to find the players.” This report by The ********* Press was first published Feb. 7, 2025. &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Ingram #trade #incremental #step #Raptors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

PS5 Sales Continue To Outpace Xbox Series, With Over Twice As Many Units Sold PS5 Sales Continue To Outpace Xbox Series, With Over Twice As Many Units Sold The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has voiced serious concerns over the newly announced tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada, emphasizing their potentially harmful impact on the gaming industry. Given China’s significant role in gaming technology and production, these tariffs could have far-reaching consequences on both hardware and software, fundamentally reshaping the market. Source link #PS5 #Sales #Continue #Outpace #Xbox #Series #Units #Sold Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tax season is back. So are the fake IRS emails, texts and other scams Tax season is back. So are the fake IRS emails, texts and other scams Tax season has officially started, so you should prepare to file your 2024 tax return, and prepare for the scammers who are already prowling. Don’t get baited and hooked. Many people are lax about protecting their personal information online, and there’s more reason than ever to be wary given widespread hacks such as the massive data breach of background check company National Public Data that exposed an estimated 2.9 billion records, including Social Security numbers. Protecting yourself is important for many reasons, including how time-consuming and difficult it can be to recover from tax-identity theft, said Andy Phillips, vice president of The Tax Institute at H&R Block. “Consumers need to be thoughtful about how they protect their personal and tax information online to avoid becoming a victim of tax-related identity theft,” he said. There’s also always the risk that financial need and stress lead people to make hasty decisions when something too good to be true is offered. Nearly 40% of taxpayers will need refunds to make ends meet, according to a recent Credit Karma survey. There are some basic do’s and don’ts of working with tax professionals that are always the starting point. More than half of taxpayers turn to a tax professional for help filing a tax return, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Choosing a reputable provider can prevent financial harm. Taxpayers should avoid unethical “ghost” return preparers who don’t sign or include a valid preparer tax identification number (PTIN) on every tax return they prepare. Taxpayers can also use the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications to find trusted professionals. Choosing a provider affiliated with a recognized national tax association is also advisable. The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy also maintains a database to help consumers check whether their provider is a certified public accountant and in good standing. Then, there are all the more specific ways that the migration of our tax lives, and daily lives, online introduce additional risks to tax season. Here are several ways consumers can help keep their identities and personal information safe. Make sure the provider uses secure online processes Choosing a vetted tax professional is the first step, but when sending personal information over the Internet, be sure your provider gives you a secure link, so the information goes directly to the intended recipient in a secure fashion, said Lisa Greene-Lewis, a spokeswoman for TurboTax. If your tax professional is asking you to send personal information via email, it could be time to switch providers. “I wouldn’t send important documents over email,” Greene-Lewis said. File early, or use an IRS pin, to cut down on tax-related identity theft Fraudsters sometimes try to file a tax return using someone else’s Social Security number. To mitigate this possibility, submit your taxes as early as possible, Phillips said. In many cases, a Social Security number can only be used on one electronically filed tax return, so filing early helps reduce the potential of tax ID theft. Many people do this already, of course, many because they expect a refund. The IRS estimates more than 140 million individual tax returns for tax year 2024 to be filed ahead of the April 15 federal deadline. Another option is for taxpayers to request an identity protection pin from the IRS, which prevents someone else from filing a tax return using their Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number. This pin helps verify the taxpayer’s identity when filing an electronic or paper tax return, adding an extra layer of security. Many taxpayers are eligible to establish a pin online. Otherwise, there’s an option to fill out a PDF and send it to the IRS via postal mail or fax. Watch out for the fake ‘IRS’ email or text Thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams, according to the IRS, so it’s important to know the warning signs. The IRS typically contacts people the first time through regular U.S. mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. To verify the IRS sent the letter or notice, you can search for it on IRS.gov. Some letters are sent from private collection agencies. The IRS will never initiate contact with you by email, with a few exceptions such as if you have an account and opt in to email, and criminal investigations. Similarly, the IRS won’t text taxpayers without their permission. The IRS might call to discuss your case, verify information or set up a meeting, but it won’t be unsolicited. In-person visits are also rare, and the IRS generally sends a letter beforehand. Often fraudulent communications claiming to be from the IRS or associated individuals can have typos or other mistakes in them, but with artificial intelligence, these communications are more sophisticated and scams can be harder to spot. The best advice is not to click on random links contained in an email or text, even if it’s from someone you think you recognize. Emails and texts can be easily spoofed and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t rush to claim offers about refunds, credits and payments Scammers often attempt to mislead people about tax refunds, credits and payments. They pressure people for personal, financial, employment information or money. Warning signs of a possible scam include the promise of a large payday, demands to pay immediately or threats if you don’t. Also, don’t fall for scams where someone offers to seek benefits on your behalf for a portion of the refund. “If someone is charging you a portion of your refund, that is a red flag. You need to walk away,” Phillips said. If they offer to help with the credit, but refuse to sign your tax return, that’s another red flag, he added. Consumers can read the latest consumer alerts about tax scams identified by the IRS on its website. Beware of pandemic-related scams still being used today New scams or old ones with a slightly different twist are always popping up. In January, the Identity Theft Resource Center warned consumers about criminals who claim, in emails and texts, to be from the IRS in order to trick people into believing they are eligible for a pandemic-related Economic Impact Payment (EIP). Scammers are hoping to ensnare victims into responding or clicking on a malicious link so they can steal personal and financial information that can be used for multiple fraudulent purposes, according to ITRC. Consumers who receive this type of message should forward it to the IRS at *****@*****.tld. “Always being wary and thoughtful of where you are providing your information and what you are sharing,” Phillips said. Source link #Tax #season #fake #IRS #emails #texts #scams Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon scrubs DEI mention from its annual report Amazon scrubs DEI mention from its annual report A person walks by The Spheres at the Amazon.com Inc. headquarters in Seattle, Washington, on Nov. 14, 2022. David Ryder | Getty Images News | Getty Images Amazon has removed any references to diversity and inclusion from its most recent annual report. The company filed its report for 2024 on Friday following the release of its fourth-quarter earnings. The prior annual report included a mention of “inclusion and diversity” in a section titled “Human Capital,” language that doesn’t appear in the latest filing. The previous report read, “As we strive to be Earth’s best employer, we focus on investment and innovation, inclusion and diversity, safety, and engagement to hire and develop the best talent.” But in its new 2024 report, Amazon removed any mention of those diversity and inclusion efforts. It simply states, “We strive to be Earth’s best employer,” and says the company relies on “numerous and evolving initiatives to implement this objective.” The change comes after Amazon recently halted some of its diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Candi Castleberry, Amazon’s VP of inclusive experiences and technology, told employees in a December memo that the company was in the process of “winding down outdated programs and materials” as part of a broader review of hundreds of initiatives. Amazon also edited a public-facing webpage that states its policy positions to trim its messaging around DEI issues. Previously, there were separate sections dedicated to “Equity for ****** people,” “Diversity, equity and inclusion” and “LGBTQ+ rights.” Those sections were all consolidated into a single paragraph, while any mentions of the term transgender were removed. Companies in Silicon Valley and beyond have been moving swiftly away from DEI policies since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Google also scrapped language around DEI goals in its annual report. Meta last month announced it was retreating from internal programs designed to increase its hiring of diverse candidates. McDonald’s, Walmart, and Target have also ended or changed some programs, while other companies including Disney, GM, GE and Pepsi are removing mentions of DEI in their annual filings, NPR reported. Some companies have resisted joining the backlash against DEI. Costco rejected a shareholder proposal to report on the risks of its DEI policies to its stock price. Apple is also resisting a similar proposal. Source link #Amazon #scrubs #DEI #mention #annual #report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]