Pelican Press

Senate votes to confirm Pam Bondi as attorney general – CNN Senate votes to confirm Pam Bondi as attorney general – CNN Senate votes to confirm Pam Bondi as attorney general CNNBondi Confirmed as Trump’s Attorney General to Lead DOJ Shake-Up BloombergSenate to vote on Trump’s attorney general nominee Bondi on Tuesday ReutersSenate Confirms Pam Bondi as Attorney General The New York Times Source link #Senate #votes #confirm #Pam #Bondi #attorney #general #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gail McGowan: Murdoch University chancellor to lead WACA Board as new chair, replacing Avril Fahey Gail McGowan: Murdoch University chancellor to lead WACA Board as new chair, replacing Avril Fahey The WACA Board have revealed their new chair, who will replace cricket great Avril Fahey in early April. Source link #Gail #McGowan #Murdoch #University #chancellor #lead #WACA #Board #chair #replacing #Avril #Fahey Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Albuquerque business takes matters into their own hands when it comes to shoplifters Albuquerque business takes matters into their own hands when it comes to shoplifters ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A local business owner says the ongoing retail crime problem has forced his staff to take matters into their own hands, often chasing thieves down themselves. Now, he’s calling on lawmakers to help crack down, after facing hundreds of thousands in losses. “What we’ve seen in the last few years is just a huge uptick in crime, all kinds of crime: shoplifters, scammers, burglaries, break-ins. And, it’s gotten to the point now where it’s just almost a daily occurrence,” said Duane Kinsley, owner of Sport Systems in Albuquerque. Story continues below Kinsley said they see people from all walks of life trying to steal from their store. They’ve been in business for forty years, but he says over the last few years the problem has gotten worse. “What we’re finding now is that the criminals don’t care anymore. They don’t care that you saw them, put in the pocket, they know that we know that they’re gonna steal that item, they know that the people that are upfront aren’t going to do anything,” Kinsley said. However, at Sport Systems, they have a different approach when it comes to dealing with these criminals. “I don’t want any of my employees to engage in any criminal that could be dangerous, but what we do do is we follow them,” Kinsley said, whether on foot or by bike. “Funny story: I had a bike employee, a guy was a stealing a bike went out jumped on the bike started riding down Montgomery. My employee jumped on a bike also, started riding after him at a safe distance behind him, but yelled out and said, ‘hey by the way, I won the last Ironman. Where are we going?’” “We catch a lot of these people because they can’t really outrun us. It’s kind of funny: they come into a run store and think they’re going to outrun the run store employee or the bike employee,” Kinsley said. A general manager of the store named Tommy said dealing with shoplifters is something he know will likely happen on a day-to-day basis; he says it takes up a lot of his time. However, how thieves are dealt with is up to them on a case-by-case basis: “There’s a few of us that make the call. If its not threatening, there have been times, we discourage it, we don’t encourage it, but if there’s some times where it’s warranted we will apprehend, detain, there have been a few times where we just get our things back,” Tommy said. While Kinsley said this has worked for them in getting stuff back, he’s frustrated by the revolving door in the courts. “They arrest them, almost half the time they’ll say, ‘you’re wasting your time. I’m gonna be back out on the street in two hours,’” Kinsley said. “What’s sad though, is that a lot of these, and also when they get caught, so the police come they arrest the criminal, they always ask me, ‘do you want to prosecute?’ Every single time I say yes. Nothing ever happens,” Kinsley said. “They never call me back, have never gone once to a court hearing, or anything. This has happened 100 times over the last years.” It’s cost them $100,000 in security measures for the store after people have tried to get in by breaking windows, trying to climb through skylights and air ducts, and even taking doors off hinges. “One of them dremeled the hinges off the door. It was a bike ring out of Mexico. They stole 80,000 dollars worth of bikes and they sold them on eBay down in Mexico,” Kinsley said. Kinsley said the losses they’ve seen due to theft are now in the six figures. So, they’re looking to the legislature for help. “Last year there was a bill passed that we like, that all of these thefts, shoplifters, the amounts accumulate to build up to a felony,” Kinsley said. However, they want to see more. “The problem hasn’t gone away, it’s gotten worse. So, we’re looking for the legislators. We’re imploring them to please pass all the crime bills that are before you.” “There needs to be a harsher punishment, there needs to be more police involvement. There needs to be anything and everything that can help put these people away and actually prosecute them,” Tommy said. “We’re losing our city, and we need to have our legislators, I’m imploring all of your viewers to call your legislator and tell them to pass all the crime bills,” Kinsley said. He says he plans to speak at the Roundhouse about the problem this session. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 – Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Source link #Albuquerque #business #takes #matters #hands #shoplifters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump crypto czar David Sacks says priority is stablecoin legislation Trump crypto czar David Sacks says priority is stablecoin legislation AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks speaks with President Donald J Trump as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House on Jan. 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. Jabin Botsford | The Washington Post | Getty Images As David Sacks, the newly appointed White House AI and crypto czar, collaborates with lawmakers on potential regulations for digital assets, one of the first things they’ll be focused on is stablecoins. “They are very committed to moving legislation through the House and the Senate this year in order to provide that clear regulatory framework that the digital assets ecosystem needs to sustain innovation in the United States,” Sacks said on CNBC’s “Closing Bell Over Time” on Tuesday. “Moving legislation through Congress takes time, but I think this is something we could do in the next six months.” Earlier in the day, Sacks joined leaders of the House and Senate committees for banking and finance for a press conference to talk about their early objectives for crypto policy, with the help of the SEC. It was part of a busy day in Washington for regulators and key players on Capitol Hill and in Trump’s White House to announce next steps in their digital currency plans. “I look forward to working with each of you in creating a golden age in digital assets,” Sacks said at the press event. He was flanked by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Banking committee, Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.), chair of the House Financial Services Committee, and Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), who heads the Senate Agriculture Committee. The leaders said their first priority is supporting a stablecoin bill introduced by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), who has proposed new rules for stablecoins to create a “clear regulatory framework” for their use. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency whose value is pegged to a real-world asset, such as the U.S. dollar. Stablecoins have been gaining popularity but mostly overseas. Lawmakers are now promoting U.S.-based stablecoin issuance, reinforcing the dollar’s dominance through digital finance. Supporters like Sacks say such a move could drive trillions of dollars in new demand for the dollar and help lower long-term interest rates. David Sacks, U.S. President Donald Trump’s AI and Crypto Czar, listens to President Trump signs a series of executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on January 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images Sacks on Tuesday told CNBC that a top agenda item for his new task force is evaluating “the feasibility of a bitcoin reserve,” an idea President Donald Trump suggested during his campaign. Sacks noted that the president asked his digital assets working group to study “whether it’s feasible to create either a bitcoin reserve or some sort of digital asset stockpile.” He clarified that they “haven’t committed yet to doing it, but it’s one of the first things” they’ll be considering. Also on Tuesday, the SEC made a major shift in its approach to digital asset regulation. Under new leadership, the agency announced it would open its doors to meetings with anyone interested in discussing crypto, an effort to show a clear contrast to former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who emerged as an antagonist to the industry. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, now leading the agency’s newly established Crypto Task Force, published a statement titled The Journey Begins. She said the idea is to create more transparent and predictable regulations, removing legal ambiguity and unnecessary roadblocks. “The Task Force is working to help create a regulatory framework that both achieves the Commission’s important regulatory objectives — including protecting investors — and preserves industry’s ability to offer products and services,” Peirce wrote. Priorities include clarifying which crypto assets fall under securities laws, crafting a path for token issuers to gain regulatory approval and ensuring compliance measures don’t stifle innovation. The group will also examine crypto lending, staking, exchange-traded products, and cross-border regulations. Peirce stressed that while the SEC aims to foster industry growth, it will not tolerate fraud. The SEC said it’s actively soliciting input from the public. Firms and individuals can submit written feedback or request meetings with the task force. Tuesday’s press conference was the first major policy event led by Sacks, who was named to the post in December. While he lacks direct control over regulatory agencies or congressional funding, Sacks’ close ties to the White House and Elon Musk have positioned him as a key figure in the administration. In June, Sacks, previously a Trump critic, hosted a fundraiser at his Pacific Heights mansion that raised $12 million for the Republican leader’s presidential campaign. Sacks was in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration last month and attended the Crypto Ball, surrounded by industry leaders and policymakers. He declared at the event that, “The war on crypto is over.” During Trump’s first week in office, Sacks stood alongside the president in the Oval Office as he signed an executive order on digital assets. WATCH: Bringing people from tech industry to Washington is a positive Source link #Trump #crypto #czar #David #Sacks #priority #stablecoin #legislation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

SpaceX launches final block 1 WorldView Legion satellites for Maxar Technologies – Spaceflight Now SpaceX launches final block 1 WorldView Legion satellites for Maxar Technologies – Spaceflight Now SpaceX launches final block 1 WorldView Legion satellites for Maxar Technologies Spaceflight NowSpaceX Falcon 9 Maxar 3 Kennedy Space CenterSpaceX launch lights up Virginia skies WWBTA SpaceX rocket launch may be visible in the sky tonight. Here’s where. The Washington PostSpaceX launches 2 Maxar Earth-observing satellites to orbit (video, photos) Space.com Source link #SpaceX #launches #final #block #WorldView #Legion #satellites #Maxar #Technologies #Spaceflight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Alleged 'Pam' vandal a jailbird, co-accused set free Alleged 'Pam' vandal a jailbird, co-accused set free Accused “Pam the Bird” graffiti artist Jack Gibson-Burrell will stay in custody after losing his application for bail, but his co-accused has been released. Source link #Alleged #039Pam039 #vandal #jailbird #coaccused #set #free Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lawsuit accuses University of California of racial discrimination in admissions Lawsuit accuses University of California of racial discrimination in admissions SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A lawsuit filed this week accuses the University of California of racial discrimination in undergraduate admissions by favoring ****** and Latino students over Asian American and white applicants. A group called Students Against Racial Discrimination sued Monday in federal court, alleging the university system admits students with inferior academic credentials at the expense of better-qualified ones. The complaint claims UC’s admissions practices violate a state law approved by voters in 1996 that forbids considering race and other factors in public education, public employment and public contracting. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. In addition, the filing alleges that the California campuses are violating the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment as well as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars federal funds recipients from discriminating based on race. In a statement, UC said Tuesday that it had not yet been served with the filing, but if necessary it will defend its admissions policies in court. “Since the consideration of race in admissions was banned in California in 1996, the University of California has adjusted its admissions practices to comply with the law,” the statement said. “The UC undergraduate admissions application collects students’ race and ethnicity for statistical purposes only. This information is not shared with application reviewers and is not used for admission.” The lawsuit asks a judge to block the university system with 10 campuses from asking about race in student applications and to appoint a court monitor to oversee admission decisions. Asian American and white applicants are discriminated against because of their race, while Latino and ****** students are “often placed at a significant academic disadvantage, and thus experience worse outcomes, because of the university’s use of racial preferences,” the complaint alleges. “Students of all races are harmed by the University of California’s discriminatory behavior,” the lawsuit says. It accuses UC officials of ordering campuses to use a “holistic” review of undergraduate admissions, “in other words, that they move away from objective criteria towards more subjective assessments of the overall appeal of individual candidates.” As an example, the filing cites a statistic that in 2010 the University of California, Berkeley admitted 13% of ******, in-state students, compared with an overall 21% admission rate. By 2023, the ****** admissions rate at Berkeley was 10%, compared to an overall rate of 12%, the complaint said. The lawsuit comes more than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, declaring race cannot be a factor and forcing institutions of higher education to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies. Source link #Lawsuit #accuses #University #California #racial #discrimination #admissions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nissan and Honda shares rise upon potential merger talk cancelation Nissan and Honda shares rise upon potential merger talk cancelation Jaques Silva | Nurphoto | Getty Images Shares of Honda and Nissan rose Wednesday after a local newspaper reported that the Japanese automakers were considering calling off their merger talks. The boards of both companies are meeting soon to table the termination of the merger, Asahi Shimbun reported, citing sources. Shares of Nissan rose as much as 7.4%, while Honda climbed as high as 4.2%. The talks were not going as expected by Honda, which had proposed making Nissan a subsidiary — an idea that the latter was opposed to, the report said. Both the companies had announced official negotiations to merge last December, and discussions were set to conclude in June this year. The blockbuster merger would have catapulted them to the world’s third-largest carmaker by sales. Nissan’s strategic partner Mitsubishi was also invited to participate in the planned merger, a decision that Mitsubishi was reportedly slated to make in mid-February or later. Analysts had previously said that the merger was proposed as a result of Nissan’s financial difficulties and the restructuring of its long-established alliance with France’s Renault. In its second-quarter report, Nissan revealed intentions to slash 9,000 jobs and decrease its global production capacity by 20%. A transformation in the global auto industry, driven by the advent of electric vehicles, has been disruptive to traditional automakers. Nissan particularly has been challenged in its largest market, the U.S., as well as in China and other emerging markets. The automaker’s operating profits fell by 90%, and net income declined by 94% in the first half of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same ******* last year. Nissan and Honda did not immediately respond to CNBC’s requests for comments. Here’s the full Asahi Shimbun report. Source link #Nissan #Honda #shares #rise #potential #merger #talk #cancelation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Treasury says Musk’s DOGE has not rejected payments in first attempt to clarify access granted to critical system – CNN Treasury says Musk’s DOGE has not rejected payments in first attempt to clarify access granted to critical system – CNN Treasury says Musk’s DOGE has not rejected payments in first attempt to clarify access granted to critical system CNNTreasury Defends Musk Team’s Access to Federal Payment System The New York TimesElon Musk’s access to Treasury’s payment system is raising alarms. Here’s what to know. CBS News Source link #Treasury #Musks #DOGE #rejected #payments #attempt #clarify #access #granted #critical #system #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Lakers superstar ‘excited’ after shock Dallas trade New Lakers superstar ‘excited’ after shock Dallas trade Luka Doncic was nearly asleep last Saturday night in Dallas when his phone buzzed. Only then did he learn that the Mavericks had just stunned the sports world by trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers. “You can imagine how surprised I was,” 25-year-old Doncic said. “I had to check if it was April 1. I didn’t really believe it.” The superstar has begun to recover after his first two days in LA, and he’s growing increasingly excited about a new chapter with LeBron James and his famed new team on the sunny West Coast. “It was a big shock,” Doncic said. “(Dallas) was home, so it was really hard moments for me … (But now) I get to play in the greatest club in the world, and I’m excited for this new journey.” The Lakers formally welcomed Doncic on Tuesday, less than three days after they traded Anthony Davis and Max Christie in a three-team deal for the Slovenian who won his first scoring title last season before leading the Mavs to the NBA Finals. Doncic, a five-time All-NBA selection and a five-time All-Star, is still processing the upheaval, but is already seeing the limitless upside of a career in Los Angeles that will begin alongside the 40-year-old James, the top scorer in NBA history. “That first day was really hard,” Doncic said. “I felt like these last 48 hours was one month. Emotionally, it was really hard, but today was much better. This is the Lakers. It’s one of the best clubs in history, so I’m excited to be here.” General manager Rob Pelinka didn’t hide his glee at landing Doncic when they met with the media at the Lakers’ training complex, saying Doncic’s arrival would bring “basketball joy to the world.” “We have one of the game’s biggest superstars and an international player coming to join the Lakers,” Pelinka said. “I think it’s going to be something incredibly special that the NBA and basketball has never seen before.” Although James was blindsided by the deal along with the rest of the NBA, he quickly called Doncic to welcome him to the Lakers. “It’s just like a dream come true,” Doncic said. “I always looked up to him (James). There’s so many things I can learn from him, and I’m just excited to learn everything and get to play with him. It’s an amazing feeling.” Doncic hasn’t played since Christmas because of a calf strain, but he is close to a return – set to participate in five-on-five work at practice on Wednesday. The Lakers also acquired Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in the trade with Dallas and both laughed at the widespread notion the Mavs were irredeemably concerned about Doncic’s conditioning and work ethic. “I hear the stuff about him not being in shape, but if you can go in an NBA game and get 30 and 15 and 10 like it’s nothing, then I don’t really know what shape is,” Morris said. Source link #Lakers #superstar #excited #shock #Dallas #trade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

PGA Tour 2K25 Preview – Play Your Way | Gamers Heroes PGA Tour 2K25 Preview – Play Your Way | Gamers Heroes PGA Tour 2K25 is shaping up to be a golf game for the masses, and we’re all too eager to play our way in what is shaping up to be our next big addiction. Source link #PGA #Tour #2K25 #Preview #Play #Gamers #Heroes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Italian politicians seek action against Trump Jr. hunting party for allegedly killing protected duck Italian politicians seek action against Trump Jr. hunting party for allegedly killing protected duck Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways MILAN (AP) — Italian politicians on Tuesday asked authorities to take action against a hunting party including Donald Trump Jr. that may have killed a protected species of duck near Venice. Andrea Zanoni of the Europa Verde party in the northern Veneto region cited a video posted on the Field Ethos website for male adventurers founded by Trump. It shows Trump on a recent hunt in the wetlands in the Valle Pierimpie’ bordering the Venice Lagoon. At one point, Trump is shown next to a dead duck that Zanoni identifies as a ruddy shelduck. The species is protected in Europe, and killing one is a criminal offense in Italy, Zanoni said. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. The video picked up by Italian media does not indicate who killed the duck. It was not clear when the hunt took place, but Italian media said Trump was in Italy in December and a Christmas tree was seen. Zanoni appealed to Veneto legislators to take action in coordination with Luana Zanella, a Greens lawmaker in Italy’s lower house, who appealed to Italy’s environment minister. Zanoni said he also sought the suspension or revocation of authorization for the Valle Pierimpie’ wildlife hunting company that led the hunt. Hunting is strictly regulated in Italy. Non-residents are permitted to hunt only on private reserves. A spokesman for Trump said the hunting party had permits and were hunting in a legally allowed area “where there were countless other hunting groups present.” “While it’s unclear whether this single duck was unintentionally shot by someone in Don’s hunting group, another hunting group or killed in a different manner and retrieved by the group’s hunting dog, Don takes following all rules, regulations and conservation on his hunts very seriously and plans on fully cooperating with any investigation,” Andy Surabian, spokesman for Trump, said in a statement. ___ Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report. Source link #Italian #politicians #seek #action #Trump #hunting #party #allegedly #killing #protected #duck Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Under Defeat Review – Gamerhub *** Under Defeat Review – Gamerhub *** bfrye26|1d 8h ago |Review|0| ▼ Info Add Alt Source Under Defeat (2025) is a remaster of the expertly crafted 2005 vertical shooter, offering tight gameplay, striking art, infectious music, and shmup-friendly extras that make its high difficulty rewarding and replayable. PS5 Under Defeat cgmagonline.com Read Full Story >> [Hidden Content] cgmagonline.com Source link #Defeat #Review #Gamerhub Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Markets had relief rally, but Alphabet earnings disappoint Markets had relief rally, but Alphabet earnings disappoint The Google booth at ISE 2025, a professional congress, on Feb. 4, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. Cesc Maymo | Getty Images News | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday paused tariffs on Mexico and Canada (but, notably, not China), and, in so doing, also stemmed the dip in stocks, at least for now. Major U.S. benchmarks snapped a two-day losing streak in a relief rally. With the temporary respite in U.S. tariffs on key countries, investors could turn their attention to earnings. But what they saw on Tuesday wasn’t likely to comfort them after the turmoil wreaked by tariffs. Alphabet’s scorecard for its fourth-quarter performance missed the “A” grade so many expect from Big Tech names. Meanwhile, AMD’s data center sales, a key part of its business, missed estimates. Investor disappointment was immediate: Shares of both companies slumped in extended trading, signaling that corporate fundamentals remain critical to stock performance. What you need to know today Alphabet falls short of revenue estimateAlphabet fourth-quarter results missed revenue expectations, causing shares to fall as much as 9% in extended trading. The tech giant’s revenue came in at $96.47 billion, compared with $96.56 billion expected by LSEG. CEO Sundar Pichai said in the earnings release that Google expects to invest “approximately $75 billion in capital expenditures in 2025.” AMD data center sales disappointAdvanced Micro Devices shares slumped nearly 9% in extended trading after the company reported fourth-quarter data center sales of $3.86 billion, which missed the FactSet estimate of $4.14 billion. Net income came in at $482 million, down from $667 million a year ago. The chipmaker, however, beat Wall Street expectations for overall sales and earnings. UBS share buyback fails to impressUBS on Tuesday reported net profit attributable to shareholders of $770 million, compared with a $483 million estimate in a company-provided consensus estimate and with a mean forecast of $886.4 million in a LSEG poll of analysts. The bank also announced plans to repurchase up to $3 billion of shares in 2025 — but that didn’t impress investors, causing the bank’s shares to fall 7%. Markets shake off tariff fearsU.S. stocks climbed on Tuesday as investors’ worries were assuaged by U.S. Donald Trump’s pause of tariffs on Mexico and Canada. The S&P 500 rose 0.72%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3% and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.35%. Europe’s Stoxx 600 index added 0.22%. Italy-listed shares of Ferrari revved up 8% after the luxury automaker reported a 21% year-on-year jump in net profit for 2024. December’s job openings shrinkU.S. job openings in December tumbled to 7.6 million, the lowest since September, and below the Dow Jones estimate for 8 million, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. The report comes just a few days ahead of the nonfarm payrolls data for January. That is expected to show an addition of 169,000 jobs, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.1%. [PRO] An under-the-radar opportunity in AIArk Invest’s Cathie Wood thinks there’s an under-the-radar investing opportunity in the artificial intelligence *****, and one of her high-conviction bets is up nearly 10% for the year so far. Wood also told CNBC she’s moving away from hardware, and looking at software plays in the artificial intelligence space. And finally… Flags outside the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto, Feb. 3, 2025. Andrew Francis Wallace | Toronto Star | Getty Images The Fed could find itself in a policy Catch-22 if tariffs spike inflation and slow growth When Trump launched tariffs in his first term, inflation was low and the Fed was raising rates as it sought a “neutral” level. A manufacturing recession ensued in 2019. This time around, the targeted tariffs that Trump had previously used have been replaced by the threat of blanket duties — which could slow growth and raise prices, putting the U.S. Federal Reserve in a position where it has to weigh economic expansion against controlling inflation. Source link #Markets #relief #rally #Alphabet #earnings #disappoint Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Battlefield 6 Playtests Suggest An Optimized PC Port, RTX 3060 Ti With 16GB RAM Recommended Battlefield 6 Playtests Suggest An Optimized PC Port, RTX 3060 Ti With 16GB RAM Recommended Battlefield players have had a reasonably tough time with the franchise these past few years. 2018’s Battlefield V launch was a disaster, but 2021’s Battlefield 2042 was worse, pushing a lot of Battlefield fans away from the franchise. But now, with just a year until the next major installment in the Battlefield universe set to release, EA and DICE have a lot of making up to do. Source link #Battlefield #Playtests #Suggest #Optimized #Port #RTX #16GB #RAM #Recommended Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

El Salvador’s Prisons Are Notorious. Will They House Trump’s Deportees? El Salvador’s Prisons Are Notorious. Will They House Trump’s Deportees? A day after President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador offered to imprison convicted criminals from the United States, including U.S. citizens, the question of whether such a plan could actually be accepted and implemented was still unanswered. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stopped in El Salvador while visiting Central America this week, said on Tuesday that the Trump administration would have to “study” the offer from Mr. Bukele to jail convicts from the United States, for a fee. “But it’s a very generous offer,” he said. Mr. Rubio himself said it was unclear if the United States could legally send convicts, including Americans, to a foreign prison. But the proposal has drawn attention to the prisons that Mr. Bukele has used in recent years to cripple the gangs that once ran rampant in El Salvador. They have become symbols of his strength and popularity, including with Mr. Trump — even as human rights groups say the crowded prisons are holding pens for tens of thousands of people rounded up in arrests that have ensnared innocents. Analysts say it is unlikely such a plan would hold up in court, particularly where it concerns U.S. citizens. But whether or not Mr. Bukele’s offer is ever actually acted on, analysts said it serves as a way for both nations’ governments to project a shared vision of a tough approach to lawbreakers. “The announcement is a P.R. win,” said Gustavo Flores-Macías, a professor of government and public policy at Cornell University who specializes in Latin America. It allows Mr. Bukele to show he is all-in for Mr. Trump, and bolsters the Trump administration, “which is looking to dissuade undocumented migration by raising the stakes if apprehended.” And yet, whatever its chances of being out into practice, Mr. Bukele’s announcement immediately sparked concern among human rights groups in the United States and beyond, which warned that the Bukele administration’s anti-gang crusade has come at the expense of human rights. “While the gangs no longer constitute a threat, a system of terror and repression has emerged in the country,” said Ana María Méndez Dardón, the Central America director at the Washington Office for Latin America, a nonprofit human rights group. At a hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in July 2024, Alexandra Hill Tinoco, El Salvador’s foreign minister, said the country is “meeting all international standards” for prisoners and added that reports of human rights violations are “baseless accusations and far from our reality.” What has Bukele’s approach to crime looked like? El Salvador was once known as the hemisphere’s ******* capital — with one of the highest ********* rates anywhere in the world. But in 2022, Mr. Bukele declared a state of emergency to quell gang violence, and sent the military into the streets, arresting tens of thousands of people around the country, accusing them of gang ties or other crimes. More than 25,000 were imprisoned in the first weeks of Mr. Bukele’s crackdown. Nearly three years later, the state of emergency has yet to be lifted. In that time, the nation has undergone a remarkable transformation. Homicides have sharply decreased, and extortion payments that gangs demanded from businesses and residents also declined. As a reminder of the government’s zero tolerance, tough-on-crime policies, photos and videos are often circulated that show scores of inmates, sometimes shirtless and clad only in boxers, bending over with their hands on their shaven heads. Mr. Bukele earned adulation from leaders in the region and beyond, and most Salvadorans support him, not in spite of his strongman tactics but because of them. In November, his approval rating was 91 percent, according to a CID Gallup poll, one of the highest in the world for a world leader — although support for him dwindled recently after his government reversed a landmark mining ban. Still, Mr. Bukele’s approach eroded civil rights in the country, human rights experts say: Mass arbitrary arrests, extreme overcrowding at prisons, reports of torture and at least 261 prison deaths between 2022 and 2024 were documented by several groups. How has Bukele used the prison system? Mr. Bukele’s prisons are not typical penitentiaries. El Salvador’s gangs once used jails as operational hubs to issue orders, extort businesses on the outside and recruit new members — something also seen inside prisons across Latin America. That no longer seems to happen “because of the extreme measures taken to control prisoners,” according to a 2023 report by Insight Crime, an organized-crime research group. The star of Mr. Bukele’s strategy is his so-called mega prison: the Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT, a hulking detention center that opened in 2023 an hour outside the country’s capital, San Salvador. The facility is big enough to hold up to 40,000 inmates, some of them as young as 12. The vast majority of the 85,000 Salvadorans apprehended under the 2022 state of emergency — which allows for mass arrests with no due process — have essentially disappeared into the prison system, where many have been held for years without trial and without their families even knowing if they are alive. While the imposing CECOT has garnered international attention, most prisoners are held in other, smaller facilities where “they have been subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment,” said Noah Bullock, the executive director of the Salvadoran advocacy group Cristosal, which has interviewed hundreds of detainees arrested under the state of emergency. Cristosal and Human Rights Watch have reported that inmates were being tortured and deprived of food. Many inmates’ fates were decided in mass trials with judges whose identities were kept secret. Who could end up in Bukele’s prisons? The State Department said in a statement that Mr. Bukele offered to take undocumented migrants from any country, not just El Salvador, who have been convicted of crimes, including members of the MS-13 and the Tren de Aragua gangs. And in what the State Department called “an extraordinary gesture, never before extended by any country,” it said Mr. Bukele had offered to house “dangerous American criminals, including U.S. citizens and legal residents.” Analysts say that such a move is likely to be challenged, even if it were to be embraced by the Trump administration. “I do not think that it will stand up in the courts,” Mneesha Gellman, an associate professor of political science at Emerson College, said, citing multiple domestic and international laws that govern the treatment of both undocumented people in the United States and U.S. citizens. However, the two governments could reach an agreement that would allow the United States to deport large numbers of people to El Salvador, including non-Salvadorans, Ms. Gellman said. The United States is eager to find places to deport migrants whose countries do not accept regular U.S. deportation flights, such as Cubans and Nicaraguans. Whether in or out of prisons, migrants would find themselves extremely vulnerable in El Salvador. “They would not have citizens’ rights in that country,” Ms. Gellman said, noting that migrants in El Salvador have reported experiencing abuses at the hands of criminal groups as well as state actors, such as the police and the military. Is there any precedent for El Salvador’s offer? In 2019, El Salvador signed an agreement with the first Trump administration to receive non-Salvadoran migrants who had been detained in the United States after U.S. officials cut off some aid to El Salvador, accusing the country of not doing enough to curb ******** migration. It also agreed to process asylum requests to keep migrants from heading north to the United States. Known as a “safe third country” agreement, the deal was never implemented because of the coronavirus pandemic and was eventually terminated by the Biden administration. Mr. Bukele referred to it on Monday, saying his new proposal was “more important and of a much broader scope than the agreements made in 2019.” What could Bukele get out of this deal? Mr. Bukele has appeared eager to strengthen his ties to the Trump administration, and the latest offer “clearly helps to consolidate this relationship between the MAGA world and El Salvador,” said Manuel Meléndez Sánchez, a Salvadoran political scientist and researcher at Harvard University. But relations between the two government have not always been close. In 2022, Mr. Rubio criticized Mr. Bukele during a Senate hearing, accusing him of “very openly” mocking U.S. institutions. During his presidential campaign, even Mr. Trump took an out-of-nowhere dig at Mr. Bukele, saying he was sending “all of his criminals, his drug dealers” to the United States, and adding: “He’s trying to convince everybody what a wonderful job he does in running the country — well, he doesn’t do a wonderful job.” In addition to currying favor with the new administration, there is also a financial incentive in El Salvador’s offer, with its approach to prisons costly to maintain. “There’s an expense that needs to be addressed. It’s not sustainable for the Salvadoran people to maintain 2 percent of its population in prisons indefinitely,” said Mr. Bullock. Gabriel Labrador contributed reporting from San Salvador and Michael Crowley from San José, Costa Rica. Source link #Salvadors #Prisons #Notorious #House #Trumps #Deportees Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Time limit for child sex abuse claims to be removed Time limit for child sex abuse claims to be removed PA Media A three-year time limit for child ******* abuse victims to sue for damages will be removed in England and Wales under “long overdue” government reforms, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said. The MoJ said laws would also be refined to encourage employers to apologise for the actions of current or former employees, so victims would be more likely to receive apologies from institutions like schools, care facilities or hospitals. The government said it was delivering on recommendations laid out in the 2022 Independent Inquiry into Child ******* Abuse (IICSA), led by Prof Alexis Jay. The reforms are expected to be part of bills to be brought before Parliament in the next year. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the changes recommended by Prof Jay were “long overdue”. “These measures help survivors pursue their path to justice,” she added. Prof Jay had called for an end to the deadline for victims to bring compensation claims. At present, civil child ******* abuse claims must be brought within three years of turning 18, unless the victim can prove a fair trial can proceed despite the time lapse. However, the IICSA reported that a “significant number” of claims were being rejected because it could take “decades for survivors to feel able to discuss their ******* abuse”. Kim Harrison, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, said the three-year deadline was “wholly inappropriate”. “It will now be the burden of defendants to prove that the passage of time has created an unfair trial, rather than on the victim or survivor to prove a fair trial is possible,” she said. PA Media Prof Alexis Jay gave evidence to the Home Affairs Committee for the IICSA in January Last month, the government confirmed it would introduce a mandatory reporting duty for those working with children to report ******* abuse as part of the Crime and Policing Bill. Criminal sanctions will be introduced for both the concealment of, and failure to report, child ******* abuse. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has also promised to make grooming an aggravated factor in the sentencing of abuse cases and “overhaul” how information and evidence on child ******* abuse is gathered. The long wait for the IICSA recommendations to be implemented was thrown into the spotlight in January after tech billionaire Elon Musk attacked the government online in relation to child grooming. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accused him and others of “spreading lies and misinformation”, but weeks later the Home Office announced a nationwide review of grooming gang evidence and five government-backed local inquiries. At the time Cooper said the government would lay out a timetable by Easter for implementing the recommendations in the final report. The row between Mr Musk and Sir Keir centred on high-profile cases where groups of men – mainly of Pakistani descent – were convicted of ********* abusing and raping predominantly young white girls in towns such as Rotherham and Rochdale. Before leading the national inquiry Prof Jay published a report into abuse in Rotherham in 2014, which estimated 1,400 girls had been abused in the Yorkshire town. Source link #Time #limit #child #sex #abuse #claims #removed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The old-school turn-based 2D RPG “LostMagic” is now available for PC via Steam EA The old-school turn-based 2D RPG “LostMagic” is now available for PC via Steam EA “The indie games publisher Nokhook Entertainment and indie games developer Brightika, Inc., today announced with great thrill and delight that their old-school turn-based 2D RPG “LostMagic”, is now available for PC via Steam Early Access.” – Jonas Ek, TGG. Source link #oldschool #turnbased #RPG #LostMagic #Steam Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Beauty in everyday and home garden the story behind Denmark author Marlane Ainsworth’s book inspiration Beauty in everyday and home garden the story behind Denmark author Marlane Ainsworth’s book inspiration Denmark author Marlane Ainsworth’s new gift book offers nuggets of gold wisdom from her everyday life and time spent in her cottage garden. Source link #Beauty #everyday #home #garden #story #Denmark #author #Marlane #Ainsworths #book #inspiration Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Arrests made in connection to series of fires in San Diego, police say Arrests made in connection to series of fires in San Diego, police say SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego police have made arrests in connection to several of the fires that broke out across the city last month, including the Center Fire in Rancho Bernardo. The arrests in the Center Fire, a Mission Valley fire and two downtown-area fires — all of which occurred between Jan. 15 and Jan. 23, when the region was experiencing elevated fire risk due to stubbornly dry conditions — were announced by police Monday. The suspects could face charges ranging from recklessly starting a fire in forest land to arson, police said. Two of the most high-profile fires from this *******, the Friars Fire in Fashion Valley and Gilman Fire in La Jolla, remain under investigation, although authorities believe both the incidents originated near homeless encampments. No suspects have been arrested in either incident. San Diego police response times expected to slow due to budget cuts, chief says The first arrest was on Jan. 15 shortly after a fire broke out in downtown in the 1400 block of 11th Avenue, according to SDPD. The suspect, who was identified as 47-year-old Ricardo Agraz, faces one charge of intentionally starting a fire in the area. The second arrest was several days later, on Jan. 21. The suspect, 44-year-old Jerry Saenphansiri, is believed to have lit a vehicle on fire in the 1000 block of F Street in downtown, SDPD said. He faces an arson charge. The third arrest was in connection to the Center Fire, which broke out on Jan. 22. According to SDPD, the Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST) requested the district attorney bring a charge of recklessly initiating a fire in forest land to Joseph O’Conner, 66. He was not booked into jail due to pre-existing injuries, SDPD noted. The fourth and final arrest announced by SDPD was related to a fire in Mission Valley along San Diego Mission Road on Jan. 23. Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Shinisha Smith, adding she faces one charge of intentionally starting a fire in the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Source link #Arrests #connection #series #fires #San #Diego #police Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google removes pledge to not use AI for weapons, surveillance Google removes pledge to not use AI for weapons, surveillance Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc., during Stanford’s 2024 Business, Government, and Society forum in Stanford, California, April 3, 2024. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Google has removed a pledge to abstain from using AI for potentially harmful applications, such as weapons and surveillance, according to the company’s updated “AI Principles.” A prior version of the company’s AI principles said the company would not pursue “weapons or other technologies whose principal purpose or implementation is to cause or directly facilitate injury to people,” and “technologies that gather or use information for surveillance violating internationally accepted norms.” Those objectives are no longer displayed on its AI Principles website. “There’s a global competition taking place for AI leadership within an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape,” reads a Tuesday blog post co-written by Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind. “We believe democracies should lead in AI development, guided by core values like freedom, equality, and respect for human rights.” The company’s updated principles reflect Google’s growing ambitions to offer its AI technology and services to more users and clients, which has included governments. The change is also in line with increasing rhetoric out of Silicon Valley leaders about a winner-take-all AI race between the U.S. and China, with Palantir’s CTO Shyam Sankar saying Monday that “it’s going to be a whole-of-nation effort that extends well beyond the DoD in order for us as a nation to win.” The previous version of the company’s AI principles said Google would “take into account a broad range of social and economic factors.” The new AI principles state Google will “proceed where we believe that the overall likely benefits substantially exceed the foreseeable risks and downsides.” In its Tuesday blog post, Google said it will “stay consistent with widely accepted principles of international law and human rights — always evaluating specific work by carefully assessing whether the benefits substantially outweigh potential risks.” The new AI principles were first reported by The Washington Post on Tuesday, ahead of Google’s fourth-quarter earnings. The company’s results missed Wall Street’s revenue expectations and drove shares down as much as 9% in after-hours trading. Hundreds of protestors including Google workers are gathered in front of Google’s San Francisco offices and shut down traffic at One Market Street block on Thursday evening, demanding an end to its work with the Israeli government, and to protest Israeli attacks on Gaza, in San Francisco, California, United States on December 14, 2023. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images Google established its AI principles in 2018 after declining to renew a government contract called Project Maven, which helped the government analyze and interpret drone videos using artificial intelligence. Prior to ending the deal, several thousand employees signed a petition against the contract and dozens resigned in opposition to Google’s involvement. The company also dropped out of the bidding for a $10 billion Pentagon cloud contract in part because the company “couldn’t be sure” it would align with the company’s AI principles, it said at the time. Touting its AI technology to clients, Pichai’s leadership team has aggressively pursued federal government contracts, which has caused heightened strain in some areas within Google’s outspoken workforce. “We believe that companies, governments, and organizations sharing these values should work together to create AI that protects people, promotes global growth, and supports national security,” Google’s Tuesday blog post said. Google last year terminated more than 50 employees after a series of protests against Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion joint contract with Amazon that provides the Israeli government and military with cloud computing and AI services. Executives repeatedly said the contract didn’t violate any of the company’s “AI principles.” However, documents and reports showed the company’s agreement allowed for giving Israel AI tools that included image categorization, object tracking, as well as provisions for state-owned weapons manufacturers. The New York Times in December reported that four months prior to signing on to Nimbus, Google officials expressed concern that signing the deal would harm its reputation and that “Google Cloud services could be used for, or linked to, the facilitation of human rights violations.” Meanwhile, the company had been cracking down on internal discussions around geopolitical conflicts like the war in Gaza. Google announced updated guidelines for its Memegen internal forum in September that further restricted political discussions about geopolitical content, international relations, military conflicts, economic actions and territorial disputes, according to internal documents viewed by CNBC at the time. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. WATCH: Google’s uphill AI battle in 2025 Source link #Google #removes #pledge #weapons #surveillance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk’s Blitz Shakes U.S. Government as He Sweeps Through Agencies – The New York Times Elon Musk’s Blitz Shakes U.S. Government as He Sweeps Through Agencies – The New York Times Elon Musk’s Blitz Shakes U.S. Government as He Sweeps Through Agencies The New York TimesMusk adds “special government employee” to resume AxiosMusk’s dad says he arranged son’s call with South African leader ReutersElon Musk tightens grip on federal government as Democrats raise alarms The Associated Press Source link #Elon #Musks #Blitz #Shakes #U.S #Government #Sweeps #Agencies #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Adam Hunter: Footy clubs in mourning as West Coast Eagles lead tributes after premiership star’s tragic death Adam Hunter: Footy clubs in mourning as West Coast Eagles lead tributes after premiership star’s tragic death Three of Adam Hunter’s former clubs — West Coast, South Bunbury and Carlisle — are leading the tributes for the AFL premiership player, who died in Bunbury on Wednesday morning. Source link #Adam #Hunter #Footy #clubs #mourning #West #Coast #Eagles #lead #tributes #premiership #stars #tragic #death Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senate confirms Trump’s nominee Pam Bondi as attorney general Senate confirms Trump’s nominee Pam Bondi as attorney general Pam Bondi, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, testifies at a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 15, 2025. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters The Republican-led U.S. Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as the new U.S. attorney general on Tuesday, propelling one of President Donald Trump‘s staunchest political allies to the top perch of American law enforcement. The 54-46 vote to confirm of the former Florida state attorney general will help Trump solidify his control over the U.S. Justice Department, which has recently seen sweeping cuts targeting prosecutors and FBI agents who investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by the president’s supporters. Democratic Senator John Fetterman joined all 53 Republicans in voting for Bondi. Bondi, 59, vowed to maintain the department’s independence during a confirmation hearing last month, telling lawmakers she will not inject politics into criminal or civil investigations. But lawmakers continue to harbor concerns about whether she will resist potentially improper or ******** orders from Trump, after the firings of dozens of prosecutors who pursued criminal charges against him. After entering office on Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order blasting what he called the “weaponizing” of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies and ordered the attorney general to “review the activities of all departments and agencies exercising civil or criminal enforcement authority.” Bondi, who spent decades as a prosecutor, represented Trump during his first impeachment trial. She has also echoed some of his false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. The incoming attorney general holds a stake in Trump’s media company, the Trump Media and Technology Group, according to financial disclosures she filed with the Office of Government Ethics. Bondi was Trump’s second pick for the top U.S. law enforcement job. His first choice, former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, resigned from Congress and withdrew his name from consideration just before a House of Representatives ethics report found that he had paid women for sex and drugs and obstructed Congress. Gaetz so far is the only Trump cabinet nominee to end his bid for the office. Senate committees on Tuesday advanced the nominations of two of Trump’s most controversial nominees, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the nation’s top health official and Tulsi Gabbard to serve as its top spy. Source link #Senate #confirms #Trumps #nominee #Pam #Bondi #attorney #general Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Colombia’s president orders national oil company to cancel US venture over environmental concerns Colombia’s president orders national oil company to cancel US venture over environmental concerns BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Tuesday ordered the state-run oil company Ecopetrol to cancel a joint venture with a U.S.-owned company that was expected to produce around 90,000 barrels of oil per day, citing environmental concerns. In a nationally televised speech, Petro said he opposed the recent extension of a deal between Ecopetrol and Occidental Petroleum, or Oxy, because it involved extracting oil through fracking, a controversial technique used to extract oil and gas from shale rock that has been criticized by environmental groups. “I want that operation to be sold, and for the money to be invested in clean energies,” Petro said in a meeting with his Cabinet that was livestreamed on social media. “We are against fracking, because fracking is the death of nature, and the death of humanity.” Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Ecopetrol had announced on Monday it would renew its operations with Oxy in the Permian basin, an oil producing region that spans Texas and New Mexico, to develop 91 oil wells, investing over $880 million. Ecopetrol said its projects in the Permian basin produced an average of 95,200 barrels of oil per day in the first nine months of last year. Operations in the Permian basin made up around 12% of Ecopetol’s total production last year. Ecopetrol, controlled by the Colombian government but also listed on the New York Stock Exchange, saw its shares rise 2% on Tuesday following the announcement of its deal with Occidental. However, they fell slightly after Petro called for the agreement’s cancellation. Colombia has refused to approve fracking projects on its territory, though it had not previously blocked Ecopetrol from taking part in fracking ventures overseas. Environmentalists argue that fracking can pollute water sources and cause tremors. ____ Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at Source link #Colombias #president #orders #national #oil #company #cancel #venture #environmental #concerns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]